text:
USD/RUB? Anybody Tried?
Any information relevant to my inquiry is much appreciated.:)
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Anyone Knows How to Trade Forex Via Binary Options?
After doing some research about trading online. I stumbled upon Binary option and find it user-friendly. Although i dont know much about it, i feel that one can possibly win more and lose more money at the same time. Nevertheless, i think it's for someone like me who doesnt know much about trading.
Question: Anyone, who knows an effective way of minimizing loses in Binary options? Hopefully by experience and not textbook strategies. :)
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Chart of the Day
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SSL Channel Alert - VertexFX VTL Script
The green line above red line indicates bullish market. In bearish market, the green line is below red line. Red line can be used as stop loss. A buy is triggered when green line crosses above red line and sell is triggered when green line crosses below red line.
In trending markets the indicator generates good signals, but in sideways market it may trigger choppy signals.
The indicator triggers an alert when trend change is identified.
Alligator Indicator - VertexFX VTL
The alligator is a metaphor. When the three moving averages are entwined, the alligator is sleeping. This indicates a flat market. A trend begins when the alligator wakes up, that is, when the moving averages moves away, or widens. The green line moves fast followed by the red line and finally the blue line. This is the beginning of a trend. Better trades can be opened when a trend is identified.
Alternative Ichimoku Indicator - VertexFX VTL
The main components of Alternative Ichomku are the cloud (area between thick lines) and the trigger line (blue line). The cloud is useful in identifying trend. When price trades above the Cloud, trend is up or bullish and when price trades below cloud trend is down or bearish.
When price breaks through the cloud from below, it is beginning of an up trend and when cloud is broken downward from above the cloud, it is the beginning of a down trend. Price trading within the cloud indicates a sideways trend.
Ichimoku Cloud - VertexFx VTL
Leman Trend Alert VertexFX
This is a client side VTL script for VertexFX Terminal
Leman Trend indicator tries to identify the trend direction by measuring price acceleration. For price acceleration, Leman trend uses 3 different periods. The
upward momentum of price is plotted as a green line and downward momentum as a red line.
When the upward momentum rises above downward momentum, (green line crossing above red line) trend direction is up and the opposite for down trend. The green
and red line cross over can be used for trading signals. When green line rises above red line, price is expected to trade higher and when red line rises above
green line, price is expected to trade down.
Elliot Wave Oscillator VertexFX
The Elliott Oscillator is a 34 period simple moving average of prices subtracted from a 5 period simple moving average of prices displayed as a histogram above and below a zero line.
Elliot wave analysts can use Elliot wave oscillator for identifying the 5-3 wave structure of price moves. The most important concept about the Oscillator is that the highest/lowest point of the Oscillator is connected to the bullish/bearish Wave 3 of Elliot wave structure. Elliot wave analysis is very complex and difficult for many traders. However Elliot wave oscillator can be used for divergence trading. In the image, observe the divergence between price and the oscillator. After divergence, observe the emergence of a down trend.
Buzzer Alert VertexFX
Buzzer is a modification on moving average to identify trend direction. Normal moving average strategy is to buy when price is above moving average and sell when price is below moving average. However Buzzer works in a different manner. When the buzzer line is rising or flat after a rise, it indicates up trend and when buzzer line is declining or flat after a decline, it indicates down trend. The trading strategy with buzzer line is to buy when the line begins to rise and sell when the line begins to decline.


text: Hi All, I have a MSVC project I am converting with winebuild. My project links in a windows .lib file that is provided by a third party. Can I link this library file into my winelib project, and if so how? I cant seem to find any recent discussion on this topic so if you could point me to some I would be very grateful. regards, Scott. PS sorry for the repeat - this question was embedded inside an email on a different topic.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Masuko Jo is an illustrator and designer
working and living in California.
She graduated from Parsons the New School
for Design in New York City.
3×3 Student Annual, 2012
Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Exhibition, (New York, NY) 2012
Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship, Call for Entries Poster, 2013
Nancy Lee Rhodes Roberts Scholarship Award, 2012
Permanent Collection, Nancy Margolis Gallery (New York, NY), 2012
Just Plants, Artrebels Gallery (Copenhagen, Denmark), 2013
3×3 Illustration Annual, No.10, 2013
Buy Some Damn Art Show, March 2014
Dime Bag 4, The End is Near, (Brooklyn, New York), 2014


text:
Team Members & Area of Study:
Alan Mabin, Alison Todes & Robin Bloch (Johannesburg & the Gauteng City Region, South Africa)
Alison Todes (Durban/ eThekwini, South Africa)
Alan Mabin & W. Kombe (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)
George Owusu, Robin Bloch, Felix Hammond & Issaka Ndekugri (Accra, Ghana & Tema, the adjoining metropolitan area).
Research Context, Methods and Goals:
The African context is one of an urban population now as large as that of north America or Europe, and this regional cluster will bring the study of African suburbanisation into the same intellectual arena as that of other continents. Following Ekers, Hamel and Keil (2010), suburbanisation is here understood as 'the combination of non-central population and economic growth with urban spatial expansion'. In the immense variety of African urbanisms, the cluster is exploring what forms 'suburbs' and peripheries in general, take in various African contexts, including spaces which concentrate new economic activities, zones of middle and upper income residence, the meaning of informality of building, land markets and social activity, and the various elements of what is often termed 'urban sprawl'.The key theme is rapid growth of cities into new spaces and forms, with interest in the main trends with regard to this growth, what the drivers of growth are, and how it is shaped (or not) by policy and institutional mechanisms that try to direct urban growth (and the reality of what happens in practice). The case studies will focus on key actors involved in African suburban growth and the creation of African suburbanisms, and the ways they influence it (property developers, landowners, traditional authorities, administrators; households of different types; politicians). Life in the suburbs and visions of the future will receive attention.
Current Activities:
In Year 1, a literature review on African suburbanisms (Butcher, Mabin and Bloch) was presented inter alia at RC21 in Amsterdam. The intersection of the Africa Cluster with the Govermance cluster also produced a review and discussion paper on Africa's new suburbs (Bloch). In addition, in September 2011, a workshop to plan the 'case study' and 'vantage point' research on suburbs and suburbanization in several African cities was held in Cape Town.
This workshop will prepare us for Years 2 and 3, when we will conduct detailed case studies of current growth and development in selected cities and regions. Oriented by the Global Suburbanisms perspective and the jointly established African research agenda, we will focus on the process of land development and its governance on the urban periphery, as driven by large scale economic, social and cultural dynamics. Researchers will analyze how landowners, investors, real estate developers, planners and regulators—public and private—collude, collaborate and, occasionally, are in conflict in developing new suburban settlements and suburban ways of life.
The studies comprise: (a) Johannesburg and other cities in the Gauteng City Region (Pretoria/Tshwane, East Rand/Ekurhuleni), South Africa (Mabin, Todes, Bloch); (b) Durban/ eThekwini, South Africa (Todes); (c) Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (Mabin and Kombe, Ardhi University); (d) Accra, Ghana and Tema, the adjoining metropolitan area (Owusu, Bloch, plus Felix Hammond and Issaka Ndekugri, University of Wolverhampton). Some comparisons will be drawn with North America and India (Harris and Mabin).
Conference and Workshop Presentations
Publications and Other Dissemination


text: On Wed, 2010-11-03 at 13:04 +0200, Eero Volotinen wrote: > 2010/11/3 mattias <mj at mjw.se>: > > How to setup a vpn server on centos? > > I can't find the pptpd in any repo > PopTop is possibly solution that you are looking for: > http://poptop.sourceforge.net/ , but ssl-vpn like openvpn is much > better solution (works correctly with any firewalls) PoPTP works very well. Also known as pptpd.


text: Mr. Bradley joined the IN Compass Health leadership team in October 2013. He is a former Critical Care nurse, Director of IT, and Vice President of Business Development with over 15 years of acute care hospital experience. Along with his clinical degree, Joel has an MBA from the University of Kent in Canterbury, England. He oversees operations and supports our various directors.


text:
I got asked last night why my blog has been unusually busy in the last week. When I started it just over a year ago I'd planned to write something a couple of times a month. Things didn't quite go to plan - the blog went from quiet to very quiet. It was completely dead for three months then resurrected back to quiet again in January.
I met my target of twice monthly blog posts in January and February. I joined a couple of blogging groups on Facebook, but still needed a bit of a push. So when I came across a 30 day blogging challenge I decided to give it a go.
If you'd like to know more about the challenge here's the link:


text:
Judge Pam Harvath
|Office Location
212 W. Garland
Grand Saline, TX 75140
|Mailing Address
PO Box 189
Grand Saline, TX 75140
Fax: 903-962-4676
Email: Justice of the Peace Pct. 1
Deputy Court Clerk
|Rachel Mayne
Court Clerk
Click here to pay traffic citations.
County ID for Precinct 1 is 2853656
Defendant Information Sheet
Courtesy Sheet


text:
- With the recession expected to be severe and prolonged, the bigger the recession the more people will learn that not only is cash king - it's good karma!
- Gas prices have come down to levels not seen since 2003.
Dec 28, 2008
Making the Best of a Recession
Dec 26, 2008
Early Retirement May Not Be a Matter of Choice
Dec 17, 2008
Happiness in Retirement Depends on You
For example, a study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan found that for a fair percentage of retirees, the retirement years weren't all that rosy.
Retirement is the perfect time to become the person you would like to be and do the things you have always wanted to do. No doubt doing everything you have always wanted to do sounds great. It won't happen by itself, however. This is true even if you have excellent health and a big pile of money in the bank when you retire.
Dec 14, 2008
Latest News about Retirement Planning
Here are some of the latest news reports about retirement:
- 1. Crisis crushes Americans' retirement dreams
NDTV.com - New Delhi,India
A recent Bank of America Retirement Savings Survey showed that about 43 per cent of people in the US are planning to work for more years than they expected ...
2. Financial planning gets tougher
Times Herald-Record - Middletown,NY,USA
"People may know, intellectually, that it is vital to have stock-market exposure for at least some portion of their retirement portfolio in order to keep ...
See all stories on this topic
3, Hopeful in hard times
Myrtle Beach Sun News - Myrtle Beach, SC, USA
The 60-year-old, who would have been planning his retirement about now, doesn't even think about it these days. He'll have to keep at it as a rental ...
4. How You Can Rebuild Your Wealth (for retirement)
Wall Street Journal - USA
It won't be an easy recovery for most of us, but financial planners say that a little flexibility about your saving, spending and retirement plans will go a ...
Also Check out The Money Cafe Where Money Talks with a Conscience: How to Make Money, How to Save Money, and and How to Spend Money Wisely
Dec 8, 2008
Creating a Sales Letter for How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free
The above image is that of a sales letter webpage that I spent the last two days creating for my book How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free .
You can see the complete webpage with the sales letter at How to Retire Happy .
I did not realize the amount of work that goes into a "one-page" sales letter. My sales letter for How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free is long for a reason. Contrary to popular belief, the most effective sales letter is one that has long sales copy — where it goes on for the equivalent of 7 to 10 pages — even 20 pages. Most marketing professors at universities — regardless of many Phd.s they have after their names — don't know this. (Academics are normally not as bright as they think they are.) But internet marketing millionaires know this. That's why they earn the big bucks.
Will everyone read my long sales letter? Definitely not! As prospects hit a sales webpage — many are only going to skim what is there unless they are fully engaged. The intent is to have someone to be able to simply skim through the headline, subheads, boldings, yellow highlighter, embellishments, etc and be able to make a buying decision.
As an aside, I have found out why Google was penalizing my Retirement Quotes Cafe Website. With this knowledge I was able to get it back into the top-3 on Google's listings when you type in "retirement quotes" into Google.
In fact, not so long ago, when I typed "retirement quotes" into Google, 4 of my websites or blogs came in on the first page. To have 4 of the top 10 listings on Google is not too bad for an amateur, wouldn't you say. This is not something that you would learn how to do from a person with a Ph.d. in marketing. You learn how to be successful at these things by listening to internet marketing gurus such as Derek Gehl and Tom Antion, to name a few.
Dec 6, 2008
Retirement Comfort Does Not Translate into Retirement Happiness
- It goes without saying that people who rely on boring jobs for fulfillment are probably boring individuals who will get even more bored in retirement.
- If there was ever a time in your life to be wild in the purest sense of the word, retirement is it.
- The universe assures you that you will have a much easier go around in life when you stop following the herd. Your chances for a full, relaxed, satisfying, and happy life will tend to increase in direct proportion to how much you are out of step with the rest of society. Indeed, the more unconventional and eccentric you are, the better.
- The pursuit of happiness in retirement can be quite elusive. Comfort does not translate into happiness. Living in physical comfort doesn't mean personal fulfillment nor does it mean personal joy nor does it mean a feeling of success.
- Joseph Conrad stated, "It's extraordinary how we go through life with eyes half shut, with dull ears, with dormant thoughts. Perhaps it's just as well; and it may be that it is this very dullness that makes life to the incalculable majority so supportable and so welcome."
Nov 28, 2008
A Time to Rethink Retirement?
Fact is, being happy in retirement is part of retirement planning and at least 80 percent of being happy in retirement is based on non-monetary factors.
As for the monetary factors, you have to take 100 percent responsibility for your finances. Even 98 or 99 percent won't suffice.
Whatever you do, don't count on the government or any economists for help. The financial crisis was created by their voodoo economics and pie-in-the-sky ideas.
The downturn has proven that the economy creates and maintains its own rules based on common sense — that apparently hardly any economist or banker understands, however.
I semi-retired when I was 32 years old and had a net worth of minus $30,000 (due to my student loans).
If you would like a carefree retirement, I would advise that you do the same.
Here are two retirement quotes to help you retire happy, wild, and free:
- The worst days of those who enjoy what they do, are better than the best days of those who don't.
— E. James Rohn
Most people fail in life because they major in minor things.
— Anthony Robbins
Nov 20, 2008
Istanbul, Here I Come, Ready or Not!
On Saturday I will be leaving for London and then on Monday to Istanbul where I am scheduled to speak on Thursday November 26th about The Joy of Not Working to 2,500 executives, scholars, and students attending the National Turkish Congress on Quality convention.
They are putting me up in an executive suite at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel (corporate rate is 700 Euro per night) for 3 nights. I won't even tell you how much they spent on the airfare because you wouldn't believe me. This all came about because of The Joy of Not Working being published in Turkish and because this organization's convention theme this year is "Quality of Life." I have calculated the organization is spending a total of anywhere from $20,000 to $25,000 to have me speak in Istanbul - but my fee for my one-hour speech is a modest $3,000.
Following are some subjects related to leisure and work that I willl include in my speech:
- Hard work is no match for relaxed, creative action.
- 90 percent of things worth doing aren't worth doing well.
- Slow down and your days will be longer.
- The journey toward success should feel better than to arrive.
- Only fools are in a hurry to get to anywhere worth going.
- Life's a breeze when we put half as much time into simplifying it as we do into complicating it.
- Be happy while you are alive because you are a long time dead!
The Joy of Not Working: A Book for the Retired, Unemployed, and Overworked — by Ernie J. Zelinski
Nov 18, 2008
Being Happy in Retirement Can Take Time for Some Retirees
Retirement can be an exciting period, but in a less positive vein, it can also be a very difficult time in people's lives before any degree of happiness is achieved. As retirement seminar leader George Fulmore says, for some people, the adjustment to retirement takes time.
This is confirmed by the Later Life Families Study, particularly for men. The study found that males who have been retired six years or more are more likely to say that retirement is easy for them (79 percent) than those in the first five years of retirement (61 percent). Incidentally, almost 75 percent of women in this study said retirement is easy for them, regardless of how many years they had been retired.
Nov 15, 2008
Chinese Women Want Same Retirement Age as Men
The following is exerpted from an article about 5 years ago.
- A Chinese policy established decades ago in a bid to protect female workers is now being questioned by increasing numbers of Chinese women who want to keep their jobs longer.
Men retire five years later than women under the regulation. The retiring age for female staff is 50, and 55 for men. While women cadres leave their posts at 55, it's 60 for men of the same status. The intention of the policy was to protect women's health and lawful rights, said officials with the State Ministry of Personnel.
Statistics show that the average life expectancy for Chinese women is 71 while 69 for men. In some well-off areas like Shanghai,the figure is nearly 80 for women.
Sociologists cite the toughness of the current job market as one reason for women retiring early. In some badly-run factories and companies, women staff are required to leave their jobs at 45 and get an even lower pension.
I would imagine that Chinese women are even more irritated by this policy given that China's ecomony is about to tank.
Nov 12, 2008
Be Happy Today If You Desire Happiness During Your Retirement Years
Perhaps these people never learned to live in the moment and create happiness while they were in the working phase of their lives.
If they had, they would have experienced greater happiness before retirement as well as during their retirement years.
- "If you can just stay in the present, something good will happen, a little giving up of the pain."
— Retiree Rosie Martinez, 71, of Paradise Valley, Arizona
Nov 8, 2008
Retirement Living Standards Do Not Have to Keep Improving
A recent OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) study recommends that member countries raise the average age at which people retire from the labor market so that people remain in the workforce longer.
My question is, why do we have to have our retirement living standards continually keep improving. When will enough be enough? Isn't our standard of living pretty damn good compared to other nations and to what it was 100 or 200 years ago?
Nov 5, 2008
It's Hard Work Trying to Give Away 430 Copies of the World's Best Retirement Book
Here are three more responses to my attempt to give away 430 copies of The World's Best Retirement Book — my international bestseller How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free. (See second last blog post).
Number 1
Hi, Ernie:
(Congrats on your success, by the way!)
Thanks for thinking of me. I can't think of a perfect idea, but I'll
ask a colleague or two, just in case.
Well, maybe the folks at betterinvesting.org might be interested?
(They're the investment club people.) They hold conferences/conventions
around the country - -they could possibly give away your books at
one of those. I'm thinking that might be a good target audience for
you – people already interested in retirement planning and investing
in stocks.
Otherwise, maybe some community adult-education courses, perhaps in
large markets, where they could distribute a lot of your books quickly,
to students?
Best wishes,
Selena Maranjian, The Motley Fool
To Educate, Amuse and Enrich: www.Fool.com
Financial advice you can actually understand.
Number 2
- Ernie,
Please know that this response is coming personally from me, Kimberly
Menken, Office Assistant, and not the Missouri Park & Recreation Association.
My first thought was I need this book for my parents who both work
harder than I could ever imagine and are "coming up" to retirement
in a couple of years. My first thought is to have you contact the
Non-Teacher School Employee Retirement Systems of Missouri. Their
address is 3210 W. Truman Blvd, Jefferson City, Mo; phone number 573-634-5290.
I do not know a whole lot about them, but they were the first one's
that came to mind. Also, Retirement Plan Advisors at 573-659-4443.
Again, this suggestion comes from me as an individual, not the MPRA.
I hope all goes well from here out, and have a blessed day!
Number 3
- Dear Mr. Zelinski, I'm flattered that you asked for my advice, but I'm at a loss for how to help you. Regards, Kelly Greene
Kelly Greene
Staff Reporter
The Wall Street Journal
200 Liberty St., 10th Floor
New York, NY 10281
Incidentally, some people have assumed that How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free is going out of print because I am giving these copies away. In fact, I will be doing a new print run for Ten Speed Press in January.
Also, Allstate Financial in North Brook, IL, just purchased 3,700 copies with the corporate name on the cover to give away to its baby boomer clients. If you take the 430 copies, I can also send you a sample of the Allstate edition later if you take some or all of the 430 copies.
I am amazed how difficult it is to give away 430 pefectly readable copies of the book that comes in the number 1 spot if you type in "retirement" into Amazon.com. I have e-mailed several hundred people.
Nov 2, 2008
Still Trying to Donate 430 Copies of The World's Best Retirment Book
Here are some of the responses to my gesture of trying to creatively donate 430 copies of The World's Best Retirement Book — my international bestseller How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free. (See previous blog post).
Number 1
- Ernie,
Just want you to know I put the word out about your book availability, and so far, haven't heard anything. I'll let you know if someone is interested in your offer.
Have a great weekend,
Anita Bruzzese
Number 2
A couple ideas ... Have you thought about donating them to public libraries? A little complicated, but your shipping and other expenses may be tax deductible. Or, do you have a major public university nearby? Set up a table next to one of those credit card issuers and give them away to anyone who stops — if a free t-shirt is a big lure, a free book must be, too! Hook 'em early, I say.
Good luck!
Number 3
You might consider doing a promotion with Eons.com — they have strong demographics in this category and are rapidly growing in audience.
One more note:
There are also 265 copies of my book Real Success Without Real Job in the same condition at the Ten Speed Press warehouse.
Although this is not a retirement book, it will appeal to so called "retirees" who would like to keep working but not in a corporate setting. (This book is also still in print but will be reissued in February 2009 with the new title: Career Success Without a Real Job.)
Oct 31, 2008
Giving Away 430 Copies of The World's Best Retirement Book
- Hello :
I would like your advice.
How can I creatively give away 430 copies of my international bestseller How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free ?
This book has just reached the milestone of over 100,000 copies sold, is still selling well, and appears as the number 1 listing for retirement-related books if you type "retirement" into Amazon.com's search feature.
The 430 copies that I want to donate are perfectly readable but slightly imperfect in appearance. In the words of my publisher Ten Speed Press, "These are just dinged up enough that we can't sell them as new, or they have stickers (from stores) or some other issue. Some may be worse than others, some better."
Do you know if anyone would like to receive these copies provided they pay for the shipping?
- The 430 copies could be given away at a retirement conference for executives or at a retirement seminar for employees.
In case you haven't read the book, I have attached the partial E-book edition of How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free (in PDF format).
Let me know if you come up with a great idea.
The person who provides me with the best solution wins a set of 6 of my books — in perfect condition.
Please forward this message to anyone else who may be interested in contributing a great idea.
Thanks and so long for now.
Ernie Zelinski
Author of the Bestseller How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free
(Over 100,000 copies sold and published in 7 foreign languages)
and the International Bestseller The Joy of Not Working
(Over 225,000 copies sold and published in 17 languages)
Oct 26, 2008
American Dream Homes Are Actually Nightmares
But given that many Americans thought that they deserved a $400,000 house with nothing down while earning a wage of $10 an hour, they were just as GREEDY as the bankers offering these loans, wouldn't you say? This is my take on it, anyway. As Newsweek magazine recently stated in a cover story, "The whole country has been complicit in a great fraud."
The results are quite striking: Nationwide, for those who purchased U.S. homes since the beginning of 2003, nearly one in three now have negative equity. Nearly half of buyers who purchased houses in 2006 are "underwater", which is the new term for owing more on the mortgage on your house than the house is worth on the real estate market.
Overall, one in six American homeowners owe more on their homes than the homes are worth. No more getting cash out of the equity of a house to live a life that people can't afford.
The question I posed to my friends was: Are these one in six, in fact, "homeowners" if they owe more on their homes than the homes are worth?
This was the response by my friend Todd Lorentz:
- Ernie,
- This is my take on it:
- Technically, if they don't own any equity then they're "house-sitters".
- The most commonly assumed home owner, then, is really the bank. However, the money that the bank lent was not real - they just made it up on paper and never actually had that amount in the first place to lend out. So the bank actually purchased the home through the people who are now the house-sitters, with money that didn't exist. If the money doesn't actually exist, then it is really not a true sale and the original home builder still technically owns it. But they didn't own it either if they also took out similar "fiat" loans to build it.
- So yes, indeed, who are the real owners?
- It appears that all of those "house-sitters" are living in in a nation that is filled with houses that nobody actually owns, or which have been acquired without using REAL currency to buy.
- Therefore, America is functioning more like a "commune" where everyone, after a little tricky paperwork, can stake out a claim on a place to sqaut.
- Yes, America is a nation of SQUATTERS and those house-sitters should be subject to the laws on squatting. If the orignal builders allowed them to "squat" there while knowingly accepting no REAL cash for it up front, then the house-sitters are actually squatters and
after a period of time the squatters can stake an ownership claim to it as their own. Then, that would make them full owners, free and clear, without spending a dime on it.
God Bless America!
Oct 22, 2008
Top 25 Places to Retire in Canada or the United States in 2008
With me being Canadian, it's interesting to see Halifax, Nova Scotia on the List.
- 1. Asheville, NC
2. Sarasota, FL
3. Prescott, AZ
4. Paris, TN
5. Winston-Salem, NC
6. Athens, GA
7. Green Valley, AZ
8. San Diego, CA
9. Austin, TX
10. Phoenix, AZ
11. Halifax, Nova Scotia (CAN)
12. Charlottesville, VA
13. Fort Myers, FL
14. Venice, FL
15. Oxford, OH
16. Sedona, AZ
17. Gainesville, FL
18. Flagstaff, AZ
19. San Luis Obispo, CA
20. Old Saybrook, CT
21. San Antonio, TX
22. Mount Airy, NC
23. Beaufort, SC
24. Tucson, AZ
25. Crossville, TN
Oct 21, 2008
Americans Changing Their Retirement Plans
A severe economic downturn will make you realize that Oscar Wilde wasn't kidding when he said: "It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating." Indeed it is time to change your retirement plan.
A new AARP survey confirms that a lot of older Americans have changed their retirement plans and now have no intention to drop out of the workforce.
Apparently baby boomers are delaying retirement plans indefinitely. Indeed, a whopping 70 percent of workers plan to work during their retirement years.
Part-time retirement jobs are the top choice in the survey of 1,500 Americans ages 45to 74 who are working or looking for work.
Of course, as I have indicated in How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free when you retire isn't always completely in your control. A large number of workers retire because of layoffs, buyouts, health problems, or to care for relatives.
What's more, recent research from the Urban Institute suggests that part-time and flexible work arrangements for retirees may be drying up for all but highly educated workers because of the credit crunch and more people needing to work full time for financial reasons.
Oct 17, 2008
7 Spiritual Laws of Money
To help you keep your retirement planning, here are 7 Spiritual Laws of Money:
- 1. If money becomes your primary focus in life, then money is all that you will get.
2. The person with no money may be poor; however, not as poor as the person who has nothing but money.
- 3. Abundance isn't a matter of acquiring how much money you desire; it's a matter of being happy with how much you presently have.
4. It's better to be out of money than out of new creative ideas on how to make money.
- 5. Money-making ideas are gifts from the Universe; you must act fast on them, however, if you want to be prosperous and wealthy.
- 6. Spending a lot of money — particularly money that you have not yet earned — will get you trapped into thinking you are having a good time when all you are doing is spending a lot of money that you will have a difficult time earning.
7. Above all, the value of money lies in the creative and spiritual uses to which it can be put and not in how many possessions it can buy.
Oct 10, 2008
Forget the Financial Crisis and Enjoy Your Retirement Instead
- The failure of your imagination — total seizure, in fact — in the workplace for so many years can be replaced it with mental playfulness, natural curiosity, and an eagerness to learn how to enjoy leisure like never before.
- You no longer have to worry about being laid off and how you are going to break the news to your spouse.
- You can tell your younger working friends, "You know that Social Security deduction they keep taking out of your paycheck? Well, it's going to pay for my retirement and there may be nothing left for you when you retire."
- You can be busier than ever — wondering how you every had time to go to work.
- You can now wear a Retirement T-shirt from Cafe Press announcing: Retired: So I just have to do what the voices in my wife's head tell me to.
- Read How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free.
Oct 3, 2008
An E-Mail about The Book for the Retired, Unemployed, and Overworked
From: Stacey L. Scott
To: vip-books
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2008 8:11 AM
Subject: For Ernie Zelinski - THANK YOU!!!
- Dear Ernie,
I just started reading The Joy of Not Working: A Book for the Retired, Unemployed, and Overworked yesterday.
I'm on page 57 (the letter from Les.)
I took this morning off from work because I needed some "mental time" away from work and a romantic relationship has ended after a year of off-again on-again torture.
I'm giving my notice at work when I go in today. I've been saying that for over a year and a half - and dreaming about it every day. Today is the day.
I know in my being that the Universe will provide more holistic abundance to me then I could have ever received from staying at my job and being untrue to myself.
I am a healer (holistic wellness coach), writer and overall catalyst for change and evolution. I can now joyously live that life fully.
NOTE: I'm going to add "world traveler" to my bio!! J
Thank you for your book and your courage to think outside of the box. It has truly inspired me.
Do you love your life? Do you have work-life balance? Do you wake up every morning excited about your day? Are you doing what you want with your life? If you answered no to any of these questions, you should really consider reading The Joy of Not Working: A Book for the Retired, Unemployed, and Overworked by Ernie J. Zelinski.
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, I still recommend that you read this book.
Sep 27, 2008
Retirees Need Only 60 Percent of Pre-Retirement Income
Last year, Statistics Canada reported that the number of Canadians aged 55 to 64 -- those most likely to be thinking about retirement -- jumped by 28 per cent over the past five years to 3.7 million.
See retirement quotes about the Importance of Money in Retirement:
Sep 21, 2008
Another Retirement Book Reaches Sales of Over 100,000 Copies Giving Credence to the Claim That It Is The World's Best Retirement Book
With sales of 250 copies to Ford Motor Company, 250 copies (a total of 1,100 copies to date), to Syncrude and 2,000 copies (for total of 3,700 copies to date) to Allstate Financial in the last month, my retirement book How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free has now reached sales of over 100,000 copies (counting foreign sales).
This means that I have two retirement books which have surpassed the 100,000 mark given that my other retirement book The Joy of Not Working has now sold over 225,000 copies.
Sep 15, 2008
The Joy of Not Working Has Kept Me Going for Years
I consider this book The World's Second Best Retirement Book (after my How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free) although retirement coach and seminar presenter George Fulmore in California considers it the best.
For the record The Joy of Not Working has now sold over 225,000 copies; it has been published in 17 languages. This book has kept me going in more ways than one, including financially and psychologically.
- Indonesian Edition of The Joy of Not Working
I have received several letters from people in Japan who have read the Japanese edition of The Joy of Not Working - the cover of the Japanese edition is below.
Here is one of them from Ayumi Nakabayashi in Osaka, Japan written in the first half of 2008:
Dear Ernie:
I have just read you The Joy of Not Working and I'm writing to thank you.
I'm a single working mother with twin daughters. What this means is I'm a poor miserable woman in Japanese society, so I am always worried about money for the future more than necessary and never enjoying my present life.
This book gave me a different view of my life, which I should pay attention to. I don't earn much money but enough to live, and have free time to enjoy. I feel excited about thinking how to spend my free time now. I'm making an "Idea Tree" [Get-a-Life Tree] after writing this letter. To read The Joy of Not Working in English is on the top of the list! I have forgotten that I have a lot of things I want to do.
This book gave me a chance to think over the relationship with boring people, too.
I'm sorry I don't have enough words to explain how I feel now in English, but I really appreciate you.
Ayumi Nakabayashi
Here are the covers of some of the Foreign Editions of The Joy of Not Working:
- French Edition
- Spanish Edition
- Japanese Edition
- Czech Edition
- Greek Edition
- German Edition
- Turkish Edition
- French Edition - Canada
- Dutch Edition
- Korean Edition
- Italian Edition
- Chinese Edition - Traditional Characters
- Chinese Edition - Simplified Characters
- Portuguese Edition
- Polish Edition
Sep 13, 2008
The Spoilers - Countries Against Early Retirement
Some governments in certain countries are helping this trend by increasing their retirement age and hindering early retirement:
The Spoilers - Countries Against Early Retirement
- 1. Britain plans to gradually raise its age of retirement at which full
state pensions will kick in. By the year 2044, the U.K,'s retirement
age will be 68.
2. The U.S. and Germany also plan to raise their retirement age to 67.
- 3. Italy and Belgium have already raised their age of retirement to 60
T-shirt about Retirement
I'm retired: Leave the relaxing to me.
Coming Soon: The Joy of Being Retired: Why Retirement Rocks (and Work Sucks)
Sep 9, 2008
Retirement Income Should Be Adequate for Most Canadian Retirees
- About two-thirds of "near-retirees" anticipate that their retirement income will be adequate or more than adequate to maintain their standard of living once they have left the workforce.
Individuals who receive advice are more likely than others to express confidence in the adequacy of their retirement savings to maintain their standard of living in retirement.
While most Canadians approaching retirement receive financial advice, including advice about retirement planning and programs, almost 3 in 10 do not.
Individuals who do not receive financial advice are less likely to expect their retirement income to be adequate than those who do receive advice. This relationship remains even when other characteristics such as income, pension coverage and registered retirement savings plan assets are taken into account.
Of the 7.2 million Canadians aged 45 to 59 in 2007, about 80% or 5.7 million were actively or recently employed and had not previously retired.
Of these 5.7 million near-retirees, 71% received financial advice from at least one source, and 50% received advice from at least one source in the financial industry. Almost 3 in 10 (29%) did not receive financial advice from any source.
While most individuals approaching retirement said they understood Canada's public retirement income programs, such as the Canada Pension Plan, Quebec Pension Plan and Old Age Security, one-quarter said they did not understand these programs at all.
A number of factors are associated with the likelihood of receiving financial advice and understanding public programs related to retirement preparations. These factors include an individual's proximity to retirement, financial resources, and demographic characteristics.
Sep 1, 2008
Where to Hang Your Retirement Hat (Best Places to Retire) in 2008
"Go and live somewhere else," advises John Osborne,,a resident of Victoria, B.C." Try doing what you think you've always wanted to do." Osborne, a retired psychology professor from the University of Alberta, moved to Victoria after he found retirement living left a lot to be desired in his old hometown of Edmonton, Alberta.
Perhaps, like many retirees, you too yearn for a change of scenery, new experiences, and a changed set of circumstances. Moving to a new location within your own country is one way to satisfy these yearnings.
Going abroad is another option. Indeed, as many as two million American retirees currently live abroad, according to David Warner, professor of public affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.
If you need guidance on where to retire abroad, one of the best sources is International Living magazine. The editors of this magazine evaluate the best places to retire in the world using the following criteria with the respective weighting.
- • Cost of Living — 20 percent
• Health Care — 20 percent
• Special Benefits — 20 percent
• Real Estate — 15 percent
• Entertainment, Recreation, and Culture — 10 percent
• Climate — 5 percent
• Safety and Stability — 5 percent
• Infrastructure — 5 percent
- 1. Mexico
2. Ecuador
3. Italy
Insofar as Mexico, it wins the top spot due to its Senior Citizens Benefits program, the quality of life that expat Canadian and American retirees can enjoy, investment opportunities, and the fact that it is relatively convenient for Americans and Canadians.
See Where to Retire Quotes and Best Places to Retire Information
Aug 26, 2008
How Much Money Do You Need to Retire Comfortably?
Aug 19, 2008
Stinginess May Help You Retire Early
"When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life," joked Oscar Wilde. "Now that I am old I know that it is." Although money can't buy happiness in your retirement, sooner or later you will likely want a measure of financial freedom that adds to your feeling of overall freedom and the feeling of prosperity that comes with it.
To some people, mastery of money and stinginess go hand in hand. Indeed, stinginess may help you acquire much more money and help you retire early,
NOTE: My book of quotations called The 777 Best Things Ever Said about Money will be released as a Free E-book on my websites in a month or two if I don't sell the rights to an American publisher who is seriously looking at it at this time.
For the record, I sold this E-book of quotations for a $8,000 advance to a Japanese publisher within 3 hours of my accidentally sending it to Japanese literary agent to whom I had no intention of sending it. Perhaps this good fortune was a result of my prosperity consciousness. What do you think?
I am presently helping my Friend Forrest Bard set up his Inspirational Quotes Webpage on Squidoo.
Aug 14, 2008
Retirement Jobs and Retirement Businesses Are All Around You Waiting to Be Claimed
If you are a baby boomer quickly approaching retirement, you may be concerned whether you are saving enough for retirement. If you feel that you will be financially embarrassed in retirement, then starting a fun retirement business is the way to go.
To be successful at at retirement business, you must spot and capitalize on the many opportunities that the world has to offer. Paying attention to the world around you — looking at commonplace things and seeing the miraculous — will lead you to opportunities that others don't see.
Of course, the critics and negative people — which constitute the majority in Canadian and American society — will not spot the opportunities around them. Even if they do, they will not do anything with them.
I received this e-mail from Nicola in Australia (she did not want me to post her last name or e-mail);
- Thanks Ernie for your great book Real Success Without a Real Job.
After a pretty disastrous few months of rotten health at the beginning of this year, I read your book while recuperating. I loved the story of the bloke who sold splinters of the Brooklyn Bridge. It was an opportunity there for anyone with eyes to see, but only he was prepared.
After reading and seriously thinking about your book, my eyes were "sharpened up" looking around for opportunities. I didn't strike an instant goldmine, but have found something that really suits me. In a room of about 20 mums at playgroup, only two of us paid attention to a newcomer telling us about her amazing new kitchen appliance.
- And only I grabbed the opportunity, seeing the huge scope of possibilities for this appliance in our state. That was almost three months ago.
My little business is up and running, and taking off like a rocket. It means I can continue home educating our 4 children, and do the business work in evenings and weekends.I'm not a natural sales woman, but I have a high quality, unique appliance that can help people eat healthier and cheaper. I feel good that I have an "ethical" product.
How come the other 19 people in the room didn't also see this opportunity?
Keep up the good work. I hope many others will be emboldened to take the steps they need to make their lives more satisfying.
So why didn't the other 19 people spot the opportunity that Nicola saw? Simply, because they have a thinking problem. Fact is, opportunites for retirement businesses and retirement jobs are all around you.
Also just because there is presently an economic downturn happening does not mean that there is no opportunity. What do Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, and Disney have in common? They all started during economic downturns, as did more than half of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average. An recession is a great time to create your own retirement job or start one of many retirement businesses to help the economy.
Purchase Real Success Without a Real Job on Barnes and Noble
See this: Review of Real Success Without Real Job from the Spirit of Change Website:
and Retirement Quotes and Sayings on Squidoo
Aug 11, 2008
The Best "Where to Retire" Books
- Retirement Without Borders: How to Retire Abroad in Mexico, France, Italy, Spain, Costa Rica, Panama, and Other Sunny Foreign Places (And the Secret to Making It Happen Without Stress) by Barry Golson with Thia Golson and the Expert Expats.
Product Details
Scribner, December 2008
Trade Paperback, 432 pages
Besides the retirement books about where to retire listed below, there is another retirement book that you may want to consider reading and recommending.
Beth Wateham, a Vice President at Simon and Schuster, just sent me a galley copy of Retirement Without Borders: How to Retire Abroad in Mexico, France, Italy, Spain, Costa Rica, Panama, and Other Sunny Foreign Places (And the Secret to Making It Happen Without Stress) by Barry Golson. This book with the Scribner imprint is for those retirees who want to consider retiring abroad. The book will be released in December 2008.
Retirement Without Borders is the best book that I have read about retiring abroad and I will be giving a testimonial for the back cover which Beth Wateham (she claims she is a big fan of How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free on Amazon.com) wants from me.
- Choose Costa Rica for Retirement 8th: Information for Travel, Retirement, Investment, and Affordable Living by John Howells
- Choose Panama . . . the Perfect Retirement Haven by William G Hutchings
- Choose a College Town for Retirement: Retirement Discoveries for Every Budget by Joe Lubow
- Retirement Places Rated: What You Need to Know to Plan the Retirement You Deserve by David Savageau
- Where to Retire, 6th: America's Best and Most Affordable Places by John Howells
- America's 100 Best Places to Retire, Fourth Edtion: The Only Guide You Need to Today's Top Retirement Towns by Elizabeth Armstrong
- Retire in Style: 60 Outstanding Places Across the USA and Canada by Warren R. Bland
- 50 Fabulous Places to Retire in America by Arthur Griffith(Editor), Mary Griffith (Editor)
- America's Best Low-Tax Retirement Towns, 3rd Edition: Where to Move to, and From, to Slash Your Taxes in Retirement! by Elizabeth Niven


text:
Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, October 3rd through Sunday, October 9th.
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
What: Educational
When: Monday, October 4th at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Bryant-Lake Bowl
No, this isn't a screening of the '90s Nickelodeon series (though how awesome would that be?). Instead, this Theater of Public Policy event is an on-stage conversation featuring author Paul Bogard that will focus on the effect of "being constantly surrounded by artificial light." It will cover "the science of LED lighting on the human brain, on our urban environment, and on Batman, all while sitting under hot stage lights."
Community Meet-Up: Stage Managers
What: Meetup
When: Monday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Pillsbury House Theatre
"Are you a Stage Manager? Do you want to know more about Stage Management? Do you just want to hang out with some of the brilliant people that really keep the shows running? Well, here's a chance for just that!" Technical Tools of the Trade is hosting this free meetup, which will feature a formal discussion followed by informal mingling with food and drinks.
History Flirt: Gridiron Glory
What: Meetup, Educational
When: Tuesday, October 4th at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Minnesota History Center
History Flirt is a free happy hour hosted by the Minnesota Historical Society. In this month's event, celebrate the new exhibit Gridiron Glory: The Best of the Pro Football Hall of Fame with beer and snacks, "daring feats of strength and lawn game competitions for Vikings-related prizes," and a live "Puppy Bowl."
Feminist Comic Book Club: Black Panther #1
What: Meetup, Comics
When: Tuesday, October 4th at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Mischief Toy Store
The Feminist Comic Book Club is hosting its meetup at Mischief Toy Store this Tuesday evening, moderated by Grace Butkowski. The comic book being discussed at this meeting is volume 1 of Marvel's Black Panther.
Terrifying Tuesday: Little Shop of Horrors
What: Screening, Movies
When: Tuesday, October 4th at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Big Thrill Factory
Every Tuesday in October, SuperMonster市City!, David Barnhill, and Stephen Yogi Rueff will be hosting a monster-movie screening event at the Big Thrill Factory in Minnetonka. In addition to the film of the week, local short films will be screened before the main event; there will be vendors, filmmakers, and other artists on site; and visitors can tour a toy exhibit curated by SuperMonster市City!. Beer and wine are also available. This week's selection is the original 1960 Little Shop of Horrors.
October Kotatsu
What: Meetup, Anime
When: Tuesday, October 4th at 6:30 p.m.
Where: IHOP in Minneapolis
Kotatsu is a monthly open hangout night presented by Anime Twin Cities (the parent organization of the Anime Detour convention) to which you are invited to bring games, cards, knitting, writing, "or any other hobby that suits you." You are also more than welcome to "just bring yourself and join us around a table for good company and good conversation." This public gathering is being held at IHOP in Minneapolis (2231 Killebrew Drive); attendees are encouraged to "look for the host wearing a blue armband with the ATC logo" upon arrival.
Literary MN: Reader's Theater Event
What: Arts, Readings, Theater & Comedy
When: Monday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Highland Park Community Center
The Friends of the St. Paul Public Library are bringing together actors Paul de Cordova, Cathy Fuller, Steve Hendrickson, and Tracey Maloney to read from works by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Kate DiCamillo, "samples from a new Sherlock Holmes in Minnesota story by Larry Millett, and other pieces by Western writer B. M. Bower, novelist Judith Guest, science fiction pioneer Poul Anderson, and classic nature writer Sigurd Olson."
Poets in Conversation with Milkweed Editions
What: Reading
When: Tuesday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Merriam Park Library
In another event by the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library, four winners of the Lindquist and Vennum Poetry Prize—Michael Bazzett, Patricia Kirkpatrick, Chris Santiago, and Jennifer Willoughby—will be discussing "the formation of poets and the supporting ecosystem here in Minnesota" with Milkweed Editions publisher Daniel Slager.
Geek Date Night: The Nightmare Before Christmas
What: Movies, Screening
When: Tuesday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Clubhouse Jäger
Join Geek Date Night for another installment in its month-long Halloween-themed series. This week's 21+ screening is The Nightmare Before Christmas, with a round of pre-movie trivia hosted by Twin Cities Geek contributor Rob Callahan. Trivia is at 7:00; the movie starts at 9:00.
YogaQuest Continues: Captain America: Civil War
What: Sport & Fitness
When: Tuesday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: YQdio
YogaQuest is "a unique blend of yoga and fan-fiction storytelling . . . unlike any yoga class you may have experienced before!" Guided by a certified yoga instructor who also serves as narrator, the class "embarks on an epic and often ridiculous journey through a popular fandom."
Story SlamMN!: "Perseverance"
What: Reading
When: Tuesday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Kieran's Irish Pub
Head on down to Kieran's on Tuesday for a "live-wire storytelling competition" centered on the theme of perseverance. Five competitors are already preregistered, and five more spots are available if you'd like to try your hand at a five-minute slot. Drinks and sign-up start at 7:00, and the show starts at 8:00.
October Geeks Read Meetup
What: Meetup, Books
When: Tuesday, October 4th at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Waterbury Center
The Geek Partnership Society's book club, Geeks Read, explores books that are important to the history of the science-fiction, fantasy, and horror genres or to "our own personal histories." The club meets on the first Tuesday of every month and provides a potluck of treats to accompany (and fuel) discussion, so "feel free to bring something tasty!" This month's book is Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor.
Where the Wild Things Aren't: The Future of Wilderness and Wildlife From the Serengeti to the Arctic
What: Science & Tech, Theater & Comedy
When: Wednesday, October 5th at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Bedlam Theatre
Wednesday marks the first installment in the Petri Dish series of events from the University of Minnesota's College of Biological Sciences, which will feature "live music, science-y fun and curiosity-driven conversations about how biology affects our lives and what it means for our future." In this month's event, a group consisting of "lion expert Craig Packer, adventure learning maven Aaron Doering and ecologist Jessica Hellmann" will discuss the balance of humans and wildlife in the face of population growth, climate change, and more.
Learn HTML & CSS Workshop
What: Science & Tech
When: Wednesday, October 5th at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Prime Digital Academy
Ever wanted to try your hand at web coding? Prime Digital Academy in Bloomington is offering a free course that will introduce you to the basics of HTML and CSS, including the "main concepts of the Web," version control, and hosting. Attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop that can connect to WiFi and to sign up for a free account on GitHub, which instructor Kris Szafranski will be using in the class.
Sketch Party MPLS
What: Meetup, Arts
When: Wednesday, October 5th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Able Seedhouse and Brewery
Sketch Party MPLS is "a drink & draw event for like minded Twin Cities comic artists." According to the group's Twitter feed, there will be a "spooky" meeting this Wednesday at Able Brewery in Northeast Minneapolis.
Poetry Happy Hour
What: Reading
When: Thursday, October 6th at 5:00 p.m.
Where: The Happy Gnome
Prominent local poets Todd Boss, Heid Erdrich, Dobby Gibson, Ed Bok Lee, and Katrina Vandenberg will "enliven happy hour with poetry" at the Happy Gnome in St. Paul this Thursday evening. This free event is yet another organized by the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library this week.
Social Science: Eye Candy
What: Science & Tech, Educational
When: Thursday, October 6th at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Science Museum of Minnesota
Social Science is the themed "adult night" at the Science Museum of Minnesota, "welcoming those 21 and over to grab a drink, enjoy the museum, and experience innovative programming." The theme this Thursday night is Eye Candy, which will feature "hands-on, eyes-on, brains-on activities [that] will tickle your visual cortex and have you seeing the world around you through a new lens."
Celebrate Thelma Bee With Author Erin Petti
What: Books, Reading
When: Thursday, October 6th at 6:15 p.m.
Where: Hamline Midway Branch Library
"Debut author and ghost-story lover" Erin Petti will lead a reading and activities based on her new book The Peculiar Haunting of Thelma Bee, in which "science, magic, girl power, and mystery all intertwine!" In addition, special guests Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler "will talk about Real Life Paranormal Investigations."
Crafty Geek/Make It Sew
What: Meetup, Arts, Crafts
When: Thursday, October 6th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Event Horizon at the Waterbury Center
The Geek Partnership Society's Crafty Geek club and its sub-club Make It Sew meet Thursday evenings at the Waterbury Center and invite you to "bring your crafty stuff to do" or to "hang out and work with the crafty stuff we have here!"
Gaylaxicon 2016
What: Convention
When: Friday, October 7th–Sunday, October 9th
Where: DoubleTree Park Place
Gaylaxion is "the annual international science fiction, fantasy, gaming, and comics convention for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender people and their friends!" The convention offers panels, a dealers' room and art show, films, gaming, and more. This year's guests include sci-fi author Eleanor Arnason, Pathfinder co-creator F. Wesley Schneider, and cartoonist Eric Shanower, among others.
Prop, Puppet, and Scenic Mechanization Workshop
What: Theater & Comedy, Educational
When: Friday, October 7th–Saturday, October 8th
Where: Children's Theater Company
Another event hosted by Technical Tools of the Trade this week, this two-day workshop will teach you "the art and craft of making things move." Space is limited and tickets are $80, but scholarships are available.
FSA BattleTech Tabletop
What: Meetup, Gaming
When: Friday, October 7th at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Fallout Shelter Arcade
United Geeks of Gaming, who usually meet at the Waterbury Building and Source Comics and Games, are hosting an "away mission" this week. On Friday night, you can join them for a beginner-friendly session of the tabletop mech game BattleTech at Fallout Shelter Arcade in Northeast (whose Virtual World gaming pods run the immersive video-game version of BattleTech).
PowerPoint Karaoke
What: Theater & Comedy
When: Friday, October 7th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Fantasy Flight Games Center
In Fearless Comedy Productions' PowerPoint Karaoke, "Come see four people give a PowerPoint presentation using slides they have never seen before and that make absolutely no sense!" Get $3 off your ticket with with a CONvergence badge, Geek card, Minnesota Fringe button, or Fantasy Flight Game Center receipt. (Want to grab some food before the show? Check out our group review of Fantasy Flight's revamped menu, which debuted over the summer!)
She Kills Monsters
What: Theater & Comedy
When: Friday, October 7th–Sunday, October 16th
Where: Fox Egg Gallery
Gadfly Theatre is kicking off its seventh season and a new location with She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen, "a comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games." The play tells the story of a young girl who finds her deceased sister's Dungeons & Dragons notes and "stumbles into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure." (Learn more about Gadfly by reading our interview with theater cofounder Cassandra Snow.)
Star Party with the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics
What: Meetup, Educational
When: Friday, October 7th at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Bell Museum of Natural History
"Explore the sky with astronomers from the Bell and the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics" on the first and third Fridays of every month. Each of these free, family-friendly stargazing parties consists of a presentation by an astronomy graduate student followed by telescope viewing in the Bell courtyard. This week's event will focus on the Milky Way/Andromeda Merger.
Saturday Morning Cartoons
What: Sport & Fitness, Screening, TV
When: Saturday, October 8th at 10:00 a.m.
Where: YQdio
The third event held at the YogaQuest YQdio this week is Saturday Morning Cartoons, which features "classic (and not-so-classic) Saturday morning cartoons, plus yoga, plus the stupidest cereals in existence!" The yoga practice will consist of "some gentle wake-me-up vinyasa followed by a session of stretchy, restorative yoga, all set to cartoons, and wrapped up with a bowl of delicious technicolor goodness."
MSP Fall ComiCon
What: Convention, Comics
When: Saturday, October 8th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Where: Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Education Building
The Midwest Comic Book Association's one-day fall convention, formerly known as FallCon, comes to the State Fairgrounds this Saturday. Check out oodles of comic artists, publishers, vendors, and more—and be sure to stop by the the Twin Cities Geek table to say hi to Madeleine and Bri and get your geeky photo taken! (Want to know more about this convention? Check out our in-depth profile and our recap of MSP Spring ComiCon.)
Normandale Japanese Garden Festival
What: Arts, Festivals
When: Saturday, October 8th from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Where: Normandale Japanese Garden
Celebrate Japanese culture at the Normandale Japanese Garden with traditional dance, martial arts, taiko drumming (with CONvergence regulars Harisen Daiko), food, and more. Admission is a suggested donation of $10, and proceeds go to support the garden.
Indigenous Peoples Day 2016
What: Arts, Festival
When: Saturday, October 8th–Monday, October 10th
Where: Various locations
There are a whole bunch of performances, ceremonies, discussions, and more happening Saturday, Sunday, and Monday for Indigenous Peoples Day (October 10). Check out the Facebook event page for the full lineup and details.
Indeed Brewing's Hullaballoo 2016
What: Festival, Music, Food & Drink
When: Saturday, October 8th–Sunday, October 9th
Where: Indeed Brewing Company
Beer geeks, take note: local brewery Indeed is filling the weekend with beer, food, and music for its free annual harvest party! The company will be celebrating the release of Rum King 2016 and the return of Yamma Jamma, a lineup of musicians will be playing live both Saturday and Sunday, and there will be food available from the Blue Door Pub, Aki's Breadhaus, and Frio Frio. This event is kid friendly until 8:00 p.m. both days, but for safety reasons, "please leave your furry friends at home."
Teleportality Release and Sci-Fi Reading
What: Books, Reading
When: Saturday, October 8th at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Boneshaker Books
Authors T. Aaron Cisco, Twin Cities Geek's own Mark McPherson, and Tyler Tork will be reading from their recent science-fiction writings. In focus is Cisco's first novel, Teleportality. Host Boneshaker Books writes, "If you dig stories with time travel, strong female characters, mad scientists, philosophical discourse, dystopian settings, action, heartbreak, sass and a touch of humor, then you'll dig Teleportality!"
D&D Dice Masters: Strahd Rainbow Draft
What: Gaming
When: Saturday, October 8th at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Fantasy Flight Games Center
This event is best described by the Fantasy Flight Games Center: "Prepare for a fun-filled weekend of Dice Masters! WizKids is happy to announce Dungeons & Dragons Dice Masters: Strahd Rainbow Draft Weekend 2016, an Organized Play event available to top stores. Players will have an opportunity to Rainbow Draft and have a shot at winning limited edition alternate art cards! Just for participating, everyone will receive a Strahd: Master of Ravenloft card and die for use in Dice Masters!"
Gods & Monsters Art Show
What: Arts
When: Saturday, October 8th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Artspace Jackson Flats
You are invited to "a dark ball complete with over 70 artist displaying their dark art, ethereal melodies, and alchemical brews. Witches, warlocks, midnight fairies, vampires, and all other creatures of the night welcome." There will be live music at from Night Corvettes and Trans Manic at this event, which is happening at Jackson Flats in Northeast Minneapolis.
Rick Riordan, The Hammer of Thor: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 2
What: Books, Reading
When: Saturday, October 8th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: The O'Shaughnessy Auditorium
Red Balloon Bookshop and the Friends of St. Catherine University Libraries are hosting award-winning YA fantasy author Rick Riordan on the book tour for the second installment in his Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series (out October 4th). There will be a presentation and Q&A with Riordan, and all tickets come with a signed copy of The Hammer of Thor.
GPS Movie Night
What: Movies, Screening
When: Saturday, October 8th at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Event Horizon at the Waterbury Center
The Geek Partnership Society invites you to attend a science-fiction double feature this Saturday night. If you can't figure out what the films are based on the oh-so-mysterious descriptions on the event page, RSVP and find out the details in the confirmation email.
Nordskogen Fall Folkmoot
What: Meetup, Arts, Sport & Fitness
When: Sunday, October 9th at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Marsh Lake Archery Range
Join the Barony of Nordskogen, the Twin Cities chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism, for "a morning of fun and fellowship." At this event, "The Baron and Baroness Nordskogen will be choosing new Archery, Arts & Sciences, and Cooking Champions."
Who is Calling Van Gogh?
What: Arts
When: Sunday, October 9th at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Pinot's Palette St. Louis Park
Paint-and-drink outfit Pinot's Palette is holding a painting night with the theme of Doctor Who's beloved episode "Vincent and the Doctor." In this event, "Guests enjoy a no-experience-required art class—all supplies included—directed by trained, local artists, who guide guests step-by-step through a featured painting."
So, which of these events will you be attending? What events would you like to see featured in the future? Let us know in the comments section below or contact us via email. And don't forget to add your events to the Twin Cities Geek Community Calendar!


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The Man Who loves His Family, Friends And His Music !
"Frank Crispo" started out in the earlier years as a hard working general contractor specializing in alterations, additions and concrete work. Frank is also a excellent stone mason. In these early years, and as time went on, the concrete work was always seasonal. That is when Frank realized that he needed to do something else to fill in the winter months. Frank got a great idea and started cleaning out houses. He decided to call his new business, "Franks Trash Removal Service". That is exactly what he did. For Frank... it turned out to be a very good idea. Frank's new clean out business did so well that Frank decided to give up the contracting business. He loves what he does best and that
is trash picking, collecting and selling his finds. Frank's Trash Removal Service is offered to all kinds of businesses such as various types of General Contractors, Realtor's, Commercial Properties and of course, all of the Residential customers. This is how the idea of Country Picking began and how Frank became known as "The Country Picker". He loves to pick through all the stuff! Frank says... it is like a flea market on the job. Frank is always surprised in what he finds! It is so amazing to him what people throw away. Oh yes, Frank brings home to Judy the very special things he finds. You should see what Judy does with some of these beautiful things. Frank also donates a lot of things to many different types of organizations in the area.
Frank and Judy Crispo, now being "Senior Citizens" themselves in these later years are enjoying their time they spend together. Judy says....we are so fortunate and blessed to have made it together this far! Frank and Judy have become known as Mr. and Mrs. "Country Picker" in their local area. Frank and his wife Judy like to hunt and pick all over their area and find the goodies! Frank and Judy also love to go to flea markets, garage sales, auctions and the like. The surprise is that you never know what you are going to find! Sometimes it can be a real surprise! But, cleaning out houses is where Frank finds the good stuff. With the great antique finds he acquires in all of his clean out work, he then goes to auctions and many other various types of dealers who want to buy his antiques and many other found items he collects. Frank always seems to have a buyer for everything that he acquires. They also love getting involved with the music of Frank's new group called the "Senior Power Explosion" . Frank says....it has been so great to be able to spend more time together with his old band buddies. Judy says....the wives too! Recently, Frank and Judy put on several venues in the local area with "Great" Success!
Frank Crispo has a daughter (Cheryl Hughes) two sons (Frank Crispo the third and Ronald Crispo). Frank is also a very proud grandfather of seven wonderful grandchildren. Judy has two children (Ken and Chris) and two grandchildren. Frank loves and enjoys his family very much! Frank and his wife Judy have been married for 42 years. "WOW"! Who knew! Frank and Judy are really enjoying their life together in their new found interests. Frank and his boys like to spend time with their dad and join in on the fun for the hunt of the unique and unusual antique finds. Young Frank and Ron Crispo like to think of themselves as a "Country Picker" .... just like their dad !! Frank now has two Grandson's that are now coming into the age of being little "Country Pickers" just like their "Grandpop". Only one can hope! Time will tell!
Frank has always loved music his entire life. The era he grew up in was Rock and Roll. It wasn't until the later years in life when Frank grew to love country music. Years ago Frank had a band and they played all around the local area, including the Buck Hotel, Casa Conti, and many other places including venues and all types of private parties. Frank has reunited with his old band members and are now called Frank Crispo "The Country Picker" and "The Senior Power Explosion". Frank likes to think of himself as an advocate for the "Senior Citizens". All of the guys are really having a wonderful time being reunited, playing music, making videos, writing some songs and recording them in a music studio. Life is to short at it's very longesr! Have fun and enjoy!
I have been married to my wife Judy for forty two years and we are now having fun being "Senior Citizens". We really find it hard to believe that we are now "Senior Citizens", but it is true! Judy and I really do have a lot of fun being known as... "Mr. and Mrs. Country Picker" in our local area because of the business we are in. Yes, we are in the Trash Removal business which offers a service of house clean outs, all types of businesses, out side property clean-up and small demolition! My wife and I are doing what we really love to do in these later years. Our trash business is not work to us, but it is just a lot of fun. I guess you really could call us, The Trash Pickers. My wife and I have met so many nice people over the years. Some have even become our friends.
I am not only known to be a "Country Picker" who loves his work, his family and friends, I also have a great love for music. Me and my old band buddies from years ago, got back together again for a while with a band called "The Senior Power Explosion". Because we are Senior Citizens. It makes sense, doesn't it? After all, we are Senior Citizens, too! We had a great time playing music. But, I am sorry to say, for now, due to some unfortunate circumstances, we had to take some time off.
Judy and I say that the "Senior Citizen" years just get better and better everyday for us. Especially, because we are together! You must always try to keep a possitive attitude, enjoy your family, be well, and be happy, too! That is what we do adn it works!
Over the many years of working in our Trash Removal Service, and cleaning out a lot of the residential homes, we have come across a lot of items and unusual interesting antique finds. I really like picking through the stuff and bringing the "Goodies" right on home to my wife, Judy. It is really amazing what you come across when you are cleaning out a house. Some of our customers just want to give you things. My wife wife Judy really does love decorating our home with some of these unusual but beautiful items and or antique finds. All of our family and friends are just amazed at what Frank finds on the job. I am always looking for that one very special thing for my girl Judy. Everyone cannot believe some of the good things that people really don't want anymore and they just throw it away. Everyone cannot get over how Judy can take some of these things and how she can incorporate them into her style of decor. We love it! We are very happy being together and doing what we love! I guess that is why we are "The Country Pickers".
I have always been a businessman in the community, and am very well known as "The Country Picker". I have a Trash Removal Company and that what I do for a living, along with the helping hand of my better half, Judy. Judy and I have also been working together in our"Trash Removal Service" business for many years. We have worked very hard over the may years to build our business into what it is today. I am known all over the local area as the "Country Picker", because of being in the Trash Remoal business. You know, just picking through the trash. I provide my clean out services to estates, residential and commercial work, plus so much more. My Trash Removal Service specializes clean out service to all types of General Contractors, Realtors, Property Management Companies, and the homeowner. If you do need to have something cleaned out, cleaned up, hauled away and disposed of, then I am the man for you to call. I will get the job done and it will be done right!! You will be glad you contacted "Frank 's Trash Removal Service" for all of your clean up needs!
Frank and the "Senior Power Explosion" guys are starting to get recognized in the local area. Frank's local radio station, WRDV - FM - 89.3 has been playing some of the guys music and requests are being made to hear more. Frank has also become a sponsor for the community radio station in the deleware valley. Frank often likes to visit the radio station, and all the guys on Friday nights with Jack Boland and his radio show, "Country Gold Classics" from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Frank really loves the Traditional country music they play. Tune in and listen to the radio station at "WRDV - FM" on Friday nights and enjoy ! If you are an old time country guy like Frank has become, you will enjoy the music of many years ago when country began. If you loved Hank Williams, Kitty Wells, Patsy Montana, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn and of course Judy's all time favorite..."George Jones". Then you must know the
kind of music that Frank is talking about. You know, traditional music or as we we call it... that old time "Country Gold Classic" music and "Blue Grass", too! It is so sad but true, our old country singer favorites are fading away. Frank still has the love of the music he grew up on. He was a teenager of the era of Rock and Roll, Doo Wop and some Rock a' Billy music. Oh yes, let us not forget those Oldies But Goodies tunes that everyone loved at that time and still does today. Along the way Frank came to love country music. This is the kind of music the "Senior Power Explosion" likes to perform for their audience.
Frank was featured on the show 60 minutes with Mike Wallace back in 1979. When Frank was there, 60 minutes had Frank record a recor in their Nashville, Tennessee recording studio. The record was called "It Don't feel Right" and was featured on the 60 minutes show. On the flip side of the record was a song Frank wrote overnight in the motel room. It is called "Im a Rambling Gambling Man". It sure was an experience that Frank and Judy will always remember!
Frank and his wife Judy have so many memories of the good old days when Frank was active in his music and putting bands together. Judy was always very supportive of Frank and the activites that Frank was involved in. There were many band practices at the house and we all had a great time! When there would be a special show, like the Buck Hotel, featuring Frank's band, Judy would design and custom make their outfits for the these special events! As time went on, and Frank's business was grownig, there wasn't enough time to stay involved with his music. Everyone's family's were gowing and therefore the music end of their lives had to be tucked away for the time being. Some of the guys did play with other bands when they could. Loving to love music never leaves your being. It always stays with you and is a part of you your whole being. Even when you become a "Senior Citizen" like Frank Crispo and all of his buddies. Just like "Willie Nelson" who just keeps doing what he loves!
In The Past:
"Frank Crispo", The Country Picker and "The Senior Power Explosion" put on a venue on May 28, 2013 at 1:00 PM. The "Senior Power Explosion" venue was held at the Ben Wilson Senior Citizens Center in Warminster, Pennsylvania. The event really had a great turn out of the "Senior Power Explosion" fans. Many family members and friends were there too! Everyone really had a wonderful time dancing and good food to eat. The band had a really good time too! It was so great to see some of our old friends and family members from way back when? Frank Crispo's very good friend and local radio station personality, Jack Boland was the MC of the "Senior Power Explosion" venue. Jack is the show host of the "Country Gold Classics" at wrdv.org every Friday night on your radio dial. Listen in and enjoy the music! Hope to see you all again soon!
"Frank Crispo",The Country Picker and "The Senior Power Explosion" was invited back to appear at Tamanend Park Day at Upper Southampton, Pennsylvania. The band appeared on September 07, 2013 from 12:00 to 3:00 PM. The all day event offered Historical information, games, food stands and more. It was a "Great" day and everyone had a wonderful time! Tamanend Park Day is an event that is put on every year. Thank you to all of our loyal fans who came out to see "The Senior Power Band". We sure do hope to see you next time! More information about Tamanend Park Day....>> Click Here! To read the Public Spirit Newspaper Article that was written about Frank Crispo and The Senior Power Explosion and their appearance at Tamanend Park Day...... >> Click Here!
To learn more about the band, take a look at "The Band" section of our web site. While you are browsing around our site, if you haven't already, stop by the "Photo Gallery"
and check us out !
Powered by: Peregrine Associates


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Written by Julia Hagedorn, volunteer midwife from Germany
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world!" -Nelson Mandela-
In February the awesome Shanti midwives attended my workshop about birth positions. The staff was keen to get more knowledge about one of the most effective "exercises" you can use during labor, to support the women of Uganda. For me, it was a great experience to share ideas and wisdom of midwifery. We had a lot of fun practicing positions, antenatal massage, and Rebozzo, a Mexican technique that helps mum and baby during labor.
First we started with some questions. Why is it important to offer a choice of position during birth? What are the positive
effects of "getting the mum out of the bed"? What are the most important powers of birth? Luckily we had two pregnant women at Shanti, so we had two volunteers to practice the new knowledge on. The moms enjoyed the massages and got an idea of how they can move when rushes are coming.
Sitting outside in the beautiful Shanti garden in the morning, listening to the singing birds, we learned how breathing with a "loose mouth and tongue," and moving the pelvic can help women to have an empowering and positive birth experience. Giving birth in an upright position is not common in Africa, so I was so proud of midwife Cathy when she told me some weeks after our workshop that she attended a birth in kneeling position. She loved it and described it as a very "easy and smooth" birth. Change is possible with education, so let`s keep on learning and spreading our message around!
Labor is an active process. The woman needs to find a good balance between moving around and getting some rest.
WHY are free movement and an upright birth positions benefits for the laboring woman?
*pain relief
*prevent distress of the baby (blood flow in the uterus is working better)
*prevent tears and episiotomy
*less drugs needed
*your tool to speed labor or to slow it down if needed
*the contractions work more efficiently in upright positions
*contractions, gravity and the pressure of the abdominal muscles work together
*the movement of the pelvic bones opens the way the baby has to go through, so it makes it easier for the baby to descent
*it is empowering. Women are able to do their own decisions and create their birth. She is the boss. It makes her feel comfortable and as if she is in charge of her birth, not the people around her!


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Q & A withKatrina Michaels
Today's special guest is Katrina Michaels, author of Midnight Reflections. A mystery thriller involving werewolves, vampires, warlocks and…a serial killer.
Basically, the story revolves around…well, maybe I'd better let you read Katrina's synopsis:
Midnight Reflections introduces a society where vampires, werewolves, warlocks, and witches freely roam amongst the ordinary humans. One such human, Tara Daston, only wanted a fun night out dancing with her boyfriend. Getting killed was certainly the last thing she ever expected and waking up three days later as a vampire was the last thing she ever wanted. As Tara struggles with her death and new unlife, she also becomes involved in a hunt for a vicious serial killer. During her own investigation into the killings, she meets Tom Duncan, fellow vampire and lead agent of the Preternatural Investigation Agency, who is not at all amused at what he considers to be her interference. However, the serial killer soon takes notice of Tara and is intrigued, forcing her to work together with Tom and the rest of the agency to stop the murders.
Sounds intriguing, in the vein of Vampire Vacation and just about anything from L.A. Banks and Kim Harrison.
Fortunately, I was able to tear Katrina away from her book-supporting duties long enough for an interview. Please ignore the length of the session (that's the journalist in me). Just read and enjoy.
An Interview with Katrina Michaels
Greg: How did you get interested in werewolves, vampires and other aspects of the supernatural?
Katrina: Well, I can't actually pinpoint how my interest started. I've always been intrigued by fantasy and supernatural stories. When I was a kid, I loved the animated movie The Last Unicorn. I think my first vampire movie was The Lost Boys and I really became interested in the genre when I read the first Laurell K. Hamilton book. And, of course, there was Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV show not the movie). I'm generally a fairly analytical person, so I think I love writing stories of magic and supernatural creatures to even myself out. We can't be serious and logical all the time after all.
Greg: Will Midnight Reflections be the start of a series? If not, what are you currently working on?
Katrina: Yes, Midnight Reflections is the first in a series of five books. The second book — Dead Awakening — is currently with my editor and should be out in print next fall. However, I also have ideas for at least two other books, which might become series, outside of the Preternatural Investigation Agency series.
Greg: Sympathetic vampires seem to be the in-thing (particularly with Generations X & Y), what with Twilight, "Anita Blake," Vampire Academy, Underworld, etc…How do you horn your way into such a crowded market?
Katrina: It is becoming a crowded market so the way to set yourself apart is to try something new. Most of the books that involve vampires also deal primarily with angst and romance. Now I don't mind either, but I like my books to also have humor, action and mystery and that is what I created. Unlike many of the novels out there, Midnight Reflections does not have any obvious romance. Yes, there are subtle hints of future romance, but nothing overt. And while Tara and Tom do have some angsty moments, they also smile and laugh and remember that life is not completely all about suffering.
My style of writing and storytelling is a bit different from what is already out there in the market, which I hope will appeal to people who are looking for something new or unique. I greatly enjoy criminologist shows (such as CSI and Criminal Minds) and books (James Patterson and Jeffrey Deaver). Which is why Midnight Reflections is more a murder mystery with supernatural characters than anything else.
Greg: How do you think vampires and werewolves fit into modern society? Why have they suddenly become acceptable and do you think we should keep at least a few bogeymen around?
Katrina: People are attracted to the dark and mysterious. In a world where science has explained many of our mysteries, we need a little fantasy. Exploring the world of vampires and werewolves allows us to indulge the dark side that exists in everyone.
To me, vampires have never been as scary as real people. It's not the movies that involve people turning into monsters that stop me from turning out the light at night. No, it's the movies about serial killers and stalkers that make me check my closets before going to bed. We still have plenty of bogeymen out there.
Greg: What was the hardest part about writing "Midnight Reflections"? What about the hardest part of getting it published?
Katrina: The hardest part about writing for me is that I don't write in a linear fashion. I start to write Chapter One, but then I get a very clear idea of something that would happen near the end of the book and have to write that scene before I lose the inspiration. And then I come up with an idea that causes me to rewrite the few chapters that have already been written. Also, when I start writing, I have the general story in mind with some very clear scenes that I know need to happen, but the rest of the story develops only when I start writing. But in the end, it all comes together.
For publishing, it is the waiting. You send off to one of the few publishers that still accept unsolicited manuscripts and then have to wait around 3-6 months before hearing the response. And since you can really only submit to one publisher at a time, if you get rejected then you have to start over with a new publisher and wait some more.
Greg: Who inspires you to write?
Katrina: I don't know if I can say that one particular person inspired me to write. I've always loved creating stories since I was in grade school. But I will say that I've been influenced by certain authors.
I'm an avid reader of many different genres. As I said, while I do enjoy books involving the supernatural, I think I have been more influenced by authors like Jeffrey Deaver and James Patterson. They both write fascinating mystery / thrillers that take the reader by surprise with sudden twists and leave you enthralled as the killer stalks his next unsuspecting prey. This is a genre that I love, but I also love creepy supernatural books and movies. When I started writing this book, the first question I asked myself was what if a vampire started hunting a serial killer, and the story progressed from there.
Greg: What was the last really good book about vampires, werewolves or other supernatural elements that you've read?
Katrina: Hmm, that's a hard one. The book I'm reading now — A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison — is captivating, but I would say that the best I read recently was Nightlife by Rob Thurman. It's an excellent urban fantasy with many different supernatural elements mixed together into a fascinating world.
Greg: What was the last book that really wasn't worth your time?
Katrina: That is a question I don't think I can answer. I may not enjoy every book I've read, but I would never consider one not worth my time.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Again, I want to thank Katrina Michaels for taking time out of her busy schedule to chat with Wicked Writers. I also want to let our faithful fans know that Midnight Reflections is available through Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and bookdepository.com.
June 13, 2010 10:37 pm
Great interview, Katrina! Looking forward to book two.


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Rale Transformer Design System
If you would like to look at a short software demonstration you can either down-load the file direct to your PC or you can request that we send you the demo on a CD. Just email us at firstname.lastname@example.com and we will mail the CD to you anywhere in North America.
If you prefer to download the demo directly, you can save RaleDemo.zip to your local drive. Unzip the file and run the program The_RALE_System_Demo.exe . If you need more detailed instructions, please look at the bottom of this page for a step-by-step option.
The demonstration is limited to showing how a simple design is created using the Small Transformer Program (TKS) and demonstrates some of the features of the software.
Step-by-step instructions for downloading and running the demonstation
Click on RaleDemo.zip to download the file. It is possible your browser or firewall will ask you if you are sure you want to do this. Internet Explorer might have a yellow bar near the top of the screen where you need to tell it that it is OK to download.
A box will pop up asking if you want to Open or Save the file - select Save and then choose a location to save the file. Remember where you have saved it!
The file is around 50MB, so it will take several minutes to download even if you have a fast connection. If you are using a very slow internet connection, we suggest contacting us to send you a CD rather than attempting to download.
When the file is finished downloading, you may have the option to "Open Folder". If you do, go ahead and select that and it will take you directly to a Windows Explorer window showing the folder where you saved the RaleDemo.zip file. If you do not have an "Open Folder" option (different browsers can handle this in their own ways) use My Computer or Windows Explorer to view the folder where you saved the file.
Double-click on the RaleDemo.zip file. The window will now show you the contents of the compressed file (a folder and 3 files) and there will be an option on the left to "Extract all files" - click on that. This will open Window's "wizard" that helps you to unzip a compressed file. If you keep clicking on "Next" as you go through the wizard, it will create a subfolder called RaleDemo with the full, extracted files inside of it.
From that folder, you can run the demonstration by double-clicking on "The_RALE_System_Demo.exe"


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When a plane full of teenage beauty pageant contestants crashes on a seemingly-deserted island, the survivors are forced to trade their high heels for survival techniques, while they wait for the inevitable rescue plane or ship. Their efforts, however, are complicated by the top secret compound hidden in the island's volcano and by the fact that a powerful foe doesn't want them to return home at all.
I expected to love Beauty Queens, especially as there was so much positive buzz surrounding its release. A satire about beauty pageant participants being stranded on a desert island – how could it be anything but wonderful? Unfortunately, I cannot be counted among the book's many fans. I found it disappointing, boring and often annoying and I shall attempt to explain why.
Satire is a difficult art and, I suspect, a highly subjective one. There is a fine line between cleverness and cliché and, for me, Libba Bray's novel fell on the wrong side of this line. The trouble with intentionally writing in an over the top style is that it often has the same outcome as the very style one is mocking – poor writing. If a book is badly written for humorous effect, it is still badly written, and that can become very grating in a book as long as this one. I also question the originality of Bray's satire. Is there anything new in portraying foreign dictators as ineffectual buffoons, blonde beauty queens as intellectual black holes or television corporations as brain washers of the general populace? Or anything clever, for that matter?
One of the things I found most disapointing about Beauty Queens was its characters. The surviving beauties are a collection of stereotypes – from the tomboyish, delinquent lesbian to the gun-toting, pageant-obsessed Texan and right through to the wild girl with strong sexual appetites and the trans woman who just wants to be a beautiful princess. Such a focus on character types leaves the characters themselves very one-dimensional and it is hard to care much about their individual stories. In addition, I didn't think Beauty Queens was very successful if it were attempting to subvert these stereotypes; if anything, they felt perpetuated.
A lot of people have spoken about the relation between Beauty Queens and feminism, and I agree that it seems to be promoting a Girl Power kind of message. I have my doubts about the validity of the feminist message here, however. The novel doesn't feel sex-positive so much as sex-imperative (with multiple readers feeling mocked for holding more conservative views than those the book appears to promote) and there is an emphasis on finding men and on appearances that doesn't feel entirely satirical. The thing that grated on me personally, though, was the way that Bray put across her message – with a sledgehammer. It felt like she didn't trust her (mostly female) audience to find truths within a subtly didactic plot.
Then again, nothing is subtle here and, in the long run, that was the key thing that ensured I could not enjoy Beauty Queens. It is over the top, always transparent and predictable, and more than a little hackneyed. I think that was entirely Libba Bray's intention, so I cannot fault her for it, but the execution just didn't work for me and I was left feeling like I'd wasted too many hours wading through four hundred-odd pages of a joke that tired after forty.


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ICTSD » Energy and Climate Change Programme
The Shale Gas Revolution
As shale gas exploration and extraction ramps up in many parts of the world, its contribution to global climate change and effect on international trade are becoming increasingly complicated and indeterminate. Undoubtedly, shale gas is transforming energy prices, industrial competitiveness, and geopolitics in a number of countries. Further investigation and safeguards are therefore needed to ensure that the shale gas "revolution" fosters, rather than hinders, sustainable development.
This paper, authored by Thomas L. Brewer, a senior fellow of ICTSD, sheds light on these complex issues and calls on governments, industry and international agencies to evaluate the full effects of shale gas on the environment and climate change to determine how it can best fit into a sustainable development agenda.


text: 25/06/2008 - 19.01 MARBELLA's RESULTS Mr. Carlos Ramjanali has just cooperated with a Spanish promoter in the Marbella's event which hosted interesting title bouts. He has just sent the official results we are pleased to insert in our web together with beautiful pictures of the card. Please, click on http://www.wakopro.org/Pdf/674.pdf to enjoy them.


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If you're looking for a dramatic transformation without cutting or growing your hair, we show you how to change your style instantly.
Clip-in bangs
Clip-in bangs or a clip-in fringe is the easiest way to change your look without committing to a permanent change. It's versatile and easy to use. Just make sure you get them customised to suit your hair colour and face shape.
Extensions are by far the easiest way to drastically change your look around if waiting for your hair to grow out is taking forever. All you need to do is clip them in and set with hairspray. Opt for the clip-in varieties that cause no damage to your natural hair.
A faux bob
Fake a chic cut by just tying your hair back at the nape of your neck, tuck it in and pin it in place.