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An outstanding conversation with Shawn Mansouri continues the Cirsova author series. Shawn's stories appear in Cirsovas #2 (The Water Walks Tonight), #4 (The Phantom Sands of Calavass) and his latest is now out in #5 (Beyond the Great Divide).
I'd categorize Shawn as a versatile writer who easily moves between horror, fantasy and SciFi. When I asked him about differences in his writing technique when tackling different genres he gave one of the most insightful answers yet.
Shawn has made it easy with this list of his published stories, containing an eclectic mix of genres, including some that can be read for free.
As always, we range far and wide in the topics covered. We discuss horror, the reasons behind its popularity, Stephen King, biology as a career option and more than you want to know about bed bugs. Usually, I ask more questions about a writer's technique instead I've linked to an interview below which contains excellent questions and answers along those lines.
Scott Cole: I have just finished Vein Raiders. Safe bet you received inspiration from your job as a biologist but do you mind explaining how you came up with this story?
Shawn Mansouri: I did get some inspiration from the lab, The Lawnmower Man (film) and maybe that old 80's flick Inner Space. I did a lot of work in the field of Immunology during college and always looked at new discoveries with a bit of the dark assassin mindset. I thought 'what if all these particles were patented and used by large corporations to change the field of medicine? What would an OR look like if surgery was no longer necessary, if the new big guns in medicine were pilots instead of physicians?' Or course, there's always the flip side of new discoveries. I'd always been concerned not with the 'how' of science, but with the 'why.' Should we even be doing this? You see the side effects of new 'medicines' in small script, or given to you by some silky smooth narrator in commercial form, and some of them can be downright laughable. I think technology is moving at an exponential growth rate and we haven't caught up to the question of whether or not it has the potential to be used against us. If nanotechnology can be used to heal, it can also be used to assassinate the president, as we see in Vein Raiders. There's also an audio version read by the folks at 600 second saga.
It was my first flash piece and the first piece where I veered into the science fiction realm. Of all genres, I've read and written science fiction the least. It's hard to shake the tropes and put something really original out there.
SC: Did the thought process leading to Tied to the Whim of a Tender Tyrant begin in your work around lab animals?
SM: Most of my first stories come from a single environment. I was working a lot back then and the only time I had to write was on my lunch break in my car. The lot was near a busy overpass and a train yard and the only thing to look at really was the sky. Another story of mine, The Big Purple, was heavily influenced by working with mice in a lab. All the characters are in fact mice, which we don't find out until the last quarter of the story. I even used their real names, and had a tough time watching them die over the months. We used them as food for bed bugs. They'd be confined to mesh tubes corked at both ends and couldn't move or defend themselves and the bed bugs would just munch away for hours. Some of them died from blood loss or shock and it really fucked with my mind. So the Big Purple is the result of my experiences with those mice.
Tied to the Whim is first and foremost a story of sacrifice. Growing up, I loved Shel Silverstein's work–especially the Giving Tree–and my work up to that point was playing it a bit safe, not containing heavier themes or parts of my own life I wanted to share. I saw the call for a dragon story by 18th Wall productions and was in the midst of telling a story about an overbearing dragon who raises a human child. She hides the child away from the world and raises him as she would a dragon. The boy suffers developmentally from it. The voice of reason in the story is an old gargoyle who's served the dragon his entire life, because he also was taken as a child. It's about the pain of letting go of the people we love in order to see them shine in the world they truly belong.
You can see a bit of the Giving Tree, and The Ballad of the Harp Weaver, in the final pages of this story. Sacrifice, physically and spiritually, was the inspiration for it. I just hadn't gotten bold enough to write characters like a dragon and a gargoyle, but it did a lot to free my imagination. I'm pretty proud of that story.
SC: The experience you had with the mice would also mess with my mind. Hopefully, labs go to the expense of sedation or, at least, the alleviation of misery. Generally, is most testing absolutely necessary when it comes to animal testing or is there a strong element of less expense?
And what caused the high rates of violence with the male mice? Did the unnatural lab environment amplify the natural competition amongst them?
SM: You try to separate yourself from the fact that they have all the same basic needs you as a human have also. I named some of them and sometimes watched them for hours. I got really attached, to the point where I'd talk about them like they were people. Unfortunately, bed-bugs are very particular about their meals and will only feed on live animals; I tried creating artificial feeding systems that warm the blood to body temperature but they wouldn't go near it. You can use artificial systems for mosquitoes (which I reared also) but the olfactory systems of bed-bugs are fickle. We still don't know too much about them. The feeding process was overnight (about 18 hours) and so I'd get to work in the morning thinking 'come on guys, please don't be dead.' I did use medications to alleviate their pain and we had a veterinarian come in to assess their health, but their lifespan is pretty short. If they were around for more than 16 months I was happy.
Sometimes they'd thrash around in the tubes and get cut by the metal mesh and we'd euthanize them humanely. I think we're at the point, technologically speaking, where model systems can be created in lieu of using live subjects. But sadly, mice and chimps and a slew of other creatures are looked at as expendable, not by the scientific community mind you. In science, and research in particular, there is a great respect and reverence for live subjects and everyone feels the weight of what they are doing. Mice are cheap to purchase, but bed-bugs are really expensive and hard to keep alive in artificial environments. A story germ might be "National Mouse Day," because so much of what we know about the world comes from the sacrifice of mice and other creatures. When you begin to look at them as less than human, it's time for you to get out of the field.
The males end up killing each other, and in some cases the females too, out of a competitive drive to dominate, reproduce and pass their genes on. The 'Purple' in the Big Purple are the nitrile gloves we put on when it's time to screw with their world, and in that story we are seen as both Gods and enemies.
SC: Did your efforts produce progress in bedbug research? The research process must be frustratingly slow with many dead ends.
SM: Ideas and results in science are pretty well-guarded, especially when it comes to projects that are turned into products and patented. Bed bugs are a huge problem in many communities and the solutions are half-ass at best. We can thwart them by physical barriers like talc powder around beds and traps that use extremely smooth surfaces to keep them locked away. They'll climb anything with texture but can't tread across something smooth like glass. They'll climb the rough surface of a simple trap, fall in the center and never be able to escape because the inside of such traps are too smooth for them to get a hold on.
We were interested in how they find their meals and turns out they do have an affinity for certain colors and smells. We worked with an electrophysiology device that used small probes inserted into their olfactory bulbs (like our taste buds) to measure affinity or repellency based on samples we exposed them to and electrical activity. My job was to keep the bugs and mice and mosquitoes (which was our main research project in the prevention of malaria and dengue fever etc.) happy and thriving. I spent most of my time in very hot and humid conditions because the environment has to be altered in order for them to proliferate at the rate we desired.
I think it was Newton who said, 'If I see far it's only because I've stood on the shoulders of giants,' and that's what you have to do in science. We collaborated with other experts in the field, tweaked their experiments, invented some of our own. Scientific discovery is really a collaborative effort with those who came before us and those who are discovering alongside us. That's why scientific journals and primary literature are so important. If your test is successful it has to be reproducible to anyone in the world. If it's not, there's something wrong with the results or something wrong with the original data and experimental procedures. But the intricacies of how bed bugs find meals by way of olfaction are still pretty much a mystery. We know exhalation of CO2 is a major component in mosquitoes finding their meals. Humans have to exhale and mother nature needs balance. It's an arms race, and the more we adapt the more they adapt. It's beautiful but also daunting.
SC: Even once the means by which bed bugs locate their prey is found the next level of complexity is finding an economical solution.
SM: In my experience, while the vast majority of infestations are located in motels or apartment complexes (places where a large number of people congregate), there are big problems in homes and rural areas also. If you've ever seen the TV show Supernatural, these two brothers use old remedies to ward off monsters and creatures of the dark, and one thing they do is pour a line of salt across doorways and window sills to prevent anything getting in or out. While it's a TV show and can be a bit hoaky at times, that strategy actually works against bed bugs.
The main entrance point is the bedposts, or legs, and a circle of talc powder around all four legs prevents them from gaining access to your bed. Once they're on your bed it's a whole other can of worms and you're probably not going to get them off. They can latch onto clothes pretty tight and use people as vectors. If they are using CO2 as a means to locate meals (we found they have a much shorter range than mosquitoes, about 20 feet) you can also set-up a diversion, a device that emits CO2 to lure them away from beds. Lots of traps come with CO2 emitters. You can even use a bucket of dry ice because it basically blows off CO2 until it's depleted. The economics aren't that complicated or 'high-end.' I think bed bugs are looked at as a 'poor person's' problem so the incentive to move forward with real solutions is pretty nonexistent. But ask anyone living out in the country or in 'the sticks' and they'll probably know all about the CO2 emissions and the talc powder solutions.
SC: In this interview I see you no longer work as a biologist. Do you mind saying what you are doing now to pay the bills besides writing?
SM: I'm fortunate enough to have the support of the love of my life, Cymphonee. There was a time when we both worked full time jobs and believe me, we had a great time doing whatever we liked. We switched off over the years, me working her not working, her working me not working, and now we're at the point where she works two jobs while I take care of things at home and write as much as I can. It's tough, financially, sometimes, but we really want each other to go after our dreams. There will come a day when it's time for me to get back to work so she can go after what she wants, and she's wanted to go to medical school for a long time. She's applying this year and I'll do whatever I have to to ensure she gets the same support she's given me this last year.
I'm also an eBay junkie and get extra money selling out of print books and collectibles. I'm pretty obsessed with hardback books and sometimes have a hard time letting them go. You'd be surprised how much you can get for old books and especially Manga translated into English. But nothing worth it's weight in gold is ever easy. In most cases you have to struggle and fail before you can reach the heights you're aiming for. Short story sales help us get through too, but unfortunately not many people read them anymore. It's a shame. Short form is what got me writing in the first place.
SC: Do you recommend a career in biology? If so, what should I do to prepare?
SM: Science is a great career, and I still have a deep love for biology and medicine and physics. But you have to know what you want. If you love research then you're better off getting a master's degree or a doctorate. It's tough to move up and run your own projects with an undergraduate degree but some people get lucky. It's not that lucrative and it's tough work, especially if you're doing field research, but the rewards of contributing to the scientific base of knowledge are priceless. Most people choose biology because it contains all of the requirements for applying to medical school. You just have to crush that MCAT exam. You need to have an imagination also, which is something most people don't see scientists as having.
The world on a microscopic scale has to be envisioned because sometimes, no matter what kind of microscope you're using, it's invisible. Results come slow and experiments fail 95% of the time. It's work most people will never see or appreciate so if you need constant validation or sunshine blown up your ass on a daily basis it's not the path for you.
To prepare…mmmmmm. Don't be afraid to question everything about the world you know. It's okay to get your hands dirty, to really dive into the 'guts' of what makes living things tick. I spent an entire semester wondering 'what's an animal? Is a spider an animal, is bacteria alive? What are the parameters that constitute life?' If you're interested in these kinds of questions then give it a try. You need to know math (at least calculus), statistics, chemistry, physics…all the hard sciences. They come into play time and time again.
SC: Besides sacrifice do you have other topics you enjoy exploring in your work? Justice played a role in your Cirsova viking story.
SM: Revenge, justice, moral ambiguity. I don't really think in terms of theme when I'm writing a story. Theme, at least for me, doesn't come up until I'm finished. It's a skeleton waiting to be fleshed out, and it runs through stories subconsciously I think. I read Sky's interview and he said something about getting mental images, glimpses of a story that he just runs with. It works that way for me too. I don't think as writers we know where it comes from, if we did we wouldn't hate the question 'where do you get your ideas from?' Topic and theme, in my opinion, come later when you see the actions and choices of your characters. Childhood, and how our personalities and beliefs about ourselves and the world around us are solidified, is something I like to explore also.
If you grow up believing you're missing something vital to becoming an adult, it's going to show up in your work whether you want it to or not, unless you're being dishonest with yourself. There's plenty of room for stories that are just plain old action-packed fun, devoid of personal attachment or thematic value, and that's fine. What keeps me writing is wanting to say something about my own life and beliefs through my characters and the worlds they inhabit. It doesn't have to be profound, but if you can make it profound…why not? Why not try and make your readers think about theme and topic and soul long after they've finished reading.
SC: How did you come across Cirsova?
SM: I use Duotrope and The Submissions Grinder to log and keep track of all my story submissions. I picked up a bunch of old Robert E. Howard books at the time and was really enjoying the way he spun that yarn. So I started a viking story about a group of guys sailing out to Hel's realm to atone for the sins of their village. The Howard stuff inspired me to let go and have fun with the narrative, and when I was searching for a market I found Cirsova. I bought the e-book and really liked the stories, particularly from Sky, Misha, Brian and Donald. They were unhinged, I like to call it, free to fire off in any direction, uncontrived and uninhibited by what the vast majority of publications call 'what we like and what we don't like.' Also, Jabari's artwork is amazing! That cover depicting Gift of the Ob-Men was real quality. I hate to say it but most stuff sells or gets read because of cover art. In my case, it was the cover of Cirsova that got me to submit.
From a writer's perspective, Alex is a blast to work with. He pays well, on time, and really takes care of his authors. The layout and feel–I still prefer the hard copies–of the magazine are plucked straight from the annals of time. He's got hardcovers too!
SC: I'm surprised how many of the Cirsvoa crew have a strong background in horror. I was never much into the horror genre, maybe some Stephen King, but now I'm waiting on a magazine recommended during my talk with Adrian Cole and into my third book of Misha's Lost Doors series.
Would a Venn diagram of fantasy, SFF, and horror authors show a large grouping in the overlap or that author's with a strong horror background tend to write in a style compatible with Alex's idea of a good story?
SM: I think, and don't quote me on this, Alex knows exactly the kind of stories he wants. He has a long history with genre and knows the work that influenced his tastes and what he wants in the pages of Cirsova. We, as contributors, do our best to match the vision he has. As far as horror goes, it's the most natural thing for me to write. Don't get me started on Stephen King because I still believe he's one of the greatest, most influential writers of our time. I don't think in terms of genre much, it's all the same room with different furniture as Poppa George says. Elements of horror can be found in everything from science fiction to fantasy to even non-fiction works. It's an umbrella over literature and genre. Everyone is afraid of something, it's in our genes. Whether you like blood and guts or subtle horror like stuff from Nightmare magazine, it's all valid in the human experience.
Anytime I'm writing, the horror bug bites me and I just can't help but go dark. If we could write stories about perfectly well-adjusted people who are upstanding citizens and who never have a care in the world other than what movie to choose next from a premium cable package, I'm sure we could. But it would bore the pants off people. No one wants to read about 'normal,' they don't even know what normal is. People like bad shit to happen, they want to experience it without the actual consequences of having their worst nightmares and fears come true. Horror is their way to accomplish that. I think it's rarely understood or appreciated, but it's in everything.
SC: Alex may chime in the comments.
Good observation about elements of horror being found in multiple genres. Do you give credence to the point David P. Goldman makes in this article? He begins by discussing how Americans rejected the horror tales of the old country as they tended to be optimistic and lived a blessed life on the new continent. As Americans became reacquainted with horror (Vietnam and terrorism given as examples) the trend moved towards bad scenarios without consequences in greater and more disturbing amounts?
SM: Aside from the context of the origins of good and evil in this article, I agree that the degree to which Americans are seeking a more horrific experience is notching to the right, in the red zone on the rpm gauge, I guess you could say. I wasn't around during the Vietnam era so I can't speak from experience, but I think with the advent of TV and 'in your face' imagery from the era, our collective ideas about what we feared shifted from the aforementioned 'comical parodies.' TV and film is a completely different medium for storytelling and I think, as visual creatures, we like to see rather than imagine. But after the TV is shut down and the film is over and we go back to our daily lives, it's our imagination that lingers. Not to say images can't linger (Regan's head spinning in the Exorcist followed me down many a dark hallway in my youth) but we're oversaturated with them to the point of indifference; 'desensitized' as the above article puts it.
If it's not in your backyard, most people don't care about it. I think today with the film and TV technology we have you can make things more realistic, more shocking and blood-riddled and there will always be someone out there willing to shape that realism into the medium of film or TV. Reading horror (I don't always consider horror as something to box-up in a neat package) has always relied on our perception being altered, using our five senses to really scare ourselves. For example, take a book like Pet Sematary. If you don't have children and have never entertained the idea of losing a child to something as mundane as a truck passing by on a busy highway, that story isn't going to have the same impact on you as it would if you were a parent. Not to say you can't empathize to the point of actually putting yourself in those shoes, but it's different…it lingers.
Monsters and armies of darkness and 'Sauron' are a way of externalizing evil and making our fears tangible to the point where we can 'hit back.' But I think the scariest shit comes from us, from human beings capable of both creating and destroying whatever we put our minds to. That's why I love morally gray characters. I don't think there is a single person among us not capable of the most horrific thing we can image.
Now I'm not the biggest fan of slasher-type horror but I'd never knock it or tell a big fan of it that they're wasting their time. It has its merits, I think, and I once saw a documentary about how fans of the really gory stuff are actually more prepared to face death than the rest of us. If you like it and it floats your boat, then…by all means, enjoy. The fact is most of us don't actually see the kind of things that happen in the horror genre and so it becomes, to a degree, less impactful. But when footage of our soldiers coming back from Vietnam in caskets hit American TV sets, I think it took something we might have been desensitized to and made it real. Pushing the envelope has become the way to reach the biggest audience and so I think the films and TV shows will just keep getting more and more explicit.
SC: I did enjoy reading Stephen King though I disembarked from the King express when victims of paternal sexual abuse became the norm for many of his characters. Night Shift was great and the more or less non-horror Four Seasons was another good one. What are some of your King favorites?
SM: Yeah, I've heard that from a lot of former King fans. I think one of his biggest fears was becoming a monster himself. You can see it clearly in The Shining, and later on when Danny Torrence almost becomes his own father in Dr. Sleep. For some victims of sexual abuse it's something you live with for a really long time, something much more horrifying than the creature from the black lagoon, something real. What I like about his work is how it changes over time, how it can go from cheap thrill and gross-out to poignant and thought provoking. The Shining (not the film), The Stand, Carrie, IT, definitely Different Seasons, Skeleton Crew (who can forget Survivor Type), Misery and most of all probably his short story collections. The End of the Whole Mess, Dedication, A Good Marriage. He blends his own experiences and fears into fiction seamlessly (when his POV isn't a writer). He writes about what makes him uncomfortable and I think that's why he's still around. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is awesome, almost like a dark fairy tale in modern times. He doesn't stick to one thing (The Dark Tower stuff is off the wall) and you can clearly see his subject matter evolve over time. Truth be told, I think more than the scary things he writes about, it's the voice in his work that shines through.
Finding your voice as a writer is a tough thing to do but when you find it, it's magic.
SC: When writing stories of different genres, e.g. between SF and horror, do you find your writing process is different or it remains the same no matter the subject?
SM: It's different and it's the same. The greatest tool we have as writers is reading, and if you don't read your process–the tools in your box–begins to wane and become dull. I like to read a piece at least twice: once for the journey and experience, once for the internal editor with a critical eye. If I'm reading horror non-stop then my process–the tropes, the atmosphere, the onslaught of sensory detail–is going to move fast, unconsciously almost. But my other work will suffer. You want to read as wide and diverse as you can, even non-fiction and memoirs and poetry. Here's what I know about my own work. If I'm writing horror the voice always comes first, the situation of it all. If I'm writing science fiction the idea and technology come first, maybe the enormity of a vast world encompassing the human experience. If I'm writing fantasy I see the world first and the feeling behind different characters. I think I work that way because subconsciously there are certain base tropes and norms solidified in my mind. Our job is to know the tropes, know the work that came before us, absorb it, then filter it from our minds and shatter it with our own voices and experiences. I've never heard of a prolific writer who didn't read like it was going out of style. After you've absorbed you have to sometimes isolate yourself. Neil Gaiman, I've heard, gets a seed for a story and then isolates himself, turns off all external stimuli like social media, literature, phones, TV etc. Your own unique voice has to grow in solitude sometimes. I don't think we allow ourselves to become bored anymore, to let our minds wander without being stimulated to an '11' on the amplifier.
The process for every story is different, but there is a common thread about how you edit and plot and add layers. There is a beginning, a middle, and an end to every story, and if you deviate from that layout it fries people sometimes. Storytelling is in our genes whether we know it or not and most people can recognize when something is wrong. It's the editors and avid readers who can point out what that something is. I do like to listen to certain types of music when it comes to switching genres. Piano and violin solos and heavy metal for horror, soundtrack scores for fantasy, and ambient or electronic for science fiction. Like smell, sound can sometimes wake up the subconscious and get the ball rolling when you're stuck in a ditch. We all have bad days, but as long as you push yourself to write every day you'll have something to work with. A bad day is 250-500 words. A good day is 3-5 thousand. Most days it's somewhere between the two. It all depends on where you're at mentally. As far as genre, they all get done the same way, just in different order.
SC: You mentioned it was hard to shake the usual tropes when writing SF. Why do you feel less pressure when writing horror stories?
SM: I know horror better, if that means anything. I sometimes think of fantasy, horror, and science fiction in terms of past, present, and future, not that that mold hasn't been broken a thousand times. I have a deep respect for the past and the history of things; what it can teach us about our mistakes and our roots. Horror is very present tense for me, I'm afraid of a lot of things and get mental imagery of horrible things happening to the people I love, so I live very much in the moment, the now. The future, and what it will look like, has been painted for us over the decades to resemble something cohesive, something similar to a lot of artists. It's those future depictions, interplanetary travel, isolation, alien races, convenient technologies, that are hard to break free from. Maybe I have a negative image of what the future looks like so I don't put much stock in populating it with the characters in my head, or maybe I just don't have the tools in my box sharpened enough in the SF genre. Or maybe we won't be around long enough to find out.
But there's also something really powerful about envisioning the future. I just need to let go of what came before me and paint my own version of it. I wrote a Starship Trooper parody a couple years ago called Imagine all the Insects (now I'll be branded as the 'bug guy' forever) where a marine sides with the aliens and communicates with them using an electric guitar and old song lyrics, but I haven't been bitten by the SF bug in a while. The article you cited about 'hard' and 'soft' SF may have more merit for me as a writer than I initially thought. If I don't have the idea of whether or not the technology is 'feasible' in the back of my mind, I'm actually quite comfortable writing SF. There…problem solved.
SC: Recently, there has been discussion on the CH Blog about Hard Science Fiction, the definition, impact and utility in producing a great story as an end result. Actually, it's been a topic for a while now, and the debate has been acrimonious at times, enough so that my man Misha penned this excellent post/suggestion.
Amongst horror fans do you find this level of debate? There may be some "know it more than you nerds" that have trivia locked down but I'm thinking horror fans don't dive into the level of debate one finds on the fantasy and SF side.
SM: I think genre was, and still is, something used by the 'industry' to confine writing which is boundless. When these debates go down I tend to keep on the sidelines because they don't change my ideas about my own work. Hard and soft are terms used by publishers and new readers who want an idea of the kind of stories their delving into. I tend to agree with a lot of what Misha said. King isn't specifically a horror writer, Martin isn't specifically a fantasy writer, Heinlein isn't specifically a science fiction writer (though the training of an engineer is scientific). Those are just the boxes we put them in to market their work. I will say science fiction, in my opinion, has a more narrow focus. Like horror, fantasy is huge and all-encompassing. The hard and soft definitions of science fiction have become a way to categorize whether or not the technology in a story is feasible. Is it possible to envision the technology working in the future or not? Hard also means, to the writer, 'am I willing to put in the research to make my work 'realistic?' Three decades ago we didn't have the stark lines between hard and soft so much because the technology was beyond most people's imagination of what could be real. With the exponential growth of technology, science fiction is becoming technology fiction, and while I don't read a lot of science fiction most of the stuff I do read tends to be technology heavy. It all depends on what you want from a story. If I'm Heinlein, of course my idea of science fiction is going to be a bit harder than someone like Vance who loved to cross genre boundaries.
These debates will go on as long as some readers think they have the inside track on what's real and what's not. If a race of aliens on planet Xanthos invading earth is more feasible than a generation ship exploring the galaxy for me then I'm going to lean towards the softer side of things. It's all relevant, and stems from a kind of nostalgic privilege. I'm a product of the 80's and so things like remaking Conan the Barbarian or the Ghost in the Shell are going to make me feel like 'there's no way these untested newbies can capture what those films meant to me; they're going to screw it up.' I loved Karate Kid, but I also love the remake. It's a knee-jerk reaction to a change in the collective consciousness of what belongs to us.
It's important to know the history and roots of 'genre' fiction, but it's also important to know and understand where those roots have grown. I read Corey, Jemisin, and Hurley just as much as I read Vance, Heinlein, and Howard. I must say I'm not a big Asimov fan, but he's always relevant to the conversation. And in my opinion, it's ALL literary. We're all influenced by what we read in one way or another. I work as a first reader with Adrian Collins and the Grimdark Magazine team because my tastes lean that way. I prefer gray characters to black and white ones. Write whatever you want to write, hard or soft, gross or poignant, dark or uplifting. It's the audience–the readers–who ultimately place value and relevance on the work.
SC: When reading your Cirsova stories I'm wondering if you purposely based one in an aquatic environment (The Water Walks Tonight) and the other in a drier locale (The Phantom Sands of Calavass)?
SM: I talked a bit about the origins of Water Walks Tonight. I've always been fascinated by Viking culture and wanted to do a bit of a mash-up between dark fantasy and horror. The aquatic environment kind of goes with the territory. The Phantom Sands of Calavass was a totally different mindset. I was pleased with the quality of the magazine that Alex was putting out and wanted to take part in another issue. I had no idea what themes he was working with compiling the issues. But I did see he wanted more Planet Stories–Raygun Romances, as he puts it. So I sat down and kind of went Buck Rodgers with some Dune thrown in. I love the desert setting, something Bradley P. Beaulieu works masterfully in, and wanted to include an uprising and a strange Dr. experimenting on the locals.
'They're calling the Worm,' I kept hearing while cooking lunch or sitting on the toilet, and I saw it's maw come leaping out of the sand to devour a mining population. I had a lot of fun with that story and learned to let go of 'what's possible and what isn't.' That's the fun of Cirsova, you can let go of the reins of genre and just fly with whatever your mind can conjure up.
SC: What are you working on now?
SM: I move around a lot with works in progress, and I like to have my hands in a lot of different pots. Cirsova #5 includes my story "Beyond the Great Divide" and NewMyths.com just published my story "The Sound of Steel on Stone" in issue #38. I've got about 300 pages of a novel I'm still working on and I'm coming to the end of a horror/thriller novelette called "Sharpest Knife in the Drawer."
I'd like to get to the point where I'm writing novels all the time but my roots are really in short form and so I always have a short story in the works. I'm rewriting a couple of old stories that I really feel good about and want to share. Cirsova is opening submissions soon so maybe I'll get a really far out piece done for that grand day. I have a new audio piece produced by The Manor House Podcast called "What's Done in the Dark" coming out in September, I believe. I love the quality productions they put out, kind of like Tales From the Crypt with Rock Manor being the new incarnation of the Crypt Keeper. It's about how addictions and impulsive behavior can have consequences far beyond hurting ourselves. 'Sins of the Father,' sums it up.
SC: Please tell Cirsova readers what to expect in Beyond the Great Divide?
SM: This was the first time I felt like I was given a chance from an editor to contribute to a shared world. Misha was very kind in his invitation and offered feedback on works in progress. Alex picked some insanely good stories for the Eldritch Earth issue and I think fans are in for a special treat. I noticed a lot of contributors were telling stories from the human perspective and I wanted to do something different. I also began the piece from the human perspective but scrapped my first attempt because it was too close to a piece by Rob Lang. So I switched to first person from the perspective of an insectoid race called the Slagborn.
A Slagborn leader brings war to a settlement of Kumaali (a human race dwelling in a rainforest environment). The hive mind of the Slagborn (they have no names, just numbers) is in direct conflict with the individuality of human sentiments and emotions. It's a story about how something seemingly emotionless can experience loss and hate and a range of emotions while still remaining anonymous and dispensable.
There's a lot of action, though it's toned down a bit at the cost of what the main character is 'feeling.' The Slagborn have a sense of superiority to all other races because their anatomy and physiology are better suited to thrive in an area called The Great Divide where conditions are too unbearable for humans. They believe the Earth belongs to them. It has some strange sensory perception (insect driven olfaction), dinosaurs, volcanos, and a xenophobic POV character who I hope becomes more sympathetic as the story progresses. Even insects feel loss and sorrow in my world.
SC: Shawn, thank you for your time and the great conversation.
SM: Scott, it's been a blast, and thank you for putting in all this time and effort to make it fun. I wish you the best.
NOTE: I have set up a Google + account which can be used as a quick reference for other Conversation posts along with my Wargame Wednesday contributions.
So, someone else likes The Lawnmower Man. Weird and memorable flick, that, even if it has absolutely nothing to do with the King story (and I like the story too, kinda bizarre and darkly humorous take on the Pan trope, it's the sort of weirdness that disappeared from King's later fiction)
I don't know that there was any intentional effort on my end to bring in horror writers or horror stories that has found so many of them in Cirsova. Rather I think it's that good horror writing relies on the same sort of visceral and emotional style and technique, or at least draws from a similar place, as good adventure fantasy and sci-fi. Being able to capture those deep fears and exhilarating emotional highs in writing are things that benefit all stories that involve real stakes.
A lot of the best Fantasy and sci-fi stories have an element of the horrific to them, whether grotesque or cerebral. The Kull story, Kingdom of Shadows, is very much a psychological horror, playing on the same fears as Invasion of the Body Snatchers or Invaders from Mars – alienation from one's peers or family. A lot of CL Moore's stories are as much horror as they are sci-fi and/or fantasy. I think if you can write a good horror story, you can probably write a good fantasy or sci-fi. Alien is one of the most well known science fiction franchises ever, and it started out as more or less a grab-meat-gotcha slasher flick that used an alien in the role of a serial killer.
Good points and the more interesting as this points to the versatility of the Cirsova team instead of stylistic / genre preferences.
Also important to remember that the genre labels for a lot of the good stuff are significantly post facto. I think as people rediscover this type of storytelling, genre labels are going to become less important.
Horror scene nowadays is much the same as SFF one, only smaller (meaning that its issues are even more pronounced). If author isn't writing certain types of horror or pushing right sort of message in his fiction, he ain't getting anywhere. If you're aware are of magazines like Nightmare Magazine and of how much worse they've gotten, you'll know what I mean.
This was written before, but it bears repeating. I am glad that Cirsova is so eclectic as to sorts of fiction you publish. You are filling the Weird Tales-like role on the market, and something like that was sorely missed.
That is disappointing. Science Fiction, I'm learning, has a long history of people trying to use it further the advancement of mankind along a particular track. I would have thought horror immune but I guess not.
I think that one of the reasons why we have one of the most eclectic mixes of fiction that still manages to maintain a consistent feel or quality that has readers saying "I know why this was included" is because we aren't particularly ideological nor do we pursue a literary agenda or model with the magazine. Sure, we have thought provoking content, but we didn't pick it because we're a high fallutin' thinky magazine that thinks important thoughts, but because they were stories that I FELT people would enjoy and react to emotionally on various levels.
The seemingly feminist bent in our non-fiction content has more to do with a pursuit of more and better dames in SFF stories than a mainstream feminist agenda. So, uh… I guess that's part of our sneaky right-wing misogynistic fascist gamergate agenda – more awesome female characters and unburying women of SFF past…
Yeah, the Lawnmower Man short story is vastly different from the film, kinda serial killer uses lawnmower and goes ballistic, gore ensues, police arrive weirdness. And Alien is one of my favorites, exactly as Alex says it takes the killer and replaces it with an alien. Though the second installment is the best I think, with Bill Paxton having some of the best lines of military hysteria ever.
One of the reasons I like to shoot my horror stuff over to Manor House is the eclectic nature of their stories. Pseudopod, The Dark, even Nightmare have really narrowed the focus of the stuff they put out lately. There's a lot of new stuff coming out of Australia lately and they have a huge horror community.
Pseudopod use to be awesome, and they were also good way to discover obscure authors.
They definitely switched towards didactic and would-be "literary" horror. Nowadays, when I need some audio frights, I download buncha stories from some of countless creepypasta narration channels on YT… Chances are that at least some of them will be genuinely scary, if nothing else.
I ended up reading the free short story "Sound of Steel on Stone" by SH Mansouri, and it was great to see how he incorporated the different elements of horror and fantasy he speaks of in the interview. I felt that the relationship between Illio and the Endaar slaves changes so much because of the revelation Illio discovers about the servant. Before, Illio was sort of going along with the notions from the General, and fighting with what is seen as right or wrong. I won't give it all away, but I do appreciate a writer who spends time creating characters that are put into impossible situations and the consequences of the choices they make. Check it out. Another great interview by Castalia House.
Thanks Te, I appreciate you reading into the relationship between Illio and the Endaar. I got a lot of feedback on this piece and was surprised that most editors wanted him to be a better guy in the end despite the revelation in his chambers. Blood is thicker than water, even if that blood comes in buckets and waves. Great insight.
That thing with the mice screwed with my head and I didn't even see it first hand. I think Secret of Nimh ruined me for rodents!
I definitely think "National Mouse Day" needs to become a thing. Great interview!


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Category Archives: Kravings
KRAVE at the PIN show
At the PIN Show back in March with one of the 2015 KRAVE Kover Search Finalist Skyy F. Scottand King of Hearts Kalendar model Anteris Antareis Bryan. Find out who will get that Kover July 25th at the Kover unveil Party at the Aloft Hotel Dallas Texas.
#BTS Artist Kalen Mcguire
KRAVE Model Ambassador First Movie Deal
last Day To Submit!
Today is the last day to submit! Where are the real fitness cats who want to see their faces plastered in the pages of KRAVE & KRAVE Fit for a year? We need tats, beards, hardcore gym rats with prison yard gainz. We're not looking for pretty. Come on let's get it!
Summer Issue Coming Soon!
See this and more in the Summer Issue of Krave Magazine! Available in May.
Kover Search Finalists Announced!
KONGRATS to our 2015 Kover Search Finalists. Rich Morrow, Alexander Davis and Skyy F. Scott. Between now and July 25th (when we will announce the winner at the Kover Unveil Party) you will see and hear alot about the 3 deserving brothers. And one will take this opportunity to be as successful as our previous winners. America's Next Top Model Keith Carlos and If Loving You Is Wrong Actor/Model Denzel Wells.

subset: commoncrawl


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Paganism in 7th century Byzantium: the dynamics of exclusion and inclusion that defined Orthodoxy
Elena Nonveiller (Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris)
This paper aims to contribute to efforts to define the conception of "paganism" elaborated by the imperial and ecclesiastical byzantine authorities in the late 7th century AD in the canon law collection so-called Quinisext Council or Council in Trullo (692 AD). This codification constitutes a milestone in the development of the canon law collections of the Orthodox Church in the Greek East. Although the canons were formulated ostensibly to complement the work of the Fifth and Sixth Ecumenical Councils, their real purpose was the ideological defense of Christian identity by fortifying the social order in response to political and religious crises. They represented an immediate response to current historical threats (economic, political and social crisis and the Arab and Bulgarian invasions), reflecting the worries of emperor Justinian II and the bishops about persistent forms of heterodoxy among Christians. The primary intent of authorities was, in fact, "to extirpate from the Christian communities any remainder of pagan or Jewish perversity". Several canons banned heathen customs (hēllenika ethē) and different kinds of worship, such as bloody sacrifices, banquets, festivals and polytheist cults (particularly that of Dionysus). The term "pagan" is used in a sense synonymous with the hellēnikos, which referred to any aspect of social life derived from non-Christian Graeco-Roman culture. Some of the practices mentioned constituted actual practices of worship, but many others were ancient calendar customs which had Graeco-Roman pagan origins that, by the time of the Quinisext, were expressions of daily customary rites and local traditions. Multicultural ritual synthesis and religious syncretisms combined Christian, pagan and various cultural elements and later were often incorporated into Orthodox ceremonies. Despite being banned, these heterodox practices (such as the bloody sacrifices) can be traced even now in Greece and the Balkans.


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Landmark Arts at the Texas Tech School of Art will open the fourth exhibition of the 2011-12 SRO Photo Gallery Series with the work of Kelly Urquhart and Jaime Kennedy through Dec. 18.
A reception is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday.
Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
The art building is at 2802 18th St. On Mondays through Fridays, paid parking is available on the fourth floor of the Flint Avenue parking facility. Parking is free on weekends. Admission is free. Call 742-1947 for more information.
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text: EUFEPS Annual Meeting 2016, scheduled for 2-4 November 2016, Antalya, Turkey, has been cancelled. Continuous tragic events that endanger the security of participants from all over the world, including recent attacks on Istanbul Atatürk Airport, in Nice, France, and more, resulted in hundreds of deaths and wounded. Regrettably, the decision to cancel it has had to be taken. In this situation, preparations for the Annual Meeting 2016 have been discontinued. Plans and hopes are to come together with colleagues and members in future EUFEPS events in a safer time and location. In the meantime, don't forget to check our website www.eufeps.org and email announcements for coming meetings organized by EUFEPS networks.


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text: Home Movie Thug Life 2 years ago 2 years agoMovieThug Life by Gifs Ninja 2 years ago2 years ago 29 Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Share 29 points imgur mirrorPost PaginationPrevious PostPreviousNext PostNextDanny McBride, Pineapple Express, Thug LifeLike it? Share with your friends! 29 Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Share 29 pointsWhat's Your Reaction? Sad 0 Sad Lol 0 Lol Angry 0 Angry Awesome 1 Awesome Love 0 Love WTF 0 WTF Excited 0 Excited Interested 0 Interested Surprised 0 Surprised Previous Post fuck you reddit by Gifs Ninja Next Post I'm a five star man gif – Dennis Reynolds by Gifs Ninja Posted by Gifs Ninja 0 Comments Cancel replyConnect with: Facebook Reddit Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email.


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Lemonade + summer is a timeless combination, but there's no need to stick to the same old-same old lemonade. Take your lemonade recipe to the next level with one of these unique spins, from slushes to infusions to loaded with healthy veggie juices.
Don't forget to try this Probiotic Lacto-Fermented Lemonade
11 ways to upgrade your lemonade recipe
Blueberry lemonade
Have a bounty of blueberries? Whip up a batch of blueberry simple syrup (genius!) and sweeten your lemonade with it – like this blueberry lemonade from Damn Delicious.Get the recipe
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Infused lemonade
Infuse your lemonade (and make it pretty) with sweet, subtle floral flavors. Rose and lavender add an unexpected twist to a classic. (via Lauren Conrad)Get the recipe
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Carrot lemonade
Sneak some veggie juice into your lemonade with this carrot lemonade. Not only is it pretty, it's chock full of Vitamin A – and you don't even need a juicer to make it. (via Better Homes and Gardens)Get the recipe
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Watermelon raspberry lemonade
This naturally sweetened watermelon-raspberry lemonade is a trifecta of summer staples. The combination of already-sweet fruit with coconut water eliminates the need for sugar or other sweeteners. (via Gourmande in the Kitchen)Get the recipe
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Vanilla berry lemonade
Vanilla and lemon sounds like an odd combo at first, but this vanilla-berry lemonade (using vanilla beans) is a smooth, not-so-tart option. (via Baked Bree)Get the recipe
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Whiskey lemonade
Whiskey lemonade with honey simple syrup? Say no more. (via Foodie Crush)Get the recipe
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Green tea lemonade
Use stevia in this green tea lemonade if you're cutting back on sugar – or even leave the sweetener out altogether. (via Add a Pinch)Get the recipe
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Spicy ginger lemonade
Ginger takes lemonade to the next level in this spicy recipe from The Kitchn.Get the recipe
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Sparkling cucumber limeade
Sparkling water, cucumber and mint make this limeade from Taste and Tell extra refreshing (works well with lemons, too).Get the recipe
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Herb ice cubes
Herb ice cubes add instant flavor to a glass of lemonade. Try whatever's growing in your garden: thyme, rosemary, basil or mint. Berries or edible flowers would be great, too. (via All Things Farmer)Get the recipe
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Strawberry lemonade slush
On a really hot day, nothing but a lemonade slush will suffice. This strawberry lemonade slush from Sprinkled with Jules uses ice and real fruit, not a powdered mix or concentrate, to get that perfect slushy texture.Get the recipe


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Our son has always gravitated toward videos. He absorbs them intently, it has been clear from early on that he was having a different interaction with 'screens' than our older son. He has watched more washing machine instructional videos and marble run videos than we knew existed. He is a big fan of the Seven Super Girls YouTube channel. He watches these videos over and over again. He has created hundreds of his own videos on our computers, some extremely silly and some not so silly. Watching these with different eyes, we figured out that he is teaching us once again how to teach him. We now believe he is using these as his own 'social stories' – watching and memorizing how people say things, analysing their expressions, critiqung his own. He has begged us for ages to post his videos to YouTube, and we have finally agreed to launch his own channel. This is how our son sees and experiences the world (with some parental editing, of course). They say that kids with 'buy-in' to their diagnoses and those who take on board the strategies to help them cope fare better as they grow older. So through these videos, we also are gently helping him to find his voice and how to use that to help others. We believe that nurturing his self-esteem is the key to his future.
Subscribe to his channel and make his day!
SuperT (current channel)
10SuperT (previous channel)
Stay tuned! We are just getting started.
He is learning strategies to help when he is frustrated, and is using his voice to help other kids too
In this video he shows how messy play can help a child who is feeling frustrated and ready to throw things
Here is a blog post and video where he helps other kids learn how to go from Angry to Happy.
In this post, he explains in two videos how It's Always Better Outside.
He is full of joy.
He loves to perform.
He loves to sing.
He loves to splash and play.
He loves swinging high and spinning fast.
He loves gymnastics.


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The Puppy Bowl is a bunch of puppy players divided into the two teams Fluff and Ruff on a small football field with toys. An announcer and a referee talk about all the action, including tackles and touchdowns.
Unfortunately, even though there were so many articles promoting it, the whole game actually wasn't posted online. Instead, there were many features such as a pre-game show, player profiles, select videos of highlights, and a "live" locker room cam on the website. I wasted some time perusing the site on this Sunday afternoon. It was a nice break from my quite productive morning and early afternoon.
You can catch the cuteness on TV though. Puppy Bowl XII started at 3 today, Sunday, February 7th on Animal Planet. This show supports pet adoption.
Animal Planet via Mashable
Meet Marley,
a 14-week old Labrador Retriever on Team Ruff.
...might be my favorite...
I will be catching the human Superbowl. Yes, on an actual TV, while doing my laundry at my parents' place this evening. Since I was unable to live stream it online, I will definitely arrive earlier to catch an hour or so of an encore presentation of the Puppy Bowl on their TV...


text: Take a tour of India Hicks' beach home in the Bahamas! It's filled with history and antiques and I love it all. From the tropical greenery growing outside to the coastal fish prints inside, this home has captured my heart. Also did I mention they have a pet parrot named Jenga? You've got to take a look:


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please dont mock the girl,she\'s in a terible place and suffering
thats horrible dont laugth or be mean we should try and help her
Little girl, working hard on the border between Nepal and Tibet. Just do it?
(2 comments add yours: click the link above the image, or share using the buttons.)
Asia • Children • Globalisation • Nepal • People • Portraits
URL: http://exposedplanet.com/globalisation-7-nike-girl-in-nepal/


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Community Outreach
Child Advocacy Council
The Camden County Child Advocacy Council is a group whose purpose is to make the public aware of the role they can play in child abuse prevention. They provide educational campaigns and aid abused and neglected children, acting as advocates for the general welfare of children and the family.
For additional information, call 573-346-0003.
Kids' Harbor Child Advocacy Center
Pregnancy Help Center
St. Anthony parish supports the Pregnancy Help Center (PHC). We participate in their annual "baby bottle" fund raiser to help support life. Some of our parishioners volunteer at the center and more volunteers are always welcome.
Each person who comes to this center is given personal and confidential attention for her individual needs. These concerns go beyond possible or actual pregnancy. Within this program is the "Mommy in Need Program" which is a "learn and earn" program to assist new moms with necessary skills.
PHC accepts donations of paper diapers (partial packages okay), and clean used baby and child clothes and maternity clothes. Baby furniture (bassinettes, cribs, high chairs, strollers, etc.) are also needed. We are open Monday 9 to 5 and Tuesday through Thursday 10 to 5.
For additional information, call 573-346-3337 or text 573-873-6705.
Habitat for Humanity
Lake of the Ozarks Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit corporation formed to build homes for families who could not otherwise afford to buy their own home. They have a re-store in the Business Park on South Business Route 5. See the web site for further information on how you can qualify or how you can help.
For additional information call: Office 573-317-3962 or 573-346-4440 ext. 1360
ReStore: 573-317-0470
Donation Line: 573-873-8319
Lake Area Helping Hands:
Lake Area Helping Hands is our local homeless shelter. It is located on West Hwy 54, two miles from the Camdenton Square at 68 Holden Drive. It provides shelter for families, single women and men. Assistance is provided in obtaining social services and finding employment. Phone: 573-346-4968.
The shelter is a not for profit corporation funded by local churches, organizations, friends and government/corporate grants.
Help is always welcome in staffing the office, organizing the food and clothing, storage area, and building maintenance.
The thrift store is located at 1091 S. Bus. Hwy 5 just before the Camdenton airport. Hours of operation are Tue/Thurs/Fri/Sat 9-4.
For additional information or to volunteer, call 573-873-2308.
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels delivers meals to our senior citizens. They are prepared by volunteers from five churches in Camdenton.
Parishioners from St. Anthony's Church volunteer to deliver meals, usually one day every five weeks, requiring 1 ½ to 2 hours of your time.
For additional information, contact Charlene Nielsen at 573-216-2131.
LAMB House
(Lake Area Ministries Benevolence)
LAMB House is an ecumenical organization supported by the churches in the Camdenton area. It provides assistance to the needy; emergency food, clothing, fuel and rental assistance. LAMB House maintains a "Crisis Room" with household items to assist as someone sets up a new household. It provides shoes to school children when requested by their teacher or the school nurse. LAMB House also serves as a referral source to help people find the appropriate agency to meet their needs.
The LAMB House office and thrift shop are located at 93 Morgan Street, Camdenton. Proceeds from the thrift shop help fund its many programs. The thrift shop is open Monday-Friday from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm and on Saturdays from 9:30 am to noon. Call the LAMB House office at 573-346-2168.
Donations of food, clothing, linens, and small household items are most welcome. Monetary donations are also gratefully accepted.
St. Anthony parishioners volunteer in the thrift shop three days each month; on the 3rd and 4th Mondays and the 1st Friday of the month. We sort clothes, wait on customers and straighten up the merchandise.
To volunteer, call: Connie Fitzhenry at 573-346-8353.
Missouri Catholic Conference
The Missouri Catholic Conference offices are located in Jefferson City. They are the public policy agency of Missouri's four Catholic Dioceses. The Citizens network is the key to changing things for the better. Volunteers write letters, make phone calls, and visit with public officials. Public policies shaped by moral conviction are the fruit of a healthy democracy. You can make this possible. You can make a difference.
Call 1-800-456-1679 for additional information.
CADV-VOC (Citizens Against Domestic Violence/Victims Outreach Center)
CADV is a non-profit organization that provides crisis intervention, shelter, advocacy, and support to victims of family violence and sexual assault. All services are confidential and free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Jail Ministry
The Catholic Churches at the Lake have an active ministry to those incarcerated at the Camden County Jail. Two services are held each Thursday; the first is for women, the next for men. The readings for the upcoming Sunday are read and a talk is given about the readings, and about God's love for each of them. Prayers are lifted up for their needs, and the Catholics have an opportunity to receive the Eucharist. Fr. Dan visits the jail often to hear confessions.
Our parishioners support those in jail with our parish "Prayer Partner" program.
Contact the Parish Office at 573-346-2716


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Tiger Loaf Hobbs House BakeryLife 4d+* V
Tiger bread is an ancient Cornish recipe, made with our traditional overnight dough for great flavour and topped with fermented rice flour for a chewy bite.
For ingredients and allergens, see product information below.
What's in this collection
Product information
Ingredients list
White wheat flour, water, salt, white shortening (vegetable oil), yeast, flour improver (wheat flour, flour treatment (E300 - vitamin C)), sugar, olive oil, rice flour.
For allergens, including cereals containing gluten, see ingredients highlighted in bold.
Hobbs House products are made in an environment that produces items that contain nuts, milk, eggs, sesame, as well as various other cereals containing gluten (rye, spelt, barley and oats).
Storage details
Store in a cool, dry, place
Using Product and Allergen information
Product information is provided here as part of our effort to give you the best possible online shopping experience. We take great care in preparing this information and checking it with the producer. However, the information provided here is not intended to be a substitute for reading the product's actual labelling once you receive it. Whilst we continually aim to update the information with the very latest data provided by producers, there may be some cases where it is subject to change. Equilibrium Markets is unable to accept liability for any incorrect information provided. Your statutory rights are not affected. If you require more product information than appears here, please contact the producer directly.


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Wednesday, 30 January 2013
January Spending Diet
17 comments
Oh yes, I've been trying to cut my spending this month too after a lot of December shopping! I was pretty good all month until I decided to do a little shopping last weekend, but I've still been trying to follow the "one in, one out" policy so I don't get things unnecessarily!ReplyDelete
Ellie | EllalogyReplies
That's a good way to think, January is a good time to cut back a little I feel. Way to much spending over Christmas lol!Delete
Oh gosh, I really need to go on a spending diet as well.. I recently moved out of my dorm, and when I was packing all of my clothes/products I realized how much stuff I actually have! I'm always thinking that I don't have anything to wear so "I really need that sweater", but I actually don't need them..ReplyDelete
Anyway, your blog is so cute! I'm a new follower :)
Thank you for following :)Delete
You never realise just how much you have until you move or have a clear out lol.
aah, this is what i'm doing this month! i'm trying very hard to have a good think about a product before i buy it too, it's saved me a fortune so far.ReplyDelete
from helen at thelovecatsinc // youtube
ps. enter my new giveaway to win the UD naked basics palette, real techniques brushes and essie polishes! click here.Replies
Me too, you really don't realise how much you spend when you don't have too. I glad its saved you some money :)Delete
I'm on a spending ban I didn't realise how hard it is xReplyDelete
check out my cath kidston giveaway 1stepclosereveryday.blogspot.co.ukReplies
Yeh it can be, especially when you see so many pretty things.Delete
Buona settimana (: Reb, xoxo.ReplyDelete
*Nuovo outfit sul mio blog, fammi sapere cosa ne pensi:
Nice post :)ReplyDelete
I'm trying to cut back on spending but sort of broke the rule this morning by spending a fortune on magazines.Oops That was a really nice post and i enjoyed reading that.ReplyDelete
Thank you so much :)Delete
Oh well, you have to treat your self sometimes :)
nice! I should do the same!ReplyDelete
It's quite a good thing to do, it saves some extra money at least :)Delete
I'm also trying to cut back on spending and only buying things I need. It's definitely a great way to save money and use what we already have :)ReplyDeleteReplies
Very true, I didn't realise how many samples I had hidden around the place. Its quite good fun using them up :)Delete


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We may be able to give you a discount.
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Ercol 3145/3 Adrano Medium Sofa in a range of different Natura fabrics with a pale oak underframe and legs.
This range has loose and turnable seat & back cushions and also deep full arm pads which are zipped into place. Scatter cushions are included and you can choose the fabric you want them in from the same Natura swatch book.
If you need fabric samples please email us with the details of which ones and we'll have them posted direct to you.
170cm Wide
98cm Deep
102cm High
49cm Seat Height


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JNTUH College or Engineering Sultanpur has issued recruitment notification inviting applications through email for the appointment of Lecturer (Adhoc)/ Academic Assistant vacancies.
Application Procedure:
Last date of receipt of applications is within 10 days from the date of advertisement.
Submit application along with supported documents and a DD of Rs.1000 in favour of Principal JNTUH CES.
E-mail: principaljntuhces at jntuh dot ac dot in
Date of notification: 30/06/2017.


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Horse Feed Products
Allora Grain & Milling stock a wide range of our own brand and third party manufacturers specialised horse feed products in various package sizes. For a full list of products and available weights please see the list below.
- Oaten Chaff
- Wheaten Chaff
- Pony Pellets 20kg
- Work Horse Mix 20kg


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Home > Categories > Food > Heat and Eat > Bazaar Gourmet Pizza Bases review
Made with the finest Australian ingredients, Bazaar uses a traditional Italian recipe so that you can enjoy sensational pizzas at home. Just top with your favourite ingredients, and after only 10 minutes in the oven, you have created the perfect crispy pizza! It's as simple as top, bake, slice.
Product reviews...
Nothing beats a yummy home made pizza for dinner (or for lunch the next day if your lucky enough to have any left overs that is!). Up until now there haven't really been any thin or gourmet pizza bases on the market, which means I would always try to whip up my own in the bread maker, however these never turn out particularly thin by the time I have finished with them no matter how much rolling I do to the dough to make it ultra thin, it just doesn't happen. When I saw these at the supermarket I decided to buy them for pizza that night, they definitely appeared to be thin so I was happy, had I finally found a thin pizza base to use at home?
With the help of Miss 2 we set about the kitchen creating our own pizzas with all of our favourite toppings. Miss 2 kept hers simple spreading tomato sauce on the base, and then topping it with pineapple, ham, cheese and carrots. Since the bases are meant to be gourmet I used the second base to create myself more of a gourmet, restaurant quality pizza, I topped it with apricot sauce, chicken, streaky bacon, cream cheese, canned apricots and a sprinkling of pine nuts before adding a rather large handful of mozzarella. I popped them into the oven to cook, and due to the ultra thin base it meant there was only a very short cooking time of 10 minutes, which was the perfect amount of waiting time for a hungry toddler.
The bases were a really decent size compared to most other brands which meant left overs for lunch the following day YAY. They tasted really nice and I would definitely use them again when I felt like a thin pizza base for sure!
I love a thin and crispy pizza base and will always use thin and crispy if ordering takeaways so thought to try these when making home made pizza. It was such a good choice as these pizza bases are great. They taste really good I liken them to being like a tortilla.
You simply put your favourite toppings on and only need to cook for ten minutes or until the cheese is melted and you get a delicious crispy pizza. The crust of the pizza crisps up really well and the part under the toppings also crisps up but not so much that the pizza is hard to eat.
Because these are gourmet pizza bases I decided to make a more gourmet pizza and made cherry tomato, spinach, and cabanoosi with mozzarella cheese and it was better than most takeaway pizza's I have tried. They would definetly make good bases if you were entertaining guests.
The bases are really big bigger than most pre made bases so you get quite a lot of slices of pizza out of one base but they are in packs of two so two pizzas is a little bit too much for our family alone but like I said would be great if you were entertaining. They are more expensive than the likes of Romano's pre made pizza bases but I really enjoy these ones and as we dont have pizza often I would make these my personal choice for home made pizza.
Guest comments...
Random listing from 'Food'...
Specially blended for the authentic taste of New Orleans cuisine. Sprinkle on chicken, fish or steak during cooking. It adds spice & medium heat to your favourite dip or sauce and is perfect on potato wedges.
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from 'Eastenders' TV show.


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Muzi Chevy
A family-owned and operated Chevy dealership located in Needham. One of the premier Chevy Dealers in MA, Muzi is known for its superior customer service and commitment to the community.
Muzi Ford
Muzi Ford is a family-owned and operated Ford Dealership located in Needham. One of the premier Ford Dealers in MA, Muzi Ford prides itself on its customer service and commitment to the community.
National Charter Bus Boston
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Fibrenew Newton - Metrowest
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Ally Charter Bus Boston
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BrightStar Care of Norwood
BrightStar Care is a private pay, uniquely-clinical home care provider, delivering RN-managed medical and non-medical in-home care services for seniors, adults and children, and staffing.
GOGO Charters Boston
Streamline your group travels throughout Massachusetts with GOGO Charters Boston. Book your trip today by calling us at 617-206-3898!


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The bell does not forget
how to ring just because
no one plays it
so it is
with love
If I Just Lay Here Tanka
September 2, 2012 by Rosemerry
The bell does not forget
2 Responses
Love does not cease to ring.
Nor does not lose its ability to "a-peal." (sorry, well maybe not. this is what happens when a sagittarius is given a begging pun…)
The bell does not only
ring when someone strikes it
for the heart hears, too
so it is
with love
on September 3, 2012 at 8:25 pm | anon
Has that sorta sad ring to it like the Snow Patrol song, Chasing Cars. The title reminded me of that. I wonder if a bell's age is revealed in its rings? So it is with love.


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Review: Office Christmas Party
It's incredible to think that it took six screenwriters to pen Office Christmas Party. The concept of an office Christmas party gone awry is grounds for any number of hilarious stories, especially when saddled with some of the most talented comedic actors (namely, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, TJ Miller, Jillian Bell, Kate McKinnon and Vanessa Bayer) to tell them. Unfortunately, the film Office Christmas Party comes across as a badly drawn SNL sketch, complete with one dimensional characters and a forgettable finished product.
Miller portrays the not-too-bright head of the Chicago branch of a tech company, a branch that his CEO sister (Aniston) is threatening to shut down if they fail to land high powered client Walter Davis (Courtney B. Vance, giving it his all in a thankless role). In a bid to woo Davis, office execs (played by Miller, Bateman and Olivia Munn) throw an alcohol-fuelled shindig that rapidly (and predictably) goes wild.
The key problem with the film is that it assembles a game all-star cast but gives them little to do but go through the motions. From the first moment Munn and Bateman make moon eyes at each other, it's easy to see where their storyline will end up. Brother and sister Miller and Aniston squibbling with each other right before Christmas? Well you can guess how that'll turn out. All would be somewhat forgiven if the film were funny or even the slightest bit of fun, but it misses the mark in those regards as well. Not even reliable scene stealers McKinnon and Bell can save this easily forgettable party.
[star v=2]


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IDA nomination for Best Curated Series
October 25, 2018
For over 35 years, the International Documentary Association has supported nonfiction filmmaking and filmmakers. They are dedicated to providing resources, creating community, and defending the rights and freedoms of documentary artists, activists, and journalists. Every year, they host the most prestigious award ceremony dedicated to the art of making documentary films. Here, the best non-fiction films, programs and series get rewarded, voted forward by the members of the association themselves.
The WHY SLAVERY? series is nominated for the Best Curated Series Award, amongst fierce competition. All series that are nominated are well-deserving of the price, yet we of course hope that our WHY SLAVERY? series will win the award. We are immensely proud of what the series has accomplished so far, with the films being screened in the European Parliament, the Foreign &Commonwealth Office and on local broadcasters all over the world. We believe our films are contributing to creating a foundation for a critical discussion of modern slavery, and how to combat it in the future.
We want to take this opportunity to thank all of the filmmakers that have been involved in producing the films for the series. Without their engagement and dedication none of this would have been possible.
Want to know more? Have a look at the production companies behind the films.
A woman captured - Éclipse Films
North Korea's Secret Slaves: Dollar Heroes - A&o Buero Filmproduktion
Maid in Hell - Plus Pictures
I was a Yazidi slave - Oxford Film and Television Limited
Selling Children - Pennywise Films
Jailed in America - Submarine


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For Kentucky health data, click here to go to the Kentucky Department for Public Health's site.
For Kentucky's public health laws, click here for the Legislative Research Commission (LRC) website. Scroll down to TITLE XVIII – PUBLIC HEALTH.
Click here to download a list of notifiable/reportable diseases and reporting requirements (and the reporting form). Health care providers: to report a notifiable/reportable disease, call the Buffalo Trace District Health Department at 606-564-9447 during normal business hours, or 1-888-9-REPORT nights and weekends.
Other resources:
American Public Health Association (APHA)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH)
Kentucky Health Departments Association (KHDA)
Kentucky Public Health Association (KPHA)
National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
National Association of Local Boards of Health
Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB)


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Queen Creek's And San Tan Valley's Trusted House
Study our security providers on campus. Continuing Locksmith apprentices welcome to apply. But because each layer comes at an expense to the client, the appliance of applicable levels with out exceeding affordable prices to the customer is usually crucial and requires a skilled and knowledgeable locksmith to find out. Locksmiths present safety for houses, businesses and other assets.
College students who complete in-particular person applications typically have opportunities to put their studying into practice on the tools that locksmiths use. In addition to their license, locksmiths can pursue voluntary certifications. Linus Yale, Jr. improved upon his father's lock in 1861, utilizing a smaller, flat key with serrated edges that's the basis of recent pin-tumbler locks.
To become a Certified Registered Locksmith, one should pass an examination that measures data in ten obligatory classes, which embody codes and code equipment, cylinder servicing, key blank identification, key duplication, key impressioning, professional lock opening methods, lockset capabilities, lockset servicing, primary grasp keying, and cabinet, furniture, and mailbox locks.
An apprentice might carry out tasks across the workplace or exit into the sphere with an experienced locksmith. The median yearly pay for locksmiths in the United States was $37,560 in 2012. You may as well be taught extra via the Related Locksmiths of America website. Rogues knew a very good deal about lock-selecting lengthy earlier than locksmiths discussed it among themselves, as they have currently done.
Method established, licensed locksmiths in your area to find one who is prepared to take on a trainee. There are lots of locksmithing faculties and training programs situated across the country that supply each in-person and on-line programs. The difficulty of full disclosure was first raised within the context of locksmithing, in a 19th-century controversy concerning whether or not weaknesses in lock techniques should be stored secret within the locksmithing group, or revealed to the public.
Business teams like the Related Locksmiths of America 13 and the Texas Locksmiths Association 14 offer scholarships to certified candidates. Some jurisdictions additionally require locksmith apprentices to acquire licenses. There are novices' courses lasting from one to 5 days for people with no business expertise, and superior training courses overlaying the newest locksmithing tools and specialist strategies.


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Frankenstein's Monster: ObamaCare's 'Individual Mandate'
As the "public option" sinks slowly beneath the waves of public opposition, the "individual mandate" — a federal requirement that every American adult purchase health insurance, or pay a heavy "excise tax" (in the language of the Senate Finance Committee bill) for failing to do so — has become the linchpin of President Obama's latest health care "plan." Although this mandate has been heavily criticized on economic, political, and even moral grounds (in 1994 the Congressional Budget Office found it "an unprecedented form of federal action," comparable only to the military draft, when proposed as a part of HillaryCare), the full implications of its underlying rationale have not been sufficiently appreciated -- or feared.
The justification for requiring every American to buy health insurance approved and certified (and perhaps sold) by the federal government is that the uninsured — often referred to as "freeloaders" by defenders of the president's "plan" — impose unfair costs on everyone else. As Shikha Dalmia wrote recently in Forbes, "Obama's whole argument for the mandate is based on the idea that uninsured folks impose an unacceptable financial burden on the rest of us when they land in emergency rooms and get care they can't pay for."
President Obama has leaned heavily on this justification in virtually (maybe literally) all of his recent health care pontifications. In his speech to the joint session of Congress a few weeks ago, for example, he claimed that "those of us with health insurance are also paying a hidden and growing tax for those without it -- about $1,000 per year that pays for somebody else's emergency room and charitable care."
This freeloader argument has been a constant refrain. Thus, on June 11 the president said in Green Bay, Wisconsin, that
the average family pays a thousand dollars in extra premiums to pay for people going to the emergency room who don't have health insurance. So you're already subsidizing other folks; it's just you're subsidizing the most expensive care. You'd be better off subsidizing to make sure they were getting regular checkups. We're already paying for it. It's just it's hidden in your premiums.
A few days later, in remarks to the American Medical Association in Chicago, he said the same thing:
Each time an uninsured American steps foot into an emergency room with no way to reimburse the hospital for care, the cost is handed over to every American family as a bill of about $1,000 that's reflected in higher taxes, higher premiums, and higher health care costs. It's a hidden tax, a hidden bill that will be cut as we insure all Americans.
Indeed, Obama's proposed health care reform may qualify as the only example in history where spending an additional trillion dollars or so is portrayed with a straight face as a tax cut.
As I've mentioned, this freeloader argument has been severely criticized on various grounds, including that it is factually challenged. Shikha Dalmia, quoted above, notes that "uncompensated care costs only about $40 billion annually -- or about 2% of the country's $2.2 trillion health care spending. That's less than what department stores lose to shoplifting every year." Similarly, a study by the Urban Institute for the Kaiser Family Foundation found the president's claims "unconvincing." Quoting that same study, Jacob Sullom notes that "the true annual cost per family is more like $200, with uncompensated care accounting for 'less than 1 percent of private health insurance costs.'" There are many other factual criticisms, such as that people without health insurance impose no costs on others if they pay for their own medical care.


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All Seeing Eye
Welcome to The All Seeing Eye's
Optical & Aural Stimulation Area
Visuals - by Dee's Illustrations / Audio - by What's His Face !
Navigation Tips for the Flash Photo Player. Take a moment to read this.
Government Sponsored Terror
False Flag Operations
Eugenics Planet Depopulation
Chemtrails / Fluoride
One World Government
North American Union
Zionist Owned
And Controlled Mainstream Media
Rigged Elections
With A Fake Two Party System
NSA Spying
Citizen Murder
By The Police
Impostor President
Open Criminality
The greatest danger to this country lies in the Jewish ownership and influence in our motion pictures, our press, our radio, and our government.
" Charles Lindbergh
"I want to tell you something very clear, don't worry about American pressure on Israel, we, the Jewish people control America, and the Americans know it."
Ariel Sharon to Shimon Peres, October 3rd, 2001, as reported on Kol Yisrael radio.
How much more
are you willing
to take?
Visit Dee's Illustration
Free Music Download compliments of
Rumba Records and What's His Face.


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Long list questions
Occasionally you might want a question on your entry form which has a very long list of answers. For example if you want your entrants to select their club from a list, or their country from a list.
Now you could maintain a 300-answer dropdown using the form editor: manually type in all the options and drag and drop them when you need to adjust the order.
But we have a better way - just upload the list from a spreadsheet. You can download it at any time, edit in your spreadsheet programme and upload again.
You can also use our new 'shared question' setting to share the same question among all your entry forms, so you only need maintain the list in one place.
Using the feature is very simple - when editing any dropdown question:
You should see new 'download' and 'upload' links:
Simply upload a spreadsheet like this (saved as a .CSV file):
Then save the question and save the form


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incl. 19% tax
CARDAS AUDIO - CLEAR REFLECTION, Ultra-High-End Audio Interconnect.
Clear Reflection IC
Clear Reflection is our latest interconnect, combining the traditional Cardas warmth and musicality (think Golden Reference), with the depth and imaging of Clear.
Priced above Clear Light, and significantly below Clear.
.450" O.D., Cardas copper, PFA-air dielectric, 2 x 25.5 AWG Clear Reflection conductors, Matched Propagation, Golden section, Crossfield, litz, double shielding, Alcryn jacket.
Termination Options:
Clear Reflection Interconnect is terminated with copper trimmed Cardas SRCA RCA connectors or CG XLR plugs.
Unfortunately there are no review yet. Be the first who rate this product.


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Tag Archives: interest
Pinterest has generated so much attention over the past couple of years that it is now one of the leading social media platforms out there. As a result of the growing success and popularity of Pinterest more and more internet markets are using Pinterest to help promote their businesses that bit further. One of the [...] Read more
Category: Pinterest FAQ


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In a world that has been overwhelmed by mismanagement, greed and unnecessary waste, it's now more important than ever that we help re-build our world in a positive way
In a world that has been overwhelmed by mismanagement, greed and unnecessary waste, it's now more important than ever that we help re-build our world in a positive way. By implementing practices that are designed to empower our lives, we not only change ourselves, we change the world!
Below are empowering principles that will change your life:
One of the qualities that true 'world-shapers' value highly is integrity. Walking our talk means that our words and actions align and we deliver. Often this means clearing our slate from past negative experiences which frees our mind and emotions to move forward positively.
You will then be open to attaining a deeper, richer and more fulfilling experience of life. Now, more than at any other time in history, you have the opportunity to thoroughly assess your life and to become greater than you ever imagined!
Self-awareness is setting your intentions with clarity. No matter what it is you do in life, you're either living 'awake' or 'asleep' to your daily thoughts, words and actions. By choosing to set your intentions clearly each day, you actually set a standard or expectation that affects you every moment of the day. This is the essence of living with purpose.
Intention leads to action – either positive or negative – so choose your intention with care. Break your intentions into segments with affirmative statements such as: "Today I intend to feel magnificent." "Today I intend to radiate love." "Today I intend to express gratitude." Etc
By living with integrity and clear intention you're all set to become a leader. Your new-found sense of leadership automatically opens up new doors and paths to greatness. You will begin to speak differently and see with wider vision. People you know will begin to relate to you in a more enhanced way because you are living on a higher or more advanced level. You now move in life with confidence, knowing that you trust yourself and have the ability to lead others as others sense they can trust you.
Visionaries articulate their dream (or purpose) in a way that others comprehend with ease. Accompanied with passion and determination, a vision ignites us from within and radiates outwardly – inspiring people to participate – bringing the vision to fruition.
Vision is intended to have a positive impact. At times, visions contain 'radical messages' that are not always popular but, as we have observed throughout history, visionaries hold true to their beliefs, are inspired by faith and bring their dream to fruition by the courage of their convictions.
Every choice and decision you make rests upon your ability to discern and take appropriate action. By assessing your life – even if it's only over a one week period – you can actually see what decisions you have made and on what thoughts and feelings they were based. You can then progress to larger time frames to ensure the decisions you are making are based on discernment – not illusion.
Some people mistake discernment for judgment – but they are worlds apart. Discernment is based on observing what we say and what we do ourselves. Judgment is usually based on what others say and do – see the difference? We can assess or judge the actions of others and then discern whether those actions are appropriate and acceptable for us to replicate.
Now that you have finished reading my article, I want you to ask yourself this question – "How serious am I about becoming great and making a positive impact?"
So, what are you currently doing to make that your reality? Take a few moments to write down one thing that you'll commit to doing today and set a time to do it. I believe that YOU can become a great leader!
Vanessa J. Bonnette
New Era Women
Contact: firstname.lastname@example.com


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November, 2009
now browsing by month
White Bean Chicken Chili
For the 2009 Hallowe'en Chili Cookoff at work, I brought in three entries (one for each category!) This was my entry in the "wild-card" category
Read the rest of this page »
Rum Cake
I brought this into work for the 2009 Charitable Giving Campaign Bake Sale.
I expected they'd sell the cake whole and someone would take it home: little did I know that it would be sliced up and we'd have some stumbling around the office that afternoon!
Read the rest of this page »


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Savage Resurrection is a remake of the almost 15-year-old game Savage, a multiplayer title with elements of shooter and real-time strategy. Savage Resurrection relies on the now very good UT4 engine from Epic Games, which gives the game a sensational look. The title is since 18.08.2016 no longer in early access and is offered as full version in the Steam store.
If you want to rent your own Savage Resurrection Server, you can do this in the Gamecloud without problems. Savage Resurrection reminds you of the good Command & Conquer combined with fast action in a remote, future-like science fiction scenario. You can go with up to 48 players in the battle, but can also play with bots (AI). One team consists of humans, the other of partial massive monsters. With siege units, energy weapons, arrow & bow, play in a depth and dynamic environment definitely ensure long-term motivation. The high positive feedback in the Steam Reviews show that the title definitely has a great opportunity to become successful.
You can rent your own Savage Resurrection server right now. Prepaid and in the Gamecloud. That means you have no contract and you can switch between various games in our Gamecloud at any time. Don't want to play Savage Resurrection anymore? You can use your slots for a Minecraft server instead and, if you want, you can simply switch back to Savage Resurrection on the next weekend. Full flexibility and immediately online. That is the g-portal.com Gamecloud.
Company name
Ociris GmbH
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81379 Munich
+49 (0)69 380766670
Sebastian Reckzeh, Roberto Omezzolli
Company Registry
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Important note
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All texts and graphics published on www.g-portal.com are subject to copyright and may not be used without the consent of the author. Reproduction or dissemination of individual contents or complete pages without prior consent will be prosecuted both under criminal and civil law. Ociris GmbH is not responsible for the content of the pages, which is indicated by a link (URL), but the respective information provider. Ociris GmbH does not guarantee the accessibility and timeliness of the linked URLs. We assume no liability for damages resulting from the use of this site. Place of fulfillment and exclusive court of jurisdiction is Munich.
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Recipient: OCIRIS GmbH
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Moon Tide
Sunday, April 20th, 2008
"Moon Tide" Lyrics by Elizabeth Kirwin
Electronic Musical Accompaniment by C. Hill
In Celtic mythology, humans are abducted by fairies. This poem celebrates the capture of a moon tide swimmer by a sea fairy. The moon tide is the catching tide.
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