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Spring Cleaning Tips for Private Household Staff

Wood furniture

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Oven care

4 Key Reasons For Choosing Bespoke Fitted Wardrobes

If you want a smart way to store and organize clothing items, something customized specific to the space and your needs, bespoke fitted wardrobes are the ideal choice. The word bespoke means “made to order” or customized. Obviously, having a closet designed specifically for you, means getting exactly what is going to serve you best. For this, you could choose one that is freestanding or buy a built-in system. Once the wardrobe has been completed, the manufacturer would install hardware to enhance the look, followed by installing the unit.

Reason 1

Closet systems such as this offer tremendous benefit. For starters, once these are installed, they actually look like an expensive piece of furniture. Because the closet design would be customized, you would have the opportunity to choose from a variety of wood species and other materials. As an example, if you wanted something that looked rich and elegant, mahogany, cherry, teak, and bamboo are simply gorgeous. On the other hand, if you preferred a more casual design, then you might consider red oak, walnut, or even pine. Then to complete the aesthetics, you would need the right hardware and even consider a mirror wardrobe door for added convenience.

Reason 2

Another benefit of the bespoke type of freestanding or built-in closet is that manufacturers can offer ideas for fittings regardless of space. Often, storage systems are used because the bedroom or bathroom does not provide a traditional closet or adequate space to have one created. Let us say that you had a bedroom in an attic, which featured a pitched room. With the slant on both sides of the room, it would be impossible to go out and buy just any wardrobe. Instead, with a customized armoire, the design would be in such a way to work with the slant.

Reason 3

Then, with virtually hundreds of hardware choices, as well as a large selection of finishes, there are an infinite number of possibilities. With systems such as this, you would have a choice of sliding or hinged doors. Typically, the size and configuration of the space would dictate which option is chosen. For instance, in a situation of limited space, doors that slide on a track would be the best option whereas the hinged option provides a more authentic look.

Reason 4

Finally, bespoke fitted wardrobes can be designed with a number of different features. Remember, this closet is being custom built for your needs so take advantage of having so many choices. As an example, if shelving were important, the designer could incorporate rotating, fixed, or adjustable shelves. If you needed additional shoe storage, the unit could be built with a shoe rack or if you needed a sock or underwear drawer, one or more could be added.

Jewelry Making Materials You Can Get Cheaply or Even Free

Jewelry making materials usually come from jewelry supply companies, don’t they? Well, not necessarily – especially as offbeat components for creating jewelry are becoming more popular.

As the prices of silver, gold, and other traditional jewelry metals have risen, jewelry artists have begun using unusual and totally non-traditional jewelry making materials for their creations. Although this trend started because of the soaring cost of metal, its popularity has grown quickly as jewelry artists and their customers have discovered the fabulous possibilities of jewelry created from odds and ends.

When money is tight, jewelry customers want colorful, cheery ways to perk up their wardrobe without breaking the bank. So some of the most popular new bracelet, necklace, and earring designs are made from jewelry making materials such as:

* Cloth, fiber, cord, or rope – especially in bracelets that wrap, knot, tie, or cinch.
* Paper products / ephemera – often in tiny frames, mixed media, or collage.
* Wood jewelry components – either natural or colored.
* Buttons – of every size, shape, and vintage.
* Parts from older jewelry, combined with other elements and remade into new pieces.
* Seashells of all types, colors, and sizes – especially in earrings and necklaces.
* Colorful metals – especially colored or patinaed brass and copper.
* Repurposed items of all sorts – cut down, stripped, cleaned up, and turned into jewelry components.

How to Find Unusual Jewelry Making Materials

Instead of going out in search of a specific item, go with an open mind and be ready for serendipity to show you some crafty possibilities. Look at things with your creative eye, see past any accumulated dust and grime, and imagine what you can do with various items you come across.

Be prepared to sort through things. Bags, boxes, and drawers of miscellaneous objects are often where you’ll find some of the best jewelry making materials.

Go through the clearance aisles and bins of craft stores, hardware stores, and home improvement stores.

Tell your friends and family about the types of “junk” you’re looking to use for making jewelry. They’ll think it’s fun to keep an out for these things for you. Our loved ones often enjoy participating in the treasure hunt, and they may come across some fantastic finds we’d never see otherwise!

Bring a flashlight and magnifying glass on your treasure hunts. Look closely at the condition of older or secondhand items before you buy them.

While you’re hunting for jewelry making materials, also keep an eye out for things you can use to display your jewelry. Boxes, trunks, baskets, fabrics, gloves, dolls, racks, wig stands, picture frames, etc. can be cleaned up, repainted or refinished into interesting jewelry displays.

Look at everything in yard sales, tag sales, estate sales, etc. The “merchandise” at these events isn’t always organized, so you never know where a stash of potential jewelry making materials may turn up. The best deals are when the event is winding down, when the owners just want to quickly unload their remaining stuff.

Visit antique, resale, and thrift shops and ask whether they have a newsletter or an announcements mailing list for their events, sales, and new arrivals. If they do, have them add your name and address (or email) to the list. It’s a good way to be one of the first people to see their new inventory – and any possible jewelry making materials. Owners of these shops are usually helpful, and will likely keep an eye out for anything in particular if you let them know about your interests.

Are Latico Handbags Worth the Money?

There is no question that when a woman buys a new handbag, she wants many things to happen. First, she wants it to look good with her wardrobe. In fact, she wants other people to make comments about it and notice her when she walks into a room. She also wants it to cost a good price for the quality she is getting. She wants it to be functional yet stylish too. All of these things can be said about Latico handbags.

You may not have heard of Latico, but this company has been around for awhile now. It began when a recent college graduate named Paul started selling leather goods out of the trunk of his car, in fact. He would sell his wares to stores around New York City, and people started to love his very down to earth bags that were made with leather. He caught a break when a particular NY boutique kept selling out of his bags and members of the Grateful Dead band and crew started becoming huge fans of his pieces. This allowed Paul to revamp his new brand into a rock and roll style.

Now, these bags are well known as having artisan linings, unique leather treatments and fantastic interior organization. The bags have caught the eye of many people, including celebrities from the west coast to the east coast. However, the company has not forgotten its roots in those little boutiques and shops.

There are many popular pieces in the Latico line. For instance, the CoinKeeper is one popular purchase because it has the Latico patented hardware pass through mechanism that allows its owner to put loose change inside of a closed wallet. Le Cirque is another popular handbag because it is a multi-colored handbag with leather discs that showcase a unique and one of a kind handbag.

There is no question that Latico handbags are one of the most fashion forward choices that a woman can make right now. From crackled metallic fabrics to fringe, these handbags are eye catching, well priced and becoming more popular each day. They add style and flair to any wardrobe!

The Large Wardrobe – A Sizable Statement

A large wardrobe makes a sizable statement in a room. It can bring substance and elegance to a lackluster space that is short on organization. Beyond the doors of the wardrobe are endless possibilities for storage. When purchasing a large wardrobe, there are certain factors to be taken into consideration. The foremost of those is the amount of space available and your particular storage needs. Also think about how the wardrobe will complement your room’s design. Confidence in your decision will ensure that the wardrobe brings you years of functional enjoyment.

When you have a large room and want a nice place to store clothing and accessories, a large wardrobe makes a great fit. Even in a large room, there are considerations to keep in mind when placing the wardrobe. Make sure the space will accommodate the wardrobe and ensure that you have easy access to it with clearance for the doors to open easily. Make certain that there is enough space to maneuver around the wardrobe without obstacles.

Think about your storage needs. Do you require more space for those formal dresses or suits? Do you need additional storage for blankets and linens or out-of-season clothing? You can select a wardrobe that contains plenty of hanging space with the added versatility of shelving and drawer systems. Take inventory of your clothing or linens and determine how much and what kind of space you need.

A large wardrobe should contribute to the design of a room and be consistent in scale. Overpowering the rest of the furniture disturbs the balance of a room, creating a space that is visually weighty. Opt for a size that is just a little larger or the same in overall dimension as the other furnishings. Choose a finish that is similar to other pieces in the room or add interest with a contrasting treatment. Try a large wardrobe that is ornately carved and stained in a beautiful dark finish. This will bring a touch of robust elegance to a room.

Search for quality of craftsmanship. Check for stability and balance of the piece. Make sure it sits level and that all doors and drawers open smoothly. Ensure that all hardware is fastened or secured properly. Check shelving for correct fit. Inspect the overall quality of materials. Quality of craftsmanship is the key to the longevity of the wardrobe. With such a large wardrobe, you want to guarantee that it will hold up to the rigors of daily use.

Storing Heirlooms Inside of a Cedar Chest

Nothing speaks of sentimental style more than a beautiful chest. Made of moth-repellent cedar wood, decorated with intricate carvings or striking finishes, and fitted with secure locks and hardware, the oft-called “hope chest” has long served as a storage piece for valuable keepsakes. Things that are kept inside a wooden chest preserve their character and quality, and also gain the sweet aroma of the unvarnished wood after being kept inside for a long time. These grand boxes have long served as symbols of status, history, and love.

The significance of an heirloom chest goes back to the Ancient Egyptians and their treasure-filled chests. During the Renaissance, wealthy dynasties in Italy increased their power by marrying their descendants with one another. On these occasions they produced ostentatious and elaborately-decorated wardrobes or trunks as wedding gifts. These large boxes were often more valuable than their actual contents and displayed the status of these affluent Italian families. Dutch and German cultures adhered to similar traditions.

A sturdy wooden chest, like one made of cedar, has always served the function of keeping valuable articles safe. Throughout history, migrating families have always brought these trunks across borders and oceans as they settled in new lands. The requisite locks kept their things safe, and the drawers or miniature boxes held smaller precious items like silverware or jewelry.

In later centuries, and predominantly in American families, when a girl came of age, a gift of a wooden chest encouraged her to begin preparing for marriage. The traditional practice was to receive the chest from her mother, or another female relative. In it, a girl would collect items that she will need for married and family life (usually referred to as her trousseau, from the French word for “little bundle”): dresses, intimate clothes, bed linens, table linens, towels, quilts, and other things. Until the 1950s, married life was the only ideal path for proper American women. Assembling a hope chest was part of a girl’s careful and ritual-filled journey towards that most important event in her life.

And when she finally embarks on married life, the chest becomes emptied out as she starts to take care of her new home and growing family. Over time the chest becomes filled again, as she places into it the new memories and keepsakes she has accumulated with her husband and children. Eventually she will pass down this memory-filled artifact to her own daughter, and the cycle of hope-building will begin all over again.

These chests have traditionally been made of sturdy wood like cherry, oak or cedar. The latter was used more frequently because cedar is known for having natural properties that act as moth repellant. Then, they are usually decorated with carvings, paint, or gilding to represent a family’s culture and origins. As mentioned, they were also usually outfitted with a drawer or too, or a miniature box that can go inside the compartment.

During World War II, a former ammunition-box manufacturer in America became the foremost producer of the cedar chest, promoting heavily its value of storing memories and promises for the women whose loved one was away and fighting in the war. This phenomenon concretized the graceful box’s status as a piece of true Americana.

Today, times have changed, and women do not need dowries or trousseaus anymore. Marriage has ceased to be a mandate of the society, and women are now allowed to have different opinions about it. A hope chest has ceased to be the girl’s symbol of growing up and being ready for real life.

Despite the radical differences in circumstances, the cedar chest remains an indispensable component of the American family’s home. Nowadays these chests are used primarily as classic home decorating pieces. A chest adds an air of warmth and personality to a bedroom or living room. Usually regarded as antiques, they lend a lived-in feel to the space.

But more than using them as pretty displays, it might be a wonderful project to revive the significance of these treasure boxes, and gain new ways to preserve family memories and history. More than being pretty displays, durable and roomy chests are still as functional storage pieces as they were half a century ago. Heirlooms, mementos, and pieces meant to be preserved and passed down for the children have no better place for safekeeping than these chests. And when a chest has been passed down from generation to generation, its value through its history can already rival that of the Egyptian’s treasure boxes.

A chest opens up to reveal a pile of valuable things and memories, but it has its uses as solid closed box, too. In bedrooms, wooden chests are usually placed at the foot of the bed to serve as pillow rests or as an impromptu bench. A closed flat-lid chest can also be used as small coffee table, or as a surface for displaying photos or small trinkets. Placed near a window and decorated with pillows, a large chest becomes a peaceful nook for sitting down and relaxing.

On the more practical side, a chest can become an extension of the wardrobe. It can be a good place to store rarely-used season linens like curtains for Christmas, or winter clothes like sweaters. Growing up girls and boys can find delight in owning chests which can serve as exciting places where they can keep and get dress-up items or toys.

The keepsakes that can be placed inside these chests do not have to exclusively be valuables or items necessary for a young girl’s married life. It can be a joy to assemble a “memory box” for both young girls and young boys to remember their childhood by. Baby clothes, first items like baseball gloves, dolls, or letters are things which can be considered for such a project. When children grow up, they will enjoy reliving special moments every time they open the chest. A memory box then becomes a tactile and extraordinary three-dimensional scrapbook of sorts. The contents and value of this chest can change along with the child as they both gain years. Eventually a child can bring a cedar chest along to his or her new home, as a reminder of childhood and history.

Memories and keepsakes are not the only things that a hope chest can hold. It can also be a container for the lessons and skills that a parent or elder relative has passed down to the younger ones. Swatches from the first knitting or sewing lesson, recipe cards for secret family recipes, and little tools for fishing or fixing the house are just few of the many things that can be kept within a wooden chest. These would be important objects for passing down a legacy or tradition that can preserve a family’s trade or identity.

Children have always enjoyed “discovering” treasures, in whatever form it comes in. When a child is presented with a hope chest, he or she will certainly feel that spark of amazement and wonder when the lid is opened and its contents are revealed to him or her for the first time. A child will be honored to be the next keeper of a chest that he or she remembers from the past. When a parent or elder relative shows great consideration for taking care of preserving memories and heirlooms, the younger ones are definite to follow suit.

The modern world is a fast-paced one. Thanks to technology and advancements in science and exploration, everything happens faster than ever, and people tend to place a premium on getting things quicker, cheaper, and easier. Food can be cooked in seconds, cities can be reached in minutes, messages and news can be received right as they are being sent or happening. And because our tools and machines are also always being updated, the mentality is always to discard the old and traditional to give way to the new and more efficient. Material things have almost ceased to have meaning attached to them, save for the function that they serve.

The trend now is to rediscover history, to return to roots in order to be certain of identity and to gain a sense of personal pride. Wooden chests, and the ritual of keeping things inside them, have a strong presence through the line of tradition.

Acquiring and passing down a cedar chest can serve as a stable reminder of the old days, when the value of a thing depended on its history, and the love and care that was put into making it. The chest does not have to be antique or history laden. The owner has the power to make a chest valuable by carefully selecting which objects to place into it, and by taking good care of it so that it will be in perfect condition when time comes to hand it over to the next generation.

Hope is a value which should not be lost on humanity, even more so because of the trying circumstances this generation is going through. The treasures that are put into a hope chest are meant to preserve important memories, be inherited by future generations, outlast lifetimes, and create legacies.


Tara Spa

tara spa

Embark on a revitalizing journey to wellness, or unwind with individually selected therapies designed to offer perfect balance and serenity. A menu of ancient inspired rituals is delivered using modern expertise to nurture the body, mind and spirit.
Therapists are trained in the intuitive art of touch to deal with depleted energy levels and the adverse effects of leading a busy lifestyle.

Balinese Massage

Traditional Balinese massage is a skill passed through generation and features long srokes, and soft, medium, or strong pressure to your preference

Lomi - lomi Massage

Lomi-lomi is an enriching, holistic Hawaiian practice bringing harmonious balance between physical and mental spheres. Enjoy synchronized, continuous and following strokes, while your theraphist intuitively gauges your needs for gentle or vigorous stretching and range of motion. Relish the Plynesian “Aloha Spirit” of sharing life energy by giving yourself up to the “the loving touch”, a connection of heart, hanos and soul.

Based on aromatheraphy relaxation massage and specially blended essential oil penetrate the skin through massage strokes that simulate the body system while enriching the skin. You will obtain a physical relief, clear mind induce relaxation

Herb Massage

Traditional herbal pound remedies and using warm oil it’s very good to warm the body and release tired muschles and alleviate minor rheumamic condition

Shoatsu Massage

Is and alternative technique that insolves manual pressure applied to specific points on the body in an attempt to relieve tension and pain, according to the Japanese healing treatment.

Stone Massage

Stone massage is a form of massage theraphy with the addition of the heated stones, which helps lead to deep relaxation. Adding heat to specific areas on the body enchances the feelings of relaxation and peace.

Foot Massage

The ancient art of healing, using thumb and finger pressure an parts of the feet which corresponds to various areas of your body. Reflexology relieves tension, stress, and stimulates the nervous system

Head Massage

A seated massage using ancient massage technique. Total rest and freedom for a tired head and stiff neck.

Back Massage

Specifically targeting the back, shoulders and neck areas.


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How to annotate a patient's phenotypic profile

How to annotate a patient's phenotypic profile using PhenoTips and the Human Phenotype Ontology

We have observed that performance of computational search algorithms within and across species improves if a comprehensive list of phenotypic features is recorded. It is helpful if the person annotating thinks of the set of annotations as a query against all known phenotype profiles. Therefore, the set of phenotypes chosen for the annotation must be as specific as possible, and represent the most salient and important observable phenotypes. Towards this end, Monarch has been asked to provide guidance on how to create a quality patient profile using the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO). Below we detail our annotation guidelines for use in the PhenoTips application, our partner organization.

The guidelines can also be considered more generically so as to be applicable to any annotation effort using HPO or even using other phenotype ontologies. The annotations should be limited to those features that are abnormal or considered potentially abnormal. Also note that not all facets of a patient phenotype can be annotated using structured vocabularies. The goal is not to represent everything possible, but rather to represent that which most aids query functions. The vocabularies are a work in progress and your feedback is very valuable.

Each of the following sections in the PhenoTips annotation tool may be edited by clicking on the pencil icon to the right of the section header, visible when hovering over the title. The form autosaves, and there is also a save button on the bottom of the form.

Patient information

* IMPORTANT....Can one enter protected health information (PHI) in PhenoTips? Some instances of PhenoTips are behind firewalls and PHI is expected. In other cases, this may not be the case. It is important to check with your administrator.

Patient Identifier, Exam date, Attending Clinician, and Date of Birth. Sex should be recorded as biological sex rather than gender. To create links to other patients or family members in the system, click the black “new entry button” once for each desired relationship. For each relationship, choose the type of relationship in the first box (for example, “Sibling” and then choose the patient ID for the second person in the second box. Indicate the onset of the disease using the radio buttons. Note that the choice of a given onset designates that this is the onset for the majority of the symptoms. Individual phenotypes may be designated with different onset than recorded here in the Clinical Symptoms section (see below). Record the “Indication for Referral”. This content can be a short summary or include content from the patient record.

Prenatal and Perinatal History

Gestation at delivery: Please record a numeric value in weeks, such as “38” or leave blank if unknown.

AGPAR score at 1 and 5 mins: Please choose from the pulldowns the appropriate value if known.

Prenatal Growth Parameters: Indicate the birth measurements for Weight, Height, and Head Circumference as 97th percentile for age by clicking the “Y” or “N” for yes or no, respectively. If not known, leave as the default “N/A”. Note that values here will pre-populate the Clinical Symptoms and Physical Findings report (see below). For example, >97th percentile for head circumference will autopopulate the HPO term "Macrocephaly".

Prenatal Development or Birth: Indicate “Oligohydramnios,” “Polyhydramnios”, or “Premature Birth”, or the latter’s subtype “Premature delivery because of cervical insufficiency or membrane fragility” using the “Y” or “N” for yes or no as per above.

A field for additional pre- and perinatal notes: This content can be a short summary or include content from the patient record.

Medical and Developmental History

A “Medical and developmental history” notes field is provided to record notable issues in the medical history not already recorded above. This content can be a short summary or include content from the patient record.

Family History

Record Maternal and Paternal Ethnicity, such as “White” or “Hispanic.” These will autocomplete or specified by the user. You may enter more than one ethnicity for each parent.
Check the box if the patient was conceived using in vitro fertilization.

Indicate Consanguinity using the “Y” or “N”. The default value is N/A if not relevant or unknown.
List Health Conditions Found in Family (describe the relationship with proband) in the notes field.

Pedigree drawing software is available within PhenoTips to support linking of patients and comparison of their phenotype data.

Click the black “New entry” button to create a list of patient measurements. These are dated, and a new set of measurements from a different date may be recorded by clicking the “new entry” button again. The age of the patient at each measurement date will be displayed.

Enter values for Weight (kg), and in cm: Height, Arm Span, Sitting Height, Head Circumference, Philtrum Length, Left Ear Length, Right Ear Length, Outer Canthal Distance, Inner Canthal Distance, Palpebral Fissure Length, Interpupilary Distance, Left Hand Length, Left Palm Length, Left Foot Length, Right Hand Length, Right Palm Length, and Right Foot Length.
The growth charts are displayed based on prior entries.

Genotype Information

Add "candidate genes" by clicking on the blue "Add new entry" and autocompleting on the gene symbol. The "i" button next to the suggestions will provide additional information about the gene, to ensure you are choosing the correct one.

Add "Previously tested genes, unlikely causative" similarly.

Upload a VCF file using the blue "upload and manage" button, and choose which reference genome was utilized using the pulldown menu.

Clinical symptoms and physical findings

This is the main phenotyping section of PhenoTips. Click “This patient is clinically normal” for those patients/family members that have no known abnormal phenotypes.

Searching for Phenotypes. There are three methods to search for phenotypes. In all methods, PhenoTips allows autocomplete on any HPO term and will add it directly to the record.

  1. You can use the “Quick Phenotype Search” in the black box at the top of the Clinical Symptoms section. “Quick Phenotype Search” searches the whole HPO ontology
  2. You can “Browse Categories”, where you can click the “jump to” link to choose a specific category or “expand all” to show all categories. The “collapse all” button reverts to closing all the categories, and the “hide” button hides all of the categories, which are restored by clicking the “Browse Categories” button again. The categories are as follows: a. Growth parameters b. Craniofacial c. Eye defects d. Ear defects e. Cutaneous f. Cardiac g. Respiratory h. Musculoskeletal i. Gastrointestinal j. Genitourinary k. Behavior, Cognition and Development l. Neurological m. Other. See term requests below.
  3. You can use the “Other” search box within each diagnostic category. This searches only the relevant portion of the HPO within each category, including synonyms and alternate spellings.
* We recommend method #1, which searches all of HPO, as phenotypes may overlap with multiple sections and/or a phenotype may be found in a different section than expected.

Choosing Phenotype terms. Your phenotype selections will show up under the “Current Selection” section over on the right panel of the Clinical symptoms section, where all of the selections from the different categories will be shown. This is where you will visualize the whole phenotype profile for the given patient.

For each phenotype, choose the most specific term possible, based on the definition (available by clicking the “i”) and not necessarily simply based on the term label. Before selecting a term, examine any of the more specific terms contained underneath it by opening the arrow. If any of those are appropriate, select the more specific term. In particular, if you are using the “Quick Search” box, you should always browse related terms to ensure that you have selected the most specific term. Record “Y” for Yes, to indicate a phenotype being present in the patient. You may provide annotations for things that were investigated and specifically not observed by clicking on the “N” for "No". These will turn red in the interface. These "No" annotations are especially useful to include in cases where there are only a few observable phenotypes. The default is a grey “N/A”, which means not noted to be specifically present or absent.
Quick phenotype search, the preferred search method, is in the upper left. Browsing down to 'Craniosynostosis', you can see it is is marked "No"and appears in red in the Current Selection panel on the right. 'Median cleft lip and palate' is the deepest term in that portion of the hierarchy. This patient has a four star annotation rating, show in the yellow bar on the upper right.

The more specific the item chosen, the better the specificity of the whole phenotypic profile. If there are no phenotypes in a given category, consider making a high level "N" (No) annotation. For example, if a full visual exam finds no visual impairment, then you could choose N-"Visual impairment". Choose terms that are thought to be pathological or unusual, even if they are not so in the greater populace. For example, ‘blue irides’ is a common phenotype in the population, but as a phenotype annotation, it is a subtype of ‘abnormal iris pigmentation’ and should only be chosen in cases where abnormal pigmentation is suspected, such as Heterochromia. We will work to support common traits in later enhancements of the HPO.

Phenotype Annotation Sufficiency Meter. The sufficiency meter appears at the top of the “Current Selection” section. This meter assesses the breadth and depth of your phenotype annotation profile using a five-star rating system for a given patient in the context of all curated human and model organism phenotypes. The goal is to make your annotation profile specific enough to exclude similar diseases and to identify model organisms with similar phenotypes that may have mutations in relevant genes or pathways. The patient annotation profile is also used to aid exome prioritization using the same technology. The function is available via Monarch services.

Annotate the patient record using the star rating to guide you in determining the sufficiency of your annotation profile.

Inclusion of "No" annotations in different categories can aid in obtaining a good rating, especially where there are few specific observable phenotypes.

Additional Phenotype Information. Each phenotype may be associated with an ‘age of onset’ term, such as congenital onset,  by clicking the “add details” button over in the Current Selection box on the right side of the interface. If a later onset period is indicated for any given phenotype than for the disease onset recorded in the Patient Information section, it is assumed that that phenotype was NOT present initially and was noted at the later time. If an earlier onset is indicated for any given phenotype, then it is assumed that this indicates that the other phenotypes were not present at the earlier time EXCEPT the one indicated by the earlier onset period.

Each phenotype may also be associated with a “pace of progression” term, such as “slow progression”, "severity", "temporal pattern", "spatial pattern", "laterality", and notes for any given phenotype.

Comments, Images, and Medical reports may also be included in the “Add details” section for each phenotype.
The 'Add details' button expands each phenotype in the Current Selection panel to allow annotation of progression, severity, temporal pattern, as well as comments.
Term requests. In some cases, you may not be able to find the term you are looking for. The “Other” white box at the bottom of each category besides being used to search that category is also used to record user requests. This allows a free-text request, which will be reviewed by the curation staff. Please make sure to include only one term per request and make it as descriptive as possible. A request may also be a refinement of existing terms, please feel free to reference these in the request.

Please do not request:
  • Acronyms
  • Measurement values
  • Collections of phenotypes, such as diseases or syndromes
  • Genotype or chromosomal abnormalities (for example, Microarray Xp22.31 dup, maternally derived; ETFDH carrier)
  • Identifiers - a human readable label is required
  • Patient history (use the section above).
  • Assays – however, observable phenotypes derived from a specific assay are fine. For example, “abnormal MRI” does not describe a phenotype, rather what made that MRI abnormal is the observed phenotype (instead, request “cerebral volume loss indicated by abnormal MRI”).
  • Devices – similarly, do not request devices but rather the phenotypes that are addressed by their use. For example, “mitral valve prolapse via echocardiogram.” If you have questions about whether a term is applicable, please contact the Phenotype Team by emailing

You Might Want to Investigate

In the yellow box underneath the “Current Selection” one has the ability to indicate specific phenotypes that are known to improve differential diagnosis. Clicking on this header opens up a direct selection of these phenotype terms. Choice of these populates the Current Selection.

Note that generally, a disorder is used to annotate the patient profile because it was either: tested and confirmed to be either present or absent OR suspected based on the manifestations (phenotypes), but not yet tested.

Choose an OMIM disease/disorder using the autocomplete based on the disease name in the box on the right.

You may also use the “Instant OMIM Search” function at the bottom to identify the OMIM diseases based on the matching of the phenotype profile. You can update the list of potential OMIM candidates by clicking on/off each of the phenotypes listed at the top of the “Instant OMIM Search”. Note that a disorder is marked as confirmed_present, confirmed_absent, or suspected in the toggle when you choose an OMIM disorder. Note also that not all the symptoms present in an OMIM record for a given disease need to be present in the annotated patient Categories section.

Melissa Haendel and Bailey Gallinger

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Why the Human Phenotype Ontology?

We've often been asked, why should we use the Human Phenotype Ontology to describe patient phenotypes, rather than a more widely-used clinical vocabulary such as ICD or SNOMED? Here are the answers to some of these frequently asked questions:

1. We should use what other big NIH projects, like ClinVar, are using.

ClinVar is using HPO terms to describe phenotypes. This is done in collaboration with MedGen, which has imported HPO terms. Here is an example:

There are now many bioinformatics tools that use the HPO to empower exome diagnostics. The Monarch team has published two of these recently

1) Exomiser (Robinson et al., 2014 Genome Res.) => For discovering new disease genes via model organism data, several successful use cases at UDP and elsewhere

2) PhenIX (Zemojtel et al., 2014 Science Translational Medicine) => For clinical diagnostics of “difficult” cases. This paper was on Russ Altman's year in review at AMIA this year.

Also, a num…

Finally, a medical terminology that patients, doctors, and machines can all understand.

By Nicole Vasilevsky, Mark Engelstad, Erin Foster, Julie McMurry, Chris Mungall, Peter Robinson, Sebastian Köhler, Melissa Haendel
For many patients with rare and undiagnosed diseases, getting an accurate diagnosis, or even finding the appropriate experts is a long and winding road. To accelerate and facilitate this process, we developed a medical vocabulary (“HPO”) which is comprised of 12,000 terms that doctors can use to codify the precise and distinct observations about patients and their conditions. The HPO is structured in a way that enables machines to intelligently compare a patient’s profile with what scientists worldwide have already uncovered about diseases and their genetic causes.
Until now, most of the HPO labels and synonyms were composed of clinical terms unfamiliar to patients. For example, a patient may know they are ‘color-blind’, but may not be familiar with the clinical term ‘Dyschromatopsia’. This is why we developed a layer of 5,000 corresponding terms that can b…


Eaton's compact E5-324-E Series Digital Panel Meter offers bright, easy-to-read LED. Other features include automatic MIN/MAX value detection, freely programmable characteristic curve end points, input for Display-Hold and 24V DC power. Can be used to monitor current draw from a motor to identify potential failures, display pressure readings from a transducer with a high pressure alarm, or display system voltage and detect under voltage or over voltage conditions.


Oum Dreyga

This chondrite fell in Western Sahara near Mauritania border at 2:00 am, on October 16, 2003.
Soldiers stationed on the border of Western Sahara and Mauritania witnessed a large fireball fall, and the next few days they found many pieces of the meteorites. A shower of stones fell, with over a hundred stones found with a total known weight of around ~15 kilograms.  Some of the soldiers took stones to northern Morocco where it caught the attention of Moroccan meteorite dealers, who collected the majority of the stones from the soldiers.

This meteorite is classified as a rare H3-5. I recently purchased a stash of this meteorite from Morocco.

Oum Dreyga 1: 217 gram individual 100% crusted. $1085.00

Oum Dreyga 2: 137 gram individual 99% crusted. $685.00

Oum Dreyga 3: 132 gram individual 99% crusted. $660.00

Oum Dreyga 4: 39.59 gram individual 98% crusted. $200.00

Oum Dreyga 5: 26.75 gram individual 100% crusted. $134.00

Oum Dreyga 6: 16.64 gram individual 99% crusted. $84.00


3R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

To me, embodiment in the context of climate change and ecoliteracy can be defined as:  The intrinsic feeling one has to make positive, responsible change to their everyday life, regardless of how small, in order to become more ecoliterate and to combat against climate change.

For some, the 3R’s remind them of the old expression Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic.  But for most, the 3R’s bring to mind the important steps in waste reduction:

  • Reduce
  • Reuse
  • Recycle

I grew up being taught that recycling is good for the environment but that was about the extent of my knowledge.   I never fully realized that the 3R’s, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are as important individually as they are together to help reduce climate change. Growing up I learned to throw obvious recyclables such as cans and bottles into the recycling to be disposed of responsibly instead of being thrown out.  However, it was not until I began working in a variety of early childhood settings that I fully realized the potential of what I used to see as trash or recycling to simply be disposed of.  So many of these things can be “upcycled” or used to create so many other things.  Personally upcycling or recycling within our own lives teaches children the endless possibilities of what can be done to benefit the environment and the importance of the 3R’s.

Kimmerer says, “Let us put our minds together as one and send greetings and thanks to our Mother Earth, who sustains our lives with her many gifts” (Kimmerer, 2013, p. 256). There are many possible ways to embody change, become more ecoliterate and to combat climate change. We only have one Earth and need to take action to protect our planet and sustain its resources and gifts.

Even after this class is over I am going to continue to embody change, become more ecoliterate and “Reduce my WASTEline!”

“One” Life

At the beginning of Ohler’s article he asks the question, “Should we teach our kids to have two lives, or one?” I then thought back to lecture where Katia  discussed real life and digital life as one.  We discussed a teacher’s role in preparing students for a society and world full of technology.  As both digital and non-digital worlds are the reality for today’s students I believe they need to be encompassed into one life.

In Jurgenson’s article he discusses, “how we have mistakenly been taught to view online as meaning not offline” in a literal way and has labeled this as “digital dualism.”  The term describes the parallel time spent online and offline.  For example, time spent online is less time spent offline, we are either looking at our devices or we aren’t, we have cell service or we don’t, when we are out with friends we are texting or not, etc.  Jurgenson goes on to make a valid point of which I had never previously considered. He states that social media depends on our offline activities as fuel.  For example, we continue to appreciate nature walks and socializing with friends as we always have but these experiences are the fuel or content for our social media posts.  Jurgenson believes that by posting about and sharing our offline activities actually have us appreciating these activities more.  It means that we may never fully log off as we are consciously collecting fuel for our next post.  However, Jorgenson believes that this does not mean we have lost our sense of curiosity and wonder but rather has enhanced it.

When thinking about my future classroom it is important to be aware of different perspectives such as these.  I personally want to embrace technology and utilize it in the classroom to meet curricular outcomes in all subject areas as technology is ever changing and will only keep growing.  Often, the younger population already know more about technology than their teachers and the adults in their lives.  We need to take these opportunities to learn from them as well. I want to foster the importance of creating a positive and responsible digital citizenship within my students.  I want them to know how powerful technology is when used responsibility but also how destructive and hurtful it can be to others and oneself if not.  I want them to be able to use technology to make a positive impact on others whether it be through digital sprawl (social media), digital etiquette, digital law, digital literacy or any kind of digital communication.  However, most importantly is the development of respect for oneself and others in their “one” life, whether it be online or off.

Say Cheese(cake)

My dad’s birthday was on Sunday and he had been dropping hints since I made my mom an Instant Pot cheesecake for her birthday that he wanted one as well.

I made this Peanut Butter Cup cheesecake for my mom’s birthday. It was a huge success and she declared it the best Birthday Cake she has ever had! To beat my grandma’s baking legacy is a huge accomplishment in itself!

For my Dad’s cake I made the #17 New York Cherry Cheesecake as he loves cherries.

The #17 name comes from the person testing the recipe sixteen times before deciding it was perfect.  So it should be foolproof right?

This is how I made New York Cheesecake #17:

First the crust:

1 cup of graham wafer crumbs

Pinch of Sea Salt

2 teaspoons of brown sugar

Then add 3 tablespoons of butter (melted)

Mix together. Crumbs should stick together. If not, add more butter.

Line the bottom of a springform pan with parchment paper and spray the sides with Pam.

Pour crust mixture into bottom of pan and press with fingers until evenly distributed across the bottom.

Place the crust in the freezer while you make the cheesecake batter.

For the cheesecake batter use a small bowl and add:

2 tablespoons of cornstarch

2 pinches of sea salt

2/3 cup of white sugar

In a medium bowl add:

16 ounces of cream cheese (room temperature)

Use hand beater on low speed to break it up. Beating for 10 seconds.

Add half the sugar mixture from above to cream cheese. Beat to incorporate (20 to 30 seconds).

Use spatula to scrape sides of the bowl to incorporate all batter.

Add remaining sugar mixture. Beat until incorporated (20 to 30 seconds).

Use spatula to scrape sides then mix with spatula.

Then add:

½ cup of sour cream

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

Beat (20 to 30 seconds)

Blend in eggs one at a time! 20 to 30 seconds. The recipe says not to over mix the eggs as this will affect the outcome of how it bakes and tastes at the end.

Use spatula to scrape sides and ensure everything is mixed into batter.

Remove the crust from freezer and pour batter on top of crust.

Tap and shake the pan so the surface smooths out and pops the air bubbles.

Running a fork on the surface of the cheesecake helps pop more of the air bubbles. However, popping all air bubbles is impossible!

Then tap and shake some more to smooth the surface.

Now it is time to cook the cheesecake in the Instant Pot.

Place 1 cup of cold water and the trivet into the pot.

Use a foil sling to place the spring form pan into the pot.

Pressure Cook for 26 minutes and then a full natural pressure release which takes approximately 7 minutes. I set an alarm for 7 minutes and then released the rest of the air but there was very little left.

After lifting out pan with foil sling I dabbed the excess water off the surface of the cheesecake with a piece of paper towel.

It came out beautifully. However, when cooling it cracked in the middle. Which I read is common and there is a bunch of theories to “help” it not crack but it still might!

I let it fully cool, removed it from the pan and put it in the fridge overnight.

Normally, I would just buy a can of cherries to put on top. However, since it was my dad’s birthday and I was striving for the “favourite child medal,” I made a cherry compote.

I used an entire package of frozen cherries.

I poured a ¼ cup of sugar on them and let them sit for 20 minutes.

After sitting in sugar for 20 minutes I added 2 teaspoons of orange juice.

Cooked on high pressure for 1 minute and natural pressure release for 15 minutes. Released the remainder of pressure before opening pot.

This cherry compote can be used on other things, such as yogurt, ice cream, etc.

So now you are probably dying to find out how it tasted?

It got rave reviews from the family. They said the texture was perfect and the cherries were to die for!

The Birthday Boy and his Cheesecake.

An Instant Pot cheesecake is now expected for every birthday, whether I like it or not!

via GIPHY

Raising Contributing Citizens

The three types of citizenship mentioned in the article are:

1) the personally responsible citizen

2) the participatory citizen

3) justice oriented citizen

I have been fortunate to be involved in all three types of citizenship development in my K-12 schooling. A Personally Responsible citizen is one who, “acts responsibly for his/her community” (Westheimer, 2004, p. 3). Throughout my school years we would participate in occasional community litter clean ups.  A recycling program was in place in my school and we were taught to respect and obey the rules and laws of both the school and society.  During the holiday season, my school participated in an annual food drive where I, and many of my peers, would deliver food hampers to individuals and families in our community. In addition, I was part of the local dance school and Girl Guide program while growing up.  In these organizations, we spent numerous hours helping in the community and performing at the nursing home and senior centers.

I was also involved in a number of Participatory Citizen activities throughout my school years.  In Grade 11 I enrolled in Law 30 in which we studied and learned about many political and justice issues through lecture, videos and numerous guest speaker presentations.  I began my involvement in student government in Grade 5 and have been an active participant ever since.  This extensive involvement has allowed me to help address issues in the school and community.  In addition, I have learned how to run a meeting, problem solve, negotiate, compromise and developed many other skills.  In addition, I ventured out of the regular school setting and travelled throughout Saskatchewan and to Ottawa, on four separate occasions, to participate in a variety of forums where I learned about local and national political issues.

The Justice Oriented Citizen learning goes hand in hand with the Forums in which I participated.  A large part of these Forums was to explore an issue of interest and collaborate and share ideas with other participants on how we could make a change in our home community, province and even globally.

After reading about the three types of citizenship learning, I realize that I may be one of the few fortunate people who have experienced all three so fully during my K-12 school career.  However, many of my experiences took place outside of the regular school classroom activities. It makes me wonder if the curriculum does not address all three types of citizenship equally. This seems to be the case as the assigned reading states that, “personal responsibility receives the most attention” (Westheimer, 2004, p. 5).  Upon reflection, I do believe this to be true as it would have been the only citizenship I would have been exposed to if I had not chosen to take Law or participate in the extra-curricular forum travel opportunities.  I am a person who naturally enjoys volunteering, being involved in student led governments, travel, meeting people and learning about a wide array of issues. The opportunities to experience and to contribute to the development of a Personally Responsible citizen are quite accessible in any rural or urban setting and easily fit into a variety of learning outcomes in the curriculum. Whereas, the opportunities contributing to the development of a Participatory citizen and Justice Oriented citizen are not as easy to make available.  However, these can also be provided with some imagination and creativity and should be made a higher  priority in the curriculum in order for students to fully become contributing members of society.

Earth’s Caregiver Braid

Before enrolling in this class, my thoughts about ecoliteracy could easily have been summed up by this silly little poem I quickly jotted down.

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Trees are green

Go green too

However, after reflecting on what I have learned about ecoliteracy in class, it is obvious that this poem was a very shallow understanding of what is means to be ecoliterate.  Being an ecoliterate person is so much more than one just “living green”.  A person truly committed to ecoliteracy is someone who, is not only dedicated to improving the environment through their own personal actions, but is someone who is also concerned about educating others and contributing to a society that behaves responsibly towards the environment.  For this assignment, I created a concrete “heart-shaped” poem using adjectives that I believe embody the definition of one who loves and is dedicated to ecoliteracy.

Brehanna’s poem is similar to mine in many ways. Just like mine, Brehanna depicts love, appreciation, knowledge, education, action, vision and many more things as part of what embodies ecoliteracy. Her poem is different in the sense that it tells a story of ecoliteracy, whereas mine is created using over forty different adjectives in a heart-shaped poem describing those with a love for the environment and who embody ecolitireacy. Brehanna concludes her poem with, “Thank you for showing me your ways, I’ll hold these close for all my days”.

I feel a strong connection with these phrases as I also feel that we must appreciate our environment and show our love and gratitude by giving back to protect our earth.

Samantha’s poem offers a different perspective on ecoliteracy. Her poem is written to her parents, thanking them for her outdoor childhood experiences. These experiences shaped Samantha’s view of nature and enhanced her understanding of ecoliteracy. Initially, I felt that our poems were very different.  I did not think or write about how my experiences growing up shaped my view of ecoliteracy.  However, after reading Samantha’s poem, I realized that my childhood outdoor adventures were reflected in my poem as it was these memories and experiences that contributed to my choice of adjectives describing a person that embodies ecoliteracy.  A person who loves nature and feels a responsibility to ensure that everyone can continue to enjoy this wonderful gift by keeping it safe.  Upon reflection, I see that our poems are actually not that different, despite being written in very different styles.  Both poems depict ecoliteracy similarly by expressing such underlying themes as awareness, appreciation, education, learning, knowledge and love.

In Kimmerer’s preface he writes, “. . . old stories and new ones that can be medicine for our broken relationship with earth, a pharmacopoeia of healing stories that allow us to imagine a different relationship, in which people and land are good medicine for each other” (Kimmerer, 2013, p. x). Kimmerer believes that there are a variety of ways to repair, deepen and strengthen the human relationship with earth. The land needs human interaction and vice versa. This is another form of ecoliteracy, that one might call the base of ecoliteracy and from there humans decide what themes they want to be involved in to sustain the environment thus strengthening their knowledge of ecoliteracy.

In summary, Brehanna, Samantha and I wrote poems that told very different stories but shared many of the same themes and, as Samatha wrote, “a bird’s eye view” of nature.  Reading each of these poems deepened my understanding of ecoliteracy in some way with their similar messages and themes woven throughout.  Kimmerer’s belief that interaction between people and nature is important is mirrored in all of our poems.  We too, feel it is important to love and appreciate the nature that surrounds us, and to educate others in order to sustain these earth’s gifts by wisely taking care of them.

Putting the YOU in youTUBE!

In his video Wesch discusses a variety of ways of how Youtube has influenced the world. He says some people think that many posts are all hype such as videos of people singing and dancing. However, Wesch feels that what we really need to evaluate is what they are dancing in front of.  Their audience is actually billions and billions of people in places all over the world. This forms a community, a type of community that has never been encountered before.  Wesch likes to think of it as a celebration. A celebration of new forms of expression, new communities, emerging identities, empowerment, stronger voices and presence, created by anyone with a webcam.  Creating global connections that transcend space and time and forming new and unimaginable possibilities. When media changes, human relationships also change. Wesch says, “we are the centre of this mediascape.” He encourages the audiences to rethink media including how we fit into it. Youtube is user generated content that can potentially become bigger than anything any well-known label can produce. For example, Youtube is how the Soulja Boy song came to be. There have since been many remakes of the song Soulja Boy which are done by people recreating to what they have learned through Youtube.  Once again confirming Wesch’s believe that this technology is a type of celebration.

Students are interacting with technology at much younger ages that they did previously. Many students are already making videos and posting them to Youtube or other media platforms. This means that the incorporation of technology into one’s teaching is inevitable. I believe that incorporating the different forms of technology, as well as teaching what is appropriate and not appropriate to post, is very important in today’s classrooms.  Using a platform such as Youtube with students can open up many doors for individual, group and full class work. The possibilities are endless with any subject area. On a school level, it will be necessary to follow specific protocol with students but these extra precautions are worth the effort.  Using this technology provides a unique collaborative tool amongst a wide range of grades, students and even teachers.

During lecture, Katia stated that, “we have to realize there are a lot of bad things that technology can be used for, but there are also a lot of good things it can be used for”.  It is impossible to avoid media platforms such as Youtube in our classrooms as our students will know about it and may even already be using it themselves.  Online identity is not separate from a student’s identity – it is part of their whole identity. The Participatory culture video viewed in lecture stated, “we don’t just enjoy, we participate,” allowing people to become successful in ways that we never thought possible. Welsch refers to this as unimaginable possibilities. Justin Bieber’s rise to fame is just one example of participating culture creating an unimaginable possibility.  Justin was initially discovered on Youtube and is now well known in many countries.  Thus, utilizing Youtube in our classrooms, allows students the opportunity to become involved in a positive participatory culture while achieving numerous learning outcomes and maybe even some unimaginable possibilities!

Let’s Get Cracking!

This week my instant pot and I partnered with Julia Papic on her keto journey.

We made hardboiled eggs in the Instant Pot

We used the 5-5-5 method that can be found at this video.

1) Pour one cup of water and place trivet in pot.

2) Place as many eggs as you want to cook on top of the trivet. Does not matter if they are touching or piled on top of one another.

3) Put lid on, make sure it is flipped to sealing.
4) Cook on high pressure for five minutes.

5) When finished do a natural pressure release for five minutes.
6) Then pour cold water on eggs and let them sit for five minutes before peeling.

7) In the video you will notice that the shells practically fall off.

8) Cut open and enjoy!

If I have learned anything from cooking in the Instant Pot, is that it is worth purchasing one for the hardboiled eggs alone!

Julia agrees and is keeping her eye out for a sale! Converting people to this “pothead lifestyle” post by post!

All About Curriculum

Before reading the article I was under the understanding that school curriculum was developed by the Ministry of Education who chose professionals from all over the Education field (Teachers, Administrators, University Professors, etc.) to develop the curriculum in their area of study/strength.

After doing the reading- I answered the questions provided.

How is citizenship education a curricular problem?

It is felt by many people that because schools play such an important role in the lives of students, that it is education’s role and responsibility to develop and graduate “good” citizens.  Graduates with not only an understanding of their country’s governance, but also citizens who are productive and law abiding members of society.  Where should these teachings be included?  Social Science courses or throughout all curricula.

How are school curricula developed and implemented?

The government is involved with the Education sector usually having someone designated for this role.  Other areas of government that may be involved are an elected minister, local school authorities, school councils or governing bodies involving parents and others. This is dependent upon the National Government and to what degree these people have in curriculum politics. Schools also have some influence even if it is only through their choice as to which course and programs they offer. The main groups involved in curriculum reviews are teachers, principals, senior administrators and elected local authorities (if they exist). Subject matter experts from schools and universities typically play a central role in the curriculum formation, review process and potential public debates. Post-secondary institutions can also influence curriculum but this influence can be restrained by tertiary institutions. Curriculum can also be influenced by other policies (ie. student assessment).

  • Parties involved in developing the curriculum may not always see eye-to-eye making the process lengthy and complicated.
  • Researchers can provide proven facts but this does not mean the end result will be a correct policy choice if it is not what people believe, want or will accept.

Is there anything that surprises you or maybe that concerns you?

I did not realize the amount of “politics” surrounding curriculum decisions and development.  This is concerning to me as Education and the updating of curriculum may take a backseat to other issues that are felt to be more pressing or decisions may be made in haste with limited or incorrect information.  In addition, government decisions are driven by voters and therefore decisions may be made in order to get reelected that are not in the best interests of students and their education.

Go Bananas!

This week I tried baking banana bread in my Instant Pot.

½ cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

3 medium bananas mashed

2 cups All Purpose Flour

1.5 teaspoons baking soda

½ teaspoon sea salt

½ cup chocolate chips

In a bowl mix together butter, sugar and eggs.

Beat on high with hand mixer until everything is combined.

Peel and break up bananas into a separate bowl. Mash them and add to a different bowl.

Add all of the dry ingredients

Mix all together with hand mixer

Add the chocolate chips fold in using a spatula.

Spray spring form pan with Pam and line the bottom with parchment paper.

Pour the mixture into the spring form pan.

Gently shake the pan to even and smooth out the  mixture.

Lightly cover the pan with paper towel and then tinfoil

Add 1 ½ cups of water to the Instant Pot and add trivet in the bottom of pot (see previous post).

Make a tin foil sling (see previous post).

Put the pan into IP using the tinfoil sling and place on top of the trivet.

Put the lid on and seal pressure valve (see previous post).

Cook on high pressure for 55 minutes and then 10 minutes Natural Pressure Release (see previous blog post).

Note:  My banana bread was not fully cooked so I put it in again for 10 minutes and another 10 minutes Natural Pressure Release.  This time it was cooked perfectly.

This is the recipe that I followed is:

This above recipe is from the Facebook group This Old Gal. When I first got my Instant Pot I joined a variety of Facebook pages as this is the easiest access to Instant Pot recipes. At the time, I thought it was the only way. However, since having my Instant Pot, I discovered that there are Instant Pot cookbooks and magazines in print.  Unfortunately, the reviews I have read and/or the FB comments about these resources have not been extremely positive and many of print resources are not readily available in Canada.  Due to these poor reviews, and the fact that I am enjoying learning from the Facebook groups, various blogs and videos, I have not pursued looking into the print resources.  The online resources are an effective way for me to sift through all of the information quickly by searching for specific help and recipes as I need. Plus there is no shortage of online information as the Instant Pot is quickly gaining “celebrity status” in cookware!

I enjoy the Facebook pages as there are many IP user comments with tips and tricks to help others when first trying the recipes. In addition, those posting often include an informal rating of the recipe, including things such as how they liked it and whether they would make the dish again.  The popular “must try” recipes come across the feed multiple times which makes it easier to decide what to try next as it can be overwhelming at first with the number of postings in the group.  Another reason I enjoy using the online recipes is that I can easily bookmark them on my computer. Now that I know most of the Instant Pot lingo I find the recipes are clear, well laid out and easy to follow.

Instant Pot Lingo 101

This post is to introduce you to many of the different terms that can be confusing when first using the Instant Pot.  The scariest thing for me when I first got my Instant Pot was the lingo used in the various Facebook groups and recipes.  It was like another language!  My mom has an Instant Pot so she was able to give me the run down on what each term meant!

Natural Pressure Release (NPR).  NPR occurs when the Instant Pot to is left to release naturally when the cooking time is done. Leave the pot sealed for the amount of minutes the recipe says, usually it is 10 to 15 minutes. I always set a timer so I don’t forget! The steam releases gradually when the timer goes off, then flipping the switch to vent quickly releases any of the steam left.  However, after 10 to 15 minutes there is not much steam left to release.

Quick Pressure Release (QPR) is the term that refers to releasing the pressure immediately when the cooking time is done. Immediately flip the switch to vent and all the steam quickly releases (can take several minutes). It is advised that you do not release pressure under a cupboard as it can ruin the finish over time. I cover my IP switch with a tea towel so that most of the steam is absorbed into the towel.  To be extra safe, I also use a handle of a cooking utensil to flip the switch to avoid being burned by the steam.

Tinfoil Sling

The tinfoil sling is a great invention. It allows you to take a pan in and out of the pot as soon as it is done.

First you start with a large piece of tinfoil.

Then you start folding it into pieces.

Until it is all folded and it is long and skinny.

Then you put it into the pot on top of the trivet. Place pan in center and fold over the excess edges of tinfoil.

Grab the two ends and lift the pan out.

Sealing and Venting Switch

Sealing occurs when the IP is building up pressure.

Flipping the switch to venting allows all the steam to release when done cooking.

Trivet in the Pot

This is the trivet.

This is the trivet in the pot with water at the bottom.

To steam vegetables I use this foldable metal steamer with the water underneath. Placed in the pot the same way as the trivet.

I hope this introduction to this Instant Pot lingo helps you when reading my blogs or when you give in and buy your own Instant Pot! 🙂


High–Tech Farming

Tech–No Jobs?

One of the common misconceptions about technology is that it is destroying more jobs than it creates. The notion that ‘robots can implicate the human labour workforce’ is creating this illusion of a dire future human labour workforce, where many will become jobless. So I have taken the plunge to prove the fact how robots cannot exceed the human intellect in all areas of work, thus the human workforce will still be required more than ever, particularly with the rise in sophisticated technology.

‘Impressive advances in computer technology—from improved industrial robotics to automated translation services—are largely behind the sluggish employment growth of the last 10 to 15 years.’ The professor at MIT Sloan School of Management, Erik Brynjolfsson and his co–author Andrew McAfee shared this statement corresponding with their book, Race Against the Machine. The authors highlight how organizations are substituting technology for people, and that corporate use of technologies such as the Web, artificial intelligence, big data, improved analytics with the ever increasing and availability of cheap computing power and storage capacityare automating many regular routine work leaving many jobless.

Surely this comes at no surprise, as the number of manual routine work has declined significantly since the fall of the 20th century. But is technology really this job-eating monster, as these ‘technology pundits’ make it out to be?

The Rational Optimist Matt Ridley, notes how in the 1700s four out of five British workers were employed on farms, but as technology evolved and made it possible for tractors and combine harvesters, lesser manual labour intensive work remained, with just one-in-fifty remaining in manual farm jobs by the 1900s. This clearly shows how technology eased the pressure of human labour workforce but doesn’t explain why people are in employment more than ever before.

The automation of low skilled manual jobs not only reduced the human labour workforce and increased productivity, but it also induced a human labor shift where people re-skilled themselves to adapt to new technology. This contributed to a number of job opportunities in the service sector, requiring higher level of skills, education and training. Consequently, these higher skilled jobs paid a higher rate of salary, which meant that workers had more disposal income to spend on quality of products and services such as food, travel, leisure and housing; resulting to a greater demand for jobs across industries. However, some would argue that other factors can form part of this equation such as your social class, education, shift in urbanization, economic growth as well as pure luck.

Rising incomes generate higher standards and expectations, bringing changes in lifestyle that creates new needs and new commercial activities.

To further deter this notion of ‘technology destroys more jobs than it creates’, Professor James Bessen mentions in his blog how this argument was consistently wrong and how the ‘offsetting benefits of automation’ were ignored. He writes:

Ridley’s blog further questions why significant amount of women are in employment more than ever, despite domestic services evolving frommangles and dusters’ into mechanized technology such as washing up machines and electric vacuum cleaners. His statement indicates how technology has played a great factor in liberating women in the domestic field, making it convenient for women to do housework efficiently without compromising childcare and their careers. However, one could question this by examining the other factors that could contribute to more women in the workplace such as the use of contraceptives, change of gender roles in society and the change in women’s aspirations?

At this stage your probably thinking if technology has the solution to most human skilled jobs, and that robots can replicate the human behaviour, then what is there left for people to do? Well, firstly it is we humans that design these innovative robotic technologies to perform various duties to relieve the human labor workforce. Therefore, if we are eliminating the human labour workforce by introducing technology into our corporate businesses then we are somewhat balancing this out by employing various people to design and manufacture these. We are increasing the demand for software, mechanical, electronic, and design engineers who can work on these technological projects, supporting in R&D, materials and manufacture. After all, technologies are forever evolving with societies current needs and wants, and no technology would be sufficient to carry out the same task for too long before going obsolete.

Now to question whether robots can adequately replicate all areas of the human labour workforce? The answer is simply No! Humans have a far greater intellect and are much better at aspects concerning creativity, innovation, Art, Science, Manual labour work, interpersonal skills and entertainment.

According to Brynjolfsson and the study by Oxford martin School & faculty of Philosophy there are three key areas of human endeavor that will be resistant to automation in the short and medium term.

  1. Manual Jobs. These types of jobs require physical strength from humans, such as shelf stocking, Rail track construction, reflexologist, massage therapists, mechanics, health care worker, which often involve working class people with lower wages. Technology cannot replicate manual job roles as lower level skills require much more computational resources in comparison to high level reasoning jobs.  Robotic Researchers Hans Moravec et al discovered this Moravec’s Paradox stating that “it is comparatively easy to make computers exhibit adult level performance on intelligence tests or playing checkers, but difficult to give them the skills of a one-year-old when it comes to perception and mobility.”
  1. Creativity is another key area, which would be resilient to machines. Brynjolfsson adds “Digital technologies are in many ways complements, not substitutes for, creativity,” Digitalization is becoming huge in form of marketing to create songs,videos and even Art pieces, where technology is used to aid the creative process rather than replace it.
  1. Interpersonal skills are another major key skills which humans have a better deal at than machines. Being able to nurture, care, motivate and advise people are much effective through human interactions. Hence, Sales assistance, health care workers, nurses, chefs, school teachers, managers, entrepreneurs are just some examples of how humans would be better at than machines.

Brynjolfsson and McAfee state how the key to winning the race is not to compete against machines but to compete with machines”, Hence using technology as a tool to aid us to progress, rather than to use it to replace the human labor workforce. This sounds like a reasonable argument, especially as technology is not always feasible in some areas of the human labour workforce.

When it comes to talking of employment, the types that are emerging with the ever-evolving technology would surprise one. The increase use and access of smart devices such as mobile phones, tablets and PC’s have broadened our opportunities in various fields of work such as creativity, leisure, personal use etc. The use of Jobs such as Business architect, Data Scientist, Social Media architect, Mobile technology expert, Enterprise mobile developer, cloud architect are just a few of many jobs that did not exist before, all thanks to technological advancements.  Living in the 21st century, smart devices enable us to do so much more than the traditional way of working. For e.g. YouTube has become the Internet sensation with millions of people globally uploading videos and getting paid for it, where some even claim it to be their ‘full time profession’.

No doubt that technology will continually evolve in the future and diminish aspects of the human labour workforce, but it will undoubtedly create an array of job opportunities in various industries as well as being unable to replace jobs that are best suited for humans. So the notion that ‘technology destroys more jobs than it creates’ is false. No matter how far technology advances there will always be jobs available for us to do. After all, if humans build technology, they must also operate them.

Big Brother 2.0: Technological Paranoia

Are we living in this societal Panopticon, where we use bits of sticky paper to cover the fronts of our PC webcams, or think twice about doing something in public without the thought of someone watching us through CCTV cameras? Where has this technological paranoia come from? And do we have valid reasons to take extra precautions?

The concept of ‘Big Brother’ derived from George Orwell’s novel ‘Nighteen Eighty Four’ shares the idea that society is kept under constant surveillance by the authorities using ‘telescreens’. Back in the day, these telescreens were no more advance than analogue cameras and videocassette recordings.

In the recent 21st century, technology has evolved like no other, becoming innovative, powerful and ambiguous–in the sense that we are unaware of the associated risks. Latest digital technology can be universally connected via series of computer networks, where billions of digital devices are interconnected and stripped real time data and information; denoting this era of ‘Big Brother 2.0’.

Big Brother was used to describe the abuse of power, lack of privacy and an overly controlling authority figure who carried out mass surveillance, although some viewed it as a form of government protection. Consequently we are still under a certain degree of abuse, social control, and puppets of our own government system, being vigilantly controlled, whether this is in the form of CCTV cameras, facial and audio recognition, government’s access to our social media networks, mobile phone tracking and tapping, RFID chips etc.

According to the International Business Times article,  the average Londoner is filmed at least 300 times a day.

One could argue within the next decade privacy would be just a myth. The only thing that could ever be private is what is in our hearts or minds, but devious technologies are also being designed in ways to stimulate peoples thinking, logic and reasoning for various medical/psychological purposes.

As technology is evolving, do we ever think about the amount of information we are sharing? Where the data from these technologies is going or who is benefiting from it? Are we even aware of the risks associated with technological abuse?

Speaking of technological abuse, today’s Metro’s front page headline read ‘200,000 nude snapchat user photos hacked’ where half were thought to be nude photographs from children’s accounts aged 13–17. Although this news story didn’t surprise me, I began to wonder how exactly is the ‘privacy’ aspect of these social media really private at all?

Our personal digital content is not physically tangible to us, so one should never expect it to be of ‘private content’. Rather, It is stored on a central online cloud storage system that forms our ‘private’ data.

This news story reaffirms the idea that our privacy is compromised on virtual platforms as well as in our day–to–day lives.

Privacy researcher, Christopher Soghoian delivered on TED Talks of how the government is utilising technology from private companies to gain access to digital devices, to monitor online/offline activity and steal confidential information without any signs of detection. So imagine being oblivious to the fact that authorities are monitoring you through your computer webcam and microphone.  This thought provokes paranoia and questions the right to privacy? Soghoian also mentioned how the police have the capacity to carry out this remote monitoring procedure on people they deem criminals or suspicious to crime.

Michael Foucault mentions in Discipline and Punish (1975) of ‘technologies of punishment’, of which he describes Jeremy Bentham’s design of the ‘Panopticon’ to illustrate the impact of constant surveillance has on individuals in prison like institutions, and the effect it has on wider society. The ‘Panopticon’ was primarily a circular based prison design where prisoners were unable to see one another, yet the guards had a 360-degree view of all inmates through a central station.

Foucault theorized the panopticon as this automatic functioning of power’ where inmates psychologically knew that they are being watched so would maintain social order in the prison. Likewise, one could argue that society is a panopticon, controlled by ‘Big Brother 2.0’?

Increasingly social media such as Facebook and Twitter could be seen as developing into a panopticon. We use these platforms to upload a desirable version of ourselves to impress the ‘watchmen’ i.e. Our friends/family and people who view our profiles. Hence people’s judgments are somewhat socially constructing our behaviour,  providing us with this ‘self surveillance’ to ensure that we are conforming to what our network of friends want to see. Facebook’s updating your status feature (‘What is on your mind?’) allows users to develop a personal comfort level with the application, but unknowingly makes them victims of targeted sales and advertisements based on their shared data. Therefore digital technology has the power to monitor and influence the behaviour of its users mind, just as Bentham’s Panopticon had the power to observe the physical behaviour of the inmates.

Peter Vlemmix’s documentary on the existence of how this ‘digital panopticon is implicating our rights to privacy’ shows how the Dutch government (like any other government) are also integrating sophisticated surveillance technology. From Facial and Audio recognition in buses, Age detector machines to purchase alcohol in local shops, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), CCTV Cameras and much more. But what was interesting to see is how oblivious people were to the type of information that was being collected by authorities. For instance, when passengers boarded the public Bus, a discrete facial recognition camera system captured their faces and ran a background profile check, comprising of personal data. This data was then stored on the transport data system for months before deleted, which makes one skeptical to think how authorities can take advantage of this, without the right to privacy being compromised.

Is our government cementing this ‘panopticon’, solely for the sake of our security? Or are there also additional hidden agendas that we are not clued up on? Who knows? Hence having technological paranoia is not being unreasonable, but is being practical and taking precautionary to what information is being spoon-fed by our government.


Brasseries Georges

Almost 30 years of uninterrupted success. A decor, a "carte", a service as in the most famous Parisian "brasseries" and their typical atmosphere: elbow-to-elbow dining to a cheerful clamour and almost permanently busy. Large terrace, shaded during summer and heated during winter. The largest and most exclusive choice of oysters in Brussels with daily consignments. Seafood and French Brasserie specialties to eat in, take away or get delivered at home by online order on

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Coconut yoghurt

When I was newly vegan I went to Canberra for a week for work. I’d realised that the hotel breakfast might not be all that appealing to the new me, but some googling had revealed a vegan bakery called Sweet Bones, just a few blocks away. They fed me granola with fruit and coconut yoghurt on top. The coconut yoghurt has a very strong flavour and I would never sit down and eat a big tub of it, but as a finishing touch to my breakfast I thought it was ace.

So, I was very happy to see some for sale at a health food store last week. Now I can treat myself to a cafe-style breakfast every day (-:


Jughead's Revenge releases Pearly Gates

Pearly Gates is Jughead's Revenge's sixth and most recent studio album, released in 1999.

This album was a good bye letter to friends and fans in hopes of going into a hiatus after years of touring and recording. Following the release of the album, a lawsuit with Archie Comics was filed, leaving the band to change their name to Jugg's Revenge but resulting in their indefinite hiatus in 2001.


Here’s How You Can Help The Refugees Flooding Into Europe

Donate, protest–or take a refugee into your home

Here’s How You Can Help The Refugees Flooding Into Europe
[Top Photo: Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images]

The story of the world’s refugee crisis is told in huge numbers and in single stories.

The huge numbers: 60 million, the number of forcibly displaced people in the world today. That’s at the highest level ever (including World War II), according to the UN, and equates to 1 in every 122 humans on this planet. Over the last few years of civil war, Syrian refugees have made up the largest portion of the totals. On average last year, 42,500 Syrians desperately fled their homes every day–many attempting to make their way into Turkey and Greece and then further into Europe. About 350,000 migrants in total are estimated to have arrived at European borders since January alone, including other simmering crises, like the frequent drownings of refugees from Libya and the rest of Africa who attempt to sail to Italy.

The single story came from two searing images of a dead Syrian 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi, a refugee whose body washed onto the beach in Turkey after a raft piloted by smugglers capsized. His family was ultimately trying to reach Canada, where the father had relatives.

In the last few weeks, as the migrant crisis has become headline news, many have wondered how they can help the throngs of asylum-seekers fleeing into Europe. Here we’ve rounded up a number of ways that you can get involved and given examples of things other people have done to provide inspiration:

Welcome refugees where you live

While millions of Syrian and Iraqi refugees crowd makeshift camps in Lebanon, Jordan and other neighboring countries in an already destabilized region, many Western nations are offering a paltry amount of assistance and asylum visas in comparison.

Facing massive influxes, Germany and Sweden are doing the most to open their doors in Europe. Germany says it can cope with 500,000 asylum seekers a year for several years. In comparison, the U.K. and France are only taking in about 22,000 in total over the next few years; Hungary has even put up a border fence. (The EU, calling for compassion, is now considering mandates to member countries to take in some.)

The United States isn’t better. It has only let in about 1,400 refugees from Syria and has a worldwide quota of 70,000–so few people that they could fit in medium-sized football stadium. (Though the U.S. has been the largest donor of humanitarian aid to Syria.) Some senators are calling for the U.S. to accept 65,000 Syrian refugees by 2016. Canada–which is where Kurdi’s family wanted to flee–took in a total of 23,000 refugees last year, only about 2,400 from Syria and is resisting calls to increase those numbers.

Everyday people with empathy in all of these countries are taking to the streets and online to lobby their national governments to do better. For example, when Iceland said it would only take 50 refugees, more than 15,000 people in the small country told the government they’d offer their own homes if the country would take more.

You can also hold a “Refugees Welcome” rally. People have marched in the United States, Canada, Turkey, Greece, Germany, and all over to push their government in the right direction and combat anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim sentiment that has become prominent in some countries with huge influxes of people. People have held pizza parties for refugees and, in Germany, a 22-year-old anti-Nazi song has topped the music charts again in order to welcome foreigners. If you happen to be in New York, there will be a rally at Union Square on Saturday, September 12.

You can also find online petitions (here are just a few: United States, United Kingdom, European Union). Register your support on social media with the hashtag #refugeeswelcome.

A last way to act on government is to rally support more locally to increase pressure. City of Sanctuary is a movement that started in the UK that is spreading worldwide to create a network of towns with a “culture of hospitality” for people seeking sanctuary. Vancouver’s mayor recently decried Canada’s policies, Boston’s Mayor Marty Walsh has said his city would house refugees, and, in Barcelona and Madrid, local plans are being hatched to assist refugees directly. The Pope recently called on all Catholic parishes in Europe to take in refugees, too.

Donate to organizations on the ground

No matter where you are, monetary donations are desperately needed. The United Nations is calling for $8.5 billion to assist Syrian refugees alone in 2015, but less than one fourth of funding has been received and the World Food Program even had to cut food aid to refugees in Jordan–informing people by text message.

Several large, highly-rated international NGOs are doing excellent work on the ground, as are many more local organizations. Organizations on the smaller side include:

The Migrant Offshore Aid Station provides life-saving assistance to asylum-seekers attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe. More than 20,000 people are estimated to have lost their life in the past 20 years making the crossing. The organization Migration Aid is helping refugees who have arrived in Hungary. The World Tribe of Calais is telling stories of people in migrant camps and raising funds to donate goods. You can also donate to Germany’s Airbnb for refugees, called Refugees Welcome, here. Finally, the Karam Foundation is an organization that works in Turkey and in Syria directly.

Larger NGOs doing good work and looking for donations include: the International Rescue Committee (it also allows you to setup your own fundraising page), Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, UNICEF, Oxfam, and MercyCorps. The UN’s Refugee Agency itself has a mission to assist the 13 million refugees around the world and itself severely under-resourced (donate here).

And hey, if you’re a billionaire like Egypt’s Naguib Sawiris, you can always offer to just buy an entire island to house them yourself.

Help migrants directly

If you speak another language, you can contribute to the crowdsourced Refugee Phrasebook project, a guide for refugees who will need to use specific legal, medical, and other terminology in foreign languages.

In the United States, the International Rescue Committee has 22 offices around the country that have volunteer opportunities for those interested in helping to resettle refugees.

In Europe, some volunteers have gone above and beyond to offer their assistance. Convoys of cars have formed to drive refugees from Budapest, where Hungary is holding people in prison-like camps, to the Austrian border. In Germany, there is the “Airbnb for refugees” site, where you can register your apartment to house someone in need of a room or offer to pay the rent for someone if you don’t have space. In the U.K., the organization Citizens UK is registering landlords willing to provide low-cost housing to resettle many more refugees. App developers in Dresden have created an app that directs new arrivals to resources locally and nationally that they might need.

You can also also drop-off various donations in Europe. Here’s a Google Map of spots mostly in the U.K. There are many crowdfunding campaigns started by individual humanitarians who have planned trips to Calais–the location of a massive migrant camp in northern France that houses many refugees who are increasingly desperate to enter the U.K.–where they want to drop off physical donations, including clothing, tents, shoes, and even books to set up a library. Here are some organizations working on the ground there, courtesy of the grassroots Facebook page, the Calais Solidarity Network.

These are just a few examples. There are many more opportunities to volunteer and get directly involved, especially if you’re in Europe. When it comes down to it, many people are showing compassion and empathy, even when their governments aren’t as much.

About the author


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Martijn Comes - Radio Oblivion

Martijn Comes

Radio Oblivion

Bastakiya Tapes

Released: 2nd February 2016 | 6 track electronic album

Pleasant isn't a word I'd expect to use to describe an album put out by Bedouin Records (or in this case, their cassette-only sister label, Bastakiya Tapes). However, the label is notoriously hard to define, so maybe it's not so surprising that this latest output, from Martijn Comes, is such a pleasure to listen to. In fact, judging by their first four releases, the young sub-label is focused less on techno and more concerned with releasing atmospheric, beatless drones, experiments and acoustic arrangements. That isn't to say this offering is lacking the abrasion that generally characterises Bedouin releases, but it is an altogether more subtle release. Abrasion is certainly still present at times, but appears fleetingly, between crackling atmospheres and orchestral timbres.

Radio Oblivion is an album that feels embedded in the cassette format (which makes it a shame that at the moment at least, I'm listening to it digitally). It is nonetheless an atmospheric, winding listen. Opening with dense, chaotic tones, the album quickly settles into its second track, 'Song Of The Rock To Rise'. This is a warm, slow and considered piece, orchestral strings slowly brought into the mix among glowing pads. The album proceeds to wind through a range of textures, at times shimmering and intense, at others understated, at one point even descending into silence mid-track.

For me, the highlight is in the albums last track, 'Keep On Rowing', a collaboration with Yiannis Kotsonis. There is a slowly shifting melody before it unexpectedly rings into silence, ending the album. On each of my listens this abrupt ending has unexpectedly returned me to reality, and each time has put into perspective the warm atmosphere I've been pleasantly soaked in for the last 38 minutes.


Hiking and Backpacking Summit Notes and Materials

This folder is for storing the minutes and decisions made by any organization-wide summits of the Hiking and Backpacking Committees. Note: summits, under Mountaineers governance, are critical to receiving the input of our activity experts, but the authority to make organization-wide decisions affecting things like the minimum standards is vested with the Board, generally through the Managing Committee (aka "Branch Leadership Committee").