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Bahan and Tamwe
State Fine Arts School
Formerly: Lim Chin Tsong Palace
Address: 131 Kaba Aye Pagoda Road
Architect: Clark & Greig (contractors)
The State Fine Arts School now uses the palace built by Lim Chin Tsong on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road. Lim Chin Tsong was perhaps Burma's most famous pre-independence business tycoon. He led a flamboyant life, obvious in this eccentric five-storey residence with its wild mix of Chinese and Western architecture. The tall pagoda-like central tower rises above a main reception hall. The rooms are laid out in a star shape, reached by a central staircase. The balcony above the grand portico overlooks Yangon. In 1919, Lim Chin Tsong would have enjoyed a view stretching downtown all the way to the river. His family name is printed in Chinese above the balcony roof. A large teak wall divider, painted in red and gold and about 10 meters wide, separates the dome from the balcony area. Some of the walls feature large murals. These were painted by Dod and Ernest Procter in 1920, whom Chin Tsong met on a famous tour to London the year before. They mainly depict Chinese landscapes. As Sarah Rooney notes in her 30 Heritage Buildings of Yangon, these murals "are nicely executed but unremarkable, and contain no hint of the artistic talent the couple would exhibit in their later years".
Two heavy sets of wooden stairs lead up to a large hall
The interior was lavishly furnished and decorated. Allegedly Chin Tsong spent over 30,000 British pounds, or more than 1 million in today's money, during a shopping spree at Harrods in London. The 1924 Seaports of the Far East (also quoted in Rooney's book) described how
"the magnificence of [the house's] equipment in rare and valuable furniture, in statuary, pictures, articles of gold, silver, ivory, curious of every description and in the richness and novelty of its electrical illumination, is in keeping with (…) the carving of the woodwork, the marble floors and staircases (…) and the greatness of the perspectives of halls, corridors and noble apartments, where the old and the new, the East and the West are expressed of a harmony that is remarkable and unique".
A wooden staircase at the far end of the building connects the two main floors
Born to Chinese Hokkien parents in Rangoon in 1867, Lim Chin Tsong took over his father's rice trading business at the age of 21. Soon he would expand into many other sectors, most importantly oil. He became the main agent for the Scotland-based Burmah Oil Company, causing frequent headaches at headquarters with his creative accounting techniques. Although he could not read or write Chinese himself, his company books were written in Chinese so as to evade the control of the Scottish company. Running behind on payments, his financial fortunes often hung in the balance. The BP Archives (as BP took over Burmah Oil, company files are in its possession) state that "one week Chin Tsong would be desperately hard pressed, with the ominous word bankruptcy ringing in his ears; the next he would strike it rich with a big steamer freight — or the promise of one. On several occasions he was, said Rangoon, 'at the height of his tether, shedding copious tears;' at other times he was in the millionaire bracket, entertaining lavishly at the Rangoon race track." He died from influenza in 1923. The legend goes that when the phone company threatened to disconnect his line for non-payments, the bedridden Chin Tsong finally expired in frustration.
Chinese elements are freely mixed with classical styles
His funeral on 8 November brought out every community in Rangoon. Thousands lined the streets between his palace and the Hokkien cemetery. He was, the Rangoon Gazette wrote, "the most popular resident of Rangoon", remembered not only for his lavish lifestyle but also for his philanthropy.
After Chin Tsong's death, his wife continued to live in the palace. Perhaps due to a meagre inheritance from her husband, she lived there in poverty by 1938. The Japanese ran a radio station out of the palace during the war. The building escaped unscathed despite nearby fighting. After independence, the palace was used as a hotel and renamed the Kambawza Palace. It was also used as a ladies' hostel for students of the Institute of Economics.
Pupils attend class with open doors and windows
From 1971 to 1974, the commission that drafted the country's socialist constitution under General Ne Win used the building as its headquarters. This constitution was in force until the 1988 uprisings, then suspended, and the country went without one for 20 years. (The 2008 constitution is the source of huge public debate at the time of writing which, if nothing else, shows the political environment is freer than it has been for some years.)
A wooden stair leads up to the central tower
The palace was later repurposed as the Ministry of Culture. The minister's office was at the top of the tower. Following the government's move to Naypyidaw in 2005, the State Fine Arts school became the only remaining tenant, leaving much of the building unused and in need of repair. Fortunately, Lim Chin Tsong's palace received heritage status in September 2014. It is expected to receive a full renovation with government funds. Its heritage status may herald a public use for the building.
Chin Tsong's legacy is bound up in other iconic buildings around the city. He was a (popular, naturally) alumni of St Paul's High School, today's BEHS 6 Botataung. He also owned the Rangoon Turf Club, today's Kyaikkasan Horse Race Course.
by Manuel Oka
Singapore Myanmar Vocational Training Institute
Formerly: Technical High School
Address: 123 Natmauk Road
Architect: Raglan Squire
This simple, elegant school building lies in a sorry state today, although the Singaporean government plans to renovate it. Its history is not well known but tells of a time when, despite all its post-independence problems, Burma's future looked bright. Technical education for the young generations was a top priority of the new government and, thanks to extraordinary investments at the time, this high school became the country's pride and joy and the top vocational institution in Southeast Asia.
The school is a large, low-rise complex, with the main building standing just off Natmauk Road. The British architect, Raglan Squire, does not say much about it in his autobiography—perhaps because he thought the school paled in comparison to his Engineering College, today's University of Medicine-1. Interestingly, the most detailed description of the project is found in Soviet publications of the time, perhaps because the American "class enemy" was involved in plans for the school. (The Soviet Union would eventually send some of their best designers to Yangon to build the Inya Lake Hotel and the Institute of Technology.)
An elegantly arched canopy cantilevers all the way across the driveway
The semi-circular roof elements and curved entrance canopy lend the street-facing main building an almost playful appearance. It contained the main assembly hall, designed for 600 people. Its parquet floor was made from local teak wood. For ventilation purposes, the windows were covered with louvres instead of glass. Other windows in the complex were simply covered with metal mesh. This simple design was perfectly suited to the climate. And to ensure that such openness would not lead to excessive noise pollution, the ceilings in classrooms and workshops were fitted with acoustic plates. Most inside walls were painted with distemper paint, only a few with oil-based paints. Some concrete surfaces were not painted at all.
The rest of the complex adheres to a simpler and more sober form. The two wings containing the classrooms are raised on stilts, with car parks and a common area right beneath the western wing. Like the loggia-like corridors on the first floor, this was a way to accommodate the strong heat and regular torrential rainfalls during the monsoon. The fourth wing, completing the structure towards the north, housed vocational workshops, remnants of which are still visible. Further north were the hostels for boarders. Behind those, further north still, are two tall interconnected eight-storey tower blocks, seemingly housing boarding students as well. They are unusually high for Yangon's architecture of this period. The whole school complex was mostly built using reinforced concrete.
Propped up on columns and beams sits a wing of the building with an open arcade
Be sure to admire the several large mosaic murals within the main compound, if you are able to enter. They portray idyllic and optimistic displays of traditional life in an independent Myanmar. Besides Squire's Engineering College (where, according to his autobiography, the murals were created at his behest), similar artwork also adorns the Government Technical Institute in Insein, the Institute of Technology and the University of Education. As most of the Technical High School lay abandoned at the time of writing, it is a small miracle that these important 1950s artworks remain in such good shape. Some of the artists involved in this initiative—Kyi Winn, U Khin Maung, U Nann Waii, Bagyi Aung So and U Thein Han—are among Myanmar's most celebrated artists of the 20th century.
The Technical High School opened in July 1956. It was built with Burmese government funds and cost 2.5 million US dollars (or more than 20 million US dollars in today's money). The Ford Foundation paid for instructors from Dunwoody, a Minnesota vocational college, to help develop a curriculum. About 600 students, half of them boarders, combined artisanal vocational training with high school diploma programmes.
Large mosaics depict rural life in Myanmar
The school was resolutely state of the art. The Ford archives reveal that the decision to support the school was the matter of some debate: could a project so ambitious, catering to a relatively small number of students, be replicated on a national scale? The Foundation's final report on the project tries to acquit itself thus:
"It was undoubtedly an extravagant undertaking—many Burmese admitted as much, and none expected that it would be duplicated on such a scale elsewhere in Burma. But the school was designed to enhance the reputation of technical education in Burma [… and] viewed in that light, the decision to commit such relatively great resources to a single school may not have been so unwise."
The two building blocks are connected by a staircase and bridges
Later the high school was used as a branch of the Radiation Protection Department, an organisation under the Department of Atomic Energy.
The Singaporean government has committed funds to renovate the school and return it to its original use as a vocational training centre. A tender was issued in late 2014. If successful, this project could help create awareness of post-independence architecture in discussions of the city's built heritage—a subject usually monopolised by the city's colonial buildings. And perhaps soon, the school may again produce very successful graduates. As Myanmar's economy roars ahead, skilled technicians and engineers may become in high demand.
Villa "Goethe"
Formerly: AFPFL Headquarters
Address: 8 Komin Kochin Road
Year built: 1920s
Off a short, sloping driveway stands this stately villa from the early 1920s. Judging by its overall appearance, the building was probably commissioned by a European—what we do know for certain is that a wealthy Chinese businessman, Chan Chaw Paing, acquired it shortly after its completion and added a number of Chinese characteristics. Chan Chaw Paing's wife was none other than Lim Chin Tsong's daughter. (Read more about the larger-than-life tycoon in the section about the Lim Chin Tsong Palace.) The villa was largely built from stone and steel and is hence in decent structural condition today. Goethe-Institut, the international German cultural organisation, has leased the property as a base for its growing activities in Myanmar. A full-scale renovation is planned, which will see the building restored to its former glory while becoming a multi-functional cultural space. It will also host a courtyard restaurant.
The residence is set back from the street, at a good distance from the noisy thoroughfare. The exclusive feel of the villa is accentuated by the large porte-cochère in front of the main entrance. Inside the building, one finds details revealing the second owners' roots. There are Chinese characters on the entrance's half-round transom. The teak room dividers are also clearly Chinese. Above the porte-cochère, a generous balcony overlooks the leafy yard and beyond the tall palm trees, the tip of the Shwedagon Pagoda comes into view. On the second floor, a light well provides natural lighting to the spacious hallway connecting all rooms.
Neo-classical and Chinese influences can be found on the outside
The villa is a typical example of a wealthy residence built in this period. Colonial Rangoon was booming in the 1920s, leading to a lot of construction activity. Not much is known of its owners' later life. It can only be speculated that Chan Chaw Paing and his wife left Yangon with the onset of the war, before or during the Japanese invasion in early 1942. This was the case of many other ethnic Chinese residents who often crossed the land border into Yunnan province. Thousands decided to return to Burma after the war. They rebuilt their communities in Chinatown, where about a quarter of the housing stock was destroyed during war-time bombing. Many, however, did not come back. Perhaps they were lost in the vagaries of war, or found their fortunes elsewhere.
The real historical significance of the Villa Goethe stems from its use at the end of the war and the immediate post-war period. General Aung San and the Thakins, or nationalist Burmese leaders, chose this building as the headquarters of their Anti-Fascist Organisation (AFO). The AFO was renamed the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL) after the war. It became the main political party working for Burmese independence. Under the leadership of General Aung San, it united the various factions into which Burma's independence fighters had by then split. It is said that General Aung San even lived in the building for some time, in the annex at rear of the building. After his assassination, followed by independence, the AFPFL became the young country's main political party. Its leader U Nu was the country's prime minister for much of the immediate post-independence period. The group's headquarters were here, on what was then Churchill Road (now Kaba Aye Pagoda Road and its southern prolongation called Komin Kochin Road). The place remained a centre of Burmese political life until the liquidation of the AFPFL under General Ne Win in 1962.
The walls of the villa are frequently used for art exhibitions (photo © Christian Schink)
Around 1968, the building became the State School of Fine Arts and served as such until 2003. From that point, the former AFPFL headquarters was used for occasional art exhibitions organised by the Ministry of Culture. But the building gradually fell into disrepair and Cyclone Nargis in 2007 caused further damage. Thanks to some basic repairs led by the Myanmar Artists and Artisans Organisation, art continued to be shown here.
The Goethe-Institut was offered the property by the Ministry of Culture during negotiations on a cultural agreement between Myanmar and Germany. The house's historic aura, inviting location and beautiful grounds seduced the Institut immediately. The lease agreement was approved by President Thein Sein's cabinet in early 2015.
The building was inaugurated by German President Joachim Gauck during a state visit in February 2014. The Goethe-Institut in Yangon offers German language classes at all levels and facilitates cultural exchanges between Germany, Myanmar and the world. With this new venue in the old villa, the institute also aims to provide young Burmese artists with a space for innovative forms of expression and creative experiments. It also offers training programmes and support for young people in the fields of music and film, as well as workshops about the use of media in education.
This book was made possible thanks in part to the Goethe-Institut's generous support.
Bogyoke Aung San Residence
Address: 25 Bogyoke Museum Lane
The Bogyoke Aung San Residence is a beautiful teak villa dating back to the early 1920s. Today it is a museum commemorating the father of Burmese independence. It is well preserved and a fine example of the houses built by the wealthy in what was then a suburb of Yangon, east of Shwedagon Pagoda. Down the street from the German Embassy, a covered outside stairway leads to the two-storey house, protecting visitors from the torrential monsoon rains that inundate the city for part of the year. The villa features a wide veranda on its front and an elaborate turret on the side, facing the entrance. Upon entering the museum, the visitor arrives in the dining room, adjoined by the reception and living rooms. The bedrooms and library are on the second floor, as is a small Buddhist altar room. The museum displays family memorabilia and photos from Aung San's short but tumultuous life.
Aung San was born in 1915 in Natmauk, in central Myanmar. He left for Rangoon to study English Literature and History at the University of Rangoon and quickly became a prominent student leader. In 1938, he quit his studies to join the Thakin, a Burmese nationalist group founded in the early 1930s.
The villa sits inside a generous compound
The following nine years of his life are a remarkable tale of cunning, courage and vision. He visited the Indian National Congress Assembly in Rangarh in 1940, where a protest against India's forced participation in the Second World War galvanised India's independence movement. While travelling in China in 1940 to seek assistance from Chinese communists, he was picked up (some say, apprehended) by the Japanese authorities and sent to Tokyo. Japan wanted to bankroll the Burmese nationalist movement and rout Britain out of the country, offering military support and assurances of independence. Aung San accepted. Between 1940 and 1941, Aung San and his now legendary "Thirty Comrades" received Japanese training and assistance in Hainan, China. With Japan's support, they became the Burma National Army, fighting alongside Japanese forces and growing in numbers as they invaded their own country from Thailand. In 1943–44, as the Japanese occupation strained under British counter-incursions, Aung San grew disillusioned with Japan's military ability, distrustful of their promises and unhappy with their treatment of Burmese forces. In 1944, he turned his back on Japan and threw his lot in with the Allied forces. Aung San's finest hour was perhaps his visit to London in January 1947, when he negotiated the terms for Burmese independence with British Prime Minister Clement Attlee. But Aung San was never to reap the fruits of his hard work. On 19 July 1947, while he was sitting in the Secretariat with his provisional cabinet and no doubt running over preparations for Burma's official independence in January 1948, gunmen barged into the room and mowed everyone down with sub-machine guns. The entire cabinet was killed.
Roof-covered stairs lead up to the main building from the driveway
The residence became a museum in 1962, the same year the first Martyrs' Mausoleum, later bombed, was inaugurated. Military dictator Ne Win, who was one of the "Thirty Comrades" himself, wanted the national narrative to place more emphasis on Aung San's companions, including his own role. Following the pro-democracy protests co-led by Aung San's daughter, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in 1988, the military junta decided to repress "the cult" of Aung San and neglected the building for years.
A golden statue of Aung San doing gardening work can be found in the garden
After a major five-year renovation that saw walls strengthened and roofs and stairs repaired, it reopened to the public in 2012. Visitors can again walk freely inside the villa. The grounds feature a statue of Aung San doing gardening work. The small pond is where Aung San Suu Kyi's older brother drowned in 1953. This tragedy prompted the now-twice bereaved family to move to the famous house on University Avenue. This is where "the Lady" lives, and spent much of her life under house arrest.
Ngadatgyi Pagoda (Seated Buddha)
Otherwise: Seated Buddha
Address: Shwegondaing Lane
Year built: Early 20th century
You may want to approach this vast monastery complex (called Ashay Tawya) from the south, by following the Bogyoke Aung San Museum Lane. Its peaceful setting offers a respite from traffic-choked Yangon. Between its winding pathways and scattered buildings, visitors are likely to encounter monks in meditation. There are teak and stone buildings; one stone edifice is painted a striking pink. Inside the central Ngadatgyi Pagoda, the impressive seated Buddha statue rises 20 metres high (which explains why this Buddha is known as the "five-storey Buddha"). The statue has the Buddha doing the Bhumisparsa Mudra or "earth witness" hand gesture, which he made while achieving enlightenment under the Bodhi tree: at that moment, the demon Mara tried to intimidate the Buddha with an army of monsters; the Buddha made this gesture to beckon the Earth to bear witness to the moment. Mara cowered away and the Buddha realised enlightenment.
Worshippers pray in front of the 20 metre high sculpture
The seated Buddha statue was at, or near, its current location when the pagoda was constructed in the early 20th century. A photo from 1895 shows it in a partially ruined state, surrounded by the pillars of a former pavilion.
The pagoda and the Buddha statue were renovated during the early 1990s by the SLORC junta. The building or renovation of Buddhist religious structures was one of its favoured tools to try to mobilise public support.
The top of the pagoda can be seen from neighbouring Kyauktatgyi Pagoda
Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda (Reclining Buddha)
Otherwise: Reclining Buddha
Year built: 1907-1912, 1957-1966
This massive structure houses one of the largest reclining Buddha statues in Myanmar, which dates back to the early 20th century. From Shewgondaing Road the red roof of this vast indoor structure is visible from afar, but the best views are probably enjoyed from around the nearby Ngadatgyi Pagoda as you arrive or leave. The enormous 65-metre long Buddha is in the reclining position of his last dying days. The donor of the original Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda and the Buddha statue was a man called U Po Tha. Born in 1857, he became one of the country's leading rice merchants and a generous benefactor. (His funds also built the northern main praying hall at the Shwedagon Pagoda.)
The immense steel structure can be seen from the entrance of neighbouring Ngadatgyi Pagoda
The tall and shiny steel girders bear the inscription "Lanarkshire Steel", indicating that they were produced in Motherwell, just outside Glasgow. Steel produced in Britain was shipped halfway around the world and used in countless buildings of Rangoon. "Falkirk Iron Foundries", "Cowie Bros., Glasgow" and "Cargo Fleet, Middlesbrough" are only some of the inscriptions you find across town. Some steel was also cast locally, for example at DD Coath Foundry, which produced the steel staircases for archival stands inside the legendary Secretariat. In this pagoda, the use of steel enabled a new Buddhist architectural style, bigger and utilitarian, making space for a Buddha statue of monumental dimensions.
Worshippers chat and pray under the eyes of the reclined statue
Major repairs and alterations to the Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda were carried out between 1957 and 1966. During that process, several metres were added to the statue, making it the third largest of its kind in today's Myanmar. Unusual for a statue of this size, this Buddha's eyes (measuring 1.7 × 0.5 metres) are made of glass. A one-day festival is held in the pagoda grounds every December. Instead of walking through the streets for alms, monks are brought food by the people living in the neighbourhood.
Colourful lights adorn a golden fence that runs along the full length of the Reclining Buddha
Asad Khorasanee on House of Memories
Van Cung Hnin on The Bible Society of Myanmar
Kaung Myat Aye on Timeline
U Tin Wynn Myint on University of Medicine-1
Klaus Scholpp on Surti Sunni Jamah Mosque


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Major Texas City Will Vote to Decriminalize Small Amounts of Marijuana
Phil Lewis
One of the largest cities in the state is moving closer to decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana.
The Texas Tribune is reporting that a petition pushed by the group Ground Game Texas has received enough signatures to qualify for inclusion on the May ballot.
The measure would make it so police officers in Austin would be prohibited from arresting individuals for possession of small amounts of marijuana or marijuana-related paraphernalia.
Governor Greg Abbott is on board with the measure. While campaigning in Edinburg, he said he doesn't believe we should stockpile jails with people convicted of being in possession of small amounts of marijuana:
One thing that I believe in, and I believe the state Legislature believes in, and that is prison and jail is a place for dangerous criminals who may harm others. Small possession of marijuana is not the type of violation that we want to stockpile jails with.
Critics of the measure point out the fact that possession of small amounts of marijuana is still illegal in Texas and that Austin should abide by state law.
Ken Casaday, head of the Austin Police Association, says they don't support the measure simply because it goes against state law, but will honor the measure if voters approve it.
Voters will most likely approve the measure. Most people in Texas support the decriminalization of at least small amounts of marijuana, according to a poll conducted by the University of Texas and the Texas Tribune in June of 2021.
Texas appears to slowly be moving toward the legalization of recreational marijuana. However, there is still a long way to go.
LOOK: What major laws were passed the year you were born?
Data for this list was acquired from trusted online sources and news outlets. Read on to discover what major law was passed the year you were born and learn its name, the vote count (where relevant), and its impact and significance.
Filed Under: marijuana
Categories: Lifestyle, Texas News

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


If you make these cookies–which I highly encourage you to do–don't be alarmed by the amount of chips in the dough. The first time I made them, I didn't think the cookies would be able to hold together. I even had to scoop loose chips out of the bottom of the bowl and pack them into the dough because there were so many. That's all part of the beauty of these cookies, though. Chips, chips, and more chips! Not only will your cookies hold together, but they will be that much better for the chips popping out of every surface.
Normally, I wouldn't encourage you to use just one kind of chocolate when you could use two, but I really couldn't tell the difference between the semisweet chocolate and the dark chocolate chips. There were so many crowded together that they all just tasted chocolate-y. That's not a bad thing, but I think you could get away with just using one kind of chip if you didn't feel like buying two different kinds and having two open bags. Someone suggested making these with white chocolate and dark chocolate. I've never tried that, but it sounds good.
P.S. When I brown butter, I like to swirl the pan slowly and continuously once the butter is mostly melted. It's a little hard on the wrist, but I've never had a problem with the butter burning.
Hello! I know it's been a while since we've seen each other, but I have a new cookie recipe absolutely too fabulous to keep to myself. Let's skip the catch-up chitchat (Chit chat? Chit-chat?) and just talk. Let's talk about white chocolate macadamia nut cookies.
"Oh. My. Gosh," after the first bite of one of their cookies. Just please make these. You'll know what I mean!
These white chocolate macadamia nut cookies are buttery and crispy around the corners but tender in the middle. They are vanilla-y and white chocolate-y and nutty. Actually, macadamia nuts have kind of a mild flavor. I guess these aren't super nutty after all. They're pleasantly nutty, though. I'm getting off on a tangent. I apologize.
"Wow! It smells amazing in here!" When I offered them a cookie, they both had the same eyes-rolling-into-the-back-of-their-heads reaction that I did. Success!
I baked up a batch of room temperature dough and a batch of dough that had been refrigerated overnight. While I found it easier to gauge the doneness of the room temperature dough cookies, the refrigerated dough cookies baked up golden, craggy, and visibly bursting with white chocolate and macadamia nuts. Baked both ways, the cookies taste fantastic. I personally liked how the chilled-dough cookies looked better, but the other ones were still extremely pretty. They were just smoother and not as tell-tale of the glory hidden inside of them.
I baked the chilled-dough cookies until they were golden brown around the edges and had patches of golden brown on top. The tops had a shiny, done-looking crust that held up when pressed lightly with my fingertip. I could still feel some softness underneath. In my oven (turned down a little over twenty-five degrees), I ended up baking each pan for about ten and a half minutes, rotating the pan halfway through.
I baked the room-temperature dough cookies until they were golden around the edges and lightly golden on top with darker patches beginning to turn golden brown. When pressed lightly, they felt puffy and soft. Each pan spent about nine minutes in the oven, getting rotated about halfway through baking.
I know (at least around my house) macadamia nuts can sometimes be a little hard to track down. I found Diamond chopped macadamia nuts sold in ½ cup packages in the baking aisle at Target. Even though the nuts were already chopped, I ended up chopping them a little more since some of the nuts appeared to be whole. I also, as always, bought three (four ounce) white chocolate baking bars and roughly chopped them instead of using the "white" chips sold at my supermarket.
I could continue to enumerate on the deliciousness of these cookies, but, as Briscoe Darling would say, eating speaks louder than words. These white chocolate macadamia cookies are disappearing fast!
I'm back from my unintentional holiday hiatus from blogging. Now that it's 2014, and things have settled down, I felt inspired to snap my 50mm prime back on my camera and photograph these little treats. I hope all of your holidays were lovely and blessed!
Well, I finally did it! I finally made brookie muffins! I can't believe I've waited this long to make these. I mean, brownies and cookies in the same dessert? Come on! What have I been waiting for? To make the brookies even more fun (and tasty), the cookie dough isn't just chocolate chip cookie dough, but peanut butter chip and chocolate chip cookie dough. For an extra twist, I chopped up Snickers I had in the pantry and threw those in the middle of the muffins. Ahh, bliss!
You might have some cookie dough left over. If you do, you can bake up a tray of cookies (Yay! Another pan to wash!), or wrap up the dough and put it in the refrigerator or the freezer for a small cookie dough emergency. When I made these, I made the full amount of cookie dough from the original recipe and had a lot left over. For this post, I roughly halved the original recipe.
Preheat the oven to 350˚ (I had the oven a little below 325˚, probably around 315˚.) Grease two muffins pans with shortening and set aside. Halve Snickers lengthwise and then quarter widthwise (You'll end up with eight small-ish Snickers chunks.) Prepare the brownie batter according to the box's directions, except for adding ½ tbs. of instant espresso powder to the batter.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars on medium speed until lightened in color and fluffy, about three minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients in two additions to the mixer, mixing until just combined. Add the chocolate and the peanut butter chips to the dough and combine.
Fill each well of the muffin tin about halfway up the sides with brownie batter (I filled each well with a 1 ½ tbs. cookie scoop full of batter) Place three Snickers chunks in the center of each well on top of the brownie batter. Scoop a rounded tablespoon of cookie dough, roll into a ball, and then flatten the dough into a disc between your palms. Lay the disc over the top of the brownie batter. Repeat until the entire pan is finished.
Pop the muffin pan into the oven for twelve to fifteen minutes, rotating halfway through. The brookie muffins are done when the cookie dough is golden brown around the edges yet has a hint of softness in the middle. Let the brookies cool completely before trying to remove them from the pan. The centers may collapse inward as the muffins cool.
Once the brookie muffins are cooled, use the thin edge of a silicone spatula to work around the edges and loosen the muffins. After the muffins are loosened, slip the edge of the spatula down to the bottom of the pan and gently try to pop the muffins out of the pan. If they continue to stick, just keep working around the edge with the spatula. Sometimes the muffins split in half. That's okay. Just set the top back on the bottom; it will still be delicious. You can even use those split muffins to make ice cream sandwiches.
If you want to serve this warm with ice cream, I would suggest under-baking the muffins a little so that the middle is soft and gooey. Then, scoop the muffin out of the pan (It will probably fall apart.), top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and drizzle with hot fudge.
Mmm, cheesecake…creamy, dreamy cheesecake…creamy, dreamy, chocolate, coffee cheesecake. Need I say more?
P.S. The crust was pretty soft from being refrigerated (It was kind of like the consistency of Oreos that have been dunked in milk.) The next time I make the cheesecake, I will probably try pre-baking the crust.
Who knew that Hershey's sells cookies 'n' cream kisses? I was surprised and elated when I discovered them at the store the other day. As soon as I saw my favorite Hershey's candy bar flavor packaged in a kiss, I knew exactly what I had to do with them. I had to bake them into chocolate blossoms.
At home, I searched around on the internet until I found a good-looking chocolate blossom recipe. I went ahead and made a batch of them. While they were definitely good, they weren't quite what I wanted. A did a few tweaks that made them exactly what I had envisioned.
I melted six ounces of semisweet chocolate chips and stirred two teaspoons of espresso granules into them. While the chocolate cooled, I creamed the butter and sugars. Then, I beat in the melted chocolate. After that, I mixed in the eggs, milk, and vanilla. Instead of adding a teaspoon of vanilla, I went crazy and added a whole tablespoon (I'm wild like that).
The above things are the only deviations I made from the recipe. I will highly suggest, though, that you make the cookies with Dutch processed cocoa powder if you can find it. I made a batch with natural cocoa powder and a batch with Dutch processed. The cookies made with Dutch processed cocoa had a smoother, fuller-bodied taste. The ones made with natural cocoa were still extremely yummy, but they just didn't have as finished a taste as the other ones. Either way, though, these cookies are delicious, especially with the sweet, slightly crunchy cookies 'n' cream kiss in the center.
I like cute things. It's true. Cuddly puppies, coffee mugs painted with polka dots—basically anything that makes me say, "Aww!" When cute can be coupled with delicious, I call that a win!
Let me paint a picture for you. Envision a chewy, chocolate brownie. That's delicious, right? Of course! Cute, though? Well, not exactly. Appetizing, yes, but not quite cute. Now, let's think about a Reese's peanut butter cup. That's cute and delicious! How can we marry these two things together to create a cute, delicious dessert? Stuff the peanut butter cup inside the brownie. Duh!
All right, here's what you do. Mix up a nice, quick batch of boxed brownie mix (This dessert is pretty easy, too!) and bake up little brownie muffins in a mini-muffin pan. As soon as you pull the pan out of the oven, slowly press Reese's peanut butter cups into the center of the brownie bites. It will look so pretty, especially when the peanut butter cups start to melt and the tops get all shiny.
This made exactly thirty brownie bites, like the recipe said it would. Since I only have one mini-muffin pan, I let the brownie bites cool for about ten minutes in the pan. Then, I used the edge of a silicone cookie spatula and applied gentle, sideways pressure to one edge of a brownie bite. This made the brownie rotate in the well and come loose. Once it was loose, I gently popped the edge of the brownie up a little with the spatula and pulled it out with my fingers. You have to do this kind of quickly, though, because the melted Reese's will flow over the side of the brownie when it is tipped backward.
The brownies were nice and chewy, and the peanut butter cup center was creamy and, well, peanut buttery! I think that these would be a fun finger food to serve at a party. They're also fun to have as a sweet treat around the house. Ooh! I bet you could make a base of a few of these on a plate and top them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of hot fudge. That would be especially yummy if the brownie bites were still warm and made the ice cream nice and soft. Oh, the possibilities these present!
Today I want to share a chocolate chip cookie. No, no, that's a chocolate chocolate chip cookie. Wait! Hold on. It's both! Yes, these black and tan cookies are the perfect solution for those indecisive days when it seems almost impossible to choose between wearing a comfy T-shirt or a cute cardigan or either watching a movie or reading a book. This cookie banishes the either/or and gives you both.
I have found that sometimes when two food items are combined, the end result is disappointing. I would have preferred eating the two things separately. The black and tan cookies banish this problem, too. These two yummy cookies blend together perfectly. The richer chocolate base complements the buttery, classic chocolate chip cookie perched on top.
When I made these, I found that the cookies turned out best when I placed the chocolate base on the cookie sheet and then firmly squished the chocolate chip cookie into the base. If I just lightly pressed them together, the cookies didn't really bake up layered. The top cookie kind of slid off and made a bigger, half-chocolate, half-chocolate chip cookie. It was still cute, but I personally thought the layered look was a little more elegant. Plus, with the half-and-half cookie, you don't get both flavors with each bite.
In a small bowl, beat the egg and egg yolk together until combined and then sprinkle the coffee granules over it. Set aside to let the coffee dissolve (not all of it will) while you continue with the dough.
In a large bowl, mix the butter and sugars together by hand. Give the egg mixture a good stir to incorporate the coffee and then dump it into the butter-sugar bowl, scraping as much coffee out of the small bowl as possible. Add the vanilla and stir to combine.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until everything is just combined. Dump the chocolate chips in (and sneak a few for yourself while you're at it) and give the dough a few final stirs to incorporate.
After you've finished making the dough, just switch back to Natasha's directions. By the way, don't you just love how she styles her blog posts? Everything always looks so pretty and artistic! I love the flowers and the little pitcher of milk. Anyway, these cookies are seriously delicious and really fun to make (and look at) (and eat). Oh, and I apologize for the rather warm tint of my photo. It was raining that day, and I had to turn the lights on to take the picture.


Having completed its 12th edition, Commercial Interior Design Awards has once again paid tribute to the projects, firms and designers making their mark on the region's interior design industry.
The awards ceremony was held at the Joharah Ballroom, Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai on 19 September, gathering nearly 1,000 members of the Middle East's design community under a single roof.
In this video, you can take a look back at some of the highlights of the night. You can also view pictures from the ceremony itself, the reception party, our selection of best dressed guests, as well as images of all the winners of the night.


We're excited to announce the launch of World Account brought to you by our international payments partner WorldFirst.
The World Account is the new way to save time and money when doing business in different currencies. And World First are offering you a free registration and a chance to win £1000 in marketplace marketing.
Sign up for the World Account and trade before 4th November 2017 to be entered into a prize draw where you could win £1000 to spend on marketplace marketing. All you have to do is quote WA1000 when you transfer over £1000. Once a winner is selected we will work with the seller to determine which marketplace they would like to use. Terms and conditions apply.
Register now and you'll be joining a very exclusive club.
Click here to download full T&Cs.


Mattis was sworn into the top job at Pentagon shortly after Donald Trump's inauguration.
The US Defense Secretary James Mattis is expected to make his first overseas visit to Japan and South Korea in early February, an American official said on Tuesday (24 January).
Mattis is believed to be the first Cabinet member of the Donald Trump's administration to visit the Asian countries since the Republican businessman's inauguration as president on Friday.
Mattis, who was sworn into the Pentagon's top job shortly after Trump's inauguration, is scheduled to first meet with the Japan's Defence Minister Tomomi Inada on 3 February, shortly after paying a courtesy call on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Both the counterparts are likely to talk about the strengthening of relations between Tokyo and Washington.
The two officials would also discuss the importance of the US engagement in ensuring stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to reports, Mattis and Inada may also exchange views on China's military build-up in disputed South China Sea and North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
They are also expected to discuss a plan to relocate the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma within Okinawa Prefecture, the official said.
However, on 4 February, the US defense chief would visit South Korea to meet with Seoul's Defense Minister Han Min-koo and Prime Minister and acting president Hwang Kyo-ahn.
Mattis' planned visit to Seoul is a sign the "Trump administration is taking North Korea's threats seriously", a South Korean defense official said and added that the deployment of the US missile defense system Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system (Thaad) could be discussed in the meeting.
South Korea has said Thaad would be deployed by mid-2017, but China has been striking back with sanctions against South Korean companies.
Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether Mattis would discuss the issue of military cost sharing with Han, which Trump had mentioned during his presidential campaign.
At present, there are around 28,500 US troops based in South Korea helping to defend the country against North, which has officially remained in a state of war with Seoul since the 1950-53 Korean conflict.


Nowadays getting cheap flights to Tokyo (TYO), Japan has become easier than never before, as FareCampus is rendering lucrative travel deals on major cities like Tokyo (TYO), Japan. The capital city of Japan, Tokyo is one of busiest metropolis featured with cultural scenery full of ultramodern skyscrapers, the ancient temples, superlative accommodation and enticing eateries. The eminent Meiji Shinto Shrines is famous for its towering gate and neighboring woods and the Imperial palace situated among huge public gardens is one of the important palaces which serves as the chief dwelling of the monarch of Japan and his family, should not miss by the explorer while in Tokyo. Travelers can also enjoy the spectacular aerial landscape of the city and from the peak of the Tokyo Tower and the art lover can witness the rare collection of Japanese art at the Tokyo National Museum. And if you want to offer a real dose of entertainment, do not miss to check out Tokyo Disney Resort which will welcome your kids with tons of ride & funs.
Booking flight tickets with FareCampus will always ensure the lowest airfares along with paramount customer support service. While you are traveling, our travel experts are always there to help you with your every travel quarries. Thus whether you are planning for the long holiday with family members or planning to escape solo, we serve you as the best travel partner. Fly to Tokyo by availing the discounted Tokyo Airline tickets from us and see how your journey can make you a happy a traveler.


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Where to go in South America: 6 places you haven't heard of before
Magnificent Peruvian scenery | Chris Gooley
Blog home / Where to go in South America: 6 places you haven't heard of before
For those who are thinking of where to go in South America: discover 'the Tuscany of Argentina', world's largest ancient mud city, sleep in a salt hotel, and subterranean lakes of crystal clear blue waters…
South America is once again grabbing our attention with Argentina's 200th anniversary of independence from Spanish rule (in July 2016), British Airways' new direct flights to Santiago de Chile, the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and Peru launching cable cars to Machu Picchu.
Enough reason for us to share six places to go in South America that you probably haven't heard of before. From Chile to Brazil and Colombia to Bolivia, have a look at these less visited destinations in South America that you can add to your 'where to go in South America' wish list.
The Lost City of Teyuna
High in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Colombia you can find a collection of ancient ruins that are The Lost City of Teyuna (in Colombia known as Ciudad Perdida). They are a breath-taking treasure that was once home to the thriving civilisation of the Tairona, who lived 650 years before the Inca's at Machu Picchu. No wonder that it's less visited, because to get there you must cross the dense jungle of the Sierra Nevada for four days and climb 1,200 steps!
Wondering where else to go? We combine a trek to The Lost City of Teyuna with Bogota and Cartagena of the West Indies, famous for its colourful districts and exotic Caribbean beaches on our new 10-day Colombia's Lost City Trek walking holiday.
From sun-drenched (quiet) beaches, colonial towns and lively culture, the Bahia area of Brazil is one of the country's least-visited yet most striking corners. Think Salvador, where the country's European and African heritage blends, and Lençóis, charming because of its cobblestone streets. There are spectacular caves, flat-top mountains and beautiful waterfalls at Chapada Diamantina, Brazil's largest national park. If that isn't enough yet, you also find a subterranean lake of crystal clear blue waters that is known as Poço Encantado (Enchanted Well).
The best thing of it all? These unique places are all within close proximity of each other so you don't lose precious holiday time (and money) by taking long transfers or domestic flights.
There is a 14-day Best of Brazil's Bahia active adventure holiday with World Expeditions to an area that the Brazilians have kept to themselves so far…
Nestled in Argentina's wild northwest corner, the hidden gem of Salta remains one of the country's most picturesque cities. Salta is known for its Spanish colonial heritage and rich Andean history. Nearby is the wine town of Cafayate, an area of outstanding beauty that has been dubbed 'the Tuscany of Argentina'. If you've ever heard of the white wine grape variety 'torrontés', this is where it comes from. The surroundings of Salta are a desert-like area, which is blessed with dramatic canyons and gorges that have been cut by wind and rain over the centuries.
You can get out to Salta in Argentina and explore the region in just 4 days on our Salta and Jujuy Highlights extension.
Salt Hotel
In the likely case that you have ever fancied spending a night at a salt hotel, look no further! Your dream can come true on the world's largest salt flat in Bolivia: the stunning Salar de Uyuni. The salt hotel is located near the island of Isla Incahuasi, which you can find in the centre of the Uyuni salt flat. With walls, floors and furniture made out of salt, it definitely lives up to its name. The island is made of rock formations and is home to a species of cactus aged at 700 years. It's within easy travel distance of Bolivia's thriving capital La Paz and Potosi, one of the highest cities in the world with an elevation of 4,090m. For even more adventure, an additional highlight of the region are the mummies of Coquesa that are still being remembered today by the local population.
Kuélap, Chan Chan & more
One of the most impressive buildings anywhere in the Andes will soon become much easier to reach thanks to a new cable car that is scheduled to open next year. The ancient citadel of Kuélap with its impressive buildings of the pre Incan Chachapoyas culture allow you to travel back in time in a northern part of Peru that remains little visited. (This is also where you can go to find the world's largest ancient mud city of Chan Chan.) But there is more to less travelled northern Peru such as the pyramids of Tucume, spectacular mountain scenery of Cordillera Blanca, royal tombs at Sipan, and the possibility to foray through a cloud forest to the spectacular Gocta falls.
Chile is one of the largest countries in the world so when planning a visit you probably feel that it's hardly possible to combine all the highlights in one trip. While in fact, you can! Enjoy the very best of Chile's dramatic scenery in one holiday. A region you probably haven't heard of, but which is definitely a highlight, is Maipo Valley and its vineyards.
In these vineyards the once extinct Bordeaux grape was rediscovered and subsequently reintroduced to the world by the Viña Carmen wine. Maipo Valley is Chile's best known wine-producing region and you can explore the area by bicycle.
If you are into cycling, think of the lunar-like landscapes of Atacama Desert's Valley of the Moon as well. Other must-visit places in Chile are the famous Lake District (ancient forests and indigenous wildlife), and the Petrohue River with its emerald-water at the foot of the glacier-capped Osorno Volcano (yes, rafting the river is an option!). And while you're in Chile anyway, of course you must go for a trek in Torres del Paine National Park - the jewel of the crown to every trip in Chile.
Want to find out more about these lesser known and little travelled places to go in South America? Or want to learn about where else you can go in South America with World Expeditions? Please have a look around at our website or get in touch with our team of travel experts in one of our offices around the world.
Which part of South America are you keen to explore? Let us know in the comments below.
South America, Peru, Trekking, Chile, Colombia, Brazil
Traditional boats, Papua New Guinea | Darren Jew
Adventure, Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia
The Other Side of Southeast Asia: 6 Lesser Known Islands
Lesser known Southeast Asian islands offer fantastic off the beaten track travel opportunities. Here are 6 islands in South East Asia that could be new to you!
Sea Lion in the Galapagos islands | Ken Harris
animals, brazil, Costa Rica, galapagos island, Pantanal, Patagonia, Peru, Safari, South America, Wildlife
5 Best Places to See Wildlife in South America
South America is the richest ecological region on our planet and is by far one of the best places to see wildlife in the world.
Resting area aboard Solaris
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, cruising, yacht, wildlife, sailing
Inside the first class yacht Solaris: Galapagos cruising
Take a virtual tour inside the brand new, first class yacht Solaris. It's chartered for the Galapagos islands in 2020, cruising around the most exceptional and remote landmarks of the archipelago.
King penguins on South Georgia | Peter Walton
albatross, antarctic, antarctic peninsula, Antarctica, drake passage, orcas, penguins, seals, whales, Wildlife
Antarctica: where to find the best wildlife encounters
From fur seals to Adélie penguins, here's how to get up close and personal with Antarctica's greatest creatures.
Discover the stunning Pelorus Sound while hiking the Nydia Track | MarlboroughNZ
Hiking, walking, hiking trails, New Zealand, South Island, self guided
5 new places to visit in New Zealand's South Island
Been there, done that - maybe not? Social media is currently filled with images of Kiwis exploring their own backyard. But have they ticked off all the best places?


After more than a decade out of circulation, Eyes on the Prize is back in television and recorded release. The award-winning documentary series about the American civil rights movement had been bogged down by copyright restrictions since it last aired in 1993. Recently, with significant grants from two philanthropic foundations, PBS has been able to clear most of the licenses necessary to bring Eyes on the Prize back to the public. Those portions of the documentary for which renewed licenses could not be obtained have been replaced in the newly released version. The re-release is of especial significance to educators, who have been forced to use increasingly degraded and unviewable videos in showing the documentary to students over the past 13 years.
Charles Ogletree, Executive Director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard Law School, says, "Eyes on the Prize is perhaps the most gripping informative and frustrating portrayal of the civil rights movement that is available on video. Henry Hampton and his supporting cast gave America an opportunity to look in the mirror and see the dark side of racism. Its tranformative qualities in the way we think about race should help the next generation of youth understand the urgency of our need to solve the America dilemma of race."
The first six hours of the documentary will begin airing one hour per night, Monday nights on PBS, starting October 2. Depending on viewer response, the second series of eight hours may also be aired. Eyes on the Prize is now also available new on DVD and video, also for the first time in many years.
The Berkman Center has studied the relationship between copyright and education, most recently releasing "The Digital Learning Challenge: Obstacles to Educational Uses of Copyrighted Material in the Digital Age."


Adam Tzanetopoulos, who came to Volos for a couple of days, visited Volos Football Land and the Football Academies of ERMIS FC – Volos.
ERMIS FC – Volos Football Academies, are Greece's Top private football academies.
So of course Adam would visit us (<- well that, and the fact that he and Mr. Chronis are best buddies).
SV Böblingen is a German Football Club, located in the area of Stuttgart, which became affiliated with ERMIS FC – Volos Football Club.
FC Barcelona's International Division of their football academies will be visiting the facilities of Volos Football Land (also the centre for ERMIS FC – Volos) from 08/08/2016 until 12/08/2016 in order to execute the football camp in the line of FC Barcelona's Escola.
As a result two players from SV Böblingen will travel during August to Volos so as to participate in the specific camp.
The two players are: Maggos Dimitrios and Maggos Eleytherios.
Moreover, end of June Mr. Chronis Sapounas, the Director of ERMIS FC – Volos Football Academies – will travel to SV Böblingen in order to… (<- be patient guys, we will update this section with all details in due time. We will just say that it is for an awesome reason).
That being said, we are looking forward for the two players to arrive in Volos and ERMIS FC will embrace both Dimitrios and Eleytherios as one of their own.
Dimitrios and Eleytherios show us your football excellence during the camp.
FC BARCELONA (<- the world's top football club) will visit ERMIS FC / Volos Football Land from: 08/08/2016 until 12/08/2016.
The above mentioned camp is executed through the so called FC Barcelona's Escola.
What is FC Barcelona's Escola?
In a nutshell and in very very very simple terms, it is FC Barcelona's Football Academies International Division.
The age spectrum, of the football players, that will be allowed to participate in the above mentioned camp is between: 6 – 18 years old.
Meaning that once that number (aka limit) is reached NO MORE players will be allowed to enter (<- we will come back to you with more details about that in due time).
Hey, it's FC Barcelona so they pretty much do not come for sightseeing but for business; and they do mean business when it comes down to football.
And to make sure that everything goes as FC Barcelona's HQ wants it to go they are also sending over their Football Academy's coaches and Technical Advisors (<- we will come back to you with more details about that in due time, as well).
Currently there is a lot going on in regards to ERMIS FC – Football Academies and Volos Football Land; grandiose things some may say.
Also, in regards to the visit of FC Barcelona to ERMIS FC / VOLOS FOOTBALL LAND we will come back to you shortly with more details about it.
18 teams arrived today in Volos Football Land (6 teams for each of the 3 age groups). A sunny day embraced their endeavor and Helios himself was watching the games to see which team will become the champion of the respective age group.
Surprisingly the 2 teams from Trikala (age group 17-19 did not show up in the Regional Finals – they got cold feet?!)!
Consequently, one group, of 4 teams, has been formed in which all teams play against all and the 2 first teams will play the Big Final.
Never before have three teams, from the same city, won the Regional Finals and advanced to the National Finals (another National record set by Volos Football Land after breaking the 250 teams barrier)! !!
Is should be noted that all three teams that made it to the National Finals in Athens are coming from Larissa.
After a very successful Prefecture Tournament in Volos Football Land, that catapulted the number of football teams participating to 250 teams– and by setting a new National record, coming Sunday the Regional Finals will be carried out in Volos Football Land.
Specifically, the best football teams of 4 Prefectures from Thessaly will clash coming Sunday in Volos Football Land so as for the 3 champions to arise (one for each age group); the victorious ones will get the ticket for the National Finals in Athens, coming May.
We wish all teams' good luck for their endeavor to reach the top!


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Looking across the Nooksack River at Hovander Park while river level was at 18 feet (November 18, 2015). Photo: Discover Ferndale
Ferndale river level forecast warns of possible road impacts tomorrow
By My Ferndale News on January 12, 2021
FERNDALE, Wash. — The Nooksack River level forecast at Ferndale currently warns to expect it to crest just below the 18-foot mark on Wednesday, January 13th. Some road impacts, including closures, are expected after the river reaches the 15-foot mark.
The National Weather Service Seattle office said this morning, January 12th, rainfall of about 1-inch had fallen over the past 24 hours in western Washington lowlands and in the Cascade Mountains. The heavy rain is expected to continue through Wednesday with forecasters say to expect up to 1 and a half inches in the lowlands and 4 inches in the Cascades. Snow levels are also expected to rise to between 6000 and 8000 feet today.
As a result of the rain and rising snow levels, sharp rises are expected on western Washington rivers, including the Nooksack River, with the potential for many to reach flood stage. Heavy lowland rain has already increased ground saturation which increases the potential for river flooding along with urban and small stream flooding.
The following local road impacts are likely after the river level reaches 15 feet at Ferndale.
Water and debris over the roadway on Ferndale Road north of Marine Drive and also north of Slater Road
Water and debris over the roadway at the corner of Barrett and Paradise Roads
Flooding of the WDFW parking lot on Marine Drive
Water and debris over the roadway on Marine Drive west of Ferndale Road
If the current river level forecast is realized, Marine Drive, Ferndale Road (south of Slater Road) and Slater Road may be closed based on recent history.
Drivers and property owners are advised to continue monitoring the river level forecast for the Nooksack River at Ferndale.
Published in News, Traffic News and Weather News
Ferndale Washington News


You can help your kids learn many important things by using your family history. Not only will they learn about their own history, it can be utilized with other school lessons. Incorporating family information into their education will increase their interest in those subjects while learning more about themselves and their history.
The most obvious place to use family trees is when studying history. You can teach your kids about US or world history and include their own family members. Study about World War I or II and discover which family members fought in the war or helped out at home.
Don't stop with history. Incorporate your family geneology into other subjects. For example, include them when studying about literature. Find out which family members were alive when famous literary figures were creating their stories.
Discuss what life would have been like for the ancestor in those days. Learn the history behind certain books or poetry and see how it correlates to your family history.
As you study about inventions, you can discuss what life was like for ancestors before those inventions were discovered. For example, they can imagine how it was for their great-great-great-grandfather before cars were discovered or how they would have handled having no electricity.
If your ancestor was in a particular field, it can often help introduce the school subject. For example, a doctor would have had to deal with polio until a vaccine was discovered. You can talk to kids about this issue and it will mean more if their ancestor treated the disease. Perhaps their ancestor died of some tragic illness that is no longer around. You can discuss how that discovery would have helped them.
To use your ancestry in teaching kids about other subjects, you have to start with helping them discover their own history. With the internet and the addition of many public records to online databases, finding out one's family history is much easier than before. However, you still want to keep everything organized and within easy access. Family tree templates allow you to recreate family history and you can find the design which best fits your needs.
Include as much information on the template as you think is important for your purpose. You might add important dates and locations or you may focus on careers and other facts. Think outside the traditional use for these family trees when you're using them in an educational way.
Teaching your kids about other facts and events is much easier when they can relate it to themselves. Using family history as part of the learning process brings the information to life and gives it relevance to the kids.
Suzie Kolber created Obituaries Help to be the complete online resource for "do it yourself" genealogy projects. The site offers the largest offering of family tree charts online. The site is a not for profit website dedicated to offering free resources for those that are trying to trace their family history.


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Q: Invoke-Command from elevated powershell with non-elevated creds I'm trying to run a script that requires elevation to set certain registry values to allow CredSSP on local and remote computers and, during this script, I need to access a network share as a non-elevated account.
My initial thought was to try
Invoke-Command -ScriptBlock { [IO.Directory]::GetFiles($networkShare) } -Credential $cred where $cred is a non-elevated users' credentials. Unfortunately, that doesn't work due to this bug.
The workaround given is to use -ComputerName localhost but that requires that my local machine be set up for PS Remote, which I don't want to do.
The best workaround I've found is to use
$foo = Start-Job -Credential $cred -ScriptBlock { [IO.Directory]::GetFiles($networkShare) }
$out = Receive-Job $foo

That works but it's just so ugly...can anyone help me find a better solution?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Q: Add column's default as Base64Encoding of another column value I want to create a table that has a column value converted to base64, I want to add another column to a table and I want to default it to casted string value of the first column. Is this possible?
CREATE TABLE [dbo].[Students]
(
    [Id] INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY IDENTITY,
    [StudentAuth] VARCHAR(MAX) NULL,
    [StudentCastedAuth] VARCHAR(MAX) NULL DEFAULT CAST(CAST(StudentAuth as XML ).value('.','varbinary(max)') AS varchar )
)

It says I cannot use StudentAuth in the default value


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Agent-Based Service-Oriented Computing
Agent-Based Service-Oriented Computing pp 225-251 | Cite as
QoS-Aware Service Selection
James W. J. Xue
Stephen A. Jarvis
First Online: 29 December 2009
4 Readers
Part of the Advanced Information and Knowledge Processing book series (AI&KP)
With the widespread use of the Internet, the number of web services that can provide similar functionality has increased rapidly in recent years. Web service selection has to be based on some non-functional attributes of the services, such as the quality of service (QoS). In this chapter, we use a server switching service that is commonly used in Internet hosting environments to explain how an agent can use a performance model to evaluate services and select the most suitable services among a number of functionally similar services returned by the service discovery. The various criteria that can be used to assess QoS are introduced in this chapter, including mean response time, throughput, system utilisation and others closely related to business such as revenue and operating costs. Service selection in the chosen case study depends on the quality and suitability of various switching policies, in other words, different switching policies can be selected depending on the QoS of the services and the run-time system state. Since the system performance can be evaluated using an analytic model, therefore, the QoS of services is assessed based on the output of the performance model.
Switching Cost Total Revenue Service Selection Queueing Network Admission Control Scheme
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© Springer-Verlag London 2010
1.Department of Computer ScienceUniversity of WarwickCoventryUK
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Xue J.W.J., Jarvis S.A. (2010) QoS-Aware Service Selection. In: Griffiths N., Chao KM. (eds) Agent-Based Service-Oriented Computing. Advanced Information and Knowledge Processing. Springer, London
First Online 29 December 2009
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-041-0_9
Publisher Name Springer, London
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Join us for an evening of murder, mystery, suspense & thrills on Friday 23rd November!
It's the roaring 20s and the annual Owl & Pussycat Ball is in full swing. The ball celebrates the famous poem by Edward Lear, a guest of the hotel in the 19th century. The occasion has evolved into a glamorous masked ball, at a time of great celebration after the Great War.
One of the country's most eligible bachelors, Clifton Bridges, has left society in suspense by announcing his intended engagement but not disclosing the name of his intended fiancé. Bridges has been linked to many women including the much admired actress Ava Everett and Lady Grace Branston, the daughter of the late Lord Branston.
Ava's uncle Harold has expressly forbidden the marriage and when his body is discovered in suspicious circumstances a murder investigation begins.
Join high society for an evening of glamour and intrigue. There is an old French saying, 'Sous le masque, la vérité!' – Beneath the mask, the truth! Will you be able to help our investigating officer to discover the truth in this case?
Dress up in glamour 1920s evening wear, and do not forget to bring a mask.
Starter: "John Ross" Scottish Smoked salmon, horseradish, capers & Rye bread.
Main: Supreme of Corn fed Chicken, tarragon jus, Dauphinoise potatoes, summer greens.
Dessert: English Apple Pie, vanilla cream.
Grilled artichoke & goat's cheese tartlet, wild rocket, walnut, balsamic glaze.
Tagliatelle "Alfredo", forest mushrooms, baby spinach, truffle & Parmesan crisp.
Evening event ticket, complimentary drink & 3 course meal (no overnight stay or breakfast).
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Sorority Life is a 115-year tradition at the University of Mount Union! Recruitment happens primarily in fall semester and interested students are encouraged to participate in scheduled recruitment events. We encourage students to budget about $400-$600 for their first semester of membership for the experience.
Delta Sigma Tau
Alpha Eta Chapter (est. 1920)
Together let us seek the heights
Alpha Chi Omega is a sorority founded on the values of character, leadership, academics, personal development and financial responsibility. This organization strives to enrich the lives of its members through lifetime opportunities for friendships, leadership, learning and service. You'll find the women of our Alpha Eta Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega working together to honor their chosen philanthropy, addressing issues of Domestic Violence, and supporting the Alliance Area Domestic Violence Shelter. From socials to volunteering, formals to philanthropic events, and their continual commitment to the Panhellenic Community, Alpha Chi Omega's sisterhood continues to grow stronger.
FAST FACTS ABOUT ALPHA CHI OMEGA
Address XXX W Simpson Avenue
Naitonal Homepage www.alphachiomega.org
Nickname A-Chi-O, Alpha Chi
Minimum GPA for membership 2.6; 3.0 high school
Gamma Theta Chapter (est. 1947)
We live for each other
On May 15, 1851, a group of six young women at Wesleyan Female College organized the first secret society for college woman and the Adelphean Society was born. In 1913, the Greek letters Alpha, Delta, and Pi became the name of the organization. Membership in Alpha Delta Pi is displayed through their diamond shaped badge, and the four points of the diamond signify the four principles of the chapter of a sister – strengthening of her own character and personality; watching her own attitude toward her fellow human being; recognizing the value of high educational standards; and developing faith and loyalty. Gamma Theta chapter of Alpha Delta Pi shows their support in the community through their participation in their selected philanthropy, the Ronald McDonald House. These women are highly active in a variety of student organizations and involvement opportunities throughout campus life.
FAST FACTS ABOUT ALPHA DELTA PI
Address 13XX S Union Avenue
Naitonal Homepage www.alphadeltapi.org
Nickname A-Dee-Pi
Gamma Chapter (est. 1902)
The pen is mightier than the sword
In 1893, 10 young women at Lombard College in Galesburg, Illinois shared a vision and a dream of a national organization dedicated to the personal growth of women. Their dream became Alpha Xi (pronounced "Zee") Delta, one of the oldest fraternities for women in the country. The timeless ideals envisioned by the founders of Alpha Xi Delta remain constant throughout the years. The mission of Alpha Xi Delta is to enrich the life of every member by nurturing unity and cooperation; fostering intellectual, professional and personal growth; exemplifying the highest ethical conduct; instilling community responsibility; and perpetuating fraternal growth. Mount Union's Gamma Chapter of Alpha Xi Delta has the distinction of being the third oldest chapter – the Gamma Chapter, founded in 1902, has enjoyed well over 100 years as part of the University's history and traditions. The women of Alpha Xi Delta participate in efforts celebrating their national philanthropy, a partnership with Autism Speaks.
FAST FACTS ABOUT ALPHA XI DELTA
Naitonal Homepage www.alphaxidelta.org
Nickname A-Zee-Dee; Alpha Xi
Alpha Chapter (est. 1990)
Apart we are many, together we are one
Delta Sigma Tau has the distinction of being the "local" sorority on campus. They made their appearance as this organization, our "alpha chapter" on January 21, 1990. While they have no ties to a national headquarter office, the women of Delta Sigma Tau are still very active in the Panhellenic community. You'll find them supporting their philanthropy Carnation Restoration,a variety of benefits for a number of Alliance-based agencies. The women of Delta Sigma Tau are active in a variety of campus clubs and activities, and ascribe to be members who are dignified, exceptional leaders, trustworthy, and of course, ambitious.
FAST FACTS ABOUT DELTA SIGMA TAU
Address XXXX S Union Avenue
Nickname Dee-S-Tee, Deltas
Minimum GPA for membership 2.75; 3.0 high school