Harvest Home - a Pagan rock song for Summer Solstice and all year round
Harvest Home photo
How Harvest Home began
Harvest Home is a folk rock or acoustic rock song by myself the Bard of Ely but it wasn't always a musical recording. Harvest Home started life as a poem that was published originally in the nineties by Alan Craw in his fanzine Cyrkel Spynn.
However, a friend of mine suggested that I should try putting some music to it because it would make great lyrics, so this is what I did, having worked out a chord pattern that fitted the verses. The words make direct reference to the Summer Solstice, a very important time and event in the traditional pagan and Druid calendars. This is the time of a major festival on the pagan calendar, when there is the longest day and shortest night and pagans celebrating this time of year await seeing the rising sun. Stonehenge attracts thousands of people for the Summer Solstice each year.
The story of Harvest Home, by the way, illustrates why it can be important to hold on to lyrics and poems if you write them, because you never know where they might end up in future, perhaps having been given a different treatment.
The Taffia EP
A lot of people liked the song Harvest Home and it was released online on various music sites but I was really delighted, as I am sure you can imagine, when Rhys Mwyn, who signed my controversial song You're a Liar, Nicky Wire to front a release on Crai Records entitled the Taffia EP, gave the go ahead for it also to be included as another of the tracks included on the release.
Crai Records, by the way, is part of Sain Records, a leading Welsh record label, and where the band Catatonia first started their career. Catatonia, of course, was the band that gave Cerys Matthews her break that led on to international recognition as a singer, and the band had a string of hits.
So Harvest Home was released on a CD EP in 2002.
How Harvest Home was recorded
I had my new song Harvest Home in its basic form, of a melody I played using a strummed chord-pattern, but wanted to get it recorded properly, and for the song to have a folk-rock treatment, so I asked my good friend and fellow singer-songwriter and rock musician, Nathaniel 'Nat' Shelley, if he could help. Nathaniel, by the way, is the son of bass player Burke Shelley of the legendary Welsh rock band Budgie, so music and talent definitely run in his family. At this point in time, Nat was writing songs for and fronting his own band called Transposer.
With a Nod to John Lennon
I sent a cassette recording to Nat so he could get an idea of how the song sounded and was structured so when we met up next we could record it using his home studio in Penarth. Both Nat and I are big fans of John Lennon and we thought we could make tribute to the former Beatle by giving it a psychedelic sound with some backward tape playing as the intro. This was done using the actual cassette recording.
I can't be sure what was actually being sung on the tape playing normally but reversed it sounds like "Horses can harm you." Much as I love these animals, funnily enough, I once was harmed by one when I got kicked up the backside, literally, by a mare in a field I was walking through as a boy.
I sang the vocals for Harvest Home and played acoustic guitar and Nat came up with the rest of the rock song backing and I was very pleased with how it all sounded.
Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Iorio was so impressed with Harvest Home that he recorded a cover version of it. Daniel is a John Lennon fan too and his own songs have a distinct Lennon influence so he was just the right person to record a new version of the song.
Harvest Home by Bard of Ely
Links for this hub
- Rhys Mwyn - Biography
- daniel iorio | Free Music, Tour Dates, Photos, Videos
daniel iorio's official profile including the latest music, albums, songs, music videos and more updates.
Harvest Home included on a film soundtrack
Alan Craw, who has released two albums by me on DMMG Records - Welsh Wizard and Dive in Deep - is a good friend of Phillip Gardiner, author of the best selling book - The Serpent Grail, and who coincidentally was also in Cyrkel Spynn in the past. Besides being an author, Phillip makes documentaries and films for the major USA film/multi-media label Reality Entertainment.
Alan sent my promo pack to Philip last year (at time of writing), and I got in touch with him myself via Facebook, with the result that he was impressed enough with Harvest Home to include it as part of the soundtrack for the horror film Paranormal Haunting: The Curse of the Blue Moon Inn.
It has been very pleasurable watching the journey of a song that began life as a poem printed in a fanzine but ended up on a recording released by an established independent label, and later getting used in a film by a much-acclaimed director.
Paranormal Haunting: The Curse of the Blue Moon Inn: Official Trailer
© 2011 Steve Andrews
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Neil Young is an internationally known singer-songwriter and rock guitarist originally from Canada. He came to fame with the bands Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
Hawkwind are a famous rock band who had a hit with Silver Machine. They are known as a Space-rock band. Bard of Ely has a number of links with Hawkwind and has worked with a former member.
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Chinese Medicine Remedies
Traditional Chinese Medicine takes a holistic approach. Whereas in the West diseases are specific to a certain part of the body, Chinese believe that all the systems of the body are interconnected. If there is a problem with one part of the body, it can affect other areas in the anatomy. Also, changes in the environment can have an affect on the body rhythms and cause illness.
My first experience with Chinese Medicine was when I first moved to Hawaii 18 years ago. I went to a Chinese friend's home for dinner. I had just moved here from a third world country and had experienced a few health problems. He brought out an instrument that he told me would give him a diagnosis of anything wrong in my body. He is a school teacher, so I was a bit skeptical about it, but thought it might be fun anyway.
He explained that the human ear is just like a reverse fetus. According to the theory of Chinese Traditional medicine, each human organ has a corresponding point on the ear. If a certain organ has any disease or changes, it will emit a bio-electrical current from the corresponding point in the ear. By listening to the instrument carefully, a person can detect if there is a problem in any area of the body.
So my Chinese friend moved a little stylus over every part of one of my ears listening intently for any changes in his Hua-han electronic acupuncture device. It tickled a bit, but did not hurt at all. To my amazement and wonder, when he was finished, he asked me if I had liver problems. I told him that I had hepatitis B while I was living in the South Pacific islands and had been very sick with it. I have since been told I have PBC Pulmonary Biliary Cirrhosis. Then he asked if I had trouble with my knee joint. I injured my left knee severely as a young lady and have had trouble with it ever since for which I have been told I need a knee replacement.
He further explained that diseases are caused by a block of meridian channels in our body. The block causes pain. If there is no block, then there is no pain. The instrument he used picked up the bio-electric currents and he could hear that those two areas, my liver and knee, were indeed blocked. I was beside myself because I had not mentioned anything about my hepatitis or knee problems before I got there. It seemed magical to me.
I have since read quite a bit about Chinese Medicine. They believe that the body's vital energy (chi or qi) circulates through channels called meridians. If there is an imbalance or interruption of this vital energy, illness or disease results.
Chinese claim that over 200 kinds of disorders have been treated with ear acupuncture with an 85 percent effectiveness rate. Sometimes they add electrical stimulation to acupuncture needles to treat disease. Chinese commonly practice self massage of the ears on a daily basis to prevent disease which certainly couldn't hurt and may actually work.
I have not had acupuncture, but believe it may work according to my experience with my Chinese friend. Acupuncture is used to restore balance of the chi in the body. Of all that I have learned about Chinese medicine, the theory behind auricular acupuncture is the most interesting to me. Too bad it has gotten a bad rap from the Western world. The Chinese have treated disease by using points on the ear for centuries.
A Bit of Humor helps your body heal itself too
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Tonga still uses traditional medicine in many families. It has been passed down through the generations. They now export some of their medicines to other countries.
Herbal remedies for common ailments. Experience of lady in third world country with herbal remedies.
Wise words from Mother Theresa. Christian Living helping orphans.


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Exactly How To Successfully Locate An Ideal Car
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Performing this will save you time while you talk with the salesman and also guarantee you don't need to get a automobile that does not satisfy your preferences. Thankfully, nearly all of this investigation can be done online so it will not be impacted by a salesman that has a vested interest in clients buying the most expensive automobile. When you have a clear notion of the vehicle you would like just before traveling to the dealer, you will certainly be within a far better placement to barter along with the sales person and acquire the automobile that is right for your family with a excellent selling price.
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IDEA Impact Grants
The IDEA Center Awards Inaugural Round of Impact Grants
The IDEA Center is proud to announce inaugural Impact Grants totaling more than $45,000 to six higher education institutions implementing projects with a goal to positively impact teaching and learning and student well-being.
The schools and their projects, which include five focused on Teaching and Learning and one focused on Campus Climate, are:
- Nazareth College, Rochester, NY – Improving Interdisciplinary Integration and Meaningful Assessment Practices through Pedagogical Support
- Tufts University, Medford, MA – Documenting the Impact of Inclusive Excellence in Faculty Development Programming
- Cameron University, Lawton, OK – Embedded Peer Tutoring Project
- University of Massachusetts (Lowell), Lowell, MA – Teaching the Science of Learning
- Everett Community College, Everett, WA – Using Formative Feedback to Improve Learning Outcomes
- Marian University, Indianapolis, IN – Bridging Faculty Development to Student Learning: Training, Intervention, and Impact.
“Improvement of teaching and learning in higher education is why IDEA exists,” said Ken Ryalls, President of The IDEA Center. “We look forward to the positive impact these projects will have on their individual institutions, and on IDEA’s overall understanding of effective pedagogy.”
IDEA also celebrates the work of our pilot grantees, Azusa Pacific University and Point Loma Nazarene University both of which received funding for teaching and learning projects in late 2015 and secured the foundation for IDEA’s request for proposals and inaugural Impact Grants program.
Learn more about the 2016-2017 IDEA Impact Grants.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
The deadline for 2016-2017 proposals has passed. Please check back for information regarding our 2017-2018 Call For Proposals.
IDEA is launching a call for proposals to promote new knowledge in higher education in the fields of teaching and learning (IDEA Impact Teaching/Learning Grant) and campus climate (IDEA Impact Campus Climate Grant). The IDEA Impact Teaching/Learning Grant is designed to promote effective student learning by carefully exploring and systematically documenting the efficacy of various teaching practices, learning environments, and institutional policies. Examples of the kinds of projects funded under the IDEA Impact Teaching/Learning Grant include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Classroom interventions designed to improve student learning
- Investigations of student and course characteristics that are related to learning
- Evaluation of innovative teaching methods
- Methods for engaging students in online courses
- Innovative approaches to faculty development
- Comprehensive approaches to teaching evaluation
- Use of student ratings to improve teaching effectiveness
The IDEA Impact Campus Climate Grant is intended to support increased knowledge and understanding of campus climate issues that impact student learning and the ability of institutions to successfully carry out their mission. Examples of the kinds of projects funded include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Innovative approaches to leadership development
- Interventions designed to improve institutional, college, or departmental climate
- Investigations of methods to improve faculty recruitment, development, and retention
- Strategies and approaches that improve student well-being
- Both grant opportunities will directly support individual faculty members, professional staff, departments, colleges, or programs.
- Each applicant is eligible for one grant in an amount not to exceed $10,000 annually. We are aware that project timeframes might exceed one year, and we will work with you accordingly.
- The application and expense budget must be completed and emailed as an attachment to email@example.com before the deadline. No late applications will be accepted for any reason.
- If you are awarded a grant, you will be required to work with IDEA to disseminate your findings. Opportunities include posting your research to the IDEA website, conducting workshops or presentations in partnership with IDEA at national conferences and seminars, or writing an original IDEA paper. You will be required to acknowledge IDEA Impact Fund grant funding in any publications that result from IDEA Impact Fund grant funding.
All submissions will undergo committee review. All decisions are final. Notification of the outcome will come from IDEA’s Director of Fundraising and Advancement. Selection criteria will be based on a 50-point scale, and will include:
- Quality of research questions and hypotheses (5 points)
- The originality of the research (5 points)
- Quality of data source (5 points)
- A clear description of the innovation you propose (10 points)
- A description of the measure(s) you will use to assess outcomes (5 points)
- Evidence of the reliability and validity of the measure(s) (5 points)
- Plan for your collaboration with IDEA and research dissemination plan (15 points)


The Noise Out!
Submitted: April 24, 2003
transitioning to a new subject area, the students are sometimes rowdy or sometimes
lathargic. If the students are rowdy, I stand in front of the room and wait until
I get their attention. Then I point to my eyes as a signal to "watch"
and point to my chest to signal "me." I then clap, stomp, or shake a
body part in a series of patterns and it is their job to repeat my lead. This
is done in complete silence, so they do not clap aloud but would simulate clapping,
for example. The last signal I give them is to sit down quietly. I do this by
holding my hands out in front of me, palms down, and bringing my hands from my
mid-chest to hip level. I then begin teaching in a whisper voice as I walk among
days when the students are lethargic, I give out the instructions verbally and
with great enthusiasm. I have them stomp, clap, tap, and shake a body part in
a pattern that mimics mine with as much noise as they can make. They especially
like pounding their desks, with open palms, as hard as they can. Toward the end
of the activity, I slowly lower the noise of the clapping, etc., so that the students
calm down and are awake and ready to work without being hyped up.


Battery Cage, Ton Meijdam, Thom Snels, Béla Zsigmond, 2009, 00:04:22
Chickens interact in incredibly defined manners and form complicated social structures. Contrary to popular believe, Scientific research at the University of Sidney pointed out that chickens living in a battery cage are happier. Their free range sisters suffer from more stress, constantly living in fear of predators.
Read an interview with studio smack


Irregularity is a condition that affects both men and women. For some it can be overactive bowel: for others it can be constipation. Focusing on overactive bowel, the symptoms can be frequent stools or it can be diarrhea. It is very bothersome through the aging process. There are many diseases that cause overactive bowel, for example: Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis or diverticulosis, polyps and even constipation.
These bowel conditions require careful diagnosis. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can be serious chronic conditions and can develop at very young age. These diseases can be treated or be in remission, but depending on the severity of the illness, and how your health is affected, a colostomy may be necessary. If you notice any symptoms such a mucous- looking stool, blood in the stool, watery stools or even a pattern of diarrhea and constipation you should consult your physician.
Gatroenterologists, doctors that specializes in problems of the digestive tract, agree that fiber helps your digestive system function regularly to prevent overactive bowel. There are two types of fiber: soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber slows digestion: it forms a gel when it mixes with water and will make loose stools more solid. In addition, it binds to fat in the digestive system to help eliminate them. Some examples are oatmeal, nuts and seeds, dried beans, peas, lentils, strawberries, blueberries, apples and citrus fruit. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to stools to help food move through your digestive system. It holds water so it softens stool to prevent constipation and promotes regularity. Insoluble fiber is found in foods like seeds, popcorn, wheat bran, whole grains (such as, whole wheat bread and brown rice), and most vegetables including carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes.
You should include both types of fiber in your diet. However, if you are using fiber to treat overactive bowel symptoms talk to your doctor about how much of each type of fiber you need. Normally, you need 21-38 grams of fiber per day depending on your age and sex.
The amount of fiber in foods is listed on the “NUTRITION FACTS” label of all foods. It is part of the carbohydrate category. You should add fiber to your diet gradually increasing a small amount daily to avoid bloating, cramping or gas. You need to give your body time to adjust. It is also important to increase the amount of water you drink as you increase your fiber intake. So there you have it, a way a natural way to treat overactive bowel.
As you are adjusting your diet to improve your symptoms remember that DryForLife offers a discreet and completely confidential solution to all your incontinence needs. We are here to help, and we have been providing incontinence products for over forty years.
Disclaimer - The research, clinical material and advice provided on this website is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for medical treatment, nor an alternative to medical advice. Any action taken in response to the information given on this website is at the reader's own discretion. Readers should always consult their own Doctor in all health matters. Please read our Terms and conditions. Copyright ©2003-2010 DryForLife®


Recently, Bombay High Court rejected a PIL seeking action by SEBI in respect of gold purchase schemes (Sandeep Agrawal vs. SEBI  39 taxmann.com 139 (Bom.)). In a brief decision of less than half a page, the Court essentially held that contracts are private commercial contracts and do not require interference by SEBI. The Court observed, “If any shop owner is running such a scheme and the consumers are voluntarily taking part in such a scheme, it is purely a commercial transaction between a businessman and a consumer”.
It is submitted that this decision requires reconsideration. It also appears that the case was not argued well, since the Court had observed, “If the petitioner so desires to bring it in the nature of public ambit the least that is expected is to point out as to under what statutory provisions or the rules framed thereunder the said scheme is prohibited. Nothing is placed on record in that regard.”.
Many of the gold purchase schemes do prima facie appear to be collective investment schemes (CIS). While some recent newspaper reports explain what they are (see here and here), the essentials of some common schemes can be described as under.
The entity that sets up such scheme is often a gold-jewellery shop. Customers are invited to pay a certain sum in equal instalments for a period of time. At the end of the period, a sum, often called “bonus” is added to the amount accumulated. The customer is then given gold ornaments at the ruling market price for such total amount.
The terms may vary. The period may be longer or shorter. The entity may give some flexibility regarding gold price, either in terms of a fixed selling price or an assured appreciation or even some concession in the making charges of the jewellery.
It is difficult to see how most of such schemes are not CISs. Section 11AA of the SEBI Act, which defines CISs widely, seems to be clearly applicable and the conditions specified therein are attracted.
While there are many reputed names involved in such schemes, clearly there is no regulation as of now and SEBI seems to be taking no action against them. Such schemes are ripe for misuse, assuming SEBI takes a view that the provisions relating to CIS do not apply.
An entity other than a gold-jewellery shop may set up such a scheme. The Scheme may be for a long period of, say, three to five years. There is no control over where the amounts raised would be applied – even existing schemes do not provide for assurance that the amounts raised would be used to buy gold which would be earmarked for the customer. The entity may offer a higher “bonus” (which really seems to be disguised interest) to attract customers. It is easy to provide a cash alternative at time of maturity in form of ruling price of gold, which in any case can be assured, apart from “bonus”.
It is arguable that each case would have to be decided on facts and perhaps some of such schemes may not attract the provisions. But regardless of that, the risks of such schemes are too many to be ignored. In the backdrop of recent scams in West Bengal and elsewhere, it is surprising that these schemes have not received closer attention. Ideally, and at the very least, SEBI should have assured the Court that it is looking into the schemes, more so since it was made a party to the petition.


The London Underground, commonly known as the tube, is the quickest and most efficient way of travelling around London. There are twelve lines in total, making up a network that you can travel on all over the city; from east to west, north to south.
So, how to use the London Underground? Like this…
When travelling by tube, it is best to avoid paying for each ticket individually as this can end up being quite costly. Instead, the cheapest and most cost-effective way of travelling on the tube is to get an Oyster card. An Oyster card is a smartcard that you scan in and out for all journeys, and which ultimately saves you money as well as having the additional benefit of also being valid on the bus and overland rail network within London.
After buying a card, you can choose to either purchase a weekly or monthly pass, which will be loaded on to the card, or you can just pay as you go. If you choose to use the pay-as-you-go option, you load money on to the card then touch the card to a machine at the beginning and end of each journey. A certain amount of money will be deducted from the card for each trip; this value depends on the length of journey and where you’re travelling, but it’s always cheaper than the equivalent cash fare. And you’ll never end up paying more in one day than it costs to get a one-day travelcard.
One benefit of the pay-as-you-go Oyster card for visitors to London is that the money you load on to the card stays valid for use even if you don’t use it for months or even years. This makes it ideal for users who don’t stay in London on a regular basis, and who don’t want to pay over-the-odds for the tube when they are enjoying a short break in the capital city.
One of the most important things to do when you are travelling on the London underground is to check the destination on the front of the train, as not all trains go to the end of the line. In addition, several lines, including the District and Northern Lines, split into two, with trains going on to different destinations. The information boards on the stations should tell you where the trains are going but it is always worth double-checking.
If you aren’t a regular visitor to London, it is also worth checking an overland map to see the location of your destinations before getting on the tube. For example, Leicester Square and Piccadilly are a very short walk from one another but each has its own tube stop. You don’t want to go the expense of getting on a tube when you could have walked the distance in half the time, so be aware that it may sometimes be easier and cheaper to walk.
Similarly there are some changeovers between stations that are quick and others that require a long walk — if possible try to find out which is which before you travel. For example, try to avoid walking from Mansion House to Bank as this is an extremely long changeover. By contrast, the changeover between the Victoria Line and the Northern Line at Stockwell is just across the platform.
London Underground trains run from 5am to midnight Monday to Saturday, with a reduced service on Sundays. As with most public transport systems, there is a rush hour in the morning as people travel into the city to work, and another in the evening when workers return home. The tube system gets extremely busy at rush hour, so you may want to avoid travelling during this period, unless you enjoy the hustle and bustle of the experience. It is worth noting that should you decide to brave rush hour, you might not only struggle to get a seat, you might have to wait for several trains to pass before you can get on to a train at all.
The tube system, particularly in the central part of London, does tend to remain busy during most of the day. Like many major cities in built-up areas, it is a good idea to keep firm hold of your valuables as pickpockets are known to operate on the tube system, particularly in areas popular with tourists and during busy periods.
When heading to or from the train, there is usually an escalator available for use. If you do use the escalators, always stand on the right hand side so to allow people in a rush to pass on your left. Some stations, such as Covent Garden, also have lifts to carry passengers.
Food and rubbish
It is forbidden to smoke or drink alcohol on the London Underground and these rules are strictly enforced. If you are looking for a snack or something to keep you going during your travels, you will find that many London Underground stations, particularly those in the central areas, have newsagents operating on the platform who sell drinks and snacks like crisps and chocolate bars.
When it comes to throwing your rubbish away however, be warned, as there are no rubbish bins on any London Underground station due to security issues. You will therefore have to keep hold of your litter and throw it away when you go above-ground again.
At many London underground stations nowadays, free newspapers are handed out in the morning and evening, which come in handy when the trains are delayed (this happens far too often for many travellers’ liking!) and when you’re waiting for your train to arrive.
In addition to the delays, you should be aware that much of the tube engineering work is carried out at the weekends. This maintenance work can result in sections of the line being closed down and replacement buses being in operation, which might make your journey considerably longer. If you’re planning to use the tube at the weekend, check out the Transport For London website for service updates so that you can plan ahead if work is scheduled.
In hot weather, temperatures can soar on the tube. It is therefore a good idea to take a bottle of water with you if travelling in this period. In winter, cold temperatures and snow can cause problems with the parts of the network that run above-ground, which can lead to delays or even cancellations in some parts.
Many of the stations do not have good facilities for wheelchair users and are also difficult for those travelling with a pushchair. Most tube maps indicate which stations offer disabled facilities and it is a good idea to check this before travelling if do you use a wheelchair.
Overall, using the London Underground has more pros than cons. Whilst it doesn’t always run as smoothly as it perhaps could, it is for the most part the fastest and most cost-effective way of getting from A to B when on holiday in London.


Fuel cells could be one of the our cleanest energy sources; they convert hydrogen into electricity, and their only waste byproduct is water. One of the biggest things holding back the technology, however, is the problem that fuel cells require expensive rare earth metals like platinum. Now a team of international researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute is developing a new aerogel-based fuel cell that’s five times more efficient than conventional fuel cells, and it uses a bare minimum of rare earth metals.
Typically a fuel cell works by combining oxygen with hydrogen in a chemical bonding process that creates free electrons to power the vehicle, and leaves water coming out of the tail pipe as the only waste material. This reaction happens regularly in nature, but it goes extremely slowly, so a fuel cell needs a catalyst to kick start the chemical reaction and make it all go faster. In these conventional cells, the catalyst is made of a rare metal such as platinum. On top of being scarce and expensive, this catalytic material also needs to be built on top of a high surface area carbon, which is corrosive and can shorten the lifespan of the fuel cell.
A team of researchers at PSI and Dresden University overcame these obstacles by replacing the carbon with a three dimensional aerogel block. When combined with a platinum palladium alloy, the scientists discovered that the new material increased the efficiency of a regular fuel cell by five times. This opens up the possibility of creating a new fuel cell using just one-fifth of the the necessary platinum – reducing the costs and environmental impact of the fuel cell.
The scientists theorize that the aerogel material works so well because of it’s own inherent qualities as a nano-structured foam. So far, the aerogel material has proven itself and even passed long-term tests in the lab simulating the conditions of an operating vehicle. The scientists meanwhile want to take a closer study at their aerogel block, particularly to investigate the stability that might come with a bimetal material, in a three year study they currently are drafting and proposing for funding now.
Images © Paul Scherrer Institute


Welcome back to the place that aims to please the bookish side of you every day of the week...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
We've been having a BLAST this week (unlike we usually do? ^_^) in celebration of Children's Book Week and though it may be Friday, the week itself is celebrated through SUNDAY so be prepared for even more bookish wonders...and contests...to behold. Need I say "stay tuned"? Oh but of course, because it's ME after all, but first, let's add a little more learning to our field of vision, shall we?
The title I've selected for today's feature stars a gentleman whose name is known worldwide for one thing or another but the most WELL known of the descriptive terms applied to him is....GENIUS. To think, his life started out just like yours or mine, though perhaps with a bit more turmoil given the times, and would blossom into this timeline of achievements respected by scientists and remembered by all. Curious to know of whom I am speaking? Wonder no more...about THAT at least, because WONDER and IMAGINATION are definitely encouraged in this read. Today's book of choice is...
A Story of Albert Einstein
It's another look at the life of the man that brought us wonders and ideas that the world had yet to see, in a format ready for all ages.
The illustrations are brusque but when combined with the text, they create a well rounded display eagerly devoured by minds of all ages. After all, it's not everyday that you're told someone imagined themselves "racing through space on a beam of light"...and it's rather hard not to do so yourself after reading that sentence and seeing young Albert flying high on his bike, the gleam of discovery in his eye. As the tale progresses, we see how Albert prepared himself for a future he had yet to realize and concepts we had yet to grasp. The foundations he laid of reading and learning aided his mind in sorting out the BIGGER thoughts and suppositions he'd tackle down the road. But even with all that learning and problem solving, there are still things we do not understand and a myriad of questions left unanswered. For now...
To put it simply, this is certainly a book I'd recommend for all ages; the fact that it's presented in a picture book package need not be a point of worry for older readers. You will still learn many things from both its text AND its images. It tells us just how important asking questions can be and to never stop wondering..but, it also reminds us that silence can in fact be golden. How so? It permits the mind to take in all that it sees, hears, touches, and tastes. It allows it time to ponder the big and small things of life and process it all into something extraordinary; whether they be memories, inventions or more, it matters not. It's the give and take, the exchanging of ideas that's important in the end.
Aside from the things I've already mentioned, there is one in particular that I enjoyed even above all the others...the dedication. It simply says..."To the next Einstein, who is probably a child now...". Well put and most likely correct. You may be the proud relation to the next BIG THINKER of the world at large; heck, it might even be YOU! You never know where your next train of thought might take you, but if you always refuse to board...how will you ever find out?
as well as their complete collection of books (and other wonders!) for all ages, be sure to stop by their official site, like them on Facebook, pin them on Pinterest, or follow along on Twitter. This title was released a few short weeks ago and should be available now on a bookstore shelf near you.
Until next time...happy reading!


I have 8th grade twins in middle school. One is in a combined Collaborative Team-Teaching/SP (honors) class and does not seem to have Regents classes in anything. The other is in a regular SP class and has Regents classes in Earth Science and math. How does whether you take the various Regents exams in 8th grade affect high school curriculums, high school choices, and does it eventually effect the college credit situation too? Can you clarify please? Thank you.
- Twins mother
Dear Twins mother,
If the twin in the CTT class has an IEP, it is crucial that you make sure that the high school he chooses will have the resources and modifications he needs to take the Regents exams. As Insideschools expert Clara Hemphill put it: "I think parents should insist that their child get the most demanding curriculum they can handle. The tendency for the school system is to lower promotional standards for kids with iEPs and as a result they just fall further and further behind. What parents need to do is demand that kids get the extra help they need to meet the higher standards. If the school cannot provide extra help, they can sometimes get the city to pay for private tutoring.
If an IEP is not the issue, then you should find out the school’s policy on offering 9th grade courses and Regents exams. Since there is an SP attached to the class name, what is offered to help kids make special progress? If it is Regents courses and exams, by all means question the principal why school policy does not offer Regents-level courses to the CTT class. Policy does vary among schools. Some promote the taking of early Regents exams, others do not. Some offer Regents to only one class.
SP aside, while it is nice for some 8th graders to have high school courses and credits, it is not a requirement. Most 8th graders do not go into high school having taken Regents exams.
Taking a Regents course and exam in middle school may give a leg up to those who want to take extra science and math courses to qualify for an Advanced Regents diploma, but many students who take all their Regents in high school manage to do that anyway. On the other hand, some students who do take Regents in middle school may be unprepared, do poorly, and be at a disadvantage when applying to high school, or end up taking upper level courses in high school for which they are not prepared.
New York State requires passing scores on five Regents exams in order to graduate. There is plenty of time to take the required courses and Regents exams during four years of high school. Taking Regents exams early has absolutely no effect on college admission and credit. Colleges want to see that a student has taken challenging courses, not when he took them.
Bottom line: talk to the principal to determine the school policy and make sure both of your twins are getting what they need.


Many people would argue that poster advertising is a dying art form, but it can be very effective in some industries. Poster advertising is most commonly used in entertainment to inform the public of the latest act or event held at a popular arena. Grocery stores and politicians may also use posters to advertise. Poster advertising is effective in attracting visitors walking or driving in a high-traffic area.
How do you make your poster stand out in the crowd? Here are some techniques that professional designers use to make posters “pop.”
1. Simple Designs are Best
People who are unfamiliar with marketing often think that they should include as much information as possible on a poster. The key to an effective poster design is large font and only basic information. In marketing it is often said, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” If advertising for an artist, the artist’s photograph, name, date, location of the event and maybe one other piece of information will suffice for an effective poster design.
If advertising for a grocery store, the item and price will be the main items displayed on the poster. Designers should keep the designs simple and the wording minimal for the best poster designs. In this case, less truly is more. Make it simple with two typefaces, and align items to a grid. Your page layout program will provide non-printing guidelines. Use the “snap to guidelines” function to align items easily to the grid.
2. Large Fonts are Recommended
Large fonts are recommended. Large fonts allow the advertisements to be seen from a considerable distance. When posters can be seen from a distance, more people are exposed to the advertisement and can determine their interest in the event or item advertised.
The fonts should be easy to read. Ornate fonts may be attractive, but many people may not be able to decipher ornate fonts from a distance. Consider large and simple fonts for the best results. Make it memorable, unusual or provocative using a few carefully chosen powerful words.
3. Use a Single Point of Contact
If a phone number is used on the poster, establish one point of contact. This will eliminate confusion to viewers walking by the poster. When the number is called, anyone can field the call as long as only one phone number is listed. Prior to designing a poster, select a number that can handle numerous calls from the viewing public. A number which cannot handle the call volume will be ineffective and detract from sales.
One large image will have more impact than many smaller images. A stunning photo or illustration grabs attention, creates a mood, and supports your story. This image is your “focal point” and will draw your readers in.
4. Identify a Unified Message for the Poster
A unified message is important for the poster. Otherwise, viewers may become confused. Keep in mind that a poster may be large, but the font also has to be large to communicate the message from a distance. The unified message for the poster must be succinct. Most poster designers only manage to include a simple one-liner. The one-liner should contain a powerful message to capture the audience’s attention.
Careful thought and planning must go into this one-liner message to be effective. Your prospects will ask the question, “What’s in it for me?” Write from the their perspective using the words “you” and “your.” Avoid using the following words: we, us, I and our. Be sure to keep your text short and to the point.
Consider Poster Advertising to Improve Exposure to a Company
Poster advertising can be effective in some industries but will not work in every sphere. Consider how poster advertising can help improve visibility for a company. You don’t need to fill your poster with wall-to-wall text and graphics. Incorporate some white space to make certain elements stand out and to make the flyer easy to read. Don’t try to re-invent the wheel when creating your poster. Use these proven techniques and you will see big results in your marketing efforts.
For inspirational purposes, check out our previous articles:
- 25 Impressive Examples of QR Code Business Cards
- 25 Creative Keep Calm and Carry On Posters
- 15 Movie Posters from an Alternate Universe
- The Perky Side of Food Advertising: 20 Creative and Eye-Catching Restaurant Ads
- 40 Exciting Occupy Movement Poster Designs
Did you enjoy this article? We would love to hear your thoughts, so don’t be shy and comment below! Please don’t forget to subscribe to our RSS-feed or follow Inspirationfeed on Twitter, Google+ and Facebook! If you enjoyed the following article we humbly ask you to comment, and help us spread the word!


curses_version, use_extended_names - miscellaneous curses extensions
#include <curses.h> const char * curses_version(void); int use_extended_names(bool enable);
These functions are extensions to the curses library which do not fit easily into other categories.
Use curses_version() to get the version number, including patch level of the library, e.g., 5.0.19991023
The use_extended_names() function controls whether the calling application is able to use user-defined or non- standard names which may be compiled into the terminfo description, i.e., via the terminfo or termcap interfaces. Normally these names are available for use, since the essential decision is made by using the -x option of tic to compile extended terminal definitions. However you can disable this feature to ensure compatibility with other implementations of curses.
curses_version returns a pointer to static memory; you should not free this in your application. use_extended_names returns the previous state, allowing you to save this and restore it.
These routines are specific to ncurses. They were not supported on Version 7, BSD or System V implementations. It is recommended that any code depending on them be con- ditioned using NCURSES_VERSION.
curs_getch(3x), curs_mouse(3x), curs_print(3x), curs_util(3x), default_colors(3x), define_key(3x), key- bound(3x), keyok(3x), resizeterm(3x), wresize(3x).
Thomas Dickey. curs_extend(3x)


When you go to see Star Trek Into Darkness in May, you'll be watching a lot of trailers for action movies and summer tentpoles. But what if you could be watching a video that shows the dream that launched Star Trek is still alive today?
NASA released this video, called "We Are the Explorers," last year. Narrated by Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime, it explains how NASA is still at the forefront of space exploration, even in the post-space shuttle era. And it fills you with hope for our future as a spacefaring species. Now the Aerospace Industries Association is trying to raise $33,000 to have a 30-second edit of this video shown in 50 theaters before STID. They're almost at their goal already, but let's make sure they get more than enough money — and then maybe they can run a longer version in more theaters. [Indie Gogo via The Escapist]


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Voice technology used in the supply chain
Voice technology is rapidly being adopted throughout South African warehousing and distribution environments to help organisations drive efficiencies and productivity across their supply chains.
According to Andrew Fosbrook, director of MakeMeMobile, a leading provider of mobile enterprise solutions, voice-directed work is seeing many benefits in the FMCG and retail sectors, due to the ease of use and accuracy.
“Voice-directed workflows enable hands-free, eyes-free work and provide the most natural and effective method for workers to complete their jobs. This works well in South Africa where literacy levels are not high, as training and implementation is very quick. We see immediate increased levels of worker satisfaction and productivity compared to other technologies,” he says.
MakeMeMobile, which supports multiple customers across many industries, recently implemented a SAP-integrated voice solution for a leading third party logistics (3PL) company that immediately experienced productivity benefits by reducing the time to pick daily shipments by over 20%.
Fosbrook says that voice solutions can either stand-alone or complement existing solutions, such as RF barcode scanning and pick-to-light technologies.
MakeMeMobile recently assisted one’s of Africa’s largest retailers to improve efficiency and productivity by implementing a voice-directed system for picking applications at its distribution centres throughout the country.
“We are finding that voice technology is expanding into more diverse industries and applications, such as inspection and maintenance for aviation, automotive, fleet & truck and longhaul industries. Wherever there’s a requirement to interact hands-free and eyes-free with back-end enterprise IT systems, voice technology provides an efficient and user-friendly way of driving productivity and accuracy,” concludes Fosbrook.


Dell has unveiled sweeping advancements to its industry-leading high performance computing (HPC) portfolio. These advances include innovative new systems designed to simplify mainstream adoption of HPC and data analytics in research, manufacturing and genomics. Dell also unveiled expansions to its HPC Innovation Lab and showcased next-generation technologies including the Intel Omni-Path Fabric.
HPC is becoming increasingly critical to how organisations of all sizes innovate and compete. Many organisations lack the in-house expertise to configure, build and deploy an HPC system without losing focus on their core science, engineering and analytic missions. As an example, according to the National Centre for Manufacturing Sciences, 98 percent of all products will be designed digitally by 2020, yet 95% of the centre’s 300 000 manufacturing companies have little or no HPC expertise.
“HPC is no longer a tool only for the most sophisticated researchers. We’re taking what we’ve learned from working with some of the most advanced, sophisticated universities and research institutions and customising that for delivery to mainstream enterprises,” says Jim Ganthier, vice-president and GM: Engineered Solutions and Cloud at Dell. “As the leading provider of systems in this space, Dell continues to break down barriers and democratise HPC. We’re seeing customers in even more industry verticals embrace its power.”
Dell announced the new Dell HPC System Portfolio, a family of HPC and data analytics solutions combining the flexibility of custom systems with the simplicity, reliability and value of a preconfigured, factory-built system that includes:
* Simplified design, configuration, and ordering in a matter of hours instead of weeks;
* Domain-specific design that’s designed and tuned by Dell engineers and domain experts for specific science, engineering and analytics workloads using flexible industry-standard building blocks; and
* Fully tested and validated systems by Dell engineering with a single point of hardware support and a wide range of additional service options.
New application-specific Dell HPC System Portfolio offerings include:
* Dell HPC System for Genomic Data Analysis is designed to meet the needs of genomic research organisations to enable cost-effective bioinformatics centres delivering results and identifying treatments in clinically relevant timeframes while maintaining compliance and protecting confidential data. The platform is a result of key learnings from Dell’s relationship with Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) to help clinical researchers and doctors expand the reach and impact of the world’s first Food and Drug Administration-approved precision medicine trial for paediatric cancer. TGen has been able to improve outcomes for more patients by creating targeted treatments at least one week faster than they could be accomplished previously.
* Dell HPC System for Manufacturing is designed for customers running complex manufacturing design simulations using workstations, clusters or both. Applicable use cases include Finite Element Analysis for structural analysis using ANSYS Mechanical & Computational Fluid Dynamics for predicting fluid behaviour in designs utilising ANSYS Fluent or CD-adapco STAR-CCM+.
* Dell HPC System for Research is designed as a foundation, or reference architecture, for baseline research systems and numerous applications involving complex scientific analysis. This standard cluster configuration can be used as a starting point for Dell’s customers and systems engineers to quickly develop research systems that match the unique needs of research customers requiring systems for a wide variety of research agendas.


This individual founded a Black newspaper, The Chicago Defender:
Despite receiving a law degree from the Kent College of Law in 1898, Robert S. Abbott (1870-1940) could not practice his profession because of racial barriers, but he could still defend people. The son of former slaves founded the Chicago Defender newspaper in 1905. His paper famously waged war against racial prejudice and injustice. Listing jobs and even train schedules, the Defender became a primary figure in the Great Migration of blacks to the northern states. With an initial investment of 25 cents, Abbott became one of the first African-American self-made millionaires.
The Defender was carried by Pullman porters throughout the South. Its paid circulation reached 130,000 by 1919.
Abbott co-founded the Bud Billiken Club with Defender managing editor Lucius Harper. He also launched and led the annual parade. On Feb. 29, 1940, Abbott died as a result of Bright’s disease.
Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Metro Chicago Almanac, the Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago, PBS.org and ChicagoDefender.com


I am a crustacean. Crabs and lobsters are also crustaceans. Like them, I have a hard shell, called an exoskeleton. My exoskeleton is much thinner than their thick ones.
I live in a very close, or symbiotic, relationship with a fish called a goby. I build our home (a small hole in the sand) and we share it. I keep the burrow clean; the goby stands guard and protects the burrow so that other animals don't steal it. The goby also protects me from my predators. We both benefit from this relationship, so it is a mutualistic relationship.
I get my name from the snapping sound that I make. I have two large claws that I use to trap small bubbles of air. When I close my claws, I break the bubbles, and that is what makes the loud snapping sound. If you are diving near the sandy part of the reef, listen carefully and you will hear the bubbles popping! Scientists think I make this sound to surprise my prey and make catching them easier.
I like to eat algae and tiny animals that live in the sea called zooplankton. I eat both plants and animals, so I'm an omnivore.
Reefs are in danger, and that means so is my home!


Duncan Amendment Protects American Sovereignty
Washington, DC—The United States House of Representatives adopted an amendment today by a vote of 229-193 authored by South Carolina Congressman Jeff Duncan to the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act to block all funding for organizations established by the United Nation’s Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST). The Law of the Sea Treaty was last submitted to the Senate in 1994 but has never been ratified. However, President Obama requested in 2009 and 2010 that American tax dollars be spent on two organizations created by LOST (the International Seabed Authority and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea).
“The Law of the Sea Treaty threatens US national security and economic interests, and surrenders American sovereignty over to the United Nations. The Senate is poised to consider this treaty during a hearing in the Foreign Relations Committee next week, and I’m proud of my colleagues in the House for sending a strong message to the Senate on this issue,” said Duncan. The US ratification of LOST would weaken our sovereignty and threaten key US foreign policy and military priorities.”
“Specifically, the treaty requires that the United Nations place a priority on developing countries as recipients of funding. No transparency exists on how countries use funds, and nothing prevents a redistribution of US revenue to state sponsors of terrorism and undemocratic regimes with human rights abuses. Our Navy could also be subject to legal action for its military activities from international courts.”
“Further, LOST would harm US economic interests by subjecting US companies to costly lawsuits from an unaccountable foreign entity. It would also require the United States to pay royalties on natural resources harvested during deep-sea production. US law claims the entire extended continental shelf and states that the resources belong to the American people, so this treaty would require changes to US law before it could be implemented.”
“One of my motivations for running for Congress was to stop the federal government from interfering in our daily lives. But what the Law of the Sea Treaty does is even worse; it values international law over American law.”
“The United States is the greatest country in the history of the world, and we must remain vigilant to protect Americans from the hardship created by an international unelected bureaucracy.”
“American tax dollars have no business being used to support a treaty that the Senate hasn’t even ratified. I hope this amendment sends a strong signal that this Republican controlled House will do everything in its power to protect American independence and preserve our sovereignty.”


Greetings from the tundra! A big cold front is sweeping through Austin as I type, and we’re going to have lows around 25° F (-4° C), and maybe even a little snow! Sure, this might sound like nothing compared to what people in Canada and other parts of the US experience. However, when you calculate the Texas Adjusted Temperature, it’s quite shocking. Here’s how it works:
For any temperatures below 60 degrees:
- Subtract one degree for every time the temperature was over 100 this year.
- Subtract two degrees for every time you found a scorpion in your house this year.
- Subtract 30 degrees for every time you have ever found a scorpion in your bed (lifetime applicability here).
- Subtract five degrees for every rattlesnake sighting in your neighborhood this year.
Based on this extremely scientific calculation, when I am walking around in 45-degree weather tomorrow afternoon, the Texas Adjusted Temp is actually -5.
I should note that a similar system works for you folks up north during the summer as well. For any temperature above 80 degrees:
- Add two degrees for every time you had to run errands in a snowstorm.
- Add three degree for every hour you spent shoveling snow this winter.
- Add five degrees for every time the wind chill was below zero.
- Add ten degrees for every time you were snowed in.
So when I snicker at you referring to 92° F (33° C) as “hot” this summer, you can remind me that your adjusted temp is more like 120.
Given how much of a weather nerd I am, you can imagine how much it has brought my life to a standstill to have discovered the InstaWeather app. Combining weather with Instagram is like dropping a nuclear bomb on my productivity. When I realized that you can also post the forecast, I almost announced that I am withdrawing from society. After all, there is no more worthy endeavor that one could undertake than superimposing atmospheric metrics onto pictures.
And now that I have realized that I can see other people’s weather pics through the #instaweather hash tag, my new goal is to look up from my phone at least twice a day.
I don’t know when exactly this happened, but I can no longer deal with cold weather. I did fine living in Denver and Bismarck, so I must have had some sort of tolerance for cold at some point in my life — heck, at my North Dakota elementary school there was a rule that we kids had to go out on the playground as long as the wind chill was above -30. I don’t recall hating my life while I was playing hopscotch in below-zero temperatures, but these days I try to go to the grocery store when it’s 48 degrees and you’d think I’m Dr. Zhivago slogging through the tundra. I can never seem to put on enough layers to experience actual warmth, and I stew in misery for every moment that I am outdoors.
I keep trying to think of what would happen if we had to move to some place that had real winters. I guess I would do one of two things:
A. Toughen up and learn to accept the cold
I’m really on the fence about which it would be.
Joe and I have been toying with the idea of doing Christmas presents on Epiphany (the 12th day after Christmas), instead of on Christmas day. That’s how my dad’s Mexican friends did it when he was growing up in Mexico, and the bigger our family gets, the more that starts to seem like a great idea. With our six kids and me and Joe and the grandparents and my grandfather and an occasional guest all gathered around the tree on Christmas, we end up drowning in boxes and wrapping paper, and the resulting chaos makes it difficult to focus on anything but the fact that it looks like a toy store exploded in our living room. In theory I’d be fine with limiting the number of presents each person gets, but that’s pretty much impossible given the number of extended family members who like to shop for the kids.
The most surprising part is that when I floated the idea to the kids, they were fine with it. At first they recoiled at the idea of just opening one or two things on Christmas morning and saving the rest for later, but when I explained the vision of having a peaceful and simple Christmas day, then receiving our gifts on the same day that Jesus received his, they were surprisingly enthusiastic about it.
We’re not ready to make the switch yet, but we may do it one of these years.
One of the things I’ve realized this year is that I need to practice a different kind of generosity at Christmas: being generous in receiving gifts.
I’m a big believer in not having too much “stuff” junking up our living space — and, frankly, the fight against clutter is a matter of survival when you’re trying to raise six children in a small three-bedroom house. Because of this, in past years I’ve been really uptight about the kind and number of gifts we receive. I’d pour a lot of energy into figuring out how to stop the seemingly endless inflow of trinkets and toys to the house without hurting feelings, and the main result was that it made me stressed and frustrated and the kids still received a lot of presents.
This year I’ve felt drawn to consider the fact that some people love shopping for kids and don’t have many young children in their lives to shop for, and that getting something for our kids is fun and pleasurable for them. It’s a new approach to Christmas to remember that being a good gift receiver can be as important as being a good gift giver. I’m going to make sure that nobody feels obliged to get things for us, and leave it at that. If I end up running out of space to put all the new stuff at the end of the Christmas season, it’ll be an opportunity to get rid of old things we don’t need anymore, and to be thankful for generous loved-ones.
I wasn’t sure if everyone would see the beauty of this gem from my Best of Comments folder. But if you find this comment to be a subtle yet perfect encapsulation of all that is funny, then we are the same person. In response to the Netflix post:
I had the pleasure of hearing Patrick Madrid speak at the benefit dinner for the John Paul II Life Center last night. At the end of his speech about the fight that faithful Christians may endure against an increasingly secular culture, he read a beautiful piece of writing called The Fellowship of the Unashamed. It begins:
I AM A PART of the Fellowship of the Unashamed.
The die has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is in God’s hands. I am finished and done with low living, small planning, the bare minimum, smooth knees, mundane talking, frivolous living, selfish giving, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, applause, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, the best, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith. I lean on Christ’s presence. I love with patience, live by prayer, and labor with the power of God’s grace.


Background: In HIV-negative patients, radiotherapy (RT) decreases CD4+ T-cell counts. We studied the effects of RT in HIV-1 positive patients.
Methods: HIV-1 positive patients with a subsequent diagnosis of a solid tumor were selected from the Dutch national observational HIV cohort, Aids Therapy Evaluation in the Netherlands (ATHENA). The patients were grouped according to whether they had received RT or not. Primary endpoint of the study was the time from baseline to reaching CD4 cell counts higher than those at baseline. Kaplan–Meier estimates of the percentage of patients reaching the endpoint were calculated.
Results: Ninety patients were included of whom 36 received RT and 54 did not. Median duration of RT was 46 [interquartile range (IQR) 30–63] days. Median first CD4 cell count after stopping RT was 150 (IQR 30–270) × 106/L lower compared with baseline. In 13 of the 36 patients receiving RT, CD4 cell counts recovered to baseline, after a median of 469 (IQR 345–595) days. In 35 of the 54 patients without RT, the CD4 cell count recovered to baseline or higher, after a median of 112 (IQR 42–182) days. After 3 years, in 39% of patients who had RT compared with 71% of patients without RT, CD4 cell counts recovered to baseline or higher (P < 0.0001). In a Cox regression adjusted for potential confounders, RT was associated with a longer (hazard ratio 0.29; 95% confidence interval 0.13 to 0.63) and combination antiretroviral therapy use with a shorter time to return to baseline [hazard ratio 2.46 (95% confidence interval 1.11 to 5.48)].
Conclusions: RT resulted in a significant and prolonged decrease in CD4 cell counts.


Getting Started Cheesemaking
So how do you make your own cheese at home?
Cheesemaking is the process of turning liquid milk into a solid cheese. Milk is about 87% water, and much of this water needs to be removed. During cheesemaking the proteins in milk are coagulated in a way that they capture the milk fats and milk solids in a protein mesh. These coagulated proteins, along with their captured content, form into what are called curds. The liquid portion of the milk that remains is called whey. Curds and whey are what Miss Muffet ate while sitting on her tuffet in the Mother Goose rhyme. Cheese is made by manipulating the curds so that they shrink, expelling they right amount of whey, and straining them out.
The most simple cheeses to make require only a pot large enough to hold the 1 to 2 gallons of milk, a kitchen thermometer, cheesecloth, colander, milk and an acid like lemon juice or vinegar. For the beginning cheesemaker, I suggest trying one or two of the following easy recipes to get a feel for what cheesemaking is all about.
In all of these recipes the milk is brought to a relatively high temperature, in the 180° to 190° F range, and induced to coagulate by the addition of an acid. The resulting cheeses are simple, but satisfying to create. They are a great place to start.


Springs of Living Water
By Keith Graff
22 Apr 2008
In the Okinawan religion there are three things that are considered, for lack of a better word, Holy. They make up the trinity of the faith and are represented by a high place or grove of trees, a cave and a natural spring. They represent heaven, earth and the ocean. It's also interesting to note they also make up the three necessary ingredients for survival. That being food, shelter and water. Natural springs here are life giving forces of nature that are also symbols of creation and carry with them religious significance of a blessing from heaven.
As the society developed, many local communities literally sprung up "pun intended" around the many fresh water springs scattered throughout the island. The village spring became the center piece of this development. In the mornings people would come to the spring to gather water for cooking and drinking. Later in the day, the water from the springs was used again to wash the days gathering of vegetables. In the evening people bathed and washed their clothes there. What wasn't used by the people for direct use and consumption was channeled off for agricultural use. Water was precious and very little was wasted. As it was a frequent gathering place, the spring became the social center of the village.
In the past, the many springs and wells found throughout Okinawa were more than sufficient to support the local population. But after the war, many springs were damaged beyond repair. Okinawa also experienced a population explosion. As a result of Japan's steady economic growth, Okinawa's pleasant climate and lower cost of living, this island paradise has now become a haven for an ever growing number of retirees. Throw in five million tourists annually and now you've got a problem on your hands. The need to find new water sources used to be just a challenge, out of necessity it became an obsession.
Okinawa seems to get more than its fair share of annual rainfall so you wouldn't think a potential water shortage would present such a dilemma. Throw in an occasional typhoon or two and the point would seem to be moot. However, the rugged terrain and the few short steep rivers don't allow for adequate water collection and storage. The majority runs straight off and into the sea. The river basins are very small and the annual rainfall, even with a few typhoons thrown in for good measure are not be sufficient to replenish the water table given the growing population.
Dam construction on Okinawa began in earnest during the American Administration years. While these were originally planned to supply the many American bases with water, plans were expanded to include the civilian population and their needs. In order to solve the problem of keeping one dam sufficiently filled with water, engineers paradoxically built several and used the natural force of gravity to connect them into a single network. As water is pulled from the dam, at the lowest level, the reservoir is then replenished from several other dams, all of which are located at higher elevations.
The problem of water for tiny Okinawa would seem to be solved for the moment. Still, it's nice to see that people return to the roots that bind them together. The natural springs of Okinawa are now mostly tourist attractions but many are still used the old fashioned way. Many in the older generations still gather there to socialize. To this day it's not uncommon to see people filling containers with fresh spring drinking water, washing off their freshly picked vegetables and diverting the rest for agricultural use.
Don't forget to click on the individual pictures for additional descriptions and information!


Samsung has unveiled its 32TB SSD in a 2.5-inch form factor for the enterprise, and thinks it can attain 100TB capacity within the next four years.
The Korean company's 32TB Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) SSD doubles the capacity of its PM1633a, which was billed by Samsung last year as the world's largest SSD.
It held the crown until this week when Seagate showed off its gigantic 60TB SSD in a 3.5-inch form factor, although Seagate hasn't confirmed whether it will be commercially available.
Vendors are cramming more capacity into SSDs to support growing demand for high-performance computing and analytics in the datacenter.
Samsung expects its new 32TB SSD to be produced in 2017, setting the stage for a threefold increase by 2020 when Samsung plans to be making SSDs with a 100TB capacity. The 32TB SSD consists of 32 1TB packages, each of which contains 512 V-NAND chips stacked in 16 layers.
The 32TB SSD uses Samsung's fourth-generation 3D V-NAND flash memory, which stacks 64 layers of cell arrays, offering a boost on its previous generation 48-layer V-NAND. The new flash memory features a 64GB chip with an IO speed of 800Mbps.
Samsung says it will begin mass-producing its fourth-generation V-NAND flash-memory products in the fourth quarter, which should help portable-device manufacturers.
The Korean company also revealed a 1TB ball grid array design SSD, which at 1g in weight, is aimed at compact laptops, tablets, and convertible devices. The package delivers sequential read speeds of 1,500MBps and write speeds of 900MBps.
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I was waiting for the Caribbean Blobette to be upgraded to Tropical Storm Paula ... and here she is. Yay! 16th named storm of the season.
I think this has been a Tropical Depression for a day or two, so going to a named Tropical Storm is not a big surprise because she didn't stay over land. It looks like the center just clipped the Nicaragua/Honduras corner earlier today (convection decreased, as did vorticity) and is back over water with low wind shear, so the convection is improving again. The vorticity isn't very strong at the moment, mostly in the lowest part of the troposphere. It is not as elongated as it was yesterday and looks like a TS. As it gets just north of Honduras I expect convection to improve because it is over warm water (temps >29 deg C) and deep warm water (warmer than 26.5 deg C in the upper 100m).
The upper level divergence and lower level convergence have also improved. Oooh... what the heck is she talking about now, I hear you say. <(New) SCIENCE ALERT!!! (how thrilling!! :-) )> Here's a rare attempt in these updates at a simple explanation of convergence and divergence! A tropical storm has low pressure in the center, near the surface. That's why we all keep mentioning the central pressure - the lower it is, the stronger the winds (usually). A low pressure is an area that the air is 'pulled' towards. By extending that image to a circular storm, you can imagine the winds are pulled in from all around - i.e., they converge. So we have Low Level Convergence. Now the problem is that if you keep pulling winds in at the low levels, they have to go somewhere. It might come as a surprise to you, but they don't just gather around the center and have a game of poker. ;-) The ground is underneath, so the only way the air can go is up. And when the air reaches the top of the storm the only way the winds can flow is out and away from the center. So at the top we have Upper Level Divergence. The stronger the convergence/divergence of a storm, the better the formed it is. Ta-da. <End of (new) SCIENCE ALERT> Phew. Time for some wine-convergence now I think.
A plane was sent into the system earlier today and found evidence that this was close to being a Tropical Storm. And there were other data and stuff (obvious technical jargon) that showed this too. She's heading towards the Belize/Yucatan area... moving NW at 10mph. Current center I'm estimating is around 16N, 84W, so she's *just* north of Honduras. Convection is strong near the center and Honduras (and bits of Nicaragua) are getting a few bucket-fulls of rain and some thundery weather. Oh, NHC just posted the official info. They agree with my center (good good). Winds are 60mph, making her a mid-size TS (range: 39-73mph). Central pressure is 1000mb. Track looks a little interesting... it doesn't quite make it to the Yucatan coast, but hangs out in the Caribbean as a hurricane. Oh dear. If that really is the track then we might have a big hurricane in a few days... that's the warmest (deepest warm) part of the waters out there. We'll see. I'll have a look tomorrow. For now...
...I got things to do. Wine to drink. Forms to fill in. Oh... and don't forget, I am giving a live twitter interview on Weds. afternoon! My first ever. For my fellow Twits (hahaha... I'll always get a chuckle out of that one), details have been posted on the internet: "To see the full interview you will need to follow www.twitter.com/metoffice (@metoffice) and www.twitter.com/metofficestorms (@metofficestorms)". Or use the hashtag #metqt. I'll also tweet the hashtag etc info @JyovianStorm. It's a Brave New World!!
p.s.... in case you didn't know... I work at the MetOffice over here. But this blog are my own views entirely, as I started this little hobby before joining them. And also, in case you didn't know... I'm moving back to the US. In just about 2 weeks - in time for Halloween... how scary for you! ;-)
Blog archives at http://jyotikastorms.blogspot.com/
These remarks are just what I think/see regarding tropical storms - not the opinion of any organization I represent. If you are making an evacuation decision, please heed your local emergency management and the National Hurricane Center's official forecast and the National Weather Service announcements. This is not an official forecast. If I was there and was going to "run away, run away" (Monty Python), I'll let you know.


Emerald Ash Borer Threatens 8 Billion Trees
A tiny green beetle from China called the Emerald Ash Borer has devastated ash forests since it was first discovered in Michigan nine years ago. It has spread to 15 states. The economic impact has hit homeowners, cities and the timber industry. Our story comes from David Chanatry with the New York Reporting Project at Utica College.


Kyogi Karuta is a Japanese game
Ogura Hyakunin-isshu "karuta" cards.
card has an ancient poem on it.
It is a card game--however, it does not look like any other card games
such as poker, contract bridge, etc...
It is the game of speed, memorization and concentration.
Photo: Kyogi Karuta game demonstrated by Shin-ichi Nagaoka (4-dan degree,left) and
Yoshimasa Kobayashi (6-dan degree). January 2007, Bangkok
Washington DC Sakura Matsuri April 11,2015 (You Tube click here)
What is Kimari-ji?
Kyogi Karuta Handbook(PDF) (Free Download)
(Japanese, English, Thai,Chinese, French and Portuguese versions are available.)
Reciting software(free) 読み上げソフト
Wasura Mochi わすらもち
Naniwa zu Inaba kun 難波津いなばくん
Karuta in Beijing CHINA May 2014 (you tube)
Karuta at Washington, D. C. Sakura Matsuri April 2014 (you tube)
How and where should I measure my body when buying a Kimono and Hakama?
I don't live in Japan. Where can I buy Karuta cards?
Are there any Karuta club in my town or country outside Japan?
For Karuta clubs information around the world,
please contact karutastone★gmail.com
(Please change ★ to @)
For Karuta clubs information in Japan, please contact to All Japan Karuta Association
All Rights Reserved.
Please contact to karutastone★gmail.com (←please replace ★ to @) to distribute or duplicate the
contents in this website.


President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address in full, as prepared for delivery:
VicePresident Biden, Mr. Chief Justice, Members of the United States Congress,distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:
Eachtime we gather to inaugurate a president, we bear witness to the enduringstrength of our Constitution. We affirm the promise of ourdemocracy. We recall that what binds this nation together is not thecolors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of ournames. What makes us exceptional - what makes us American - is ourallegiance to an idea, articulated in a declaration made more than twocenturies ago:
"Wehold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that theyare endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among theseare Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."
Todaywe continue a never-ending journey, to bridge the meaning of those words withthe realities of our time. For history tells us that while these truthsmay be self-evident, they have never been self-executing; that while freedom isa gift from God, it must be secured by His people here on Earth. Thepatriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with theprivileges of a few or the rule of a mob. They gave to us a Republic, agovernment of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each generation to keepsafe our founding creed.
Formore than two hundred years, we have.
Throughblood drawn by lash and blood drawn by sword, we learned that no union foundedon the principles of liberty and equality could survive half-slave andhalf-free. We made ourselves anew, and vowed to move forwardtogether.
Together,we determined that a modern economy requires railroads and highways to speedtravel and commerce; schools and colleges to train our workers.
Together,we discovered that a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensurecompetition and fair play.
Together,we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect itspeople from life's worst hazards and misfortune.
Throughit all, we have never relinquished our skepticism of central authority, norhave we succumbed to the fiction that all society's ills can be cured throughgovernment alone. Our celebration of initiative and enterprise; ourinsistence on hard work and personal responsibility, are constants in ourcharacter.
Butwe have always understood that when times change, so must we; that fidelity toour founding principles requires new responses to new challenges; thatpreserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action. For the American people can no more meet the demands of today's world by actingalone than American soldiers could have met the forces of fascism or communismwith muskets and militias. No single person can train all the math andscience teachers we'll need to equip our children for the future, or build theroads and networks and research labs that will bring new jobs and businesses toour shores. Now, more than ever, we must do these things together, as onenation, and one people.
Thisgeneration of Americans has been tested by crises that steeled our resolve andproved our resilience. A decade of war is now ending. An economicrecovery has begun. America's possibilities are limitless, for we possessall the qualities that this world without boundaries demands: youth anddrive; diversity and openness; an endless capacity for risk and a gift forreinvention. My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, andwe will seize it - so long as we seize it together.
Forwe, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking fewdo very well and a growing many barely make it. We believe that America'sprosperity must rest upon the broad shoulders of a rising middle class. We know that America thrives when every person can find independence and pridein their work; when the wages of honest labor liberate families from the brinkof hardship. We are true to our creed when a little girl born into thebleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else,because she is an American, she is free, and she is equal, not just in the eyesof God but also in our own.
Weunderstand that outworn programs are inadequate to the needs of our time. We must harness new ideas and technology to remake our government, revamp ourtax code, reform our schools, and empower our citizens with the skills theyneed to work harder, learn more, and reach higher. But while the meanswill change, our purpose endures: a nation that rewards the effort anddetermination of every single American. That is what this momentrequires. That is what will give real meaning to our creed.
We,the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure ofsecurity and dignity. We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost ofhealth care and the size of our deficit. But we reject the belief thatAmerica must choose between caring for the generation that built this countryand investing in the generation that will build its future. For weremember the lessons of our past, when twilight years were spent in poverty,and parents of a child with a disability had nowhere to turn. We do notbelieve that in this country, freedom is reserved for the lucky, or happinessfor the few. We recognize that no matter how responsibly we live ourlives, any one of us, at any time, may face a job loss, or a sudden illness, ora home swept away in a terrible storm. The commitments we make to each other -through Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security - these things do not sapour initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation oftakers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great.
We,the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just toourselves, but to all posterity. We will respond to the threat of climatechange, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and futuregenerations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science,but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and cripplingdrought, and more powerful storms. The path towards sustainable energysources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resistthis transition; we must lead it. We cannot cede to other nations thetechnology that will power new jobs and new industries - we must claim itspromise. That is how we will maintain our economic vitality and ournational treasure - our forests and waterways; our croplands and snowcappedpeaks. That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care byGod. That's what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers oncedeclared.
We,the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not requireperpetual war. Our brave men and women in uniform, tempered by the flamesof battle, are unmatched in skill and courage. Our citizens, seared bythe memory of those we have lost, know too well the price that is paid forliberty. The knowledge of their sacrifice will keep us forever vigilantagainst those who would do us harm. But we are also heirs to those whowon the peace and not just the war, who turned sworn enemies into the surest offriends, and we must carry those lessons into this time as well.
Wewill defend our people and uphold our values through strength of arms and ruleof law. We will show the courage to try and resolve our differences withother nations peacefully - not because we are naive about the dangers we face,but because engagement can more durably lift suspicion and fear. Americawill remain the anchor of strong alliances in every corner of the globe; and wewill renew those institutions that extend our capacity to manage crisis abroad,for no one has a greater stake in a peaceful world than its most powerfulnation. We will support democracy from Asia to Africa; from the Americasto the Middle East, because our interests and our conscience compel us to acton behalf of those who long for freedom. And we must be a source of hopeto the poor, the sick, the marginalized, the victims of prejudice - not out ofmere charity, but because peace in our time requires the constant advance ofthose principles that our common creed describes: tolerance andopportunity; human dignity and justice.
We,the people, declare today that the most evident of truths - that all of us arecreated equal - is the star that guides us still; just as it guided ourforebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided allthose men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this greatMall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaimthat our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soulon Earth.
Itis now our generation's task to carry on what those pioneers began. Forour journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters canearn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete untilour gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law - forif we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one anothermust be equal as well. Our journey is not complete until no citizen isforced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. Our journey is notcomplete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrantswho still see America as a land of opportunity; until bright young students andengineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from ourcountry. Our journey is not complete until all our children, from thestreets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown,know that they are cared for, and cherished, and always safe from harm.
Thatis our generation's task - to make these words, these rights, these values - ofLife, and Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness - real for everyAmerican. Being true to our founding documents does not require us toagree on every contour of life; it does not mean we will all define liberty inexactly the same way, or follow the same precise path to happiness. Progress does not compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role ofgovernment for all time - but it does require us to act in our time.
Fornow decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay. We cannot mistakeabsolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treatname-calling as reasoned debate. We must act, knowing that our work willbe imperfect. We must act, knowing that today's victories will be onlypartial, and that it will be up to those who stand here in four years, andforty years, and four hundred years hence to advance the timeless spirit onceconferred to us in a spare Philadelphia hall.
Myfellow Americans, the oath I have sworn before you today, like the one recitedby others who serve in this Capitol, was an oath to God and country, not partyor faction - and we must faithfully execute that pledge during the duration ofour service. But the words I spoke today are not so different from theoath that is taken each time a soldier signs up for duty, or an immigrantrealizes her dream. My oath is not so different from the pledge we allmake to the flag that waves above and that fills our hearts with pride.
Theyare the words of citizens, and they represent our greatest hope.
Youand I, as citizens, have the power to set this country's course.
Youand I, as citizens, have the obligation to shape the debates of our time - notonly with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our mostancient values and enduring ideals.
Leteach of us now embrace, with solemn duty and awesome joy, what is our lastingbirthright. With common effort and common purpose, with passion anddedication, let us answer the call of history, and carry into an uncertainfuture that precious light of freedom.
Thankyou, God Bless you, and may He forever bless these United States of America.


(KCPW News) In an annual state policy report card, Utah wasn’t given much to be proud of. The state received an overall grade of D+.
StudentsFirst, an organization led by former Washington D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee, looked at issues such as teaching quality, parental choice, and wise management of schools. While a D+ sounds pretty bad, Utah certainly would benefit if StudentsFirst graded on a curve: Utah was ranked 16th in the nation, with the national average also being a D+.
“Unfortunately, most of the states in the country were in the D-range, and that’s about what we saw last year,” said StudentsFirst VP of National Policy Eric Lerum.
Lerum noted that, despite the bad grades, many states improved.
“I think you see that with Utah’s grade as well. It was a D last year, with a GPA of 1.21, and it went up to a D+ this year (1.58 GPA),” Lerum said. “So not a huge shift, but definitely improvement.”
The report card identified two specific areas where Utah could improve: making teacher performance more integral to the decision-making process, and giving parents more and better choices for their children’s education.
StudentsFirst pointed to the state’s school grading system as a positive step forward. Lerum said that gives parents a sense of the quality of education their children are receiving.
“If you start with that premise that you’ve got to get information to the parents, then it’s really incumbent on the state to do so,” he said. “We think A to F provides a really good way of doing it. It’s easy to understand.”
“And then what you get into are questions about, ‘OK, what do you do with it?’ Because parents are going to be making these decisions. They’re going to be making choices,” Lerum continued. “But at the end of the day, if a school isn’t performing, that’s not a place we should want to send kids. We want to see growth in our schools, we want to see them improving, and we want to see them meeting the needs of all their learners. If they’re not doing that, we think parents need that information so that they can either make a different choice, or they can demand change and force school leaders and administrators to do something different.”
Still, by its own A-F scale, Utah’s D+ is nothing to write home about. But Mark Peterson of the Utah State Office of Education says he doesn’t put much weight in the Students First analysis.
“Certainly Utah collects all that data. We have all the data on teacher effectiveness. We have classroom-level details, student-level details, on all of our CRT exams, and that is stuff that is all being evaluated by principals, superintendents, and charter school directors,” Peterson said. “It’s all being done at the local level. It is not written into official state policy. Therefore, we get a bad grade on it.”
One area where Utah did well was spending funds wisely. Peterson agreed with that assessment.
“We are the lowest per-pupil-funded system in the country, yet our ACT scores—we have a hundred percent of our students take ACTs,” he pointed out. “There are 19 states where that happens. Utah is one of them. Utah has the highest scores of the hundred-percent states. To me, this says that our money is being spent effectively because it’s producing academic results.”
While the report card did look at how well money was spent by school systems, Lerum notes that whether or not schools are well-funded is not included in the group’s analysis.
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By Audrey Spencer
Harker Heights Herald
With many libraries focusing on encouraging children to read during the summer, adults have just as much to gain from sticking their noses into books.
Local libraries are more than willing to help grown-ups get started or get back into reading, some offering programs and others offering a slew of suggestions.
Harker Heights Public Library is hosting a "just for fun" contest pitting children against adults and teens to see which team can read or listen to the most books, said Lisa Youngblood, library director.
"We have the Get a Clue READ Summer Reading Club for adults as well as teens and kids," said Youngblood. "Adults who join the club enjoy reading on their own. As an added bonus, they model reading appreciation for the teens and children who are also in the club."
Adults may sign up at the library or on the library's website, ci.harker-heights.tx.us/library.
The library also offers programs aimed toward its adult readers, such as a one-man Edgar Allen Poe performance by Broadway veteran Duffy Hudson beginning at 7 p.m. Aug. 3, an afternoon of Edgar Allen Poe movies set for Aug. 4 and Moonlight Yoga events at 9 p.m. today and Aug. 4.
Readers who are looking to get into the e-book scene, but are unsure of how to approach the technology, can also attend training sessions, available by appointment at the library.
Adults looking to read more on their own may also consider looking up a reading list to tackle.
A page of the Harker Heights Public Library's website under the AdultSpace tab (under
"Reference and Readers Advisory") links to different book clubs, reading lists and websites for adults looking for their next read.
Youngblood also suggested the American Library Association's website for lists and book suggestions.
Deanna Frazee, director of library services in Killeen, suggests www.goodreads.com, a community website where users can look up books based on their interests, get suggestions for new reads based on titles they've enjoyed in the past and read reviews of books they're considering checking out.
"It's a vacation you don't have to pay for," said Frazee about reading. "You're always expanding your horizons. It's relaxing and it does enrich you."
Frazee also encourages busy adults to consider audiobooks.
"An audiobook is a great way to pass the time," she said. "I've had young mothers say they put the baby down for a nap and listen to an audio book as they're cleaning the house."
Harker Heights, Killeen, Copperas Cove and Lampasas public libraries all have audio and downloadable book services available for patrons to use.
"You can download audiobooks, which are wonderful when you want to listen to something on a long drive," said Frazee.
For readers who prefer to discuss books and get their title recommendations through the grapevine, library staff members are also a good resource, said Frazee.
"Our staff, and Harker Heights and Cove staff, we all love these books and the authors," she said. "I'm willing to bet you can tell any staff about a book you liked and they'll say 'have you tried...?'"
For parents, reading for recreation also provides a model for children to follow.
Numerous studies, such as those performed by the New York State Library, conclude that children who don't read during the summer have a harder time getting back up to speed once school starts again.
"You can't say 'you need to read' and never have them see you read," said Frazee. "If children read through the summer, they don't lose as much of what they learned in the past school year. If they see their parents modeling that, it just becomes an accepted part of the routine."
Contact Audrey Spencer at email@example.com or (254) 501-7476.
Pick up a good book
To jump-start a reading venture, check out these websites for reading lists, book suggestions and more:
www.txla.org/lariat — The Lariat Reading List includes 25 fiction titles for grown-up readers.
www.goodreads.com — An online community where you can enter your interests and get personalized book suggestions, as well as leave reviews for books you enjoyed or didn't.
http://www.ala.org/tools/libfactsheets/alalibraryfactsheet23 — The American Library Association list of links to various lists and titles for readers of all ages.


Around the garden...
Potatoes are growing rightly in bags. This year I've planted up several bags and also have two varieties in the ground - Maris Peer and Pentland Javelin.
|Most seeds were sown in April this year. Kale and calendula seem to be better on than many others. Many seed haven't germinated (yet) and many seedling are so tiny I can't imagine planting them out in early June.|
|Above: Soloman's Seal - an old cottage garden style plant often seen in Northern Ireland gardens.|
Below: variegated hostas are coming up.
|The pot grow, self fertilising apple tree is starting to bloom. I'm still finding some worms. I've been researching on the internet but can't quite find any leads on the black worms (pictured below).|
|Above: Poppies will soon be in flower and if deadheaded will flower all summer. I really enjoy poppies in the garden. I think this one is a California poppy that has self seeded.|
|Above and below: Aquilegia / Columbine - the foliage on the purple one doesn't look very healthy. After I took the photo I noticed a large family of green fly (far right below).|
|One of my favourite flowering plants - Armeria maritime / sea thrift with some black mondo grass starting to invade it!|
Copyright: All words and photos are property of "Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden".