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For all enquiries about our private workshops, please use the form below.
For those who can’t make it to our listed workshop dates, or already have considerable experience with analog photography and want to learn more, we offer private/advanced workshops specifically designed for each customer to cover any particular technique they wish to learn. Our tutors cover everything from the basics to advanced camera, developing and printing techniques. Booking times for private tuition are organised to suit your schedule, and are charged at $115 an hour. We currently have 35mm, 120mm and 4×5 view cameras available for use, as well as 5 enlarger stations ranging from 35mm to 8×10″ (both condenser and colour heads), with a selection of lenses. For all enquiries, please use the contact form above.
Attended the darkroom basics workshop last weekend and I had a blast. Jake is great to learn from as he is passionate about the topic but also very personable and not condescending like many people teaching basics tend to be. Looking forward to attending more workshops.
I took a friend on a surprise birth trip to the film photography workshop at the Fox Darkroom. We both totally loved it! The studio and surroundings had a beautiful rich aesthetic, as did the rhythm of the workshop as a whole. Very cool delving into the craft of analogue film photography. A highly recommended gift to yourself or a friend!
Thank you Tom and Co for an awesome afternoon in the darkroom printing course! The knowledge and passion you guys share is super inspiring, and I can't wait to get back in there...
The Fox Darkroom is more than just a space for making photos, it's also a place for making friendships and it provides like-minded people an opportunity to connect. Spend a little time at The Fox and you'll quickly feel like you're a part of something bigger, a community, a home of ideas and a place for those who seek encouragement to pursue what inspires your heart to press that shutter every time a moment passes by. It's a place to feel inspired and it's a place you're missing out on if you haven't yet been.
Amazing place ! Have been searching for somewhere to work with and learn about film for years ! The workshop was more than I could have asked for ! Great information, practical application, and an atmosphere oozing with passion for film! I will never see light in the same way 🙂
The courses at the Fox Darkroom are something I can't recommend highly enough. The space that has been created here is absolutely stunning and you are made to feel right at home from the second you enter. The beautiful people running this place are what make the whole experience so enjoyable, and exploring the world of darkroom photography kind of magical. You won't want to leave! (especially if they start boosting your ego by putting cool photos of you on the internet). Do yourself a favour and check this place out.
A beautiful place to learn and build your skill set. You can take part in the workshops or attend the wonderful exhibitions there - a perfect location to get your friends to join you for any of the activities taking place. Tom & the crew are so welcoming and accommodating and you will find that you quickly become part of the Fox Darkroom community that they have built. I promise you will enjoy your time there.
Had my fourth Sunday session in the darkroom today. Great place if you're looking for somewhere to print - they'll sell you paper if you need (and you can develop your film as well). Take one of the intro courses and you can be printing your own work 🙂
So you get given this thing thats basically nothing (ok, its a roll of film). Some cellulose on a strip of plastic. Theres interesting furniture and a really dark room. Somehow though... this dude with an excellent beard calmly and simply explains to you how a camera works. Without your knowing he turns the conversation to why he is (and consequently you are) passionate about photography. Shortly after you're taking photos on a manual camera you couldn't use an hour ago in streets you didn't know existed. Shortly after, that the strip of plastic has turned into something you can look at and make oohh aahh noises at. You even get to pretend you're Walter White. It's awesome, do it.
The course I did with Tom was incredible. I have so much more of an appreciation for what it takes to create a good photo after spending some time with Tom. The course is great for both novices (like me) or those with a background in photography. The atmosphere is really laid back and the Fox Darkroom is a great environment in which to learn. If you are looking to either fine tune your photographic skills or just try something a little different, I would thoroughly recommend getting in touch with these guys. Tom is clearly an expert in his field and loves what he does. Very easy to learn from and takes the time to make sure you get the most out of your experience. 5 stars!
I did the printing/developing workshop here and it was so much fun! Tom is a super easy going, lovely guy and a patient teacher. We all lost track of time, it was going so fast - that's how much fun we were having. I definitely recommend this workshop to anyone beginning analogue photography, as this workshop will be priceless in your learning. I cant wait to go back and do the film developing workshop! (p.s this is the backwards order, I recommend taking the film developing workshop first, then develop your prints you made in the printing workshop). I wish I lived in Melbourne to sign up as a member to use this funky darkroom all the time :).
The Fox Darkroom Hidden in the old Younghusband Woolstores in Kensington - a wonderful building housing every type of creative activity - you will find The Fox Darkroom run by photographer Tom Goldner. Tom provides short courses for those new to analogue photography, or those with prior experience but seeking a process refresh. Introduction to film cameras, developing your own B&W film, and printing and enlarging - the alchemy of the darkroom - are all covered in Tom's courses. The darkroom and equipment are also available for members and others who are seeking access to a well equipped lab to do their own thing! Tom is a wonderful teacher - enthusiastic, knowledgable, sensitive, patient and able to cater for course members with widely varying capabilities, group sizes are kept small allowing for personal teaching and the combination of shooting in a such a photogenic location and then working through the dark room processes in a such a beautiful surrounding is hard to beat! The physical environment at Fox is very special, but it is surpassed by the warmth and welcome and guidance of Tom Goldner! So arrange a time to visit the Fox Darkroom - make time to slow down and think about your photography - have a play with film and developing your own negatives. Very highly recommended. Bruce E
I am the Cambodian team leader for international workshops. We love the fox darkroom and its people! Love from Siem reap
The Fox Darkroom is an incredible space and the photography and developing classes are an equally incredible experience. Tom is such a patient and passionate teacher who can cater for people of all abilities and levels of experience. I was lucky enough to do the photography, developing and printing workshops and loved every second. It gave me a true appreciation of photography and the planning, techniques and knowledge that go into producing a beautiful image. It's a far leap from the world of digital cameras and iPhones, but it's a leap worth taking!
The gallery is both warm inviting and just the right size yto really explore the work on the walls. I make a point of swinging by the gallery every time we are in the neighbourhood.
Recently, I was lucky to experience the pleasure of utilizing the beautiful gallery space that is The Fox Gallery for my book launch and picture exhibition. I was very impressed by the professional and friendly service of Tom and his diligent crew. It was obvious to me that their sole objective was the success of my show. They worked tirelessly to ensure everything looked perfect and ran smoothly. Thank you Tom!!!
I attended the film photography/developing basics and darkroom printing workshops and they were excellent. The groups were small and the instructor (Jake) catered well to the different experience levels in the group and took a genuine interest in each person's work. The 4 hour length of both workshops was ideal - enough time to cover all the material without it being a long day. I left feeling inspired and ready to get back into printing my own photos after not doing it for 12 years. Two Saturdays well spent!
This is my establishment so it may seem slightly bias in me saying this place is AMAZING but hell, I truly believe it is! If you have interest in learning how to take beautiful photos with nice old cameras, producing works of art in the darkroom and or hanging out with some really decent folk come and pay us a visit. Coffee on me.


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Cardamom, with its aromatic flavor and unique properties, has gained popularity worldwide. However, its high price often raises questions.
Cardamom, known as the "Queen of Spices," is a highly prized ingredient that adds a distinct taste and aroma to various cuisines and beverages. Whether used in savory dishes, desserts, or as a standalone spice, cardamom has become an essential part of many culinary traditions. However, its cost can be surprising to those unfamiliar with the intricacies of the spice market. Let's explore the factors that contribute to cardamom's expensive nature.
Limited Geographic Growing Regions
Cardamom is primarily grown in specific regions, including Guatemala, India, Sri Lanka, and other parts of Southeast Asia. These regions provide the ideal climate and soil conditions for cardamom cultivation. The limited geographic range of its production creates a scarcity factor that impacts its price.
Labor-Intensive Harvesting and Processing
The cultivation and harvesting of cardamom is a labor-intensive process. The spice is harvested by hand, requiring skilled laborers to carefully pluck the ripe cardamom pods. After harvesting, the pods undergo a meticulous drying and processing phase. The labor-intensive nature of cardamom production contributes to its overall cost.
Fluctuating Market Demand
The demand for cardamom fluctuates, which affects its price. Growing interest in global cuisines, wellness trends, and the use of cardamom in traditional medicine have contributed to increased demand. Additionally, changes in consumer preferences and international trade dynamics impact the market, resulting in price variations.
Quality and Grading Standards
Cardamom is available in different grades, with the highest-quality pods commanding a premium price. The grading process considers factors such as pod size, color, aroma, and flavor. The meticulous sorting and grading of cardamom pods ensure consistent quality but also contribute to its higher price.
Volatile Climate and Crop Challenges
Cardamom cultivation is vulnerable to the unpredictable forces of nature. Extreme weather conditions, pests, diseases, and other crop challenges can significantly impact the yield and quality of cardamom crops. Such factors can lead to fluctuations in supply and, consequently, price instability.
Export Restrictions and Regulations
Some cardamom-producing countries impose export restrictions and regulations to maintain local supply or stabilize prices within their domestic markets. These restrictions can limit the availability of cardamom in certain regions and impact its overall price.
Transport and Storage Costs
Cardamom is often grown in remote regions, requiring significant transportation and logistical efforts to bring it to global markets. The costs associated with transport, storage, and handling add to the overall expenses of the spice, contributing to its higher price.
Visit factober.com for more interesting information! Register for a new account on Factober and get a chance to write for us, sharing your knowledge and insights on a variety of fascinating topics.
In conclusion, the high price of cardamom is influenced by a combination of factors, including limited growing regions, labor-intensive cultivation, market demand fluctuations, quality standards, climate challenges, export restrictions, and transportation costs. These factors collectively contribute to the premium price tag attached to this exquisite spice. Despite its cost, cardamom continues to captivate the taste buds of people worldwide, making it an essential ingredient in various culinary delights.

domain: agronomy


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This blog was originally shared by Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries in January 2023, and is reproduced here with their kind permission.
Creating places of sanctuary
St John’s church is located in Hoxton, East London. It’s a vibrant and creative district, yet among one of the most under-resourced areas in the country.
Revd Rachel Greaves-Brown says that the congregation reflects the diversity in the wider community, which presents unique gifts and challenges for the church.
At St John’s they ‘say it like it is.’ And I love that; you know where you stand with people.
The diversity is a big gift, and the warmth of welcome.
I’d say it’s the best hospitality I’ve ever received.
Into this context, Rachel ran The Sanctuary Course: a free study guide for small groups, designed to raise awareness and start conversations in local churches regarding mental health.
The Sanctuary Course helps address the question that many of us ask: ‘how can a church become a sanctuary—a place where individuals living with mental health challenges feel safe, supported, and a sense of belonging?’
Developed in consultation with mental health professionals, theologians, and people with lived experience, it’s an eight-session course which explores key mental health topics and examines meaningful ways to offer companionship, support recovery, and promote wellbeing.
Space to speak of experiences
Rachel reflects on how spending time running this course impacted the community at St Johns:
I really saw God at work through the journey that the whole group went on through the sessions. There was huge growth in self-awareness and understanding [of mental health]. We were given language to put to our experiences.
It can be challenging to encourage people to believe they are valued and important. I think that’s one area The Sanctuary Course can speak into.
If you feel like you haven’t had a voice, that’s going to have a knock-on effect for your sense of value and worth. The course encouraged people to speak out about their experiences.
Being seen, heard, and known by your community can positively impact your wellbeing and mental health. And the conversations didn’t stop at the end of the course.
One of the participants said that we don’t hear enough about mental health and the Bible.
So that sparked a sermon series, called ‘Margins to Middle,’ looking at people in the Bible who’d been stigmatised or pushed to the margins – not just because of mental health, but also due to gender, social status, and disability.
One of the greatest impacts of the course for Rachel was the opportunity to be honest about her own experiences – and seeing the way her vulnerability impacted and encouraged others.
Brene Brown talks about the power of vulnerability and how being brave always involves vulnerability.
Even though I had some fear about saying something, for me the benefits outweighed that fear – knowing the difference it can make for other people.
When people in positions of leadership speak about mental health, it can reduce the feeling of isolation, and the more people can see that living with a mental health challenge doesn’t have to be a barrier to their calling in life or their relationship with God.
If you have a leader in your church saying, ‘I’ve experienced mental health challenges,’ that helps others to believe they don’t have to hide or feel ashamed. They’re more able to reach out for help and support.
I spoke about my own mental health in a sermon, and I had people coming up to me afterwards saying, ‘I really want to do The Sanctuary Course when you next do it’.
Interested in running a Sanctuary course?
Rachel offers some helpful insights for anyone planning to run the course:
1) Lead with someone else, if possible
Leading with a fellow church member, Irene, was one of the best things for Rachel about doing the course.
It was a delight to get to know Irene and see her get to a place where she was confident. Seeing her confidence grow over the course was really rewarding.
Co-leading is an opportunity to invest and mentor someone else, and it creates sustainability – for the group to have a life of its own and keep growing beyond the church leader.
2) Have a clear timetable and format
Think through the logistics for your group. Ask: How will this work best for my group? You could meet online or in-person. Pick a time that group members will be able to attend most consistently, and set the calendar for the eight sessions of the course. The course material is very flexible and easy to fit into what works best for your context.
Online worked well for us since our group was made up of single parents, members of the congregation living with disabilities, and busy commuters. I would say it’s important to get people together in-person at some point.
3) Arrange an in-person meal after the course has finished to reflect together
Ask how people have put what they’ve learned into action.
Consider how you can continue the conversation about mental health in your community, as well as what practical help you can offer. Your group members could be potential leaders in beginning new ministries and programs of support.
Overall, Rachel is a big advocate now.
The Sanctuary Course is a gift to churches – to help dismantle the stigma and prejudice around mental health. It lends itself to creating safe, supportive, and hopeful spaces where participants can experience transformation in their relationship to their own mental health and how they support others.
Rachel’s insights are a great reminder of the companionship that can be found in gathering a group of people together, and how essential companionship is for both Christian community and mental health recovery.
A final comment from Rachel: “Do the course!”
For more information about running The Sanctuary Course, interested facilitators can access the facilitation guide and other facilitation information on the Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries online resource portal.

domain: sociology


The first of the seasonal 3yo G1 races is the Golden Rose (1400m) and it looks like being one of the best runnings of the race.
The Golden Slipper quinella of Shinzo ($4.50) and Cylinder ($3.50) will probably be there but the race is so much deeper with G1 winners King Colorado ($6) and Militarize ($11) also runners.
But the addition of recent winners Charm Stone ($8), Libertad ($21) and Encap ($11) just means it will be betting with so many angles.
Fillies and mares are focused on the G2 Golden Pendant (1400m) and multiple G1 gals are in the nominations. Atishu ($4.50), Espiona ($2.50), Sheeza Belter ($6) and Zougotcha ($2.80) make up plenty of quality.
One of the last Epsom lead ups is the G2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) where Chris Waller has a big hand. Zougotcha ($6) is nommed here as well but she has stable mates Waterford ($2.30), New Mandate ($15) and the import Magical Lagoon ($26).
Stayers may back up into the Metrop out of the G3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) and Verona ($3.50), Desert Icon ($6) and Athabascan ($2.80) have good recent form.
The other black type race on the program is the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m) where a surprise Everest contender could emerge. Kristilli ($15) may take on the boys like Ozzmosis ($2) or King’s Gambit ($8).
– RAS NewsWire


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Global Witness Report On Liberia – Exposure of Ellen’s Corruption Legacy or Foreign Investors Predatory?
Liberia, especially its densely populated and seemingly clean capital Monrovia, has been gripped with mixed reactions and political in-fights since the exposure of a corruption syndicate report by a renowned UK-based corruption watchdog group, Global Witness.
Ordinary people walking the streets of Monrovia and riding in taxis and other modes of transport as well as in other parts of the country that have been informed about the report, are not only hearing what is going on, but are engaging in self-explanation and analysis; thus widening the dissemination of the document like a wide fire.
It is quite interesting to note how this report gained such an instantaneous interest even more than that most recently gruesome and mysterious death of President Sirleaf’s former “Oil Company” Liberia Petroleum Refining Company’s Managing Director Harry Greaves.
The ‘devastating’ report allegedly exposed the shady financial deeds of some top officials, including former and current of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s administration. They are said to have reportedly received huge and small bribes to dodge Liberian concession law for the awarding of contract.
In addition to its local attraction, the latest report has generated international interest with the United States Assistant Secretary of State stating that it would be wise for the Liberian government to take it seriously. Social Media comments on the situation are also just overwhelming from the local and international perspectives.
The direction of this article is meant to analyze mixed reactions of the Global Witness report that has put the Liberian Government’s “feet” on the fire; stating President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s initial reaction to the report, as well as public reactions; including the Liberian Media’s coverage of events unfolding as a result of the release of the GW’s report.
We begin by stating that despite our immortality, every Liberian no matter his/her status must at all times muster the greatest courage to shun corruption in all forms and manners. Furthermore, when it has to do with the greater good of the Liberian people and their country. So we categorically denounce the allege bribery that Liberian government officials, both present and past were involved in.
That is why we are in one hundred percent consent with the sober attempts to maximize the adequate use of our Liberian LAWS in the adjudication of the allege bribery; even if it is one cent Liberian or United States dollar that was used.
In past or previous articles we strongly suggested that our President remains consultative especially when she has to comment on national issues; let alone this much publicized Global Witness report implicating some Liberians in allege bribery to twist Liberian concession laws. We are of the strongest conviction that it will do our soon-to-be seventy-eight year President better to make sober comments in her finishing presidency than rushing to judgement.
Now this is the President’s initial reaction on the GW’s report as reported by the Public Agenda Newspaper: “President Sirleaf has greeted the Global Witness’ findings with very strong and denigrating comments, describing western investors as “predatory”, adding that the report “brings home the fact that the real purveyors of corruption are those predatory investors who rely on the weaknesses of some officials and the vulnerability of poor countries to carry out dubious business transactions while being harbored by rich countries”.
You kidding us that our very learned President, a Harvard “Product” will insinuate that her government officials are weak to the extent that they easily succumb to allege bribery?
And that there are vulnerable poor countries like Liberia where dubious business transactions are carried out? Is she informing the world now that the Country that she has ruled for a little over ten years has had weak government officials and that poverty has made the country so gullible to the extent anything can be dumped on it and its people?
Has the Global Witness report brought our erudite President to the realization that the allege corrupt practices in her government is because her present and past government officials are weak? Is this leading to an Ellen Sirleaf’s “CORRUPTION LEGACY”?
Is she telling us now that for the past ten years, she has led a group or corps of weak government officials to the extent they can fall for anything? No matter how President Sirleaf describes foreign investors as greedy, will in any way validate an excuse for her present and past cabinet Ministers to allow themselves to be used to conscientiously agreed to bend already made laws in the greater interest of Liberia and its people.
Completely OUTRAGEOUS! That is why it really beats imagination for our well-respected leader to be coming out with such initial reaction. To be saying that the real sources of corruption are greedy investors, just doesn’t hold water Madam President. Kindly rethink this assertion of yours because there are allege sources of corruption right under your “Nose” that you seem to be giving a “blind” eye to. This is a very humble challenge to you to prove us wrong.
While we are strongly against so-called foreign investors taking advantage of poor countries for their reported dubious “scam” we don’t think government officials, whether present or past, should at any time bow in any way to such act. This is a clarion call to powerful nations to clamp down on their so-called wealthy investors to refrain from taking advantage of poor countries and their peoples.
The Liberian public must also be sober at all times in this matter and refrain from any acts that will obstruct the expeditious dispensation of justice. No mater our political affiliation, status or affluence, no Liberian should stand in the way of transparent justice in Liberia.
The Liberian Media has a greater role to play in this whole matter as the pace setters. We have to remain very firm in sticking to our professional coverage and subdue any acts of unprofessionalism.
It will do this country the worse if the Media allowed itself to be “fried” in this whole saga because of money or connection. We have to remain above the frail and help the process in a highly charged professional setting.
This is a history making event that has begun and if the Liberian Media must be recorded as performing a good job, they have to begin now. From this case, they can begin professionally digging out other cases of corruption especially from the “dying” or maybe “dead” National Oil Company of Liberia.

domain: news


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Therefore, the Department of Defense and Congress have taken an interest in furthering tinnitus research, adding it to a list of researchable conditions that impact the military. Both American Tinnitus Association and the Department of Defense fund tinnitus research. New research developments are reported in journals such as Tinnitus Today and the International Tinnitus Journal.
White Noise Machines. These devices do a great job of simulating the sound of everything from ocean waves, to rain, to a thunder storm, to a crackling fire to an oscillating fan to just plain old static. The result is that your brain focuses on the sounds around you instead of the ringing in your head. You can even download apps on your iPhone that do the same thing so that you can always have a noise machine with you wherever you go. The constant background noise can not only bring back nostalgic feelings of joy, if you used to site around a crackling fire on holidays with your family, but also allow you to forget about your tinnitus.
None of these treatment options are supported by science. Many people are convinced that the herb gingko biloba is helpful, however large-scale studies have been unable to prove this. There are many nutritional supplements claiming to be tinnitus remedies. These are usually a combination of herbs and vitamins, often including zinc, ginkgo, and vitamin B-12.
Individuals with tinnitus describe perceiving a wide variety of sounds including ringing, clicking, hissing, humming, chirping, buzzing, whistling, whooshing, roaring, and/or whirling. These sounds may be present at all times, or they may come and go. The volume, pitch or quality of tinnitus sounds can fluctuate as well. Some people report that their tinnitus is most obvious when outside sounds are low (i.e. during the night). Other individuals describe their tinnitus as loud even in the presence of external sounds or noise, and some describe it as exacerbated by sounds. Tinnitus can affect one ear or both ears. It can also sound like it is inside the head and not in the ears at all.
We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the effects of the customized music-based sound therapy for reducing tinnitus. Participants (N = 50) who suffered from tinnitus were randomly allocated (with 1:1 ratio) to the treatment and placebo groups with assessments at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. The primary outcome was the differences in mean scores of the THI compared at four time intervals. Independent and paired samples t-tests were conducted to compare THI scores between and within groups, respectively.
According to the American Tinnitus Association, this complex audiological and neurological condition is experienced by nearly 50 million Americans. (2) Older adults, men, people who smoke or use drugs, and those with a history of ear infections or cardiovascular disease have the highest risk for developing tinnitus. Most experts believe that it’s not a disorder itself, but rather one symptom of another underlying disorder that affects auditory sensations and nerves near the ears. However, there are tinnitus treatment options out there to treat those symptoms.
Antidepressants. Antidepressants, such as nortriptyline and amitriptyline, have been used as mood enhancers to help someone with tinnitus cope with the life changing implications and complications it brings. However, they are often only prescribed in the most severe of tinnitus cases as they carry some serious side effects that might not make them worth taking for everyone. These include blurred vision, heart problems, dry mouth and constipation.
Treatment of the underlying primary disorder may help to improve or cure rhythmic tinnitus. For example, the treatment of blood vessel disorders (e.g. dural arteriovenous shunts) can include certain medications or surgery. A surgical procedure known as sinus wall reconstruction can successfully treat pulsatile tinnitus due to sigmoid sinus diverticulum and dehiscence. In fact, most individuals have experienced complete resolution of their tinnitus following this surgery. Surgery may also be necessary for rare cases of pulsatile tinnitus caused by a tumor.
Pulsatile tinnitus is a rare type of tinnitus that sounds like a rhythmic pulsing in the ear, usually in time with your heartbeat. A doctor may be able to hear it by pressing a stethoscope against your neck or by placing a tiny microphone inside the ear canal. This kind of tinnitus is most often caused by problems with blood flow in the head or neck. Pulsatile tinnitus also may be caused by brain tumors or abnormalities in brain structure.
Until recently, most tinnitus patients had little reason to believe doctors would ever be able to completely cure or reverse the affliction. Drug therapies had consistently failed, and so had more invasive procedures — including some surgeries to remove the auditory nerve that transmits sound from the ear to the brain, according to past research. (1,2)
Tinnitus is a condition in which you hear noises when there is no outside source of the sounds. The noises can have many different forms (ringing, clicking, buzzing, roaring, etc.) and can be soft or loud. Treatment options include hearing aids; tinnitus masking devices; devices that increase background noise levels; coping, relaxation, anxiety control methods; and counseling and retraining therapy.Tinnitus does not typically occur in children.
Medications, Prescription Drugs and Food Additives. Other external irritants that can cause tinnitus are over the counter medications and prescriptions. Even something as simple as aspirin can generate tinnitus. I have experienced this throughout my lifetime. I take aspirin only when I absolutely need it. Certain antibiotics and other prescription drugs are also known to cause tinnitus. Two very common ones that have shown to cause tinnitus are quinine and chloroquine which are in malaria medications. Certain diuretics and cancer medications can also cause tinnitus. Although not a drug, NutraSweet has been linked to tinnitus and a whole host of side effects in clinical studies.
Sound therapies are one method that has previously been shown to reduce the severity of tinnitus. While not all sound therapies have gone through rigorous clinical testing, they have far greater traction and adoption in the tinnitus community. There are two types of sound therapy approaches: (1) maskers that are intended to block out the tinnitus and have the patient learn to ignore their tinnitus, and (2) sound therapies that utilize the same brain plasticity that is thought to be causing the tinnitus for the purpose of reducing it. Both approaches can be delivered via electronic devices that can produce sound. There has been an increase in tinnitus maskers that are built into hearing aids. These built-in maskers generate different sounds including white noise and random tones. Unfortunately, due to their design, hearing aids are still limited to providing masking at frequencies below 8 kHz.
Exposure to loud noise. Loud noises, such as those from heavy equipment, chain saws and firearms, are common sources of noise-related hearing loss. Portable music devices, such as MP3 players or iPods, also can cause noise-related hearing loss if played loudly for long periods. Tinnitus caused by short-term exposure, such as attending a loud concert, usually goes away; both short- and long-term exposure to loud sound can cause permanent damage.

domain: medical


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Cell phones should not be allowed in schools by staff cell phones shouldn’t be allowed in school because they can distract from school work and disturb. Why cell phones should be allowed in schools should cell phones be allowed at school sign up to view the whole essay and download the pdf for anytime. Here are 7 reasons why students k-12 should be able to use their cell phones and/or tablets while at school 7 reasons why students should be allowed to use cell. Should mobile phones be banned in schools mobile phones are allowed in school and what about children running up big bills doing school work on their phones. Persuasive essay prompt: do you think cell phones should be allowed myself as a student a three reasons why cell phones should be allowed in school.
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Persuasive essay should cell phones be allowed in school about one another you discover that you do not have a cell phone or any device to contact your parents. 4 way of the future: cell phones are the way of the future instead of spending time and energy making sure students do not bring them to school, we should be. Students should not be allowed to use cell phones at school students should not be allowed to use their cell phones a persuasive essay is a form of.View


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Joel Madden is channeling his animal instincts!
The dad of two recently painted tiger stripes on the back of his head and his new look was promptly showed off by his wife of 18 months, Nicole Richie.
"I prayed for a tiger in the bedroom, and this is what I got…" the Fashion Star mentor joked about her hubby's look via her Facebook page on June 4. The 30-year-old underwent her own major hair change recently with bright pink dip-dyed ends.
The last punk-rock hair Madden, 33, experimented with was back in February when he stepped out with blonde sides and a mop of black hair on top -- a look that he sported in 2007 during his days with Good Charlotte.


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Upon first glance, Chasidy Gwaltney thought she was simply witnessing a man spending Valentine's Day alone at a restaurant in Corpus Christi, TX — until she noticed two glasses of wine and the bottle of ashes sitting across the table. Along with a heart-shattering photo of the grieving man, Chasidy shared an important reminder that everyone needs to hear, whether they have a partner or not.
"You know? We are all guilty of taking our other half for granted from time to time," she wrote. "We may forget to give a goodbye kiss, say 'I love you,' or just be so caught up in what we are doing at the moment that we don't notice the very little things that mean so much to our special someone. I saw something today that has made me remember that we won't always have each other to hold, talk to, love, play with, or even just aggravate every now and then."
The heartbreaking photo has sparked commenters on the post to share their own stories about lost partners, while others felt inspired to tag their partners to express their love for them.
"This picture speaks loudly and it may hurt your heart as it has mine," Chasidy continued. She ended her post with a simple request: "Please love your sweetheart while you have the opportunity, you never know what tomorrow will bring or take away!"


text:
[In pencil:] Professor Ed. Freeman.
Eglington & Co. Publishers, 78, Great Queen Street, London, W.C. Copyright. 283, Oxford Street, W. [n.d. c.1888.]
Photograph on board. 375 x 272mm. 14¾ x 10¾".
Edward Augustus Freeman (1823-1892) was an English historian. His reputation as a historian rests largely on his 'History of the Norman Conquest' (1867-1876), his longest completed book. He was in main a medieval and constitutional historian. Peter Gay in 'The Bourgeois Experience, Victoria to Freud: the Cultivation of Hatred', states that Freeman dispicable racists views. Freeman viewed social development in terms of race and wrote to a friend, when travelling in the United States with harsh racism about Black Americans and Irishmen.
[Ref: 23335] £95.00

domain: library


Here is an inflatable soft robot made of polyethylene sheets. By folding them and combining airbags, it is possible to achieve movement by changing the air pressure of each bag. As researchers from Motion Intelligence Lab show in the below video, they made a 4-joint robot arm with an inflatable structure using this approach. The joint part was made with a 3D printer. By changing the pressure of the airbags, the joints can be moved.


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- Download Swords And Sandals 2 Full Version Cracked Download
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domain: entertainment


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Sacred Oath gives veterans Thanksgiving meal
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) -The Sacred Oath Organization is a veterans-focused charity. This Thanksgiving, they invited all the veterans in town to enjoy a hot meal and some comradery as well. They had six 22-pound turkeys available, along with ham pies and many other sides, for those that wanted to go.
Sacred Oath held the dinner at the Salvation Army, where many people attended with their families, loved ones, or support groups. The founder of the Sacred Oath organization is Alicia Small. Alicia is also a veteran herself and has endured a lot of tough times. Now she is using her organization to help others who are in a similar situation.
“Who better to help veterans than other veterans? One of the things that leads to suicide is isolation,” Small said. “What we are trying to do is get everybody together so they know somebody cares and they know they have connections that they can make.”
To donate, individuals can visit their Facebook page.
Copyright 2022 KNOP. All rights reserved.


20 Dec 2015 20:02
Sony mirrorless cameras - mostly the ones newer than the "NEX" series - take a two-stage wired remote whose connection can synchronize them by "plugging the cameras into each other." The remote itself is not needed, but a cheap aftermarket remote-connecting cord is an economical way to get the nonstandard micro-USB-like "multi terminal' connector. The cords' other ends can simply be coupled for a wide-base rig. To arrange the cameras closely with short sides together, if those have the terminals on them, (typically the left sides have the multi-terminals), remove the rubber boots by softening them with a little heat-too much or too long will damage the circuitry within-and gently picking them away, then use the original cables or other fine wires to pair up each of the contacts previously in use on each connector. Thread the double-ended male adapter through a gap in the Z-bar for closest spacing.


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Rockford Fosgate builds Punch Series Stage 3 subwoofers with advanced cooling technology and bulletproof cone materials so they'll give you years of trouble-free bass reinforcement.
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domain: design


Colorado bill advances to test for lead in water at public schools
Colorado is one step closer to passing a bill that would make sure the water at public schools is safe to drink.
House Bill 1306 would establish a grant that would allow the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to test the water at all public schools in the state for up to three years.
The bill passed 12-1 and now heads to appropriations.
Under the bill, the Department of Public Health and Environment would be allowed to spent up to $300,000 per year for testing, according to officials.
Read more from 9News.com.


(AllHipHop News) Kanye West has launched his Yeezy Season 6 fashion collection with a little help from his wife Kim Kardashian.
An update published on his Yeezy Supply website shows pictures of Kim modeling items from his range in the brand’s signature array of beige and grey colors.
The “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star has recently been spotted out and about wearing the designs, which include sportswear, coats, high-heeled shoes, vest tops, dresses and tracksuit bottoms.
The launch represents a much smaller debut than Yeezy Season 5 or 4.
In February, the hip-hop star presented his fifth collection at New York Fashion Week, while his fourth debuted in September 2016 with a huge outdoor fashion show.
After he was hospitalized with exhaustion in November last year, just days after behaving erratically at a concert in Sacramento, California, Kanye has cut back on making public appearances – and even abandoned his Saint Pablo tour.
Last month he returned to the stage for the first time since his hiatus, joining fellow rapper Kid Cudi at a concert in Chicago, Illinois.


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In last week's print issue, we wrote that Kenneth Branagh played Woody Allen's alter ego in “Anything Else” (see article). In fact, it was Jason Biggs. Mr Branagh starred as Mr Allen's neurotic double in “Celebrity”. Apologies all round.
Correction: “Anything Else”
From the print edition: Books and arts

domain: artistic


text:
In addition to gases and clouds, Earth's atmosphere contains tiny liquid and solid particles called aerosols. Aerosols influence air quality and public health, and they can influence climate by reflecting or absorbing sunlight and by changing where and when clouds form. Aerosols include sea salt, dust, and volcanic ash, as well as soot, sulfates, and other particles produced by people burning fossil fuels. Natural and human-caused fires are also significant sources of aerosols.
The aerosol maps show average monthly aerosol amounts around the world based on observations from the MODIS sensor on NASA's Terra satellite. Satellite measurements of aerosols, called aerosol optical thickness, are based on the fact that the particles change the way the atmosphere reflects and absorbs visible and infrared light. An optical thickness of less than 0.1 (palest yellow) indicates a crystal clear sky with maximum visibility, whereas a value of 1 (reddish brown) indicates very hazy conditions.
The fire maps show the locations of actively burning fires around the world on a monthly basis, based on observations from the MODIS sensors on NASA's Terra satellite. The colors are based on a count of the number (not size) of fires observed within a 1,000-square-kilometer area. White pixels show the high end of the count — as many as 30 fires in a 1,000-square-kilometer area per day. Orange pixels show as many as 10 fires, while red areas show as few as 1 fire per day.
The comparison shows the places and times of year in which fires play a major role in aerosols. For example, fire counts and aerosols increase in tandem across South America from July through September, and taper off in tandem in October. This pattern is due to land clearing and agricultural fires that are widespread across the Amazon Basin and Cerrado regions during the dry season. A similar relationship is apparent in Central America (March-May), central and southern Africa (June-September, and Southeast Asia (January-April).
In other cases, however, aerosol concentrations rise in the absence of significant fire activity. For example, from May through August each year, aerosol amounts rise dramatically around the Arabian Peninsula and nearby oceans, even though there is no significant fire activity in the vicinity. Here, dust storms are the likely source of the aerosols. An arc of elevated aerosol amounts at the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains in northern India in some months when fire activity is minimal (for example, November 2006) is an indication that urban or industrial air pollution is playing a role.
View, download, or analyze more of these data from NASA Earth Observations (NEO):
Aerosol Optical Depth

domain: geography


text:
Below is Chapter 1 of my book With Love from Tin Lizzie: A History of Metal Dolls, Dolls with Metal Parts and Automatons: it covers the ancient world in general and talks about dolls in Egypt:
The Ancient World and Middle Ages
Dolls in the Ancient World were usually not toys, but idols or ritual figures representing various pagan gods. Ancient metal soldiers often served the same role that the ushabti of Egypt served when they accompanied the dead to their tombs as representatives of their live servants. Bronze statuettes representing the Sardinian mercenaries of Shar dana who served in Egypt date back to approximately 1000 B.C. and wear tall helmets, small shields and short swords. In Palestine, archaeologists discovered an early bronze spear thrower from Shigan closely resembling the linen-girdled wooden figures of the Egyptian dynasties.
The late Bronze Age, (approximately fourteenth to thirteenth century B.C.), has yielded metal molds which artists used to make pottery plaques of the goddess Astarte. Astarte was an early manifestation of the Greek Aphrodite, goddess of love. Small iron figures of nude women with their arms upraised and their hands holding snakes or lily stalks also date from this period. These are probably representations of the Snake Goddess of Crete. These dolls are found in Greece, around the Bosphorus in Asia Minor, in Italy, and in Gaul. These examples are usually jointed at the shoulders and hips (Chapuis 19). Usually, they were modeled clay around an iron rod and baked. In Automata, Alfred Chapuis observes that these dolls are found in great quantities in regions "where the art of the modeller, that is the maker of figures in baked earth or wax, flourished" (19). Chapuis theorizes that these are the dolls young girls consecrated at the altars of the female godesses before marriage (19). Other similar figures hold their arms clasped in front of them and uncannily resemble the stone bisque Frozen Charlottes and penny dolls of the 1800's.
Ancient Egypt, too, has given the modern word some spectacular doll-like objects made of gold and precious gems. One is the famous death mask of the boy king, Tut. It is of beaten gold decorated with glass, faience beads and lapis lazuli colored beads. Also from the tomb of Tut comes the realistic portrait figure of the young king lying on top of a gold stick. He closely resembles the ushabti figures of clay and glass from the same period. The Peggy Nisbet model of Tut has a head cast in metal. The head is a copy of the famous death mask. The Peggy Nisbet Company of England, now defunct, specialized in small composition and plastic figures of historical persons and celebrities.
Authentic tomb figures sometimes surfaced in collections of the 1930's and 40's. One collector wrote Janet Johl, noted doll historian and former reporter for The Christian Science Monitor, of a "three inch tall bronze Osiris" supposedly found in mummy wrappings. One hand of the doll holds a shepherd's crook or whip, while the other hand holds some sort of symbol. The owner thought the symbolic objects might be symbols of invading kings. One is reminded of the staves that Moses turned into serpents in the Charleton Heston film, The Ten Commandments. There was a bronze peg attached to the bottom of this doll (Johl SMAD 2). Modern reproductions of these figures are now made of brass or bronze and attached to basis. One five inch figure of Isis has a candle holder attached to her head. Her arms are akimbo and touch her head. and her close-fitting garment is carved with lines to imitate linen folds.
Doll collectors have long been familiar with the small, jointed clay dolls of the ancient Greeks. These little figure are among the earliest dolls actually to serve as toys. Besides these miniatures, however, that are often strung with metal, the Greeks also had dolls made of various metals.
The artisans of Mycenae were skilled in metal work while Egypt was still in its new kingdom in about 1600-1200 B.C. In fact, the hammered gold death mask of Mycenae has historical significance besides its interest to doll lovers because it was once believed to be the death mask of Agamemnon and thus served as proof of the historical existence of Troy and the Trojan War. Also during this period, the Hittites of Asia Minor were forging iron. Their work helped to bring about he end of the Bronze Age (Seltzman 15). The people of Crete were also famous for their metal work and archaeologists have found a stone matrix which served as a mold to make small metal figures. One of these is a little figurine holding a disk. Another is a small, gold statue of a woman. Modern toy soldiers are made in a similar way.
The metalworkers of Bronze Age Greece were not only skilled, but also highly respected. There was also a hierarchy to their craft. For example, Dactyls were Bronze smelters. This hierarchy and variation existed even in the pantheon of the Greek gods for Vulcan was the chief forger of Zeus and the Cyclopes were his helpers. Furthermore, a toreutike was an artist who carved or engraved works of gold, silver or bronze (Seltzman 13).
Artists and craftsmen of ancient Greece made a large variety of bronze figures representing sphinxes, gorgons, harpies and children. One small bronze doll of a boy wearing a belt and making an offering to Apollo is similar to an ancient Celtic doll of bronze. In Olympia, in the Attis, (Zeus's sacred grove), was found a grave containing small models of archaic Greek warriors. These were wearing helmets and breast plates. One could say that they are the ancestors of the later model soldiers.
Another type of doll or statuette is called a chryselephantine (Seltzman 16-17). This doll has a body of ivory and belts, armlets, hems and borders of gold. Gold studs are also implanted in the exposed nipples. Figures representing the Snake Goddess of Knossos of Crete even hold tiny golden snakes in their hands. The author has a modern reproduction of the Snake Goddess in her collection. While she is made entirely of a plaster-like substance, one can see where the original was decorated with gold by the painted detail
These goddess figures wear the elaborate curled, long, full skirt, and tight, open-breasted jackets of the well-to-do Cretan women of the time. Other chryselephantine figures represent one of the female toreadors of Crete. One doll wears a golden apron and corsage to protect her ribs, groin and belly as she grabs the bull's horns and jumps over his back. Like the Snake Goddess, her chest is bare. Her companion is a male toreador with a golden apron.
In Sparta there are small bronzes showing Hermes wearing a conical cap. One found in Arcadia in 560 B.C. carries arms and is around seven inches high. Ancestor dolls were tiny figures of lead or bronze that people set up in home shrines near the hearth. The little dolls were given offering so food and drink in return for healing a sick or injured person. This practice continues today in European churches where small metal images of tin resembling candy molds, called in Hispanic countries milagros, are left at churches when someone recovers from an illness or injury. These images can represent a whole person, or just the afflicted body part. When the author was in Greece she saw examples in the Cathedral in Athens representing a woman, a foot, a heart and a hand. E.M. Forster's short story "The Road from Colonnus" mentions these tin offerings nailed to what was once a sacred pagan tree in a tiny village. Also from Sparta come two figures in bronze of young girls. One holds flower while another holds her arms up as a mirror support. Another bronze of a woman is only six inches high, yet her garments are bordered in silver in the style of the sixth century revived under Claudius. She dates from around 50 A.D.
Finally, no discussion of metal dolls in Ancient Greece would be complete without discussion of the Charioteer of Delphi. The charioteer is not a doll, but a life-sized statue in bronze of an athlete. He was dedicated at Delphi by one Polyzalos and originally stood in a chariot drawn by life-sized horses. His eyes are onyx, surrounded by bronze eyelashes and his lips are inlaid with copper to make them look realistic. The author is discussing him here because the method of inlaying eyes in this and other statues is similar to the way glass eyes would be inserted in Minerva and Juno metal heads thousands of years later. When one actually stands before the Charioteer in the museum and looks into his face, she forgets that he is only a statue. Centuries later, the look of pure astonishment at winning the race is still reflected on his face as he clasps tightly the reigns of his horses. He must have been a magnificent sight when new. As he is, he is unforgettable. After seeing the life-like wax-works of Mme. Tussaud, one wonders if she ever saw the startled look of the Charioteer and was thereafter inspired when she created her own sculptures.
A jumping jack, though from Southern Russia, nevertheless shows Greek influence. He is a baked clay Hercules, wearing a lion's skin hood and holding a club and canthare (a drinking vessel). He is strung with bronze wires (Chapuis 20). This doll has been mentioned in the Dictionnaire des Antiquités (20).
Petronius writes of a banquet where the host had a water-clock (clepsydra), a mechanical horn player, and silver skeleton that was "so well contrived that its joints and its flexible back-bone could turn to every position" (21).
The Celts, like the Greeks, used small metal images as votive offerings in order to pray for health and healing. Many of these small figurines belong to the Halstatt Culture of the eight to fifth century B.C. This culture represents the earliest period of the Celtic Iron Age. Archaeologists now believe that many of these figures were not really votive, but rather that they were part of settlement washed away by a flood. They were fond in La Tene which is located by a lake on a mountainside.
Iron was to the Celts a sacred metal with magical powers. Known also as the "blood metal," it was forged by the god Lug. One could even imagine Excalibur, that magic sword of the legendary Celtic King, Arthur, was forged by iron. Given the importance which the early Celts attached to iron, it is not hard to believe that a lot of the tiny figures were indeed of a religious or ritual nature. One figure is of a horse and rider and is mounted on the handle of a bronze axe. Horses were important to Celtic myth and Epona, the horse goddess, holds a place of honor in the pantheon. Another figure represents a man raising his arms. He wears a round helmet similar to those one would wear today on safari along with a long tunic girdled tightly by a wide belt. He wears a bangle around his left ankle which is characteristic of Celtic dress for both men and women.
These votive offerings were also made of wood and stone and were often thrown into natural waters as offerings to the spring deities. Like the Greek examples mentioned earlier, they could represent a whole person, or only an afflicted body part.
More bronze figures have been discovered in the ruins of Roman Gaul. Now, though, the clothing and hairstyles appear almost Grecian in influence. Three of these figures date from 200 or 300 A.D. The first is of a musician wearing cris-crossed designs on his tunic and legwork. He appears to have a beard and his hand is raised as though he were holding an instrument. The second figure seems to be a barefoot priest or druid with a long-sleeved, knee length tunic. The hair is curled and the arm is outraised as if in benediction. The druids were the scholarly and priestly order of the Celts who handed down law and healed the sick. They also interceded with the gods and may have performed human sacrifices in their sacred oak groves early in Celtic history. The Romans methodically and mercilessly slaughtered them as they began to conquer the Celts. The third figure is of a dancing girl with delicate features. Her graceful, elongated body and limbs make her look as if she is made of plasticene clay. Her graceful pose clearly illustrates for the observer the fluidity of a dancer's movement. A tiny pewter gymnast of the twentieth century in the author's collection has some of the same grace and fluidity as the ancient Celtic dancer. She stands about four inches and was a gift to the author from her mother.
A Celtiberan wagon from Merida, Western Spain dates from the first century B.C. A horseman wearing patterned breeches is bent over his horse, naked from the waist up. He holds a spear and in front of him is a sacred boar. Next to him trots his faithful dog. The Celts were particularly fond of their dogs and they often appear in their myths and art; in fact, King Arthur himself is said to have wept during battle when his dog, Cabal was mortally wounded. Another even older model warrior was found in a burial chariot and dates from the seventh century B.C. He was discovered at Stretweg, Austria. From Primeaux, France comes a Gallo-Roman bronze figure representing Dagda, the "good god." Dagda is good because he does all things well, not because of his moral qualities. The figure holds a massive club to show strength and a cauldron, which, like the cornucopia, has the power to inspire and rejuvenate. Another French doll represents the god of thunder and holds a thunderbolt and wheel in his hand. He is naked and bearded, his only ornament being an ankle bracelet.
One fantastic find of these Celtic figurines was discovered in a grave mound at Strettweg. In one example, a naked goddess with painted breasts directs a procession of deceased to the afterlife. Often these miniature carts were placed in graves as tokens of the death of a young person. A fourteen inch bronze cart with figures dating from the seventh century B.C. is quite magnificent. It consists of horsemen and walking figurines, some with helmets, some bareheaded. Some of the figures have been painted, but all are naked. There are women in the procession as well and some
wear large hoop earrings and have their hair pulled back in a bun. All are thick and elongated in physique.
Christian influence is not lost in these Celtic dolls as the figures called "Captives of St. Leonard" or "Leonard's Louts"illustrate. These date back to the twelfth century when Leonard was canonized. The Wurdeger family is often connected with superstitions concerning these and owned a knight in armour weighing fourteen Kg. which young boys had to lift to their shoulders then throw to the ground to ensure against illness the following year. This tradition continued until 1904. The Salzburger Museum Carolino Augusteum Spielzegmuseum has an example of the St. Leonard figures. Historians do not know much about St. Leonard. His feast is November 6th and first mention of him appears in an eleventh century life of saints. Leonard is supposed to have founded a monastery at Noblazc, now Saint-Leonard, near Limoges. Also he was a hermit worshipped by the crusaders who named him patron saint of prisoners (Attwater 218).
Later Celtic dolls from the La Tene culture wear Etruscan helmets and have moveable rings in their arms and legs. They appear almost African and some carry pots on their heads. Some of these decorated utensils.
Bavarian villages yielded interesting ritual dolls made of iron, usually roughly forged by the village blacksmith. Men are usually naked and women wear long skirts. Sometimes, the artist denoted sexual features. Some figures were used to ward off pain and were offered in sacred places like the votive dolls mentioned earlier. The Iron Man of Battenviesen is one such figure (Von Boehn 74). He appears to be one of the ancient dolls, but historian Richard Andree later proved that he was a fake, made in the late Middle Ages in the style of the prehistoric figures. One modern ancestor of these ancient talismans, though not a doll technically, is the Oscar figurine. This figure of a man with clasped hands resembles Celtic dolls as well as ancient Egyptian figures of Osiris. Many have personified Oscar and refer to the statuette by the male personal pronoun. He is also sort of a good luck charm like the older figures were and Barbra Streisand addressed him as "Hello, Beautiful!" when she won an academy award for "Hello Dolly!" The little World War II era charm dolls of silver with hands pointing upward called "Thumbs Up" served the same good luck talisman purpose.
Like the Celts, the ancient inhabitants of the Americas were also skilled artisans when it came to making figures of metals.
Gold was abundant in Columbia and Panama, just as it was in Peru and other South American countries. Artisans worked in styles similar to the Peruvian and created as well a method of casting gold over wax forms. One figure cast over wax is a two-dimensional Musica warrior. His body and head consist of crude, triangular shapes with tiny, stick-like arms crossed over the torso. His features are draw with wax thread. Another, three-dimensional figure of a noble is cast from 1.37 pounds of gold. Many of these dolls show a geometrical influence and one talisman is decorated with patterns of dots and lines and may have been meant as a breast ornament. Articulated doll figures of other materials were even more common, and Chapuis, in Automata, writes that these are among the ancestors of the mechanical figures, which will be discussed in Chapters Three and Four. Chapuis pictures one example of a Mexican doll with articulated limbs from an Aztec grave at Teotihuacan, which was near Mexico City (18). Teotihuacan is also the site of the great Aztec pyramids. Chapuis writes that the art of statuary "hade been highly developed among the Aztecs and the Toltecs, as alos among the Mayas further south" (21). Chapuis, Linné, and other experts claim that these articulated figures were not toys, as we might be tempted to believe. Instead, they were part of a ritual that took place one the first day of the third month [of the Aztec calendar] which honored Centeoti, goddess of maize. As part of the ceremeony the figures were probably suspended over the maize filed by a cord (Chapuis 22).
Mexico was not the only country in Ancient America to yield articulated figures and metal dolls. Without a doubt, the most magnificent gold dolls and idols came from Peru. The vast quantities of gold an metals available in Ancient America made objects of these materials a natural tribute. Then, people appreciated the objects for their beauty, not their monetary value. Some of the little dolls decorated temples and others were gifts for favorite courtesans of the ruler, the Inca. Inca temples held niches for all sorts of figures representing people or animals made of gold or silver. Some larger figures served as garden decorations. Royal houses even had realistic gold and silver lizards and mice strategically placed to look alive. The Inca hid many of these treasures from the conquistadors who came looking for riches.
The Moche or Mohica civilization of Peru as famous for its gold work. This pre-Inca culture existed till approximately 600 A.D. They derived their name from the Moche River near the modern city of Trujillo (Newseek 68). Much of the art work was a photographic representation of their life and customs. Moche tombs contained a variety of small, gold objects meant to serve the dead. As with early rulers of Egypt, Moche elite were buried with entire households. Sometimes, those who died before their master were even put into storage until the time when they could be buried with him (Newseek 69). One corpse of a warrior- priest, the Lord of Spain, displayed at a 1993-94 exhibition at UCLA's Fowler Museum of Cultural History, wore a large hold headdress and silver sandals. His heraldic banner is so detailed, that the golden human figures adorning it wear tiny turquoise bead bracelets. Included in his ensemble are a gilded cooper chest piece, nose ornaments made of sheet gold, gold and silver earrings covered with shell and turquoise mosaic figures and other objects of gold, copper, and silver. As late as 1987, grave robbers were still helping themselves to Moche treasures and flooding the black market with them (68). Moche artists were apparently not interested in depicting everyday life for its own sake, but even poor people were buried clutching objects like pottery shards.
The Moche were known to be farmers who grew Maize and other crops and fished for crab. They also traded with the people of what is now Chile for lapis lazuli and other goods. Even 100 years ago, there was interest in their culture for William Randolph Hearst's mother sponsored a dig on a Moche site (68).
The Inca, the best-known of the Peruvian civilizations, were also known for artifacts of precious metals. One small silver doll wears a woven textile blanket and red feather headdress. It was found buried with the body of a mummified royal child. According to one expert, the child was left to die of exposure as a sacrifice. Also buried with him were a variety of small doll figures and other objects. In the author's collection is a tiny imitation gold replica of these figures which is naked except for the small, conical cap on his head. He comes from Chan, the capital city of the Chimu empire in Western South America. The original dates from 1100-1500 A.D. and is in the Peabody Museum. the Inca conquered the Chimu, who were a desert people, in around 1470 A.D. The original doll is not made of gold, but of copper alloy. The reproduction came fastened on a blue card which gives information on the doll and reads at the bottom:
A REPRODUCTION FROM
Young Collectors INCORPORATED
Post Office Box 894
Haverhill, Mass tts 01830.
Another collector wrote the late Janet Johl about a similar doll of brass (Johl SMAD 5).
It is the position of the Peruvian government that artifacts like the gold figures should become state property, but private collectors have the money with which to collect them and to provide proper protection for them, so exceptions are made.
Mexican craftsman in the early -period were also skilled metalworkers. Indeed, their work often rivalled that of European artisans. One example is the fabulous gold bust of the Mixtec god of death. His shoulders have calendarical notation and his elaborate headdress has circular designs. He has a face which resembles a grinning skull. When Renaissance artist Albrecht Durer viewed an exhibit of Middle American gold work in 1520, he said that he had seen nothing in his whole life which so filled his heart with joy. The objects he saw were gifts from the Aztec emperor, Montezuma, to Cortez.
Metal dolls continue to be made in Mexico. Among the most famous are the tiny wire dolls with clay heads representing skeletons which adorn graves during the day of the Dead, November 1st. Also, metal knights and conquistadors are popular. The Yokohama Doll Museum has an interesting Mexican doll dressed as a peasant with a head of metal. The entire doll is made of lead. He is five inches high and is dressed as a gaucho. He wears a white outfit and a gun belt, all of lead. He holds a rifle and stands on a square, metal base. The author has one of these in her collection, which represents a French soldier.
Other countries, too, have ancient dolls of made of various metals. The Wellcome Museum in London has a seven inch doll with a face made of a gold disk. The body is made of fibre decorated with a crisscross of beads with fibre hair. The face has no features. The iron dolls of Zaire date back to several centuries before Christ and are among the spirit dolls of Africa. One has cut-out holes for eyes. These were generally ritual figures belonging to chiefs, not toys. One two-inch brass fetish dates from the 1940's and formed part of a necklace of brass beads. These are still made today and are worn on black leather cords. Particularly popular are miniature Ashanti gods from Ghana. The author has a necklace and a pair of earrings in her collection.
From West Africa come 3 and 3/4 inch bronze figures which may also be fetishes. Benin, formerly Edo, has a tradition of making metal figures utilizing the lost wax method. Benin lies between Nigeria and Bukina Faso. One eleven inch brass doll represents an important tribal personage holding aloft a ceremonial sword. This is a modern example made around the time of World War II and has no marks (Judd 7). Figures like this one, however, have been made for centuries in Benin, which has always had rich deposits of metal resources. Skills are passed from generation to generation, as they are in families of Japanese doll artists. An antique example would cost thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of dollars, according to a recent Antiques Roadshow.
Like many foreign counties, Mexico sells dolls either formed of wire armatures covered with cloth, or wire armature wound with colored yarn. "Worry dolls" from Guatemala are tiny, one inch dolls formed of pieces of wire wrapped in yarn. Most have paper faces, some have clay heads.
India has brass acrobats which balance as well as a variety of costume dolls which consist of wire armatures covered with cloth. Small brass figures of Indian deities, replicas of ancient figures, are currently sold at Pier I Imports.
Japan has heavy metal dolls of women posed in graceful kimonos with the headdresses of fisherwomen. Also, there have been throughout the ages many metal carvings and images made of Buddha throughout Asia. A small brass head of Buddha, about 3 inches high, has holes around the collar/base and is meant to be an incense burner. One cast iron doll from Japan stands 11 inches high and represents a child. Her face is painted in silver paint, the rest of her clothes are painted in gold and silver. She is from the author's collection and was purchased in 1991 in Herrin, IL.
Thailand still exports dolls with cloth bodies and brass heads representing young girls. The little girl's hair is molded as a pompadour and has a sharp object through the bun. The brass is not painted, but is left its natural color. From china come modern dolls made of cloisonne or copper enameling with ivory heads, dating to an ancient tradition.
Articulated dolls or shadow puppets called Wayang Golek come from the Theatre of Java. These are marionettes "operated from below" instead of by strings from above. Chapuis observes that Plato has described tis type of puppet int he seventh book of the Republic (23). Chapuis discusses in his book Automata examples from Paris, the Musée de l'Homme (21). Articulated masks showing Indonesian influence come from Lombok, Dutch East Indies. Articulated dolls of many kinds, often incorporating metal, come from the Bataks of Sumatra (Chapuis 22). The Batak figure has a sponge mechanism in the back of its head that makes it shed tears.
Finally, there are the felt-wrapped wire dolls of Bulgaria which have iron weights in their feet to enable them to stand and masks for faces.
Dolls were scarce during the Middle Ages, but they did exist. In fact, Johl claims that during this time parents blessed dolls before giving them to children (SMAD 19). During Medieval times, dolls of silver and other metals were created for royalty. These may have been baptismal favors. This theory becomes more plausible when one considers the cheaper baptismal dolls of clay which and an indentation in their stomachs for a coin. Thus, it is logical that more expensive dolls would be made entirely of precious metal and would themselves be the offering.
Among Bohemian communities were toys and dolls fashioned like a pair of little silver miners wielding picks. There is a smith from the Medieval period hammering an anvil in the style of Vulcan. These two were probably amusements for rich adults. Doll-like utensils were popular during this era as in the Ancient World. In Dolls and Puppets, Max von Boehn discusses a sixteenth century virgin goblet made of precious metals. She is a full-length figure of a woman with a large hoop skirt. Her arms are upraised to hold a swivelling cup. Similar examples date from Ancient Greece. supposedly, a man first drained the large cup of the figure's skirt and a woman drank from the smaller cup held aloft in the figure's hands. The author's modern, silver-plated example stands ten inches and is elaborately decorated. These figures are also called "brides' cups."
Another goblet of silver made in 1596 represents King Christian IV on horseback. The horse's head was the goblet cover, while his body was the goblet. Cellini created classic gold and silver salt cellars of women during the early Renaissance. Modern metal can openers and cork screws made in human form are the modern versions of these figures. A set of skewers from Greece has a tiny, brass Snake Goddess on the handles. A can opener is made of metal and is shaped like Amalía, the heroine of the Greek War for Independence of the early 1800's.
Silver plated nutcrackers are also made today. Real silver and silver plated ornaments have also made quite a comeback. Among these are figurines of Santas and Angels, many quite detailed and cast in the old way. Other metal ornaments and figures are more modern. Target Stores were selling for Christmas 1998 angels made of silver screening. The wire mesh was folded and twisted into the shape of an angel much the way cornhusk dolls are made. These sold for about $12.99 and were meant to be tree tops. A company in China was promoting angels of about 14 inches made of tin. The head and hands are resin, but the body and wings are made of intricately folded and painted metal. This figure resembles the famous angels that grace the Christmas Tree of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Walmart marketed a metal Santa Claus, about the same height as the metal angel, that appears to be tole painted in dark reds and greens. The face is painted to make the figure look three dimensional.
Créche dolls and figures for churches were made with different metals a well. One of these is the "Golden Madonna" of Essen Cathedral in Germany. She is similar to some Inca work that was cast in metal over some other material because she has a wooden core with a surface covered by hammered gold. The madonna is dressed in flowing robes and holds the infant Jesus in her lap. The apples in her hand are symbolic of the Fall and subsequent Redemption of man. She is thirty-inches high and dates from the tenth century.
Personal adornment often took human form and one pilgrims badge from the shrine of St. Thomas à Becket shows Thomas a bishop riding his horse in triumph. Such doll badges were meant to be worn around the neck or pinned on hats and resemble toy soldiers.
In about 1130, Armenian fire worshipper dolls of bronze crowded corroded miniature iron urns. One figure, probably brass was excavated in Ofello in 1939 (Johl SMAD 3).
It is no surprise to experienced collectors that dolls have often been used for sinister purposes. One of the most infamous and sinister dolls of the Middle Ages was the Iron Maiden of Elizabeth Bathory, the "blood countess" of Hungary. Iron maidens are generally known as instruments of torture that look like life-sized female statues of mummy sarcophagi. Anyone who wishes to see one has only too watch "Addams Family" re-runs. Cousin Ophelia often slept in one. Though they appear harmless, iron maidens have a secret spring device that, when triggered, pierces their victims with deadly spikes (McNally 7-8). Elizabeth's iron maiden was painted to look like a woman and wore real clothes of rich materials. It had flowing human hair attached to its head and wore jewels. The Countess would ask a young victim to polish the jewels on her doll. As the girl worked, her touch triggered a mechanism hidden by one of the jewels that caused the top part of the figure to grab the girl with its arms and clutch her to its chest. She was then stabbed by spikes. Legend has it a German locksmith made one iron maiden for every castle Elizabeth owned. The iron maiden dolls of the Countess gave material to a writer named Bram Stoker who traced the various vampire legends and wrote in 1897, Dracula. Elizabeth herself inspired Andre Codrescu to write the novel, The Blood Countess.
Elizabeth Bathory was an insane noblewoman who believed that if she tortured young girls to death, then drank and bathed in their blood, she would retain her youth and beauty eternally. When her gruesome activities were uncovered, her servants were executed and she was imprisoned for life in her own castle.
Of course, not all dolls of this period are so diabolical. Metals were used to make all sorts of children's toys. Mary I is said to have had a golden cup filled with gold coins on her first Christmas, so perhaps Sir Thomas More had some experience of precious toys when he wrote Utopia. It is, after all, a small step from silver rattles with attached bells that resemble marottes, to dolls. These rattles were popular toys for wealthy children in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Silver doll furniture also graced the baby houses of the rich. The author has seen such furniture as late as 1978 at Shreve, Crump and Low of Boston. One expert also says that silver soldiers and acrobats were famous in the Netherlands during the time of Charles II (Fraser 84). Furthermore, the memoirs of one Herouard, who was the royal doctor to Louis XIII, show that the King had silver toys and dolls. The Pope during this time is supposed to have sent silver toys to the children of the King of Poland. Also, automata of metal were invented and created during the Middle Ages. These will be discussed in further detail in Chapter Three.
Noted author Mary Hillier shows in her book Automata and Mechanical Toys several medieval and Renaissance examples of toys that are made of metal. One beautiful mechanical doll dating from about 1600 plays a lute. Her clothes are detailed and sumptuous, and her face is expressive and dreamy. The doll is, according to Mrs. Hillier, possibly by Gianello della Torre and is from the Vienna, Kunthistorisches Museum. Mrs. Hillier also shows a mechanical rooster of "painted ironwork and gold leaf," from an early clock found on Strasbourg Cathedral, 1354. The rooster is in the Strasbourg Museum. Mrs. Hillier's chapter on clockwork figures is excellent further reading for anyone who would like to know more about the subject of medieval clockwork examples.


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When we were little girls, we used to dress up in princess costumes and dance around to back-in-the-day hits like [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Paula Abdul[/lastfm]’s “Straight Up.” Even though we were probably stars in the making (take us to karaoke and judge for yourselves), unfortunately there wasn’t YouTube to show our skills off to the world.
However, that is not the case for the exceptionally talented 8-year-old [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Sophia Grace[/lastfm] from the United Kingdom, who will probably be a viral video star soon, and who took on[lastfm link_type=”artist_info”] Nicki Minaj[/lastfm]’s “Super Bass.”
For those of you worried about the naughty words, Sophia Grace’s parents wrote a little note on that.
Hi, I’m Sophia Grace and I’ve just tuned 8 years old, i Love singing and dancing to music, My mum & dad manage my page for me, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to my channel. Email email@example.com, MESSAGE From Sophia Grace’s parents… We understand that in the original version of “Super Bass” There is inappropiate words, Sophia has put in propiate words to get round this!!!
- Nicki Minaj loves Sophia Grace! What do you think? Let us know in the comments!


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Family Budget Meal Round Up
How often is it meatloaf-wrapped-in-bacon dinner night in your home? (My personal favorite.) Or, do you have a lot of taco, veggie, or Hamburger Helper themed family dinner nights? After all, the average cost of ground beef is $3.50 to $5.40 per pound. Bacon can cost about $6 per pound.
This is not even counting the cost of keeping a family home stocked with staple foods, like bread, eggs, milk, butter, flour and sugar, fruits, vegetables, and snacks. It can cost a lot to feed a family of four sufficiently every week.
Monthly Costs for Family Meals
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the average American family spends anywhere between $150 to $300 every week on groceries. So, that makes for a monthly grocery budget of $600 to $1,200 a month. Or, $7,200 to $14,400 annually. These costs increase exponentially in families with more than four members.
To cut down on family meal costs, learn to cook as a family and get in the habit of making budgets. Here are a few family meal budget plans and menus that may help you out.
1 – Taste of Home
Taste of Home collects and publishes family dinner plans and budget recipes from its online readers. Here is a recipe list of 60 family meals. Each meal can feed a family of four and consists of an ingredient list that costs $10 or less. Make sure you try the Teriyaki Chicken Thighs and Fruit Glazed Porkchops recipes.
2 – Busy Budgeter
This site is run by a married couple with kids who mastered budgeting their meals, buying quality but cheap food, and mastering stir-fry. They allot 15-minutes prep time for some meals. Also, they claimed to have save over $23,000 annually with their $70 per week food budgets. They even share their 90-Day Budget Bootcamp planner for saving money.
3 – Eating Well
This is another family-run budgeting blog for meal planning. You’ll find recipes, meal plans, sample grocery lists, and budgeting tips here to help you spend $100 weekly on meals for a family of four.
4 – Don’t Waste the Crumbs
Yes, another family-run blog. This one has a $50 per week meal budget plan with a 7-day outline and menu.
Stretch Dollars and Resources
To save as much money as possible on family meals, budget and plan as much as beforehand. Research and compile cheap but filling budget meals. Make dinner theme nights according to budget. Add veggie meals often. Stretch the leftovers. Always be on the lookout for grocery sales and deals.
Allen Francis was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years with no money, no financial literacy, and no responsibility when he had money. To him, the phrase “personal finance,” contains the power that anyone has to grow their own wealth. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including focusing on your needs instead of your wants, asking for help when you need it, saving and investing in your own small business

domain: food