text:
A few unsolicited customer reviews (full names omitted usually).....DVD reviews are here
I'd really like to thank everyone for taking the time to send me these, it makes it all worthwhile!
Hi Lars,
*ed note: I'm really glad you loved your instrument from us, I left your initials out to keep you out of trouble when you do get married, ha ha! ~ Lars
*no staff John! Just me and 2 labradors although my wife helps out a lot when I'm in India ~ Lars
Hi Lars, and Hi readers !
Hello Lars,
I just got the sitar just now and opened it up Wow! Yep everything is awesome (and it was almost all the way in tune - go figure). Thanks for the great packing job and for all of your help and support through this purchase. I greatly appreciate your being very attentive to all of my questions and concerns. You've made buying a sitar a total joy and you definitely made it stress and worry free. Thanks again for all your help and advice! Take care and all the best, Lawrence
We are very happy with our sitar purchase from Rain City Music; in my opinion: you're providing a great service.
The case that protected my sitar in shipment was very well-made, and your efforts to protect it {with the outer box and packing materials } were very well-done…. in short: that case was well worth the money.…
Thanks again… Looking forward to making the order---
Jim R.
Hey Lars everything arrived and is great thank you again !!!! Great service, best sitars and sitar equipment, High quality!!!
Cam H.
Hey Lars,
I just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying the Radhey Shyam Sharma...The action is so much easier than I am used to...I've had to lighten up my touch...the sympathetics are starting to sing, and I can already hear improvement in the sound. I received it Saturday and of course played until my fingers wouldn't take any more :) Also the upper tumba case was a pleasant surprise. Although my old sitar was sounding pretty good after a couple of years, I think it was holding back my progress...anyway thanks for all of your help. I will be playing a kirtan next month and definitely look forward to the new sound.
Hi Lars,
Received my sitar today and I am so impressed with the packing and above all, the sitar itself! It was nearly tuned and I had already learned to fine tune it through youtube. For over several years I have come to know the instrument enough on a mental level to be able to immediately play "Norwegian wood," which I have played and sang numerous times with the guitar. Thank you so much, and I hope you have a great time in India.
Best regards, Namaste,
Hi Lars
.....Could not be happier. The sustain overtones sweetness
are beautiful!!!!! I love this sitar
Thanks for your patience with
me. This sitar is a great pleasure
To play
In Appreciation
Sorry this has taken awhile. LOVE the Mohan Veena & the pick-up arrived today. Will order an extra extra set of strings & hopefully other instruments in the future. Sorry for my slow response – my music has been released on iTunes, my girlfriend visited & my new phone message box wasn't working. Those are my excuses and I guess I'm stuck with them. Namaste! Scott
Lars, you are the Man! The Naeem Teak
arrived today. It is everything I hoped it would be, and more!
With these two fine sitars, I ought to be set for a while.
Hi Lars,
Hi Lars,
Hi Lars,
Yo Lars it's cam, the sitar arrived and is unbelievable. Thank you soo much man sounds amazing crazy good
Survived in great shape. Excellent packing job, etc. But then, I played it ....
Action is fine, tone quality is great, sustain is exceptional, pianissimo is perfect! I can't say enough about this harmonium. Better than my 1970s Paul scale changer EVER was! I love this instrument.
You've done a great service .... Many, many thanks for getting this done.
Best regards,
Hey Lars I'm just letting you know that I got my sitar this morning and its awesome! It has great sound and it's beautiful. Keep up the good work!
Hey Lars,
This Sitar is amazing...It's like going from a cheap Chinese Stratocaster out of tune and set up poorly, to a Fender American Strat set up for Clapton!
Thanks again. I plan on starting the DVD's shortly.
Hey Lars,
I received the sitar yesterday in great shape. I have to say I was beyond impressed with how well and thorough you packed it! I had so much fun unwrapping it just knowing how snug and safe it was on its travels.
And the instrument itself...Wow! It is incredible! It sounds great, plays like silk, and is just a gorgeous instrument. And I love the mizrab that has the wound wire. It fits perfectly.
Thank you so much for all the help along the way. You have a very happy customer!
Hey Lars,
This is Sarah. I bought the Srishti Student sitar from you back in October and finally got to have it on Christmas morning. I just wanted to say thank you, and let you know that I'm totally in love with the instrument! It sounds wonderful, and it feels great to play! I'm so excited! I got Ravi Shankar's book at your recommendation, I've got the sitar all nicely tuned (which wasn't as hard as I thought!) and I'm working on scales and meend.
You were such a pleasure to do business with. I hope you and your family are enjoying the holiday season :)
Hi Lars,
Firstly please accept my apology for taking so long to write this email, but please know that it is important to me for you to know how happy I am with both my tanpura and the quality of service that you provided!
The tanpura arrived with no problems and in perfect condition. And I just love the way this tanpura sounds - so thank you for taking the time to play the instruments and make your recommendation (and answer my numerous questions)!
I love learning this beautiful instrument and am so excited about this musical journey that you helped me embark upon..
Heartfelt thanks,
Attn. Lars Jacobson; Michael R****, I got my stuff on Monday morning just like you said and with something a little extra and I THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH! You will hear form me in the near future for I will be dealing with you anytime I need something that you can provide. I truly appreciate your taking care of me, it's nice to find a store that really cares about their clientele. Thanks
Dear Lars,
Thank you so much. This instrument is a dream come true. Do you know anything about the electronics in it? Thanks for the OM and the calendar. I'm hanging it(the calendar) in the entrance to my music dungeon. This is officially my favorite instrument.
I am one happy little dude,
Hello Lars,
Hi Lars,
Hey Lars, I just received my new Bashir and all I can say is AAAWWWEEESSSOOOMMMEEE!!! I love it! The meend is off the map. Thanks for all the important work you do in selecting and bringing these great instruments to the States. thanks again ....Tom
Hi Lars,
Hi Lars,
Hi Lars,
Got the pickup (McIntyre
ST-08). Tried it out. Holy thousand
heavens...it sounds great. Really great. Thanks so much.
You absolutely can't go wrong buying
sitars, other ICM instruments and accessories, from Rain City.
Even if you can't be lucky enough to live near here and
"test-drive" what you want, Lars will take care of you
personally to guarantee you your complete satisfaction.
(Translated by us from Spanish)
Dear Lars:
Hi Lars,
Hey Lars!
Bruno (Florida, US)
Hi Lars,
Hey Rain city music. I recieved the tabla and they are amazing..thanks again. great product! -justin
Hi Lars, hope all is well. I think I have forgotten to write and tell how much fun it has been so far to play that new sitar. So thanks again, I'm sure I will need something sitar related soon, and I'll give you a call. Keep those beauties coming! bye, nick
Thanks a lot! it just got here and
everything is beyond beautiful, thanks for all of your help'
Hey Lars,
Hi Lars,
Mr. Lars,
Hi Lars!
Hey Lars!
Hey Lars,
Hello Lars,
Hi Lars, got the Jaipur today, and it's more beautiful up close. Very nice feel to it as well. I haven't put it down for the past few hours. Everything was packed wonderfully and there was no problems with shipping. I'm a very happy camper. Thanks for the accessories as well, that rocks. Thanks for being so helpful the last few weeks, I'll be glad to recommend you for business and you'll be receiving more of mine. Thanks again Peace Istvan
Hi Lars!!
(sent by Brian in TX.)
After taking the new tabla downstairs where it is more resonant I realize that it is by far the very best tabla that I have ever owned.
Tor Dietrichson
Hi Lars,
I got the sitar today. It looks great. I'm so happy with it........
Riverdale, NY
Hello again Lars. I received the tabla set on Monday......I can safely say that I have never seen a more beautiful instrument. I have a lot of top class drum and percussion equipment but this my friend stands out in the crowd. I also have to say it was a pleasure dealing with such a professional as yourself. Your handling of the order to the updates on delivery couldn't have been better. If you are ever in the west of Ireland drop me a line and we will have that pint.
James in Ireland
Barun's Sitar is unbelieveable.....This Sitar is most definitely alive! J.F. France
Hi Lars,
Hi Lars
H.L. Kentucky, USA (ed. note Harry passed away recently, a pillar of the sitar community in Kentucky and one of the nicest guys you could know, we will all miss you Harry!)
Thanks for getting me this sitar. It really is the reward I promised myself years ago. Now I have to strive to play it as well as I can learn to.
J.M. New Mexico
Lars, first of all I would like to thank you for everything, for all the care and attention. I am quite satisfied to have at least a Surokar, which so many people talk about. It was important to be able to play and have one in my hands.....
M.B. Brazil
I dont even know what to say
J.C. Pennsylvania
Hey Lars!
Hi Lars..... my son, absolutely loves it! He has it tuned with a tuner. Has not put it down since he got home from school. He said it sounds great and he is finding it rather easy to play. He will call you tomorrow to talk about it. I just wanted you to know how much we appreciate the case and how it was shipped!! We are very, very satisfied and very thankful to you. As I said, he will call you tomorrow and I thank you so very much for all your time and efforts! Sincerly, J S
Dear Sir,
"I was and have been looking for sitar
instruction DVDs for a long time and came across Indrajit by
chance on Youtube. I ordered his "Introduction to the Sitar"
from Lars at RainCity Music.com and received my DVDs promptly. I
liked the first DVD so much that I bought ALL of Indrajit's
amazing sitar instruction DVDs. I am learning more than from all
of my former sitar teachers combined. Indrajit Banerjee is a
very generous and intuitive teacher. In the age of vast volumes
of online information,overinformation and disinformation, coming
across this modern master's DVDs is like finding a golden
meezrab in the Google hay stack!"
The instructional videos from Rain City are so much more than you pay for. I remember how valuable my first video (Raga Yaman vol 1) was when I was starting to learn. I've been playing sitar for several years now and I put in that first video after all this time and it was still full of great information and ideas I can use. I ordered volume 2 and it is just amazing how helpful it is as a learning tool. I think having a teacher and the videos are the best learning combination, but even without a teacher it is finally possible to learn sitar and enjoy the fantastic world of music the sitar has to offer. I can not imagine a better source for instruments and all things sitar. Thanks to Rain City Music for making available great instruments and instruction to everyone.
Randy H.
Hello Lars!
Dear Sirs,
I'm really satisfied with the purchase of the sitar DVDs as they are very useful and as soon as I get a good practice of the techniques I'll order the next one.
In the meanwhile, I should want to know if there is any tutorial or video online to learn how to attach the clip Indrajit talks about, in order to get the chikari strings separated from the rest. I can not see it very well on the DVD and as I'm just a beginner I'm a little afraid to try to do it on my own.
Hey Lars,
Hey Lars,
Ravi (UK)
congratulations and thank you
Thanks for sending the DVD of
Sitar lessons by Indrajit Banerjee
J.V. (yes Indrajit teaches via skype and we do also here for beginners)
Hi Lars,
Hi Lars,
Hello Lars,
Hi Lars ,
Hi Lars,
The new performance sitar videos are fantastic! Indrajit pulls out the stops here and gives so many "trade secrets" in two hours that it makes my head spin. While nothing can replace a "live" teacher, these videos are an excellent source of valuable information. In my guru's absence (poor guy had to go back to Nepal..)... I can still continue on my journey. While I might not recommend these for some one who has never touched a musical instrument before (get some one who has for the beginning...), they are perfect supplemental material for intermediate beginners to even advanced players (the way the Ragas are literally dissected is incredible!) Nice low key style as well. More Lars (and Indrajit) , More! (ed. note ~ more? OK......)
John F.
Hey Lars,
Just a quick note of thank you. I watched only one dvd so far, Sitar Technique Vol 1. I have to say this is well made, straight forward and very useful. My thanks to you and Indrajit. Do you have plans for volume 2? Also some of the ragas that I would like to see instructions on - Hemant, Jhinjhoti, rageshree, Bhairavi etc.
Thanks Lars!
Hi Lars,
Indrajit Baneerjee's DVD 'Introduction to Sitar Technique Vol 1' is a treasure! In one week, I have learnt learnt more than what I have learnt in an year.
I would love to order more of your instructional series in the coming days.
Thank you,
Hey Lars,
I just received Yaman Volume 2 on DVD and I must say it is brilliant. Beautifully explained and perfectly structured developing each facet of the raga sequentially and at a tempo that is sympathetic to the student, but I guess you already know that.
Keep up the great work.
Kind Regards,
Troy W.
Just watched the sitar technique video. Cant believe that there so detailed. I thought it was just going to be the basic stuff you get in books.
Kind regards
W Hussain
Yes, dear Lars-Ji, heard some of your DVDs and I am sure, they are TREASURES! Surely, it is helping me a lot - Thanks!
Will order the other CDs along with your new release; thanks for the info. Kindly, update us about the new releases and I am sure, we are with you. Of course, is there any outlet for these CDs in India? If not, can we help you in any way to distribute the same in India?
In the name of God, we wish you all success.
Regardfully and Sincerely,
Thanks Lars,Thanks for the dhoopsticks...!
I received the DVDs and started last evening with Bageshri. I have to say that if one has some familiarity with the raga...for an intermediate student like me...there is a whole lot in the CDs to work with.
Please keep up the good work. I cannot tell you how grateful I am...it has ended the drought that has been imposed by my back pain and impending surgery and being able to pick up on lessons is so deeply satisfying...
'lo Lars,
Just thought you'd like to know, I found the DVDs to be just amazingly good, Debu was a joy, though I'll leave for his for a while, as he's tuned to D, which is a problem for me until my calluses build up. But the Sitar Technique Vol #1 by Indrajit has got me seriously practicing. It's great, and his treatment of rag Ahir Bhairav on the other DVD is so good I nearly cried. Absolutely what I was hoping for and even without a teacher I feel it will still enable me the opportunity to learn to play my favourite raga.
I'll certainly be ordering some more videos, especially Vol #2 of Sitar Technique.
Many thanks for producing these Lars. I'll be sure to put some feedback on your website, or feel free to quote this e-mail. Also please pass on my thanks to Indrajit and Debu for their great work.
Cheers mate,
P.S. The delivery time was completely acceptable. About what I figured on, in fact.
Have a review? We'd love to see it and thanks so much to everyone for their support!


text:
Markets Right Now: Stocks post their 5th gain in a row
NEW YORK (AP) — The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):
4 p.m.
The stock market shook off a rocky start and managed to end higher, stretching its winning streak into five days, the longest run since September.
Industrial companies and chipmakers were among the biggest winners in a choppy day of trading Thursday.
General Electric jumped 5.2 percent and aircraft maker Boeing rose 2.6 percent.
Macy's took a nosedive after reporting a very weak holiday season, taking investors by surprise. The stock plunged 17.7 percent.
American Airlines fell 4.1 percent after issuing a disappointing forecast.
The S&P 500 rose 11 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,596.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 122 points, or 0.5 percent, to 24,001. The Nasdaq added 28 points, or 0.4 percent, 6,986.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury edged up to 2.73 percent.
11:45 a.m.
Stocks clawed back from an early slide and were slightly higher in midday trading on Wall Street.
Gains for industrial stocks and banks were mostly outweighing losses elsewhere in the market, particularly among retailers.
Macy's plunged 18 percent after surprising investors with a very weak report on holiday sales. Other retailers including Kohl's also fell.
Airlines slumped after American gave a disappointing revenue forecast. American lost 7.4 percent.
The market is coming off a four-day winning streak, its longest since September.
The S&P 500 index rose less than 1 point to 2,585.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 35 points, or 0.1 percent, to 23,913. The Nasdaq slipped 3 points to 6,953.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note held steady at 2.72 percent.
9:35 a.m.
Stocks are slumping in early trading on Wall Street led by steep drops in Macy's and other retailers after several of the companies reported weak holiday sales.
Macy's plunged 18 percent in early trading Thursday and Kohl's dropped 10 percent.
Airlines were also taking a hit after American Airlines released a weak forecast for its fourth-quarter results.
The losses, if they hold, would end a four-day winning streak for the market, its longest since September.
The S&P 500 index fell 15 points, or 0.6 percent, to 2,569.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 111 points, or 0.4 percent, to 23,773. The Nasdaq gave up 50 points, or 0.7 percent, to 6,906.
Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 2.70 percent.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Love will travel as far as you let it.
True love is rare.
Whether you have this great connection with a guy you met online and they live a bit too far for your liking, or your relationship took an unexpected turn, and now you have to do long-distance — if it's the real deal, it's worth the struggle.
Don't get discouraged immediately. An LDR comes with a fair amount of challenges, but it doesn't have to be the end. There are countless examples of LDRs that stood the test of time and distance.
Actually, most of those who failed to keep love alive did it because they took the dive unprepared.
To help you sail smoothly into this new phase of your relationship, we came up with a few things you'd like to have in mind before you embark on this journey.
1. Accept Your New Reality
Now that your relationship is going to do a full one-eighty, it's time to get real and accept the newly-established situation.
Accept the fact that it won't always be easy, and there will be plenty of things to figure out along the way. But, the sooner you realize you are about to be in a long-distance relationship, the easier it will be to adjust to the new circumstances.
Just remember, keep an open mind and an open heart. Things will fall into place soon enough.
2. Talk About Your Needs and Expectations in the Relationship
Talk, talk a lot — every spare moment you get before one of you moves away. Make it very clear about what you expect your LDR to look like and what you'll need from one another during the time you are separated.
Most importantly, stay open about your feelings. Let them know how this turn of events is affecting you and what you'll expect to happen to make this soon-to-become LDR work.
3. Make Sure You Are on the Same Page Regarding Commitment
It might be the least pleasant of topics, but you better bring it up before it all goes down.
Are the two of you allowed to flirt? Are you okay with them partying every weekend?
This conversation will let you know if your partner is willing to stay committed to you or whether they'd like to explore an open relationship.
The distance can be a game-changer! Don't end up with a broken heart and a bag full of disappointments just because you were afraid to ask.
4. Start Planning How and When You're Going to Communicate
Soon enough, you'll realize you can't predict and plan every aspect of your LDR. However, it's a good idea to roughly know what you can control and aim for.
Prepare yourself for the most basic stuff and work out a routine if possible:
• Check the time zones (if there are any changes).
• Take a look at your schedules (work, school, sports activities, etc.).
• Work out the best times you could make a video call or have a longer conversation.
• Talk about how you will celebrate important dates like birthdays and anniversaries.
• Come up with a travel/visit plan (check flight costs).
• See what you can do to keep the spark alive.
5. Make Honesty and Trust Top Priority
Trust is paramount in any relationship, not just in an LDR.
If you haven't been sharing many personal details with your partner, maybe it's time you start getting comfortable with the idea. Not that you have to share your bathroom schedule, but intimacy lies in details.
Talk about everything and anything.
A new address will probably bring new crowds, places, and events.
Don't omit the truth or leave out new experiences just because you think your partner won't like them.
When you leave a lot of room for guessing, expect assumptions to fill in the gaps, and they are the worst thing that can happen to any relationship.
6. Get Social (With Your LDR Partner)
Use technology to your advantage. Get on FaceTime and amp up your texting game. Install all the apps you will be using, open profiles, set up accounts, pay for subscriptions.
Do whatever it takes to feel safe, comfortable, and connected in your new LDR.
Of course, nothing compares to being physically close with your boyfriend, but in this case, words/photos and videos will have to do, at least for a while.
You won't always have the time for lengthy video calls, but you'd be surprised how far texting a simple 'good morning, love' can take you.
It's all about making your partner feel cared for, despite all the miles separating you.
You can also use your imagination, play games, set up virtual dates! There are so many LDR games and activities to help you break the routine!
Final Words
A long-distance relationship sounds like a lot of work, but it doesn't have to be. Honesty, love, a little effort, and dedication can go a long way.
When you are with the right person, love can conquer anything — and distance is no exception


text:
Data Integration
PEPID Knowledge Base
The PEPID Knowledge Base (PKB) provides HIT systems with the framework necessary to integrate medical and drug data in a way that best meets a clinician's needs for maximum functionality and usability.
The PKB offers flexible delivery options, including an SDK and APIs that seamlessly integrate into your system, driving down implementation and switching costs and increasing usability by healthcare professionals. The PKB is compatible with any development environment and supports all delivery platforms, including mobile.
Portal Extensions allow you to quickly enhance a web portal or intranet site with clinical decision support via standard HTML protocols and links.
Drug Database
Our drug data is the most extensive on the market today and includes:
Clinical Content
Our specialty-focused clinical information easily transforms any HIT system into a comprehensive reference tool for healthcare professionals.


text:
Vitals Erica Stewart, 28, Shrewsbury, MA
Occupation Stay-at-home mom
Height 5'2"
Time Required To Reach Goal 9 months
Lesson Learned "You need to want it. No matter how much others support you, it won't make a difference if you aren't self-motivated."
Secret Weapon "My very energetic golden retriever, Bogey. Now he has to keep up with me!"
Weight Before 212
Weight After 127
The Gain
Being overweight was a way of life for Erica. "I never wore a single-digit size, even in middle school," she says. By the time she got pregnant with her first child, Erica weighed 200 pounds. Three years and two babies later, she hit 212. "I had lost all control," she says.
The Change
Erica began worrying that she wouldn't survive to see her kids (now 5 and 2) grow up, and in June 2007 she had a panic attack. From that day on, "I vowed to make better decisions about food," she says.
The Lifestyle
Erica's first goal was to spend 30 minutes a day on the treadmill, walking slowly and then working up to a run. "Exercise was a big key for me," she says. "When deciding what to eat, I'd remember how hard I'd worked to burn those calories, and I didn't want to waste it on junk."
As her cardio became easier, Erica added strength training two or three times a week and looked for other ways to challenge herself. She took indoor cycling classes and played tennis with her husband. "I started to respect my body," she says. She also started making breakfast her biggest meal of the day, and stopped eating carbs after 3 p. m., putting an end to late-night snacking. Never big on cooking, Erica knew she couldn't eliminate her takeout habit entirely, so she researched menus online to find healthier choices.
The Reward
Her hard work paid off: By January 2008, she was down to a size 6. In August 2008 she joined a running club and started training for a marathon. "Conquering my weight was such a big thing," she says. "Now I feel I can do anything."
Erica's Tips
Toss the fat pants "I threw out my old clothes so I wouldn't have anything to wear if I regained the weight."
Chew away cravings "I keep sugarless gum on hand to curb my post-meal sweet tooth."
Do what you love "I could play tennis with my husband for hours. It's so much fun that I forget I'm working out."
Get inspired! Read more weight loss success stories.


text:
Product Price :Get Latest PriceProduct Details:
|CAS Number
|Chemical Formula
|Packaging Details
|35Kg Drum
|Formalin, Methanal, Formol
We have been affianced to introduce an excellent grade array ofFormaldehyde Chemical. Our produced salt has received appreciation for delivering quality salt to the clients. This salt processed using two or three compounds. The offered salt compounds are clinically tested and approved under industry norms. In order to processed quality salt, we formulated by utilizing premium quality compounds and sophisticated technology under the guidance of our skilled pharmacists. Apart from this, clients can get the salt in abundance at industry leading prices.
Other Details:
Formaldehyde is a naturally-occurring organic compound with the formula CH2O. It is the simplest aldehyde and is also known by its systematic name methanal.Formaldehyde is colorless and has a characteristic pungent, irritating odor. It is an important precursor to many other materials and chemical compounds. Commercial solutions of formaldehyde in water, commonly called formol or formalin, were formerly used as disinfectants and for preservation of biological specimens.
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text:
The Jeffrey Gaskill Kickstarter project Help produce the songs of Blind Willie Johnson got funded successfully. It was close, but with over $30,000 pledged the very last day, 956 backers raised $125,154 of the $125,000 goal.
If all goes according to plan, that means we can look forward to two Tom Waits songs: Soul of a man and John the Revelator.


text:
UPDATED: June 5, 2017 10:40 AM — Chicago-based First Industrial Realty Trust spent $8.025 million on Friday in an off-market transaction for its third warehouse property in Orlando.
Located at 550 Gills Dr. in the Crossroads Business Park, southeast of The Florida Mall and near the W. Landstreet Road intersection with the Beachline Expressway, the 5.44-acre parcel features a three-year-old warehouse with 103,342 square feet of conditioned area.
The seller was an affiliate of Oklahoma City-based private equity goup Hall Capital, which previously paid $1.06 million in November 2013 to Duke Realty Corporation for a then-undeveloped site.
Richard Cavano of Orlando-based Cavano Realty was the lone broker involved on the buyer's side, having prompted Hall Capital's off-market sale interest last year.
The fact this was a sale not motivated by immediate need for Hall Capital indicates the company will look to reinvest its proceeds to fulfill a 1031 exchange opportunity.
Lee & Associates fully leased the property for Hall Capital in December 2015, which had been divided into two spaces of roughly 51,000 square feet each. The building has been leased by automotive parts supplier Fred Jones Enterprises and air-conditioning supplier Global Parts Distributors, LLC.
First Industrial, a fully integrated owner, operator and developer of industrial real estate, made a splash in Orlando in Spring 2016 when it spent $23.3 million in separate transactions to buy two fully-leased buildings totaling 325,000 square feet.
One of those was a 126,000-square-foot Class A building at 8751 Skinner Court for $9.3 million, less than 100 yards west of Friday's purchase. The other was an off-market deal for $14.03 million for a 199,000-square-foot building bought from Panattoni Development at 4473 Shader Road, in the Center of Commerce business park.
Have a tip about Central Florida development? Contact me at firstname.lastname@example.com, (407) 420-5685 or @bobmoser333. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.


text:
In the Earth (study)
Shane Cotton
New Zealand
03 Oct 1964 –
- Date
- 2010
- Media categories
- Painting , Drawing
- Materials used
- acrylic on paper
- Dimensions
- 77.0 x 56.5 cm framed
- Signature & date
Signed and dated l.r. corner, pencil "... Shane Cotton 2010."
- Credit
- Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program 2016
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 419.2016
- Copyright
- © Shane Cotton
- Artist information
Shane Cotton
Works in the collection
- Share
Shane Cotton is a key member of a generation of contemporary Maori artists who have explored their heritage in uncompromisingly contemporary fashion. Trained in a Western painting tradition at the Canterbury School of Fine Arts in Christchurch, Cotton came to the fore in the early 1990s as a contemporary 'history painter', combining images from New Zealand's colonial past and bicultural present in beautifully crafted, sepia-toned and often ironically barbed paintings. Through the 2000s, Cotton's paintings grew larger and also more complicated in the 'messages' they transmitted, alluding to an array of contested narratives, from migration, colonisation and resistance to religion, identity and war.
The work was first displayed at Cotton's 2010 solo exhibition Smashed myth at Anna Schwartz Gallery alongside a number of other works on paper which depicted similar exquisitely detailed imagery -- from tattooed heads and human skulls to swooping birds and delicate botanicals. In each of the works, these 'unrooted' motifs, with their confusing spatial orientation and ambiguous relation to one another, appear beholden to an invisible network of forces, momentarily held still within an unfolding state of clamour and commotion. This sense of conflict and anxiety is heightened by the bloodied haze of words and symbols that fill the otherwise spacious compositions and against which his distinctive imagery is suspended. With its singular striking image, 'In the Earth (study)' 2010 can be described as having a quiet intensity. Nonetheless, its sense of tension and intrigue remain paramount.
The work depicts a tattooed head, propped atop a stake that extends upwards from a shadowy mirrored form, suggestive of a small clump of earth. No longer affixed to the ground, it hovers in the centre of the painting, all but a lonely island in a large voided realm. Its precarious state of balance is captivating. It is difficult to reconcile the apparent weight and solidness of the 'island', conveyed in both its dark tones and detailed depiction, with the emptiness of the surrounding expanse. Demonstrating Cotton's exceptional ability to make paintings that exist on the very cusp between the present and coming moment, the work is full of tense anticipation. We cannot be sure whether the 'island' will remain suspended, held in a state of zero-gravity, or whether this might be the very moment before those forces break, sending it plummeting back down to its earthly origins. Behind the image, we can faintly make out the letters spelling the words 'In the Earth' with Cotton, once again, leaving his work open to multiple readings: are these words emerging and about to sharpen into view or are they slowly seeping into the paper and about to disappear?
Exhibition history
Shown in 1 exhibition
Smashed myth, Anna Schwartz Gallery, Sydney, Sydney, 21 Aug 2010–25 Sep 2010


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Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. No good comes to those artists that don't give credit where credit is due—specifically credit to a producer. The newest culprit accused of this crime— Abel Tesfaye aka The Weeknd, who has been exposed by former friend and collaborator Jeremy Rose, for his lack of honesty on his part in their initial tracks.
Rose caught up with Vice.com to set the record straight on his role in the first tracks that got The Weeknd internet exposure and ultimately caught the eye of fellow Canadian singer/rapper Drake.
Rose a Halifax, Nova Scotia native met Tesfaye at a party through mutual friends when Rose, who goes by the production moniker Zodiac, began playing his beats and Tesfaye began freestyling over the one of the records. After that night the two began working , eventually forming what Rose says was a group called the "The Weekend" (notice the 'e' ) a name Rose claims to have came up with on his own.
The tracks that feature Rose's production were the first three Drake placed on his blog: "What You Need," "Loft Music," and "The Morning (Original Version)." All three records also appeared on Tesfaye's debut mixtape House of Balloon, although Rose can't take production credit for the version of "The Morning" version that appeared on the mixtape because he says the beat was changed.
Rose also states that Tesfaye's change in writing had a lot to do with his presence and his dark production.
"At first it was working pretty well, but then I don't know if it was a change in his heart or the people around Abel trying to guide him, but he was starting to push for club tracks and I really didn't want to [do that]," Rose told Vice.com.
After their creative differences began to affect their relationship Rose decided to part ways with Abel. All he wanted was for the singer to give him production credits for the three tracks released.
When Rose learned of Tesfaye's new fame on tracks that he produced, he sent the Canadian singer an email that read: "Remember! Give me credit!" Rose maintains never heard back from The Weeknd. –Jonathan Cruse


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Will Google Instant Make It Impossible to Game Search Traffic?
Perhaps Arianna Huffington and co. should be concerned
The dark art of search engine optimization (SEO) focuses on getting a website to appear prominently in search results. And since a number of websites live or die based on how much Web traffic search engines send them, Google's new update to search, Google Instant, has some worried. Should they be? Yes, according to Steve Rubel, a Forbes columnist and Internet marketing guru. He says the introduction of Google Instant, which instantly provides search results as you type, is a game changer:
Here's what this means: no two people will see the same web. Once a single search would do the trick - and everyone saw the same results. That's what made search engine optimization work. Now, with this, everyone is going to start tweaking their searches in real-time. The reason this is a game changer is feedback. When you get feedback, you change your behaviors. Think about it. When you push a door and it doesn't open quickly, you push harder. When you try to drive a car up a hill and it doesn't go as fast as you would like, you step on the gas. Feedback changes your behavior. Google Instant means no one will see the same web anymore, making optimizing it virtually impossible. Real-time feedback will change and personalize people's search behaviors.
Is Rubel right? His blog post really got netizens talking:
Hold on There, writes Larry Dignan at ZDNet: "Is Google Instant really the end of SEO? It seems too premature to make any quick judgments about Google Instant... I suspect this will be another one of those love-it-or-hate-it types of tools."
- SEO Is Actually More Important Now, writes Kelvin Newman at SiteVisibility: "For natural search, SEO becomes even more important, as the suggested searches push down the paid and natural results. Suddenly, if you're outside of the top three you're unlikely to ever appear above the fold; bad news for people in fourth place." Alan Patrick at BroadStuff agrees: "I would have thought more people will hit the same phrase on the toggle thus reducing variability on what people see, and SEO will be key to get your website onto that first Googlepage, which will now be more samey so the ante will be upped. As always, on the Internet 'the death of' is usually somewhat exaggerated."
- SEO Strategy Will Change in Some Important Ways, writes Kelvin Newman: "For instance, if you start searching for "eco driving", when you've typed "eco dri" the Fiat Eco Drive page comes up (as well as a lot of watches). If you carry on to type "eco driving", Fiat is nowhere. Maybe Fiat will pick up lots more traffic based in this interim state of the results, and maybe SEOs will start optimising for the first few characters of common search queries."
- It's a Minimal Change to SEO, assures Marissa Mayer, Google's VP of Search Products and User Experience: "With Google Instant, search becomes easier but it's still search, you still type your...queries, we still rank the results. Overall, what happens here is the ranking remains stable, so for people who have optimized their site to achieve a certain outcome, that's still the outcome when users do those queries. So we really think that it will be a smaller change for the SEO community."


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Do you feel that, Dallas? That's sunshine. The weather is finally getting to be enjoyable again and it's time to hit the streets and catch some great live music picks this weekend. Between Beenie Man, The Internet, and Meat Puppets-- we've got some rarities on the horizon this week that you really don't want to miss.
Beenie Man Friday, March 28, at Heroes Lounge Regardless of the jealous plots and machinations of the rest of the Jamaican reggae royal family, Beenie Man will still proclaim himself "King of the Dancehall" when the controversial reggae star descends upon Heroes Lounge. Though rivals like Yellowman may think Beenie Man is a pretender to the throne, a solid body of hits like "Slam" and "Girls Dem Sugar" prove he still rules. Steve Steward
The Egyptian Lover Friday, March 28, at The Crown & Harp This early 80's west coast dance music staple brings his unique old school hip hop flair to The Crown & Harp tonight for what is sure to be a party you won't soon forget. Opening support from Cygnus, Tape Mastah Steph, and DJ Sober will keep the dance floor burning from open to close. Vanessa Quilantan
Julieta Venegas, Los Amigos Invisibles Friday, March 28, at Gilley's Jack Daniels is throwing this private, RSVP-only event with Julieta Venegas and Los Amigos Invisibles. The former has been known as Mexico's Queen of Pop for the better part of her 20 year careers, the latter are rumored to be making this their last tour. Good luck to all of those who RSVP. VQ
VNV Nation Friday, March 28, at the Granada Theater Based out of Hamburg, Germany, but featuring a duo from Dublin and Essex, VNV Nation play electronic music the old-school way: lots of danceable synthesizer melodies and harsh beats. Ronan Harris and Mark Jackson have been doing the EBM (electronic body music) thing since 1990, and they just keep getting better with age. 2013's Transnational featured more of the epic romanticism that has always fueled the duo's best work. Songs like "Everything," "Teleconnect 1" and "If I Was" recall the glory days of Soft Cell and Ultravox. VNV Nation produce beautiful blips and beats that are laced with the right amount of danger and violence. Best of all, Harris and Jackson never dumb down their music just for the sake of a sweaty throng. You can dance to this stuff to be sure, but you have to think about it as well. Darryl Smyers
Bodega Brovas Friday, March 28, at Three Links This new "Final Fridays" monthly is only on it's second event at Three Links, but the impressive lineup it boasts is highly unlikely to disappoint. Bodega Brovas will headline along with support from the likes of Buffalo Black, DJ Whiz T, and more. VQ
The Deep Ellum Big Folkin' Festival 3 Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29, at Prophet Bar Folk is as elastic a music genre label as any of the rest these days. Gone are the days when one immediately thought of Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan when discussing folk music. Terms such as freak-folk, neo-folk and certainly folk rock have been prominent in music discussion for years now. Practically any band that stops just short of lightning-fast thrash metal is likely to have at least a slight claim to the folk label if they so desire. And who are we to argue or to care, really? The third installment of the Deep Ellum Big Folkin' Festival is the strongest one yet from a roster perspective, and that is in large part owed to the variety of sonic styles displayed throughout the lineup. Local country greats J. Charles and the Trainrobbers and local Southern rockers Dead Flowers will join the likes of Austin's not-that-folky Leopold and His Fiction and even Frontier Ruckus, a Michigan-based group that's enjoyably made it tough for any fan or critic to pin them into any simple genre. All told, there will be more than 30 acts offering an array of styles over two days, and that's pretty folkin' cool. Kelly Dearmore
Meat Puppets Saturday, March 29, at Dada Nearly every rock fan knows the Meat Puppets. They're one of the most influential rock bands of all time, twisting various musical traditions into an accessible yet challenging rockist figure. What fewer fans realize is that the Puppets also fashioned post-rock's first article, 1985's eccentrically rhythmic Up On the Sun. If 1985 found the Meat Puppets at their most inventive, 2013 saw them at their most surprising. With the release of Rat Farm last April, the Meat Puppets proved capable of a return to form and showed there are still a few tricks left up those sleeves. With the addition of some young blood, the bandmates have brought country timbres into psych textures, once again indulging in the sort of adventurous synthesis that made them important in the first place. It's with the injection of this newfound enthusiasm that the Meat Puppets are once again touring the globe. Which is why Saturday at Dada represents one of the most exciting opportunities a Dallas venue has given us so far this year. Jonathan Patrick
The Internet Saturday, March 29, at Trees This Odd Future offshoot group consists of members of the west coast collective, Syd and Matt Martians. Leaning more in the direction of R&B an modern soul music than aggressive and confrontational rap, The Internet is sure to be a more laid back, grown and sexy kind of vibe than say, a Tyler the Creator show. VQ
Yonder Mountain String Band Saturday, March 29, at the Granada Theater Resting comfortably between the slick pop-roots of such notable names as the Avett Brothers and Mumford and Sons and the grizzly, possibly disease-carrying punk-grass of Hackensaw Boys and .357 String Band, Colorado-based Yonder Mountain String Band has successfully merged the worlds of jam bands and traditional bluegrass since its inception in 1998. While they aren't regulars on late-night television or on VH1 Countdown shows, few other string bands of the past decade have been as commercially successful while remaining true to the rustic yet progressive style of string-band music. Guitarist Adam Aijala, mandolinist and founding member Jeff Austin, banjo player Dave Johnston and upright bassist Ben Kaufmann are perhaps the top of the heap when it comes to bluegrass groups owing more to the Grateful Dead than Bill Monroe. Their solid but often tame albums rarely do their stellar live shows justice, and silver-haired bluegrass purists will likely scoff at the group's covers of Pink Floyd and Frank Zappa. This summer's annual Northwest String Summit, hosted by YMSB, features more beards and tattoos among its lineup in one weekend than an average bluegrass fest would host in a decade. This is a band that jams rock, roots, bluegrass, jazz and funk into a package most should enjoy. KD


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At a blog called Books Are Enough, another teacher-blogger makes a request, which I second: "Can we stop saying "rigor" please?" Here's the teacher's reasoning– and here's the link to that blog. http://booksareenough.wordpress.com/2013/01/29/can-we-stop-saying-rigor-please/
He/she writes:
"Can we stop saying "rigor" please? The term "rigor" is a word some folks are using (again) to imply there is some crisis in education. A lot of folks are making money off of this term and its evil twin "college ready." Here are several definitions of "rigor" from a dictionary…
A. harsh inflexibility in opinion, temper, or judgment: the quality of being unyielding or inflexible
B. an act or instance of strictness, severity, or cruelty
C. rigidness or torpor of organs or tissue that prevents response to stimuli
D. a condition that makes life difficult, challenging, or uncomfortable; especially : extremity of cold
Making students see reading- poetry, fiction, non-fiction or any other genre as simply a task to be completed is immoral. This is why test driven Common Core should be stopped. We had enough under NCLB.
Our goal should be to foster book-loving citizens.
Rigor? Ha!"
Why this observation is so important: first, the proponents of Common Core use the term "rigor" ad nauseum, and always as if rigor meant "academic excellence" when it more closely aligns with the term "academic rigor mortis".
In the upper grades Common Core dumbs down both math and English literature, killing love of reading and killing the development of mathematical habits of mind, by asking students to reinvent every mathematical wheel; but in kindergarten, Common Coore pushes little ones too fast and makes no room for the joyfulness that should characterize kindergarten. See also:


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Penne and "Chreese", Raw Kale with Hemp Seed and Miso-Ginger Dressing (for Kiddo and Daddy)
vegan macaroni and "chreese" (I like it once in a while, too, but my wife doesn't), so I served it tonight when my wife wasn't eating with us. I also made a big raw kale salad. We both enjoyed dinner!


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2012 Grants
Chappaqua Central School District
Enhancing the Library of E-Readers for ESL Students ($1,959)
Building on the success of the e-Readers previously funded by CSF for English as a Second Language (ESL) students in middle and high schools, this grant will provide a more comprehensive library of e-books, upgraded covers and a new set of audio books which are extremely helpful to students developing their knowledge of the English language in 5th through 12th grades.
Helen Harrison, English Language Learning Teacher, Middle and High Schools
Horace Greeley High School
Facing History and Ourselves ($9,600)
Facing History and Ourselves is an international educational and professional development organization. The Social Studies Department, in partnership with Facing History, will engage students in an examination of racism, prejudice, and anti Semitism, with the goal of promoting the development of a more humane and informed citizenry.
Facing History provides in-depth resources on topics taught in all three core curricula: Global Studies, European History, and American History, as well as enriching senior electives including Nationalism and Contemporary Issues. Along with rigorous content, Facing History provides a methodology and approach to teaching history that focuses on critical thinking and promoting individuals as agents of change.
Eric Byrne, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, and Mary Devane, Social Studies Department Chair.
Pugmill ($3,579)
This grant will be used to purchase a Pugmill, a machine designed to remix and recycle all forms of unfired used clay. Without such machinery, there is no way to recycle this clay for ongoing student use, and the clay is discarded as waste. The Pugmill will not only save money and reinforce our community's strong message to recycle, but will allow students in Sculpture and Ceramic classes more material and new opportunities to explore the creative process in the classroom.
Peter Metzler, Art Department
E-Readers for HGHS 10th Grade Students ($3,435)
To assist students in developing their reading ability, especially those who may find reading more challenging, this grant will provide a set of e-Readers for 10th grade students at Greeley. CSF has previously funded e-Readers for 9th grade students, which has demonstrated how this technology increases student engagement and comprehension, builds confidence in reading, and gives students the ability to select books on their level.
Rochelle Mitlak, Reading Specialist; Gail Schlenger, Special Education; and Andrew Corsilla, English Department Chair
Learning Commons Feasibility Study ($83,000)
In partnership with CSF, CCSD is exploring new ways to think about education in our district for the 21st century. This grant will allow CSF and CCSD to hire experts and to conduct a feasibility study to explore the potential transformation of the art, cafeteria and library spaces at HGHS into a vibrant, interactive, technology-driven learning environment that will support project-based learning and the development of collaboration, problem-solving, creativity and communication skills.
Lyn McKay, Superintendent and Eric Byrne, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
Middle Schools
MacBook Lab ($40,830)
In partnership with the District, CSF will fund a MacBook Lab for Bell and Seven Bridges schools, which will provide this innovative technology platform for all middle school students. The MacBook Labs will be managed through the school library and will support the integration of digital technology within the middle school curriculum. These laptops will include a suite of software to facilitate student communication and collaboration, as well as the creation of videos, digital music, three dimensional drawing and multimedia presentations.
Darleen Nicolosi, Director of Technology, Chappaqua Central School District
Nook Books for Middle School Libraries ($9,554)
Supporting the goal of our libraries to make resources available to assist students in thinking deeply and to actively participate in their learning, this grant will provide 50 Nookbook e-Readers for middle school students. This pilot will support curricular endeavors, encourage continued literacy among our students, and provide an exciting new tool to engage young readers. It will also help to better equip our libraries to meet the changing needs of our middle school learners in the digital age.
Karen Baker and Sharon Wiggins, Middle School Library Media Specialists
StrataLogica: Digital Interactive Historical Atlas ($4,382)
One goal of the social studies department is for students to make connections to history through current events and to help them understand the world today through historical events. As a pilot program, sixth and eighth grade social studies students at Bell will work with the StrataLogica Atlas, new historical and geographical technology. This program provides historical pop-ups containing information on historical events, regional history, geography and natural resources, assisting students to problem solve geographic issues and their impact on various cultures. StrataLogica enables students to store their projects in a "cloud" network, fostering collaborative classroom work as well as the ability for students to work in teams while at home or in separate locations.
Jason Lummel and Ingrid Melhus, Bell Social Studies Department
Perfecting Interview Techniques using Technology ($1,424)
As part of the Family and Consumer Science curriculum, all eighth grade students at Bell participate in the student-directed "class company". As part of this project, students will explore the interviewing process, improving their interviewing skills through videotape analysis and reflection. Utilizing new video cameras granted by CSF, students will film practice interviews to identify each student's strengths and areas for improvement. Students will perfect their skills to prepare for interviews with Principal Martin Fitzgerald and Assistant Principal Tim Doyle for "company positions" and for future endeavors, including school and job interviews.
Elizabeth Sovern, Family and Consumer Science, Bell Middle School
3-D Design ($6,245)
The purchase of a 3-D Scanner and a 3-D Printer will allow students in all grade levels at Seven Bridges to stay on the cutting edge of technology. This contemporary and more advanced software package will allow students to work with both 2D architectural drawings and 3D modeling. 3D design involves real-world challenges for students and teaches them to collaborate to take ideas from concept through to final product.
Chris Stasi, Technology and Zach Arnold, Art, Seven Bridges Middle School
Elementary Schools
PointScribe ($3,550)
Developing neat handwriting is a skill many elementary school children struggle with. PointScribe is an interactive software program that teaches students correct letter, number and shape formation on a touchscreen tablet. Having this software will give students more time for independent handwriting practice and improve their ability to produce legible writing. The advantage of this software over typical paper/pencil practice is that it does not allow the student to practice the formation in the wrong way. PointScribe is like having a handwriting coach sitting with each student, guiding them through every stroke of every shape, providing immediate feedback. This grant provides funding for PointScribe to be piloted in Kindergarten classes at Grafflin, with a view towards expanding the program district-wide.
Mary Crewe, Occupational Therapist
Peaceful Playgrounds ($5,022)
This grant provides funding for Roaring Brook Elementary School to implement the Peaceful Playground program. Peaceful Playground helps develop students' social and problem-solving skills by transforming the playground into a cooperative learning environment. Permanent playground activities are designed to offer more playground choices and encourage positive and productive outdoor learning experiences. Alphabet and number grids, hopping and skipping lines, and multiuse circles and squares are just a few of the nearly 100 activities included in Peaceful Playgrounds. Learning the problem solving strategies within the program assists all students in learning to interact with their peers, develop a sense of responsibility for self and others, and establishes a sense of community within a positive school environment.
Amy Fishkin, Roaring Brook Assistant Principal, and Peter Berendt, Acting Roaring Brook Principal
Playaways Digital Audio Books ($3,064)
Following in the success of CSF's 2011 grants to Roaring Brook and Grafflin for the purchase of Playaways, CSF will now fund this technology for Westorchard's First and Second graders. Playaways are self-contained digital audio books, which enrich the students' literary experience and help develop cogent reading skills at an early age. Students are more accustomed to technology at home and in the classroom, and their reading skills greatly benefit by being able to read text along with the corresponding audio book. These devices also help students with a host of skills, such as pronunciation, vocabulary development and comprehension.
Renee Mattiello and Brooke Baron, Westorchard Elementary School
E-Readers for Fourth Grade ($3,358)
Students in fourth grade represent a range of reading levels. It is important for students to be reading texts at their independent reading level in order to practice reading strategies with success. This pilot grant at Westorchard Elementary School for the purchase of E-readers offers all fourth grade students the opportunity to read texts on their level without others knowing what they are reading. These e-Readers will enable struggling readers to read independently and improve their skills without the stigmatization of being viewed by peers as "slow readers." Higher level readers benefit by having access to the latest high interest titles. Use of E-readers serves to motivate all students to read more since they can have quick access to any text.
Nicole Curran, Miriam Fernandez, Alison Guerra, Torrey Keeley and Erin Posner, Westorchard Elementary School
Mural with Visiting Artist ($8,042)
This grant addresses the artistic elements of education by introducing a Visiting Artist who, in conjunction with Westorchard Art Teacher Elizabeth Rose, will introduce the elements of collaborative community art to the entire school. Every grade level will receive instruction and participate in a project that will culminate in a community mural that will adorn the Cafetorium walls. The grant does more than address artistic skills. It utilizes art to affirm the spirit of community, while promoting individual artistic creation and expression on a collaborative community level. The resulting exhibition of student artwork will serve as both a valuable learning tool and a source of ongoing pride for all Westorchard students.
Elizabeth Rose, Westorchard Art Teacher


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Top facts from the TREB Market Watch Report for February 2016
According to the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB), total number of home sales across the GTA spiked to 7,621 in February – up 21.1 per cent compared to the same month last year.
The huge uptake in sales was felt across the board, with condo sales in Toronto up 25.6 per cent and single-family detached houses experiencing a strong 20.3 per cent jump throughout the region. Prices also saw a significant boost in February, collectively up 14.9 per cent to a regional average of $685,278 (for houses and condominiums combined). That marks a $54,000 increase in homes prices from just one month ago – further cementing the fact that January will stand as the cheapest month to buy a home as prices continue on their upward trajectory throughout the year.
Condos on the other hand remain the far more affordable option, with highrise units that fall in the bounds of the 416 changing hands for $435,679 – a substantial double-digit 17.8 jump over February 2015. In the city's highly sought after down core, condo prices edged closer to the half-million mark with apartments selling for an average of $488,518.
The large leaps in home prices is primarily tied to a tight supply of properties on the market. Active listings dipped 8.6 per cent in February alone. "With strong sales up against a constrained supply of listings, home prices continued to trend strongly upward," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.
Top facts from the TREB Market Watch Report for February 2016
Average Condo Price
City of Toronto: $435,579
Average Detached Home Price
City of Toronto: $1,211,459
Average Semi – Detached Home Price
City of Toronto: $848,835
Average Townhouse Price
City of Toronto: $578,667


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We live in a time where science is being sensored. We live in a time where subject matter experts, distinguished scientists and medical professionals who were once listened to are now being deleted. We are observing those that invented much of the medicine and health care we have come to value so much, be shut … Continue reading Fact vs Fact
Now is the time
Our country is in dire need of genuine, brave, intellectually and emotionally intelligent leadership, with integrity at its heart. It's difficult to take what you know is truly right and stand before the people you serve and speak from the heart. And when you do, your voice breaks. It is arguable that this is one … Continue reading Now is the time
I would dream as a child, that I was in the school yard, a larger playground than what my school actually had. It was filled with rolling hills. I would get to the top of one such hill and then I'd run, as fast as I could down the other side, only my feet wouldn't … Continue reading Hope
A story NOT about writers block
Writers block; 1. You feel like (or need to) write something but you don't know what to write about, and/or, 2. The phenomenon whereby one just plain outright feels as though inspiration for splashing something creative onto a page that would otherwise feel relatively poetic just doesn't happen, instead, finding yourself blinking in harmony with … Continue reading A story NOT about writers block
Scared to let go
I cut through the canal towards the school bus stop, struggling to quell the lump that sat clogged in my throat like a blocked drain. Tears swelled up in my eyes and for the first time in weeks I felt alone. No one had died. No one was sick. I hadn't lost a pet or … Continue reading Scared to let go
The pursuit of interesting
I titled this piece, like most things I write, before I actually wrote the thing. It sat in my drafts for a few weeks and to my surprise, upon my return, it was all blank, absent of even a hint as to what I intended the story to be about. Oddly, I now find myself … Continue reading The pursuit of interesting
Comma, a love story.
There's no hiding the fact that the most chosen method of punctuation adopted within my writing is the comma. I'm almost sentimental to the little thing, taking to heart each time I strike a pen (digitally or handwritten), for its inclusion. But what is it exactly that draws me so intently to using the comma, … Continue reading Comma, a love story.
Changing your mind, again?
It's a common occurrence, and I don't blame them. I'd probably think the same thing if I was them. I mean, it's just the next, new thing right? And whatever happened with your last idea? Sitting around the table, we were all busy poking our index fingers at the edges of our dessert plates, hoping … Continue reading Changing your mind, again?
I could lockdown, forever.
Quite early on, the memes started flowing. Introverts rejoice! It was like we'd won the Willy Wonker Golden Ticket... "You must stay home. You are forbidden from leaving your home; it's time for social distancing". For the introvert, none of this sparked any concern, whatsoever. Infact, it's quite the contrary. In our minds, for the … Continue reading I could lockdown, forever.
A week in review; week ending 10th Nov. 2019
I'm struggling to type this post -- apologies if it just ends abruptl- Where was I? Apologies if just ends abruptly. I took it upon my self yesterday afternoon to attempt to service our whipper snipper (lawn edger for those not familiar with the term, and it didn't end well. I'm ok, but after doing … Continue reading A week in review; week ending 10th Nov. 2019


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Archaeological discoveries can help verify the historical reliability of the Old and New Testaments. Many scholars today question the validity of Biblical accounts, supposedly based on the findings of archaeology. But when the "discrepancies" are examined in detail, it is found that the problems lie with the
archaeology (i.e. misinterpretation of evidence, lack of evidence, or poor scholarship) and not with the Bible. While the claim that the Bible is the Word of God can never be "proven" solely by archaeology, it can be helpful in removing doubts that a person might have about the historical trustworthiness of the Bible.
The below links have been provided for the viewer to explore this topic of Biblical Archaeology. You should recognize that even within this field itself, there are those who disagree on certain things. A thorough exploration of these links will reveal that there are different opinions on different discoveries and evidence, just as there are in secular archaeology. We provide a variety of sources with potentially differing viewpoints on certain things for the viewers' consideration of the available evidence. As usual, you consider the evidence and come to your own conclusion.
Beyond just Biblical Archaeology, we also provide links to resources that present evidence contrary to the currently held views presented by secular archaeology. The evidence presented in some of these resources questions or refutes the current notion of isolationism, and the idea that the ancients were primitive. Be aware that not all of these resources will necessarily come from a Christian worldview, yet it is important to realize that the evidence never conflicts with Scripture. In fact, it aligns - much better than the secular narrative of "primitive man." In other words, we consider the evidence they present to be worthwhile, yet we may not agree with all of the philosophical conclusions they arrive at.
Additionally, be aware that some of the content pertinent to this exploration of archaeology overlaps with some of the resources provided under "Nephilim/Giants, etc." where we have provided links that display evidence of the construction of ancient megalithic structures using high technology unknown to us in modernity. This is also another example of archaeological evidence that goes contrary to the secular narrative. For a full exploration of this, it is recommended to become familiar with the resources on that page as well.
We consider the following resources to be overall, very helpful and reliable, and recommend them for your consideration. Please keep in mind that we cannot and do not affirm everything said on any particular resource. With that said, we hope you find the below links helpful!
Note: Both website links AND YouTube channel links (where applicable) are provided.
Associates for Biblical Research has a staff of professional archaeologists whose goal is to keep Christians informed on the latest discoveries while providing a Biblical perspective for the significance of each discovery.
Dr. Randall Price is the Founder and President of World of the Bible Ministries, Inc. He is also a Distinguished Research Professor at Liberty University and Directed the Center for Judaic Studies from 2010-2016. Dr. Price is also Adjunct Professor of Apologetics at Veritas Evangelical Seminary in California. In 1993, he founded World of the Bible Ministries, Inc. and serves as its President and traveling speaker. Dr. Price has contributed to and authored numerous books and been involved in the Dead Sea Scrolls excavations at Qumran, as well as other archaeological expeditions.
The late Ron Wyatt was a nurse anesthetist-turned amateur archaeologist and explorer who is best known for exploring and advocating for the Durupinar site in Turkey as being the remains of Noah's Ark. By the time of his death in 1999, Wyatt claimed to have discovered some of the most amazing Biblical artifacts and sites imaginable (in addition to Noah's Ark), for example: the Ark of the Covenant, the actual crucifixion site of Jesus, the location of Sodom and Gomorrah, the site of the Red Sea crossing, the true site of Mt. Sinai, and most incredibly, remains of the blood of Christ found in a cave beneath the crucifixion site on the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant. Although Wyatt has typically provided solid evidence for his discoveries, he is routinely considered not credible by many scholars, both secular and Biblical. We consider his research incredible and worthy of your exploration and consideration. Come to your own conclusion!
The Bible Archaeology, Search & Exploration (BASE) Institute - lead by Bob Cornuke - is dedicated to the quest for archaeological evidence to help validate to the world that the Bible is true, and that it represents an accurate, non-fictional account of God's will to bring the people of this world back into a relationship with Him. BASE Institute fulfills its mission by engaging in activities of research, exploration & public education, to present credible, archaeological information that is sound in scholarship, but that is also interesting and motivational to the general public. Cornuke also came under fire for among other things, advocating a different site for the Temple in Jerusalem. Like in the case of Ron Wyatt, we encourage you to explore the evidence he presents and come to your own conclusion!
S8int.com (saint.com) is website that focuses on "out-of-place" artifacts that do not align with the current secular view of archaeology and world history. This site provides an incredible collection of articles, artifacts, commentary, photographs, and creationist oriented research curated from a literal, Bible-believing, Christian perspective. S8int.com also has a great collection of information on mega fauna (mainly dinosaurs) that demonstrates evidence contrary to the current "distant past extinction" narrative.
Hugh Newman is an explorer, author, and regular contributor on TV shows and channels like the BBC and The History Channel. He has published research on ancient megaliths, giants, and other topics contrary to the current historical and archaeological narrative. Although we disagree with some of his major philosophical
conclusions, we encourage you to check out his research, which is excellent.
David Hatcher Childress, known as the real-life Indiana Jones to the many fans of his books, is a captivating speaker and the author or coauthor of over 20 books. He has traveled the world several times over, seeking the answers to the mysteries of mankind's past. He focuses on mainly historical and archaeological topics, revealing evidence of ancient lost cities, megaliths, ancient technology, and transoceanic contact between ancient civilizations. Although we disagree with some of his major philosophical conclusions, we encourage you to check out his research, which is excellent.
Writer, researcher, and explorer Brien Foerster has become an authority on the megalithic works of South America and the perplexing ancient Elongated Headed people of the area, dividing his time between Paracas, Peru, and Cusco. Foerster leads exploration tours of popular megalithic sites throughout the world. Although we disagree with some of his major philosophical conclusions, we encourage you to check out his research, which is excellent.
International explorer, archaeologist, and author Jonathan Gray has traveled the world to gather data on ancient mysteries. He mainly focuses on lost ancient high technology, giants, lost ancient cities, the deliberate coverup of ancient artifacts, and the evidence that man has devolved down through history - rather than evolved. Gray is a Christian, and provides interesting speculation on the ancient past and ancient earth.


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Goalies always have the toughest draft days
Just to give you an idea of how difficult drafting a goaltender is, I present two classes.
In 2006, NHL teams selected Semyon Varlamov, Jonathan Bernier, Steve Mason, James Reimer, Michal Neuvirth, Jhonas Enroth, plus several others who have played at least a dozen games in the big league.
In 2007, there were 20 netminders selected and only two of them ever made it to The Show: Timo Pielmeier played one game for San Jose in 2010-11, while Allen York suited up 11 times for Columbus a season after that.
So you'll excuse GMs around the league of being a little gun-shy when it comes to taking a goalie in the draft. But Carey Price went fifth overall and Roberto Luongo went fourth, so you can't exactly ignore the position until the latter rounds, either – even though that's where Pekka Rinne (258th) and Henrik Lundqvist (205th) ended up.
All this means that the netminders themselves usually have no idea when they'll be picked.
"There's been word that I'll go first round, second round," said Alex Nedeljkovic of the Ontario League's Plymouth Whalers. "But a lot of great goalies have gone in the later rounds or weren't even drafted."
Nedeljkovic has one of the best pedigrees in the draft, leading the Whalers on a great playoff run in 2012-13 as an underager and helping Team USA win gold at the world under-18s this season. He won't be the first goalie taken – Boston College's Thatcher Demko is a practical lock – but his skills should make him a good candidate to go second or third.
The big knock on the Ohio native is size and it was something he addressed over and over again at the NHL draft combine last month when he interviewed with 20 different teams.
"The one question I think every team asked was 'How do you deal with being a six-foot tall goalie in a day and age where guys that are 6-foot-3, 6-foot-4, are taking over the league?'," he said. "You can't control how tall you are. All you can control is how hard you work with that height. Use that to your advantage; try to work harder than other guys."
At nearly 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Chase Perry is one of those prototypical new-era goalies. The Minnesota native played in the North American League this season with Wenatchee, putting up great numbers and earning all-rookie team honors. Perry played for Andover High School before that and is committed to play at Colorado College next season.
"I felt going to the NAHL would develop my game the quickest," he said. "I would face stronger, faster shooters than in high school and I think I made the right decision."
Ranked 11th among goalies by International Scouting Services and eight among North American goalies by NHL Central Scouting, Perry could go anywhere when the draft actually goes down in Philadelphia this week. He interviewed with 13 teams at the draft combine.
"Hopefully I'll get my name called," he said. "I'm really working hard to get to that goal, so we'll see what happens."
Perry is one of three NAHL goalies in the draft mix, along with Kasimir Kaskisuo and Logan Halladay. Kaapo Kahkonen, Linus Soderstrom and Jonas Johansson are all available from Europe while the CHL boasts big kids such as Brent Moran and Mason McDonald. Along with Demko and Nedeljkovic, that's quite a few options right there. But how many will be wearing NHL jerseys in five or six years?
That's the big question and one of the best storylines to watch for in Philadelphia.


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Summer is in full swing and the staff has been eagerly preparing for another Super program for the Franklin County families! This year is all about Super heroes and not just the masked kind. There are super heroes in the community who do not receive recognition for all that they do to protect and help us. Beginning next week, our programs begin at both branches!
Carrabelle Branch: Thursday, June 18th 10:00 – 11:30 am
WEEK 1 Community Heroes
Guest will tell children all about sea turtles and how the volunteers work to help them! Fun turtle Crafts and stories!
What makes someone a superhero? Do they help others? Are they brave? Do they try to make the world a better place?
Eastpoint Branch: Friday, June 19th 3:30 – 5:00pm


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Hospice turns 10
By Alex Kloss
When I found out about the Antlers' latest tour shortly after their January announcement, it was already too late: all the tickets to the only Chicago show were sold out. It felt like a slap in the face. I've listened to their groundbreaking album Hospice, easily one of my all-time favorites, religiously throughout the last couple of years, and now that they come to my city to perform said album, I'm snubbed a ticket. Thankfully, life sometimes works in mysterious ways, and a press pass and an extra Chicago show later I'm in Thalia Hall with my camera.
The staging of Hospice's 10th anniversary is quite different from its original studio version to say the least: with keyboardist and trumpeter Darby Cicci leaving the band earlier this year, the remaining line-up shrunk to Peter Silberman on guitar and vocals, and Michael Lerner drumming. Their astonishingly minimalistic acoustic set-up included a single snare and was rounded out by fellow Brooklyn-based native and occasional touring member Tim Mislock playing electric guitar.
After Mislock finished his bone-chilling reverb-heavy opening set, Silberman and Lerner joined him on stage and Silberman's haunting voice immediately set the atmosphere for the rest of the evening:
"I wish that I had known in that first minute we met
The unpayable debt that I owed you"
While the lines outline the two protagonists' first encounter, the greatest debt of the evening was of course the one that the audience owed to the Antlers themselves for creating what can be considered as one of the most heart-wrenching albums ever made.
"Because you'd been abused by the bone that refused you
And you hired me to make up for that"
Silberman goes on, introducing the album's plot, which is centered on a hospice caretaker and his bone-cancer afflicted patient, the two of which commence a romantic relationship early on in the narrative. As their newfound love spirals into inevitable catastrophe given the circumstances, so do the audience's emotions.
Hearing an album which in part lives off its rich instrumentals stripped down to the bare necessities turns it even more intimate than it already is. From Silberman's emphatic enunciation that "All the while I know we're fucked and we're not getting un-fucked soon" in "Bear" to his dreamy recital of "Two", only accompanied by Lerner's brush drumming, and finally to Mislock's almost optimistic-sounding outro on "Epilogue", the sincerity of the artists pulsates with every beat and every note on the album.
It is difficult to put into words the unique sonorous journey on which the three take us – a story which we know will make us feel miserable for a while, but which is so beautiful and unforgettable precisely because it has no happy ending.
Instead, what we're being served is pure catharsis. If concept albums were stage dramas, Hospice would be the Oedipus Rex among them, the hubris of its protagonist being his misguided belief that he can prevent the inevitable and impending. The punishment he is being served is cruel, but it's an excellent reminder that things don't always work out for the better. For Silberman, Hospice was a symbolic way to move on from his own past, and I'm sure that the album has helped many listeners to go forward in their pursuits in a similar way.
After salvaging themselves from the emotional shipwreck that they've just caused, the trio allowed for a short break before returning with a seven-song encore. They start with "I Don't Want Love" from their 2011 follow-up LP Burst Apart, arguably their lightest song of the night. Shortly after, "Parade" and "Surrender", two adjacent pieces from their most recent album Familiars (2014), follow. Incredibly poignant and wonderfully melancholic, it tells the story of a young couple that keeps on going on in spite of their shared adversities.
On the morning that we're both 19 and newly on our own
And all we know is "each other" and invisible homes
We find two empty seats in the back of a car in an empty parking lot
Where all our bridges are abandoned and the cops have forgot
And I can feel the difference when the day begins
Like all I know is, "This year will be the year we win."
We smoke the paper from the banner from our past parades
And start again, before the memory of the mess we've made
Clearly, dysfunctional relationships are a common thread in Silberman's work. Rather than spanning a large range of topics, his lyrical canon is much more concentrated, but, perhaps for that exact reason, also all the more beautifully crafted.
In the same vein, the set ends on "Putting the Dog to Sleep", a song about the pain and uncertainty of a dying relationship.
Prove to me I'm not gonna die alone
Put your arm 'round my collarbone
Don't lie to me if you're putting the dog to sleep
That pet you just couldn't keep
Found on their 2011 follow-up album Burst Apart, the nod to Hospice is more than just slight. It was perhaps the most poignant reminder of the night to cherish what we have while we have it. Taking the "L" back home, I couldn't help but feel slightly shattered upon realizing the colossal emotional power that just weighed down on me. But rather than being broken, feeling that weight was also healing in many ways.
The Antlers sing about failing, time and time again, but ultimately it's about coming out on top eventually. "To learn to succeed, you must first learn to fail", a fellow Brooklyn native famously remarked, and it is in this spirit that the Antlers' musical catalogue should be read. Maybe it is foolish to keep telling it to ourselves, but if we won't believe in that age-old mantra, then no one will – so why not make this year the year we will win?


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Episode #16
Click to listen to this episode
1. Rude City Riot
Rude City Riot are a six-piece from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They play fantastic, upbeat, power-ska and reggae. Punk influences are scattered about and you can hear this in vocalist, Dustin Lionhart III. His voice has a raspy quality to it, and it's a perfect match for the rude beats that make up a majority of Rude City Riot's sound. And the trombone (Kevin Tang) and saxophone (Jonny McCormack) are key players as well and know how to back up Lionhart's voice. Rude City Riot currently have one self-titled five song EP out, with a new album set to be released soon. The song featured on this episode is titled, Same Old Story, which is currently available as a single.
2. Big D and the Kids Table
Big D and the Kids Table's, How It Goes, is a fantastic album. Easily one of my favorites, but Strictly Rude is also just as great if not better. They're currently recording their new album which is going to be titled, For the Damned, the Dumb, and the Delirious, which should be released in June 2011, according to their website. It's going to be a mix of Strictly Rude, How It Goes, and other stuff, which should be an awesome follow up to Fluent in Stroll. Some of my favorite tracks on How It Goes include LAX, Cutshow, and Little Bitch (cool cover, but mostly the videos make it fun to listen to and I love it when I hear Dave go, London's where it's at...). But I think the song with the best horn line is on the track, If We Want To. When that horn line first comes in, it's sort of timed oddly, and it does that in different phrases of the song, but it all later falls into place so nicely. The track on this episode is, If We Want To, off of, How It Goes.
3. Exit 24
Exit 24 was a ska band that formed in the late 90's in Hawaii. The members of the band all came from around the island of Oahu, but all met in the Manoa area, hence the name, Exit 24. The band's music was fluent in third-wave ska, often mixing it up with both punk and ska elements. They had but two brass players for their horn section, later playing with a single trombonist as heard on their KTUH Monday Night Live record. That set was recorded live just weeks before their one year anniversary as a band back in 1999. Other than that, they also released a six song EP titled, Ready...Break! (through Hawaiian Express Records), which includes the awesome instrumental, Bay City Blues and their love song about Jennifer Love Hewitt titled, Jennifer. Featured on this episode is the song, Jaybird, off of their live record.
4. Stuck Lucky
Stuck Lucky plays some crazy ska-punk, with a healthy mix of other influences (Check out this video). Really, really good stuff. The band are a five-piece and they come from Nashville, TN. They currently have a full length, Possum Soul (2009), an EP, Hate the Light of Day, a split with Arm the Poor, and a 7" titled, Dry Drowning (2009), all released through Community Records. Stuck Lucky will be a part of the Ska is Dead: Young Guns tour this year, playing select dates in April and will also play Bloc Party that will be happening in New Orleans. The event is set up by Community Records. Details here. The track on this episode is titled, D-D-D-Devastation, off of, Possum Soul.
5. Night Gaunts
Night Gaunts are currently a three-piece from Auckland, New Zealand. They play a really upbeat, wacky style of Ska that's just coated with jamming vibes and groovy beats. No horn section appears at the moment, only guitars and a steady stream of sick bass lines. The organ plays a dominant role as well and you can hear it (and what sounds like saxes) on the track, Top Hat Killers (Lo Fi, One Mic, is another good one), on their album, Full Body Tourettes [Pt. II], released in January 2011. Other great tracks on the album include the punk driven, These Knives, and the spacey-rudeness of Space to Vacuum and Vicious Viles. On Vicious Viles is a very (very, very, awesome) well placed excerpt from A New Hope (These aren't the droids you're looking for...). Night Gaunts also have in their catalog, Full Body Tourettes [Pt. I] (June 2010), a two track release with both Vicious Viles and Shivers. Both appear on Full Body Tourettes [Pt. II]. Both releases are also available for free with links on their facebook. Purchases can also be made on their bandcamp. Featured on this episode is the song, Blue, off of, Full Body Tourettes [Pt. II].


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New Show Running Man Coming To Cartoon Network Southeast Asia And Cartoon Network Australia 11th August
On Saturday 11th August, Cartoon Network Southeast Asia and Cartoon Network Australia will be airing a brand new show – Running Man. Running Man is a brand new 3D CGI animated show based on the South Korean game show of the same name. In the show, seven competitors battle it out to become the ultimate champion, each contestant uses their super powerful skills in tense individual battles, each competitor is pushed to their limits, all leading to a final showdown with the "Devils", a group of mysterious highly-challenging competitors. The brand new show is animated by South Korean animation and visual effects studio – Lotus and produced in collaboration with Line Friends (owned by the instant messaging service – Line) and South Korean national broadcaster – SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System).
The brand new animated series will premiere on Cartoon Network Southeast Asia on Saturday 11th August, airing weekends at 1.30pm (Singapore/Malaysia). On Cartoon Network Australia, the new show will premiere on the same day at 11.30am AEST and will air on weekends at 11.30am AEST.
To celebrate the premiere of the brand new show, Cartoon Network Southeast Asia and sister channel Oh!K (a channel that airs television shows from South Korea) are running a competition on their Facebook, every day from today (1st August) until a special "Bonus Round" on 8th August, there will be a different challenge (alternating between the Cartoon Network APAC and Oh!K Facebook pages), competition winners shall receive a Running Man mug. Five winners will be chosen for each daily challenge. Competition ends Saturday 11th August, competition open to residents of Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam. Full terms and conditions can viewed on the link below:


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Vampirism is a none-too-subtle metaphor for sex. The penetration of skin by sharp canine teeth easily evokes both violence and eroticism. Fear and desire become entangled. Not surprisingly, filmmakers from Jean Rollin to Jess Franco have capitalized on this allure/revulsion by fashioning vampire movies with an enhanced sex quota (and critically-respected directors such as Francis Ford Coppola have followed their lead).
Go to the review


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|Molly and calf
For days -- no, weeks -- I kept thinking, "I should have said ___ or ___!" It was the first time anyone had ever argued with me about organics and sustainability, and I was not prepared at all. When we told everyone we were moving to the country in 2002 to grow our own food, they all looked at us like we had lost our minds. They really didn't know what to say, so most didn't say much. My father, who had lived on a farm his entire life until I was three years old, looked at me quizzically, paused for a long time, then finally said, "What do you want to do that for?" The goal in his life was to have a real job so he could make enough money to buy all of his food. And so I grew up eating canned ravioli, frozen pizza, and lots of hamburgers and burritos from local fast food places.
Thinking about the past month is like traveling to a new universe -- one where people are concerned about their food and want to grow their own, one where my lifestyle is cool instead of weird. In the past month, I've had five speaking engagements, two newspaper interviews, and a radio interview. Here is one of the newspaper articles, and here's the other one. Another reporter is coming over today to interview me. I spoke at the Illinois Sustainable Living and Wellness Expo on homesteading and backyard chickens two weeks ago, and both sessions were packed with about seventy people. From young couples to retirees, people want to take control of their food. Thirty-one people spent a whole day at a Homesteading Conference a few weeks ago, learning to raise livestock, compost, and preserve the fruits of their labor by canning.
But the good news doesn't stop there. Tractor Supply in Blomington, IL, can't keep up with demand for its livestock feed. For the past month, they keep running out of various feeds, and a friend from Kentucky told me her Tractor Supply down there is having the same problem. I also noticed that every time I went into the store for the past month, their chick brooders have been empty. Yesterday, they were full, and there was an employee giving them food and water. I started talking to her and learned that they can't keep the chicks in stock. Every time they get a shipment, they sell out within a few hours. They have only had chicks in the store overnight once this spring!
I'm really excited about this new consciousness, and not just because Homegrown and Handmade is coming out this fall, which by the way, is now available for pre-order at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I'm excited because there are so many positive aspects to growing your own food -- you get exercise, you eat healthier, and you get outside more. And this leads into tomorrow's post about why we should do our best to avoid Big Ag and Big Biz products as much as possible. Although we're growing most of our own food now, there are still plenty of things on my to-do list, including bee hives and mushrooms. But I love hearing about what other people have started to do or are planning to do, so don't be shy -- share your successes and your plans for the future in the comment section.


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The connective tissue is probably damaged by an autoimmune reaction.
Symptoms include pain, swelling, and inflammation of the skin.
A biopsy is done to remove tissue for examination and testing.
Corticosteroids are helpful.
The word eosinophilic refers to the initially high blood levels of a type of white blood cell called eosinophils White Blood Cells The main components of blood include Plasma Red blood cells White blood cells Platelets read more . The word fasciitis refers to inflammation of the fascia, which is the tough fibrous tissue that lies on top of and between the muscles.
The cause of eosinophilic fasciitis is unknown. The disorder occurs mainly in middle-aged men but may occur in women and children.
Symptoms of Eosinophilic Fasciitis
The usual initial symptoms of eosinophilic fasciitis are pain, swelling, and inflammation of the skin, particularly over the inside of the arms and the front of the legs. The skin of the face, chest, and abdomen may occasionally be affected. Typically, the fingers and toes are not affected.
Symptoms may first be noticed after strenuous physical activity. Symptoms usually progress gradually. After weeks, the inflamed skin begins to harden, eventually acquiring a texture similar to an orange peel.
As the skin gradually hardens, the arms and legs become difficult to move. Eventually, the arms and legs may become permanently frozen in unusual positions (contractures) if the disease is not treated early. Weight loss and fatigue are common. Muscle strength does not usually decrease, but muscle and joint pain may occur. Rarely, if the arms are involved, the person may develop carpal tunnel syndrome Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful compression (pinching) of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. The cause of most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome is unknown... read more .
Sometimes, the numbers of red blood cells and platelets in the bloodstream become very low, resulting in fatigue and a tendency to bleed easily. Rarely, the person develops a blood disorder, such as failure to produce red blood cells (called aplastic anemia Aplastic Anemia Aplastic anemia is a disorder in which the cells of the bone marrow that develop into mature blood cells are damaged, leading to low numbers of red blood cells, white blood cells, and/or platelets... read more ), a low number of platelets (which help blood clot) that causes bleeding, or cancer of a specific type of white blood cells (lymphoma Overview of Lymphoma Lymphomas are cancers of lymphocytes, which reside in the lymphatic system and in blood-forming organs. Lymphomas are cancers of a specific type of white blood cells known as lymphocytes. These... read more ).
Diagnosis of Eosinophilic Fasciitis
Blood tests
A doctor suspects eosinophilic fasciitis because of its typical symptoms.
The diagnosis of eosinophilic fasciitis is confirmed by taking a biopsy of affected skin and fascia and testing the samples. The biopsy sample must include all skin layers down to the muscle.
Blood tests are also done. Blood tests show that the number of eosinophils in the blood and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are increased. (The ESR is a test for inflammation and measures the rate at which red blood cells settle to the bottom of a test tube containing blood.) These increases indicate inflammation. Although blood test results can help doctors diagnose eosinophilic fasciitis, they alone cannot confirm a definite diagnosis of eosinophilic fasciitis because sometimes the abnormalities they detect are present in healthy people or in people who have other disorders. The diagnosis of eosinophilic fasciitis is based on all of the information doctors gather, including symptoms, physical examination results, and all test results.
Magnetic resonance imaging Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a strong magnetic field and very high frequency radio waves are used to produce highly detailed images. MRI does not use x-rays and is usually very safe... read more (MRI) can also help make the diagnosis but is not as conclusive as biopsy.
Prognosis of Eosinophilic Fasciitis
The long-term outcome varies, but eosinophilic fasciitis may resolve after prompt treatment.
Treatment of Eosinophilic Fasciitis
Most people respond rapidly to high doses of the corticosteroid prednisone. Treatment of eosinophilic fasciitis should be started as early as possible to prevent scarring, tissue loss (atrophy), and contractures. Corticosteroids Corticosteroids: Uses and Side Effects do not cure tissue that is already atrophied and scarred. Doses are gradually reduced, but corticosteroids may need to be continued at low levels for 2 to 5 years. Some people need corticosteroids for long periods and possibly other drugs (for example, hydroxychloroquine or the immunosuppressants methotrexate, azathioprine, rituximab, mycophenolate mofetil, or cyclosporine). People may also be given nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Pain relievers (analgesics) are the main drugs used to treat pain. Doctors choose a pain reliever based on the type and duration of pain and on the drug's likely benefits and risks. Most pain... read more and histamine-2 blockers.
Contractures and carpal tunnel syndrome may need to be treated surgically.
Doctors continue to monitor people by doing blood tests so that, if a blood disorder develops, it can be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.
People who are receiving immunosuppressants are also given drugs to prevent infections such as by the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii (see prevention of pneumonia in immunocompromised people Prevention Pneumonia is infection of the lungs. Pneumonia in people whose immune system is weakened or impaired (for example, by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS], cancer, organ transplantation... read more ).