As more research emerges showing the reduced harm of vaporizing nicotine compared with smoking cigarettes, cig-a-like vaporizers have grown immensely in popularity. To help you find the perfect cig-a-like of your own we've compiled a list of reviews featuring some of the greatest devices available on the market. We've even wrapped it up with a comprehensive buyers guide to help you on your journey to becoming smoke-free. These simple and effective devices offer a significant ability to help people reduce their exposure to harmful substances.
Over two decades of collective experience, along with months of thorough testing have culminated in our insightful reviews and comprehensive buyers guide. Even with simpler vaporizers, such as cig-a-likes, there's always a ton of variety on the market, and it can quickly become overwhelming. So we made your job easier by sifting through the clutter to bring you only the best of the best. We here at CocktailNerd want to help make reducing your harm exposure as straightforward and effortless as possible.
In our list of the most excellent devices of 2019, we've singled out some top mentions including Best Performance, Best Value, and the Best Vape Juice. Alongside these top mentions, we've also included additional cig-a-like vaporizers that we believe are well worth your consideration. To help ensure you find your perfect vaporizer, we've included a full buyers guide that covers everything from the anatomy of a cig-a-like to proper maintenance. All of this will help you preserve the longevity of your device. We hope to leave you feeling informed and confident in the search for a perfect vaporizer of your own.
Our standout for the Best Performing vaporizer is none other than the V2 EX. V2's premium cig-a-like offers consistent, high-quality performance that outpaces virtually any competitor in its class. They've even brought you the V2 EX Standard Starter Kit for added convenience and value to help you get started on your journey to living a smoke-free lifestyle.
The EX by V2 utilizes innovative leak-proof cartridge design ensuring you'll never have to cry over spilled e-juice again. The cartridges even feature a transparent panel, so you know precisely how much e-juice you have left. As opposed to the more traditional design of an led on the tip to show how much battery is gone, the EX features an array of LEDs along its side to indicate your cell's remaining charge.
The V2 EX standard starter kit features two EX 280mAh batteries, ten EX flavor cartridges, a charging cable with wall adapter, and a user's manual to help you get started. The EX even added a manual firing mode for added control over your vaping experience. V2 currently offers four varieties of EX flavor cartridges including the standard V2 Red and V2 Menthol, in addition to the unique Sahara and Congress blends. These cartridges are available in a variety of five nicotine strengths ranging from 0% to 2.4%. The device even comes in several inspired designs including Opal, Carbon Fiber, Brushed Steel, Matte Black, Blue Pearl, and the newly launched Rose Gold for the sophisticated vaper.
As a bonus, we deliver you an additional two coupons to help you get the value-packed starter kit for even less. We've got you hooked up with 15% off a V2 EX Standard Starter Kit, and then you can get an additional 10% off replacement EX flavor cartridges. The V2 EX features an innovative design that delivers a pleasurable vaping experience from beginning to end. The value of their starter kit makes it one of the best picks for anyone looking to make the jump from smoking to vaping.
Our selection for the Best Vape Juice of 2019 is of course JUULpods. While JUUL Labs has already established themselves with their premier JUUL cig-a-like vaporizer, a special mention needs to go to their JUULpod flavor cartridges. Design with smokers in mind and careful attention to creating rich complex flavors have helped set JUULpods apart in this incredibly competitive category.
Each JUULpod contains 0.7ml of e-juice, which should last you a solid 200 pulls. They come in five flagship flavors, Virginia Tobacco, Cool Mint, Creme Brulee, Mango, and Fruit Medley. They also offer an additional three limited edition flavors available in Classic Tobacco, Classic Menthol, and Cool Cucumber. These flavors all come in concentrations of 5% nicotine, a perfect amount for smokers looking to make the transition to a smoke-free lifestyle. JUULpods produce a robust vapor by utilizing nicotine salts as opposed to lab cultivated nicotine found in more traditional flavor cartridges. The JUUL and JUULpods were designed to meet the standards of smokers, this attention to detail and strict focus have helped set them apart in the cig-a-like market.
The JUUL starter kit includes a rechargeable battery, USB charger, as well as an additional variety pack featuring four of their flavors; Virginia Tobacco, Cool Mint, Fruit Medley, and Creme Brulee. As each JUULpod lasts about 200 pulls, about as much as a pack of cigarettes, their $15.99 four-pack is a remarkable value in comparison. You can improve this deal further with an additional 15% off by subscribing to their auto-shipping program that delivers four-packs of JUULpods directly to your door each month with free shipping. JUUL offers some of the most luxurious and complex flavors we've ever tested here at CocktailNerd, so it's no wonder why JUULpods are continually the premier choice for smokers looking to make the switch.
The G6 by Halo was carefully crafted to replicate the satisfying experience of a traditional cigarette. These vaporizers deliver smooth yet rich vapor by focusing on form, function, and value. Their G6 starter kit offers users a complete package loaded with value, easing your journey to reduce tobacco use, and earning our honor for Best Value cig-a-like of 2019.
A budget-minded feature of the Halo G6 is their utilization of refillable 'blank' cartridges as opposed to disposable pre-filled ones. For users looking to reduce waste and save big money, this is the way to go. The G6 utilizes Halo's patented "flame-guard" technology, preventing dry-burn and the horrible taste associated with it. On top of all this, Halo completely redesigned the cartomizer in the G6, moving the coil from the middle to the bottom of the unit, delivering users a richer and more consistent vaping experience. Halo's 'Infiniglow' battery features an internal cut-off mechanism to help conserve power and charge when the device is not in use.
The G6 Starter Kit by Halo includes two 280mAh batteries, five flavor pods, a charging cable, and user's manual to help you get started. The G6 offers battery designs in seven color varieties including Jet Black, Midnight Blue, Deep Purple, Emerald Green, Demon Red, Titanium, and Classic White. Halo also offers a wide array of flavors available in a variety of strengths allowing you the mix and match options to help you find that perfect blend. For only $35 there just isn't a better quality cig-a-like at this price on the market. We've even made this fantastic deal better by partnering with Halo to give users an additional 5% off using our exclusive coupon code.
An incredible amount of careful consideration and design went into creating the Express vaporizer by VaporFi. This cig-a-like has an emphasis on replicating the traditional smoking experience provided by a cigarette, and we have to say they've gone above and beyond to deliver. Not only does the Express give one of the most satisfying vapor qualities we've had with a cig-a-like, but VaporFi offers arguably the most extensive variety of flavors, at over 100 different juices!
Already a popular choice for beginners looking to make the transition from smoking to vaping, VaporFi makes the switch even easier by offering the Express Starter Kit. This kit comes standard with two batteries, five Classic Tobacco flavored cartridges, charging cable, and a user's manual to help you get started. The two batteries included in the kit are a 180mAh for casual vaping and a longer lasting 280mAh for daylong usage. VaporFi offers users refillable cartridges alongside their disposable ones, giving users even more customization over their vaping experience. Each of their disposable flavor cartridges come in a variety of four nicotine strengths ranging from 0% to 2.4%, although we personally always recommend refillable cartridges as they offer users the most excellent flexibility.
VaporFi's unshaken commitment to crafting realistic cig-a-likes with intuitive design has reached an apex with the VaporFI Express. The Express strongly resembles a cigarette in core design, and the rich vapor produced may even fool those around you into thinking you're using the real thing. While the sheer amount of flavors offered can seem a bit overwhelming, we can hardly call expansive options for customization a bad thing. While some users may be turned off by a lack of color options found in other cig-a-likes, the attention to replication of the experience resulting in other vaporizers not being able to match the same experience.
The SmokeTip cig-a-like is the perfect vaporizer for users looking for a more streamlined option, as intuitive design was at the heart of every aspect of this device. Smoketip even offers users 25 different flavor options available in four nicotine strengths each, ranging from 6mg to 24mg. This high-end and carefully crafted device is perfect for both beginners and more advanced users who value simplicity.
The standard SmokeTip kit comes in a sleek gift box that includes five flavor cartridges, two batteries, and a charging cable. Keeping things as simple as possible for the user, SmokeTip delivers their devices with fully-charged batteries to ensure you're ready to vape right out of the box, and they even offer higher-capacity batteries for power enthusiasts out there. You get this complete kit, plus free replacement batteries, and even free shipping directly to your door, all for only $50. Although not as quick of a warm-up as more premium cig-a-likes, once this vaporizer hits optimal temperature, it performs just as well as any high-end device on the market.
We commend SmokeTip for a design that carefully resembles that of an actual cigarette. While it's intuitive and straightforward functionality is perfect for beginners, its power and portability make an excellent choice for more advanced users as well. It's been on the market for quite some time now, but the SmokeTip continues to stand toe-to-toe with some of the most premier vaporizers available today.
South Beach Smoke is one of the premier names in the world of cig-a-like vaporizers, and after taking one glance at their extensive catalog of devices, it quickly becomes apparent why. They consistently create high-end devices crafted from the finest of materials, offering a variety of starter kits to give the most exceptional value and options to their customers. Their cartridges are prefilled and leak-proof, ensuring worry-free use and easy swapping between cartridges. South Beach Smoke offers an exhaustive collection of flavors available in five nicotine strengths ranging from 0mg to 24mg.
The base South Beach Smoke Starter Kit is called the Deluxe kit. The complete package includes two batteries, a ten pack of flavor cartridges, and a charging cable. This Deluxe Starter kit only costs $20, South Beach Smoke boasts their flavor cartridges last as long as 15 packs of cigarettes, and on top of all this, you can get an additional 20% off by subscribing to their monthly delivery program. They also offer two upgraded kits known as the Deluxe Plus and Deluxe Ultimate. If you're a user who loves their accessories, you may want to consider the Deluxe Ultimate as it contains an additional charging case, car adapter, lanyard, and even a bonus ten flavor cartridges. South Beach Smoke also offers a "couples" kit designed for two people featuring two Deluxe packages with additional car chargers all at a discounted rate.
South Beach Smoke seamlessly blends intuitive form with powerful function. They offer incredibly durable built-to-last devices available in a variety of kits to fulfill any customers need or desire. Their satisfying replication of the smoking experience, variety of flavors, and intuitive design make South Beach Smoke the premier choice for even advanced vaping enthusiasts, while their high capacity batteries and cartridges are perfect for the enthusiast on the go.
One of the most common and well-established brands in the world of cig-a-likes is Blu. They're easily one of the most recognized brands in the world of cig-a-likes among vapers and non-vapers alike. That is due to the ubiquity of these devices being available in practically every gas station and corner store around the world; Although you can always get them for much cheaper by buying them online directly through Blu or your favorite online outlet.
Blu offers users their Plus+ rechargeable kit that comes standard with a portable charging case. They were one of the first companies to provide this unique method of charging on the go that has long since been copied by a myriad of other competitors. Blu continues to stand at the forefront of innovation by constantly pushing and improving their technology. Alongside the charging case, the standard Plus+ kit also comes with two Blu Plus+ batteries, and three Classic Tobacco flavored cartridges. Blu offers several flavors of e-liquid available in four nicotine strengths.
Blu creates some of the most popular and ubiquitous cig-a-likes available, delivering smooth vapor and rich flavor. While not the most potent vaporizer available, Blu offers a consistently satisfying and pleasurable experience that will keep you coming back. Blu tends to win users over after trying them, with their smooth flavor and performance often cited as reasons. Not to mention you can't beat the fact they're readily available at practically any store near you. Although, it's important to remember we always recommend buying them online to help you save money by avoiding the high markups you often see in stores.
One of the premier high-end brands in the world of cig-a-likes is White Cloud, steadily earning a reputation as a creator of some of the best devices available regarding durability and functionality. While a grand reputation comes along with a grand price, White Cloud has recently brought their prices down to bring their high-end experience to as many users as possible. They're renowned for their Smooth-Draw technology that ensures smooth, cool vapor even during heavy and extended use, making the perfect choice for our power-user enthusiasts.
White Cloud has a variety of devices and kits offering plenty of choice in the search for your perfect vaporizer. While their Cirrus 2 is an older model, you're not going to do better than a White Cloud cig-a-like for only $40. The Cirrus 2 kit comes standard with two batteries, five smooth draw pods, a charging cable, and a user's manual to help you get started. The more recent Cirrus 3 was designed with ultimate portability in mind, crafting the device as slim and compact as possible while retaining that famous White Cloud performance. The Cirrus 3 kit includes three batteries, five smooth draw cartridges, and a 'squid' charger allowing you to charge all your batteries at once. The Cirrus 3X has a design that keeps in mind lasting performance, coming standard with high-capacity batteries giving you enough power for nearly twice as many pulls as previous models. White Cloud also offers users the Omni Starter kit and their patented "ShotGun" tips allowing for even more precise control over their vaping experience.
Now that White Cloud has dropped their prices there's never been a better time to make the switch, although even at this reduced price they're still one of the more expensive brands around. However these vaporizers are consistently some of the highest performing and highest quality cig-a-likes available, and with prices starting at only $40 to experience that famous White Cloud performance and quality, we'd say they're the perfect choice for users looking for a high-end experience without breaking the bank.
Apollo cig-a-likes have a design with a strict focus on replicating the pleasurable and satisfying experience of smoking a traditional tobacco cigarette as carefully as possible. Their devices are simple to use, and their high-capacity batteries deliver daylong performance. With a strict focus on replicating traditional cigarettes, they only offer tobacco flavored e-liquid. So while not as diverse in flavor variety as some other brands on this list, their classic and menthol flavors are hands-down some of the most magnificent tobacco flavored e-liquid we've ever tried.
Apollo's primary offering is their Challenger Kit that comes with two batteries, a USB charging cable with wall adapter, a bonus car adapter, and a user's manual to help you get started. It's important to note that their kits don't include e-liquid so you'll need to buy that separately. Their classic and menthol tobacco flavored e-liquid comes in nicotine strengths ranging from 0mg to 24mg.
Apollo initially launched with a variety of e-liquid flavors, but as it became apparent, their tobacco flavors were by far their most popular, Apollo decided to shift their focus to what they excelled at with vaping. We have to commend them for doing so, as they've cornered the market for tobacco enthusiasts and manage to provide consistently pleasurable and satisfying experiences for users. Apollo is the perfect choice for the person looking to make the transition from smoking to vaping that doesn't care about the exhaustive wide variety of flavors available.
Whether you're a smoker looking to make the transition to vaping or someone that's merely curious about cig-a-like vaporizers, we've compiled a comprehensive buyers guide to help make your life a little easier. Cig-a-likes are relatively simple vaporizers that consist of only two pieces, a battery, and a flavor cartridge. While more advanced portable vaporizers utilize standalone atomizers, cig-a-likes tend to employ what is known as cartomizers that combine both the heating element and e-liquid cartridge in a disposable unit.
Cig-a-like vaporizers can be separated into two distinct groups by either automatic or manual draw. Automatic cig-a-likes feature technology that detects when you're drawing and engages the cartomizer, while manual cig-a-likes require you to press a button on the device to engage the cartomizer. There are pros and cons to either method, although honestly, it boils down to personal preference. Regardless of drawing method, most all cig-a-likes are incredibly low maintenance, when the e-liquid runs out just toss the cartomizer, and if your battery stops holding a charge simply buy a new one. Cig-a-likes have also improved significantly over the years, with some devices now offering performance found in more advanced portable vaporizers.
When e-cigarettes first emerged in 2008, they quickly ballooned in popularity, and by 2010, vaping had grown into a full-blown industry with specialty retailers springing up around the country and 'Big Tobacco' companies beginning to dabble in the market. Plenty attribute this to the reduced harm of vaporizing as opposed to smoking cigarettes, although some attribute it to being able to circumvent smoking bans. Regardless of what caused this boom, cig-a-likes remain a popular choice for enthusiasts who value convenience and people looking to make the transition from smoking to vaping.
Perhaps the best reason to make the transition to vaping from smoking is looking out for your health. A growing number of peer-reviewed journals have emerged concluding that cig-a-likes represent a dramatic reduction in harm as opposed to cigarettes. A famous 2015 study by Public Health England found vaping to be at least 95% safer than smoking. More recently an almost four-year investigation by renowned tobacco control expert Dr. Riccardo Polosa found "no significant changes" in respiratory function among the group of vapers.
There's a wide array of data that shows the reduction in harm by vaping as opposed to smoking. In fact, a recent study published in the Journal of Aerosol Science found the lifetime risk of cancer is over 50,000 times lower in vapers than smokers. The Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recently published a study pointing to the reduction in harm in vaping over smoking. Many companies offer their e-liquids in lower nicotine and nicotine-free varieties making weaning even easier for users trying to transition.
Another great reason to make the transition to vaping from smoking is the incredible cost savings offered. Bulk e-liquid containers and refillable cartridges are remarkably cost-effective, giving you even more bang for your buck over traditional cigarettes. You'll be saving tons of money annually, with some brands costing as little as $1 for the equivalent amount of e-juice compared to a pack of cigarettes.
Saving money will become extremely easy no matter where you live in the country. You don't have to live in places like New York or Los Angeles to feel the difference. Even in places where tobacco doesn't have taxes that reach astronomical levels, vaporizing is still by far the most economical option. Taxes on cigarettes and tobacco are only going to continue to climb as lazy legislatures make smoking an easy scapegoat to generate additional revenue.
If we're honest with ourselves, wanting to make the transition to vaping from smoking can be as simple as not wanting to smell terrible anymore. We all know traditional smoking is awful for your health, but what fewer people realize is it's pretty terrible for your love life as well. It'll leave lingering stale smoke odors while simultaneously staining your teeth till they're yellow. There are also smoking bans all over the world and plenty of people who view smokers in a poor light.
Vaping doesn't leave lingering pungent odors on your breath and your clothing. There are even people who enjoy the scents produced by certain e-liquids. On top of that, there has never been any research connecting second-hand vaping to adverse health effects. Many smokers look at this as a tremendous freedom that hasn't been available to them in some time, making it all the more compelling for them to make the switch to vaporizing.
There are a few critical questions to face when trying to choose the perfect cig-a-like for you. The first thing to consider is the flavor you're looking for, as the wide variety of tastes are one of the great perks of vaporizing over smoking. Another point to consider is how much power you're going to need. Users interested in puffing the most magnificent clouds possible will probably want to opt for larger batteries while users focusing on portability may wish to focus on more specialized options.
Even after narrowing these points you still may be faced by an array of similar appearing devices. At this point, you should be looking for additional value or costs such as accessories offered, battery pricing and life, as well as the cost of refills. While at first glance many of these devices can seem almost the same, with a bit of research you should quickly gain a clearer picture of which cig-a-like is best for you.
If you're someone who's looking to make the transition to vaping from smoking, it's vital to have a good idea of what you're getting into with vaping. We understand that it can be quite overwhelming trying to sort through the variety of devices available from a wide array of companies simply to find that perfect cig-a-like. That's why we've compiled this guide to help make your search and transition as simple as possible. There's no ideal device for everyone, so you must understand your own needs and wants before trying to purchase a vaporizer.
We hope this guide has left you feeling informed and confident in the search for the perfect cig-a-like to call your own. While not as advanced as pens or box mods, cig-a-likes can still be compelling devices that deliver satisfying vaping. We've combined our years of experience with thorough testing to provide you this comprehensive guide and reviews of some of the most significant devices on the market. The V2 EX earned our honor as the Best Performing cig-a-like of 2019, while JUULpods offer users the Best Juice. If you're looking for excellent performance at an even more exceptional price, check out our Best Value vaporizer of 2019, the Halo G6.
While advanced box mods and vape pens currently dominate the e-liquid vaping industry, cig-a-likes remain a popular niche option for enthusiasts who value convenience and those first looking to make the transition to vaping from smoking. We hope our comprehensive guide answered any and all questions you may have had, although if there's anything we've missed feel free to get in contact with us on Facebook and Twitter, or simply drop a comment down below. We and our trusted community of enthusiasts will be happy to guide you on the path to living a smoke-free lifestyle.


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The Fourth Sunday of Easter - Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd We Need
Easter / Lent
Easter / Lent News
By Fr. James Farfaglia
4/23/2010 (9 years ago)
Jesus is the Good Shepherd we desperately need. He laid his life down for us. True shepherding is a life of total self-giving. Sheep without a shepherd have no defense against the wolves of this world. Our land has become a land of orphans; children have become orphans of living parents, priests have become isolated from their brothers in the priesthood. The sheep are without shepherds.
If we are going to be true disciples of the Good Shepherd, we must forget ourselves completely and be totally dedicated. Jesus calls us to love one another unconditionally.
Published in Lent / Easter
align="justify">CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (CATHOLIC ONLINE) - One of my favorite movies is The Delta Force. American tourists are hijacked by Arab terrorists who hold the hostages in Beirut. Lee Marvin and Chuck Norris lead an elite team of U.S. Special Forces that rescue the endangered travelers.
At the beginning of the tragedy, the two Arab terrorists aboard the jetliner begin to separate the few Jewish tourists from the rest of the hostages. One of the most moving moments of the film is when Fr. William O'Malley, a priest from Chicago played by George Kennedy, gets up from his seat and walks into the First Class compartment where the Jews are being held. Kennedy courageously walks into the compartment where he is disdainfully met by the leading terrorist.
The terrorist asks what his name is and Kennedy responds that his name is William O'Malley. Perplexed by the situation, the terrorist asks what the priest wants. He responds that since he is a Catholic priest and a follower of Jesus Christ, that he too is Jewish. "If you take one, you have to take us all", answers the priest who willingly accompanies the Jewish hostages.
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish" (John 10: 28).
The main part of the Holy Land was a large central plateau about 35 miles long. The ground was for the most part rough and rocky. It was impossible for sheep just to stay in one area for grazing. Large areas for grazing simply did not exist. Every flock had to have a shepherd who led his flock every day to places where the sheep could eat.
The life of a shepherd was very difficult. A flock of sheep never grazed without his presence and therefore, the shepherd was on duty every day of the week. Since the sheep always had to travel in order to find grass to eat, they were never left alone. Sheep could get lost, or they could be attacked by wolves or stolen by robbers.
Sheep were seldom used for regular food by the people of the Holy Land; rather sheep were cultivated for the use of their wool. Thus, the shepherd was with his sheep for a very long time. He gave each one of them a name, and they all knew his voice. In fact, it is said that each shepherd had a peculiar way of speaking to the sheep that allowed them to know that he was their shepherd.
During the warm weather, it was common for the sheep to spend the night away from the village farm. The shepherd watched over them throughout the night. In these circumstances, the sheep stayed in open areas surrounded by a low rock wall. In these areas, the sheep entered and left through an open space which had no door or gate of any kind. During the night, the shepherd would sleep stretched out within the empty space so that no sheep could get out except by crossing over his body. At the same time, a wolf or a robber could not get in, expect by crossing over his body as well. Here we can see a prime example of how the shepherd would give his life for his sheep.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. The Easter Season is a continual celebration of the one central mystery of Christianity; that Jesus gave his life for us by dying on the Cross. He saved us from our sins.
"For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Revelation 7: 17).
Applied to our practical lives, the message is clear. Whatever our state in life may be, we are all called to shepherd the sheep that have been entrusted to our care. This is most especially true for priests, parents and grand-parents.
Shepherding a diocese, a parish, or a family is very demanding. Dedication, commitment, sacrifice and vigilance are needed every day. Just like Jesus the Good Shepherd, shepherds are called to love unconditionally.
Anyone who has experienced the loving and generous care of a true mother, father, priest, deacon or religious will know what a true shepherd really is. True shepherds give their lives to those who have been entrusted to them. They do not live for themselves. Marriage and consecrated life are essentially vocations to shepherd others.
Sheep without a shepherd will not know where to pasture. By nature, we have deep spiritual desires. If we do not eat what is good, we will feed upon the garbage of the world. We need the sustenance that will help us continue through the journey of life without becoming discouraged. We need the inspiration that can pull us through our difficult moments. When we eat the garbage of the world, our hearts will remain restless and our souls will be starving. Happy homes are found where parents love their children unconditionally. Flourishing parishes are found where the sheep have plenty of good grass.
Sheep without a shepherd have no defense against the wolves of this world. The human person is a social being and is incapable of living life alone. No one by his own efforts can defend himself from the temptations that assail him and from the evil of the world that attacks him.
In most cases, our land has become a land of orphans. Many children have become orphans of living parents. Many priests have become isolated from their brothers in the priesthood. The sheep are without shepherds.
Faith filled communities have become a safe haven for the orphans. True priests are ministering to the starving. True Catholics are ministering to their priests. Priests are ministering to each other. Throughout the nation, the orphans gather in order to hear the Word of God, feed on the Bread of Life and experience the loving care, affection and understanding of real people that desire to shepherd to one another.
Catholic priests who spend substantial time each week preparing a Sunday homily that will teach, console and inspire their people; priests who are available 24 hours a day for the urgent needs of their sick and dying parishioners; priests who dedicate long hours each week to the confessional are true shepherds of the flock.
Parents who are home with their children; parents who have dinner with their children each night as a family; parents who review every book, every television program, every CD, DVD and Internet site; parents who are dedicated to really parenting their children are true shepherds of their homes.
True shepherding is a life of total self-giving. The true shepherd needs time for renewal in order to shepherd the flock. The true shepherd needs to spend time daily with Jesus, the chief shepherd. He will give us the strength, the inspiration and the sustenance to shepherd the flock. Periodic moments of solitude and silence are essential for the continued ability to give unconditionally.
Father James Farfaglia is the pastor of Saint Helena of the True Cross of Jesus Catholic Church in Corpus Christi, Texas. Father has a hard hitting blog called Illegitimi non carborundum. He has also published a book called Man to Man: A Real Priest Speaks to Real Men about Marriage, Sexuality and Family Life.
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At its E3 Xbox One X reveal event on Sunday, Microsoft shared a relentless stream of boundary-pushing system specs for the new console, but it stayed surprisingly quiet regarding the future of virtual reality on the device.
Few expected announcements related to a simultaneous VR headset launch as the company had already sought to temper expectations earlier this year saying that VR content releases on "Project Scorpio" would take place in 2018.
The fact that VR support was barely touched on at E3 seemed a bit strange however, given the attention Microsoft has been giving to its "mixed reality" headsets which will launch later this year. The headsets, built by partners like Acer, HP and Dell will be priced lower than options from Oculus and HTC and will be capable of running on much lower-end PCs. While many might see these options as a sort of middle-tier solution to the Rift and Vive, Microsoft expects VR running on the Xbox One X to compete on the high-end.
It's a bit odd, given that most of the push for wireless is being done on the all-in-one side, where the compute power is also in the headset, allowing the user to roam freely with the headset as far as battery life allows.
With console-powered wireless, Microsoft would assumedly be looking at streaming technologies similar to those being used by companies like TPCast and DisplayLink which free users of a physical cord but rely on physical proximity to a transmitter to ensure a seamless connection. This would also necessitate a headset with an imbedded battery, which would likely need to be pretty hefty to account for longer gaming sessions. These technologies would undoubtedly add cost to the device as well.
With this strategy, Microsoft risks a late entry to virtual reality gaming while its primary console competitor, Sony, already begins to see notable success in moving PlayStation VR units, announcing just this past week that the company has surpassed 1 million headsets sold globally since first launching the virtual reality system in October.
Microsoft has already lauded "Project Scorpio," now Xbox One X, as a VR powerhouse so we'll undoubtedly see some virtual reality announcements in its future, but with no details at its launch event, its unclear how long we'll have to wait.


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WaPo editorial board is totally clueless
It's hard to believe how the spinning is done, until you see it in action. The idea that Armstrong Williams was paid to support the "No Child Left Behind" initiative was not necessarily known by the White House. Wow!
Interesting Review of NYT
The CIA and Riggs Bank
Decentralize the power grid
Bush team scolded for disguised TV report
Why the Rehnquist Court has done so little damage, so far.
As The Monty Python Show would say: "And now, for something completely different": I am Charlotte Simmons
WHAT IS CONSCIOUSNESS, anyway?
The Psychology of Christian Fundamentalism
US deserters flee to Canada to avoid service in Iraq
By Charles Laurence in New York
(Filed: 09/01/2005)
American Army soldiers are deserting and fleeing to Canada rather than fight in Iraq, rekindling memories of the thousands of draft-dodgers who flooded north to avoid service in Vietnam.
An estimated 5,500 men and women have deserted since the invasion of Iraq, reflecting Washington's growing problems with troop morale.
Jeremy Hinzman: a 'wrong career choice'
Jeremy Hinzman, 26, from South Dakota, who deserted from the 82nd Airborne , is among those who - to the disgust of Pentagon officials - have applied for refugee status in Canada.
The United States Army treats deserters as common criminals, posting them on "wanted" lists with the FBI, state police forces and the Department of Home Security border patrols.
Hinzman said last week: "This is a criminal war and any act of violence in an unjustified conflict is an atrocity. I signed a contract for four years, and I was totally willing to fulfil it. Just not in combat arms jobs."
Hinzman, who served as a cook in Afghanistan, was due to join a fighting unit in Iraq after being refused status as a conscientious objector.
He realised that he had made the "wrong career choice" as he marched with his platoon of recruits all chanting, "Train to kill, kill we will".
He said: "At that point a light went off in my head. I was told in basic training that if I'm given an illegal or immoral order, it is my duty to disobey it. I feel that invading and occupying Iraq is an illegal and immoral thing to do.''
Pte Brandon Hughey, 19, who deserted from the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, said that he had volunteered because the army offered to pay his college fees. He began training soon after the invasion of Iraq but became disillusioned when no weapons of mass destruction were found.
"I had been willing to die to make America safe," he said. "I found out, basically, that they found no weapons of mass destruction and the claim that they made about ties to al-Qaeda was coming up short. It made me angry. I felt our lives as soldiers were being thrown away."
When he was ordered to deploy to Iraq, Hughey searched the internet for an "underground railroad" operation, through which deserting troops are helped to escape to Canada.
He was put in touch with a Quaker pacifist couple who had helped Vietnam draft-dodgers and was driven from Texas to Ontario.
The Pentagon says that the level of desertion is no higher than usual and denies that it is having difficulty persuading troops to fight. The flight to Canada is, however, an embarrassment for the military, which is suffering from a recruiting shortfall for the National Guard and the Army Reserves.
The deaths of 18 American soldiers in a suicide bomb attack in Mosul, northern Iraq, last month, was a further blow to morale. Soon after, the number of American soldiers killed since President Bush declared that large-scale combat operations were at an end passed the 1,000 mark.
Lt Col Joe Richard, a Pentagon spokesman, said that the US government wanted the deserters to be returned from Canada. "If you don't want to fight, don't join," he said.
"The men in Canada have an obligation to fulfil their military contracts and do their duty. If and when they return to this country, they will be prosecuted."
The penalty for desertion in wartime can be death. Most deserters, however, serve up to five years in a military prison before receiving a dishonourable discharge.
In order to stay in Canada, deserters must convince an immigration board that they would face not just prosecution but also "persecution" if they returned to America. Hinzman's hearing has begun in Toronto and a decision is expected next month.
During the Vietnam war an estimated 55,000 deserters or draft-dodgers fled to Canada. There were amnesties for both groups in the late 1970s under President Jimmy Carter, but many stayed.
One who did so is Jeffrey House, a Toronto-based lawyer, who represents some of the deserters. He said that at least 25 had reached Canada in recent months with the help of "railroad" organisations, and believed that the immigration board would back his clients.
19 April 2004: US 'soldiers of conscience' take Sixties route to Canada
18 December 2004: US military sees sharp fall in black recruits
Egyptian paper: Israel-India nuke test caused tsunami
If Reagan had admitted this in the middle 1980s it's not too crazy to suggest this might've led to Reagan's impeachment (although probably not his conviction by the Senate).
bullsh*t to the nth degree
Andrea Mitchell jumped in before Hunt could name names.
Director Mueller may be in the hot seat
kiss the official UA 93 theory good-bye!
But there is that nagging question of torture.
OKC Bombshell Implicates Feds In Murrah Blast
More Fear Mongering - Prime Time
Tonight as I was making dinner, I heard a commercial that made me stop and listen. It was for GlaxoSmithKlineBeecham Pharmaceuticals.
The spokesperson was talking about new anti-infectious disease drug R&D and although I didn't see it, he must have been standing near a large snow bank. He said that they are "waging war" every day on disease and to demonstrate how uphill a battle it is, he said to imagine every snowflake there being one possible compound that could stop an infectious disease, but only a few being safe and effective for humans. Then, he pointed out that bacteria are becoming resistant to drugs all the time, so they're having to find new ones.
The war symbolism was repeated over a couple or three times. Not only was this fear mongering (the diseases out there that can hurt you are as numerous as the snowflakes you see here), but it was equating war with something good (fighting the things that can hurt you).
It starts young. I heard a mother today out in a field taking pictures of her toddler. She kept saying, "Don't let that get you. Don't let that get you." It wasn't anything that was actually going to harm her - just some big stalks of dried grasses. But the message that child got was that even in the field next to her house in very safe, suburban Colorado, there is danger lurking, just waiting to get you. Is it any wonder that we spend billions of dollars trying to wage war against what are often imagined dangers?
We have an immune system to protect us against disease, a sympathetic nervous system to alert us to real dangers, a physiological system that allows us to fight or flee those dangers, and a rational brain that can allow us to understand that most of what we are "fighting" these days are dangers we've created ourselves. It's time to find a new way to take care of ourselves based on believing in our own ability to do so in a peaceful and joyful way.
Posted by sarabande2 at 1/10/2005 09:13:00 AM 2 comments:
Texas audit cites improper use of millions in homeland security funds
Drug Prohibition is a Terrorist's Best Friend
Iraq: The Devastation
The Terrorists are Coming!
David McGowan
Click to see Real Player Video
Do We Believe In Conspiracies?
Salazar Sucks!
Sanity in The UK
Let bin Laden stay free,says ex-No. 3 CIA man:
Calling for an End to Opposite Day
Winners of the "I look like my Dog" Contest
It's hard to believe how the spinning is done, u...
Why the Rehnquist Court has done so little damage,...
As The Monty Python Show would say: "And now, for...
US deserters flee to Canada to avoid service in Ir...
Egyptian paper: Israel-India nuke test caused tsun...
If Reagan had admitted this in the middle 1980s it...
Andrea Mitchell jumped in before Hunt could name n...
Texas audit cites improper use of millions in home...
The Terrorists are Coming! David McGowan August 2...


It is Mother's Day y'all!!! Let's get together and celebrate:) . We have gathered a unique and talented group of makers, bakers, farmers and creatives for a day of checking out the beautiful, handmade gorgeousness, as well as partaking in some mini- workshops yourselves! Breathe the fresh sea air, take a walk on the breakwater, eat a goodie, get your beauty on, shop a bit and say hi!
The holidays are upon us! So, Moonrise wanted to thank everyone for all their love and support, share some good ol' nog and get together with some of the makers in our community. Lets just say it's a party/ market!
It is located at 17 1/2 Fan Tan Alley, exactly half way down the alley. The entrance is the same as Westcoast Eco Home. Moonrise Creative will be on hand to greet you at the door. If we miss you, just go through the wooden door, up the stairs, past Eco Home and the Moonrise Makers Market is at the top!
And lets not forget the music.... Lets just say it will be our Holiday gift to all of you!!
Let's get festive! November 29 th from 11-4 pm in Leslie's studio in Fan Tan Alley.
At Moonrise we are passionate about handmade goods and the people "the makers" that make them - we encourage, support and form community. We created the Moonrise Makers Market as place to share those beautiful goods, bring together makers, our community and create an atmosphere of slow living. This past November we gathered in a beautiful studio with 20 artisans that are passionate about their craft and who love to create thoughtful hand made goods. We wanted to create not just a market but a market that creates an experience, evokes emotion, and helps fuel an emotional connection with the craft goods and the public.
Fresh greenery wreaths, swags, and garlands are fun to make and provide the senses with delight. They look beautiful at that time of year and smell divine. We used pine boughs, fir, eucalyptus, and added persimmons for colour. We also used beautiful marbled rusty colour ribbon and tied it loosely to the green wreaths to add dimension and create contrast.
We are so grateful that our friend stylist, photographer, designer Leslie Shewring lent us the space for the day. The studio space is all white, which made the greenery pop. The makers that made and sold their beautifully crafted goods made the market a success--- the products were lovely, created with such intention and love.
Our goal was simple, to provide an environment where talented makers could showcase their goods in a lovely setting, and our community, neighbours, and friends could gather and see the amazing things that are being crafted in their own city. We are so thankful for all the support and forever grateful to each vendor, the volunteers (Martin of Green Island Builders and Christina), to Lori Preston who helped us with the styling, and the attendees that came and supported. The Winter Moonrise Makers Market was a success because of you all!
The making of spirit wreaths was fun and relatively easy, our friend Lori Preston came up with the idea of spray painting plastic toy horses gold. We had spirit horses added to gold hoops, greenery, and ribbon to create a child's wreath- a little crafted item that adds a fun playful addition to a room. The bottles were easy to create, and have been used over and over since the the market.
We had a few potters at the Market, and fell in love with their effortless style of pottery. The bowl above was created by potter Yoshiko Godo. Her work is exquisite- she draws on her Japanese influences to create beautiful shapes, texture and colour.
We also had the pleasure of having potter Gwen Howey at the Market, her pottery is functional and playful. We were drawn to her natural colour pallet and loved the small details- jagged edges and play on textures.
Makers- artist Lauren Mycroft, designer Korinne Vader, and interior designers Ivy House (Bryn Taylor and Eli Fast).
We look forward to our next makers market - gathering in surroundings that inspire our senses and creativity, meeting our community and introducing the best in handmade goods!


In the second installment of his new cooking video series here on Jewcy, JDub's Director of Events Adam Teeter shows you how to make delicious latkes – one batch out of traditional potatoes, and the other out of zucchini and squash. This post includes special cameos from The Macaroons and, of course, Hanukkah Harry.
Grate zucchini using medium shredding disk of a food processor. Transfer to a bowl and toss with 2 tsp salt. Let stand 30 minutes. Squeeze zucchini in batches in a kitchen towel to remove as much liquid as possible. Transfer zucchini to a large bowl and stir in bread crumbs, eggs, marjoram, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Preheat oven to 200°F. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Scoop 2 Tbsp mixture per latke into skillet (6 to 8 per batch). Flatten with a fork to form 21/2- to 3-inch pancakes. Fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side (adding more oil as necessary). Drain on paper towel and then transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in oven at 170 degrees.
Do you have any other great Latke Recipes?! Please share!
Full disclosure: Jewcy is a project of JDub Records, which means that Adam's desk is really close to mine. Also, he said if I didn't post this video he would beat me up. True story.


I just wanted to share a pic of my 2 new babies that were rescues from a shelter. My girls names are Sasha and Chiquita(Chichi).
Their previous owner had to give them up due to a terminal illness that prevented her from taking care of them. When I found them at the shelter the employees said that since they had gone thru so much already that they weren't willing to separate them so they had to go as a set.
I myself had just gone thru lots of change since I just left a relationship and the Chi that was in our house belonged to my ex so there was definitely a need for some paws in my house. I had to have them!
They adjusted to their new happy home very quickly and we are living our happily ever after.
Was wondering if these chi babies live in Louisiana or came from a rescue from Louisiana? Can contact me and will tell you the whOle story.
Looks a lot like my Jazzy that got lost from her home.
Good for you and lucky for them to stay together! They r a wonderful true companion breed. My little girl goes with me everywhere, work, family gathering, planes and even vacations. My better half! Enjoy your wee ones!


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Q: Idiom/phrase that means "at the slightest annoyance" I'm looking for an idiom or phrase that means "at the slightest bit of annoyance". I want to use it in the following context:

"Jesus!" It was a word my boss would spit out at the drop of a hat.

I wanted to avoid "at the slightest provocation" because that could imply that the speaker provoked his/her boss, which is not what I'm trying to say. Any suggestions?

A: We seemed to be getting about as far as we can in comments alone, so I've summarized them here. Any other options anyone can think of can be added below.
The examples listed below convey a boss who is short-tempered and likely to overreact to any minor issues which come up during the day. All the examples you listed in your original question get that meaning across, and none imply that the speaker provoked the boss character -- at least not from the perspective of any reasonable person (the boss may think the worker provoked him).

...at the slightest annoyance.
...at the drop of a hat.
...at the slightest provocation.
...without warning.

A: You might consider changing the preposition at, and using something that suggests more spontaneity. For example, you could try:

...is a word my boss would spit out...

*

*whenever he was flustered.

*the moment he got upset.

*as soon as the pressure got to him.

That said, I agree with cornbread; I don't think there's anything wrong with:

*

*at the slightest annoyance.

That seems to work just fine, too.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Rachaelis Morulan has defeated the wrath of a blood shaman and escaped the insidious lures of a high demon. At last she is ready to leave corrupt Araspan and start a new life.
But the followers of the vanquished blood shaman have different plans.
When a horde of bestial demons rampages through Araspan, Rachaelis and the other Adepts prepare to fight.


text:
The Lobster (2015)
— 118 min - Thriller, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Science Fiction - 8 October 2015
In a dystopian near future, single people, according to the laws of The City, are taken to The Hotel, where they are obliged to find a romantic partner in forty-five days or are transformed into beasts and sent off into The Woods.
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Stars: Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Léa Seydoux, John C. Reilly, Ben Whishaw, Olivia Colman, Ashley Jensen, Jessica Barden, Ariane Labed, Angeliki Papoulia, Michael Smiley, Rosanna Hoult, Roger Ashton-Griffiths, Ewen MacIntosh, Anthony Dougall, Sean Duggan, Roland Ferrandi, James Finnegan, Kathy Kelly, Robert Heaney, Jaro, Ryac
Tagline: An unconventional love story...
Genres: Thriller, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Science Fiction
Official Website: http://tickets.picturehouseentertainment.co.uk/gb/the-lobster/
Country: France, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, United Kingdom
Language: English, French
Release Date: 8 October 2015
Budget: $4,000,000
Production Companies: Haut et Court, Eurimages, Lemming Film, Element Pictures, Nederlands Fonds voor de Film, Canal+, Greek Film Center, Film4, Ciné+, Centre National du Cinéma et de L'image Animée (CNC), Faliro House Productions, Scarlet Films, Institut Français, L'Aide aux Cinémas du Monde, Limp Films, Ministère des Affaires étrangères et du Développement International, Protagonist Films


The Adaptive Knee from Endolite is the first microprocessor controlled knee that combines the power and stability of hydraulics with the natural comfort of pneumatics.
Microprocessor control for K3-K4 active amputees with a moderate to high level of voluntary muscle control. The Smart Adaptive knee addresses mobility in the context of everyday life. It adapts simply to the most complex terrain. The sensors within the system analyze speed, slopes, stairs and other parameters. Adapting to give security, and enhance the amputee's lifestyle. New Smart programming mode reduces programming time which allows the knee to begin learning the amputee's gait nuances.


Rose Creek held its' annual 4th of July fireworks show last Wednesday evening and, as usual, it was spectacular! The show was a full 30 minutes long! Funding was provided by both the homeowners and Tour 18 for the $10,000 show.
Many Rose Creek family members and friends line the streets for the Rose Creek parade beginning at 9:00. Kids, dogs, babies, strollers, adults, decorated golf carts and bicycles provide red, white and blue for the annual parade. At the end of the parade route, the kids enjoyed popsicles. It is so great to see the neighborhood at Rose Creek celebrating the birthday of this great country and the heritage of our wonderful state. The families spent the afternoon at the aquatic center and that evening came to the clubhouse for a barbeque and kids talent show.
Rose Creek, you had a spectacular fireworks show! Thank you homeowners and Tour 18 for a great 4th. See you next year.


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text:
Want Money From Tech Wildcatters? Have a Solid Business Plan
by Nicholas Sakelaris • May 3, 2016
NEW APPROACH REQUIRES STARTUPS TO REACH GOALS
Tech Wildcatters has upped the stakes for startups that want to get their hands on money.
The Dallas tech accelerator will take in about 100 startups in 2016—usually they take in about 20 per year, according to the Dallas Morning News.
But startups better have a solid business plan.
For the first time, Tech Wildcatters will put its companies through a gauntlet where they must meet certain requirements or hit milestones before getting any investment.
The old system gave $25,000 to all the companies in exchange for 8 percent equity, according to Fast Company. Now, the process is "gamified" with five levels that companies have to reach if they want to get investment dollars.
They could get as much as $30,000 spread out over those levels with a top prize of an additional $100,000 for the best company, Clarisa Lindenmeyer, the chief revenue officer with Tech Wildcatters told Fast Company.
Molly Cain, executive director of Tech Wildcatters, said it all with the sticker on her laptop: "doing>talking." The days of all startups getting the same investment whether they goof off or genuinely work hard are over, she said.
In true capitalistic form, there's a competition for the limited dollars and only the best-run companies will get through "The Gauntlet."
SWITCHING UP THE FUNDING MODEL
Basically, it flips the tech accelerator model upside down, taking a very different approach.
Gabriella Draney, CEO of Tech Wildcatters, told the Dallas Business Journal that this will separate the winning startups from the struggling ones much faster.
"We've really changed everything," Draney said. "It's totally from scratch."
Seven companies have already fallen out since February.
Jim Janicki, CEO and president of SigmaFlow, a software company in Plano, told the Dallas Morning News that he had stopped investing because he was disappointed in some of the companies.
Now, he's back in.
"Now, you're wasting your own time," he said. "You're not wasting my money."
The current class has 21 companies, including 13 from North Texas.
For a daily dose of what's new, now, and next in Dallas-Fort Worth innovation, subscribe to our Dallas Innovates e-newsletter.
Dallas Startup Rhithm Raises $4M for Emoji-Based Student Wellness Platform
To prevent suicides, hunger, and learning issues, Rhithm's emojified bio-social assessments app lets kids say how they feel.
State Farm's Tech Astra Summit to Encourage Young Girls to Pursue STEM
The gender gap in computing is getting worse: In 1995 37% of computer scientists were women, dropping to 24% today. State Farm is taking action with a new STEM summit to engage girls in science, technology, engineering, and math. Registration is open until Sept. 18.
UT Dallas and Fullstack Academy Launch Four Bootcamps for Tech Professionals
With Dallas ranked as one of the top cities in America for tech pros, UT Dallas and Fullstack have launched four skills training bootcamps focused on coding, cybersecurity, data analytics, and DevOps. The online bootcamps begin in November with tuition at $11,995 each.
Clarisa Lindenmeyer
Gabriella Draney
Jim Janicki
Molly Cain
startup funding
Tech Wildcatters
Calendar: Not-to-Miss Events for Innovators in Dallas-Fort Worth
Education Nonprofit Big Thought Names New Chief Operating Officer
Calendar: Not-to-Miss Events for Innovators in Dallas-Fort Worth Apply Now:
Opportunities for North Texas Innovators Education Nonprofit Big Thought Names New Chief Operating Officer Girl Power: Girls Inc.'s Mission To Empower The Next Generation Of Strong, Smart, And Bold Girls UNT HSC at Fort Worth Offers Free Health Care to Performing Artists Through Late April


HENRICO, Va. — Henrico County is hosting a restaurant week of its own, separate from the Richmond one that begins soon. Henrico's will run from April 9 to 17, at 10 different restaurants.
There is not one set price, rather there are some options to choose from, between a $20, $25, and $30 meal. Additionally, several restaurants offer either a $10 or $15 lunch option.
The Virginia Home for Boys and Girls will receive donations of $1 for each lunch sold and $2 for each dinner sold during the week.
The participating restaurants are Deep Run Roadhouse, India K'Raja, Maggiano's, Mama Cucina, Plaza Del Rey, Tarrant's West, Texas de Brazil, Trak's, Travinia, Union Table and Tap.
Texas de Brazil's all you can eat salad bar with accompanying meat selections is usually priced at $50, but it is $30 during restaurant week.
Reservations are recommended at all restaurants.
See menus by clicking the name of each restaurant.


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LifeTravel
My Experience with WWOOF: Organic Farming in France and Ireland
by Abbie Zulock
"I was WWOOFing in France last summer. It was an amazing experience."
Have you heard of WWOOF? It's the word on every vegan's lips, these days. I have friends who know people who've done it, who have done it themselves for a couple of weeks on their Europe trip, or have seriously considered doing it.
But, for those of you who haven't yet heard of it…here are a few fun facts–and what I learned from my experience with WWOOF.
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)
According to their website, "WWOOF is an exchange – in return for volunteer help, WWOOF hosts offer food, accommodation, and opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles."
WWOOF was founded in 1971 in England. Over the following 43 years, WWOOF has grown to include more than 97 countries in its long farm list.
Organic farmers around the world put up information about their farm through their country's WWOOF site. Volunteers can sign up to view a specific country's WWOOF site, usually with a reasonable annual fee of around $30. The volunteer can then see the list of different farms looking for help.
In my experience, contacting a farm should be done far ahead of time. Many farms (especially the super-cool ones!) are booked for WWOOFers months in advance. Last minute requests aren't usually accommodated.
The wonderful thing about the system is that it is mutually beneficial to both farmers and volunteers. It's active enough that farms have plenty of help, and it's so widespread that volunteers can definitely find a farm that they'd be excited to work for.
Speaking from personal experience, WWOOF definitely is amazing. I worked at two farms in Europe this past fall and winter.
The best experience I had was on a farm in the south of France. My travel buddy and I worked for two women who ran an equestrian center about an hour away from Avignon.
The farm in the south of France had the most glorious sunsets.
We woke up at around 7:30am every day so we could start feeding the horses around 8am. There were 35 horses on this farm, and I can tell you now – feeding all 35 of those horses in one morning took quite a lot of walking and carrying heavy bales of foin (hay).
One of the horses – Quitte!
We fed the horses twice a day, painted the entire barn, took children on pony rides, groomed the horses, built electric fences…the list goes on. We definitely got a great adventure from it, and made some amazing friends.
Ah, countryside!
Hugging Fleur, the pony!
But of course – not everything is perfect all the time. Not even something as inspiring as WWOOF.
Two farms cancelled on us. The olive farm we were hoping to work on in Turkey stopped responding to us about a month before we were supposed to arrive. The farm we wanted to work at just outside of Rome cancelled on us for vague reasons the day before we were scheduled to board a plane to Italy.
We also had a fairly nightmare-ish experience on a farm outside of Galway in Ireland. While the farm we were working on was beautiful, our host was an absolute terror. We would milk the goats in the morning, plant trees in the bog area, set the firewood stove, tend to the woodlands, weed the garden…and do our host's laundry, or clean his room, or cook him dinner.
There was a strange sense of powerlessness and servitude going on at this farm, and it felt inappropriate. My travel buddy and I agreed that we felt like surrogate wives, or something along those lines. We felt like housekeepers and personal assistants, rather than laborers on an organic farm.
On top of that, the man had a terrible temper, and yelled at us for really insignificant, meaningless things. He yelled at us for eating too much bread, for eating the last banana, for putting something away in the wrong cabinet, or for cooking potatoes that were different sizes. He would lose his temper, and during work, would throw things at us instead of tossing them to us. He was also inappropriate towards another female WWOOFer on the farm, telling her how he'd be a great boyfriend to her and making her feel uncomfortable.
One night, the host berated us for using the wrong blankets in the room he gave us. We decided that we weren't interested in staying there anymore, but we were terrified to tell him that we wanted to quit and get a ride back into town. We woke up at 6am, grabbed all of our things, and walked though the woods to the nearest road. We escaped by hitchhiking, and figuring our way out from there. Quite the adventure! Not an ideal situation, but at least we got out fine.
Since WWOOF doesn't have an online rating or review system, these kinds of things can easily happen. Treating WWOOFers poorly, or canceling on them last minute, does not affect the influx of free labor coming to these farms. WWOOFers go in blind, because everything's on the internet, and there's no way to know how other volunteers have felt about their experience with these farms. We contacted WWOOF Ireland in an attempt to report this specific host, but to no avail. We never heard back from them.
I would definitely do WWOOF again. However, until the organization comes up with a review system, I will never again work for a farmer I haven't met before. I would love to do WWOOF in my home state, with access to my own car and my own escape if I need it. It's an amazing experience, and something I will always consider doing again, just to get out of my own element and experience something different.
Also by Abbie: Dispatch – Three Crazy, Colorful Weeks in Istanbul
Vegan in Croatia, the land of Sunsets, Sea, Gardens and Avjar
Tarot Reading: The New Age Therapy
Photo: Abbie Zulock
How I Avoid Getting Sick Amid Intense Travel, Time Difference & Long-Haul Flights
On Stretch Marks: Learning to Love Body "Imperfection"
Eco Chic Challenge: The 10-Item Wardrobe, Part 2
eco-friendly travelnature traveltravelvegan travel
Abbie Zulock
Abbie Zulock is a writer based out of Seattle, WA, currently traveling throughout Europe, working on organic farms and exploring vegan delicacies around the continent. Abbie is also an experienced professional tarot card reader and when she's not writing or traveling the globe, she can be found hanging out with her black lab, Jackson!


Showcase your logo on this colorful sling!
Embroidery available, please call for details.
Production time does not include the day the order or art approval is received. Art approvals received by 12 Noon EST will result in the product being ready for shipment within 3 business days.


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demerger, especially in the rental market of crawler cranes from 30 to 350 tons.
hour service and they can be deployed with the guarantee of flexible usage.
them for operational use, so that they can be used by the customers without any form of delay.
business certified and experienced crane operators and technical support staff.
purchases and sells both new and used crawler cranes.
dynamic soil compaction, handling and so on.
Some crawler cranes are equipped with a raised cabin with a range of up to 9 meters.
"we'll raise you high in the world"
It is also possible for us to provide you with machines on a "bare rental" basis, which means that you rent a machine without a serving staff.
All Zwagerman crawler cranes and construction equipment are inspected annually in accordance with the EN 13000 directive, which guarantees that all Zwagerm an Crawler Cranes, Construction Equiment and Machinery meets the highest quality standards.
ZWAGERMAN GROUP supports your projects with passion, as our slogan says: We lift your business!
For the latest up-to-date information, we suggest you call us, we are always happy to help.


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Posted on Jul 20, 2017 in News | 0 comments
History of Your Pasta
Are you a pasta lover? Have you ever wondered where your favorite dish originated from? Some people love to enjoy pasta on a daily basis. However, most people do not know where their favorite pasta dish originated from. Check out the history of your favorite pasta to find out where your favorite pasta dishes came from.
The word lasagna was derived from the Greek word laganon, which was used to describe flat dough that was sliced into strips. The Greeks didn't invent the lasagna dish, but they did invent the world's oldest pasta, laganon. Lasagna was first made popular in Naples, Italy during the Middle Ages. It was crafted as a dish for larger crowds, which made it a popular dish for special occasions. Traditional Italian lasagna is made up of ragu, béchamel, and Parmigiano-Reggiano between layers of pasta. This traditional Italian lasagna has been altered slightly in America. It now contains more of a meatier sauce with pork or ground beef and layers of roasted vegetables added.
Fettuccine Alfredo is an Italian-American classic. Fettuccine Alfredo was the brainchild of Alfredo Di Lelio. In 1914, he was trying to create a pasta recipe to satisfy his pregnant wife's cravings and came up with the dish Fettuccine Alfredo. The dish contains a sauce made from Parmesan cheese and butter poured over fettuccine. Alfredo Di Lelio later opened a restaurant in Italy and served this delicious pasta dish. The dish became so popular that he later opened a restaurant in New York. Today, Fettuccine Alfredo is considered an Italian-American favorite. One difference is that it is now commonly made with cream instead of butter.
Carbonara is an Italian pasta dish that originated in Rome during the middle of the 20th century. The word carbonara is derived from the Italian word for a charcoal burner. It is commonly believed that it is named carbonara because it was originally served as a hearty meal for coal miners. It's made up of eggs, Pecorino Romano cheese, bacon, and black pepper over spaghetti, fettuccine, rigatoni, linguine, or Bucatini. In some parts of America, this dish is known as coal miner's spaghetti.
Pasta is a common comfort food. However, not many people are aware of where their favorite dish originated from. Lasagna, Fettuccine Alfredo, and Pasta Carbonara are three Italian-American favorite comfort dishes. Pierino Frozen Foods offers all of the pasta needed to create these three Italian-American classics and more. Check out Pierino Frozen Foods at www.pierinofrozenfoods.com or call us at 866-GO-PASTA for your pasta needs.
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Hope the sleep gets better! And congrats on getting healthier. That's always a good thing!
hoping the sleep gets better too! our boys are so similar that I wanted to ask.. does Elijah speak? my little guy has one word. and he's 29 months. speech is my current big concern so I'm looking everywhere for someone to tell me it takes time and to be patient.
thanks for continuing to post, your blog has always put me at ease. you rock.
Those are great reasons to not be blogging. May sleep return this year!! Happy new year to all of you!


Feel free to bring your own food. Both a grocery store and a Dollar General are within walking distance.
BYOB – bring your own beverages. We will have water and Kool-Aid.
Disclaimer: Some areas of the convention are no-food zones.


Hello Lovely friends! It is that time of year again with the carol singing, family gathering and party going. Perfect time to whip up some beautiful party dresses and church outfits. This year the first one I made for a party is the McCalls 7683 which I bought as soon as it came out. I love the one shoulder look. I used a knit fabric with a lovely floral print and used a pleated festive fabric for the one shoulder overlay. This was so simple to make and I learned a great new technique for creating the slit in the skirt.
I paired the dress with some silver pumps I have had for a while, jazzed the look up great!
I hope you have a love next few days and may the holidays bring you much joy and love.
I love the way you coordinated colors and metallics. You did that!!!
Your dress is gorgeous! Hope you had a great time!
Thank you. It was a fun night.


Opening tip of Wizards vs. Cavs, Game 1, Round 1 of the playoffs in 2008, when times were better for both teams.
The Washington Wizards defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers yesterday, 115-100, and captured their first victory on the road. Now, the Wizards can reflect on their 1-25 road record as they prepare to battle the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. The Orlando Magic were in action on Sunday also, and they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers by a margin of 14 at home. The final score of that game was 89-75. Magic star, Dwight Howard, came up big with 31 points and 13 boards.
Let's go ahead and state the obvious: the Orlando Magic will prove to be a more significant challenge to the Wizards than the Cavs, even though the jury is still out as to whether the mult-team trade between the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and Washington Wizards made the Magic a better team.
Let's face it. Sunday's Wizards vs. Cavs matchup was one to watch for all the wrong reasons. For the same reason people "rubberneck" at car accidents, people tuned into the Wizards vs. Cavs game. It's no secret that things have taken a 180-degree turn since LeBron James decided to take his talents to South Beach. The Cavaliers were on a downward spiral and lost a string of 26 games. 20-six games. No, that's not a typo. The Cavs lost an abysmal 26 games, and were the joke of everyone who had an interest in the NBA and a voice. Finally, the Cavs tasted victory last week, when they defeated Blake Griffin's Los Angeles Clippers (aka the "Blakers"). The Cavs hadn't won since December 18.
The Onion Sports Network even did a piece about the team. The premise of the humorous piece was to scare kids straight by making them visit a Cleveland Cavaliers practice. Go read it for your enjoyment.
I remember when the Cavs vs. Wizards matchups used to mean something. It seems like ages ago that LeBron James' Cavs were battling Gilbert Arenas' Wizards for a playoff spot in the East — that was less than five years ago. How the times have changed.
Wednesday's matchup will be intriguing if not to see if/how Gilbert Arenas and Rashard Lewis play against their former squads. Rashard Lewis missed his second straight game with a sore knee on Sunday, and I haven't heard if he'll return for Wednesday's game. Gilbert Arenas, the former poster boy for the Washington Wizards has had his scoring drop 50 per cent since the trade to Orlando. He currently only averages 8.1 points per game, but to be fair, he's now coming off the bench.
The Wizards vs. Magic game won't be the most exciting NBA game on the Wednesday night schedule, but it will be compelling for many basketball fans as we draw closer to the NBA All-Star break.


For completing the Gunslinger Side Quest in Dying Light you will need 9mm Pistol. You can look out for this weapon rather early in the game.
If you are expecting it in the form of loot from human enemies then you will be rather disappointed as they only carry rifles and melee weapons. Go through the following guide to find Dying Light 9mm Pistol for Completing Gunslinger Side Quest.
You can get the pistol in two different ways, one is to get it from the cottage in the bottom right corner of the slums. This weapon will frequently spawn in this area. Another way is to lockpick police vans. Look for them on highways and bring some lockpicks.
The 9mm Pistol plays an important role in completing Gunslinger Side Quest from the upper tower in the slums. By completing this quest you will have access to a pawn shop that contains two text collectibles. Which is important for collectible hunting.
Dying Light is a zombie apocalypse-themed game set in an open world. Players traverse an expansive urban environment overrun by a vicious pandemic, scavenging the world for supplies and crafting weapons to defend against the growing infected population with a heavy focus on freerunning mechanics.
Players assume the role of Kyle Crane (Roger Craig Smith), an undercover operative sent to infiltrate the quarantine zone in the fictional city of Harran, based off ancient Turkey, as his mission is to find Kadir "Rais" Sulaiman (Michael Hollick), a rogue agent who has a file that could destroy the reputation of the agency. This game is now available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One.


You saw it here first folks!
In a sample from Tesco Pool, March 3rd, an unusually orange heptagenid, not that rare but certainly unusual.
Compare it to the standard , better camouflaged invertebrates from the same sample.
Good diversity and abundance, saw my first examples of shrimps, Gammarus pulex, carrying the parasite Pomphorhynchus laevis .Present in around 5% of them.


Yesterday, my toddler and I had the pleasure of taking a tour of our local fire station. Our church group arranged a visit with a few of the first responders. It was a great activity for my toddler. He knows so much about fire trucks and he was so excited to see a truck in person and touch it with his own hands! The firefighters were very patient with our team of toddlers, explaining all of the different rooms in the fire station in simple terms. Of course, they quizzed us all on basic fire safety before we began the tour. Most of us missed a few of the answers. Oops! I'm glad to say I learned just as much as my toddler did by the time we left. Some of the fire safety tips were new to me, so I wanted to share them with you. No matter where you live, these kid-friendly fire safety tips will keep your family safe and sound.
TIP: Always have two exits available in every room.
As a family, choose a safe location away from your home to meet after evacuating. Children are surprisingly resilient in the face of chaos - so long as they are practiced and familiar with a set "plan". Map out exits for each room in your home, then practice leaving your home quickly and meeting at your designated safe meeting zone.
TIP: Use a neighbor's phone to call emergency services.
Parents, I understand just how gut-wrenching this is to consider. I have two toddlers of my own - a house fire is a real nightmare to me. If you safely exit your home, do not re-enter the building. Our tour guide reminded us that most people who re-enter burning buildings do not survive. It's important that you remain outside to give information to the firefighters on your family's location.
TIP: Schedule a calendar event to test your smoke alarms monthly.
Standard fire alarms issue a high-pitched shrill shriek that pierces your eardrums. It's awful! That screeching "beep-beep-beep" can wake even the heaviest of sleepers. Unfortunately, kids - especially babies and toddlers - have been shown to hide from the noise. They might even burrow under the covers instead of running out of the home. Fire safety is always evolving - and new talking fire alarms make families with babies and toddlers safer in a fire. Some models even allow parents to record a greeting in their own voice! I'll be looking for one of those customizable fire alarms myself.
TIP: Practice Stop, Drop, & Roll!
One of the best tips that the firefighters shared focused on fire extinguishers in the home. Of course, every home should have at least one fire extinguisher. Key places to cover are major appliances, kitchens, and grill areas or patios. I always felt having a fire extinguisher near the stove was the smartest option in the home. It turns out, you should place your fire extinguisher near an exit. When you reach for it to put out a fire, you'll be standing near an exit. If you turn around and the fire has engulfed the room, you can still safely exit. The key is to keep an open path to get out quickly.
Our visit culminated in a real emergency call-out for the team in Engine 1, the busiest engine in the city. I pulled Shep out of the way and we watched the firefighters calmly "scramble" to help someone. I reminded Shep that the firefighters were those helpers that Mister Rogers talks about when he tells us to "look out for the helpers" in times of need. Mostly I'm glad to learn about family fire safety to help my kids - and yours!


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Here's What It's Like to Be a Cyber Elite
Passion, intelligence, and curiosity are the keys to success
It's a hot July afternoon, and a small team scours another Maryland junkyard. As they walk through the mountains of gnarled metal, they're on the lookout for one thing: Car radios. They intend to hack them.
The team is part of Dark Labs, an elite unit of cyber pros at Booz Allen. They have the most advanced tools and techniques, and the mindset of the most talented cyber elite, but instead of trying to break in, they're using their skills to help secure Booz Allen's clients from cyber adversaries around the world.
Each car radio costs $20 and is added to the growing collection of devices Mike Schroeder and his Embedded Vulnerability Analysis team is researching. They're dedicated to finding software flaws and vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure—before adversaries can exploit them. Back at Dark Labs, Mike and his team disassemble and extract firmware from each device, reverse engineering and testing to identify the vulnerabilities that few can find. Their research helps them develop new tools and capabilities, as well as protect Booz Allen's many clients.
Research isn't the only thing Dark Labs does. Fred Frey leads the Advanced Threat Hunting team, which is comprised of expert developers, analysts, and data scientists. Fred and his colleagues have developed an innovative platform that seamlessly leverages an organization's existing Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solution to comb through endpoint metadata and identify malicious events across the entire infrastructure.
"We proactively assess client networks to root out the bad guys," says Fred. "It's a search and destroy operation."
The average time an advanced adversary goes undetected inside a victim's network is 200 days. An adversary can do a lot of damage in that time. Fred helps clients catch the bad guys quickly.
The Advanced Threat Hunting team works closely with the Cyber Analytics team to automate the identification of malicious events in a network system. They make predictions about how a threat actor or their weapons will act within a network and behaviors that a threat hunter would expect to see in the data. This allows Dark Labs to query all endpoints and correlate their responses at scale.
Dark Labs does some of the most unique work in the cybersecurity industry. Since most are elite-level cyber pros, they move fast between federal government and private sector clients. They quickly engage in a client challenge, set up, plan, and then execute. The fast pace and versatility are what Mike likes most about Dark Labs.
"We work on everything from cars to industrial control systems—you name it," he says.
Dark Labs doesn't just do unique work—their culture is different, too. They're passionate about their work. They play capture the flag—a simulated cat-and-mouse game that cyber pros use to sharpen their skills and prove their prowess against others.
When you ask a member of Dark Labs about their first hacks, they quickly rattle off examples of how they hacked systems as teenagers.
Tim Nary, red team lead for Dark Labs, recalls using hacks to give himself more life and ammo in video games, then asked himself, "I wonder what else I can hack?"
What type of people thrive at Dark Labs? Director Will Farrell boils it down to three attributes "Passion, intelligence, and curiosity," he says. "We hire people who want to know how things work."
Will is looking for elite-level cyber pros to apply for cybersecurity jobs at Booz Allen, and there's one other thing he wants them to know about Dark Labs.
"We're really fun," said Will. "This isn't your grandfather's Booz Allen."
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