text:
Takin' It Off Out West
A couple looking for a meeting in a swingers club
Takin' It Off Out West
First name: Sarha, Age: 40 yo, City: West (TX)
Hello men, I am Sarha and I am in a relationship, I am 40 years old. I'm pretty well-built. My boyfriend and I are swingers. You can make an appointment for Saturday, but we prefer that it takes place at our house. We offer a lot of accessories. We want a man the same age as us for this sex evening. As a very slutty woman, I want a good fuck to enjoy myself fully. We are fans of candaulism. As I am a very liberated girl, I enjoy fucking with several guys including my boyfriend. Now that you understand what I'm looking for, feel free to leave me a message. I'm sure I'll have a good time with you. I'll talk to you soon. Kisses!
Beautiful 30-year-old married woman from West wants a lover for some naughty fun
Takin' It Off Out West
First name: Guilmette, Age: 30 yo, City: West (TX)
I love role-playing sexual games. I dream of a naturally gifted horseman who can follow my lead in fiction and carry me away into his world and desires. I don't really have a type when it comes to my lovers. However, it is important that the latter be open-minded. I love foreplay because I adore heating things up before we make love. I want to see you at your place because I need to be very discreet. I'm also free on Saturday for our date. I hope to have a date soon without any taboos in West. I'm sure I'll have a blast with you. I'm already too hot at the idea of seeing you. Kisses.
Sex party tonight at West for an extremely naughty young lady
Takin' It Off Out West
First name: Marie-annie, Age: 28 yo, City: West (TX)
You can have a date at my apartment for this future sex plan. I am also available during the day and rather on weekends. I love it when someone goes down on me because it gets me so excited. I'm a hot young lady when I have sex with a one-night stand. I would like a guy who is young enough and, most importantly, has a very long tool to give me lots of pleasure because I am a very hot slut. I know how to handle my conquests to make them hard. I am waiting for your comments with attention. I can't wait for the first meeting, it's what gets me excited... Kisses Marie-annie.
Adult dating, cougar woman 49 years old, slutty West
Takin' It Off Out West
First name: Aleesha, Age: 49 yo, City: West (TX)
I am a 49-year-old woman living in West. I am a mature single woman. I much prefer meeting people online for the good reason that it allows me to talk with people more quickly. I'm too shy to go out clubbing or to coffee shops looking for potential lovers. I love making love for hours. I don't hide from my friends that I regularly have relations with men that I barely know. I am alone and living a fully naughty life. I'm something of a sex addict. I want a free man. Someone to practice swinging with and not hold anything back. I'm usually free during the day. I can move around easily in West and its surroundings. I don't care whether it's at your place or not, as long as it's clean. If you want, you can leave your presentation. I hope to see you on West for this hookup. Big kisses. See you later.
Looking for a hot encounter with some swinging action in West
Takin' It Off Out West
First name: Anne-ael, Age: 24 yo, City: West (TX)
We would prefer to give you a date on the weekend since we work so much, and if possible at our place or in a private club near West. I am a very naughty libertine when it comes to men. What I love is to be with 2 gentlemen pigs because it makes me all hot to have two penises just for me and my boyfriend gets excited at the idea of making me happy. At this moment, we would prefer a man or couple without taboo because we want to party as much as possible!!! Mr. will necessarily be tall, sorry but it is my whim of the moment. In conclusion, we therefore want to enjoy ourselves with another couple. We are very curious. We hope to read your responses soon. Kisses.
Mature woman in West looking for boy to have sex with
Takin' It Off Out West
First name: Laurye, Age: 37 yo, City: West (TX)
I really enjoy swingers parties. I've always been a woman without taboos and especially addicted to sex in libertine clubs. I get excited when men look at me while I'm fucking in a public place like a bathroom. I want an imaginative boy. Someone to go out in a swingers club with no restrictions. For this sex plan, I can meet you in a bar. If you feel like it, I'm not opposed to setting up a meeting in an interstate rest area. In conclusion, I am asking you to contact me soon if you want to make me feel good. I want a man who is more masculine.
A married couple in West is looking for a casual encounter
Takin' It Off Out West
First name: Soraia, Age: 35 yo, City: West (TX)
Hi guys, my name is Soraia and I'm in a relationship. I'm 35 years old. I'm pretty well-built. My boyfriend and I are swingers. We would like to invite you for a date at a swingers club. We're also free every evening. We're fans of orgies. I'm a really naughty girl, I love fucking with several men including my husband. We want a guy our age for this sex party tonight. As a horny girl, I want a real man so that I can cum hard. You can leave us a comment if you feel like meeting up with us for some kinky fun. See you soon.
This charming lady, who is in a relationship, is 46 years old and from West. She wants to meet 1 man for some fun and games
Takin' It Off Out West
First name: Heleine, Age: 46 yo, City: West (TX)
I really enjoy showing off in the forest and having my picture taken. But what really gets me going are the reports in public places (garages, toilets, etc.), it's up to you to be creative in the streets of West. We can meet at my apartment or go out to eat. I'm free after work, I'm not complicated. I am mostly a cougar woman, so I want a younger man. I want to have a steamy relationship first and foremost. I am mostly a very enduring woman of sex. I love showing you how to give me pleasure. I am eagerly awaiting your offers. I'm looking forward to the first interview, it's always exciting I find... Cheers.
Looking for a hot night out? Come join this naughty couple at their local libertine club!
Takin' It Off Out West
First name: Leha, Age: 33 yo, City: West (TX)
We want a naughty guy for some ass. Age is not important, however respect is key to sleeping together. We are available every night. We don't mind coming to your place or if you prefer we can meet at our place. My boyfriend and I really enjoy going to swingers clubs in West so that we can meet new couples. This is first and foremost for me because I'm a little minx with men and have no taboos. In short, we're waiting for your messages about this fuck meet. I hope to meet you on West! Kisses!
A naughty plan with a very brazen mature lady on West
Takin' It Off Out West
First name: Orna, Age: 50 yo, City: West (TX)
Hi, I'm Orna and I'm a hot divorced mature woman who lives in West. I just turned 50. I want a night of fucking with a younger man. I'm a horny cougar and that's why I'm posting this hot ad. We can meet at my house or yours, I'll come to you, but I'm not going to travel across the region either. I don't like that there are no hotels around here. I am available in the evening and on weekends. I want a guy who is younger than me. Other than that, I don't have many beauty standards. What attracts me is a guy who's good in bed so he can make me moan with pleasure during our future night together. I'm a big fan of role-playing games. I want a partner who can be creative in this area to help me with my scenarios and take me into their universe and dreams. To finish, I hope to have some hot dates with a cutie. But before anything else, you have to contact me. I hope to meet you soon! Big kisses.
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subset: commoncrawl


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articlemostwanted - The Egyptian Neo-Platonist philosopher Hypatia was also the first notable woman in the field of mathematics.
The daughter of Theon, also a notable mathematician and philosopher, Hypatia became the recognized head of the Neo-Platonist school of philosophy at Alexandria about 400, and her eloquence, modesty, and beauty, combined with her remarkable intellectual gifts, attracted a large number of pupils. Among them was Synesius of Cyrene, afterward bishop of Ptolemaist (c. 410), several of whose letters to her are still extant.
Hypatia lectured on mathematics and on the philosophical teachings of two Neo-Platonists: Plotinus (c. 205-270 CE), the founder of Neo-Platonism, and Iamblichus (c. 250-330 CE), the founder of the Syrian branch of Neo-Platonism. She symbolized learning and science, which at that time in Western history were largely identified with paganism.
This left Hypatia in a precarious situation. Theodosius I, Roman emperor in the East from 379 to 392 and then emperor in both the East and West until 395, initiated an official policy of intolerance to paganism and Arianism in 380. In 391, in reply to Theophilus, the bishop of Alexandria, he gave permission to destroy Egyptian religious institutions. Christian mobs obliged by destroying the Library of Alexandria, the Temple of Serapis, and other pagan monuments. Although legislation in 393 sought to curb violence, particularly the looting and destruction of Jewish synagogues, a renewal of disturbances occurred after the accession of Cyril to the patriarchate of Alexandria in 412. Tension culminated in the forced, albeit illegal, expulsion of Alexandrian Jews in 414 and the murder of Hypatia, the most prominent Alexandrian pagan, by a fanatical mob of Christians in 415. The departure soon afterward of many scholars marked the beginning of the decline of Alexandria as a major center of ancient learning.
According to the Suda Lexicon, a 10th-century encyclopedia, Hypatia wrote commentaries on the Arithmetica of Diophantus of Alexandria, on the Conics of Apollonius of Perga, and on an astronomical canon (presumably Ptolemy's Almagest). We have it on the authority of her father, Theon, that she revised Book III of his commentary on the Almagest. All of these works are lost, although some may survive as parts of the extant Arabic versions of the Arithmetica. The known titles of her works, combined with the letters of Synesius who consulted her about the construction of an astrolabe and a hydroscope (identified in the 17th century by Pierre de Fermat as a hydrometer), indicate that she devoted herself particularly to astronomy and mathematics. The existence of any strictly philosophical works by her is unknown. Indeed, her philosophy was more scholarly and scientific in its interest and less mystical and intransigently pagan than the Neo-Platonism taught in other schools. Nevertheless, statements attributed to her, such as "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all" and "To teach superstitions as truth is a most terrible thing," must have incensed Cyril, who in turn incensed the mob.
Hypatia reputation as a learned and beautiful female philosopher, combined with the dramatic details of her grisly death, have inspired the imaginations of numerous writers, inspiring works such as Charles Kingsley's novel Hypatia: New Foes with an Old Face (1852).


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Chinese Graduate Student May Have Been Poisoned By Roommate For A Ph.D Slot
If you thought kids attending Ivy League schools in the U.S. are competitive, wait until you read what they've done at top universities in China to get ahead.
On Monday, Huang Yang, a graduate student at Fudan University (a top school in Shanghai), died from poisoning. The police have initially confirmed Huang Yang's roommate, who was only identified by his last name, Lin, as a suspect in the tragedy, which is possibly the result of competition for a Ph.D. slot.
"By last Friday, Huang Yang was swollen all over, practically unrecognizable," according to a Weibo account by one of Huang's friends. "The air coming out of his ventilator was bloody. His roommate poisoned the water dispenser in their room, which caused Huang to suffer from acute kidney failure and pulmonary emphysema in just a few days."
According to Huang's father, his son thought the water from their dispenser tasted funny. He changed the water and cleaned the machine so that his roommates wouldn't have to drink questionable water.
Fudan University also released an obituary for Huang Yang on its official Weibo account: "We are all saddened by the loss of a valuable student, and for Huang Yang's parents who lost their son, we express our deepest condolences."
Poisonings at top Chinese universities have happened before. The most prominent incident occurred in 1994 at Tsinghua University.
The victim's at that school was Zhu Ling, an accomplished musician and a member of the swim team. She first showed symptoms of what was later diagnosed as thallium poisoning in December 1994. She recovered after a month at a hospital, and returned to school the following year. In March 1995, Zhu Ling's symptoms returned once again, and her condition rapidly deteriorated.
Even though doctors were eventually able to make the correct diagnosis and treat Zhu Ling for thallium poisoning, Zhu suffered irreversible mental damages. Today, she is 33, unable to speak, paralyzed and blind, with only limited mental function. A Help Zhu Ling Foundation was established to collect donation to help Zhu's family pay for her expensive medical and rehabilitation treatments. After nearly 20 years, the police still have not solved the crime. It's rumored that the only suspect in the case was released due to political pressure.
In 1997, thallium poisoning happened at Peking University. Because the hospital had Zhu Ling's case on record, the two poisoned students were diagnosed quickly and treated.
"Zhu Ling saved my life," one of them said to Zhu's parents.
This is only a sample of tragedies of this nature that have occurred in China. Many of the incidents were incited by competition -- for a coveted slot, for popularity, or at times simply out of jealousy. This begs the question -- in fact, it has become a trending topic on Weibo -- of how these bright, educated young people were capable of resorting to the cold-blooded murders of their own classmates. It's led to discussions about the problems of China's education system, which is known for its fierce competition.
© Copyright IBTimes 2023. All rights reserved.
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CHAPEL HILL, NC—A field study released Monday by the University of North Carolina School of Public Health suggests that Iraqi citizens experience sadness and a sense of loss when relatives, spouses, and even friends perish, emotions that have until recently been identified almost exclusively with Westerners.
"We were struck by how an Iraqi reacts to the sight of the bloody or decapitated corpse of a family member in a not unlike an American, or at the very least a Canadian, would," said Dr. Jonathan Pryztal, chief author of the study. "In addition to the rage, bloodlust, and hatred we already know to dominate the Iraqi emotional spectrum, it appears that they may have some capacity, however limited, for sadness."
Though Pryztal was quick to add that more detailed analysis is needed, he said the findings cast some doubt on long-held assumptions about human nature in that region.
"Contrary to conventional wisdom, it seems that Iraqis do indeed experience at least minor feelings of grief when a best friend or a grandparent is ripped apart by a car bomb or shot execution style and later unearthed in a shallow mass grave," Prytzal said. "Last December's suicide-bomb killing of 71 Shiites in Baghdad, for example, produced unexpected reactions ranging from crumpled, sobbing despair to silent, dazed shock."
Iraqis have often been observed weeping and wailing in apparent anguish, but the study offers evidence indicating this may not be exclusively an outward expression of anger or a desire for revenge. It also provocatively suggests that this grief can possess an American-like personal quality, and is not simply a tribal lamentation ritual.
Said Pryztal: "When trying to understand the psychology of the Iraqi citizenry after four years of war, think of a small American town roiled by the death of a well-known high school football player."
According to Pryztal, the intensity of the grief does not diminish if the mourner experiences multiple bereavements over time. "If a woman has already lost one child, the subsequent killings of other children will evoke similar responses," he said. "In the majority of cases we studied, it appeared as though those who lost multiple kids never actually got used to it."
Though Pryztal expects the results of the study may be of some interest to students of Arab psychology, he did concede that the data may not be entirely accurate because it was gathered directly from Iraqis themselves.
"Almost all the Iraqis we interviewed said the war had ruined their lives because of the incalculable loss of friends and family," Pryztal said. "But to be totally honest, these types of studies can be skewed rather easily by participant exaggeration."
Psychologists and anthropologists have thus far largely discounted the study, claiming it has the same bias as a 1971 Stanford University study that concluded that many Vietnamese showed signs of psychological trauma from nearly a quarter century of continuous war in southeast Asia.
"We are, in truth, still a long way from determining if Iraqis are exhibiting actual, U.S.-grade sadness," Mayo Clinic neuropsychologist Norman Blum said. "At present, we see no reason for the popular press to report on Iraqi emotions as if they are real."
Pryztal said that his research group would next examine whether children in Sudan prefer playing with toys or serving as guerrilla fighters and killing innocent civilians.


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(RNS) American Jesuits are pushing members of Congress who were educated at the Catholic order's schools to pass aid for thousands of refugee children who have surged across the border in Texas in recent months, calling proposals to swiftly deport them "inhumane and an insult to American values."
"I ask you, as a leader, a parent, and a Catholic, to uphold an American tradition of which we are all proud," the Rev. Thomas Smolich, head of the U.S. Jesuit conference, wrote to House Speaker John Boehner and 42 other House members who graduated from Jesuit high schools and colleges.
"We must welcome the refugee, the victim of trafficking, the child who has been abused or abandoned," Smolich wrote in the July 29 letter. "Let us follow in the footsteps of Jesus when he said, 'Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'"
Since last fall, more than 57,000 unaccompanied minors have flooded across the U.S.-Mexico border, mainly in south Texas, most of them from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
The migrants are often driven out by endemic violence in their home countries and drawn to the U.S. by prospects of better economic opportunities or the chance to reunite with their families.
But the influx has created a humanitarian crisis that has become a political wedge issue.
Dealing with the children has drained the resources of U.S. border agencies, and President Obama asked Congress to provide $3.7 billion to deal with the crisis.
The Senate seemed amenable to passing a package, but the Republican-led House on Thursday (July 31) abandoned efforts to vote on a much smaller $659 million emergency funding measure. That proposal would have also curtailed an anti-trafficking law passed in 2008 under President George W. Bush, but some conservatives wanted tougher policies against the refugee children and immigrants in general.
The issue has become so contentious that when protesters in California surrounded busloads of immigrant children shouting for them to be deported, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan wrote a column comparing the demonstration to the KKK and to "Nativist mobs" of the 19th century.
"It was un-American; it was un-biblical; it was inhumane," Dolan wrote. Conservative commentator Ann Coulter responded by calling Dolan a "moral showoff."
The letter from Smolich to the 12 Republicans and 31 Democrats appeared to be an effort to appeal to the Catholic loyalties of the House members who were educated by the Jesuits — which is Pope Francis' religious order.
Smolich noted that the Jesuits have been deeply involved in Central America for decades, and he reminded them that in 1989, six Jesuits, along with their housekeeper and her daughter, were murdered by "U.S.-trained Salvadoran military forces."
As he wrote to Boehner, the violence has continued apace; "90 children are murdered or disappeared in Honduras every month," Smolich wrote.
"This is the equivalent of eight children being executed in your Congressional district every thirty days," he told Boehner, who represents Ohio's Eighth Congressional District.


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Hello everyone,
As one of the blog admins I thought it might be time to give readers a brief snapshot of how things are going with the blog and also to seek some ideas and inspiration for its ongoing improvement in 2012.
In summary, things have been going extremely well with the blog since we redeveloped it in 2011. We have a steady stream of new posts – on average around two per week - that represent the broad range of activities that our students and staff are involved in. We have on average around 1500 hits per month and around 50-70 hits per day, most of which come from search engine traffic. The most interesting statistics though are for the top posts for the last 12 months and I'm pleased to report our 'top 5 for 2011-2012′:
- Alex Kilpa's The Magnetometer and its use in Underwater Archaeology with 488 views.
- Kyle Lent's The Methodology of Dendrochronology (tree-ring dating) with 440 views
- Dennis Wilson's Side Scan Sonar: The Key to Underwater Survey with 405 views
- Dennis Wilson's The Survivor's Guide to Practicum: One Man's Journey to Maritime Fieldwork Enlightenment with 352 views
- Danielle Wilkinson's Lights Cameras…Artefact! with 349 views.
So well done to all of you for writing such great posts! There are a couple of strong themes here. First maritime students clearly rock when it comes to writing blog posts as they made up 9 of the 10 top posts for the year. Second, most of the top 20 posts had one thing in common: they provided tips, guides, or overviews of particular topics or methods that might be helpful to others. That is, rather than writing opinion pieces or posts about what they had done, they wrote to try to help others. Maybe there is something in that for those of you writing over the coming year?
I've added a screen grab of the top 20 posts for the year below.
Another important number that I think is worth mentioning here are our subscriber statistics. Last I looked, there were 559 people who are subscribed to our blog! That's quite a readership and shows just how much interest there is in what we do here in the Archaeology Department. It also illustrates why it is important to make sure you write as well as you can when posting here: who knows who's reading your work?
So where are we headed in 2012? Well, we do have a few ideas. For example, we think that there is quite a lot of design work we can do to improve the blog: archaeologists take fantastic pictures and so we would like to be able to use more of those around the site; the overall layout is a little dry, so we'll be updating to make it more visually appealing; we also want more social media integration to make it easier for people to share our great content through Facebook and Twitter. We're also toying with the idea of installing Buddypress so that we can build more of a community around the blog (see what they do with Buddypress at CUNY for example).
What I want to know from our users and our readers is this: what do you think we should do? What features are missing? What kinds of posts do you want to see? What don't you like? Leave a comment below or drop me an email at [email protected]. They'll all be taken on board as we develop the site from here forward.
Thanks once again, particularly to our bloggers for all of your hard work and energy and congratulations again to Alex, Kyle, Dennis and Danielle and all of the other top 20 bloggers for the year!
Mick Morrison


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- Exhibits
- Tet Offensive
- Hue
- The Aftermath
The Tet Offensive (Tết Mậu Thân)
- The Tet Offensive (Tết Mậu Thân)
- Hue: The Imperial City
- The Battle of Khe Sanh
- The Battle for Saigon
- Aftermath of the BattlesPolitical ConsequencesExhibit Credits
The Aftermath
The end of the battle for Hue marked the end of the Tet Offensive. Following the defeat of their country-wide attacks, the PAVN and VC were forced to regroup, to heal, and to plan for the next phase of their war. International media outlets brought the battle for Hue into the homes of people around the world, causing a great deal of consternation about U.S. involvement in Vietnam. American political and military leadership was also forced to regroup and to reexamine the country's involvement in Southeast Asia. In the United States, those opposed to the war grew in numbers and in strength, pressuring their leaders to leave Vietnam, and those leaders began to listen.
The people of Hue did not possess the luxury of deciding whether or not to remain in the war; the war had come to them and had taken a ghastly toll. Thousands of the city's inhabitants lay dead at the end of February 1968, and out of the city's total population of 140,000, an estimated 100,000 citizens were refugees. Basic city services were not available for months. Food, clean water, and medical care were the utmost priority for this damaged city, as was the mourning for those whose lives were taken during the battle. The city that had for years been bypassed by the war was now left to deal with some of the war's most difficult and heart-rending legacies.
The combatants in the battle for Hue sacrificed, as well, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice. There is still no firm agreement on the number of combat deaths in Hue. An estimated 5,100 PAVN and VC were killed trying to take the city. Nearly 400 ARVN and over 200 US Marines lost their lives in stopping them. Regardless of one's personal views of the war, of the battle, or of the war's legacies, we must take time to pause and reflect upon those events, and especially about the heroic efforts of those who fought, sacrificed, and died in Hue.
Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive
AddressTexas Tech University, Box 41041, Lubbock, TX 79409


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Erin Burnett wanted young viewers and she appears to have gotten some for her debut last night.
Her new CNN show OutFront show drew 535k in total viewers, which is up 11% from what John King USA averaged in that time slot last month.
More importantly, at least in TV land, she attracted 215,000 viewers in the key 25-54 demo which is up a whopping 48% from what the 7pm slow was averaging in September.
To put that in context, Burnett topped Chris Matthew's Hardball in the key demo by 14%.
Naturally, the usual caveats apply. This was her debut so some of those numbers were the result of curious viewers tuning in to see what's what. Also, the entire cable world got a boost from the Amanda Knox trial decision yesterday.


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November 4, 2010
Stacks of Books Crushing Me 2
10 comments:
unknown initials BH is Brad Holland I Think.ReplyDelete
Wonderful thanks!!!ReplyDelete
What a delight, being crushed under such a pile! ^___^ReplyDelete
I second Pencil Squeezing, the BH cover reminds me of Brad Holland's penwork.
I own a copy of the "Bend Sinister" edition pictured here. Unfortunately, it's shoddy as hell--the cover's unbelievably stiff, the binding's weak, etc. It's one of those books that starts falling apart the second you crack it. Still, it does look dope.ReplyDelete
Thanks for the comments and design id.ReplyDelete
Conroy, I'm one of those freaks who never cracks a spine, but I can see how cracking one of these editions would cause the book to fall apart. I like the stiff covers though -- I think it helped many of these 40+ year old editions survive in nice shape.
Gorgeous stack of books. I especially love the illustration on the Valery.ReplyDelete
Thanks for sharing the TRP link. Have you come across any of the covers Leo and Diane Dillon did for the series?ReplyDelete
There could be more than this, but these are the only covers I've been able to find.
Cards of Identity is a great book! Thanks for reminding me.ReplyDelete
Just amazing and fantastic universe !ReplyDelete
I will come again.
i was so happy when i found that edition of victoria for my collection!ReplyDelete


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|NORML image
Erik Altieri
2012 has only just begun and it is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting and active years for marijuana law reform in some time. More than a dozen state legislatures are currently considering reform measures in some respect and 8 states are attempting to put legalization initiatives before voters this November.
Many of these efforts are still in the signature gathering stage. Check out the list below to see if you might be able to vote 'Yes' on marijuana legalization in your state this year and how you can get involved to make that a reality. In addition to the legalization initiatives below several states, such as Ohio and Massachusetts, are working to also put medical marijuana initiatives before voters this year. To stay up to date on all the efforts to reform marijuana laws you can follow our "Legalize It 2012″ hub on Facebook and Twitter.
Regulate Marijuana Like Wine
Details: "The "Regulate Marijuana Like Wine" initiative intends to repeal prohibition of marijuana for adults, strictly regulate marijuana, just like the wine industry, allow for hemp agriculture and products while not changing laws regarding medical marijuana, impairment, work place drug laws, or laws regarding vehicle operation. This initiative would also provide specific personal possession exemptions, require dismissal of pending court cases for marijuana possession, and ban the advertising of non-medical marijuana."
Learn More: www.regulatemarijuanalikewine.com
Repeal Cannabis Prohibition Act 2012
Details: "Aims to repeal current state criminal laws prohibiting the personal possession, use, transportation, and cultivation of cannabis by adults 19 years of age and older. During the first 180-days following the passage of the Act, the Legislature is authorized to create the California Cannabis Commission. This Commission will develop appropriate regulations for the commercial production and sales of cannabis, including licensing and taxation. Individuals are allowed to possess up to three pounds and grow a 100 sq. ft. canopy without being subject to regulations. It maintains penalties for possession by persons under 19, distribution to persons under 19, and driving while impaired."
More Info: www.repealcannabisprohibition.org
Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act
Details: "The Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act of 2012 makes the adult use of marijuana legal, establishes a system in which marijuana is regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol, and allows for the cultivation of industrial hemp."
More Info: www.regulatemarijuana.org
The 2012 Michigan Ballot Initiative to End Marijuana Prohibition
Details: "Proposes a state constitutional amend that states: "For persons who are at least 21 years of age who are not incarcerated, marihuana acquisition, cultivation, manufacture, sale, delivery, transfer, transportation, possession, ingestion, presence in or on the body, religious, medical, industrial, agricultural, commercial or personal use, or possession or use of paraphernalia shall not be prohibited, abridged or penalized in any manner, nor subject to civil forfeiture; provided that no person shall be permitted to operate an aircraft, motor vehicle, motorboat, ORV, snowmobile, train, or other heavy or dangerous equipment or machinery while impaired by marihuana."
More Info: www.help.repealtoday.org
Show-Me Cannabis Regulation
Details: "A constitutional measure which would regulate cannabis like alcohol, provide access to medicine for cannabis patients, and open a market for farming industrial hemp in Missouri."
More Info: www.show-mecannabis.com
Montana First: Ending Criminal Penalties for Marijuana
Details: "The new petition is for a proposed amendment to the state constitution. It would add just two sentences to a portion of the constitution concerning adult rights, which already contains a reference to the legal age for the consumption of alcohol. [Stating] Adults have the right to responsibly purchase, consume, produce, and possess marijuana, subject to reasonable limitations, regulations, and taxation. Except for actions that endanger minors, children, or public safety, no criminal offense or penalty of this state shall apply to such activities."
More Info: www.montanafirst2012.org
The Nebraska Cannabis Initiative
Details: "Add Proposition 19 to the Nebraska Constitution whose object is to regulate and tax all commercial uses of cannabis, also known as marijuana, and to remove all laws regulating the private, noncommercial use of cannabis."
More Info: www.neprop19.org
Oregon Cannabis Tax Act of 2012
Details: "The Oregon Cannabis Tax Act 2012 is a citizen's initiative campaign to regulate marijuana and restore hemp. Just as ending alcohol prohibition and regulating that market has protected society, regulating marijuana will help wipe out crime. Restoring hemp, made from the seeds and stems of the marijuana plant for fuel, fiber and food, will put Oregon on the cutting edge of exciting new sustainable green industries and create untold multitudes of new jobs."
More Info: www.cannabistaxact.org
Citizens for Sensible Law Enforcement: Initiative IP-24
Details: "Currently known as IP-24, the measure would allow adults over 21 to use marijuana for personal use without fear of criminal sanctions. The bill has substantial safeguards to protect children and public safety. With hundreds of signature gatherers on the streets every day, CSLE is confident the measure will appear on the November 2012 ballot."
More Info: www.ompicampaign2012.org
Initiative 502
Details: "Washington State Initiative Measure No. 502 (I-502) would license and regulate marijuana production, distribution, and possession for persons over twenty-one; remove state-law criminal and civil penalties for activities that it authorizes; tax marijuana sales; and earmark marijuana-related revenues."
More Info: www.newapproachwa.org
Get up to the minute updates on all of the marijuana initiatives in play in 2012 by following Legalize It 2012 on Facebook and Twitter.
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When one thinks of Patagonia, visions of pristine and untouched nature fill the mind. Dramatic landscapes cover the region, located at the southern end of South America. It is, as many have said, a raw example of the world before humanity made its impact. A true "biogem."
That such a gorgeous piece of Earth, buoyed by an increase in eco-tourism, could ever be threatened by big business is not so much surprising as it is unfortunate. But like other places on the planet irrevocably changed by man, the threat has arrived and it is real.
Plans are currently on the table to build the HidroAysén project, a $3.2 billion complex of five dams that would flood more than 12,500 acres of pristine territory. The project is part of Chile's goal to reduce its 96 percent dependence on imported oil, but critics contend it is simply a means to provide cheap electricity to mining companies, not consumers. Organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council and Greenpeace have called the project "flawed" and "unnecessary" — and they say there plenty of other, more sustainable options available to Chile.
"Compared to Brazil or Argentina, Chile is doing very little to incentivize renewables," Roberto Román, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Chile told The New York Times in 2011. "In five to 10 years, solar options will be cheaper than HidroAysén."
In an effort to shed light on the issue, filmmaker Brian Lilla recently completed his new documentary titled "Patagonia Rising." In it, we hear from those who support the project (there are only a few of them) and from those who oppose it. In a review from The New York Times, Jeannette Catsoulis called the work "beautifully filmed" and yet another reminder that "the engine of change is almost always louder than the voices of its victims."
The film, which hit the festival circuit last year, will soon be available on DVD. As for HidroAysén, its future now remains in doubt. Earlier this month, project partner Colbun electric suspended its environmental review citing lack of government backing. Majority partner Enel-Endesa also asked its board of directors to reconsider its involvement. Constant protests and negative media on the project appear to be taking their toll — but the fight is long from over.
Nevertheless, "Patagonia Rising" might just become one of those rare environmental documentaries with a happy ending. Take a look at the trailer below.
When one thinks of Patagonia, visions of pristine and untouched nature fill the mind. Dramatic landscapes cover the region, located at the southern end of South America. It is, as many have said, a raw example of the world before humanity made its impact. A true "biogem."


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This morning I posted an op-ed at Human Events about health care in the next Congress.
It looks as if voters were more than ready to show how much they're fed up with the Democratic Party's idea of healthcare reform by investing their trust in Republicans to repair the medical malpractice that took place under President Obama. Now it's imperative that we Republicans respond with more than talk.
Delivering the goods should start with oversight hearings into exactly what went so wrong and the repeal of everything after the enacting clause of the law that set ObamaCare in place. The individual mandate, employee mandate, abortion funding, the tangle of outsider/insider councils like the comparative effectiveness board, and the effective nationalization of health care under grants of authority to the Department of Health and Human Services: All of those have to go. I hope we can move a repeal bill through the House in the first 90 days.
Next, we need the thoughtful creation and passage of healthcare reforms that make sense. I particularly want to ban insurers from rescinding coverage when their policyholders get sick and need to use their insurance. And an updated Patients' Right to Know Act makes sense so that patients can know the actual price and quality of the care when making their healthcare decisions. This proposal would provide ways to collect and publicly disclose pricing and risk-adjusted quality data. Never again should patients get a bill on which a box of Kleenex tissues is featured as a pricey "mucus recovery system."
Purchasing health insurance across state lines is another reform that's overdue. This bill actually passed out of committee when I was chairman. People living in a state with expensive health insurance are now locked into those plans and do not have an opportunity to choose lower-cost insurance available in other states. Only in the restrictive world of health insurance do we find that goods and services don't flow from one state to another state without restriction. I can't think of a good reason why Americans should not be allowed to buy insurance coverage outside the state in which they live if the plan they buy is approved by the state where it is offered.
Still another priority should be reversing the Obama administration's effort to demolish the Medicare Advantage programs. The chief actuary of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimates that half of all seniors who select a Medicare Advantage plan will lose that coverage under ObamaCare, cutting 7.4 million people off from their insurance. "You can keep insurance if you like it" was one Obama promise worth keeping, even if it takes Republicans to get it done.
On Medicare, we face an even more immediate problem. The latest extension of Medicare payment rates to doctors expires on December 1, 2010, effectively cutting their pay, followed by a second cut on January 1, 2011. In total, doctors face approximately a 26% reduction in their rates of payment from Medicare, giving some an enormous incentive to simply stop accepting Medicare patients altogether. It's time to solve this problem permanently.
We should also rescind the ban on expanding or creating physician-owned hospitals. It is a strength of the American free-enterprise system that people may own their own businesses, and doctors should not be excluded from that right.
Competitive bidding for Medicare-bought equipment is another area deserving our attention. The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 required bidding, which Medicare says will save an average of 32 percent on the money paid under the current fee schedule.
Finally, I propose the creation of a task force with governors on a bipartisan basis to hold hearings on the state-federal welfare program, Medicaid. As we already know from governors on both sides of the partisan aisle, the federal mandate forces states to spend money they don't have.
Crossposted at Human Events


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'Angry Birds Space' Review
Developer Rovio has spared no expense promoting the latest iteration of their billion dollar franchise since announcing Angry Birds Space last month. An aggressive marketing campaign, involving big names you don't usually associate with video games (such as NASA and National Geographic), promises an epic new space adventure for the Birds to embark on. But, does it live up to the hype?
Much has stayed the same in the world of Angry Birds. At its core, the game hasn't changed – you still take control of a group of avian heroes who must wrestle back their eggs from green pigs who are intent on having omelets for their next meal. The player accomplishes this by flinging the birds using a slingshot towards their swine adversaries, who have fortified themselves in various encampments and contraptions. As before, the game assigns a set of birds for use in each stage. Five of them are old favorites in different costumes from previous games, while the new alien Ice Bird will allow you to freeze enemies and blocks for easier destruction down the line. Similar to the Might Eagle of past games, special Space Eagles can be found in several stages in limited numbers for free or as an in-app purchase ($0.99 for 20). Activating a Space Eagle will replace your current bird and allow you to launch a wormhole into enemies, causing heavy damage or just sucking them in altogether, allowing you to "skip" the stage in most instances. This is a nice touch for those who are stuck on a current level and want to take a breather by moving onto the next stage.
The best and most noticeable new feature is the new setting: space. Outer space introduces a new gravitational element for players to consider. In a zero-g environment, catapulting a bird will cause it to fly in a straight line. However, planets great and small exist in each stage and the accompanying gravitational field will pull in anything, Birds, Pigs and objects alike, either into its orbit or onto its surface. This new mechanic is the focal point of 'Space' – for example, if several smaller planets are close together with overlapping gravitational fields, this will allow you to curve your Bird in several different directions in one shot. This might sound complicated at first, so to alleviate the learning curve, the game includes a dotted line guide (a la the early stages of 'Bust-a-Move') that will indicate the trajectory of your Bird. The gravity field mechanic allows the developers to introduce much less banal level design than with past games – for instance, some of the Pigs can't be reached with a direct shot, so the player must place a counterclockwise shot to reach them.
Our only real complaint about the game, and every Angry Birds game, is the inability to change the order in which you use the birds. Allowing the player to change the order will add a new strategic element to the game instead of forcing the player to attempt the stage using the same birds and their abilities over and over again in the exact same order. On the other hand, the game's difficulty has not changed from its previous iterations, so for those of you who find the game's 60 basic levels a bit too facile for your tastes, 30 additional levels in the more challenging Danger Zone world can be purchased for $0.99.
All in all, Angry Birds Space is a worthy entry into the franchise. If you weren't a fan before, this new game may just indoctrinate you into the cult of the 'Angry Birds.'
Rating: 8.5/10
Reviewer played Angry Birds Space on the iPhone.
'Angry Birds Space' is available for iOS, Android, PC and Mac. The game was developed and published by Rovio. This review was based on four hours with the Nook Color HD version.


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We continue our quintessential San Francisco themed Photo of the Days.
"don't believe what they say!
It's okay to look at the sun.
You'll just start seeing white spots." - David Crook, Tenderloin, SF
Photo: Storm and Shaka
//////////////////~ submit your photos to: potd(at)fecalface.com ~ make sure they're at least 700 pixels in width.


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I had the opportunity last week to help facilitate a session for non-profit, business, technology, education, and media leaders who came together for the inaugural summit of ConvergeUS.
Co-Chaired by TechNet's CEO, Rey Ramsey, and Twitter's Co-Founder, Biz Stone, ConvergeUS drives technology-based breakthroughs for critical social problems and thus accelerates social innovation. ConvergeUS—the non-profit arm of TechNet—is a bipartisan, political network of technology sector CEO's and senior executives. It was founded this year to mobilize corporations, academic institutions, and other nonprofits to leverage technology to create positive change on critical issues facing American society.
The goal of this organization is to bring together dedicated people across sectors who can identify systemic challenges within our society, who can define ways to address them applying technological approaches, and who can work collaboratively to achieve sustainable and ideally transformative change. To meet this goal, each year ConvergeUS will identify no more than three problem areas to concentrate its resources and reach out to people in business, government, social services, media, and education who have an interest in collaborating to design and implement change. They also intend to apply research methodology to build a methodology that can be duplicated in many areas.
For 2011, ConvergeUS has partnered with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation in order to focus on improving STEM education, or science, technology, engineering and math skills skills, for children grades K-12. ConvergeUs has also partnered with The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading on its 0-3 Literacy Gap campaign to boost the reading proficiency of young children; and the organization formed an alliance with CommonHealth ACTION, Farm Sanctuary, and Reach Out and Read on its Health Literacy campaign, which focuses on healthy eating and literacy for children in low-income areas.
Almost 150 participants took part in the ConvergeUS inaugural meeting on October 5th and 6th at Fort Baker in the San Francisco Bay Area. AmericaSpeaks helped coordinate the event and brought in facilitators to support engaging this group of eager participants in productive dialogue for change.
Founded in 1995, AmericaSpeaks provides citizens with a greater voice in the policy making process and helps develop new institutions that can strengthen our democracy. Over the last 16 years, they have brought together more than 160,000 citizens to influence critical policy issues. AmericaSpeaks believes that by bringing together thought leaders, elected officials, and advocates to discuss the state of our democracy and the kinds of changes that need to take place across our nation, we can create a stronger, healthier democracy.
I was privileged to have been selected to help with the facilitation and learn more about this movement for cross-sector collaboration toward social change. Participants came from across the U.S. with a deep desire to work together and make a difference in critical social problems.
I worked with the STEM group, which was comprised of close to 40 participants who defined pathways to support work being done by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. These pathways include a means to provide schools and teachers with the resources they need and help them develop a greater emphasis on teaching science, technology, engineering, and math by making STEM a meta-discipline that is driven by a curriculum rich in problem-solving, discovery, exploratory learning. STEM has a lot of support at the national, state, and local levels, yet there are significant challenges in making radical changes to K-12 education. By discussing some of the major challenges, the group that met at the ConvergeUs meeting was able to begin to design a technological blueprint to support the change.
Our working groups at the ConvergeUs meeting emerged eager to offer their knowledge, skills, and resources to support continued collaborative work that could truly make a difference. The challenge of course, is to create the supporting structures and processes that will enable these eager participants to continue to work together once they are back in their home towns, at their offices, and dealing with their day-to-day challenges. We all know the difficultly of staying involved over the long-term.
Cross-sector collaboration work is new work and those of us interested in participating in it and facilitating have plenty to learn. In many ways, it is an innovative design process of bringing people together around a critical problem and finding new and innovative ways to address it. It is inspiring and fun work.
Last semester a small group of students at Saybrook took a course with me to learn more about cross-sector collaborative work—what we called Inter-Organizational Networks (IONs). The many organizations that partnered to support this event described here, are a great example of an ION. The results of our learning were published in the OD Practitioner's fall publication and can be viewed here.
I hope you will find a way to get involved in this important work.
Read other posts by Nancy Southern
Keep up with our community: Facebook | Twitter | Saybrook's Organizational Systems Program


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SEC Charges Four Penny Stock Purchasers with Fraud
Washington, D.C., Dec. 21, 2012 —
The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged four securities industry professionals with conducting a fraudulent penny stock scheme in which they illegally acquired more than one billion unregistered shares in microcap companies at deep discounts and then dumped them on the market for approximately $17 million in illicit profits while claiming bogus exemptions from the federal securities laws.
The SEC alleges that Danny Garber, Michael Manis, Kenneth Yellin, and Jordan Feinstein acquired shares at about 30 to 60 percent off the market price by misrepresenting to the penny stock companies that they intended to hold the shares for investment purposes rather than immediately re-selling them. Instead, they immediately sold the shares without registering them by purporting to rely on an exemption for transactions that are in compliance with certain types of state law exemptions. However, no such state law exemptions were applicable to their transactions. To create the appearance that the claimed exemption was valid, they created virtual corporate presences in Minnesota, Texas, and Delaware. The SEC also charged 12 entities that they operated in connection with the scheme.
According to the SEC's complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan, Garber, Manis, Yellin, and Feinstein all live in the New York/New Jersey area and operated the scheme from 2007 to 2010. They each have previously worked in the securities industry either as registered representatives or providers of investment management or financial advisory services.
"These penny stock purchasers had enough securities industry experience to know that their penny stock trading was not exempt from the securities laws as they claimed," said Andrew M. Calamari, Director of the SEC's New York Regional Office. "They repeatedly violated the registration provisions and in the process also committed securities fraud. We will continue to fight microcap stock abuses that result in the unregistered distribution of shares without vital information about those companies being known to investors."
The SEC's complaint alleges that Garber, Manis, Yellin, Feinstein and the named entities violated Sections 5(a), 5(c), and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933; Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5. The SEC's complaint seeks a final judgment, among other things, ordering all of the defendants to pay disgorgement, prejudgment interest and financial penalties; permanently enjoining all the defendants from future violations of the securities laws; and permanently enjoining all the defendants from participating in penny stock offerings.
The SEC's investigation, which is continuing, has been conducted by Michael Paley, Laura Yeu, Elzbieta Wraga, Haimavathi Marlier, Yitzchok Klug and Paul Gizzi of the New York Regional Office. Mr. Gizzi and Ms. Marlier will lead the SEC's litigation.


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Discover the fascinating world of genetic genealogy! Written for the non-scientist, YGG is a source of unbiased news on the major genealogy DNA testing companies. Written by CeCe Moore, an investigative genetic genealogist and television consultant.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
A Sneak Peek at the UPDATED AncestryDNA Search Filter
Stephen Baloglu, Ancestry.com's Director of Product Marketing, described what appears to be the version that will go live in the next few weeks:
The search includes looking within your DNA matches for surnames and birth locations in their family tree that they have linked to their DNA results. It does not currently include searching for username, but we may update that in the future. The top request was surnames/birth locations, so we started there. Also, we expect people to more likely know surnames they're looking for much more often than ancestry username.
He also shared these screen shots and accompanying descriptions with me on June 6th. Click to enlarge them for a closer look.
In a YouTube video on Ancestry.com's account (dated June 3, 2013), this slide is shown describing the AncestryDNA search filters.
Although this additional filter would be convenient, in my opinion, it isn't essential. For example, I would like to search my mother's account to determine which of my matches with a surname of interest also appear in her account, but I can do so almost as easily by searching on that surname. Further, to search your account to see if your research partners appear as matches, you can also filter by your shared surname(s). I would really like to see an "In Common With" filter to determine which of my matches are from my mother's side, but, fortunately, I can already use Jeff Snavely's tool for that purpose.
With these upcoming filters, Jeff's terrific tool and Family Tree DNA's recent announcement that they are accepting raw data uploads from AncestryDNA (for only $49!), this test is becoming much more useful for genetic genealogists. (Now, if only we could get that chromosome browser onsite!)
Stephen tells me that there still isn't a confirmed date for the new search filter's arrival, but I expect it to appear sometime this summer.
17 comments:
Since Ancestry accepts Y-DNA and mt-DNA from third parties, will they soon be accepting Autosomal DNA from 23andMe.com and FTDNA.com that is from the same platform?ReplyDeleteReplies
They have not made any statements as to whether they will be accepting incoming uploads in the future.
They still don't understand why we NEED to search by User ID. It's NOT to find out if Mary Sue from your bridge club is a match.ReplyDelete
1. How are we supposed to go back to review a match we've been working on without going through 50 to 100 pages of matches? There's no SORT BY USER NAME feature.
2. How are we supposed to compare match lists with someone so we can figure out where our common ancestor might be lurking? "We don't have any in-common surnames but my match SuzieQ5755 has a few of yours. Is she a match for you?" Crickets. How about a way to DOWNLOAD a match list - which would be useful for many other reasons.
All I can say is thank the Universe for Jeff Snavely.Replies
Hi Gaye,Delete
I don't think it is that they don't understand why we need it. They just haven't been able to provide it yet for some reason. In order to offer that option in addition to the others, we probably would have had to wait even longer for any filters at all.
I plan to search by surname to find a match that I have been working on (preferably an unusual one).
Yes, we are extremely lucky to have people to Jeff, Rob and YOU building tools to make our work more efficient.
Thanks, Gaye!
CeCe - You can search by username in the member directory at Ancestry.com under the Basic Information tab. I'm not sure why Ken would say that wasn't possible? Any chance of getting clarification?ReplyDeleteReplies
You're right! I took the statement at face value since I always have trouble locating specific public trees on Ancestry.com. I see that the ability is pretty well buried. I sent an email asking for clarification, but there were others there with me when the statement was made, so I am confident that my memory is not faulty on this point. I'll let you know what I find out.Delete
Thanks, Angie, for pointing this out.
Interesting... "Ancestry.com does not currently have the option to search by username built into their system"ReplyDelete
Yet on ancestry.com, click Collaborate -> Member Directory -> Basic Information. Search by user name. Their internal API doesn't support it?Replies
Yes, you're right. Angie pointed that out (above). I wrote to try to get clarification as to what Ken meant.Delete
Thanks for commenting,
Thanks CeCe! I look forward to this search capacity. Meanwhile, where can I find out what "Jeff's terrific tool" Ancestry DNA extension does? After being on David Pike's site today (trying to phase 2 parents and 2 kids without success) my blundering around trying to figure stuff out battery is empty and I could use some hints.ReplyDelete
Thanks for all that you do! You can discard after reading - no need to post.Replies
I would have discarded it, but then I couldn't have answered you! :-)Delete
Here is some info from Judy Russell: http://www.legalgenealogist.com/blog/2013/06/02/making-ancestrydna-useful/
You can get it from the link on my post highlighted at "Jeff's terrific tool".
Gotta have a chromosome browser! Too few people use GEDmatch.ReplyDelete
I am eagerly awaiting the reopening of GEDmatch to new users (I didn't know about until a few days ago unfortunately) and I agree, a chromosome browser would be awesome!ReplyDelete
I just wanted to post that the addition of the search functions has helped me break through several long-standing brickwalls. I've been plugging in suspected maiden names, names on documents, etc, and while most of the time I don't end up with any relevant matches, sometimes I hit gold. I keep all my matches, even if they don't make sense at first. Boy, when I was able to quickly search through them by name and/or location I was amazed at how relevant some were.
I've had a few consistent people show up in my cousin matches (like on 20-30 different trees matching the same 2 or 3 people) that I can't place in my tree anywhere. I work from the present to the past in finding ancestors, not vice versa, and it is unnerving to have matches that I think are most certainly ancestors from the 1600's, but I'm unable to figure them out. I've heard of worse problems, though lol
Still not in Canada, what a pity.ReplyDelete
Still not in Canada, what a pity.ReplyDelete
Amazing! All these new tools and search options are keeping me up nights. I have DNA on Ancestry, FTDNA, 23andme and Gedmatch. Ancestry was the most difficult to get results from. Many matches have no family trees or they are private and you had no clue where you matched. It was just being told you matched. Searching was difficult and time consuming. I had given up going back to Ancestry because of that. These tools open up more doors.ReplyDelete
I have wanted the ability to search by username. Jeff's tool does the trick. I have family members on different sides of the family that did DNA tests. The ability to search by username on each DNA test results will allow me to narrow down which side of the family the match is on.ReplyDelete
Love Jeff's tool. I have family members on both sides of the family that did the DNA test. The ability to search each of the DNA results for a username will allow me to narrow down the side of the family a DNA match is on. Hopefully this will save me some searching time.ReplyDelete


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28. 1864. Amityville, Mrs. Lee to mother. Family health problems, lack of rain.
29. 1864, Dorchester, Mass. C. Rogers to sister. Assumes duties of two pastors gone to war. Spoke in church on political duties.
30. 1878, Suffolk County, Long Island, N.Y. 3 recommendations for Orlando Lee as principal of the school.
31. 1879, Long Islander newspaper article on the death of George Lee, son of O. S. Lee born at Spencer, Indian Territory.
32. 1888, Jersey City. Mr. Lee to wife. Details regarding a blizzard, including information on railroads and towns affected.
33. 1889, record of funeral service of Prof. Edward S. Hall. Congregational Church, South Norfolk, Connecticut.
34. Several school compositions by George Lee.
35. "A Class History," 1878.
36. Cards, a commencement program, and medal.
37. 1892, correspondence from Charlotte R. Gould Woodruff to Rev. Horace. Plea for help. Died in 1892.
38. 1894, obituary and eulogy of Charles S. Rogers. Born May 13, 1831. Died in Boston, July 16, 1894.
39. Genealogy of the Lee and Rogers families. Prepared by Mrs. Elaine Walker, Librarian.
Box 2: Correspondence from Spencer Academy, 1859-1862.
1. 1859, Mission House. Mr. Lee to Mr. Wilson. Gives exact route and mode of travel to Indian Territory. People to meet and take.
2. 1859, Ohio. Lee to Mrs. Woodruff. Details of trip to Spencer Academy.
3. 1859, Memphis, Tenn. Mrs. Lee to Mother. Trip to Little Rock; meeting Miss Worchester.
4. 1859, Little Rock. Mrs. Lee to Mother. Safe arrival. Mode of travel; Senator Ashley's widow as hostess; the slaves; plantation; etc.
The University of Oklahoma Libraries | 401 West Brooks Street, Norman, OK 73019 | (405)325-4142


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As Western countries launch each new salvo of sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis, Moscow has returned fire with bans on food imports -- ostensibly for consumer protection.
Milk, cheese and onions from Ukraine, Greek peaches, Serbian prunes, Polish apples and cabbage, Spanish meat -- according to Russia's food safety regulator Rosselkhoznadzor all these products contain toxic elements, are infected with dangerous bacteria or violate other regulations.
In recent weeks, while Brussels and Washington discussed new sanctions, Rosselkhoznadzor on a near daily basis has uncovered a new foreign food threat to Russian consumers, ordering bans on products from the EU or United States.
Last Friday, it was Poland who had a ban slapped on its fruit and vegetables for "repeated violations" of food safety certificates.
One of the staunchest supporters of the Ukrainian government, which is battling pro-Russian separatists allegedly supported by Moscow, Poland has now lost a market worth more than one billion euros ($1.3 billion) per year, according to official statistics.
Before that, the watchdog had imposed bans on Ukrainian potatoes, soya, juice, canned fruit and vegetables, milk, cheese and other agricultural products because of traces of antibiotics or labelling violations.
Rosselkhoznadzor has also threatened to block powdered milk from EU member Latvia, US chickens and bourbon and all Ukrainian food products.
- 'Measures resemble revenge' -
The reason cited by the Russian authorities for the bans is always the same -- consumer protection and the health of the population -- but never political motives.
"What political decision?" said the head of agriculture committee of the Russian Parliament, Nikolai Pankov, this past week.
"Ukraine is a country at war... Why should we import meat, for example, (from animals) killed by mortar fire?"
Rosselkhoznadzor is operating in step with consumer protection agency Rospotrebnadzor, whose previous chief Gennady Onishchenko was flippantly dubbed the "minister of foreign microbes" during Russia's previous fights with trade partners.
"It is clearly, in reality, a reaction to sanctions, a continuation of diplomacy by other means," said Russian political analyst Konstantin Kalachev.
"All these measures resemble revenge against countries perceived as hostile."
Russia has often been accused of using trade as a weapon, in particular citing health reasons to ban food imports as a means to pressure its neighbours.
It slapped a ban on wine from Georgia in 2006 as the ex-Soviet nation pursued an increasingly Western-oriented policy, hitting its biggest export item to Russia. The embargo was tightened when the two fought a brief war in 2008, and was lifted only last year.
More recently Moscow limited imports of meat, fruit and wine from Moldova after the ex-Soviet republic signed a free trade deal with the EU in June.
Previously Moldova, like Ukraine, had benefitted from privileged trade relations with Russia.
Moscow has warned it may need to take protective measures to shield its economy and consumers as the two ex-Soviet countries begin implementing the free trade deals with the EU.
- 'Propaganda effect' -
Russia may be able to replace some imports by turning to other countries, but it is still heavily dependent on food imports, which account for around a third of total consumption.
Its self-sufficiency is also undermined by being heavily dependent on imported seeds, pesticides and farm equipment.
Yet Europe is not the only region to have been targeted, with Moscow slapping a near total ban on imports of US meat in 2013 after the US Senate approved sanctions against numerous Russian officials.
US fast food giant McDonald's is also feeling the heat.
Consumer protection agency Rospotrebnadzor has filed a court case seeking to block a range of the burger restaurant's products for mislabelling the calorie content and not meeting food safety regulations.
"We found violations that make us doubt the quality and safety of food products in the entire McDonald's chain," a spokeswoman for Rospotrebnadzor said.
McDonald's, which has operated in Russia since January 1990 and now has 430 locations throughout the country, said the consumer watchdog had not informed the company of its complaints.
"Other than their economic effects, these measures have a larger propaganda effect: Russia's self-sufficiency and import substitution," said Kalachev.
"These measures are supported by a majority of Russian society because people don't feel they have suffered at all," he added.


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Katie Dey 'flood network'
Product Information //
Australian recording artist Katie Dey's 'nightmare pop' weaves through gorgeous and unexpected sound- scapes – at times weirdly off-putting, at others beautiful and ethereal – all anchored by a hypnotic sense of melody. Following 2015's Orchid Tapes-issued critical darling 'asdfasdf', 'Flood Network' further explores the beauty in chaos and even destruction. Shape-shifting interludes realign the listener's perspective between immersive sonic environments where melody and lyrics could mean anything, everything and nothing all at once.
1. All
2. (f1)
3. Fleas
4. (f2)
5. Frailty
6. (f3)
7. Fake Health
8. (f4)
9. Fear O The Light
10. (f5)
11. So You Pick Yourself Up
12. (f6)
13. Only To Trip And Fall Down Again
14. (f7)
15. Debt
16. (f8)
17. It's Simpler To Make Home On The Ground


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Congratulations are due, as Star Wars Action Figures are among the newest indutees into the National Toy Hall of Fame. They are being recognized for the impact they've had on the toy industry and their continued popularity with kids of all ages. You can read the full announcement after the jump, and again, congrats!
Hasbro STAR WARS Action Figures Inducted Into the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong
PAWTUCKET, R.I.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is proud to announce that its STAR WARS action figures were today inducted into The National Toy Hall of Fameat The Strong. The toys are being recognized for the impact of their original debut which forever changed the toy landscape and continue to resonate with kids and fans to this day.
Hasbro'sSTAR WARS action figures were inducted into theNational Toy Hall of Fameat The Strong onNovember 15, 2012.Hasbrohas been producing action figures based on iconic STAR WARS characters likeDARTH VADERsince the beginning of the epic saga and the toys are being recognized for their significant impact on the toy landscape. (Photo: Business Wire)
"We are honored that the National Toy Hall of Fameat The Strong has recognized Hasbro's STAR WARS action figures for having a profound impact on the toy industry," said John Frascotti, chief marketing officer, Hasbro, Inc. "STAR WARS action figures are as legendary as the battle between the light and dark sides of the Force they represent, and have given endless hours of enjoyment to generations of kids of all ages."
"STAR WARS action figures have allowed Hasbro and Lucasfilm to continue the stories and the battles well beyond the movie screen," said Derek Stothard, senior director, global toys and hardlines, Lucas Licensing. "Their induction into the National Toy Hall of Fameat The Strong is both an honor and a true testament to the enduring heritage of the STAR WARS brand. Congratulations to Hasbro on this honor and for continuing to deliver remarkable STAR WARS toys to kids and fans."
Since the first STAR WARS action figures began arriving on the market in the 1970s, Hasbro has been developing new action figures and toys which deliver fresh ways for kids and fans to experience their favorite STAR WARS characters. In 2012, Hasbro continues to provide kids and fans with a variety of toys based on the iconic franchise from Lucasfilm including MOVIE HEROES figures, THE CLONE WARS figures and THE VINTAGE COLLECTION figures as well as the new FIGHTER PODS expression and a variety of role-play toys including ULTIMATE FX LIGHTSABERS. Hasbro is also expanding its STAR WARS toy legacy this year by working closely with Lucasfilm on the recent launch of a line of toys and games based on the STAR WARS edition of the popular ANGRY BIRDS mobile game from Rovio Entertainment. The line features new products based on a variety of existing Hasbro properties including the JENGA brand and the recently re-launched KOOSH brand, to introduce new play experiences featuring iconic STAR WARS characters re-imagined as high-flying ANGRY BIRDS and villainous pigs.
STAR WARS action figures join Hasbro favorites CANDY LAND, G.I. JOE, MONOPOLY, MR. POTATO HEAD, PLAY-DOH, SCRABBLE, TONKA TRUCKS and the EASY-BAKE Oven in theNational Toy Hall of Fameat The Strong.
About Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide-range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company's world class brand portfolio. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its global customers with innovative, well-known and beloved brands such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY. The Company's Hasbro Studios develops and produces television programming for markets around the world. The Hub TV Network is part of a multi-platform joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), in the U.S. Through the Company's deep commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world for future generations and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families every year. It has been recognized for its efforts by being named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" and is ranked as one of Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens."Learn more at www.hasbro.com. © 2012Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Keep up with the latest news about Hasbroand its popular brands on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/HasbroNews.
About the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong:
The National Toy Hall of Fame® at The Strong, established in 1998, recognizes toys that have inspired creative play and enjoyed popularity over a sustained period. Each year, the prestigious hall inducts new honorees and showcases both new and historic versions of classic toys beloved by generations. Anyone can nominate a toy to the National Toy Hall of Fame. Final selections are made on the advice of historians, educators, and other individuals who exemplify learning, creativity, and discovery through their lives and careers. The classic toys of the National Toy Hall of Fame sit alongside, and complement, the collections of The Strong's National Museum of Play, which holds the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of dolls, toys, games, and other materials related to play. For more information, visit toyhalloffame.org.
Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilmlogo, STAR WARS™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, ofLucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & ©Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.


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This summer brings some amazing things to the Simply 7 interview series that I'm SO excited to share with you guys! Today, I get to bring you TWO interviews for the price of ONE. That's right, I was able to interview BOTH the author and the illustrator of today's picture books. Yes, there's TWO books too! AND there is a prize to be given away at the end. Read on to find out more!
If you haven't met Susanna Leonard Hill, well let me introduce you. Susanna has written more than a dozen books for children. She also teaches an online picture book writing class, offers picture book critiques, and uses her blog to 1) host writing contests (Valentiny, Halloweenie, etc.), 2) share picture books with activities (Perfect Picture Book Fridays), and 3) help writers practice their pitches (Would You Read it Wednesdays). Did I mention the amazing dessert recipes she shares on her blog? She ALSO does frequent school and library visits. Whew! I don't now how she does it all! BUT she does! You can learn more about her at her website (and I highly recommend following her blog!).
Today, she stops by to discuss her latest books: "When Your Elephant Has the Sniffles" and "When Your Lion Needs a Bath." These adorable books are just the start of a wonderful series AND the debut of a new illustrator (but more on him in a minute). And here is the PREMIERE OF THE NEW BOOK TRAILER for "When Your Lion Needs a Bath"!! Isn't that cute? Before we go any further, I need to cover some legal stuff. ALL pictures from the books are by permission: Text copyright © 2017 by Susanna Leonard Hill; Illustration copyright © 2017 by Daniel Wiseman; Used by permission of Little Simon
Without further ado, welcome Susanna!
Susanna: Thank you so much for having me today, Jena, and for helping spread the word of my new books! I so appreciate the opportunity to share! =)
Me: Absolutely! I'm excited to share them too! What draws you to writing picture books?
Susanna: I love the challenge of telling a complete story in a minimum of words (and it IS a challenge for me! My early manuscripts routinely came in at 2,000-2,500 words!)
I love the subject matter that is appropriate for early childhood – coping with a new sibling, banishing monsters under the bed, wanting to feel important, going somewhere without mom for the first time, learning to do things yourself, wondering about every little thing under the sun because it's all so new and interesting.
I love the interplay of text and illustration, and the opportunities it offers for humor, surprise, wonder, or poignancy.
But maybe in the end what I love most of all is that picture books are time shared between a grown-up and a child. Whether it's naptime or bedtime or wait-at-the-dentist time or ride-in-the-car time or summer-afternoon-on-a-picnic-blanket-under-a-tree time, it's magical time to share the joy of reading and stories with someone you love. And if you're a writer, you get to give others that opportunity to share and enjoy, and you get to help kids find their way in the world through story.
Me: You have been publishing picture books since 2002. What helps you to keep writing and keep it fresh?
Susanna: I don't really need help or encouragement to keep writing. I don't always write well, but I always write. I can't not. =) As for keeping it fresh, I guess every new idea brings its own nuances. Every story has a different mood, a different feel, calls for a different unfolding and different language. Because the stories are new, they feel fresh. And part of the fun of a new story is trying things I haven't tried, reaching for better words, experimenting with different characters, channeling different emotion, sharing something in a way that will hopefully touch readers. I tell my students, and hold myself to this as well, that if you're bored writing it, readers will be bored reading it. So I try to have fun. =)
Me: I see that you have two more books in this series as well ("When Your Monkeys Won't Go to Bed" and "When Your Llama Needs a Haircut"). What gave you the idea for this series?
Susanna: I have 5 children. Enough said. =)
But seriously.
I have a child who refused to bathe to the point of hyperventilating when she was 21 months old.
I have a child who hated getting his hair cut and would run screaming from the barber chair.
And I have many children who object to bedtime and occasionally get the sniffles.
So all of these stories came right out of my life, as I think is quite often the case for writers. Certainly for me!
Bearing in mind that these stories are about things that kids often find objectionable, I wanted plenty of humor. And I also wanted the child in the story to be in the power position – to be the one in control – because that is something we all long for in real life but don't always have. Especially when we're little. =)
Me: Oh my goodness! Hyperventilating about baths! What is one thing that surprised you in writing these stories?
Susanna: One thing that surprised me when writing these stories was how visually I saw them. I always think visually when I'm writing, but these stories had more art notes than I'd ever included before. The text is quite brief (for me) =) and much of the humor is dependent on being shown in the art without being stated.
Me: And amazing art it is too! (Again, MORE on that in a minute!) What does your writing process look like?
Susanna: I think calling it a "process" is a bit generous! =) Does walking in circles around my house and staring out the window count? =) Actually, a lot of my writing is "pre-writing" – what my son, when he was five, would have called his "thinking time." I am always open to ideas. Many of them sail right on through without enough substance to hold my attention. But some of them feel like they have potential. Those ones stick… but they have to roll around in my head for a while until they find magnetic north and make their direction known. The sticky ones are helped significantly by washing dishes, vacuuming, showering, driving, or taking long walks with the dogs – anything where my hands are busy and my mind is free. At a moment when I have absolutely no way of writing them down, they will suddenly beg to be captured! So I rehearse the ideas in my head along with any lines of story I think up until I can get to a writing implement of some kind. I write my first draft long hand on paper. Then I type it into the computer, revising as I go. Then I "save as" and rewrite/revise some more. I do that anywhere from once to about 100 times. =) There is a lot of chocolate involved. Also, coffee. Also some gnashing of teeth and rending of garments when things aren't going well. And, usually, more chocolate. =)
Me: Any advice for other picture book writers?
Susanna: I'm afraid I don't have anything pithy or original to say. My advice is probably the same as everyone else's that you've heard a million times. But in case you're new to this, and you haven't heard it a million times here are Susanna's Baker's Dozen Rules for Picture Book Writers:
- Read a lot of current picture books and get a feel for the market – what's popular, what sells, what appeals to librarians, parents, teachers, and kids.
- Read books on the craft of writing. Two excellent ones are Ann Whitford Paul's Writing Picture Books and Linda Ashman's Nuts And Bolts Guide To Writing Picture Books.
- Take some writing classes if you can – in real life or online. There are lots of good ones.
- Write.
- Write some more.
- Write some more!
- Join a critique group – in person or online. Not only will you get valuable objective feedback from your peers, you will get to practice your own evaluative skills by reading and commenting on their
- Write some more!!
- Join SCBWI, and follow KidLit411
- Don't just sit at your desk all the time. Get out. Do things. Go places. Learn stuff. You never know where ideas might be lurking or what might spark your interest and a possible story. Also, spend time around kids if you can (without being thought creepy). =)
- Look around for online communities of interest, including 12×12, Storystorm, ReFoReMo, RhymeRevolution, and the aforementioned KidLit411 (among others) – places where other PB writers hang out, share information, and learn from each other.
- Eat chocolate. =)
- Write some more!
Me: I read "Punxsutawney Phyllis" every year to my students on Groundhog's Day. You also have Valentiny and Halloweensie contests (among others). What holiday would you say is your favorite?
Susanna: Ooh! Favorite holiday! That's a tough question! Valentines, Halloween and Easter are very appealing due to the chocolate factor… and I'd like to be unique and say something interesting and off the beaten path like Day of the Dead or Cinco de Mayo… and because of my books and contests, I should probably pick Groundhog Day, Valentines Day, April Fools Day, or Halloween…but I think my favorite holiday might be one I don't have a published story about (though I DO have a contest) =) … Christmas. I love the smell of balsam in the house, the soft glow of the Christmas tree lights, baking cookies, wrapping presents, singing carols, and having all my family around. None of the other holidays can match that. =)
That is VERY true. Thank you again, Susanna!
BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE! (A phrase I like to repeat all year with my students until they say the 2nd part of the refrain for me.)
I promised you another interview with the illustrator as well. MEET Daniel Wiseman! He has been drawing forever, but these books are his illustrator debut. Usually he draws animals wearing clothes, or kids enjoying a good dance party. However, when prodded, he's been known to draw pretty much anything else. He currently lives in St. Louis, MO with his beautiful wife and his equally beautiful son. You can learn more about him at his website.
Me: Welcome Daniel! Can you tell us about your artistic journey? When did you start drawing?
Daniel: I'm sure I started younger than this, but the first time I remember really drawing for fun on a regular basis was around 9 or 10. I loved hockey, baseball, and The Simpsons, so that's what I drew ALL THE TIME. Bart and Homer Simpson were my favorites to sketch. In my teen years I became a huge Grateful Dead fan and began copying their posters. Drawing bears, skulls, and turtles on everything I could. I'd create pieces of art for my friends with their names and some dancing bears. Those were probably the first things I ever made for other people that they actually requested.
When I got older I played in a few different bands, and ended up falling in love with Photoshop through creating album art. That led to starting a "business" creating album art and MySpace page designs for all of my band friends. That's when the light bulb illuminated and I thought "I can make money creating art!"
From there I've had a pretty typical journey of getting a corporate designer job, then quitting that job and going freelance. I now am a co-founder and CCO of a St. Louis based startup called Pixel Press that creates a product called Bloxels. Bloxels is a toy and app that allows kids to create their own video games. I do that on the weekdays, and illustrate picture books at night and on the weekends. I stay really busy, but illustrating for children's books and products is a true passion of mine so it never really feels like work!
Me: These books are your official picture book illustrator debut. How exciting is that?! What draws you to picture books?
Daniel: It's been super exciting…and a real whirlwind! Like most illustrators, I've loved picture books since I was a child. I think what keeps me fascinated by them is how the words and pictures rely on each other. I love reading a manuscript and being allowed the freedom to interpret it almost any way I choose. The ability to further the story with pictures, rather than just draw what's being said, is what really makes picture books interesting to me. It's a true collaboration and not only a window into the author's soul, but also one into the illustrator's.
Me: Wow. I couldn't have said that better if I tried. What is one of your favorite scenes that you illustrated from these two books?
Daniel: There are a lot of fun spreads in these books. The lion knocking down the blocks made me happy because drawing primary colored blocks is a blast. I also really enjoyed the spread of the little girl and the elephant playing cards in their messy room. I tried to model it slightly after what my bedroom looked like as a 6 or 7 year old…which was pretty gross!
However, I think with these particular books doing the cover for LION really takes the cake, simply because it was the very first illustration for the very first book I'd ever created. That moment will never happen again, and I'll try to hold onto that feeling forever. I was just over the moon to finally feel like I was living a dream I'd had for myself for so long.
Me: I can only imagine! I can't wait to experience that moment myself someday. What is one thing that surprised you in illustrating these stories?
Daniel: I think the most surprising thing about illustrating these stories (and picture books in general) is the process. I'm really accustomed to designing for digital, whether it be apps, games or the web. It's very fast paced and iterative. Make it, launch it, fix the problems, over and over again. With books the pace is much slower and the refining process is longer. It took me a while to get used to doing black and white sketches for approval without wanting to just dive right into the final art. After doing more books this past year I've grown to appreciate the process, and now really enjoy the sketching phase. It's really helped me grow as an artist.
Me: What does your illustration process look like then?
Daniel: It's pretty simple really. When it comes to books I will spend some time sketching out variations of the characters. Normally I have a pretty good idea of what I want everything to look like, but through sketching I'm able to refine the idea. I do almost all my sketching digitally because of efficiency and because undoing mistakes is so simple. I'm able to quickly get my idea out and refine it without redrawing it a hundred times.
The sketching process is also where I will work on composition. Sometimes I'll start even more lo-fi, and make small digital thumbnails with only sketched shapes. After I sketch I'll either work through values in black and white fill, or I'll just jump straight to the finished product. Either way I just start opening up new layers in Photoshop, and begin the final art on my Wacom tablet. Sometimes I'll start with inking the outlines, other times I don't want outlines so I just go straight for color shapes. That just depends on my mood, and/or direction from the editors and art directors.
This final phase is obviously where I start to experiment with color. I really love primary colors, and put them in almost everything I do. I can't explain why I'm drawn to red, blue and yellow, but something about them together just makes me happy. Occasionally I branch out…especially with LION and ELEPHANT, because I wanted them each to have a different color story. You can catch my love for primary colors thrown about in there, though. Almost all of my work is done digitally due to efficiency and the myriad of amazing Photoshop brushes at my disposal, however I love other mediums and can't wait to experiment incorporating them into my future work.
Me: Any advice for other picture book illustrators?
Daniel: Never stop learning. Never stop looking at art of all kinds. I continually research new illustrators and their process. I love to find out how other artists think and do things. I think that hunger for knowledge comes naturally if you have a true love for the craft…no matter what it is. If you love creating picture books, then chances are you spend a lot of time looking at other illustrator's work. Just like if you really love building homes, you probably spend a lot of time studying beautiful residential architecture.
Another piece of advice is to hone your portfolio to what you want to do, then go find an agent who really cares about you. If you want to make picture books, then start making art that looks like it should be in a picture book. Make it all the time and share it with the world. Once you've done that, look around for an agency that feels right for you and show them your work. For me, I wanted an agent who works specifically with children's literature and has a relatively small number of clients. It has worked out wonderfully for me, and I owe it all to my agent, Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary. She not only introduces editors and art directors to me and my work, but also helps me grow as an artist.
Me: Whether it's a guitar playing mouse or a bunch of kids dancing, music seems to be a common theme in your illustrations that crops up from time to time. You even mention you like to sing loudly in your car. Do you illustrate while listening to music? If yes, any favorite songs you like to work with? Or if not, would you like to share a couple of current favorite songs with us anyway?
Daniel: Oh man…I love music of all kinds, and I find it hard to work without it. I tend to listen to really dismal and sad music when I work, which surprises some people because I like to draw brightly colored, happy dance parties, and bunnies wearing clothes. I guess they picture me wearing a jam shorts and listening to Love Shack on repeat? I really just like non distracting music that I can sort of sing along with while I draw. Some of my favorites right now are the Bon Iver Pandora Station, any old Sam Cooke or Otis Redding, Alt J, Gregory Alan Isakov, and Noah Gundersen. I also really love listening to film scores while I work. Some of the best are The Assassination of Jesse James, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Pan's Labyrinth, The Fountain, Little Miss Sunshine, Amelie, Lenin, and anything else by Yann Tiersen.
Oh man Daniel! Yann Tiersen! You're speaking my language. I too love film scores and he's one of my favorite composers. Amelie. Need I say more?
Well yes. Yes I do. Because I did mention something about a prize, didn't I? TWO readers of this blog will win ONE book: either "When Your Elephant Has the Sniffles" or "When Your Lion Needs a Bath." And Susanna has offered to autograph them to anyone the winner may wish. How cool is that? You don't have to wait to read these books, you can WIN them! Just enter the Rafflecopter at THIS link and stay tuned to find out who wins the prize. Thank you SO much Susanna and Daniel!
And if you want to learn more about these books, Susanna is on a blog tour roll. Check out the schedule below. =)


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MOKATE Polish Women's Championship
Socko, Monika vs. Szczepkowska, Karina
The 2019 MOKATE Polish Women's Championship is a 10-player single round-robin taking place in the Trading Room of the Warsaw Stock Exchange from 11-19 May. The top prize is the same as for the open - 20,000 PLN (about $5,500), with the top two qualifying for the Polish team. The time control is 90 minutes for 40 moves followed by 30 minutes to the end of the game, with a 30-second increment starting from move 1. No draw offers are allowed before move 30. Official website: mp2019.pzszach.pl


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You have to see these bags to believe both the effect and quality of them.
The bags have 3 different settings, manual, variable timer and infrared. Each setting will allow 14 lights to appear or vanish one at a time inside the bag.
Manual, allows the lights to appear while you are holding the bag.
Infrared, everytime you wave your hand near the bag a light appears.
Variable Timer, lights appear every few seconds in the bag while you are nowhere near the bag.
Perfect for stand up, children's shows or cabaret. Using a red "d'lite" (sold separately) you pluck a bright red lite from thin air. The light appears and vanishes at will. Finally toss the light into the bag. The light shows through the semi transparent frosted bag, then visually drops down inside the bag (this looks amazing). When the bag is full any time you wish you blow in the bag and all the lights instantly vanish.
Do you own this product? Write a review.