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One of the ways to help build a presence on Etsy is to build up your circles. When someone chooses to add your shop to their circle, then your activity shows up in their activity feed - such as when you favorite an item, or a shop or a treasury, or add someone to your circle. Essentially, they are saying that they like some of the same things that you like and would like to see more of what you like in the future.
It really is quite easy to build your circles simply by adding shops or people to your circle. Often, but not always, they will circle you back - and your circle count grows!
My method for choosing shops to add to my circle is to go to my Favorites - either Favorite Items or Favorite Shops. I select a shop or item that I like - one either with similar items as those that I carry, or with a similar style (even if the item or items or totally different) to items that I carry. Then, I go to the list of those that have Favorited the item or shop. There you will find a list of shops and people who have favorited the item or shop. You will also find a count of how many circles each one is in, as well as how many items they have favorited and pictures of the last four items they favorited.
Now, you have to determine what your criteria will be for including a shop or person in your circle. I NEVER include a "Secret Admirer". They keep their favorites private, so that their favorites never hit the activity feed. Generally, I choose shops that have at least 50 members in their circles, indicating that they have been around for at least a little while. I also look for those that have at least as many items favorited as the number of circles they are in. This tells me that they will be involved in getting items into the activity feed for their circle members to see. All of this helps to get items seen.
The reason for choosing shops or people that like the same styles that I sell is that some of those will also favorite my shop, which serves as an added bonus!
New Addition to My Shop !
This week, my sister joined my shop. She will be bringing her creativity in the form of things that she sews and jewelry that she makes. The first of her items added to the shop are three handmade Christmas Tree Skirts. Generally going beyond just sewing the skirt together, she also adds details such as paint, glitter, sequins, ruffles, gemstones and crystals. These are truly heirloom quality! Be sure to check them out -


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NCASE Resource Library
Featured Resources
This publication features some of the best resources, including webinars, briefs, and toolkits, available in the online NCASE Resource Library, developed for both practitioners and system builders.
These selected resources, curated by NCASE, offer ideas and information for OST system leaders to support recovery from COVID-19.
The NCASE Out-of-School Time Professional Development System-Building Toolkit was designed to assist states as they build professional development systems inclusive of school-age providers.
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This webinar, the 8th in a series on early childhood education (ECE), is a topical, thoughtful discussion about systemic racism in early childhood education. It addresses the impact of racism on children, families, and child care providers.
This issue brief outlines steps that public and private sector leaders can guide a comeback effort and build back better following COVID-19. It includes steps such as building real-time data on supply and demand, business coaching and provider-based technology, revisiting quality standards, and new rate setting and payment methods. This resource supports the COVID-19 response.
This guide includes a list of articles and resources to help leaders be resilient and address operational and financial problems due to COVID-19 and other crises. Resources include a podcast on nonprofit collaboration, fundraising in tough times, and a series on the the connection between well-being and social change. This resource supports the COVID-19 response.
This brief outlines the state of rural afterschool resources. Currently, only 13 percent of rural children participate in afterschool programs compared with 25 percent of urban children; these discrepancies are due to barriers including diverse funding sources, transportation, facilities, staffing, and programming supports.
This report reviews the legislative history behind the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding streams. It explores the sources of CCDF and TANF expenditures and the key trends in federal and state level decisions on child care spending.
Defining and Measuring Access to High-Quality Early Care and Education: A Guidebook for Policymakers and Researchers
This guidebook provides a definition of access and how to measure access across different types of settings. It also describes indicators of access, how to measure the indicators, and what data sources exist. While it is primarily designed for birth to age 5, the model can be adapted for use in studying access for school-age care.
Creating Local Dedicated Funding Streams for Kids: A Guide to Planning a Local Initiative to Fund Services for Children, Youth and their Families
This step-by-step guide offers practical instructions on how to develop a local campaign to create a ballot initiative focused on providing a dedicated, sustainable stream of funding for early childhood, out-of-school time, violence prevention, and mental health programs.
This PowerPoint presentation explores key principles for effective business management. It describes the concept of shared services. Some slides demonstrate the extensive resources of the ECE Shared Resources tool used by more than 20 states. It provides examples of strengthening business practices in New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.
This issue brief provides basic tips for those working with homeless youth and young adults on how to respond most effectively. Tips include how to improve interactions with staff and peers, and how to help the ability of youth to participate successfully in programs. This resource supports resilience.
This report introduces the concept of child care deserts, where there is limited or no access to high quality child care.

subset: commoncrawl


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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
April 15, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM @ City Hall Board Room
March 8, 2019, 10:00 AM - April 26, 2019, 5:00 PM
Three artists in their later years who are still actively and passionately embracing their love of creating. Opening reception: March 9th, 2019 6-8 PM.
April 15, 2019, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM @ Archives Room
Make new friends in this drop-in class for all skill levels. Class members will need to bring a "size J" crochet hook, medium weight yarn, and scissors.
Receive personal instruction as you develop your crocheting skills.
No registration required.
April 15, 2019, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM @ Study Room
Learn to speak English in our weekly English Conversation Class held every Monday and Thursday evening, from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Families are welcome.
Clases de Conversacion en Ingles: Todos los Lunes y Jueves de 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Ambiente familiar. Totalmente gratis y no es necesario inscribirse. Practica Itu ngles en la Biblioteca.
No registration is required for this free class. Seating is on a first-come-first-served basis.
Practice your English at the library! ALL LANGUAGES are welcome!
April 15, 2019, 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM @ Children's Program Room
For preschoolers who love music, rhymes and lots of dancing! We cannot accommodate large groups such as daycares.
Our story times welcome children of all abilities.
View all calendars is the default. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar.


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FS2004 Messerschmitt Bf109G10
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Welcome, Everyone!
Andrea Lucado joins our chat circle this week. My husband and I have had the privilege of knowing Andrea and her family for about twenty-five years. I watched Andrea grow from a little tyke crawling around on the church pews to the beautiful debut author of English Lessons.
Please join our conversation. Andrea is offering an autographed book to someone who comments below. I will announce the winner next Tuesday, the 30th, on this site, Facebook, and Twitter.
Congratulations to Marilyn Ridgway, winner of an autographed copy of English Lessons. All Marilyn did was comment, so join in this coming week's chat for a chance to win another author's book.
~ ~ ~
Andrea Lucado, the girl
I grew up in San Antonio, Texas. As a pastor's daughter, church felt like my home. I spent as much time there as I did in our house. I knew every hallway and back staircase. I learned about Jesus in that church. It's where I met some of my lifelong best friends and where I felt most comfortable.
College Years
From San Antonio, I traveled to West Texas to attend school at Abilene Christian University and studied abroad in Oxford. I fell in love with the city and vowed to go back and live there one day.
After I graduated from ACU, I did just that. I lived in Oxford for a year and attended a school called Oxford-Brookes University where I earned my master's in English Literature. I also started blogging while I was there. I prophetically titled my blog "English Lessons." (Tweet That!)
Andrea Lucado, the grown-up author
English Lessons: The Crooked Path of Growing Toward Faith released May 2, and man, has it been a journey. The writing process was pretty organic. I sat down one morning at 5:30 before work (I was working in book publishing at the time) to write just for fun. I hadn't done that in a long time. I thought I would write about women's issues. Women in the church or women and beauty. Something like that.
Andrea's Writing Journey
Instead, I wrote a story about two people I met while I was living abroad in Oxford. I wrote about the park we sat in, what the weather was like and what we had talked about. I wrote about how we walked to an ice cream shop and what I had worn. Navy shorts and a pink top. For the next several months I continued to get up at 5:30 on Mondays and write and all that came out were stories from Oxford.
After a few months of writing for fun, I started collecting these stories into essay-form. I sent a few to my dad (also a writer) and asked what he thought. With his encouragement I kept going until I had a good ten chapters finished. My dad's agent, one of our best family friends, agreed to represent me. He has been such a gift!
I think the hardest part of the process was when it came time to send my work to the people I wrote about. Because it's a memoir, I was required to get story release forms from most of the people mentioned in the book. That felt incredibly vulnerable and while most of my friends were very kind about the whole thing, a few of them were not thrilled to be in a book. I had to cut chapters and make major edits. It was hard to get their feedback but also a very stretching and strengthening time. I learned that as a writer, I will never please everyone. (Tweet That!)
What's Next for Andrea Lucado
I haven't started working on another book yet, but I hope to soon. I want to see through this release of English Lessons and be sure I do it well. Then, I will sit down and see what comes out. English Lessons is largely about faith and doubt. (Tweet That!)
The year I lived in England I asked those big questions: Why do I believe what I believe? Would I still be a Christian if I hadn't been raised in a Christian home? Etc.
Now I ask different questions but they do include doubt. Doubt in God's character, in his goodness. My relationship with him has deepened so much since Oxford. Perhaps my next book will be about that.
Where to find Andrea Lucado
You can find me on my blog and website: AndreaLucado.com.
On Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorAndreaLucado/
On Twitter: twitter.com/andrealucado
And on Instagram: Instagram.com/andrealucado
Lord, You're our refuge in times of trouble, our safe harbor in storms. You're our good Shepherd who leads us into green pastures beside still waters. You restore us and feed us and comfort us. What more could we want? Thank you for Your faithfulness.
Bless Andrea as she seeks you and shares her insights with readers.
~ For Jesus' sake
14 thoughts on "Let's Chat! Author Andrea Lucado"
I'll be looking for "English Lessons". It sound like my kind of book.
Great! So glad it sounds like something you'll like 🙂
Andrea, It is true! You will never please everyone. 🙂 We just can't seem to do that! Even Jesus didn't please everyone. Your writing will reach the people who need your insight and knowledge.
It has been on of the hardest lessons, but also one of the most important. Here's to being ourselves, even if that means disappointing others.
Linda, a beautiful interview with Andrea Lucado. So nice to visit and get to know authors through blog posts. English Lessons: The Crooked Path of Growing Toward Faith, being a memoir, will be an amazing read to minister to others to increase their their own walk with God and draw others into the fold. God's blessings to you both and your ministry.
Linda and Andrea, I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with you! I am looking forward to reading "English Lessons."
I am not an author, but can imagine how challenging writing this book must have been. I am quite sure that it will minister to many people through your telling of your story. Personal testimony is such a valuable tool in reaching our to other hearts for God.
Congratulations on your release earlier this month! j
Thank you, Joyce!
A wonderful generational blessing! So glad Andrea Lucado is exercising the gifts and talents the Lord has given her. I pray English Lessons: The Crooked Path of Growing Toward Faith ministers around the world!
Thank you for your prayer!


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Wedding Planning Step 2: Your Preliminary Guest List
Oct 24, 2012
Hello my fellow brides-to-be! I am so excited to say that Steve and I have started to plan our wedding day! After getting engaged in the summer of 2010 (right outside of the Little Things office), my fiancé and I have set our wedding date for September 21, 2013, and we found ourselves asking, "Where do we begin?" Thanks to Erica's extremely helpful 'Wedding Checklist', we now have a step-by-step guide to keep us on track. We have recently chosen our wedding venue, Michael Anthony's in Jersey City, so now we are on to the next step – planning the guest list!
There are a few questions that you and your fiancé should ask each other before making your guest list. For example, do you envision an intimate gathering with close family and friends, or a huge bash? Steve and I do not have particularly large families, and we are both on the same page about the type of wedding we would like to have – a gathering of our close family and friends. With that being decided, we will be inviting close to 100 guests to our wedding. After you and your fiancé have decided on an approximate number of guests, you can start to discuss how the two of you will break up the guest list. Which one of you has the larger family? Which has more friends to invite? Once you have discussed these important factors, you will be able to see which one of you may need a little more space on the guest list.
Now on to the next step– putting together a guest list! The first people you will add would of course be your immediate families. I would start out with listing your parents, grandparents, siblings and their spouses, etc. After you have listed your closest family members, you should then list your Bridal Party (+ guests) if any of your Bridal Party members are single. A great resource to use to get started is our guest list worksheet which you can download and print.
Once these guests are listed, you and your fiancé should begin to add extended family members, co-workers, mutual friends, and college/school friends to your guest list. If you are approaching or have exceeded your approximate number of invited guests, you and your fiancé must discuss where you may be able to make some cuts to the list.
Cutting down your wedding guest list is no easy task, but in order to stay within your budget, you may need to make a few adjustments. First, I would go over the list with your fiancé, and assign each person the letter A or B. The A's are the definite invites, and will include your immediate family and closest friends. The B's are for the remaining guests on your list. You and your fiancé can begin to cut down the B's by asking yourselves a few questions: Are you close to this person? When is the last time you saw them? Would you truly be upset if they were not there to celebrate your wedding day? Once you have answered these questions for each of the B's, you and your fiancé should be able to make some substantial cuts to your guest list.
There are several other ways to cut your final guest list. You can start by omitting high school/college friends that you do not really keep in touch with, and will probably never see again. Also, are you both working in large offices/companies? If so, don't feel obligated to invite everyone in the office! You can eliminate all of your co-workers and business associates from your guest list, or keep it simple by inviting just your immediate supervisor(s).
Finally, don't beat yourself up about not being able to invite everyone to your wedding. Of course in a perfect world, you wouldn't need to cut back on any aspect of your special day – but sometimes that is just not possible (unless you're Kim Kardashian!) No matter what, your wedding day will be one of the most memorable days of your life, and your friends and family will be there to share it with you!
Stay tuned for next week's installment on our wedding planning process – choosing your perfect venue!
All the best,
Latest posts by littlethings (see all)
- Wedding Cake Toppers Steal The Show - March 2, 2016
- Looking for Groomsmen Gift Ideas? - February 26, 2016
- 10 Awesome Wedding Favors for 2016 - February 22, 2016


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Matt Lampson welcomed LLS Hero Sean Tibbs to Crew Stadium for the home-opener on Saturday. Sean, a student at St. Pius X School in Reynoldsburg was also visited by Crew Cat on St. Patrick's Day and presented with a Lampson signed goalkeeper jersey during a LLS assembly at his school.
Looking to continue the Hero program that Lampson started during the 2013 season, the goalkeeper will be working with LLS to invite a child and their family to every home and away match during the 2014 season.


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Hey Mando,
So, I was thinking of you tonight and thought I would write. Just in hopes that, you know, God would let you read this and maybe you would love it. I guess there could be computers in Heaven, and you each get like ten minutes on it every day for...eternity. Not like you don't have enough fantastic things to do, and I know you aren't bored. But, you know. Just in case.
I think of you every day, you know. It's good for me. Cause I remember to laugh. I remember when we would run and hide from James in the mall. Practical, responsible James would sigh, 'goddammit' as we would sprint, giggling, to hide behind a Britney Spears stand up cut out, or try on bras in VS. Or the time we tried to steal his car for pizza, and you were laughing too hard to drive. Or when we were upset, we would stay up all night and listen to Allison and Bill sing, and your face would be alive with joy. God, I miss you, Mando.
You know the necklace you gave me when I was in the hospital? I thought it was cool, but not my style, and I put it in my keepsake box. It was a token of affection. But then you died, and it became a piece of you that I needed to keep you with me. I wore it through boot camp. I wore it with my dog tags. I wore it through the work day, and kept it on when I went out at night. I seriously wore it constantly.
Well, today I woke up and it was gone. I pulled my room apart looking for it, but it's nowhere. I'm still hoping I find it, but I seriously don't know where it could be. Of course I had a bit of a meltdown. I feel lost without it. I keep reaching for it and feeling a pang when it's not there.
I thought of something... Isn't today your birthday? You would be like 24? And I don't know if that's a coincidence or not. But it's been a big day of remembering. And I guess this is a plea, if you can see this, that I have that back. You know what it's like down here. You need reminders that your friends are always with you. I'm laughing to remember you. When I text in the car, I think of you texting me and it inspires me to stop.
I hope you are laughing, wherever you are. I hope they play Allison's cds there. I hope you have someone to throw in the water and watch them scream while you bust a gut. I hope there are lots of pumpkins for smashing. And I hope there are more amazing things that I couldn't even begin to grasp, that you get to experience. I love you from here, and I'm living with the hope that I'm gonna live with you again someday. I love you, Amando.
PS. Your little brother is beautiful like you.


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Before I take you to your regularly scheduled post, I have to give a major shout-out to the excellent and encyclopedic Bleeding Skull (http://www.bleedingskull.com). After an absence of too many months, those guys are finally updating again, bringing hungry fans like me more entertaining and informative reviews of the most obscure and awesome trash cinema you could imagine. That site was and continues to be a huge inspiration to me in my movie reviewing efforts, which is to say I shamelessly rip them off at every opportunity. Imitation, flattery, etc...
Today I'm ripping them off even more brazenly than usual, as their post on the first movie under discussion and excellent article on the second were the direct cause of my seeking said movies out. I'm so glad I did, and I hope you will be too.
The Demon Lover (1977, aka The Devil Master) is the kind of big-dreaming, gloriously inept movie that always makes me smile, sometimes with but mostly at the bravely deluded people involved. A standard "hippie devil-cult leader summons a demon for revenge on the Judases in his flock" tale, it was supposed to be the filmmakers' ticket out of their car parts factory jobs and into the Dream Factory of Hollywood movie-making. Unfortunately a lack of funds, resources, and basic talent prevented it from becoming the "masterpiece" director Donald G. Jackson and producer Jerry Younkins envisioned.
But fortunately for trash movie fans and serious film students alike, documentary filmmaker Joel DeMott brought her camera along when she and her cinematographer boyfriend Jeff Kreines traveled to Michigan for the shoot, for which Kreines had agreed to serve as DP. The resulting film, Demon Lover Diary (1980), records the sometimes hilarious, sometimes depressing, and often even frightening ways in which production on The Demon Lover went wrong, and is itself a priceless document of the pitfalls of independent movie-making.
First, our feature presentation:
We open at the estate of cult leader Laval Blessing (Christmas Robbins, actually producer Younkins in a long flowing wig), where a bunch of wacked out hippies are gathered to get their kicks with the help of booze and devil worship. Upstairs Laval tries to convince a young cult member to participate in an orgy in order to "release energy" in order to summon a demon to do their bidding. When the nubile acolyte refuses and calls the other cult members to her aid, the whole occult study group falls apart, leaving Laval with one drugged-out Devilbabe with whom to work his magic. Turns out that's enough, as he's able to summon the demon anyway, which he then sets loose to get revenge on his former followers.
As the bodies start to pile up, a local police detective starts looking into the cult in an attempt to get to the bottom of these strange, savage murders. He gleans some information from a "white magic" cult with whom his wife has some ties, and then gets a hot tip from Damien, a disgruntled former cultist who is convinced Laval is behind it all. It comes to a head with a few former cult dudes and the detective descending on Laval's rural hideaway, only to fall victim to the Devil Master's mind-control powers in a (sort of) shocking bloodbath of horror. But when the demon demands his due, Laval finds out that Demonic forces are (surprisingly) not to be trusted.
The Demon Lover is an out-and-out mess. The intrusive synth-heavy score was either composed by one of the filmmakers or by his 10-year-old Casio-addled brother. It's shot poorly, the sets are badly lit and laughably dressed, and the cast full of non-actors have exactly two modes of expression: either deadpan cue-card reading or top-of-your-lungs shouting. The script doesn't do them any favors either, as it's hard to imagine even Laurence Olivier or Christopher Lee being able to make anything out of the howlers they're given to recite. A few of my favorite examples:
The flick also suffers from some pretty obvious padding, as when we get 10 minutes of Laval sparring with his Karate class and thereafter engaging in a barroom brawl with his dojo-mates, in a laughably-choreographed scene that has fuck-all to do with the plot. The only slightly redeeming thing about the movie are a few almost-effective effects scenes, as when one victim gets splattered over the hood of a car (driven by a friend who's either controlled by the devil or having a wild epileptic seizure) or the bloody aftermath of the dudes' self destruction. Also, the Demon costume is pretty fun in a Halloween Express kinda way, though the heavily distorted voice they use sounds more like Mel Blanc than Mephistopheles.
"No thanks, I've already had a Bloody Pamela, a Bloody Elaine, AND a Bloody Janice!"
On the other hand, Joel DeMott's Demon Lover Diary succeeds, both as a piece of filmmaking and as a sort of horror movie. In fact it starts out almost exactly like The Blair Witch Project, as we watch Joel and dumpy lover Jeff Kreines packing up for the trip to Michigan to shoot the flick. We seldom see Joel herself on camera, but she narrates for us, both through the film itself and periodically through a conversational and effective voice-over. They seem like enthusiastic, slightly pretentious kids, excited to be getting out of the city for a while and having the opportunity to work on a real-live feature film. Their friend Mark accompanies them to donate his talents as sound man.
What's also clear is that Donald Jackson is a grade-A creep of the "might in fact be a serial killer" kind. Laying out the plans for the production, Jackson never misses an opportunity to make Jeff feel uncomfortable and Joel unwelcome, and his odd way of speaking is frankly unsettling. Here we also meet Younkins, who we learn has helped finance the film by purposefully cutting off one of his fingers for the $8000 insurance money! The group argues for a while about whether Joel should stay at the house to answer phones while they pick up the rented filming equipment, ramping up the tension even more.
The equipment rented and everyone finally ready to start shooting the next day, Jackson takes the three kids to his parents' house, where they'll be staying while they work on the film. Jackson's mother is a sweet-talking country lady, but also a devout Christian--therefore Jackson forbids them to talk about the movie's plot, which his mother would strongly disapprove of. Also, he tells Ma that Joel and Jeff are married, another deception to smooth things over, and one which Joel is vocally uncomfortable with.
Once production starts, thinks go south with alarming speed. Jackson has drastically overestimated their shooting efficiency, and they quickly fall behind schedule. Younkins takes over directing the cast while Jackson concentrates on shot framing. Distractions abound, as the director takes off seemingly every other day to talk with local press about the "masterpiece" they're filming, pushing them further off schedule. Filming goes disastrously, with an improvised whipped cream fight threatening to destroy their rented camera, Younkins voicing loud disapproval over Kiernes' lighting set-ups, and the actors betraying their astonishing lack of skill at every turn. Jackson's sweet-talking mother shows her mean streak, blowing a gasket about the mess in the lodger's room and complaining about the noise they're making when they come in late. The tension, already palpable, becomes nearly unbearable.
Of the small number of people who have seen Demon Lover Diary, many compare it to the 1999 documentary American Movie, and there are certain similarities. However, where Mark Borchardt and Mike Schank come off as lovable idealists pushing toward success, Younkins and Jackson seem more like deluded sociopaths spiralling toward failure, and taking everyone around them along for the ride. Jeff quickly sees that the movie is going to be a disaster, and contemplates leaving before Jackson offers them $1000 to stay and finish (they'd originally agreed to work for free). Worse, when news gets back to the factory that Jackson is filming a movie and not on sick leave, he runs the risk of losing his job. Totally obsessed with the movie, though, he bets all his chips on it, mortgaging his house and risking the welfare of his wife and three kids; Joel worries aloud for the children's future.
As in American Movie they meet some other eccentric characters along the way, such as the make-up man/actor who alternates living with his wife and one of his three girlfriends. There are long talks about marriage, about poverty, about lack of sleep, as the whole crew quiclkly succumbs to exhaustion. Jackson's megalomania runs unchecked, and the already troubled production suffers more for it. Eventually they find themselves--rather incredibly--at the home of rock legend Ted Nugent (!), where they borrow some of the rocker's arsenal of firearms for a climactic scene. Jackson's insistence on using live ammunition worries the crew, and rightly so.
As I said earlier, the movie starts out like Blair Witch Project, and by the time things started to go wrong, I found myself thinking that, if it were a fiction film, by the end of the movie these protagonists would be running for their lives from their crazy director. It turns out I wasn't far off--when Joel and Jeff try to get Jackson to sign a contract promising their cut of any profits, you can almost feel the curtain of coldness drop between them, and this is soon followed by a genuinely surprising and chilling climax.
Demon Lover Diary is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at an ill-fated production, and at the personalities and problems involved in any creative project. Joel DeMott's narration and editing move the story along very skillfully and briskly, in sharp contrast to the haphazard editing and pacing of Demon Lover. She also betrays some East Coast condescension fo the Midwesterners with whom they're working, which comes through as a kind of warts-and-all veracity. While I did wonder if some of the scenes were restaged, in the end it didn't really matter--perhaps they achieve through a little fudging what Werner Herzog has called "ecstatic truth." Even if not, they've made a gripping documentary.
Demon Lover is a 1.25 Thumb-worthy failure, but the documentary of its making is something else entirely. If you've ever wondered what kind of person makes movies like Demon Lover, this is the answer, and it's more entertaining and frightening than the movie itself. Picture American Movie as directed by Andy Milligan, and you're close. Demon Lover Diary is an unknown documentary classic. 2.75 thumbs.
Nota bene: while DeMott went on to make only one other movie, the 1983 documentary Seventeen, Donald G. Jackson actually had a little better luck as a director. There are 33 credits on his imdb page, including the Troma sequel Class of Nuke 'Em High Part II: Subhumanoid Meltdown (1991), the tantalizingly titled Lingerie Kickboxer (1991), and Roddy Piper-starring cult classic Hell Comes to Frogtown (1988) and its sequels. Dreams do come true?
Bonus links:
Bleeding Skull review of Devil Master (Demon Lover)
Bleeding Skull's excellent feature article on Demon Lover Diary
Bleeding Skull's review of Joel DeMott's second feature, Seventeen (1983).
Also, thanks to Kitty of Killer Kittens from Beyond, from whose March 2009 review I shamelessly stole the excellent poster graphic. ;)
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
The Demon Lover/Demon Lover Diary (1977, 1980): or, American Movie Goes to Hell
Posted by The Vicar of VHS at 9:23 AM
Labels: '70s, '80s, 1-2 Thumbs, 2-3 thumbs, Devil Worship, Monsters Amok, Shockumentary
4 comments:
- The Duke of DVD said...
A fantastic review, Vicar! It is little surprise to me that the documentary about the making of the film turned out to be better than the film itself. I can only dream of what it would be like to see the making-of for something like, say, El Ultimo Kamikaze.
Or perhaps Encarnacao do Demonio... the mind shudders.
- March 17, 2010 at 2:59 PM
- Samuel Wilson said...
Demon Lover is apparently the tip of a Donald G. Jackson iceberg of bad, based on what Michael Adams reports in Showgirls, Teen Wolves, and Astro Zombies, his chronicle of a year worth of worst-film watching. Between them, Jackson and his protege Scott Shaw have a daunting filmography that may be worthy of further research by the brave or foolhardy. As for me, I think Demon Lover Diary would be quite enough. I've heard the legend before, but you make me really want to see it.
- March 17, 2010 at 10:56 PM
- The Vicar of VHS said...
@The Duke--The mind does indeed shake in its boots (?) at the thought of what must go on behind the scenes of a Mojica Marins flick! However, while it's not quite what you are looking for, there *is* an excellent Coffin Joe documentary entitled The Strange World of Jose Mojica Marins made sometime in the early aughts, that is well worth any fan's time. I will gladly loan you a copy in exchange for some Gypsy Tear Wine and the...erm..."services" of your three best charwomen for an evening.
Make it two evenings.
>>Jackson and his protege Scott Shaw have a daunting filmography that may be worthy of further research by the brave or foolhardy
We just so happen to have 1 brave reviewer and 1 foolhardy trash addict on the MMMMMovies staff! ;)
The Duke has already told me he's intrigued by the synopsis of Jackson's 1996 flick ROLLERGATOR. Capsule version: "A young girl who likes roller-blading befriends a rap'n purple talking baby alligator and defends it from a skateboarding ninja."
I shouldn't be surprised to have that foisted upon us by His Corpulence soon enough!
- March 18, 2010 at 11:34 AM
Hi--can anyone point out a way to get ahold of a copy of Demon Lover Diary? Thanks!
- October 30, 2011 at 4:36 PM


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Curtis and I celebrated 10 years of wedded bliss this past weekend. We had a WONDERFUL weekend just being together. Friday my mom came to get the kiddos and Friday night we went to eat at a delicious restaurant in Dallas called Sullivan's. It's a steak and potatoes kind of place but fancy and SOOO yummy! Then we went to see The Time Travelers Wife - a wonderfully romantic movie - I recommend as your next date movie - I'll probably have to own this one! Saturday we just enjoyed being together, not doing anything big time but just enjoying each other's company. We had breakfast at Snooty Pig - a little dive here in Keller, and then left his car to get an oil change (I know REAL romantic, huh), and shopped around Target, etc. while we waited for his car. This might not seem too romantic but it actually was...just being together, without kids, with no interruptions:) Yes this is a BIG anniversary and this year we are saving a down payment for a house, so no major trips, etc. We hope to officially celebrate this next spring/summer! This weekend was GREAT though!
Friday night at Sullivan's
Great Date movie!


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5 Memorable Beers from Speakeasy Brewery's 16th Anniversary Party
Highlights from beer festivals and cocktail celebrations.
Speakeasy Brewery turned sweet 16 this weekend and had a big ol' birthday bash to celebrate at their San Francisco brewery and tap room. And the beer was flowing—in addition to classic pours like their Big Daddy IPA, a few brand-new and limited release beers were available for the drinking.
We caught up with Speakeasy's Director of Brewing Operations Kushal Hall, and got some details on the must-try beers of the day (sadly, the keg of wet-hop IPA went dry before I got my thirsty little hands on it).
What's New On Serious Eats
Kushal Hall, drinking a Tallulah. "We wanted to make a beer that would be good to drink a six-pack of in Dolores Park on a hot day," he told us.
The San Francisco Lager (pictured up top, 5.5%) is the first in a series of test lagers that the brewery is working on. "We needed something refreshing for the barbecue!" Hall said of the crisp, light-bodied beer. The lager is brewed using mostly German hops with a bit of Centennial to give it a "San Francisco flavor." Hall noted that they'll be tweaking their lager formula over the next few months in anticipation of a bottled version that will be released next year. This refreshing version is available on draft at the brewery for now—just right for San Francisco's warm September weather.
The Butchertown Black Ale (8.2%) is Speakeasy's current seasonal beer, meaning it will disappear again soon. The malty, full-bodied beer is brewed with barley, flaked rye, and wheat. Hall describes the beer as being "halfway between a black IPA and a porter," with a maltier, drier flavor than many IPAs. Delicate hopping adds a subtle floral note, too.
"Normally, I like to brew beers with a little more balance... but every year for our anniversary, we make a really big, over-the-top IPA," Hall said of the Blind Tiger (9.8%). Hall told us that he uses seven pounds of Columbus hops per barrel of this brew. The beer has a significant grapefruit flavor—it's a tasty, hoppy punch in the mouth. The recipe will likely change a bit, but Hall said they have plans to release a bottled Blind Tiger next year.
VIP ticket holders at the party had the chance to try some rare beers in the taproom, including the Bourbon Barrel-Aged Scarface Imperial Stout (on the left, 9.5%) and the 2009 Old Godfather Barleywine (10.8%). "This is literally the last keg," Hall said of the Barleywine, a beer with sweet, port-like fruit flavors and smooth, honeyed texture.
The Imperial Stout has been aged since February in Evan Williams barrels. Rich and mapley, the beer offers deep coffee flavor and delicate carbonation—it was remarkably drinkable for its ABV.
Want to taste some of Speakeasy's best for yourself? The brewery and taproom are open for visitors. Check the hours here before heading over.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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How do you turn the last two minutes of an NBA game into an impromptu dunk contest? Build a 22-point fourth quarter lead, wait until the other team has given up, and then unleash Nate Robinson.
By now, we've all seen plenty of Nate Robinson dunks, but there is still something awe-inspiring about watching the 5-foot-9 guard spring into the air to throw one down. So when he does it three times in the span of two minutes, we can't help but take notice.
But Robinson wasn't just about the dunks last night. He also led the Nuggets in scoring with 21 points and dished five assists while seeing just 20 minutes of floor time. If he had just found time to mix in a left-handed jump shot or a batshit step-back jumper, we might have seen peak Nate Robinson.


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Owl's Head Park
Owl's Head Park
Theories abound as to the origin of the name Owl's Head Park. The geographic explanation is that the land was once shaped like the head of an owl. Some insist that owls formerly lived here, but there is no survey or record to confirm this. A local journalist remembers a swank hotel of the same name on the corner of Third Avenue and 69th Street. The last theory derives from the fact that the estate which once nestled into the hillside had a pair of stone owls framing its entrance gate. Despite its uncertain source, the name has withstood the test of time.
Canarsie Indians, who were part of the Mohegan Nation and spoke Algonquin, lived in and around present-day Owl's Head Park. They fished in the Hudson River and New York Harbor, collected oysters on the shore, and farmed the fertile outwash plain. The first Europeans to settle this land were of Dutch descent. They established Yellow Hook, an agricultural community named for the yellow clay which leached from the shore into the water. Among these farmers, Swaen Janse, a freed slave, purchased land that included what is now part of the park.
In 1853 a group of citizens, concerned that Yellow Hook reminded people of the yellow fever epidemic, renamed the community Bay Ridge for the prominent geographic features of the area. Owl's Head Park is located on a terminal moraine that extends from New Jersey to the end of Long Island. A moraine marks the place where a glacier (in this case the 10,000-year-old Wisconsin glacier) deposited boulders, rocks, soil, and debris.
A native of Brooklyn, Henry C. Murphy (1810-1882) built his estate along the glacial ridge. The son of Irish immigrants, Murphy's political career included terms as Mayor of Brooklyn, U.S. Representative, U.S. Minister to the Hague, and New York State Senator. As Senator, Murphy drafted the bill which authorized the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, and in 1866 he signed the bill at his mansion. He also founded The Brooklyn Eagle and was one of its first editors. Considered a founding father of Brooklyn, Murphy translated colonial sources and documented Brooklyn's Dutch heritage. Senator Street, which begins at the park, was named in his honor.
The Murphy estate was purchased in 1866 by Eliphalet W. Bliss (1836-1903). This wealthy manufacturer made his fortune by introducing and implementing techniques of mass production to the pressed metal industry. Bliss refurbished the mansion and built a horse stable and observatory tower from which one could view the bay, Staten Island, and the Orange Mountains of New Jersey. In his will, Bliss offered his million-dollar property to New York City for $835,000 with the stipulation that it would be used solely for parkland. In 1928 the land was designated a park upon acquisition of the remaining corners of the site. Although quite impressive at the time, Owl's Head Park fell into neglect, and the mansion, stables, and tower were demolished by 1940.
Owl's Head Park is now one of the premier parks in Brooklyn. Families picnic at the park in the summer, and children sled down its hill in the winter. The vista remains unmatched for watching ships enter and leave New York Harbor. Owl's Head Park also boasts an extensive collection of trees, including pines, locusts, oaks, maples, corks, beeches, and one S-shaped tulip poplar that defies gravity. In 1994, Borough President Golden and Council Member Sal Albanese, funded a $396,690 restoration which provided new playground equipment, landscaping and paved paths. What was once only the preserve of wealthy families, Owl's Head Park is now available for all visitors to enjoy.


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Topic: bats has a REAL Dragon
Yep!! and his name is Fred I know it's very Dragon-Like name but it suits him
He has come to dwell ,where my Koi Pond is ,,we made friends and now he follows me around the Garden
but he has become a jo, I sit on the edge of the Pond ,and I talk to him ,you should see him turns his head
and look at me
Yes !!!!!! he's a Water, Frill, Neck Dragon,I hope this brings a smile to you


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Moyer becomes oldest pitcher to win game in majors!
DENVER (AP) -- Jamie Moyer turned in a vintage performance in becoming the oldest pitcher to ever win a major league game.
The 49-year-old Moyer threw seven masterful innings and Dexter Fowler hit a two-run homer, helping the Colorado Rockies hold on for a 5-3 win over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.
Moyer (1-2) was sharp all evening as he picked up his 268th career win, tying him with Hall of Famer Jim Palmer for 34th on the career list.
Relying on a consistent cutter and mixing in a 78-mph fastball, the cunning lefty gave up just six hits and two runs - both unearned - as he kept the Padres hitters at bay and off balance.
That's been a winning recipe for Moyer over a career that's stretched nearly a quarter century and included 689 games.
Anthony Bass , a pitcher half Moyer's age, went five innings and gave up three runs. Bass (0-2) also had a career-high seven strikeouts.
Moyer earned that elusive win for the ages in his third start of the season. His is 49 years, 150 days old.
That's important to note since before Moyer's gem the oldest pitcher to win a game in the majors was Jack Quinn of the Brooklyn Dodgers on Sept. 13, 1932, when he was 49 years, 70 days old.
Rex Brothers pitched the eighth and Rafael Betancourt survived a rocky ninth - giving up a solo homer to Nick Hundley and putting two more runners on - before striking out Yonder Alonso to earn his third save in as many chances.
About the only blemish to the night were two more errors by smooth-fielding shortstop Troy Tulowitzki , giving him six already this season. The Gold Glove winner had six all of last year.
His fielding error in the seventh proved quite costly and nearly spoiled Moyer's place in the record books. With two on and one out, Tulowitzki had a routine double play ball go right through his legs, leading to a run. Jason Bartlett brought in another with a sacrifice fly to right to cut the lead to 3-2.
Moyer ended the threat by getting pinch hitter Jeremy Hermida to ground out to second on a 76-mph cutter.
The Rockies added two insurance runs in the eighth as Michael Cuddyer doubled in a run off former Rockies closer Huston Street and Wilin Rosario added a sacrifice fly.
Away from the mound, Moyer hardly looks like a kid anymore. He has gray streaks in his hair and frequently dons reading glasses that sit perched on the tip of his nose. This betrays his age too: He's on the verge of receiving his AARP card.
But once he steps on the mound that youthful exuberance returns.
He's transformed into a kid again, sprinting out to the mound after each inning. He looked more like a spry rookie than a veteran nearing retirement.
Moyer enticed the Padres to hit into three double plays, despite warnings before the game by Mark Kotsay - the one player who's consistently hit Moyer - to remain patient. Then again, it's difficult to lay off a pitch that looks so juicy.
The aged wonder used his wealth of experience to his advantage against the young Padres, six of whom weren't even born when Moyer made his major league debut in 1986. That included Bass, who has fond memories of Coors Field after winning his debut in the hitter friendly stadium last June.
Fowler gave the Rockies a 2-0 lead in the third when he laced an 83-mph changeup from Bass into the bleachers in right field.
Rosario added an RBI double in the fourth. Rosario was in the lineup after starter Ramon Hernandez experienced a little soreness in his left hand after a swing he took the night before.
Kotsay's first plate appearance of the season was a single in the opening inning. Kotsay was activated off the disabled list on Monday after missing the first 10 games with a strained right calf muscle.
That his first hit should be against Moyer hardly comes as a surprise since the 36-year-old Kotsay has a .583 lifetime average against Moyer. They even exchanged friendly grins after each of Kotsay's two singles.
The two veterans haven't faced each other since June 13, 2006, when Kotsay was with the Oakland A's and Moyer a member of Seattle Mariners .
Before the game, Kotsay was giving pointers to his impressionable teammates on how to hit Moyer's methodical pitches.
"Be patiently aggressive," Andy Parrino recounted. "Make him come to us a little bit more. Oh, and make him stay in the strike zone. Because there's a reason he's been pitching for so long."
Moyer doesn't have a blazing fastball, but he does have this - pinpoint precision.
Padres manager Bud Black certainly appreciates the cleverness of Moyer, marveling from the dugout at the vintage pitcher who went to spring training without a guaranteed roster spot and performed his way onto the team. He missed all of 2011 as he recovered from a surgically repaired ligament in his elbow.
"It's a great story," Black said.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/bas...#ixzz1sMTRCxnk
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import java.util.Random; public class Basic{ public static void main(String[] args) { System.out.printf("The values in the array are:\n"); Random randomNumbers = new Random(); int[] array = new int[ 5 ]; for (int num = 0; num <array.length; num++ ) array[num] = randomNumbers.nextInt(50); for (int value = 0; value < array.length; value++ ) System.out.printf("value[ %2d ] =%4d\n", value, array[ value ]); } }
My program displays 5 random numbers. I want the user to be able to pick one of those numbers and be able to change it to any number they want. I have absolutely no idea how to even begin. Any help would be appreciated, this array stuff is hard to learn for me.


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- John Avlon: President Barack Obama is well-positioned to help solve debt problem
- He says Obama should avoid temptation favored by some Democrats to put off action
- Relatively modest changes in entitlements could help ensure their survival, Avlon says
- Avlon: Obama can rally his party behind deficit cuts that won't hurt economy
Editor's note: John Avlon is a CNN contributor and senior political columnist for Newsweek and The Daily Beast. He is co-editor of the book "Deadline Artists: America's Greatest Newspaper Columns." He is a regular contributor to "Erin Burnett OutFront" and is a member of the OutFront Political Strike Team. For more political analysis, tune in to "Erin Burnett OutFront" at 7 ET weeknights.
(CNN) -- "What we have done is kicked this can down the road. We are now at the end of the road and are not in a position to kick it any further. ... We have to signal seriousness in this by making sure some of the hard decisions are made under my watch, not someone else's."
So said President-elect Barack Obama at a Washington Post editorial board meeting in January 2009, just days before taking his first oath of office. He was talking about the importance of dealing with the long-term deficit and debt.
The rhetoric hasn't met the record -- debt has exploded under Obama's watch. Reasonable people can forgive the president for expenses incurred while confronting the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression -- and, let's be honest, alternative paths of austerity have not worked that well across the Atlantic. But now is the time to get serious about reigning in our long-term debt, which now exceeds an unsustainable 70% of gross domestic product.
At this moment of maximum political capital, Obama is perfectly positioned to act on his original impulse in the State of the Union on Tuesday night.
But there is a dangerous bit of hubris sweeping the Democratic Party, which says that dealing with deficits and debt is a sucker's bet, best left to the next Republican president.
Instead, the Keynesians are riding high and arguing that deficit and debt is not a primary concern to most voters and irrelevant to economic growth. And so the pregame expectation setting comes: White House minions told The Washington Post not to expect the president to present "an ambitious new plan to rein in the debt" in the State of the Union.
Opinion: Obama needs to lay out a plan on climate crisis
This would be a major mistake and a costly lost opportunity.
With an eye toward his legacy, Obama should follow his original instincts and put the power of presidency behind a balanced long-term plan to deal with deficits and debt -- including spending cuts, tax reform and, most importantly, entitlement reform.
This is the time for Obama to pull a Nixon in China.
Just as only a committed anti-communist such as Nixon could establish relations with communist China, Obama is perfectly positioned to do what he knows is necessary to preserve the long-term strength and solvency of the social safety net: Medicare and Social Security.
This does not mean draconian cuts or a voucherization of the existing system as imagined by Rep. Paul Ryan and many House Republicans. But it does mean following through on the president's previous negotiated offers to consider "chained CPI," which would lower inflation-related increases in Social Security benefits, and to raise the eligibility age for Medicare.
Formula adjustments such as these can save billions of dollars over the next 10 years, keeping these popular programs solvent. Other solutions, such as raising the Social Security payroll tax cap to more than the current income cutoff of $110,000, are worth consideration as part of a package. This is an idea that liberals love because it extends the progressivity of the tax code to the wealthiest Americans.
Alternatively, we could means-test Social Security to make sure it serves primarily as a safety net -- or (gasp!) raise the retirement age. When the Bowles-Simpson commission suggested raising the retirement age to 69 in 2075, it was met with howls of outrage from unions in particular. This makes no sense, especially if common-sense exemptions are made for manual labor.
Beltway cynics say that the bipartisan deficit and debt reduction plans that are often cited have no chance of passing Congress. When you look at the pathetic support for Bowles-Simpson when it was actually put to a vote in the House last March -- 16 Republicans and 22 Democrats supported it -- you see why cynicism is always a safe bet in Washington.
But take a step back, and you'll see much broader support among the American people. The Pew Research Center found that the top three issues are "strengthening the economy" (at 86%), "improving the jobs situation" (79%) and "reducing the budget deficit" (at 72%). Crucially, the deficit has shown the biggest increase as an issue over the past four years -- up 19 percentage points from 2009. This is evidence of a pent-up demand for action -- but it will require presidential leadership.
Of course the devil is in the details, and politicos will point out that when confronted with tough medicine to deal with deficits and debt, even alleged tea party supporters balk (hence the classic "Government Get Your Hands Off My Medicare!" sign that I saw at one 2009 rally).
But strengthening America to remain competitive in the 21st century will require getting our long-term debt under control along with other important but less poll-prioritized policies such as comprehensive immigration reform and a public-private infrastructure bank to fund nation-building "here at home."
The State of the Union is a chance for the president to put forward a balanced bipartisan solution that contrasts with radical conservatives who believe that increased tax revenues from closed tax loopholes can't be part of a big deal to bring down our debt. Wall Street lawyers will fight to protect every loophole they embedded in our tax code, but their argument doesn't begin to make sense to people on Main Street.
Obama will probably point out Tuesday night that economic growth is the essential X Factor to reducing long-term deficits and debt. On this point at least, he and some conservatives might agree. But dumb meat cleaver cuts such as the looming sequestration could push our economy back into recession.
That's why a smart balanced alternative plan is necessary. But it will require presidential leadership and putting some Democratic sacred cows on the table.
This doesn't just make practical sense in a divided government (a reality some Democrats seem to forget) -- it makes compelling political sense as well. By seizing the mantle of fiscal responsibility -- in contrast to fiscal conservatism -- Obama will build on his post-election bump among centrists and some independents.
The more Machiavellian Democrats might argue that this outreach could only serve to isolate Republicans more. Nonpartisan strategists might argue that this approach would drive a wedge between reasonable Republicans and the House radicals.
But the real reason for Obama to address the need to reduce long-term deficits and debt directly is because it's the right thing to do for our country -- and he is uniquely positioned to achieve it. Just as Nixon could go to China, a Southern Democrat such as Lyndon Johnson was needed to pass civil rights legislation and Bill Clinton was able to sign welfare reform after decades of Republicans talking about it, Obama can put our country on a balanced path of long-term economic growth and fiscal responsibility.
Bottom line: Obama has the political opportunity, but does he have the political will? We'll all find out in real time if he decides to lead on this issue or just be the latest in a long line to kick the can further down the road.
Follow us on Twitter @CNNOpinion.
Join us on Facebook/CNNOpinion.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of John Avlon.
Obama's chance to lead?
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Use Facebook Advertising To Find New Customers In Saskatoon
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Pretty pastels and softer hues mixed with Black to Cool Gray, Classic Blues and lots of White. Colors include Creamy Peach with Chambray Blue, Soft Coral with Cornflower Blue, Cool Mint with Steely Gray, Icy Lavender and Deep Indigo.
A sense of feminine confidence and playful attitudes.
Chambray and Indigo Blues – these are Classic Blue shades that pair beautifully with a soft dreamy palette.
A boxy top done in different fabrics from eyelets to printed poplins. It's modern, yet playful. Perfect for a fresh take on a classic t-shirt shape.
I'd love to paint a room in my house Mint Green. It's vibrant and would look very fresh accenting Gold, neutrals and pops of Pink.
1.866.PANTONE • Pantone LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated. © Pantone LLC, 2020. All rights reserved.


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Los Angeles, Oct 12 (IANS) American pop star Ariana Grande says that she is uncomfortable showing off her sexuality.
The "Right There" hitmaker admires singers for their confidence and racy stage outfits, but she is adamant she is not interested in showing off her own body.
"I'm not comfortable with showing off my sexuality yet. I don't want to force it, even if it is cool or what's happening at the moment. I applaud people who are confident enough in their sexuality to do that, but I don't take myself seriously enough," contactmusic.com quoted the 20-year-old as saying.
"I think you can convey just as much sexiness in the way you sing a song as you can by taking your clothes off," she added.


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Tom Green
One of the most polarizing figures in comedy during the late 1990s and early 21st century, Tom Green performed jaw-dropping acts of bad taste that alternately delighted and repelled viewers of his Canadian variety series, "The Tom Green Show" (Rogers Television 22/The Comedy Network/MTV, 1994-2000). Green's brand of humor was assaultive, extremely surreal and frequently repulsive, with dead animals, deranged verbal tirades and childish outbursts among his stock in trade. The show's no-holds-barred content made him a star in his native Canada before MTV picked it up for broadcast. Green enjoyed a brief tenure at the top of the Hollywood lists before the buzz petered out after a 2000 bout with testicular cancer ended his series and his 2001 feature "Freddy Got Fingered" was demolished by critics. After also famously marrying and divorcing actress Drew Barrymore, Green retreated to hosting his own talk shows online, where his humor was tempered by genuine interviews with other celebrities. More importantly, the format and media gave him complete creative control, which he wielded with frequently amusing results for his diminished yet loyal fan base.


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Innovations in Irrigation
Water. It's one of life's most important essentials. It's an ingredient of health for all living things. Because of its importance, history has witnessed countless new methods and devices for harnessing and distributing it — from carved-out gourds to aqueducts to indestructible, space-age drinking bottles. As modern societies have cultivated lawns, gardens, golf courses and other sites requiring supplemental irrigation, many additional new technologies have been developed to make it easier and more efficient to apply water where it's needed.
In our business, it wasn't all that long ago when manual quick-couplers or block systems with brass sprinklers and valves were considered "state-of-the-art" achievements. As the commercial irrigation industry grew and we all learned from our experiences, manufacturers continually saw the need for further improvements. They realized the value of building sprinklers and valves out of durable plastic, and it's a concept that changed everything. When someone had the idea to bury a few wires and hook them up to a clock, we suddenly had the convenience of a timed automatic system.
Many of our industry's major innovations were originally created as the result of specific application necessities. For example, the first valve-in-hand sprinklers were developed at stockyards in California for dust control. Irrigation contractors in Florida needed system automation, but lightning strikes were such a problem for them that it led to the development of hydraulic actuation.
The list of such inspired improvements could go on and on. Sometimes a better piece of irrigation hardware was simply born out of common sense, such as adding rock and debris screens, or as many manufacturers have done recently, designing sprinkler heads that can easily adjust for radius, arc or trajectory — often with just your fingertips.
Several irrigation system improvements and product innovations continue to get better. The earliest gear-driven rotors proved to be a big step toward progress, but they were a far cry from the reliable, sophisticated models available to us today. Important enhancements such as pressure regulation and surge protection are also much further along than the industry could have imagined several years ago when those ideas were introduced.
While we have all benefited from many mechanical and electrical improvements during our careers, the irrigation industry is now racing into unprecedented technological realms, thanks to continuing advances in computers, satellites, wireless communications and other leading-edge electronic developments.
PC-based central control systems and specialized software enable a golf course superintendent to manage and operate an entire irrigation system from his office. With comprehensive control systems such as Toro's SitePro, a superintendent can optimize his golf course's water distribution right down to a single head, and then review and catalog all programming for instant accessibility. Through graphic displays on the computer screen, the SitePro controller can adjust sprinkler run times, engage rain holds, initiate starts and syringes and more, all with just a click of a mouse. Field-status monitors tell which satellites and sprinklers are running and which are on hold, all in real-time updates.
Another water-management software option is Rain Bird's SiteControl Version 2.0, which is the latest version of its single-site commercial central control product line. Version 2.0 features RainWatch for SiteConrol, a new water-management tool that works with up to four Site Rain Cans to automatically pause and adjust run times according to measured rainfall. This software was built for single, continuous site applications, and is designed for grounds care professionals managing areas such as sports fields, cemeteries, small colleges, resorts, individual city parks or property developments.
Managing a network of irrigation controllers — on a single site or multiple sites — requires time-consuming work and setting up and synchronizing controller operations can take hours of time. Plus, every time you need to make a program change, or need to shut down a system for a special event, you have to physically travel to the controller. With Hunter Industries' Irrigation Management and Monitoring System (IMMS), these hassles are removed because you can monitor and control the entire system from the comfort of your office. Additionally, by communicating with localized sensors, the system can alert you to potential service problems such as a ruptured pipe or sprinklers that have been broken by vandals. You can modify controller schedules in real time, taking into account daily and seasonal weather conditions and weather forecasts, shut down all systems during rain automatically or with just a few keystrokes, or increase watering for thirsty annuals during hot days. Any and all changes can be made to each controller's program in a matter of seconds.
Better yet, easy-to-use PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) have further revolutionized irrigation control and management capabilities. These are hand-held control devices, which can be carried onto the course, that enable you to activate single heads or zones remotely as needed. In addition to convenience and efficiency, the portability of such a controller allows for instant visual confirmation that the water is going exactly where it should.
One popular hand-held control device is another Toro product known as PRISM, which stands for Pocket PC Remote Irrigation System Manager. With PRISM, if a superintendent walking his course notices that specific irrigation adjustments are needed — such as a certain area being too wet or too dry — he can simply program the changes on the PRISM device in his hand, rather than having to write notes or commit the adjustments to memory. Then, when the superintendent returns to his office later, he simply connects the PRISM device to his computer to program the changes into the central control system, which updates the information automatically.
Many computerized irrigation programs incorporate GPS (Global Positioning System) information or aerial photography to create a scaled map and interactive picture of the golf course directly onto a monitor or hand-held screen. In the case of a PRISM unit, it actually displays a computerized map of each hole of the golf course, indicating the location of sprinkler stations, along with trees, bunkers and cart paths. By having a map of the hole and seeing where the sprinkler heads are, you simply point the device at a sprinkler and tap it on the screen for activation at that spot.
These kinds of capabilities would have seemed like science fiction to many of us not too long ago, but using computers and wireless controls to operate a system in the field has now become almost standard practice.
There's no question that technological breakthroughs in irrigation are driven by necessity, and we're now facing a new era of further innovations: the growing crisis in water availability. This sensitive issue is changing the way our industry works. As end-user demands and legislated restrictions increase, irrigation contractors and superintendents must find new ways to use water more efficiently.
The industry is already seeing many exciting innovations in this area, such as a new water-saving invention involving a relatively simple concept: a sprinkler that can spray either part-circle patterns or true full circles with the same head. In some parts of the country, golf courses must eliminate or dramatically reduce watering of roughs during drought periods; with such an easily adjusted sprinkler that doesn't require you to change out the drives, you can quickly redirect sprays away from roughs. That immediately reduces water consumption with minimal time and effort.
An example of water-saving technology can be found in the U-Series plastic nozzles from Rain Bird Corporation. Utilizing 30 percent less water, the innovative U-Series features the first plastic nozzle with a second orifice for efficient close-in watering. In operation, the water flowing from both orifices combines to form a continuous water stream. This produces more uniform distribution than single-orifice nozzles and, in particular, eliminates the need to overwater in order to cover areas around spray heads.
Another why-didn't-they-think-of-that-sooner innovation is an easier trajectory adjustment on certain new sprinklers. A lot of water on golf courses is wasted when it gets thrown up into the wind or into low-hanging tree branches, but with a quick-adjust option to simply lower the spray angle, that water is directed onto the turfgrass where it belongs.
Hunter Industries uses this technology in its HCV Check Valve. This valve addition to any Hunter sprinkler product prevents the loss of water from system pipes in sloped areas by eliminating the low head drainage after the irrigation cycle is completed. The HCV adjusts to compensate for elevation changes up to 32 feet.
If you are looking for longer distance with your irrigation system, Rain Bird Golf Division has introduced the Eagle 1150 rotor. A part-circle model, the closed-case valve-in-hand Eagle 1150 provides an easy solution for quick coupler system upgrades and is designed for larger, single-row or double row irrigation systems with sizeable spacing. Using the largest nozzle, the rotor can throw 114 feet at 110 psi, regulated.
On the other end of the technology spectrum, some water-saving innovations are extremely high-tech. One example is the Network VP Satellite from The Toro Company, which provides a level of modular flexibility and programmability never seen before in a single control unit. To meet a golf course's watering needs, the Network VP (which stands for Versatile Platform) is available with 16 to 64 stations. Each of the 64 stations can be used to control 64 programs, and each program can be any one of these three types: a basic program with single daily stop/start times; an advanced program offering multiple start times and greater flexibility; or a grow-in program that executes start times in a continuous loop, to keep seed wet while germinating.
That amount of programming versatility allows you to fine-tune your irrigation schedule by adjusting precipitation levels for such factors as sun or shade, slope of terrain, type of vegetation and so on — all to distribute available water more carefully and accurately.
Hunter Industries' top-of-the-line modular ICC Controller lets you configure the unit to the number of stations you need, from 8 to 48 stations, simply by adding modules in 8-station increments. The ICC offers water management from a variety of features, most notably cycle and soak capability by station, which allows run times to be divided into repeat cycles to minimize runoff, and seasonal adjustment which features one-button reprogramming for changes in weather conditions.
In addition to using less water, other industry improvements have been created to save energy. A familiar case in point is VFD (variable frequency drive) control-in-pump stations. Compared to fixed-speed pumps of the past, the common VFD models save thousands of dollars a year on energy costs.
The future promises even bigger and better innovations. Perhaps the next major step will be robotics or solar power. Some new irrigation control systems include radio receivers that continually gather precipitation and humidity data from weather stations to determine how much moisture is available to a specific site. More corrosion-resistant components are being developed to accommodate lower-quality water that's high in salinity. Regardless of what the next development may turn out to be, this is an exciting time for all of us in the irrigation business and for those depending on us.
George Fisher is sales manager, for golf irrigation, Smith Turf and Irrigation (Charlotte, N.C.).


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