Keep the loggers out of our Red Gum Parks

barmah-socialmedia_graphic.jpgWhat does ‘Ecological Thinning’ mean for your National Parks?

The NSW State governments plan to run a trial of “ecological thinning” inside the Murray Valley National Park. The trial will use logging machinery to test weather cutting out trees from these River Red Gum forests will improve the health of the ecosystem. The project will have a range of impacts on this landscape of international significance.

Approval has just been given by Environment Minister Greg Hunt for the NSW Government to go ahead with the trial.

Friends of the Earth is asking for your help to keep logging out of our iconic River Red Gum forests and to safeguard the natural environments we all love.

What is the ‘ecological thinning’ trial?

The trial is essentially a scientific experiment that will test the use of “ecological thinning” as a management tool to improve the ecological function of River Red Gum forests.

Changed flooding regimes, logging and cattle grazing over the years have changed the structure of River Red Gum forests. The proponents of the trial argue that dense stands of smaller trees are more sensitive to drought and die-back and also provide less habitat values for native species.

The “ecological thinning” trial would test weather cutting out large numbers of these trees would improve the health of the forest.

 How would the trial be conducted?

66, 9 hectare ‘plots’ have been chosen across the Murray Valley National Park which makes up part of the Barmah and Millewa forests (largest Red Gum forest in the world). 44 of these will be ‘thinned’, with either 7 or 15 metre ‘spacings’ between the remaining trees. [i] This is similar to thinning treatments used in forestry management. In all, around 400 hectares of forest will be ‘thinned’. The results will then be monitored to see if the health of the forest improves.

When would the trials start and how long would they run for?

The trial was planned to commence in August 2012, but was delayed due to approval being needed by the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. We have not been notified of when thinning is planned to start. Monitoring would begin 6 months after the first round of thinning and continue over a 5-year period.

What’s wrong with the trial?

The benefits are unknown, the impacts are certain

No one knows if cutting out trees will improve the health of these forests. The trial is a scientific experiment, not a response to a conservation problem.  It is ‘scientific logging’ with no proven environmental benefits.  Even an independent scientific review of the trial stated that the  ‘overall effect of thinning upon these [ecological] conditions is not known.’[ii]

The trial has significant design faults which will mean that it will be unlikely to provide a strong conclusion about thinning as a tool to improve the ecology of these ecosystems.

Mechanical thinning of the forest could undermine its long term, natural ability to respond to variability and climate change. Natural thinning (whether driven by drought stress or other factors) allows for “self-selection” of the most resilient individual trees from the populations, potentially increasing the resilience of the ecosystem under prevailing conditions as time goes by.

Impacts on Ramsar wetlands

Ramsar sites are internationally significant wetlands listed under the Ramsar Convention. The Millewa and Barmah forests are part of the largest complex of Red Gum wetlands in the world. These wetlands support threatened species as well as large numbers of migratory birds and colonial nesting waterbirds, and provide healthy watercourses for native fish to migrate through.

Potential impacts on the ecological character of the Ramsar wetland site include soil compaction and alteration, contamination of soil and water, transference of diseases and pathogens, siltation, noise pollution and emissions.

Impacts on threatened species

Over 15 nationally listed vulnerable and endangered species are known or likely to be present in the vicinity of the proposed trial.  The trial will inevitably impact on potential habitat for these species through disturbance, vegetation removal, noise pollution and haulage activities. It is also likely to increase the abundance of feral predator species like foxes.[iii]

Increased fire risk

Because small trees will be cut down and left on the forest floor, the thinning trial will lead to higher fuel levels and increase the risk of bushfire.[iv]

Huge cost for taxpayers

The trial will impose a huge cost on taxpayers in NSW. Money that should be invested in increasing funds for Park Rangers, buying water to keep the Park alive and manage weeds and invasive pests will instead be used to cut down trees.

Degrading cultural landscapes

The Barmah-Millewa forest is a landscape of deep significance to Indigenous Traditional Owners the Yorta Yorta and Bangerang Nations. Introducing logging machinery into this landscape will degrade cultural heritage values. Rare and culturally significant species could be impacted on, affecting Indigenous people’s ability to care for Country.

Traditional Owners have expressed their disappointment at not being adequately consulted regarding this trial. The Yorta Yorta people have a joint management agreement over the Victorian side of the Park. They should be partners in the long-term management of this ecosystem. Responses to ecological problems should be developed with Indigenous involvement and direction from the beginning.

Opening National Parks to logging

Logging has had a long-term impact on the environmental health of River Red Gum forests. In 2009 logging was banned in the Barmah-Millewa Forest to protect the values of the forest.  Sending commercial logging machinery back into national parks threatens their values and undermines the public’s faith in our conservation laws. If a national park isn’t safe from logging, where is?

Sending the wrong message to Parks users

The Victorian government is running ‘Operation Detroit’ to try and crack down on illegal firewood gathering in Barmah National Park. Firewood poachers have been caught and fined selling firewood meant for personal use.[vi]   Yet, at the same time, plans are underway to fell trees across hundreds of hectares of the park and give the residues away as firewood. This sends a very confusing message to locals, parks users and firewood businesses. There is no way to guarantee that wood sourced from the felling of these forests would not end up being sold on the commercial market.

What are the alternatives?

River Red Gum forests have suffered decades of mismanagement, drought and now dangerous climate change. These iconic forests need long term, visionary solutions to ensure that they flourish into the future. Restoring natural flooding regimes and incorporating Indigenous knowledge into the management of these forests will create the right conditions for them to prosper once again. Friends of the Earth works closely with Traditional Owners throughout the Murray-Darling Basin to advocate for water entitlements for Indigenous people. Properly managed environmental flows, informed by Indigenous land management, could improve the health of these forests.

If a ‘trial’ of ecological thinning is necessary, there is no need to run it in National Parks. There are thousands of hectares of Red Gum forests in State Forests, where timber harvesting is still practiced, that would be much more appropriate. These areas would also be more appropriate sites to test the forest’s response to drought stress as they are experiencing ongoing water shortages.

What can you do?

You can help protect these forests for the long-term. Please be a part of our online action and email Minister Hunt and Premier Baird to express your concern about their plans to bring back logging into our precious Parks.

Tell your friends about this issue and spread the word!

For more information contact the River Country Campaign, Friends of the Earth Melbourne.

Phone: 03 9419 8700

[i] NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Parks Victoria. Ecological Thinning Trial in NSW and Victorian River Red Gum Reserves. Experimental design and monitoring plan. May, 2012.

[ii] Robinson, Andrew. Review of Ecological Thinning Study Design. 2011.

[iii] Experimental design and monitoring plan. p. 30.

[iv] Experimental design and monitoring plan. p. 30.

[vi] Arup, Tom. ‘Conservationists give firewood the chop,’ The Age. 7th July 2013.


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4 steps to healthy lifestyle

BY Anja Baš @anjabas / 28.Jun.2019 / Recipes

When it comes to an active and healthy lifestyle, we all know “what we should be doing” and what not. In practice, though, our fast-paced lives don’t allow for enough time to make healthy meals and work out intensively for a full 60 minutes, let alone meditate to soothe our minds and help eliminate stress.

Luckily, though, we can make small changes to our daily routines in order to achieve long-term results that will be reflected mostly in better health and improved well-being.
These are the two cornerstones to building the perfect lifestyle.

NUTRITION: small changes for big results

For the modern human, with our ultra-busy lifestyles, time is the biggest commodity there is.
As a rule there is never enough of it, and that’s what makes us turn to quick, processed, unhealthy foods. Studies show that simply limiting red meat and increasing the amount of nuts we eat can reduce the risks of early death by as much as 19% (2012, Archives of Internal Medicine).

Our advice?

OPTION 1: Every evening after work take a half an hour to make a healthy meal to take with you for lunch the next day.
This could be a healthy risotto from brown rice and vegetables with a couple chunks of tofu, ensuring that you get your daily dose of protein. Avocado toast is also always a quick, healthy, and delicious idea.

OPTION 2: Take a hand mixer and a bowl with you to work so you can make an MGC Nutraceuticals protein shake, adding fruit as you like to enjoy the ultimate quick meal.
Choose between coconut,toffee, and the less exotic vanilla.

Our lives have become mostly sedentary, and we are bombarded from all angles with information about how unhealthy that is. A recent study, carried out in 2015 by the American Cancer Society, even showed that women who sit up to 6 hours a day are at a 10% greater risk of cancer than women who sat fewer than 3 hours a day.
Sadly most of us need to earn money, so quitting our jobs (even if we sit there all day) usually isn’t an option.
The solution to this, unlike popular belief, is not to be found in an hour of running or gym work (although both of course are recommended), but in increasing the amount of moving we do throughout the day.

Our advice?

Walk to work instead of driving, use the stairs instead of the elevator, and instead of grabbing a coffee with a friend, go for a walk instead – or a hike on the weekends! Set a timer or alarm at work to remind you at least once an hour to get up and stretch, do a few pushups, walk up and down the stairs – anything just to move a bit.

A pessimistic outlook makes people cynical, puts them in a bad mood, and gives them the feeling that things just happen to them (instead of actively contributing to them). The pessimist experiences the world as a place where only unfair things happen and happiness is not something for everyone but merely for a chosen few.

On the other hand the optimist sees the world as something beautiful, something to which the optimist can make a contribution. Optimists understand their own responsibilities for the consequences they see in the world, knowing that the appearance is just a factor of projected perceptions. Optimists enjoy their own existence and even in difficulties they see opportunities for personal growth and progress.

It is interesting that the physical part of the world is always the same. We only perceive it differently because of all the different perspectives. This is a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy, since we really do experience the world exactly as we imagine it. If it is our perception that the world is unfair, then we will find proof of this all around us. People will take advantage of us and things will never work out the way that they should. If, on the other hand, we perceive the world as a beautiful land of fairy tales, then we will find signs backing that up instead. We will receive chance after chance for personal and professional growth, we will receive respect from those around us, and our friends will never be better.

The difference is simply in whether we believe it to be true or not. Why, then, wouldn’t we do something to change our negative assumptions? Why wouldn’t we start believing in something that will actually serve us on our path? It really is that simple.

Before signing off, let’s take a look at ourselves.
A person who loves themselves will believe that they deserve love. Such a person shows themselves love in a multitude of ways: by eating healthy, by making sure to move enough, by fostering a positive outlook, and by working for their own benefit.
If a person does not love themselves, they will probably sabotage themselves as much as possible, because they will have a deep-rooted belief that they are a bad person, undeserving of love. Probably that person knows the value of healthy food, but nonetheless prefers grabbing something quick and drinking too much alcohol. These type of people fall back on the “you only live once” mindset, understanding this as an excuse for unhealthy habits.
Probably a positive outlook will seem to such a person like some silly new-aged poppycock, since they never saw the benefit of a positive approach (which we have to believe, anything can happen in this world)

The simple belief that we deserve (and are worthy of) love is enough to sprout roots that hold throughout our future decisions.
Our perception of the world will depend on this, along with how we take care of ourselves and how we accept responsibility for the life we’ve made for ourselves. Of course our health depends on this as well, as the decisions we make inevitable end up affecting our whole body.

This is what makes us so convinced that self-love really is the best medicine. So love yourselves. Cultivate love for yourself, it’s only going to pay off in life!


Soapie teasers: 14 November 2016

By Faeza
14 November 2016

The Queen

Kea finds herself feeling like a stranger in her own home as her life continues to fall apart. Kagiso and Kgosi are forced to come up with a plan to save the woman they both love.

Judas and Qaphela deliver a terrifying message to Jabu. Lerato’s recovery is promising, but she starts experiencing strange dreams and visions. Thandeka makes a big decision about her future.

Rhythm City

Lerato plays the sympathetic friend to a grieving Bongi. Reneilwe tries to get over her disastrous performance. Kop gathers all he needs to restore his kombi. Reneilwe finally meets Kop’s angel.

Serithi takes Bobo's side. Nomarashiya switches loyalties. Mulalo tries to win Teboho back.

A refusal makes Naledi even more determined to embark on a dangerous mission, and Quinton receives a surprising offer.  Lindiwe tells a lie in order to engineer a meeting.  Dintle finds herself interested in someone she would normally never engage with on any level.

Skeem Saam

Sifiso faces one of the toughest moments of his life. Nimza makes a frightening discovery. Sonti arrives at the edge of the metaphorical cliff... will she jump?

Nokuthula turns the tables while Smangele is devastated about her non-wedding. Ayanda struggles with his identity issue. Is he a Xulu or a Mdletshe? MaNzuza feels betrayed by Smangele.

Lucy demands a talk with the new man in her daughter’s life. The secret relationship gets even more complicated. Wandile takes the next big step in his transition.


Medication, Dentistry And Health

It is proven to scale back your risk of coronary heart illness and boost your psychological health, but walking can be boosting native economies. A mental sickness akin to melancholy or anorexia nervosa can affect body weight and performance. Our modern analysis in lots of areas of medical science informs our degrees, producing forward-pondering graduates able to make their mark in a healthcare

In a person with haemochromatosis, iron shops maintain rising and, over time, the liver enlarges and becomes broken, resulting in severe illnesses akin to cirrhosis. Nevertheless, while there can be people who take a balanced strategy in relation to what goes into their physique and what they do with their body, there are going to be others who are obsessed with this space of their life.

You need protection that works along with your way of life, helps you get the most effective care possible and matches with your monetary picture. Our mission is saving lives and improving the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable folks by closing the hole between information and motion in public health.


Peace Chants

Her new CD, "Peace Chants" is a collection of sanskrit, english and gurmukhi mantras blended with world beats, melodic guitars, traditional persian and turkish instruments. Lea's voice is captivating and pure, leading the listener to a peaceful and meditative state of bliss.

Album Tracks

Titlesort descending Length Plays Track
Guru Guru Wahe Guru 8:07 3,842 4
Hari Har 6:35 1,147 5
Ra Ma Da Sa 5:05 841 7
Sa Ta Na Ma (Sat Nam) 6:46 1,007 9


All posts tagged FLJ42958

Embryonic development is definitely controlled by transcription factors and chromatin-associated proteins tightly. genes encoding developmental regulators acquire aberrant H3K4me3 during early embryogenesis in knockout embryos. H3K4me3 accumulates as embryonic advancement proceeds, resulting in increased manifestation of neural get better at regulators like and in knockout brains. Used together, these outcomes claim that Jarid1b regulates mouse advancement by safeguarding developmental genes from unacceptable acquisition of energetic histone modifications. Writer Overview Histone adjustments get excited about transcriptional rules and influence mobile identification therefore, differentiation, and advancement. We research the histone demethylase Jarid1b (Kdm5b/Plu1), since it continues to be reported to become WP1130 highly expressed in a number of human cancers and for that reason might present a book target for anti-cancer therapies. To gain insights into the physiological role of Jarid1b, we have generated a knockout mouse. We show that loss of Jarid1b affects survival of newborn mice and that Jarid1b is required for the faithful development of several neural organs. To understand how Jarid1b regulates embryogenesis, we identified genes with increased H3K4me3 at a genome-wide scale as well as Jarid1b target genes during development. In knockout embryos, master regulators of neural development are expressed at higher levels, underscoring the importance of Jarid1b in transcriptional regulation. Furthermore, we extend previous reports of overlapping Jarid1b and WP1130 Polycomb target genes to show the functional relevance of this observation. Our results provide the first detailed analysis of the role of Jarid1b in normal development and provide a basis for further studies evaluating the contribution of Jarid1b to tumorigenesis. Introduction Embryonic development is FLJ42958 WP1130 characterized by a coordinated program of proliferation and differentiation that is tightly regulated by transcription factors and chromatin-associated proteins. As embryonic cells differentiate, certain genes are activated while others are repressed, resulting in a unique pattern of gene expression in each cell type. Histone H3 lysine 4 tri-methylation (H3K4me3) localizes to transcription start sites with high levels present at actively transcribed genes [1], [2], even though H3K4me3 at promoters is not a definite indication for transcriptional activity [3]. Methylation of H3K4 is catalyzed by a family of 10 histone methyltransferases in mammals [4]. Five of these are members of the Trithorax group of proteins that were first described in to be required for maintenance of gene expression by counteracting Polycomb-mediated repression. In and mutant mice, target genes are WP1130 properly activated but expression fails to be maintained leading to embryonic lethality [5], [6]. In addition, H3K4 histone methyltransferases function in hematopoiesis [7], [8] and neurogenesis [9]. H3K4me3 is found in a constant balance with Polycomb-mediated repressive H3K27me3. Presence of both H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 at promoters is referred to as bivalency [10]. The category of bivalent genes is enriched in developmental regulators and is particularly abundant in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) that have the potential for several lineage choices [11]. Moreover, Polycomb proteins repress non-lineage specific gene expression, thereby ensuring developmental potency WP1130 of embryonic and tissue stem cells during lineage specification, differentiation and development (reviewed in [12]). Polycomb proteins are classified into two separate complexes referred to as Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), which mediates H3K27me3, and PRC1, which catalyzes mono-ubiquitylation of H2A (H2AK119ub1) [13], [14]. Classical models propose a sequential mechanism in which H3K27me3 creates a binding site for PRC1 leading to further repression [14], [15], even though emerging studies suggest that Polycomb function is more complex [16]C[18]. While histone methylation was initially viewed as a stable modification, the discovery of histone demethylating enzymes has transformed this paradigm [19]. Demethylation of H3K4me3 can be catalyzed from the JARID1 (KDM5) family members, which in mammals offers four people: JARID1A, JARID1B, JARID1D and JARID1C [20]. The JARID1 homologue Cover (Small imaginal discs) is necessary for normal advancement [21], as well as the homologue RBR-2 (retinoblastoma.


Tofu Feature Month: Tofu-Spinach Calzones

Tofu Spinach Calzone

[Note from Photographer’s Ego: Yes, I know these pictures fail to follow that number one rule of food photography: use natural light!  I will be building myself a light box soon, not to fret.]

This will be our final tofu recipe for you folks for a while.  Our digestive systems are not used to so much soy and they have unequivocally had enough.  The Pie especially so.  Poor man.  Pity him that his wife cooks new things for him on a regular basis.  Tsk.

The last time the Pie and I attempted calzones, we ended up with floor pizza.  I was determined to get it right this time.  The recipe below, with some modifications, comes from the Savvy Vegetarian, and it’s pretty easy.  The dough is nice and stretchy, and I could definitely use it again for a calzone with a different filling, which is exciting!  The yield for this is 10 hand-hold-able calzones, and I halved it (because there’s only the Pie and myself — Gren doesn’t get people food).

For the dough:

In a small bowl, dissolve 1 teaspoon granulated sugar in 1 1/4 cups warm water.  Stir in 2 teaspoons active dry yeast and allow that to sit for 10 minutes.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

Or until it gets all foamy.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

In a larger bowl, add 1/2 teaspoon salt to 3 cups flour and mix well.

Rub in (exactly how it sounds) 1 tablespoon olive oil.  Rub it between your fingers until there are no large clumps left.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

Stir the water/yeast mixture into the flour until it forms a shaggy ball.  Make sure to get all the floury goodness at the bottom of the bowl.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

On a floured surface, knead the ball for about 10 minutes.  The more you knead it, the tackier it will get, so you will need to add more flour on occasion.  Also, keep in mind that the more you knead it, the more elastic it will be (because you worked all the gluten together).  You want your dough to be nice and stretchy.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover it with a clean cloth and set it in a warm place to rise for about an hour.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

For the filling:

Dice up 1/4 cup onion, and about 8 mushrooms and toss them in a frying pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons minced garlic.  Sauté until soft.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

In a small bowl, mix up 1 tablespoon flour, 1 tablespoon powdered vegetable stock, 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried basil, a pinch of cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

Toss that on the vegetables in the pan and stir it around.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

Plop in 16 ounces fresh baby spinach (you can use frozen spinach, if you thaw it and drain it first), as well as 2 12-ounce packages of firm silken tofu and a dash of soy sauce.  You can break up the tofu before you toss it in, but it gave me something to do while I waited for the spinach to wilt.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

I had some leftover chèvre, 8 ounces worth, so I tossed that in as well.  So if you’d like to add that to this recipe, chuck in 8-16 ounces goat’s cheese and stir it around until well-incorporated and completely melted.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

Remove the mixture from the heat.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

Calzone Assembly and Baking:

Preheat your oven to 425°F.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

Punch down your dough.  Literally.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

Divide it into 10 equal parts, rolled into balls (remember, my recipe is halved, that’s why you only see five).

Tofu Spinach Calzone

On a floured surface, roll each ball out into a 6″ round.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

Divide the filling into 10 equal parts and place each portion on a round, slightly to one side.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

Wet the edges of the dough with your finger and fold over each round to make a half circle.

Squish down the edges with your finger and crimp with a fork to seal them.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

Place the calzones on a baking sheet.  You can brush them with oil and sprinkle them with salt if you like, for a crusty, salty top.  I chose to cook ours on our pizza stone, which I put in the oven when I turned it on. Cut two diagonal slices in the top of each calzone to let the steam escape.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

Bake for 15-25 minutes, until the dough is golden brown and the filling bubbles up through the holes.

Tofu Spinach Calzone

Be careful, they’re HOT!

Artisanry: French Bread

After some successes with Peter Reinhart’s Lean Bread, the Pie and I decided to branch out a bit and try the French bread in time for a Victoria Day dinner with KK, Il Principe, and the Norwegians.

This recipe uses the same ingredients as Lean Bread but a slightly different technique, so I really hoped I could get this right on the first try.  I recommend you start with Lean Bread to get used to the whole process before you venture into French Bread, which requires a bit more concentration.  Check out the photos from the Lean Bread experiment to familiarize yourself with the basic steps and baking preparations.

Day One

Because this recipe involves hand kneading I decided to do my initial mixing by hand as well, as I’m not entirely sure how to use the dough hook on my stand mixer.  I also decided to measure my flour by weight and not volume and it worked out really well.

Put, in a bowl, 5 1/3 cups bread flour (24oz/680g), 2 teaspoons salt (or 1 teaspoon kosher salt), 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast, and 2 cups lukewarm water.Mix ’em up, for about a minute.  If your spoon gets too doughy, dip it in warm water.

Let your dough rest for 5 minutes.  It should be a coarse, shaggy ball at this point.

Now, knead the dough in the bowl by hand for about 2 minutes, getting in all that excess flour.  If it becomes too tacky, add more flour.  If it becomes too dry, add some warm water.Now move onto a lightly floured surface.Knead the dough for another  minute, pushing and folding it together.

If you find that the dough is still pretty tacky at this stage, don’t add more flour.  Instead, stretch it and fold it once or twice, just like we did with the Lean Bread, until the surface texture evens out.

Transfer the dough to a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it overnight.  If you are going to make the bread over the course of several days, now is the time to separate it into separate chunks for individual fermentation.

Day Two

Take the dough out of the refrigerator at least two hours before you plan to do your baking.  I woke up early just to take it out of the fridge.  Then I went back to bed.

Be gentle in transferring the dough to your floured work surface.  You don’t want to disturb the bubbles.

Divide the dough into four equal pieces by cutting it gently with a knife.

Shape the pieces into bâtards (like we did with the lean bread):

Flatten the dough into a rectangle by pressing it gently.Roll it up.Seal the seam by pinching it.  Then rock the dough back and forth until you have your desired loaf size.My bâtards still look demented.I wanted to do more with my loaves, so after leaving the bâtards for five minutes to sit, I took two of them to make épis (wheat stalks).

Flatten out the bâtards that you have created.Make a crease along the middle.Fold the front of the dough towards the centre.  Use a wet finger to kind of glue it down.Fold the back of the dough over as well and seal by pinching.Rock the dough back and forth until you have created the desired length.  Use more pressure towards the ends so that they are tapered.  These baguettes are the first stage of the épis. Place your dough in proofing cloths sprayed with oil and dusted with flour, or on parchment paper dusted with semolina or cornmeal.Proofing

Mist the top of the dough with spray oil, cover with plastic wrap (loosely), and proof at room temperature for an hour and a half.  They should be about 1 1/2 times their original size after that time.

Prepare your oven for hearth baking, just like the Lean Bread.  Place your baking stone in the oven along with your steam pan and turn up the heat to as high as it will go before broiling.  Because my pizza stone isn’t long enough for the shapes I’ve created I’m using the back of a sheet pan instead, which means if you proof your bread on the sheet pan (on parchment paper dusted with semolina or cornmeal), then you can just stick it straight in the oven where the stone would be when it’s time to bake.

Remove the plastic wrap from the dough about 15 minutes before baking.

Right before baking, score the bâtards with a razor.To make the épis, take your long baguettes and a pair of scissors.  About 2 1/2 inches from one end, cut almost all the way through the dough (like 95%) at a 45° angle.  Pull the cut section of dough to one side.  Repeat the cut a further 2 1/2 inches in, and pull that cut dough to the opposite side.  Repeat down the length of the loaf.My first one turned out kind of funny, but I got the hang of it by the second one.Transfer the dough to the oven, and pour one cup of water into the steam pan before reducing the heat to 450°F.

Bake the loaves for 15 minutes, then rotate and bake for a further 15-25 minutes.  A finished loaf will be a rich golden brown and sound hollow when you tap the bottom.  For a crisper crust, turn off the oven and leave the bread in for an additional 5 minutes.

Cool your loaves on a wire rack for at least 45 minutes before slicing and serving.The bâtards came out demented, as expected, but the épis both looked fantastic.We took ours on the road for a Victoria Day luncheon with KK and IP.  Very popular.


Calixtlahuaca – Calixtlahuaca, Mexico - Atlas Obscura

Calixtlahuaca, Mexico

The striking and little-touristed ruins of an ancient city destroyed and rebuilt by the Aztecs.

On the plains of the Toluca Valley stand the ruins of the ancient city of Calixtlahuaca and its unusual rounded pyramid temple, a weathered testament to the rise and fall of the region’s pre-Hispanic civilizations.

Archaeological evidence suggests this area was first settled around 640 BC by a dominant Otomi tribe. The Otomi were ancient inhabitants of the valley of Mexico, who had arrived long before the influx of the Nahua tribes from the north that would later form the Toltec and Aztec civilizations.

As the Otomi were nomadic farmers, their temple may have originated at the site of an annual pilgrimage where religious rites were performed, likely venerating the deities that ensured agricultural fertility, or success in the frequent internecine warfare with other Otomi tribes. As the years went by, permanent settlements appeared in the area and the population grew, leading to the expansion of the urban center into a small city-state known as Matlatzinco. During this formative period, the influence of Teotihuacan and the trade networks of the later Toltec civilization introduced a greater architectural, agricultural, and cultural sophistication to these communities, whose population continued to swell.

That all changed around the year 1476, when the city was invaded by the forces of the Aztec empire, led by the emperor Axayacatl. The ancient tribal city was burned to the ground and many of its inhabitants slaughtered. The Aztecs rebuilt the city and called it Calixtlahuaca (which in Nahuatl translates as “House on the Praire” or “House on the Plains). They established a colonial outpost of the empire and tributary system by which the vanquished citizens had to offer both military allegiance and payments of natural resources to the emperor. It was during this period that the pyramid temple was dedicated to the Aztec wind god, Ehécatl.

The rule of the Aztecs was a brutal and deeply unpopular one and there were numerous uprisings against them by the local peoples, eventually culminated in a major rebellion in 1510. In response, the last of the Aztec emperors, Moctezuma II (who would later be killed by the Spanish), ordered the destruction of the entire city save the Temple of Ehécatl, and had the entire population forcibly relocated to an area in what is today the state of Michoacan.

Know Before You Go

The Calixtlahuaca archeological site is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the entrance cost 55 pesos. Be sure to visit the onsite museum too, which chronicles the rise and fall of the ancient city.

Community Discussion


La Collection, Agence Les Poupées Russes

William Santiago

Can you introduce yourself in a few words…
I’m Willian Santiago, I’m 26 years old, I live in the south of Brazil, graduated in Graphic Design, currently working as a freelancer, focused on illustration

How would you describe your creative universe ?
Brazil is very rich in popular culture, nature and folklore. I always try to put these more surreal elements in my work.

Where does your inspiration come from ?
There are a lot of artists that inspire me. Art Naif calls my attention. I grew up in a small town, this reflects in my production.

What is the project you dream of making happen ?
I want to illustrate a children’s book, whole, printed, beautiful (haha).

What are you working on right now ?
At the moment I am working on a project that involves folklore and electronic music. I also work with fashion, I am producing some prints.