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CaliforniaNightLife.com is always looking for aggressive, energetic, and bright individuals that want an opportunity in the nightlife entertainment industry. Please see the list of positions below:
CaliforniaNightLife.com produces over 50 events a year, and we always need extra reliable hands to show up and run our will calls, extra security, runners, promoters, etc... If you're interested in joining our on-call roster. Please fill out the form below:
If you have a sales background, you need extra income, and don't mind working from home; please fill out the form below. All our account executives & promoters have first right of refusal for working and receiving hourly wages at our events as well.
We constantly need to articles, venue/event descriptions to post. If you're a good writer and need college credit and/or experience: please fill out the form and send us examples of your work.
We constantly need great photos to post to our galleries. If you're a good photographer and need college credit and/or experience: please fill out the form and send us examples of your work.
If you're a graphic designer, please fill out the form below and send us your online portfolio and rate sheet: We need quality graphic designers available on a freelance Basis to design banners, flyers, posters, etc... for our clients etc.
When you produce over 50 events a year, we need a pool of Artists, DJs, bands, performers. Please fill out the form below, and send us your facebook page so we may consider you for a gig. Thanks.


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Florida Georgia Line's Tyler and Hayley Hubbard Are Expecting Baby #2
By Lauryn Snapp
February 11, 2019
Florida Georgia Line 's Tyler Hubbard dropped exciting news over the weekend. The Hubbard family is officially expanding!
Tyler shared the news on Instagram, saying "The Hubbard family is growing. We are excited to share that little nugget #2 is on the way. We are so thankful and can't wait to see Olivia be a big sister. What do y'all think.... boy or girl?" The caption was coupled with a sweet photo of Tyler kissing his wife, Hayley Hubbard 's tiny baby bump while attending the Grammy Awards.
Cody Alan had a feeling that this moment would be coming.
In August, Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley teased a sexy new track during an interview with Cody saying, "This is a baby making song." They were, of course, referencing their sizzling summer song, "Talk You Out Of It."
Taking the hint that there may be more to the story, Cody asked the duo "Speaking of baby making, are you also suggesting your making another?" Tyler eagerly responded, "We are working on it. Always."
It's a great day to celebrate and place your gender bets on the Hubbard new baby.
Congrats, Tyler and Hayley.
Photo Credit: Getty Images.

subset: commoncrawl


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Tiny faces from a book about icons.
A very mis-matched pair with bits from a Nicky Butler necklace.
I colored the medal with perfect pearls then sealed. And a tiny amethyst from Uruguay.
Simple blues. I love these round beads.
A man ambushed a stone. Caught it.
Made it a prisoner.
Put it in a dark room and stood guard over it for the rest of his life.
His mother asked why.
He said, because it's held captive, because it is captured.
Look, the stone is asleep, she said, it does not know whether it's in a garden or not. Eternity and the stone
are mother and daughter; it is you who are getting old. The stone is only sleeping.
But I caught it, mother, it is mine by conquest, he said.
A stone is nobody's, not even its own. It is you who are conquered; you are minding the prisoner, which is yourself,
because you are afraid to go out, she said.
Yes yes, I am afraid, because you have never loved me, he said.
Which is true, because you have always been to me as the stone is to you, she said.
Russell Edson
Mother of Light, and the Gods! Mother of Music, awake!
Silence and speech are at odds; Heaven and Hell are at stake.
By the Rose and the Cross I conjure;
I constrain by the Snake and the Sword;
I am he that is sworn to endure -Bring us the word of the Lord!
from The Interpreter by Aleister Crowley
I wait for thee, my soul distraught
With aching for some nameless naught
In its most arcane crypt-
Am I not fit to endure thee?
Thou whose mouth is a flame
With its seven-edged sword proceeding,
Come! I am writhing with despair
Like a snake taken in a snare,
Moaning thy mystical name
Till my tongue is torn and bleeding!
Have I not gilded my nails
And painted my lips with vermillion?
Yea! thou art I; the deed awakes,
Thy lightening strikes; thy thunder breaks
Wild as the bride that wails
In the bridegroom's plumed pavillion!
from Ave Adonai by Aleister Crowley


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Chowchow is a sweet-and-sour relish. The chowchow here is studded with pieces of charred and crunchy onions, which have a smoky flavor that's delicious with grilled sausage. The chowchow is perfect with all types of grilled meat or poultry or as a hot dog relish. Plus: More Grilling Recipes and Tips
How to Make It
Light a grill. Skewer each onion slice with a toothpick. Thread the jalapeños on a skewer. Brush the onions and jalapeños with olive oil and grill over a hot fire until charred but still slightly crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove the toothpicks and skewer. Coarsely chop the onions. Peel and chop the jalapeños.
In a medium saucepan, combine the cider vinegar with the light brown sugar, grainy and Dijon mustards, caraway seeds and turmeric and bring to a simmer. Add the onions and jalapeños and cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until the liquid is slightly reduced, about 12 minutes. Stir the cornstarch mixture, add it to the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Grill the sausages over a medium-high fire until golden and cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve the sausages with the grilled-onion chowchow.
Make Ahead
The sausages can include Italian fennel, merguez, turkey and chicken sausages, which will cook in about 12 minutes; and andouille and kielbasa sausages, which will cook in about 10 minutes.


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I was looking for information on racist comic act "Shirley Q. Liquor" and ran across this info. Oh my! It's interesting how young white people these days are so comfortable with racist imagery and blackface, to the point where they just post things all over the net. CRAZY.
From Ban Shirley Q. Liquor – University of Alabama student Elizabeth Dennis recently changed her Facebook profile image from Piglet, a Winnie the Pooh character, that was in blackface with one hand holding a watermelon and the other holding a bucket of KFC Fried Chicken, with the word "Niglet" underneath. After it got around that the photo was up she posted a new pic and added the confession "the profile pic was a joke … Sorry if I offended."
But after looking at all of the photos that she posted of herself in blackface, I am even more disappointed that she was apparently supported by other brothas and sistas to do what she did.
Elizabeth must have missed the big speech yesterday because these photos were up TODAY.
But America's transcending race and blacks need to get over it. Yeah right!
I wonder what's the percentage of white college students dressing up in blackface to black college students dressing up in whiteface and then being stupid enough or smart enough, depending on how you look at it, to post the photos on Facebook or Myspace.
Let's see now…TheSmokingGun.com reported on the photos taken last year on the bank of the Red River, where students from the University of Louisiana at Monroe decided to reenact their version of the Jena 6. Then there was Texas' Tarleton State University and South Carolina's Clemson University who came under scrutiny after photos posted on the Internet showed Martin Luther King Jr. Day parties with white students dressed to mimic stereotypes of Black people. Mimicked stereotypes included Aunt Jemima and gang members. One student is pictured with his entire body painted in black, while a female padded her buttocks. To add injury to insult, the students also appear to be drinking 40 ounces of malt liquor and eating fried chicken. And although he's no college student, let's not forget Charles Knipp's Shirley Q. Liquor.
And we're transcending race how again?
Click here to read the whole article and see more photos…but I gotta warn you, it ain't pretty.


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Ernest L. Rosato, MD Division Director
Information For
The Division of General Surgery offers surgical treatment for a wide array of diseases and disorders including those affecting the breast, digestive tract, liver, pancreas, skin and thyroid. The division proudly continues the legacy of leadership and commitment to excellence established by the famed surgeons and former chairs who have led the department through history.
Today our general surgeons are continuously fine-tuning surgical techniques and offering less-invasive options. Our surgeons are among the pioneers in minimally invasive and robotic surgical techniques. We have had important success in esophagectomies, liver resections, surgery for obesity, lumpectomies for breast cancer, and various procedures for disorders of the pancreas and biliary tract – most notably the mini-Whipple procedure and robotic-assisted distal pancreatectomy.
Research is a critical mission of the department faculty and the general surgeons are no exception. Our general surgeons are involved in an impressive array of clinical trials and work closely with faculty in the Division of Surgical Research on basic science research ranging from identifying novel early detection markers for pancreatic cancer to understanding mRNA instability in tumors.
Ernest L. Rosato, MD Division Director


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Trailer park trash.But this highlights I think a problem in this country that kind of gets lost in the shuffle. There are many people living in extreme poverty in all areas, and quite a bit of them happen to be caucasian. Sometimes this gets lost in the shuffle because this country equates poverty to minorities too often.
Trailer park trash.


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Recent research highlights potential of nutrients abundant only in fatty seafood, and encourages further study 02/24/2011
Last week we reported on the disappointing outcome of a major clinical trial.
It was designed to test the heart-health effects of lowering diabetics' blood sugar to normal levels. (See Diabetes Study Shock)
The 10,000-person study was designed to find the best way to reduce heart disease and heart attacks among long-term Type 2 diagnosed with heart disease, or with two or more other risk factors for heart disease (aside from diabetes).
Key Points
- Failure of radical blood-sugar-lowering regimen to reduce death rates may shift focus to alternative approaches.
- No diabetes protection found in women taking low-dose vitamin D, but prior analyses indicate higher doses may help.
- Vitamin D exerts effects compatible with deterring or ameliorating diabetes.
- Omega-3s reduce heart risks associated with diabetes but do not reduce blood sugar or enhance insulin sensitivity.
It compared the outcomes of treatment strategies designed to improve one of three major risk factors for heart disease among diabetics:
- Blood sugar levels
- Blood pressure levels
- Blood fat (triglyceride) levels
The participants assigned to the blood-sugar-lowering part of the study were further divided into "radical" and "moderate" blood-sugar-lowering groups (our characterization).
Surprisingly, the diabetics placed on the radical sugar-lowering regimen suffered a higher death rate, compared with patients placed on the more moderate regimen, which reduced their blood sugar levels but left them above normal.
Many medical observers noted that stress related to the extreme blood-sugar-lowering regimen could account for the increased death rate.
The goal for the group placed on the radical sugar-lowering regimen was to cut their levels below 6 percent on a measure called hemoglobin A1c.
(The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with Type 2 diabetes keep their blood sugar below 7 percent, which reduces patients' risk of blood-sugar-related damage to the eyes, kidney, and nervous system.)
However, some authors of the study now say that patients with heart disease or with several risk factors should aim for levels no lower than 7 percent, rather than the near-normal 6 percent level that was the target for the radical sugar-lowering regimen.
In light of the unexpected outcome of this study, let's take a look at recent findings about two fish-borne nutrients—vitamin D and omega-3s (EPA and DHA)—in relation to diabetes.
Omega-3s in diabetes
As we've reported in the past, omega-3s exert effects similar to those of a major class of diabetes drugs, called glitizars, which act on cellular switches called PPARs, in ways that raise levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol and lower blood fat (triglyceride) levels.
(See "Drug May Help Prevent Diabetes: Omega-3s Exert Comparable Effects".)
Unlike glitizar drugs, omega-3s do not enhance insulin sensitivity, which is one goal of diabetes prevention and care. Nor are the omega-3s in fish oil proven to stabilize blood sugar levels.
Last month, the authors of a comprehensive review of the medical literature summarized what's known about the effects of supplemental fish oil in diabetes:
"Omega-3 PUFA supplementation in type 2 diabetes lowers triglycerides and VLDL ["very bad"] cholesterol, but may raise LDL cholesterol (although results were non-significant in subgroups) and has no statistically significant effect on glycemic control or fasting insulin. Trials with vascular events or mortality defined endpoints are needed." (Hartweg J et al. 2008)
When the authors said, "Trials with vascular events or mortality defined endpoints are needed", they no doubt were referring to two things:
- Omega-3s improve three of the symptoms associated with diabetes: high triglyceride levels, low HDL levels, increased inflammation.
- Omega-3s reduce cardiovascular risks associated with these diabetes symptoms: stroke, second heart attacks, and sudden cardiac death.
As they said, omega-3s do not aid blood sugar regulation or increase insulin sensitivity, so it is unlikely that fish oil can reduce the risks of nerve, kidney, or eye damage associated with diabetics' chronically high blood sugar levels.
However, omega-3s may help ameliorate the heart problems induced by diabetes (For more on this, see Fish, Omega-3s, and Diabetes).
Vitamin D and diabetes: Dose may be key to blood-sugar benefits
There's some evidence that vitamin D may help discourage development of diabetes (see "Vitamin D Deters Diabetes and More: Northern Teens Deficient").
But it appears that to enjoy this possible benefit, Americans need more dietary vitamin D than most consume.
Research published last month examined data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) calcium/vitamin D trial, which randomly assigned 33,951 post-menopausal women to receive daily supplements of calcium (1,000 mg) plus vitamin D3 (400 IU), or placebo pills.
After seven years of follow-up, 2,291 women were diagnosed with diabetes. And after adjusting for confounding factors, the group taking the vitamin D-calcium combination did not enjoy a reduced risk of diabetes.
However, the study's authors acknowledged that the low dose of vitamin D the women took could explain their failure to detect any anti-diabetes benefit: "Higher doses of vitamin D may be required to affect diabetes risk..." (de Boer IH et al. 2008).
Few Americans get enough sun exposure to make optimal amounts of vitamin D in their skin, so they need to get it from foods or supplements.
The US RDA for vitamin D is 400 IU, but researchers say that most Americans need to consume 1,000 to 2,000 IU per day in order to get their blood levels high enough to help prevent osteoporosis and cancer (See "Review Supports Safety of Much Higher Vitamin D Intake").
And it may be that by following this recommendation, people could help deter diabetes as well.
Last year, the authors of a review of the medical literature concluded that low intake of vitamin D and calcium may worsen blood sugar control, whereas taking supplements of both nutrients may help optimize blood sugar (glucose) control and glucose metabolism (Pittas AG et al. 2007)
As the Harvard-Tufts team wrote, "Evidence from trials with vitamin D and/or calcium supplementation suggests that combined vitamin D and calcium supplementation may have a role in the prevention of type 2 [diabetes]… in populations at high risk (i.e. [with] glucose intolerance)" (Pittas AG et al. 2007).
The review's authors noted that women in the WHI whose vitamin D intake equaled or exceeded 511 IU per day had a lower risk of diabetes, compared with women whose intake was 159 IU per day or less.
They also detailed some reasons why vitamin D should help deter diabetes (Pittas AG et al. 2007):
Enhanced insulin responses
- Vitamin D enhances function of the pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin, including the insulin response to rises in blood sugar.
- Vitamin D may exert indirect effects via its role in regulating calcium. As they wrote, "Insulin secretion is a calcium dependent process therefore, alterations in calcium flux can have adverse effects on beta cell secretory function. We speculate that inadequate calcium intake or vitamin D insufficiency may alter the balance between the extra-cellular and intracellular beta cell calcium pools, which may interfere with normal insulin release, especially in response to a glucose load.
- Vitamin D may enhance insulin action "…either directly, by stimulating the expression of insulin receptor… or indirectly via its role in regulating extra-cellular calcium… Results from randomized trials on the effect of vitamin D and/or calcium supplementation on insulin resistance show either no effect or improvement of insulin action with supplementation."
Reduced inflammation
- Diabetes is associated with systemic inflammation, which in turn has been linked to insulin resistance and death of insulin-producing beta cells. Vitamin D may improve insulin sensitivity and promote beta-cell survival by reducing the generation and effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines (immune-system messenger proteins).
- The evidence from human trials that examined the relationship between vitamin D or calcium status and systemic inflammation in relation to diabetes is, as they wrote, "limited and conflicting", but warrants further exploration.
- Diabetes is a complex disorder, with genetic as well as dietary and lifestyle influences, so it is unlikely that any drug or nutrient will be a magic bullet.
That said, it may be that some food factors might help prevent or ameliorate this epidemic disease, which is increasingly costly and debilitating to our society.
We'll keep you updated as the evidence with regard to vitamin D, omega-3s, and diabetes accumulates.
- de Boer IH, Kestenbaum B, Siscovick DS, Weiss NS, Tinker LF, Connelly S, Curb JD, Howard BV, Larson JC, Manson JE, Margolis KL. Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and the risk of incident diabetes mellitus in the Women's Health Initiative. Diabetes Care. 2008 Jan 30; [Epub ahead of print]
- Farmer A, Montori V, Dinneen S, Clar C. Fish oil in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001;(3):CD003205. Review. Harkness LS, Bonny AE. Calcium and vitamin D status in the adolescent: key roles for bone, body weight, glucose tolerance, and estrogen biosynthesis. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2005 Oct;18(5):305-11. Review.
- Hartweg J, Farmer AJ, Perera R, Holman RR, Neil HA. Meta-analysis of the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on lipoproteins and other emerging lipid cardiovascular risk markers in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia. 2007 Aug;50(8):1593-602. Epub 2007 May 31. Review.
- Hartweg J, Perera R, Montori V, Dinneen S, Neil H, Farmer A. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Jan 23;(1):CD003205.
- Pittas AG, Dawson-Hughes B, Li T, Van Dam RM, Willett WC, Manson JE, Hu FB. Vitamin D and calcium intake in relation to type 2 diabetes in women. Diabetes Care. 2006 Mar;29(3):650-6.
- Pittas AG, Lau J, Hu FB, Dawson-Hughes B. The role of vitamin D and calcium in type 2 diabetes. A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Jun;92(6):2017-29. Epub 2007 Mar 27. Review.


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Broiled Turkey Burgers
1 pound ground turkey
3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
3 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
Mix ingredients thoroughly with hands. Shape into 4-5 patties, 3/4"
thick. Broil with burgers 3 inches from heat. Cook 5-7 minutes on each
side (burgers should brown slightly).


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Ecclestone denies $400m plea deal reports
"I do not want to buy my freedom
Bernie Ecclestone on Friday rubbished reports he is preparing to plead guilty in order to avoid jail.
As the F1 chief executive's Munich trial began on Thursday, London's Times newspaper reported that Ecclestone, 83, might reach a plea deal and exchange a custodial sentence for a massive $400 million-plus penalty.
"No, that's total nonsense, rubbish," the 83-year-old told Germany's Bild newspaper, having returned to London from Germany.
"I do not want to buy my freedom. Why would I want a deal? I will tell the court the truth about everything that happened, and then it will be up to them to judge," added Ecclestone.
The star witness in the trial will be Gerhard Gribkowsky, the already-jailed ex-banker who was convicted of receiving Ecclestone's alleged bribe.
But Ecclestone said: "Mr Gribkowsky has already testified three times. I don't think anything new will come from a fourth."
He acknowledged, however, that if he is ultimately found guilty, his long and lucrative reign over formula one will be over.
"If I am convicted, it will be difficult to keep my job in formula one. That's the problem," said Ecclestone.
He will return to Munich next week.
"It was an exhausting first day," said Ecclestone, referring to Thursday's opening of proceedings.
"The judge, the prosecutors, my lawyers, they all speak German. I have an interpreter but it's very difficult to follow everything in exactly the way it is said," he explained.
Still, he found time on Thursday for typically light-hearted moments, like when he joked with the judge about his marital status.
"Why not (joke)?" Ecclestone said on Friday. "The judge, the prosecutors, they are all nice people who are just doing their jobs."


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GALESBURG, Ill. — Inside the Dove Tail Arts gallery, owner Bernie Hamilton uses a step stool to get to an upper shelf and take down one of her prized possessions. It's a particularly heavy piece cast of red clay and definitely not for sale.
At first glance, it's simply a brick, prompting a visitor to ask, "What's so special about that?" Given an opening, Hamilton launches into a tale linking the brick — a Purington Paver — with the renaissance of her city's downtown.
Across its face, the name "Galesburg" is spelled out in raised letters. For workers at the Purington Brick Co., whose paving stones once lined the streets of cities from Chicago to Paris to Bombay, this particular product was a point of pride; they were made right here.
The first bricks were produced in 1849 in the village of East Galesburg on land that had been owned by Knox College. As payment for the land, the trustees accepted a supply of bricks sufficient to erect two buildings.
Both the school and the city, which is named for the college's founder, George Washington Gale, are celebrating their 175th anniversaries this year. It's an ideal time to visit this western Illinois community of 32,000 and witness its unique fusion of past and present.
Students still attend classes in Old Main, a building revered as the place where, in 1858, Abraham Lincoln delivered one of his rousing anti-slavery speeches during a debate with Stephen Douglas.
It was here, as the two men campaigned for the U.S. Senate, that Lincoln eloquently spoke in support of abolition.
"I confess myself as belonging to that class in the country who contemplate slavery as a moral, social and political evil," he said.
A bell still rings each morning to signal the start of the school day. It's perched in a tower atop Old Main, outside of which signs share the story of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates. The building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is made of that old bartered brick.
Just a few blocks away, recycled Purington Pavers line the street in the attractive Seminary Street Historic District, where once-derelict buildings have been converted into a cheery collection of shops and restaurants.
"Most downtowns are struggling," said Judy Guenseth of the city's convention and visitors bureau. "But if you go to downtown Galesburg, you'll find that most of the shops are local," not chains.
One such place is Hamilton's art gallery.
"We have over 150 artists from all over the country, from one coast to the other," she said.
Among them are 12 local artists. When prodded, Hamilton modestly shares that they include daughter Abbie, a photographer; son Logan, a potter; and husband Clay, a woodworker. Not an artist herself, Hamilton sticks to running the place.
Just across Seminary Street, next to the large clock, visitors are delighted to discover another gem: the Landmark Cafe & Creperie.
There's truly a taste of France here, with regional favorites from Brittany on the menu. As a main course, the Oscar crepe — filled with shrimp, asparagus and egg and topped with hollandaise sauce — is popular. For dessert, there's a traditional crepe with fresh strawberries.
Seasonally, the street is closed off one evening a month for First Friday, a celebration of the arts, featuring live music and food vendors. (The last for the year is this Friday.)
"It's just a cool little community along these brick streets," Hamilton mused. "Even sweeping the sidewalk in the morning and seeing the other merchants out, it's just lovely."
Those famous bricks also line a pathway leading to what's probably Galesburg's most-famous site: the birthplace of writer Carl Sandburg.
It was in a whitewashed cottage at 331 E. Third St. that the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner was born in 1878. Guests begin their visit to this state historic site in an adjacent home, where a film and exhibits introduce them to this master of the written word. Some of his original manuscripts hang framed on the walls.
As an adult, Sandburg spent many years in Chicago. He described the raw metropolis in one of his poems.
Hog Butcher for the World,
Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat,
Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler;
Stormy, husky, brawling,
City of the Big Shoulders
Sandburg grew up in a 20-by-22-foot three-room home, which now looks much like it did during his boyhood. Behind the house is Quotation Walk, where some of the prairie poet's most famous lines are etched in stone. The walk leads to Remembrance Rock, a boulder beneath which are buried the ashes of Sandburg and his wife.
It's a tranquil setting where visitors are moved by Sandburg's words on the flagstones and the plaque placed beside the rock: "…for it could be a place to come and remember."
For more information contact the Galesburg Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (309-343-2485, visitgalesburg.com) or 2163 E. Main St., just off Interstate Highway 74.


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The original "Karate Kid" has been chopped from "Dancing with the Stars."
Ralph Macchio, 49, was voted off ABC's hit dance show Tuesday, leaving football star Hines Ward and actresses Kirstie Alley and Chelsea Kane to compete for the mirrorball trophy next week in the finals.
Macchio came into the episode in last place. He and professional partner Karina Smirnoff earned 48 points for their two semifinal dances.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
"I will never forget how the fans have driven us every week," Macchio said after learning he'd been booted, adding that he was proud to perform with pro-partner Karina Smirnoff.
Judges' scores are combined with viewer votes to determine who is eliminated from the competition each week.
Stevie Nicks performed two songs: Her new single, "Secret Love," and the Fleetwood Mac classic "Landslide."
The three finalists will each perform two dances on Monday's episode. A new "Dancing" champ will be crowned on May 24.


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By David LewisFri Nov 24, 9:41 AM ET
U.N. investigators have found a mass grave in an army camp in Congo's eastern Ituri district holding around 30 victims, including women and children, who appeared to have been executed, a spokesman said on Friday.
"Our human rights division followed up on information it received and has confirmed a mass grave of about 30 people," Kemal Saiki, spokesman for the U.N. mission in Democratic Republic of Congo, told Reuters.
The discovery was announced at a time when tensions were high in the capital Kinshasa to the west, where a former rebel chief was refusing to accept provisional results showing President Jospeh Kabila had defeated him in an October 29 presidential election run-off.
Saiki said the military prosecutor was investigating the Ituri grave and two officers, a captain and a lieutenant, had been arrested so far.
The grave, located in the army camp at Bavi, 40 km (25 miles) south of the Ituri regional capital Bunia, seemed to be recent, according to the investigators.
They believed the victims had disappeared during army operations against militia in late August or early September. This meant the killings would have taken place after the July 30 first round of elections in the former Belgian colony.
"Apparently these people were executed, among them are women and children," Saiki said.
"There are witnesses who directly accuse the First Brigade, which is based there (in Ituri), of being responsible."
The First Brigade is one of several Congolese army brigades made up of fighters from a plethora of rebel and government factions who fought in Congo's 1998-2003 war.
The elections were Congo's first free polls in more than 40 years. They crowned a peace process that ended the war, which triggered a humanitarian catastrophe that has pushed the death toll to around 4 million. More than 1,000 Congolese still die every day from violence, hunger and disease.
The army has frequently been accused of human rights violations across Congo's east, where violence has continued despite the peace deal three years ago and the presence in the country of the world's biggest U.N. peacekeeping force.
Anneke Van Woudenberg, a Congo expert with Human Rights Watch, said her organization had documented some 70 killings or summary executions of civilians in Ituri over the last year.
She said civilians were often taken by the army for forced labor or because they were suspected of being militia.
"It is one of the most abusive operations I have seen the Congolese army involved in," she told Reuters.
In Kinshasa, Kabila has sent Congolese army troops onto the streets following a riot by supporters of Bemba, who has challenged the presidential run-off result in the Supreme Court.
The court was set on fire during the riot by followers of Bemba, a vice president in Kabila's transition government.
Kabila said on Wednesday he would use the army to move soldiers loyal to Bemba, estimated at around 600, from Kinshasa, unless U.N. peacekeepers did this in 48 hours.
A first group of around 50 Bemba fighters were moved out of the capital on Thursday, as foreign mediators worked to avoid a repeat of gunbattles between Kabila's and Bemba's forces which rocked Kinshasa in recent months.


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Parts of Johnson County were rocked late Saturday night after a home was destroyed in an explosion.
On Sunday, the Johnson County Sheriff's Office said 62-year-old Wanda Buckley Davis died in the blast. Investigators found her body in the debris.
With the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, investigators with the sheriff's department determined the possible cause of the explosion appears to be a propane leak. But, the sheriff's department said that is just a possible cause.
U.S. & World
Foul play is not suspected.
Officers are now trying to find the victim's husband, Gary Davis, who was out-of-town at the time of the explosion.
In a press release early Sunday morning, Sheriff Bob Alford, with the Johnson County Sheriff's Department, said dispatchers began receiving calls shortly before 11 p.m on Nov. 30.
According to Alford, dispatch received calls from Keene, Cleburne, Rio Vista, and Hill County. And neighbors were the ones who found the destroyed home in the 6600 block of East Farm-to-Market-Road 916 near County Road 408.
Via Twitter on Saturday night, Johnson County Emergency Management said there are no evacuations ordered and "the structure is a complete loss."
According the Johnson County press release, "the total numbers of first responders included seven from the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, 12 from the Grandview Fire Department and three trucks, four personnel from the ESD, one ATF agent, one from the FBI."


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Writer's block? Naaw: Ten years for VABook
In the telescoped life of book festivals, a 10th anniversary constitutes more than a coming of age. A quick survey of 180 literary jamborees across the country (average age: eight years) puts the Virginia Festival of the Book in the elder statesman category – even if, compared to the longest-running American book fairs (New York - 25 years, Miami - 20 years) VABook! is technically due for a mid-life crisis.
"Every year has its different challenges," says Nancy Damon [See HotSeat, page 19], who has directed the Festival with her associate, Kevin McFadden, for the last four years. "I have finally come to the conclusion that it's an illusion to think it will ever be easy."
Underwritten by the city, county, and numerous corporate and private sponsors, the VFB each spring presents an array of panels, forums, and readings that has earned the festival a reputation of excellence.
"Wow. You said the Charlottesville Book Festival, right?" says Julia Dickinson when reached by The Hook recently. "I know that website really well."
Dickinson is director of the Ann Arbor Book Festival set to debut next month. With a budget of $20,000 or so, the Michigan event is about as well-endowed as the VFB. Ann Arbor is home to the University of Michigan as well as headquarters of Borders Books, but Dickinson says it's crucial to retain a wide array of sponsors.
"The Northwest Book Festival [in Seattle] is just barely surviving," she notes. "They had only one major sponsor, and it backed out."
You wouldn't know it to read reviews of last year's event. The Seattle Times reports that despite significantly diminished attendance because of the Festival's decision to charge admission, the 2003 Northwest Bookfest (also in its 10th year) was nothing short of "an embarrassment of riches."
Diane Patrick, a researcher for Publishers Weekly who tracks book festivals, says that if the Seattle festival is on the brink, "They're among the few. Most book festivals are thriving."
One exception is the Rocky Mountain Book Festival which folded its tents last year. Attendance had dropped from 40,000 to 4,000 over five years, despite high profile lineups that had included George Plimpton, Kent Haruf, and Gary Hart. Observers blamed organizational woes, but a spokesperson put the blame squarely on the economy, promising the festival would return in 2005.
Damon agrees that any non-profit festival is vulnerable to budget cuts, particularly when it eschews the "book expo" model with cavernous convention centers filled with industry booths.
The VFB's paucity of commercial elements is notable. A smattering of tables in the Omni Hotel for publishers to hawk their wares is the only evidence of retailing and happens only on Friday, when publishing panels dominate. The revenue generated by vendors' rent is minimal.
"It covers the price of the coffee," says Damon. And she isn't being sarcastic last year the VFB spent over $1,000 on Omni coffee.
Glenn Geffken, project manager of the LA Times Book Festival (in its 9th year, hosting 120,000 attendees and 400 authors), says festivals that don't take advantage of retail opportunities are "short-changing themselves."
"Profitability is not an object for us," says Geffken, noting that as a division of the Los Angeles Times, the book festival does not have non-profit status. "But that's not to say that we don't recoup the lion's share of the cost through exhibitor fees." Geffken says that up to 85 precent of LA Times attendees come to browse the book stalls, which represent over 350 companies.
Of course, one thing Los Angeles can depend on is flawless sunny skies, which cuts down on the costs of all-weather tents. Damon notes that the prospect of inclement weather discourages suggestions to move booksellers onto the Downtown Mall and points to the hapless Baltimore Festival which had to cancel its weekend festival last year in the wake of Hurricane Isabel.
Sharing a 10th anniversary with us is the Border Book festival, held annually in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Founder and director Denise Chavez says her mission is to cater to the needs of the immediate transnational bilingual community. Other well-known "niche" literary festivals include the Tennessee Williams Festival in New Orleans (18 years), and the NYC-based Small Press Book Fair (16 years).
But Damon vows to produce a festival that offers something for everyone. As in years past, the 2004 program includes panels on biography, history, science, cooking, and gardening (multiple ones, at that). Most of the VFB's regional peers (South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, and West Virginia) are predominantly celebrations of fiction and poetry, with a heavy emphasis on Southern writers. Many other festivals celebrate only local authors, or their folksy cousins, the "storytellers." Indeed storytelling festivals nearly outnumber book fairs across the country.
Damon says that in addition to variety, intimacy is one of the VFB's hallmarks. She strives to maintain a healthy ratio of guests and authors. In 2003, 17,000 guests were on hand to meet 350 panelists.
"If people come to a reading, they can actually meet the authors. There's a lot of interaction," Damon says.
Still, to reach the solidity of middle age in this business, you need more than crowd control and subsidized coffee. Without a second thought, Chavez sums up the key ingredients:
"Be kind to your volunteers, and have a sense of humor."
[For a Festival schedule, turn to the center spread, and for journalist Elizabeth Kiem's sneak preview, check out page 28.– editor]
Nancy Damon


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The video installations at Los Angeles International Airport's (LAX) newly renovated Thomas Bradley International Terminal are the largest and most technologically advanced at any airport. Dubbed the "Wow Project" by airport insiders, it contains two main elements of public artwork. One is a video wall comprised of 25 video screens. The second is an undulating ribbon of 58 video monitors ("the Filmstrip") suspended along the ceiling of the waiting area.
UH School of Art Professor John Reed and his collaborative partner Esther Mera are among the 17 contributors of digital artwork for the project, which welcomes more than nine million international travelers to the U.S. every year.
The Reed/Mera piece, "Crossroads," is featured on the "Filmstrip," stretching for more than 100 feet from one end of the arrivals lounge to the other.
"An airport is an amazing crossroads, where the broadest variety of backgrounds and perspectives cross paths, even if only momentarily," Reed said. "Crossroads opens with an ultra-panoramic view of birds on telephone wires. Individual birds arrive and depart from every direction, mirroring the airport's momentary occupants. The wires oscillate, gently moved by the wind, but this movement soon becomes exaggerated and you realize that you're actually looking at a reflection on water. These 'transitions' make it necessary to reconsider your point of view; that is really at the heart of the piece."
There are more of these 'transitions' – clouds, fish, people - throughout the piece as it moves from sky to sea to land. The visuals are complemented with a soundtrack by musician and sound artist Daniel Day.
Reed is the former director of UH's School of Art and is presently on a Fulbright Research Residency in Spain. This prestigious award is giving him time to focus on several international collaborative projects.


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Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Diva Coffee Break Designs-Color Challenge
Hola Amigas! How is everyone? UGH! Solimar is still home sick. We were back yesterday to see the doctor's and she has a lung/chest infection which is not allowing the asthma to improve. So I have alot to share with you but no time to take to share it...But as soon as things slow down I promise to get back on track. Today we are playing with the Divas. Its Color Challenge week. I have chosen to make two identical cards for this challenge but I switched the base colors...
I like them both. What do you think?
Paper: Basic Gray, Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive, Basic Gray
Stamp: Elizabeth, Occassional Quotes
Ribbon: Melon Mambo Polka Dot (retired)
Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper EF
Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper EF
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Color My World
Hola Amigas! Today I am participating in the VC Rocks Blog Hop. The theme this month is Color My World. We had to use some type of coloring technique (brayer, watercolor crayons, markers, etc). I chose to use my brayer for the first card.
I learned how to make this card at a USTAMP event.
If you want to go backwards in this hop, then Click Here.
If you want to go forwards, then Click Here.
If you want to go back to the beginning with the full list of blogs, Click Here.
If you want to go forwards, then Click Here.
If you want to go back to the beginning with the full list of blogs, Click Here.
Labels: Blog Hop, VC ROCKS | 20 comments
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Best Dad Ever
Hola Amigas! How are you? Well I have so many things to post but Blogger has been on the fritz. I will try to get back in the groove...Solimar's asthma has been the worst ever. She is really having a tough time breathing...How do you continue telling a 6 year old that she is not allowed to play outside...anywho...This is the ensemble I made for Inkspirations 4U summer edition.Hope you will join us for the Inkspirations 4U Summer Edition.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Stamp-a-Holics 168-scrapbook Sketch
Hola Amigas! Sorry I havent been around much. I have been so busy with First Communion's, Weddings, Graduations...My load will get lighter soon. Today we are playing with the Stamp-a-Holics. i created this sketch for the Team and all of you! I hope you will play with us. I would love to see how you interpret the sketch. Here is my interpretation. This is going to be a gift for one of the girls I made invitations for.
Well today is another busy day...I got to get a couple of things done before Solimar's Kindergarten show this afternoon. I will also SOON share with you all the gifts we made for Mrs. Coecliff for Teacher Appreciation Week. Today is the start of Nurse's Week and I was lucky to purchase the tutorial for this gift set for our WONDERFUL nurse who takes very well care of Solimar. You can purchase it from Lynn Pratt. I will share mine tomorrow.
Paper: Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry
Ink: Soft Suede
Accessories: Big Shot, Tasteful Trim Die, Daises #2 die, Antique brads
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- Hamilton, New Jersey, United States
Paper Pumpkin
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Shellac: Why and How?
. I use a 1" foam brush, rather than a real paintbrush. A paintbrush can leave visible brush strokes, whereas a foam brush makes it easy to quickly put down an even coat. Also, because shellac is difficult to wash out, it is pretty much a given that you will ruin paintbrushes with it. Ruining a foam brush is less costly.
. I like to apply shellac in thin layers, rather than oversaturating. This way it dries faster, and I have better control over the thickness.
. Since I ride my bike often and in bad weather, I re-shellac on a fairly regular basis. The shellac tends to wear off first in the spots where I keep my hands the most. When I notice this, I know it is time to add another thin layer.
. Shellacking the night before I plan to ride the bike usually leaves sufficient drying time - but doing it at least 24 hours beforehand is safer. Once or twice, I've ended up holding my hands on the hoods during an entire ride, because the bars were still not 100% dry.
Because of their distinct look, it is understandable that shellacked tape or twine on a bicycle can be seen as a fashion statement. But while I am happy it looks nice, for me the practical benefits far outweigh this aspect. If it were not for shellac, I would destroy my cloth tape on a regular basis. And in case you are wondering - Yes, of course we brought shellac to the Cape! The Co-Habitant has finally replaced his Motobecane's stem shifters with Shimano bar-ends, and we re-did his tape as the sun was setting over the beach next to our house.


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Emergency cancer care 'must improve'
More must be done to improve emergency care for people with Cancer, according to a new joint report from The Royal College of Physicians and The Royal College of Radiologists
The report, entitled Cancer patients in crisis: responding to urgent needs, looks at how cancer patients are treated when their condition suddenly deteriorates and they need emergency medical care.
It found that these patients often receive "fragmented" treatment from a number of different doctors and specialists. There is also a lack of planning for situations where emergency care is required, the authors said.
They recommend that a more "proactive" approach would ensure that patients, carers and doctors are more prepared to respond in an emergency situation.
According to the report, many cancer patients and their carers do not know what to expect or who to contact when they are admitted to hospital for emergency care.
It recommends that different teams of specialists should communicate with each other, and with patients, to help provide a more coordinated system of care.
A series of proposals are set out in the report to help hospitals provide better care for cancer patients who are admitted in an emergency.
It recommends standards of good practice that the authors say would reduce the risk to patients, and improve the outcome of their care.
Martin Ledwick, head information nurse at Cancer Research UK, said: "It's really important that patients make informed decisions about treatment and care. To do this they need to have clear information and have realistic expectations set of what the risks and benefits of any medical care might be."
He added that it is important for patients to know how to get medical care quickly in certain situations, such as when they are having Chemotherapy and at risk of side effects or complications. But when patients are close to dying - and treatments are unlikely to make any difference - it is important for both patients and their carers to know when they need to have Palliative Care rather than emergency services.
RCR president Dr Jane Barrett said communicating with patients was one of the most important aspects of cancer care.
She said: "Patient care and joint decision-making must be at the centre of cancer services now and in the future. As clinical oncologists, an important part of our role is to ensure that patients understand their treatment and can decide what is best for them. Cancer treatment cannot be a one-sided process."
Copyright Press Association 2012
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Plugging Into Tombstone Productivity
Customized software helps this machine tool builder maximize the output of its horizontal machining centers.
What do you call them? Some of the names are tombstones, pedestal-type fixtures, tooling towers, tooling columns and fixture blocks. All are upright fabrications with two to six or more faces on which workpieces can be clamped. These vertical faces present the workpieces so that the spindle of a horizontal machining center (HMC) can approach them at a right angle. Because the pedestal can be mounted on a pallet that loads onto a rotary table on the bed of a HMC, indexing the table is a fast way to bring a fresh array of parts to be machined.
By automatically indexing from one face to another until workpieces on all sides are finished, then automatically changing pallets one after another to bring in other tombstones full of fresh parts, it is possible to greatly extend the time an HMC can run without operator intervention. This strategy makes these machines very productive, with the high throughput achievable leading to reduced part cost, especially when the HMCs are arranged in cells or flexible systems with pallet changers so that the tombstones undergo the shortest queue time.
Featured Content
Haas Automation, the machine tool builder in Oxnard, California, recognized the value of this production strategy in its remarkable bid to outmaneuver other producers of commodity machine tools. Haas management knew that the key to success in this highly competitive market lies in the ability to manufacture high quality machines with great efficiency and economy.
When the company built its new manufacturing facility in Oxnard several years ago, it planned a number of automated machining cells based on this concept of tombstone manufacturing on HMCs to achieve its cost and quality objectives.
This approach proved to be worthwhile. However, the demands of continual improvement kept the company looking for additional ways to improve the output of its horizontal machines. One area that emerged as an opportunity to enhance the potential of this approach was in programming for multi-part setups. Tombstones make a variety of machining strategies possible. Selecting the most advantageous one and creating the NC program quickly to execute it are the keys.
For example, workpieces arranged on the face of a tombstone could be machined complete one after the other by simply repeating the CNC program at a coordinate system corresponding to each part location. For some types of workpieces, this is not only the simplest but also the most effective strategy. Parts on which one tool performs all of the operations, such as pocketing or contouring with an end mill, might qualify. In other cases, for parts on which different operations are performed by a variety of tools, a more complex strategy will reduce time wasted changing tools or indexing the tombstone. To minimize tool changes, the programmer might want to drill all the holes of a certain size on all of the workpieces accessible in one indexing (including the holes on the sides of the workpieces accessible at adjacent faces of the tombstone).
But what next? The programmer has to decide if it is better to keep that tool in the spindle and index around the tombstone. Or is it better to change the tool and finish all remaining operations before indexing and repeating the operation sequence on the next face of the tombstone? No matter what the programmer decides to do, reordering all of the lines of code to execute the strategy is no small task. Oh, and don't forget, some workpiece features may not be accessible. An example is those features on the sides of the parts facing other workpieces instead of the open side of the tombstone reachable by the spindle. Those operations have to be excluded from the current program and returned to later in another setup.
Creating the optimum program for arrays of parts fixtured on tombstones posed a bit of a challenge for Haas. Like many manufacturers, the company uses a variety of CAM software programs to support its CNC operations. Programming for the horizontal machining cells is handled predominantly with GibbsCAM. This CAM software from Gibbs and Associates (Moorpark, California) has a standard feature for tackling multi-part setups. Neil Kellaway, a Haas manufacturing engineer involved with all aspects of production on the horizontal machining cells, describes this programming feature as "more than adequate." This feature allows programmers to do all the basic sorting and coordination required to do tombstone manufacturing successfully.
But as is often the case with the standard features in a CAM software package, the "one size fits all" characteristic left Haas programmers wishing they had certain capabilities and functionality over and above what was available off the shelf.
For example, the horizontal machining cells process a wide variety of parts, requiring as many as 12 different styles of tombstones in a single multi-machine cell. In addition, setups are often different from face to face on the tombstones—either the parts are in a different orientation (back side out rather than front side out), or different part numbers are mixed on the same tombstone. Previously, these complex setups almost always require the programmer to use optional custom settings or values in the multi-part setup feature. Likewise, the postprocessed output usually required manual editing of the main program and the subroutines to format them according the preferences of the various HMC control units. Moreover, the finished program could not be verified easily.
About 2 years ago, Mr. Kellaway and a team from the shop approached the software company about creating some specialized software to provide more flexibility and automation to the multi-part setup feature. The new software was delivered in mid-2002, and it provided a significant enhancement to how quickly and effectively Haas programmers can handle programming for its tombstone manufacturing operations. Mr. Kellaway estimates that the customized software has helped reduced programming time for tombstone machining in these cells by as much as 50 percent. More importantly, he says, the software has greatly increased confidence that the tombstone programs are error-free.
More Name Calling
Just as tombstones go by different names, pieces of customized CAM software also have different names. Some of the names are plug-ins, add-ons, extensions and macros. Tombstones come in many sizes and configurations and can be applied in both vertical and horizontal applications. Likewise, plug-ins take a variety of forms. Some of these differences go deeper than those between various types of tombstone fixtures. [See sidebar.]
Gibbs, for example, provides a fee-based customized software development service. According to the company, a customer contracting for a plug-in via this service gets software that is completely integrated in the core GibbsCAM product. The plug-in must meet all of the criteria that standard features must meet in terms of full associativity, common interface conventions, ease of use and reliability, the company says. The plug-in is written in the same computer language (C++) as the core product.
Using this service, Haas contracted with the software company to develop the customization the shop was looking for. The value of this transaction was derived from the disciplined approach it entails. Four steps are involved. First, the parties get together to create a requirements document, which spells out what the customized software is meant to do or what problem it intends to solve. Next, Gibbs software engineers create a specification, which describes the proposed solution in detail. Third, the software engineers develop the new software as a draft, which is reviewed, tested and modified. Several iterations are usually required to refine the product and ascertain that it meets all of the requirements. Finally, the new software is delivered and the transaction is completed according to the terms of the original contract.
As Bill Gibbs, founder and CEO of Gibbs and Associates, points out, this development process is quite different from other approaches to acquiring customized software, such as users swapping their favorite homegrown macros among themselves. Rather, the process follows the same rules and procedures for developing features in its core product. "Customized software has to work as well as any of our standard product features in terms of ease of use, flexibility and consistent appearance of the interface," he says. "Customized software has to be as good as the rest of our software." In fact, he says that customized software often becomes the basis for additions or enhancements to the core product in future releases. This is taken into account when negotiating development fees. Customization projects likely to lead to features that have broad market appeal are subsidized, based on the prospect that the cost of development will be recouped by licenses to other users.
So what did Haas get for its money? In short, the company received a very efficient, very effective tool for handling the challenges of multi-part setup, says Mr. Kellaway. The key features are: 1. A graphical, interactive method of arranging parts on the faces of the tombstone; 2. Dialog boxes that quickly allow programmers to select machining strategies and to analyze their efficiency; 3. A simulation package that allows visual verification of the machining process; and 4. Automatic output of postprocessed G codes that consolidate machining steps in the right order, including commands to retract the tool so that it clears the rotation of the tombstone when indexing.
The Plug-In In Action
Here's how the customized multi-part setup feature works. First, the programmer imports or models the actual machined part and a representation of the part's starting stock condition. Generally, the fixture is built around the solid model of the part or starting stock condition, using the modeling tools provided within the CAM software. Commonly used fixturing components are stored in a library for retrieval to expedite the design of the workpiece holding fixture, and these can be easily imported into the CAM system. The programmer then orients the parts to suit the desired method of machining and sets up coordinate systems for each part. Parts can then be duplicated in the software and, with a few mouse clicks, located on the tombstone along with the fixturing. The programmer then steps through the normal process for creating tool paths to machine the part complete as a single unit.
At this point, the programmer opens up the customized multi-part setup dialog box. This dialog box shares the same "family resemblance" with other GibbsCAM dialog boxes (a resemblance that Mr. Kellaway values because it simplifies training issues). The dialog box has five main components.
Part Layout gives the programmer options for arraying the parts on the faces of the tombstone. The numbers entered into the "count" fields determine how many parts will be positioned in a row (X) and how many in a column (Y). The B count designates how many sides or faces the tombstone has. Four-sided tombstones are most common at Haas. The "step" fields designate approximately how far apart the starting positions of each workpiece are in X and Y. This is the distance the tool must step over to find the next part. The B step designates degrees of rotation for proper indexing of the pallet. The "repeat" options determine how the tool will move--for example, across the row (X first) or down the column (Y first).
Operations Groups is the utility for sorting the machining operations. Literally, the software sifts through the lines of code and combines them into groups according to the programmer's selected criteria. For example, "by tool" groups operations performed by the same tool so that all features machined by that tool are finished in order across all parts before the next tool change. "Tool & CS" groups operations by tool but finishes all operations on one workpiece (identified by its coordinate system) before moving the tool to the next workpiece. Because some tools may be used for several operations, "by ops" gives the programmer the option of having one tool perform only one operation in one group at a time.
Operation Layout is a display that shows what machining steps are performed on each face of the tombstone between indexing. By adding or clearing operations, the programmer can modify the sequence of operations to accommodate certain exceptions.
Selections in the fields found in Output give the programmer options for formatting the set of G codes representing the consolidated machining steps to complete the multi-part setup. Checking the "minimize WFOs" box deletes redundant lines of code related to work fixture offsets to shorten the length of the postprocessed program. This is where the programmer formats the main program and the subroutines to suit the controller requirements.
Retracts lets the programmer input the clearance value in the Z axis necessary for the spindle to avoid collisions. "Same B" is the safe distance when moving from part to part on one face of the tombstone, whereas "new B" is the safe distance when indexing from face to face of the tombstone in pallet rotation.
Simulate And Verify
When the programmer has entered all of the required fields in the dialog box and hits the OK button, the software processes the choices and generates a complete, postprocessed set of code. This is the program for the entire tombstone of parts, not a program for each single part. According to the developers, there is no need to edit the program to add commands for tool retracts, pallet indexing and so on.
One of the biggest benefits of the plug-in, says Mr. Kellaway, are the enhancements to the simulation capability of the CAM software. Using the selections and values entered in the multi-part setup dialog box, the simulator can display a solid model of the tombstone, base plates, clamps and the workpieces themselves. Critical components of the designated machine tool must be modeled for the simulator to show relationships of rotary table, machine column, table bed and so on, but once these are modeled, they can be recalled from a library during the programming process.
Running the simulator lets the programmer visually verify the complete setup. The animated display reveals any interference caused by the spindle head, toolholders and insufficient tool retractions. Apparent problems can be corrected by returning to the dialog box and modifying input—for example, changing retract values for greater clearance.
Another key aspect of the tombstone manufacturing simulation is that it will keep track of X-Y-Z positions relative to the designated machine's travel limits. This prevents a tool from exceeding the travel capacity of that specific machine. A warning message alerts the programmer if that happens.
Tombstones On The Move
The new plug-in helps others in addition to the programmers at Haas. It also helps the operator on the shop floor by streamlining setup. The plug-in provides data that lists coordinates for locating the workpieces (or the base plates that hold them) on the tombstone. This printout is included with the router that goes to the load station at each cell, where workpieces are attached to the tombstone. The workpiece coordinates are meant to be approximate; probing routines on the HMCs establish the exact coordinates before the multi-part CNC program is executed.
Each of the horizontal machining cells has it own pallet storage system. Palletized tombstones are stored in these multi-tiered systems and retrieved by a robotic pallet transporter. The shop's master production schedule determines the mix of workpieces that are to be loaded onto the tombstones to meet the week's production schedule. This schedule dictates which empty tombstones will be delivered to the load station. Once loaded, the tombstones return to the storage system until the schedule calls for them to be processed.
Typically, the cells at Haas have several identical machines with identical tooling. This allows any available machine to accept the next palleted tombstone waiting in line at that cell. The goal is to keep the cells in lightly tended operation around the clock until all of the parts called for by the production schedule have been machined.
According to Mr. Kellaway, the multi-part setup plug-in has enabled programmers to keep up with the cells' appetite for ready-to-process tombstones in extended periods of untended operation. "The flexibility and efficiency of the plug-in lets us do this," he says. This is challenging, he explains, because Haas maintains one of the most dynamic product development programs in the industry. A stream of models means a constantly changing mix of parts in current production, with no letup in the demand to hit cost and quality targets.
Although the tombstones these workpiece fixtures are named after belong in a graveyard, tombstone manufacturing is a vital part of Haas Automation's effort to keep machine tool building alive in the United States. The customized plug-in that streamlines multi-part setups for these tombstone fixtures contributes significantly to this effort.
Related Topics
Interpolating Curves
The ability to import complex curves into CNCs promises to let shops finally get beyond old limitations imposed by contouring with linear interpolation. Faster and smoother cutting will be the result.
Transferring CAD/CAM Files
Importing and exporting CAD files is a fundamental function of CAM software. An understanding of this process can help you know what to expect and will aid you when making a CAM purchase.
A Closer Look At Look-Ahead
This CNC capability is helping make machine tools move far faster, and more accurately, than ever before. Here's how it works.


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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Nancy Gonzales, Arizona State University Foundation Professor and director of the Prevention Research Center at Arizona State University, will give the 2013 Bennett Lecture in Prevention Science.
The lecture, titled "The Role of Culture in Prevention Science: Past Progress and Future Challenges," will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12, in the Bennett Pierce Living Center, 110 Henderson Building. The lecture is sponsored by the Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development, through the Bennett Endowment to the center.
Gonzales' research focuses on cultural and contextual influences on adolescent mental health. Her work includes research on the role of neighborhood disadvantage and acculturation on children's mental health and on how these influences are mediated or moderated by family processes within Mexican-American and African-American families. She also is involved in the development and evaluation of culturally sensitive interventions for Mexican-American and African-American families. Her research areas include culture/ethnic issues in prevention research, prevention of Mexican-American school dropout and mental health problems, acculturation and enculturation of Mexican-American children and families, and contextual influences on adolescent development.
Gonzales is a member of the Society for Prevention Research Board of Directors and Training Committee, the W. T. Grant Foundation Board of Trustees and the National Hispanic Science Network, among other organizations. She is a fellow of the American Psychological Association. Gonzales is the author or co-author of many peer-reviewed publications, research reports and book chapters. She earned her doctorate in psychology at the University of Washington.
Recent Bennett Lecturers have included Thomas Dishion, professor of psychology and director of the Child and Family Center at the University of Oregon; Roger Weissberg, distinguished professor of psychology and education, and president of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) at the University of Illinois at Chicago; G. Alan Marlatt, professor of psychology and director of the Addictive Behaviors Research Center at the University of Washington; Mary Jane Rotheram-Borus, Bat-Yaacov Professor of Child Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, director of the UCLA Global Center for Children and Families, and director of the UCLA Center for HIV Identification Prevention and Treatment Services (CHIPTS); Matthew Sanders, professor of clinical psychology and director of the Parenting and Family Support Centre, University of Queensland, Australia; and Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, Virginia and Leonard Marx Professor of Child Development and Education at Teachers College, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons.


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Just ask the founders of Instagram: Software engineers have the best job of 2012, according to a new ranking from careercast.com.
Programmers, coders and engineers have a good work environment, low stress, low physical demands and, most enviably, impressive hiring outlooks.
The ranking methodology compared 200 jobs and ranked them based on work environment (physical and emotional), income, growth outlook, stress and physical demands.
Actuaries ranked second, despite having a stressful job that's emotionally difficult: assessing risk and damages to property in case of disaster, theft and other incidents. Actuaries are in high demand, the ranking found.
Human resources managers, dental hygienists and financial managers also ranked in the top five.
But for those toiling in the bottom five, the jobs are stressful, low-paying and often involve hard physical labor.
Lumberjacks took the dubious honor of dead last, with high physical demands and a low hiring outlook. Dairy farmers, enlisted military soldiers and oil rig workers did not fare much better.
Rounding out the bottom five? Newspaper reporters. We'll at least be grateful that wood chippers and cow smells aren't a regular part of our day.


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... I came across a most remarkable water fountain.
While there's no water running in the fountain now, it clearly used to be a fountain. But what an unusual form! How fantastically decorative!
As I walked around the fountain, I finally figured out what it was, and so when I looked at the inscription below, I started laughing out loud.
Today's Challenge is based on my laughter. I did a bit of research after seeing this fountain, and the story that goes along with it (and other fountains like it) is definitely worth knowing.
1. What kind of fountain is this one shown above? (Yes, I know it's a water fountain... but there's much more to the story than that.) This kind of fountain has a specific name...
2. Why did looking at the inscription (below), make me laugh out loud?
3. Here's another fountain I found in Petaluma, CA (below). It's not nearly as fancy and decorative, but it's actually very similar to the fountain above. What's the story that connects these two fountains?
4. And finally, what does this soda fountain have to do with the above water fountains? (Not this one specifically, but this category of thing.)
As always, the Challenge is partly to figure out the story here (why that story led me to connect two fountains on different sides of the country... and why it made me laugh), but also to tell us HOW you figured it out. We'd like to learn how you solve your SearchResearch Challenge!
Upcoming Travel & TalksThis is a bit of an odd week for me--I'm traveling a fair bit, so I'm not sure I'll have the time to get to the Answer by Wednesday. I'll post the answer on either Wednesday or Friday. And then we'll be back on a more regular schedule for the middle two weeks of February.
If you happen to be at the University of Washington (Seattle) on Wednesday, February 1, I'll be giving a talk at noon: Kane Hall, room 225 with the title of Search is not yet a solved problem for systems OR searchers.
Or if you find yourself in Stillwater, OK, I'll be giving another talk on Friday, February 3 at noon, somewhere on the Oklahoma State Campus (probably the library). My talk will be The Future of Learning: How will people learn the skills they need for academe, work, and life?
If you make it to one of these talks, be sure to come up and say hi. It's always great to talk with SearchResearchers!
As always...
Search on!


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Late Friday, the Associated Press reported that the White House has now dropped its objections to the release of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court's (FISA Court, or FISC) opinion authorizing the bulk collection of phone metadata from American telecommunications companies.
Citing an as-yet unpublished filing with the court, the AP said that the Justice Department now has no objection to the court releasing redacted versions of its opinion, omitting classified data.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed suit in November (PDF) asking the FISC to publish its opinions regarding the collection program and Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act, under which the government claims authority to collect the data. Earlier this month, the Justice Department had filed a motion to deny the ACLU's request.
"The ACLU's motion should be dismissed because this Court and the Government have already released declassified versions of the opinions that the government has determined are responsive to the ACLU's motion after the Government conducted a classification review with the objective to release as much information as possible consistent with national security," the Justice Department said in its original December 6, 2013 filing (PDF).
A new review, the government said, would just duplicate the one they had already done. The Justice Department has now dropped that objection, perhaps in response to other suits against the bulk data collection.
The ACLU also has a separate suit (ACLU v. Clapper et al), in which it is asking a federal judge to declare the entire program unlawful, halt it, and purge all related records—admittedly a tall order.
However that suit may have better chances given that on December 16, US District Court Judge Richard Leon published an opinion finding that the bulk data collection was unconstitutional, a decision that almost certainly will be heard on appeal by higher courts.


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Instantly add an elegant boost to your look by fastening these earrings to your lobes. The gorgeous green hues of the peridot and chrome diopside along with the sparkling white zircon are sure to catch the eye of everyone around you. This is the perfect pair for a special night out.
All weights pertaining to gemstones, including diamonds, are minimum weights. Additionally, please note that many gemstones are treated to enhance their beauty. View Gemstone Enhancements and Special Care Requirements for important information.
Sterling silver, also called fine silver, is a beautifully lustrous cool-toned precious metal favored in fine jewelry among other products. The most reflective of all metals (excluding mercury), sterling silver looks stunning by itself and brings out the best hues in an array of colorful gemstones.
Sterling silver can be polished to a higher sheen than platinum. In fact, Ag, the chemical symbol for silver, comes from a word that means "white and shining." The surface of silver can boast that shiny, polished appearance, or can be brushed, satin, matte, sandblasted, antiqued or oxidized (chemically blackened).
In order to be called sterling silver, a metal must be made up of a minimum of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% alloy (meaning other metals), including but not limited to copper and nickel. The alloy is added to pure silver to make the metal more durable, tougher and harder. Sterling silver is designated a fineness of "925." Pieces with sterling silver may be marked "sterling."
Finishes on Sterling Silver
Finishing, or plating, is a common treatment with sterling silver. Popular types of plating are rhodium plating, gold plating and anti-tarnish plating. Plating is used to extend the life and sheen of the jewelry. After sizing or buffing a piece of jewelry with a machine, it must be re-plated to restore the finish.
Caring for Sterling Silver
Sterling silver becomes tarnished as the result of a natural chemical process that occurs when sterling silver is exposed to chemicals in the air, rubber, wool and latex. Humidity also plays a role in accelerating tarnishing. It's easy to keep your sterling silver sparkling, though, by taking a few steps to prevent tarnish and other wear and tear.
Peridot features a lively yellow-green color that is transparent with an oily luster. The iron that creates peridot's color is an integral part of its structure, so the gem is only found in various shades of green. It is most prized in lime hues, but Italian peridot is a rich olive color and popular American peridot is a beautiful light yellow-green. The Romans called peridot "evening emerald" because its exquisite green color was said to glow at night. This is perhaps because the stone exhibits double refraction, meaning that when looking through the stone, objects appear double. So when looking into a faceted peridot, the number of bottom facets appears to be double the actual number, creating a glittering sensation.
Pronounced PEAR-A-DOE, the word "peridot" comes from the French word meaning "gem." It is the gem variety of the mineral olivine and ranks a 6.5-7.0 on the Mohs Scale.
Born in cauldrons of fire, peridot is considered the "volcanic gem," since small crystals of it are often found in the rocks created by volcanoes. In fact, Hawaiian legend called peridot the divine tears wept by Pele, goddess of the volcano. The island of Oahu even has beaches made out of olivine grains, but they are much too small to cut into peridot. Samples of the gem also have been discovered in meteorites that have fallen to Earth, many of which are more than a billion years old.
Peridot traces its jewelry roots to 3,500 years ago. The stone was first mined by the ancient Egyptians on the volcanic island of Zebargad in the Red Sea. Known as the "serpent isle," it was infested with poisonous snakes that interfered with mining activity until one Pharaoh had them all driven into the sea. Today, Native Americans mine most peridot on the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona. Interestingly, a lmost all peridot sold in Hawaii is from Arizona, despite the fact that peridot is produced by Hawaii's volcanoes. The gemstone is also found in Norway, Brazil, China, Egypt, Italy, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. An exciting new deposit was discovered in Pakistan in 1994, yielding some of the finest peridot ever seen, including one stone that weighed more than 300.00ct.
Peridot is among the oldest known stones and has been mined as a gem for thousands of years. As early as 1575 to 1350 B.C., the ancient Egyptians used peridot beads in their ceremonial jewelry. In fact, it is believed the stone was one of the favorite gems of Cleopatra and that some of the "emeralds" she wore were actually peridot.
Ancient Egyptians also carved small drinking vessels out of large chunks of peridot. Priests would drink soma from them in rituals, believing the soma would put them in touch with the nature goddess, Isis. Legend has it that King Soloman traded cedar trees from Lebanon for 12 soma drinking cups and 144 liters of soma. The Egyptians made this trade for ramp logs to build their pyramids at Gisa, while King Soloman was said to have been enlightened by drinking soma from the peridot cups. Today, Mexican hill tribes still drink soma from green glazed cups to put them in touch with nature and their ancestors' spirits. Additionally, some Native American Indians in Arizona use tea made from peyote ground with peridot crystals in their rituals.
Peridot has also been important to other cultures throughout history. Late in the Ottoman Empire (1300 to 1900), peridot was a highly prized gem and Turkish Sultans amassed some of the world's largest collections of the gemstone. It is mentioned in the Bible under the name of "chrysolite," and was used to decorate medieval churches with samples that were most likely carried back to Europe by the Crusaders. Large stones weighing more than 200.00ct adorn the Shrine of the Three Magi at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany.
Throughout the ages, peridot has been believed to hold mystical powers of protection and healing. The ancients regarded the stone as a symbol of the sun and wore it in amulets to prevent nightmares and drive away evil spirits. It was even favored by pirates to protect them against evil. Peridot was said to be useful for calming raging angers, curing nervous afflictions and promoting quiet sleep. It was also believed to strengthen any medicine drunk from goblets carved from the stone. South American Shamans used peridot to ward off snakebites and the evil spirits who have taken the form of mosquitoes who bring the sleeping sickness. They also say the heating of magic mushroom tea by peridot takes them on trips to the ancestor heavens.
Today, peridot is believed to bring the wearer success, peace and good luck. To be most powerful, it is said that the stone should be mounted in gold and surrounded with small diamonds. With powers that are thought to bring protection and health, modern folklore also says it can be used to attract love and calm anger while soothing nerves and dispelling negative emotions. T he gem is believed to protect the wearer from bad dreams when set in gold.
Peridot is considered the birthstone of August. Given as a symbol of fame, dignity and protection, this gem is also traditionally given to couples celebrating their 16 th wedding anniversaries.
Earring Back Types
Butterfly Back: A double looped piece resembling a butterfly that fits over a post. Variations on this design are called push back clasps. The basic post and butterfly back are usually used for stud earrings and lighter weight drop earrings.
Hinged Snap Backs: This clasp features a hinged post that snaps into a groove on the back of the earring. It is commonly found on hoops. Sometimes the hinged post is curved to provide more room to fit around the ear, sometimes called a saddleback.
Hook Backs: This earring backing is simply a long, bent post that fits through the piercing. Hooks have several variations, most notably the shepherd's hook and the French hook. While thin wire hooks reduce the weight of long earrings, making them more comfortable, they aren't as secure as other clasp styles.
Lever Back: A hinged lever snaps shut against the curved post to form a closed loop around the ear lobe. This clasp is very secure and good for large or medium sized styles that drop just below the ear.
Omega: Also called French clips, this clasp has a straight post and a looped lever. The hinged lever closes around the post and is held against the ear with pressure. The omega clasp is the most secure clasp, especially for the larger, heavier earrings.
Screw back: This backing is a slight variation of the standard post and butterfly nut back. Instead of pushing on the back, the nut twists onto the threaded post. A screw back post design is often preferred for expensive diamond stud earrings that require increased security.
About the Collection
Victoria Wieck Collection
Inspire your style with the Victoria Wieck Collection. World-renowned jewelry designer Victoria Wieck brings decades of experience and a unique multicultural perspective to every piece in her collection. Hand-crafted from the finest materials by expert jewelers, the entire collection is a reflection of Victoria's passion for creating versatile yet timeless jewelry & watches for the modern woman. The Victoria Wieck Collection delivers elegant, high-quality style at an affordable price.
Victoria Wieck Collection
Inspire your style
About the Guest
Victoria Wieck has more than 25 years of experience in the industry, designing high-quality, timeless jewelry inspired by her heritage. Originally born in South Korea, she moved with her family to the United States when she was 12 and was deeply inspired by the beauty found in everything around her. Now an established jewelry icon, Victoria has become known for her elegant, glamorous, and imaginative designs with every piece telling a story.


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LMFAO: Sarah Palin Gets Tackled By Terry Tate! [CBS News Gets Interrupted]
Terry Tate Hits Sarah Palin LIVE TV. Watch the whole clip
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Annual Fire Safety Report
The safety of all members of the campus community is of paramount concern to the Department of Campus Safety. The University publishes an annual report outlining security and fire safety information, along with student housing fire and crime statistics for campus. This document provides information on AU fire safety policies, which can serve as a guide during emergencies.
View the Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report.
A printed copy of this report is also available by stopping by the Department of Campus Safety located in the Morrison Commons.


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BASIC(redirected from ROM BASIC programming language)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia.
Beginners All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. A programming language that allows a programmer to interact with a program while it is running. BASIC is very simple and was designed for instructional purposes. However, it underlies both the DOS and Windows operating systems.


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I have seen this pop up before but no clear answer seems to be given. Not sure if anyone is alive on here anymore.
Anyways, having an issue with trying to change the landscapes in Shapefusion. I make my new landscape, get the colour table set on GIMP, import it into Shapefusion, save, etc and when I load up my maps, the landscape is just straight black. I had this issue before where it fucked up my shapes file briefly until I saw that there was a patch or some new Shapefusion version which I downloaded and have been using. It is not imperative right now but eventually I want to change the landscapes and there is nothing suggesting how to fix this.


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CAD Training
Jumpstart Your Project with Engineering Software Training
TriMech has multiple SOLIDWORKS Authorized Training Centers located throughout the eastern United States. Although many of our users are able to learn the intuitive SOLIDWORKS software on their own, we recommend taking a class in order to shorten the learning curve as well as to pick up the tips and tricks that our certified instructors have developed throughout the years. TriMech understands the importance of hiring instructors who not only have a broad knowledge of SOLIDWORKS software, but who also have practical real-life experience in doing engineering design.
Essentials SOLIDWORKS classes are scheduled regularly and Advanced classes are also taught periodically throughout the region. In addition to SOLIDWORKS and the classes covering advanced SOLIDWORKS functionality, TriMech offers classes in Advanced Programming through the SOLIDWORKS API, SOLIDWORKS Simulation and classes that focus on our manufacturing software. All classes are very hands on so the student gets to interact with the software, as opposed to only watching or hearing an instructor go through examples.
All SOLIDWORKS classes come with standard training materials that come directly from the team at SOLIDWORKS. TriMech has also developed supplemental materials, offering tips and tricks including a lesson in Top-Down Assembly methods that is not typically taught during an Essentials Class. Students are also encouraged to bring in their own real life examples, so that the instructors can work with them one-on-one to address specific questions during breaks or after class.


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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell last week but remained elevated due to superstorm Sandy, a sign the storm is proving to be a substantial disruption to the labor market.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 41,000 to a seasonally adjusted 410,000, the Labor Department said on Wednesday. That was smack in line with the median forecast in a Reuters poll.
The drop in claims only partially unwinds the 90,000-claim increase registered the prior week. The Labor Department revised upward its estimate for new claims in the week ending Nov 10 to 451,000.
An analyst from the department said several states were still reporting an increase in claims due to Sandy, a mammoth storm that slammed into the East Coast on October 29.
The storm left millions of homes and businesses without electricity, shut down public transportation and led many factories in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast to curtail production. Retail sales fell as Sandy slammed the brakes on automobile purchases last month.
However, the economic impact of the storm is likely to be temporary.
The four-week moving average for jobless claims, which smoothes out volatility, rose 9,500 to 396,250. Economists generally think a reading below 400,000 points to an increase in employment.
Continuing claims for jobless benefits dropped 30,000 in the week ended November 10 to a seasonally adjusted 3.337 million, the Labor Department said.
Reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Andrea Ricci


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Just so we're clear on this....
According to the mayor, Black Hawk helicopters were scheduled to pick up and drop massive 3,000-pound sandbags in the 17th Street Canal breach, but were diverted on rescue missions. Nagin said neglecting to fix the problem has set the city behind by at least a month.
"I had laid out like an eight-week to ten-week timeline where we could get the city back in semblance of order. It's probably been pushed back another four weeks as a result of this," Nagin said.
"That four weeks is going to stop all commerce in the city of New Orleans. It also impacts the nation, because no domestic oil production will happen in southeast Louisiana."
Nagin said he expects relief efforts in the city to improve as New Orleans, the National Guard and FEMA combine their command centers for better communication, followup and accountability.


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|1910 U.S. Federal Census
No you didn't read that wrong. I'm still living in the 1910 census. My intentions of getting the 1910, 1920, and 1930 census sheets up before the 1940 census was released, just did not happen. One of those times when life gets in the way and then a cold just tops it all off...but I'll get into that on Thursday (unless life gets in the way)!
So, since my states/counties haven't made it up yet, I figured I'd get a post out. And even though this is the 1910 census, that information is still relevant and potentially useful in tracking down where your ancestors may have lived or lived near for future censuses. So onward to some details about this census...
The United States Census Bureau has some great information including the history of the decade, the various schedules and instructions to enumerators.
I particularly enjoyed reading this bit:
"The change of 'census day' from June 1 to April 15 was made up on the suggestion of the Census Bureau. It was believed that the April 15 date would be more desirable, since a large number of people are away from their homes in June."
That cracked me up. I mean, it certainly makes sense, but I did get a kick out of the census being rescheduled because of family vacations.
The census form that we deal with most frequently (and that I've created the sheet for) is Schedule (also called Volume) 1 - Population. You can check out a complete list of the Schedules/Volumes for the 1910 census by clicking here. Don't forget to check the information at the top and bottom of the page. Lots of great information there to include the instructions to enumerators.
I'd normally put more in this post about the census, but I'll admit. My butt's been kicked and this genealogist is heading to the bedroom soon with a good bowl of chicken broth. Too much to do leads to icky colds, so until next time have fun tending those roots and good luck with the 1940 census!
[As always if there are any problems with the census form I posted, please contact me and I'll see what can be done to fix them! You can get to this form by clicking any of the "1910 census" links above. When the form is viewed as a Google document it will be 2 pages long and not look quite right, but once you download it to your computer it will be 1 page]


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We made these sugar cookies awhile ago. They were for a catering company in Massachusetts. They need the star cookies to be decorated for a huge event where they would be given away to all the guests. I did hear back about them and they were the biggest hit at the party apparently. Everyone was asking about the cookies! They wanted to know if they were shortbread?, what flavoring was that?, how could they get some more?, etc….. Needless to say we couldn't have been more satisfied! Not only did 300 custom cookies take a while to bake, the decorating was a task all in itself, I had five people, and at one point, six, people helping out well into the night 🙂 Can't wait to do it again!
The 300 star cookies were not the only order for the weekend. We also had 180 dog bone cookies for Wedding Favors for that Saturday. The Dog Bones were a nice favor from the wedding couple to all of their guests who were making donations to the local York County S.P.C.A. instead of giving the couple gifts. talk about a great cause! The Dog Bones were decorated in Orange and Coral to match the Wedding Colors. Sooo Cute!
We did receive another order the next week from the MA Catering Company for 150 Decorate Brownies. The brownies were for a Golf Outing and would be placed ont he tables. This took a minute for me to figure out just what they would look like. I had no clue for a good 15 minutes, LOL!! It didn't take me long to figure it out. I would make the brownies into circles and then lay marshmallow Fondant on top to look like the actual golf ball. Next I placed Green Royal icing at the bottom to look like Grass. I think they turned out well, if I only could have gotten a better picture.
Where do you put 150 Decorated Brownies. Thank Goodness for Stackable Cooling Racks, if you don't own any I suggest you invest 🙂