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Monday, December 28, 2009
Evolution of a Blog
I actually started off on Live Journal. I thought I would post excerpts from my book, an agent would see how brilliant my writing was and sign me up right away. Ha!
Crazy as it sounds, that actually happened to someone I interviewed: Jessica Burkhart. Last year this time she was anticipating her first book release. Now she has six Canterwood Crest books out!
But when the agents didn't line up at my blog begging for attention, I thought maybe I should go the editor route. After all, when I interviewed Beth Kephart she told me she found an editor before she got an agent.
I also thought blogging would be good inspiration for writing. Like Val Hobbs, Robin LaFevers and Thalia Chaltas, I am not the type to work on my novel every day. But blogging is writing. And I could do that close to every day.
Last year my goal for this blog was to meet other writers and share a little about my writing journey. But as a freelance writer, I love interviewing people, researching them, getting to know them, finding out things that no one has asked them before. It took me a while to realize it, but the blog was the perfect place for a writer to interview writers, editors and agents. Not only do these people inspire me, they're full of great tips and just plain fun to get to know!
So the goals for my blog have evolved and I'm sure they have with yours, too. This coming year I have even more interviews lined up for the blog. I know self-promotion is hard for many authors, so my goal isn't just to get big name interviews. I plan to keep on focusing on writers who aren't household names yet.
I also have one little goal for myself: sign with an agent and get my books in print. Okay, maybe that's two goals, but they pretty much go hand in hand :D
What did you accomplish last year and how do you plan to conquer the world in the coming year?
Today is the 11th Day of Christmas -- just one more giveaway after today!
The winner for the 10th Day of Christmas is:
Congratulations, Shelley! Email me at solvangsherrie at gmail dot com and let me know which book you'd like me to send from Day 10.
For the 11th Day of Christmas drawing, Choice #1 is Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. Choice #2 is Troy by Adéle Geras. I know some of you really wanted Troy, and believe it or not, it is still up for grabs. Leave a comment before 10pm on Tuesday and it could be yours!
32 comments:
- Michelle D. Argyle said...
I started blogging when my friend started a family blog (because her husband made her finally do it). I thought, oh, cool, I can do this for writing! Then it just took off from there. Now I have about 12 blogs I think. I only share a few publicly. I'm nuts.
Hey, everyone's publication journey is different. You never know what could happen!
Thanks for the extra game cartridge for Darcy. She doesn't quite "get" the game system yet, but we'll work on it. :D
- December 28, 2009 at 8:20 AM
- Karen Denise said...
I started on Live Journal too and it was a place for me to post fanfiction. I found the blogspot because a lot of agents and writers use it and I started one to comment on posts. Now I want to share informaton, get help and learn, learn, learn! I'd love to find an agent here, that would be AWESOME, but if this just a tool for me to gather and give info, then that's good too.
- December 28, 2009 at 8:30 AM
- Tricia J. O'Brien said...
I started blogging this year because I heard that writers need a platform. I knew little and learned a ton from so many writers, editors and agents who blog. It's been a wonderful experience.
Next year, I really want to complete one of my novels-in-progress so I can try to get an agent. Big goal.
- December 28, 2009 at 8:41 AM
- Shannon O'Donnell said...
My original hope was similar to yours - that I could post samples of my writing and maybe get lucky like Billy Coffey did. It didn't take long at all, though, for me to realize the real benefit comes from the friendships, the collegiality, and the limitless support to be gained from being part of a circle of writers. :-)
- December 28, 2009 at 8:46 AM
- Rachele Alpine said...
I love your comment about not working on your novel every day, but blogging. It's so true, blogging is writing, and I like that way of looking at things (it makes me feel productive, like I DO write every day!).
I started blogging this year to document my journey from getting an agent (eeek!) to beyond. I'm fairly new to the blogging world for writers, but I love all the new people I'm meeting through my readers!
My blog is a great way to get my thoughts out and watch myself grow as a writer. It's still a fairly new blog, but I love seeing my post list grow, subscribers and comments!
- December 28, 2009 at 9:28 AM
- Sherrie Petersen said...
Glam: I actually did start a family blog years ago, but I only made a few entries. A complete stranger made a rude comment about my kids and it kind of freaked me out. Have fun with Darcy and the game system. I personally found myself addicted to that alphabet game :)
Karen: You just gave me a great idea because my son loves to write fan fiction, but he's never posted it on his blog. What a perfect outlet!
Tricia: It's a good goal!
Shannon: I've been amazed by the great writer friends I've discovered through blogging. That's been the most wonderful part of this experience!
Rachele: Blogging is a great way to collect your thoughts and make new friends. Congrats on the agent! That's a big accomplishment for the year!
- December 28, 2009 at 9:34 AM
- Debra Lynn Lazar said...
This last year has been monumental for me in terms of my writing. I completed four novels and signed with an agent. This next year I hope will be even more amazing. My book will go on submission in a few months and then I hope my dream of publication will be realized.
As far as blogging goes, I started my blog 9.30.08. My goals were networking, becoming more accessible, and building a following. I feel I've accomplished this and so much more. As crazy as it sounds, I feel I've found an extended family through my blogging. It's beyond my wildest dreams. ;-)
- December 28, 2009 at 9:42 AM
- TerryLynnJohnson said...
Like this post! Got me thinking about where my blog started too. I was forced into it knowing that writers should have one, but quickly grew to love it. The best part for me is the blogging community of writers. So supportive and encouraging. When I got the news this year about my novel being published, I couldn't wait to share it on my blog - with peeps who can relate to the accomplishment.
My next goal will be to possibly get an agent and sell my next novel!
- December 28, 2009 at 9:45 AM
- Indigo said...
Honestly I started blogging to keep track of my journey with Pickles (my working dog for the deaf). Over the span of two years it evolved into something more.
Somehow I was able to write in such a way, I could bring my readers into that exact moment, to feel what I was feeling. More and more the comments started asking when was I going to write my first book.
Last May an opportunity arose and I took it. Strange enough I wrote a book in a genre I've never ever considered and it wasn't a memoir.
As of this comment, said book is sitting with an agent and I'm finishing off my 1st draft of a second and itching with an idea for a third.
I've also left the original blog and started one that focuses more on the writing journey. The thing is and I think many of us forget this simple fact - Writers are human. So it should be expected on occasion to get a glimpse in a writers life on their blog. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it. (Hugs)Indigo
- December 28, 2009 at 9:57 AM
- Caroline Starr Rose said...
This year I started blogging, signed with an agent, and started the submission process (so nice to be doing this with someone else!).
I started my blog at a time that worked for me: I'd just quit teaching to focus on my writing and felt I had to make some big decisions about being visible in the on-line community.
I'm so glad I didn't start any earlier. It would be difficult to be starting out and blogging, for me, at least. Those years of quietly writing on my own were what I needed to be where I am today.
- December 28, 2009 at 10:18 AM
- Windy said...
Good luck with the new goals for this year! I'm working through my list as we speak.
Great perspective you give, though. There are a lot of us who have those whimsical dreams about being "discovered" like waitress/actresses who move to Hollywood/New York to become the next big thing.
- December 28, 2009 at 10:35 AM
- Unknown said...
I started blogging because I had absolutely no writing credentials to my name. And while I certainly didn't have any agents find me specifically because of my blog, every agent I talked to when I was offered representation recently mentioned that they read my blog and my website. So it's definitely worthwhile--if for no other reason than to be prepared.
- December 28, 2009 at 11:24 AM
- Susan R. Mills said...
I started blogging to document my journey. I never thought anyone would actually read it, but when they did, I decided it needed focus. So I started blogging about writing. It is now a means for me to connect with other writers.
- December 28, 2009 at 12:18 PM
- Sherrie Petersen said...
Debra: You have had a HUGE year! And the coming year sounds like it will be just as exciting. I'm going to be interviewing YOU before long :)
Terry: The encouragement from other bloggers has been fabulous for me, too! Good luck on your next goals!
Indigo: Funny how these blogs evolve, eh? Good luck with your writing :)
Caroline: What a great year you've had! It sounds like the timing worked out beautifully for you.
Windy: I think all artists (fine arts, writers, actors, musicians) tend to be more whimsical than the general population. Good luck with the list!
Beth: Be prepared -- the Boy Scout mantra that my father drilled into my head :) It worked for you!
Susan: It's always surprising and wonderful to find those connections with readers, isn't it? You've done a great job of that with your blog.
- December 28, 2009 at 1:05 PM
- MG Higgins said...
Most of my writing friends were blogging and I tried Live Journal but just couldn't get into it. Last May I started on Blogger and I guess the timing was right because it "stuck." I love the connections I'm making and I've learned so much about writing--I never realized what a great resource blogging can be.
- December 28, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Hi Sherrie,
I'm halfway through a writing for children course and have sold 3 short stories to a pony magazine.
In 2010 I want to complete a chapter book and continue writing stories for the magazine.
I have recently started a blog (which you kindly leave comments :o)) but I find it very hard to write on it. It doesn't come out naturally, which is frustrating because I thought it would help me to write everyday. Perhaps I'm trying too hard :o)
- December 28, 2009 at 2:06 PM
- Kelly Polark said...
I did well on my writing goals. This is the first year I actually got paid for my writing (several magazine acceptances) so I am thrilled about that. This year agent/manuscript acquisition is my BIG goal. My little goals are a few more mag acceptances, finish one poetry collection, another chapter book.
My initial blogging goal was to connect with writers, get my name out there, and have a place to write about whatever I wanted. I'd say those are still about the same, hopefully one day I can add promote my book on it!
Good luck with your goals, Sherrie!
- December 28, 2009 at 4:05 PM
- Robin Mellom said...
I love the idea of having a GOAL to your blogging. And your interviews have been awesome...can't wait to read more.
Your post has inspired me to think about my own blogging goals...hmmm...
- December 28, 2009 at 4:38 PM
- lisa and laura said...
I think I might have done things backwards...I started writing so I could have a blog. I've spent my whole life looking for an excuse to blog, but I was never doing anything interesting enough.
So glad we met you in the blogosphere Sherrie! We think you're just fabulous.
- December 28, 2009 at 6:49 PM
- Shannon O'Donnell said...
I have another award waiting for you at my blog, Sherrie! :-)
- December 28, 2009 at 7:57 PM
- Sherrie Petersen said...
MG: There are things I like better on the LiveJournal platform, but overall I prefer Blogger. And yeah, blogging is an amazing resource.
Niki: Congrats on selling the stories! It's always great to see your name in print :)
Kelly: It's nice to get paid for the writing! We'll have to keep encouraging each other on the BIG goals.
Robin: I love doing the interviews so I'm glad when people enjoy reading them. The goals keep me focused :)
LiLa: Everything you guys post is interesting! I think the blogosphere has been much more entertaining since you showed up :)
Shannon: Thanks!
- December 28, 2009 at 9:04 PM
My goal is to query an agent. My goal last year was just to have people read MY blog :). And they did! Much to my surprise ;0!
- December 28, 2009 at 10:55 PM
- Maureen Hume said...
Gosh, where to begin...? I don't blog, but I hang around other people's and kinda feed off their energy. So perhaps my goal should be to get really courageous and start my own blog. Hmm...not sure about that, feels too scary.
I achieved a lot of personal goals last year, but I have a stronge feeling of not quite getting it right, so I think my new years goal will be to try and 'publish well' not just get published.
Maureen. www.thepizzagang.com
- December 28, 2009 at 11:10 PM
- Jackee said...
Livejournal HATES me. Hates. We're still working through our issues. But I do love to blog. I'm still trying to figure out what niche I want (which is why I have several blogs, I suppose). Also, sometimes I feel like I'm too pretentious in my postings.
Your blog, however, is awesome and has just the right amount of everything. Thanks for being so vigilant!
- December 29, 2009 at 6:08 AM
- Laurel Garver said...
I started blogging back in 2001, but stopped in 2006 because I wanted to focus my energy on fiction. Then facebook came along, and my old blog seemed pretty pointless.
I got back into blogging this year as a way of getting connected to a writing community and having partners in the journey. I'd say that "connectivity" has been my big accomplishment this year. I've gotten involved in two critique groups and with their help may finally lick this whole revision thing I've been picking away at for almost two years. Oh, and I got as far as a request for a full with one agent.
- December 29, 2009 at 8:20 AM
- Suzanne Casamento said...
Sherry, your blog is awesome! A great resource for author interviews, book reviews and writing tips. Plus, you're a whole lot of fun. Thanks for posting such great stuff.
And I'm willing to bet you meet your agent goal this year.
As for meeting my goals, I survived 2009. And that was enough for me. ; )
- December 29, 2009 at 12:29 PM
- Crystal said...
Hi Sherrie!
Last year, my biggest accomplishment was not finishing my novel (I'm sad to say), but starting my blog, which I'm SO HAPPY I finally got around to doing! My goal was (and still is) to meet other writers and share a little about my writing journey. And in that process, I've learned much more about writing and querying than I could have ever imagined! And I've met so many amazing bloggers, including yourself! My goals for 2010 include entering a few contests (which I'll be posting info on soon), querying agents for my MG novel, and being more consistent in my blogging.
Here's to a great New Year to all of us aspiring writers! :)
- December 29, 2009 at 2:29 PM
- Kelly H-Y said...
My two goals match yours! :-) Happy New Year ... looking forward to a wonderful year!
- December 29, 2009 at 5:44 PM
- Lori W. said...
Sherrie, I love your blog interviews, and so ya' know, I sat next to one of your interviewees at our SCBWI holiday schmooze. She raved about the informed questions you fired at her.
I'm crossing my fingers for you on that personal goal, too!
- December 29, 2009 at 8:14 PM
- Tricia J. O'Brien said...
Tip-toeing back in to say I've left something on my blog for you. ;)
- December 29, 2009 at 9:41 PM
- Sherrie Petersen said...
Meridith: You have created a fabulous blog. Good luck with your querying in the coming year!
Maureen: If you build it, they will come :) Good luck!
Jackee: I think it does take some time to figure out what you want your blog to be. Hope you and Livejournal find common ground :)
Laurel: Yay for the request! An amazing author once told me to celebrate every milestone and that request definitely qualifies.
Suzanne: Sometimes just surviving is a HUGE accomplishment! I'm glad you like the blog :)
Crystal: Consistency really is key when it comes to blogging. I think you're off to a great start. Good luck with your 2010 goals!
Kelly H-Y: Great minds think alike! I think we're going to have a great year :)
Lori: Thank you and thank you :)
Tricia: I'll have to tip-toe back over there and have a peek :)
- December 29, 2009 at 10:22 PM
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- February 12, 2010 at 7:38 AM


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Weekend Herb Blogging #27 Recap
Texas, U.S.A.
At Heather's Space, African violets are going to be the next thing that Heather tries her hand at growing, and she has already picked out a few favorites.
New Jersey, U.S.A.
Smoked Salmon Pizza and Tomato and Onion Salad with Dill and Parsley are on the menu at the home of Cate from Sweetnicks, who reports that even her four year old will eat these gourmet treats.
New York City, New York, U.S.A.
The weather has been cold in New York, and The Chocolate Lady from In Mol Araan has been making purple sage tea, which sounds wonderful whether or not you include the optional fruits.
Farmgirl's Farm, Missouri, U.S.A.
New Jersey, U.S.A.
Ramya from Cooking Within My Grasp sends another informative post, this time about how to make sugarcane juice. She reports on the many medicinal properties of the juice and also says it is "an effective remedy for thinness."
Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.
In sunny Florida, Tony from Tony's Food Chronicles is having fun planting some herb seeds. In a double entry for WHB, Tony also shows off his herbs that are coming up, which look like they are doing well.
Milan, Italy
Piperita from The Kitchen Pantry is a new participant for Weekend Herb Blogging, and she shares a recipe for wonderful sounding Herbes de Provence Salted Hearts, a type of savory cookie that sounds just amazing. (This recipe is also posted in Italian, for those who might enjoy practicing their Italian.)
Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy
At Lucullian Delights, Ilva has been eagerly awaiting the arrival of fresh fava beans. Now that she has some, she has used them to create a mouthwatering dish of Fave con Pomodori Secchi, Vino Bianco e Timo or Fava Beans with Sundried Tomatoes, White Wine, and Thyme.
Davis, California, U.S.A.
Spicy Stir-Fried Shrimp with Hot and Sour Salad is this weeks temptation from Sher of What Did You Eat. With fresh mint and cilantro, and a spicy fish-sauce flavored dressing, this shrimp and salad combo sounds wonderful.
South of France Near the Spanish Border
Riana from Garlic Breath is contemplating Thai Bird Chilis this week, which she adores even though her French husband has not quite gotten accustomed to things that are this hot.
Trinidad, California, U.S.A.
Another new herb blogger this week is Christine from Christine Cooks who made an intriguing sounding Butternut Squash And Shitake Mushroom, Ginger Soup. The use of fresh basil as a garnish for this soup really appealed to me.
Southern California, U.S.A.
A delightful post about fresh epazote came from Surfindaave of the Serendipitious Chef, who got it from his herb man at the farmer's market. The epazote was an ingredient in the fabulous sounding Mole Verde de Oaxaca or Oaxacan Green Mole with Chicken and White Beans.
Toronto, Canada
Another multiple entry came next from multi-talented, soon to be cookbook author Ruth. First, from her blog Once Upon a Feast, Ruth sends a great recipe for Shrimp, Asparagus and Mushrooms over Multi-Grain Pasta. From her other blog, Ask Ruth, comes a not-to-be-missed post about How to Keep Herbs Fresh.
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A.
Singing the praises of parsley, an essential ingredient in French cooking, is the message this week from Collin of See, Sip, Taste, Hear.
Sandy Hook, Connecticut, U.S.A.
Sarah from Cucina Bella is ending her pasta kick and branching out into making a wonderful looking mango salsa this week. She uses it for Turkey Chili and Cheddar Omelet with Mango Salsa, which looks fantastic.
New Forest, England
Another new herb blogger from the fairly new, but impressive, blog The Intrepid Sentimentalist with the interesting subtitle: Where Culinary Curiosity Meets Nostalgia. She sends a recipe for a truly delicious sounding Rosemary and Garlic Chicken.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
If you want to know how impressed I was with the recipe for Marinated Olives sent by Fiber of 28 Cooks, let me tell you that I bookmarked the recipe before I had even read the entire post. This is something you won't want to miss if you like olives.
New York City, New York, U.S.A.
A little good-natured teasing between herb blogging friends caused Paz from The Cooking Adventures of Chef Paz to do a little research on the Pansy flower to go with her great photo. Paz reports that pansies are edible, but she's not sure she would eat one.
Sunnyvale, California, U.S.A.
Another entry from a new herb blogger, Strata of My Bay Area Kitchen, who is lucky enough to have a herb garden by her porch. She sends a recipe for One Pot Polenta with Herbs which really sounds tasty.
Astoria, New York
Stacey of Just Braise made a delicious looking Roast Lamb with Mango/Mint Sauce. Stacey served it with Moroccan Millet with Almonds, which also looked very delish.
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.
My own herb blogging post this week was about spinach, continuing with my quest to try all the different greens. I used the spinach in a recipe I created to use up some leftover dressing, Asian Spinach Salad with Chicken, Mushrooms, Peppers, and Almonds.
That's all the entries for this week, with 22 participants setting a new record (again). Hope you have fun checking out the new blogs and trying at least a few of these great sounding recipes. Don't forget to check out Weekend Cat Blogging at Eat Stuff and Weekend Dog Blogging at Sweetnicks too.
Food Recipes Cooking Low Carb Recipes
South Beach Diet Recipes Low Glycemic Index Recipes
Weekend Herb Blogging

subset: commoncrawl


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Obama's French Lesson
By Charles Krauthammer at Townhall.com
"President Obama, I support the Americans' outstretched hand. But what did the international community gain from these offers of dialogue? Nothing." — French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Sept. 24
WASHINGTON — When France chides you for appeasement, you know you're scraping bottom. Just how low we've sunk was demonstrated by the Obama administration's satisfaction when Russia's president said of Iran, after meeting President Obama at the U.N., that "sanctions are seldom productive, but they are sometimes inevitable."
You see? The Obama magic. Engagement works. Russia is on board. Except that, as The Washington Post inconveniently pointed out, President Dmitry Medvedev said the same thing a week earlier, and the real power in Russia, Vladimir Putin, had changed not at all in his opposition to additional sanctions. And just to make things clear, when Iran then brazenly test-fired offensive missiles, Russia reacted by declaring that this newest provocation did not warrant the imposition of tougher sanctions.
Do the tally. In return for selling out Poland and the Czech Republic by unilaterally abrogating a missile-defense security arrangement that Russia had demanded be abrogated, we get from Russia … what? An oblique hint, of possible support, for unspecified sanctions, grudgingly offered and of dubious authority — and, in any case, leading nowhere because the Chinese have remained resolute against any Security Council sanctions.
Confusing ends and means, the Obama administration strives mightily for shows of allied unity, good feeling and pious concern about Iran's nuclear program — whereas the real objective is stopping that program. This feel-good posturing is worse than useless, because all the time spent achieving gestures is precious time granted Iran to finish its race to acquire the bomb.


text: Bosom Buddies by Gordon Mitchell | Aug 8, 2017 | 0 comments Calendar Add to Calendar Add to Timely Calendar Add to Google Add to Outlook Add to Apple Calendar Add to other calendar Export to XML When: 25/12/2019 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm Europe/London Timezone Repeats 2019-12-25T10:30:00+00:00 2019-12-25T12:00:00+00:00 Where: Muir Hall Muir Hall George St, Doune FK16 6BZ UK Check with organisers for exact scheduling. Submit a Comment Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment Name * Email * Website


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Using rental income to offset a portion of the monthly mortgage payment is an attractive option for many homeowners. The income boost can make homeownership more affordable or put a nicer, more expensive property within reach. If you're thinking about renting out your spare bedroom, in-law suite or basement apartment, be aware of these potential problems before you take on a tenant.
Key Takeaways
- Renting out a room in your home, a floor in your house, or a garage or other part of the property may seem like a great way to make extra bank, but it's not without its risks.
- You'll pay the marginal tax rate on your rental income, along with state and local income taxes; on the upside, you can, in some cases, reduce taxable income by reporting your expenses.
- You don't know exactly what you're getting with a renter, whether the person intentionally or unintentionally damages your home, whether they pay rent on time, and whether they vandalize your property.
- You might find yourself facing a lawsuit if you either intentionally, or in some cases, unintentionally, violate the law because you were not aware of all the rental regulations in your state.
- There's a risk that your renter will refuse to leave after the lease is up and you will have to go through formal eviction proceedings, which are both costly and stressful.
Rental Income Is Taxable
If you need to generate a minimum amount of income per month from your rental, keep in mind that taxes will take a chunk out of your rental revenues. The rate of tax you'll pay on this income is your marginal tax rate. If you're in the 25% marginal tax bracket and you receive $800 a month in rental income, you'll only be able to pocket $600 a month after taxes. State and local income taxes will take another bite. Make sure to calculate whether you'll still receive enough rental income to meet your needs after taxes.
The good news is that you can reduce your taxable rental income by any expenses associated with the rental. These include advertising, cleaning and maintenance, insurance, repairs, supplies, utilities, depreciation, and a few other costs.
You may be able to charge higher rent to help offset your rental tax bill, but you can only charge what the market will bear and anything extra will also be taxable. Report your rental income and expenses on Form 1040, Schedule E.
When you rent out your extra space, you have to weigh the risks of having what is often a stranger in your home, versus the benefits of the extra income.
A Renter May Cause Damages
You're probably savvy enough to know that you should collect a security deposit from your tenant before they move in to cover any potential damage to your property that exceeds normal wear and tear. You might expect and be understanding of accidental damage and you'll probably collect a sufficient deposit to cover foreseeable events.
However, sometimes tenants cause massive damage to the properties they rent. It could be thoughtless or accidental—they leave a door unlocked and your home gets burglarized, for example, or a frayed electrical cord starts a fire—but just because the damage wasn't intentional doesn't mean it won't have a major negative impact on you.
Your homeowners' insurance will probably cover the financial losses, but it won't compensate you for the time and stress of making your home more secure or having it rebuilt and it can't replace any sentimental losses. Your tenant could also introduce bedbugs or roaches to your property, which can be costly and difficult to get rid of.
What's more, sometimes tenants will intentionally vandalize your property and steal from you. In some nightmare situations, landlords have discovered that a tenant was running a drug operation out of their property. In these worst-case scenarios, it may be necessary to file criminal charges and/or sue in court.
You Could End up Breaking the Law
In an attempt to protect tenants against unscrupulous landlords, landlord-tenant law contains many pitfalls that even the most conscientious landlord can fall into if he or she is not aware of the rules. Here are some areas where you might slip up:
- Failing to provide proper advance notice or obtain permission before entering the tenant's unit, thus violating the tenant's privacy
- Failing to provide housing that is safe, habitable and in good repair. Upkeep and repairs that you might be inclined to let slide when they're only affecting you can become potential liabilities when a renter lives in your home
- Renting a unit that contains mold, which can make a tenant sick
- Violating city housing codes. For example, some locales limit the number of people who can occupy a property based on square footage and/or the number of bedrooms it contains
- Failing to provide or maintain promised amenities, like a swimming pool, therefore violating the terms of the rental agreement
- Charging a security deposit that exceeds state maximums, using it improperly or failing to return it within a required timeframe when the tenant moves out
- Failing to provide sufficient heat or air conditioning
At best, these mistakes could simply cause you to lose your tenant. At worst, you could be sued and lose. Landlord-tenant laws are state-specific. Make sure to read up.
Your Renter Won't Leave
You probably won't want to rent out part of your home forever. If your family situation changes—say, you decide to have children or you want an elderly parent to move in—you might need your renter to move out.
Another likely possibility is that at some point, you'll be able to pay the full mortgage comfortably and you'll want your privacy back. Sometimes a particular renter hasn't technically done anything wrong, but they're just not a good fit personality-wise. Sometimes a tenant will stop paying rent but keep occupying your property.
Most renters are decent people who will move out when they can't pay or when their lease expires, but sometimes a renter won't leave when they should. In these cases, you'll have to go through eviction proceedings. Eviction laws are strict and landlords must follow them exactly for an eviction case to stand up in court. Proceedings can be time-consuming and costly—you may have to hire a lawyer.
The Bottom Line
Regardless of the reason for choosing to rent out part of your property, there are important pros and cons that all would-be live-in landlords should consider before taking this leap. (Knowing your type of mortgage also helps in deciding whether renting is viable.)


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The McGrath Family YMCA proudly serves communities in Rancho San Diego, El Cajon, Spring Valley, and Jamul. Dedicated to empowering people to be healthier in spirit, mind and body, the Y believes a strong community can only be achieved when we invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors. As a leading nonprofit organization, the Y offers programs that foster youth development, promote healthy living and advance social responsibility.
We offer a safe, nurturing and supportive environment for people from all backgrounds and walks of life to come together to bring about meaningful change not just within themselves, but in their community, too. With 18 locations across San Diego County, the YMCA builds stronger communities by connecting families and neighbors in a place where they can learn, grow and thrive together.


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The Hunan University State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacture for Vehicle Body bus is epic. So much so we're naming it for the prestigious and made-up Jalopnik Best of Show for Tremendous Advancements in Non-Normative Wheel Layout award.
While this bus may look like it's balancing on two wheels it's actually got four, just not in the normal places. It sports a two-wheels fore and aft, two wheels outboard design uniquely appealing in the Chinese market. We've seen it before in ungainly concepts but this is the first time we've seen legitimate looking transportation using the layout. This design was cooked up at the awkwardly named State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacture for Vehicle Body at Hunan University and can carry 70 passengers in relative comfort and speed, reduce fuel consumption through outstanding aerodynamics and has a stellar turning radius on account of the front and rear wheels turning opposite each other. Given the cramped and chaotic nature of Chinese traffic, we're not sure having the rear end of a bus swinging wildly in the street is a great idea, but hey, it looks like the future and that's all that counts.


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News from the world of Maths
July 29, 2016
Frank Kelly talks about his work on networks and how inspiration can strike out of the blue.
July 29, 2016
Geneticists find fascinating clues to the origin of life.
July 20, 2016
Prime numbers, fluid dynamics and architecture at the European Congress of Mathematics in Berlin.
July 19, 2016
We have arrived in Berlin for a week of the best maths in Europe.
July 15, 2016
Does the famous Fibonacci sequence always appear in sunflower seed heads?
July 13, 2016
Astronomers have explained a strange effect observed in the vicinity of black holes.
June 27, 2016
To celebrate Wimbledon, here are some of our best tennis articles and puzzles!
June 24, 2016
A new study shows they can! At least better than was previously thought.


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Liberty News
Alumna's teaching excellence receives further recognition
|Jennifer Lovett
Liberty University alumna Jennifer Lovett has received the Teacher of the Year Award for Region 5 in Virginia, making her one of eight finalists for the statewide award.
Lovett, a 2002 elementary education graduate who also received her master's degree from Liberty as a program specialist in reading in 2008, is a reading specialist at Linkhorne Elementary School. She earned Lynchburg City Schools' Teacher of the Year award in May, which made her eligible for the regional honor. She was chosen out of 20 school divisions as the Region 5 winner.
The Virginia Teacher of the Year award will be announced next month and the winner will become eligible for the national Teacher of the Year Award.
Lovett is the first Liberty graduate to receive the regional honor and the third alumnus to receive the Teacher of the Year Award from Lynchburg City Schools.
"I know that it is the Lord who enables and equips me to do this precious work, and I pray that, through this special recognition, I can continue to share the light and love of Christ and that He will be honored," Lovett said after she earned the local honor in May.
The award has also brought great pride to the faculty of Liberty's School of Education.
"I remember often hearing (Liberty founder) Dr. Jerry Falwell, Sr. say, 'If it's Christian, it ought to be better,'" says Beth Ackerman, associate dean in the School of Education. "Our Liberty University graduates continue to grow his vision into fruition by demonstrating excellence in their fields."
Michelle Goodwin, associate dean for licensure programs and one of Lovett's professors, agreed. "We are so proud of Jennifer's commitment to our noble profession of education. We certainly feel that Jennifer is using her gift of instruction and are delighted that she is being honored for her efforts."
Lovett's success is a testament to what Goodwin believes is the scriptural mandate of a teacher: "Romans 12:6-7 states that God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well … if you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching."


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About the ASHPO
Established in response to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the American Samoa Historic Preservation Office (ASHPO) identifies, evaluates, registers, interprets and protects American Samoa's historic and cultural properties, from star mounds to shipwrecked vessels. The ASHPO provides communities and preservation organizations with a variety of services, and maintains an inventory of historic properties. It also reviews nominations to the National Register of Historic Places and oversees sites on that register. Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the ASHPO reviews all Federal undertakings for impacts on historic properties.
Mission Statement:
It is the responsibility of the American Samoa Historic Preservation Officer to administer the Territorial Historic Preservation Program. American Samoa's strong indigenous culture and traditional system of communal land ownership impose special conditions of cultural sensitivity upon such an endeavor. A primary concern of the ASHPO is to fulfill its responsibilities in a manner that recognizes and honors these inherent cultural conditions.
In addition, the ASHPO sees itself as a service organization, working in partnership with Federal and Territorial agencies, village and district councils, private organizations and individuals to assist in compliance with applicable Federal and Territorial historic preservation laws and to raise the community's consciousness about historic preservation and its role in cultural maintenance. Specific areas of responsibility in the administration of the Territorial Historic Preservation Program include:
conducting an on-going comprehensive site identification of historic properties in the Territory and maintaining an inventory of such properties;
identifying and nominating eligible properties to the National Register of Historic Places;
advising and assisting Federal and Territorial agencies in carrying out their historic preservation responsibilities;
consulting with appropriate Federal agencies on all undertakings that may affect historic properties in order to protect, manage, reduce or mitigate harm to such properties;
ensuring that historic properties are taken into consideration at all levels of planning and development;
providing public information, education and training, and technical assistance in historic preservation.
In order to fulfill these mandates in a manner appropriate to the special conditions with which we are faced here in American Samoa, a comprehensive historic preservation plan has been designed to address individual problem areas within the Program and to set specific objectives toward the goal of alleviating those problems. Input from the American Samoa Historical Commission and from the public garnered from annual public meetings have been incorporated into the plan. A realistic time frame for meeting those objectives inside a five-year planning cycle is provided with the plan. The plan is available to the public upon request.
The Director and her staff welcome your contributions to the upkeep of Samoa's historic buildings and cultural sites.
This website has been financed in part with funds provided by the Historic Preservation Office of the Executive Offices of the Governor, American Samoa Government, through a grant from the U.S. National Park Service, Department of the Interior. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior.
This program received Federal funds from the National Park Service. Regulations of the Department of the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination in departmental federally assisted programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility operated by a recipient of Federal assistance should write to:
Director, Equal Opportunity Program
Department of the Interior
National Park Service
P.O. Box 37127
Washington, DC 20240-0036


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Is Tony McNulty 'starting to be reintegrated into polite society?
Ross Lydall, reporting on London's battleground seats for the Evening Standard, certainly thinks so.
In his report, which you can read in full here, he notes McNulty's expenses record has not featured heavily on the doorstep (despite nationally voters making it a central campaign issue).
Lydall highlights visits to the constituency from Labour topdogs David Miliband and Alan Johnson and the eleventh hour decision to find the funding for the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, which saved McNulty from a potentially life-threatening independent challenge.
Focusing on Bob Blackman, Lydall quotes the Tory candidate as saying: "I have done my apprenticeship" and places him as raring for the contest next week. But Lydall adds that the former Brent councillor and four times parliamentary candidate has many enemies.
For our reading pleasure, Lydall has even added to the online version a link to the comments on his blog by said enemies.
So is McNulty back and will voters focus on his local record rather than the national profile which was so elevated by last year's expenses scandal? With eight days to go, it's anyones guess.
One thing that will probably help McNulty pick up some support is his signature on the pledge to oppose a fee rise for students.
The NUS campaign has attracted support from more than 1,000 candidates of all parties, including fellow Labour bigwigs Phil Woolas and Roberta Blackman-woods, an aide to universities minister David Lammy.


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Dong Zhou wrote:Assange has breached bail conditions and is seeking political asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy
Granted I believe
Hague threatening to storm the Ecuadorian embassy? For a man of his wit and intelligence, he does some moronic things and that is certainly one of them. We really do need need to make enemies of the entire of South America and come across as a bully. No idea what on earth he was thinking of there


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Provided by: libplack-perl_1.0047-1_all
Plack::Loader::Delayed - Delay the loading of .psgi until the first run
plackup -s Starlet -L Delayed myapp.psgi
This loader delays the compilation of specified PSGI application until the first request time. This prevents bad things from happening with preforking web servers like Starlet, when your application manipulates resources such as sockets or database connections in the master startup process and then shared by children. You can combine this loader with "-M" command line option, like: plackup -s Starlet -MCatalyst -L Delayed myapp.psgi loads the module Catalyst in the master process for the better process management with copy-on-write, however the application "myapp.psgi" is loaded per children. Starman since version 0.2000 loads this loader by default unless you specify the command line option "--preload-app" for the starman executable.
Web server developers can make use of "psgi_app_builder" attribute callback set in Plack::Handler, to load the application earlier than the first request time.
Tatsuhiko Miyagawa


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Topics: "National Parks/Budget Cuts" & "April Snow Piles Up"
Description: With Federal sequester cuts impacting our National Parks, groups like the "National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation" will be more important than ever.
And the latest snowstorm to hit the region has blown away the old record snowfall for April in Duluth. This is the kind of record we'd rather not break!
Guests: Dave Miller, National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation; Konnie LeMay, Lake Superior Magazine; Mike Stewart, National Weather Service – Duluth


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Doug Bourn, Brian Finn, Andrew Ingram
Doug Bourn, Brian Finn, Andrew Ingram
I cannot comment regarding if there were a moment of silence in remembrance ... but I can tell you that when I visited the Menlo Park store a few weeks ago, the memory was still very real and present among employees there. They are not forgotten.
And the Roadster that I picked up has a memorial screen with their names. They're with me (and other Roadster owners) on every mile on the road ...
I haven't been into the Tesla long enough to know about these people. If not too painful would someoone tell me about them.Thanks
Three valued Tesla employees died in a private plane crash just over a year ago. As I mentioned above, their memory is still very much alive - and my Roadster has a 'In Memoriam' screen on the display, with their three names.
Wired magazine article to read fully: http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/02/tesla-employees-identified/
Odd, I thought I posted a message here. Google the names, there are a lot of hits about this plane crash, first few point here in different locations. Some of the hits bring up a bit uglier aftermath of the incident. Too ugly for discussion here.
Thanks for the information everyone. My condolences to all.
On the previous forum layout, Elon had dedicated the Management forum lead post to them for several months afterwards. Don't know if it's still linkable or not.


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Jersey Boyz Jerky- Review of Joe's #1 Jalapa and Old Bricktucky Cayenne
By Jerseyboyzjerky
Ingredients…Roma Tomatoes,Garlic,Onions,Lime Juice,White Vinegar,Chyenne Peppers,Cimamon.Paprika
This was my favorite of the two. As you can see from the picture, the fresh Roma Tomatoes Followed by the Vinegar and the lime juice was a winning combo.This sauce has a very strong vinegar taste that leaves you mouth wanting more.The Tomatoes and the Vinegar combined with the lime juice make the sauce very very Runny.We were having Ribs done in a slow cooker for dinner so i was interested in seeing how this sauce does over ribs and rice.This sauce added just the righ amount of vinegar and flavoring to these ribs.Although you can taste the Chyenne pepper there is not much heat in this sauce at all.
*********Mixed well wih the rice***************
Ingredients…Jalapeno Peppers,Habanero seed,Cubanelle Peppersgarlic,Carrots,Cilantro.Lime Juice,Vinegar,EVOO(Extra Virgin Olive Oil).Spring Water.
As like the first sauce, there is alot of vinegar in this one.You can taste the Jalapenos and the lime juice but the strong taste of vinegar hits you right away.There are little shredds of Peppers in there to add a nice burn to the sauce.I need another bowl of ribs and rice like i needed a hole in my head but i had to take one for the team.This sauce poured out much slower than the first…I feel that this sauce had much more of a vinegar taste to it than the first but when all is said and done this sauce added the the flavor of the ribs and rice.
Labels….I have to say the Guys at Benitos have there own idea of how a hot sauce label should look.The graphics alone are enough to makes you want to pick these bottles up.


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Academics . Liberal Arts . Courses
The Body: Tradition, Transformation, Transgression
Course No. ACD 458 Credits: 3.0
This seminar-style course will explore one of the most important themes of twentieth-century visual art: the body (male and female). We will discuss a complex range of ideas and values associated with the nude (and naked) body as it has been re-presented in 20th c. photography; painting; sculpture/installation; performance and body art; and video. While the "great tradition" of the nude will be introduced, the course will focus on art produced since the 1950s (from the late modern to the postmodern era). Among other topics, we will study the visual body as a representational site for the self; for erotic desire; for the political position of women; and for formal experimentation. We will look at art that presents bodies which are very much outside tradition: i.e., bodies that are sick, decaying, dying, dead, aging, obese, androgynous, deformed, etc. Topics and terms of analysis will include: the traditional nude; feminist critiques of sexism; voyeurism; "exploitation," "obscenity," and censorship; objectification (gaze theory) sexuality; the nude self-portrait and portrait; parody and quotation; the female nude and modernism; Kenneth Clark's nude-naked (ideal-real) dichotomy; identity and performance; and formal aestheticizing of the body. Visual Culture Emphasis course.
Cynthia McGrae
Adjunct Faculty
While at CIA, you'll learn from the masters through our rigorous, world-class curriculum and connect with working professionals to begin your career.


text: athenalust 170 Report post Posted June 17, 2019 ATHENA LUST Indulge in Lust Fit, Sexy, University Student and alot of Fun Height:5 ft 1 | Measurements: DDD34-24-34 | Hair: Red | Eyes: Hazel | Lips: Full and seductive I have long red hair, usually worn straight and occasionally curly, it has a thick and luxurious feel. My eyes are a deep hypnotizing hazel. My sweet plump lips that get you imagination wondering. I am very petite, standing 5'1, with dynamite curves. I take time in preparing for each and every date, so each encounter is unlike the last. While every session is different, I can promise it will be unforgettable... Luring deep in the back of your mind for days after.* I am described as a women who is full of life, very easy going, and down to earth. I am also said to be very kind, a giggle that is contagious, sweet and classy. If you are seeking a classy, educated companion that is professional, well reviewed and discreet, then look no further you have found what your looking for! Advance Booking (Prebooking specials) Vip 180hhr 220 45min 260 hr My Favorite times spent with you: 380 90 min 480 2 hrs 680 3 hrs Same day bookings 200hhr 250 45min 300 hr My Favorite times spent with you: 450 90 min 550 2 hrs 750 3 hrs Please include the following information when contacting me: When Contacting Please include: Name (handle/username): Date: Time: Duration: in call or Out call: Reference Name: Schedule: ❤Lethbridge❤ Monday, June 17th 3pm-11pm Tuesday, June 18th 8am-11pm Wednesday, June 19th 8am-11am For Additional information:www.misslust.ca Looking forward to hearing from you!! xo Contact: Calgary Vic Text 403-383-4554 For booking information Twitter: @lust_athena Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Strange Engineering Double Adjustable Rear Shock
Application: 1964-1972 GM A-Body / 1977-1996 GM B-Body / 1978-1987 GM G-Body
These Strange Engineering double adjustable rear shocks are designed as a bolt-in application for the street or the track. These highly responsive shock absorbers feature all the qualities Strange Performance is known for including an aluminum body for a lightweight and modern design. Designed to take the guess-work out of tuning your suspension, these external adjustable shocks are easily tuned by turning conveniently located external knobs offering precise rebound and compression adjustments allowing for a wide range of settings.
Polyurethane bushings are standard on all shocks. After assembly and inspection, each Strange Shock must pass Strange's stringent testing procedure. Then, and only then, a special Strange label is applied and it is given an exclusive serial number.
Sold individually - (2 Required)


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'NBN effect' to boost economy by billions
The national broadband network is seizing on research showing its effect on the economy will grow to more than $10 billion a year by the end of the rollout.
Outgoing chief executive Bill Morrow will share the results of the commissioned work by AlphaBeta when he addresses the National Press Club on Tuesday.
The findings show the NBN generated an additional $1.2 billion of economic activity in 2017, through helping create new jobs and businesses, as well as boosting productivity.
"This is exciting because it excludes the economic stimulus of the NBN rollout itself," Mr Morrow will say, citing the exclusion of capital investment, financing and the workers needed to build the network.
"By the end of the rollout, this 'NBN-effect' is predicted to have multiplied to $10.4 billion a year," Mr Morrow will add, noting the creation of 31,000 extra jobs.
AlphaBeta used figures from the 2016 census, an Ipsos poll of 3500 people and compared areas where the NBN rollout is 90 per cent complete to those with less than 10 per cent.
Its director Andrew Charlton says Australians are now taking advantage of the investment in broadband infrastructure.
"This research shows they are starting to use the NBN to get jobs, start businesses and work from home," he told AAP.
"That effect will continue into the future."
Mr Morrow is also due to reveal a rise in self-employed female entrepreneurs as a result of the rollout.
"NBN-connected women are becoming self-employed at twice the overall rate of self-employment growth in NBN areas," he will say.
"If this trend continues, up to 52,200 additional Australian women will be self-employed by the end of the roll out due to the 'NBN effect'."
But Mr Morrow, who announced earlier this month that he would step down at the end of the year after nearly five years at the helm, is still expected to face tough questions about the rollout and technology choices.
The latest Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman report shows complaints about NBN services grew in the last six months of last year more than 200 per cent on the same time in 2016.
More than 14,000 complaints were recorded about service quality, while 8757 were regarding delays in establishing a connection.
"This indicates the consumer experience is still not meeting expectations for all," Ombudsman Judi Jones said.
Mr Morrow last week admitted to a Senate committee scrapping the rollout of the network using pay TV cables (hybrid-fibre coaxial or HFC) and replacing it with fibre-to-the-curb was one option he presented to the communications minister during a briefing about two years ago.
But he denied it was a "proposal".
The rollout via HFC will slowly recommence later this month after it was paused.
Australian Associated Press


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Thursday, July 19, 2012
LEA endowment application now available
http://www.lea-sl.org/application/lea-land-grant-application-round-three It's time for the next round of the LEA Artist-in-Residence Land Grants! The LEA Land Grant program seeks to promote and nurture the arts in Second Life, through a six-month land grant to recipients. Recipients can be individuals or groups interested in creating or curating art, or proposing cultural projects which would require/utilise a full-sim build and can be completed within the allotted time frame. The LEA is able to offer land grants through the generosity of Linden Lab. Below you will find all the information needed to apply for a Land Grant, including helpful information for your application, and how decisions will be made, with a link to the application is at the bottom. Please read this carefully even if you are familiar with this process, as new information is available here. WHO? You. And the LEA. We are looking for projects that utilize the many possibilities available in the virtual world. This is not limited to visual art; we encourage applications that are also collaborative efforts across the spectrum of the arts, including performance, music, and film. We'd like to encourage Second Life residents at all levels to apply, and also suggest residents might form groups and apply together if they don't feel they're able to fill a sim on their own. WHAT? We expect that residents will plan and execute a project utilizing their land grant within a certain time frame. This has often been in the form of a full-sim art exhibition and/or immersive installation, but we also welcome applications which propose curatorial projects, especially those which have a connection to physical exhibitions and events (augmented reality) by individuals and arts groups. The LEA would also prefer that projects be original works for this installation, though of course curators might be presenting extant works. Recipients can expect to 'buy' (at zero cost) a full sim's-worth of land from the LEA. You will own the land and be able to deed it to your group, and so forth. LEA estate managers will have to change some settings on the land, such as terrain RAW files and textures, and will be available to support you throughout your residence. Artists will be given 4 months to execute their build, so that all sims have open work during the last 2 months of their grant. This, however does not mean you cannot open your project earlier than the 4 month deadline, and in fact many artists in the past have used their land to have multiple exhibits. However, it is imperative that your project will be ready within 4 months, and this time-frame should be considered (and reflected) in your application. WHAT IS EXPECTED OF RECIPIENTS? In addition to the aforementioned completion of builds, LEA Land Grant recipients are expected to uphold the LEA Code of Conduct. Recipients will also be expected to hold at least one event at some point within their residency. This could be an art opening, or it could be lectures or demonstrations. It could be an ongoing event, as well. They will also be expected to participate in an LEA-wide art festival, tentatively scheduled for the first week of the final month of your residency. While this could simply mean your build is complete and accessible, we would enjoy if you might consider being an active part of events (ex. talks, performances, gatherings). WHAT CAN ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE EXPECT OF THE LEA? In addition to providing land and estate management support, the LEA wants to help make your project a success. You will be assigned a liaison from the LEA Committee, who will help guide you through the land grant timeline, land management, PR planning, and point you to other resources which might maximize your experience and success. WHEN? The next round of land grants are scheduled to start on September 1st, 2012, and finish on February 28, 2013. Applications are available now, with a DEADLINE OF AUGUST 15, 2012 HOW ARE DECISIONS MADE? Land Grant recipients are decided upon in a democratic fashion by the 7 members of the LEA Committee. All applications are STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL - they are only reviewed amongst the LEA, and we will not make public who has applied. Criteria We feel one of the strengths of the LEA committee is that we come from different backgrounds - artists, architects, curators, historians, etc. - all of whom have different ideas on what makes virtual art great. We share a passion for this project, emboldened by differing viewpoints. What this means for the LEA Land Grant applicants is that there is no one 'right' project. Some committee members like immersive builds, others enjoy highly technical and scripted work, still others look for projects embracing collaborative, curatorial, or education projects. Some might wish to select those who have a history of successful exhibits in SL, while others are passionate about providing experiences to new and emerging artists. This is great news for applicants, as it means that ANYONE has a chance at getting sim, provided you show us you have an idea for a great project (even if it isn't completely thought through, and we realise that this will most likely change in your working process). Decision Process Each full LEA committee member makes a list of their top 20 selections from the application pool, then these are tabulated by a member of the Advisory committee (link) to retain anonymity. With the results tabulated, the committee reviews the results and votes again, if necessary, to break ties in order to achieve 20 finalists. The remaining 'tied' applicants will be listed as alternates should someone be unable to accept their sim. Notification Successful recipients can expect to be notified within 2 weeks (see timeline below), and will be handed their sims at or near the time of acceptance. If an applicant has had a change of circumstance and feels they can no longer complete their project, that sim will return to the pool and be given to an alternate. No public announcements will be made until all applicants are notified of their result. APPLICATION TIMELINE (subject to change in the event of unforetold crises) Applications available/announced - July 18-19th Application deadline - Aug 15th Final Decision Committee Deadline - Aug 26th Notification period, and selection of alternates if need be - Aug 27 - 31st Sim handover and public announcement - Sept 1st HOW TO APPLY? Fill out the form at the link below. Please take care to 'paint a picture' of your project, and include slurls and/or web pages where we might view your work, to help the committee make an informed decision. http://www.lea-sl.org/application/lea-land-grant-application-round-three
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Virginia - Piano
One of the things which lessened the symptoms of Virginia's illness was to play the piano. In our talks she spoke about how living in the City had a variety of things, essentially sound pollution, which would cause her illness to become more pronounced. Sounds most City people don't hear anymore such as, believe it or not, an ambulance going by or cars honking and dogs barking. Personally, I still hear much of that noise which is what has made me into what my friends call an "Alley slink" because I find the noise and bustle of the main touristy streets annoying and generally travel everywhere one alley way north, south, east or west of the busy streets.
Virginia would hear much of the ambient sound of her City and it would trigger reactions and anxieties in her. One of the things which brought her reality back into balance was the soothing act of playing piano at her Church. Many of the piano pieces she recorded on cassette were original compositions as well. The sound is a bit tinny being on one of these tape recorders and the piano itself is out of tune but she has some great work.
When I listened to all the cassettes in some cases I would begin to visualize her in the house talking to the cassette player. Like on Christmas day humming to a song or attempting to organize her house. I tried to imagine what the actual scenes would look like if I were watching from the bushes. In this one there is quite a striking scene to visualize if we put the pieces together. Virginia is blind as I mentioned and each room in her house was covered with almost a thick drapery of cobwebs that had grown over 20 years or so. Her piano was situated amongst these cobwebs almost like on a stage with the curtains drawn back. Now imagine being outside her house as she is recording this particular tape. The house is dark as there are no lights on and as Virginia says in the machinima, there is a storm outside whose thunder may be heard on the piano recording. Imagine flashes of lightning illuminating the scene inside this house of Virginia as she is playing the piano in the dark shrouded in cobwebs. What I kind of shake my head at, is that should this scene exist in a Hollywood movie then I would have felt it to be far too dramatic and corny looking to be real.
May 26th 2008 is the date of this particular tape and I wonder what I was doing on that day. Perhaps building in SL. It was a Wednesday and the Harry Potter actor Rob Knox was stabbed to death in a pub protecting his little brother, a mass grave was discovered in Peru, a oil pipeline was blown up in Nigeria, there was talk of "carbon credits" and Switzerland's top court ruled that a convicted drug trafficker was entitled to keep the money. And in a remote house Virginia played the piano during a storm.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Virginia's breakers
Virginia had created hundreds of cassette tapes and on each she would state the date and sometimes the tapes connection to others she had recorded in the past. For example she might say "December 1st 2007, tape 45 a continuation to tape 73." In some cases the numerical order didn't actually relate to the chronological order. Virginia has a remarkable memory though and in her mind she kept the order clear, but in being blind she was not always able to find the correct tapes she needed.
Virginia struggles against what she calls her left and right side. Two sides which are forever battling for dominance. She has discovered, over time, that a complex method of placing pressures or avoiding interaction with parts of her body will reduce her symptoms. In this cassette she talks a bit about her "breakers" or the means she uses to alleviate some of her problems. The way she interacts with her left and right side not only affect how she physically feels or functions but also it directly can affect what happens in her outside reality as well. So for example if she picks up her coffee cup with her left hand perhaps the voices in her mind stay at bay or she has better balance or feels more collected and comfortable.
If by accident she picks up the coffee cup with her right hand then things in her world can become unstable. So for example if she picks up the cup in her right hand then at that exact time a car might pull in her driveway where a person starts banging on her front door alarming her. Or perhaps using her right side causes the feral cats to aggressively scratch her when she feeds them. She catalogues to herself all these occurrences and has found a means to counter them by putting pressures at points on her body. She may tie her left shoe very tight or put pressure on her wrist with elastic bands. It is a balancing act for her which allows her to manage these symptoms. My rational side wonders how these could do anything, but then medicine has many examples of pressure point treatment. A massage therapist often treats areas of the body by working on seemingly unrelated muscles far from the affected area. The acupuncturist has practiced for centuries and mapped out complex connections all through the body. Perhaps Virginia has found a way to alleviate her illness in this manner either psychologically or physically.
Over her life people found Virginia to be strange and in the 50's many just saw her as being "difficult". She is well aware that talking about these things to others has, for the most part, done nothing more than caused her to be ostracized from society. She is a rational person dealing with the irrational. When we talk she is hesitant to speak of some of these things because she knows they sound crazy, but she has never flinched from trying to figure out just why her life proceeded as it did. Why did she have to deal with these struggles where it seemed easy for everyone else. She lived in a constant self diagnosis and was her own doctor.
Virginia Alone is now open on Immersiva and is also currently being shown on a monitor at the Santa Fe new media festival.
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It appears that the new sign designs have gone live. I spotted this, sans disclaimer, at a stop near the airport:
I guess they didn't need to use the airport icon on this one, since the airport is across the street. I'm wondering, though: Is there an icon for trife (or at least some sort of warning icon) to put next to the 174?


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Purification (shaucha) is a central aim of all the yogic practices, and is the first principle of self-discipline (niyama) in Patanjali's eight-limbed approach. The yogis have discovered that impurities in our internal body adversely affect our state of mind, and prevent the attainment of real wisdom and spiritual liberation. Through the yogic practices of asana, pranayama, tapas and shatkarma, the body and the mind become cleansed and our spiritual development is accelerated.
The physical postures of yoga purify the body through movements that increase and improve the flow of blood, oxygen and prana (life force energy) in the tissues, muscles and organs. The yoga poses squeeze and massage the muscles and organs to move out old stagnant blood and bring in fresh blood full of nutrients and oxygen. In the more dynamic postures, heat is created and sweat is produced to facilitate the release toxins through the pores of the skin.
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The breathing techniques of pranayama purify the mind and body through the balance and cultivation of energy throughout the whole body. Different pranayamas have different actions on the body and thus different purifying effects. Kapalabhati (breath of fire) is warming and energizing, purifying the body through the creation of heat and the movement of energy. Nadi Sodhana (alternate nostril breath) is calming and cleansing, purifying the body through reducing stress and removing blockages in the nadis (energy channels).
The intensive self-discipline of Tapas purifies the mind and spirit through the "burning up" of the desires in our mind. Basically, Tapas is engaging the will to do some action you do not want to do or not doing some action you want to do. This creates a conflict between our will and the desire of our mind producing an internal "fire" which illuminates and burns up our mental and physical impurities.
The six cleansing practices of shatkarma purify the body by physically removing excesses of mucus or phlegm. These are primarily esoteric practices that must be learned and performed with the supervision of a qualified teacher. The shatkarmas are described as six groups of yogic cleansing techniques: Neti: nasal cleaning and irrigation, Dhauti: cleansing of the digestive tract, Nauli: abdominal massage, Basti: colon cleaning, Kapalbhati: purification and vitalization of the brain, and Trataka: blinkless gazing. The goal of these practices is to purge out excesses in order to bring the three doshas (physical constitutions) into balance. If the doshas are already in balance, then it is recommended to not practice these intense cleansing practices. There are easier, gentler and more accessible ways of balancing the doshas through the healing techniques of Ayurveda that can be utilized as an alternative of the shatkarmas.
When the mind, body and spirit have been purified through the various practices of yoga, the overall result is an increase in the flow of prana through the whole body, improving our capacity to work, think, digest, taste, feel, and experience life. And not only do these practices make us feel more alive, they also foster our spiritual development, inner awareness and equanimity.


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Monday, December 26, 2011
Deinonychus Prey Restraint
This is an illustration based on the new paper by Fowler et al, which discusses a likely possible method of predation by Deinonychus and other dromaeosaurs (the "raptor prey restraint" model, or RPR). This excellent publication is available free to download. It suggests that the unique foot morphology of dromaeosaurs was an adaptation to take prey in a very similar manner to extant birds of prey: by grasping with the foot claws, digging in with the hypertrophied "sickle" claw, and tightly hanging on to the prey animal as it struggles and thrashes around. The dromaeosaur would then begin to feed on it while it's still alive, until it finally dies from blood loss and organ failure, all the while standing on top of the animal to pin it down (a likely use of the unusually short ankles found in dromaeosaurs) and using primitive flight strokes with its "wings" to maintain balance.
The primary animal of study in the RPR paper is Deinonychus, so that's what I've drawn here. It is shown preying on the hypsilophodontid Zepheryosaurus. Though Deinonychus is usually depicted in a dense floodplain environment, here I've reconstructed it amongst some higher-altitude arid North American mountains.
This is my version of a Christmas dinner. :)
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 11:03 AM 2 comments:
Labels: Deinonychus, RPR, Zephyrosaurus
Monday, November 7, 2011
Liaoning details
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 11:26 PM 2 comments:
Labels: Epicharmeropsis, Microraptor, Sinornithosaurus
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Liaoning Scene
I consider this to basically be my magnum opus of paleoart at this point in time. I've spent months on all of the details and shading. The full resolution version is about five times larger than this one. I am SO glad it is finally finished.
This represents a hypothetical scene from the Jehol group of early Cretaceous Liaoning of China, something like 122 million years ago. Several animals from the Yixian formation are represented here: Sinornithosaurus millennii, a feathered dromaeosaurid dinosaur; Liaoxitriton zhongjiani, a salamander; Alloraphidia, a snakefly; Epicharmeropsis, a mayfly, and a dead Callobatrachus, a frog.
The gliding dinosaurs are meant to be generic microraptorine dinosaurs, not Microraptor gui specifically, in order to avoid the slight anachronism caused by placing Microraptor and Sinornithosaurus in the same scene. Despite that, it is (obviously) based on Microraptor gui (I started this scene before I learned that the two animals were not quite contemporary, I admit).
This illustration will be the section header for the chapter on feathered dinosaurs for the book on evolution and religion that I'm currently working on with a few other people. Once again, thanks to Jon for shading critiques and suggestions.
To see a larger version, please click here.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Jehol Juxtaposition
This picture was never meant to be. It is technically a mashup of two very large, time-intensive and high-resolution pieces I've been working on for months. I seldom upload lately due to the fact that the bulk of my artistic energy of late has been going into these two pictures.
Since both images are intended for print, a lot of the detail in the background will be lost when I finally resize them to upload for the internet. I thought it would be nice, though, to show some elements from each image that will be downsized in the final versions. They seemed to fit together well. Think of it as a glorified WIP.
This particular scene depicts Microraptor gui, a tiny four-winged gliding dromaeosaur, and Epicharmeropsis, an ancient mayfly.
Photoshop CS4
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 10:09 PM No comments:
Labels: Epicharmeropsis, Microraptor
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Sinornithosaurus with prey
Sneak peek at an upcoming larger image. Sinornithosaurus with its prey, a freshly killed Callobatrachus.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 1:30 PM No comments:
Labels: Callobatrachus, Sinornithosaurus
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Talos sampsoni
This is the newly described troodontid Talos sampsoni of Utah's Kaiparowits Formation. The described specimen of this derived troodontid had an interesting feature, which is that the sickle claw-bearing toe of the left foot had been broken in life, including a surface lesion, and had then healed. The authors speculate that the toe may have been damaged in some sort of physical trauma or infection. A popular theory is that it was damaged in the act of predation, though that remains a speculative idea.
Here I've reconstructed it inspecting the hurt toe after the injury had occurred, perhaps cleaning it as best as it was able.
The paper is open access, so please feel free to read more about it here.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 2:33 AM 1 comment:
Labels: Talos sampsoni
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Saurornitholestes langstoni
Saurornitholestes, a remake of an earlier image.
Around a year ago there was a new discovery involving fossilized scratch marks, presumably from the foot claws of a maniraptoran, at the entrance to an ancient primitive mammal burrow. I illustrated it at the time and some of you may remember it. However more recently a museum representative from Denver contacted me wanting a larger resolution version of the piece, so I updated it accordingly and added some additional details for accuracy and interesting-ness, including the trio of Pteranodon longiceps from a recent submission. (This is not the highest resolution, obviously, but I think the improvement in detail is noticeable.)
To reiterate the study:
The scratched-out burrows provide a unique insight into both the behavior and diet of these dinosaurs, which must have occasionally dug out the burrows of their prey, like many modern predators do. This trace fossil was found in Utah and is dated at around 80 million years old, which means the claw marks could belong to several different small dromaeosaurs or troodonts. I've illustrated the dromaeosaur Saurornitholestes here, which was similar in size and anatomy to Velociraptor. The findings were published in the journal Geology.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 11:44 PM 3 comments:
Labels: Saurornitholestes langstoni
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Microraptor sitting on a branch. Quick sketch from class today, nothing special. Done without references, so possibly inaccurate.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 9:08 PM 3 comments:
Labels: Microraptor
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Pteranodon trio
A trio of Pteranodon longiceps, two males and one female. Portion of an upcoming larger piece.
Photoshop CS4.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 5:31 AM No comments:
Labels: Pteranodon longiceps
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Something that's not a dinosaur, for once. This is the prehistoric frog Callobatrachus from Early Cretaceous of northeastern China. This will be the prey animal that Sinornithosaurus is eating in the Liaoning scene I'm working on. I also put it in the Wikipedia article on the animal, which I also wrote.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 9:34 PM 2 comments:
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Sinornithosaurus poses
In slowly completing a large, detailed Liaoning scene, I've been working on a sinornithosaurid. I have two poses I'm trying to choose between:
The top one is looking up passively at two Microraptors as they swoop down from above. The lower image is meant to be a bit more dynamic, and will be drawn protecting either a nest or mantling over a kill (perhaps a snake or a small mammal). I can't think of having seen artwork of a dromaeosaurid mantling. This is a behavior typically observed by birds of prey after making a kill: they will spread their wings and tail and crouch over it, looking menacing to anyone nearby who might consider stealing it.
I think I like the bottom one better.
Keep in mind that these are not meant to be representative of Microraptor gui and Sinornithosaurus millennii specifically, as those two species are from two different formations (Jiufotang and Yixian, respectively). Even though the species likely did not overlap, I think it's perfectly reasonable that the genera may have.
The top one is looking up passively at two Microraptors as they swoop down from above. The lower image is meant to be a bit more dynamic, and will be drawn protecting either a nest or mantling over a kill (perhaps a snake or a small mammal). I can't think of having seen artwork of a dromaeosaurid mantling. This is a behavior typically observed by birds of prey after making a kill: they will spread their wings and tail and crouch over it, looking menacing to anyone nearby who might consider stealing it.
I think I like the bottom one better.
Keep in mind that these are not meant to be representative of Microraptor gui and Sinornithosaurus millennii specifically, as those two species are from two different formations (Jiufotang and Yixian, respectively). Even though the species likely did not overlap, I think it's perfectly reasonable that the genera may have.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 8:10 PM No comments:
Labels: Sinornithosaurus
Microraptor T-shirt?
This is technically a work in progress for a much larger, more complex image, but I thought that the basic design was snazzy enough that I made a t-shirt out of it. Definitely the one thing missing from everyone's lives, a Microraptor t-shirt.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 1:39 AM No comments:
Labels: Microraptor
Utahraptor ostrommaysorum
Reconstruction of Utahraptor ostrommaysorum intended for the Wikipedia article on the animal. Scott Hartman's skeletal used as reference. I went to painstaking lengths to make this as accurate as possible given the available data on the animal.
Photoshop CS4, June 2011.
Sorry for all of the rapid-fire posts over the course of this past day. I will be trying to update this blog more frequently nowadays as I complete it.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 1:12 AM 1 comment:
Labels: Utahraptor
Anchiornis: sexual dimorphism
Though this was intended as an entry for an envelope art contest on James Gurney's blog, it gave me an excuse to draw something I've wanted to for a while: my speculative perception of sexual dimorphism in the troodontid Anchiornis.
Anchiornis is the first non-avian dinosaur for which true colors have been determined from the fossil, and as such we now know that it looks strikingly similar, coloration-wise, to a modern woodpecker. Most woodpeckers (with some notable exceptions, like the pileated woodpecker) are sexually dimorphic, in that the male typically possesses bright red coloration on its head, while the female lacks most or all of the red. Here, I've drawn the male closer to the viewer, with his characteristic red crest and facial markings. The female, behind him, lacks the red facial markings and her crest is a duller greyish-brown.
This was drawn on a regular #10 envelope with ink, Prismacolor marker & pencil, and white acrylic highlights. Working on such a small scale with traditional media is a pain in the butt, and the details suffer somewhat as a result. This has also been touched up digitally, but the physical contest entry will not enjoy this benefit.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 1:11 AM No comments:
Labels: Anchiornis
Thunder Thighs
Illustration of the new sauropod Brontomerus whose description was released iin February. Brontomerus means "thunder thighs" in Greek, referring to its massive ilium which would have supported the largest leg muscles of any sauropod. Its describers theorize that it may have used these powerful legs to kick at predators to defend itself. This picture is loosely based on the official reconstruction by Francisco Gascó, which is based on the data provided in the paper.
See the National Geographic article here,
And the Wikipedia article here.
Photoshop CS4, February 2011.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 1:09 AM No comments:
Labels: Brontomerus
The Tree of Yum: Plantae
Apparently blogger resizes this to an extent that makes it unreadable, so please click here to view.
This is a bit different from my usual fare, but still worth sharing. Recently I was idly curious about how common fruits are related to one another. Everyone can figure that berries are mostly related, for instance, and peaches and plums are probably related. But beyond that, the evolutionary relationships between fruits don't seem very intuitive. I tried finding a phylogenetic tree of this online, but couldn't find one. So, I spent a few hours researching and made my own.
My initial feeling that these relationships aren't very intuitive was proven correct. In fact, a lot of the relatedness I found seemed pretty bizarre to me, though I'm no botanist. I think the main reason for this strangeness is the power of human artificial selection, which has produced the vast majority of the plants found in this chart. We can do pretty crazy things to plants (and animals, just look at dogs) with a few thousand generations of selective breeding.
This isn't meant to be extremely scientific: I've divided the clades very simplistically, and the branch lengths aren't meant to represent divergence time. (I.e., no bootstrapping :p) I tried dividing them into monocots vs dicots when I first started, but quickly learned that these groups are paraphyletic. Plant systematics is messy as hell, and there are a huge number of "unranked" groups that I mostly didn't include here.
Also, this should be obvious, but not every fruit/vegetable/herb/nut in existence is represented here, just what I considered to be the largest or most important groups. For example, parsnips are very closely related to carrots, but I left them out because let's be honest, who the hell even knows what a parsnip is? I left out a lot of herbs and stuff too, because those just go on forever. At 1 MB, it's already big enough as it is.
Animal version coming eventually!
Photoshop CS4, February 2011.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 1:05 AM No comments:
Concavenator corcovatus
Illustration of the new theropod Concavenator corcovatus described in September. Concavenator was a mid-sized carcharodontid dinosaur with two very unique features: elongated vertebrae forming two "humps" on its back, as well as what might be primitive quill-like integument on its arms. The validity of the quills is debated, though, as the knobs found on the bones may be muscle attachment points rather than quill anchors.
The discoverers theorize that the elongated vertebral crests may have supported a hump whose function was in thermoregulation. While I neither support nor deny that hypothesis, I chose to illustrate the animal beginning to rustle from rest at dawn, as it absorbs some of the sunlight needed to start its day.
Photoshop CS4, January 2011.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 1:00 AM No comments:
Of the Mountains
This was a housewarming gift for a friend. The Velociraptor's colors are not meant to be realistic. The background is significantly inspired by the mountains of western NC, where I hail from.
Photoshop CS4, November 2010.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 12:57 AM No comments:
Coffeeraptor Mugs for Sale!
I'm selling mugs with this design at CafePress - in tea or coffee variety. Give it a look if you're interested!
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 12:55 AM 2 comments:
Balaur bondoc
Awesome new dromaeosaur was discovered recently from late Cretaceous Romania and described in September's online preprinting of PNAS. Here's an article.
The weirdest thing about Balaur bondoc is that it had double sickle claws on each foot, with the additional claw being the hallux that evolution had modified into a retractable enlarged claw. It also had a reduced and nonfunctional third manual digit, unlike all other known dromaeosaurs. More recent speculation on the animal indicates that the extended first digit is not actually a "second sickle claw" as the media purported, but rather an enlarged weight-bearing digit, perhaps because Balaur may have been "chunkier" than the average dromaeosaur.
Awesome critter!
Here's the Wikipedia article for anyone interested.
Photoshop CS4, September 2010.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 12:52 AM No comments:
Saurornitholestes: Digging for Dinner
This is an illustration of a new discovery involving fossilized scratch marks, presumably from the foot claws of a maniraptoran, at the entrance to an ancient primitive mammal burrow.
The scratched-out burrows provide a unique insight into both the behavior and diet of these dinosaurs, which must have occasionally dug out the burrows of their prey, like many modern predators do. This trace fossil was found in Utah and is dated at around 80 million years old, which means the claw marks could belong to several different small dromaeosaurs or troodonts. I've illustrated the dromaeosaur Saurornitholestes here, which was similar in size and anatomy to Velociraptor. The findings were published in the journal Geology.
All of the news articles I've seen describing this finding have included pretty crappy illustrations, so I was inspired to create my own. I may also send it to the authors of the paper.
Photoshop CS4, August 2010.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 12:40 AM No comments:
The Seventeenth Colossus
Quick painting for an assignment in my illustration class. Homage to one of my favorite games, Shadow of the Colossus.
Photoshop CS4, March 2010.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 12:37 AM No comments:
Time traveling chickens?
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 12:34 AM No comments:
Anchiornis huxleyi
The 9th illustration for the book. This dinosaur was not originally part of the lineup of feathered dinosaurs that I needed to illustrate, but the new specimen described in December of 2009 made it clear that it needed to be included, since it was a beautiful example of a feathered troodontid older than Archaeopteryx.
I ran into an unfortunate predicament with this painting that I hadn't yet experienced in my artistic career. Right when I had completed it, a new study was released that described in fantastic detail the coloration that this animal's feathers would have had in life. I was extremely discouraged by this news, but since this painting is going to be published and needed to be as accurate and reputable as possible, I painstakingly repainted the animal to reflect the findings of the new study.
Here is the old version of the painting.
Oil on canvas, March 2010.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 12:31 AM No comments:
Caudipteryx zoui
Number 8 of the feathered dinosaur illustrations for the book. This is Caudipteryx, a flightless, feathered, basal oviraptorosaur from the Yixian Formation of China. It's currently the oviraptorosaur with the best-preserved feathers. This dinosaur was around the size of a large turkey and is named after its rather impressive tail fan, the feathers of which are clearly preserved in its fossil.
Though not as birdlike as certain other dinosaurs, Caudipteryx did have pennaceous-like feathers on its arms, similar to modern birds but without interlocking barbules, to the best of my knowledge.
Watercolor and Prismacolor pencil, September 2009.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 12:27 AM 2 comments:
Sinosauropteryx prima
I haven't updated this blog for over a year, but I'm going to start try to do so regularly again. Here's the seventh book illustration. This is Sinosauropteryx, from the early Cretaceous of China's Liaoning. It is famous as being the first dinosaur found with fossilized feather impressions, and one of the most primitive. Its feathers were very simple, and would have been little more than furry down. It was thought that this animal's body covering may have been collagen fiber remains instead of feathers, but more recent analysis of its long tail - which shows an alternation of light and dark bands - shows that it was more likely to be primitive down.
Watercolor and Prismacolor pencil, September 2009.
Watercolor and Prismacolor pencil, September 2009.
Posted by Emily Willoughby at 12:16 AM No comments:
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