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Tongue-in-cheek Mr. Middletown pageant is for a serious cause: fighting cancer
Who will be this year's Mr. Middletown?
That will be determined in the fourth annual Mr. Middletown male beauty pageant contest to be held starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the Middletown …
Tongue-in-cheek Mr. Middletown pageant is for a serious cause: fighting cancer
Who will be this year's Mr. Middletown?
That will be determined in the fourth annual Mr. Middletown male beauty pageant contest to be held starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the Middletown Area High School auditorium.
The event is a fundraiser for the high school's mini-THON. The 12 seniors taking part are Jacob Barrett, Abel Botterbusch, Mitch Carson, Ian Guckavan, Dustin Holliman, Ethan Newton, Malik Noon, Caleb Ocker, Griffin Radabaugh, Kobe Sprecher, Corbin Stetler and Laron Woody.
"Our job is to embarrass ourselves for a good cause," Woody said. "If they don't laugh, we didn't do our job."
At the end of April, all money donated to the mini-THON will be donated to the Four Diamonds.
The event will consist of three categories: a talent competition, a swimsuit competition, and a formal wear segment featuring an interview with each candidate. The candidates will arrive to a song of their choice and will begin the evening with the formal wear segment where they will be put on the spot with a question designed to promote laughs and hilarity.
From there, they will compete in the swimsuit competition and demonstrate their talents in the talent portion of the show and conclude the evening with a choreographed dance. Following this, the winner will be announced.
The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and the entry fee is $5 at the door. No tickets will be sold prior to Friday night. This money will go toward the donor's favorite candidate's balance, and the winner is the person who has the most money donated to his name.
According to Cheryl Friedman, a co-adviser for Mini-THON, the boys have already started fundraising and whatever money is donated in their name during the show will be added to the money already raised for a grand total. The pageant raised close to $7,000 last year.
"The goal is hopefully to make more this year," Friedman said.
They all volunteered in January to participate and they have been practicing their dancing moves and preparing for the talent aspect of the show. Some will do more dancing, some will be singing, some will do artistic-based things, but all the talents will be done with the hope of making audience members laugh.
Their job might be to make others laugh, but there's nothing funny about why some of the contestants are participating. Three of them, Botterbusch, Woody and Carson, have had family members who were stricken with cancer. Because of their experiences, they wanted to participate in something that involved fighting back against cancer.
"It makes me want to help as much as I can," Botterbusch said.
Despite having 12 senior boys competing against one another, there hasn't been any animosity or trash talk. If anything, they are all rooting for one another to win because it means a higher amount of money raised for the overall school Mini-THON goal of $30,000.
"That makes it better because it's going to a good cause," Woody said.


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One Year Closer to the Kingdom
Adventist World editor Bill Knott recently talked with General Conference president Elder Ted Wilson about the church's historic decision in late 2010 to issue a public appeal for change.
Fifteen months ago General Conference leadership committed itself, in a very public way, to a personal experience of revival and reformation. They issued a call to the church, which we published in the January 2011 Adventist World, urging church members everywhere to look seriously into their own lives as well as our life together. You have traveled to every continent (except Antarctica) this last year, and you've been sampling the church's s engagement with this idea. What have you heard?
The response has been phenomenal, and I believe it's due to the power of the Holy Spirit, in addition to the work and prayers of many dedicated people. This illustrates what revival and reformation is about, as outlined so beautifully in 2 Chron. 7:14: "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (NKJV).
This call from church leadership has struck a resonating chord in the hearts of church members because committed believers recognize that this church is more than just another denomination. It has a destiny and a real purpose – a heaven-born mission. The reason a person became a Seventh-day Adventist may have become a little bit dusty in his or her life, but when they take the time to reflect, they remember why they joined this movement, or why they chose to stay. Then comes the recognition that we need to prepare ourselves and others for Christ's coming, and we do that through our submission to Him. We don't work our way to heaven and engage in salvation by works. We come to the Lord and ask Him to fully control us, realizing that we are completely dependent on Christ for our salvation.
Do you think the emphasis on revival and reformation has changed the leadership culture of the church, and if so, in what ways?
Yes, I do. In many cases it seems to have created a much sharper picture of urgency on the part of many leaders. They recognize why we are in administration—not to perpetuate a complicated organization, but to proclaim a message, to prepare a people. That recognition seems to have changed a number of leaders.
Even in this building [the world headquarters]?
The impact is especially visible here. We don't want to major in the minors. We want to focus on the important things. We want to be Christ-like in our relationship with others, within our work, realizing that our ultimate objectives are larger than job security and self-preservation. Our objectives become heavenly objectives as we see a much bigger picture than ourselves, and the Great Controversy theme becomes more vivid in our thinking.
You've implied that revival and reformation is not a program, and there seems to be a lot of evidence for that. I've followed this from the beginning and have never seen a particular methodology enacted as part of this initiative. And yet it's everywhere around the world already. That suggests believers are appropriating revival and reformation in very personal ways.
Absolutely. I also think it has increased our awareness as administrators and leaders for the need of simple, humble prayer. Just this morning in the GC Administrative Committee we had a substantial prayer session. There's something about praying together—asking for God's wisdom, and not simply offering an introductory prayer.
Most of the emphasis I've heard in the last year has focused on the revival part of Revival and Reformation. But there's clearly a sequence here. What do you see reformation coming to mean? It will take a while, undoubtedly, to unfold in the life of the church. How does a Seventh-day Adventist Church that has been reformed look different than the one we see now?
I think it will appear in a more simplified manner. Life will become starker in its comparisons. Decisions will be made because of strong Biblical principles, not for expediency. Reformation will take place in the way that we deal with matters of eternal consequence. It will change the way we use our money in the church, and personally. It will change our use of time and talents. Reforming means to change something: if nothing ever changes, then we've just gone through a meaningless exercise.
In my own personal life, it means addressing issues such as how do I make the time for spiritual growth in spending time with the Lord in my busy program? Am I spending the necessary time to walk two miles (3.5 km) a day? Am I organizing my time so I will get adequate sleep?
As leaders, it causes us to ask how we will look at large issues that affect the entire church. With our educational system, how will we make our schools as redemptive as possible and as Seventh-day Adventist as possible? How will we organize our local churches so they aren't simply performing a routine Sabbath exercise, but will truly feed us from the Word of God and motivate us to do practical missionary work? How will it change our view on what we eat and how we share our precious health message with our neighbors? How will godly reformation change our entertainment habits and all kinds of lifestyle choices? What will it do for our evangelistic outreach—personally, and as a worldwide church?
You believe that the momentum which began with this initiative has a long trajectory?
Revival and reformation is the foundation of everything we are building on until the Lord comes. It's not just a declaration: "In five years we will all be reformed." It has to be a daily experience, and it has to focus on the relationship each one of us has with Jesus.
You suggested some corporate reforms as well as personal ones, and you used the term, "simplified." Can you elaborate?
The world is far too busy and complex, and some simple order has to emerge sometime or we'll all be overwhelmed by the complexity of life. I think the Seventh-day Adventist message brings a simpler approach to how we order our personal lives and our common life together.
We need to live with a sense of balance that only comes as the Holy Spirit leads in our lives. We can't do these things on our own. The "simple" aspect of life doesn't guarantee that your life necessarily becomes less complicated, but perhaps it will become less frenetic. With the leading of the Holy Spirit, you'll learn to put things into proper perspective and priority.
We don't have to do everything as a last-day movement: we can't do everything. So we have to prioritize. One of the biggest hazards of being a Seventh-day Adventist Christian in these last days is that the devil tries to distract us in every possible way from the mission objectives of the church. He wants our lives to become so complicated that we are simply running around, not focusing on priorities. The Holy Spirit helps us to get our personal and corporate priorities straight. It's like the re-set button on a computer. The computer jams up and we get frustrated. Just re-set it or pull the battery out, and start over.
Out of that change comes a new path, a clearer, simpler structure that lets you again see your way toward an objective. For many church members who are living the daily life of faith in very challenging situations, where there is no institutional culture around them, what does it mean to talk about revival and reformation?
I think it gives them an anchor, not only in the present, but also in the future. It's something that helps guide them toward an ultimate restoration of what it means to be a son or daughter of God. For many who don't have a lot of material goods in this life, it's much easier to comprehend the value of eternal life.
For those of us who seem to have been blessed by living in cultures where we have considerable material gain, our lives are actually more cluttered. The ones who have less can often see more clearly the ultimate picture of restoration. Those of us who are distracted with the comforts with which we surround ourselves aren't quite sure whether we need to have that future immediately or want stay around here a little longer.
It's no secret that the church in the southern hemisphere is growing more rapidly, more dynamically, than in the northern hemisphere. That's a big generalization, but are we being taught something by the way the Lord is working in what we used to call developing nations? Are we learning from them?
I'm not sure we are learning from them as much as we should, but they are certainly teaching us something. I hope we are learning that life is more than just achieving. It is submission to the Lord and to values that far exceed anything we could gain on this earth. We're all being taught lessons by believers in developing regions who are modeling what it means to give everything we have and everything we are to the Lord and His cause.

subset: commoncrawl


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Road tax? It's become as complicated as Brexit and changes as often as the British weather. And in April 2018, it's about to change again. Confused? Frustrated? Wanna know what the score is in terms of how much it's gonna cost you? OSV has got you covered with the in's and out's of the new UK car tax system.
If 2018 was to be the year you got yourself a new car, it's time to acquaint yourself with some pretty important road tax changes. In his Autumn budget, the Chancellor Philip Hammond went and did what drivers everywhere kinda hoped he wouldn't – he announced that ALL diesel cars will nudge up a VED band if car makers don't get their act together and meet Euro 6 standards.
What does this mean? Basically, all new cars have to comply with the real driving emissions step 2 test. If they don't want to go up a tax band, they can pollute 1.5 x the present 80mg/km NOx limit and no more.
As it stands, the Treasury reckons under 2 million cars will jump up a VED band, with models such as the Ford Fiesta costing the owner an extra £20 per year. The Porsche Cayenne, meanwhile, would cost owners a whopping – sharp intake of breath – £500 EXTRA in the first year of ownership.
Vans, however, are exempt from the changes, with the government targeting diesel cars only. Check the table below to see how the new rates pan out. If a car doesn't meet the present Euro 6 standards, it will go up a band, which means buyers will be hit in the pocket.
Partying Like It's Pre-2017
If you owned a car before 2017, you'll remember the halcyon road tax days when drivers were paying very little per year. In fact, some diesel cars were completely tax-free if they emitted less than 100/km of CO2
Unfortunately, Ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne basically said "party time is over," and decided to change the VED tax system in order to pump more public cash into the Government's coffers (or improve the environment). And so, the new system and a new era was heralded in, which meant that drivers would be forking out more money on road tax per year.
In some cases, that meant a lot more money and the only vehicles that escaped were electric or hydrogen cars.
The new rates for 2017 meant that pretty much all new cars cost more in road tax during the first year of ownership. All models cost something in the first year (exact amount depended on how much CO2 the car emitted), and at least £140 after the second year. Models that cost more to buy outright would often cost more in road tax, usually as much as £450 for the first five years.
That said, if your car was registered before 1st April 2017, you didn't need to do anything as the changes wouldn't have affected you.
So Are The New Changes Harsh?
The answer to this question depends on why you think the Government has decided to make the changes it has. Philip Hammond claims it's necessary in order to sort out the problem of particulates and nitrogen oxides from diesel engines, but some buyers will question the true motives.
If your diesel car is already on the road, there's nothing you need to do. After April 2018, you'll still be paying what you're paying at the moment.
However, critics of the real driving emissions step 2 test have pointed out that it's stricter than ever and, moreover, won't be the industry standard for another two years. As such, the changes sound a tad unfair when you look at the timing.
Think about it – you'll be paying more in 2018 for a regulation that doesn't come into effect until 2020.
Mike Hawes of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders certainly thinks the changes are harsh:
"It's unrealistic to think that we can fast-track the introduction of the next generation of clean diesel technology which takes years to develop, in just four months. This budget will also do nothing to remove the oldest, most polluting vehicles from our roads in the coming years."
Who'll Feel The Changes?
If you buy a brand new car after 1st April 2018 and it isn't electric or hydrogen, you will feel the changes. This pretty much means 95% of us. Zero emissions vehicles have a £0 standard rate, but any zero-emissions car that's bought for over £40,000 is automatically slapped with a surcharge of £310 for the first 5 years of ownership.
Buyers who'll feel the changes the most will be those who bought vehicles that emitted less than 100g/km of CO2 and who, in the past, wouldn't have paid a penny in tax. Before 1st April 2017, low-emission diesel, petrol and hybrid vehicles were exempt from road tax.
Now? Calculations have shown that buyers could be paying almost 10x what they used to pay.
On the other hand, if you buy a car that emits a lot of CO2, you'll probably save more than most over the long-term, even if you'll be paying more in the first year.
What's The Increase?
Any car that fails to meet the new standards will automatically jump a tax band, but how much it will cost drivers just depends on how much pollution the car in question emits.
For example, a supermini might cost you just £15 extra per year, which sounds reasonable. On the other hand, a car with a hefty V12 engine could set drivers back an extra £500 a year.
Put another way, Volkswagen Golf owners would pay £40 more per year, Vauxhall Mokka owners would pay £300 more per year, while Land Rover Discovery owners would pay £400 extra per year.
What about Lease Cars?
Lease cars count and alterations will need to be made, but the leasing company, such as OSV, will handle matters.
Let's say you lease a car that happens to jump a tax band. Its first-year tax rate will then increase, but you won't have to do anything because the leasing company will take care of it.
Sure, you'll be paying more, but the car's road tax will be added to your monthly payment.
However, there's a bit of a cloud over whether or not drivers will pay the increase if a car jumps a band during a lease agreement. Drivers might be liable but they might not – it all depends on what's in the contract.
Remind Me Again, When Are The Changes Taking Place?
The previous changes took place in April 2017, while the new changes will come into effect on 1st April 2018. This means that any car purchased after this date will be subject to higher rates of payment.
And If I Already Have A Car I Don't Need To Pay More?
Nope. But if you're thinking about buying a new car, it's probably a good idea that you get it registered before April 2018.
What do you think about the changes? Does Philip Hammond really care about the environment? Or is it all about raising money? Let us know in the comments below!
- How Reliable are DS Cars? An Honest Assessment of the DS Brand - 10th August 2018
- Ford Focus Electric vs Nissan Leaf vs Volkswagen e-Golf: Review & Comparisons - 17th April 2018
- Review of the BMW i3 Rex - 16th April 2018
- 8th February 2018


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- Online Store
- >
- Leather Goods
- >
- Minimalist Wallets
- >
- The North American Travel Wallet
The North American Travel Wallet
per item
Here is another addition to the "North American" line of wallets, our special Moose leather & Beaver Tail pairing is truly a remarkable combo!
This is our travel wallet version, perfect for when you need to only carry a couple of items and want it safely in your front pocket.
This wallet is equipped with 4 cc slots with beaver tail highlights.
At Wilburn Forge we truly love this combo, not only do these materials complement each other in a wallet, but in the wild, beaver ponds create a great marshy environment for moose and both species are commonly found wallowing in the same pool.
1 available


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I was held hostage yesterday day and shot at twice with a foot I just had surgery on. I was 30 minutes away from cell service down a dirt road with little to no visibility of the highway.
It's a very cliche thing to say but you never really understand it until you live it. Live everyday likes its your last. I started BKR Crew because I enjoy everyday of life and want to spread the message that you do not have to live for someone else, if you just be yourself and do the things that make you happy, than you will die happy.
Yesterday, at 5pm, I decided I wanted to drive up independence pass and get some pictures and set up my hammock so I could be outside. Normally, I would go mountain biking around this time but since I just had surgery I am still using crutches and in a boot. Taking photos was the only thing that came to mind. My plan was to go up to the grottos and hang out at the picnic area, but then I saw Lincoln creek road and I had never been to the lake up there. Almost turning around because I saw bear warning signs, I knew I wouldn't have a fighting chance against a bear because I was very immobile due to surgery. But taking my chances, I drove about 100 yards down the dirt road. Bears were the least of my worries.
I stopped about 50 yards from two cars blocking the road, one big truck facing down the road and another facing towards me. They were parallel. I saw two guys with their hands on their heads facing the car parallel to the truck. It appeared as if they might have gotten into an accident because they looked frustrated and I saw a license plate dangling out of place. I then saw a hand come out of the truck and wave me forward. I thought they were in need of some help so I started driving towards them.
When I got close to the truck the guy got out and pulled a gun on me. He told me to get out of my car and put my hands on my head because he wanted to kill me. He thought I was a threat to him and thought I came to kill him. I was extremely confused and was just there to get pictures for my website. He told me and the two other guys to take off our shirts to see if we had any weapons or anything on our persons. He went into my car to turn it off and look at my phone.
We were 30 minutes from cell service so I knew I shouldn't be expecting any help. He was extremely aggravated and there was no talking him down. The two other guys and myself pleaded with him to let us go, but he was determined. We told him we would give him anything that he wanted, we just didn't want to die. We offered him one of our cars and our cell phones, hoping he would take the bait and just leave. He didn't want to rob us. He wanted to kill us.
He asked, "what is your race" ? I said "me…?" He said no the two white Guy's. Thinking well, he's racist. So I told him I'm 50% Caucasian and 50% Filipino. He had me come closer and wanted us in a line with me first. The other two guys got a few feet away and asked if they could go three steps forward. I thought maybe he's lining us up in a collateral to shoot us all. He had us face him. Then a white trail blazer started heading up the hill coming from the campground. The gunman looked away for a second and the two guys ran. I got the hint when the guys asked to be a few feet away. I knew I didn't have a chance because I didn't know if the police were there yet and I was wearing a surgical boot which was preventing me from running and would risk me getting outran and possibly killed.
The gunman then had me get about three feet away from him. He told me to tell the trailblazer to come forward and if I didn't he would shoot my kneecap. I knew if the people in the car were smart that they wouldn't put themselves in the situation. The gunman sat down on the seat in the rear driver side, his feet hanging out if the truck and his gun pointed at my head. He had cover from the other car parallel to him and his truck as well. He then pulled out a second gun. He told me if I took my hands off my head at all that he would kill me right there. Pointing one gun at my heart and the other in my face, I didn't think I would make it out of there. I saw a man on the highway wearing blue, he was looking at the situation and knowing the other two guys had escaped, I knew there must be help on the way.
The Gunman thought I was there to kill him and he didn't want money to begin with, he said he didn't want me to kill his family, he didn't want to die but looking at his eyes, I saw that he didn't care if he did. He was suicidal. He wanted to die and he wanted to take me with him.
I knew if I had any chance, I would have to talk him out of shooting me. Like anyone, we all have watched movies and shows that involved this situation. This was not fake, but I knew if I wanted to survive I needed to stall this guy from killing me at least so the cops could get in position to take him out.
So, I asked where he was from and asked him about his family. I was trying to get as much personal information as I could to calm him down. Than he mentioned that he was Jason Bourne, and I asked him if he was going to see the new one. He responded with "I want to." I said "We'll lets go see it together, if you put your guns down no one is going to hurt you." Then I saw two cops arrive at the top of the road. I knew they were out of gun range and would not have a clear shot on the gunman. I noticed that one of the cops disappeared and went up to the woods above me. The cop at the top of the road was yelling down to let me go. This got the gunman mad, he thought I was an actor and I was one of them.
The gunman was convinced I worked for the government and was there to take him out. He was saying how I have snipers all over, and drones to take him out. I was doing my best to convince him that none of that was true and I was just there to take pictures. If I didn't have my foot cast/boot on I would have been out of there a lot quicker. Just my luck.
He than had me yell at the cop to tell him that he wants 100 million dollars and that he would kill me if he didn't get it. He then said he wanted in writing that they wouldn't kill him. I was the middle man, yelling back and forth what he wanted. At this point, I was weak from standing and wasn't suppose to be standing on my surgical foot that long. My hands and arms grew tired and went numb. I felt like I was going to faint but the adrenaline helped me stay awake. I knew if I fainted and moved that he would shoot me because he thought I was an actor sent to kill him.
The cops kept yelling at him over and over again, and the gunman had me yelling his messages back to the cops. The gunman threatened to shoot my knee caps off, then wanted to shoot my surgical foot. I think he wanted to see if I was actually really scared or acting. He had me turn away from him, I thought he was going to shoot me. Than he fired. I thought I was dead. I thought maybe the adrenaline had overcome the pain, but he missed. I felt the velocity of the bullet by my leg but he did not hit me. I knew it was real because I could smell the gunpowder. All my senses were enhanced. The whole time with him I was thinking about dying and how my family would react. But, at the same time I knew I had to fight. If I was going to die I was going to at least die fighting. At this point, I knew he was serious about killing me. There were cops there and he fired his gun at me, it seemed as if he didn't care if he was shot. I panicked, but stayed still asking him, "please don't shoot, please don't shoot; there not going to hurt you."
He wanted to shoot me somewhere so the cops knew he was serious, but I talked him out of it. I told him if he shot me anywhere then the cops may shoot and kill him. I told him if he put his guns down that they wouldn't kill him. He wasn't having it. The gunman then yelled to the cop at the top of the road to come behind the tree, about 20-30 yards from me. The cop refused and I was just yelling "Please please, he's going to kill me if you don't." I knew he couldn't do it because that would put him in the line of fire. I told the gunman I would do anything he asked. He wanted the cop to come down but he wanted to test me as well. He then had me tell the cop(s) above us to come down. I never saw the cop above me, but I knew the gunman kept glancing at him.
There were bees hovering around my legs and he wanted them to sting me so he could shoot the bees on my leg and put a bullet in me. The cop on the top of the road was yelling to let me go and they could get him whatever he wanted if he let me go. The cop yelling so far away aggravated the gunman because the gunman couldn't hear him, forcing me to yell every word. The gunman wanted to shoot my kneecaps so they knew he was serious. Then he wanted to shoot my leg so I couldn't run. I was begging and begging that he wouldn't. He then had me turn around, he kept getting angrier and angrier.
It looked like he didn't care if he would die if he killed me. He was waving his guns at my chest, than my head, than one pointed in the cops direction, than at my chest again. He was frustrated and certain they were going to kill him.
I knew if I didn't change the pace of the situation that I was surely dead soon. He was only a few feet away from me and he was covered from the vehicles from what I could tell. I was in front of the gunman so the cops couldn't take a clear shot of him. I slowly inched myself away every chance he took his eyes off of me.
I told him I would drive him anywhere he wants and he can keep me hostage. I was trying to give him as many opportunities so he wouldn't focus on shooting me so quickly. Looking down a barrel of a gun, I was desperate.
Tears running down my face and shaking in shock. The adrenaline kept me going. They say you flashback on life when you face death and have a movie effect. That happened to me but in a different way. My family came to mind. The fact that I didn't get a chance to say good bye and say how much I love all of them. My whole life, I just wanted to make my dad proud and change the world. I knew I hadn't gotten there yet. I knew I had to survive to accomplish that goal. I knew there was more out there than death for me. I was breaking down, but I couldn't let my family and friends down.
The gunman's mood was crazy the whole time, but I kept looking in his eyes to see if I could tell if he was going to kill me. I would calm him for a second, then the situation would turn into mayhem once again. He had me turnaround, with my back towards him. The whole time he wanted me turned towards him, other than the one time he fired the shot by my leg. Knowing this, I was certain I was about to die. This is sounding really dramatic but this was the adrenaline kicking in allowing me to think straightly even though my body language was the complete opposite.
I yelled at the cop to please come down or he was going to kill me. The gunman was yelling and saying he would kill me and he didn't want to die. He asked me if I believe in eternity. I asked him, "do you?." He said he did and that he wanted to live. I told him if you put the guns down you will live.
Then the cop starting yelling again to let me go. The gunman's mood changed again and he went chaotic. Saying things like, "you're going to kill me, you're going to kill my family, I want 100 million dollars." Then, he fired. I was looking away from him and thought that I was shot, but couldn't feel it. I didn't take my hands off of my head to check for a wound, because I knew if I did than he would shoot me dead. I thought at that moment that I was gone, but I wasn't. He missed. He fired and it went right past my head.
He had me turn around with both guns pointed at me. I was doing everything he asked, in hopes there would be the moment that I could run, or at least hop in my case. I started talking to him again, mentioning if he's been to Hawaii, because he asked where I was from. I started talking about the Aloha spirit and how everyone there is kind and welcoming. I told him I would not hurt him and that I didn't want him dead. All I wanted was for him to put his guns down so he wouldn't die and I wouldn't have to die.
Then a change of pace occurred once again. He became more frustrated and confused about his next move. He pointed both of the guns at himself then pointed them both at me. Then he would place them over his head in a frustrated manner. He kept pointing the guns at my face, then at the cop(s), then over his head. I saw him start to get comfortable in the truck, but knew that wouldn't last long.
Of course, he blew up. It came to the point where he told me he was going to kill me and than himself. I knew I had no time. So, I waited for any opportunity to arise. I didn't care if I had to dive off the cliff into the small river below. I just wanted to try and get out of there. Maybe, he wouldn't pull the trigger or maybe the cops would take a shot. I didn't know, but I did know I didn't want to die.
I was shaking and about to collapse from the adrenaline. My arms went completely numb and my foot was throbbing. The gunman then began to scoot into the truck a little more. I was right outside the door but I knew if I dived or ducked behind the truck bed that this might provide some cover if the cops swarmed it.
I had it, I was done. Almost giving up on life I saw the opportunity. He pushed himself more towards the center of the backseats still with a gun pointed at me. Then he turned around for a second. When I saw that initial movement I ran (hopped), behind the truck-bed. I saw the cop on the top of the road move in and I heard the gunman swear and yell, I figured the cop(s) on the hill above me moved in on the gunman. Knowing that I was still in his line of site I zig zagged and ran through any trees or objects that could keep my head away from any bullet(s) heading my way. Once I got up the road I was greeted by officers with AR's, the witnesses and the other two hostages that had escaped well before me. I knew at that point I was alive.
It's hitting me hard as I write down what happened to me yesterday, but all I can say to myself is, "Im alive." I was worried about my family and worried that they were worried. I didn't want them to freak out because I was alive and coming home.
We sat at the top of the road by the highway for awhile as they got the gunman in custody and went through our cars for evidence. I was in shock and didn't know what to say. On the brightside, I did get a suntan because they had to keep my shirt and the other two hostages shirts for evidence.
From today on, I will always remember this experience. Its not the best memory, but I realized at that moment, that life is something worth living. Before, I was already all about life and being myself and being the best me I could possibly be. Today and everyday I have left in this world I am going to push myself as far as I possibly can to get the BKR Crew worldwide and find the potential in everyone to get rid of the bad and welcome the good into their lives.
I would like to thank everyone who gave me the fighting chance to still be here today.
BKR Crew blueprints available here: http://www.bkrcrew.com/collections/all-blueprints
Blake, first i watched the videos on Logan Paul (I'm obsessed with him). Then, I wanted to search up BKR because I wanted to know the real point of it. Then the second link said:"The Day I Was Held Hostage" and I was like that's the one! So, I started reading it. He honestly wanted to commit suicide and then that brought me back to a connection with my story. I knew Chester Bennington (lead singer of Linkin Park) REALLY well. Then, he just decided one day to commit suicide. I was a disaster. You probably were to after that drastic moment happened. Blake, may the rest of your life be healthy, free of drugs (I thought that man was taking drugs), and free to pursue your dream of making your dad proud. God Bless You!
kids not for real
I would like to get ahold of you and talk to you about what happened with two of my friends one of them very tragically died and I want to talk to you about what the other friend had to go through and I'm going to see if I could get ahold of him and see if we could all talk this only took place two months ago my number is 763-400-0972
Hey I just saw this on Logan Pauls Vlog. I was heart broken and Dude damn you handeled it amazingly.
Ps. You are one of the coolest guys ever
Such a heart touching story. It is crazy that you are still alive this teaches people to live life and be careful of your sourroundings.
I had to read your blog after seeing this story in the news. I will share this with my two sons because I hope they get the message to keep a positive outlook on life, try to stay calm, and never give up. Thank you for sharing. You are an inspiration. Oh and yes, I bet you made your dad proud of you a long time ago and now even more. Aloha~ From Ewa Beach, Oahu
Blake, I am relieved to know you are safe. What an incredibly awful story. I am so sorry you had to endure this. I will send prayers to you that you recover a healthy and happy guy! ((HUGS))
Just read your story on Maui Now! We are so happy you are okay and lived to tell the story… you must have been terrified. This definitely makes me think twice about that phrase "live every day like it's your last" … Aloha, Malika
Thank you Blake of BKR Crew for telling your story. We are all immensely relieved that you are safe. On this day our son gave us the always dreaded call that he was heading up to play at the Devil's Punchbowl. With three sons, every given moment is a true test of spirit for a mother as they push their limits in our magnificent mountains. Devil's Punchbowl is just one of a litany of adventures that can go awry as quickly as the change of our mountain weather.
Hiking up the Ute Trail in Aspen at 3pm I heard a fleet of sirens heading up the pass – and then the alert shrieked through my cell phone, "Independence Pass is closed in both directions from both the Aspen and Twin Lakes side due to an emergency situation at a local campground. We will notify when the road is back open." My heart almost gave out from panic. My stomach flipped in fear. Every year we lose loved ones to our mountains and rivers. I was not ready to lose a son. Images of his body hitting a rock from a misjudged gainer and then cascading down the hypothermic river shot through my head.
The last thing I suspected was a shooting. Not in our sacred mountains where we head out into to escape the madness of man, not throw ourselves into it.
In this small community the truth is revealed quickly and I learned that it was not another fatality from pushing nature's boundaries, but that this was yet another #gunviolence act. My fear's worsened.
The call came in at 5:30pm that all was safe. No casualties. I breathed in the cool Colorado air and my life resumed to normal. This one we all escaped.
Much love to you and all of those who love you who now have the chance to let you know how much!
You should be proud of yourself. I would not have been able to talk to the guy like that and probably would not have made it. You already know life has better, wonderful, happy things in store for you. Don't be afraid to reach for help if this terrible incident won't leave your mind.
Thank you for sharing your story. It is terribly frightening but very interesting to read how you chose to deal with your situation. I am so happy you are alive to share your story. Coming so close to someone so mentally ill or crazy on drugs is truly an experience you'll never forget. May the rest of your life be long and healthy and free of any other violent experience.
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You can tell that Bilbao and its immediate surroundings made quite an impression on me. However, it is now time to say farewell with this, the fourth post devoted to the city and its riverside settlements leading to the sea to the north. Here you will find a few photos which try to engage with both the conventional as well as the idiosyncratic. Photos embrace murals, churches, the river, Alhondhiga Bilbao, Areeta, the area close to Museo Guggenheim and the one-time fishing port of Algorta. It was difficult narrowing down the photos to about ten because there is so much to enjoy in this, one of Spain's least Spanish urban and suburban areas. Not that there is anything "wrong" with things overtly, proudly and passionately Spanish (far from it, as earlier posts confirm, I hope); it is just that Bilbao is definitely something a little less ordinary. In fact, despite all the pressures which threaten to turn most large cities around the globe into clones of one another, Bilbao has character and personality which mark it out as different. You love New York? Kolkata? Istanbul? So do I. Therefore, visit Bilbao!
1 thought on "Bilbao and its immediate surroundings, the Basque Country, Spain."
Extraordinary articles about the "other" Bilbao. Congratulations and thank you very much.


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Founded in 1976, Apple Inc. is the leading American multinational technology company that deals
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Review of Letters to a Desperate Stutterer
- Details
- Category: Book Reviews
- Published: Friday, 30 April 2010 19:01
- Written by Lisa Wilder
This article first appeared in the Spring 2009 issue of the CSA Newsletter.
This is a review of the on-line paper "Letters to a Desperate Stutterer" (called "Letters..." in this review). This text is promoted on the website, www.desperatestutterer.com, by Bob Bodenhamer, and he writes an introduction to the paper. "Letters..." is the correspondence written by Linda Rounds who claims to have cured her stuttering by methods very similar to those of NLP. It is a series of letters from Linda to a young man known as Dan, after he wrote to her for help with his own stuttering. The letters describe what she calls her personal journey to cure her own stuttering.
Whether you agree with her or not, Linda's personal initiative and determination in mapping out her own recovery is remarkable. Stuttering, she determines, has more to do with a communication and relationship problem than a physical impairment. This is, of course, a controversial notion.


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Denver is 6th Fastest Growing City
Forbes just released it's annual ranking of the fastest growing cities in the country. This year Denver was up to #6 from #16 in 2013. Forbes takes into consideration population growth, job growth rates, unemployment rates, median salaries for college-educated workers and some other factors. Austin was number one followed by Raleigh, Phoenix, Dallas and Salt Lake City. Denver's economy continues to strengthen in all areas. To read the whole story, click here.


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SuiteNet provides, through its members, extended stay and temporary corporate housing in furnished short-term apartments and corporate suites in Milan, Italy. The following is a list of extended stay and temporary corporate housing providers in Milan:
Milan's history is a story of wealth, intrigue and conflict. Throughout its existence, Milan has known failure and incredible success and has faced both with a spirit and verve that makes this city one of the most famous in the world. Its importance grew considerably during the Imperial Age. Thanks to its geographical position at the centre of the Padana Plain, merchants and travellers would stop here en-route to the north of the Italian Peninsula, and the city became an important military defence against the blood-thirsty Barbarians who attacked from northern Europe.
A great deal of the city centre dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, when many areas were redesigned and rebuilt the city is filled with Fascist minimalist houses in impressive tree-lined avenues; workers' houses and dormitory districts , which were immense apartment blocks with no real shops or services nearby - these estates soon fell into disrepair.
Fortunately, Milan is being transformed from an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan! Economic revival has made it a rich and interesting city. The "moral capital" of Italy is very different from all the artistic cities dotted around the country. It is the centre of economic activity in Italy; the country's Stock Exchange is based here. Milan's fame is also boosted by its role in the world of fashion, by the presence of many industries, its high-tech service sector, and its cultural innovation. Most of Italy's press are situated here. One of the major TV networks - the largest private network in Italy - has its headquarters at the gates of Milan.
Call it serviced apartments, furnished accommodations, interim housing, temporary suites, corporate housing, temporary furnished housing, furnished corporate housing, temporary furnished apartments, corporate accommodations, temporary accommodations, furnished corporate apartments, serviced accommodations, temporary housing, furnished short-term housing, temporary serviced apartments, furnished short-term housing, temporary corporate apartments or furnished temporary apartments chances are that SuiteNet members can accommodate you in Milan, Italy.
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The Kensington Iron Bed got its inspiration from an antique found in London Market. Impressions were taken to exactly reproduce its Fleur de le castings. Even with its simplistic lines and orientate castings, the Kensington is by far one of our most popular beds.
Shown in Satin White
Dimensions: Headboard Height 51 1/2"
Footboard Height 39 1/2"
Twin: 79" L x 39" W
Double: 79" L x 54" W
- Complete Bed includes: headboard, footboard and frame
- Eco-friendly rail system, made of recycled rail steel
- Made in the USA, Northern California


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Great Service
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Gray Nicolls Pro Performance Slipover (Navy)
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The Hall Squad, also known as the Safety Patrol are the collective student hall monitors, security guards and service workers at Gallagher Elementary School.
The Hall Monitors wear a number of different outfits throughout the KND series, often portraying their respective roles in each episode, and each outfit resembles a real-world counterpart.
Their standard uniforms include full sunglasses, a communication device in their left ear, black shirts, black shorts/jeans and black shoes, all of which are neatly kept at all times. This uniform is a parody of the US Secret Service.
Another example of a different uniform is marked by their use of Stormtrooper uniforms worn by the Imperial Army as a parody of Star Wars, and another outfit, seen exclusively in Operation: C.R.I.M.E. has them dressed up as Spetsnaz Soldiers (Russian Special Forces) with ski masks, bulletproof vests snow gloves and army shorts or pants. Each outfit is always marked in some form with the color orange, signifying the universal color of safety management.
They serve the school in the same fashion that the secret service serves the U.S. government, and wear similar outfits. They are primarily semi-villains and usually function as antagonists, since they serve the adults who run Gallagher Elementary, and are shown to be somewhat corrupt.
The Hall Monitors appear to be appointed by the student presidents of the school, and serve that president without question, even if the president is plainly evil. In Operation: S.N.O.W.I.N.G., the Hall Squad served as the henchmen of the corrupt president James "Jimmy" Nixon McGarfield in a parody of Star Wars, known here as "Hall Troopers", wearing costumes parodying those of Imperial Stormtroopers and piloting Bus Walkers. In Operation: E.L.E.C.T.I.O.N.S., the Hall Squad work for the Delightful Children From Down The Lane during their time as president.
In this episode, the Six Gum Gang are hired by the DCFDTL as leaders of the Hall Squad. While they follow the orders of the president whether they be good or evil, they will not obey a president who is a traitor to the school according to its established laws, which is constituted by such offenses as betraying Gallagher during an Elementary School/Middle School War or rigging the elections, both of which the DCFDTL were guilty of. Such a president will not only be impeached, but be sent to Permanent Detention. However much later in the episode they helped Numbuh 1 take out the DCFDTL.
In Operation: P.I.N.K.-E.Y.E., it is revealed that Numbuh 2 was a Hall Monitor before he joined the KND, and was partners with Joe Balooka, who was later fired from the force for helping Nurse Claiborne with her pinkeye scheme.
They currently work for Eggbert Eggleston, since he is now the 4th grade class president.


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CLSEW Speaker Series
Click here for live stream / webinar information.
In memory of Professor Jack Quarter (1941-2019)
Professor Jack Quarter passed away in the early hours of Feb. 6 after a short and relatively peaceful struggle with terminal illness, surrounded during his last few months by his friends and family and continuing to teach and research until the end.
Jack taught at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (OISE), was a researcher there at its founding in 1965, became an assistant professor at OISE in 1971, and then a full professor in 1988. At the University of Toronto, Jack was known as a dedicated researcher and a kind and generous teacher, mentor, and colleague to students, staff-members, and fellow faculty. Beyond the university, Jack was recognized world-wide as one of leading specialists of the social economy, cooperatives, and social enterprise. In fact, throughout his life, Jack was a deeply committed supporter of Canada's social economy.
Starting with close studies of Israel's kibbutz movement and then worker cooperatives, Jack would eventually specialize in worker and union buyouts and conversions of firms to labour- and community ownership, union-led pensions, community economic development, nonprofits, cooperatives, and social enterprises. He viewed them all as spaces and organizations that offered more ethical ways of meeting the needs of people and that directly addressed the inequities of the market system. He would eventually go on to write 12 books and over 100 journal papers and book chapters on these themes, including much of the text for the Worker Co-op magazine in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Many of these publications were collaborative efforts with colleagues and students.
He published the first comprehensive study of the social economy in his 1992 book, Canada's Social Economy, and then with Laurie Mook and Ann Armstrong, Understanding the Social Economy: A Canadian Perspective (2009, 2018) and Understanding the Social Economy of the United States (2015), with Laurie Mook, John R. Whitman, and Ann Armstrong. Indeed, Jack pioneered Social Economy Research in English Canada and his work has contributed to raising the profile of all social economy organisations as significant contributors to the Canadian economy, its GDP, and to society more broadly.
Jack was also a social economy practitioner. In 1991, Jack helped organize and found the Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation, and soon after became an active member and president of the Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation. In 2008 he also co-founded the Association for Nonprofit and Social Economy Research, serving as its president for seven years. Securing many SSHRC grants over his career (around $7.2 million), between 2005-2010 Jack co-directed the SSHRC community/university research alliance on the social economy and led the Southern Ontario Social Economy Node. Soon after, Jack would spearhead OISEs Social Economy Centre and then the Centre for Learning, Social Economy, and Work, which I had the pleasure of co-founding with Jack and other colleagues. The legacy of all of the initiatives that Jack started or participated in live on as productive and thriving research centres and associations of social economy scholars and practitioners.
A consummate teacher and mentor, Jack supervised throughout his career dozens of postdoctoral researchers, and PhD and MA students, many of whom continued on to successful careers in academia or the social economy.
Winner of several life-time achievement awards, the Jack Quarter Prize in Social Economy was established in 2011 in his honour by his former doctoral students and others touched by his wisdom and support in making intellectual contributions to our collective knowledge of and well-being in the social economy in Canada and around the world.
We'd like to end with the final words of philosopher Bertrand Russell's essay, How to Grow Old, which I think concisely captures how Jack lived and died and the legacy he established and that will carry on for a very long time to come:
The best way to overcome [the fear of death]—so at least it seems to me—is to make your interests gradually wider and more impersonal, until bit by bit the walls of the ego recede, and your life becomes increasingly merged in the universal life. An individual human existence should be like a river: small at first, narrowly contained within its banks, and rushing passionately past rocks and over waterfalls. Gradually the river grows wider, the banks recede, the waters flow more quietly, and in the end, without any visible break, they become merged in the sea, and painlessly lose their individual being. The man who, in old age, can see his life in this way, will not suffer from the fear of death, since the things he cares for will continue. And if, with the decay of vitality, weariness increases, the thought of rest will not be unwelcome. I should wish to die while still at work, knowing that others will carry on what I can no longer do and content in the thought that what was possible has been done.
Established at the University of Toronto in 2014, CLSEW merges two research centres: Centre for the Study of Education & Work, and the Social Economy Centre. (Click on History to know more about us).
Leading OISE/UT team
For Research, Education and Policy
CLSEW brings together academics, labour educators, and participants in the social economy and broader community:
CLSEW's upcoming events
HR Network:
Next Meeting: Friday, January 18, 2019, 1 pm to 4 pm
Speakers Series:
Ontarios Minimum Wage Increase: Two Different Viewpoints
The conversation will be centered around Ontario's Minimum Wage Increase.
Speaker: Jordan Brennan, UNIFOR
Jordan Brennan is a senior economist with Unifor and, until recently, a visiting scholar at Harvard Law School.
Speaker: Dan Kelly, CFIB
Dan Kelly serves as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Governors of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
Wednesday, Nov 21, 2018 / 12pm-1:30pm OISE 3-104 (3rd fl.) 252 Bloor Street West
*Previous Speakers Series talks are available under Archived Talks.
Workshop Series:
To Be Announced
CLSEW at OISE/UT
The Centre for Learning, Social Economy & Work is housed in the Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education within the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. We are linked with the collaborative graduate programs in Workplace Learning and Social Change and Community Development.
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CLSEW upcoming events
Wednesday, February 26 @ 6pm
Nexus Lounge, 12th Floor OISE
252 Bloor Street West


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Yesterday, Mike Pence got the House Republicans together to figure out how one of those darn "selfie sticks" work. The result was a selfie of unmitigated terror: a sea of old, pasty faces, like some sort of chorus of the damned, frozen and oblivious. It immediately drew connections with Paul Ryan's similarly forced selfie from earlier this year, and both were compared to another hellish image of the damned—the final shot of The Shining. A new video explores this connection more fully. The thesis: Did Stanley Kubrick predict the Trump/Pence win in The Shining? You decide.
The video concludes with a fact more horrifying than anything in Kubrick's classic: the fact that Mike Pence does not know how condoms work. It urges viewers to donate to Planned Parenthood.


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More Gorgeous Old Mercury Glass Ornaments
More glitter!
More glitz!
More holiday ho ho ho!
And...more old mercury glass ornaments!
It's just about that time of year to drag out
and dust off the Christmas tree.
Why not jazz up your ornament collection
with some of these
Or maybe an elf on a shelf (or tree!)
Ho ho ho, indeed!
Posted by Deb @ Lavender Garden Cottage at 9:46 AM
Labels: etsy shop, holidays, mercury glass ornaments
2 comments:
I adore old mercury glass ornaments! The colors, shapes, glittered images, the way they shine - I love everything about them! I remember my parents having many when I was a child and my husband and I have from each of our families that we proudly display on our little tree. I get all excited when I find some in a shop but the best ones are those that have memories of family attached to them. Thanks for sharing! Hugs, LeenaReplyDelete
Just wonderful! I recognized a few that we had on our tree when I was growing up, and have a few my Mom passed on to me. I really enjoyed seeing yours.ReplyDelete
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High Blood Pressure? High Cholesterol? Over 45?
If you are 45 years old or over, have high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol, you might be eligible to participate in a student research trial that I am conducting here at Woolpit Complementary. This will form a substantial part of my degree in Nutrition and Human Health, with the University of Suffolk.
I have created a simple dietary intervention with the aim to reduce hypertension, which is a primary symptom of vascular diseases as well as diabetes, obesity and chronic kidney disease.
In order to understand the strengths and limitations of this intervention, I need a large number of participants. I would like to work with as many people as possible, in order to establish whether the information I collect is representative for the wider population.
If you would like to find out more, please click the button below to download the preliminary information as a PDF and find out how to register your interest. This is a free, voluntary project for the purpose of research only and I have received ethical approval from the University of Suffolk.
Alternatively, you can call the centre on 01359 408 011 and either myself or my colleague Lara will be able to answer any questions you might have.
Thank you!


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Eishi- Drei Damen mit Maulbeerblättern
Move your mouse over image or click to enlarge
Ryuryukyo Shinsai ( 1764 ? – 1820)
Surimono - Greeting card
A young lady playfully covering the eyes of another lady who is trying to read a book.
Besides the title are two poems for the new year, one written by the poet Eikinsha Kohagi and the other written by the poet Shakuyaku-tei.
Title: "Mizaru –Don't look"
Signature: Shinsai
Size: Kakuban, 18, 4 cm x 20, 4cm
Very nice impression, printed with fine colours, metal pigments and embossed printing on thick paper


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To whom it may concern,
I adopted my first britt from ABR. He was just suppose to be a foster for a while, but I guess you know a lot of failed fosters. Within months of our adoption I had to find him a new home. He now lives a mile from me with acres on which to run.
The reason I am writing is that I have read several of the adoption stories on your sight, about dealing with laryngeal paralysis. I'd like to pass along information about the experience I have had . I later adopted a 7 year old brittany, who is the most perfect dog for my husband and I. When he was 9 he developed laryngeal paralysis. We just couldn't put him down, so we opted for the operation, which was to tie back a part of the larynx to open the airway. The vet told us that this operation fails in 1 out of 100 dogs. I received a call from the vet the day after the operation and was told that it had failed and that he was going to do the other side. This fails in 1 out of 30 dogs. After 2 weeks at home Pippin couldn't breath again, so back to the vet. We had 2 choices, say good bye or go for a full tracheoscopy. Good bye still wasn't an option for us. This dog was so happy and full of life we had to give him the chance. He is now 12 years old. He has a permanent hole in his throat, can no longer bark or talk to us, but is fine. We have had no issues with aspiration of his food, and he does eat well. Even his vet was amazed.
I will not say it wasn't costly, and we did think twice, but we now know we made the right decision. We have had 3 more years with this loving dog, who has since developed issues with his heart and is now almost blind, but he loves his life as the most spoiled brittany on the planet. I hope we have him another year at least, but we go day by day now and love our time together. He is still very funny, just a bit slower as we all are as we age.
Laryngeal Paralysis
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Laryngeal Paralysis
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Re: Laryngeal Paralysis
And so it is with old dogs, each day is a bonus.Dakota wrote:.......we go day by day now and love our time together.
RIP Sweet Cassie 4/98 - 3/13
Re: Laryngeal Paralysis
Always like to hear about positive outcomes. Enjoy his older years!!
Re: Laryngeal Paralysis
Wow. He sounds like a lucky pouch to have someone take such good care of him. I hope you'll be snuggling together for years to come.
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4 posts • Page 1 of 1


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Work-Life Balance: What's Your Flexstyle?
October 6, 2014
Hosted by Bonnie D. Graham
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Guest Information
Episode Description
The buzz: Work-life what? The term 'work-life balance' has become a cliché for a frustrating goal that few of us in the workforce ever reach, or reach very often. With boundaries between work and family more blurred than ever, stress, job burnout, and competition for our time all take a toll on our work productivity and our health. Take heart. Now there's flexstyle, a more nuanced way of finding balance that reflects individual working styles. Is flexstyle the right fit for you and your employer? The experts speak. Brenda A. Lautsch, Simon Fraser University: "Flexibility isn't the answer to everyone's work-life balance problems." Dr. Ellen Ernst Kossek, Purdue University: "Make technology work for you, not against you...redraw the lines between work and family." Karie Willyerd, SAP: "Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life." (Refrigerator magnet) Join us for Work-Life Balance: What's Your Flexstyle?
HR Trends with Game Changers, Presented by SAP
Monday at 10 AM Pacific Time on VoiceAmerica Business Channel
Game-changing technologies and strategies are transformational, exciting and disruptive for a reason. They shake up your status quo. They get you thinking about new ways to scale, compete and grow. They move you in amazing new directions. Join host Bonnie D. Graham as she invites you to take an additional coffee break with game-changers for our special series on today's top HR trends, on HR Trends with Game Changers. Learn how you can become the savvy HR innovator who takes your company across the finish line as you look ahead to the next breakthrough human resources strategy.
Bonnie D. Graham
Bonnie D. Graham has been producing and hosting live talk radio since 1998. She is the creator, producer and host of the weekly business talk series, "Coffee Break with Game-Changers, presented by SAP" that debuted in Fall 2011, plus more than two dozen related Game-Changers Radio series also heard on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel.
SAP helps companies of all sizes and industries run simple. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, operations to finance, SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. We do this by extending the availability of software across on-premise installations, cloud and hybrid deployments, and mobile devices.


text: Part 2: Three Variables That Affect Vacuum Tension Rolls Web Tension Control with Vacuum Tension Rolls Vacuum tension rolls and belts provide web tension control by generating a web force against the roll or belt that is independent of the web tension differential (Tension In and Tension Out). The discussion that follows is based on vacuum rolls, but generally applies to vacuum belts as well. Two things happen when the vacuum is applied to the roll. First, the vacuum under the wrap angle creates a pressure difference between the vacuum level and atmospheric conditions. This pressure difference forces the web against the roll and... Read more


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Promax Europe presents Social Media Dragon, Dot Lung!
Social Media Dragons at Promax Europe!
Lung will make her Promax speaking debut at this year's Europe conference in March. Through her interest in human behavior and knowledge of all things social, Lung aims to empower creative people to make digital magic, build a future together, and get their work seen.
Whether you're a social media beginner, community manager, or a digital influencer, you'll learn how to hack the Instagram Algorithm by applying "The D.R.A.G.O.N's Formula" for organic growth and community building!
Catch her session "How Social Dragons Hacked the Instagram Algorithm" March 26th from 11:30 to 11:55 at Promax Europe in Amsterdam! #LearnWithDot


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Hi Folks:
We're stealing this short video link from Kalebra Kelby's blog; we do so unabashedly for two reasons. First, it's a wonderful film, and well worth 8 minutes of your time. Second, it gives us the opportunity to introduce you to Kalebra's blog, which is filled with insight, humour and warmth (to name a few).
P.S. After viewing this you may wish to visit our 'Finding Validation' post for more feelinggoodness. 🙂 (that may not be a word, but it should be)
P.S. II, the sequel. Mike's sister Liz passed away 22 years ago today. She would have Loved this movie!


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Although she talks to thousands of people every day, Cathy Wurzer feared she might faint as she stepped onto a stage in Ely last November.
It wasn't the audience of 200 that put the butterflies in her stomach. It was the topic she had come to share with them. She was about to do what she was asking them to do — engage in a frank, difficult and personal conversation about death and dying.
Ely was the first stop in a series of statewide conversations that she's hosting called The Convenings. The award-winning journalist is on a mission to break the taboo of talking about — and preparing for — the end of life.
Wurzer arrives at what she calls her passion project as a familiar face and voice. A 30-year staple on Twin Cities airwaves, she hosts "Morning Edition" on Minnesota Public Radio and co-anchors TPT's "Almanac" with her ex-husband, Eric Eskola. (Wurzer declines to talk about her relationship with Eskola beyond saying they are "the best of friends.")
Her circuitous route to her role with The Convenings had its start in 2011, when she interviewed Bruce Kramer, former dean of the College of Education at the University of St. Thomas. He was blogging about his diagnosis of ALS, a progressive, neurodegenerative disease.
In a series of deeply felt conversations broadcast on MPR, Wurzer documented how Kramer faced his hopeless diagnosis with bravery, dignity and honesty. They went on to collaborate on a book, "We Know How This Ends," released shortly after Kramer's death in 2015.
Raised in the Longfellow neighborhood in south Minneapolis, Wurzer, 54, is the oldest of three children born to a businessman father and a nurse-anesthetist mother. She remembers as a girl writing a fan letter to the era's top Twin Cities TV weatherman, Dr. Walt Lyons. Back then, she wanted to be a meteorologist. She shifted to journalism when she didn't ace the math and science classes required for weather forecasters.
After graduating from South High School, she attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She was a few credits shy of earning her diploma when she left campus to take a job writing radio news at KSTP-AM. Ten years later, after being solidly on her professional path, she completed her degree.
Wurzer talked to us about what she has learned from her losses, her next projects and her dependence on Diet Mountain Dew.
Q. I bet you didn't set out to become an expert on some very serious topics about the end of life. What's the short answer of how that happened?
A. I was going to have one conversation with Bruce Kramer, but our first interview lasted two hours and I decided I wanted to continue to follow him and his family. Bruce intentionally set out to keep learning as a human being through this incurable disease, and it was fascinating and moving to watch. He proved to me that the last stage of life can be fruitful. Bruce grew through the grief and pain until his last breath. Being present for that was like taking a master class in living and dying well. I thought, could I do that? And I thought, is this teachable to others?
Q. Did what you learned help you in your personal life?
A. I connected with Bruce while my father was ill. They were on a parallel track, but when my dad moved through his dementia and then the lymphoma that ultimately killed him, we never talked about what was going on. I saw how when you're caregiving, you focus on what's next, how can you help.
Being with Dad while he was dying made me sad. He'd been this larger-than-life character, but dementia took his voice. Being with Bruce energized me. He said, "You aren't finished until you are."
Q. How have these experiences with loss resonated with you?
A. In so many ways. In February, I recorded the narration for the audio version of "We Know How This Ends"; it comes out this month. We wrote the book in record time; Bruce joked that we were on a literal deadline. After the book came out, I talked about it in speeches and at book clubs, but to tell the truth, I hadn't cracked it since I wrote it.
Bruce's son came to the studio to read Bruce's parts in the book and his voice sounds just like his dad. Reading it out loud was harder than I thought it was going to be. I kept stopping to cry; the poor sound engineer had to listen to me snort.
Q. Was the crying cathartic?
A. I would say no. It hit me in the studio that I still have a lot of grieving to do. For Bruce and for my father. I got really busy after the death of my dad and plowed through and that deflected my grief. It's still waiting for me.
Q. Has the work you're doing made you more empathetic?
A. I think so. As a journalist, you're taught and trained not to get too involved with your subjects. You can't. We cover a lot of horrible stories. That was why this thing with Bruce was so unusual. I couldn't wear my heavy armor when he was willing to be so vulnerable.
Q. What do you see as your role in the caregiving conversation with The Convenings? Are you an advocate, a confessor, a friendly ear?
A. I'm the convener in chief. That's what I do on the air — bring together experts and hear from the public. I produce these events like a live show. I interview people on stage, there are readings and music and storytelling and we even have some laughs. People want meaningful conversations about how we live now at the end of our lives.
I don't want to scare people. But we need to think about why we shy away from death.
Bruce used to say it's too damned bad we don't do this kind of contemplation before we are faced with a diagnosis.
Q. Do you think these relationships prepared you to lead these public forums?
A. I'm no expert, just a curious soul. I think that's my value. I was with my father when he died, and I was with Bruce when he died. I have lived this stuff. Life is finite and death is scary, so we don't talk about it and don't think about it. But I've seen that when you stop being afraid or in denial you continue to grow.
At The Convenings and other public appearances associated with the book, you've encouraged people to get an advanced care directive so their wishes are known at the end of life. Do you practice what you preach?
I've seen people who are so grateful when they've had these deep conversations and then are prepared to carry out their loved one's wishes. We all need to do that.
I just finished my care directive, and the attorney who drew it up said it was one of the most precise ones that he had done. What I came up with was pretty clear. I don't want to be kept alive by artificial means if all hope is gone. After I die, I want a big party with Hawaiian music and classic country and champagne and good food.
Q. People often tell broadcasters, "I feel like I know you." What do you think when you hear that?
A. More than once, someone said they shower with me every morning. [Laughs.]
Really, I'm a very private person, I'm reserved. We are a society that shares a lot, but I don't feel the need to. You have to give something away when you're on the air, but I've never been given to let it all hang out. I keep a little piece of me just for myself and my loved ones.
Q. What's your daily routine? Are you a morning person, or have you become one?
A. Even after all these years I still set my alarm. I get up at 2:15 and have a cup of coffee. When I get to work and start getting grounded on the news of the day, I shift to Diet Mountain Dew; I drink an obscene amount of it. I go on the air at 5 a.m. and sign off at 9. I usually walk out the door around 11.
I know sleep experts say to nap for 20 minutes. I go home and sleep for several hours. When I get up, I have a burst of energy and get things done. I go back to sleep around 9 unless I have a public appearance.
I'm almost always a little bit tired. I'm the person who fell asleep at a Rolling Stones concert. I'll never live that one down.
Q. You work in both radio and television. What do you like and dislike about both media?
A. I enjoy the teamwork that it takes to do TV. There's great camaraderie. You age in front of people on TV, but viewers of public television might be more forgiving of all that. With the optics of television, you can work hard on a segment and people call and leave a message that they don't like your hair.
I love the intimacy of radio. I make a connection with listeners that's so satisfying. In my little studio it's just me, I get to be a lone wolf. There's really nothing I don't like about radio.
Q. You have a voice like a bell. What do you do to take care of it?
A. Nothing. It just comes out that way.
Q. Your MPR bio notes that one of your hobbies is making mosaics. Are there any parallels between this thing you do for fun and your work?
A. One of my favorite places is the Memorial Chapel at Lakewood Cemetery, which has a breathtaking Byzantine mosaic, a real masterpiece. It inspired me to get a book to learn how to make mosaics and I've taught myself. I like it because it's messy. It's an art that celebrates the beauty of what's broken. You reassemble and recast the shards of what was and create something new; with any luck, it's beautiful. There's a metaphor in that.
Q. Where do you go to recharge?
The North Shore! After I left home, my parents moved to Two Harbors. I came to love not just Lake Superior but the trips back and forth: I'm never happier than when I'm driving. I got to know the landmarks and took some side trips. That gave me the idea to do a documentary on Highway 61 from one end of the state to the other. The show on TPT then morphed into a companion book. ["Tales of the Road: Highway 61," Minnesota Historical Press, 2009]
Q. Did you know how to write a book?
A. The truth is, I didn't. I figured, how hard can it be? Boy, did I learn. Writing a book is not like writing news copy! I knew I was in deep weeds when I handed in this manuscript that I'd worked so hard on and my editor said in the nicest possible way, this is a good first draft. It was a very humbling experience.
Q. Have you chosen your next project?
A. I'm launching into a history of broadcasting in Minnesota — a book and a documentary. I'm just starting the research, but the Minnesota Historical Press and TPT have signed on. It will cover radio and television, public and commercial broadcasting, all the legendary pioneers.
I was blessed to have worked with some of them; I was coming into the business when these guys — and they mostly were guys — were at the end of their careers. Charlie Boone became a dear friend while I worked at WCCO Radio; Charlie and I first had this grand idea of the broadcasting documentary and now I'm sure he will be in it! [Boone died in 2015.]
My first mentor was John MacDougall; he'd been a legendary anchorman at KSTP and had that old-school baritone, the voice of God. He was the news director who hired me at KSTP-AM. I would bang out copy on a typewriter and he would take his smelly marker and cross out most of it. But he really taught me how to write.
Q. How about other plans for the future?
A. I know that I want to continue with this work on the end of life and see where it takes me. There's so much more to learn and share.
People ask me about my five-year plan; I've never had one. I don't know where I'm going to be but I'm open to the possibilities. I didn't expect to be here where I am now but I like it.
And I want to go to Ravenna, Italy, where they have some of the oldest and most beautiful mosaics in the world. I want to take classes there. That would be wonderful. That's one of my dreams.


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