text:
Another chaotic WIP post of sorts this week, although this is actually my way of sharing something that I have already teased in my previous post — so what is this about?
As some long-time readers of this blog may or may not remember, a couple of years ago, I made this guy:
Lord Captain Lorimar, the Master of the Hunt, commander of "Khorne's Eternal Hunt", the remnants of the World Eaters' 4th assault company. Easily one of my my most involved conversion projects, if only it took me so long to get the model right:
I have talked – at length – about what went into creating this guy and about what a huge project it was for me to nail down the exact look I wanted for a character of whom I had a pretty good idea in the back of my head. And while I don't want to reiterate the entire journey of creating the model (just follow the link above and read up on the whole story, in case you're interested), building Lorimar was a very iterative process with many starts and stops. The process also resulted in what I thought back then would be a definitive version of the Master of the Hunt.
But then this guy happened:
And I just couldn't stop wondering — what if…?
It was always clear that the update Abaddon would be a monster of a model — and he is! But I am a converter and kitbasher by nature, so I wanted to have a go at doing something with the building blocks provided by the new model –the sheer challenge appealed to me: Would it be possible to create a model that didn't immediately read as Abaddon? There was also the fact that I still had some spares of the most important bitz I had used to create the original Lorimar model, namely the head (from the priest riding atop the WFB/AoS warshrine of chaos), sword (from the WFB/AoS Chaos Lord on Manticore) and axe (from one of the Dark Vengeance CSM Chosen). These bitz were originally intended for building a version of Lorimar riding a juggernaut of Khorne. But I just couldn't stop thinking about a conversion involving them and the new Abaddon model…
For a while, I was able to dissuade myself from taking on this project because I figured the new Abaddon model was simply too big — that it wouldn't really be compatible with the particular bitz I would need to actually sell it as Lorimar. However, a trip to the local Warhammer store disabused me of that notion, as I was able to see firsthand that the new Abaddon, while indeed much taller than your average CSM model, is actually perfectly compatible with just about any existing chaotic weapon, head or what have you. So what was I to do? I left the store with a brand new Abaddon model and got to work…
Now, to make my task even more complicated, whatever model I would come up with would have to match both my 40k version as well as my (yet unpainted) mid-to-late Horus Heresy version of Lorimar:
So I started with a few early mockup steps, and it was surprisingly easy to come up with something already resembling the "Lorimar pose":
The main objective here was to make the model read as Lorimar, obviously. But, like I said, with a model as iconic as Abaddon, the obvious pitfall would be for the conversion to end up reading as "Sure, that's Abaddon with a slightly different head". My approach was therefore to keep as many of the cool parts as I could while also changing around some major stuff, in order to sell the model as its own thing.
The biggest stylistic choice I made towards this end was to "turn the model around", as it were, that is to have it face into a different direction, thereby matching the pose on my earlier Lorimar models — ironically enough, I have had to do the exact same thing with the 30k version of Lorimar
After that, it was mostly a matter of getting some of the visual cues from the earlier versions in place — here's a couple of pictures from when my mockup was quite a bit further along:
Some of the elements from my earlier Lorimar models were easy to recreate, such as the face, weapons, general pose — and those Bloodletter faces on the shin armour
At the same time, it quickly became obvious that I would need to switch around a few things: The Khornate helmet crest I had used on my older Lorimar version, for instance, wouldn't work, because there was simply less space to work with, so I had to swap in a different crest (shaved off a Wrathmonger/Skullreaper helmet). The (Skullcrusher) shoulder pads wouldn't work either this time around: Since I knew I wanted to use the brilliant, tattered cape that came with the Abaddon model, I was pretty much stuck with the "official" left shoulder pad, seeing how the cape was sculpted to perfectly conform to the shape of the pauldron underneath. So I had to go with something different on the right shoulder as well and ended up using a shoulder pad from Forgeworld's Lord Zhufor model — which had the added advantage of sporting some rather lovely World Eaters iconography!
During the conversion process, I kept comparing the new model to the other versions, to make sure it would seem like a natural progression of those designs and still end up similar to both Lorimar's 30k and previous 40k incarnations:
The breastplate turned into one of the model's most involved parts: My previous versions of Lorimar are wearing a bandolier of skulls across their breastplates, and that was an element I very much wanted to keep, both because it ties perfectly into the World Eaters' background lore — but also because skulls strapped to the breastplate are awesome, period. So I made a quick mockup of what this might look like:
And even though this was a really early mockup, it didn't quite click — in fact, someone over at The Bolter & Chainsword even called the design the "skull tits" — Tsk, tsk
In the end, I decided on something quite a bit more complicated and spliced together an entire original, incorporating elements from Abaddon's stock breastplate (which is brilliant) as well as a couple of skulls from the Citadel skulls kit as well as one particular skull with a Khornate rune from an AoS Slaugherpriest. Take a look:
I started by gluing on the centre skull (without the mandible, by the way. That was added later.). Then I carefully cut the lower two cables away from the stock bit that normally goes on top of Abaddon's breastplate and carefully glued them on in the right way (making sure they were positioned correctly by making sure they lined up with the cables on the back of his torso). Then I added the right skull (and shortened/shaved away the cable underneath as needed), and then the upper right cable (again, I made sure to line it up with the cable bit on the back piece of the torso). Then I repeated the previous step with the skull and upper cable on the left side.
All of this required lots of dry-fitting and waiting for things to dry. Finicky though this part of the conversion may have been, however, I am really happy to have gone with something a little more complicated in the end: The finished design is one of my favourite parts of the model now.
So here's the model, with most of the "heavy lifting" already done and dusted:
The next step was to try and attach Abaddon's cape:
Surprisingly enough, everything fit together rather nicely, with just a few required tweaks on the right shoulder (because I had used a different shoulder pad there).
One thing I am almost perversely proud of is that the model is still ridiculously modular at this point, which I hope should make the painting process somewhat easier:
The tweaks and changes to the model kept getting more and more minuscule at this point, which is always a pretty clear sign that the conversion is basically finished at this point. I still used the opportunity to feature some of the visual cues from the older 40k Lorimar, though, such as the small tilting plates on his shoulders:
So here's a comparison with the new conversion and my previous 40k Lorimar which I think shows how both really read as the same character — even though the new guy is monstrously tall
And here's the new 40k Lorimar next to his younger, slightly more idealistic Horus Heresy era counterpart: I think there's quite a resemblance here as well!
Ironically enough, the conversion is also really close to one of my main inspirations back when I originally built Lorimar:
All that is left now, before I can call the conversion finished, is to figure out the final setup of some minor bitz and bobs, such as the collection of bitz used on Lorimar's tabard:
All in all, however, I couldn't have been more pleased with the way this conversion has developed so far: I will admit that I was a little afraid that I might have lost my touch, because converting the new CSM didn't come to me quite as easily as it used to. But working on this conversion has been an absolute joy so far — in all fairness, I actually think the new Abaddon should be the new go-to model for building massive chaos lords. It'll be interesting to see how much mileage (and variety) we'll all manage to wring from the sculpt! If anything, I am slightly surprised by how few people seem to have used the model for conversion projects so far. At the very least, I love the fact that fellow hobbyist Gederas has used some of my ideas on his own Abaddon-based Chaos Lord, Khadon Drachstur, but has managed to come up with a very original looking World Eaters lord!
So yeah, that's it for today's update. It goes without saying that I would love to hear your thoughst on my new Lorimar version, so feel free to leave a comment! And, as always, thanks for looking and stay tuned for more!


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Call to all vegans! 'Today I Am Voiceless' is an annual day of vegan activism that vegans all around the world are invited to participate in. Activists will unite in taking a 24hr VOW OF SILENCE to raise awareness for animals and promote peace over violence! WHY? TIAV is created by James Aspey of Voiceless365, who took a 365 day vow of silence as he travelled around the nation to promote the abolition of animal exploitation. "I assumed the only way I'd be able to discuss veganism during my vow would be online. I soon realised me being voiceless was sparking more discussion about veganism than ever before! Wherever I went, every person asked the same question, "Why are you voiceless?" This presented the perfect opportunity for me to explain veganism using different, creative ways. The vow Read more →
Sunday 17 January 2016

subset: commoncrawl


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I'll Have Another out of Belmont, retired
NEW YORK – I'll Have Another's bid for the first Triple Crown in 34 years ended shockingly in the barn and not on the racetrack Friday when the colt was scratched the day before the Belmont Stakes and retired with a swollen tendon.
"It's been an incredible ride, an incredible run," trainer Doug O'Neill said. "It's a bummer. It's not tragic, but it's a huge disappointment."
I'll Have Another, who won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes with stirring stretch drives, was the 4-5 favorite to win the Belmont and become the 12th Triple Crown winner and first since 1978.
Instead, he becomes the 12th horse since Affirmed, the last Triple champion, to win the first two legs but not the Belmont.
The scratch marks the first time since Bold Venture in 1936 that the Derby and Preakness winner didn't run in the Belmont. Burgoo King skipped the race in 1932.
O'Neill said the swollen left front tendon was the beginning of tendonitis, which could have taken six months to treat, and so the popular horse was retired.
"Yesterday he galloped great, but in the afternoon we noticed some loss of definition in his left front leg," he said, addressing the media outside the Belmont barns while I'll Have Another grazed nearby. "We did just an easy gallop today. I thought he looked great on the track, and then cooling out, you could tell the swelling was back."
O'Neill said he conferred with owner J. Paul Reddam and they contacted Dr. Jim Hunt, who examined the horse.
"… Immediately we got Dr. Hunt over here and he scanned him and he said it was the start of tendinitis in his left front tendon and you can give him 3-to-6 months and start back with him," O'Neill said. "It was unanimous between the Reddams and my brother and I and everyone at the barn to retire him."
After the news conference, the O'Neill's led I'll Have Another out of the detention barn and walked him down a path toward the barn where the colt had stayed for most of the time he had been at Belmont. Starting Wednesday, all the Belmont Stakes horses were housed in the same barn; the track said it was a security measure.
"Some people have asked did the detention barn have anything to do with this. Absolutely not. Just a freakish thing," O'Neill said.
His brother Dennis said: "We're very, very bummed out, but we'll be back next year."
He said it was hard to tell anything was wrong just by looking at the horse.
"He looks great. He's sound. He went great this morning. He looks super (but) you just can't take a chance. He's too valuable of a horse and we love him to death like all of them," he said. "You wouldn't run a horse if you think something might happen."
Larry Bramlage, Belmont's on-call veterinarian, called it a "slow-healing injury."
Bramlage compared it to an Achilles tendon injury, which usually keeps a person off his feet for six weeks.
"This one to the horse is nowhere near that severity," Bramlage said, "but it takes the same amount of time to rehab it."
Bramlage said, for this horse, it would probably take a year to recover. He added that a tendon in a race horse is "more highly evolved" than anything in a human.
"It's an early injury," Bramlage said. "If you went on and had he raced, the danger would have been a bowed tendon, meaning a significant number of fibers injured."
Other trainers sympathized with O'Neill's plight.
"I feel terrible for Doug," said D. Wayne Lukas, who trains Belmont starter Optimizer. "To come this close and have arguably the best horse, everything being equal, you have to give him the nod as being the best horse. He's done everything he was supposed to. He had four big ones (wins) in a row. That fifth one is tough. That's what I've always said, it's not a Triple Crown, it's a five or six race series."
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By Melissa Gray, CNN
(CNN) —A Chicago alderman says Chick-fil-A's president is publicly contradicting what company executives personally assured him for months — that the fast-food chain is changing its stance on gay marriage — and he asked the company Sunday to clarify.
Alderman Joe Moreno made news last week when he announced Chick-fil-A has ceased making donations to anti-gay groups and has enacted workplace protections for its employees against discrimination.
Moreno said the two concessions were the result of 10 months of negotiations he had with Chick-fil-A executives as he weighed whether to support a new Chick-fil-A restaurant in his Chicago ward. He said the executives gave him documents backing up the new positions.
Chick-fil-A, in a statement Thursday, affirmed the workplace protections. Friday, however, company President Dan Cathy denied the company has ceased making donations to groups that oppose gay marriage and said Chick-fil-A "made no such concessions."
"There continues to be erroneous implications in the media that Chick-fil-A changed our practices and priorities in order to obtain permission for a new restaurant in Chicago," Cathy said in a statement to Mike Huckabee, the former Republican presidential candidate who now runs a conservative website. "That is incorrect."
Moreno said Sunday that Cathy's statement "at the least, muddied the progress we had made with Chick-fil-A and, at the worst, contradicted the documents and promises Chick-fil-A made to me and the community earlier this month."
Moreno said Chick-fil-A executives gave him a letter earlier this year saying the company's non-profit arm, the WinShape Foundation, will not support organizations with political agendas. "We were told that these organizations included groups that politically work against the rights of gay and lesbian people," Moreno said.
He said the executives confirmed to him that both the foundation and the company in 2012 has not given money and will not give money to those groups.
Cathy's conflicting statement, Moreno said Sunday, is "disturbing."
"I am simply asking Mr. Cathy to confirm statements and documents that HIS company executives provided to me," Moreno said in a written statement, capitalizing "his" for emphasis.
"It's pretty simple, Mr. Cathy. Do you acknowledge and support the policies that your executives outlined to me in writing or do you not? Yes or no?" the statement added.
Chick-fil-A, whose restaurants are closed on Sundays, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
While the company has never hidden its conservative principles, Cathy caused an uproar in July when, in an interview with the Baptist Press, he said the company supports "the biblical definition of the family unit."
The interview brought attention to donations the company made to organizations some activists said were anti-gay.
Gay rights activists and others denounced the company and promised a boycott, while others vowed to support the company. Huckabee suggested a "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" and thousands turned out to show their support.
Moreno said Sunday he has yet to introduce legislation for the new Chick-fil-A restaurant in his ward and will wait for Cathy's response before moving forward.
CNN's John Murgatroyd contributed to this report.


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LOS ANGELES — Roger Corman's campy B movies, children's shows such as Sesame Street and Inspector Gadget, and inspirational monologues by celebrities — these are among the offerings on 30 channels that will soon require a paid monthly subscription on YouTube.
Although the world's largest video site has rented and sold movies and TV shows from major studios since late 2008, most people watch videos on YouTube for free.
It's the first time YouTube is introducing all-you-can-watch channels that require a monthly fee. The least expensive of the channels will cost 99 cents a month but the average price is around $2.99.
In the field of paid video content online, YouTube is playing catch up to services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, all of which have millions of paying customers.
But with a billion monthly visitors from around the globe, the Google-owned video service hopes to quickly add subscribers and add to the money it already makes from online advertising.
"This is just the beginning," said Malik Ducard, YouTube's director of content partnerships. The site plans to roll out a way for a broad number of partners to also launch pay channels on their own soon.
Corman, a producer and director whose influential cult classics like Deathrace 2000 and Piranha earned him an honorary Oscar in 2009, said he's kept his 400-film library off of video streaming sites until now.
In an interview with The Associated Press, he said he turned down an offer from Hulu for about $5,000 to $6,000 per film several years ago, but sees promise in the YouTube offering. His Corman's Drive-in channel will cost subscribers $3.99 per month for a rotating selection of 30 movies, refreshed with new interviews and clips from films that are in production. It is set to launch in June.
"I believed for many years that the future of motion picture distribution, particularly for the independents, is on the Internet," the 87-year-old said. "I think the time is now."
YouTube will keep slightly less than half of the revenue generated by the subscriptions.
Corman's wife and producing partner Julie Corman said they were taken aback at YouTube's potential after a clip of their 2010 movie Sharktopus went viral with 11 million views.
If even 1 percent of those viewers signed up for a subscription, it would amount to a healthy revenue stream, she said. "The numbers are astonishing. We're waiting for the fireworks display."
DHX Media Ltd., a Canadian company that owns the rights to 8,500 episodes of children's TV shows, is launching three paid YouTube channels, two for different age categories and one called DHX Retro that replays old programs such as Inspector Gadget and Archie's Weird Mysteries.
It plans to launch in 10 countries and seven languages — something that is much easier online than over traditional cable or satellite networks, according to DHX executive chairman Michael Hirsh.
"Clearing a channel across 10 countries would have taken a long time," Hirsh said. Doing it with YouTube takes just a "metaphorical flip of a switch."
As is the case with free videos on YouTube, the pay channels will be available for viewing on computers, mobile devices and Internet-connected TVs.
People who are accustomed to watching videos for free on YouTube are in for a slightly new experience. When viewers stumble upon a video requiring payment, they'll get a free preview up to 2 minutes long before being asked to subscribe.
Each channel comes with a 14-day free trial, but customers have to enter their credit card information through Google Wallet if they haven't already.
Several channels offer discounts on the monthly fee with an annual subscription, and some include features on top of access to videos.
Big Think, a New York-based maker of educational videos, will give subscribers who pay $2.99 a month access to videos of luminaries like Malcolm Gladwell, but also provide live question-and-answer sessions of an hour or more with experts.
Two new experts per month will be brought in to develop a series of 4-6 videos that are 2-3 minutes long. Each lesson is meant to distill advice that viewers can act upon immediately. "This is e-learning for the YouTube audience," said Big Think president and co-founder Peter Hopkins.


text:
Court: NFL's Bucs not entitled to damages from BP spill
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A federal appeals court has ruled that the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers is not entitled to damages from BP for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
At issue were the accounting practices the team used to argue that the 2010 spill caused the team's revenues to fall. The Bucs had sought $19.5 million in damages.
On Friday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a district court's decision against the team.
The court found that the Bucs' revenue in May-June 2010 was not significantly lower than its revenue during that same span a year later. In order to qualify for damages, it had needed to show that its revenues rebounded by at least 10% in 2011.
The team's stadium is about 360 miles (580 kilometers) southeast of the site of the spill.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


text:
UPDATE: The give-away has ended!
The winner of Leia is: Faith Harrison
And my wild card winner is: Mona Fitzpatrick!
Congrats, winners, and please e-mail me your mailing addresses!
Those minimalist posters are Amazing! I love ATLA! Also, yes please enter me for the Marvel print. It's fantastic!ReplyDelete
My-oh-my. I've never been so in love with ALL the art pieces you selected for an art roundup. And I think that Marvel picture is the bee's knees. Or the cat's pajamas. I always get those two mixed up!ReplyDelete
Love the Golden Books. Thanks for links!
The Leia one is great! I always love these roundups so much!ReplyDelete
I'm hoping this is my month! :)ReplyDelete
Hello! I would like the David Tennant card pleeeeeeease!ReplyDelete
Oh, the retro Guardians poster is sooo cool! I'm also digging the Marvel character roundup, too!ReplyDelete
I would love to win either the Leia, the Marvel, or the wildcard! I love your art roundups, I look forward to them. :)ReplyDelete
I think the Princess and the Frog piece is my fave of this week's round up. Please add me into the draw for the Marvel poster! I've had my eye on it as my choice if I happened to win for a while. Would totally put it in my little guy's nursery. XDReplyDelete
My daughter would love the Marvel roundup! And I would love so many of what you have posted!ReplyDelete
I've just been thinking I have some blank spaces on my walls... I'd love the Marvel roundup, or, you know, about 15 over on the giveaway board :D.ReplyDelete
Ahhh! Little Miss Furiosa is amaaaaazing! And my husband would go crazy for the marvel roundup!ReplyDelete
I love the Marvel one! Amazing stuff like always!ReplyDelete
Those Little Golden Book parodies - OMG.ReplyDelete
Oh man I was thinking the Little Golden Book series was actually books!ReplyDelete
I would really love to have the marvel one for my collection :D (I might be just a liiiiiittttle bit obsessed)ReplyDelete
Interesting fact: Western Publishing, from my home town, created the Little Golden Books. REALLY want the Goblin King. Or Leia.ReplyDelete
I love your art posts! I might need that little miss furiosa book cover...ReplyDelete
Just finished my craft/art/hideout room, so now all I need is some fabulous art for the walls!ReplyDelete
Is it wrong, that i just really wanna hug little Jareth? No? Good. Because I do. I really, really, do. Love the Marvel print too!ReplyDelete
OMG! That Marvel one would be a perfect addition to my attempts to geekify our home! (also, we're moving to a smaller space soon, so things will be more intense, and it'd fit perfectly with the other superhero poster and our Dalek and Dr Who stuff we have! I'll probably have to get it myself should I not win it!)ReplyDelete
love love love! As always, you've given me more etsy stores to favorite and follow :)ReplyDelete
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What an amazing group this month! My Christmas list just got much bigger, lol! I would love to have either of the extra pieces also. I can't believe they haven't been snapped up yet. Thank you again for sharing!ReplyDelete
So much adorable art!!! Love both of the bonus giveaways!ReplyDelete
I love the minimalist posters!!!
I'm torn on the bonus 2. I love princess Leia but my son would go nuts for the marvel one! Gah too much to decide!
I would LOVE either the Leia or Marvel print! They are Fantastic!ReplyDelete
I love the minimalist and the objects collection posters!
Please sign me up for the Marvel poster. :)
I love the Belle print and of course the Marvel print.ReplyDelete
Such great art. I love the golden books!ReplyDelete
I love Langevin's collections of objects prints! I think they'd be awesomely subtle nods to your favorite fandoms mixed in with other art.ReplyDelete
Omg, that Marvel one! I'm in love with Rogue.ReplyDelete
Ugh, I love everything SO MUCH. You find the best stuff! I want to be entered in ALL the drawings, forever, amen, thank you.ReplyDelete
As usual, you have found the most awesome art on the internet! In love with them all, but especially FIREFLY! :)ReplyDelete
I'd love to be entered to win from the board, or to win "Hope!" Love it, love it, love it! :)ReplyDelete
I'm always a sucker for movie poster styles, how adorable!ReplyDelete
I'm loving water colors right now! My house is going to be so geektastic!
I love both the extras this month too! Sign me up!
Love! The Marvel pic, although my son would be sad there's no Loki ;)ReplyDelete
you always find the best pictures and have the best timing. thank you so much for the pick-me-up and for all you do with these giveaways. Fingers crossed there is some awesome stuff on the board right now!ReplyDelete
That Journey piece is so cool! If only I weren't a poor college student XDReplyDelete
Why can't someone WRITE these little golden books?!?! I know I would buy them!! Also, I would like to win all the Baymax, Doctor Who, and Sherlock prints, please and thank you (or maybe just one). ;)ReplyDelete
Oh whoa, so much goodness! Crazy about Jeff Langevin now. I would love to be entered in both bonus drawings, thank you so much!ReplyDelete
I still need the WamPal! But that Marvel poster is great too!ReplyDelete
Oh my word. He did those with colored pencils? How? I am excited to see him sell them. Wow!ReplyDelete
Must. Have. The Little Rebel Princess.ReplyDelete
How do you find these people - amazing! I'd love either of the extra pieces, too.ReplyDelete
Must. Have. The Little Rebel Princess.ReplyDelete
Such great stuff this time. I'd be interested in both additional pieces as well.ReplyDelete
First time commenting!I love the drawing of Merida, so beautiful! Please enter me in the bonus drawing for the Marvel poster!ReplyDelete
This time around you have a LOT that I love! And of the wild cards, I'm seriously digging the Marvel Universe.ReplyDelete
Minimalist Maleficent!!!!!!! As my birthday present?ReplyDelete
That Merida is absolutely amazing. I really like the Pixar roundup.
Sooooo much good stuff on your board right now! "Allo, is close enough," and "In there you must hang" cracked me up completely.
And I would love any of the extra prints, so add me to those drawings, please.
here's my comment, now give me stuff! (please? :) )ReplyDelete
I have to try every month, you know just in case.ReplyDelete
Love the minimalist and the Disney sketches! And I'd love to be in the drawing for the Marvel roundup!!ReplyDelete
They are all so amazing! The Marvel roundup would make a great gift!ReplyDelete
I love all the artwork from Moon Posters! I need a bigger art budget. Also, that Marvel artwork is adorable.ReplyDelete
Love the Pinnochio/Blue Fairy one from Megan Carrigan! And once in her shop, the Aurora pictures & the fairies! Gorgeous!
As for the extras, I love Hope & wouldn't turn down the Marvel one either! :)
LOVE LOVE LOVE the Leia....and those golden books are...well...golden. So many to love.ReplyDelete
Please sign me up for receiving anything you're giving away! Your geek art taste is second to none! :D Thanks!!ReplyDelete
Aaaaah, that Marvel one! :D I know someone who would love it SO MUCH. (Not just me, hahaha)ReplyDelete
The Golden Books are awesome, Noticed the spines right away. Enter me for all the drawings!ReplyDelete
I don't need some free art... but I NEED some free art! Awesome picks this week!ReplyDelete
As always, a nice round up. I am adding the Little Golden Book parody to my holiday list. And please include me in the drawing for the extra pieces.ReplyDelete
Still hoping to win Toothless for my nursery!ReplyDelete
I would love either of the extra pieces or something off the board. Fingers crossed!ReplyDelete
I'm trying so hard not to click the links in this post. I have no more wall space!ReplyDelete
I checked out the MoonPoster Etsy shop and am in love with all of their work. Thanks for sharing such fabulous artwork, as always. :)ReplyDelete
That geeky dragon print is just adorable! I also love ALL the Doctor Who stuff! I would also like the Avengers art for my friend's super hero themed nursery.ReplyDelete
I love these online gallery tours of your! Makes me smile. I'd love the Marvel one, because who doesn't need a Marel universe with Deadpool balloons in it? <3ReplyDelete
Would love to win wall-e or baymax with the hairy baby! :)ReplyDelete
Really like Dino Tomic's work!!! :DReplyDelete
Oh! And I like the Marvel piece!ReplyDelete
The Golden Books are adorable! Please enter me in the extra drawings, too!ReplyDelete
Leia!!!!! I need geeky star wars art in my life! Also, there are several that I'd love from the wall.... pretty pretty please with (*insert your favorite ice cream, topping, or any other something*) on top! *crossing fingers and praying really hard*ReplyDelete
I can tell I'm going to be spending the rest of my day (and my paycheck!) on the Little Golden Books! Oh, and I would love to be entered to win "Hope." One of my son's ballroom dance partners (she's 9) is a HUGE Star Wars fan and would flip for that one!!ReplyDelete
Would love to win any of this artwork! So cool!ReplyDelete
Always look forward to what you find. I've put some from past months on my Christmas wish list.ReplyDelete
The Pixar group has to be one of my favorites of all time. I will now be stalking, I mean, following all these artist on Facebook and my Christmas shopping will be super easy. I can't wait to send my nephews the golden books!!
I would love to be the wild card winner (I still desperately want the signed Sherlock and Watson piece) but would happily display either Leia or the Marvel Roundup :)
Going on a shopping spree now ;)
And I have a friend who would love love love that marvel print ^.^;
From this roundup, love the object collections and golden book ones best. Would absolutely *adore* having that marvel roundup one though!!! :DReplyDelete
So many pretties! As per usual with you and your wonderful websites, which I love SO much, and am so appreciative of. Thank you for all that you do. Hope your Thanksgiving is lovely, and now thinking of you at Thanksgiving makes me wonder about steampunk cornucopias... hmmm... see what you've done to me?! I want to steampunk everything now. Virtual hugs to you both!ReplyDelete
So many shinies...ReplyDelete
Amazing art once again. I would love any of them!ReplyDelete
I look forward to this every month!
I love those Pixar posters! You're right, they look great in a group.
I'd like to win the Marvel group print.
Wow, Dino Tomic's work is amazing! Thanks for sharing all these wonderful finds. I love the Marvel print too!ReplyDelete
I love all of the art you find & would love to give any of it a home. ::wanders off down the rabbit hole of new artist work::ReplyDelete
Another awesome round of art, as always! I also like the group Marvel print--the stylization is cute without lowering their badassness!ReplyDelete
I'd love to get some awesome art! That Marvel print is killer!
I like them all, but the two extras might be my favourites!ReplyDelete
I can't believe Merida's hair! Wow! That is incredible. I can practically see it sproing-ing! :)ReplyDelete
Yay! Love this! If chosen, I will choose!ReplyDelete
Gosh, I think I like every piece this month! But that unnamed character with the goldfish. LOVE.
April V.
pick me pick me pick me pick me pick me!ReplyDelete
Love them both!ReplyDelete
Those golden books!! Squee!!! I love all of these plus the Avengers print :)ReplyDelete
WOW! I believe strongly that the world needs more Avatar art and fan theory and everything! And, I've actually had my eye on the "Hope" print for a while now. Anyway, I hope I win but I will happy for whoever does.ReplyDelete
Oh my gosh Dino's work, time to go stalk someone else! I love the posters and golden books also so pleasing to the eyes and nostalgiaReplyDelete
Pick me! Also, I love the extra avengers print. Fingers crossed!ReplyDelete
My grandson would LOVE the Marvel! I love your art round ups...I bought from one of the artists last month and commissioned some new work from her! So glad you help support artists. :)ReplyDelete
Dino's work is jaw-dropping gorgeous.
Always fun to browse new artists with you.
--Piper P from Washington State
I love them all!ReplyDelete
Love Dino's work it is so good.ReplyDelete
I love all of this art! I would be thrilled to win either of the extra two, or something from the board! ~Krystine M.ReplyDelete
Trying to remind myself I'm Christmas shopping for OTHER people. Hmm. Maybe for all the people who ask me what I want, I will just link them to your page. That would actually work. Yay! (And loving the Marvel Roundup.)ReplyDelete
The think my son would love the marvel print in his room.ReplyDelete
Gorgeous art, as always!ReplyDelete
That is some perfect Merida hair. Good roundup!ReplyDelete
Aw, I totally want to read The Little Goblin King.ReplyDelete
Those Little Golden Books are so brilliant! Man, we need more wall space! But I would definitely have room for a little something from the giveaway board...so, pick me!!ReplyDelete
Love those parody golden books! So cute!!ReplyDelete
So great! Thanks for sharing.ReplyDelete
I have been following Dino Tomic for a while now, his work is INCREDIBLE!! Those Golden books are gorgeous, and those silhouettes I LOVE!! I would love to win the Marvel round up please :)ReplyDelete
Oh my goodness, those pieces by Dino Tomic are AMAZING!! Especially that Merida. *swoon*ReplyDelete
Seriously in love with that Merida!ReplyDelete
Love the alternative Dory. Always so many amazing art findsReplyDelete
This monthly round up is one of my favorite things on the internet. It always makes me smile.ReplyDelete
I love anything Maleficent...! But I have nothing against Leia or the superhero-poster either. :)ReplyDelete
The marvel one is amaaaaaaazing!ReplyDelete
The fun fandom item collection ones? I desperately want a Babylon 5 one. I checked, he doesn't have one. But if he ever makes one, I'm SO all over that!ReplyDelete
Ooh, that Firefly object collection is calling me.ReplyDelete
You see have been trying so hard to resist the little golden parodies....sooooo hard.ReplyDelete
OMG I want absolutely everything you've found this month! The Leia and Marvel ones at the end are amazing too!ReplyDelete
Wow. I'm speechless. Every single piece you found this month is pure gold. And yes, I'd be happy to surprise my daughter with either of the extra giveaway ones at Christmas.ReplyDelete
I am speechless at the talent of the artists that you have shared! I would love to win something on your art board...or the Marvel group (my husband is a Marvel fan ;-))
Thank you!!
Natalie (QSOgirl)
You're making me want to remove the current movie posters from my walls and re-do everything with the Minimalist prints.ReplyDelete
The Marvel one is amazing! I've been present shopping for my husband, and that is the first thing that I've seen that screams his name. I always love your art roundups and this month's is no different.ReplyDelete
Eep! You always find AMAZING art! Love the Disney sketches and I really want to do my entire apartment in minimalist and/or silhouette geeky prints...somehow, I don't think my poor boyfriend would approve haha.
I love both of those extra pieces, so I definitely wouldn't say no to either one :)
I want those minimalist posters, I want them allllllllll
I love those Little "Golden" books - especially the Little Labyrinth edition. As usual, I love everything ELSE you found, too. Thanks for taking the time to explore for the rest of us. And Marvel Round-up!ReplyDelete
I count on your roundups for awesome art ideas - count me in for any of the giveaways. Thank you!ReplyDelete
Wonderful roundup, as usual! My favorites are the silhouettes and the Little Golden Books.
Please enter my name for the Leia piece and the roundup. Thanks, Jen!
I SO want that Firefly poster!ReplyDelete
Jen, you find the BEST stuff! And i always miss the drawing. Maybe this month! I've followed cakewrecks since just few months after that infamous first sprinkles cake! If you pick me, i would love the "you can be anything" girl for my own little geeky baby girl.ReplyDelete
Dat Little Goblin King! Love it!ReplyDelete
Love these art roundups!!ReplyDelete
As it IS my Birthday, I figure I give it a shot at winning. You always find the most amazing artists and images for your giveaways!ReplyDelete
Ooh! Those minimalist posters look amazing!ReplyDelete
These are all amazing! Definitely need things for empty walls in my office...
Also love that Marvel round up!!!!!
Those "Little Golden Books" are amazing! And I love both the Marvel round up and the Leia print.ReplyDelete
I love the variety, and the Little Golden Books are amazing :)ReplyDelete
Aw, that Princess Leia at the bottom is too cute! I know a Star Wars couple with a new baby who would love that one. I'm also in love with the little Cleo picture (though I'll admit, at first glance I thought it was a Fantasia fish!)ReplyDelete
Those object collection prints are pretty cool.
Thanks for the chance to win. I'm interested in both the Marvel character round-up and the Princess Leia print.
Those Golden Book parodies are so fun!ReplyDelete
I love those Little Golden books! And the fandom object collections. Some great gift ideas here for the holidays coming up! And speaking of gifts, I definitely want to be entered in the extra drawing for the Marvel poster-- the boyfriend is obsessed with Marvel, and I still have no idea what to get him for Christmas!ReplyDelete
Gorgeous round up, as usual. I've been following Dino Tomic's work for a couple years now - he is incredible. Love that Marvel group at the bottom for the 'extra' giveaway! And as always, thanks for these amazing giveaways! I think everyone should have more art in their lives! :)ReplyDelete
Dawww The Little Goblin King :)ReplyDelete
How am I supposed to pick just one? Every month I find another one I love. ::smh:: I clearly need a bigger budget for decorating my home!ReplyDelete
Is it me, or is Elsa-Hades pretty much the best mashup idea ever?! As always, love them all!ReplyDelete
I want the Leia print, please!ReplyDelete
I always look forward to your art roundup posts. They get me thinking about how I can free up more wall space to display more geeky art! You have a great eye and I love that you introduce people to such great artists! The giveaways are so great too. Thanks for doing them. Of the extra pieces this post, the Marvel one is my favorite but I love them both!ReplyDelete
Thanks for being my go-to source for good geeky art. All of these are fantastic! And I would love to win anything your giving away :)ReplyDelete
Love The Little Goblin King! <3ReplyDelete
I am getting that Viking princess one, for sure!
Thanks for the giveaway! I like the marvel roundup <3
Thank you for sharing these wonderful artists with us! It's great to find new works of art, even if not all of them are sold online.
I love all of the art you post, and wouldn't mind having any of it! :) But if I get chosen, I would love to have the Marvel print...there is so much going on in it!
I love the Brave colored pencil drawing! And the Marvel one too!ReplyDelete
Oh my gosh! As I was scrolling through I was thinking "these are all rather nice", then I saw the Little Goblin King! I need that in my life.ReplyDelete
I am in love with the Langevin watercolor- those fish in her hair!!! too awesome :) As always, great roundup Jen! And I happily submit to all the Drawings (see what I did there? lol)!ReplyDelete
Everything is super gorgeous this month, but I'm especially fond of that Leia by Margie Forestier. (Definitely enter me in the drawing for that, my walls desperately need more Star Wars art but my wallet keeps saying no, LOL!)
Relatedly, I really want to thank you for doing these giveaways- it means a lot to me, as a geeky, fannish person who can rarely afford art due to financial difficulties lately, that there's a chance to get these things even when I can't put together the money the artists deserve for them. If I had all the budget in the world for it, my walls would be covered in art. Kind people like you mean there's a chance I can manage that /without/ starving in order to afford it.
Plus, your round-ups always seem to lead to me following more artists. You have /excellent/ taste.
I need to find another wall for silhouette groupings, now. Please enter me for regular and the bonus drawings as well. :)ReplyDelete
I love the Marvel piece ☺☺☺ and off the art board I am in love with the Mulan print by Bri Pi Art 😀😀😀😀ReplyDelete
I really need some little golden book covers. I wonder how much effort it would take for the artist to make a whole book...?ReplyDelete
That Merida is stunning! Would definitely consider purchasing a print if Dino offers them. The Marvel Character Roundup is also awesome!ReplyDelete
That marvel character round up 😍😍😍ReplyDelete
Awesome art, I love the Furiosa one. Would like the marvel one the most. :)ReplyDelete
I love the Marvel character roundup! :-)ReplyDelete
You can be anything/girls are super. I am still love with those chubby legs.ReplyDelete
I've still got my eye on:
- Walking Your Octopus
- Sherlock & Watson by Marta Wit
- Doctor Who Silhouette by Alex Asfour
- Wedge on the Ledge
Thanks! :)
Love, love, love the Princess Leia!!!ReplyDelete
Love, love, love the Princess Leia!!!ReplyDelete
Lots of fun art!
Love these every monthReplyDelete
I love them all!! The Marvel and Leia are awesome too!ReplyDelete
Elsa as Hades makes me so happy, and I can't explain why.
Also, I would love to have "hope"
Thanks for sharing
Absolutely amazing, as always. You have such a good eye for art.ReplyDelete
I love Dory! My wishlist just got a lot longer!ReplyDelete
The alt Dory makes me giggle.ReplyDelete
So many good Baymax prints on your giveaway board!ReplyDelete
Enter me for that lovely stylized Wonder Woman. Though the alternate Dory is very striking as well.ReplyDelete
One day my print will come! (sung to the tune one day my prince will come...)ReplyDelete
Nice! I really like the Marvel roundup.ReplyDelete
I'd like to be entered for all three drawings! Love the round-up. You find the best stuff.ReplyDelete
Ooooo!!!! All 3!!!! So pretty!!! I love the marvel one!!! My boyfriend and I love comic books and especially the marvel world!!!ReplyDelete
Please enter me for all three. You have great taste!ReplyDelete
Oh! I love the Dory one!ReplyDelete
would love leia print!!!ReplyDelete
I love them all!ReplyDelete
ermahgerd everything is awesome!ReplyDelete
You'd be surprised how much of my holiday shopping relies on these art round-ups. :)ReplyDelete
Oooh I'm sure you've put some amazing new prints on the board! Also the Dory print is amazing and I want her hair, I wonder how much dye would I need for over two feet of hair to go bright blue and then how long it would take to curl it...ReplyDelete
Fingers crossed for the wildcard. The Doctor Who art nouveau set is still fantastic!ReplyDelete
Repping my favorite princess right at the top. Tiana is such a fantastic character and I see so much of myself in her!
I'd love to be considered for either the wildcard, or the Marvel print.
Oh good selection. If I got anything maybe I'd take the stitch print.ReplyDelete
First - I want all of the "Little Golden Book" parodies - :) I couldn't even choose one that is a favorite.
And I have always loved both of the "extra" prize options today. Though the Marvel is probably my favorite of the two.
I love the silhouetted ones or the little golden book ones, but the airbrushed ones are gorgeous too. The Marvel extra prize is totally awesome!ReplyDelete
I love them all :), I would love to be considered for both.ReplyDelete
OMG that Marvel roundup piece! LOVE IT, want it, need it in my life.ReplyDelete
Please be respectful when commenting; dissenting opinions are great, but personal attacks or hateful remarks will be removed. Also, including a link? Then here's your html cheat sheet: <a href="LINK ADDRESS">YOUR TEXT</a>


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The running joke since the iPad laced up its shoes is that tablets are big, over-glorified phones. That's silly! They share electricity, touchscreens, apps, and rectangularity, but that's about it. Except the Evo View, which is the joke's punchline.
The 7-inch tablet is a maligned genus (and some might say an oxymoron), but whatever you want to call it, I like the way this thing, a conglomoration of aluminum and rubber, feels. Its weight (weighty), its girth (girthy), and its grip (um, grippy). The notification light is built into the power button. It's totally serviceable for web, mail, and other staples. It's got stereo speakers, surprisingly. The best detail? Orientation-shifting touch buttons along the bezel, so you really can use it in any orientation. Someone cared when they built this.
No Like
This is, again, mostly just a big Evo. That's pretty much all it is. It's not running the designed-for-tablets Honeycomb—it's Gingerbread. And it stutters on occasion, more than it should. Reaching back into the primordial haze of tech time, the View clutches a little capacitive stylus, giving you the ability to do, well, not very much with an $80 accessory. You can take screencaps of anything you're looking at and draw on them, or you can take down handwritten notes to be emailed or tweeted away. It's $400 with a two-year contract. Locking yourself to this for 2 years would be silly.
Specs: HTC Evo View 4G
Processor: 1.5 GHz MSM8655
Screen Size: 7"
Resolution: 1024 x 600
OS: Android 2.3
Storage: 32GB
Memory: 1GB, LPDDR2
Cameras: 5MP rear, 1.3MP front
Networking: 4G WiMax
Dimensions: 7.69"x4.42"x0.52"
Price: $400 w/ 2-year contract
The Evo View 4G's a runt—so it needed to be either cheaper or faster, and it's neither. But I'm still willing to give seven inches a chance. From someone else.


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Mercedes SLS Electric Drive takes to the trackMon, 08 Oct 2012
Mercedes-Benz turned heads at the Paris motor show with the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive. The cool blue supercar costs $540,000, making it Mercedes-Benz's most expensive car in the dealership.
Mercedes also took the car to the Ascari race track in Spain. Lucky for us, AMG dropped a video on its YouTube channel.
The clip does have sound, but all you'll hear is the whoosh of the tires and the whine of the electric motors as the car passes by. It uses four motors, one at each corner, for total system output of 740 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque.
The SLS Electric Drive Coupe produces its own synthesized performance sounds, which are pumped with a push of the "power" button. The sound is played through 11 speakers around the interior.
A range hasn't been given yet, but the SLS Electric Drive will take about 20 hours to charge from a 230-volt outlet, and about three hours with a quick charger.
By Jake Lingeman


text:
Advocating for a new Fenway Park, as pet lovers can relate, is like thumbing the classifieds for a new pup while the wheezing, arthritic family dog snores heavily in the corner, oblivious to whispers about that next trip to the vet.
It's time. Or, to be specific, it's timing.
Fenway is old, a beat building. That's not news. It's an outdated, cracking, 101-year-old grand dame, one that has been artfully masked over the last 10-12 years during its pearls-on-a-pig era in which every available inch has been scraped, painted, patched, and perfumed.
No matter what the makeover, it still has thousands upon thousands of dreadful seat locations (we give you, oh, Sections 2 through 8) and thousands more of the good seats (we give you the remainder of the grandstand) that were designed before Americans fully understood that sugars and carbohydrates make up the very pinnacle of the food pyramid. Most adult New Englanders will plunk down in a bigger, more comfortable seat at a Chuck E. Cheese birthday party than in the Fenway grandstand.
But the best reason to put a new Fenway front and center today is the ball club — what it has been the last couple of years and what it portends to be this season and likely a few more.
The Sox have gone from bad (2011) to brutal (2012) to who knows what (2013 and beyond). They're by no means rudderless. General manager Ben Cherington seems to have a plan, one that may work, eventually, with more than a little luck, spit, and pine tar. They may not be even half-bad this year, but I suspect they will be half-bad and half-OK, which translates to 85 or so wins and a summer of sports talk radio, blogs, and tweets centered on the anatomical particulars of David Ortiz's feet.
Oh yeah, Big Papi and podiatry, a slice of hardball heaven.
The new Fenway should have been built in the early 1960s. The fiftysomething Fenway was in dire need of replacing just as Ted Williams departed and before Carl Yastrzemski gave birth to Red Sox Nation in 1967.
In those Dead Sox days of the early and mid '60s, fan interest all but fell through the crumbling floor beneath Fenway's box seats. Had anyone been sitting there, that actually might have happened.
We know attendance will take a hit this year, but we won't see gates plummet to 5,000-8,000 as we did at times in the '60s, when promotions such as "Nuns Day'' were contrived to get Sister Mary Agnes Frances Dunnehy in the park for a weekday afternoon game. The joint was often so empty that a new ball yard could have been constructed bit-by-bit on the same grounds, with work carrying on even during the baseball season, workmen only needing to lay down their hammers and silence compressors for, say, 4-5 hours on game days.
In the '60s, no one in our town could tell Ike Delock from Bob the Builder.
These 2013 Sox are really a throwback to those early-'60s Sox. Few names, fewer expectations.
However, fan perception of the park itself and the entire game-day (i.e. spending) experience is vastly different. Which is why we had Face of the Nation Larry Lucchino reminding season ticket-holders last year that half the fun is just coming to Fenway. Truth was, half the fun in 2012 was the full meal, with a side salad of batting practice.
What we're watching now, right before our Rosie-Sox-colored eyes, is a painful cultural shift from the big-name championship Red Sox of 2004/2007 to this new-age collection of Gary Geigers, Pete Runnelses, and Pumpsie Greens. Worse, instead of a young Yaz hoisting high his bat with promise, we have an old Papi as a lingering reminder of what once was good about baseball in our faded Fenway field of dreams.
All the while, we cling desperately, romantically, somewhat pathetically to our lyric little bandbox of a ballpark, which today oozes in saturated fats of advertising, streetside barkers, and vendors, and is chockablock with sightlines and seats engineered for 1912 America and 1912 Americans.
Let it go. Now. We all know Fenway will not be here forever. We all know, especially when we are in search of bathrooms and legroom, it has outlived by decades its practical, humane usefulness.
The early '60s aside, the timing has never been better. Unlike the team that has sagged badly beneath his feet, club owner John Henry can get out in front on this one, start talking the New Fenway that will open in, say, 5-7 years.
It not only will take the focus away from some bad ball and hurt feelings, it also will pack Henry's park over these next slim seasons. Americans will stream to the Hub from far and wide to get their last look at forever Fenway. Hard to imagine the ransom StubHub would put on the last game.
Ray, if you level it, they will come.
And when it's gone, it's guaranteed that we'll have a new Fenway that looks a lot like the old Fenway. All that once was good will be good again.
For 101 reasons and more, there will never be a better time for the Hub to bid the old girl adieu.
Kevin Paul Dupont's ''On Second Thought'' appears on Page 2 of the Sunday Globe Sports section. He can be reached at email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeKPD.


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Deadlines for some big grants are approaching.
Inge Morath Award
Administered by the Magnum Foundation, the Inge Morath Award of $5,000 is given annually to a female photojournalist under the age of 30. The Award supports the completion of a long-term documentary project, and is juried by Magnum photographers and the director of the Inge Morath Foundation.
Deadline: April 30.
Getty Grants for Editorial Photography
Starting April 1, Getty will be accepting applications for its 2013 Grants for Editorial Photography. Five grants of $10,000 each will be awarded to photojournalists ?pursuing projects of personal and journalistic significance.? Deadline: May 1.
The Aaron Siskind Foundation
The Aaron Siskind Foundation offers grants of up to $10,000 each to individual photographers, selected by a panel of judges. The entry fee is $10.? Applications are open to US citizens and legal permanent residents 21 years of age and older, and there is no requirement regarding subject matter, genre or process, except that the work must involve photography (no video).? Deadline: May 24.
W. Eugene Smith Grant for Humanistic Photography
Each year the W. Eugene Smith Fund awards a grant (in 2012, the award was $30,000) to a photographer whose past work and proposed project follow the tradition of W. Eugene Smith?s concerned photography and dedicated compassion. The board of trustees of the W. Eugene Smith Fund appoints a three-member jury to evaluate written proposals and photos. There is a $50 application fee. Deadine: End of May.


text:
"Die 15 schwedischen und internationalen Weihnachtslieder haben in den Fassungen von Landgren und seinen Freunden einen so berührenden, beinahe naiv-kindlichen Charme, dass man sich der darin offenbarenden (Vor)-Weihnachtsstimmung nicht entziehen kann." JAZZTHING
Dear friend, "Why another Christmas album?" you may ask, holding this nr. II in your hand. I did ask myself the same question many times before it became clear to me that, with all the joy I experienced while making the first one and the warmth that embraced us while presenting it to our audiences on tour, it simply had to be a second one. I just felt that my journey through winter wonderland would not be complete without it. This time, I decided to change the formula oh so slightly, bringing in the voices of Swedish saxophonist Jonas Knutsson who is also a member of the duo Norrland and the young and ever so wonderful vocalist Jessica Pilnäs while Ida, Jeanette, Sharon and longtime companion Johan remain as playmates. Together, I do believe that we have found another fine mix of traditional and modern songs, reflecting each and ev...Besetzung
Nils Landgren - trombone, vocals
Jeanette Köhn - vocals
Jessica Pilnäs - vocals
Sharon Dyall - vocals
Ida Sand - piano, vocals
Jonas Knutsson - saxophones
Johan Norberg - guitar, kantele
Eva Kruse - bass
Recorded by Janne Hansson at Atlantis Studio, Stockholm, Sweden and by Johan Norberg at Studio Krubaston at Stockholm, Sweden
Mixed by Johan Norberg
Mastered by Klaus Scheuermann
Produced by Johan Norberg
Executive Producer: Siegfried Loch


text:
- Home
- City Services
- Fire
- Community
- Fire Loss Followup
Fire loss followup
Insured Fire Loss
This information is provided by the Texas Department of Insurance. If you have a fire loss, the following information can help you understand your coverage and protect your interests.
- Ask your agent about additional living expenses (ALE). This coverage reimburses you for additional necessary and reasonable food or lodging expenses while your home is being repaired.
- Check your house and car for damage once it is safe to do so. Contact your insurance agent or company promptly to report damage. Follow up immediately with a written claim to protect your rights under Texas' prompt-payment law.
- If you do not have your insurance policy information, TDI's Consumer Help Line at 1-800-252-3439 can help you locate your agent or insurance company. Your agent and carrier should have copies of your insurance information.
- Make a list of your damaged property. Photograph or videotape the damage if possible. Don't throw away damaged items until a claims adjuster has seen them.
- Make reasonable and necessary repairs to protect your home and property from further damage. Cover broken windows and holes. Do not make permanent repairs before a claims adjuster inspects the damage. Keep a record of your repair expenses and save all receipts.
- Try to be present when the adjuster inspects your damage. You may also have your contractor present at the inspection or have the contractor review the adjuster's report before settling the claim. Don't accept an unfair settlement.
More Information
- If you have questions about insurance, call TDI's Consumer Help Line at 1-800-252-3439, or visit the TDI website.


text:
Port of Oakland unanimously rejects Black Muslim security firm's bid to guard shoreline parks
By Thomas Peele and Matt O'Brien
Bay Area News Group
OAKLAND — Admitting they nearly entered into a deal with a questionable security company now under investigation, Port of Oakland commissioners on Thursday vowed to revamp their contracting process.
"We came very close to approving a bad contract," Commissioner Michael Colbruno said. "The whole procurement process" should be reviewed.
The commissioners voted 6-0 to back out of a contract with BMT International Security Services, which had submitted bogus references and credentials to win a $450,000 deal to patrol two shoreline parks.
The port has extended its existing contract with ABC Security to guard a 42-acre shoreline through the end of the year. Colbruno added that the port needs to have a better screening process.
Commission President Cestra Butner agreed.
"This commission will take our lumps if we did anything wrong," he said. "We want to make sure we get things right. … I don't want anything slipped under the rug."
BMT, which is linked to Oakland's defunct Your Black Muslim Bakery, had been in final negotiations with the port when this newspaper reported that its proposal contained references to work at other government agencies that had no record of ever doing business with it. The firm also appears to have inflated the credentials of its managers.
The company is now being investigated by the Alameda County District Attorney's Office and the state Department of Consumer Affairs. A former Oakland police officer also said in court papers that he believes the company stole a security company license number from him that he let lapse in 2008 when he retired.
BMT told the port that it had worked for BART, the San Joaquin County Housing Authority and the Riverside Transit Agency, but those agencies had no record of hiring the company. The firm also lost contracts with Alameda County and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles when staff at those agencies discovered the Oakland company submitted apparently false insurance certification.
At least one Bay Area government noticed before awarding a contract that something appeared wrong with BMT's credentials.
In 2011, the Vallejo City Council rejected a BMT proposal after city staff reported that the listed references were not calling back and one claimed to not know the company. BMT unsuccessfully appealed and some of its employees spoke out at a public meeting.
BMT sought another Vallejo contract in 2012 but again failed to win it. BMT owner Rory Parker sued the North Bay city in December, claiming she and her company experienced disparate treatment "because of their race, which is Black, and because of their religion, which is of the Islamic faith."
The firm is run out of a Black Muslim temple in West Oakland whose minister, Dahood Sharieff Bey, was an associate of Your Black Muslim Bakery and a disciple of its founder, Yusuf Bey. Yusuf Bey touted his business enterprise as empowering African-Americans, but prosecutors have described it as a wide-ranging criminal organization involved in violent crimes, real estate fraud and identity theft.
The bakery collapsed in 2007 when its members, led by Yusuf Bey IV, killed three men, including Oakland journalist Chauncey Bailey. Bey IV is now serving a life prison term without parole. Prosecutors and police have linked five unsolved homicides to the bakery.
Dahood Bey, the minister who identified himself at a recent Oakland council meeting as "Mr. Pasha," was tried for torture in 2010 but pleaded guilty to lesser charges when the jury could not reach a verdict. His co-defendant in that case, Basheer Fard Muhammad, has been the public face of BMT at port and other government meetings, urging officials to give it contracts.
BMT owner Rory Parker is Dahood Bey's mother. The company also claimed in its port proposal to have a retired, Harvard-educated FBI agent serving as its chief financial officer and that its guards include former Secret Service agents.
Law enforcement records show San Francisco police officers arrested Muhammad in Oakland on Feb. 25 on suspicion of receiving stolen property, which was described as a "refrigerated sandwich table." He was jailed for two days and released after the Alameda County District Attorney's Office declined to prosecute him. San Francisco police spokesman Sgt. Eric O'Neal has refused to release details about the case despite repeated requests.
BMT is also seeking a contract to work for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, but transit officials there would not disclose any information about the bid until they finish evaluating all the proposals in May.