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So, it's been over a year since I have updated this blog. But, I figured since I updated the look of the site it might be worthwhile to jot down some thoughts. I suppose the reason I don't write on this thing steadily is because I have spent most of the past year writing full time for various outlets. My busiest week was 12,000 publishable words (which was exhausting).
Currently, I am writing regularly for Veteran Journal, Opposing Views, Piccolo Universe, as well as some freelance outlets. I am also always working on fiction. My first serial fiction attempt did not really "catch on." There are two episodes left plotted and I may finish them if interest picks up or I find myself with some time.
Although, without the renewed interest, I will probably be spending most of my time on my current serial The Prophet Hustle published on JukePop Serials. It's a kind-of fantasy, kind-of sci-fi, kind of thriller about a man who becomes a prophet for a little known god.
What this current serial has in common with the last one is that I am switching up narrative P.O.V. and telling the story in a non-linear fashion. It's gotten a decent response on the JukePop site, but I am wondering if my approach discourages rather then encourages readers while it unfolds.
That's why, for my next serial story I am going to stick to a more straightforward approach. It's a story about a character who premieres in the fourth chapter of The Prophet Hustle. Her group--called the Antagonists--is like the FBI when it comes to celestial matters. It's a framework that could support multiple stories, I think.
So it's a lot of work, but it's what I've signed up for.
#GOODLitSwerveAutumn is an ebook published by NAP Magazine and assembled by Swagmaster Salvatore Pane. There are poems, fiction, and nonfiction and it's free to anyone. Download it today!
Below is an excerpt from my submission "#TeamYeezy."
Kanye West Doesn't Care About White People
The Today Show interview is analogous to the problem that the haters (as identified by President Bush) have with Kanye. When ODB stormed the Grammy stage, he didn't receive nearly as much backlash as 'Ye. But Dirty got his own microphone. Yeezy is well known for his unadulterated dismay at being overlooked for awards, because he knows he's the most deserving. There's no denying his musical genius. Claire Tomko, a hilarious writer outta my clan, believes Kanye is the voice of her generation. "Kanye West is the only artist who deserves to have a big ego," she said, "He's Kanye fucking West." It wasn't even narcissism because Kanye was speaking on behalf of another artist. The problem with the VMA stunt was that he snatched the microphone away from lily-white Taylor Swift to extoll the virtue of his friend and Big Homey's babymama Beyoncé. Entertainment anchors gleefully speculated that Kanye was racist himself.
It's not that Kanye doesn't appreciate white culture. Musically, I was raised with one foot in hip-hop and the other in heavy metal. When I was listening to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, the song "Hell of a Life," came on. The opening melody is electronic, but sounds like a guitar being played with a lot of distortion. I was immediately reminded of the way Black Sabbath opened many of their songs. No sooner had I finished the thought than the chorus of the song mimics Ozzy Osbourne's singing style from Iron Man. White culture doesn't get much whiter than Black Sabbath and Beavis & Butt-head's signature song.
Matt Lauer, with his embarrassing hairline and milquetoast quasi-journalist demeanor, sought only to chastise Kanye during that interview as if he was speaking to an unruly thirteen year-old and not the most significant hip-hop artist still making records that captures and keeps the attention of America all the way up to its Presidents. An atypically reserved Kanye attempted to carefully phrase his answers with contrition and nuance. Lauer continuously interrupts, restating Kanye's answers in a manner that both reduces their substance and better fits the soft-spoken narrative he was attempting to weave. Lauer didn't want to hear Kanye's side of the story; he wanted America to sit in judgment of Kanye with Lauer's smugness as the proxy. Yeezy wasn't having that shit from that glib motherfucker.
My friend just started a blog. Here is the link: http://wanttoodo.blogspot.com/.
She only has one post right now and would most likely be mortified that I am promoting it here, but she can shut up. Actually, I don't think she can, which is why this blog is going to be a good one. As a writer (I have read a number of her student works) she strives for a professional and lyrical tone. She obsesses over every detail and never thinks what she comes up with is good enough.
However, this first blog post is the first time I have seen her capture her delightfully crass conversational style in her writing. Take this excerpt, "You know, if the weekdays were all siblings, all real flesh and blood individuals, Monday would be the pouty son-of-a-bitch sandwiched between his prissy-pious sister, Sunday, and the goofy, giggly Tuesday. Monday is just, blah, right there hating everything and everyone. Goddamn pouting." Unlike traditional blogs that center on a theme, I get the sense that this blog will be more of an online diary and the benefit will be the reader.
The author is a delightful collection of contradictions. She is a sorority girl, but one that would much rather drink beer and talk about books than don a glittery shirt and yell "Woo!" every time some muscle-neck buys her a shot that tastes like The Kool-Aid Man's backwash. She comes from a loving family and a good neighborhood, but only has nightmares (Let's just hope "kitten skins" makes it into a future post). She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Writing and History, but wants to spend some time working shit-jobs in the real world so she has something to write about other than her family life and college. If only you could read it in her voice. "Motherfucker," has never sounded so lilting.
So as I wrap up my time at the University of Pittsburgh, I have had the good fortune to study with some great writers and artists. Two of them, Emily O'Donnell and Hadley Pratt, are the editors of the student culture magazine The Original which is preparing to release it's 11th issue. The magazines are free and located on-campus and other select locations.
For the 11th issue, I profiled slam poet and Pitt professor, Adriana Ramirez. Emily took the photos and wrote a sidebar to the piece about how Adriana uses World of Warcraft in her classes. It was great to work with my friend. Also, I am happy to have my work in a magazine edited by Hadley. My friend Vincent Mok has some articles in the magazine, too. When I won the two Writer's Cafe/Prosody writing contests, Nina Sabak has some poetry in there, too. It's a great publication. Hadley and Emily did a fantastic job overseeing the work of the staff of the magazine. Congratulations on the magazine, I am proud to have been part of it.
This year I began (what I hope) is my last year before graduation and I finally had to do some academic accounting to see how close I was to finishing the program. I admit, I did not approach my academic career at the University of Pittsburgh in the best way, at least with respect to grade point average and meeting general education requirements. Rather than choosing classes from a checklist, I selected courses based on my interest in the subject or working with the particular professor.
I don't understand why post-secondary education is structured the way that this. While these Universities with long and storied history (Pitt is celebrating it's 225th Anniversary this year) benefit from that longevity and experience, it also means that they are more reluctant to change their ways.
Part of the reason for-profit education is so successful at convincing students--especially adult-students who have been out of the school system for a while--to pay higher premiums to attend their institutions. While these companies are not without their administrative bullshit, but that's to be expected when the aim is to keep as much money as possible. With Pitt, it's different.
If I wanted to ensure my entrance into graduate school, I could have taken only easy classes with professors that have high Rate My Professor scores and earned an easy 4.0. While I have studied very little pedagogy, I do think that the University system should move away from the same grading system that happens in high school. I don't even know what sort of evaluation system I would put in its place, but it feels antiquated and counter-productive to encouraging people to challenge themselves intellectually. So far I am doing okay with a 3.76, so it's not like I am doing terribly. I just don't think the system works.
And this blog peters out anticlimactically in 3...2...1....
She started the car and the end of the 10,000 Maniacs cover of "Because the Night," blared from the speakers. I didn't know that then, but that version of the song was very familiar. Still, it always was a little soft for the metalhead that I was in the 90s. I had to avoid girl music.
"Oh shit, no," she said and restarted the song from the beginning. I laughed. She put the windows down and opened the sunroof. The heat pounded in the window, but almost immediately the swell of the music seemed to keep it at bay. Pittsburgh in August can be brutal, but the car felt open, freer. The music played on, spilling from the windows into crowded city streets as we idled in front of the red light. People were staring, and she turned to me. Her face had sharp angles, that when arranged into the smile she wore at the moment made her perfect. Before she turned towards the people on the sidewalk staring at the car, she twisted her face into a hard sneer. She leaned back in her seat and nodded her head to the beat, as if listening to the Wu-Tang Clan instead of a crooning Natalie Merchant. I laughed again. By the next red-light, I wore a similar sneer and randomly gesticulated at line breaks in the lyrics. The stares sent our way asked a hundred questions that were only answered with insatiable laughter as we sped away when the light turned green.
Naming the Moutain is her first chapbook and it is available from the Poetry Society of New Hampshire. All one must do is write a check or get a money order for six dollars and send that shit to:
Fellow writers and poets however, I caution you. This chapbook is good. So good in fact that an unavoidable side-effect can be an unwarranted envy towards Nina. Extreme hateration. Luckily, you can just reread the book a few more times. The second time around you realize you'll never be that good, and then on the third read-through, you figure that what-the-hell, you're okay with your lot in life and go back to your mediocre science-fiction....
In all seriousness, this book is great and so is it's writer. Buy it. You will not be sorry.
It seems appropriate that I used a gift-card to the University Bookstore, earned for my participation in a literature conference, to purchase a collected volume of Philip K. Dick stories. The collection contains the inspirations for the movies Total Recall, Paycheck, Minority Report, and the 1995 turd on film Screamers. I've read about a third of the book and it is fantastic. I am not reading the stories in order, but instead I am selecting them at random, dependent solely on my whims when I sit down to read.
One story entitled "The Eyes Have It," is a delightful departure from the normally heavy, dire stories that Dick is known to write. In the story, the narrator becomes aware of a conspiracy through reading a poorly-written novel. My intention is not to spoil it, but I will say that using the narrator's logic...evidence is EVERYWHERE.
Another notable story was entitled "War Veteran," and it is a very interesting scenario Dick crafts here. The titular character is a man out of his time, and those he meets only seek to exploit him. While the science fiction elements of the story serve the ultimate plot, I wonder if the alienation and total lack of concern that the Veteran gets from those he encounters is something Dick did intentionally or if I am just extrapolating something from my own perspectives to fit in the context of this story.
Dick's writing may not be as disciplined as some other literary sci-fi writers, but it is all STORY. His characters are all flawed and in a big way. Effective science fiction captures the moods and attitudes of the present-day world and incorporates it into a scenario that is alien in time or space. Dick does this almost effortlessly, capturing visions of futures that tell the reader more about the time during which the story was published than any realistic attempt to predict what's to come.
Along with Stephen King, George Lucas was integral to my childhood, specifically my childhood with respect to fictional characters. I didn't have a father, so it's no wonder why Temple of Doom is my favorite Indiana Jones movie. Short Round was a little Asian me. He even did karate, just like I will when I grow up...I digress. I would always have to defend it from others who said that it was "the worst one." When Indy 4 finally came out, it was actually the best gift they could have given me. I haven't had to defend Temple of Doom since.
I don't have much in the way of religion, either. However, insomuch that I do my pantheon, my mythology, my religion is Star Wars. When I heard that the prequels were finally happened, it was like the second-coming. I took my girlfriend at the time (who hadn't seen any Star Wars) to the first movie and was not willing to admit I was disappointed. In fact, to this day, I am disappointed with neither new entry into the canon of the hallowed characters of my youth. Sure, they didn't (couldn't) compare to the originals, but Lucas owes us nothing. He was willing to give us more of what we loved (or what he thought we loved) and we've thrown it back in his face, disgusted. I can't figure out if we're assholes or if it is just a testament to Lucas's talent, that we care so much about these made up people.
When I heard about Wind Through the Keyhole, as a stand-alone Dark Tower novel, I was overjoyed. Another favorite series (from my youth, adolescence, adulthood...just see last post) would continue. King didn't owe us anymore, but we got it. I should have seen it as an omen that this story was to be considered (chronologically) book 4.5.
We start with our familiar characters meeting unfamiliar characters and they are on-the-move to avoid a dangerous weather phenomenon known as a "Starkblast." I saw where this was heading and I thought of a certain 17 year-old listening to Metallica on the floor of a hospital hallway (see last post) who would be pissed. Yet, I was almost twice the age of that boy and I was willing, eager even, to revisit Roland's youth with him, before the world moved on.
Another pleasant surprised happened when got into the take of the Skin-Man, but one that spoke to the writer in me. For the first time, King writes Roland using the first-person narrative point-of-view. However, about a hundred pages into the book, I realized where we were headed. It was a story that framed the telling of another story that framed the telling of a THIRD story. This one with none of our familiar characters (save for a King villain staple). This story-within-a-story-within-another-story takes up just over half of the book. A little over three-hundred pages, we only get 146 with Roland.
Yet, we were owed no more books about this world, so the fact that we got anything is great. Perhaps there will be more stand-alone stories or perhaps this is the final window into Mid-World. Is this a "must-have" book for fans of the series? No. But is it a book worth reading? Sure. Just, if you are rabid fan of The Dark Tower, lower your expectations and be pleasantly surprised.
Much like every writer that has been formed in the bowels of nerd Hades, Stephen King is very responsible for how much I wanted to write. In fact, after reading a few of his novels as a very young (too young, really) child, I even wrote him a letter telling him how much I hoped to supplant him as one of the most successful living American writers, or maybe it was more of a fan letter...who really knows? What shocked me was getting a signed postcard as a reply, along with words of encouragement. So since I was Stephen King-approved, I dove into his works. And I found The Gunslinger.
I am not sure when I started reading The Dark Tower series, but I remember reading the third book and wondering how he was going to bring the series to a close, with only a few pages left to read. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that it wasn't a trilogy. So, I had to wait. This was before the internet and communication was done through a series of smoke-signals and banging on rocks. There was no information about when the next book in the series would be published. I was a mess. Later, when fans of the show LOST would be panicked and half-crazy because they couldn't wait for whatever was next, I would bend down, give them a sip of water and tell them, "I started reading The Dark Tower in the 80's." And they look at me, thankful, because they know I understand.
Flash-forward to Christmas 1997. I was elated, because two things for which I had been waiting for were under my tree. The first new Metallica album since their eponymous "Black Album," and Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass. I had my discman ready to go with the CD and the book ready to crack. Then, my grandmother had a heart attack. Don't worry she's fine. Well no, actually she's dead now, but she lived for many years after this particular occurence. I have a very clear memory however of sitting on the floor in the hallway of Suburban General Hospital (also now dead) and listening to Metallica and going to Mid-World.
I am certain it was because of the amount of hype that I had been building for both of these things and the fact that my little teenage heart was broken and terrified that my grandmother was about to die, but both of these pieces of art, the album and the book, let me down. I have since gone back and revisited these works and realize that they are quite good. But at the time, I wanted more thundering metal and more Roland and the Gang following the Beam and fightin' bad guys. I did not want Marianne Faithful and a hundreds of pages-long flashback.
When the series was finally over, I finished the final book on my rack in Iraq. The end, pissed me off. I seethed, calling it a cop-out and horseshit, but again, it was the problem of anticipation. Just like those LOST fans can tell you, the end of a story you love never quite meets your expectations (sole exception: Harry Mutha-Effin' Potter). I have yet to reread that final book, but when I do, I bet it will be different. Anticipation makes for harsher criticism than is sometimes deserved....
(This blew up longer than I expected. The actual post about "Wind Through the Keyhole," shall follow this lengthy one. But, I think you needed the context to understand what's coming.)
I was applying for writing gigs and one editor wanted a short paragraph "describing your favorite store." I found this request a little silly at first (and a little sexist since the ad was for "Women's Interest writers,")but when I thought about what is my favorite store, I realized that it was the comic book shop in my neighborhood growing up.
It was a paradise for children, Toys & Hobbies from Rainbow III. The store's name had much of the same effect on kids as did George Lucas starting Star Wars with Episode IV. It made one think that there was more out there, something they missed. It was full of toys, comic books, and models, but that isn't why it was my favorite store. We were a poor family and I had a weekly allowance of two dollars, which wasn't much even back then. What made this place magical were Gene and Gwen, the owners. I'd walk in, surrounded by the pantheon of superheroes that allowed a wheezy, unatheletic kid to dream of secret identities and hidden powers.
They knew I had no intentions for purchase, but they wouldn't care if I spent hours with them talking about the stories of Spider-Man or Batman, and sometimes, about my own troubles. While it might have been a ploy for sales, Gene often encouraged me to purchase two copies of much-loved – yet ultimately expected to be collectible – comics, telling me to look at it as an investment.
He soon realized that it was futile. No amount of implied riches were worth more to me than the 15 or 20 minutes I could escape into the universes of Marvel or DC. Eventually, he saw them as an investment of a different kind, an investment in my imagination and growth as a storyteller. Sadly, it closed before I could take my own daughter there. She is growing up in a time where Comic Book movies are the norm and access to stories is much greater than it was. Even though my daughter has inherited my innate cynicism, she too would have been simultaneously lost and at home in Toys & Hobbies from Rainbow III.
Wherever you are, Gene and Gwen, thanks for playing a big role in getting this nerd through adolescence, but not quite out of it.
I had never read The Stranger by Albert Camus, but its reputation preceded it. While I personally have never drifted towards existentialist thinking, I recognize that some might find it important. Without taking into consideration the philosophical lessons of the book, as a story I was unimpressed with the novel. The characters, especially that of Meursault, make no choices in the book. The character of the Prosecutor, or more accurately the content of his argument, struck me as unbelievable to the point of being absurd (which may have been Camus's intention). It seemed that the character of Meursault made only one real choice: to shoot the Arab four more times after his initial shot. As a reader, I wanted an explanation for this action and know that were this a piece of student-fiction and not a much-revered book, any professor or peer-critic would say the same.
The closest thing I have to a religion is Star Wars. Whenever someone over the age of 16 tells me that they have never seen a Star Wars film, rather than preach the virtues of the space opera, I merely look at them with pity. Because even if the person does watch the movie (and enjoys it) they still will not have seen it as a child. Nor will the special effects within the movie seem as magical as they did to children in the late seventies and early eighties. Thus, I feel the is why my reaction to The Stranger is what it is. This is a book for high school English classes or young readers still forming their ideas about the world. Reading this book for the first time, I have the disadvantage of my experiences and world-view. Meursault is just an ass, as is Marie, Raymond, and the Prosecutor, among others. While I see the value this book has as a piece of literature, as a reader I am merely glad it was short.
I have read George Orwell's Animal Farm about a half-dozen times and I always reread it during an election year. This book is perhaps the best book about politics ever written. While Orwell originally wrote this book to aim criticism at Stalin and what Orwell saw as the bastardization of socialism, I think that the book is applicable to the American political process today.
While many comparisons can be made, I shall only highlight the one that I think may be the most important moral in Orwell's political fable: the pigs' transformation into humans. I noticed this during the 2008 election, specifically the hope that was put into then-candidate Obama and the change that he might bring. Obama seemed to be different -- in areas other than his skin color -- even though his electorate placed loftier hopes on his Presidency than any man could actually achieve. Yet, like Napolean and the other pigs changed from four-legged animals living the same as the others to two-legged whiskey-drinking animals that slept in beds, many of those most hopeful about Obama feel that he has changed in much the same way. They elected a smooth-talking, basketball-playing, pragmatist who, after inauguration, became an ineffective communicator, played golf, and seemed just like the politicians Americans are used to having fuck up their lives.
Senator McCain had also gone through similar changes. In 2000 he was truly the maverick candidate who seemed to care more about his principles than the "right moves" to be elected. Throughout the Bush-43 Administration and the 2008 election, he had been warped into a shell of his former self. He backed positions he didn't believe in four or eight years previously. The 2009 became about the victory, perhaps stemming from a sense of entitlement, and less about what America (or Manor Farm) needed. It seems that once in the farmhouse, it is hard to avoid eventually walking on two legs.
That is the beauty of Orwell's "Fairy Story." It is applicable in almost any situation despite being specifically critical of Stalin and the Soviets -- the horn and hoof flag described sounds very much like the hammer and sickle of the Soviet flag. I reread it during election years because it makes it easier, with the details fresh in my mind, to apply to the current circumstances. It hasn't failed yet.
This past semester, I was in Thora Brylowe's Enlightenment to Revolution class, which focuses on the literature of the eighteenth century. Outside of Twain and Edgar Allan Poe, I hadn't read and had little use for literature written prior to the twentieth century. However, after this course I have a new appreciation for the works Richardson, Johnson, Walpole, Austen, among others. After our final class, standing outside of the Cathedral of Learning (which had just experienced what may have been the final bomb threat in the deluge of bomb threats Pitt experienced this semester), Dr. Brylowe suggested that the work of Philip K. Dick dealt with much of the same themes as the work we had been reading in class. On the strength of her recommendation, I read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.
While this book was not exactly the work Dr. Brylowe was referring to, I have been meaning to read this book for some time. Blade Runner has a special place in my heart. It was the first R-rated movie I ever saw (and the first pair of breasts I ever saw on-screen as well - the lovely Joanna Cassady). Yet, the book is vastly different than the film.
The most interesting difference, I think, is the inclusion of the new religion Mercerism. Humans place their hands on an empathy box and are joined with the thoughts of others. When Deckard and his wife purchase a live goat, she wants to use the empathy box to share their joy with the others. Deckard doesn't want to do this because it would mean that they would lose the feeling of joy because the emotions of the others would influence them as well. Still, he takes the handles and has a conversation with the image of Mercer (who is revealed to be an actor on a soundstage). Later, Mercer appears to Deckard before he retires the final androids and after an android kills his goat, flees to the radioactive sand dunes in Oregon to act out Mercer's eternal climb up a mountain.
Of course, Mercerism and the empathy boxes are technology, but since they are never explained they might as well be magic. Mercerism employs empathy, something the androids lack, and as much as it is a religion it is also an example of how the humans are different from the androids. Deckard, through empathy for the androids and the joining of his consciousness to the other Mercerites, is clearly a human in this story. Whereas Ridley Scott, the director of Blade Runner, has said that he imagined that Deckard was in fact an android. This changes the story considerably and frankly I think that Deckard as a human makes both stories much more resonant. An excellent book overall.
Part of my problem with updating my unimpressive weblog is that I am never quite sure what to write about. I have seen that some blogs have specific focuses - such as my friend Vincent's fashion blog -- and others that are just journal-like entries on a myriad of topics -- such as my friend Chuck's blog. Mine, however is not so easily defined or updated that frequently.
In an effort to change all that, I am going to publish short reviews of the books I read this summer. Some of these books are well-read, but for some reason, I haven't read them yet. Others will be books written by members of the writing faculty at the University of Pittsburgh. And whatever else may strike my fancy. Suggestions are always welcome.
Well it has been awhile since I have been driven to the internet to write nonsense on my own webpage. It has been a tumultuous few months in which my car has become decidedly untrustworthy, my time working for the English Department is at an end, and I was tossed from a college bar onto the sidewalk just like it's done on TV and in the movies. The last one really twists my ankle because (along with twisting my ankle) I don't think I was entirely wrong in that case. Sure, I was being a loud but good-natured ass, but I was peaceful. I wanted no violence and the same could not be said for the sweater-boy sweetie that wanted to take me outside and punch my face. I suppose it is one of the curses that go along with being a people-person.
I have had some good writerly times though. I have been working on a rather large fiction project, a series of stories that I hope to get placed in various journals. However, I did just sell an unrelated short story for inclusion in an upcoming anthology. More details to follow. It is poetic since the story sold was my first effort at fiction after a seven or eight-year hiatus from the practice of make-believe.
Also, I had an essay published in The Hot Metal Bridge, a literary journal put together by the University of Pittsburgh MFA students. The link is to the left.
Finally, two of my poems swept the poetry category of the 2012 Writer's Cafe/Prosody contest. I will read them on Prosody Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 6:30 A.M on 90.5 FM Essential Public Radio.
As always, thanks for checking in.
What's been happening is that I have ignored my site for a few months. I am seemingly terrible at blogging regularly, especially since my ideas and gripes that would fuel most of the writing are so random and disconnected that there will not really be a chance to build an audience like one might at a food blog, media blog, et. al. My site is one year-old and I only have eight measly posts. I will try to remedy this in the coming year, because I like the idea of a public journal. It speaks to the extroverted narcissist that lives within.
I have added some new content. A literary paper written about Carol Lucci Wisner's essay The Stonehenge and the Louvre Were Cool and a piece I wrote for Matt's Naked Word about public outcry about Rahm Emmanuel calling some Congressional Representatives "retards." While it is old news, I think they overall message still resonates. Also, I like that I was able to successfully predict the Republican electoral wins in February. Perhaps I will add a post to the blog here about how I feel about "taking offense," and why it shouldn't be such a big deal, especially when it comes to words and not actions.
I have really ignored the website this week, which is basically my pattern when it comes to maintaining a presence on the internet. Part of the reason is because I have joined the Pitt English Department as an intern. While not exactly an earth-shattering achievement in either the craft of academia, it is something that I look forward to doing. There are a lot of great writers roaming around the halls of the University of Pittsburgh, and some of them are the teachers. More information about what I am doing at the website below.
Since 5/30/2010, I have written nine short stories. This was after a lull in writing fiction that lasted for more than six years. They are almost 37,000 words, about 130 pages of double-spaced, Times New Roman text. It feels good to have written this much in a year, along with writing nonfiction and poetry and other nonsense too. I like most of them, but I am sure at least three are awful. Still, I look at my nine stories and I feel pretty happy about them. Then, I think of the revision process and dread creeps in. Yet, if I am to submit any of them anywhere, it's something I need to do. I am always looking for readers and feedback, so if you are at all interested, send me an e-mail at email@example.com.
It's been a long and busy summer, but I have picked up a new gig. I am currently contributing to AND Magazine and you can read my contributions at: http://www.andmagazine.com/contributors/123_joshua_m._patton.html.
Read around and don't be afraid to click on the ads....
In the mid-nineties, I wrote a monthly column for America Online's Teen Community. I just wrote about whatever was on my mind, but I remain very proud of this column. Yet, they were lost in an AOL update so none of them exist anymore. If I could find one, I am sure it would be as awful as most of my early writing proves to be. Many of my topics came from lunchroom conversations with my peers. This little column led to much of my initial success. I self-syndicated the columns to a number of regional papers. I don't remember their names, although I did find an old copy of one of them, the Radisson, NY Free Press. This also led to my first freelance article in a California-based magazine Focus: A Magazine for Women, that was an expansion of a piece I wrote about the camaraderie between the boys in my school who became fathers. I used to receive e-mails from readers and enjoyed an inflated sense of grandeur that still persists to this day.
Yet, it wasn't all success. In fact, the success was rather rudimentary and had no real lasting significance. While I would write for the Teen Community section on AOL, I spent most of my time in the section of the service dedicated to writers and writing. I had access in those old forums to many experienced and helpful professionals. There was also a section where writers could find opportunities -- anthologies in need of manuscripts, magazines in need of freelancers, and content for these new-fangled websites. One such advertisement asked for inspirational stories. I don't remember how I did it -- this was on AOL's service, not the web -- but I directed the poster to my articles on AOL and my published clips and waited for a response.
I was in high-school at the time, tenth- or eleventh-grade, and the mid-term exam was legendary for being a real bastard to pass and failure resulted in extra homework for the rest of the year. Also, doing well on the exam meant the possibility of skipping the final. I avoided the internet for a week or ten days, perhaps I was a focused student or barred from using the computer for my sass-mouth or skipping on some chores. When I returned to my e-mail, I was behind on everything. I owed AOL two columns and had a bunch of other writing to do and as I scrolled through my e-mail, I saw that the editors of the anthology had gotten back to me. They liked my work and wanted me to submit something. I had just spoken to a longtime professional in Journalism who had advised me to "never write for free." So, I attempted to negotiate with the editors. I wanted cash I could spend on a CD or a video game or some youthful bullshit. So when they responded by saying they would be willing to negotiate a back-end royalty, I decided that my plate was far too full for such fly-by-night nonsense.
A year later, Chicken Soup for the Soul took over the world.
I decided to exercise some internet narcissism and click around my website, with the excuse in mind that I was just "checking to make sure the links worked." Well, 'lo and behold, it turns out the stupid webmaster never added the link to Shot the Sheriff on the fiction page. Well, I fired that swine, but before he left he added the link. So please check it out.
It seems that when I have any serious writing to do, I wait until the last minute to do it. While I never shy away from a project or topic, literary critiques are something that I have rarely done and find a little boring, giving how citation-heavy it is. Still, it can be fun. I recently looked at the Novella Passing written by Nella Larsen, specifically the point-of-view character and how her actions can be explained via Freud's theories on paranoia. I am actually not a big fan of Freud's sexual theories. He was a wild thinker and, according to The Cocaine Papers, fun at a party, but his sex theories are more indicative that he's a Freudian Freak. The thing that pissed me off was that it worked. By applying the theories to the text, it effectively proved the case I was trying to make. I even found a way to tie in the damn Oedipus Complex. Maybe Freud isn't as full of shit as I thought?
Whatever. Even a broken clock is in love with it's mother and wishes it had a penis twice a day.
So in this first week of existing as an internet entity, I have found it to be immensely satisfying to type my name into that address bar and see something that I created. Even though anyone with ten bucks and some time to invest can do it, somehow I feel more legit. I have a weblog -- that I have mostly ignored but to have one is a necessity in this techno-publishing, 21st-century digital-age. But what the hell to write about? I certainly don't want to get involved in that SEO, product-review bullshit that dominates the monetized internet. Look, I enabled Ad Sense on this page, but it was just a click. I see ads for awful companies, like The University of Phoenix, but I might earn $.10 from some dummy clicking on it. So until I have some books to sell, you are on your own, readers. The problem is, along with the arrogance necessary to attempt a career in making stuff up there is also a sense of duty that any of your work you push on the public should at least attempt to inform and/or entertain. I am open to suggestions....


text: One of the most powerful benefits you game from having a wand of your own is that is can focus and direct energy. And there are times when we all need that! I often experience "monkey mind" when my thoughts race around and this seems increasingly common, based on what I hear from friends and clients. For that reason, I have been creating more rituals and meditations to counteract a wandering mind, one of the woes if our overbusy world.

subset: commoncrawl


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Don't go to bed with a Heavy Heart. Give your burdens to the Supreme source. Trust that everything is going to be alright. Have faith in yourself and your ability to manage and manifest a beautiful future. Put a full stop on the thoughts of today that caused you pain. Trust in yourself that it will be okay. Keep the perspective, be aware of your buttons that are getting pushed and let them all go and trust it will be fine. Don't let your mind fool you into being down, don't let your mood make you feel like it is all doom and gloom. Sleep in peace, with the faith it will be fine, and trust you can manage. A good nights sleep will leave you refreshed, whole and renewed, and the pains of today will be forgotten tomorrow. Don't Go to Bed with a Heavy Heart – Give your Burdens to the Supreme Soul -Trust him – the Lord is my Shepherd – he won't let you fall, nor will the universe. Be your own friend when you feel down and trust. How many times before has it been okay- countless.
Don't Go to Sleep with a Heavy Heart. You are loved, You are good, You are Unique, It is okay. Sweet dreams my friends.
Related Posts:-
- Light and Easy; Bright and Breezy.
- Gratitude
- Responsibility of Understanding
- It's Just an Insult!
- The Friday Feeling
- Daily Thought – I am
© 2016 ThoughtsNLifeBlog
Categories: #Thoughts


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well why not??
please feel free to jump on the band wagon that Elsie Larson of A Beautiful Mess started with listing your summer goals! here's mine:
1. play my guitar. it's just something i need to start doing again. i listen to music and always want to join in an have a jam session with jeff buckley or devendra banhart or john mayer or whoever im listening to!
2. learn "mas espanol" ... i was doing so good with my rosetta stone! that's okay though because this summer is my chance to get back with it!
3. go for walks at sunset. its so nice to do after dinner in the summer... and good for you too :)
4. cook! 5. more yoga. 6. clean my bedroom (all self explanatory)
7. wear summer dresses. i think i mentioned before that my cousin Brian had suggested that i "stop dressing like a librarian/wife" ...ha! ...and "start dressing like a girlfriend" we'll test his theory this summer!
8. project freedom. (more on this coming later)
Okay! i want to see yours! ...link me to it :)
PS. cute dresses like this one are up for grabs for 3 more days in the fancycatvintage ebay shop! ...i'll share more of my faves with you later... xo.


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Sunshine Marine Lodge has been designed to create a symbiosis between nature and the guests. Our unique localization, a gorgeous, away-from-it-all Lodge, offers a charming blend of ocean, cliff, exotic garden, beach, bush – all in one place.
We want all our guests to enjoy the ocean and nature and to revitalize themselves through the ambiance.
Every day you have the opportunity to get to know yourself better. Every adventure you experience here will change your view of reality. You decide if your holiday will be active and full of adventure, or you will bet on relaxation, mindfulness and peacefulness.
All you need to do is tell us your preferences and we will advise you on the activities suitable for you.
Zanzibar is an incredible place full of unforgettable natural, historical and cultural treasures. You're guaranteed to find something that's just right for you, whether you're a nature lover, a history or country life enthusiast or traveler searching for a beautiful place to relax.
With the right dose of support from our professional and helpful staff, you choose what's best for you to discover the real island life.
Learn the true meaning behind "Spice Island" through locally grown spices, exotic fruits in season and freshly caught seafood.
We offer a fusion cuisine with a Swahili twist which brings a flavorsome experience of local food.
Every day on your plate you can find:
Straight from the ocean fresh delicacies like tuna, marlin, lobster, calamari, octopus!
Straight from the village- fruit and vegetables full of flavor, ripe and sweet.


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Tag Archives: Lisianski Island
The People Aboard NOAA's ARC: Teams Laysan and Lisianski
Get to know the bold field biologists stationed on remote islands for NOAA's Hawaiian Monk Seal Assessment & Recovery Camps. Every year (since the 1980s!), the NOAA Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program has deployed camps in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian … Continue reading
Posted in Protected Species Tagged #YoMS2017, Hawaiian Monk Seal Assessment and Recovery Camps, Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program, HMSRP, Laysan duck, Laysan finch, Laysan Island, Lisianski Island, monk seals, NOAA, NOAA's ARC, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, NWHI, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
What do a plastic toy, a mismatched pair of slippers, and hagfish trap have in common? They all wash up in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands!
Even these extremely remote, uninhabited, and protected islands are littered with marine debris. In fact, islands in the northwestern end of the Hawaiian archipelago can be particularly inundated with debris due to their proximity to the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, … Continue reading
Posted in Protected Species Tagged Coral Reef Ecosystem Program, debris art, Hawaiian monk seal, Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program, Laysan Island, Lisianski Island, NMFS, NOAA, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, NWHI, Oscar Elton Sette, PIFSC, Protected Species, Protected Species Division, PSD, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii
The final count: cruise for monitoring of effects of ocean and climate change in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands completed
By Chip Young Scientists from the PIFSC Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) recently completed a 17-day expedition to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, where they conducted coral reef monitoring surveys at Pearl and Hermes Atoll, Lisianski Island, and French Frigate Shoals. These … Continue reading
Posted in coral reef ecosystem Tagged ARMS, autonomous reef monitoring structures, bioerosion monitoring unit, biogeochemical cycle, BMU, calcification accretion unit, calcification rate, calcium carbonate, CAU, chemical analysis, chemical composition, Chip Young, climate change, conductivity, coral bleaching, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division, corals, CRED, cruise, crustose coralline algae, cryptic biota, CTD, CTD cast, depth, fleshy algae, food web, French Frigate Shoals, HA-13-05, Hi`ialakai, Kure Atoll, Lisianski Island, monitoring, National Coral Reef Monitoring Plan, NCRMP, NOAA Ship, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, ocean acidification, ocean change, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Pearl and Hermes Atoll, percent cover, pH, recruitment rate, species diversity, temperature, temperature sensors, triennial, water sample, World Heritage Site


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The newly "anointed" leader of the remnants of the party Danny Williams co-opted to be his political vehicle has been handed his third significant by-election loss in as many months.
Last nights double-header losses show how far out in left field Premier Davis is. Hurricane Dunderdale's wide swath of destruction left a legacy of incompetence. The perceived arrogance of our own Marie Antoinette exhausted what little remaining confidence the public had in the party.
The botched leaderships of 2014 coupled by the Humber Valley Paving Scandal and the refusal of Judy Manning to seek election to the House of Assembly smothered any smoldering sparks of re-ignition. The tank is empty, there are not even any fumes to coast on.
Three by-election losses in a row would test the mettle of any party. The PCs are stuck with a dud, or perhaps to be fair the dud is the PC party he inherited. It may even be a cause of a dud leading a dud party. The bottom line is this is a case of dead man walking.
The newly minted Premier's decision to burn-up any bump he might have gotten after winning the poison chalice on appointing an inexperienced, en-elected, unproven lawyer to the Justice Portfolio showed how ill-equipped he was to govern. If he could not see the political fall-out from that decision than he did not deserve the honor of leading his party, let-a-lone the province.


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Yesterday, we reported on GQ's and the CFDA's second annual Best New Menswear Designers in America contest, whose six finalists were feted Wednesday evening at Rockefeller Plaza. OutKast's Andre Benjamin and his new clothing line Benjamin Bixby may have seemed like the crowd favorite, but the winner is New York's own Robert Geller, GQ announced this morning.
The German-born Mr. Geller, who is a favorite at the influential downtown men's boutique Odin, began a traineeship at Marc Jacobs after graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2001, and launched his eponymous men's wear line for the fall 2007 season.
He's now the winner of $50,000 in cash and the chance to design a limited-edition collection for Levi's. "We were wowed by the singularity of Robert Geller's vision, and we think he's a significant … new force in the American men's fashion scene," GQ editor-in-chief Jim Nelson said in a statement. And what good timing! Mr. Geller shows his fall 2009 collection in a space on 11th Avenue tonight at 6 p.m.


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New Uploads
I've started a new collection of images, "South Carolina Lowcountry," that is available in my gallery. All these were shot with the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens, the one I raved about in my previous post. What a great piece of glass! I'm thoroughly impressed.
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2012-13 Men's Basketball Schedule
Emmitsburg, Md. (October 1, 2012)—The Mount St. Mary's men's basketball team will face a 29-game slate that includes 12 home games, released today by head coach Jamion Christian. Highlighting the schedule will be a four-game February homestand.
Northeast Conference play begins Thursday, January 3rd, when Fairleigh Dickinson visits Knott Arena. The Mount hosts Monmouth two days later before embarking on a four-game road trip that features games against St. Francis (N.Y.), LIU Brooklyn, Bryant and Central Connecticut State.
The Mount hosts Wagner on January 24 before visiting Robert Morris two days later. The Mountaineers will then play six of their next eight games at Knott Arena, beginning with a two-game homestand against Quinnipiac (Jan. 31) and Sacred Heart (Feb. 2).
After playing at Wagner (Feb. 6) and Saint Francis (Pa.) (Feb. 9), the Mount will have a four-game homestand that features Bryant (Feb. 14), Central Connecticut State (Feb. 16), LIU Brooklyn (Feb. 21) and St. Francis (N.Y.) (Feb. 23). The regular season concludes at Monmouth (Feb .28) and Fairleigh Dickinson (Mar. 2).
The top eight teams in the regular season will advance to the Northeast Conference Tournament, which will begin on Thursday, March 7.
The non-conference schedule, which was released in August, will see the Mount play the season opener on the road for the 14th consecutive season with a Nov. 9 matchup at Pittsburgh. The Mountaineers are 0-4 all-time against the Panthers, falling 66-48 on Dec. 19, 2009, in the last meeting between the teams.
The Mount's home opener is set for Nov. 13 against Hartford. Last year, the Mount posted a 63-50 win over the Hawks in the first-ever matchup between the two squads.
The next four games are all on the road, with the first three all being played in Washington, D.C. The Mount will head to American for a Nov. 15 matchup to start the four-game road swing. This will be the eighth year in a row that the two schools have met. American holds a 31-29 lead in the all-time series, but the Mount posted a 49-42 home victory against the Eagles last year.
Mount St. Mary's will play Georgetown on Nov. 24 and George Washington two days later. Georgetown holds a 20-6 lead in the all-time series with the Mount, capturing wins in 2008 (69-58) and 2009 (83-62) in the most recent meetings. George Washington leads the all-time series, 7-2, with the Mountaineers, posting a 77-62 victory over the Mount on Nov. 10, 2007, in the last game in the series.
The Mount visits Binghamton on Dec. 1 before heading back home to play Navy on Dec. 7. The Mount is 1-1 all-time against Binghamton with the Bearcats earning a 66-59 win on Nov. 20, 2006, the last time the two teams met. The Mount and Navy will be playing for the sixth consecutive season with the Midshipmen holding a 9-6 lead in the all-time series.
The Mount resumes its series with longtime rival Loyola on Dec. 15. Mount St. Mary's holds a 96-71 lead in the most-played rivalry in the state of Maryland. The Greyhounds have won the past two matchups, including a 65-54 victory in Emmitsburg last season.
The Mount will then head to Indiana for the first-ever meeting between the two teams on Dec. 19. The Hoosiers finished the 2011-12 season ranked 13th in the nation. Mount St. Mary's will play at Western Michigan for the first time on Dec. 22.
The final game of the non-conference schedule will be on Dec. 29 when UMBC visits Knott Arena. The Mount holds a 27-18 lead in the all-time series with the Retrievers, but this will be the first time the two teams have met since UMBC left the Northeast Conference in 2003.


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/ Fantasy / Wholly Undead
Fantasy 222 Chapters 1M Views
Author: Voidmirage
4.7 (60 ratings)
Are we ever wholly dead? Completely dead?
Jack has lived a lonely sad life, and we follow him into death! Follow Jack's journey into death, where he finds that death isn't the end, but just the beginning.
After death, Jack awakes in a new world, very alien from our own, in every way one can imagine. As some things change, others do not; is it human nature that is vile or do all intelligent beings become a slave to their ambitions.
Jack finds himself the ruler of an undead kingdom. Furthermore, he is The Holy Witch King, an undead with Holy powers? What's a bonehead to do?
Revised Synopsis:
Join Jack, after his death by microwaved food, as he reincarnates into the body of a ruler of an undead kingdom in a strange environment of the underworld. Follow our, wannabe nihilist and socially awkward, hero as he learns about his world, and tries to play the part of their supreme pontiff and ruler of the Holy Kingdom of Deagoth.
The novel features heavy world-building elements, many characters, drama, cultivation, and magic.
Give it a try, and leave a review.
And here is a map to help understand locations, as they are mentioned in the story.
Releasing chapters on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Extra chapters are posted on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Please consider buying me a coffee, as all coffees donated goes to the steady supply of caffeine in my veins.
Please switch to the pop-up to complete the payment.
Complete the daily and EXP missions, as well as every week's reading missions to obtain EXP and SS as rewards.Learn more about the rules 1. You can obtain the corresponding EXP and Bonus SS as rewards by completing daily missions and EXP missions, as well as weekly reading missions. 2. The obtained EXP can raise your user level. 3. Bonus SS can be used to unlock chapters, gift authors, etc. They are effective for 30 days. 4. Daily Tasks and corresponding rewards renew daily at 00:00 UTC+8. Don't forget to claim your rewards in time. 5. Weekly Reading Missions refer to the time you spend reading novels and comics on Webnovel every week. 6. The weekly reading time is calculated while your device is connected to the Internet. This might result in a delay of several minutes.
Read on the app and claim your rewards!
Read anywhere, anytime


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Travel Tech
Olympus Stylus 770 SW
Whether you're in the pool, at the beach, or trudging across frozen tundra, the 7.1-megapixel Stylus 770 ($400) is tough: It's waterproof, shock-proof, and has a manometer (atmospheric pressure and altitude/depth). Terry Sullivan
This site organizes travel content from BootsnAll, del.icio.us, and Flickr by region of the world. Read blogs and articles about places of interest, view photos, and check helpful links. Erik Rhey
iDisguise Theft-Proof iPod Case
This $9.95 case cloaks your iPod nano or shuffle and comes in wintergreen or peppermint varieties. New designs will replace old ones to keep would-be thieves guessing. Anton Galang


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Plum Island NY
The Lyme Conspiracy
Tragic Lyme Stories
Lyme Crime
Plum Island
Lyme disease Treatment
Joseph Bradley Novels
About Joseph
Contact Joseph
My Blog
These are photographs of (who knows what) that have washed up around the shorelines surrounding Plum Island. What type of experiments are they conducting there? Is it out of the scope of possibility they were inoculating ticks with Lyme disease and the ticks infected the animal population on the Island? It is a known fact that birds and deer migrate off the Island to the mainland.
Map surrounding Plum Island. It is located 10 miles due south of Old Lyme Connecticut.
Jesse Ventura, Conspiracy Theory, Plum Island segment.
Website Designed
List Your Business for Free


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Blackboard Connect Calling System
Post date: Jun 21, 2016 4:05:46 PM
Harrisburg School District uses a calling mass calling system called Blackboard Connect to communicate with district patrons. The calling system allows the district and each school building to place calls to parents, guardians, and staff in quick and effective manner.
For parents or guardians to receive a General Notification call, the parent must provide the office in which their child is attending school a contact phone number. The building will then designate this number as the "Alert" number. The alert number will be the phone number the system will dial to send out calls. Parents may also provide the building a email address and cell phone number if you desire to receive not only a phone call but additionally a email and and a text message.
In addition, the system will also post a message to the district Facebook page.


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Ocean County Insurance Agents and Brokers in Ocean County, NJ ...
Local business listings / directory for Insurance Agents and Brokers in Ocean County, NJ. Yellow pages, maps, local business reviews, directions and more for .
Insurance Sales Representative jobs in Ocean County, NJ
Jobs 1 - 10 of 37 . 37 Insurance Sales Representative Jobs available in Ocean County, NJ on Indeed.com. one search. all jobs. . Colonial Life - New Jersey .
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NJPAIP-NJ PAIP insurance rates are set by a state appointed agency no shopping . New Jersey Life Insurance, NJ Transit, NJ Lottery, NJCAIP Commercial Insurance, NJ . NJ PAIP Consumer Assistance for NJ Ocean County in South Jersey .
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Garback Agency
NJ AUTO INSURANCE . Using products such as life insurance, disability and long-term care insurance, we are then able to help secure . Ocean County, NJ .
Term Life Insurance (for healthy seniors)
Key features:
- Medical examination required, to prove that the insured is in good health
Dianne Guyette | LinkedIn
Current. Community Relations Coordinator at Senior Helpers of Ocean County, NJ; Health & Life Insurance Agent at Hagaman Insurance Group; Supplemental .
- Insured covered up to the age of 90 or 95 (depends on insurance company guidelines)
- Premiums increase towards the end of the Term
- Many seniors outlive the fixed term so look for a policy that can be converted to whole life insurance
- Consider purchasing Burial Insurance also, should the senior outlive the Term
Burial Insurance (for healthy seniors)
Key features:
- No medical examination required
- Insured person is covered for life
- Premiums are locked-in and do not change
- Moreover, cash value increases over time
- If the insured is healthy, then you receive full benefit the day after you pay your first premium
- Coverage cannot be canceled as long as you pay your premiums on time
- Proceeds can be used for burial costs and other end-of-life expenses
Graded Benefits Burial Insurance (for seniors with health problems)
Key features:
- No medical examination required
- Insured person is covered for life
- Premiums are locked-in and do not change
- Policy increases in cash value over time
- You typically only get partial coverage for the first two years, and the full insured amount only in the third year of the policy
- Insurance company cannot cancel coverage as long as you pay premiums on time
- Proceeds can be used for burial costs and other end-of-life expenses
Ocean County New Jersey Telephone Systems
450 Brick Blvd. Brick, New Jersey 08723 . Dallas insurance broker: auto insurance, individual/group health insurance, homeowners insurance, life insurance, .


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The conclusion of Round 4 was marked by huge upsets, in yet another great day of surfing at the 2014 J-Bay Open, in Supertubes.
Matt Wilkinson is already one of the standouts of the South African event. The goofy-footer eliminated Kelly Slater in Round 3, with a consistent performance and multiple clean snaps.
The final waves before the buzzer saw Slater slipping off his board while Wilkinson's rhythm continued, earning him another nine-point ride and the win.
"No one really looks forward to a heat against Kelly, but my backhand and my boards are feeling solid. It's so hard to beat anyone out here at J-Bay. I knew I needed to catch good waves against Kelly, and I'm stoked to make it through," says Wilkinson.
Slater leaves the competition in equal 13th place, while Wilkinson went on to win his Round 4 heat against Adriano de Souza and Kolohe Andino, and earn a place in the quarterfinals.
Alejo Muniz is also showing off. He defeated Michel Bourez in Round 3 by throwing fins and wafts, and then got over Mick Fanning and C.J. Hobgood in Round 4, to earn his first quarterfinal berth of the season.
"It's always hard to surf against Michel (Bourez) because he is a really good friend of mine. I think him and Gabriel are the best two surfers of the year," concludes Muniz.
2014 J-Bay Open Round 5 Match-Ups
Heat 1: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Heat 2: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Taj Burrow (AUS)
Heat 3: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)


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Also available on: N/A
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: BigPark
Genre: Racing
Kinect Joy Ride has gone through some fairly radical changes since it was first announced in 2009. Formerly known simply as Joyride, it was originally planned to be released as a free Xbox Live Arcade title, which was to make its money by charging players for new courses, items and game modes. Despite retaining its Avatar-driven, stunt-based gameplay, it is now a fully fledged (and priced) retail title, featuring controller-free Kinect support. As intriguing as a hands-free racer sounds, it's hard to imagine how the developers can faithfully recreate the racing experience without over-simplifying matters. Unfortunately, such fears are justified, and Kinect Joy Ride is just a little too basic and temperamental to rival its traditional controller reliant counterparts.
The reason for Kinect Joy Ride's inability to leave a lasting impression is the fact that by removing the controller, BigPark has taken away the element of skill that makes video game racing so exciting. Braking and accelerating is taken care of by the computer, which means that the margin for human error is greatly reduced. Players can only really mess up if they steer too late, or if the sensor doesn't pick up on their movements, which, in Kinect Joy Ride's case, is the much more likely of the two.
In order to steer, players mimic holding a steering wheel by extending their arms out at chest height and moving them from side to side - while poking their posteriors out in order to drift. There are times when the steering action appears to work extremely well and feels pretty reliable, but this feeling is often short lived. Plunging into corners with too much urgency exposes the mechanic and the lack of any physical object to hold will see players accidentally cross their wrists. This action confuses the sensor and sends the vehicle crashing into the sides. Boosting is only slightly more reliable and has players pull the imaginary steering wheel towards their chest in order to fill up the boost bar and push it out again in order to gain a burst of speed - it works as intended about 70% of the time. At regular intervals throughout the race, cars will speed off ramps and launch into the air, which is when trickery comes into play. By leaning backwards, forwards and to the sides, cars will spin and somersault for bonus points, which earn players extra fans. Fans are used to unlock new courses and challenges.
The courses are a little disappointing to look at, but remembering that Kinect Joy Ride started out as an XBLA title goes some way to explaining the mediocre graphics. The game is bright, cheerful and cartoonish, but ultimately just a little too bland to stand out. A few of the tracks use the same dusky colour scheme and end up looking like rejects from a Roadrunner cartoon - minus the sense of speed. The other courses aren't much better, and even the inclusion of pagodas, temples and crumbling airplanes doesn't help the tracks to feel anything other than sparsely decorated. The use of Avatars as playable characters injects some life and personality into the game and the rival cars cluttering up the lanes make some circuits seem busier and more interesting than they actually are. The fact that there are only seven race courses adds insult to injury, considering how indistinguishable they are from each other and how hard the game makes players work in order to unlock them.
Where Kinect Joy Ride excels is with its inclusion of a number of fairly diverse game modes. In addition to the standard race, which can be played against local or online adversaries, there's the battle race, which throws weaponry into the mix (think Mario Kart). Weapons range from straight Nintendo rip-offs such as missiles and mines, to slightly more original items such as ice blocks and teleportation devices. It can be quite tricky to use the weapons without losing control of the car, as players must extend their left arm to the side in order to select them. The Battle mode is certainly one of the more enjoyable features in the game; it's just a shame it doesn't have its own set of courses.
Stunt mode is fairly self-explanatory and charges players with the task of racking up the most points by performing tricks on a giant halfpipe - all the while collecting fruit for additional bonus points. Performing tricks is far too simple to justify an entire mode's worth of play, but collecting as much fruit as possible and attempting to smash the glass ceiling by launching cars as high as they will go, is actually quite addictive. Dash is probably the dullest mode in the game and is simply a sprint from A to B, avoiding obstacles by driving in the correct lane.
Smash and Trick are two surprisingly enjoyable modes when played in short bursts. In Smash, hundreds of targets must be mowed down before ramps are raised and cars can be launched into huge 'boss' statues. It's a good mode to practise drifting in, and it can be enormously satisfying when vehicles plough through lots of objects and collect fistfuls of coins. Unfortunately, the circular playgrounds can be tricky to navigate thanks to the dodgy steering mechanic. Trick has absolutely nothing to do with cars or racing, but is the only game mode not to suffer from some form of crippling control issue. On the wing of an airplane, one or two players must match the computer's pose and hold it. Switching from a Street Fighter style fireball to a strong man pose makes for some humorous multiplayer gameplay and leads to some embarrassing photographs.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Kinect Joy Ride doesn't do the racing genre justice. Using the Kinect sensor to replicate the thrills and spills of arcade racing just doesn't work, due to the fact that too much player input is missing and the few actions players are able to perform are temperamental. The game is also a little bland, lifeless and contains too few courses. The number of additional game modes and the online and offline multiplayer goes some way towards counteracting the game's faults, but the core mechanic of the game is too broken for Kinect Joy Ride to be deemed roadworthy.
> Click here to read our hands-on feature with Kinect


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Reveal Your Best Skin With SkinPro Sonic
Cleanse, eyes, boost, moisturise. These are the daily fundamentals that we recommend to achieve and maintain great skin. But what if we told you there's a way to enhance your routine and get even better results for cleaner, smoother, more beautiful skin?Læs mere


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Carol Potts
Carol Potts was born in England and moved to Auckland in 1995. She completed her AMI 3-6 Diploma at the MMI, London in 1995. Since that time she has been privileged to work with young child for over 20 years. Carol has a Bachelors Degree in Education and embarked on the AMI Training of Trainers Programme in 2009. She is a trustee of the Maria Montessori Education Foundation, New Zealand. She is an AMI National examiner and supervisor in a 3-6 environment. Carol is part of the faculty for the current summer format course in Auckland and will be joining the team for the first AMI 3-6 Diploma Course in Canberra.


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The Japanese has always been the ideal diet that most Western dietician roots for. It is low in fat, less dairy, high in carbohydrates, rich in soy and very healthy. Though these can be complex than most are made to believe, it can be said that Japanese diet can be boiled down into the fact that they have inherited that principles of healthy nourishing from their past and their culture.
While most western countries are scouring into more and more saturated fat laden fast foods, Japanese tried hard to maintain their traditional and fish-laden diets. They're love for healthy and vegetable centered side dishes also did the job of lowering obesity in the country.
Although Japanese have the same cholesterol, blood pressure and type 2 diabetes rates as those in the US, Japanese have less than half rate of the heart disease rate. And yes, it's their diet and lifestyle and nothing else.
The Type of Japanese Diet
Japanese ate more fish than their western counterpart. In a study conducted, Japanese men have twice the level of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood and system than other in western countries but this doesn't extend to Japanese who are reared and has grown up in other countries since the latter has immersed in the adopted countries culture and eating ways already.
According to numbers, although Japanese people constitutes only 2% of the world's population, its people eat 10% of the world's fish. For this, Japanese has lesser level of atherosclerosis or the plaque building and artery blocking condition that leads to heart problems.
What are the sources of omega-3?
It's from the sea, their secret. Fishes in the ocean contains the DHA and the EPA, two known omega-3 fatty acids. Although it can be found in most plant sources as well in form of ALA still the marine sources stands out better since ALA, or plant sourced omega-3 tends to undergo process to be converted to EPA then to DHA and may compromise its benefits after the process.
Omega-3 has been hailed in most science and nutritional journals as it has become very useful supplement to fight off diseases. Omega-3 is known to fight off certain kinds of cancer and help in raising insulin sensitivity for diabetics. It is also known to be very helpful in terms of menopausal symptoms and in combating dementia and other mental illness like depression.
Japanese favorite fish includes salmon and fresh tuna. Mackerel, sardines and herring are also always found in most meals. They're heart healthy and mood boosting as well.
Japanese people have a typical fish dish called hoshizakana which is marinated for 20 hours in soy sauce and in a wine then dried and hung for a day. This then is baked in the oven and is served as it is, no more dips nor sauce. Another typical fish diet o Japanese includes fish soup which includes all the organs and the bones and is known locally to strengthen health and is good for anemia.
Although the Japanese culture has added a twinge of western culture due to modernization, their diet still is conscious against fats and against calories.
Most Japanese takes in 1 gram of omega-3 a day which is 8 times the amount of those in western nation. The Japanese diet can be summarized in three ways:
- Low sugar consumption
- Low carbohydrates absolute consumption
- Higher consumption of polyunsaturated fats (omega-3)
But what distinguished Japanese more could be their better discipline and their avoidance of gorging in one menu. They have varieties in their meal which teases the palate and most of the time makes them aware that they are already full. Also, Japanese serving dishes are mostly in beautiful designs which psychologists says adds to the eating less and the low obesity rate of Japan since they'll admire the utensils first before finally eating. This may sound a bit crazy, but it has been rooted in scientific reasons.
So if trying to emulate the low fat and high omega-3 Japanese diet, you can opt to go as a fish fan. Or if not, fish oil and other omega-3 supplement can be available. Its benefit includes lowered risk of heart attack, aids in diabetes and can help fight chronic pain. Fish oil supplements, krill (small shrimp-like) oil and calamari oil are three of the leading omega-3 supplement in the market today.
Omega-3 is fat so why is it Healthy?
There are different kinds of fats. Some fats are just health wrecking but some can help fight off disease. With the latter is where omega-3 belongs. It is in the PUFA group or the polyunsaturated fatty acids. What one should avoid is the saturated fats which can clog arteries, cause stroke and raise the LDL or the bad cholesterol.
Another healthy fat which can help could be the monounsaturated fat. Most PUFAs can be taken from the likes of fish oil, krill oil and calamari oil. Although in the past many has been puzzled as to how the Japanese people continue to be one of those who get less disease and less mortality rate, it now has taken some light since the several studies on the topic of omega-3.
Japanese and the Omega-3 Hypothesis
Almost four decades ago, a certain study has been conducted among Eskimos of Greenland. Eskimos eats little fruit and vegetables, complex carbohydrates, high in fat and cholesterol but they have very low heart disease. The reason has been zeroed down into their large fish consumption as well as their diets of whale and seals and this has been the basis of the Japanese Hypothesis as well.
These same reasons have been taken for the Japanese case. Japanese tend to eat low fat diet and piles on omega3 diet.
Other Jap Diet Factors
Low Cholesterol. Although the Japanese food market has now been saturated by most western fast food chains, still many Japanese adhere to traditional food and cooking. Low cholesterol is one major factor in Japanese diet. Like you can't find a chicken fried steak in the country and most Japanese people eat less red meat and little to no foods that has saturated fats. Most Japanese dishes also contain ginger which mostly helps in lowering cholesterol.
Less Cancer. Although it has not been established yet, according to experts, the reason may be from the fact that they have more green tea and more fishes. Green tea has polyphenols while fishes contain omega-3, a purported anti-cancer property.
Seaweeds. Yes, Japanese people love sea weeds. Since they have scant resources, they resulted into dishes that make use of these water plants. These plants are tasty and healthy while it can give various nutrients and to remember, these same seaweeds are the same food that most marine life consumes.
Rice. White rice in short grain variety is very beneficial for the health. Although it's high in calories, there is lesser known weight gain phenomenon due to this. This can be due to the fact that Japanese side dishes on the other hand contain lesser calories. So a bowl of rice that fills you up can always be better than meat bread and even potatoes.
Soy. Soy is low in fat, yet high in protein. It's the best substitute for meat and can lower blood pressure. Although Japanese diet has high consumption of fish, another source of its omega-3 and low fat diet includes their soy beans consumption. Fermented soy sauce is a staple in their prepared dishes. Another food they have which contributes to their healthiness based still in soy is tofu, miso, and natto and to be sure, most Japanese only choose organic soybeans.
Reasons Why Japanese are Heart Healthy
The one big reason? It's due to their low fat and high omega-3 diet and no one can argue with that. Although now the Japanese calorie and fat levels are in the rise, so is the world but still, they haven't forgotten that they still have their traditional foods to turn to.
Speaking of traditional foods, would you be up for a low fat and heart healthy Japanese recipe? Yes? You can first try out some authentic Japanese restaurant and if you like the idea after, you can go recreating these dishes. Most Japanese recipes are easy to recreate and would be requiring some ingredients you can found in grocery stores but of course some would require some organic ingredients, so you have to search for it.
Author: Roselen is an e-book writer, a health blogger and a magazine contributor. She also loves graphics designing and finds more fulfillment in seeing her designs and written works online.


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Ambuja Cements
Beneficiary of 'Housing for all by 2022'
Company Description:
Ambuja Cement, a part of the global conglomerate Lafarge-Holcim, is a leading cement company in India known for its hassle-free, home building solutions. Its unique products tailor-made for Indian climatic conditions, sustainable operations (ranked 7thworld-wide in the category by Dow Jones Sustainability index 2017) and market leading brands have made it the most trusted brand in Indian cement industry.
Playing the India Thematic:
Government led spending will be the key growth driver for Cement demand in India. The industry will benefit from the Government's focus to build infrastructure and provide housing for all by 2022.
Industry Outlook:
- Improvement in rural demand and pick-up in government spend to drive cement demand by 7-8 % in FY19
- Improving capacity utilization, consolidation of capacities and production discipline is expected to support strong pricing environment, potentially the industry may re-gain pricing power in FY19.
Company Outlook
- Ambuja is the third largest cement company in India with a total capacity of 29.7mt and five integrated cement manufacturing plants and eight cement grinding units across India. It is one of the lowest cost producers of cement in India.
- With focus on structurally sound markets of North, West and East, Ambuja has a large network of 26,000 dealers and retailers providing it presence in the remotest locations in the country. It is also the largest exporter of cement from India.
- Ambuja's intends to unlock synergies between itself and ACC (another Lafarge-Holcim company in India) via a Master Supply Agreement by optimizing cost to service market by using each other's plant capacities, enabling growth without further capacity addition.
Exhibit: Financials
Eicher Motors
Beneficiary of Domestic Consumption
Company Description:
Eicher Motors is the flagship company of the Eicher Group, which was a catalyst in the green revolution in India with the production of India's first agricultural tractor in 1959. EML is now a leading player in the Indian automotive space. Eicher Motors owns the iconic Royal Enfield motorcycle business, which leads the premium motorcycle segment in India.
Playing the India Thematic:
With rising incomes levels and the increasing aspiration for leisure motorcycling in India, bikers from the commuter segment (sub 250 cc) are gradually shifting towards the middle weight premium segment (250- 750cc) that is dominated by Royal Enfield.
Industry Outlook:
- 2-Wheeler industry's volumes in India are expected to grow at 8-10% CAGR over the next five years, driven by increasing rural penetration and replacement demand in the urban markets. Within motorcycles, the premium segment is expected to grow at 12-15% CAGR
- The industry is facing several short and medium-term challenges like committed investment for BSIV (vehicle meeting new emission norms) and Electrical Vehicle(EV), with potential to disrupt existing business models. Lack of clear policy roadmap compounds existing challenges
Company Outlook
- Eicher Motors manufactures affordable leisure bikes (250cc & above) in India under the brand 'Royal Enfield'. It also manufactures commercial vehicles (CVs), automotive gears and components, and engineering solutions through its subsidiary, Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles
- Demand for Royal Enfield motorcycles has been good, driven by increasing trend of lifestyle biking and low competition. Exports is another growth driver for Royal Enfield. In CV's, Eicher's local market expertise and Volvo's technological strength positions it well for a cycle recovery
- Strong demand, new product launches and capacity addition will drive strong volume and earnings growth of ~30 % CAGR for Eicher over the next 5 years.
Exhibit: Financials


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Any help with descriptions would be appreciated.
Note: For Korean tropers who have access to quests and material not yet available in the English release, please mark spoilers appropriately.
open/close all folders
Player Characters
Frantz Kruger
- Voiced by: Hikaru Midorikawa (JP)
- An Axe to Grind: Aside from a sword, this is his other weapon of choice.
- Badass Longcoat
- Dhampyr
- Dual Wielding: As of the reborn patch one of the specialties he could learn is dual wielding swords.
- Expy: Somewhat reminscient of a vampiric Leon Magnus.
- Looks Like Cesare
- Magic Knight
- Only Sane Man: He views himself as one.
- Rescue Arc: This whole game is this for him, he's trying to rescue his missing fiancee Amelia.
- Revenge: Against Lord Vlad for some reason.
- Tall, Dark, and Snarky
- Teeth Clenched Team Work: Considers Angela an idiot, and Tude the same.
- The Leader: Seems to be this.
Tude Macleod
- Voiced by: Kazuya Nakai (JP)
- Boisterous Bruiser
- The Corruption: An ancient wolf's tooth was embedded into his chest, since then it slowly spreads in his body.
- The Big Guy
- Dual Wielding: as of Reborn patch, Demon gloves
- Expy: He's like Zell only add in half werewolf and you get Tude.
- Good Old Fisticuffs
- Our Werewolves Are Different
- Power Fist
- Primal Stance: But only when he's moving. When standing still, he uses a jaunty lean.
- Red Right Hand
- Wolverine Claws
Angela Strraughend
- Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro (JP)
- Black Magician Girl
- Blade on a Stick: Her alternate weapons are a scythe and a bardiche.
- Fiery Redhead: It's not her natural colour however.
- Locked into Strangeness: Her hair permanently changed to red and spiky as a result of fusing with Graestra.
- Magic Knight: Leaning more towards magic.
- Morph Weapon: You are able to use three different types of weapons, and can find many variations of these weapons in stores and loot drops. The story explains this as the demon weapon being able to magically morph itself to suit the user's needs.
- Ms. Fanservice: Noticeable by the aversion thereof, at least by 21st Century standards. Which is to say, still outrageous by the supposed 17th century setting. An actual knee-length skirt and a top that exposes only the arms makes for conservative clothing by anime standards. You can catch a flash of gold by making her Double Jump, but if you're that desperate...
- The Lancer
- Naïve Newcomer
- Oddly Shaped Sword: It almost looks more like an axe in some places.
- Serrated Blade of Pain
- Sinister Scythe
- Trade Mark Favorite Food: She loves chicken how its cooked doesn't matter.
- Weapon Across the Shoulder: Her default idle pose.
Natasha Borzenkova
- Voiced by: Hiromi Hirata (JP)
- Badass Normal: Of the current seal team members, Natasha can be considered the only "Human."
- Bare Your Midriff
- Bottomless Magazines: Averted. Natasha has to reload her weapons. She does have unlimited reloads though.
- Brief Case Blaster: As of Reborn she can use a weapon bag
- Dangerously Short Skirt
- Gadgeteer Genius: A good portion of her skills are gadget related — land mines, sentry guns, guardian mini-robots, et cetera. With the newest expansion pack, she gets a new weapon that can be converted into all sorts of murder-related devices.
- Girls with Guns
- Guns Akimbo
- Gun Kata
- Kick Chick: Including one that looks like Genocide Cutter.
- Little Miss Con Artist: Natasha's backstory along with her sister.
- Ms. Fanservice: Angela may be fetish-fuelling, but Natasha is much more overt. Top that doesn't cover the chest properly? Panty Shot-friendly miniskirt? And that's not getting into the even more revealing alternate costumes!
- Of Corsets Sexy
- You Gotta Have Blue Hair: The first three had realistic hair colours. Then Natasha shows up with purple locks.
Chen Meilin
- Voiced by: Asami Shimoda (JP)
- Chinese Girl
- Distaff Counterpart: Functionally identical to Tude.
- Exotic Eye Designs: Literally has stars in her eyes.
- Expy: Chinese Girl Bare-Fisted Monk may not be unique on its own. But one named Meilin(g)?
- Ms. Fanservice
- Revenue-Enhancing Devices: Originally you had to buy her avatar in the cash shop, but now you can use her without paying.
- Side Boob: With a good portion of her outfits.
Roselle Vergerius
- Voiced by: Chiaki Takahashi (JP)
- Aloof Big Sister: For Leila
- Bare Your Midriff
- Chained by Fashion
- Dark Is Not Evil: She has a lot of dark-based skills and her fighting style is really brutal, plus there were rumors that she may be a vampire. However, Roselle mostly uses it for fighting monsters, or protecting her sister.
- Distaff Counterpart: Of Frantz.
- Glacier Waif: When using the Axes and Maces.
- Ms. Fanservice: Albeit slightly toned down in the Japanese version (covering slightly more skin, such as turning her bottom that was little more than fancy panties into actual if still tiny hot pants). Though they make it up by assigning Chiaking, the seiyuu for Ms. Fanservice, to voice her. Compare her original design with her Japanese one.
- Revenue-Enhancing Devices: Was originally a cash shop purchase. Now anyone can play as her as long as they have free slots for Frantz.
- Stripperiffic: Even moreso than Natasha.
- The Stoic: She is a generally a quiet person.
- Too Many Belts
- Weakened by the Light: She and her sister avoids the sun like plague, leading people to believe that they're vampires, but the real reasons were only known to the Vergelius sisters.
- Zettai Ryouiki
Edgar Grosvenor
- Voiced by: Ai Nonaka (JP)
- Cute Clumsy Guy: Mostly due to the fact he hasn't adjusted as much to his younger body. Take for example his first attack with his sword, he looks like he's about to fall over.
- Nice Hat
- Older Than They Look: Accidentally binding himself with a demon blade has switched his body with a young-appearing boy. It isn't clear exactly how old he really is.
- Revenue-Enhancing Devices: Formerly. With theReborn expansion, the character becomes free to play. However, his alternate costumes are only available in the cash shop.
- Spear Counterpart: Of Angela.
Leila Vergerius
- Voiced by: Kanae Ito (JP)
- Badass Adorable
- Elegant Gothic Lolita
- Little Miss Badass
- Token Wholesome
- Revenue-Enhancing Devices: She is now free for those who 'Like' Rusty Hearts on Facebook but for a while her avatar package was buyable in the cash shop, leading to quite a bit of wasted Zen.
- Weakened by the Light: She and her sister avoids the sun like plague, leading people to believe that they're vampires, but the real reasons were only known to the Vergelius sisters.
Ian Jablonsky
- Voiced by: Norio Wakamoto (JP)
- Guttural Growler: Just listen to his voice, he's nearly growling everytime. As expected from the voice.
- Spear Counterpart: To Natasha
NP Cs
- The Black Smith: Meets all your upgrading needs.
- Fetch Quest: His mostly involves getting scrap metal parts in order to melt down and make new equipment for everyone.
- Hidden Depths: He wanted to be a hair stylist but relented after it would have broken his family's heart. Although he still retains enough skill that he's the guy you turn to in order to get changed hair colors or designs.
- Only Sane Man: Only NPC who the specialists haven't snarked at when he gives you a normal quest.
- In Universe Nick Name: She's been called the spider lady due to an incident with cheese pizza... and as soon as you find this out she sends you off to kill the spider lady (boss) in a dungeon because there can only be one.
- Lethal Chef: The first thing you find out about her. For example she once served raw uncooked pieces of fishmen monsters to everyone.
- Supreme Chef: Views herself as such, everyone else...not so much.
- The Apprentice: To Patricia, although it appears she's actually almost to master level.
- Cordon Bleugh Chef: Several of her recipes in story are questionable, but at least people are willing to try them.
- Creepy Doll: Averted; her dolls were given to her by the specialist from mandragora plants. They look normal except for the leaves showing on top of their heads.
- Bratty Half-Pint: Her chat option has her getting snippy toward the player when she thinks they're 'underestimating' her, and she often scolds and talks back to Natasha in the few conversations that come up between them in-game.
- Small Girl, Big Gun: 'Natch, given that she's Natasha's skill trainer. Also wears a backpack stuffed to the brim with various guns, with the barrels of a rifle and a gatling gun sticking out of the top.


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Common Terms of the California Missions
A Spanish measure equal to 100 pounds.
Lively regional Spanish dance and its music.
A fanega is approximately 1.575 bushels. For Spanish measurement it is also 12 almundes.
A gathering of people to celebrate an event, such as a Saint's Day, the anniversary of the mission etc. The Chumash also held fiestas before the arrival of the Europeans. During Chumash fiestas people traded goods and played games, and the village leaders conducted business.
Padres and principal Spanish authorities that first settled Alta California and established the missions.
Member of the Catholic religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1209. Franciscans are dedicated to preaching, missionary work and charitable acts.
Member of a mendicant (begging) order, such as the Franciscans. Could be a priest or lay brother. Should only be used with the man's full name, not with the surname. (Jesuits were not frays.)
A painting laid down on moist lime plaster with color pigments suspended in a liquid medium.
In mission days a frigate was a three-masted sailing ship. In most navies, a frigate is the smallest surface combatant that can conduct extended blue-water missions. The raid on Alta California in 1818 was led by frigate, La Argentina, a 677-ton vessel outfitted with 34 eight- and 12-caliber guns, and carrying a crew of about 260 men.


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Lee Whiteside
A Phoenix fan who has worked on numerous Phoenix-area regionals, including CopperCon and LepreCon. He chaired CopperCon 16 (1996), LepreCon 28, 36, and 37 (2002, 2010-11), CopperCon 23 (2003) and the North American Discworld Convention 2009. He is a member of the Central Arizona Speculative Fiction Society.
|This is a biography page. Please extend it by adding more information about the person, such as fanzines and apazines published, awards, clubs, conventions worked on, GoHships, impact on fandom, external links, anecdotes, etc.
page revision: 2, last edited: 09 Aug 2017 14:45


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Only 46% of the 0-5 years age group is covered under Aadhaar, and the special drive is an attempt to improve the numbers. To further this endeavour, the government has issued guidelines to district and state hospitals.
State IT secretary VK Gautam told TOI that this age group has been the most neglected. "We will start enrolment at the hospital directly," Gautam said.
Recently at the Osmanabad district women's hospital, a newborn was registered for Aadhaar just six minutes after her birth. The parents got the online birth certificate and an Aadhaar number from UIDAI, said the district officials.
A state government directive stated that tablet-based enrolment kits are being given to MahaOnline or other state-appointed enrolment agencies at certain government hospitals and health centres. "We will have separate operators at district hospitals," Gautam added.
According to the UIDAI, only 25% of children in the age bracket of 0-5 years have Aadhaar cards in the country and efforts are taken across the country to improve this number. Of the 10.5 annual births in the state, 5 lakh are recorded in rural and district hospitals, as per officials.
"The child's enrolment will be attached to the Aadhaar number of either parent," a UIDAI official said. "The process is simple, with most adults having enrolled," the official said.


text: Subscribe to our newsletter This thingy has to be empti pwieshh Sep 14, 2017 Broadway Benefits From Streaming; Apple Gives iTunes a Scrub; Tidal Now Third In App Store Revenue For Music Apps Revue September 14 · Issue #245 · View online Broadway Is Benefiting From Streaming In A Surprising Way www.forbes.com – Share If you can listen to songs from a musical before you go, are you more willing to see a show? Apple Gives iTunes a Scrub, Removes App Store and Adds Social to Apple Music www.billboard.com – Share While you were watching new iPhones get introduced at Apple's big reveal on Tuesday, the company quietly revamped its signature desktop app for buying music, movies and TV. Jay-Z's Much-Dissed Music Service Tidal Now Third In App Store Revenue For Music Apps www.forbes.com – Share Tidal used to be a joke. Now it's a contender as the third-highest grossing music streaming app on the iOS App Store. Artificial Intelligence Ushers in the Era of Music Moneyball www.billboard.com – Share Monkeys cannot create copyrightable works. This is an actual rule. Seriously. Deezer may revisit IPO after Spotify goes public says CEO musically.com – Share Deezer's last attempt to go public was abandoned shortly after the company published its prospectus. The streaming service may try again. Pandora CEO Naveen Chopra Charts the Road Ahead variety.com – Share Pandora hopes to monetize its audience with advertising rather than relying on subscriptions and more from the Goldman Sachs Conference. Apple Music is now playable via the new Apple Watch www.musicbusinessworldwide.com – Share People can stream 40m+ songs on their Apple Watch straight from the device – via Bluetooth headphones – just they can from their smartphone. Can cities use blockchain to promote transparency in music? www.citymetric.com – Share The objective behind the LinkNYC screens was to provide free information to all New Yorkers and visitors, regardless of where one was or how much money they had. Accessible, available to everyone, transparent and helpful, the machines have assisted with mobility, access to information, communication and, importantly, civic engagement. Amazon Music secures Bundesliga broadcast rights www.sportspromedia.com – Share Music streaming platform to carry German soccer audio. Did you enjoy this issue? If you don't want these updates anymore, please unsubscribe here. If you were forwarded this newsletter and you like it, you can subscribe here. Powered by Revue www.platformandstream.com Share Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Subscribe to our newsletter This thingy has to be empti pwieshh


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David Miliband
David Miliband is CEO of the International Rescue Committee. He was Labour MP for South Shields from 2001 to 2013
War in the country is hampering relief efforts. But we can take positive action, says David Miliband, CEO of International Rescue Committee
The US has the power to set a global standard on international human rights. Unfortunately, it is retreating from our global rules-based system
I don't see any way out of this Brexit dead-end other than allowing voters the final say, says former foreign secretary David Miliband
As Labour subscribes to the government's dangerous Brexit fantasies, a people's vote is now the only way to ensure stability, writes former foreign secretary David Miliband
Britain has a responsibility to refugees and Brexit won't change that
Democracy did not end in June last year. It is essential MPs have a say on the future or the country may be driven off a cliff
The executive action defies logic and strategic common sense. Yet that won't stop it from upending a successful refugee resettlement program
The writer and Holocaust survivor fought for truth and justice, defending persecuted people of all races and religions. He taught us that the word 'refugee' need not be unpopular
The aid system is groaning under the strain of the current refugee crisis. We need a more joined-up, cost effective aid system urgently
Resilient cities Cities are at the centre of the Syrian refugee crisis – so why are they being ignored?In all the column inches on the crisis, one point has barely received a mention: the overwhelming majority of Syrian refugees are not in camps, but urban centres
The stakes could not be higher in the Labour leadership election – Britain could become a multi-party democracy where only the Tories can ever win
Fragile states where poverty is worst are largely ignored by donors. And evidence shows that cash can be more effective than food, clothes or livestock
Only by turning our response to Ebola upside down can another epidemic be avoided: communities need to be front and centre to eradicate this disease
David Miliband, Justin Forsyth and Jan Egeland: The conflict in Syria is the defining humanitarian crisis of our time. We need more aid and pressure on both sides to relieve the suffering
David Miliband: Despite a key role in cutting emissions, the ocean is completely absent from Ban Ki-moon's climate meeting for world leaders
David Miliband: Three years into independence, millions are short on food and hundreds of thousands are afraid to go home. The youngest country on Earth needs us now more than ever
David Miliband: changing 'aidscape' demands humanitarian goals with clear targets as part of post-2015 development plan
David Miliband: Those caught in conflict and natural disasters are part of growing trend exemplified by Syria, South Sudan and the Philippines


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Parents' Morning Out
Parents' Morning Out is one of the many benefits of a family YMCA membership. You can drop your children off at the Kid Zone and enjoy the morning off! Children join our YMCA staff for fun games, arts, crafts and more. This service is open only to members of the YMCA. Children must be listed members on the family membership.
Jim & Heather Gills YMCA
Dates: 2nd and 4th Friday of each month; and Wednesdays*
Time: 8:00AM - 12:30 PM
Ages: 6 weeks - 12 years
Cost: $15 for the first child, $10 for each additional child
Children must be registered prior to the day-of
Bardmoor YMCA
Dates: Mondays, Wenesdays & Fridays
Time: 9:00AM - Noon
Ages: 6 weeks - 12 years
Cost: $15 for first child, $10 for each additional child
*Parents' Morning Out dates may vary during holiday weeks. Please register ahead with the front desk at your local branch to ensure availablity.