text:
905 S. Columbine #D Breckenridge CO US 80424
Pine Creek Lodge
3BR/3.5BA | Townhome | Shuttle Bus/Short Drive | Sleeps 8 | Breckenridge, Peak 9, Pine Creek Townhomes
LocationBreckenridge, Colorado: Pine Creek Townhomes in Peak 9
What You'll Love
- Close to town and the base of Peak 9.
- Private outdoor hot tub, access to pool complex.
- Walk or drive to town.
What To Be Aware Of
- You can walk to town, but it is about 10 minutes away.
- Only one assigned parking spot (2nd spot is unassigned).
- Pool complex is not on site, but it's only a 3 minute walk.
Sleeps 8 in all beds (max occupancy) | Sleeps 6 in 'real' beds | 4 total beds (Click for bedroom detail)
- Bedroom #1 (Upper Level)
- Bedroom #2 (Upper level)
- Bedroom #3 (Lower Level)
- Sofa Sleeper #1 (Main Level)
Key Info
|# Full Baths
|Walk to Lift, Shuttle Bus, Short Drive
|# Half Baths
|Property Type
|Sleeps (max occy)
|Sleeps in Beds (not counting temp beds)
|Boating, Horseback Riding, Horseshoes, Miniature Golf, Outlet Shopping, Photography, Scenic Drives, Shopping, Sight Seeing, Sledding, Water Sports, Wildlife Watching
|Children Welcome, Minimum Age Limit, No Smoking, No Pets
|Sports Availabile
|Cycling, Cross Country Skiing, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Golf, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Ice Skating, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Sailing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowmobiling, Swimming, Tubing, Whitewater Rafting
|Total Beds
|Queen Beds
|Queen Sofa Sleepers
** Book now through May 31 on stays June 1 - 30 and get 30% OFF lodging. Booking Code: SUMMERSAVINGS
*** Book 2 nights or more for stays before May 31 and receive 1 night FREE. Booking Code: 3RDNIGHTFREE
- Private outdoor hot tub, access to pool complex
- Private deck with mountain views
- Each bedroom has its own bathroom
The perfect getaway for families, groups, or anyone looking for a true mountain experience. This 3 bedroom, 3 bath townhouse includes has ample indoor and outdoor space with private outdoor hot tub and access to the Columbine pool complex. This unit is located on the Blue River in a quiet forested setting. Pine Creek Lodge comfortably sleeps 8 with forest views. Youâre just a 5-minute walk to the Quicksilver Super Chair and close to hiking, biking, and golfing in the Summer. This upscale, well finished home offers a private hot tub, forest views and easy access to town and the slopes.
This home has a queen master suite with ensuite bath, TV and deck. The second bedroom features a queen bed with an ensuite bath and TV. The third bedroom has a queen bed, is ground level and has an ensuite bath and access to the hot tub. There is an additional sofa sleeper in the living room.
-- 3 bedroom/3.5 bath
-- Sleeps: 8
-- Lifts: FreeRide bus will bring you to lifts from neighborhood stop. It's just a short walk to the base of Peak 9 from this complex.
-- Town: 5 minute drive to town
-- Views: Forest views
-- Hot Tub: Private outdoor hot tub, access to pool complex
-- Outdoor Space: Private balcony, propane BBQ, and seating
-- Living Room: Gas fireplace, flat screen TV, views
-- Dining: Seating for 6
-- Laundry: Private in-home washer/dryer
-- Parking: 2 cars allowed (1 in covered in front of garage and 1 unassigned in parking lot)
-- Standard Amenities: High speed Internet, linens provided
-- No Pets/No Smoking
-- Must be 25 Years of Age
-- Air Conditioning: NO. Due to the mild high alpine climate, many properties are not equipped with air conditioning.
This property is a short 5 minute drive to town/slopes.
Area:Close to Slopes
Area:Walk to Town
Area:On Shuttle Route
Area:Drive to Town/Slopes
Area:Walk to Lift
Hot Tub:Yes, Private
Grill:Yes, Private
Washer/Dryer:Yes, Private
Amenities:Hot Tub
Amenities:Covered Parking
Amenities:Satellite/Cable TV
Suitability:No Events/Weddings
Sports Available:Snowshoeing
PARKING: Parking in Breckenridge is strictly enforced. To avoid towing or a ticket adhere to posted signs and parking allocations at all times. If you need additional parking for more cars, paid overnight parking is provided by the Town of Breckenridge in two areas of town, 1) south of town at the Stephen West Ice Arena and 2) north of town (also accepts RVs and trailers) at the Airport Road satellite parking lot. WARNING: 4WD or AWD vehicles required in the winter, snow and ice will be on all surfaces including driveways and roads - no refunds for towing or cars that get stuck. Some homes require 4WD or AWD in the non-winter months due to dirt roads, and uneven surfaces - call for more information about your rental.
Breckenridge Business License No: 46832
Blue River Business License No: BL15-000214
State Sales Tax License (Summit): 02870210-0001
State Sales Tax License (Blue River): 02870210-0002
Blue River Business License No: BL15-000214
State Sales Tax License (Summit): 02870210-0001
State Sales Tax License (Blue River): 02870210-0002
Location: Short Drive/Shuttle Bus


text: UPDATE: DOWNLOAD v1.0.1 NOW CHECK OUT TIGGERXPLUR'S CM6 THEME!! http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-themes/62707-minimalistic-theme-cm6-10-colors.html#post664356 For MetaMorph (I am using v126.96.36.199) Includes:Beautiful Widgets, Blackboard Weather Skin by idalvar, MM theme, Icons for Launcher Pro, BG. DOWNLOAD v1.0 HERE http://www.megaupload.com/?d=GVNRRMYR DOWNLOAD v1.0.1 HERE http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MTV3MR12 v1.0.1 -New battery icons -Added Calendar and Phone icons and stuff First Extract "Px Theme.zip" somewhere on your computer. HOW TO INSTALL MM THEME Step 1. MAKE A FRICKEN BACKUP. Step 2. Copy "Px" from the "Px Theme" folder onto the root of your SD card. Step 3. Open MetaMorph and select "Pick Existing Theme". Then locate "Px" on your SD card and select "Px.xml" Step 4. DO NOT HIT APPLY ALL. Select and install one at a time in any order EXCEPT make sure the "Framework" one is last. (Note: it might force close or reboot in the process of some, if so, just try it again). Step 5. Enjoy! (Don't forget to to reset the music widget after applying it). LAUNCHER PRO ICONS If you haven't gotten LauncherPro by now, I HIGHLY suggest you get it. Step 1. Copy "icons" to your SD card. Step 2. Hold down whatever icon you want to change on the icon bar until the message pops up. Choose one of them and when it asks you what icon to use, select "Custom icon", and make your way to the "Icons" folder in the gallery and select the one to mach your choice. Step 3. Repeat until done. NOTE: I will be taking requests for more icons. BEAUTIFUL WIDGETS Again, if you have not gotten this yet, I highly recommend it. Step 1. Copy the "Px Beautiful Widget" folder to droid/sd/data/beautifulwidgets/skins. Step 2. Apply theme to widget. WEATHER ICONS I included the Blackboard icons from idalvar, but you can just download it in the app. NOTE: I take NO responsibility for what happens to your droid. ANOTHER NOTE: The reason the system font color is white, is because I have droptheme behind it. Also, I have no clue on how to change the font color. So, if you already have black text, this will be even better. I want to thank tiggerxplur for leading me in the right direction for theming this. And I want to thank EVERYONE who supported me. KNOWN ISSUES The music widget not loading. (I suggest try installing it again). Droid get's stuck in boot loop. Does anyone know what may cause that? Coming Soon: More widgets! More Icons! Different Colors!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I'd wager a majority of people are celebrating Halloween tonight, especially if you're on the East Coast and will be dead by Wednesday anyways, but before you go out in your best ironic Furby outfit, you should listen to Kristen Stewart, via Barely Political, explain the holiday. The Twilight actress has, like, good advice and junk on how to have fun and dress up in slutty costumes and, like, other stuff. *mutters something indecipherable for five minutes* I wonder what the real K-Stew is dressing up as? Someone who doesn't cheat?
#twilightjokes #rpattz4life #killmeplease


text:
An Array of Applications
- Doors & drawers
- Cabinet crown
- Cabinet base
- Cabinet feet
- Side panels
- Corbels
A Carefully Chosen Collection Of Mouldings And Trims
You will be amazed by what you can do with our beautiful selection of mouldings, trims, corbels and accessories and what would otherwise be builder-grade cabinets. A base trim here. A sculpted door panel there and top crown to add the finishing touch.
So many possibilities and we'll guide you through the choices. Of course, once you've made the choices, our expert installers will go to work integrating those choices into a finished project of lasting beauty.
Visit our design center to discover how easy it is to upgrade your existing cabinets!


text:
During late 2013 and early 2014, a number of human rights abuses were reported to the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) by local villagers in Hpapun District. The subjection of villagers to forced labour and violent abuse by Saw Tha Beh, a 2nd Lieutenant of Border Guard Force (BGF)[1] Battalion #1014, which is based in Weh Gyi army camp and led by battalion commander Bo[2] Maung Chit,[3] was raised more than once.
Second Lieutenant Saw Tha Beh is reported to be conducting logging operations in the forest near M--- village. On January 15th 2014, he ordered villagers in M--- to transport wooden planks from the forest to the vehicle road using their trucks or bullock carts without providing any wages. Those who didn't have cars or bullock carts had to physically carry the planks to the road.
Some villagers were unable to provide the labour demanded because they were busy conducting their own livelihood activities. Second Lieutenant Saw Tha Beh responded by confiscating wood from villagers who refused to work for him, and subjected them to violent abuse, punching and hitting them. Naw S---, 50, was among the villagers subjected to forced labour. She told KHRG that whenever 2nd Lieutenant Saw Tha Beh calls a meeting to demand labour, he always carries two cane sticks, and if the villagers say that they are not able to provide labour, he would hit them with the cane sticks.[4]
In addition, Saw Tha Beh asked to buy wooden planks from the villagers at far below the market price. The villagers didn't want to sell the planks for that price, but they worried that Saw Tha Beh would harm them if they did not, so they were forced to. Sometimes, Saw Tha Beh didn't even pay for the planks and just confiscated them. Fifty one year-old U M---, said that "[even though] Saw Tha Beh had confiscated my wood, he still hit me twice with his cane stick and twice with a piece of split bamboo. He also punched me twice."[5] He went on to explain that Saw Tha Beh had also ordered villagers to serve as messengers and perform sentry duty.
To avoid being ordered to do forced labour or suffering violent abuse, most of the villagers fled to other places such as D--- village and P--- village. Some people who fled have now dared to come back to the village, but most of them haven't returned yet. The villagers also reported that 2nd lieutenant Saw Tha Beh and his soldiers travel around the district and engage in logging whenever and wherever they want.[6]


text:
A few months before my last forgotten song honoree hit the charts, a California girl named Tara Kemp hit the top ten with two songs from her eponymous and only album. The first, "Hold You Tight", went gold and is, to my knowledge, still somewhat familiar to people. For years, this song was the only Tara Kemp offering available for request at Austin's Bob FM. (Since then, they now show all tracks from her album as being available. Yeah, right. I've never even heard them play "Hold You Tight" in five years of operation.) The second, "Piece of My Heart", is notable for, among other things, using the exact same rhythm track as "Hold You Tight" had. (Seriously, listen to the two songs together sometime. Part 2 of the October 4, 2002 Crap From the Past show actually plays the two together for comparison: a Tara Kemp-a-thon.)
In any case, for some reason, as "Hold You Tight" held on through the years, "Piece of My Heart" seemingly disappeared entirely (as did Tara Kemp, apparently after her record company went under). Luckily, thanks to the magic of YouTube, the video survives.
(Note: most information in "forgotten songs" entries comes from the always-reliable Wikipedia; as such, its veracity may be questionable.)
Monday, September 28, 2009
Unfairly Forgotten Song #7: Piece of My Heart by Tara Kemp
Labels: forgotten songs
0 comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Google's flagship Android phone, the Nexus 4, has been plagued with supply problems since it launched in November last year. It came back in stock a few times since then, but almost always sold out within a few hours.
It would appear things are getting better. The Nexus 4 went on sale again Tuesday, and is still listed in stock through Google's online store. TechCrunch reports customers are getting their phones within 48 hours in some cases.
Google has not said how many Nexus 4s it's sold so far, but based on comments from some LG, the company that makes the phone for Google, the company underestimated demand.
Get the latest Google stock price here.


text:
Left overs can make a great simple soup!
|deboned turkey - keep the bones
|handful of turkey trimmings
|1 cup
|chopped onion
|1 cup
|chopped carrots
|1 cup
|curly noodles
|1 cup
|chopped celery
|6 cups
After your turkey has had all the meat removed, break as many bones as possible. Place in a large pot with water, and bring to boil, then lower heat so it is just boiling. Cook for 4 hours, adding water to keep it from drying out. Boil gently until juice is halved. Remove bones and filter out juices, with a fine sieve. Add your noodles, celery, carrots and onions. Cook until tender. Remove from heat. Take slices of turkey trimmings and heat them up then add broth to a bowl and top with turkey trimmings. Very healthy turkey soup!
Show More Comments
No Comments yet


text:
My dad asked me the other day if I has been doing any theatre. I told him I didn't have the time. I haven't been on a stage in over two years, but that's another blog post for another time. He then asked if Lisa and I had gone to the theatre recently. I gave him the standard answer, saying we don't do anything. This is the same response when I get asked if we tried "such and such" restaurant or seen "such and such" movie. Pretty much anything that involves my wife and I going out and spending money.
We don't do anything.
There are a few reasons. The primary is that we have two small children. They take up 90% of any spare time and energy we have. I have no problem taking Phoebe and Zoe out with me, so don't give me any shit about needing to socialize my kids. But as any parent knows, taking them out is a process. It involves prep time, the packing of emergency outfits and snacks, and being mindful of how tired they are. When we take the girls anyplace, it's not time off. I'm still in daddy mode and Lisa is still wearing the mommy hat. We have a limited pool of babysitters, which mainly consists of Lisa's mom and the occasional weekend the kids visit my parents. I've tried to convince the cat to do it, but Pepper is mostly terrified of the kids. Also, she has no thumbs. Kind of limits what she can do.
Another reason is that Lisa and I are on different schedules. I recently started a job where I work second shift. Lisa and I now have one day off a week together. This is actually an improvement. My last job was a flexible schedule which made it impossible to plan anything. The point is that date night is limited to Sunday and Monday evenings. Monday is one of the days that Lisa works so it's rare she feels like doing anything after she gets home. We've allowed ourselves an occasional Sunday as a game night with a few friends, but we won't always have child care for that either. There will be times when I'm trying to roll dice with Zoe in one arm and wrangling Phoebe, who is trying to get everyone to look at her.
The third reason is one of the suckiest. Like many people, we are on a tight budget. We lost one home and I have no interest in losing another. What would be extra money is basically how we pay for internet and TV. There was a time when Lisa and I would go out to dinner a few times a month or see a few movies. We would go see friends in whatever play they were doing. Now it's pretty much impossible to bring up going out to dinner anywhere without it turning into an argument about spending money. Not to mention that if it's anyone but the grandparents, we have to consider how much we can spend on a theoretical babysitter.
We don't do anything. The spare time we have is spent with our kids, doing housework, or sitting on the couch trying to stay awake long enough to maybe watch a show we both like.
Date night is a filthy lie.


text:
Crash Bang Wallop! Family Concert
Secrets of the Garden
- City of London Sinfonia
- Ruth Rosales
- animateur
Get your explorer's hat and magnifying glass at the ready because Ruth needs your help to unearth the secrets of the garden! With City of London Sinfonia on hand to provide the musical clues, there is plenty to discover, from precious plants to creepy crawlies and more.
Repertoire to include Flight of the Bumblebee and excerpts from Vaughan Williams' The Wasps.
Creative activities from 10am.
Family concert most suitable for children aged three to eight years.
Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.


text:
What is this?
Constitution versus Guerriere by Ambroise Louis Garneray
When is it from?
Probably after 1815
Why is it Important?
Ambroise Garneray specialized in painting naval battles, and he did so with the vigor of one who participated in his fair share of them. The son of Jean-Francois Garneray, a painter and pupil of Jacques Louis David, the young Ambroise undoubtedly drew inspiration from his father and his associates. Despite this pedigree, at the age of thirteen Garneray joined the French Navy and sailed for the Indian Ocean. In 1800 he enlisted with the famed privateer Robert Surcouf, and fought in a number of notable actions. In 1806, while serving on board the Belle Poule, he was captured by the British and interred on the prison hulks off Portsmouth, England. Finally released in 1814, he began painting full time the following year, inspired by the adventures and misfortunes of eighteen years experience.
What this watercolor lacks in accuracy, it make up for with dramatic action. Depicting the moment when Guerriere's final mast tumbled into the sea, the viewer instantly recognizes the victor. While a lone British seaman nails a shredded British ensign to the stump of Guerriere's mizzenmast, Constitution's three American ensigns wave proudly above the chaos. This scene must have been a source of delight for a Frenchman who languished in British prisons for eight long years.


text:
Ridgid Floating Sonde Transmitter Drain Machine 19793
Barcode: 095691197931
Product Code: 19793
£157.00(£130.83 exVAT)
Ridgid Floating Sonde Transmitter Drain Machine 19793
Ridgid remote sonde transmitter to be used with Ridgid Drain cleaning Machines and Jetting Machines for Drain Maintanence
- Battery powered.
- 40 mm ø.is transmitting.
- Flashing LED indicates that sonde
- 512 Hz signal.
- For finding septic tanks,...Floating Transmitter
Please Note: some Ridgid products may take between 7-10 Working days for delivery
Technical Question?
If you have technical questions regarding this product please fill in this Enquiry form.
Product Reviews
This product currently has no reviews.
Please login to leave a review


text:
blogs that is…
You can find my new blog at
I am so excited that it is up and hope you'll come join me over there!
blogs that is…
You can find my new blog at
I am so excited that it is up and hope you'll come join me over there!
with no pictures. I hate to do it. It's the reason there hasn't been a post in a week and a half. But today I'm going to do it, and it's going to be totally random.
We just returned home from a 2 day/1 night trip to Chicago. It was my first time there. Definitely not enough time to do everything we would have liked. Regardless, I loved it! Loved the architecture, loved the view from where we were staying, loved walking, the kids loved the bus rides. The weather was beautiful.
On Monday, we retested Kanon's hearing. I was secretly praying that we would do the test, and afterwards the doctors would look at me and say, "We can't explain it, but he has perfect hearing." That's not what happened. In fact, he's lost even more hearing. I'm not sure if he has much if not any hearing in his left ear (I need to call and get a chart). His right ear still looks great.
After having beautiful fall weather for a few weeks we then returned to summer weather (like 100 degrees). Now it feels like winter. Not really winter. I know this is fall, but the mornings and evenings feel like a winter in Texas. However, I am still enjoying it and will so even more once we all have appropriate clothing. That way I don't have to be the mom to send her daughter to nursery where they go outside to play, and my daughter ends up freezing because I didn't bring a sweater for her.
Apple picking is on our list of things to do this week.
Pumpkin patch is on our list of things to do next week while Nonna is here.
Kyrie's 3rd birthday is on Monday. I am so very excited about the gift I'm making her; I've been thinking about it for a year now. Although, I should probably skip sleeping the rest of the week if I want it to be finished in time for her birthday.
The blog redesign is the closest it's ever been to being finished. I am so excited.
I am also so excited (an understatement) that I will be attending the Relevant Conference in just a few short weeks. Does that sound totally dorky? A blogging conference? I cannot wait to listen to the speakers and meet some amazing women.
I could tell you even more random stuff, but I think I will spare you for now. That's if you're still reading. Have a Happy Wednesday!
If my lack of posting is any indication as to how I've been feeling…..
Yes, I got sick. At least half of Tuesday and Wednesday were spent in bed. I was so dizzy I wasn't able to stand for long. I am feeling much better now -not completely back to normal but better. I still get dizzy a lot, and I'll spare you the other details. This is not what I am excited about.
What I am excited about is becoming a contributing writer at At the Well. It is a ministry based around Titus 2:4-5 "and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." (ESV) The blog has a daily post from various writers that I am still "getting to know." The posts span a range of categories equipping and encouraging women. I will be posting once a month in the Practical Living category. My focus will not be on writing (good thing, right!) as much as it will be on a practical tutorial. To say that I am very excited to be joining this group of women is an understatement! Go visit At the Well today to see my first post!
The Mr. is sick. The Manon is on his sixth ear infection. Karston has his first ever ear infection. Kyrie just came off antibiotics from a cough that lasted a month. Kyrie is still struggling with allergies, needing to cup her hands under her nose after a sneeze while waiting for me to run for a kleenex (MULTIPLE times a day). Me? Well, I have a headache. Not sure if it's sickness coming on or just a headache from taking care of my sick family. You know Mommy's aren't allowed to get sick.
I feel like a pharmacist or doctor with all the medicine I've been administering around here. I don't really like medicine (I mean I am very thankful for it), and I don't like putting so much into my kids. However I dislike ear infections more than I dislike antibiotics.
We are on the rise. And while we've been sick, we've still managed to enjoy our days. So much time is spent around the sandbox.
The kids have checked on our garden multiple times a day -usually always picking something.
Kanon has been enjoying anything with wheel. His brother's tricycle and bicycle and his sister's (yes, sister's) Mater are his favorites.
Karston and Kyrie even helped me do the dishes today.
They really did do such a great job. Since they were such a big help, we walked to the florist where I let them pick out a few flowers for a small bouquet. The flowers now adorn their sparkly kitchen.
Tonight at bedtime, Karston told me walking to the florist to get flowers was his favorite part of the day. I'm glad he remembers it like that and not how he was whining the whole way home because he didn't want his sister to walk beside him and how she wanted to walk RIGHT BESIDE him because "I love him"……
You all know I mentioned wanting to have a carnival for Kanon's first birthday. Well, we did it. And it was a blast.
Now before I share the pictures I want you to know that there were SO many things that weren't finished in time for the party. This is not an unusual occurrence in my life; usually, as the party draws near I lose excitement and think that it would be better to just cancel the party instead of have it unfinished. And after the party, I usually think how wonderfully well it went, but it would have been better had it been all I had planned. Kind of a perfectionist like that. HOWEVER, that was not the case with this party.
Now on to the photos. I'll start with our carnival games. These pictures are not good at all, many blurry, but it's all I have. Since I wasn't going to have any family around at the party to help out, I was going to hire a girl to photograph the party, but that was one of the things that didn't work out…. So look beyond the quality of the pictures please.
bean bag toss
knock 'em down
pick a duck
make a match
face painting
strike a pose
The bean bag toss: made the day before the party out of three pieces of foam core, with a free hand circle cut out with a kitchen knife in each one, then wrapped in some wrapping paper I had in our giveaway collection in the basement, the three boards taped together and propped up with scrap wood
Super cute candy bean bags: courtesy of our neighbor
Knock 'em down: cans are empty yogurt containers that I started saving for this very game, once washed and dried Karston and Kyrie helped by putting a handful of beans in each container (to add a little weight so the wind wouldn't knock them over), I then glued the lids on and spray painted them
The polka dots on the table: Karston and Kyrie's creation (I tried to include them in party preparations just enough that they felt they had a part but not so much that they weren't surprised by the party as well)
Pick a Duck: rubber ducks picked up on my second trip to a Super Wal-Mart in 2010, letters written with a sharpie on the bottom of each duck
Pick a duck, tell me what letter is on the bottom, get a prize
The younger kids just loved playing with the ducks…and the water.
Make a Match: a classic memory game, I spray painted clothes pins a golden yellow, glued them to the poster board, in about 10 minutes on Friday afternoon, I drew and colored six pictures on the computer, printed them out, adhered red cardstock out of my stash to the backs of the pictures, cut them up, and arranged them under the clothes pins
The older kids enjoyed this game.
Face Painting: face paint (!), jar of water, mirror for the kids to see their cheeks
I started out face painting. However, on one of my trips up to take care of something else, the kids started to paint each other's faces. This turned out to be a genius idea. Why I didn't think of it when Kyrie was painting her own face before the party started, I don't know.
Strike a Pose: a red tablecloth which should have gone higher (and lower) adhered to the garage door about 10 minutes before the party, props included: silly glasses found in party section of Target, mustaches cut out off cardstock 2 minutes before the party, a headband with strips of cardstock folded in a zigzag and taped on made about 30 seconds before the party
This was A LOT of fun. Each family had their picture taken in the silly props!
The Prizes (no pictures):
glow-in-the-dark dinosaurs (pkg. of 8 in the dollar section at Target)
animal shaped foam capsules -you know, put the pill in the water and a shape appears (party section of Target)
glow stick bracelets (pkg. of 15 in the dollar section of Target)
The Food:
Hot Dogs
Mini Corn dogs
Animal Crackers
Buttered Popcorn Jelly Bellies
This was my favorite part of the pre-party: "creating" the food table.
The stripes were made the afternoon of the party using duct tape. I would so be a person to paint a wall or stripes or a mural for a party, but since this is a rental, duct tape will have to work. Don't they look so happy? I wanted to leave them up.
And you can't forget….
The Cake:
It was a HUGE hit! People were surprised it actually tasted good. Hello, I'm not all about looks.
Do you think he enjoyed it? He ate the whole purple layer in one bite, and the rest of the piece, and then went after Kyrie's.
Wow that was a long post! We enjoyed celebrating Kanon, the year we've had with him, and the year we've made it through!
Filed under birthday
Wow! Well once again I did not mean to take a week long blog break -very unintentional. Which is completely opposite of my word of the year, intentional. I did tell you that was my word of the year, right? Well we are doing a lot better at it but still have a long way to go. We want everything we do to be for a reason. Anyways…
We have been having so much fun around here. We've had way more play dates than normal, been busy playing with the new neighbors, we went to the state fair
where all the kids enjoyed the animals, Karston enjoyed the ferris wheel and swings, and Kyrie enjoyed the swings.
We also got some polyester goodness from our neighbor's trash. Another neighbor told me that they had a whole box of fabric set out by the trash. I denied the urge to take the whole box home to go through it because I am trying to be careful about what I bring into our house. I did think it a great opportunity to let the kids pick some out for craft projects though. They were thoroughly enjoying themselves, going through all the fabric, picking their favorite, carrying it to the stroller basket, and returning to the box for more. I couldn't stop them -I know that feeling all too well. The excitement and sugar high from seeing all that eye candy. They really must be my children.
Well while we were going through our neighbors trash, they came home. And I was embarrassed. And then the man told me all the fabric was his wife and mother-in-law's from the 1960s. And then I really did want to take that whole box home. And I once again denied the urge.
We also made a spur of the moment trip to Cincinnati to see some very dear friends from Waco, TX. The visit wasn't long enough. Such sweet times. The kids, as well as us, fell straight into visiting and playing as if no time had been spent apart.
Now I can't mention our visit with our friends without telling you what they are doing. They are filmmakers and are currently on a tour filming for their newest film.
Public Schools and the Decline of Christianity in America
IndoctriNation the Movie website
Whatever your views are on public schools, this will be a documentary to watch. The Gunns are amazing at what they do.
And back to our fun, we also attended a free family festival event hosted by a local church on Labor Day. It was the first time that the Mr. has been employed by a place that actually takes Labor Day off. It was nice to be together as a family. I must say, for small children, the festival was better than the state fair. Karston and Kyrie took their first pony rides, rode a train, had their faces painted, jumped on inflatables, got balloons, played carnival games, got free Secretariat shirts, and ate cotton candy. And I half purposefully forgot my camera. So no pictures of it.
It is also turning fall around here which is so exciting. The weather has been cooler with the mornings and evenings being quite cold. Leaves are falling and starting to change colors. We have spent a lot of time outdoors. I think Fall may be replacing Summer as my favorite season -maybe that's because we actually have a fall here in Kentucky.
Have you done anything fun recently? Did you do anything for Labor Day?


text:
Yesterday, the Indie Games weblog had an article about opening of a new funding website for indie game developers called 8-bit Funding. Read a short interview with the organizer.
After reading through the site on how the system works I have few doubts. The developer puts an introduction of the project to the website and defines the goal for raising the money. The funders seem to be just regular persons, who should be given something in exchange for the funding. These "something" are called perks. The perks can be whatever the developer choose, a free copy of the game, a private lunch with the developer team, whatever you can imagine in your head.
The money will be donated via Paypal . I know not everyone likes this, but I guess it is a good way of secure transfer. Of course, this comes with the delivery fee. Here is a short excerpt from the site on how the actual money goes:
"PayPal charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. So, for example, a $20 funding will come out to $19.12.
Our own charge is 5% which we take AFTER PayPal takes their charge (you get more this way).
So, after both PayPal's and our fee on a $20 funding contribution you'll receive $18.16 of that."
So, this means there is less than 10% loss of money from the actual donations gained. But, as I looked from the main page of the website, a lot of people were requesting for complete amount of 1000-9000 dollars. That already means 100-900 dollar loss. Well, the good thing here is, that you are not giving away any shares of your company for the money. So, all in all, maybe it is a good deal? At least if the other option you have would be zero money.
All in all, this is definitely something worth following. Even though it just opened there are already some projects requesting for money. Lets see what happens in the next six months and return back to the case then.


text:
Day 56: Testing The Purpose Workshop & Working On Concepts
3 min read
Purpose Workshop With Wolfcub Digital
The awesome crew over at Wolfcub Digital was kind enough to join us in a dress rehearsal for a workshop centered around finding your organizational purpose. It was really cool to see the character and charisma of their agency.
I think Wolfcub Digital were the perfect people to experiment with this workshop. They came with an open mind and a strong sense of their purpose as an organization and as individuals. They'd spent a fair amount of time uncovering their brand in recent months and so a lot of these thoughts were close to the forefront of their mind.
Along with purpose, social change, creativity and positivity, we talked about Rocky Balboa a few times (check out the blog post behind it). Other than getting to know an awesome group of people a little bit better, I think we had ourselves a good time...
Having explored their website before the workshop, I was quite familiar with the quality and breadth of their work. It was inspiring to see how a team of three people could have such a massive impact on a wide range of projects with big clients:
The workshop went well (I hope it provided some value to John, Dominic and Fran over at Wolfcub), and we spent a fair amount of time reflecting upon what worked and didn't work. In addition to the feedback we received from Wolfcub Digital, we had a few insights of our own as well.
James took the reigns on deconstructing and reconstructing the workshop. He brought Ellen and I into the recap session to test his conclusions. It was amazing to see the velocity with which James works. Diverging and converging with such momentum and intensity takes a lot of energy but I guess like many masters of their craft, James seems to make it look easy...
Working on Training Project Concepts
In between the Purpose Workshop and our little workshop recaps, I spent my time working on training project concepts. I employed the use of my sticky-note proposition exercise along with sketches on note cards to help articulate and refine the concepts.
I've definitely gotten better at using an idea to further the project and then throwing that idea away without any attachment. It's become a more liberal and fruitful process when I am not emotionally tied to each individual idea along the process.
Tagged: #BrandRefresh, #TrainingProject


text:
Britons Find Bulgarian Prices are Right for Holiday Homes
For the Record
James Morgan
The Herald
Bulgaria was confirmed yesterday as the hot spot for Britons buying a holiday home abroad.
An industry study, by currency specialist HIFX, shows the former communist state has risen to third most popular destination for foreign boltholes, behind only Spain and France.
Bulgaria leapt ahead of Florida, Portugal, and Dubai after marketing the Black Sea coast for summer holidays and inland mountain ranges for skiing.
The country is currently being touted as the best place to buy, a country where you can get more for your money than in Spain, Portugal, or Greece while enjoying the kind of lifestyle that was affordable in Mediterranean Europe 30 years ago.
With the Black Sea coast averaging nearly 300 days of sunshine a year and a good meal for two with wine costing less than 8 pounds, Bulgaria has also been voted the UK's favourite holiday hot spot by First Choice, and the Association of British Travel Agents expects UK visitor numbers to have reached 200,000 this year.
The cheap prices mean it is ideal for holiday home buyers or investors with limited budgets. But when Bulgaria joins the EU in 2007, second home owners can expect the value of their properties to soar.
Bulgaria has been criticised, however, for failing to tackle organised crime. A British man was recently taken hostage there by bogus estate agents, who demanded 44,000 pounds for his release.
Chris Fanos, 59, was picked up at Sofia airport by an Iranian man who had offered to show him property. Instead, he was bundled into a car and driven to a hideout. Police laid siege to the building for 48 hours and Mr Fanos was eventually freed after a gun battle.
The latest study also showed Florida's attractiveness is falling after a year in which the dollar rose against the pound forced prices up in the sunshine state.
Alex Wright, HIFX director, said: "Bulgaria is booming. The resorts are reminiscent of Spain 20 years ago; investors are buying in their droves and there is similar activity in some of the ski resorts."
Jake Mason, from Validus, an international property specialist, added: "Britons are looking at the Eastern bloc countries that have recently joined the EU, such as the Czech Republic and Poland. There are many tax incentives. For example, VAT on new build property is only 5% instead of the normal 19%."
Where Brits are buying property abroad and if the trend is up, down or staying the same:
Property hot spots
Spain - 26% (falling)
France - 24% (falling)
Bulgaria - 8% (increasing)
Australia - 7% (unchanged)
US - 7% (falling)
Dubai - 6% (increasing)
New Zealand - 4% (falling)
Cyprus - 4% (unchanged)
Canada - 4% (increasing)
Italy - 2% (increasing)
Turkey - 2% (increasing)
Portugal - 2% (falling)
Switzerland - 1% (increasing)
Brazil - 1% (increasing)
Others - 2% (increasing)


text:
News Release
SF State scientists expose new threat to Spotted Owl
First incident of malaria parasite discovered in bird from Oregon
SAN FRANCISCO, May 28, 2008 -- A new study provides a baseline distribution of blood parasites and strains in Spotted Owls, suggesting a more fragile immune health than previously understood for the already threatened Northern and California Spotted Owls.
The study, co-authored by San Francisco State University biologists, is the first to show a Spotted Owl infected with an avian malaria (Plasmodium) parasite. The paper, "Blood Parasites in Owls with Conservation Implications for the Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis)," is published today by PLoS One and is freely available for review at http://www.plosone.org
"While Plasmodium parasites have been found in thriving owl species, the detection in a Spotted Owl could further challenge the threatened species' survival," said Heather Ishak, an SF State graduate biology student who performed the research with Assistant Professor of Biology Ravinder Sehgal and others.
Ishak conducted the study as part of a larger investigation into blood-borne parasites in birds of prey. She searched for three types of blood parasites in 111 Spotted Owls, 44 Barred Owls (Strix varia) and 387 birds representing nine other owl species. The blood analysis involving DNA testing revealed that 44 percent of Northern and California Spotted Owl subspecies harbored 17 strains of blood parasites. They also harbored an unusually high number of strains that were not found in the other owl species.
"The controversy over the spotted owl's habitat in old-growth forests over the past two decades has made this species one of the most intensely researched birds in the world," Sehgal said. "Prior to this discovery however, the question of which blood parasites they harbor and whether Barred Owls could be a source of diseases that could further limit the Spotted Owl's chance of survival had been largely unaddressed."
According to the researchers, the infected Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) may have been exposed to the parasite by coming into contact with mosquitoes that fed on a Barred Owl (Strix varia). The increasingly invasive Barred Owls compete with Spotted Owls for food and nesting sites.
Ishak and Sehgal expect their findings will prompt more research into this species and enhance general knowledge of the role and effects of blood-borne pathogens in wild bird populations.
The other co-authors of the study were John P. Dumbacher of the California Academy of Sciences, Nancy L. Anderson of the Lindsay Wildlife Museum, John J. Keane of the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station, Gediminas Valkiunas of Vilnius University in Lithuania, Susan M. Haig of the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center and Lisa A. Tell of the School of Veterinary Science at University of California, Davis.
SF State is the only master's level public university serving the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin. The university enrolls more than 30,000 students each year. With nationally acclaimed programs in a range of fields -- from creative writing, cinema and biology to history, broadcast and electronic communications arts, theatre arts and ethnic studies -- the University's more than 140,000 graduates have contributed to the economic cultural and civic fabric of San Francisco and beyond.
- ### -
Share this story:


text:
Selected coverage for Danbold, F., & Huo, Y. J. (2014). No Longer "All-American"? Whites' Defensive Reactions to Their Numerical Decline. Social Psychological and Personality Science.
APS Observer (April, 2016) – "When the Majority Becomes the Minority".
UCLA Newsroom (October, 2014) – "Soon to become a minority in the U.S., whites express declining support for diversity, UCLA psychology study finds".
New York Magazine (October, 2014) – "Here's What Happens When You Tell White People America Is Getting Less White".
LA Weekly (October, 2014) – "White People Are Bummed That They're Losing America".
Jezebel (October, 2014) – "White People Not Thrilled About a Non-White Majority America".


text:
as Ajami usually is on Islam issues. One guy at least who understands the real mentality of the Arab world.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Fun with Headlines
How easy can they make these? A nice fat one down the middle of the plate:
Georgia accuses 4 Russians of spying
What do you suppose they were spying on? The Coke museum? Peach Production? Silly peanut farmers? Surely not the UGA Cheerleaders page, which is sadly underpictured?
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Grandpa John
passed away last week. He was Mrs. Skinny's grandfather, and a decent, honest, bighearted man. I had the privelege of meeting him several times, and it was fewer than it should have been. It's hard and expensive to travel to the west coast, there's no kosher food where he lived, etc., etc. As usual in these cases, you wish you had done things differently despite the effort involved.
John was a WWII vet, as I recall, and worked for Lockheed for many, many years. He was an inveterate record collector, stopping at all the yard sales to pick up more, whatever they were. He gave Mrs. Beatles records years ago - he never listened to them, but he had them. He was a fine singer, and fond of the Gilbert & Sullivan operas that Mrs. & I like so much - he played Ralph Rackstraw in Pinafore on a number of occasions. My dad met him on a trip out there a few years back, and the two musicians hit it off very well.
I'm glad he got to meet both of our kids, and we will certainly tell them about this wonderful man. Mrs. has gone out west for the memorial service, and, the rest of us are with her in spirit.
He was a terrific guy, and we will all miss him.
Posted by Dan at 1:42 PM |
Labels: family, mrs. skinny
I should keep my mouth
firmly shut. Literally, and especially after making fun at Terry's expense about Southerners with no teeth. Saturday night, while chewing on a piece of Chalah (quite soft, delicious, and with chocolate chips, courtesy of Mrs. Skinny) I had a crown fall out. I was pretty annoyed since I had the root canal & the crown put in no more than a year and a half ago.
So I spent the last three days not at all ignoring the gaping hole in my mouth. It's extremely annoying to have that gap there and not think about it, which is why I failed miserably. I finally got the thing popped back in about an hour and a half ago, for which I am extremely grateful.
Unlike Terry, however, I did not take pictures. You'll have to manage without.
I haven't the patience
to read all of this drivel from the president of one of my Alma Maters. (Alma Matera? My latin still needs work.) I get the impression it's an impassioned defense of the University as institution, a bulwark against the tide of barbarism surrounding it. Which isn't too far off the mark in NYU's case, given the local population.
I don't expect much else from a University President, and as I say I can't be bothered to read the whole thing. Maybe he's talking about a new strain of genetically modified potatoes, I dunno. But a few things did catch my eye. He writes:
The Internet is a revolutionary tool, which provides the newest basis for such a belief; however, it works not only for but also (and less obviously) against the ideal of an informed and intellectually curious public. It does enable the previously passive and powerless to become actors and interactors in the unfolding drama of public discourse and politics; but, even as it empowers and informs vast numbers of citizens, it also is a tool for misinformation and false attacks, polluting the dialogue with an apparent "knowledge" base undisciplined by traditional standards of accuracy in public communication. Bloggers are their own editors and many make little effort to verify what they post.Traditional standards of accuracy in public communication? I don't think he understands that a lot of the public now believes there are no longer any standards of accuracy. Memogate was just the most obvious recent example of the loss of those standards. Half the news stories we read in the MSM are from "unnamed sources", when a half an effort would reveal that those sources are utterly wrong.
A second item, along the same lines:
As an information surplus develops, the absence of accountability combines with an absence of formal checks to make it possible for pseudofacts to spread like wildfire. This presents even the intelligent and the rigorous with a serious sorting problem. One unsurprising response to this barrage of undifferentiated information is a kind of nihilism about knowledge which leads almost inexorably to an equation of fact and opinion and the reduction of argumentation to assertion. Paradoxically, this trend breeds and feeds a version of unreflective dogmatism.I like the term "pseudofacts", but I think the good Prexy needs to examine his own institution for the very same malady. "Unreflective dogmatism" was an issue in my own schooling close to fifteen years ago - it's only gotten worse. Nihilism regarding information is, to my mind, a direct result of the increasing nihilism of society in general, spurred by the left and his own beloved academia's belief that there is no truth. Or that truth exists in the mind of the beholder.
Perhaps this is a brilliant essay, but Sexon's arguments in these two cases strike me as the usual bleat of the elitist uncomfortable with the free market of ideas. It's too easy for them to taken apart by rubes like me.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Hey folks?
Lighten up, willya? Considering the sort of things us Hebrews have to put up with, I don't really think you have any business getting offended.
I don't normally
participate in these sorts of things, but this one seemed too good to pass up:
The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to Purgatory!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:
Level Score Purgatory (Repenting Believers) Very High Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers) Low Level 2 (Lustful) Moderate Level 3 (Gluttonous) Low Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious) Moderate Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy) High Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics) Very Low Level 7 (Violent) Moderate Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers) Moderate Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous) Very Low
Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test
Your fate has been decided....
You are one of the lucky ones! Because of your virtue and beliefs, you have escaped eternal punishment. You are sent to Purgatory!
You have escaped damnation and made it to Purgatory, a place where the dew of repentance washes off the stain of sin and girds the spirit with humility. Through contrition, confession, and satisfaction by works of righteousness, you must make your way up the mountain. As the sins are cleansed from your soul, you will be illuminated by the Sun of Divine Grace, and you will join other souls, smiling and happy, upon the summit of this mountain. Before long you will know the joys of Paradise as you ascend to the ethereal realm of Heaven.
Well, that's one less thing to worry about.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Want something fun?
New York City Subway Maps from the 1880s to the present. I looked back at some from the 70s, and I had forgotten how much the routes have changed - some of the trains I used to take now follow completely different paths.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
For sure, t'isn't it Talk Like a Pirate Day, ye bilge rat and barnacle scraper!
Hoist your main sail or be scuppered, ye scurvy dog!
One other
political note. I had the misfortune to hear George Stephanopolous on Imus this morning. I'd love to know how so many smart people can be this dumb. He repeated the same stupid old story the liberals have been touting for the last year or more. "We have to give these captured Al Qaeda types the protection of the Geneva Conventions. The US cannot ignore a treaty that the rest of the world holds to. Why do we think we have a right to act unilaterally and illegally?"
Look, stupid, I'll say this once more, on top of everyone smarter than me who's said it. The Geneva Conventions DO NOT APPLY to nonuniformed, non-governmental troops. I cannot cite you chapter & verse, but you're a smart boy - look it up. The Conventions are meant to protect NATIONAL troops, in UNIFORM, of SIGNATORY PARTIES to the Conventions.
Al Qaeda is not a Nation.
It did not sign the Conventions.
Its members do not wear uniforms.
By definition, they have no rights under the Conventions. I believe the treaty is also supposed to apply only in times of war - are you admitting now that we're at war with Al Qaeda? Or do you want to stick to the script that this is all our fault?
The Conventions assumed we were in a typical war with other sovereign nations. We wanted to assure humane treatment for captured prisoners, on the assumption that each side would want safe treatment (within reason) for their citizens. Marquess of Queensbury rules for nations, if you will. But Al Qaeda fights dirty, and they fight to the death, and they're not looking for some level of accomodation. By the very law you knuckleheads keep quoting, we owe them nothing. Please stop pretending you don't understand this.
It appears
the Muslim community wants another, bigger apology. (See here if you can stomach AP stupidity on the subject.)
I'm going to presume to respond for the Pope, with the response I think he should deliver. As we would say in New York, "Apologize this, Abdul." (With appropriate hand gestures.) I don't care what they think, and I don't think the Bishop of Rome should care either. In the first place, no more than five people on the Muslim street had ever heard of Manuel II Paleologus; and I'd be surprised at this point if the number has reached 50. I'm aware of him as a former medievalist, but since I confuse the Byzantine emperors routinely (well, as often as it comes up, anyway) I couldn't have told you beforehand if he was in 9th or the 14th century. The average member of the Religion of Peace (as Mel Brooks as Hitler put it in "To Be or Not to Be: "All I want is a little peace! A little piece of Poland, a little piece of France...") hasn't the faintest idea what the Pope said, or why old Manny knew what he was talking about.
In the second place, Benny has a point - these people want to kill us, and it's pointless to pretend otherwise. We need to be careful of offending these nutballs? How about an apology for the 3,000 dead civilians of 9/11? How about a nice, loud, "Al Qaeda is not Islam" from an Imam or three? Never happen, right? You know why? Because they're not sorry. They like jihad. They want a world without Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and probably half the Muslims (depending on their own orientation.) It's hard to satisfy people who want you dead.
So why bother apologizing? Apologize for existing? No thanks. What are you going to do now, try & kill us? What? We're putting ourselves more at risk than we were before? The Yahoo link above had a sidebar that Al Qaeda is planning more attacks because of the Pope. So if he hadn't mentioned an obscure Byzantine Emperor the whackos would be sitting nicely and offering us peace & love? Somehow I don't buy it.
So here's my fantasy version of Benedict's apology. He stands in St. Peter's Square, and says "If there are Muslims out there who are offended and want an apology, they can bend over and kiss my holy, white robed tuchus. I'll apologize when you quit murdering Christians, Jews, and anyone else that gets your panties twisted."
Think it'll happen?
Thursday, September 14, 2006
I can't tell you
if this story actually means anything about a revival of Jewish life in Europe. So much of European Jewry was destroyed half a century ago, and our best efforts have not really revived the depth and breadth of Jewish life that once was. There are also many, many more Muslims in Europe, and whatever they may say publicly, the Jewish people have (for all intents & purposes) few friends amongst the Muslims of the world.
But ordaining Rabbis in Germany is proof of one concept: Am Yisrael Chai - The Nation of Israel Lives. Kill us, torture us, assimilate us - do your worst. We shall not pass from the face of the earth, and we will in fact outlive anything you can throw at us. Mazal Tov to the graduates, and I'm sure they will be hearing from the Alumni Association shortly.
What day is it again?
Ah yes, Thursday. Time for the Thursday Three, that fine example of critical time-wasting skills. Today's set:
1) What are three new books that you've read recently?
The first is Sweet and Low, the story of (duh!) Sweet & Low sweetener. It's a terrific read, chronicling the truly bizarre actions of the family behind those pink packets. The author is actually a grandson of the founder.
Next, I recently read American Gunfight about the plot to assassinate Harry Truman hatched by members of a Puerto Rican independence movement. A fascinating story about something I'd never heard of, which I found slightly marred by Hunter's focus on the firearms involved. I don't mind that he's interested in them, but it's a bit more noticeable than I would want.
The last is my current read, Borscht Belt Bungalows, on the life and culture of New York Jews in the Bungalow Colonies of the lower Catskill Mountains in Sullivan County. I went to camp up there, and my dad got his start in the music business up there, so I have some personal connection to the area. Although this story is not my experience, exactly.
2) What three new products have you tried lately and what were your experiences?
I tried the 2003 Honda Accord. My experiences have been quite positive, but you can read about that elsewhere on here. I've worked on something called Windows Media Server, and while I don't know how it stacks up against other streaming media tools, it seems to do what I need, so I can live with it either way. I've watched other people play on a Microsoft product called SharePoint, which I am hoping to get my mitts on soon to play with.
3) What are three new movies or shows or plays or whatever that you have seen lately, or would like to go see soon?
Movie? Play? I'm barely allowed out of the house. We did just get notified of the next season of the local Gilbert & Sullivan troop, and they're doing something called the Rose of Persia which I'd like to see. I would also like to get to Cars at some point, but I suspect that's going on my Netflix list instead. And I have Narnia on my Netflix list for the future, so I guess that's it.
Posted by Dan at 9:40 AM |
Labels: Thursday Three
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
I spent today
locked in a room with a buncha work people and a few folks from Microsoft. With no Windows. (get it? Windows?) It was a largely useful conversation about some projects we have coming up, but it was kind of a long day. I've forgotten what a cattle call commuting into Manhattan can be, which didn't help much.
On the plus side, when you go to these kinds of things they do take a certain amount of care of you. Free drinks and food, replenished often throughout the day. I actually got lunch from them, but decided I was too close to the kosher falafel cart to pass it up, even though there was a free kosher turkey sandwich arranged for me. I used to work a few blocks from where I was today, so I know most of what's in the neighborhood. I even got a freebie travel mug in the deal, and I love tchotchkes.
I get to repeat the whole thing again tomorrow, so I expect to fully loathe commuting in by tomorrow AM at the latest. On a positive note, the late meeting I was supposed to go to on Thursday has been cancelled, so I'm off the hook for one thing this week, anyway.
Posted by Dan at 9:26 PM |
Labels: technology, work
Monday, September 11, 2006
Michael Edward McHugh, Jr.
is probably not a name you've ever heard of. I hadn't either until a few weeks ago, when he was assigned to me as part of the 2996 Project, where bloggers around the world and the country are acknowledging each of the victims of September 11th.
So how do you capture the essence of a man you've never met? How can you possibly pay tribute to a total stranger? What on earth makes a guy like me, with no immediate losses on that terrible day, qualified to memorialize an innocent murder victim. Nothing does, and yet I still have to try.
There is one thing I think he and I have in common, aside from being New Yorkers living in the suburbs around New York City. We are both ordinary people - regular guys leading regular lives. Don't get me wrong - I'm sure Mr. McHugh was an extraordinary man to those who knew him - but there was nothing out of the everyday that you can't find all across America. He went to work, did his job, spent time with his family, got active in local politics - the picture of a decent ordinary citizen pursuing the totality of his life's work to the best of his ability.
And yet. And yet.
He was extraordinary in every way to the people who knew him and loved him. Brilliant or not, handsome or not, generous or not, he was the one and the only him, and no one could have been a better Michael Edward McHugh Jr. than he was. So who was Michael Edward McHugh, Jr? I couldn't tell you the first thing about the inner person, but here are some things I've gathered over the internet:
He was a husband to Maria Cermele McHugh;
He was a father to Michael III, Christian, and Connor McHugh
He was a son to Eileen and Michael McHugh
He was a brother to Darby McHugh and John McHugh
He was an energy trader for Trade Spark, a Division of Cantor Fitzgerald
He was a Village Trustee in Tuckahoe, NY
He was campaigning for a seat on the Westchester County Board of Legislators
So there you have the bare facts. But what of the depth? What of the life the man led? How to capture such things? Did he like football or baseball? Pepperoni on his pizza or peppers and onions? By the tributes on his Legacy. com page, I get the sense that he was the kind of guy all of us know in one way or another. A decent, hardworking guy who roughhoused with his kids and did what he could to make his corner of the universe a better place to be. A real man's man - not the overhyped blowhard type - but the guy who takes his responsibilities seriously and does what he needs to get the job done.
And what of Michael Edward McHugh, Jr.? What happened to that man's man? His life was cut short by the lowest scum of humanity. Evil, twisted subhumans who considered violent death for themselves and others to be a blessed event. Who decided that others had no right to live based on their faith, their nationality, or some other meaningless, invented designation. Michael McHugh had a right to live. He had a right to pursue his own dreams and success without the murderous bastards cutting those dreams short. He had a right to grow old with his wife. He had a right to see his boys grow up and become men. He had a right to see future generations born and grow. And all that lost because some nutcase had a deathwish.
Let us grieve for Michael. Let us remember his passing with sorrow, for all that he was and all that might have been. Let us recall his life and the joy he gave the world, and the benefit his existence was to the rest of us whether we knew him or not. We have arrived, as we did on that terrible day five years ago, on the cusp of the High Holy Days of the Jewish calendar. Rosh Hashana of 5762 arrived exactly a week after 9/11, and I can recall praying extremely hard that year for God to have mercy on us all. These days, even five years past, remain an opportunity to beg God for mercy for ourselves and the world around us.
We pray for life and health, and the Unesaneh Tokef prayer explains that on Rosh Hashana God decides who will live and who will die in the upcoming year. We none of us knew the previous year that so many would perish so close to the Days of Awe that followed. Michael McHugh did not know, and we must trust that God had a need for Michael greater than ours. That sounds terribly trite, but it is our responsibility to try and make sense of God's decisions, and take what lessons and solace from them we can.
There is no possible way my pointless blog can bring comfort to his family and friends that knew him. Trying is almost meaningless, but I had to give it my best shot. If any of his family happens to read this, I have done the best I could, and I hope you accept it in the spirit in which it is meant. I would comfort you if I could, and I grieve for your loss.
Michael, I wish you Godspeed wherever you have gone. May God bless you and yours, keep them safe from harm and grant them peace. Your sacrifice and martyrdom have not been forgotten, and your legacy will live on in the lives you touched all to briefly on this earth. May your memory be a blessing to all.
ca. 1966-September 11th, 2001
Friday, September 08, 2006
Now isn't
a coronary just the way you want to go into Shabbos? Me neither, but I didn't get the choice.
Oldest is now old enough to take the bus to school. Yesterday was day one, and the bus was 40 minutes late. OK, it's the first day. Probably about the same amount late on the way home. Again, it's the first day. This morning, the bus is about 20 minutes late, so we're doing better. But the trip home. Ah, the trip home.
The bus shows up, neighbor gets off the bus, other neighbor, and her older brother (about 13) who says "did oldest get another ride home?" Uh, no. No sign of my child. Freak out time has now arrived. I call the school. No answer. I leave a message at the principal's home. No answer. I call the bus company "we're not allowed to contact the drivers while they're on the road."
Great. A lost child, and we have protocol to worry about.
I call the school district, more than half frantic, and the woman says "hang on". While I'm on hold, another bus shows up with my kid on it. Huge sigh of relief, but still very upset and frankly pissed off. She's very upset, and explains that the end of school was very crowded, she couldn't understand what they were saying, and she ended up on the wrong bus. Fortunately she was with some friends, and on a bus that comes to our town, but scared and miserable.
So she's in PJs and watching TV, and I'm composing oratory to use on the school officials when I go see them on Monday. I appreciate that it's the first few days, and there are a lot of kids and confusion, but you damn well better be sure that a five year old ends up on the correct bus going home.
Somebody's getting an earful on Monday.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
the Mrs. is actually down South, Atlanta way, on some conference or the other as she starts the long road to becoming a certified lactation consultant.* Meaning I am left home with the kiddles. Alone. This on top of the onslaught of relatives over the weekend just past explains my lack of activity (sister in law on Thursday, in-laws on Monday, parents came for dinner with in-laws on Monday [excellent grilled turkey breast, I might point out], inlaws to the airport tuesday with rental car thankfully, wife to airport Tuesday, my dad with the kids while wife taken to airport) blogwise.
It's not as bad as it sounds, largely because oldest starts school tomorrow and thus I am down to one as of about 7:30 AM tomorrow. So today I took oldest for her annual lice check at school, dropped off some of her supplies at her locker (yes, I was surprised that first graders get lockers, but they're not locked, so it's basically a cubby with a door), and then took the kids to a local science museum. It wasn't the best I've seen, but they were entertained and that was fine. We got ice cream on the way home, and I have to say I may be getting too old to eat an entire Carvel butterscotch sundae at one sitting.
I have no big plans with youngest beyond taking her to meet her teachers tomorrow, which will kill exactly 1/2 an hour. We've been invited out for both shabbat meals, so I may dedicate part of tomorrow to baking cookies with her. This will keep her busy, and give us something to bring to our various meals. Gingersnaps sounds appealing to me - simple enough & fun to make, without the noodgy part of shape cookies. My dad is supposed to come out again tomorrow so I can go play hockey at night, so that may distract youngest as well.
Posting may be light until next week.
*I should note that the idea of looking at women's chests, and getting paid for it, sounds too good to be true. And, in fact, it is.
Posted by Dan at 8:11 PM |
Labels: family, mrs. skinny


text:
The Paranormal Activity movie series may be over after the upcoming 3D-infused Ghost Dimension entry, but it will live on in virtual reality. VRWERX announced today that it will be bringing its VR Paranormal Activity game to select AMC theaters in major markets this weekend, October 22 to 24, coinciding with the release of the new film.
Even more intriguing, the demo will be powered by HTC's Vive Steam VR headsets. We still don't have specifics on the game yet, but judging from the Paranormal Activity series so far, you can expect plenty of jump scares and creepiness right on the edge of your field of vision.
The game likely won't reach the dramatic heights of Paranormal Activity 3 (which is seriously great), but as far as horror franchises go, it's pretty much built for VR. The finished game will be available next spring on PlayStation VR and Oculus, and non-VR versions will be coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Steam. Check out a list of the 15 participating theaters after the break.
AMC Loews White Marsh 16 – Baltimore, MD
AMC Neshaminy 24 – Bensalem, PA
AMC Loews Boston Common 19 – Boston, MA
AMC Century City 15 – Century City, CA
AMC Bay Street 16 – Emeryville, CA
AMC Town Square 18 – Las Vegas, NV
AMC Loews Alderwood Mall 16 – Lynnwood, WA
AMC Tysons Corner 16 – McLean, VA
AMC Mesquite 30 with Dine-In Theatres – Mesquite, TX
AMC Empire 25 – New York, NY
AMC Orange 30 – Orange, CA
AMC Mission Valley 20 – San Diego, CA
AMC Metreon 16 – San Francisco, CA
AMC Mercado 20 – Santa Clara, CA
AMC Universal CityWalk 19 – Universal City, CA
Article originally published October 21st, 2016, by Devindra Hardawar: www.engadget.com


text:
Christmas Parties at HYC
Christmas Parties at Howth Yacht Club
Are you looking for a unique venue to host your Christmas Party?
If so, why not consider us at Howth Yacht Club?
We can tailor a menu to suit your party, and can host numbers up to 150 people for a 3 course dinner. For those that would like a more casual alternative, we can cater for buffets and finger food or tapas also. The Club will have a full 'Christmas makeover' to ensure a perfect atmosphere for you and your party.
If you would like to make an enquiry about your party, please get in touch on 01 8322141 or email@example.com
Registered in the Republic of Ireland. Registered No. 81187
© Howth Yacht Club clg 2019 | web design & seo company - Isobar


text:
Though relatively new, robotic process automation (RPA) is already starting to dramatically streamline the mortgage lending process.
The Best Part: there are now mid-market solutions like Kapow from MetaSource that offers the benefits of RPA for a fraction of the price that the large consulting firms and IT integrators would love to charge you. And, it works as you will see in the video below.text


text:
The Department of Defense awarded more than $562 million worth of contracts on Wednesday. Publicly traded companies receiving contracts included:
- Eaton Corporation (NYSE:ETN), which was awarded a maximum $12 million firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract to supply various oil nozzles and parts to the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps with a May 22, 2015, performance completion date.
- Elbit Systems (NASDAQ:ESLT) subsidiary M7 Aerospace, awarded a $15.2 million option extension on a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract for logistics support for 12 Navy/Marines UC-35 and seven Navy C-26 transport aircraft through May 2014.
- Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC), winner of a $15.3 million modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract funding continued systems development and demonstrations of the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System. This is the same drone that the Royal Australian Air Force recently expressed interest in acquiring.
Curiously, the DOD clarified that the actual purpose of the latter contract is not so much to perform work on the new drone per se but rather to pay for an upgrade of software being used in the project -- from Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows XP operating system to Windows 7.


text:
Top Roller Strong Special Events
Wolcott's Country Fair: August 22, 2015.
Mike Homewood will attend the Wolcott's Country Fair along with special guests Tim Bresnan and Ron Klemba who will referee this event. Mike is sure to bring along a few autographed copies of his now world famous Top Roll Training equipment.
There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places for right and left handed men and women. There will also be a 2015 Soft Tail Deluxe Harley Davidson raffle. Hosted by Kelly Scanlon and Female Arm Wrestlers United.


text:
Sara and I are happily settled into our new office, with bookshelves assembled and loaded with copies of all of our fabulous authors' books. So many copies, in fact, that we're giving some away! In the spirit of Back to School, we're preparing two special boxes for two amazing teachers or librarians out there: one full of middle grade galleys and finished copies (and maybe some sweet swag), and another of young adult galleys and books (and maybe swag).
Want to be in the running to grab a box? Leave a comment below with some information about you — if you're a teacher or librarian, what grade(s) and/or subject(s), plus your favorite story about a student and a book.
Sara and I will go through all of the comments and pick a winner for the boxes on
Friday, August 21st Monday, August 24th, so get those comments in! And please share this post with any other teachers or librarians you know, so we can help to get even more kids reading some great books!
Edited to add: US only, please. Sorry!
Filed Under: Slushpile
Tags: giveaways, middle grade, young adult
25 Responses to "Back to School Giveaway!!"
Robin Willis Says:
August 19th, 2015 at 1:47 pm
I'm a middle school librarian with 600 students who need books!
Crystal Glasgow Says:
August 19th, 2015 at 4:29 pm
I teach about 22 fourth graders in all subjects, but none more important than reading. I have many favorite stories about my students and books – The look they get in their eyes when they finally find that one book they've been looking for. The little fits of laughter that ring out in the silent classroom during independent reading time. Lively discussions about literature. The passion that certain stories ignite within them to continue reading or make a difference in the world. The competition to read more books than any other student in the classroom. My favorite moment, however, is the one where one of my students reignited my love of reading. Xavier, one of my students that disliked reading the most, walked into the classroom with a rather large novel tucked under his arm. He enthusiastically announced to the classroom that he was going to read Twilight. I can still see the twinkle in his eye and the bright smile on his face. Concerned he was not reading a book on his level, I asked him if he was certain that Twilight was a good fit book. He was very persistent in his answer that he was sure it was a book he could understand. Then he challenged me: "I bet I can read this book faster than you Miss." I never back down from a challenge and the rest was history. We were neck in neck for a while but I eventually surpassed him and moved on to the next of the series, but I thanked him for challenging me like I challenged them everyday. He never gave up reading Twilight and eventually finished it and many other books. Not only did I enjoy reading again, so did Xavier.
Jared Reck Says:
August 19th, 2015 at 6:34 pm
I teach 8th grade Language Arts. One of my favorite moments was reading Part-time Indian out loud to a group of reluctant/struggling boy readers—tough kids who laughed out loud at almost every chapter and went strangely silent during the heartbreaking parts, avoiding eye contact at all costs. So powerful. So much fun to read aloud.
Carolyn L Fischer Says:
August 20th, 2015 at 5:08 am
I teach 7th and 8th grade language arts at an all-girls middle school near Detroit, Michigan. One of my favorite stories about a student (okay, more than one student) and a book comes from last year when we read "Unwind," by Neal Shusterman, as a class. I try to choose newer books for my students as well as classics, and "Unwind" provides a great opportunity to read a dystopian adventure story that will get the students thinking and give them something they truly want to write about. We read the story aloud so I could guide the girls through it. One of the best parts for me, as a teacher, was when one student who had never liked reading could not stop reading or talking about "Unwind." She was incredulous herself at her desire to read, and continued to maintain that energy as she made her way through the sequels to "Unwind" independently. I desperately want her to keep reading, and I'm so pleased that "Unwind" gave her that motivation. Meanwhile, as the story became more gripping, I literally had students (one of whom claimed she'd fallen in love with the main character, Connor) on the edges of their seats, holding each other's hands and barely breathing as they awaited the outcome of various scenes. These moments make me smile and inspire me to keep at it: bring books into the lives of students so they can imagine another world, open their minds to the unknown, and lead them into writing with their own enthusiasm and ideas. I'd love to get new books for my classroom to help me continue to do this!
Jennifer B Says:
August 20th, 2015 at 8:57 am
I'm a librarian. We are the only public library in our County, and are right next to the school. My favorite story is of a 11-year-old buddy of mine. He said he hated to read. Hated it. (But he loves the library.) So I made it my mission to find him something he would dig. It took 6 months of casually suggesting books, but one finally clicked and he raced through the whole series. I teared up when he told me he was on book 3 and loving it. Made my year!
Gretchen Brugman Says:
August 20th, 2015 at 9:05 am
I have taught middle school (and some high school) for the last ten years. I'm starting a new job this year as the 7-9 English teacher at a small charter school with no library.
I love teaching literature the most because I love reading, and I think reading connects us. It allows students to learn and empathize, and it connects us to each other. Once, a fifth grader told me Wednesday Wars was his favorite book, so I decided to read it on his recommendation. I LOVED it! And I loved that a student was the one introducing me to a book I loved.
Kate Says:
August 24th, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Congrats, Gretchen, you win the MG box. Can you email me at firstname.lastname@example.com with your mailing address?
Jenean Roberts Says:
August 20th, 2015 at 9:05 am
I am a Middle School Math teacher. I was in the High School until 2014. Without reading you have almost nothing. Without reading you can't do math. I have a real hard time saying what my favorite book is. I love to read! If I had to pick just one I would say Harry Potter. But there are too many other one to settle for just one.
Melanie Says:
August 20th, 2015 at 9:35 am
I'm a high school librarian with a tiny budget!
My favorite story is recently a kid who got excited about me giving recommendations because their last librarian didn't do that. What did they person even do all day??
Brittany Says:
August 20th, 2015 at 9:40 am
I am a HS teacher who helps run a teen literacy book club. We do lots of fun bookish things. My favorite part about being a teacher is being able to recommend books to non readers. I love to help non readers become readers.
I also really enjoy helping students understand that the HS library is legit. There is a bad stigma with libraries and young adults for whatever reason. They will come to my room to get books before going to the library. I like showing them that libraries are cool. 🙂
Ally Weinel Says:
August 20th, 2015 at 9:40 am
I am a 7-9 librarian in Missouri. Our district is 1:1 at my level and it takes up a good portion of my time and attention. Luckily, I now have a wonderful para who has taken on most of these responsibilities for me. However, my first year in the library, I was between two buildings and I was the only one in the library available to deal with all of the fun issues that technology sometimes has. One day, I was at the Freshman Center and I had a couple of kiddos come up to me and ask me about books. They asked me for recommendations, I got to tell them about a few books that I had read recently, and they talked excitedly about their favorite books that they had read recently. It was so beautiful to share a little bit of time with these students discussing something we all love so much and forging that connection. I rarely get to enjoy this aspect of my job. It is a small portion of my job that people always assume to be my entire profession. Though it definitely is not the largest or, likely, most important aspect of my job, it is certainly my favorite! Seeing freshman excited about reading is always a memorable experience!
Faythe Says:
August 20th, 2015 at 9:53 am
I am a teen services librarian who works in a predominately rural poor area. A lot of the teens I help throughout our small library system do not have computers are home. At one of our branches I set up a Study Hall for teens so those without computers at home would be able to do their homework (a lot of which was posted online) and not fall behind their classmates. This also turned into a prepping for college area and I was able to help a few teens with their college applications and essays (they would be the first in their families to go to college. I helped one of the aforementioned student with a scholarship application and she won a $20,000 for college. To date that is one of my favorite library (success) stories!
Kate Says:
August 24th, 2015 at 12:35 pm
Congrats, Faythe! You win the YA box. Can you email me at email@example.com with your mailing address?
Emily George Says:
August 20th, 2015 at 10:26 am
I'm a sixth grade English teacher. I am passionate about keeping students interested in reading and engaging reluctant readers–especially during middle school when interest in reading tends to drop off! I try to keep my classroom library as current as possible to help support my students and maintain their interest in reading! I would love to have more awesome books for my library!
Abby Cornelius Says:
August 20th, 2015 at 12:07 pm
I'm a High School Librarian and I just had an awesome experience with a student, an author, and a book. Andrew Smith visited our city earlier this year and one of my students is a huge fan. I tweeted to Andrew about it and he was so nice and responded. On the day of the event, the student had to leave early to go to work and I asked a question and identified the student. He was disappointed that he missed getting to talk with my student. Andrew signed a copy of Grasshopper Jungle to the student and mailed it to me to surprise him with. It made his year! He is so kind to his readers and it shows!
Ashley MacKenzie Says:
August 20th, 2015 at 12:21 pm
I'm a high school English and French teacher at an inner city public school. Last year, the teachers' union I belong to underwent a prolonged strike with funding for librarians and resources being key issues.
They're still issues.
Some schools can't afford to keep their libraries open five days a week. Others are required to spend some of their meagre budgets on "Learning Commons" technology rather than books. But there are still avid readers at my school.
In the English department, we encourage student choice with silent reading books – to the point of encouraging memberships to the public library because we know that our school library can't afford to update its collection with any kind of frequency. Last year, this lead to a student discovering Stephanie Perkins.
And to me regretfully asking her to put ISLA away…during French class.
But not all was lost. I promised her and her friends YA author and book recommendations – and to let her continue reading ISLA – if they finished their in-class work with time to spare.
And they did it.
They were so eager for me to hand them the post-it of names and titles I'd scribbled down for them. It was motivating. Uplifting. Exciting.
For all of us.
I just wish I'd been able to hand them books instead.
Lisa Hadorn Albright Says:
August 20th, 2015 at 2:08 pm
I am a 7th and 8th grade ELA teacher. I have started many cool things at my school like: Yo-Expo, Fireside Read Alouds, Writing for the World, and Night of the Arts. If I win some books I want to start Bring on the Books.
Pick me, pick me, pick me:)
Michael Shore Says:
August 20th, 2015 at 3:06 pm
I am a teacher. My daughters are avid readers. My daughter's junior high is ALWAYS in need of more current books of quality. The school has a book club, an outdoor reading area, as well as a character garden for reading and congregating, which is dedicated to a few staff members who recently passed away.
Allie Lamb Says:
August 20th, 2015 at 9:20 pm
I teach elementary art to kindergarten through fifth grade. I have over 700 students and we start every art lesson with a book. The year Drew Daywalt's book, The Day the Crayons Quit, came out, I read it to every class. To this day, every student refers to a crayon without its wrapping as naked… Obviously closely followed by little giggles and snickers. I love it. One of my favorite things is to make connections between art and other areas of study, but literature holds a special place in my heart.
Ida Olson Says:
August 20th, 2015 at 10:55 pm
Hello! I'm a junior high librarian in Cheyenne at a school of 700. My favorite book moment was when I booktalked "The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie" to a class of seventh graders. A boy picked it up when I'd finished, and his friends started teasing him about getting a "girl book". He wasn't deterred and checked it out anyway. Five minutes later I looked over and he and the same friends were at a table reading it together. I'm proud of kids who read what they want and don't care who sees them.
Monica Says:
August 21st, 2015 at 3:51 am
This is my fifth year as a school librarian, and my first at a new school. I'm so excited to get to know all of my new students, but one of my favorite memories from my old school was the day after The Fault in our Stars came out. My start time was after the library opened, and before I could even set my coat down, I was told there was a group of students who needed to see me immediately. A large group had amassed around my desk, demanding to k ow why we didn't own An Imperial Affliction, the book within the book. I held back a smile as I gently explained it didn't exist, but suggested some real alternatives they might enjoy (and they did). Connecting the right book with the right reader at the right time is like seeing the stars align, and I love that feeling especially with teens coming into their own. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
Adam Hunt Says:
August 21st, 2015 at 6:29 pm
I'm a middle school Language Arts teacher who is in his second year in the Boulder Valley district. MBecause I'm new, my in-room book collection is small. I'm building a reading nook, complete with aspen trees in the corner of my room, and it would be wonderful to be able to add these books to my current, meager collection.
My students have 3 required independent reading projects and creative presentations this year. Help me provide more options to these wonderful kids.
Thanks so much.
Adam Hunt
Jamie Says:
August 21st, 2015 at 7:55 pm
My husband is a first year English teacher this year at an alternative high school. This is his second career, so it's a whole new world after having been in the US Army. Now, he's starting from scratch and is looking for a classroom library to help inspire kids who have slipped through the cracks most of their career. I would love to surprise him with donated books to build his classroom. He's inspired me for my career; I'd like to the chance to say thank you in return.
Carissa Harwood Says:
August 22nd, 2015 at 1:52 pm
Hello there,
I'm a new teacher for freshman and sophomore English, grades 9 and 10. Although I've taught at the college level for years, this is my first foray into teaching younger teens, 13-18.
My story is this: our school is located in the high desert in Nevada in a tiny town that boasts four stoplights. Many of the students who come into my grade 9 class, and even some in grade 10, are unable to read. It would be so helpful to have some high interest books on the shelves that inspire kids to read, to show them that not all books are boring. I have a lot of the classics, and I love them, but the kids…maybe not so much. I'd love to build my library to show my teens that there's so many stories to be told in the world–including theirs. If they see books on the shelves that more closely reflect their lives, their fears and their loves, hopefully it would inspire them to see themselves portrayed with heart. I want them to see that authors understand their stories, and that their own stories, in turn, are equally as valuable.
kt literary » Blog Archive » SOUND and SALVAGE giveaway! Says:
August 24th, 2015 at 8:20 am
[…] to everyone who entered our Back to School Giveaway last week. Winners are being notified, and books are ready to be mailed! As promised, I have […]


text:
Krister Lervag on
Maybe it's just me.. But advertising releases for consoles (XBOX and PS) might just loose you pledges/money.. Many PC gamers would claim console compatibility degrades a game.. I at least become less trusting of your long-term ambitions.. The best game? Or the most income after the game has been released.. I believe this game could receive almost as attention as Star Citizen if your focus was more in line with what stretch goals I believe most want.. Co-op, larger map, diversified gameplay with everything from fighting to running your own real time Kingdom involved
Evan Horvath on
Thank you guys so much! This game is what I've always dreamed of. I am a loyal fan of the Elder Scrolls series, but Oblivion kinda sucked, and Skyrim was awful. You guys are making a lot of people's wishes come true. This game is going to be fantastic.
Ramon Jongsma on
Guys, there's literally no good realistic open world RPG's out there anymore. Like I mentioned in a previous comment: You guys went where I hoped Bethesda would have gone with Elder Scrolls. But unfortunately Elder Scrolls is becoming more linear, and they have even moved into the MMO branch. My hope for good single player RPG gaming on the PC was completely faded, and I was very disappointed in many developers. That is, until I saw your video this week. This needs to happen. I'm a fanboy right off the bat!
Joel Norman on
Anybody else feel like this is the remake of Darklands they always wanted?
Kim Jeansson on
Awesome, Just what i want, and like Adam Monterosso said, If possible, Co-op would be really awesome, But focus on getting us an awesome RPG first =) .
Reudig on
I'm a great fan of RPGs in general and when I saw the first video about Kingdom Come: Deliverance I realized that each and every RPG I've every played was either Sci-Fi or Fantasy. There was absolutely no "real world" RPG so far that I played. So I'm really looking forward to be playing Kingdom Come: Deliverance!
I'm sure you'll put the additional funding you'll get the next couple of days to good use, but the one thing I really would like is an earlier release date :D I know, I know ... Waiting is cruel. And to be honest: I rather have a finished game instead of a rushed one.
Bohuslav Sedláček on
Great. Hope this means the only thing I pludget the game for. Get it done and do it your way.
Adam Monterosso on
Please consider adding Co-Operative Play as a stretch goal. Think about the world's that have been created in the last few years - Far Cry 3, Skyrim, The Witcher 2, they are beautiful but are even more fun when you can return to explore and share an adventure with a friend.
Jonathan Malmberg on
Could you please make a oculus rift stretch goal. Probably expensive but would still be one of the cheaper stretch goals.thank you
Luke Buckley on
THANK YOU FOR GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN. You have no idea how long gamers have wanted a studio that isn't afraid to question what appears to be the socially accepted norm. This is how legends are made.
Bless you and your team.
Sebastian Stinius Barkenæs on
The game seems very interesting and looks great thus far, wish you all best of luck! :)
Simone Pesenti Gritti on
Congratulations! this is an amazing rush for what has to be remembered to be an hystorical videogame moment for the genre. Applause, can't wait to look forward for alpha install :)
Theobeau:OOoE\Mad man with a box/Exiled on
Great that your campaign is doing so well.
Question: what happens if crowd funding raises a significant or entire amount of your total desired funding £3M?
Andre Velez on
Thank you very much for developing the game of my dreams. Tell your investor to have no doubts; the gaming community WANTS this game! Keep up the good work!
Njål Moland on
Emperor... It has a nice ring to it...
Or more simply put: "SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!"
Empirimancer on
I'll be surprised if you don't get at least a million £ before the kickstarter is over.
By the way, I hope you'll take a look at Dark Souls if you need inspiration for combat.
Andreas Øvrehus on
I really wanted to give 600£ but I really can't afford that so 65 will have to do^^ best of luck!
Jon Gordon mcmillan on
david akeret on
Co-Op will be awesome :D :D D: :D:
Alexander Shimanskiy on
Guys, you have my sword!
And seriosuly, if it's not too late to implement co-op - please please please do this :D
Runar Jenssen on
Add a £1 MILLION stretch goal where you'll implement full campaign Co-Op! The internet will go berserk!
Ludek Cejka on
I closed my eyes and upgrade from Baron to EARL! lol :) Damn still no Pope! hehe
Edgar Hünninghaus on
I wish I could give more. Can't wait for this game!
howard hopkins on
.... you had my money at the English Bull terrier! please but one in the game!
Václav Sedláček on
So great thing is on a great way :)
Tomáš Veselý on
I would be onlu a little baron. As student can t spent more money! But thx for this and good luck in work. ///Hodně štěstí chlapi.
Blackstaff on
Some info in the FAQ on the DRM situation would be greatly appreciated :)
Ludek Cejka on
If i was bit more richer i wouldnt wait to be Pope and not only Baron! But i think i will slightly upgrade. Iam happy about this succes on Kickstarter! GOOD JOB ALL! :) /// Ať se práce daří kluci..jen tak dál! :)
Oliver Erichsen on
Youre very welcome... :) And: I'm also happy to see, how many peoples are supporting this game! I really want it (on PS4) and can't wait to see details about further gameplay-elements, inventory, skills and more! GO FOR IT! We're right behind you :)
David W on
I'm just happy to FINALLY see someone using the historical martial arts as the basis for the combat system. I'm so tired of the generic fantasy hack-and-slash combat, and particularly modelers who think Kit Rae is the be-all end-all of sword design. I've been waiting YEARS to see a game like this.
I wonder what sort of replay they're planning on beyond the three main modules. An open world game like this is SCREAMING for expansion quest packs and third-party mods.
Klas Lothe on
Wow, guys! Great work! Looks like you'll be way over only after a few days:) Good luck with the rest of the production, and keep posting more screenshots! Beautiful stuff.
Maxime Decaux on
Your game seems amazing, hope it will :)
Jacob Orange on
@Helena, thanks, I'll go take a look!
Jo Bain on
I do like the fantasy stuff when its grounded, low as opposed to high fantasy. Also prefer it grittier, dark also opposed to high fantasy. I don't get the money peoples aversion to that, it's hardly a gamble if the success of Game of Thrones and HBO in general is anything to go by considering how low and dark the fantastical elements are.
Marcel Schoen on
Damn... I keep throwing money at the screen, but nothing happens...
Rodrigo on
This game looks really promising. I'm particularly interested in more reallistic combat mechanics and real world weapons and armor, because I'm sick tired of the silly fantasy style one's.
Nice realism plus open world and nice character development seens like a formula to victory in a medieval RPG, and i really hope Warhorse achieve it.
Keep up with the good work, guys. My best wishes goes with you all.
thepayne78 on
Saw an article on Kotaku about this game yesterday and at that time the Kickstarter as only at around 74,000. Glad it is so close to its goal.
Also the game looks fantastic based on what little we have seen. Once you all reach your goal and hopefully pass it, it will send a message to big name publishers and developers to encourage them to try something different and change things up.
Jacob Orange on
You should consider a $60 ~ $80 tier that doesn't have anything physical, but gives one access to all three tiers of the game for download.
I suspect that would cause a bunch of people to upgrade or hope on the band wagon.
Timothy J Perkins on
You had me at "the producers said people only wanna play games on Ipad".


text:
Well, people, we are about to find out.
So far in the last 24 hours I have:
- Washed every baby item up to 1 year.
- Purchased, sorted, and organized enough bottles, binkys, breast pads, storage bags, and any other feeding necessity that this baby will need for the first 6 months of life.
- Prepared the changing table with diapers, wipes, wash clothes, Vaseline, etc.
- Started the design for the birth announcement.
In short, if this baby decided to come in the next few hours we would be MORE than ready.
Now what to do for the next 14 weeks.... hmmmmm I'm thinking SLEEP!!!