Photographed by Kikasz

Külön köszönet Bali-nak a gépért , valamint Gicá-nak a modellkedésért

– License

Great turnout as usual folks for the LAST Boot Camp of the year! Ed’s Boot Camp does has class Jan 1st, 2010! Yes, 9am for all those diehards who refuse to let one training session be missed. So don’t missed out. Palmetto bay and South Miami locations at 9am 1/1/2010. Also, one quick reminder. Doral boot Camp this Saturday will be at Morgan Levy Park. This is Ed’s boot Camp new Saturday AM Doral Location. Have a safe and happy New Years Everyone!

Free call pick up and delivery.

No contracts required. One-time service / weekly service / monthly service (your choice).

Up to 50 Items of Clothing. Any of the following items: shirts, jeans,pants, skirts, blouses, dresses, linens, etc.

Please call 561-290-0432

Currently servicing:

Boca Raton
Delray Beach
Hillsboro Beach
Pompano Beach
Deerfield Beach
Coral Springs
Coconut Creek
Parkland
West Boca
Lauderdale Lakes
Wilton Manors
East Fort Lauderdale

Does not include:  South and West Broward, North Palm Beach or Miami.

No checks, please.

Been a couple weeks since I did a weekend in review because I’ve had stuff scheduled on Sunday nights.  So, here’s the rundown of my weekend:

• Sunday was great at the Grove.  We broke out the first Christmas song.  It was a new one by Tomlin though, so it didn’t drag.  Christmas carols are hard to pep-up without becoming awkwardly dorky.  So, this song worked really well for the Grove Band.
• Once again we had 3 brand new families (and a couple more that didn’t fill out cards) and a couple second time guests.  Altogether there were 222 people at The Grove this weekend.Can you believe it?
• In our staff meeting today we started discussing storage options because our trailers are full but we have a couple ministries that would be helped if we could have more storage space.  So, we’re looking at options and thanking God for such a fantastic problem!
• This week’s sermon was on Philippians 4:1-9.  Super practical stuff for finding peace in our minds, our hearts and in our relationships.
• I still have more than 400 songs in my lala.com queue.
• Sunday night we had our first Grove New Peeps Dessert.  It was really fantastic.  We have some amazing people who are connecting to The Grove and finding truth and a really fantastic relationship with Jesus through the Grove’s ministries.  Amazing job by Tina in setting it all up.  
• I’m twittering a picture of the cool gift box that Tina put together for everyone who was there.
• The Grove has gotten involved with South Shore school to help out some kids who aren’t set-up financially to have the kind of Christmas that many people in our church are.  The response has been amazing!  Up to last Saturday the Grove family had “adopted” 25 kids – and we had only put it up on grovebook and facebook! 
• My working definition of a Grover: brave, courageous, compassionate, motivated and following Jesus with all that in them!
• Up for this week:  Iverson re-joins the 76ers at 4 PST, going to the first Grove Fusion group tonight, then leading the college group late tonight.  Then a webinar tomorrow.  Plus I’ve got a stack 6 inches tall of books I need to clear out this week.  Good stuff.

a tongue. how does it speak? it wags, it wiggles, touches the teeth and palate against which the voice vibrates from the throat. depths of which are invisible, dark, the unknown.

what about the nonverbal? how we spoke before words and sounds were formed, bengali syllables resounding of my roots, their many origins and places beneath chocolate soil. so much is unspoken; even the body silences itself, a pig plugged up with cool mud, unexpressed.

how far back into sound, into color, into flavor, will this tongue take me? how deeply are these roots enjoined in earth’s crust? there is a ball of blue light stuck in my throat; sound is absorbed there, disallowed exodus. i feel it spinning, tossing, bouncing against my vocal chords, rolling over all i was told not to say. like yarn, the unraveling is slow, unpredictable.

i take one end of the yarn, the one loose end i can find, pull it from my mouth and see its electric blue between my fingers. i tie this to the base of an orange tree, walk away from the grove in which i was born, leaving a thread of cotton memory behind me.

© 2009 tahminah zaman

The capital city of the Baix Vinalopo District as well as the second largest city of the Alicante Province, Elche is a charming tourist destination, situated within the Valencian Autonomous Community, in the Costa Blanca Spanish region. Elche has a prosperous history dating back to the times of Iberian, and hence it is home to a plethora of historical sites.

Acknowledged as the ‘The City of Palms,’ Elche is much famed for its expansive palm tree grove, also known as the Palmeral of Elche, which is credited to be the only Palm forest in Europe, consisting of over 10,000 palm trees, of which majority of them are date palms. Covering an area of more than 3.5 sq km, the grove is believed to have been planted by the Phoenicians during the 6th century BC, although cultivated and designed by the Moors between 8th and 13th century. Most spectacular of the forest’s sight is the Imperial Palm, boasting seven stems and taking after the shape of a Candelabra. Further, many of the areas within the grove have now been developed into beautiful gardens and parks. Another interesting thing regarding this grove is that it is still watered by the irrigation system of the River Vinalopó, devised during the 10th century. The forest has been now declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

Equally fabulous is the Mystery Play of Elche, which is conducted annually. Declared as the masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage in 2001 by the UNESCO, the play is a sacred cum lyrical program dating back to the 15th century. Further, it is the only proof of the medieval religious European theatre.

Apart from these, Elche boasts a continuum of museums, such as the Municipal Festa Museum, Pucol Agricultural Museum, and La Alucida, all of them housing a range of rare artifacts. Popular among the city’s monuments are Torre de la Calahorra, Basilicca de Santa Maria, Town Hall, and Torre de Calendura. In addition, excellent options are available for nature as well as wildlife lovers, such as El Honda Nature Park and Clot de Galvany.

Attractions in Elche also cover some fabulous white beaches like La Marina, El Carabassi, L’ Altet, Arenals del Sol, and El Penet, each of them coupled with excellent facilities for a range of water sport activities. Further, Elche hosts a variety of fiestas, including Palm Sunday, The Hallelujas, Fiestas of the Virgin’s Arrival, and Nit de l’Alba.

Besides being home to a range of stunning as well as historically significant places, Elche is one of the leading producers of footwear in Europe.

The city’s gastronomy is usually Mediterranean in style, al though a continuum of restaurants serving international cuisine such as Valencian, European, and Spanish can be seen here.

Elche is within easy reach of almost all popular tourist destinations in Costa Blanca. For instance, Elche is only an hour’s drive from Alicante, which is at its northwest and half an hour drive from Benidorm – one of the most prominent tourist resorts across the shorelines of the Costa Blanca.

Each week the local paper lets a local pastor write a small article for the religion section.  It’s way way in the back of the paper.  This week I got the chance.  You only get 150-200 words, but there really is no limit on what you can write.  I’ve never read what any of the other pastors have written so I have no idea what to make.   The general rule for me is if god gives you a platform, give it back to Him. So I wrote about Jesus and I’m hoping that it encourages people to consider Jesus this Christmas.  I hope you’ll join me in praying the same way.

Here’s what I handed in, when it gets published we’ll put a link up:
I don’t sleep much on Christmas Eve.  When I was a child it was in anticipation for the gifts under the tree that would have my name on them.  Today it’s in anticipation of the reaction my kids will have when they open the gifts with their names on them.  In giving to others I am blessed with a joy and a peace that can only be from God.

As we turn our collective attention toward the holidays this year, I hope that you find joy in giving to others and in so doing, experience even a small measure of the love that God has for you in Jesus.

Kooza Cirque du Soleil

Enjoy an evening of thrilling live performance! Your experience starts with tea at the American Girl Café at The Grove. Then take your seats in the Big Top at Santa Monica Pier for the acrobatics and artistry of the world renowned KOOZA by Cirque du Soleil. Transportation not included. Tickets $80 per person (gratuity not included). Reservations required. For girls ages 8 and up.

American Girl Café 4pm
Show at Santa Monica Pier 8pm
American Riviera Tours, http://www.LaTravelTours.com

Watch KOOZA Trailer

This version is edited, and has boring bits removed.

And here they are… my 3 final designs for Grove Fresh fruit juice packaging…

Idea 1…

Idea 2…

Idea 3…

Tom out!

I’ve been receiving phone calls and emails from members of the local Tupelo chapter of the Mississippi White Knights of the Klu Klux Klan.  They are going to be protesting in the circle at Ole Miss Saturday before the Ole Miss v. LSU game.  They are hoping that in some way their protest will overturn the decision of Chancellor Dan Jones and bring “Dixie” back. What they don’t realize is that any issue they back, educated people will generally stand against.

These guys aren’t who they used to be and are in reality about nine uneducated young blue collar rednecks who don’t like black people because it’s been beaten into their heads since they were young.  They are super nice “good ‘ol boy” types and if everone will leave the be and let them have their 30 minutes of protest, they will leave in peace and Old Miss will look like a civilized educated place to live.  I hope this will happen.

A year ago Ole Miss was the host of a presidential debate that brought tons of publicity to the university and we were portrayed for the first time in years, as a progressive institution.  Hundreds of memebers of the media decended on our campus and were pleasantly surprised by our hospitality and quite frankly our intelligence.

Earlier this year the Associated Student Body asked that students stop yelling “The South will rise again.”  While their request was done in and odd and impropper fashion, it was a request by the student government and should be respected.  People began backing the ASB and asking in more respectful fashions that the chant stop.  Students refused to chant and in a fit of protest began chanting louder and being far more beligerent about the topic.  Most students said they weren’t shouting because they were racist, they were shouting because of tradition.

In no way is the chat a university tradition, nor has it ever been.  Students were blinding following each other like lemmings off of a cliff and when “From Dixie With Love,” was taken away everyone acted surprised.

If we would have all simply respected the wishes of the universities governing bodies and respected the dignity of those around us this problem would have ended before it ever started.  Instead we received national media attention, showing our students as ignorant racists.  If students want to be seen as ignorant racists that is their own decision but in persisting in this chant, these students are shining an equally negative light on myself and other students around me who choose to respect our authorities and those around us.

If the students didn’t see the light at first, when people like the KKK and Richard Barrett began fighting for them and backing their decisions, they should have seen the error in their ways.  When people who are this racist jump in and start fighting for your free speach, you’ve just gotten in bed with some pretty seedy characters.  This issue has gotten out of hand and has gone too far.

It was never an issue of free speach because no one is being banned from saying something and no one’s rights are being taken away.  No one has the right to hear Dixie at the end of a game, and no one was told that if they chanted “The South will rise again,” that they will be kicked out of school or thrown in jail.  They were asked not to chant and when they didn’t, the Chancellor asked that the band stop playing Dixie because the song is what triggered the chant.

This is the end of my rant, I hope it has made some sense.

These are the people who support chanting "The South will rise again." Do you see something wrong with it now?

अंग्रेजी में Grove कहते है उस स्थान को जहां वृक्ष, झाड़ी, लतिकायें, और खर-फ़ूस सब हो एक छोटे क्षेत्रफ़ल में, हमारे ग्रामीण इस स्थान को अलाहिदा नामों से जानते रहे है, और इन नामॊं में वनकिया यानी वन का छोटा रूप, या जंगलिया के नाम से ज्यादा प्रचिलित है। इन्ही स्थानों मे तमाम जंगली पुष्प व फ़लों वाले पेड़-झाड़ी और लतायें मौजूद होती थी जिन न जाने कितनी तरह की चिड़िया, कीट-पतंगे, तितलिया मड़राती थी और मनुष्य भी अपनी रोज़मर्रा की तमाम जरूरते इन्ही जगहों से पूरी करता था जैसे लकड़ी, जानवरों की चराई और कुछ जंगली फ़लों का प्रयोग खाने में करते आये है। यह दुखद है कि अब ये वनकिया-जंगलिया समाप्त हो चुकी है और इन स्थानों पर विदेशी प्रजाति के पौधे लगायें जाते है जिससे विविधिता तो नष्ट ही होती है और ये व्यवसायिक इस्तेमाल के लायक ही होते है ग्रामीण जनमानस को इनसे कोई लाभ नही मिलता, केवल व्यक्तिगत लाभ………….

मैनहन में जंगल समाप्त होने के बाद भी मेरे बचपन में तमाम छोटी वनकिया थी किन्तु अब वह नस्ते-नाबूद कर दी गई है और साथ ही इनके साथ वह रंग-बिरंगे जीव भी समाप्त हो चुके है जिनका ये वनकिया घर हुआ करती थी।

एक बात और जो महत्वपूर्ण है, कि अब गांवों में सिर्फ़ कुछ गिनी-चुनी फ़सले बोई जा रही है जिनका आर्थिक महत्व अधिक है या सरकार -बाज़ार द्वारा किसानों को ऐसा करने पर मजबूर किया गया है इसके चलते अब वह सब घासे, नष्ट हो गयी है जो इन फ़सलों के साथ होती थी जिन्हे आप खरपतवार या वीड्स नही कह सकते क्योंकि ये घासे पशुओं व मनुष्यों दोनो के द्वारा खाने में भी प्रयुक्त होती थी, भारत की गरीब जनता का तो बहुत मदद मिलती थी इन वनस्पतियों से क्योंकि खेत के मालिक को कोई एतराज़ नही होता था इस बिना बोई प्रजाति का इस्तेमाल दूसरे द्वारा किये जानें में।

इसका उदाहरण है चना के साथ उगने वाली अकसा घास जिसे लोग कभी-कभी खाने में प्रयुक्त करते थे, गन्ने में होने वाली कोदरौली, हिरनखुरी, झरुआ आदि जिसे जानवर बड़े चाव से खाते थे, मड़ुआ घास को तो जानवर और आदमी दोनो बहुत ज्यादा पसन्द करते आयें अब ये विलुप्त हो चुकी है या धीरे-धीरे हो रही है और इनके साथ भी इन पर आश्रित कीट, पक्षी आदि भी समाप्त हो रहे है कोंकि अब हर किसान घास-नासक जहर का अंधाधुन्ध प्रयोग कर रहा है, जबकि इन घासों के सहारे जो जीव चिड़िया आदि इन खेतों मे रहते थे तो वह उस फ़सल में लगने वाले खिटों को भी अपना भोजन बनाकर संतुलन कायम रखते थे, यानी उस जीव ने आप के खेत की फ़सल के जितने दाने खाता था उसका कर्ज भी वह जाने-अनजाने अदा करता रहता था “इसे ही प्राकृतिक संतुलन कहते है लेकिन हमने उसे बिगाड़ दिया जो अब जल्द सुधर नही सकता”

कृष्ण कुमार मिश्र

मैनहन-२६२७२७

भारतवर्ष

Grove Fresh Packaging Ideas

This is the updated version of my initial idea. It has been adjusted with the colours and gradients quite a lot, i now think it is less in your face, simpler and generally nicer and better at communicating each flavour.

Tom out!

This is the second board i have completed with my first design that has been completely re-vamped.

I decided it would look better if apple was all green, orange all orange and apple and mango more mangoish (if thats a word)

Tom out!

Here it is.. the finished design idea 2 presentation board. I have put in every colour i used and the gradients too with the CMYK values for the colours. I have also listed the typefaces used in the design and showed the main logo. Take a look and please leave a comment with your opinions.

Tom out!

I went for a more neutral design on this one, i think the trouble i had was getting it to stand out on the shelf, although i think with the soft colours and the apple/orange/mango illustration it will do this, while looking fresh, healthy and organic which is what counts.

Tom out!

The Grove Park Inn is a wonderful escape.  Located on top of Asheville it was built in the early 1900’s and has seen multiple U.S. presidents and celebrities visit.  I love the big fire places that bookend the cozy and spacious lobby.  I tend to spend entire Sundays there as they sell the NY times.

Hating on disease? Grab the AOX you need to stay healthy and ride of the H1N1-Swine-Flu or whatever else is going around your block. I have to say that I am not a pomegranate lover, but it makes amazing juice.

Anywhere you can turn to find a blend of pomegranate-blueberry-acai will be a step in the right direction to getting your daily antioxidants. Turning to the Grove or TCBY will serve up delicious blends filled with antioxidants. Naturally, and expensively, POM puts out a line of 100% pomegranate juice and pomegranate teas. Usually found in the produce department, these are the most convenient way to get started. Right around the corner by the checkout you’ll find Vitamin Water. VitWat has taken a big stab at the AOX industry with their “XXX” flavor that claims to have triple antioxidants (triple of what I don’t understand). This drink is available in the regular high calorie version and the 10 Calorie version that is sweetened on aspartame (more on that later). Although not the best substitute to high-calorie diets, do what you have to to get your delicious antioxidants and get on the pathway to fighting those free-radicals!

However, the easiest, and most natural, way to get those AOX is to simply wedge up a pomegranate and scrape out the seeds with a spoon, carefully though as those seeds do stain. Go, now, and get your AOX and avoid getting bedridden with a fever this winter.

This is the 2nd logo design which incorporates a ladybird enclosed in a neutral colour circle. The top shows how it would react to black backgrounds, the middle white backgrounds and the final image is of it on the packaging colour (which yes, is the same as the logo inside).

The reason i used a ladybird is because i thought ladybirds would mean no pesticides and can be generally associated as organic which is what Grove Fresh is. The type was chosen because i think it looks quite soft, especially with the pastel green. I feel the beige colour compliments this green nicely with its earthy, soft looking tones.

Tom out!

I know there has been 3 posts in relatively quick succession but, as you can see, i have been busy with new ideas and would like to share them on here with you guys for opinions…

This is the Apple version of my recent idea 1 design.

I think i prefer the background gradient of this one, although think the overall packaging would be better as an orange juice rather than apple. I think this means back to the drawing board for idea 2. Idea 2 is going to be a lot simpler, with neutral colours and a whole new logo.

Tom out!

This is an update from Grove Fresh Idea 1! The initial plan for idea 1 was to have a see-through plastic strip on the front of the design so you can see at what level the juice is at, this means the 1 litre, 750,500,250 ml’s signs on the left side of the box work how they are supposed too. (i agree this isnt an up-to-scratch design, but its the main concept i am trying to get across with this.)

The large orange strip on the left indicates the platric area where you can see the orange juice through. The logo will be printed on this plastic. The plastic would of course have to be enviromentally friendly and recyclable, it would probably have to be wrapped around the whole inside of the carton, with the car outter case put round that.

Tom out!