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Harry Potter's Original Hogwarts Acceptance Letter Is Going Up For Auction
Have you ever wanted to attend Hogwarts but never had the acceptance letter to grant you entry? Now's your chance to pounce. Harry Potter's original Hogwarts acceptance letter from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is going up for auction, and it can be yours for around £3,000 (or roughly $4,000 USD).
Movie memorabilia collector Prop Store is holding a humongous auction on September 26 in London, and among the items are Buddy's costume from Elf, a stop-motion puppet from Corpse Bride, and Jack Nicholson's jacket from The Shining.
And of course, Harry's Hogwarts letter—well, the envelope, which was addressed to Mr. H. Potter, The Cupboard under the Stairs, 4. Privet Drive, Little Whinging, SURREY. The prop comes with a letter of authenticity from Warner Bros. The real, wax Hogwarts seal was broken by little Daniel Radcliffe in Chris Columbus's first Potter film, but that only makes it more authentic.
The auction also has Ron Weasley's Howler from The Chamber of Secrets for sale. You know, that noisy letter that scolded him for stealing the flying car? (Molly Weasley's voice is not included, sadly.)
You don't have to be in London to make a bid on the envelope either—Prop Store is open to online bids. Check out more info here.


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The French media commentator Frédéric Filloux asks what he admits is "an unpleasant question": Do we have too many daily newspaper journalists?
By "too many" he means, is there some kind of correlation between the increasing size of editorial staffs and the decreasing level of circulations?
He cites research that suggests the number of journalists in France has almost tripled in about 50 years while, over the same period, the number of papers sold per 1,000 people has shrunk by 66%, from 360 to roughly 120.
To press his point, Filloux draws on a report by the OECD, The future of news and the internet, to compile a chart for seven countries showing the number of journalists per 100,000 daily copies sold and paid circulation per 1,000 inhabitants.
The results show wide variations. Sweden has 163 journalists per 100,000 sold (paid circulation: 367 copies per 1,000 inhabitants) followed by Norway, 136 (440); Italy, 127 (88); USA, 112 (159); Germany, 75 (244); France, 72 (117); and Japan, 41 (402).
So Sweden and Norway emerge as having the most favourable ratios, with the strongest readership and the biggest editorial staff per copies sold. Italy is the worst, with relatively few journalists for the lowest readership.
Note that Japan (as always when dealing with newspaper facts) is a singular exception, which has only 41 journalists per 100,000 copies sold while enjoying the highest newspaper penetration.
Filloux moves on to deal with productivity, profitability and the effect of subsidies. You can read his full posting here.
You will have noticed that Britain doesn't get a mention because, at present, the figures for daily newspaper staffing are not available. It would be necessary to get the staffings for London-based nationals, Scottish and Welsh-based dailies plus the various English regional mornings.
That is some task, but it's possible to do (circulations per 1,000 inhabitants is much easier to compute). Is anyone is willing to take up the challenge of hunting down the total British daily paper staffing?
I have a hunch, by the way, that Britain is like France in one important respect. The number of British daily journalists is far greater than it was 50 years ago - despite the deep cuts of recent years - and we already know that circulations have fallen over the last half century.
Then again, since 1986 (ie, the Wapping revolution), the size of print newspapers has expanded dramatically.
What Filloux omits to mention, of course, is the huge growth in readers of newspapers' online platforms in the past decade. Another hunch: I'd guess that the ratio between the number of journalists producing copy for the net and the size of the audience is far greater than that for print-only.

subset: commoncrawl


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300 tropical acres on the Miami coastline play host to the luxurious Turnberry Isle Resort, which has recently emerged from a comprehensive $150 million transformation, the staggering results of which make it one of the finest golf and leisure destinations in Florida.
As part of the redevelopment, golfing legend Raymond Floydwas charged with redesigning both of the championship courses on site. In 2008 The Turnberry Isle Resort & Club was proud host of the NBC/ADT Golf Skills Challenge and The Stanford International Pro Am, an official LPGA tour event.
The resort boasts two excellent layouts, named the Sofferand Miller courses, which together will guarantee fair and challenging golf forevery visitor. The Soffer is the more challenging of the two, with a testingpar of 71 which measures 7,047 yards from the tips. The Miller is only 6,417yards, but it is no pushover, and offers the perfect complement during your Florida golf holiday.
Luxury is the hallmark of the guest accommodation at Turnberry Isle; the newly refurbished rooms and suites are bedecked in natural wood, soothing textiles and the finest appointments.
A modern flair is fused with refined Mediterranean sophistication throughout the 392 rooms and suites, which come complete with deluxe linen, flat screen televisions, private balconies and impressive bathrooms.
For business travellers, all rooms are equipped with high speed internet access, ensuring the perfect balance between the needs of leisure and work. Complete comfort is guaranteed thanks to the unrivalled accommodation at Turnberry Isle.
Unwinding is the only option at Turnberry Isle, where you can rent a private cabana at the exclusive waterfront Ocean Club. The hotel has an incredible lagoon pool with a great waterslide and lazy river – perfect for families. Treat yourself in the Willow Stream Spa, an idyllic haven of relaxation and rejuvenation at the heart of the deluxe resort.
An exciting variety of culinary delights awaits at Turnberry Isle – the brand new BOURBON STEAK restaurant is run by famed restaurateur Michael Mina, and is arguably the star of the show.


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How are you at solving problems?
Most of us have a certain amount of space in which to plant flowers and vegetables. We grow the tomato varieties that have served us well for years, and our pots and planters are filled with the favorite flowers we enjoy.
But along come the plant breeders with hot new varieties that look enticing. Do we stick with the tried-and-true, or do we throw caution to the wind and experiment when there's seldom room to grow all?
The All-America Selections organization takes the guesswork out of new flower and vegetable varieties. Since 1932, All-America Selections' volunteer judges across North America have tested new varieties, comparing them to the current best-in-class flowers and vegetables.
If it's sufficiently different or better, a new variety is awarded the coveted honor. Popular past winners include Purple Wave Petunia, Celebrity Tomato, Sugar Snap Pea and Straight Eight Cucumber.
ARCHIVE: Read more of Don Kinzler's Growing Together columns
Here are the 2019 award winners, with their key characteristics provided by the AAS judges.
- Begonia, Viking XL Red-on-Chocolate: The leaves of this extra-large, mound-shaped begonia are a rich, dark bronze, and the flowers are vibrant red. The 30-inch plants are strong enough for landscapes and flower beds, as well as containers.
- Marigold, Big Duck Gold: Very large 3-inch diameter golden yellow flowers are borne on strong, compact plants 15 inches in height, with rich, clean, deep-green foliage. Well-adapted to both flower beds and container-growing.
- Nasturtium, Baby Rose: The last time a nasturtium won an AAS award was in the 1930s. Baby Rose has a unique, neat, mound-shaped habit and vibrant color great in small spaces and containers. Flowers and leaves are both edible.
- Petunia, Wave Carmine Velour: The newest color in the popular Wave petunia series, with large 2.5-inch flowers in a velvety carmine rose shade. The spreading plants grow only 6 to 8 inches high, but spread 3 to 4 feet in diameter, making it a good ground cover or trailer in hanging baskets and planters.
- Melon, Orange Silver Wave: The fruits of this exotic South Korean melon measure about 5 inches in diameter, with sweet, orange flesh. Ripens in 75 days if direct-seeded in the garden, or 50 days from transplants.
- Pepper, Just Sweet: Three-inch fruits have thick walls, bright golden color, and a delicious, sweet flavor for fresh eating. Harvest 70 days from transplanting into the garden.
- Tomato, Chef's Choice Black: The sixth color in the Chef's Choice line, this beefsteak type has a rich brown-black hue. The strong indeterminate vines grow to 5 feet, so staking is required. Flavor is described as sweet and rich with a hint of saltiness. Harvest 75 days from transplanting.
- Tomato, Fire Fly: Fruits are smaller than the average cherry tomato, but mild and sweet. Each indeterminate plant easily produces more than 500 tomatoes. Slightly late for a small-fruited type at 80 days from transplanting.
- Tomato, Red Torch: Oblong stiped fruits average 1.5 inches long and bear up to 100 fruits on indeterminate vines 65 days from transplanting.
- Tomato, Sparky XSL: The initials stand for "extended shelf life," and this cherry-type tomato retains its quality longer than average after picking. Each indeterminate plant bears 60 to 70 fruits with high sugar content, with harvest 65 days from transplanting into garden.
- Watermelon, Cal Sweet Bush: Vines only grow to 18 inches on this true bush-type melon, making it ideal for small spaces or containers. Each plant yields two to three 10-pound melons with sweet, crisp flesh ripening 65 days from transplanting.
Note about availability: The new AAS winners are usually not found on in-store seed racks. Some garden centers carry starter plants of new AAS award-winners. For gardeners wishing to purchase seed, or start their own transplants, the winners are readily available from companies including Burpee, Harris Seeds, Johnny's Selected Seeds, Jung Seed, Park Seed and Territorial Seed.
Buy a calendar
Looking for a new wall calendar? Consider the 2019 Growing Together Gardening Calendar, which is graced with local gardening photos by Forum photographers and filled with nearly every "when-to" needed by gardeners tailored specifically for our Upper Midwest gardening region of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Montana. Order calendars online at https://www.inforum.com/2019gardencalendar.
Don Kinzler, a lifelong gardener, worked as an NDSU Extension horticulturist and owned Kinzler's Greenhouse in Fargo. Readers can reach him at email@example.com.


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Updating Pivot Tables Automatically
Excel Pivot tables are fantastic for creating fast and accurate, sorted, summary information in Excel. To update a pivot table, traditionally you have to update the source data and either right click on the pivot table and click on the Refresh Button or Click on the Refresh button at the top of the screen;
Either refresh by right clicking on the Pivot Table and the menu on the left will appear, click on refresh. Or you could click on the PivotTable Tools and click the refresh button.
Either option leaves you open to the possibility that the pivot table will not be updated as the user has to remember to update the pivot table whenever the source data has been updated.
Having an Excel pivot table update automatically is a valuable tool when dealing with data which changes on a regular basis. The idea is to have a dataset populated and have the pivot table update to reflect this change. There are a few ways you can do this. The first method I will describe is to create a Dynamic Named Range in Excel. Then in VBA add a Worksheet Activate Event which will Refresh the pivot table when you click on the worksheet.
Consider the following example data set. The data starts in Column A and always ends in Column E. I will call the dynamic range Source and the formula for the named range is;
The Column headers start in Row 1 of Column 1 (A1) I have used an upper bounds of the range of 20,000 rows. As I know my data will never go beyond this point. I have offset the columns by 5 which means the source data will be 5 columns wide. It will take the last used row in Column A and offset that by 5 Columns. Change to suit. If you don't know how many columns are going to be in the pivot table use a dynamic formula like this.
If your data is based on a static range all you need to do now is change the source data to be equal to the dynamic range.
Now simply type in=Source
Note: Source needs to be the name of your dynamic named range.
The VBA Procedure
The following Excel VBA procedure needs to be placed in the Worksheet Object where the Pivot Table resides.
The Excel VBA code is as follows;
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate() 'Excel VBA to refresh a pivot table. Dim pt As PivotTable
To test the above VBA coding go to the bottom of your dataset and put a new line of unique data. This is so you will be easily able to spot the update in your pivot table. As you click on the pivot table sheet you should see that unique piece of data added to the summary table. If you see that it works now go back and delete the line and when you click back into the pivot table sheet the data should be gone.
The same process can be achieved with VBA. Create a regular named Range called Source1 and follow the same steps to connect your pivot table up to the named range.
Now place the following VBA code into the Worksheet Object.
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()' Excel VBA to update pivot table automatically.
Dim sh As Worksheet
Dim pt As PivotTable Set sh=Sheet2
End Sub
Notice how the Source1 named range is updated directly in VBA. The name for this pivot table range is Source1.
Filtered a Pivot Table by an External List
For long lists inside a pivot table it might be an idea to have data in a separate list and simply loop through that list. The Excel VBA to do so is as follows;
Sub FilterPiv() 'Excel VBA to filter the Pivot Table by a list outside the pivot Table.
Dim i As Integer
Application.ScreenUpdating= False
Dim pi As PivotItem
For Each pi In .PivotItems
For i=12 To Range("G" & Rows.Count).End(xlUp).Row
The following Excel file outlines the VBA procedures above.


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What is the range of your Trike?
This is a very difficult question to answer, all depends on many factors;
Gross weight of trike plus options, box, battery, motor etc
Weight of rider
Average weight of load being carried over delivery round
Terrain, gradient of hill for example
Traffic conditions, start/stop, lights
Weather conditions, wind factor for example
Rider ability and style
Drag coefficient
Average speed
Use of gears and gear ratio of motor
Capacity of battery in watt hours
Power of motor fitted, 250w, 500w, 750w, 900w
So many factors, too many variables, so what is the answer?
Iceni Cycles propose the use of a simple factor system, this will help the customer compare different Trikes but will not give the range in distance. Every delivery round is different, only you the customer will know the range by experience.
Ask the Trike supplier for the real and definitive weight of their Trike and options as delivered to you, this should include basic rolling chassis, box option, motor kit, battery and any other extras.
Add weight of rider, 75kg average.
Add weight of average cargo load, let's assume you start at 150kg and reduce to zero, therefore 75kg average.
Capacity of battery fitted in watt/hours, don't forget to de-rate any lead acid, including AGM by at least 20% (up to 50% after 250 charge cycles).
Capacity of spare battery carried with you, usually only applies to Lithium Ion solutions in watt/hours.
Rated power of motor, a 750W rated motor will use more energy in the same way as a high performance car due to its increased torque and acceleration. This motor is for the North American market and is not legal in the UK or EU.
Now, add up all the weight to give you a gross weight in KG, calculate the watt/hour of fitted battery and any spares carried. Divide the watt/hour by the gross weight, assuming all Trikes are using the UK and EU legal 250W motor the result is the range factor, the higher the number the better.
What if the motor fitted is of a higher power? Or You are using a lower ratio gear to give improved torque but reduced top speed?
Well as a rule of thumb, you need to compare like for like, so assume all Trikes geared for 25kmh, if you specify a lower top speed, say 20kmh then you will get better range.
If you have a 750w motor fitted then this will significantly reduce your range as you are generally using 3 x as much energy, of course you can hold off the throttle but experience shows the rider will always use max power to reduce his own effort.
Lead Acid batteries, even AGM technology need to be de-rated by 20% of quoted Ah capacity, after 250 recharge cycles this figure will be closer to 50%.
Here are some examples, shown as two scenarios based on our own research of various Trikes on the market, we have included our own product for comparison.
Scenario A
General cargo trike with traditional chassis, add on modular cargo box up to 1700 litre capacity and 250W hub motor complete with 36v x 20Ah Lion battery.
Weight of rolling chassis = 65kg
Weight of cargo box 1700l = 45kg
Weight of motor kit and battery = 13kg
Weight of rider = 75kg
Average weight of cargo = 75kg
Total weight = 273kg
Watt / hour: 36 x 19 = 684wh
Range Factor: 684/273 = 2.5
Scenario B - Iceni Cycles
Next generation cargo trike with integrated monocoque chassis, add on cargo box of 1470 litre capacity and 250W hub motor complete with 2 off 36v x 14.25Ah Lion battery.
Weight of rolling chassis = 55kg
Weight of cargo box 1470l = 30kg
Weight of motor kit and 2 x battery = 11.7kg
Weight of rider = 75kg
Average weight of cargo = 75kg
Total weight = 246.7kg
Watt / hour: 36 x 14.25 x 2 = 1026wh
Range Factor: 1026/246.7 = 4.16
Additional range is accommodated simply by the addition of spare batteries, each battery weighs 3.5kg and provides 513wh.


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Mike Popovich, Senior Pastor
[email protected]
Pastor Mike Popovich served as the Senior Pastor of Olive Drive Church in Bakersfield, CA for 12 years. This historic Baptist church of Bakersfield has long been a leader in the community. Mike helped create and launch Kern Leadership Alliance (KLA) that brought together ministers and Christian leaders in Kern County for the purpose of addressing the communities most pressing needs. To date, KLA has done a significant work in gang intervention, disaster preparedness, and is beginning work on Inner Life Change programs for local prisons. Previously, Mike served as the Associate Pastor and Minister with Single Adults and Men at First Baptist Church of Visalia, CA. During his 14 years Mike developed a well-rounded ministry to single adults and their families. He led a divorce recovery workshop twice a year that provided a healing context for the divorced single adult and also their teenage and elementary age children. He also led the men's ministry, focusing on developing small groups where men met weekly for the purpose of encouragement and accountability. Large group events were also organized for outreach. The ministry focused on training men to be discipling leaders in their church. In his own words, "God called me into full time service while I was working for the U. S. Forest Service. In college I was involved in vital campus ministry through witnessing and discipling. The local church is God's ordained vehicle of mission here on this earth. The primary purpose of the church is to fulfill the Great Commission and effectively reach it's community for Jesus Christ. Each local Body of Christ is filled with people who need to walk in close personal relationship with Him and each other and serve where He has given them gifts, talents and ability. I love the local church. As a pastor, I want to raise up disciples, teach and preach to motivate and equip people for life transformation and service to God." Mike and Cindy have three children. Steven is their oldest and is a California Highway Patrol Officer in Los Angeles, CA, and is married to Mandee. David has his masters in Biblical studies and lives in San Diego where he works as a youth pastor. Rachel is attending college and lives with Mike and Cindy in Pocatello, ID.
Karl Pettit, Worship/Arts Pastor
Karl has been serving in the worship ministry since the late 1980s in various capacities. From leading children's choirs and adult choirs, to leading in worship for churches, camps, conferences and events. He attended Idaho State University for 2 years as a music performance major before being lured away into retail management full time.
While working full time in the retail industry in Idaho, Texas and Southern California, Karl continued to lead worship in local churches as a part-time Worship leader. In November of 1995, after being called into full-time ministry, he began serving at Living Hope Baptist Church in Whittier, CA., where he served until being called to Pocatello in 2001.
Karl and his wife, Sue have been married for 29 years. They have two children. Austin, married to Missy, is employed at Heinz as the QA Manager in Pocatello. They have one son, Daniel, who has grandpa Karl wrapped around his pinky. Daughter, Kia, also living in Pocatello, is a shift manager at Jimmy Johns, preparing for management school.
Follow Karl on his blog at http://www.leadingartists.blogspot.com/
Charles Monroe, Director of Student (J-Walk) Ministries
[email protected]
Charles is a long time native to Pocatello and a member of First Baptist Church since 2006. He is a graduate of Century High School, class of 2000. He shortly enlisted in the U.S. Army and later transitioned into the Idaho National Guard. During his time in the armed forces he has been mobilized twice as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.
In addition to the military, he and his wife, Katie, have been involved in student ministries since 2007. That service began primarily in a volunteer role serving with wonderful leaders such as Kyle Yake, Christ Boblit and Jessica Rude.
Charles states, "I have grown in my walk with God and learned a lot while serving in student ministries and from other leaders within the First Baptist community. Presently, I'm the student ministries director here at FBC and a Staff Sergeant in the Idaho National Guard. I'm also a full-time student at Idaho State University where I intend to graduate with a degree in Anthropology. Through all my experiences I await to see what God holds for me in future ministry opportunities and my relationship with Him."
Charles married his best friend, Katie, in November of 2007. They have dedicated their marriage to serving God, the First Baptist Family and the Pocatello community. God also blessed them by adding to the family their first child, Susannah, on the first day of July 2012
Rachel Popovich, Young Adult Director
Conor O'Farrell, Pastoral Intern
Kristie Jo (JoJo) Hess, Children's Team Lead
JoJo has called First Baptist Church home since 1986. Born and raised in the church, JoJo started serving in Children's Ministry while in the 5th grade. "There's something about introducing kiddo's to Jesus, helping them see Him in their daily lives and showing them ways to engage in a relationship with Jeus that blowes your socks right off! Seeing that spark, whether it is curiosity, joy, understanding or flat out "Ah-Ha I get it", is truly amazing!"
In October, 2016, JoJo took on the role of Early Ed Director. "I am excited to see what God has planned for our First Baptist family. We better hold on, it's going to be a fun ride!"
JoJo has been married to her best friend Noah since June 2009. God added to their family in 2012 a beautiful daughter, Kalli Jo, and again in 2015 a handsome son, Gage. They enjoy being outside, laughing, making new friends, trying new things and living this life God has blessed them with - together!
Gina Patterson, Children's Team Lead
Gina was born and raised in Montana where she accepted Jesus as her savior at the age of five. She met the love of her life, Chuck Patterson, while she lived in Flagstaff, Arizona in 2001. Gina and Chuck got married in 2003 and added their son Conner to the family in 2004. Gina loves God, loves children and loves teaching children about God.
Gina received her Associate's Degree in Counseling and Human Services, emphasis in Early Childhood Education and Studies, from Dawson Community College in Glendive, Montana. She culuminated her education by receiving her Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, emphasis in Gerontology and Supportive Therapies, from Montana State University Billings in Billings, Montana. This gives her ample opportunity to showcase her love for art, music and creative things all while pointing kids to Jesus. She utilizes as many of the senses as possible to help kids connect to the message each week.
Gina is currently a Teaching Assistant for Kindergarten and Recess Supervisor for k-8 at Pocatello Community Charter School
Chuck, Gina and Conner have lived in Pocatello since 2008.
Gary Eaton, Elder Chairman
Noah Hess
Chuck Patterson
Senior Pastor Mike Popovich
Roger Stockwell
Copyright ©2019 First Baptist Pocatello. All rights reserved. Sitemap.


text: Photographing skylines and cityscapes takes a lot of technical ability, both in knowing what gear to bring and how to capture a variety of lighting conditions. Many photographers have made careers out of perfecting this genre, taking it even further by mixing in astrophotography, light painting, and even motion. Whether you're looking to explore your own backyard or get more out of traveling, shooting skylines can open your eyes to new possibilities no matter what type of photography you shoot.


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It's 1996, and the newly-formed DreamWorks Animation is hard at work on an animated movie that will shake the industry. Packed with catchy songs and colorful characters, it's intended to make the young company competitive with Disney and maybe even beat them at their own game.
That's right; we're talking about The Prince of Egypt. Remember it? No, you probably don't, because, at the same time, the studio was also working on Shrek as an afterthought. Nobody thought the computer-animated ogre fable had legs, and animators who couldn't hack it on Prince were often sent down to labor in the Shrek ghetto.
Obviously one of these movies secured a spot in the popular consciousness while the other one didn't. And with popularity comes fan art. For some reason, Shrek has become one of the most popular figures in the bad fan art repertoire, his booger-green skin and ridiculous antennae showing up in the weirdest places. Let's go on a journey through the worst and weirdest Shrek fan art ever drawn.
1. Nude Shrek Reclining
You know, why not? Let's just open this up with the lumpy green ogre in full nude glory. You're going to be seeing a lot of this, so it's probably best to get used to it now.
2. Shrekky Minaj
There's something about Shrek that makes people want to mash him up with all kinds of cultural figures, like Nicki Minaj...
3. Shrek Hitler
Or, uh... Hitler.
4. Shrek Smokes Weed
There is a truly flabbergasting amount of really inept MS Paint Shrek artwork out there, and we're not going to show you all of it. This one gets special attention because of how crappy the bag of weed looks.
5. Shrek Photo
It's also weirdly popular to take pictures of shirtless dudes and make them look like Shrek.
6. Shrek Horse Ride
Many DeviantArt users like to share pictures of the imaginary adventures they have with Shrek, like riding a horse in lingerie through some sort of rainbow hell.
7. Shrek Is Love
A lot of Shrek art takes inspiration from a viral Web video entitled "Shrek Is Love, Shrek Is Life" which features the ogre visiting an abused young man in his room and banging him up the pooper.
8. Shrek Groping
OK, I figure you're warmed up by this point, now let's get into the really hard stuff.
9. Shadow Begs Shrek
One of the most popular pairings in the fan art world couples Shrek with Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic's dark nemesis. The two of them have a complex and rewarding relationship that, uh...
10. Shrek Shadow Sex
Just be glad I blurred that out.
11. Shrek Shadow First Time
It's OK, though, because they're married. And what comes after marriage?
12. Shrek Shadow Baby
That's right, a beautiful half-ogre, half-hedgehog baby.
13. Shrek And Shadow As Wolves
And, because no fan art rundown would be complete without at least one furry thing, the happy couple can also turn into wolves.
14. Shrek And Trump
For somebody who wants to "drain the swamp," Donald Trump seems to get along pretty well with Shrek.
15. Zombie Shrek
Why wouldn't Shrek come back as a zombie with his intestines hanging out, brandishing Donkey's severed leg as a cudgel? It all makes sense.
16. Shrek Marries Adam Sandler
And now we're finally down into the very bowels of Shrek fan art hell, where he's marrying Adam Sandler in a lovely ceremony.
17. Shrek Illuminati
Or implying that Shrek has something to do with a global Jewish financial conspiracy.
18. Shrek Schoolgirl
Or... whatever the Hell is going on here.
19. Shrek Vapes
Of course Shrek vapes. I think we're done here.


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Getting To Know Stephen Massimilla, Myra Kornfeld, and Their New Book Cooking With the Muse
How did you first encounter poetry? How did you discover that you wanted to write poems?
Before I could even speak coherently, I was making up my own peculiar language. I loved the way certain terms, such as "soup spoon" and "sewing machine" (which I called "maswing chine") sounded. I thought the word "hippopotamus" was hilarious, and I used to say it over and over. In grade school, I wrote eyewitness accounts of electric eels that whipped and whirled through the air, concluding these pieces with protestations that nobody believed me. But when I found my great aunt Gertrude's volumes of the 1880 edition of the collected works of Shelley, sounds and images came together in syntactically intricate ways, and I was hooked. In high school, Mrs. Hart introduced me to T.S. Eliot, whose poems I found compellingly sonorous and strange.
That said, I don't think I became committed to this art until I went to Williams College in western Mass, where I took a poetry appreciation course with Larry Raab followed by a poetry writing workshop with Louise Gluck. Louise was such a smart reader and so authoritative and fiercely encouraging there was no turning back after that.
The inspiration for the culinary poetry in Cooking with the Muse owes a lot to the chef and cooking/nutrition instructor Myra Kornfeld, whom my poetry mentor Lucie Brock-Broido has referred to as a "culinary magician." Through our collaboration, among other things, you could say that Myra and I have become each other's muse.
Do you have a writing routine? A favorite time or place to write?
I write new poems, for the most part, only when compelled to—when the Muse is upon me. That happens often enough; but I need to surrender to her influence and accept her offerings without trying to digest too much too quickly. These days, just finding reflective moments in which to record what I want to say can be the challenge. I also revise and edit pieces whenever I can, often with the help of Sally Dawidoff and other friends in The Urban Range poets' collective. I can be guilty of too much ranging, of almost willful inconsistency, like an exuberant rider who likes his horse both covered with sweat and shying. I need help reigning myself in.
I prefer to write at night, when the traffic has died down and nobody is calling or texting. I don't want anyone even thinking in my vicinity. At these times, I'm also like a nocturnal lemur responding to electric charges in the atmosphere. Myra, on the other hand, prefers to write during the early morning, when the world is enveloped in a different kind of quiet.
That said, while Myra and I were working on Cooking with the Muse, I sometimes composed a poem by the stove while she was developing a dish. That happened with "Seared Tuna with Purple Potatoes and Cherry Tomato Sauce." Writing poems involved riffing on and helping to reinvent recipes. Though it began with a lot of intuitive hunting and gathering and freewheeling improvisation, the book also contains a great many prose introductions, recipe preambles, essays, and carefully researched historical and literary notes, all of which had to be planned, composed and revised in a more systematic way.
Where do your poems most often come from—an image, a sound, a phrase, an idea?
I always carry a little black notebook full of notes and sketches (I'm also a drawer and painter) about what the Muse happens to be saying—which could take any of the forms you just mentioned. My favorite pieces often emerge from more than one source of inspiration, including the time of year as it reveals itself in the thawing fishpond of live opinions, or in the rattling leaves, or the vanishing sky; or from a luminescent mood; a word or phrase; an overwhelming question; or even another work of art—a Bach cantata, an oil painting, a sad sepia photo, a documentary film, a novel. And dreams are inspired and inspirational, since in effect we have none unless they are memorable—a model for approaching our waking existence.
The green market (a living celebration of the seasons and the lush creations born of human collaborations with nature) was a major source of inspiration for Cooking with the Muse. Not only most of the poems and recipes, but also the poetic-prose essays introducing each chapter could be said to be odes to the farmers' market.
Which writers (living or dead) do you feel have influenced you the most?
My life journey has included deep engagements with and underworld offerings (I wanted to say blood sacrifices) to Plato, Dante, Emerson, Dostoevsky, Nietzsche, Joyce, and the Vedas and the Buddha, to name a few shades who seem eternally alive, souls I can speak back to more frankly and critically than I can to the living. With regard to my work, lyric poets from the British Modernists (Hopkins, Yeats, et al) to American Modernists and Postmodernists (from Williams and Stevens to Grace Paley) to writers working a bit outside the Anglo-American paradigm (from Lorca to Montale to Walcott to Nazim Hikmet) have all been major influences.
Walcott was my mentor in the Graduate Writing Program at Boston University, and his emphasis on concrete, almost sculptural imagery and sonics had an impact—though his lovely work reminds me of a tropical jungle, with all the leaves and fruit hanging very low to the ground. Lucie Brock-Broido, whom I studied with in the Columbia MFA program, is a mystic who embraces the electricity of intuitive leaps. She had a big influence on my last book, The Plague Doctor in His Hull-Shaped Hat. Franz Wright helped inspire a central sequence in a manuscript I'm working on now called Frank Dark.
In the case of Cooking with the Muse, the inspirational roles of Rumi, Basho, Keats, Dickinson, Frost, McKay, Neruda, Kinnell, Heaney, Berry, Hirshfield, and a great many others cannot be overestimated.
And these poets all have an affinity for the culinary! Even the classical figures we learn about in school, including the Cyclops Polyphemus from The Odyssey, the Scythians from Herodotus, Socrates, Aristotle, Dante, Hamlet, and Milton's Eve are all major figures in the culinary world. Myra and I make this point throughout Cooking with the Muse.
Tell us a bit more about the new collection: what's the significance of the title? Are there overarching themes? What was the process of assembling the book?
Well, as the title indicates, this book is all about "the Muse." Inspiration is the force within and behind cooks and writers, food and words, recipes and poems. All are inseparable from the outer seasons and inner spirits that inspire us. Inspiration also dictated the process by which Cooking with the Muse came into being. Sometimes poems inspired recipes; sometimes recipes inspired poems; and oftentimes the juxtaposition of poems and recipes inspired other musings. (In addition to a wide-ranging anthology, the volume includes the equivalent of a complete book of my own poems and a book of essays, as well as 150 original recipes.)
The subtitle, the part about "Seasonal Recipes, Culinary Poetry, and Literary Fare," also communicates something important. Myra and I believe that many people are experiencing extreme hunger for in-season, high-prana food and quality literary fare. The word "Seasonal" highlights this central theme: Ingredients in the farmers' market are celebrated in their natural sequence, just they come into their own, the time when the poets tend to be most in love with them. At the end of the Summer chapter, for instance, Herrick and Campion sing about the Eros of the "Cherry-Ripe" moment; and in "Blackberry Eating" at the start of the Autumn chapter, Galway Kinnell compares "black blackberries" at the peak of their ripeness to
inspired words that fall "almost unbidden to [the poet's] tongue." Essays and notes help
make the poetry accessible to all readers.
Each seasonal chapter is organized around a pageant of seasonal ingredients, and also by a progression from starters to main courses to desserts and drinks.
In all, the book celebrates the marriage of food and poetry, of cooking and writing. This pairing happens to come out of a long and venerable tradition, one that is now undergoing a modern renaissance.
View sample poems from Cooking with the Muse here:
From the black root
in your heart
by the moon
of the eons,
from the beating yellow sun
that leads you on,
that licked
its cool shadow
from a crater in the sand,
this tender
young head,
green and trepanned, opening
a hollow full of water,
the firefly taste,
warped walls padded
like an asylum
with sweet white meat,
slippery, softer
than ice, stronger,
more pliable.
You scoop it out,
devour it
like a mad survivor,
or, from a big tarantula-haired
globe, press the flesh for oil
swimming in spoons,
or dry the marrowy morsels
for snowstorms
of shavings.
You can live on this
world at the gate
of your teeth
food like light
passing right through
the mind, hacked right out
of the skull.
on the outside,
the torn, blood-draggled glove
of a poor ogre's heart,
the most pointlessly
neglected vegetable.
Bathe this knotted beauty, ancestor
of the ancient ways of the earth.
Slip the clots of dirt
from this tangle of hairy tubules that fed
green stalks in the rain.
It labored all year to grow,
got shovel-cut,
into the clenched face
of a fist, as if defying Dante with its uncried
cry, hunched so long by dust-drunken bulbs
in the cellar, unable to recall
the sun's heat on flesh.
When this black thing emerged, sky-
pierced, in the winter
market, the earth still refused to burn,
having turned
to stone, like the white meat of this root,
all its assertive, refreshing flavor
hidden in a monster heart.


text:
Gingerbread Baker Homemade by Debi Hammons
INSTRUCTIONSPrint Project
- Fold an 8-1/2" X 5-1/2" panel of red cardstock in half to form card base.
- On a 4" X 5-1/4" panel of white stamp checkerboard pattern in red to be floor.
- Adhere stamped panel to card front.
- Die cut baker from brown and stamp face in black, color cheeks as shown.
- Die cut apron, hat and bowl from white and add shading as shown with colored pencils.
- Die cut bowtie from red striped paper and adhere as shown on baker.
- Bend arm to hold bowl and secure with 3D foam adhesive square.
- Attach baker to card front.
- Stamp greeting on white paper, trim to size, and layer on red panel.
- Adhere greeting to card front.
- Perfectly Clear Acrylic Stamp Handle Multiple Styles & Colors
- Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko® 6.99
- Mixed Media White Paper 7.99
Also uses these supplies:
- My Colors Cardstock by My Mind's Eye
- Colored Pencils by Tombow®
- Big Shot Die Cutting Machine with Magnetic Platform by Sizzix
- ZipDry™ Paper Glue by Beacon Adhesives
Related Projects
If you've use this product in a project of yours, we'd love to see it! You can submit your step-by-step instructions and supplies used by clicking below.Submit A Project


text:
John McCain Advisor Rick Davis Tied To Freddie Mac
Posted by Job on September 30, 2008
SoldierServant has it:
John McCain Has Ties To Freddie Mac
One Response to "John McCain Advisor Rick Davis Tied To Freddie Mac"
September 30, 2008 at 4:53 pm
If anyone reading this has a home mortgage under Fannie, Freddie, WAMU, or Countrywide then you have helped evil capitalist swindlers profit.
Being that I want to profit one day from real estate. I won't say all lenders are evil.
Any politician whether they be Obama the great, McCain, or Haliburton Bush will get advisors who are currently or are previous financial big shot. The politicians want to be around these guys unless they get indicted or their mega profit center fails.


text:
Kiara Advani Trolled For Getting A Cheek Job: Slams The Trolls Like A Boss
The Lust Stories actress Kiara Advani is in the news post the release of her Netflix movie. She is not just being praised for her amazing acting but also is also being in the centre of all the criticism and attraction for her masturbation scene in the movie. Before Lust Stories, the actress was seen in the 2014 movie Fugly and but it was her acting in the movie MS Dhoni: An Untold Story that made her quite famous.
While the majority of the people praised Kiara for her amazing acting in the movie and the brilliant portrayal of the woman wanting pleasure in s*x, some even went on to slam the actress for doing the masturbation scene.
Recently, Kiara Advani became a target of the trolls for posting a picture with Karan Johar and now she is a target once again. Many social media trolls have come out to troll the Lust Stories Actress for apparently getting a knife under her cheeks.
The actress was recently seen at the launch of MxS, the brand which is owned by Monisha Jaising and Shweta Bachchan. She looked gorgeous in a black lace jumpsuit and stunned everyone with her mesmerizing beauty. However, there was some visible difference in her facial structure as her cheeks looked a little swollen.
Just a look at this picture and people started trolling and slamming the actress for getting a cheek job done. Here is what some trolls had to say:
After reading all these comments, Kiara decided not to let these trolls bother her. She took a screenshot of these comments and posted it on her story but with a sly change. She slapped her comment on top of the trolling comments that read,
"Wow just reading these comments. Calm down peeps don't jump to conclusion. You might not fancy the cheeks but it was no doctor just some yummy biryani from the night before."


text:
- Home
- Government
- Departments
- Parks, Recreation & Culture
- Recreation
- Aquatics
- Chimney Park Pool
- Chimney Park Pool Rules
Chimney Park Pool Rules
Main Pool
1. No running, please walk
2. Diving is allowed in the deep end of the pool only
3. Children 6 and under must be accompanied in the water by a guardian 16 years or older. The guardian must be within arm's reach of the child at all times.
4. Children ages 9 and under must be directly accompanied by an adult (at least 16 years old) at all times.
5. No water wings allowed anywhere at any time, puddle jumpers only.
6. "Floats" with baby seats are to be used only in the baby pool. No floats are allowed in the deep end of the main pool, including lifejackets.
7. During "break" all children under the age of 18 years old must clear the pool. Children 5 and under may accompany an adult.
8. Please utilize the ramp for entry and exit of the pool but do not hang on the rails.
9. No food, drinks, or gum allowed in the pool.
10. Absolutely no glass containers.
11. Obey the slide rules and baby pool rules
12. No excessive breath holding
13. If you have any questions or concerns please see the front desk or nearby staff member.
Baby Pool
1. Children must be supervised by an adult 16 years or older in the baby pool at all time.
2. Only children age 5 and under may use the baby pool.
3. No water wings allowed at any time.
4. If your child is not toilet trained, plastic pants or swim diaper are required under their swimsuit.
5. No street shoes are allowed in the baby pool.
6. Please keep the gate closed at all times.
1. Caution, ride at your own risk.
2. Riders must be at least 4 feet tall.
3. Single riders only.
4. Weight limit is 300lbs.
5. One person per stair landing, please walk up stairs.
6. Slide feet first, lying on your back only.
7. No flotation devices of any kind allowed on the slide.
8. "Catching" at the bottom of the slide is prohibited.
9. Do not run, dive, stand, kneel rotate or stop in the slide.
10. Please keep hands inside the slide at all times.
11. Please do not take toys, sunglasses or goggles down the slide.
12. Elderly persons, pregnant women and those with other health conditions should consult a physician before using the slide.
13. Staff have final say in all rules.


text:
On select dates, we invite you to join us after your Saturday morning activities from 12:30 to 2:30PM to enjoy music together with your family and friends. All individuals ages 3 and older are welcome! Dance at our dance party, sing during Karaoke, participate in our drum circle or just sit back and enjoy the fun - either way there is something for everyone! Doors open at 12:30PM with activities starting at 1:00PM.
Admission price of $12 per person includes access to all music activities, 1 slice of pizza, snacks and a drink. Additional beverages and snacks are also available for purchase. Admission price of $12 per person is required for each individual who attends the event. Registration by noon the Friday prior is recommended, as space is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.
Contact Nadine McNeil for more details and to register today at email@example.com or 212.289.8912.


text:
The borough council is planning to come down hard on the growing number of people feeding pigeons in the town centre.
The move comes as habitual 'birdman' Leslie Harrison (74) receives his third fixed penalty notice for an £80 fine for feeding the birds every day – a habit which has spread among several other people.
The council has pointed out that the pigeons are defecating on the town plaza, on monuments and on the approach to St Mark's Church.
And it has been reported recently that a shop has had to close temporarily due to the fact that pigeons found their way into unoccupied rooms above the premises and precipitated a serious health hazard.
A spokesperson for the council pointed out that Mr Harrison had, over recent years, received three £80 fixed penalty notices, none of which he has paid.
The council also took him to court where he was bound over for a year, but he still persists in feeding the pigeons.
"More and more people are feeding the birds, with the result that literally dozens have roosted in and around the town centre," said the spokesperson. "They constitute a nuisance and a serious health problem and we are clamping down on it."
Mr Harrison will probably face a further court appearance, but he is unapologetic. "It gives me a pastime which I look forward to," he said. "I will continue to feed the pigeons every day and I have made friends among others who do the same. It's a pleasant community exercise.
"I haven't paid any of the fixed penalties and I don't intend to. They can send me to jail if they want, but I won't stop feeding the pigeons. It would be a lonely life without them and without the friends I have made in the town."
He ended by quoting the Bible – Matthew Chapter 6 verse 26: 'Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them'.
The council has confirmed that it is applying the by-laws – chapter and verse – to the pigeon feeders from now on.


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Inside the Fridge Welcomes NYC Gourmet Italian Chef Alicia Walter!
ROBINS BITE, July 17th, 2013. By Robin. View original here.
Alicia Walter is the Chef of La Scuola at Eataly and the force behind their successful Meatless Monday class series. Ali has cooked live more than a dozen times on FOX and CBS, once worked on a biodynamic farm, and holds a certificate in Advanced Food Policy and Sustainability from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Bra, Italy. She has worked in professional kitchens in Santa Barbara, Boulder, NYC and Orval, Belgium. Ali was recently named one of New York City's 10 Healthiest Chefs by Well+Good NYC.
ITF: Where do you shop for food?
I shop for food at Eataly and the Union Square Greenmarket. I am also a member of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) with Katchkie Farms.
ITF: Do you love food shopping or dread it?
I love shopping for food because it gives me a chance to look for new produce and other products. I buy any ingredients that I haven't used before and test them out in my kitchen.
ITF: What is the single most important thing on your mind when you are shopping for food?
Deliciousness. The best food is fresh and vibrant, whether it is flour or fruit. I buy whatever catches my eye and build a meal around that.
ITF: What is the oldest item in the fridge right now?
I have some syrup made from birch sap that is three years old. I bought it from a Lithuanian guy who is trying to revive the tradition in his country.
ITF: Do you believe in leftovers?
Absolutely! Leftovers are the inspiration for today's dinner.
ITF: What cooking utensil/piece of equipment/appliance do you live for?
I have two: my 10″ cast iron pan and the Vitamix.
ITF: When you hear the word "homemade" what is the first thing that comes to mind?
ITF: What was the last meal you cooked from scratch?
Heirloom bean, Israeli couscous and seasonal vegetable salad with pesto in a lemon broth.
ITF: If one person could cook for you tonight, who would it be?
My husband. He makes a mean root stew and his fried tofu is perfectly browned on every side.
ITF: Anything else?
Stay curious! Find out how the chef made a certain dish that you enjoy next time you go out to eat. Taste each ingredient before you cook with it; start to notice acute differences in sweetness, acidity and salinity. Try one new recipe each week.
Thank you Alicia!


text:
Konica Showcases Unify Konica from AHT at OnDemand
Thursday, March 08, 2001
Press release from the issuing companyWINDSOR, Conn. Feb. 26, 2001 Konica Business Technologies, Inc., the innovation leader in digital imaging solutions, will demonstrate Unify Konica, a new digital print server from Advanced Hi-Tech Corporation (AHT) designed for use with the 7075 and Force 75 Production Printing Systems, at the On-Demand Digital Printing & Publishing Strategy Conference & Exposition (On-Demand), Feb. 28 to March 2. "We are extremely excited to be able to offer Unify Konica. This systemís mission is critical to high-volume printing. Unify Konica can cluster from two to ten engines to increase output, provide speed redundancy and volume handling capability," said Kevin Kern, vice president, product development and support, Konica Business Technologies, Inc. Unify Konica is targeted for central reprographic departments, print-for-pay environments, networked offices, and production printing settings. Unifyís clustering features for splitting jobs, copies, and documents across multiple printers improve production speeds. By utilizing the network connection, the system successfully eliminates distance limitations between the server and the connected printers. In addition, Unify Konica offers optional document management tools for impositions, variable data printing, and book making.
Industry News
Copyright © 2019 WhatTheyThink. All Rights Reserved


text:
You don't have to be rich...
In the present ineffective 'throw money at every problem' climate, I think it's especially vital to develop and demonstrate this alternative approach.
Home education in England: the politics
well said, Gill, I couldn't agree more, in fact I believe that I, or we, as home-educators can have quite a different agenda from state provision. I am beginning to understand more fully the implications of 'learning for life'
One more reason: contrary to the beliefs of the vast majority of people I know, school does *not* give every child the opportunity to "better" himself. If it really did, it would not be the case that children of professional parents generally go to university and enter the professions themselves, whilst children from "relatively poor" families generally end up being "relatively poor" parents themselves. It would not be the case that "good" schools are generally populated by the middle-classes, and that "sink" schools are generally populated by the "relatively poor" - but that *is* the case.
So if you are "relatively poor", the school system has very little to offer you. Home-education, on the other hand... :-)
Exactly, Rosie! :-)
Good point, Deb, I guess education can be a route to affluence if it's delivered appropriately with that in mind.
But I've known some very affluent, very unhappy and unfulfilled people in my time, so it's never been my primary concern in deciding the provision for my children.
The people who seem to me to lead the most worthwhile, contented lives are those people who spend their days doing what really matters to them - whether it's something they have a burning passion to do, or just something they enjoy doing, whether it earns them a lot of money or not.
That was the goal I had in mind for my children when I thought about what arrangements to make for their education - although, of course, one or more of them might turn out to feel passionate about becoming affluent, which would be deliciously ironic IMO!
Something else that sprang to mind: when my grandparents' generation were thinking about education they had the spectre of the depression and famines in the early 1900s in their mind, which will have affected their own childhoods. In those days bettering yourself wasn't a lifestyle choice, it was a matter of survival wasn't it? The difference between life and death, sometimes.
Maybe I'm being too complacent to take a different view, but then again, in those days *obedience* was the key to being a good employee and earning a living wage. But now, I wouldn't want my children to learn obedience. Somehow I feel it's no longer a useful survival skill and likely to be more of an impediment to their wellbeing than a positive attribute.
I reckon there's some basis for a thesis in the above somewhere.
On the bbc this morning was a story on a state school that has bucked the system and adopted an open approach to learning where subjects are not seperated and the teachers are there to give support and help as the children find out how to source information and create ...that was over 5hrs ago so i should imagine they have now removed the head to an indoctrination chamber and are busy de-briefing the rest of the school
LOL! Which channel was that Elaine? Radio or TV? I'd like to listen to it if poss.
Was it this place?
uaveWe don't spend lots of cash on things for HE - no curriculum, or special equipment. But we spend over £50 a week on HE groups for the kids. It's only possible because we're both working.
If we didn't have the cash we'd have to HE without so many groups. It would be possible, of course, but the kids really prefer lots of groups and socialising. Not really sure if we do have the balance right though.
Well we have managed to HE 7 on benefit so I agree you don't have to be rich. I sometimes wish we had more spare cash for outings tho. All spare tends to go into books and other resources cos it is cheaper to buy them than a trip into town with all 7 on the bus to the library and cafe.
We did do more outings when the teens were younger and although they were mostly enjoyable and of benefit to the children's education, I think we've got more out of staying at home, because we've had to. I don't know why exactly, but there seems to be a subtle but key difference in the learning that takes place whenever something is *laid on* and the learning that takes place as a result of the student seeking it themselves, or having to.
Seems like Blogger is playing up again! Here's a comment from Tech, who can't post it herself:
I think there's a kind of erm, not sure if I dare use the word fascism, but it's how it makes me feel at times, around the use of the word Home in Home Education these days. Everywhere I read people saying how they're never at home, and most of the education takes place in the community, and how HE isn't about being at home all the time, like HOME is a bad thing. It's all about personal balance IMO, and yes, finances do effect what you can and can't do in terms of outings etc. I think though that that's a very important lesson - far too many children want, need and often expect constant entertainment, and can't seem to cope with just being. So when finances limit the outings and *resources* available, that old mother of invention comes into play to find alternate options. Which is a good thing, I think.
Excellent point, very well put IMO. I wonder if it's due in part, perhaps unconsciously, as a defence against the govt-driven hysteria about social isolation?
Hi Gill
I promised to come and comment on your blog ages ago, didn't I? Sorry - have been away a lot of late for family reasons, and I'd forgotten all about it till I saw the link to this on Carlotta's blog! :)
Anyway, great article! :)
Assume this is in reference to the remarks of our dear friend Mr Mooney? (Don't panic, that *was* sarcasam! LOL)
I don't think Mooney and those of that ilk are really all that worried about the financial aspect of poverty anyway. As others have pointed out elsewhere, I imagine it's the cultural aspect that bothers them most.
Can you imagine Mooney et al being concerned that the children of families living in "relative poverty" (and the qualifier is important because *no one* in the UK truly lives in poverty) might be denied the opportunities of attending football matches or pop concerts due to finanical constraints? No? I can't either.
Worrying about the limitations of a person's finances is quite a clever way of attmepting to justify prejudice. For, as you point out in this article, limited finances don't prevent families from providing their children with a decent education.
I would guess that working class families simply aren't what Mooney would consider to be good "role models".
The ruling class as a whole tend to see themselves as a model that all should aspire to.
It's like how, for example, a charity for drug abusers might focus on helping them gain academic qualifications and assist them in finding work, assuming that these are the answers to all of life's problems; that anyone with a good job and a formal education will automatically possess the self-respect, self-esteem, self-control, and-so-on-and-so-forth, etc etc, blah, blah blah, to stop themselves from abusing drugs in the future.
"Follow our example and all of your problems will disappear. We are the light and the way. Do not despair, for you too can be like *us*!" Seems to be the mantra of a particular type of professionals. When working with children it's taken even further into "We cannot let them be denied the opportunity to be like *us*!"
You can't fight such a narrow-minded perspective. Closed minds see as little as closed eyes. Switching on the light might cause a faint uncomfortable glimmer of perception, but it won't generate vision. Such people see what they want to, and it doesn't matter how articulate and persuasive your arguments are, as they just won't hear them. :(
"...in those days *obedience* was the key to being a good employee and earning a living wage. But now, I wouldn't want my children to learn obedience."
I think it's still true, unfortunately, and it's not only obedience, it's even worse than that - it's out and out *subservience*. :(
People are sent through the school mill to have their spirits crushed, and subdued, and broken, to ready them for a future as willing and subservient cogs in the Capitalist machine.
Does that sound a touch hysterial? Sorry if it does, but this is what I see in the system, this is what jumps out at me. It is certainly my own experience of school at the very least.
And that's why no way in hell will my kids ever set foot in one of those buildings if I can help it!
[Climbs down from soapbox and beats a hasty retreat]
Hi Adele. Thanks for all that - you make some very good points. Have you got any answers for this? It's a real puzzle to me.
I think outings can make learning contrived. When we go to a museum it is hard not to just go to the museum. The urge to do a project or read up on stuff is always lurking even if the kids just want to look at stuff and then forget it:) Now we don't go out so much it is true they have to find things for themselves.
Hi Gill
Sorry to go so *very* off-topic, but the panic that being asked for input sent me into reminds me so much of a Father ted episode! LOL! This bit:
TED: My God!
DOUGAL: What?
TED: That's a good idea!
DOUGAL: No it isn't.
TED: It is Dougal, it is!
DOUGAL: No Ted there's probably something wrong with it. You just haven't thought it through.
TED: No no Dougal, you've had a brilliant idea. Hah! But break it down for me a bit more. What would an event celebrating all the different cultures in Craggy Island actually be like?
DOUGAL: What?
TED: What would it involve? I mean, celebration yes but what form could it take?
DOUGAL: Ted I want out.
TED: What do you mean?
DOUGAL: I went too far too soon. I didn't know what I was gettin' into Ted. I didn't know you had to follow a good idea with loads more little good ideas. I'm sorry Ted. I'm going to sleep in the spare room.
Yeah. Anyway... LOL!
It's a puzzle to me too. Hmm...
I'll have a think about it and, if that doesn't yield any brainwaves, I'll direct David to the article - he's the economics expert of the house, after all! :)
Ohh I so miss Father Ted :'-)
Ruth, yes that's what I mean. The way you say it makes much more sense.
I agree with everything you say. I especially think that the library service would be of great help; they often will buy in books if they don't have them.
Also, freecycle is great - all sorts of stuff goes on my lcoal list - piano's, caravans, cars....
Hi Rachel, glad you agree :-)
Talking about libraries, I wish schools were run on the same basis - we might want to use them then.
LOL! Yes, "rent a teacher" for a day or two would be a great idea...
I do think that "learning centres" are the way forward.......maybe one day the politicians might listen.....
and all those things are some of the reasons why I find HE so much fun - nevermind why the KIDS like it ;0)


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FAKUMA 2017 - The Ongoing Success of the T10In 2017 GEISS AG was once again very popular amongst Thermoformers, scoring points over its competitors with the T10 thermoforming machine. Originally developed in 2014, the T10 secured their leading position in the world market.
GEISS AG Management welcomed many existing and new customers to their stand in Hall 1 and enjoyed huge interest on the subject of Thermoforming and Post Processing.
Mr Geiss exclaims that, even with lengthy lead times, customers are impressed with our equipment and have already placed machine orders and delivery options during the exhibition.
Receiving 12 machine orders during the exhibition demonstrates to Board Member Klaus-Peter Welsch that it is not only the compact construction of the machine, but also the enegry saving element of up to 70% that makes the T10 so popular. A key factor being that overall the T10 is extremely efficient in the processing of so called materials such as carbon fibre and composites. Furthermore, customers value the precision processing and reduced cycle times of parts being formed on the T10.
Company employees demonstrated the T10 deep draw forming process by producing sledges for the coming winter. The excess material was removed using a FZ 2000 x 1000 x 560mm ECO Plus CNC Trimming Machine immediately after the forming process. The finished "Sledge" products were offered to the public for a small donation, of which all proceeds were sent to Bolivian Aid Projects.The company philosophy of using expertise, creativity and years of experience to maximize customer benefits was highlighted to customers and visitors at the GEISS AG stand. GEISS strive to deliver further innovations for FAKUMA 2018.


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Asian Crime Fiction
Here is a book list I put together for a display. I don't much care for Scandinavian crime, but it has been credited with encouraging the growth of international crime fiction in English. These books have Asian characters or Asian settings or both. I include only books that our library owns, but the list might be of use to librarians, or as a reading checklist. Where only the series name is given, see Fantastic Fiction for titles. The image, which I borrowed from Grand Theft Auto, was used on my display poster, with the brushstroke font Bonzai.
Brackman, Lisa
Rock Paper Tiger
Hour of the Rat
Browne, Marshall
Rendezvous at Kamakura Inn
Burdett, John
Bangkok series
Chandra, Vikram
Sacred Games
Chang, Henry
Detective Jack Yu series
Cotterill, Colin
Dr. Siri series
Jimm Juree series
Flint, Shamini
Inspector Singh series
Higashino, Keigo
The Devotion of Suspect X
Salvation of a Saint
Hirahara, Naomi
Mas Arai series
Murder in Bamboo Lane
Isaka, Kotaro
Remote Control
Keating, H.R.F.
Inspector Ghote series
Kirino, Natsuo
Real World
Lancet, Barry
Tokyo Kill
Lee, Don
Country of Origin
Lewis, Simon
Bad Traffic
Liang, Diane Wei
Mei Wang mysteries
Limon, Martin
Sueño and Bascomb Investigations
Marshall, William
Yellowthread Street
Miyabe, Miyuki
Shadow Family
All She Was Worth
Pattison, Eliot
Inspector Shan series
Peace, David
Tokyo Year Zero
Occupied City
Qiu, Xiaolong
Inspector Chen series
Robinson, Thatcher
White Ginger
Black Karma
Rozan, S.J.
Lydia Chin series
Shimada, Soji
The Tokyo Zodiac Murders
Swarup, Vikas
Six Suspects
Vittachi, Nury
The Feng Shui Detective
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Frequently Asked Questions
This looks like fun! How can I join?
We're always on the lookout for new members! We split our year into two semesters: Fall (September through January) and Winter/Spring (February through June), and we recruit towards the beginning of those terms. If you would like to join us, get in touch!
Where and when do you rehearse?
We rehearse Sunday afternoons in Westmount, close to Vendome and Atwater metros.
Is there a membership fee?
Yes. Members pay $300 for the entire year (September through June), or $175 per semester. This contributes to paying our overhead, including the outstanding musicians who accompany our live concerts.
Where can I see you perform? Can I hire you for my event?
We perform a string of gigs at the end of each of our semesters (January and June), and we always post the dates on our Upcoming Events page. We are also available for events and other gigs, so if you would like to hire us, get in touch!
Where do you get your arrangements?
Our arrangements are put together with love by our director Dee and guitarist Jake.


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Modern Furniture Upholstery Look - Older Method
A number of folks around the New Jersey area have selected more contemporary fabrics when having their traditional furniture re-upholstered. Neutrals, stria textures, linen weaves and nuanced colorways.
Sometimes, they just like the fabric. Sometimes they want to up-cycle the traditional furniture into something consistent with their more modern decorating elements.
Which is great! We love seeing people incorporate classic lines in their interior decorating themes.
Keeping A More Minimalist Look in the Upholstery
Projecting a 'clean' restrained look was a common theme. Traditional upholstered furniture often has exposed wood frames - leaving many edges where the fabric panels meet the wood. Keeping a clean look while covering the cut edges of the fabric had us scratching our heads.
Some of the typical edge treatments didn't convey clean nor minimal.
The corded (or welted) edge added bulk. And, even when made from the upholstery fabric, tended to 'widen' the transition from fabric to frame. That sinuous thing tracing the wood line just seems to reach out and grab your eye.
Scrolled gimp is a traditional edge treatment. That ribbon-like band meandering around the frame just screams "traditional". I can smell the dust of ages. And the color is always an issue. Which gimp to go with the 'Blue-grey fog' fabric that doesn't contrast harshly or add an additional color element? Again widening the fabric transition.
An Old Technique for Contemporary Upholstery
We had seen the solution on countless pieces of older furniture. Right in front of our eyes. It just didn't register.
But it took an 'Aha!' moment while pondering the upholstery edge transition method for this very cool leather project for us to wake up to the contemporary use of this old edge treatment.
Make a FLAT tape from the upholstery fabric.
Less bulk. Exact colors. Minimal transition.
Some Flat Tape Examples
This is a linen texture fabric in the 'Blue-Grey Fog' color on a traditional camel back sofa. The flat tape edge treatment almost disappears at a short distance.
This sofa was reupholstered in a smokey-grey textured fabric. The sewn tape shows a little more, but the color and texture theme ARE the upholstery fabric. So the transition 'jump' is minimized.
This chair was upholstered in a foliage pattern with a varied neutral color theme. (One of my recent favorites) Here the flat tape is discernable, but just barely owing to the random pattern of the fabric.
This is a Duncan Phyfe style sofa from the 1940's. The upholstery fabric is a traditional stripe. We used the flat tape because the client wanted to go for a wider nail spacing and we couldn't find a gimp that she thought was "inobtrusive".
We're in love with this application. Our only regret is that we stewed around for so long before reviving this old, minimal upholstery edge treatment.
Thanks for reading! Comments are always open.
- Jim
The upholstery workshop at JH Conklin & Co re-upholsters furniture and provides window treatments in the South New Jersey area.
Related articles: Upholstery: Gimp, Nails and Welting


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A man has been handed a community order and ordered to pay compensation for his part in stealing lead off the roof of Brooke House College in Market Harborough.
Daniel Greensmith, who was arrested after failing to turn up at court last week, admitted theft after £2,000 worth of damage was caused to the building on Leicester Road.
Police caught him and Paul Parkes, who has already been sentenced,red handed removing lead in the early hours of June 30.
The 34 year old, of no fixed abode, was given a one year community order at Leicester Magistrates Court. He was also fined £50 and ordered to pay £85 compensation to the College.


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Saturday, March 26, 2011
the voices I've deflected
7 comments:
- Ruhee said...
EXCEPT WE WON! Improbably, and almost impossibly. (I almost turned the television off after the score was 4-1 Oilers, but figured I might as well stick it out.)
Earth Hour in university was a lovely time where everyone would turn off all the residence lights and we'd gather in one common room, playing music on battery speakers and hanging out. The more people you have together, the more it transforms the night, I think.
- 7:14 am
- Barbara Bruederlin said...
A completely unexpected result to the game, Ruhee!
University Earth Hour does sound transformative. A surprising upside to all this snow we have is that the reflection of the street lights upon it lit up the rooms of our house quite nicely.
- 8:37 am
- umbrellalady said...
We invited friends over and drank some lovely raspberry/saskatoon chardonnay and tea wines; ate foccaccia, smoked fish and smoked cheese by candlelight. We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.
When we put on a low watt light later to look at a couple pictures, it was amazing how we all felt like a glaring light had been turned on.
- 9:23 am
- Wandering Coyote said...
Blogger must have been down last night during EH because I couldn't comment last night.
I cuddled with Juno in the candlelight and listened to the new Within Temptation album on my MP3 player. It was great!
- 9:26 am
- Allison said...
Your blog is back!
Earth hour wasn't as lovely as last year, no walks on the beach here. Just reading by candlelight. I observed it at the wrong hour I think. Oh well.
- 9:32 am
- Dale said...
I went to bed and read by the light of my iPad. And then I got up and turned on every light in the house. Okay, I did get up but only required the glare of the tv.
- 2:13 pm
- Barbara Bruederlin said...
That sounds like a perfect evening, Kathy! You certainly got into the spirit of it.
When we eventually turned some lights back on, they did seem awfully bright.
That sounds positively idyllic, WC! I'll bet Juno enjoyed it too. I am glad Ramona was napping during EH because cats and candles are a bad mix.
It does sound terribly romantic, Al. Reading, alas, is the one thing I can't do by candlelight, unless the book is written in bold 25 point font.
How do you like reading by ipad, Dale? Is it better than reading on a regular computer screen?
- 3:11 pm