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Voting rights proposal certified for Michigan's November ballot
Delta Township — State elections officials on Thursday added a third proposal to the Nov. 6 ballot that would expand voting rights in Michigan.
The Board of State Canvassers voted unanimously to certify signatures for a ballot initiative that would amend the Michigan Constitution to allow for no-reason absentee voting by mail, guarantee continued straight-party voting and let residents register to vote up to and on Election Day.
The approval from canvassers comes a day before the deadline for inclusion on the November ballot and roughly a week after the ballot committee Promote the Vote asked a federal judge to force state certification of the proposal.
Canvassers on Friday will consider a proposed summary for the November ballot that highlights the initiative's straight ticket voting provision, no reason absentee voting and eased voter registration rules.
Promote the Vote submitted petitions to the state July 9, but the Bureau of Elections determined there were not enough valid signatures in an initial review sample to trigger automatic recommendation for approval.
The bureau announced earlier this month it would review a larger sample of 3,300 signatures before recommending approval or denial to the Board of State Canvassers.
Elections officials found 2,901 valid signatures among those they reviewed, 55 more than the 2,846 valid signatures required to pass. The Bureau of Elections recommended the proposal's certification.
The ballot committee will be canvassing voters and investing in television, digital and mail advertising to educate voters about the initiative, said Todd Cook, campaign director for Promote the Vote.
The summary for the proposal, which is expected to be approved Friday, will join two other proposals that legalize recreational marijuana and create an independent citizens' redistricting commission.
"That's one of the concerns we have obviously with a busy ballot, to make sure people flip over their ballot and complete it all the way to the bottom," Cook said.
Canvassers also approved the 100-word summary for a ballot proposal that would legalize recreational marijuana.
The language outlines the proposal's plan to legalize the purchase, possession and use of up to 10 ounces of marijuana. The language also outlines the proposed authorization of the sale of marijuana in municipalities that allow it and the dedication of a 10 percent tax on marijuana sales to items including implementation costs, schools, roads and municipalities.
The ballot language paints a clear picture of the basics of the proposal but does not mention additional restrictions on use such as the continued ban on public consumption, continuing laws against driving under the influence and businesses' rights to prohibit employee use, said Josh Hovey, a spokesman for the ballot committee, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol.
"We're confident that voters will see through the opposition's scare tactics and see Proposal 1 for the responsible initiative that it is that builds on the best practices of other states that have come before us," Hovey said in a statement.
After concerns from the board, wording was added to the proposal that clarifies the plan would change the penalties for marijuana violations from crimes to civil infractions.
"This is a dramatic change in current law and it should be reflected in the language," Board of State Canvassers Chairman Norman Shinkle said in arguing for the additional wording.
(517) 371-3661


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A Local Crop's Prized Compound
Clary sage helps make the world smell goodBy Leah Chester-Davis
Photo by Leah Chester-Davis
It's not often that you hear a farmer talking about the benefits of eastern North Carolina's sandy loam soil and in the same conversation mention the French luxury brand Chanel.
But Chowan County farmer Mike Parrish does just that as he wades into a sea of tall, spiky clary sage plants to check how soon they might be harvested. Parrish is one of about 100 farmers in the region — and one of very few places in the entire United States — growing clary sage. Clary sage has a substance used in fine perfumes (including Chanel fragrances), laundry detergents and fabric softeners to make the scent last longer. In other words, North Carolina helps make the world smell good.
Avoca extracts a prized compound known as sclareol from the plants. A bioconversion process transforms a wax-like substance to crystals. It's purified and then recrystallized, explains Dr. David Peele, president of the company. That purified crystallized substance, known as sclareolide, is what Avoca sells to fragrance companies in Europe, which use it to produce the fixative that makes scents last longer. They then sell it worldwide, including to such household product powerhouses as Proctor & Gamble and Unilever. It ends up in many of the products in the laundry aisle of your favorite grocery store, in addition to fine perfumes.
Showstopper crop
When in full bloom, clary sage paints thousands of acres of the eastern North Carolina landscape pink, purple or white, depending on the variety. In May and until the crop is harvested in June, it is a real showstopper. One of the favored stories among farmers and Avoca employees is how beach-goers traveling down Highway 64 will stop and pick a bouquet, only to throw it out of their cars and onto the roadside a few miles down the road. It has an overpowering aroma.
For Parrish and other farmers, clary sage came along at the right time, when the tobacco buyout program meant many farmers needed to transition to new crops.
"Clary sage filled that void," says Parrish, a third-generation farmer who has several crops in rotation — peanuts, wheat, sage, soybeans and cotton. "When the crop was first grown, it was used only in perfumes. You can't wash it out. That's why Chanel uses it in their perfume, because it's the best fixative."
When Avoca expanded its reach, getting companies to use the sage‑based fixative in laundry detergents and fabric softeners, the demand for the crop grew. Parrish and other farmers benefited.
"It's been huge. Tobacco used to be our money crop. Sage filled that void, and I was thrilled to get out of tobacco and for something to replace it."
Unusual roots
Ironically, while clary sage has replaced tobacco as a high-value crop on some of the region's farms, the roots of the clary sage crop and the extraction facility extend back to the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.
In the 1960s, R.J. Reynolds wanted to replicate a Turkish tobacco flavor. The plan was to grow clary sage for the purpose of using sclareolide as a starting point, says Peele, who worked for the company from 1978 to 2003. The company embarked on growing its own crop and contracting with a few growers but by the mid-1960s abandoned the project. The extraction plant was mothballed.
In the mid-1970s, a German company approached R.J. Reynolds about getting back into the clary sage business to produce sclareolide, an essential ingredient in ambroxide, a fixative used in the fragrance industry. The product is the substitute for ambergris, a byproduct from sperm whale digestion. (Ambergris, sometimes called gray amber, occasionally washes up on beaches as a dark gray or black lump. It has long been prized for its seemingly unlikely use in fine perfumes. As far back as the late 1600s, it is noted in literature for its trade appeal for those seeking fortune. Herman Melville's Moby‑Dick, published in 1851, includes a chapter about ambergris.)
A combination of factors contributes to the need for the clary sage compound to replace ambergris: the sperm whale's endangered status and the demand for a fixative for a multitude of products.
"There is not enough ambergris produced naturally to be able to supply the fragrance industry," says Peele.
When R.J. Reynolds divested of the extraction facility in early 2003, Peele and a partner bought the company and continued the name Avoca, which was part of a New Jersey company known as Pharmachem Laboratories. Last year, Avoca was purchased by Ashland Group Holdings, a $3 billion specialty ingredient company. While clary sage and its resulting product happen to be Avoca's largest, the company also extracts other compounds from other plants for the dietary supplement industry.
"It gives a warm, very luxurious note to the fragrance besides the long-lasting effect," Guus Gerritsen, Avoca's director of sales and marketing, says about the sage-based product. "So for fine fragrances it is mainly the amber woody note whereas in consumer products it's the long-lasting effects."
Famous plants
Over the past couple of years, nationally aired TV advertisements have given a nod to the North Carolina crop. Commercials tout the long-lasting scent of "Gain flings!" laundry detergent. One shows a man, played by actor Ty Burrell from the TV show "Modern Family," on a beach holding a green scarf, which had apparently been washed a month ago but still holds its pleasant scent.
"That is because of this product right here," says Peele as he picks up a small cosmetic tub on a conference table at the Avoca headquarters. That is because Merry Hill, North Carolina, grows clary sage. It is the most beautiful commercial in the world as far as I'm concerned."
It's also a source of pride for Parrish that the crop he raises is used in national and international brands. But changes seem to be on the horizon, one that may affect Carolina farmers. Parrish shares that in the 30 years he has grown the crop, this is the first year that acreage has been reduced. Peele attributes that to a surplus as a result of high yields in recent years. He says the amount of acreage grown each year likely will be adjusted based on inventory.
Parrish and other farmers are concerned it signals that big companies are switching from a natural product to a synthetic one. Peele confirms that alternative sources of fixatives are available to large customers.
"As always, it is a performance versus cost issue depending on the price a consumer is willing to pay for a fragrance or laundry product," he explains, adding that he expects clary sage to continue to be grown in eastern North Carolina for the foreseeable future of 10 to 20 years.
"You just wish you could get everybody to figure it out, that natural products are being used, and you hope it would matter what the consumer thinks," Parrish says.
As he walks to his truck, he turns his attention back to the sandy soil. He mentions how it helps water drain into a nearby swamp, and the expertise the company provides to him and other farmers growing the crop (sage has a tiny seed and has to be planted much shallower than other crops).
"People ask us how we grow such pretty sage. We have the expertise, the soil type and, of course, the Good Lord above has to give you rain and the weather."
More Carolina flowers

subset: commoncrawl


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10-Second Hack Delivers First Ever Malware to Fitness Trackers
A security researcher has developed a method by which one can exploit a vulnerability in FitBit fitness trackers and subsequently deliver malware to the target device in 10 seconds.
Axelle Apvrille (@cryptax), a malware researcher at network security firm Fortinet, has found that FitBit wearables are open on their Bluetooth ports, a property which could enable an attacker to connect a device from within a few meters away and deliver malware to the bracelet.
The hack takes about 10 seconds to complete and requires a minute to verify. Once the malware has been delivered, any device–laptop, PC, or otherwise–that connects to the wearable can be infected with a backdoor, trojan, or other malicious software program.
"An attacker sends an infected packet to a fitness tracker nearby at bluetooth distance then the rest of the attack occurs by itself, without any special need for the attacker being near," Apvrille told The Register. "[When] the victim wishes to synchronise his or her fitness data with FitBit servers to update their profile … the fitness tracker responds to the query, but in addition to the standard message, the response is tainted with the infected code. From there, it can deliver a specific malicious payload on the laptop, that is, start a backdoor, or have the machine crash [and] can propagate the infection to other trackers (Fitbits)."
This is reportedly the first time malware has been delivered to a fitness tracker.
A proof-of-concept video of the hack can be viewed here.
Additionally, Apvrille will be presenting her research, which exploits a vulnerability she warned FitBit about back in March of this year and which the company expects will be patched at some point, on Wednesday at this year's Hack.lu conference.
"Fitness Flex is a fitness wristband which records your fitness activity: walking, running – and also sleep efficiency," begins the description for her presentation, entitled "Geek usages for your FitBit Flex tracker". "Since prior infamous security and privacy issues – such as public web disclosure of sexual activity – Fitbit has made significant progress. While reverse engineering, we noticed trackers now use end to end encryption for their communications with Fitbit servers. Is this good? or bad? What happens if Fitbit servers are unreachable ? What can we possibly do with the wristband besides activity tracking?"
Apvrille is well respected for her malware research, which includes her discovery back in the spring of last year that more than 75,000 iPhone users of jailbroken devices had been targeted by Chinese AdThief malware.


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Our Tour recommendations are based on thousands of activities completed by other people on komoot.
Want to go hiking around Baix Llobregat to explore more of this corner of Barcelona? In this guide, we've reviewed our full collection of hikes and walking routes around Baix Llobregat to bring you the top 20 hiking routes in the region. To see which of our walks around Baix Llobregat is the right one for you, browse real tips and photos uploaded by other hikers—and see what they had to say about each walk.
Get recommendations on the best single tracks, peaks, & plenty of other exciting outdoor places.
Road Cycling Collection by komoot
Bike Touring Collection by komoot
Mountain Biking Collection by komoot
Running Collection by komoot
Explore more of Barcelona: Browse the best Hikes in other regions.


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No. 1 Villanova cruises into Sweet 16
Wildcats rout No.9 Alabama, 81-58
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jay Wright had some late-night restlessness because he could not turn off the TV as long as Virginia and UMBC were still playing. He met his Villanova team in the morning and the players at the breakfast tables were buzzing over basketball's biggest upset.
The reverberation from the 16-over-1 stunner was felt by another tourney top seed.
"There was a lot of attention with that," guard Donte DiVincenzo said. "We're a 1 seed so it was more attention for us."
In the March spotlight, Villanova showed how a No. 1 seed takes cares of business.
Mikal Bridges hit five 3s, scored 23 points and helped Villanova put the field on notice that it's the team to beat with an 81-58 win over ninth-seeded Alabama on Saturday.
The Wildcats (32-4) are in the Sweet 16 for the first time since they won the 2016 national championship. Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Phil Booth — and yes, The Big Ragu — look every bit the favorite to make it two in three years.
Villanova plays Friday in Boston against the Marshall-West Virginia winner.
"My good vibes are coming from how this team's playing, how unselfishly they play," Wright said.
The sport is still buzzing from top-seeded Virginia's 20-point loss to 16th-seeded UMBC on Friday night.
Alabama (20-16) failed to make it two No. 1s KO'd in less than 24 hours.
After a tense first half in a round that has given the program fits, the Wildcats hit their first six 3s in the second and put on a thrashing up there among the most dominant under Wright.
Bridges, who averaged 17.9 points and played his way into a likely NBA draft lottery pick, scored 1 point and missed all five shots in the first half. He found his groove once the second half tipped. Bridges scored the first 5 points of the half and then finished a thunderous alley-oop on a pass from Booth that made it 41-27 and sent the Wildcats wildly waving their arms in celebration headed into a timeout.
Bridges hit his first three 3s in succession to cap an 18-1 run and a Sweet 16 berth was in sight.
"I just had to play aggressive, play tougher," he said
Brunson added a 3 — one of a school-tournament record 17 3s — to make it 56-31 and the rest of the half was simply a countdown to Boston.
"There's a youthful exuberance with this team that is exciting me," Wright said.
The Wildcats' toughest nemesis was more the round than the team: Villanova lost in the first weekend as a 1 or 2 seed in 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2017.
Villanova got a brief scare that it might add '18 to the list against Alabama.
The Wildcats live and die by the 3-pointer — they say, "shoot em' up and sleep in the streets" — and when it's on, look out. The Wildcats are as dangerous as any team in the nation.
When it's off, well, that's how they're so upset-prone in March. They missed eight of their first 11 3s in the first half and Alabama briefly grabbed the lead.
"We sometimes get away with some out-of-control shots, but we know that we don't really care about offense," Bridges said.
DiVincenzo steadied Villanova with three straight 3s that brought a gasp from the crowd and gave the Wildcats a 22-15 lead. He threw in a fast break layup off his own steal and hit his fifth 3 of the half to make it 32-27.
DiVincenzo — the redheaded guard nicknamed "The Big Ragu" — scored all 18 of his points in the half. Villanova attempted 20 3s (made seven) out of 27 shots.
"We just had to withstand that first initial hit, and then once we got comfortable out there with each other, we started defending at a higher rate," DiVincenzo said. "I just think we wore down their men."
The Crimson Tide, who beat Virginia Tech for the first NCAA Tournament win in 12 years, matched their worst loss in tournament history.
"There are a lot of teams that would have loved to have been in our shoes to play an incredible game like we did in the first round and advance to the second round," Alabama coach Avery Johnson said.
Alabama: Collin Sexton led Alabama with 17 points on 7 of 14 shooting and the star guard has to decide if he'll join the ranks of the one-and-done freshman. He was the only player in double figures. Sexton did make five of Alabama's 15 turnovers.
"I'm worried about my team and celebrating with my team because we had a great season," Sexton said. "Also, I got to finish school, and I'm trying to finish with a 4.0."
Villanova: Villanova will play in its sixth Sweet 16 under Wright.
The Wildcats have won at last 32 games each of the last four seasons.
The Wildcats won a regional final in Boston in 2009 to reach the Final Four.


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These LED shoes with Wings and flashing lights are a rage among little kids ! Made of best quality materials and a shiny appearance, the childrens simply won't take off these shoes once they wear them.
—(1) Usually, inside length = feet length(heel to toe) + (1)cm.
—(2) If your foot is fat and wide, Please select a bigger size.
—(3) China Size is usually smaller than EUR/RU size.
—(4) If you don't know how to select ,tell us child foot length
Unit Length: cm ( 1cm=0.39 inch, 1 inch=2.54 cm).
Note:Dear Friend, Welcome To Our Store, Please Read This Message Before Buying. Thanks!
1. If You Are a Russian Customer, Please Tell US Your Full Name After You Payment,Then We Can Send The Goods Faster.
2. Before Buying, Please Dont ignore The Color, The Size, and The Number. We Hope Our Customer Can Gget The Things They Love.
3. If You Have Any Other Demands, Please Leave US a Message, We Will Try Our Best To Serve You. ^-^[xlmodel]-[photo]-[0000]
Kindly be noted that US SIZE on the shoe label was wrongly printed for some models,the size is incorrect.Please ignore the US on the shoe tongue label.We send out shoes according to the Eur Size.
We are not responsible for any dispute about US size difference between shoes and our size chart.Thanks for your kind understanding.
1. We ship your order by Aliexpress Standard Shipping/E-packet/SF-packet/China Post Air Mail/J-NET. It generally takes about 7-15 days to arrive in destination countries. Some remote districts and countries need about 25-45 days.
2. Parcels are generally shipped out within 3 business day after your payment is completed. (Sat. & Sun. & Public holiday excluded.)
3. You may track the parcel by this link: www.17track.net/en/
1.If you are satisfied with our products and service, please take a minute to leave us a positive(5 stars) feedback. We will really appreciated that.
2. Neutral (3 stars) or negative (1-2 stars) feedback will not solve any problem or bring you any benefit right? So give us a chance to solve the problem before you do that. Thanks a lot.
Wholesale and drop shipping are both welcomed.


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Explore Sightseeing in Toronto
Sightseeing can be a leisurely (and budget-friendly) way to enjoy a new city. Stroll through Toronto's Ashbridge's Bay Park during the warm summer months. Make sure to plan a picnic and people-watch. Take a high-speed elevator to the top of Canada's National Tower, which stands approximately 1,815 feet tall. You can look out over all of Toronto on the observation level or stand on the glass floor and look down 1,122 feet—if you're brave enough. For those interested in shopping and history, the St. Lawrence Market Complex is located in the middle of Old Town Toronto and has many artisan and specialty food vendors, a lively farmers' market, and even a walking tour that teaches you about Old Town's 200-year history.


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Through a Prism: A Conversation with Sarah Kasbeer
Sarah Kasbeer discusses her debut essay collection, A WOMAN, A PLAN, AN OUTLINE OF A MAN....more
Sarah Kasbeer discusses her debut essay collection, A WOMAN, A PLAN, AN OUTLINE OF A MAN....more
A selection of AWP 2020 panels, readings, and events that we are especially excited for!...more
"If I didn't allow myself to be vulnerable on the page, I wouldn't get anywhere."...more
Kristen Radtke discusses her illustrated memoir Imagine Wanting Only This, working with editors on graphic narratives, and visiting abandoned places....more
Belle Boggs discusses The Art of Waiting about navigating through the difficulties of conception and fertility treatment....more
First, Brandon Hicks shares a short series that he failed to place at a newspaper, "Burger Butler," along with hilarious notes from the editors who rejected the series, and his own commentary on those notes. Then, in the Saturday Essay, Yvonne Conza has nightmares stemming from an early memory of being tossed in the air by her […]...more
1964, a month prior to the anniversary of JFK's assassination, a different home movie shot. Infant toss. Up-down. Plummeting. I'm ten months of age—picking up speed....more


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About us
We want to welcome you to Chatter Bees day Nursery, where every child deserves the very best possible start in life and the support that enables
In our Honey room is where under two's will start when they start settling in the nursery. Each child is supported and helped by a key person.
Meet our staff
Our staff are qualified and have years of experience in childcare. Chatter Bees staff are warm and friendly and always willing to provide secure, caring, happy environment for our children in the nursery.


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the old Larks and getting them out of the dinghy park. He wrote
Can we discuss at the Nationals please?I think there is a huge opportunity to get old Larks on the water and some even attending major Lark events.
I would be very keen to work with the CVDRA to get the Lark Class to support their events and encourage a few travellers to these events – outside of the Lark traveller's circuit. Do you think this is a possibility? What rules would the class need to follow to be included?


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Socially Engaged, Socially Relevant Acupuncture Theory
Frequently Asked Questions
WTF? Are you all a bunch of communists?
No, not all of us are communists. We're a diverse group but what we have in common is:
a belief that acupuncture can make valuable contributions to modern society;
moral qualms about making a profit off of other people's pain and suffering; and
a recognition that none of the previously existing schools of thought for acupuncture fully acknowledge or account for the social dimension of health and illness, and so a new school of thought is needed.
Why is there a red fist on your website, then?
The raised fist is a long-standing symbol of solidarity with oppressed peoples – first used in 1917 by the Industrial Workers of the World, an international labor union. Many different groups have used it. Liberation Acupuncture uses it to acknowledge that we would not exist without the Black Panthers' and Young Lords' example of incorporating acupuncture into social action and community health. The fist logo shows points on the Heart meridian to indicate Liberation Acupuncture's relationship to acupuncture theory. In acupuncture theory, the color associated with the Heart is red.
What are liberation studies?
Liberation studies is a broad term that encompasses liberation psychology, liberation theology, liberation ecology and to some degree critical pedagogy which all share the goal of liberation from oppression. We believe that liberation acupuncture needs to exist for the same basic reasons that liberation psychology, liberation theology, and liberation ecology do: most importantly, social relevance.
What is the relationship of trauma informed acupuncture to liberation acupuncture?
Trauma informed acupuncture is a specific subset of liberation acupuncture. We believe that traumatic stress is so prevalent in our society that it functions as a reinforcement of structural violence: it dehumanizes people and undermines their ability to resist oppression, to imagine more just social arrangements, and to perceive their own dignity and value. Just as traumatic stress reinforces structural violence, trauma informed acupuncture seeks to reinforce in practice the ideals of liberation acupuncture.
Why do POCA acupuncturists call themselves punks?
The short answer is in this abstract for an article written for the Journal of Chinese Medicine, Making Buckets from Ming Vases:
Community acupuncture – as practiced by self-styled 'acupunks' – is a radically different vision and philosophy for the practice of acupuncture in the West. Patients are seen in a group setting, which allows for treatment to be conducted via a high-volume, low-cost sustainable business model. Spa settings and excessive Chinese medicine theory are unnecessary with such a model of treatment, as the needles do all the necessary work. This article describes the vision, aims and underlying philosophy of the community acupuncture movement.
To really understand the reasoning behind that statement read the entire article.
What is the relationship of community acupuncture to liberation acupuncture?
What we call the "community acupuncture model" is a self-sustaining economic and clinical model to make acupuncture accessible to working class communities. Liberation Acupuncture is a broader conceptual framework for acupuncture itself and it arose out of praxis that has included the use of the community acupuncture model, but also out of praxis that predates it, such as the work of the Black Panthers and the Young Lords. The use of the community acupuncture model may be, but is not necessarily, a subset of Liberation Acupuncture, depending on how it is implemented.


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Hints: #7 — Your Setting is also a Character
It's that time again.
Welcome back to Hints, a miniseries of Mr. Horne's Book of Secrets.
Having problems? Well, you could ask for advice, but any advice you get could mess up what you already have. Advice givers only know how to write a book that suits them, not one that suits you.
And yet, you still find yourself looking for somewhere to turn. It's not always helpful to figure things out from scratch.
What you could really use…is a hint.
"Hints: because you only need a little help."
Fiction is Association
A famous writer of westerns once said:
If you are inclined to leave your character solitary for any considerable length of time, better question yourself. Fiction is association, not withdrawal.
And this statement is easy enough to verify. Just think back to every work of fiction you have ever read, and ask yourself how often any character was left on their own for an extended period of time.
You can probably think of a least a couple. And yet, these moments are undeniably rare. Still, if some well known examples exist, then there must be a way to do it in your own writing.
How is that accomplished?
Say you have a story about someone who, through circumstances beyond their control, is forced to live alone in the wilderness for a time.
Funny how this was the first thing you thought of. And that I knew you were thinking of it.
This story could cover weeks or even months of isolation. If fiction is association, and not withdrawal, then how do you write such a story?
And for the purposes of finding a real solution, I am forbidding you to cheat. So, for example, you are not allowed to throw in convenient "pseudo characters" to fill out your cast, such as ghosts…
Or non-intelligent robots…
Or hallucinations…
Or a bunch of really stupid talking-animal sidekicks.
Without access to any of these cheats, how do you write a convincing story of solitary survival in the wilderness?
Well, to give you a hint within a Hint, you should know that there is a name for these particular kinds of stories: their archetype is called "Man vs. Nature". And that should give you a good idea of who the other character in your story is, apart from the human who finds themselves in isolation.
That's right: in these kinds of stories, "Nature" is the other character, and this is pulled off through the miracle of personification.
For our purposes, we shall define personification as the transformation of the story's setting so that it becomes a character. In this way, the setting becomes a silent, omnipresent personality for the main character to interact with. And this is most easy to observe in "Man vs. Nature" stories, as we see the natural forces that threaten the main character's survival.
However, this is not the only situation where personifying the setting makes for a good story.
Hint of Many Uses
You don't need to have a single solitary main character before you personify a setting. In the right situation, the setting can interact with a whole host of characters and become just one member of a mighty ensemble cast.
Consider, for example, the cyberpunk genre.
A cyberpunk story may feature many characters, but all of those characters interact with an ever-present and often oppressive setting. Cyberpunk settings are often so endemic to the story that they take on a life of their own. The setting can fill the role of the oppressive dictator, the unforgiving schoolteacher, or even the toxic lover. And the journey of the cyberpunk hero usually has them conquering not just some villainous despot, but the society that created such a despot. Only when the cyberpunk hero has convinced the world to change has he actually slain his particular dragon.
The same principle can translate to any dystopia, and from there it can springboard off to any genre that uses dystopia, which includes most science fiction and fantasy.
But society can become a character even in realistic settings, such as stories where strict social hierarchies and proprieties can act as a stifling antagonist to our free-spirited main character. A good example of this would be any Jane Austen romance, where the unwritten rules of society loom over the characters like a stern taskmaster. Likewise, the circumstances of Victorian England have their own face in every story of Dickens.
How it Benefits You
But, naturally, the idea that personification is possible does not imply that personification is needed. The above examples do not, on their own, prove that you need to follow in their footsteps. But permit me to make a case as to why you should consider personifying your setting.
I would argue that personifying a setting is one of the few writing practices that has no drawbacks, only benefits. If, as Mr. Guthrie said, fiction is association, then giving your fiction another meaningful association can only make it richer. If personification, as a tool, is powerful enough to make an abstract concept like Nature itself into a functioning character, in a story with no other characters than the protagonist, then imagine how much it could enrich any kind of story with any number of characters.
By having your characters interact with the setting, you make the setting more real, and less like you've got a group of people acting out the story in some kind of simulated holodeck.
If your story is too disconnected from the backdrop, then it might as well be occurring in front of a green screen. And there's no stronger way to establish your setting than by giving it certain desires, expectations, and actions for or against the other characters.
And personifying the setting does not take away air from the other characters. Dickens was known to put dozens of characters into even the briefest of stories, yet he still found room to personify places like London and Paris as if they were shadows that haunted his protagonists.
Making your setting into its own character, even though that character is usually nebulous and unseen, is perhaps the easiest way to enrich a narrative.
Once you've done that, you not only have a protagonist making associations with other characters, you have a protagonist living inside an association with another character, meaning that every moment of the narrative becomes an exploration of that association. Every part becomes impactful, and, as a writer, that kind of impact translates into concentrated narratives that tantalize and please.
I honestly don't think I can give a better hint than this one (though I'll certainly try as this miniseries goes on). If your writing seems a little limp, and you're looking for ways to inject life into a story, I would recommend you consider this as one of your first go-to options.
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Showing Animals Respect
and Kindness (SHARK)
April 2014
SHARK is very pleased to announce that yet again there was no pigeon
shoot. In fact, a local source informed us that the shoot had been
This is a huge victory!!!
Thousands of lives have been saved due to the shrinking shoots, and now even more pigeons will not be subjected to a living hell. Adding to the victory, we now know what works for keeping these cowardly shooters away and we are fully prepared to implement these strategies and more if they shoot again next year. Everything has changed in the battle against the PGCs pigeon shoots.
This change has come by the sheer force of will and determination by the SHARK team. I am proud and humbled to be able to work with this small, but oh-so-very dedicated group of people. Weve stood up against a corrupt district attorney, mayor and township council, corrupt police and local media that has no interest in exposing the truth and in the process rocking the political boat.
SHARK rescued this baby pigeon from a shoot held at the PGC. Someone had cut her head with a knife, torturing the bird before she ever became a target for vile fun.
Our victory has not come cheap; SHARK has spent a lot of money fighting the PGC. You may remember that animal protection hero Bob Barker gave us a substantial grant in 2009, asking us to focus heavily on Pennsylvania pigeon shoots. Weve done that and more, but now we can really use your help.
Already in 2014, the Illinois team has travelled more than 13,000 miles to expose PGC shoots. We are still facing a meritless lawsuit by the PGC which is intended to financially bleed us. In the meantime, two humane organizations, the Womens Humane Society, and the Bucks County SPCA, each of whom is located near the PGC, and each of whom has many millions of dollars in the bank, have done nothing and saved no lives.
Do we like having to travel thousands of miles to fight vicious animal cruelty while these local humane groups sit on their hands? No! Why do we do it? Because of the suffering and the pain caused to thousands of innocent animals every year. How can the directors of these supposed humane groups collect huge paychecks while all that blood is spilled just miles from their offices?
For more details, visit
Pigeon Shoots are Pennsylvania's Shame
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Victims of Rory Condeon January 1, 2010 in Serial Killers, Victimology by Heather Whitney
Rory Conde was charged for the murders of six people. We currently have information on all of his victims.
Lazaro Comensana
Lazaro was strangled to death on September 17, 1994.
Elisa Martinez
Elisa was murdered on October 8, 1994.
Charity Nava
Charity was murdered on January 20, 1994.
Wanda Crawford
Wanda was strangled to death on November 25, 1994.
Necole Schneider
Necole was murdered on December 17, 1994.
Rhonda Dunn
Rhonda was murdered on January 12, 1995.
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I fear in a life where I don't even recognize myself
A world where it won't be changed
I fear a home where I don't feel safe
I fear not being good enough
Not belonging
I fear not being able to do what I want to accomplish
I fear falling until I no longer feel more
I fear of losing my identity
I fear disappointment of the people around me
I fear trusting someone new
I fear falling in love again
I fear growing up
I fear of people getting ahead of me and doing more "stuff" that what I'm doing
I fear of the past
Who I was, What I did, and What I went through?
I fear of the present
Who I am, What I do, and What I'm going through?
-Same old routine
I fear of the future
Who I'm going to be, What am I going to be doing, and What new experiences will I be going through?
I fear of not making a change
Not inspiring individuals to be bold and powerful
I fear of not standing up for myself
Staying silent as much as I want to defend myself
I fear of not telling the truth
I fear of always lying
I fear people having power over me
Authorities controlling us
I fear not being able to be represented well on my own community
I fear being alone
I fear being independent
I fear change
I fear being a leader
I fear myself.


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December 13, 2010
Chetreo - "A Year of Change"
After months of promising demos, Chetreo's brand new EP "A Year of Change" is finally here. What you'll hear in this five-track release is a unique musical style centered on autotuned vocals and non-conventional GameBoy pop. It's also available completely free of charge, which makes it all the more worth picking up. Noteworthy tracks include the Zelda-inspired "The Boy Without a Fairy" and melancholy "All the Things We Did".
Download or stream the EP for free here: http://chetreo.bandcamp.com/album/a-year-of-change
Labels: a year of change, album, chetreo, chetreo ep, demos, feryl
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|Our sea worthy container being delivered 16 Feb 2013 in the rain in Boiling Springs, South Carolina
To ship or not to ship? I have read other blogs that have stated SELL EVERYTHING! Ok, if you want to sell then sell. I found that Norte Americanos like their stuff,,,, alot! I remember a wonderful line from the movie "Quiet Man" where Maureen O'Hara says (my para phrase)
"..... there are 300 years of love and dreaming in my things and.... I need them.... I want them and I'll have them" . STUFF!
As a family, for us every day we have been here one of us will say I just wish I had my "what ever" from the container. I would be so much happier if I just had that one thing and I could get this done or be able to move on to another task. It comes to the fact that we are comfortable with what makes us comfortable and in many cases that is what gives us a feeling of permanence and home. The feeling of having your things about you is very comforting and it helps to make your new house a home. I think it is important to be as comfortable as you can in your new country, so I say ship it all as much as you can and then some. It will make your life easier and your transition less painful and stressful.
1. It is almost as cheap to ship a 40 foot container as it is a 20 foot container. +/-$1,000 difference in pricing, and when you are talking about your stuff and a once in a life time event $1,000 might as well be $1.00 so get a 40 foot HIGH BOY container which is 40 foot long by 9 foot tall. They sell 8 foot tall containers and you do NOT want one of these as that extra foot in height is cheap and it lets you bring taller house hold items with no problem. It is well worth the extra $300 to $500 for the TALL BOY at 9 foot.
2. Renting a container is more expensive than buying a container. There is one exception and that is if you are moving to the city and you do not want to have an empty container hanging around after you have emptied out all your stuff. We have friends who have rented, and they paid more for the rental and storage then they would have for the purchase of the container out right.
3. Where to buy and particulars: In the upstate of South Carolina I went to L&L container on White Horse Road at I-85.
ADDRESS: 22 Burty Rd
Greenville, SC 29605
Ask for "Van" the owner. He will try to "UP SELL" you so barter hard. You are not a shipper so just buy a container that will make one more trip. It will need the "Inter-modal Stamp" and the updated inspection on the door. DO NOT LOSE THE PAPER WORK THAT HE GIVES YOU OR YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SHIP YOUR CONTAINER!!
If you are not in the Greenville, SC area then look up on the internet shipping containers and you will find lots of choices. You will want one that is close to where you live so that your delivery expense is not as high because they charge a per hour (there and back) for delivery.
4. How much did JIM and LORI pay? $4,300 for a 40 foot X 9 foot tall sea worthy container. It was beat up but was still sea worthy and had to pass the inspection which was placed on the door. The boys and I bought some oil based paint and now it looks like new. Van offered to paint the container for $500, and we chose to save the $$$. Remember it only needs to make one more trip. So a few spots where holes were welded is no big deal. The price we got was tax, title, and delivered with Inter-modal paperwork and sea worthy stamp on the door. Van does the inspection and will give you the paper work when the container is delivered.
5. What to look for when buying? Good doors and seals. The doors should close tightly and easily. There should be minimal rust around the doors. The roof should be solid and with out any holes. It must be water tight. I climbed on top of the container to see how bad the rust was on the top. You can not see the top from the ground. Van did not expect me to do this but was accommodating, and he had a ladder available. You can bet your shoes that Van looks at the roof of a container before he buys them, so shouldn't you? The roof is the easiest spot to get ripped off. If you are too scared to climb a 9 foot ladder, give Van your cell phone and ask him to climb up and get a picture for you. He will do it if he wants to sell the container and......... HE DOES WANT TO SELL ONE! On the inside look for solid flooring. Containers are wood floored, which is good because then you can screw straps and such into the flooring to tie down furniture. So the floor should not have ANY, ANY rot at all. The walls should have welded loops at the tops and bottoms at the ceiling and floor which need to be in good order so that you can use straps and chains and such to tie down your stuff. Remember your stuff will be slogging around at sea for 3 to 4 weeks and likely in rough seas so strap it down and stack it high all the way to the roof so it will not move.
6. To drop or not to drop? You can have your container dropped in your yard or it can be delivered on a chassis, basically on the ground or on wheels. Of course you will have to pay for the wheels (you knew that was coming I can tell). We decided to have it dropped in the yard and had them set it on some WOOD BLOCKS(not concrete, do not use concrete they break over time). Van can deliver your container on a chassis and rent the chassis to you for around $75/month (this price may have gone up I do not know). We wanted a good long while to load our container before and after we left the USA, so we opted for the dropped in the yard option. We could have bought a chassis for $3,000, and then we would have had to sell it when the container is loaded at the port in Charleston, SC. For us it was smarter money to pay $1,050 to have the container picked up by a LAND DOLL tractor trailer and hauled to the port.
7. What can I put into the Container? Well the quickest answer is what can't you put into the container! Hard and fast:
No chemicals, no gas or diesel engine operated equipment (anything with an engine is not allowed), No tires (I think they mean new or used on the rim), NO VEHICLES without it costing you a tax of 60% of the vehicle, no raw wood, no food or vegetables, no grains or rice, NO NEW ITEMS!
If you have a new item then use it and mark it USED and put it in a box! No construction materials (but if you can hide it,,,,, and you did not hear it from me,,,, bring a nice big, double basin kitchen sink! no lie they have terrible kitchen sinks here. They look like camper sinks, and it is all that they have to offer. Also bring the drain trap and flange for it as well!)
8. THE LIST: Here is some more work for you..... because you do not have enough already! As you load your items in your boxes you need to make a list of what is inside them. This is for you and for the Aduanas or Customs here in Chile. They will need a complete list of everything in your container. This list will have to be translated before you give it to them and anyone can translate it down here for you once your list is complete. ALL ITEMS ON THE LIST MUST BE MARKED USED OR IN SPANISH USEDO! They do not want you to bring in NEW anything! They think that you will sell it. One of our friends had a computer that he brought in the original box and they made him prove it was used.
Do not sweat this as you will want to know as well what is in each box, and with just a little more work you will be able to give the customs people here in Chile a list of what is in your container. Lori and I used an excel spread sheet to make our list and every box or item has a corresponding number on the outside. You can be as detailed or as vague as you like, and there are obvious advantages to each approach which I will let you use your imagination to figure out.
Some people even make two lists. I would mess this one up and give the wrong list to the right people at the wrong time. So I am very vague as to what is in some boxes. Some of these vague boxes are at the vvvveeeerrrryyy front of the container and are very difficult to get to, if you know what I mean.
8. What to bring or NOT Bring that you already have (besides what was already mentioned above:
You do not want to bring your appliances. The electricity is 220/50 htz here and 110/60 in the USA. Yes, you can bring converters and the like and you can easily buy converters here but it is not worth it because they wear out quickly on the converters. So just do not bring them.
DO BRING: All Furniture, Equipment; anything that is 220/60 and you can almost be assured that it will work fine here in Chile. Radial Saws, Drill presses, Planers, Joiners, welders, air compressors. Anything with a 220 ELECTRICAL motor is good to bring and you will not need a converter. Our Mennonite friend has been running 220/60 htz equipment on Chileano 220/50 htz power now for the past two years with no problems at all, NONE! As a side note if you use these things they are about 3 times cheaper in the USA. So if you need or want them, buy them, use them and put them in the container and save big $$$$$. Also do not be afraid to bring consumables for your equipment like welding rods or saw blades or nails for your nail gun which are hard to buy here and costly. Just mark them used and put them in one of the vague boxes we talked about above.
This is the Chilean Government site that lists restrictions and specifics on importation:
Item 3 indicates what you cannot import:
3. ¿Qué mercancías no puedo importar?
Vehículos usados (sin perjuicio de las franquicias establecidas en la normas vigentes)
Motos usadas
Neumáticos usados y recauchados
Asbesto en cualquiera de sus formas
Desechos industriales tóxicos
Mercancías que sean peligrosas para los animales, para la agricultura o la salud humana (por ejemplo; algunos plaguicidas de uso agrícola, juguetes y artículos de uso infantil que contengan tolueno, adhesivos fabricados en base a solventes volátiles), las que se encuentran prohibidas por Decreto del Ministerio de Salud, del Ministerio de Agricultura y otros organismos del Estado.
Otras mercancías, que de acuerdo a la legislación vigente, se encuentren con prohibición de importar.
Translated, this means:
Motos usadas
Neumáticos usados y recauchados
Asbesto en cualquiera de sus formas
Desechos industriales tóxicos
Mercancías que sean peligrosas para los animales, para la agricultura o la salud humana (por ejemplo; algunos plaguicidas de uso agrícola, juguetes y artículos de uso infantil que contengan tolueno, adhesivos fabricados en base a solventes volátiles), las que se encuentran prohibidas por Decreto del Ministerio de Salud, del Ministerio de Agricultura y otros organismos del Estado.
Otras mercancías, que de acuerdo a la legislación vigente, se encuentren con prohibición de importar.
Translated, this means:
used cars
used tires
industrial toxic waste
things dangerous to animals, agriculture or humans (in that order!), e.g., childrens toys annd other things containing solvents
Other goods that are currently prohibited by law (gotta love that one - how do you find out? They do not say)
10. How do you know what you need? Easy! As long as you are in the USA you do not know what you need. I can not tell you everything that is not or IS here as it would take all day. Rest assured they have everything you need, maybe not in the brand you like or accustomed, but they do have it and it is likely at a higher price.
11. When to ship? What I suggest is do not ship your container until after you have been here for 90 days. You will also find out what you need, want and would like to have added to your container before it is shipped during this time period. Now before that 90 day Tourist Visa is up (if you like it here) you will apply for a "Temporary Residency Visa". It is during the temporary visa period that you can ship in your $$$$$ DUTY FREE $$$$$$ container for your family (one container per a family is allowed or per an individual if not a family). It really does not make sense if you think about it; what if after your temporary residency they do not let you stay and you already have your container here? Oh well! At least you got it in Duty FREE$$$.
We have a friend who is a permanent resident and she is shipping a container and will have to pay significant taxes at 19%. So SAVE, Save, save $$$, ship duty free.
We are almost ready to ship our container to Chile. I have about 5 quotes ranging from $3,750.00 for shipping only (no associated fees) all the way up to $9,995.00 for door to door service (these people are loony tunes).
How this breaks down is:
$1,000.00 to get it from Spartanburg to Charleston and delivered in the port ready to load on ship.
$3,750.00 to get it by sea from Charleston SC to Conception Chile (AKA Coronel)
$250.00 for Aduana fees / shipping agent who gets it through the port and customs. This is necessary.
**$1,500.00 to get it to the South of Chile near Osorno, about 10 hours trucking time south.
A total of $6,500:
**The unknown is the Trucking fees from Conception to where we live as I do not yet have that quote. Also we looked for a shipper that went into Puerto Montt Chile but could not find any. Puerto Montt is much closer to us, only 45 min drive. So we are working on getting quotes to Puerto Montt to save us the Chilean trucking fees by over half. But we will see.
I will post again as we move forward on ordering it as the process continues. This all can be come very complicated and to get a straight answer would be very helpful to all of you so that you know what to expect. As a side note, my Mennonite friends have shipped a small 4' X 4' crate of goods and it cost them around $2,800, and that was before the taxes were paid or the port costs or any of those sundries. The lesson here is to bring down a full container.
|Land Doll Trailer used to drop container on ground


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From an early age I followed a strong creative streak that began with drawing and painting, but then turned exclusively towards music after hearing several classic European Electronic albums within a week's time, which proved to be a profound awakening for me. This was the first time music had affected me so deeply. To my ears it sounded like freedom. Any internal world of sound or images was possible to create musically. The forms I heard in those early albums were fluid and not confined to traditional forms and structures. It sounded like anything was possible and this excited me deeply. (Though by now even these forms have, in many people's minds, solidified into an unbending structure. I have put a great deal of energy in creating my own sound within that style. Spacemusic / Berlin School / Ambient / EM / New Age... It gets called all these things, but my preference for genre title is "Spacemusic" because it suggests either an internal, meditative "space" or the external "Space" of the cosmos. Which, IMO are the two main areas I want to explore with this style.) I especially remember a period when I had been exposed to this music and my father taught Conservation in college and I would go on field trips with him and his class to various remote, natural places. I would wander off from the class and in a quiet, natural setting I realized I could internally "hear" a very similar kind of music in my head that seemed to play counterpoint to the symphony of natural sounds of the area, from crickets to birds, bees buzzing by, wind in the trees... I could suddenly hear a kind of music made up of similar sounds. Sounds that synthesizers now made possible, as well as the possibility of a sound morphing from one texture to another. up to the arrival of synthsizers this kind of morphing didnt happen. There were experiments in prepared piano and ways of modifying a basic tonality, but a piano would never sound like a trumpet, or vice versa. With synthesizers now the tonal qualities were extremely malleable. You could "animate" the sound in new and amazing ways.
But synthesizers were very expensive then in those early years, and using them to create seemed too far out of reach at the time. I began studying Classical guitar, Ragtime, Jazz and Folk music, later playing bass and guitar in a few rock bands, but always dreaming of recreating that sound I heard in I head that was so uniquely tied to synthesizers. In the mid eighties I bought my first few synths, added multi track recording, and from that point on have found my perfect expression in the world of animating electronic kaleidoscopic music where the morphing tone colors are as important as the melody, harmony and rhythm. My albums blend elements of French Impressionism, German Electronic and American Minimalist styles, while forging my own unique touch in the genre.
I was a founding member of the synth band Dweller at the Threshold and have also released several solo works and collaborations with artists such as Steve Roach, Craig Padilla, Rudy Adrian, Nemesis, Ron Boots and Otso Pakarinen.


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Where Does My Seafood Come From?
Most of us are aware of seafood's nutritional benefits. It's high in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins such as D and B2 and low in saturated fat. It's an ideal source of minerals such as iodine, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. Seafood provides more than 3.1 billion people with almost 20 percent of their average per capita intake of animal protein.
But some of us, especially those removed from the farming and fishing communities that produce the seafood we eat, are unfamiliar with the protein's origins.
Why? The explanation is rooted in the intricate nature of seafood. There are dozens of finfish and shellfish species farmed and caught for food, and the method of production varies by species and geography. There are dozens of countries that produce seafood, and there are dozens of countries that import more seafood than they produce. Seafood is the world's single-most traded food commodity.
Misperceptions about aquaculture and fisheries tend to be based on an unfamiliarity with it. With that in mind, the Global Aquaculture Alliance's learning solutions team has produced a seven-minute video outlining the multiple methods of production, for both farmed and wild-capture product, for consumers who are curious about their seafood's origins.
Wild-captured seafood:
- Spearfishing: Although not as widely used as some of the other commercial fishing methods, spearfishing is one of the oldest methods for catching fish still being used today. Examples of fish typically caught by spearfishing include yellowfin tuna, swordfish and other large billfishes.
- Hand gathering: This technique requires little to no equipment other than your hands. Examples of seafood typically harvested by hand gathering include clams, crabs, oysters, lobsters and scallops.
- Line fishing: With line fishing, a line with one or many baited hooks attached is cast, dropped or dragged in the water to hook fish. Examples of seafood typically caught by line fishing include tuna, snapper, grouper and cod.
- Dredging: A dredge performs like a giant metal rake that is towed along the bottom of the sea floor by a fishing boat. Examples of seafood typically harvested by dredging include oysters, clams, mussels and scallops.
- Netting: Nets can be dragged behind or alongside fishing vessels, tossed in the water and brought back in, or even dropped and suspended in the water and returned to later. Examples of seafood typically caught by netting include anchovies, mackerel, cod and squid.
- Pots and traps: The typical design for a pot or trap allows a sea animal to enter through an opening to get the bait, and once inside it cannot escape. Examples of seafood typically caught using pots and traps include lobster and crabs.
Farmed seafood:
- Net pens: Nets pens are large pocket-shaped pens are typically used for rearing finfish. Examples of seafood typically raised using net pens include salmon and sea bass.
- Flow-through systems: Flow-through systems divert source water from a nearby stream or spring to flow through artificial canals, ponds or channels containing fish. Examples of seafood typically raised in flow-through systems include trout and salmon.
- Recirculating aquaculture systems: Known as RAS, fish are reared in indoor tanks, where the water is filtered and cleaned and then recycled back through the system. Examples of seafood typically raised using recirculation aquaculture systems include salmon and striped bass.
- Ponds: Ponds are typically man-made structures and can vary in size and depth depending on available land space and animal species being raised in them. Examples of seafood typically raised in ponds include shrimp, tilapia, carp and catfish.
- Suspended aquaculture: With suspended aquaculture, shellfish grow on suspended ropes, floating rafts or bags. Examples of seafood typically raised using suspended aquaculture include oysters, clams and mussels.


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Posted in Arkansas July 09, 2016
13 Reasons To Drop Everything And Visit Central Arkansas
You may have recently seen our article on the Delta, but let us not forget the other awesome regions of the state. Below you'll find 13 reasons you should definitely drop everything and go see central Arkansas. It's the best, it's full of wonders,and there's so much to see there that you'll never run out of things to do.
To know a little history before you go, read this article.
To see more about places you might have never heard of, try this article.


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After my research on various Early Childhood Education programs, I've finally decided on a program that captures elements from the Montessori Method and the Wink/TwiddleWink Program which, as far as I understand, is the midway point between the Glenn Doman Method and the Makota Shichida Method.
To help me implement my program, I have secured the following resources:
How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way – Tim Seldin
Teaching Montessori in the Home: Pre-School Years – Elizabeth Hainstock
How to Multiply Your Baby's Intelligence – Glenn Doman
Wink to Learn: Chinese for Kids
Wink Program Overview and Guide
TweedleWink – Educational DVD series
Wink – Seven Step Package
Okay, so I bought the last two on a whim without really checking out the products first. That's the dangers of shopping with paypal, I reckon. I tend to be a little more careless when it's my money, as opposed to the fruits of the hubby's labour.
Learning Through Music – Hestia
Positive Affirmation Songs – Love is a Circle
Needless to say I've made a huge dent into my wallet – or rather my paypal account. At this rate, I really should to start my own little playschool program to recoup my investment. After studying all this material, I reckon I ought to be qualified to teach. Well, my rationalisation for the hefty retail therapy is that I would have spent more had I enrolled Gavin into an Early Childhood educational program. Plus, I fully intend to implement this program on baby number two.
Somewhat wiser from my previous online shopping experiences, I've sent everything to my brother in Singapore instead of having it shipped to Malaysia. Let's hope there isn't any problems receiving my products in Singapore.
I'm not really sure how useful all this is so far but stay with me and I'll be reviewing all the materials I've listed as we get through them.
To date, this is about as far as I've gotten: attempting to create a Montessori environment by making Gavin's toys and books accessible to him. Although these aren't exactly Montessori recommended toys, they're the best I've got so far. We've also had to make some compromises since we live with my in laws and space is limited. I rearranged our wardrobe to fit Gavin's toys onto the lower shelves. I've also got plans to make a few of my own Montessori activities following the instructions from Elizabeth Hainstock's Montessori book and some of the activities I've read about from Tim Seldin.


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New Axalta Report to Unveil Color Trends Shaping the Automotive Industry
Axalta (NYSE: AXTA), a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, unveiled today a spectrum of automotive colors designed for the future of automobiles in its 2019 Automotive Color Trend Report: Color Combo. The report showcases unique color combinations, such as "Comeback Duo" and "Smart Duo," and the emerging global automotive trends and latest innovations in color science driving them.
"New color technologies have allowed us to introduce a spectrum of unique colors and effects that not only capitalize on current trends, but also address the formulations required to meet the needs of tomorrow's vehicles," said Nancy Lockhart, Global Product Manager – Color, Axalta. "This report goes beyond automotive color popularity to consider the relationship of colors and how color is influenced by the emerging transportation market of autonomous vehicles, growing customization needs among consumers, and regional preferences."
The 2019 Color Combo report was compiled by reviewing the relationship of color trends, color formulations, the latest in color technology, and Axalta's Global Color Popularity data to develop sets of color combinations that are shaping the automotive industry.
The color combinations for 2019 include:
- Smart Duo: Axalta colors Optimized Wisdom and Common Sense make up the "Smart Duo," combining luxury, style, and practicality in their black color tones. This color duo showcases the differing color spaces that can be used for vehicles with LiDAR or Radar technology to detect other vehicles. Autonomous driving and fuel economy will influence color choices in this category, as high-tech vehicles will require color spaces to be optimized for coatings detection and transmission.
- Topnotch Duo: This pairing of Signature Bliss and Facelift Delight features deep rich reds that evoke emotion. The "Topnotch Duo" colors demand attention with new technology that offers premium effects. The set pairs colors with worldwide appeal alongside colors designed for a luxurious finish.
- Comeback Duo: Solid Luck and Effect Fortune are sage green versions of Axalta colors and offer unique hues in both light and dark versions. This "Comeback Duo" group is in response to the increasing demand of colors inspired from the past, as they are reminiscent of colors found on vehicles and consumer products from the 1970s – 1990s.
- Contrast Duo: Dark Horizon and Light Skyline are shades of blue that appeal to younger generations. This pair is full of character and offers a light and fashionable shade of blue with a dark, luxurious blue. These trendy colors are targeted for both eco-concepts and luxury vehicles.
- Power Duo: Bright Lagoon and Muted Bay are teal hues that appeal to a wide variety of audiences. The colors of the "Power Duo" have surprising characteristics of highly chromatic colors and uniquely muted color spaces. These colors are specifically designed for smaller vehicles and offer shades that are both playful and sporty.
- Popular Duo: Individual Sunlight and Traditional Sunrise are yellow and beige concepts that will invite a smile. The colors of the "Popular Duo" explore how mainstream color spaces are developed for mass consumer acceptance and mass customization options. This duo represents worldwide favorites with high usage rates on cross-vehicle types.
Earlier this year, Axalta announced the 2019 Automotive Color of the Year, Sahara – a color primed for vehicle customization at manufacturing facilities and in the aftermarket. Sahara is a golden bronze tone that radiates warmth, richness, and strength for vehicles of all sizes, and can serve as the principal color of two-tone designs, including black roofs, stripes, and accent packages. Sahara falls under the "Popular Duo" group.
As a leading color expert for coatings, paint, and wood, Axalta has been driving the future of color trends for more than 150 years using innovative technology, advanced color formulations, and proprietary insights into global and regional color preferences.
View the full report at axalta.com/color.
Source: Axalta
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Where to stay in Sibenik? Solaris Beach Resort
Solaris Beach Resort is one of the best options for accommodation in Sibenik. It is a very big complex and it has too many alternatives for different budgets from tent camping to bungalows to 3 and 4 star hotels. We stayed one of the hotels called Hotel Ivan. Let's look at the Hotel Ivan in…Devamı


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By Katherine Holt
Having fun means something different for everybody; some people enjoy playing sports while others enjoy spending their day cuddled up with a good book.
At the College, there are hundreds of different clubs and activities for students to get involved in, but for many young adults, the main source of "having a good time" is typically associated with going out to parties.
Most of us have been exposed to the sticky cement floors and strange odors of fraternity house basements, even though almost anywhere else in the world is a better alternative for spending leisure time.
Every weekend, hundreds of students put on their most flattering outfits and head to the same stinky basements to go and have a good time, regardless of the location.
As someone who always loved having a good time in high school, I could never understand why I seemed to be one of the only people that could never see the appeal in spending Saturday nights this way.
After being exposed to what a typical "college party" was like, I found myself being more drawn to spending my weekends doing other things. However, it wasn't that I just did not like the smell of the house or the lack of toilet paper in the bathroom — it was just that I never had a good time.
I asked myself what was different about it compared to other social gatherings I had attended before, and realized that "hooking up" seemed to be the main priority for most people in attendance, and that was something I was not looking to do considering I am in a long-term relationship.
In high school, my friends and I looked forward to taking control of the aux cord and blasting our favorite song of the summer on repeat all night at parties. We went out with friends to dance and laugh, and those of us who were single would flirt appropriately.
In college, despite how often they seem to go out, most of my friends tell me that there are many nights they either leave early or are tempted to because they are simply not having fun.
It seems that what are often now considered the wildest nights are not the ones that everyone stays up all night dancing, but rather the ones with the most amount of hookups. The morning-after-stories you hear from your friends consist of little talk about what they were doing the night before, but rather about who they were doing.
More and more of my friends who loved going out when they were single feel less inclined to go out now that they are in relationships, but shouldn't a party just be about having fun regardless of your relationship status?
I hope that the glorious age of 21 will bring some bigger and better opportunities for having a good time. Hopefully, all of my friends, both single and taken, and I can go out and focus on just being together and enjoying the night.
Students share opinions around campus
"Does hookup culture dominate the College's party scene?"
"It really depends on what you want to get out of it. I don't know if it dominates."
"When you're a freshman it does, but as you get older it loses its luster."


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Towering woman P.G. Lim ( 1918-2013 ) dies
Very sad indeed to learn that (Tan Sri) P.G. Lim passed away at 96 on 7 May (Tues) in Perth, Australia. It was truly my honour to be present when she happily met war veteran @ Lee Meng again in her KL house. I was also privileged to be assigned to read the citation for her at the Confucian ('Independent') High School in KL before she was presented an award for her services to the Chinese community in tanah air kita. My very deep condolence to P.G. Lim''s family. 'May she rest in peace.


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Heal the emotional hurts from your past and free up your energy to embrace the present.
Resolving past pain is easier than you may think.
Emotional hurt from your past can be effecting your experience joy, love and happiness in the present. Consciously or unconsciously, triggers may be bringing up old traumatic emotions from long ago or recently. As if it wasn't bad enough to suffer it once, you have to go through it again and again.
Things that haunt us from the past tend to do so because they are held as emotional memories in the subconscious mind. Every time a memory is activated, consciously or not, the emotion comes with it. Properly healing the past means unhooking these old emotions from the memories, allowing you to gain distance and perspective.
Hypnotherapy is the perfect tool to achieve emotional healing of past traumatic events.
It can be surprising that negative experiences, especially those in early childhood, can be affecting you unconsciously in relationships, at work, in in your enjoyment of life.
You may have a fear and mistrust of others, as well as negative beliefs about yourself. This may cause stress, nervousness, low self-esteem, and poor self-image, and self-sabotaging behavior in order to cope with dysfunctionality.
Hypnotherapy can be used to heal past traumatic memories and create positive changes for greater self-worth and self-acceptance.
Hypnosis and Relationships
Whether there are issues within your marriage or you're looking for help with romance, family or work relationships, hypnotherapy has helped many who have felt blocked and unable to move forward in their connections with other people.
Hypnotherapy can help you heal the emotions from past damaged relationships and help you increase the love you feel in the present. It can help if you are having difficulty "moving on" from a previous relationship, it can help if you are feeling fear and nervousness from dating or meeting new people, or if you feel too shy to move ahead in your career.
There are a number of other ways Hypnotherapy helps relationships including:
- Stuck in a bad relationship
- Terrified of intimacy
- Hung up on an ex
- Frustrated with dating
- Getting through a divorce
- Building self-esteem
- Having more fun dating
- Ending destructive relationship patterns
- Remain faithful to your partner
- Forming new friendships or romance
- Overcoming shyness and more…


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SUPERHOLD Pocket 7/8 Leggings - Black
Superfit 7/8 leggings with pockets are the perfect length for any height. Featuring our top rated SUPERHOLD™ compression fabric, full size pockets, and the best plus size fit on the planet! Our 7/8 leggings fit so good, as soon as you put them on you'll know they were designed for YOUR body. Superfit Hero is the only brand made exclusively for you. We are the experts at plus size fit because it's all we do. Try them on and you'll see!leggings-caprisplus-size-activewear-leggings-and-shortsblack-basics-best-plus-size-leggingshot-right-nowklaviyo-abandon-browseklaviyo_shop_popular_collectionsuperfit-leggingsplus-size-leggings-with-pockets-and-sports-bras-best-sellerspopular-itemspocket-leggingsplus-size-pocket-leggings-and-shortspockets-collectionshop-all-leggings-shortsallall-smscollectionsuper-outdoorsysuperfit-pocket-leggingssuperholdbest-plus-size-leggings-superhold-compressionsuperhold-compression-leggingssuperhold-bottomssuperhold-leggingssuperfit-pocket-leggings-capristik-tok-made-me-buy-it
Made with our signature SUPERHOLD™ fabric, these are our best-fitting premium plus size pocket leggings now in a NEW 7/8 length. As always, full coverage you can trust along with a secure and comfortable stay-put fit for any type of activity or movement. Made in the USA from imported materials.
* Two full size pockets, one on each hip
* 26" inseam
* Secure, no-slip and no-roll fit
* High, supportive waist band
* Gusset for mobility and CT prevention
* Flat lock seams for chafing-free comfort
* Compression for control and confidence
* Squat-proof and opaque coverage
SUPERHOLD™ is our most popular fabric for good reason. It's thick, soft, stretchy, and supportive.
* Fabric Content: 88% Polyester/12% Spandex
* Sweat wicking and quick drying
* Brushed for a soft finish
* Imported from Taiwan
Care instructions: Machine wash cold with mild detergent and lay flat to dry. Do not iron, bleach or use fabric softener.
* View our Size Chart to find your Super-Fit.
Fit and tested by athletes in every size from L to 7XL, these pocket leggings have been put to the test to ensure that we provide you true sizing. We've worked really hard to ensure the accuracy of our size chart. Still, we know that all bodies are different which is why we offer free returns and exchanges.
Not sure about sizing? Give two sizes a try to find your preference and best fit. Returns and exchanges are always easy and free. Return Policy
* Models:
Jenny - AirFit | 2XL - Hip 56" Waist 45"
Carrie Beth - StarFit | 4XL - Hip 67" Waist 54"
* Free US shipping over $100. We ship all orders within 4 business days. Most orders take 5-7 business days in-transit. You'll always be able to track your shipment with the carrier. Shipping Policy
* Returns and exchanges are always FREE for US customers. Items must be in new, unworn and unwashed condition. We encourage you to try a few movements in your home (forward fold, march in place, squat, etc.) before removing tags or discarding packaging. Return Policy
Questions about fit or anything else? Contact us here or email us anytime at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Customer Reviews
Excellent pants for hiking. They stay in place better than most and have a smooth substantial fabric. I will be wearing these on a 6 month hike.
I would love to see these made with deeper pockets. Also, as others mentioned, pet fur sticks to these like crazy but rolls off very easily.
Customer service is stellar. I had an issue with my first order and they contacted me and corrected it. The replacement is exactly what I was hoping for.
Definitely contact them if you have a problem.
Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to make things right. We always try to go the extra mile. Good luck with all your upcoming miles, by the way! So glad you'll be taking us with you on your hike! - Micki K
I am in love with these leggings and wore them for my first 10k walk/run. The thickness, compression, side pockets, color, and overall fit is excellent. I did still have some issues with the high waist sliding down on me and had to keep pulling up, but I am a full size to size and a half smaller in my wait than in my hips, so it's not likely any leggings would not do that on me. Also, the reflective label on the left side was already peeling at the sharps edges when I received them. Maybe just one that slipped last quality control. Nevertheless, they are the best leggings I have ever worn and I will be purchasing more.
Loving these leggings! The length is perfect! The compression makes me feel secure when working out. I've bought them in multiple colors now!
Love these leggings! Great fit, comfortable, love the side pockets.
I have worn Superfit bottoms for years now, but I had to drop yet another five star review for these leggings. I just got home from a 3-day backpacking trip (28 miles and 6000' gain) and I wore these leggings the entire time. From fording a river, to hoisting myself over downed logs, and even sleeping, they fit comfortably and securely. No snags, rips, or thinning. My phone even stayed in the pocket while I pooped in a hole in the ground. I can't recommend these highly enough.
Hi Gina! <3 Thanks so much for this review and for taking us with you on your adventure! - Micki K.
I love Super Fit Hero's leggings. They are high waisted and the waistband doesn't roll down. They are stretchy yet thick and supportive. I've tried other brands, from cheap to expensive, and I can't find any that fit as well as these!! I'm a 16-18 and ordered size XXL.
I can't say it enough - these leggings fit as if they're custom made. Well done all around! I love them during asana and meditation, where working our farm rows, and to just relax! The balance of support and comfort is a dream come true.
Superfit Hero has my favorite leggings, ever. Like I can't buy leggings or athletic bottoms in general from anywhere else anymore, these are the creme de la creme. The way they fit is so nice, and of course I also love the pockets! I am tall (5'10") and these are totally long enough (even with a bit of extra room)! The compression is nice in them as well! <3 <3 Cannot recommend enough!! (I cuffed the leggings in two of the pictures cuz it was hot and I didn't want full length, just fyi since I mentioned the length haha). Oh! and the newer version of the leggings has a little bit larger pockets so my phone fits perfectly now (with my older style the tip stuck out just a tad). :) If you're wondering if these are worth the extra money rather than shopping at a fast fashion spot, the answer from me is YES, get them! You will not regret it ever. The quality and fit is just plain superior! <3
I am a long time SuperFit Hero lover. But I almost gasped out loud when I opened these burgundy leggings. The pics don't do it justice for how intensely rich the color is. And the super hold fabric is by far my favorite of all. SFH hits it out of the park....again!


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Copy of 2018 Holiday Shipping Information
Our FREE shipping in the continental USA is done using UPS Ground. Orders placed by December 13 using free shipping will be guaranteed for delivery by December 24.
For orders placed after December 13th, depending on where you live, our order volume and method of shipping selected during checkout, we will make our best effort to get the order to you before Christmas, but we cannot guarantee it.
If you place your order after December 13 and by the date indicated on the map and calendar below, and expedite the shipping, it's likely we can deliver the order before Christmas. If you have concerns about your order arriving on time, there are several options to consider. We do offer gift cards in the event the product isn't able to be delivered by Christmas. Click here to order a gift card.
If you have any questions or need assistance in expediting your order, please contact us at 260-494-7460 or via email. If you are concerned about


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Information – what is it? why is it so important? why do those who don't have access to it have a dark cloud hanging over them? who gives Access to Information? What controls how much information reaches the public? And just why is it a big deal for people around the world to have unlimited access to information? The answers to all these questions if summed up in a word cloud could help us see just how much more can be achieved globally if information on queries relating to sustainable development was readily available to the masses around the world.
So as simply put by google, Access to Information is the notion that the public can obtain information in the possession of the state, and in some countries private entity information, for the purpose of being informed about the activities of the state.
But unfortunately key information is not readily accessible to the public especially in developing countries, some of them on the African continent. Where it is accessible, there is little awareness on the right to access to information.
Each year since 2016 the UNESCO marked a date for the world to celebrate International Day for Universal Access to Information – that day is September 28th. 2017's global celebration was the 2nd International Day for Universal Access to Information and the #IPDCTalks were held in Paris, France under the theme, "Powering sustainable development with Access to Information". http://en.unesco.org/iduai2016
Alongside global speakers from around the world who have held and hold key positions in various countries and organizations that drive in one way or another, access to information, I was invited to moderate and speak at the 2017 #IPDCTalks event (an honor for me) . See more here http://en.unesco.org/powering-sustainable-development-access-information/speakers. The question that stood out for me really is the quality of information being accessed by the masses around the world, who's duty it is to disburse this information and how helpful it is in creating awareness for citizenry around the globe to in-turn make informed decisions for a global sustainability in support of the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). If it is citizens right to access to information, freedom of expression and speech then why is it challenging for many states when citizens of their nations come up demand access to these rights and freedoms? The more information is withheld from the public by the state, the harder it is and will be to achieve sustainable development.
In my line of work as a Journalist, it is always extra effort getting access to state information about the progress of projects set out by governments partly because there is underlying poor accountability and at times funds meant for public transformation are swindled by some individualistic leaders and policy makers. As a result, this information is hoarded leaving citizens in the dark. This covers nearly all aspects including political, social, economic and environmental sustainability of citizens. However the good news is that with investigation and whistleblowers willing to volunteer information to the media – cases of graft, embezzlement and misappropriation are being exposed.
That said, governments in developing countries and mid income countries such as Kenya now have the "Access to Information Act" that is provided for under Kenya's constitution in Articles 10, 33, 35 and 260. This means that Kenyan citizens have a right to know what is happening in their country at any given time. And while access to information is valued as a key component in achieving sustainable development through informed decision making, it is mostly during crises that some citizens pick interest in information that should usually be rightfully accessible to them. Case in point is how much interest Kenyan and Ugandan citizens have picked in their respective constitutions recently since the annulment of the presidential election in Kenya and the proposal or draft bill to lift/remove the presidential age limit in Uganda. This "crisis-access-to-information" trend cuts across the entire African continent on other issues such as alleviating poverty, ending hunger, good health and well-being, the right to quality Education, Gender equality, access to clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, Industry-Innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, preservation of life below water, life on land, ensuring peace, justice and strong institutions as well as partnerships for all the mentioned. http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
The media regarded as the fourth estate in many nations has made an effort in reporting truthfully on how lack of awareness hinders development but the challenges of being denied critical public information by some entities makes it difficult to execute the mandate we very much owe to the public. This begs the questions of how much information is too much information in the governments' eye, the public eye etc?
Without access to information, achieving the sustainable development goals by the year 2030 will be a challenge. The faster developing nations give this access to citizenry, the more responsible public masses and business entities will be in playing their role to ensure this is achieved. An information citizenry is a more responsible one.
Twitter: @JoyDoreenBiira


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LegalShield is moving into 2017 with memberships at an all-time high, thanks in part to a significant investment in new technologies.
Over the course of 2016, more than 500,000 enrolled in the company's subscription-based legal plans, which offer unlimited legal advice and what is touted as the industry's only 24/7 hotline, for members needing emergency assistance. The Oklahoma-based company also offers a plan for small businesses. As it enters the new year, LegalShield is serving more than 1.6 million member accounts.
The company's sizable growth over the past year dovetailed with the launch of several new digital products and services, foremost among them the new-and-improved LegalShield App. The tool enables users to contact a law firm, prepare a will or process a parking ticket with all the ease of placing a mobile order at Starbucks. In the words of LegalShield's CEO, Jeff Bell, "The LegalShield App is a game changer, because it puts your law firm in the palm of your hand."
Two additional apps introduced in 2016 are helping the company reach new audiences. The Shake by LegalShield app allows users to create—at no cost—legal forms tailored to their specific U.S. state or Canadian province. The in-house team behind Shake also created Ask by LegalShield, which provides answers to more than 1,500 common legal questions.
The company's focus on digital initiatives was reinforced by the November promotion of David Coffey to Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer. Coffey, formerly LegalShield's Chief Media Director, has been tasked with leading a continued expansion of online marketing.


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Leaf negativesPosted: April 6, 2015 Filed under: CAS, Happy News, Watercolour | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolour paints, Penny Black creative dies 18 Comments
I am enjoying my new watercolour paints and experimenting with different ways to use them. The panel above is part of a masking experiment. I used the 'happy news' die to cut a mask from frisket film. Frisket film is made of plastic so I ran the die back and forth through the machine a few times to make sure it cut well. I saved both the negative and the positive die cut image and worked on two panels at once so one could dry while I painted the other. For the one above I used just the positive leaf and branch portion of the die cut image.
I pressed the frisket film leaves firmly onto hotpressed watercolour paper and painted some greens and blues around the leaves. The shape of the leaves reminds me of gum leaves (eucalyptus leaves) so I stuck with the muted blues and greens I remember from the gum trees in Australia. Some paint did seep under the frisket film in places but I didn't worry as I knew I was doing several layers anyway. When the first layer was dry I repositioned the mask and repeated the process. I think I repositioned the mask three times; I'm not sure. By the time I had painted several layers the first white masked leaves were almost completely covered in paint but the outlines were still distinct. I added some splatter, a sentiment then matted in a co-ordinating teal cardstock.
The other panel I was working on used the negative frisket film mask and will be on the blog next week. Thanks for dropping by.
Stamps: Snippets (PB)
Creative Dies: Happy News (PB)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Neenah Avon Brilliant White 110lb cardstock, teal cardstock
Also: Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolour paints, grafix extra tack frisket film
18 Comments on "Leaf negatives"
so gorgeous ..love the colors..would love to see a video about how to do this..never heard of Frisket film..have to look that up..
Lovely! The green and blue hues are very calming. Would also love to see a video!
So lovely – colours are great for those leaves
So understatedly stunning.
ohhhh so gorgeous! I want to try something like that and see if I can make something using your technique. Thank you so much for all the designs and instructions you give us. Your work and instructions are the most wonderful teaching experience I've seen.
beautiful work here!! as usual!
Love it!!! Class with it???😊
Your card is absolutely gorgeous! I love the muted colors. Thank you for sharing your talent and the instructions on how you did it.
Beautiful, colours and composition, love this card 😀 x
Beautiful — love the subtle colours. Has a bit of an Asian feel to it.
I love the colours you have used Heather, and it shows that just some leaves and a sentiment can make a really beautiful card when water coloured so amazingly! x
Absolutely fabulous!
Love this!!! Thanks for the how to.
[…] week I posted a card featuring negative painted leaves and mentioned a second card made at the same time. Both cards were inspired by gum leaves. This […]


text: Mid-century Modern designer Russel Wright is best known for popularizing modern design among the general public. Russel Wright's "American Blonde" line of American Modern furniture and his colorful line of American Modern ceramic dinnerware are the most iconic of his designs. Russel Wright's vintage designs continue to be coveted for their style and quality.