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Don't let the black kids guilt trip you, ladies. Not for uttering the perfectly fine word, "Nigger."
But be aware that the thought police are investigating you. Don't apologize. OK?
A video of a group of sorority girls at the University of New Hampshire singing along to a Kanye West song has sparked outrage at the school after being posted to social media.
The Facebook group All Eyes on UNH posted the video Tuesday just before noon.
"A member of Alpha Phi Sorority put up this video of girls singing along to Gold Digger by Kanye West on her Instagram story," the post reads. "The girls sing the n-word without thinking of the implications."
"This is a showcase of ignorance and that the Panhellenic Council should do better in combating racism. The first step is addressing willful ignorance."
Commenters have both criticized and defended the sorority with some saying they could easily avoid saying the word and others saying it's just song lyrics.
Here are some of the Facebook comments that I found:
A member of Alpha Phi Sorority put up this video of girls singing along to Gold Digger by Kanye West on her Instagram story. The girls sing the n-word without thinking of the implications.
This is a showcase of ignorance and that the Panhellenic Council should do better in combating racism. The first step is addressing willful ignorance.
Keith Mercier Well, now lets see….how many movies have used this word?. How many musicians have used this word. The way I see it is like this. If that word is so offensive that NO ONE should use it. These girls are signing the lyrics that have been OUT in that songs for how long. People need to grow up and take their sensitive wittle feelwings and get over themselves. The easiest way to SPOT the racist person in a group, just listen to the first person that claims something to be racist. Now, i'm not saying this is 100%, but come one people. 2017, and so far, everything offends everyone. go back to 2016, it wasn't this bad. Whats next, are we going to move to take out the white, black, brown, tan, peach, crayons. It's just a color, but, ..i'm sure someone out there wants to cry about it. How about we get rid of white out, and how about is a person is ill and has a blackout. This is what the world is coming to and it is very sad. I for one hope nothing happens to any of these people, and I hope that every person that wants to cry and protest about it just gets ignored.
Kim Labus Don't say the n-word if you're not black
Tommy Haas This isn't about freedom of speech, it's about making the 92% of white students at UNH more socially aware so that people of color feel more comfortable, welcome and safe at UNH. Y'all can sit here arguing about whether it's ok to say it or not all day long but the fact is this doesn't sit right with most people, especially black folk and POC, and definitely isn't broadcasting an inclusive environment in the eyes of many. You can disagree with me all you want, but that won't change the fact that this can make POC feel unwelcome and could potentially turn people away from the school. It is literally up to you, the students, to make sure UNH is more welcoming. It doesn't matter how you feel about this song or these girls singing it if you're white, it matters how POC view UNH based off the examples set by its students. I say it matters because shit like this would make the majority of the black and Latinx folk I know look for another school.
Stephanie Turner So are only the black girls in this sorority allowed to sing this song?It's a song, the girls are not racist and had no malicious intentions. You are creating a problem where there shouldn't be one. Korea is launching missiles and y'all worried about girls innocently singing along to a kanye west song..
Fox News is reporting that the sorority party girls are now under investigation due to the Facebook flap. Never post stuff on Facebook. How many times do we have to warn you???!!!
A UNH spokeswoman told NH1 Wednesday that the college was investigating the video and the sorority.
"No disciplinary action has yet been taken by the university. The incident is under review," spokeswoman Erika Mantz told the outlet.
"We believe strongly in the right to free speech as recognized by the First Amendment, and we also believe in the right of every member of our community to feel safe and respected.
"We continue to work to improve our campus culture through education, awareness and action."
Cowardly administrators. There is no Constitutional right to never be offended, which is what this witch hunt is about.


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It's on the entrance door ... the one to the furthest right.
OK, hard to see, I know. There's a better shot below. I just loved seeing this. And I really was lucky to see it - it was grafitti after all, and the next time I was there, the following week, it was gone, predictably. I mean, I agree with them, it ought to be removed. But if you're going to do something like this, then wow, way to go!! This is creativity in action, really. Brilliant. :-)
It says, in a translation that isn't word for word accurate, but is in fact more correct for it:
Knowledge is power, but ignorance is bliss.
Again, this was on the door to Oslo's main library. Gotta love it. :-)

subset: commoncrawl


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I've been making my own cloth napkins for almost a year now. I have a basket full of cloth napkins ready to use by the kitchen table. So far it's been very nice to have it around. I have a 1 year old and a 3 year old so meals and snacks get very messy and sometimes a paper napkins does not cut it. Even with the cloth napkins, we sometimes go through 2 napkins per kid - it really adds up$.
Basket of napkins and bibs. When all the napkins are washed and folded this whole basket is more than full.
A quick snapshot of my napkin basket. It's usually very full of only napkins.
I made about 40 napkins so far - some has gotten pretty used and some as disappeared. So I'm on a mission to make more. I thought about making some fancier ones with different patterns or patchwork but I'll wait until the kids abuse them a little less. For now, these simple one-ply cloth napkins will do just fine. Here's a quick rundown of how I make my napkins.
What you need: Scissors Measuring board/tape/ruler Sewing Machine Cloth - prewashed and ironed (I use a 100% cotton cloth normally used for quilting, but any kind of cloth would work depending on preference)
Time Needed:
About 3-5 minutes to make one (cutting and sewing). I cutted up 20 squares the other night, and sewing them as I need them.
Step 1:
Cut cloth into squares. I cut 18x18 inch squares, but any dimension will work depending on preference. I usually use whatever fabric is cheap but still durable and looks nice. My napkins don't watch and I don't really make a point of trying to get the same cloth every time :). Up to you. You may want to make a huge batch at one time to always have the same fabric on your napkins.
Step 2:
Sew all four edges. I folded over the edges twice and sewed it down. The corners are simple square corners.
Fold over twice and sew.
Sewing the corner.
Step 3:
Fold or just throw into a basket and use when needed :). I fold it up and put it with Silas' bibs right on the dining room table.
How to Clean:
I just throw them in a basket with the kitchen towels and baby bibs (slightly rinse beforehand if there's too much caked on stuff) and wash it in hot water in the washing machine about once a week or whenever the basket gets full.
Reasons why I love having cloth napkins:
- It's been quite convenient because they are super easy to wash up and reuse.
- More durable than paper napkins
- Since I usually wash all my kitchen linens once a week anyways, these napkins just gets thrown in the same wash so no extra wash necessary
- Saves $$ by not having to by disposables constantly. Again since these are washed in the same wash as the regular kitchen linens, it doesn't cost any more money to wash the cloth napkins. Well maybe a little bit of extra money because it takes longer for the dryer to dry since there's more things in it now.
- Teaches the kids about conserving and reusing.
- Always a conversation piece when we have guest over. I thought people wouldn't want to use our re-used (over and over again) cloth napkins, but people absolutely do not mind. They always think it's a great idea.


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I've decided what I want for Christmas: your energy level!!!
Good morning. Life is pretty insane these days as I juggle my way through the next 30 hours before I head to the airport. I am trying to balance the "to do's" with some down time each day so I do not get overwhelmed and crack like an egg…
seriously… I can't imagine it would be pretty.
So yesterday – between work and making tacos for 30 people and a wrap up pre trip meeting last night… I squeezed in a little down time and read through the Monday What Are You reading participants as well as a few of my favorite blogs I just love to read and see what they are reading. I seriously pick up awesome reads this way!
For example…
Over at Mundie Moms I found this cover that I thought was very eye-catching. This book is the last of a series but the review I read was enough to make me think that this may be a series I would like to try.
At In The Forest this title and review caught my eye. I know very little about cutting but do know someone who has done it so I have looked it up on-line to understand it more. I would be interested in trying this book.
You may be seeing this book start to pop up around the blogesphere but I first seen it at Word Lily. I have not (that I can recall) read any books like this one.
And finally, over the weekend this little gem caught my eye first at My Friend Amy's and then I read a couple other reviews on it as well. I was on my way to the book store to talk with Pat Bluth at a book signing so as long as I was there I inquired about this book. They did not have any in stock but I was able to order it and with a little luck it will be here Wednesday morning and may make the cut as the fourth book that I will take with me to Honduras.
So that's what happens when I visit other blogs and bloggers who book opinions I trust… I wind up with uhhh…… more books. However, I do not find that a bad thing because honestly the good ones are worth promoting and when a book interests me… I cant wait to grab it at my library or support my local book store when I can.
I've decided what I want for Christmas: your energy level!!!
Cut by Patricia McCormick is really good. Actually, I think Patricia McCormick is one of the best YA authors out there. I've also enjoyed Purple Heart and Sold by her
My daughter and I read Cut. It wasn't one of our favorites, but it does shed some light on a little-understood issue.
I have tyger tyger downloaded as an arc on my kobo and dying to read it very soon. I love the covers of Lesley's book. Dying to read that series too.
I have a post similar to this that I have written but not posted yet – Books I can't wait to read! Funny… I'm lucky to read 2 books a month now a days so these posts make me smile.
If I don't 'talk' to you before you leave have a wonderful, safe trip!
I get about 99% of my Wishlist titles and library possibilities from other peoples blogs, LOL… I enjoy seeing what they like or don't like and reading all of the information they have about these books…
Just another data point for you…Cut is the most frequently stole book at my HS Media Center. I have lost track of the number of copies I have purchased of this book.
Tyger, Tyger was excellent. I read the eARC months ago and loved it.
Have a good trip!
Those all look great!! I was just reading Kathy's comment about Cut being the most frequently stolen book in her library. My school copy went missing last year too!!! It's a great resource for those kids that need help!
The Lisa Samson book is really good. It might make you cry though. 🙂


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Today, on Thanksgiving, those of us in the U.S. are reminded of everything for which we have to be thankful. Many times, we even speak of this day in terms of our "bounty" and "abundance." As a Minnesota/South Dakota-native living and working in rural Bolivia for nearly five years, I often find myself inspired by the young people here at the College who are able to recognize and give grace and gratitude for what they have...particularly in terms of opportunities that come without abundance.
I think of UAC-CP student Raúl Carita – a young man genuinely grateful for the opportunity he's been given to study at the College, despite the challenges and difficulties that accompany it.
Raúl Carita.
A first-year student in the UAC-CP's Nursing Department, I first met Raúl a couple of months ago when our Food Cooperative manager handed me a list of names of students who she heard weren't eating regularly and asked me to check in with them individually. Raúl's name was at the top of the list.
A day later, sitting on the bench outside the Volunteer House, I encouraged Raúl to tell me why he wasn't participating in the Food Cooperative Program. And so he explained: he is the youngest son of poor citrus farmers who live here in the Bolivia's mountainous Yungas. "My parents are old and they work really hard for little money," Raúl told me. "I can't bare to ask them for extra financial help."
Which was why Raúl was barely eating. He was skipping meals – drinking only juice, eating only crackers – because he couldn't afford the monthly $22 subsidized cost for lunch and dinner in the College's Food Cooperative Program. (Thanks to Cross International, the College offers a free breakfast program for all students and donations to Carmen Pampa Fund help provide a subsidy for lunches and dinners). Any money Raúl was able to save he used to pay for school supplies and his nursing uniform.
"So, why do it?" I asked him in all sincerity. "I mean, how is it that you want to study so badly that you're willing to put your studies before your stomach?" Raúl's answer was simple. He came to study in Carmen Pampa because he knows first-hand the abject poverty that exists in Bolivia. And he knows he has the ability to do something about it.
"I have seen the way people are forced to live in remote, rural communities. They have no access to public health or education and it makes me very sad. But I believe, with a college degree, I can help improve the health and livelihood of my people. I feel called to do this."
Raúl's tender disposition and dedication to helping people charmed me immediately. As did his ability to solve his food problem. "I talked with the president of the Food Coperative," he told me later. "And we agreed that I will work in the kitchen every day and help the cook." In exchange for his work, Raúl said, he is able to eat for free. A great solution for Raúl! (But unfortunately not something that will work for all students who need financial help to pay for Food Cooperative dues.)
"You know," Raúl said into the microphone my iPod voice recorder, "I really feel called to be a nurse, to help the sick and suffering in my country. Yes, it is a difficult time for me as I work to achieve this goal. But I at the same time I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here [in Carmen Pampa]; to have this chance to improve myself and serve other people."
Today, as I consider my blessings, I think of Raúl. And I find myself truly appreciating that, in the midst of so much need (adequate food, accessible health care, quality education, etc.) and in the absence of abundance and privilege, here in Bolivia there are young people like Raúl who not only recognize grace, but turn it into opportunity and change.


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|Mary Karr
Mary Karr describes herself as a black-belt sinner who's made an improbable journey out of the inferno for her famously tormented childhood. In her fourth collection of poetry, she documents her transformation into a resolutely irreverent Catholic. No one before has brought such smart-assed hilarity to a conversion narrative. The battle is grounded in common loss (a bitter romance, deaths of friends, a teenage son leaving home) as well as elegies for a complicated mother, but these poems disarm with an arresting humor familiar to fans of The Liars`Club and Cherry.
They are illuminated by a cycle of spiritual poems rooted in Karr's eight-month tutelage in Jesuit prayer practice, and an essay that weaves together how Karr's reliance on poetry as a pathway out of suffering made (go here> excellent interview) prayer possible for an unbeliever.
Readers who complain that poetry wallows in gall and denies us consolations will find clear-eyed joy in this collection.
Link (here) to the Princeton website


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Growth, Enterprise and Trade
Rural and Northern Economic Development
Strong rural and northern communities are vital to economic growth in Manitoba.
Explore opportunities to build more vibrant communities, where young people can learn and look toward a future full of opportunities. The Manitoba government encourages rural and northern communities to take an active role in planning and directing their future.
Economic Development Resources
- Commercialization Support for Business (CSB)
The CSB Program was formed to help entrepreneurs and businesses with every stage in the business lifecycle. Entrepreneurs can get support to create new ideas, products, services, processes, markets and jobs in all sectors and regions of the province.
- Communities Economic Development Fund (CEDF)
CEDF's mandate is to encourage economic development in Northern Manitoba through the provision of Financial Assistance [in the form of loans and guarantees] and other forms of technical assistance.
- Community Enterprise Development Tax Credit (CEDTC)
The CEDTC encourages Manitoban resident investors or eligible corporations to invest in specific community enterprises or in community development investment pools in their communities. The aim is to assist community based enterprise development projects in raising local equity capital.
- Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (EDC-MBM)
The EDC for MBM is encouraging, stimulating and organizing economic development in bilingual municipalities.
Community Planning Tools
The following are innovative tools communities can use to plan and direct their own development.
- Community Economic Development (CED) is a grassroots approach to development where communities choose deliberate actions to influence the local economy and to improve the quality of life for its residents.
- Regional Economic Analysis Process (REAP) explains how communities can use regional demographic, labour, business and industry data to identify economic development priorities. With supporting workshops, this analysis leads to creation of an economic action plan. REAP may be used by existing regional organizations or a group of regional stakeholders committed to working together to develop a regional economic development strategy.
- Expand Housing Options in Your Community is a project manual for community groups and organizations looking to increase community housing options.
- First Impressions Community Exchange (FICE) is a program that helps communities learn about their strengths and weaknesses as seen through the eyes of a first time visitor. This manual explains how communities can use this process to inform their decisions as they create more vibrant places to live and work.
- Photovoice for Community Development is a tool any community can easily use to encourage community discussion and planning. Using pictures, a wide range of community members are asked to identify community strengths, issues and opportunities. This guide provides step-by-step instructions and resources for conducting a Photovoice project.
- Co-operative Development Services, a branch of Manitoba Growth, Enterprise and Trade, offers support and advice on how to strengthen communities by forming co-operatives of all kinds.
Regional Economic Profiles
- Winnipeg economic profile (448 KB PDF)
- South West economic profile (449 KB PDF)
- South East economic profile (445 KB PDF)
- South Central economic profile (449 KB PDF)
- Parklands economic profile (490 KB PDF)
- Northern economic profile (430 KB PDF)
- North Central economic profile (313 KB PDF)
- Interlake economic profile (428 KB PDF)
- Northern Community profiles (Look North)
Visit and Invest in Northern Manitoba, a region rich in resources and experiences. If you are looking for an ideal place to launch a great business idea, to expand an existing success story or to relocate to a unique region with untapped potential, consider making northern Manitoba your new home.
Need More Info?
Contact GET staff by email.
Related Links


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Soon my car will be looking like this
and my room will be looking like this
I am a little on edge these days.
So here are some things to brighten my day (and maybe yours)
Old people that are adorable.
This beyond adorable dress.
I would get this shirt for my summer job hunt...except I have no money.
These are the cutest. I will be making some of these for our apartment next year!
I love these handmade stamps from pictures! I want one of me and Noey ♥
There now, I feel better.
Now back to homework.
XO, Ashley


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National Year of Reading – Reading Ambassador #8 – Long VU TRAN
What are you reading at the moment?
I'm reading the Raymond E. Feist series at the moment – I'm up to the Krondor part, which is the fourth series. It's set in a land called Midkemia. Fantasy & adventure are the genres that I prefer to read. I really like the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan and the Artemis Fowl [Eoin Colfer] series. In primary school I was recommended Agatha Christie – I liked Ten Little Indians and Death on the Nile. I like books with medieval warfare – Raymond E. Feist writes in this way but he includes magic as well. A lot of authors will take elements of that time period – like the feudal system, for example, – but put them into their own worlds or realms.
Where's the most unusual place that you've ever read a book?
At the start of Year Seven I spent a lot of time reading, but I didn't go to the library. I used to spend a lot of time reading, standing in this corner outside my lockers. Then eventually I started reading & walking & eating at the same time – but just at school. I don't do it on the street in case I trip or walk into things. When I read on the train there's a whistling sound in the tunnel just before Flinders Street Station, but sometimes I'm so immersed in what I'm reading that I hear it but there's no recognition. I don't miss my stop on the way home because most of my friends get off at the stop before me.
What book / story has made a lasting impression upon you?
I would have to say the Ranger's Apprentice [John Flanagan] series because I've read the series about five times – this is the kind of book/series that I enjoy the most. It's set in medieval times & the main character is Will. Will wasn't born a hero. He was an orphan & he wanted to become a warrior but he was too skinny, so then he became a ranger's apprentice. Rangers are a kind of spy for the kingdom, they wear cloaks & walk around the forest like scouts. The people believe that the rangers have magical powers – but they don't, they have just been thoroughly trained to protect the people.
Thank you, Long, for sharing your reading preferences with us, and thanks, as always to Denise for the interview and photo.


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On Context And ContentI don't watch many golf tournaments, but I never miss the British Open.
On Friday, I was scanning through ESPN's coverage. It's impossible to just watch ESPN coverage, because there's quite a bit of waiting between the golf, actually. I was spending more time looking for golf than actually seeing any golf.
Roaming around with the remote, I saw that DirecTV was offering the "international feed" as well, which was the BBC feed.
I realized after about ten minutes that the BBC feed was the greatest coverage ever. No commercials, no interviews, just shot after shot after shot. Plus, the announcers were wonderful. Compare what happens after a bad shot:
American announcer--"One thousand random words."
British announcer--"That certainly wasn't what he was hoping for."
Quite the breath of fresh air, really, and no commercials, either, so it was couch potato heaven.
On Saturday, I decided to measure the difference (I tend to do that). So I taped the 12:00-12:30 CST coverage on both channels. In that thirty minute period, the BBC showed 52 actual golf shots.
How many did the U.S. of ESPN show? 35.
That's right. 50% more actual golf on the international feed, and commercial time accounted for less than half the difference.
Here's the difference in coverage. In the U.S., ESPN spent a huge amount of time trying to provide context and explain story lines. They did interviews. They made the screen look like a video game. The event itself wasn't considered interesting enough unless additional drama was provided by the coverage.
In a word, shitty.
The BBC feed, on the other hand, spent zero time providing context. If you don't know the context of the British Open, it's not their bloody problem. Interviews? None. Screen overlays? Sod off.
In a word, excellent.


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Łódź (Poland), Minneapolis (United States) and Buenos Aires (Argentina) have submitted their bid dossiers for the organisation of Specialised Expo 2022/23 to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). The three candidates thus enter the project examination phase of the bidding process.
Bid dossiers are comprehensive documents detailing the Expo project. They are sent to delegates of all BIE Member States and outline the candidate's vision for the Expo, including the site, the theme, and the planned intellectual and physical legacy. The bid dossiers also lay out projections on visitor numbers, financing, and costs.
The contents of the bid dossiers will be used by representatives from the BIE's Member States to evaluate the interest of each Expo project. This will serve as the basis, alongside the reports from the BIE Enquiry Mission and presentations from candidates, for each Member State's decision when the Expo host is elected at the 162nd General Assembly of the BIE in November 2017.
During the project examination phase, the BIE will study each bid dossier before carrying out Enquiry Missions to each candidate city in order to evaluate the feasibility and viability of each Expo project.
The Secretary General of the BIE, Vicente G. Loscertales, stated that each bid dossier will be carefully examined by the BIE ahead of the Enquiry Missions. Mr. Loscertales added: "the development of the theme is particularly important in the framework of a Specialised Expo bid. It constitutes the essence of the Expo, bringing global attention to a precise challenge facing humanity."
Poland's bid is for a Specialised Expo in the city of Łódź between 15 June and 15 September 2022 under the theme "City Re:Invented."
The United States' bid is for a Specialised Expo in Minneapolis between 15 May and 15 August 2023 under the theme "Healthy People, Healthy Planet: Wellness and Well Being for All." The United States is not a Member State of the BIE.*
Argentina's bid is for a Specialised Expo in Buenos Aires between 15 January and 15 April 2023 under the theme "Science, Innovation, Art and Creativity for the Human Development."
*In accordance with BIE regulations, Member States must be given priority over non-Member States


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From the ACLU of Massachusetts comes words of wisdom from civil rights lawyer Harvey Silverglate, who explains quickly and clearly why activists (or anyone else) should never have a conversation with an FBI agent without a lawyer and tape recorder present. The reason? Because the FBI is capable of blackmailing almost anyone into becoming an informant:
Learn how the FBI can manipulate what you say and use it against you, and how to prevent them from doing so! With civil liberties and civil rights attorney Harvey Silverglate.The post Why You Should Never Speak To The FBI Without A Lawyer Present appeared first on disinformation.


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Sphere: Related Content
Let's see if you know how to make money this coming holiday season:
Holiday Forecasts Hold Out Some Hope
There Are Opportunities for Marketers Who Understand Today's Consumer
Coming so soon after last fall's near-collapse of the global financial system, the 2008 holiday-shopping season was doomed from the start. Now, with an economic landscape that features some signs of recovery alongside plenty of lousy numbers (and plenty of consumer anxiety), how can we expect 2009's holiday-shopping season to pan out?
Some early forecasts suggest we'll see another less-than-robust season, though one that offers some opportunities to marketers who are in sync with the current consumer mood.
A report last week from Deloitte predicted holiday-shopping sales this year will be unchanged from last year's $810 billion, which itself was down 2.4 percent from 2007's figure. A BIGresearch survey this month found 40 percent of respondents budgeting less for gifts than they did last year, while a mere 4 percent were budgeting more. An Information Resources Inc. (IRI) report released this month suggests consumers are "more hopeful" than last year and could "selectively open their wallets wider." But its polling, fielded last month, also sees just 23 percent of respondents adopting a gift-giving budget of $800 or more, "down 13 percent from 2008."
As significant as early indications of total spending, though, are shifts in the ways consumers are likely to go about their holiday shopping -- and, hence, in the way marketers should address potential customers. As IRI's report notes, people "are taking a more strategic approach to shopping this year." And that's reflective of a deeper change in the way they view their expenditures. Thom Blischok, president of IRI Consulting & Innovation, speaks of a new "economic sobriety" in consumers who've seen their retirement funds shrink, the value of their house decline and so on. The consumer mantra now, he says, is "I really have to save more and live more conservatively."
In this environment, people will still spend money, but marketers must give them a pragmatic reason for doing so, Christmas or no Christmas. "Ads must emphasize innovative ways that gifts can be integrated into everyday life," says Blischok. "People will be buying through the lens of affordability and functionality -- 'Can I really afford it, and is it functional?'" They'll be looking for gifts that will stay in use and not get stuck in a closet after the holidays, he adds.
Nor is it strictly a matter of people having fewer discretionary dollars to toss around. "The whole movement from conspicuous consumption to conscious consumption has been permeating all levels of society," says Mary Delk, a director in Deloitte Consulting's retail practice. "Consumers are moving toward being more reflective about their spending," she says, partly in tandem with an increasing concern about "sustainability." And they want to see marketing that acknowledges this new sensibility, and isn't just talking about price. "Instead of marketing something as a low price point, they could be emphasizing that you're a conscientious consumer," she says.
Whatever their motivation, consumers will be more careful about the ways they spend their money. One reflection of this, according to IRI's research, will be widespread use of shopping lists for holiday shopping. Just 18 percent of IRI's respondents expect to do their holiday-gift shopping without a shopping list in hand -- which means it's important for marketers to get brand messages across to them before they walk into a store. And in shopping for foods and beverages for holiday entertaining, just 11 percent of respondents said they'd forgo a shopping list. "By the time they get to the store, people's minds will be pretty well made up directionally," says Blischok. That presents a challenge for in-store marketing. It can still be effective, says Blischok, if it links up with "the rest of the brand promise" as consumers have encountered it elsewhere, including online. But it can't be "in-store display just for the sake of in-store display."
One beneficiary of consumers' caution about spending will be private-label goods at the supermarket as people stock up for their holiday entertaining at home. Ninety percent of IRI's respondents said they would be using private-label goods for holiday meals, up from 87 percent last year. Blischok notes that private-label goods made big strides last year in quality, and this year they'll be "reaping the harvest" of those improvements.
As for gift giving, Delk predicts that toys and electronic games could be strong categories. In past economic cycles, she notes, expenditures on kids have been quicker to recover than spending in general. So, to the extent that there's a loosening in consumers' grip on their wallets, those kid-oriented sectors could benefit. IRI taps electronics as one of the more promising categories this holiday season, noting $100 Blu-ray players as an example. Blischok foresees strength on sales of G3 and G4 phones for gaming. He also mentions "affordable health and beauty categories," such as skincare, as sectors that could do well this holiday season. The same goes for beer and wine as people emphasize in-home entertaining, he says.
One of the dirty little secrets of holiday-gift shopping is that (when there's not a recession on, at least) people end up buying lots of stuff for themselves. In its research leading up to 2008's holiday season, though, Deloitte found a sharp decline in such "self-purchasing" -- deeper than the overall drop in holiday spending. Since self-purchases are often in the apparel category, that sector suffered last year and, says Delk, may well do so again this year.
Even if people felt like splurging for the holidays, any boost in spending on gifts and entertaining would have to run against the grain of what remains a strong inclination toward austerity in discretionary outlays. A Harris Poll, conducted earlier this month, gives a sense of consumers' basic outlook on inessential expenditures. Asked to look ahead to the next six months -- i.e., a period including the holiday-shopping season and then some -- 67 percent of respondents said they'll decrease their spending on eating out at restaurants during that period, up from 65 percent last November and 66 percent this past May.
The numbers were nearly identical when the Harris respondents were asked about their spending on entertainment: 67 percent in the new poll said they'd be cutting that expenditure, vs. 64 percent in both November and May.
When the Harris Poll asked the more general question of whether respondents will "have more money to spend the way you want" in the next six months, the responses were similarly unpromising for marketers who wish for a surge of holiday spending. Twenty-five percent of respondents think they'll have more money to spend as they please, a number unchanged from last November and down a percentage point from May.
Marketers on the lookout for people willing to spend will have better luck with particular demographic categories, according to the BIGresearch report. In its analysis, "big spenders" were more likely to be men than women. And while those identified as "penny pinchers" had an average age of 46.7, the "big spenders" skewed about a decade younger, with an average age of 36.9 Spenders were also more likely than average to be single, while pinchers were more likely to be married.
(Source: Adweek, 09/28/09)
Friday, October 02, 2009
Holiday Hope
Sphere: Related Content
Posted by ScLoHo (Scott Howard)
Labels: Advertising, marketing, research


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My nickname at Healthy Kids has been "The Big Green Pen" for many years now. Because I use a green felt-tip pen when I edit letters, and because I am, to put it mildly, generous with the green ink, the nickname is permanent and has become my identity on Twitter (@biggreenpen) and among my proofreading/copyediting clients.
There are a few of us at the office who enjoy language, and appreciate language used with precision and care. Therefore, when I see something egregious (like the recent "Flordia"), I send out a quick email with a "Big Green Pen Challenge." When my coworker, Niki Pocock, participated in the most recent "Big Green Pen Challenge," she included in her response a link to a blog by Bob Gabordi, Executive Editor of the Tallahassee Democrat, in which Bob discusses why answering his phone is always an adventure. As part of his blog, when he refers to a caller who questioned whether the Democrat still utilizes proofreaders, he wrote:
Losing those people huddled in the back proofreading pages was part of the price we paid for technology. These days, newspaper pages go straight from the newsroom's computers to metal plates that go on the press. Fewer eyes are looking for typos and minor grammar flaws.Between my initial reading (on Friday) of Bob's blog and logging on to http://www.tallahassee.com/ this morning, two typos jumped off the page (first case) and screen (second case). It was time to e-mail Bob.
In my e-mail, I expressed my hope that there can be some happy medium between those non-existent "back of the room" proofreaders and "a journalistic organization resigning itself to an attitude of "we'll catch what we can, but errors happen."
I pointed out the on-line lead for the well-done "print exclusive" article about the fiscal difficulties faced by the LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts. The text stated:
I also pointed out that the header to a very informative article in yesterday's Democrat, which described how to prepare for the sport of triathlon, was titled this way:The recession has been particularly though on theLeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts, a Tallahasseenonprofit that's been around for 47 years.


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2 answers
176 views
Where is the best place to eat in Opatija?
over 7 years ago about Opatija, Croatia
Asked by Ron Piotraschke via Travellr.com
2 Answers
Bevanda hotel about 7 years agoAnswered by Nejc Jancar via Ask a Nomad iPad app
Plavi podrum restaurant in Volosko. Ask the cab driver. Without doubt the best place to eat. almost 7 years agoAnswered by Dag Knepr via Ask a Nomad iPad app


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Pretty please would you write just a few words or a lot of words about well . . . what you would like to talk about. I'm into fashion so that what this blog is about but you don't have to talk with me about that. I would love your opinions about fashion. As long as you want. But I will tell you that this past fashion month has totally wore me out. It was such a huge roller coaster ride! Good or Bad, Ugly or lovely. I had all those feelings. But more than me talking I would like you to talk. It's so important as a new blogger to find out what you think.
Even if:
you know nothing about fashion and you just want to say hi or tell me off
you really don't understand what the big deal is about a whole month of fashion.
you want to talk about what you liked
you want to talk about what you didn't like
you just want to say something
you have dropped by my blog and you would like me to talk about something in particular.
The point is there is no right and wrong about any of your opinions. It would totally make my day to hear from you.
If you want to have a look at my blog with pictures of the latest fashion you can just click below. Tell me what you think about it!!!!


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mtaylor77 wrote:Well, I stuck trying to Battle the wild sunbird and the game won't let me through the gate for some reason. Does anyone know if there is a certian requirement that I might be missing?
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Sunday, August 29, 2010
Reminiscence of College days 2
I mentioned in a previous post on memoirs of College about the tour to
. And how we broke the ranks and control of the Asst Professor and ventured out in the night. Bangalore
I managed to retrieve after much search few photographs of some of us who made it to
in 1978.Appearances of some are funny, and some look pretty. Some look emaciated including me.Looking back, quite a contrast nature had decreed for every person! This is manifested when one look back at the photos during the farewell party twenty seven years ago and during the trip to Bangalore Bangalore.
On the sides of the reunion function and the luncheon some of us recalled the vapid fun some had and the little, subtle infatuations during the days in college. We however concluded that a smile, an incessant ageless smile should not be taken as the acceptance of amour, of intimacy. And we were also unanimous in the opinion that the realization was quite late in coming ha ha ha ha !!
All said and done the reunion was a master act, and I m certain that the kids who came along and the spouses too would never have thought of such grand and earnest response.It is fascinating to look at the faces and try to recollect what they looked twenty seven years ago, branded as a bunch of impertinent rascals.
Posted by Anilkumar Kurup at 11:23 AM
5 comments:
- Insignia said...
:-) What do I say? Its a great deal to have a reunion and meet everyone whom you studied with. And after so many years, few decades that is, its awesome :-)
- August 29, 2010 at 12:39 PM
- Balachandran V said...
Tried hard to locate you in the old photos! :(
Reunions are occasions, not only to learn where our old friends are, but also to learn how they have fared in life - in comparison to ourselves! ;)
- August 30, 2010 at 8:19 AM
- anilkurup said...
Oh yes . That was hell of a day.
@ Bals,
Always at vantage point in such photographs!!!!
Comparisons are sometimes disconcerting aren't they?
- August 30, 2010 at 9:03 AM
- RGB said...
Meeting your college mates after so many years must have been real nice - a Reunion where you can catch up on the lost years and renew those friendships! Great that you could share those pics with us :D
- August 30, 2010 at 6:28 PM
- anilkurup said...
Yes it was a good time. Thank you
- September 2, 2010 at 7:15 PM
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The 1706 Assessment is arranged by the individual Towns that made up Kings County in 1706. The Assessment of "Brooklands" is up first (page 91), and here we find a number of children of Adam Brouwer, of Gowanus, L. I.
|Kings Co., Connveyances, Vol. 3, p. 91 (image from FamilySearch.org)
Pages 92 and 93 (image 418) apparently adds a few more names to the Brooklyn list, and then records the list for the Town of "Boshwycks" (Bushwick), the list for "fflatlands" (Flatlands, a.k.a. Amersfoort) and begins the list for "fflatbush" (Flatbush).
|Kings Co., Conveyances, Vol. 3, pp. 92-93 (image from FamilySearch.org)
Pages 94 and 95 (image 419) continues the list for Flatbush and is followed by the lists for New Utrecht, Gravesend. The New Utrecht and Gravesend list begin on page 94 (old page 196) and both are continued on page 95. New Utrecht is on the left, and Gravesend is on the right.
|Kings Co., Conveyances, Vol. 3, pp. 94-95 (image from FamilySearch.org)
PDF version of this post.


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Ernest Davis
More details will be added when we study memory management and more again when we study interrupts.
1. Complete all previous instructions in f. Therefore, the only registers important for the state of f are the stack pointer (SP) and the program counter (PC)
2. Push arguments c,b,a onto P's stack. Note: Stacks usually grow downward from the top of P's segment, so pushing an item onto the stack actually involves decrementing SP.
3. Execute PUSHJ < start-address of g >. This instruction pushes PC onto the stack, and then jumps to the start address of g.
4. The first step in g is to allocate space for its own local variables by suitably decrementing SP.
g now starts its execution from the beginning. This may involve calling other procedures, possibly including recursive calls to f.
5. At the end of g: Undo step (4) and deallocate its local variables by incrementing the SP.
6. Last step of g: POPJ has the effect PC = pop(stack)
7. We are now at the step in f immediately following the call to g. Pop the arguments a,b,c off the stack and continue the execution of f.
Function f in process P calls a non-blocking system routine
1. Procedure call to library routine in user space; just as above.
2. In library routine: put system call in specified location (e.g. register)
3. Put PC in specified location LPC (e.g. register or top of user stack).
4. TRAP: Jump to location in kernel and switch to kernel mode.
5. In kernel: read system call, and go to that routine.
6. Execute body of system call. Kernel does not encounter any need to block P.
7. Jump to location saved in LPC (next step in library routine) and switch to user mode.
8. Library routine: Library procedure returns to f, as above.
Steps 1-5 are the same as for a non-blocking system call. (Necessarily, as there is no way to know whether P will block until step 6.)
6. Execute body of system call. Kernel realizes that P has to block.
7. Kernel determines that process P is running from corresponding flag in kernel.
8. Save next address for P from LPC into process table entry (PTE) for P.
9. Save SP in PTE for P.
10. Save other dynamic information in PTE for P. Some of this may be in registers, some in kernel space, some in P's user space.
11. Mark P as blocked in PTE.
12. Call the scheduler to choose a ready process Q.
13. Load Q's dynamic information from PTE for Q into wherever it goes.
14. Mark Q as the running process.
15. Jump to the next address of Q as recorderd in Q's PTE. Switch to user mode.
16. In Q: Continue.
Carry out steps 12-15 as above for P.
16. We are at the next step of the library routine in P. Return to f.
1. I/O device notifies interrupt controller.
2. Interrupt controller places index of device and event into address lines.
3. Interrupt controller issues interrupt to CPU.
4. Hardware saves PC (next address in P) in LPC, switch to kernel mode.
5. Hardware load PC from interrupt vector [ index of device,event].
6. Assembly language procedure saves registers (expressing state of P) into PTE of P.
7. Assembly language procedure sets up new stack.
8. C interrupt server runs.
Continue as in steps 7-16 of "call to blocking routine," except that P will generally be marked as "ready" rather than blocked.
131: LOAD R1, Y 132: LOAD R2, Z 133: ADD R1,R2,R3 134: STORE R3, XIf the interrupt occurs after 132 has executed, then the values of R1 and R2 need to be saved and restored before P resumes at 133. Otherwise, when P resumes at 133, R1 and R2 will contain some garbage put there by some entirely different process.
If the machine uses pipelining or a super-scalar architecture, in which several instructions are executing simultaneously, then the problem of saving state become much hairier.


text:
.....Crime Scene Investigation (Miami) revolves around 'Lieutenant Horatio Caine,' who is portrayed by David Caruso who is obviously extracting money by deception in as much as the man can't act.
Mr. Caruso is a joke and as an actor he would make a very good car park attendant, and a poor one at that. If the sun glasses were issued by National Car Parks the thing could not be more unbelievable.....
The man is devoid of talent. Without the sunglasses where would his character be? David Caruso is about as believable as Andy Pandy climbing into to the basket with Looby Loo and not copping feel, or doing the said deed and blaming it on Teddy!!!


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Getting Debt Free isn't as difficult as people would like to have you believe. Compared to the constant juggling of bits of money when you are up to your eye-balls in commitments getting Debt Free is a doddle and much less stressful.
You see there is a plan to getting and keeping control of your money .. a step by step systematic process that takes you from being stony broke to financial freedom. You just follow the steps (with the added bonus that when you are following them you can always blame me when you decide not to spend money and use it to pay off debts instead – honestly just tell them "Elaine says NO!!" and you have your get-out)
But the very first step you need to take is to decide that from here on in you are going to live within your means – no more spending money that is not yours on stuff to impress people you are not that keen on anyway. Real friends don't care that the New Year didn't see you shopping for a new sofa / holiday / conservatory … real friends care that your kids are fed, your heating stays on and you are not stressed up the eyeballs with spiraling debts.
So why not spend a few minutes really looking at the income you have every month – the game for 2017 is to make sure that you only spend your income and nothing else for a whole year. In 2017 I would love you to not add a single penny to your debts but instead to be focusing on some simple things you can do to free up more of your income from "keeping your head above water" things and throwing some more at paying down your debts.
Every penny off your debts in 2017 is a cause for celebration … a penny you will never have to pay interest on ever again.
Lets make this the year when we all "live within our means" where we "cut our coat according to our cloth" or any other wise financial saying you can find.
Lets make 2017 our "No more Debt year"!


text:
Giants hold off Diamondbacks 6-5 to keep National League West leadPosted: Updated:
PHOENIX (AP) -- Cody Ross had a two-run double and scored on a double steal in the fifth inning to help San Francisco build a five-run lead, then the Giants held on for a 6-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night to stay atop the National League West.
The Giants took advantage of an off-kilter Josh Collmenter (4-2) to lead 5-0 after five innings, but starter Matt Cain (6-4) nearly gave it all back over the next two.
Miguel Montero hit a three-run homer off the San Francisco right-hander in the sixth inning to make it 5-4 before Nate Schierholtz gave the Giants the extra cushion they needed with an RBI double in the seventh.
Closer Brian Wilson walked two and had a wild pitch with two outs in the ninth, but struck out Stephen Drew to close out his 19th save.


text:
tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23348411959357407082018-03-06T13:56:03.889-05:00OliB.LogA brief insight into my life...unedited and raw! EnjoyOliver Berlichttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-62071535487616192392012-11-15T12:19:00.001-05:002012-11-15T12:19:06.908-05:00Hurricane Sandy SessionMy latest edit hope you enjoy!

Hurricane Sandy SessionOliver Berlichttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-50302362005389703072012-08-10T12:01:00.003-04:002012-08-10T12:08:20.934-04:00My Rides

 My Ridez 5'6 Totora, Arcade 136 SS Shredtown kicks, Skate 115 and the infamous 94 Dodge Ram Shaggin' wagon.

Oliver Berlichttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-20345208875208373962012-05-10T21:52:00.001-04:002012-05-11T09:35:55.146-04:00Here's What We Do
Here's What We Do from Oli Berlic on Vimeo.Oliver Berlichttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-59598068110854334962012-02-11T08:59:00.001-05:002012-02-11T09:00:06.683-05:00At it again...With Billy Parker and Alex Fox in town we decided it would be a good idea to bring out all the toys for some serious shredding. This is the latest edit I did. Using Final Cut Pro X and Motion 5 Still learning but making some headway!

 Hope you enjoy and Please leave comments.

Oliver Berlichttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-10967156439494664092012-01-31T08:59:00.000-05:002012-01-31T08:59:48.038-05:00Downwind Shwap attackLast Thursday I did a guided downwinder with one of my aspiring students. Little Piet only 12 years old did his first of two downwinders that day!

Definitely some one to watch out for in the future. Hes got the cahones and the drive to get him to the top of the podium in the coming years.

Enjoy

Shwap Attack from Oli Berlic on Vimeo.Oliver Berlichttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-4999171322033067132012-01-17T10:16:00.000-05:002012-01-17T10:16:42.978-05:00Hyperflex InterviewWhile I was home I was home for the holidays I got to do a small interview with my sponsor, Hyperflex Wetsuits. They are at the forefront of quality wetsuits and are pushing the limits of comfort!

I hope you enjoy!

Oliver Berlichttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-63334433943011546352011-12-16T14:39:00.001-05:002011-12-16T14:41:00.620-05:00The Space Coast Kite ParkWe here on the Space Coast are putting together a mobile kite slider park.
Two floating kickers and two 16 foot Konnect Parks sections.

So if you are in the area give me a shout and we'll bring 'em out!

Made by the mad wizards in the Keys Mikey Walsh and Matt Sexton.

We set up at a Secret spot on the 520 SlickOliver Berlichttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-7831740371354817232011-11-23T19:51:00.000-05:002011-11-23T19:51:26.023-05:00My bro from way back Parker Detchon was in town filming and kickin it with the Fla Cru and this is what came out of the shinannigans... I hope you like it!

FLA BRA from Parker Detchon on Vimeo.
Oliver Berlichttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-33865400653869212772011-10-03T09:49:00.000-04:002011-10-03T09:49:24.050-04:00I just made a profile on www.ikitebecause.comOliB's profile | www.ikitebecause.com

Check it out and leave a comment!Oliver Berlichttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-77626918467143334652011-09-18T12:43:00.002-04:002011-09-18T12:46:13.526-04:00Hurricane Irene passes Cocoa BeachThis Hurricane season has certainly been one to remember. With the first near strike in Cocoa Beach being Hurricane Irene.

The week prior I was at home in Connecticut with my family and lovely girlfriend Chelsey Pletts watching the hurricane skirt the east coast of our fine state, anticipating the epic conditions I would be returning to.

I flew home to Cocoa Beach Wednesday night and thursday was going to be the big day. With seas double to triple overhead I knew I was in for a wild ride. Billy Bosch(my roomate) had class that morning so I woke up at 7 and hit the beach solo. the smallest kite I have is a 2008 9m Naish Torch.
I pumped her up and launched with winds around the 20-30 knot range. Now This isn't a kite that i normally ride since the winds here on the East coast of Florida normally dont exceed the 20mph mark but today was a very special day.

The Ocean looked mean with an ominous gray sky and a great deal of movement in the sea I jumped in to play in one of my favorite conditions; strong wind and big waves.

I knew that Mikey Walsh from the Otherside Boardshop in the Keys, and Matt Sexton would be coming through to ride with us, so I decided to stay in front of the crib kiting just south of the pier while I waited for them to arrive.

I was approached by a photographer for the Orlando Sentinel and he got a few good shots of me while I was out on my twin tip. you can see more of thouse photos here: OliB I also did a short interview with News Channel 3 Cocoa Beaches local news channel, but I have yet to see it.

at around 10:30 I put my kite down and went home to grab some water and a bite to eat. I couldn't stomach the food I had bought in the morning due to the sheer adrenalin pumping through my veins. Now was a different story I was hungry and needed my battery to be recharged.

As i was eating thinking of the amazing rest of the day to come billy walked in the house stoked on the fact that it was Nuking outside and the waves were massive. We called Sexton and he assured us that he would be there within half an hour and Mikey was ahead of him. We knew we would do a few downwinders but had no idea what would be in store. with their arrival we walked down to the beach and everyone rigged up.

I was now on a 8m since my torch would not hold air for more than 20 mins at a time. I had my Totora 5'4 placebo surfboard and we all charged the downwinder strapless. I have been in some big waves in Brazil but these certainly topped them with what looked like buildings and medium houses chasing me down an endless line.

We would go on to do another downwinder after this one but after riding all day I was so beat on the second my muscles were cramping the whole way.

This was one of the most memorable days of the summer spent with some of my best friends, why cant more hurricanes just skirt our coast.

This was a short recap I am going to retouch on this subject in the coming days. Again thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyedOliver Berlichttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-37224497827548592262011-06-19T11:07:00.000-04:002011-06-19T11:07:33.979-04:00Kiteboarding on CNN!A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to shed some light on kiting through a mass media source CNN. this segment ran the entire memorial day weekend and we have gotten a great deal of feedback from it.

Big thanks to Mike Prazmark for making it happen and the wind for being there when we needed her most!!

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I hope you all enjoy!

Please leave comments and thoughts.Oliver Berlichttps://email@example.com Beach, FL, USA28.3200067 -80.60755130000001128.2773587 -80.6335018 28.3626547 -80.581600800000018tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-40584820957523428052011-05-11T18:31:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:44:35.427-04:00Cocoa Beach Madness

So since I left the Meercat. I have moved my operation to the East Coast of the Sunshine State, Cocoa Beach. Otherwise known as the Space Coast. Since i have been here working for Good Breeze Kiteboarding and The Ron Jon Surf school I have gotten to experience what it is like to work and live in a perfect kitesurf paradise.

My Room mate Billy Bosch is the sole proprietor of Good Breeze Kiteboarding a shop and school located here in Cocoa Beach. I have been diligently teaching surfing and kiting to locals and tourists.

Our Kite spots are top notch. With endless coastlines for downwinders and a flat water heaven known as the 520 slick for teaching and freestyle are a kiters dream.

the town has a trolly system so when you do your downwinders you don't need to leave a car behind for the ride home just plan accordingly and you can catch a trolly right back to your starting location. It isn't unheard of on a windy day for someone (most of the time Steve a local shredder who is always doing downwinders) to do more than 4 downwinders of more than 10 miles a day!!!

Not to mention the fact that one of the best cable parks Orlando Watersports Complex is just a 30 min drive from our front porch!

So if your looking for a place to chill, Surf, Skate, Kite and shred cable holla at your boy!!!

Check us out at: www.goodbreezekiteboarding.comOliver Berlichttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-47571334809054762932011-01-20T13:21:00.001-05:002011-01-20T13:26:18.363-05:00A little surf vid rough edit.

Enjoy I know the waves are small...I make funny faces

But they were still fun!Oliver Berlichttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-27452936644873756942011-01-19T15:38:00.000-05:002011-01-19T15:38:56.373-05:00Aruba Bound with some good BeatsIm stoked to be working with a good group of individuals. Next week Sexton and I will be doing a private course in Aruba the Wind looks consistent and strong so im sure we will have great sessions and I'm Really stoked to be able to help some great guys progress in this amazing sport.

As I was looking into spots in Aruba Matt sent me some of these beats and I thought this would be a perfect time to share it with all of you.

I hope everyones 2011 has been going great and will only get better!!!

And with that here you go! Two of my favorite MC's over some Dub beats mixed by, Max Tannone.

<object height="285" width="100%"><param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F132980&show_artwork=false&color=2ec900&show_playcount=false&show_comments=false"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="285" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F132980&show_artwork=false&color=2ec900&show_playcount=false&show_comments=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed></object>Mos Dub by Max Tannone

<object height="285" width="100%"><param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F298446&show_playcount=true&show_comments=false&show_artwork=false&color=c9bf00"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="285" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F298446&show_playcount=true&show_comments=false&show_artwork=false&color=c9bf00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed></object>Dub Kweli by Max Tannone

Cheers and Enjoy!
Oliver Berlichttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-35929018758982730112010-12-28T10:22:00.000-05:002010-12-28T10:22:59.822-05:00New opps in New EnglandSince I am no longer traveling with zenith I will not be posting much here. Although I will bring it back once I make my way back down to Brazil. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and read a story.

You are the ones who really made this possible.

Cheers,
OliOliver Berlichttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-89117430443279670612010-12-15T12:47:00.002-05:002010-12-16T19:19:08.246-05:00The Gwada Waddle, biddies and some good ol' surfin'!!!

your average sight at a Gwada wada beach

After a long set up and prep for the trip, it was on!

I grabbed a taxi who spoke almost no english and made my way over to the airport to pick up homie Matt Sexton. I arrived at the airport to find him inside the baggage collection area sitting on his camera case.

Yellling out "der go matty boy" he smiled and the shinanigans began. Although he arrived at 11 pm we both knew we wouldn't call it a night and pass out we would have to go out and check out the scene in town.

After a quick stroll around the marina we found a bar rightfully called the Zoo Rock Cafe & Bar, and decided to grab a few pints.

Kicking back a few brews we got to catching up and telling stories from the past few months we have been both away doing our things. We got to talking to the bartender who ended up being a kiter himself and he gave us some insight on where the best spots to ride would be here on the island and he stressed the fact that we should get up early tomorrow and catch the wind at a spot not too far from where we were. The bartenders name was Dume and he was in fact the owner of this fine establishment. So we kicked back a few more took a few shots and called it a night. Heading back to the boat I was stoked to have a good forecast for wind for the next two days.

I awoke to the sound of wind passing through the mast...dope!

Yes thats overproof rum and Yes the GoPro caught on fire!.... and Yes we have the footage

Grabbing a bite to eat Matt and I loaded up the dingy for the day to come filled with the camera gear, kites, boards, and our fat selfs we were ready to jam out in style.

As we left Meercat, we saw that Dume was getting some fuel at the fuel dock and stopped over to see what was good.

He told us to throw our gear in his boat since it was much more sea worthy than our dingy and we did. I drove the dingy up to the island about 2 miles from where we were docked. As I got closer to the island I could see that the spot and the conditions were just right for a good photo sesh.

We pumped up and got out for a warm up ride. Matt was on his 11m Slingshot Fuel and I was on my 12m Naish Torch. The power in the Torch is exactly what I needed. After having a great warm up sesh I grabbed the camera and started shooting, producing some great shots, with a sick background. Matt was throwing down reppin our St. Pete and Fl. Crew!

Since we are here in St. Francis right now I will be back a little later with to fill you all in with the rest of the trip this was just the beginning and first day, as well as post some pics.

Yeah you should be here and you CAN!!!

Cheers!
Oliver Berlichttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-15497735322397242332010-12-07T13:22:00.000-05:002010-12-07T13:22:08.632-05:00Arrival at GuadeloupeAight so less than an hour ago we arrived here in Guadeloupe. After a long 24 hour trek up the Caribbean island chain I am happy to be on land.

Taking watch shifts between Susy, Ged and myself we managed to make relatively good time. We took off from St. Lucia around 11 am... as planned, and headed north luckily for us the wind was at a perfect direction giving us a strong beam reach to the leeward side of Martinique. During this time sailing we made our best time at a rate of 9+ knots we were cruising. After reaching the Martinique we put the sails away and in turn motored the rest of the way here.

In between Martinique and Dominica we had some rough seas and sure enough this was my chance to sleep... Dank.

As we reached the middle of Dominica Susi woke my up and I took her place at the helm, with the 3-6am shift. Which in all honesty is one of my favorite times of the evenings...SUNRISE.

The stars out in the ocean with only a few little islands there to create light pollution are magnificent. I saw a few shooting stars and one that went from the southern tip of the sky all the way to the northern, encompassing the entire night sky. The sea at night is a dark reflecting pool that glistens with insight from the lights ahead.

 As I approached the northern tip of Dominica the sea began to come alive with rolling waves and the sun began to rise from its daily kip. I sat in contemplation of the trip thus far.

Ged awoke giving me the go ahead to chill out and go back to my bed. Werd, much needed since I barely slept before with some lucid ass dreams.

Laying down the boat began to slap harder and harder on the surface of the ocean i knew we were in some big surf. It was some of the biggest seas I've seen since I started voyage back in sept. big oll rollers with us getting clobbered from our stern. but in the end we made it with some good footage ill nput up in our next flick.

Since Matt Sexton and Will Bennet are comin here to join us for some wave shinnanigans it is certainly going to be a great week here in Guadeloupe, the land of Merci!!!

Jah Bless!Oliver Berlichttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-18493687929614853752010-12-06T09:16:00.000-05:002010-12-06T09:16:41.285-05:00Off to GuadeloupAfter a long and arduous stay in the boat yard Meercat is back in the water!
We are setting sail at 11am today bound for the French Island of Guadeloup. I'll be trollin' some new lures that some locals and I believe will be a great success.. we'll see.

We have been on St. Lucia for over a month now and it is going to be a great journey to our next destination. The forecast looks good with some steady trades and a small ground swell approaching. With Meercat back in her element.

I cant wait to be back in Mine!

and shall the Epic Journey truly begin.Oliver Berlichttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-49751053295803056502010-12-02T15:32:00.000-05:002010-12-02T15:32:25.136-05:00Meercat gets a faceliftSo we are / have been on the hard(boat out of the water in the marina) for over a week and a half and it is honestly...

Not cool.

We are out of our element and we haven't been able to explore the endless swells and wind that have been coming our way during this time. Although we are slowly upgrading Meercat it is never an easy task getting things done in the Islands. The new teak deck had some setbacks and is now in the process of being re caulked due to the inefficient manner it was caulked the first time.

Our glorious surf rack

All in all she is looking pretty tight though, we have completely fitted this boat for kiting with board racks in places you would never guess. Currently housing 11 complete kites, 2 surfboards, 1 skim and 5 twin tips. Yeah you heard me right we gots da gear!!

View from the pit

Were lookin' at setting sail early monday morning and sailing through the night to reach Guadeloupe to pick up the boys and shred the nar. Right now a decent swell of 2.8m is hitting Guadeloupe so I'm hoping it builds for our arrival. I would love to get barreled in some of the Caribbeans finest!
The 2011 Naish Torch 12m I've been flying has been keeping me pretty stoked throughout our stay here and I'm really lookin forward to seeing her true potential in Guadeloupe, along with the 6'0" custom fish we got!!!

In the end as long as Meercat is ready to bounce out of St. Lucia for monday I will be a happy bro.

When are we leaving?

On another note heres a little jam my boy Evol threw up in São Paulo Brazil reppin our crew DVES!

DVES(De Vagar E Sempre) (slow and steady always)

Cheers and stay tuned for more to come!

I'll be posting pics notes and videos of the Guadeloupe extraviganzah!Oliver Berlichttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-53872983186455360872010-11-24T18:34:00.001-05:002010-11-24T23:59:19.382-05:0009 Trip to Jeri Revisited...Gaff Krew What What! Yesterday I got the opportunity to to fly the new 2011 Naish Torch 12 m2 and the new 134 Momentum.

Honestly I was caught by surprise. I had been flying a 08 Torch in NE Brazil for two years while living there and I was all about my kite C kites.

After I returned stat side, I decided to give the Helix a try in the waves and was impressed. They as well are wonderful kites but don't have the sheer grunt the Torch has. So in this revelation I figure the best way to show what I mean is to post some photos of the glorious trip we, the Gaff Crew took to Jericuacuara Brazil. This was certainly a trip for the books!

Day one at Jeri Kirk getting ready for a Shweet cutback

Yeah Kirk!

Backsideee

My "How are we fitting everything in here" face

Levs strapless raily

Speed Racer

 Chezarinos buggy Yamming down the coast.

The Gaff Krew 09 was an eclectic bunch of individuals all with an idea, have a good time no matter what trails ahead.

Dave, Lev, Josephine, James, Kirk, Leo, Kelly, Astrid, Joe, Dudu, Alex and Myself certainly all enjoyed this trip and the many more times we shared together.

If your thinking of planning a trip to Brazil make sure you do it in style with the Gaff Krew!!!!!

Check them at http://www.endless-wind.com/

Let the good times Roll!

Cheers,Oliver Berlichttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-14913268619889126292010-11-19T14:01:00.000-05:002010-11-19T14:01:52.412-05:00Whats next for Meercat...We are finishing up work here in St. Lucia and will hopefully be setting sail by mid next week. Our destination, Guadalupe. I've spoken to some local surfers and it seems we will be in for a treat, if we get some swell and wind. I've got my fingers crossed and always, feel like the wind will be in our favor.

This is going to be a special trip since Billy Parker, Matt Sexton and Alex Fox are all going to be coming on board to take part in this maiden Pro rider trip. Since we all came from the same area kiteboarding in St. Petersburg Florida there's no doubt about the good times that lie ahead of us.

One of the reasons I even got into this sport was watching Bill go bigger, faster and passing the bar higher than anyone I have, still to this day seen kiting. Matt and I were roommates our first year at Eckerd College and we got into the sport at relatively the same time. Matt was a Freshman and I, a transfer sophmore from Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. Fox on the other hand was killing it when we got into the sport. At that time he was a young grom, throwin' down on the water & chillin' out at the beach with the crew.

One thing that must be said about St. Pete is that it certainly is a Kiteboarders paradise. Although the season is mostly during the winter months as long as you have a 4.3 or 5.3 wetsuit your good to go. You can kite in any wind direction due to the nature of the St. Pete peninsula and its surrounding barrier islands. From waves to flat water whatever your vice in the sport you can thoroughly enjoy in St. Pete.

So my natural inclination when I was thinking of who to bring on this trip was simple.
St. Petes Finest...

We have got a lot of enthusiasm for this trip and some pretty wild ideas to play with kites and the boat. I'll be posting updates less frequently since we will not always have internet connections while sailing.

One things for sure I'm sure no one has ever tried the sort of things we will be doing meshing kiting and sailing to another level.

Be stoked for the footage to come.

We will also have Will Bennet on-board representing Kite Surf Magazine UK. He was just Champion in the BKSA Wave Masters Sessions, Ireland. I'm pumped to see what he'll be bringing to the table style-wise and hopefully learn a trick or two from a master.

Here's a video of Bill and Matt doing their thing out in Hood River

the fantastic NA blend crew from Benoit Paillard on Vimeo.

Here's a oldie but goodie from Fox tearin up the St. Pete scene
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Stay tuned for more!!

Cheers,Oliver Berlichttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-45810100207415618242010-11-16T11:52:00.000-05:002010-11-16T11:52:51.507-05:00Help me help you and in turn help my sisters art project!Aight so heres the dilly.
My sister is currently in France doing a simester/term studying the french language and art. So shes doing a term project and whould love a bit of the help you all and I can provide.

In a not too distant past, legendary novelist Ernest Hemingway once wrote a full story in six words: "For Sale: baby shoes, never worn." and I would like to ask all of you: what is your six-word memoir?

Mine would be: "Seek truth, never lie, love life."

Thouse of you who know me understand the importance of art and culture in life. Lets help Stephi make this a very succesful project with a great deal of feed back.

If you were not aware, the flicker stream on the side bar is some work I did while I was living in São Paulo Brazil. I was privlaged to paint with some of the most influencial artists in the Brazilian graffiti scene, this has greatly influenced my artistic style and appreciation. Stay tuned for some up and coming works I will be putting up as time progresses.

For me graffiti and street art show that the concreat jungles we inhabit are "alive" with colors and personalities who wouod not have been there otherwise. Whether you like it or not this is the largest world wide art movement of all time!

So help my sister and I make her project one to remember.

Cheers, and I look forward to hearing your 6 word memoir.Oliver Berlichttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-69225970933402116052010-11-14T17:23:00.008-05:002010-11-14T19:36:11.050-05:00A great day in St. lucia...So today I got to catch a bit of the swell thats comin through these parts. Although I have a small board its still great fun just getting out in the water and play in the waves.

Here are my good friends Big Gigantic. If you've never heard of them you chould check it and get wi it. They kill live shows and are often crushin the scene with STS9 or Lotus.

This is one of my favorite tracks to get me pumped up for a sesh I hope you enjoy!

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Find more artists like Big Gigantic at  Myspace Music

Here are another two bangerz...

I Need A Dollar (Big Gigantic Remix) by Big Gigantic

Wide Awake by Big Gigantic

Make sure you check their mayspace page where you can get all their albums for free or you can be a G and make a greatly appriciated donation to the band.

www.myspace.com/biggigantic/music

Cheers,Oliver Berlichttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-39504890163477537932010-11-12T13:07:00.005-05:002010-11-12T13:36:28.642-05:00Fresh Cuts by my boy Jay-OBringin back the good ol' sounds of my boy Jay-O. Hes been mixing up a fresh new batch of goodies and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share it with the crew.

This be that L.R.M album, L Ride Music.

Keep a lookout cuz Jay-O's on the rise!!!

Hope you enjoy...

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For more peep his site here:

http://jayopro.bandcamp.com/Oliver Berlichttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2334841195935740708.post-88445607928310326212010-11-09T17:35:00.001-05:002010-11-09T17:35:27.834-05:00An Epic swell hits St. LuciaToday I got to see just how epic St. Lucia could get. We work up at dawn to get out of the marina and make some water. Since the hurricane the entire island has been without tap water and since we were under the impression we were going to be hauled out after the storm we finished up our water supply...bad move.

Thus we have been like wooks at a music festival since the storm hit a week and a half ago, minus the good tunes. We were in desperate need of water so we grabbed the bull by the horns and made our way out about a mile offshore to make some good ol' fresh water.

While we were going out I figured it was a perfect time to do a little fishing. Having been marina locked for the past few weeks it was certainly nice to be out at sea again and in Meercats element.

Although it was prime time, the sun was rising, the water was clear the fish were not biting...

Figures.

I was stoked to try out the hammock my sister ever so kindly lent to me on the bow of the boat. I attached the ENO hammock to the genoa and mast. A perfect location since if you flip around cacoon style your looking through the trampoline and into the crystalline waters below.

As the boat rocked back and forth so did I in my hammock. At times I though I was going to do a complete 360 with the momentum the hammock was generating, or break the slap strap and come face down on either the deck or the trampoline both would not be of ideal preference.

Good thing nit her of the possibilities actually occurred and I was left enjoying the rocking of the boat.

We knew we would be in the dock for a while having work done so we filled up the water tank until she overflowed and made our way back to the dock. Coming in I knew it would be a good day to surf even though I wouldn't be able to kite, since we were in the leeward side of the island.

Jammin' out to some 90's underground hip-hop, Mos Def, Common, Kweli and Gang Starr I got pumped up for the surf session that was to follow our arrival. While reading "A Long Strange Trip" by Dennis Mcanally...conflicting styles No Way!
The Dead are the shiznit and reading about them to hip-hop really worked. Don't believe me give it a try.

Hopping into the dinghy I made my way out of rodent bay and scoped out the conditions.

It was going to be a special session.

Prepping the dingy I got my Vibram Fivefinger shoes, 5'8" Naish fish and hit the channel. So stoked I was practically shaking with yammage. I made my way over to Sandals an all inclusive resort where I should have gotten a cocktail but decided to hit the waves first.

Sitting on the rocks puttin' on my Vibrams I realized this was a legit swell with over head+ waves and a serious riptide, not to mention the fact that I was jumpin' in on jagged rocks... I was solo.

Dope!

Swimming out I instantly came to terms that I need to do more surfing without the kite. It is not an easy task just making it out past the break and this took me a good ten minutes having not surfed in quite a long time and especially in good waves. The waves that I had caught thus far were chest high with the occasional head high.

Alright, so here she comes, nothing but mother nature, my board and me. Let's do this! As the wave approached I began paddling my ass off with each stroke I could feel myself gaining momentum for the drop. And as I looked back to see if I was in the right place, nope I was in too deep. The feeling of having your feet come up behind you and become the wave is priceless. I became the wave and entered the washing machine.

Gaining my breath I began the arduous paddle back into the line up. The feeling of being alone in the epic force of mother nature is a glorious feeling. Aight, so now that I'm in the right spot... I guess. I knew this was show time and I had better bring my A game cuz as of now the score was:

 mother nature 1 Oli 0

I had to change this game. And with the next wave I scored it was clear I was gonna have a good day. Paddling in I catch the drop zone and plant my feet in for a ride. The rush from the initial drop in makes me look around my shoulder and realize yeah this is over my head. With a smooth bottom turn I approach the face a bit off balance I didn't manage to pull off the cutback but I knew it could be done. Making the score:

Mother nature 1 Oli 1/2

Not too legit and to make it worse I was beat. I decided to come in and get some grub, n a brew. I paddled back to the rocks I had jumped in from and tried to think of the best way to approach the mess that was before me.

After a few attempts and a few cuts and scrapes I managed to get myself onto the jagged edges and up to a safe place. I sat there admiring the sheer beauty of the rough sea and headed back to the meercat.

Sitting on her stern Susy asked how the waves were and I told her "Epic" with that Ged came out of his slumber and asked the same question and I replied the same and when he asked if I would want to take the dingy straight to the break, my reply was simple...

"Hell yeah!!"

And off I went on round two. This session would prove to be much more beneficial to my game. And a bit bigger.

Susy decided to join me in the water and get a close up view of the breaking waves. It's funny I was literally there maybe an hour before alone and now the break was packed with local surfers.

Killin' it!

I got into the line up and prepped myself mentally for a win. Watching the swell approach I decided I would go for the second one in the set. Good choice, I paddled again with all my might and looking down the face stood up on my board and rode out, bottom turn, Bam! Cutback steez into the next bottom turn where the wave lost it's force and mushed out.

Making my way back I found Susy and she was all good so I proceeded to wait for the next opportunity to crush. That I did, this next wave was big I paddled in and hopped up on zi board flying down a perfect Caribbean wave this time it closed out but I got a sweet ride nonetheless. At this point I could feel my arms turning into green eggs and yams and decided to make my way back to the dinghy where Ged was waiting patiently. I was so stoked I'm pretty sure the stoke was seeping out of my ears.

Looking at Susy and Ged I asked them if they were down for a happy hour celebration at Sandals, damb right they were. But being a all inclusive resort we were quickly spotted by the forces that be and the man came down asking us to please leave their precious establishment.

Oh well. I'm here now at IGY marina at The Boardwalk enjoying my happy hour pre paid Pitons.

Hope you all enjoyed this epic session and this will certainly not be the last.

Cheers!

 Oliver Berlichttps://firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Cartoon Network previewed its new animated series "Star Wars: Clone Wars" at the TV Critics Assn. tour Friday, and based on that first glimpse of a full episode, the program bears the hallmarks of the recent trilogy: Dazzling visuals — in this case, almost three-dimensional computer animation — rousing battle sequences and clunky dialogue. Fortunately, the half-hour format and generous helpings of action mitigate that last attribute, resulting in a concept that should keep the flame burning for "Star Wars" fans and could represent a major coup for the Turner network.
Chronicling the period between second and third (or actually, fifth and sixth) features "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith," "Clone Wars" was developed inhouse by Lucasfilm and will explore the further adventures of such characters as Anakin Skywalker and Obi-wan Kenobi. In the episode shown, Jedi master Yoda pursues a diplomatic mission on a distant planet against the forces of Count Dooku, facing seemingly impossible odds.
Franchise architect George Lucas was resolute (one might say pigheadedly so) about scripting the last movies himself despite his tin-eared dialogue, and the half-hour screened will have some fans thinking about the irritating Jar-Jar Binks, only here with the incompetent Droid army delivering pretty lame comic relief.
Fortunately, as with the earlier "Clone Wars" shorts crafted using traditional cel animation, the vibrant imagery and sweeping scope provided by animation allows the series to achieve a theatrical level of excitement at a significantly reduced cost — and in a tighter episodic format, transforming each mini-adventure into a get-to-the-fun-stuff romp. Alien worlds and characters are rendered in explosions of color, with the computer process creating extraordinary depth and detail.
As a consequence, the new series (to be launched by a theatrical release in August) should fill a void for "Star Wars" junkies jonesing now that the movies have run their course, while keeping Lucasfilm's merchandising machine lumbering ahead like one of those Imperial Walkers. And with 22 episodes coming, Cartoon will have a welcome centerpiece to its fall lineup, appealing to kids and adults alike.
By the standards of a fragmented TV universe, the Force should thus remain a potent force — which explains why Cartoon execs should have a good feeling about this.


text:
>> The author of the EEPG plugin has always been very helpful. You should >> just contact him about adding Freeview HD support. Then you won't have >> to monkey around with patches and messing with the VDR core. > > I think concensus is that the patch's code is cleaner than the plugin's. > I looked at the plugin code to see if I could work out how to make the > Huffman decoding work on standard PIDs for Freeview as well as on > Freesat's non-standard ones, and found it too difficult to follow. The > original author might not have so much difficulty, but there's also > quite a big memory leak which somehow defied my efforts to trace it with > valgrind.
I mentioned this thread to him yesterday. He gave a quick look but needs someone with access to Freeview HD to provide debug logs & test since he doesn't have that provider. Also, I've been using the latest git of EEPG for some time and haven't noticed any big memory leaks. When is the last time you've tried this plugin? I used to have to patch the VDR core to get eit working here too. I must say, it's quite a pleasure to not have to maintain/fix it anymore now that I can just use EEPG. Even if you don't care about support for Freeview HD in EEPG, I don't see why you wouldn't just put your patch into a plugin and never have to hassle with fixing it again. I think most people prefer not to patch the VDR core at all when it can be avoided. _______________________________________________ vdr mailing list email@example.com http://www.linuxtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/vdr


text:
The Great Milestone that is Back To School Time
Laurel's first day of school was on Wednesday and I did not take a picture. This was partly because I got a bonk on the head a couple of weeks ago and have lingering concussion symptoms, so just getting her to the school building itself on time was feeling like a pretty epic accomplishment. Even with the concussion, I did remember to pull out my phone as we approached the building but Laurel gave me a firm no. I think she was nervous.
School went fine and by Friday she happily posed for a "first day" picture. School is a funny thing. As a person with teaching experience, I ought to have a fairly good idea of what happens there, but so much of it is a mystery. Side conversations with her peers that happen out of the earshot of adults. Her perception of a disciplinary choice of her gym teacher. Why she's there in the first place. So much of the whole experience has nothing to do with the curriculum. At our parent conference last week, the teacher asked me what my goals were for Laurel for this year and I didn't really know how to answer the question. I mean, it's preK. I hope that she emerges from the year relatively unharmed and has a good time playing with a lot of kids on the playground. Read her some cool stories. Teach her to count.
On the first day, she came home delighted to be back in school. I got to make orange juice, she said, and then I got to drink it!
That seems like a pretty good thing to be doing in preK, I think.
It will be two more years before Marko is old enough for this school, but he is firmly out of "baby" territory and exerting his will as an active toddler. He mimics everything that Laurel does, so getting him to act properly is very much about getting her to do it. He can say a few words: dog, duck, Lah-lu (Laurel), and apple. He still uses the sign for more. I'm learning a little bit about using Montessori with him and he loves to help around the house. Although he doesn't talk too much, he can definitely follow 1 and 2 step directions.
Last night, I was doing the dishes and realized it was pitch dark and only 8:30. That's the other part of Back to School. It marks the coming of the autumnal equinox. Our garden phlox has just about given up blooming. The dill went to seed. Our sunflowers, which we planted very late, are now towering over the rest of the garden, with thick stalks and umbrella-like leaves. When walking home from the playground yesterday, we found a few red leaves on the ground. We've now lived in this house for nearly six years and - the longest I've spent anywhere since my childhood home, and it's interesting to note what I have grown to notice and expect from my surroundings. The sunrise drifts from one end of the dining room window to the other and back again. The gingko trees across the street will not be the first to turn, but will be the most brilliant. The grass in our front yard will slowly turn to yellow as the winter deepens. The house itself will shift, tightening up as the moisture from the air disappears when the boiler turns on. The doors may shut properly in their frames again. We will change our habits, sleeping more and earlier.
As for me, I'm taking it easy. A few weeks ago I hit my head while I was cleaning the house. It really hurt, but I put some ice on it and didn't think too much about it. Next day, I still had a headache and a few other troublesome symptoms, and was instructed to rest from pretty much everything....no computer, tv, driving, exercise. This week, I'm trying to ease back in so I can return to work.


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So after a week of drinking and no painting in Swindon I finally picked the brushes up again tonight and set to on the Warhammer Empire army.
Following the Perry Brothers Bretonnians from the 5th edition starter set that featured in the Lion Rampant retinue I now bring you more Perry single piece plastic goodness in the form of these Empire Handgunners from the 6th edition starter set.
Great models, easy to paint, not too fiddly and full of character.
Painted in Hochland green (Foundry Forest green A and B) and red (GW Mechrite then Blood Red).
I'll apply some washes tomorrow and then hopefully I can crack on and have them finished over the weekend.


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No, I'm not excited at all. I love my job, but there's only so much of it I can do at one time, and 3 weeks straight (that's 252 work-hours, but who's counting) with no days off is definitely it.
To get me though these last few days, I've been plotting a sewcation! And boy have I bought the patterns to prove it.
Rosy Ladyshorts, by Cloth Habit. They're so pretty, and look like a fun and quick pattern. I just hope I can find decent fabric in town.
Bombshell bandwagon, despite some misgivings about that straight line across the hip bit. I like it on everyone who's made it though, and it's a lovely pattern, so I'm just going to trust in the pattern and go.
I'm also considering this tankini pattern by Jalie Patterns for some of the fabric. I have some wild hot pink and black arrow fabric which would be a lot of fun as a top. Or bottoms. OR BOTH! Ack I wanna show you the fabric! Soon, my pretties, soon.
For some reason, I feel like I bought another sewing pattern sometime in the last three weeks, but maybe I'm thinking of the 3 or 4 knitting projects that have made their way into my hands...
(Why yes, there has been a lot of impulse shopping this rotation, why do you ask? I'm just glad to have refrained from the yarn ordering bing I nearly did the other day...)
And none of this includes all of the patterns I already own want to sew up. Like another version of Grainline's Archer. And...I don't even remember, but there's a lot.
(I might be going a little camp crazy)