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Surprise Singers (Totally Spontaneous)
Totally Spontaneous, a fantastic surprise for your guests! They look like just waiters, but turn out to be so, so much more… suddenly bursting into song performing stunning opera and fabulous musical theatre with no warning making your guests gush with astonishment and awe!
2, 3 or 4 vocalists performing with recorded orchestral backing accompaniment, pianist or our fantastic ensemble of four singers performing completely acapella in a unique, virtuosic and spontaneous act.
Amazing surprise singers for your special event!
Backed by piano, recorded accompaniment or simply stunning acapella - you choose (acapella version requires four voices)!
PA sound engineer and microphones all available for large events for extra cost
Male and female vocalists available – soprano, mezzo soprano, tenor, and bass
Opera, musical theatre, pop and other arrangements of songs available
A wonderful surprise for your guests - performers who infiltrate the wait staff at your event with charm and the occasional bit of drama then suddenly burst into song. These fabulous performers can appear with two, three or four singers and we're happy to design the perfect programme with or for you based on your requests and preferences.
Our fabulously unique acapella act requires four voices (soprano, mezzo, tenor and bass). This act is particularly unique in that they perform with their own specially arranged four-part arrangements of popular opera and the musical theatre favourites. Unlike other acts, this one is not tied to recorded or piano accompaniment and is therefore extremely flexible about where to perform and can easily conform to any event regardless of the physical and technical limitations of the venue. This dynamic act will be adapted easily to a small, intimate gathering with piano or recorded accompaniment or a larger corporate or public event with full audio tech.
Our singers subtly infiltrate your event, blending with your real waiting staff and provide sophisticated, high-quality entertainment, but also adding a great element of fun which can be gauged and catered specifically to your event. The structure and content of our performance suit a wide spectrum of audience taste by taking away the seriousness often associated with opera and adding an element of fun, spontaneity and surprise.
Totally Spontaneous usual repertoire consists of famous arias along with well-known songs from hit musicals. The act has proven equally successful to audiences from all walks of life, be they opera lovers or not, be it a dinner party for ten guests or a ballroom of a thousand, the structure of our singing waiters show along with the vast repertoire and experience of each of the performers allows our act to be easily customised to suit your unique request.
20 minutes set
Characters: The Chef, The Waiter, The Guest
You and your guests have been sitting having a wonderful meal, and have just polished off your main course and are happily chatting away. A waiter makes his way up to a microphone that's set up at the top of the room, and 'tings' his glass for an announcement. Everyone quietens down, and the waiter starts to speak.
He apologises for interrupting everybody but would like to introduce the chef who cooked their lovely meal, and as its Chef's birthday and as he'd done such a fabulous job cooking this evening perhaps you could all sing happy birthday to him. The waiter gets everyone singing to the chef, and the chef looks pleased as punch to be getting so much attention! Chef thanks, everyone, and goes to head back to the kitchen. Halfway back, he stops in his tracks…like he's had a fantastic idea, and heads back to the mic.
He interrupts everyone again and on the mic announces that as it's his birthday, he'd like to sing you a song! Before anyone can stop him he starts singing a strained and out of tune performance. His singing is SO terrible that people start to laugh and jeer! The waiter gently pulls him away from the mic after just a few lines, and appears to take him off and give him a quick talking to! He comes back to the mic and apologises to the audience…explaining that Chef has a big dream to become a professional singer, and he likes to practice with unsuspecting audiences!! He apologises again and goes to get back to waitering…but just as he does he decides to show the audience how it's really done! Music starts and this waiter launches into a mind-blowing song. The audience is shocked, as this waiter is fantastic! He's running around the room, climbing up on the tables…and everyone is clapping along!
At the end of his performance, the crowd is ecstatic! He's soaking up the attention, taking huge bows and loving the sound of the applause. However…through the sound of cheering and clapping, the intro to 'I feel Good' starts to play. Out of nowhere, the chef has stolen the mic! He starts to sing, with a cheeky look on his face….he's brilliant!! The crowd goes even more wild, cheering for him croon the high notes…and laughing at him grabbing a woman out of the audience and whirling her around the room!
Just as the song is finished, the two guys come together to take a bow! Suddenly, another song starts playing over the PA. The two guys look confused…none of them seem to know anything about this…up stands 'Jane'…one of your colleague's girlfriends who you've been chatting to all evening. She pulls out a mic from under the table and starts belting out the song, making her way up to the other two boys. Once she gets to them, they all get into the spirit, getting people up to dance with them, and encouraging everyone to sing along and clap.
Characters: Male Guest, Female Guest, Male Catering Manager
The male and female 'guests' are placed in your event on a table with your other guests. They will be in character from the moment they arrived and will fool your guests into believing one of them in an employee and his 'other half' (or something that would work for you).
The female guest appears to be a little 'tipsy', and after the main course jumps up on her feet and staggers up to the microphone that's set up to the side of the room (or on stage if you have a band set up!). She proceeds to make a drunken speech about how much she loves her 'other half', gets down on one knee, and proposes!! Her boyfriend looks incredibly embarrassed, head in hands! She then decides to sing him a song, which is an awful and out of tune.
After a few lines, her boyfriend jumps up, he can't take anymore!! He grabs the mic, and her hand, and says, of course, I will marry you! (As long as you stop singing!). He then apologises for the interruption…but offers to sing a song himself! He bursts into a fabulous song getting the guests up singing and clapping!
After he's finished, the catering manager comes in with a bottle of champagne to congratulate them. He makes a short speech and then shocks everyone by bursting into song. After he's finished (with standing ovation of course!) the female guest decides she wants a go now too! She grabs the mic and wows the audience with a perfect performance and dancing around the room!
Sample Repertoire List (WITH PIANO OR RECORDED BACKING)
Brindisi Duet (Soprano & Tenor)
Flower Duet (Soprano & Mezzo-soprano)
Habanera (Soprano or Mezzo-soprano)
Nessun Dorma (Tenor)
O Sole Mio (Tenor)
Barcarole (Soprano & Mezzo-soprano)
O mio babbino caro (Soprano)
Lascia ch'io pianga (Soprano)
Pur ti miro (Soprano & Mezzo-soprano or Soprano & Tenor)
Michaela's Aria from Carmen (Soprano)
One Fine Day (Soprano)
Summertime (Soprano)
La donna è mobile (Tenor)
The Laughing Song from Fledermaus (Soprano)
The Champagne Song from Fledermaus (any voice types)
Soave s'il vento (Soprano, Mezzo & Baritone)
Toreador (Baritone)
Sul Aria (Soprano & Mezzo-soprano)
Pearlfisher's Duet (Tenor & Baritone)
All that Jazz (Soprano or Mezzo-soprano)
Can't help lovin' dat man (Soprano or Mezzo-soprano)
I could have danced all night (Soprano)
That's Amore (any voice types)
I am the perfect model of a modern Major General (Tenor)
Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes (Tenor)
I Dreamed A Dream (Soprano or Mezzo-soprano)
Master of the House (Tenor)
On My Own (Soprano or Mezzo-soprano)
Mack the knife (Tenor or Baritone)
You'll Never Walk Alone (Soprano)
The Sound of Music (Soprano)
Favorite Things (Soprano)
So Long, Farewell (ensemble)
Some Enchanted Evening (Tenor or Baritone)
All I ask of you (Soprano & Tenor)
Think of Me (Soprano)
On the Street Where You Live (Tenor or Baritone)
Phantom of the Opera (Tenor or Baritone)
Music of the Night (Tenor or Baritone)
If I were a bell (Soprano)
Funiculi Funicula (any voice type)
Widmung (Soprano)
Il mio cuore va [My heart will go on] (Soprano & Mezzo-soprano)
Nuit d'etoile (Soprano)
Pie Jesu (Sopranos)
Time to say goodbye (Soprano & Tenor or Soprano & Mezzo-soprano)
Cielito Lindo (Tenor)
(Other Options Available On Request)


30 + knots of wind and mast high waves! Today was a day to wrap up warm and watch the action rather than braving the cold water and the monster waves!! It was defiantly worth it, watching from the beach was epic, the arial moves and wave riding was great fun to watch and capture through the camera. The spray of the back of the waves and the dull light made for some atmospheric pictures.


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Updated December 02, 2020 by Allean Phelps
The 10 Best Electric Toothbrushes
This wiki has been updated 26 times since it was first published in October of 2015. If you want that just-left-the-dentist feeling every day, try one of these sonic toothbrushes. They work much better than manual models to remove stains and keep your pearly whites looking their best. These devices remove plaque and bacteria effectively to prevent gingivitis and bleeding gums, and good oral health is now believed to contribute to overall bodily health. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
This wiki has been updated 26 times since it was first published in October of 2015. If you want that just-left-the-dentist feeling every day, try one of these sonic toothbrushes. They work much better than manual models to remove stains and keep your pearly whites looking their best. These devices remove plaque and bacteria effectively to prevent gingivitis and bleeding gums, and good oral health is now believed to contribute to overall bodily health. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100
Boasting an impressive 31,000 strokes per minute, the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 (appx. $66) is 7 times more effective at removing plaque than a manual brush. Lights and sounds notify you when you're applying too much pressure and also when the head needs replacing.
Handy storage cap
Relatively quiet
Safe for crowns and veneers
2. Triple Bristle Best
The three-sided head of the Triple Bristle Best (about $70) is designed to clean more thoroughly in less time than standard heads. It gets into every crevice to remove trapped food particles, and is suitable for use with braces, dentures, and implants.
Ergonomic handle is easy to hold
3 speed settings
Bonus tongue scraper included
3. Brio SmartClean
The Brio SmartClean (appx. $68) is a good choice if you want a high-tech model without a hefty price tag. Its built-in timer alerts you every 30 seconds to move onto the next quadrant, so each section of your mouth gets the care it needs.
Not harsh on gums
Simple one-button control
Each charge lasts a long while
When it comes to oral health, sonic toothbrushes are more effective than their manual counterparts. However, a 2017 study found that these powered devices can eat away at the tissue below the tooth's enamel if used for more than the recommended two minutes. Other factors like the number of brush strokes per minute, the amount of pressure used, and the stiffness of the bristles also played a part.
As one of the first brands to use sonic wave technology, the Philips Sonicare brand has a long track record of improving oral health. Still, we removed the Philips Sonicare HX5611/01 Essence from the list because it lacks the power of other models. We also removed the Pyle Health Sonic Wave. Not only did customers express frustration with trying to find replacement heads, but some users also complained about the bristles falling out while brushing.
This list was updated to include the Shyn Rechargeable and the Colgate Hum. Besides doing a great job of removing plaque and tartar, each model has advanced features to simplify the brushing experience. The former has a built-in sensor to prevent users from brushing too hard, which can cause the gums to bleed and the latter can be paired with an app to point out which areas of the mouth need attention.
December 09, 2019:
A sonic toothbrush is similar to a standard electric toothbrush, but it's capable of producing more intense vibrations. This makes it great for removing stubborn plaque and, in turn, improving the health of your mouth and reducing your time spent in a dentist's chair. This update brings in several new and updated models – some of which even come with corresponding smartphone apps that can assess how well you're brushing – like the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean.
The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 produces an impressive 31,000 vibrations per minute, which makes it seven times more effective at removing plaque and debris than a manual toothbrush. It comes with some handy bells and whistles, including lights and sounds that alert you at times when you're applying too much brushing pressure, or when it's time to replace the head. From the same manufacturer, the Philips Sonicare Essence is thoughtfully designed with a startup mode that gradually increases in intensity over the first 12 times you use it, to help you get used to its operation.
From another well-known name in electronic tooth care devices, the Waterpik Complete Care 9.0 joins the selection as an option that provides tools for both brushing and flossing. It's equipped with five water flosser tips, 2 brush heads, and a sturdy travel case. You can buy it with confidence, thanks to its 2-year warranty.
The newly added AquaSonic Black may be a lesser-known model, but it's a force to be reckoned with, as far as both quality and price. Like many others, this one is waterproof, and it's packed with high-tech and useful features like ultra-fast wireless charging, bright LED indicator lights, a lithium ion battery, and the ability to deliver 40,000 vibrations per minute. It offers modes for cleaning, whitening, massaging, and a gentle one for those with sensitive teeth and gums.
Goby Electric Toothbrush This brush's soft, premium bristles oscillate gently, yet thoroughly, for a clean and fresh mouth. It's equipped with a normal speed setting as well as a sensitive one, along with a long-lasting battery. It sits in its sturdy base when not in use and is equipped with a USB charging shell and adapter, as well as a brush head cover, for convenient use when you're on the go. Choose from among no-nonsense black and white, or eye-catching models in iridescent, rose, blue, and gold. While it might not rotate quickly enough to be considered a true sonic model, it's designed to make the most of your brushing time and is registered with the FDA as a Class 1 device. goby.co
Burst Sonic Toothbrush The Burst Sonic Toothbrush runs for a month on a single charge. Its nylon bristles are infused with plaque removing charcoal, but the bristles tend to be too soft for some users. Besides, massage and whitening settings, it features a sensitive mode to reduce pressure while brushing. Plus, it features a two-minute timer and a 30-second reminder. burstoralcare.com
4. AquaSonic Black
The AquaSonic Black (appx. $36) is equipped with a powerful motor that produces 40,000 vibrations per minute. Its whitening mode removes surface stains, while its massage setting delivers soothing micro-bursts into gum tissue for improved circulation.
Ultra-fast wireless charging
Bright led indicator lights
5. Philips Sonicare DiamondClean
The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean (appx. $233) can be counted on to maintain the health of your gums and teeth, as it removes plaque reliably and is said to whiten enamel in just one week. The included travel case makes it convenient to take on vacations.
Complementary smartphone app
Several colors to choose from
3 intensity levels
6. Shyn Rechargeable
The Shyn Rechargeable (appx. $48) has five power settings and four cleaning modes. Its diamond-shaped bristles polish the teeth, and a pressure sensor notifies you when you are brushing too hard. A wireless, waterproof charger and travel case complete the set.
Bears the ada seal
Very quiet motor
7. Waterpik Complete Care 9.0
The Waterpik Complete Care 9.0 (around $89) is designed to help you spend less time in the dentist's chair, as it's equipped with effective tools for both brushing and flossing. It comes with five attachments and a sturdy case that makes it easy to take with you on the go.
Won't hog the countertop
Backed by a 2-year warranty
Louder than many others
8. Violife Slim
The Violife Slim (around $20) is a nice budget-friendly option that you can tuck into a carry-on bag without it taking up much room at all. Its snap-on cap is vented to allow air to circulate and to prevent it from turning on accidentally.
Powered by one aaa battery
Available in 6 colors and patterns
22000 strokes per minute
9. Fairywill Crystal Black
The Fairywill Crystal Black (about $37) is equipped with a two-minute timer to let you know when you have brushed for long enough, and a handle with simple controls. It comes with a cable that can be plugged into any USB port for charging.
Safe for use in the shower
V-shaped bristles reach all areas
Some users find it too weak
10. Colgate Hum
The Colgate Hum (appx. $60) is a smart toothbrush that helps you improve your brushing habits. You can choose whether you want a normal, sensitive, or deep clean for use with or without the app. It is available in two colors and comes equipped with a charger and a carrying case.
Reminder to change quadrants
App shows areas that need attention
Short battery life
A Brief History Of The Toothbrush
Horse hair became a popular alternative to boar and hog bristles because it offered a more gentle brushing experience.
While there have been plenty of advancements in dental care over the past few decades, generally speaking, the toothbrushes we use today are not so different from the models used 100 years ago. To understand the history of the toothbrush, it's important to talk about what came before it.
The toothbrush's main predecessor is called the chew stick. It usually consists of a twig, one side of which can be used as a toothpick. The other end is frayed to form a brush-like device. While it dates back to at least 3500 B.C. E. in the Middle East, it is still popular today in many parts of the world. Other tooth-picking utensils, like feathers, animal bones, and porcupine quills, were also popular in various regions throughout history. A soot and salt-soaked rag was also a popular cleaning method in 1700s Europe.
The bristle-headed brushes we use today are based on implements developed in China's Tang Dynasty, sometime in the latter half of the first millennium. They used hairs from hogs in northern China and Siberia, preferred for their stiffness. Their handles were typically made from bamboo or animal bone. Through trade and travel expeditions, the toothbrush made its way to other parts of Asia and eventually to Europe, where it gained popularity in the late 1600s. Horse hair became a popular alternative to boar and hog bristles because it offered a more gentle brushing experience.
Mass-produced brushes came to the market in the United Kingdom in 1780, spawning the Wisdom Toothbrushes company, which still exists today. An American version was patented in 1857, though production on this continent did not begin at a large scale until 1885.
By the turn of the 20th century, synthetic materials began replacing the animal bones and bristles used in many models. Celluloid was widely used for handles, while bristles made of nylon fibers reached the mass market in 1938. The first electric model was introduced in Switzerland in 1954, intended for those with inhibited motor skills. General Electric developed a batter-powered version about a decade later. The sonic brush arrived in 1992.
Today, standard, electric, and sonic brushes all remain popular. While the latter type is typically rechargeable and comes with a replaceable head, requiring only a one-time purchase of the base unit, most other brushes are cheap and disposable. The latest advancements in toothbrush technology include pressure sensors to keep you from brushing too hard, Bluetooth connectivity to track your brushing data, and brushes with adjustable cleaning modes to maximize efficacy in every part of your mouth.
How Sonic Toothbrush Technology Actually Works
The basic principle behind sonic toothbrushes is vibration. While you scrub your gums, molars, and tongue with a traditional brush, the physical action clears particles and debris manually. Sonic brushes emit a high-frequency sound wave, and its vibrations help break down bacteria and dislodge dental plaque. The brush head does not actually need to make contact with the plaque in order for this effect to work, it just needs to be close enough that the sound waves reach the tooth's surface. The term sonic refers to these sound waves.
Sonic brushes are classified as such because their frequencies usually fall within the audible spectrum, which ranges up to 2.4 million movements per minute.
The dual action of sonic brushes makes them more effective than their manual cousins. While standard electric brushes have some of the same effects, their vibrational frequency is usually much lower than sonic or ultrasonic models, which makes them less powerful at removing plaque, especially when it is out of reach. Some sonic brushes are powerful enough to remove plaque that sits on a tooth's surface below the gum line.
The difference between electric and sonic toothbrushes has to do with the intensity of vibration. Standard electric brushes, for example, typically perform 10,000 to 12,000 movements per minute. Sonic brushes are classified as such because their frequencies usually fall within the audible spectrum, which ranges up to 2.4 million movements per minute. Brushes on the higher end of this range, as well as those that exceed it, are usually marketed as ultrasonic. The most common frequency used in ultrasonic brushes is 1.6 megahertz, which falls well beyond the audible range, and consists of 192 million movements per minute.
The vibrations themselves are usually produced by applying an electric charge to a piezoelectric crystal in the brush's base. Piezoelectric substances can convert electric signals to mechanical ones and vice versa, and are also used in microphones, record players, headphones, analog clocks, and even cigarette lighters.
A Few Notes On Ensuring Your Dental Health
While it may seem ubiquitous now, regular brushing was not commonplace in the United States until after World War II, during which soldiers were required to clean their teeth every day. That being said, the practice is now instilled in the minds of Americans and much of the industrialized world as a necessity as soon as we develop cognizance. In 2003, for example, an MIT study revealed that the toothbrush was the number one invention Americans said they could not live without, beating out the computer, cell phone, and automobile.
A good dental hygiene routine demands more than just brushing, however.
Many dentists recommend brushing your teeth for at least 60 seconds twice a day. A good dental hygiene routine demands more than just brushing, however. The importance of flossing is difficult to understate, for example. Flossing can help you reach the surfaces between your teeth that the bristles of your toothbrush tend to miss. Every tooth has five exposed surfaces where food particles and plaque can build up, and your tooth-cleaning regimen should address each of them. If you skip flossing altogether, you're only hitting 60 percent of the surfaces of your teeth.
Another important ingredient in your oral routine is toothpaste. The manual (and vibrational, if you're using a sonic model) effects of brushing help clear your mouth of any particles stuck to your teeth. But a brush without a good toothpaste can only do so much. It's essential to use a toothpaste that helps strengthen teeth with ingredients like fluoride, which can help prevent cavities and ensure the long-term health of your molars.
See all health wikis »
Last updated on December 02, 2020 by Allean Phelps
Allean Phelps is a B2B and B2C copywriter with a bachelor's degree in media communications. Her career has included stints as a journalist, PR guru, marketing specialist, and ghostwriter. When she's not writing copy, you'll find her working on DIY projects or looking for images in the clouds with her grandson.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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February Reader Spotlight: Jennifer Jackson Berry
In continued anticipation of this week's event, The Food of Love, today we bring you a little taste of Jennifer Jackson Berry. If you want more than this tease, you'll have to join us at Zeke's Coffee, Friday 2/19 at 5pm!
Why do you write about food?
I'm just following that old adage: write what you know. We all eat, we all know food, so using food as a metaphor, or as a part of the narrative, or as the main focus, makes the piece approachable for many readers.
What's the sexiest meal you've ever had?
I find adventurous eating sexy. My husband & I drove across the country from Pittsburgh to the Grand Canyon, then back, for our honeymoon in 2011. I'm going to read a poem at the Food of Love reading titled "My Offal Honeymoon," and it describes two of the sexiest meals I've ever had. We were arriving at different cities every day, searching out the local favorites, trying different foods, laughing at our trepidation, savoring the best bites, then falling into bed exhausted, but happy.
If someone invented a cocktail named after you, what would it include?
The JJB — something with rum & cherries, fizzy.
Jennifer Jackson Berry's first full length collection of poetry The Feeder is forthcoming from YesYes Books in October 2016. Her ec-hapbook, When I Was a Girl, is available as a free download from Sundress Publications. Her poems have appeared in journals such as Booth, The Emerson Review, Harpur Palate, Moon City Review, Stirring, and Whiskey Island, among others. She is the Editor-in-Chief of Pittsburgh Poetry Review and lives in the Braddock Hills neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
February 17, 2016 February 16, 2016 by Marissa Landrigan Categories: Blogging, Events, Interviews, Q&AsTags: community, events, food writing, interviews, local writers, Pittsburgh, poetry, Q&A, reading series, readings Leave a comment
February Reader Spotlight: Deesha Philyaw
We're so excited for this week's event, The Food of Love, so today we bring you a little taste of Deesha Philyaw, who will be reading at Zeke's Coffee on Friday, 2/19 at 5pm. We hope to see you there to hear all about the sexy side of food!
Photo credit: tfoley
Growing up in the South, food was at the center of everything–holidays, car trips, lazy Saturdays, or just stopping by because you were in the neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon. Food was hospitality and love. I learned to cook by watching my maternal grandmother, and my time in the kitchen with her is among my fondest memories. When I teach my daughters to cook, I make new memories and share culture. How and what we eat, who we cook for and eat with..there's always a story. And sometimes the food itself is the story. I write about food to tell broader stories about family, love, change, pain, and loss.
I don't typically think of food as sexy, but I remember having dinner at a seafood restaurant with my high school sweetheart before going to prom. We decided to eat a bunch of raw oysters because we'd read somewhere that they were aphrodisiacs–because of course two teenagers need an aphrodisiac on prom night!
Fresh ginger, potato vodka, lemon juice, wildflower honey, and sparkling water.
Deesha Philyaw is the co-author of Co-Parenting 101: Helping Your Kids Thrive in Two Households After Divorce, written in collaboration with her ex-husband. Deesha's writing on race, parenting, gender, and culture has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Brevity; Stepmom, Essence, and Bitch magazines; and various anthologies including The Cassoulet Saved Our Marriage: True Tales of Food, Family, and How We Learn to Eat. She's a Fellow at the Kimbilio Center for African American Fiction, and a recent Pushcart Prize nominee for essay writing in Full Grown People. Deesha is a two-time recipient of an Advancing the Black Arts in Pittsburgh grant from The Pittsburgh Foundation and the Heinz Endowments.
February 16, 2016 February 16, 2016 by Marissa Landrigan Categories: Blogging, Events, Interviews, Q&AsTags: community, events, food writing, interviews, local writers, Pittsburgh, Q&A, reading series, readings Leave a comment
The Food of Love
Even if science doesn't support all our aphrodisiac myths, there's no doubt that food is often the way to someone's heart — or into their pants. Our annual Valentine's Day reading, The Food of Love, will tantalize you with sexy food stories, whether first dates or ten-year anniversaries, candlelit dinners or vegetables as sex toys.
Join us on February 19th, from 5-7pm, for readings from Jennifer Jackson Berry, Deesha Philyaw, and Ellen McGrath Smith. We'll be hosted by Zeke's Coffee on Penn Ave. in East Liberty.
Over the next week, we'll be spotlighting each of our upcoming readers here on the blog, to whet your appetite for the seductive feast to come! For more information on the event, visit our Facebook page, or contact organizer Marissa Landrigan (acqtaste@gmail.com)
February 11, 2016 February 12, 2016 by Marissa Landrigan Categories: Blogging, EventsTags: chocolate, community, events, food writing, local writers, Pittsburgh, reading series, readings, sexy food Leave a comment
Too Spicy for Average Mortals: December Reader Spotlight on Claire Burgess
We're so excited for this week's event, Six Impossible Things for Breakfast, so today we bring you a little taste of Claire Burgess, who will be reading at Classic Lines, Thursday 12/10, at 7pm. We hope to see you there for the weird and wonderful side of food!
The funny thing is I don't purposefully write about food, but it's all over my stories. Food, eating, cooking. It's because there is a visceral power in food. It can be pleasurable, comforting, gluttonous, or sexy. It nourishes and sustains us, keeps us alive. Preparing it can be an act of love or obligation. We take it into our bodies. Think about that. We take it into our bodies. There's a boon of metaphorical possibility there. It's also just plain useful: you can tell a lot about a character by what she feeds herself. Green smoothies or gas station nachos? Or, even better, both? (We all have our contradictions.) There's a lot you can do with food.
What's the strangest meal you've ever had?
My husband and I were in Paris, and there was a TexMex restaurant near our hotel called El Rancho. Naturally, we had to try it. It was decorated in tasteful, Mexican-ish decor, and there was a sign over the door that said "Thank's for your visit." They served us the tiniest chips and salsa imaginable. The chips were bite-sized, and the salsa was in a bowl about the size of a soy sauce cup. I ordered a margarita, which came in a miniature Manhattan glass, and chicken fajitas, which had not only the standard peppers and onions, but also broccoli, green beans, olives, and sugar snap peas. Sugar snap peas. In a fajita. It was delicious, of course, cause France, and we actually went back a second time and ordered the exact same thing. Since then, I've tried to recreate it at home, but I can't quite capture its original glory.
The Claire Burgess would use ingredients that you always have in your house, because this is the kind of drink you drink after you've already had a few and shouldn't be tempted to drive anywhere for some missing frou-frou liqueur. It has a strong pour of whisky in it, and it definitely has hot sauce, and then whatever else can be scrounged from your pantry because you haven't been to the store in over a week. It should be too spicy for average mortals. Every sip should warm you like an embrace and then kick you in the ass. Some people think it's disgusting, but that's how you know who your real friends are. They're the messy ones with the belly laughs, the sharp tongues and giant hearts. The fire eaters, the smoke breathers, the dragons with a purr in their throats.
You can read some of Burgess's fiction at Annalemma, and then hear her in person next week at Classic Lines bookstore for Six Impossible Things for Breakfast.
Claire Burgess is a writer of short fiction, educator of teenagers, and blogger for The Rumpus. Her stories have received special/notable mentions in thePushcart Prize and Best American anthologies, and have appeared in Third Coast, Hunger Mountain, PANK, and elsewhere. She received her MFA from Vanderbilt University and is a founding editor of Nashville Review. Currently, she's completing a manuscript of short stories under the working title Last Dog.
December 7, 2015 December 7, 2015 by Marissa Landrigan Categories: Events, Interviews, Q&AsTags: alcohol, booze, Claire Burgess, events, fajitas, food writing, french food, hunger, interviews, local writers, Q&A, reading series, readings 1 Comment
Buzzy, Mellow, and Warm: December Reader Spotlight on Jennifer Bannan
Next up in our December event spotlight, we're pleased to feature fiction writer Jennifer Bannan, who will be reading at Six Impossible Things for Breakfast, and who may have invented a wonderful new cocktail below.
I'm interested in consuming as a concept. I'm fascinated by the way, for example, people in this culture are more often referred to as consumers than as citizens. Food is an easy, direct route to thinking about consuming. Or over-consuming, as in the case of the story I'll be reading. And food is chock full of sensory power, which all writers want to include in their work.
I grew up in Miami and my boyfriend's family was Cuban. His mom wanted to cook a traditional Thanksgiving dinner because my boyfriend had joined my family for the holiday and he loved the food so much. I gave her as much information as my mom passed on, but it must have seemed lacking to her. She shoved a bunch of garlic cloves and lemon rind under the skin of the bird, and the stuffing was also one of the most garlicky, lemony things I've ever eaten. My boyfriend was mortified, even angry at her, and while I thought it was strange for sure, it was really very delicious.
The Jennifer Bannan would mix the buzzy effects of a strong cup of espresso with the mellowing effects of a nice Pinot Noir with the cozy warming effects of a Manhattan. I guess this shows that I'm more interested in the after-effects than the initial flavor.
You can read some of Bannan's fiction at Kenyon Review online, and then hear her in person next week at Classic Lines bookstore for Six Impossible Things for Breakfast.
Jennifer Bannan is the author of short story collection Inventing Victor, Carnegie Mellon University Press, 2003. Her publications include work in ACM, Kenyon Review online, Passages North, the Autumn House 2011 fiction anthology, "Keeping the Wolves at Bay" and a story forthcoming in theChicago Quarterly Review. She received her MFA at the University of Pittsburgh in 2014 and is at work on a novel, Welcome to Kindness.
December 3, 2015 December 3, 2015 by Marissa Landrigan Categories: Blogging, Events, Interviews, Q&AsTags: alcohol, booze, community, eating, events, food writing, interviews, Jennifer Bannan, local writers, Pittsburgh, Q&A, reading series, readings, wine 1 Comment
Cheese Fish: December Reader Spotlight on Daniel Shapiro
Today we're pleased to introduce Pittsburgh poet Daniel Shapiro, who will be kicking things off at our December reading, Six Impossible Things for Breakfast. We asked Shapiro to tell us a little bit about himself, Acquired Taste style.
I haven't written about food all that much, but I like to do it because it's not a poetry topic that has been done to death. It's not break-ups or trees. I typically seek out offbeat themes, odd juxtapositions of words, etc., and food lends itself to these pursuits.
The strangest meal I've ever had remains the cheese fish they used to serve at my middle school. Most likely, it was accompanied by the overcooked stalks of broccoli. It consisted of a square, fried piece of what was said to be fish, and the cheese–not unlike Velveeta–was apparently injected into it, a la creme filling into a Twinkie. My friends and I have turned cheese fish into a mythical monster, of sorts, and I hope to have a cheese fish poem available for the reading.
If someone invented a cocktail named The Daniel Shapiro, what would it include?
It would consist of the most expensive, most rare bourbon available and nothing else. It would be the Sasquatch of drinks, putting Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year to shame, causing riots, making people forget about the Tickle Me Elmo massacres of old.
You can read some of Shapiro's poetry, and even get a taste of him reading it, at Hermeneutic Chaos. If you like the sound of his voice, or just want to hear more about the mythic cheese fish, join us next week at Classic Lines bookstore for Six Impossible Things for Breakfast.
Daniel Shapiro is the author of How the Potato Chip Was Invented (sunnyoutside press, 2013), a collection of celebrity-centered poems. He is a special education teacher who lives in Pittsburgh. He interviews other poets while subliminally promoting his own work at Little Myths.
December 1, 2015 December 1, 2015 by Marissa Landrigan Categories: Blogging, Events, Interviews, Q&AsTags: alcohol, book birthdays, booze, cheese, community, Daniel Shapiro, eating, events, fish, food writing, interviews, local writers, magic, Pittsburgh, poetry, potato chips, Q&A, reading series, readings, weird food Leave a comment
Six Impossible Things for Breakfast
Alice laughed. "There's no use trying," she said: "one can't believe impossible things."
"I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
The chocolate frogs of the wizarding world. The ambrosia drunk in the cloud-palaces of Mount Olympus. Giant peaches and enormous beanstalks and more!
From Cinderella's pumpkin carriage to Alice's "eat me" currant cake, food casts many a magic spell. Food is larger than life, and its impact on our lives often feels strange, even legendary. Is it any wonder we spin stories endowing food with weird and wonderful powers?
As winter descends into a glittering world around us, join Acquired Taste in a celebration of the weird, mythic, and magical side of food.
Our next event, Six Impossible Things for Breakfast, (named in honor of a bastion of weird food scenes, Alice Through the Looking Glass), will be held on Thursday, Dec. 10th, at 7pm, and will feature readings from Jennifer Bannan, Claire Burgess, and Daniel M. Shapiro. We'll be hosted by Classic Lines bookstore in Squirrel Hill, and Marissa is planning to bake up plenty of strange cookies for the occasion.
Over the next few weeks, we'll be spotlighting each of our upcoming readers here on the blog, to whet your appetite for the strange and lovely feast to come!
For more information on the event, visit our Facebook page, or contact organizer Marissa Landrigan (acqtaste@gmail.com)
November 23, 2015 November 23, 2015 by Marissa Landrigan Categories: BloggingTags: chocolate, Claire Burgess, community, Daniel Shapiro, eating, events, food writing, fun, Jennifer Bannan, local writers, magic, myth, Pittsburgh, poetry, weird food 3 Comments
Book Preview: Nobody's Jackknife
We are so pleased to preview Ellen McGrath Smith's newest book of poetry, Nobody's Jackknife, which will be available Sunday from West End Press. Here's what she has to say about the collection:
One time, at a party years after I'd stopped drinking, I told someone, 'The closest I get to a buzz now is when I'm practicing yoga.' I'm sure this has something to do with endorphins, but it also planted the seeds for a poetry project exploring yoga and alcohol. The poems inhabit a range of forms from sestina to sonnet to ghazal to prose-poem hybrids, mirroring the many shapes the body assumes in a yoga asana practice. Bottoms up and namaste.
If you're in the Pittsburgh area, you're in luck: the launch party/power yoga extravaganza is Sunday. From 2:30–3:30, catch your breath at South Hills Power Yoga with local writer and yogi Jennifer Lee. From 4–5:30 at Union Project, the author will read and celebrate with a reception. More details about the event.
Summer with its Bacchus-head of grape leaves.
Summer with its berry-bloodied grin.
The invisible highwire
from Venus to the moon
mid-June to salmon-sun September.
The power of green aspiration:
onion bulbs, beginner's luck.
The lime-pitched traffic of birds in the morning
on the branches of your nerves,
the cat and the lemony canary,
cellophane laundry hanging out to dry—
moss on white wicker, spiked heels
on wet flagstones, lavender and sweat,
conversational hearts
on the faces lit
by flameless torches.
First published in Kestrel magazine
As in it hits the spot, the spot in which you live, i.e., you live where you are present.
When you aren't inside the brown glass beading sweet and bitter of the day condensed—where are you? Forgiven by the skin when caked in mud. A Pilgrim's Progress free pass from the straight and narrow. Hops and hops and hops and hopes like hockey pucks on ice.
Wholesome: good for the eyelashes. Fiber for nursing women. Stout as Stein and squat as boxhedges separating greener grass from just the plain, which has to mean the world is just a bee in your bonnet, a valley of tears, and a dull dry powdery dross.
As in, I spot you; it takes one to know one. As in, if you would rather sit inside that mulchy barrel all night long than be with me: I understand. I wish to God that I could join you caked in mud and full of hops. I wish to God that I could join you.
First published in Quiddity
Rolling Rock Beer
They don't get out much, the horses inside me.
What I wouldn't give to let them out just once a year,
the way the rich Scots-Irish do, up in Ligonier—
groomed and toned to jump and race at Rolling Rock.
They chomp at the bit, day by sober day, while all across the state, beer
distributors and bars are stocked with cold green cans
of pastureland and yeast,
the Loyalhanna boiling down the Laurel Mountains
over the prehistoric cliff where's someone's scrawled:
If you love something, let it go.
I once lay back on that cliff while my horses fanned
and ran slipshod over Mellon land, hill and dale.
And I can't help but feel that, somewhere in Westmoreland County,
in the back of a dark bar,
somebody strums on a guitar and sings Rocky Top—
after all that has come and gone, whole decades
later—and it still goes down
like novelty or, at least, the status quo for those who sit and listen,
a cold Rock on the table, fingers at a gallop
on the denim fields of thighs, buzzing neurons doing
their own version of the steeplechase,
following the invisible fox, with a certain formal grace,
all the way to Sunday.
If you loved that preview, you can order the collection here. Who wouldn't want these kingly monkeys on their bookshelf?
The West End Press, 2015
November 13, 2015 November 13, 2015 by robyn Categories: Book PreviewsTags: alcohol, book birthdays, booze, Ellen McGrath Smith, events, local writers, Pittsburgh, poetry, readings, yoga 1 Comment


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<title>curl_share_strerror man page</title>
<meta name="generator" content="roffit">

NAME

curl_share_strerror - return string describing error code
SYNOPSIS

#include <curl/curl.h>
const char *curl_share_strerror(CURLSHcode  errornum );

DESCRIPTION

The curl_share_strerror() function returns a string describing the CURLSHcode error code passed in the argument errornum.
AVAILABILITY

This function was added in libcurl 7.12.0
RETURN VALUE

A pointer to a zero terminated string.
SEE ALSO

libcurl-errors (3)   curl_multi_strerror (3)   curl_easy_strerror (3)

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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Jodie Foster puts it out there, 'loud and proud'
Those in the audience at the Golden Globes whipped out handkerchiefs as Jodie Foster gave an emotional and moving speech while accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award.
Foster gave fair warning that a big announcement was coming, warming up viewers by saying, "While I'm here being all confessional, I guess I have a sudden urge to say something that I've never been able to air in public, a declaration that I'm a little nervous about, but maybe not as nervous as my publicist right now ... I'm just going to put it out there, right, loud and proud."
Filed under: Awards Season • Golden Globes
70th Golden Globes: The winners list
With Tina Fey and Amy Poehler steering the ship, the 70th annual Golden Globes was an enjoyable watch with a few surprises.
As expected, "Homeland" and "Game Change" were leaders in their categories, while Ben Affleck's "Argo" stepped in for the win over our predicted best drama winner, "Lincoln."
Check out the winners below - to refresh your memory on who they were competing against, see the nominees list. Which wins surprised you the most?
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler get Globes off to funny start
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler had high expectations to live up to as hosts of the Golden Globes, and their opening monologue didn't disappoint.
"Only at the Golden Globes do the beautiful people of film rub shoulders with the rat-faced people of television," Poehler quipped after the introductions were out of the way.
New mom Claire Danes stuns on Globes red carpet
Hollywood's stylists clearly worked overtime for the Golden Globes, as the red carpet was filled with stunners - from show hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to "The Master" actress Amy Adams to "Scandal" star Kerry Washington.
But all eyes were on new mom Claire Danes, who walked the red carpet in a red gown a month after giving birth to her first child with Hugh Dancy.
Filed under: Awards Season • Golden Globes • Homeland
Birthday girl Julia Louis-Dreyfus is expecting to lose at Globes
If there's an upside to attending a major awards ceremony on your birthday, as Julia Louis-Dreyfus is tonight, it must be getting to wear Vera Wang.
But on the other hand, it doesn't leave a lot of room for celebratory feasting on cake.
Bryan Cranston's fan mail gets ... interesting
It's no surprise that Bryan Cranston is nominated for the best lead actor in a TV drama award at tonight's Golden Globes, but we were surprised to hear the kind of fan mail the series inspires.
While chatting with E! on the red carpet ahead of the awards show, Cranston, 56, revealed that some of the letters get pretty explicit.
Filed under: Awards Season • Celebrities • Golden Globes


Emma prepared for the late pregnancy by taking hormone tablets, and her daughter's eggs, fertilised through IVF, was placed in her womb.
According to reports, Emma Miles' daughter, Tracey Smith, was born without a womb and it was not possible for her to give birth. The shocking discovery was made when Tracy was just 15-years-old and her monthly menstrual cycle was yet to begin.
Since the day of the discovery, Emma was determined to help her daughter in whatever way she could.
Tracy is now 31-years-old and her dream of becoming a mother came true 9-weeks ago. Her mom gave birth to a healthy baby girl for which she had to shed nearly 36 kilograms of weight.
The 55-year-old prepared for the late pregnancy by taking hormone tablets, and her daughter's eggs, fertilised through IVF, was placed in her womb.
Against all odds, the procedure was successful.
Tracy was not ready to take her mother's offer for a very long time. However, after getting married to her husband Adam, she went ahead with it.
"When I was diagnosed, it tipped my world upside down. I was heartbroken at the idea that I wouldn't carry my own child. I'd always known that I wanted to be a mum, even at 15," Tracy was quoted by LadBible.
"Straight after my diagnosis, Mum made an offer to do what she could to help. I knew that she meant one day she'd carry my child for me," she added.
Nine weeks after the birth, Tracy and her husband are now going through the legalities of adopting the baby girl.
"Despite my age, I wasn't worried about giving birth at all. All of my focus has been about doing this special thing for my daughter. Tracey is my baby and I did it all for her to be a mother," said Emma.


text:
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>>see all recommendations
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Top of the List Read-alikes: Wandering in Strange Lands
The Turquoise Ledge
Oct. 2010. 320p. Viking, hardcover, $25.95 (9780670022113). 813.54.
The turquoise stones Silko finds in the Tucson Mountains near her home embody the story of the land and her own complex heritage. A MacArthur fellow, Silko drew on her Laguna Pueblo, Cherokee, Mexican, and European ancestry in her previous books, including her seminal novels Ceremony (1978) and Gardens in the Dunes (1999). She digs even deeper in this richly veined, dramatic, and mysterious self-portrait, telling gripping stories of suffering and wisdom from each branch of her complex family tree that reveal the consequences of racism, the war against Native Americans, and the abuse of nature, including shocking glimpses into the Indian slave trade and the dire effects of the atomic bomb tests and uranium mining. Vivid portraits of her grandmothers and mother are matched by amazing tales of the animal members of Silko's extended family, from horses and dogs to macaws and rattlesnakes. Mesmerizing descriptions of desert and drought, musings over the significance of turquoise, concern over environmental destruction, harrowing personal struggles, and haunting revelations of spiritual forces converge in a provocative and numinous memoir that backs Silko's resounding perception that "in the Americas, the sacred surrounds us, no matter how damaged or changed a place may appear to be." — Donna Seaman
Find more titles by Leslie Marmon Silko


If you are looking for the best size-friendly baby carrier, one that will fit both you and your baby comfortably, you're in the right place!
Many plus size wearers are concerned that baby carriers won't fit them – we get a ton of questions from customers who are concerned about finding the best baby carriers for plus size bodies and whether the carrier they have their eye on will work for their body type!
Share essential tips and suggestions for choosing the best baby carrier for plus size wearers, based on more than 15 years of personal experience of working with different babywearers of all shapes and sizes.
Go over the different aspects of choosing a baby carrier that plus-sized caregivers should pay special attention to, and how these features can impact your day-to-day babywearing life.
List the best baby carriers for Plus Size Moms and Dads looking to wear their newborns and older babies in 2019.
My plus sized customers often share with me that it can be hard to find slings and carriers that fit comfortably. I know how frustrating and discouraging it is to feel that your body type is limiting the options available to you!
Everyone wants to find a carrier that fits on their body, and is also comfortable, safe and fashionable! Fortunately, we are seeing more and more options on the market and CMA carries a wide selection of size-friendly carriers.
I am often asked what is "the best" baby carrier for plus-size wearers. It's important to acknowledge that all body shapes are different and not all "plus size" bodies are the same shape and size! Baby carrier fit is also a personal thing and everyone has their preferences. So whether you are plus-size or not, you may need to try a few carriers to find the one you love.
There are four basic types of carriers. All four can be comfortable for plus size wearers!
The first step in choosing a carrier is to choose which type of carrier you want to focus on. Then, you can move on to the tips in the baby carrier category you are interested in!
Wraps: long pieces of fabric that get wrapped around the body. Versatile, cuddly and the highest learning curve.
Ring Slings: long pieces of fabric that get looped over one shoulder and tightened with rings. Fast and easy to use, great for newborn cuddles and as hip carriers for older babies.
Buckle Carriers: a catch-all category for carriers that fasten with buckles. Includes Soft Structured Carriers, which are the most widely recognized type of carrier. These have a padded structured waistband and padded shoulder straps. This category also includes Onbuhimo carriers.
Meh Dai: a cross between a wrap and a buckle carrier, meh dais tie rather than buckle but are easier to learn than wraps.
Plus size wearers can choose from ANY of these categories – nothing is off limits!
What Carrier Types Should You Consider?
All of them! Being plus-sized does not mean you are limited to one type of carrier!
We offer many size-friendly carriers in all carrier types!
The type of carriers you pick should be based on your budget and what you will be using the carriers for.
If you are looking for one single carrier, choose a two-shouldered option. This means looking at a buckle carrier, wrap or meh dai.
If your budget stretches to more than one carrier, definitely add a ring sling! They are a great complement to a two-shouldered carrier and are awesome for easy ups and hip carries (with older babies).
Straps: Comfortable straps are key. The straps need to be long enough to fit, but they also should be either wide enough or sufficiently padded so that they comfortably distribute weight and don't dig into your skin. Pay attention to the placement of any buckles as well, and whether there is a chance of the buckles digging.
Waistband: if the carrier has a waistband, it should be fully adjustable for the plus size wearer.
Breathable Fabrics: if you run hot, you'll want to look for carriers in breathable fabrics. 100% cotton and linen fabrics are breathable and cool. Many carriers also have mesh panels and other that add to the air flow in and around the carrier.
Adjustability: to be comfortable, the baby carrier you choose should be adjustable to your needs. Straps and waistbands usually adjust, but you also want to make sure that you can reach the pockets, easily put the hood on and off and reach any straps or buckles that you need to adjust.
Acknowledge up front that there may be some trial and error in finding the right buckle carrier. The most popular type of baby carrier can also be the most challenging one if your body type is different than the "standard" size.
Don't only look at the length of the arms straps and waist belt. Also consider the padding on the carrier and whether it's placed to be most comfortable for you.
Look for Perfect Fit Adjustor buckles (PFAs) add extra adjustability to a carrier – you can open them all the way to lengthen the padding or cinch them down to help move buckles to comfortable spot that doesn't rub.
Look for dual adjust side buckles that allow you to move the buckle around to a more comfortable spot. These buckles also allow you to adjust the straps by pulling forward rather than back, which is easier for all wearers.
My top recommended carrier for plus size moms and dads. The Tula FTG has a lightweight cotton body that is floppy and moldable so it hugs your baby to you.
The Tula Free-to-Grow knocks it out of the park in so many ways, including comfort for plus size bodies. This is my top recommended carrier when asked about the best baby carriers for plus size wearing. The Tula FTG has a lightweight cotton body that is floppy and moldable so it hugs your baby to you. It is reasonably cool to wear and you can also get a "Coast" version that has a mesh center panel for additional airflow to baby's back. This carrier has three width adjustments and several height adjustments so your baby can be properly supported as s/he grows. With shoulder straps that extend to 50″ and a waistband that extends to 57″, this carrier is a good fit for plus size wearers. Comes in a wide range of colors and prints.
The Tula Free to Grow does not face baby forward. If this is important to you, you may want to consider another carrier. Also, the pocket on the front is small and can be a bit hard to access as baby gets bigger. Single adjust buckles are attached at the end of the shoulder straps, which means you have to have some arm flexibility/mobility to get the carrier on and off (for some suggestions on making it easier to get this or any buckle carrier on by yourself, go here.
Ergonomic carrier that faces baby forward, can also be worn on your back. Great fit for plus-size!
Tula carriers are favorites of our plus size customers, and this new Tula Explore offers the forward-facing carry at last! The fabrics on this carrier are soft and the design of the seat means this carrier supports your child is an ergonomic position when facing forward, as well as in the standard front facing and back carries. This carrier offers several adjustments so that it grows with your baby and can be used from birth to toddlerhood (7-45 bs). It is easy to switch between positions. The shoulder straps (up to 54″) and waistband (up to 57″) on this carrier are generously sized.
The light padding on the body makes this carrier warmer than some others (such as the Tula Free to Grow). The pocket on the front is small and can be a bit hard to access as baby gets bigger. Single adjust buckles are attached at the end of the shoulder straps, which means you have to have some arm flexibility/mobility to get the carrier on and off (for some suggestions on making it easier to get this or any buckle carrier on by yourself, go here.
Easy to use, with straps that cross on your back or can be worn backpack style.
The Gemini has a bit less adjustability than some of the newer forward-facing carriers on the market. The body of the carrier has two height settings: one with the headrest up and one with the headrest down. There are also just two settings on the base. This carrier doesn't have an additional hood. Also, know that the padded body of the Gemini offers support but is also a bit warmer for baby. The "Cool Mesh" version is a lot cooler but has shorter straps and waistbelt (54″).
Awesome carrier for babies 6 months and up (or younger with additional infant insert). A plus-size customer favorite for comfort and ease of use.
This carrier requires an additional infant insert for use with small babies (under 15 lbs) so it's best for use with babies 6-7 months or older.
Softness, flexibility and a great price for a buckle carrier!
A great choice for wearers on a budget or who want a carrier that softer and less heavily padded. Best for babies 6 months and up.
The Soul Carriers are so soft and floppy! These lightweight carriers come in gorgeous all-over fabrics, including cushy wrap fabrics, linens, and cottons. The waistband and shoulder straps are thin and soft – but still comfortable – and they mold to your body more than the straps of other carriers. Soul's carriers are less expensive than some comparable carriers on the market, but they are still great quality. Perfect Fit Adjustors make breastfeeding easier and also offer an additional room in the carrier. Soul's Full Buckle carriers have some of the longest straps available – the shoulder straps are and the waistband is 64″. Additional padding under the buckles means they are less likely to dig. Last but not least there are dual-direction adjuster buckles on the straps which allow there to be minimal webbing (the narrow black strap) against your body.
This carrier is best for babies over 6 months or so, and at least 15″ It does not have any pockets and there is no spot to store the attached hood, although you can cinch it up.
Quick and easy to use, an onbuhimo is awesome for wearers with older babies who don't want anything wrapped around their waist.
The Soul Onbuhimo is an awesome option for when you want something for quick ups with your older baby or toddler. This carrier doesn't have a waistband so there is no constricting fabric around your waist. Onbuhimos are one of best carriers for plus size wearnig if you don't love having anything round your waist. These carriers are a great price, too.
Onbuhimo carriers are not suitable for wearing newborns or smaller babies, they are best for babies 6 months and up. They are designed to be worn high on your back, which is a different feel than the average buckle carrier – it can take some practice to get the positioning correct and comfortable.
If you love the ease of use of a buckle carrier, but find the buckles uncomfortable, a meh dai could be perfect for you. These all-cloth carriers offer a soft, natural-feeling carry with no buckles, but are easier to use than a wrap.
Consider wider straps which distribute the weight well over your shoulders. Wrap-style straps are popular for their comfort and for being less diggy on the shoulders.
The Kol Kol is a budget-friendly meh dai for wearers wanting a soft, natural feeling carry - no buckles or stiff padding!
Meh dai carriers are buckle-free fabric carriers that offer a soft, natural feeling carry. They are tied on with knots, so the Kol Kol can be tied in a variety ways – this allows you to vary up the way it sits on your body. Wide, wrap-style straps spreads out the weight so the straps don't dig into you. The Kol Kol Meh Dai has a nifty adjstment at the base so you can wear it with an infant up to toddler (to 33 lbs). Two straps lengths available. Value priced.
This carrier ties rather than buckles and has long straps which can drag on the ground when putting it on and off, if you're not careful. This carrier doesn't have pockets although it comes packaged with a pouch that you can carry on the strap.
Wraps are a fabulously size friendly carrier. Because they are simply a long piece of fabric, they are infinitely adjustable around your curves.
Wraps with some stretch in them are great for those new to babywearing – they stretch and conform around your body with ease. Many of these wraps are one-size and can easily fit bodies up to 2x.
Woven wraps are sized, so it's possible to find one that works for every wearer.
If you re new to woven wraps, choose a 100% cotton, thin-to-medium weight wrap in a colorway that you love.
Wrap your baby in cocoon-like softness. Cotton with bamboo to keep you both cooler.
There are a lot of stretchy wraps on the market, but the Moby Evolution stands out by with its bamboo fabric content, which makes it thinner and cooler than the classic Moby and than other stretchy wraps out there. At 5.5m, this wrap is long enough for most plus size wearers. We consider stretchy wraps to be one of the best carriers for plus size wearers with a newborn.
This carrier has a lot of stretch to it which makes it lovely for wearing small babies but most people find that it is too stretchy to provide needed support once baby hits 20 lbs or so, so it's best as a newborn wrap. This wrap is not recommended for forward-facing carries or for back carries.
Soft and versatile wrap to take you from birth to toddlerhood.
Super soft for newborn wearing, but supportive enough for older babies & toddlers.
This is my favorite stretch wrap – it has enough stretch in it to make it easy to use (and to pop baby in and out after it's tied on) but is also supportive enough to wear in most positions that a woven wrap can be used in (including forward-facing and back carries). Unlike many stretchy wraps, the Wrapsody Hybrid can be used well into toddlerhood. It is also reasonably thin and light. At 5.5m, this wrap is long enough for most plus size wearers.
Like all wraps, there is a lot of fabric, which can be overwhelming at first. These are gorgeous, hand-dyed and batiked wraps, but the look is not for everyone.
Easy, breezy and beautiful, in lengths to fit most bodies!
This woven wrap is super lightweight and cool! Suitable from birth through toddlerhood, this wrap could be the only carrier you need! Great price for a woven wrap. The longest length is 6.0m which should fit up to size 28.
Like most woven wraps, this wrap takes some breaking in to get soft and some practice to learn to use. It is not as cushy as more expensive woven wraps. Some customers report that you have to wrap carefully to avoid pressure points with heavier kids.
Consider sling length. Generally, longer is better in a ring sling because the additional length can just be wrapped around the rings if needed (or you can easily get it tailored to fit). If you are sized 16 or under, a standard size sling (72-78″) may fit. If you are over size 16 (or want a longer tail), look for a sling that is 80″ or longer.
Consider shoulder type. If you have rounded or sloping shoulders, you may prefer a sling that spreads wide, such as a gathered shoulder. If you have narrow shoulders, you may prefer a narrower shoulder such as the Maya Wrap Lightly Padded Sling. Shoulder padding can also make these carriers more comfortable and the narrower shoulder is less restrictive of your arm movement.
If the ring sling has a pocket on it, this may reduce the usable length of the sling.
Beautiful, comfortable and with sizes to fit everyone!
Gorgeous and affordable ring slings are so soft right out of the box so you won't need to do much (if any) breaking int. Soul slings come in 4 lengths, so you are guaranteed to find one to fit (the size 4 wrap is 93″ long, which is very long). Gathered shoulder is easily adjustable. Option of cool and supportive linens or cushy woven cotton.
Like any ring sling, this carrier is one-shouldered so all your baby's weight is on the one shoulder. And like most single layer ring slings, these have a lower weight range than other carriers. Soul recommends them for children up to 33 lbs. Slings may shrink a bit during washing.
Linen + cotton woven together to make a super supportive and beautiful wrap. Long length fits all!
A super supportive ring sling that will take you all the way through toddlerhood. 50/50 cotton-linen blend offers great support and is gorgeous besides. Option of ring colors is a fun touch. This one-size carrier is very long at 90″ so should fit most plus size wearers with length to spare. Weight limit is 45 lbs which is higher than many ring slings – so this is definitely toddler-worthy!
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Tom Ball and his band of Merry Makers Whoop it Up!
No, you weren't seeing double. There were two Men in Black at Kurilpa Poets this month as the Reverend Hellfire & the Water-Rat Crew were joined by West End's very own Johnny Cash, journeyman Troubadour Tom Smith and his crew of merry Muso's.
Open Mic saw a fine line up of Poets who brought us back in touch with our roots, delving deep into the earth, sprouting lines like vines of verbiage blending with the foliage of the trees of Musgrave Park around us.
The Rev opened the show with some fine alchemical ramblings on the nature of Earth; "Earth is a girl with a Dry sense of Humour", quoth he.
Jeffrey "Shakey" Evans, claiming to channel the Spirit of William Shakespeare (with perhaps a dash of Keats thrown in)delivered a rapid fire barrage of words, ultimately working himself up to an epileptic like peak of passion! You could really see where the "Shake in "Shake-speare" comes from!
SAVANU assured us what a Wonderful World it could be, and deplored a life where everything has become a job.
Visual Arts Director Shane K delivered a montage of urban images delivered with a surrealist intensity and later gave us a few thoughts on the Art of Visionary Genius/Madman; Mr William Blake.
The most powerful poems of the Open Mic sessions were undoubtedly those the "other Shane", a young man whose writing is delivered thru the medium of his mother Val and a laptop. Unable to communicate as you and I do, Shane types out his poems on the keyboard, with the assistance of his Mother helping to steady his hand as he does so. Val then reads out the Poems and communications in general thus composed. The result is a surprise, stunning poems of Flight and Freedom that left a stunned audience sitting some moments in silent appreciation before erupting into heart-felt applause.
But the day truly belonged to Tom Smith and his ever shifting, kaleidoscopic assemblages of musicians, who really lifted the Spirits of all attending, creating a great Community Atmosphere/ a tribal togetherness with his vagrant band of buskers and strummers.
The first set Tom started off with his ongoing Community Group, the Whoopee-do Crowd, the second set was supposedly Tom & the "Songs of Tom Smith Band", the free-floating ensemble of muso's dedicated to playing the actual songs of Tom Smith. Confused yet? Doesn't matter, it all sounded great, and anyway there was a certain amount of leakage of personel between the two groups anway so boundaries were fairly fluid.
Special note must be made when brother Nigel QPapaYandi joined the Tom & the SOTS to blast out some sweet, sweet blues harmonica riffs. Nice. Also really liked the Cohen-esque song Tom chose for the SOTS opener in the second set, called, so I'm told; "I don't care what people think".
All in all a great afternoon, fine food, rousing music, thoughtful words, amusing company. Dig it.
I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.
Hey! Would you like to write reviews of Kurilpa Poets events?
Contact the Rev at kurilpapoets@yahoo.com.au to discuss & arrange.


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A novel technique to produce cheaper and more efficient chlorine (Cl?)
Credit: UNIST
Chlorine (Cl?) is one of the most widely used industrial chemicals in the world today, with 75 million tons produced annually. A team of researchers, affiliated with UNIST has recently found a way to make the manufacture of chlorine more efficient and affordable. This is expected to be of great help to chlorine-related industries.
A joint research team, led by Professor Sang Hoon Joo and Professor Sang Kyu Kwak in the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST has unveiled a novel catalyst (Pt1/CNT) for electrochemical chlorine generation.
The existing electrochemical catalysts for chlorine generation contain a large amount of precious metals, such as ruthenium (Ru) and iridium (Ir), thus are expensive and not very efficient in terms of production. Besides, in the condition of low chlorine concentration and a pH-neutral environment, not only chlorine but also oxygen are generated and this reduces the overall chlorine production efficiency. The research team developed a non-metal oxide based on a conclusion that the cause of such drawbacks are rooted in the intrinsic properties of "metal oxide-based catalysts."
The newly-developed catalyst (Pt?/CNT) is a monatomic dispersion catalyst, in which platinum (Pt) atoms that are surrounded by four nitrogen (N) atoms, are dispersed on carbon nanotubes (CNT). Since the catalyst is completely exposed on the surface of the metal atoms (Pt), even with the small amount, it can give a high efficiency and show a better performance than the existing commercial DSA catalysts under various electrolyte conditions. In addition, it contained high chlorine ions, such as seawater, or vice versa. It will be shown to be applied to electrochemical water treatment equipment in various environments in the future.
"It has been confirmed that only chlorine ions were selectively adsorbed on the active sites of Pt1/CNT, while other additional reactions were suppressed," says Taejung Lim in the Department of Chemical Engineering at UNIST, the first author of the study. "This will serve as a new catalyst, which overcomes the fundamental disadvantage of the existing metal oxide catalysts."
In the study, Professor Kwak and Dr. Gwan Yeong Jung applied their experimental data to the theoretical calculations to examine the structure of active sites and the principle of electrochemical reactions. They found that the improved structural integrity between the active sites and carbon nanotubes result in smoother electron transmission and a marked improvement in the catalytic performance.
"Through molecular modelling and density functional caluations, we have idenfitied the central structure of active sites in Pt1/CNT," says Professor Kwak. "This calculation principle is expected to contribute to the interpretation of the reactivity and reaction principles of various monoatomic catalysts in the future."
"The monoatomic catalyst developed this time is a new catalyst design concept that changes the paradigm of the noble metal oxide catalyst commercialized 50 years ago," says Professor Joo. "In particular, the new catalyst is not affected by the composition of the electrolyte, thus is expected to be used in a variety of applications, such as medium and small-scale water treatment, as well as ballast water treatment."
The results of their research have been published in the online version of Nature Communications on January 21, 2020. This study has been supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea funded by Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT).
JooHyeon Heo
82-522-171-223
https://news.unist.ac.kr/a-novel-technique-to-produce-cheaper-and-more-efficient-chlorine-cl%e2%82%82/
Tags: Chemistry/Physics/Materials SciencesEarth ScienceEnergy SourcesEnergy/Fuel (non-petroleum)Hydrology/Water ResourcesIndustrial Engineering/ChemistryResearch/DevelopmentTechnology Transfer


text:
Spazio Nobile presents Vincent Fournier, Brasília, at Atelier Jespers, during Photo Brussels Festival, 14.11.2019-12.01.2020
Exhibition	— October, 09 2019
Spazio Nobile presents
Vincent Fournier
Brasília, Modernist Utopias
Part of Photo Brussels Festival
At Atelier Jespers
149 avenue du Prince Héritier 1200 Bruxelles
Curated by Spazio Nobile Gallery, Lise Coirier & Gian Giuseppe Simeone
Exhibition from 14.11.2019 until 12.01.2020
Preview days: 14-15.11.2019, 13-17.00
Vernissage on 16.11.2019, 14-22.00
Finissage Weekend: 10-11.01.2020, 1-5pm
Sunday brunch on 12.01.2020, 12-16.00, in presence of the artist
By appointment on the other exhibition days
Download the invitation here
Download the catalogue here
On the picture above: Vincent Fournier, The National Museum #3, arch. Oscar Niemeyer, Brasília, 2019, Courtesy Vincent Fournier
Spazio Nobile presents Brasília, Modernist Utopias by French photographer at Atelier Jespers in the framework of Photo Brussels Festival.
Vincent Fournier, Palace Hotel #3, hall Athos Bulcão, arch. Oscar Niemeyer, Brasília, 2019, courtesy Vincent Fournier
10 photographs have been carefully selected by Vincent Fournier and Spazio Nobile which works in dialogue with the Modernist interior architecture of Atelier Jespers founded and run by Jean-François Declercq.
Vincent Fournier, The Itamaraty Palace, stairs of the Foreign Relations Ministry, arch. Oscar Niemeyer, Brasília, 2012, courtesy Vincent Fournier
In this fictional mood of Brasília, states Vincent Fournier, "you feel like that you're wandering in a life-size stage, where fiction mixes reality. It reminds me of the novel "Fiction" from Jorge Luis Borges where "the cartographers guilds struck a map of the empire whose size was that of the empire, and which coincided point for point with it. Everything is organized in a very mathematical way of seeing space, very abstract, like if the physical world would have been absorbed within a mathematical world. There is a contradiction in this as well. As a guiding concept, Oscar Niemeyer wanted to create a city that was meant to be shared, everyone in it together. But the opposite happened. Instead of drawing people closer, it separated them further away from each other."
Vincent Fournier, The Itamaraty Palace – Foreign Relations Ministry, panel by Athos Bulcão, arch. Oscar Niemeyer, Brasília, 2012, courtesy Vincent Fournier
In 1987 Unesco listed the original 1957 urban plans of Brasília as a world heritage site. 30 years after the original design, the city has developed and would never meet the ideal plans. This selection by the Unesco Committee somehow turned Brasília into the most modern set of ruins in the world. The capital of Brazil as planned would always remain an utopia.
Vincent Fournier, Facade of the Claudio Santoro National Theater, concrete panel by Athos Bulcão, arch. Oscar Niemeyer, Brasília, 2012, courtesy Vincent Fournier
In his interview with Christian Larsen for TLmag #31, Vincent Fournier explains: "Brasília is very unique. It's beautiful and fascinating how this city was designed with the same unified aesthetic. What rigor and madness! It is also a very special case since in just three years, the architect Oscar Niemeyer and the urban planner Lucio Costa, literally created this city in the middle of the desert, which, on the scale of the construction of a city, is instantaneous, like a photo that would immortalize a precise moment. The pilot plan of the city has thus remained unchanged, frozen in time due to its UNESCO World Heritage designation. Brasilia shows the nostalgia for the golden age of the future of the 60s. It is a modernist temple fossilized in a utopian future that did not take place. My interest in Brasilia also comes from my fascination with myths and stories that question and explore the future, from science to architecture, to technology. All my projects: space exploration, humanoid robots, the transformation of life through technology or even utopian architecture have in common to imagine the future in a historical perspective, as an archaeologist who dates different time strata. It may be the future of the past, or of a future very near, almost parallel to our present, or even of a possible future, a fantasized anticipation. The aesthetics and form of these "futuristic" worlds fascinate me, as do their way of rethinking the boundaries of the possible. I went to Brasília with this idea in mind. When I discovered the city with all those stilt-like columns, I photographed in horizontals only because I had this vision of a "walking city": a city with legs. I framed the city this way, with a very cinematographic mood, just like a long sequence shoot… I'm playing with the balance of documentary style—with its distance, very frontal, very objective—but at the same time the images are carefully staged. They are composed of course, in a narrative and aesthetical way."
Christian Larsen is Associate Curator of Modern Decorative Arts and Design at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has made the acquisition in 2016 of 5 large formats photographs from the Brasília series.
A book on this series of photographs, with contributions by Christian Larsen and Beatrice Galilee, Associate Curator of Architecture and Design at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, will be published by Noeve in Spring 2020.
Vincent Fournier is a French artist who explores significant mythologies of the future: space exploration, utopian architecture, artificial intelligence, living transformation… After being awarded a diploma in both sociology and visual arts, he studies at the National School of Photography in Arles and obtains his diploma in 1997. His works can be found in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York, the Centre Pompidou Paris, the LVMH contemporary Art collection, the Dragonfly Collection in Massignac, the Museum of Fine Arts of Mâcon, Fondation Bullukian in Lyon, the ArtScience Museum in Dublin or the Baccarat Hotel Collection in New-York, among others.
About Spazio Nobile
By opening Spazio Nobile in April 2016, in the dynamic and cosmopolitan Ixelles neighbourhood of Brussels (Belgium), Lise Coirier and Gian Giuseppe Simeone have united their passions for design and art history, initiating a dialogue between contemporary applied arts, design and photography. Commissioning unique pieces, limited editions and installations that are both experimental and artistic, with a particular sensibility to everything nature and minerality, the gallery organises four to five exhibits each year, dedicated to both rising and established talents, without creating borders between the disciplines, the visual arts dialoguing with the fine arts. Spazio Nobile has been exhibiting Vincent Fournier since 2016 with his series "Space Project", "Post Natural History", and more recently "Brasília" and upcoming "Kintsugi" series to be launched at Collectible in Brussels and PAD Paris in March 2020.
About Atelier Jespers
Atelier Jespers has hosted in its public/private Modernist house renown designers and architects such as Domeau & Peres, Michael Anastassiades and architecture duo Berger & Berger. Major events of the Belgian cultural scene have happened there in the past 5 years. It has established itself as a key venue for Brussels artistic programming. The setting of the Modernist house built up in 1928 by Belgian architect Victor Bourgeois, member of the CIAM and first professor at the Architecture studio of La Cambre, provides to Atelier Jespers, the historical and aesthetic anchorage and an exceptional frame to welcome art & design, architecture and photography exhibitions.
Contact & info:
Spazio Nobile, Lise Coirier assisted by Salomé Elbaz, T. +32 (0) 2 768 25 10 – sms only: + 32 (0) 475 53 19 88 – lc@spazionobile.com, salome@spazionobile.com
Atelier Jespers, Jean-François Declercq, T. +32 (0) 475 64 95 81 – jf@atelierjespers.com
Press & PR: Sophie Carrée, +32 (0) 2 346 05 00, aurelie@sophiecarree.be, www.sophiecarree.be
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2001-2021 Zuka Private Game Reserve Celebrates 20 Years!
Words by Jessica Getty
Nature.
Thriving and beauteous in her perfection, she needs nothing from us.
We are called to be with her and to watch, witness, observe and learn. Nature is our axis that inspires an instinct to revolve around her and respond.
Zuka is our response.
Under our auspices since 2001, Zuka has an infinitely wide matrix of history before it and around it; angles, truths, humans and circumstances that account for and construct a different beginning before our own. For Tara and me, to put Zuka and our personal commitment in to context, 1990 is the rightful starting point to our story and the germination of what would birth 10 years later: Zuka Private Game Reserve.
Zuka is one of myriad examples around the world of the common point where humanity meets the natural world in order to protect her.
Every minute since 2001 has been filled with nature playing her role, there for us to coexist, to immerse in wonder. Simultaneously, every minute since 2001, has been filled with the best intentions from a vast human collective connected to Zuka. All those minutes have turned in to days and years threaded together bringing us to this place in time, 2021, where we allow ourselves a pause, to notice and celebrate.
We honour 20 years of this collective of human hearts, attributes and actions. These humans have been on board and held on tight over 20 years with tenacity, expertise, passion, kindness, willingness, loyalty and mercifully, a sense of humour!
2021 is our vantage point to look back, be here, notice Zuka quietly thriving and with gratitude and vigour, go onwards.
Words by Musa Msweli
House Manager Zuka House & Gladstones
Food insecurity is a reality for many South African households with approximately 50% of households living below the poverty line and unable to afford food for basic healthy eating.
The spread of the 2020 global Covid-19 pandemic across South Africa added pressure to vulnerable households as they faced temporary or permanent employment interruptions. In addition, the primary care givers of these households had more mouths to feed with children that previously benefited from the national school feeding programme.
From the outset, and through the lockdowns of Covid-19, Zuka Private Game Reserve, responded to what quickly became the most urgent needs of our surrounding communities: food and personal protection.
We put our human resources, funding and donations in to compiling, transporting and distributing much needed food parcels, masks, sanitisers and essentials.
During these critical months, Zuka Private Game Reserve delivered these essentials to 10,500 people in urgent need of assistance in KwaNgwenya and Mnqobokazi.
Our gratitude to all who participated, for your kind and generous support.
Tembe Elephant Introduction
s from Tembe Elephant Park to the Munywana ConservancyIt is estimated Tembe Elephant Park, situated in northern Zululand, is home to the largest concentration of Big Tuskers anywhere in Africa.
Although these giants once roamed freely across the Pongola River between South Africa and Mozambique, in 1989 as a result of frequent poaching incidences in Mozambique, a fence was erected to contain the elephant population within the Tembe Park.
A 30,000 hectare reserve limiting them, their population grew to such an extent that Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the custodians of the Tembe Elephant Park, took the decision to relocate a number of bulls and small family groups to other reserves within South Africa.
The Munywana Conservancy, seized the opportunity to help out with this relocation programme and in September 2020, two adult bulls (29 and 39 years old) arrived on the conservancy.
Since their introduction, these placid giants, fitted with GSM collars for monitoring, have settled into their new environment, integrating already with the existing herds bringing an additional gene pool and boosting our elephant population.
This success prompted the relocation of a further 11 animails from Tembe Elephant Park to the Munywana Conservancy in 2021 .
Tembe Elephant Park
Pangolin Reintroduction
Pangolins are the most heavily trafficked wild mammals in the world (Chandler et al., 2014) with the demand for live pangolins, their meat and scales, leading to a global decline in their populations. The declining numbers in the Asian populations has seen increased pressure in the African populations and the Temminck's Ground Pangolin (a species indigenous to Southern Africa) is now classified as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
In an attempt to curb the decline in the Pangolin numbers the South African Government appointed The African Pangolin Working Group (APWG) to oversee the rehabilitation of pangolins retrieved from the illegal wildlife trade.
The Munywana Conservancy was identified by APWG as a suitable reintroduction site and in 2019 Temminck's Ground Pangolin were reintroduced onto the Mun-Ya-Wana; the last records of their presence date back to the 1940's. This project also serves as a pilot study and guide for the reintroduction of Temminick's Ground Pangolin, both assessing feasibility and to provide a "best practice" model for future reintroduction projects.
The reintroduction process involves a two-phased approach. During phase one, the soft release, each individual is taken out daily over a period of 2 to 3 weeks for foraging walks. This period is dependent on the body condition and behaviour of each animal. The animals are transported to and from their intended release site for their foraging sessions. The animals are weighed before and after each foraging session and once the monitoring teams are confident that the animals are settling, displaying normal foraging patterns and gaining weight, they can progress to the second phase of the release process.
During the second and final phase of the reintroduction, Pangolin are released into their chosen release area and monitored twice daily to check on burrow locations and times that the animals emerge from their burrows to start foraging. Daily location information is collected by SAT tags and UHF data loggers fitted to the animals' scales. This second phase of the reintroduction and release programme can last for up to three months with weighing intervals being extended as the animals settle into their new home.
At various stages throughout the rehabilitation and reintroduction process a dedicated pangolin monitor will systematically follow each individual during foraging sessions to check on general health, movement patterns and behaviour.
The reintroduction and rehabilitation project is thus far a great success and in 2020 the first pangolin pup was born on the Munywana Conservancy.
Musa Msweli
As a young boy growing up without parents in Mnqobokazi, a rural community adjacent to Zuka Private Game Reserve, life was not easy or straightforward for Musa Msweli, however, matriculating in 2002, Musa's character, intelligences and determination created opportunities which took him on a path he loves and relishes to this day.
Working for andBeyond at Phinda Mountain, and after completing the Siyakwamukela programme, there was, in Musa's words, a significant moment in his life when he was awarded the chance to study further through Africa Foundation's CLEF (Community Leaders Education Fund) a bursary for tertiary education and a gateway to dreams of promising young students.
This next step as a result of CLEF took Musa to Fanshawe College, Ontario in Canada where he studied tourism and the hospitality industry for six months.
Still working for andBeyond, Musa started at Zuka Lodge in 2004 as a butler and training staff. This founded his relationship with the Getty family and his next move, to Zuka House.
Musa's trajectory, exemplary of the successful partnership between andBeyond and Africa Foundation, with his strong desire to develop continued. Through his constant openness to learning, applying his skills and with his well respected, capable, humorous character, Musa became House Manager at Zuka House and Gladstones in 2018, a position he thrives in today, contributing in immeasurable ways to the life and soul of Zuka Private Game Reserve.
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu
Our beloved, indefatigable Arch and Mrs Tutu accepted our invitation to come and stay at Zuka. It was a joy for us to take care of them as a token of deep appreciation for the incredible people they are and of course, being our Patrons of Africa Foundation since 2004. They had quiet family time enjoying the beauty and peace of Zuka, and received an ecstatic welcome from andBeyond staff on their visit to Phinda.


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