ambassador | ...and she runs.
I received some incredibly exciting news last week that I wanted to share immediately, but I figured pink-shoelaces would do the talking for me.
I'm now a Sweat Pink Ambassador!
For the longest time I followed the Fit Approach website hoping to apply to become one of the company's brand ambassadors. I was handed a pair of pink shoe about a year ago at a Bay Area event. It's what led me to the website initially.
Fit Approach has an amazing philosophy.
The company's "mission statement" is very similar to See Jane Run's approach to running for all women.
That philosophy completely fits me!
So when Fit Approached opened up applications again on the website, I jumped on a chance to apply. I filled out the application during the long holiday weekend.
I found out last week that I had been chosen as a Sweat Pink Ambassador!
I received an email with a TON of information from the company, including how to sign up for a couple accounts to connect with Sweat Pink Ambassadors.
Today, I received the pink shoe laces I get to hand out to fellow runners to continue to spread the #sweatpink love! I also received my tank top.
I'm kind of in love! I'm going to take the bright orange laces out of my Nikes and add a pair of these pink laces pronto.
The best part is that I'm now connected to an amazing group of awesome women who share similar fitness goals. I'm being exposed to so many new blogs and philosophies.
I'm so excited that I decided to try on my new tank after my five-mile run (and shower) today.
I'm so fortunate that in the past couple months running has allowed me all these new opportunities and connections. I'm looking forward to spreading the #sweatpink love along with my #seejanerun love at my upcoming racing events!
That moment when you realize that you're going to have to go out of order on your race reports because you're just so excited about the half marathon you did today? That's happening now. Never happened to you? Too bad.
Today, I ran the See Jane Run Half Marathon in Alameda. My PR streak is now officially over, standing at my 2:16:41 half from last weekend, but that's OK. I had business with this specific Bay Area race course. I had a score to settle. For chocolate. And champagne.
In 2011, I ran See Jane Run as my third half marathon.
If I'm counting right, today marked my 19th try at the distance.
That first See Jane Run experience wasn't exactly what I'd hope for. It wasn't because the race was bad. Or the people. All of that was great. Amazing even.
I was just very ill prepared for my third half marathon. That was around the time I discovered moisture-wicking socks. And started wearing running clothes that weren't made out of cotton. It was basically around the time I started taking running more seriously.
And you know what? I learned a lot of lessons that day. But I ended up walking most of the end of the course and being near tears at the finish. My official time was 2:42:16.
So I had a score to settle.
Note: The face of a woman with a score to settle. And a really bad selfie. You get my point.
I also knew two things: 1) It was going to be hot day. As in, an hour into the run it would be creeping into the 80-degree range. As in, I should run faster to avoid being struck down by the sun. 2) My legs were tired. After two record-setting half marathons in two weeks, they were, essentially, out of juice.
So what did I do? I lined up with the 2:15 pacer hoping for the best.
Probably not the greatest idea.
Let me go back to the beginning of the day.
My husband dropped me off at Washington Park around 7:15 a.m. I'm kind of a pro at this race, since I'd done it in 2011. And I don't like to wait forever for bathrooms, plus I like my privacy, so I remembered the finish line wasn't too far from the start. So I headed to the row of toilets I knew would be there.
Behold: Glorious portable toilets and only ONE person in line. This would change later when it seemed other ladies caught on to my clever "avoid the lines" plan.
Ten minutes before race start, I wandered back up to Washington Park where the pre-race aerobics were already in full swing. This is one of my favorite parts about the See Jane Run race.
Because you CANNOT go wrong with Cyndi Lauper-fueled warm ups. It was nearly time to start the race, so the half marathoners headed over to the corrals. I found myself way to close to the start, so I meandered my way back to the 2:15-2:20 groups.
Once there, I lined up the aforementioned 2:15 pacer. The race started promptly at 8 a.m. And we were off, with a slight downhill on the street toward the bay-front trail that would lead us around Alameda.
Mile 1: 10:06 — I could already tell it was getting warm. I was wearing a lightweight Lululemon shirt and my MPG capris (from See Jane Run in Oakland). No heavy clothes. I hung in with the pacer.
Mile 2: 10:37 — I literally got to the end of the second mile then my leg cramped up. My first thought: This is the end. I'm going to bonk this course again. I can't bonk this course AGAIN!
Mile 3: 11:23 — Up and over a walk bridge leading to the second island. We hit a congested path, but it's not too bad. I think the heat was more than anyone expected. "OH MY GOD, WE'RE RUNNING STRAIGHT INTO THE SUN," a woman next to me said to her counterpart. Yes. It was going to be a hot one.
Mile 4: 10:33 — Gu. Feeling a little better. My left IT band, which I swear hates me with a passion lately, starts to show signs that it's going to be fussy. Of course it's going to be fussy on a day I have something to settle on a course. OF COURSE.
Mile 5: 10:57 — Then I made the conscious decision to slow it down. The 2:15 pacer was nowhere in my sight. This would not be the day to PR. I was going to make the most of this experience. And you know what? That's when it started getting fun. I started chatting with women along the course. This is also where there were some trees…beautiful, amazing shade.
Mile 6: 10:49 — Picking it up again. Feeling a little better. Again, slowing it down.
Mile 7: 11:15 — I started walking more slowly through water stops. And pouring cups of water on my head. I would grab two cups of water just to throw on my head, then a cup of water to drink. And a Gatorade.
Mile 8: 10:40 — This was one of my favorite miles. It's right along the shoreline. The air comes at you in a nice breeze. And you get an amazing view of San Francisco, the city I'll be running 26.2 in next week barring my IT band doesn't decide it really hates me. More Gu here.
Mile 9: 10:53 — Making our way back to the bridge crossing. I started talking to a couple women running their first half marathons. They said they weren't prepared for the heat. I told them I wasn't either. By now, even though I was hydrating well through the stations and hydrated well the day before, I was feeling really, really parched.
Mile 10: 11:30 — Back across the bridge, into the neighborhoods. I'm feeling better. Then I see the 2:20 pacer pass me. Yikes, I think. In March I ran Oakland in 2:20. I did another Gu. I also had a guy refill my water bottle and pour some water on my head again.
Mile 11: 11:15 — I picked it up a little, but by this time, the sun was baking me. I was getting tired. My leg hurt. My body was tired. I was spent. I started walking.
Mile 12: 11:14 — Then I got the greatest pick-me-up ever. The 2:25 pacer started encouraging me. "You're almost there! You have this," she said. Then we ran together for a minute or so. She told me my form was good and that I looked strong.
Mile 13: 11:18 —And those words of encouragement propelled me into the finish. Just like that.
Mile .18: 1.43 — I was exhausted, but incredibly happy. The moment I crossed the finish I was handed a super cute medal that has shoelaces as the band (see above). The actual "medal" is detachable, so you can hook it to your gym or running back, which I definitely think I'm going to do.
And I'm honestly, totally fine with that. Because it's a course best. Plus, it was really hot by the time I finished. I was hot nearly the entire way on the course. But I redeemed myself from my ill-prepared first journey on the See Jane Run course.
I also had a really, really good time.
Then I got See's Candy and two glasses of champagne. Who can argue with that?
In case you're wondering, my shirt was so drenched in water (and sweat … gross) that my husband brought me my bag with my race shirt in it. I promptly shed the very wet shirt and opted for the drier version to enjoy my chocolate and champagne.
I've always said I'm not a fan of big races. I've never much loved any race that welcomes more than 9,000 people to it. That's one of the reasons I choose to race smaller ones, including the Oakland Half Marathon, California International Marathon and the San Luis Obispo Marathon.
That's one of the reasons See Jane Run appealed to me when I registered for it in 2011. It's not incredibly small, but it's intimate enough to not feel overwhelmed. It also brings together an amazing group of women with a "go get it" attitude. That's one of the reasons I signed up to be an ambassador this year. According to the results, 1,570 people finished the half marathon. It's kind of like going for a run with a very large group of encouraging, fun friends.
I also got to partake in the views, minus the trash cans in the first image, before heading home. Today was a good day. It was a win in my book.
Even better, my race bib scored my husband (and race driver) a buy one, get one deal at Chipotle, one of the race sponsors. You better believe we took advantage of that.
I'm wearing it now — proud to be a part of what happened in Alameda today, proud of myself for hanging in there with tired legs under a sweltering sun and proud to be am ambassador for an organization that promotes running for all types of women. Especially all the women I had a "rockin good time" with today on the 13.1 mile course.


Mikalatos: Neighbors! Attend to my call! Look unto the northwest region of our neighborhood! What do you see there?
Neighbor Chorus: Only the abandoned house which has become a garden of weeds, a haunt of ghuls, a repository of our curses.
Mikalatos: Look unto the garden of weeds, my friends. What do you see?
Chorus: Behold! The weeds have disappeared as silently as the neighbors themselves.
Mikalatos: Yes, for I took my lawn mower, whose name is Arondight, and I did a great and mighty work upon the monstrous weeds which had threatened to rule over us. And do you know what I found beneath those tree-like weeds?
Chorus: Was it a dead mouse?
Mikalatos: Yes, I did find a dead mouse. But that is not the thing of which I speak.
Chorus: Was it a phone book?
Mikalatos: Yea, verily, I did find even three phone books beneath the shade of the weeds, bereft of their plastic coats and discarded there by careless owners or strange miscreants of yellowed pages. But this also is not the thing of which I speak.
Chorus: Soda bottles? Beer cans? Hidden shrubbery?
Mikalatos: Yea, all these things and more I found. Arondight stutttered when first she found a phone book, and I feared she would not stir to life again. She cried out in a shriek of metal and plastic upon the discovery of the empty bottles. She held herself back at the sight of a hidden shrub, rescued by her twin blades from the desperate shadows which had threatened and choked it. Cigarettes I found and an abundance of discarded trumpery. But even these are things of which I do not speak.
Chorus: You amaze us with your tale. What did you find beneath those weeds, O Neighbor?
Mikalatos: A treasure, my friends, and one which I will take in payment for my mighty deeds of renown.
Chorus: We have seen no treasure. What treasure do you speak of? Is it the treasure of a job well done? Is it the treasure of a good deed which will bring you much pleasure? Is it the treasure of the pleasure of looking across the street and seeing your handiwork displayed for all to see?
Chorus: We are unable to continue. Our imaginations fail us and words come only haltingly to our tongues.
Mikalatos: Here is the tale of the treasure. After my task was completed I spied a hole in the ground, previously covered by the noxious weeds. A moment of contemplation encouraged me to thrust my arm into the hole and here is what I found: a tiny thing like a man in a blue coat, and his wife, who was like a rabbit. He thanked me bravely for my unasked for kindness, although I had nearly collapsed his home with Arondight. And in token of his favor he gave me a silver flute, marvelously small, and when I play upon it he has promised that my garden will grow in unaparalleled splendor, and money will fall out of all our pillowcases, and the frogs surrounding out house will sing lullabies for our children in voices sweet as honey.
Chorus: Whoa. That's really weird.
Mikalatos: I know, right? I thought that was weird, too.
As you know, I like to occasionally point out the search engine queries that wash unsuspecting surfers onto our little island here at BHR.
First, we have the "Danger Ninja." Seems redundant to me, but if you were searching for a ninja before and found a "Safety Ninja" I could see that you might want to be more specific. Once bitten, twice shy.
"Hammer and Sickle, Burning Heart." We're number one on that search. I know you people all think BHR is communist, but I want you to remember the Ladies Revolution Pants, THE OFFICIAL PANTS OF THE BURNING HEARTS REVOLUTION. Once they were a figment of our imagination, and now they are being manufactured by North Face. Sounds like capitalism to me, Baby.
Someone came looking for the Portland office Christmas party. I don't remember this clearly, but I think we all went to Benihana's and tried to get the waitresses to come back to our party. This was in December. I guess it's never too late to plan for next year.
Some poor soul came looking for Men's Retreat Slogans and was directed to my Monkey Island Slogans from last November. Looks like the slogan for First Baptist Church of Miami's men's retreat will be recycled from Monkey Island. Several of the slogans would work just fine in either context.
Others came looking for movie stars who live in Florida, Captain Huggy Face, or to learn about the physical effects of fasting. Quite a collection of people we get around here.
Welcome to the Revolution, my friends. We're glad to have you here with us.
The National Endowment for the Arts has uploaded some fascinating research on reading. You can see changes over the last ten years in various age groups and education levels for recreational reading, standardized reading comprehension tests and more. It's great reading. Ahem.
Anyway, it's a long report, so just read the executive summary. Wouldn't want you to read too much. Ha.
It's appearing here for a limited time because one of the members of our dance troupe has political aspirations.
In the 1980s a robot designed for war gets struck by lightning and develops a personality and a conscience, and sets out to spread his message of peace.
Wait, wait. Let me try that again. Seven hundred years in the future a robot designed for planetary cleanup watches "Hello, Dolly" and develops a personality and a conscience, and sets out to spread his message of -- uh -- holding hands. And planetary cleanup (?). Even more spoilers await you if you choose to read on.
If you are an animation fan, you've already seen this movie. Yes, it's amazing in that sense. In fact, the interspersion of filmed clips into the animated bits is virtually seamless. It simply doesn't look that different than the excellent animation.
The story could have been a five minute Pixar short, however. The short before the movie, by the way, was hilarious and I would have gladly watched a movie about the magician and his trouble-making rabbit.
Things that bother me about movies like Wall*E are mostly related to the lazy world-building. Why did the world have a complete ecosystem collapse to make it uninhabitable for seven hundred years? Why would the first photosynthetic occurrence happen inside a refrigerator, where there would be no light (and presumably no rain)? How would this super plant survive the abuse it receives throughout the movie (including being exposed to hard vaccuum in space? Why did the people of earth have the technology to make enormous spaceships and complex robots but not the capacity to let the robots speak like people instead of like voice modulated answering machines? What has caused the complete collapse of human (and robot) personality to the place that the most affable and enjoyable beings in the movie are a beat up robot and a lone cockroach?
Why is it that even the villain is unclear? Is it the vast Wal-Martish corporation? Perhaps, but they are also the movie's saviors, as they invented Wall-E, kept the human race alive for seven hundred years and then returned them to earth. Is it the robot programmed to keep the human race alive and in space? I guess. He's about as threatening as a rogue paperclip, though. Or perhaps it is the combined forces of ubiquitous trash and an unstoppable flood of human obesity. Not exactly great enemies for a movie of this type.
Which may be why the kids kept trying to go to sleep. And Krista and I kept yawning. Don't get me wrong, the movie had its moments. But they were spread out over too long a period. If you had packed all the good stuff into a twenty minute mini-movie it would have been great. Award-winning, even. But as it stands it starts to give you that "I've been stranded in space for seven hundred years and I just want to go home" sort of feeling.
RATED G. Get a good night's sleep the night before.
Dedicated to the ten-year-old boy at Disney World who gave me a hearty laugh as I crossed from Adventure Land into Tomorrow Land. Well done, young man, well done.
Young Man: SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS! Where is he?
We had a full fourth of July.
It started with the parade. Krista has pictures, but my parents' neighborhood held a big kids' parade, where they all decorated their bikes and rode a few blocks. Z won best decorated bicycle, and A won "most patriotic girl". Then there were horse rides, free hot dogs and prizes. I ate two hot dogs because this is the United States of America.
Then we went home and Krista made buffalo chicken salad, and I ate too much of that (as if to prove I was an American). THEN she brought out the strawberry shortcake and I ate too much of that, too.
In the late afternoon we joined the crew of a boat belonging to the Sea Scouts and set out to watch the fireworks from the Columbia River. And three hours later we did just that. One of the women who runs the boat made homemade fried chicken. So I ate too much for dinner, also.
When we arrived back at the quay the kids were asleep and everyone was exhausted, with the exception of the people in the parking lot who were using our van as their base of operations to launch fireworks. It was too over-dressed couples who would launch a firework, ooooh and aaaaah, make out briefly and then do it all over again. I brushed the firework detritus from the roof of the van and we drove home through the smoky haze.
It was a great time, actually, a lot of fun with my parents and Krista's mom and the kids and each other. Thanks for a great 4th to my family, especially Krista, Janet and Mom.
Now we're at the airport, on our way to Orlando for the stint team leader training. It's a little much to be leaving only a few hours after we got home from the fireworks, but sometimes that's the way it works.
Dedicated to the Russian (?) musician duo -- one old, one young -- getting on our flight to Chicago this morning, and to the gate attendant who served them.
Young Musician: I'd like to make sure we can carry on our instruments.
Attendant: The size limit on the guitar is forty inches. So if it fits within those requirements we can take it.
Old Musician: Ees not a Gueetar. Ees a feedle. So what ees the size reestriction for a feedle?
And thou, all-shaking thunder, Smite flat the thick rotundity o' the world!
At two a.m. we awoke to a sound like every metal trash can in the world and half the bowling balls being dropped from a height onto our cars. This was immediately followed by a call for Daddy. It wasn't me, it was one of the kids.
More thunder followed, and car alarms around the neighborhood started squealing. Then the hail started.
I wandered the hallways, making sure everyone was okay, and A ended up in bed with us. We haven't gone outside yet to see if we were struck by lightning, or if the vegetables survived their drubbing.
If the kids had been older and unkind, and I was a king, and I was outside with a fool I would have felt just like King Lear.
Dad and I went to Home Depot today to get some bits to fix up our sprinklers. We had a broken wax washer and we needed a new one.
The first game at Home Depot, of course, is "Seek the Employees." The employees try to hide from you, but have rigid rules they must follow. For instance, they have to wear orange vests, which makes them clearly visible from great distances. They have various techniques to overcome this, one of which is to hang out near shoppers wearing orange shirts. Also, they have a superior knowledge of the rat warren/warehouse maze and can slip in and out of the stacks like the Phantom of the Opera. Another rule they have to follow is that if you actually speak to them, they do have to make some attempt to answer your question. This is a deadly cycle, because other shoppers will see an employee helping someone and run -- sometimes as far as a mile -- to get up close to them and quickly shout out another question before the little orange leprechauns can escape.
Dad: Can you tell us where to find washers?
Home Depot Employee: What kind?
Dad: I think it's felt.
HDE: Oh, metal. That would be aisle two.
Later, Dad and I discussed whether she actually misunderstood the whole "felt" thing.
Me: You said 'felt' right?
Me: Maybe she misunderstood us when she sent us to the metal washers.
Dad: I just said the first 'F' word that came to mind.
We searched out another employee, one of the rare and harassed "stationary" employees who sit behind a desk in hidden alcoves, providing a diversion for their roving, orange-clad brethren. We made bonus points when he revealed the secret "plumber phone" in a hidden aisle, where we could summon someone to help us. But we found another employee just before using the Red Phone, and she pointed out "What we have" which was... not what we needed.
In the end we had to go find an actual plumbing supply store... Grover Electric and Plumbing Supply. We walked in and immediately a gentleman named Louis called us over to his service station, took one look at the faucet in my hand and leapt away, only to return with a small plastic baggie filled with all the replacement bits for our faucet, including the Washer We Sought. Then he disassembled our faucet, which was hard to unscrew (in fact, Louis called upon the name of Jesus many times while he struggled to get it apart). He finally broke the handle with some special tool, put it all together, gave us advice about when we reassembled things at the spicket, and even gave us a quick tutorial about where we could expect leaks if there was trouble: "If that O-ring doesn't seal in there tight, water gets in the pipe, comes down this way and right out that fricking hole." Yes, that is verbatim.
In the end, Louis saved us at least forty minutes. And he said fricking, which is a sure sign that he is a knowledgeable plumber and not part of the orange army. So, let us extend many thanks to Louis, He of the Superior Plumbing Knowledge. He said to us in parting, "I bet you're glad you didn't go to Home Depot, aren't ya?" We nodded and exchanged knowing smiles. Only suckers shop at Home Depot, and we were not suckers. No, we possessed a knowledge arcane and strange, wild and untamed as the planets, fixed and predictable as the stars. For we were part of that ancient brotherhood, the fricking plumbers.
My Baby Wrote Me a Letter. Shasta struck up a conversation with our Neighbor to the North, Derek, who shared his suspicions about why the Tongan family to our northwest suddenly moved out not too long ago. It seems that they were receiving disturbing hate mail that said things like "We hate you and we want you to move." Turns out he's been getting hate mail from someone about his cars and parking them on the street and so on. Of course the main suspect is our neighbor directly west who, yes, probably is the one who called in their cars. And who has the fake dogs barking and the cameras in the windows. Is this really true? I'm not so sure. We haven't had any issues with any of our neighbors, and I really wish our Tongan neighbors had told us about the hate mail. Then we could have (a) called the cops and (b) walked around to the neighbors and told them "Hey, someone in the neighborhood is writing hate mail." Maybe they would have stopped. Makes me sad that our neighbors moved out because of that, if that's what happened.


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text:
Dead Rising wins copyright case
Capcom's zombie mall horror game determined not substantially similar to George Romero's zombie mall horror flick.
By Brendan Sinclair on November 20, 2008 at 10:29AM PST
Earlier this year, the producer of George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead filed suit against Capcom, claiming the zombies-in-a-mall action game Dead Rising ripped off the classic 1979 horror film. However, once the complaint got before a judge, the producer's case fell apart like the rotting, fleshy husks at the still-beating heart of the dispute.
Last month, United States Magistrate Judge Richard Seeborg granted Capcom's motion to dismiss the suit, saying that The MKR Group (the producer's company) "has not identified any similarity between Dead Rising and any protected element of Dawn of the Dead. Rather, the few similarities MKR has alleged are driven by the wholly unprotectable concept of humans battling zombies in a mall during a zombie outbreak."
According to the judge's decision, The MKR Group listed the following principal similarities between Dawn of the Dead and Dead Rising:
--Both works are set in a bi-level shopping mall.
--The mall has a gun shop, in which action takes place.
--The mall is located in a rural area with the National Guard patrolling its environs.
--Both works are set in motion by a helicopter that takes the lead characters to a mall besieged by zombies.
--Many of the zombies wear plaid shirts.
--Both works feature a subtext critique of sensationalistic journalism through their use of tough, cynical journalists with short brown hair and leather jackets as a lead male character.
--Both works feature the creative use of items such as propane tanks, chainsaws, and vehicles to kill zombies.
--Both works are a parody of rampant consumerism.
--Both works use music in the mall for comedic effect.
--Dead Rising's use of the word "hell" references the tagline for Dawn of the Dead's release ("When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.").
While the judge determined that a review of the movie and the video game revealed "profound differences," he didn't side with Capcom on every issue. Dozens of zombie movies and games the publisher introduced as exhibits to establish genre conventions were thrown out because Capcom submitted them with synopses pulled from the user-editable Wikipedia.
And when the judge did agree with Capcom, it wasn't always in a complimentary way. Specifically, in stating that Dead Rising didn't crib the anticonsumerism theme of Dawn of the Dead, Judge Seeborg found the zombie game devoid of any social commentary at all.
"To the extent that Dead Rising may be deemed to posses a theme," Seeborg wrote, "it is confined to the killing of zombies in the process of attempting to unlock the cause of the zombie infestation. The social commentary MKR draws from Dawn of the Dead, in other words, appears totally absent from the combat focus found in Dead Rising."
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Dimensions: (W) 54.5" x (H) 31" x (D) 17"
The Canterbury wide dresser has been designed to meet our highest of quality standards. We use the best solid oak timbers with a protective natural wax finish to help this home storage hero stand the test of time. Inspired by classic design, this bedroom staple features flared cornices, rounded corners, and a deep pedestal base. The bright finish to the hardwood brings a modern twist to the style. Even the bases, runners, and backs of the drawers are made using solid oak; we never use inferior materials in our products! It is finished with durable dovetail joints and beautiful antiqued dark metal drawer pulls, the whole piece exudes traditional elegance and is ideal for the bedroom or home office.


The European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) are back again for another cycle to identify and reward the best projects from across Europe. Get ready to see the most innovative and inspiring projects from across Europe compete against each other to win a coveted EEPA 2019 prize.
On Tuesday 29 January, EEPA 2019 and the project nominations, which will be happening on a national level, were officially opened. National deadlines are individual to each participating country and will be communicated by the National Coordinators. Once the national competitions have taken place, European level submissions will be accepted until the deadline on 03 July. Once the European nominations have been received, the EEPA 2019 Jury meeting will take place in mid-September which will be followed by the announcement of the shortlist on by the end of September. The final step will be the prestigious awards ceremony, which will take place in Helsinki, Finland on Tuesday 26 November as part of the annual SME Assembly.
Public bodies and public-private partnerships from across the EU Member States, will be competing for the coveted awards, which go to the most imaginative and successful initiatives that support entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). All the information about the awards and application process can be found on the DG Growth website, and is available in all EU languages.
EEPA is a great opportunity to be recognised on a European level and to meet like-minded Europeans and international actors working to promote and advocate for SMEs. If you are interested in applying, make sure to have a look at the application information page and speak to your national coordinator. There are also past EEPA winner testimonials available to inspire your entry and to learn more about the competition. For more information about EEPA 2018 watch the 2018 winners' videos on our YouTube channel!
The secretariat team look forward to supporting you through the 2019 EEPA campaign. For support with social media, blogs and promoting EEPA in your country please contact Megan Gardner megan.gardner@gopacom.eu for all other technical questions, please contact Ann Garrot, Secretariat Manager ann.garrot@LOWeurope.eu.
Stay updated with all EEPA news by following us on Twitter (@EEPA_EU and #EEPA2019) and Facebook (@PromotingEnterprise).
The European level of the EEPA competition closed last week on 3 July 2018. National coordinators have been submitting their top national projects for consideration by a European jury for the EEPA 2018 shortlist, and a total of 56 entries were received.
This year the national winners will be evaluated by a jury with members from different sectors, disciplines and backgrounds. The 2018 members can be found here on the News Portal.
2018 saw a total of 303 national projects submitted across 32 participating countries. Portugal achieved the highest ever recorded national total for EEPA with a spectacular 82 applicants to their national competition.
Promoting the Entrepreneurial Spirit (14 entries) was once again the category with the most applications closely followed by Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills (10 entries).
This year's EEPA jury will meet in Brussels on 26 September 2018 to deliberate which national projects will make it onto the 2018 European shortlist. Keep coming back to the Promoting Enterprise News Portal for both the announcement of the shortlist and an introduction to all of the shortlisted projects by competition category.
The competition has two stages. Applicants must first compete at national level to be eligible to compete at European level. For the national competition, each country selects two entries to be nominated for the European competition.
A shortlist of nominees will be chosen by a European jury. All nominees from the national and European competitions will be invited to attend the final awards ceremony. The ceremony recognises the winners for their efforts and gives them the opportunity to present themselves in a pan-European environment.
Past winners have shared their tips for how to prepare for an EEPA submission, and their application journeys and lessons. But what does it feel like to be announced the winner of an EEPA category after putting in so much hard work? How did our past winners feel when they were recognised as some of the best projects in Europe? Today our 2017 winners reflect on their winning moments and what it was like to win the award.
Would you like the chance to have a 'winning moment'? Apply for EEPA 2018 before it is too late! Check your national deadlines and read more about past winners.
What happens behind the scenes of EEPA? What goes into organising a national campaign? Today on Promoting Enterprise Estonian National Coordinator Kaupo Sempelson shares what has been going into the Estonian EEPA 2018 campaign.
How have you been preparing EEPA 2018 so far?
We finalised all of our preparations and launched the Estonian national competition on the 8th of February, for which the deadline is the 6th of April. However, we have recently begun the national process and we are hoping for a lot of active participation.
What are your top 3 pieces of advice for reaching out to potential applicants?
The most important piece of advice I can give is to spread the invitation to apply across different networks, but also to send direct invitations to potential candidates. The direct approach is sometimes the most cost efficient solution. In Estonia we have also made use of the ministry's Facebook page to disseminate the information about the EEPA national competition.
What will be the main aspects of your EEPA 2018 campaign?
We will not run a media campaign, as we are focusing our efforts on reaching potential candidates directly. We have found that this is particularly effective and allows us to secure quality entries.
What advice would you give to projects applying in the newly re-instated category 'Supporting the development of green markets and resource efficiency'?
It is a very good opportunity for a potential project to get publicity. I think that the potential of this category is as yet undiscovered by potential projects. The entrepreneurial spirit category is very popular each year, so I think that we need to put some extra effort into reaching the green markets projects so this newly re-instated category can be just as strong.
What is the most important thing you have learnt during your experience as National Coordinator?
During my time as Coordinator I have seen a lot of initiatives worth rewarding and I am convinced that the EEPA competition is a very good award scheme for these projects to gain the recognition they deserve. The fact that the competition is on a European level is definitely an important aspect and one that has a positive effect on the projects.
Interested in what goes on behind the scenes of other national EEPA campaigns? Have a read of interviews with the Spanish and Swedish EEPA national coordinators here on Promoting Enterprise.
The European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) are back again for 2018, and ready to discover more outstanding European projects in the fields of enterprise and entrepreneurship. In order to help potential applicants, Promoting Enterprise has asked EEPA 2017 winners to share their success stories give advice on how to submit and present an EEPA winning project. Today's winner is Enterprise Village from Estonia, the 2017 winners in the category 'Promoting the Entrepreneurial Spirit'.
We first found out about the national competition from a colleague that saw it advertised on social media and in a local mailing list.
Seeing as we had just had a successful season and started to build a local track-record, we decided to give it a try. We did not have very high expectations, but we thought that even getting a little positive feedback on our mission would already be a success. Once we made it to the national finals, we started to think about how EEPA could help us with our marketing and also help motivate our team, especially our volunteers.
We didn't launch anything special for EEPA, but we did make our video before we sent the application. It was something that had already been planned a long time before, but the EEPA application was definitely good motivation to finally do it!
When you find out that you are shortlisted of course you start to think "what if…", but we didn't expect to win. We were really excited when we did win because it was a complete surprise!
An important outcome from winning the award was that it gave us positive attention and resulted in us making some international contacts at the EEPA event. As a result of the international contacts we are actually working on one possible co-project with Cyprus.
The media coverage after the EEPA event was actually pretty low and we were a bit disappointed with the Estonian media. However, Euronews published a story about us before the EEPA event so we got our publicity anyway. Interestingly, we got more overall attention (including media) from abroad rather than from local sources.
Why should others enter EEPA 2018? What advice would you give them?
Our new programmes, meant for schools, are almost ready to ship to our first users. This means that in addition to visiting our learning center, teachers can also use our programmes at their own schools. In the near future we are also planning to translate our materials into English so as to introduce and expand our method to other countries. In the long term we hope to have several Enterprise Village style learning centers and schools as partners so that our programmes can be used in different European countries.
To find out more about Enterprise Village, read about them in the 2017 EEPA compendium, and be sure to watch their winning moment from the EEPA 2017 ceremony in Tallinn here.
Keep coming back to Promoting Enterprise for more EEPA 2017 testimonials and don't forget to check all the social media channels (Twitter: @EEPA_EU and Facebook: @PromotingEnterprise) for the latest EEPA updates.
Today 05 February, marks the opening of the EEPA 2018 and the project nominations, which will be happening on a national level. National deadlines will differ across countries and will be communicated by the National Coordinators. Once the national competitions have taken place, European level submissions will be accepted until the deadline on 03 July. Once the European nominations have been received, the EEPA 2018 Jury meeting will take place in mid-September which will be followed by the announcement of the shortlist by the end of September. The final step will be the prestigious awards ceremony, which will take place in Graz, Austria on Tuesday 20 November as part of the annual SME Assembly.
For the 2018 edition the previously suspended 'Supporting the development of green markets and resource efficiency' is back and accepting submissions.
Interested in learning more about EEPA? Want to know what the awards ceremony is like? If you are thinking about applying for an award speak to your national coordinator and be sure to read past EEPA winner testimonials which will soon include interviews with all of the latest EEPA winners. For more information about EEPA 2017 take a look at the shortlist and watch the winners videos below!
The EEPA secretariat team look forward to supporting you throughout the 2018 EEPA campaign. For support with social media, blogs and promoting EEPA in your country please contact Megan Gardner promotingenterprise@gopacom.eu and for all other technical and administrative questions, please contact Andrew Dec, Secretariat Manager andrew.dec@LOWeurope.eu.
Stay updated with all EEPA news by following us on Twitter (@EEPA_EU and #EEPA2018) and Facebook (@PromotingEnterprise).
Which projects are 'Improving the business environment' at EEPA 2017?
Time for the Category 3: 'Improving the Business Environment' introductions! The Jury has selected four projects as 2017 finalists all with different innovative ideas. This year the Category 3 projects represent the Netherlands, Austria, Italy and Spain.
Innofest works with eight summer festivals in northern Netherlands as living labs for innovation, and provides a safe environment for entrepreneurs to test their prototypes before bringing them onto the market. Innofest sees festivals as temporary mini societies, with their own set of challenges in the areas of water, food, logistics, energy and waste, among others. As contained environments, product testing results are measurable, and can reduce innovation failure rates in an area with many SMEs but that is lagging behind the rest of the Netherlands in innovation. During the festival on-site support is offered along with networking opportunities and follow-up guidance.
'Innovation to Company', the project from the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber in Vienna, brings together innovative and flexible start-ups with established enterprises with resources and market positioning. Through active networking and matchmaking, start-ups help with the development of innovation and solving of challenges that an established enterprise may face. In turn the established enterprises offer resources and market placement, making the cooperation mutually beneficial. To date, 16 enterprises (2015-2017) and 150 start-ups (2017 not yet included) have participated, and 2.5 million EUR in potential profit opportunities for start-ups has been generated.
Manufacturing Project – The Green Innovation Factory is transforming the historic Rovereto factory into an industrial innovation centre. The centre covers eco-sustainable construction, renewable energy, technologies for environmental management and monitoring, natural resources, and the circular economy. Within the project exists the Pole of Mechatronics, which involves public bodies, private individuals, and trade associations. It is an innovative hub serving a widespread production chain that involves the qualified participation of companies ranging from automotive, robotics, sensors, industrial automation, up to biomedical industries. It houses productive spaces, technological workshops, and school buildings.
Reempresa pioneers the innovative concept of a trading market for SMEs in Catalonia, which helps 're-entrepreneurs' i.e. buyers take ownership of an existing SME. The business transfer scheme preserves existing businesses and jobs, thereby ensuring continuity, and promotes economic growth. It also promotes awareness about public-private collaboration and the benefits of standardising business transfer facilitation procedures. Since 2011, Reempresa has successfully transferred more than 1,230 businesses, preserved more than 3,500 direct jobs and generated more than EUR 56.8 million in investment. This one-stop-shop platform brings retiring business owners, or others who choose to sell their business on, together with young entrepreneurs that wish to acquire a business without having to start from zero. From the first meeting, through negotiation to the conclusion of the transfer, Reempresa provides mentoring and support to ensure a smooth transfer and the future viability of the business. The scheme is also an employment opportunity, providing sustainable careers for the 're-entrepreneurs', 40% of which were previously unemployed. Not only is Reempresa a national success story, but it is also an example of a highly innovative and inspiring project with high replicability potential.
Who will be the Category 3 winner for 2017? Find out this November at the SME Assembly 2017 in Tallinn! Find out about the Category 1: Promoting the Entrepreneurial Spirit and Category 2: Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills nominees, and stay tuned for Category 4 introductions next week!


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Home > News > El Salvador: 'We need this broken moment to think about democracy'
Photo: UN Photo/Milton Grant
El Salvador: 'We need this broken moment to think about democracy'
El Salvador has been experiencing a democratic decline following the election of Nayib Bukele as President in 2019. While his promises to tackle crime and corruption proved popular with many, his methods have raised concern.
Bukele brought troops into Congress when lawmakers debated his proposals, replaced the constitutional chamber and the independent attorney general, and recently proposed a law imposing limitations on foreign funding for NGOs.
Here, Juan Meléndez, Executive Director of NIMD El Salvador, reflects on the conditions in El Salvador that allowed Bukele to seize the narrative and come to power, and looks ahead to how the country can return to the path of democracy.
When we look at the challenges facing El Salvador today, it can be tempting to place them in a global context. Nayib Bukele's embrace of social media, the outsider narrative, and the confrontations with the elite are indeed familiar from other populist leaders around the world.
But there is also something uniquely Salvadorian about the rise to power of Bukele and the perilous position of democracy in the country today.
UN Photo/J. Bleibtreu
Members of the FMLN celebrating after the 1992 peace accord.
El Salvador has a long history of revolution and rebellion. Everybody has a bit of Che Guevara in them. During the 1960s and 1970s, there was an intractable battle between the forces of the left and right. A peace accord signed in 1992 ended our long civil war, but this Cold War mentality remained.
Sadly, this has cast a shadow over our democracy. The two parties that have dominated politics in El Salvador for the last three decades emerged from the different sides in the civil war – FMLN on the left and ARENA on the right – and they continued to oppose one another with no thought of working together. These parties always seemed to be in a state of deadlock. They would constantly block each other's proposals in parliament, and the people just saw fighting and grew tired and disillusioned.
NIMD El Salvador director Juan Meléndez
While the peace accord did lay down the conditions for democracy – a free press, free elections, and a multiparty system – nobody worked on the underlying democratic culture. No one talked about checks and balances. The multiparty, plural thoughts remained outside the box. The democratic system remained under construction.
In the meantime, nothing else changed. Everyone welcomed peace, but hopes that democracy would bring a better quality of life were never realized. Poverty and inequality remained. Many people left for the United States to find opportunities to earn money.
"People no longer believed in the government, they did not believe in democracy, they did not believe in politicians."
Corruption is also a huge problem, with every political party implicated in graft cases. Of the last three presidents before Bukele, Antonio Saca is in jail and Mauricio Funes and Salvador Sánchez Cerén are in Nicaragua to escape corruption charges against them.
Given this history and context, it is not surprising that people lost their faith. They no longer believed in the government, they did not believe in democracy, they did not believe in politicians. So when Bukele positioned himself as an outsider, against the elites and a bit of a rebel, this was an appealing narrative.
But while I am dismayed about the threats to an independent judiciary in El Salvador and increasing pressure on opposition forces, I am also hopeful.
UN Photo/Laura Jarriel
Nayib Bukele addresses the United Nations General Assembly in 2019
The election of Bukele has given us an opportunity. In the past, people did not think that talking about democracy was necessary. There was an assumption that we had a democratic system, and that created complacency among the people and the political parties. No one seemed interested in improving the system.
Now, we see that democracy is necessary. Finally, the progressives are talking about democracy. The revolutionary groups are talking about democracy. Young people are talking about democracy. People are talking about the needs for checks and balances, the need to develop a genuine multi-party system in which every voice is heard.
An Opportunity for Change
We have seen thousands of people protest on the streets demanding democracy. This is a good moment for civil society. The protesters – social movements like feminists, environmental groups, farming groups, workers – are coming together for the first time with a common aim. They are still consolidating, but there is the potential for them to form new political movements or support candidates from existing political parties.
There is renewed interest in our work running democracy training for people from across the political spectrum.
NIMD El Salvador has always promoted inclusivity and impartiality in its training
This is an opportunity, and it is important that the existing political parties recognize this too. The leaders of the two traditional parties are largely old and set in their ways. They think the problem is just Bukele. They are not looking at flaws in the democratic system that facilitated his rise to power, and there needs to be that moment of self-reflection.
The political parties need to change and recognize that their entrenched polarization and their inability to work together over ideological lines played a large part in fueling that disillusionment that allowed Bukele to seize the narrative.
"We needed this broken moment to think about democracy."
What happened in El Salvador is also a warning to other countries not to take democracy for granted. It is a work in progress, and without sustained effort and investment, it can start to recede with alarming speed.
The young people in El Salvador today recognize this. We needed this broken moment to think about democracy. In the last months, finally I have a little hope, because the young people are talking about democracy, they are talking about dialogue. Now as Salvadorian democrats – with the support of the international community – we need to make sure we support those dreams of true democracy.


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ELIZA SOUTHWOOD
Eliza Southwood practiced as an architect for ten years before deciding to take up a career as an artist and illustrator full-time in 2011, although she has consistently drawn and painted throughout her life. Her first illustration commission was a Spanish children's book, when she was aged 13.
From the age of ten she spent her childhood in a remote part of Spain, where she grew up drawing and painting scenes of local life in the mountains. She attended the local Spanish primary and secondary schools, later travelling to the UK for further studies. A year in Italy followed, where she ended up working with Arab race horses for a year, and learnt to speak Italian fluently in addition to Spanish.
At University her creative streak was channelled into architectural design, and she graduated from the Glasgow School of Art with a degree in Architecture, later finishing her postgraduate architectural studies in London. She spent several years working as a designer for various architectural practices such as Eric Parry Architects and Arup Associates. However, having realised that she enjoyed carrying out the 'artist's impression' part of her job more than any other, she finally decided to give up architectural practice in order to work full time on her own art projects.
Eliza's architectural training fostered a technical eye for detail and colour, which is apparent in her artwork. Her speciality is silk screen printing, but she also works in mixed media, watercolour and acrylic. She is known particularly for her cycling themed artwork, but also produces work on a wide range of subjects such as cityscapes, dogs, sports and people.


This essay is part of What It Means to Be American, a project of the Smithsonians National Museum of American History and Arizona State University, produced by Zcalo Public Square. Buy the Book: Skylight Books, Powell's Books, Amazon. The Abolitionist reformers of 18th and 19th centuries Essay Sample.
The Abolitionist reformers of 18 th and 19 th centuries were dedicated to eliminating slavery. The movement started with the Society of Friends in Pennsylvania during 1680s, popularly known as Quakers. Slavery is defined as the practice of forcing a person to work under unfavorable conditions against his or her own will, but what the dictionary doesnt show is that there are many different forms of slavery.
The movement against slavery had begun before the midnineteenth century; it was not new to anyone. However during the midnineteenth century the movements against slavery increased and gained more force.
These movements were centered specifically towards the slavery system in the South. The Abolition of Slavery It has been said that no reform movement more significant, ambiguous, or provocative of later historical investigation then the drive to abolish slavery. The democrats protested the denial of civil and political rights to slaves. Slavery: American Civil War and United States Essay time period, slavery was part of the American way of life.
However, this period also brought forward a group of reformers who wanted to change many aspects of the American society and way of life. In the early 19th century, reform movements for abolition and womens rights were able to be public which illustrated the strengths of American Democracy, but the lack of voting rights and representation of the groups exemplified the weaknesses of Slavery in Illinois This essay talks about the dated events that happened in Illinois, focusing on slavery, from the time it begun, whether it should be implemented or not, its abolishment, and up to the time it ended.
Essays Related to Anti Slavery. 1. for slavery was either against their moral beliefs and gave the antislavery movement the growing popularity that it needed. I believe that the abolitionists (only antislavery persons), who wanted an immediate end to slavery, radicalized the antislavery movement by demanding an, immediate end to slavery APUSH 19th Century Reformers and Literary Giants.
STUDY. PLAY. Joseph Smith. Born into slavery, she escaped in 1827 and became a leading preacher against slavery and for the rights of women. She was the first black woman orator to speak out against slavery. Angelina Grimke.


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A Caller Shares a 'Liberal' Perspective on Roy Moore vs. Al Franken
Each of us brings a different set of biases to the table, and sometimes it's just best to be honest about it.
While Doc sat in for Glenn on today's show, a caller named Kevin shared his perspective on the sexual misconduct allegations that are disrupting Washington. Listen to his chat with Doc (above) for some blunt commentary from a Democrat voter.
Here's How Roy Moore Should Respond to These Allegations
He acknowledged that Republicans are more likely to overlook accusations that Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore tried to seduce a 14-year-old girl and Democrats are prone to make excuses for Sen. Al Franken after a photo was released showing him groping a woman.
This article provided courtesy of TheBlaze.
DOC: It's Doc Thompson in for Glenn Beck. You can join the program. 888-727-BECK. 888-727-BECK. Or online. Join me on Twitter. It's @DocThompsonshow. By the way, Facebook is Facebook.com/DocThompsonShow. We're talking about the latest allegations. I spent a lot of time on it today. But a little bit of sexual improprieties. And the big one last night was Charlie Rose. It's pretty awful if true. There's a lot of salacious stuff. Some of the other ones have been less significant. You know, people like Ben Affleck. He may have touched me inappropriately as we passed, you know, on the set, or something. Charlie seems systematically, again, if proven true.
Then we also heard that John Conyers may have settled a case for $27,000, when he was a sitting congressman in Michigan. John Conyers, you remember, they say you got to pass the bill. They say, vote for -- what was it? Study the bill? Research the bill. Read the bill.
KRIS: Read the bill.
DOC: How are we going to read the bill? That was John Conyers back in the day. Served for 200 years or whatever it was. John Conyers accused of settling for $27,000. The interesting thing, Conyers' settlement came out of his budget, his office budget in DC. Unlike the other 264 allegations for sitting members of Congress over the last 24 years -- or, 20 years. Over 20 years, Congress has paid off 264 people, from a special slush fund that they've created.
KRIS: Can I correct you on that?
DOC: Yes.
KRIS: Because it wasn't Congress. We paid for that. We paid for that.
DOC: Thank you. Thank you, Kris Cruz. We have paid into this slush fund, where Congressmen get to act -- in many cases, it's probably going to be true -- inappropriate. People challenge them on it. And we have paid $17 million to 264 cases.
That averages about $64,000 every four weeks. Every four weeks for the last 20 years, we have paid 64 thousands dollars because congressmen acted inappropriately or were accused of it.
Just another perk they get. Let me go to the phone lines now in Illinois. Kevin, thanks for holding here on the Glenn Beck Program. How are you?
CALLER: Hey, I'm doing pretty good. How are you?
DOC: Doing well, sir. Thank you.
CALLER: Well, let me first state in full disclosure that I am a liberal.
DOC: Oh, my gosh.
CALLER: I'm a liberal.
DOC: I appreciate the disclosure, sir.
CALLER: That's fine.
So everybody is going to see this through the lens of me being a liberal, which is fine. Because I see things through the lens of you being a conservative. So...
DOC: Real quick, side note, Kevin, that's how it's supposed to be. Because my frustration is when Fox and MSNBC and whoever else doesn't admit and lead with their biases, because it's like they're trying to trick people. Whereas, you know, just lead with your bias. Just tell me who you are, you know.
CALLER: Which is exactly what I did. So I'm going to tell you that my liberal bias says that Al Franken's infracture (sic) is not so bad that he should be kicked out of Congress. Because I want him in, because I'm a liberal.
Now, my liberal bias says that Ray (sic) Moore's infractions are severe.
DOC: Because you don't want him in.
CALLER: And should not be in Congress. Now -- now, we have to weigh these things, about how bad the infractions are. If it were found out that Ray Moore were a Jeffrey Dahmer, well, clearly that about trumps all political efforts, right?
DOC: Sure, mass murderer, absolutely.
CALLER: But Kellyanne Moore (sic) implied that it's sort of okay to assume he might be because we need his vote.
DOC: Uh-huh.
CALLER: She did that just a couple days ago.
CALLER: And I would say with Al Franken, it's sort of okay that he did these little jokes. You know, faux groping and maybe kissing, because I need his vote.
DOC: Yep.
CALLER: So we really have to see that through this lens.
DOC: No, I agree. And we have to be consistent with this. And that's the reason I break down each case. And, I mean, Al Franken's, half of his have been proven because of the photo. Half of them, the kiss is be the not proven. That's still just an allegation. Roy Moore's have not been proven, although it's looking real sketchy for the guy. And I think he probably did based on the, well, I always asked their mom.
CALLER: Come on, man. Come on, man. You know that Ray Moore is guilty. You know it. Everybody knows it.
DOC: Well, no, Kevin, this is what I'm saying, I believe he is. Although it's still allegations. Half of Al Franken's -- I just admitted, I believe he probably kissed her. But that's still just an allegation. The only difference with the picture is we have proof of that. Now, Kevin Spacey, still an allegation. Much of Harvey Weinstein, still allegations.
CALLER: Proven or not?
DOC: Most of those are still allegations. I don't know if there's any proof of his. And, by the way, I would even accept proof in a court of law. So if Harvey Weinstein gets convicted of something, I go, that's proof. If Roy Moore does too --
CALLER: We don't have time to deal with that with Ray Moore. The election is coming in three weeks. There's no chance for a court of law at that point. We have to decide that right now.
DOC: Right. I know. It's frustrating.
It's likely going -- I mean, he's -- his competitor, Doug Jones is leading by a pretty good margin by most polls.
CALLER: Look, Roy Moore is guilty. This is clear. Look at the handwriting. All these handwriting experts. Give me a break. He wrote that in the yearbook. That's obvious. Okay? Maybe the woman added a line about where it was exactly. But this is just a red herring. And you know it. And everybody --
DOC: Well, wait a minute. You still have to admit, it's still an allegation.
CALLER: Okay. It is. It can't be proven. I don't know why Gloria Allred doesn't submit that to a handwriting expert because it's obvious to me that it's true. Just give it up and let an independent handwriting expert verify that he wrote that.
DOC: Now, do you say the same thing -- are you holding -- and I'm fine, as long as there's consistency. If somebody says, Roy Moore is guilty and therefore should not serve. That's fine. You're entitled to my opinion. My frustration is when you wouldn't also include Al in it. I believe both of them -- both of them are just allegations at this point. With that extra caveat that part of Al Franken's have been proven true. You say that about Roy Moore. You would support someone who did that. Do you still support Al Franken serving?
CALLER: Well, it depends on the severity of his offense.
DOC: Okay. Yeah.
CALLER: Now, I'm pro-liberal. So if this offense is not too severe, if he did a little joke, this is an SNL joke, you know, it's bad, but not disqualifying.
DOC: The allegations against Roy Moore seem more severe because the allegations --
CALLER: A 14-year-old. Underage.
DOC: Exactly. Right. Right.
CALLER: Way more severe.
DOC: Right. Right. However, based on what so many progressives and liberals lead with, when it comes to allegations about, you know, the whole Me Too campaign and how women are second class citizens and need the extra attention and whatever, I would say that based on your philosophies, Al Franken needs to be held accountable even for the joke.
CALLER: He does need to be held accountable even for the joke. Absolutely. Look, I am not so partisan that I don't think a wrong is a wrong, when it's a wrong. Okay? But should he be kicked out? I don't think so. I don't think so. If that were true, then half the Congress would be kicked out. Okay?
DOC: Yeah. And, listen, I'm fine with jokes like that. Again, Kevin, I'm just looking for the consistency person to person. So if you lead with your philosophy --
CALLER: It's just not the consistency. It's the severity of the --
DOC: Well, there's consistency within the severity of all that.
CALLER: If what Bill Clinton did was true, then he should be kicked out. And I'm a Democrat. I'm the first to admit that if someone did something seriously wrong --
DOC: Right.
CALLER: -- even if it was my party, they have no business in my government. Even if it means that I lose the vote to what I want to happen. Now, that's what bothers me about Kellyanne.
DOC: You know, and, Kevin, you're the type of person that I -- that I want to deal with. You're the type of person that I want to have those discussions with. And we can find common ground. If you're willing to hold your own people accountable and parties that you would normally support with as little as bias as possible and be consistent like that, that's -- that's what's missing right now. You're the type of person I want to talk to. You're my fellow American.
CALLER: We are all Americans. And I believe there's more commonality between us than most people would like to believe.
DOC: I mean, Kevin, we can both admit Glenn Beck is overweight, right?
DOC: I'll take that as a yes. Kevin, thanks for the call. Have a happy Thanksgiving, buddy.
KRIS: Really?
DOC: I'm trying to find common ground here.
KRIS: And you find it on saying that our boss is fat?
DOC: I didn't say fat. I said overweight. He's big-boned.
KRIS: Okay.
DOC: He's big-boned. He's husky. He may have a medical condition. I don't know. I'm just saying overweight, for his own concern. You know, for his own health. I'm concerned about this.
KRIS: Wow.
DOC: Well, I couldn't start with one of the more nuanced things. You have to go to the obvious things, right? Look, we can all admit that the fourth Indian Jones should not exist and is reprehensible. Kal, am I right?
KAL: I don't even speak of it. I don't know --
DOC: Exactly. See that's what I'm saying. You got to go with those big ones, then you get closer and closer to the more difficult ones.
KAL: I disagree with your last statement completely.
KRIS: Yes. Our boss is not fat.
KAL: Not fat at all. He's not overweight at all.
KRIS: He's fantastic. He's awesome. He's good.
DOC: Just letting you go here. Just letting you go. Just letting you go. All right.
KAL: His hands are very, very slender as he writes my paycheck.
KRIS: Yes. Yes. And when he gives me a hug, I literally can get all around him. He can't get around me.
KAL: I don't know about that.
KRIS: Oh, really?
DOC: Okay. All right. All right. So you're saying Glenn Beck is thin then?
KRIS: Yes, he's thin.
DOC: Kal, do you say he's thin?
KAL: I'm sorry, what? These headphones are not working.
DOC: All right. Move on. Well, I was trying to start with something that was more obvious. Perhaps I made a mistake there. All right. Let's go to line 11. Bill in the great state of Florida, thanks for calling the Glenn Beck Program. How are you?
CALLER: I'm doing fine. I have a question, do they realize how much power they gave women? Anyone can hit the lotto or have a successful business and someone can come from the past and say, "Hey, he did this," just to make money, and nothing really happened.
DOC: Yeah. We've given women way too much power. I mean, that whole suffrage thing, that started the ball rolling, Bill. That was the whole -- no, I know what you mean. If you go back 30, 40 years or whatever, women and many people have a legitimate beef when they say women were never believed. You know, that they automatically didn't believe them. And that's the reason now they keep saying, every woman deserves to be heard. The problem is now the pendulum has swung completely the other way, where as long as you accuse somebody, you're believed, and it's believed to be true. And that's a bigger problem.
CALLER: Yep. That's all I had. You guys are doing a great job. Have a nice Thanksgiving.
DOC: Thanks, buddy. Appreciate it. Happy Thanksgiving.
You understand what I'm saying there? It's a bigger problem to accuse people and have that accusation be believed with no proof, no rule of law, no justice system. Now, a lot of this stuff is just tried in the court of opinion.
But that's a bigger problem. The idea of --
KAL: The court of opinion matters almost as much.
DOC: Matters. Because we live on social media, Kal. Everything. You can't even have a restaurant without having it rated by four different apps.
KAL: Yep.
DOC: Everything is judged like that. And we share this information. The court of public opinion is now as valuable and important and powerful as it ever has been. Yes, I recognize, as Mitt Romney said, that, you know, innocent until proven guilty is for the justice system. The legal system.
But shouldn't it also apply in the court of public opinion?
Shouldn't it? So while women were not believed and they were victimized, some men were not believed and victimized over the years. And they said, oh, well, I'm not even going to entertain what you're saying about so-and-so touching you inappropriately, because I like that guy and just go away, and that was horrible. That person who was guilty of something got away with it. That's horrible. But worse, to convict somebody -- even the court of public opinion, when they're innocent, I would rather when we're dealing with the justice system, set free 100 guilty people than send one innocent person to jail. Maybe you disagree. I think that's a pretty good system. So that's the reason we discussed this.
Please, keep recognizing which claims are segregations which ones are proven. Half of Al Franken's are proven. She said he kissed her without permission. Forcibly, whatever. And then number two, he groped her. The groping is on film. That part is proven.


text:
Kate Bush – 50 Words For Snow
By Olivia Swash / 22 December 2011, 07:59 GMT
To deem the second installation of Kate Bush's 2011 comeback a "Christmas album" would be more than a little off-target. Perhaps it's Scrooge-like to deny its festive merit, but the seven-track collection is far from the novelty 'I Wish It Could Be A Wombling Merry Christmas Every Day' approach to a Christmas release. After all, there isn't a jingle bell nor a flashing Santa hat in sight.
After Bush's release of re-recordings earlier this year, 50 Words For Snow marks her tenth studio album after a six year hiatus. Whilst clearly standing its ground as a winter-influenced album, any of the more jovially twee aspects of the chilly months are firmly wrapped away. Every song, whether overtly or subtly, seems to tell a solemn tale with a lonely and melancholic ambiance running throughout. Nevertheless the record is anything but frigid; and drifts effortlessly in and out of a twinkly piano-based backdrop, its delicate vocals complemented by jazz-flecked drums.
Supporting vocals come from Kate's son Albert "Bertie" on 'Snowflake', his celestially clear The Snowman-esque vocals contrasting with his mother's breathy tones. Elton John and Stephen Fry also make foolproof cameos in 'Snowed In at Wheeler Street' and '50 Words for Snow' respectively; although the latter does come across as a little too predictable. Although comfortable on a bed of tribal beats, the track simply does what it says on the tin and little more. Ranging from the ordinary ("white-out") to the graceful ("Wenceslas air"), the count-down of increasingly surreal terms seems to exist principally for the sake of justifying the album's title.
The highlight of the album, 'Lake Tahoe' opens with a luscious operatic duet and sails off into beautiful lulling waves of warm, soft piano and sustained strings. This spacious tranquility contrasts with the song's tale of a ghostly woman rising from the depths of the Californian lake "wearing Victorian dress". Myth has it that Tahoe's depths are lined with illicitly dumped bodies, perfectly preserved due to its extreme temperature.
A yellow spot in the more-or-less unblemished whole picture rears its head in the 13 minute long 'Misty'. Whilst Bush's vocal is refreshingly raw and gritty, a distinct awkwardness meets these slightly-too-literal depictions of a night of passion with a snowman. She leaves us no clues as to the reasoning behind the surreal fantasy, describing his mouth as "full of dead leaves / and bits of twisted branches / and frozen garden". Prudishness aside, Bush doesn't leave much to the imagination with this bizarre narrative, concluding with the universally-dismal lines of "Sunday morning / I can't find him / the sheets are soaking"… It could almost be the subject of a French & Saunders Christmas Special spoof, perhaps accompanied by a censored music video.
While the rest of the album fails to rise to the complexities of 'Lake Tahoe', 50 Words For Snow is another stepping stone away from the interpretive-dancing-in-a-field Kate Bush of yore. It proves her credentials of distinct maturity as well as exhibiting her ability to experiment successfully with deep-set and sombre but thoroughly captivating music.
Polaroids with Joey Bada$$ and Pro Era
Skepta's "Shutdown" is a musical revelation


text:
Q: XSLT Concatenation with Different Attributes My input XML looks like this:
<data>
    <Food_Output FoodNbr="171179">
        <Parent>
            <row outputname="Menu Price 200.0" outputvalue="3" costvalue="0" outputid="26" send_to_kitchen="1" adjusted="0" id_server="42" />
            <row outputname="Menu Price 212.0" outputvalue="5" costvalue="0" outputid="26" send_to_kitchen="1" adjusted="0" id_server="42" />
        </Parent>
    </Food_Output>
    <Food_Input FoodNbr="171179">
        <Parent>
            <row id_price="212.2" text_cmnt1="Approved" text_cmnt2="Regular Menu Item"/>
            <row id_price="200.0" text_cmnt1="Declined" text_cmnt2="Regular Menu Item"/>
        </Parent>
    </Food_Input>
</data>

And I'd like my output XML to look like this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<addtn_kitchen_data>
   <test>Menu Price 200.0</test>
   <tblGuests>
      <desc_adjmt_type>Regular Menu Item 212.2</desc_adjmt_type>
      <text_credit_apprl>Approved</text_credit_apprl>
      <text_cmnts>Regular Menu Item</text_cmnts>
      <nbr_adjmt>5</nbr_adjmt>
   </tblGuests>
   <tblGuests>
      <desc_adjmt_type>Regular Menu Item 200.0</desc_adjmt_type>
      <text_credit_apprl>Declined</text_credit_apprl>
      <text_cmnts>Regular Menu Item</text_cmnts>
      <nbr_adjmt>3</nbr_adjmt>
   </tblGuests>
</addtn_kitchen_data>

This is the XSLT that I'm applying to it to try and get to that output:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xsl:stylesheet version="1.0" xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform"
    xmlns:msxsl="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:xslt"
    exclude-result-prefixes="msxsl">
    <xsl:output method="xml" indent="yes"/>

    <xsl:template match="/">
        <addtn_kitchen_data>
            <test>
                <xsl:value-of select="data/Food_Output/Parent/row[@id_server='42']/@outputname"/>
            </test>
            <xsl:for-each select="data/Food_Input/Parent/row">
                    <xsl:choose>
                        <xsl:when test="@id_price">
                            <tblGuests>
                                <desc_adjmt_type><xsl:value-of select="@text_cmnt2"/><xsl:text> </xsl:text> <xsl:value-of select="@id_price"/>
                                </desc_adjmt_type>
                                <text_credit_apprl><xsl:value-of select="@text_cmnt1"/></text_credit_apprl>
                                <text_cmnts><xsl:value-of select="@text_cmnt2"/></text_cmnts>
                                <nbr_adjmt>
                                    <xsl:value-of select="/data/Food_Output/Parent/row[@outputname='Menu Price 200.0']/@outputvalue"/>
                                </nbr_adjmt>
                            </tblGuests>
                        </xsl:when>
                        <xsl:otherwise>
                        </xsl:otherwise>
                    </xsl:choose>
            </xsl:for-each>
        </addtn_kitchen_data>
    </xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>

Right now I'm hardcoding the @outputname in the XSLT to equal 'Menu Price 200.0'. Essentially, I'm looking for an XPath query that matches the value within the @outputname (200.0 in my example) to the corresponding @id_price (200.0) if and only if the string within the @outputname contains 'Menu Price'.
Something along the lines of this (this is not correct):
<xsl:value-of select="/data/Quote_Output/Parent/row[@outputname='Menu Price" & @id_grd & "']/@outputvalue"/>

Can anyone suggest an XPath that would get me what I need?

A: You could do it this way:
<nbr_adjmt>
    <xsl:value-of select="/data/Food_Output/Parent/row[@outputname=concat('Menu Price ', current()/@id_price)]/@outputvalue"/>
</nbr_adjmt>

A better way might be to define a key:
<xsl:key name="row-by-price" match="row" use="substring-after(@outputname, 'Menu Price ')" />

then use it as:
<nbr_adjmt>
    <xsl:value-of select="key('row-by-price', @id_price)/@outputvalue"/>
</nbr_adjmt>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Gotham's David Mazouz Has A Great Idea For A Flash Crossover
By Nick Venable published 19 December 17
If Gotham City and Central City had a contest about which place has worse crime, nobody would want to judge it. But at least The Flash's home has a squad of brainiacs and super-powered folks aiding the local P.D., while Gotham only has/had Bruce Wayne's proto-Batman temporarily stalking criminals. Though Bruce is currently living it up as a non-crimestopping schmuck, actor David Mazouz has a pretty good (if almost entirely non-feasible) idea for how a crossover with The CW's Flash could help things out.
The Flash kind of had their run-in with Flashpoint a couple of seasons ago. Maybe there could be another kind of Flashpoint where Flash runs back in time and goes to Gotham and maybe tries to stop Bruce Wayne's parents' murder from happening. Maybe not the traditional 'Bruce Wayne gets murdered instead, and Thomas becomes Batman thing,' but something along those lines where the whole world gets whack and it's up to Flash to fix things in Gotham.
Let's push aside all of the understanding that Gotham and The Flash would have to jump through some major hoops in order to make a crossover happen -- although that Fox and Disney deal is a similar kind of unprecedented scenario that helps crossovers happen -- and let's just focus on why David Mazouz's idea is cool. In the first place, the Gotham star was quick to say to ComicBook.com that the crossover would need to happen on the Fox series, which would presumably mean that any timeline hiccups caused by Barry's time-travel shenanigans would be tethered to Gotham and wouldn't carry over into the Arrow-verse. That distinction, I believe we all know, is the main reason why Barry should ever be able to use time travel again, since it never, ever, ever goes well.
Giving Gotham a "Flashpoint" episode would also be interesting because...well...it would be Gotham's version of a "Flashpoint" episode, and there are few things in life more deliciously intriguing than "Gotham's version of __." The show often takes on well-known DC comic characters and situations, but it almost always adds a ridiculously enjoyable spin to them that Gotham has totally earned over the years. With the Thomas Wayne-as-Batman angle theoretically not on the table, there are plenty of bizarre ways for the Waynes' short-term survival to affect Gotham City.
If Thomas Wayne had lived, then his involvement with the Indian Hill facility (as well as the Court of Owls) would likely have broadened, which would be an interesting avenue for the show to go down. Similarly, Bruce wouldn't have gotten involved with Oswald, Jim or almost any of the others that he's bonded and battled with, so one wonders if he would even be interesting enough for viewers to follow. And how would it all play into Penguin's rise, Fish Mooney's fall and how the Falcone family's lives panned out?
Aside from the plot, even, it would just be fun to see Barry Allen drop a little sunshine into Gotham City, where the sun only shines when it's mean to give someone a headache. I'd love to know what Barry would think about all of Gotham's rogues, particularly Hugo Strange's monsters. But of all those sour-minded characters, I think Victor Zsasz would be the most fun to watch, since he would fit right at home in the Arrow-verse. (Incidentally, I bet Alfred and Joe would have a whale of a time together.)
So while we probably won't ever get to watch any Gotham and Flash crossovers coming around, Flashpoint-related or not, we can expect to find both shows returning to their respective time slots in 2018. Gotham returns to Fox at some point early on, while The Flash will bring its trial-based comic story to The CW on Tuesday, January 16, at 8:00 p.m. ET. To see what other new and returning shows are coming to the small screen soon, head to our midseason premiere schedule.
Price Is Right Host Drew Carey Shared Fun Story About Missing Tonight Show Debut Due To Bob Saget's Kindness
Batgirl's Leslie Grace Shares First Look At Her DC Superhero Costume
After Letting Patrons Buy Beers For Betty White, Pub Finds Sweet Way To Use The Money
Young Justice Co-Showrunner Shares Why He Wrote A Movie About Catwoman
John Cena's Peacemaker Tried To Use A Real Eagle In Certain Scenes, And James Gunn Tell Us What Went Wrong


The band will treat fans to entire back catalogue in September.
He won't be headlining on Mars or Earth.
Don't have a cow guys.
Is that a lump in our throats?
Live unexploded ammo found in a soldier's head has been removed by a US military surgeon in a remarkable operation.


Introduction:A key idea in today's Sunday School material is that God uses limited humans as a part of His master plan to take care of His own. Prayerfully, we will be challenged to let God use us and accept God's use of others, in carrying out His master plan.
I. Glory of the Gospel. Paul talks about how he and his team are preaching the simple gospel of Jesus Christ. The only people who don't understand are those who are blinded by the god of this age and who are perishing.
In our Sunday School material he pictures himself as a servant for Jesus' sake.
- Servants of God. Notice in vs. 1 that Paul talks about his ministry being the product of God's mercy. In vs. 5, he talks about being a servant for Jesus' sake. And in the next section, he talks about being like a clay jar (vs. 7).
First, as believers, we are called to be used by God. Ministers are called to minister. Servants are called to serve. Jars are called to be containers.
In like manner, we are called to be of some good use to the Lord. This ought to move each of us to ask, "What good work am I doing in obedience to the Lord"?
Second, whatever we do for the Lord, it is more about the Lord than about us. We don't have to pretend that we are something that we are not.
We are not called to make ourselves look good. It is all about lifting the name of Jesus and bringing glory to the Lord. Let's work on knowing and staying in our place, as servants of God.
- Focusing on the simply word of God. Notice in vs. 2 of our Sunday School material that the simple presentation of God's word is enough.
First, when the message of God is so sophisticated in language that people need dictionaries to know what is being said, there is a problem.
Advance education should be used to help people understand, not impress and overwhelm them with the degree holder's educational attainment.
Second, when ministry is based on a charismatic human personality, instead of simply faith in God, there is a problem. All humans are subject to let you down.
Let's focus on sharing the word of God in such a simple way that children can understand. And let's make sure that our faith is in God, not simply the fancy messenger.
- Some are blinded to the word. Notice in vss. 3-4 that no matter how simple the gospel is shared, there will be some who miss it. Those who miss it are those who are perishing because the god of this age has blinded them.
As stated above, we should make the word of God simple and understandable for those we are talking to. However, we should also understand that the devil is working real hard to help people say "I don't know." Let's prayerfully do our best and trust God with the rest.
II. Humility of the Messenger. In this section of our Sunday School material Paul talks about how he is simply a clay jar. The power of God is made manifested, as people see how feeble Paul really is.
He talks about experiencing hardships, but he is still standing in the Lord's strength. He sees his suffering as a part of the blessing experienced by his readers.
- Suffering and surviving. Notice in vss. 8-9 that Paul and his team were both suffering and surviving. First, being a believer doesn't exclude us from suffering.
Just as Paul suffered (e.g., beatings and relational drama) and Jesus suffered (e.g., crucifixion), we should not be surprised when suffering comes our way.
Second, we should be thankful that God gives us surviving power. God doesn't always keep us from suffering. But He gives us power to survive the suffering.
We ought to find some joy in seeing that we are still standing. Let's work on trusting God to help us survive the suffering that we must face.
- Crucifixion and resurrection. Notice in vss. 10-12 of the Sunday School material that the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ are always at work in the lives of His disciples.
At any given moment, we find ourselves suffering and yet looking towards victory because of our relationship with Jesus.
For example, our striving to make family life work can be complicated by non-believers (i.e., negativity). But we trust God to see us through (i.e., positive hope). Furthermore, our suffering influences the success of others.
As people see us endure our pain with faith in God, they are inspired to trust God even more. This is further supported by vs. 15 in the next section. Let's work on going through our troubled times with confidence that God can use our suffering for the good of others and our own.
III. Persistence of Faith. In this section of our Sunday School material Paul talks about his faith in God. He is trusting God to raise him up, as He did and will do with Jesus. He talks again about how what is happening to him is benefiting his readers.
- Faith development. Notice in vss. 13-14 that faith can get us through some rough spots. Think about how a lion tamer deals with a lion being three feet away from him/her.
And then think about how you would deal with a lion being three feet away from you, with nothing holding the lion back.
What is the difference? The difference to a great extent is what the lion tamer and you believe. He/she believes that things are under control. You believe that you are about to be attacked by the lion.
In like manner, it is not circumstances that traumatizes us, as much as our belief system. We can face our valleys with faith in our Shepherd. Or we can face them, as if we are in it all by ourselves.
Let's work on developing the faith to live in this world of ours. Prayerful study of God's word with a mind to obey it and with the support of other disciples can help us develop the faith needed for times like these.
Conclusion: Let's work on letting God use us and accepting God's use of others, in carrying out His master plan. God has much for those who obey His will.


Communication is the exchange or transfer of signals, facts, ideas and symbols. It requires a sender, a message and an intended receiver. Communication involves the activity of conveying information or meaning. Effective communication requires a common "language" (which may be written, spoken or non- verbal). Through the exploration of language and the process of learning language, we exchange, express and transform information, facts, ideas, meanings and opinions. Communication is the basis of what makes us human and bridges communities across the globe; it is the essence of this discipline.
Connections are links, bonds and relationships among people, objects, organisms or ideas. Linguistic and literary connections exist across time, cultures and across oral, visual and written texts. This concept is central to the study of language and allows for the exploration of language, applying knowledge of, and about, the language, and relationships between text, creator and audience.
Creativity is the process of generating novel ideas and considering existing ideas from new perspectives. Creativity includes the ability to recognize the value of ideas when developing innovative responses to problems; it may be evident in process as well as outcomes, products or solutions. Creativity is nurtured through the process of learning language as this process involves us in divergent thinking, applying ideas, taking risks and expressing ourselves in order to relate to, and interact with, the world.
Culture encompasses a range of learned and shared beliefs, values, interests, attitudes, products, ways of knowing and patterns of behaviour created by human communities. The concept of culture is dynamic and organic. Learning the language of a community provides opportunities to embrace diversity, to interact with sensitivity and empathy, and to participate in meaningful global interactions, which in turn develops sociocultural competence and intercultural awareness leading to international-mindedness.
Other key concepts can also be important in language acquisition, including identity, perspective, form, time, place and space.
iii. engage with the spoken and visual text by identifying ideas, opinions and attitudes and by making a response to the text based on personal experiences and opinions.
iii. engage with the spoken and visual text by analysing ideas, opinions and attitudes and by making a response to the text based on personal experiences and opinions from a global perspective.
iii. engage with the spoken and visual text by evaluating ideas, opinions and attitudes and by making a response to the text based on personal experiences and opinions from a global perspective.
iii. engage with the written and visual text by identifying ideas, opinions and attitudes and by making a response to the text based on personal experiences and opinions.
iii. engage with the written and visual text by analysing ideas, opinions and attitudes and by making a response to the text based on personal experiences and opinions from a global perspective.
iii. use language to suit the context.
ii. use language to suit the context.
iii. engage with the spoken and visual text by identifying ideas, opinions and attitudes and by making a personal response to the text.
iii. engage with the written and visual text by identifying ideas, opinions and attitudes and by making a personal response to the text.
iv. communicate with a sense of audience.
iv. communicate with a sense of audience and purpose.
iv. communicate with a sense of register, purpose and style.


Here is where you can share your poems with all our friends. Just send us one of your poems and we will be happy to display it! You will also find links here to the great Italian poets of the past, like Dante, Petrarca, Poliziano... A Romantic Ciao from Rome and RomeGiftShop.com!


As busy as life is, I still make time to cook – well I have to with the twins allergies. Sometimes I wish I could just get takeout but then I think what a blessing it is that my whole family eats wholesome foods and we are so much healthier because of it. It just takes a little more organization on my part, it's a good thing I am a planner. Because I don't really have that simple luxury of picking up something for dinner I make extra of a dish then freeze half of it. This is one of my "freezes well" recipes, which also can be made a few days in advance and still taste like you just prepared it. It's a simple yet delicious recipe featuring the sweet flavor of butternut squash. I LOVE squash, all squashes.
I usually make this for Thanksgiving as a staple side dish but I can't wait until the end of November to bust out this recipe. It's my comfort food. Sorry mashed potatoes, you have been overshadowed. Sometimes I switch out the raisins for unsweetened dried cranberries or dried prunes if I run out of raisins. It's so versatile. You can use any dried fruit you like. And you know I love how nutritious squash is; with all that Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Fiber, and anti-oxidants!
This recipe is from my Mom, she would always make a huge skillet full due to the high demand. I remember the aroma of sweet cinnamon squash lingering up the stairs calling my name. There is nothing like filling the air with the aroma of great food to share with family and friends over great conversation. Isn't that what life is about?
Note: Squash seeds are just as delicious as pumpkin seeds just smaller so don't throw them away. Roast seeds on a parchment lined baking sheet in a 400 degrees F oven for 20 minutes with a sprinkling of kosher salt. So good!
Tip: I roast the seeds the same time I roast my vegetables to utilize the oven as much as I can. All my roasting of vegetables is done at the same temperature so it works out perfectly.
In a large heavy bottomed skillet set on medium high heat, add oil and margarine. Add onion, and salt, stir.
Meanwhile, soak raisins in a cup of very hot water. Set aside to plump up for 10 minutes. When onions have some brown bits on them add diced butternut squash.
Add cinnamon and nutmeg, combine well with the onions.
Continue to stir occasionally. When squash has begun to soften (2-3 minutes) add the drained raisins, stir. Add xylitol and agave nectar (I use xylitol to reduce sugar and the agave to caramelize the squash, you can use all agave if you prefer). Toss to combine well.
Add vegetable stock. Stir again. After a few minutes the stock will reduce by half, then cover the pan and reduce heat to medium. Cook for another 10 minutes or so until the stock has been absorbed.
**If freezing: Let it cool first then store in an airtight container. Will freeze well for 2 months.
This looks sooo good. I never thought to add soaked raisins, that's usually not indicated in a recipe. Makes sense not add hard dried raisins. I look forward to making this for the holiday. Yum!
This looks so delicious as a Thanksgiving side dish. Simple enough for someone like who doesn't cook much. I also have my eye on your no bake pumpkin cheesecake. SO glad I found your blog. Your photos looks so natural and everything looks super yummy!


Measuring approx. 8cm in length, this substantial pendant is a fabulously beautiful piece, combining inspiration from the outer galaxy with the magnificence of the natural world. Blending fuchsia, bubble-gum and candyfloss pink shades, the pendant is sectioned internally with meticulous craftsmanship for a wonderful inner glow; a must-have piece for your jewellery box.
The pendant measures approx. 7.6cm (length) by 4.2cm (width).


Note: These keys must be redeemed by December 31st, 2017. Only 1 key can be used per account.
Mu Legend is a free to play top down isometric action MMORPG with a persistent world from Webzen. It's a sequel to the enormously popular Mu Online. It plays a bit like Diablo 3 or Path of Exile, except it features a persistent world.


text:
Il Trofeo ZSŠDI 2007, trentunesima edizione della corsa e valida come evento dell'UCI Europe Tour 2007 categoria 1.2, si svolse il 4 marzo 2007 su un percorso di 142 km. Fu vinta dall'italiano Simone Ponzi che giunse al traguardo con il tempo di 3h21'03", alla media di 42,378 km/h.

Partenza con 180 ciclisti di cui 61 tagliarono il traguardo.

Ordine d'arrivo (Top 10)

Collegamenti esterni

Trofeo ZSŠDI
Ciclismo nel 2007

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


All international and national pistol events.
Field revolver: Revolver on field targets, max 8,5"barrel, freestyle.
Conventional: Big bore and Small bore production, no boltaction pistols.
Competition open for all silhouette shooters.
Competition open for everyone who want to try silhouette rifle shooting.
Camping is possible on the range.
Cooperation between Norway and Sweden on the national championships and Nordic championship small bore and big bore rifle.
Open championship, all silhouette shooters are welcome.
Only Norwegian shooters will be Norwegian champion.
Only Swedish shooters will be Swedish champion.
Only Nordic shooters will be Nordic champion.
Old Unlimited events: Big bore and Small bore.
Outdoor event, remember clothes according to Norwegian climate at this time of yeear.
Outdoor event, remember clothes according to Norwegian climate at this time of year.


2. Work on webquest, due on Monday.
1. Bell Ringer: Sign out Computer!
2. Work on Comparing Independence Assign which will be due by the end of the day.
3. Go over Comparing Independence Assign which will be due tomorrow at the end of class.
3. Work on Ch. 7 Assessment 1-20 for extra credit.
2. Read Monroe on Recognition of the Independent States of South America and answer questions.
3. Study for Unit Quiz tom. and complete notebooks which will be handed in tom.
You are all taking your ACT Pre-Test Today! Good luck… See you Wed. when your Guided Reading assignment is due.
Welcome back everyone… It's back to the grind to learn, learn, learn!!!
1. Bell Ringer: Copy and answer question: Name one impact of Westward Exapansion on Native Americans using pg. 262 in textbook.
3. HW: Read the rest of Ch. 5 in Modern Latin America text for Reading Quiz #9 on Monday.
Everyone Have a Great Thanksgiving!
3. HW Read the rest of Ch. 5 in your Modern Latin America Textbook, Reading Quiz #9 tomorrow!
This is a short week… IB classes need to remember that their Title, Question and Plan A of the Historical Investigation are due to me on Wednesday!
1. Bell Ringer: Look at p. 190 in text and put events on a Timeline in notebook.
3. Complete GR: War of 1812 Erupts and answer Tecumseh reading discussion questions in notes when finished.
2. Work on Faces of the Caudillos Collage which is due on Tuesday!
2) Pick up Caudillos lynch reading with disc quest and answer discussion questions in notes.