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SparkPost email extension for CiviCRM
This extension allows CiviCRM to send emails and process bounces through the SparkPost service. It currently is one of the Top 10 most used extensions for CiviCRM.
It was designed with the following goals and/or features:
- integrate as seamlessly as possible within CiviCRM, neatly replacing other email options
- be fully documented, with the documentation published on the official CiviCRM documentation website
- be well maintained on at least the LTS and latest versions of CiviCRM
- be trivial to install and configure, even for the novice users
- self-configure when possible and check that everything is appropriately setup
- be nimble and fast, and in particular use the REST API rather than SMTP, and use real-time callbacks
- have a 'service provider' mode in which the same SparkPost account can be used for multiple clients
- accurate processing of bounces with in-depth analysis and translation of all bounce codes
It sends both transactional and CiviMail emails through the SparkPost service. Bounces are processed through a callback (no need for an email account dedicated to bounce processing) but CiviCRM only processes bounces for CiviMail-originated emails. We are planning to extend bounce processing to transactional emails in the short term.
See bounce processing for more information.
Opens and click-throughs are still tracked by CiviCRM as there is no added-value in having these tracked by SparkPost.


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Brett Kavanaugh will bring change to the Supreme Court, but maybe not what you think
With Brett Kavanaugh as the newest associate justice of the Supreme Court, things are going to be different. But how different? Here are a few changes to look for:
►There will be less change than you expect. Most Supreme Court decisions are boring, technical and decided by easy majorities. That will still be true with Kavanaugh on the bench.
►But in the big cases, Anthony Kennedy, who served as a swing vote and often joined the left, will now be replaced by Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh is not as hard right as many of his critics (and some of his boosters) fear or hope. But it's likely that a number of issues that might have been 5-4 wins for the left will now be 5-4 wins for the right. And because it only takes four justices to agree to hear a case, adding Kavanaugh could bring in cases that might have escaped scrutiny in the past. This seems especially likely with regard to Second Amendment cases, where Kavanaugh is stronger than Kennedy.
►With regard to Roe v. Wade — which is really what this entire, embarrassing circus was about, with all the charges and countercharges just being talking points — it's hard to say. Kavanaugh told the senators that Roe is "settled law." That's true, in a sense. But Plessy v. Ferguson, which upheld segregation, or Bowers v. Hardwick, which allowed states to treat gay sex as a felony, were both settled law until they were overturned. And Justice Sonia Sotomayor told senators that the Second Amendment as an individual right was settled law after District of Columbia v. Heller but then took the anti-Second Amendment side in McDonald v. Chicago the next year. Even so, overturning Roe would be a huge deal, and I don't think the court has the stomach for it. There may be a bit of chipping around the edges, as in the 1992 case of Planned Parenthood v. Casey, but not much. It will take at least two more pro-life justices on the court before Roe is at risk.
►Strange new respect for judicial minimalism. As Harvard Law professor Adrian Vermeule remarked, "Law review editors: brace for a tidal wave of legal academic theories supporting judicial minimalism, Thayerianism, and strong — very strong — theories of precedent. Above all: the Court must do nothing without bipartisan agreement, otherwise, it is illegitimate." The past half-century's enthusiasm for judicial activism will vanish, as legal academia turns on a dime to promote theories that will constrain the court until a left-leaning majority returns, at which point they'll turn on a dime again.
►New disrespect for the court: The Supreme Court has not always been held in the high esteem it has enjoyed in recent decades. When it was blocking progressive legislation and frustrating President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, it was derided as "nine old men," and schemes to evade its rulings were widespread. Roosevelt even threatened to "pack" the court with additional justices to ensure his policies were upheld. That effort failed, but a chastened Supreme Court started upholding New Deal programs immediately after, in what was called "the switch in time that saved nine." If the court shifts right as expected, you can also expect legal academia and the news media, both of which lean very heavily to the left, to shift quite rapidly from near worship of the court to nonstop denigration.
Of course, the shrieking hysterics surrounding this Supreme Court appointment, as bad as they are, will likely pale beside the shrieking hysterics we'll see if, as seems likely, President Donald Trump has a chance to replace aging liberal heroine Ruth Bader Ginsburg. So there's that to look forward to, anyway.
Glenn Harlan Reynolds, a University of Tennessee law professor, is a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors.

subset: commoncrawl


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Congratulations are in order for Shakira and her boyfriend Gerard Pique:
The Colombian singer has given birth to a baby boy!
Pique tweeted the birth announcement Thursday night in Spanish. Translated, it said, "Our son has been born! We are very happy! Thanks to all for your messages."
Shakira will serve as a mentor on The Voice this spring and Pique is a soccer player for FC Barcelona. This is the first child for the both parents. Here's wishing them the best!
UPDATE: Wow, Pique totally got us. Soon after his initial Tweet, the NON-baby daddy wrote something that translates to:
"It has a name! His name is Innocent! Happy Day of the Innocents to all!"
Day of the Innocents is Spain's equivalent of April Fool's Day.


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Downloading the game takes time, if you see a blank page, just wait or reload the page.
Game control: use a computer mouse.
All the Equestria girls, without exception, adore music, they like to sing and dance, perform on a stage and support friends. Each of the girls has their own preferences, but most of them like rock. The sweet pony will sing a song about the city's day, so help her to choose bright clothes, comfortable shoes and jewelry.


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Oaken | The Prince
Rank: Team Dog
Age/Sex: 5, Male
Oaken is one of three new members of Team Whiteout! Oaken is Olaf's brother, and ran both Jr. Race to the Sky and Jr. Iditarod with me in 2018, as well as ran on my team for the Eukanuba 8-Dog Classic at Stage Stop this last season.
Race History
Jr. Race to the Sky 100
Jr. Iditarod
Eukanuba 8-Dog Classic
Sponsored By
Oaken still needs sponsors for the 2019-2020 racing season! Will you be one of them?


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Evara VR has has started the process of exploring potential use cases for Augmented reality, and decided to start with creating a mixed reality office tour - which we... read more →
[minti_headline type="h3" size="fontsize-xxl" color="#3464a7"... read more →
[minti_headline type="h3" size="fontsize-xxl"... read more →
WEEKLY ROUND-UP #22 TL:DR; -We will be at VR Los Angeles this weekend. Come and see us! -HoloDoodle: AR+Doodles+Hololens=fun! -Solving Commercial Real Estate's Pain Points With Technology... read more →
WEEKLY ROUND-UP #20 TL;DR -Have you read our latest blog post? -Gear VR Bundles With new Samsung S8 pre-orders -5 CRE Tech Strides to Success in 2K17... read more →
This... read more →
[minti_headline type="h3"... read more →
TL;DR -Our latest article on Bigger Pockets -Empathy vs Entertainment in VR: what do people want? -We Could Be Headed Towards Modular Construction -Fashion Week Show in... read more →
It's been a year of firsts for us here at Evara VR. We opened up shop in October 2016, and since then,... read more →
Arguably, there are more tasks,... read more →


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PUMP PLAZA WoTS – Industrial Processing 2021
27-29 September 2022 we are participating with the PUMP PLAZA in the WoTS - Industrial Processing in the Jaarbeurs Utrecht.
For more information Click here
Pumpe DE and Newsletter Pumpe DE Online
is the only German-language pumping trade magazine in Germany. The central themes for 2022 are: Connectivity opens digital worlds, Energy efficiency in view of climate change, Future-oriented maintenance.
The Pumpe DE Online newsletter is sent every other week. www.pumpede.de


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clear out of some place
clear (someone or something) out of (some place)
1. To remove something from a space or area. We need to clear some of this junk out of the garage so that I can actually put my car in it!
2. To impel or force someone or something to leave a place. If we call the cops, they'll clear everyone out of that raucous house party immediately.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
clear someone or something out of some placeand clear someone or something out
to make someone or something leave a place. Please clear all the people out of here. Clear out the people quickly, please.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.


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Anton Yelchin, perhaps best known as Chekov in the latest Star Trek films, died in a fatal car collision early Sunday morning, his publicist confirmed to ABC News. He was 27 years old.
According to TMZ, Yelchin was pinned to a brick mailbox by his own car in what appears to be a freak accident. The driveway had a steep incline and the car engine was still running and in neutral when law enforcement arrived on the scene.
Yelchin was the only child of Russian parents. His family emigrated to the United States when Yelchin was a baby. Yelchin starred in 2006's Alpha Dog before he was cast in J.J. Abram's version of the Star Trek series.
He acted in the next Star Trek installment, Star Trek Beyond, which premieres in summer 2016 as well as the upcoming film Rememory, and the recently-released Green Room with Patrick Stewart.


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I have been on the hunt for presidential places here in Central Florida, and this time around, I have my sights set on Walt Disney World.
While Disney is certainly the biggest draw for tourists to the area, it also lures presidents.
Not only the animatronic versions, housed in The Hall of Presidents attraction, but real live presidents.
Since opening, Walt Disney World Resort has been visited by seven presidents while they were in office:
Richard Nixon (1973), Jimmy Carter (1978), Ronald Reagan (1983, 1985), George H.W. Bush (1990, 1991), Bill Clinton (1996), George W. Bush (2003, 2006) and Barack Obama (2012).
However, it is the visit by Richard Nixon that gets my vote as the most interesting.
The year was 1973, and Richard Nixon was knee-deep in the Watergate scandal.
In an attempt to calm the damaging waves of accusations that were threatening his presidency, Nixon made a stop at the Associated Press Managing Editors annual conference held at Disney's Contemporary Resort.
There, on Nov. 17, 1973, during a televised Q&A session with the press, Nixon famously proclaimed the statement that would become the go-to move for Nixon impersonations.
Go ahead, channel your inner Richard Nixon and give it a try.
Chances are, you just said, "I am not a crook."
Watch the video above to hear his statement that became one for the history books, and see if your Nixon impersonation needs some work.
I have been on the hunt for presidential places here in Central Florida, and this time around, I have my sights set on Walt Disney World.


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The small community of gospel believers in the first century was like a fragile flower stubbornly pushing its way through a rock face. An odd medley of race, status and gender, they germinated in a hostile environment and refused to stop sharing the potent message that would change the world. The 'weak' community grew from around 20 followers of Jesus in 30AD, to 30 million believers by the 4th century AD. The fragile flower of the gospel could not be thwarted.
Our text today is Romans 1:16-17:
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Not ashamed
Paul penned these words at a time when Christians who believed and spread the gospel message were persecuted, crucified, burnt as human torches, thrown to the lions and crucified. The cost of the gospel to these early believers in Rome is well depicted in the 2018 movie "Paul, the Apostle of Christ." (It is worth watching). The only reason these ordinary men, women and children laid down their lives, instead of being silent or accommodating, is because they knew that it was the most powerful message the world would ever hear.
Felicitas lived in 101-162 AD. She and her seven sons were martyred in Rome. Her efforts to share the gospel with others were noticed by the pagan priests who then notified the Emperor. Before being martyred, she witnessed the death of each of her sons. The authorities gave her the opportunity to recant her witness after each son's death, but she refused.
You can read more about historical and contemporary Christian martyrs here and here. History gives us perspective and challenges shallow, comfortable Christianity in free countries such as our own.
In Africa, a report by Open Doors claims that there were more recorded killings of Christians due to their faith in northern Nigeria in 2015 than in the rest of the world put together: 4028 out of a worldwide total of 7100 deaths in just one year. It is difficult to imagine the tribulation of these brothers and sisters in Christ on our own continent.
The gospel of Jesus Christ
Jesus prayed 24 hours before his own humiliating crucifixion, "The world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world" (John 17:14). From the first century to now, Christians have been shamed and killed because they were not ashamed of the gospel. They lost everything, not because they enjoyed being martyrs, nor because they wanted to belong to a cult (although there is great comfort in community). They willingly died because they knew the gospel was true and too precious to compromise. Here are seven truths that kept them spreading the ancient gospel of Jesus Christ:
1. They were convinced that no other message or religion provides a Saviour to bridge the gap between sinful human beings and a holy God(Rom 3:21-23). They knew that no one but Jesus can forgive sin and make us right with God through grace and not works (2 Cor 5:19; Eph 2:8-9). The punishment they deserved had been meted out on God's own Son (Rom 3:25-26; 2 Cor 5:21).
2. They believed the incarnation—that Jesus, the Nazarene carpenter, who did miracles and spoke with authority and grace, was Yahweh himself in human form. They believed that Jesus had brought God's kingdom to earth as he had promised through the prophets. Like Thomas and Peter, they recognized Jesus as God's Messiah, their Lord and Saviour, not just as a moral teacher (Mark 8:27-28; 29-30; John 14:10-11).
3. They loved people enough to share the good news of undeserved grace. They were willing to take up their own crosses (literally) and follow their Master (Mark 8:34) because they were called to be ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5:20).
4. They had no doubt that Jesus had risen from the dead, as witnessed by hundreds of people who had seen him (1 Cor 15:1-2; 3-5; 6-7). The resurrection assured them that they too would be raised when Jesus returns to earth in glory, as King and Lord of all (1 Cor 15:23).
5. They believed Jesus' prophecy that the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations before his Kingdom would come in its fullness (Mark 13:10; Matt 24:14). They saw themselves as 'gospellers' until his return.
6. They loved Jesus more than life itself, because of his loving sacrifice on the cross. They knew that their hardships were nothing compared to their Saviour's, momentary sufferings against the backdrop of the new heavens and new earth (1 Peter 1:6-9).
7. They knew that the gospel would triumph over every obstacle until it brings believers into eternal joy in the presence of the God of the universe. The hope of the gospel was worth the ultimate sacrifice.
You will notice that I have deliberately used words like "know", "convinced", "certain", "believed". That does not mean that these believers were free of doubt, fear and despair. They were just human like us. But they were convinced by the Jesus they had experienced, and the gospel was too precious a gift to dilute its potency. They knew enough to entrust Jesus with their lives.
This was the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it remains just as powerful and precious today.
Revolutionary gospel vs impotent placebo
But today, the word "gospel" is often vaguely linked to 'good tidings' or stories about Jesus.
In an age where experience is prized above truth, and belonging above believing, it is easy to lose the revolutionary core of the gospel message.
If we reduce the gospel to platitudes, Jesus's moral teachings, church programs and rituals, God's powerful elixir will be diluted. The 'gospel' will become a comforting placebo that is impotent to save the lost.
I have seen this firsthand in some church services I have attended, most notably, my son's school confirmation. It made me sick to the stomach how the gospel was barely mentioned as the foundation for twenty young boys' serious confession of faith. After hours of ritual and ceremony, they were pronounced "good Christian gentlemen" without a hint of the essential Biblical truths which make our faith so precious. It bore no resemblance to the robust, costly faith of these ancient saints and, quite frankly, was a mockery to our Saviour's precious sacrifice.
The true gospel as preached by Jesus, the apostles and the early church in Acts, was the announcement of a momentous event that would change the course of the world forever. The gospel is revolutionary in the truest sense. The event itself was the coming of God's kingdom to earth, with Jesus Christ as its undisputed King. The gospel can be summarised in one profound affirmation:
In next week's devotion, "A Kingdom Gospel", we will look at Jesus' stunning gospel announcement in Luke 4:18-29. The following week we will examine the great commission of Matthew 28 in "A Fragrant Gospel."
Live it out!
Are we sometimes slightly ashamed of the gospel for fear of offending people who disagree with us?
Do we truly understand that the gospel is the "power of God for salvation to everyone who believes?"
Is there a cost for us in following Jesus and being a 'gospeller' in the environment God has placed us?
Do we look and pray daily to find common ground with people in their brokenness and alienation, to point them to Jesus?
Father, I know that your Son will one day return to this earth in glory, with the angels. Help me to keep a constant vision of that day in my mind, so that I will not be afraid to lose myself for the sake of the gospel. Do not let me be ashamed of you in my generation, so that you will not be ashamed of me when you return as King. I seek to honour and please you alone. Thank you for the precious gift of the gospel. (Mark 8:34-38). There is no other name–Jesus Christ our Lord.
Worship the Lord Jesus with this beautiful reminder of the gospel by Andrew Paterson, Is he worthy?


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Lady Gaga rocks a huge white wig while exiting her hotel for Saturday Night Live rehearsals on Monday (November 11) in New York City.
The 27-year-old singer took the time to pose for a pic with some fans while sitting in her chauffeured car.
"My voice held out until this AM! She made it through last night! Now I sound like an irritated cow. Making a .gif to express my feelings," Gaga tweeted earlier in the day.
The day before, Gaga was fierce in two different black outfits at her artRave Party in Brooklyn.
In case you forgot, Lady Gaga will be hosting and performing for SNL on Saturday (November 16) on NBC!
FYI: Gaga is wearing Versace platform shoes and Versace Signature bag.


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Bringing Design to Life
In architectural terms, there are no set design standards for classrooms dedicated to STEM or STEAM programs. One can integrate the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) or Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) in pretty much any traditional classroom. That said, these programs truly come alive for students in spaces designed for 21st century education. These spaces are laid out for close teacher-student and student-student collaboration and equipped with the latest technology. We're Fort Wayne architects with national experience in designing for both tradition and innovation. Many educators still prefer the traditional classroom design. We happily oblige them. But for years now we've specialized in 21st century education design, and more educators–especially those adopting STEM or STEAM programs–are engaging us to provide it.


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Sacramento-based RagingWire gains anchor tenant at Northern Virginia campus
StrataScale, the cloud computing subsidiary of Sacramento-based data center operator RagingWire, moved into a 140,000-square-foot facility in the Virginia community of Ashburn in June last year.
We chose RagingWire for our Virginia data center partner because they have cleverly innovated their power, cooling and physical infrastructure to deliver ultimate reliability for our web and cloud hosting network and servers. And the people at RagingWire are pretty cool as so then, said Simon Anderson, DreamHosts CEO.
Tags: Small business
More information: Sacbee
More news:
- · Rackspace debuts OpenStack cloud servers
- · America's broadband adoption challenges
- · EPAM Systems Leverages the Cloud to Enhance Its Global Delivery Model With Nimbula Director
- · Telcom & Data intros emergency VOIP phones
- · Lorton Data Announces Partnership with Krengeltech Through A-Qua⢠Integration into DocuMailer


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Rep. Schwartz expresses interest in Pa. gov race
Democratic Rep. Allyson Schwartz is eyeing a statewide race in Pennsylvania next year against Republican Gov. Tom Corbett.
Schwartz, who is in her fifth U.S. House term, told the Philadelphia Daily News that it is her "intention" to challenge Corbett, whose poll ratings have taken a hit because of some of his actions regarding the child sex abuse scandal at Penn State. He was first elected governor in 2010.
Schwartz did not mention the Penn State scandal specifically in her newspaper interview, but said she is disappointed in the "lack of leadership, vision and effectiveness of this governor."
A poll by Quinnipiac University late last month showed 42% of Pennsylvania voters disapprove of the way Corbett is doing his job, compared with 36% who give him good marks. The poll showed a gender gap in Pennsylvania, with 45% of women saying they disapprove of Corbett vs. 41% of men who say they approve.
The same survey showed that 50% of Pennsylvania voters disapprove of Corbett's handling of the scandal, which resulted in the firing of football coach Joe Paterno and the conviction of former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. The legendary "JoePa," as Paterno was known, died in January 2012.
Schwartz is currently playing a key role for House Democrats, as finance chairwoman of the party's campaign committee. If she ran for governor, Schwartz would have to step aside from the fundraising post.
Democrats have an edge in voter registration in Pennsylvania, which has been a "blue" state in recent presidential elections.


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Land use - residential
The Residential Program provides Crown land for permanent residential development by individuals and private developers. Crown land may be made available in urban and rural areas either by public tender or public lot draw.
On this page:
In remote areas, where the need for residential land cannot be met by the private sector, Crown land may be available by application. Crown land may also be available when residential use is required in support of an industrial or commercial activity.
Individual applications for new recreational or residential shoreland tenures are not accepted. However, a limited number of existing shoreland residential lots may be in the Crown land sales inventory and available for purchase.
Application documents
The following documents should be reviewed prior to submitting your application:
The following documents must be completed prior to submitting your application:
- Crown Land Application Form (including site map)
- Application Requirements Checklist/Management Plan (PDF, 168 KB)
Who may apply?
Eligibility for residential tenures is detailed in the Eligibility section of the operational policy (PDF, 223KB). For more information or if you have questions please contact FrontCounter BC prior to submitting your application.
There are restrictions on new tenures and obtaining more than one tenure per family unit. New shoreland tenures are not currently being offered but replacement tenures are
Types of tenure
Depending on the intended use, the services and access available, and the required tenure term, a lease or licence of occupation may be issued by the Province.
- Urban and rural Leases are issued where substantial improvements to the land are to be made, or where boundaries are necessary to avoid conflicts with neighbours operators. A lease is issued for up to 30 years and thus can be adjusted to fit an applicant's needs
- Seasonal leases are issued for up to 15 years
- Remote residential licences of occupation is available for uses that are not permanent or where there are specific restrictions or management objectives. A licence is normally issued for a term of 10 years
- Crown land for residential purposes may be sold and if so will be offered at fair market value of the land
Fees and costs
Pricing and tenure term for lease and licence tenures is as follows:
- Urban and rural residential leases are priced at 5% of British Columbia Assessment (BCA) actual land value
- Seasonal residential leases are priced at 3% of BCA actual land value
- Remote residential licences are priced at $4.5% of BCA actual land value
At no time will annual rent be less than $500 year.
Additional requirements
The most common reason for delay is submission of an incomplete application, which is then returned to the applicant.
If your application is accepted, you'll be notified if Advertising is required. Please wait for confirmation before advertising.


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On Grace and Trust // 5
I meant to write about this last week…the day after I wrote about Grace in Marriage. Life happened.
I am sad over the loss of another beautiful soul to a battle with cancer. An artist and encourager, gone at age 31. I wouldn't say we were close, and it might be a stretch to say we were anything other than acquaintances, but we did have a shared history and I feel the hole where her voice has departed from us. I never did tell her how much she inspired me and how courageous I thought her to be. I meant to, and feel a pang of regret there. We always think there is time, but sometimes there is not. We have no way of knowing what tomorrow holds.
It seems important to follow up my last essay with a few more thoughts about grace in the context of conflict, which could easily be in marriage (holla, married folk) or any other relationship. What does grace look like when you're at odds with someone you love? What does it look like when you feel hurt by the actions or words of another?
One photo a week of our family throughout the year. 37/52
The thing about grace is that no one deserves it but everyone needs it. If we wait to offer it until someone deserves it, we're going to be waiting an awfully long time. I can think of a lot of wrongs that can never be made 100% right again after they're done, and what of those? Is there no grace for those transgressions?
Looking at the life and ministry of Jesus, I see that grace is freely given to every last one of the people who acknowledged their need for it. Grace is a gift that should be freely given, if we identify at all with the example Jesus has set for us. Offering grace freely keeps us from being trapped in a prison of bitterness, because grace doled out looks something like hacking down the thorns of bitterness and tearing it up by the roots. If we can't forgive, we can't find freedom either.
Extending grace to someone who has hurt us might be as simple as quietly passing on the opportunity to say the first thing that comes to mind in a heated moment. It might look like treating the other person with respect that speaks to the value of their personhood, even if we do not otherwise esteem or look up to them. Giving grace might be a commitment to speaking with a civil tone and edifying words, or listening with an open heart instead of through a filter that vilifies the other party.
In all of this, I have to point out that giving grace to someone who has hurt us does not mean that broken trust is immediately restored, if it is ever restored. While grace is freely given, trust is earned. Every ounce of trust is painstakingly earned by consistency, commitment, honesty, vulnerability and good will. I'm sure a number of other things could be added to that list. Rebuilding broken trust is serious business. One must discern through prayer how to proceed in a healing process such as this.
Trust in relationship is a fluid and ever-changing thing. With every relationship, we build trust by our attentiveness, transparency, flexibility, and connection, or we break it with secrecy, disengagement, insensitivity, and pride. Trust can be fragile. It's one of those things we have to build on purpose…and something that we can shatter in an instant. May you be a trust-builder, and a grace giver to those in your life.
I hope these thoughts helpful. Guard your heart and give grace freely. Both can be done at the same time.
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"Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23 NASB
321. beautiful art, 322. the life and inspiration of a beautiful soul, 323. pancakes that make everything better, 324. heartaches that find peace, 325. playtime in the forest


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Slow Food Executive Committee & International Council
Edie Mukiibi
President of Slow Food
Edward Mukiibi lives and works in Uganda and is vice president of Slow Food. He is an agronomist, an educator in food and agriculture, social entrepreneur and executive director of Slow Food Uganda. He also played a pivotal role in the development of the Slow Food Gardens in Africa project and in the overall growth of the Slow Food network in Uganda. He informally started his work during his second year at university by vying for leadership positions in his faculty, which he used as a platform to advocate for, and promote, agriculture as a viable career path. Edward went on to establish the DISC Project, as a vehicle through which he could continue this work on a larger scale. He has served on the executive committee of Slow Food since 2012 and became Slow Food vice president in 2014.
Carlo Petrini
Founder of Slow Food – Member by right of the Board as Founder
Carlo has been working since the 1980s to promote eco-gastronomy as a journalist, author and advocate for a sustainable food system. Among his many achievements is the creation of the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo (near Bra), the first academic institution to offer an interdisciplinary approach to food studies. He is also behind the creation of Terra Madre, a network of food communities that brings together small-scale farmers, fishers, artisans, chefs, young people, academics and experts from more than 160 countries.
Dali Nolasco Cruz
A Nahua indigenous woman from Tlaola Puebla, partner and founder of the Network of Indigenous Women's Organizations of Tlaola, Mopampa, Timo'Patla and Yoltika, Dali has been deeply involved in community work since her youth, especially involving groups of indigenous women. She is a graduate of the Faculty of Psychology of the Autonomous University of Puebla and also graduated with a degree in Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights and International Cooperation from the Carlos III University of Madrid. Since 2008, Dali has been an active member of Slow Food International. In 2016 she joined the advisory board of the Terra Madre Indigenous Network to accompany the international movement on indigenous issues. In 2017, she was appointed coordinator of the Terra Madre Indigenous Network for Latin America and the Caribbean. Dali has extensive training on issues of Human Rights, Women's Rights, Gender, interculturality, social economy and food. She has shared this knowledge through training processes in different indigenous women's organizations.
Jorrit Kiewik
He grew up on a small scale-dairy farm in Lonneker, in the east of The Netherlands, where he supported the production of a variety of products on-farm, including cheese, sausages and bread. He holds a bachelor in Agricultural Entrepreneurship at the Aeres University of Applied Sciences in Dronten and a Masters degree in Communication, Health & Life Sciences at Wageningen University. He worked at the socio-communications office Het Portaal on "The Milk Story", a platform that focuses on making Dutch dairy farming more sustainable and connecting producers and consumers. In 2016, after joining Slow Food Youth Network's "We Feed the Planet" in Milan, Kiewik joined the Dutch SFYN Academy. He has been the director of the Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN) in The Netherlands since August 2016 and founded the SFYN Global office in late 2017 after the Chengdu congress. Since 2019, Kiewik has fully dedicated his time to the development of the global Slow Food Youth Network. Next to his work for Slow Food, Kiewik is still involved with the family farm, where he and his family are transforming it into a truly sustainable farm, both socially and ecologically. Kiewik is also part of YPARD's steering committee, and both secretary and cyclist at The AMANI Project, an international cycling team which brings together initiatives aimed at enhancing inclusivity in (professional) cycling and creating opportunities for riders based in East-Africa.
Richard McCarthy
He is the co-founder of the Crescent City Farmers Market and its parent organization, Market Umbrella. For eighteen-years, he served as executive director, before taking the helm of Slow Food USA for six-years. He has been serving on the executive committee of Slow Food International since 2013 and a Slow Food member since 1998. A long-time advocate for urban-rural linkages, he co-founded Voice for Farmers Markets in the USA, the Farmers Market Coalition, as well as the World Farmers Market Coalition. In 2020, McCarthy joined other leaders in the public market field, most notably the HealthBridge Foundation in Canada and New York City's Project for Public Spaces, to promote an ecosystems approach to public markets: Market Cities.
Francesco Sottile
He is an agronomist and university professor, teaching Biodiversity and Quality in the Agri-food System, as well as Conservation of the traditional rural landscapes at the University of Palermo. Author of over a 100 scientific publications, he coordinates the activities of the Biodiversity Conservation Centers of Agricultural Interest and is member of the Committee on Biodiversity of Agricultural Interest at the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and of the newly established EU Biodiversity Platform. Since 2000, he is scientific advisor for the biodiversity projects of Slow Food across the world, supporting Slow Food's work through field visits and capacity building workshops, working closely with farmers and producers. He served in the executive committee of Slow Food Italy between 2018 and 2021.
Megumi Watanabe
Megumi Watanabe. A graduate from Waseda University, Faculty of Education, she has been involved in Slow Food since her university years and founded the Slow Food Youth Network in Japan with fellow young people. In 2014, she moved to Italy and obtained a Master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences. She has worked in restaurants and agritourisms in Japan and abroad, learning about cooking, agriculture and hospitality. After returning to Japan in 2016, she played a central role in setting up and activating Slow Food Nippon (Japan), where she became President in April 2019. She is the wife of an organic farmer and mother of two children. She works in three languages (English, Korean and Italian)
Nina Wolff
She studied philosophy and law in Germany and France and holds a PhD in European and International Environmental Law (2002). She has worked as research associate at the Environmental Research Center Leipzig, as project manager and consultant for various NGOs, among others at Environmental Action Germany and the U.S. Pew Charitable Trusts, with a focus on biodiversity, fisheries and marine conservation. In July 2019, Nina first became Deputy Chairwoman followed by acting Chairwoman in July 2020, and in June 2021 she became Chairwoman of Slow Food Germany. Nina is currently a member of the International Council of Slow Food.
Marta Messa
Director of the Slow Food office in Brussels, Marta Messa has worked with Slow Food since 2010, where she coordinated the development of the Thousand Gardens in Africa project. Since 2014 she has been based in Brussels, liaising with EU institutions on policies relating to food, giving a platform to the international Slow Food network and developing strategic partnerships with other organizations active at the European level. Her studies and work experiences allowed her to gain a deep appreciation of intercultural communication (as well as a good grasp of five languages), starting with her time at the international United World College followed by experiences in the UK, the USA, Germany, Guatemala, Belgium, Italy and field work in 9 African countries through the Slow Food Gardens in Africa project.
Paolo Di Croce
Started his career in Slow Food in 1999, serving as General Secretary of the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity from 2003 to 2007, then as General Secretary of Slow Food International since the Puebla Congress. He was reappointed for a second and third term in 2012 and 2017, and played a pivotal role in the organization of the first edition of Terra Madre in 2004, serving as the General Secretary of the Terra Madre Foundation from 2005 until 2014.
Sun Qun (Vittorio)
Born in Shanghai in 1972, since 2010 he has worked as Managing Director of Beijing Design Week, the most important design event in China. In 2015, together with Kuangsung Ling and Francesco Sisci, he founded Slow Food Great China and has been working as its General Secretary since then.
John Kariuki Mwangi
International Councillor for East Africa
Vice-President of the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity, coordinator of the Slow Food network and projects in Kenya and councillor for Slow Food representing East, Central and South Africa. A graduate of the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, John Kariuki has overseen the construction of more than 300 food gardens and the development of the Slow Food Youth Network in his country.
Patigidsom Jean Marie Koalga
International Councillor for Western Africa
Coordinator of the Slow Food committee in Burkina Faso and Bagaré Convivum leader. Jean-Marie is a community educator and an activist in the fields of agroecology and sustainable development. In 2013 he became involved with the '10,000 Gardens in Africa' project and has since devoted
himself to the diffusion of Slow Food values, consumer education, training the next generation and promoting local biodiversity in his native country.
Caroline Stephanie McCann
International Councillor for Southern Africa
Founder of Braeside Butchery in Johannesburg, South Africa, aiming to provide good, clean and fair meat by supporting suppliers with high standards of free range and grass-fed animals. She is the main organizer of Slow Meat South Africa, and has been Slow Food's International Councilor for Southern Africa since 2016.
Barbara Abdini Ep. Massaad
International Councillor for the Middle East
After developing a passion for food in her father's Lebanese restaurant as a child, Barbara created a series of successful books, including "Soup for Syria: Recipes to Celebrate our Shared Humanity", which raised funds to aid Syrian refugees.
Alfonso Salvador Rocha Robles
International Councillor for Mexico and Central America
President of Comida Lenta, the civil society association in charge of the development of Slow Food activities in Mexico. Alfonso has been a commercial and culinary advisor for local institutions and producers' organizations in Puebla, and runs a course on Slow Food and eco-gastronomy at the Universidad de Las Americas in Puebla.
Madelaine Vázquez Gálvez
International Councillor for the Caribbean
Graduated as a Technology and Public Food Systems Engineer in Ukraine in 1983. With over 30 years of culinary experience – she has run the first ecological restaurant in Cuba, authored several Cuban cookbooks, hosted a cooking show, and is a member of the directors' board of the Cuban Society for the Promotion of Renewable Energy and Environmental Respect.
Esteban Raymundo Tapia Merino
International Councillor for the Andean area
Professor of Ecuadorian cuisine at the Universidad San Francisco in Quito. He is a chef, member of the Slow Food Chefs' Alliance, coordinator of Slow Food network in Ecuador, and has worked as a gastronomic technician for the country's Ministry of Culture and Heritage.
Rita Edecia Moya Azcarate
International Councillor for the Southern Cone
President of the Slow Food network in Chile, where she has been involved since its establishment in 2004. A veterinarian by profession, she played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Penco Earth Market, as well as the Slow Food Presidia for Merkén and the Blue Egg Hen.
Remi Ie
International Councillor for Japan
After acquiring a Master Degree from the University of Gastronomic in 2015, she was appointed as the Director of Slow Food Nippon. She focuses on the collaboration between regional governments, corporations and educational institutions to promote Japanese Food Heritage and empower farmers and fishers to drive sustainable development through food.
Minsoo Kim
International Councillor for Korea
A producer of Jeju Purenkong Jang, a traditional fermented soybean sauce which became both the first Korean Ark of Taste product and the first Korean Presidium. He has been Slow Food Korea board member since 2013, and is dedicated to expanding the Ark of Taste, having identified 20 products so far.
Pacita Juan
International Councillor for South East Asia
Social entrepreneur, coffee crusader and advocate for Women's Empowerment through business. She is the Chair of the Women's Business Council of the Philippines, founder of Slow Food Manila and the Filipino chapter of International Women's Coffee Alliance.
Amorelle Dempster
International Councillor for Australia and Oceania
A chef, food educator, farmer and café owner in the Hunter Valley on the east coast of Australia. She was instrumental in setting up the first Earth Market in Australia to promote locally grown seasonal produce, advocate on behalf of small-scale farmers and assist in connecting consumers with growers and producers.
Bobby Grégoire
International Councillor for Canada
A Chef Trainer & Consultant for his project L'Atelier du Goût: Food cultures lab, which aims to "Give
meaning to what we eat" through workshops, classes and events. After joining Slow Food in 2008 he spent 8 years as leader of Slow Food Montreal and 4 years of co-chairing the Slow Food in Canada network. He co-founded the Slow Food Chef's Alliance in Canada and founded Slow Wine Montreal event. He is also actively involved in both Slow Fish and Slow Cheese campaigns.
Kathryn Underwood
International Councillor for the USA
City planner with the Detroit City Planning Commission. Her current work includes formulating urban agriculture policies, and she also helped create the Detroit Food Security Policy and sits on the Detroit Food Policy Council. She is a founding member of Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice and the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. She is also the co-founder of the Slow Food Detroit Central City chapter and serves on board of Slow Food USA.
Tiffany Nurrenbern
International Councillor for the USA
Lead organizer for Slow Food California, she sits on the board of Slow Food Russian River. She worked at Roots of Change where for 5 years she built and facilitated the California Food Policy Council, the first statewide FPC to be organized from the grassroots.
Jennifer Breckner
International Councillor for the USA
Writer, cook and gardener with a decade of experience as a Slow Food volunteer. Currently, Jennifer chairs the Midwest Ark of Taste committee. A craft beer enthusiast, she is part of the nascent Slow Beer group in the U.S.
Gabriella Chiusano
International Councillor for Italy
Graduate in Foreign Languages and Literatures, she works at the local Chamber of Commerce for the development of local businesses and the promotion of the territory. Slow Food activist since 11 years, she first joined Slow Food as a Convivium Leader and she is currently member of the regional committee.. She has also been Slow Food Italy Councillor since the 2014.
Ludovico Roccatello
International Councillor for Italy
Graduate of the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo and project manager at Slow Food International for Food Biodiversity projects. Over the last 10 years he has been a committed Slow Food activist from the local to international level, and has been a Slow Food International Councillor since 2012.
Silvia Rolandi
International Councillor for Italy
Born in the Tuscany countryside, she is an International Agri-food law lawyer. Graduated in Law at the University of Pisa, Silvia earned her PhD from the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Politics, Human Rights and Sustainability. She works in her law firm, and as a post-doc at the University of Pisa, within the Pisa Agricultural Economics Team – Food and Rural Studies for Sustainability. She is a Slow Food activist since 2008 and currently a member of her local Convivium and of the regional committee, she served as low Food Italy Councilor from 2018 to 2021.
Gaia Salvatori
International Councillor for Italy
Communications expert with a focus on rural development and biodiversity resilience in the Amazonian Region. She is co-founder and one of the coordinator of Slow Food Youth Network Italy. In 2018 she was elected as the youngest member of Slow Food Italy Executive Board. She is also in the administrative Board of Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity and Slow Food Promozione.
Rupert Ebner
International Councillor for Germany
A veterinarian and member of the Green Party. He is responsible for the environmental department in Ingolstadt, a city in Bavaria, and breeds an Ark of Taste cattle breed, the Murnau-Werdenfelser. He has been a Slow Food activist for 20 years, as leader of the Munichand convivium and since 2010 as treasurer of the board of Slow Food Germany.
Klaus Flesch
International Councillor for Germany
Born in the rural vineyards of the Kaiserstuhl, his parents were part-time viticulturists. A Slow Food Member since 2005 and leader of the Freiburg convivium since 2008, since 2014 he has been member of the board of Slow Food Germany, in charge for of human resource management at the head office in Berlin.
Josef Zisyadis
International Councillor for Switzerland
President of Slow Food Switzerland. Co-founder and director of Semaine du Goût (Taste Week), which has brought schools, restaurants and producers together every year since 2001. Member of the Swiss National Committee of the FAO.
Alexandre Fricker
International Councillor for Switzerland
Alexandre has extensive experience in various senior management positions in the fields of Food Marketing, Tourism and Sales-management. He is the first ever and current managing director of Slow Food Switzerland, his mission being to consolidate the network's strengths, simplify its structure, raise funds and implement projects such as the Chefs' Alliance.
Nelleke Don
International Councillor for the Netherlands
Chairperson of Slow Food Netherlands, with a background in political science, international relations, and interactive policymaking. An interest in the humanization of culture brought her to body-oriented design and eventually to Slow Food.
John Cooke
International Councillor for the United Kingdom
John became a Slow Food member over ten years ago in Scotland, and was originally a committee member of Slow Food Edinburgh convivium. He led a delegation of Scottish producers to Terra Madre in 2012, and then helped the formation of Slow Food Scotland, as part of Slow Food in the UK in 2015. He was a founding Trustee and then the Network Leader in Scotland until 2017, and served on the Board of Slow Food in the UK. John has been an International Councillor for the UK since 2015, and was re-elected in 2017. He is also a founding member of the Slow Food Europe group.
Alberto López de Ipiña Samaniego (1960-2021)
International Councillor for Spain
Since becoming President of the Federación de Sociedades Gastronómicas de Araba en 1999, Alberto has engaged in a variety of educational and promotional activities around good clean and fair eating practices. He is the coordinator of the Anana Salt Presidium, and has been the convivium leader of Araba Alava since 2005, as well as the Slow Food International Councillor for Spain since 2012.
Vincent Lagré
International Councillor for France
A Geography and Territorial Development graduate, Vincent is an ardent defender of food biodiversity, and has worked alongside farmers on five Presidia projects in Uganda. Vincent writes academic papers on the preservation and enhancement of local breeds and varieties as a tool for local sustainable development.
Philipp Braun
International Councillor for Austria and Central Europe
An independent journalist focusing on is food, wine and travel. For more than 11 years he has been the president of the Slow Food convivium in Upper Austria. Philipp holds Slow Food taste and education workshops in more than 50 schools in Upper Austria and organizes 30 Slow Food events a year. He writes weekly about Slow Food, food and wine topics and local producers in a major Austrian newspaper as well as for other national and international magazines.
Katrine Klinken
International Councillor for the Nordic Countries
A Slow Food member for 15 years, she was convivium leader of Copenhagen-North Zealand rom 2009-2015. Since 2009 she has been active in creating a Nordic Slow Food network and has represented it in the Slow Food International Council since 2011. Her work and life are focused on cooking skills and food made from good local and organic ingredients in season.
Dessislava Dimitrova
International Councillor for the Balkans and Turkey
A botanist working as associate professor at the Bulgarian Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research. Following her participation at Terra Madre in 2004, she established the first convivium in Bulgaria, and then launched Terra Madre Balkans: a regional network uniting over 100 food communities and Slow Food convivia from South East Europe.
Aida Baimakova
International Councillor for Russian-speaking Countries
Aida Baimakova is the leader of the Slow Food Astana Bayterek convivium, as well as the leader of Slow Food Youth Network in Kazakhstan. A journalist involved in the coverage of agricultural development, she is the founder of the online platform Bauyrsak.kz, an online catalog of eco-producers and endangered recipes. Actively involved in the development of Slow Food in Kazakhstan for many years, in 2013, she organized the first Slow Food Youth Movement in Central Asia.
Nicolas Mukumo Mushumbi
International Councillor for the Indigenous Network
A member of the Bambuti people of the Kivu forest in the north east of the D.R.C, Nicolas is the leader of the Slow Food Goma Karisimbi convivum and an active member of the Ark of Taste and 10.000 Gardens in Africa projects. He is part of the Steering Committee that organized Terra Madre Great Lakes event, and is committed to defending the rights of indigenous peoples in D.R.C, promoting the sustainable use of resources, opposing land grabbing and using food as a means of peace building among communities.
Denisa Livingston (Turtle Island – USA)
International Councillor for the Indigenous Network
A member of the Diné people, representing the Global North. Denisa is a Steering Committee member of the Slow Food Turtle Island Association, and is committed to addressing the diabetes epidemic (with both advocacy and awareness raising activities), the dominant culture of unhealthy foods, and the lack of access to healthy food in the Navajo Nation. She is a member of several organizations linking the topics of young farmers, sugar and diabetes, native truth etc.
Serena Milano
International Councillor representing the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity
Joined the Slow Food International team in 1997, having previously edited the Osterie d'Italia guidebook and the Atlas of typical products of Italian parks for Slow Food Editore. She then directed the The Ark: Book of Presidia magazine and the publication Slowark. Since 2005 she has been the General Secretary of the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity, where she coordinates the main Slow food programs (Presidia, Ark of Taste, etc.) and the contents of Slow Food awareness raising campaigns.
Andrea Pieroni
International Councillor representing the University of Gastronomic Sciences
He is the current Rector of the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo. Trained in Medical Botany at the University of Pisa, Andrea Pieroni earned his doctorate from the University of Bonn in Germany. In January 2009 he was made Associate Professor in the subject area of Environmental and Applied Botany at Pollenzo and from 2016 he is Full Professor of the same subject. Pieroni has served as the Vice-President and President of the International Society of Ethnobiology (2008-2010), is the founder and Chief Editor of the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, and sits on the boards of diverse international ethnoscientific associations and peer-reviewed publications.
Georges Schnyder Junior
Co-founder of Slow Food Brasil and executive director of Mundo MESA and Prazeres de Mesa Magazine. In 2000, he pioneered a project to manage the sustainability of açaí pulp and palm heart production on Marajó island alongside local communities. This working method, named ARCO, was later used to help other communities, including those impacted by the Coari-Manaus pipeline in Amazonas.
Joris Lohman
Co-founder of the Slow Food Youth Network, of which he was the President until 2017, and founder of Food Hub, a social enterprise that aims to accelerate society's transition to a good, clean and fair food system. He's also a lecturer at the Aeres University of Applied Sciences in Almere, the Netherlands.
Roberto Burdese
Joined Slow Food in 1988, and has witnessed the development of the association since its early days, firstas a volunteer, then as part of the staff, and since 2006 as the President of Slow Food Italy. He was re-elected for a second term in 2010 and served in this role until 2014, when he was appointed CEO of Slow Food Promozione – the arm of Slow Food which organizes its major events.
Alice Waters
A chef, entrepreneur and activist, author of numerous best-selling books, as well as vice-president of Slow Food. She is a pioneer of the organic food movement in the United States and in 1996 she launched the Edible Schoolyard Project, a school garden initiative that today involves over 4,000 schools.


text:
As a current high school student, I have grown enormously familiar with the feeling of being absolutely broke.
It's a feeling that just about 90% of teenagers go through, and that number would be lower if the majority of us weren't residing in Singapore, one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in.
For anybody, especially if you're dependent on your parents' money, keeping up with the changing tides of the fashion industry is difficult. Finding alternatively cheaper options (such as thrifting) can be an arduous task.
Luckily, today's youth are presented with a healthy abundance of chain stores (retail companies with more than one branch; I.E. Macy's) that cater specifically to teenagers, and maybe even ambitious tweenagers, window-shopping on Instagram for the latest trends. These international clothing-retail companies include, but are not limited to H&M, Forever 21 and GAP.
Three, out of dozens, names that are basically embedded into every millennials' brain as the Holy Trinity for affordable shopping. Including my own. Moreover, it's not only its affordability that attracts students, these companies also manage to ensure trendiness.
When scrunchies emerged as stylish again after its near 40-year-long hibernation since the 80's, Forever 21 made sure to include their very own four-pack Scrunchie Set just in time for the holiday season.
When all the influential people on the internet were going to, arguably, the most popular music festival in the world, H&M quickly launched their highly-publicized, celebrity-endorsed, Coachella x H&M Festival Capsule Collection.
The point here is that all of these clothing companies (and more) are selling apparels directly in line with most students' budgets, while also managing to switch styles every few weeks in favor of the new season/trend.
But how can any corporation manage to constantly get rid of old stock while the majority of its products are selling for $25 or less? It seems too good to be true… which is exactly what it is.
The fashion industry is no stranger to criticism. From its scandals over real fur coats to its more recent speculation about the detrimental extravagancy of the annual MET Gala, it has still managed to establish itself at the center of high society.
With promises to go fur-free by (well-known Italian luxury brand) Gucci, as well as (popular American fashion house) Calvin Klein's declarations to cut down their environmental impact by a substantial amount, the public may be swayed to believe that it's an entirely new decade for vogue.
However, the problems being publically addressed and dealt with by these major companies are just skimming the surface of much deeper, underlying issues.
While the bigger brands are making headlines over their ethical decisions, the smaller corporations are getting away with a much more heinous offense: child labor.
Supply and demand. Even children who have never learned about the economy can guess what those two words mean in relation to each other.
How can a clothing company supply such a large variety of apparels and accessories at a high affordability rate, when the demand for them isn't as high? And how do they keep on replacing last season's fashion with the new trend overnight?
Well, if you have a cheap source of labor, all your problems will be solved.
It seems too good to be true.
If the people who are paid to make these clothes are underpaid or aren't paid at all, then you have, on your hands, a golden situation in which no matter how many clothes go unsold, your amount earned will always trump your amount spent.
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), 260 million children are employed as underaged, and underpaid, workers worldwide. Most of these children are from developing countries such as Bangladesh and Myanmar and are working for as little as 20 cents a day.
Forever 21, one of the most well-known retail stores in the world, has repeatedly been accused of the use of child workers in Uzbekistan. Even when the International Labor Rights Forum questioned the billion dollar company on why it had yet to join the multitude of popular retail stores (i.e. American Eagle Outfitters, GAP, etc) protesting against the use of Uzbekistan factories, Forever 21 stayed mum on the subject.
Their silence not only enraged millions of people worldwide, but it also prompted the creation of change.org petition, boldly titled: Tell Forever 21 to Stop Forced Child Labor in Cotton!
When another major fashion company, H&M, was outed for having employed underaged teenage workers in its Myanmar factories, it immediately released a public statement declaring that the company was in no way supporting the use of underage, underpaid workers, and any damage done had been committed unconsciously and without awareness.
However, they did note that in some countries like Myanmar, the international labor laws allowed for children as young as 14 to be allowed, and even encouraged, to work.
This just proves that there will never be a truly transparent process in which we buy our clothes from. Major corporations may try to vet every single company it employs to carry out its laborious tasks; however, it just isn't feasible, and at most times, possible to vet every single one of the workers to ensure that nobody is working illegally.
"So where do I buy all my clothes from, then?" A fellow high school junior asks me as she skims through the article. "If I can't buy my clothes from Forever 21 and I can't afford brands like Gucci, where do I shop?"
The answer is simple: anywhere you want. The point of this article wasn't to discourage you from ever buying anything within your price range ever again; instead, it was to raise awareness of the underlying secrets of popular culture.
As aforementioned, it is almost impossible to declare, with absolute certainty, that the clothes you've bought have never been grazed by the hands of a 7-year-old boy somewhere in the rural suburbs of Central Asia. However, it is hoped that with this newfound awareness of the real price of cheap clothes, you will think twice before purchasing a tank top for $9.99, including tax.
And that whenever a popular clothing store restocks its racks with all-too-new clothes, you will have the sense to look at the 50%-off red tags and think to yourself, "…but at what cost?"


text:
I almost get giddy thinking about these donuts. Really, I am that excited about this recipe. I told my husband that and his response was, "obviously". Then he said, "They are really good." Now I have a recipe for donuts that I do not have to feel guilty over. These are grain-free, no refined sugars, not fried and completely DELICIOUS. I had to use caps because they are that good. I already have been thinking of different flavors to bring to you. Stay connected with us at Cathryn's Kitchen so you can see what is coming.
- 5 large eggs
- 1/2 c almond milk
- 1/2 c pumpkin puree
- 1/4c raw honey
- 1/4 c maple syrup (the real stuff)
- 1/4 c melted butter, ghee
- 1 t vanilla
- 3/4 c almond meal (run through a spice mill to get a finer flour)
- 1/2 c coconut flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg, freshly grated
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease donut pan.
Place eggs, almond milk, pumpkin puree, honey, maple syrup, melted butter and vanilla in food processor. Blend until well combined.
In a medium bowl sift together almond-date meal, coconut flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and sea salt. Add sifted ingredients to food processor and blend until well mixed.
I found that piping the donut batter into the donut pan works the best and is much faster than spooning batter into pan. You can use a piping bag or just a gallon size ziplock bag with a corner of the bag snipped to make a hole for piping. Pipe in batter into donut pan.
For best results put donut pan onto sheet pan. It just makes it easier to place and remove from oven.
Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before removing from donut pan. Cool completely on cooling rack. Now you could just eat them like this; however, frosting them would make them even better.
Chocolate frosting:
- 1/4 c dark chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 tsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp honey
Melt all ingredients in microwave for about 30 seconds. Remove from microwave; stir.
Dip the top of each donut into the chocolate frosting. Return to cooling rack. Refrigerate for 15 minutes to set frosting. Share. Eat. Enjoy.


text: As/Is·Posted on May 25, 201816 Prom Outfit Alternatives If You're Looking For Something DifferentThe youth is creative AF.by Daniela CadenaBuzzFeed StaffFacebookPinterestTwitterMailLink BuzzFeed We asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to show us their unique and creative prom outfits. Here's what they wore: 1. This super creative teen made her own Greek goddess-like frock with Swarovski crystals and all. buzzfeed.com "My prom's theme was 'Under The Stars', so I made my own dress out of midnight blue fabric and sewed Swarovski crystals with silver thread into the shape of constellations. I modeled the pattern of the dress after the Ancient Greek chiton." —jconway 2. This navy suit look is everything! But the reason why she wore it, makes it even better <3. buzzfeed.com "I wore a navy blue suit to my senior prom at an all-girls Catholic high school. I chose this because I fell in love with the color of the suit and I noticed that no girl at my school had ever worn a suit. I'm a cisgender female, and I would have been equally comfortable wearing a traditional dress to prom, but I know in the future there will most likely be students at my school that do not feel as comfortable identifying as female or wearing a dress, and I want them to see wearing a suit is an option!" —cmcg34 3. This teen protested her school's strict dress code by wearing a rainbow wig, fishnets, and combat boots. buzzfeed.com "I went to a strict private school. No 'unnaturally' colored hair, no ripped pants, and no sweatpants or leggings. Due to the small size of the school they made all juniors (who hosted/planned prom) go to prom. In an act of rebellion, I wore a rainbow wig with fishnets, and combat boots paired with a trench coat. They let me in, but I do not think they were happy about it." —elisel47e97338c 4. Seven years later, people are still talking about this groovy tie-dye dress. buzzfeed.com "The year was 2011, and I was a junior in high school. I had known that I wanted to do something creative for prom, so I enlisted the help of my mom and grandma to cut, dye, and sew my own tie-dye prom dress. In hindsight, my decision to do a swirl design made for some interesting focal points, but I still rocked it nonetheless! My friends still talk about it to this day!" —indigoc2 5. She deserves an invite to the next royal wedding for this look. buzzfeed.com "I bought a hat from an antique store and themed the rest of my look around it. I did the same thing last year with a different antique hat. I love the old Hollywood essence that it gives the look." —charlottes44ec7b904 6. This might seem like a ~regular~ prom dress, but it's covered in a quirky fish print that would make anyone stand out in a sea full of solid colors. buzzfeed.com "I got my dress on sale for $99 and it had fish on it. Needless to say it was one of the most interesting dresses of the night." —kaitlync413e7508f 7. Some people wear mass-produced dresses to prom, others wear literal art. buzzfeed.com "I found this fantastic Claude Monet dress at the vintage clothing store in my town, and it was only $45!" —bethanyxd 8. When you have a talented mom, you get to rock unique and inexpensive dresses to prom! buzzfeed.com "My mom made our prom dresses. We had amazing dresses for a quarter the price that it would cost if we had bought them!" —maggiep40b82373e 9. Even though she felt out of place, this pin-up girl look would've made Gwen Stefani proud. buzzfeed.com "I was obsessed with Gwen Stefani and dressed like a pin-up girl! I looked way out of place with the other girls. Still to this day, I feel like my look was out of place, but I'm glad I decided to go with my own style!" —alissam4dee1561d 10. This shiny teen left her small-town shook and full of sequins. buzzfeed.com "In a sea of small-town prom dresses, this sequin-covered dress definitely stood out. This was actually meant to be a wedding dress, so we had to cut the train off. I left a trail of sequins all over the dance floor!" —karlyc 11. Can you believe she's wearing a dress from the 1940s? A true vintage queen! buzzfeed.com "Found this dress at a consignment shop for really cheap compared to typical prom dresses. It was made it the 1940's and was barely worn. I really found the best dress, just needed to be altered a little." —izzymaem 12. BRB, pinning this lavender suit to my "fashion goals" board. buzzfeed.com "I've always hated dresses and never felt comfortable wearing them, so when prom came, I knew I wanted to wear a suit. Since I'm from a very small town, it proved to be difficult to actually find a woman's suit, let alone one that fit my style. I wanted to be comfortable, but I didn't want to give up looking feminine. I ended up finding the perfect suit online a week before my actual prom and got it delivered just two days before! I'm so glad I didn't give up and go with a dress because this suit was perfect for me!" —bradleybreonna92 13. This creative teen couldn't find anything she liked at the mall, so she decided to make her own. buzzfeed.com "My mom and I made my dress ourselves because I couldn't find one that I thought suited me. Really proud of how it came out!" —tarav4642f3eb3 14. She stayed true to herself and decided wear a top hat and corset to prom. Can she be any cooler? buzzfeed.com "I definitely thought I was 'not like other girls.' In high school, I worked at the local Renaissance Festival, which is where I got the hat and corset." —lizowar 15. This teen's dress honors her faith, and looks better than anyone I went to prom with. buzzfeed.com "I'm wearing a Priyanka Chopra Anarkali Indian dress to prom this year that I altered to add sleeves to accommodate my 'Muslim-ness'. It's an old Eid dress, but it's honestly more gorgeous that many dresses I see in American stores for a much higher price." —fisahinabox 16. Starting a petition to make this talented teen, who made a dress out of ribbons and soda can tabs, my personal stylist. buzzfeed.com "I made my prom dresses both junior and senior year, but the one I wore senior year I'm most proud of. It was made with soda can tabs and ribbon. One of the teachers didn't want to let me into prom because my dress wasn't traditional, but the other teachers thought it was so awesome!" —crgadley Can't wait to see what people come up with this prom season! Tap to play GIF Tap to play GIF Paramount Pictures Want more prom content? Check out Prom Season on As/Is! BuzzFeed Want to be featured on BuzzFeed? Follow the BuzzFeed Community on Facebook and Twitter!


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Catching up on some minor league moves:
**The West Virginia Power have placed Barrett Barnes on the 7-day disabled list. As Tom Bragg reported on Wednesday, Barnes had a hamstring injury. The DL placement was retroactive May 2nd.
**After Jordy Mercer was promoted to the majors, Jeff Larish was added to the Indianapolis roster.


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How to Cope with a Spouse's Alcoholism
In my practice I'm frequently called by the spouse or the partner of someone who has an alcohol problem, and they are usually calling to ask me what they should do. Usually they're calling me to say, "How do I get my partner into treatment with you or into treatment with someone else?"
When I hear that, I focus more on that person who's calling me. What's their experience? What do they need because it's extremely stressful to be the partner of someone who has an alcohol problem because that person often is creating a very stressful environment in the home. And the partner is the primary person, even if there's children. The partner is the primary person who's having to deal with that person who's having the problem. There's several ways of supporting people who are the partners. Often they're angry, and they don't want to hear about their own issue. They just want their partner or spouse to go away and get help and come back fixed.
But we often talk about alcohol or substance abuse disorders as being a family disease. And what that means is there's often really very typical family dynamics that exist that within that system that need to be addressed. Because if they're not addressed, what happens often is that there's great strife between those partners as the person gets better who's having the problem with alcohol. So we want to get that spouse into their own treatment. That doesn't mean that they have to go to therapy although that's often recommended. But, again, it's to make sure that they get some kind of support.
What kind of support can that be? Well, there's 12 step meaning based on the 12 step traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous., There are groups called Al-Anon for the significant others of people with alcohol problems. Those are 12 step based groups where those are groups facilitated by someone who has been the partner or the significant other of someone with an alcohol problem. And it's just like AA where then there's other people in there who are experiencing the same thing.
And so someone right there that you can go in and I always recommend that to people because it's free and you can then find other people who are experiencing remarkably similar things to you. And that often, in and of itself, is extremely comforting to find other people who are having the same issues that you are because when you're in it you often think this is just me. And often partners collude with their partner in the shame of it. They don't want to talk about it. They don't want to out their partner. They don't want to out themselves as being in this situation. It's extremely lonely, and extremely painful.
So there's Al-Anon for people, and there's also within treatment centers, most treatment centers have either support groups or have family therapy for the significant other. Sometimes with the partner or without the partner or both, and that's really what we recommend in treatment for people. We always recommend that the family become involved in the treatment so they can also change how they react to the person having the problem so they can get healthier. Because the disease of alcohol really can bring down the whole family system and bring the whole family system into it.
So what I recommend more than any other thing is that people get support, people get help. And there's all these different avenues in which to do so. But not go it alone, get help


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Sometimes I find references to items which I really need to see to understand. Fortunately some museums have handling exhibitions which help. This was a Tudor exhibit at the recent doors open day. This is a trencher, a precursor of plates. It's only a few inches across as they did not have all the food … Continue reading
Filed under architectural history …
Machin Tomb, Gloucester Cathedral
This is the only Tudor tomb in the Cathedral (I think), showing the family of Alderman Thomas Machin who died in 1614 and Christian his wife who survived him by only a year. They were survived by quite a large brood, but what intrigues me is how the young boys had to continue round the … Continue reading
Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey
This is one of the most important, but least known historical and archaeological sites in Britain. Gunpowder has played a huge role in modernisation; without it we would not have city states, mining, wars, hunting, and spectacular fireworks. This is from historian Brenda Buchannan: Gunpowder and the explosives and propellants which followed it provided a … Continue reading
Waltham Abbey
This town is now part of London's northern commuter belt, but the Abbey was one of the wealthiest before Henry VIII closed it. It was founded by King Harold who was miraculously cured by the relic of the Holy Cross which had come from Montacute in Somerset. After the Battle of Hastings, some of his … Continue reading
Citizen Jane: Battle for the City BBC4
This documentary featured the pioneering journalism and activism of Jane Jacobs who led the battle to stop the wholesale replacement of cities and their vibrant communities with freeways and tower blocksin New York City. Her main opponent was Robert Moses who became a local hero for promoting open spaces and building public parks, but after … Continue reading
Barnard Castle Market House
This the first round market house I've found with a second storey, which makes it rather special. It has been used as a prison, court house and of course for markets. It is at a busy intersection so you risk limb though probably not life in visiting it. I am told it sometimes causes accidents … Continue reading
A Boy's Memorial
Bristol's Mayor's Chapel is a strange church, opposite the Cathedral, it was built in the 13th century by Maurice de Gaunt, as a hospital to care for the local poor. When Henry VIII closed the monasteries, it was converted for use by the Queen Elizabeth School for boys, and the associated Red Maids School for … Continue reading
A True Romance
Here's some rather wonderful images from Winchester Cathedral. Many old churches have lovely carved tombs to dead crusaders, but this one, remembering the Earl of Arundel and his second wife Eleanor, from about 1307 is rather special. Despite their wealth they left instructions to be buried together without pomp. She has her legs crossed, like … Continue reading
Unearthing Medieval Trellech
This is from Wednesday's i paper and is a fantastic example of the value of so-called amateurs, and how much can be achieved by local communities. It was a medieval mystery that baffled experts for decades. Now a history fan has finally unearthed the priceless remains of a lost city- thanks to a colony of … Continue reading
Blind House
This stands beside the bridge at the edge of Trowbridge centre, a rare survivor of the many that were built to detain overnight local drunks and other ne'er do wells, so thought it was apt for today. It is really impressive, and I wonder if there used to be a ducking stool nearby on the … Continue reading


text: On Tue, 30 Nov 1999 email@example.com wrote: > > > Then is the ultimate goal to create a GNU libmta.so or libmapi.so for > UNIX/Linux? Could we note this in the LSB specification that this is > what is needed for consistency, then create an LSB/GNU todo to have a new > subproject created? This is what I have though was needed for a long time. Doesn't c-client provide most of this functionallity? Stuart Stuart R. Anderson email@example.com Metro Link Incorporated South Carolina Office 4711 North Powerline Road 129 Secret Cove Drive Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309 Lexington, SC 29072 voice: 954.938.0283 voice: 803.951.3630 fax: 954.938.1982 SkyTel: 800.405.3401 http://www.metrolink.com/ -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to email@example.com with subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Email email@example.com


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Opening Prayer
God, with great gentleness and care, you call us to be your people and to do your work. Be here with us today, for we come, asking for your support in all that we do. We need your love, transforming our lives in hope. Be with us we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Forgive us those times we have tried to live without you. Forgive us our closed minds and hearts to your presence and your invitation to follow in Christ's way. Reveal your truth to us; repeat your call to us; straighten our lives that we may walk in His way. Help us to rejoice together in what Christ can help us accomplish through His spirit and will. Amen.
- Psalter Lesson: Psalm 66: 1-12
- Gospel Lesson: Luke 17: 11-19
- No. 488 – The God of Abraham Praise
- No. 332 – Live Into Hope
- No. 554 – Let All Things Now Living
"Who is There to Give Thanks" – Rev. Scott G. Loomer
Download the Worship bulletin for Sunday, October 13th


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Long a competitor to Los Angeles-based film schools, New York University is looking to establish its own presence in Hollywood.
NYU plans to rent space in Los Angeles to launch a program next fall for about 40 film-and-television undergraduate students, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported.
Students will spend most of their days at internships, and will also take night classes, school officials said. But unlike UCLA's Extension program, for instance, they won't be able to earn film degrees.
NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, whose acclaimed alumni includes directors Martin Scorsese and Joel Cohen, competes with USC and UCLA for students interested in film and arts. NYU officials are hoping that having a branch in L.A. could give the East Coast an edge.
"Being a part of the Hollywood industry, being part of those networks – it's one thing to go and make visits, it's another thing to be a physical entity located there, essentially an embassy," said Jason E. Lane, interim dean of the University at Albany's School of Education, who studied the expansion of universities.
NYU is renting instead of purchasing property, and the school will not enroll its own students, according to Linda Mills, vice chancellor and senior vice provost for global programs and university life.
NYU joins a list of outside universities setting up operations in L.A. This summer Arizona State University bought a stake in the former Los Angeles Herald Examiner building Downtown, where it plans to house journalism and design programs in L.A. in 2020. Emerson College and Quinnipiac University started programs in the city in 2014, and Syracuse University opened a satellite campus in Sherman Oaks in 2011. [Chronicle of Higher Ed] – Gregory Cornfield


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A Cleaner, Greener Community.
In 2014, the Community Lunch Box announced our new Bottle Drop off facility. Currently we have over 100 bins throughout Whitecourt and Woodlands County.
This program offers local residences and businesses an easy way to help raise funds for our program by donating their empty bottles and cans. Recycling is a major part of our plan for sustainability, it is helping us continue to grow and give back to our community.
We're always looking for a few willing hands to pick up & sort our bottle collection - will you join us?
Find a Bin
One of the easiest ways to support our work is by donating your bottles & cans to our 100+ bins throughout Whitecourt & Woodlands County.
Our bins are conveniently located throughout the community. Click the button below to try our interactive map to find one nearest to you.


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Energy, Sustainability, and Infrastructure
Currently Funded Centers
Award No. 1941524
Create sustainable, equitable, and widespread electrification of vehicles by creating low-cost, ubiquitous, and worry-free charging
Award No. 1941529
Ensure food, energy and water security with new systems to increase crop production while minimizing energy and water use and environmental impacts of agricultural practices
Award No. 1647722
CISTAR's vision is to create a transformative engineered system to convert light hydrocarbons from shale resources to chemicals and transportation fuels in smaller, modular, local, and highly networked processing plants.
Award No. 1041877
CURENT is developing a nation-wide transmission grid that is fully monitored and dynamically controlled for high efficiency, high reliability, low cost, better accommodation of renewable sources, full utilization of storage, and responsive load.
Award No. 1449500
NEWT intends to develophigh-performance and easy-to-deploy water treatment systems that will broaden access to clean drinking water from a variety of unconventional sources and enable industrial wastewater reuse at off-grid locations.
Award No. 1449501
CBBG will employ or mimic natural biological processes and materials to engineer the ground in ways that reduce infrastructure development lifecycle costs and impacts while mitigating natural hazards and environmental degradation.
Award No. 1028968
ReNUWIt advances new strategies for urban water systems, enabled by technological advances and informed by a deeper understanding of institutional frameworks, to achieve more sustainable solutions to urban water challenges.
Award No. 1041895
QESST seeks to transform the existing electricity generation system, making it sustainable, ubiquitous, and multifunctional, by developing photovoltaic and quantum energy converters, which fundamentally alter how energy is used.
Graduated Centers (Self-sustaining)
Develop methodologies and application tools for quantifying and mitigating the effects of earthquakes, especially in the central USA, and other low-probability, high-consequence earthquakes. Establish global alliances for assessment and intervention at both the systems and societal levels to protect communities vulnerable to earthquake effects
Provide technology, expertise and services needed for the development of drilling, production and transportation systems that enable the safe and economically viable exploitation of hydrocarbon resources in deep and ultra-deep water
Research and develop the technologies required to support sustainable infrastructure systems by addressing engineering opportunities in critical areas, including resistance to deterioration and resiliency to extreme events
PEER's mission is to develop, validate, and disseminate performance-based seismic design technologies for buildings and infrastructure to meet the diverse economic and safety needs of owners and society. PEER's research defines appropriate performance targets, and develops engineering tools and criteria that can be used by practicing professionals to achieve those targets, such as safety, cost, and post-earthquake functionality.
Dedicated to the discovery and development of new knowledge, tools, and technologies that equip communities to become more disaster-resilient in the face of earthquakes and other extreme events
Develop, apply, and transfer advanced combustion technology to industry through fundamental engineering research and educational programs aimed at the solution of critical combustion problems
FREEDM is developing an electric energy distribution infrastructure system with plug and play capabilities for renewable sources and energy storage systems—i.e., develop a "Smart Grid."


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SAN FRANCISCO —For a man eager to make further inroads into the tech industry, Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant experienced a painful lesson on navigating social media.
After a fan pressed him why he left the Thunder for Golden State last summer, Durant responded on his official Twitter account with a critique of both the Thunder's roster and Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan.
So when Durant and his business partner Rich Kleiman appeared at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference in San Francisco on Tuesday, Durant did not shy away from an incident he admitted "was tough to deal with."
Though Durant did not clarify if he originally attempted to make these comments through a different account impersonating as a Durant fan, the Warriors' star admitted he typed the words.
"I don't regret clapping back at anybody or talking to my fans on Twitter," Durant said. "I do regret using my former coach's name and the former organization I played for. That was childish. That was idiotic, all those type of words. I apologize for that."
Most athletes blame social media gaffes toward either someone hacking their account, or an intern mistakenly posting something incorrect.
Durant did not resort to such tactics.
"I do have other Instagram accounts, but that's just for my friends and family. So I wouldn't say I was using it to clap back at anyone," Durant said. "I use Twitter to engage with fans. I think it's a great way to engage with basketball fans. I happened to take it a little too far. That's what happens sometimes when I get into these basketball debates. What I really love is just to play basketball."
Durant has faced intense criticism in the past year for his desire to play basketball for the Warriors. While some have focused on Durant joining a star-stacked team only one year removed from winning the 2015 NBA final, others have centered more on Durant's relationship with former Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook. In a tweet that has since been deleted, Durant offered insight on his decision in the third person, suggesting he attempted to speak on his behalf as a fan.
"He didn't like the organization or playing for Billy Donovan," Durant wrote. "His roster wasn't that good, it was just him and Russ. Imagine taking him and Russ off that team, see how bad they were. KD can't win a championship with those cats."
Once that tweet created a social media stir, Durant said he "was pretty upset with myself." He then added, "I definitely want to move on and keep playing basketball."
"I don't think I'll ever stop engaging with my fans," Durant said. "I really enjoy it and I think it's a good way to connect us all. But I'll scale that back a little bit right now and just focus on playing basketball."


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This week sees the first round of the Group Stages of the 2016 ACL and for many of the teams it's that much awaited first competitive match of the season and the chance to showcase the new additions to the squad. The first round has a couple of matches which even at this early stage could go a long way to deciding who gets out the group and who gets to "focus on the domestic scene".
Jeonbuk v FC Tokyo (7pm Tuesday 23rd)
Jeonbuk start their 2016 campaign by hosting FC Tokyo. All eyes will be on Jeonbuk's new signings and especially Kim Shin Wook as fans and media alike will be hoping he can repeat his success with Ulsan in the green of Jeonbuk. As well as watching the new signings attention will also turn to the hole in defence after Kim Kee Hee's recent switch to the Chinese Super League and just how they cope without him. This time last year Jeonbuk started their campaign with a 0-0 draw against eventual table-toppers Kashiwa Reysol. They had the ball in the net twice that night with both ruled offside, they really cannot afford a repeat of that scoreline this year as nobody really knows how strong Jiangsu will be in this group.
Prediction – A winning debut for 'The Wookie' – Jeonbuk 1 FC Tokyo 0
Buriram United v FC Seoul (8pm Tuesday 23rd)
Like Jeonbuk, FC Seoul have also improved their squad significantly and are a vastly different team from that which meekly exited last year's tournament to Gamba Osaka. The obvious name to look out for is returning legend Dejan who many are looking at to spur them on to silverware this season. Much has been made of the fact that he is now 2 years older than the Dejan that left but he did manage to score in both matches against Suwon Bluewings in last year's ACL so maybe he still has it. In Buriram, Seoul face a team who are often underestimated by Korean football fans and they will have to play at the top of their game to come back from Thailand with all the points. Thunder Castle is no easy place to go where a combination of the heat and the atmosphere make it tough for most teams. A good result here for Seoul will set them up nicely for the visit of Sanfreece and then the double-header against Shandong.
Prediction – A hard-fought draw – Buriram 1 Seoul 1
Suwon Bluewings v Gamba Osaka (7:30pm Wednesday 24th)
Suwon begin this year's Champions League campaign with a home tie against Gamba Osaka in what should be a huge match even at this early stage. Last year they faced Urawa Reds and came back from 1-0 down to record a deserved 2-1 victory and secure all three points. Suwon made home advantage count last year and they will need to do the same again this time to have any chance of emerging from the group. Gamba will want to bounce back from having just lost 3-1 to Sanfreece in the Super Cup. In last year's competition they knocked out both FC Seoul and Jeonbuk in the knockout stages, a victory for them in the Big Bird and you would think you would be adding Suwon to that list.
Prediction – A goal-scoring draw – Suwon 2 Gamba 2
Guangzhou Evergrande v Pohang (8:30pm Wednesday 24th)
Pohang earned their place at the ACL table by coming through a play-off with Vietnamese team Hanoi T&T. They won the play-off 3-0 but for long periods of the match it was a lot closer than the eventual scoreline would suggest. Pohang seem to have downsized during the close season with Kim Seung Dae's move to the Chinese Super League being the biggest loss for them. Their opponents need no introduction and are looking to win their second ACL in a row and in the close season boosted their squad with the 42M signing of Jackson Martinez from Athletico Madrid. They are however slow starters in the ACL and this plus the fact they will play their opening match behind closed doors due to breaking regulations regarding sponsorship might just give Pohang a chance. The Steelers face a tough group with Urawa Reds and Sydney FC making up the pack and will need to perform at a higher level than against Hanoi if they are to finish in the top two.
Prediction – A home win for Asia's self-declared biggest team – Guangzhou 1 Pohang 0