Sunday, December 24, 2017

The 2017 Audubon Photography Awards Winners

Photo Credit: Audubon 2017
Audubon Photography Awards Winners 2017 
The more than 5,500 photos entered in this year's contest, our eighth, show birdlife at its most vivid, vulnerable, formidable, and elegant. Photographers from 49 states and eight Canadian provinces submitted images in three categories: professional, amateur, and youth. While it wasn't easy whittling those down, the following seven images proved exceptional. The category winners, in addition to garnering cash and trip prizes, are being displayed within the 2017 Nature’s Best Photography Exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Monday, December 11, 2017

Irish Cheddar and thyme gougères By Donal Skeehan

Ingredients
Makes about 24 small gougères
60g salted butter
130ml water
80g plain flour, sifted
3 large free range eggs
100g Irish Cheddar (Sheridans 15 Fields Irish Cheddar is excellent), grated
2tsp thyme leaves, finely chopped
Pinch ground nutmeg
Ground black pepper


Method

An elegant and impressive warm canapé which is ideal finger food served with a cold glass of Prosecco. The choux pastry can be baked up to two to three hours before serving and reheated. Irish Cheddar makes for delicious light cheese puffs or, alternatively, Comte or Gruyère are also good here. 

Preheat an oven to 220 degrees Celsius/gas 7 and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the butter and water in a small saucepan and bring to a steady boil until the butter is melted. Remove from the heat and add the flour, beating all the time with a wooden spoon, until a dough comes together. Place back over the heat and beat the dough in the saucepan for about 40 seconds. Remove from the heat, set aside and leave to cool slightly. Beat the eggs in a small bowl. Add the eggs a little at a time, and beat thoroughly with a wooden spoon until the egg is completely incorporated after each addition. You may not need all of the egg. Add a little at a time until you have a consistency that will hold its shape when piped. It should be smooth, shiny and just about fall from the spoon. Stir through 75g of the cheese, nutmeg, thyme and a sprinkle of black pepper. Using a spatula, scoop the dough into a large piping bag fitted with a large round piping nozzle and pipe 3cm rounds onto the lined baking sheets, leaving about 6cm in between each line to allow for spreading. Pat water on the top of each gougère and sprinkle on the remaining cheese. Place in the oven, reducing the heat to 190 degrees Celsius/gas 5, for about 25 minutes, until they have risen and are golden and crisp. Transfer to a wire wrack and serve warm. The Irish Times

“May-Day” named the winner at the Leuven short film festival By Jason Bennett

The film “May-Day” by Brussels duo Felix De Beul and Olivier Magis was handed three awards during the closing ceremony for the Leuven short film festival on Saturday evening.
The jury award in the European competition went to “Le Bleu Blanc Rouge de mes Cheveux” by Josza Anjembee.

“May-Day” is the story of a Brussels Librarian looking for a successor. He gathers together a dozen candidates, which creates animated discussion and leads to complete chaos. The directors explained they wanted to show the “modern day tragedy” of people fed up with their jobs and others who would do anything to get one. The short film received the jury and public awards, as well as Best Actor for the lead role played by Thierry Hellin.

In the European competition, the jury award went to “Le Bleu Blanc Rouge de mes Cheveux”, the autobiographical film by Josza Anjembee. It’s the story of a woman who wants French nationality, but authorities oppose it because of her haircut. The European public award went to the Swiss short film “Les Heures-encre” by Wendy Pillonel.

Jason Bennett (Source:Belga) The Brussels Times

Monday, November 27, 2017

Congratulations HRH Prince Harry and Meghan Markle !!

Photo Credit: HRH Prince Harry and Meghan Markle/
Los Angeles Times
Weus'd a Herz hast wia a Bergwerk - Reinhard Fendrich

Russia's contestant wins Junior Eurovision

Photo Credit: Polina Bogusevich/wiwibloggs.com
Russia's Polina Bogusevich has won this year's Junior Eurovision song contest, which was held in Georgia. The 14-year-old triumphed with the song Wings, scoring 188 points. Georgia's representative Grigol Kipshidze came a close second (with 185 points), ahead of Australia's Isabella Clarke (172). The competition for children aged nine to 14 has been held annually since 2003. BBC YouTube

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Le Brio

Le Brio (2017)

After an incident, a brilliant professor known for his outbursts is forced to mentor the student he wronged for a speech contest.

Director: Yvan Attal

Writers: Victor Saint Macary, Yaël Langmann

Stars: Daniel Auteuil, Camélia Jordana, Yasin Houicha 

Release Dates 

France 17 November 2017 (Paris) (premiere)
France 22 November 2017
Germany 5 July 2018
IMDb TV5MONDE

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Le Crêpe

1-1/2 c flour
2 Tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
3 eggs
3 c whole milk

Warm milk in microwave.
Blend all ingredients in food processor for 15 seconds.
Cook in 24cm or 9-1/2 inch non-stick pan,
with approximately 1/4 to 1/2 Tbsp butter per Crêpe. Ladle 1/4 c mix. When edges start turning brown flip.
Recipe takes 1 hour 45 minutes to make 18 Crêpes. Keep covered and warm in 200°F/100°C oven till serving. 

Starbucks Lemon Loaf

2-1/4 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1-1/2 c sugar
3 eggs
3 Tbsp Butter (I use about 1/2 cup)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon extract
1/2 c lemon juice (I use 1/4 cup)
1/2 c buttermilk
Zest of 1 lemon

Glaze: 2 c powdered sugar
1/2 tsp lemon extract (I use 1 tsp)
2 Tbsp whole milk (I use an extra Tbsp)

Bake cake 350°F/180°C Oven 50 minutes. Will try 160°C to see if cake doesn't break.
Let cake cool 10 minutes. Flip cake out of cake pan.
Let cake cool completely on rack.  Glaze cake.

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Par instinct

Par instinct

A Feature film by Nathalie Marchak
Produced by Les Films d'Ici, Nida Films
Release in France : 15/11/2017

Synopsis

At the pinnacle of her career as a lawyer, Lucie goes to Morocco on a business trip, a long way from home and her husband. On her arrival in Tangier, she is struck by the chaotic agitation of the city, where it seems that anything could happen. When, out of nowhere, a Nigerian teenager gives Lucie her baby and asks her to protect it, she is completely thrown off balance. Braving the dark corners of the city, Lucie will attempt to rescue this young woman from a dangerous human trafficking ring. But she hadn't foreseen the growing attachment she feels toward the child... UNIFRANCE TV5MONDE

Thursday, November 2, 2017

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Ellie Goulding

Photo Credit: Ellie Goulding/United Nations Foundation
Burn/Love Me Like You Do - Speech 2017 United Nations Global Leadership Awards Wikipedia

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Saturday, October 7, 2017

NENA - Nichts versäumt Die große Jubiläumsshow

Photo Credit: Nena/www.fanpop.com
ZDF TV program

"Nichts versäumt": Das ZDF feiert das 40-jährige Bühnenjubiläum der Pop-Ikone Nena in einer großen Samstagabendshow. Thomas Gottschalk moderiert und begrüßt hochkarätige Musikstars.

Beitragslänge:
146 min
Datum:
29.10.2017

Video verfügbar bis 05.11.2017, 23:59
Produktionsland und -jahr:
Deutschland 2017

Felices los 4

Photo Credit: Maluma and Marc Anthony/
www.youtube.com
Felices los 4 (Salsa Version). Maluma featuring Marc Anthony

Friday, October 6, 2017

A Venezia74 arriva Penélope Cruz e Javier Bardem fa il "bis" sul red carpet

Photo Credit: Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem/
Cosua
VENEZIA. È sbarcata a Venezia l'ultima, vera grande star internazionale di quest'affollatissima edizione della Mostra del Cinema: Penélope Cruz, protagonista con il marito Javier Bardem di "Loving Pablo", storia vera della relazione tra il trafficante internazionale di droga Pablo Escobar e la giornalista colombiana Virginia Vallejo. Attraverso il loro rapporto, il film di Fernando Leon de Aranoa racconta così l'ascesa al potere del narcostrafficante più famoso al mondo. Cruz è arrivata al Lido in un lungo abito bianco con ricami rossi, secondo uno stile gipsy che quest'anno va molto di moda tra le attrici sul red carpet. Passerella che calcherà per la seconda volta Javier Bardem, protagonista martedì di "mother!" l'orror del già Leone d'oro Aronofsky fischiato dalla critica. (foto Cosua) Qui lo Speciale Mostra del Cinema

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Let the Sun Shine In (2017)

Photo Credit: IMDb

Un beau soleil intérieur (original title)

| Comedy, Drama, Romance | 27 September 2017 (France) 

Isabelle, Parisian artist, divorced mother, is looking for love, true love at last.
Director:
Stars: , ,
   USA 7 October 2017 (New York Film Festival)

USA 22 October 2017 (Chicago International Film Festival) IMDb


















Tuesday, September 26, 2017

FRANCE 24, now in Spanish!

FRANCE 24 in Spanish launched live from Bogota, Colombia, on Tuesday, with the Spanish-language news channel’s inaugural broadcast airing at 1pm Paris time (11am GMT).

With an editorial staff based in the Colombian capital, the new channel's team comprises 35 journalists, 10 correspondents and a palette of nationalities (Colombian, Argentinian, Spanish, French and English). FRANCE 24 in Spanish will be headed by Alvaro Sierra. With a €7.3 million budget for 2018, the channel will air six hours of programming every day split between morning and evening broadcasts, blending 15-minute news bulletins with Spanish-language versions of FRANCE 24's flagship shows. Bringing a fourth language to FRANCE 24’s stable of television news channels after French, English and Arabic, the new Spanish-language network will broadcast to 6.5 million homes across 10 countries in Latin and South America and aims, according to FRANCE 24 chief Marc Saikali, "to build bridges at a time when others are building walls". To relive the very first moments of FRANCE 24 in Spanish, click on the player above. FRANCE 24's new Spanish-language website, meanwhile, is available here. FRANCE 24

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Friday, September 1, 2017

Radetzky March

Johann Strauss Sr. Radetzky March, Op. 228, is a march composed by Johann Strauss Sr. and dedicated to Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky von Radetz. First performed on 31 August 1848 in Vienna, it soon became quite popular among regimented marching soldiers. It has been remarked that its tone is more celebratory than martial; Strauss was commissioned to write the piece to commemorate Radetzky's victory at the Battle of Custoza. Wikipedia

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

5 Things You Can Do to Feel More Energised Right Now By Michele Foley/Pop Sugar

While it's hard to undo a night of crappy sleep, there are definitely small things you can do to try. The next time you're feeling sluggish and not on top of your game, find help with one of these methods.
  1. Drink water: A lack of energy is often a sign that you're dehydrated. Not only can being dehydrated make you feel sluggish, but it can also cause you to feel foggy and more prone to headaches. Make sure you always have water on hand by investing in a reusable water bottle.
  2. Go for a walk: A little fresh air and sunshine can do a lot when it comes to boosting energy. If you sit at a desk all day, give yourself at least 15 minutes to get outside and away from your desk. Doing so will also do wonders for your productivity.
  3. Reach for an energising snack: Your brain and body need food to keep going through the day, but choosing items there are loaded with sugar or fat may do more to load you down than lift you up. Avoid a mid-afternoon sugar crash by opting for snacks that are full of good-for-you protein, fibre, and whole grains.
  4. Stretch: A quick stretch session can help energise you by getting the blood flowing and also aiding in digestion. Yogi Tara Stiles recommends these poses to wake up the body and add much-needed energy to your day.
  5. Dance: Throw on a playlist, crank up your stereo, and get moving for a few minutes! Dancing has been shown to make people feel more happy and less stressed. And like any form of exercise, dancing translates to more energy throughout the day. Not a fan of dance? Hop in a conference room and do a set of jumping jacks instead! Yahoo!

Social Action: Why Consumers Embrace Brands That Stand For Something By Adrienne Gibbs/Citizen

Leslie Sabatinelli is a forest manager in Georgia. She cares about the trees and how to preserve them. She also believes in fair systems and as such has become a staunch supporter of brands that promote racial equality, climate control and fair employment practices. In fact, even her spice purchases are influenced by what a brand ultimately stands for. “Essentially, when I can, I put my money where my mouth is,” says Sabatinelli, 40, of Watkinsville. “For a company to take a stand on these controversial issues is bold and can lead to changes in sales, so by buying their products, I’m supporting that bold stand.” Sabatinelli represents the portion of consumers who are acutely aware of the politics of their favorite brands and who align their spending dollars to work with brands that represent what they support or believe in.  That’s partially why she buys Penzeys Spices, a brand known for its premiere spices and also for its liberal CEO. Bill Penzey unleashed a political firestorm last December – and increased his profits – when he sent an email to customers chastising the “open embrace of racism” in the United States. Plenty of people rallied against Bill Penzey, but plenty of people rallied for him as well, resulting in a 138% increase in sales, according to the Milwaukee Business Journal. Penzeys isn’t the only company being quite public about taking a social stand. Chobani sells yogurt and also openly tells its corporate story of 100% paid parental leave practices. And instead of solely talking about hiring more women, the CEO of ad agency FCB instituted a “two-pronged approach” to help his company balance out the gender imbalance endemic to senior management in many corporate environments. Ben and Jerry’s has several pages on their site dedicated to what they describe as “issues we care about,” everything from Black Lives Matter to their thoughts on GMO labeling. “We are in a world where everything works and everything is of reasonably good quality, so now, how you differentiate yourself is to telegraph what you stand for,” says Oscar Yuan, a branding expert with Ipsos and president of its Strategy3. “Owning a certain product can say something about you. Automobiles were the first brands to do that. Now it’s the phone you have, the coffee you drink, the clothes you wear, the yogurt you eat. All those things are saying something.”

The How and The Why

Companies that work for social good reap profits and Millennials in particular show up and show out for them. In fact, an Ipsos study recently found that 61% of Americans prefer brands that, by purchasing, help them “make a difference in the world.” And, 85% of Americans believe that it is possible for a brand to support a good cause and make money at the same time. Brands for social good also get media ink – both consumer and B2B – because consumers find the topic enthralling. Gender equity and parental leave policy news seems to be increasingly in the news. FCB, for example, has made worldwide headlines for its transparency on its path to gender equality. CEO Carter Murray, 42, has taken an approach that includes rebalancing management teams, hosting implicit bias workshops, and actually acting when people from diverse backgrounds make suggestions. “There is a pressure on me to deliver meaningful change,” says Murray. “We now have 40 percent of women in management positions around the world, making us one of the leading holding groups in terms of gender equality. For FCB this is not a quota-filling exercise, but has allowed us to re-imagine our corporate leadership.” Chobani, by comparison, offers a generous paid time off parental leave for mothers and fathers, which is one of the reasons why L.A.-based writer Nicole Spector prefers that brand. Spector tries to spend frugally but also is concerned about “toxic snobbery” that makes it tough for lower income people to find and afford less toxic products. Spector, who once tried to make her own dish soap, now buys Method products because they list all their ingredients and they don’t use palm oil. That’s important because the harvesting of palm oil has devastated the orangutan population. “I’m pretty devastated by the problems human greed for palm oil have created, particularly as it affects orangutans,” says Spector. “There are hardly any left, and theirs was/is not a gentle death. As much as I want anything else in this life: I don’t want them to go, and if they do, I want to be as little part of the reason as possible.”

The ups and downs of taking a stand

Some brands stay away from the overtly political and yet still make a stand on other issues. In today’s hyper-partisan climate, one where U.S. President Donald Trump has been known to call out brands and executives by name, it can be hard to know when a marketer is going to get caught up in the fray. Disney, for example, “has never wavered in their ability to stand for good wholesome family entertainment and they’ve done that extremely well,” says Yuan, who adds Southwest Airlines, Jet Blue and Bud Light to the list of brands that are very clear about what they stand for. Increasingly, brands might not be able to sit silently by the wayside. The consumers certainly aren’t. “If you love Chunky Monkey and are anti-gay rights you make that call,” Yuan says. “All of that is tied together increasingly because there’s so much choice. You go to the store and think ‘oh my god there’s 85 kinds of yogurt!’ so people switch easily between brands and will try Chobani today and Dannon tomorrow. The challenge now is to get people to stick with you, to get a deeper connection beyond the fact that you’re a yogurt.” GenPop/FCB Global

What do you think? Share this story and join us for a Twitter chat, #GenPopChat, on August 24 from 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM EST and follow @genpopmag on Twitter.

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, Senior writer, GenPop | @adriennewrites
Adrienne Gibbs is the senior writer for GenPop. You can reach her at adrienne.gibbs@ipsos.com

How to answer 'Tell me about yourself' in a job interview By Danni Zhou

I panicked the first time a prospective employer asked, "So, tell me about yourself." I briefly described my background and listed my journalism experience — singular — writing for my school's student newspaper. Desperate to appear more qualified, I highlighted some extracurricular activities that showed my skills and work ethic. I didn't have much of a resume following my first year of college. In fact, the content barely reached half a page. That's including the education and contact information at the top. I remember frantically thinking of ways to apply my role as a student writer to an established media company during that first interview. Realistically, I had minimal responsibilities, especially compared to a seasoned reporter. Mentors told me, "Show your best self." But what does that mean? I managed to think of some responses after struggling through a few more interviews. But to help you, CNBC Make It went to experts Joan Kuhl and Sandy Gould for tips on how to talk about yourself in your next interview.

1. Keep the job in mind

"List the job's required skills and match your skills to the list," says Kuhl, founder and CEO of Why Millennials Matter. "Whether they were professionally learned skills or those you developed through extracurricular activities, volunteer work, class, everything counts."

2. Prepare in advance

"Do your research about the company and who you are interviewing with," says Gould, head of talent at Oath. "You can easily search for your interviewer on LinkedIn and find out a little bit more about the person you are talking with," then focus on the strengths he or she would find interesting and relevant.

3. Have confidence in your experience

"Be prepared to succinctly represent your work experience as far back as possible. Do not feel like your experiences are not 'good enough,'" says Kuhl. "Every experience can teach you valuable lessons and transferable skills. It is all about how you sell yourself."

4. Express your interest

"Showcase eagerness and excitement about the opportunity, as well as willingness to try new things and to grow your task management and execution skills," says Gould.

5. Show off your critical thinking skills

"Be prepared to share a story that demonstrates you have good judgement when faced with business challenges or tricky work situations," says Kuhl. " Practice explaining this scenario with a mentor, friend, or family member to ensure it translates positively."

6. Be genuine

"Honesty and candor can speak volumes about a candidate's qualities and values. Be yourself because the rest is what is on the resume," says Gould. "There is not a lot of experience to discuss when you are just starting out, so talking about a passion will give the interviewer an idea of who you are." Yahoo!

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

Photo Credit: Edie Brickell
www.last.fm
 
Circle Edie Arlisa Brickell (born March 10, 1966) is an American singer-songwriter widely known for 1988's Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars, the debut album by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, which went to No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart. She is married to Paul Simon. Wikipedia

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Let Your Love Flow - A favorite !!

Bellamy Brothers. The Bellamy Brothers are an American pop and country music duo consisting of brothers David Milton Bellamy (born September 16, 1950) and Homer Howard Bellamy (born February 2, 1946), from Darby, Florida, United States.The duo had considerable musical success in the 1970s and 1980s, starting with the release of their crossover hit "Let Your Love Flow" in 1976, a Number One single on the Billboard Hot 100. Wikipedia

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Peach Jam

2 plastic cartons of Peaches turned into 1275 grams chopped peaches.  Score peach skins in quarters and boil peaches for about 1 minute. Drain, cool with water, and peel peach skins. Then remove peach stones and chop. In non-stick Dutch Oven cook peaches, with juice of one lemon, a pinch of salt, and 270 grams of Gelierzucker (a special jam sugar with pectin). Ours is sweet enough, but a girlfriend uses regular sugar: 3 parts fruit to 2 parts white sugar. For more gel use more sugar, but the jam jells even more as it cools. We cooked our jam about 10 minutes. After 5 minutes I pureed the jam in a food processor about 5 seconds (still some mini chunks of peaches) and then returned the puree to the Dutch Oven to cook another 5 minutes.  Also skim the foam and use the foam later as juice for a water spritz.  After sterilizing jars in dishwasher, ladle hot jam into jars, carefully seal with lid (use kitchen mitts), and flip upside down and let cool.  We have 2 jars of jam and a lil left over for tomorrow morning's breakfast.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

7 Things Flight Attendants Notice About You When You Board A Plane By Suzy Strutner

Flight attendants may seem chipper and carefree, but don’t be fooled: While pouring bubbly and chatting with travelers, these trained first responders are also keeping a close watch over the plane for threats, starting the very moment you board. “Passengers think we are just greeting them at the door,” Jay Robert, a flight attendant and founder of Fly Guy, told HuffPost. “But they’d be surprised at the number of threats we eliminate at that stage of the flight which would have caused a delay or even harmed their health and safety.” We asked flight attendants to name the first thing they notice about passengers when they board a plane. Most of their answers have less to do with judging your in-flight look and more about keeping you safe. The right boarding behavior could score you better service, too. Here’s what the cabin crew notices:

If you look them in the eye.

″[I notice] who makes eye contact with me and who doesn’t. More often than not, the ones who don’t make eye contact make me investigate... Are they scared of flying? Are they feeling okay? Are they dealing with a personal issue? These are things people don’t tell you outright, and a facet of my job is making sure everyone is having a comfortable flying experience.” ― Stephanie Mikel, Southwest Airlines

If you’re drunk.

“Intoxication and aggressive passengers are prime suspects we try to identify at the doors. We are trained in basic taekwondo techniques to handle acts of aggression in the sky, but stopping them before they get up there is our main goal.” ― Jay Robert of Fly Guy

If you’re in shape.

“I’m looking for able bodied persons who can assist with security problems inflight, as well as someone who appears willing and able to assist in an emergency evacuation. Typically, this is someone who is traveling alone and in street clothes, looks like they are in above average physical shape or is known emergency service personnel.” ― Zac Ford, flight attendant with a major carrier

If you talk to them.

“When I say hello and a passenger responds back, I notice and think, ‘wow, that person is really nice.’ If I ever needed help with something, I’ll probably ask the nice passenger. [And] if a passenger ever needs help from me, I’ll probably go above and beyond the call of duty for a nice passenger.” ― Heather Poole, American Airlines

If you’re under the weather.

“It’s important to check if my passengers are fit to fly. Once all doors are closed and we’re airborne, it can get very challenging to handle medical emergencies. During boarding is the perfect time to take a look at who will be on my flight.” ― Claudia Sieweck, TUI fly

If you’re pregnant.

“I’m searching women to see if they are hiding baby bumps with loose clothing. After a certain point in a pregnancy, women need a doctor’s certificate to travel, and after a set period they are no longer allowed to fly.” ― Jay Robert of Fly Guy

If you’re nervous.

“I ask passengers if everything is alright if I have the feeling something isn’t perfect. Passengers with fear of flying get my special attention: I love to care for them and to make them feel comfortable.” ― Claudia Sieweck, TUI fly
Some responses have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
This article originally appeared on HuffPostYahoo!

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Ravinia Festival 2017

Photo Credit: Ravinia Festival Lawn/www.ravinia.org
Schedule Photo

Lonely Planet releases 2017 top 10 travel destinations rankings By Darla Guillen

Photo Credit: Toronto, Canada/worldplacez.blogspot.com
The No. 1 country to visit in 2017, according to Lonely Planet, will be Canada, because it's "turning 150 in 2017 and making no apologies for it."

"Canada is always popular with us," Lonely Planet's Canada destination editor Alex Howard said. "But there are several things going on in 2017 that made it number one. It's the country's biggest birthday party in recent memory with the sesquicentennial next year [2017], and they won't be shy about celebrating. Also, international travelers can expect their money to go further due to the weak Canadian dollar, so now is the time to start planning a trip." Chron

Saturday, July 8, 2017

I Can't Stop Smiling At These Dogs Before And After Their Haircuts! By Grace Chon

Before Pup Haircut
Animal photographer named Grace Chon has always found before and after photos from dog grooming to be really funny. So she got the idea to shoot a photo series that highlighted the transformation! Sunny Skyz

After Pup Haircut

Monday, July 3, 2017

A guide to prevent, treat and recover from a host of athletic injuries By Encarnacion Pyle

Physical exercise is great for the mind, body and spirit. And playing a team sport can be good for learning accountability, dedication and building confidence and leadership skills. But participating in athletics isn’t without its risks, whether you’re an elite athlete, a weekend warrior or take an occasional jog or bike ride. Sports medicine experts say that’s why it’s important to learn how to prevent injuries and look beyond your medicine cabinet to treat some of the most common sports injuries. And once you’ve recovered, it’s also good to know how to keep from suffering the same injury again.“A lot of injuries happen within the first few months of a person taking up a new activity,” said Dr. James Borchers, director of sports medicine at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center. “The last thing we want people to do is to defeat themselves before they even get started.” One way to reduce the risk of this happening is by talking to your doctor about the appropriate level of exercise for your fitness level and abilities, he said. Many injuries occur when people do too much, too quickly. When starting an exercise routine or a new workout program, start slowly, Borchers said. You should gradually build up the intensity, duration and frequency. It’s also important to warm up before and after exercising, stretch regularly and vary your workout so you don’t overuse one set of muscles, said Dr. Sylvia Rozek, a sports medicine doctor at Mount Carmel Fitness & Health. A certified personal trainer, physical therapist or strength/conditioning coach can teach you good techniques and create a safe and realistic exercise program, she said. There are basically two types of injuries: acute and overuse, said Dr. John Diehl, a family practice and sports medicine doctor at OhioHealth’s McConnell Spine, Sport & Joint Physicians group. Acute injuries usually occur after a single traumatic event, such as a twist, fall or collision, Diehl said. They can include broken bones, sprains such as ligament injuries, strains such as muscle and tendon injuries and cuts and bruises, he said. Overuse injuries typically occur over time, when an athletic activity is repeated so often that parts of the body don’t have enough time to heal, he said. Examples include runner’s knee, swimmer’s shoulder and tennis elbow.“Younger athletes are more likely to suffer an acute injury during a sporting event or as a result of a serious accident, while older athletes or weekend warriors are more likely to get an overuse injury,” he said. People should seek medical treatment for serious injuries, but can manage many sports injuries themselves, experts say. Diehl said the RICE method — short for rest, ice, compression and elevation — is helpful. And some sports-medicine experts add a P, for protection. If pain or other symptoms don’t improve, see a doctor or sports-medicine expert. More persistent problems might require rehabilitation, surgery or both, said Dr. Christopher Kaeding, executive director of sports medicine at Ohio State. And don’t let the fear of re-injury become an excuse for giving up exercising or a sport you love, he said. The Columbus Dispatch

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Cherry Pie

Not a piece of cake to make.  Two separate 2-crust pie doughs. Top crust with white sugar mixed in. Bottom crust without sugar.  Cherries are halved, pitted, and marinated in a mix of cornstarch, brown sugar, salt, lemon juice and almond flavoring.  Bake the bottom crust 350°/180° for 30 minutes with parchment and beans. Drain cherries, add another round of cornstarch, sugar and salt, mix and fill pie form, add dabs of butter.  Apply top crust with cut outs so pie can bubble. Bake 350°/180° about 1 hour.  Pie today with 5-1/2 cups of pitted cherries.  Second Round: 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 1/4 cup of brown sugar, plus salt. Add dabs of butter. Pie had just the right amount of jelling, no juice, and just a hint of tart (from lemon juice marinade) and a hint of almond flavor. 

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Mandy

Photo Credit: Westlife/www.greatsong.net
Westlife
Westlife were an Irish boy band, formed in Sligo in July 1998 and disbanded in June 2012. Originally signed by Simon Cowell and managed by Louis Walsh, the group's second and final line-up consisted of Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, and Shane Filan. Brian McFadden was a member from July 1998 until his departure in March 2004.
Westlife sold over 50 million records worldwide, a total that included studio albums, singles, video releases, and compilation albums. The group accumulated 14 number-one singles in the United Kingdom. They achieved a total of 26 UK top ten singles over their 14-year career. In 2012, the Official Charts Company listed Westlife 34th amongst the biggest-selling singles artists in British music history. Despite their success worldwide, Westlife never managed to break into the U.S. market, achieving only one hit single in 2000, "Swear It Again". Based on BPI certifications, the group have sold 11.1 million albums and 6.8 million singles in the UK. Wikipedia

Saturday, June 17, 2017

Evgeny Tsurkin claims second medal in Barcelona

Photo Credit: Belarus News
MINSK, 15 June (BelTA) – Belarusian swimmer Evgeny Tsurkin won the second medal at the 2017 Mare Nostrum meeting in Barcelona, Spain, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Swimming Federation. The Belarusian won the 100m butterfly heat in 52.46 seconds. Second was Hungary's Cseh Laszlo (52.51 seconds), with bronze going to Matteo Rivolta of Italy (52.86 seconds). Evgeny Tsurkin claimed the 50m butterfly bronze in Barcelona. The winners of the international tournament Mare Nostrum will be announced after points scored at each of its stages (two have already taken place in Monaco and Barcelona) are calculated. The final is scheduled to take place in Canet-en-Roussillon, France on 17-18 June. Belarus News