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Airsoft Sale
Airsoft GI – What Ever Happened to Commercials? Airsoft GI Online Holiday Sales
http://www.airsoftgi.com/information.php?info_id=25#astr2k11 What ever happen to commercials?
Ultraforce 40mm Airsoft Grenade Launcher – BuyAirsoft.ca
Lets take a look at the newest stand-alone 40mm Airsoft Grenade Launcher on the Canadian market. Ultraforce has made a very unique and durable launcher. Four different shells are currently available. We fire each shell to give you a taste of how they work. https://www.buyairsoft.ca/ultraforce-40mm-grenade-launcher.html
What Airsoft Gear Should I Buy? -ASTKilo23-
What Airsoft Gear Should I Buy? -ASTKilo23- a short, and hopefully, helpful overview of useful and efficient airsoft gear.
(Airsoft) Guns For Sale 3-4-12 (SOLD OUT)
All guns are sold now, thank you for watching!
Black Friday & Cyber Monday Sale – RedWolf Airsoft RWTV
Are you thinking of starting a new business that is in line with your hobby? Yes, opening up a place for people to play airsoft is a cool idea, but there is a lot of thought that should be put into it, a lot of considerations that you need to think about ten times before […]
Airsoft guns for Sale
TSD M9 NBB C02 PISTOL-$30. M3000 SHOTGUN-$20 Shipped TACTICAL FORCE TF-11-$60 [SOLD] WE HI CAPA 5.1 SILVER DRAGON-$75 Shipped X47-$15[SOLD] PUMPMASTER 760-$25 Shipped SM8 XM8 SPRING RIFLE-$20 [SOLD] PAINTBALLS-$5 BRASS EAGLE PAINTBALL GUN-$12[SOLD] STINGER P9-$10 MOSSYOAK PISTOL-$10 [SOLD] MARKSMAN BB REPEATER-$10[SOLD]
Airsoft Guns For Sale 2013
Sorry about the intro I will make a new one soon My New channel other one was shut down for no reason make and offer and I will get back to you.
Homemade M134D Airsoft Minigun (polarstar)
It's been promised for awhile now here it is. Sorry for the editing quality it was all done on my phone. Check out my other channel https://www.youtube.com/user/IMAirsofters
Beginners Guide on How to Buy Your First Airsoft Gun
A short guide on what to look for when purchasing your first airsoft gun. For all the guns featured in this video visit; http://www.evike.com/ Top Picks #1 – http://www.evike.com/products/36462/ #2 – http://www.evike.com/products/34583/ #3 – http://www.evike.com/products/33696/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TheeDesertfox Instagram – http://instagram.com/theedesertfox# Youtube – http://www.youtube.com/desertfoxairsoft Twitter – https://twitter.com/TheeDesertFox Helmet Camera – http://www.r7usa.com/ Intro Music – Movement […]
Airsoft Sniper Rifles
That is probably the most frequently asked question pointed out by new Airsofters and I believe that the same question has lead you this far reading this article, correct? Well, to be more specific, in this article, I think it is best for us to concentrate on Tokyo Marui (TM) Airsoft Electric Guns. Why […]
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If you were making a gift for the person who has
travelled the farthest to a reunion, what would you make?
I thought of a bag...........
but then too feminine like a purse
I thought of some things like sunglass holder, chapstick keychain
maybe a tea pouch
or some jam
or maybe a basket full of goodies for on the road?
I don't know what I can do
a basket could hold waters, chips and snacks maybe?
a sunglasses case, maybe a CD case for the visor
you need music to keep the humdrum of the road at bay
any suggestions?????

subset: commoncrawl


text: Today XBOX Live has updated with some new additions that we reported about earlier this year at E3. You can now access Facebook, Twitter, Last.FM and buy HD movies in 1080P in the Zune Marketplace. So turn your systems on, get the update and add me to your XBOX friends (junglejesse5574). Downloading the update is free to all XBOX owners, BUT you do need an XBOX Live Gold membership to use these features. We will post a full review of these features later today after we've had a chance to play around with them. In the meantime, take the jumps to find out more.


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Brevity is the soul of wit.
William Shakespeare
You couldn't agree any less with Mr. Shakespeare,once youEnjoy these witty replies,carefully handpicked to make you swoon with delight.
To be insured or not to be
Jones explained the basics of the SGLI to the new recruits, and then said. "If you have SGLI and go into battle and are killed, the government has to pay $200,000 to your beneficiaries. If you don't have SGLI, and you go into battle and get killed, the government has to pay only a maximum of $6000."
Now," he concluded, "which bunch do you think they are going to send into battle first?"
Diamonds are forever
It will be my wife's birthday tomorrow. When I asked her what she wanted, she said something with diamonds would be nice. I've bought her a packet of playing cards.
Life is like that
After about an hour the woman had to leave, and said, "look, all I want is something that goes from 0 to 200 in less than four seconds. My birthday is coming up next week, buy something that will surprise me!"
A week later she opened her present, a new set of bathroom scales!
(The funeral will take place next Tuesday)
A man was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place.
Looking up toward heaven, he said "Lord, take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to Temple every Sunday for the rest of my life and give up Alcohol."
Miraculously, a parking place appeared.
The Man looked up again and said,
"Never Mind. I found one."
The President Bush, while visiting a primary school class, found themselves in the middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings. The teacher asked both men if they would like to lead the discussion of the word "tragedy". So the illustrious George Bush asks the class for an example of a "tragedy".
One little boy stood up and offered: "If my best friend, who lives on a farm, is playing in the field and a runaway tractor comes along and knocks him dead, that would be a tragedy." No," says the Great Jesse Jackson, "that would be an accident."
Bush searches the room. "Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?" Finally at the back of the room little Johnny raises his hand. In a stern voice he says: "If a plane carrying George Bush were struck by a missile and blown to smithereens that would be a tragedy." Fantastic!" exclaims Bush, "That's right. And can you tell me why that would be a tragedy?"
"Well," says little Johnny, "because it sure as hell wouldn't be a great loss, and it probably wouldn't be an accident either!!!
A man is flying in a hot air balloon and realizes he's lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts:
"Excuse me, can you help me? I promised my friend I would meet him half an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."
The man below says: "Yes. You're in a hot air balloon, hovering approximately 30 feet above this field. You are near 42 degrees N. latitude and 58 degrees W. longitude."
"You must be an engineer," says the balloonist.
"I am," replies the man. "How did you know?"
"Well," says the balloonist, "everything you've told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I'm still lost."
The man below says, "You must be a manager."
"I am," replies the balloonist, "but how did you know?"
"Well," says the man, "you don't know where you are, or where you're going. You've made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is, you're in the exact same position you were in before we met, but now it's somehow my fault."
Acceptable excuse
Unfortunately, as I have gotten older, I have become a little less sensitive. So, after trying my new job as a Wal-Mart greeter, last weekend (a good find for many retirees), I lasted less than a day……
About two hours into my first day on the job a very loud, coyote ugly, nasty woman walked into the store with her two kids, yelling obscenities at them all the way through the entrance.
As I had been instructed, I said pleasantly, 'Good morning, and welcome to Wal-Mart. Nice children you have there. Are they twins?'
The ugly, nasty woman stopped yelling long enough to say, 'Hell no, they ain't twins. The oldest one's 9, and the other one's 7. Why the hell would you think they're twins? Are you blind, or just stupid?'
So I replied, 'I'm neither blind nor stupid, Ma'am. I just find it hard to believe you got laid twice.
Have a good day and thank you for shopping at Wal-Mart.'My 25 year old supervisor said I probably wasn't cut out for this line of work…….. soooo maybe I'll go fishing.
Tit for tat
A man walked into a cafe, went to the bar and ordered a beer. "Certainly, Sir, that'll be one cent."
"One Cent?" the man thought. He glanced at the menu and asked, "How much for a nice juicy steak and a bottle of wine?"
"A nickel," the barman replied.
"A nickel?" exclaimed the man. "Where's the guy who owns this place?"
The bartender replied, "Upstairs, with my wife."
The man asked, "What's he doing upstairs with your wife?"
The bartender replied, "The same thing I'm doing to his business down here."
If you enjoy reading this blog,why not join our Facebook Fan Page :)


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UCSB Writing Program Director SearchSubmitted by klunsford on October 27, 2008 - 11:28
Hi everyone,
A final reminder! Please forward this announcement widely. We have a very strong,
independent Writing Program--wonderful colleagues and a vibrant
curriculum. (Not to mention that the campus has a beach.) If you
have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Karen Lunsford
Director of Writing Program
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara is conducting a search for


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Longtime CFO John Zdanowski is leaving Linden Lab, the company behind Second Life.
John, known to occasionally pop into Second Life and schmooze with users as the avatar "Zee Linden," is only the latest in a string of senior executives to leave the company. Recently we've also seen:
- Second Life founder Philip Rosedale take a new role as the company's chairman, bringing in Organic vet Mark Kingdon to replace him as CEO.
- CTO Cory Ondrejka, responsible for building huge swathes of Second Life's tech, left the company after a high-profile fallout with Rosedale, landing at EMI.
- VP of Marketing Robin Harper, one of Second Life's most visible spokespeople, left the company last month for points unknown.
Now that the old guard is out and new-ish CEO Mark Kingdon has his own hand-picked management team, it will be interesting to see if Second Life can, well, find a second life. We've recently seen Linden recently move to confine Second Life's sprawling NC-17 sections to a "virtual red light district," a strong indicator that a change of culture at Linden is already underway.
Image Cosmic Kitty


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Montessori Farm School values the widely varied experiences and unique talents that each member of the staff brings to the school, as much as it values the unique personalities, talents and strengths of each child.
Our teachers are trained through American Montessori Society (AMS) and Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) certified training programs, and they are current AMS members.
Virginia Lozuke
Head of School / Lead Teacher
Virginia began teaching Montessori in 2004 when she joined the staff at her daughter's Montessori school based on a farm in Bahama, NC. There she saw firsthand the incredible benefits of the Montessori Method in a setting that allowed children greater use of the outdoor environment to connect with nature and to do purposeful work that helped build their confidence, independence, and sense of responsibility. Virginia worked with the school's founder, Lisa Tate, and a dedicated group of parents to create Montessori Farm School as a non-profit to serve the greater Hillsborough area in 2007.
Virginia holds a BA in Political Science from Villanova University. She received her Early Childhood Certification from the North Carolina Center for Montessori Teacher Education where she has served as a faculty member spending a portion of her summer teaching new Montessori teachers. She loves having the chance to share the science and beauty of Montessori with those who are new to the profession. Virginia's favorite part of teaching Montessori is working with children on conflict resolution. "If we can teach children between three and six how to truly listen to each other, how to give voice to their own feelings and needs, and how to work with others to promote understanding, we will make lasting and significant contributions towards a more peaceful world."READ MORE
Wendy Panko
Senior Assistant Teacher
Drawn to education and in particular the Montessori method, Wendy received her Early Childhood Credential from the North Carolina Center for Montessori Teacher Education. She worked in both public and private Montessori schools prior to joining the team at Montessori Farm School. She is a patient, caring individual with a desire to encourage children's growth with her positive attitude and respect for others. Wendy currently co-teaches in a primary classroom and has been with Montessori Farm school since its opening year.
Wendy and her husband are originally from upstate New York where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Computer and Information Science from the State University College in Potsdam, NY. During her computer career she developed educational content for a web-based chemistry course, created visual databases for a helicopter flight simulator, and wrote the user interface for a business software product. After moving to North Carolina Wendy took up pottery and is currently treasurer of the Clayworks Potter's Guild. She uses her unique combination of talents in both technology and art for the school in many ways, including creating beautiful handmade work for the classroom. Additionally, Wendy has been integral to the development and management of this website.READ MORE
Meaghan Kachadoorian
Assistant Teacher
Meaghan joined MFS with experience as an outdoor educator and children's mindfulness teacher. After graduating with a degree in History and Public Policy from Duke, Meaghan moved back to Durham to engage more deeply with a place that taught her so much. She also works as a writer for a Civil Rights history website, and hopes to contribute to a more grassroots way of telling history.
She is most drawn to MFS because of the intentional learning community, strong family involvement in the educational process, and space for outdoor and experiential learning. As an Assistant Teacher, Meaghan enjoys the opportunity to support children in their journeys of discovery, learning, and love for themselves and the world around them. She loves to travel, and especially enjoys social studies lessons that tell us about different people around the world.READ MORE
Olivia Singleton
Music and Movement Enrichment Teacher
Olivia finds great joy singing and dancing with children. Their energy and creativity enrich her own "inner child." For sixteen years, Olivia taught songs to youngsters at Epworth Preschool in Durham, NC. More recently, she has been telling stories – bookended with songs, of course – through the Durham Public Library System. You can find her every summer volunteering once a week at its Read and Feed Program and during the school year on various branch library schedules like a Dr. Seuss Celebration. Once a month since Fall 2012, Olivia tells folktales to a local senior citizens' group. In the fall of 2010, Olivia attended a Music Together™ Teacher Training Workshop. She is now a licensed teacher-director of this early childhood music program.
An international phenomenon, Music Together ™ was founded in 1987 and produces songs and techniques to encourage the experience of music at an early age. For more information on her Music Together classes, contact Olivia at firstname.lastname@example.com or go directly to www.Musictogether.com.READ MORE
Kate Nelson
Office Manager
Kate became a part of the Montessori Farm School family when her son entered the preschool program in 2011. As a child she also attended a Montessori, and some of her fondest memories from her early years of education are from those years. When she started her family she knew she wanted to find a Montessori program for her children and was drawn to the community and curriculum at Montessori Farm School.
She holds a dual degree in Sociology and Anthropology and most recently has experience working in Administration & Operations in the restoration/construction industry. Originally from Maryland, she relocated to Chapel Hill with her husband and son in 2011. They have since expanded their family to include a daughter who is now attending the preschool program.READ MORE
Our curriculum is an authentic Montessori curriculum which is a hands-on, individualized approach that respects the student's learning style and interests. Students receive lessons in the areas of language, math, science, geography, art, sensorial and practical life. The majority of the morning consists of uninterrupted individual work time in which children practice and master concepts and activities. This work time allows for small group lessons, individual lessons, peer collaboration, and in-depth exploration. Allowing each student to work at their best pace keeps interest high, develops concentration, and builds self-esteem. Read More About the Montessori Curriculum
We support the development of each child's unique spirit which guides their personality, learning styles and how they approach the world.
We work to develop the students' compassion and understanding of the connection between themselves and others by deepening their knowledge of the interdependency of the earth and all that live on it.
Students are introduced to the world map, then each continent's countries, cultures and land forms.
Children study zoology, botany and physical sciences.
Children begin with the basics of tool use and care and are then able to create many projects in various mediums.
Weekly music classes encourage a joyful exploration of sound, rhythm, and movement.
Purposeful lessons in daily living refine children's motor and sequencing skills which prepares their minds and hands for more challenging work in math and language.
Essential patterning skills come from classifying and exploring relationships and sequences in materials using the five senses.
Beginning with initial sounds, students move to spelling and writing lessons which then leads to reading.
Montessori math materials provide concrete experiences in linear counting, working in the decimal system and performing arithmetic calculations.
Coordination, balance and spatial awareness provide clues to early identification of learning styles and differences.
The ability to concentrate, problem solve and complete an activity are developed in early childhood and stay with the individual throughout their entire life.
Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment
Montessori classrooms are child-focused learning environments, unlike traditional education settings. This is due to Dr. Maria Montessori's educational philosophy, which centers around her understanding of the value of emphasizing independence, providing freedom within limits, and fostering a child's cognitive, social, and physical development. The Montessori Farm School follows the method established by Dr. Maria Montessori because we believe the basic foundation she developed over one hundred years ago still offers children the best way to learn. Montessori discovered that children can use manipulative teaching materials to independently explore lessons presented to them. By allowing children to choose their work, they take responsibility for their own education.
Dr. Maria Montessori opened the first Children's House in an oppressed area of Rome, Italy in 1907. Through her studies, Maria developed a method of working with and teaching children that focused more on the child and the child's needs rather than the teacher. She prepared a childsized environment complete with all of the tools necessary for the children to care for themselves and their surroundings. She developed materials and lessons based on the interest of the children that were handson and enticing to the children. Maria not only taught traditional academics, but also basic practical life skills and social graces which prepared the children to interact successfully with the world around them. As her success stories spread, Dr. Montessori was asked to open schools in less needy areas where children thrived and excelled through her handson approach. Even after one hundred years, Montessori schools are still being opened throughout the world. Her approach to teaching has been recognized as exceptional, not experimental. Public and charter schools throughout the United States continue to adopt her methods. Children throughout cultural and economic variances are learning the basics along with world citizenship skills, practical life exercises and social graces all the way through high school levels. Dr. Maria Montessori began her approach to teaching as a way to help unreachable children but clearly all children can benefit greatly from her approach to learning. Through cultural studies and peace education Dr. Montessori believed children to be the answer to world peace. This is a common theme that runs through all Montessori schools around the world regardless of the language spoken.READ MORE


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PLAYERS: A MOTHERS HORIZON | Swept Away | God's best gift | YOUR BLOG.
1. If the object of your affections were to serenade you, what song(s) would you hope he or she used?
~ The one he especially composed for me :)
2. Have you ever just started dancing/singing in the middle of somewhere?
~ Singing most of the time.
3. When eating, are you more concerned with taste or healthiness?
~ Taste!!!
4. Would you name a child of yours after you?
~ Nope but we named a niece after my name only the English version. Though my name is not as famous as Manolo Blahnik.
5. How much do you actually care about the inner workings of your computer or is it only as long as it works?
~ As long as it works fast and good.
6. What makes you weak?
~ Physically- lack of rest, Spiritually - Lack of God's word
7. How do you connect to the internet from home?
~ Pldt (DSL)
8. Do you wear anything with sentimental value?
~ my wedding and engagement ring
9. What advice would you give to a friend with cancer?
~ Trust GOD, He knows what he's doing in your life.
10. In time for Thanksgiving, what are you most thankful for this year?
~ Good health of the whole family.
11. If you could say only one thing to the world, what would it be?
~ Love.
12. When was the last time you let the people you love/people who are important to you know you love them/that they are important to you?
~ I always do in anyway I can, sometimes not through words but in actions.


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This is an oldie but a goodie. I was on Brain Picker the other day when I was re-reminded of this fantastic list of 10 rules for students and teachers, which was created by the ever amazing Sister Corita Kent and inspired and popularized by John Cage. I think this list is amazing, and many of the rules certainly encompass my beliefs in living, specifically Rule 7: The only rule is work. I'm also partial to Rule 4 and 9.
I'd recommend printing this out and taping it up in your studio/cube/bathroom/wherever as a helpful reminder.


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Director Zack Snyder, the man behind Watchmen and 2007 shoutfest 300, will be hollering "action" and "cut" at regular intervals while sitting in a lovely chair with his name on the back, when he takes charge of the new Superman movie, Man of Steel.
Since it was announced that Dark Knight filmmaker Christopher Nolan wouldn't direct the reboot of the Superman series - preferring instead to oversee the project - the blogosphere had worked itself into a right tizz trying to predict who would helm the movie.
Darren Aronofsky, Ben Affleck and Tony Scott were all mentioned as candidates, but Nolan has plumped for the energetic Snyder, owner of arguably the squarest jaw in Hollywood.
Brandon Routh, who played Superman in the last attempt at reinvigorating the alter ego of Clark Kent's mild-mannered reporter, will not return.
Man of Steel is expected to hit cinema screens sometime in 2012.
Now, have your say in our Superman poll on the right. Pleased? Annoyed? Not bothered? Be sure to let us know...
(Main image: Allstar)


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"Bachelor in Paradise" star Lace Morris is literally handing out clues about her relationship with co-star Grant Kemp.
We caught Lace showing off a "Grace" tattoo Monday night at LAX. The tattoo's reportedly a combination of Grant and Lace. TMZ broke the story ... Grant and Lace end up engaged on 'BiP.'
And clearly they're not hiding it.


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Sometimes this one is called Aboriginal Solidarity Day. That's what we were calling it last year. Speaking in terminology meant to reinforce our commitment as Indigenous people to stand together and resist assimilation and ongoing oppression within Canada. I believe it was meant to mean we were standing for our missing & murdered women and in support of Sisters in Spirit who were losing funding for their project to chronicle the missing and the murdered. I believe it was meant to speak to First Nations people (Status and non, status, off and on reserve), Métis and Inuit, to remind us that we are all in this together and we would all stand or fall together.
Yeah, I know... just words. They were meant to empower and allow us to feel better about ourselves. I used them and felt good.
This year, one of my Twitter friends used the term and I replied in kind. And that was it.
So, what has changed in the year?
Politically, we were played again. The divisions in our, ahem, status in the legal sense raised its head, particularly at federal election time. We, who have the privilege or curse of Status, were divided along the lines of voter and the non-voter. Not in the apathetic sense, although that was more than present, but also in a political sense, as we wrestled with what it means as First Nations to participate in an election? Was it a renunciation of our sovereignty, as some claim, or a hypocritical act, claiming nationhood in more than one nation? Or was it an opportunity to be heard, to be visible? I argued that we needed that and that it is possible to exist in multiple figured worlds or nationhoods. It would seem the other side won this particular battle.
The divisions between Status and non-Status grew more confusing, as the McIvor decision was implemented. While I consider this a positive, many more people will receive Status and the legal recognition, it does make it a challenge for Bands to manage the new numbers on the limited land they have maintained control over and the limited dollars flowing from Ottawa.
While I am thrilled, as well, that the government removed the clause in the Human Rights Act that exempted the Indian Act and its wards from the Act, I note as well that the government has also downloaded the discriminatory practices in health and housing onto Bands, without providing the infrastructure and financial means to ensure that they are not discriminating against members, ensuring that there may be human rights claims against each other for practices the government carried out.
I cannot speak to issues surrounding the Inuit and Métis, as I am not very familiar with their stories, something I hope to correct some day. At any rate it will be an interesting time ahead and I am wondering what the implications are for all of this? On me? On my students and colleagues?
As most of my posts appear to be doing lately, this one is incomplete and I will likely do other posts to expand on it, as it ties into the identity question I have been pursuing.
PS- I spent National Aboriginal Day in an elementary school and I had a good time. I will speak to that in another post, as I am running out of time right now.


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Accident and Injury Fund
The FBU Accident and Injury Fund can help take some of the stress out of life for you and your family.
Members who suffer an injury, one or off-duty, or bereavement, may be eligible for benefits under the Fund, which is financed by membership contributions.
In recent years, the FBU has handled in excess of £600,000 annually in claims by FBU members around the UK.
Claim forms are available through your local FBU rep or at the Regional Office. Or simply download a form and further details.
For more information and help completing the form, contact your local FBU rep.
- Find Your Local Rep
- Minority & Specialist Sections
- Retained Members
- Legal & Workplace
- Membership Benefits
- Local Updates and Campaigns
- Press Releases
- Officer Members
- The SouthWest Bulletin
- What Your MPs Say!
- Pensions - Age Discrimination Case Info


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In June, my university classmates and I had the opportunity to visit the Cape Town Holocaust Centre, one of three such South African Holocaust Foundation-run centres in S.A.
Found at 88 Hatfield Street, Gardens, the Centre's facilities include: the Pola Pasvolsky Conference Centre, a small, yet attractively laid-out Café Riteve and Shop (found near the charming courtyard and garden that overlook the adjoining S.A. Jewish Museum), as well as the main exhibition(s) found inside its cleverly-designed and deeply poignant depths.
Although entrance is free, visitors are required to bring either their passport, driver's licence or I.D. with. There is also a small security check point at the street-side entrance.
As one of our two excellent tour guides, Marlene Silbert, told us, the Centre was built as a memorial but perhaps even more importantly, as a "place of learning", hence their proffered education programmes for high school- and university students, educators and adult groups alike.
Our tour ran from 9:00 a.m. to 15:00 p.m. (with shorts breaks in between) and afterwards, we enjoyed a fun and thought-provoking group 'case study' presentation.
Our guides, Marlene and Sonja (herself a Polish Jew who, as a young child, had to flee Germany in the 1930s with her family) really knew their material and history. Both were extremely interesting and wonderfully engaging informants, who maintained a perfectly balanced line of sympathy and neutrality both towards the persecuted Jewish (and black, mentally/physically disabled, as well as gay) victims and the innocent German people caught up in this terrible atrocity that has forever marred our history books and permanently scarred our world.
Another important historical comparison made was the startling revelations and disgusting similarities between the Holocaust and our country's own Apartheid years.
At the start of the tour – once we had finished watching some truly fascinating documentaries in the conference room (there are good, clean facilities, both indoors and out) – we saw two very moving displays.
The first featured drawings by Terezin concentration camp children, most of who perished, as well as the 'Bedzin' town display (the museum holds 600 of the town's 6000 self-portraits, donated by survivors years later).
All the displays were extremely well-illustrated (with audio, video or photographic footage provided) and feature original, carefully preserved propaganda and items; there's even a 'Treblinka Death Camp' miniature.
It's easy to follow the sequence of events using the exhibition's info., but the guides provide a far deeper and quietly chilling account of them. One can also see how different sections reflect their settings – for example, the 'Warsaw Ghetto Uprising' section features a brick floor/walls and wire elements.
Note: This tour isn't for the faint-hearted, as there's some incredibly disturbing content. A quarter of the way in, I was fighting back tears and felt overwhelmed, and judging by the prevailing hush over our two groups, I was not alone in this regard.
It's not all doom and gloom, though, and it's truly inspiring to hear the stories of those who died fighting (such as the White Movement or the Warsaw youth members) or the 'Righteous Among The Nations', among them: the recently deceased Oskar Schindler, who saved over 1,200 Jews and Polish social worker, Irena Sendlerowa, who saved 2,500 Jewish children.
The last thing you see before exiting the dimly-lit, snaking passage is a 1999 quote by S.A.'s very own Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu – be sure to check it out!
Overall, we spent a very interesting and historically-instructive day at the Centre. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and am grateful to the dedicated staff who ensured our visit was both reflective and morally conscious. I strongly recommend that everyone, irrespective of race, sex, nationality or religion, who comes to the Mother City, visit this Centre.
It's open Sunday to Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 17:00 p.m., and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 14:00 p.m., but is closed on Saturdays and on Jewish Holidays.
For more info., you can visit contact them telephonically on: +27 (021) 462 5553, email them at: email@example.com or check out their main site: www.holocaust.org.za. Alternatively, follow them on social media (https://www.facebook.com/CTHCpage).
Many thanks to the Cape Town Holocaust Centre and its staff, as well as the www.holocaust.org.za website, for the additional information used in this Review.
Author: Tamlyn Ryan
Content writer by day and blogger by night, Tamlyn Ryan passionately runs her own travel blog, called Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust, from her home base of Cape Town, South Africa. And, despite a national diploma in Journalism, in her free time, Tamlyn's preferred niche remains travel writing.
Tamlyn is a hopeless wanderer, equipped with an endless passion for road trips, carefully planned, holiday itineraries and, above all else, an innate love for the great outdoors.


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Minor Violation Forgiveness in Troy and Piqua, OH
Everyone Deserves Another Chance.
We know that if you're a safe driver, you probably take every precaution possible when behind the wheel. But if you receive a citation without the right coverage, that one minor violation could affect your good driving record.
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text:
The terrorism commission has announced that it will reconsider Richard Clarke's testimony that the Clinton administration gave urgent priority to fighting al Qaeda in light of that administration's final national security report to Congress, which, as we and many other bloggers have pointed out, was virtually silent on the subject of terrorism:
The September 11 commission will look at the discrepancy between the testimony of Richard A. Clarke that the Clinton administration considered the threat of al Qaeda "urgent" and its final national-security report to Congress, which gave the terror organization scant mention.
Al Felzenberg, spokesman for the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks on the United States, said commission members are familiar with an article in yesterday's editions of The Washington Times, which showed that President Clinton's final public document on national security never referred to al Qaeda by name and mentioned Osama bin Laden just four times.
Then, of course, there is this:
The Clinton document consistently characterized terrorist attacks against Americans and U.S. interests as "crimes" and outlined how it was using diplomatic and economic pressure to bring the "perpetrators to justice."
The use of military force "should be selective and limited, reflecting the importance of the interests at stake," the document said.
Although the Clinton administration pledged in the report to retaliate militarily for the al Qaeda attack on the USS Cole in October 2000, no operation was carried out.
Richard Clarke is not one to let the facts get in the way of a good story.


text:
When did you start writing? Why did you pick the genre you write it?
I've written for as long as I can remember, but I started writing seriously
only recently. In my mind, writing was always a fallback, something I imagined
I would be good at if I ever tried. It was my secret ambition -- the one that I
was afraid to try at because what if I failed? But I eventually realized that
not trying to live my dream was basically the same as not having a dream at
all, and that's when I applied to the MFA program at Seton Hill.
As for my genre, I write speculative fiction because I love chasing the
what-if. I like taking the real world and turning it on its ear to see what it
looks like from a different perspective. I gravitate toward epic fantasy
because I love big stories, massive tales that span continents, where the fate
of the world (or at least the fate of those living in it) is at stake.
Also, magic is cool.
Where you get your ideas from? Do you journal at all?
I don't journal. I've tried to, but never had much luck with it. I'm not
sure where my ideas come from. Sometimes my story ideas start with a character
or a scene. Other times they begin with a concept.
What's a normal (writing) day like for you?
I'm slow to wake, so I like to write first thing in the morning, before my
inner critic has a chance to pipe up. I get a cup of espresso, put a sign up on
my door to warn the family, stick my ear buds in, and go to town. I've found
giving myself a weekly goal is best, as that gives me a little leeway on any
given day. At least it does until the end of the week.
Favorite author or book? Who are you currently reading?
I tend to get very attached to authors – some of the ones I'm particularly
attached to are Brandon Sanderson, Tamora Pierce, George R.R. Martin, Sharon
Shinn, Octavia Butler, Scott Westerfeld, Scott Lynch, and Stephen King.
Favorite books are more difficult, especially since a lot of my favorites write
series, and while some series titles can function well as standalones, my love
of them has much to do with the series of which they are a part.
As for what I'm currently reading, I'm making my way through Angie Sage's
now complete Septimus Heap series. I'm on book six of seven, Darke. The world is a lot of fun and
there is a wide range of great characters. The series reminds me of the first
four Harry Potter books (the end of Goblet
of Fire being the point when Rowling took the series from middle grade to
Do you prefer writing poetry or prose? Why one over the other?
I'm a prose girl. I've never spent enough time writing poetry to evolve past
the terrible, adolescent-angst phase. Plus, I'm an epic fantasy writer, so I
tend to think of stories and ideas on a fairly grand scale. I suppose I could
try my hand at something like Beowulf
. . .
Do you write in silence or with noise (TV, movies, music)?
I usually can't write to anything with words, so I listen to instrumental
music, soundtracks mostly. Sometimes I can revise to stuff with lyrics – when I
do that, I tend to create playlists that reflect the mood of the scene I'm
working on. I also have playlists for characters that I listen to in the
shower. So many brilliant ideas come in the shower . . .
Do you have any weird habits when it comes to writing? Do you type or write
I type all of my prose, but most of my notes are handwritten. I do need my
music, and I have a specific mug that I prefer to use. I think that's about it.
Would you consider yourself a Plotter or a Pancer?
Neither. That is to say, I'm kind of a pancer, but I prefer a different
term. George R. R. Martin discusses architects and gardeners. Architects plan
out a structure completely before they start building; whereas gardeners plant
seeds and see how they grow. Most of the time a gardener knows what they're
planting, so there is some planning involved, but the mystery is in how that
seed will grow and what the plant will eventually look like. So I prefer
gardener to pancer because I'm not so much flying by the seats of my pants as I
am finding seeds, planting them, and tending them as they grow.
What do you think is the hardest aspect of the craft?
The discipline needed -- in particular, the discipline needed to get through
to "The End." The road to hell is paved with good intentions, and this includes
unfinished manuscripts. Until a novel is finished that's all it is, a good
intention. A vague hope. An unlived dream.
Current projects?
My thesis novel, which is about a city-state that has lived in peace for
many years. But when the heir to the throne dies in what seems like a horrible
accident, the ripples spread out to every corner of the continent.
I'm still working on my elevator pitch, but that's the basic idea. I know a
lot of people can work on more than one project at a time, but I've never been
very good at that. I have some other ideas, but they're mostly just stacks of
notes at this point.
How do you balance being an editor and being a writer?
This is still something I'm figuring out because I tend to get very focused
on one project at a time. I try to start with writing and move on to editing,
but if I'm feeling too divided, then I'll try to get one out of the way before
moving to the other. With writing, this usually means taking a day or two to
finish a chapter. With editing, it's finishing a pass on a manuscript. This
isn't ideal, but so far it's the best I've got.
What do you think people expect from you with your writing?
Well, I don't think anyone expects anything yet, but hopefully they will
come to expect large and well-drawn worlds, lots of complicated and engaging
characters, strong female protagonists, and fantastical elements (they seem to
even sneak into my SF).
Advice for aspiring writers?
1) Read. If you don't enjoy reading, then you're probably barking up the
wrong tree.
2) Write. Write as much as you can, as often as you can.
3) Finish what you start.
Bio: I write. I read. I edit professionally. I love snow and sad songs. My
favorite color is red. If it wasn't totally weird, I might have a squirrel as a
Here is a link to my much neglected blog: http://erinsbales.blogspot.com/
I'm on Twitter @Bibliomaniacal1
"You will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you never had the courage to commit."— Oscar Wilde (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
Monday, May 27, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
How do I sleep at night? Not well…
More often than not, when I tell people – particularly my community college students – that I'm an expert on Jack the Ripper, I get at least a handful of strange, bemused looks. I'm never surprised by it. Despite the fact that Jack the Ripper is perhaps the most infamous serial killer of all time, the study of his crimes has a name – Ripperology – and has spawned an entire industry devoted to discovering "whodunnit," it remains an unusual and admittedly morbid period of history with which to be engrossed.
And I am that, thoroughly engrossed. Since my earliest encounter with the spectre of the Ripper on a "Jack the Ripper Walking Tour" in 1995, I've been fascinated by the man and the myth. I've read perhaps every reputable book on the subject, and a few that were less than credible. I've heard all the pet theories, ranging from the believable to the absurd, as to the identify of the elusive killer we call "Jack the Ripper," "Leather Apron," "The Fiend of Whitechapel," etc. The list of monikers is almost as long as the list of suspects.
I've studied the autopsy and crime scene photos from every angle. Wake me up from a dead sleep and ask me to recite the names and nicknames of the five canonical victims and I can do so without hesitation. Every year, on the anniversaries of their deaths, I pause to honor their memories, whether with a moment of silence or a Facebook posting commemorating the same.
As previously stated, I am far from alone in my interest in all things Ripper and yet it never perplexes why I get bewildered looks when I tell others of my love for my main man, Jack. There's an old adage that appearances can be deceiving, and I'm certain my own appearance is misleading.
Diminutive in stature, I'm not particularly menacing, nor do I necessarily convey much of an aura of authority as it pertains to a century plus old crime. Unlike many students of serial murderers, I don't dress the part, since with two grey and white cats I've (mostly) banned dark colors from my wardrobe. I wear glasses, but I've never thought they made me look studious or like someone who's spent whole days poring over the case files. And, yet, in spite of my deceptive exterior, inside my mind I fear I retain too much tragedy.
Inside my head are statistics so horrifying it actually alarms me how easily and unemotionally I can rattle them off. From the number of stab wounds sustained by the first –albeit non-canoncial victim–Martha Tabram, to the count of organs the Ripper removed from the body of the alleged last victim, Mary Jane Kelly, I can vividly picture each of Jack's "Unfortunates" in situ.
An early reviewer of my debut novel, The Heart Absent, a tale of Jack the Ripper in love, begged the question of how I manage to sleep with all these ghastly facts crowding my psyche and the answer is simply: Not well. Not well, at all.
Still, I continue on as an amateur Ripperologist, and despite my concerns about overexposing myself to evil, I likely will remain fascinated by the Whitechapel Fiend until the end of my days. With the advent of advanced technology and automatic communication, new theories are constantly being put forward, some based in (pseudo)science, others based on cold facts, and even those derived from a fleeting observation or emotion. All these theories provide opportunities for expansion, elaboration and reflection.
Which brings me back to The Heart Absent, a fictional novel in which I tried not to answer the question "Who was the Jack the Ripper?" but rather "What sort of man could Jack the Ripper have been, and what sorts of events might trigger such chaotic violence?" Further, I sought to create complex characters, set against a realistic, meticulously researched historical backdrop, and to put those same characters in situations where my reader would be forced to alternately cheer and condemn them.
Was I successful? Only my readers can respond to that and, if you like stories about heartbreak and horror, passion and loyalty–or even if you just like a good whodunnit or a complex romance–I think you'll enjoy The Heart Absent. I welcome your comments here, via email at email@example.com, or over on my web site at www.carlaeanderton.com. You can also add me on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Pinterest.
BIO: For as long as she can remember, Carla Elizabeth Anderton aspired to become a professional writer, a desire that's been applauded and supported by her parents, her late grandparents, and nearly every English teacher who's ever counted her as a student. A voracious reader from an early age, she's fascinated by history and the human condition, and prefers to read/write fiction based on fact. Her pet subjects include European history, specifically England during the Tudor and Victorian eras. A recognized expert on the infamous serial murderer Jack the Ripper, she made the elusive killer the focus of her debut novel, The Heart Absent, which was published by New Libri Press in April 2013.
Anderton earned a Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from California University of Pennsylvania.
In addition to writing fiction, she has published poetry, essays, articles and plays and has an extensive background in small press journalism. For nearly five years, she was Editor-in-Chief of a regional monthly newsmagazine, California Focus, and since 1994 has edited/produced a literary arts magazine, Peer Amid, at varying intervals. Currently, Anderton is an adjunct professor of English. She also serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Jozart Center for the Arts in California, Pennsylvania where she lives with a tall, talkative computer repairman and her 15-year-old son.
NOVEL SYNOPSIS: 14-year-old James Nemo spent most of his youth motherless and under the thumb of a father who hates him. These injustices he quickly forgets, however, in the arms of a beautiful young prostitute named Nelly. Reality conspires against the young lovers, and James is left, alone and angry, to confront the truth behind his mother's abandonment. Twenty years pass. James, now a respected artist, meets Mary Jane Kelly, an Irish prostitute who bears more than a passing resemblance to Nelly. Convinced his redemption lies in her, James slowly ensnares her into his ever darkening world. His passion for her escalates to a frenzy, amidst the backdrop of Victorian London in the heyday of Jack the Ripper, and threatens to consume them both.
Monday, May 13, 2013
When did you start writing? Why did you pick the genre you write in?
I always received good grades in English in school, but it wasn't my favorite subject. Math was my favorite. But I was working as a credit analyst for an insurance company in the mid-nineties, and the company had been hemorrhaging money for a few years and decided to lay off people. So in order to relieve some of the stress I was undergoing, I began writing. I wrote a science fiction story about my coworkers and they thought it was hilarious. So I sent it to some publishers, and it was quickly rejected. One editor wrote, "Character development?" on the first page, so I assumed that meant something. In school, I never really was taught how to write a story, only how to analyze one...metaphors, allegories, themes, and the like. But I discovered that I liked writing stories, so I kept at it.
I had become hooked on reading science fiction since about the fourth grade, when I first read, The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet. I eventually graduated to Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, and Arthur C. Clarke. But as I got older, my reading trailed off into mysteries, spy stories, and nonfiction. Then one day at work, in 2004, I picked up a book called Neuromancer. I was enthralled. So I read more cyberpunk and decided to write a cyberpunk story. Then I wanted to write a book, but I didn't know how. I researched various writing programs and discovered Seton Hill University's (SHU) Writing Popular Fiction Program.
Where do you get your ideas from? Do you journal at all?
My ideas come from current advances in science that I project out about 50 years or so. Or at least I try. I guess we'll see how close I got in 2063.
No, I don't journal.
What's a normal (writing) day like for you?
I'm not a morning person, so I sleep until the last possible moment....and sometimes more. I don't think I have a normal writing day. If I'm sitting, waiting somewhere, like at the mall, I'll pull out a piece of paper and write. Or if after I come home from work, make dinner, and have enough energy, I'll write. Research is important, so I may do that on my lunch hour, or at night, as well. It's hard when I'm just starting a book because I'm not in the groove, so to speak. But once I'm there, it's usually at night when I write.
Favorite author or book? Who are you currently reading?
My favorite author is Richard K. Morgan. But I'm currently reading Cyberpunk: Stories of Hardware, Software, Wetware, Evolution, and Revolution by various science fiction authors; and Hellbender by Jason Jack Miller. It's hard for me, as I'm an editor at work so I read all day, and I don't feel like reading when I get home. So I keep books on both my nightstand and in the bathroom, so I can take advantage of whatever free time I may have.
Do you prefer writing poetry or pose? Why one over the other?
I prefer to write prose. My father's a poet, and while growing up, I had a hard time understanding what he meant in his poems. I decided that one should mean what one says, and say what one means. None of this 'it's how you interpret it' type of thing I've softened somewhat over the years, and I have written a poem that was nominated for a Rhysling award, but I much prefer prose.
Do you write in silence or with noise?
I mostly write in silence. If I'm at the mall or somewhere there's background noise, I can filter that out, being a mom, but if I'm at home, I write in silence.
Do you have any weird habits when it comes to writing? Do you type or write longhand?
I used to write longhand, but decided it would be quicker to learn how to write while typing, so I taught myself that.
Would you consider yourself a Plotter or a Pancer?
I have to outline a story, or I'll wind up far from where I had intended to go, but after that, I'm definitely a pancer. Sometimes ideas just flow as soon as I put my fingers to the keys. Other times, I have to sit and think, or take a walk, or sleep on it.
What do you think is the hardest aspect of the craft?
For me, it's the non-writing aspects--marketing, posting updates, speaking in front of people, and the like. I'm an introvert, so being asked to give a talk, or do an interview is quite a challenge for me. But I recently agreed to do media pitching at work for practice so hopefully it'll help.
Current projects?
I'm working on a book with Rachael Pruitt, a fellow SHUer, who writes Arthurian fiction. She wrote The Dragon's Harp, which is about the life of Gwenhwyfar. Our book will be post-apocalyptic, so I think it will be able to highlight both of our talents, telling stories about groups of people who still have access to technology, and those who don't.
How do you balance being a writer?
For me, there's never a constant balance. If something or someone (read: children) requires my attention, it's all there. Writing takes a backseat, at least the focus. I'm always thinking of plots or characters in the back of my mind, just not writing it down. Or I'll file something away for later use. But if everything is going pretty smoothly, then I can sit and get it all down.
What do you think people expect from you with your writing?
I love action, so my readers, I think, will definitely get a fast ride. I try to put a cliffhanger at the end of each chapter to get them to stay up until 3 a.m. to finish my book.
Advice for aspiring writers?
Persevere. We all get rejected but we have to keep putting our work out there.
Keep learning. You never get to the point where you can't learn anything more about the craft, especially grammar. As an editor, I can't stress that enough. If your work is punctuated (see what I did there?) with errors, the story may be great, but an editor will toss it.
Read or listen to interviews given by your favorite authors. They've been where you are.
- Cog. (July 2013). Dog Star Books.
- "Choices" in Hazard Yet Forward (2012).
- "Cyberpunk: Remastered" in Many Genres, One Craft (2011). Headline Books.
- "The Haunting of M117" in Genesis: An Anthology of Black Science Fiction (2011).
- "Doomed" in 2008 Rhysling Anthology. (2008) Science Fiction Poetry Association.
BIO: Daughter to a U.S. Army father, K. Ceres Wright has lived in Anchorage, AK; Chicago, IL; Baltimore, MD; Frankfurt, Oberursel, and Munich Germany; Seoul, Korea; and the Washington and Metropolitan Area. She attended undergraduate school at the University of Maryland, College Park, with a double major in economics and finance, then worked for 10 years as a credit and treasury analyst before deciding to change careers.
Wright received her master's degree in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA, and Cog was her thesis novel for the program. An accomplished poet, Wright's science fiction poem "Doomed" was a nominee for the Rhysling Award, the Science Fiction Poetry Association's highest honor. Her work has appeared in Hazard Yet Forward; Genesis: An Anthology of Black Science Fiction; Many Genres, One Craft; and The 2008 Rhysling Anthology.
She currently works as an editor/writer for a management consulting firm and lives in Crofton, MD with her son, Ian, and daughter, Chloe. Visit her website at http://www.kcereswright.com and find her on Twitter @KCeresWright.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
PATIENT: Stephanie M. Wytovich
ILLNESS: Poet
SYMPTIOMS: Insomnia, possession, hallucinations, hysteria
STATUS: Insane, dangerous and delightfully mad
I didn't pick poetry.
Poetry picked me.
Ever since I was little, if I didn't write for a few days, I'd start to feel this ache in my chest that told me I was depressing my creativity. Lately, I've been doing nothing but working on my novel, yet that ache has been eating at me for the past couple of hours. I've come to recognize this feeling and got to know it very well, for now I only get it when a poem is inside of me, and I'm ignoring its words. So as a slave to the pain, I bring tonight's musings to the MADHOUSE, because after all, it is madness that drives me to the page night after night.
Stay Scared,
Stephanie M. Wytovich
EVIDENCE: "Phantom Beat"
I gave my heart away,
Signed away the rights and
Yet I can still feel the phantom beat
In my chest,
Reminding me that I used to be whole,
And that at one point
I wasn't so empty
TREATMENT: Beyond help
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
When I was in my mid to late teens, I lived with my grandparents in an area that was pretty rural. They owned several acres that were nothing but fields, and I used to just walk around in those fields by myself, telling myself stories. I don't know how long I did that before it occurred to me if I was to write them down, then I could come back and read them again later. So really, that's when I consider the start of my writing. They were just stories, daydreams meant for my own entertainment. Then as time went on, I let some of my friends read some of what I'd written. That's when I realized that other people might get some enjoyment out of my little flights of fancy. I went through a very intense period where all I was writing was poetry/song lyrics, and would stay up half the night being very 'artistic' and 'in touch with my emotions'. Good thing I grew out of that fairly quickly!
As far as genre goes, I don't know that I really picked it. My earliest attempts at actual story-telling with a beginning/middle/end were rock-n-roll romances about the members of rock bands I idolized at the time. But I'd spent most of my teens reading fantasy, sci-fi and horror (thanks to my amazing Mom) and so speculative fiction just feels at home to me. When it comes to short fiction however, I naturally gravitate to horror. Short stories lend themselves to horror, in my opinion. I've written some really creepy things that are only 100 words in length, and they're still effective. It's kind of funny actually – when I first starting writing purposefully, I could never seem to find the end of the story. It would just go on and on, and I'd end up with these rambling novels. Now I find a great deal of joy and satisfaction in writing shorter pieces, and the challenge of micro-fiction is a blast.
Where do you get your ideas from? Do you journal at all?
Ideas come from everywhere. I've gotten story ideas from dreams, from conversations with people, even from commercials on TV. Sometimes the best ideas come from everyday things, if you just look at them from a slightly skewed perspective.
As far as journaling, I'd have to say no. My Mom kept diaries, and since she has passed away I've gone through and read what she'd written. There were some fascinating things in there, things that we'd never actually talked about, and I never would have known about them if not for her writings. I have tried on more than one occasion to keep a diary or journal. I've been in classes that required journaling, and managed (just) to complete them as assignments. But I just don't have the patience for it, and it seems like when I sit down to write things about me I can't find anything I want to say. Yet, there are facets of me in every story I've ever written.
What's a normal (writing) day like for you?
I have a day job, like a lot of writers. I am not by any stretch a morning person, so I can't make myself get out of bed to write before going to work. So, I get up and go to work (I work from home so I have a nice stress-free commute) and put in my hours there. Then in the afternoon and evening, between things that have to get done and spending time with my boyfriend and my dogs, I write or edit or read. Weekends are when I get the majority of writing done, because I can pretty much spend the whole day working on whatever my current project is, with short breaks to take care of other things.
Favorite author or book? Who are you currently reading?
I can't list a single favorite for either. I'm a huge fan of Patricia McKillip, Anne McCaffery, Jean Auel, Barbara Hambly, PC Hodgell, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Neil Gaiman, and Charles deLint. I'm particularly fond of THE FORGOTTEN BEASTS OF ELD by McKillip, The Darwath Trilogy from Hambly, and WATCHERS by Koontz.
Lately I've been reading a lot of anthologies, partly because I've been writing so many short stories. Just in the last little while I've read Stalking You Now by Jeff Strand, Devil Inside by William Cook, Dragonthology from Untold Press, For the Preservation of the Species by Michael J Evans, Pentacle – A Self Collection by Tom Piccirilli, and From Beyond the Grave from Grinning Skull Press. At the moment I'm reading Knock Knock by S.P.Miskowski, and Horrific History from Hazardous Press.
Do you prefer writing poetry or prose? Why one over the other?
I do write poetry from time to time, but almost always when I'm writing it as one of my characters, as part of a story. I really prefer prose myself, simply because I feel that I have more room to say what I want to say.
Do you write in silence or with noise (TV, movies, music)?
It really depends on what I'm working on. I occasionally write in silence, and rarely with the TV or a movie on. Most of the time I have music playing, and it has to be something conducive to what I'm writing. When I'm working on something in the fantasy genre, the music tends toward Celtic instrumentals, or sometimes movie soundtracks like Lord of the Rings or Braveheart. Sci-fi stuff can be movie soundtracks again, or some rock music. Horror writing usually works better for me with rock music.
Do you have any weird habits when it comes to writing? Do you type or write longhand?
I don't know about weird habits, but I've found it helpful to find an image that puts me in mind of what I'm writing. When I was working on NEPTUNE DREAMS for the Fear the Abyss anthology, I found a gorgeous rendering of Neptune and some of her moons which I put up as a wallpaper so I could look at it whenever I wanted to. A dark fantasy piece THE LILAC HEDGE takes place in this verdant flower garden, so I put pictures of lilacs and roses and irises on my screen to help me stay in that place. A story I'm working on right now is a post-apocalyptic tale and I found a photo I took myself on the Oregon coast when it was cloudy and foggy, and there was no one to be seen for miles. Just looking at that puts me in the frame of mind I want to be in, and then I can go from there.
The only time I write longhand is when I'm writing poetry; it seems to flow better that way. Everything else is typewritten, for practicality. My handwriting is atrocious and I taught myself to type by touch when I was thirteen on an old manual typewriter specifically because of that. It's helpful too that I type fast enough, I can almost keep up with my brain when a story is really flying.
Would you consider yourself a Plotter or a Pantser?
I am definitely a Pantser. When I first started writing it was all so I could find out where the story would go. If I knew how a story was going to end, there was no point in writing it down. Of course that's changed a bit now, but I still usually don't have a clear idea of the end of a story. I can have certain points that I'm working toward, steps that I want to be sure are taken. But that's about as far as my Plotting goes.
What do you think is the hardest aspect of the craft?
There are a few things. Time is one of those; I am rarely able to spend as much time writing as I would like to. Objectivity is another. Sometimes it can be very difficult, especially when you're caught up with and emotionally vested in your characters and their stories, to be able to recognize things that shouldn't be there. Sometimes it's so much fun writing a scene, that you don't want take it out even though it really doesn't need to be there. That takes a certain amount of discipline, and sometimes it's downright painful to do what you know is best for the story. And last is promotion. I think that's definitely become a part of the craft of writing, at least if you're trying to get published. I'm an introvert, and rather shy with people, so trying to put myself out there and make connections and promote myself can be frightening and extremely uncomfortable. But it's part of being a published author, and so you do your best to let people know you're there!
Current projects?
I'm working on several short pieces for different submission calls, as well as the first book of an epic fantasy series (working title BARD'S RETURN) and an urban/dark fantasy novella about shape-shifters from another reality who wind up in current day Los Angeles.
How do you balance being a writer?
Mostly I just try to keep my equilibrium, and prioritize. Obviously I need to pay my bills, so the day job is a necessity. I love my family, so I make sure to set aside time for them. But I also have to answer to my own requirements for creativity – whether that be writing, or taking photos, or working on the jewelry I make. Sometimes I wish I could do without sleep! But it's all about not neglecting the things that are important to you.
What do you think people expect from you with your writing?
I don't know that I'm at the point where people are expecting anything, but I think readers will always find something of beauty in my stories. Whether the genre is fantasy or horror, I always try to find something that really touches me and I do my best to share that in my writing.
Advice for aspiring writers?
Two things – enjoy yourself, and don't give up. There's no point in doing it if you don't enjoy it. Find a genre or a niche that speaks to you, and go with it. And don't let anyone tell you stop, not if it's something you love.
- FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE by Grinning Skull Press
- NECON E-BOOKS BEST OF 2012 FLASH ANTHOLOGY from Necon E-Books
- HORRIFIC HISTORY from Hazardous Press
- ANOTHER 100 HORRORS from Cruentus Libris Press
- EULOGIES II: TALES FROM THE CELLAR from Horror World
- BARNYARD HORROR by JWK Fiction
- BLOOD AND ROSES from Scarlett River Press
- WATERLESS from Buzzy Mag
- WHAT WE DO FOR LOVE appearing in the summer issue of 69 Flavors of Paranoia.
BIO: Rose Blackthorn currently lives in the high mountain desert of Eastern Utah with her boyfriend and two dogs. She spends her time writing, reading, beading and doing wire-work, and photographing the surrounding wilderness. An only child, she was lucky enough to have a mother who loved books, and has been surrounded by them her entire life. Thus instead of squabbling with siblings, she learned to be friends with her imagination and the voices in her head are still very much present. She is an affiliate member of the HWA, and suffers from an overactive imagination, but rather than complaining... she just goes with it.
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13 september 2019 Friday - intermediate workshop
This is to book and secure your place as one of a group of (maximum) six on a workshop day with David Purdie. Meeting at the gallery in Rye at 10am and finishing back at the gallery at 6pm. Lunch, tea coffee and snacks included.
For fulll details about the day see the relevant workshop day on the website. Please make sure to give us you phone number (preferably mobile) AND email address. Just in case there is a problem with either we have another way of contacting you. We send out full details about the day, paking info and so on, a week before the day via email.
Cancellation policy is here.


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Why not consider supporting the work of Epworth Old Rectory by becoming a volunteer? There are several different opportunities:
The only qualifications needed are enthusiasm, friendliness, reliability, and a willingness to learn and meet new and fascinating people from all over the world!
Please contact us for further information or download and complete an expression of interest form.
Thank you for supporting our exciting plans for the future: our 'Welcome Home' development project will transform the Rectory and hugely improve the visitor experience, enabling us to present to more people the inspiring stories of the Wesleys and their formative lives in this exceptional family home. Epworth Old Rectory is a registered charity (number 1140335). We rely on funds from supporters, Friends and churches in order to sustain our work and to enable the 'Welcome Home' project to continue. Would you consider supporting our work by making a donation?
|If you prefer to pay using PAYPAL please click on the DONATE button below
|Donate by Standing Order
If you would like to donate by standing order on a regular basis please


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I laid there in bed listening to the local AM station's news; my usual routine each morning since I had moved here to the Keys. The high pitched squeal of the announcer's voice was grating on me...I thought how the hell did she get a job on radio? But then I realized that is was a nervous squeal that she was trying to calm as she told of the approaching storm. "The low has been gathering all night according to the Hurricane Center in Miami", she wined, "it's moving at 35 mph and heading directly for the Keys". "Shit", I thought as I rolled over onto my back, "just what I fucking need today"
The storm raged...
waves pounded the
beach in front of the house...
I heard this frantic knocking and a
muffled cry for help and then, looking out
the rain smeared window, I saw him - saw that
he was naked and crumpled over in obvious pain.
My mind was slowly slipping back into that euphoria that comes to one in a half sleep state. My body was still reacting to my sensuous dreams...dreams that hadn't been realized in the few months that I had been here in my new existence on Marathon Key. I had come here to shed the trappings of my former life; a life filled with corporate intrigue and a routine that bordered on pure insanity. A six day a week life that carried me from meeting to meeting, coast to coast, Europe, Asia and the Middle East without pause or care that I even had a life to lead. Sure I was rewarded with healthy paychecks each week and stock options too; but living as a nomad had finally killed all semblance of a life and above all, destroyed all chances of ever maintaining a relationship. I was a highly paid loner whose best friend was a tube of lube and my left and right hands.
But now it was going to be different. The time had come for me to call the shots. For me to live as I wanted. Live each and every day for me. Live my dreams and not feel that they could never be realized. So I had packed my bags, sublet the apartment on East 63rd and moved here to South Florida...to the Keys where I could go back to my photography again as well as paint, write and begin my life again following no one's rules but my own.
So I lay here letting my hand roam across the moist wakening skin; letting it slide deliciously down into my pubes...feeling there the base of my still turgid dick. My dream had been so vivid, so sensual...more than erotic, much more. Having spent the weekend in South Beach allowed me to realize what I had been missing all these years being a slave to my work in Manhattan. The vibrancy of life here was just what I wanted...and was what I needed. "I am still a young guy", I thought to myself as my hand slowly stroked my engorged pole. My fingers surrounded my steamy balls and squeezed to feel the load that was messaging my brain for release. "Shit!", my reverie continued, "I'm 27, and damn well off from my wisely placed investments and I wasn't a jerk about pissing my money away on relationships that went nowhere". But my thoughts were broken by the more immediate need in my groin. The tempo of what began as a casual caress now increased. My hand tightened around my dick and began its more frantic pulling. The sensitive glans shed its protective sheath of foreskin and came under the pressure of my thumb. My pace quickened as my breath caught in my throat. I could feel the rampant electrical charge building as I stroked my now rock hard pole with wild abandon. My balls drew close up to the base as the first throes of orgasm hit me like a flood of lava washing over my body. My body tensed and my back lifted off the damp sheets as the first eruption of my white, hot jism blasted across my chest. A second, then a third, fourth and fifth...each drenching my nips, neck and abdomen as they flew from my dick in shuddering release. My heart was racing and my breath ragged as the oblivion of orgasm over took my whole being.
Rivers of cum were sluicing everywhere when I finally came back from this exquisite plane of sexual arousal. I slid my legs over the side of the bed and headed off to the bathroom to turn on the shower. The mirrored walls gave me a glimpse of my form as I entered. "Yep", I thought, "pretty damn good looking guy". And I am. Standing just 6 feet tall, I carry my 165 lbs. real well. Having nothing better to do in Manhattan than work out a few times a week, my body showed the results. My abs were tight and defined and my chest displayed well-rounded pecs that were capped with quarter sized nips. My slim 31" waist accented what was above and below as well. Strong, firm thighs and calves that parenthesized what hung in between... a still hard 7" dick that still had its full cover. I was glad I was uncut because regardless of what some might say, I know my foreskin keeps my dickhead more sensitive to the passions of unabashed sex. I leaned in over the marble vanity and looked closely at my face. My dark wavy hair framed my square jaw and seemed to set off my deep green eyes... "Hell, you are one fine looking dude", I blurted out loud with a smile and then stepped into the shower to get this day started.
Throughout the day, the weather alert in my studio kept blaring its warning. NOAA had issued an alert for the Keys from Miami down through Key West. The monotoned forecaster droned as to how the low was picking up speed and packing winds that were clocked at 50 to 60 mph, just slightly under hurricane force. "Severe thunderstorms with deadly lightning and large sized hail" was what they were saying now. But to looking out through the large French doors that opened onto the redwood deck, all I could see was the a glorious sun sparkling the turquoise ocean with a snowy white surf rolling in on the private beach. The sky was a deep clear blue that you only get here in Florida I thought...no signs showing of the drama that was to play itself out before very long.
I turned back to the canvas I was struggling with and tried once again to capture the image I had envisioned so many times in my mind's eye. The cerulean blue eyes stared back at me coldly...it was wrong...all wrong. It wasn't what I had seen in my mind. My irritation was building as I grabbed the flat head brush and struck the canvas with broad harsh sweeps. The image began to dissolve under my lashing strokes. And as abruptly as I had started my tirade against the cloth I stopped; picking up the more delicate brush and beginning again to capture the look that had captured my subconscious soul. For hours I worked with a renewed fervor. Blending, shading and adding color and hue.
The image was taking shape...the right shape now...the right look...the right feeling in those deep set eyes. It was beginning to take form the way my mind remembered him. But then, as I straightened my back to ease the tightness that had developed from being hunched over on my stool so enmeshed in my work, my concentration was broken by the rumbling that reverberated through this old frame beach cottage. It was then that I noticed that the air had chilled and the light was watery and gray. Again I heard it, that distinct sound of approaching thunder. I slid off the stool and walked silently across the satiny wood floor and out onto the deck. The storm was close. Very close now indeed. The wind had picked up considerably and the sea was broiling with foam that scoured the sandy shore. The blue was gone, replaced now with a cold steel gray that darkened into black on the horizon. I could see the flash of lightning streak in the distance as well. Yes, the storm was moving in and quickly by the looks of the sky. As I glanced up the beachline, I could see a few boats making their hasty retreat into the inlet that led to the marina in the cove. They were smart I thought by the looks of what was approaching. The NOAA station had said it would be bad and as I turned back towards the sea I could see that it surely would be.
As I headed back inside I glanced at my watch..."Jeeezzz", I thought, "it's almost five PM already". The day had rushed by but I was happy as I was doing exactly what I always wanted to be doing...leading my own life on my terms...even if it was by myself I mused. I went through the studio into the main part of the old cottage that had been opened up with high ceilings, oversized paned windows and yet made warm and homey with its rough hewn wooden plank walls and highly polished plank floors. The air had certainly chilled a lot. "Not very Floridian", I thought to myself as I kneeled in front of the stone fireplace and lit the paper that was crumbled beneath the oak logs. Here we were in late August in Florida and I was preparing a fire to stave off the chill. Once the fire took I walked into the adjoining kitchen to see what my dinner fare should be. Understand now that I'm not a great cook but I can get by better than most single guys who nuke everything right from the freezer. I flipped on the little color TV on the granite countertop as I started to rummage through the cabinets for ideas as to what to make. A special announcement broke in just as the TV was coming on. "This is a special weather bulletin from the weather center here at WVSM...let's go to Mike with an update on the progress of the storm headed our way...Take it Mike..."; the cute blond turned in her chair at the anchor desk as the camera cutaway to a shirt sleeved guy who looked a little weathered himself. "Thanks Jennifer, well folks ol' El Nino is about to deal us another blow here in South Florida tonight", the meteorologist began. I listened intently as he described the storm's intensity and direction. "Winds approaching 60 mph will begin hitting the coastline of the Keys around 8pm", he continued. Man, this was going to be quite a night. I thought of the emergency generator the previous owner had installed and silently thanked his good judgement. Surely we would lose power if the fury being described hits head-on here in Marathon. "Keep tuned to this station and we'll be bringing you updates as the storm closes in", the meteorologist warned as he wagged his finger at me through the camera lens, "but for heaven's sake folks don't head out anywhere tonight unless it's an absolute emergency" he warned again. "Not me", I thought, "nope, staying right in here tonight and watch some long put-off videos that I had bought". Thunder boomed a lot closer now and the sky had grown dark. I turned back to my immediate concerns of what to have for dinner and shuffled about the well-equipped kitchen pulling together a can of this and a box of that.
Dinner finished and the dishes all loaded into the washer, I wiped down the blue-gray stone of the counter and then walked into the living area to sit by the fire for a while and sip at my glass of Chardonnay. The ol' cottage was creaking and moaning under the strain of the howling wind. I could hear the torrents of rain bashing at the windows and the French doors alike. The storm was hitting us with all it had. Lightning lit the outside yard like flares being set off in rapid succession. The thunder following crashed as if some deranged drummer was exercising madly on his bass drum. The whole house shook to the floorboards with some of the crashes that the storm was creating. I thought back to this afternoon and those boats rushing for cover. Smart that they did for no one would be safe on the ocean tonight.
When one particularly thunderous crash reverberated all around me, I went to the window to look out toward the sea. The storm raged...huge, angry waves pounded the beach in front of the house. It was then that I heard this knocking and a muffled cry for help and, looking out through the rain smeared window I saw him - saw that he was naked and crumpled over in obvious pain. My heart stopped for a fraction of a second as fear gripped my inner core. I rushed through the studio and threw open the doors to the deck. The rain lashed at my face as I went to him. He had fallen in a mass to the floor of the deck and I could see clearly now that he was bloody as well. With the wind pulling at me and palm fronds flying like thrown daggers, I bent against the wind's fury and got my hands under his arms and dragged him into the studio and safety from the storm.
He lay on the floor like a twisted mannequin; arms askew and legs bent up in a fetal position no doubt from his unconscious fear of what he had endured. I knelt along side him and heard him moan from deep down inside. I quickly turned him over to see how badly he was injured and to judge what I should do next. As his body turned and he lay on his back, once again my breath caught in my throat. His face, while scrunched up in pain, was magnificent. His chest was heaving as he tried to gain breath of his own and his left hand clutched at his right shoulder where I could see the source of the blood - nasty gashes like he had been slashed by a myriad of small razors. He was alert and knew he was safe now...he was calming down. His body was beginning to unfold and his breath was idling down. But mine was still in overdrive as I checked him over for other possible bodily damage. As my senses became calmer too I looked over this young guy who had been almost literally thrown on my doorstep.
I judged him to be in his late twenties, his sopping wet hair was wavy and dark like mine and he looked to be about 5'-10" and maybe 150 to 160 lbs. And as he was naked as the day he was born I could see that he carried with him a healthy length of circumcised cock with walnut sized balls as well. His body was smooth. The only hair he sported was on his head, under his well developed arms and around his rain shriveled cock. I looked back at his face and saw that he was definitely awake and looking right at me through deep cerulean blue eyes. The eyes. Yes, the eyes that haunt my mind. The eyes that I try to capture on canvas. In my mind's eye I've seen them a thousand times before and now they were here in front of me. His eyes. Beautiful eyes that were clouded now in pain. I jumped up and away from him and ran to my bedroom to get a blanket and I grabbed a towel as I rushed back out through the bathroom. He was sitting up still holding his shoulder as I approached. "What happened to you?" I said quickly. "You look like you've been through hell!"
"Hey man, thanks...I didn't think I was gonna make it", he said as he rubbed his face with the towel I had handed him. "Fuckin' unbelievable! I'm some god damned jerk", he continued as he ran the towel through his hair. And just then he winced and howled in pain as he had moved his injured shoulder and it obviously was hurting badly. "Let me take a look at that shoulder of yours", I offered. "Why don't you come into the living room by the fire while I see how badly your hurt", I said as I helped him to his feet and draped the blanket around his naked form. It was clear that the warmth of the house was settling him, as his cut cock no longer was as shrunken but now instead, while still limp, it hung down thickly to perhaps 7" over his ample balls. He brushed the towel over his chest and groin and down his legs and when he bent the blanket slipped to the floor revealing a firm set of ass muscles that flexed tightly with his moves. "Sorry for getting everything wet and making a mess, man", he said in a whisper as he reached to gather the blanket from the floor and drape it over his arm. "Hey, don't worry about it, man", I countered a little hoarsely as he had not bothered to put the blanket back around himself as he walked ahead of me into the living area and stand near the fire. He moved with a lithe grace that belied the pain in his shoulder. My body was reacting now to his. The first tremors of unabashed lust had hit my groin and my own cock had started to harden. "Why don't you sit down here on the sofa and let me have a look at those cuts", I said as I moved closer to him. I eased him down and sat next to him so that I could assess the damage done to his shoulder. "What the hell happened?" I quizzed again as I looked closely as the gashes that continued to ooze blood. "As I said, man...I'm a fuckin jerk. I thought I could get my jet ski back to the inlet from down the beach a ways. The storm was blowin' pretty good already and I was afraid that the waves would wash it away if I left it out there unattended." "But what were you doing on a jet ski with this storm coming in?" I asked as I wiped the blood from the cuts. " I'm here on vacation and rented the ski to have a look around the area...I didn't even know about any damn storm 'til it was right on top of me", he offered as he watched me dab gently at his wounds. "I was way the hell down the Key, in fact, I was laying on the beach takin' a snooze when I was woke by the sound of thunder. Man, I almost shit. I got the ski back into the water but by then it was rainin' and man, the storm was blowin' like a son-of-a-bitch. I got out into the surf but I was knocked around like a fuckin' cork. I couldn't do a thing, man. I tried to keep headin' into open water away from the breakers but it was no use...the wind kept pushin' me into shore." I was watching him intently as he relived the drama of his battle against nature. " Man, it was unbelievable, I got washed off the ski like 6 times...that's how I lost my trunks. Ripped right off my fuckin' body, man." At that moment I smiled a little to myself and thanked the powers that be for the forces of nature. "Finally, I knew I wasn't gonna make it and that's when I saw the lights of your house...I headed in hopin' to make it to shore alive cause those fuckin waves were monstrous. I almost did too but I got knocked off again and dragged by the current right through those coral covered rocks out on your beach. I guess I was knocked into a kinda daze cause I don't remember much after that til you brought me inside here." He was lucky indeed. He could have been killed...crushed on the rocks and drowned.
I got up and I went into the bathroom to get the first aid kit I had purchased in case of emergencies but my secondary thought was to escape for a few minutes from my own trauma that had been building while I sat there next to this fantastic looking guy who just happened to be sitting on my sofa....naked. My dick was hard as a steel rod and my sweatpants didn't do much to provide me any cover. I needed a minute or two to think of something like investment funds or bank transfers to let my unadulterated lust abide a bit. After gathering a few items I needed I came back into the room to find him sitting with his legs spread wide as he leaned back against the sofa pillows. My pulse quickened again but I made it to the sofa and sat before my rod hit full mast. " By the way", he began, "my name is Glenn and I sure wanna thank you, man, for helping me out like this. I thought for sure I was a goner". "Glad I was here and could help", I replied knowing full well that my voice was thick and throaty. " My name is Matt...nice to meet you Glenn but I wish the circumstances were a bit more pleasant", I answered trying to manage my voice. Glenn leaned forward and put his hand on my thigh, "Look Matt, if it wasn't for you being here like this I don't know what I would have done. I owe you big time man...really!" My body shuddered at his warm touch. His hand rested there and pressed into my flesh. I could feel the heat radiating from him. I moved closer to apply the antiseptic and cover the cuts with a bandage. But my hands trembled as I tried to administer to him. He leaned in closer. Those amazing eyes seemed to look right into my soul. It was like he knew of my inner passion. Like he knew I wanted to hold him in my arms and cover his lips with mine. And with that thought still upfront in my mind, Glenn came closer and kissed me. His hand that pressed my thigh now moved to my bone hard cock and gently squeezed. My lungs froze and my heart shuddered inside my chest. I kissed him back with wild abandon. His tongue sought the inner recesses of my mouth and mine tasted his essence. I threw my arms around him and pulled him onto me as we both fell back into the softness of the pillows. His hand rubbed my cock with an urgent message of lust. I wanted to hold him close. His lips moved to my neck as his other hand plied its way under the waistband of my sweats to grab at the hot flesh of my cock. "Oh God Glenn...you're incredible", I moaned. And as he licked at my ear he whispered deeply, "And you my man, are one hot dude...my caretaker...who is so god damn fine". He sat back up and looked at me and smiled. His brilliant white teeth, his sensuous eyes combined to make me melt into a quivering mass, driven by my lust.
The cries of the wind and the thunderous claps of thunder still raged around us. But we were in another world, insulated from the tempest's rage by our passion. I slipped off the sweatshirt that now was drenched with my sweat. Glenn helped pull the sweatpants down over my hardon. It smacked back to my abs with an audible thud. He pulled the sweats totally off me so I too now was as stark naked as he. And with our arms once again encircling our bodies, we slipped to the floor and snuggled close into one another as the fire cast its undulating glow over our sweat sheeted skin. The temperature in the house had warmed considerably with the fires' glow but our bodily temperature was heading toward scorching as Glenn once again placed his lips on mine. But I wanted to taste more of him. And I slid down and turned my body around so that my face was just inches from his 8.5" rigid dick. His wide cum hole was leaking the clear crystal honey that my mouth yearned to taste. My tongue darted out on lapped at his juices. My lips opened to engulf the flaring red-hot mushroom head and I swallowed him down my throat as far as I could. "Oh Matt, yeah man, do it...suck me man...take all of me inside your mouth", Glenn moaned as his body writhed in ecstasy. "Oh Matt, suck me man...drink my cum man...oooohh...yeah, that's it...oooohh fuck I'm gonna cum man." I sucked him in until my nose was buried in his dark brown sweat curled pubes. I drank in his scent - the sweat mixed with his masculine musk, the scent of a man in lust. My head rode his bone up and down. My lips tight and sucking his cock flesh. I brought my mouth up to his cockhead and let my tongue dance over his now ultra sensitive glans. He was leaking precum in huge amounts. It's salty taste firing my need for him...my desire to have him empty his balls into my waiting mouth. I sucked like a child reveling with his first lollipop. My body convulsed as I felt him take me into his mouth. His lips and tongue were caressing every nerve ending in my blood-engorged cock. I almost lost consciousness as the sexually charged feelings sent electrified spikes throughout my brain. I could feel my balls tightening as my orgasm approached.
We writhed and rolled on and off each other as we sucked each other off. Our hands were a blur of grasping and groping and our bodies were drenched with sweat. "Matt, I'm gonna cum...I'm cummin' man...oh fuck yeah.... Oh Matt...yeah...oooohhhh!" I could feel his cock tense and grow rigid in my mouth. It seemed to expand even larger as he groaned. And then the first shot of his thick mancream hit the back of my throat. And then another...more, thicker, salty yet sweet at the same time. My mouth was flooded with his cum and the feeling of his juice sliding down my gullet sent me over the edge and I blasted my cum into him. My entire body shuddered like an epileptic in an uncontrollable frenzy. I shot again and again. My mind went into a metaphysical change that only takes charge when a man is in the throes of orgasmic bliss. I drank his love juice and he savored mine. And as we began to come down from that extraordinary high plateau I curled back around and took Glenn into my arms and kissed him hard on his lips. My tongue pushed some of his own cum into his mouth and he shared mine with me. Our seed had formed a bond that would be almost impossible to break.
"Oh man, fuck me...that was incredible...you are incredible Matt...fuckin' incredible", Glenn spoke in a hushed voice as he laid his head on my sweat-soaked chest. I ran my hand through his still moist hair and asked, "How's your shoulder feel now my buck?" I was smiling at him as he turned his head and looked into my eyes..."Shoulder, my shoulder...what shoulder man", he laughed. "You just performed the miracle cure", he whispered as his lips met mine again. "Oh, by the way", I said in an amused tone as I breathed into his ear, "what you just said...'Fuck me'...well guess what? That's exactly my plan for your continued treatment." Glenn laughed from deep within his soul and threw his arms around my shoulders.
After lying snuggled together for what seemed like hours, we both got up and as I took his hand in mine, I led him down the hall to the bedroom. The storm was still delivering its wrath to the Keys, but for me now, El Nino had delivered a gift that was to change my life for a long time to come.
EPILOGUE: The following day dawned bright and clear. The damage from the storm was evident everywhere as we drove into town toward the marina. A Coast Guard launch had found the jet ski beached on a sand bar at dawn's first light and had towed it in. Glenn headed toward his jeep and turned to give me wave so long. Yes, so long, because during the night that we spent consumed in lovemaking, Glenn promised to go back to Atlanta where he lived and pack up his things. He would be back next week and we would begin to build a relationship on that love we found last night as a result of being thrown together, by chance, at the hands of the El Nino storm.
The Badpuppy.com model in these pictures is Lukas
© Badpuppy Enterprises, Inc. 1995 - 2019


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It finally appears to be happening. The long-anticipated slowdown in house appreciation appears to be happening. Last week the WSJ had several articles that made use of anecdotal evidence to show the changes in some major markets like Naples, FL.
But now the data seem to be supporting it, and today CNN/Money had more information suggesting that bearishness in the RE industry is widespread, and increasing.
The economics of the housing market are both broad and deep. If there is a real collapse, investors have to be prepared to be defensive, as consumer spending and asset prices are likely to fall. Tactical allocations should reflect that real risk. Worse, as housing remains expensive for many new buyers, who may wait out sellers in a falling market, rents are likely to rise, increasing inflation, which will require further Fed rate increases.
If you are looking to buy however, having strong liquidity will enable you to pounce on bargains, and offer sellers something that they will desperatly need: buyers who have the financial strength to close. This will give you a great deal of flexibility in obtaining favorable seller financing and with rising rents, greater opportunity to cashflow the property.
I'm looking forward to it.


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We reveal our verdict on the Asics run LED.
While winter means there's more dark than light in a 24-hour period, even summer evening runs can require that you need to be seen by other myopic road and trail users.
Asics, like many others, are now making that job easier for you by incorporating a small red LED light into a nylon clip pouch which you can attach to your clothing, your laces or even as a rear 'tail' light on a bag. A simple toggle switch allows you to choose between constant and blinking modes according to need.
The light is bright enough, though not quite up there with some of the red rear bike LEDs we've used. We've been using this one since the clocks changed for about an hour a night and the replaceable CR2032 battery is still going strong.
- Price: £7
- Contact: www.asics.co.uk


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Chico, California: Then & Now
Welcome to Chico, California, a flourishing city dedicated to preserving its past and preparing for its future.
Current-day Chico's original inhabitants were the Maidu Indians, with the first-recorded European settlers arriving in 1832. General John Bidwell, a native of New York, joined an expedition of settlers heading west in the early 1840s and soon arrived in the Chico Creek area. Noticing the potential, Bidwell purchased acreage along Chico Creek in the mid- to late-1840s, opened the first store and ultimately founded Chico in 1860 (the city later incorporated in 1872).
Today, this Northern California city is home to nearly 87,000 people, with another 19,000 residing in the adjacent urban, unincorporated area—bringing the total urban area population to nearly 106,000. Its ideal location within the Northern Sacramento Valley places it approximately 90 minutes north of Sacramento and three hours northeast of San Francisco—making it a fantastic place for both residential living and business ventures.
Chico has strived to maintain its strong sense of community, while simultaneously establishing itself as a dynamic regional center for business, education, recreation and culture. Over the years, Chico has garnered recognition among the "Best Places in America" by Forbes magazine, the "Best Places to Retire" by U.S. News & World Report and its dedication to the environment has landed it acknowledgement as the "Best Green Places to Live" by Country Home Magazine and the "10 Greenest Colleges in America" at Chico State by U.S. News & World Report.