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I was working on a project recently using the Google Web Toolkit (GWT) in conjunction with the GWT wrapper (GWT-EXT) for the fabulous ExtJS Javascript library. The program's design ran up against a road-block, however, when I realized that my application's architecture was simply not well-suited for the type of work I was doing. The application essentially:
- Draws some elements on the screen
- Fetches data
- Possibly populate some of the existing elements with some of the data
- Possibly create new elements based on said data and possibly populate some of the new elements with some of the data
Seems simple, right? It would be except for a snag. See, since I am doing a lot of AJAX wizardry dependent upon the results of my data, some of the magic relies on DOM calculation. The problem is that I need to guarantee that my screen elements are 1) attached to the DOM and 2) visible on the screen. Of course, this presents another problem. I don't want my elements to be visible until they are ready to be shown, but many interesting Javascript widgets that ship with ExtJS do calculations based on offsetHeight, offsetWidth, etc. — values that can only be computed if the element is visible and attached to the DOM.
My solution was simple, I would just draw the elements off-screen until they were ready to be displayed. But how would I know when the elements were finished "opening?" Enter the interface ScreenElement.java. ScreenElement is a Java interface that any widget which retrieves data and has its appearance modified based on that data should implement:
package com.lostcreations.vmm.client; import com.google.gwt.user.client.ui.Panel; import com.gwtext.client.core.ExtElement; /** * An interface for any element drawn on the screen. * * @author akutz * */ public interface ScreenElement { /** * Begin the data retrieval operation. */ public void beginFetch(); /** * Close this screen element. This method should call the following methods * in this order. * *
 *
hide() *

offScreen()
 *
 */ public void close(); /** * Does client-side computation after the data has been flushed into the * element. */ public void compute(); /** * Draws this screen element. */ public void draw(); /** * Ends the data retrieval operation indicating that no errors occurred. */ public void endFetch(); /** * Ends the data retrieval operation with the option to specify that error * occurred. * * @param withErrors True to indicate errors; otherwise false. */ public void endFetch(Boolean withErrors); /** * Flushes the data into the screen element. */ public void flush(); /** * Sets this element's visibility to hidden and its display mode to none. */ public void hide(); /** * Returns true if their is still data being retrieved from the server; * otherwise false. * * @return True if their is still data being retrieved from the server; * otherwise false. */ public boolean isFetching(); /** * Returns true if this screen element is currently open. * * @return True if the screen element is open; otherwise false. */ public boolean isOpen(); /** * Moves the screen element off-screen and then sets its visibility to true. */ public void offScreen(); /** * Is called when the fetch operation is completed. This method should call * the following methods in this order: * *
 *
flush()
 *
compute()
 *
hide()
 *
onScreen()
 *
show()
 *
 */ public void onEndFetch(); /** * Is fired when the open operation is completed. */ public void onOpen(); /** * Moves the screen element on-screen and then sets its visibility to false. */ public void onScreen(); /** * Open this screen element. This method should call the following methods * in this order: *
 *
offScreen()
 *
show()
 *
draw()
 *
beginFetch()
 *
 * * @param parent The panel this screen element will be added to once opened. */ public void open(Panel parent); /** * Sets this element's visibility to visible and its display mode to * 'block'. */ public void show(); /** * Sets this element's visibility to visible and its display mode to a valid * CSS value. * * @param displayMode A valid CSS value for display mode. */ public void show(String displayMode); }
This interface guarantees that an element is ready to be shown to the client. The pattern is as follows:
- The element's open(Panel parent) method is invoked where parent is the panel the element should be added to once it has finished opening.
- The element is created and immediately moved off-screen so that the user does not see the element.
- The element's show() method is invoked to make the element visible.
- The element's draw() method is invoked to draw the element's child controls. Since the element is visible, any control that needs to do DOM calculations will be able to.
- The element invokes the beginFetch() method. A timer is then immediately started which checks every 50 milliseconds to see if the element has completed its fetch operation by calling the isFetching() method.
- Once the data retrieval has completed, the endFetch() method will be invoked. This causes the timer mentioned in the last step to cancel itself and then invoke the onEndFetch() method.
- The onEndFetch() method then invokes the flush() method where the data that was retrieved is acted upon. This could mean additional child controls are added to the element or simply that existing child controls have data populated.
- The compute() method is invoked next. This is where any DOM-related computations should take place that are dependent upon the flushed data (such as progress bars). Since the element is still visible off-screen and the data is now in place, the DOM can be updated accordingly and successfully.
- The element is then hidden with the hide() method in order to prepare it to be moved onto the screen.
- The element is moved on screen by invoking the onScreen() method, but this does not make the element visible.
- Next, the element is shown to the user with the show() method.
- Finally the onOpen() method is called setting the element's opened state to True for any timers waiting on the element to be opened.
That's it! It's pretty straight-forward, and it guarantees that the elements are drawn correctly before they are shown to the user. Not only that, but it is a great way to think about how you are working with these elements. It really structures things (at least for me). The end of this post includes two classes that implement this interface (a base, abstract class and a final class) to give you an idea of how this works in the real world.
package com.lostcreations.vmm.client; import com.allen_sauer.gwt.log.client.Log; import com.google.gwt.user.client.Timer; import com.google.gwt.user.client.ui.Panel; import com.gwtext.client.core.ExtElement; import com.gwtext.client.core.Function; import com.gwtext.client.core.FxConfig; /** * The abstract base class for views. * * @author akutz * */ public abstract class ViewImpl implements View, ScreenElement { /** * The view's main content container. */ private DivVerticalPanel viewContainer; /** * True if this view is open; otherwise false. */ private boolean isOpen; private boolean isFetching; Panel parent; protected ViewImpl() { Log.trace("creating new " + getClassName()); this.viewContainer = new DivVerticalPanel(); this.viewContainer.addStyleName("view"); hide(); Log.trace("created new " + getClassName()); } protected String getClassName() { return this.getClass().getName(); } public void compute() { } public void close() { if (!this.isOpen) return; hide(); offScreen(); } public DivVerticalPanel getViewContainer() { return this.viewContainer; } public void offScreen() { ScreenElementUtil.offScreen(this.viewContainer.getElement()); } public void onScreen() { ScreenElementUtil.onScreen(this.viewContainer.getElement()); } public boolean isOpen() { return this.isOpen; } public void open(Panel parent) { if (this.isOpen) return; this.parent = parent; offScreen(); parent.add(this.viewContainer); show(); draw(); beginFetch(); // Start a timer that checks ever 50 milliseconds to see if this // element is finished fetching data. Timer t = new Timer() { @Override public void run() { if (!isFetching()) { Log.trace(getClassName() + " finished fetching"); cancel(); onEndFetch(); } Log.trace(getClassName() + " still fetching"); } }; t.scheduleRepeating(50); } /** * Begin any data retrieval operations. Classes that override this method * must call super.beginFetch() before doing any other operations. */ public void beginFetch() { this.isFetching = true; Log.trace(getClassName() + " begin fetch"); } public void endFetch() { endFetch(false); } public void endFetch(Boolean withErrors) { this.isFetching = false; Log.trace(getClassName() + " end fetch"); } public final boolean isFetching() { return this.isFetching; } public final ExtElement getExtEl() { return ScreenElementUtil.getExtEl(this.viewContainer.getElement()); } public final void hide() { ScreenElementUtil.hide(this.viewContainer); } public void fadeIn() { ScreenElementUtil.appear(this.viewContainer); } public void fadeOut() { ScreenElementUtil.fade(this.viewContainer); } public void show(String displayMode) { ScreenElementUtil.show(this.viewContainer); } public final void show() { ScreenElementUtil.show(this.viewContainer); } public void onOpen() { this.isOpen = true; } public final void onEndFetch() { Log.trace(getClassName() + " onEndFetch started"); flush(); compute(); hide(); onScreen(); FxConfig fcIn = new FxConfig(); fcIn.setCallback(new Function() { public void execute() { onOpen(); } }); new ExtElement(this.viewContainer.getElement()).fadeIn(fcIn); Log.trace(getClassName() + " onEndFetch completed"); } }
package com.lostcreations.vmm.client; import com.google.gwt.user.client.Timer; /** * This application's main view. * * @author akutz * */ public class MainView extends ViewImpl { final AccountPanel accountPanel = new AccountPanel(); /** * Initializes a new MainView object. */ public MainView() { super(); getViewContainer().getElement().setId("mainView"); } public void draw() { accountPanel.open(getViewContainer()); } public void flush() { } @Override public void beginFetch() { super.beginFetch(); // Do not end the fetch until the account panel has been completed // its open operation. Timer t = new Timer() { @Override public void run() { if (accountPanel.isOpen()) { cancel(); endFetch(); } } }; t.scheduleRepeating(50); } }


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In the early r6th century the use of the vernacular is extended, chiefly in the treatment of historical and polemical subjects, as in Murdoch Nisbet's version of Purvey (in MS. till 1901), a compromise between northern and southern usage; Gau's (q.v.) Richt Vay, translated from Christiern Pedersen; Bellenden's (q.v.) translation of Livy and Scottish History; the Complaynt of Scotlande, largely a mosaic of translation from the French; Ninian Winzet's (q.v.) Tractates; Lesley's (q.v.) History of Scotland; Knox's (q.v.) History; Buchanan's (q.v.) Chamaeleon; Lindesay of Pitscottie's (q.v.) History; and the tracts of Nicol Burne and other exiled Catholics.
In the construction of the Scottish Reform Act Kennedy took a prominent part; indeed he and Lord Cockburn may almost be regarded as its authors.
CLAUD HAMILTON PAISLEY, Lord (c. 1543-1622), Scottish politician, was a younger son of the 2nd earl of Arran.
View more
After being educated at the high school of Edinburgh and at Durham, he attended the literary and law classes at the university of Edinburgh, and becoming in 1810 a member of the Edinburgh faculty of advocates, he for some time enjoyed the intimate acquaintance of Cockburn, Jeffrey, Scott and other distinguished men whose talent then lent lustre to the Scottish bar.
His father, Peter Johnston (1763-1841), a Virginian of Scottish descent, served in the War of Independence, and afterwards became a distinguished jurist; his mother was a niece of Patrick Henry.
The abbey was founded in 1163 as a Cluniac monastery by Walter Fitzalan, first High Steward of Scotland, the ancestor of the Scottish royal family of Stuart, and dedicated to the Virgin, St James, St Milburga of Much Wenlock in Shropshire (whence came the first monks) and St Mirinus (St Mirren), the patron-saint of Paisley, who is supposed to have been a contemporary of St Columba.
Leaving these Scottish and Irish deposits of doubtful age, we find in the Hampshire Basin a thick series of fluviatile, lacustrine and marine deposits undoubtedly of Lower and Middle Oligocene date.
SIR DAVID BREWSTER (1781-1868), Scottish natural philosopher, was born on the 11th of December 1781 at Jedburgh, where his father, a teacher of high reputation, was rector of the grammar school.
Robert Maxwell (1695-1765) was the author of Select Transactions of the Society of Improvers and was a great benefactor to Scottish agriculture.
Since 1648 the standard Presbyterian catechisms have been those compiled by the Westminster Assembly, presented to parliament in 1647, and then authorized by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (July 1648) and by the Scottish parliament (January 1649).

subset: commoncrawl


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This looks like a curiously well-camouflaged avocado - but it is, I promise you, here, amid the vinca and the California poppies and some white-flowered weedish plant I can't offhand identify. In a few years' time - I think it has to reach about six feet - it should start to bear real avocados. It currently has tiny, tiny ones, the size of an ant, which will all drop off.
It's been a dream of mine to have an avocado tree since I first visited LA, back in March 1988. I went to speak at UC Riverside, - on Holman Hunt's The Awakening Conscience - and stayed the night with the amazingly hospitable Ruth ap Roberts and her husband: they had a sprawling (to my English eyes) house with wonderful art round every corner - including a huge painting of a foot - maybe a sculptured foot - in the living room. They also had a huge tabby cat called Princess Di. There was a star-studded cast for dinner, but I have no idea where I might have kept any record of that, and I can't, alas, remember who was there - but I do know that at least one couple who taught at UCLA came. Only now do I realize the magnitude of that driving gesture. Back then, Riverside still had a good number of orange groves, and that struck me as extraordinarily exotic. And Ruth had, yes, an avocado tree on the front lawn. I don't know where, prior to this, I thought avocados came from (before the supermarket), but this was a revelation - the thought that one might have one's own home-grown avo supply! And now, nearly 30 years later, I'm hoping to arrive, sooner or later, at this pinnacle of horticultural aspiration.


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You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'Personal' tag.
So with all the posts I've done over the past year, there is one room that you have never seen. And there is a very good reason for that. It is affectionately referred to as…the junk room. You can only imagine that there isn't much to show off in a room with that nickname. Here is a very embarrassing glimpse at what you could expect to see any day of the week (other than when we speed clean before company arrives):
Simply tragic. And disgusting. And full of garbage. This is the catch-all room and the dog sleeping room and don't forget the home of our microwave until our kitchen is finished.
So why am I bringing up this embarrasing room now?
Thats right…we've got a little one on the way! I am officially 21 weeks along and it's time to start working on the nursery. This room has to transform into an organized and peaceful (and not to mention clean) place for our beautiful baby girl by the end of September. We definitely have our work cut out for us to say the least.
The only things set in stone so far are the following:
- Wes will build the crib (collective "awwww" please)
- We will paint the walls
- There will be room for a baby
Yep, those are the details. Excited yet?!
So obviously we have a ways to go on the planning process but I'm working hard/wasting A LOT of time on pinterest collecting images and putting ideas together. I will OF COURSE share all the details along the way but for now I'll leave you with this.
Pure cuteness. I mean, did you see that nose?! Yep, she's got me wrapped around her little finger already.
Just a little glimpse of what our pampered pooches are up to while Wes and I are tackling our back breaking renovations.
Bailey is definitely the "I'll wait here until you need my help and when you walk away I will immediately follow you so I don't miss anything exciting" type. She likes to stay right under her Dad's feet under his work table and in the process end up completely covered in saw dust which in turn ends up on her Mom's carpet once back in the house. But how can a girl get mad at that face. I mean, really?!
Now Samson is definitely the more "I'll wait over here and bask in the sunlight until you're ready to play" type. He tends to just roll around in the grass and guard his unraveled baseball completely oblivious to all the work going on.
Gotta love 'em both! A project without one of them under our feet or freaking out when the air compressor comes on just wouldn't be much of a project, now would it?!
As you may have noticed, we have a brand new header over here at Out of Square. The old header was feeling just a bit…well, generic so I thought it necessary to introduce a new look and a little more personality. And what describes us better around this bungalow than wood! As you may have also noticed, we've got a bit of a tag line now. Yep, that's me…the woodworker's wife. Now while I tend to believe that I can be described as many things…designer, pet lover, perfectionist, drama queen, wino, etc. I am learning that I am most grateful of the one listed above. Not only does being a woodworker's wife come with its own set of perks (such as never having to settle for a prefabricated piece of furniture) but it also means having a partner in crime that isn't afraid to think outside the box and figure out how we can build anything ourselves. Now don't get me wrong, I will still occassionally cringe when I hear the phrase "Oh, I can build that." for the umpteenth time but then I remember, thats one of the reasons I love him so much. Because he is not afraid to accept the challenge of creating something new. He is willing to go out on a limb instead of shying away (like myself on occasion) due to fear of "messing it up".
So this blog is officially dedicated to my husband.
Babe, I am a more creative designer and more importantly a better person because of you. Thanks for thinking outside the box when you picked me.
I would like to start this adventure by saying "Thank You". Thank you to my lovely co-worker that brainwashed inspired me to start this little thing called a blog. I have become officially obsessed with all things blog related and I'm jumping on the bandwagon. (What can I say, I've always been a follower.)
My husband and I are late-twenty-something not-so-newlyweds with a love for DIY. I'm a commercial interior designer (not a decorator…don't worry, I'll explain later) and my husband is a millwork finisher (more on that one too). With our powers combined (yep, thats a Captain Planet reference) we are going to tackle this house with a little bit of knowledge and a lot of enthusiasm and we're hoping you'll stick around to watch. If not to learn a little something, then definitely for some entertainment. We've painted each room in our house at least twice, every tool we own lives in the guest room including a miter saw, and our dog sits like a human . If thats not fare for comedy, then I don't know what is.
So jump on board and find out all the things that make our house (and life) a little bit out of square.


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Today, I'm joined by author Sean P. Wallace. He's here to talk about author who inspire him and give you a peek at his writing process. Enjoy!
1. When did you start writing?
I started writing stories as a child, really. I still have some of them! They were awful, but I loved writing them, telling stories I wanted to tell. Writing left me a little when I was a teen, as I tried to define who I was, but I picked it back up when I was about 19. I've not stopped since!
2. Are you a pantser or a planner?
Planner, Planner, Planner! I have to plan. I need to write down exactly what I expect to happen, the history of the world that informs these events, the history of the characters, everything like that. In order to write a story, I need to understand the world I will be writing in. I think that's vital, especially for Fantasy works where you must have a consistent world. Fair play, though, to those who can work otherwise.
3. Can you give us an idea of your writing process?
I always spend days, perhaps weeks, planning the story out, as I said above. Where I will be creating a new world, I define everything about it that the story needs… but I do this in such a way that it leaves room for spontaneous definition of lesser details, such as taxation systems or surprise characters.
This done, I now map down the plot on an Excel spreadsheet. This habit is new but it helps so much if your story is taking place across multiple streams. Even if it isn't, it's nice to have an instantly-accessible file that says what point of the plot I'm in, and what comes next.
With all the planning done, I write! I aim for a chapter a day, which for me is ~2000 words. I find it difficult to write much more on a single piece. I only have so much to give an individual project each day. So I work on multiple projects at once!
When my first draft is finished (woo!), I let it rest for a couple of months. Books are like wine, they are addictive and you should hand them around at parties. Also, they need time to mature, and an author needs to distance themselves from it. The process of producing your second draft should always, I feel, disgust you. "What the hell was I thinking? Was I drinking too many books when I wrote this?"
I personally need six or more drafts to get my works ready. This is because I'm an idiot. I often change characters, place names, the overall tone of a plot… almost anything when I do my first draft. It takes me quite some time to get my novel right. I usually ask for Beta readers after the fifth draft, as that's the point I usually love the book again. As such, it's the point I need my delusions to be torn down again!
And then I'm done, done, on to the next one!
4. Which authors have influenced your work?
H.P. Lovecraft, Stephen King, George R. R. Martin, Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Dean Koontz, Margaret Atwood.
5. What are you plans/future projects/new releases that we should be aware of?
I plan to have Deep Echoes' sequel out early next year. I am also a feature writer at http://www.geek-pride.co.uk, and am working on some film scripts. Watch this space. Please?
6. Any tips for new writers?
Have the courage to produce an awful, awful first draft. And then have the tenacity to polish it. Editing is horrible, hard, awkward, but it is the real work of writing.
7. Any tips for old writers?
Keep going! The world needs more artists, always has, always will.
Connect with Sean:
Website: www.darkmess.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SeanPWallace
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18196162-deep-echoes


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Alright Paras... Show the people:
|One Paras unit at Level 2
|One Paras Unit at Level 3
|One Paras Unit at Level 4
|One Paras Unit at its maximum level of 5
Thought id show a clearer picture of the differences between leveling up double stage pokemon and triple stage pokemon. Again, leveling up a single stage pokemon decreases the unit cost, this is because when i started coding it at the begining, i realized that 5 Pinsirs LOVE to kill EVERYTHING when the "EVERYTHING" happens to be other basic pokemon. So i spiked single stage evolutions unit prices up to equalize the effect.
Thanks for reading, Comment please,


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We have a special guest with us today, Jane Carroll, the author of the awesome "Bertha Size Your Life" book. We have known Jane for a few years now and are just so pleased to have her here. Jane's warm wit makes her a joy to hang out with! And, of course, having Bertha around is always a hoot!!
Well, let's get the show on the road, shall we? We've got some great questions so that you the reader can get to know the creator (Jane) and her muse (Bertha)!
~~Hi Jane and welcome!! Tell us what is the title of your newest release –
Bertha-Size Your Life! is currently my only release. I hope sequel will be out this year but the title isn't set in stone yet.
~~Do you have any books in the works?
Bertha has a sequel that is at the publishers…standing in a queue line…waiting on edits. Shhh…don't tell Bertha…she thinks she's at Disney waiting on Thunder Mountain.
~~ We cannot wait for the next book. We laughed and cried all the way through the first. Okay, we know you are so busy being a nurse, author, etc, but when you read, what is your favorite genre?
I love reading spiritual, mystical, self-help, and personal growth books. I went several years without reading fiction at all but I do enjoy a light contemporary now and again.
~~Do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time?
I love cycling when the weather is pleasant and I'm a bit of a porch gardener. I'm not a gym rat…but I do try to get there a few times a week.
~~ Gym rat, that's funny. We would like to be gym rats, but much prefer walking and hiking outdoors ourselves. Jane, if you would have time travel abilities and could meet anyone from any time, who would you like to meet?
I would go back in time to meet Og Mandino. His books inspired me so much and his writing style inspired me to write Bertha the way that I did.
~~That's interesting. We always did wonder about what inspired you. Tell us, what is your all-time favorite movie?
It's a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed…love…love…love that movie.
~~That's one of K.R.'s favorite movies too. If there was one author you could meet with and learn from, who would that be?
I would love to have been able to meet Og Mandino. His books encouraged me so much and his writing style inspired me to write Bertha the way that I did. I know there was a low point in his life when he contemplated suicide…then he read a book that changed the direction of his life. Years later he became one of the most motivational writers of all time.
~~It's so healing to find another author with a story similar to our own. Jane, what advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Write…write…write. Get up every day and write something even if it is a grocery list…just write. And if you think you don't have anything to say…write that down.
~~LOL, love it, a grocery list. T.L. loves lists!! We agree with you, that's the best advice to give to another aspiring writer. Do you plan on being a full-time writer, or do you have other career plans?
I tried that a few years ago and found that it didn't pay my bills at the time. So I'll probably be working until I can retire in a few years…but I'm counting down the days!
~~That's wonderful. Do you prefer Ebook, paperback, or hardcover?
They all have a place in my heart. My bookshelves are overflowing with books…so the Kindle saved my home from looking like a hoarder's paradise. I also love that I can decide that I want to read a book and download it instantly…no waiting for shipping or driving to the bookstore. But I definitely like print copies of non-fiction books that I refer to frequently.
~~That makes sense. Sometimes you just need a book to hold, mark in, book mark. Whatever. Okay, let's see. Do you have a set writing schedule or do you write when the fancy hits you?
I blog every weekday morning…other than that…it's a fancy kind of thing.
~~That's wonderful. Do you have any writing rituals like a particular treat, good luck charm, etc?
Not really…I wrote most of the original Bertha in longhand in my journal and I still enjoy writing longhand from time to time but I generally just sit at the computer and type until something worthwhile comes out.
~~Oh, Jane thanks for letting us find out more about your world! It's been a joy having you with us.
Here's how you can connect with Jane Carroll (and Bertha, and you should, they both rock!!)
Jane Carroll Bio and Links:
Website: http://www.janecarrollauthor.com
Amazon: http://tiny.cc/zgaafw
Facebook: https://facebook.com/janecarrollauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/janecarroll10
Such a great cover, so Bertha!!
Book Synopsis:
Bertha-Size Your Life! reads like a series of humorous short stories but it is so much more. Bertha, a zany redhead, mysteriously appears into the narrator's life while walking in the park. Quicker than a man can hand off a baby with a dirty diaper, she has moved into her new friend's empty nest and the fun begins.
Bertha is always up to something and delights in standing on a soapbox while dispensing down-home wisdom and perky advice. She explains The Law of Attraction in a refreshing, humor-filled, practical way that has you going hmmm instead of humph.
Throw in a conniving nemesis, an antagonistic cat, lime green spandex, and high-heels and you've got a book that's sure to tickle your funny bone and leave you wearing your thinking cap as you read and reread each vignette.
Who knew personal transformation could be so much fun? "Bertha, that was a rhetorical question. Get off your soapbox…"
Jane Carroll, Author of Amazon Bestselling Bertha-Size Your Life!, is a Life Coach, Registered Nurse, Reiki Master, Mother, Grandmother, and long-time student of life. She has seen the focus of her over 30 year nursing career change from illness to wellness to wholeness, a philosophy that permeates everything she does. While she enjoys all aspects of her life, writing is her passion and she is currently working on Bertha's latest adventures.
Bertha-Size Your Life! recently received the MK Traditionally Published Best Book of 2012 Award.
Thanks everyone for joining us today!! Make sure to check out Jane's Facebook page and connect with her! Also, go and buy her book on Amazon!! It's on sale for a short time!
K.R. and T.L.
Website: http://www.kandtproductions.com
Amazon: http://dld.bz/c6FmS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhatSheKnewBook


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(Seriously, what the bloody hell is that?)
Korean dramas sure have come a long way in terms of the kissing scenes. I'm sure you folks have heard about the 100 or so takes, the sore lips, etc etc? Partly because I still haven't figured out this poll feature and also because I want to ensure I haven't officially gone crazy looking at so many of them on Youtube- here are my top 5 kiss scenes from various Korean dramas.
Granted the list below is nowhere near being comprehensive, but it's what actually stood out to me at the time. This was due to the ambience it created, how appropriate it was for the situation, and the emotions that it evoked (made Bella "coo," "aww," and "ahhh"). I'm sure there are some notable ones out there that I may have missed, but I think I would prefer seeing a guy not wanting to suck off the entire lips of the girl at times. Wouldn't you?
Also keep in mind, these are drama kisses and not the movie ones. The latter are a bit more… torrid, no?
1. Goong– I know you're probably shocked I chose this one instead of the other, more well-known one, right?
2. Secret Garden
3. Lie to Me– Not too impressed with the "Cola Kiss"
4. Hotelier
5. Boys Before Flowers
Extra Bonus:
Damo – Not a kiss, but damn it! A stare is enough!
And what are your top 5 picks?


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By Dr. Ray Kessler, who is, incidentally, a retired Prof. of Criminal Justice, former defense attorney and prosecutor is your host. I am also a part-time instructor in Criminal Justice at Richland College, an outstanding, 2-year institution in Dallas, TX. https://richlandcollege.edu/ Note that I do NOT select which ads run on the blog.
Thursday, September 06, 2012
Article on "government-imposed racial labels"
10 comments:
I could not agree more that blind justice is the only way to enforce equal protection. So long as race is used to preference decisions, there will never be equal protection of people's fundamental natural rights.ReplyDelete
- Mark B.September 9, 2012 at 9:43 PM
The law should be color blind. Unfortunately, the law and regulations have been written over the last twenty years to protect a particular color class. That is the "green" class, mainly those who have the money. There is no equal opportunity for the poor in this country, and there probably never has been. Used to be people were held down from being successful due to their color or sex. They still are, but now they are held back by the tons of money available to corrupt the political system. The Citizens United ruling is a prime example of that. Corporations have become more important than people; mainly because they have more money. People are saying they want the government out of their business. They should be more scared of the corporations in their business. At least with government you have the possibility of change through the political process. With corporations, they will continue to act as they want, while holding the lie of the "carrot of opportunity" under the nose of the American people. People of color and non-christian religions, along with the poor, are continuously sneered at by those in the extreme conservative wing of the Republican party. When they complain of the welfare state, they don't admit that the majority of people on welfare are white. If they did, they might have to admit that they might not be as superior as they thought they were. Racial preferences should go, but then again, corporate preferences need to end also. Reasonable (there is that word again) regulation of the financial industry and a fair tax doctrine would help to level the playing field to give everyone a fair chance. Deregulation has put us in the position we are in now, along with cutting taxes to the point that it has hurt our country's ability to compete and survive.ReplyDelete
What??? Corporate welfare is driven by your so called watchful big-daddy government. The same government that doesn't have to depend on producing and/or selling any real goods or consumer services. A government that parasitically thrives upon your corporate monsters. For voters, regardless of race or economic status, the central government puts on a nice side show, pinching people's incomes just enough to make it hurt. This in concert with borrowing massively from other countries' wealth. While at the same time, the fed's printing press grinds out evermore make believe cash non-stop and totally UNREGULATED. It's not only the poor that suffer, but hard working families. Many of whom have their life investments in those surmised evil corporations. If the federal government would simply stand down and do the job it was originally designed to do, a fair playing field, economic balance and true prosperity would most certainly be the outcome.ReplyDelete
There will never be a fair playing field if the government does not regulate the corporations. They have proven over and over again that they will do anything to anyone for a profit. It was the lack of oversight of the banks and lending institutions by our government that caused the economic crisis we are in now. That and the massive amount of money ($10 trillion during the Bush Administration) spent on a useless war in Iraq that has made the region less safe than it was before we invaded. It was never done to destroy weapons of mass destruction. It was carried out to give Bush an easy military victory, and to let Cheney's buddies at Halliburton make huge profits.ReplyDelete
As to the government not producing consumer services; where do you get that? Government at all levels, Federal, State, and local, provide needed services that could only be fairly provided by the Public Sector. The interstate highways, police, fire, ems, emergency management, military, environmental protection, consumer protection, courts, the FAA, space exploration the list goes on and on.
The government is not the answer to everything, but it is not the evil conspiracy that some want to make it. Used to be people respected the government and what it tried to do for the country. That all changed when Ronald Reagan decided to run for president. Suddenly, it was no longer patriotic to give your fair share of taxes to make things better for everyone. Greed took over and it was everyone for themselves. The politicians convinced people that government was the problem in order to allow their wealthy friends free reign to do whatever they wanted.
The only trickle down that has happened has been warm and yellow. Right now taxes are lower than they have been since 1950. They are lower under Obama than under Bush. Taxes have been cut to the bone and the country is suffering because of it. You want to get rid of the deficits? Close just a few of the loop holes for the wealthy. Raise the capital gains tax. That would lower our deficit and force the wealthy to invest their money in real industry, rather than in loaning it back to the government.
Theodore Roosevelt, a Republican and considered one of the best presidents in American history, said that the wealthy owed it to the country to give back some of their wealth to improve everyone's life. He fought to break the grip of the trusts and the conglomerates that destroy competition and hurt everyone's chance for success. He was wealthy himself, but he knew that with wealth came responsibility. The government continues to give breaks to the rich, who then invest overseas and continue to chop away at the wages and benefits of their employees in the United States. It is pretty bad when last year GE made $14 billion profit world wide, $5 billion that was taxable in the US, and did not pay any taxes. In addition to that, they received $3 billion in refunds on their taxes due to a tax system that gives everything to the rich. The really sad things is that GE, one of America's oldest and largest corporations, does more business outside the US than in it.Replies
Governments usually provide public services, not consumer. Not unless they own the means of production, like GM aka Government Motors. And only socialist wannabes see that as being good policy. In addition, most agencies you named are not needed or address domestic concerns belonging to the states. IMHO, It's time to rid the White House of Obama and Czars this November.Delete
I do agree corporate tax loopholes should be closed. But the country's wealthy earners have and do pay their "fair share". Not to mention that capital gains hurts all investors regardless of their economic status. The federal government was tasked to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. The primary purpose being to create a fair and stable environment for free market competition. I'm not against this type of regulation. But today's problem is the federal's unnecessary and improper over-regulation. It's at the point where they're picking winners, losers and overburdening businesses all for the benefit of bigger government. I'm neither a conspiracy theorist nor anti-government. But I do believe strongly that our central government is totally out of control. They've long ago overstepped their delegated boundaries. And rather than correct this course error, politicos continue to take us further off track. Our system of government is seeing its final days if we continue down the social progressives' well intended but misleading and destructive path. It's truly the proverbial road to Hell.ReplyDelete
Thanks guys: Don't have time to comment on everything. For me the issues are constitutional, not policy issues. However, I agree that the tax burden needs to be "adjusted," and we have to get serious about white-collar and wall-street crime. Government is not good or bad in itself. It is a "tool" that can be used or abused. In our consitutional democracy/republic,the government must comply with the Constitution. The Equal protection clause does not guarantee equality of outcome. It guarantees equal protection of the law. It was never intended to require equal incomes, equal achievement, etc. It was never intended to create an equal economic playing field, only a equal legal playing field. Only God could create a completely equal playing field. An obsession about non-legal inequalty leads to an oppressive government (e.g., Soviet Union, Red China). See Hayek's book, "The Road to Serfdom."ReplyDelete
I think that the framers of the Constitution had no idea that the world, and especially our country, would be facing the problems and challenges that it does today. I used to consider myself a conservative. I voted Republican pretty much every election since 1976 (except for slipping off into squirrelsville when I voted for Perot in 1992). Last election, I voted for Obama, and I believe I will probably vote for him again. While Obama may have had extreme views over the years, he is just like every other president, he moved to the middle of the road. I don't like far right groups, but then I also don't like far left groups. Extremist see only their own views and won't look at what any other side has to say. I think that is where the Grover Norquist run groups are coming from. I believe that our government should work together for what is good for the country, not what is good for the politicians or the political parties. That has been the problem and it has gotten worse since the early 1990's. I do believe that much of the hatred of Obama is fed by racial and not policy hatred. That does not mean that everyone who disagrees with the president is a racist. I just know from personal experience and remarks that I hear from friends that many have found the use of the "N-word" acceptable. A friend of mine works with a group of millionaire ranchers and is on all of their email lists. He said that he was absolutely shocked by the emails he began to receive after Obama was elected. I never would have believed it, if I had not heard and seen it myself over the last few years. Speaking with Secret Service agents, they said that from the moment he was elected there have been massive numbers of threats against him. One told me that they had approximately 2000 threats the last year of Bush's term. They had approximately 1 million the first year of Obama's term. No matter which way you cut it, that is unamerican and totally wrong. It goes against our democratic system and hurts all of us. There are winners and losers in every race. You would think that people would just accept it and try to do what is right for the country in a civil way. It does not help the country to have a conservative Supreme Court, just like it does not help to have a liberal one. Instead, it should be filled by reasonable and intelligent men and women who will do what is right within the bounds of the law, and not to pay off political debt. While Obama may have put in Sotomayor, previous presidents put in Clarence Thomas and John Roberts. Citizens United has done more to harm the country then any other ruling in the past ten years.ReplyDelete
I just learned the hard way the posts of more than 4,096 characters in Html are not accepted. I will thus repy in two seprate posts. PART I.ReplyDelete
Mark: Thanks for the long comment. I'm sorry that you felt compelled to play the race card. If Americans are so racist, why did they vote Obama in 4 years ago? Yes, there is still racism in America, but race is really a minor, side issue. FWIW, Public opinion polls show that racism infects only a small portion of the population. Further, what about the racists (e.g., Nation of Islam) in the black community who will vote for Obama just because he is black, and the fundamentalist Christians who will vote against Romney because he is a Mormon. I suspect that in the end, the bigots on both sides will cancel each other out. If Obama loses, sore-losers will again play this false card, further dividing the nation. Racism is a red-herring which distracts from the real issues. The upcoming election is really about fundamental differences in policy preferences, constitutional law, and the future direction of the country. IMHO, Obama is the closest thing we have had to a genuine ideologue in the White House. This is one of the few elections in American history where the gap between the candidates is large and real.
Yes, Presidents and Senates have the power to put in whomever they want. It's been going on for decades. Obama continued the long tradition. Yes, Clarence Thomas is way out in right field, but that is not the point. Get over it! Get over Clarence Thomas! The issue is not the power to do so, the issue is the civil liberties threat that Obama's appointees provide. When is some President going to have the integrity to appoint neutral, law-oriented judges rather than political clones? I guess questionable practices can be justified by the fact that others have done it before.
COMMENT PART II.ReplyDelete
Do you have any empirical evidence to show the "harm" caused by Citizen's United. Congress had none, yet decided to infringe on First Amendment rights. The Supreme Court had previously decided that corporation have First Amendment rights. It strikes me as a danger signal when people talk about the "harm" caused by expanding First Amendment freedoms. Citizen's United was a politically motivated law. It is a smoke screen. It was a piece of "feel good" legislation that will not work. It was not designed to really clean up politics. The money allowed by Citizen's United is all above-board and there are disclosure requirement. Most of the folks in Washington don't want it cleaned up. The real solution to the problem of the corrupting effect of money are, among others: (1)Congressional ethics with strong rules and real enforcement (2) Strict laws with real enforcement (3) non-partisan voter education (4) citizen's putting private pressure on the media to provide fair, accurate, issue-oriented coverage (rather than obsessing over the polls and the horse-race). Yes, a politician is sacrificed once in a while in an attempt to convince the public that help is on the way. Opposition to Citizen's United is based on the non-sequitur that the way to solve problems that are allegedly caused by the First Amendment is to restrict the First Amendment. It's time to get over it, get a grip and move on. There is a proposed constitutional amendment in Congress to overrule Citizen's United. Contact your Congressman. I shudder to think of the precedent established by a constitutional amendment designed to limit First Amendment rights. What ever happened to the "land of the free . . ."? The Founding Father would be astounded by the theory that it is acceptable for government to limit otherwise lawful political speech. It is also based on the assumption that the average voter is an idiot and cannot figure out what is going on. Such an assumption is a dangerous one in a democracy. If these SuperPacs are so awful, why has Obama accepted so much money from them? Finally, as Justice Jackson wrote: "It is not the function of our government to keep the citizen from falling into error. It is the function of the citizen to keep the the government from falling into error." Sorry I don't have time to add more, including links, or correct all the typos, but I've got to move on. Thanks for the stimulating post.


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Archive for March, 2013
edible oysters species are nowhere near the pearl oysters speciesPosted in Uncategorized on March 30, 2013 by crystalake
媽媽說,女人一定要出去工作,不管錢賺得多或是少,工作就是自己人生價值的體現。你一直在家,男人有機會在你面前說:"是我在養你。"Posted in Uncategorized on March 25, 2013 by crystalake
For 1 billion euro, you get a ticket to ride the big ship when the world ends..Posted in Uncategorized on March 22, 2013 by crystalake
only time will tellPosted in Uncategorized on March 21, 2013 by crystalake
Parental instinct is the strongest thing on earth – just to provide for their kids, parents will rob, beg, steal, borrow, work, cheat, snatch, fight, kill, deceive, betray and this list goes on. The question is "What will the kid do to the parents when they are all grown up and rich?"…dont be too quick to answer as only time will tell..
牵挂是一种忧伤的幸福,当你牵挂一个人时,你就会想他是不是也在牵挂你。因为喜欢才牵挂,因为牵挂而忧伤,用心去感受对方的牵挂。牵挂是一份浪漫,一份深沉,一份纯美,一份质朴。Posted in Uncategorized on March 18, 2013 by crystalake
MochaPosted in Uncategorized on March 5, 2013 by crystalake
Do you put chocolate powder into your instant coffee, so it becomes a mocha? Try adding a dash of irish cream or coffee liqueur to enhance the flavours!
Oh, they start so youngPosted in Uncategorized on March 4, 2013 by crystalake
Overheard this exchange between two secondary school girls.
Girl A: Yeah I want to get it but it's so expensive.
Girl B: why don't you get a boyfriend and then ask him to get it for you instead.
Girl A: Yeah maybe.
They learn (the right stuff) early these days


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Sunday, March 30, 2008
Posted by Velma at 6:38 PM No comments: Links to this post
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Huddled Masses
OMG - Kansas is gonna go all the way! This time of year makes me so nostalgic for my college basketball days. I had student tickets with my friends D. & L. We would go wicked early and sit in the student bleachers, reading the paper, playing cards or, very rarely, doing homework. The games were like a potent magic for the crowd.
From Springsteen to Jayhawk games, I'm realizing that what gets me going is that amazing shared experience. Once I saw U2. I've never been much of a fan, so I wasn't all that pumped about it. The show was good, but on the way out of this huge arena, almost everyone was still singing the refrain of the last song. It gave me goosebumps. Something about 10,000 people singing in unison makes it seem like we're all friends. As a genius Bruce fan said, "On the floor we've all got each other's backs. There's nothing good in this world that we can't do together."
The flip side of the crowd mentality is rioting, which is just terrifying. I've seen that a few times. When I was in Nairobi by myself I heard a big commotion as I was leaving a building. I asked someone what was happening and she replied, "They caught him!" When I rounded the corner, I saw a man being dragged down a city street, bloody and beaten, while throngs of people gave chase, screaming and throwing things at him. I thought I was going to to throw up. I beat a hasty retreat back to the place I was staying and burst into tears, frustrated by my own inability to stop the horror I had seen.
Wow - I've really taken a turn from the feel-good basketball post I had thought I'd write. You do that to me, Lone Reader, you little trickster. It's all jumbled up in my great gourd and writing to you helps me sort it out. Sigh...thanks. You're the best, man.
From Springsteen to Jayhawk games, I'm realizing that what gets me going is that amazing shared experience. Once I saw U2. I've never been much of a fan, so I wasn't all that pumped about it. The show was good, but on the way out of this huge arena, almost everyone was still singing the refrain of the last song. It gave me goosebumps. Something about 10,000 people singing in unison makes it seem like we're all friends. As a genius Bruce fan said, "On the floor we've all got each other's backs. There's nothing good in this world that we can't do together."
The flip side of the crowd mentality is rioting, which is just terrifying. I've seen that a few times. When I was in Nairobi by myself I heard a big commotion as I was leaving a building. I asked someone what was happening and she replied, "They caught him!" When I rounded the corner, I saw a man being dragged down a city street, bloody and beaten, while throngs of people gave chase, screaming and throwing things at him. I thought I was going to to throw up. I beat a hasty retreat back to the place I was staying and burst into tears, frustrated by my own inability to stop the horror I had seen.
Wow - I've really taken a turn from the feel-good basketball post I had thought I'd write. You do that to me, Lone Reader, you little trickster. It's all jumbled up in my great gourd and writing to you helps me sort it out. Sigh...thanks. You're the best, man.
Posted by Velma at 5:24 PM No comments: Links to this post
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Bacon Hawk
I. Yes, there is a band called 'Bacon Hawk'. This is their picture. I gotta respect the name, if not the hair. (UPDATE - this is a picture of the band Stryper. See the REAL Bacon Hawk here.)
II. Music (w/ no bacon)
I LOVE GumDrop, stereogum's super treasure trove of a newsletter! It's absolutely super cool and delish…try it! You'll like it!
I like 'LCD Soundsystem', but I really like their song 'Big Ideas' from the '21' soundtrack. Sadly, it's currently only available as a whole album purchase on iTunes, and the rest of the tracks ain't worth it.
Next up for live tunes…wait a minute…nothing until the Breeders at the end of May?! That can't be right! Help me, Lone Reader! I wanted to go see Bon Iver at the Turf or F*ck Buttons at Triple Rock, but a) they're on the same night and b) I have the kids that weekend. Maybe God wants me to stay home and watch Disney Channel? Nah. So…what's coming up that looks good?
And am I the only person disappointed in the "Rock the Garden" line up at the Walker? Wow. I like a lot of those people, but I'm not sure the name fits…maybe "Laid Back Tunes in the Garden"? And $30 a ticket seems like robbery for groups that have all been here recently for about $15 a pop.
III. Basketball (w/ a little bacon)
I'm readying for my basketball party tomorrow night – there'll be about 12 people over to scream for the Jayhawks as they advance to the elite 8. (and they totally will!) We're having lots of lovely treats and much beer. No BLT-inis, though…it's too much work to make that tomato water for a crowd. I'm making a pitcher of pomegranate/lime cocktails, which should be yummy. There will, of course, be bacon. I'm thinking not so much bacon desserts, but dates with manchego cheese wrapped in bacon and maybe the ultimate in MN white food – Tater Tots – wrapped in bacon as well. (Did you know that Minnesota has the highest rate of Tater Tot consumption per capita in the U.S.? You did? Well good for you, smartypants!)
Should I just set out a bowl of bacon? We'll see. (I need to get back to the Triple Rock for their free bacon Wednesdays…that was fun and tasty.)
Happy happy, people!
Posted by Velma at 2:21 PM 3 comments: Links to this post
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Jellybeans, Twizzlers and Peeps, oh my!
Somebody come over here and take all this damn candy outta here. It's worse than Halloween around this house.
When we first moved into this house, my kids were 2 and 5. We were so excited to live in a great neighborhood with lots of kids and an active block of neighbors. That first Easter we were invited across the street for a party with all the neighborhood kids. It even featured a visit from the real Easter Bunny! A day or two before the party, both kids had suspicious looking bumps on their faces. Then they each ran a fever; what could it be? That's right -- chicken pox. They had both been immunized, but I guess my daughter got a bad batch because she had pox everywhere. My son only had about three. So the day of the party, my two young 'uns were in the living room and started yelling, "There he is! There he is!"
The teen dressed in a mangy rented bunny suit was making his appearance across the street. My kids started beating on the windows with their faces smashed against the glass, yelling "Easter bunny! Easter bunny!" It was like we were in a TB ward in the 40s.
I close with a quote from one of my favorite bands in high school: "When I go out I have to wear a bunny mask to hide my fear." (It seemed like such a good song at the time...)
Posted by Velma at 4:01 PM No comments: Links to this post
Monday, March 24, 2008
Music, basketball and musings
1. Mike Doughty
Hmmm…well you know I love me some Mike Doughty. And don't get me wrong, it was good. It just wasn't great. He's a fab writer with an amazing voice – the band was good, but the antics were a little much. I thought the sausage dance and the multiple introductions of the band really broke the momentum, especially given the size and groove-ability of the crowd. It seemed a little bit amateur or contrived, especially given the amount of touring he's done of late. But you know I still love Mike Doughty, man. He can sing nonsense words and I'll always be there to listen. He's got more bacon than the pan can handle.
2. Basketball!
Rock Chalk Jayhawk, KU! I predicted Georgetown would fall and dang if I wasn't right. The path is clearing for the mighty 'Hawks to go to the Final Four. My kids are sooo sick of basketball, but hey, it's better for them than watching "Big Brother" or some kind of guano like that…
3. Easter
Easter is a funny holiday for Unitarians – what do we really talk about? Yesterday's service was super tasty. With love, faith and most importantly action, we can all begin again. My life in the past two years is truly a witness to this. The second act of my story started with tumult and heartache, but is now all sweetness and bacon. You can't ask for much more than that.
4. Deep thoughts that are so true
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. Albert Camus
We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us something is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit.
e.e. cummings
Happy Monday morn, Dear Reader! You look amazing!
Posted by Velma at 6:17 AM 1 comment: Links to this post
Friday, March 21, 2008
Strikes, Spares, Shmenges
Yeah, I finally broke into the 70s at bowling - I won the first game with a score of 72. Sure it was bumper ball and I kept coughing while my kids were up to throw them off their game, but hey, a win's a win, man.
I officially suck at bowling. I know this because when I first moved to the Twin Cities I was convinced to join a bowling league. I really needed friends and here were some video production groovies who didn't seem to care that I sucked. Our team was called "The Faerie Queens." We were the worst in the league. We got beat by a group that was officially visually impaired and played with some kind of beeping ball. We had a gal on our team who had a gigantic "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" kind of thumb and she would periodically get the ball stuck on her hand. When the league term ended, the woman who handed out awards told us we would've won for "Most Improved" except we never really improved.
Today I took my kids bowling. There was no one there except a group of about dozen guys in their 60s practicing at the other end. We used the bumpers. My son, who had never been bowling before, was so proud when, about 8 minutes after rolling the ball, it finally knocked down a pin. My daughter was a pro, and kept switching between right and left hands. She was also the master of the "Z-shot" hitting both bumpers with some speed.
And I will say that when searching for a photo for this post, I came upon this delight. I am not related to this child in any way. I am sure he is no longer a child, but is currently serving time in Leavenworth, having been driven to a life of crime if only to score some more stylin' threads and get a better agent.
In the spirit of the best bowling movie of all time: Tanqueray and Tab and keep 'em comin'...
Posted by Velma at 5:39 PM No comments: Links to this post
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Dude! How excited am I?! The Breeders are coming! The Breeders are coming!
Who's the coolest music chica of all time? Patti Smith? Okay, after her. Chrissie Hynde? Okay sure, but early stuff, not late 80s. Karen O? Brett Anderson? Tina Weymouth? Beth Ditto? C'mon now! You know it's Kim Deal!
At one point I posted a comment under the name "CoolAsKimDeal" and some one thought Kim was my real name. I didn't have the heart /desire to correct him, so he called me Kimmy for two months. My friend Michelle, who has actually hung with Kim Deal and taught her how to play Tetris back in the day, has assured me that I am indeed Cool as Kim Deal. I think she was just sayin' that 'cause I paid for her beer.
Anyway, I digress...The Breeders are coming! May 30th at First Ave. I'm excited! My sis is excited! (She's cool as Kelley Deal, who might actually be cooler than Kim Deal.) It's gonna be a super grrly time, man!
See you there!
Posted by Velma at 8:03 PM No comments: Links to this post
Bacon Peeps!
Combining the best of my favorite foodstuffs – the bacon-wrapped Peep. Yum.
(Don't bother trying to make bacon curls and then fit them around the Peep – they'll break. Just drape beautiful scarves of freshly cooked bacon around the Peep of your choice.) Now how to get the red wine and/or Tab involved…
Posted by Velma at 1:53 PM 5 comments: Links to this post
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
I Just Wanna Have Some Kicks
Okay, here's the problem with me and the internet…I'm thinking about concerts I've seen, trying to think of Top 5 kinda thing, and I think, "When was that Dead Kenedys concert?" So I Google and what d'ya know? Now I'm off on a bizarre tangent, reading about Mortal Micronotz (whom I loved) and Get Smart! (whom I really, really loved) and reminded of all the sneaking into Off the Wall Hall in Lawrence, Kansas, and then realizing at some point that you didn't have to sneak in, because nobody cared that you were 15.
Thank you Al Gore, for inventing the source of endless distraction, enjoyment and information. Without you, beloved internet, I'd still be calling my friend Andi in the middle of the night saying, "Remember that one video, with sailor guys at some kind of dance hall? and it was a fast song, and maybe a bit rockabilly? Remember? WHAT WAS THAT SONG?" ("Stand By" Roman Holliday)
Sigh…good times, man.
While on your Google romp you might find that someone else is all nostalgic and old and has a blog and the next thing you know you're reading about some dude's trip to Costco yesterday like you care. Because you kinda do. Because he was there when that crazy music-lovin' kid was born, that same punk that lives inside your 40-year-old shell and periodically peeks out. He's witness, man, to the fact that we were there and it was good.
Posted by Velma at 8:44 AM No comments: Links to this post
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Vengeful Elimination
I had a dear friend and her two young 'uns over for dinner tonight. We had such fun. Her children are younger than mine, so I got to experience the pre-K enthusiasm and the sweetness of a wee bambino. My two were, of course, over the moon to be the big kids in the room. Oh the hamminess I've seen.
When moms gather, talk turns to toilet habits. I don't know why. I do know why. At any rate, we discussed the way in which certain children (who shall remain nameless) seemed to do quite well in, shall we say, toilet habits, until they were at home. Then all hell or bladders broke loose. "I knew it wasn't personal," I said, "but it sure felt that way...it was like vengeful elimination." "Wow," said she. "That's got to be the name of your next blog."
Nah. That'll be the name of the band I front when I'm in my 70s. We'll blow the roof off the nursing home, man.
When moms gather, talk turns to toilet habits. I don't know why. I do know why. At any rate, we discussed the way in which certain children (who shall remain nameless) seemed to do quite well in, shall we say, toilet habits, until they were at home. Then all hell or bladders broke loose. "I knew it wasn't personal," I said, "but it sure felt that way...it was like vengeful elimination." "Wow," said she. "That's got to be the name of your next blog."
Nah. That'll be the name of the band I front when I'm in my 70s. We'll blow the roof off the nursing home, man.
Posted by Velma at 8:27 PM No comments: Links to this post
Gie her a Haggis!
Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!
From our chums at Archie McFee...gummy haggis. Wow. The chewiness of a classic gummy candy with the visual appeal of entrails...what's not to love?
Posted by Velma at 11:47 AM 1 comment: Links to this post
Bruce Report
Well, it was phenomenal. Man, that is truly a case of having to see the man and the band LIVE to really get it. For my long-time readers (and you know who you are) yes, it was better than Sharon Jones at First Ave. Highlights:
- The opener was Night, and I got to hear Backstreets which was great and Jungleland which was both great and interminable. I thought they sounded super tight and even better than the November show. Tremendous energy and a tweaked setlist from last time, which was fab.
- Right on the GA rail with a perfect view. Yeah, I took a few pics, only to discover in the morning that they were mainly short videos. Okay, so I'm not 100% up to speed with my new cell phone.
- Timed my Red Bull high better this time…
- Free beers from the group next to us
Coulda lived without:
- Didn't get into the pit, but got right up to the rail, which was phenomenal, so no complaints from me.
- Oh yeah, complaints from me: pit people get to come and go freely, and have a special bathroom, while GA has to fight the length of the floor there and back. Bring your astronaut underpants, man. Also hearing the words, "She's practically a dwarf" while pointing at me. Nuh-uh, dude! I'm 5' 3"!
- I think the love from the audience was a little less than last time, maybe because the November show was sold out, and it was the first in awhile. At least around me, the crowd seemed a little younger. and drunker. and more into Born to Run and Dancing in the Dark than anything else. (pikers)
- Wish we had gotten Omaha's big encore, but hey, we got two shows so that's okay.
A great time was had by all, man. Super, really super.
In non-Bruce news: Kansas is the #1 Seed in the Midwest! (but if you cared at all, you knew that) and my beloved Mike Doughty is this weekend! I'm hoping to go with my sister who's been wicked sick for the past week. Thankfully, I think she's on the mend now. I hope she gets better in time for some Golden Delicious at First Ave, otherwise I'll be rollin' solo. But hey, if I'm by myself big whoop! It's Mike Doughty!! So much to be happy about, people.
Posted by Velma at 10:13 AM No comments: Links to this post
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Just a super quick post for now, Dear Reader -- today is Springsteen! I'm going to attempt to get in the pit, which is no small time commitment. (Line up at 3:00 for an 8:00 show!) Wish me luck! And two fast facts:
1. You know I love live music if I'm willing to miss a) the Big 12 Final today and b) the selection show. GO JAYHAWKS! (Yes, I love Kansas basketball...sigh.)
2. The slammin' silver minivan is now mine, all mine. I made the last payment! YAY!
Ciao Bello/a!
Posted by Velma at 8:40 AM No comments: Links to this post
Friday, March 14, 2008
It's the weekend, people!
Tonight: a little jazz and the 55408 show at Intermedia Arts. The exhibition is curated by the phenomenal Sergio Vucci, with tunes and karaoke provided by Mike Hoyt of Norae Shanty fame. Should be fabulous!
Saturday: Dunno…probably hangin' out, upgrading my system (scary!) and working. That's an okay combo. What wine goes best with bacon and Peeps? Anyone? Anyone?
Sunday: Teaching in the morning, then Bruce Springsteen the rest of the day!! (I'll not be mocked by the likes of you, Lone Reader!) I was never a fan before I went his concert at Xcel in November. It was staggering, amazing and all other wonderful words. Now, I can't wait until Sunday! Am I going to get into the pit this time? Stay tuned…
Lastly, if this isn't a sign of the apocalypse, I don't know what is.
Happy Pi Day and have a great Bruce weekend, sugar pie!
Posted by Velma at 9:36 AM No comments: Links to this post
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Mary Ann Likes the Mary Jane
1. Hey! You know what? After 50 years on that island you'd be looking for some relief too. AP story
2. In other not-news, last night I went to hear Stan Bann's Big Band at O'Gara's. They were good, as always, and I ran into somebody I thought I might know. "Do I know you?" he said. "I was thinking the same thing." "Oh yeah…I think we had a date." We caught up a little and had a laugh about the internet dating thing. ("Is he havin' a laff?!")
This is now the second time this month that I've run into someone I had a single date with and then we sort of recognized each other. It's very weird. I suppose it's better than in high school, where your dating missteps have the locker next to yours. It's still kinda jarring. (Note to all internet daters out there: don't leave the house looking less than your best – you WILL see someone you know.)
3. Re. Eliot Spitzer: Dude! $4,300?! I am in the wrong line of work. (relax, it's a joke…)
Happy warm up and hug it out, people!
Posted by Velma at 9:19 AM No comments: Links to this post
Monday, March 10, 2008
Pimp'd my Mixer!
Yesterday I taught an art class, spent 2 hours at the pediatrician's office, downloaded some some new tunes, sewed the head back on a stuffed rabbit and, oh yeah, pimped my KitchenAid!
Thanks to FlameKA, my mixin' has new style.
Posted by Velma at 11:49 AM 1 comment: Links to this post
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Can't We All Just Get Along?
From Archie McPhee, proud purveyor of bacon-related things, and the always informative Mr. Baconpants comes this: Mr. Bacon and Mr. Tofu are fighting it out. May the tastier protein win. (I'm Switzerland on this one.)
Posted by Velma at 2:42 PM No comments: Links to this post
Joke o' the day from my sis
Q. What are the two sexiest animals on a farm?
A. Brown chicken, brown cow.
(Sing to the archetypal porn music: mao chicka, mao mao.)
Nah. It doesn't really work in writing.
A. Brown chicken, brown cow.
(Sing to the archetypal porn music: mao chicka, mao mao.)
Nah. It doesn't really work in writing.
Posted by Velma at 10:53 AM No comments: Links to this post
Bacon Funny
Posted by Velma at 10:48 AM No comments: Links to this post
Friday, March 7, 2008
Drop It Like It's Hot - it's a school dance
1. Maybe you're asking yourself, "What's it like at a 4th – 6th grade dance?" "Is it all I dream it to be?" or even "Is it magical?" Well, I went to my daughter's school last night and I have the answers: loud, no and no. But wait a minute – maybe you'd enjoy hearing Jonas Brothers music blasted at ear-shattering decibels in a gym, while the DJ screams things like "4th grade - make some NOISE!!" Parents were sitting at the back, and the poor younger sibs were relegated to the "other" gym to either play board games or play with the assorted balls available. And BTW, when you've got a tired, sulky 1st grader sitting at one of the tables, it doesn't help to have a Nerf football drilled right past your head. I look up and it's a dad who's decided it would be funny to play catch with his son over the heads of the wusses at the game tables. Nice. I was immediately transported back to fifth grade, thus I was going to tremble, cry and get the teacher, but then I realized I was actually grown up. I stuck him with my shiv while yelling, "That's from all the kids with glasses, you bastard!"
2. I'm having a super groovin' dance party in April. I'm not going to serve BLT-inis (too much work for that many people) but I am going to get out my disco ball. When Sister Fun closed in downtown Mpls, I bought their disco ball. I then had to carry it 8 blocks to my car. Three facts: a) it was wicked heavy, b) with my shorty T-Rex arms, I thought I was going to drop it any second, c) many people saw it as a conversation starter and tried to chat me up. The moral of that anecdote is that if you're looking to be macked on, carry around a giant disco ball.
Happy weekend, home skillet!
Posted by Velma at 7:34 AM No comments: Links to this post
Thursday, March 6, 2008
The Bacon Vodka BLT-ini!
Okay, people! I did it! The BLT-ini was consumed!
The recipe:
Three weeks ahead of time: start bacon vodka. A day or two in advance, make tomato water. (See previous posts for both.) Freeze a few grape tomatoes while you're at it. Keep both nasty looking liquids very cold. To Mix: Shake equal parts tomato water and bacon vodka with ice cubes and a pinch of celery seed in a cocktail shaker. Strain into martini glasses. Garnish with lettuce spear, frozen grape tomato and a bacon curl.
The details:
Some BLT-inis (yes, there are now many varieties) employ tomato juice. Yeah. I can't really get my head wrapped around the texture of tomato juice, so I went with tomato water instead. A lovely, light mixer.
Bacon curls are HARD to make! They kept breaking. I got one beauty, but for the most part I couldn't get the long Not Martha curls...more like little c-clamps made from bacon. Oh well. They still tasted good and we got to eat the mistakes. And the lettuce and tomato were pure genius...crunchy, frozen, booze-y genius.
The bacon vodka smells pretty gross, and despite filtering it twice through coffee filters, it still had tiny bits of bacon fat in it. (Ewww.) BTW, it takes quite awhile to strain...leave yourself time. I made one for me and one for Drummer Guy (TM). There was a definite sense of dread -- it really looked like urine with garnish. We had to dare each other to take a drink. And you know what? IT WAS GOOD! The tomato water was exquisite. I'm not much of a drinker (despite what you may have heard. or witnessed) so I would like a little more mixer than vodka, but it was very good. Tasty! We both finished them. And, may I say, there was quite a kick upon completion. YUM!
Me: Delish, summer-y and refreshing
Drummer Guy (TM): Five stars, good for sipping (not slurping) and really tastes like a BLT
Posted by Velma at 10:15 AM No comments: Links to this post
A Tale of Two Bacon Vodkas
Let's compare, shall we? On top, McAuliflower's Bacon Vodka. Beneath, my meaty moonshine.
Posted by Velma at 9:47 AM 2 comments: Links to this post
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
The saga of the BLT-ini!
This is it people!
It started with a bacon vodka post on BrowniePoints by the effervescent McAuliflower. Yes, I followed her directions to the letter and made a concoction that looked like a formaldehyde experiment gone bad. Then, while checking my beloved blog addiction, Not Martha, I found Megan's work making both bacon curls and bacon straws…seemed perfect!
I mentioned my experiment at work and the suggestion of BLT-inis came up. My boss suggested "tomahto water" as the mixer. (He's British.) So I made a disgusting looking concoction that has been in my fridge for two days, looking for all the world like either a jar of brine or my latest collection for the urologist. (See photo...it's neither Fluff nor an excretion, I promise.)
Tonight is the night. Can you feel the magic? Two nasty liquids will combine with an endive spear, a pinch of celery seed and a bacon curl to make the ultimate bacon-y goodness. (Should I add a frozen grape tomato or is that gilding the lily?) I'll be reviewing and reporting the recipe specs soon…yum! (or yum?)
Posted by Velma at 11:38 AM No comments: Links to this post
Missing Laptop
Hey - my boss's laptop has gone missing in London. If you have it, could you please return it? Thanks!
Posted by Velma at 8:53 AM No comments: Links to this post
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Beautiful American Babies
Well, there's high drama all around today. Sickness is leveling the strong, friends have kicked out spouses and yes, I have a hair appointment. A dear friend's wife is very ill, but she's out of the hospital and resting at home now. Major sickness makes me think of a TRUE STORY from my African adventures:
I. Tanya and I were in Tanzania. We had been together for a few weeks. I had finally acclimated to the slowness of East African life, and she had come up to speed after months in West Africa. It was weird – I had totally lost any sense of hunger and pretty much stopped eating, but I attributed it to the heat and didn't think about it. We were merrily clicking along when boom…sickness hit. It started in the middle of the night with many, many trips to the bathroom. Ugh…shouldn't have eaten that fruit on the train. Clearly something bad was taking over. But wait, I was also sweaty. and hot. and shaking. Moaning, I climbed back in bed, only to make the trek to the communal outhouse again in 15 minutes. I took Pepto and Tylenol and prayed for a coma. By the time morning came, I woke Tanya up and weakly said, "I'm so sick." She took my temp and said, "We've got to get you to the doctor." I knew it was serious, because when we got in a cab, neither of us asked how much the trip would cost.
When I got to the doctor, the check in person handed me a matchbox and pointed to a door. "Go back in there and leave a specimen in this box." After some clarification, I did as told. I was then told to go to the lab. The lab was a room with a dude wearing a white coat and a rusty spigot sticking out of the wall. I watched as he filled a bucket with water and washed his hands in it. He turned to me and said, "You have malaria, but to be sure we need blood." No. I most definitely did not have malaria. I had been taking the damn mefloquine since the plane ride from Amsterdam. It made me dizzy and nauseous and I hated it but I took it. I coated myself in Deet everyday. No damn way did I have malaria.
Before I left the States, I had debated bringing needles with me – it seemed somehow, I don't know, arrogant or privileged. (Which of course it is.) The rich traveler carries a safety net that no one around her has. All of that was pushed from my mind when I said, "I have needles." As I dragged them out of my pack he smiled and said, "Yes of course, you are ready…you are an American!" I anemically acknowledged the truth and offered up my arm. As he deftly slid the needle in he said in a low voice, "You know, you and I would make some beautiful American babies."
II. Later I was told I had amoebic dysentery and malaria. The check in person grabbed three giant jars of pills and I panicked as he rapid fire announced, "Take three of these two times a day, take one of these at night, take two of these three times a day." As he was talking he reached in the jar pulling out handfuls of pills and skillfully twisting them in sheets of paper. I was trying to write down which to take when, and he exasperatedly repeated the whole thing.
When I got home, I went to the U of M's infectious diseases department and had all kinds of tests. I still had dysentery, and would end up taking Flaggyl for a month to get rid of it, but the malaria was gone. The doctor asked what treatment I had taken. I said, "I have no idea. I took fistfuls of pills that came wrapped like saltwater taffy…and I'm so grateful."
Posted by Velma at 10:20 AM No comments: Links to this post
Monday, March 3, 2008
Happy Birthday, Ira Glass!
Posted by Velma at 5:09 PM No comments: Links to this post
BLT-ini: Tomato Water and Random Things
Tomato Water
Hey, guess what? It takes a lot of tomatoes to make tomato water. Here's a lovely picture of the effort. It's about 10 Roma and two big beefsteak organic tomatoes. You purée them in a food processor with a pinch of salt, then strain them overnight in cheesecloth (if you're a fancy pants) or coffee filters, if you is a common sorta folk. I know, it's sacrilege to make tomato water with nasty out-of-season tomatoes…what can I do? The BLT-ini experiment demands tomato water. Here's what I'm putting in the drink: tomato water, bacon vodka, endive leaf. Maybe a frozen cherry tomato or a bacon curl on the rim…we'll see.
Random Carp
5 Word Movie Review?
Michael Clayton – good, not great.
Fave Coen Bro?
Best Girl Scout Cookie?
Samoas, aka Caramel deLites*
Favorite One Hit Wonder?
Groove is In The Heart by Deee-Lite*
*Coincidence? I think not.
Have a deeliteful week!
Posted by Velma at 4:37 PM 1 comment: Links to this post
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text:
Orange felt flowers on rust and gold cord
This is a hend worked kumihimo cord, decorated with orange felt flowers and accentuated with small sparkly beads.
It measures 66cms in total and hangs 34cms plus a loop.
This would be lovely for any female birthday, or perhaps for Mother's Day or Easter.
I have enjoyed making cord since I was a child and I absolutely love felt. Making these was a way to combine those crafts with the beautiful summer flowers.
Shipping & delivery
This item will be posted to you by Fleur Designs within 3 days of receiving payment.
|Shipping destination
|Additional items
|United Kingdom
Returns Policy
You have 14 days, from receipt, to notify the seller if you wish to cancel your order or exchange an item.
Unless faulty, the following types of items are non-refundable: items that are personalised, bespoke or made-to-order to your specific requirements; items which deteriorate quickly (e.g. food), personal items sold with a hygiene seal (cosmetics, underwear) in instances where the seal is broken.


text:
Chicken Riggies
- 4 to 6 tablespoons butter
- 4 chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
- Fresh mushrooms (if you must), sliced
- 1 green pepper, cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 red pepper, cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon parsley
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 pound rigatoni, cooked and drained (I like the mini rigatoni)
- Melt butter in pan. Add chicken pieces and cook until chicken is almost done. Add mushrooms, peppers and onion and cook until vegetables start to soften.
- Add the chicken stock and stir.
- Stir together tomato sauce and heavy cream, then add to chicken & vegetable mixture.
- Add parsley, paprika and red pepper flakes.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Whisk cornstarch with some water until smooth. Gradually add to sauce, until the sauce reaches desired thickness.
- Pour over cooked pasta and mix together.


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Nisemonogatari 1 : 001
To begin with, I don't believe in the existence of any demographic which would desire to know the story concerning Araragi Karen and Araragi Tsukihi — in other words, my little sisters — but even if for argument's sake such a unique demand for this existed, I don't believe I would ever want to talk about those two in a proactive way. Anyone would be able to grasp the reason behind this were it made clear, but for the most part, and most of the time, people have an inclination of not wishing to openly and publicly disclose all sorts of domestic affairs, and I certainly am not an exception. However, even if we were to deduct this generalization, those two — Karen and Tsukihi are special. If they were not my sisters I'm sure I would never have become involved with them for my entire life, and even for argument's sake I was, they were the type of people who I would ignore, 100%. With the unique and peculiar experiences of these few months, I came to possess eccentric acquaintances in no small numbers — for example, Senjougahara Hitagi; for example, Hachikuji Mayoi; for example, Kanbaru Suruga; for example, Sengoku Nadeko — but if I have any talent at all, however imperfect, to face each of these individuals on even terms, the source of said talent can only be because of the fact that I was raised under the same roof as those sisters.
Well, be that as it may, it wouldn't be fair if I didn't make it clear that my inferiority complex, jealousy and prejudice are likely somewhat involved in this way of thinking. Unlike someone like me, coming to ruin at the end of an indolent high school life, Karen and Tsukihi do well — no, even I had done well when I was still a middle school student, so there's no particular need for me to feel inferior to them when they're still in middle school themselves, but even so, the time has now come when I'm forced to recognize just how good they are. Whenever there is a family gathering, someone would definitely say, "These are sisters you can be proud of, Koyomi-kun," as though it were a stock phrase — that's the kind of sisters they are. By the way, I've never heard anyone say, "This is a brother you can be proud of," to my sisters — then again, I'm a helpless and incompetent brother, so as it stands this should be of no surprise to anyone.
However, I want to say this with a loud voice.
While they are not failures, they are problems, and while they are persons of character they are also failures of character.
A bad habit of mine as their brother is to unintentionally talk of them as a single set, but of course they each have their own individuality, so at this point, I will give an exposition on each of them, one at a time, in order.
The older little sister.
Araragi Karen. [1]
Middle school third-year, who welcomed her fifteenth birthday at the end of June — she's caught up to me after a three-year gap. Ever since her days as a primary school student, her hairstyle has largely always been a ponytail. In fact, there was one time — it was around when she just entered middle school if I remember correctly — when she apparently dyed her hair — she was like some anime character, maybe I should express it that way — but in any case, it apparently ended up as a dizzyingly shocking pink color. It's still not clear what her intentions were, but anyway, as an obvious result, she got punched in the face by my mother (I'll say this for the sake of my mother's honor, but that was the first and last time our gentle mother has raised her hand against her daughter) and her hair was turned back to black that night (and with ink, too). Karen's hair was in essence only shocking pink during the few hours between her dyeing her hair in her room and my mother's return, and unfortunately I was staying behind at school (I was a high school first-year then on the brink of failing but still working hard to hang on) and missed this. On the flip side of regret, if I were the one to see her first it would probably have been me to punch her in the face, so I can't speak either way. However, that Karen would attempt such an excessive middle school debut in this outskirt rural town, where brown is more-or-less not an actual hair color, and the mere act of unhooking your school uniform can cause you to be treated as a delinquent, should make the question of what kind of personality she has a non-question.
In terms of form, she is frankly just not cute.
Instead, she's cool.
Speaking about this in too much detail will reveal my own height, which I'm using as a standard in the first place, which is why this will always be recorded ambiguously, but Karen is subtly taller than me. Leaving the actual range of "subtly" to your imagination, compared to me who stopped growing in my second year of middle school, Karen started growing steadily from her second year of middle school. This is a mutual and helpless complex. To be honest, it's the worst. I look up to my little sister. Is there a greater disgrace in the world that this? As Karen had rashly gotten involved with combat sports, she has really good posture. That's why she feels about five centimeters taller than normal. It's also for this reason that she will never wear skirts. Saying that they "make her legs look long", she always goes to school wearing a loose tracksuit. Actually, the smartness of the tracksuit again just makes her look even cooler.
By the way, the combat sport she's involved in is Karate. She's always been an active kid and good at sports, but it seems that her talents are truly suited to acts of combat, and she got the black belt in the blink of an eye. Our living room is decorated with a photo of her with a decisive V-sign, black belt fastened to her uniform, but she's gotten too involved, and it doesn't feel very girlish. I wouldn't go all the way to say she's mannish, but with the help of her aggressive and slanted eyes, she just feels boyish somehow. In terms of people I know, she might be the closest to Kanbaru. If you extract the respect Kanbaru Suruga has for me, she might become Karen — but no, that example isn't too appealing.
Continuing on, the younger little sister.
Araragi Tsukihi. [2]
Middle school second-year, whose birthday is at the beginning of April, meaning she is now fourteen years old — unlike her older sister Karen, Tsukihi's hairstyle changes based on her mood and the season. That she would not stay with the same hairstyle for three months conversely makes it unclear whether she's picky about it or not. She had straight long hair until just a while ago, but now it's a shaggy dutch bob. Not that I asked in detail as I wasn't interested, but apparently she has a preferred salon. It's not that I don't think she's conceited for a middle-schooler, but in this day and age, that might just be how it is. However, in Tsukihi's case, the problem is not so much external as it is indeed internal. No matter what Karen may say, she is the same inside as she is outside, but Tsukihi's appearance betrays her character — it's key that her character isn't betraying her appearance. In contrast with her sister, Tsukihi has docile drooping eyes, a short build that is the absolute opposite of Karen, and a slow tone of voice that was truly like that of a girl's, but on the inside, she is more offensive than Karen, and worse, she is hot-tempered. It hasn't only been one or two cases where I had heard the circumstances behind the violent troubles caused by Karen and found that it had originated from Tsukihi in the first place. She was so hot-tempered that it may well be called hysteria. People around her are always bewildered by her gentle appearance and this gap — well, if she has one saving grace, it is that she consistently only gets angry for the sake of someone else.
To refer to a particular episode, this was back when Tsukihi was a second-year in primary school. A soccer ball that some upperclassmen were playing with came flying into the garden where her class was growing sunflowers during recess. The classmate in charge of watering the plants found fault with the upperclassmen who came to retrieve the ball, but their high-handed talk back made her cry — well, it's not something unusual in a primary school, but hearing this, Tsukihi acted swiftly, located in an instant the class those upperclassmen belonged to, and charged into their classroom (Karen was with her, by the way). The turmoil, subsequently commemorated as the Ikedaya Incident (there was a Shinsengumi boom at the time, but otherwise the naming is meaningless), caused one upperclassman to be hospitalized, and the furnishings of the classroom were so close to being completely destroyed that they couldn't be sorted out again. Not satisfied, they went at length, sending sunflowers as a get-well gift to the hospitalized upperclassman.
Or I should just say that they went and overdid it.
It was a horrible episode where it's said that the crying classmate actually stopped crying out of terror.
Liking Japanese clothes so much that she wears a yukata as pajamas, she joined the school Tea Ceremony Club simply for the sake of "wanting to wear the kimono", and though she is supposed to be learning the spirit of tea there, to my regret, I couldn't see any inclination on her part on amending this personality. Well, considering this is a teaching where bigot monks so short-tempered they go berserk when you sprinkle sugar on watermelons get to throw their weight around, it might have instead strengthened her hysteria.
And like so, with a sister that is already completely out of hand by herself, and two of them, of all things — they are not just out of my hands, but beyond the reach of any part of my body. As their brother, someone of utter mundanity in terms of personality, all I can do is determinedly think of how I should behave myself when they cause another socially dangerous problem. The trouble might be that those two sisters compliment each other well in every way.
The bigger little sister who likes to act violently, and the younger little sister who find a reason for violence in everything — that is the reason they are called the Fire Sisters of Tsuganoki.
According to what I hear from Sengoku, my sisters are quite famous among the middle school girls — Tsuganoki, which is to say, Tsuganoki No.2 Middle School is a private school, meaning it should be at least a bus change away, so it's not a trivial matter that rumors have reached even Sengoku, who attends the neighborhood public school (my old school).
I haven't confirmed this with the person herself so its credibility is questionable, but as I hear it, on the first day of admission, Karen went one-on-one with the gang leader in charge of all the middle schools in the city, won, and from then on became quite famous among middle-schoolers — no, that's definitely a lie. Were phrases utterly impossible for the twenty-first century made commonplace in just two lines of text? No way, it's definitely a lie, but the fact that such a lie can be let pass should tell you how famous Karen and Tsukihi are.
The Fire Sisters of Tsuganoki.
Araragi Karen is the Fire Sisters' fighter, and Araragi Tsukihi is the Fire Sisters' planner. And so, like some sort of relief force or world reformation group, they play as allies of justice, everyday, repetitively. Of course, when I say this to them, first,
"We're not playing, Nii-chan."
that is what Karen would say.
And continuing on,
"We're not allies of justice. We're justice itself, Onii-chan."
that's definitely how Tsukihi would go on.
I know pretty much all the things they are likely to say.
However, as their relative, I can assert that what they do isn't something so nice, but just something to release excess energy. If you keep doing things like this you'll get in trouble for it one day — that's what I keep saying to them, but seeing as I was the one who have gotten in trouble successively over these months, it didn't really ring true. And because it didn't ring true, I probably wasn't very convincing — well, it's also because of this that I could speak with ease, knowing that they'll ignore me anyway — but I can say this with a loud voice.
Araragi Karen and Araragi Tsukihi —
That their deeds as the Fire Sisters are still nothing more than playing as allies of justice.
The sisters I'm so proud of —
That you are just helpless impostors.
| Next : 002 >>
The title
偽 nise means 'fake' 'imitation'
偽者 nisemono (for persons) means 'impostor', 'liar'
偽物 nisemono (for objects) means 'counterfeit', 'forgery'
物語 monogatari means 'story', 'tale'
[1] : 火憐 (Karen)
火 ka means 'fire'
憐 ren is the character 粦 rin with a 'heart' radical. Rin means 'a great gathering of' – 'a great gathering of hearts', thus 'emotions', 'pathos'.
可憐 karen means 'lovely', 'pitiful', 'pure and sweet'
燐 ren (note the 'fire' radical) means 'phosphorous' (the element)
[2] : 月火 (Tsukihi)
月 tsuki means 'moon'
火 ka means 'fire'


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The Tell the Story emphasis is designed to make it easy for you to share Christ with those in your home and beyond through your story of faith and His story of love in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This kit is our gift to you and your family, to help you share your own story of faith. You will also learn a simple way to share His story using one verse - Romans 6:23. Included in this kit is a guide to help you understand this strategy, recipe cards that you and your spouse and children/teens can use to share your story and a Tell Your Story card that will walk you through developing your own story of faith.