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Jun 06, 2013 (ACCESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- Recent numbers released by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers show that online advertising in the U.S. totaled a record $9.6 billion in the first quarter of 2013, an increase of 16 percent year-over-year. The rapid growing popularity of tablets and smartphones has caused mobile advertising revenues in the U.S. to skyrocket last year. According to the IAB, mobile ad revenues totaled $3.4 billion in 2012, an increase of 111 percent when compared to 2011. Mobile's market share of total digital revenues grew from 5 percent in 2011 to 9 percent in 2012.
Glu Mobile Inc. GLUU, -0.53% shares traded in the range of $2.43 to $2.59 Wednesday before settling to close at $2.44, a decrease of 5.79 percent.The stock appears to be facing resistance at the $2.45 and 2.50 levels. The company recently announced a partnership with Skillz to introduce skill-based, real-money gaming in certain Glu games. Shares of Glu Mobile have gained over 40 percent so far in 2013.
More information on Glu Mobile and access to the free equity report can be found at: www.WallStreetFundamentals.com/GLUU
Millennial Media, Inc. MM, +0.00% shares traded in the range of $7.94 to $8.36 Wednesday before settling to close at $8.02, a decrease of 2.91 percent. The stock appears to have some resistance at $8.36 with support at $7.55. The company is a proven mobile advertising and data platform that has prided its services to 85 of the top 100 Ad Age advertisers in 2012. Shares of Millennial Media have fallen approximate 35 percent so far in 2013.
More information on Millennial Media and access to the free equity report can be found at: www.WallStreetFundamentals.com/MM
Velti Plc VELT shares traded in the range of $1.71 to $1.78 Wednesday before settling to close at $1.75, an increase of 1.45 percent. The stock appears to be facing stiff resistance at $1.95 with some support at $1.58. As the largest mobile marketing provider listed on Nasdaq, Velti reported $189.2 million in revenue for fiscal year 2012. Shares of Velti have fallen over 60 percent so far in 2013.
More information onVeltiand access to the free equity report can be found at: www.WallStreetFundamentals.com/VELT
Zynga Inc. ZNGA, +2.27% shares traded in the range of $2.85 to $3.05 Tuesday before settling to close at $2.87, a decrease of 5.90 percent. The stock appears to be facing resistance at $2.96 with some support at $2.84. The company reported advertising revenues were $34.0 million for the first quarter of 2013 a year-over-year increase of 21 percent. Shares of Zynga are up approximately 21 percent so far in 2013.
More information on Zynga and access to the free equity report can be found at: www.WallStreetFundamentals.com/ZNGA
Wall Street Fundamentals offers our members a full range of investor services including in-depth equity reports on your favorite companies and timely market updates featuring the hottest stocks trending in the marketplace.
Activate your always free membership by signing up at www.WallStreetFundamentals.com today.
Information, opinions and analysis contained herein are based on sources believed to be reliable, but no representation, expressed or implied, is made as to its accuracy, completeness or correctness. The opinions contained herein reflect our current judgment and are subject to change without notice. We accept no liability for any losses arising from an investor's reliance on or use of this report. This report is for information purposes only, and is neither a solicitation to buy nor an offer to sell securities. Certain information included herein is forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements concerning manufacturing, marketing, growth, and expansion. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could affect actual results and cause them to differ materially from expectations expressed herein. Wall Street Fundamentals has no financial relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this release.
Contact: Wall Street Fundamentals Website: www.WallStreetFundamentals.com
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Copyright 2013 ACCESSWIRE


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Each week Precious Little Worlds will be doing a weekly linkup for all Giveaways plus Free Promotion/Samples that are around.
So please join me each week for lots of cool and fun competitions.
Use the #weeklygiveawaysgalore @hstaveley24 on twitter if you have or want me to pop any giveaways on for you or spot.
This week we have our free items-
FREE Max Factor Nail Polish -
Get a FREE iced drink at Cafe Nero with O2 Priority Moments.
chance to receive 1 of 100 FREE Plum samples in their monthly draw.
FREE samples of their natural moisturising lubricant.
FREE steak as part of their 40th birthday celebrations.
Get a FREE Poncho at Halfords with O2 Priority Moments
FREE samples of PaediaSure shake on their website.
Kenco are giving away FREE £1-off coupons to spend on their Millicano Sunlight Blend coffee.
Join the Mothercare baby club today to get a FREE welcome pack
UK parenting and lifestyle blog which will bring you all the latest from reviews, competitions plus amazing money saving deals. Why not join me and my little family on the journeys of being a blogger, so put the kettle on and enjoy a stress free way to get lots of advice without all the hassle.
- About Me
- Baking&Food
- Beauty Products
- Birchblogger Program
- Campaigns
- Choosing The Right Wedding Photographer
- Clothes
- Competitions
- Crafts
- Dental Health
- Diary
- Diet Chef
- Easter
- Fashion
- Funny Bone
- Health/Fitness
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- Kids Corner / Toys+Gifts
- Lush
- Music Festivals
- Music Festivals & Gigs
- My true life story battling depression
- Photography
- Pregnancy & Birth Stories
- Reviews
- Saving Money Offers
- Sensory Activities
- Sites I Love
- Supporters and Sponsors
- Technology
- ThomasLand
- Weddings
Weekly Giveaways Galore 1st-6th July
Posted by Hannah Wood
Labels: Competitions
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subset: commoncrawl


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The lucky winner of a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 blocks is Gill! Gill, I will send you an email asking for your shipping address.
I went to the fabric store yesterday, and look what I saw...
I'm in TWO magazines at once! Of course, I had to rearrange them so that Fons and Porter's Easy Quilts and Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks were next to each other for the photo shoot. Oh and I do apologize to the poor unsuspecting shopper in the background.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
100 Blocks!
Welcome to the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks blog tour. I was so excited to find out that my block was appearing in Volumne 6 of the 100 Blocks magazine!
What could be better than getting into 100 Blocks? How about making the cover! Take a second look at the cover and you will see my block. I'm over the moon!
Elephante features a cute little elephant standing on a patchwork hill. The patchwork hill is easier than you would think. First you piece all of your green patches, then using the pattern, you cut it to size and applique it on.
By flipping the block, you can have a whole row of Elephantes! In fact, I might just be planning a whole quilt based on this block. More to come about that...
Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, look what I found at the Quiltmaker booth during Market. Sooo over the moon!
Volume 6 is chalk full of great patterns made by wonderful designers. The variety of patterns including paper piecing, applique and regular piecing just amazes me. Would you like a free copy? Just leave a comment and one lucky winner will receive a free copy.
Be sure to visit Quilt Maker and the rest of Today's Featured Designers for more chances to win:
- Lisa Bassett relativelycreativepatterns.com/blog/
- Thomas Knauer thomasknauersews.com/
- Debbie Maddy blog.calicocarriage.com/
- April Mazzoleni april-makingendsmeet.blogspot.com/
- Celine Perkins perkinsdrygoods.com/blog/
- Anita Grossman Solomon makeitsimpler.blogspot.com
- Toby Lischko gatewayquiltsnstuff.blogspot.com
- Janelle Noack janellenoack.blogspot.com.au
- Sarah Bisel milkandhoneydesigns.blogspot.com
- Mary Ellen Von Holt littlequilts.blogspot.com
- Debra Gabel zebrapatterns.com
- Cindy Simms cindysimms.blogspot.com
- Valerie Uland mccallsquilting.com/blogs/
Posted by April M. at 9:11 AM 134 comments: Links to this post
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Give Away Winners
I'm running a little behind, but I'm OK with it. I hope you are:) Market seems to have zapped the energy right out of me - in a good way though.
So to catch up...The winners of the pattern give aways are....Kimberly and Pattij! Send me a message at email@example.com letting me know which pattern you would like, and I will send you a PDF version of the pattern.
So to catch up...The winners of the pattern give aways are....Kimberly and Pattij! Send me a message at firstname.lastname@example.com letting me know which pattern you would like, and I will send you a PDF version of the pattern.
Posted by April M. at 9:51 AM 1 comment: Links to this post
Thursday, November 1, 2012
November Hello Sun
Market was amazing! It was so much fun to see all of the new fabric lines and patterns and to meet so many talented people. I think the highlight of the trip was chatting with Maryanne Fons, although Kaffe Fassett telling me that my (homemade) skirt was cool was a close second.
Everyone loved my Mustache Love and Sweet Ride patterns. Jaybird Quilts even tweeted about it!
I was officially there with Moose on the Porch Quilts since we were promoting Spring Time in the Rockies. Konda was nice enough to let Machelle and I launch our new pattern lines. Hopefully it wasn't too confusing.
There is still time to enter to win a copy of my patterns. To enter, just post a comment in the last blog post here. A winner will be chosen tomorrow.
More about market later...now it's time for the November Hello Sun Block.
This sleepy little owl is enjoying a moment in the sun. The instructions are available here. Can you believe there is only one month left?
Posted by April M. at 6:06 PM 4 comments: Links to this post
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Writes The Doryman
of Prescott, Wis.: "Subject: Prevention within our grasp.
"During my many years of retail sales, I would sometimes greet prospects who would decline my offered handshake. I always brushed it off as a-social behavior.
"Now that so many unfortunate folks are dying from the flu, I can see our nation's compulsion to shake hands losing its grip."
Life (and death) as we know it (resp'l)
Ursula from Shoreview: "What an eloquent post by Midnight Angel [BB, 1/15/2013], regarding the time spent with her dying mother. I had a similar experience a few years ago. It was the most difficult thing I had done in my life — and for the most part, the one of greatest importance."
Carolee of Oakdale: "Midnight Angel, relating her experience with her dying mother, reminded me of a poem I wrote after holding my mother in my arms the last hours she lived:
"A Mother's arms
"Hold, and cuddle her tiny bundle
"Wrapped in soft flannel
"A Mother's arms
"Reach for her toddler
"Bringing comfort amid tears
"A Mother's arms
"Cling to all her children
"When they are hurting
"A Mother's arms
"Hold her aging parents
"As life ebbs, and wanes
"A Mother's arms
"Lays them gently down
"One last time
"Yes, a Mother's arms
"Hold her
"Whole world close beside
"And always
"With tender loving care
"Whether child or parent."
In memoriam
And now, sadly, Midnight Angel of Vadnais Heights: "Mom's journey came to an end today. I went up to see her, and her door was closed. It scared me. I opened the door, and the nurse greeted me. Soft music was playing, and a dim light was on. The nurse told me she passed only five minutes earlier. The nurse told me she felt that Mom wanted to go home so I wouldn't have to see her leave. That sounds like Mom. Even in death she is protecting me … making things as easy as she can for me … loving me to the very end.
"I ran my hand over her pretty face, and she was still so nice and warm — but she wasn't breathing. She had her arms crossed over her chest and was cuddling a fluffy little teddy bear. Next to him was her poodle that I had bought her, and a yellow stuffed duck. She looked so peaceful and calm. She could have been sleeping, but she wasn't. My chest was so tight I couldn't breathe, and I knew it was over. She had gone home.
"I have often said Mom carried me under her heart for nine months, and for the rest of her life, she carried me in her heart. Who would carry me now? I've lost the one true person who loved me more than herself.
"I lay down and held her small body for what seemed like an eternity (but it wasn't), crying and talking to her. I wished her luck on her new journey and told her to be sure to give my love to Dad and my husband. She never responded, but I still talked to her. I combed her hair and fixed it around her face; adjusted her bedding and put another touch of her perfume on her.
"The priest came, and he was so tender with her. She had made several Novenas to St. Joseph for a happy death, and I believe St. Joseph heard her prayers. It was time to go. I felt her chin starting to cool, and I knew it was time. I gave her one last kiss and went home to continue my journey, only this time alone and without her. I turned her lamp off; the music had stopped on its own, and I slowly walked out, leaving her in repose.
"Rest in peace, Mom. You were a gift from God, and I was lucky enough to have received that gift."
In memoriam
ET's Wife of West St. Paul: "It is a year since ET's passing, and I have been going through his memorabilia occasionally. Some of his keepsakes are worth sharing. What I would like to share with my BB friends is an article I'm sure came from the BB [Bulletin Board notes: Yes — the Bulletin Board of Oct. 3, 1998] that he had printed and framed and was hanging on the hall wall for lo! these past years. I walked right by it all day without stopping to really read it. My bad! It is headlined 'Lord, protect me from my vast store of wisdom!':
" 'A prayer for the age(d)s: It comes to us from Nell McF.:
" ' "Dear Lord, thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older and someday will be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from the craving to straighten out everybody's affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all but Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.
" ' "Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others' pains, but help me to endure them with patience.
" ' "I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.
" ' "Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not want to be a saint (some of them are so hard to live with), but a dour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people. Give me the grace to tell them so.
" ' "Amen." '
"This was ET right to the end!"
See world
And: The vision thing
Christy of Menomonie, Wis.: "The complimentary continental breakfast had been served at the critter cafeteria when I heard hubby yell: 'You missed it! A squirrel just slid down the pole like a firefighter.'
"A little later, I saw a squirrel slide down the same pole — but this squirrel slid down nose first, with its tail in the air. I thought: Firemen? Not so much — more like strip-club pole-dancers."
Out of the mouths of babes
Wicki-Yah: "Granddaughter Emma, 3 years old, loves Disney movies, especially those about princesses. She had to have a prince doll for Christmas so her princesses could experience 'love's first kiss.'
"But obviously she doesn't have it all figured out! My daughter reports that after she read Emma a bedtime story about Molly and Wally (mice) and their Valentine surprise for each other, Emma asked why they would give each other gifts. Her mother told her: Because they love each other. Emma flipped onto her back in her bed and said: 'I will NEVER get this!'
"Hopefully, she has a few more years to work on it."
Band Name of the Day: First Kiss
Website of the Day: The astonishing story of Nick Vujicic, at http://tinyurl.com/nick-can


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Give Now
Heather Tallman is using her homemade strawberry preserves in this fruity treat.
Strawberries and rhubarb make a classic pairing of flavors in this simple springtime dessert.
Making your own jam or jelly is not difficult at all. All that's needed are canning jars, pectin, lemon juice, fruit and a sweetener.


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I spent another distressing four hours in traffic on Monday morning due to the well-worn habits of the Sea Lots residents. I am absolutely sure that the nation's capital barely progressed on Monday but no one says a word about the loss of productivity as a result of this protest action.
Whilst I share grief with the rest of the nation over the gruesome loss of lives on Sunday I truly believe that this protest action was uncalled for. I understand that the family members would be distraught over the incident but is it necessary for the residents to go to such extremes?
Since 2013 kicked off, we have seen accidents nearly every week! The number of road fatalities rose every time we blinked but were there fiery protests and violent acts committed against the authorities every single time there was an accident? What would be the state of Trinidad and Tobago if such occurred? We would have police and fire officers scrambling all over the place and the country would have gone into a state of anarchy!
To me, it seems as though some of these individuals who are claiming to be fighting for justice are just on the streets to cause mischief and mayhem.
This is a golden opportunity for them to flounce in the streets and flaunt their "bad-john" behaviour as though they rule this country with their ferocity. They couldn't wait to turn the whole story around and attack the police, who have been sniffing them recently, as "grieving citizens".
Time after time we have seen them do nothing but disrupt the country and attack innocent motorists and the police.
Trevor Gore
San Juan


text: Click on the question buttons (left) to navigate to the questions, type your answer in the text area provided below each question and then click the submit button (your answer will then appear below the text area). After answering a question, click on the answer button to view a sample answer. Compare your answer to the sample answer. If your answer is significantly different, I suggest you examine how you arrived at your answer. Instructions for saving this page with your responses.


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|Half Baths
|1,450 sq. ft.
|Property type
|Minimum Stay
|2 - 5 nights
Luxury With Meadow Access
About Your Accommodations
The views from this condo are worthy of a postcard—enjoy the "wall of glass," the east-facing picture windows that look across Kirkwood Meadow and onward to Red Cliffs. The roomy, open plan living area of this residence is ideal for medium sized groups looking to socialize and entertain. With ample natural light, and a small balcony there, there are many ways to take in the crisp mountain setting. The second floor master suite is equipped with a king, and the guest room sleeps two on one queen. A second full bath ensures everyone has space to prepare for their day as well as clean up after skiing. A Serta Air mattress sofa bed and half bath off of the living room offers extra guests a comfy spot to rest for the night.
About the Property
Lost Cabin Townhomes are finished with rustic log and stone accents and offer expansive views of Kirkwood Meadow and Red Cliffs—a true combination of a cozy home atmosphere and a beautiful mountain setting. Each residence has been designed with space in mind, making the most of the open concept living areas and maintaining privacy in the bedroom layout. These townhomes are nestled in the Kirkwood Meadow just a few steps from horseback riding, hiking/biking and cross country/snow shoeing trails.
The Amenities
You're just a short walk away from five chair lifts as well as the restaurants, retail shops, and other amenities in the Village Plaza. Each townhome has a private 1 car garage and extra outdoor parking for guests. These residences were designed with style and taste in mind for the refined traveler.
Sleeping configuration:
Master bedroom - King bed
Guest bedroom - Queen bed
Living room - Sofa bed (special air-mattress bed)
Sleeps 4-6 total
Close to lifts
Beautiful views of mountain and meadow
2 decks
Gas BBQ
In-floor zone heating
Access to outdoor swim & recreation center w/ 2 hot tubs
1 car garage and 1 outdoor parking space
No elevator - Stair access only
Next to cross-country meadow
Public WiFi and telephone at The Lodge lobby
Swimming, fishing, biking, boating, snowboarding, skiing, zipline tours


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** The reason why I mention vignetting, is because if you put a lens with a smaller image circle on a larger imager of a different format, there will be vignetting. Nikon mentions this fact with their DX lenses. The same would hold true for any lens with an image circle smaller than 36mm x 24mm in size (35mm format).
As you can see by the above table, the term "FOV Crop" is limiting to only a specific situation. Now, let's create a table with FOVEF, and see how compatible it is...
For example, in the case of Nikon, their DX lenses produce a FOVEF of around 1.5, and the Olympus Four Thirds system, has a factor of 2. In the case of a smaller lens being put on a larger imager, you will get vignetting, but there will be a field of view equivalency factor of the area which is captured by the imager. In the case of a larger lens being put on a smaller imager, the same is true. Now remember, the only reason FOVEF exists, is because we're comparing it to another system (normally a 35mm system). If we had matched lenses on matched sensors and did not compare them, theoretically we wouldn't need FOVEF. But since we have been so used to using 35mm systems, this is the system we compare it to when smaller sized imagers and non-35mm lenses are introduced.
Instead of thinking in terms of a "crop", we are now thinking in terms of what a particular image looks like if we had a 35mm system. We are also getting more accustomed to using the angles of view of a given lens. Once we learn what a given lens AOV is, it will be much easier for us to understand what each format can offer our photography interests.


text:
- Properties
- Agents
- Offices
- About the Area
- News
- Videos
- About Us About Us
- Preferences
- Back
- Change Currency:
1 of 9
One of the most exclusive and internationally known addresses in the world, this beautifully renovated 1100+/- sq ft residence, situated on a high floor, is filled with light and open airy City views. Apartment opens into a large gallery, leading to the west facing living room with built-in bookshelves, open dining room, and full bath. The quiet, serene master bedroom with ensuite bath faces east. A small streamlined chef's kitchen off the foyer enhance the entertaining quality of this gracious and sophisticated New York home. Full hotel amenities, include maid service, 24 hour room service, concierge doormen, attended elevators, health club with spa, business center, bar, restaurant, laundry, valet and garage. Complete sound system in the living room and bedroom is included in the sale. Furniture available for purchase. Owners receive preferred discounts on all services. Corporate and trust ownership permitted.Sublets under 6 months do not require Board approval. Pets ok.
Global Real Estate Advisor, Associate Broker
m: (917) 744-1724
o: (212) 606-7791


text: Yea, basically done. I should download some more data from PG&E and make a report in a couple weeks. On Sun, Mar 25, 2012 at 14:37, Will Sargent <will.sargent at gmail.com> wrote: > So at least as of the 6th, the kitchen was shut off so that SuperQ > could measure the power consumption: > > https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Meeting_Notes_2012_03_06 > > It's clearly in usage now, as there's a bunch of people using it to > cook and clean. Anything happen off list, is kitchen testing > completed, etc? > > Will.


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Hoyer Discusses Syria and Preventing a Government Shutdown on Bloomberg TV
Stephanie Young, 202-225-3130
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) discussed the situation in Syria and the need to prevent a government shutdown on Bloomberg TV's "Political Capital" with Al Hunt last night. Below are excerpts and a link to the video.
Click here to watch the video.
On Syria
"Clearly, I don't think we can allow [the negotiations] to be used as a delaying tactic. This has to be either real, as Secretary Kerry pointed out, specific, and immediate, but whether it's days or weeks, but certainly not longer than weeks where we get to a place where we think this is real. …I think the military option needs to be on the table. The only reason the Russians made this offer, the only reason Assad has indicated he's now going to sign the chemical convention is because of the threat of military force. … Both Leader Pelosi and I...neither one of us believe the President is required to come to Congress in this instance, and could act on his own. ... The President has made it very clear that he is going to take action if this is not resolved."
On Preventing a Government Shutdown
"It makes no sense to shut down government. That's our responsibility. You can argue about what level you want to spend at, what activities you want to do, but no American believes we want to shut down the government, and certainly I don't want to shut down the government. Democrats don't want to shut down the government, nor does the President. On the other hand, we're not going to be bludgeoned and blackmailed into adopting something with respect to the health care bill that the voters rejected."
On the Sequester
"First of all, I believe the sequester is an irrational, common sense defying, fiscal policy. We ought to make rational decisions, based upon programmatic justifications, on the defense side and on the domestic side."


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I've been hearing a lot of buzz about Dad's in Heaven with Nixon, a documentary by filmmaker Tom Murray that was first shown last April as part of Autism Awareness Month. In the film Tom tells the story of his younger brother Christopher, now 50, who suffered oxygen deprivation at birth and was eventually given a diagnosis of autism.
"We should watch this film," I told my husband. "Do we have to?", he sighed. "This is our life. Can't we watch something that will make us laugh?" So I let it go.
Then last week, someone sent me a link to the trailer for the film. I watched it. I was intrigued. I ordered it from Amazon and the second it arrived in my mailbox I started watching it, was riveted, and forgot to make dinner for my family. I ended up microwaving hot dogs and garnished them with fanned lettuce.
What I loved about Dad's in Heaven With Nixon was it's many layers, and how the filmmaker Tom Murray, Christopher's brother illuminated them:
–Mother Janice Murray's premonition about her unborn child–her rejection of the experts conclusion that his prognosis was bleak, her declaration that "what Chris needs is love," her campaign to "pull out" all of Chris's potential with his siblings help.
The only person she couldn't get on board was her husband, Thomas E. Murray II, who was in denial about his son's issues. They were too difficult for him to acknowledge or accept.
But there is more.
When Tom Murray decides to incorporate family movies spanning from the 30's to the 60's to show the backdrop of his happy family's history, he finds chaos, and a legacy of mental illness. His
great-grandfather was Thomas E. Murray, whose inventions and patents would be the source of the clan's wealth. His grandfather, John F. Murray, a commissioner of the Port Authority under Franklin Roosevelt. He hobnobbed with Al Smith and Jimmy Walker, and was a bipolar alcoholic who died at 37. He also hated his youngest son, Tom Jr. and Chris's father, who also suffered from bipolar disorder.
Those of us with children with autism pay close attention to the neurological health of our ancestors and wonder about its impact on future generations.
My favorite layer of this story is the "mother" layer, and Janice's determination to make sure that Christopher had as full a life as possible. Those efforts seem to have paid off. Christoper has lived independently for the last 25 years. He LOVES his independent life, friends, two jobs and his life in New Haven, Connecticut. He is an incredibly talented artist, and his paintings are sought after by collectors in New York and beyond.
I'll conclude my gushy review with a quote from a New York Times review:
"It is not about a disability, but about a family that has encountered disability, and there's a big difference."
The film runs of Showtime occasionally and is presently available on Amazon and iTunes. The Murray family has asked Netflix to pick it up as well. Please add it you queue.(You won't regret it). Netflix only distributes films which they determine have a high demand.
Click here to learn more about this amazing film.
You might ALSO want to read the first three chapters of my book HERE, and read some reviews HERE.
FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK and TWITTER
In case you wondered, I'm happy to talk to your group.
GO HERE to learn more.
Send me your questions here at firstname.lastname@example.com and I will do my very best to help.


text:
No Excuse for No Experience: Four Foolproof Ways to Fill Holes in Your Resume
"I can't get a job… I don't have experience."
This convenient cliché apparently applies to students, recent graduates and those in career transition. And, like most clichés, it exists for a reason… generally it's true–at least in the moment said.
However, If you're still saying that three months from now…
Well… there's no excuse.
There are many relatively painless ways to remove the "no experience" void in your resume. On the 1 to 5 scale, let's take a look at the best options available:
1. Internships (5 out of 5. A no-brainer)
Internships are the single best method of getting past the "no experience" gatekeeper.
In an internship, you gain:
- Industry-relevant experience over a short period of time
- The chance to show a prospective employer your potential
- The opportunity to network–online and offline–with influential individuals in your chosen field
There are literally thousands of internships available across the country, right now–it's highly likely an internship exists in your field, and near you. And, over half the postings on YouTern are tagged as "virtual," meaning you can work around your existing schedule, from anywhere.
Think internships are only for college-aged applicants? Think again! You're never too old for an internship–and many in career transition, regardless of age or experience, are turning to internships to fill gaps in experience.
To find a dynamic internship go to YouTern, or see your career center professional.
2. Volunteer (4 out of 5, maybe more)
"The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others." - Mahatma Gandhi
I was recently on a panel discussion with Joi Gordon, CEO of Dress for Success. When we were asked a sure-fire way to get the attention of influential people, the immediate answer from this amazing, dynamic leader was: "Volunteer!"
She went on to give specific examples where the passion, work ethic and character of a potential employee was clearly on display during volunteer activities – and that she would go out of her way to recommend someone who volunteered right along with her.
This is true in many arenas: start-ups, non-profits, charities, church and civic activities, and more.
Volunteering makes your best character traits come alive – mostly because you feel good about yourself while helping others. Many times, this happens in front of influential people who can make a difference in your career, providing you with connections and recommendations.
Get out there, show your passion, hustle… and someone will notice.
To immediately dive into volunteerism, take a look at Habitat for Humanity, Feeding America, or a change-oriented non-profit in your area.
3. Entrepreneurship (3.5 out of 5)
Essentially, there isn't much difference between searching for a job and searching for customers – both, in their own way, pay the bills. Many businesses–especially small businesses and start-ups–would much rather pay "You, Inc." for 10 hours a week for your specialty than hire a new employee.
Perhaps you have a knack for social media, public relations, event planning, marketing, graphic design, or spreadsheets. These are valuable–and marketable–skills.
Think you can't afford to start your own business? Wrong. Look what you can do for about $100.00:
- Domain Name and Web Hosting, 1 year: $84 (BlueHost)
- Business Cards: $19 for 250 (Smartlevels.com)
- WordPress: Free
- Advertising through TweetDeck, LinkedIn and Facebook: Free
- Google Docs: Free
- Elbow-grease and confidence: Free
Hint: To get an idea of the resources available to those with blossoming entrepreneurial spirit, we strongly encourage you to join two Twitter chats: #entrep Sundays at 7:00 p.m. Pacific and #smallbizchat Wednesdays at 5:00 p.m. Pacific.
Also, check out a great example of someone that has taken this exact approach to work, and life: OfficialTherefromHere.com.
4. Passion, Ambition, and Guts (depends on you… at least a 3.5 out of 5)
A recruiter's definition of passion: "Are you excited to come to work at the company I'm representing?"
Fast forward to when you're running your own department, or business…
Who would you rather work with, and trust with the future of your company: A) the stale, over-confident loner with ten years of experience? Or B) the person who walks in displaying confidence, a passion for the work and the team, and who obviously has a clear path to success?
I choose "B." Every single time.
Not sure how to make that kind of impression during the interview? Walk in with a strong handshake, good eye contact, and an unsolicited, unexpected "plan."
Hint: Bring in a well-thought out marketing strategy, a social media plan to extend brand awareness, or a thorough analysis of the competition. Then, lean forward in your chair, and walk the recruiter through your ideas with unbridled passion and this phrase: "I've taken the liberty to…"
By the time you're done, you'll be shaking with adrenaline. And so will the person you just talked to about your job.
For more discussion on the topic of "Passion, Ambition, and Guts," see our blog: Internship Seeker: Heal Thyself.
How many of these practical tips apply to your job search?
Since none of them are mutually exclusive – your answer may be "all of the above."
You can certainly engage in a 10 to 20 hours per-week internship while volunteering Saturdays or Sundays. It is more than possible to build a blog or website and get business cards in a few man-hours. And by spending just a couple hours a day, you can spread your entrepreneurial message through Twitter and Facebook.
Now, incorporate passion, ambition, and guts into this new-found job search process…
Three months from now, you won't need an excuse for lack of experience.
About the Author: A passionate supporter of Gen Y talent, YouTern CEO Mark Babbitt is a serial entrepreneur and mentor. Mark has been quoted in Forbes, Mashable, ReadWriteWeb, and Under30CEO.com regarding internships, emerging talent and the current job market – and was recently honored to be named to GenJuice's "Top 100 Most Desirable Mentors" list.


text:
{Sleek & Strong} CropTop + Trousers
I think it's fair enough to say that the crop top has not only made a come back, but it has also grown up! I styled my crop with a pair of high waisted trousers, for a more polished look.
I've always had a more feminine & girly aesthetic, but ive been playing around with the concept of a more sleek & minimalistic look Although we work out of an office here with the Chriselle INC. team, there are rarely any moments to rock a sleek power suit. And after months of wearing flowy dresses, all of a sudden I have the urge to wear pencil skirts & trousers!
Photography by Jana From Alabama
Hope everyone has a beautiful day, thank you for stopping by!
|TOP| Topshop
|TROUSERS| H&M (similar one HERE)
|PURSE| Jimmy Choo
|SHOES| Zara
Love your trousers and that adorable bag!! 🙂
Chriselle is the most Beautiful woman in the world!
Aren't you a beauty! I absolutely love this sporty look 🙂 those trousers are amazing 🙂 x
Super cute! Loving the crop top! X0
you look gorgeous!
I love this outfit!!! So cool.
xoxo, Diana ☠
I love the shoes!
As always – stunning…I would like to see at least one photo of you standing…
And guys – please visit my new blog, it's called "Michaela's Fashion Police" so you sure can guess what is it about :)) thank you!!!
I love this look. I like that you don't stick to a strict dress code in your office. It let's people be creative.
wonderful crop top!
Fabulous outfit! You look stunning! Cute bag!
I love everything about this!! You look great!!
WOAH!!!! Nice one Chriselle! You look very chic and pretty here! Love the black and red hue! Love the bag! This time, I can say that this outfit is perfect! you look gorgeous!
Click here to visit T.Size Small
Red suits you so well. You look great & I love your bag!
Love this look! The color combo is classic, and those shoes are perfect!
Juliette Laura
Love the shoes and bag! You have a really great style!
Love love this look! Nice pants.xxx
NEW POST http://sapphire-brushstrokes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/indoor-shoot-orange-and-leather-panels.html
That's a beautiful outfit! You look lovely.


text:
I am using quaere to get the common elements from 2 ArrayLists that hold objects of the same type.
I get out of bounds exception that does not make any logical sense.
The first ArrayList has 20 elements and the second 9 and i get the following error:
java.lang.IndexOutOfBoundsException: Index: 16, Size: 16
If it would be of any help I am using the following query:
join("supportedconcept").in(listSupportedConcepts) .on("concept.id").
equals("supportedconcept.id").select("concept").it erator()
I would really appreciate your help.


text:
I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for barrel aged barleywines. I seriously love them. A local brewery that doesn't get enough praise is DuClaw Brewing Company. They make some wonderful beer and when I saw Hell on Wood, I grabbed a few bottles. The bottle says that it is a barleywine style ale that is aged in bourbon barrels. It also rocks in at 10.6% ABV. A true sipper.
Hell on Wood pours a nice reddish brown color with a slight haze. The head is light tan and thin, but doesn't fade quickly. The nose is wonderful and full. It starts with a deep, dark, almost burnt caramel aroma. The caramel is surrounded by some "traditional sweetness" that really rounds out the malt character. A good helping of bourbon, oak, and vanilla follow though. I didn't much if any hops which is generally how I like my barleywines.
The taste generally follows the nose. It begins with some strong caramel notes. Bourbon hits next. It's a clean and spicy bourbon that cuts through the sweetness of the malt. A really solid, but not overpowering, oak flavor comes in next and really adds a great layer of complexity and depth. There is some heat towards the end of the taste. Surprisingly, it's a balanced heat if there is such a thing, and it makes for a great flavor note. Hell on Wood finishes with a nice earthy/piney hop flavor that adds a touch of bitterness.
This beer stays a lightly sweet throughout but it's enjoyable and still close to a perfect balance. It drinks thick and chewy; like I said, a sipper. I rather enjoyed this barleywine. It has a great combination of flavor, complexity, and aromas that make a barleywine an enjoyable drinking experience.


text:
After a tweet from Ms Sue Tyler that daddy-blogging is all the rage now, and seen as it consumes all the brainpower not devoted to keeping myself out of trouble at work, I thought I would relent. After all, Sue almost single-handedly revived the Wellington craft market scene, and is an early-adopter in many respects.
But, we'll steer this conversation away from anything resembling cutesy-pie. No, "Chef Du Plunge" learned to say "WTF?" round here…
I was privvy to a conversation the other day between some women who were discussing children, and it turned towards the amount of time they've spent away from their newborns. Well… actually… I was eavesdropping, but it was in a good cause, I promise. One woman stated that she regularly leaves the infant with her partner and heads out of the house, thereby allowing herself to spend time with friends, clear her head, get a little exercise, etc. Second Chef enjoys this too, and I actively encourage it. Another woman stated that she had not spent more than three hours away from her child in 8 months, and was almost appalled at the first woman for spending time away.
Now, ignoring that I'm simplifying this conversation, most of which was between people I didn't even know, the near-accusation of neglect on the part of the mother I can only describe as 'clingy' was pretty surprising to me. CDP and I have "father-son" day on Sunday, and it makes me appreciate his yelling all the more! At least I've learned to distinguish 'hungry' from 'tired', and get to teach him things his mother doesn't.
As an aside, it is amazing how quickly we've fallen into Second Chef nurturing him, and me coaching and encouraging him. Last Sunday's accomplishment was 'reaching for things'. Not hugely successful just yet, but we're getting there. I reckon one more week and he might actually realise it's his hand holding that shiny rattly thing.
Back to the conversation. It soon emerged that the 3-hour woman couldn't believe the get-out-for-a-coffee/cake woman didn't worry that her partner wouldn't hurt their child. I was gobsmacked. I know for certain that Second Chef doesn't worry about me in the slightest, so it was quite revealing that 3-hour woman was in this space. I surely she could leave the child with someone else, but chances are that she would worry about them too?
I thought about this a lot over the next few weeks, and tried to observe families around the city, which is one benefit of living close to sooo many people. In conjunction with consideration I've given to this in the past, including fatherhood role models I've copied, what I concluded is that men are possibly and sometimes excluded from active parenting because of kind of anxiety by mothers. The depth of this exclusion varies, but ownership of a baby is frequently afforded to the mother, and the father is relegated to a safe support role with things like 'fetching'. In part this is because men haven't been given models of active fathering, but sometimes this is because the mother has been given a boundary-oriented, passive, and "protective" model for fathering (which again speaks to the capacity for violence).
Second Chef was educated for a time in Hong Kong, and before we had CDP she'd often comment about how you can often see Asian men out with their children, and how it was different to the traditional New Zealand pattern of woman and child, maybe Dad tagging along. I watched for this, and observed it as well. It is not always the case, but is frequently true.
What I'd be interested in knowing is the extent to which this is tied to the fear of male violence? I is true that men are often considered a danger to children, in many ways, and for that reason there is an uneven undercurrent of distrust. A friend commented on this after his divorce. While married he was just Dad, but afterwards he was aware of people paying a little more attention to his relationship with his daughters. Almost overnight he became a potential threat.
It worries me that I hear this type of concern. A society where men are engaged with their children, and considered safe, is healthy for families and fathers. One where men are excluded, and where their ability to own part of their child's development is curtailed is one in which children can start of become "other".
And so what's the way round this? I dunno. I'm still thinking that my thoughts are muddled on this. What I do know is that taking an active role in the boys' life is an inherent good, and the least I can do is encourage other fathers to do the same. Even though it's miserable when the guys are out on a stag night and you're at home helping take care of a sick wee tacker.
Better than the alternative though aeh? Isolation.


text:
News, help and discussion of the Samsung Galaxy S7.
Mophie Powerstation
How do I flash the 930V software to my phone
Use this control to limit the display of threads to those newer than the specified time frame.
Allows you to choose the data by which the thread list will be sorted.
Order threads in...
Note: when sorting by date, 'descending order' will show the newest results first.


text:
Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce that the 2013 Distinguished Professor awards were approved by the Board of Trustees at the April 5, 2013 meeting. The Distinguished Professor awards are overseen by the Central Washington University Faculty Senate.
The Distinguished Professors are:
Karl Lillquist, Geography
Distinguished University Professor, Teaching
Daniel Herman, History
Distinguished University Professor, Research
Joan Cawley Crane, Art
Distinguished University Non-Tenure Track Faculty, Teaching
Please join me in congratulating the Distinguished Professors Lillquist, Herman, and Cawley Crane on this prestigious honor.
Thank you,
Marilyn A. Levine, Ph.D.
Provost/Vice President for Academic and Student Life
Event Type:
Post to Staff Intranet
Post to Student Intranet


text:
YouLive-liberating live-show anchors, opening the blockchain and introducing online stars to a new dimension
For the hot current blockchain status, I personally think that in a rational hug, keep mad, to be crazy, to remain rational. Of course, as a de-centralized technology engine, blockchain can surely change the world. I expect that by 2018, the number of public chains will soar, and that side chains and the application of decentralized blockchain to the floor will blossom. Therefore, investing in blockchain and digital assets is an exciting prospect.
For a long time, the application of blockchain on the floor was a hot topic. In my opinion, applications on the floor usually land when large-scale public chain competition starts. In the current market, which is extremely hot, the future is a blockchain landing, very fast scene. Meanwhile, the data shows that the global direct broadcast industry is experiencing a period of rapid development. It is estimated that the market size will increase from 30 billion U.S. dollars to 100 billion U.S. dollars from 2017-2020.
As we all know, since its birth, blockchain has become famous for its many technical features, such as decentralization, intermediation, distributed data books, and non-tampering. For the current live broadcast market, blockchain can be optimized. There is even room for subversion.
The current pain point in the video broadcast industry is quite extreme. The Monopoly Live Platform and the anchor brokers gained most of the audience's spending through unequal separation schemes. For webcast anchors, creating live broadcasts over an extended period of time generates intense pressure. At the same time, anchors are forced to accept different levels of exploitation. As a viewer, you may have given a dollar to an anchor you like, but that anchor will actually receive only 20 cents. Content-sharing (Influencer) – the sharing of high-quality content so that the live broadcast platform gets a lot of Internet traffic – grabbed a huge amount of advertising revenue. However, content sharers (Influencer) did not benefit. Advertisers (Advertiser) hope to negotiate advertising prices with the anchor. When advertising through an influencer, it is often possible to increase the advertising costs through intermediary layers, such as the live platform and the brokerage company. This often causes the advertisement cost to exceed the budget.
All this is due to the centralized broadcast platform, the current problems presented, nor is it just a few live giants, scatter the yuan, you can solve.
YouLive has liberated live-show anchors and opened the blockchain, introducing live-show anchors to a new dimension.
YouLive is a very popular project in the global blockchain. Much like PROPS and GIFTO, YouLive attracts market attention due to its application of tokens in the main live broadcast system.
YouLive's vision is built on blockchain technology. It is the world's first truly decentralized live-to-social platform that enables real-time sharing of social media and social networking using community-based autonomy through disruptive values, recognition, and a value allocation mechanism. All participants in the ecology can be obtained directly from the other side of the value of affirmation.
Personally, I think the YouLive team has brought blockchain technology back to the scene through quality improvement. Therefore, YouLive's future value may surprise users and even investors.
Strictly speaking, at present, the international market contains many centralized broadcast platforms and even giants. However, in 2017, live-show anchors and video ecology into the inflection point. Platform requirements for the anchor have become more stringent. Most anchor platforms do not offer platform support, and do not allocate traffic or bonuses to the anchor. This is a very unfair situation.
The YouLive team will revolutionize this irrational ecosystem and build a decentralized platform through blockchain technology to subvert the broadcast industry's operating modes and achieve fair value recognition and a value distribution mechanism. The economic incentive system itself into a system that can circulate within the system. By using a decentralized mechanism, one receives economic encouragement equally on the YouLive platform and also realizes an endless stream of content creation.
YouLive is a platform-based, real-time content-sharing platform based on Windows, It provides the real-time ability to share "shares," and well as engage in social networking and circle building in a community-based format. It has a fair value recognition and value allocation mechanism so that all participants in the ecology directly from the other side of the value of affirmation.
To be sure, Ethereum's network congestion has caused very slow changes in the flow of digital assets, while other public chains are relatively less sophisticated in terms of performance and user experience. As the next generation of decentralized public chain, Ælf will significantly outperform the current public chain in global markets in terms of network throughput and performance. Therefore, YouLive will be fluent in the digital asset experience.
I had to like for the decentralized blockchain entrepreneurs. While the world is imperfect, technology can change everything. I also believe that, in the future, the anchors who broadcast live on the YouLive platform will be bright stars in the phone interface.
YouLive is already on its way toward changing the world of live-show stars.
Media Contact
Company Name: YouLive Foundation
Email: [email protected]
Country: Singapore
Website: www.youlive.io


text:
I use Narciso Rodriguez For Him.
Hi guys,
Please a recommendation of a night/club scent, excepting Le Male, M7, Joop!, Diesel Fuel For Life, One Million, A*Men, Xeryus and Body Kouros which have used. Preference that women like
Sorry for english, I´m not american
I use Narciso Rodriguez For Him.
Pure Malt
Ambre Sultan
giorgio for men
Black Soul by Ted Lapidus
Santos De Cartier
1+ Opium Pour Homme
A*Men Pure Malt
Gucci Envy (its getting discontinued)
Rochas Man
Armani Code
La Nuit de L'homme
Dior Homme Intense
Acqua di Giò is my guilty pleasure. What's yours?
I know it's over hyped but it really works: Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler
My blog: http://scentedpassion.blogspot.com/
Angel men, it is assessable, reasonably priced, strong and sweet and lasts all night.
AMen, Pure Malt, really??? I'd think once you get all sweaty and hot it'd become horribly intense and unbearable to anyone within 10 feet of you. Maybe I'm wrong. My approach when planning on dancing and/or getting hot is to wear something super light and apply sparingly. Typically an edc of some sort. That's just me, though.
Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur
Parfumerie Generale Cedre Sandaraque
Eau d`Italie Baume du Doge
And if you want the women getting "week in their knees", go for Divine L`homme Sage!
-For summer use : Penhaligon`s Endymion.
Thank you guys!
Those mentioned, which would be worth a blind purchase?
Keep help me!
anything is worth buying blind if you really like it's smell..
(in other words, go to a store and test them)
Hypnotic Poison
Pure Malt
La Nuit De L'Homme
Armani Code
Rochas Man
These are proven to work very well in club settings.
Between these that we said:
Blind buy IMHO: A*Men, Opium, Pure Malt, Rochas Man, La Nuit De L'Homme
Not Blind buy IMHO : Santos De Cartier, Ambre Sultan, Gucci Envy
(Other ones i didn't try them)
Black XS
Please feel free to check out my Swap Thread - Patou pour Homme, L'Instant de Guerlain PH Extreme, Dior Homme Intense, Pure Malt, Pure Coffee and many more! Click Here For My Swap Thread
The two that have worked best for me are Armani Attitude and Canali Black Diamond.
Rochas Man and Paco Rabanne Black XS
I don't like them on me, but they're popular with the ladies. Black XS smells like sweet strawberry jam. Since women like the sweet scents, voila.
Last edited by adonis; 30th November 2010 at 10:41 AM.
Of the aforementioned that I have not tried, to buy I found: La Nuit, Rochas Man, Opium, Dior Homme Intense, Narciso Rodriguez For Him and Black Soul. Which of these is better?
Rochas Man is youthful, to me it smells very much like stronger Axe Dark Temptation.
Opium is very strong, very sweet and heavy at begining. I like drydown but first few hours are unwearable to me and IMHO it works better with mature man. (35+). Very good longevity.
Dior Hemme Intense is most serious. Its not fun as Rochas or A*Men but very well done. Very good longevity.
I didnt try rest.
If you want to blind buy you cant go wrong with Rochas and La Nuit. I would stay away from Opium without testing it.
Anyway I think that atleast 4 fragrances that you mentioned in your first post (A*Men, Body Kouros, Le Male and M7) are much better night/club scents than anything that you mentioned later (La Nuit, Rochas, Opium, Dior Intense)
Please feel free to check out my Swap Thread - Patou pour Homme, L'Instant de Guerlain PH Extreme, Dior Homme Intense, Pure Malt, Pure Coffee and many more! Click Here For My Swap Thread
Just to backup what's been said, Armani Code and Rochas Man are great for clubbing and safe for blind buys. If you have lots of cash to spend i'd suggest Creed's Aventus though =)
More suggestions?
Gucci pour homme


text: > You're not the only one who had this problem. When I upgraded from > May 2's kernel to May 8's kernel, I noticed that: > > 1. Old dynamic executables wouldn't work with the new kernel > 2. New dynamic executables wouldn't work with the old kernel the former makes sense. i'd never seen the latter happen, but... > I am also confused that other people didn't post about this. Maybe if > I had been keeping up to date every day I wouldn't have had the > problem. It boils down the the fact that your crt0.o was probably never completely remade (because it doesn't deal with dependencies right), and so binaries that used its idea of some syscalls (i.e. dynamically linked binaries) had the wrong idea of what to do, and croaked. that's the cause of the problem... cgd ------------------------------------------------------------------------------


text:
Started out wearing mom's pantyhose; moved on to her panties. I was 12 years old at the time (1974).
I would wear her full brief nylon panties, while stroking the outside with another pair of panties. I used to get off checking out the lingerie models in the Sears and Montgomery Wards catalogs. Started jacking off by moving my panty-clad **** back and forth on my sheeted mattress (approx. 14 years old/1976). Soon thereafter, I starting wearing my stepmonster's (lol) panties. Then my four sister's, cousin's, neighbor's, best friend's mom + sister's panties.
I didn't "come out" about my proclivity for full brief, nylon panties until my second wife. She was never really into it and just tolerated my fetish. My girlfriend after my second marriage had me sharing right away BEFORE getting too serious. Lisa was game for just about anything I wanted to try: both of us making love dressed in vintage lingerie (garter belt and stockings, corsets, heels and, of course (!), full brief, nylon panties. Some times we would both get into a gynormous pair of panties--at the same time!--pulling our panties aside so we could stay dressed while *******. Sometimes I would wear like ten or twenty panties---at the same time--and she would lick and stroke my ****, slowly pulling down one at a time. By the time she had slobbered through so many pair of full brief nylon panties, I would "lose it" and throw a load onto her extended tongue, keeping eye contact from start to finish.
I've got tons of more TRUE stories with Lisa and Erin, (another girlfriend after Lisa).


text:
Reagan will play Coppell at 1 p.m. Friday in the Class 5A state semifinals, and Boerne Champion will take on Richardson Pearce at 1 p.m. Thursday in the Class 4A state semifinals.
Both games will be played at Birkelbach Stadium in Georgetown.
Reagan (25-0-2) is making its third trip to the state tournament, but just its first since 2004.
Champion (16-2-7) is at state for the first time in school history.


text:
Bear Grylls' son saves drowning girl
2011-08-05 14:34
Los Angeles - Bear Grylls' seven-year-old son saved a girl from drowning.
The TV survival expert - who has three children - says his eldest boy Jesse is already following in his footsteps by coming to the rescue of one of his friends who had fallen in a stream.
He said: "They were in a little base in a stream and she fell in. And - I wasn't there, you know, and the story grows and grows every time he tells me - but he did rescue her and he was proud as punch to have dragged her out."
However, while he is proud of his son, Bear admits he is worried they are too influenced by him and his wild excursions.
In his show,
Born Survivor
, Bear has had to drink his own urine, eat various insects and parachute from a helicopter.
The adventurer said in an interview with the
Daily Mail newspaper
: "Their headmaster took me aside and said, 'It's great that they might know how to take the door off a helicopter and deal with a snake bite, but it would be really great if they focused a little more on the mathematics.' I'm kind of feeling that at the moment.
"For a long time, I never wanted them to be too aware of what I do. I relaxed that when all their friends were talking about me in the playground, and they were the only ones not to have seen the programme.
"But getting the balance right is hard. Do I want them to grow up to be me? No, actually. I'm unemployable in the real world. I don't want that for them."
2011-08-05 15:30
Mooi so boet


text:
Bulu Monster Mod Apk 3.21.1 has been released and here you can see how to properly download and install the latest version on Android devices to unlock free bulu points for upgrades and to top international leader-board with record points. Bulu Monster Mod Apk gives you free pass to unlimited points but to get this feature unlocked you must follow instructions in the guide below word by word. You can spend unlimited points on pets upgrades before entering tournaments and win them in record time. Get all 150 species of animals unlocked with free points right from the beginning in Bulu Monster 3.21.1 Cheats in the download link below.. Every specie has its own strengths that would help you win competitions.
Bulu Monster 3.21.1 is full of colorful, carefully animated monsters. The monsters come in different shapes and sizes, and have been designed to be visually appealing to everyone who plays the game.
The colourful monsters included in this game are sure to keep everyone involved and engaged right until the end. The game also includes:
– A fun and appealing story line that allows the user to save their monster friend, Rania, as one of the quests
– 14 different fantasy maps to explore
– Challenge more than 50 NPC monster trainers
– Train a monster team
– Friend code system to allow the user to invite their friends to lay the game along with them, increasing the competitiveness and fun of Bulu Island.
– Collect more than 150 different monsters
What's new in this update:
- Bug fixes
Download and Install Bulu Monster 3.21.1 Mod Apk for Android:
1 – Download Mod Apk from the link below on your Android device's internal memory or external SD card.
2 – Backup and delete the previous version from device.
3 – Go to Settings > Security and enable the Unknown Sources option to manually install the game from sources other than Google Play Store.
4 – Tap on the download Mod Apk file to install the game.
5 – That's All. Play new version with free stuff for quick progress.
Bulu Monster 3.21.1 Mod Apk > > MOD


text:
Spring football for the ACC came to end yesterday, so we have 4 months until the season starts. Oh man that's a long time. That's ok we have you covered at AllSportsDiscussion. Over the next few months we are going to have ACC player rankings, predictions, and other thoughts on the ACC season.
We'll also throw in some pieces from around the rest of college football. In addition @HokieGuru is putting together one of his patented roundtable discussions with our ACC friends on twitter. In those articles he'll be doing a post spring Q&A from around the ACC. So keep on the lookout for that.
To start things off, I think we should begin with the 2012 ACC schedule and 5 things I don't like about it. I'm not a negative person, because in a few days I'll talk about what I do like about the schedule.
1. Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech 9/3
The last 7 ACC Coastal Division champions have been decided by the winner of this game. So why play it the first week of the season? Virginia Tech has been prone to early season losses and Georgia Tech would have steep hill to climb with an ACC Coastal defeat this early in the schedule. So let's start one of your consistently best teams in the Coastal with a sure loss.
Yes I understand that this will be prime time Labor Day game, but just ask Maryland and Miami how much the game helped their seasons even if you win. I like big non-conference games early in the year, I don't like one of your marquee conference games early. You'll see that's going to be a theme here.
2. Clemson at Florida State 9/22
What did I just say about early marquee games? This game is arguably the ACC's biggest of the year and the ACC scheduled it in September. Why? No need for it… So one of your top contenders in the ACC Atlantic is going to be effectively eliminated before the leaves change? This game frankly should never be played before the third week of October. Think of the hype you could build and has been built when it's later in the year.
3. The Weekend of 11/17
Let's see Clemson must play a very dangerous NC State team at home before their rivalry game with South Carolina. South Carolina plays mighty Wofford. Advantage Gamecocks. In the constant ACC\SECbattle of which the ACC has been on the short end recently, this scheduling doesn't help the Tigers while South Carolina gets a glorified scrimmage, but wait there more.
Florida State plays at Maryland while rival Florida hosts Jacksonville St. Georgia Tech still has conference game with Duke while their in-state rival UGA get Georgia Southern the week before they play. Are we seeing trend here? The SEC understands the importance of these late non-conference games while the ACC apparently does not.
4. Virginia Tech playing back to back Thursday night games
I'm not sure what Hokie fans think of this, but I wouldn't care for it. First there is a road game at Miami then a home game with Atlantic Division favorite Florida State. Look I like big matchups on Thursday night and one or the other game is a great game, but this has to be disruptive for the Hokie's student athletes to have back to back mid week games. That means Virginia Tech only plays 4 home games on a Saturday. What is this the MAC?
5. Virginia's 3 Game stretch of Penn State, at Georgia Tech, and at TCU
Remember Clemson last season having to playing Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech? Well they came through with flying colors, but Florida State did not following a huge non-conference loss to Oklahoma, then losing at Clemson.
I think it's extremely rough to play a strong non-conference opponent followed by a good conference opponent. As I looked at the non-conference schedule of the rest of the ACC only Miami who plays at Notre Dame then gets North Carolina and Florida State has a similar back to back to back stretch of games as Virginia.
They at least get the Heels and FSU at home. The Cavs have to head to Atlanta sandwiched between two difficult non-conference games. On the surface this hurts Virginia and the ACC in the all-important out of conference games as well as making a critical conference road more difficult for the Cavaliers.
Become a fan of the ACC on Facebook and follow the ACC on Twitter.


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Palin Weighs In On Nebraska Senate Race
Although Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning looks like lock for the GOP nomination to run for retiring Sen. Ben Nelson's seat. But lock or not, he's not getting it without a fight. And now, former Vice Presidential pick Sarah Palin is weighing in and endorsing his opponent.
According to Roll Call, Palin is backing state legislator Deb Fischer, with a little last minute money and a bit of lip service. "We are happy to support you and have asked SarahPAC to send a financial contribution to your campaign. Good luck next Tuesday — the Palins are in your corner."
Fischer had requested help long ago, and it's not clear exactly how much effect a Sarah Palin email will have with less than a week before the primary. Bruning has already been declared the early favorite, and with state Treasurer Don Stenberg being backed by both Sen. Jim DeMint and Club for growth, it seems like Fischer's new endorsement is less likely to help her than to continue dividing the Tea Party vote and ensure Bruning's nomination.
Republicans will vote for their favorite candidate next Tuesday. Meanwhile, former Nebraska Senator John Kerrey will be running as the Democratic nominee.
Photo credit: wikimedia commons


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Obama To Go To Highest Unemployment State To Call For More Immigration To Fill The Jobs Americans Just Can`t Get
There are lots of unemployed Hispanics in Nevada, so that`s where Obama is going to tell the world he wants more of them.
… Details of the Senate proposals remained unclear, but the principles are expected to address a process toward legalizing the status of unauthorized immigrants already in the country, border security, verification measures for employers hiring workers, and ways for more temporary workers to be admitted into the country.
If you mention that Las Vegas has a terrible unemployment problem, such that, for instance, no construction workers have set foot on the site of Echelon Place (the old Stardust casino) in almost 4 and a half years, well, the gears would start turning and finally the all-purpose answer would spit out: that just proves we need more immigration! See, the big problem with America is that there aren`t enough idiots to go to Las Vegas and lose their money, so we need to import more. What could possibly go wrong?


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A second kasaga, the top, horizontal beam of a torii, has washed ashore on the Oregon coast near Florence. In March a similar object was found on the beach near Oceanside.
Both items are thought to be from sacred archs in Japan that were destroyed and set a drift on the Pacific by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011.
The red and black torii was first reported Monday evening at the Siuslaw South Jetty and State Park workers removed it from the beach Tueday morning. The torii is being stored at a nearby state park maintenance compound.
The Consular Office of Japan in Portland has been notified of the find. The exact origins of both objects have yet to be identified.
Beach visitors are encouraged to report unusual amounts or kinds of marine debris by calling 211 while on the coast.


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Popham Beach State Park, Maine
In a recent Worldwide Leadership Training Conference, attendees heard someone's thoughts on "that thing that is of most worth to a woman in this life." If someone asked you what that "thing of most worth" is, how would you answer?
Some years ago I went through a very tough time. Metaphorically speaking I felt like my ribs had been extracted. My pulses and rhythms still functioned, but my supports and protection were gone. My mother had just died. My kids were asserting themselves in creative and dumbfounding ways, following their natural call to become "agents unto themselves." My husband was reorganizing his heart and soul, doing important internal work, but I had no idea where I'd end up when his "remodeling" was over. My soul felt like it was, to quote Yeats, "turning and turning in a widening gyre."
In the midst of this untethering, our family joined another family for a week at a cabin in Maine. One day we piled into our cars and headed to Popham Beach State Park. As we pulled into the parking lot, the cassette player (yes, it was a while ago) blared John Rutter's "For the Beauty of the Earth" loud enough to shake the minivan walls. It certainly fit the gorgeous setting.
The kids piled out of the car and dashed for the sand. My husband and my friend's husband went off on a manly walk-about. My friend and I settled with the other sunbathers on beach towels. Since the tide was out, the water wasn't that close. She read her book, and I—well, I stewed in the possibility that I could lose absolutely everything I valued. Not just in a cosmic way; it was practical, too. I was too far away to be of any physical use to my kids in the water if something dire happened. It wasn't out of the question that my husband could decide just not to come back.
As I lay there pondering, praying, trying to keep breathing in and out (despite the lack of ribs), a passage of scripture came to my mind. It was Romans 8:35-38:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?…Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The first thing I noticed was the checklist of worries. I wasn't too concerned about famine, nakedness, sword or principalities, but pretty much the rest of the travails seemed like present dangers.
Then I focused on the powerful bookend consolations: "nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus the Lord". I let the meaning sweep over me like soothing tidewaters.
I found out as we headed to the car after our afternoon at the beach that the real tidewaters had been up to no good.
My 8 year old (who had only just had his first swimming lessons) told me he had been standing in the shallow waters but got knocked over by a good wave. After much sputtering and angst he righted himself. It was scary for him, but in the end it was a successful accomplishment that improved his confidence.
The other two, along with our friends' son (all good swimmers), had ventured further out. My 11-year-old found himself unable to catch up with the older two and began floundering. An attentive lifeguard caught him, brought him to the other two and helped all three of them get back to safer grounds. "There are undertows out there," the lifeguard told them. "Sometimes they're impossible to fight."
Those three older kids were snickering and poking each other by the time we got the story out of them, laughter being just a cover for the fright of their close call.
My husband came back with our friend no worse for the walk.
I thought again about that scripture and the fact that I really could have lost at least one child that day. God wasn't joking with His litany of things that could occur. God wasn't telling me, "Don't worry. I'll take all these difficulties away." He was saying, "If everything you treasure gets stripped away from you or life takes you or your dear ones to unimaginably hard places, I will always know and love you, Linda. I will always love you. Hold on to this truth, this hope. Hold on."
That thing that is of most worth for this woman in this life is to live the gospel with a sense of God's unwavering and radical love for her.
Complete sentence.
Complete life.


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I didn't realize that the wheel width affected the ride comfort... I knew the sidewall did. Great to know, thanks for the info!
The question often arises as to the maximum width tire that can be mounted on a wheel of a given width. Most of you are aware that there is a recommended range of wheel widths on which a given-sized tire can be mounted. Since tires have flexible sidewalls, a single tire size can be mounted on a variety of wheel widths, within reason. Basically, both the width of the tire and its aspect ratio determine its appropriate wheel width range. A tire/wheel width chart can be found at:
This leads to two questions: Why should the the recommended wheel width range be followed and what effect does wheel width have on a tire's road characteristics?
In the US, the Tire and Rim Association (TRA), http://www.us-tra.org/traHome.html composed of representatives from all the major and most of the minor tire companies, has developed technical specifications in this area based on engineering principles and empirical testing. These studies have demonstrated that wheel widths outside these ranges, either over or under, will stress the tire in a manner that may result in poor service and potential tire failure. The Euro Tire and Rim Technical Organization (ETRTO), www.etrto.org serves a similar research function as does the Japan Automobile Tire Manufacturers Association (JATMA), www.jatma.or.jp/index.html
Most of the following material is taken from these two sites:
The wheel width recommendations are completely independent of the tire or wheel manufacturer. A tire actually has three width measurements: nominal size (the size molded on the tire), section width (distance from sidewall to sidewall-the widest part of the tire), and tread width (see illustration at bottom of page). Furthermore, two different brands of the same nominal width tire can have different section and tread widths. For example, in the case of a 195/55-15 tire, the Yokohama AVS ES 100 has a section width of 7.8" and a tread width of 7.1", whereas the Bridgestone Potenza RE92 has a section width of 7.7" and a tread width of 6.9". In both cases, however, the wheel width range is specified as 5.5"-7.0". A given wheel range can be further subdivided into wide, midrange and narrow. In the above example, a 5.5" width would be considered narrow, 6 or 6.5" would be mid and 7" would be wide. According to Yokohama, adopting a wider wheel increases vehicle stability and improves steering response and cornering ability. Choosing a narrow wheel results in an improvement in ride quality but sacrifices the tire's ultimate performance capabilities. On the other hand, a midrange wheel provides a balance between handling and ride quality.
Note that the width of the wheel will influence the width of the tire. A tire mounted on a narrow rim is "narrower" than the same tire mounted on a wide rim. Since wheels are made in increments of .5" widths, the industry rule of thumb is that for every .5" change in wheel width there will be a corresponding .2" change in section width of the tire. In connection with this, the TRA has established a measuring rim width that enables all tire manufacturers to measure their tires on the same width wheel for comparison purposes. For aspect ratios of 50 or higher, the measuring rim width is 70% of the tire's section width rounded off to the nearest .5". For aspect ratios lower than 50, the measuring rim width is 85% of the tire's section width. Returning to the above example of the 195/55-15 yoko tire, the 7.8" section width was obtained from a measuring rim width of 6". The same tire mounted on a wheel with a 6.5" width would have a section width of 8" and if mounted on a 7" wide wheel would have a section width of 8.2".
Yokohama, as well as other industry sources, goes on to say that a good rule of thumb is to use a wheel width 90% as wide as the tread width (not the section width) of a performance tire for street applications, to provide a good balance between performance and ride quality. Let's see how this would work out for a couple of popular upgrade sizes again using the Yoko AVS ES 100 tire:
205/45-16, width range = 6.5"-7.5", tread width = 7.9", 90% tread width = 7.11", correct wheel width size = 7"
215/40-17, width range = 7.0"-8.5", tread width = 8.4", 90% tread width = 7.56", correct wheel width size = 7.5"
Happy Motoring!
Last edited by goldstar; 03-13-2010 at 11:31 PM.
02 DX Millenium Red - The Penultimate Driving Machine
MP3 Strut Tower Bar kit; Cusco Front Lower Arm Tie Bar
MSP Springs, Struts, Stabilizer Bars, Trailing Links, #3 Engine Mount
Kartboy Stabilizer Bar Bushings; Nyloil Shifter Bushings; Red Line MT-90 Gear Oil
MP3 Shifter, Knob and Aluminum Pedal Set
Suvlights HD Wiring Harness; Osram Night Breaker H4 Bulbs; Exide Edge AGM Battery
Summer: 5Zigen FN01R-C 16 x 7" Wheels; Yoko S.drive 205/45-16s
Winter: Enkei OR52 16 x 7" Wheels; Falken Ziex ZE-912 205/45-16s
Modified OEM Air Intake; Racing Beat Exhaust System; Techna-Fit SS Clutch Line
Denso SKJ16CR-L11 Extended Tip Spark Plugs; Magnecor Wires
Power Slot Front Brake Rotors; Techna-Fit SS Brake Lines; Hawk HPS Pads
Red Line Synthetic Engine Oil; C/S Aluminum Oil Cap
Cyberdyne Digital Gauges: Tach; Ambient Air Temp; Voltmeter
I didn't realize that the wheel width affected the ride comfort... I knew the sidewall did. Great to know, thanks for the info!
Well, that's right to a certain extent. Wider wheels weigh more and therefore provide greater unsprung weight and greater rotational inertia. The weight savings with a narrower wheel may have a performance advantage.Originally Posted by goldstar
It is well known that a small diameter wheel has better performance than a large diameter wheel. Ultra low profile tires are also not the fast setup. (Look at a Formula 1 tire.)
too a point but running 13 inch tires on our cars is not fast. 15 16's are the best size handling wise 17's are good too.
mods: engine: fm stroker lightened and knifedged crank, 11:1, custom crank scraper, fully p&p head and intake mani, bored throttle body, flowed and matched stock injectors, rx7 vaf, apexi safc, gude race cams, modded ecu 8200 fuel cutoff, blaster coil, clutchmasters stage 3 clutch, fidanza fly wheel and timeing gears, msp diff, custom shortram in a cold air box
suspension: s/r struts intrack springs and intrax sway bars 15x6.5 rims kumho mx tires 205 50 r 15
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Interview: Robert J. Sawyer
by Ernest Lilley
SFRevu Interview ISBN/ITEM#: 0704RSI
Date: April 1, 2007
Links: Author's Webpage / Rob's Blog /
Canadian science fiction author Rob Sawyer isn't shy about his passion or talent in writing science fiction, and he's got the awards (Hugo, Nebula, Campbell, and more) to back him up. But in a field where most authors are modest, quiet and nerdy, Rob stands out as only one out of the three at best. And wait a minute...he's Canadian as well. Isn't there some rule that Canadians have to be polite and soft spoken? OK, he is actually pretty polite, and it's not like he shouts, but he's not about to keep quiet when it comes to any of the things he's interested in.
So, really, we've got to ask. Who does Robert J. Sawyer think he is, anyway?
Note: In the finest tradition of these things, I really didn't come to bury Rob, but to praise him. Publishers don't want to spend any more effort on promotion than they have to, and with rare exception, if an author wants their work in front of readers long enough to make an impression they've got to push themselves out of reticent and retiring and come to grips with the marketing monster. Rob was one of the folks who realized this early on, and writers that started after him have taken that lesson and run with it, even some Canadians like Cory Doctorow and Peter Watts who have embraced working the web with unholy vigor.SFRevu: Rob, I like your stuff, and I've already said (and the review that goes with this will attest) that your latest novel, Rollback, is (to steal a phrase from the book) "skytop," but in a crowd of socially challenged science fiction writers you stand out like a sore thumb. And your website: www.sfwriter.com? Shouldn't you be like, more meek? Or if not meek, how about edgy? Outgoing and likable...what's with that?
Robert Sawyer: I was the very first SF author to have a website; mine's been online since June 29, 1995. I registered sfwriter.com as the domain for it in January 1998 -- and was frankly surprised that no one else had taken it; this was the era when names like accountant.com and barbershop.com were in hot demand. I wish I'd thought to register scifi.com -- that one sold for a fortune to the SciFi Channel, as I understand it. Sure, I'm not the only SF site -- but then neither is SFsite.com, and your site, old boy, is hardly the only SF review site. But I choose it not out of megalomania, but the exact opposite; back then, I thought domain names that were a person's name were pompous, and you'll see that most of us early adopters of the web -- Kevin J. Anderson with WordFire.com, John E. Stith with Neverend.com -- felt it was unseemly and self-aggrandizing to use our own names.
As you mention, I stand out a bit -- mostly because I do a lot of radio and TV interviews. And I wanted a website that I could name on the air that people would remember. "Now, who was that SF writer I heard interviewed today? Oh, yeah -- he's at sfwriter.com." I honestly don't do very much promotion for my work -- far less than lots of other writers I know -- but what I do is effective. I've got a degree in radio and television arts and spent a lot of the 1980s writing promotional materials for corporations, so I know how to do it. But, hey, if anyone wants the sfwriter.com domain name -- first $100,000 takes it!
SFRevu: Long ago I interviewed you and we talked about character creation. You proclaimed that your characters did what you told them to, and there was no monkey business about telling their story involved. Moreover, anyone who thought their characters were speaking to them and begging to get their stories out seriously needed to get help. As I was dating a fantasy writer of exactly that ilk at the time, proudly playing said interview did not have the desired result. Have you softened over the intervening years?
Rob: Not in the least. Reviewers often say I write realistic characters -- and they often express surprise at finding such things in hard science-fiction books. But what that means is that I've got a decent enough grasp of psychology (which is what I studied as a sideline while I was doing my broadcasting degree). Actually, when I was studying psych, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, we were just coming off the B.F. Skinner era, in which the human brain was treated as an unknowable black box, governed by inputs and outputs; I don't think the word "consciousness" was ever mentioned once in the psych courses I took. But I knew that was the wrong approach then -- and it's probably why so many of my novels, including Fossil Hunter, Factoring Humanity, and Mindscan, are about how the mind does work. If you think, as I do, that the human mind is comprehensible and mostly predictable, you understand what you're setting your characters up to do. When a writer is surprised by what a character does, it means the writer has been sloppy in designing the character.
SFRevu: Lots of your countrymen write really serious SF about how the world order will be changed by science and stuff like that. Big important stories with important philosophical points to them. But not you. No, you write first contact novels where everybody goes on about their business, even though we're growing alien clones in a corporate lab, or popping over to the next universe for sex with Neanderthals or whatever. Couldn't you be a little more...I don't know...apocalyptic?
Rob: Well, I disagree on the philosophical stuff; I think my novels are steeped in philosophy -- and, indeed, they're often enough taught in philosophy classes. But, yeah, I do part company with a lot of modern science fiction, including some by other Canadians. At heart, I believe in the adaptability of the human organism: come what may, we'll deal with it in stride. Many of my colleagues seem to feel we're at the end of history, the beginning of Clarke's era of things being indistinguishable from magic, and on the cusp of some transcendence to a higher level of being. I think being warm and wet and human is wonderful, and am looking for paradigms in which we survive as discrete individuals in conjunction with other forms of life or advanced AI. In other words, I, for one don't welcome our new alien/computer overlords, and despite the Borg mantra, I don't think resistance is futile. We've got oodles of things still to do as humans.
SFRevu: Doesn't it seem like the world is falling apart at the seams? Shouldn't your characters be filled with angst, driven to overturn society and free the proletariat from their corporate masters? Sure they've got their problems, but they're all problems on a human scale.
Rob: I guess I'm an optimist at heart. For one thing, I think in a lot of ways the world is a better place than it was when I was a kid. Look at the enormous strides in civil rights, women's rights, and gay rights; look at the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of the European Union; look at the modern environmental movement. Sure, there's lots that's still screwed up, but we are making progress.
As for my characters and their problems, I believe science fiction should combine the intimately human and the grandly cosmic; it's a fractal genre that should be emotionally moving no matter what level of magnification you bring to the story. I know an editor who quips that mainstream fiction is about the inner lives of ordinary people and science fiction is about the outer lives of extraordinary people. I reject that. The only way to give the wide awe and wonder of the night -- if I may quote the Canadian poet Archibald Lampman -- a human context is to juxtapose it with real human concerns.
SFRevu: William Gibson (look...I'm comparing you to Gibson now...it's contagious) was asked at one point why he didn't write stories like Neuromancer anymore. The sense of it was, as I recall, that he said he be happy to, if he could, but it wasn't really up to him. How has your writing changed since my favorite Sawyer...Far-Seer?
Rob: I made a deliberate course correction in my career. I did six science-fiction novels that were all spaceships-and-aliens or off-Earth: Golden Fleece, Far-Seer, Fossil Hunter, Foreigner, End of an Era, and Starplex. Now, I'm very much in the H.G. Wells mold as a writer: I believe in SF as social comment. And I was making what I thought were important comments in these books, albeit disguised in SF clothing. Golden Fleece was about the folly of Reagan's Star Wars missile-defense program; Far-Seer was about the Catholic Church's clashes with science; Far-Seer was about evolution vs. creationism, and so on. But although I was getting favorably noticed by SF readers, I was finding it impossible to get non-SF readers to read books that had starships or intelligent dinosaurs on the cover.
I had things I wanted to say to a wider audience, and I thought I could still do that without abandoning the tools of science fiction. The Terminal Experiment was my breakout book -- it won the Nebula Award for 1995 -- and it was set on Earth, in the near future, but was still absolutely science fiction; indeed, it was my first of four novels serialized in Analog, and you can't find a more pure-quill SF publication than that.
I found I didn't lose any SF readers by bringing the setting closer to home, but that suddenly I was getting a big non-SF-reading audience as well. My career ever since has been a tightrope walk, balancing between appealing to the core SF readership and to intelligent readers who don't normally go into the SF section. That Calculating God could hit #1 on the Locus bestsellers' list -- which is based on a survey of SF specialty bookstores -- and also be a top-ten national mainstream bestseller in Canada was a sign that I was successfully doing what I'd set out to do; that Hominids could win the Hugo voted on by hardcore SF fans and also be adopted for a giant, general community-wide reading program -- the "One Book, One Community" program in Waterloo Region, Ontario -- was another sign that I was accomplishing my dual goal.
Now, yes, I do sometimes like to jump in the playpen and have fun with spaceships and killer robots and all that -- I did conceptual work for Harmony Gold on the recent revival movie for Robotech, for instance, and that was a blast -- but in general I think I've made the right choice for me creatively in concentrating on this side of the singularity rather than the far side of it.
SFRevu: Well, while we're on the subject, when will we get a sequel to the Quintaglio Ascension, or have I asked that already? Or did I miss it?
Rob: I'm really happy that people still enjoy Far-Seer, Fossil Hunter, and Foreigner; it's been fifteen years since the first of them was originally published. Tor recently reissued all three in trade paperback editions, and they're doing well. I keep trying to convince Tor to also do editions of them in their Starscape young-adult line, because I think they'd do really well there. I might indeed go back and write more about the Quintaglios at some point -- I've got a notion about doing a parable about the U.S. civil-rights struggle on the Quintaglio world, which I think would be fascinating.
SFRevu: How does Canadian SF differ from the US or even the UK variety, and who do you look to for the best new work? (Among Canadians I'm a big fan of Karl Schroeder, and Peter Watt's Blindsight was terrific)
Rob: Karl Schroeder is great; I edit a small-press line of books in Canada, and I got to publish Karl's first short-story collection. I think the other killer Canadian SF writers -- besides, obviously, Spider Robinson and Bill Gibson -- are Robert Charles Wilson, Julie E. Czerneda, Scott Mackay, and Minister Faust.
As for what makes SF different, despite what I said about optimism, I think all those people who have sent me notes over the years saying they cried at the end of one of my books will understand this quip I like to make: American SF has happy endings, Canadian SF has sad endings, and British SF has no endings at all. Americans set out to save the universe; Canadians set out to save their marriage. Canada isn't a superpower, and it's tradition on the world stage is as bridge builders and peacekeeper, and I think that shows up in a lot of Canadian SF. But we're such a diverse group these days. I feel the most kinship with Bob Wilson -- he's one of my very best friends, and although our stuff differs in some ways, we're both very similar in others. Certainly the notion that just having a gosh-wow SF concept isn't enough -- that it has to be connected to real, fallible humans -- is something we share.
SFRevu: What happened to the future? It's a question that's getting overly worn these days, but your writing seems to address it by saying that the whether or not we get flying cars, as soon as the future becomes the present, it's no longer special. Is that how you see it?
Rob: Again, it's that wonderful human adaptability. I mentioned Robert Charles Wilson a moment ago; he recently hit on a nice little definition of SF: "the literature of human contingency." That is to say, SF stories recognize that things could have turned out differently. When I consider how much the world has changed just in my lifetime, it's clear we've got an amazing capacity to absorb and adapt to whatever comes our way. The first human went into space just before I turned one; the first heart transplant was when I was seven; we landed on the moon when I was nine; the World Wide Web came online when I was thirty; we decoded the human genome when I was forty. More: when I was a kid, they still had "coloreds-only" facilities in the American south, women were marginalized, and gays had to live secret lives. Now a Black man is running for president, women outnumber men at universities, and gay marriage is legal in my country. We've made enormous progress -- and we've only just begun.
SFRevu: Do we need a space program, or is that just twentieth century space fetishism?
Rob: Oh, for sure we do. We shouldn't need a genius like Stephen Hawking to tell us that it's folly to keep all our eggs in one basket. Despite my optimism, a natural disaster, or a pandemic, might wipe us out, if terrorism or warfare don't. We owe it to ourselves and our genes to be dispersed. We're a species that walked -- walked! -- out of Africa to spread over the entire world; we walked from Eurasia to North America across the Bering Land Bridge. We have an insatiable wanderlust -- and we've run out of new places to walk to. It's in the very fiber of our beings to want to explore, go farther, look over the horizon -- and we will do it.
SFRevu: Are you still having fun writing?
Rob: Yes -- but I'm having fun doing the other things that my writing has made possible, too. I've got a thriving sideline going as a keynote speaker, giving talks about the future to everyone from Computer Associates to the Federation of State Medical Boards; that's been an absolute blast. And I'm really enjoying teaching and working with new writers. I was writer-in-residence at the Odyssey workshop last year, and have taught SF writing at the University of Toronto, Ryerson University, and the Banff Centre, plus been writer-in-residence at several libraries; I find it exhilarating, and very rewarding in all ways but financial. I think my first decade as a novelist -- the 1990s -- was all about the books; this second decade has been about balancing the writing with other things that keep me fresh and excited. So far, it's going fine!
SFRevu: What haven't you done yet that you'd really like to...and are you working on it?
Rob: For ages, I've been saying I need to get away from it all -- just get the hell and gone away from the hustle and bustle, the convention circuit, doing media, and so on, and just quietly read and write for a good long time. And I'm getting that chance. Pierre Berton, who was one of Canada's most popular nonfiction writers, donated his family homestead in the Klondike -- 400 miles north of Yellowknife, just west of the Alaskan border in the Yukon Territory -- to be a writers' retreat. I applied for a residency there for July, August, and September of this year, and got accepted. My wife -- who is a poet -- and I are going up there with nothing but a couple of laptops and our Palms full of ebooks. It's going to be glorious.
SFRevu: What advice do you give writers just starting out?
Rob: You can't please everyone -- so don't even try. Your job isn't to be blandly acceptable to every reader; rather, you should be the favorite author of a narrow segment of the reading public. Write the kind of books you want to read; don't worry about market, and don't get caught up in the hive mind of a writer's group. And, most of all, persevere; this is an increasingly tough field to break into -- but no one except you can write your books.
SFRevu: And lastly...thank you both for your indulgence and for lots of enjoyable SF.
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