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Over the last few days I have noticed several Louisiana Waterthrushes along Catoctin Creek, not far from the Park and Nature Center. These cheerful little birds are always fun to observe and photograph...
In spite of their name, they are members of the warbler family and are usually seen near flowing water.
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Lousiana Waterthrush
Posted by Steve Ferendo at 16:56
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I am so happy we are emerging from the GRAY of winter. Signs of spring color and warmth are popping up everywhere! Thinking about the happiness spring brings made me think about how we can bring a little happiness into our homes with color, too.
When my friend Susannah built her house, she was concerned that she had picked out too much gray. I LOVE the gray and I love even more she made sure her house didn't have the feeling of "boring old gray" at all! She did it by adding pops of color. I adore this cute little side table she refinished in a bright yellow and put it in her living room. It is one of my favorite pieces in her beautiful new house:
There are many easy ways to paint furniture, but this is how Susannah did it:
She lightly sanded away the clear finish by hand to make sure the paint would stick and not flake off. and off the remaining dust. Then, she sprayed on a coat of spray paint primer, let it dry, and applied a couple coats of yellow spray paint. That was it! I love the new life breathed into this vintage old table. Are you brave enough to try a pops of color in your home?
If you are wondering what your current home value is, what homes around you are selling for, or what homes are available, I would love to get that information for you, just let me know!

subset: commoncrawl


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Monday, March 19, 2012
Weekend Fun
This weekend was lovely. We spent Saturday hanging out with Nana & Pop and then Cyndi came over with Joven & Ellye. Bryan BBQ hamburgers and we all stuffed our faces and enjoyed the nice warm weather. Afterwards everyone came to Kaylie's softball practice and that was fun. Fun for me b/c I had people to talk with. :) Bryan is usually watching Kaylie very hard and analysing what he needs to work on with her so lucky for me I had adults to chit-chat with. Anyway, Nana got some super cute pics of Kelly I can't wait to post!! Below is a SUPER cute one of Kelly and Kaylie from yesterday, that I managed to get.
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One comment I often hear from first time authors is, "I don't need an editor. I can do my own editing.
Okay, before I go off on my tangent, I'll admit I resemble that remark. When I wrote my very first book, Anna's Kitchen, I too naively thought I didn't need an editor. In fact, I was such a smart aleck at the time that I thought I knew everything, never mind the fact that I had never written a book before in my life. As far as I was concerned, the spell checker in my word processing software was all I needed. So how did I do? Well, you may want to refer to my post titled, Just Add Two Tablespoons of Fate. Sure, I can laugh about it now, but it's a splendid example of why all authors, and especially new authors, simply must have an editor.
An editor is a fresh pair of eyes to go over your manuscript and give it the added polish it needs to turn it into a great book. They are not as much concerned about the content of your work as they are the structure. They look for things such as misspelled words, typos, comma spliced sentences, dangling participles, incorrect homonyms, redundancy, and all the other gaffes that you, as the writer, may have overlooked. The reason why you're not seeing them is because you're too involved with your own work to see it objectively. That's normal, and it's very human. It's the same reason why doctors don't treat themselves or members of their own families.
Some of you reading this may still be skeptical, or you may even think your writing skills are so superior that you simply don't need an editor. If that's the case then all I can tell you is that writing can be a very humbling experience. There is nothing quite like having your readers point out all your errors for you and post them on the Internet for the entire world to see. Once that happens your credibility as an author is pretty much shot, and you can kiss your writing career goodbye.
What do Danielle Steel, James Patterson, Mary Higgins Clark, Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, and Dean Koontz all have in common? They all have an editor. And if these authors all have editors, then what makes you think you don't need one?
My thought for the day.


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Dec 20, 2009
Happy Birthday Son
On December 21 1996 I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Alexander Mason. My son. My first born son. You had a head full of dark hair, your dad's nose and my chin. Your cry was the sweetest cry I've ever heard. When the nurse put you in my arms I fell in love so deep. I never thought I could love someone so much. I could see so much for you. I wanted to give you everything that you deserve and more. You have taught me much in the last thirteen years Al. You have taught me patience, when I thought I didn't have any. You've taught me how to really love, when I thought I didn't deserve any. You've taught me to be strong, when others are weak. YOU have taught ME! I love you son, very much. Happy birthday!
Wrote with Love by Stephanie Jette at 10:26 PM
Labels: birthday
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Download KnightFox-ME BUDGET for Android
KnightFox-ME BUDGET for Android has been downloaded by 10+ users and rated with an average rating of 0.00 from 0 reviewers. To download and install KnightFox-ME BUDGET.apk / com.copperseeds.android.kunjachamman.applicationme.bgt.apk on your device, you can use any of the download methods provided below. If you like this free app, feel free to share it with your friends.
Warning Downloading KnightFox-ME BUDGET APK might result in charges if you are using mobile data to download this free app. To avoid any additional charges while downloading KnightFox-ME BUDGET or any other Andoid apps, always download via Wi-Fi network if possible.


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Electronic Download
Electronic Download
NOD32 antivirus for Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000 and XP - includes 1 year of NOD32 program and NOD32 virus definition updates. 64 Bit Windows XP included.
This NOD32 license delivery is via Electronic download - your software license will be sent to you via email after order processing along with the download location of the full commercial software version.
Please contact us for quotes on more than 25 NOD32 licenses!
Price in reward points: 59.0000
Price in reward points: 39.0000
Showing 1 to 2 of 2 (1 Pages)


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5 Tbl Butter, Melted Meringue
1 1/2 Cup Graham Cracker Crumbs 2 Large Egg Whites
1/2 Cup Slivered Almonds, Chopped 1/4 Tsp Cream Of Tartar
Filling 1/4 Cup Sugar
28 Ounce Sweetened Condensed Milk 1 lime, zested.
1 Cup Key Lime Juice
2 Large Eggs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine the crust ingredients and press into the bottom and sides of a 9 inch deep dish pie pan. Bake for 15 minutes and remove from oven.
While crust bakes, mix sweetened condensed milk, key lime juice and eggs. Whisk until well blended.
Pour into the pie crust.
Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form.
Add lime zest and gradually beat in the sugar until the mixture is stiff. Spread over the filling, making sure to seal the edges.
Bake for 15 minutes, until the meringue is golden brown.


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I've been watching the news closely over the past few days for news about Iran. For those of you who might be out of the loop, basically President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (as I will hereto refer to as Crazy Ahmad) has suspiciously won an election in his country in a landslide. Naturally, after hundreds of thousands of Iranians turned out for the election to vote him OUT of office, they have started protesting. And it's about time.
This has caused Crazy Ahmad and company to fire back by not guaranteeing the safety of his opponent in the election, Hussain Mousavi. The protests against Crazy Ahmad have been going on for days now and basically Iran is staring a revolution in the face. But, as the old saying goes, the revolution will indeed not be televised.
The reason is not because Crazy Ahmad has shut down the media in his country (even though he has) but the word of these protests did not get out through CNN or any other major news company, but from normal everyday bloggers and social networkers in Iran. As one blogger wrote, "Iran is going to crap and CNN is showing a program about dogs." (I misquoted that but it was something to that effect).
As the Iranian government has shut down all media stations and ousted foreign journalists, social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook are the only ways for the Iranian people to get news out to the world about whats going on. It's even gotten to the point that the US State Department has recently asked Twitter to delay an update to their site that would put the site offline to the Iranian people for most of the day. Twitter has since complied with the request stating that they realized how important of a role their site was playing in the grand scheme.
As I heard about this, I was elated. Iran has needed a revolution for quite some time and it was so amazing to know that social networking sites were protesters best weapon against Big Brother. The Iranian government has continued their efforts to silence the protestors but with current technology, they are fighting an uphill battle. Finally, we can be assured that the people, the regular everyday people of the world, have the power.
At least until this escalates towards violence. Real weapons are always the ultimate silencers but the truth about the events that are happening now will stand as a witness against those who will use real violence to silence their people. This government might try to squash the truth, to hide it but the world will know. I hope this protest can end peacefully with real change and freedom coming to the Iranian people. But if that is not possible, we will know. And we will know through tweets and status updates. Welcome to the 21st century. Power to the people.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Socail Networking: Your Best Weapon During The Revolution
Posted by Bullet for Babs at 9:24 PM
3 comments:
- Amber said...
i'm leaving a comment here too - this really would make an excellent professional blog post - this is really excellent writing about a very relevant topic - WELL DONE!
- June 17, 2009 at 7:37 AM
- Stace-Ghost said...
I am so happy that not all the people in Iran are following crazy Ahmad! Good post!
- June 22, 2009 at 8:19 AM
- Nene said...
I missed this post - probably when I was at my parents without internet. Very interesting and great post! Are you sure you don't want to be a newspaper or magazine reporter?
- June 23, 2009 at 9:13 AM
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Guest Post: Why Authors Need to Have a Platform
What is an author platform? An author platform is a launch site from where all your book marketing takes place. A platform encompasses everything from a website, social media channels to readership. A platform is the number of people you can broadcast your message to. It's a direct link to your readers.
A publisher won't gamble on a new author who doesn't already have a platform and an audience ready and waiting. If you already have an established platform and a readership, they are much more likely to take an interest in you.
A platform is the amount of influence you have over your readership, the level of visibility and authority you have in your particular genre, and your connection to your readers.
In my opinion, every author needs a platform, whether they are writing sword-fighting fantasy, historical romance, children's books or business guides. Every platform is different for each author, depending on their genre. New authors need to have a strategy to launch their book and create hype for it. Without any kind of strategy, it will make it harder for you to sell books or gain any real readers and long-time fans.
About the Book
Title: Building Your Author Platform
Author: Tiffany Shand
Genre: Nonfiction
Becoming an author in today's world has never been easier with the self-publishing revolution. But how does an author stand out in a crowded market?
Setting up and building your author platform before you even publish your first book is the best way for building a solid platform that will last and help you grow your tribe of fans. This book contains all the fundamentals from creating your author website, to choosing your route of publishing and much more!
Author Bio
Tiffany Shand started writing short stories when she was a child. After doing a creative writing course in her teens, she discovered her love of nonfiction writing and is now a freelance writer and professional editor.
She writes both non-fiction and fiction, and is the author of the urban fantasy Excalibar Investigations Series. When she's not writing, you'll usually find her reading.
Tiffany lives in Essex with her family, two very spoiled cats and a hamster.


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Willpower, no matter how much you possess, is sometimes not enough to get by. Occasionally, a person will reach an obstacle so great that, despite their best efforts, they simply cannot overcome it. Some people will recognize this immediately, request the necessary assistance, and carry on with their lives. Some will struggle on, using new strategies, different techniques, or even changes within themselves to crawl over their hurdle. Those people, like me, rely on their own force of will to push past whatever slows them down. We fight on, enduring, expecting success simply because we will it. For us, the simple act of asking someone for help is admitting failure and defeat, unacceptable outcomes in our plan for life.
My battle with clinical depression was prolonged simply because I believed wholeheartedly that I could will myself to be happy. My theory was simple: Help was out there for the other guy, but for me, it was an unforgivable confession of weakness. Despite my wife's pleadings, the cracks showing in ou...
Also read: Drake's Mom, Sandi Graham, says Rap Beefs Need to Stop
Read more


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It appears that Windows Vista can run out of memory while copying files. ZDNet is reporting that not only does it run out of memory after copying 16,400+ files, but that 'often there is little indication that file copy operations haven't completed correctly.' Apparently a fix was scheduled for SP1 but didn't make it; there is a hotfix that you must request.
Link to Microsoft Article ID 942435


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I have yet to visit the Philippines and will admit, I am not too familiar in their cuisine; however, I do know "adobo" style of cooking is their thing. It's a style of cooking that either involves meat or seafood which is marinated in a sauce with lots of garlic and vinegar.
I've made this dish several times and it's one of those easy recipes that matches chicken and rice together perfectly. The recipe yields enough sauce where the chicken can absorb the flavors and be drizzled on your rice. Don't you just love that?
The sharp acidity from the vinegar plays so well with the sweetness from the coconut milk and after the chicken has been braising for a couple of hours, the meat just falls apart oh so wonderfully. It's a simple dish that can be part of your dinner rotation with no fuss and sure to please the family.
Have a great weekend. Xo.
Ingredients (Adapted from America's Test Kitchen)
8 bone in chicken thighs, trimmed
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 can coconut milk
3/4 cider vinegar
8 garlic cloves
4 bay leaves
2 teaspoons pepper
1 scallion, sliced (optional)
1. Toss chicken w/ soy sauce in large bowl. Refrigerate for at least 30 min and up to 1hr.
2. Remove chicken from soy sauce. Transfer chicken, skin side down to 12 inch nonstick skillet, set aside soy sauce.
3. Place skillet over medium high heat and cook until chicken skin is browned, 7-10 min. While chicken is browning, whisk coconut milk, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves and pepper into soy sauce.
4. Transfer chicken to plate and discard fat in skillet. Return chicken to skin side down, add coconut milk mixture, and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Flip chicken skin side up and continue to cook, uncovered, until chicken registers 175 degrees, about 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to platter and tent
loosely with aluminum foil.
5. Remove bay leaves and skim any fat off surface of sauce. Return skillet to medium high heat and cook until sauce is thickened, 5-7 minutes. Pour sauce over chicken, sprinkle with scallion and serve.


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Monday, September 17, 2012
Halloween Boo Sign
10 comments :
Soo Cute! Thanks for sharing your tutorial!ReplyDelete
So cool! I saw some wooden letter signs at Home Goods this weekend but they didn't have what I wanted... Now I can make it exactly how I want it!ReplyDelete
So cool - I'm not too crafty but this looks easy :) I would love for you to share this post and any other Fall related post you have, at this week's It's Fall Y'all ~ Linky Party. Hope to see you there!ReplyDelete
Cute quick and easy, just the way I like 'em!ReplyDelete
Discovered your blog the other day . . . . LOVE IT!!! Have spent a LOT of time pouring over your recipes. SO SO SO MANY I cannot wait to try. Thank you!!!ReplyDelete
Saw this on Frugal Girls, super cute!!ReplyDelete
This is so cute! Would love for you to link up to the Pomp Party!ReplyDelete
Easy and simple. Looks great!! I would love to have you come share some of you great ideas over at the link party on 'Or so she says...', happening right now. Hope to see you there! www.oneshetwoshe.comReplyDelete
That is adorable! I love the colors! Thanks for sharing at the Pomp Party! Hope to see you back next week!ReplyDelete
This turned out super cute! You should definitely craft more :) Michael's here I come! Thanks so much for linking up to Creative Thursday. Can't wait to see what you share this week. Have a great week.


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THOMASTON – Thomaston police arrested a man for pouring gasoline in his house in an attempt to set it alight following an argument.
Police arrested 52-year-old, Thomaston resident Thomas Harrison after crews responded to calls for a disturbance on Williams Street.
Harrison is charged with Criminal Attempt to Commit Arson, Reckless Endangerment, Interfering with a 911 Call, and Breach of Peace.
Harrison is held on a $150,000 bond and expected to appear at Bantam Superior Court today.
Posted in The Bristol Press, General News, Plymouth, , Terryville on Monday, 19 June 2017 14:08. Updated: Monday, 19 June 2017 14:10.


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Will the #Twitterbird become the new Nike Swoosh?
Since it's launch in 2006 Twitter has built the fastest information channels on the web. At this point in time it's significance can't be ignored. Although it's logo update might seem like a major change it boldly sets out to achieve what Nike took 20 years to do. It has removed it's name from the logo and site.
Initially it seems stark. Like something is missing. Time will tell if Twitter can do enough to make their new bird synonymous with their brand, which will undoubtedly be linked to their ability to turn a VC funded startup in to a profitable business.
I suspect they can do both.


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« view all Gay Paris • Budget Hotels
9-11 Place du Colonel Fabien, Paris, France, 75010 | map | get directions |
Why this hotel? Popular choice. Easy access to Le Marais by metro. Free WiFi.
8.28 Excellent - based on 3001 reviews
Our favourite hostel Generator Paris is located in the vibrant 10th District, a 15-minute walk from Gare du Nord station, with easy access to the gay scene and attractions by metro.
Both private rooms and dorms are available, with shared or private bathrooms on every floor. Free WiFi throughout. The hostel has a 24-hour reception, lounge area, game room and rooftop terrace (open noon-10pm).
At Generator's café bar, you can enjoy drinks and listen to DJ's music. A selection of authentic food is served, and snacks are available 24 hours from the vending machines.
venue: hotel | features: bar, cafe, restaurant, shop, sun terrace, free wi-fi
Your surname & email address will NOT be published.
You will NOT be added to our mailing list.
Please enter your email address carefully - we may send a verification request.
We will NOT share your personal information with anyone.
We check every review before publication.
You can read our moderation and picture policy here.


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Am I crazy!?
Why....on the exact same day that Owen did this:
(Yes..that's our beloved arm chair)
.....all I can think about is this:
This is the e-mail we got today from our breeder
of the last puppy left of his latest litter...
Is it motherly love? Owen can do no wrong so now I need two (that can't be it)? Who knows. All I know is, I will go to sleep with two things on my mind...1. wishing that puppy was MINE and 2. wishing Owen hadn't eaten our chair....perhaps opposites attract.
I think the PERHAPS is that we are not ready for a second puppy, no matter how cute that puppy is or how much of a sucker I am.
Goodnight OWEN. I hope you have sweet dreams of the days you were allowed up on the furniture.


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We had a great day with our friends in the park today. Because of the weather and all the snow, we did not have a big turn out, but still served about thirty people today. Thirty people who may have not had any place else to go for the holiday and each one of them so grateful for the hot meal. They were very grateful for you taking time out of your Christmas day to come down and be with them. Many whom live in their cars grabbed plates and headed back to the warmth of their cars, while others scattered through out the park. We even had a few of the Frisbee golfers come by for dessert and warm hot chocolate. Thank you to Dee for coming a long ways in this weather to bring us so many pies, so wish there were more people there to eat them all. We will be having pie for dessert next week. Many filled their pockets with the candy she brought and one of the guys took toys for his kids as well as some to take back to the kids at the shelter. Thanks to Heather at the Stinker station for making cookie bags for the folks and thanks to Pastor Laura and her group from Church for Now for all the wonderful gift bags, everyone was excited to receive them. I thank you all for making it a wonderful day for all who showed up and I thank you for making my Christmas special as well. I spend the holidays alone and getting to spend it with such wonderful people makes my heart jump with joy. Each and every heart in that park is touched by your generosity, kindness and love and that includes mine as well. You are truly a blessing. Merry Christmas to you all and I pray many blessings on your lives in the coming New Year.
Link to video Christmas 2016


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Hi Ya!
Thank goodness! We are already in the middle of the week and I am quite convinced a lot of us out there are battling with the heat. Little wonder some comedians would say that mermaids are having a nice time in the seas. Unfortunately, you can't choose being a mermaid as an option here, even if you decide to cool off around beaches or swimming pools. Some of us if given the opportunity, would even want to go naked all day; also not an option.
We ladies are also not finding it funny when it comes to the skin; the recent weather condition is bound to bring about different skin abnormalities such as rashes, acne, eczema, name it, notwithstanding, I've got good news for you. You know what that is? Simply put, it is the 'Super Skin Care Tips for the Hot Weather'.
Besides eating right, following a nice beauty routine such as face wash, use of sunscreen and moisturizing products are needed this time. Here are some friendly and mild products you can trust to help you keep your cool in this weather;
1.Cleansing comes first. Doing this at least twice daily is the important skin care routine you can ever think of as a lady. This equally goes a long way to relax your nerves and helps prevent a build up of sweat .
2. Moderate application of water based moisturizers are equally important here thus, slight or very mild skin care products in this category would do.
3. Seriously, perspiration can cause skin issues hence, you may also think of going more natural. One way to keep the skin healthy is by treating from the inside thus, hydration is needed. Replenish lost body fluids by taking a lot of water this season.
4. Also,the banana, coconut oil and natural honey are good home remedies for your skin;
Trust me, with these simple but super tips, you are good to go.[mashshare text="This is my custom share text"]
If you have got an amazing style game and you want to showcase it to the world. Send us an email at [email protected] Who knows? We might just feature you!
Brought to You By MadivasMag


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friendly adj. 友好的
shy adj. 羞怯的
Match the description 1. smart ___ d 1a words with the animals. 2. friendly __ f
3. beautiful __ b 4. cute ___ e 5. lazy ___ fd 6. scary ___ ac 7. small ___ f 8. shy ___ e
Describe the animals in the pictures. I like … because … I like pandas because they're kind of shy.
I like elephants because they're kind of smart. I like giraffes because they're kind of beautiful.
I (don't) like … because … I don't like koalas because they're really lazy. I don't like tigers because they're very scary. I don't like lions because they're really scary.
Listen and circle the description 1b words you hear in 1a. 1. smart 3. beautiful 5. lazy 7. small
2. friendly 4. cute
6. scary
8. shy
Listen again. What words do
they use to describe the animals? Fill in the chart.
Mary's words
Tony's words
elephants interesting, smart pandas
beautiful, shy
What animals do you like? Why?
Talk about the animals you know with your partner.
I like elephants. Because they are cute. What animals do you like?
I like dogs because they're friendly and smart.
What animal do you like?
I like giraffes. They're funny. What about you?
I like cats. Because they're clean.
flag n. 旗
water n. 水
tree n. 树
ivory n. 象牙 cut v. 切
danger n. 危险
symbol n. 象征
kill v. 杀死
save v. 救
place n. 地点
forget v. 忘记
Check (√) the animals you think are in great danger. √ pandas ___ ___ tigers
___ lions ___ elephants ___ giraffes ___ koalas
I think pandas are in great danger.
Read this website article and check (√) the best title for it.
What Is an Elephant? Come to Thailand Let's Save the Elephants √ Elephants Are Good Pets
Read the article again then answer the questions below.
1. Where are the students from? _________________________ They're from Thailand. 2. Are elephants smart animals? __________________________ Yes, they are.
3. Why are elephants in great danger? Because people cut down many trees ________________________________
and they kill elephants for their ivory. ________________________________
4. When is Thai Elephant Day? ________________________________ It's on March 13th.
Read the article again and complete the mind map.
Facts and figures people ____ many trees people kill them for ___ today there are _____ (over _______ before)
Importance in Thailand first flag had ______ symbol of ________
Abilities can play _____ can also _____ well can ______ places with food and water
How to save them don't cut down so many ___ don't _____ things made of ivory. _____ is Thai Elephant Day.


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- HomeHome
- AboutAbout Us
- IVF CostsPackaged Discounts
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- Fertility ResourcesFertility Resources
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- ProvidersProviders FAQ
- Find A Center150+ Locations
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The Grain and Grain Processing Information Site
Wheat may be damaged by the effects of fungal diseases such as fusarium head blight (FHB) and ergot. Kernel quality is degraded by the presence of tombstone kernels, shriveled, shrunken or blackened kernels. Kernel yield is reduced and FHB may produce toxins in the grain, which must be determined using DON analysis.
Environmental conditions dictate the severity of damage but variety, location and handling are also important factors in fungal infestation. FHB affects not only wheat but barley, corn, rye and oats. In recent years the loss of revenue due to contaminated material has exceeded hundreds of millions of dollars across North America.
Black tip or black point (germ end) and smudge (crease and sides) are also caused by fungal infection. Darkened and discolored areas caused by disease degrade the visual appearance of the grain. This in turn affects the milling and processing quality by reducing flour or semolina yield, lowering product brightness and increasing the amount of dark specks. Again, environmental conditions, variety susceptibility, crop location and handling are factors in the growth and spread of disease.
Damage caused by disease is graded according to standards determined by governmental agencies. Grade factors vary considerably among commodities and between countries. The one common denominator across all boundaries is the producers' and processors' reliance on subjective assessment of grade factors that determines the value or price of the product.
It has been noted that grain inspection could be enhanced by using automated equipment for specific parameters. Grade factors that can be easily identified and rapidly evaluated would save time and resources, leaving problematic inspection to the expertly trained grader. Using instruments that mimic human vision, dark and discolored surface areas and kernel size and shape can be rapidly measured.
With the advance of objective analytical methods, grain grading can be standardized among individuals and between facilities on various types of grain and seeds. Using established digital image analysis technology, the SPY system uses a CCD array and cold cathode illumination for the acquisition of grain images. After the image is collected, the SPY software identifies and quantifies each kernel according to the grade parameter selected.
Results are reported in graphical and table format, which can be saved to spreadsheets or databases. Data can be compiled from year to year, allowing production to be tracked by grain variety and growing location. Image archiving is optional and can be used for reference or for standardizing grade techniques.
Grade factors such as damaged and discolored (DnD) areas on the kernel surface can also be measured using the SPY. The amount of darkened surface area is measured and reported on a per kernel basis rather than on a per batch basis. Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK) are measured based on comparison to normal kernels. Tombstone kernels are identified as well as ergot kernels. The SPY provides a rapid screening tool for quantifying fungal-damaged whole kernels.
Grains and seeds of all types have specific physical sizes and shapes (morphology), which are based on genotype and affected by environmental conditions. The size and shape uniformity of wheat is desirable due to its effect on milling and flour yield — the more uniform the kernel, the greater the yield. Plus, kernel uniformity can lower production costs and ensure more consistent end products.
In breeding programs, morphological attributes can demonstrate whether trait enhancement was achieved and may be important in the selection of breeding lines. On a per kernel basis, the SPY measures a range of morphological features, such as area, length, width, perimeter, aspect and diameter.
Non-grade factors, such as moisture, content and dockage, also can be measured.
As contract growing increases, objective quality assessment becomes essential. Premiums are paid on products that meet or exceed the contract requirements.
In-house quality standards are often the key to market share. Measurements can be customized for specific features and objective assessment can be guaranteed through the use of opto-electronics and computing.
Contributed by suppliers, technical profiles feature new technology, products, specific applications or proprietary concepts. This article was contributed by Kate Harrigan, director of sales and business development at Maztech MicroVision Ltd., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
1GM wheat detected in Canada
2South Korea, Japan halt imports of Canadian wheat
3Pursuing stability through change at The Andersons
4CN invests in Québec rail infrastructure
5Soybeans in crosshairs as United States, China trade war heats up
( more )
2Milling companies prepare for workforce generational shift
3South Korea, Japan halt imports of Canadian wheat
4Kuwait's milling giant
5Kazakhstan eyes improved grain movement through Uzbekistan
to the PRINT edition, or click below for free, INSTANT ACCESS to valuable news & insights in the Digital Edition.


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Various topics discussed in this podcast include:
Joey's Culture Corner: The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Facebook Find of the Week: New Listener Carbonite Man- TRON How it should have ended rap
right work for wrong reasons
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!
Why Jack?
Vorlons are angels
Music Intro: Hear Me by Imagine Dragons
Direct MP3 Download
RSS Feed
Subscribe Using iTunes
Here are the ratings that we gave for each show as well as Season 2 lists/recaps:
: 1hr 10min 52sec
Peter: SciFi - 7 Television - 5
Joey: SciFi - 9 Television - 8
The Fall of Night: 35min 56sec
Peter: SciFi - 9 Television - 7
Joey: SciFi - 7 Television - 7
Season 2 wrap up: 31min 26sec
Season 2 recaps and lists
Favorite Extra/Bit Part
Peter: Dwight Shulz
Joey: Sebastian as played by Wayne Alexander
Most Hated Character
Peter: Urza
Joey: Markab Ambassador
Favorite Villain
Peter: Lord Refa
Joey: Londo Mullari
Hot Chick
Peter: Some red head woman with large breasts in Comes the Inquisitor
Joey: Delenn as played by Mira Furlan
Funniest Moment
Peter & Joey: Vir's wish
Top 5 Hated Episodes
- The Long Dark
- Soul Mates
- Knives
- Geometry of Shadows
- A Spider in the Web
- Hunter, Prey
- Knives
- Geometry of Shadows
Top 5 Favorite Episodes
- In the Shadow of Za'haDum
- Fall of Night
- The Coming of Shadows
- The Long Twilight Struggle
- Distant Stars
- Comes the Inquisitor
- In the Shadow of Za'haDum
- The Long Twilight Struggle
- The Coming of Shadows
- And Now for a Word
Favorite Overall Moment
Peter: Vir's Wish
Joey: Vir & G'Kar in the elevator
If you have something to say then we welcome your comments below, or feel free to email us at firstname.lastname@example.com, twitter us at hashtag TrekWest5, or leave us a voicemail at 801-788-4913.


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"The unusual and disquieting visuals of Bava's films seem rooted in a conception of life as an uncomfortable union of illusion and reality." – Alain Silver and James Ursini, "Mario Bava: The Illusion of Reality"
Shock (Behind the Door II) is set in a beautiful house, adorned with Buddhist imagery, in an idyllic countryside. Wife Dora (Dario Argento regular Daria Nicolodi), husband Bruno (John Steiner) and son Marco are moving in. Despite its beautiful exterior, yard and living room, the house once served as the home of Dora and her dead junkie boyfriend (and father of her son) Carlo (David Colin Jr.). Its basement is filled with their old furniture, all dirty wood and cage-like, which stands in stark contrast to Bruno's sleek modern-Buddhist living-room. The house itself begins to collapse in on Dora, as its connection to her son and seemingly animate desire to harm her drives her slowly insane. The film asks but never answers questions about Dora's reliability as a protagonist—what is actually happening and what is merely guilt (or drug) induced hallucination? Shock begins primarily as a child-possessed story (a la The Omen) mingled with a haunted house set piece (a la Supsiria) but its masterful final act more closely recalls Polanski's Repulsion. Somehow, Shock manages to be much bleaker, although not necessarily better, than any of these three blood relatives.
Shock was filmed jointly by father and son team Mario Bava and Lamberto Bava, reportedly as a distraction from the elder Bava's listlessness and depression. The film truly feels the result of this pairing: it's a wandering, unfocused piece with more to show than it has to say. It's as if one Bava had a great idea for a movie about a haunted house and the other had a great idea about a woman having a nervous breakdown, and they just shot from both scripts at random. Still, to deny it any power at all would be to lie—the film is gorged with memorable images (and I believe powerful imagery should be a chief concern of film and the primary job of horror film). From the huge white hand that dominates the first scene as well as the physical living room, plucking and pinning Dora's attention with a simple shift, to the final gleefully manic tea party, Shock delivers ample loads of unsettling moments.
Among the most unsettling are the scenes of blatant eroticism. As seven-year old Marco's connection to (possession by?) his father grows clearer, so does his desire for his mother's sexuality. After playfully pulling him to the ground on top of her, Dora is disturbed as Marco begins grinding against her hips and grunting. During the night, Marco plucks hair from his mother's head, stroking it lovingly. While Bruno and Dora make love in the living room one night, Marco sits up in bed and begins to hoarsely yell, "Pigs! Pigs!" Most disturbingly, while watching her shower, Marco steals some of his mother's panties. She later finds them cut up in his dresser.
This aggressive perversion of innocent childhood sexual curiosity is played for creeps. Marco is a sweet kid, we like him, but his behavior in the film makes us profoundly uncomfortable. The transplantation of adult male desire into the body of a seven year old boy is its own sort of shock, and even when we are offered a sort of explanation for it– that Marco is channeling his deceased father– we find it threatening. It is, indeed, intended to be a threat. Second-husband Bruno is a largely impotent companion, unable to either fly his plane (influenced by a Voodoo-like spell cast by Marco) or protect his wife. Marco is usurping his territory. The connection between the child and his dead father is made explicit in one of the film's great moments as Marco throws open his arms, running towards his mother with a smile, yelling, "Mommy!" before transforming into a vengeful, nude Carlo, who grabs Dora's arms. Marco's threatening sexuality comes full circle here as he instantaneously transforms from a needy child embracing his mother into a naked, long-dead junkie, grabbing a screaming Dora.
Dora's own sexuality is on display, particularly towards the film's final, hallucinogenic end. Her sheer outfits and panting screams emphasize that her beauty comes from her vulnerability. During one bizarre dream sequence, Dora's hair flows over her face impossibly as she gazes at her lover slightly above the camera—is it Carlo? Is it Bruno? Us?
Shot through voyeuristic perspectives, as if the house itself was looming and stalking its inhabitants, Shock feels every tense minute of its claustrophobic journey. Its final act, a graceful flight of terror throughout the possessed house, is far and away the film's most engaging moment. Much bleaker than most American horror films, Shock deals fleetingly with heroin abuse, guilt, and mental breakdown, even as it delivers its tightly-knit scares. Still, the film is not a complete whole. The story veers from genuinely supernatural occurrence to total hallucination in a way that's irritating and unsettled. Acting is tough to judge when the dialogue is dubbed, but it ranges from down-right good to hammy. Despite its flaws, however, and because of its bleak sexuality and arresting imagery, Shock is a tense, eminently watchable Italian horror flick.
By Britta R. Moline 3/18/11
For more on cult horror: More Than Just a Great Set of Boobs: Elvira, Mistress of the Dark


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This will be the second Wild Card game ever for the AL, as the Orioles defeated the Rangers. This year it's the Indians and Rays. The Indians are putting Danny Salazar on to face Alex Cobb. The Rays have the line-up advantage tonight I think and they have a good shot to win on the road, especially if Joe Maddon comes up clutch again.
Predicted Score: Rays 5 Indians 4
Watch out for Evan Longoria again and Nick Swisher tonight. Also Carlos Santana knows how to hit a big home run as does Jason Giambi. Salazar will have to pitch a good game full of strikeouts, he could be a big game pitcher, he has the stuff to be one. Cobb really isn't a one game elimination pitcher, but he will have to do. He will get his groundballs and the Rays will help him out. I think the Rays need to score early and their x-factor is Delmon Young again, he could come up big. The Indians need to protect their home field like they did all year (except to the Tigers). It should be a close and good game to watch. The bullpens need to be handled well tonight too and it's a dual of two great managers.


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Isabel Martinez, 33, appeared before Gwinnett County Magistrate Judge Michael Thorpe Friday, one day after police said she stabbed five family members to death and seriously injured another child at a home in Loganville, Georgia.
Martinez is also in the country illegally according to US Customs and Immigration Enforcement spokesperson Bryan Cox.
Immigration authorities have placed a hold on Martinez, who is from Mexico and entered the US illegally.
Cox said this is Martinez's first encounter with immigration authorities and it is not clear how long she has been in the US.


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The False Flag Weekly News with Kevin Barrett and Jim Fetzer looks behind the headlines and main stream media stories to get at what's really going on in the world. From violations of international law to initiating WWIII, you don't want to miss what Kevin and Jim have to say about the stories behind the stories.
Complete Show: http://noliesradio.org/archives/101752
KEVIN BARRETT – Dr. Kevin Barrett, a Ph.D. Arabist-Islamologist, is one of America's best-known critics of the War on Terror. Dr. Barrett has appeared many times on Fox, CNN, PBS and other broadcast outlets, and has inspired feature stories and op-eds in the New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor, the Chicago Tribune, and other leading publications. Dr. Barrett has taught at colleges and universities in San Francisco, Paris, and Wisconsin, where he ran for Congress in 2008. He currently works as a nonprofit organizer, author, and talk radio host.
JIM FETZER – A former Marine Corps officer, Jim Fetzer has published widely on the theoretical foundations of scientific knowledge, computer science, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and evolution and mentality. McKnight Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota Duluth, he has also conducted extensive research into the assassination of JFK, the events of 9/11, and the plane crash that killed Sen. Paul Wellstone. The founder of Scholars for 9/11 Truth, his latest books include The Evolution of Intelligence (2005), The 9/11 Conspiracy (2007), Render Unto Darwin (2007), and The Place of Probability in Science (2010).


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Voyages Beyond
Cloak of Distortion
A cloak that blurs the edgeds of vision making life harder for ranged attackers to draw a bead on the wearer.
Cloak of Distortion +1 Level 4
Enhancement: +1 Fortitude, Reflex and Will.
Property: Wearer gains item bonus to all defenses against ranged attacks from more than 5 squares away equal to this item's enhancement bonus.
The Cloak of Distortion owned by Gedserth na Zdennt Sil was acquired from his aunt Standoria Threft; the landlady of the ' Troll's Tooth Inn' in Gelfar.
She, in turn, received it from an old boyfriend. He lent it to Standoria when she had to go into a small village to do some 'shopping'. On her return, her boyfriend was nowhere to be seen. Standoria never saw him again, and on reaching Gelfar, became landlady of the Inn and put the cloak away in the attic.
She gave it to Gedserth after his first adventures when he and Ronson McTabernackle were about to embark on an Orc clearing task in Elchisham.


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Comfort and enjoyment, the way you want
At Niki Club, guests are encouraged to spend their time in the manner that they wish, just as they would in the comfort of their homes.
Every facility you will find on our 34 acre grounds has been designed to accommodate your style and needs,
whether it's a moment of relaxation at our spa or a joyous celebration at our multi-venue events building.
Kitchen Garden
Niki Club has always been dedicated to using only 100% safe and reliable ingredients in its food.
One way to ensure this quality was to build a kitchen garden on these very grounds.
Our Kitchen Garden produces a number of different seasonal vegetables, which we pick first thing in the morning to serve to our guests.
It also offers a dining space where guests can enjoy lunches prepared with freshly picked vegetables.
Regular events, such as outdoor lunches, are all hosted.


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We are living with a Sleep Warrior which means nobody is getting a whole lot of the S word around here. I'm a sleepy mommy but I really want to participate in Iron Craft still so I may look like I'm slacking but until a certain someone starts sleeping a little better or I have a serious increase in energy (the sunshine and warmer weather are sure to help with that) I'll be taking the quick craft route. Holy run on sentence.
I heart buttons and have loads of them. I ended up with button sandwich magnets (which I love) but that was after I made hairclips that were cute but would never be worn:
See? Cute but they just don't work with my current do aka messy mop that is in the inbetween stage of growing out and desperately in need of a trim. Soooo I ripped off the buttons and revamped them into magnets.
I may end up making a million of these magnets. Super duper easy to do. I simply stitched two magnets together using a needle and thread (I guess that goes without saying. Duh. What else would you stitch them together with??), plopped a glob of glue gun glue on a small round magnet (found at the dollar) store and pushed the back of the button sandwich onto the glue. TA DA!
The buttons are now in charge of holding up this flyer we picked up while vacationing in Mexico a few years ago. It's stuck on our fridge and makes me laugh every time I read it.
My favourites from this week's challenge will be posted soon.
March 17, 2011
Iron Craft Challenge 11: Green (the colour not the Movement
Posted by Gingham Skies at 7:41 PM
Labels: Iron Craft, she's crafty
1 comment:
- tanzi said...
Not much of the "s" word. eh? Tee hee heeeeee.
- March 21, 2011 at 2:37 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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The Futility Hotline
Saturday, November 27, 2004
"Retired" Blogger Weds-Film at 11
If you've followed us for any amount of time, you'd know that our former lead blogger was ready to have himself married off. Well, last night was the big night. And yours truly had the honor of serving in the wedding party.
As weddings go, this one certainly aimed big. Big cathedral. Big limos. Big reception with band, speeches and (ahem) a really sweet video! But where many big weddings make the mistake of being all about the trappings of ceremony, this one never wavered from what it was supposed to be about. Like a blockbuster, special effects laden film with a great plot, this party dazzled on many levels. Style was backed up significantly by substance.
It's said that you can measure what a person is like by the company they keep. Of course I've always known what quality people Paul and Anne were, but on this night, 13 members of the bridal party, many of whom had never met each other before, really came together in an amazing way.
Wedding rehearsals tend to be worth very little. Not so much useless; they're a great excuse for a nice dinner and a chance to break the ice, But the term "rehearsal" would imply that significant preparation would be involved. It's probably more accurate to call it a "run-through," because there's no way to make everyone feel 100% comfortable with what their function is when you only go through it once less than 24 hours before carrying it out. So when it came to the actual day, with no one from the church to function as coordinator, we found ourselves fending for ourselves rather quickly.
99% of the time, this is a recipe for disaster. No organization, no cues, no structure. Smaller parties have collapsed under their own weight due to less. But not here and not now. In the face of this, a lot of people who didn't have much in common except for the fact that they were friends of the bride and groom bonded together and made everything happen.
Not everything went exactly right. The priest made the congregation stand for an eternity before we were ready. There was limo confusion. Too much time on our hands while simultaneously not being enough. And an attempt to meet Shaq would never materialize. But these are the things that make an event special and unique. Without them, things are too perfect, not worth talking about.
Yesterday was a moment in time when many paths came to a nexus for one brief day in the name of two people joining together. I had one of the best times of my life, and consider myself lucky to have been there. The optimist in me hopes that there will be another time when we will all get to see each other again, and continue what was started here. The realist, however, knows that I likely will never see some of them again. Their names and faces will become blurred through the mists of time.
Still, no matter where we go from here, we will always be joined by this event. The photographs will always show that we shared this wonderful moment in time. We were there, working it out, laughing, talking, dancing, drinking and even (gasp) singing together.
But all parties end and everyone goes back to their places across town, across the state, across the country, and across the world. Maybe it's best this way. The old adage in show business is to leave them wanting more. Maybe by going on our separate paths, looking back on it can make it better than it might have been had the paths stayed together. But with the start that we had, it deserves to have a chance to live on in more than just memories.
So here's to our former (future?) lead blogger and his new wife. Two people whose lives not only have enriched each others', but also more people than they could ever know.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
So…Now What?
It's taken me a bit to gather my thoughts about the election results. I easily could have written a book-length diatribe here immediately on November 3, but certainly those were prevalent throughout the blogosphere. But now that I have moved through the 12 steps and gotten mostly to "Acceptance," I figured I could put together something a little more meaningful to write here, knowing that whatever views I wrote would be closer to my true nature rather than a knee jerk bitch session.
It turns out, my views haven't changed a whole lot.
There were a number of reasons I can name for wanting John Kerry in office. I had hoped that we would have someone in office who would approach an issue more thoughtfully and who would hopefully temper this "with us/against us" attitude in this country. However, it would seem that there were more people that disagreed with me.
Frankly, it frightens me a bit to think that people have validated this "Speak loudly and swat with your big stick, especially if you don't subscribe to my belief or faith" attitude that Bush personifies. Bush knows it too, saying that he's "earned political capital. And I intend to spend it." To me, that's a very ominous statement.
Our country seems to relish in this "big bully" role we have in the world and, more alarmingly, against each other here at home. And still more crazy is that this validation has come in the guise of "moral values." I don't know how any sort of moral system can justify treating someone who thinks, acts and/or worships different from you with hostility.
So off we go for the next four years, or at least two depending on what we can do to make congressional and senatorial changes and reduce the influence that W might have. I just can't help but think things are just going to get away from us even more. It's amazing to think we live in times where Americans are seriously considering fleeing this country because they feel so helplessly out of tune with it.
Friday, October 22, 2004
That's One Hell of a Family Reunion!
I would encourage all who see this webpage to do a little bit of digging to make sure they are who they say they are, but so far I don't see any reason to think otherwise.
Is this election year polarized or what? But then again, I know lots of people who don't like their cousins.
Monday, October 18, 2004
How Does He Do It?
I just don't get it.
In a warped way, this is almost admirable. Here's the guy saying that voting against him will leave the country vulnerable to terrorist attacks, and yet he accuses John Kerry of using scare tactics? In fact, in this same article, while Bush is talking about the others scaring voters, the evil mastermind is playing up the World Trade Center attacks in the campaign press junkets.
How does he get away so easily with accusing others of doing the things he does so well? How does he get away with blatantly falsifying his opponent's stance to make his look better? How is it people can't see it? Are people really buying this?
Well, if so, then maybe the USA deserves to have a Karl Rove, er, George W. Bush in charge. And while we're at it, maybe we can work Jerry Springer, Geraldo Rivera and the American Idol judges into the cabinet.
Monday, October 11, 2004
R.I.P. Kal-El
Christopher Reeve died this past weekend.
In some ways, one couldn't be blamed for thinking this would never happen. He had seemingly been so tireless in resuming his life after his accident, in working for finding a cure for paralysis, in pushing others to perform research and supporting the cause. And after all, he had been Superman.
But in the end, life can be cruel and nine years after the accident that not just changed his life, but the world, he finally proved to be mortal. Still, in those nine years, he achieved what many wouldn't achieve in a lifetime. He pushed the boundaries. He gave people in the most hopeless of situations a new hope. And he made things happen that may not have happened without his presence.
Christopher Reeve vowed that he would walk again. It didn't happen, but he did fly. More importantly, he helped other people to fly with the inspiration he gave to them.
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Things Heating Up...Where The Hell Are We?
Yeah, I know...we're smack in the middle of debate season. There's a little over 3 weeks until the presidential electon. The "October Surprise" may have occurred with the latest report on Saddam's WMDs (or lack thereof). Bush says this. Kerry says that. FactCheck.ORG (not com, Mr. Vice President) keeps them in line. So where's all the new entries from us?
Gimme a break, eh? It's a lot to go over!
Or is it really? Although the two presidential debates have been different formats, Bush and Kerry, but mainly Bush, have repeated the same lines ad hoc. But while Kerry's repeated lines are done to deflect Bush's inaccurate attacks, Bush's repeats the same lines and attacks contained in his truth bending political commercials. If I hear him go off about "Wrong war, wrong place, wrong time" anymore, I'm going to have to pull an Elvis and blow up my TV screen.
Still, I do find the charges that Bush and company spin against Kerry to be disturbing. His campaign seems to think they've hit on a foolproof tactic: to use actual Kerry quotations against him. And it would be a great tactic too, if only they weren't taken so far out of context.
The Bush campaigners, and of course Bush himself seeing as he's George W. Bush and he approves these messages, seem to think that Americans will gladly take these things at face value. That when they see John Kerry say, "The winning of the war was brilliant," they won't know or bother to check that the whole quote was "I think they clearly have dropped the ball with respect to the first month in the after -- winning the war. That winning of the war was brilliant and superb, and we all applaud our troops for doing what they did, but you've got to have the capacity to provide law and order on the streets and to provide the fundamentally services, and I believe American troops will be safer and America will pay less money if we have a broader coalition involved in that, including the United Nations." That's a statement well within the boundaries of what Kerry claims his position has been all along.
Oddly and ironically enough, Dick Cheney gave Americans the key to seeing all these distortions by saying that going to factcheck.org will show how his relationship with Halliburton was misrepresented. But the funny thing is, the site will also reveal just how badly they also distorted John Kerry's statements.
Ultimately, there is one thing to consider. If these tactics of misrepresentation and exaggeration are the lengths George W. Bush will go to to achieve re-election, what do you think he might do, or might have done, to testimonies, reports and other documents to push forth an item on his presidential agenda?
Monday, September 27, 2004
Rumors Of Our Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated
Yeah, we did lose Paul for a bit. I'm very well aware of the demands on his life right now, and I completely understand his decision. But that doesn't quite mean we're done here. And hopefully, after the big events in his life come to fruition, we'll see our celebrated blog conscience return to the fold. In the meantime, we still have things to futilely bitch about and more interesting reading to call your attention to.
First off, the wonderfully talented Mitch Albom has written a column that sums up a subject that I have tried, and failed, to effectively put into words. That is why he is a famous and wealthy writer and I'm still in my day job writing blogs that no one knows about. Some nice excerpts to tease you with:
In recent issue of Time, I read several letters to the editor. One said, "I love that the president is stubborn enough to stick to his guns . . ."
The letter came from Texas, but it could have come from anywhere. In a world where everything is so fast, so complex, where you don't know who owns the company that owns your company, we cherish simplicity. We want it fast and understandable.
For this, the president has been well coached by his handlers. Say the same thing. Stick by your guns. A certain number will believe you. A certain number will think you're lying.
But an even bigger number will admire you for not changing your mind.
Folks, I don't care what your political persuasion, this is a dangerous quality for us to admire.
And here is a very important piece that should be required reading for anyone registered to vote. It is a very thoughtful dissertation whose writers have placed this in the NY Times. More excerpts to whet the appetite:
History shows decisively that, over the long haul, attacking terrorism increases terrorism. And indeed, that is what is happening right now across the world. As long as they feel aggrieved or attacked, there is nobility and importance in their cause, and their membership rolls increase. When they are no longer aggrieved or attacked, membership declines.
We should not preemptively attack. We were right to invade Afghanistan. Al Qaeda had viciously attacked us on 9/11, and a concentration of their financial support and training bases were in Afghanistan. We had asked the Taliban leaders of Afghanistan for assistance in pursuing al Qaeda, which they rebuffed. We were right to invade Afghanistan, but we have been wrong in abandoning Afghanistan and ceding the country back to the Taliban and the warlords. Lawlessness has returned, the Taliban are reestablished and Afghanistan is again the number one producer of opium in the world. It is the most prominent economic resource they know, and we have not been there to provide alternatives.
Iraq, on the other hand, never attacked us. In fact, we have now learned that our sanctions against Iraq had done their work in essentially eliminating Iraq's capacity for weapons of mass destruction. By attacking Iraq, we increased the perception of our antagonism toward Muslim nations, and we increased poverty — both direct and powerful factors in inciting the terrorist actions we seek to end. And we damage our case for the morality of our cause. Again, we veer from our founding principles: Lincoln wrote "If, today, (anyone) should choose to say he thinks it's necessary to invade Canada to prevent the British from invading us … you may say to him, 'I see no probability of the British invading us.' But he will say to you, 'Be silent; I see it, (even) if you don't.'" Generals Lee and Grant both struggled with their conscience regarding the U.S. invasion of Mexico in 1847, which they both fought in but thought to be an egregious war and a stain on the honor of the U.S. The only war that a democratic society can ultimately conduct is a true war of self-defense, not a preemptive war under the guise of self-defense.
Yeah, we're back!
Monday, September 20, 2004
A Public Service Announcement
Despite our best efforts, leukemia is still one of the many diseases that we've haven't yet completely conquered. However, there's always hope as everyday, researchers go after new ways of treating the disease. It all starts with bone marrow transplants, and it's fairly easy to get involved in the donor registry.
Two people that we know of have been affected by this disease. One is a person that my wife used to work with who has had Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia since 1997. The other is the mother of someone who's a good friend of one of my friends. She's currently battling leukemia for the third time. Both have reached the point where their best options are to pursue a bone marrow transplant.
My friend's friend has set up a website, www.bmt4cathy.com to help raise more awareness of the need for bone marrow donors. So please take a look and see if you can help out in any way. Even something as simple as just getting the word out will be a huge help.
Friday, August 27, 2004
Farewell (and I really mean it this time)
I know I've tried this before, but this time I can't do anything but finally go through with this.
I need to take an extended, and possibly permanent, hiatus from the blogging world.
I received proof earlier this week that my mind is being pulled in too many directions. And traipsing about the blogosphere, where you can get countless opinions on countless topics, is starting to take its toll on my professional and personal life, especially when you tend to get too wrapped up with the problems of the world (which I have tended to do since I can remember).
There may be a time where I will be able to balance the many demands on my attention span to the point where I can contribute more effectively, but that time is certainly not now. There's someone involved in my life now, and my first priority overall needs to be that of keeping our relationship secure and strong.
Thanks to Jon and Mark for letting me be part of the blog, and I hope that some of my entries and links have proven to be useful, entertaining, and otherwise worthwhile.
Remember to vote your conscience in November.
Let me close this with some words from Todd Rundgren:
Half of me wants to tell you that I'm sorry, so sorry
Meanwhile, half of the world wants to scream and
Shout at half of the world
Just like you and i
Just another fact of life
We plan and we scheme
'til there's nothing left of our little dream
But half of the time I can't decide and
Half of the time I'm petrified
I want to change the world
I want to make it well
How can I change the world
When I can't change myself
Try again tomorrow
I'd love to change your mind
Capture your citadel
How could I change your mind
If I can't change myself
Try again tomorrow
Both of us want to win this fight
Both of us think the other is mistaken, so mistaken
Meanwhile, everyone wants to take up sides
So everyone helps us to fall apart
Just another fact of life
It's hard to play fair
And it's so easy to pretend to care
But if nobody wants to share the blame
Then everyone gets more of the same
If I want more peace in the world
Then I must make peace with myself
If I want more trust in the world
Then I've got to trust in myself
If I want more love in the world
I must show more love to myself
Be good, y'all.
Monday, August 16, 2004
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
(apologies to Dylan)
Jeebus, what a weekend. Was my last post really so deserving of such a comeuppance?
My travel group was never in any real danger -- our hotel in Orlando was obviously built to stand these types of things, as we didn't even so much as lose power. We did, however, have to delay our trip to Daytona Beach for a day, just to be sure we wouldn't be on the highway while the hurricane passed. By the time we had arrived there, Charley had already cut his swath of destruction. And boy, was the damage there considerable. Practically every single roadside sign was toppled, stripped, and/or otherwise demolished. A couple of souvenir shops with numerous windows had EVERY SINGLE one of these broken, with all the merchandise strewn about inside the store and out. Trees were uprooted and branches were lying everywhere.
The wedding did take place, only it was moved from the beach to the bride's employer's house (sans electricity). The reception took place at the bar as planned, even though it had lost electricity as well. The only light was supplied by a couple dozen candles, and the music was first provided by a battery-powered boombox, and later by two of the groom's bandmates, who performed for us with an acoustic guitar and a 3-piece drum kit.
Despite the challenges, it was a very touching experience, really. I enjoyed seeing all the guests coming through for this couple, who undoubtedly were dealing with all sorts of stress as they tried to salvage the day. Everyone was gamely putting up with the unpleasantness of being in a dark, hot, humid bar with no lights while policemen directed heavy traffic outside due to the nonfunctional streetlights. Well, they did a great job of it - I felt the whole day went off as well as could have been expected.
Man, I just love it when people do good.
My best wishes to the couple and all the Floridians trying to clean up in Charley's wake.
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Olympic-Sized Thoughts
Well, here we are again at the start of another Olympic Games. I've always enjoyed the Olympics, with their pagentry and spectacle. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that during the games, there's always something on TV, especially if the games are in a European or Asian time zone. You can pretty much turn on the TV anytime and watch part of an Olympic event.
There's such a variety of events, particularly in the Summer Games. Swimming, diving, volleyball, basketball, track and field...the list goes on and on. And then there are some things that you have to wonder how they got considered for Olympic events. Just by virtue of them being "Olympic sports", I've actually found myself watching Table Tennis and Badminton. Granted, I won't for very long, but I usually hang around long enough to see if anyone gets hit by the ball. At this level, you really could legitimately have a Ping Pong injury.
Speaking of "Things I Can't Believe They Have in the Olympics," whoever came up with the idea for making Women's Beach Volleyball an Olympic sport: thank you very, very much! Let's face it-female athletes in amazing physical shape, running around in very tight, very skimpy two piece outfits, hugging after each point? Put that in prime time, baby! I'm there!
*ahem* Did I just say that out loud?
Maybe it's just me, but did anyone else think this games' version of the Olympic Cauldron looked like they were lighting the worst biggest joint?
Earlier today, I saw a medal ceremony for a pistol shooting event, which I didn't even realize they had in the Olympics. The gold medal went to a marksman from China, while the silver and bronze both went to Russian marksmen. Now, speaking as an American, should I be worried that the Chinese and Russians have really good aim?
As I was pondering that semi-serious thought, they began the playing of the Chinese national anthem. Suddenly, the gold medal winner became overwhelmed with emotion. He stood there on the podium absolutely weeping, almost uncontrollably, caught up in the moment as he realized the accomplishment he had achieved. All of his hard work and preparation had paid off in the gold. For himself. For his country.
And that right there is one of the greatest reasons for having the Olympic Games: to show what it is we can ultimately accomplish. To be able to celebrate what we can do as individuals, as a team, as a country, and as a race. In the Olympics, the only real reason to be grouped in countries is to be able to have teams necessary for the competition. Every team is participating in something bigger which brings them...us... all together. The Games become the common ground that the world constantly searches for in order to have a joyous and enjoyable gathering.
Nowhere is that more obvious than in the contrast between the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. At the outset, the teams march in under their country's banner, separate, but all gathered on the stadium floor. By the time of the closing ceremonies, the athletes will be seen mixed together on that same floor without a single territorial or cultural border to be found. They will be talking, dancing, hugging...celebrating together joyously and treating each other as people and not flags.
Maybe someday, it will be more than athletes doing that. Maybe.
Thursday, August 12, 2004
So long, suckers!
Headed off to Florida for a wedding (not mine). See you next week.
In the meanwhile, check out this interview with Thomas Frank, editor of The Baffler and author of the new book "What's the Matter with Kansas?"
An excerpt:
The reason I say there's something "the matter" with all this is that, in becoming more and more conservative, Kansas is voting against its own economic interests. Large parts of the state are in deep economic crisis—in many cases a crisis either brought on or worsened by the free-market policies of the Republican party—and yet the state's voters insist on re-electing the very people who are screwing them, running up colossal majorities for George Bush, lowering taxes and privatizing and deregulating, even when these things are manifestly unhealthy for the state.
For those interested, Comrade Max weighs in on this subject in these posts (start at the bottom, and work your way up).
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Democrats Grabbing Headlines? How About Issuing A Terror Alert?
I always thought that it seemed like terror alerts would crop up every time something happened that the Bush Administration didn't like. I also figured if I noticed this, there had to have been a lot of other people that did too.
Sure enough, there were other people much more observant that I. On the JuliusBlog is a nice timeline of the coincidences of "bad news" and terror alerts. Kudos to these guys for doing the legwork, complete with sources and all.
"Blind Faith In Your Leaders Can Get You Killed"
So there's a massive concert tour mobilizing out there. The Vote For Change tour is an unprecedented collaboration of musicians putting on multiple concerts in cities across the so-called swing states with an eye on mobilizing people to vote in the election and hopefully change the direction of the country.
One of the major artists involved is a guy whose musical career is very close to my heart: Bruce Springsteen. Longtime fans of Springsteen know what his political views are. All you really need to do is listen to his anecdotes on his various live albums to get a feel for it. Ironically enough, Springsteen has also been one of the more misquoted and misinterpreted artists. Anyone who has actually read the lyrics to "Born In The USA" knows it's about the hardships of a returning Vietnam veteran...hardly good background music for the Reagan campaign.
Normally one to not be so overtly political, Springsteen has joined up on this tour and has given a few interviews on his views as well as a NY Times Op-Ed piece. As usual, he has some interesting things to say:
"Like many others, in the aftermath of 9/11, I felt the country's unity. I don't remember anything quite like it. I supported the decision to enter Afghanistan and I hoped that the seriousness of the times would bring forth strength, humility and wisdom in our leaders. Instead, we dived headlong into an unnecessary war in Iraq, offering up the lives of our young men and women under circumstances that are now discredited. We ran record deficits, while simultaneously cutting and squeezing services like afterschool programs. We granted tax cuts to the richest 1 percent (corporate bigwigs, well-to-do guitar players), increasing the division of wealth that threatens to destroy our social contract with one another and render mute the promise of 'one nation indivisible.'"
"We offered up the lives of the best of our young people under circumstances that have been discredited. I had to live through that when I was young myself, and for any of us that lived through the Vietnam War, it was just very devastating."
"If there was one single thing I'd like to give every high school kid in the United States, it would be a two-month trip through Europe at some point during the formative years. Because it's very difficult to conjure up a real worldview from within our borders. It's hard. It's hard because we're so big, and the hegemony of American culture is so weighty and so heavy that it's very difficult without stepping outside and realizing what it's like to have the next country just a two-hour drive away, to have a certain kind of interdependence that is different than what we have here. It's just a certain view of the way the world works that is different. So if I could give every young kid one thing, that would be it -- because it would broaden what we listen to, the way we perceive ourselves, the types of leaders we choose. It would change the nation dramatically."
"Through my work, I've always tried to ask hard questions. Why is it that the wealthiest nation in the world finds it so hard to keep its promise and faith with its weakest citizens? Why do we continue to find it so difficult to see beyond the veil of race? How do we conduct ourselves during difficult times without killing the things we hold dear? Why does the fulfillment of our promise as a people always seem to be just within grasp yet forever out of reach?"
Monday, August 02, 2004
Wo Sind Die Landers Schwestern?
If you're anything like me you too are a fan of cinema. No...not necessarily the 'nudge nudge, wink wink' variety (but then again...who's not a fan of that genre?). Anyway...tonight, while passing some time on the web, specifically, the IMDB, I decided to look which stars were born the same year as I was. This made me dig a bit deeper to see what 'famous' person may actually share a birthday with me (or I them, depending on your preference). Apparently there are four 'famous' actors with whom I share a birthday:
Hugo Haenen (?)
Michele Daves (?)
Antoine Simkine (?)
...And last but certainly not least on the list:
Judy Landers.
Yes, that's right.. "Stacks" (from "BJ and the Bear" TV series fame (make of that name what you will)) and I share a birthday.
So...in advance...let me just say if you're out there reading this "Stacks"...Happy Birthday. Say hello to Audrey for me as well.
Friday, July 23, 2004
Your Friday Leisurely Reading
I'm not sure I'm going to read a more enjoyable interview this year than
this one at Salon with Alan Moore, the British writer of seminal comic books like V for Vendetta, Watchmen, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
I'm familiar with all those works, but I haven't read any of 'em. After this interview, I sure would like to read them for myself -- Moore has quite a following in the comic book scene, and after reading this interview I can see why.
Quotables? Too many to mention. Here are a couple:
"...I tend to think that this conservative backlash that has been going on since the '70s is the final spasms of a dying creature; history is not moving that way, and no matter how much people dig their heels in and assume this is the 1950s or the Middle Ages, that's not the truth of the situation. No matter how powerful our political and religious leaders think they are, they are as dust before the immense and implacable forces of history and progress. I just hope that they don't make too much of a mess or take too many more people down with them."
"I'm surprised that the Bushes are doing so well over there. You people actually had a war of independence to free yourselves from a dynasty of blue-blooded Georges. I thought that was the whole idea! You were fed up with having a bunch of aristocrats named George ruling your country, but obviously it seems that you can't get enough of it![Laughs.]"
"I feel that we may be approaching a cultural boiling point. I'm not saying this is a good thing or a bad thing; I really don't know because I can't imagine it, quite frankly. But I think we may be approaching the point at which the amount of information we are taking becomes exponential, and I'm not entirely certain what kind of human culture will exist beyond that point. Except it will happen sooner than we expect, and the difference between us and the kind of people that will exist after such an event will be vastly different than the difference between us and the hunter-gatherer society we've evolved from."
Enough! Go read!
Friday, July 16, 2004|
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Open thread
Sorry for the low frequency of posts, folks. Got a big exam comin' up.
Feel free to vent on whatever strikes your fancy.
Friday, July 02, 2004
Sheesh -- You guys...
Here's a question: what's the #1 "Hot search" on Netscape as I'm typing this?
That's right - Debra frickin' Lafave.
Man, to paraphrase P.T. Barnum, no one ever went broke underestimating the libido of the American male.
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Fahrenheit and away
Sorry for the long delay, folks. I was in L.A. over the weekend attending a friend's wedding, and I had work I had to get done prior to the trip. Of course, the re-entry required some recuperation that you'd expect if you were to stay up as late as you normally do for a wedding party and the wedding itself, with three hours tacked on due to jet lag.
Anyway, I think we've covered the Pistons well enough as of late (but I can't resist linking to this great VVH post by The Mighty Reason Man), so it's time to get back to business.
I know the "sovereignty transfer" occurred yesterday, and while that's a worthwhile topic, I want to address the #1 movie in the country right now.
I've seen pretty much all of Michael Moore's movies, with the exception of "Pets or Meat" (never saw) and "Canadian Bacon" (gave up after 30 minutes). I've seen a good number of "TV Nation" and "The Awful Truth" episodes. I even saw him at the Michigan Theater in A-squared when he was campaigning for Ralph Nader in the 2000 election. I'm definitely less enamored of him now that I've developed a more critical eye to his work (as well as a more balanced outlook on the world), but he's definitely the most visibile populist muckraker out there at the moment, and while many on the right loathe the man I feel that his heart is in the right place, and he's far less unsavory a character than many I would associate with the right.
Some of you may have already seen this movie, and I probably will see it myself sometime soon. However, I thought I'd pass along a couple of reasonably evenhanded critiques.
The first is by Justin Raimondo, the editorial director of the Antiwar.com website. He doesn't mince words when attacking the bad parts of the movie, but he gives the movie an overall thumbs-up, and offers a nice rebuttal to the same tired charges of Moore hating America (emphasis mine):
What really comes across in this film is Moore's feeling for American soldiers in the field, rooted, I believe, in his empathy for ordinary people, and – dare I say it? – his unambiguous patriotism. He goes inside Walter Reed Army Hospital, in Washington, and interviews the wounded: amputees, laying in their beds, full of pain and determination to get on with their lives. He interviews soldiers in the field, who wonder what we're doing over there. "It's not that easy to conquer a country," says one, his voice full of wonder.
Mind you, Justin is the guy who wrote this book.
The second review is by Juan Cole, the U-M prof I mentioned a couple of posts ago. His criticisms and compliments are similar to Raimondo's, and you can read his review here.
I won't deny that some people can have serious, valid objections with the movie, there's no doubt that a lot of footage (of REAL STUFF, wingnuts) will have never been seen previously by the majority of the viewing public.
Why that is supposed to be criticized at all, in any way, is beyond me.


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Spotify has defended itself against criticism of its business model by Nigel Godrich and Radiohead's Thom Yorke.
The musicians pulled their Atoms for Peace album Amok from the streaming service, claiming that the platform is not paying new artists enough money and ruining the industry.
The Swedish company has reacted by explaining that it has had "a hugely positive effect on artists and new music" after paying out $500 million to rightsholders.
"Spotify's goal is to grow a service which people love, ultimately want to pay for, and which will provide the financial support to the music industry necessary to invest in new talent and music," the company told Music Week.
"We want to help artists connect with their fans, find new audiences, grow their fan base and make a living from the music we all love.
"Right now we're still in the early stages of a long-term project that's already having a hugely positive effect on artists and new music."
They added: "We've already paid US$500M to rightsholders so far and by the end of 2013 this number will reach US$1bn. Much of this money is being invested in nurturing new talent and producing great new music.
"We're 100% committed to making Spotify the most artist-friendly music service possible, and are constantly talking to artists and managers about how Spotify can help build their careers."
Listen to Radiohead's The King Of Limbs on Spotify below:


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Fledgling UK-based prodco Archie Productions has scored a plum commission from Turner EMEA to produce six versions of 13 x half-hour kids-talent format Staraoke.
Turner intends to roll Staraoke out simultaneously across its channels, including Cartoon Network, in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, France and Poland. Based on a Finnish format from prodco Intervisio, the show pits two teams of kids against each other in a head-to-head karaoke battle. Points are earned through the kids' abilities to keep tune with the song, while voice recognition software tallies the score. Additionally, contestants' warbling will be charted on a giant plasma screen, as each singer's avatar – chosen from Turner's portfolio of characters like Ben 10, Scooby-Doo and Bloo – tries to stay on course.
As the first major commission for Archie Productions, creative director John Marley says the production is aiming to achieve the high-gloss look-and-feel of similar primetime formats that kids have become so accustomed to watching with their parents like American Idol or The X-Factor. What is different, he notes, is Staraoke's focus on featuring real kids and giving Turner kids' channel viewers something in which they'll aspire to take part.
For his part, SVP/GM of original series & international development at Turner Broadcasting Systems International Finn Arnesen says, 'One of our remits was to follow the success we had with the live-action-animated game show Skatoony and keep putting kids on-screen in a game show format.' He adds, 'With Staraoke we are tapping into the popularity of karaoke and the enjoyment kids get from singing and performing. And the simultaneous launch across our main European territories allows us to manage the franchise and maximize the show and its assets across all our platforms in EMEA.' Furthermore, Arnesen says he's looking to pick up more kids live-action formats in all genres. 'We wanted to move forward and replicate Skatoony's success with Staraoke and other shows that put kids at the forefront.'
Archie is gearing up to head into production after KidScreen Summit in February. Interestingly, Marley says the whole project really got rolling at KidScreen Summit 2008. He had known about the format for some time, but was able to put a meeting together with all the format's concerned parties and Arnesen at the event and that helped push it into development quickly. Right now Marley and his team are busily trying to coordinate the arrival of six groups of kid contestants slated to start pouring into London from all over Europe.


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Monday, June 25, 2012
Someone said this on Facebook:
To prevent the situation that animal owners got into, animal owners needed to place being good to each other above all other considerations. To get ourselves out of that situation, the same solution applies.
Posted by Tom at 10:57 PM
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Tabby & Jack's is having a sidewalk sale this Friday and Saturday (May 14 & 15, 2010)! This is their biggest sale of the year. There will be lots of great sales, giveaways, vendor promotions and a drawing for valuable prizes!
At Fitchburg location (2990 Cahill Main, Fitchburg, WI):
-Free nail trims with free bandanna
At Westside location (631 Struck Street, Madison, WI):
-Nature's Variety Insulated Freezer Bags: FREE with NV Raw Purchase (First 20)
-Tabby & Jack's Calendars: Free with purchase (supplies limited)
-Treat Bags: Free w/ purchase
-TJ's Bandannas: Free w/purchase
Check out Tabby & Jack's online at http://www.tabbyandjacks.com/


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Is the Georgian opposition under Moscow's wing?14.03.2009 | 14:29
The head of the Democratic party, Gia Tortladze, has announced that the campaign run by the opposition parties, which are planning to start protest actions on 9th April demanding Mikheil Saakashvili's resignation, is being financed from Russia. This allegation was made on the talk show "Accents" on Channel One (the Public Broadcaster) of Georgian television.
In an interview with your GeorgiaTimes correspondent, the leader of the Democrats expressed his conviction that Russia was interested in destabilizing Georgia and therefore was now undermining the country from within. Gia Tortladze noted that he came to this conclusion after studying advice given by Russian political commentators on the internet to invest money in the Georgian opposition. "There are some concrete examples," thinks Tortladze. "Many parties didn't even have any money to fill their cars with petrol, but now they are renting offices. They pay high salaries." Your GeorgiaTimes correspondent asked whether that also meant that Salome Zurabishvili, who initiated the ultimatum which runs out on 9th April, has agreed to be financed by Moscow. After
all, she has never concealed her hostility towards Russia. "In this context, we are not talking about Salome Zurabishvili," noted the leading Democrat.
Of course, the opposition has been quick to respond to these allegations. On the same talk show, one of the leaders of the Conservative party, Kakha Kukava, denied this statement, calling it "PR initiated by the authorities".
As a result of all kinds of increasingly frequent allegations being made against her, the leader of the "Democratic Movement - A United Georgia", Nino Burjanadze, issued a special statement a few days ago: "We can't rule out that Mikheil Saakashvili's government is actually behind this 'black PR'".
In turn, GeorgiaTimes has asked some Russian and Georgian political analysts to comment on this issue.
Vyacheslav Igrunov, Director of the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Research: "Let's start with what is unclear: will a new regime, if we assume that it will be formed by the opposition, be more favourable to Moscow? If not, there's no point investing any money. Moreover, now the Kremlin follows the principle that everyone needs to pay for themselves." At the same time, the Russian expert thinks that there are different opinions in both Russia and Georgia. "There is a line," he says, "orientated towards confrontation. But there is another one tending towards a normalization of relations with Georgia. At the moment Moscow is reacting to the situation, rather than controlling it. If Tbilisi follows more balanced policies, Russia will be prepared to meet them half-way. But while Georgia sticks to a tough anti-Russian position, pressure will continue," sums up Igrunov.
The viewpoint of the respected Georgian political commentator, Ramaz Sakvarelidze, is largely similar to the opinion of his Russian colleague. Sakvarelidze thinks that more and more often, the parliamentary opposition is singing in unison with the ruling United National Movement. "What does Russia need to invest money in the opposition for?" asks the Georgian political commentator. "After all, Russia couldn't imagine a better option than the current authorities." He thinks that Saakashvili's discredited regime is more useful to the Kremlin than the opposition, which has high ratings both among the population and abroad.
Regarding Russian money in Georgian politics, in Sakvarelidze's opinion, there can't be any talk of so-called "Kremlin money". "Many Georgians live and work in Russia, for whom the current regime has created masses of problems, and they are prepared to help their country get rid of the current regime," thinks the expert. "The interests of many Georgian businessmen coincide with the views of the opposition and the mood of most of the country's population."
To conclude, Sakvarelidze emphasized that the parliamentary opposition and ruling party are actively discrediting Burjanadze, because it is she who has shown herself to be "the most energetic" of the opposition politicians, and foreign leaders listen to what she has to say more closely than the opinion of the former diplomat Irakli Alasania.
For many years, Sakvarelidze worked as an adviser to Eduard Shervardnadze. Therefore your GeorgiaTimes correspondent asked him to comment on Eduard Amvrosievich's recent statement that he had two presidential candidates in mind. Sakvarelidze said that he can only surmise: "The president implied that the candidate is a doctor and has worked for a long time in Georgia and Russia. I assume that he meant Fridon Todua."
The deputy speaker of the Georgian parliament, Fridon Todua, is no lover of making controversial statements, so his name has not been caught up in the rumour mill. But all this is just guesswork. However, in politics it is by no means a rarity that a leader emerges from the shadows at the last moment and grasps the helm of the state ship.
Irina Ptashkovskaya


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We are creatures of habit.
At least I am, anyway.
Living so close to the beach, going there is not really an ordeal - it's a pretty normal and regular thing.
I have certain things I like to do that make me feel like I did it "right".
Here's what you need if you're me:
1. Beach House (I know that sounds pretentious but it makes everything easier).
Thank you Katie and Kristin!
2. Beach with little waves (for another year or two).
Also known as Lewes Beach.
For now.
The little one is responsible for all of my grey hair, but with water, he is BIG CHICKEN.
Thank goodness.
Otherwise, we might never leave the house.
When little waves get a little choppy, it's perfect.
Especially if you're trying to have a conversation of any sort, with your friend.
And keep 6 kids, collectively, from drowning.
Moving water and sand keeps kids, who typically have the attention span of a house fly, occupied for hours.
4. Grotto's for dinner!
Yes, I know you can go to Grotto's in Milford now, but it's all about the experience for me.
And the balloons.
If you have kids, you know exactly what I mean.
5. Candy Kitchen.
Rock candy was my favorite when I was little.
Because there is nothing un-fun about crystalized sugar on a wooden stick.
She likes wax bottles.
He likes to look in other people's diaper bags to see if they have anything more interesting.
6. Funland.
I have to say, Funland remains my favorite seaside amusement park.
I really don't know where else you can go, spend $12, and ride for what seems like forever.
It is nearly untouched over time. And I like it that way.
It's fun. Don't overthink it.
This year is Funland's 50th Anniversary!
7. Royal Treat
You can start or end your day here.
Breakfast or ice cream.
Aren't those the two best meals anyway?
I have a love for the former staff ;).
Okay, I love this.
Royal Treat has these large water dispensers. They are so old-fashioned.
The water is ice cold and just what you need after downing super sweet, super delicious ice cream.
This may not be everyone's idea of a great day, and we don't do this every time, but it has to happen at least once a summer, or it just doesn't feel like summer happened.
Hope you all have a great 4th of July weekend!!!