Monthly home prices improved for a second consecutive month in May but still remained in negative territory year-over-year according to the latest S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices. The difference in year-over-year prices was the smallest in 18 months.
Twelve of the 20 MSAs reported year-over-year increases in home prices with Phoenix continuing to truly rise from the ashes for yet another month, posting the largest year-over-year increase in home prices of 11.5 percent. It was the fifth consecutive month that Phoenix has posted the highest year-over-year increase in the Indices.
Following Phoenix were Minneapolis (+4.7 percent) and Dallas (+3.8 percent).
Despite a monthly increase of 4.0 percent, Atlanta once again found itself with the largest year-over-year decline of 14.5 percent. Far behind Atlanta were Las Vegas (-3.2 percent and Chicago (-3.0 percent).
In year-over-year results, the 10-City Composite was 1.0 percent lower than in May of 2011 while the 20-City Composite was 0.7 percent lower than a year earlier. It was the smallest difference in prices in 18 months.
Compared to May, both the 10-City and 20-City Composites were up by 2.2 percent. It was the second consecutive month that monthly home prices have increased.
Not accounting for inflation, average home prices across the United States are back at the same levels they were in the spring and summer of 2003.
From their peak in June/July 2006, index levels for both the 10-City and the 20 City Composites have declined almost 33 percent.
Four MSAs, Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit and Las Vegas, continued to see average prices that are below their January 2000 levels.


text:
Margaret McCallum
joyful living fearless dying
Clutter-Clearing
Care of the Soul
Accompanying People Who Are Dying
Māori traditions influence Pākehā (European) practices
Arranging a funeral – a guide to what we can do ourselves
A care home where dying is just as important as living
Considering one's own death
Concerns about funeral practice
Māori traditions influence Pākehā (European) practices: an interview with Barry Brailsford
How shall we begin, then?
Early on, when I was drawing up a list of people I wanted to speak with, your name came up, not because I know anything of you in relation to death, but maybe it's about your connection with the natural cycles of life, and for me birth and death are part of that.
So I'm really just interested in any thoughts you have about life and death, and how we live and how we die.
Cushla: Not just little topics!
No, not just little topics. I've never been into little topics.
Any particular questions?
I am interested in what people come up against, in the society around them, in relation to death and dying, and how their work, and their thinking, and their living, have perhaps been inspired by their desire to take a different stance around death.
Well, I've had a wee think about what you're doing – what your journey is and what you're writing – and one of the things that has struck me in the last twenty years or more is the change in our society around how we handle our dead. I think that's shifted enormously. For a long time there was a Māori* way of handling it and a Pākehā* way and they were very different. I look back to the death of grandparents and uncles and aunts and the fact that they died in hospital and an undertaker arrived and took them away and you didn't see them again until an appointed time in the funeral parlour. And you were ushered in and ushered out … end of story.
That's so different from the Māori tangi* with the departed brought to the marae* where family and friends gather to sit beside them day and night. That's embracing death, as opposed to leaving it with an undertaker. I see quite a marked change around that. We are now creating a culture that's a New Zealand culture, with many dimensions I applaud.
The Māori way is very personal and family-oriented. There is an openness about expressing feelings. There are protocols that help us express loss and the honouring of the dead – be it with tears or through stories about the person and the family. And there is a place for healing through laughter. And that's all wrapped around nurturing the people who come: welcoming them formally, acknowledging their journey, and providing food and shelter.
Then when you get in to the burial itself, the haka* of farewell can be so powerful it moves you beyond tears. It captures a unity of spirit, a wairua* that embraces the past and the future. So there are protocols that have been tried and trusted and true through many generations. There's nothing artificial about them; they're very heartfelt and real.
That's all becoming part of our lives. More and more people are bringing their dead home. That's wonderful! We did it for my Dad. His mates came and sat with him, had a beer and watched a one-day cricket match on TV. So I think we are learning to say goodbye in different ways. There's a greater willingness to be open to change. It's happening around other things too. That's really a hopeful thing about the kind of world we're starting to create – our own New Zealand culture. Of course, the Irish wake and Scottish traditions are ancient practices that help influence this change. There are old customs, ways of doing things that we can polish up and use again today. There are truths we have to learn and relearn each generation.
I think the indigenous cultures have, often at huge cost, kept the sacred sacred. In the Western world we've tended to hand that over to the Church to care for it on our behalf. Sometimes they handled it poorly. Today we are taking responsibility for attending to the sacred, taking it into our own hands. That's just one dimension of the change I see in our society, and I think it's significant. We are finding new ways to honour the departed and learning to embrace death in a different way – to actually see it in a whole different context, rather than hiding it away.
I've attended a number of church funerals where we are getting away from the idea that the person who is at the centre of everything is the minister, who is asked to give a eulogy about someone he's never met. We are opening up to the families, to sharing, to be truly involving those who mourn in closing the circle of life in a good way. That's a promising, lovely thing.
Not very long ago we received word that a friend had a very aggressive cancer and was dying. We'd known him for quite a few years, but more and more he was retreating from society, even though he had really good practices in his life. He became more and more consumed by fear, by the conspiracy theorists who dominate certain parts of the internet. It had all become a terrible burden. We were in the South Island and too far away to help him but many dear friends gathered close in his last three months. When we arrived he only had a couple of weeks to go, and we wondered how he would be at that time of his journey.
We were told that on hearing his cancer was terminal, he changed – he let all of that fear go and became a delight to be around – that shift was huge. He was asleep when we visited him in the hospice so we just sat for quite a long time; it was enough just to be there. When I realised a thoughtful person had left a big pad and biro and written a wee message to him, I wrote him a few words. Eventually we left, and it was the next day that another friend sent us a little text saying… "Loved to have your words. I read them out to him because he came around and he was really very focused and alert, so I read him the words. He just sat there with a big smile on his face and said, 'Far out!'"
And so, it's a big journey, but I think life has got phases. An old Māori elder whom I was very close to, sent me a message when he had a week to go… "I'm walking the pounamu trail back to the stars".
So, about life being in phases – would you be willing to talk a bit about the phase of life you're in?
I think there's a phase of life that's a time when you can't do the kinds of things you used to be able to do. There's a time when you're still thinking you've got the body of a seventeen or eighteen-year old — have great stamina and energy and you can do a lot quickly and well — but that changes. You can't continue to do that. There comes a time when everything gets slower. You can't sustain that level. I can't sustain that level of writing or concentration or working. So you have to decide how you use the energy you've got. You have to get clever; you have to become a cunning old dog.
There's a lot of letting go. We have a dear friend on the West Coast who is Māori, an old one who's six months older than me.
That makes him really old!
That makes him really, really old. I always refer to him as the Old Guy. His family have white-baited in that river, for years. When six strong men arrived to carry his metal fishing stand down to the riverbank a few years back a young guy said… "Now mate, you need a wooden post up here, something to keep your hand on so you can balance on that high deck". The Old Guy got angry. He said "I've been doing this for years and I don't need a post". You guessed it! He lost his balance and fell into the river three times that season. It's a miracle he's still here. And a joy too because he is one of the most generous people we know.
Accepting change, understanding what you can and can't do, is something you have to work through. You have to adapt. It's not just adapting to the physical change; you have to make mental and psychological changes too, decide what your priorities are, where you get enjoyment from and the source of your energy. It's creative energy that excites me! In my seventy's life changed faster than I expected. But I continue to write because that renews my life.
And what are the pluses of being in the final quarter, the last phase of life?
Oh, huge pluses! You can get away with a hell of a lot, really. You don't have to worry too much about how you look, or what you do, or what people think you should do. I think for far too long in life we wonder what other people think of us, or how we look, or things like that. I've never been much of a supporter of that kind of stuff; I think it's important to be who you are as best you can. Some people spend a lifetime accommodating everyone else.
And therefore never giving us their gifts, which is incredibly sad.
It is very sad. I often speak of the six-year-old little girl who spent a lot of time drawing a picture of herself for me, very colourful and very artistic and beautifully done, just on an A4 bit of paper, but on the bottom of it she'd written, 'I'm the best at being me'. I thought wow, what wisdom coming from a child. I'm the best at being me. I think, 'Know thyself' is a pivotal question through the whole of our lives. The joy of life is in finding who you are, in terms of what really makes you who you are, what excites you, and to walk that.
I've been writing for years, and talking, about the journey. You walk the trail and the trail walks you.
I love that – both ways.
Something I like to live by, and that I've been putting there a lot for years, is… the journey is the destination. We miss so much on the way if we're driving from A to B and it's all about getting there as fast as we can and not taking in what we're passing through. There's a way of being – Maori have a great phrase for it… ma te wa. It means everything has its own space and time. I think 'You can't push the river' is another way of seeing it. It's about patience and seeing the bigger picture, about timing as opposed to galloping through time. Of course, ma te wa, that watch-and-wait stage, needs to bring you to a te wa, the moment to act decisively with energy and commitment. The elders taught me to wait for the wairua to move, and then phew! Miracles can happen in seven seconds. What do I mean by seven seconds? Well it takes seven seconds to realise they've happened!
That's good. And that brings me to a question of how do we become in touch with, how do we stay in touch with, the wairua, with spirit, because I think that's a real missing piece for many?
I think many in society today are diminished by the fact that for hundreds of years now we've taken spirit out of the world around us. In the western world the belief in one God took a strange turn. In a sense the Church made God so small that there was a denial of the creative God that is in everything around us. Maori, and the Polynesians and other aboriginal, indigenous peoples, retained the idea that there is spirit in the stone, spirit in the tree, spirit in the rainbow, the clouds, the rain, the river, the mountain and everything. But not just that, they also believe we can connect with it – understand that all are kin. We're part of it. Now it's fashionable to say All are One, but one what? What does this actually mean in our lives, our daily lives? For me it's about honouring the mana* of the birds, the mana of the rain, the mana of the river, your mana; it's the spirit within you, your spirit, that uniqueness. If we did that, there would be no war and no desecration of the land.
And we would live out our unique lives.
Because we'd have the opportunity. Seeking your truth is sometimes as simple as asking what excites you? Are you excited by water? Do you love rivers, lakes and the sea and swimming in them? Excited by forests and trees? By gardening and growing things? Do whales and dolphins call to you in a way you cannot explain? Do birds fascinate you? Are horses companions, too? Is building houses your thing, and the tools of the trade friends at hand? Do you yearn to farm the land? Is the artist in you drawn to carve and paint, and write and sing and make music? So many things reveal the truth of our journey and hidden depths within us. If we can explore what really excites us, and pursue those things that give us energy, we are sustained in remarkable ways.
But so many think that excitement is in having the latest television, or the latest iPad, or whatever. These are just things. They do not create real relationships; they are tools, and they have a limited life, a use-by date.
So it's getting to that point of examining what's within us that wants to be fed, and feeding it.
You must have heard the story about the North American Indian, a grandfather, about him and his grandson, and how there's been a terrible accident in the family, a car crash, and someone has died, and there's great grieving. And the young fellow says, 'Grandfather, how do you feel?' He's trying to grapple with his own sense of loss, and the Grandfather says, 'Well it's like I've got two wolves inside my chest that are fighting'. And the little one says, 'What are these wolves?' and he says, 'Well one wants vengeance, and the other wants healing, wants to forgive the one who's caused this'. And the little one says, 'Well, which one will win?' and the Grandfather says, 'The one I feed; the one I feed'.
Thank you for telling that story.
Yeah, we have a lot of control over attitude – it's always what we bring to the table that decides what happens. We can focus on the negative and make our lives small or revel in the miracle of life and hold hope high.
There's one other thing that comes up for me, and that's something I referred to right at the beginning. I see you as very connected with the cycle of life – it comes through your cards, and your writing – and so I wonder if you'd be willing to comment on that in relation to living and dying.
I have a dear friend who for many years has counselled those coping with loss and grief. We have lots of interesting discussions around this. One day I told him that my sister, who had lived in a world of endless pain for ten years, explained to me with calmness and certainty that one day she would take her own life. I listened; I understood the pain was becoming too severe and that the medical profession had done their best. I held close all she had shared in complete confidence. A year later she left.
My friend listened quietly and said, "Well, there's a way of looking at life, and the end of life. Life is a gift, and we have that gift, and we are that gift, and we carry that gift right through, but there comes a time when we can give it back again. We can give it back again". He said, "That's what she decided to do; it was time to give it back again. And there should not be any judgment around that. It's fine!"
Life is a gift. I have precious pounamu* that travel to many people over time. One in particular has gone to those who are coming to their last days. It's something to hold, something that's journeyed for millions of years and has an ancient past. It's played an amazing role their last days. The understanding has always been that it is gifted unto their end. Then it returns to move again.
Like with us and the gift of life.
That's lovely. I'm very appreciative, Barry.
*Glossary of Māori words
I have used the Te Aka Māori-English, English-Māori Online Dictionary, reduced to key elements for accessibility.
Māori indigenous person of Aotearoa/New Zealand
Pākehā New Zealander of European descent
tangi rites for the dead, funeral – shortened form of tangihanga.
marae the open area in front of the wharenui [meeting house], where formal greetings and discussions take place. Often also used to include the complex of buildings around the marae.
haka posture dance
wairua spirit, soul – spirit of a person which exists beyond death
mana a supernatural force in a person, place or object
pounamu greenstone/ jade, or something fashioned from
This entry was posted on December 15, 2020. Bookmark the permalink.	3 Comments
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3 thoughts on "Māori traditions influence Pākehā (European) practices: an interview with Barry Brailsford"
Anne M. deBuys says:
What a rich interview, and what wisdom Barry shares with us!
The natural world nourishes and guides the Maori in ways we Westerners would do well to study.
So many of us in "contemporary culture" have lost the deep connection to nature that can be a holding vessel for our dying-time—as well as our living-time of course!
Many thanks, Margaret, for posting this series of deep questions and their answers!
Kath Cherrie says:
Thank you for sharing the thoughts of Barry – he sounds like a fantastic guy to chat with.
I am finding it interesting to reflect on the parts I said "yeah, totally" in my head; and those parts that I thought "wow. Need to think about that." I feel I have become aware of a conversation that is happening inside of me. Thank for this gift your post has given me
Hardy Feiler says:
What a fascinating interview with Barry and I felt so expansive when I finished reading it… both to life and to death. What a simple and empowering statement Barry made "If we can explore what really excites us, and pursue those things that give us energy, we are sustained in remarkable ways." The wish to be called by the playful dolphins and to just be like the dolphins, deeply anchored in ones purpose was visceral and uplifting. Thank you Margaret and for your questions, to allow his wisdom and stories to be so heartfully and generously shared.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


While robotic systems have long been a part of industrial automation, over the last decade robots have begun to come out of their cages. There have been political and market-driven pushes for more flexible automation and the new robotic solutions emerging are more collaborative and more integrated into human workflows.
Similarly, software has moved from static declarative input-output systems to smarter more dynamic AI, where what was previously imagined in science fiction can now be found in real-world applications, such as the virtual assistants in most smart phones and in many homes.
These technological and cultural evolutions have created a need for roboticists to learn more about how to collaborate with end users, affected stakeholders, and policymakers in order to make more responsible and ethical designs.
In this workshop, we present new methods and tools for collaborative learning between those who fund, research, make, use, and regulate robots, to enhance knowledge of end users' needs, best practices, and to share skills and practical methods for interdisciplinary collaboration.
These tools are built from the data collected in interviews with more than 130 roboticists and affected stakeholders during REELER's ethnographic fieldwork. Many ethical and educational issues have surfaced during this fieldwork, but also during the development and testing of these collaborative learning tools (of which only some have already been debated in the ERF community).
1) Social drama, a method centering on perspective-taking, which has been tested in REELER in robotic seminars and at a major robotics company.
2) Mini-Public, a method tested in the REELER-project where human and societal concerns are elicited through deliberations on robotic technologies.
3) Buildbot, a card game which provides an innovative way for roboticists to experiment with design choices as they learn about the needs of various stakeholder.
4) A simulation wherein researchers can study how roboticists cope with technological & market uncertainty, complexity, bounded rationality, resource scarcity, etc.
5) General methods and considerations for the involvement of social scientists and their integration into technological development.
Each of the contributors will briefly present their experience using a tool for collaborative learning in real-life settings. There wil be breakout small-group discussions of the first two presentations, moderated by the workshop organizers. Following the presentation of two hands-on design games, there will be a small-group exporation of the tools. Finally, the coordinator will ask for feedback and will summarize the outcome of the workshop.


text:
RAF station 'scramble' bell, 1938
Code: M24223
H: 28cm (11")Di: 28cm (11")
Large nickel plated bronze RAF station bell with classic 'crown' top. This is the smaller of the two sizes produced, measuring approximately 28cm in height and 28cm diameter. 'F.C.O.' foundry marks on the crown top and engraved to the side with large elaborate King's crown A.M. marks and 1938 date. Complete with the original clapper fitted with a plaited bell rope which is probably a more recent addition. We have left the bell in original condition. It has relatively minor 'dings', scratches and surface wear where it has been struck over the years but has a very pleasing overall patina. Contrary to popular belief each station had more than one bell. They were not used exclusively to 'scramble' aircraft but due to various original 1940 Pathe newsreels these have become iconic symbols of the Battle of Britain and fighter pilots racing to their waiting aircraft. A must for every serious collector, these are increasingly difficult to find now, particularly with early pre-1940 dates. A superb, impressive and imposing display piece. Rather heavy even when unpacked - postage is given as a guide only and may require adjustment. As with everything we list this is guaranteed original and not one of the copies that are now surfacing. Stock code M24223.


A pale, slender hand rose to meet a narrow chin in the darkness. A soft tinkling could be heard as the owner of the hand leaned in towards the bright image hovering above a low, flat table. The tinkling stilled and was replaced by the sound of slow, confident breathing as the watcher studied the image.
A girl, nothing extraordinary about her at all, walked through a peaceful forest glade with her pet. A few moments later, another figure walked out from behind a tree. Male, short, bald and in a tidy grey one-piece uniform with spotless black shoes. In contrast, the girl herself was grubby, bare-footed and her clothes were badly in need of repair. Still, she seemed happy enough. Well-fed, lean but not too thin, well-muscled but not overly so. Long, brown hair, clear, brown eyes. Scars along her right arm, pale against sun-darkened skin, but no other disfigurements. She seemed content and not bothered by the length of the teeth of her pet. Protection, perhaps, but her pet was likewise undisturbed by the appearance of the bald man. Familiars, one might surmise of this peculiar trio.
Nothing particularly remarkable about the scene, except for the fact that this stripling of a girl was currently in control of the most destructive force in the galaxy. Her pet, one of the deadliest creatures on the surface of the planet on which she so casually stood. And the unassuming bald man was at her command, representing the control system for barrier world three-seven-two, and through him, she controlled four hundred and ninety-eight other such weapons of mass destruction, each with the ability to extinguish five stars and their associated planetary systems.
No, this was anything but unremarkable. Even though everything about her conveyed a sense of ease, of youth, of… innocence, perhaps. And yet she had come out of nowhere to become First of Threes. Very troubling. Questions were being asked, as yet unanswered.
Perfectly shaped black eyebrows met in a frown above a pair of olive-green eyes as the scene unfolded. The watcher sat for several minutes, absorbing the silent scene.
When the small bald man disappeared in the blink of an eye, the pale hand separated from the chin. Two slender fingers made a flicking, twisting motion, and the scene swiftly played backwards. A single finger rose and the scene stopped, then resumed playing once more. A third finger twitched, and the conversation became audible for the fourteenth time.
Pale fingers twitched, and the scene froze.
Innocence could be simulated, intentions masked.
The pale hand returned to the narrow chin. Continued surveillance was indeed warranted, the watcher's sources were correct in that regard. A motion from the other hand plunged the room into darkness as the image of the girl was replaced with a swirling image of the galaxy.
One bright yellow symbol in a long chain of chartreuse pearls.
One too many. They should all be a pleasant, satisfying green, with no traces of yellow at all.
With a flick of the wrist, the galaxy disappeared, and the lone seated figure contemplated the darkness in silence.
Who was this Taylor Alice Neeran?


text:
Magira ist eine Fantasy-Welt, die seit 1966 von der Fantasy-Vereinigung FOLLOW (Fellowship Of The Lords Of The Lands Of Wonder) entwickelt wird. Die Welt Magira liegt unter anderem dem Rollenspiel Abenteuer in Magira und einem Romanzyklus von Hugh Walker zugrunde. Das Ewige Spiel, eine kontinuierliche Spielrunde des Strategiespiels  Armageddon, spielt ebenfalls auf dieser Fantasywelt. Ursprünglich basierte auch das Rollenspiel Midgard auf Magira.

Aufbau der Welt Magira

Ursprünglich bestand Magira aus mehreren Kontinenten, die um ein Binnenmeer herum angeordnet und vom Endlosen Ozean umgeben sind. Die Welt enthielt viele Länder und Kulturen, die unterschiedlichen Vorbildern aus Antike und Mittelalter  nachempfunden sind. Dabei entspricht die geographische Anordnung der einzelnen Länder auf dem Urkontinent Magira in groben Zügen der geographischen Anordnung der Vorbildkulturen in der realen Welt. So liegt beispielsweise das dem frühmittelalterlichen Britannien ähnliche Land Albyon im Nordwesten Magiras, so wie das reale Britannien im Nordwesten der im Mittelalter bekannten Welt liegt.
Aufgrund der Vergrößerung des Vereines und immer neuer Kulturen wurden im Laufe der Jahrzehnte mehrere weitere "Welten" hinzugefügt, die über den "Endlosen Ozean" miteinander verbunden sind. So gibt es die Yddia oder "Westliche Welt", die Estliche sowie eine kleinere aus vielen Inseln bestehende "Randwelt" und einen Pol. Die Nähe zu realen irdischen Vorbildern wurde dabei immer mehr verlassen, inzwischen existieren auf der Welt Magira auch Zwergenreiche, Elfenwelten, geflügelte Humanoide, finstere Horden, Gestaltwandler u.v.m.

Die Erstauflage des Regelwerks von Jürgen Franke Empires of Magira erschien 1977 im Format A5 und hatte eine Auflage von 20 Stück. Der Eigenverlag nannte sich Abenteuerrunde Gbr.

Magira und Midgard

Das Rollenspiel Midgard wurde von den FOLLOW-Mitgliedern Elsa und Jürgen Franke entwickelt und war zunächst in Magira angesiedelt. 1987 erfolgte jedoch aus lizenzrechtlichen Gründen die Trennung, und für Midgard wurde eine neue Welt, die Welt Midgard, entwickelt. Diese Welt ist in ihrer Konzeption Magira sehr ähnlich, so dass vorhandene Charaktere, Schauplätze, Abenteuer und Kampagnen leicht übertragen werden konnten.

Das Jahrbuch Magira

Magira ist zugleich der Titel eines Fantasy-Jahrbuchs, in dem insbesondere Buchbesprechungen, Interviews mit deutschen und ausländischen Autoren und sekundärliterarische Artikel erscheinen. Ein kleiner Storyteil beinhaltet Werke unterschiedlicher Autoren, die sich zum überwiegenden Teil nicht mit Magira auseinandersetzen. Von daher ist der Titel des Jahrbuches etwas irreführend. 2015 wurde das Magira eingestellt.

Weblinks

Einzelnachweise

Rollenspielwelt
Fantasy-Welt

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The OECD's latest Economic Survey of Switzerland, to be published on Thursday 21 November 2013, assesses the country's strong recent performance, its short-term outlook and the policy challenges it faces in the longer term. The Survey also looks at what Switzerland can do to meet environmental targets while maintaining energy security, to boost productivity and to better integrate women into the workforce.
The global economic crisis has undermined trust in government. Today only four out of ten citizens in OECD countries say they have confidence in their national authorities. Not surprisingly, trust declined in the countries hit hardest by the crisis, such as Ireland, Greece, Slovenia and Portugal.
Improving France's competitiveness is essential to boost the economic growth needed to create jobs and allow citizens and businesses to develop their full potential, according to a new OECD report.
The global economic crisis has shaken public confidence in governments. The OECD's latest Government at a Glance report looks at what governments can do to improve their effectiveness and efficiency while meeting the needs of citizens. It provides a dashboard of more than 50 indicators measuring government performance across the 34 member countries of the OECD.
Individual secondary schools in England will from next year be able to take a version of the OECD's PISA test in order to benchmark themselves against the world's best education systems.


text:
Falcons beat Bucs, clinch NFC's No. 5 seed
Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner (33) runs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber (20) during the first half on Sunday in Atlanta. - photo by Associated Press
ATLANTA — Michael Turner and the Falcons didn't want to settle for just making the playoffs.
They wanted momentum and the best seed possible.
Hoping for a fast start, the Falcons set a team record with 42 first-half points, including two touchdown runs by Turner, and Atlanta cruised to a 45-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday to clinch the No. 5 seed.
Julio Jones caught two touchdown passes in a span of 26 seconds in the first quarter as the Falcons gave the Buccaneers their 10th straight loss.
"We didn't want to come down to the wire, backing into the playoffs," Turner said.
The Falcons were motivated by two blowout losses — 48-21 to Green Bay in last year's playoffs and 45-16 at New Orleans last week.
"Getting embarrassed like that last year, that's not who we were," Turner said. "We just wanted another chance."
The Falcons (10-6) and Detroit (10-6) are the NFC wild cards. Atlanta, which beat Detroit on Oct. 23, won the tiebreaker with the Lions for the more favorable seeding. The Falcons will play at the winner of Sunday night's Dallas-New York Giants game in the first round of the playoffs.
"We wanted to play our final regular-season game with a lot of intensity and energy, and I think we did that in all three phases," Falcons coach Mike Smith said.
Josh Freeman threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in the first half as the Buccaneers (4-12) closed their season with their 10th straight loss, leaving the status of coach Raheem Morris in doubt.
"If I was in the business of working out my future, I wouldn't be coaching," Morris said. "I'm going to go to work tomorrow until they tell me to stop."
The Falcons led 42-0 when they began resting some starters, including quarterback Matt Ryan and Turner, late in the first half.
"We had opportunities the week before and just didn't make the plays," Ryan said. "Today, we made the plays and I think that's what we needed moving forward."
Ryan was 6 of 9 for 106 yards, including touchdown passes of 17 and 48 yards to Jones in the first quarter.
Tampa Bay, which finished 10-6 last season and started 4-2 this season, is left with its longest losing streak in one season in 34 years. The Buccaneers also lost 10 straight in 1977. They lost 11 straight between the 2008 and '09 seasons.
"This is not the season we wanted or expected, but we will need to rededicate ourselves and get ready for this offseason," Morris said.
Turnovers were a problem for the Buccaneers all season. Freeman began the day tied for the league lead with 19 interceptions before completing 31 of 45 passes for 274 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
With Atlanta leading 42-0, Freeman threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Dezmon Briscoe with about 2 minutes remaining in the first half. Freeman threw a 5-yard TD pass to Briscoe in the fourth quarter.
Tampa Bay's other touchdown came on Elbert Mack's 40-yard interception return against Falcons' backup Chris Redman in the third quarter.
Turner ran for 172 yards and two touchdowns, including an 81-yard scoring run late in the first half. The score capped the Falcons' run of six unanswered touchdowns.
The Falcons led 21-0 after the first quarter and then put the game away with three more touchdowns in the second quarter.
The strong showing was important for the Falcons. Last week's loss at New Orleans was the worst in four seasons with Smith.
"The main thing we wanted to do was flush out of our system last week," tight end Tony Gonzalez said.
The Falcons announced before the game Gonzalez, 35, has signed a one-year contract extension, ending speculation he might retire after this season.
The Falcons had the No. 1 seed in the playoffs last year before losing to the Packers.
Despite the team's lower seed, Gonzalez said the Falcons are prepared for a longer postseason run.
"Honestly, I've said it all year: I think we're a better team than we were last year," Gonzalez said.
Rookie Jacquizz Rodgers scored on a 1-yard run for his first career touchdown to start the Falcons' scoring. Rodgers lost a fumble at the Tampa Bay 2 in the fourth quarter.
After Ryan's first TD pass to Jones, Dominique Franks' interception on Tampa Bay's first down gave the ball back to Atlanta.
On first down from the Buccaneers 48, Ryan again threw to Jones, who fought off safety Tanard Jackson for the catch. Jones then jumped up from the turf, hit cornerback E.J. Biggers with a stiff-arm and then dragged Biggers into the end zone.
Turner had two touchdown runs and Curtis Lofton returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Matt Bryant kicked a 20-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter after the Buccaneers were stopped on fourth down at their 10.
NOTES: Ryan passed Jeff George for the Falcons' most yards passing in a season. George threw for 4,143 yards in 1995. Ryan has 4,177. ... Turner has 50 rushing touchdowns in four seasons with the Falcons, passing Gerald Riggs' team record of 48. ... WR Roddy White also celebrated a milestone, passing Terance Mathis for the most yards receiving with the Falcons. Mathis had 7,349 yards from 1994-2001. White finished the game with 7,374 for his career. ... By playing in his 225th game with Tampa Bay, CB Ronde Barber passed Derrick Brooks for the team record.
Ryan glad to have extension settled ahead of training camp
Falcons fall in Philly
Ryan back with team after day off for 'personal matter'


More diplomas earned. More doors opened.
When it comes to educational success, you might say that Cook County has the blueprint, excelling from the ground up with new educational facilities as well as higher standards at every level.
Ready for college and careers.
Excellently appointed facilities are just the beginning of the Cook County story. It's also the commitment to standards and accountability that puts our schools ahead: in 2013, Cook County High School earned the top score out of the 17 schools in the Coastal Plains Region on the Georgia Department of Education's College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI). In addition to the region's top CCRPI, Cook County's high school graduation rate is 9% above state average.
Top scoring on every field.
Naturally, reaching this level of quality requires support at the middle school, elementary and primary level, where solid foundations are made. And at all levels, twenty-first century curricula and strategic instructional support are key to achievement, while extracurricular activities remain a vibrant and valued part of school life. Cook County students score on athletic fields and in the classroom, engaging in all forms of the arts. And while they "walk the stage" on graduation night in higher percentages, they're also ready for the world stage of economic competition, with the knowledge and skills to excel in any field.


Winstrol is one of the most effective anabolic steroids that can be used for cutting, muscle mass gain and weight loss. However, it is usually stacked with other steroids to improve its effectiveness depending on the individual needs of the user. An appropriate Winstrol cycle usually lasts between 8 and 12 weeks. You should avoid Winstrol cycles that are shorter than 8 weeks or longer than 12 weeks they are ineffective. The shorter cycles do not give the steroid enough time to get the maximum benefits while longer cycles do not increase the benefits. It is available as a liquid that can be taken through an intra-muscular injection or in pills that can be easily swallowed.
Winstrol has a longer active life and can last up to two days in the body and thus, you do not have to split your dosage to maintain stable levels in the blood. In fact, the dose can be taken in one sitting without worrying about the time of the day. However, most people like taking it before meals to avoid any stomach upsets. If you are opting for oral Winstrol cycles, you should take a daily dose of 40 to 80mg or 50 to 100mg if you are going for injectable Winstrol – http://www.ncrtec.org/winstrol-cycles/. Beginners should always start with a low dosage to let their body get used to the steroid.
Winstrol can be stacked with other steroids to help individuals achieve their fitness objective quickly. It is ideal for various reasons such as cutting, weight loss, and dry muscle gains. To get the best from your Winstrol stack, you should stack it with a testosterone or an agent that will help increase testosterone. It is ideal for any level of experience as it carries a mild nature as compared to other anabolic steroids. Furthermore, unlike other steroids, Winstrol allows individuals to increase the amount of steroid they are taking without increasing the risk of side effects.
When stacking, the standard 50mg per day is usually enough for any stacking plan. However, a low dosage of about 25mg every other day can provide a significant boost for athletic performance. The only reason why you should only consider amounts greater than 50mg per day is in the case of competitive bodybuilding. The competitive bodybuilding Winstrol stacks can include up to 100mg a few days prior to the competition but it should not exceed 14 days. It is also important to note that although Winstrol can be stacked with almost any anabolic steroid, but some are more effective than others.
Winstrol is also one of the few steroids that can be used by women without increasing the risk of side effects. It has a lesser degree of the harsh virilizing nature that is common with anabolic steroids. Some of the androgenic steroids that can be stack with Winstrol for dry mass gains include Dianabol, Deca-Durabolin, Boldenone, Nandrolone, Parabolan, Sustanon, and Testosterone among others. For cutting purposes, you can stack it with Clenbuterol and Anavar among others. For weight loss purposes, you can stack it with Clenbuterol and Primobolan.
Whether you are a beginner or an advanced steroid user, you can stack Winstrol with any steroid for quicker results. Women can also use Winstrol without worrying about side effects as long as they adhere with the recommended dose. Some of the products women can stack it with include Primobolan Depot and Anavar among other well-suited steroids. The stack cycle should also be accompanied with exercises and the right diet.


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Goodguys' 2021 Truck of the Year Early Competition Already Underway!
*Goodguys 2019 Truck of the Year Early shown above – Danny Bouchard's 1958 Ford F100 – Built by Korek Designs
That's right! Each year, Goodguys heads out on the road in search of America's finest pre-1960 tricked-out truck! And when we find it, we crown it, honor it and give it the title of Goodguys / Scott's Hot Rods Truck of the Year Early! It's all part of our annual Goodguys "Top 12" cars and trucks of the year campaign and it's one of the hottest awards programs in the country!
So how can you get involved and get your truck on the radar for this prestigious award? Well here's the lowdown…
1. First off, your truck has to meet the following criteria to be considered for the award:
Must be a show-quality, trick-out truck through 1959 vintage
The truck must attend a minimum of (1) of the remaining (8) "Regional Finalist" events listed below and park in either the Trick Truck Corral or Builder's Choice special parking area during Saturday of the event, or be displayed in the Indoor Car Show area throughout the weekend (when applicable) to have a chance to be selected as a "Regional Finalist".
2. So how are "Regional Finalists" selected?
"Regional Finalist" that fits the award criteria will be selected from each of the events listed below will be selected by the Goodguys awards staff. This method benefits participants from all regions of the country – east to west, north to south – instead of limiting the award to a certain region and certain event.
3. What events can I compete to be a "Regional Finalist" at in 2021?
30th Autumn Get-Together, November 9 & 10, 2019 Pleasanton, CA (selected finalist shown below)
29th Speedway Motors Heartland Nationals, July 3-5, 2020 Des Moines, IA (selected finalist shown below)
11th LMC Truck Spring Lonestar Nationals, March 12-14, 2021 Fort Worth, TX
6th Griot's Garage North Carolina Nationals, April 23-25, 2021 Raleigh, NC
15th BASF Nashville Nationals, May 28-30, 2021 Nashville, TN
30th Speedway Motors Heartland Nationals, July 2-4, 2021 Des Moines, IA
34th West Coast Nationals, August 27-29, 2021 Pleasanton, CA
23rd Colorado Nationals, September 10-12, 2021 Loveland, CO
28th Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals, September 24-26, 2021 Fort Worth, TX
20th Meguiar's Del Mar Nationals, October 1-3, 2021 Del Mar, CA
*31st Autumn Get-Together, November 13 & 14, 2021 Pleasanton, CA*
*Finalist chosen at this event will be added to the list of 2022 Truck of the Year Early finalists
Shaun Salehyan's 1937 Studebaker – 2019 Autumn Get Together
Tin Mans Garage's 1936 Willys – 2020 Heartland Nationals
4. And how about the overall winner? How is it selected?
Once all (10) "Regional Finalists" are selected, a team of Goodguys staff and select non-partisan builders and manufacturers from across the country will vote on and select the overall winner of the award.
Overall Winner will be announced on Friday, October 8th, 2021
5. What does the winner receive for having the coolest 1959 and older truck in the country?
National bragging rights
Beautiful billet aluminum award from Goodguys
RaceDeck garage flooring
Car Care products from Meguiar's
10×10 E-Z UP canopy
Full color feature in the Goodguys Magazine and Yearbook
Special feature on FuelCurve.com
Exclusive invitation and travel accommodations to the season-ending Goodguys 24th Southwest Nationals in Scottsdale, AZ where all of the "Top 12" cars and trucks of the year will be on display
2018 Winner – Danielle Lutz's 1934 Ford – Built by Jason Graham Hot Rods
2017 Winner – Ed Sears' 1941 Ford – Built by One-Off Rod & Custom
2016 Winner – Fred & Jane Strukman's 1936 Ford – Built by Hot Rods by JSK
2015 Winner – Robert Anderson's 1940 Ford – Built by Legens Hot Rod Shop
Steven Bunker
Director of Media & Marketing
A lifelong car kid, Steven grew up around drag strips – his name may sound familiar because his grandfather is Bob Bunker, a Pro Mod pioneer who piloted the "Folsom Flash" '55 Chevy from the '70s through the '90s. Steven's father, Bob Bunker Jr., heads up Bunker Motorsports and is a regular in the West Coast racing scene, building chassis and race cars for more than 30 years. With genetics like that, it's no wonder Steven has a passion for both cars and motorsports. In addition to helping his father and honing his fabrication skills at Bunker Motorsports, Steven began shooting photos at the drag strip and capturing the action with his Canon camera. He is now artfully crafting stories around the awesome machines at the shows, as well as the men and women behind them. When he's is not on the road covering events, he spends his downtime out on the water fishing, building his 1962 Chevy Nova, or cruising his 1987 GMC Suburban.
5 Ladies, 5 Months, 1 T Bucket Build
1962 Dodge Pickup: Mopar-Powered Show Winner
1949 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible: Sweet Pearl
1933 Ford Coupe: Bill Herb's White Hot Racer
Goodguys 2021 Scotts Hotrods T...
Goodguys' 2021 Truck of the Ye...
Goodguys' 2021 Muscle Car of t...


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You are here: Home / Features / PS4 vs Xbox One: Sony's in Trouble, Not Microsoft
PS4 vs Xbox One: Sony's in Trouble, Not Microsoft
November 7, 2014 by Sara
It's time for video game fanboys to stop pretending to be business people. For the past year of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One's commercial existence, die-hard fans of both consoles have engaged in an endless, tireless and frankly meaningless argument about everything related to "PS4 vs. Xbox One." The latest volley says Microsoft's Xbox One is a lost cause. That's an asinine argument. Sony's in trouble, not Microsoft.
It's a fool's errand to say Sony doesn't have the upper hand at this point in time. The company has more than 13.5 million PS4 sales in the past year, while Microsoft is rumored to have sold less than half that many Xbox Ones. Microsoft hasn't reported official sales figures since the first part of 2014.
Sony has also dominated the "free games" circuit for its most-profitable members, offering PS4 owners who belong to PlayStation Plus three free games in November 2014. It's the third consecutive month Sony's offered PS4-owning PS Plus members three free games. Conversely, Microsoft's similar Xbox Games with Gold November 2014 lineup offers one new game to Xbox Live members, continuing a troubling tradition of not equaling Sony's generosity.
In addition, Sony's nabbed some high-profile exclusives, most notably timed exclusivity on some Destiny DLC. Though Destiny itself hasn't been the mega hit Sony (and Activision) had hoped it would be, the agreement still has political clout.
And yet over the long term, none of that may matter. Microsoft is frankly in a better position.
Sony had all the cards in its favor going into the PS4 launch. Microsoft had some major PR hurdles to overcome (always-online functionality, no used games, etc.), the Xbox One had a higher MSRP due to Kinect, and Sony grossly outspent Microsoft in advertising while Microsoft devoted resources to rebuilding trust among the gaming community.
In case you hadn't noticed, this is now November 2014. Those tables have begun to turn.
Microsoft has implemented an Xbox One price drop, the company's giving away games for free in a handful of great bundles, its partnership with the NFL is starting to pay off, and Xbox One ads are flooding the airwaves of ESPN and the major networks like Sony's ads were last year, while Sony's ads are appearing with much less regularity.
Some would argue this is all a sign of desperation by Microsoft. Considering the hole in which Xbox One sales results find themselves, there's some logic in connecting those dots. But more than likely it's an opportunistic and proactive decision to win the "marathon" as Microsoft has called it rather than "the sprint."
While Sony basks in high PS4 sales results, the number of must-have exclusives Sony's negotiated is surprisingly small considering the console's 13-million-plus install base. Furthermore, Sony suffered a massive $806 million loss during the previous quarter. And that was lower than investors had initially feared.
By comparison, Microsoft announced revenue of $23.20 billion in Q3.
Those revenue results have a direct relationship to video games, and it's foolish to think otherwise.
Sony Corp. has seemingly become reliant on the PlayStation 4 to keep its company afloat. If the company is struggling in other realms, particularly its mobile division, can gamers honestly expect Sony Computer Entertainment America to pursue a PS4 price drop any time soon? Can the PlayStation faithful really expect SCEA to pay handsomely for future third-party exclusives when its parent needs every ounce of profit from its PS4 unit?
On the flip side, Microsoft has a mountain of cash, and while new Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has taken some dramatic cost-cutting measures, he's clearly shown a willingness to invest in Xbox. Price cuts? Check. New partnerships that Sony doesn't have, like EA Access? Check. Giving away games in new holiday bundles? Check.
The adage in Las Vegas is you have to have money to make money. Microsoft has it. Microsoft is spending it. And by all accounts Microsoft will continue to spend it to close the sales gap. The goal, of course, is to win the PS4 vs Xbox One battle.
Does Sony need to spend right now? Not really. The PS4 has a healthy lead at this point in time. But this console generation is expected to last at least as long as the previous one, and we're just beginning Year Two. It's short-sighted to look at the current state of affairs and not think Microsoft is in a better long-term position. Sony is hemorrhaging cash, while Microsoft's making it. Sony's reliant on PS4 to make as much profit as possible, while Microsoft's other divisions are subsidizing Xbox to a certain degree.
Taking all that into consideration, it really feels like Sony's in trouble, not Microsoft. Sony's winning today's sales battle, but the evidence seems to point to Microsoft winning the long-term war.
Filed Under: Features, PS4, Xbox One


Typos and misspellings in code can be difficult.
Finding them and keeping them out takes vigilance. Lots of mental energy wasted.
The misspellings tool written in Python can be installed using pip install misspellings.
This tool looks for commonly misspelled words in source code. It has a built-in list of common spelling mistakes.
Example: List all Ruby files and pass each of them to the misspellings tool, with the -f option (file list) set to - for standard input.
strftime() and the misspelling thereof has sucked up hours of my life.


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The southernmost tip of the rameswaram island is called Dhanushkodi. It was completely washed away by a cyclone in 1964. But the Kothandaramasamy Temple here remains intact. It is 18 KMs way from Rameswaram can be reached by road. A popular belief is that, it is where Vibishana a brother of Ravana surrendered before Rama. Dhanushkodi has a fine beach, where Sea surfing is possible.
Hovercraft at Dhanushkodi
Dhanushkodi Church ruins
ride at Dhanushkodi
Madurai is the nearest Airport which is around 175 km distance from Rameswaram. Thoothukudi is another airport which is around 195 km distance from Rameswaram.
Rameswaram has a railway station which is around 1.3 km from the Ramanathaswamy temple.
Rameswaram has a Bus stand which is around 2 km from the Ramanathaswamy temple. You can find public / private transport from Rameswaram.


AppLock theme - Christmas for windows 10 usability This theme required AppMaster V1.2, please download AppMaster at first: http://goo.gl/z6Th5N What do App Master do? ?Lock: Lock & protect your Apps, messages, and other chatting tools with a simple pattern/password.
AppLock theme - Fruit for windows 10 usability This theme required AppMaster V1.2, please download AppMaster at first: http://goo.gl/z6Th5N What do App Master do? ?Lock: Lock & protect your Apps, messages, and other chatting tools with a simple pattern/password.
AppLock Theme - Night for windows 10 usability This theme required AppMaster V1.2, please download AppMaster at first: http://goo.gl/z6Th5N What do App Master do? ?Lock: Lock & protect your Apps, messages, and other chatting tools with a simple pattern/password.
AppLock theme - Spatial for windows 10 usability This theme required AppMaster V1.2, please download AppMaster at first: http://goo.gl/z6Th5N What do App Master do? ?Lock: Lock & protect your Apps, messages, and other chatting tools with a simple pattern/password.


text:
> Muslim Profiling
> Government Surveillance
> Abusive Immigration Practices
Wiwa et al v. Royal Dutch Petroleum et al.
Three lawsuits filed on behalf of relatives of murdered activists who were fighting for human rights and environmental justice in Nigeria. The lawsuits are brought against the Royal Dutch Petroleum...
Al-Quraishi, et al. v. Nakhla and L-3 Services
Al Quraishi v. Nakhla and L-3 Services challenged corporate impunity for torture and other war crimes at Abu Ghraib and other prisons in Iraq.
Saleh, et al. v. Titan, et al.
A challenge to corporate impunity for torture at Abu Ghraib prison.
CCR v. Obama (formerly CCR v. Bush)
A case challenging warrantless surveillance by the NSA
United States v. Mehanna (Amicus)
CCR filed an amicus ("friend of the court") brief in a criminal case on appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in support of the reversal of Defendant-Appellant Tarek Mehanna's...
(-) Remove Abusive Immigration Practices filter Abusive Immigration Practices
Discriminatory Policing (10) Apply Discriminatory Policing filter
(-) Remove Government Surveillance filter Government Surveillance
LGBTQI Persecution (3) Apply LGBTQI Persecution filter
(-) Remove Muslim Profiling filter Muslim Profiling


With all of the excitement and commotion of the morning, I felt sleepy. I curled up on Belinda's pillow and fell asleep. The warmth of my fuzzy jumper and the comfortable, fluffy pillow had me in dreamland right away. Visions of candy and brightly colored eggs danced through my head as I slept. The laughter of children and the sounds of music woke me up and I sleepily stretched my chicken legs, one by one.
I hopped off of the bed and trotted into the living room where at least a dozen little kids were dancing to some crazy video on our television. When they saw me, they swarmed over to me with huge grins and screams of delight! Belinda ran to the rescue when she saw me backed in the corner. "Everybody has to be very nice to Buster. He's a lot smaller than you and me. He could get hurt and that would be terrible, wouldn't it?" explained Belinda. All of the kids were nodding their heads as they gently took turns petting me and my fuzzy chicken head. I was happy that they were not attacking me and I licked each little hand, one by one.
Once the shock of a chicken-clad Chihuahua wore off, we were all ready to take the party outside. As we headed to the back yard, the kids saw the rabbit hop by with a carrot in his mouth. They all started chasing him around the yard and he really gave them a run for their money. That rabbit was fast, but the little red haired kid was faster! He grabbed the rabbit and lay on the grass with him. Soon, the whole heap of kids was poking at the bunny, and that was fine with me!
When it was time for lunch, Belinda had a wonderful selection of things to choose from. There were bowls of salads; green, potato, macaroni, and pasta. There were hot dogs on the grill and a big bowl of macaroni and cheese. There were little Easter cakes with white frosting and a chocolate egg on top, wiggly orange carrot shaped jello, bowls of sour gummies, and a platter of hard boiled eggs. Belinda made me a little plate of goodies to munch on and it was all delicious!
After we got done eating, it was time for the Easter egg hunt. John spent the morning hiding plastic Easter eggs with prizes inside. He must have done it while I was asleep because I had no idea where they were hidden. Everybody scoured the backyard and put the eggs they found into little blue and green baskets. When everyone was done, we all sat in a big circle to count the eggs and open them. Some kids had little plastic rings, some had matchbox cars, and some had quarters. The little girl with pig-tails had the most eggs so she won the extra special prize which was a giant stuffed bunny!
As the parents came to pick up their kids, everyone gathered for a picture in front of the house with me and the rabbit. It was a super fun day and I was totally exhausted. Belinda sure knew how to throw a party! I can't wait for the next holiday!


Hi, thanks a lot. You too have a lovely blog here!
wow those are some really nice bookmarked recipes....those sandwiches look delectable.
Thanks for visiting me and also for trying this out. Thanks to Ramya as well.
I'm a big fan of these delicate cucumber sandwiches too but have always used green chutney as well. Must try them without.. Nice idea to make thin slices.
This sandwich happened to be my daughter's ONLY lunch item for 2 entire year while she was in preschool:-) everyone thought i was a lazy & bad mom as this is all they saw:-( but if i gave her anything else, it came back home!
Nice and simple sandwich Madhu. The nipattus have come out very well. The color is very good.
All the other dishes look great too!
They are called tea sandw. They serve in bite size , u ve made it exactly & perfectly! Like the savory crakers!
I would grab a basket(when it is summer here of course), grab all these delectable cucumber sandwiches and go on a nice picnic! Would you join me so that we could spend a "girlie" afternoon out?
Don't you think that it would be so cool if these little ideas could materialize? Nothing can prohibit our imaginations from running wild!
sandwiches looks yummy. All the recipes from other blogs have come out well, specially the nippattu.
That's a delicious array of dishes.
Cucumber sandwhich is looking yummy, love the thin slices..,thanx for sending..
Thank you,Uma..Thats true..These sandwiches are great for summer !
You always inspire me with your ideas of presentation!
Hey Madhu.....yummy sandwich with peeles cucumbers.....I like the mug..:D.
sandwiches look really neat & tasty.
wow.. thats refreshing! Nice entry!
Cucumber sandwiches.Yummy breakfast or an easy to go snack too.Lovely and quick recipe.
I make cucumber sandwiches once in a while..but this is a sure shot recipe.Marinating the cucumber slices and then layering it..I'm gonna try this out.I love those round sandwiches too!!
I love your cucmber sandwiches!!! I think it is great to make a tasty sandwich without having to put meat on it....there is something so satisfying about eating it.
Cucumber sandwich looks lovely . good for a diet menu.
baby corn stir fry and nippatu are yummy!
The sandwich looks so refreshing. Just got some cucumbers...the heat here in Andhra is already killing. Can't wait to have that sandwich.
I love your spice box...it's really very cute!!!
i always crave for these cucumber sandwiches when i read victorian novels:) will have to make these soon!!
i hope best for you in future.
The onion crackers look really yummy. Yeah... the cucumber sandwiches would really do some good in the summer..
Wow you've tried out so many recipe. Everything looks good.
Hola hoy he encotrado tu blog de casualidad, y tambien he descubierto vuestro famoso sandwich, hoy lo voy a preparar para la cena, seguro que me encanta, ya que me gustan todos los ingredientes que lleva, gracias!!


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Hibs striker Kevin Nisbet's agents release statement explaining why Millwall move didn't happen
John McGlynn to Falkirk: Raith Rovers boss emerges as new favourite for manager's role as talks continue
John McGlynn has emerged as the leading candidate to take over the vacant manager's role at Falkirk.
By David Oliver
2nd May 2022, 3:15pm
Updated 2nd May 2022, 3:36pm
The Raith Rovers boss, who is out of contract at the end of this season, has been prominent amongst discussions around the future Bairns boss and fits the criteria to replace Martin Rennie.
Kenny Miller took interim charge for the final games of the failed League One promotion bid, but after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Queen's Park admitted his chances of retaining the position were slim.
He said: "Continuing the work I have put in so far is what I would love to do and from the players I couldn't ask for anything more.
"The feeling however is that it is probably a no."
The Bairns are hoping to make an announcement within the next week and had narrowed their search before a Daily Record report on Monday lunchtime linked McGlynn to the job.
He is in his second spell at Stark's Park and talks have been on-going over his current deal which expires this summer, but Falkirk have now moved in as they seek an experienced, steady hand to lead them out of League One at the fourth attempt.
McGlynn denied their closest promotion bid two years when his Fife side pipped the 2019-20 title on average points, making the move into the Championship by 0.34points after the season was ended early by the covid-19 pandemic.
Raith Rovers manager John McGlynn led the club to silverware but is poised to move on as his contract expiry approaches. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group)
This term Falkirk finished a lowly sixth in League One, outside the play-off positions and below fifth-placed Alloa after a season which saw three managers – Paul Sheerin, Martin Rennie and latterly Miller – take charge.
John McGlynnBairnsFalkirkRaith RoversLeague One


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Q: Kibana dashboard doesn't display logs I'm a total newbie to elastisearch who is trying to finish this tutorial:
http://michael.bouvy.net/blog/en/2013/11/19/collect-visualize-your-logs-logstash-elasticsearch-redis-kibana/
I followed the steps but Kibana dashborad remains empty, i.e., no data is being sent to it. The logs I only want to send is data from the syslog. I tried to investigate what's wrong and found that when entering this in a browser:
http://localhost:9200/_aliases?pretty

Returns only:
{ }

Following further I learnt that this is something do with indexes or indices (sill can't figure out the difference) and most likely a config file I have is not correct.
My questions is what file needs to be re-written? Anything specific I'm missing? Any resources that would help me to understand more?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
$buildConfiguration = "release";
$publishLocation = ".publish";

 # bootstrap DNVM into this session.
#&{$branch;iex ((new-object net.webclient).DownloadString('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/aspnet/Home/dev/dnvminstall.ps1'))}

# load up the global.json so we can find the DNX version
$globalJson = Get-Content -Path $PSScriptRoot\global.json -Raw -ErrorAction Ignore | ConvertFrom-Json -ErrorAction Ignore

if($globalJson)
{
    $dnxVersion = $globalJson.sdk.version
}
else
{
    Write-Warning "Unable to locate global.json to determine using 'latest'"
    $dnxVersion = "latest"
}
#& $env:USERPROFILE\.dnx\bin\dnvm install $dnxVersion -Persistent
& $env:USERPROFILE\.dnx\bin\dnvm use $dnxVersion -r coreclr -Persistent

<#
# run DNU publish on all project.json files in the src folder
Write-Host "===== PUBLISH ====="
foreach ($project in $globalJson.projects) {
    Write-Host 'publishing project: ' $PSScriptRoot\$project\project.json
	& dnu publish $PSScriptRoot\$project\project.json --configuration "$buildConfiguration"  --wwwroot "wwwroot/dist" --wwwroot-out "wwwroot" -o "./" + $publishLocation
} #>
$sourceDir = $PSScriptRoot + "\" + $publishLocation;
Write-Host "Source Dir for Web.Config: " $sourceDir

# update web.config
Write-Host ("Updating {0}\wwwroot\web.config" -f $sourceDir)
Write-Host ("Setting dnx-version to {0}" -f $globalJson.sdk.version)
Write-Host ("Setting dnx-clr to {0}" -f $globalJson.sdk.runtime)
$webConfig = $sourceDir + "\wwwroot\web.config"
Write-Host "Web.Config: " $webConfig
$doc = New-Object System.Xml.XmlDocument
$doc.Load($webConfig)
$doc.SelectSingleNode('configuration/appSettings/add[@key="dnx-version"]').Attributes['value'].Value = $globalJson.sdk.version
$doc.SelectSingleNode('configuration/appSettings/add[@key="dnx-clr"]').Attributes['value'].Value = $globalJson.sdk.runtime
$doc.Save($webConfig)
Write-Host "web.config updated."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
JLABS @ TMC Celebrates One-Year Anniversary
Tom Luby, head of JLABS @ TMC, welcomes guests to the anniversary event.
William F. McKeon, executive vice president and chief strategy and operating officer of TMC.
Angela Shah, Texas editor of Xconomy.
Billy Cohn, M.D., vice president of medical devices for Johnson & Johnson's Center for Device Innovation.
From left, Erik Halvorsen, Ph.D., director of the TMC Innovation Institute; Albert Huang, M.D., CEO of Allotrope Medical; Diane Jooris, CEO and co-founder of OnComfort; Jessica Traver, CEO of IntuiTap Medical; and Tom Luby, head of JLABS @ TMC.
See All Photos By Christine Hall | March 14, 2017
Johnson & Johnson Innovation celebrated the one-year anniversary of its JLABS @ TMC this month the way a birthday should be honored: with a big bash!
More than 100 people turned out to raise a glass to JLABS and to celebrate the Houston health care and life sciences ecosystem, as well as the entrepreneurs who have helped contribute to its growth. They heard from William F. McKeon, executive vice president and chief strategy and operating officer of TMC; Billy Cohn, M.D., vice president of medical devices for Johnson & Johnson's Center for Device Innovation; and Angela Shah, Texas editor of Xconomy.
Since opening at the Texas Medical Center in March 2016, JLABS @ TMC now hosts 30 companies. In addition, the anniversary comes just after the announcement of Tom Luby as the new head of JLABS @ TMC.
Luby, along with Erik Halvorsen, Ph.D., director of the TMC Innovation Institute, led a panel discussion with CEOs who reside in JLABS, and are also current or previous participants in the TMCx accelerator digital health and medical device cohorts. The conversation included Albert Huang, M.D., CEO of Allotrope Medical, Diane Jooris, CEO and co-founder of OnComfort, and Jessica Traver, CEO of IntuiTap Medical.
Tags | Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS, entrepreneur
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トップページ > Ask Sara! ネイティブに質問しよう > Is there any food you didn't like in the past, but now you do?
Is there any food you didn't like in the past, but now you do?
Q: Is there any food you didn't like in the past, but now you do?
A: When I was a child my mother didn't really buy vegetables. She bought canned corn, but that's about it. So I didn't ever really have fresh vegetables until I was an adult. I thought that I didn't like some of them, but it was just that I hadn't tasted them. My mother always told me that spinach was horrible, so I thought I didn't like it, but actually I like it quite a lot. I usually have spinach in my salads and sandwiches, and I often make spinach quiche. I also like beans quite a bit, but my mother did not ever serve them when I was growing up. I often cook with black beans these days. I like salad, but I never had a salad until I was about 23 years old!


text:
Roland Gunesch, född 25 mars 1944 i Mureș, är en rumänsk tidigare handbollsspelare.

Han tog OS-brons i herrarnas turnering i samband med de olympiska handbollstävlingarna 1972 i München.

Han tog därefter OS-silver i herrarnas turnering i samband med de olympiska handbollstävlingarna 1976 i Montréal.

Referenser

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Externa länkar
Sports-reference.com

Rumänska handbollsspelare
Rumänska olympiska silvermedaljörer
Olympiska silvermedaljörer 1976
Rumänska olympiska bronsmedaljörer
Olympiska bronsmedaljörer 1972
Tävlande vid olympiska sommarspelen 1972 från Rumänien
Tävlande i handboll vid olympiska sommarspelen 1972
Tävlande vid olympiska sommarspelen 1976 från Rumänien
Tävlande i handboll vid olympiska sommarspelen 1976
Män
Födda 1944
Levande personer
Personer från Mureş


I thought it only right that my second post of 2018 should be about something meaningful and deep. So naturally my thoughts turned to my hair and I pondered once again whether I should get it cut.
I first cut my hair off when I was 18 years old at college. It was the most drastic cut I've ever had; my hair was cut from waist to my jaw.
Since then I've cut my hair off two or three times, mostly to my shoulders though often I cut it an inch above a few weeks later. Inevitably I then grow my hair as long as I can bear it before cutting it again, typically 2 or so years later. Its got to the point where I can tell what year it is by how long my hair is.
My hair is now the longest its been since I was 18. I've just had 2 ½ inches cut and its still super long.
In previous years it would all be off by now, but for some reason this time around I'm more hesitant. I keep thinking I'll award myself with a hair cut if I achieve something, maybe if I keep at my ideal weight for 1 year, or if I work at getting fit and healthy for a few months, or once we've moved house. The real reason I haven't cut it off yet is because I know its more than just taking a pair of scissors to my hair. I have to learn how to style it and that is part of the problem. My straighteners haven't been turned on for over 5 years and I barely know the difference between a mousse and hairspray. I think I probably knew more when I was younger than I do now. That, or I'm just more judgemental, like a perfectionist now. Funny that, seeing as I often think that I look like I've been dragged through a bush backwards but do nothing about it.
I look at girls with long hair and it looks lovely. Flowing, wavy, hair that blows in the breeze. Not knotty like mine, hanging over my shoulders with no purpose or style in sight.
Then I look at the girls with shoulder-length lobs (long bobs), and I wish I had hair like that.
Cut – an synonym for style in my book. I keep thinking that if I did cut my hair once more that I would instantly look like that. Then I remember that nobody's hair looks like that naturally and I'd need tons of product to give it any volume, plus a 6-month course in how to use a curling wand.
I have yet to make up my mind, though I know deep down I will most likely cut my hair and grow it again in the next few years until I get to an age where long hair looks silly, or its too thin and lank and looks awful.
If anyone has any tips or tricks to style any type of hair that only takes 5 minutes to do, I would be grateful! It might make the difference to whether I cut it or keep it.
Categories Musings•Tags beauty, hair, hair and beauty, hair inspiration, hair lob inspiration, hair style tips, hair tips, how to style hair, long bob, long hair or short hair, long or lob, should I cut my hair, to cut or not?
Staying motivated to achieve a particular goal can be hard; whether its to lose some weight, get fit, eat well, read more, make time for others, the list goes on.
We put so much pressure on ourselves these days. Our working hours are longer then ever, we face difficult commutes and to top it all off we still have to do the more mundane tasks like bathing, washing, getting the kids to bed and finding time to eat. Its a wonder many of us can find the time to fit in any hobbies during the weekdays. I'm sure we all feel that we could do with an extra hour or two in the day sometimes.
I don't think it helps when we switch on to social media and see idealised lives and images. Sure the quotes and captions are designed to be inspirational, but when I'm stuck in a rut I struggle to see a way out and being confronted with motivational images and captions makes me sink even further; comparing myself to those who clearly have far more time on their hands to work for their beach body.
I go through many phases in the course of the year, each and every year. I, like many others, feel the need to eat well and healthier at the beginning of the New Year, and to try and become fitter. A general push towards wellness and having a healthy balanced lifestyle. Usually, though I'm motivated following the Christmas splurge, January is actually a hard month for me because its my birthday and one of the busiest months of the year at work. Then its February and I hate that month – rainy and miserable – I really don't want to have to trek to the gym!
I was very happy earlier this year in July when I achieved my weight-loss goal just in time for my holiday. I'd been trying to lead a healthy lifestyle since the previous August, but really stepped it up a gear in January. Unfortunately, once we returned from holiday I lost all my motivation to work out, though I did continue to try to eat healthily to maintain my weight. By September I'd cancelled my membership altogether.
And thats the point when I realised where motivation came from. It comes from within. Not from buying the latest gadget to help you achieve your goal, or from being jealous of those who are achieving their goals and trying to emanate them. Its finding something you love so you can stick with it.
Then, it dawned on me that whilst I have always wanted to be active in some way, running was just no longer comfortable for me (I have ligament problems) and that instead of doing it half-arsed I should find something else. Something that still allows me to feel like my muscles are moving, but without putting so much strain on my body.
This month, I started taking yoga and Pilates classes, one of each a week. And I have never been so excited to go to class before! Pilates satisfies my desire to try and be toned and to build up core strength using only my own body weight, and yoga helps me stretch and to improve my (apparently non-existent) flexibility. I feel the stretch and pull after each class and even in a short couple of weeks I'm noticing improvements. I can safely say, I am enjoying myself keeping active in a way that is sustainable.
To look forward to reaching your goal but being content with the journey it takes to get there. It may be a long road, but the journey is just as important as the destination.
Little and often. You don't have to completely change your life in order to achieve something. You just need to make one little change, and try and practice that everyday. Don't feel bad if you eat a pizza after promising yourself it will be another salad for dinner. Accept it, and move on. The whole day is not lost just because of one decision. Get back up and start again!
You might feel uncomfortable now, but being happy in your skin knowing you are doing what you can do, at your own pace, should bring you some peace and comfort.
We're heading in to the Christmas season now and its going to be so tempting to indulge in chocolate and all manner of sweet and savoury goodies, but a little bit of awareness goes a long way. I've decided not to deny myself any treats, but to not overeat either. I've found over the last few months that the key to maintaining my weight whilst not working out is to enjoy the naughtiness but know that I don't need to eat a whole tin of Celebrations to feel enjoyment.
Lets say positive to avoid the age-old January detox next year!
For much of my young life I was quiet; hearing all but saying very little. I wasn't loud or boisterous and hated being the centre of attention. Instead, I was softly-spoken, and would prefer to take myself off to a quiet corner to read.
Whether academically or socially, I struggled in large groups. I was a bit of a sponge and could soak up what everyone else was contributing, but felt uneasy giving my two penny's worth.
When I left school for college I really came out of my shell. I wasn't much louder but I began to be able to express my opinion. In part, and certainly with the benefit of hindsight, I realise that this had a lot to do with becoming acquainted with a much larger group of friends than I had been used to at school. Becoming 'myself' outside of college really helped my education; I had undervalued how much my own opinion could shape my learning and help me to understand and improve.
I've been working full-time for a number of years now and I've felt myself change. I've progressed and attained more than I could have imagined since I left school, but in some ways I've also regressed. It was only when I first started this blog that I realised how limited my vocabulary had become as result of my legal training. And I lamented that loss. I had excelled in English at school, both in literature and language, and was ashamed at how narrow my vocabulary had become in only a few short years.
I started this blog for a couple of reasons. Firstly, to have a forum in which to air my thoughts so that they are not all jumbled up in my head. Though, in truth, I am still struggling to commit to 'paper' what it is that I really want to say. I'm hoping that with each post I will be able to express myself further. And that leads me to my second reason; to improve on my writing skills and explore the wonderful world that is the English language.
A by-product of this blog has been a rediscovery of my love of reading. I'd lost so many years to just reading legal textbooks that in the limited down time I had I needed something light to occupy myself with, and beginning a long, complex story with heightened emotions felt draining at that time. With each novel I complete I not only feel my mind expanding, but I feel happier for it.
I will always have a love of the English language and I hope that this blog will help me to build on my communication skills.
Now that my opinion is out it is hard to reign it back in sometimes and I'm learning a whole new skill now: tact! But I guess I wouldn't be a good litigator without a bit of a bite!
The crisp clear mornings, the crunch of leaves underfoot and the coolness in the air – it must be bobble hat and mittens time again!
We are lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country. These photos were taken at Badbury Woods on the Oxfordshire border where you can enjoy many walks through the woods and across the fields.
The nights are drawing in quite quickly now. Its twilight by 4pm and dark by 5pm. I must admit – I love the early nights. I don't feel guilty coming home, getting into my pjs and having a hot cup of tea in front of the telly. Soon, we will have a log burner and I can't wait!
When we came in today I felt a bit of baking was needed. Now the house smells of doughy sweetness and Earl Grey; perfect, right?
Mix together the flour, butter and sugar. Using your fingers, rub it together until it forms a consistency similar to breadcrumbs.
Add the vanilla extract and milk and mix some more.
Lightly flour a surface and roll on the mixture to about 5mm thickness.
Cut out your shapes and place on a non-stick baking tray.
Bake for between 12-15 minutes at 180 degrees. I prefer to turn it to up 200g for the last couple of minutes as I prefer them slightly more golden, but its up to you.
Enjoy with a brew! A perfect quick treat.
Sleep is literally one of the most important things in my life. Not because I obviously need it to function, but because there's nothing quite like lying around, snuggled in a blanket all warm and fuzzy. I've found the best sleep comes after I've fallen asleep on the sofa in the evening (probably shortly after putting on a Netflix film) and then making my way up to bed in a drowsy one eye half-open state and collapsing on my bed. It only works, of course, if I've already de-make-uped and taken my lenses out otherwise I have an awful tantrum having to wake up again to do that!
I'm not as bad as the rest of my family though – my brother once fell asleep waiting for an elevator and we nearly left him behind!
I've always been a very light sleeper – I can wake up just from moving my arm, never minding turning over completely. But I've generally always found sleep easy. I could sleep most places; the car, the train, in public, it doesn't bother me.
I love an early night, staying up til the wee hours just doesn't interest me. I like to get into my pjs pretty much as soon as I get in from work, have some dinner, a cup of tea or three and then have an hour of down-time watching the telly. Whilst I'm sure I could go to bed at 8pm, the 'adult' in me insists on having some sort of evening so I usually head upstairs around 9pm unless there is an interesting post-watershed program I'm dying to watch.
On average, I reckon I fall asleep, properly fall asleep, one hour after I've gotten into bed. Say 10.30pm for argument's sake.
I'm up at 6am for work, though lately I have been stretching this out until 6.30am, and then have a mad panic because I simply must leave the house by 7am or I'll miss my train.
As that's 7 ½ hours of sleep roughly, I didn't think I was doing too badly. Many people want 8 or even 9 hours of sleep, but I imagine only a few are lucky enough to get that, especially during the working week.
The last 6 months for me have been quite bad. This weekend was the first weekend I've slept properly since April, and I certainly felt it. Back in April, I noticed that I was struggling to get to sleep and was waking up all hours of the night. I'd pop to the loo at 1am, feeling shattered but convinced my alarm was about to go off. I put it down to stress, though I couldn't figure out what. I don't get stressed that easily; I'm a lawyer and have a very stressful job per se, but I've learnt to compartmentalise my life which works well for me as otherwise I'd be worrying all the time. So if it wasn't stress as such, was I worrying about something subconsciously? Well, if I am, 6 months on and I've let to figure out what it was.
By the summer I was waking every morning without fail at 5am. A whole hour before my alarm, but wide awake nonetheless. That's the worst kind of rest – the lying there because you think you should and dreading the noise of your alarm kind of rest. I thought maybe I was getting too much sleep and waking up early as a result, but when I tried to get up I realised I was still shattered.
I tried reading in the evening before bed and had some herbal tea. It certainly helped, but as Sam is not a reader he tends to poke me or watch youtube videos in bed which distract me somewhat.
I've tried eating dinner earlier in the evening, and not eating as much; having fewer lamps on; drinking calming teas; having a lavender bath; having some peace and quiet; changing my pillows; sleeping the other end of the mattress; cuddling my stuffed bunny (don't judge). Nothing really worked for more than one night.
Its quite unnerving in a way, feeling your body going through a change you can't explain. I suddenly realised just how much I can't function without sleep, or having poor quality sleep. My headaches have increased from a few a week to pretty much everyday. I'm tired by 10am. I've taken more paracetamol in the last few months than I have in years.
Sam doesn't think that this is normal. My headaches are a concern to him, but what with my lack of sleep and inability to drink more than tea during the day (and certainly not enough to fulfil my 2 litre daily quota), I'm sure the headaches are explainable.
Last weekend I slept for 9 hours straight one night, and nearly 10 hours the next. Uninterrupted. I didn't wake once despite desperately needing the loo. I thought I'd turned a corner and my body had automatically corrected itself, but Sunday night and I was waking once again throughout the night.
Do I have insomnia? Probably not. But surviving on 5 hours sleep a night can be tough and I'm sure its going to start impacting on my work unless I can get it under control.
I'm desperate for ideas on how to get better quality sleep, and more of it. So if any of you have any tips, please share them! If its a phase, that's fine. But if I'm in it for the long haul, I may have to stock pile some Nytol.
Ask anyone if they have a problem with food, and the honest answer will probably be 'yes'. Whether its to lose weight or tone up, to meet society's expectations or just to get a decent Instagram photo, countless numbers of people will have issues with food.
My issue isn't environmental. It found me.
I'm lactose intolerant, and whilst this may seem pretty run of the mill nowadays given loads of people have some kind of GI, FODMAP, celiac problem, let me tell you it was not easy growing up with it. Being lactose intolerant was just not a 'thing' in the 90's.
I started to become sick at the age of 3 from something as mundane as a bowl of cornflakes. For the following 7 years I would vomit approximately 3 times each evening, 4-5 evenings a week or more. That means I've been physically ill more times that many people will be in the course of their whole life times. The doctors thought my mother had munchausen by proxy syndrome because they couldn't find anything wrong with me and that my mother was on some kind of attention-seeking trip. Just before my 10th birthday and very much a last ditch attempt, my mother took me to a see a private consultant miles away from our home. I can vaguely remember his kind face, crinkling with a smile as soon as he saw me. Before I had even sat down he told my mother that I was lactose intolerant and, sure enough, he was proved right. The doctor was Indian and I'm quite olive-skinned for an English person (more so when I was younger than now); nearly half the Indian population have some form of lactose intolerance and the doctor had recognised the sallowness in my skin.
It was remarkable and the diagnosis literally changed my life. Of course, now I don't remember much of what my diet was pre-age 10, but I do know it included the usual milk on cereal, milk in tea, etc.
My mother and I were fascinated that a food could do this to me.
If I have a milk product, my body starts to shut down; within 20 minutes I will become very heady, soon after I will start to sweat and then the tummy ache kicks in. Its not like being sick from a hang over or a tummy bug – then you are only sick from your stomach. With my intolerance I am sick from my small intestine which can be excruciating – everything basically has to go back the way it came from, re-enter my stomach and pick up stomach acids before coming out. Once the tummy aches start its hard to say how long it'll be before I'm physically sick, each time is different, but I will know in myself whether it will be a short process or if I'm in it for the long haul. The tummy aches cause all the energy in my limbs to be sapped and to be 're-directed' to my digestive system. I've lost count of the number of times I don't have the energy to get out of bed, or have been slumped on the bathroom floor pressing my forehead against the cold tiles. The amount of times I've cried for a towel, some water and for my hair to be tied back.
My mother and I started looking into other food groups and were surprised that the power of food can have on our bodies. This was still back in the 90's and our general understanding of food and how to stay healthy has vastly improved since then, but its always something I find myself coming back to. I watch every episode of the BBC Superfoods series with Kate Quilton and anything else that investigates the pros and cons of eating a particular food. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a health freak, but at the back of my mind there is always this subconscious nagging to eat well and to eat healthily.
Earlier in the year when I first started blogging I wrote about how I was having a bit of a health and fitness overhaul, the primary objective being to lose some weight.
I'd noticed in August 2016 that I was getting rather tubby and felt increasingly uncomfortable in my clothes. I'd put on so much weight that my work wear was straining on me and that made me lack confidence.
I joined the gym in September and just started doing some basic work outs (I used to really be into fitness so I have some idea of what to do). I admit I wasn't 100% committed, partly because, with hindsight, I was doing the same thing, day in, day out.
I would rush from the office to the gym, do 20 minutes on the cross-trainer, 10 minutes on the bike and then use some really easy assisted weights to improve muscle tone on my legs. Occasionally I'd use the rower.
Than about November time I got Instagram and came across a fitness fanatic called Kayla Itsines who advocates a wellness lifestyle, but from the comfort of your own room. I don't particularly like paying for someone to tell me how to exercise and what to eat so I've never downloaded her program, but there was enough information and videos on her Instagram feed for me to take away a few pointers. The concept of exercising without having a gym membership or running (though I am partial to the odd run) was intriguing. Although, as I understand it, Itsines builds up the intensity of her programs, it starts by telling you to do a round of exercises that involve no equipment and could be done from your living room.
I carried on with my gym membership, but decided to build in some 'floor work' to my routine. I felt so self-conscious using the mats at the side of my gym, in full view of everyone, that I started using the area where they hold classes. I quickly realised there are a lot of people like me who feel uncomfortable struggling to do a sit up in front of everyone else! I started doing a mini-round of basic exercises: 10 squats, 25 sit-ups, 25 Russian twists, 10 leg lifts, 40 cycle sit-ups (I don't know what they're called!) and some stretches.
The sit-ups were the killer. For as long as I can remember I've never been able to do a sit-up without feeling faint or sick. But I persevered and after two weeks I could do 10 sit-ups without feeling like I was going to black out and that was a real achievement for me. I would still do my time on the cross-trainer and some assisted leg weight lifts, but otherwise I focused on my abs.
Our office Christmas party was in December and I remember being able to buy a size 10 skirt because my waist had gotten smaller. I was so chuffed, even though I had not lost much weight from anywhere else. But it gave me the boost I needed to see me through Christmas and into the New Year if nothing else. From January through to June I was desperate to get back to how I'd been at university. I didn't set myself any unrealistic goals, just a target weight that I knew was achievable whilst still allowing me to have the occasional treat. I bought a couple of new figure-hugging dresses ready for our holiday in June and I was over the moon that not only could I fit into them, but I actually looked good. I was proud to be me and, for once, wanted to show off my figure rather than hide away in jeans and baggy jumpers.
I must confess that I haven't been to the gym much since we came back from holiday in July, and I stopped going altogether in August. I realised that it wasn't the fitness that I was enjoying (though being half-way toned was quite pleasing!), but rather what I was fuelling my body with. I LOVE food and I could never restrict myself from eating carbs, or having no sugar or doing some weird paleo-diet. I'm a firm believer of everything in moderation.
I've always enjoyed cooking and I'm not afraid to throw a few odd ingredients into a meal to make up for an ingredient I'm lacking, but I think I became stuck in a rut. Do you buy the same items in your food shop every week? I was. Do you cook the same meals most weeks? I was. I was watching cooking programmes and thinking 'that's great, I'll do that', but would then never get round to it. And after over-analysing my food habits I've come to the conclusion that its all to do with vegetables.
I'm extremely partial to some mushrooms, garlic, chilli, red peppers (not any other colour), green beans, a cabbage and leek mix, a few potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, tomatoes etc. It sounds a fair amount, but when I look around the supermarket shelves I realise just how many different types of fruits and vegetables are out there that I don't even consider. So, I still buy the same vegetables, but now I mix it up a little bit each week – substitute some potatoes for a butternut squash. Simple changes, but ones that excite me to come into the kitchen at the weekend to make something slightly different. I put whatever meat, fish or carbs I want with it, but planning a meal around a particular vegetable really makes it the centrepiece, rather than the add-on because I feel obliged to eat my 5 a-day!
So since August I've focused on what I'm putting in to my body and I'm hoping to maintain the weight I lost for our holiday. I've put on a couple of pounds since July, but as I've been under the weather and I was away for a week with an extremely bad diet during that time, I think that's understandable.
My parents are both vegetarian so although they allowed me to eat meat, I didn't eat very much of it and even now I probably only have meat once or twice a week, and sometimes not at all. Its just not a big part of my life.
I'm also not a pudding person. Sweet treats just don't grab me as much as the smell of a pie baking! My distaste for puds is mostly down to my intolerance as it can be very hard finding a sweet after-dinner treat that doesn't involve some form of milk, cream, custard or the like. After years of not being able to have it, I honestly don't really miss it.
I feel that I have reached a place of contentment in my life, with my food choices and with my body.
I hope to continue like this for many years to come. The satisfaction of eating right far outweighs the few minutes of eating too much cake! I'm not disillusioned – I know that life has its ups and downs and that my weight will fluctuate from over indulging some months, but I do believe that awareness is key. After all, how can you keep something in check if you don't recognise when its going wrong? I'm excited to buy vegetables and that is something to be proud of in my book. For now, I just want to focus on making my body as healthy as it can reasonably be, without denying it anything. A balance: enabling your body to let you live life to its fullest.
We move house in a few short weeks and I'm going to start growing my own vegetables. I sincerely hope this will keep me on track but as I'm not a budding gardener it might be a bit trial and error for a while!
I'm a solicitor, for my sins. Its unlikely that I'll ever write about my life as a lawyer or law generally as its bad enough doing it for a career never mind writing about it in my spare time.
I can eat a whole loaf of bread in a day. I actually did this several times at university. I love bread, especially thick cut-it-yourself slices, and I'd rather cut my left arm off than be without a toaster.
I can't touch my toes. I'm 5'10" and no amount of flexibility as a youngster could get my fingers anywhere close to my toes.
I have a 3 foot stuffed rabbit. I really want a dog, but what with Sam and I working really long hours, it just wouldn't be fair on the fluffy. One day. For now, I cuddle a stuffed rabbit.
I have a 3-year cycle with my hair. I'm in love with LOB haircuts (that's a 'long bob' for those not in the know), but literally none of my family and friends think that the cut suits me. I first cut my hair off at 18, and pretty much every 3 years since then. My hair is currently the longest its been since I was 18 – its down to my waist – and I've been pinning a lot of LOB haircuts on Pinterest lately. I've already decided that if I cut my hair off again I will donate my hair to a cancer charity. Apparently 4 inches are lost in the knotting process, so the longer the hair the better.
I hate technology. I'd quite happily throw my smart 'phone in the canal. The chap who invented e-mail is on my metaphorical hit-list.
I'd rather sit at home with a cup of tea, in my pjs, with a blanket, reading a good book than be out clubbing.
Sam is the best thing to ever happen to me. I mean, I know I'm meant to say that because he's my husband and all that, but he literally is the best person in the whole world. I'd be a very sad, angry person without him. He lights up my world in a way nobody else can. I love him with all my heart.