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A 17-year-old Orland Park girl died three days after she was struck by a vehicle while walking in a roadway in Olympia Fields, authorities said.
Rosabel Gutierrez, of the 15100 block of El Camino Drive, was hit in the 3600 block of Lincoln Highway about 5 a.m. Friday, according to police.
She was pronounced dead at 3:31 p.m. Monday at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.
Police were called at about 5 a.m. Friday about a person being hit by a car while walking in the roadway, said Olympia Fields Police Chief John Krull.
The investigation is ongoing, but police said Gutierrez had been attending a party in Park Forest before she was struck.
Krull said the driver stayed on scene of the accident and there were multiple 911 calls that came in to dispatch to report the crash.
Lemanuel J. Pitts, 21, of the 100 block of Illinois Street in Park Forest, who was with Gutierrez at the party, has been charged with one count of providing liquor to a minor and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, police said. Krull said today he is unsure if additional charges will be filed.
"We're working with the state's attorney's office," he said.
Gutierrez's family asked that her organs be donated to the Gift of Hope Foundation, police said. Funeral arrangements are pending.
"It's a tragic loss of a young life and there are a lot of people that are affected by it," Krull said.
Twitter: @TribAshleyRueff


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CARSON, Calif. -- The LA Galaxy may have picked up a 5-2 victory over Isidro Metapan in their CONCACAF Champions League opener, but the story of the match was referee Alfredo Penaloza's decision to send off Galaxy forward Robbie Keane in the 70th minute of play.
Following the match, Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena was particularly vocal about the way that the match was officiated and his comments are below...
ARENA: "Making a transition into this circus sometimes is unbelievable. It's very difficult on MLS teams. I sometimes wonder why we spend all the resources and time we do in this competition when sometimes it looks really bizarre. But we've had enough time to be ready for this game. Maybe little bit of the layoff affected us. But there's no excuses on our part, it should be -- that game should be five or six goal margin playing with 11 players. Period.
(On Robbie Keane's red card...)
ARENA: "I don't know. The ref missed the call and typical, we've seen in these competitions, the referees think they're bigger than the game itself and they've got to put themselves ahead of everything, I guess he felt he should not be, I don't know. Robbie spoke, said something, whatever, but when a referee misses a call like that, he's got to be big enough to kind of ignore it and let the game go on. So a player gets a yellow card for diving when he's fouled and then obviously a red card for, I don't even know. They didn't explain anything to us."
(On Stephens' yellow...)
ARENA: "I've never seen a player like Mike Stephens come into a game and get a yellow card like that so that's a mystery in itself. Its something that's part of the CONCACAF experience and there's no excuses for it. At this time in this competition, after all these years, it's got to be better."


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Unofficial Opinion 94-11
Probate Judge
commercial driver's license is required to operate a motor vehicle when the registered gross vehicle weight rating exceeds the amount specified in O.C.G.A. § 40-5-142(7)(A).
You have requested information on whether a commercial driver's license can be required based on the classification of the vehicle's license tag. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 40-5-142, a commercial driver's license can be required based upon registration and, therefore, tag classification.
The Uniform Commercial Driver's License Act provides in O.C.G.A. § 40-5-146(a) that "no person may operate a commercial motor vehicle unless the person has been issued and is in immediate possession of a commercial driver's license valid for the vehicle he or she is driving." Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 40-5-142(7)(A) defines a commercial motor vehicle as a vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds or a lesser amount determined by federal regulation.
Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 40-5-142(17) defines gross vehicle weight rating, and provides in pertinent part: "'Gross vehicle weight rating' (GVWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer or manufacturers as the maximum loaded weight of a single or a combination (articulated) vehicle, or registered gross weight, whichever is greater . . . ." (Emphasis added).
The highlighted language indicates that the GVWR is determined by taking the greater of either the manufacturer's weight rating specification or the weight rating under which the vehicle was registered.
When registering a motor vehicle, the applicant must provide a sufficient description of the vehicle to be registered, including its shipping weight and carrying capacity. O.C.G.A. § 40-2-26(b). After compliance with the application procedures and payment of the license fee required by law, the county tag agent shall issue the appropriate plate or re-validation decal. O.C.G.A. § 40-2-33(a)(1). Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 48-10-4, a different license plate may be provided for each different class of vehicle, and the plate may be distinguished by a different letter, lettering, or other markings on the plate.
In the specific case you have asked about, an individual was operating a vehicle with a manufacturer's weight rating specification of 25,000 pounds, (under the 26,001 pound rating defining a commercial motor vehicle), yet the vehicle displayed a "PG" tag, which, according to the 1994 license fee schedule, corresponds to a vehicle with a weight rating of 30,001-36,000 pounds. Since the vehicle was registered and licensed at this higher weight rating, it is a commercial vehicle requiring a commercial driver's license to operate it within the scope of the law.
Based upon the foregoing, it is my unofficial opinion that a commercial driver's license is required for a driver to operate a motor vehicle when the gross vehicle weight rating as registered with the county tag agent exceeds the amount specified in O.C.G.A. § 40-5-142(7)(A).
Prepared by:
Assistant Attorney General


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Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Sénas, France (Provence)
Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:11 pm
Post subject: your favorite Italian cookbook?
I'd like to get a good general Italian cookbook, a Joy of Cooking italiano as it were...any recommendations?
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Joined: 08 Jan 2006
Posts: 35
Location: Montreal, QC
Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:29 pm
Post subject:
I am a *huge* fan of Marcella Hazan's Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking. It schools you in the "sense" of Italian cooking, what flavours traditionally go together, and what substitutions you can make while maintaining fidelity to Italian traditions.
I also have the River Cafe Cookbook, Mario Batali's Babbo cookbook, and a few others, but none of them have the 10 page explanatory glossary of ingredients/techniques that Hazan's book does. When I cook from her book, I truly get the sense that I am making something that I would eat in Italy...
My only complaint about the book would be that she doesn't identify the region that each recipe comes from.
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Joined: 31 Jan 2005
Posts: 247
Location: Germany
Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:47 pm
Post subject:
I'd recommend Ursula Ferrigno: "Everyday Vegetarian" and "Bringing Italy Home", two of my favorite cookbooks, especially because I like italian veggie recipes very much
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Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Sénas, France (Provence)
Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:45 pm
Post subject:
thanks, do you think this book is the best of Marcella Hazan's? I would especially like some good vegetable recipes, there are so many good ones in Italian cuisine
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Joined: 18 Oct 2004
Posts: 1654
Location: Within view of Elliot Bay, The Olympics and every ship in the Sound
Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:28 pm
Post subject:
Mario Batali's Babbo, Malto Italiano or any of his other amazing books. Mario studied throughout Italy, really getting to know each region personally. He is also one of the most highly respected chef's among his peers.
Here's a link to some of his things at Overstock.com. Check out Amazon though, sometimes their prices are better.
"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."
"It's hot ham water."
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Joined: 03 Aug 2005
Posts: 135
Location: Seattle, WA
Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:51 pm
Post subject:
I love Mario Batali's Molto Italiano and Simple Italian. Both are outstanding and easy to follow. I may be biased since he is from the NW, but he has traveled extensively and his father runs a salumeria here in Seattle that is very authentic.
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Joined: 14 Oct 2005
Posts: 827
Location: Oakland, CA
Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:44 pm
Post subject:
I concur with the vote for Marcella hazan 1 My copy is literally falling apart!
I learn so much about Italian cuisine in general every time I use it.
I will check out the Mario link. Having eaten at Babbo & Otto - 2 of his restos in NYC - I agree that his food is brilliant - although not necessarily TRADITIONAL! He is very creative!
Now - I think we need an emoticon with the smiley face licking his lips!
L'appetit vient en mangeant. -Rabelais
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Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Posts: 1196
Location: buried under a pile of books somewhere in Adelaide, South Australia
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 1:36 am
Post subject:
I'll add a vote for Marcella Hazan's Classic Italian Cooking - it's a wonderful source of information and yes, it does have some excellent vegetable recipes.
Doing what you like is freedom
Liking what you do is happiness
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Joined: 18 Oct 2004
Posts: 1654
Location: Within view of Elliot Bay, The Olympics and every ship in the Sound
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:36 am
Post subject:
Bluedog, Do you know the name of his dad's place? I have been wanting to know for a long time.
"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."
"It's hot ham water."
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Joined: 25 Feb 2006
Posts: 81
Location: Cedar Creek, Qld, Australia
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:33 am
Post subject: Re: your favorite Italian cookbook?
Denise wrote:
I'd like to get a good general Italian cookbook, a Joy of Cooking italiano as it were...any recommendations?
Well I have one Italian cookbook, and that's the recently translated "The Silver Spoon".
I can't compare with the Joy of Cooking, as I don't have said book.
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Joined: 25 Nov 2005
Posts: 94
Location: New Zealand
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:46 am
Post subject:
Marcella Hazan is a fantastic author. I have had the Silver Spoon for a long time and it is a great reference. Probably my favourite/most useful.
Vorrei quello che stanno mangiando loro.
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Joined: 06 Nov 2004
Posts: 268
Location: Melbourne Australia
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:38 am
Post subject: italian cookbooks
can you recommend a good comprehensive Italian cookbook? I was thinking of that great Italian, Antonio someone who does the cooking shows on the BBC and ABC, but you may have some better ideas for the Italian food lovers
Looking forward to hearing your advice!
a minute on the lips, a lifetime on the hips
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Joined: 25 Nov 2005
Posts: 94
Location: New Zealand
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:38 pm
Post subject:
Hi jenjen,
Antonio Carlucci.. occasionally appears with Jamie Oliver, I think. He has a few books out. All are nicely presented and full of photos. I am tempted but haven't found one that strikes me enough to buy.. yet.
The Silver Spoon, translated, (according to a review I read) apparently involves some substitutions for ingredients that are unavailable outside of Italy and recipes from some celebrity chefs. I am not sure exactly because I have the Italian version. Granted, some ingredients are things that I make at home or are difficult to find but a substitution of something local and fresh doesn't compromise taste.
Also a complaint of Silver Spoon by many is the lacking bread section. In Italy, good bread is easy to find and although many bake at home, there is no 'real' recipe. For breads, 'Cresci' by Iginio Massari and Achille Zoia is pretty good.
I'll go with Marcella Hazan's Essentials for comprehesive. It has pretty much what all would expect from an Italian cookbook. It has a "Fundamentals" section of Italian ingredients (not always necessary nowadays) but recipe-wise is strong in standard fare across Italy's regions.
Interesting is Maria Pia de Razza Klein's new venture (incidentally some of her recipes also pop up in the new Silver Spoon..) a cookbook, Mangiare Italiano: Real Italian Food that looks to be worth a nod. From Lecce, Puglia, she is very creative and cooks typical of this region with local influence. In her restaurant and book she stays as close as one can get to the Italian philosophy of cooking (about the only thing that doesn't vary across the tiny peninsula), which is to say that she uses what Italian style ingredients she can get or grow with ease but if she can't, she incorporates the best fresh local produce and ingredients available instead. The Italian way.
Speaking of Italian, had a peek at Guy Grossi's book?? It hasn't appeared in the local bookstore yet and I'm intersted to see what is inside. I've only ever been to Grossi Florentino for dessert years ago. And I was sorry I was already full. Even after the divine chocolate concoction I surrendered to, the plates that were being whisked by our table were still looking pretty good. Ah someday.
Any other Italian-Australian cooks/chefs/authors to look out for in Melbourne?
Vorrei quello che stanno mangiando loro.
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Joined: 03 Aug 2005
Posts: 135
Location: Seattle, WA
Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 1:58 am
Post subject:
Erin, I always forget you are a Seattlite transplanted. The Batali restaurant is called Salumi, and it is only open for lunch M-F. Next time you are in town it is a must. It is tucked away on the sw edge of pioneer square and is tiny and non-descript. but once you walk in, the food, people and service are spectacular. restaurants all over town are serving their meats on the menu. they had a friday nite chef table, but it is booked for 2 years, so they stopped taking resrvations!
Sorry for the delayed reply, I have not been checking in as frequently. Work interferes with my cooking, I am afraid! I have vowed to change this as we face spring and the farmers markets kick in!
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Joined: 28 Nov 2005
Posts: 93
Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 4:59 am
Post subject:
Personally I am a fan of Giuliano Bugialli's _The Fine Art of Italian Cooking_. I see it has an updated version. I have the original, and I think it's really fantastic. He's kind of curmudgeonly and dogmatic in his opinions, but that's part of the appeal
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Schoola offers quality clothing at up to 70% off retail with 40% of proceeds benefiting kids. SHOP NOW.
We're sorry, but this item has already sold. But wait, we have good news as well:
The purchase supports kids at School of the Osage Middle School.
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April 10, 2002 -- President Bush yesterday called once again for Israel to withdraw its forces from the West Bank "without delay." Until last week, Mr. Bush had displayed remarkable courage in resisting demands to curtail Israel's right to defend itself against relentless Palestinian terror. Now, abandoning that principled position in the quest for an elusive cease-fire, the president has revived the expectation that the Israelis must cease while the Palestinians keep firing. More tragically, he has reverted to a misconceived U.S. policy in the Middle East that, for over 50 years, has consistently backfired.
Since its creation in 1948, Israel has been the target of Arab terror. In the 1950s and '60s, "armed infiltration," as it was then called, caused hundreds of casualties and made life on Israeli streets and border settlements nearly as precarious as it is today. Yet, in spite of these losses and Israel's clear-cut case for avenging them, the U.S. denied Israel's right to retaliate. "The USG has consistently opposed reprisal raids," Secretary of State John Foster Dulles wrote in March 1955. "Such raids dangerously heighten existing tensions." Similarly, in November 1966, Dean Rusk declared, "We have said frequently that we cannot agree to or condone [Israeli] retaliatory action."
The rationale behind this policy was not so much moral as it was economic and strategic. American leaders claimed that Israeli reprisals could interrupt the flow of Arab oil to the West, while driving moderate Arab states into Soviet -- later, Islamic radical -- arms. There was also the belief, ultimately belied by Jordan's King Hussein, that an Arab defeated by Israel is an Arab less willing to make peace.
America's policy helped produce the very wars it sought to preclude.
None of these scenarios ever transpired, however, and, rather than peace, America's policy helped produce the very wars it sought to preclude. The terrorists learned that Jews could be killed with impunity, while frustrated Israeli leaders concluded that if they were going to be condemned for minor retaliations, they might as well respond massively.
Such was the case in 1956, when the Israelis, forbidden by America to strike back at terrorist bases in Egyptian-controlled Gaza, went ahead and drove the Egyptians from Gaza and Sinai. In 1967, again, Washington's refusal to let Israel go after Yasser Arafat and his al-Fatah terrorists emboldened Egypt's President Gamal Abdel Nasser to remilitarize Sinai and rally the Arab armies to war. Israel replied with a pre-emptive strike that snowballed into the Six Day War. The pattern resurfaced in 1982 when Israel, fed up with rocket attacks over its northern border, and America's objections to punishing the PLO for launching them, invaded Lebanon.
Once war broke out, America repeatedly pressured Israel to cease firing before it could achieve its objectives. The results were disastrous. By forcing Israel to relinquish its gains in Sinai in 1948 and 1956, for example, the U.S. aided Egypt's ability to threaten Israel's existence again in 1967. The U.S.-imposed cease-fire in the 1973 Yom Kippur War saved attacking Arab armies from destruction but impaired Israel's deterrence power for years. The current onslaught of Palestinian terror can be traced in part to Arafat's last-minute evacuation from Beirut in 1982, another feat of U.S. intervention.
To be sure, Israel has not always yielded to American dictates on security. During the latter stages of the Six Day War, Israeli leaders ignored U.S. insistence on a cease-fire and proceeded to capture Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Golan Heights. Paradoxically, Israel's determination to stand up for itself strengthened rather than dampened its image in the U.S.
The rule was again demonstrated in Israel's 1981 attack on the Iraqi nuclear reactor, an act that President Reagan at first denounced but then rewarded by elevating U.S. cooperation with Israel. Conversely, when Israel buckled to pressure -- in the Gulf War, when Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir agreed not to respond to Iraqi scud attacks -- it earned Washington's contempt, and gained nothing in terms of defense.
For over half a century, U.S. attempts to rein in Israel militarily have encouraged Arab aggression and contributed to a series of inconclusive wars, setting the stage for even bloodier clashes. By submitting to restrictions, Israel has compromised, not enhanced, its security.
The question of peace and war in the Middle East today hangs in the balance. Either President Bush can continue to bend to pressure and try to prevent Israel from defending itself, or he can allow Israel to finish rooting out the terrorist infrastructure in the territories. The first path, as history proves, leads only to escalating terror and larger-scale Israeli reactions, with a risk of regional war. Only by standing firm with Israel in its legitimate fight against terror can President Bush pave the way toward a viable cease-fire and renewed negotiations on ending the conflict. It is not too late -- the pattern can still be broken.


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Research in Motion is rumoured to finally be launching a tablet to rival the Apple iPad this coming November.
Bloomberg News reported the launch date, citing two people close to RIM's plans. There have been rumours of a BlackBerry tablet PC doing the rounds for some time.
The Ontario-based RIM has also recently registered Blackpad.com as a domain name, sparking rumours that this is also going to be the name of the tablet device.
BlackPad vs iPad?
According to a WHOIS lookup on a domain, RIM purchased BlackPad.com only a few days ago.
This is of course no actual confirmation that 'BlackPad' is going to be the final name for RIM's tablet device, though it is certainly evidence that the company wants to protect the name.
TechRadar has contacted RIM's UK office for further comment and clarification on this latest news.
So far, we've been served with the requisite 'no comment' but stay tuned for updates, because it's clear that something is bubbling just under the surface on this one.
Via Reuters and MobileCrunch


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A Missing Element in Local Church Discipleship
I once told my wife that I was thinking about writing a book on mistakes I've made in ministry. She suggested that I reconsider since it would have to be a multi-volume series.
One of the biggest mistakes I made when I served as pastor of four churches was failing to emphasize the importance of every member being in the Word every day. Brad Waggoner, in his well-researched book, The Shape of Faith to Come, notes that regular Bible reading is one of the highest correlates for spiritual maturity. To state it more succinctly, when members read the Bible every day they are more likely to demonstrate spiritual growth in a number of areas.
What Happens in a Local Church
The implications of this research are enormous. Those Christians who read their Bibles daily:
· are more likely to give generously to the church.
· are more likely to be active in a small group or Sunday school class.
· are more likely to share their faith more often.
· are more likely to spend greater time in prayer.
· are more likely to attend worship services regularly.
· are more likely to be involved in local ministries and international missions.
Many times I am asked to describe effective approaches to discipleship in the local church. The inquirer is essentially concerned about seeing church members become more devoted followers of Christ, and seeing those members more connected to the life and ministry of the local church. And the missing element to these concerns that I see most frequently is an intentional effort to involve as many members in daily Bible reading as possible. The Word of God is powerful and transformative. Reading and studying the Bible daily may be the most important act a Christian can do to grow as a disciple.
Practical Steps
I have asked pastors and church leaders to share with me some practical steps they take to get their church members involved in daily Bible reading. Here are some of their responses:
· Have a time of commitment in December to read the Bible through the next calendar year.
· Emphasize from the pulpit the importance of daily Bible reading.
· Have a plan of daily Bible reading that leads to each week's sermon.
· Provide video testimonies of transformed lives of those who read the Word each day.
· Build a website that allows a community to gather to share with one another what they are learning from their time in the Bible each day.
· Make certain the pastor and other church leaders speak in both formal and informal settings about their own priority of daily Bible reading.
· Teach a broad overview of the Bible so the members can understand how the chapters and verses they read each day fit in the grand narrative of Scripture.
In the Word Toward Greater Discipleship
Too many times we think of local church discipleship as a program where church members meet at a specific time. Ultimately, though, discipleship is really becoming more like Christ. And we become more like Him as we read and study His Word. The Bible is inspired by the Spirit, so it is transformative for the believer.
It is one the biggest mistakes I made as a pastor. I did not emphasize sufficiently the importance of daily Bible reading. I would do things differently if I were a pastor again. I would do everything in God's strength to get the church members in the Word of God each day.
If you do, you will likely raise an army of devoted disciples who will transform your church and, ultimately, transform the world.


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The first full week of 2009 didn't bring Wall Street any huge shocks, but it didn't bring much for investors be happy about, either.
A jump in unemployment sent stocks sharply lower Friday as investors feared that Americans won't soon deviate from their tightened budgets. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 143 points to end the week down nearly 5 percent.
The Labor Department's much-anticipated report showed employers cut 524,000 jobs in December, a smaller decline than the loss of 550,000 jobs economists forecast. But the unemployment rate jumped to a 16-year high of 7.2 percent — more than the 7 percent economists predicted — from 6.8 percent in November.
Lost jobs were not a shock to Wall Street, but the news still stung.
"People say that they know how bad the economy is. But they don't know how it feels to have the reality hit home," said Stu Schweitzer, global markets strategist at J.P. Morgan's Private Bank. "It's not the facts — it's how the facts feel. And it feels terrible to have so many Americans losing jobs, and so many more likely to follow in the coming months."
Rising unemployment tends to erode consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity. For all of 2008, the economy lost 2.6 million jobs — the most since 1945. Retailers have been reporting dismal holiday sales figures, and Wall Street is concerned about how long the economy will be suffering a pullback in consumer spending.
President-elect Barack Obama on Friday called December's jobs loss "a stark reminder of how urgently action is needed" to revive the nation's staggering economy. Obama is planning on a stimulus package costing about $800 billion, consisting of tax cuts and other ways to try to help individuals and businesses.
But investors were nonetheless worried about the prospects for the economy.
According to preliminary calculations, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 143.28, or 1.64 percent, to 8,599.18.
Broader stock indicators also lost ground. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 19.38, or 2.13 percent, to 890.35, and the Nasdaq composite index fell 45.42, or 2.81 percent, to 1,571.59.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies dropped 20.71, or 4.13 percent, to 481.30.
Declining issues outnumbered advancers by about 2 to 1 on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume came to a light 1.16 billion shares.
For the week, the Dow fell 4.8 percent, the S&P 500 slid 4.5 percent and the Nasdaq lost 3.7 percent.
Bond prices rose as investors sought safety following Friday's grim economic data. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, fell to 2.36 percent from 2.44 percent late Thursday. The yield on the three-month T-bill, considered one of the safest short-term investments, slipped to 0.07 percent from 0.08 percent compared with late Thursday.
The dollar was mixed against other major currencies, while gold prices fell.
Light, sweet crude fell 87 cents to settle at $40.83 on the New York Mercantile Exchange after dipping as low as $39.38.
In other economic data, the Commerce Department reported that businesses cut wholesale inventories for a third straight month in November, while sales continued to plunge. Wholesale inventories dropped 0.6 percent, and sales were down a record 7.1 percent.
Energy stocks were among the biggest decliners after oil fell. Occidental Petroleum Corp. fell $2.70, or 4.6 percent, to $56.30. Schlumberger Ltd. fell $2.83, or 6.2 percent, to $43 after announcing plans to cut about 5 percent of its work force due to the drop in oil prices. Oil is down from more than $147 a barrel in July, hurting demand for exploration and production services.
Citigroup Inc. fell 41 cents, or 5.7 percent, to $6.75 after board member Robert Rubin, the former U.S. Treasury secretary, resigned as a senior adviser to the big financial services company. The company said he will remain a director until his term expires at the next annual meeting in the spring. Rubin has drawn criticism for his role in the bank's recent problems that drove it to seek federal assistance.
The rise in unemployment also hurt consumer discretionary stocks like retailers. Target Corp. fell $2.12, or 5.7 percent, to $35.40, while Macy's Inc. fell 63 cents, or 5.8 percent, to $10.30.
Wall Street is also girding for dismal fourth-quarter earnings reports from companies starting next week.
"Everyone is expecting bad results," said Jim Swanson, chief investment strategist at MFS Investment Management in Boston. But he said Wall Street has also set expectations so low that results would have to be far worse than expected to startle the market.
"Anything that's not catastrophic will probably be greeted mildly or even a little bit positively," he said.
Overseas, Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 0.45 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 1.26 percent, Germany's DAX index fell 1.97 percent, and France's CAC-40 fell 0.75 percent.
Stocks Stumble as Unemployment Hits 7.2 Percent
Jobless rate at 16-year high
The first full week of 2009 didn't bring Wall Street any huge shocks, but it didn't bring much for investors be happy about, either.


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NEW YORK (AP) – The three 18-year-olds, friends since middle school, are about to go off separately to college this fall. But on Sunday, these avid fans of the Batman film franchise had no doubt where they wanted to be: Together, at the movies, watching "The Dark Knight Rises."
"What happened in Colorado was horrible, but that guy was just a psycho," said Sahil Agrawal, of Queens in New York City, waiting with friends David Kim and Danny Wong for an Imax showing on Manhattan's Upper West Side. "This wasn't going to change our plans."
The three were typical of hordes of fans who packed theaters across the country over the weekend, keeping plans to see the final installment of the phenomenally successful Batman trilogy despite Friday's horrific shooting in Colorado. Despite the occasional jitter — reflected in the choice of a back-row seat, perhaps, or a glance to see what security was in place — the fans seemed determined to look beyond the shooting.
"I'm not going to let some nut who shoots people dictate what I'm going to do," said Ron Bondy, 36, in Bismarck, N.D., a sentiment echoed by fans all over the country.
Not that there weren't some evident qualms among moviegoers. At the same theater in Bismarck, Jen Jackson had insisted upon one thing to her husband: They were going to sit in the back row in case they needed to get out fast. The 29-year-old architect was also forgoing the popcorn — not as a precaution, but because nerves had stolen her appetite.
"I'll be honest, I'm kind of scared," said Jackson. She had hesitated to come at all. But her husband, Patrick, standing alongside her, was pragmatic: "I don't think anything would happen in Bismarck."
Warner Bros. and other studios banded together to withhold the usual weekend revenue reports until Monday, a day later than usual, out of respect for the victims. But industry estimates suggested the film was on track to be the third highest opening weekend ever, after "The Avengers" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2."
Katie Birkel had no intention of missing the occasion. She was at a Manhattan showing along with three friends, celebrating one of their birthdays. Birkel said she had been inspired by a statement from the film's director, Christopher Nolan, after the tragedy, which occurred at the midnight showing in Aurora, Colo.
"He said that movies are about coming together and sharing an experience," noted Birkel, 28. "I agree with that."
Mike Sumner, standing a few steps behind her in a Batman T-shirt, said he was comforted by seeing the NYPD outside the theater — at least two officers were patrolling outside. "Colorado was an isolated incident," he said. "I'm not afraid of copycats. Besides, I'm a New Yorker. We're always vigilant."
Police were also visible outside a theater in McAllen, Texas, near the Mexico border, where an officer firmly waved away drivers who attempted to stop in front.
Inside, Juan Carlos Rivera waited with his mother-in-law and his wife. The 38-year-old Brownsville resident said the family had been big fans of the first two movies and wouldn't want to skip the third.
"It looks like it was an isolated incident," Rivera said of the mass shooting. He said he'd probably sit on the aisle — not out of fear, but because his wife was pregnant and might need the restroom. "You can't allow a random event like that to terrorize you," he said.
Besides, many said in interviews, what was the chance that lightning would strike twice?
"I don't think that that many people are crazy enough," reasoned Dayna Freeman of Kansas City, Mo.
Her date, Tom Meyer, added that the theater — the Cinemark Palace at The Plaza — had excellent security. The two had bought their tickets on Sunday, but like most interviewed, they said the shooting in no way had sparked their curiosity. "No, I can't imagine anything like that," said Meyer.
Meyer added that he didn't think the content of the movie had anything to do with the crime: "You can't really attribute the actions of a nut to the movies," he said. "Two years ago, he would have picked 'Avatar.'"
Still, despite sharing that logic, some were showing nerves. In Hollywood, Fla., Steve Parenteau, 45, said he wasn't thinking at all about the shooting. But his 13-year-old son, Noah, looked solemn, saying the Colorado tragedy was on his mind. "It's scary," he said. "I can picture it."
And at a multiplex in downtown Chicago, roommates Sarah Cantor and Brittany Carter avoided a midnight showing. "I was relieved to know that we were going to a matinee," said Cantor, 23.
Still, most moviegoers echoed the feeling that the attack could have happened anywhere, anytime.
"Things are going to happen wherever they're going to happen, because people are nuts wherever," said Rachel Cox, who saw the movie at Atlanta's Midtown Arts Cinema. "Crazy travels, so I don't really think it has anything to do with geography or the movie … crazy people are crazy." Still, she added, she planned to sit in the back — because she likes the view from there, but also because she considered it safer, even before Colorado.
In midtown Manhattan, Randy Cordero and Megan Rivera sat on the pavement outside an AMC Loews Theater, waiting with soft drinks and a magazine for a late-afternoon show. They'd bought their tickets online Saturday, and said the shooting hadn't affected their plans. They'd hoped for a midnight showing, but it was sold out.
"I don't think it'll happen to me, but it can always happen," noted Cordero. But Rivera said there was one thing that would indeed cause her some concern: seeing someone in costume, especially as the Joker (New York's police commissioner, Ray Kelly, said the shooter, James Holmes, had his hair painted red and said he was the Joker, but Aurora police have not confirmed that.) "I'd feel more cautious, and I'd think, 'I've got to watch that guy,'" she said.
Waiting for an earlier show at the same theater was Devin Favors, 24, an event ticket broker from Brooklyn. He said he'd bought his ticket last week, but even if he hadn't, nothing would have stopped him from seeing the movie.
After all, he said, "This is America. And you should be able to go where you want to go, and see what you want to see."
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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The dramatic events in Beijing surrounding the brave Chinese activist, Chen Guangcheng, are confounding and hard to fathom at such a great distance and without all the facts. That has not stopped critics who should know better from rushing to blame the Obama administration for having mishandled negotiations with the Chinese authorities over his fate.
It is irresponsible to second-guess Washington when we don't know the full story. Instead, the true culprit in this fascinating and increasingly tragic drama is the usual suspect – China's authoritarian government. China has hounded and mistreated Mr. Chen and his family for years. Beijing is now trying to intimidate him when he is beyond the protection of the American embassy.
None of this is surprising given China's lamentable human rights record and its shameful status as the one of world's greatest human rights abusers. It was also standard Chinese practice to demand a US apology for harboring Chen, an apology that will surely not be forthcoming.
The State Department did many things right during this tumultuous past week. It was right to permit Chen to stay within the walls of the American embassy for six days. It was right to keep negotiations with China private and beyond the glare of the press as that maximized the chance of an agreement to protect Chen. And, I have no doubt that Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton and US Ambassador to China Gary Locke, both long-time champions of human rights, did everything in their power to protect him.
Now that Chen has made a series of increasingly anxious statements from his hospital bed, some quite critical of his American protectors, the United States would be well advised to bring his fate back to the center of the talks in Beijing this week.
Secretary Clinton has every right to remind the Chinese government about the commitments it made to permit Chen to rejoin his family and live a life free of intimidation and for continued American government access to him. Given the confusion surrounding Chen's decision to leave the embassy, this will also make it clear where the US stands – on Chen's side against China's cynical leaders.
There is no question that the relationship with China is now America's most important worldwide. There are plenty of vital issues – Iran, North Korea, Syria, the global economy – for the two governments to discuss. And we often need to balance our concern for human rights in favor of progress in the security and political realm. This is not one of those times.
In the end, what separates America and China is the huge ideological gulf between us on the core issue of human freedom. Chen's case has become so important symbolically that we simply cannot afford to "balance" it with any other issue this week. We need to stand up to China to defend Chen's right to live a normal and peaceful life.
One thing is certain. No matter how this drama ends, it has exposed for all the world to see China's Achilles heel as an emerging superpower. Its denial of basic rights and the brutal repression of its people will discredit the communist regime in every corner of the world and may very well be its ultimate undoing.
The US remains the single greatest power not just because we have a stronger military than China but due to our core belief in what the 19th century Boston abolitionist Theodore Parker described so powerfully: "I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one…..I am sure it bends toward justice."
Nicholas Burns is professor of the practice of diplomacy and international politics, and director of the Future of Diplomacy Project at the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. He served as under secretary of State for political affairs from 2005 to 2008. Previously, he was US ambassador to NATO.
This piece also appeared on the Power & Policy blog at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.


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GCH CH Kenro's Witching Hour
Next we go to Marion OH and the Dan Emmett Kennel Club's day two show. Barbara Dempsey Alderman shared her final ring with the English Setter, GCH CH Stargaz'R 'N Wingfield Time Will Tell, the Longhaired Dachshund, GCH CH Jarsby's Mama Mia, the Giant Schnauzer, GCH CH Kenro's Witching Hour, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, GCH CH Shandalee Fireworks, the Miniature Pinscher, GCH CH Marlex Classic Red Glare, the French Bulldog, GCH CH Diva's Bastille My Heart, and the Shetland Sheepdog, GCH CH Grandgables The Frat Boy.
GCH CH Grandgables The Frat Boy
The two taking the top awards were the Giant, Dora, with the Best, and the Sheltie, Brother, with the Reserve. Dora is hoping to displace her kennelmate, the German Wirehaired Pointer, GCH CH Mt View's Ripsnorter Silver Charm, as the Number Four Dog All Breeds. This win, her 15th of the year, will put her about 900 points closer to that goal.


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performances, conferences, auditions, etc
Interesting, was not expecting that location. Not disappointed, I can actually drive there in one day. It's about the same distance from me as knoxville
Re: ITEC 2019
big staircase / lots of tubas carried up-and-down them by clumsy overweight 20-year-olds...
Maybe I should rig up a repair trailer.
My Mom went to school there in the 1930's, and was an art student of Grant Wood. I've been told there was painting of hers hanging in the administration bldg for decades. I'd have to believe that it is no more, and the painting has disappeared.
Last edited by bloke on Wed Apr 12, 2017 2:20 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Re: ITEC 2019
Does the "I" stand for Iowa?
Iowa City is NOT a very convenient location to fly to. Nearest airport is Cedar Rapids, which is about a 30-minute drive away from campus. Plus, there aren't really all that many flights to Cedar Rapids either. It's awkward enough with luggage, let alone to fly with a tuba.
But, it's a nice campus and people in Iowa are REALLY nice. Congrats to them for winning this event!
Alexander 163 CC
Re: ITEC 2019
considering they are skipping the 2018 ITEC to put the next international event on the 40th anniversary of the first convention, I was expecting the location to be at Indiana or someplace with more historical significance for the tuba. Nothing against Iowa, but it was still a surprise when it was announced.
Re: ITEC 2019
Bill Bell was born and died in Iowa. Not good enough?
Alexander 163 CC
Re: ITEC 2019
I doubt that was the reason it was selected. I'm just glad it's within driving distance, at least it's not in Japan again this year
Re: ITEC 2019
Um... you do know that I wasn't serious in thinking that was the reason, right?
I'm sure Knoxville raised some eyebrows too when it was announced, but that sure seemed to go well.
Alexander 163 CC
Re: ITEC 2019
The idea is to get on track with odd-numbered years so that the 50th anniversary can line up with an ITEC in 2023.
Re: ITEC 2019
That makes sense.
Re: ITEC 2019
ITEC always happens where someone offers to host and makes a compelling case that it is the best of the available [all good] options.
Re: ITEC 2019
This will be a well run conference. John is a great guy, and very professional. I visited there when the music building was in the campus center. I thought the facilities were nice, but from what I have seen, the new building is amazing.
As far as travel, it's driveabke for me! (Bloomington has a similar location issue).
Dr. James M. Green
Lecturer of Music--Low Brass
Ohio Northern University
Gronitz PF 125
Miraphone 1291CC
Re: ITEC 2019
Just to be clear, I was NOT complaining about the location, I actually like it. I was just surprised
Re: ITEC 2019
I'm super excited about this. Aside from the in-state annual Bandmaster's conference and the Music Educator's conference there aren't many opportunities like this for me. Midwest is in Chicago, but that is still a 9 hour drive from home. Most of the fun conferences are out of reach for me, but this provides a great opportunity that is well within reach!
B.M.E. - Wartburg College (2018)
4v BBb Martin Mammoth
Re: ITEC 2019
About 300 miles from the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN). Well within driving distance. This may be fun.
1892 Courtiere (J.W. Pepper Import) Helicon Eb
1980's Yamaha 321 euphonium
2007 Miraphone 383 Starlight
2010 Kanstul 66T
2016 Bubbie Mark 5
Re: ITEC 2019
Schools are "selected" because the tuba professor and the school are WILLING to host it.
Re: ITEC 2019
CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU to John Manning for hosting this event!! There's a TON of work involved in running an event like this. Knowing John and having been a part of previous events he's presented - John will pull it off with flying colors!
Looking forward to a stellar ITEC in 2019!!
Mike Milnarik
Tufts University & Brandeis University
Re: ITEC 2019
It's getting to be like the Olympics!!
Who needs four valves??
Mack Brass Artiste
MackBrunner 210L
Re: ITEC 2019
Interesting. I just found out that the international trombone Association is having their big convention in Iowa City in july of 2018. Guess I'll be making two trips there in 11 months
Re: ITEC 2019
The school and professor's willingness certainly is a basic threshold, but for 2019 as in other years there were good options. It's not like there were no worthy alternatives.
Re: ITEC 2019
I'll have finished my DMA by the time ITEC 2019 rolls around (hopefully ) and can just speak for how wonderful the new School of Music facilities are at the University. The building is located in a place where parking is easily accessible, and is also close to the heart of downtown right near great shopping, food, bars, etc. all quite literally across the street. There are also multiple elevators, I've never had to wait long
Not to take up too much of the thread, but with plans to stay in Iowa I couldn't be more excited about the conference being held in Iowa City.
Principal Tubist - Des Moines Symphony
Lecturer - Tuba/Euphonium - Truman State University
Gronitz PCK, Besson 983
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Update from the rainforest by jungle lodge manager Stuart Timson
The month of July has flown by incredibly fast as both staff and volunteers alike have been busy. I am pleased to report that the bird monitoring project is continuing to produce some fascinating finds. I take the volunteers out to the mist nets where we spend the day checking for captures; identifying new species and tagging all the individuals. In twelve full research days we have now captured 146 individuals with over 50 species many of which are new to the reserve. Last week we moved our transects to the furthest extreme of the reserve. This area has many different forest types and one of the mist nets happened to pass a through an area of forest dominated by bamboo plants. This transect alone provided several new species including the rare Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Goeldi's Antbird and the Reddish Hermit
Elsewhere we have received some new animals for the release program. A young Brown-throated three-toed sloth was brought to us and was quickly released. Sloths are not uncommon in the wild but their lethargic nature and habitat high in the upper canopy make sightings uncommon but I am sure that it will be safe and when the time comes will have no problem in finding a mate. Perhaps the most exciting new addition was a pygmy (also known as silky) anteater. These tiny members of the anteater family are seldom seen in the wild being both nocturnal and reclusive by nature. However, this individual was very healthy and gave us a perfect opportunity to try out some new tracking equipment, donated by an ex-volunteer.
We attached the radio transmitter to the animal and released it. The next day we tried to track the animal using our receiver and it was with great pleasure that we received a strong signal as soon as we left the camp. It was not long before the signal continued to become stronger until we narrowed the transmitter to just one tree. Here is where reality struck home because the animal was nowhere to be seen. It turned out that the transmitter had become loose and fallen to the ground at the base of said tree and the anteater was long gone. Whilst it was disappointing at first it was very satisfying to know that the signal can be picked up through all the dense vegetation and so we will be able to try the equipment on other species maybe with larger territories.
The pilot farm is thriving with its new irrigation system and I am pleased to report that we have increased our number of goats and donkeys. In July Fernando and I took a trip from Cusco to a local market called Combapata. This fair occurs every Sunday and we set off at 4.30am to get there early and hopefully get to choose from the best animals on sale. The trip was a resounding success and we have now nearly forty goats (we bought 17 more), three donkeys and guinea pigs safely installed at the Farm. This means that next year we will be in a position to start offering livestock to the local farmers in a system whereby we would give them 50 goats and 50 guinea pigs. These animals would reproduce very quickly and within a year the farmer will have close to 150 of each type. He then returns the original fifty to us and we give them to someone else. This system will be very successful because the farmer will prepare his land in return for the gift of the animals. With so many goats and guinea pigs he will not need to hunt and will have meat, cheese and milk to sell. This means he will spend less time in the forest and will have no need to perform illegal activities such as hunting and wood extraction. I hope that the animals acclimatise quickly and we can get the project up and running as soon as possible. Our first goats bought two years ago have reproduced several times and so I am optimistic that the project will have a very positive impact for the local communities in the area.
August sees the turtle project back in action and this year we have an official permit to collect 80 nests which will give us close to 2000 young turtles should hatching rates be high. The artificial beach was prepared in July and so we are all set for one of our most exciting projects.
Stuart Timson
La Reserva Ecologica Taricaya


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CINCINNATI (WKRC) - There is new research on how diets may work differently in men and women.
It turns out men and women get very different results when they cut calories, according to a new study on pre-diabetes. That's a condition where there are symptoms that start to show up before someone meets all the criteria for this disease. It also often can be turned around with proper changes to diet and exercise levels.
In this study in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, researchers compared the results of a low-calorie diet. Both men and women were on the diet for eight weeks, and results were good in both groups, but very different.
Men, it turned out, lost more weight. They also reduced body fat, heart rate and symptoms of metabolic syndrome, which is a collection of symptoms of diabetes.
Women had greater reductions in cholesterol, and they lost more weight around the hips, but they did not appear to benefit as much as men. Both genders did drop some weight; men just lost more. Both apparently lost enough to benefit the body to reduce the odds for diabetes.
Researchers say more research needs to be done to conclude whether or not there are true gender differences with dropping calories, but it does explain why often if you go on a diet with a spouse or friend of the opposite gender, you don't always see the same results.


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I have not worked the day after the Super Bowl since 1996. It's simple to write that act off as a childish response to a very bad hangover, but there's more to it than that. To paraphrase a line from REO Speedwagon's "I Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore," what started out as a hangover, has grown stronger.
Like many of you, the Super Bowl is a very important part of my family history. For the record, this is not because of any success our team has ever had. As lifelong Cleveland Browns fans, the Fawcett's should by all logical standards hate professional football. Rooting for the Browns is the equivalent of rooting for a prostate exam. It's very uncomfortable and demoralizing, and you have to think there's a better way to achieve the same end result.
The Fawcett's embrace the Super Bowl for one reason – Super Party, the greatest Super Bowl party to ever hit Louisville.
From the early morning chill
Of a snowy Sunday in January,
It takes its first breaths.
Created by one, given purpose by the many,
It returns with the fire and fury out of which the legend was born.
Prepare yourselves. The day of reckoning is upon us.
- excerpt from the Super Party 1997 invitation
I think that piece of literary brilliance accurately sums up the passion my family puts into their celebrations. Incidentally, that party didn't actually occur because my dad decided to have a heart attack that weekend. Oddly enough, my dad had a stroke during the 2000 Super Bowl as well, which you would think might cause the men in my family to be a bit skittish that day each year. Alas, we persevere. Any by persevere, I mean drink heavily.
Super Party was the brainchild of my oldest brother, a successful and highly intelligent man who had an incredible ability to transform each Super Bowl Sunday into a world class event.
If you ever happened to be around Crews Drive, located in the geographical taint between Buechel and Fern Creek, in the late 1990's, you would have noticed the oncoming of Super Party. Two giant seven foot wooden football helmets painted like that year's participating teams were placed in his front yard. One year, the Green Bay Packers organization sent my brother the exact color specifications so that we could get the helmet just right. Instead, we got drunk and played ping-pong for an hour, then just painted the damn thing green and yellow.


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Thank you so much for the great comments on the table runner! Really these things are not hard to make, I use a sewing machine and quilt with the sewing machine also. No hand sewing for me! I used the charm pack so the pieces are already cut into 5" squares, so it really feels the work in organizing the fabric and preparing it is already done. And of course it all coordinates beautifully since its all from the same fabric line. What could be easier? I love these charm packs and have a couple more in my stash! I can't wait to tackle my jelly rolls, I bought them because they were a great price, $32 each, and I think I will use them in a split rail design to make a quilt top.
Tea anyone?
I found myself with a free morning yesterday ~ work has been very stingy lately, its either feast or famine. But it gave me time to play with my glaringly white fabric which I have to start Paradigm Lost, which is {gasp} starting tomorrow! November 1st is almost here!! I'm really not a white-white kind of person, I really much prefer warm colours and earthy tones and I have a gorgeous selection of Gloriana purple silks that I have been saving (ahem, hoarding) for PL. I didn't think I liked the way the silks looked against the white linen but since this is such a honkingly large design 363 stitches x 354 stitches, I need a huge piece of fabric. And dear Marg gave me a full yard of 40 ct linen that she had mistakenly bought at a craft sale we were at a few weeks back. So it was time to try my hand at tea-dying.
I used 2 bags of a black tea and 2 cups of water with a smaller piece of fabric to see what I would come up with. And wow, it turned this white linen into a gorgeous shade of amber! I was really pleased with the results. But actually I thought probably a wee bit too dark for PL with my purple silks. So I added a bit more water to the mixture and then took a deep breath and added my PL fabric. This piece came out much lighter, more of a tan shade, I guess between a cream and tan, and actually more of what I was looking for. I guess it was a little lighter than what I wanted, I played with the idea of darkening the mixture with another tea bag, but then I chickened out and thought I could end up something too dark. Besides it was time to take the kids to their dentist appointment.
So here is my final result~ the picture doesn't show the true colour of my final piece which is in the foreground of the picture above - its much nicer in RL. And I'm all set for our PL start tomorrow, my working copy has been made, and my needle is ready. Although I think a couple of the others have cheated and have started or are starting today. Well no Hallowe'en treats for them!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween!
Thank you so much for the great comments on the table runner! Really these things are not hard to make, I use a sewing machine and quilt with the sewing machine also. No hand sewing for me! I used the charm pack so the pieces are already cut into 5" squares, so it really feels the work in organizing the fabric and preparing it is already done. And of course it all coordinates beautifully since its all from the same fabric line. What could be easier? I love these charm packs and have a couple more in my stash! I can't wait to tackle my jelly rolls, I bought them because they were a great price, $32 each, and I think I will use them in a split rail design to make a quilt top.
Posted by Wendy at 7:56 am 23 comments
Labels: Paradigm Lost
Monday, October 29, 2007
Shopping Stash
Here is a picture of some of my stash from the Toronto Needlework show. I didn't get too much cross stitching stash....but I did buy LHN's Home of a Needleworker, which I have coveted for along time! Mostly I bought quilting goodies, lots of fat 1/4's in lovely greens/peaches which were a great price, a pattern for tablerunners to make using charm packs, and of course a charm pack in some pretty fall prints, 2 jelly rolls in lovely dark fall fabrics, and a great kit to make a roly poly Santa. I took a picture of this cute little kit, and somehow lost the picture on my computer somewhere....??
I couldn't resist trying out my new pattern yesterday with the charm pack. The charm pack is a package of 5" squares of fabric which come from one fabric line. I think this one was called Autumn Bounty. All the fabrics of course coordinate beautifully so it makes putting something together so easy. So for dinner last night, we had this lovely tablerunner to grace the table:
We celebrated hubby's birthday Friday night and then on Saturday went to a surprise birthday party for my oldest sister! And Autumn has hit with a vengeance ~ the temperatures dropped to 0 degrees last night! Time to start on a new quilt I think!!
Only a couple of days to go until the Paradigm Lost / Cirque-des-Cercles SAL starts!
Posted by Wendy at 8:41 am 25 comments
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
A very sweet gift
I am so loving my mailman these days, or mailwoman? I don't really see him or her, so I don't even know who delivers the mail. But look what he/she delivered to me from Annemarie ~ one of her wonderfully amazing floss fobs. This delightful fob is amazingly stitched with the tiniest of stitches. I am in awe of her stitching as I can barely see them, so I cannot imagine how she made them! She stitched our initials together on the back, and attached a skein of Gloriana silk in the prettiest of colours, called Autumn Arbor. Am I not incredibly lucky to receive such beautiful gifts from such amazing stitching friends!!!
I'm working at my finishing finishing of my PIF gifts, Monday/Tuesdays are always a wash-out for me because of work in the day and classes at night. Tonight daughter Carrie is bringing her Hallowe'en costume over for some fixing and added touches. The entire crew at the Cancer Centre are dressing up at pirates for Hallowe'en and she also has a party to go to this Saturday night. I hope to get these PIF's done and in the mail soon......I really want to get a couple of Christmas ornaments started.
On Friday, I'm taking the day off work to go to the Toronto Needlework Festival with my sister Karen. Of course there is absolutely nothing that I need, but when does that ever matter? I'm hoping to bring a little something back home with me. Its full of so much creative wonder ... cross stitching, quilting, knitting, scrapbooking.... it will take me the weekend to recover!
Posted by Wendy at 8:14 am 29 comments
Labels: Stitching gifts
Friday, October 19, 2007
Hallowe'en Exchange from Amy
I love a good mail day, I have been hunting down the mail man lately and all he has been bringing lately is junk mail, the kind that goes straight into the recycling bin....or bills, the kind that goes straight into the look at it later bin. But today is Friday and he blessed me with a sweet little package - my Hallowe'en exchange! This came from Amy (Amy Stitches), who I confess to not knowing before now, which is really another great thing about these exchanges, they introduce you to some wonderful stitchers that I would not otherwise have gotten to know.
And look at the most wonderful sweet little pillow she made for me! Its a design by Heart in Hand and she stitched it on a piece of natural banding and used this to finish into an amazing little pillow. Isn't it wonderful! I really love to see the way people come up with finishing things. Its truly inspiring and always wants me to push my creative limits to try more and more things.
And as usual, stitchers are the most generous people. Inside the cool little Hallowe'en baggy, were an assortment of gifties that only stitchers would squeal over - Piecemaker needles, a skein of Vikki Clayton silk called Pumpkin, a skein of Carrie's thread called Harvest Brew and some cute stickers!
Sorry, no stitching pictures from me! I've been hard at work, slogging away at the last of my PIF gifties and hopefully will be able to finish them up this weekend. Then I need to work on my Fair and Square blocks. Then its back to the Neighbourhood RR. I'm afraid my own stitching has fallen way off. But these other things are way too much fun.
Have a great weekend!
Posted by Wendy at 12:06 pm 24 comments
Labels: SBEBB
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
SBEBB Hallowe'en Exchange
Terry (Sylvyrdragonstitcher) received my Hallowe'en exchange. I stitched a design from Prairie Schooler (of course, when in doubt I always fall back on Prairie Schooler) from one of their newest books, #140 Pumpkin Patch. I had in my mind from the beginning to make a sweet bag, so once the I was finished the stitching, I dove into my fabric stash and found some matching Hallowe'en prints to use. I lined the bag with black fabric and found a package of my favourite chocolates to put inside - Lindor chocolate pumpkins!
I have to add a link to my sidebar for the newest blog addition: The Snowbirds' SAL. Dani and Kathy created this blog for all the stitchers who wanted to starting the stitch-alongs on November 1st for Long Dog's Paradigm Lost (which I am starting) and Ink Circle's Cirque-des-Cercles. New members are very welcome.....although the Paradigm Lost members are becoming quite 'lost' - we are fast becoming outnumbered by the Circled group! So we need some help!!! Please join us for the fun!!!
Posted by Wendy at 8:59 am 32 comments
Labels: Paradigm Lost, SBEBB
Friday, October 12, 2007
Thank you Carol!
Isn't it so wonderful to get packages in the mail from such kind hearted stitching friends! Look what Carol made and sent to me for my birthday! She chose "W" for Wisteria from Nature's Alphabet, which she said was her favourite letter on the chart, and stitched this on 32 ct Autumn Fields Belfast, which is actually one of my favourite hand-dyed fabrics! It is such a delicate lovely little fob, I almost don't want to use it, but of course I can't wait to.
And the back side of the scissor fob is just as pretty as the front:
Thank you so much, Carol, for your thoughtful handmade gift! There really is nothing better to get in the mail :-D
I am still recovering from working in our provincial elections on Wednesday. It was such a looooong day, from 8:00 am and I didn't get home until midnight! Whew! Remind me again why I want to do my civic duty? Oh, yes, the nice pay cheque that will be coming my way in a few weeks :-D
Posted by Wendy at 4:11 pm 18 comments
Labels: Stitching gifts
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
My Thanksgiving Turkey
He was finished in time and he was delicious! We had our Thanksgiving at the cottage on the weekend ~ although we had very strange weather for this time of year. Hot - hot - hot! I really didn't like it. I think I much prefer cool weather and bright sunny days, because did I also mention that it rained and rained and rained? Well actually I did see some sunshine for about 20 minutes and I darted about quickly taking some pictures in the sun. The leaves were glorious but it was far too wet to venture very far into the woods, which I really regretted, as I had looked forwards to some wonderful long walks.
Well all that rain did give me a chance to finish up my Harvest Time Turkey, and I worked on a PIF gift, and even pulled out an old WIP, my 4 Saisons Sampler! I had to chase the moths away to find that one!!
I'm afraid though the weekend did have a sour note, one of Nick's cottage friends drowned on Friday night. Nick spent the rest of the weekend with the boy's cousin, they are all the same age. It really just hits home how lucky we really are, how fragile life can be, and what a tragic Thanksgiving this has turned out to be for that poor family.
Posted by Wendy at 8:00 am 32 comments
Labels: Thanksgiving
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
From Harmien
All I can saw is Oooohhh, look at the lovely, lovely treasure I opened from my mailbox yesterday! Dear Harmien sent me one of her magnificent threadkeepers, handmade by her, and engraved with my initials! Isn't it wonderful!!! And she included these gorgeous silk ribbons in the most gorgeous shades of purples. What a fantastic birthday gift to receive!
Thank you so much, Harmien! Its taken a place of honour on my desk right now so I can eye the lovely ribbon colours frequently You certainly brightened up a very dreary day for me, especially one that had started out not very well with a very grouchy 15 year old! Teenagers, who can understand them?
Posted by Wendy at 8:17 am 27 comments
Labels: Stitching gifts
Monday, October 01, 2007
New look, new month!
I found it! I found it! I know, a lot of you have already had this lovely magazine issue in your hot little paws for a while now, but for those of us north of the border, it can sometimes take several weeks before the Ornie Issue starts to appears on our newstands. And after prowling my favourite places, I finally found it at the local Chapters on Saturday afternoon! Hallelujah!!! I couldn't wait to get home and put my feet up with a cup of coffee to peruse all the lovelies inside. Well, not that I'll be stitching one any time soon, but wow, what are all the complaints about that I've been reading on messages boards anyways? I think this is a superb issue? There are lots of wonderful ornaments in here! So....I've been making my list!
And after reading lots of blogs recently and seeing so many changes, it gave me the bug to do something about mine too. So what do you think? Very autumn-y looking! I found a template that I liked, but it was very blue, which would be great for Winter, but not for Autumn, and I was about to hit the button for presto-change-o, when fear took hold. So it took a phone call to my sweet daughter who is much more computer literate than me, and she happily took over and made the changes for me, before I went ahead and quite likely destroyed my blog. And she even created a cool new avatar for me too! I knew there was a reason I had children :-D
Hubby and Nick were away most of the weekend, so it gave me lots of time for sewing, but for some reason my camera isn't wanting to work for me, so no quilting pictures to post....those will have to come! And sorry, no stitching pictures this time around, I'm working hard at my Hallowe'en exchange. Those will have to come too!
But today is a very special day to me ~ its the anniversary of my very first date with my hubby. We had a blind date set up by his brother ~ to a wedding of all things. That was 30 years ago today, 2 days before my 17th birthday. Who would have thought that meeting would have led us here today!
Posted by Wendy at 8:45 am 29 comments


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Climate change poses an unprecedented threat to wildlife- changing, shrinking and destroying their habitats, forcing wildlife to migrate or adapt, or even threatening their very existence.
The Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change warns that if we don't take strong action to address global warming soon, 20-30% of the world's plant and animal species will be at increased risk of extinction by 2050.
Fortunately, there is something that can be done.
This summer, the House of Representatives passed legislation to both reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases that are triggering climate change and take steps to safeguard natural resources and wildlife threatened by the changes in climate already set in motion. Now the Senate is moving on similar legislation recently introduced by Senators Boxer and Kerry.
However, reducing carbon emissions is not enough. Any comprehensive climate and energy legislation must dedicate 5% of the funding generated to safeguarding fish and wildlife and the natural resources on which we all rely.
Our senators should know that their constituents expect nothing less.
Erik Shearer
Bay Ridge


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The British chanteuse has been charming Americans with her single "Lights" and Ellie Goulding is ready to show fans that "Anything Can Happen" with the video for her latest single.
Shot on a picturesque beach in Malibu, Goulding is out to show that all is not as it seems when you first enter her dream world. Big waves crash on the rocks as Goulding appears in a flowing, off-white gown and again, in quick order, wearing all black while sitting in a car with her boyfriend.
She looks otherworldly with her pink hair and dyed blonde eyebrows, while mirror balls float in the background of the rocky beach. But the first clue that something isn't right comes when we see a black t-shirted Goulding crying.
"'Anything Could Happen' is about fate or whether fate exists or not," Goulding says in a behind the scenes interview from the video set.
As the video unfolds the otherworldly Goulding, who is supposed to be a sort of mermaid creature she says, frolics and floats along the beach. Things take a dark turn with the black t-shirt Goulding's nose begins dripping with blood.
"Because I'm weird, I liked having fake blood on me and doing weird, morbid stuff," Goulding says. The whole idea of the video is all reverse so no you don't really know [what's happening.]"
So literally, anything could happen. And then something terrible does as Goulding and her video boyfriend find themselves together in an old Volkswagen Beetle as their car crashes.
"The song itself has a very anthemic feel so I wanted to do a big video with lots of crazy effects, by the ocean and I wanted to involve some sort of 'fateful' activity, i.e. car crash," Goulding explained. "Basically I wanted to do something really epic."
Goulding's second album, Halcyon, is out October 9. "Anything Could Happen" is on Amazon now.
-Courtney E. Smith, CBS Local
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Most Andhras conveniently assume that Telangana Movement is a 'purely political' movement [Read more about "politically motivated" here]. This way they can ignore the protests, bandhs or strikes as an aberration that is sponsored by political parties, but not the norm. This way they can dismiss the entire movement as a mere blip on the radar, something that will fade away with time. And that's why they are trying to buy time and stall the separation. They think that it is just a matter of time before this whole movement will be blown away with the next wind of political change. After that we can all live together again, like a happy family.
The problem with this convenient and idyllic picture is that it is an illusion.
Telanganas do not think it is a happy family. They believe they need to find their own destiny, however harsh it is going to be, on their own. This they believe, not because their politicians have fed lies to them, not because they are suddenly caught in a bout of feverish regionalism, but because they have either witnessed the discrimination, experienced it, or they have understood this prolonged discrimination meted out to their people. In reality Telanganas are suspicious of their own politicians and that's why they are taking the lead and forcing their politicians to follow through their promises.
Andhras do not understand this at all. They do not realize that this is a people's movement. They do not understand what Telanganas believe or feel. They do not even think Telanganas have been discriminated. They ask themselves if they have ever personally discriminated a Telangana person and comfortably conclude that they have not [More about this here]. And therefore they assume that this whole discrimination stuff is a myth.
Andhras and Telanganas are on two different planes on this issue. Any talks with Andhras on separation of Telangana are meaningless. It is like talks with Pakistan on terrorism. India believes Pakistan fosters terrorism while Pakistan denies it completely. If you have not even agreed on the premise what's the point of having talks? While Telanganas cite copious amount of discrimination, Andhras deny discrimination exists.
Andhras don't understand Telanganas. That's because they have never tried to understand them. Their love affair with Telangana was confined to opportunity – in terms of new jobs, real estate in Hyderabad, water that flows through Telangana, etc.
Andhras don't know Telanganas
Yes, Andhras have incorporated Telangana into their state, but they just don't know what this region is all about. They don't know Telangana's history or its culture or its socio-economic conditions. They conveniently forgot to mention its history and culture in their text books as if it was not even necessary.
Now, when they want a united state they keep shouting 'Samaikya Andhra'. They don't even realize that most Telanganas do not even identify with the word 'Andhra'. For Telanganas, the common element for all the people in the state is the language Telugu, not the word 'Andhra' though it appears in the name of the state. Some of us protested during the formation of the state when the word 'Telangana' was dropped.
While Telanganas continue to interact with Andhras because many of them come to Telangana, Andhras living in Andhra do not get that chance since the migration from Telangana to Andhra is minimal. Moreover, many Telanganas who migrate to Andhra region change their accent right away to embrace Andhra Telugu to fit in, so that they don't lose out and don't get taunted all the time. Even some Telanganas in Telangana who have Andhra superiors at work tend to change their dialect to lose Telangana accent. Telanganas are made to feel ashamed of their dialect. For most people in the state, Telangana Telugu represents lower class, the coolies, the workers, the uncouth, and the rustic. This is also the reason why many Telanganas do not even talk about their support for the Telangana movement- because they are either shy or afraid to admit it.
What are Telanganas?
What kind of people are Telanganas? Are they uncouth and uncivilized, speaking a rustic version of Telugu? Are they lazy - shirkers of work? Are they less hardworking and less enterprising? Do they allow people to rule them – first the Nizam and then the majorities of Andhra Rayalaseema?
Telangana Ballads
For nearly two hundred years, Telangana was ruled by an oppressive regime of Nizam. The whole kingdom was in existence only to serve one purpose – to pay taxes and collect taxes. There was nothing much for Telanganas to look forward to. It was an elaborate zamindari system. Nehru called Hyderabad State an 'ancient feudal relic'.
There were not many schools. If there were some, they taught Urdu only to serve the administration of Nizam. The only jobs were government jobs. Tax collectors, policemen, administrators, jury, everyone was appointed by the government. Telugu was not encouraged or taught. For a long time, there was nothing to write or read in Telugu.
And yet, there was a rebellious streak of Telanganas that translated into communist movement rebelling Nizam, before India became independent. Even women took an equal role in this rebellion against Nizam. How did the people talk to each other, how did they spread their message? How did they rally the people to the cause?
African-American Culture
Similarities are found in the movement of Blacks in Americas. Their frustrations, their rebellious streak, their message was passed on by their songs and their music. Their songs carried a message- political and social. Eventually, they found their self-respect, their freedoms, and their voice through their music.
In India, Telangana has long history of ballads that carried political and social messages to all strata of the society. Even today, young boys and girls in our villages create a tune on the spur and most songs are about our lives, our struggles, our economic conditions.
Proud Telangana
I am a proud Telangana. I hail from Warangal, Telangana. As a young boy, I knew some of popular Telangana songs and I used sing some of them. Unfortunately, some of them were eventually banned because they were taken up by Naxals in our region. Only in 1990s, the ban was lifted and many songs came back to us. They were sold as cassettes, nowadays on CDs, and circulated on Youtube.
One of the famous singers of that time was called Gaddar. When Gaddar came out of hiding in 1990, more than 200,000 people showed up in Hyderabad to see him. Telanganas identify with him instantly while he is virtually unknown outside this region. The way he used dress himself was taken up by most Telangana singers of the present generation.
His version of the song 'Bandenaka Bandi Katti' (One cart after another) moves almost every Telangana or Telugu person who has heard it. There is a rebellious streak in that song. It is about fighting for one's place against a superior force or authority. It is the story of a common Telangana person for many centuries now. You can listen to it here:
Gaddar has moved many Telanganas with his songs. He was one of the active participants of Telangana Movement of 1969. He went from town to town and village to village to pass the message using his songs. Though he is a communist, and though communists were anti-separation for a long time, Gaddar stood for separate Telangana and his message is not easily lost on Telanganas. Even today, he comments on current movement and supports it.
Telangana songs
In the last twenty years, many Telangana songs that endorse separate Telangana have proliferated in Telangana. Villages and towns of Telangana have heard these songs. The songs are played in buses, in autos, at tea stalls. Teachers, school going children, college professors, rickshaw pullers, bankers, administrators, and all kinds of people have listened to these songs many a times. The modern day young boys and girls dance to these songs and they are not ashamed of them. They take pride in singing and dancing to them.
While Andhras conveniently ignored and forgotten Telanganas, keeping themselves happy only with Hyderabad city of Telangana, the Telanganas were on a revival mode. They have created songs, pamphlets, booklets, and created many awareness programs, street-side dramas, etc, to educate its masses. These songs clearly told them the discrimination that was meted out to them by Andhras.
Listen to some of them here: Amma Telangana, Jai Telangana, Yelamanda.
Some of you Andhras may get offended by the video and message, but please do listen: Pro-Telangana 1, Pro-Telangana 2.
In the last twenty years, many organizations have sprung up in Telangana to bring in a separate state. Right now, there are more than 15 student bodies that are represented in Telangana Students Joint Action Committee (TS-JAC). Telangana Students Front (TSF) was formed in Kakatiya University, Telangana Liberation Students Organisation (TLSO) in 1991, and Telangana Information Trust in 1986. Political outfits include Telangana Jana Sabha and Telangana Mahasabha. Other organizations include Telangana Intellectuals Forum (TIF) Telangana Development Forum (TDF), Telangana IT Forum (TITF), and Telangana Vidyarthi Vedika (TVV).
Hundreds of books, copious amount of literature have been released in the last twenty years. The books detail the discrimination that was meted out to Telangana in jobs, in power, in irrigation and many other fronts like budget allocations. Professor Jaishankar and many other scholars, lawyers, poets and artists have been powering the intellectual movement in Telangana.
Pamphlets and Jokes
The message was carried by many pamphlets and jokes that were circulating throughout Telangana. Picture is worth a thousand words, they say.
There are many jokes which convey the picture more succinctly, like these.
People's Movement
Telangana Movement is a real people's movement, created by the people, for the people, and of the people of Telangana. Its politicians are just one aspect of the whole movement. They are not even in the lead and might have contributed little to the whole movement. The movement is led by the people of Telangana. People outside Telangana have to confront this reality and accept it.
Some of you Andhras who fail to understand Telangana quickly think it is KCR that created this agitation. The actual message is carried by Telanganas through their ballads, pamphlets, stories, booklets, and street-side plays.
Please give credit to the people of Telangana for this movement, not KCR or TRS. And also do acknowledge that Telangana Movement is a people's movement. Not acknowledging will not allow us to talk on the same table, because you are in a denial mode.


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Northgate Managed Services (NMS) is up for sale and investment banking biz Jefferies International is doing the hawking, claim sources close to the company.
"Northgate Managed Services is up for sale, the reality is that the business has been offered to a number of firms," said a person familiar with the matter.
It is understood bosses at parent Northgate Information Solutions (NIS) want to flog the unit for £100m, but it is unlikely any bid will come close to that valuation. Sources claim NIS wants to focus on its knitting - aka HR and business process outsourcing - and move out of IT infrastructure services.
Mark Fisher, managing director at Jefferies International, is brokering the sales talks, The Channel has learned. NIS - which includes NorthgateArinso, Northgate Public Services and Northgate MS - was acquired by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts in 2007.
NMS's annual turnover to 30 April was up 12 per cent year-on-year to £128.7m, and net profit was £3.7m compared to £240,000 in the earlier twelve months.
In the director's report for those numbers, NMS said it has seen "significant upheaval in its core markets as a result of the shift in government policy and the impact of the [government's] Comprehensive Spending Review".
It added the closure of the UK's Building Schools for the Future programme caused the biggest impact, but claimed it had offset the reduction in public spending through growth in academies, the commercial mid-market, the health market, and the third sector.
NMS also unveiled a portfolio of cloud computing services, including consultancy and public and private products.
Any buyer would need to factor the pension deficit at NMS into the price. As of the end of fiscal 2011, the deficit before deferred tax was £9.58m.
NMS claims on its site it employs 1,150 staff in the UK including 640 engineers. It says it covers 300,000 service desk calls and emails a year, and manages 115,000 PCs, 7,600 servers and 40,000 printers, for about 2,000 customers.
Northgate had not responded to call for comment at the time of writing. ®


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How could we refuse?
Orchestrate! was the perfect solution and so we donated our time for managing the event, and paid for the musicians. The Samaritans took control of raising awareness and recruiting participants (each paying £25 that went straight to the Samaritans) plus more was collected on the day.
The whole day was a roaring success and the total amount raised was £2000.
"I'd like to say thank you so much for providing us with the opportunity to 'Instrumentalise' as part of our Stress Down Day national awareness campaign. It was the most fun I've had in ages and I think that the concept is a stroke of genius. I felt a huge sense of achievement by the end of the performance and can see how effective this would be in helping build stronger teams. Steve had just the right balance between the discipline needed to get 130 people organised and playing together with the element of fun involved. He was an excellent and motivating conductor. I thought the tutors deserved medals for welding groups of complete novices into basic musicians and all done without any tears! It was very impressive".Dominic Rudd on behalf of Samaritans


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The Series:
One of the more successful Canadian comedy TV shows to come around in some time, The Trailer Park Boys has become a bit of a sensation in its homeland and has developed a fairly strong cult following south of the border as well. With the show having proven quite successful, Screen Media Films released the two feature films that were spawned from the series onto DVD, and now Phase 4 dips their toes into the water and brings American audiences the complete first season of the show - all six episodes, uncut.
The series follows the misadventures of three friends who all live in the same Nova Scotia trailer park - a bumbling pompadour wearing small time pot farmer named Ricky (Robb Wells), his buff but rather dim pal Julian (John Paul Tremblay) with rum and coke always in hand, and the strange bespectacled and kitten obsessed Bubbles (Mike Smith). The park is watched over in Gestapo like fashion by an alcoholic former cop named Jim Lahey (John Dunsworth) and his perpetually shirtless, hamburger-eating right hand man, Randy (Patrick Roach).
The series doesn't deviate too much from episode to episode, usually focusing on Ricky and Julian's collective attempts to get their hands on some easy money and their tendency to overdo it with the booze, the drugs, and, well, everything else they can get their hands on. Here's a look at the six episodes that make up the complete first season which originally aired in the spring of 2001 on Canada's Showcase cable channel:
Take Your Little Gun And Get Out Of My Trailer Park: The first episode introduces us to Ricky, Julian, Bubbles, Lahey and Randy when Ricky and Julian are let out of jail on probation. They return to the park to find that a dope dealer named Cyrus (Bernard Robichaud) has been ruling in their place and living in Julian's trailer. Julian tries to deal with Cyrus while figuring out how to get rid of Ricky and clean up his act.
Fuck Community College, Let's Get Drunk And Eat Chicken Fingers: With Ricky living in the car in front of Julian's trailer growing pot in the back seat which squirrels are using as a toilet, Julian decides he's going to leave the park and go to community college. Lahey and Randy won't let him leave unless he takes Ricky with him, but all Ricky wants to do is get drunk and eat chicken fingers.
Mr. Lahey's Got My Porno Tape!: Local white trash would be rapper J-Roc (Jonathan Torrens) decides to get Ricky, Bubbles and Julian to star in a porno movie he's making and they can't say no to the lure of quick and easy money. Lahey and Randy walk in on the set while the movie is being filmed, take the tape, and use it to blackmail the boys, causing Julian to go and get the tape back which leads to an unwholesome discovery about Randy and Lahey's relationship.
Mrs. Peterson's Dog Gets Fucked Up: Julian's aged widowed neighbor, the kindly Mrs. Peterson, is convinced that Julian is her grandson and has no qualms about asking him to dog-sit Sparky for her while she goes for surgery. Julian begrudgingly agrees but makes the mistake of leaving him with Ricky. When Julian comes home, he finds that the dog has eaten all of the pot brownies and that they need to get him to the vet before it's too late.
I'm Not Gay, I Love Lucy... Wait A Minute, Maybe I Am Gay: Julian has grown tired of Lucy's incessant flirting with him and decides the best way to get rid of her would be to get her to marry Ricky. This, however, will require a ring which neither of them can afford, resulting in a scheme involving robbery and an unlikely marriage proposal.
Who The Hell Invited These Idiots To My Wedding?: With Ricky and Lucy's wedding just over the horizon, Julian has to ensure that nothing goes wrong. He and Bubbles decide to take care of the catering by robbing a grocery store but an inebriated Ricky stops them and blows the plan - only to get caught on camera and arrested the next day during the wedding, landing the boys back in the jail they started out in when the series began.
As predictable as the series is plot wise, the fact that so much of it is adlibbed means that at least the dialogue and jokes remain fairly fresh. Yes, much of the humor stems from profanity of it all but the series is in keeping with a certain demographic and so that language is entirely appropriate. The cast involved all play their roles completely straight and never break character even for a second, which adds to the whole 'reality TV' feel that the producers were obviously going for. It works quite well for the most part, though some long distance and crane shots sometimes appear and if you want to nitpick, expose the fact that this isn't all really happening (obviously).
If you sit down and try to get through all six episodes in one sitting, it'll prove to be a little much. The show's repetition can get to be a bit much even if the show is pretty consistent in its laugh delivery. In twenty two minute episodes, however, the show is quite a bit of crassly comedic fun. Here's hoping Phase 4 bring the other seasons to DVD sooner rather than later.
Trailer Park Boys - The Complete First Season is presented in its original 1.33.1 fullframe aspect ratio and looks about as good as it should. The series is made to look and feel like a low budget version of Cops so it's got a rough style to it - lots of shaky camera work and jarring edits help to keep that feel going. Color reproduction is fine so long as you know that it's all supposed to look like the consumer grade video that it's been shot on. There aren't any problems with dirt, debris or print damage and only some mild shimmering and compression artifacts are there to note. The series doesn't look great, mind you, but neither is it supposed to.
The English language Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo track is fine. The levels are well balanced and there are no problems with hiss or distortion. A few scenes have some hefty background noise, but that's intentional, it adds to the whole 'reality TV' thing that the series has going on.
The Extras:
Aside from a few trailers that play before you get to the main menu, the disc includes only episode selection. Otherwise, there are no extras here to speak of.
Some extras really would have been nice here, and the barebones nature is a strike against this disc, but the content delivers and the quality of the release is fine. The Trailer Park Boys - The Complete First Season won't appeal to the easily offended or those who don't find the humor in the seedy side of life, but for those who do, the show delivers plenty of laughs and comes recommended.
Ian lives in NYC with his wife where he writes for DVD Talk, runs Rock! Shock! Pop!. He likes NYC a lot, even if it is expensive and loud.


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Very excited about the development of this shape for kiting, the Firewire guys mentioned on their forum that it should take about 2-3 months still in R&D (post early May).
I hope it's not only 5'4, based on volume the 5'6 would be ideal for me. Also, please do make it available with strap inserts!!