text:
Firstly, I have to express my gratitude for such an amazing response to my last post. Given I almost didn’t publish it I was completely overwhelmed by the comments and emails. Thank you all.
When I shared my parent’s bathroom refresh last month many of you asked to see a tutorial for the kids’ stool hack.
I’d been looking for an affordable rustic “display” stool for ages though just couldn’t find one. Eventually I decided there was nothing to lose by having a go at making my own!
This was one of those experimental projects I wasn’t sure would work so I didn’t document the process first time around.
When I created the second stool for my tutorial I made some slight changes to streamline the process a bit and because I wanted a slightly different finish. I’ve referred to both methods in the supplies section of the tutorial for those of you who are seeking the same look as the original stool.
YOU WILL NEED…
I used the Kmart Dipped Stool ($12). Any similar stool which is constructed in the same manner (with brackets which allow the legs to be easily removed) will suffice. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be too difficult to start from scratch with some angle brackets, metal thread and a length of dowel. In fact, it might seem like starting from scratch may be the better option, though according to my calculations at just $12 the Kmart stool can’t be beaten for price, and ease.
To create a new top (I decided to replace the original top because it was quite small and made from MDF). I used a 30cm/12″ chopping board from Kmart ($5). I liked this one because it had a slightly irregular edge which suited the primitive look I wanted to achieve. Any similar bread/cheese/chopping board should work fine, or you can always cut your own, or use a natural wood slice.
Note: For the original stool I used a slightly thicker bread board which I found at one of my local discount stores.
To form the ‘braces’. I used 26mm/1″ pine dowel ($8) which was similar in girth to my stool legs. You can use anything round with the right proportions – sometimes old broom handles work well. Just bear in mind that some shaping of the dowel is required (refer to Steps 4 & 7 for further information) and for this a soft wood is much quicker and easier to use.
Note: For the original stool I actually used three little rolling pins! They had tapered ends which provided a nice shape, though for the purpose of this tutorial I wanted to use something a bit more universal.
I used teak stain and danish oil. I wanted a rich finish with lots of tonal variation and a nice natural lustre. Danish oil brings out the warmth in timber without creating too much of a sheen – plus it’s super easy to apply.
Note: For the original stool I used a jarrah stain (because the original bread board was quite red) followed by a grey wash. To finish, I distressed the grey wash to reveal some of the red stain beneath then sealed with white wax.
STEP 1 SAND LEGS
Remove the factory paint using some sandpaper and elbow grease.
I realise sanding is nobody’s favourite job though this paint comes off really easily. It only took me a few minutes.
STEP 2 RELOCATE BRACKETS
Unscrew the angle brackets from the original stool top and attach them to the underside of your chopping board.
You will need to measure to ensure your spacing is somewhat even (it doesn’t need to be perfect) and drill pilot holes; four small ones for the screws and one large one to accommodate the leg thread (as per the original top). Don’t overly tighten the screws at this stage (some movement in the brackets is useful for the following steps).
Once the brackets are attached, screw in your legs.
Note: At this stage it may be useful to number each bracket and leg (just with a pencil) to keep track of which one goes where.
STEP 3 CUT FIRST BRACE TO LENGTH
Decide at approximately what height you’d like your braces to sit (mine are 16cm/6″ from the floor). Flip your stool over, measure down two of the legs and make reference marks at your desired height.
Next, measure between these marks from the approximate center point of each leg – this is the length for your first brace (mine was 24cm/9.5″).
Transfer this measurement to your dowel and cut it to length.
Note: Don’t be too concerned about precision. This isn’t a millimeter perfect kind of project. As long as you don’t cut your brace too short, you can always trim it down later if you find it’s too long.
STEP 4 RASP FIRST BRACE ENDS
In order to slot the brace into the legs the ends need to be whittled down. There are a few different ways you could go about this though I decided to use a rasp. If you’ve never used a rasp before it might seem daunting or difficult though it’s actually pretty quick and easy.
With the dowel secured in a vice (or similar) begin by rasping out a rough square.
Next, round off the corners to create more of a cone shape (sort of like an over-sized pencil). It doesn’t need to be quite this pointed – this is just the shape I ended up with.
You can be as rustic or refined as you like. I wanted a somewhat rough, hand-crafted look so wasn’t too fussy. You can create a smoother, more tapered finish using a finer rasp, some sandpaper and a bit more time and care.
STEP 5 DRILL HOLES FOR FIRST BRACE
Mark the inside points on your stool legs where the brace will be inserted (ensure the legs are screwed in tightly as this will dictate their final position).
Unscrew the legs and secure in a vice (or similar). Select a spade drill bit a few sizes smaller than your dowel then drill a hole, stopping just before you go right through the leg.
This was the first time I had used a spade bit and it was really easy. Ensure you hold the drill nice and straight and apply steady even pressure. You can stop every now and again to check your progress and feel the underside of the dowel for the tip (this is how I ensured I didn’t drill too far through). Just be careful not to force things as the bit can easily bite into and gauge the timber. Let the tool do the work.
With the holes drilled, check that the brace fits okay.
Again, things don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be able to insert enough of the brace so it can be secured with glue later on. If your holes seem too large you can always use excess glue and fill any gaps. If your holes seem too small you can re-drill them with a larger spade bit or rasp the brace ends further.
Once you’re happy, screw the legs back into the stool and test the brace in position.
There should be enough movement in the legs to splay them as needed to insert the brace (given the screws for the angle brackets haven’t been secured too tightly – as mentioned in Step 2). Don’t worry if things look a little imperfect. Everything will come together – promise!
STEP 6 CUT SECOND BRACE TO LENGTH
With the stool still assembled, determine the position for the second brace. Measure the remaining leg from the floor up (again, 16cm/6″ in my case – as per the height of the first brace) and make a mark.
Next, measure between this mark and the approximate center of the first brace from the mid-points of both the leg and brace – this is the length for your second brace (mine was 22cm/8″). Transfer this measurement to your dowel and cut it to length.
STEP 7 RASP SECOND BRACE ENDS
Repeat the process from Step 4 by rasping both ends of the second brace.
STEP 8 DRILL HOLES FOR SECOND BRACE
Mark the inside point on the stool leg where the second brace will be inserted (the first brace can be swiveled as needed so there is no need to determine its inside point). Unscrew the leg and remove the first brace then drill two holes following the process from Step 5.
Once you’re happy that everything fits okay, dry assemble the stool to check it all goes together well enough. Remember, we’re not going for precision here so don’t be concerned if things aren’t ‘craftsman’ standard. The primitive imperfections will be this stools triumph!
STEP 9 GLUE & CLAMP
Remove the braces and place a generous amount of wood glue in each hole.
Insert the braces again, wipe away any excess glue then fully tighten the bracket screws. Clamp everything in position until set.
STEP 10 STAIN & SEAL
There are a heap of different ways the stool can be finished. I wanted an aged, rustic, primitive look (which I think suits the nature of this hack) however you can create whatever look you like.
Remove the clamps and fill any gaps around the braces if needed (I personally didn’t bother). If desired, use some tools (I just used my rasp) to randomly distress the stool all-over before lightly sanding everything to smooth any overly rough areas and create a good surface for the ensuing stain.
Note: Given the braces were purposefully imperfect, distressing the whole stool gives everything a sense of intention and unity.
Wipe clean then apply your choice of paint or stain (I used one coat of teak stain).
This is where the magic happens. Because my stool was only partially raw and had heavily distressed areas the stain produced a lovely inconsistent finish with lots of tonal variation. This is what I wanted and is one of my favourite looks. If you’re after a more even finish, sand the entire stool back to raw first. To bring everything together and provide some protection, finish by sealing the stool (I used one light coat of danish oil which is super easy to apply, enriches the timber and produces a subtle lustre).
It looks quite glossy in the above pic because, obviously, it’s wet. Danish oil mellows beautifully as it dries (conditioning you don’t apply it overly thickly as it needs to somewhat penetrate the timber).
These pics are taken in my bathroom – which I’ve never shared on the blog before!
I love it!
I realise this hack might seem a little lengthy and complex (that’s likely due to my penchant to thoroughly explain processes!) though it’s actually quite simple. Still, if you want to avoid the whole rasping side of things you can use a much thinner dowel and insert it into the legs.
Here you can see where the braces adjoin the legs and how the fact they’re not perfect doesn’t matter one bit.
To make things look pretty I dressed the top with a vintage glass bottle holding fern sprigs, a simple nail brush and an old brass ‘pocket change’ dish cradling a cake of the world’s most photogenic soap.
I hope this project helps inspire!

domain: hobby


text:
Grilled Salmon with Chorizo-Olive Sauce
Prep/Total Time: 25 min.
Updated: Oct. 24, 2022
Every one of the ingredients in this recipe brings a ton of flavor. Both chorizo and salmon cook in a hurry, and garlic and citrus go beautifully with them, too. —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida

domain: geography


[Gamasutra highlights choice quotes from industry figures such as Creative Assembly's Tim Heaton, Sony Santa Monica's Chris Sutton, Naughty Dog's Richard Lemarchand, and many others in this weekly roundup.]
In our original and exclusive interviews, analysis, and feature pieces over the past week, a wide variety of developers, publishers, and indies shared their thoughts on horror games, cutting features, gross design, crunch periods, and more.
This Week's Noteworthy Game Industry Quotes
"I think teams are really scared about doing 90 percent of the work and then cutting it. It's kind of like, 'Well, it's nearly finished; I... I've done all the work! Please don't cut it! I'm sure I can make it better.' And we're fairly brutal on that."
"If horror is all one-note - suspense and eventual relief, repeated as a cycle, it quickly loses its grip over me. The stuff I find most disturbing often has a mixture of the comic, the sentimental, all kinds of sensations other than fear."
"In the film industry, crew members are mandatorily and openly compensated for their extra effort. If a film goes into overages, it falls squarely on the shoulders of the producer and management, instead of punishing team members for unexpected events."
"I think of it almost as an Express Pass to the paid user. When I went to Universal Studios in Florida, and I really wanted to get into that Spider-Man ride, I bought an Express Pass so I could get to the front of the line. I went on the same ride as everyone else, but I got to get there faster."
"U.S. publishers usually think Japanese developers can just make Nintendo platform console games, but those platforms are [declining]. Other big platforms like 360, PS3, and PC are getting bigger here, and they think Japanese developers cannot make big titles for those platforms."


text:
"What a wonderful and exciting opportunity this is," said Matheny. "My focus as manager will always be on continuing the winning tradition of Cardinals baseball in a way that brings both honor and respect to those who have preceded me. I am anxious to get started and I look forward to the challenges ahead."
Matheny, who most recently has served as a Special Assistant in Player Development for the Cardinals, enjoyed a 13-year career in the majors, earning recognition as one of the game's most respected and toughest competitors.
"We are excited to announce Mike as the newest Cardinals manager," said DeWitt. "Cardinals managers have established a distinguished place in baseball history over the years. We believe that Mike has the leadership characteristics and passion for the game to continue the great tradition of Cardinals success. He was a winning player, highly respected by his teammates, and knows our current club and organization as well as anyone."
"When we began our managerial search there were many qualified individuals, but after meeting with Mike and having also worked with him, we all knew that he was the right fit for this job," said Mozeliak. "Everyone respected Mike as a player and now we will have the opportunity to watch him grow as a manager."
Matheny inherits a Cardinals team that just last month captured the 11th World Championship title in franchise history. It should be noted that Hall-of-Famer Red Schoendienst also took over a Cardinals defending World Championship team in his first year (1965) as manager and went on manage the Cardinals for 12-straight seasons from 1965-1976.
Matheny at age 41 becomes the youngest active manager in the majors and the youngest Cardinals manager since Jack Krol, who was also 41 years of age when he managed the team in 1978. Matheny joins notables such as Schoendienst, Joe Torre, Ken Boyer, Frank Frisch and Rogers Hornsby amongst Cardinals players who also later served as the team's manager.
Michael Scott Matheny, who was drafted by Milwaukee in 1991 out of the University of Michigan, made his Major League debut in 1994 for the Brewers where he spent five seasons (1994-98) before signing a free-agent contract with Toronto in 1999. He joined the Cardinals in 2000 and spent five seasons (2000-04) with St. Louis, earning trips to the postseason in four of those five years. His playing career ended after a two year (2005-06) stint with the San Francisco Giants.
A four-time (2000, 2003-05) Rawlings Gold Glove recipient, Matheny holds the Major League catching record for consecutive errorless games (252) and for consecutive errorless chances (1,565). He posted a career batting mark of .239 with 67 home runs and 443 RBI in 1,305 games.
Matheny served as an inspirational leader during the Cardinals 2002 season, helping the team to cope with the shocking death of pitcher Darryl Kile while still reaching the National League Championship Series. Matheny was voted by his teammates in 2003 as the first recipient of the Darryl Kile Award - an award that goes annually to the Cardinals player who best demonstrates the qualities that Darryl brought to the clubhouse every day; those of a good teammate, a great friend, a fine father and a humble man.
A native of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, Matheny and his wife, Kristin, now make their home in St. Louis County with their five children; Tate, Katie, Luke, Jacob and Blaise.
Matheny plans to wear his familiar uniform #22, a number that was assigned to him in his first call-up by the Brewers and a number he continued to wear as a member of the Cardinals.
Matheny has agreed to a two-year contract for 2012-13 that includes a club option for 2014.

domain: news


Kobra Paige of Kobra and the Lotus just released a hot new solo single called Love What I Hate. This is Kobra's first solo effort and it's stellar. It's a little lighter musically than her songs with the Lotus but it still packs an amazing punch. It's definitely a rock track with a little bit of a mainstream feel. The song would be widely enjoyed on both rock and pop stations and playlists.
The song was co-written with Blair Daly in Nashville. Kobra explained in a recent interview that the song was written about "being completely consumed and addicted to the thought of not being enough". I feel that this theme is felt by so many these days so the lyrics will hold true to the masses.
Kobra's vocals are crisp and strong, the chorus will suck you in and possibly grant you a speeding ticket on the highway. If you are feeling overwhelmed in life or feeling like you aren't enough, give this track a spin to find some light.
The yet to be titled album will be released on April 5, 2024. The song is available for download on all of your favorite streaming platforms or listen below on Youtube.


text:
Just start building a eSkate on a Rayne.
It gonna be great but:
- I’m stuck having the motors spin (detection failed).
- Nunchuck display in bldc
So the config:
1 Rayne Deck
1 Enertion SPACE cell
2 vESCs via CAN
2 Enertion motors
1 Nunchuk via the built-in vESC App
I can access both vESCs v2.5 (read/write/upgrade) via BLDC mac. Led is ON on each vESC.
vESCs are connected via CAN, CAN is working, I can see realtime data from the slave vESC when usb-connected to the master vESC using BLDC (mac) with ‘CAN Fwd’ enabled.
Nunchuck and its dongle are in sync (led blinks when nunchuck is not connected, led is on when nunchuck is connected, 1 blink when pressing the button Z or C.
Dongle is connected to the master vESC, wire mapping is as per FAQ (Rx green pin1, Tx blue pin2, GND black pin4, 3,3v red Pin5 on a JST 6pin male connector plug into a 7pin female (ADC2 pin is shifted).
FAQs are not helping me anymore. Basically:
Nothing OUT of the vESCs to the motor
Seems that nothing IN from the Nunchuk
I’m stuck! Any ideas?

domain: design


text:
ALGIERS, April 7 (Reuters) - Algeria plans to invite bids for construction of three photovoltaic solar power plants with total capacity of about 4,000 megawatts (MW), and several energy and financial firms are already interested, the energy ministry said.
Algeria, member of the Organization for the Petroleum Exporting Countries, has been exploring renewable energy as a way to meet growing demand for electricity, while also freeing up more natural gas for export.
Energy Minister Nouredine Bouterfa said in a statement late on Thursday the ministry would issue tenders for the three projects, without giving a specific timeline.
The three plants would help meet Algeria’s domestic demand for power and allow for exports of power to neighbouring countries, a source at the Energy Ministry told Reuters.
Several financial institutions, including the French Agency for Development and the African Bank for Development, have shown interest in funding the project, according to the Energy Ministry, calling it a “multi-billion dollar” project.
Sonatrach, Algeria’s giant state oil and gas firm, would fund about 50 percent of the cost of the three plants, a Sonatrach official said.
Last year, Italy’s ENI signed a deal with Sonatrach to develop renewable projects in Algeria.
U.S. firm General Electric had also shown interest in the solar plants with planned capacity of 4,000 MW, the Energy Ministry sources said.
Hit by a crash in revenues due to lower global oil prices, Algeria has been doubling efforts to increase gas exports after several years of stagnant production. Several new gas fields have come on stream in the past year.
Reporting by Lamine Chikhi; Writing by Patrick Markey; Editing by Edmund Blair
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

domain: finance


Peter specialises in environmental legislation and water quality and its relationship to aquatic ecology, including toxicity, flow and habitat availability. Peter has worked across a wide range of industries, as well as government departments. He also has experience in collection ecological and forensic evidence in case of water quality concerns and environmental incidents as well as providing expert witness advice. Peter’s project management experience includes completing environmental assessment for a number of development schemes, including completing scoping reports, environmental statement chapters and supplementary assessments (EcIA, HRA, WFD Assessment) for a number of schemes across the UK and also Jersey. Peter also provides strategic advice, undertaken and coordinated extensive programmes of monitoring and assessment for a number of UK airports, the energy generation and construction sector as well as a wide range of UK water companies.


text:
All Elite Wrestling held the episode 168 of AEW Dynamite: Holiday Bash at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas.
– Main Event Match: Jamie Hayter (c) with Dr. Britt Baker DMD and Rebel defeated Hikaru Shida (AEW Women’s World Championship Match)
*Jamie Hayter got her first successful title defense as AEW Women’s World Champion.
– Forth Match: The Gunns (Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn) defeated FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) (Tag Team Match)
– Third Match: Jon Moxley defeated Darius Martin (Single Match)
– Second Match: HOOK defeated Exodus Prime (Single Match)
– First Match: The Elite (Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) (2) with Don Callis and Michael Nakazawa defeated Death Triangle (PAC, Penta Zero M & Rey Fenix) (3) (Non-Title No Disqualification All Weapons Are Legal 6-Man Tag Team Best Of Seven Series Match #5)
Folks! We invite you to also follow us through our official social media accounts:
© 2022 Lucha Central
RELATED NOTE: AEW Dynamite: Winter Is Coming in Garland Quick Results (12/14/2022)
AEW Dynamite: Winter Is Coming in Garland Quick Results (12/14/2022)

domain: entertainment


by ANDREA FRENCH Staff Writer
Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch passed away on May 4, 2012 at the age of 47, after struggling with cancer for three years. Yauch was diagnosed with cancer in one of the salivary glands in his throat in 2009. As soon as he became aware of his situation, he stopped performing and left the spotlight for a while. He had multiple surgeries and underwent radiation treatments to prevent the spreading of the cancer. The Beastie Boys is an American hip-hop group founded in New York City. The three member include Michael Diamond (Mike D), Adam Horovitz (Ad- Rock), and the recently deceasedYauch (MCA). Yauch taught himself to play guitar when he was only 17 years old, and soon formed a band with his good high school friends, which later became well known as the Beastie Boys. “The Beastie Boys will always be a legend. Even though I am not a huge fan, the band will always be a part of my childhood,” says freshman Catarina Santo. The Beastie Boys had four albums that reached the top of the Billboard Charts: “Licensed to Ill”, “Ill Communication”, “Hello Nasty”, and “To the 5 Boroughs”. Over the years, the Beastie Boys received many awards. Some of these include one of the 500 Greatest Songs on the Billboard list for “Sabotage”. They also are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Beastie Boys were ranked number 77 on the Rolling Stones list of the 100 greatest artists of all time, along with the number 89 spot on the VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Artists of all time. Yauch was a founding member of the Milarepa Foundation. The Milarepa Foundation produced the Tibetan Freedom concert benefits, and the production company Oscilloscope Laboratories. “It is sad to see someone as talented and legendary as him die at such a young age,” says freshman Taylor Zeni.


text:
R.J. Reynolds Auditorium, Winston-SalemA GREAT NIGHT OF 80'S SOFT ROCK HITS "LOST IN LOVE" "MAKING LOVE OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL" "ALL OUT OF LOVE" "JUST AS I AM" "HERE I AM" "EVEN THE NIGHTS ARE BETTER" AND MANY MORE! DON'T MISS THIS ...
Lexington live music events
Saturday, Oct 25 8:00p
Saturday, Aug 16 6:30p
Childress Vineyards, LexingtonTenth Anniversary Concert - featuring 20 Ride, a Zac Brown tribute band. Location: On the Lawn at Childress Vineyards...
Friday, Aug 15 11:00a
Lexington Golf Club, LexingtonGirls just want to have fun! & On Friday August 15th Join us for a relaxing round of golf and an afternoon of pampering in our pampering themed escape at the Lexington Municipal Club...
Parrot Heads of the Triad Proudly Presents: Slice of Island Life XV Party to Support Patriot Rovers Inc.
Saturday, Aug 9 2:00p
River Ridge Taphouse Duo, ClemmonsSlice of Island Life XV Party: Fundraiser for Patriot Rovers Inc. Serving Soldiers, Honoring Heroes | Service Dogs for Veterans. www.patriotrovers...
Saturday, Dec 6 7:00p
T. Austin Finch Auditorium, Thomasville12th Annual Christmas with Elvis Starring Stephen Freeman and the Echoes of a Legend Show Band...
Monday, Dec 1 7:30p
Lexington live music Related Topics
arts & crafts | community | business & tech | dance | fairs & festivals | food & dining | music | performing arts | sports & outdoors | visual arts | other | comedy | shopping | holiday | education/campus | uncle buck's salisbury nc | folk | music events winston salem | lexington | widows or widowers in winston salem | live music in winston salem | parrot head | winston salem | country | suicide silence winston salem | concert | variety | events winston salem | 60s legends at reynolds auditorium | village inn event center | winston salem live music | music | swing dance lessons | mt tabor umc winston salem camp | winston-salem events
Hot Tickets More »
ON SALE NOW
Sat 9/13 10:00a
Mon 12/1 7:30p
Sat 10/25 8:00p

domain: artistic


text:
One of the worst things that can happen to a LVN or RN nurse in Texas is to be subjected to a disciplinary case before the Texas Board of Nursing. This can be a cause of so much trouble and stress. At the same time, it can also be time-consuming because a defendant-nurse needs to show up in the proceedings. Most importantly, it is dreadful since the professional nursing license is on the line.
If you are a registered nurse in Texas, you will know immediately if there is a complaint filed against you. The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) will send a written notice of the facts and conduct alleged to warrant adverse licensure action. This is part of your right to due process and to be informed of the charges against you. You have to respond so that you will not be declared in default. This is where the assistance of a good defense lawyer will come in handy.
For failure to respond on time, there is a high chance that you will lose the case since Texas Board of Nursing (BON) will take only evidence presented by the other party. This is exactly what happened to Zach, who is a RN nurse employed in a medical facility in Dallas. While he was on duty, he received a notice from the Board informing him that there was a pending administrative case filed against him.
According to the complaint, the RN nurse failed to obtain stat blood culture ventilation profusion scan for a particular patient that was assigned to his care. Moreover, the RN nurse also failed to obtain and document oxygen saturation for the same patient. It must be noted that the person involved had been transferred to the ICU with shortness of breath. It was alleged that the act of Zach led to the delayed diagnosis of the patient’s medical condition. At the same time, it prevented the immediate treatment for the health problem.
Instead of calling a nursing defense attorney to handle the case, all the RN nurse did was to ignore the notice. Because of his own negligence, the Texas Board of Nursing revoked his nursing license. There was nothing that he could do about it. It was already too late when he decided to defend himself. Unfortunately in his case, the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) ordered for the revocation of his license with finality.
Contact Our Experienced Texas Nurse Lawyers Today for Legal Guidance If you or someone you know has been approached by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) for disciplinary action or have more questions on the BON process, contact The Law Firm of Yong J. An and speak to a Texas Nurse Attorney directly at (832) 428-5679, call or text 24/7.

domain: medical


Monday morning was a stark contrast to the other preceding days. We woke up to a foul , gloomy,dull and dreary weather. A dark blanket of grey cloud had engulfed the hills surrounding Namanga. The team had adequatey prepared to usher in the second phase.
After the regular morning brief by Major Keshe and Dadacha, the Senior officer from Kenya Wildlife Service representing the director General arrived at 8:30 am, for the ultimate flag off.
I was particularly impressed by his candor and the dose of inspiration he imparted drawing from he book of Genesis. The nuggets of of wisdom derived fro the Bible on good stewardship and leading a purpose driven life aptly captured and resonated well with my life and times.
The message reinforced the irrefutable fact that the sacrifice is not in vain. It was what I needed to hear before embarking on another onerous ,often tedious yet fulfilling task to save our elephants.
I was gutted however that we cold not launch the second leg due to an incident pitting a local Maasai herdsman and a white foreigner that forced me to to halt my plans. It was reported the Maasai’s cattle wandered off limits into the white mans ranch which degenerated into a shoot out.
The Chief Guest identified for the flag off was called into action to solve the issue. The plans for the flag off had to be shelved until Tuesday.


text:
The 2nd Quarter edition of our Real Estate Market Update, The Ranck Report is now available. Download your copy here!
It is shaping up to be an interesting year indeed. Condo sales have been very active this past quarter. Overall, closed condo sales are up 26% over last quarter and almost 11% over last year. Single family home sales are up 27.6% over last quarter and 8.2% over last year. On the islands and downtown condo sales are up 46% over last quarter and 13.3% over last year, but the average price has remained almost the same.
The most active price range across the entire area* is from about $200,000 to $350,000 and the average days on market in this price range is between 45 and 70. In the Sarasota area there are about 4 months of inventory and 3064 active listings currently on the market.
*See Section III. About the Data in the report for a list of zip codes included in the report.


text:
For the full experience, make this recipe with the Drop Recipes app.
recipe by Kamran Siddiqi http://sophisticatedgourmet.com
These truffles are luscious; they’re smooth, rich, and have the perfect amount of flavor thanks to the small addition of sea salt and vanilla. Admittedly, they’re a bit messy to make but they come together in a pinch. As we all know– chocolate melts, so be sure to work in a cool environment and work as quickly as you can, especially if you’ve hot hands (Tip: run your hands under cold running water for a few seconds, then dry them off, before working with the truffles). A bit on the chocolate: For the dark chocolate, I like to stick to a cacao content of 54% to 65%. If you’d like truffles that are less rich, feel free to substitute between 1.5 oz (43 g) and 2 oz (57 g) of milk chocolate for the dark chocolate. On the golden syrup: I find that adding a bit of golden syrup to the mixture keeps the truffles nice and smooth in texture; if you don’t have golden syrup on hand, feel free to use mild honey, light agave nectar, or light corn syrup– they all work great. On the flavoring: For a more adult flavor, use a liquor like amaretto, raspberry or cherry liqueur. Feel free to use any other of your other favorite extracts that go well with chocolate; this recipe is a good base for any of your favorite chocolate flavor-parings.
recipe updated Jun 7, 2019

domain: food


Saudi Arabia plans to send two astronauts to the International Space Station aboard a capsule from Elon Musk’s SpaceX company, according to Bloomberg.
With this move, the Kingdom will become the latest Gulf country to strengthen relations with private US space companies. The sources said that an agreement was signed earlier this year with the company “Axiom Space” in Houston, which organizes and operates special missions to space aboard a US spacecraft for researchers and tourists.
According to the sources, under the agreement, the two Saudi astronauts will launch aboard the “Crow Dragon” capsule from “SpaceX” on a trip to the International Space Station for about a week early next year. The two will be the first Saudis to go into space aboard a private spacecraft.
Private US companies are increasingly playing a major role in sending astronauts to the space station as NASA, which is now largely focused on returning humans to the moon.
The value of the Axiom agreement with Saudi Arabia was not clear. A single seat in Crew Dragon during the first Axiom mission sold for $55 million.


text:
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani Monday doubled down on his comments that the Black Lives Matter movement is "inherently racist,"
as it "divides us."
"All lives matter," Giuliani told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" program
. "Black Lives Matter never protests when every 14 hours, somebody is killed in Chicago, probably 70-80 percent of the time by a black person. Where are they then? Where are they when a young black child is killed?
"That is the predominant way in which a black person in this country will be killed, by another black, not by a police officer. What are they doing about that?"
And by not protesting about those deaths, Giuliani continued, "that means they don't mean black lives matter. They mean, 'Let's agitate against a police matter.' If they meant black lives matter they would be doing something about the way in which the vast majority of other blacks are killed in America."
Over the weekend, there were three incidents where police officers were killed, said Giuliani, but such killings are "largely ignored."
"When there's a police killing of a black person it becomes a major national story so a disproportion takes place," said Giuliani. "And they're all wrong. None of them should happen. There should be better training, to the extent that if there's crimes, people should go to jail."
And, the former mayor contended that he "saved more black lives than anyone in the history of the city," because when he left office, he left New York City to Mayor Michael Bloomberg as one with far fewer murders.
Further, Giuliani said, "I don't see what Black Lives Matter is doing for blacks other than isolating them. All it cares about is the police shooting of blacks. It doesn't care about the 90 percent of blacks that have killed other blacks. That's a simple fact."
And with the white community, he continued, "82 percent of the whites are killed by other whites. So if you want to care about white lives matter, you have to worry about whites."
He said he doesn't understand why people in the black community are afraid of police officers, when they should not be.
"They shouldn't be afraid of police officers, they should seek their help," said Giuliani. "Police officers who died in this city a year-and-a-half ago were protecting a black housing development. And one was Hispanic, one was black.
"I would like people to know that the New York City Police Department is a non-majority white police department. Partially because of my efforts but also because of Mayors Ed Koch, David Dinkins and Bloomberg."
© 2021 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


text:
Showing 1–6 of 20 results
Half Day Afternoon Premium Trip Dinner Twilight Phang-Nga Bay. If you are coming to Phuket and looking for a premium island tour experience, we highly suggest this trip. Riding on a big lovely fast and smooth motor catamaran through the islands is a wonderful experience.
Phang Nga Bay is one of the attractive tour destinations in the Andaman Sea, which is very amazing with the limestone cliffs, vertical rock walls and mangrove forests.
Full day Racha Raya island Tour. This is a great day out and a lovely island. Very good snorkeling and amazing beaches. There are hotels on the island too if you feel like staying a while.
Situated just off the southeast coast of Phuket, Maiton Island is a spectacular paradise that lures honeymooners and day trippers alike. Join us for a half-day sailing cruise from Phuket to discover the majestic beauty of the Andaman Sea and an afternoon spent enjoying Maiton’s white sandy beaches and tropical waters.
Phuket Tour John Grays Sea Canoe Hong by Starlight Big boat. A truly amazing day in Phang Nga Bay, canoeing in and out of different caves, very relaxing, slow paced, amazing for all ages. Making your Kratong at the end of the day is a lovey experience.
Krabi Afternoon Sunset Tour 7 islands by big boat. Visit Taming Island, Payu Bay, Chicken Island, Tup Island, Poda Island, Phra Nang Cave & Railay Beach


text:
Today marks the 106th Anniversary of the Passing of the Mantle of Magic from Harry Kellar to Howard Thurston at the Fords Theatre in Baltimore MD. May 16, 1908 in Howard Thurston's own words,
"Before the final curtain had fallen Kellar led me to the foot- lights and in a most touching speech briefly mentioned his own career of forty-five years as a public entertainer, and finished with a generous and affectionate prediction of my future. Kellar had played Ford's Opera House for many years. He handed his arm around my shoulders, while the orchestra played 'Auld Lang Syne'. As the ushers carried many floral offerings to the stage, the audience sang with the music. Finally, the musicians stood, then the entire audience was on its feet repeating the refrain. Leaning heavily on my shoulder as the curtain dropped for the last time, Kellar cried—so did I."
What was the Mantle of Magic? Essentially, it was nothing more than a business transaction between Kellar and Thurston. But that is too boring, so they put a theatrical spin to the whole affair and created this idea of passing Kellar's Mantle onto Thurston. For the 1907-08 Season, Kellar and Thurston toured the U.S. together. All of the posters for the tour featured an image of Kellar's face in the upper corner and Thurston's face in the opposite corner. The final poster above, was the only one with a full sized image of both Thurston and Kellar, that I'm aware of.
I'm not sure how long Thurston continued using the Kellar endorsement after that iconic event. But it's clear he did continue to use "Kellar's Successor" for some time.
|Library of Congress Image|
Today, all parties associated with the event are long gone. Thurston and Kellar have low since passed away. Even the Ford's Theatre in Baltimore is gone. But we have the posters, playbills and history to look back upon and fondly remember an important event in the annals of magic.


Experimental and numerical study of a bubble induced by Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm in the bulk and near a wall
School of Science, Nanjing University of Science & Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210094, P.R. China
a e-mail: email@example.com
Revised: 14 March 2012
Accepted: 28 March 2012
Published online: 9 May 2012
The optical beam deflection method and numerical simulation are developed to study laserinduced bubble in the bulk and near a wall. The influence of the distance between the bubble center and the wall and the influence of the wall sizes on the collapse features of the bubble are discussed. The results show that the collapse time of the bubble is proportional to the maximum bubble radius, and the experimental and numerical results are in agreement with theoretical results when the bubble collapses in the bulk. Besides, the maximum radius increases with the laser energy and then begins to level out as the laser energy continues to increase because of the laser plasma shielding. The closer the bubble is to the wall, the larger the maximum radius and the collapse time are. Furthermore, the bubble surface velocity, the liquid jet velocity and the newborn shock wave pressure are larger, which means that the force acting on the wall is larger near small walls than near large ones.
© EDP Sciences, 2012


text:
PARIS, France—A promotional event during which money would be handed out to people in Paris on Saturday turned violent when the police decided to stop the event before it happened. More than 7,000 people had gathered near the Eiffel Tower. Lawsuits have been filed against the rioters and French Justice Minister Brice Hortefeux announced preparations for a new law imposing a moratorium on the handing out of money.
The handout was canceled for safety reasons by the police after violence erupted and people crossed security barriers. The cancellation announcement was followed by sparks of violence, smashing of shop windows, and destruction of several cars.
Marketing Web site Mailorama had been forced to call off its plan to distribute 40,000 euros (US$60,000) in envelopes containing 5 to 500 euros (US$7–$744) in cash each. More than 7,000 excited people had shown up near the Eiffel Tower, where the event was organized.
To date, 11 lawsuits have been filed, explained Paris police to Le Parisien newspaper. “Four complaints were filed for robbery, three for voluntary violence, three for material damages, and one for theft,” according to the newspaper.
On Monday, Rentabiliweb, the organizing company and owner of the Mailorama Web site, denied responsibility and insisted that Maillorama had received a formal and written authorization from Paris police to organize the event.
“Without that, and without the express authorization from police officials, without the warranty given that everything would be done to prevent any disruption to public order, Rentaliweb would not have taken the initiative of the friendly and benign ‘cash back,’“ according to a Nov. 14 press release by Rentabiliweb.
Paris police officials, however, claim that the company attempted to shift its responsibility. “The legal framework for such events is not an authorization but a mere declaration from the organizers. We had informed them that risks were significant and that they had to plan a good security,” Paris police said.
Michele Alliot-Marie, French justice minister, is now expecting “strong sanctions” and has announced that her office could sue Rentabiliweb, a move that M. Ferrida, lawyer of the company, said he will be waiting for with “amusement.”
Brice Hortefeux, French interior minister, has announced that he would prepare a new law that would make the hand-out of money an act punishable by six months in prison, a statement apparently illustrating that in France a new law can be passed in response to almost any particular event. “And I also decided to ask this company to pay. There is no way that our citizens have to pay [for the damages],” explained Hortefeux on Europe 1 radio.
Two robbers who attacked passers-by during the event will go to court next January. Rentabiliweb has stated that the overall budget of the money stunt, totaling 100,000 euros (US$ 148,739), would be offered to the Secours Populaire, a French charity organization.


text:
Table of Contents
For pet owners, worries and questions about feeding your dog will inevitably cross your mind at some point. What is the best food? Does the food I feed my dog meet all the necessary nutrients that my dog needs?
The importance of diet to health has become increasingly clear within the last several decades, and at the same time, dog food manufacturers have invested in research and new product development.
Now, more than ever, good information becomes vital for making informed decisions, and understanding the information available is the first step in making the best choice when it comes to your pooch’s food.
Dogs require a variety of nutrients for survival purposes. Among these, we find carbohydrates, fatty acids, amino acids from proteins, minerals, vitamins, water, and of course, animal protein. Dogs will have more specific nutritional needs depending on their breed, size, and life stage together with other considerations. To choose a better-quality dog food, it’s important to understand what your furry BFF requires, how much, and what’s contained in those long ingredient lists on packages.
Proteins and Essential Amino Acids
Canines will not survive if their diets do not contain protein. Protein must contain at least ten amino acids that are known as amino acids. These acids become essential because dogs are not capable of producing these acids on their own. They are the foundation for numerous compounds as well as furnishing carbon chains vital to the production of glucose which then becomes your dog’s supply of energy. Quality protein in a canine’s diet will contain these essential amino acids.
Dogs will select foods that are higher in protein, whether this is due to their instinct as a result of these biological needs or just a question of palatability has yet to be demonstrated. Unlike felines, dogs can survive as vegetarians if their food contains enough plant protein as well as vitamin D.
Fatty Acids and Fats
Within a canine diet, it will be vegetable or plant oils and the fat derived from animal fats that provide your pooch with the highest concentrations of energy. These are the source of essential fatty acids that the body is unable to synthesize and bring fat-soluble vitamins contributing to the structure and function of cells. Food fats will also contribute to increasing palatability and bettering food texture.
“Essential” fatty acids are for the general health of fur coats and skin. If you feed a puppy a diet low in these fats, skin lesions will develop, fur coats will appear dry and coarse in texture, and the puppy’s skin will be more at risk for infection. The more well-known of these fatty acids are omega-3 and omega-6. When your dog’s diet does not have a sufficient number of omega-3 fatty acids, vision problems may result, while omega-6 fatty acids are vital to physiological systems.
All living beings require energy to live an active life, and dogs are no exception. Phases of growth, pregnancies followed by lactation, and physical exercise will all increase energy needs. The measurement of energy is done using units called calories and is provided by three principal components found in any diet:
Dogs are omnivorous, unlike carnivorous felines. A feline will need approximately 80% of its diet to come from animal protein, whereas a dog is omnivorous and can therefore eat both plants and meats to obtain the necessary nutritional elements for survival.
Canines can satisfy energy needs not only from meat and fish, but from carbohydrates as well and these include fibers, starches, and sugars. The principal carbohydrate sources found in commercial dog foods include legumes, cereals, and other plant parts.
Carbohydrates can be absorbable, fermentable, or digestible. Examples of absorbable carbohydrates include fructose or glucose, and they do not need to be broken down. The digestive tract’s enzymes will break down digestible carbohydrates. Fermentable carbohydrates that will include some starches and fibers make their journey through the small intestine without being digested. Upon arrival in the colon, gut microbes will ferment them, modifying them into short-chain fatty gasses and acids.
There also are some non-fermentable carbohydrates such as wheat bran or cellulose that contribute very little nutrition or energy. They lower calorie intake and are often employed in diets specifically designed for weight management canine diets. Should a canine have a severe health issue or disease, energy, and nutritional needs may increase.
A Puppy’s Energy Needs
A puppy is still growing and developing. Puppies need as much as twice the number of necessary calories as an adult dog of the identical breed per pound. When a puppy reaches its first month, it should begin eating puppy food, as its mother’s milk will no longer meet the pup’s nutritional requirements. Puppies should receive multiple meals that are spaced apart.
A Lactating Mother Dog’s Energy Needs
A new canine mother will suckle newborns for a minimum of six weeks: While mothers are lactating, their caloric needs increase by the number of puppies and the number of weeks they suckle till about a month. Some giant canine breeds have smaller digestive tracts in proportion to their size. Consequently, they will find it difficult to eat enough food to sustain their health during this period. In this case, dog owners or breeders should consider supplemental feeding to puppies earlier.
A Senior Dog’s Energy Needs
Senior dogs are naturally less active and will have slower metabolisms. Generally speaking, a senior dog will need approximately 20% fewer calories than an adult dog. Without proper adjustment, as a dog ages, it is at risk of becoming overweight, and overweight or obese canines can have difficulty maintaining normal blood glucose and this, in turn, can lead to diabetes.
Canines, just like humans, require vitamins in their diet, even if in a lesser quantity, and a lack of these was noticed in early canine research almost a century ago. Any vitamin deficiency will contribute to any number of health issues. One of the earliest canine vitamin deficiencies was vitamin A. Symptoms observed included skin lesions and increased rates of infection, respiratory problems, and problems in motor skills and vision. A lack of vitamin E led to muscle deterioration, skeletal breakdown, retinal degeneration, and even failure of reproduction. Too little vitamin D can create problems, but excess amounts can result in toxicity, while a lack of thiamin may create neurological abnormalities and brain lesions. It can also lead to death if chronic.
|Vitamin||Necessity||Recommended Daily Dose for an adult approximately 30 lb. dog|
|Choline||Cell membranes||425 mg|
|Folic Acid||Amino acid||68 pg|
|Pantothenic Acid||Metabolism energy||4 mg|
|Vitamin A||Immune, growth, vision||379 pg|
|Vitamin B1||Carbohydrate metabolism||0.56 mg|
|Vitamin B6||Red blood cells, nervous system, glucose, immune response, hormone balance||0.4 mg|
|Vitamin B12||Enzyme||9 pg|
|Vitamin D||Mineral and phosphorus balance||3.4 pg|
|Vitamin E||Protects from oxidative damage||8 mg|
|Vitamin K||Bones, clotting||0.41 mg|
Based on “Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats” National Academies Press
There are a variety of minerals that are known to be essential to canine nutrition:
Some of these minerals will be present only in tiny amounts but they aid the body in numerous enzymatic functions. Several minerals can contribute to health issues if present in doses that are too high or too low. One such example is calcium. When excessive, it will cause skeletal abnormalities, but when insufficient it may contribute to hyperparathyroidism resulting in loss of bone and chronic fractures.
Nutrition and Canine Weight
Just as in the case of humans, maintaining a healthy weight is vital to the overall well-being of our pups. Whether underfed and suffering from dietary insufficiencies or overfed, the repercussions on health can be noteworthy, potentially devastating, and in some cases to be irreversible.
If a dog is underweight with an insufficient intake of calories, ribs, vertebrae, and pelvic bones will be clearly and easily visible. There will also be a loss of muscle mass. A chronically underfed canine will be unable to work, in the case of working dogs. Underfed mothers will experience difficulty when nursing puppies and any underfed dog will be more at risk for bacterial infections and parasite infestations. Underfed puppies may experience stunted growth, while adult dogs may develop osteoporosis.
Many dog owners may not feel their particular pooch is overweight, however, if you cannot feel your dog’s ribs or discern a waist when you view your dog from above, Pooch has most likely packed on one or two pounds too many. Other indications include fat deposits on the back and at the tail base as well as a lack of abdominal tuck when viewed from the side.
Obesity is increasingly common in canines living in western societies and the risk of a dog gaining weight will increase with age and when a dog is either neutered or spayed. Two of the most common health complications of an overweight dog are osteoarthritis and diabetes.
Balanced Nutrition and the Ideal Canine Weight
As each dog breed along with gender will determine the ideal weight that any specific dog should maintain, some distinct characteristics can indicate if a dog is receiving the correct number of calories and maintaining an ideal weight. Pet parents should easily be able to feel the ribs without a lot of padding added on. The dog’s waist should be apparent when you view your dog from above and an abdominal tuck needs to be visible in the dog’s profile when viewed laterally.
Feeding Your Dog
When it comes time to feed your canine BFF, there can be some confusion about which food is the best, how much should be fed, and numerous questions regarding nutrition.
Do Dogs Require Meat in Their Diet?
Dogs are omnivores, unlike felines that are carnivores. This means that they are adaptable and open to eating many varied ingredients as well as forms of food and textures of food. This is not to say that your pooch may not prefer to eat meat or fish, but that your dog is capable of meeting dietary and nutrition needs also when supplied from other sources. Dogs are capable of survival and can thrive when placed on a vegetarian diet if nutritional needs are met.
Adult dogs need to receive a minimum of 10% of their calorie intake from protein, regardless of whether the source is an animal-based protein or a plant-based protein. Senior dogs will require more than this, and in some cases as much as 50%, to maintain their natural protein reserves.
Is Fiber Necessary to a Dog’s Diet and How Much?
Fiber is necessary for the overall health of the canine gastrointestinal tract and can be a tool in canine weight management. A typical adult dog diet will register between 2.5% and 4.5% fiber content, but commercial weight management dog foods may concern a higher percentage so that a dog will feel fuller longer when trying to lose weight. Fiber contributes to a feeling of being “full” while consuming a more limited number of calories. High fiber canine menus can also aid in managing high blood sugar known as hyperglycemia and in digestive function.
However, canine diets that are too high in fiber content can negatively affect the digestion of other necessary nutrients causing loose stool elimination and diarrhea or a frequent need to defecate. Too much fiber content can also negatively affect the taste of the dog food, meaning your dog may not find dinner particularly palatable. Barley products and wheat bran will be commonly found in dog food ingredient lists because of their high fiber content. But fiber is not to be confused with starch content. Ingredients like potatoes and rice are also common ingredients but they contain less fiber.
- When and How Often Should I Feed A Dog?
The “when to feed a dog” can be a choice of convenience for a dog that maintains a healthy weight. For overweight dogs, it may be advisable to feed your pup in the morning so there’s all day to consume calories before going to bed.
Dogs eat less frequently than felines that eat numerous small meals in the course of a day. An adult dog should eat once daily or at the most twice if the total daily calorie intake is divided. In the case of developing puppies, two to three meals daily may be a better choice.
It makes sense to use an automatic pet feeder like Petlibro to manage your pet’s diet. You can easily schedule and portion the proper amount of food for your pup even when you’re not around.
The Importance of Water in Canine Nutrition
Fresh water is crucial to canine survival. Approximately 60% of an adult dog is made up of water and the percentage is higher in puppies. Water is vital for a dog’s digestive system because it aids in breaking down food and absorbing the nutrients in it. While dogs can last as long as a week without food, they can only last three days without water.
According to Pet MD, a canine will require approximately an ounce of water for every pound of body weight daily. If the weather is hot, your pup may easily need double. Water needs will increase also in accord with physical exercise and expended energy.
Unless you are preparing your dog’s food at home under the guidance of a veterinary nutritionist, most pet parents opt for the convenience of commercial dog foods that are available in a variety of forms, textures, and formulas to meet specific nutritional or dietary needs. Dog food can be found as
- Dry kibble
- Canned wet food
- Semi-moist food
- Freeze-dried food
Depending on which you opt for, the moisture content will vary from 6% to 10% in dry kibble to as much as 75% in canned wet food. Canned food tends to contain more protein and fats, while kibble will contain more carbohydrates. Canned food will also generally have a high amount of animal protein and fat as well.
Commercial pet food labels should list the percentages of fat, protein, fiber, and water contained in their product. It’s important to note that while some dry canine foods may appear to have a higher percentage of protein than canned wet foods, this is due to the amount of moisture in the food.
Some pet food manufacturers will offer organic diets and food choices that replicate a natural canine diet such as Timberwolf Organics, so choices are numerous and varied.
Dog Food Additives
Antioxidants work to protect body cells from damage due to free radicals. Herbs or botanical components may be included for their natural medicinal effect or as flavoring, so don’t be surprised if they appear on ingredient lists, and many will be in the form of extracts. Also, expect to see flavorings derived from animal sources such as fish and poultry.
Colorings used in commercial dog foods actually enhance the natural color, and only those approved for human consumption are allowed in pet food, and aside from these, synthetics are generally not used or rarely so.
If you have questions or doubts about your dog’s nutritional needs and how to best satisfy them, a consultation with your veterinarian is the first step to guaranteeing your canine BFF’s general overall health and well-being.

domain: biology


text:
Avo's Portuguese Vegetable Soup
recipe by Sabrina W. for eat.drink.and be merry.
yields 6-8 servings
3 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, diced
3 celery stalks, diced
3 carrots, peeled and diced
4 small to medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 head savoy cabbage, shredded
6 cups water
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon paprika
salt & pepper
In a large pot of med-hi heat, melt butter and add onions, celery, and carrots. Sprinkle with salt & pepper and saute for about 5-7 minutes. Add potatoes and stir. Add water with more salt and bring to a boil. Continue to cook until potatoes are cooked though, about 20 minutes. Once potatoes have become fork tender, remove pot from stove and begin to puree with hand blender. Stop to add paprika and more salt and pepper. Continue to blend until smooth. Return pot back to stove on medium heat and stir in tomato paste. Add cabbage and bring to a soft boil. Continue to cook cabbage in the soup until tender stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Serve with a soft portuguese roll! e.d.bm. :)!


text:
Katie Loxton Avery Bamboo Taupe Handbag KLB399£58.99Rated 5.00 out of 5Add to basketOrder Today for FREE UK Delivery!
This stylish soft Katie Loxton Avery bag in Taupe is finished with golden hardware and beautiful natural bamboo handles making it this seasons must have piece. Perfect for carrying your everyday essentials around.Brand: Katie Loxton | Part #: KLB399
- out of stock
Pure Cashmere Charcoal Marl Poncho
£102.00Read moreOrder Today for FREE UK Delivery!
This pull-on-look poncho goes-with-everything, with its classic modern style and made from pure cashmere with a luxurious-feel, thanks to the softest 100% cashmere yarn. Team this lovely staple with all your timeless separates, and enjoy its cosiness all season long.Brand: Lizzielane | Part #: H27007
Pure Cashmere Taupe Cable Poncho
£105.00Add to basketOrder Today for FREE UK Delivery!
Pure Cashmere Taupe Cable Knit Poncho – made from pure cashmere, this gorgeous cable knit poncho is the most versatile and luxurious throw-on for this season. An effortless alternative to a coat on milder days, and a sophisticated cosy cover-up when it turns super-chilly.Brand: Lizzielane | Part #: H27008


Iron the garments more effectively and safely with this Heat Resistant Ironing Glove. This is the best tool to protect your hands and wrists from hot steam.
Ergonomic (Shape Designed for Clothes): The shape of this ironing glove is designed specifically to support each corner of the clothes. It has a firm backing that lets the steam push through clothing and the board for powerful wrinkle-release
Comfortable (Hand Grip Design): It has a soft cotton, a visual mesh that can fit small and large hand, and antiskid finger cot, making it more comfortable and easier to use
Waterproof & Heat Resistant: The whole glove is waterproof for the steam fumigation. It is made of heat resistant cotton that can insulate high temperature and make ironing convenient.


text:
But in order for me to eventually qualify for Ironman Kona, I would need to tread water for probably 1/2 hour before swimming for the race, but without the aid of a wetsuit or floation device that would be impossible to do.
While I have gotten better at swimming, I am no Andy Potts. So I was surprised to get an email from Jay Weber asking me to try on the new Lava Shorts they created. It's a variation of the Lava Pants. Ultimately it helps with swim training by keeping the lower half more buoyant and keeping the swimmer more streamline.
So Monday, I finally had time to take the Lava Shorts for a "spin" in open water. While I was not floating as easy as with a full wet suit, I was more buoyant. Then as I sway, I could feel my feet flutter across the top of the water unlike before. It was a weird feeling of having my hips higher in the water, which made it easier to swim.
What I liked about it was that instead of a traditional swim buoy and expending energy trying to keep the buoy in between my legs, my whole hip and thighs were floating so that I can focus on my stroke.
Ultimately as the temps go down, I will be getting back into the pool. This is were I will time myself without the Lava Shorts, with the Lava Shorts and after a couple of months see if my technique has improved after I have gotten use to the new improved position.
The funny thing is that, I sometimes want to wear my wetsuit at the pool, and I was not going to cut my wetsuit apart to wear them as shorts, so this came at the perfect time as the water will be getting cooler
I am getting excited about swimming better next year!
And as a bonus you can save up to 60% on XTerra Lava Shorts when you use code CO-RUNWITHNOAH


text:
It’s been a while since I’ve covered anything breakfast-related, so let’s dig into 4-5: Potatoes O’Brien to change that. I’ve heard of Potatoes O’Brien before (and you may have as well)–you can even buy them frozen from the grocery store. Here’s how to make them at home on your own, since takeout/delivery/eating in can be a bit hit-or-miss these days.
I suppose eggs might fall under the category of meat or poultry, but it seems to be the go-to accompaniment for this dish. As you can see from the header image, I served mine with a homemade breakfast sandwich which also made a good option. Who needs those bigbreakfastguys anyway?
This one was weird for me–not the recipe itself, but the fact that I could have sworn I’d already cooked 3-10: Potato-Onion Bisque for this project. Alas, that did not seem to be the case as I could not find pictures of it anywhere. Strange, as this seems like it would have been one of the ones I cooked way back in 2014 when this project first started. Maybe I did and just forgot to take pictures?
It IS getting cold out there (I mean, we’ve had to put on hoodies here in California–that’s winter weather as far as I’m concerned), so maybe a quick and easy soup might be a nice & warm lunch/dinner option?
Minestrone soup has a few specific memories for me: I remember there always being cans of it in our pantry when I was a kid, and all of my favorite Italian restaurants growing up still have it on the menu. My dad was a big minestrone fan–both of those memories are tied pretty closely to him.
3-6: Minestrone comes from the new book, and it’s not surprising that Simply Delicious had a recipe for it–they tend to have their own versions of most of the “classics”.
I’m not sure I’d suggest serving this in what look like miniature barrels in the picture above (imagine trying to clean those). However, the colder weather is coming soon, and this recipe is a good (and cheap) way to meal-prep, eat your veggies, and stay warm all at the same time.
Happy New Year! I recently posted about finding a NEW (to me) Simply Delicious book at a local thrift store, so we’ll start this new year off with the first recipe I’m going to cover from that batch of new recipes, 2-7: Coleslaw. A lot of these recipes fill “gaps” in the collection I already had, and this one is no exception. Coleslaw is a pretty well-known dish, and it’s probably one of the only instances where I enjoy cabbage.
Simply Delicious suggests you can eat coleslaw with just about anything, and they may not be too far off with that claim. Not only can you eat it with a sandwich, you can even put it IN the sandwich.
Many moons ago when I first began this project, I wrote about Simply Delicious‘ use of adjectives to spice up the descriptions of their dishes. 3-7: Snappy Crab Soup reminds me of 3-13: Velvety Carrot Soup in its use of flashy words to get you interested in something hard to get excited about.
This is essentially a crab bisque, without the extra steps of simmering shells. The “hot pepper seasoning” they refer to in the blurb above is Tabasco sauce, so this is a mildly Cajun-influenced recipe as well. I remember thinking Tabasco sauce was the HOTTEST thing ever when I was a kid…I’ve learned so much since then. 🦀🌶
You thought I’d run out of crêpe recipes by now, didn’t you? Here’s yet anotherfor you (#7, at the time of this posting), 5-17: Crab-Filled Crêpes.Simply Delicious has featured both sweet and savory crêpe recipes, and this one would probably be EXCELLENT for a nice brunch.
WAY, way back, when I first started this project (April 2014), crêpes were a new frontier–something I’d never done before. You can read about it in 5-24: Meat-Filled Crêpes.
Soup isn’t usually thought of as a hot weather food (unless you’re Lisa Simpson). However, if it’s summer and you’re looking for ice-cold soup options AND gazpacho isn’t your thing, maybe try 3-29: Herbed Cucumber Soup instead.
It’s not technically summer anymore at the time of posting this (October 1), but we’re still hitting 100ºF temps here in California, so I think it counts.
I had intended on using the entry for 2-19: Country Bean Salad to make the tired joke about how no one likes bean salad or the person who brings it to a party. And to point out how it was always a skip for me at the salad bar (RIP salad bars/buffets, I will REALLY miss you).
But there’s got to be a reason why “bean salad” is still a thing. Someone must still like it, for it still to exist. And not just in an ironic hipster “I like it specifically because it’s uncool” way. Maybe the vegans? I eat mostly vegan, and it’s still a no-go for me.
Simply Delicious says that this particular variation of bean salad is “typically French”, but I can’t find too many references online that specifically corroborate that claim. I did find a fancy version of this dish done by one of the Top Chefs that might be worth looking at, if you’re interested in bringing this recipe into the 21st century.
Apparently it was part of a particularly infamous (red) wedding meal in Game of Thronesas well. I watched GoT, but the food on the table wasn’t exactly the focus of that scene, so I must have missed it.
Even if it’s been on TV, it’s still not that appetizing to me. But again: someone must be into this stuff, so if it’s you, read on.
Feeling a bit of déjà vu? Maybe you’ve seen 1-31: Crab Cocktail before, or maybe you haven’t. I was doing some recent experimentation on the backend of my website, and long story short: I needed to do a rollback to an earlier version and this one got deleted. So I’m reposting/rewriting it again–however, you’ll miss whatever witty remarks I included with the first version.
I remember saying something about this being a good option for a meal instead of an appetizer (since there’s no parties allowed), and that you should picture yourself eating it near the coast with the breeze in your hair, since between COVID and wildfires, I don’t know if we’re ever getting to leave the house again.


text:
A hundred years or more, she's bent her crownin storm, in sun, in moonsplashed midnight breeze. Surviving all the random vagariesof this harsh world. A dense - twigged veil drifts downfrom crown along her trunk - mourning slow woodthat rustles tattered, in a hint of windthis January dusk, cloudy, purplingthe ground with sudden shadows. How she broods -you speculate - on dark surprise and loss, alone these many years, despondent, bent, her bolt-cracked mate transformed to splinters, moss. Though not alone, you feel the sadness of atwilight breeze. There's never enough love; the widow nods to you. Her branches moan.
When I consider that the nobler animal have been exterminated here - the cougar, the panther, lynx, wolverine, wolf, bear, moose, dear, the beaver, the turkey and so forth and so forth, I cannot but feel as if I lived in a tamed and, as it were, emasculated country.. Is it not a maimed and imperfect nature I am conversing with? As if I were to study a tribe of Indians that had lost all it's warriors..I take infinite pains to know all the phenomena of the spring, for instance, thinking that I have here the entire poem, and then, to my chagrin, I hear that it is but an imperfect copy that I possess and have read, that my ancestors have torn out many of the first leaves and grandest passages, and mutilated it in many places. I should not like to think that some demigod had come before me and picked out some of the best of the stars. I wish to know an entire heaven and an entire earth.
When you draw, you copy the world don't you? You remake it on paper, but it isn't the same. It's yours. No one else could have created it just like that. When I make poems, I use the words we all use, but the order and the sound create a new power. This wood is someone's creation. We stumble through it's tendrils, as if we're crawling through the synapses of his mind.
I think people who don't know the woods very well sometimes imagine it as a kind of undifferentiated mass of greenery, an endless continuation of the wall of trees they see lining the road. And I think they wonder how it could hold anyone's interest for very long, being all so much the same. But in truth I have a list of a hundred places in my own town I haven't been yet. Quaking bogs to walk on; ponds I've never seen in the fall (I've seen them in the summer - but that's a different pond). That list gets longer every year, the more I learn, and doubtless it will grow until the day I die. So many glades; so little time.
No, what numbed these fields, peopled with bad dreams was not the oppressive grip of a plague but rather an ailing retreat, a sort of sad widowhood. Man had started to subdue these vacant expanses, then had grown weary of eating into it, and now even the desire to preserve what had been claimed had perished. He had established everywhere an ebb, a sorrowful withdrawal. His cuttings into the forest, which were seen at long intervals, had lost their hard edges, their distinct notches: now a thick brushwood had driven its sabbath into the broad daylight of the glades, hiding the naked trunks as high as their lowest branches.
Though it's fearful, Though it's deep, though it's dark And though you may lose the path, Though you may encounter wolves, You can't just act, You have to listen. You can't just act, You have to think. Though it's dark, There are always wolves, There are always spells, There are always beans, Or a giant dwells there. So into the woods you go again, You have to every now and then. Into the woods, no telling when, Be ready for the journey. Into the woods, but not too fast or what you wish, you lose at last. Into the woods, but mind the past. Into the woods, but mind the future. Into the woods, but not to stray, Or tempt the wolf, or steal from the giant-- The way is dark, The light is dim, But now there's you, me, her, and him. The chances look small, The choices look grim, But everything you learn there Will help when you return there. The light is getting dimmer. I think I see a glimmer-- Into the woods--you have to grope, But that's the way you learn to cope. Into the woods to find there's hope Of getting through the journey. Into the woods, each time you go, There's more to learn of what you know. Into the woods, but not too slow-- Into the woods, it's nearing midnight-- Into the woods to mind the wolf, To heed the witch, to honor the giant, To mind, to heed, to find, to think, to teach, to join, to go to the Festival! Into the woods, Into the woods, Into the woods, Then out of the woods-- And happy ever after!

domain: library


text:
Pirates coach hopes for player protection against ‘aggressive’ Setif
"We hope that in the first minute the referee (if he has to) will give a yellow card," said the Orlando Pirates head coach.
Josef Zinnbauer expects a hard-fought game against Setif on Wednesday. Picture: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Orlando Pirates head coach Josef Zinnbauer says he is hoping for a strong referee when the Buccaneers take on Algeria’s ES Setif on Wednesday in a Confederation Cup Group A match at Orlando Stadium (kick off 3pm).
The Buccaneers clearly remember the March 10 clash with Setif on neutral territory in Ghana well, as they saw Richard Ofori forced off with an early injury, while Happy Jele was also stretchered from the field late in the game.
“Our opponents are very aggressive,” said Zinnbauer.
“But we know now how to play in Africa and we understand how to manage what we do. We have lost many players (to injury) in Caf game but we hope that in the first minute the referee (if he has to) will give a yellow card. For our opponents too it is a better game model if for a referee it is not possible to kick us or for us to kick an opponent.”
A victory for Pirates will be enough to take them into the quarterfinals, while a draw will also suffice if Al Ahly Bhengazi fail to beat Enyimba in a game also being played today.
Nonetheless, Zinnbauer expects a tough game against a side that he labels as “the best in the group,” along with Pirates. The Algerians thrashed Enyimba 3-0 in their last Group A game to maintain their own chances of making the quarterfinals.
The grass on the pitch in Ghana back in March made it difficult to play, but Zinnbauer says a smoother surface at Orlando Stadium could help both sides.
“It can help us, but don’t forget the opponent might also be better. Maybe we have an advantage, but it is important that we play with our own style.”
Zinnbauer could not confirm whether he would have anyone back from a lengthy injury list, but he can welcome back Thulani Hlatshwayo and Gabadinho Mhango, both of whom were suspended for Sunday’s 2-0 win over Maritzburg.

domain: game


text:
Wealthiest Swiss prosper in tough economic times
Most people may be tightening their belts these days, but not the 300 richest people in Switzerland.
Despite the economic malaise enveloping Europe, the country’s wealthiest tycoons are even richer this year than last, according to an online report appearing on Friday from Bilanz, the German-language business magazine.
The magazine estimates that the top 300 are worth 512 billion francs, 31 billion francs more than a year ago, an increase of 6.5 percent.
The rise, the third consecutive jump in wealth for this exclusive group, came despite concerns from the Swiss corporate world about the impact of the strong franc and declining exports.
Ikea founder and Swedish expat Ingvar Kamprad, 86, who lives near Lausanne, remains at the top of the pile, with a fortune estimated at 38-39 billion francs, up by three billion francs from the previous year, Blianz estimates.
Lake Zurich resident Jorge Lemann, a major sharehiolder in the world’s largest brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev, is ranked second with assets of 18 billion francs, roughly double what they were a year earlier.
Russian oligarch Viktor Vekelsberg is placed in third spot with an estimated fortune of 14-15 billion francs, up by four billion francs from a year ago.
Bilanz said strong stock markets are among the reasons helping the super-rich.
“The blue-chip SMI (Swiss Market Index) barometer improved by as much as 24 percent,” the magazine said.
“And the equity markets are still one of the main places where the rich invest their money.”
The average wealth of the 300 is 1.7 billion francs although this is unevenly distributed, with 100 million francs set as the entry level for the exclusive club.
Expats are a dominant force in the top 300, accounting for 132 of the spots with tycoons from 14 nations represented apart from Switzerland.
In all, the magazine estimates the country is home to 137 billionaires, whose assets together amount to 438 billion francs.


text:
Coming up under the mentorship of the legendary Kid Capri in the ’90s, producer Amaeus360 has put in years of work honing his craft and, subsequently, producing songs for the likes of Kool G Rap, Busta Rhymes, Sheek Louch, Paul Wall, among others. Overlooked and underrated, Amadeus sets out to cement his legacy in the pantheon of producers still carrying the torch for raw, undeniably gritty Boom Bap Hip-Hop with his forthcoming album The MPC Jedi, set to release May 12 via Soulapazm. The Buckshot, DJ Evil Dee, and Termanology-assisted album single “Warfare” was released to digital streaming platforms on Friday, March 24th. Today the song’s Mo Stafford-directed music video is released via YouTube.
© 2023, Seth “Digital Crates” Barmash. All rights reserved.


text:
That is a hard question to answer because the definition of retiring is changing. We need to adjust our antiquated view. The Social Security Act of 1935 established the normal retirement age as 65 years. That was 80+ years ago and much has advanced since that time. We are living a good bit longer these days, as discussed here (see my previous blog, Employees Unable to Retire Could Be a Financial Nightmare for HR).
In those days, many people performed physically taxing jobs, causing their bodies to wear down as they neared retirement age. Physically demanding jobs still exist, but are not as numerous as they once were.
Many people in the steel industry retired early from the workforce, at around the ages of 50 or 55. Today’s retirees are leaving the workforce much later. Phased retirements are very popular and really cloud both the accepted retirement age and retirement lifestyle. By the time Millennials retire, the “normal” retirement age will be even more blurred.
Many factors contribute to the difficulties all generations face concerning retirement, but Millennials, right or wrong, have greater deterrents from retiring.
Present bias, the tendency to place a greater value on a reward achieved in the present moment, has always existed. Unfortunately, this bias cloud our thinking about caring for ourselves, in terms of employee benefits, through the lack of retirement savings or ignored preventive health visits. Under defined benefit pension plans, employers were financially responsible for their employees’ retirement income. Now, with 401k plans, present bias is magnified, as employees are more responsible for their retirement incomes. Setting money aside for retirement is imperative, but often ignored for more immediate needs or wants.
Many factors contribute to the difficulties all generations face concerning retirement, but Millennials, right or wrong, have greater deterrents from retiring. – Brandon Conroy, Innovu Practice Director, Retirement…
Present bias is also magnified in Millennials because of immediate gratification. Technology provides the world at our fingertips. As a society we get what we want virtually immediately…. think smart phones, DVRs, Amazon, Netflix, Tinder, etc. Those immediate wants result in lower retirement savings rates among Millennials, and often, higher credit card debt.
A couple of things are going on with education that affects Millennials differently than other generations.
More workers have Bachelor’s degrees today.
The cost of a degree is higher today as well. College tuition increases vastly outpace wage growth.
Despite their education, Millennials are earning less than Gen Xers and Baby Boomers did at the same age, according to the Center for Retirement Research.
Millennials don’t know if the government will be able to provide retirement assistance. The deterioration of Social Security is real. At worst, a portion of the Social Security benefit will be unavailable to Gen Xers and Millennials. At best, reform will need to occur to readjust the Social Security benefit system.
Tweet: The deterioration of Social Security is real. At worst, a portion of the Social Security benefit will be unavailable to Gen Xers and Millennials. At best, reform will need to occur to readjust the Social Security benefit system. – Brandon Conroy, Innovu Practice Director, Retirement Analytics
The mortality improvements seen over the past 30+ years are continuing and should continue, but maybe not to the same degree as they have. But at any rate, Millennials are likely to be living longer than the Silent Generation.
Healthcare costs have risen well above wage inflation over the past 30 years. The future cost of healthcare is a definite unknown. Healthcare costs have an upside because of the population living longer, but it costs a lot to pay for those advances to extend life.
Long-term care is a large end-of-life expense. These costs are higher now than in the past because of the healthcare advances that allow us to live longer. Sometimes that means living in a care facility for a portion of our retirement living.
The chances of getting a portion of savings and income stolen through fraud, cyber scams, and data breaches are more prevalent. The Silent Generation, for the most part, didn’t have to live through data breaches that are prevalent today and are bound to worsen in the future.
Colleague Sashi Segu wrote 2 great blogs about protecting employee data:
Millennials are most likely to report feeling overwhelmed:
Given the financial burdens Millennials currently face and the concerns they have for the future, it is not surprising that 56% say their generation has it harder than their parent’s generation when it comes to achieving financial security. But it isn’t just Millennials who think this. In total:
Understanding your employees’ financial wellness and each generation’s issues and needs is key to a productive workforce. – Brandon Conroy, Innovu Practice Director, Retirement Analytics
Understanding your employees’ financial wellness and each generation’s issues and needs is key to a productive workforce.

domain: sociology


text:
On Thursday night three Okehampton Running Club members made their way to Scorrier House in Cornwall for the Purple Gecko Halloween Twilight Run. This was a well organised event that followed all the Covid rules and regulations, while still putting on a fantastically fun and entertaining event, with plenty of mud, hills and Zombies included!
With all three wearing fancy dress, the first off was Keeley Philips in the 5k event, setting off into the darkness at 5.30pm to run her first night race. Taking it steady to enjoy the new experience, Keeley finished in 30.37 having avoided being eaten by Zombies!
The 10k event set off at 7pm, with Erin McDaid having a brilliant run to come home in 1st place in a time of 37.00mins, nine minutes ahead of the second placed runner. Jo Page also had a great race, her time of 47.34 securing her 1st Lady and coming 4th overall.

domain: sports


At COMPUTEX 2023, Noctua reports that their second generation of the award-winning NH-D15 CPU is slated for release this coming Q2 of 2024.
NH-D15 Gen 2
Noctua details that the soon to be released NH-D15 will feature a heat-sink with a fin pitch of 1.6 mm. Compared to the latest generation’s 1.9 mm fin pitch, this allows the 2nd generation cooler to increase its surface area by as much as 20% without increasing the actual size.
This along with the increase from 6 to 8 heat-pipes are the keys to the upcoming NH-D15’s superior thermal dissipation performance.
Noctua showcased this feat on their on-site live demonstration at a heat-load of 300 W. The NH-D15 prototype illustrated an improvement of around 3-3.5 °C over the current design.
The catch is, while it is slated for Q2 of 2024, the actual release date will still depend on the success of the upcoming 2nd generation 140 mm Noctua fan – currently in development.


text:
10 Reasons Why Should You Buy Custom Design Keycaps For Your Mechanical Keyboard
Are you a mechanical keyboard enthusiast? Do you want to take your keyboard customization to the next level? Look no further than custom design keycaps. These unique and personalized keycaps offer a plethora of benefits that will enhance your typing experience and add a touch of personality to your keyboard setup. In this article, we will explore the top 10 reasons why you should consider buying custom design keycaps for your mechanical keyboard.
Mechanical keyboards have gained significant popularity in recent years due to their tactile feedback, durability, and customizable features. While the default keycaps that come with mechanical keyboards are functional, they often lack the aesthetic appeal that many enthusiasts crave. Custom design keycaps offer a solution to this problem by allowing you to replace the standard keycaps with visually stunning and personalized options. Let’s dive into the reasons why custom design keycaps are a must-have for any mechanical keyboard enthusiast.
1. Express Your Unique Style
Your keyboard is an extension of your personality, and custom design keycaps provide the perfect opportunity to showcase your unique style. Whether you prefer minimalist designs, vibrant colors, or intricate patterns, there is a wide range of custom keycaps available to suit every taste. With custom keycaps, you can transform your keyboard into a visually captivating work of art that reflects your individuality.
2. Enhance Typing Experience
Custom design keycaps not only look great but also offer an improved typing experience. Many custom keycaps are made from high-quality materials such as double-shot ABS or PBT plastic, which provide a satisfying feel and sound when typing. The textured surfaces of some keycaps can also enhance grip and reduce finger fatigue during extended typing sessions. By investing in custom keycaps, you can elevate your typing experience to new heights.
3. Personalize Gaming Setup
For gamers, having a keyboard that stands out is essential. Custom design keycaps allow you to personalize your gaming setup and create a keyboard that matches your gaming aesthetic. Whether you’re into FPS games, MMOs, or esports, there are keycaps available with gaming-inspired designs that will make your keyboard look truly unique. Stand out from the crowd and game in style with custom design keycaps.
4. Improve Productivity
A keyboard is an essential tool for many professionals who spend hours typing each day. Custom design keycaps can contribute to increased productivity by making your keyboard more visually appealing and enjoyable to use. When you have a keyboard that you love, typing becomes a more engaging and satisfying experience, which can positively impact your overall productivity and workflow, GMK67 custom keyboard is a good choice.
5. Join the Mechanical Keyboard Community
The mechanical keyboard community is a vibrant and passionate group of enthusiasts who appreciate the craftsmanship and customization options that mechanical keyboards offer. By investing in custom design keycaps, you become part of this community and gain access to a vast network of like-minded individuals who share your passion for keyboards. Join online forums, participate in group buys, and exchange ideas with fellow enthusiasts to further enhance your keyboard journey.
6. Show Off Your Keyboard on Social Media
In today’s digital age, sharing your hobbies and interests on social media platforms has become increasingly popular. Custom design keycaps allow you to create a visually stunning keyboard setup that is sure to turn heads on platforms like Instagram and Reddit. Whether you’re an aspiring keyboard influencer or simply enjoy sharing your creations with others, custom design keycaps provide the perfect opportunity to showcase your keyboard on social media.
7. Enhance the Resale Value of Your Keyboard
Custom design keycaps can significantly increase the resale value of your mechanical keyboard. Just as rare and collectible sneakers fetch higher prices in the sneaker market, keyboards with unique and sought-after keycap sets can command a premium among enthusiasts. By investing in custom design keycaps, you not only enhance your typing experience but also potentially increase the value of your keyboard should you decide to sell or trade it in the future.
8. Support Independent Keycap Artists
The world of custom design keycaps is filled with talented and passionate artists who create stunning keycap sets from scratch. By purchasing custom keycaps, you directly support these independent artists and their creative endeavors. Many keycap sets are produced in limited quantities, making them highly sought after and collectible. Show your appreciation for art and craftsmanship by investing in custom design keycaps and supporting these talented individuals.
9. Perfect Gift for Keyboard Enthusiasts
If you have a friend or family member who shares your passion for mechanical keyboards, custom design keycaps make an excellent gift. Surprise them with a keycap set that matches their style or represents something meaningful to them. Not only will it be a thoughtful and unique gift, but it will also show that you understand and appreciate their interests. Custom design keycaps are the perfect way to make someone’s keyboard setup truly special.
10. It’s Fun!
Last but certainly not least, buying custom design keycaps for your mechanical keyboard is simply a fun and enjoyable experience. Exploring various designs, searching for the perfect keycap set, and finally installing them onto your keyboard can be a rewarding journey. The process of customization allows you to unleash your creativity and bring your keyboard vision to life. So, why not embrace the fun side of mechanical keyboards and indulge in the world of custom design keycaps?
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: Are custom design keycaps compatible with all mechanical keyboards?
A: Custom design keycaps are compatible with most mechanical keyboards that have a standard layout. However, it’s important to check the keycap profile and size compatibility of the keycaps you are interested in before making a purchase.
Q: Can I change the keycaps on my laptop keyboard?
A: Custom design keycaps are primarily designed for desktop mechanical keyboards. Laptop keyboards often have non-standard layouts and different keycap mounting mechanisms, making it challenging to find compatible keycaps.
Q: How do I clean custom design keycaps?
A: To clean custom design keycaps, you can remove them from the keyboard and gently wash them with mild soap and warm water. Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive materials that may damage the keycaps’ finish.
Q: Are custom design keycaps durable?
A: The durability of custom design keycaps depends on the materials used in their construction. High-quality keycaps made from durable materials such as PBT plastic or double-shot ABS can withstand years of use without significant wear or fading.
Q: Can I mix and match different custom design keycap sets?
A: Yes, many enthusiasts enjoy mixing and matching keycaps from different sets to create unique and personalized combinations. This allows for endless customization possibilities and lets you create a keyboard setup that truly reflects your style.
Q: Are custom design keycaps easy to install?
A: Installing custom design keycaps is a straightforward process. Most keycaps use a standard cross-shaped stem that fits onto the switch stems of mechanical keyboards. Simply remove the existing keycaps and place the custom keycaps onto the switches.
Investing in custom design keycaps for your mechanical keyboard is a decision that brings numerous benefits. From expressing your unique style and enhancing your typing experience to joining a passionate community of keyboard enthusiasts, the reasons to buy custom design keycaps are plentiful. Embrace the world of customization, unleash your creativity, and elevate your keyboard setup to new heights with custom design keycaps.


A Digital Marketing Company with Passion
Osky Blue is a locally owned digital marketing agency that offers custom website development, software development, comprehensive digital marketing services, and more for its clients. Osky Blue was founded in 2010, and during that time we have had the opportunity to build hundreds of websites and see companies grow dramatically.
Our approach is very collaborative and hands-on. We take great pride in providing an excellent experience with top-notch customer service and technology-forward products. Osky Blue’s custom websites, software products, and marketing strategies are created to meet each client’s specific needs and goals. We are more than a web design company. We are a trusted marketing partner.
We are based out of Frisco, Texas and serve clients all throughout the country.
Learn About Our Approach


text:
The Sweet Menace
Aim and shoot to destroy all the candies
As Always, Good Luck and Have Fun.
You might also Like:
You are currently playing The Sweet Menace Game, a high quality Puzzle Games on KBH Games for free. One of 15698 fun games indexed on KBH for your entertainment. The Sweet Menace is part of our Candy Games, Cannon Games, Cute Games, Destory Games, Physics Games, and Puzzle Games categories of games. It has been liked by 7 people that played. We have many fun games for the entire family to enjoy. Explore and see what amazing games you'll discover today.↑


text:
Current book The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller. I’m about 1/3 of the way into it and so far it has been a light, easy read.
Current Drink I literally just finished drinking a Dunkin’ Donuts coffee as I started this post. ‘Twas delicious.
Current beauty product DevaCurl shampoo and conditioner. As I mentioned in my last post, my hairdresser really wanted me to try this out. I feel like it’s too soon to tell a difference since I haven’t used it for a solid amount of time, but I’m liking it so far!
Current goal Cleaning out our closets and donating clothes we no longer wear. Also, finishing writing my book. I’m at 81,000 words and so close to wrapping up the first draft!
Current obsession Guys, I’m in cake mode again!! I was asked to make my father-in-law’s wedding cake since he’s getting married in May and I’m 100% obsessed with all things cake right now.
He and his fiancé asked for a Harley Davidson-themed cake, so I’ve been nailing down exactly what I want to do in terms of details and just practicing layering the different tiers of the cake. My fingers are stained with gel food coloring and I’ve been highlighting and studying a guide on working with fondant. I am one happy girl when I’m in cake mode 🙂
Current mood Excited (for spring and Daylight Savings!).
Current blessing Jimmy. He’s just so sweet, kind, caring, and hardworking.
Current excitement Mavis has reached the highest level of training (Adult Level II) at our local pet store and has her last class and Canine Good Citizen test tonight! We have been taking her to training once a week since August, when she was 10 weeks old. She’s basically grown up in this pet store, haha.
It’s definitely bittersweet to be ending this part of her journey because we love the trainer we’ve been working with. I’m sure there’s more training at different facilities in Mavis’ future, though!
Current confession I’ve been so slow about doing laundry lately. I have no problem washing it… it just sits in the laundry basket all clean for like three days until I fold and put it away 😉
Current prayer Healing for all involved in the recent school shooting in Florida.
Current indulgence Researching all things cake-related for my father-in-law’s wedding. I have some flavor combos I’m dying to try!
Current procrastination Catching up on all things computer-related. I have some work for my family’s real estate business to do, I want to catch up on blog reading, clear out my email inbox, and more. It will all get done, eventually!
Current food Thin mints! It’s Girl Scout Cookie season, aka the most wonderful time of the year. What are your favorite flavors of Girl Scout Cookies? My #1 is thin mints and then trefoils.
Current craving I want to paint my nails. I just need to
find make the time to do it!
Current need A new wire for our Petzi Treat Cam. Mavis and Lola chewed it while trying to get treats out of the camera so its out of commission for the time being! Naughty pups.
Current question What is your favorite part about spring? I think mine is just seeing green grass again and watching flowers and trees bud. Or maybe more daylight and warmer weather? Or maybe spring rain? Love that sound. It’s just such a beautiful time.