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Welcome to the premier of the Camera-Critters Sunday meme. I hope that everyone enjoys this meme which is all about photos of animals/critters. So make your post, link back to here, visit other Camera-Critters captures, and have fun! Each week, on Sunday, a Camera-Critters capture from that week will be randomly selected to be featured in the sidebar of this blog.
Also - if you would like to be added to the blog roll, please send me an e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com - put "CC Blog Roll" in the subject line and give me the name and URL address of the blog you would like added to the blog roll. Please only ask to be added if you plan to actively participate in the meme.
Thanks, and I hope you enjoy this meme.
Welcome to the Camera-Critters meme.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Camera-Critters PREMIER
49 comments:
- KOSTAS said...
GOOD BEGINNING in ALL that will take part to the CAMERA CRITTERS action!
- April 12, 2008 at 4:38 PM
- jenn said...
What fun!!!
- April 12, 2008 at 4:49 PM
- david mcmahon said...
Hi Misty,
Great news. Just seen your comment alerting me to the start of this theme.
Gimme about ninety minutes - or maybe less.
My mind is racing .... - April 12, 2008 at 4:59 PM
- Flying Solo said...
Hello!! Thanks for starting camera critters :)
- April 12, 2008 at 6:13 PM
- lv2scpbk said...
I haven't started mine yet, but I have you on my side bar and plan on it tomorrow (Sunday) or next Sunday.
- April 12, 2008 at 6:25 PM
- Andree said...
I love this one. Another outlet for animal photos. Thank you!
- April 12, 2008 at 6:58 PM
Thank you sooooo much for hosting Camera Critters. ♥ - April 12, 2008 at 7:16 PM
My first entry will definitely surprise you... NOT!
♥ - April 12, 2008 at 7:30 PM
- Coy Hill said...
Thanks Misty, this is a great idea! Now if only I can find enough Critter pics for each week :)
- April 12, 2008 at 7:42 PM
- Jim and Jami said...
Great Fun!
- April 12, 2008 at 9:50 PM
- Barb said...
Yay!!!!!! My first (of many) is up! Good luck my friend. :)
- April 12, 2008 at 10:39 PM
- Mike said...
OK, I'm playing this week.
- April 12, 2008 at 10:40 PM
- Heart of Rachel said...
Hi Misty. This is a fun meme and I decided to play along. I posted my 1st entry on my other blog.
- April 13, 2008 at 12:01 AM
What an excellent idea ! I join with pleasure ! It's a long time I am looking for such a game with animals!! Please add me to the blogroll and my first entry is on my Keyholepictures blog !
- April 13, 2008 at 1:26 AM
Oh Misty... thank you so vry much for hosting this Sunday fun! I know, I repeat myself *g* - it´s just that I had so much fun visiting the participants - so many great new finds (and "old" buddies). I´m a happy girl =)))
xoxoxo - April 13, 2008 at 5:06 AM
- Dick said...
Nice idea, is it okay to join sometimes? I suppose it is and sign in.
- April 13, 2008 at 5:32 AM
- Tom said...
Glad to be a part of it... never work with kids or animals or so I'm told.. we must be mad ;o)
Expect my e-mail soon, and any help you think I might be feel free to ask
Tom - April 13, 2008 at 7:05 AM
- Sandy M said...
Love it! I'll be here every Sunday.
- April 13, 2008 at 7:25 AM
- threesidesofcrazy said...
Misty, Thanks for inviting me over to join. I love this new meme. We are going to have so much fun with it.
- April 13, 2008 at 8:08 AM
- Rhea said...
I caught my crazy critter in a hilarious movement yesterday, just in time to join this meme. Thanks for the invitation!
Love your dragonfly picture! - April 13, 2008 at 9:35 AM
- Dina said...
OK, I'm in. Thanks for the chance to show animals of Israel.
- April 13, 2008 at 9:47 AM
I'm so loving this!!
- April 13, 2008 at 9:48 AM
- Gretchen said...
Just found this and think it's great! I've added my post for the day. :)
- April 13, 2008 at 9:50 AM
- DeeMom said...
Nifty idea, adn by some ODD coincidence my blog today seems to fit what you are looking for
- April 13, 2008 at 10:25 AM
- Pepper said...
I think I did it, I am so very blog challenged. I will add a post to it later this afternoon, I am off to Bisbee Cemetery!
- April 13, 2008 at 12:15 PM
I'm here, go take a look at my Mischief :)
- April 13, 2008 at 1:12 PM
- D... said...
I'm up and running! ;)
- April 13, 2008 at 2:16 PM
- laurie said...
HOLY MOLY that's a lot of participants!
i'll check this out but i probably won't take part right away---i'm trying to blog less, and i've already dropped out of fun mondays. i hope you understand.
but this looks wildly successful, and i am clearly not neeed! - April 13, 2008 at 3:40 PM
- Lake Lady said...
This really looks like fun! I'll have no problem coming up with Sunday posts now!! Critters everywhere! Thanks for hosting.
- April 13, 2008 at 4:42 PM
- Paulie said...
When I saw your new meme the other day I thought I couldn't participate but when I saw katney's critter, I knew I had a few to share. I am kinda late but have a really cute critter to share. (I guess I shoulda read the rules on your post below. . . Ü
I guess the cute dog in the photo to the right is your entry. It is really adorable.
I will email you too. - April 13, 2008 at 6:53 PM
Thank you very much for this new and great meme of "Camera Critters"! :)
I could not post my first pic yesterday because I was away from home. But I'll surely publish my "Animal/Critter" photo next Sunday!
I will also send you an e-mail. - April 13, 2008 at 6:59 PM
- threesidesofcrazy said...
Hey - 57 [layers half way through day 1! That's great.
- April 13, 2008 at 7:09 PM
- bundle-o-contradictions said...
ACK! I tried and tried and tried and...aurgh!! It's gonna have to wait 'til tomorrow. From now on, I'm gonna pre-post Camera Critters on Fridays so I won't mess it up so bad.
- April 13, 2008 at 9:44 PM
- Corey~living and loving said...
how very cool. Great participation for the first week.
I'll attempt to play along next sunday. :) - April 13, 2008 at 10:33 PM
- Anna said...
This is fun and I am playing..
Mine is up:
My Digital Snapshot - April 13, 2008 at 10:45 PM
- Juli said...
- April 13, 2008 at 11:48 PM
- Stacey Olson said...
Misty Dawn, I missed this yesterday but am signing up for next sunday. thanks so much
- April 14, 2008 at 9:23 AM
- bundle-o-contradictions said...
Finally up!!
- April 14, 2008 at 11:26 AM
- Jenny86753oh9 said...
Oh Misty...I'm so frustrated...my weekend just got nuts real fast and I had a complete brain-fart on this meme. But dang it...I'm doing it next Sunday!!
- April 14, 2008 at 11:44 AM
- CastoCreations said...
Okie Dokie. My entry is up and so cute. Is the Mr. Linky thingy only for your site or is it public so we can add it to our entries? I didn't see it in the list of widgets available on ML. :)
- April 15, 2008 at 1:22 PM
- Jules said...
Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope your Sunday Meme goes well - I won't join yet but look forward to seeing some of the great posts.
- April 18, 2008 at 7:53 PM
- Marie said...
This looks very fun!I have to think about it, I don't know if I have the time.
Good luck :) - April 19, 2008 at 1:53 AM
- Lara said...
hi, thanks for inviting me! looking forward to post my cat tomorrow!
- April 19, 2008 at 10:28 AM
- Anita said...
Love this! I have lots of critter pictures - pets and wild - so this is going to be a really fun one for me!
I started with an easy pet pic, but I've got all sorts of ideas in my head! :) - April 19, 2008 at 12:02 PM
- Snooty Primadona said...
This ought to be fun... I love my animals! Oh wait, I'm down to one now. Ok, I love my animal and other people's too. I'll try to have it posted by late tonight.
- April 19, 2008 at 6:46 PM
- mrsnesbitt said...
Phew! Encountering a few problems here....nothing to worry about, just a domestic appliance riot in the \nesbitt household. Have posted my piccie, great to be involved. Dx
- April 20, 2008 at 5:10 AM
- Amber said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- April 20, 2008 at 10:52 AM
- Sheena said...
Hello!!! :) mine is kind'a late... thought it was Saturday yesterday eh? coz it's holiday here today... Happy Children's Day!!!! Annyeong!!!
- May 4, 2008 at 8:35 PM
- Welcome To Wilmoth Farms said...
I've joined!! YEA thanks Kacy for letting me in on this meme! Critters are my favorites!
- April 5, 2009 at 8:37 PM


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Rock solid! That's what the ice on my windscreen this morning was. It was so hard that here was no way my ice scraper was going to break any ice. At -5 degrees C my hands were freezing onto anything that had the slightest bit of moistness!
Winter has settled down comfortably in our parts. There was beautiful snow all through the Thanksgiving weekend and this week it's been a bit dull, cold and icy.
My neighbor looked appalled; she too was having her trouble with getting her car ice-free.
I laughed and said "We're getting rid of a lot of calories this way!"
I still cannot believe December is here already! It's incredible how the year has raced past. If I was to do a résumé now I would say 2008 was a very good year for me and my family – just like my dad promised.
The neat thing is he says 2009 is going to be even better. Well bring it on.
Before I start jumping the gun and imagining all that is to come in 2009 I still have a lot planned for December. There will be cookies, cakes and Christmas to look forward to and I will be sharing all with you. For now I am setting the mood with my new Winter banner.
Between the Thanksgiving turkey and the Christmas roast we're trying to eat good, healthy food. Not too heavy and just plain down to earth. One vegetable that keeps finding its way into my shopping basket each week is parsnip. I love the sweet mellow flavor parsnips have and the fact that they are not fattening with a mere 20 Kcal. per 100g makes them my current favorite vegetable.
To many, parsnips may seem like an exotic vegetable, however this vegetable has been around since ancient times.
Parsnips belong to the same family as celery, carrots, and parsley. A rosette of celery-like leaves grows from the top of the whitish, fleshy root. Parsnips look like white-yellow carrots, but the resemblance stops there. Parsnips boast of a more delightful flavor when cooked, which is sweeter than carrots. Raw, parsnips are slightly pungent with a tangy bite to them. In medieval times they even had a reputation as an aphrodisiac.
Until the potato arrived from the New World, its place in dishes was occupied by the parsnip. Similar to carrots, parsnips are a native of Eurasia, originating in the Mediterranean region. Originally, parsnips were only the size of of a baby carrot when fully grown, however, when the Roman Empire moved north through Europe they found that the parsnip grew bigger the further north they went.
Often parsnips are boiled and mashed like potatoes or in combination with them. One can also use parsnips to enliven soups and pilaf for a delicate and sweet aroma or as a buttery side on their own or when fried as crispy fritters they add more texture and flavor than potatoes.
Health Benefits of Parsnips
The parsnip is richer in vitamins and minerals than its close relative the carrot. Parsnips are also a very good source of potassium and therefore can be considered a health food as they can help reduce blood pressure. They also contain many of the B vitamins and vitamin C although this is reduced through cooking.
In comparison to potatoes parsnips are lower in calories and contain more fibre. Parsnips also provide a much better source of folic acid than potatoes.
Selecting, Storing and Preparing Parsnips
Parsnips are available year-round in some grocery stores but they are easier to find in winter and early spring. The later parsnips are harvested, the sweeter they will taste, as the extra time and a frost help turn the starch into sugar.
When selecting parsnips, choose small- to medium-sized vegetables as these will be less fibrous and more tender. Make sure they are not "hairy" with rootlets or have obvious blemishes. The skin should be fairly smooth, firm and not shriveled. If the parsnip greens are still attached, they should look fresh and vibrant.
Before refrigerating, clip off any attached greens as they will drain moisture from the root. Parsnips stored in your crisper drawer in a loosely closed plastic bag will keep for a couple of weeks.
Scrub parsnips well, with a small brush, before using. As with carrots, trim both ends and cut off the top to avoid pesticide residues. Scrape or peel a thin layer of skin before or after cooking. I recommend to do it after as the parsnips will be sweeter and full of more nutrients.
Peeled or cut parsnips will turn brown quickly, so either cook them right away or keep them in a bowl of water with a bit of lemon juice added, then drain and cook.
There are several ways of enjoying parsnips, my favorite however is roasting them. Tossed with some olive oil and fresh thyme, bake in an oven and your parsnips will come out sweet and fragrant.
Parsnips can be substituted for potatoes and similarly mashed, cut or whole. You can add parsley, basil or rosemary for a savory flavor to compliment the sweetness of the parsnips.
Parsnips are also great in soups and stews. Make sure you add them near the end of cooking time so they do not become mushy. Parsnips can also be used to make a flavorful stock, or pureed for a tasty soup thickener.
In this recipe I have used parsnips together with potatoes to make delicious homemade gnocchi. A long time ago I showed you how to make basic gnocchi. This takes you to the next level! On their own they really are a delicacy but paired with a piquant rucola cashew pesto this becomes a heavenly meal.
Recipe: Homemade Parsnip Gnocchi
Printable version of recipe here.700g potatoes, cut into cubes and steamed for approx. 20 minutes
300g parsnips, cut into cubes and steamed for approx. 10 minutes
120g cornstarch
3 egg yolks
Salt and pepper
Take the warm potatoes and parsnips and mash them finely or put them through a ricer. Allow to cool a bit.
In a bowl mix the potato and parsnip purée with the yolks, cornstarch, slat, pepper and nutmeg. Incorporate well until you get a soft and smooth dough-type mixture.
If the mixture is still too moist and another 1-2 teaspoons cornstarch.
Sprinkle some flour on the countertop and roll the parsnip-potato dough into sausage-like forms . about 3 cm in diameter.
With a sharp knife cut about 2cm thick disks. With a floured fork gently press the gnocchi disks down.
Allow the gnocchi to rest for 10 minutes.
In a large pot bring plenty of salt water to a rolling boil. Add the gnocchi and simmer for 4-6 minutes. Take out with a slotted spoon.
Heat some oil in a large skillet and gently brown the gnocchi on both sides until slightly golden. Serve on pre-warmed plates with rucola cashew pesto.
Recipe: Homemade Rucola Cashew Pesto
Printable version of recipe here.2 bunches rucola, washed and stems trimmed
80g cashew nuts, dry roasted
50g fresh parmesan, grated
1-2 garlic cloves
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly cracked pepper
Hint of chili
Pinch of sugar
Place all the ingredients except the olive oil in a food processor. Pulse until mixture is coarsely chopped.
Keep pulsing and start to pour the olive oil little by little, until you get a creamy, paste-like consistency.
The pesto can be stored in air-tight jars for 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
Gnocchi is a big favorite here and this is a great and healthy variation to the purely potato gnocchi. The parsnips lend their wonderful sweet and mellow flavor, paired with the piquant pesto this is such a powerful dish. If pesto is not your thing this works perfectly with sage butter too. A light green salad and you have a brilliant dinner!
If you are looking for a sugar fix then please come on over to my latest article on Foodie: Delightful Desserts.
The latest issue of Dessert Magazine is out now. This issue takes you around the world of cookies, including my recipe of vanilla kipferl. Flick through the brand new online magazine and drool over all the lovely pictures. You'll find mine of page 62 ;-).
You might like these parsnip dishes from WFLH:
Bulgur with Vegetables and Feta | Chestnut Potato and Parsnip Soup | Minestrone and Pesto |
Don't Forget
This month the team over at the Daily Tiffin are hosting the Monthly Mingle. We are all looking forward and eagerly awaiting your ideas and creations to this session's theme - Low-Sugar Treats. Come on over and share your healthy treats.
The deadline is December 8th, 2008. See you there.
All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2008 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

subset: commoncrawl


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Wide and bright experiments are waiting for you! Get creative on a large format.
Package Includes
- Lomo'Instant Wide Camera White
- Colored Gel Filters
- Lomo'Instant Wide Ultra Wide-Angle Lens Attachment and Viewfinder
- Lomo'Instant Wide Close-Up Lens Attachment
- Lomo'Instant Wide Splitzer
- Remote Control Lens Cap
- Shooting Technique Cards
- Instruction Manual
Please note: Fuji Instax Wide Film and four AA batteries are not included.
Fully Automatic & Creative Shooting Modes
Whether you're relaxing at a pool party in the hills of Hollywood, sipping tea on the sofa while your dog does backflips, biking through Chilean vineyards or enjoying Sunday brunch with friends—simply select your preferred shooting mode and you'll be on your way!
Fully Programmatic Shutter
Engage auto mode and take advantage of its fully programmatic shutter. For every image you snap, the shutter will automatically determine how much light is necessary for perfect exposure—a totally hassle-free instant experience.
Remote Control Lens Cap
Close your eyes and imagine being able to snap an instant photo of yourself and your friends without having to push the shutter button. Now open your eyes—with the Lomo'Instant Wide, you can do just that. Remotely operate the shutter release with the lens cap of the Lomo'Instant Wide to take great group and party photos.
Take a Ride on the Wide Side
Conjuring the spirit of shooting large film format Polaroids of yesteryear, the Lomo'Instant Wide uses Fuji Instax Wide film, which is twice as wide as Instax Mini film.
PC Sync Socket
With the PC Sync Socket on the Lomo'Instant Wide, you can approach every lighting situation with ease—perfect for everything from single flashes to studio flash kits.
90mm Lens (built-in)
Being a 35mm equivalent, the built in lens on the Lomo'Instant Wide means wide format instant versatility like never before. Take gorgeous portraits using the closest focusing distance (0.6m), keep your distance with the 1-2m setting, or simply switch infinity for everything else!
Ultra Wide-Angle Lens (included in the Combo Package)
Capture everything and even more with the 21mm equivalent Ultra Wide-Angle Lens attachment. Use it for wide-and-bright landscapes or instant selfie-fun with all your friends united in one frame.
Close-Up Lens (included in the Combo Package)
When you just can't get close enough, simply slip on the Close-Up Lens and focus up to 0.1m! It's perfect for capturing everything from self-portraits to up-close-and-personal occasions.
Large Format Long Exposures
For stunning long exposure photographs, engage Bulb Mode on your Lomo'Instant Wide. Experiment with insane light paintings just by holding the shutter open manually for as long as you need.
When One is Just Not Enough: Unlimited Multiple Exposures
Next to the Lomo'Instant, the Lomo'Instant Wide is the only other instant camera capable of unlimited multiple exposures! With the flick of the MX switch, you can create awe-inspiring multiple exposure classics in an instant.
Color Gels
Add artistic style to your shots and experiment with cool and crazy results—4 brightly colored flash gels let paint your Lomo'Instant Wide shots with a smack of color.
Flash On and Off
Perfect for those times you want to shoot the entire scene and not just your subject with a blacked-out background, this feature allows you to control exactly when and where the flash is enabled. With the help of the Fully Programmatic Shutter, you get well exposed shots without the flash.
Exposure Compensation
Easily shoot lighter or darker photos using the exposure compensation control.
Fast Focusing
With three different zone focusing areas, it's super-fast and easy to adjust to every focusing distance desired.
Technical Specifications
- Film Format: Fujifilm Instax Wide Film
- Exposure Area: 64mm x 99mm
- Lens Focal Length: 90mm (35mm equivalent)
- Auto exposure type: Programmed Automatic
- Aperture: f/8, f/22
- Shutter Speed range: Bulb (Bulb Mode), 8s-1/250 (Auto Shooting Mode), 1/30 (Fixed Shutter Speed Mode)
- Exposure Compensation: +1/-1 Exposure Values (Ambient)
- Ejection Mechanism: Motorized
- Multiple Exposures: Yes
- Built-in Flash Guide Number: 13 (m)
- Built-in Flash: Automatic Electronic Flash & Flash Off Mode
- Closest Focusing Distance: 0.6m (0.1m with the Close-Up Lens)
- Zone Focusing Setting: 0.6m / 1-2m / infinite
- Tripod Mount: Yes
- Remote control transmission: Infrared
- Battery Supply: 4 x AA batteries (4 x 1.5V)
- Remote control battery Supply: 1 x 2025 batteries (3V)
- Filter Thread: 49mm


text:
Streams are
the way of generalizing file, network, data compression, and other
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its simplest definition, a stream
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behavior. That is, it can be read from or written to in a linear
fashion, and may be able to fseek() to an
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specific protocols/encodings. For example, the http
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PHP script using stream_wrapper_register(),
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http, https, ftp, ftps, compress.zlib, compress.bz2, and php. See
Supported Protocols and Wrappers for a list of PHP built-in wrappers. If
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typically a path and filename of the desired file. For network related
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Supported Protocols and Wrappers for a description of targets for built-in streams.


text:
Wynn Bullock: Revelations
This exhibition represents the most comprehensive assessment of photographer Wynn Bullock's (1902-1975) extraordinary career in nearly 40 years and is the first major exhibition of his work to be held in Iowa.
Bullock's artistic practice was guided by an interest in the mid-20th-century dialogue about the structure of the universe and humanity's place within it. Drawn to the spirit of experimentation that marked scientific and philosophical endeavors of his day, Bullock used his knowledge of quantum physics, special relativity and the space-time continuum as a reference point for his own intuitive and personal explorations of the world.
Bullock worked in the American Modernist tradition alongside his colleagues and friends Edward Weston, Harry Callahan and Ansel Adams. He garnered enormous acclaim during his lifetime, yet the breadth of his career has remained largely in the shadows since his death in 1975. The exhibition surveys the arc of Bullock's innovative achievements in more than 70 vintage prints, which include early experimental works of the 1940s to his late metaphysical photographs of the 1970s.
Wynn Bullock: Revelations was curated by Brett Abbott, director of collections and exhibitions, Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth and former curator of photography at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. The exhibition was organized by the High Museum of Art, Atlanta, in collaboration with the Center for Creative Photography, Tucson.
On view January 13-April 29, 2018
Support for this exhibition is provided by The Donald and Marilyn Keough Family.
Generous in-kind support for this exhibition is provided by Tru Vue, Inc. and Avyve.
Sponsor for this exhibition at the Figge Art Museum is provided by the Hunt and Diane Harris Family Foundation.
Companion event
Thursday, March 8
5:30 p.m. Opening Reception
6:30 p.m. Panel Discussion
Join us for a public lecture and conversation with the exhibition's curator Brett Abbott, and Bullock's daughter Barbara Bullock Wilson, who will discuss her father's life and work.
image: Wynn Bullock (American, 1902-1975), Lynne, Point Lobos, 1956, gelatin silver print, 7 1/2 x 9 7/16 in., Collection Center for Creative Photography, © Bullock Family Photography LLC, all rights reserved.


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You'll understand why Sarah was so adamant about her mom doing better work in just a moment.
In fact, I'd say all will be made clear right...about....
Hi, Sarah's mom!
Say, you DO kind of look like you're having a nervous breakdown. Perhaps if you sprinkled a little more powdered sugar?
To be fair, Sarah offers the following explanation:
"The wedding took place during August in Dallas, and I think the biggest lesson here is humidity and fondant DO NOT mix. The cake was essentially "sweating," and as it melted, it began to lean."
Whoah, whoah, whoah! An over-caffeinated toddler with poor spatial awareness? Really? C'mon, maybe if she just added a few flowers...
So I know the readers are dying to know, Sarah: what was the final verdict?
You mean she didn't have an anxiety attack? Aw, now that's a couple that's gonna go the distance, right there.
Well, I think we've all learned some valuable lessons today. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to dig up some embarrassing pictures of my mom during Band Camp; this mom stuff is comedy GOLD.
Oh, and Sarah? Better go with the premium bouquet this Mother's Day. With chocolates. And a few diamond necklaces. Delivered ahead of time. By someone else.


text:
Reports & Studies
Welcome to our complete catalogue of reports and studies (which includes backgrounders, policy briefs, full-length research reports and books).
Most publications are available to all at no cost. Please support the CCPA and help make important research and ideas available to everyone. Make a donation today.
The Impact of EU-Canada Free Trade on the Real Economy
by Jim Stanford
October 27, 2010 |
National Office
Does Canada Really Have a Deficit and Debt Problem?
by Andrew Jackson
October 18, 2010 |
National Office
by Angella MacEwen, Christine Saulnier
October 16, 2010 |
Nova Scotia Office
Why the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter is wrong for Canada
by Steven Staples
October 14, 2010 |
National Office
Reflections on the Government's Backtrack on Mercury Emissions
by Brendan Haley
October 12, 2010 |
Nova Scotia Office
The Impact of BC's New Third Party Advertising Rules on Social Movement Groups
by Shannon Daub, Heather Whiteside
October 6, 2010 |
BC Office
by Marc Lee, Kenneth I. Carlaw
September 30, 2010 |
BC Office
Perspectives from Youth-Serving Agencies
by Amelia Curran, Evan Bowness, Elizabeth Comack
September 29, 2010 |
Manitoba Office
A reader on Canadian women's inequality
edited by Trish Hennessy, Ed Finn
September 29, 2010 |
National Office
CCPA-BC Recommendations to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services
by Iglika Ivanova
September 15, 2010 |
BC Office
Fall 2010, Volume 13, Number 3
Costs and benefits of publicly funded drug coverage for all Canadians
by Marc-André Gagnon, Guillaume Hébert
September 13, 2010 |
National Office
Coûts et bénéfices d'une couverture publique pour tous
by Marc-André Gagnon, Guillaume Hébert
September 13, 2010 |
National Office
How Much New Social Housing is BC Building?
by Seth Klein, Lorraine Copas
September 13, 2010 |
BC Office


text:
I mean, think about it: this is the cake that must end all cakes. It has to outshine, outdo, and outhouse every dream of every girl who has ever dreamed of being a princess! [sigh]
Plus, just imagine the unbelievable stress the poor bakers must be under at this very moment. The agony! The suspense! The weighty sense of impending doom, should their one shot at world-wide glory, fame, and adoration fail! BWAHAHAHAAAA!
Er...I mean...
Wishing you the best of luck, guys!
"Ruddy good, yes! Tally ho! What what!*")
Many thanks to wreckporters Christin S., Gary & Brittany J., Melissa B., Kelli B., Amy E., Anna K., and Lou for today's joint efforts.
*Yes, I know all British people do not sound like this. But the really cool ones do.
Note from john: For some reason, the comment section is acting all wonky today so if you don't have a Google account, you can't leave a comment. With any luck, the Google Overlords will fix the problem soon. Wreck On!


text: Good morning. I'm Steve Inskeep, honoring a devoted lawmaker. Some officials are slammed for missing votes, but Vyacheslav Osipov was there for vote after vote - or not precisely there. This member of Russia's parliament voted on 31 different measures, despite being dead. The rules allowed other lawmakers to cast votes for him by proxy. He is now off the voting roles, but set a political milestone. Usually the dead only vote to get people into office. It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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'Crimmigration' has become a critical "catch all" concept for legal scholars, criminologists, and sociologists alike. The concept describes the way two previously separate state control spheres – border control and crime control – influence each other and are part of the same control mechanism experiences and developments. This concept, for example, helps understand Trump's effort to legitimize the tightening of immigration policy. It refers to both the protection of American economy and jobs and the explicit intent to protect American citizens from terrorists, rapists, and gang members. For this IMER lunch seminar, Synnøve Jahnsen from Rokkansenteret will talk about the usefulness of crimmigration as a concept in other settings. She will draw on empirical examples from her research on prostitution and human trafficking, Norwegian labour market crime policies, and the policing of outlaw motorcycle clubs and youth gangs in Australia and Europe. She will also use the opportunity to promote her new co-edited book "Criminal Justice in the Era of Mass Mobility" and highlight some of the methodological challenges faced by researchers in her field.
A light lunch will be served. All welcome!
Synnøve Jahnsen is a postdoctoral research fellow at Rokkansenteret where she specializes in the sociology of law and criminal justice.
Since the refugee reception crisis in 2015, asylum seekers and refugees have often been at the centre of public and scholarly debate. However, the focus has frequently been on the problems they bring about for host countries. Less attention has been placed on asylum seekers' aspirations, dreams and plans after arrival. Yet these are meaningful to study given that aspirations can have a significant impact on people's future trajectories and hence, the ways they incorporate into their new homes. Furthermore, desire, despite having a strong agentic nature, is deeply entangled in the social structures and discourses that newcomers are surrounded by.
In this seminar, Zubia Willmann, will be presenting her article in which she explores how the aspirations of women who came to Norway as asylum seekers change over time, the elements that may be involved in such changes as well as how these women go about pursuing their aspirations. She draws on intermittent fieldwork for one and a half years (2017-2019) in which she followed women seeking asylum in Norway, from the stages in which they lived in asylum centres to the early stages of settlement in a Norwegian municipality.
A light lunch will be served! All welcome.
Zubia Willmann is a currently a PhD candidate at VID Specialized University, Stavanger with a project exploring how women seeking asylum in Norway go about starting their life in their new home. She has an interdisciplinary background, her main fields of interest being migration studies but also gender and religion studies among others. She has been recently a visiting scholar at the Migration and Diversity Centre at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. Zubia is also a member of the IMER Junior Scholars Network.
There is a deep-rooted cultural belief that encounters between strangers in local settings can bring about social change. Mette Strømsø, a researcher at the Sociology Department UiB, brings this aspect to the forefront in her study of local community initiatives established in the wake of the refugee influx in 2015. Mette will present her co-authored article with Susanne Bygnes whereby they strive to unpack the promise, inherent contradictions and transformative potential of the facilitated encounters in local communities where newcomers settled. The reference to Karen Blixen's short story Babette's feast indicate the cultural resonance of the promise in the facilitated encounters between newcomers and permanent residents.
Mette Strømsø is a researcher for IMEX at the department of Sociology, UiB. She holds a PhD in Human. Her research interests fall at the intersection of political geography and social and cultural geography, with a focus on everyday nationhood and especially the reconciliation between nation and diversity.
Join us on Zoom


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The arguments continue over the merits of the viral video and Kony 2012 social media blitz that this week have exploded onto the Web.
But what can't be debated is that millions of Americans, many of them young people, now know about Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony and know a little bit more about the years of civil war in Northern Uganda.
As we reported Wednesday, the activist group Invisible Children's new 30-minute video has quickly become a large presence and sparked a huge conversation all over the Web — thanks to the group's savvy social media marketing campaign aimed at young people.
But as we also have reported, Invisible Children has been criticized for simplifying what's happening in Uganda, for focusing only on the killings, kidnappings and other atrocities carried out by Kony's Lord's Resistance Army and not those of other groups or government forces, and for the amount of money it spends on staff compensation rather than aid or other charitable activities.
Time magazine's Global Spin blog today rounds up most of the critiques in a post headlined "Why You Should Feel Awkward About the 'Kony 2012' Video." Among its points: "the LRA is no longer thought to be actually operating in northern Uganda. ... Its numbers at this point have diminished, perhaps amounting to 250 to 300 fighters at most. ... Kony, shadowy and illusive, is a faded warlord on the run, with no allies or foreign friends."
And as we've also noted, Invisible Children has now addressed its critics in a statement. It says, for example, that the group does not "defend any of the human rights abuses perpetrated by the Ugandan government or the Ugandan army (UPDF)." And it explains why some of Invisible Children's leaders once posed, holding guns, with members of the Sudan People's Liberation Army by saying "we thought it would be funny."
The arguments over Invisible Children's campaign will likely continue. But as we say, it has surely raised awareness about what's been happening in Uganda.
The Los Angeles Times notes that "the video quickly went viral; more than 32 million people had watched it on YouTube by Thursday morning. The phrase #stopkony is trending on Twitter as celebrities such as Rihanna and Zooey Deschanel urge their online followers to watch the video." And there's more to come, as the Times writes:
"The campaign argues that Kony must be made so famous that global pressure will stay on for the U.S. to continue its quest, helping governments in the region to track him down. It plans to paper cities with Kony posters on April 20, hoping to making the guerrilla leader a household name."
Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.


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Federal agents who are investigating poison-laced letters that were sent to President Obama and others have arrested Everett Dutschke, of Tupelo, Miss. The Daily Journal of Tupelo reports that the arrest occurred around 1 a.m. Saturday.
In addition to the president, letters containing the poison ricin were sent to Sen. Roger Wicker and a Mississippi state judge.
Update at 11:55 a.m. ET. Charges Filed, Court Date Set
Federal charges have been filed against Dutschke, accusing him of possessing biological agent, identified as ricin, and with intending to use it as a weapon.
"If convicted on this charge, Dutschke faces maximum possible penalties of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and 5 years of supervised release," according to a Department of Justice statement.
He is scheduled to appear in a District Court in Oxford on Monday.
As The Clarion-Ledger reports, Dutschke also faces charges of child molestation. He was indicted for those offenses earlier in April.
Our original post continues:
The FBI, the Capitol Police and other law enforcement personnel have searched Dutschke's property several times in the past two weeks, including Tuesday, when technicians in hazmat suits were sent to his home. Agents also searched his taekwondo studio in Tupelo.
Police "maintained a presence all week in Dutschke's Canal Street neighborhood, setting up an observational parimeter around his home," The Daily Journal reports.
A former political candidate, Dutschke has granted several interviews, including a phone conversation with the AP Tuesday, as he waited for his home to be searched.
"I'm a patriotic American. I don't have any grudges against anybody. I did not send the letters," he said.
As we reported earlier this week, federal authorities released Paul Kevin Curtis and dropped all charges against him Tuesday.
Update at 11:55 a.m. ET. Curtis Said Dutschke Framed Him:
After his arrest, Curtis and his attorneys said that he'd been framed. The ricin-containing letters included the sentence "This is KC and I approve this message" — similar to the style of an earlier Facebook post by Curtis.
Upon his release Tuesday, Curtis "said he met Dutschke in 2005 but for some reason Dutschke 'hated' and 'stalked' him," the AP reported. "'To this day I have no clue of why he hates me.'"
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Adopt a Pet, Save Your Life! You've heard before: Adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue and you save a life. And while those words ring true 365 days each year, they have even more meaning on April 11 – National Pet Day, founded by animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige in hopes of saving some of the 16,000 unwanted pets killed eachday in U.S. shelters. Indeed, providing a forever home for a dog or cat is a loving, noble and worthwhile act. But based on findings from some four decades of medical research, their lives aren't the only ones being "saved" in their adoption. Here are six ways pets can save your life from America's top killer – heart disease – and improve your overall health: 1. Stress Management Nerves frayed from working like a dog? Your dog (or cat) works for you, providing instant "om" for stress relief. Through their constant entertainment, affection and loving antics, they provide joyful mental floss for whatever bites at our spirit. Just how much? Consider one study from the State University of New York at Buffalo, in which researchers found that when conducting a stressful task, people experienced less stress when their pets were with them than when accompanied by a spouse, family member or close friend. (Sorry, two-legged loved ones.) And the benefits of pets aren't only for here-and-now stress: Returning soldiers victimized by Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) – a potentially devastating condition in which a terrifying ordeal such as war warps the "fight-or-flight" response – report impressive, if not amazing, improvement from trained service dogs provided by groups such as K9s for Warriors. 2. Lower Blood Pressure Studies vary on the actual impact, but this much seems clear: Having a pet seems to have the potential to keep blood pressure in check – especially in those at-risk or already diagnosed with high blood pressure, reports to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Exercise, of course, is one way to control blood pressure – and dogs help provide that. But don't fret, feline aficionados: After University of Minnesota researchers studied 4,435 Americans between ages 30 and 75, they concluded that those without a cat had a 40 percent higher risk of heart attack and a 30 percent great risk of dying from heart disease than did cat owners. 3. Lower Cholesterol and Triglycerides Another heart-helping benefit of pet ownership: Pet owners of either gender – but men, in particular – typically have lower levels of artery-clogging cholesterol and triglycerides than those without four-legged friends. Why? Although some speculate that healthier people are just more likely to have pets, the American Heart Association notes that dogs help (or require?) their owners adopt a healthier lifestyle. One study of more than 5,200 adults showed that dog owners not only engaged in more walking and physical activity than non-dog owners, but were 54 percent more likely to get the "recommended level of physical activity." 4. Reduced Pain Granted, sometimes pets are a pain – think chewed shoes or soiled rugs – but if you have chronic pain caused by arthritis, migraines or other conditions, they can be effective medicine…literally. One study from Loyola University found that when patients recovering from total joint replacement surgery received hospitals visits from therapy dogs, they required 50 percent less post-operative pain medication compared to other surgical patients. Another study, at a Pittsburgh pain clinic, found that 84 patients with fibromyalgia who engaged with dogs for just 15 minutes prior to an appointment with their doctor reported having less pain, fatigue and stress compared 49 other patients who didn't interact with the dogs. Coincidence? Not according to the researchers who recommend expanded use of dogs in doctors' offices. 5. Help with Depression Along with medication and other treatments, those with mild to moderate depression feel better with Fido or felines. Reasons: Pets provide unconditional, and uncomplicated, love to improve self-esteem. They require attention and responsibility, which experts say can add positive focus, value and importance to the lives of the depressed, They invoke routine, and a daily schedule is another benefit to those with depression. And pets, of course, combat the isolation that often fuels depression. Beyond just a mind-mending distraction, pets can actually promote feel-good hormones: Studies show that just petting a dog or cat boost levels serotonin and dopamine, two brain chemicals that some research suggests can cause or worsen depression when in short supply. If you don't have depression, maybe you can thank your pet. 6. Fewer Allergies
Take note, expecting and new Moms: In recent years, several studies have found that infants' later risk of developing allergies and asthma is reduced – as much as 50 percent – when they are exposed to dogs. More great news: Babies who live in a pet-filled household also tend to develop stronger immune systems compared to young'uns in canine-free homes. The explanation, discovered just months ago: Apparently, there's something in the dust of dog-filled homes that seems to promote a protective response against microbes that have been linked to allergies and asthma. Leave a Reply. |
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Sadly Jazz Legend Dave Brubeck Dead At 91.
December 13, 2012 by Staff
Filed under Music, News, Weekly Columns
(Akiit.com) Jazz composer and pianist Dave Brubeck, whose pioneering style in pieces such as "Take Five" caught listeners' ears with exotic, challenging rhythms, has died. He was 91.
Brubeck, who lived in Wilton, died Wednesday morning at Norwalk Hospital of heart failure after being stricken while on his way to a cardiology appointment with his son Darius, said his manager Russell Gloyd. Brubeck would have turned 92 on Thursday.
Brubeck had a career that spanned almost all American jazz since World War II. He formed The Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1951 and was the first modern jazz musician to be pictured on the cover of Time magazine – on Nov. 8, 1954 – and he helped define the swinging, smoky rhythms of 1950s and `60s club jazz.
George Wein, a jazz pianist and founder of the Newport Jazz Festival, had known Brubeck since he first worked in Wein's club in Boston in 1952.
"No one else played like Dave Brubeck," he said. "No one had the approach to the music that he did. That approach communicated."
Brubeck "represented the best that we can have in jazz," he added. "The quality of his persona helped every other jazz musician."
The seminal album "Time Out," released by the quartet in 1959, was the first ever million-selling jazz LP, and is still among the best-selling jazz albums of all time. It opens with "Blue Rondo a la Turk" in 9/8 time – nine beats to the measure instead of the customary two, three or four beats.
A piano-and-saxophone whirlwind based loosely on a Mozart piece, "Blue Rondo" eventually intercuts between Brubeck's piano and a more traditional 4/4 jazz rhythm.
The album also features "Take Five" – in 5/4 time – which became the Quartet's signature theme and even made the Billboard singles chart in 1961. It was composed by Brubeck's longtime saxophonist, Paul Desmond.
"When you start out with goals – mine were to play polytonally and polyrhythmically – you never exhaust that," Brubeck told The Associated Press in 1995. "I started doing that in the 1940s. It's still a challenge to discover what can be done with just those two elements."
After service in World War II and study at Mills College in Oakland, Calif., Brubeck formed an octet including Desmond on alto sax and Dave van Kreidt on tenor, Cal Tjader on drums and Bill Smith on clarinet. The group played Brubeck originals and standards by other composers, including some early experimentation in unusual time signatures. Their groundbreaking album "Dave Brubeck Octet" was recorded in 1946.
The group evolved into the Quartet, which played colleges and universities. The Quartet's first album, "Jazz at Oberlin," was recorded live at Oberlin College in Ohio in 1953.
Ten years later, Joe Morello on drums and Eugene Wright on bass joined with Brubeck and Desmond to produce "Time Out."
In later years Brubeck composed music for operas, ballet, even a contemporary Mass.
In 1988, he played for Mikhail Gorbachev, at a dinner in Moscow that then-President Ronald Reagan hosted for the Soviet leader.
"I can't understand Russian, but I can understand body language," said Brubeck, after seeing the general secretary tapping his foot.
In the late 1980s, Brubeck contributed music for one episode of an eight-part series of television specials, "This Is America, Charlie Brown."
His music was for an episode involving NASA and the space station. He worked with three of his sons – Chris on bass trombone and electric bass, Dan on drums and Matthew on cello – and included excerpts from his Mass "To Hope! A Celebration," his oratorio "A Light in the Wilderness," and a piece he had composed but never recorded, "Quiet As the Moon."
"That's the beauty of music," he told the AP in 1992. "You can take a theme from a Bach sacred chorale and improvise. It doesn't make any difference where the theme comes from; the treatment of it can be jazz."
In 2006, the University of Notre Dame gave Brubeck its Laetare Medal, awarded each year to a Roman Catholic "whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the church and enriched the heritage of humanity."
At the age of 88, in 2009, Brubeck was still touring, in spite of a viral infection that threatened his heart and made him miss an April show at his alma mater, the University of the Pacific.
By June, though, he was playing in Chicago, where the Tribune critic wrote that "Brubeck was coaxing from the piano a high lyricism more typically encountered in the music of Chopin."
In 1996, he won a lifetime achievement award from the Grammys and in 2009 he was a Kennedy Center Honors recipient.
Brubeck told the AP the Kennedy Center award would have delighted his late mother, Elizabeth Ivey Brubeck, a classical pianist who was initially disappointed by her youngest son's interest in jazz. (He added that she had lived long enough to come to appreciate his music.)
Numerous jazz musicians were scheduled to participate in a birthday concert in Brubeck's honor that had been scheduled for Thursday in Waterbury. The show will go on as a tribute concert. Darius, an acclaimed pianist, was among those scheduled to perform along with saxophonist Richie Cannata, and Bernie Williams, former New York Yankees star and a jazz guitarist.
"What he brought was a new meter to jazz," said Cannata. "I was probably in high school or elementary school when I first heard that 5/4 feel. I said, `Wow, what is that?' I was totally influenced. It made me stand up and pay attention to another whole feel of music."
Born in Concord, Calif., on Dec. 6, 1920, Brubeck actually had planned to become a rancher like his father. He attended the College of the Pacific (now the University of the Pacific) in 1938, intending to major in veterinary medicine and return to the family's 45,000-acre spread.
But within a year Brubeck was drawn to music. He graduated in 1942 and was drafted by the Army, where he served – mostly as a musician – under Gen. George S. Patton in Europe. At the time, his Wolfpack Band was the only racially integrated unit in the military.
In an interview for Ken Burns' PBS miniseries "Jazz," Brubeck talked about playing for troops with his integrated band, only to return to the U.S. to see his black bandmates refused service in a restaurant in Texas.
Brubeck and his wife, Iola, had five sons and a daughter. Four of his sons – Chris on trombone and electric bass, Dan on drums, Darius on keyboards and Matthew on cello – played with the London Symphony Orchestra in a birthday tribute to Brubeck in December 2000.
"We never had a rift," Chris Brubeck once said of living and playing with his father. "I think music has always been a good communication tool, so we didn't have a rift. We've always had music in common."
Via AP


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If you haven't caught the flu yet or don't know someone who has, you might want to buy a lottery ticket today. You're one lucky person.
As The Associated Press writes, "from the Rocky Mountains to New England, hospitals are swamped with people with flu symptoms." More than 40 states report "widespread" outbreaks. The flu's been blamed for the deaths of at least 20 children, the AP adds.
"We are into what would classically be described as a flu epidemic," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, told CNN.
It's far from over, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Thomas Frieden said on All Things Considered. "Usually, flu peaks in January or February," he told host Audie Cornish. "We don't know when the peak will be, but it looks like it's certainly started sooner, and the peak may go higher this year than most years."
About the only good thing we can report is that CNN says the spread of the flu may have slowed in some parts of the South and Southeast. Those are the regions of the nation that got hit first, and for them the worst may be over.
Experts say that if you haven't gotten vaccinated, there's still time — though it will take a couple weeks for the shot to have its desired effect and you may find it hard to find a pharmacy or doctor's office that can give you a shot. The Washington Post writes that "an early, severe flu season and higher-than-anticipated demand have resulted in some shortages of vaccine, setting off a last-minute scramble in the Washington area and nationwide, according to health officials, doctors and retailers."
To keep from getting and spreading the flu, the CDC continues to recommend these basic steps:
-- "Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
-- "Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
-- "Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
-- "Practice good health habits. Get plenty of sleep and exercise, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy food.
-- "Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
-- "If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine."
For ongoing coverage of the flu season and other health issues, check with our colleagues at the Shots blog.
Update at 11:40 a.m. ET. Outbreak Still "Elevated," But "May Be Decreasing In Some Areas":
As we said above, there is a bit of good news. The CDC just reported that for the week ended Jan. 5 "influenza activity remained elevated in the U.S., but may be decreasing in some areas." Officials caution, however, that the holiday season makes it more difficult to collect data. So, those places might report next week that the flu is spreading again. According to the agency, "47 states reported widespread geographic influenza activity."
The CDC also says that "between Oct. 1, 2012 and Jan. 5, 2013, 3,710 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations were reported. This is a rate of 13.3 per 100,000 population."
Only the "far west coast" — primarily California — is relatively unaffected, the CDC says.
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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My dryer isn't heating at all. What could be the problem?
Check the circuit breaker to make sure you have the correct power to the dryer. On some brands of dryers the motor will run, but will not heat.
The circuit breaker for the dryer is 240 volts and the motor requires 120 volts to operate. The remaining 120 volts is required to power up the element on an electric dryer.
The temperature of my oven doesn't match the guage, Is there a way to calibrate it?
Yes. In most cases we can calibrate oven temperature in the electronic section of your stove.
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Most major brand washers, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, ranges, ovens, gas and electric stoves, range hoods and garbage disposals.
Why are the sides of my refrigerator or freezer sometimes hot to the touch?
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If the refrigerator or freezer has a forced air condenser under the unit and the coils are not cleaned, the sides of the refrigerator will be warm.
Also, if the ambient temperature of the unit is warmer than normal this could cause the side walls of the unit to be warmer than normal.
In most cases you will need to clean out the coils under the refrigerator. If problem persists call for service immediately or major damage may occur.
Why does my dryer take so long to dry?
This condition is usually caused by either kinked vent tubing, a restriction in the vent or too long of venting material from the area of where the dryer is located to the vent outside of the house. If the venting material is too long, the venting material should be shortened as much as possible. If the venting material appears to be short enough, you may have a restriction in the vent or the distance from the dryer vent to the outside is too long of a run. A quick way to test the vent airflow is to turn on the dryer without any clothes in the dryer. The amount of airflow should be equal to the amount of air exhausting from the dryer without the vent attached.
If the problem persists, call us immediately to set up a service call.


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This executive, full-brick townhome stands out in the highly sought-after community known as Potomac Yard by Pulte Homes. Thoughtfully designed, it reflects modern living.
The residence features hardwood floors that extend through the open layout on the second floor. The gourmet kitchen offers stainless steel appliances, sleek upgraded cabinets and rich granite countertops. It's great for impromptu or elaborate dinners.
Other highlights include a fourth bedroom on the first floor with a full bath and a deck off the kitchen. In addition, the home contains a fourth-level bonus room with wet bar and a rooftop terrace — with a fireplace — with a view through to the bonus room. The combination is great for large get-togethers or an intimate retreat.
Outdoors, Potomac Yard will boast gardens, jogging paths, tennis courts and a playground, among other amenities. Not only are the commodities great, but the house's location is terrific. Enjoy an easy walk from the home to Potomac Yard Shopping Center and the Braddock Road Metro Station. Visit pulte.com/potomacyard for more details.


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Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Retrospective: The Palladium Role-Playing Game
That enigma aside, Palladium has been around a very long time. I remember seeing ads for the company's products in Dragon in the early 80s, such as its weapons and armor guides, as well as for its fantasy RPG. And of course I was already familiar with Kevin Siembieda's name as an illustrator of many Judges Guild products. Despite this, I never actually picked up The Palladium Role-Playing Game. In fact, I never even saw a copy until the very late 80s, by which point my tastes for Yet Another Fantasy RPG had long since been sated. More to the point, conventional gamer wisdom (at least in the circles in which I moved) informed me that The Palladium Role-Playing Game was just a D&D knock-off -- someone's house rules masquerading as an original game. So I never made any effort to sit down and read the game on its own merits.
That is, until the mid-90s, when I'd become so disenchanted with the direction of AD&D that I started to cast about for alternatives. The original edition of The Palladium Role-Playing Game came out in 1983, with a revision in 1984 (and further revised and expanded in 1998). On a purely cursory inspection, I can certainly see why the game was viewed as little more than someone's D&D house rules. There are eight randomly rolled attributes, most of which are the standard ones renamed. There are hit points, races, and character classes. There are even alignments, which, though renamed, map pretty closely to those in AD&D. And there are lots and lots of random tables to determine many aspects of your character's background, training, and physical appearance.
There are plenty of differences too, from the way combat and magic work to the inclusion of skills, not to mention the world in which it is set, both explicitly and implicitly. I suspect that whether one views The Palladium Role-Playing Game as a unique creation or a mere ape of D&D depends greatly on what aspects of its rules one focuses on. There's no question that D&D exercised a strong influence over Siembieda in creating this game, but, then, how many early RPG designers can claim not to have been influenced by it, if only negatively? After all, what is Basic Roleplaying/RuneQuest other than a codification and development of the Perrin Conventions, which were house rules to OD&D designed to make them more "realistic?" Obviously, that's an extreme simplification of the matter, but I think that's the case with The Palladium Role-Playing Game as well. The D&D influence is there, but it's not the only influence. Moreover, there's more to the game than what it has in common with Dungeons & Dragons (and, by extension, many other early RPGs).
Re-reading the game recently I was struck less by its specific affinity with D&D and more by its connection to old school design principles more generally. The Palladium Role-Playing Game is not one that frets about "balance" or shies away from "swinginess" or any of the other buzzwords of contemporary RPG design. This is a game very much in the mold of the early days of the hobby, a joyous goulash, equal parts randomness and brilliance, that wasn't tailored to provide a particular kind of play experience. It's a toolbox, filled with more than any single referee could ever possibly need for a single campaign, but, since its designer doesn't know -- let alone mandate -- what each referee might need, he includes it all and allows the referee to pick and choose as he wishes. This is not a game that worries about being coherent.
I've never had the chance to play The Palladium Role-Playing Game in any version and I doubt I ever will. I already have D&D for all my incoherent fantasy gaming needs. Still, it's good to be reminded that, when Dungeons & Dragons was abandoning the Old Ways, Palladium was still there, keeping the faith and providing gamers with the kind of stuff that first attracted me to the hobby in the first place. The Palladium Role-Playing Game may not be my game, but I now feel a strange kind of kinship toward it and its legions of players out there whom I've never met.
44 comments:
The closest I ever came to playing Palladium was the long running Robotech campaign I was in, based on the original ruleset. I had the Robotech books, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Rifts, but never looked for the fantasy game since I was more interested in the settings than the system itself.
Looking back, I can see that we approached the system like the early days of D&D. We took a wild stab at how the game should be played and went for it. If there was something that we didn't understand, we usually just skipped it.I played Palladium Fantasy back in the 80's. At the time I thought it was a better system because it had skills.
Looking back on it now I can see how in many ways it was a reaction to D&D. I particularly love reading the section on wizards and there spells, how they spend their lives learning them and would never forget them. Of course, there is no such thing as balance. A 1st level Wizard who is lucky enough to learn a 9th level spell (something like 5% chance off a scroll) can cast it twice a day.
I do have to admire a company that has stuck with the same system for over 20 years. Fantasy got a bit of a revision to make it more similar to Rifts, but overall they just keep putting out the same sort of books over and over again.
I have no idea who still plays it, but I can say I still own some books and it was once, long ago, my system of choice."The Palladium Role-Playing Game is not one that frets about "balance"..."
Tell me about it. Some friends were playing a PFRPG game with a first level party, and they were (as I heard) almost wiped out by a badger, which in Palladium is a 4HD critter. Of course, having seen a ticked-off badger, that may be justified. :)
I never played PFRPG that I recall, but I did try their occult horror game, Beyond the Supernatural. While I hated the mechanics and munchkin-friendliness of the rules, I thought there were some very nice ideas in it.
Sidenote: One of the funniest KoDT strips I've ever read involved the Knights playing a version of Rifts. Bob with nuclear weapons. Hilarious. :)I got a copy of this game not to long ago and I was pleasantly surprised.
Amazingly enough I even know a guy who have played it a lot, love it to death and even said once that his choice of world to live in, except for this one, was Palladium Fantasy!
Then there is Rifts, which I just love in all it's gonzo headiness. But, since I think Synnibarr is cool I guess nobody trusts that judgment!Two copies of Rifts circulated in my school-years gaming group, but no one had played it, and no one stepped up to run it.
Palladium Fantasy, on the other hand, was something we'd heard of, and -- unlike Rifts, where even fans admitted it was wobbly and broken -- seemed to be held in high regard. But no one had ever seen a copy, let alone played it.Palladium games only have value for:
* sheer gonzo insanity of their ideas
* occasional brilliance of artwork, either from Kevin or, more often, from contributions from other artists like Michael Kucharski, illustrating the game world and the rules and making them come alive.
They almost never have value for:
* their rules. Siembeda, I hear, doesn't even playtest anything, ever. He just writes the shit and sends it out to the fanboy brigade (which is almost entirely Rifts fanboys these days). The rules to virtually all Palladium games are sheer garbage.
I played a lot of Ninjas & Superspies, which had a lot of the former (gonzo ideas), not so much of the latter (sweet art). Rules sucked but we didn't care, we had fun with it.
Palladium RPG was very low on the gonzo ideas. It had some of the latter (sweet art making the game world come alive) in the illustrations of specific signs and runes used by various specialty magicians, as I remember. That's the coolness i remeber about it.
TMNT had both in spades.
Rifts was (and is) rife with both.
The original Mechanoid Invasion was pretty high on both counts.
Nightspawn/Nightbane -- had both in spades.
Beyond the Supernatural -- pretty high on both.My group played Rifts, but none of the other games. I always liked the worlds and ideas in Rifts, but there always seemed to be too many things broken with it. The biggest things I remember now were the megadamage rules and the scale of the weapons. Cover became pointless when you could blast through a mountain with a hand held gun and detect targets using sensors. Fights seemed based on how many points of armor and force shields you could slap onto your characters rather than what actions you took. I have heard that their Robotech game was much better about this, but never read the rules.
Regardless, we did have fun with it, and the sourcebooks were always fun to read.Ive actually played some Palladium Fantasy and a little Rifts. Both are chock full of cool ideas and art but my god the rules are atrocious. Im firmly OSR and not particularly worried about game balance so much as players having fun and being able to play when you get time in the spotlight. However Seimbada has this bizarre need to put a gimped class that cant do anything and in fantasy was literally just a farmer. No combat abilities, no magic, not even some sort of uncanny luck ability. You were literally just Bob the farmer while you had wizards with any level of spell, warriors who could disembowel foes in nothing flat, and wolfen who were like the Lycans in Underworld running around in the party.
I think most old school gamers should try and get palladium fantasy and put it on their reference shelf with other wacked out mines of ideas like Arduin - but thats meI've got quite a few Palladium Fantasy books. Since I prefer games like OD&D/Labyrinth Lord/Swords & Wizardry, chances are that I'd never run a game myself. However, there are some pretty neat setting ideas and a few rules ideas that could probably added into a D&D game with little to no trouble. The artwork in some of the books is sheer brilliance. Kent Burles is in quite a few books and quite an underrated talent. He did the art for a D&D inspired comic book back in the early to mid 1980's entitled "The Adventurers" that still captures the feel of old school D&D gaming better than any other comic I've read.
ReplyDeleteI've discussed my Palladium nostalgia a little on my own blog. I played a ton of Palladium games in the 90s. The system actually works quite well for fantasy, though by the time Rifts came around it had been stretched pretty thin. Nevertheless, I know the Palladium system better than I do any other (including D&D), and the setting of the fantasy Palladium RPG is one of my personal faves.
ReplyDeleteAndreas -- hey, this is the Internet! Unsubstantiated, generalizing rants are what we *do* here!
As for the garbagey rules, I'm just citing my own experience with them. They weren't unusable, mostly, but they were ridiculous. I'm sure there are worse rule systems out there, actually unplayable ones, but as the playable ones go Palladium stuff kinda sucked.
RE: Kevin never playtesting, that is hearsay, in that I heard someone say it, it made a lot of sense to me, and I believed it, but it might not be true. I don't remember where I read it, but it was in somebody's remarks about Palladium on the occasion of the sad passing of Eric Wucjik. I don't have any personal experience of Siembeda's lack of playtesting, the way I do of the sucky rules.
I have a lot more regard for the work of some of the other Palladium authors (like C.J. Carella and Eric Wucjik) than I do for Siembieda's own work, btw. And Wuj and Carella don't have a history of litigiousness and abusive behavior towards their fans on the internet (and then turning around and begging them for handouts to save the company) the way Siembieda does.
But I've never met Siembieda, and maybe if I did I'd think the world of him. A lot of people do seem to like him, in spite of everything.
BTW, I really dig your Omnipotent Eye blog. Keep up the good work. :)Although I own most of the Paladium Role Playing Supplments,I have not actually played the game. Didn't see anything particularly wrong with the rules, but it was enough D&D like that there didn't seem to be a need to change. I was far more interested in the ideas formented by the campaign world than the actual rules. After the first couple of books it is mostly campaign setting. I an still hoping for the release of the third book for the lands of the damned but I am not sure it is coming my lifetime.
ReplyDelete- AnonymousDecember 29, 2010 at 6:47 PM
Palladium rules are absolutely wonderful for wild over the top games. I played Robotech and RIFTS and it was good. Also the rules-as-written tend to keep rules lawyers away. Hah!
ReplyDelete I played an interesting game of Palladium Fantasy back in College, in a campaign that lasted for about a year, as I remember it. I played a Gnome who had taken the Healer class, which lead to several cries of 'Pass me the healer', as Gnomes in PF were, IIRC, about two feet tall and could avoid pursuit by walking onto people's lawns and balancing on one leg.
I don't really remember the rules very much, which probably means we weren't wedded to them. I had more fun dealing with the tricks and puzzles the GM put into the game.- AnonymousDecember 29, 2010 at 8:18 PM
I think there's still a very hardcore group of Palladium RPG gamers centered around the Detroit/Ann Arbor area. Probably there are other core populations elsewhere.
Kevin Siembieda always seemed like a pretty nice guy in real life. Eh, doesn't prove anything, I know. Some people are nicer in real life; some people are nicer on the Internet; some people are about the same in all situations. I think I tried it out with the original Ravenloft module, after throwing most of the "dungeon" elements of that module away. It worked. It had much more of an Old School feel than most of the other games available at the time, in that there was a multitude of character classes and the like.
One group at Uni had a large campaign going using the game system, which was apparently quite popular.
Whilst I ended collecting most of the Palladium catalogue (up to Rifts), I was never very enthused with the increasing complexity of the later games. TMNT and Other Strangeness had some nice ideas with Bio-E and was interesting because of the source material, the complexity of the skill system was definitely not to my tatse. Similarly Heroes Unlimited and the like never really jelled for me. The addition of Robotech killed the game system, especially, when, in Rifts, it started to mix concepts of SDC and MDC in the same combat.
But the original fantasy role-playing system, definitely had a flavour of it's own, and the supplements were quite interesting, describing a quite usable and unique world.
[Given the hard time Kevin Siembieda had with Marvel with respecting his rights as an artist it is no surprise to me that he was extremely protective of his copyrights and trademarks when he eventually formed his own company. Even if this overreaction (in many cases) did in fact cause him a great deal of hostility from many uninformed quarters. The only way he could ensure that no one else stole his work was to be aggressive in protecting it, as any lapse in doing so would have the potential of allowing it to be stolen again. As such, you can't really consider it a litigious act. Just the actions of someone who had been hurt badly (financially and emotionally) and who wasn't going to be hurt again.]My old group played a number of Palladium games - heck, we played just about everything we could get our hands on. We did play Palladium Fantasy, TMNT, Beyond the Supernatural, Ninjas and Superspies, and Heroes Unlimited. I remember there were a lot of conversion rules for crossing genres - I had an elf in the fantasy setting that used Samurai swordsmanship from Ninjas and Superspies - he was ridiculously good.
Mainly we played TMNT, though, since we were fans of the Eastman and Laird comics.Played Rifts many times and it was indeed ridiculous. When your hand-held laser welder can shoot through schools you know you've got problems. I guess it works when you're 13 and hopped up on Mountain Dew.
Heroes Unlimited seemed to go better for no particular reason that I can fathom. Maybe I just enjoyed fighting crime with my 3 Muskteer-inspired Alien-Fishman with his Arquebus Ion Blaster.We played some back in college. I played a Kobold Shaman...In the original rules Shamans can animate dead as a special ability (a certain number of times daily and IIRC no limit on number of HD of creaturs.) Being Unscrupulous in alignment (Chaotic Neutral) and the only healer in the party my character started extorting the rest of the party for healing services (i.e. best pick of magic items.) If other party members had an issue with that they could take it up with my "complaint department," the horde of undead following my Kobold around. Yeah I'd say a little unbalanced ;-)
ReplyDeleteMy earliest gaming days were nothing BUT Palladium games, yet oddly never RIFTS or the Palladium RPG.
I played a ton of Robotech, TMNT, Heroes Unlimited and spin-offs of the three. In a weird way I credit them for my DIY approach today... because the damn things were so broken, unintelligible and typo-laden I had to make half the rules up myself.Full Discloser: I own ever book Palladium has put out to date and regularly run Palladium games at cons.
Palladium Games are definitely old school in that the GM picks and chooses things and makes a lot of decisions on the fly. As to the "munchiness" of the rules, that's all a matter of taste. Played full-out, Rifts especially, mirrors the zaniness one sees in anime like Lodoss War or Princess Mononoke than Tolikien. On the flip side, the GM can limit the power level as well.
As to Kevin himself, I was worried the first time I met him. "Is he really the prima donna that people accuse him of being?" I thought. after meeting him, I got the impression that he's just one of the guys. It's like your best gamer friend just happened to own a gaming company....for almost 30 years! How many are left from that time? Steve Jackson Games? Flying Buffalo? Chaosium? TSR is long gone, WotC a subsidiary of Ha$borg.
Just my thoughts.- AnonymousDecember 30, 2010 at 3:17 PM
I wonder if there was any regional element to where Palladium games were more popular? My friends and I in the Detroit area played a ton of them: Robotech and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were great - Robotech had great mecha combat and TMNT had a rather nuts-but-fun mutation system featuring 'bio-e[nergy]' points. Heroes Unlimited, Beyond the Supernatural, and Ninjas & Superspies were unweildy but fun. Rifts came a bit later - never got into it.
I even had the staplebound 'Mechanoid Invasion' from way back when...
As to "The Palladium RPG" itself, I spent a lot f time looking through the book, but never played it. It felt like a sort of darker, more complex AD&D.
It sure could have used a more descriptive name, in any case... My gaming group used to play a lot of Palladium Fantasy. I fondly remember the Witch character class, that could have a demonic familiar and immunity to fire at first level. I think the witch also had to enter into pacts with demons. I don't know if the anti D&D groups ever got their hands on Palladium Fantasy, but it would have played into their hands.
The fact that the game balance was different from D&D was one of the draws of the game. We never noticed the clunky rules as all the games of the time seemed to be equally clunky, and no rules system survives its first engagement with the players intact. For example, I don't think I have ever played a game where we took any notice of the Encumbrance rules. They were always the first to be jettisoned.
What always caught us out was that the results of the D20 were the opposite of D&D. In D&D a natural 20 is a critical hit, and in Palladium a natural 20 is a critical fail. The same reversal is true of rolling a 1.
The only Palladium games I never got into were Rifts and Robotech. But there is still time.I remember seriously looking at the Palladium RPG back in the mid '80s when I'd got really annoyed by some of the flaws in AD&D. I remember thinking that the PFRPG looked like an alternative AD&D.
I really liked the character class rules where instead of AD&D-style multi-classing, you could switch/add classes every time you hit a new level - pretty much what D&D3E did years later.
I never ran the system but I was tempted.I've never played PFRPG 1e, but I picked up 2e as a "supplement" of sorts to my own Rifts games. I ended up loving the setting, which I consider a prime example of a pulp fantasy sandbox setting (including the excellent books by Bill Coffin), and to this day I pilfer characters, locations and magic items from Palladium Fantasy for my D&D games.
ReplyDeleteMy first RPG ever was TMNT. I never had much problem with the rules (combat took forever, but, come ON, I was playing a ninja chicken!), and Wujcik's Bio-E system was so much fun, I spent hours each day just rolling up animals and mutating them. Rifts was fun, at first but I knew I was never, ever going to keep up with it (though some ideas from Underseas are so neat I used them in my own campaigns).
What I didn't like, back then and now, is Siembieda's obvious obsession with exclamation marks. You could easily see where stuff was copied from other games (written by Siembieda) and where the material was new, because Siembieda's writing felt like a frothing fanboy standing an inch away from my face telling me exactly how impossibly, incredibly cool, whatever martial art/skill/OCC/etc was.My first Palladium book was their first, The Mechanoids Invasion and I think to this day they are the source for wild and whooly inspiration.
Their system, however, is a mixed bag. On one level it supports rolling your own. At the same time the later editions are so mind boggling that you need to extract something out of them. More than once I've set out to do that but always failed.
That said, if I ever purge down to just what I actually see myself using and inspiration several Palladium volumes would remain including the entire run of fantasy.Wow, I'm sorry I missed this. Back in high school I owned (& ran) the exact edition you posted the cover art for, James. My friends & I loved the darkness compared to AD&D. A first level Wizard spell, frex, involved gathering a cauldron of fresh human / humanoid blood in an iron cauldron and sitting in a graveyard all night, then rolling to see what (if any) spirits turned up. A good roll would allow you to gain some useful information by questioning them; a bad roll meant a roll on the insanity table.
Also, it was built around a highly specific fantasy world. This made a great deal of difference to the feel of play. Of course you could (& were encouraged) to play it in your own sandbox but the sample world firmly anchored play in a particular substrate of fantasy imagining.
Another big plus was that you could play it all out of that one book. And the wolfen were fabulouso.
I never tried to run any other Palladium products, though I considered stealing ideas from them. They seemed to veer too far into the mind-numbing end of the crunch spectrum for my tastes.- AnonymousJune 7, 2011 at 12:12 PM
Back when I left AD&D I experimented with Palladium as a rules set for my campaign world because the gaming group that I was a player in had had a pretty decent campaign that we'd enjoyed playing using that system and setting. It was also the genesis of such aphorisms such as: "Don't hunt rabbits with a flamberge or you'll be eaten by a tiger".
I found that the system just didn't work for me and my campaign world, though I ended up stealing their alignment system because I liked it better for that and all subsequent versions of the home-brew system that I tinkered with over the next sixteen years.
I think we may played some Rifts as well (and I had a buddy who was all over TMNT from the beginning) but those don't really stick in my memory. At one point or another I think I owned probably most of the non-Rifts books (Ninja's and Superspies was a lot of fun IIRC). But for the most part Rifts always seemed to be a heck of a lot of fun to read and mine for the odd idea, but way to crazy to actually run.
D. Rifts is the only game I know of that sold a 10 or more volume series of books designed to make the other books you owned playable. They were called Rifts Index. Nice way to make money, though, if you can find a fanbase that will put up with it. I can't think of a better example of a game that was a complete mess. Shadowrun first edition comes to mind, but that game was SO cool and the color art and production value so great for its time it was still worth playing.
ReplyDeleteI know that I'm almost 2 years late to the party in commenting here, but....
I just finished reading The Palladium Role-Playing Game, 1st edition revised. I'm married with kids, and usually it can take me a few weeks to finish reading a set of rules. I finished this sucker in three days. I can't recall a time when I sat there reading a game where all I could think of was "I must play this!!!". I loved it... I just started reading it again:)