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/ 7 Supplements That May Help Treat Peptic Ulcers and 3 To Avoid
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Our Members Asked:
7 Supplements That May Help Treat Peptic Ulcers and 3 To Avoid
Written by Meredith Worthington, Ph.D. — Medically reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.
Oregano Oil for Ulcers?
Last Updated: 10/20/2022 Initially Posted: 09/01/2020
Peptic ulcers are sores in the lining of the stomach (i.e., "gastric ulcers") or the small intestine (i.e., "duodenal ulcers"). In some people, peptic ulcers cause no symptoms. In other people, ulcers may cause pain in the upper part of the belly, bloating, and nausea. In people with severe ulcers, bleeding can occur.
Peptic ulcers are caused by long-term irritation. The most common causes of irritation include Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection or regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Peptic ulcers caused by H. pylori infection are treated with antibiotics. Peptic ulcers caused by NSAIDs require stopping use of NSAIDs when possible. Acid reducers such as proton-pump inhibitors can be used to ease irritation of ulcer until it heals.
Certain supplements have been used alone or along with antibiotic therapy for H. pylori infection, and some, but not all, have shown benefit in eliminating H. pylori from the gut or decreasing side effects of antibiotic treatment. On the other hand, some supplements may worsen symptoms of peptic ulcer disease and should be avoided by people with this condition.
Supplements that may reduce symptoms of peptic ulcers
Berberine is from goldenseal root. Some research has shown that taking berberine with triple therapy for H. pylori (i.e., clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and esomeprazole) can modestly increase eradication rate while reducing side effects of triple therapy alone (Jiang, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2018). Other research has shown that the combination of berberine along with triple therapy eradicates H. pylori about as effectively as triple therapy plus bismuth (Zhang, Medicine 2017). Berberine is generally well-tolerated at the doses used in clinical studies (about 900 mg to 1,500 mg per day), although it may cause gastrointestinal symptoms in some people and should be used cautiously or avoided with certain medicines, such as those that lower blood sugar, those that lower blood pressure and those broken down by certain liver enzymes. For more details, see the Concerns and Cautions section of our Berberine and Goldenseal Supplements Review, which includes our Top Pick for berberine.
Cranberry, commonly taken to help prevent urinary tract infections, has shown modest benefit for reducing H. pylori infection when used alone or along with antibiotics, although the greatest benefit seems to occur when used with antibiotics. Research has shown good evidence for cranberry juice when taken in dosages of 250 mL (about 8 oz) twice daily along with antibiotics for H. pylori, although some research has found that only cranberry juice with high amounts of proanthocyanidins (about 44 mg per 8 oz serving) is beneficial (Zhang, Helicobacter 2005; Shmuely, Mol Nutr Food Res 2007; Li, J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020). The effects of cranberry supplements have also been positive, but details regarding the form and concentration of proanthocyanidins in the cranberry supplement used were not specified (Seyyedmajidi, J Res Pharm Pract 2016).
Cranberry is generally well-tolerated, although it may cause gastrointestinal upset or skin redness and itching in some people (McMurdo, Age and Ageing 2005; Wang, Arch Int Med 2012). Cranberry juice might not be appropriate for people with diabetes, those at risk for kidney stones, or those with an allergy to aspirin. See our Top Picks for cranberry juice and supplements.
Lactoferrin is a naturally-occurring, iron-binding protein in mammalian milk. In supplements, lactoferrin is often promoted for "supporting" the immune system and improving gut health. One study suggests that taking lactoferrin may help suppress, but not eradicate, H. pylori infection. Lactoferrin appears to be well-tolerated by most people, but it may trigger allergic reactions in people with milk allergies (Hochwallner, Methods 2014).
Taking 380 mg of licorice extract containing less than 3% glycyrrhizinic acid twice daily along with standard antibiotic therapy for 2 weeks has been shown to moderately improve H. pylori eradication, particularly in people with peptic ulcer disease, when compared with antibiotics alone (Hajiaghamohammadi, Braz J Infect Dis 2016). Small amounts of licorice may be safe for most adults to use short-term but regular use of non-deglycyrrhizinated licorice can cause a loss of potassium, which can have serious health consequences.
Blood levels of melatonin have been found to be lower among people with H. pylori infection who are experiencing pain. Animal studies suggest that melatonin may help protect the stomach lining and aid ulcer healing. One study showed that taking 5 mg of melatonin twice daily along with triple therapy (i.e., metronidazole, amoxicillin and omeprazole) for 2 weeks helped heal ulcers in more people than triple therapy alone (Celinski, J Physiol Pharmacol 2011). However, the triple therapy used in this study is not the regimen used in the U.S. Short-term use of melatonin supplements appears to be generally safe for adults, although it can interact with certain foods and medications. For more information about possible side effects or interactions, see the Concerns and Cautions section of our Melatonin Supplement Review, which includes our Top Picks for melatonin.
Oregano oil has demonstrated antibacterial activity against clinical strains of H. pylori in laboratory studies (Korona-Glowniak, Molecules 2020). However, it is uncertain if oregano oil is beneficial in humans. A clinical study among 39 people positive for H. pylori infection (based on stool sample testing) and with symptoms of infection (e.g., heartburn, gas, irritable bowel symptoms, etc.) or a history of peptic ulcer disease found that taking a "cocktail" of non-prescription ingredients to include a 50-mg tablet of emulsified oregano oil three times daily for two weeks eliminated H. pylori in 74.3% (29 out of 39) of participants, all of whom reported improvements in their symptoms. However, this study lacked a placebo group, which is needed to prove a benefit. Furthermore, other ingredients in the supplement cocktail included mastic gum, Pepto-Bismol, a probiotic (Vital 10 by Claire Laboratories) and a fiber supplement (Herbulk by Metagenics). Therefore, the specific effect of oregano oil is uncertain (Liponis, Nat Med J 2015).
Probiotics are viable (live) bacteria and/or yeasts that confer a health benefit. Although some evidence suggests that taking probiotics containing Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium or Saccharomyces species in addition to antibiotics may help to increase eradication of H. pylori (a causative agent of stomach ulcers), most of the studies examining probiotics for H. pylori infection have been conducted in China and are not well designed. Furthermore, questions remain as to which probiotic strain may be most beneficial and what dose and duration of treatment would be optimal for improving eradication. For this reason, the American College of Gastroenterology does not recommend for or against the use of probiotics with antibiotics to treat H. pylori infection.
Nonetheless, if you will be taking antibiotics to treat H. pylori infection, many studies have shown benefit of probiotics for reducing the risk of diarrhea associated with antibiotic treatment. To find out which probiotics have evidence of decreasing this side effect of antibiotics, see our Top Picks for probiotics in our Probiotic Supplement Review.
Products unlikely to help with peptic ulcer disease
Manuka honey has been promoted for the treatment of gastric/stomach ulcers caused by H. pylori. However, a very small study found that taking manuka honey for two weeks did not eliminate H. pylori infection in affected people (McGovern, J R Soc Med 1999).
Mastic gum is made from the resin of a mastic tree. Research conducted in the 1980s evaluating mastic gum for peptic ulcer disease suggested that it had modest benefit for healing peptic ulcers (Al-Habbal, Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 1984). However, more recent studies have shown that taking mastic gum does not help eradicate H. pylori, indicating that it probably has no benefit for treating the most common cause of peptic ulcers (Bebb, J Antimicrob Chemother 2003; Dabos, Phytomedicine 2010).
Supplements that may possibly worsen symptoms of peptic ulcer disease
It has been suggested (but not proven) that high dose oral arginine may increase stomach acid levels and worsen esophageal reflux (heartburn). For this reason, individuals with ulcers or esophageal reflux, as well as those taking NSAIDs that can be hard on the stomach, should use caution when taking arginine.
Feverfew, which is common taken for headache relief, might worsen peptic ulcers. Feverfew seems to reduce the production of prostaglandins (Collier, Lancet 1980). Prostaglandins have shown some benefit in preventing and/or treating peptic ulcers (Wilson, Postgrad Med 1987). Taking feverfew, especially in combination with NSAIDs, might increase the risk of stomach problems including peptic ulcers.
Occasionally, use of iron pills can damage the protective lining of the stomach, leading to stomach erosions and ulcers, and gastrointestinal bleeding (known as iron-pill induced gastropathy). This may be more likely to occur in older adults. The liquid form of oral iron is less likely to damage the lining of the stomach. Gastritis and a non-bleeding stomach ulcer have also been reported in a person taking iron pills for iron-deficiency anemia.
Many other supplements may also cause stomach irritation and heartburn. People with or at risk for peptic ulcer disease may want to avoid these supplements. To find out more, see our Answer to Supplements That Can Cause or Worsen Acid Reflux & GERD.
For patients with peptic ulcers due to H. pylori infection, taking probiotic products containing Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium or Saccharomyces boulardii strains or drinking cranberry juice may be beneficial when used along with standard antibiotics. It is uncertain if taking melatonin is beneficial when used with first-line antibiotic therapy for H. pylori infection. Lactoferrin may help suppress but does not seem beneficial for eradicating H. pylori. Berberine, licorice and oregano oil may also be beneficial, but research is still preliminary. Taking mastic gum or honey does not appear to be beneficial. Supplements such as arginine, feverfew, and iron should be used cautiously, as these may worsen symptoms of peptic ulcer disease.
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A CL member asked us if supplementing with oregano oil reduces H. pylori infection, a common cause of stomach ulcers. Find out what research suggests in our CL Answer about supplements for peptic ulcer disease.
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13 January 2017. By Curtis Eichelberger.
Attorneys who help foreign investors acquire US businesses say their worst fear is that in order to gain an advantage in trade negotiations with countries such as China, US President-elect Donald Trump will modify the regulatory definition of "national security" as it applies for foreign investment in the United States.
National security reviews of mergers and acquisitions involving a foreign investor are conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which is chaired by the US secretary of the Treasury. The Cfius panel includes the heads of the Defense, State, Homeland Security, Justice, Commerce and Energy departments, the Office of the US Trade Representative and the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Cfius is tasked with examining mergers and acquisitions to identify potential national security concerns, such as when a foreign-owned company buys a US firm that supplies the government with computers, develops advanced defense technologies or is located next to a top secret government facility.
The committee can recommend blocking a deal or propose mitigation measures to resolve security issues. If the companies refuse, Cfius sends the matter to the US president for a final ruling.
A Trump transition team draft memo laying out the incoming administration's trade policy for its first 200 days in office was leaked to US cable network CNN in November.
Trump's transition team didn't respond to a request for comment.
Some executives currently working for the committee believe that Republicans, who control both houses of Congress and have key advisory roles in the administration, can slow-walk Trump back from ill-considered changes in Cfius policy. They note that no policies have been formally announced.
Private attorneys and Cfius executives argue that reciprocity is about ensuring foreign markets are open to US investors and is better left to trade negotiators. They say it should be separated from Cfius' task of reviewing mergers to ensure national security is protected.
Some attorneys believe the president would need congressional action if he wants to redesign Cfius into a multipurpose agency that protects both national and economic security — similar to those in other countries.
Canada, for example, examines whether a foreign acquisition will have a net benefit to the Canadian economy, and it can also review a deal for national security implications.
If Trump wanted to broaden the committee's purview to considering every foreign merger's net benefit, attorneys say, Cfius could conceivably increase its workload from about 175 deals a year to potentially thousands, requiring longer review times, more staffing and a much larger budget.
It would be easier for Trump to use his presidential powers to redefine 'national security' and have Cfius consider reciprocity as part of its existing mandate. He could then give additional weight to economic concerns raised by the USTR or Commerce and could threaten — publicly or privately — to block a deal unless a foreign country opened its markets to US investment.
What is legally uncertain, lawyers say, is the limit of Trump's power to make changes via executive order, versus needing Congress to introduce, debate and write a new law.
"'National security' is not a defined term under the relevant regulations and statute, so even without regulatory or statutory changes, the Trump administration could seek to expand the scope of CFIUS's reviews by interpreting 'national security' to include food security and reciprocity in cross-border investments," said a report by the Washington, DC, law firm Hogan Lovells.
"Chinese media reports and our discussions with Chinese investors suggest that, at least in the short term, some Chinese investors might be cautious about certain investments in the United States until they better understand the Trump administration's likely approach to (foreign direct investment) in the United States," the Hogan Lovells report said.
Foreign direct investment in the US has become more geographically diverse in recent years. From 2005 to 2007, Cfius reviewed four transactions from China and 79 investments from the United Kingdom. From 2012 to 2014, Chinese investors filed a top-ranking 68 notices, while UK companies were second with 45.
Attorneys caution that Trump has not yet taken office and that their thoughts are speculative. One thing everyone agrees on, though, is that any Cfius changes to include reciprocity would focuse on China.
Mandatory review of transactions by companies owned by the Chinese government, especially in the telecommunications, media and agriculture sectors.
An economic benefit test in addition to the existing national security test.
Reciprocity — a prohibition on investment in a US industry by a foreign company whose home government prohibits investment in the same industry.
Lawmakers aren't alone in their concern. The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, created by Congress in 2000 to investigate and report on the national security implications of the countries' bilateral trade and economic relationship, recommended in November that Congress amend Cfius to prevent Chinese government-owned companies from buying or controlling US companies.
Last week, a White House panel led by President Barack Obama's top scientific adviser, suggested that the US increase its export controls on technology and increase scrutiny of Chinese investments in US chip companies.


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De vlag van Sassenheim is op 22 mei 1973 bij raadsbesluit vastgesteld als de gemeentevlag van de Zuid-Hollandse gemeente Sassenheim. De vlag kan als volgt worden beschreven:

De vlag is gelijk aan de tekening op het schild van het gemeentewapen, dat gelijk is aan dat van het uitgestorven geslacht Van Sassenheim (of Sassem). De vlag is ontworpen door de Stichting voor Banistiek en Heraldiek.

Op 1 januari 2006 ging Sassenheim op in de gemeente Teylingen. De vlag kwam daardoor als gemeentevlag te vervallen.

Voorgaande vlag
Tot de vaststelling van de nieuwe gemeentevlag gebruikte Sassenheim officieus een vlag met twee banen van gelijke hoogte in geel en rood.

Verwante afbeeldingen

Teylingen
Sassenheim

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


KINGS LANDING II is a collection of Townhomes + Condos conveniently situated 5 minutes south of City Centre + on future rapid transit. 1, 2, 3, + 4 bedroom homes will be released in the spring of 2019.
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© 2019 DAWSON + SAWYER. Privacy | Terms. Townhome renderings are conceptual and not exact images of the final product. This is not an offering for sale which can only be made with a disclosure statement. E&O.E.


A collector's 180g black LP edition limited to 150 copies.
Foldover cover was screen printed in gold paint on burgundy mass-dyed paper.
The set will come with an insert with Monika Cichoń's drawing and a code to stream the album from bandcamp.


WANNA BE IN NEW ARTICLE?
My Sweet Little Angel chapter1.
This is all new to Harry will he be able to do all of it bye him self?
Getting to know the characters Skylar, Elizabeth (Liz) and Wyatt. Toward's the end a surprise happens!


In 2007 Matthew Robinson and Jensen Karp published Just Can't Get Enough which featured eight pages of M.U.S.C.L.E. figures.
Lucas Rage, the King of Counterfeit, amazingly remembered something when he saw the recent M.U.S.C.L.E. Newspaper Advertisement post.
Do you have any insight to help us solve the M.U.S.C.L.E. Ephemera Mystery that has arisen?
With a three page article, and price guide, Toyfare #128 is arguably the most attention M.U.S.C.L.E. received since it was originally released.
In August of 2004 M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors were given hope that the hobby was poised for growth. There were two M.U.S.C.L.E.-centric entries in the 83rd issue of PlayStation magazine.
In November of 2005 M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors were given a rather large surprise.
Recently the University of M.U.S.C.L.E. made over a dozen new literature discoveries. Many of the discoveries may force the creation and/or complete reconstruction of the Literature courses. Sadly there have been many challenges posting comprehensive updates. However, the discovery of the November 1986 issue of Working Mother seemed too exciting not to share.


Responsible for the support of the firm's financial and related systems, working closely with other members of the IT Accounting Systems and Projects Team (AS&P). Assist AS&P team in designing and planning for upgrades and enhancements of the systems including documenting processes and recording associated tasks and issues in designated project management system. Work with appropriate parties to troubleshoot reported issues relating to the financial and related systems. Provide support on all assigned projects, including conducting quality assurance and user acceptance testing on all applications undergoing upgrades, customizations and implementations. Additional responsibilities include ad hoc data requests, report writing and distribution and month-end systems closure & processing.
Reports directly to the Director of Accounting Systems & projects. Frequently interacts and communicates with Firm-wide Accounting Departments and Elite users, including Firm Partners and administrative staff.
Provide technical systems support in managing the Firm's Financial and related systems through identification and analysis, and task and issue resolution.
Provide technical support on assigned Firm projects and tasks.
Provide assistance in managing the integrity of the Firm's financial data.
Assist with design, planning and testing of upgrades and enhancements to all Financial and related systems.
Provide support on the design and development of firm reports and ad hoc datasets.
Ability to comprehend and convey complex ideas in layman's terms to various groups across the firm.
Ability to understand the business processes through the financial and auxiliary systems.
Provide support on all Accounting related systems; including liaising with consultants and software vendors on projects and tasks as required by management.
Able to assist with multiple projects at once and meet deadlines; and troubleshoot day-to-day system inquiries and issues.
Report progress on outstanding items and proactively alert management when there is a risk of a critical task not meeting its due date.
Education: BA/BS. Accounting or Information Systems majors preferred.
Experience: Elite Enterprise experience required, preferably in a law firm. Preference is given to those with Elite 3E experience, as well as experience with Intapp Products (Open, Integration Builder, Flow, etc.).
The applicant must be able to demonstrate experience in the processes involved with managing a financial system along with the ability to use tools such as SSMS to develop custom objects and ability to build reports using SSRS.
Must possess strong analytical skills in reviewing and understanding data when troubleshooting issues within a system.
Must be organized and have strong attention to detail.
Must be able to work both in a dynamic team environment and also often independently without supervision.
Must be completely reliable, and dependable, with a strong work ethic and a high degree of integrity.
Ability to use own initiative and have a proactive approach, and good time management skills. Ability to produce and maintain quality work.
Must be able to communicate effectively with attorneys, administrative, and management staff, both orally and in writing.
Intermediate to advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite.
Three or more years of experience working with Elite Enterprise or relevant financial systems with preference given to those applicants who possess experience with time entry/reporting systems.
All positions require punctuality and regular attendance.
Some flexibility for overtime will be required around key firm dates and milestones within projects.


Having a thing with someone can be complicated– you're not officially with them, but you're not with anyone else either. In a way, you're committed to each other… But not really. More than friends, but not really dating. Not exactly friends with benefits (depends on your definition) but definitely not boyfriend and girlfriend. No one really knows how to act in a thing. Holidays and birthdays are awkward. Expectations can be ruined by either being too enthusiastic or not enthusiastic enough. Where do you draw the line?
Unless you're being super secretive for some reason, some forms of affection in public like extra long hugs, back scratches, etc. aren't bad! However, things like holding hands all the time and kissing can send the wrong message to friends/peers. PDA causes people to talk, which means you'll be left to explain your relationship status (or lack thereof) to everyone. Yikes. The rules are different when you're out and about around strangers of course, but when you're around people you know, it's easier to just lay low.
Any occasion for gift giving can be tricky when you have a thing with someone. Do you get them something sentimental and romantic? Should your gift reference some sort of inside joke? Should you even be getting them anything at all? In my experience, it's been best to go for something a little goofy that's still personal. One of my favorite gifts I've ever given anyone was for a boy I had a thing with! It was a set of wooden frames painted with ironic phrases and in them were funny pictures of him going a little too hard over spring break.
For some reason, teenagers feel like they have to be talking to their significant other all the time. When you have a thing with someone and not dating them, it's usually because for whatever reason you want to maintain part of your independence. Well, this is part of it! You aren't obligated to be checking in on him/her constantly, and he/she certainly doesn't need to know what you're doing every second of every day (okay, maybe that's an exaggeration). Instead, consider something low-pressure like snapping a silly selfie in class so your girl knows you're thinking about her without being overbearing.
Being with someone is exciting for sure, but be wary of spilling all the details of your thing with friends. Your relationship is a little bit more private and you definitely need to be respectful of the casual, less-defined nature of it all. No one likes drama or rumors, but it's even more unnecessary in a situation like this.
Sometimes people go into a casual relationship such as this thinking they can change the person or make them want something more. For the most part, this isn't true! Try to keep you emotions in check and remain relatively unattached. It's hard being the one who loves more. that's no secret– try not to be that one.


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21-22 NJC 16U Major
Managers: Khristyn Kane
League: MAWHA
Beantown Classic – Marlborough, MA (July 16-18, 2021)
Wizard Summer Showcase – Bedford, MA (July 30-August 1, 2021)
NAHA Labor Day Tournament – Burlington, VT (September 3-5, 2021)
Two Nations College Prep Series – Detroit, MI (October 28-31, 2021)
East Coast Wizard Holiday Invitational – Bedford, MA (December 27-30, 2021)
JWHL Challenge Cup – Washington, DC (February 17-21, 2022)
KRISTEN BARBARA
Etobicoke Dolphin's (OWHA)
Bantam (15U AA)
Midget (18U AA)
Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres (PWHL)
Toronto Six (NWHL)
Markham Thunder (CWHL)
York University (CIS)
Barbara played university hockey for York. Playing defense, she posted 71 points in 150 career games, earning CIS All-Rookie Team and CIS All-Canadian honors in 2015. She served as team captain in her 5th and final season at school.
Barbara was drafted 28th overall by the Brampton Thunder in the 2016 CWHL Draft and played three seasons for the Thunder. The team, who became the Markham Thunder, captured the Clarkson Cup in 2018. Barbara played with PWHPA in 2019–20. She played with the NWHL Toronto Six on 2020-21.
MEGHAN CASSIDY
Metropolitan Riveters (Assistant Coach)
Oak Knoll School
Meghan Cassidy grew up playing for travel hockey in New Jersey, including the Colonials. She went on to play college hockey at Plymouth State University. This season Cassidy is head coach of the Colonials Girls 14U Minor White team. In addition, she is the head varsity coach at the Oak Knoll school. Cassidy served as assistant coach of the Metropolitan Riveters in 2019-20.
KELLY NASH
Metropolitan Riveters (PHF)
Princeton University (NCAA)
University of Vermont (NCAA)
HK Pantera Minsk (EWHL, Belarus)
EHV Sabres Wien (EWHL, Austria)
University of Wisconsin (NCAA)
Coach Nash brings an impressive background as both a hockey player and coach. She played NCAA Division 1 hockey for the University of Wisconsin from 2007-2011 as a forward. During her time, Wisconsin captured 2 NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Championships. Nash tallied 22 goals, 47 assists and 69 points in 153 games played. She played professionally in Europe for 2 seasons after graduating from Wisconsin.
Nash's coaching career began with the Middlesex (Massachusetts) Islanders before moving into the collegiate ranks as an assistant with the University of Vermont from 2013-2017. In 2017, she was named an assistant coach with the Princeton University Women's Ice Hockey team . She also played with the Metropolitan Riveters from 2017-2020, including the 2018 Isobel Cup Championship team. Over the summer, the Riveters added Nash as the Associate Head Coach for the 2021-22 season. Last season, Kelly served as the Colonials 16U Major Head Coach and returns to the bench as an assistant.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Melbourne's housing market looks set for another year of modest price falls amid weak sentiment, curbs on borrowing money and a wave of new supply.
But experts hope the city's surging population will put a floor under the declines as more new residents look for family homes.
The city's residential market has been coming off the boil after five years of soaring prices, with a regulatory crackdown on bank loans and scrutiny of lending standards from the financial services royal commission.
"Most buyers will want to live within 10 kilometres of the city if they can afford it, and they want to live close to the top schools in Melbourne, it might still drop a bit further, no-one knows for sure … now, there are some good opportunities." States Jellis Craig.
Even amid the weaker conditions, buyers will still need to do some work to find a good deal, Cohen Handler buyers' agent Amanda Jones said.
She also sees off-market opportunities, where homes are not listed publicly for sale but shopped around quietly to parties who might be interested.


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The ruble's growth may give Russia the possibility to cut interest rates – unless there are major shocks to the economy – Central Bank of Russia (CBR) Governor Elvira Nabiullina said in Washington.
The currency's strength helps slow inflation, and "that's why with other things being equal and no new significant negative factors, the ruble's strengthening will allow us to cut the key rate," Nabiullina said.
"The ruble is in a more or less balanced situation. Nevertheless, this balance is dynamic, as it depends on how the economic situation and the balance of payments develop," the bank governor added.
The Russian currency has gained 13 percent against the US dollar in 2015, and experts have acknowledged that the ruble has become the best performing currency this year. Last year, it was declared the world's second worst performer after the Ukrainian hryvnia.
Over 2014, interest rates were raised six times to slow down the ruble decline, which plunged by 48 percent.
The Russian Central Bank cut the interest rate to 14 percent in March, and Nabiullina has previously said rates may be lowered further.
"When the rate goes down, a niche for import substitution appears, exporters win, but the companies, which need foreign equipment, are in trouble. The strengthening of the ruble gives a positive impact by lowering inflation," Nabiullina concluded.
Last month inflation reached 16.9 percent, but the CBR head maintained that it will go down to 4 percent by 2016.
Nabiullina spoke at the IMF meeting in Washington, where top financial officials and central bankers across the globe are gathering this week.
The next CBR meeting is scheduled for the end of April.


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Orca Origins: Celebrating cultures around the world for middle-grade readers
Series: Orca Origins Chinese New Year A Celebration for Everyone Paperback Jen Sookfong Lee 9781459826434 $12.95 JUVENILE NONFICTION Age (years) from 9 - 12 Jan 19, 2021
From its beginnings as a farming celebration marking the end of winter to its current role as a global party featuring good food, lots of gifts and public parades, Chinese New Year is a snapshot of Chinese culture. Award-winning author and broadcaster Jen Sookfong Lee recalls her childhood in Vancouver and weaves family stories into the history, traditions and evolution of Chinese New Year. Lavishly illustrated with color photographs throughout.
Series: Orca Origins Powwow A Celebration through Song and Dance Hardcover Karen Pheasant-Neganigwane 9781459812345 $24.95 JUVENILE NONFICTION Age (years) from 9 - 12 Apr 21, 2020
★ "Clearly organized and educational—an incredibly useful tool for both school and public libraries." —School Library Journal, starred review Powwow is a celebration of Indigenous song and dance. Journey through the history of powwow culture in North America, from its origins to the thriving powwow culture of today. As a lifelong competitive powwow dancer, Karen Pheasant-Neganigwane is a guide to the protocols, regalia, songs, dances and even food you can find at powwows from coast to coast, as well as the important role they play in Indigenous... + Read More
Series: Orca Teacher Resource Orca Origins Teacher Guide Paperback Tasha Henry 9781459822443 $29.95 EDUCATION Apr 09, 2019
Orca Origins is a nonfiction series for middle readers that explores cultural traditions around the world. This guide helps educators use the Orca Origins series to build an inquiry-based unit plan that focuses on the diverse traditions from different cultural celebrations around the world and teaches students tolerance. This is done with a variety of dynamic learning activities, handouts and graphic organizers to support students' learning. The guide includes introductions to six Orca Origins titles.
Series: Orca Origins Christmas From Solstice to Santa Hardcover Nikki Tate 9781459813557 $24.95 JUVENILE NONFICTION Age (years) from 9 - 12 Oct 09, 2018
Christmas is a popular holiday celebrated by people all over the world. This informative and engaging exploration of Christmas is aimed at the middle grades but will entertain readers of a much wider age range. Learn about the games played, foods eaten, music played and favorite ways of decorating in different parts of the world. With lots of fun facts (about everything from frumenty to the jolly old man in red himself) and recipes, there's plenty in this beautifully illustrated volume to satisfy anyone with an interest in the festive season.
Series: Orca Origins Ramadan The Holy Month of Fasting Hardcover Ausma Zehanat Khan 9781459811812 $24.95 JUVENILE NONFICTION Age (years) from 9 - 12 Mar 27, 2018
The month of Ramadan offers the opportunity to improve one's personal and spiritual behavior. By focusing on positive thoughts and actions, Muslims build a closer connection with God and come away from the month feeling spiritually renewed. Ramadan: The Holy Month of Fasting explores the richness and diversity of the Islamic tradition by focusing on an event of great spiritual significance and beauty in the lives of Muslims. Rich with personal stories and stunning photographs, Ramadan demystifies the traditions and emphasizes the importance of ... + Read More
Series: Orca Origins Birthdays Beyond Cake and Ice Cream Hardcover Nikki Tate 9781459812970 $24.95 JUVENILE NONFICTION Age (years) from 9 - 12 Mar 07, 2017
Inspired by memories of fantastic family birthday parties, mother-and-daughter team Nikki Tate and Dani Tate-Stratton researched the history of birthdays in order to answer such questions as, How much does where you grow up influence the way you celebrate getting a year older? Have people always celebrated birthdays? The more they investigated, the more they realized that there's a lot more to birthdays than cake, presents, a few games and perhaps a goody bag. They discovered there are as many ways to observe birthdays as there are places in wh... + Read More
Series: Orca Origins Diwali Festival of Lights Hardcover Rina Singh 9781459810075 $24.95 JUVENILE NONFICTION Age (years) from 9 - 12 Sep 27, 2016
During Diwali, Hindus, Sikhs and Jains celebrate the legends and stories that describe the triumph of good over evil and justice over oppression. Critically acclaimed author Rina Singh explores her Indian roots as she tells the Diwali stories, which remind us that eventually light will prevail over darkness. Enriched by personal stories and spiced with festive recipes, including two by acclaimed chef, Vikram Vij, Diwali: Festival of Lights brings to life the holiday's traditions, food and rituals and takes you on a journey to see how this festi... + Read More
Series: Orca Origins Passover Festival of Freedom Hardcover Monique Polak 9781459809901 $24.95 JUVENILE NONFICTION Age (years) from 9 - 12 Feb 16, 2016
During Passover, Jews are reminded of how, more than three thousand years ago, their ancestors emerged from slavery to become free men and women. Bestselling author Monique Polak explores her own Jewish roots as she tells the Passover story, which reminds us that the freedom to be who we are and practice our religion, whatever it may be, is a great gift. It also teaches us that if we summon our courage and look out for each other, we can endure and overcome the most challenging circumstances. Enlivened by personal stories, Passover reminds us t... + Read More


Mexico has it all, you name it you can find it in Mexico. Beaches fringed with palms, fiesta fireworks, steamy jungles as well as chili-spiced cuisine. These give the country its unique appearance and ambience which everyone is looking for. Feel welcome to the country situated in the Central America region bordering United States of America to the North.
The natural physical features include beautiful volcanoes, deserts with xerophytes, sandy beaches, lagoons as well as flamboyant life in the open air. Both Mayan temples and Hispanic historical monuments give the country a wonderful sense of arts and culture.
Mexican dishes are also rich concoctions which are appealing to most of the visiting groups. They include: Yucatan's slow-cooked pork, moles, palapa, and homemade salsas to give them Mexican taste.
The Mexican people themselves offer diverse categories of people all the way from the heart of the city to the local indigenous groups such as Chiapas who are rather shy. All the groups are rather charming and have a sense of humor while welcoming guests who are normally accorded the highest levels of respect and honor. For those who like liquors, here is the home of some of the best you could find. Unique mixture of beautiful are appealing to all eyes. Welcome to Mexico!


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HBO's 'We're Here' is Here for Season Two
HBO's unscripted series We're Here returns for its eight-episode second season on National Coming Out Day, Monday, Oct. 11 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
The series follows a trio of queens Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O'Hara and Shangela as they travel to such diverse spots as Spartanburg, S.C.; Temecula, Calif.; Del Rio, Texas; Selma, Ala.; Evansville, Indiana; Watertown, S.D., Kona, Hawaii; and Grand Junction, Colo., to spread the gospel of drag and help their "drag daughters" express their true selves to their families, friends and communities.
In episode one, the trio returns to Spartanburg after the pandemic cut their first visit short. There, they catch up with Noah, who is grappling with gender expression; plus-size lesbian model faith; and Olin.
In episode two, they travel to Temecula where they meet James, an often misgendered trans man navigating neurodiversity; Jake, his faith-influencer mom Michelle, and his partner, Brad; and cheerleader Andrei.
And in episode three, the tree head to the Texas border town of Del Rio just in time for Pride Month. There, the queens celebrate gay-identifying mayor Bruno Lozano's positive impact on the community, Joey's identity quest, and Esael's coming-out journey.
We're Here is created and executive produced by Stephen Warren and Johnnie Ingram; directed and executive produced by Peter LoGreco; executive produced by Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman and Erin Gamble for Industrial Media's The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC); series producers are Caldwell Tidicue (Bob the Drag Queen), David Huggard (Eureka O'Hara) and D.J. Pierce (Shangela).
[Images courtesy of HBO]
Key art for season two of HBO's 'We're Here.'
Tags: hbo we're here
Will Smith Travels to Ends of the Earth for Nat Geo
UP NEXT: Will Smith Travels to Ends of the Earth for Nat Geo


Keep doing what you do! Hudson Movers were absolutely professional and I will gladly recommend your company.
Professional, fun and efficient crew. Thank you.
The crew was patient and professional. They put in the extra time and effort to figure out how to get the large furniture items into the smaller space.
Reliable service on a very stressful day!
Just what you want in a move. Accurate estimate, no damage, efficient and friendly service. No surprises.
Moving us a very anxious time especially after living in one place for 50 years. The men from Hudson Movers arrived promptly at 8:30am-proceeded to efficiently, speedily yet calmly work through the 2 storey house and were finished by 10:30. We are entirely satisfied-have and will continue to recommend Hudson Movers to anyone who wants a job well done.
We simply could not have been happier with the move.
The move was done so professional and carefully. We were calm throughout it and satisfied.


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A startup can have all the potential in the world, but nothing can derail things faster than its "people problems." In a study about startup performance, venture capitalists attribute 65% of company failures to problems within the startup's management team.
Make no mistake, more than anything else, startups live and die by the people that bring them to life.
Ideas can pivot and evolve as they grow, funding can always be found somewhere else, the market will always change with a never-ending supply of competitors. But the team that brings it all together forms the company's DNA.
There's a reason why Paul Graham of Y-Combinator considers the relationship between founders to be one of the most important factors in a startup's chances for success.
So let's get down to it, let's break down what makes the perfect founding team!
While there's nothing wrong with being a solopreneur, you have to realize that you're playing with a handicap from the get-go.
According to the Startup Genome Report, solo founders, on average, take 3.6 times longer to scale when compared to startup teams of two or more. It also found that teams were more likely to attract investors and experience success in comparison to solo founders.
Why is that? Well for one thing, to investors, it's a vote of no confidence. It doesn't matter how hard-working or talented you may be, or how brilliant your idea is. To investors, it looks like no one else but you believe in your idea. Even if you are a Superman and can do it all alone, you'll lose out on advantages like having a diversity of skills, someone to bounce ideas off of, and someone to talk you out of stupid decisions.
But most importantly, you won't have a partner to help pick you back up when things go wrong. In the startup world, the highs are high, and the lows are low. When you inevitably hit the trough of sorrow, it'll hurt, and picking yourself back up is a hell of a task. Having a friend to talk to, who understands exactly what you're going through, to be there when you need it makes all the difference in the world.
It's not impossible for startups to become successful with just one founder; Foundr itself is a testament to that. But have you ever noticed how there are only a handful of successful startups out there that was founded by only one person?
Sure there are companies out there that may have a founder who is more prominent than others, but that doesn't mean they were operating in a vacuum.
While undoubtedly the most famous, Steve Jobs was not the only founder of Apple. It took the collective efforts of Mr. Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ron Wayne to get Apple off the ground.
Bill Gates had Paul Allen, Richard Branson had Nik Powell, and while Arianna Huffington may be the editor-in-chief and face of The Huffington Post, it was a team of four founders that brought it to life. While he may be known for his solo adventures, Batman wouldn't be the same without the Bat Family!
It's not impossible to go solo but a startup is hard enough, so why go in alone?
Here's an interesting bit of information. After analyzing a handful of successful startups, apparently, the perfect number of cofounders is 2.09. Others will argue that three is the perfect number. But it's generally agreed upon that four is pushing it, and any more than that is just inviting chaos.
The reason is that a founding team should be as lean as possible. Two is good because it allows you to distribute the necessary workload and trust is high. Three allows for more diversity of skill and specialized roles but introduces more opportunities for unnecessary drama. Four means you can, theoretically, get even more work done, but trust is generally lower and politics come into play. Any more than that means you have a committee and you're more likely to be focusing on power plays and egos rather than working together to build a great product.
It's well-documented that the more people it takes to complete a task, the more inefficient the process becomes.
Also, here's a fun bit of trivia for you. In Chinese superstition, the number four is considered to be incredibly unlucky. You'll never see the number four in any elevator in China. Then again, the number eight is considered auspicious, so take that how you will.
But whether or not you choose to have a founding team of two, four, or eight, what really matters is the diversity of roles, experience, and responsibilities. Because if your cofounder is just a carbon-copy of yourself, then honey, you've got a big storm coming.
The last thing you want your founding team be is a collection of skills and abilities that don't complement each other. At the end of the day, the size of your team is nowhere near as important as the qualities that each individual member brings.
The perfect founding team will have these three roles: the visionary, the hustler, and the hacker. Together these three make up the golden triangle, the foundation of every successful founding team.
Regardless of a team's size, you need to fulfill these three roles if you want to succeed. Any other roles, while helpful, are unnecessary in the early stages. If you have someone on your team that isn't fulfilling any of these following roles, then cut them—they're not useful right now and will only slow you down. Remember you want to be as lean as possible.
Here's a breakdown of each of these three roles and why you absolutely need them.
Often, but not always, the CEO, the visionary is the beating heart of the team. While everyone understands the overall goals and objectives, the visionary is the one with the stars in their eyes, the one who sees into the future. They have that unique ability to articulate that dream to others. To convince the skeptics among the customers, market, and investors, and inspire the rest of the team. Their job is, at all times, people-facing.
While not always the best at the detail-oriented stuff, the visionary is all about the big picture. Whether it's coming up with the overall strategy, recruiting and hiring the best talent for the company, or making sure that the right people are kept happy. They have the responsibility of working on their business, not just in it.
Visionaries keep their eyes on the prize and are always looking to capitalize on even the smallest of opportunities. They're always looking to grow and expand the business, and are ready to adapt and pivot if the circumstances call for it. Even if it's through sheer force of character, visionaries refuse to let setbacks hold them back, and barrel forward, rallying the rest of the team as they go.
It's the visionary who organizes the rest of the team, and perhaps most importantly, inspires them.
If the visionary is the heart of the founding team, then the hustler is the arms and legs. The hustler is simultaneously the doer and the taskmaster of the group, setting the pace and making damn sure everyone else keeps up. What they don't know they'll learn, and what can't be efficiently done they'll put in the hours to hammer it out. The hustler is not defined by position or title, but by attitude.
While hustlers can see and understand the bigger picture, instead they focus on the smaller scale of things. All those detailed bits and pieces, the day-to-day operations that need to be done in order for the grand vision to happen. The visionary may set up the board, but it's the hustler that moves the pieces.
A background in either marketing, technology, business development, or financials would be ideal. But the hustler ultimately walks the middle road, they're the jack-of-all-trades competent enough to fill whatever role is necessary until a more suitable replacement can be found.
Bear in mind, that does not mean that the hustler is replaceable. In fact, finding someone with that right combination of driving force and willpower is rare in and of itself. Hustlers make sure that the visionaries and hackers stay grounded and working together. They keep their eyes on the bottom line and make sure the ship keeps driving forward.
There is only one thing that the hacker focuses on: product, product, product.
The brains of the operation, their entire job is to make sure that the required tech and hardware is up to scratch. If it's a tech startup you'll need an amazing programmer; if the business is a restaurant then you need an amazing chef; if you're running VC firm then you better have someone who knows the market.
Whatever your business is, you need someone who lives and breathes the product.
From the get-go, the hacker should be able to conceptualize what the design of the product should be like—what people should expect and why it's amazing. From there, they need to have a problem-solver mentality and always be looking for different ways to develop and improve the value of whatever it is they're working on.
In the early stages of a startup, the product is incredibly important, simply because without a product, there is no business. In the end, how well-made or valuable a product depends solely on the expertise of the hacker. So make sure you choose your hacker carefully because the product starts and stops with them.
As you can see, each role is vitally important, and one cannot exist without the others. Which demonstrates again why going solo is so difficult. It's almost impossible for one person to fulfill all three roles effectively.
That said, while it is better to have one person dedicated to each role, it isn't mandatory. For example, it isn't uncommon to have founding teams of two where one cofounder has the dual responsibility of being the visionary and the hustler, or startup teams of four where the role of the hacker is shared by two people.
Some founding teams favor more technical prowess, while others prefer having more business-oriented members. Overall, it depends on what kind of business you want to run and the agreed upon priorities of the team.
What kind of founding team do you need?
When it comes to figuring out your perfect founding team, Steve Blank recommends using the Business Model Canvas. It's a simple tool that allows you to focus on the nine essential elements of a business model, all arranged to represent how they influence each other.
This surprisingly simple tool is all you need when it comes to finding the best founding team for your business. First, the Key Activities box defines your product and how it's delivered to your customer. Then compare that to your Key Resources, where you'll list everything that's needed in order to execute those activities. Don't just list physical resources like money and infrastructure; be sure to note the expertise needed as well.
If there's a massive gap between what you can bring to the table and the expertise needed to get your startup off the ground, then you need to start looking for a cofounder to fill the need.
Before you start picking up people left and right and asking them to share equity with you, be sure to take a good, hard look at your resources. Ask yourself whether or not you can get by with a consultant or a contractor.
A lot of founders run into this dilemma when it comes to expanding their teams. On one hand, you can get a cofounder who will stay with the company long term, but you'll dilute your own equity (check out the Cofounder Equity Calculator to help out with this). On the other hand, you could pay someone to do a specific job for you, and once the job's done or the money runs out, they're gone.
Some entrepreneurs don't want to share equity with anyone, so end up breaking the bank with contractors in order to fill the holes in their expertise. One of two things usually happens—either they lose it all in the early stages, or when the business starts to scale they realize that the contractors were only there for the short term and that they really needed a dedicated person. Other entrepreneurs might panic and immediately share equity with someone, only to discover that in the long run their cofounder's skills aren't needed anymore. So what do you do?
The short answer is, if there is a key resource that is absolutely irreplaceable, not just at the early stage of the startup but throughout the entirety of your business, then get a cofounder. If there are skills that are ultimately replaceable, take a look at your budget and figure out what you're willing to pay and for how long.
It's a tough decision, but remember, a founding team needs to be lean. Take full use of the Business Model Canvas and get your bearings. Just remember to surround yourself with people smarter than you.
As any sports fan will tell you, even if your founding team is made up of first-round draft picks, there's no guarantee that your team will succeed. After all, what makes a team great isn't the individual talent of each member, but how well a team works together.
So as talented as your team of founders may be, it won't get very far unless it has these three essential qualities.
These two are the defining principles of any great relationship, let alone a great business relationship. If you don't trust or respect the person you're working with, the one who you'll likely be seeing day-in and day-out for as long as your startup exists, then that's not a cofounder you need.
One thing startup founders hate with a passion is relinquishing control. Something many young entrepreneurs tend to do is micro-manage. I'm sure we've all had that boss who somehow finds the most nitpickiest of things to nitpick. It's annoying as hell, and you get mad because it feels like they don't trust you. That they don't respect your skills enough to leave you alone to complete your task.
Build a culture of trust and respect by listening to each other, really learning how to value their opinion if it's different from yours, and respect each other's contributions to the team. It's a two-way street, you can't get if you don't give.
If you're in a startup team where everyone else is just the same as you, then congratulations. You've managed to multiply your weaknesses by the number of cofounders you have.
Make no mistake about it, diversity breeds success. Don't make the mistake of creating a team that looks just like you. Talent is talent, but you'll usually need to consciously seek out people who are different than you to make sure your team is well-rounded.
According to this study by the Journal of Business Strategy, there are three major ways in which cofounders can differ from each other: opinion, expertise, and power. The study concludes that winning teams are moderate in the diversity of opinion, high in the diversity of expertise, and low in the diversity of power.
This means the perfect founding team consists of people willing to challenge and push each other, are not carbon-copies of each other in terms of skills and experience, and all are treated equally.
The perfect founding team's members are always talking to each other. It's not enough that cofounders agree to communicate, but they actually follow through with it. Open communication is the single most important factor in creating a positive working atmosphere and culture. Heck, a team of founders who hate each other can still be successful as long as they communicate.
However, communication is more than just simply talking to someone and assuming they're listening. What you need is a proper conversation, where all parties feel like they're being listened to, rather than just being talked at.
I've always been a fan of the DISC test which helps you understand your communication and interaction style. While not a perfect test, something I doubt even exists, it does give you a good reference point for yourself and your cofounders.
Now I know that you can work with your cofounder. But ask yourself this: Would you marry your cofounder?
You've probably heard this analogy before, but your relationship with a cofounder is a lot like a marriage. Why? Because you're going to be dealing with that person day-in and day-out for as long as your startup exists. The stress and pressure will make you want to tear your hair out, and possibly each other's throats. Sounds a lot like marriage doesn't it?
A startup will take over your life, there's no way around it. So the person you choose to have as your cofounder better be someone you'd consider a life partner.
Finding such a person can be a tricky business. Going back to the analogy of a startup being marriage, then finding a cofounder is a lot like dating. Just replace the honeymoon period of bedroom shenanigans with late nights at the office screaming at your partner that their ideas are stupid.
For those looking for a cofounder, the best place to look is your professional network. People you've gone to school with or worked together with, maybe even someone at your co-working space. Someone who you know you can work with.
You can also look into working together with family or friends. This does offer an advantage because of your shared history and a higher level of trust. But you have to remember to prevent that personal relationship from getting in the way of your professional one, and not many people are good at that.
Of course, you can always create a founding team with a complete stranger. Not always a good thing, but can be if you manage to find the right person. Just don't ask someone to be your cofounder if that person isn't someone you'd hire to be your employee.
While the world might love the idea of a sole innovator, of some chosen one singlehandedly bringing about change, the reality couldn't be further from the truth. You can't become a leader if you have no one to lead.
While every startup team differs in size and shape, the three core roles of the visionary, the hustler, and the hacker remain the same with every successful startup. Chances are, you're not going to be able to do it all, so do the smart thing and give the job to someone else. As an entrepreneur, you have to be working on the business, not in it. So surround yourself with smart people and let them do their job while you do yours.
But the perfect team is only perfect because of the bonds that tie them together, not the qualities of each individual. Because a startup will do to a relationship what a dog does to a sock, find every opportunity to tear it apart. So pick a cofounder than complements you, and you know you can trust.


This firecracker is TEDDY and he is our Fursday Pet of the Week! He is ready to get adopted from It Takes a Village Canine Shelter!
SAMMY is our super energetic Fursday Pet of the Week! This sweet boy is ready to get adopted from It Takes a Village Canine Shelter!
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Nikon did not schedule any press events for this week's announcement which means that the new product (or service) will not be of any significance. At that point I don't even think it will be a DSLR camera, probably some kind of accessory (maybe a teleconverter or a new lens in the best case scenario). Expect the press release to be up on Nikon's website at midnight tonight or tomorrow night (EST).
This entry was posted in Other Nikon stuff and tagged Nikon press conference. Bookmark the permalink. Trackbacks are closed, but you can post a comment.


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« Ever Rodriguez / La Feroz Press
Elizabeth Gómez »
A Week Living Art, 2015
Minoosh Zomorodinia is an Iranian-born interdisciplinary artist and curator working in time, space and the natural world. Her current art practice involves nature walks which are documented via smart phone app. The resultant maps are then made tangible via a variety of both old and new technologies. There is an edgy, accessible humor in much of her work—this she calls "the abstract absurd." In actuality, Zomorodinia uses all aspects of her making to parse and comment on current critical issues including borders and territories, colonialism, immigration, culture and identity, stereotyping, relations of the self to the environment, the power of technology, and the art world itself. Her work is both layered and engaging—smart, funny, and often visually exquisite.
Zomorodinia earned an MFA in New Genres from the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI). She has a Masters in Graphic Design and a BA in Photography from Azad University in Tehran. She is the recipient of a Southern Exposure's Alternative Exposure Award, a California Arts Council grant, and a Kala Media Fellowship Award. She has received residencies at Headlands Center for the Arts, Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists' Residency in Michigan, I-park Foundation in Connecticut, Local Language Residency in Oakland, Santa Fe Art Institute Residency, Djerassi Residency in Woodside, and Recology in South San Francisco. Zomorodinia has exhibited locally and internationally. She volunteers for Southern Exposure Gallery's Curatorial Council and is a board member of Women Eco Artists Dialog. Zomorodinia currently lives and works in the Bay Area.
We spoke in the studio at Recology, where Minoosh is resuming an artist residency interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Integration with Nature, 2010
Whirligig: A great deal of your work has a focus on the body in nature—often your own body which is shrouded, wrapped, blanketed, responding to external elements. Why the body? Why your own body?
Minoosh: There are different reasons to use the body in my work. First, I want to acknowledge that my friend, Tara Goudarzi, generously accepted to be a model for the Destruction of Nature, Destruction of The Human Being as we were traveling together.
One reason to use the body is expressing self. I spend a lot of time in nature, it's an extraordinary experience and inspiration for my practice. My mind opens and I see things when I'm in nature. I search for spirituality in nature and some sort of psychology for finding positive energy. I have been wanting to illustrate this feeling in different ways.
Another reason is to dematerialize and use my body as a signifier to lived experience as well as illustrate identity. I believe using my body offers a variety of contexts and perceptions. Employing my body in my work somehow represents time and space, especially in my performance installations. I consider my body as a sculpture—I make myself vulnerable to challenge the perception of the female body, and represent culture and religion. I want to emphasize a political perception from a Muslim woman's body and how it's been interpreted in the world.
Whirligig: Are you thinking of specific interpretations of a Muslim woman's body? Can you explain?
Minoosh: I was referring to the works which were performances. A series called Resist, where I am folding the chador, a large piece of cloth that is wrapped around the head and upper body leaving only the face exposed, worn especially by Muslim women. This work started when I first came here. I was newly moved to the United States and I was going to school. I felt so isolated and not part of the community at school. I was experiencing being excluded. I was thinking: I can be a Muslim but I am also a human. I wanted to make a connection with my American fellows who were not familiar with a Muslim body. What I am saying with this work is that one's appearance creates a form of stereotype that people already have an opinion of. It is about appearance and invisibility. It has become political because it is how it is interpreted. Just by saying "I am from Iran," in an American context I am considered Middle Eastern and Other. I have been told that utilizing my body in my work is considered political because I am Muslim and I dress in a manner which shows my identity and my culture.
Resist, 2016
Whirligig: Because your choice of dress is identifying?
Minoosh: Yes.
Whirligig: Because looking at me one has no idea what my spiritual practice is.
Minoosh: Exactly.
Whirligig: It's an interesting thing.
Minoosh: Yes. I have this argument with people, especially my male friends who are immigrants and from Iran, whose experiences are different from mine. I tell them, "You are not getting any of those impressions from the first look because you are a man, you are not wearing a hijab (head scarf), and people are not afraid of you since you don't show your religion."
I'm not sure that this is exactly similar, but it is like how people react when they see a homeless person. Homeless people are invisible because of the assumption of mental illness or whatever is already there. I think stereotypes are there for the Muslim body, especially for women.
Whirligig: So, wearing the hijab is creating a political body?
Minoosh: Yes, but it is not intentionally political.
Whirligig: And that is a choice that you are making. That is kind of a tricky area to navigate.
Minoosh: What do you mean?
Whirligig: Well, you are making a choice to engage in a cultural practice but you are in a different dominant culture where you are a minority in that choice. And that choice could be anything—it could be a braid sticking out of the top of your head or wearing a red shoe on your right foot. It could be anything. But you are feeling erased or invisible because of it. It is like being judged for letting one's hair turn gray, when one could color it.
Minoosh: But why should I have to do that?
Whirligig: So you are saying, why do I have to assimilate culturally to be equal.
Minoosh: Yes. Why do we have to assimilate. Why can't we be ourselves. That is what I am saying. If we are talking about humanity and that we are all human. Consider how we are with animals and pets. We are okay with stereotyping and being superior to animals, but with nationalities and culture? It is the same thing with transgender people.
Whirligig: It's a form of tribalism. It's one of the things that troubles me about missionaries—they go to other countries and cultures and tell people they are savages unless they start believing their religion, which is kind of what you are talking about. . . forcing people to assimilate to be accepted.
Minoosh: I'm not forcing people to convert nor am I a missionary, but I do expect respect as a citizen.
Whirligig: Wearing the hijab is a political act?
Minoosh: I think so.
Whirligig: Why are you choosing to do that?
Rite of Passage, 2015
Minoosh: It's personal. For me it is because I feel more comfortable. It's how I grew up. I like how I feel when I am wearing the hijab because I become invisible. People don't look at me and don't see me.
Whirligig: So you like that and you don't like that at the same time.
Minoosh: Exactly. I hate segregation and ignorance, but I'm happy that I am invisible and nobody looks at me. At the same time, I don't like to be ignored. For example, if I try to talk to someone and they leave and ignore me. . . I experience this all the time.
Whirligig: Are there additional ways in which your religious beliefs influence and inform your artwork?
Minoosh: I don't necessarily think that I'm making art that is referencing my beliefs, it's not intentional, it just shows. It's because I grew up with it. It's part of my identity.
Whirligig: So what you are saying is that being Muslim is just part of who you are. Is it cultural or is it spiritual?
Minoosh: Part of it is cultural but in my work it is more spiritual. In my work I am using nature. It is very personal. Through the walking I get a lot of signs. It is more about how the mind travels and sees differently. It is a type of spiritual ritual and it is changing. I never had the intention to be a walking artist, but signs came towards me. For example, here at the dump I found a bunch of tapes. How many Muslims do you think would live in this neighborhood? I found a cassette player, turned it on, the tape inside was reciting a surah from the Quran. There are so many things that I am not planning to do, it just comes intuitively. That is how my walking practice started.
Whirligig: How is walking art?
Minoosh: I was first introduced to walking as art by land artist Richard Long. Since I had an interest in nature and ritual, walking as a spiritual action became an important element in my practice.
Before I moved to the United States I made documentary photography. For several years I photographed a special event, Tasoa and Ashora, which is a major religious commemoration of the martyrdom at Karbala of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Chel Manbar is accrued once a year in Khorramabad during the month of Muharam on Tasoa. It's commemorating Imam Hussein, Shia's leader in Khorramabad, Iran. In this ritual women walk barefoot, silently, light candles on 40 altar sites and make a wish. For three years I traveled to the city to capture this ritual.
My first semester as a student at SFAI I was spending many hours in the film laboratory. We had access to a large archive of 16mm footage. I enjoyed the dark and quiet studio down in the basement. While experimenting with a Bolex 16mm camera and projectors I found a reel which was documentary footage from a Haj pilgrimage, so that became inspiration for my work. There are several rituals in Islam during Haj pilgrimage. One is Tavaf which is a seven times walking around Kaaba. The other is Saay which is a back and forth seven times between Safa and Marwa mountain. I was taking a class with Christian Linden who was teaching on land art at the time, so I wanted to reference these rituals through my practice. I also took a class with Sebastian Alvarez called Ambulation which was specifically about walking artists. I consider my walking as performative acts that there are no audiences to witness. Very recently I learned about the Situationists and dérive, so I wanted to be innovative, to put together these concepts and decolonize art history.
Sensation, 2016
Whirligig: Decolonizing art history is an ambitious agenda, especially if you are doing it one step at a time. . . to clarify, are you referring to the white male domination of the canon and the art world in general?
Minoosh: For sure. I don't necessarily shout it out loud. Even with the comedy. . . A lot of my work is about duality and contradiction between two things. So I'm criticizing the art world but at the same time I'm making art. When I was in Iran I was collaborating with Open5 Collective, a group who were making environmental art. The studio was outdoors. The works were ephemeral and not welcomed in gallery spaces because they were not selling, although they were photo documentation. So I think it is the way it is seen in art history. Each next group of artists comes through and wants to challenge and build upon previous artists.
Whirligig: What does it mean to be an environmental artist today?
Minoosh: I think it's difficult to be an environmental artist when sustainability matters for being an artist. For several years I intentionally utilized natural materials, recycled, and conceptually worked with the concept of natural elements—I avoided making objects. But I think environmental artists have to be activists, and I don't consider myself an activist. I have been advocating environmental issues in my work even though not literally illustrating that.
Whirligig: Yet there are strong connections between issues of colonization and environmental stewardship/equity so you actually are an activist. . .
Minoosh: I'm not sure of that. I may go somewhere to better understand a border or a neighborhood but I don't comment on that. I use those acts as a metaphor. But the way this started was in 2016 when the immigration policy in the United States was about to change. I decided to respond by claiming the land virtually. I start walking in different public places, especially in national parks. I claim ownership of the land that does not belong to me. It's this idea of abstract absurd.
Seventy Thousand Curtains, Collaborative Work by Open5/5baz. Photo credit: Shahrnaz Zarkesh.
Whirligig: But the act of doing it is an act of activism.
Minoosh: You call that activism?
Whirligig: I do. I think that this is part of today. It's very current. Women artists have been doing it for decades despite how they identify intersectionally. It's in all of the identity politics of today, whether it is gender or racial, and race isn't even a real thing, it's something that we have created. People who are saying "I am here." That is an act of activism. Just like making art about nature is saying, "Pay attention to this."
Minoosh: Don't you think that is your description?
Whirligig: Yes.
Minoosh: The way I look at activism is when you go out and advocate for bigger issues and are not thinking about making art. Doing the activism for a result in society. Making yourself vulnerable for others. I call that activism rather than what I do in my studio or in my solo walks.
Whirligig: In your artist's statement: What do you mean by "the power of technology as a colonial structure."
Painting Satellite Maps, 2020
Minoosh: All of this time I've been using my smart phone, which I consider to be the most available technology, to document my routes and make maps of my walks. One has to have Internet access just to go around and track one's path. The GPS tries to follow your route, but it's not very accurate. It jumps. Even if you don't have the Internet or your phone is dead, it still tracks your path and records. So now I have many images and recordings and maps of my walking in actual physical space, but I question, how much of this data is accurate. Who is deciding this is the border between America and Canada. These lines, these borders, are all given to us, how much is accurate from the technology. I'm trying to say that technology is so powerful that it can easily interpret and change reality. But also how long does it last? I have all of this data but who knows in ten years if it will be accurate. It's like with wars and battles. . . how much of that history and memories and stories are coming back to us accurately. The power of technology is in the ways it can be easily changed, informed and interpreted because of limitations in its current accuracy. We can easily change things.
Whirligig: One can easily colonize because of that? Because of the way that technology works, it can easily allow people who are in power to expand their boundaries?
Minoosh: I think it can. Who can just say No? It is so easy to see this in my normal, not very complicated app, that everyone has on their phone. I can change the accuracy of where I've been and I make that a record. And it is not accurate. It can be used for other purposes… If you look at the maps… What used to be Iran in the past? There is some battle and the borders change. In the past that happened through war and now it happens through technology. In my recent series Made Lands, I'm interested in using technology to re-form and re-imagine the memory from the physical land.
Whirligig: You are talking about memory and how shallow human memory is and that technology is extending our memory. In some of our previous cultures if libraries got burnt we lost all of that information and history.
Minoosh: Yes. In my new work, memory is an important element. I take photos of my walks and through some glitch the images change. What I am trying to say with these distorted images is: what will be the memory of this space? The maps are documented with the recording of the walks, but the memory is through photographs.
Whirligig: And our memories are not accurate.
Minoosh: True. It will be interesting to see what our memories of this pandemic will be like. How many of us will remember about teaching in person. I found myself thinking it was easier to teach on zoom. . . How have we been changed? We are dependent on these technologies. I'm not saying bad or good, but noticing through my own life.
Whirligig: You often work with others. Tell us about a few of your favorite or most successful collaborations.
Minoosh: You would think that collaboration has to continue for a long time, but that's never the case for me. In my opinion, collaboration is successful when I learn something new from it and take it with me. Back in Iran, I collaborated with a group of Iranian artists Open5 Collective for six years. I had so many great times and memories working with them in Iran. I dream of those times now. Moving to the U.S. disconnected us. I believe it was the right time for me to start working independently and focus on my own projects rather than collaborative projects. When you work collectively, sometimes you get lost and can't find your way.
Virtual Lands, 2019
I have collaborated with The Walk Discourse for two years, which was a monthly walk led by different artists in the Bay Area. I think it was very successful for me in terms of working with a non-Iranian collaborator and pushing the envelope. I'm a shy person but this activity helped me to grow personally. I learned a lot from Astrid Kaemmering about how to build a community. She helped me realize that I should believe in what I intuitively have started to create.
Another collaboration was a film project Golden which took over two and half years to finish. It was sometimes challenging and fun and my first time working with a poet. This collaboration came out of the Djerassi Residency in 2016 where I met Annie Albagli, Cintia Santana, and Carolina Chen.
Whirligig: Is there a specific project which taught you something vital, something which transformed you or your practice?
Minoosh: Maybe I can say the first collaboration that I did in Iran with Open5 Collective was a seed for my long term practice. It helped me to make art collectively without description of roles and responsibilities. It was a huge provocative move for me. And The Walk Discourse helped me to connect with a new community and develop my walking project.
Destruction of Nature Destruction, of the Human Being, 2008
Whirligig: Your work is highly conceptual. . . Currently you are making objects. What does the object do for you personally that is different from media-based and performative artworks?
Minoosh: Objects are more like something that you can sell, that you can participate in the show, because not every show wants conceptual art. They want to sell. One of the reasons I started making these objects was exactly that. Not everyone needs performance and depending on what you're aiming for you can sell that object as something that is tangible that shows part of what you have been making. Your creative process becomes an object that people can see. But honestly, it was more of my struggle. How can I make performances as an object. The only thing that I could think of was documenting by video and photo. It was later I turned to sculpture.
Whirligig: Do you like making the objects?
Minoosh: I started with craft as a hobby. When I started grad school at SFAI I wanted to challenge myself to be an artist but not make any objects. It was challenging to make art that is interesting and considered good art but not have an object, but it was very helpful and I am glad that I did that because it pushed me towards stronger conceptual work.
Whirligig: Some of the photographs of your performance works are really quite exquisite and the videos hold up on their own as well.
Made Lands, 2021
Minoosh: But in the art world video is considered by its production and is endlessly reproducible. Whereas painting is considered differently. I'm also considering the challenge of making something that is not reproducible. So it is also playing with the idea of originality. It is more valuable when it is unique, it is only one.
Whirligig: That's part of the canon. If it's unique it has more value.
With exhibitions like Hofreh at Peephole Cinema (SF), and Emotional Numbness the impact of war on the human psyche and ecosystems (U.S and Tehran) you are developing a reputation as a curator to watch. What is the role of exhibition curation in your practice?
Minoosh: One of the things about being an artist is that you have so little time. What I like about curation is that you create opportunities for other artists. There are some ideas I am very interested in working with and curation is a great way to talk about what interests you through other lenses. I think I use it as a type of messaging about things that I like to think about and talk about.
Whirligig: In the last five years you have achieved a significant list of Bay Area artist residencies and a few across the states as well. Talk about your experiences as artist-in-residence and the role residencies play in your art practice.
Minoosh: It's amazing. I am so lucky to be in this place even though so much happened at the same time. I haven't always been getting the residencies. I have been an alternate and I always say Yes to things. The residencies that are not in the Bay Area have been more successful. When I am in the Bay Area I still have to work. But the ones that are so far away that I have to fly there, I just do art and no work. What I found about residencies is the time is very productive when I know it is one month and I will be in a place and I have to make something. Maybe having a deadline is helpful and not having distractions, and being focused. The distractions from the daily jobs or whatever you normally do is so different from being on a residency. The residencies I've had outside of the Bay Area have been so productive. At Ox-bow I made so much work. The ideas that come with that time. Also, you get to meet so many people. You get to meet a lot of curators and I have made some friends through residencies. Connection, community, networking.
Whirligig: What and who inspires you to create?
Minoosh: I think I can get inspiration from anything. Everything makes me curious. Just thinking about the moment is fascinating. Inspirational? Love of looking at art. Nature. The sky. Sometimes crazy things like the colors of little leaves, anything that gets my attention at the moment. Also, the News. Especially, depending on the times, I listen to the news when I work. I get bombarded with all that's happening. It's the best way that I can be informed about what's happening in the world. I don't want to be isolated and stay in my cocoon. I want to grow and know what is going on in this country. I get inspiration from that because I try to respond and act. Not be passive in the world.
Whirligig: Tell us about your educational background, how you came to be an artist and how you came to make your home in the Bay Area.
Invisible Routes, 2019
Minoosh: In high school in Iran we take an exam and apply to college. I was accepted for mathematics. I am a twin. My sister was accepted to art school and my parents wanted us to stay together. Move forward to the United States 20 plus years. I wanted to show my work. I was tired of so many things in Iran. The art world there is a very dirty scene. I got a show in Durango, Colorado. I hadn't planned to come to the United States. But my friend said let's go and we figured out the process to apply for a visa. I was surprised because no women my age get that visa. I remember I brought my portfolio to show at the embassy which was in Dubai because Iran doesn't have an American embassy. So I had the show in Durango. I was supposed to go back to Iran after a month, but I found out about going to school. I applied and was accepted. Now I have been here for eleven years.
I ended up in the Bay Area because I have a relative here who I could stay with. Then I started school. It was very challenging because I had to figure everything out. My parents wanted me to go back. But I didn't want to go back. First I went to community college which was very expensive for an international student. I finished there and I was about to leave when I got a scholarship to SFAI for graduate school. So it was a lot of time being in school.
Whirligig: You went to community college here? Which one?
Minoosh: Berkeley. I highly recommend it. They have a really good multimedia program. I had the best teachers ever. The education is so different from in Iran. I had no idea what to expect because there is no one in my family or friends who knows how it works here. I am the first woman, and at the time the first person, in my family to have a higher education. It's so hard being the first person and not knowing anything. . .
Whirligig: Because you didn't have that mentoring.
The Faces of God, 2008
Whirligig: Did coming to the U.S. change your art? Was your work conceptual in Iran?
Minoosh: I was doing photography. I wasn't making commercial work. I was very interested in documentary photography. I was documenting a lot of ceremonies, rituals and traditions in Iran. That is where religion plays in my work. In Iran, the focus in Art History is on European and Western Art History. It's not about Iranian artists. So I learned a bit about conceptual work there. There is not a lot of information or focus in the Iranian educational system about Iranian artists in Iran.
Whirligig: So when you were in Iran did you know about Shirin Neshat?
Minoosh: I did know about her because she is very famous, but she is also from America and is considered an American artist.
Whirligig: But wasn't she born in Iran?
Minoosh: Yes, but she came here when she was 17. She is living in exile. I think she considers herself to be Iranian-American now. A lot of people come here because of persecution, their lives are threatened, or because they don't like the Islamic Iranian Republic, or because they don't want to wear the hijab. They can't go back. They have to stay. I think that is part of her life.
Whirligig: Are you allowed to tell me what you are working on, here at Recology?
Minoosh: I'm not sure what I'm working on. I have all of this architectural stuff and I'm trying to make spaces. When I started the residency here I was thinking about having a house, a home, and I picked these materials. Then pandemic happened. . . some of these items are about respiration and air. And now I'm thinking about why have I collected these specific materials. There is a lot happening in here. What gets your attention?
Whirligig Interview by Nanette Wylde.
Minoosh's website: rahelehzomorodinia.com
All images used with permission. Copyright Minoosh Zomorodinia.
This entry was posted in July, 2021 and is filed under artist, curator.
Tags: collaboration, conceptual art, performance art, residencies, technology, visual artist, walking


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