text:
FM Smoke House began with sous vide brisket and bacon grease injections. The owners of Holy Grail Pub in Plano had some success with inventive barbecue items at their weekend “Smoke Out” barbecue events, so they brought some of those ideas along when they branched out last year into Irving to serve barbecue.

A few months after opening, the gimmicks weren’t working. The brisket was dry and flavorless. The bacon grease had long seeped out and the tell-tale tenderness of sous vide was nowhere to be found, but the sides were good. After two visits with nearly the same results, I gave up on the possibility of good barbecue in Irving. Then, a few months ago, a friend suggested I give them another try.

I tucked into a pile of sliced brisket on a recent visit. The smoke came on strong, but the meat was juicy (even the lean slices) and the doneness was spot on. This was just some good, honest, simple barbecue. Pitmaster Rick Stewart explained that the sous vide and mixing of animal fluids had gone by the wayside (despite the claims on the outdated online menu). They made a choice to focus on a simpler version of barbecue, and it was working.

The pulled pork was also an improvement. Again, the good smoke came along with moist tendrils of pork. It could have used some more seasoning, but a dip in the mustard sauce, one of three available, remedied that. A house made sausage was heavily spiced and loosely packed. A limp and chewy casing was just in the way, but the filling was unique and showed an admirable level of effort.

FM Smokehouse 06

FM Smokehouse 02

Some good barbecue and a great Texas beer list, along with a decadently rich mac & cheese (worth the $3 up charge) and fried okra that’s in the running for Dallas’s best had me planning a return visit.

A week later, some friends from New York had a long layover at DFW. I suggested we meet at FM Smoke House which is just ten minutes from the north gate of the airport. There’s plenty on the menu besides barbecue, so we ventured into the more inventive options.

A chicken fried smoked prime rib sounded like everything that’s right about Texas, and it looked like stunner on the table. Then we cut into it. Left with the smooth surface of sliced prime rib, the breading had nothing to cling to. It sloughed off the meat almost immediately. The beef beneath lacked seasoning and smoke, and relied heavily on the gravy for flavor. The excellent bacon mashed potatoes were almost enough to save it.

FM Smokehouse 03

Another sure winner based on the description was the brisket stuffed chile relleno. Sadly, the breading was cold and chewy by the time it arrived. The filling of shredded brisket was too salty. We moved onto the smoked prime rib French dip which was the unanimous favorite. Juicy beef with grilled onions on a good roll with salty au jus is a recipe for success. A side of greasy, bitter brussels sprouts wasn’t a good complement.

FM Smokehouse 04

We had struck out on most of the fancy side of the menu, so on a final visit I got back to barbecue. You won’t find pork ribs as an option, but the giant beef rib was a potential stand-in if done well. A recent photo of a juicy smoked/grilled pork chop on their Facebook page helped me complete my order before I even arrived.

It was false advertising. The bone-in pork chop was as thick and dry as a brick. It must’ve been re-heated on the flat top instead of the grill. Other than a sweet and spicy syrup drizzled on the plate, there was no seasoning. I couldn’t get even a whiff of smoke from a bite off the fatty edge of the chop.

FM Smokehouse 10

While the pork chop had everything cooked out of it, the beef rib was woefully undercooked. As my teeth came together for a bite, I could feel them breaking through each individual layer of unrendered fat. Barbecue sauce speckled onto the cut side of the rib like cake frosting didn’t help. This tomato-based sauce had been so reduced, it tasted like a tomato jam.

FM Smokehouse 12

Thankfully, the okra was still great, and hearty fries were also good and crispy. Green beans were fresh if a bit crunchy. Almost as an afterthought, I got another serving of brisket (available in 1/2 lb increments) which was easily the best smoked meat on the table. Again, the meat was smoky, well seasoned, and moist. There was some fat left on every slice which melted readily on the tongue. This was some honestly good brisket.

FM Smokehouse 09

I left the table feeling like I’d just been a judge on Top Chef when an overachieving contestant finds the time to create an extra dish. That extra dish is always the one that seems to flop at the judge’s table, but still factors into the overall score. At FM Smoke House you’ll do better sticking with the first dish – barbecue. It is barbecue that prompted them to open in the first place, and it is barbecue that mostly hits the mark. The rest of the menu – the overachieving side – is still looking for the target.


Content-Type: application/http; msgtype=response

WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: text/html

WARC-Type: response

text:
Thompson’s BBQ

May 21, 2008 By Texas Monthly

As a general rule, the barbecue biz is pretty low-tech, but we noticed that owner Robert Thompson and his wife, Linda, both wore wireless telephone headsets. Perhaps this be-prepared attitude is the secret to Thompson’s success. He insists that pecan is the correct wood and that twelve hours is the…

warcinfo:
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2019-30
publisher: Common Crawl
description: Wide crawl of the web for July 2019
operator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)
hostname: ip-10-232-173-83.ec2.internal
software: Apache Nutch 1.15 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)
robots: checked via crawler-commons 1.1-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)
format: WARC File Format 1.1
conformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/


text:
Category Archives: Videos by TexasNepal

Beyond the Light Solo Exhibition of Arjoon KC

Beyond the Light is a solo exhibition featuring a series of artwork by Dallas-based Nepali artist Arjoon KC at the Live Hair Group Salon in Dallas, Texas. The paintings are at display in the salon from June 1 through August 31, 2013. A formal reception/meet-the-artist event was organized on July 14 by AFactory Studio which saw participation by many Nepali art lovers living in DFW. For More information, please contact the artist at [email protected]/469-500-9262.

Seven Summits Women Team

A team of Nepali women on a mission to climb seven summits of all seven continents. With ‘Together We Reach Higher’ as a motto, the team focuses on education, empowerment and environment as the tools to attaining greater heights. Follow the link to make contribution to the team:

Visa Girl Charity Show in Irving, Texas

Audience review of the Nepali movie Visa Girl which was screened at a charity show in Irving, Texas by Indreni Cultural Association on March 31, 2013. All the proceeds from this charity show will go to benefit Empower1, a non-profit organization dedicated to the empowerment of underprivileged children in Nepal.

ANA Fashion Extravaganza 2012

ANA Fashion Extravaganza 2012 took place on Saturday, June 30, 2012 at Hiltone Anatole Dallas celebrating its fifth year anniversary. Sixteen dazzling models walked the ramp wearing dresses designed by Pratikchhya Shrestha. The show was led by co-chairs Nabina Basnet and Saurav Bikram Thapa.

TexasNepal Turns THREE!

Messages from well-wishers from around the world on the occasion of third anniversary of TexasNepal along with video highlights from previous years. TexasNepal team would like to thank all our dear website visitors and our well wishers from around the world for their continuous love and support that has helped us to reach this far and has also been encouraging us everyday to work harder.

Nepal Nachcha Dallas

Nepal Nachcha 'Dallas' was organized by Raksirakaam Production as part of the first ever global Nepalese event organized around the world on the occasion of Nepali New Year 2069 B.S. The event took place on Thursday, April 12, 2012 at jam-packed Bella 32 in Addison.


text:
Tag Archives: Phil King

labor, sb 17, creighton, unions, paid sick by

Texas Republicans’ War on Workers Roars Back to Life in the House

One of the GOP’s top priorities — banning local labor protections like mandatory paid sick leave — stalled for much of the session. Now, Republicans are putting their foot on the gas.

The Texas GOP has finally returned its attention to its perpetual war on workers. After unexpected delays and with less than a month left in session, Republican...Read More

Airbnb is the Latest Target of Texas’ Anti-BDS Crusade

As a result of a 2017 law that blacklists Israel boycotters, Texas is making an example of the California-based short-term rental giant.

Texas has blacklisted an American company for, as the state sees it, opposing Israel. Using the power of its purse, Texas is sanctioning Airbnb for purportedly ...Read More


text:
North Of El Paso, A Reunion Event Unites Families Divided By The Border

Families from all over Mexico travel to the border for temporary reunions with loved-ones living in the U.S.

By Mallory FalkDecember 11, 2017 9:31 am

Dozens of families separated by their immigration status briefly reunited this weekend just north of El Paso. For a few hours Sunday morning, Border Patrol agents stood back while families embraced through the Sunland Park border fence, a long row of rust-colored columns that divide the U.S. and Mexico.

It’s Jesus Montejo’s 14th birthday. Usually he has a small celebration – a nice meal and a tres leches cake with his family. But this birthday is different. Jesus is seeing his dad for the first time since he was a baby. And meeting his three younger half siblings.

Yo nervioso y feliz. I’m nervous and happy,” he says.

Jesus stands on the U.S. side of the border, behind thick steel columns and yellow caution tape. He can see his family through the fence, but has to wait his turn to go greet them.

Jesus’ mother, Maribel, say it’s frustrating to wait. “You want to go, to be there,” she says in Spanish. She smooths her teen son’s swoopy brown hair.

Maribel came to the U.S. with Jesus when he was ten months old. She says it’s important for him to know his dad, so today is a special gift. She says she doesn’t need to give her son a big party or something of monetary value but rather something he feels in his heart.

If Maribel and Jesus, or any of the families here, came to the fence on their own, “there’s a big chance that they are gonna be questioned by Border Patrol. Because that’s a security area,” says Fernando Garcia, the executive director of the Border Network for Human Rights. With that El Paso group, Garcia has spent more than a decade working with local border patrol to improve community relations. And that’s led to this events like this one.

“With Border Patrol I have to say that they’ve been honoring the agreement in terms of allowing families to get together…” without asking about immigration status or picking anyone up, Garcia says.

Garcia has helped organize five of these reunions. Usually families aren’t stuck on either side of a security fence. They meet in the middle of the Rio Grande, trudging through mud or wading through ankle-deep water, then hugging each other tight. Hundreds of families come from all over the U.S. and Mexico, to embrace a spouse who’s been deported or a grandchild who can’t cross the border because of her immigration status. But today the river is dangerously high. So the big event has been postponed until May, and a smaller group of local families is meeting at the fence.

Garcia says these reunions are an act of love, but also a form of protest against aggressive immigration policies.

“I mean whenever we hear our discourse here in America, any politician, they talk about family and how sacred family is,” Garcia says. “That family is the basic unit of our society. But then we don’t understand when Latino families are being destroyed, that value is being destroyed.”

Finally it’s Jesus’ turn to approach the fence. The other families clap when they learn it’s his birthday. It’s hard to hear over the cheerful music blasting from a nearby speaker. But Jesus’ dad Jessy, eyes brimming with tears, tells Jesus he loves him. His two little sisters reach through the fence and wrap their arms around his back. Jesus tells them to behave, to study hard, and take good care of the family.

Then, after five minutes, their time is up. Jesus says goodbye.

“This day is special to me because I saw my family. It is my birthday today but family’s more important to me,” Jesus says.

He says he’s learned something important in his fourteen years.

“Money won’t buy you anything but cars,” he says. “It won’t buy happiness. As long as you’re with your family you can be happy.”

He hopes to see his family again in May, in the middle of the Rio Grande. Without the fence between them, he says, he can give them stronger hugs.


WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: application/xhtml+xml

text:
About Town: Tryst Cafe, KOVO and Killer Burger

I am far overdue for an update so please forgive me.  Championship swim season has me traveling from Texas to California to watch my little ones compete.  I play catch up while I am home, and promise to continually be on the look out for the latest and greatest.  On the plus side, I have been able to sneak away and do some fun traveling to places like the Grand Canyon and Miraval, so don’t forget to follow me on Instagram to stay up to date.

So where have I been eating? Lots of new spots are popping up in the Valley at such a rapid pace. Population growth has helped bolster the thriving restaurant community, making restaurant and food service one of the most important employment bases in this great state of Arizona. Springtime is hands down one of the best seasons in AZ, and restaurants are keen to showcase fresh ingredients and ideas. So here’s just a sampling from the last month…enjoy! xoM

Tryst Café

A Desert Ridge restaurant since 2010, Tryst Café has opened a new location in the East Valley on Gilbert Rd.  The newly-built 3,500 square-foot location offers diners the option of both full-service dining and a walk-in coffee and smoothie bar for those on-the-go. Plus, on topic with my post about 2019 restaurant trends here, Tryst Cafe is one of the first in the Valley to infuse CBD into beverages upon request.

To celebrate the opening, more than ten new items have been added to Tryst Cafe’s menu, including Strawberry Custard, Pecan Crusted, and Traditional French Toasts, Monte Cristo Sandwich, Crispy Quinoa Avocado Starter, Bison Burger, Naturally Raised Buffalo Chicken Wrap/Sandwich, Pork Adobo Tacos, and a Steak Salad.

Tryst Cafe’s Strawberry Custard French Toast is stuffed with strawberry cream cheese.
The Bison Burger, with Gorgonzola cheese, arugula, crispy onions, Bourbon sauce, on a brioche bun is served with French fries.

Tryst Cafe has long appealed to the vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free communities for their healthier options, such as the Banana Quinoa Pancakes, Avocado Toast, Hawaiian Organic Egg Breakfast, Harvest Buddha Bowl, Portobello Sandwich, Roasted Curry Cauliflower, and the Kale Wrap. I suppose you could call them “light”, but with such variety and substance, they are anything but.

Roasted Curry Cauliflower
Harvest Buddha Bowl

Owner Lisa Khnanisho says it best: “Our menu is natural, healthy, and clean with something for everyone from the vegan diner to the meat-and-potatoes lover. We believe everyone can have an affair with naturally delicious food.” Cheers to that!

4205 S Gilbert Rd., Chandler  85249

 21050 N Tatum Blvd #108, Phoenix, AZ 85050

KOVO Modern Mediterranean

Nestled between the Original ChopShop and Rusconi’s American Kitchen on the north-east corner of Tatum and Shea, is KOVO Modern Mediterranean, a Mediterranean concept showcasing traditional dishes of the Mediterranean region combined with an emphasis on rotisserie meats. The Greek word KOVO means “to carve”, and rotisserie meats, such as lamb, beef and organic chicken, are carved and served to order. In addition, there is variety of Mediterranean-inspired shared plates, such as house-made hummus (try the red bell pepper…the best!!), tzatziki, grilled eggplant and Halloumi, sheftalia (homemade Greek sausage), grilled octopus and crispy calamari. Bring your whole family, and kids and adults will appreciate the tasty pizzas, such as the Napoletana, Blanca, and Della Carne, made to order in a wood-fired oven. KOVO has also started serving brunch on weekends only, where you can enjoy Shakshouka (see my post with a recipe here), Spanikopita Benedict, Smoked Salmon Pizza and Bloody Mary flights. I have to go back just to see the Hangover Sandwich, with lamb and pork sausage, caramalized onions, fried eggs and melted cheese. Opa!

10625 N Tatum Blvd, Suite 150, Scottsdale 85028

Lightly breaded calamari with artichokes, feta, capers, pepperoncini and tomatoes.
It doesn’t get much better than a simple Greek salad with grilled salmon.

Killer Burger

You may be wondering why a person with heart disease would go to a place called Killer Burger. Well, to see their heart healthy options! And Killer Burger offers them, which makes me super happy because I can show you a variety, from Killer Burger’s famous Peanut Butter Pickle Bacon Burger to their Vegan and Veggie Burgers. This also means everyone in our family can get what they want, and that is important as many competitors do not offer vegan options (i.e. Shake Shake, In-N-Out Burger). Next to that, how does Killer Burger stand out? All (traditional) burgers have 1/3 pound of 100% grass fed beef, and bacon and fries are included with every order, unless you are like me and say, non merci. In fact, the bacon is cooked criss-crossed so you get a mouthful with every bite (and it doesn’t fall out).  The first location opened in 2010 in Portland, Oregon, and has expanded to 9 locations, with the Hayden Road location being the first outside of Oregon. Owner T.J. Southard had spent his childhood driving on road trips with his parents and wanted to create a concept that serves some of his favorites.  In addition to burgers, they serve a variety of craft, pilsner and IPA beer on tap. What a perfect pairing! Killer Burger is located on Hayden just south of Indian Bend where the old Boston Market used to be (for those ole timers).

6977 North Hayden Rd,. Scottsdale  85250

From top to bottom, the Barnyard Burger withbacon, ham and egg, the Jose Mendoza with bacon, green chiles and Monterry Jack cheese, and the Peanut Butter Pickle Burger, which received HUGE applause from all who tried it.
And for me, the Veggie Burger served vegan-style, without bacon and special sauce. But, I still felt special :).

All photos by Marci Symington for texAZtaste.com.

Liked it? Please share:

Leave a Reply


text:
League Tables

First XV - Herts/Middlesex 1

Spartans - Middlesex Merit 3

Ladies - TBA

Space Cowboys - Vets League A

Spartans (2XV)

Match Report

It was a wet Saturday at marble with everyone looking to correct mistakes that cost us the week before. With the back to school party after, everyone wanted to have a win to celebrate.

After a good warm up it was kick off. The first half consisted of us having outstanding defence and taking our chances with a slippery ball to score tries. When half time whistle blew we could all feel how all the painful fitness sessions we had done over the summer had worked.

With a load still in the tank and an encouraging talk from Billy explaining how he wanted us to nil hanwell and send a message out to all the teams in the league.

The second half was a different story from the first with us attacking more and scoring great tries. We scored 6 tries in the second half including a perfect kick pass by Kieron, individual brilliance and a whole team counter attack.

Try scorers were Arlind, Lucas scoring 2 on debut, Kieron, Keagan x3, Nick x3 scoring his hat trick try by pacing everyone from our own half.

Fantastic game and a brilliant way to start the new campaign.

Comments (0):

Add a new comment:

You must be logged in to leave a comment.

Recent Thamesians News

All sponsors


text:
Wings of Fire Book One: The Dragonet Prophecy (Paperback)

Wings of Fire Book One: The Dragonet Prophecy Cover Image
On Our Shelves Now
On hand as of Jul 12 4:40pm

The beginning of a thrilling new dragon saga-- now in paperback!

Clay and his friends have grown up under a mountain, secretly raised by the Talons of Peace to fulfill a mysterious prophecy. The five young dragons are destined to end the war that's been raging between the tribes of Pyrrhia -- but how they'll do this, none of them knows.

But not every dragonet wants a destiny. When one of their own is threatened, Clay and his friends decide to escape. Maybe they can break free and end the war at the same time -- or maybe they'll risk everything ...

About the Author

Tui T. Sutherland is the author of several books for young readers, including the Menagerie trilogy, the Pet Trouble series, and three books in the bestselling Seekers series (as part of the Erin Hunter team). In 2009, she was a two-day champion on Jeopardy! She lives in Massachusetts with her wonderful husband, two adorable sons, and one very patient dog. To learn more about Tui's books, visit her online at

Praise For…

Praise for Wings of Fire Book One

“Dramatic battle scenes, double-crosses, and one seriously deranged queen makes WINGS OF FIRE a series that should have broad appeal for middle-grade fantasy fans.” --BOOKLIST

“Fast-paced and detailed, this first installment in a new adventure series is entertaining.” --KIRKUS

“Readers of all ages will be enchanted by the humanistic storyline and the page-turning excitement.” LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION

Product Details
ISBN: 9780545349239
ISBN-10: 0545349230
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: April 30th, 2013
Pages: 336
Language: English
Series: Wings of Fire


text:
NLC Declares Nationwide Protest On January 8th 2019

The NLC has declared that January 8th protest would be to express anger and dissatisfaction, had demanded that the wages of workers in the country be increased to N30, 000 but the state government insisted they can only afford N22,500.
President of Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) , Ayuba Wabba who spoke to newsmen yesterday said;
“The protest is to express anger and total dissatisfaction over the delay by the federal government in transmitting, enacting and implementing the new national minimum wage of N30,000. The NEC-in-Session approved that the protests should hold in all state capitals and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja on January 8, 2019. The NEC mandates all industrial unions and state councils to fully mobilise workers and coordinate with other labour unions for this mother-of-all protest.”

Share This
%d bloggers like this:


text:
N.B. see page "SPSS Clementine" to edit this information

SPSS Clementine

Clementine is a mature data mining toolkit which aims to allow domain experts (normal users) to do their own data mining.

Clementine has a visual programming or data flow interface, which simplifies the data mining process.

Clementine applications include customer segmentation/profiling for marketing companies, fraud detection, credit scoring, load forecasting for utility companies, and profit prediction for retailers.

SPSS Clementine was one of the very first general purpose data mining tools, and one of the most popular data mining packages
Topic revision: r3 - 17 Apr 2011, AndyPryke

This site is powered by FoswikiCopyright © by the contributing authors. All material on this collaboration platform is the property of the contributing authors.
Ideas, requests, problems regarding Foswiki? Send feedback


text:
Driving in Daylight: Ways to Reduce Sun Glare

Family on a roadtripIf you’re always driving at times when there is plenty of sunshine, its bright glare is likely to impede your vision. Whether you’re driving at dawn or dusk, the sun can be distracting and may sometimes cause you to squint.

Extremely bright light, furthermore, can cause temporary blindness, making it much harder to see the vehicles around you and other road hazards. If driving during very sunny times of the day is unavoidable for you, it only makes sense to take extra measures to protect yourself.

Here are a few things that can help you stay safe while overcoming the sun glare.

1. Tint your car’s windows

The first and most obvious solution to problems related to sun glare is tinting your windows. Quality window tinting can greatly improve driving comfort by reducing or in some cases completely eliminating sun glare and enhancing driving visibility.

Arizona car tint experts note that this offers a host of other benefits, such as preventing the leather from fading, concealing valuables, and offering skin protection to the people inside the car against the harmful UV rays.

2. Wear polarized sunglassesDriver wearing polaroid sunglasses

These sunglasses are made with a special filter can block reflected light and help reduce sun glare. Polarized sunglasses are also helpful when you’re out in the sun, especially during outdoor activities. They can also prevent you from squinting, so you can drive with ease and see the road the ahead.

3. Leave more room between other vehicles

It pays to take extra cautionary measures when the sun glare is at its worst. When the sun is shining bright, it can be a little hard to see what the vehicle in front of you is doing. This is why it makes sense to leave more room between you and the other cars.

In the event that a car in front of you reverses without warning, or makes sudden turns, you have extra safe space in between you and them and hence avoid incidents.

4. Use your sun visor

Sometimes, the tools you need are already right in front of you. The built-in sun visor in your car helps block out direct sunlight and reduce the glare effect of the sun. Other benefits of using your sun visor include lowering heat buildup inside the car and protecting your electronics and car’s interior.

If your sun visor, however, obstructs your view, it is better to invest in a new one or try other sun glare protection tips.

5. Keep your windshield clean

Dirt and dust on your windshield can scatter light and compromise your visibility. Be sure to clean your windshield (inside and out) before your head out and don’t forget to get it checked for pitting and cracks.

Sometimes, it is you can’t avoid driving during the sun’s glare is its most unforgiving. Luckily, you can minimize the risks associated with sun glare by keeping mind the tips mentioned above. It also makes sense to drive a bit slower and use more caution when the sun glare is causing visibility issues.


text:
This article is from the archive of our partner .

Discovered: How the zebra got its stripes, driving high is not safe, Spanish teens are squares, what caused Snowmaggedon, a drug that reverses Alzheimers.

  • How the zebra got its stripes. A question that has long plagued children's book authors (and scientists) has finally been resolved by science. "We conclude that zebras have evolved a coat pattern in which the stripes are narrow enough to ensure minimum attractiveness to tabanid flies," said the team of researchers. This isn't really a new theory, though. Back in 1981, a team of researchers had the same hypothesis. This group, however, thinks they proved it, spending time at a horse-fly infested farm, playing around with light and dark lights, and eventually concluding that a zebra pattern did the best job at keeping flies away. Evolution sure had a pretty way of working that one out. [Journal of Experimental Biology]
  • Driving high is not safe. Looking at 49,411 people, researchers at Dalhousie University found that operating a vehicle while stoned doubles the risk of accident. Definitely not a good idea. But drunk driving still takes the stupidity cake, with those boozed-up loonies posing 13 times the risk of accident compared to a sober driver. And, really, text addicts are the worse, increasing crash risk by 20 times. Rule: No fun allowed inside cars. [BMJ]
  • Spanish teens are squares. 60 percent of Spaniards between the ages of 13 and 18 said they don't do drugs and rarely drink, with less than 10 percent taking illegal drugs. In comparison, many American kids are smoking weed, doing drugs, and drinking: In a recent University of Michigan study, 38 percent of 10th graders reported having tried an illicit drug. Now let's compare the rates of car crashes in Spain and America. [Journal of Health Psychology]
  • What caused Snowmaggedon? Climate change? That was our guess. But science has a more specific answer: El Niño plus some other stuff. "This model ... confirms that a negative North American Oscillation and El Niño conditions created the conditions that allowed these storms to form," said Richard Seager. Sounds like a one-two punch. [Journal of Climate]
  • A drug that reverses Alzheimers. This could be one of those too-good-to-be-true mice studies, but then again, it could also work out. A drug named bexarotene has "quickly reversed" memory loss in mice, found Case Western researchers. We know: mice. But: "this is an unprecedented finding," says researcher Paige Cramer. Hope! [Case Western]

This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.

We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to


text:
Blackmagic Design (Companies)

An innovator in the design and manufacture of creative technology for feature film, post production, television broadcast and live event. Blackmagic’s founders have had a long history in post production, editing and engineering. With extensive experiences in high end t

Read more…

NAB 2018: 4K Studio Cameras On Display But Will TV Broadcasters Hesitate? (Featured / Editorial)
April 23rd 2018 - 08:00 AM

Despite the fact that most broadcasters have been slow to embrace 4K production in their news studios, there are a few that have installed the latest cameras in an effort to produce a master file for archiving. They include non-traditional media organizations like Facebook Live, Netflix and YouTube, which all maintain 4K production studios that are made available to users with significant online followers.

Capturing Belgian Street Style in the Heart of Paris with Blackmagic Ursa (Featured / Editorial)
July 3rd 2018 - 08:00 AM

Belgian singer-song writer, composer and producer, Stromae launched his creative label’s latest fashion collection - Mosaert Capsule Five - with an intricately choreographed catwalk show at Paris’ iconic Le Bon Marché department store. Live production company, Freecaster, was brought onboard to provide a multi-cam recording of the event with its Blackmagic Design Ultra HD production workflow, which would form the basis for Stomae’s next music video.


text:
Thursday, May 31, 2018

Let's Paint - Mary Fix-It and G.R.I.T.T.: Part 7

The time has come! The final episode of the Mary Fix-It series is upon us!

It's been a fun ride and I hope you've all enjoyed watching this piece come together. In this one, I finish off Mary and do final assembly and give some final thoughts on the piece as a whole.


text:
profile picture of Anna Davies
Anna Davies
Contributing Writer

How to Deal With Sibling Rivalry

For parents, the bickering (and constant intervening) can get old real fast. Here’s why siblings fight and what you can do to keep conflict in check.

From epic fights over toys to bickering on long car rides, sibling rivalry may be the one thing every family seems to have in common. Even as an adult, you may still feel annoyed when your sister rummages through your closet or your brother monopolizes the family text chain. With sibling fights being so pervasive, is there anything you can do to make the bonds between your kids less conflict-ridden? Read on to learn what sibling rivalry is, why it’s normal and how to make sure it’s healthy.

In this article:
What is sibling rivalry?
What to do when siblings fight
How to help siblings get along

What Is Sibling Rivalry?

Are you reading this while listening to siblings fight on repeat? (“Mine!” “No, mine!”) Don’t worry. Conflict is a natural part of sibling relationships—and learning how to advocate for themselves and their needs is just one important lesson your little ones are learning (again and again) from these same-old fights. “Disagreements, boundaries and making your needs clear are all things we do throughout life, and our siblings are often the first people we learn these skills with,” says Rebekah Springs, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Portland, Oregon.

Why do siblings fight?

Toys, screen time, attention from parents—why don’t siblings fight? But ongoing sibling conflict is often rooted in resource and territory battles—like tussles over toys, snacks and the attention of Mom and Dad—and may give insight into how you can handle the fights that arise, Springs says. One common reason siblings squabble is over what they perceive as fair treatment from parents and other caretakers. “I emphasize that parents should take their focus off of ‘fair’ and focus more on making sure each sibling gets their needs met, since siblings have different needs,” Springs says. This might mean carving out special quiet time to cuddle with a sensitive child, or giving your energetic toddler your full attention as you engage in play. “Focusing on each child as an individual can actually make sibling rivalry less likely to occur.”

When does sibling rivalry begin?

It may set in as soon as you tell your child that a baby brother or sister is joining the family. “Kids under the age of 5 get very jealous very quickly,” says Travis McNulty, a family counselor in St. Petersburg, Florida. Talking through expectations, even during pregnancy, can be a good way to help your child understand the shift that’s bound to happen when a baby joins the family. “It’s easy for families to say they’ll love both kids equally, and of course they will,” McNulty says. “But kids are very literal, so when they see baby brother getting all your attention, they may feel like they’ve been replaced or forgotten.”

What To Do When Siblings Fight

Does it seem like your kids are at each other’s throats all the time? It may be helpful to listen to the context of the siblings’ fight. While you just hear yelling, what may be happening is simply conflict resolution, with both parties learning boundaries and acceptable behavior. “Kids resolve things very differently than adults do, and stepping in too soon may actually escalate tensions, especially when kids feel like their parents are refereeing the fight or deciding who ‘won,’” Springs says. Instead, she suggests having some ground rules laid for all family members—for example, no hitting, bitting, hurting others or calling them names, ever. It’s also smart to give your kids opportunities to remove themselves from a conflict. A child can always ask for space, for instance, and asking for space shouldn’t be considered rude or mean.

While it’s easy to say “be nice to your sister,” experts say those comments may also escalate tension. “Do we always want to be nice to people in our lives? Not really,” McNulty says. “Letting your kids know it’s okay to be angry or frustrated and that there are ways to appropriately handle those feelings can help teach conflict resolution.” So if you hear your kids tussling, instead of asking your oldest to be nice, try to sportscast what’s going on. Saying something like, “wow, it seems your little sister really wants your toy and you want to use it too. What are some ways we can handle that?” can help your oldest think in problem-solving mode. You may need to coach them on options: You can play with it with your sister, bring it to another area of the house and play with it by yourself, or offer your sister an alternative toy.

“Parents think they can divide their attention equally, but that’s impossible,” Springs says. Another way to frame your attention divide is to tell your children, “everyone gets what they need,” she suggests. “Making it clear you’re always there for your child’s needs can make them feel secure in your affection.” When you’re feeling overwhelmed and pressed for time, scheduling just five or 10 minutes with one child at a time—even if that’s a conversation in the car en route to school—can keep your bond strong and the negative sibling rivalry at bay.

But what if sibling rivalry starts when your second child is just a newborn? Adjusting to life with a new baby, especially if your eldest is under the age of 5, can be tough. “Mom and Dad are their whole world, so when a sibling encroaches on the amount of time they get to spend with their parents, they look at the brother or sister as threatening,” McNulty says. Remind your first born that they got that much attention when they were a baby, and think of ways they can help you to make them feel needed and included. Even a small toddler can bring you a diaper when you’re changing the baby or sing a song to baby.

How To Help Siblings Get Along

The best way to help siblings get along and reduce negative sibling rivalry is to think about how you and your partner (or whoever else may live in your house) manage conflict yourselves. “Modeling disagreements, including apologies, can help your child learn it’s okay to be angry with someone you love,” McNulty says. Demonstrating appropriate behavior—including respect for the other person and using your words to explain your anger and frustration—can all be valuable lessons for your young kids.

In your quest to help siblings get along, it’s also important to pick your battles. Do your kids always seem to fight over one particular toy? It might be time to break down and buy two—not just because it’ll keep the peace, but because it’s important to recognize that sharing is a learned skill, and your little ones might not be there yet.

But if sibling rivalry seems to constantly lead to conflicts, it may be time to consider family dynamics. Do the kids always seem to fight right before dinner? Having a more structured activity, like sitting down and coloring near you as you meal prep, may be a smart move. Is one kid constantly the instigator? Maybe they’re frustrated about something at school and need a little more support from you or your partner for the next few weeks. But there’s also no shame in asking for help from a counselor or parenting coach. “Sometimes, a few sessions will point to dynamics you may not have seen, or give you some tools to work with that may make family life easier,” Springs says. Finally, remember that while you may be eager to stop sibling rivalry, a little sibling conflict is normal and may help your child succeed in peer and workplace relationships later in life.

Published March 2019

Plus, more from The Bump:

How to Prepare Your Toddler for Baby No. 2

Toddler Discipline: Why Toddlers Act Out and What You Can Do About It

How to Keep Twins from Fighting

PHOTO: Jade Brookbank


text:
Contraction Counter

Labor and delivery info

Q: What are signs that I'm going into labor?

A: You've been anticipating this moment for the last nine months; no wonder you're worried about missing the early signs. So how to be sure it's time to grab the overnight bag and head to the hospital? Look for these signs of imminent labor...

See the full answer >

Q: What should I really pack my hospital bag? I've seen tons of lists, but they are all so long — I doubt I'll need half that stuff.

A: Forget all those other (excessive) checklists — this is the only one you'll need, we promise. Have your bags (one for you, one for baby)...

See the full answer >

Q: Do I need to bring a birth plan to the hospital? What should be in it?

A: While much of what happens during delivery is way beyond your (or anyone's!) control, creating a birth plan will at least make your wishes clear. Definitely talk the plan over with your doc...

See the full answer >


text:
Mindy Rodgers – Primary Class

The Church at Asheville

Mindy teaches the Primary Class.

Age of Class:  7 – 9 years

Length of time at TCAA:  since June 2007

Favorite verse:  John 15:12  This is my commandment.  That ye love one another as I have loved you.

Description of class:  The (Primary) class digs a little deeper into the Word as the children learn more about salvation, a Christian life-style, and loving one anther the way that Christ loves us.  As children grow and understand the Bible, some feel a desire to be baptized and are welcome to do so.

Vision for class:  The vision I have for this class is that no matter if a child comes once or every Sunday, that they hear the Truth from the Word of God in a loving and understanding environment.  Not only by me but by each other, that we all live as an example to each other like Christ was for us.

Mindy Rodgers with some of her class


text:
Elder Bednar visits Africa, missionaries return to Ebola-free Liberia

Two months after the World Health Organization declared Liberia to be free of the Ebola virus, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Bednar, traveled to the West African nation.

The trip followed the return to Liberia of Latter-day Saint missionaries — who were moved in August 2014 following the outbreak of Ebola.

“The World Health Organization declared Liberia Ebola free, so, we are here,” said Elder Bednar of his Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 visit to the country. “The leaders of the Church are very aware of the circumstances in nations all over the earth,” he commented. “The decision would not have been made for missionaries to return if we thought there was any concern.”

Sister Bednar said mothers worry about their sons and daughters serving missions — wherever they go in the world. “So for us to be here is an important statement to let people know that this is a great place, that there is wonderful work to be done here, and that a missionary can be happy and healthy and successful here,” she said.

Young full-time missionaries began returning to serve in Liberia in early September, after the Sept. 3 declaration from the World Health Organization that the country was Ebola free. There are currently 53 young missionaries and four senior missionaries serving in Liberia. About half of those missionaries are from Africa, and the other half are from outside the continent.

The Church Missionary Department hopes up to 100 young missionaries will soon be serving in Liberia, in addition to 12 senior missionaries, according to Church Public Affairs. Prior to the Ebola outbreak, there were 80 young missionaries serving in that country, along with six seniors.

Elder Bednar said this is an exciting time in Africa for the missionaries, who are “anxiously engaged.”

Elder and Sister Bednar visited Liberia as part of a 13-day assignment to the Church’s Africa Southeast and Africa West areas, Oct. 19 through Nov. 2. They also held meetings in Madagascar, Reunion, Johannesburg and Ghana. As part of his assignments, Elder Bednar conducted a review of the Church’s Africa areas, presided at a Mission Presidents Seminar, and held youth and member meetings, district conferences and priesthood leadership conferences.

Elder Bednar and Sister Bednar were accompanied on the trip by Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Presidency of the Seventy and his wife, Diane C. Hallstrom. They were joined in Africa by members of the Church’s Africa Southeast Area Presidency — Elder Carl B. Cook, Elder Stanley G. Ellis, and Elder Kevin S. Hamilton — and members of the Church’s Africa West Area Presidency — Elder LeGrand R. Curtis Jr., Elder Terence M. Vinson, and Elder Vern P. Stanfill.

Elder Curtis, who lives in Accra, Ghana, said Latter-day Saints in Africa are blessed through the organization of the Church to have priesthood leaders and Relief Society presidents to look after them.

Throughout the Ebola crisis, local Church leaders in Liberia teamed with international organizations to provide medical care, he said. The Church continues to work through recognized relief organizations and on-the-ground partners to help communities in need. Many members have also volunteered their own time to help spread awareness of proper sanitation practices.

The Church provided short-term emergency resources purchased locally such as rice and oil for food and bleach and containers for cleaning. Elder Curtis said members in Ghana had a special fast and donated money to help those in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Latter-day Saints in the region also continued missionary work in the absence of full-time missionaries.

“The faith of these people strengthens my faith,” said Elder Bednar. “And the devotion of these Liberian Saints makes me want to be more devoted.”

Elder Curtis said there was great excitement among Church members to be taught by Elder Bednar. “It’s a rare privilege for all of us to serve among our wonderful African brothers and sisters,” Elder Curtis said. “The Church will continue to grow and flourish here,” he said.

A missionary in Liberia, Elder Jesse Thomas Earley from Clearfield, Utah, said having an Apostle in the country was an amazing experience for many Latter-day Saints.

Elder Earley said he feels safe in the country. “I feel very secure. I know that the Lord will provide a way for everything.”

To the missionaries that will follow him into Liberia, he added: “Prepare yourself to come with a loving heart. The people are very willing to listen to you.”

Elder Alex Gleah Tarbah, from Liberia, said when missionaries left his country because of Ebola it impacted the work.

He said Latter-day Saints in Liberia, who felt sorrow because the “work of our Heavenly Father was not going forth,” are rejoicing at the return of missionaries to the African nation.

“Coming back to Liberia to start in the work again, I feel very, very happy and the people are very receptive,” he said. “After the outbreak of the Ebola, people are very receptive to listen to the gospel.”

The Church has almost 9,000 members, 24 Church units and one mission in Liberia. This is an important part of the work in Africa, where there are 460,000 members, 29 missions, 1,445 Church units and three temples.

Sister Bednar said it was a wonderful time to be in Liberia and feel the resiliency, hope and faith of the Liberian Latter-day Saints.

“We love this continent, we love this people, and we are so excited to be with the people of Liberia, to get to know them better, to feel of their strength and to be taught the lessons they have learned by facing difficult circumstances for many, many years,” she said.

Elder Bednar said the role of an Apostle is to travel the earth bearing testimony of Jesus Christ. “The gospel of Jesus Christ brings hope when many people would experience despair. It brings joy when many people are sad. Through the Atonement of Christ there are blessings of cleansing and strengthening and purifying,” he said. “So regardless of the circumstances, the gospel of Jesus Christ can reassure the heart in the most difficult of times. Given what’s happened here with Ebola and other things that have been just as devastating, the solution to the heartache is always the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

[email protected] @SJW_ChurchNews

Sorry, no more articles available


text:
The popularity of coloured pools with a surprise effect is set to grow in 2018. Today we showcase some of the most creatives ideas demonstrating that a pool is no longer just a place for wellbeing but also a setting for enjoying art at home.

Pools inspired by nature

Throughout his career, architect Luis Barragán was keen for pool water to project the colours of sunlight, the texture of multicoloured walls, the trees in a courtyard or the sky itself: from grey to violet and blue on the brightest days. His work constantly sought to make gardens into homes and homes into gardens. For Casa Gilardi, Barragán put a blue and red pool next to a solid-timber rustic table, suggesting that it can be just as inspiring as the greatest work of art.

Maximum saturation

The latest colour trends are present in the majority of the works of Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta. His pools make free play of colour contrasts such as pink with yellow or purple to create a warm and happy vibe.

Mediterranean pools

This Latin cross-shaped pool at the La Muralla Roja complex (Calpe, Alicante) by Ricardo Bofill has been the scene of numerous ad campaigns. His crimson pool in Mont-Ras (Costa Brava) is another key benchmark in this trend.

Conceptual pools

At the conceptual resort The Library (Thailand), the yellow and red mosaic pool tiles contrast with the red umbrellas and turquoise sea on the horizon. This space is an example of how to experience art inside water in a totally unique way.

To add colour to a pool without having to do any work to it you can install remote-controlled wireless lamps and light points to make your pool a place for wellbeing in addition to a space dedicated to creativity and surprise.

Photos: Cuadra San Cristóbal (Luis Barragán); Onnis Luque-Casa Gilardi (Luis Barragán); Deezen-Casa Kona (Ricardo Legorreta); Legorreta + Legorreta- Adrenaline House (Ricardo Legorreta); The Vandalist – Mont-Ras family home (Ricardo Bofill); Ricardo Bofill- The Library; The Library.


text:
Chinese Snuff Containers – Collections Not to Be Sneezed At

Snuff Bottles 1030

Snuff Bottle with European Woman and Child, 18th century. Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong mark and period (1736–95). China. Painted enamel on copper, courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Sniffing snuff was an original method of taking tobacco, first used by American Indians and Europeans. They became interested in the practice when Christopher Columbus reputedly first noticed Chinese people sniffing a mysterious powder during his second voyage of discovery (1494-6).

He brought the substance back to Europe.

Early records suggest both the church and the state favoured the use of snuff, i.e. tobacco ground to a fine powder with herbs and spices added to enhance the aroma and increase the flavour over smoking tobacco. Especially after early experiments at prohibiting its import failed.

The Portuguese arrived by sea on the coastline of China first in 1514. Within a decade establishing trade agreements with officials through the port of Macao and bringing tobacco into Europe.

Reverse: Snuff Bottle with European Woman and Child, 18th century. Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong mark and period (1736–95). China. Painted enamel on copper, courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The English and Dutch followed, and by the mid 1600’s trade with Cathay for many of its goods was brisk.

Mariners and merchants relentlessly plied their trade, in an ever-expanding western commercial world.

By increasing the use of snuff, the necessity and demand for petite containers with a secure stopper that were both easily portable and airtight to preserve the snuff’s freshness and flavor, grew. This provided a very special medium and challenge for artists to surmount.

By the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, they were being produced in large numbers, and in an astonishing array of media.

The exquisite miniature masterpieces made during the reign of the Emperors Yongzheng (1723–35), Qianlong (1736–95) and Jiaqing (1796–1820) were particularly prized for their technical virtuosity and artistic sophistication.

For a long time the high cost meant that snuff was only taken by the wealthy and elite socially in Europe.

Carved Ivory Snuff Bottle

They sniffed it in the salons in which the polite conversation of these cultivated gatherings were constantly punctuated by the sound of sneezing.

Gradually the self-induced sneeze became a new ‘affect’ the aristocracy could use to distinguish themselves from everyone else.

To sneeze haphazardly was not sufficient: the sneeze had to make an impact and in a setting that the protagonist would be noticed.

Sneezing became an essential aspect of a connoisseur’s conversation. It was a communication of a kind described as a bored man’s punctuation.

It was indulged in whenever one desired to show disapproval or a lack of interest in a subject under discussion.

As a result, anything ‘not to be sneezed at’ indicated that the conversation was perversely worthwhile.

Within a few decades tobacco was cultivated in many parts of the continent and tobacco shops specializing in different types of tobacco began to emerge.

Authorities turned their attention to collecting tariffs on the sale and import of tobacco, rather than trying to regulate its use, which they knew would fail.

There is considerable contradiction among the many and varied testaments regarding the introduction of snuff to China. Some records depict tobacco being presented to a Ming Chinese Emperor as a gift from a Jesuit missionary.

Some historians have pointed to evidence that tobacco was introduced to China by way of Japan, who, in turn, was thought to have been introduced to tobacco by the Portuguese trading community at Macao or the Spaniards in Manila, with a dating of the late 1500s.

What is clear, however, is that by 1638 tobacco used for smoking was prevalent enough in China for the Ming Emperor, Ch’ung-cheng to issue a ban on its use or import at the risk of losing one’s head. Court records indicate the ban was ineffective, in spite of the dire penalty.

They also suggest the Emperor lamented to his court in 1641 he was unable to enforce the ban as “many princes and high officials were guilty of ignoring the ban, smoking in private”.

Tobacco usage in China began to bloom shortly after the Ming dynasty gave way to the Qing dynasty of the Manchus in 1644. They endeavoured unsuccessfully to establish a code of no smoking at court.

However the prestige associated with the use of snuff recounted by early European visitors indicate that it became the tobacco of choice under the Ching dynasty – a preserve of the wealthy and powerful.

It was the same in Europe where by the late seventeenth snuff became the rage and vogue, especially among the Spanish and French. At first it gained only limited acceptance in England until Charles II was restored to the English throne.

He brought the habit back from his years of exile in France where one can imagine he was involved in many long and boring conversations.

John Michael Wright, Charles II, c.1676, Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2017

John Michael Wright, Charles II, c.1676, Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2017

His Restoration in 1660 would ensure that it would become fashionable at court and thereafter the province of every European aristocrat and man of fashion.

It wasn’t only men who became involved. Reputedly Queen Anne (1702 – 1714) enjoyed snuff and some of her ladies took up the habit too.

Later Queen Charlotte, Consort of George III would acquire the name ‘snuffy Charlotte’ because of her passion for it. Her son, later George IV, is also believed to have changed his snuff according to the time of day keeping it in a storage room purposely set aside in each of his places of abode.

The European practice of using snuffboxes was not suitable in China, owing to the high humidity in East Asia. Snuff tended to cake and lose its subtle properties when exposed to moisture.

The Chinese had, for centuries, used small bottles to house medicament’s and cosmetics and it is probable the early adaptations of these by the addition of a cork with an attached spoon, accounts for the earliest known snuff bottles.  The dating of snuff bottles is a matter of some controversy.

The earliest recorded are a series of basic bronze examples signed and dated by the artist Cheng Rongzhang between 1644-1653 at the beginning of the Qing dynasty.

Scene from Chinese brush pot, Emperor Kangxi period

The habit of snuff taking gained enormous impetus when it was adopted by the Emperor Kangxi (r. 1662-1723) in the early 1680s.

Once Imperial patronage was directed towards the manufacture of snuff bottles there was an extraordinary leap in quality.

Generally small enough to fit in the palm of the hand a wide variety of media was used in crafting them.

This included ivory, wood, tortoise shell, amber, coral, ink stone and seashells and even leather work as well as glass. (analysis of glass produced in the Ming and Qing periods have helped identify certain basic chemical substances that make up old glass.

However the information is not sufficient for modern glass workshops to produce glass to match the quality of the different types and colours of old glass from this period)

The Emperor Kangxi during his fifty-five year reign, which began when he was only eight years old, is acknowledged for the restoration of order during the transition from the Ming Dynasty to the Ching Dynasty.

Exerting an all-embracing control of the production of all desirable objects for court use he allowed workshops to be set up within the Palace precincts in Beijing and in certain designated cities such as Suzhou and Guangzhou so he could monitor them. Each decorative discipline had its own workshop. The Enamelling Workshop, the Glass Factory The Painting Workshop, The Ivory Workshop, The Gilding Workshop and so forth and out of these came an amazing array of bottles to hold snuff.

The Imperial glass works was established by the Emperor Kangxi in 1696 under the supervision of a Jesuit priest, Kilian Stumpff.  A skilled glass maker the glass for these works originated in Shantung, although the cutting itself was done in Beijing.

The finest craftsmen in the land were drafted to work in these ateliers often for the duration of their lifetimes. Snuff bottles were high on the list of items ordered and with their great aesthetic beauty they gradually became much sought after treasures among the court and literati classes.

Snuff-Bottle-Carved-LacquerSnuff bottles were ideal as gifts given by the Emperors on special feast days and on their various travels around the kingdom. It is not likely the earliest workshops produced large quantities of snuff bottles, as the use of snuff had not quite flourished even though records suggest Kangxi may have been a snuff user.

There are records that indicate Kangxi bestowed gifts of snuff bottles on favoured subjects and courtiers.

The Emperor became entranced by European enamels as early as 1710 and when his craftsmen had difficulties controlling the firing he ordered Jesuit artist Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining), who was resident at his court, to supervise the enamelling workshops.

With help from his colleagues Attiret and Gravereau, Castiglione brought the art of enamelling on copper and glass bodies to its peak.

Giuseppe Castiglione: Emperor and Princes

Giuseppe Castiglione: Emperor and Princes

Castiglione is a rare event in the history of China. He was an Italian priest who managed through his attitude of respect and admiration for its artisans and scholars to find favour with the Emperor.

He influenced Chinese artisans introducing European techniques of light, shadowing and perspective into painting enabling them to enhance there already admired skills in landscape and flower painting.

The reign of Emperor Qianlong 1736–95 is what scholars, dealers and collectors of snuff bottles regard as the golden era of this art form.

The quality of the bottles manufactured at that time by the Imperial workshops was extremely high, the variety limited and the materials used, precious.

Nephrite, or Jade as we more commonly call it was in use in China for more than 5,000 years. Jade was defined as beautiful stones by Xu Zhen (about 58-147) in Shuo Wen Jie Zi, the first Chinese dictionary.

It is generally classified into soft jade (nephrite) and hard jade (jadeite).

China only had the soft jade, nephrite until jadeite was imported from Burma (1271-1368). The term Jade traditionally refers to soft jade and it is also often called traditional jade.

Under supervision in the Palace workshops large numbers of bottles were made of nephrite, often in matched sets of five or ten and presented in fitted boxes, many of which survive to this day, carefully stored and preserved by generations of a family as precious possessions.

Giuseppe Castiglione: Emperor Qianlong

Giuseppe Castiglione: Emperor Qianlong

Emperor Qianlong (1736-1796) very much admired the virtues of jade and many examples bears his mark. It was kept in the Palace of Eternal Longevity. Under the patronage of Qianlong the Imperial workshops produced faultless art works of extreme beauty and skill.

Notable for their vivid colouring, variety, stunning decoration, technical bravado and brilliance they were praised by late Qing connoisseurs.

Glass remained a favoured medium as it fascinated a succession of Emperors from Kangxi to Qianlong over a period of more than one hundred years.

The Chinese treated glass much differently during this period than it is today. The Chinese cut and polished glass like a precious stone.

The glass workshop was one of the glories of the Qing dynasty producing an infinite variety of snuff bottles in all hues through the skillful use of metallic oxides.

The art of carved overlay on glass was also developed to a high degree with snuff bottles providing the finest examples of the medium.

The tradition of paying tribute to the Emperor meant many local officials were involved in the production of snuff bottles utilising local materials and the craftsmen for which a particular region was well known.

The best bottles had fitted boxes made for them and were kept in qian qing gong or, the Palace of Heavenly Purity and yang xin dian, the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

No longer intended for use they became instead precious objects to please the Emperor who would spend hours examining them all.

During this period refining the snuff used in the bottles became another concern.

An art of blending ensued as different tobacco’s were mixed with fragrant spices adjusted to the requirements of the local market and differing from the flavours of imported snuffs.

Artisans began to create beautiful miniature snuff bottles incorporating Chinese legends as a prestigious form of welcome gift, official bribe or as a sign of favour to dignitaries and officials at court.

This more than likely led to an early acceptance of snuff bottles as items highly worthy to collect.

According to records, the Emperor Quinlong’s corrupt prime minister Heshen had more then three thousand snuff bottles in his personal collection at the time of his execution in 1799.

The final great contribution of the snuff bottle to the arts of the Qing dynasty was the technique of painting their inner surface from the inside out through a technique that first painted the interior with iron oxydal mixed with water.

This created a milky white surface suitable to take the paints, which were applied subsequently.

This art form first invented in the early 19th century by scholar-artists reached its height of skill, execution and popularity in Beijing between 1880 to 1910.

Snuff bottles of this genre include landscapes, flower pieces and other works.

Tremendous artistic endeavours were lavished on these petite bottles, and exquisite detail in miniature, mirrored larger objects of similar material and design.

The best examples of these will show even under magnification little or no loss of detail; such was the meticulous nature and skill of the Chinese artisans who made them. Created in a day or less of painstakingly intricate brushwork they truly are works of art.

It is not unusual to find snuff bottles made of Yixing clay a highly favoured material also used for the manufacture of tea pots.

Likewise snuff bottles were carved from duan ink cake which was normally used by Mandarin scholars to mix with water to make ink.

Exotic materials include sharkskin more often used as the leather for a knife or sword sheaths.

Not only were the materials from other art forms employed, but so also were decorative techniques and motifs.

Numerous examples of snuff bottles made of ‘rustic’ and natural materials include ivory, amber, lacquer, coconut and gourd for the literati class and the court who prided themselves on their empathy with nature.

Snuff bottles of hard stones, such as chalcedony, were also made in large numbers some superbly carved using natural colour variations to enhance the detail. Snuff bottles decorated with the finest miniature calligraphy, perhaps recounting a poem from classical Chinese literature were highly desirable.

Until the early 1900s the volume of snuff produced in China far exceeded that of tobacco for smoking or chewing.

Everyone took it – from the poet Alexander Pope to naturalist Charles Darwin, actress Sarah Siddons and the Duke of Wellington. Lord Nelson took large quantities to sea with him, while Napoleon sniffed over seven pounds a month.

Physicians made great claims for it, prescribing snuff for headaches, insomnia, toothache, coughs and colds and recommending it as a measure against contagion.

Snuff Box in BoxToday snuff containers remain eminently collectible.

The enormous variety in materials, the subject matter, the colour and shape provides a fascinating trail for the dedicated collector.

Their rise in value has inevitably made snuff bottles well worth copying, and the potential collector must tread with extreme care.

Carolyn McDowall, The Culture Concept Circle, 2010-2014-2019

  • Hello
    I am french and i collect the snuff bottles. I have begin a site:
    Best Regards

  • The link above pictures a ivory carved snuff bottle very similar to the one I have seen possessed by a close acquaintance.(2nd image pictured) This person has tried to engage Christie’s and another prestigious firm of antiques, to establish its value, but they have stated that they would have to see the actual bottle. It was marked on the bottom to indicate it was created for the emperor during the Ming dynasty. The holder of the bottle, nor myself, have a knowledge of the language to translate the signature of the artist.I would be most interested in knowing its approximate value as well as an estimate of when it was created and have pictures of the snuff bottle. Please advise if you might be interested in viewing the photos.

  • Christina I have sent you an email. We do not value antiques, just provide information. To ensure a valuation you will need to allow a dealer access to the bottle to gain their expert opinion. Go well

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


text:
The Daily Beast Site Map

Articles January 2010

Andrew Young's Revenge

Grammys: Andrea Bocelli and Mary J. Blige Duet

Grammys: 3D Michael Jackson Tribute

The Reality Behind Up in the Air

Kelly Cutrone's Outsider Army

Wole Soyinka's British Problem

Stop Dithering, Holder

Obama's Dangerous China Game

Grammys: Michael Jackson's Children Accept Lifetime Achievement Award

Grammys: General Larry Platt Sings on the Ground

Grammys: Pink, Suspended

Grammys: Elton John and Lady Gaga Duet

Grammys: Stephen Colbert Introduces Song of the Year

The Best of Brit Lit

Grammy Red Carpet

Alexrod on Alito Head Shake at SOTU

January 31: 7 Best Moments from Sunday Talk

Howard Kurtz on John Edwards Media Coverage

Pat Buchanan on McDonnell’s SOTU Rebuttal

Gal With a Suitcase

Gibbs: KSM Will Meet His Maker

Roger Ailes: I Would Pose Nude for 100 Bucks

Scott Brown Defends Cosmo Spread

World Economics Forum in Davos

Candy Crowley New Host of State of the Union

TV's Teen Mom Explosion

Sam Shepard Rides Again

The Timeless Face of Terror

The Dollar's Scary Decline

How to Handle GOP Tantrums

How to Spot an Islamophobe

Do I Have to Read Committed?

Lost Deaths: Nikki Paulo

Lost Deaths: Charlie

Lost Deaths: Ana Lucia Libby

Lost Deaths: Shannon

Lost Deaths: Locke

Lost Deaths: Eko

Lost Deaths: Arzt

Lost Deaths: Pilot

Rush Limbaugh Dances to Lady Gaga

Up in the Air Clip: Real People

Up in the Air Clip: Rebirth

Andrew Young Talks About John Edwards on 20/20

Salinger's Final Mystery

Gypsy Scandal Rocks Rome

See John Lie

Blair's Gutsy Stand

The Rift That Could Kill Health Care

Obama's Plan to Split the GOP

January 30: The Week in Viral Videos

Handicapping the Grammys

GOP Praises Obama for Speaking at GOP Event

This Week's Hot Reads

Is Democracy Dead?

Tony Blair: No Regrets on Removing Saddam

The Week In Cartoons

8 John Edwards Secrets

Edwards: Rielle Speaks

Edwards: Denies Paternity

Best Looking States

Edwards: Admits Affair

Edwards: Denies Affair

Edwards: Documentary

Haggards on Larry King

Fashion Recap: Road to the Oscars

John Edwards' Sugar Mama, Bunny Mellon

The Stars Come Out for Calvin Klein

Week in Red Carpet

Calvin Klein Red Carpet

Scott Brown on Leno

Now's the GOP's Time to Strike

The Bizarre Case Against Gay Marriage

The Yes List – The Most Soulful Documentary of the Year

Note to Alito: Obama Was Right

Pure Gold: Snowboarding With Shaun White

Then We Came to Book Two

Battle of the Blondes

The Weekend Crossword: "Grammy Monster"

Dreaming of Paris

The Art of the Snowflake

Leno on Oprah: Am I the Bad Guy

David Shuster vs Andrew Breitbart on O'Keefe

Eliot Spitzer on Love and Redemption

The Heirs to Holden Caulfield

The Speech Had Potential

Lou Dobbs On Birthers and Immigration Reform

Sundance Wrap-Up

Andrew Young on John Edwards

Anvil Scrapbook

How Obama Can Really Get Serious on Terrorism

The Week in Culture

SOTU Response: Bob McDonnell on Healthcare

Syfy's Caprica

9 Key Moments from Obama's Speech

A Rediscovery of Themes

Obama Does It Again

How Did Obama Do?

The Dream Deferred

Saving the Sandwich Generation

One Hell of a Speech

Brilliant Speeches Only Get You So Far

Not a Game-Changer

A Post-Rhetorical Obama

Iran's Cinematic Revolution

Chris Matthews Says He Forgot Obama Was Black

The Scariest Terror Plot

Geithner Bails Himself Out

Lost, for the Last Time

Is Couture Dying?

Buck Up, Democrats

Ozzy vs. The Wizard of Oz

Obama's 2010 State of the Union Address

Glenn Beck on Watching the State of the Union

Leno: I Haven't Talked to Conan Yet

Dreaming of Paris

Brittany Death Suit

Brittany Murphy

Inspiration for Steve Jobs

Apple's Mac Killer Unveiled

Katy Perry Smacks Down Kara on Americal Idol

Fashion Week Day 1

John Edwards' Audacity of Spin

What's in the Fabloids

Paul Begala on Stephen Colbert

Harrison Ford Celebrates Jimmy Kimmel Anniversary

Acorn CEO on Ed Show

Memorable Moments from State of the Union Addresses, Including Obama, Bush and Clinton

The Curious Tale of Obama's Biggest Defender

I Shot Michael Jackson

Presidency on the Line

Can This Man Outsmart the Taliban?

Steve Jobs: Flip-Flopper

The Real Joan Rivers

Is Geithner Toast?

Obama Needs a Killer App

Reality TV and Porn Collide

You Ripped a Picasso?!

Hayworth on Obama's Birth Certificate

Johnson 1965 State of the Union Excerpt

Nixon 1974 State of the Union Excerpt

8 Recipes From Norman Van Aken

The Myth About Old Wine

What to Eat: Offal

Obama Needs to Keep Attacking

Why Can't the Right Break the News?

Denise Richards on Oprah

The Art of the Snowflake

Chris Ofili's Bright Dung Things

Ayla Brown on the CBS Early Show

Woman Fainting on Price Is Right

Halperin on Charlie Rose

Pakistan's Fictional Peace

The Tea Party vs. the GOP

Man in the Mirror by Ron Galella

McCain on GMA: I Support Spending Freeze

Cheech and Chong on George Lopez

The Bad Ideas Epidemic

Stars at Sundance

Jon Stewart on Obama Teleprompters

New Wingnut Target: 'RINO' Scott Brown

What Obama Should Say

My Paperless Life

The Next Martha Coakley?

New Doubts About Afghanistan

The Audacity of Oops

Rosie Bares All

Kristen Stewart, Sundance "It" Girl

Haiti's Adoption Free-for-All

Obama: Rather Be Good One Term President

Egypt's Internet Crackdown

Rosie on Clashes with Hasselbeck and Walters

Franchise Reboots

Wax Michelle Obama on Wendy Williams

Explosive Hopper Divorce Doc

Ed Schultz Speaks Out About Robert Gibbs

Mel Gibson on GMA

NRJ Music Awards

Gibbs: Brown Win is not GOP Endorsement

The Hottest Property at Sundance

5 Questions for Bill Gates: The Daily Beast Interview

5 Questions for Bill Gates: The Full Interview

Democrats, Don't Despair

Tiger's Thanksgiving Mystery — Solved

The Women of the CIA

Hitting bin Laden Where He Lives

Calling BS on SAD

Bringing Back David Plouffe Will Totally Work

Yes, I'm a Pure Republican

Diary of a Not-So-Secret Call Girl

Scott Brown's Second Job

Glenn Close's 13 Favorite Movie Roles

Wanda Sykes Remixes Pants on the Ground

Zbigniew Brzezinski on Haiti

January 24: Top 8 Moments From Sunday Talk

Betty White Accepts SAG Lifetime Achievement Award

McLaughlin Group Says Rahm Emanuel is Out

Jarrett: We've Seen Enormous Change

Hatch: We Need to Start Over on Reform

McConnell: Bernanke Will Be Confirmed

DeMint: I Didn't Want Reform to Be Obama Waterloo

Keith Olbermann Apologies to Jon Stewart

Axelrod on Past Year: No Regrets

SAG Awards

The Odd World of Digital Groupies

No More Friendly Fire

The Fall of Harrison Ford

Stop the Terror Hysteria

The Post-Pregnancy Weight-Loss Obsession

Red Vs. Blue Is Over

Do I Have to Read Noah's Compass?

Levi Johnston on The Insider

Conan Says Goodbye on Tonight Show

Geoff in Jaipur

Gal With a Suitcase

Haiti Telethon: Justin Timberlake

Hope for Haiti Now

Stop Whining About Edwards, Already

Obama's Power Outage

Coakley's Lessons for Women

January 23: The Week in Viral Videos

Oprah Grills Bristol Palin on Abstinence

Gates Foundation Work Across the Globe

Better Off Red?

Dog Rescued from L.A. River

Glenn Beck's Dark Past

Introducing Beast Books

Glenn Close: Big Chill

Glenn Close: Serving in Silence

Glenn Close: Reversal of Fortune

Glenn Close: Dalmatians

Glenn Close: Garp

Glenn Close: Jagged Edge

Glenn Close: The Natural

Glenn Close: Dangerous Liaisons

Glenn Close: The Shield

The Secrets of Hybrid Fruit

Craig Mcdean for Interview Magazine

Jay Leno Is Staying on the Titantic

Living Like a Maharajah

Caprica Ad Jan 29

Caprica Ad Jan 28

The Louvre Abu Dhabi

Jon Stewart Takes on Keith Olbermann

Obama's Real Wall Street Scheme

The Week in Cartoons

Pee Wee Herman Explains the Conan Fiasco

Lady Gaga's Devoted Fans Go All Out

Bernanke on the Hot Seat

Anger at NBC

I Just Can't Hate John Edwards

Best and Worst American Idol Auditions

Supreme Sellout

Obama's Half-Baked Bank Reform

The Yes List – Victor Garber's Broadway Role of a Lifetime

The Weekend Crossword: "Kings of Late Night"

American Idol - Amy Lang

American Idol - Leah Laurenti

American Idol - Charity Vance

American Idol - John Park

McCain Responds to Wife's Gay Marriage Ad

Lady Gaga Fans at Radio City

Up in the Air

Is the Louvre Selling Out?

NPR Chief Says Leave Zucker Alone

Pants on the Ground!

Specter Tells Bachmann to Act Like a Lady

The 10 Biggest Food Trends For 2010

Sundance Preview

David Letterman Continues to Slam Jay Leno

Contestant Gets Arrested on American Idol

The Week in Culture

NBC Chief: 'No Press is Bad Press'

Harrison Hickman on John Edwards Paternity

A Shocking Win for Fat Cats

Rambagh Hotel

The Kennedys React

Conan O'Brien Spends NBCs Money

Murders at Gitmo?

Palin-Brown 2012?

How 'SVU' Predicts the Future

America's Boob Police

Who Will Fall Next?

The GOP's New Roadmap

India's Literary Magic

McCain on Obama's First Year

The Haiti Fundraising Lie

James Franco in Howl Clip

Denis Darzacq's Bodies in Motion

George Clooney in Sudan

Obama on Massachusetts Election

A Post-Racial Disappointment

Was It the Truck?

John Avlon on Wingnuts Right and Left

Wingnut In Action: Glenn Beck

Wingnut In Action: Alan Grayson

Wingnut In Action: Sarah Palin

Heidi Montag on Access Hollywood

What's in the Fabloids

David Letterman Says Don't Blame Conan

Mass Arrogance

David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs on Scott Brown's Win

Tuesday's Red Carpet

Scott Brown on Calling Vicki Kennedy

Health Care or Bust!

CNN's Haiti Triumph

The Democrats' Doomsday Health Plans

Massachusetts Miracle

He's Done Everything Wrong

Martha Coakley Concedes Senate Race

Obama's White House Turns One

A Betrayal of Promises

Jennifer Lopez Tries Stand-Up Comedy

Fresh Picks

5 Recipes From Suzanne Goin

What to Eat: Southern Soul Food

Secret Rituals of American Idol Auditions Exposed

Timothy Hutton: Literary Sex God

Howard Dean on Health Care

Michael Hastings: Iraq's New Hired Guns

Why Some Memoirs Are Better As Fiction

The Jury Is Still Out

Downhill After His Election

Following in JFK's Footsteps

How Obama Lost Arnold

Haiti's Grisly Problem

Misogynist Massachusetts

Bill Clinton's Shameful Haiti Legacy

How Wingnuts Hijacked Obama's First Year

New White House Blame Game

Jeff Zucker on Charlie Rose

Wild and Woolly Stars

Haiti's Survivors

MacGruber movie trailer

'Extreme Aging' Presidents

Caprica Promo Jan 19

Who Gave the Most to Haiti?

David Letterman Responds to Dick Ebersol

Chaos in Haiti

Keith Olbermann Slams Scott Brown

Heidi Pratt Reveals Her New Look on GMA

The Art of Elysium Gala

Jon Stewart on Martha Coakley

The Taliban's Deadly Plan

America's 75 Worst Commutes

Will We Forget Haiti Too?

What Wall Street Really Fears

The Insurgent's Final Hours

Gillibrand Fights Back

The Green Berets Who Saved Karzai

Why Karzai Is a Survivor

The Cynical Bush-Clinton Show

Coakley's Stunning Gender Gap

How Obama Is Blowing the Terror War

Rachel Uchitel: Mob Princess?

The Best "Pants on the Ground" Covers

This Week's Hot Reads

Anderson Cooper Saves Boy From Looters

Inspiration for Pants on the Ground on the View

Uchitel Nightlife

Shilling Responds to Coakley Gaffe

Joe Scarborough Denounces Being a Republican

Golden Globes: Gervais Mocks Gibson

Original Pants on the Ground

60 Minutes Talks to Dr. Mark Hyman about Haiti

Golden Globes: Ricky Gervais on Plastic Surgery

Shoulders on the Red Carpet

Golden Globes: James Cameron

The Golden Globes After-Parties

Funniest Moments from the Golden Globes

Golden Globes: Monique

Golden Globes Acceptance for Weary Heart

Golden Globes Gervais Mocks Paul McCartney

Doing Disaster Relief Right

Golden Globes: Robert Downey Jr

Golden Globes: Glee

Our Sweatpants Nightmare

Wall Street's Dirty Little Secret

Why We're Not Getting Married

Haiti's Lawless Streets

Golden Globes: DeNiro on Scorsese

Julia Roberts Mocks NBC on Red Carpet

Golden Globes: Drew Barrymore

Golden Globes: Meryl Streep

Golden Globes: Julianna Margulies

Golden Globes: Michael C Hall

Golden Globes Red Carpet: Anna Kendrick

Golden Globes Red Carpet: Jane Lynch

Golden Globes Red Carpet: Mariah Carey

Golden Globes Red Carpet: Mickey Rourke

Best of the Golden Globes

Golden Globes

Men in Sweats

January 17: 7 Best Moments from Sunday Talk

McLaughlin Group Predicts Massachusetts Race

Bush, Clinton: No Politics in Haiti

McConnell: Massachusetts Election Referendum

Tucker Carlson Has Had Enough with Teabaggers

Woodward: Disappointment in Obama is 'Crap'

Matalin Defends Limbaugh on Haiti

Hollywood's Prom Season

Reverend King's Successors

Betty White’s 15 Funniest Moments

Mitt Romney's Man

Haiti Dictator's Poor-Man Exile?

Sterilized for Being Poor?

Telling the Boss Off

Do I Have to Read The Help?

O'Reilly and Beck Discuss Palin

James Franco on 30 Rock

Skunk at the Party

Late Night Comics Blast NBC, Each Other

The Modern Polygamists

Obama Clinton and Bush Talk About Haiti

Gal With a Suitcase

Hollywood's Prom Season

What Haiti Needs

What If Haiti Can't Be Saved?

The Week in Cartoons

Best of the Beast Comments

Stop the Feminist Guilt Trip

January 16: The Week in Viral Videos

Ricky Gervais' 9 Funniest Awards-Show Moments

'Baby Doc' Speaks

Tallying the NBC Damage

Lady Gaga Compares Oprah to Gandhi

Dems Drop Ad With WTC Image

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Trailer

This Year's Hottest Olympians

Sex Talk on The View

What I Saw in Haiti

The Week in Cartoons

We Missed the Moment

Jon Stewart Takes on Haiti Critics

The Week in Red Carpet

Jimmy Kimmel Does Jay Leno's 10@10

Rush and Robertson: Shameless Haiti Wingnuts

Speed Read: The Best Books on Haiti

Hot Chicks at 46

The Yes List – The Best Animated Film of the Year: A Town Called Panic

History's 10 Worst Earthquakes

Lovely Bones January 15

Jordan in the Crosshairs

Is Pedro Almodóvar a Fraud?

The Weekend Crossword: "The Peacemakers"

The Military Moves In

Gay Marriage's Great Hope

Stop Coddling Wall Street!

Clinton to the Rescue

Conan's Exit Confirmed

The Living Dollhouse

The Inside Outsider Artist

The Right Man for MOCA?

Limbaugh Uses Tampon Defense in Haiti Comments

Why Haiti's Earthquake Is France's Problem

Roy Newell Rediscovered

Chicks at 46

Why We Love Stinky Cheese

Gervais: Emmys 2009

Gervais: Holocaust

Who's Helping Haiti?

Gervais: Daydream

Gervais: Golden Globes 2009

Gervais: BCA 2008

Gervais: BCA 2006

Late-Night Showdown: What You Missed

Late Nite Blog: Ferguson

Late Nite Blog: Fallon

Late Nite Blog: Kimmel

Late Nite Blog: Leno

A Ray of Hope in Haiti

Helping Haiti

Dave Letterman Skewers NBC and Leno Again

Harold Ford Implodes

NBC's Biggest Prime-Time Disasters

The Trend from Hell

Palin's Booze Hypocrisy

Inside Haiti's Horror

What He Died for in Haiti

Five Classic Tonight Show Controversies

The Making of Harold Ford

Why Citigroup's Going to Take the Fall

Rights Amid the Rubble

The Great Google Coverup?

Good Riddance

How Boards Are Destroying Corporations

Celebrities in "Jeggings"

Clinton: Don't Give Up on Haiti

Jennifer Love Hewitt on Lopez Tonight

The Late Shift

The Best of Brit Lit

Sarah Palin on Glenn Beck

Shrek Forever After Trailer

Nightmare on Elm Street 2010 Trailer

Zucker's Flops

Fish Tank Trailer

Pat Robertson Says Haiti Made Pact with Devil

Little Black Dress Auction

American Idol Premiere Kara Showdown

What's in the Fabloids

Week in Culture

Late-Night Comics Rip On Leno

Tuesday's Red Carpet

Haiti in Crisis

Earthquake Shakes Haiti

China's Secret Cyberterrorism

Conan Fights Back

Politicians Gone Crazy

Why Obama Can't Stop Meddling

Inside Ted Koppel's ABC Negotiations

Fifty Little CIAs

Wall Street's Rigged Bonuses

Fox's New Leading Lady

Finally, the Year of the Woman?

The Outrageous Johnny Weir

Elizabeth Kostova's Favorite Books

What to Eat: Southeast-Asian Menu

5 Recipes From Jody Adams

Sarah Palin on O'Reilly

Fresh Picks

Ellen DeGeneres Riffs on American Idol

MOCA's First Thirty Years

This Week's Hot Reads

My First Golden Globes

Women in Film

Mark Halperin Talks to Hannity About Elizabeth Edwards

Elizabeth Kostova's Favorite Books

Alex Prager: The Living Dollhouse

Winter's Hot New Restaurants

John McCain Discusses Game Change on Today

Mark McGwire Talks to Bob Costas

Late-Night Comics Take On NBC

Jay Leno Takes On NBC Again

The Book of Eli Premiere

Harold Ford's Money Mountain

Can Spider-Man Survive Without Tobey?

Paid to Tweet?

American Idol at a Crossroads

The Christian Anti-Gay Campaign

Is Ailes Finished at Fox?

John McCain or Jersey Shore?

The Tea Party Splatters

Leave Elizabeth Alone

The Bonus Boomerang

Obama: Reid on Right Side of History

Baseball's All-Steroid Team

Blagojevich Apologizes for Obama Comment

More Juicy Election Details

NAACP Rep Speaks Out on Harry Reid

Most Expensive Tweets

Surgeon General Defends Weight on GMA

Barbara Walters Reveals NBC Offer on The View

Why Simon Is Quitting Idol

Simpsons Special on Smithers and Brockman

Weekend Red Carpet

Liz Cheney Condemns Reid, Slams Liberal Elite

In Defense of Tea Parties

Lovely Bones January 11

How to Get America Back to Work

Top 5 Reasons Porn-for-Profit Is Dying

How to Win 2010

Gay Marriage's Right-Wing Brigade

Give Michael Steele More Time

The Terrorists' Man in Washington

A Future Without Down Syndrome?

The Internet Mob's Porn Bomb

Harry Reid Was Right

15 Reasons to Watch TV This Winter

Fareed Zakaria on Terror Response: Don't Panic

Yes, You Can Change People

Fighting for Conan

January 10: 7 Best Moments from Sunday Talk

Reliable Sources Discussion on Failure of Jay Leno Show

Lieberman Furious Over NYT Article

Picture Falls During Schwarzenegger Interview

Romer Offended by Wall Street Bonuses

Steele: Reid Should Resign over Racist Comments

The Michael Steele Debacle

The Fox-Murdoch Feud

Celebrity Weight Loss

Stop Blaming the CIA

The War in the Living Room

Our Gutless Turn-Tail Politics

Christianity's New Culture War

The Harvard Psychedelic Club

Hottest New Cars

A Prophet Trailer

Cop Out Trailer

15 Reasons to Watch TV This Winter

Conan Jokes About Leno Shakeup

The Breathtaking Mosques of Istanbul

Balloon Boy Dad Breaks Down on Larry King

Baby, It's Cold Outside

The Air Marshal Revolt

Hillary's New Health Crusade

January 9: The Week in Viral Videos

The Unstoppable Cult of Jane Eyre

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Giuliani: I Didn't Forget 911

The Best of Brit Lit

Madonna Sticky & Sweet

Conan's $45 Million Dilemma

Jay Leno Show Superbowl Commercial

The Week in Red Carpet

Profiling Will Never Work

Richard Heene Denise Hoax on Today

Week in Cartoons

The Lovely Bones

Lovely Bones Trailer January

Patti Smith and Steven Sebring: Objects of Life

Jay Leno Mocks NBC

Hawke Gets Gory

The Yes List – The Year of Patti Smith

The GOP's Terror Wingnuts

The Johnson Family Tears

Too Big to Succeed

Polygamy's Back

Elvis' Pajama Party

David Gregory, Off the Air

Coolest Jobs That are Actually Hiring in the Low Economy

Only Muslims Can Stop Muslim Terror

The Weekend Crossword: "Elvis at 75"

This Is Not a Tree

Patti Smith's Private World

Koppel: Obama Overreacting to al Qaeda

Nerds With Game

Newark Security Breach Caught on Tape

Newark Airport Breach on Security Cam

Dream Jobs

The Women Who Loved Elvis

Paris Hilton Moonlights as Gas Station Attendant

Will Leno Stay at NBC?

Ranking the Terror Hubs

Abs: Taylor Lautner

Week in Culture

Robert Voit: This Is Not a Tree

People's Choice Awards Paranormal Activity Spoof

People's Choice Awards

Sigourney Weaver on the Late Show

Did Pakistani Spies Help CIA Bomber?

Mika Gets Personal

Hollywood's Christian Blockbuster

Dead Cool: Madame Blavatsky

What Winning Looks Like

Obama's Sleepy Response

Limbaugh on His Recent Health Scare

The End of the Detroit Dream

Queen Latifah on Ellen

Prince of Persia Trailer

Museum Dining

Stars with Jersey Shore Abs

CES Gadgets

What's in the Fabloids

Joan Rivers on Larry King Live

Stephen Colbert Cable News Fear-for-All Flight 253

Palm Springs Film Festival

Kim Kardashian on Jay Leno

The Democrats' Silver Lining

A Double Agent for the Taliban?

A Socialite's Tragic Curtain Call

How To Switch Parties

Yes, There Is a G-Spot

America's Terrorism Amnesia

The CIA's Secret Grief

The Terrorist Who Won't Die

Where in the World Is Tiger?

Fresh Picks

What to Eat: Cleansers

5 Recipes from Art Smith

The Perfect Ceviche

Casey Johnson: Through The Years

Blavatsky Clip

Pelosi on Public Option, Campaign Promises

Iraqis, Afghans Slam Airport Crackdown

The Lives of Double Agents

Double Agents: Alias

Most Dangerous Countries

Shep Smith Reviews Google Phone

Where in the World Is Tiger?

Late-Night Comics Riff on Undie Bomber

Joe Scarborough Weighs in Brit Hume Comments

Bringing in the New Year in Style

Brit Hume Explains Tiger Jesus Comments on O'Reilly Factor

Ringing in the New Year on Wall Street

Death of an Heiress

The End of Single Women

This Week's Hot Reads

Life After Avatar

Sci-Fi TV Gets Frisky

Do Your Genes Make You Fat?

Profiling Whole Nations

Bernanke in Denial

You Can't Bargain With Terrorists

Gaming the Financial-Aid System

The GOP's Tea Party Challenge

Writers Rally for Liu Xiaobo

Matthews Accuses Politico of Being News Conduit for Cheney

Michelle Obama Guest Stars on Iron Chef America

Gerald Levin Reflects on AOL-Time Warner Deal

Hume: Tiger Woods Should Become Christian

Caprica Clip

Things to Stop Bitching About in 2010

The Next Year in Media

10 Ways to Lose 10 Pounds Fast

Which Diets Really Work?

Obama's Challenge in Yemen

Oscar Voters Dish: Best Picture

Jersey Shore's Surprise Feminists

The Jewish Kennedys

Hollywood's Liberal Heartbreak

Cheney Was Right

5 Economic Predictions to Bank On

Sarandon and Robbins Split

Kean: Terror Suspect May Have Done U.S. a Favor

Oscar Poll

January 3: Top 8 Moments From Sunday Talk

McLaughin Group Gives Out Political Oblivion Award

Howard Kurtz Challenges Brian Williams Over Twitter Remark

Greatest Studs of All Time

Most-Effective Diets

Collins: Napolitano's System Comments 'Bizarre'

Terry Moran Compares Security System to Facebook

Brennan Responds to Cheney on Terror Comments

John Brennan: No Smoking Gun in Terror Attempt

Iran's Younger, Smarter Revolution

The Decade's First Revolution?

Get Tough with Pakistan

Feel Our Pain

Think Small

Repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

End the War on Drugs

What's Obama's Next Move?

Do I Have to Read James Patterson?

Still Cool Camus

Obama Says Christmas Bomber Trained by al Qaeda

Doctor Who End of Time Trailer

Undressed to Kill

CNN Reports on Russian Vodka

Great Performances: Vienna Philharmonic

Gal With a Suitcase

The Week in Cartoons

Obama's Secret Power Base

Our Homegrown Terror Threat

December 31: The Week in Viral Videos

Winter's Big Books

Limbaugh Talks About His Health

Jennifer Lopez Sings on New Year's Eve

Twilight Zone: Time Enough at Last

GMA's Hangover Cure

Dick Clark Flubs New Year's Countdown

Kathy Griffin Curses on CNN Again

Week in Cartoons

Screaming and Freezing in Times Square

Rick Sanchez vs. John Ensign


text:
Mini Episode: October 26th, 2018, What's 'On Point' from High Point's Fall Market

mini episode

October 26, 2018

Since Pantone introduced Greenery as 2017’s Color of the Year, we are finally falling for shades of green in furnishings, accessories, and even as a new neutral for walls. Boxy silhouettes give way to soft, swooping shapes with high end details from designers like Adriana Hoyos and Kenneth Cobonpue. The return of natural elements like rattan, caning and coconut shells keep our fondness for nature in the spotlight, and in our homes.


text:
Part 1

Located in the north of the city, Stockbridge is well known as the trendiest neighbourhood of Edinburgh. And no wonder why. The area is full of cafés, restaurants, delis and other dedicated shops - the foodie paradise in other words.

Between Gastro Pubs and little street food shops, we have selected the best addresses for your next breakfast, brunch, lunch or diner.

Prepare your forks, part 1 coming up right now.

Purslane The Edinburgh Address

Purslane - The perfect definition of casual fine dining. Named Edinburgh restaurant of the year last May, Purslane brings together Scottish food at its highest level making you forget the traditional haggis neeps and tatties as National dish. Focusing on seasonality and local produces, the chef Paul Gunning has sourced 80% of his suppliers in Stockbridge. Trying to bringing the community together, the aim of the chef is to offer great food at more than affordable prices.

In brief, at Purslane you will experience exquisite dishes and a lovely atmosphere in a tiny restaurant.

Where? 33a St. Stephen Street Edinburgh EH3 5AH

Scran Scallie The Edinburgh Address

The Scran & Scallie - One of the best addresses in Stockbridge, and for multiple reasons. First, and this is crucial, the food is amazing. Concocted by two of Scotland’s top chefs, Michelin star chef Tom Kitchin and Dominic Jack, the food is seasonal, with local ingredients. Don’t miss out their Goat’s cheese tart and walnut condiment as well as their steak pie, a delish. Second, we really enjoy the rustic charm of this old pub, where you will feel like in a cocoon. It’s cozy and warm, you wish you could there forever. And last but not least, the staff is really lovely.

We highly recommend this restaurant, from breakfast to dinner, even though you’re not staying in the Stockbridge area.

Where? 1 Comely Bank Road Edinburgh EH4 1DT

 Noks Kitchen The Edinburgh Address

Nok’s Kitchen - Newly opened, this Thai restaurant has already been acknowledged as one of the best Thai in Stockbridge. Mixing together mouth watering flavours of spices and products, their dishes are really tasty. We can’t resist to their great curries and appetisers such as the grill king scallops or duck salad. A real pleasure.

Where? 8 Gloucester St Edinburgh EH3 6EG

Mellis Cheesemonger The Edinburgh Address

I.J. Mellis Cheesemonger - Why not shaking up your habits and eat only cheese for dinner? If so, go directly to Mellis Cheesemonger as they are providing the best cheeses in town. French, Spanish, Scottish, there’s for sure one made for you. They even create personalised cheese wedding cakes. What a treat.

Where? 6 Bakers Place EH3 6SY

Check out The Edinburgh Address properties located in Stockbridge to make your stay unforgettable. Book now:


text:
Phil Neville’s Interview: “I shouldn’t have been the Team’s Captain”

Phil Neville has recently granted an interview in which he discussed some of the struggles he had to face when he was signed to Everton, leaving Manchester United after a long and successful stretch.

Though not in his prime anymore, his arrival to Everton was praised by some as a fairly important acquisition; after all, we are talking about a very important player, with a successful career and a lot of experience.

That’s perhaps why David Moyes, Everton’s coach back then, decided to make him the team’s captain, considering David Weir had let the team to join the Rangers.

“They hadn’t accepted me” – Neville said about the fans – “because after one month Moyes made me captain.” He then continued, talking about how he accepted such a duty, but regrets having done so, not just for the fans’ reaction, but also for his teammates reaction: “I found it really tough as I wasn’t accepted by my teammates. […] I was Moyes’ little boy”.

He then continued, claiming he hated playing Merseyside derbies, as he found them to be incredibly overhyped, and the unjustified pressure was just too much to bear for a single match.

His tenure as the Everton’s captain surely wasn’t as smooth as some had anticipated and probably hoped for, and these claims are set to create as much turmoil as there was back then, when he was frequently seen at Manchester United games, even as he was Everton’s captain.

Everton will be back from the break on Sunday 16th at 4:00 PM, when it will play West Ham with the home advantage, possibly setting the stage for a win, after drawing two consecutive matches. Online betting websites mostly consider Everton to be the favorite in the game, yet still give it an interesting quote ranging from 1.70 to 2.00, which those who believe in the win might not want to miss.

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here