text:
Monday, April 13, 2009
Guest post & Book Giveaway with Jocelynn Drake
The Dark Days series technically started as a writing experiment. I had been playing around with some strange versions of some fan fiction; playing in other people's worlds but introducing my own characters. I liked toying with vampires and other dark creatures. They had all the great emotional turmoil, but proved to be more durable than the normal humans. At the same time, I was creating my own vampire short stories, but I wasn't all that happy with the results. The characters kept turning out too dark with too few redeeming qualities – there was nothing for the reader to really relate to or sympathize with.
So, one day I decided that I would write a short story in first person, but the storyteller would not focus on him/herself but actually tell the story of another character – a vampire hunter with a dark past and even darker abilities. I had the scene all laid out. I knew what was going to happen, what the tone would be, what the setting would look like. And then disaster struck. Mira opened her mouth.
I hadn't intended for it to happen, but Mira is a larger-than-life character, and as soon as she stepped onto the screen, her personality took over. Mira is the culmination of several characters I had created through fan fiction, short stories, and just idle bits of daydreams I had had over the years. So when she opened her mouth, I knew exactly what she sounded like, what she believed, and how she acted. I knew her like she was family, and maybe in a strange way, she is family to me.
Unfortunately, when I started the story with her, she quickly took over, revealing that she had her own tale to tell, and Danaus was just going to have to come along for the ride, damn it! But I have no regrets. Mira is a ton of fun to write. She's got a great view of life, even if it is a little dark. I love her relationship with Danaus, even when they are trying to kill each other (and I promise that that relationship will grow even more interesting over the next few books).
But back to the short story. When it was finished, I handed off to a good friend, who quickly read it. His response? He handed it back to me and simply said, "You're not done yet." He was addicted to the characters and the world I had created – the greatest compliment a writer could receive. So, I buckled down and I wrote what became Nightwalker and a good chunk of Dayhunter. I fell in love with this world and decided that I just couldn't keep it to myself. After numerous rejections over a two-year period, I finally landed an absolutely amazing agent, who then snagged me the best editor in the whole world – and no I'm not exaggerating.
I will admit that the naturi were not the original villain in the series. When I finally got a publisher, my editor revealed that she didn't care for my original villain, so the villain came out and the naturi were created. But one perk of my editor is that she lets me set the pace of the relationships within the series. I don't like when two opposites just suddenly fall in love and everything becomes harp music and roses. These two opposites have two clashing opinions that they're grasping to. They need time to adjust and bend a little bit. I like to think of it as a slow burn, and even then there's no promise that everything is going to work out.
Kimberly asked me one other question that I'm struggling with: What do I want my readers to get out of these stories? Well, the first and foremost is a wonderful roller-coaster ride with some characters that you come to care greatly for. That adventure is the most important. I guess the second is more risky. I want the reader to pause and take a good look at the dark side and how easy it is to make a dark decision for what seems like a very good reason. It's a slippery slope and every once in a while, we're all bound to fall.
Looking ahead to the future of the series: I am contracted for six books plus one novella that is slated to come out at the end of August. However, I still have many more stories that I would like to tell. It's all a matter of how many books my publisher is willing to publish. I hope that Mira and Danaus will be around for many more books. I've got a lot more trouble for them to get into. I am also hoping to introduce a couple other storytellers if only so I can give Mira a small break. There have been some requests to hear a book from Danaus's point of view and I'm trying to accommodate that request. Keep your fingers crossed that my editor likes it.
Visit Ms. Drake at her website: http://www.jocelynndrake.com
Thanks so much for accepting the challenge and sharing with us Jocelynn! :)
In addition to this behind the scenes look into the Dark Days series, Ms. Drake's fabulous publicist at HarperCollins is sharing a release day set of Dark Days. That's Nightwalker and Dayhunter! The giveaway is open to readers worldwide and the winner will be drawn the morning of April 28th, 2009, release day for Dayhunter. Just leave a comment here on this post to be entered.
98 comments:
- Scott Romanski said...
Thanks for the insight into the mind of the writer. I'm looking forward to reading these books.
- April 13, 2009 at 8:10 PM
- Jo said...
Great guets blog! The books sound really interesting! I'd like to be entered please.
joannestapley[at]googlemail[dot]com - April 13, 2009 at 9:04 PM
- HockeyVampiress said...
Great blog and interesting behind the book info. I would love to win this contest!!!
- April 13, 2009 at 9:17 PM
- Unknown said...
Hi Kimberly and Jocelynn!
Great guest blog!
I loved Nightwalker (it's one of my top picks for 2008) and can't wait for Dayhunter to be released.
Great imagination, wonderful world.
Dottie :) - April 13, 2009 at 9:36 PM
I was instantly hooked when I read Nightwalker and can't wait for Dayhunter to come out. Thanks for the great reads.
- April 13, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Awesome post Jocelynn and Kimberly. I have wanted to read this series soooo badly. I really would love to win ** GRIN **
- April 13, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Wow. That's great that so many books have been contracted.I look forward to reading what is to come.
- April 13, 2009 at 10:11 PM
- Deborah Talmadge said...
It is my dream to write something as momentous. In the meantime, I read everything by really good writers I can get my hands on.
- April 13, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Great giveaway! I'd love to be entered!
- April 13, 2009 at 11:06 PM
- Mishel (P.S. I Love Books) said...
OMGoodness!!! I so totally need these books!
- April 13, 2009 at 11:25 PM
- Blodeuedd said...
Too good to be true :D
Yes I am in.
blodeuedd1 (at) gmail (dot) com - April 14, 2009 at 2:07 AM
- Eva S said...
I'd love to read these books!! Thanks for the great giveaway!
- April 14, 2009 at 5:14 AM
- Jessica @ a GREAT read said...
OOHH!! I am so looking forward to Dayhunter! I can't wait until the end of the month!
- April 14, 2009 at 7:59 AM
- Ruth Schaller said...
I liked Nightwalker, so I'd love the chance to read Day Hunter! Sounds fabulous!
- April 14, 2009 at 8:00 AM
- Tez Miller said...
Would love to be in the running, please! Unfortunately, I don't think Australian rights to the series have sold yet.
- April 14, 2009 at 8:48 AM
- Jess (The Cozy Reader) said...
Jocelynn is great! Love these books!
- April 14, 2009 at 8:55 AM
- Kim Zielke said...
This looks like an interesting series. I am totally into the kick-butt female lead characters lately and this seems right up my alley. This will definitely have to be on my to read list.
- April 14, 2009 at 9:04 AM
- Kim Zielke said...
This sounds like a great new series for me. I've been reading a lot of books with great kick-butt lead female characters, so this seems right up my alley. It will most definitely be on my to-read list. Thanks for the insight!
- April 14, 2009 at 9:07 AM
- Calliope said...
I read Nightwalker and loved it - can't wait for the sequel!
- April 14, 2009 at 9:17 AM
- azteclady said...
Hello, Ms Drake!
These books sound like a great read (thank you, Kimberly!) and I would love to have my name in the drawing.
Best of luck on release day for Dayhunter! - April 14, 2009 at 11:08 AM
- tetewa said...
I'm always looking for new authors and series to read, these sound great count me in!
- April 14, 2009 at 11:18 AM
This sounds good. I'm especially interested in seeing Mira and Danaus's relationship grow in the upcoming books!
Maija P.
chayanna82(at)hotmail(dot)com - April 14, 2009 at 12:43 PM
- Unknown said...
The books sound great and I'd loved to be entered into the contest!
- April 14, 2009 at 1:16 PM
- donnas said...
Thanks for the great guest blog. Its always cool to hear from the writers directly. I loved Nightwalker and cant wait to get the chance to read Dayhunter.
bacchus76 at myself dot com - April 14, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Ooh these covers look so awesome! I really want to read these!
jaam121388 at yahoo dot com - April 14, 2009 at 1:45 PM
- Jennzah said...
i love Jocelynn's storytelling. it's dark and sexy. :D please enter me!
- April 14, 2009 at 2:10 PM
- Kara said...
I've been wanting to read this book for awhile now - please enter me in the contest.
- April 14, 2009 at 2:11 PM
I have read the first book and I can't wait to get my hands on the next in the series.
- April 14, 2009 at 2:22 PM
- Shooting Stars Mag said...
Awesome guest post. I love the idea of how Mira and this world was formed. So cool.
I've been wanting to read this book for a long time now so I'd love to be entered. If not, I will be getting it at some point, b/c after all, Joceylnn is from my hometown in a way. :)
lauren51990 AT aol DOT com - April 14, 2009 at 3:16 PM
- Cathy M said...
After reading the excerpts, I've added this series to my wish list.
- April 14, 2009 at 4:40 PM
- mindy said...
wonderful guest blog and thanks for the giveaway minsthins at optonline dot net
- April 14, 2009 at 4:56 PM
- Lady Roxi said...
Love to have this.
darkfyre1(at)gmail(dot)com - April 14, 2009 at 5:58 PM
What a great contest!!! I loved the blog, and I've heard nothing but awesome things about the books. Sign me up :)
- April 14, 2009 at 7:31 PM
- kathy55439 said...
Sounds great thank you for the contest
- April 14, 2009 at 8:56 PM
- Valorie said...
I would love to know what series' you wrote and played around with fanfiction in!
email@example.com - April 14, 2009 at 9:48 PM
- Donna said...
I have these books on my wish list. Read about them awhile back, sound great - goosebumps great!
- April 14, 2009 at 10:41 PM
- Erika Powell said...
this is a great guest post and I have read nothing but great things about these books.
sports dot erikalynn at gmail dot com - April 14, 2009 at 11:40 PM
How nice it would be to win the pair of novels. I have heard nothing but great things about these book and they are on my short list of book to read. Thanks for the chance to win
espressogurl at hotmail dot com - April 15, 2009 at 12:51 AM
- silverhartgirl said...
These look like great reads.
great guest posts - April 15, 2009 at 12:59 AM
- Kytaira said...
I haven't read these books yet but they sound great! Thanks for a wonderful guest blog.
- April 15, 2009 at 1:04 AM
- Heidi V said...
Thanks for the review!
heidivargas [at] live dot com. - April 15, 2009 at 9:36 AM
- Christine said...
What a fantastic guest blog. I have had Nightwalker in my TBR for so long... I feel so badly that it has been sitting here unread for so long! Especially since it was so well received. Maybe the upcoming release of Dayhunter will give me the pressure I need! ;)
- April 15, 2009 at 10:19 AM
- jwx4 said...
I'm adding these books to my must read list.
- April 15, 2009 at 12:50 PM
- Carla Ribeiro said...
Those surely sound as great books. I'd love to read them.
- April 15, 2009 at 1:43 PM
- Nickolay said...
These look like awesome books. Thanks for the chance
email@example.com - April 15, 2009 at 3:48 PM
- Brooke said...
Why oh why is my TBR list sooo long.. hehee...It seems that for every one book I read I had added three...
- April 15, 2009 at 4:08 PM
- Unknown said...
Love the way you decribe how Mira came to be! I've had characters that started, well, talking back to me, telling me their story and leaving me to just type it out. I actually love it when that happens... much more intriguing. Also good to hear that there is the possibility of life after fanfic writing... (hope for future!)
Can't wait to pick up Dayhunter! - April 15, 2009 at 4:54 PM
- Pissenlit said...
This was one of the best guest posts I've read in awhile. The way you talked about your books has really made me want to get my hands on them! Also, pretty covers! I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for these!
- April 15, 2009 at 6:08 PM
- Debs Desk said...
Please include me in your giveaway.
debdesk9(at)verizon.net - April 15, 2009 at 6:56 PM
please enter me, i havnt read this author yet. and would love to \
firstname.lastname@example.com - April 15, 2009 at 11:05 PM
- Jocelynn Drake said...
I just wanted to give a very big thanks for everyone for their great comments! I really appreciate the love. I hope you enjoy Dayhunter. It was a lot of fun to write.
~Jocelynn Drake - April 16, 2009 at 8:32 AM
- wendy wallach said...
You wrote a really good review...please enter me.
madamerkf at aol dot com - April 16, 2009 at 10:20 AM
- Lori said...
Please enter me in the drawing.
email@example.com - April 16, 2009 at 11:27 AM
- Cecile Smutty Hussy said...
Hey!! How are things going?! I hope good! Enter me in the contest for sure... looks like a great read. And awesome behind the scenes post! Cecile
- April 16, 2009 at 12:49 PM
- Carmen R said...
I loved Nightwalker and can't wait to get my hands on Dayhunter.
hdtermite at yahoo dot com - April 16, 2009 at 3:39 PM
- Unknown said...
I wanna read them :o)
iheartmonster{at}iheartmonster{dot}com - April 16, 2009 at 5:57 PM
I enjoyed the guest post, and I really liked NIGHTWALKER so I'd love to read DAYHUNTER!
- April 16, 2009 at 6:55 PM
These look like good books. Please enter me. Thanks!
tiffanyak1986(at)hotmail(dot)com - April 17, 2009 at 3:43 AM
- Abby said...
Great post, I love behind-the-scenes peaks at books I've read and enjoyed. Dayhunter is on my "to buy" list.
- April 17, 2009 at 1:21 PM
- lilbabypug said...
please enter me. I would love to give by boyfriend this book for his birthday. thanks
- April 17, 2009 at 5:53 PM
- Unknown said...
These books sound great. I would love to be entered in the drawing. Would be happy to post a review on my own blog if I win!!
http://horrorandfantasybookreview.blogspot.com/ - April 17, 2009 at 6:14 PM
- Enchanted by Books said...
Great interview! Sounds fantastic. Please enter me in the contest!! :)
- April 18, 2009 at 10:24 AM
- VioletReads said...
Ooh! These look like fun! Thanks for letting me know about them!
- April 18, 2009 at 11:38 PM
- angelshimmery said...
Interesting interview. Love hearing authors talking about their work.
Please enter me into the contest. - April 19, 2009 at 4:04 AM
- Llehn said...
These books sound like something up my alley! I would be looking out for them!
lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com - April 19, 2009 at 8:24 AM
- Marie said...
This sounds great! I would love to read it.
firstname.lastname@example.com - April 19, 2009 at 11:21 AM
- Unknown said...
Oh, this sounds like a good deal :). I'm totally in.
Thanks for the cool giveaway and the guest post.
(email in my profile). - April 19, 2009 at 1:08 PM
- Carolyn said...
I'm surprised (and delighted!) it is possible to open this contest from outside of the United States & Canada :) I'm used to the idea of having no possibility to win anything.
- April 19, 2009 at 4:24 PM
- Anita Yancey said...
The book sounds good. Love to read it. Please enter me. Thanks!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net - April 19, 2009 at 8:29 PM
- Unknown said...
wow would love to win both these books.
- April 19, 2009 at 9:29 PM
- KorynMarie- said...
Awesome interview
Would love to win those books! - April 20, 2009 at 4:18 PM
- Michelle said...
Wonderful! I'd love to get my hands on either of these books. Thanks!
mmillet at gmail dot com - April 20, 2009 at 7:57 PM
- Chris said...
Sounds like a very intriguing new series!
- April 20, 2009 at 8:48 PM
- D Q said...
Great giveaway. The books look like great reads.
- April 20, 2009 at 8:50 PM
- Bloodxredxeyes said...
I loved the first book though I have to say that the ending made me mad. Not that it wasn't well written, it really was, I just don't like when a character I've become connected to it used. I can't wait until the next book!
- April 20, 2009 at 10:16 PM
- Michelle Greathouse said...
I read the first book and look forward to the second. Please enter my name in the contest. :)
M - April 21, 2009 at 7:12 AM
- Unknown said...
I'd like to enter.
bjhopper(at)me(dot)com - April 21, 2009 at 6:47 PM
- Gwen said...
Great to hear from the author. Both books sound very interesting.
yarnedy(at)hotmail.com - April 21, 2009 at 8:25 PM
- Amanda from Novel Addiction said...
I would love to win these, they look great!
- April 22, 2009 at 9:38 PM
Oh...pick me, pick me.
- April 22, 2009 at 11:00 PM
- Elena said...
These look like two absolutely fascinating books. I love the story of how you came to write them.
Please count this as my entry into the contest. - April 22, 2009 at 11:55 PM
- Unknown said...
I would love to win!!
nhertel85ATyahooDOTcom - April 23, 2009 at 1:31 AM
- Rhiannon Hart said...
Nice author pic! I hope for one as good one day :)
rhi.hart at gmail.com - April 23, 2009 at 7:16 AM
- CrystalGB said...
Great post. Jocelyn's books sound good. :)
- April 23, 2009 at 9:44 AM
- tina werner said...
looks very tempting! thanks for the chance to win!
stampitchick at yahoo dot ca - April 23, 2009 at 1:00 PM
- ChariDee said...
I'm game, but I honestly stand no chance with all these interested entries. I LOVED the first book! Haven't gotten the second one yet!
- April 23, 2009 at 2:52 PM
- Fantastic Book Review said...
I just want to say I have the first book and I loved it and I have already pre-ordered the second book. I have the second book listed on my blog as Noteworthy Releases.
- April 23, 2009 at 8:25 PM
- Glowstars said...
I've not yet read either of the books, but they're definitely on my list. I'd love to win the set.
- April 24, 2009 at 5:55 AM
- M. said...
my first time here, wandered in via Literary Escapism.
the books sound intriguing. - April 24, 2009 at 8:59 PM
- ediFanoB said...
What a awesome guest post.
So far I didn't read a book by Jocelynn Drake but this guest post is so mouth watering that I can't withstand to take part in the giveaway.
Good look to all participants. - April 25, 2009 at 1:41 AM
- ginnn7 said...
great guest post, made me want to read the books even more. i want to meet Mira, hear what she has to say. thanks
- April 26, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Awesome post. I loved the first book and can't wait for the next 2.
- April 26, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Please enter my name in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb at gmail dot com - April 26, 2009 at 8:17 PM
- Wendy said...
Hi, Jocelynn! I've heard tons of good things about your book so I can't wait to read them. Loved your post. :)
Cheers! - April 27, 2009 at 12:08 AM
- Carolyn said...
Hey Jocelynn,
Thank you for the contest. The books series sounds amazing and I would love to have a new series to read. I love kick ass women in books. Anyways thanks for the contest. I hope I win. It would be wicked.
Carolyn H. - April 27, 2009 at 7:23 AM
- Marnie said...
Thanks for wonderful insight on how Mira evolved. Please enter me.
Thank again. - April 27, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Great post. I would love to win. I've been looking for some new series to read.
firstname.lastname@example.com - April 27, 2009 at 10:33 PM
What a great contest! Count me in!
- April 28, 2009 at 2:11 AM


text:
(Wasatch 100 elevation chart) |
(Wasatch wildflowers in bloom) |
(Crew Captain Larry Dunlap sends me off at 5am) |
(Hiking up towards Chinscraper) |
(Getting there...) |
(Why do they call it Chinscraper?) |
(Watch that footing!) |
(The morning sun kicks in) |
(Running the east side of the mountain ridge) |
(Nettie is smiling and cruising fast!) |
(Sweet! Cell phone reception!) |
(Aric Manning on his way to a sub-30 finish) |
(Everyone is having fun!) |
(Ben Brooks refuels on a climb...) |
(....then charges the downhill) |
(Hot climbs that keep going and going and going) |
(Catra Corbett points out the best things about Swallow Rock aid staiton - popsicles! Photo courtesy of Andy Kumeta) |
(Phillip Hall gets throughs the steamy climb) |
(Amazing views at every turn) |
(The ridges get hot and exposed as we move forward) |
(A little break, thanks to some new clouds forming) |
(I lost 9 lbs in one day - ask me how) |
(The sun sets, and we strap on the lights) |
(Super Pacers Kirk Thomas and Mick Jurynec) |
As we approached Pole Line (mile 83), the moonlight illuminated the wildflowers with an eerie ferocity, while the canopy of stars blended perfectly with a comet tail of headlighted runners along the ridge. Mick and I said nothing, just staring and smiling, letting it burn into our memory with the rhythm of our steps. By being present, we were connected to the cosmos, and all the stronger for it. This was a great spiritual moment!
(A borrowed photo, but you get the idea) |
(The Plunge) |
(I guess he needed a break!) |
(Pot Bottom is steep and tricky) |
(Dad helps me run it in) |
(We did it!) |
(Sensory overload with a smile) |
A few hours later, I caught a special moment as Dmitriy Kernasovskly and Sarah Stokes crossed the finish line together in a shower of rose petals, then walked to a tent with their friends and family and got married. Wow! If you can run an ultra together, I think that marriage is going to do just fine!
(RD Irv and Sarah's Dad greet Sarah and Dima as they cross the finish line) |
(Then make it official!) |
(Getting induced into the Order of the Cheetah) |
(Ohio's Jay Smithberger picks up his plaque and sub-30 buckle) |
(Plaque and sub-30 buckle; stoked!) |

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Once the envy of Indian Country for its billion-dollar casino empire, the tribe that owns the Foxwoods Resort Casino has been struggling through a financial crisis and pursuing more revenue from an unlikely source: U.S. government grants.
By Michael Melia, Associated Press
LEDYARD, Conn. — Once the envy of Indian Country for its billion-dollar casino empire, the tribe that owns the Foxwoods Resort Casino has been struggling through a financial crisis and pursuing more revenue from an unlikely source: U.S. government grants.
The money provided annually to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation through the Interior Department and the Department of Health and Human Services has risen over the last five years to more than $4.5 million, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press through the Freedom of Information Act. One former tribal employee says department leaders were encouraged to offset dwindling resources by seeking more federal grants.
The Pequots, who once distributed stipends exceeding $100,000 annually to adult members, are not alone among gaming tribes seeking more federal aid. Several, including the owner of Foxwoods' rival Connecticut casino, the Mohegan Sun, say they have been pursuing more grants – a trend that critics find galling because the law that gave rise to Indian casinos was intended to help tribes become financially self-sufficient.
"The whole purpose of the 1988 law which authorized Indian casinos was to help federally-recognized tribes raise money to run their governments by building casinos on their reservations," said Robert Steele, a former Congressman from Connecticut. "I would argue strongly that federal money was meant for struggling tribes. Certainly the Mashantucket Pequots and the Mohegans couldn't under any circumstances be put in that category."
As long as they have federal recognition, casino-owning tribes are eligible for the same grant programs as the larger tribes based on large, poverty-stricken reservations in the American West. The grants, which don't need to be paid back, support tribal governments by paying for programs such as health screenings, road maintenance and environmental preservation.
"The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is proud of the work they do with the use of federal funds when it comes to assisting the region and fellow Native Americans," said Bill Satti, a tribal spokesman, who said the grants have supported the tribe's medical clinic and repair work on local roadways.
Thomas Weissmuller, who was chief judge of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Court until 2011, said that near the end of his tenure the tribal council said they had distributed too much money to members and urged department leaders to pursue more federal grants. He said there was resistance from some council members, who raised questions about the effects on sovereignty, but he was personally encouraged to pursue grants by officials including the tribal chairman, Rodney Butler.
Weissmuller said he was not comfortable seeking such assistance for the tribal court system because most of the issues it dealt with were related to the casino, which is essentially a commercial enterprise.
"A billion-dollar gaming enterprise should fully fund the tribal government," said Weissmuller, who said that he was forced out of the job by tribal officials who told him he did not appear to have the tribe's interests at heart on other matters.
The reversal of fortunes for the Pequots began around 2008, when Foxwoods completed a major, costly expansion with the 30-story MGM Grand hotel and casino just as the recession began to show its teeth. The following year the tribe defaulted on debt exceeding $2 billion.
Since then, the tribe of some 900 people in rural southeastern Connecticut has ended its member stipends. The Pequots have kept some other benefits in place, covering payments for members pursuing higher education and offering supplemental pay for tribal members taking entry-level jobs at the casino.
The federal grants provided to the Pequots through the Interior Department and its Bureau of Indian Affairs, meanwhile, rose from $1 million in 2008 to $2.7 million in 2011, with partial records for 2012 showing $1.7 million in grants for the year. Grants provided to the Pequots through the Indian Health Service, a division of Health and Human Services, increased gradually from $1.7 million in 2008 to $1.9 million in 2012. That money is to support health care services such as community health, nutrition, substance abuse treatment and pharmacy services.
The federal money opened the door to scrutiny by the FBI, whose investigation of tribal finances led to the January indictments of the tribe's treasurer, Steven Thomas, and his brother Michael Thomas, a former tribal chairman. The two are accused of stealing a combined $800,000 in tribal money and federal grants. The tribal council has expressed full confidence in its treasurer.
Mohegan Tribe officials said they took pride in refusing federal grants for years, in acknowledgment that there were needier tribes. But tribal officials said they had relaxed that position as their Mohegan Sun casino, like Foxwoods, has faced growing gambling competition from neighboring states.
"It's a sign of the times. Everybody is" seeking grants, Mohegan Chairman Bruce "Two Dogs" Bozsum said. "There's some that we qualify for and it helps us to keep everybody healthy and working. At the end of the day, why shouldn't we apply for it? If we get approved, it's always for a good cause, usually health or jobs created."
Tribal officials said they receive modest grants to contribute to the cost of health care for their 2,000 members.
The tribe that owns the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Michigan, one of the country's largest Indian casinos outside of Connecticut, has been aggressively pursuing grants in areas including environmental protection and health services as it struggles with the weak economy, according to Sylvia Murray, grants and contracts manager for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.
Sam Deloria, director of the American Indian Graduate Center in Albuquerque, N.M., said he has no issue with tribes pursuing grants for which they are eligible. It's no different, he said, from the state of Alaska participating in federal programs despite the annual payouts to residents from the state's oil savings account.
As the federal money reflects financial distress for gaming tribes, however, he does worry that their struggles ultimately could have a ripple effect throughout Indian Country and affect the ability of tribes to participate in the marketplace.
"It has got to raise a set of issues that either in the courts, or in the Congress, or in the marketplace, eventually it will get people looking at tribal participation in business in a different light," he said.


text:
Oh 'eck!
We don't seem to have any details of any Historic Buildings in Titchfield. That's either because none exist or we've not been made aware of any. If you think we've missed something then you can always shout at us.
On the other hand, you can always go and have a fabulous family day out at one of our suggestions listed below…
Slightly further afield
Featured Content
Jeff Dunham: Seriously!? Comedy Icon Announces UK Arena Tour for 2020
odome set to revolutionise event marketing
Edinburgh Cocktail Week
Calvin Harris new album 18 Months
Lee Mack Tickets
The Monuments Men Trailer
The Ladyboys of Bangkok 2020 TOUR: FLIGHT OF FANTASY
Football and darts: the best mashup ever?
Mr. Morski & The Originals - Live in the Lounge -
British Festivals
James Taylor Tickets
Need For Speed Trailer


text:
When it comes to Apple's computing products, there are a few that seem to not get much attention. The Mac Pro is one of them, and the other is the Mac mini. Today, however, Apple is showing a little bit of love for its tiny little desktop machine.
The Mac mini is now sporting an all new design, which looks to be both flatter and wider. The body is now only 1″ thick and is carved from a single piece of aluminum. On the bottom of the device is a circular access panel that allows you to gain access to the memory modules.
The Mac mini now sports either a 2.4GHz or 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo processor and 2GB of RAM (up to 8GB is supported). Graphics duties are handled by an NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated GPU with 256MB of DDR3 memory.
Storage duties are handled by either a 320GB or 500GB SATA hard drive. An 8x slot-loading SuperDrive soldiers on for your DVD and CD media.
Port selection includes one Firewire 800 port, four USB 2.0 ports, GbE, HDMI, mini DisplayPort, and an SD slot. Wireless connectivity includes Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and 802.11n.
"The sleek, aluminum Mac mini packs great features, versatility and value into an elegant, amazingly compact design," said Apple's Philip Schiller. "With twice the graphics performance, HDMI support and industry-leading energy efficiency, customers are going to love the new Mac mini."
While Apple's new Mac mini is no doubt stylish, you will pay through the nose to get one. Pricing starts at a a whopping $699 (a $100 increase over the previous model) and it is available now from Apple.com.


text:
Check out this awesome design for Metal grill!
All texture variations are seamless and tileable, and come pre-rendered for 2d use (as you see them below), as well as broken down into 3d materiel maps / PBR materials such as Diffuse/Albedo, Normal, Bump/Displacement, Specular, Metallic etc.
Each texture variation has a free 512px version available for download as well as a high-res 2048px version for purchase.
Head over to Catalog > Metal grill to view 3d maps, preview tiling and download a copy!


text:
First off, I tested out 2 of their 3d Holographic nail polishes. They're light-reflective and long-lasting. Check out the gorgeous colors!
- Make sure to subscribe to my blog
- Follow Glitter Gal Cosmetics on Facebook
- Leave me a comment telling me which you set you'd like to win and why
- I'll announce the winner next week via twitter and my blog!


text:
The fallacy of water resistance
Mileage: 61.2
August mileage: 624.9
Temperature: 51
The argument about what clothing barrier will best protect a cyclist from falling precipitation while simultaneously rejecting inner condensation will go on until the end of time. I say such a garment does not exist. "A rain jacket can't keep out all rain and let out all sweat," Geoff told me once. "It goes against the laws of physics." Now, I haven't taken a physics class since I was in 11th grade. But I have owned a lot of rain jackets ... gortex, polyester, nylon, PVC. The driest by far has been the PVC - sure, it doesn't breathe, so it builds up a lot of inside moisture. But it's a tropical kind of moisture, warm and humid, and just a little bit damp - it's not the kind of frigid soaking I get once my other rain jackets give up the ghost and I'm left alone in the weather.
I feel strongly about this issue so today I actually set out to blog about it. Today's subject: My Pearl Izumi Vagabond jacket. I won this jacket in the 24 Hours of Light. It's a great jacket, actually - it has zip-off sleeves, fits well, retails for about $100. And, in its defense, it is not made for extreme weather. But today did not feature extreme weather. It was rainy and windy - normal weather.
This jacket was brand new on June 28. It has never been washed (I know ... ew). Here we have a picture about five minutes into the ride. See those glistening beads of water? That means the Vagabond is doing what it's supposed to, keeping the rain out. All is well, right. Right?
But here we have the jacket about 1:45 into the ride. Where did all the shimmery droplets go? Could it be that they've bounced clean off? Or maybe the jacket developed an invisible force field to further repel the raindrops that are still falling from the sky. Or is it possible, just possible, that the rain has soaked through?
Let's check ... roll up the sleeve. Yup, my base layer is soaked, at least as far as my elbow. Could it really be an inordinate amount of forearm sweat? At 50 degrees? Or could it be that my fairly new, $100 rain jacket is (gasp) letting in the rain?
Come to think of it, I am feeling pretty soaked. Once this jacket gets pretty wet, it's no longer very wind resistant either, and I can feel the chilled breeze moving through. Luckily, I carry back-ups in my trunk bag ... Polar Fleece. It's not water resistant in the least, but at least it's still warm even when it's wet.
So, my conclusion: Most rain jackets are good for 20, maybe 30 wet rides before they start breaking down. I've tried that spray-on waterproofing before, but mostly found it to be pretty short lived and not really worth the cost. The best plan when the weather is dipping into the 40s and raining: Stay warm. Wool is warm but heavy. Polar fleece is better. But PVC is best, and I usually return to it when I've come to the painful acceptance my latest "water-resistant breatheable" rain jacket just wasn't made for real rain.
If you go out in the rain, you're going to get wet. Accept it. I have.
33 comments:
I own this jacket and I like it, from what I read about it I was under the impression it was a showerproof and not a waterproof, as such I only expect it to keep rain out for maybe ten minutes. I gave up last week trying to keep the rain out and concentraed on staying warm, which worked better.
ReplyDelete- AnonymousAugust 27, 2008 at 5:46 AM
I bought the Vagabond also. I read in Bicycle Magazine about how great they were. I noticed the exact same thing you wrote about. I would not buy another. When you find one that works...please let us know.
ReplyDelete Couple of pointers here. There's 2 elements (no pun intended) at work when it comes to making a waterproof fabric. One is the waterproof membrane itself and one is the DWR (durable water repellent). The membrane itself is the barrier that keeps moisture out. With a fabric like Goretex, the membrane actually has millions of little holes in it. These holes are small enough that water droplets can't get through (keeping you dry) but big enough to let water vapour out (stops you getting wet from sweating).
The job of the DWR is to the repel the water so it doesn't actually get to the membrane. Some DWR treatments are better than others. What's happened with your jacket is that the DWR has become saturated allowing the base fabric to become soaked. The membrane is obviously pretty poor and so the water is now getting through. Another side effect of this is that if the fabric gets saturated it's also no longer breathable so you start to get wet from sweat.Thanks for this post Jill. It's been raining here in Atlanta for about a week. Luckily it's in the low to high 70's so I haven't had to deal with any chill. But this subject had been on my mind a lot this week and I too have accepted that I'll just get wet. Therefore I haven't added anything to my normal riding gear. Other than plastic bags for added peace of mind that my phone is safe and my work clothes are dry inside my waterproof trunk bag! Although it's never had a drop of water inside even with complete downpours.
ReplyDeleteJill, Luckily riding in Knoxville, we rarely brave the cold like you. Daily temps here all winter usually climb into the 40's. Rain is so infrequent, we do go if it is raining and if it starts while we are riding, who cares we ride. A couple of days ago i started my own blog, not sure if it is or me to vent or for my family. Any tips from the pro?
I have been a fan for a little over a year now.
Here is the link http://loveandtwowheels.blogspot.com/Interesting. Please keep us posted on further testing and recommendations.
Hopefully they can keep improving the two elements of waterproof fabric. But I don't care how breathable they make it or how wickable your inner layers are, if you're working hard, you're going to sweat and sweat makes you wet. Especially if you're a sweat hound like me.- AnonymousAugust 27, 2008 at 7:28 AM
A well timed blog topic, waterproof cycling jackets, I agree with everything you wrote. I'm moving to Burnaby, BC in a few days to go back to school and one of my immediate tasks will be to buy a new cycling jacket. I've already been scoping what's out there on the market but know my purchase will be a combo of what's available, what fits and what has the best water proofness possible for the lower mainland winter weather. I'll keep the PVC in mind....and I'm bringing a couple of wool jerseys. In a few months I'll let you know if I found something with a decent lifespan.
Until then have fun riding in the rain. I know I'm going to have to learn to do so as well.
Micheline. - AnonymousAugust 27, 2008 at 7:47 AM
I think your conclusion is best, that impermeable fabric, such as true rain gear like the fisherman wear will keep the rain out and body warm. If you look at pro cycling they all put on non- breathable rain jackets when it gets wet.
ReplyDelete I bought a pearl izumi goretex jacket a few years ago, and the thing rocks. It was super expensive though. I think it retailed for $300, and I was lucky to get it on sale for $100.
The thing definitely does not breathe at all though. I only use it when it's super cold and snowy out, or when it's pouring rain.
PS. Don't feel bad about not washing your jacket. I've had mine for 4 years and can count on one hand how much I've washed it :-)Jill,
I've given up on name brand rain gear (except for Helly Hansen PVC). It just rains too much here. I am on my third jacket this year. Once they reach the saturation point, none of mine have recovered for any rain heavier than mist.
For some great rants on rain gear and outlandish manufacturer's claims, go to Jim Wigatowski (sp?) web page, wiggys.com He has some truly excellent gear, most of which has been field tested, over and over, in Alaska.
Ride safe,
Ketchikan- AnonymousAugust 27, 2008 at 11:04 AM
I think this is something like what rambler is talking about...
I use the regular sports wash on my gym stuff. Seems to do the job, but can't attest for the waterproofing. - AnonymousAugust 27, 2008 at 11:10 AM
For me the big epiphany was to realize that, even if the "breathable and waterproof" fabric worked every bit as well as its ad copy says, water vapor will not pass through liquid water. This means that once the outside of the garment is wet, there will be no "breathing" going on, and the shell has become effectively impermeable (you hope). So, yes, the effective coping strategy is to get wet. As they say in Denmark: You're not made of sugar. Val
ReplyDelete - AnonymousAugust 27, 2008 at 3:28 PM
I'm telling you Jill... get yourself a SHOWERS PASS DOUBLE CENTURY jacket. The secrets' in the vents - they are what keep me warm and cool depending on my needs (Maine riding). When I feel the slime coming on, I just open one of the seven available vent points. Feel that chill? Zip up! Underneath - it's wool all the way. Check out vintage velos for some beautiful jerseys. "You will be snugly... just like a lamby, plus wool doesn't stink, or ever feel clammy!" I love your blog!
ReplyDelete Hi,
I completely agree with your evaluation. The super technical fabrics are nice and all, but will eventually let water through. PVC will not. I have found a jacket that makes a good compromise though - it is PVC, but has great ventilation, packs down small, weighs very little:
unfortunately, only available in Europe as far as I know :)
Grant.- AnonymousAugust 27, 2008 at 7:53 PM
Love your blog, I also have looking for good rain gear for riding, water proof the breathe well, my two biggest concerns. may have to look into other bloggers suggestion
take it easy - AnonymousAugust 27, 2008 at 10:58 PM
I can't believe Fall came in mid-August! Reading your blog is better than the weather forecast ... I know if you're riding (and writing) about riding in the rain, I'll be riding in the wet stuff within 2 days.
We get, maybe, 50 days a year that aren't raining here in the Willamette Valley. For cyclists who want to ride through all four seasons, the preferred jacket is the Showers Pass Elite. Seriously, if you show up at a club ride on a saturday morning - 20 of 25 riders will have on the Shower's Pass Elite. God they work great ... when they are new. Like you, I try to avoid washing it, because washing them just accelerates them to their half-life, which is probably about 1 Oregon winter. I agree, that's probably something in the neighborhood of 50 -100 wet rides, or 30 washings.
I wrote about my experience with the Showers Pass and you can get it here, if you are interested: http://readytoride.biz/?p=184. - AnonymousAugust 27, 2008 at 11:09 PM
ok, some things to point out:
Your Pearl Izumi jacket is water resistant, not waterproof. so the first picture shows its Durable water repellent (DWR) finish doing it's job, and beading up water. The second photo shows that once the DWR can't keep up, it soaks in. and then you get wet. no great surprise.
Gore-tex (or Elements, Hyvent, or Precip, to name a few) are in fact a mesh with tiny holes. these holes are small enough that water molecules can't move through, but big enough that water vapor can. this is the basic principal behind waterproof/breathable, as someone mentioned before.
BUT here is the problem, when dirt or oil gets on the jacket, that dirt or oil becomes a conduit for moisture to run through the material anyway. So what do they do? They add a Poly Urethane (PU) coating to the back of the gore-tex. the down side of this is it dramatically decreases the very breathability we are after. And since it destroyed the breathability, they had to do something to increase breathability. That's why jackets have Pit zips. In my experience, if you want to know how breathable a jacket is, look at how big the pit zips are! And if the pockets are vented, it really needs help.
Waterproof is easy. But breathable is hard. PVC (as several people mentioned) is waterproof, and in really wet environments (the gortons fisherman comes to mind) PVC, or rubber is the way to go.
I'm going to add a little bit more, because A) this is what I do for a living, and can talk about it WAY too much, and B) I have had a couple of whiskeys.
So, some waterproof breathable (WPB) jackets have a mesh, or ventilated fabric on the inside. you may think this is to add insulation, but it's to add space. Space between you, and the membrane. Space to allow water, heated by your body, to vaporize, so it can move out through the membrane, these jackets are usually more breathable, and breathable usually means drier.
Most of the jackets that don't have this liner on the inside still try and make the space, and they do it with three dimensional printing. Marmot Precip uses microscopic 3d dots, REI elements uses 3d lines that look like topo maps. this is to provide space. I know, your saying this guy is crazy, they are just lines, but really, that's what they are supposed to do.
There is something new (sort of) though, and it's called eVent. It's not really new, but let me just say Gore-tex has done a GREAT job keeping companies from using it. eVent discovered a process to stay waterproof and breathable without the PU coating. So it is waterproof, AND still breathable. I haven't had a chance to test it, but I should have an opportunity in about a month. I am cautiously optimistic.
Here endeth the science lesson.
b b ...
Thank you for repsonding. Very informative. I never looked into the science of water-resistant jackets before. Your post proves I would have benefited from doing some more research before trying different jackets.
I wasn't trying to knock the Pearl Izumi jacket. I received it as a prize in a race, and didn't even know the name of the jacket until I looked it up yesterday. When I read the description, yes, that jacket does exactly what it was advertised to do. It doesn't bill itself as a heavy-duty rain jacket. But during the first month I used it, it worked really well even in heavy storms. It's gotten progressivly worse in a few short weeks, which has been my experience with every polyester and nylon-based jacket that I've owned.
I have had people recommend eVent before, but have been reluctant to spend any more money on rain jackets when I already found something that works for me (PVC). Sweat has never been much of a problem for me, especially in the temperatures I generally ride in, so with PVC I can opt for "damp" instead of "wet," and a it's a super-cheap product that I won't mourn when I destroy it (I have ripped a couple jackets in falls) But maybe I should take the eVent leap. I believe those Showers Pass jackets use it.Hi Jill - someone may have already mentioned it but I didn't want to read all 27 entries to find out so here goes: there is a new waterproof/breathable called eVent that is supposed to smoke the competition, including gore. I've heard from early adopters that you can actually see steam rising from people who are wearing it while engaging in rigorous activity in the rain. REI is changing all their W/B items to eVent for '09. Just a thought.
ReplyDelete- AnonymousAugust 28, 2008 at 7:12 PM
There's plenty of waterproof jackets that hold up to "real rain". It's pretty naive of you to think that because you've used a few products that there are no jackets out there that work. I think there are even other places on earth that get as much rain or maybe more than se Alaska.
ReplyDelete I'm going to echo Toni, David, Anon and others and re-recommend the Showers Pass. It does use the eVent fabric that Gore is trying to keep from everyone and so far mine has made it through one Portland winter. My longest day was 5 hours of bike errands all over town and I was dry when I got home.
However, I know how it is when you've already spent so much money on crap that doesn't work. That's why I keep lobbying Showers Pass to send you a free Elite jacket. I think if it worked for you, it could mean some good publicity and street cred for them.- AnonymousAugust 30, 2008 at 11:16 PM
I live in the pacific Northwest -- it cannot compare, rain-wise, to Alaska, but the weather here does try.
I have tried pretty much everything (including just suffering under a truly waterproof shell). The only jacket that I found to work on my long tours -- "long" in the sense of multi-day, with relentless rain bugging me -- is the Showers Pass Elite 2.0. They have cheaper ones (the 2.0 was $220), but this one is the only one not giving the marketing hype the lie.
Another commenter already noted the strategic vents and zippers, including two underarm zippers; I'll just add that the jacket has provision for attaching an (optional) hood from the same material.
Oh, and here is a candidate for the Hall Of Shame: Under Armour makes a Goretex running jacket -- and then embroiders the UA logo onto it. Why not just sew a funnel through the fabric?
Felix. "BUT here is the problem, when dirt or oil gets on the jacket, that dirt or oil becomes a conduit for moisture to run through the material anyway."
I suggest you trying washing it. It won't be as good as new but it may improve lots. When either our gortex (Bernoulli jackets from Mountain Equipment coop, no longer available) or our water resistant jackets (Microft, same source and still available) stop working, I wash them and dry them "hot" and they start working again. You should check the washing directions but if it says dry them "hot" don't skip this step.- AnonymousSeptember 3, 2009 at 7:06 PM
They same the same thing in Poland: You're not made of sugar.


text:
index : members : Lorenzo_Marks : Favorites |
Lorenzo_Marks ( Click on username to send feedback to member. ) |
This page shows a list of stories, poems, and authors that this member enjoys. These are not submissions written by this member - they are some of his or her favorite Literotica submissions and people. |
This user does not have any favorites yet. |
If you find any problems with this profile, please report it to the webmaster. |
Home | Story Index | Webcams | Adult Toys & Videos | Bulletin Board |
All contents © Copyright 1996-2012 by Literotica. |


text:
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a rare and public reflection on race, President Barack Obama called on the nation Friday to do some soul searching over the death of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of his shooter, saying the slain black teenager "could have been me 35 years ago." Empathizing with the pain of many black Americans, Obama said the case conjured up a hard history of racial injustice "that doesn't go away."
Obama's personal comments, in a surprise appearance in the White House press room, marked his most extensive discussion of race as president. For Obama, who has written about his own struggles with racial identity but often has shied away from the subject in office, the speech signaled an unusual embrace of his standing as the nation's first black president and the longing of many African-Americans for him to give voice to their experiences.
"When you think about why, in the African- American community at least, there's a lot of pain around what happened here, I think it's important to recognize that the African- American community is looking at this issue through a set of experiences and a history that doesn't go away," Obama said during his 20-minute remarks.
A Florida jury last week acquitted George Zimmerman of all charges in the March 2012 shooting of Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old. The verdict was cheered by those who agreed that Zimmerman was acting in self-defense, while others protested the outcome, believing Zimmerman had targeted Martin because he was black.
Despite his emotional comments on the case, the president appeared to signal that the Justice Department was unlikely to file federal civil rights charges against Zimmerman. Traditionally, he said, "these are issues of state and local government," and he warned that the public should have "clear expectations."
Following the verdict, some civil rights leaders called on Obama to lead a national conversation on race. But the president has resisted. Before Friday, his only comment on the verdict had been a written statement in which he called Martin's death a tragedy and appealed for calm.
But throughout the week, the president kept track of the national response to the verdict, particularly by black Americans, and had discussions with his family, aides said. He was ready to address the verdict earlier this week during a round of interviews with Spanish language television stations, but the matter never came up.
On Thursday, he told his senior advisers that he felt the country needed to hear from him — not in an interview or speech, just a frank discussion of his views and experiences. He spoke from the podium in the White House briefing room with no notes.
Even as the president urged the public to accept the verdict — "once the jury's spoken, that's how our system works" — he gave voice to the feelings held by many angered by the jury's decisions.
There's a sense, Obama said, "that if a white male teen was involved in the same kind of scenario, that, from top to bottom, both the outcome and the aftermath might have been different."
The president spoke emotionally about Martin's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, saying they had displayed incredible grace and dignity. He never mentioned the feelings of Zimmerman, whose brother has said the former defendant has faced numerous death threats.
Martin's parents released a statement following the remarks, saying, "President Obama sees himself in Trayvon and identifies with him. This is a beautiful tribute to our boy."
Zimmerman's brother, Robert, also welcomed the president's remarks, telling Fox News that "the American people need to have some time to digest what really happened and to do that soul searching the president spoke of."
Despite that fact that Obama's race has been central to the narrative of his political rise, he has rarely addressed the matter as a public figure. He last spoke about race in a substantial way as a presidential candidate in 2008 in addressing criticism over incendiary comments made by his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
In 2009, Obama stumbled when commenting on the arrest of a black Harvard professor in the professor's home, saying the police "acted stupidly." The president was forced to retract his statement, then held an awkward "beer summit" at the White House with the professor, Henry Louis Gates, and the white arresting officer.
But on Friday, Obama spoke poignantly about the distrust that shadows many African-American men, saying that they can draw nervous stares on elevators and hear car locks clicking when they walk down the street.
"There are very few African-American men in this country who haven't had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store," he said. "That includes me."
In a departure from his typical caution on legal matters, the president also waded into the thorny debates on racial profiling and Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, despite the fact that neither was formally raised during Zimmerman's trial.
Obama said it would be useful "to examine some state and local laws to see if they are designed in such a way that they may encourage the kinds of confrontation" that led to Martin's death. He questioned whether a law that sends the message that someone who is armed "has the right to use those firearms even if there is a way for them to exit from a situation" really promotes peace and security.
And he raised the provocative question of whether Martin himself, if he had been armed and of age, "could he have stood his ground on that sidewalk" and shot Zimmerman if he felt threatened when being followed.
Seeking to inject a sense of hope into his otherwise somber remarks, the president said race relations in the United States have improved with each passing generation. He said his young daughters and their friends are "better than we were."
"We're becoming a more perfect union," he said. "Not a perfect union, but a more perfect union."
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here's why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.
Send questions/comments to the editors.


text:
I'm in Chicago right now, and – wow – the fans and media here hate Rex Grossman far more than you can understand simply from reading the local papers, etc. Meanwhile...
This is turning into "Sportsman of the Year" week: You've seen SI's pick (Dwyane Wade) and I chimed in with mine yesterday (Vince Young), but here's a very cool spin-off: Jamie Mottram of Mr. Irrelevant (and ringmaster of the excellent AOL Fanhouse blogs) got 50 leading sports bloggers (including me) to vote on their top 10 sports figures of 2006, yielding 226 nominees and a Top 40 list that's way more fun than anything from SI or any other mainstream-media outlet:
T.O. was Number 1, which – unlike other year-end lists – reflected reality: T.O. had to be the most blogged-about figure in sports of the year. Does that mean he's a good guy? Far from it. It more accurately reflects his status as the sports world's leading douchebag. But still, that should count for something, and it raises the ultimately interesting question about whether "Sportsman" of the year necessarily has to be about a hero, rather than the athlete/coach/etc who had the most impact on the sports year. Check out the link here.
MLB Hot Stove: Red Sox sign JD Drew to 5Y/$70M deal. $14 million a year is a steep price to learn the valuable baseball lesson about "regressing to the mean." And you'd THINK that that would clear the way for
Barry Zito update: Did the Rangers offer him a 6Y/$100M deal? You'd think that Tom Hicks would have learned his lesson about overpaying after the A-Rod debacle. Does this mean the Yankees will be bailing the Rangers out with a 50-cents-on-the-dollar trade in a few seasons?
Ripken speaks out on McGwire: Actually, he didn't want to talk about McGwire. Didn't want to talk about... hmm, could we say "the past?" Where have we heard that before?
NFL: The Saints got some bad news in an otherwise dream season when DT Hollis Thomas was suspended for the rest of the season for violating the league's steroid policy. Expect this to be swept under the rug much like every other NFL steroid violation.
NBA: It's rare to see David Stern make a misstep, let alone admit one, but he did about the new ball, saying he should have consulted with the players before installing it. Oh, NOW he says it...
Meanwhile, the league said no to the group that wants to buy the Grizzlies led by ex-Dukie Brian
Oh, were there actual NBA games last night to talk about? How about Nash's 20 assists? Don't go using that as a springboard to argue he deserves a third straight MVP. Let's hope that era is behind us.
CFB Coaching Carousel: Wake's Jim Grobe said he is staying at Wake. Doesn't anyone want the
College Hoops: What have we learned so far about the young season? Parity rules. Think Gonzaga is all that? Whap: They lose to
You have to take anything Ben Johnson says with a grain of salt, but he insists that his problems at the '88 Olympics were the result of a conspiracy led by rival Carl Lewis. Track and field is so sketchy -- particularly back then, before most people really knew about steroids -- that I'd argue that anything is possible.
And, finally, if you live in NYC and are looking for fun tonight, I highly recommend heading to Happy Ending (302 Broome) for the latest installment of the Varsity Letters Reading Series. This month's event features Jack McCallum from Sports Illustrated, Josh Prager of "The Echoing Green" and Brad Snyder, who wrote an interesting book about Curt Flood. I should mention that the series is under new management; I have passed host and management duties along to Carl Bialik of the Wall Street Journal's excellent "Daily Fix" and Gelf Magazine. Should be a great event – and it's FREE – so head on over there (8 p.m. start time) to check it out. Here's a link.


text:
My father was often away. Traveling the globe to different locations, sometimes far off and exotic other times close to home and familiar, it was a normal way of life for my parents. Before we actually became school going kids, my mother would jet set with him spending a few weeks, maybe a few months depending on how she liked the place my dad was in.
I personally do not remember much about those places during my early years. Pictures and stories told give life to the places in my mind. The memories are slightly blurred.
Later though as we grew older, my dad traveled less. As school began to play a vital role in our lives, my parents decided that "settling down" would be wiser. But "settling down" for them did not mean the house with a white picket fence, a mini van and a dog in some fancy suburban bliss. No – it simply meant the stints my father did in a specific country were longer. Instead of the 6-8 months it was 2-3 years enabling us to live the settled life my parents envisaged.
One of the most valuable times for both my mum and dad was dinner time. My father would have long working days, where lunch was taken at one of the restaurants in the hotel he was working in, my mother busy with her job and my brother and I were usually at school or some afternoon activity during the day, so dinner was the time where we came together as a family. For an Indian family my parents were liberal but the one rule that they did not like being broken was having a proper dinner together as a family.
My mother cooked. Even when we were living in the hotel my mother would make it a point to put a home cooked (or in this case a hotel cooked) meal on the table. She enjoyed cooking for her family and would create lavish meals. Succulent meat curries, elegant rice pilafs, or a delicious pasta dish would be peppered with her love and spiced with her affection.
Time was taken to sit back and talk about the day gone by, what was good, what was bad, problems solved, projects discussed. Dinner time was so much more then just eating. Food was a means for us to come together as a family and be the family we sometimes take for granted. At least once a day we were reminded how precious it was being a family.
I have my own family now and am experiencing probably what my parents felt back then. Tom is in Berlin during the week so weekends are spent trying to play catch. But just like my parents, I find it best to catch up at the dinner table. Tom will often ask why spend the time in the kitchen cooking – I smile. Relax. Eat. Talk. What else can I want?
Mussels are probably the easiest and simplest things one can prepare in the kitchen. Once they are thoroughly clean they do not need much cooking time. They can be prepared using the same basic method with a multiple variety of different ingredients and flavors. Here I serve the mussels in a creamy garlic sauce, diced vegetables and a sprinkling of smoked sea salt.
Mussels in a Creamy Garlic Sauce
Printable version of recipe here
2kg fresh mussels
1 tablespoon butter
100 ml dry white wine
150 ml fish stock
2 shallots, finely chopped
5-6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 small carrot, diced
1 small parsnip diced
1/2 leek, thinly sliced
100g crème fraîche
Handful chives, chopped
Maldon smoked sea salt
- Scrub the mussels in a large bowl of cold water and discard any that are open. Leave to drain.
- In a large pan, melt butter and sauté shallots and garlic lightly until transparent and fragrant. Add the carrots, parsnip and leek and quickly toss. Cook for approx 1 minute.
- Pour wine and allow to simmer for 1-2 minutes, then add the the fish stock.
- Tip in the mussels, bring to a boil, cover and shake the pan over a high heat until the mussels are open - about 3-4 minutes. Discard those mussels that have not opened.
- Stir in the crème fraîche and season with some smoked sea salt to your taste. Sprinkle with chives and serve in large bowls, with a crusty rustic bread or toss with some fresh tagliatelle.
It took me a moment while I was making the mussels, but the realization dawned on me. Trips, outings and excursions with the family are great, we're out in the fresh air and we have a great time. But it's only at the dinner table, when we all come together that we take time to address issues and listen to each other. I loved the simple yet extremely bold flavors of the dish. The garlic works wonderfully – infusing the creamy sauce with its fresh and pungent aroma. A glass of wine, a thick crusty rustic bread and dinner was a dream.
From Plate to Page Update:
The first From Plate to Page is sold out! But don't despair! We've just announced the second From Plate to Page Workshop, which is scheduled for Autumn 2011 in Italy.
The waiting list is open for the second P2P Workshop and you can sign up now.
All four of us are blown away by this response and the interest the workshop has generated. Thank you all for all your support!
We have exciting features and stories planned on the From Plate to Page blog that will certainly interest the budding writer, photographer or stylist in you. So make sure you subscribe to the From Plate to Page feed and follow us on Twitter @Plate2Page to get your updates as soon as we release the news!
More seafood on WFLH:
Spicy Black Sesame Sea Bream with Corn-Coriander Salad | Asian Style Tilapia | Cornflakes Coated Fish Fingers with Roasted Root Veggie Chips |
All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2010 Meeta Khurana Wolff unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First


text:
London is a tough and competitive market. When it comes to food blogging there are a multitude of blogs broadcasting from this inspiring and pulsating city that it's hard to keep count. However, even though there are many bloggers and foodies in London I never looked into the city as a place to host one of my workshops. It's an expensive city and costs like venue, travel and other expenses that need to be considered while calculating the overall ticket price can quickly become costly making it seem ridiculously high-priced.
When Sumayya and I put our heads together for this workshop it was one of our biggest challenges. We brought Jeanne in and began working on creating an impressive but affordable 2 days for twelve participants looking to hone their skills and finding their creativity. We had a few ups and downs but in the end we put a darned good schedule together.
London however, is a tough market! We found that before Christmas the tickets did not sell as fast as they usually do making us think of a plan B and a plan C! As the new year came around it picked up pace and within a short time we sold out.
As I arrived in London the sun was shining and my spirits were high. I love London it is such an inspiring city and even though the Underground and public transportation totally intimidates, I love people watching as the tube takes me from station to station.
The workshop kicked off on Friday the day after Valentine's day and as the participants poured into the beautiful light-filled Central Street Cookery School, the aromas of Sumayya's brunch menu were wafting throughout the room. Tamarind, coconut, cardamom, ginger and orange filled the air and we welcomed the participants to bowls of chickpea curry with hot poories, mugs of steaming cardamom infused chai and coffee and a heavenly sweet aromatic semolina halva. With platefuls of comforting food each participant shared a little about themselves, their goals and what they expected to achieve from the two days.
Petra, Valentina, Eva, Aniko, Charlotte, Bernadette, Lu, Madeleine, Nuraan, Dot, Fleur and Marie-Louise who came from Austria, Paris, Norway, Germany, South Africa and from around the UK made this a colorful and fun group of ladies. Each one of these lovely ladies came from a different walk of life, each with different ideas and goals but all of them driven by the common love of food and passion for food photography and styling.
I love listening to each story, it is often an emotional period, as stories of hardships are shared about difficulties faced and coming to the workshop there are hopes to take a step onto a new path. It sets my mind on how I can help each individual person tackle their own personal goals showing them the route they can follow and how I can help the whole group come together as a dynamic group to work as a team.
The first day is filled with a lot of theory covering the whole spectrum of light, focus, depth of field, color, props, composition. Little practical exercises help to loosen and shake things up preparing each of the eager participants for the assignment.
When Jeanne took over I was exhausted and can only imagine how the fantastic participants must have felt. Refreshing ourselves on fruit, tea and coffee we pushed forward with Jeanne leading the discussion on low-light and specifically restaurant photography. I love Jeanne's style, her candid yet engaging way of presenting captures everyone from the first minute.
We packed up our gear and headed to our dinner date at the lovely Chiswell Street Dining Rooms where at the Montcalm City Hotel we had reserved a private room. It was the perfect location to practice the low-light and restaurant photography on-site. The team from the Chiswell Dining rooms had created a spectacular menu for us to photography and eventually indulge in.
From a sweetcorn velouté with Dorset crab and sourdough croutons to Scottish salmon tartar with soft boiled quail's eggs and caviar served with the most incredible iced horseradish to the most amazing Longhorn beef fillet carpaccio with black figs and parmesan to start with leading us to the mains of a beautiful pan fried fillet of sea bass served on creamy olive oil mashed potato with smoked celeriac remoulade and an orange and rosemary sauce or the most succulent and tender pan fried Middle White pork fillet and a slow roast belly on a bed of Jerusalem artichoke purée, fondant potato and an apple chutney.
Even after this there was no way anyone could turn down the sensual array of desserts prepared for us. A divine chocolate roulade with boozy Kirsch cherries or the white chocolate parfait with port roasted plums and an almond tuille, or should it be the heavenly salted caramel tart with caramelised banana or a comforting vanilla spiced rice pudding drizzled with a hot chocolate sauce and spiced with a cinnamon stick. We dined like the royals in this wonderful location. Our service staff Anton and Gemma were wonderfully forthcoming, funny and incredibly kind waiting on us till we took our pictures, playing models and always smiling and joking with us. It made us all feel comfortable and at home.
There was something extremely majestic about walking into the private room with the long beautifully laid table. I fell in love with the gorgeous chandelier and the fine details like fresh flowers and the bread boards with fresh bread and salted butter in the little dishes. As the cameras continued to click, I slipped out of my shoes and walked the room on the lush carpet. It was our private room after all. The evening ended on a high note. Jeanne and I walked towards the tube station the night air was mild and it felt like a refreshing Spring evening. It was a lovely moment where the two of us had a few moments to recap the day and catch the striking sight of the Shard. London - so full of energy.
The next day after a walk through Lightroom and a few tips on post-processing the teams set off to create their assignments. The second day is always filled with so much energy and creativity and watching each individual participant push themselves out of their comfort zones is so elating. They created fantastic set-ups, taking into consideration the guidelines I gave them. They studied, reviewed, discussed and then set out to find the right props, look for the perfect light to highlight the mood and take a set of images for the final presentation.
Although the workshops focus mostly on enhancing the photography and styling skills, as a food photographer/stylist the big bonus is always the food. The concept for the workshops is simple and provides the participant with a food experience. For my London workshop the theme was "From London to Pakistan/India - Pub and Street Food" and we integrated the theme in all the activities throughout the two days.
As a special treat for my readers, I have asked Sumayya to share the recipe for the sweet samosas. Just a word of warning though: they are addictive.
Coconut, Cardamom & Banana Samosa with Chilli Chocolate Drizzle
Serves: makes about 10 samosas (baked, but can be lightly fried in vegetable oil as well)
2 large ripe bananas, mashed
60 g desiccated coconut
2 tsp. freshly ground cardamom seeds
1 1/2 tbsp. crumbled jaggery or muscovado sugar
20 filo pastry sheets that are 2/5 inches wide OR Samosa pastry if available
Vegetable oil to seal the samosas
For drizzle and decoration:
10 pieces of dark chilli chocolate
1 tsp. salted butter
- To make the samosa filling combine the mashed bananas with the coconut, ground cardamom, jaggery or sugar and cover.
- Pre-heat oven to 200° C. Place two filo pastry sheets on top of each other and place 1 heaped tsp. of the banana mixture at one corner of the sheets and fold into a triangle, covering the banana mixture. Oil the filo surface as you keep folding until the end of the pastry. Stick the loose corners with a little oil. Make all the triangles and then place on a baking sheet, brush with oil and bake in oven for 3-4 minutes or until light brown.
- To make the chilli chocolate drizzle, place the chocolate in a glass bowl over a pan of boiling water (on the stove and water should not touch the glass bowl) and melt the chocolate. Add the salted butter and stir in until everything is evenly melted.
- To serve the samosas, lightly drizzle with the chilli chocolate drizzle. Enjoy hot!
As the final shots were taken a calm took over the spacious rooms of the school as each team huddled in front of their notebooks to select, post-process and edit their images for final presentations. Sumayya, Jeanne and I welcomed our wonderful sponsor Vitamix UK, who had been very generous to provide us with a Vitamix machine to make our finale cocktails and one machine offered as a giveaway prize. Laura from Vitamix UK came in to say hi and show us how to make the sensational cocktails. A great way to celebrate the end of a enlivening 2 days.
And who won that awesome Vitamix machine? Trust me we all had our eyes on it but it was charming Aniko who with a loud cheer as her number was announced got us all laughing and took the machine home with her. Aniko hope you are enjoying making smoothies, cocktails and soups. Congratulations!
Check out what we all got up to at the London Workshop over at our Storify page. It's a fantastic recap and we keep updating it as details from all our participants and sponsors come in.
If you missed the London Workshop and this has whet your appetite, I'll be hosting another styling and photography workshop in March here in Weimar. A package deal that includes tuition, accommodation, meals and a whole lot more - not to mention connecting with like-minded people and talking, taking and inhaling food, photography and styling for 2 days.
Check out the Weimar workshop details!
All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2013 Meeta Khurana Wolff unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First


text:
Kennedy Half Dollars
Buffalo Nickels
Susan B Anthony Dollars
American Silver Eagles
Longacre substitutes Indian Head designs for Flying Eagle By Paul Gilkes COIN WORLD Staff Difficulty in modifying the Flying Eagle cent design to correct the problem of short die life and poor strikeability led Chief En...READ MORE
Longacre substitutes Indian Head designs for Flying Eagle By Paul Gilkes COIN WORLD Staff Difficulty in modifying the Flying Eagle cent design to correct the problem of short die life and poor strikeability led Chief Engraver James Barton Longacre to abandon the eagle motif in favor of his new Indian Head design in 1859. The head and tail of the eagle on the obverse of the copper-nickel Flying Eagle cent were positioned directly opposite the wreath on the reverse, creating weakness in the detail of the design with every strike. The chief engraver had been in his position for more than a dozen years when he was given the assignment to fix the existing cent design or produce a new one. At the same time Longacre produced the Indian Head obverse, three new reverse designs were also tested. One alternative included a plain oak wreath. The second choice depicted an oak wreath with a wide ornamented shield above. A third selection offered two versions of a plain laurel wreath. One of the latter two variations – the centered laurel wreath with low relief – was paired with the obverse Indian Head design to strike the first coins for circulation in 1859. The hub style was changed from narrow bust point in 1860 to a broad bust point, possibly to increase die life. A new reverse was introduced in 1860 as well, depicting a shield between the points of a new, oak wreath. A year before the Civil War ended, Congress took action to alter the composition of the small cents since the nickel coinage metal was in short supply and it was costing the Mint more than the face value to produce the coins. The Mint Act of April 22, 1864, amended the Act of Feb. 21, 1857, by changing the composition of the small cent from the 88 percent copper, 12 percent nickel – established with the Flying Eagle cent and the first nearly six years of Indian Head cent production – to a bronze alloy of 95 percent copper, 5 percent tin and zinc. This bronze alloy would remain constant throughout the rest of the Indian Head cent series, which closed its run in 1909. Along with the 2-cent coin, the bronze Indian Head cents marked the first token coinage of the United States, being valued only by the government stamp, not the metal content. The bronze Indian Head cent was released in July 1864. Its production proved profitable to the federal government, as 3.7 bronze cents could be reproduced from every recoined copper large cent. During the Civil War, large numbers of cents were hoarded, then later dumped into circulation, causing a glut. In 1871, this coinage saturation was alleviated when legislation called for the redemption and recoinage of all earlier minor coins, allowing financial institutions to redeem larger amounts of coins. Enough copper was redeemed to keep the Mint going for six years. In 1873, the country's economic woes plunged the nation's populace to again flood commerce with hoard coins as they could no longer afford to accumulate them. The new infusion of coins created rarities of the 1870, 1871 and 1872 dates, causing larger than usual mintages for the 1874 and 1875 cents. The Mint's self-imposed stance to combat high planchets prices by not buying them certain years resulted in lower production in 1885, 1886 and 1894. The Mint began making its own cent planchets in 1908. Indian Head cents were all struck at the Philadelphia Mint, except in 1908 and 1909, when examples were also struck at the San Francisco Mint. Mintage was low for the 1908-S issues since the San Francisco Mint, rocked by the Great Earthquake two years earlier, had only one press available to produce cents. Indian Head cent Date of authorization: Feb. 21, 1857 Dates of issue: 1859-1909 Designer/Engraver: James B. Longacre Diameter: 1859-1864: 19.30 mm/0.76 inch1864-1909: 19.05 mm/0.75 inch Weight: 1859-1864: 4.67 grams/0.15 ounce1864-1909: 3.11 grams/0.10 ounce Metallic content: 1859-1864: 88% copper, 12% nickel1864-1909: 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc Edge: Plain Mint mark: 1908-1909, reverse under wreath


text:
While browsing Topshop last week, I came across this fun hanging chains headband and thought with Coachella right around the corner, an easy DIY for something similar would be fun. I used an old plastic zig zag stretchy comb headband I've had for years because it was the most logical choice to hang chains from but you can use an elastic band in a similar way. The chains disappear a little in my blonde hair but they would stand out really pretty agains brunette locks {it would also look great on a shorter cut as well}. If you're super crafty, add a feather or bead/charm to the bottom of a few chains.
What You'll Need…
* Circular headband
* Chains: fine, thick, gold, silver, rose gold… use a variety of colors and sizes or all the same… choose chains that are lighter in weight.
* Jump rings {for small chains only}
* Beading pliers
* Prepare your chains. I used about 30-35 chains, longest down the middle/back, tapering up around the sides. It's up to you how long or short you'd like them to hang.
* Using the extra loose chain links or jump rings for small chains, attach one chain to each section of your plastic headband. I began at the ends with the longest chains and worked my way up knowing that I would clasp this at the back/base of my head where my hair was the longest.
* Working from the ends up, I stopped just about at my temples or above my ears. You may choose to use as many or as few chains as you like. The Topshop version goes all the way around, including short bangs.
Have Fun!
* Find all my DIYs here!
* Find all my Hair Tutorials Here


text:
Below is a link to known posts from last weekend's 2010 Wine Bloggers Conference. The list has been compiled from various links sent on Twitter, Google alerts, searches, and the like. I have attempted to capture as many as possible. However, I am sure the list is quite far from complete. My apologies in advance to anyone I missed. Feel free to leave comments with links to additional posts.
Wine & Dine Walla Walla gives a WBC wrap-up.
Drink Nectar writes about speed wine blogging. Josh also writes about five things he is going to do because of WBC. See his post in advance of the conference here.
Wine & Beer of Washington State gives five sound bites from the conference.
Through the Walla Walla Grapevine writes about the conference and the blogging 101 panel. Catie gives a preview of the conference here.
Yak Yak Wine gives some favorite moments from the conference. See more here.
DeVine Table writes about the food and wine pairings.
Wine and Food World.com revisits a 97-point wine, the Molly Dooker Velvet Glove.
Wild 4 Washington Wine gives a quick conference update and a reflection.
Elixir Vitae writes about Buty Winery.
Catavino.net gives some thank yous.
Okanagan Writing Services writes about the conference.
Reign of Terroir gives a Walla Walla Redux.
Caveman Wines writes about the panel on growing your audience from other bloggers to consumers.
Wine Peeps give highlights from the conference. They also write about the live red wine blogging, and white wine blogging.
Whyte Wine provides the slides on the Advanced Wine Blogging Strategies panel.
General Wine Thoughts writes about the WBC-or-Bust trip and the conference (scroll past the numerous screens of tags along the top).
Dirty South Wine gives as brief recap of the conference.
Vinotology writes about what he learned at the Wine Bloggers Conference. Brian also writes about the Spokane section of the WBC trip, the drive back to Spokane from Walla Walla, gives a semi-live WBC blog, another, and writes about the front end of the WBC-or-Bust trip.
Tim's Blog writes about what he learned about WBC10.
Notes from the Cellar gives ten things learned at WBC10 (I am sensing a theme here).
Social Media Chef gives ten reasons for not making a WBC10 top ten list.
WineTube TV talks with Andrea Robinson.
Toledo Wines and Vines writes about the food and wine pairing. They also write about the Washington Wine Commission dinner, the mystery bus tour, live red wine blogging (see part I here), the Yakima Grand Tasting for WBC-or-Bust, Walla Walla Vintners, live white wine blogging (see part I here), Cave B, the winemaker dinner at the Waterfront, the Woodinville Grand Tasting, and Chateau Ste. Michelle.
Another Wine Blog gives random thoughts from the plane ride home. See more thoughts on the conference here as well as a bit on the WBC-or-Bust roadtrip.
Vindulge writes about what they found the most inspiring.
Wilma's Wine World gives part I on the conference.
Tasting Room Confidential writes about the Wine Blogger Awards.
Vinotable writes about Mourvedre.
RJ's Wine Blog gives some live conference tasting notes. He writes another post about the conference here.
The Melting Tea Pot writes about the conference.
Fermentation talks with Andy Perdue of Wine Press NW. He also writes about changes brought on by wine blogging and wine writers v. wine writers.
1 Wine Dude, winner of Best Overall Wine Blog, gives thank yous.
Trellis writes about the conference.
Wine Country BC talks on Wine Biz Radio.
Simple Hedonisms writes about the conference. He also writes about food and wine pairing.
Wine Tasting San Diego gives a view from Eagle's Nest Winery.
Vino Chick writes about the conference. See another post here.
Beau's Barrel Room gives a Top Ten Pre-Conference list.
Sip With Me! writes about what she learned at wine camp.
Steve Heimoff writes about the conference.
Wine & Dine Walla Walla gives as snapshot of things people have said.
Wine Tonite! gives Top 10 Memorable Moments from the conference. He also writes about the bus trip from Yakima.
Cork Popper gives some WBC10 photos. See a post on the conference here, South African Sauvignon Blanc, and highlights from the morning tasting.
Stark Silver Creek writes about Walla Walla Vintners and gives Walla Walla in 60 seconds.
Wine Predator writes about the Top Gun Blogging seminar. She also writes about food and wine pairing, the effective writing seminar, the red wine speed tasting, what's next in wine writing, growing your audience, a panel discussion with three Walla Walla winemakers, the white wine live blogging session, the advanced blogging session, the winners of the 2010 Wine Blogger Awards, Steve Heimoff's keynote, the WBC-or-Bus roadtrip, the continued adventures of the bus trip, and Chateau Ste. Michelle.
Winenormous does some live wine blogging. They also write about speed tasting red wines. See another post on the conference here.
Conscious Wine writes about speed tasting. Jeff also writes about what he learned in Walla Walla.
4488: A Ridge Blog gives live wine blogging notes. They also write about a day in the vineyards, words of writing wisdom, write live wine blogging notes (here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here). They also do a video post on the opening night and the first afternoon.
Wine Book Girl writes about red wine live blogging. See the white wine blogging here and here.
The Vineyard Vlog posts slides from the Top Gun Blogging panel.
Wineheimer writes about late night in Walla Walla. They also write about the wine blogging box and give some random thoughts from day 1.
Vintage Texas writes about the conference through the eyes of Twitter.
The Wine Case writes about live white wine blogging. They also write about live red wine blogging.
Weekly Wine Pick writes that drinking begins at 10am. They also write about speed tasting white wines.
The Southern Oregon Wine Blog writes about live blogging on white wines.
The Winery Advisor writes about wine-ing in Walla Walla.
Rick Bakas gives a video greeting to the conference.
The Vino File shows photos from the conference. They also write about Day 2 of the WBC-or-Bust roadtrip. Read about Day 1 here.
After Dark writes about the conference.
The Windy City Wine Guy gives some quick takes from the conference. He also writes about a trip to Seattle for WBC-or-Bust.
And finally, my post on recent trends in the Washington wine industry from the panel discussion.
Note: If you have a written post about the conference and it is not listed above, please leave a comment with the link to the post(s).
Addendum: Also see this WBC summary post from Josh at Drink Nectar.


text:
When Anne Hathaway ditched her planned Valentino Oscars dress for a much-reviled powder-pink Prada column at the eleventh hour, it was tantamount to her bringing a close male friend instead of her husband. Valentino's team was so confident that she'd wear their gown that they sent out a press release early on Oscars day to confirm the news. The choice seemed natural; Hathaway and Valentino Garavani have a storied father-daughter relationship–they ski in the Alps together, he custom-designed her dress for her September 2012 wedding to Adam Schulman, and he has stated that the actress is "like his daughter."
So when she turned up in the Prada on Sunday and told red carpet reporters that, "I didn't know what I was wearing until two hours ago. I tried on a lot of dresses, but at the end of the day, I loved the simplicity of it," the story was only half-true. Given her close ties to Valentino and the rumors surrounding the switch, Hathaway released a statement yesterday concerning the matter:
(MORE: Oscars Fashion: The 18 Best and Worst Women Over 40)
"It came to my attention late Saturday night that there would be a dress worn to the Oscars that is remarkably similar to the Valentino I had intended to wear, and so I decided it was best for all involved to change my plans. Though I love the dress I did wear, it was a difficult last-minute decision as I had so looked forward to wearing Valentino in honor of the deep and meaningful relationship I have enjoyed with the house and with Valentino himself. I deeply regret any disappointment caused."
Though the statement declines to name the would-be similarly-dressed actress, it is widely assumed that it was her Les Miserables costar Amanda Seyfried's pale, custom Alexander McQueen halter gown that worried Hathaway and sent her styling team scrambling for an alternative. As for who leaked Seyfried's dress in advance, WWD points a finger at Jennifer Aniston, the only major star who wore Valentino on Oscar night. "It wasn't clear how news of the other dress came to Hathaway's attention, but a good guess is that it was a source close to home: Jennifer Aniston, who is also repped by [Hathaway's rep Stephen] Huvane, wore a red strapless Valentino gown to the ceremony," the publication wrote.
If all that chatter holds truth, it explains why the Prada was so different from her usual romantic, princess-silhouette gowns–especially on a night when her Oscar dreams were so certain to "come true." What seems like an excess of hot air around a dress swap also largely boils down to the simple fact that Hathaway's snap decision was so unpopular. The dress was confusingly constructed in the chest area and was paired with a superfluous, backwards Tiffany's necklace. Regardless, the dress and its drama had no bad karma on Hathaway–she went home with the Best Supporting Actress trophy.