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Let the good times roll year-round in the Big Easy, home to Mardi Gras and an endless list of fun festivals.
It's no secret—New Orleans loves to party. From Mardi Gras and carnival season to Jazz Fest and a seemingly endless list of other New Orleans events throughout the year, any time is the right time to plan a New Orleans vacation if you're looking for a reason to celebrate and let the good times roll. There are more than a dozen New Orleans festivals annually; here are a few highlights, starting with information for those planning a Mardi Gras vacation.
Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday" in French) is the last day before Lent, the final opportunity for feasting and partying before getting serious in the days before Easter. But the celebration itself has roots in pagan rituals marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans dates back to the early days of the city's founding, in the late 17th century. Parading for Mardi Gras was begun by a group of people who formed the Mystick Krewe of Comus in 1857. After the Civil War, more and more groups formed to parade during carnival season—resulting in today's massive celebration.
Carnival season begins on Jan. 6. (Twelfth Night) each year, the day that marks the end of the Christmas season and starts the march towards Lent. Since 1870, the Twelfth Night Revelers have kicked off the season on this night with a masked ball. They share the evening with the Phunny Phorty Phellows, who ride along the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line and announce the beginning of carnival season. The parades, balls and other festivities gradually ramp up from Twelfth Night to Mardi Gras, with the real action beginning two weeks before Mardi Gras—always the Tuesday 47 days before Easter and one day before Ash Wednesday (in 2009, Mardi Gras is on Feb. 24).
Krewes are groups of people whose members organize and participate in carnival parades and balls. Their membership fees and individual support pay for the parades, so there's no commercial sponsorship. More traditional, or old-line krewes (Rex is the oldest of this group), have balls where they elect their annual carnival king and queen from their own membership. Some more recently established groups are referred to as Super Krewes (such as Endymion, Bacchus and Orpheus), and have huge parties after their parades in place of the balls. Super Krewes also tend to have celebrity kings. The only "King of Mardi Gras" is Rex; other kings are merely kings of their krewes.
While St. Charles Avenue in the Uptown area of New Orleans is regularly referred to as the parade route, that doesn't mean every parade takes place there. Some routes are in Mid-City, Downtown, Metairie and the West Bank. To keep yourself from showing up in the wrong place, check the Mardi Gras schedule and maps before you head out.
Those who stand close enough to the street during the parade may come away with some cool trinkets, called "throws." From simple strings of Mardi Gras beads (often referred to as "tree beads," because people tend to throw them up into trees) to plastic cups to doubloons, elaborate medallion beads and the painted coconuts of Zulu, a wealth of carnival booty is yours for the taking. Step on the throw you're claiming if it lands in the street. and watch your head—zinging cups and medallion beads can hurt.
One of my favorite carnival traditions is the king cake—a sweet oval pastry with icing in Mardi Gras colors (purple, green and gold). You can almost get cavities just by looking at one. The Mardi Gras king cake tradition came from French settlers and was used in 1870 by the Twelfth Night Revelers to choose the queen of their ball—something they've done ever since. The first king cakes of the season emerge from bakeries across the city on Twelfth Night. Inside each king cake is a pink, plastic baby. Whoever gets the piece of cake with the baby (chew carefully) is responsible for buying the next cake.
Besides the Mardi Gras parades, there are other wonderful highlights of the carnival season. Here are some of my favorites:
Mardi Gras Indians. African-American Mardi Gras Indians began "masking" as early as the mid-19th century, in costumes inspired by Native American designs. Their suits—dripping with feathers, sequins, faux gemstones, pearls, cowrie shells, velvet, satin and other materials—take the better part of a year to construct (all by hand), can weigh up to 150 pounds and cost thousands of dollars to assemble. If you miss them during the festival, catch the spectacular display of costumes year-round at the Backstreet Cultural Museum.
Krewe du Vieux. Known for its satire and mule-drawn floats, the Krewe du Vieux parade roams in costume through the lower French Quarter and nearby Faubourg Marigny. The full name of the group is Krewe du Vieux Carré—named for their parade grounds, the French Quarter. The 2009 parade takes place on Feb. 7, themed: "Krewe du Vieux's Stimulus Package." It'll definitely take your mind off the economy for the evening.
Mystic Krewe of Barkus. A fanciful dog parade (where most are in costume), Barkus is a must-see event. The 2009 parade (with the theme "Battmutt: The Bark Knight") is on Feb. 15, and begins at Louis Armstrong Park, near the French Quarter. Barkus donates ball profits and parade registration fees to animal welfare groups.
Next: Other Notable New Orleans Festivals
The New Orleans party doesn't end with Mardi Gras. In fact, it often seems that there's a festival or celebration every week of the year. This list of the most popular events only scratches the surface, so if you want to find out if something's going on when you're in the city, be sure to contact the New Orleans Convention and Visitor's Bureau.
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival started in 1970 as a celebration of the city's jazz legacy. It has since grown to become the second largest festival in New Orleans after Mardi Gras and spans two full weekends at the Fair Grounds, with a variety of concerts during the weekdays in between.
Jazz is indeed at the heart of the festival, with traditional and contemporary jazz tents, but Jazz Fest offers a little something for everyone, with zydeco, R&B, gospel, reggae, Latin and rock added in for good measure. Local art, crafts and food are also featured. If you show up at the Fair Grounds hungry, I guarantee you won't leave that way. With choices ranging from a plate of boiled crawfish to creole's stuffed bread, oyster po'boys to crawfish Monica, snowballs (snow cones) to jambalaya and more—you may need to try everything at least once.
The festival takes place each year in late April/early May. The 2009 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival dates are April 24 to 26 (first weekend) and April 30 to May 3 (second weekend). Festival schedule and tickets are available at www.nojazzfest.com.
If you want to experience Jazz Fest on a smaller scale and for free, try the French Quarter Festival, which always takes place in April prior to Jazz Fest. With 450 musicians performing on 18 stages packed into the three-day weekend, you're getting more than enough bang for your unspent buck. The Festival also features the "World's Largest Jazz Brunch," with nearly 70 food vendors serving up local cuisine. The 2009 French Quarter Festival dates are April 17 to 19. www.fqfi.org/frenchquarterfest
The three-day Essence Music Festival, which takes place each year around the July 4 weekend in the Superdome, celebrates African-American music and culture. Beyoncé performs at the 2009 festival. Besides top-notch music, speakers and empowerment seminars are also featured. www.essence.com
The Satchmo Summerfest is an annual tribute to New Orleans' native son, Louis "Satchmo" Armstong, held at the Old U.S. Mint on the edge of the French Quarter the first weekend of August. Four stages feature traditional and contemporary jazz, brass bands and music for kids. Yummy food booths keep you from walking too far away from the party. During the 2008 Satchmo Fest, I caught an incredible second line parade from the nearby Tremé neighborhood to the U.S. Mint. Admission is free. www.fqfi.org/satchmosummerfest
Each November, the Audubon Zoo hosts Swamp Fest, which celebrates Louisiana Cajun culture. When you're surrounded by the city of New Orleans, it's easy to forget that Bayou country is close by. This family friendly festival features music, food, crafts, cultural demonstrations and even swamp critter encounters. The festival is included with Audubon Zoo admission (free for members, $13 for adults, $10 for seniors aged 65 and up, $8 for children ages 2 to 12). www.auduboninstitute.org
The Voodoo Experience, usually held the weekend before Halloween in City Park, is known for featuring high-profile national acts (the 2008 Experience included Nine Inch Nails, R.E.M., Lil Wayne, Panic At the Disco and Wyclef Jean), but includes great New Orleans artists as well. www.thevoodooexperience.com
Destinations: New Orleans
Themes: Culinary, Romantic Getaways, Urban Endeavors
Activities: Arts and Entertainment
Feast of Festivals I'll admit, media coverage of Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras made me not want to go. But knowing that I can still participate in Mardi Gras while avoiding Bourbon Street is great.


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Stephen Quartermain is getting a new co host in Candice Wyatt on Yen Eyewitness News Melbourne.
Candice who joined the TEN Eyewitness News team in Melbourne as a reporter in 2010, Candice has covered some of the biggest local news stories including the Jill Meagher murder case and the Victorian Bushfires. Earlier this year, Candice was on the ground in Bali reporting live from Kerobokan prison on the release of Schapelle Corby.
Candice said: "I am thrilled to be joining the TEN Eyewitness News desk alongside Stephen. After 11 years as a reporter covering some of Australia's most gripping stories, presenting Melbourne's 5pm news bulletin is a natural step forward and I cannot wait to begin the next chapter in my career."
News Presenter Stephen Quartermain said: "Candice is a good old-fashioned, hard-nosed journo. It's a significant moment in her career and for the evolution of TEN Eyewitness News. I'm looking forward to working alongside her."
Network Ten News Director, John Choueifate, said: "Candice was raised in Warrnambool and knows and loves Melbourne and Victoria. A policeman's daughter, she has great contacts and has a connection with viewers. She has covered major stories such as the Victorian bushfires, the tragic death of Jill Meagher and the release of Schapelle Corby. Her new role will still involve some reporting.
"At TEN, we think it is important to promote from within whenever we can. We have also built a bigger news set and I'm excited by the new look. Candice and Stephen will be a great combination," he said.
Candice will join Stephen, Sport Presenter Brad McEwan and Weather Presenter Mike Larkan from tonight.

subset: commoncrawl


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Malhaut ideas? (Uther period)
Sir Mad Munkee posted a topic in Pendragon & Prince ValiantHi all, I've got 483 coming up – a pretty ho-hum year in the BoUther GPC expansion – but I've also got a knight who coincidentally ended up courting a lady from Malahaut, and is keen (and has Roderick's permission) to go up there and ask her father for her hand (and establish some possibly useful political connections). I'm looking for ideas to make that a session-filling little adventure. I don't know much about Malahaut at this time, and my ideas haven't gotten much beyond "her father you have to go kill the Un-Nice Local Monster to gain his permission", maybe with a little "local suitor is keen to discourage your suit, with steel!" thrown in, but it all seems a bit flat. I know Pendragon Fans are a creative lot, and wonder if anyone has better Malahauty ideas?


text: Hinterland gardens and outdoor attractions Maybe it's time to drag yourself away from those beautiful beaches and explore the rest of the Mornington Peninsula. Up in the green hinterland are lots of adventurous attractions, and huge maze gardens have activities for everyone…go tree surfing or tube sliding, wander through beautiful landscapes or stroll along boardwalks through wetlands. The nightlife gets pretty intriguing too, with moonlit tours to see endangered wildlife, or relive your childhood at the drive-in. How do our gardens grow? Beautifully! Come and see a fragrant lavender farm, meandering hedge mazes, cottage gardens, formal gardens perfumed with rose bushes and gardens with towering trees from the 1860s. If you want to take home a little inspiration from the Mornington Peninsula, our garden centres, herb nurseries and gardening clubs will help with plants, seedlings, seeds and plenty of good advice. With magnificent landscapes to explore and the sea almost surrounding us, the Mornington Peninsula has about as much adventure as you can take. Discover a wealth of family friendly attractions. Surf the tree tops or hand feed tame wallabies. You could stay here for a week and still not discover all our wildlife and adventure experiences. It's impossible for kids to be bored on the Mornington Peninsula. There are lighthouses to climb, mazes to explore, and luscious strawberries to be picked from November through to April. On the coast you can hire bikes and cycle almost to the tip of the Peninsula at Point Nepean National Park.


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3 New Scary Movies to Watch This HalloweenEntertainment The List
This time of year means costumes, candy and some freaky flicks that will scare the bejeezus out of you! Kristina Guerrero has three fun options to get you ready for Halloween 2016.
Check out the above video to see three scary movie options to watch this October!
What's your favorite scary movie? Let us know on our Facebook page, @TheListShowTV.


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Découvrez pourquoi les services ou apps de streaming multimédia ne fonctionnent pas lorsque vous êtes connecté à Norton Secure VPN
Some streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and Showtime, offer geo-restricted content that makes it unavailable in certain regions. These services also block the content if they detect a VPN, a proxy, or an unblocking service as a method to bypass the geo-restrictions.
To fix this problem, connect to a different VPN region or exclude streaming apps using Split Tunnel.
Connect to a different VPN region
Connect to different VPN regions and access the streaming website.
Example #1: If you are in USA and the VPN region is set to "Auto-Select", then, connect to USA region manually.
Example #2: If you are in Germany and the VPN region is already selected to "Germany", then, connect to closest different region "Switzerland" or "France".
If the streaming content is available in your region, make sure that you disconnect Norton Secure VPN before you access the streaming websites.
Exclude streaming apps through Split Tunnel
Streaming apps such as Hotstar or BBC iPlayer, etc., collect IP address information and actively blacklist any IP address that they suspect belongs to a VPN. Once the IP addresses of the VPN server used are blacklisted and blocked, these apps do not work unless VPN service is dynamically changing the IP addresses. To overcome this, use the Split Tunnel feature. Click Enable Split Tunnel in Norton Secure VPN to know more on Split Tunnel.
The Split Tunnel feature is currently available on Norton 360, Norton Secure VPN for Windows and Android only.
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Disney has confirmed that some actors have had their skin artificially darkened in order to film scenes in its upcoming Aladdin remake. The movie giant confirmed to BBC News that the process had taken place in order to ensure the extras could "blend" into in scenes filmed in Agrabah, the fictional Middle Eastern city the movie is based in.
Actor Kaushal Odedra first told the U.K.'s Sunday Times that he was working as a stand-in for the lead actor on the movie in September last year when he noticed 20 "very fair-skinned" actors waiting to be heavily tanned. In the aforementioned BBC News report he said that "Aladdin was the perfect time to show diversity but also be accurate, they're being out of touch with what's going on around them."
Director Guy Ritchie declined to comment at the time. However, Disney has confirmed Odedra's claims, saying they used white extras "only in a handful of instances when it was a matter of specialty skills, safety and control."
"Great care was taken to put together one of the largest, most diverse casts ever seen on screen," a Disney spokesman told the BBC. "Diversity of our cast and background performers was a requirement and only in a handful of instances when it was a matter of specialty skills, safety and control (special effects rigs, stunt performers and handling of animals) were crew made up to blend in."
The live-action remake of Disney's 1992 animated classic was previously accused of whitewashing in 2017 after casting non-Arab actor, Naomi Scott, as Princess Jasmine.


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'Maury' Leads Syndication's Youth Movement
Say what you will about NBCUniversal's conflict talk show, Maury—from its "shocking secrets revealed!" to its "out-of-control teenagers"—but it's currently first-run syndication's youngest-skewing talk show at a median age of 48.5, according to Nielsen Media Research; it's also often the first-run talk leader among young women.
And all that doesn't happen by accident— especially when your host, Maury Povich, is 73. "I find that younger viewers have a shorter attention span," says Paul Faulhaber, executive producer of Maury as well as NBCU's newest talker, Trisha. "So what we like to do is produce mini-soap operas that you can get into really fast and really deeply. Younger viewers get bored quickly, and they don't like to be bored."
Some advertisers might shun Maury and its siblings—Jerry Springer, Steve Wilkos and Trisha, starring British tabloid talker Trisha Goddard— due to the shows' content. But others—especially direct-response advertisers— embrace the genre.
"There are all different types of marketers out there," says one syndication insider. "Some of these shows not only skew younger, but they can also be lower-priced. A lot of advertisers are just looking to buy based on price, and that helps them."
In fact, all of syndication's so-called conflict talk shows skew young, with Wilkos averaging a median age of 49.4, Debmar-Mercury's Jeremy Kyle a 49.9, Springer a 50.4 and Trisha a 51.4.
First-run syndication's youngest-skewing shows also are some of its newest, with CBS Television Distribution's sophomore dating show, Excused, coming in youngest at 38.9, almost four years younger than its nearest competitor, Twentieth's rookie radio half-hour, Dish Nation, at 43.7. Warner Bros.' TMZ, which TV stations often pair with Dish Nation, is third at 46.1.
What all those shows have in common is a sense of authenticity. People say what they think (whether it gets bleeped or not), and there's not a lot of spit and polish to the programs.
"We're certainly not MTV—we're not so hip—but we're funny and relevant," says Stephen Brown, Twentieth executive VP of programming, speaking to Dish Nation's blend of rapid-fire radio talk, pop culture and comedy. "Having younger viewers ultimately ensures a longer life, and we want this show to be around for a long time."
Among the non-conflict talk shows, Debmar-Mercury's Wendy Williams is the youngest at 49.2, while CTD's talk leader Dr. Phil trends older at 58.9, just a tad older than Disney-ABC's Live! With Kelly and Michael at 58.7. Disney-ABC's rookie Katie skews oldest of any talker, at 60.7.
That puts Katie in league with some of syndication's oldest-skewing shows: CTD's Judge Judy at a median age of 60.4 and Disney-ABC's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire at 61.4. CTD's Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, two of syndication's highest-rated shows in households, are also its oldest-skewing at 64.3 and 65-plus, respectively.
Of course, it's not necessarily bad to be old. While advertisers buy based on a target demographic, which in daytime is typically women 25-54, they don't mind if they get lots of other viewers as part of the deal.
And many advertisers seek to target older consumers: "If you are a pharmaceutical or an automotive company, older-skewing shows are important," says Mitch Burg, president of the Syndicated Network Television Association. "Every marketer has a different objective."
E-mailcomments to firstname.lastname@example.com and follow her on Twitter: @PaigeA
Contributing editor Paige Albiniak has been covering the business of television for nearly 25 years. She is a longtime contributor to Next TV, Broadcasting + Cable and Multichannel News. She concurrently serves as editorial director for entertainment marketing association Promax. She has written for such publications as TVNewsCheck, The New York Post, Variety, CBS Watch and more. Albiniak was B+C's Los Angeles bureau chief from September 2002 to 2004, and an associate editor covering Congress and lobbying for the magazine in Washington, D.C., from January 1997-September 2002.
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Hezbollah Resorted to Martyrdom Bombings Option as Game-changing Weapon against zionist Occupation
The zionist gang leader and politician Moshe Dayan once boasted that the musical band in the Israeli army can invade and occupy Lebanon. Had Dayan, who died in 1981, witnessed the power of Hezbollah Resistance, he would not have made this remark which ironically turned to be a reason for mocking the enemy's military.
Hezbollah, who has been mistakenly viewed by the Israeli enemy and the West as a mere armed group, is an Islamic Jihadi party that refers to Islam teachings and values in devising its strategies and plans.
Sacrificing one's soul for the sake of God, nation and oppressed people is praised in Islam as martyrdom. Hezbollah sacrificed 1281 martyrs in its fight to liberate the Lebanese South and Western Bekaa from the Israeli occupation.
The military confrontation with the Zionist enemy imposed on Hezbollah Resistance certain military strategies that prevent the Israelis from frustrating them. In this context, Hezbollah carried out 12 martyrdom bombing operations against the Israeli occupation posts, inflicting game-changing losses upon.
On October 11, 1982, the martyr Ahmad Kassir carried out the first martyrdom bombing operation, detonated his explosives-rigged car at the headquarters of the Israeli military command in Tyre, southern Lebanon, killing 76 soldiers as well as officers and injuring 118 of others.
The Zionist enemy described it as a major blow, announcing public mourning.
On April 14, 1984, the martyr Ali Safieddine detonated his car rigged with 150 kilograms of TNT explosives when an Israeli military convoy crossed Deir Qanoun Al-Nahr village, killing 12 soldiers and injuring 14 of others.
The Israeli military correspondent Alon Ben David said at that time that the enemy's army will leave Lebanon shortly after in conditions that differ from those which characterized its troops upon the invasion. "It's the army of disgrace."
On March 10, 1985, the martyr Amer Kalakesh drove his pick-up vehicle rigged with 900 kilograms of explosives near Al-Motellah settlement and detonated it when a Zionist military convoy crossed, turning it into debris and leaving 12 soldiers dead and 14 others injured (based on the enemy's toll).
On August 19, 1988, the martyr Haitham Dbouk stormed an Israeli military convoy on Tal Al-Nhas highway in Marjayoun, hitting 30 of the occupation soldiers.
Zionist PM Isaac Rabin then said that the enemy was encountering a hard situation in face of Hezbollah "terrorists" who were employing their bodies as IEDs.
On October 19, 1988, the martyr Abdullah Atwi rammed his booby-trapped car into two Zionist military convoys, turning both of them into carnage and fire.
The Israeli chief of staff Dan Shomron described the operation as the mightiest blow the occupation forces in southern Lebanon.
On August 29, 1989, the martyr Asaad Berro rammed his booby-trapped car into a Zionist military convoy in Al-Qulaya village, killing or injuring 25 Zionist soldiers.
On August 20, 1992, the martyr Ibrahim Daher blew himself up when a group of 22 Israeli soldiers approached him after he pretended to be killed when his munitions ran out during an exchange of fire in Al-Jormok area, killing or injuring most of them.
On August 18, 1994, the martyr Abbas Al-Wezwaz carried out a martyrdom attack on the Israeli occupation forces in Naqoura town, inflicting heavy material and psychological losses. The attack came after the Islamic Resistance fighters had ambushed the Zionist occupation forces in the area.
On April 25, 1995, the martyr Salah Ghandour rammed his booby-trapped car in a Zionist military convoy near the occupation's post in Bint Jbeil town, inflicting heavy human and material losses upon it. The explosion also hit another convoy while exiting the Israeli post.
On March 20, 1996, the martyr Ali Ashmar surpassed all the Israeli security measures and fortifications and reached Adaisseh village where he blew himself up upon approaching a Zionist command convoy, inflicting heavy losses upon it.
On June 10, 1996, the martyr Bilal Al-Akhras carried out a martyrdom attack on the Israeli occupation forces in Dabsheh-Khardale area, inflicting heavy material losses. The attack came after the Islamic Resistance fighters had ambushed the Zionist occupation forces in the same position area, killing or injuring a number of the enemy's soldiers.
The Zionist PM Isaac Shamir commented on the operation by saying that he did not imagine that he would witness the day on which 'Israel' and its army escape from an Arab party.
On December 30, 1999, the martyr Ammar Hammoud rammed his booby-trapped car into a Zionist military convoy in Al-Qulaya, Marjayoun, killing or injuring 25 Israeli soldiers, including a senior officer. It is worth noting that the operation contributed to speeding up the Israeli withdrawal which came around six months after.
The above-detailed martyrdom bombing operations, which reflect the sublime values of sacrifice and altruism, have dug deeply in the Israeli collective unconsciousness, changing all the Zionist false claims of possessing an invincible military power.
Hezbollah resorted to this option in order to deal painful blows to the Israeli occupation, which has proved that it responds to only the rhetoric of power, force the Zionists to pay unbearable prices, and impose on the Zionist command to take the decision of withdrawal completed on May 25, 2020.


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Hunting excursions are one of the most memorable holiday activities. When you go out there, you want to make the best of your time and if you are lucky, you get back with prey. No one heads to a hunting escapade without proper hunting gear. This is why:
– You are never 100% sure of the period it will take
– You may encounter unexpected predators
– Trips through the bushes are often unclear and you could even take days to get back
– In case of danger, you need to be equipped for the worst outcome
Consequently, the accessories you carry depend on how experienced you are as a hunter. However, there are some basics you can't avoid. First, you need a state hunting license because, without it, you will be committing a crime.
You also need water and food – mostly dried fruits and snacks. You need protective clothing and also need a map or GPS.
Important Items to Have on Your Hunting Trip
Regardless of how adventurous you are, you need a guide on directions. And GPS tracking is often recommended. Apart from that, here is a list of the main items every hunter needs:
1. A rifle scope
A rifle scope is normally mounted on the riffle. It has a telescopic sight that enables you to focus on the target. Unlike while using a bow set, you have fewer shots with the rifle. Therefore, you require excellent precision. A rifle scope boosts your accuracy especially when you are far from the target.
2. Good shoes
If there's one thing you don't want to get wrong, it's the shoes. The intense amount of hiking experienced in hunting deserves resilient and comfortable shoes. So, leave the funky sports shoes for other sports. Hunting needs well insulated, light but firm waterproof boots.
Shoes determine how far you can go. Therefore, if you want better mobility and balance, the solution is in the shoes you choose.
3. A good backpack
A multi-pocketed bag is easier to pack and also access when retrieving an item. It should have well-padded, firm, and adjustable straps. A waist strap is also helpful in keeping it steady during climbs, crawls, and all other adventurous activities. Some bags also have pistol holders at the hip belt, as well as water holders.
4. Weapons (gun, bow, ammo, and arrows)
The tools you use depend on your expertise. Some hunters never enjoy bows yet are fantastic with guns, and vice versa. Investing in quality weapons enables you to have a more fruitful hunting expedition.
Practicing with the weapons beforehand also enriches your hunting experience. Remember to carry plenty of ammo and arrows to cater for the misses.
5. A pocketknife and its sharpener
A pocketknife, also known as a jackknife has many roles in hunting. Most pocketknives have multiple 2 to 6-inch blades concealed in a decent casing. You need a pocketknife to skin animals, slice wood for a fire, defense, first aid, food, and other tasks. Just as the knives are versatile, they tend to get blunt quickly. Therefore, you need to carry a sharpening stone along.
Hunting involves lots of exploring. So, it's always advisable to carry extra reserves since you can't accurately predict what will happen. Also, carry a headlight to guide you at night and binoculars to see things that are far. If you are new in hunting, a range finder can also aid in estimating the distance between you and the target.


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Confluence Energy produces two products for use in your home - Eco Flame wood pellets and Platinum Fire premium wood pellets.
Wood pellet fuel burns cleaner than cordwood, emitting less than 15% of the particulates that a regular wood-fired furnace or stove would emit. Wood pellets are derived from a renewable energy source. Here in Colorado, we use trees killed by the mountain pine beetle, which is devastating Colorado's forests. This material would otherwise be left on the forest floor to burn or decay. We are therefore carbon neutral, allowing you to heat your home or business without emitting carbon that would not otherwise be released. This is a local energy source.
What is Pellet Fuel?
Pellet fuel is a renewable, clean-burning and cost stable home heating alternative currently used throughout North America. It is a biomass product made of renewable substances generally recycled wood waste. There are approximately 800,000 homes in the U.S. using wood pellets for heat, in freestanding stoves, fireplace inserts and even furnaces. Pellet fuel for heating can also be found in such large-scale environments as schools and prisons. North American pellets are produced in manufacturing facilities in Canada and the United States, and are available for purchase at fireplace dealers, nurseries, building supply stores, feed and garden supply stores and some discount merchandisers. In short, pellet fuel is a way to divert millions of tons of waste from landfills and turn it into energy.
Wood Pellet Comparison
To ascertain the value proposition of wood pellet fuel in the Intermountain region, Mountain Burkes obtained 3rd party laboratory test. Results along with home hearth testing and combined this information with a price survey to obtain a composite value.
Please read the Wood Pellet Comparison Document (PDF)


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Hiking in a rainy weather is different than hiking in any other weather condition. There are plenty of things to consider when you're planning your next adventure wherever it is, but the weather should almost always be on top of the list. Rainy weather could easily ruin your whole trip, but we've made a list of essential gear for hiking in the rain, to make sure that the unpleasant rainy weather is not going to ruin a trip that's been planned for weeks or months in advance.
Considering you're already familiar with the list of essential gear for hiking in the rain, this time – in this list we're going to talk about some of the best hats for hiking in the rain. Obviously there are two main things that you'd want to take care of the most when you're out and about in the nature and these two are – your feet and your head. In order to keep your feet dry and not get sick, there are a bunch of waterproof hiking boots out on the market and we've got a list of the best hiking boots for men so you can get this part covered accordingly as well. If you already have boots or shoes that are waterproof and will get you anywhere you want, the next thing you might want to consider is your head and more specifically – a hat which will keep you dry at all times. There isn't a shortage of models in this category either and we've summed up some of the best ones out there. Different people have different requirements for their hats and that's why we've picked a few different hat styles for you to pick out from. Although there's a wide diversity of hats, the truth is that two companies stand out as the ones offering the best in terms of water resistance, pricing and most importantly their ability to keep your face dry.
Although there aren't many significant differences between male and female models, we have picked 3 models for women and 2 for the men out there, that are smart enough to get this handy piece of essential gear for anyone that loves hiking and trekking.
Men and women have different requirements from their gear, but when you're out there in the nature style isn't the most important thing for either sex. That's why we have only picked one waterproof hat for hiking which could be considered more stylish. That's the Carhartt Women's Rockford Rain Hat. The other 4 models are as follows:
- 1 Men's waterproof hat from Columbia
- 1 Female waterproof hat from Columbia
- 1 Outdoor Research waterproof hat for men
- 1 Outdoor research waterproof hat for women
So here we go, hopefully, you will find the best hat for hiking in the rain that suites you
The first model that we've got is the Columbia Men's Eminent Storm Booney Hat, Fossil, One Size. Made out of Nylon and 100% waterproof this hat has adjustable straps that make it's one size adjustable enough to fit any head. It also has an adjustable drawcord and toggle at the back and is also completely breathable so if the weather is hot and the humidity is high, you won't be sweating that bad in it. Don't get me wrong, it's still and even though it's made out of durable and breathable high-tec materials it doesn't mean that you will feel as if you didn't have anything on your head, but it's definitely worth it, considering how well it will keep your head dry. At a price point of about $45, this hat is not the most expensive option you could pick from our list. As you would expect from any Columbia® product, the quality is high and gets a 5 out of 5 stars on our quality test. This hat in particular will keep your head dry even in heavy snowing and as works like a charm if you're walking your dog in the rainy Autumn months or the early Spring as well. So if you want a rain hat that will be a good fit even out of the hiking trails, the Columbia Men's Eminent Storm Booney Hat, is a great choice for you.
If you don't like this model though, we're just getting started and here's the next model on our list.
The Outdoor Research Women's Misto Sombrero Hat is our first pick when it comes to the best hat for hiking in the rain for women. There are a pink and a red models in the range of colors and the obvious black and khaki color which all hiking gear could be purchased in as well. What makes this rain hat stand out from the rest is that it has these Foam-Stiffened Brim Floats, which keep the hat and it's shape intact at all times and the fact that it's made out of amazingly durable waterproof and breathable polyester, just sweetens the deal for anyone who's looking to purchase this hat. The hat has a 4.8 out of 5 stars rating in all major retailers and for a good reason. It's easily adjustable, repels rain easily and although it keeps your head dry, it won't fry your brain in it with it's breathable construction. Just like with the Columbia Storm hat, this one will be a great addition to any hiking gear you take with you, but will also be a good fit for women who like to take their dogs out in the rain. Outdoor Research is a brand on the rise and you will find more and more of their products reviewed on our website in the upcoming weeks. The price of this hat is different depending on the vendor you chose to buy it from, but isn't too expensive for the average hiking lady. For no more than $60, you will definitely be getting your money's worth from it.
On to the next one we've got the Carhartt Women's Rockford Rain Hat which is the second model we've got here for the ladies. This model is a bit different as it doesn't have such a large trim on the side, but it's adjustable just like the other two models we talked about before, so it would fit almost any head. This model only comes in two different colors one of which is the standard black and the other a dark purple shade. The price of this model in particular is $26 at least on Amazon.com which is pretty low compared to the rest of the models. This hat though 100% waterproof, might not be such a good choice considering that it will only keep you head dry if there isn't any wind involved. The short trim means that if the water is not falling down vertically at 90 degrees, there's a serious chance that some of the rain will get in your face. The hat is made out of 100% Nylon and repels water easily.


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The long-awaited party season is here with the Magic Bath party series and the awesome futuristic pool parties at Szechenyi Baths to make your Budapest stay unforgettable. Bath Parties in 2022 Szechenyi Spa Parties in Budapest, Hungary: June 4, 2022, Budapest Bath Party in Szechenyi Baths – buy tickets here June …Read More »
Water Circus Sparty in Szechenyi Bath
Water Circus Sparty in Szechenyi Bath is the most amazing bath party of the year: VJ disco with spectacular circus show and laser beams mapped on the walls of Szechenyi Spa Baths, Budapest. Water Circus party is considered to be the Number 1 Hungarian party by both locals and foreigners. …Read More »
Szechenyi Bath in March
Szechenyi Bath is open all days in March, even on March 15, the historical national holiday in Budapest (when shops and some attractions are closed). Opening Hours in March Szechenyi Bath has the regular opening times in March, with the exception of March 15, which is a public holiday in …Read More »
Szechenyi Baths Winter
Szechenyi Baths is open in winter months, making the thermal bath and pools one of the major attractions and winter things to do in Budapest, Hungary. Not only the indoor, but also the outdoor pools are open in winter. The naturally hot (HOT!) spring waters – coming from deep underground …Read More »
Night of Baths Party Budapest 2013
The 2013 Night of Baths Party is a much awaited Budapest festival. Originally, the Night of Baths festival known in Hungarian as the 'Furdok Ejszakaja' was planned some time between 2013 Feb-April, but then the Magic Bath Parties in Lukacs Bath (€18) were very popular, and from June 1 until …Read More »
Swim Wear Rental
Renting swimwear at Szechenyi Baths is an option for those who do not wish to carry around their swimsuits, swimming trunks, bikinis neither before taking a bath in the thermal bath, nor after that, when the swimwear gets wet and heavier. Some tourists assume that people swim naked in Szechenyi …Read More »
Szechenyi Bath Pedicure
Pedicure services at Szechenyi Bath are available, booking can be made on the spot. Pedicure offered by the Szechenyi Baths The professional pedicure is done by the Beauty Therapists of the Szechenyi Baths specializing in pedicure. This is not a fish pedicure, but a classic pedicure. The pedicure treatment in …Read More »
Szechenyi Baths Towel Rental
Towel rental at Szechenyi Baths has been suspended due to Covid restrictions. If you do not wish to buy a towel on the spot, please bring your own towel to the baths. Purchase options include a cheaper, more affordable towel and a more expensive gift towel. You can purchase a …Read More »
Cinetrip Bath Party – Space & Star Wars – Szechenyi Baths Budapest
This highlight of this August at Szechenyi Baths was the space themed spa bath party with awesome acrobats, fire and water shows, party DJs and VJs, laser rays on the walls of the palace of Szechenyi Baths. If you missed the sparty in August, here is a video taster to …Read More »
When is the next Szechenyi Bath Party in 2012?
The next Szechenyi Bath Party in Budapest is: December 29 Cinetrip New Year Party, Szechenyi Baths. This is also the last party in 2012, so we are already looking forward to the 2013 Budapest Bath Parties, which are very likely to start around mid February or late February as part …Read More »


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William Krasnal
William Krasnal's (b. 1983, Poland) paintings and drawings are full of colourful contemporary edits of realistic and historical painting. Everything he paints originates from specific situations, events, images and views, from books, from the Internet, from newspapers, from the street and events from 20th century history. Krasnal uses this with iconographic sources, sets of paintings with modern press, colourful magazines and propaganda-marked sightseeing albums from the 1950s, sourced from museum catalogues and film scenes.
He is fascinated by cultural and pop cultural clichés of "masculinity" and "femininity", but his paintings also show national dots of holiness, obsessions, fears and hopes in his landscapes. The artist is known for his attachment to Polish affairs, and his works are often known with the apotheosis of "familiarity". He has exhibited works in European cities such as Warsaw, Cracow, Vienna, Leverkusen, Berlin and Antwerp.


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New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for August, finished at $83.91 a barrel, down $2.08 from Monday's closing level.
In London trade, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in August shed $2.35 to settle at $97.97 a barrel.
"Prices gave back Monday's gains to slide lower as Norway's government intervened in a labour strike and ordered a last-minute settlement to prevent a full closure of its oil industry," said Sucden analyst Myrto Sokou.
"It should be noted that the oil strikes in Norway that started two weeks ago, had already cut oil production by 13 percent from the world's No. 8 producer.
Norwegian oil fields ramped up output on Tuesday after the government intervened to end a 16-day strike over pensions that would have halted production by western Europe's largest crude exporter.
Norway's state-owned giant Statoil, the company most affected by the strike, said it was ramping up to resume production and expected normal output levels by week's end.
The government's move to settle the dispute angered unions, who said their negotiation options had been narrowed.
"We are very disappointed," said Martin Sheen, who represents the Industri Energi union. "We think it was not necessary at all."
The dispute over pensions between unions and employers will now go to binding arbitration.
The lockout would have prevented more than 6,500 people from going to work on the Norwegian continental shelf and cut off production of about two million barrels of oil equivalent a day.
Market sentiment was also dented on Tuesday by fresh fears about the oil demand outlook for China, the world's biggest energy-consuming nation where slowing growth has markets on edge.
"Disappointing Chinese import figures are adding to the burden on prices," added Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch.
"China imported considerably less crude oil in June due to the fact that refineries sharply cut their capacity utilization last month," he said.


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Have you seen the latest pics of Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor from their recent photo shoot?
Both the actresses glam in western clothing and they looks fabulous!
The two of them are reputed actresses in Bollywood today with films doing significantly good at the Box Office.
If you haven't taken a look their recent pics, here are they below:


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Every neighborhood has "that house." You know the one - picture perfect with immaculate landscaping, off-the-chart curb appeal and an overall ooh-la-la feeling. We all agree that "that house" can ultimately enhance the look and feel of an entire neighborhood, but what if ooh-la-la, picture-perfect landscaping just isn't your style?
Your friends at Grounds Guys® believe that home landscaping can absolutely reflect your personality and style. After all, attractive landscaping doesn't have to require multiple types of shrubbery, abundant flower gardens, and waterfall fountains. We're not at all condoning a metropolitan jungle in your front yard though. As a matter of fact, HGTV has a great list of the top 7 landscaping don'ts that we whole-heartedly support.
What you can do, however, is add a few personal touches to your yard that will enhance your landscaping and show your personality at the same time.
Rocks: Do you like the idea of a rock garden, but find plain ol' ordinary rocks, well...ordinary? Add pizazz to your rock garden with painted rocks. BHG.com has easy-to-follow tips to add a splash of color to your rocks. It's the sophistication and low-maintenance convenience that comes with a rock garden, just with a twist.
Butterflies: Butterflies just have a way of making things pretty. What's really cool is butterflies not only add a flare of beauty to your yard, but they also pollinate your garden. Butterflies are attracted to bright, fragrant flowers so create a flower garden of marigolds and zinnias. And don't forget to feed the butterflies. Brightnest.com has great DIY instructions for making a butterfly feeder for your yard.
Lighting: Remember trying to catch lightning bugs as a child? There's something almost magical about those little fireflies. The same can be said with adding a little lighting accent to your landscape. DIY Network has some wonderful landscape lighting ideas to get you started.
So, as you see, adding a bit of personality can actually enhance your yard and bring out the best in your landscaping. Who knows...your yard may just end up being "that house" in the neighborhood.


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This is a reader-submitted story.
1. I have had chronic daily headache (CDH) for 5 years.
2. The first headache I remember is: I was nine years old, and it was around Christmastime. My third grade teacher was making gingerbread men ornaments for us to take home, and the smell of the spices was so strong it triggered my very first migraine.
3. After my first headache, it took 5 years to get a diagnosis of migraine headache. At that point, I began taking daily preventatives. My migraines were episodic at the time; they transformed into chronic daily type in 2011.
4. My pain level fluctuates.
5. My typical pain level ranges from a 6 to a 10, but normally hovers around a 7.
6. In addition to pain, my symptoms include: dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, aphasia, mood swings, ringing in my ears, blurred vision, depersonalization, neck spasms, sensitivity to light and sound, allodynia on my face and scalp, and irritation to my trigeminal nerve (I also have trigeminal neuralgia).
7. Treatments I have tried include: everything, basically, but to break it down, I've tried beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, anti-epileptic agents, gabapentin/lyrica, oral contraceptive, SSRIs and SNRIs, Botox, occipital nerve blocks, DHE infusions, deacon infusions, methergine, massage, acupuncture, and cognitive therapy. I've tried others, I'm sure, but that's what I remember from the top of my head.
8. I take too many medications/supplements each day for prevention and not the right medications/supplements when the pain becomes unbearable. My go-tos for prevention are nadolol, methergine, Savella, magnesium, clonazepam, topamax, iron, and oral contraceptive. My abortives are indocin, migranal, tizanidine, vicodin, promethazine, zofran, and compazine.
9. When the pain gets bad, I usually wind up stuck in bed for days/weeks on end and inevitably I wind up admitted into the hospital for inpatient treatment.
10. The most frustrating part about having CDH is my loss of autonomy.
11. Because of CDH, I worry about not being able to provide for myself and not being able to be a productive member of society; my mother and my grandmother need my help, specifically, and with me being this sick, I can't do anything for them at all, even though I desperately want to.
12. When I tell someone I have CDH, the response is usually a mixture of lack of understanding and a shallow "oh I hope you get better soon" which, really, is the same thing.
13. When I see how little research and information exists on CDH, I feel invalidated. Billions of dollars can go towards obesity, for example, which in most cases can be completely prevented, and yet migraine is left out in the cold.
14. Having CDH has affected my work/school life so negatively that I can no longer enroll in classes. I should have graduated with my diploma in 2011. It's now 2015 and I still have almost 2 years left before I'll be done.
15. Having CDH has affected by family life in the sense that it has fractured my relationships with everybody. Not being able to handle phone calls and not being able to drive places to meet with people, or not being able to handle looking at my cell phone to FaceTime relatives has been horrific because I have essentially been cut off from my family.
16. The one word that best describes my experience with CDH is chthonic.
17. My best coping tools are sleeping, praying, sleeping, and spending time with my mom. And sleeping.
18. I find comfort in knowing that I am not alone. I am not the only person suffering from CDH, and that gives me more comfort than words can say.
19. I get angry when people say it's just a headache, because it really isn't.
20. I like it when people say that my pain is real and that I am allowed to have my moments of remorse over my situation.
21. Something kind someone has done for me in relation to CDH? One time my mom rubbed cream into my feet for four hours while I was vomiting and sobbing my eyes out from pain on Christmas Day in the ER of all places when my migraines had just started to transform to chronic daily. I will never forget that. Ever.
22. The best thing a doctor has ever said to me about CDH is that he believes my pain is real. By contrast, the worst thing a doctor has ever done was prescribe two Tylenol pills to swallow while I was actively vomiting while admitted inpatient to treat 10/10 pain.
23. The hardest thing to accept about having CDH is knowing that at the age of 26, I might never live to see a pain-free day for the rest of my life.
24. Having CDH has taught me patience. It has taught me to be patient with other people (like doctors and nurses and strangers when I'm not feeling well), but most importantly, it has taught me to be patient with myself. I can't rush myself to the point of pain, to the point where I lose my sanity or my health. My well-being has to be a priority, and I am the only person capable of ensuring it remains that way.
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that helps me cope with CDH comes from a Catholic saint who was a nun back in the 1600s. St. Teresa of Ávila suffered from chronic daily headaches and everybody basically thought she was crazy until some of her writings were corroborated by writings that were being made in convents in other locations at the time, so basically, she was vindicated. She lived every single day in excruciating pain, and yet she had the peace of mind to write these words:
"Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are changing:
God alone is changeless.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices."
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself to buckle up because it's gonna get bumpy, but DON'T GIVE UP. Also, ginger really helps with nausea so buck up and ignore the taste.
27. The people who support me most are my mom, my step-dad, and my grandma. If my dogs counted as people, I would include them as well.
28. The thing I most wish people understood about CDH is that it is a DAILY headache. It's not a cop-out excuse. I sort-of hate the word "headache" in the official terminology because at least for me, it's not a daily "headache" – it's a daily "want-to-vomit-oh-god-the-room-is-spinning-the-sun-is-too-bright-why-is-everything-so-freaking-loud" migraine. And maybe that's what I wish people would understand most about CDH. It's so much more than daily head pain. It's a complex syndrome of neurological symptoms that actively impedes daily activities and interferes – quite painfully, at that – with every attempt to eke out an actual "quality-of-life" existence in spite of the pain.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because it provides the opportunity for a common condition to receive the recognition and visibility it so deserves. Migraine is not just a head pain. It is a neurological condition that has a widespread effect on a person's body, within a person's family unit, and upon a person's community. Advocacy for research for treatments and, hopefully a cure, will hopefully allow millions of people to live a life free of pain and other symptoms. It will let people like me return to living a normal life.
30. One more thing I'd like to say about living with CDH is: It's hard. It's hard to wake up every morning and have that split-second where you think that your head might not hurt that day until you blink and realize that the pain is still there. It's hard when you sneeze and a lightning bolt shoots from the base of your neck towards the back of your eyes. It's hard when your favorite foods become fodder for the toilet. It's hard when you see your social circle slowly begin to dwindle and, eventually, disappear altogether. Living with chronic illness like CDH is not easy. It is not something a person wishes upon oneself. It's not something you can say "it gets better" to or "just don't give up" and magically feel better about it. However, there will be glimmers, sunny days and smiles and laughter and reminders of who you were before this disease consumed your life. And when you're reminded of who you were, cling to that memory. Underneath the pain and confusion and hurt and trauma of being invisibly ill, you're still you. And you are beautiful. And you will survive.
Reader-submitted stories solely represent the personal point of view, experience, and opinion of the author, not of The Daily Headache or Kerrie Smyres. Follow this link to learn how to share YOUR 30 Things about living with a headache disorder.


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Young Cities - research dimensions: urban planning and design | architecture
In the research dimension of urban planning and design we developed research methods and concepts for energy-efficiency from the neighborhood scale to the building scale. By working on a pilot project, our team explored urban planning and design concepts and practical ways to transform them into applicable manuals and laws.
Urban planning and design can have a remarkable influence on climate change mitigation and adaptation since both disciplines determine spatial structures that directly or indirectly influence energy consumption: firstly, the physical dimension of urban planning and design defines urban form, which determines the heating and cooling demand of buildings and therefore directly influences energy-consumption. Secondly, the structural dimension of urban planning and design determines densities, land use patterns and transport systems that influence the distribution of goods and users. This indirectly affects the energy consumption required for transportation. Thirdly, the procedural dimension of urban planning and design manages the plan-preparation and implementation process.
These three basic assumptions formed the pillars of this research dimension that aimed at developing, implementing and evaluating approaches for energy-efficiency in the built environment. Our team investigated the impacts that the structural (i.e. land use), physical (i.e. density, compactness) and procedural aspects (procedural management) of urban planning and design have on the mitigation of climate change, with special focus on the 35 ha Pilot Project in Hashtgerd New Town.
Weitere Informationen zum Forschungsprojekt Young Cities finden Sie hier: www.youngcities.de
AnsprechpartnerInnen im Fachgebiet
Institut für Stadt- und Regionalplanung [ISR]
Fachgebiet Bestandsentwicklung und Erneuerung von Siedlungseinheiten
Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Elke Pahl-Weber
Dipl.-Ing. Annette Wolpert, ISR
E-Mail: email@example.com
Dipl.-Ing. Nadine Kuhla-von Bergmann, ISR
E-Mail: email@example.com
(Stand: Berlin, August 2013)


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FarmVille Winter Wonderland Chapter 4 Goals: Everything you need to know
Now that the holidays have passed, I hope you're ready to dive back into some quests in FarmVille's Winter Wonderland, as Chapter 4 has now launched in the game. This chapter deals with snow sports, and according to details found by FarmVilleFreak, you'll have just two weeks to complete all twelve goals. Here's how to do just that.
Snow Sports
Get 3 Sets of Skis
Harvest 60 Gingerbread
Harvest one Winter Animal Pen
The Skis are earned by asking your friends to send them to you. This will be the case for any other "get X item" task in this entire goal series, unless we make a note of something otherwise. Your rewards for starting this goal series are 100 XP, a Snowshoe Rabbit and 2,500 coins.
Boards and Berries
Get 4 Snowboards
Harvest 70 Red Iceberries
Harvest a Snowshoe Rabbit
Reward: 200 XP, 2,500 coins and a Tubing Gnome
Keeping Warm
Get 4 Pairs of Ski Pants
Harvest 80 Holly
Craft Holly Wreath Twice
The Holly Wreath is crafted inside the Sweet Shoppe, with a single wreath being made out of two Holly, three Red Iceberry and two Chickpea bushels. For finishing this goal, you'll earn 200 XP, 2,500 coins and a Skiing Chicken.
A Snowboard to Remember
Get 5 Slalom Flags
Harvest 90 Mint Candy
Harvest 1 Skiiing Chicken
Reward: 400 XP, 2,500 coins and a Cheerleader Gnome
A Snowboard Story
Get 6 Sports Drinks
Harvest 100 Red Iceberries
Craft Peppermint Fudge Twice
Each bath of Peppermint Fudge is made using two Mint Candy, three Candied Yam and two Coffee bushels. When you finish this goal, you'll receive 400 XP, 2,500 coins and a Ski Rack.
Snowy Snowy Snowboard
Get 6 Fan Signs
Harvest 110 Iced Rice
Achieve Level 1 Mastery on Snowshoe Rabbit
Reward: 400 XP, 5,000 coins and a Tourist Chicken
A Penguin Bobsled Team
Get 7 Toboggans
Harvest 120 Gingerbread
Craft Peanut Brittle Twice
Each Peanut Brittle requires three Iced Rice, two Gingerbread and two Peanut bushels. When you finish this goal, you'll earn 500 XP, 5,000 coins and a Sports Fan Cow.
Bobsled Away
Get 8 Penguin Helmets
Harvest 120 Iced Rice
Harvest Sports Fan Cow Twice
Reward: 500 XP, 5,000 coins and a Winter Scoreboard
Don't Stop Bobsledding
Get 9 Sets of Penguin Goggles
Harvest 130 Carrotcicles
Craft Peanut Brittle Twice
Reward: 500 XP, 5,000 coins and a Penguin Tobbogan
Bonus Challenge 1
Get 10 Snow Sweepers
Harvest 140 Snow Tulips
Expand Winter Animal Pen to Level 2
Reward: 500 XP, 5,000 coins and a Snowboarding Duck
Bonus Challenge 2
Get 11 Magic Cleaning Dusts
Harvest 150 Frozen Grapes
Achieve Level 1 Mastery on Sports Fan Cow
Reward: 500 XP, 5,000 coins and a Bunny Slope Lift
Bonus Challenge 3
Get 12 Lift Passes
Harvest 150 Red Iceberries
Make Lollipop Recipe 4 times
Lollipops require at least a three-star Sweet Shoppe. Once you have upgraded to that point, a single Lollipop is crafted using two Snow Tulip, two Frozen Grape and three Blueberry bushels. For finishing this final goal in the series, you'll receive 1,000 XP, 10,000 coins and a Skiing Cow.
Remember, there are 12 goals here and only 14 days to complete them, which means that you don't have a lot of time to waste. If you've got enough land to plan ahead by planting certain crops before you actually reach their goals, I'd suggest doing just that as it definitely saves time in the long run. Either way, I wish you luck in completing all of these goals in time!
What do you think of these Chapter 4 goals in Winter Wonderland? Do you think you'll be able to complete them all (even the bonus challenges) in the time we've been given? Sound off in the comments.


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Two Proposed Housing Projects by Fortress Real Developments Receive OMB Approval
Dec 19, 2016, 10:17 ET
TORONTO, Dec. 19, 2016 /CNW/ - Fortress Real Developments (Fortress) is pleased to announce approvals were granted on two future residential housing developments by the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).
Lamb Development Corporation (LDC), Hyde Park Homes (Hyde Park) and Fortress have partnered on a condominium apartment development located at 53, 61 and 65 Ontario Street and 102 Berkley Street in the City of Toronto. The proposed development is being marketed and sold as East Fifty Five, a 25-storey, 276 unit high-rise building designed by Peter Clewes of ArchitectsAlliance. On November 24, 2016, the OMB approved the Zoning By-Law Amendment and granted Site Plan Approval, subject to the approval conditions.
Given the substantial sales to date, LDC, Hyde Park and Fortress are looking to start construction on this modern condominium project in early 2017.
Tercot Communities, Cityzen Developments and Fortress have partnered on a ground-oriented housing development located at 13735 Highway 27 in the community of Nobleton in the Township of King. The 52 acre property will include 34 net developable acres, the plans call for 150 single-detached homes with an average size of 3,500 square feet. In November 2016, the OMB concluded that the lands provide for a reasonable, logical and suitable expansion of the urban area boundary for greenfield development within Nobleton.
"The approval of these two projects is a testament to the experience of our in-house planning and stakeholder management team, and the vision and persistence of our development partners. This is just the first step in delivering high-quality housing to over 400 future GTA homebuyers" added Fortress Real Developments COO Vince Petrozza.
About The Companies
Fortress Real Developments Inc. is a Canadian real estate development company that seeks out and analyzes real estate development opportunities in major Canadian markets. The company is focused on quality projects with recognizable alpha in residential low-rise, high-rise, commercial and industrial market segments. For more information, visit: http://fortressrealdevelopments.com
Lamb Development Corp. is a high-rise condominium developer. For more information on LDC projects, visit: http://www.lambdevcorp.com
Hyde Park Homes Group is a real estate investment, development and construction company, go to http://hydeparkhomes.com for more information.
Tercot Communities is a builder and developer of single-family housing communities, visit http://tercot.com for more information on future developments.
Cityzen Developments is one of the GTA's most recognizable builders of urban communities, learn about them at http://blog.mycondomylife.com
SOURCE Fortress Real Developments
For further information: Natasha Alibhai, Fortress Real Developments Inc., [email protected], Phone: (905) 787-9266 ext. 235


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Some of you might have recently heard about Facebook's F8 Keynote. Zuck's jokes were corny as ever, but the tech was really astounding.
For the LARGE majority of these types of keynotes, you see a bunch of fancy stuff that will never really transfer over into the real world for many, many years. This is especially true with the current topic that they were covering in this keynote: augmented reality.
I'm sure most of you have heard of virtual reality, and have seen that this is something you can now just pick up at a store, and hook up to your son's new Playstation. However augmented reality takes that magical mumbo-jumbo of a virtual "real world" and instead superimposes really, really cool stuff over the world we all actually live in. It literally AUGMENTS the reality we're in.
I know, I know, all of you are thinking that there is NO WAY that this can relate to my small business. I'm not going to be developing apps to help my clients find my restaurant in augmented reality, or build an AR app that will allow me to quote a water damage repair in real time–there's no way that this will make sense financially, or time wise.
I'm telling that that you will, and it will make TONS of financial sense.
But what medium would this all go through? a $5,000 pair of sunglasses from the terminator? No it's all way easier than that. It all goes through your smart phone! the best part? It's in closed beta right now. This means that sometime this year this will be an open access item you can use to get ahead of your competition. Here are some cool–practical things you can do to make this stuff work for you as it comes down the pipeline. Now of course all of this might be completely different once it comes out, but the possibilities are still there, and it can only get better from here.
Tagging buildings with special information and directions –
This is something that is already doable thanks to google business listings– but not at the level that Facebook is implying. Imagine being able to have someone pull up to your location after driving there via GPS– and getting a notification to use the Facebook camera to look at the building. From there they would see where the main entrance is, what the specials are for the day, or even if someone is out of the office at that moment if there was a meeting they're expecting to go to. All of this can (and will) happen and update in real time, allowing you to promote new products before the customer is even in the store–and to offer special incentives to those who use this screen to learn more about the business.
Tagging individual products on a Facebook feed.
Imagine you're a wine dealer, and you're out on a nice picnic lunch with your wife at the park. You have made a wonderful spread with one of your most popular wines on the table. You snap a picture of the spread, and not only tag your wife and your business to the picture in general, but you create a specific product tag for the wine, which a clickable link that leads the viewer directly to your store to purchase the wine. You could do this for a virtual tour of your store, on individual promotional pictures, and pretty much anywhere else you think your product might appear. This opens up an amazing gamification to following a retailer's feed–as you can create special promotions for certain posts over others, motivating people to be mindful of your feed so they get the best deals– the increase in customer engagement from this alone could completely change a business.
Overlaying not-yet-purchased products onto a person, product, or home.
Imagine you're a company that sells premium siding. Your customer loves the products and understands that he needs it, but can't decide on the width of the battens, and the color. You simply hold up your phone to the home and have each individual siding superimposed on the house so that they can see in REAL TIME exactly what each siding would look like. Let's all remember here that loss aversion is a FAR stronger driver of sales than potential for gain. Imagine the feeling of loss when the client goes from seeing their shiny new home all done up in gorgeous siding, and then it disappears as they look at their drab, dirty home again. Once again a total game changer on so many fronts.
On the AI Front:
This is another interesting item that will truly change small business. You have all been to websites where there is a "live chat" that will help you find products or services you need. the thing about them right now is that they're a) on the person's website (not the main place people live online) and b) they're ran by people–even if they're outsourced customer service reps from India. Facebook wants to change that. Imagine having a "chatbot" that learns as it talks to your customers on Facebook messenger– and actually makes sales. Zuck didn't go into this in too much depth, but if you imagine a) the accessibility there to sell people on the spot with an automated "sales bot" that you can train (if you actually can train them) and also having this on FACEBOOK instead of having to funnel people to your website– you could see conversions increase tremendously if this is leveraged correctly, with almost no hands-on time spent on your part.
These are just a few that sprung to mind for me when I watched the keynote earlier this week. Facebook has truly evolved from its humble beginnings of a replacement for Myspace to a comprehensive "main page" of the internet, allowing you to collate tons of information, keep track of friends around the world, and share items in such a fun and dynamic way that the sky really is the limit when it comes to creativity in promoting products, and so many other things! Plus that Augmented Reality Art installation was so cool! (you'll have to watch the video for that)
Can you all think of other ways F8 will change online marketing? let me know in the comments.
Welcome to Mountain Man Digital, has your practice been relying solely on word of mouth for too long? Let our team of seasoned professionals build you a marketing system that get 10-30 new patients in the door every month, consider Working with Us.
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I had planned on taking pictures of the size tags in my clothes. Turns out I've cut most of them out. So I took a picture of a tape measure against a rad skull scarf instead. It's practically the same thing, right? (I know, it's totally not. Unless I wanted to get crazy deep and talk about our skeletons and maybe how the media is making us waste away and stuff. But I'm not going to.)
OK, here's how this whole thing came about. The other day I bought a size XS dress.
Actually, wait, that's not entirely how the idea for this post came about. I'm gonna be honest with you guys. And it might be a little embarassing. For me, not you, don't worry.
So…a couple of weeks back I bought some underwear on sale. Same as I always get. (When you find some you like, STOCK UP! Seriously I've got, like, 14 pairs. At least.) Anyway, I always get these in a large, right? (More on that in a minute). So I buy 2 pairs in large. A few days later I go to put a pair of them on and think, "Hmmm, they seem a little smaller than usual". And sure enough, they're a size small.
The swing tag said large but the inside tag said small. Note to self: check both next time!
But what do I do? I've already cut the tags off and washed them. Besides they were down to, like, $1.45 or something ridiculous. So I put them on (I tried writing "popped" and "whacked" but turns out you only ever "put" underwear on). And you know what? They fit.
Now, this is probably not revolutionary to you. In fact, you're probably wondering why I felt the need to broadcast my underwear habits to the world. And believe me! I'd rather not! I'm a private person (aside from posting outfits for the entire world to see, obviously) and generally do not go about dishing on my smalls. But it was one of those "Whoa" moments for me. And I'll tell you why.
Like I said before, I always buy my underwear in large. And same goes for my clothing, I always err on the side of bigger. Mostly this is because I prefer things that "don't touch me" (which is probably partially because I live in Queensland – "Hi, heat and humidity. Why you guys gotta be around all the time?") but if we're being honest, it's also because I think I'm bigger than I am. And it took a pair of size small undies to show me that.
Now back to that size XS dress I bought recently. XS? Yup. I don't know why I even took it into the change room (Actually I do – it was on sale (of course) and the only size there). But it fit. And it looked good. And I bought it.
The thing is, that same month I also bought a pair of jean shorts. Size 16 (also on crazy sale, of course). Which also fit (albeit a touch big but not falling off or anything).
How is it I can fit both an XS and a size 16?
You know how I said I always err on the side of bigger? Well, you know what happens as a result? You wind up believing you're bigger than you actually are.
A drawer full of size 16 shorts makes me think I'm a size 16.
Which I'm not. I know I'm not. But I don't really know, I'm not (you know?)
So I've started doing a little experiment lately. I bring a smaller size into the fitting room. Where I would usually grab a size 12 T-shirt, I grab a size 10. And you know what? Yup, they fit. It's a revelation. It's like all along I had this body and I didn't know.
And what I've taken from this whole thing, and I'd love you guys to as well, is this:
Those tags? Don't matter. Seriously. The only thing they do is assign you a number that you think defines you.
That number? Doesn't mean shit.
If I can be anything from an XS to a 16, then what number am I?
Scarf: Dotti
Tape measure: Lincraft


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Redskins draft countdown
The NFL draft is 17 days away and there is plenty of speculation as to what players the Redskins will select to wear the burgundy and gold. Between now and the draft we'll look at some of the players who might be of interest to the Redskins and discuss how they might fit in Washington.
I am not a scout but I will pass along my observations from watching some game tape of each of the players profiled here.
Christian McCaffrey
Running back
Height: 5-11
Weight: 202
40-yard dash: 4.48
Projected draft round: 1
What they're saying
Smooth, controlled stride length with choppy feet for instant cuts and change of direction. Plus vision with above average anticipatory feel for opening creases. Hugs contours of the running lane and staggers and stutters his feet to maneuver in tight quarters. Protects football while running through traffic. Reads keys quickly on stretch plays.
How he fits the Redskins: The Redskins have given their defense a boost in free agency with some free agent acquisitions and the move of Su'a Cravens to safety. The offense, however, was hit by the free agency losses of DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garçon. They could make up for some of the lost production with the addition of a back like McCaffrey.
Rob Kelley can get you 1,000 yards on the ground but that may be his ceiling. He can be effective but not one of the centerpieces of an NFL offense. With his speed and elusiveness, McCaffrey can. And if Kirk Cousins is going to be gone in a year—and despite what many fans want to believe that seems to be more of a probability than a possibility—the Redskins will need to have someone to feature offensively.
His versatility is key. He's not going to be able to carry 25 times a game consistently but nobody does these days. Ezekiel Elliott led the NFL in carries with 20 per game. An average of 16 carries per game gets a player in the top 10 in rushing attempts. So while there may be concern that McCaffrey can't be a workhorse back, there is really is no such animal in the modern NFL.
Film review (2016 unless indicated): vs. USC, vs. Arizona
McCaffrey fumbled just three times in his three college seasons and one of them came early in this game against USC. It was a careless type of fumble as he didn't have the ball secured as he was going to the ground. Later in the first half he made a nice stutter step to get wide open but the quarterback overthrew him.
McCaffrey was effective lined up next to the quarterback in the shotgun and in the I-formation and as a single back with the QB behind center. A few times he took a direct shotgun snap and gained yardage. He can find running room between the tackles as well as outside. In one goal to go series against Southern Cal he ran three straight times out of a four-point stance and pounded in for the touchdown on fourth and one. McCaffrey can play like a small back when the situation calls for it but he can be just as effective as a bigger back when needed.
McCaffrey is a matchup nightmare against a linebacker trying to cover him coming out of the backfield. He just needs a step and he turn a short catch into an explosive play.
His outside runs are nice but his runs between the tackles, as he reads his blocks and pick his way through traffic, are the most fun to watch. He is able to break tackles not because he powers through them but because the defenders rarely get a clean shot at him.
McCaffrey isn't asked to pass protect much and he has a tendency to dive at the pass rushers legs. He'll need some coaching up in the NFL.
Potential issues: There must be some concern about his size even though he was pretty durable in college, missing only a few games besides the bowl game he famously decided to sit out. It's one thing lasting at 5-11, 202 in college; he will be pounded more in the NFL.
And he has already taken some pounding. In the last two years he has 590 rushing attempts and 82 receptions. That's a lot of punishment and it would be a concern even with a larger back.
Then there is the question of if running back would be the best use of the Redskins' No. 17 pick. While they have upgraded the defense, they could always use more help there. And even though Jay Gruden has said that he loves Rob Kelley if they do want to upgrade there will be plenty of quality backs available later in the draft.
Bottom line: Bruce Allen has said that the Redskins will take the player on the board who has the best grade. It's quite possible that there won't be a defensive lineman, inside linebacker, or even a guard on the board with a better grade than McCaffrey. For that matter, it's not a given that McCaffrey will be there.
But if he is, he might be too good to pass up. The defense might have plenty of time to rest up if McCaffrey is added to what could be a potent passing attack.
In his own words:
When asked about his position flexibility:
Something I really pride myself on is not just being a running back that can catch the ball but if I move out to the slot, I become a receiver. If I move out to X or Z, I become a receiver and not just a running back. I really try to pride myself on route running, catching and being able to be a mismatch anywhere on the field.
Previously in Redskins draft countdown:
- Wisconsin OLB T.J. Watt
- Alabama ILB Reuben Foster
- Temple LB Haason Reddick
- Vanderbilt LB Zach Cunningham
- Washington S Budda Baker
- Michigan State LB Malik McDowell
- Miami QB Brad Kaaya
- Virginia Tech WR Isaiah Ford
Stay up to date on the Redskins! Rich Tandler covers the team 365 days a year. Like his Facebook page Facebook.com/TandlerCSN and follow him on Twitter @Rich_TandlerCSN.


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What are your thoughts on Matt Anderson?
I was very surprised by how out-of-sorts Anderson looked during the spring. This is a kid who kicked through a gnarly bruise deep in his quad throughout the All-Star season in the winter, and has hit 50-yarders in games and a pair of bombs -- 58-yarder and a 62-yarder - at the Cal camp a year ago, so he's got plenty of leg, but he was very uneven during the spring. The good thing for the Bears is that they have Vince D'Amato returning as the starter, who can give Anderson a year to work out whatever kinks he had, maybe due to lingering effects of that injury he sustained in the final game of his senior season, when he got a helmet to the quad. He's a tough, smart kid who I think will develop into a fine collegiate kicker. He has a nice, repeatable motion with a smooth swing and great flexibility. He's not the biggest guy out there, even among kickers, but he's very athletic and, to borrow a phrase from The Replacements, he's "wirey."
Looking ahead to 2014, who are the biggest prospects that Cal should be after?
Now that we're halfway through this recruiting cycle, we can see the needs with a bit more clarity. Cal needed to restock the running back corps and the defensive backfield, so the top targets should be Joe Mixon (more on that later), John Plattenburg (very, very possible he comes out with a choice at The Opening or soon thereafter), Adarius Pickett and Naijiel Hale. With one DB (Koa Farmer) and two running backs (Tre Watson and Vic Enwere) in the barn already (though UCLA and BYU are coming very hard after the Corona Centennial back), even if Cal can't wrangle Mixon (and they would still like to, make no mistake about that) the Bears are still in good position with D.J. Calhoun, Pickett and Michael Lazarus. Although the Bears don't really need more than one linebacker (Calhoun, Chandler Leniu, Brandon Lee, Joey Alfieri and Ricky Liuchan are the main candidates there), they'll take Lazarus if it meant getting Mixon and the others, but they would have to commit before Lazarus. Cal could also take up to three running backs (making room for both Mixon or others, meaning that up to eight of the 15-17 spots available are going to either running backs or defensive backs. Luckily, this year's crop of both positions is quite deep.
What are the biggest needs for Cal in the 2014 recruiting class?
Kind of answered this one in the previous answer, but I don't think it can be understated: Cal needs defensive backs. To drive that home, the 2013 secondary will be very, very thin behind expected starting corners Kameron Jackson and Stefan McClure, with Adrian Lee and Isaac Lapite having a combined 14 games and one start between them. Behind expected starting safeties Avery Sebastian and Alex Logan, backups Damariay Drew and Michael Lowe have a combined 12 games and no starts.
As for the other need - running back - Cal's going to have a fairly strong trio of Brendan Bigelow, Daniel Lasco and Khalfani Muhammad, but as we saw during the spring, beyond that top group, the cupboard is just about bare. Depending on what happens with Bigelow, draft-wise (and that will all depend on his season, of course), the Bears will be OK in the backfield in 2014, with Muhammad and Lasco, but behind them, there won't be much depth. Tre Watson is a Swiss army knife of a tailback, and after Cal landed well-rounded big back Vic Enwere out of Texas to provide a complimentary skill set, it would seem that the Bears are just about done at running back. Just about. Given some roster attrition, we could see Cal take a third receiver or a third running back, but I think a third receiver is the more likely scenario. For the Bears to take a third running back, it would have to be one of three (and that's not counting Charles Sims, the transfer from Houston, who doesn't look like an option from Cal's point of view), with the chief among those being Joe Mixon. Basically, they're only going to take another back if it's a big-splash guy.
Don't forget, with the return of the name BearTerritory.net to its rightful owner this past week, we're running a special promo: Get 2 months free (to get you to the football season!) when you buy a full year-long subscription, using the code: BEARTERRITORY.


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I receive a veritable ton of printed books from publishers and writers kindly asking for reviews in the Tucson Weekly. (Hint: I have a Kindle. Just e-mail me a PDF, OK?) I'm unable to evaluate 90 percent for any number of reasons: limited space, limited schedule, the book has already been assigned to another reviewer, etc. But the main reason is that so many books, even from reputable publishing houses, are weak and not worth reading. So when All the Faces I Have Been: An Actor's Notebook arrived in my mailbox, I barely mustered the enthusiasm necessary to turn the very first page.
I'm so glad I did.
Amateur or formally untrained poetry isn't something I normally recommend, much less review. But occasionally a writer possesses an instinctive command of language and enough raw creativity to delight readers, which is certainly the case with William Killian's poetry debut. Even if it's a little naïve in its construction and purpose, All the Faces, published by Tucson-based Imago Press, is a fascinating life journal of a unique soul that only a hip city like Tucson could accommodate.
Killian is a jack of all trades—medical chaplain, actor, basketball free-throw specialist and many other things including, now, published poet. But his credentials prior to this book are nonexistent. He doesn't have a creative writing degree. All he possesses are a wealth of experience and talent with which to tell his stories.
But this isn't Killian's autobiography in verse, or so he insists in his introduction:
This is an actor's notebook, notes in the form of poems written from the perspective of characters I have played on and off set, backstage, and in the audience. ... As an actor and writer, the worst thing you could ask me is, "Did that really happen?" No, of course not. This is fiction, a book of poetry.
If Killian had ever spent more than a minute in a proper (i.e., university-sponsored) creative writing workshop or even just seen the Gwenyth Paltrow-starring film Sylvia (about autobiographical bard Sylvia Plath), he'd know that the postwar confessional poetry movement has forever eradicated the idea of poetry as being purely made up. Gone are the days of Poe and Whitman, making up visions and adventures wholesale. Today it's all about the poet and his or her individual experiences. The collectivism of poetry is a thing of the past. It's "I" or nothing.
Still, for the most part, Killian's book gathers dramatic roles he has inhabited throughout his theatrical career. Indeed, he explores in verse form the inner lives of characters he has played on stage and in film during a 50-year career. (Killian is a member of three actors unions, including SAG.) He provides no context for these character-based poems, no identification as to which character might be speaking. Fine, because you don't need a synopsis to process "Daily Rituals for Older Couples," which celebrates aging and its attendant anxieties with humor, as in this excerpt:
Disbelieve the kids when they tell you their ages,
re-check the living room photos from years ago,
look at old family albums. Cry. Plan the funeral,
songs and all, update the will with who gets what,
ask yourself why you went to school as long as you did.
Regret that you didn't make the kids go to school longer.
Further raising eyebrows and undermining his claim that the book's contents are fiction? Poems like, well, the one about his wife ("Linda Killian: A Forty-Nine Year Lover") and another relating his precocious view of the world at age 5 ("William L. Killian III"). They're wonderful, sentimental. If they're fiction, they don't read like it.
Killian is at his best when he spins a funny yet melancholy tale, as he does in the affecting "We Deliver." In it, the speaker, whose phone number is one digit off from Pizza Hut's, decides to go ahead and deliver a pie. The joke collapses at the door of the house, where members of the sherriff's department are grieving. I won't give the poem away except to say it's excellent and representative of Killian's deft touch.
I don't mean to suggest Killian reached this level of proficiency through sheer talent alone. He obviously put work into the endeavor of poetry. In addition to everything else he does, Killian also has a DVD out called Nail It, which explains his "nine-step process toward improving basketball free-throwing skills." Practice makes perfect, even in verse, and Killian knows it. And with All the Faces, Killian nails it.


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In Focus
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Facing the Unfair World
|by S. C. Arora
No man who ever lived on this earth has escaped confrontation with the most baleful fact of existence: that one's journey through life is beset with inequities; that selfishness, unreason and sometimes-downright wickedness vie with justice and fair-play. The treachery of one against another has been the leitmotif of some people in the tapestry of human civilization.
What wrong had the 59 'kar sevaks' done, who were charred to death at Godhra in S–6 coach of Sabarmati Express on Feb 27, 2002? Or what was the crime of 1267 people butchered in riots that broke out across North and Central Gujarat after the Godhra carnage? Or what reprehensible act had the Sikh community indulged in that they had to suffer the pogrom in November 1984 immediately after the assassination of Indira Gandhi?
Not only humans but even Nature is no less cruel. A falling rock may tumble down on a perfectly innocent wayfarer, a snake might lodge its poison in the tender body of a sleeping infant in a jhuggi, or an earthquake may entomb the entire unsuspecting, slumbering population of a town. The devastation of Latur in the 1993 earthquake comes to one's mind immediately. Tornadoes, Hurricanes and Tsunamis may cause havoc by way of wanton destruction and death. One recalls with trepidation the ruination of the Pacific Coast of Japan caused by the 97 foot high Tsunami in March 2011 that also triggered the nuclear crisis at Fukushima. The fury of Nature is etched indelibly in the human psyche.
I have observed that most of the time whenever one is deprived of some power Nature ensures that as compensation, some other faculty gets strengthened. Also it is worth remembering, that at times what appears injustice on the surface, on closer and deeper examination, turns out to be absolutely fair. Some decisions taken by senior people may appear bizarre but we must not forget that at any given time decisions are taken on the basis of information available then and seeing the ground realities. The aggrieved party, oblivious of the full facts, always grumbles. No doubt while you struggle, many people get undeserved promotion or an award but let us not forget they are outnumbered a thousand times by deserving, hardworking people.
Life does not follow the script written by us. Most of us like to live in our comfort zones. We like to play safe. We invest money at the safest place. We drive the safest possible cars. We build safest houses. We like to retain safe jobs. But there are other kinds of people also who are adventurous, who take risks. They may fail on an odd occasion but they are the ones who ultimately succeed and open new avenues for others.
The world troubles us not because there is something wrong with it but the lens through which we see it is perhaps dusty or defective! The world is never what our ego and self-centeredness demand it to be. Not everyone will see the greatness we see in ourselves. Life does not conform to our transient expectations. We are unable to see the complete reality because of our limited awareness. We are lost in our narrow existence of everyday living. If the whole world was our canvas we would not feel the world as fair or unfair. We do not realize the importance of things in our lives till they are gone. Thinking that our boss is overbearing and rude we change our job. But we find other irritants and pinpricks at the new place as well and think that the earlier position was better.
In becoming deeply aware of the so-called whimsical world, there comes a deep understanding and meaningful revelations of the unfathomable designs of the cosmic forces. This understanding helps us greatly in facing the apparently unfair world. Many times we experience extreme despair but that brings in its wake an understanding of the human condition. If we remove from our minds the victim mentality i.e. 'I' as a victim always, and look deeper into the purpose of life beyond the sensory and the immediate world, we shall discern that injustice is not so prevalent as it is made out to be.
Some ups and downs in life are inevitable. We shall not be able to avoid some discomfort, some difficult moments but if we give up, something in us will die. That would be a major catastrophe. We should continue to struggle all the time. The result may not always be what we want it to be, but we should remain undaunted by the unpredictability of the fruits of our actions.
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The most memorable scenes from "The Game" »
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There's nothing about ornery, strong, independent women that riles Wendy Raquel Robinson. Perhaps it's one of the reasons why her role as Tasha Mack, the overprotective mother and on-again, off-again manager of her football player–son on the CW sitcom "The Game," resonates so much with her fans. "I often play these women who are extremely strong, but in real life, I live a life of normalcy" said Robinson, who founded the Amazing Grace Conservatory with her friend, the late Tracy Lamar Coley. The children of Blair Underwood and Regina King attend the school. "I'm not a Hollywood type, but more of a stay-at-home-wit- my-family kind of gal." Portraying characters that are the total antithesis of her being has served Robinson well, earning her praise from her peers and superiors. ESSENCE.com engaged in some real talk with the former dancer and acting coach about her alter-ego Tasha, dumb jocks, and how she hopes Hollywood will benefit from having a Black president.
ESSENCE.COM: Wendy, we love you! As Tasha, the on-again, off-again momager of Malik (Hosea Chanchez), you take no prisoners and tell it like it is. What's Tasha's biggest flaw?
WENDY RAQUEL ROBINSON: Well, she's one of those sisters who will always put her son's life and career ahead of hers, to make sure that he's protected and gets what she deserves. She's also a woman who speaks her mind without thinking twice, and if she did, maybe she'd take a second to consider the consequences of the possibility of hurting someone's feelings or ruining a relationship. She's too strong to be weak, but that comes from being a single mom and having to be everything for her son. My character is inspired by a dear friend of mine whose son is an up-and-coming rapper as well as the relationship between Malcolm-Jamal Warner and his mom whom I've known for a long time. I've always admired their relationship and how much he adores and respects her and what she has contributed to his personal and career growth.
ESSENCE.COM: But this season, Tasha meets her match in her coworker Rick Fox. How does he challenge her, and what other introspections will she encounter this season?
ROBINSON: She does have an epiphany; she witnesses Rick's mother's behavior and realizes that she's worse than she is, but is able to draw a clear parallel between her and her son's relationship and Rick and his mom's relationship. It helps her to release her son so that he can become his own man. Also, she's in love with her coworker Rick, but they've got to keep it on the low-low. Rick is no pushover and he's the one who's going to check Tasha like, Wait a minute; you can't talk to me any ol' kind of way. And that's when she begins to soften and all that tough-girl act begins to melt away.
ESSENCE.COM: Leave it to Pretty Ricky to have to set you straight! If you had to play a position on the field, what would it be?
ROBINSON: You know what, now? The Leo in me would have to be the wide-receiver, because I want to make the touchdown, and I want to shine. The quarterback, that's too much pressure. I like to be the go-to person. I don't have to be a star because I'm a team player. Give it to me and I'll take the ball. Although most folk will say it's all about the quarterbacks, they wouldn't be anyone without a great receiver. Again, I don't want to carry the weight of victory all on my back, nor do I want to be the captain. I am just happy to be a part of a great ensemble.
ESSENCE.COM: (Laughs.) Great choice as the receiver. Often, athletes have had the stigma of "the dumb jock." How would Tasha deal with a dumb jock?
ROBINSON: My girlfriend and me came up with this word— "dumb-assity." For example, the poor with the dog incident, Michael [Vick]—I can't say he's a dumb jock, but as a [Black man], people will hold you accountable at a whole other level than they will other folk.
ESSENCE.COM: (Laughs.) Understood. The election is 31 days away. How has the election affected you personally and professionally?
ROBINSON: Depending on the outcome, there could be some civil unrest. I have never seen so many actors or people of various races and creeds get involved in an election and trying to get the word out for folk to vote and make change happen. On a personal level, it's not so much about the candidacy but about surrendering and seeing what difference I can make as a voter. In Hollywood, we [Blacks] are so underrepresented, and I'm truly concerned about African-Americans' futures in entertainment. Who knows what this could mean, not only for the world but how [Hollywood] might be affected if Barack were to win. Change won't happen overnight because it would take him a good four to eight years to clean up this mess with the country, but perhaps under his leadership, maybe more images of us will be reflected on the big and small screen and maybe there will be more acceptance.
View photos from "The Game" Premiere Party »