text:
The letter was published on the front page of its September 11 edition, and acted as a response to editorials that had addressed the pontiff on issues of religion and faith.
Video courtesy of jn1.tv
The pope’s reply calls for a necessary and open dialogue with nonbelievers, whom he calls right, proper and precious.
In response to questions regarding what should be said to Jews about the promise made to them by God, Pope Francis wrote that this is a question that radically challenges Christians, because Christians have rediscovered that the Jewish people are the holy root from which Jesus germinated.
The pope, who has close ties with Jewish people from his time as archbishop of Buenos Aires, says that Jews serve as an example for Christians.
He says that they point Christians to the fact that they are always waiting for the Lord’s return, and so must always be open to him and never take refuge in what they have already attained.
In June 2012 he said "a Christian cannot be an anti-Semite; to be a good Christian it is necessary to understand Jewish history and traditions."
Francis wished the Jewish community a happy new year and encouraged dialogue between different faiths.


text:
Created out of lyrics to The Star Spangled Banner
Created out of lyrics to The Star Spangled Banner The Star Spangled Banner is the National Anthem of The United States. The lyrics come from a poem entitled "Defence of Fort McHenry" written in 1814 by a young poet named Francis Scott Key and were set to the tune of a popular British drinking song. It was made the national anthem by a congressional resolution on March 3, 1931. If the right person is singing it, you will always get goose bumps and it reminds you why you are proud to be an American.

domain: artistic


text:
Coy slicks her. Both hands
cup her sacred as water,
reed over her,
rolling through warm currents
in the burn of fluorescents
in the still of morning
her eyes reach out, she slips hot
breath over her lover’s tongue
curls a fan of hand behind a kiss
scaled neck. Sky falls through the window,
on the nightstand, dress lashes,
flutter brilliant orange.
First published in Red River Review, 2011.
I’ve seen the snow
his white hand
over the river’s mouth
two fists beating
that drum rhythm
– scattered teeth fragments.
I’ve seen the river’s tongue
beneath the frost, I long
to lie under it, curl up
to his salvia gland’s pillow
and watch the muscle move over me.
First published in Forge, issue 5.1 , 2011.
Lining up the wood on the block
he’s a decent size, matured, a pale shade.
The axe swings her high arc, wedges silver
into the centre. He rocks open, his ant-black
heart dribbles pincers onto her feet, shock
shakes them off. Later in the fuel stove
his wine sap heats and hisses his defeat.
First published in Voiceworks, no. 83, Summer 2010-2011.

domain: literature


text:
Oxfam Music Shop Byres Road
Since 2002 Oxfam Music has been selling a wide array of vinyl LPs and singles from every conceivable genre of music. You can also find a range of musical instruments, hi fi equipment, music books, cassettes, CDs, pop memorabilia and many other items of a musical nature. Everything is kindly donated by the local community.
Oxfam Music Shop in Glasgow’s West End is a well-established destination point for record collectors and music lovers. One hundred percent of the profits go towards the lifesaving work Oxfam does throughout the world.
The shop is conveniently located on Byres Road – only a few minutes from Hillhead Subway Station.
You’re welcome to come in and browse; there’s always a chance you’ll track down that elusive classic you’ve been hunting for, that sentimental single – or perhaps discover your new favourite band.
171 Byres Road
0141 334 7669
You can also donate and buy online:
Oxfam Online Shop
This section: Music, Pat's Home Page Blog, Shopping
- Helen Rose’s Ourdoor Diary: English Lakes, Coniston
- Summer of Stories at The Hunterian
- Sma’ Shot Day 2022
- Reel Roots: Windrush at GFT
- Goldilocks Goes to Greece, Summer Panto OranMor
- Acting Up – Drama Workshops for Children and Young People
- Roy’s West End View: History is bunk …and it ends just outside London
- Our Past and Present Beautiful Lives: part of Refugee Week
- Eusebi Afternoon Tea – Charity Fundraiser
- Make Music Day 2022
- Glasgow Mela 2022
- Dandelion Festival Kelvingrove Park
- Exhibition: Origin of WA – Before the Mask
- Remembering and Celebrating Esther Brown
- B.A. Modern Ballet Graduation Performance 2022 Royal Conservatoire
- Science Sunday – Glasgow Science Festival 2022
- Rod Picott at The Glad Cafe
- Hurricane Season 2022 – Wullie Davidson
- Late Night: Twin Peaks – Fire Walk With Me 4k GFT
- Helen Rose’s Outdoor Diary: Stirling

domain: hobby


text:
Hour Empty Child
Morning came, but the weather continues to rain down on them.
It was supposed to be a blissful time for Vipory, yet its citizens could not relish in it.
Every person of the city gathered around the single building where the accident occurred.
The accident from which an adventurer has caused, resulting in the deaths of the dozens of Peranim’s farmers.
More than that, it was found out that the owner of the Sparkling Oasis, Herrin Oasis, was among the death toll. His contributions made it possible for the city to thrive, but there were many that speculated that he was the mastermind of this massacre, but has been discredited as his death should not have been expected.
Underneath the gray clouds, the sounds of rain falling filled the air, the Sparkling Oasis was no longer extravagant. It was burnt to smithereens, and it was now nothing but piles of rubble.
The guards did their best to recover the bodies, and hoped to find at least a few survivors, but there were none.
It was a powerful explosion, after all. It was a miracle that the explosion didn’t touch the other buildings near it. The guards were thankful for that.
They pulled each corpse out, and because their visage was too much for the younger children that were near, they covered them up with sheets that were white as snow.
Kudo stood there, looking down at one of the various sheets that covered the streets.
Those were his parents.
He stood erected. His eyes were completely empty, devoid of any light that dazzled like before.
The sheets formed lumps in shape of two human bodies. He could see the hands that poked out of the sheet.
They were completely burnt—there was no trace left of their original skin.
However, Kudo was able to figure out that they were his parents.
Before they were covered, the clothes they wore were burnt and ruined beyond repair, but he could tell with his incredible sight that those were the clothes that he and Hinota bought for his parents.
He wanted this to be just a nightmare. A bad dream that he could just wake up from.
But no matter how much he thought, he stayed in such a reality, and he could plainly see the two people that he loved and cared all his life right in front of them, no longer capable of breathing.
It looked and felt so real that he could touch them.
He extended his hand, wanting to prove that it was fake. He wanted to wake up from this.
But suddenly, the guards that finished their inspection of the building gathered around the bodies, and picked them up, still covered with the sheet.
Kudo made a small gasp. His hand was still stretched out, and put it out further to stop the people who were taking his parents.
He wanted to stop them. He wanted to stop anyone who would take his parents away from him.
As he could see his hand further and further away from himself, his body was tugged from behind.
Two arms covered his torso, and he could feel a warm embrace on his back. It was a warmth that contradicted the cold rain, leaving him unable to move
His hand was kept from a distance while his parents’ bodies were dragged away from him.
He could hear a soft voice whispering to him behind his back. Her head fell on the top of his neck, her soft skin touching his.
“Kudo… I’m so sorry…”
Hinota whispered, her eyes welling tears that fell on top of his neck.
Kudo’s mouth gaped, and tears welled up in his eyes. They fell, mixing with the raindrops that streamed down his face.
He wanted to shout. He wanted to scream out loud. But no words escaped from his lips.
Deep, agonizing pain swirled in his chest, compressing his heart with enough force to crush it. A sense of daze and confusion broke his thought patterns, unable to even think properly.
“Kudo… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”
Hinota didn’t need to see his face. She knew that he was hurting badly, his spirit breaking into pieces. She kept apologizing, wanting to lift whatever pain he felt in his heart.
The two were left behind as the bodies were carried off.
It was common practice that for those who have passed away must be cremated. It was because that when a person’s body is no longer alive, the mana is left behind. As such, the mana then becomes part of nature, and things go awry when it mixes with nature.
The mana becomes corrupted, and if left alone, the dead body will rise again as an undead.
The more powerful the body, the more powerful the undead will be. As such, for all adventurers who were unlucky to meet an end, it was suggested for the public to cremate the body.
Those who weren’t powerful as adventurers, and were only normal citizens, didn’t cause much of a threat. However, there are many who do not wish for their loved ones to become monsters, only to be taken down by a random adventurer and used as experience points and a source for looting.
That is why there is no hole for the bodies to enter. The bodies must be burnt to ashes before anything else.
The guards took it upon themselves to send the bodies of the deceased to be cremated by a specialist. Since there were many, it will take a while for all the bodies to be properly burnt.
During this, the guards went to investigate and found the two adventurers who have not only saw the one responsible for this, but fought and desperately survived against him.
As Kudo was unable to even speak, Hinota was the one that answered them.
Away from the others, Hinota talked to the guards inside a nearby restaurant.
The restaurant was simple and classy, colorful wooden walls and elegant interior design, along with a few windows to enjoy the outside fresh air.
The restaurant was empty, but it was opened up for the guards to investigate the adventurers, the witnesses of the mass murderer.
Kudo was left on his own, sitting at his own table. He kept gazing downward, getting Hinota to keep glancing at him a few times as she talked to the two guards in the other table.
“I see…” The guard, a young man with a shortcut brown hair, said. “So it took you so much to face him, even when you’re at such a high level…”
“I… apologize for not being able to take him down. We faced him before everyone else, and yet….”
“Don’t be,” The other guard, a slightly older male, jabbed his partner with his elbow, spouting a whimper. “He didn’t mean to be so rude. He’s an idiot. We can’t expect young children like yourselves to face such a maniac and win. It was a miracle that you both survived.”
Hinota knew that the man did not mean anything bad, but her pride of being the strongest adventurer in Peranim was badly wounded by those words.
“Not to mention, I heard about this man that you explained to us.”
“Y-You did?” She raised her head. “Who is he?”
“That guy…” The man tried to remember the details. “He creates genocide everywhere, saying it was for ‘experience’. He must be out of his mind, thinking that he can gain experience points from people. There are rumors that said that he has made over a thousand deaths.”
“A… thousand deaths…”
“As an adventurer, he’s too strong for the guards. I heard that even the Knights go through so much trouble to face him, and he escapes from them every time. The Knights have estimated his level, and it was possible that he has reached over 300…”
Hinota stood and slammed the table with her hands, her eyes widened in shock.
300 levels… it was enough to guess that Shinezu has reached Class Up three times.
So he was three times stronger than both her and Kudo combined.
Hinota gripped her fists and gritted her teeth. She hunched her back as the guards could tell her anxiety and anger rising from her face.
“A-Are you okay, ma’am…?”
The younger guard asked. Hinota heard him and eased up on her tension.
“…I’m fine. Please continue.”
She said as she sat back down, but she couldn’t help but think rapidly about the circumstances.
(Kudo… we were never able to beat him at all. It really was a miracle that the both of us survived… but then… Dear Sister… why are you chasing such a dangerous foe? Even if you’re with that jacket guy, not even Kudo and I…)
She knew that at this moment, her sister was in a league far too high for her and Kudo to reach. To grasp that kind of power, they needed to raise their levels three times more than normal.
It was too high a hurdle.
“W-Well, we heard that such a villain like him is usually all the way on the other continent—in a place known as Lerabelum. It was strange in the first place that the mass murderer, Shinezu Grimwald, would come here in all the places…”
The guard tries to remember the details as he heard from his other companions who came from the port cities of Peranim.
“The Adventurer’s Guild has put him in a black list of the most wanted criminals. In terms of ranking, he’s considered to be an S-rank criminal. Only groups of parties of strong adventurers would be enough to take him down. You shouldn’t feel so down, ma’am.”
The guard tried his best to cheer up the girl who anguished over her loss. She could hear the kind intentions in his voice, resulting in her forcing a small smile.
She spoke the words that came from the bottom of her heart.
The guards continued, having Hinota answered the best she could. She offered a perfect description of Shinezu’s body type and appearance, including the new change he has gone through. Hinota, however, omitted the part where they learned about Dark experience points.
She did this because she didn’t want to cause a panic, and the people spreading around that adventurers can gain it by killing innocent people.
She made a simulation. Thanks to her highly calculating mind, it only took a few seconds in real time to figure it out.
Hinota made the assumption that if the word spread out about dark experience, one of two things will happen. First, adventurers who get greedy about becoming stronger will result in killing people, making a rise of adventurers who forgo the laws and kill every innocent person they could find.
The second was that the public will become afraid of adventurers. This was for Hinota’s and Kudo’s sake, as the councils all across Peranim will most likely want to disband the entire Adventurer’s Guild to appease the citizens.
Though such a thing happening couldn’t be possible, it’s not strange to think that some of the cities who agree with their citizens will most likely ban the adventurers, and if things go wrong, the cities could become a target for monsters who were left unchecked.
This happened many times back in the past, when adventurers were just starting out. Thanks to the rise of adventurers, the monster population were kept down in the low numbers, and continued to be so for the future generations.
But thanks to Shinezu, it could go back to when the cities now have to face two enemies—the monsters, and the unlawful adventurers.
Outside the store, Hinota bid farewell to the guards who thanked her for the useful information. And, in their own way, they offered their condolences to Kudo who stood next to her, still expressing no emotion.
As they left, Hinota grabbed her arm as she took a glance at Kudo.
Empty. Just like the time when he reached his Class Up, his jade-colored eyes showed no light. He was nothing but an empty husk of his former self.
The rain still fell on them, but the watery deluge did not matter to Kudo at all.
Seeing him in this state, she looked at the wound he received on his abdomen.
On the right side of his stomach, there was a large, burnt scar on it. It takes a while for the potions to take full effect, despite having reached full [HP].
That’s because, unlike the potions, the human body needs to take the time to heal. Even if the potions mended the wounds, pain could still be felt if touched improperly. It was proof that the adventurer was still alive.
Kudo and Hinota were now only wearing simple clothing. Hinota could see the wound bandaged up several times by the doctors who came in to treat the PlusFire through his loose sleeveless black shirt.
She noticed that Kudo was getting doused from the small rain that kept showering on them.
“Kudo… let’s get out of the rain, okay? It’s getting cold.”
“T-The funeral won’t take place until tomorrow… we shouldn’t get sick during that.”
Kudo remained still. He only stood, but it was as if there was no soul driving his body.
Hinota looked down on herself.
Hinota herself was wearing clothing that donned her chest and hips with a black shirt and pants. It wasn’t exactly elegant, but Hinota’s image was still pleasant to the eyes.
Hinota wanted to take advantage of this to tease Kudo like she always does, expecting a blushing face in response.
But Kudo wouldn’t even comment on that. He kept quiet. Not minding his own surroundings.
And that is why Hinota felt so guilty.
(If I had… If I had done something…)
She was there, along with him, fighting the enemy. But they were too weak to stop him.
And because of that, the farmers and the personnel from the Sparkling Oasis have perished.
(If I have done something… No. It still wouldn’t matter.)
She kept thinking of simulations of what would happen if she has taken a different direction that what happened last night. But no matter how many simulations she ran in her mind, all of them fell short to Shinezu’s awesome power.
Hinota’s fists clenched. She kept looking down at the wet street that created a small river downwards to the other side, the sounds of water filling the aqueducts filled their ears.
Hinota stood outside the restaurant with Kudo, hoping for a topic that the both of them could share. But the sounds of rain was interrupted by a horse galloping towards them.
Kudo did not care to look. Hinota looked back to see that it was a similar man, this time driving a carriage behind him as he pulls reins on the two horses galloping through the wide street they were in.
Her eyes widened to see the messenger of her family coming towards her. The horses that galloped with a strong gait slowed down under his order, eventually making the carriage to a complete stop.
Hinota glimpsed at the panicked expression he showed on his face.
“Lady Hinota! I’m so relieved to see that you are safe!”
Maon immediately jumped off the carriage and ran to Hinota.
“Ah, Mr. Braven is fine as well! I’m so glad… When I heard the news this morning, I wouldn’t have believed it. Then, I heard your names and I kept thinking the worse, so I ran around the entire city to find you!”
“M-Maon, is that why you look like a mess?”
Upon closer inspection, Hinota could see that Maon wasn’t drenched in rain. He was drenched in sweat, possibly cold sweat due to his fear of the unknown that could have happened to her.
“I-I’m so sorry to show up in such a horrible manner,” Maon notices it himself just now and lowered his head.
“Don’t be. It’s proof that you were concerned with me. Thank you for your worries, but I’m fine, as you can see. Kudo as well.”
“Oh, thank you, Isabel…”
Maon uttered out a small prayer of gratitude to the Upperworld God. Hinota couldn’t help but smile at his sincere worry.
But then, she realized the time. Looking up at a clock tower away from her, she saw that it was 8:00 am…
Maon took notice of her solemn words, and straightened himself.
Hinota turned back to Kudo who was absolutely still.
“Is… Mr. Braven alright?” Maon finally notices the condition Kudo was in, asking Hinota.
“…Kudo, please wait for a little while. I’ll be back soon.”
She said with a gentle voice, caressing his right shoulder as she smiled at him. Hinota then saw Kudo’s head nod slightly.
“I’ll be coming with you, Maon.”
“Thank you, My Lady…”
Hinota followed after Maon, looking back at Kudo who remained there in front of the restaurant without any movement.


text:
For Dogs: Give 1 Soft Chew per 1-1 ½ cups of food at each feeding.
For Cats: Small Cats (5-8 lbs.): ¼ Soft Chew with meals twice daily.
Large Cats (8 lbs and over): ½ Soft Chew with meals twice daily.
Use only as directed by your veterinarian. Responses to supplements may vary by animal.

domain: pet


text:
– Converted Bedford Bus, Kookaburra Creek Retreat, Mount Remarkable, $70/night
– Wilpena Pound Resort, Flinders Ranges, $155/night
– Merna Mora Station, $100/night
– Clare Valley Motel, $138/night
Where we ate:
– North Star pub, Melrose
– Woolshed Restaurant, Rawnsley Park Station, Flinders Ranges
– The Prarie Hotel, Parachilna, Flinders Ranges
– Wonderful home cooked meal with room neighbours at Merna Morna (they took pity on our dinner of cheese and crackers!!)
– Sevenhill Hotel, Sevenhill, Clare Valley
What we did:
– Visited the pink lake at Bumbunga
– Climbed Mount Remarkable, 17km return (4k was detour as got lost!)
– Climbed St Mary’s Peak, Flinders Ranges, 14km return
– Drove Flinders Ranges national park circuit
– Cycled the Riesling Trail, Clare Valley (bike hire $25 for a half day)
– Visited Hanhdorf, Adelaide Hills
– Minigolf at Glenelg Beach, Adelaide
Part 2 of the South Australia adventures saw Ben tag teaming out with my friend Loren. He flew back to Sydney after 5 days in Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, and McLaren Vale.
In McLaren Vale we went to Doc Adams Vineyard where you could create your own platter…you’d think there was a child on the trip with the smiley:
There were also some ridiculously cute 8 week old collie puppies at our AirBnB.
So Ben flew back and Loren arrived for part 2, heading north from Adelaide to Mount Remarkable National Park and then on to the Akara Flinders Ranges National Park.
My original planned itinerary for the 10 days off was to do Kangaroo Island and then drive the whole way up to Birdsville via Marree and the Birdsville track. This was veto’d for being ‘too ambitious’ and in hindsight perhaps a good thing as:
1) The Birdsville Track ended up closing due to the RAIN!
2) I would have had to take a ReX (Regional Express) flight back from Birdsville to Brisbane, which takes 6 hours as it has about 6 stops to deliver post to rural locations etc!
Loren landed in Adelaide to dazzling sunshine. This was the last we would see of the sun for 5 days…
We zoomed straight up north, spotting a pink-ish lake next to the road a couple of hours north of Adelaide. This was Lake Bumbunga. We strolled down onto the lake for a couple of snaps 🙂
Later we would read a local newspaper article which complained about all the tourists who keep driving onto the lake and needing to be towed out.
It was another hour or so until we reached the small town of Melrose. There was no particular logic behind the decision to stop at Mt Remarkable. I basically looked at the map, decided that the drive from Adelaide to Flinders might be a bit long to do that afternoon, found the only other patch of green (National Park) north of Adelaide and saw it was called Remarkable, so decided that would be a good place to spend a night or two.
Our accommodation at Mt Remarkable was absolutely wonderful. We stayed at a place called Kookaburra Creek Retreat, about 15ks north of Melrose. The accommodation is set about 2k off the main road and the owners, Joe and Melita, have a wonderful piece of land, that they’ve developed into an amazing collection of little places to stay.
We’d gone for the ‘Bedford Bus’, a converted bus with a double and single bed inside. The bus was under a shelter so no risk of rain getting in, and there was a great outdoor area with fridge/cooker/sink – everything we needed!
As soon as we opened the car door we could smell the rain in the air. Shortly after we got settled in the bus the heavens opened, and basically didn’t stop for over 24 hours!
Mount Remarkable is a hub for hiking and mountain biking. Neither really appealed in the rain but we thought we had less chance of falling over walking. After a very cosy but slightly scary night’s sleep in the bus (no other people around and lots of noises – I know I know, city folk) we set off on the summit return hike. There were various versions of how long this is/how long it would take but we got the gist it was about 12-14ks return and would take about 4-6hours.
We drove to the main street of Melrose and then turned up to a monument, this was the start of the trails. We faced an instant hurdle of which way to start walking….there was a sign pointing right, and the path straight ahead had a large ‘Private Property’ sign, so we went right.
Soon after we started walking we were both commenting on how ridiculous the trail was, it kept winding back on itself, so it would take 3 times as long to get somewhere you could get to by just going straight. We realised that it must be a mountain biking trail, but this didn’t ring any alarm bells.
We also commented on the fact that for a summit hike it didn’t really appear to be going uphill very much! An added difficulty, was the fact that everywhere we looked was covered in thick cloud, so we couldn’t even see where the peak we were supposed to be climbing was.
We got about 2km in, and checked our Strava which had been mapping our route. We had probably made it about 500m as the crow flies from the start. We decided to head back.
4km in. Back at the start. On closer inspection, next to the large ‘Private Property’ sign, there was a very small ‘Please take care when walking through the Private Property on the summit hike’ sign…….
To sum up the walk: it rained constantly, I nearly fell down a huge scree slope (where a plane had previously crashed!!), we both tripped multiple other times, there was nothing to see at the top, even if it hadn’t been cloudy there were trees all around the summit viewpoint!
Our total walk was 17kms and took about 3.5hours.
Kookaburrah Creek Retreat was our saviour with one of the best hot showers I’ve ever had when we got back. No real reflection on the shower just how cold and wet we were!
The next morning we woke up to some semblance of sunshine coming through the trees, hurrah!! We decided trails would still be too saturated to try mountain biking so hopped in the car and set off for Flinders Ranges National Park.
30 minutes into the drive…FOG. I couldn’t even see the road infront of the car. This fog was to follow us at varying severity for the remainder of the trip.
We arrived at Wilpena Pound Resort (the only hotel in the Flinders national park) at about 10am. For somewhere in the middle of the national park the staff were rather confused at answering questions about it.
I walked into the information centre to see if we could check in and to ask about the St Mary Peak hike, I was told I was at the wrong desk and had to go to the resort.
I went to the resort (where the same girl worked as the visitors centre!!) and they still couldn’t really answer how long the hike was, and even where it started from!
The reason we were concerned about the hike is I’d read things saying you should set off on the hike before 9am and that it was 21kms!
It turns out that the St Mary peak hike is composed of a loop, this starts from the visitors centre and you can either take the longer, but more gradually inclining “inner track”, or you can opt for the shorter but steeper “outside track”.
These two tracks meet up at the ‘Saddle’ about 1.6km from the summit. The 1.6km is an out and back section, so you could do: inner track up, summit optional, inner track back; OR outer track up, summit optoin, outer track back (this is what we did); OR a loop in either direction, either with or without summit.
If you were doing the loop I’d recommend doing the outside track up since it’s steeper, and inside down.
The first 4km of the hike was relatively flat, but the final 3 were really tough going, especially the section from the saddle to the Peak. The descent was equally hard.
There were MONSTER spiders along the valley at the start of the walk. Some of the biggest bodies and webs I’ve ever seen. Made walking somewhat nervewracking.
We were hoping to go on a 4WD sunset tour that evening but this was also cancelled as in the words of the resort “There will be no sunset”. Sunset is cancelled!!!
We drove over to the nearby Rawnsley Park Station, saw a few Emu en route, and got a teeny bit of pink in the sky as we had a sundowner hiking reward drink. Unfortunately Rawnsley Park had been fully booked for accommodation and was also fully booked for dinner, but the kind chef made us some chips to nibble on as we sat outside.
The next day we drove the rest of the Flinders Ranges loop. This is the natural route you’d take through the park from Hawker at the South, up through Wilpena Pound and up to Blinman in the North, West through the Parachilna Gorge to Parachilna, and back South down the Outback Highway to Hawker.
We hadn’t been able to get 2 consecutive nights at the Wilpena Pound so had booked into Merna Mora station which was on the Outback highway. This actually worked really well from a logistics point of view as meant we never had to double back on ourselves.
As we set off on the drive…you’ve guessed it…FOG STRUCK AGAIN!! Then came the rain.
The road from Blinman to Parachilna is unsealed, meaning it doesn’t mix too well with rain. There were various creek crossings which were rapidly filling up, and by the time we reached the 8km of ‘flood plain’ near Parachilna, large parts of the road were underwater.
We made it to Parachilna and the iconic Prarie Hotel just in time it seems as we heard that they later closed the road, along with others heading north. The Prarie Hotel was full of tour groups that were either supposed to be doing 4WD tours or scenic flights up to Lake Eyre. Unfortunately I think everyone’s trips were cancelled that day.
Locals repeatedly told us “you are SO lucky to see it like this…it’s so rare…it hasn’t rained in months and it’s never like this”…. Hmmmm…… someone even likened it to “seeing Uluru with water running off it”. I’m not so sure, we just saw cloud.
The ‘Feral Feast’ served at the Prarie hotel came recommended by Russell and Lisa, two friends of ours who have explored more of Australia than most people I know. We were presented with a platter of Kangaroo Steak, Camel Sausage, and Emu…well, emu burger perhaps?
Kangaroo was yum, just like a good steak. Camel was too fatty for my liking and emu tasted fine at first but had an aftertaste of wet dog smell. For someone who doesn’t eat much meat Loren was brave in trying them all, but I don’t think she’ll be doing it again in a hurry!
We spent a very relaxed afternoon at Merna Mora station. We did a little walk up to a nearby hilltop, and raced the rain home. This was exploring just a tiny portion of the 150,000+ acres of land that the family owned. They grazed sheep for wool and cattle for beef right across to the edge of the Flinders Ranges in one direction, and right out to the dry Lake Torrens in the other! The Lake Torrens 4WD track was also shut, but in better weather you can drive from their house right out to the lake!
That night we were invited for dinner by a wonderful pair of couples who were from Manly, Sydney, but were on a 9 week adventure around South Australia. It was such a lovely evening exchanging stories, and their roast and rhubarb crumble definitely beat our cheese and crackers.
For the majority of the trip we had no phone signal coverage, this was actually wonderful as it helped lead to interactions like this one that might have otherwise been missed out on! It made me realise how much time I waste on my phone and I’m trying to make a more conscious effort to only be on it when I need to do something.
I’d left one night not booked, as I wasn’t sure how long we’d stay in Flinders Ranges. If the weather had been good, we would probably have stayed another night and done the Lake Torrens drive, but as it was, we set off early the next day and drove down to the Clare Valley.
A couple of brief stops at: 1) Orroroo (there are more than 2 available letters people!) petrol station which only ‘opened’ at 10am and even from 10am you had to phone them and pay $10 for call out, just to fill up fuel!! 2) The Giant Gum Tree…Orroroo’s only advertised attraction when driving into town:
We arrived around midday, went to a far more helpful visitors centre who booked us a room at the nearby Clare Valley Motel (which was actually delightful for a motel!!)
There was a bike hire place right across the road from the Motel so we picked up bikes for a half day and set off along the Riesling trail. This is a converted old railway line, stretching 25km from Clare to Auburn, with cellar doors every few hundred metres!
We stopped off at:
- Sevenhill Cellars;
- Skillogalee Wines;
- Mr Micks.
We were recommended to ride the ‘John Horrocks Loop’ which was about 25ks and had a lovely roll downhill back into Clare.
Skillogalee was my favourite vineyard with a cosy cottage feel and beautiful outdoor garden.
Cycling is a limiter to the amount of wine you can buy (we didn’t have panniers). I always find it a little awkward where you don’t have to pay for tastings, which you usually don’t in Australia. I’d far rather pay $5/$10 to try 5 wines rather than free but then an unsaid commitment to buy a bottle or having to guiltily sneak out muttering “Oh yes we’ll pop past later”.
I found a good solution to this is asking if they sell by the glass. Often they don’t advertise this but do sell by the glass, so we had a very pleasant ride with a glass of sparkling at each location at about $5 a glass!
My favourite wine was the 2010 Sevenhill Cellars Riesling ($40/bottle).
This almost marked the end of the adventures, we finally got a sunrise on the last day, although the sun rising over the Clare Valley motel didn’t quite have the same effect as over the mountains in Flinders Ranges.
We spent the last day driving through an autumnal Adelaide Hills, having brunch in Hahndorf, trying to visit Cleland conservation park (more FOG) and then popping to Glenelg beach for a final bit of rain and some mini-golf.
A fabulous trip, but I feel like I need to go back to Flinders Ranges to see it in a different light…or just in light at all!!!
Thanks for reading!

domain: geography


Last updated: May 3rd, 2017 at 09:58 pm
The reaction on the markets to the significantly disappointing Non-farm Payrolls report has been intriguing. The initial weakness in sentiment and safe haven flows (yen, euro, Treasuries, Bunds) have retraced their spikes and sentiment has improved. The decline on the Baker Hughes rig count in the US helped to pull the oil price higher and this helped market sentiment. Sentiment also seems to have improved amid the dovish implications of the payrolls report and the impact it could have on the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy. The service sector PMIs are due today and amid the improved market sentiment it will be interesting to see if bad news is still good for markets. The selling pressure was countered by the buyers into the close and Wall Street closed strongly higher. So coming into Monday, the Asian markets have followed the lead from Wall Street and are all higher, whilst European markets are also stronger as they play catch up on the US turnaround.
The outlook on Forex markets is decidedly mixed. Payrolls will always tend to have a volatile impact but the seemingly unambiguously bad payrolls report has had traders questioning the direction of the Fed now. Traders are scratching their heads but there has been a slight improvement in risk moving into Monday morning, with the euro and sterling higher, whilst the commodity currencies are also stronger against the dollar. The gold price is also giving back some of its gains from Friday, whilst the oil price has continued to bounce.
Traders will be looking out for the service sector PMIs today as their main driver of direction. The European numbers are out early, with the Eurozone data at 0900BST expected to be 54.0 and the UK data at 0930BST and an expectation of an improvement to 56.0 (from 55.6). The US ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI is due at 1500BST and is expected to drop to 57.7 from 59.0.
Momentum on the Kiwi has been improving for the past few weeks and now a near term close above $0.6400 which is a 5 week closing high suggests the outlook is improving. However there is still much to be done as it now takes the Kiwi into 100 pips of resistance that will be key to the near term outlook. Interestingly the RSI is now up at a 5 month high as momentum has improved. However, once more there is more to be done, as previously within the long term downtrend the RSI has been failing around the 60 mark, (currently just below) whilst the MACD lines are still medium term negatively configured below the neutral line. This resistance up at $0.6500 will be a crucial test in the coming days and it needs at least a close above it to be a stamp of approval for the bulls ad would open the next resistance comes in at between $0.6705/$0.6740. The hourly chart shows a band of support now $0.6380/$0.6450. There is more to be done, but the Kiwi bulls are looking in their strongest position for months.
In the wake of the Non-farm Payrolls report the euro picked up significantly. However the bulls could now sustain the move and a very neutral but volatile looking candle has been left, with not a great deal having been achieved. There was a brief spike above the resistance at $1.1295 however the bulls could not hold on to this move and the drift back into the near two week trading band $1.1100/$1.1295 to leave traders again needing more.. The momentum indicators do not show a neutral configuration and on a daily basis there is little real direction indication. A close above $1.1295 would open the upside back towards the medium term range resistance at $1.1465 but until this is seen the only real strategy is to play the 200 pip range. The intraday hourly chart is also reflective of this and there is a pivot level at $1.1200 that can be used as a gauge for sentiment within the range. Oerall we are still waiting for a breakout and decisive direction and until this is seen the time horizon on trades will need to be rather short term.
After talking about it throughout last week perhaps now Cable has turned the corner? After 9 consecutive days of decline, a doji candle followed by a positive bull candle shows that the momentum is turning the other way again. The daily momentum is improving with a Stochastics buy signal (not confirmed yet) and the RSI moving higher. We must look at the intraday hourly chart for the confirmation of a turn around, which has not quite been achieved yet. I have spoken much about the near term resistance at $1.5240 and this was the limit of the Non-farm Payrolls jump on Friday (to a high of $1.5237), so this resistance as yet remains intact. I am though encouraged by the improvement in the momentum indicators with the hourly RSI, Stochastics and MACD lines all far more positively configured now. A decisive push above $1.5240 would complete a small bottoming process, implying a move towards $1.5370. The resistance at $1.5290 and then at $1.5330 would come next. The hourly chart also shows the reaction low at $1.5165 from late on Friday is the initial support which will protect a retreat back towards the low at $1.5105. The outlook is though improving again.
The reaction following the Non-farm Payrolls report was incredible on Friday. Anyone looking on their line charts would be forgiven for wondering what all the fuss was about, but there has been yet another long shadow candle with an incredible small body. This all suggests the market does not know how to be positioned. The spike low at 118.65 means that there is a new support in place but essentially we are back to where we were and the charts are suggesting we are none the wiser. Neither the daily nor hourly charts can give any decisive indication of the next move within the range, let alone the direction of a breakout. The fact that the pair rebounded to trade around the minor pivot level at 120.00 is reflective of the uncertainty. The length of the shadow of Friday’s candle suggests there is a slight bearish bias now, but this is certainly nothing to put your house on. There is minor resistance at 120.30, whilst we are back into the strategy of playing the RSI extremes once again for trade signals as this range continues. The new range is 118.65/121.30.
Gold tends to be very reactive to the Payrolls report and Friday’s move was now exception. However I still see near term rallies as corrective within the longer term bear trend and should be viewed as a chance to sell. The long term downtrend (dating back to October 2012) comes in around $1151 today and is still a significant overhead barrier. The huge bullish key one day reversal is clearly a significantly positive candle on the daily chart. However whether it is a game changing candle remains to be seen. The resistance coming in at $1141.50 on Friday has started to see the rally already roll over. The reaction of today’s trading could be key as you would want the buying pressure to continue today but the early slide in the Asian session could reflect a rally that’s gone too far and the profit takers are moving in. if the unwinding phase today can quickly form support then the bulls have got a chance, but the second day following such a strong candle will often be about a retracement, especially when the buyers are not in control. Support comes in around $1126 and more importantly at $1121.
The weak payrolls report was a drag on the oil price however, once more there seems to be a strength to the support band above $43.20 as the intraday recovery into the close on Friday has left a reasonably positive candle. This has been followed up today by further gains which is once more looking to neutralise the outlook. There is an interesting test though closing in as within the 5 week range there is a downtrend which is gradually pulling lower highs, the latest one from Thursday at $45.17. If this again comes in today then there could be a resumption of the pressure back on the key support at $43.20. Perhaps the hourly chart will be able to give an early signal. The momentum has been neutral and rangebound for several weeks as measured on the RSI, with moves towards 30 consistently being seen as a chance to sell. However if the RSI starts to consistently remain below 30 this would be reflective of increasingly bearish momentum.
At Hantec Markets Ltd we provide an execution only service. Any opinions expressed by analyst Richard Perry should not be construed as investment advice or an investment recommendation. This report does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. Forex and CFDs are leveraged products which can result in losses greater than your initial deposit. Therefore you should only speculate with money that you can afford to lose. Please ensure you fully understand the risks involved, seeking independent advice if necessary prior to entering into such transactions.


text:
Pattern: Color Infusion Cowl by Meridith Shephard (purchase at Ravelry.com for $5)
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Rialto superwash merino
Needles: Size 3 24" circular
I love my new cowl. It't just right for March weather in Vermont. I love that it is reversible and it looks so nice with my boiled wool jacket.
And.........it started with this chart.
This stranded color pattern was so much fun to knit. I almost hated to see it completed if it had not been for the fact that I was looking forward to wearing it.
The pattern is extremely well-written. This designer is one that I will be watching for additional patterns. I knitted one of her other cowls that I will blog about in a few days.

domain: design


text:
And to think. All this time, it’s been the MUSHROOM that has kept me from getting ready to make a Alice in Wonderland Caterpillar. Now, I’ve got his mushroom made!! Learn how I created it from the pieces in the top image! Hop on over to Creative Paperclay® modeling material’s BLOG, (CLICK RIGHT HERE), to see just how simple this was to make!
Disclosure: As a member of Creative Paperclay® modeling material’s design team, I receive product at no cost to myself.
December 20, 2013 at 11:16 am
The Mushroom is awesome
February 21, 2014 at 3:36 pm
OMGGGGGG! I love all your creations! TFS


text:
Unlock 76,000 new Netflix categories with this cool secret codes hack
Ever opened up Netflix knowing exactly what kind of film you were looking for, yet found yourself met with frustration as you scrolled through the service’s limited genre categories? We certainly have. All of that is about to change, however, thanks to a cool hack that opens up a whole new world of Netflix categories.
Because Netflix uses an algorithm that only gives you genre options based on what it thinks might interest you, there are thousands upon thousands of movies and TV shows that lay neglected as you seek your next streaming selection. So allow us to blow your minds by letting you in on the secret of the service’s special codes.
We all know that if you search Netflix for a certain genre, like “Action & Adventure”, you’ll get a special URL for that particular category that reads something like “http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/1365.” But did you know that if you tinker around with the numbers at the end of the URL, you can unlock thousands of sub-genres and categories for your viewing pleasure?!
For example, “2852” will bring up “Exciting B-Horror Movies”, while you can access categories as specific as “Feel-Good Sports Movies For Ages 8 to 10” with code “855”, and “British Coming-of-Age Movies” with ID “2386”.
For an extensive list of genre categories such as “Action & Adventure based on a book from the 1970s” and “Cerebral French-Language Movies from the 1950s”, visit Ogres Crypt.
The secret codes are available to all Netflix regions.

domain: entertainment


text:
PALMER – A 22-year-old Palmer man was released on his own recognizance after his Palmer District Court arraignment on Friday after he allegedly hurt his girlfriend’s chihuahua after it bit him.
The animal cruelty charge against Nicholas A. Franklin, of 68 Mount Dumplin Road, was brought by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals after the 1-year-old male chihuahua named Brodie was brought by his owner Meghan Laviolette of Thorndike to Noah’s Ark Animal Hospital on Dec. 7.
MSPCA law enforcement officer Christine Allenberg said the dog is alive and is being treated at MSPCA’s Angell Medical Center in Boston.
An innocent plea was entered on Franklin’s behalf before Judge Timothy Bibaud. Thomas Waldron was appointed as Franklin’s lawyer.
Details of the case were not read in court.
However, Allenberg’s report included in the court file stated that the chihuahua was “very severely beaten and close to death” when he arrived at the animal hospital, and that he had numerous abrasions, head trauma, broken ribs and a low, almost freezing body temperature. She investigated along with Palmer Police Officer Kenneth G. White, whose report also was included in the file.
Allenberg’s report stated that Laviolette was visibly upset and crying when she brought the dog in, and that she found it lying in its crate when she got home from work. The report stated that Franklin called Laviolette to tell her what happened.
Franklin’s statement included in the court file said that the dog began defecating inside the house so Franklin brought it outside and was bitten in the finger as he attempted to put a leash on it.
Franklin told the law enforcement officials that the dog would not let go, so he shook him off and “threw him to the ground” onto the paved stairs off the porch. He stated that after he brought the dog onto the porch he realized how badly hurt the dog was, and attempted to keep him warm.
Laviolette told police that the dog had growled and bitten Franklin a few times in the seven months they were dating, and couldn’t believe the incident really happened. She relinquished custody of Brodie to the MSPCA as she said she could not afford the treatment.
Allenberg, who attended the arraignment, said she thought the dog was going to die when she saw it.
An animal cruelty charge is a felony and carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000.

domain: news


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Growing up, I remember that all the old-timers carried Case knives — period. There was not a single Gerber, Kershaw, or Benchmade to be found. When my old New England neighbors needed to cut a fishing line, they used a Case. When my aunts and uncles out west were working calves in the spring, they used a Case. My college buddies in Oklahoma carried all kinds of folding knives, but you can bet that a Case was the crown jewel of their collection and it’s what they brought to church on Sundays.
Somewhere along the way, though, Case knives fell to the wayside in popularity. They developed a reputation for being — there’s no other way to say it — old peoples’ knives. None of my Marines carried bone-handled pocket knives with a tiny little thumbnail nick to get the blade open. No, we all carried slick tactical knives that could open with one hand, spring-assisted or not. In the latter years of the Global War on Terror, it seemed like everyone preferred knives like the Gerber 06 or Ka-Bar Mule. Case knives were relics of the past.
Not surprisingly, the folks at Case don’t seem pleased with this cultural shift, and the company appears to be looking for an entry into the lucrative EDC market. The result of that search is a pair of modern folding knives that open with one hand and didn’t look like they belonged in a spaghetti western. The Marilla and original Kinzua were big steps in the right direction, but something was missing. They functioned well and upheld Case’s reputation for quality, but something about the bright red and blue anodized handles didn’t sit well with the tactical crowd.
Now, Case is making things right with an update that launches the Kinzua toward the top of my EDC wish list. Here’s why it might just end up at the top of yours.
- Overall length: 8.2 inches
- Closed length: 4.75 inches
- Weight: 3.4 ounces
- Blade length: 3.4 inches
- Blade profile: Tanto or drop point
- Blad grind: Flat
- Steel: S35VN
- Handle: Anodized aluminum
- Lock: Frame lock
Excellent materials and build quality
A genuinely capable knife you can use every day
Your choice of a tanto or spear point
Somewhat expensive at $116
Not quite as tactical as some of the alternatives
What’s new with the Case Kinzua
What a difference color can make. New for the summer of 2023 is a Kinzua with an aluminum handle anodized in olive drab green. The dark green hue and slightly muted finish are just subtle enough to make sense in the field. The satin-finished blade isn’t as stealthy as the blacked-out tactical knives out there, but that makes it better suited to EDC duty in my book.
The other change for 2022 is the option to get your OD green Kinzua with either the same straight edge and tanto point as before or a drop point.
What’s the same with the Case Kinzua
Are these new EDC knives still made in the U.S.? Damn right. Case still builds its knives in Bradford, Pennsylvania.
Aside from the color and new blade option, the Kinzua remains unchanged. The all-metal construction begins with a hefty handle made from anodized aluminum. The frame lock is rock-solid and the opening action is buttery smooth with a positive click into place. I’d go so far as to say this is my favorite action of any folding knife in terms of feel. That’s subjective and you may disagree; but it’s not too light, not too heavy, perfectly slick right out of the box, and the blade locks in place with a sound so satisfying that I find myself repeatedly opening and closing this knife just to hear it.
One of my colleagues compared the Kinzua’s action to an AR bolt locking in place. I agree, but feel like I should specify that he meant a clean, well-oiled one. This does not sound like a 20-year-old M4 with a trillion rounds through it, sand chewing away at the bolt carrier group, and no lube unless you count the tobacco spit you accidentally drooled into it when you fell asleep on watch.
Moving on to the blade, Kinzua uses damn good steel and plenty of it. The S35VN steel is preferred by many manufacturers (including Spyderco and Benchmade) and consumers for its unique balance of toughness, hardness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. Hardcore blade connoisseurs will have more nuanced preferences, but most people will be more than happy with the way S35VN holds up to use, abuse, and maintenance.
The blade is very thick, measuring 5/32 of an inch by my eye. The flat grind continues the S35VN’s theme of versatility. It’s tapered enough for most slicing work but keeps a beefy spine for added strength and about two inches of jimping for extra grip and precision. I’ve heard some complaints of Case knives having slightly burred edges, but my test knife doesn’t have that problem. It would be disappointing to spend more than $100 on a blade that needs attention right out of the box, although it would be an easy fix and a good excuse to pick up a leather strop.
If there are any criticisms to be made of this steel, they’re cost and ease of sharpening. To be fair, this is high-end steel that doesn’t cost as much as other premium options like M390 and S90V. It can take some effort to hone a fine edge, but edge retention is good enough that you shouldn’t have to lay the Kinzua on a whetstone very often.
What’s in it for you
As Task & Purpose gear testers, we get our hands on a lot of knives. Sometimes we recommend a knife because it’s incredibly focused on one niche purpose, like the Spyderco Atlantic Salt. Others, like the SOG Instinct, get recognized for being an affordable entry into the world of knives. The Case Kinzua isn’t elite in any one aspect, but it’s great at everything.
Would I carry the Kinzua in the field or trust one on deployment? Yes. I’d also take it hiking, hunting, fishing, or to the front door to slay Amazon boxes. It’s a premium knife that doesn’t need to be babied and asks for almost no maintenance, thanks to the anodized aluminum handle. I hope some of the old-timers give this knife a chance, too, because it’s going to blow their minds.
The Case Kinzua is an awesome EDC knife that upholds the brand’s reputation for quality and blazes a new path into the modern knife market. It might be a little outside the company’s wheelhouse, but Case knocked it out of the park.
FAQs about the Case Kinzua
You have questions, Task & Purpose has answers.
Q: How much does the Case Kinzua cost?
A: The Case Kinzua costs $115.99 at SMKW at the time of writing.
Q: Are Case knives made in the U.S.?
A: Yes, Case still makes its knives in Bradford, Pennsylvania.
Q: Do Case knives come with a lifetime warranty?
A: Yes, Case warranties its knives for the lifetime of the owner. Read the fine print of the warranty policy here.


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I had a bad feeling about this mod. First, I
don't like to pack anyone, any time. If you want
a ride on my Panhead, carry a hand-towel and
a bungie cord. I avoid giving a girl a ride home
from the bar, even a babe with gigantic
hooters. I would preferred to follow her home.
I'm not the kind of rider to take a woman on a
long run. I would rather have a variety of
women in various towns and cities. Okay, I'm
Okay, so the pressure's on. Sin Wu
want's to ride once in a while, and I want to get
laid daily. Gotta give up something. I kept the
stock Road King classic seat for additional
passenger comfort. It's covered with dust, in
the corner, but that quick change aspect is
covered. I ordered the custom billet tab for the
rear of the stock seat, and had it powder
coated black, so both seats were ride-ready.
When you purchase a new saddle, it doesn't
always come with the rear tab. The base is
plastic and screwing fasteners in and out will
wear out the threads.
Here's a handful of the fasteners and
bag bracket spacers.
I ordered the front and rear detachable
docking hardware kits, but be careful. I leaned
toward the new lower backrest/sissybar for
styling, which wasn't in stock, but the pad was.
I bought it, then the backrest was
back-ordered so we bought the taller sissybar
for immediate gratification, but when we got
home the pad didn't fit and we were forced to
buy the tall pad. Watch out for this dilemma
when ordering. Make sure to check all the
installation instructions to make sure you have
the correct puzzle pieces. There are several
back rest options so watch that aspect when
Here's the massive chromed Classic
H-D axle dress hardware.
This is simple installation. Slip on the
plastic wedge and the cap grips over it. Push
them into place--done deal.
We also ordered some classic hex bolt
covers and stainless Allen caps to begin an
engine detailing process. We purchased
chrome caps to detail the front brake calipers
and classic chromed front axle covers. We
didn't use the plastic chrome caps ultimately
but brush painted the raised edge of the
calipers black. I'll tell you why in a bit.
This was supposed to be one of the
easiest mods we undertook, but we learned
quickly, that wasn't the case.
This is the front docking port in place,
but not tightened.
When we black powdered a ton of
components previously, we assembled the
bike securely with Loctite and care. That was
our undoing. The Phillips-head beside the
shock needed to be replaced with the front
docking hardware. Take one bolt out and
replace it--no problem, right? The Phillips
screws wouldn't budge and we proceeded to
strip the heads. First, I wished I had an impact
I had loaned mine
years ago. It was never returned. Watch out for
I discovered an aerosol spray by
Chemsearch called Yield in the auto parts
store that loosens rusted bolts instantly. It
worked like a charm, with a little patience the
bolts came lose. An American Rider reader
complained that this product isn't available in
retail stores. That's true. My longshoreman
connection hooked me up. You may need to
find a factory worker or mechanic who has a
After reading the Low Detachable
Backrest kit info that came with the taller kit,
the Backrest Docking Hardware kit directions,
the Front Docking Point kit instructions and the
100th Anniversary FLHT and FLHR Backrest
Pad kit directions, I guzzled my first Corona.
I couldn't handle the
I opened the next Corona. The operation
would have been simple if the directions were.
I read them over and over. There were too
many variations between years and
configurations to sort through. The Front
Docking port directions confused me with
illustrations involving rear bag support
spacers designed to bounce out the
saddlebags and clear the release button on
Why would the
front docking port directions come with
spacers for only the rear saddlebag mounts? I
This was a matter of trial and error.
If you've built choppers as long as I have,
there's always a way to make anything work,
so ignoring the confusion, we spanked our
asses in gear. I ignored the spacers, installed
the front docking rubber that was designed
specifically for the King with a notch for the
There's a bracket that runs from the front
docking station to the rear, but first the rear
docking port bracket needed to be installed.
On some models equipped with air shocks
the shock filler bracket must be removed. The
directions said I didn't need to remove it on the
2003, bullshit. It was directly in the path of the
docking bracket, so off it came.
This shot shows the bracket in place,
with the shock air port moved. Note the single
empty hole in the bottom of the bracket. That's
where the rear bag mount bolts into place.
The trick of the night.
Three lousy bolts had to be removed, the
rear bag bracket 1/4-20 fastener and the two
5/16s fender support bolts. First the 1/4-20
spun the thin, tin clamp that holds the nut in
place. Then the 5/16, once removed, could
hardly be replaced. Nothing aligned properly.
My lovely assistant had to squat and lift the tip
of the fender, and in one case we were forced
to remove the lower bag rail to align the top
This still doesn't totally jive. Actually
washers had to be fed behind the top
Backrest mounting bracket also.
"Can I let go of the fender, now?" Sin Wu
asked grunting. The top docking port bolts are
packaged in two sizes, 1 inch and 3/4 inch.
The directions warn that if the rear inch-bolt
comes too close to the fender, replace it with
the 3/4. We replaced both and used the 1-inch
jobs in the front holes on both sides.
Without the rear fender rack detachable
bracket, another option, two washers were
thrust under the rear docking port bracket to
make up for the thickness of the rack bracket.
Part of the confusion was the numerous
detachable elements available for various
models. There's also the two-up detachable
rack front docking kit that surfaced from time to
That's all there was to it. We bolted all the
elements in place and tested the back rest
and bags. Sure enough the King Classic bag
lid smacked into the backrest latch when
opening. We ultimately spaced the rear back
bracket out only about an 1/8 of an inch and
we were good to go.
We tried it with the spacers, without,
then with smaller spacers that worked
Sin fed me chips and salsa and dabbed
my sweating forehead with a bandanna, while
I slipped the saddlebag bracket, 1/4-20 nut,
into place using a long magnet. It worked on
the right side. On the left we unbolted the
entire fender support, replace the nut,
adjusted the thin, tin tabs, and bolted the
sucker all back together, only to have the nut
fall out again. In this case we squeezed a slim
square 1/4-20 nut behind the docking bracket
and bolted the back bag bracket on with a
spacer. It worked like a charm.
"Can we ride?" Sin cooed. I told her to
gear up. We were just about ready to roll.
I used electrical contact cleaner to
loosen the tin insignia plate, but discovered
that wasn't the intended plan. Leave it be,
Here's the totally clean caliper. Big
I ground the lip unevenly, but it then fit
into the recessed slot on the caliper.
After grinding, all was well. Sorta.
The air in the garage eased as I warmed
to her company. For an easy half-hour we
played with the details of the bike by installing
nut caps and front axle caps which I snugged
down against a coating of silicon to prevent
Some silicone on the axle nut will
prevent vibration that may loosen the cap.
I discovered that the front chrome caliper
caps stuck directly against the existing tin
insignia. I took one off and cleaned the area
thoroughly with electrical cleaner then the
self-sticking surface didn't reach the base.
Here's the 100th Anniversary backrest
that will not fit on the short back rest bracket.
We sent the short unit to Custom Powder
Coating, in Dallas, for a coating of black.
Note that there are various pads and
various fasteners and spacers for different
applications. Don't try using common
I ended up with 1/2 pint can of
Rust-oleum paint and a small brush for
touch-up details. I sent Sin Wu in the house to
prepare for the ride. That meant striping out of
her threads and waiting for me in bed. It's the
code. We must workout before we ride.
Editor's note: I'm sniveling through this,
but I'm sure with some experience this would
have been a breeze. I suppose that's what
dealerships are for.


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Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
12 cups fish stock
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. mild curry powder
1 1⁄2 cups heavy cream
1 cup dry white wine
2 tbsp. minced chives
Remove heads and shells from langoustines and lightly crush; chill tail meat until ready to use. Heat 1 tbsp. butter and the oil in an 8-qt. saucepan over medium-high. Cook shells, carrots, celery, and half the onion until vegetables are soft, 6–8 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, paprika, salt, and pepper; cook 2 minutes. Add stock; simmer until reduced by half, about 2 hours. Strain stock.
Wipe pan clean and add 4 tbsp. butter; melt over medium. Cook remaining onion and the garlic until soft, 3–4 minutes. Stir in curry powder; cook 1 minute. Add 1 cup cream and the wine; cook until reduced by half, about 20 minutes. Add reserved stock; boil. Reduce heat to medium-high; cook until slightly thickened, about 30 minutes. Keep soup warm.
Whip remaining cream in a bowl into semi-stiff peaks. Melt remaining butter in a 12″ skillet over medium-high. Season langoustine tails with salt and pepper; cook, flipping once, until cooked through, 3–5 minutes. Divide soup between bowls and top with langoustines; garnish with whipped cream and chives.
This delicious recipe and photos were created by Saveur.com, we simply shared it. Please check them out for more great ideas!

domain: food


Volunteer Fire Departments Needed to Test Online Wellness Program
June 16, 2015
Update 6/26/15: Department nominations are no longer being accepted for this project.
Scientists from University of Texas Health Sciences Center’s School of Public Health and the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research at the National Development & Research Institutes are looking for volunteer or mostly volunteer departments to participate in the test of an online wellness program for volunteer firefighters. The project, funded by FEMA’s Research and Development grants and conducted in conjunction with the National Volunteer Fire Council, will study the usefulness and acceptability of the online wellness program with departments across the country.
For this study, the researchers are looking for departments that do not currently have an active wellness program but are interested in adopting a department-wide intervention. If selected, the project team will make two or three visits to your department to examine important health factors such as nutrition, exercise, and body composition in a sample of your firefighters. Participants will then have access to an online program that focuses on changing diet, increasing physical activity, and improving behavioral health. The program includes personal health coaching.
Departments will receive direction on program implementation, a summary of the project’s findings for your department, and access to a nationally known team of fire service researchers for collaboration and education. Importantly, data on individual firefighters will not be shared with anyone and will be considered confidential by the research team. There are no financial costs for participation in the study. The research team has a long and trusted relationship with the fire service and has worked with many departments across the nation.
Update: The researchers recevied an overwhelming response to this project and thank everyone who submitted a department nomination. No further nominations are being accepted at this time.


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Matomani, masonja, mashonzha, amasonja or mopane worms – a staple source of protein and nutrients for many rural communities in Southern Africa, a delicacy in Limpopo, and a scary thought for many European taste buds. The principal producers of mopane worms are Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and the South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
Even though the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations published an Edible Insects: Future Prospects for Food and Feed Security report in 2013, mopane worms have been a source of nutrition for as long as people can remember. South Africa trades 1,6 million kilograms of mopane worms annually, and dried mopane worms have become a multi-million rand industry.
The mopane worm is a pretty, brightly coloured caterpillar with little spikes on its back that feeds mainly on the leaves of the mopane tree, hence its English name. It is harvested some weeks into the rainy season, just before it goes into pupation and ultimately turns into the large Emperor moth.
The caterpillars are hand-picked by mostly women and children straight from the trees in the Mopane woodlands. Once collected, somebody gets the “wonderful” job of squeezing the gut out of the caterpillars before they are sundried, which preserves them until the next harvest. Although traditionally the mopane worms are harvested for personal use only, it has now grown into a thriving industry providing an income for many rural communities.
History of the dish
There is no documented history of the mopane worm dish in Zimbabwe. However, a stone-age pit discovered at Pomongwe Cave in Zimbabwe showed a deposit of dried mopane worms that are believed to be almost 6,000 years old.
European explorers and early settlers to southern Africa in the 19th century documented the collection and consumption of the caterpillars, many adding that they found it a “filthy” practice.
According to Food and Agriculture Association (FAO) the mopane caterpillar is one of the best-known and most economically-important forestry resource products of the mopane woodlands in southern Zimbabwe, Botswana and northern South Africa.
It has been estimated that annually 9.5 billion mopane larvae are harvested in Southern Africa’s 20,000km2 of mopane forest worth US$85 million, of which approximately 40 per cent goes to producers who are primarily women from poorer, rural areas.
Research has found that mopane worms are not only good for eating from a nutritional standpoint, but they also may be key to maintaining the ecological balance of the dry bush they inhabit.
The mopane worm is so-called in English because it is usually found on the mopane tree, Colophospermum mopane. Other vernacular names for the caterpillars include:
Northern Sotho: mašotša (colloq)
Tsonga: matamani or masonja
Southern Ndebele: iinnondo
muyaya (believed to be the mopane worm)
Northern Ndebele: macimbi
Shona: madora, masodya or mashonja
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Latin name is sometimes given as Imbrasia belina, rather than Gonimbrasia belina
How to cook mopane worms
The worms are harvested during the rainy season, after which they are cleaned, sun-dried for preservation, and made available for consumption throughout the year.
The tasty worms can be eaten dry and crispy as a snack, or can be drenched in sauce, or added to porridge made from maize – a staple food in Zimbabwe. Most people prefer to fry the worms with a combination of tomatoes, garlic, peanuts, chillies, and onions. Some of the recipes to cook the caterpillar can be found online.
Mopane worms can also be added to a stew, boiled to soften them up, or simply eaten raw and fresh off a tree. When they are fresh, they are less chewy and their distinctive and unique flavour is undiluted by other ingredients.


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St George Illawarra Dragons utility Kurt Mann has been named to face the North Queensland Cowboys in a triple-header of rugby league at WIN Stadium, Wollongong on Saturday.
The Winton Devils junior is part of an 18-man extended squad named by Head Coach Paul McGregor and has been named on the wing in lieu of Jason Nightingale who shifts to fullback.
Furthermore, halfback Benji Marshall (hamstring) has been named to partner co-captain Gareth Widdop in the halves whilst Joel Thompson (suspension) also makes his return to partner Jake Marketo in the second-row.
Dragons utility Josh McCrone is additionally part of an extended five-man interchange which also features props Jacob Host, Dunamis Lui and Will Matthews as well as fellow utility Siliva Havili.
Dragons duo Josh Dugan and Tyson Frizell are both unavailable for this fixture following their respective selections into the NSW Blues State of Origin squad.
1. Jason NIghtingale
2. Kalifa Faifai Loa
3. Euan Aitken
4. Tim Lafai
5. Kurt Mann
6. Gareth Widdop (c)
7. Benji Marshall
8. Leeson Ah Mau
9. Mitch Rein
10. Russell Packer
11. Jake Marketo
12. Joel Thompson
13. Mike Cooper
14. Jacob Host
15. Dunamis Lui
16. Siliva Havili
17. Will Matthews
19. Josh McCrone
Unavailable: Jack de Belin (Shoulder - Round 16); Ben Creagh (Knee - TBC); Josh Dugan (NSW Blues – Round 14); Dylan Farrell (Back - TBC); Tyson Frizell (NSW Blues – Round 14); Yaw Kiti Glymin (Hamstring - Round 14); Drew Hutchison (Hand - Round 15); Mose Masoe (Knee - Season).
The Dragons will be hosting a triple-header of rugby league which will see the Young Dragons commence festivities against the Cowboys in their National Youth Competition fixture at 3.15pm.
The Illawarra Cutters will then take the field to host the Wyong Roos in their NSW Cup fixture at 5.10pm while the Dragons first-grade team will round-out the triple-act when the face the Cowboys at 7.30pm!
Red V Members and supporters alike can pre-purchase a family-pass to experience all the action from just $50!


Tom Keeley, who has been nominated to head the state Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, plans to announce if he'll stay on as Harrison County Commissioner during a news conference at 11 a.m. Thursday.
The meeting will be held in the county commission office, Keeley said.
Meanwhile, the West Virginia Ethics Commission stated in a letter to the 20-year county commissioner that there is no problem with him holding both positions.
"Before I make a decision, I want a chance to become familiar with the ABC," Keeley said Tuesday. "I'll do whatever is in the best interest of the people of Harrison County.
"I don't like the idea of stepping down in mid-term, but I will if I have to."
Keeley has four years left on his current term.
If he resigns, commissioners Beth Taylor and Roger Diaz each will nominate a replacement. The chief circuit judge then will draw one name out of a hat, Taylor said.
That person will serve until a special election can be scheduled, she said.
Keeley was nominated for the state job Friday. The Ethics Commission letter to Keeley is dated Jan. 5, the day he was nominated by Wise.
"It is my opinion, and that of the Ethics Commission's attorney, that no provision of the Ethics Act would prevent you from serving simultaneously in both positions," Ethics Commission Executive Director Richard Alker stated in the letter.
"É your continued public service as county commissioner, while serving as state ABCC commissioner, would be entirely consistent with the provisions of the Ethics Act," the letter concludes.
Staff writer Paul Darst can be reached at 626-1404 or by e-mail at email@example.com.


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The Antidote to Sadness is Kindness
In many cases, sadness is a normal human reaction to different life changes and events, but there are some habits that can help with this. “If you find yourself feeling a bit down, a great thing to do is something kind for another person,” explains Vanessa. “When we do kind things for others, it actually activates the reward system in our own brain. It releases the reward neuron dopamine. If we’re doing something for someone else, then it also takes our mind off our own worries as well.”
The more we move out of ourselves toward others, the more feelings of self-pity, sadness, and depression leave us. Instead of dwelling on our problems when we engage with others to brighten their day grace happens, our day becomes brighter as well.
Have to make a hole in that shell….

domain: sociology


text:
This the great new lego city army training facility. It will help you become the best soldier you can be!! This model is based on the U.S. Army's training courses.
About this creation
Hello and welcome to basic training. My name is Drill Sargent Noah Ruth. It is now time to start the obstacle course. Good luck!!
These are the weave bars. You must go in and out of them.
Good work. Now you need to pull yourself across the rope.
Wow your doing great! Now it's time for the balance beam.
Now, at this obstacle, you have to climb over the walls. This is a teamwork obstacle.
Now you have to climb over these slanted walls using the rope.
Now repel down.
Great!! Now it's time to crawl under the barbed wire.
Great!! Congrats you completed the training course!! Please comment now!!


text:
Sunday, January 27, 2008
One of the many powerful initiatives of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is its goal of educating young people in the United States. An article in the January 27, 2008, New York Times suggests that the many state initiatives aimed at limiting illegal immigration may actually hurt the drive to educate young people overall. Here is an excerpt from the article:
A report to the Legislature in December found that about 1,700 students had been denied in-state tuition at the Maricopa colleges because they were not able to prove their legal status, though it was unclear how many had dropped out.
Officials at the University of Arizona in Tucson said that some of the 200 to 300 dropouts from last fall were also illegal immigrants. Pima Community College, estimated that as many as 1,000 students may have been affected by the law.
More than enrollment declines, however, what worries some educators here is that nonlegal residents — some of whom have lived in the United States since infancy and attended American high schools — will be afraid to pursue any form of higher education.
For the entire article, go to "Arizona Law Takes a Toll on Nonresident Students" in the New York Times.


Award Given to Eight-Member Consortium in Regional DOE Grant Program
Osawatomie, KS (August 4, 2022) – On November 8, 2021, the City of Osawatomie was in a consortium of eight businesses and municipalities, working with Metropolitan Energy Center, that were awarded $5.2 million through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Low Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Vehicle Technologies Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment program for electric vehicle (EV) and charging station projects.
These businesses and municipalities operate within environmental justice areas, opportunity zones, and other underserved areas. In addition to sedans, they are replacing small and heavy trucks with electric models. These partners will also be building out EV charging stations in various locations.
The City of Osawatomie will be engaging the community in developing goals for sustainability and economic vitality. Mike Scanlon, City Manager, stated when reflecting on the award, “It’s nice to be at the front-end of rural economic development when it comes to EV chargers and vehicles. With the recent announcement of the Panasonic Battery Plant in De Soto, I believe as a community we are perfectly placed to leverage the benefits of these new technologies. I believe we can become a national leader in rural sustainability – the field is ours to grab.”
As the City begins the implementation of this award, here are some important dates to put on your calendar:
• August 8, 2022 – A new City website will debut with a special section on this EV grant through Metropolitan Energy Center
• August 11, 2022 – The City is hosting a ribbon cutting dedication for the first set of charging stations at 5th and Main Street
• September 12, 2022 – A downtown planning office opens for resident feedback
• September/October 2022 – The City will host weekly Q+A and Community Outreach Activities regarding EV Plans, the newly announced solar array, and sustainability practices and projects
• October 3, 2022 – The final announcement of planned construction dates for the Evergy/Osawatomie solar array
• November 2022 – The City anticipates to host a final round of competition for the USD #367 Solar Array/EV Charging Station drawing contest
The City of Osawatomie is very excited to be on the leading edge of rural sustainability projects and is looking forward to working with the community and its partners on this and future projects.


ethanol fireplace insertfor easy assembly, Planika has designed PrimeFire.
- Technical data
- Ethanol Fuel
Adaptable to your wishes
Based on patented BEV technology (Burning Ethanol Vapours technology) the PrimeFire ethanol fireplace insert burns absolutely without smoke, odour or ash. That gives the freedom of the product arrangement as no chimney or additional ventilation is required. It’s the only matter of user’s imagination if the product will be located in the wall or in a piece of furniture.
Not to mention, PrimeFire appears as an extremely user-friendly fireplace insert. Applied communication panel allows not only to ignite the fire with a single button but also to regulate the flame level. For maximum safety the ethanol burner insert is provided with numerous sensors protecting against e.g. overheating and overflow of the device.
PrimeFire is a revolutionary solution for everybody who dreams of the hypnotizing atmosphere of flames in one’s interior. Now it’s available at fingertips.
PrimeFire ethanol insert has successfully passed extensive safety and quality tests carried out by the leading certification institutes, including the OMNI laboratories (tests done in accordance with the UL) Standards and TÜV Rheinland (DIN 4734-1:01-2011).
- BEV - Burning Ethanol Vapors Technology
- indoor ethanol fireplace insert
- 2-level adjustable flame height
- modular - modules can be joined together
- automatic fuel pump
- eco-friendly fireplace
- emits no smell, ash or smoke
- intuitive control panel
- diode display
- remote control ready
- advanced safety sensors
- child lock
- additional flame suppression system
- automatic shutdown in case of errors
- advanced microprocessor
- Fast Start function
- easy installation and setup
- electrical connection required
- no chimney or flue required
- UL Standards certification
How it works
Installation and usage
Why Fanola® ?
Fanola® is a biologically clean, ecological fuel based on ethanol which has undergone double rectification process. Ethanol is of plant origin, obtained through fermentation of saccharine and is produces from seasonal produce. The burning process of Fanola® is described as “clean”, as the only by-products of the burning are: heat, CO2 and water vapour.
After the whole series of tests, Fanola® has been certified EcoFuel certificate proving the highest quality standards. The product must be used according to the specifications and the instructions given on the label and the user’s manual.
Planika’s bio fireplaces run on ethanol. It is possible to use the biofuel alternatives available on the market, adapted to clean-burning. Please remember, that no other substances except ethanol can be used in Planika’s fireplaces including: kerosene, gasoline, or other solvents that could damage the product.
The use of fuel with improper composition involves a loss of warranty. Planika will not accept any liability for damage caused by the use of defective fuel.
Shipping within continental US, covers curbside delivery only. Lead time 14 business days after payment clears. To arrange shipping to Canada please contact our Office +1 201-815-2208. Out of stock items may take up to six weeks.
Planika’s products have to be registered online on in order to activate 1 year warranty from the moment of delivering the product to the customer.
The warranty comprises possible hidden structural or material defects, hidden damage of electronic parts revealed during proper utilization.
The warranty does not comprise damage that occurs as a result of user’s faulty exploitation.
To read full warranty condition please register your product on


text:
I got an e-mail from Andrews Federal CU this morning saying it has increased the daily withdrawal limit form ATMs to $1,000. However, any particular ATM might have a lower limit.
ESSENTIAL ERRANDS JUST GOT A LITTLE EASIER
As the world changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we're here for you. We've increased our daily ATM withdrawal limit to $1,000.
Visit one of our 30,000+ no-fee ATMs, nationwide. All Andrews Federal debit cards can now withdraw up to $1,000 per day, at any operating ATM.
Keep in mind; some ATMs may only allow withdrawals up to $500 per transaction. So, you may have to complete multiple transactions to have the machine dispense up to $1,000.

domain: economics


The BlackFox Ciol is an elegant everyday carry knife created by the talented designer Denis Simonutti, who also designed the acclaimed Fox Radius. This knife combines modern and traditional elements, featuring a slip joint mechanism. The blade is crafted from durable stainless steel and has a slight recurve shape. The handle scales are designed with chamfered edges to provide a comfortable grip. The Ciol is conveniently compact and can effortlessly fit into pockets, bags, or sheaths. If you're interested in the BlackFox Ciol, you'll be pleased to know that it is available in various handle materials and blade finishes.


text:
The Cabinet Office (CO) is working on plans to compel suppliers to give more details about their finances as part of a procurement overhaul in the wake of the Carillion crisis, it has revealed.
Responding to the scathing July report on public sector outsourcing from the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee’s (PACAC), the Cabinet Office (CO) said officials were looking at ways to give the government “greater insight into the financial stability of suppliers and markets”.
This information would help establish “better right-at-the start processes” to account for what PACAC called the “monopolistic” buyer conditions in public procurement, it said in the response. More details will be published “in due course”.
The CO and the Treasury are also developing a “playbook” laying out cross-government standards for how to tackle simple and complex outsourcing, including the questions authorities should ask as commercial projects advance.
The playbook, used with the Treasury’s Green and Orange books of financial and risk-management guidelines, will define delivery goals, tender options and procurement strategies for contracting authorities.
It will also prepare them for the “potential impacts of corporate failure on the continuity of public services”, added the CO.
Officials also announced that “key, high-level KPI reporting” will soon be included in the spend database for all public contracts. This will reportedly make it “easier to monitor performance at a contractual and supplier level”.
The response also included plans to force suppliers delivering “critical public services or those whose corporate failure would seriously affect government’s ability to deliver key public services” to put “proportionate plans” in place for what happens if they become insolvent.
A group of “industry and relevant subject matter experts” are developing these ‘living wills’, responding to PACAC’s calls to give service users “confidence in their resilience”, regardless of particular companies’ fates.
In September, SM learned the government is running a “study group” of 20 industry experts and secondees examining “complicated issues where we need to work with industry” in outsourcing policy, according Gareth Rhys Williams, the government’s chief commercial officer. It is unclear whether this group is linked to the group working on living wills.


text:
Cahokia Mounds to expand (Illinois)Breaking News
Their concerns eased a bit Thursday, when the state finally released funds -- $837,800 -- earmarked years ago for expanding the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, now spanning 2,200 acres of the 4,000 that comprised the once-thriving city of up to 20,000 American Indians.
"We're so proud of Cahokia," Bob Coomer, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency's director, said during a news conference at the historic site just west of this St. Louis suburb. Land-acquistion "funds have been extremely difficult to come by; we feel very fortunate to get these funds at this time."
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- Now it’s the University of Louisville’s turn to remove a Confederate statue
- A fortress built by Alexander the Great after he conquered Jerusalem has been discovered
- Yale students protest decision to keep Calhoun’s name
- Six maps that will make you rethink the world
- Middle Tenn. State President Wants to Strip Confederate General’s Name From Building
- The historian and cartographer Bill Rankin has developed a new way to visualize slavery
- Paula S. Fass says young Americans need required national service
- Historians are now trying to show that the gay revolution also took place in the midwest
- The Unconference Movement Grows – And Historians Are Taking the Lead
- New appeal to "Bring Back Military History"


text:
First of all – congratulations on your soon-to-be little one! As time goes on, the intimate bond between you and your baby will only get stronger. For now, it’s time to celebrate – in every way possible.
There’s often some concern among new moms about sex. Today, we’ll be answering FAQs about our products and pregnancy – specifically, “is lube safe during pregnancy?”
The short answer? Yes. Here’s why and how.
Let’s Start with Sex
Of course, it’s important to consult with your physician and/or gynecologist because while generally, sex is safe (often encouraged), there are always exceptions to the “rule.” That being said, while pregnant, you may experience one of two opposing “symptoms” associated with sex:
- Vaginal Dryness
- Increased moisture
Regarding #2, the “moisture” is extra discharge thanks to changes in your cervix and boosts in estrogen. It prevents the infection-causing germs from slipping into your uterus.
Both scenarios are totally normal. Every woman is different, with some having more natural lubrication than others during pregnancy. Figuring out what works for you is part of the fun and part of the journey toward new motherhood.
Play It Safe if You Have Certain Symptoms or Conditions
According to Cleveland Clinic, the following are conditions in which you may need to consult with a physician or find alternate means of pleasure:
- Cervical changes: Normally, the cervix creates a barrier between the vagina and uterus. Changes, such as early dilation, could raise your risk for premature labor if you have sex.
- History of premature labor or miscarriage: If you have a history of premature delivery or miscarriage, your doctor may ask you to refrain from intercourse. Semen contains prostaglandins, and during orgasm, your brain releases oxytocin. Both of these hormones play a role in stimulating contractions.
- Leaking: If you feel a drip from your vagina, it warrants a call to your doctor. It could be a sign that the wall surrounding the amniotic sac may have ruptured. Intercourse in this situation could increase your risk of infection.
- Placenta previa: When the placenta covers the cervix, sexual activity (vaginal-penile) may result in disruption of the placenta and cause bleeding.
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STD): If a doctor diagnoses you or your partner with a sexually transmitted infection, refrain from unprotected sexual intercourse until you’ve been treated and retested. An untreated STD can harm your baby.
Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding: Until your provider determines the reason for vaginal bleeding, you should refrain from sexual intercourse.
Pregnancy and Lube – Approved
Now, assuming you aren’t diagnosed with any of the conditions listed above, you can choose to enjoy all forms of sex as frequently as you’d like.
This means it’s time for the fun stuff – pregnancy-safe lube.
The following comes straight from Healthline:
“While lube use hasn’t been widely studied, doctors believe it’s safe to use during pregnancy because your cervix is tightly closed, preventing anything like lubricant from actually getting to your baby. One caveat though: You need to use lube that is made with pregnancy-safe ingredients.”
Our takeaway? Natural lube during pregnancy is the way to go.
Not All Lubes Are Created Equal
If you find yourself in the intimate aisle at your supermarket, you’ll find a lot of lube options, with the packaging claiming all sorts of sensations. All the options can make it difficult to determine what is and what isn’t pregnancy-safe lube. That’s why simple and natural is always better for your body and your baby. If you can’t pronounce an ingredient, you probably don’t want it in you.
Sex can be uncomfortable while pregnant, but it shouldn’t be painful. That’s where lube comes in – to make your sexual experience more satisfying and more comfortable while your body grows and adapts. If you still feel discomfort, or even pain, after using pregnancy-safe lube, consider switching up the position and see if that helps.
Sex is supposed to be enjoyable, so try to have some fun – even while your body changes!
Pregnancy-Safe Lube Is Water Based
Healthline asked OB-GYN Dr. Kim Langdon what type of lube is considered superior, to which she said, “Water-based lubricants are best because they will not increase the risk of an altered microbiome that could lead to bacterial vaginosis. Oily ones predispose to an altered microbiome.”
Additionally, water-based lubricants are silky, smooth, and leave little room for irritation. The body tends to absorb it quickly, but there’s nothing wrong with extra applications now and again, right ladies? Pleasure > procedure.
What to Avoid and Why
First, oil-based lubes. Dr. Langdon touched on it, but there’s more to it than bacteria and infection. Oil-based lubricants (as well as products like baby oil and petroleum jelly) can be more irritating and can damage latex condoms to the point where they break. Naturally, broken condoms put you at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which can be risky not only for you but for your baby, as well.
Here are a few other “features” to avoid because they can cause irritation or infections:
- Warming products
As far as ingredients, consider avoiding Nonoxynol-9, Chlorhexidine gluconate, Propylene glycol, and Benzocaine. Better yet, just stick to natural lube during pregnancy – you’d rather be safe than sorry, right?
Choose Coconu, the Better-for-You Lube
So, is Coconu lube safe during pregnancy? We’re pleased to confirm that yes, it is! We hope that with our products, you and your partner can enjoy sex whenever you choose to get intimate, whether you’re pregnant or not.
We offer two simple, natural lube options to keep your body (and baby!) safe and satisfied. We created our products to improve the nature of sexual relationships. Renew your senses, increase your connection with your partner, and allow yourself to get intimate with Coconu.
You Have Two Options
Water Is Slick and Satisfying
Our coconut water-based lubricant is a strong, long-lasting lubricant designed to last as long as you do. It has a silky, sensuous feel that will moisturize sensitive areas while giving you a boost during your most intimate moments. No harmful ingredients mean you can relax and enjoy more possibilities for pleasure.
Oil Is Invigorating and Exciting
If you want to switch it up from the water-based formula postpartum, our coconut oil-based lubricant is ready and waiting. This formula creates stimulating, deeply satisfying sexual experiences for you and your partner. It will awaken your senses while the organic ingredients provide real, natural health benefits.
There’s more where that came from. Check out our product bundles and other intimacy-related resources!

domain: medical