In one week, we will be packing up our vehicles and heading out towards Browns Mountain for the long anticipated TALL TREE MUSIC FESTIVAL! This years set to be the best yet, as our multiple articles on the subject would lead you to believe, but believe it or not, theres more! This year theyre expanding on their massively popular theme days from the last couple years (like Zoolander last year? The best!) with three brand new themes, and a whole pile of activities to keep you entertained throughout the weekend!

On Friday, get ready to blast off into space with a GALACTICtheme! Get your space helmets, throw on your galaxy prints, and grab your Tang because were going to space for a Friday adventure! Saturday, test the theory that all that glitters really isGOLD with the official Tall Tree gold day. Shimmer, sparkle, but dont leave a mess behind (For more info on environmentally conscious glitter options, pop on over to our Festival Fashion serieshere)! Last, but not least, channel your inner Ariel and goUNDER THE SEA for the wettest Sunday funday on the west coast!

Beyond that, weve got a full schedule of activities with special guests of the festival! If youre into yoga, head over to the main stage at 10am for some relaxing yoga Saturday and Sunday morning! BYOM (bring your own mat) and good vibes! Maybe the comedyis what catches your eye, which you can catch Saturday and Sunday at the Stump and Stone stage (download the Tall Tree app for the full schedule!). Now who could resist theZoolander Fashion Show,which you can pre-register throughDo250.You can also register on the mountain at the info booth before 4pm on Saturday. Winners get passes to Tall Tree 2018, so throw on your most impressive threads and dont forget to learn how to turn left!

Next up, some musical adventures with some island favourites! Come check outMt Doyles Pizza PartySaturday, 2pm, on the Main Stage. Bring a drink or a food ticket and grab a slice with your favourite pizza enthusiast, while getting some dancing in while youre at it! You can also grab some breakfast withNeon SteveSunday at 9am at the Stump and Stone stage, or check out theChampagne and Pool Floatyparty with our dudes Illvis Freshly! Once again, grab a drink or food ticket, come have some champagne, and celebrate the last day of Tall Tree in style! Dont forget your floaty!

So, this is gearing up to be the best year yet, do you have your tickets?! There are still some floating around, so grab them quick on the Tall Tree website!

Whats your favourite addition this year? Let us know in the comments!

26 years old, with a voracious appetite for bass, dancing, all things art, and a flair for the dramatic, Jamie Gib grew up in the rave scene, having been introduced to electronic music in the late 90s as a small child from his cousin and he joined the rave scene in 2004, and never looked back, A DJ, Promoter, Go-Go Dancer, and writer, Jamie has made his mark on the Vancouver Island scene and beyond, having worked or attended 90% of the festivals on the Pacific North West and has no plans on stopping there. If there's dirty house, drum n bass or glitch to be heard, you can bet he's not far behind.

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Tall Tree Announces Theme Days, Activities, and a Pool Floaty Party - Dance Music Northwest

New York Times

Amazon Deal for Whole Foods Starts a Supermarket War New York Times Whole Foods has had its own struggles. Once a pioneer of the organic foods movement, Whole Foods has more recently struggled to shed its image as too pricey, too upscale and too out-of-touch with customers who want more natural foods at more ... Amazon confirms plans to buy organic food chain Whole Foods in mammoth $13.7 billion takeoverMirror.co.uk Amazon is buying Whole Foods for $13.7 billionCNNMoney Prime Organic: Amazon To Buy Whole Foods For $13.7 BillionGothamist The Guardian -VentureBeat -The Japan News -Amazon - Press Room - Press Release all 1,514 news articles »

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Amazon Deal for Whole Foods Starts a Supermarket War - New York Times

With the increasing awareness on the significance of consuming slow food or home-grown food, many people are turning to organic eating. Keeping up with this trend, The Imperial hotel in New Delhi recently curated a special 'green' Hi-Tea spread under the guidance of the hotel's Executive Sous Chef, Alok Verma.

However, if you missed your chance to sample the delectable spread, we got Chef Verma to spill his secrets to creating a wholesome meal.

From a spinach, avocado and aloe vera smoothie to a caramelized apple cake with ragi and cinnamon, there's something for everyone.

Alok Verma, Executive Sous Chef, The Imperial, New Delhi.

Cauliflower and orange mousse, balsamic caviar

Ingredients Makes: 5 portions

Cauliflower: 250gms Milk (skimmed): 350ml Cooking cream: 100ml Leeks: 20gm Butter: 50gm Orange: 1 Salt: To taste White pepper: To taste

For caviar Olive oil: 1 cup Balsamic vinegar: 100ml Agar agar: 10gm

Method

- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat and add leeks. Saut until they start to sweat. - Add cauliflower florets and saut further for 3-5 minutes. - Pour the milk in the pan and cook until the cauliflower is thoroughly cooked. - Remove from heat and puree in a high speed blender, pass through a sieve. - Add the mixture to a heavy saucepan, stirring over medium heat for 2-3 minutes to dry out. - Place in a bowl and cover surface with plastic wrap. Chill thoroughly. - Whip the heavy cream until firm. Gently fold whipped cream into the cold cauliflower mixture. - Spoon into serving dishes. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until ready to serve. - When serving, top each dish with a chilled portion of caviar and a slice of orange.

For caviar - Keep the oil in the freezer about 30 minutes. - Bring balsamic vinegar to boil in a pan over medium heat. - Add agar agar to the pan and mix well to combine. - Pour the balsamic mixture into a small bowl and fill your syringe - Working fairly quickly, drop tiny droplets of the balsamic into the oil.

Sorghum Dhokla with scraped coconut

Ingredients Makes: 5 portions

Jowar ka atta: 200gm Semolina: 120gm Ginger (paste): 15gm Green chilies (paste): 5gm ENO fruit salt: 2 pkts Curd: 250gm Water: 150ml Lemon juice: 1

For tempering Oil refined: 2 tsp Mustard seed: 2gms Cumin seeds: 2gms Curry leaf: 1gm Sugar: 100gm Water: 200ml Fresh coriander: 25gms Crated coconut: 50gms

Method

- Mix semolina with curd and water for 10-15 minutes - Add all the ingredients except ENO salt, mix well to combine - Now add ENO, and immediately pour the mixture in to a greased plate - Steam for 25 minutes over low flame, remove from heat and set aside for 15 minutes - Heat up the oil for tempering. And add all the ingredients except sugar and water - When it starts to crackle, add water and sugar bring it to boil and pour that mixture over the Dhokla - Garnish with fresh coriander and scraped fresh coconut.

Purple quinoa, parsley and millet salad with pomegranate

Ingredients Makes: 5 portions

Purple quinoa: 1/2cup Millet: 1/2cup Italian parsley chopped: 100gm Cucumber chopped: 150gm Mint chopped: 25gms Pomegranate seeds: 150gms EV olive oil: 120ml Lemon: 2 Salt: To taste Pepper: To taste

Method

- Pressure cook the millets and quinoa for 20-25 minutes or until fluffy. - Drain the water and allow it to cool. - In a large bowl add all the ingredients and mix well. - Check for seasoning, garnish with reserved pomegranate seeds and serve cold.

Spinach, avocado and aloe vera smoothie

Ingredients Makes: 5 portions

Fresh spinach leaves: 200gm Ripe avocado: 350gm Aloe Vera juice: 100ml Water: 300ml Honey: 45gms Lemon juice: 2

Method

- Combine the aloe vera juice, spinach, avocado and honey in a blender and puree for about 1 minute until smooth. - Add water to reach the desired consistency. - Serve chilled.

Sandwich style buckwheat and blackcurrant scones

Ingredients Makes: 5 portions

Buckwheat flour: 150 gm Refined flour: 60 gm Baking powder: 5 gm Salt: 1 gm Butter (chopped & chilled): 35 gm Breakfast sugar: 50 gm Egg (whole): 100 gm Milk: 165 ml Black currant: 40gm

Method

- Mix all the dry ingredients and add chilled butter to get a crumbly texture. - Add eggs slowly at regular intervals. - Pour milk into it and mix it to get a dough. - Add black currant into half the dough to make fruit scones. - Roll and cut into rounds. - Egg wash and bake at 172 C for 9 minutes and then at 160 C for 5 minutes.

Serve Cut scones into half and garnish with clotted cream and strawberry jam.

Caramelized apple cake with ragi and cinnamon

Ingredients Makes: 5 portions

Butter: 200 gm Chopped apples: 500gm Ragi flour: 1100 gm Corn flour: 40 gm Baking powder: 8 gm Salt: 10 gm Egg (whole): 4 Egg (yolk): 2 Vanilla Bean: 3 Honey: 120 gm Maple syrup: 90 gm Lemon zest: 3

Method

- Mix all dry ingredients together. - Cream butter and sugar in an electric mixer. - Mix the whole eggs & yolks, and pour in the mixture at regular intervals. - Add honey and maple syrup. - Saute apples in butter with vanilla and lemon zest. - Fold dry ingredients in the above mixture along with sautd apples. - Pour the batter into lined rings and bake it at 200 C for 30 minutes.

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Six recipes for organic-food lovers to drool over - Economic Times

Alexander C.N., et al. Treating and preventing alcohol, nicotine, and drug abuse through Transcendental Meditation: A review and statistical meta-analysis. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11: 13-87, 1994.

Aron E.N. and Aron A. The patterns of reduction of drug and alcohol use among Transcendental Meditation participants. Bulletin of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors 2: 28-33, 1983.

Clements G., et al. The use of the Transcendental Meditation programme in the prevention of drug abuse and in the treatment of drug-addicted persons. Bulletin on Narcotics 40(1): 5156, 1988.

Gelderloos P., et al. Effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation program in preventing and treating substance misuse: A review. International Journal of the Addictions 26: 293325, 1991.

Gelderloos P., et al. Effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation program in preventing and treating substance misuse: A review. International Journal of the Addictions 26: 293325, 1991.

Orme-Johnson D. W. Transcendental Meditation as an epidemiological approach to drug and alcohol abuse: Theory, research, and financial impact evaluation. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 11, 119-165, 1994.

Royer A. The role of the Transcendental Meditation technique in promoting smoking cessation: A longitudinal study. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11: 219-236, 1994.

Shafii M. et al. Meditation and marijuana. American Journal of Psychiatry 131: 60-63, 1974.

Shafii M. et al. Meditation and the prevention of alcohol abuse. American Journal of Psychiatry 132: 942-945, 1975.

Wallace R.K. et al. Decreased drug abuse with Transcendental Meditation: A study of 1,862 subjects. In Drug Abuse: Proceedings of the International Conference, ed. Chris J.D. Zarafonetis (Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger): 369-376, 1972.

Walton K. G., and Levitsky, D.A. A neuroendocrine mechanism for the reduction of drug use and addictions by Transcendental Meditation. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11: 89-117, 1994.

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Transcendental Meditation (TM) Technqiue - Silicon Valley

It could get a little toasty for a couple of thousand people expected to turn out Saturday at the recently dedicated Los Angeles State Historic Park for a mass meditation.

Temperatures in the downtown area will reach the mid-80s, said Bonnie Bartling, a weather specialist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. At least 2,200 people are expected to turn out for the Mass Meditation Initiative, presented by DisclosureFest and California State Parks.

The free event, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., is to feature internationally renowned speakers, workshop leaders, yoga teachers, sound healers and live music. The mass meditation is set to take place at 2 p.m.

I dont think mid-80s is very hot, but its all relative to the person, Bartling said. People can bring umbrellas.

Forecasters said temperatures will be in the 70s along the coast, while coastal valleys will see the mid- to upper 80s and valleys will hit the upper 80s and 90s. Antelope Valley will see temperatures over 100 and possibly up to 108, Bartling said.

Higher temperatures are anticipated next week. Inland areas will see triple-digit temperatures on Monday, lasting through Wednesday, forecasters said. In some cases, they said, heat records are likely to be broken.

A dry high-pressure system centered over Arizona and the Southwest is to blame for the hot days ahead, forecasters said.

Desert and mountain communities will take most of the hit when it comes to the heat. Temperatures are expected to hover between 120 and 122 degrees early next week in the Coachella Valley and deserts in San Diego County.

Most cities in Los Angeles County will are expected to get 90-degree weather, while the desert communities in the Antelope Valley could see temperatures reach up to 110 degrees.

brittny.mejia@latimes.com

Twitter: @Brittny_Mejia

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From 122 degrees in Death Valley to 100 in Sacramento, heat wave to plague California this week

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As temperatures heat up, some plan to chill out at mass meditation in LA park - Los Angeles Times

Youre probably reading this post with a fidget spinner in your hands, arent you? Relieving stress and anxiety is almost a full-time job in itself, which has fueled a host of app services aimed at helping you relax and de-clutter your thoughts.

Aura Premium packs a litany of top-notch credentials and has quickly become one of the rising stars in the app meditation market, scoring a coveted #1 New App designation from Apple last February. And right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to their in-demand service for over 80 percent off just $69.99 from TNW Deals.

Featured in outlets as varied as Forbes and TeenVogue, Aura has compiled the meditation and brain relaxation techniques of top teachers and therapists into an app that actually learns what works for you.

Whether you attack stress like cancer with lots of activities, or would rather tackle your anxieties in quick short bursts, Auras groundbreaking machine learning abilities craft science-backed meditation exercises for your particular approach. In 3- to 10-minute sessions, youll work through guided meditations thatll break up your mental gridlock.

Aura tracks your mood, gauges your patterns, offers daily reminders and even displays your stress relief progress visually so you can track your improvement.

Also available on one-year ($29.99) and two-year ($49.99) subscription plans, you can take advantage of Auras critically hailed service forever for under $70 with this limited time deal.

Get this deal

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Live a stress-free life with a lifetime of Aura's premium meditation service for over 80 percent off - TNW

Yoga and meditation may do more than just help you feel relaxed in the moment. A new scientific review suggests that these and other mindfulness exercises can actually reverse stress-related changes in genes linked to poor health and depression.

In the new paper, published in Frontiers in Immunology, British researchers analyzed the findings from 18 previously published studiesinvolving a total of 846 peopleon the biological effects of meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, Qi gong and Tai Chi. Together, the authors say, the studies show that these mind-body exercises appear to suppress the expression of genes and genetic pathways that promote inflammation.

Inflammation can temporarily boost the immune system, and can be protective against infection and injury, the authors write in their paper. But in todays society, in which stress is primarily psychological, the bodys inflammatory response can become chronic and can impair both physical and mental health.

Researchers found that people who practiced these activities regularly had fewer signs of inflammation, including a decrease in their production of inflammatory proteins. This signals the reversal of the molecular signature of the effects of chronic stress, they wrote, which may translate to a reduced risk of inflammation-related diseases and conditions.

Environment and lifestyle can both affect which genes are turned on and off , and that can have real effects on disease risk, longevity and even which traits get passed on to future generations . Stressful events, for example, can activate the fight-or-flight response and trigger a chain reaction of stress-related changes in the bodyincluding activating specific genes involved in making proteins that produce inflammation.

Lead author Ivana Buric, a PhD student in Coventry Universitys Brain, Belief and Behaviour Lab in England, says her team was surprised to see that different types of mind-body techniques had such similar effects at the genetic level. Sitting meditation is quite different than yoga or Tai Chi, she said in an email, yet all of these activitieswhen practiced regularlyseem to decrease the activity of genes involved in inflammation.

This is a relatively new field of research, she adds, and its likely that similar benefits could be obtained from other lifestyle changes like healthy eating and exercise. There arent yet enough studies to know how activities like yoga compare to other types of physical activity in terms of altering gene expression.

Buric says the existing studies suggest that mind-body interventions cause the brain to steer our DNA processes along a path which improves our well being. She also emphasizes that inherited genes are not static and that DNA activity can depend on things people can control. By choosing healthy habits every day, we can create a gene activity pattern that is more beneficial for our health, she says. Even just 15 minutes of practicing mindfulness seems to do the trick.

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Yoga and Meditation Can Change Your Genes, Study Says - TIME

Meditation is supposed to be one of those practices that brings you immediate relief.

However, for some reason, the thought of it tends to feel like just another task on the to-do list.

But the truth is, it really doesnt have to be.

Yes, its an allotted time of peace and quiet, but instead of feeling like you have tohalt all of your responsibilities to sit in unbearable silence, there are actually ways you can make meditation work so that its a normal, more natural part of your day.

If you take public transportation on your way to work, then this just might be the best time for you to plug in those headphones, turn on some ambient sounds, and zone out.

By the time you reach your destination (especially if youre commuting for more than 10 minutes), youll feel renewed and ready to go with a totally clear mind.

Yaaas, inner Buddha.

If youre lucky enough to enjoy an hour-long lunch break, take 10 out of those 60 minutes to simply walk around the block.

Walking can put you in a complete meditative space. Breathe in the sights and sounds around you. Actually take the time to notice how the leaves sway ever so slightly in the breeze. Watch the people pass you by.

It really makes you feel in control when youre at peace while you watch everyone else scramble by. Take this moment to simply be alive.

You werent alive this morning; you were rushing through the motions. Now, you owe it to yourself to just be alive.

Yes, right there, right at your desk. There are apps and videos out there that feature short one, three, and five-minute guided meditations.

A quick closing of the eyes and solemn retreat to your inner peace may be all you need to bang out another couple of hours on that Excel spreadsheet.

You are a human being, so no matter how much time you think you dont have, you are absolutely entitled to three to five minutes for a bathroom break.

Allow two, or even three, of your bathroom breaks to be meditation breaks if you absolutely have to step away.

Its only natural to settle into your comfortable routine when you get home. You change into your comfy clothes, lounge on the couch with your loved ones, watch pointless television. Believe me, I get it.

Overall, your after-work goal shouldbe tounwind from the tension and stress of the past several hours.

Unwinding is nice, yes, butmindful unwinding is even more powerful. So before you race to your car or the train, perhaps take just a few minutesbefore heading home to simply sit with yourself.

Trust me, by the time you get home and lounge on that couch, youll feel so much better.

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Imani Brammer is a writer, on-air talent and YouTuber, where she produces videos on how to navigate the nuances of adulthood. Subscribe to her channel at YouTube.com/ImaniBrammer.

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5 Ways To Sneak Some Meditation Into Your Hectic Work Day - Elite Daily

A labyrinth is often confused with a maze. So what is the difference? A maze is designed to confuse anyone who enters, while a labyrinth has only a single path. Instead of being designed to lose the user, wandering through a labyrinth is thought ofas a way to find answers or to meditate.

The history of labyrinths dates back to ancient times. Famous ones include the cathedral of Chartres, France, and the cathedral of Duomo di Siena in Tuscany.

Labyrinthshave been used by a wide variety of cultures too, with evidence of them in Egypt, Italy, Scandinavia, North America and Crete. While they are sometimes pagan, used as part ofritualistic dances, they have also been used by Christian religions for centuries.

There has been a resurgence of labyrinths in the last decade, something Ecobotanica owner Linda Brennan knows all too well. After all, she has one in her own back yard.

Brennan sayssome people chant while walking the labyrinth, others dance. She likes to stand at the beginning and think of a question she needs an answer to, before slowly walking the path through the labyrinth. As you walk the circle you will find the best way to answer, she says. By the time you get to the middle, your mind has worked through it.

Patterns for a labyrinth can easily be downloaded from online and there are lots of different styles to choose from.

Brennans Seven Circuit Classical Labyrinthstarted as a sketch on paper, which she thenapplied to a flat area in her yard. The base is decomposed granite, while rocks marking out the labyrinth path were hand-selected from a landscape yard. The actual construction was done during a workshop, where a team of volunteers formed a chain gang, passing rocks along the line.

When making a labyrinth, there are several ways to form it. The design can be made with rope, chalk, paint on tiles or even a grass marking line. Some have created the pattern on canvas and then roll that out. Elaborate ones use hedges or mosaic tiles.

The entry should face east, for the rising sun. By the time you are in the middle you should be back facing east.

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Make your own mystical garden meditation labyrinth - Starts at 60

ahmedabad, June 17 A grand celebration was held today on the centenary of Sabarmati Ashram founded by Mahatma Gandhi here today.

Mahatma's grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi, who attended the celebration, said at a time when the country is divided on the lines of religion and caste, Gandhi's ideas have a special significance.

Two new permanent exhibition galleries on Gandhi's life -- My Life is My Message Gallery and Charkha Gallery -- were opened at the Ashram on this occasion. Also, there was a tree plantation program.

Gandhi established the Ashram on June 17, 1917. As he became the leader of the freedom struggle, the Ashram virtually became the movement's headquarters.

It was also from here on 12 March 1930 that Gandhi launched the famous Dandi march and vowed not to return to the Ashram till India gets freedom.

Two books -- 'Letters to Gandhi' and 'Pioneers of Satyagraha' -- were released on the occasion today.

My Life is My Message Gallery has exhibits depicting Mahatma's entire life. Charkha Gallery showcases models of Charkha (spinning wheel) collected from across India.

"After the Ashram's establishment, the freedom movement was run from here," Gopalkrishna Gandhi noted.

As the country is increasingly divided on religious and caste lines, we need to spread Gandhi's ideas, said the former West Bengal governor.

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Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram was set up on this day 100 yrs ago - Outlook India