text:
Wults, Philip M. et al. "Music in London". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 20 November 2017, Historica Canada. https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/london-ont-emc. Accessed 19 January 2020.
Wults, P.,, & Downs, P.,, & Baldwin, J., Music in London (2017). In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/london-ont-emc
Wults, Philip M., and Philip G. Downs, and Jane Baldwin, "Music in London". In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published February 07, 2006; Last Edited November 20, 2017. https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/london-ont-emc
Wults, Philip M., and Philip G. Downs , and Jane Baldwin . The Canadian Encyclopedia, s.v. "Music in London", Last Edited November 20, 2017, https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/london-ont-emc
Article by Philip M. Wults, Philip G. Downs, Jane Baldwin
Last Edited July 28, 2014
Ontario city situated halfway between Toronto and Windsor on the Thames River. It was laid out in 1826, incorporated as a town in 1846 (population 3500), and as a city in 1855.
London, Ont
London, Ont. Ontario city situated halfway between Toronto and Windsor on the Thames River. It was laid out in 1826, incorporated as a town in 1846 (population 3500), and as a city in 1855. By 1990 (estimated population 290,000), it had become a prosperous centre for insurance, educational institutions (University of Western Ontario, Fanshawe College), and agro-industry.
The British regiment, garrisoned in London 1837-53, played an important role in social life. In 1840 the regiment established the Theatre Royal; the garrison band provided music between the acts. In the early 1840s the civilian Mechanics' Institute also fostered music; in 1844 a London Amateur Band took part in the Institute's third-anniversary celebrations. Another early band was the Phoenix Fire Co Band, formed in 1858.
Old St Paul's Anglican Church was the first London church to possess an organ, built by a local cabinetmaker in 1844. It was destroyed when the church burned on Ash Wednesday that year. In 1850 an organ was installed in the Wesleyan Methodist Church on Queen's Avenue. This church also supplemented its choir with instruments: 'Rule IX - that the bass-viol, now in use in the choir, shall be dispensed with as soon as they have a sufficient number of bass singers to do without it, unless the brethren now objecting withdraw their opposition... ' (minutes, January 1850).
With the arrival of rail lines in the early 1850s, London enjoyed visits of touring concert artists, including Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1863, 1864), Carlotta Patti (1863), Henryk Wieniawski (ca 1872 or 1874), and Teresa Carreño (1873). Other favorite travelling entertainments were minstrel and variety shows.
Halls included the Mechanics' Institute (1841), Brunton's Varieties (1855), and the 540-seat City Hall (1855). The Music Hall (1866), seating 580, opened with a 'Grand Concert of Vocal and Instrumental music' directed by Elizabeth Raymond and St John Hyttenrauch; the hall also presented touring minstrel shows and plays. In 1873, renovated, it became the Holman Opera House owned by the Holman English Opera Troupe. Victoria Hall, formerly a church, opened in 1878 and the Grand Opera House (London, Ont) in 1881.
In 1849, launching a long career, Elizabeth Raymond (1832-1902) advertised as a teacher of piano and accordion. An 1856 city directory listed 'W.T. Erith, Professor of classical music!,' Gerolamy's Music & Picture Store (pianos, melodeons, and sheet music), and the 'London Philharmonic Society [with] about 50 members and meetings for vocal and instrumental practice held weekly'. Five music teachers are listed in 1863, no fewer than 76 by the turn of the century.
Raymond and Hyttenrauch dominated the musical scene for several decades. Raymond was organist at Queen's Avenue Methodist Church from 1853 and at St Paul's Cathedral from 1863; she formed the St Paul's Choral Union (called the London Philharmonic Society after 1870). By 1867 'Mrs Raymond's Annual Concert' was a fixture of the London calendar: it consisted of vocal solos and duets by local artists, interspersed with instrumental or choral numbers.
Instrumental music received a major boost from the Danish-born pianist, clarinetist, and bandmaster, St John Hyttenrauch (1833-1924). In 1859, the year after his arrival, he formed the Artillery Band, the first local militia band since the departure of the British garrison in 1853; this band saw duty during the first Fenian Raid. About 1866 Hyttenrauch began to conduct the Seventh Battalion Band. On a visit to London, the Duke of Connaught is reputed to have called it 'the best militia band I have heard in Canada but in Britain as well'. The band also gave summer Promenade Concerts on the parade ground, Military Square (now Victoria Park). Beginning in 1866, Hyttenrauch was associated also with the public schools (eventually as supervisor of music), and later also with Hellmuth Boys' College and, from 1881, with Alma College in St Thomas, Ont.
In 1875 Hyttenrauch conducted 175 participants in the city's first performance of Part One of Messiah. Following this success, he formed the London Musical Union in September 1875, with 22 orchestra members and 88 choristers. The Union however existed for only three years. Hyttenrauch served 1887-8 as president of the Canadian Society of Musicians.
Three other music pioneers, Irish immigrants of Italian descent, the Sippi brothers Charles A. and George B. and their father Charles Sippi Sr (d 1877) appeared regularly in concerts, and the brothers contributed significantly as teachers, organist-choirmasters into the early 20th century. William Saunders (1836-1914), the famous agriculturist and his family were prominent in musical life in the 1880s, and in later years his son Henry (1864-1951) was a cellist with the TSO, while a younger son, Sir Charles (1867-1937), the discoverer of Marquis wheat, was a school-music instructor 1894-1903. Most of the Saunders children studied violin with Roselle Pococke (1857-1925), one of London's first 'home-grown' professionals. Pococke had studied violin with Hyttenrauch and later he conducted regimental bands, organized amateur performing groups, and was an organist and choirmaster. His daughter, Merlyn Pococke, pursued a career as singer and teacher. The Corteses were another leading musical family. Anthony Cortese, a professionally-trained musician, came to London in 1878. His three sons, Angelo, Jack, and Joseph, together with the Briglia family, organized the London Harpers (harps, 2 violins, flute) and toured throughout Western Ontario. W. James Birks advanced choral singing as a church music director at and founder (1885) of the male-voice London Arion Club.
In the late 19th century instrumental groups were often short-lived while choral ones flourished and the churches resounded with choral song. At a cautious estimate, over 2000 Londoners sang regularly in church choirs at a time when the city's population was less than 40,000. Many church choirs presented standard oratorios and large sacred works in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, occasionally featuring a. work by a local organist-composer.
City churches and their organists remained influential between the two world wars. The London Echo on 22 Mar 1934 published biographies and portraits of T.C. Chattoe, (Metropolitan United Church); Frederic T. Egener, (Cronyn Memorial Church); and Charles E. Wheeler (St Andrew's Presbyterian Church) who, like Egener, had made frequent live broadcasts. Another prominent London organist was Ernest White, who returned to his home town from New York for a short period 1948-51 as director of Music Teachers' College and supervised the installation of a baroque organ at Aeolian Hall.
Touring opera troupes visited the Grand Opera House regularly, starting in the late 19th century: in 1889 the Stetson Opera Co of Boston performed The Yeomen of the Guard, and the New American Opera Co staged Wallace's Maritana; in 1890 Conreid's Comic Opera Co brought The Gypsy Baron, the Emma Juch Grand English Opera Co Lohengrin (with piano), and the William J. Gilmore Comic Opera Co The Sea King by Richard Stahl. Later, standard operas, often in concert versions, appeared with some frequency: the San Carlo Opera Company, Columbia Opera Co, Rosselino Opera Group, and Royal Cons Opera (University of Toronto Opera Division) all visited during the 1940s. In 1953 the Arena was the site of a production of Samson and Delilah with Jon Vickers.
Local churches too presented operas: St Andrew's Church staged H.M.S. Pinafore in 1932 and, 30 years later, as First St Andrew's, The Happy Prince by Malcolm Williamson (1971) and The Selfish Giant (1974) by the church's organist, Barrie Cabena. Other local ventures included productions of the University of Western Ontario opera workshop and performances at Aeolian Hall conducted by Gordon Jeffery (Cosi fan tutte, 1965; The Marriage of Figaro, 1967). In 1955 Jeffery commissioned Godfrey Ridout's opera The Saint, on a local theme; its librettist was a resident historian, Orlo Miller.
London welcomed touring orchestras starting in the first decade of the 20th century. In 1904, the Pittsburgh Orchestra, conducted by Victor Herbert, appeared with a London Combined Chorus. The Theodore Thomas Orchestra, the Chicago SO, the New York SO, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Cleveland Symphony all visited between 1905 and 1933.
The London Musical Protective Association was formed 1 Feb 1902. A year later, the union affiliated with the AF of M as Local 279. Hyttenrauch was its first president. By 1940 more than 1100 members had joined; membership in 1991 was ca 600.
Music was a curriculum staple at Hellmuth Ladies' College, which operated 1869-99. Teaching at the college at one time or another were the Sippis, and William Caven Barron (1864-1936). Lucy Clinton, a pupil of Clara Schumann and 'holding certificates from Sir Sterndale Bennett and Cipriani Potter, etc.,' was 'Lady Principal and Musical Directress' in 1881. Later directors were Waugh Lauder and Thomas W. Martin (1861-1943).
In 1892 Barron became the director of the London Conservatory of Music and School of Elocution, which continued under that name until 1939. F. Linforth Willgoose replaced Barron as director in 1910. An affiliation with the University of Western Ontario was made jointly in 1910 by Willgoose and the principal of the Brantford Cons, but in 1915 the London Cons withdrew from the arrangement.
Another school, active 1902-11, was the Harding Hall College and Central Conservatory. It offered instruction in voice, theory, piano, violin, and guitar as well as the usual elocution; 'moral and mental science'; and oil, watercolour, and china painting. Its impressive faculty included E.W.G. Quantz (1876-1942), A.D. Jordan, Pococke, Wheeler, Hyttenrauch, and Martin.
Jordan, a dominant figure after the turn of the 20th century, assumed the directorship of the London Oratorio Society ca 1905. In 1916 he founded the Musical Art Society, sponsoring concerts by imported artists. Associated with the society was a 400-voice choir, and an orchestra of students and amateurs. In 1919 Jordan organized the Institute of Musical Arts, engaging noted teachers from the TCM (RCMT) for weekly visits as well as the best teachers in London and attracting an enrolment of 960. By 1922 the rivals, the Institute and the London Cons had amalgamated. In turn the Institute was absorbed in 1934 by the newly-formed WOCM.
Jordan also had helped organize in 1930 the mixed London Orpheus Choir. Mrs Jordan continued her husband's enterprises: by 1933 she was conducting an A.D. Jordan Memorial Choir and Little Symphony. In 1938, the Memorial Choir was reorganized as the London Philharmonic Choir under Harvey Robb.
The Belgian-born César Borré (1880-1950) filled the gap left when Jordan died. Organist at St Peter's Cathedral, in 1930 he formed the Ladies' Choral Society and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, immediate forerunner of the London Civic Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra London). In 1931 the choir and orchestra performed an excerpt from his opera L'Amour d'Apache. He returned to Belgium briefly during 1935 to conduct at the World's Fair and in 1937 moved to Toronto. After Borré's departure, the Ladies' Choir was conducted by George Lethbridge, later by Robb, and from 1949 by Earle Terry.
By the end of World War I, music had become an important element of public education. E.W. Goethe Quantz, music director for the schools from 1906, organized the Public School Festival Choirs (650 voices) and developed elementary- and secondary-school orchestras. During his career he held positions in music and music-education societies in both Canada and the USA.
Don Wright was director of music for the London Board of Education 1940-6. In 1947 he formed a 14-voice choir, the Don Wright Chorus (originally the CFPL Chorus), active until 1956 and widely known from many local and network broadcasts. Earle Terry, Wright's successor as director of school music 1947-77, also had a nationally-famous choir, the all-female Earle Terry Singers (1948-63). Another prominent musical leader of the postwar era was Martin Boundy, conductor of the London SO 1949-69. An educator with the public school board and later director of instrumental music for the separate (Roman Catholic) school board he became in 1969 director of music at the newly-formed community college, Fanshawe College.
In 1934 the WOCM was established; Frederick L. Newnham was named director. In 1935 Newnham assumed added duties as director of music at the University of Western Ontario. The conservatory affiliated with the university in 1939, and became reorganized under Harvey Robb's direction. In 1945 Bruce Sharpe, violinist and past conductor of the London Civic SO, began a University-Conservatory Orchestra of strings, supplemented on occasion by winds and brasses. In the same year Max Pirani, head of the piano department at the conservatory, was appointed first director of Music Teachers' College. In 1946 Alfred Rosé conducted the university's first opera workshop.
In addition to churches and educational bodies, other organizations fostered music. The Women's Morning Music Club, one of the city's staunchest cultural organizations, was founded in 1894 by Louise Carling. By 1909-10, membership stood at 144; there were 12 afternoon recitals, 2 social evenings, and 2 artist concerts. In 1922-3 the club changed direction, giving only artist and student-artist concerts - and membership doubled. Guest artists that year included Flora Goulden, Helen Pengelly, Paul de Marky, and Harry Adaskin. Among noted participants in succeeding seasons were Claude Biggs, Sophie Braslau, the Hart House String Quartet, and the TSO. By 1945 the club had 1,500 members.
As entrepreneurs, the Cortese brothers brought Amelita Galli-Curci to the Grand Opera House in 1921, and later Frieda Hempel, Mischa Elman, and other outstanding artists. London's Community Concert Association was formed in 1931 to aid the Women's Music Club in inviting non-local performers. By 1935 its membership had reached 1400. Performers included many prominent star soloists of the period, but few Canadians. The association's activities ceased in 1970. The London Chamber Music Society, formed in 1939 with local professional and semi-professional musicians, presented monthly concerts. On occasion Canadian guest artists such as Harry Adaskin (1943), the Parlow Quartet (1944, 1945, 1947), and Greta Kraus (1948) were featured. Over 140 programs were given 1942-66.
The output of London composers before the turn of the 20th century consisted mainly of popular songs, piano pieces, and sacred works. The piano and music dealer Charles F. Colwell (1846-1924) published songs by local musicians in the late 1870s and 1880s. In 1894 Ethel Clive Holmes, under the pseudonym 'Ethelbert Clive,' published the Armorel Polka. The London Soap Co published some pieces in the late 1890s and early 1900s, engraved locally by the Ontario Litho Co and Knowles & Co, among them the famous 'Sweet Marie' (words by Cy Warman, music by Raymon [sic] Moore). Two song-writers associated with London went on to success in the USA - Alfred Bryan (1871-1958; 'I Didn't Raise My Boy to be a Soldier') and James O'Dea (1871-1914; 'The Sweetest Girl in Dixie').
'Booster' songs were an important genre between 1900 and World War II, cultivated by such local composers as C.L. Graves, Wilfred Charles Traher, Melville Platt, and Charles Wheeler. World War I inspired patriotic songs such as G.B. Sippi's 'Canadian Forever' (1915), Sarah Lawrence's 'Men Wanted' (1917), and Olive M. Skelton's 'Our Liberty Bell' and 'Our Yankee Lads' (both 1918). Wheeler published between 30 and 40 works for choir in addition to 10 songs and 2 cantatas; his manuscripts are in the London Room of the London Public Library.
Works for the stage by London composers include Frank Aldridge's opera Bells of Brittany (1929) and Eric Arthur Minnitt's light opera Suzanne, first performed in 1933 and revived in 1935. London-born Raymond Pannell has been notably productive of music-theatre works. Merwin Lewis wrote Masquerade of Dreams for the University of Western Ontario opera workshop in 1978. Composers associated with the University of Western Ontario have included Kristi Allik, Jack Behrens, Peter Clements, Arsenio Girón, Alan Heard, Peter Paul Koprowski, and Gerhard Wuensch. Among the city's other composers are Gerald Bales, Barrie Cabena and Merwin Lewis.
The first competitive music festival in London was established in 1922. The Kiwanis Music Festival, begun in 1961, was still in 1991 a major annual event for young performers and their teachers. In later years Canadian Music Competitions flourished alongside the Kiwanis events.
London has also hosted many non-competition festivals. The 1942 'Battle of Bands,' a benefit for musicians engaged in the war effort, attracted 1500. Gordon Jeffery mounted an annual Bach Festival 1949-54. The Home County Folk Festival, running continuously beginning in 1974, started as a venue for folk music and arts and by 1991 concentrated on ethnic musics. Local musicians such as the Dixie Flyers (formed in 1974) have played alongside musicians from the rest of North America and, more recently, Africa. Venues for folk music in the 1970s included the York Hotel, home of the Nihilist Spasm Band (formed in the mid-1960s and in the early 1990s still performing), the Cuckoo's Nest (established ca 1971) and Smales [sic] Pace. An important newer example is the summer Royal Canadian Big Band Festival.
Among London bands of the postwar years were the Moose Boys' Band (1937-46), the Police Boys' Band (1943-60, a 'feeder' for the London Civic SO), the London Tech Concert Band (1947-56), and the Royal Canadian Regiment Band (1947-70). Choral groups remained active, though fewer in number than in earlier generations. The London Pro Musica, formed in 1970, is a chamber choir whose conductors have been John Barron, Deral Johnson, Howard Dyck, Brian Jackson, and (beginning in 1988) Ken Fleet. For its tenth anniversary the choir commissioned Merwin Lewis' Ode, and in 1981 it premiered Gordon Atkinson's Hodie. Other choirs are the Fanshawe Chorus, conducted by Gerald Fagan; the Gerald Fagan Singers; the Amabile Youth Choir, an international-award-winning girls' choir; and the Amabile Boys' Choir.
Reflecting a growing interest in period instruments, L'Harmonie Universelle Ancienne, founded in 1987 by Henry Meredith, is a collective of several groups performing older repertoire, often in period costume. Professional chamber ensembles of the late 1980s include the 12-member Brassworks formed by James White in 1988 and Trio London, formed in 1989 by the pianist Jane Hayes, the flutist Fiona Wilkinson, and the bassoonist James McKay.
In the 1950s jazz flourished at such venues as the Brass Rail, the Iroquois Hotel, and Campbells' Tavern. Later locations include the York Hotel, the Victoria Tavern, Wonderland Gardens, the Marienbad, the Forest City Gallery, and the Embassy Cultural House. The single-reed player Eric Stach has been active in London from the early 1970s on with groups such as the London Experimental Jazz Quartet, Big Band, and the Eric Stach Free Music Unit. The Oliver Whitehead Quintet, formed in 1982, has appeared at the FIJM (1983, 1988). The Forest City Jazz Band, active from 1983, plays Dixieland. Major survivors of the city's jazz scene are the Central Library's jazz concert series (beginning in 1972), and the monthy meetings of the London Jazz Society.
An important concert and chamber music venue opened 1969 is Aeolian Town Hall (see Gordon Jeffery). It houses a Gabriel Kney organ built for it and dedicated in December 1971. After Jeffery's death in 1986, a New Aeolian Chamber Orchestra, financed by the Gordon Jeffery Trust Fund, was formed in 1988.
The University of Western Ontario's Alumni Hall (1967) has been the locale of entertainments ranging from touring COC operas, ballet, chamber music, and orchestras from around the world (as well as the University of Western Ontario SO) to folk musicians and jazz and rock groups. The J.W. Little Stadium (1929), originally a university sports facility, has also seen outdoor rock concerts. Two more intimate halls operated by the Faculty of Music, Talbot Theatre (1966) and the Clifford von Kuster Recital Hall (1971), present recitals, chamber music, and choral concerts. Centennial Hall (1967) is the home of Orchestra London and other entertainments. The London Regional Art Gallery offers solo and chamber recitals as well as the Trillium Series of new music.
In the late 19th century, London was home to several small piano and organ manufacturers. Andrus Bros. (later Andrews Bros, ca 1859-74) were makers of cabinet organs and melodeons. By 1871 Charles H. and Dempsey Benson were listed as melodeon makers, and by 1872 as piano makers. The piano factory of John Nitschke, 1869-84, advertised a square piano. Evans Bros, manufactured pianos in London from 1871 or 1872, moving to Ingersoll, Ont, in 1887. Piano-making resumed in 1910 when the Sherlock-Manning Organ Co began to make pianos as well as organs; in 1930 this firm relocated in Clinton, Ont. An important 20th-century organ-building firm is Gabriel Kney & Co, opened 1951, builders of the organ in Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto. Other London music businesses in the 20th century have included GRT of Canada, Sparton Records, Starr Records, and the publishers Jaymar Music Ltd.
London and its environs have been the birthplace of Reginald Bedford, Suzanne Bingaman, Victor Braun, George MacKenzie Brewer, Garnet Brooks, Gustav Ciamaga, William Douglas, Garth Hudson of The Band, Tommy Hunter, Joanne Ivey Mazzoleni, Gordon Jeffery, the Lombardo family, Rob McConnell, Kevin McMillan, the Niosi brothers, Rowland Pack, Raymond Pannell, Harry Puddicombe, George Smale, Frank A. Veitch (publisher of the Musical Red Book of Montreal and manager of the Couture and Goulet MSOs), and Ernest White.
Mason, Lawrence. 'Ontario vistas: IV - London,' Toronto Globe, 18 Jul 1925
'The whole country looks to London, Ontario,' CBC Times, 23-9 Mar 1952
Crawford, Lenore. 'City bands, choirs famous,' London Centennial pamphlet (London 1955)
Hines, Frances R. 'Concert life in London Ontario 1870-1880,' M MUS thesis, University of Western Ontario 1975
Fanshawe Chorus LondonThe website for the acclaimed Fanshawe Chorus London.
Music in Peterborough
Music in Montréal
Music in Oshawa


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This is a list of thriller films released in the 2020s.

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Forthcoming

References

2020s thriller films
Lists of thriller films by decade
Thriller

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Fujifilm has launched its first weather-resistant XF lens for the X-series lineup of interchangeable-lens cameras. The new lens, which would pair particularly well with the weather-tough Fujifilm X-T1, offers a versatile focal range and features an impressive five-stop image stabilization system which uses high precision gyro sensors.
The Fujinon XF 18-135-mm F3.5-F5.6 R LM OIS WR will have a 27-206-mm equivalent focal range on an X-series X-mount camera. Covering wide angle to telephoto means it could be used for shooting most subjects, whether that's landscapes, portraits or even sports. However, the F3.5-F5.6 variable maximum aperture limits its light gathering ability, particularly at the telephoto end.
To make the XF 18-135-mm weatherproof, Fujifilm has used a dust-proof and waterproof structure, with weather-resistant sealing applied to more than 20 different areas. Smooth operation of the whatever-the-weather zoom lens is achieved thanks to a ventilator which has been placed on the inside of the base of the lens barrel, with the structure preventing dust particles and moisture from getting into the lens.
The new lens also boasts what Fujifilm is describing as the world's most advanced image stabilization system. This sees the XF 18-135-mm adopt high-precision gyro sensors installed with quartz oscillators, to detect movement from high frequency to low frequency bandwidths. As a result, the lens can offer optical stabilization equivalent to five stops. Such levels of stabilization are obviously very welcome if shooting in lower light situations, or at longer zooms.
Inside there are 16 lens elements in 12 groups, including four aspherical elements and two ED lenses. This is said to help achieve rich and sharp images, while reducing lens flare and ghosting. With a 75.7 mm (2.98 inch) maximum diameter, the lens remains fairly compact and measures 97.8 mm (3.85 inch) long, extending to 158 mm (6.22 inch) when shooting at full telephoto. It weighs 490 g and has a 67 mm filter thread.
The new lens is the first of three weather-resistant XF lenses from Fujifilm which are due to be launched by the end of 2014. The others will be a XF 16-55-mm F2.8 R OIS WR, and a XF 50-140-mm F2.8 R OIS WR.
The Fujinon XF 18-135-mm F3.5-F5.6 R LM OIS WR will be available from July, with a price tag of around US$900.


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Home » Books-media » Books + Media » The Dark
By Lemony Snicket |
Illustrated by Jon Klassen
Orchard | UK | 2013
£6.99 | US$10.75 |
€9.49 | A$14.99
Lazlo's light bulb moment
by Catherine O'Dolan October 10, 2015
There's drama and cinematic tension as one young boy faces his fear to venture into the dark – and makes a surprising discovery.
Fear of the dark is a common cause of childhood (maybe even some grown-up) angst. When you consider the sparse interior of Lazlo's home – "a big place with creaky roof, smooth cold windows and several flights of stairs" – you can hardly blame the poor lad for getting occasional chills.
Penned by the master of dark (ahem) storytelling Lemony Snicket, 'The Dark' is artfully personified as a lurking force that pervades hidden corners and permeates dingy crevices, but mostly it lives downstairs
One night, however, the Dark invites Lazlo into his basement home. You might think common sense would urge Lazlo to keep to the bright safety of the light, but where's the adventure in that?
So, in the true spirit of the scary movie genre, Lazlo dutifully ventures into the dark unknown and, even though we might secretly want to shout out 'Don't go there!', there's also a sense of suspense and expectant glee as readers wonder what lies ahead
In a surprising twist, the Dark is not such a bad guy after all as he explains the important role he plays – for example, without the dark we'd never see the stars. He also bestows a gift that ensures the Dark will never bother Lazlo again. Let's just call it a 'light bulb moment.'
Whilst not necessarily guaranteed to dispel fears, this offbeat picture book has the signature quirkiness of Snicket's novels A Series of Unfortunate Events that brings a wry smile. Readers will feel plenty of empathy with lone figure Lazlo, who strikes a solitary figure as he plays, but it also begs questions about his back story: where are his parents?
There are also moments of cinematic suspense, as Lazlo is slowly but surely lured into the basement, not knowing what to expect, that are worthy of Hitchcock. Here, illustrator Jon Kalssen proves the perfect accomplice to Snicket, as his brilliant use of shades of black bring a cinematic depth worthy of the best films noirs – but with a happy ending.
Fun fact As well as lighting up the night sky, the moon also controls the world's oceans. The moon is the reason we have high and low tides. Only 12 people have ever set foot there, but because there is no wind if you visited the moon today you would still see their footprints.
Did you know? Author Daniel Handler first used the pseudonym Lemony Snicket when he was researching his first book The Basic Eight to find offensive or funny, but he did not want to use his real name. The name's similarity to Jiminy Cricket, Handler said, was "likely a Freudian slip." Handler describes Jiminy Cricket as "exactly the kind of overly moralistic, cheerful narrator who I despise."
Author notes Lemony Snicket is the pen name of American novelist Daniel Handler (born February 28, 1970). Snicket is the author of many children's biographies, serving as the narrator of A Series of Unfortunate Events, his best-known work, and appearing as a character within the series.
Illustrator Jon Klassen was born in Winnipeg, Canada, where the dark arrives early for much of the year. He has written and illustrated many books, including I Want My Hat Back and This Is Not My Hat.
Sadler's Wells Sampled

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A short while back, word broke that Danish actor Mads Mikklesen was in early talks to play one of the villains in the upcoming Doctor Strange. We haven't heard much since then but now the actor has finally commented on the possibility of joining the Marvel Studios film. While speaking with MTime, Mikkelsen stated that he' just waiting on the call from the studio.
While his comments like there haven't been any talks, we all know that isn't always necessarily true when it comes to a Marvel production. The studio is known to have a bit of a tight-lip policy and we probably won't learn if the actor is indeed signed on until Marvel makes an announcement regarding the film.


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Yachts Altima 55 Pilothouse
Altima 55 Pilothouse
This good-looking build soldiers through rough seas in style-without triggering sticker shock.
By Chris Caswell
It's been said that a sea trial should be like a woman's skirt: short enough to be interesting, but long enough to cover everything. If that's the case, I knew within minutes of clearing the breakwaters off Ft. Lauderdale that the Altima 55 was going to be a very likable yacht.
It was one of those flawless Florida days: A cold front had passed, leaving warm sun and a clear sky. But the breeze lingering from the front had muscle in it, so when we reached the sea buoy, we were punching into a mishmash of leftover seas that tumbled and churned like a washing machine.
Sea trials are often performed on flat water, testing a writer's storytelling ability more than the prowess of the yacht. Aboard the 55 with Frank Sciortino of North East Seas Yacht Sales (Altima's builder and importer), however, I encountered real-life conditions-ones in which we actually use our boats.
I'm pleased to report the Altima 55 was less concerned about the seas than we were. Running at fixed rpm to get the performance numbers often puts a boat in an awkward attitude, mushing along just shy of a plane or going too fast for the conditions, but the 55 shrugged aside the seas, throwing spray flat and out to the side-rather than back in our faces-and soldiered on.
We also ran at varying speeds down sea. Again, this would make many boats uncomfortable, but the Altima just slid along, tracking nicely and showing no inclination to wander. It wasn't a pleasant day offshore, but the 55 offered a pleasant ride. Decibel levels were pleasingly low, and the torque of her diesels proved sufficient to maneuver her in most situations. Cruising couples and families will find the Altima 55 is more than just a floating second home.
Since she was built in China, I had approached the Altima 55 with trepidation-some past boats from behind the Great Wall reminded me of early efforts from Taiwan. It turns out I had no reason to worry. For one thing, her builder is a well-established Taiwanese yard that chose China for cost considerations; the company didn't suddenly abandon quality when it crossed the border. Second, each Altima gets a thorough "Franking before delivery; Sciortino watches every boat as she's built, inspects her before loading her onto a ship, then rechecks her when she arrives Stateside. The result is a thoroughly modern motoryacht with some clever features and a reasonable price tag.
"Our goal with all Altimas", Sciortino said, "is to provide a well-built and well-equipped motoryacht at a price that is extremely competitive."
If you really want to get a sense of the Altima, take the stairs down from the hydraulically operated hatch in the cockpit and inspect the engineroom. Actually, you'll find yourself first in a capacious lazarette that serves as an electrical flat with the 17kW Onan genset, batteries and full access to the double-ram steering.
Surprisingly for a 55-footer, there's full headroom in the engineroom, as well as access around the twin 635 hp Cummins QSM11 diesels, though Sciortino said the outboard fuel tanks will be narrowed for even more space. The 635 hp QSM11s are a $73,500 upgrade-a good choice for those who wish to reach a 20-knot top speed. Also optional are 660 hp Cummins QSM11s and 800 hp Caterpillar 3406s.
The 55's seamanlike features include a redundant pump for the Marine Air system-this way, if a plastic bag clogs the primary pump, a turn of the valve restores the cool air. A 2.5kW Heart inverter can operate all electrical systems (except the a/c) at night, so there is no need to engage the generator.
Step through the stainless-steel sliding door into the saloon, and you'll find another thoughtful touch: a full-size day head to starboard. Most boats of this size make guests descend to the lower level to find the loo, but this head is convenient to living areas in the saloon, cockpit and flying bridge.
Cherry was the wood of choice aboard our test boat (a number of materials, from teak to anigre, are available), and it was finished in a high gloss that set off the delicate inlays and burl accent panels. A Toshiba flat-screen TV is hidden behind tambour doors aft (the next 55 will have a pop-up TV), while electric Roman shades and a Hi-Lo table complete the area.
The U-shape galley, on the pilothouse level, opens fore and aft, so the cook won't be left out. This openness, broken only by overhead cabinets, gives the skipper a good view aft. The only drawback is that the refrigerator precludes a window to starboard. Gold fixtures set off the black-granite sole and countertops, and stowage includes fitted cabinets for glassware and china.
The pilothouse has a single helm seat behind the burl dash, and our test boat had an L-shape settee with table to port for lounging and formal dining. (A freestanding table with chairs is available for calm-water cruisers.) Pantograph doors open on both sides for access to the decks during docking, and the teak-and-holly sole is practical for all weather. It's a bit tight squeezing between the galley and helm seat, but that's to be expected aboard a 55-footer. The helm affords the skipper an unencumbered view forward and full management of the yacht's controls.
Wide stairs lead down to the staterooms. The full-beam master suite, positioned amidships, includes an unusual teak-and-holly sole, a queen berth and a beveled, mirrored headboard flanked by gold sconces. The starboard side is devoted to two large hanging lockers and a built-in bureau. A pocket door encloses the portside head, which includes a large shower behind an ornate tempered-glass door, black-marble counters and a separate compartment for the MSD.
A guest stateroom is forward, providing direct access to the head and shower shared by the port stateroom. While twin berths are available in the guest cabin, this 55 was fitted with a full-length desk on the inboard bulkhead, complete with a panel that slides out to create more room for office work. Outboard, a full-length settee unfolds into a small double, so the cabin can be used for guests. An ironing board is concealed in one bulkhead to go with the washer/dryer tucked in the foyer.
The flying bridge has easy stairs from the pilothouse and cockpit; each stairway is capped by a sturdy weather hatch. A pair of Devine helm chairs is behind the full-width dash with flat-screen monitors. This 55 has a full soft enclosure, as well as air-conditioning on the bridge-a welcome addition in the tropics. A fiberglass console hides the standard Jenn-Air grill and sink, and a second console aft has a refrigerator/icemaker. The boat deck is cantilevered, with no support posts, but it handled a 12-foot RIB and the Steelhead 800-pound crane without flex.
Surrounding the bridge and deck are oversize, welded stainless-steel rails that give the feel of a larger yacht. Another big-yacht feature is the backlit nameboard on each side of the bridge. At the bow, an oversize double roller plank is fitted with a Maxwell windlass, and the side decks are comfortably spacious, with deep bulwarks.
By any standard, the Altima 55 is a lot of boat, especially when you consider her base price-$875,000-and the flexibility of her builder. Good-looking, well constructed and thoughtfully designed, this yacht is going to put the Altima name on the American map.
Contact: North East Seas Yacht Sales & Brokerage Inc., (514) 352-2255; (954) 547-1011; www.altimayacht.com.
, Long Range Cruisers, Motoryachts


text:
Kjell Oscarius, född 1 maj 1943 i Stockholm, död 29 maj 2022, var en svensk idrottsman och världsmästare i curling. Han och hans lag vann VM-guldet i curling i Kanada 1973.

Källor
Denna artikel är delvis baserad på artikeln Kjell Oscarius på engelskspråkiga Wikipedia.
Världsmästerskapsvinnare (män) i curling på sports123.com. Läst den 12 januari 2018.
The Ottawa Journal, 26 mars 1973. Läst den 12 januari 2018.
Jättebragden i Kanada största ögonblicket för 60-årsfirande Djursholms CK i Mitt i Hela Stockholm, 13 oktober 2016. Läst den 12 januari 2018.
 Kjell Oscarius på Familjesidan.se

Noter

Män
Födda 1943
Avlidna 2022
Svenska curlare
Världsmästare i curling
Idrottare från Stockholm


Safety, Guided Tour of the Falls, Day to Chobe worth the Money?
with some questions and a rough itinerary.
just to get to know the city and visit the falls without any specific plan.
Falls Backpackers (357 Gibson Road)?
Do you recommend a guided tour at the falls or is it as spectacular by myself too?
should I book it in advance or will it work out if just ask for it on the falls?
3rd day the Full Day White Water Rafting.
and especially an overnight trip worth the extra penny or would you prefer discover Safaris instead?
dates already or it ok to book them on the same day?
Is bottled water, food supplies and affordable restaurants easily to be found?
wild animals that could be around – but for no other reason.
Bottle water and food supplies can very easily be brought from [Jays] Supermarket in town.
path is very straight forward and if you don't really need to know all these details – (or if you have read it all on our web site – before hand) you probably would not need the guided tour.
that is maybe not what you think.
overnight stay is not really worth the money.
The Discover Safari is a great trip and you will certainly have more of a personal experience with Charles -but if it is numbers and variety of game that you are after - the Chobe National Park is better that the Zambezi National Park where the Discover Safaris operate.
forward hearing back from you.


Rod Stewart will be touring the UK for the first time in three years during 2019. The legendary rocker will perform live at Birmingham Arena on Friday 13th December as part of the Rod Stewart Live In Concert Tour.
Tickets to see Rod Stewart live on tour at Birmingham Arena went on general sale on Friday 22nd February, priced from £55 plus fees.


text:
Masih Alinejad at the Women in the World L.A. Salon.
My Stealthy Freedom
Masih Alinejad: "My hair was like a hostage in the hands of the Iranian government"
One of the immediately striking things about Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad is her hair — a burst of brown curls with streaks of blonde at the ends.
But Alinejad didn't always let her hair go free. Raised by a conservative family in a village in northern Iran, she spent her youth wearing the traditional hijab, in accordance with her family's values — and with the country's strict Islamic dress code. "My hair was like a hostage in the hands of the Iranian government," Alinejad recalled at the Women in the World Salon in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
In 2014, Alinejad started a social movement against the compulsory rule with a Facebook page called My Stealthy Freedom. After posting a picture of herself, standing and feeling the wind in her hair, other Iranian women soon sent her their own photos, which showed them casting off their headscarves. The page has since attracted over 900,000 "likes"; it's written in both English and Farsi, serving as a hub for discussions about women's rights and personal choice in Iranian society.
"For me, as a woman, it's not just about a piece of cloth," Alinejad said. "It's about my own identity. It's about myself — my true self."
Of course, plenty of women across the Islamic world wear the hijab as a personal choice. Fashion label Dolce & Gabbana even recently debuted a hijab and abaya collection, and many have seen this as a sign of progress — not to mention a way to counteract the recent wave of Islamophobia precipitated by the attacks of ISIS and the ravings of Donald Trump.
Alinejad, in a discussion with author Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, said she has nothing against Islam, and pointed out that her mother and sister both wear the hijab. What she's against, however, is the way that Iran's rules on women's dress – instituted after the 1979 revolution that transformed Iran to an Islamic Republic – is used as a tool to control women.
This is why she speaks out when women politicians like Julie Bishop, Australia's foreign affairs minister, don the hijab on visits to the country. Alinejad sees it as reinforcing a rule that many women in Iran oppose. "[Foreign politicians] obey the compulsory rule, and they wear hijab," she said. "Why? Because they think hijab is required by law. Slavery used to be a law. Slavery used to be legal."
Masih Alinejad. (REUTERS/Toby Melville)
A veteran journalist who's been living in exile from her home country since 2009, Alinejad is no stranger to political defiance. At age 19, she was jailed in Iran for handing out leaflets speaking out against the government. In 2005, she was banned from the Iranian parliament. Later she covered Iran's "Green Movement," interviewing families whose children had been tortured and murdered by authorities amid massive protests over the controversial 2009 presidential election.
Just this week, Alinejad interviewed a TV news anchor in Iran, Sheena Shirani, who quit her job and fled the country because she'd faced constant sexual harassment from her boss. Alinejad said this was the same state-run TV station that once falsely reported that she had been publicly raped in London, in an attempt to discredit her My Stealthy Freedom campaign.
Alinejad's own experience with the headscarf began when she was seven years old. Raised in a conservative household, she wore it inside the house and out, and it took her years to finally come to terms with letting it go. "It's not as easy to take off your scarf and say, 'This is me.' No – I had to fight with my family. I had to fight with the society I grew up [in]. I had to fight with the government. I was worried about judgment," she said. "For me, it was important to not shame my family."
When she started My Stealthy Freedom, she was excited but also worried, knowing that the women whose photos she was publishing were taking a risk. Still, even without publicly shucking off the headscarf, she said that women in Iran often have to deal with strict regulations as well as crackdowns from religious authorities – all of which forces them to pursue their passions and transgressions in secret. "In Iran, if you want a woman not doing anything, just tell them, 'Don't do that' – and then they do it," Alinejad said. "We do everything underground."
My Stealthy Freedom is her way of publicizing those private acts of liberation: "Now when they talk loud, they can't say that we are stealthy, we are being secret. We are out there, and everyone around the world, they see a real face of Iran."
Iranian women post playful protest videos, driving without mandatory hijabs
Iranian actress who posted photos online not wearing a hijab forced to flee country
The day 100,000 Iranian women protested the head scarf
Women in Iran post videos online of themselves walking in public with their heads uncovered


Le Vele Residence rises up on a small hill in Cala Lupo Bay, in a quiet area at 2 km from the centre of Stintino and from the famous beach of La Pelosa. The residence offers accommodation in 18 studios equipped with modern amenities, kitchenette, A/C, LCD TV and wifi. It's 50 km far away from Alghero Airport, 30 km from Porto Torres, 150 km from Olbia airport/port and Golfo Aranci port.
A sandy beach alternated in rocky spot with gorgeous glimpse on the bay is about 100 metres.
It's plenty of good restaurants and bars and there is a wide choice for extra activities such as tennis, scuba diving, boat excursions. Just a few km from the Residence depart the daily ferry boat to the Natural Park of the Asinara Island.
Close to our residence you can find small private beach as well as famous LaPelosa Beach.


text:
Q: Jquery prevAll() in Angular way I have 4 empty star icons. And every time it goes forward the previous star will be shaded. Just like prevAll() in Jquery sample in this link. But I want it to be done in Angular way.
So far this is my work:

My directive:
.directive('testCase', function () {
    return {
        restrict: 'A',
        scope: {
            'condition': '='
        },
        link: function (scope, element, attrs) {
            scope.$watch('condition', function(condition){
                if(condition){
                    element.prevAll().addClass('glyphicon-star'); // this line won't work
                }
            })
        }
    }
});

I didn't include all the conditions in the li. So don't mind how can I tell where the progress of star is.
Any idea how to do this?

A: .prevAll() method is not provided by jqLite. For this you need to use jQuery or better to use ng-class directive.
More about angular.element

With ng-class directive:

Plnkr in action.

A: A Vanilla JavaScript alternative to prevAll if you do not want load full jQuery library (because jqLite not provided prevAll) is this code:
var prevAll = true;
prevAll = [].filter.call(<htmlElement>.parentNode.children, function (htmlElement) {
    return (htmlElement === <htmlElement>) ? prevAll = false : prevAll;
});

And prevAll will contain all previous HTMLElement from your <htmlElement> in an array.
So in your case, code below may do the job:
.directive('testCase', function () {
    return {
        restrict: 'A',
        scope: {
            'condition': '='
        },
        link: function (scope, element, attrs) {
            scope.$watch('condition', function(condition){
                var element = element[0],
                    prevAll = true;
                if(condition){
                    prevAll = [].filter.call(element.parentNode.children, function (htmlElement) {
                        return (htmlElement === element) ? prevAll = false : prevAll;
                    });
                    $(prevAll).addClass("glyphicon-star");
                    // or alternativly
                    /*
                     * [].forEach.call(prevAll, function (item) {
                     *     item.classList.add("glyphicon-star");
                     * });
                     */
                }
            })
        }
    }
});

More Vanilla alternavive for jqLite and jQuery here

A: You can think differently and try without jQuery:
What do you think about make a directive who receive the quantity of stars and will render every star for you?

var app = angular.module('example', []);

app.controller('exampleController', function($scope) {
  $scope.fool = {
    rating: 5
  }
});

app.directive('testCaseCollection', function () {
    var getStars = function(rating) {
      var stars = [];
      for (var i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
        stars.push({
          active: (i <= rating)
        });
      }
      return stars;
    };

    return {
        restrict: 'A',
        scope: {
            'rating': '='
        },
        link: function (scope, element, attrs) {
            scope.$watch('rating', function(rating) {
                scope.stars = getStars(rating);
            })
        },
        template: '

{{star.active}}

'
    }
});
.cls-1 {
  color: red;
}

.cls-2 {
  color: green;
}
<!DOCTYPE html>

    <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css" />

    <input type="range" min="0" max="5" ng-model="fool.rating" />

Your selected rating is: {{fool.rating}}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


With bargaining fast approaching for our new Collective Agreement, we're excited to announce TSSU will be holding a Membership Retreat from Friday, February 15th till Sunday, February 17th at Loon Lake Lodge and Retreat Centre. The weekend is free and all members are eligible to attend! We are also looking for members who cannot attend but wish to sit on the selection committee.
Please email your application to tssu@tssu.ca with the subject line "Bargaining Retreat" by 7:00 pm on Friday, January 25th.
We're also looking for two members who are not planning on attending and want to be part of the selection sub-committee for reviewing and approving applications for the retreat. Any members who are interested must be available to meet and discuss the applications between Monday, January 28th and Wednesday, January 30th. Please contact tssu@tssu.ca if you would like to be on the selection sub-committee.
January 22, 2019 bargaining < retreat Comments are closed.


text:
India shuts down internet in hotspot after deadly protests
13th December 2019 World
Internet access was cut in India's northeastern city of Guwahati on Friday as thousands gathered for fresh protests against a new citizenship law, a day after police shot dead two demonstrators.
Protests erupted this week after the government introduced new legislation that many in the far-flung northeast believe will give citizenship to immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh, and which other critics say is anti-Muslim.
On Friday morning thousands gathered in central Guwahati as riot police looked on, with residents hurrying out to buy essentials.
No fresh violence was reported but Guwahati and other areas remained littered from the detritus of recent days, with some roads blocked by fallen trees, concrete poles, stones and iron railings. Many cash machines have run out of cash and most petrol stations were also shut.
A local government official said that internet access in the Guwahati, the main city of Assam state, had been cut and an AFP reporter confirmed that connections appeared to have been suspended.


This three-artist exhibition considers the complexities of memory; it takes its title from a landmark 1956 paper by George A. Miller in Psychological Review, discussing short-term memory and the storage of memories.
For Asma Khoory, the large-scale canvas work Recollection, created from carefully dismantled and altered tea filter papers, acts like a map of time, with each square representing a passing moment. A patchwork landscape of greys, browns and off-white hues, enhanced by dust, tea and ink, mimic false age and explore aspects of deception that can be found in memory. A smaller, sculptural work created using the same method, takes the form of a solemn figure resting on a pedestal, seemingly exhausted by each passing moment.
Shadow by Salama Nasib (above) is a personal series that focuses on autobiographical memories. Using photolithography and blind embossing, the artist creates intimate, detailed works depicting a sense of what is there, and what is not, and considers how memories alter and fade over time. The creation of the work also informs the work itself, the type of printmaking and embossing used is thoughtful and meditative, giving the viewer time to consider the memories depicted while the works are created.
Sara Al Haddad confronts herself in the 2015 work, as you try to forget me, presented in its third iteration at the UAE Pavilion in Venice 2017. This ever-changing work takes on new meaning and shape depending on its location, created using a grey/black thick yarn, crocheted into a weave loop that the artist first saw in a dream. Like memories themselves, Al Haddad describes how the work itself is designed to develop and change over the passing of time.


text:
Phoenix Brands Acquires Detergent Division of Colgate-Palmolive
Phoenix Brands acquired by Lincolnshire Management
S&D Coffee Acquired By Cott Corporation
7 Mile Advisors Acts As Sell-Side Advisor To S&D Coffee, Inc. (S&D) on its sale to Cott Corporation (COTT)
View All Transactions
Supply Chain Tech & Software
October 2021 • The Supply Chain Tech sector has seen a modest increase of 4.6% over the last 12 months, powered by companies' race for...
April 2021 • The Global Supply Chain Management market is expected to grow at double-digit CAGR over the next few years, according to Allied Market...
February 2021 • The Industrial Automation industry has been growing rapidly with innovations like artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), and...
Consumer M&A Watch – October 2021
October 2021 • Contract Manufacturing Edition | Oct. 2021 Actionable intelligence for leaders in the Consumer Products and Retail industry COVID-19 has...
Consumer M&A Watch – August 2021 Edition – 7 Mile Advisors
August 2021 • E-commerce Edition | August 2021 Actionable intelligence for leaders in the Consumer Products and Retail industry...
Latest Quarterly Earning Reports
Market Update: Contract Manufacturing Q2 2022
July 2022 • Throughout 2022, the contract manufacturing industry will continue to be driven by technology advancements, marketplace needs, and business...
Market Update: Consumer Goods & Contract Manufacturing Q1 2022
March 2022 • Consumer Goods Overview The consumer goods industry heavily relies on the economy and consumers' willingness to purchase goods. The...
January 2022 • Consumer Goods The consumer goods industry heavily relies on the economy and consumers' willingness to purchase goods. The Market update...
View All Quarterly Earning Reports


I couldn't be happier, you guys! I found out last night that I'm nominated in the Best Photo based Food Blog category at the International Association of Culinary Professionals for the 2016 awards that are to be held this April in Los Angeles! The past four years have been a blessing. They've been an amazing journey filled with fun and growing pains. From starting this blog to talking about food and through it, my experiences as an immigrant, to learning about photography but also just learning more about myself. I'm thankful for this blog and grateful, that you've been a part of my journey sharing the ups and downs along the way. Thank you!
What better way to celebrate this moment than with a childhood favorite, bread pudding! It took me a while to fathom that bread puddings are usually baked in the United States since my mother always steamed them whenever she made them at home and this is one dish she made often. I love both versions for different reasons. The American version, has a delicious crispy crust while the steamed version is soft and comforting. No matter what you look at it, bread puddings are one of the tastiest ways to use up leftover bread. I think it's the simplicity that makes it so appealing, a few ingredients with endless possibilities. Mom always uses vanilla extract and raisins and slices of milk bread. Bread pudding is breakfast converted to dessert and it's all about comfort.
This version is infused with dried chamomile flowers and long black pepper (which look like little pine cones). There's a creamy sauce that's infused with the spices and a sneaky helping of raisins in that give a burst of sweetness in each and every bite. This is a very simple recipe and you could modify and bake it if you wanted to. I use the bundt pan to steam the pudding and give it a more cake like shape which makes it a little fancier but again it's all up to you. Make it the way you want to and make sure to enjoy it!
My recipe is loosely adapted from Mark Bittman's recipe in the New York Times. His recipe is baked while this is steamed.
If you can't find long black pepper, you can easily sub 1/4 teaspoon of coarsely ground black pepper for the pudding and sauce, each.
I use this bundt cake pan which is also a great pudding basin and you can order the cooling rack and steamer rack to go with it. I just use the cooling rack as the steamer rack all the time and it works perfectly. Another option is to use an English pudding basin like one of those pretty Mason Cash bowls but this bundt pan and it's lid remove all the extra work from making a good seal to prevent water from entering the pan.
I don't use too much sugar in this recipe, as challah is pretty sweet to begin with and too much sugar masks the flavor of the chamomile and black pepper.
1. Place the milk, butter, chamomile, peppercorns and sugar in a thick bottomed medium-sized saucepan. Heat on medium-low heat stirring occasionally for about 2 minutes until the butter melts, then increase heat to medium-high and bring the contents to boil stirring constantly. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Once cooled strain the liquid and discard the solids using a fine mesh sieve.
2. While the milk is cooling, grease a 2 quart bundt pan with a little butter. Then place a layer of challah cubes and sprinkle a tablespoon of the raisins. Add another layer of bread and sprinkle the raisins. Repeat until you reach the top.
3. Lightly whisk the eggs into the cooled and strained milk mixture. Pour this liquid over the bread in the bundt pan. Cover the bundt pan with its lid and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Place a plate or a round cooling rack into a large stockpot, place the sealed bundt pan on top of the plate/rack. Pour enough tap water (at room temperature) to about 1 inch less than the height of the bundt pan. Place a heavy weight such as a bowl or plate over the bundt pan, cover the stockpot with a lid and heat the stockpot on medium-high heat until the water begins to boil. Continue to boil for another 1 minute and remove from stove. Allow the bundt pan to stay in the stockpot for another 5 minutes before removing from the stockpot. Remove the lid and run a butterknife between the edges of the pan and the pudding. Invert the bundt pan over a serving plate and allow to sit for 10 minutes to release. (If it doesn't release using the flat end of the butter knife to loosen the sides).
4. Place the milk, chamomile, peppercorns, and sugar in a medium-sized thick bottomed saucepan. Heat on medium-high, stirring occasionally until the milk just starts to boil. In the meantime, make a slurry of the water and cornstarch in a small mixing bowl. Vigorously whisk the cornstarch slurry into boiling milk and continue to cook until it thickens. Remove the saucepan from the stove and strain the solids and discard the solids using a fine mesh sieve. Pour about 1/2 cup of this warm sauce over the pudding just before serving with a little extra on the side.


There are nursing services available for seniors that will give them compassionate and highly skilled care in their home, nursing home, hospital, or wherever they reside. Services for seniors can include shopping, bathing, pet care, laundry, meal preparation, and much more.
If you need nursing services due to an illness, injury, or any other reason that has made it difficult to care for yourself or another senior in your family, you can get it from a certified and licensed nurse. Whether you are recovering from surgery, or are in need of long-term care, a professional nurse will partner with your doctor to provide you with the health care you need. You can get the care you need and your physician will be kept up-to date on your progress.
Licensed RN's, LPN's, HHA's, and CNA's provide the professional nursing services you will receive. The goal of this type of service is to help you or the senior in your life, function live in your community independently.
You can call a professional nursing service for senior so you or your loved ones can get the care and compassion they need. You can have an expert discuss with you an assessment of your situation so they can work with you to develop a plan that is tailored to meet your needs , at an affordable price.
By Abigail Aaronson. For a trustworthy, honest Los Angeles County senior nursing services, check out the following website: http://css.lacounty.gov/programs/area-agency-on-aging/.


Westlink Auto Service provides Winterization Checkup services to Wichita, KS, Goddard, KS, Maize, KS, and other surrounding areas.
Why Should You Have Winterization Checkup Services Performed at Westlink Auto Service?
We proudly service the Winterization Checkup needs of customers in Wichita, KS, Goddard, KS, Maize, KS, and surrounding areas.


text:
New Arrivals, News
Marvel: Remix
In Marvel: Remix, players build a team of heroes and allies to take on infamous villains. They are dealt a hand of seven cards that will contain characters, items, or locations from throughout the Marvel Universe. Then, players go about can arming their characters with powerful equipment or maneuvers and use their cards to pull off epic combos. The player that has the most points at the end of the game wins.
The game box comes with 61 Remix cards, 18 Villain cards, a score pad, and a rulebook. This game is for two to six players, ages 12 and up, and plays in 20 minutes.


Both. You didn't mention if you are executing a Lease with the Option to buy (also know as a Lease-Option) or a Real Estate Contract (also known as Contract for Deed or Land Contract in some states). Would you perform your own open-heart surgery? If the Broker is using official NAR (National Associtation of Realtor) forms you should be fine as long as there is clarity as to what the terms are and what the conditions are that need to met to satisfy the terms. A contract is an exchange of goods or services. If this happens, then this happens, so to speak.
It is still best to hire legal counsel to draw the necessary paperwork needed for this transaction. Hire an experienced real estate attorney. Get a recommendation from a CPA, an attorney you may know, or find a reputable real estate agent to recommend you a RE attorney. Splitting attorney cost makes the most sense.


text:
WEG boosts its oil and gas credentials with major contracts for Duqm refinery
WEG has been awarded the contracts by the EPC partners, Técnicas Reunidas, and Daewoo Engineering and Construction
WEG will deliver all the motors and variable speed drives for the Duqm refinery project.
WEG has secured its biggest oil and gas sector contract to date with two project framework agreements for the Duqm refinery in Oman. The contract encompasses both medium- and low-voltage equipment, and in addition WEG will establish an exclusive service centre close to the project site to serve the refinery.
The vast refinery is a greenfield project being developed by Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industries, a joint venture between Oman Oil Company (OOC) and Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI). The refinery occupies a 900-hectare site located 600km south of Muscat on the west coast of Oman along the Arabian Sea.
Duqm has been designated as Oman's next industrial centre – to be known as the Duqm Special Economic Zone – with investments of up to $15bn earmarked for petrochemicals and infrastructure development over the next 15 years. Once the refinery is completed in 2022, it will have the capacity to process around 230,000 barrels of crude oil per day, with its primary products being diesel, jet fuel, naphtha and LPG.
Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industries Company awards integrated FEED for petrochemicals complex and gas extraction facility
Duqm Refinery celebrates its financial close
Duqm Refinery appoints Dr Salim Al Huthaili as the new CEO
WEG has been awarded the contracts by the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) partners, Técnicas Reunidas (Spain), and Daewoo Engineering and Construction (South Korea), and will deliver all the motors and variable speed drives (VSDs) for the project. The first contract covers medium-voltage equipment while the second is for low-voltage products.
The medium-voltage equipment includes 12 VSDs and more than 120 electric motors, including four 10,500kW 18-pole synchronous motors for the hydrogen makeup reciprocating compressors. Gas compressors are used extensively in refinery process units to compress hydrogen.
For high-pressure applications such as hydrocracking, reciprocating compressors are used for makeup gas service. In these applications, synchronous motors provide higher efficiency, power factor correction and lower inrush current and operate at a constant speed, making them an excellent choice. The second contract is related to the low-voltage equipment and includes more than 1,300 electric motors and nearly 200 VSDs.
"Projects like this require a flawless project management process as purchase orders will be placed by the selected mechanical rotating equipment vendors located worldwide through multiple WEG sales offices," said Luis Gustavo Lopes Iensen, international director of WEG. "To guarantee commercial consistency and technical compliance to the specification, a support team has been established at WEG's headquarters in Brazil."
According to the client, the decision to award the contract was made following a very detailed technical and commercial negotiation process.
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Deaths, protests in Haiti as Venezuela aid scandal increases calls for president to go
Thousands of angry Haitians marched in protest in Port-au-Prince on Sunday, decrying corruption and stepping up calls for the resignation of President Jovenel Moïse, who has been implicated in two government audits on the misuse of billions of dollars in Venezuelan aid meant to help the country's poor.
Though the protest started off calm, tensions mounted later in the day throughout the country. Protesters vandalized buildings with rocks, blocked roads, doused a former government official in the city of Jacmel with gasoline and tried to burn down a supermarket near one of the symbols of the graft: an old, abandoned movie theater that received, what critics say can best described as a $5 million paint job.
Police Spokesman Michel-Ange Louis-Jeune said a preliminary tally shows there were at least two deaths from gunshots, four injuries also from gunshots and 12 arrests were made. Reports of vandalism, which including rock throwing and setting vehicles and two buildings aflame were also reported.
Some opposition groups have said that the number of arrests are far more than what police are reporting. Concerns have also been raised about possible police repression after a video circulated on the WhatsAPP messaging platform showing a Haiti National Police officer stoning a protester with rocks as he laid face down in the hills above Petionville not far from Moïse's Pelerin 5 residence.
The incident triggered immediate calls for an investigation despite the insistence of Petionville Police Commissioner Paul Ménard that "the video is not from today."
As proof, Ménard in a Miami Herald interview pointed to the dirt road, saying the road near the president's home is asphalted. But people familiar with the neighborhood said the incident is about 200 meters from the road leading to Moïse's residence, and it is a dirt path.
"We are asking the [director general of the Haiti National Police] to launch an immediate investigation on the matter," Sen. Patrice Dumont said. "This was an attempted murder if the person did not die."
In a communique to the press, Police Chief Michel-Ange Gédéon said police were instructed not to use excessive force and he has instructed his inspector general's office to launch an investigate into the incident.
The mounting tensions in Haiti come as opposition senators, political parties and the grassroots anti-corruption group known as Petrochallengers, promise to keep the pressure going until Moïse steps down from power. Some groups have called for a general strike on Monday and Tuesday.
"We are telling the people to 'hold on.' The fight isn't easy," Sen. Antonio "Don Kato" Cheramy said at a press conference on the Champ de Mars not far from the presidential palace. "Don't let go."
Moïse has not made any public statements since the corruption audit was released. But in private discussions, he's insisted that he's not going anywhere. As the protests got underway Sunday, business leaders and the French embassy in Port-au-Prince urgently appealed for dialogue..
The reiterated appeal for Moïse, the parliament and members of the opposition to talk, comes after Haiti's Roman Catholic bishops on Saturday, issued the strongest denouncement yet on the poverty-stricken nation's endemic widespread corruption, which was detailed by government auditors in an audit of Venezuela's PetroCaribe oil program. The audit, encompassing 600-plus pages, was done by the Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes, and given to the president of the Haitian Senate on May 31.
"Our country is shamefully trapped in corruption at the highest level of society," the Episcopal Conference of Haiti said. "Unabated corruption has become an endemic evil, a messy swamp, a degradation, an organized robbery. It has become a real social plague that is clogging our institutions, makes politics ill, threatens democracy and social peace, and thus seriously undermines, both from an ethical and an economic point of view, the development of our country."
Without naming any names, the bishops said those implicated in the recent court of auditors report and a previous one issued in January, should "repair the social injustice" by submitting themselves to "the justice of their country, if it is the price to pay to restore the moral authority of the state and its leaders."
The May 31 audit is the second installment of a three-part investigation into how Haiti managed billions of dollars in savings from the Venezuelan oil program between 2008-16. Among the most damning accusations, millions of dollars in aid money were mismanaged and embezzled during the administration of former president Michel Martelly, 2011-1016. This includes $5 million that was spent on a boarded up Rex Theater in Port-au-Prince. The only sign of improvement to the old movie theater is its outside paint job.
And then, there is the millions of dollars in road construction contracts given to Moïse ahead of the country's 2015 and 2016 presidential votes.
Government auditors said before becoming president, Moïse collected at least $1 million for a stretch of rural road in northern Haiti that was paid for twice after the public works ministry issued the same contract to two of his firms in late 2014. The firms shared the same tax identification number, government patent, technical staff and resume of projects in their portfolio, auditors said.
The only difference between the firms, auditors noted, was their heads. Agritans listed Moïse, a relatively unknown businessman and eventual handpicked successor of Martelly, at the time, as its head, while Betexs, the second firm, listed someone else. Both Agritrans' lawyer and an adviser to the president have denied the accusation, insisted that the companies are different and tried to cast doubts on the auditor's methodology.
Auditors have said that a third report is forthcoming. Last week, they issued an appeal for added police protection after what they described as an assassination attempt when an armed man in a Toyota shot at two verifiers who were headed to the airport to examine its files.
While the Episcopal Conference of Bishops stopped short of saying Moïse, who still has three years left on his five-year presidential term, should step down to defend the accusations against him —others have in the building tensions and reaction to the report.
The anti-corruption citizens group Nou Pap Dòmi (We Won't Sleep) addressed a letter to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres saying that they do not recognize Moïse's legitimacy as president. Similar letters were also shared with other foreign embassies in Port-au-Prince, the group said. Nou Pap Dòmi along with Petrochallengers are among the backers of Sunday's protests.
Calling Sunday's mobilization a success, Nou Pap Dòmi condemned the acts of violence and asked for Haitians to continue to mobilize until Moïse's departure.
The growing calls for Moïse's resignation coupled with warnings by some groups that Haiti is in for a repeat of February when protesters had it locked down for over a week, is creating consternation in foreign circles as diplomats worry about ensuing chaos and another transition just two years after the last one ended.
French Ambassador José Gomez in Port-au-Prince said the embassy regards the situation to be "serious," and it warrants "a large national dialogue." The European Union had issued a similar appeal days before the corruption report was issued, noting that Haiti faced major and urgent challenges, including worsening poverty, stalled investments, a domestic currency in a free fall and no functioning government two months after the prime minister was fired by the lower chamber of parliament.
"While witnessing the current political power struggle, our economy is rapidly dying, jobs are at stake as companies goes on survival mode, engendering an unprecedented economic crisis.," said Daniel Jadotte, a Port-au-Prince businessman. "The youth is out of hope and their moral references challenged, as corruption and absence of the rule of law have become the new standard.
"Haiti need to be re-engineered," he added. "The current constitution is showing its flaws and limits. The time has come to engage in a deep and sincere dialogue among us, to find the reset button and reformat the way we operate within all the layers of our failed society; yes the time have come and we are running out of time."
Deaths, protests in Haiti as Venezuela aid scandal increases calls for president to go2019-06-102019-06-10https://haitichildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/hc-logo-white-011818.pngHaitiChildrenhttps://haitichildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/aptopixhaitiprotests2.jpg200px200px


Posted on Saturday, January 26th, 2019 at 1:58 pm | Android. Follow this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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We offer various German courses in order to give you the possibility to choose the right course according your needs and goals. The courses are supplemented with extra offers like excursions, a cultural programme, self learning facilities and learning advice.
You want to learn to communicate effectively in German in an international atmosphere with other course participants? Then group tuition is appropriate for you.
Intensive courses take place in groups and are offered in various levels regularly in the morning as well as in the afternoon.
We already pay attention during application that course participants are from different countries in order to allow them to communicate in German with other participant and with the teacher. These are small groups to enable a pleasant and successful learning experience.
The intensive courses take place on five days a week, 25 hours per week, and last 8 weeks.
The tuition language is German, whereby on demand participants can get consulting and support in their own commonly spoken language. The courses are supported and complemented with consultation, leisure activities, excursions, and facilities for self learning.
In the courses you are being prepared for life and/or further studies in Germany. All of our teachers have completed higher education and possess long-term experience. Course participants are sorted into classes of various different levels with others at who have matching levels, so that all can constantly increase their German language skills.
We consider from the start in all levels the actual goals of course participants and add permanent extra possibilities to our offers. This is particularly important for you, if you want to pass a specific exam e.g. Deutschtest für Zuwanderer (B1/A2), entrance examination Studienkolleg telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, DSH or TestDaF.
The German course A1 is appropriate for course participants with little or no previous knowledge. Participants who want to learn German from scratch can attend this course. At the end of the course you have the opportunity to pass the exam Start Deutsch 1.
Participants, who already have knowledge of German language and want to increase this by a course at Spracheninstitut, do a test first in order to determine the appropriate course.
In order to ascertain the success of learning, we do an exam in the middle and at the end of each course. Then the following levels begin.
The last level C1 is appropriate for course participants, who passed the preceding courses and want to study in Germany or want to work in a linguistically sophisticated profession after passing the telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, DSH or TestDaF exam. It takes about one year from the first level (A1) to the end of the last level (C1).
For our courses in Germany, we use developed textbooks and support these with our own additional material.
For inquiries you can use our inquiry form and for applications the application form.
You want to learn German as fast as possible, effective, individual and oriented towards your requirements?
Then single tuition is the optimal form of learning for you. You can of course get single tuition additional to a group course. We offer single tuition for all levels and also for special languages. First we test your knowledge free of charge in order to orientate the course towards your needs. You can book the single tuition for at least 10 hours (á 45 minutes).
The tuition can take place at Spracheninstitut as well as another place e.g. your company.
If you want to learn a language for professional or private reasons or as exam preparation very fast and oriented towards your needs, a crash course is the appropriate form of tuition for you.
There are different variations and possibilities; with one or two teachers, as single tuition or in a small group, at weekends or during the week, as preparation for a specific exam or action etc.
We consult you about details personally before the crash course begins.


I knew something was amiss when my Kit Kat—my favourite of all the chocolate bars (okay, second favourite, after peanut butter cups)—tasted… wrong. Too sweet. Too fake. Too I don't know what, but not good. Could it be true? Did I really change my tastebuds and cure my daily 3pm addiction to sugar in one week? Looks like it. And I blame Mountain Trek Resort.
Picture this: You're in the remote region of the Kootenays in British Columbia, Canada. Getting here wasn't easy—unless you live in Vancouver or Calgary, you have to take multiple flights to reach Castlegar, whose tiny airport is the only one for miles. From Castlegar, you drive another hour and a half, past the hippy town of Nelson, and onward toward the hamlet of Ainsworth Hot Springs. It's stunning beyond belief and you spend the entire shuttle ride with your face pressed against the window, trying to take in as much of the scenery as your eyeballs will absorb. You fumble for your camera, trying to capture the sight beyond your window, but each shot is just a tiny piece, failing to capture the immensity of what you see.
You arrive at the resort, a small lodge tucked at the top of a bumpy dirt road. The Selkirk Mountains tower up behind you, and the glacier-fed 500-foot deep Kootenay Lake lies in front of you, its blueness striking in the crispness of the afternoon. Across the water lies the Purcell Mountain Range, and you're told that these lead into The Rockies—the oldest mountains in Canada.
You settle into your room—a small, simple dorm-style room that just offers the basic amenities, but with a cozy ambience and stellar view. You unpack your sweats and hiking clothes and return to the main lounge to receive your introduction and to meet the other guests. And then, as the staff brief you on the week ahead, you decide that amid all the beauty and serenity, you've actually landed in hell.
Mountain Trek is not an easy retreat. And if I had done my homework, I would have known that. You see, a few weeks ago, I was invited by the kind folks at Mountain Trek to spend some time at their minimalist health and fitness resort. And as I boarded my flight, bound for Calgary, and then Castlegar, I envisioned leisurely nature walks, afternoons spent soaking in a jacuzzi and heaps of farm-fresh, healthy cuisine. I was half right.
Mountain Trek is about all these things, but above all, it is about fitness. It's about weight loss. It's about nutrition. It's about changing your habits and challenging your body in ways you never thought possible. It's not easy.
As I learned that first night and the following morning, a week at Mountain Trek consists of 6am wake-up calls, morning yoga, daily four-hour hikes, workshops on health and nutrition, evening exercise classes, and a 1,200-calorie diet (1,400 for men)—and not a single one of those calories will come from added salt, sugar, refined carbohydrates, processed foods, alcohol or caffeine. It's clean eating and, as I learned the hard way, it can be a shock to the system.
I'm not an unhealthy person; I run and practice yoga, and generally don't eat a lot of what I would call junk. But still, going cold turkey like that hit me hard. By Day 2, I had a headache and severe nausea that had me convinced Mountain Trek just might kill me. I was detoxing, several people said, not just from my daily dose of coffee, but from the amount of added salt and sugar I'm used to in my diet. I didn't care what the reason was; I just knew that my surviving the week would likely require stealing the lodge truck and high-tailing it to a cafe in Nelson for a latte and cupcake.
And then, I don't know what happened, but within another day, something shifted. My headache disappeared, as did the nausea. I suddenly realized I wasn't hungry. And that my skin was clearing up and my body felt better than it has in years. And that I actually enjoyed the excruciating challenge of hiking up the side of a mountain (and "hiking" at Mountain Trek does not mean a casual stroll—you're pushing yourself as fast as your legs will carry you in order to keep up with the seemingly superhuman guides). I realized that I enjoyed the pure exhaustion at the end of the day, when I would collapse into bed at 9pm, spent from a day in the fresh air and the exertion of climbing 1,000 vertical feet.
One evening, after a soak in the jacuzzi, an intense deep-tissue massage, and 20 minutes in the sauna (okay, so I confess it's not all hard work at Mountain Trek), I floated into the common area and collapsed on a couch in front of the roaring fire. My entire body felt more relaxed than I have ever felt in my life. I was like a buzzing mound of jello. It was bliss.
Each day I pushed harder, not because the guides at Mountain Trek wanted me to, but because I wanted to. On my final hike, I asked to be moved up from Level 3 to Level 2 on the trails (Level 1 goes at a speed that could rival most Olympic athletes), and kept pace with my fellow hikers as we ascended up and over a 1,200-foot ridge at a pace that brought us back to the ground 15 minutes sooner than expected. And that night, as we said goodbye to the guides who had become like close friends over the week, I felt tears welling up over the thought of leaving.
I'm the first to admit I hadn't expected to come home with any lessons learned from Mountain Trek. Right up until that last day, I fantasized about hitting up the first Starbucks I found and devouring a caffeine-loaded coffee and sugary cookie or muffin—or both. But then, just like that Day 2 to 3 transformation, something happened when I left the property. My airport shuttle stopped at a cafe, where a display of scones and muffins and brownies suddenly didn't seem so appealing. I vetoed the coffee in favour of herbal tea. And again, as I waited at my gate at the airport, right beside a Starbucks kiosk, I realized I didn't want it, and snacked instead on a banana and almonds. Since I've been home, my fridge has been loaded with organic produce and fresh fish, and I've been cooking meals, rather than relying on my tendency to grab food on the run.
I won't say that my habits have entirely changed. I confess that I did order a glass of wine on my flight back to Toronto. And I went out partying and drinking and made a late-night run for a burger and fries the other night. But when I woke up the next morning, I craved fruit and vegetables and grains and water. I wanted to move and exercise. I wanted to chase the high that I felt in BC; I wanted to chase the high of health, rather than indulgence.
Who knew a trip to hell could be so good?
For more information on Mountain Trek, visit mountaintrek.com.
What a wonderful place!! Welcome to the bright side of clean eating! It isn't as hard as most people think – it's the detox phase that can make or break you. You will find any exercise you do that much better – more energy for sure.
Oh, the detox phase is definitely a "make or break" period! And even though I only felt awful that one day, I still had mad cravings the whole time – it took a good week to get those cravings out of my system. That's one of the best parts of going clean at a retreat like this – you're removed from the temptations, so it's easier to just wipe the slate clean. You basically have no choice! And even though I know I won't stay 100% clean, that's not the goal of their program – they just want their guests to leave more mindful of nutrition and with a few actions in place to keep the healthy lifestyle going.
Wow, Tammy this sounds like quite the experience. Really enjoyed reading about it!
Amazing experience, I would love to try this! Sounds really challenging in a different way!
Sounds like a great retreat, Tammy. And I'm glad that it got you off the cheap chocolate. If you're going to eat chocolate, eat the pure stuff that has little or no sugar. I'm pretty sure the owners of Mountain Trek would concur, as pure chocolate is one of nature's super foods!
Doreen, I actually bought a bar of organic dark chocolate at the airport on the way home! I've always liked "real" dark chocolate, but I guess I just never realized HOW MUCH better it tastes than the cheap stuff. Clean your tastebuds, and you have a whole new appreciation for good food!
I was at Mountain Trek in September. I'm exercise regularly but have a full addiction to green tea so the first day without it was through a foggy headache. The rest of the week was great – loved the beautiful food and massages, exploring the mountains and came home feeling amazing. Real, pure dark chocolate is the best!
Glad to hear you had such a great experience, Christine. I had my doubts that I would feel as good as I did at the end, but it totally did have a profound effect on how I view my health, diet and posture (I can still hear Cathy's voice as we hiked: "Shoulder blades in your back pocket!").
I thing I would perhaps actually die here. Mostly because of the 6 am wake-up calls with no coffee.
Nah, you wouldn't die, Raymond. Although you might think that you're dying. 🙂 Trust me, if I could survive going off caffeine and sugar cold turkey, anyone can!
Sounds like this place would be right up my alley – though I'm not so sure about 1200 calories/day if I'm hiking 4 hours per day. I'd be willing to try for a week though!
Oh, I confess it was hard the first few days as I adapted to eating less! But they space the meals and snacks out perfectly so that just as you're getting hungry, it's time to eat. But even the resort staff tell you that the 1,200-calorie diet isn't sustainable for longer than a week or so, especially when exercising so much. They give you suggestions for taking the plan home and adjusting your intake accordingly. The diet's meant to kick-start you.
Sounds like quite an experience. Seems like it's just down the way from my brother's place in Nelson. Maybe I'll give it a try sometime. Did you get to try the borscht at the Castlegar Airport? My S-i-L says its the best borscht this side of Odessa. Very yummy!
Hi Tammy, we're so happy you came to visit us and work on your health goals. Just a head's up that we cater our programs to all kinds of fitness levels so while we knew you could withstand a more rigorous regime, we also take it easy others who need more time in the spa. Hope to see you again!


More than 100 protesters facing eviction from Por Sen Chey district's Thmar Kaul community blocked traffic outside Phnom Penh airport yesterday, demanding to be told the exact expansion plans and whether they would be properly compensated if forced to move.
Chray Nim, a community representative, said families feared they could be evicted as soon as next week to make way for the airport expansion.
Families have lived in fear of eviction since last year and have staged numerous protests.
Yesterday's protest, which blocked traffic on Russian Boulevard for an hour, was the first the community has staged at the airport's entrance.
Eight villagers were detained and later released last November for painting SOS signs on their roofs in the hope of attracting the attention of US President Barack Obama, who was flying into Phnom Penh to attend an ASEAN summit.
Societe Concessionaire de l'Aeroport, or SCA, has a contract to redevelop and expand the airport.
Un Sokny, one of the villagers detained last November, said she welcomed development as long as she was compensated fairly if made to move.
"But, until now, we have not received clear information on this," she said.
A few hours into the protest, Soy Sokhan, secretary at the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, told protesters that the government and company had agreed to form a committee to address concerns.