text:
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
1 Thes 5:11
We have known, since we looked at a map for the first time to see where we were going, that we were coming to Vilhelmina in Sweden because God wants us in this place.
There are so many opportunities for me to use the various gifts God has given me, and I often soar with joy at the usefulness I feel.
Deon, well, not so much.
There is the very strange language. This white stuff that hangs around for at least 7 months of the year. Lack of sunshine and heat. Strange ways of thinking and doing things that an African does not grasp too easily. Not having a job, so not having a set framework for each day, and lacking a whole lot of purpose in that. And then there is the culture.
All these things make it a big challenge for Deon to adapt to this new calling. But he is as convinced as I am that God has called us to be here.
We had this headline in the English online newspaper recently:
Sweden 'least religious' nation in Western world
Published: 13 Apr 2015 16:34 GMT+02:00
Almost eight out of ten Swedes are either "not religious" or "convinced atheists", according to a new global study that concludes the Nordic nation is the least religious in the West.
The local.se
This did give us a bit of a jolt. You mean the Swedes are less religious than the Dutch? or the Germans?
For having a history steeped in religion, and for my heritage being such a firm part of that sharing of faith, some of the statistics do seem frightening.
This is a paragraph from the article:
There are more than 3500 churches in Sweden and the Swedish Church (Svenska Kyrkan) says it has 6.3 million members in a country just shy of 10 million people. Before 1996, children whose parents were members of the Swedish Church were automatically enrolled at birth. But according to Statistics Sweden, just five percent of Swedes are regular church goers.
On the one hand, I really like this. One knows where one stands with most people. Although the state values human rights, it is severely frowned upon to talk of faith openly. I have had kids laugh about Jesus at school, and say that He is dead. The boundaries are very clearly set.
But the believers cannot be held down and be made to sit still in a corner.
Our own little congregation of about 40 show commitment to pray, seek God and to shine for Him.
There are dedicated prayer times where several from different churches across the town gather to lift up this part of the country and the nation as a whole.
And we know that God has brought us here. We look for every gap to be useful, to put our abilities into practise and to experience what God is doing in Sweden.
This was one such opportunity.
Deon had helped with sound at a conference here last Autumn, and they asked for him and Peter (our pastor) to help again.
Deon realised: he does still enjoy doing sound, but is not as young as he was 15 years ago! And several late nights in a row, after serving for most of the day… it begins to show in the eye bags.
But WE realised that there is great hope for Norrlands Inlandet (The inland part of Sweden's northern areas).
We experienced heart-to-heart skilled worship (which went on for hours at a time!) We saw how the older generation served the youth and how the younger people showed appreciation for the work of the older generation. I LOVED meeting people from several countries who have had challenging faith walks, but are serving God in Sweden.
The word God brought was soul food.
We were reminded of the tremendous passion Jesus showed in His love for us, and how we can live out that passion for Him because He paid the price for our passion.
Words inspiring faith and trust were shared.
We were charged to take courage. God has not made His followers to be little mice: we are like lions, and lions ROAR. (Thanks to Mixter99 on Instagram who shared this image. We reflect the one who gives us courage!)
Deon and I got a little bit of time out from a packed long weekend to be with my brother and his wife who live in Östersund. We have not spent time looking around much, even since our arrival in Sweden. I think our brains have been stunned. Or iced. Now we got a short opportunity to look around. This weekend we got to experience our first signs that Spring might be on the way.
There were not heaps of snow on the sides of every road, and we saw FLOWERS! Growing in the ground outside! (This, as youo may tell, is not common further north where our home is!)
And Andrew took us on a bit of a trip.
The sounds of rushing waters, seeing sprays rise into the air, being surrounded by awesome nature, being with family: these joys filled our ears for a few hours and our souls for a while to come.
Ristafallet, on the road to Åre, are well known waterfalls and have been the setting of several Swedish films. For us, I was reminded that God speaks in the majesty of the waterfall. And He speaks in the quiet of the soul.
He also shows how wonderfully generous He is, by having created caocoa beans. Which give us chocolate. And there is a marvellous chocolate factory just outside of Åre.
So we had to stop there too. Just for a good, balanced experience.
Åre is one of Sweden's top skiing destinations and it is gorgeous. It was lovely to see the spaces, spend time with family and enjoy some new dimensions of Sweden.
Then we were back to vibey music, buzzing conversations and a hum of humanity.
From several sources we seem to be hearing the same kind of message: There is a feeling of anticipation. There is an awareness of excitement, and feeling that SOMETHING is about to happen.
We await this too and feel privileged to be in this place, at this time, for this place, for these people.


text:
Last fall, I was reading a novel about nuns. At one point, one of the nuns took a walk at lunchtime to reconnect with God. My first thought when I read that was, "I wish I was a nun, so that I could take lunchtime walks to reconnect with God!" Then I realized how silly that was—I don't have to be a nun to do that!
Since then, walks during my lunch break have become one of my spiritual practices. I walk and I pray and I try to pay attention. Sometimes I put my ipod on shuffle and listen to whatever comes on. In each season, I am grateful to live in such a beautiful place.
Yesterday, I brought my camera along; here are some of the things I saw.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Congressman Jared Huffman
At The Barlow
When: Wednesday, October 29, 2014
12:30 to 1:00 p.m.
Zazu Kitchen + Farm
6770 McKinley Street #150
Sebastopol, CA 95472
Congressman Huffman will be dropping by the Barlow to learn more about the unique community of food producers, wine makers, brewers, distillers, and artists who have helped to make the Barlow a resounding success. While at the Barlow, Congressman Huffman would like to meet you too.
Contact Matt Olhausen at firstname.lastname@example.com or 415-308-8678 for details.
This event is free and open to the public.


text:
I got this award from Gro. Thank you so much, it is so sweet of you.
Here are the rules: The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them knowthey've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you've posted your answer.
1) Ten years ago:
I was 29 and lived in Tokyo were I worked at the Norwegian Embassy as a secretary.
2) Five things in todays "to do"-list:
Doctor appointment in the morning
Housecleaning ;-(
Visit a friend
Join a work shop at Happy Hobby in Gjøvik
Make a card for Friday Sketchers
3) Snacks I enjoy:
Give me anything sweet! .-)
4) Things I would do if I was a millionaire:
Buy a house
Take my family on vacation
Shopping, shopping, shopping :-)
5) Places I have lived:
Oslo, Gjøvik, Oslo, Tokyo, Raufoss
Then I have to tag 5 - 6 persons:
Lillan, Stempelgal, Lakrisstang, Shabby Chic Silvia, Marianne


text:
Brody (Circle Eight #2)
by Emma Lang
Published July 2012 by Kensington Brava
review courtesy of Author
review courtesy of Author
A year after their family was brutally torn apart, the Graham siblings begin to put their lives back together at their ranch in East Texas. With their parents gone, their bonds will truly be tested… Olivia Graham has worked hard to take care of her family at the Circle Eight Ranch. But their family circle was broken when their young brother Benjy disappeared. Liv can't shake the feeling that he must be out there, somewhere.
Brody Armstrong, a handsome but rough-around-the-edges Texas Ranger, has been working on their case for months, and now he has a promising lead.
As Liv follows him across the rugged Texas landscape and into Mexico, she'll begin to find the answers she needs—as Brody finds a passion he didn't know he wanted…
My Thoughts:
This is the second in The Circle of Eight series, I recommend you read each one in order so you can follow the Graham family's story. If you haven't read the first in the series, I am worried that I will reveal to much in this one... so fair warning this may contain **Spoilers**..
The Graham family is still trying to rebound from the tragic deaths of their parents and the kidnapping of their youngest brother, Benjy. Brody is a Texas Ranger helping them with the investigation. Oliva, is the oldest sister and has taken the loss of Benjy personally. When a new clue in the investigation is discovered, Olivia is determined and adamant that is going with him.
Wheww!! Talk about heating up the pages, Brody does that and more.. who wouldn't love a man with broad shoulders, skinny waist who looks yummy in tight jeans??... Olivia, is a strong willed, no holds bar woman who doesn't take no for an answer. These two argue, banter and their chemistry is a slow sizzle waiting to explode. The more they fight the more their sexual tension builds and builds to the point ... the final combustion quite explosive!
This story is darker than the first. Brody and Olivia are drawn into a very dangerous adventure. It kept me on pins and needles wondering what will happen next and how this will all play out in the end..
This is a very intense book and I loved every page of it... If you want to know if the Benjy finds his way home, don't miss this latest installment in The Circle of Eight...
I can't wait to see what is next for the Graham family... Emma Lang has spun a tale of strong family ties that is unbreakable.
My Rating:


text:
That is what I call an impressive 'stache. Ben Floeter's Mustache Key Hook is a saucy way to remind yourself to keep your keys in a secured spot. It looks rather jaunty in the photo layout above. I'm attracted to eccentric pieces like this. It would be perfect to keep over a hallway by the door. Now where's my tophat and $200 on passing Go?
Moustache Key Hook, $30, Curiousity Shoppe
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Curiosities: Mustache Key Holder
Posted by ms.dearlydevoted at Sunday, June 29, 2008 0 comments Links to this post
Apartment Therapy's Contest Giveaway
Check out Apartment Therapy's latest
giveaway with Kideko, a stylish children's bedding company. This is a far cry from my Care Bear bed sheets back in the day. Modern, graphic, and cheeky, there's something different for your personality: Love, Sunshine, Action, and Monster. I'm loving the Monster (above) and Love line (below). Too bad they don't have it in adult size. But, for parents, I guess you can live vicariously through your kids.
Posted by ms.dearlydevoted at Sunday, June 29, 2008 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: decor
Monday, June 23, 2008
Can I Haz iPhone?
During my blackout period, the news of Apple's 3G iPhone was announced and I, like everyone in the country, was riveted by it.
With the new price point, there's no reason for me to not buy one, now it just comes to color: white or black? I'm leaning towards white. Meantime, I kitted myself with a new 15" Macbook Pro, a sleek white lap sleeve...and been idly checking for an iPhone case to go with my spiffy iPhone that I'll get July 11th.
Meantime, Fred Flare's rolling its new Next Big Thing contest and look what I found?
What's this I see? Some cute stitchy-stitch character? Is this just a plush or does it do something?
Ah-ha! An iPhone case? It's cute, slim, and would definitely stand out in my purse or on a table. It's even got room to stuff my headphone cords. What's not to like?
Annamatic's Gregory iPhone cozy, $25 at Fred Flare
News flash: Just saw that Paul Frank has teamed up with Apple and has produced his own iPhone casings.
Check out this tongue-in-cheek ode to Gucci print below.
Paul Frank Folio Case for iPhone - Italian Julius, $34.95 at Apple
Posted by ms.dearlydevoted at Monday, June 23, 2008 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: tech
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Harajuku Girls
Documenting Japanese street fashion is all the rage nowadays -- whether in magazines, art house books, or pop music (I'm looking at you, Gwen Stefani). As readers may know, I love seeing how fashion is evolving over there -- whether its in style blogs like SushiCat or in J-fash magazines. It's a subject that I hold dear to me. That's why I'm happy to share news that my friend, Albert Siegel, has just published his first photobook, Harajuku Girls. Living in Japan, Albert spent a few years capturing the various subcultures of Japanese street fashion: Gothic Lolitas to Cosplay to Gyaru, and more. So, what's my small role to play? I art-directed and designed the book cover above. It was hella fun to do.
Small story: We became friends after I saw and complimented on a street fashion poster (the one below) hanging at my workplace. Turns out the photographer was Albert -- we struck up a conversation about Japanese street fashion and the rest was history.
Here's a peek at the inside pages:
Shameless posing? Check.
Cute fashionable couples? Check.
100 pages long, there's plenty of photographs to ooh-and-aww over. Some of the snapshots are worth having a poster of (Albert, go look into that, seriously). It's definitely worth a look if you're into Japanese fashion.
Harajuku Girls, $29.99
Posted by ms.dearlydevoted at Saturday, June 21, 2008 2 comments Links to this post
Labels: fashion, whatcha got
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Missing in Action
Talk about a bad birthday weekend -- my car was broken into and my laptop bag stolen along with my birthday present, a Longchamp bag, and my boyfriend's cellphone. Everything on my laptop -- the photographs, writings, research, etc -- are gone and I'm so disappointed in myself for not backing up. $400 for my window repair and another $2000 to shell out a laptop = a very heartbroken dearly devoted blogger. The irony of my previous posting -- on flash storage -- is beyond me. I hope to be back to regular posting whe I get new gear soon.
Posted by ms.dearlydevoted at Wednesday, June 11, 2008 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: tech
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Tokidoki pairs up with Mimibot = Crazy delicious gadgetry
I'm psyched to see tokidoki's latest collaboration with flash drive company, mimobot. I've mentioned my love for tokidoki and mimibot USB sticks before. I'm glad these folks decided "two vinyl hearts can become one" in a form of a too-cute USB stick. As more cachet, these tokidoki flash drives have exclusive digital content wallpaper art.
More cute eyecandy for the tech industry is a good thing.
Miletta, 1 gig, $39.95
On a another happy note, while browsing Mimibot, I discovered Miami-based artists, Friends with You, had debuted their mimibot goodies. I always try to catch their exhibits at Art Basel. Catch'em while you can!
Posted by ms.dearlydevoted at Wednesday, June 04, 2008 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: tech


text: Like a beer can chucked over the crowd, here comes Obscure Evil's self-titled demo to smash your forehead and wash that sourpuss off your face! Four songs of charred-black, coked up thrashing death recorded in 2015 by three shadowy demons of the "LimaHell" underground. Caligari Records is the first and, so far, only label to present the entire Obscure Evil demo on any format, let alone on unholy cassette. Fans of the mid- to late-'80s sudamerican scene need not bother to preview.


text:
Kimora and Djimon In Cannes
Thats F'd up Kimora!!! Real F'd up!
Ok, one thing you DO NOT do is bring your personal/dating relationships into your CHILDRENS' lives!!!! She's ASKING for a disaster melt-down in these kids' lives. Especially is she makes a habit of this!
Now, they could grow up thinking that it's ok to ditch your husband b/c you don't get along, and pick up the next handsome guy that comes along.
hold on people, they've known each other for years. you must have forgotten beauty shop that they both costared in. her and russel have been over for years. you know how much money they are worth put together. they havent divorced due their estates, we all know what time it is. i can't stand kimora bloated korean face looking self, but she isn't doing anything wrong.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Kimora is sprung Im sure--After sexing that lisp, bisexual Russell Simmons all these years surely this buff, fine hunk of specimen is sure to be turned out!
Her kids are cute and all, but that oldest's one's teeth are jacked!!!
are all idiots. if you are in a serious relationship with someone, you should NOT hide it from your children. and regarding that "bloated korean face looking self" comment, RACIST!
well her bloated korean face made millions and i'm sure nobody knows yours.
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text:
Top 5 SAN tips of 2007
Here are the top 5 SAN tips of 2007, based on our readers' interest. This list covers topics such as RAID, SAN performance and SAN management.
Other popular content focused on SAN performance, indicating that many organizations have invested in a SAN and...
Continue Reading This Article
Enjoy this article as well as all of our content, including E-Guides, news, tips and more.
are now trying to squeeze the most out of it.
SAN management continues to be a tricky game. Balancing cost, performance and reliability is an ongoing challenge. Rounding out the top five is a tip that discusses how soon 10 GigE will deliver on its promise of lower cost IP SANs.
Check out the top 5 SAN tips of 2007 below:
- Learn all about RAID
This tip details RAID levels, offers insight into the state of RAID today, and provides advice on how to choose the appropriate RAID level.
- Using SAS and SATA for tiered storage
This podcast will teach you about SAS and SATA so you can strike the right balance between the two in a tiered storage environment.
- How to create a SAN performance baseline
To understand SAN performance as well as what is normal SAN behavior, you must have a baseline to compare against.
- How to reduce response time in a SAN
Learn how to improve I/O performance and lower response time in a SAN in this podcast.
- What you need to know about 10 GigE IP SANs
Although still in the early adopter stage, there are benefits and drawbacks to 10 GigE IP SANs that you should know before considering this technology.


text:
Colobus vellerosus
|Scope: Global
Language: English
|Scientific Name:
|Colobus vellerosus (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1834)
Common Name(s):
Semnopithecus vellerosus I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1834
|Taxonomic Source(s):
|Mittermeier, R.A., Rylands, A.B. and Wilson D.E. 2013. Handbook of the Mammals of the World: Volume 3 Primates. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
|Taxonomic Notes:
|Listed as a separate species from C. polykomos following Oates and Trocco (1983), Grubb et al. (2003) and Groves (2005).
|Red List Category & Criteria:
|Vulnerable A2cd ver 3.1
|Year Published:
|Date Assessed:
|Oates, J.F., Gippoliti, S. & Groves, C.P.
|Mittermeier, R.A. & Rylands, A.B. (Primate Red List Authority)
Listed as Vulnerable given the intensive hunting and extensive habitat degradation that has taken place in its range, which is believed likely to have led to a decline exceeding 30% over the past 30 years (three generations).
|Previously published Red List assessments:
|Range Description:
|This species ranges between the Bandama River (Côte d'Ivoire) and its tributary, the Nzi, east into western Nigeria, to the Dahomey Gap (Togo and Benin). Historically, it occurred in central and eastern Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and western Nigeria. The population west of the Bandama, as far west of the Sassandra, the form "dollmani", is essentially a hybrid with C. polykomos (Groves et al. 1993).
|Countries occurrence:
Native:Benin; Côte d'Ivoire; Ghana; Nigeria; Togo
|Additional data:
|Range Map:
|Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.
|There has been no systematic survey of this species, but it is known to have become rare in several national parks in Ghana where it had been assumed to be secure. It is now also a very rare animal in Benin, Togo and Nigeria.
|Current Population Trend:
|Additional data:
|Habitat and Ecology:
|Found in lowland rainforest and gallery forests and far north into the Guinea Forest Savannah Zone. In Bénin, they were observed in several habitats, including swamp forests, semi-deciduous forests and gallery forests (Campbell et al. 2008). The diet is thought to resemble that of C. guereza, but the exact composition may vary according to the presence or absence of other monkeys.
|Major Threat(s):
|This species is threatened primarily by hunting and secondarily by habitat loss. The region it inhabits has a dense and rapidly growing human population, forest destruction has been extensive, and the hunting of wildlife is uncontrolled in most places (although in some places they are hold sacred; e.g., see Campbell et al. 2008).
|Conservation Actions:
|This species is listed as Class A under the African Convention, and under Appendix II of CITES. It is known from several protected areas including Comoe National Park (Côte d'Ivoire), Fazao-Malfakassa National Park (Togo) and Mole, Bui and Digya National Parks (Ghana).
Campbell, G., Teichroeb, J. and Paterson, J.D. 2008. Distribution of diurnal primate species in Togo and Bénin. Folia Primatologica 79: 15–30.
Groves, C.P. 2005. Order Primates. In: D.E. Wilson and D.M. Reeder (eds), Mammal Species of the World, pp. 111-184. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Groves, C. P., Angst, R. and Westwood, C. R. 1993. The status of Colobus polykomos dollmani Schwarz. International Journal of Primatology 14: 573-586.
Grubb, P., Butynski, T.M., Oates, J.F., Bearder, S.K., Disotell, T.R., Groves, C.P. and Struhsaker, T.T. 2003. Assessment of the diversity of African primates. International Journal of Primatology 24(6): 1301-1357.
IUCN. 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 5 October 2008).
Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, San Diego, California, USA.
|Oates, J.F., Gippoliti, S. & Groves, C.P. 2008. Colobus vellerosus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T5146A11117385. . Downloaded on 20 July 2018.
|To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
|If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please provide us with feedback so that we can correct or extend the information provided


text: I recently got this sweet job writing articles for Examiner.com. So far I have written about Wisconsin being a MTB Hot Spot and the 2010 Bike Summit. Check them out and if you like please SUBSCRIBE! I will keep you updated on everything mountain biking. Also, if you know of any events or anything else you believe news worthy when it comes to mountain biking, let me know! If it seems relevant I will do my best to plug it in.


text:
Path by Pond
- Description: Path along a pond in Maclay Gardens.
- Keywords: path, pond, water, tree, plant, flower, Maclay Gardens
- TIFF File: A high resolution TIFF of Path by Pond (28.9 Mb) is available for download. This is a very large file suitable for printing. For most on-screen purposes, you should use the image displayed on this page instead of this TIFF.
- Source: Florida Center for Instructional Technology, Exploring Florida: Social Studies Resources for Students and Teachers (Tampa, FL: University of South Florida, 2009)
- County: Leon
- Location:
- Date of Photo: 3/28/2005
- Photographer: Roy Winkelman


text:
Did anyone watch Channel 4's The Plane Crash? If not, and you have no idea what I'm yapping on about, it's a documentary where a team of experts deliberately crash a 727 plane in order to study how to make flying (and surviving crashes safer.) Think car crash dummies on much bigger scale!
I hate flying but love to travel. I tend to feel sick about having to board a plane from the moment I book the tickets. The cabin crew can always tell I'm one of those passengers by my clammy hands, white as a sheet complextion and eager studying of the safety cards. You'd think I wouldn't want to watch a programme about one of my biggest fears, but I was interested to find out some statistics on flying, (such as the fact that many airlines, including Ryanair and Virgin have never had a crash involving a fatality!) and I wanted to know which seats gave the best chance of survival in the most common of crashes.
The programme had a clever marketing campaign where you could 'check into' the flight, choose a seat and then check back after to see how your crash dummy fared. I chose 23B (the seat I was in when I last flew.) Apparently this was a good position and fared much better than 1st class in a hard crash landing.
Of course this test won't give answers for every type of crash, but I applaud the attempt to try and make things safer.
How do you feel about flying? xo, hannah


text:
Mrs Darling's Homeschool Thoughts
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Golden Keys
Golden Keys
A bunch of golden keys are mine
To make each day with gladness
"Good morning," is the golden key
That unlocks every door for
When at the table "if you please"
I take from off my bunch of
It helps to make our mealtime calm
And keeps a smile on Dad and
"Thank you" is one magic key
That helps the world to smile at
And "please," I must remember all the time
You see, it helps me share
with friends what's mine.
"May I" is a key my Mom likes best
Because I
remember to ask before I test.
Oh, I see two special golden kindness
One is "I'm sorry," and the other is "excuse me, please."
When grown
up is how I want to be
I use a certain golden key
That says "Yes please,"
"Yes I will," "Yes ma'am," "Yes sir,"
Then I get treated grown up, you can be
Sunday, September 4, 2011
I closed Dishpan Dribble
In the meantime, I am preparing for homeschool again for another year. I will come back to share it all with you when I get it put together. So what are you all using for Science and History this year?
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Crafts from Asia
See Chinese Paper Yo Yo and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Resources for Teaching Geometry
The Math test revolves around the metric system and geometry. My kids know precious little about either one! I am not a lover of Math and I cannot wrap my mind around geometry so we are in a pretty pickle! I don't understand why I can't find nay geometry classes for homeschoolers. Are we all geometrically challenged? Goodness, I hope not! I would like to think that some of you out there understand all the shapes and angles and areas and pi and radii and circumference and deci and decka and whoever else wants to join the crowd!
So anyway, in an attempt to better our understanding of such things I went to our local homeschool store and bought what is called in shorthand, "Key To's". I am just not as impressed with them as I thought I would be. Tink finds them almost impossible to understand, but then again, she does have the processing disorder so maybe I shouldn't evaluate a text on what is understandable and comprehendable to her. Here's the kicker though, it isn't any clearer to me either!
So back out for more resources. Here is what I found! Geometry books from Straight Forward Math! I love them! They are so easy to understand and use. Even Tink is understanding these books! I really can't recommend them enough. The pages have just a few problems on them. They are not crowded and overwhelming. The pages are white, not gray like the Key To's. The page color makes a difference to children with learning differences. Some kids cant look at black on white and need overlays to tone it down. Tink needs the white. The grayish paper makes her feel cluttered!
Everything in these Straight Forward Math books is explained clearly and simply. State testing for my kids is scheduled to begin on March 28. We have spent all of this past week doing Geometry and Math. It's really been a fun thing in the long run. The charter school is out for break this week and next week. As a result, we have been able to spend some valuable time pouring over the books without interruption. I have high hopes that Peter, at least, is going to score higher as a result of these two weeks of study.
I also found another book that I think is wonderful. It's entitled, "Everything You Need to Know About Math Homework. I use this as a tutor and a homeschool mom. Check it out. I purchased all the books mentioned here (except the Key To's) used for cheap prices at our local homeschool store.
How do you teach Geometry? Do you have any good resources to share? I'd love to hear about it.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Today my boy; Tomorrow a man
Ten year old boys and school books have never been all that compatible, but Peter is making his fourth grade year a tough one for both himself and me! There are tears almost daily. I would take those tears into account a bit if a large part of them weren't due to a ten year old's natural bend towards laziness!
I take a little different approach to homeschooling than many people. I read of homeschoolers letting their kids learn through online games or board games or just from osmosis. I'm not that kind of homeschooler. I'm not saying my way is more right than theirs. I'm just saying I disagree with their method especially when it comes to schooling boys!
Boys are going to have to be the heads of their own homes some day. They are going to have to be bread winners. They will have to know how to get up on time every day and get themselves to work. They will have to learn to do unpleasant jobs whether they feel like it or not.
What am I teaching my son if I let him do his studies through games because he doesn't like to read or write? What am I teaching him when he cries because he doesn't want to do the work in his workbook and I let him quit because workbooks aren't his learning style?
I firmly believe in spicing up the schoolwork with supplementary games and such, but to make his entire school day out of such things is just not going to happen around here.
Peter must learn to write in full sentences whether or not he begs to to abbreviate everything. He must learn to put thoughts on paper and be able to write a cohesive story. He must learn to get at his school work without being told. He has to learn to finish everything in the lesson before marking it off of his goal chart. He must learn to try even the hard problems and not just put a huge x across every part he doesn't know how to do or every part he is too lazy to do.
My son has to learn that he cannot turn on the TV or play his PlayStation games until all school work and household chores are done. He must learn that he cannot play with the neighbor boy until all his music is practiced for the day.
Peter has to learn that before going to bed at night he must have everything ready for his charter school classes the next day; musical instruments at the door, music in his bag, gym shoes in his bag, water bottles packed, and all workbooks in their proper file in his big notebook.
He must learn to get up at 7:30 every morning and put on clean clothes, not the shirt or the socks he wore the day before. He must learn to eat his breakfast in a timely manner so he has time left over to pack the car with all the musical instruments: electric guitar, viola and two violins. He must also make sure that the cooler with our lunch gets to the car and that the big tub on wheels that totes all of our stuff into the building, is in the car every morning. It's his job to empty the lunch pail when we get home and to put the icepack back into the fridge for to freeze for tomorrows lunch.
It's Peter's job to empty the dishwasher daily and to feed the bird and to take out the recycle and garbage and to set the table. It's up to Peter to bring in the wood during the week day and to help Dad restock the wood bin on weekends.
Yes, Peter has a lot to do, but I am raising a boy, not a sissy. I am raising a future husband for some girl some day. I may be raising a future President or a future soldier who will be put on the front lines facing gunfire, extreme temperatures, hunger and pain. I may be raising some boys future daddy or some future evangelist or preacher.
I may be raising a future Fortune 500 corporate manager. My son may some day be a missionary on a foreign field and face danger at every turn. My son may have to stand up for truth and right at the risk of losing his own life.
In the light of all that, why would I ever give into his tears now and let him take the easy way out. Why would I let him do his school work and chores half heartedly? Why would I let him get by with skipping problems in his book because he is too lazy to look for the answers?
Ladies, you are homeschooling future men. Don't cripple your sons ability to be a responsible man tomorrow, by babying the boy of today.


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Suunnitelmiksi tuli mm. valokuvakehysten koristelu, simpukoiden maalaaminen kaikilla kivoilla väreillä koristeiksi esim. lasipurkkeihin tai kynttilöiden aluslautasille. Siihen ne taisi jäädäkin. Oisko kellään mitään muita ideoita mitä näistä voisi tehdä?
Mikas mom is moving soon and Isla found these clams in the middle of the stuff that was waiting to be thrown away. This was of course such a treasure that we had to take them all home. Washing them was great fun and Isla and i couldn´t wait to do something fun with them.
We planned to decorate some picture frames with them and also thought of painting them in many different fun colours, then using them just as a decoration, maybe in glass jars or saucers where are candles. But that was it. Does anyone have any other ideas what we could do with them?


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Nikki Broadwell
Nikki Broadwell grew up an 'army brat', living in several states as well as Germany during her formative years. But it was her time in Virginia on a 400- acre farm that set the imaginative stage for "The Moonstone", the first book of a fantasy trilogy entitled "Wolfmoon".
She received a B.A. in English and Art from Sonoma State University and later studied Marriage, Family and Child Counseling. Over the years Nikki has had several art related businesses, including greeting cards and painting on silk–scarves and wall-hangings–that were displayed in high end galleries.
After living in the Pacific Northwest for over 15 years, Nikki, her husband and a dog and a cat have relocated to Tucson, Arizona (close to the Catalina Mountains) where the light shines, illuminating everything.
Nikki spends a lot of walking and contemplating the beauty around her. She has two grown children and seven grandchildren. Now she writes full time and has 10 books published, 2 Kindle Gift Sets and one planned for release the first of 2016.
Featured Selection
Just Another Desert Sunset (Desert Series Book One) by Nikki Broadwell
Book One In The Paranormal Romance Desert Series.
Coyote yearns to be human but when his wish is granted he discovers that the shaman left out one tiny detail–as soon as he falls asleep he will always return to animal form.
Meeting the human female Sara further complicates Coyote's life as he is drawn to her in a way he can't explain. Ignoring Raven's warnings that he should stick with his own kind, Coyote-man finds himself heading to Sara's house at odd times, her essence impossible to ignore.
When a cruel trick of fate separates them, Coyote seeks council from a Navajo man who promises to help. Will this man trick him like the other shaman or can he be trusted? Walking the spirit trail brings answers but not to the questions he asked.
What will happen if Sara learns the truth? Will she turn away from this strange-looking man with the yellow eyes who seems like he comes from a different planet?
Cold Coffee Review: "There was once a coyote who wanted to become a man, but before he could be granted his wish the shaman asked him for three things."
Just Another Desert Sunset is a provocative paranormal romance that begs the reader to recognize the fine line between humans and animals in a mystical realm that honors Native Americans traditions and beliefs.
This face paced well written story takes place in Arizona where Author Nikki Broadwell uses the beauty of both sky and land with desert creatures that crawl, area birds fly and furry animals that hunt. Nikki weaves spell binding rituals with humans that are going about their lives unaware of the clash of cultures that exists as a fine line ready to tear the very fabric of time and space.
Well-developed characters live in a modern world that collide with a spiritual world were a coyote leaves his familiar pack in search of a way to become a human man. His deepest desire is to see, hear, feel and make love to Sarah who overwhelms his senses with her fragrances and beauty which brings confusion and longing in his spirit. Shape-shifting is not new to literature, but it is new to coyote when his warm, four footed fury body shifts into a Native American man named Istaga with yellow eyes, long braids and smooth, hairless skin.
I quote a passage where romance bridges instinct. "Coyote woke with a start, staring down at the woman curled up next to him. She looked serene and peaceful, a slight smile curling up the corners of her mouth. He wanted to stay as he was, wanted her to know him as animal as well as man, but it was too soon—too early for her to find out the truth. If she woke now he couldn't imagine how she would react seeing a wild beast lying next to her. He thought of the night before and how he had longed to turn into his coyote form but had managed to control the urge. How he wished his visions would come to pass—that they could change together from human to animal while they mated. When he moved away she moaned in her sleep, reaching for him, but he was already loping into the underbrush, searching for their breakfast.
When Sara woke, Istaga was gone, nothing left to indicate he'd ever been there. She had a moment of panic, wondering if she'd dreamed the entire scenario, but then she felt the sand in her hair, the sore muscles in her shoulders and hips and smiled to herself. There had been no exchange of the usual endearments between them but somehow the episode felt profound and deeper than any sex she'd ever experienced. Except for the first time with Istaga, she thought to herself, chuckling. Hopefully he had only gone to relieve himself and would be back soon. The thought of him disappearing from her life again was too painful to bear."
I, Theodocia McLean, endorse Just Another Desert Sunset by Nikki Broadwell as a delightful paranormal romance that intertwines human and animal nature in its purest form. Nikki currently has 10 books within 4 series, two Kindle Gift sets and a new book coming out early in 2016. I purchased this book from Kindle. This review was completed on November 23, 2015.
Genre: Romance, Paranormal
Author's Books (click on book covers to open)
Author's Links
Amazon Author's Page
Professional Website
Professional Blogs


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Clear Cardholders
3567-46 (Fits 4x6 Paper)
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The 2 sides of this clear cardholder come fully apart to allow easy changing of your signage. To put back together, simply line up your card, and place the other end back on top while the magnets effectively hold your card in place.
Product Features:
- Strong Magnets Help Avoid Moving Signs
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Just received a email about the the new LeapPad that goes on sale on the 15th of August with a price tag of £79.99 from LeapFrogs website or From Toys r us and is available to pre order now and available in Pink or Green. Now i know the price seems a little pricey and is it worth it I hear you say well knowing my experience with Leapfrog i have never doubted there products yet so I can assume it will be worth every penny. The LeapPad Explorer is available for ages 4 - 9 so if you have three kids like me and different ages they will find something that is suitable for there learning and if its anything like the Leapster 2 you can set different users so you can keep a eye on their progress via your PC and can monitor there progression and how they are learning through playing which has always been a major plus for me.
I hope to do a review of one of these later in the year so look out for that it all depends on when i get my hands on this product by either winning one or buying one at Christmas and i am sure it will be on my top tips for prezzys for kids this Christmas.
But in the mean time go and enter the comp over at LeapFrog UK Facebook page right now which ends on the 15th July so i recommend going to there page here and entering yourself they have already given two away and there is still one more up for grabs.....
- Just like there Page
- Share a funny comment about a mishap with a gadget that you own that involves the kids
- And the three best stories win a LeapPad Explorer finishes on the 15th July
Info taken from there webpage about the new LeapPad Explorer
LeapFrog is proud to announce the arrival of the new LeapPad Explorer, a multifunctional learning tablet device that introduces the next generation of learning, digital reading, and personal creativity for children ages 4 and up. LeapPad Explorer is designed to change the way children learn and play and this innovative new device will be available from Summer 2011, priced at £79.99 RRP.
LeapPad Explorer builds on the success of 2010's award winning handheld; Leapster Explorer and - just like an adult tablet - LeapPad Explorer combines the latest technology, educational content and entertainment features, specially tailored for young learners with a robust and durable design.


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The ideal nasal steroid should be:
- Easily administered or directed into the nose, most often in the form of a spray
- Physiologic or not harmful to the nasal mucous membrane
- Compatible with the normal nasal functions of regulation of humidification and cleansing air en route to the lungs
- Not absorbed into the general circulation to avoid the adverse effects of systemic steroids
- Relatively slow acting to permit once or twice daily usage in most patients, and
- Effective in minimizing inflammation within the nose.
Nasal steroid sprays have evolved from meeting few of the above requirements to now being both safe and effective in most patients. To meet these requirements, these sprays must be used daily and will often require weeks before their benefits are apparent to the patient. They should be sprayed towards the inner margin of the eye, which directs them towards the point of drainage of most of the sinuses. However, these drugs can cause nasal bleeding due to atrophy or erosion of the nasal mucous membrane, and require supervision by an ophthalmologist in those patients with glaucoma or cataracts.
Gillespie MB, O'Malley BW Jr, Francis HW. An approach to fulminant invasive fungal rhinosinusitis in the immunocompromised host.Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1998;124:520-6.
Malani PN, Kauffman CA. Invasive and Allergic Fungal Sinusitis. Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2002;4:225-232
Manning SC, Mabry RL, Schaefer SD.Evidence of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity in allergic fungal sinusitis. Laryngoscope. 1993;103:717-21.
Ponikau JU, Sherris DA, , Kita H, Kern EB. Intranasal antifungal treatment in 51 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002;110:862-866.
Ponikau JU, Sherris DA, Kephart GM, Kern EB, Gaffey TA, Tarara JE, Kita H..Features of airway remodeling and eosinophilic inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis: is the histopathology similar to asthma? J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003;112:877-82.


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Carrot & Thyme Lentils, Grilled Eggplant, Brussel Sprouts & Beans
This one was made using veggies from the universities food co-op. We signed up to get a box full of random veggies every week. The first few boxes we received were fantastic. We'd meet up after class and lug home our giant haul of tasty organic produce, and every night of the week was a joyous exercise in creative cooking. Then everything changed…
The boxes became more and more of a challenge. In the beginning, come dinner time you'd reach into the box, lucky dip style, and it'd be 2-3 tries tops before you hit gold: apple, novel but useless giant walnut, BAM – Eggplant! However, with each box it became harder and harder to find dinner worthy produce. Not that I didn't enjoy the challenge. This one would have never seen the light of day if it wasn't for a particularly cunning box. But when you've taken out 13 cucumbers and you can only see oranges left buyer's remorse starts to kick in.
Ingredients – In picture format!
The lentils were pre-soaked and added to a pan of veggies (pre-fried). Garlic, dried thyme, tomato paste, canned tomatoes and red wine vinegar were thrown in roughly in that order and I called it finished when the lentils were cooked. It was served up on some grilled eggplant slices (oil, salt, pepper, grill…). The green stuff was marinated in pepper, soy sauce, chili paste, and margarine, steamed for a few minutes then thrown on a super hot grill to finish.


text: Time for a cozy new flannel bathrobe! I found some great pink and black buffalo plaid flannel at my local JoAnn Fabric, this Butterick pattern on sale for $0.99, and I was in business. I also bought plain black fabric for the contrasting collar and cuffs. It turned out pretty well, I think, and it sure is cozy! Bring on the fall weather!


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MERRY 'almost' CHRISTMAS! If you can't tell we are totally in the Christmas mood on this side of the world. The lights are beginning to come on and of course the Christmas music has been going for the past couple of weeks (months...). The paper snowflake are beginning to fill the house and the spirit of Christmas is alive! To say the least I love this time of year and it's sure a blessing to be able to tell other people in this country why I love this time of year. Families, the gospel, the laughter, the food, the memories made and most of all the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Just like the new video says, "A Savior is Born" so we can always be filled with peace and love. It doesn't get any better then that!
I have a lot of bitter sweet feelings right now. Last night we got the phone call about transfers and I am going to be saying goodbye to one of my best friends. It has been to much fun serving with Elder Da Silva, I have truly made a life long friend the past 4 and a half months. But the sweet is that I get to stay in Eindhoven for Christmas!! I am getting Elder Wilson a stud of a man from Canada. It is going to be a lot of fun serving with him!
Here are just a couple quick highlights from this past week:
So last week Elder Byers and I got let in while knocking doors to a man named Francis. I believe I included that in my last email. So this week Elder Da Silva and I taught him the plan of Salvation and guess what!? Eindhoven finally has a baptismal date!! We got him on date for February 13th and wow we were so excited!!!
We had an awesome Zone Christmas Conference down in Antwerpen. Got to see a whole lot of friends. And get this, the Sister in my MTC group gave her dying testimony.....So weird. I felt like we all just got out here and now she is flying home this week. It was pretty sad to be honest. Time flies!!!!!!!
Jacky aka Shakira taught me how to make some amazing Peruvian rice this week. SO GOOD! Mom you will enjoy that one when I get home.
Working with the ward is beginning to improve a whole lot. We are doing a big Christmas thing with them and were given time during Church yesterday to teach them how to invite people to come, it was great! I love this ward.
We got to go carol to a couple of less active and completely make their entire day!
The list goes on and on. This week was one for the bags. I am loving this work and loving my mission. I know 100% this Gospel is true. I love you all so much and am so grateful for everything you do for me. I hope you have an incredible Christmas season as we remember why we celebrate it in the first place. Have an amazing week!!
Elder Parr
|Our Happy Family Love these guys.


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"One day as I was passing into the field ... this sentence fell upon my soul. Thy righteousness is in heaven. And me thought, withal, I saw with the eyes of my soul Jesus Christ at God's right hand; there, I say, was my righteousness; so that wherever I was, or whatever I was doing, God could not say of me, he wants [lacks] my righteousness, for that was just before him. I also saw, moreover, that it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor yet my bad frame that made my righteousness worse, for my righteousness was Jesus Christ himself, 'The same yesterday, today, and forever.' Hebrews 13:8. Now did my chains fall off my legs indeed...."
—John Bunyan


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Swap The Biz NJ Networking Referral Breakfast - 2nd Friday
Swap The Biz
Friday, February 9, 2018 from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM (EST)
Event Details
Referral Breakfast
2nd Fridays - 8:30AM to 10:30AM
David Alan's Warehouse
7 Littell Road, East Hanover, NJ (Off Rt. 10 Across From Powerhouse Studios)
The event as always features a great networking opportunity to meet other successful business owners, CEO's and affluent professionals.
Event Agenda
8:30AM - 9:00AM Breakfast & Facilitated Networking
9:00AM - 9:05AM • Welcome • Distribution Of The Roster of Attendees • Swap The Biz Philosophy
9:05AM - 9:40AM - Member Presentations & Spotlight
9:40AM - 10:00AM - Participatory Exercise (varying formats & always with a social twist), Outside Speaker Presentations or Entertainment
10:00AM - 10:30AM - Facilitated Networking
Please feel free to pass along our membership opportunities to any clients or colleagues or have them register now for this event. If they want to be invited to one of our exclusive morning breakfast referral groups, have them email email@example.com or call 212-683-2107.
When & Where
David Alan's Warehouse
5 Littell Road
East Hanover,
Friday, February 9, 2018 from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM (EST)
Add to my calendar
Swap The Biz
We host and organize high-end, red carpet, business networking events that are hyper social focused, from philosophy to implementation. Our members love that we are not your traditional networking organization. Very often our events are jam packed with entertainment. Comedians, fashion shows and even magicians are common place as we love to surprise you!! Our events are an experience and we have built a community atmosphere. We truly make networking fun!!!
Our central tenet is that developing a social relationship will lead to a friendship and ultimately result in business. This adheres to the old adage of "you do business with people you like", and we have found this to be an absolute truth. So we decided to add the "fun" into networking and build friendships along the way.
Friends want to spend time with each other and are inclined to help each other. We continue to see an escalating number of success stories evidencing the value of our unique approach of combining social connectivity and fun for people to develop real relationships. This results in friendships which eventually lead to business. The best thing is that with the foundation of the relationship based in a social connection and ultimately a friendship, the bond is stronger and longer lasting. Our events include multiple monthly morning breakfast referral groups (where members join to have exclusivity for their business category). Details at SwapTheBiz.com/membershipinfo


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Diana Frances
Diana Frances [Princess Diana / Princess of Wales]
Diana, Princess of Wales (Diana Frances; née Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997), was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981. She was also well known for her fund-raising work for international charities, and an eminent celebrity of the late 20th century. Her wedding to Charles, heir to the British throne and those of the then 18 Commonwealth realms, was ... more »
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''Everywhere I go I smell fresh paint.''Princess Diana (b. 1961), British princess of Wales. Quoted in Daily Telegraph (London, January 28, 1988). Commenting on her royal duties.
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text: Another must see bird and these were numerous in the hot, desert valley we birded. Almost impossible to photograph as they flitted through the bushes, constantly on the move and always in the thick of the scrub. Also at the site was a grey-necked bunting and a couple of desert finches.


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I like to make things, but I do not make as many things as I'd like to because I often do not have a use for the things I would make. I give things as gifts, but usually only things I've made specifically for people. That is one of the reasons I like to cook: because the end product is sure to be used.
I have my hands in a number of different crafts which rotate around depending on my interest or need. Most recently the list has been sewing, painting miniatures, and knitting. I've been interested in learning how to paint with oils, learn basic carpentry, and attempt more esoteric mixed media collages. But honestly, I'd try just about anything creative, and nothing is too daunting. I love the process of figuring out how to do something cool I saw or thought about. I could use a technique once and never use it again, but the knowledge that I have it in my arsenal for future projects coupled with the satisfaction of learning something fairly difficult keeps me happy and hungry for more.
I've been itching for some new ideas, and since I had some fines to pay at the library, I decided to wander. Frankly, I was going for an illustrated guide to horse tack, and something that explained movement and conformation, but I never made it over there. Instead I got caught up in the knitting section, after I pulled a few random books from the beading section on titles alone. I'm notorious for leaving the library with more books than I can carry, so it took me a while to whittle down the pile of knitting books. I made some tough calls and decided on four. It would have been three, but in one of the books there were directions for a knitted screen door (!!!!!) that was so cool I just have to try it. Okay, so it also has directions for a dressmaker's dummy that has been decoupaged with yarn labels. I now have to get my hands on one and also to figure out how to get the 300+ labels without having to buy that much yarn!
Despite my freakish interest in that awesome door and $3000 worth of labels, when I turned to the rest of the books I had randomly picked up, I was in for quite a shock. One of the books was for a purely practical skill (how to bead with cabochons), but the other two I had picked up were very cool. One was a primer on how to recreate the lush jewelry in old paintings and museum displays. As an on-again off-again historical costumer, this was right up my alley. I wish I had seen this book ten years ago. I might make a few test pieces and put a few probes out for buyers.
The other book I picked up just blew me away. It's an introduction to something called metal clay. I'd never heard of it. I've handled the finished project, but I had never realized that it was not smithed or wrought or poured metal. I've been interested in taking the metalcraft classes at school, and I still may (no skill unworthy) but for some reason I haven't been able to get any initiative for it. The metal clay, however, excites me beyond belief. For the first time I can put existing skills to use to get a product that I thought I'd have to work years at developing the skills for. I've been working in miniature with clay (and other clayey substances) since I was about ten, when I had an apprenticeship with a local artist through the TAG program at my school. I've since made realistic food for doll displays, shaped small figurines, and most recently, used plumbing putty and paper clips (of all things) to join, shape, and alter two-inch-tall pewter figurines before painting. Working small and delicate is a fun challenge for me. Stained-glass-like fairy wings out of easter basket wrapping paper? Yeah, I loves me some intricate work.
In any event, I am having trouble conveying the inner gleeing. Let me just post pictures instead.
This thing is very cool, and is a pretty good starting point for the sorts of jewelry and art I wanted to achieve with silversmithing and whatnot.
The eventually hollow piece is built upon a cork clay base that burns away in the kiln. The applications, oh, the applications…
Mostly, I am just very, very excited, and this book will be coming home from Amazon.


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cloned out a couple spots+ cropped + border added + Pioneer Woman "edge burn" + Pioneer Woman "Colorize" + Paint the Moon "Sugar Cookies"
I've taken nearly a hundred photos the past couple days trying to get something good enough to submit to Paper Mama's self-portrait challenge at Paper Heart Camera. I'm not sure if I like this edit - maybe it's a little bit too desaturated. I liked how it looked in PSE but side by side with the original, I'm not sure if I like it as much.


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Spot market freight activity continued picking up steam the second week of December, following some improvements the week before as well as in November.
The freight matching service provider DAT reports total spot market loads available Dec. 8 through Dec. 14 increased 20% from the week before.
Rates during the period for vans were unchanged at $1.94 per mile, while flatbeds increased 1% to $2.07 per mile. Reefer rates posted the biggest gain, 1.4%, to $2.13 per mile.
"Winter weather is here, but the typical slowdown isn't," says DAT, with van loads increasing another 18.7% last week. Rates (including fuel) stayed elevated at $1.94 per mile, which DAT says is 6 cents higher than the national average in November. "Most holiday retail goods are already through the supply chain, so this surge may be attributed, in part, to businesses trying to take advantage of favorable pricing on commodities prior to 2014."
Ddemand for flatbeds increased last week from the week before, while reefer demand hit its highest level in the past month.
November numbers
Looking back at November's monthly numbers, spot market freight availability remained strong, according to the DAT North American Freight Index.
For the fifth consecutive month, freight availability continued to outpace levels seen in recent years, during a time when volume typically declines. Month over month, freight availability declined 9.5%, the result of four fewer business days in November versus October, but average daily freight volume during the month actually exceeded October volume by 10%. On a year-over-year basis, freight volume increased 8%.
Load availability increased 0.9% for vans, but fell 5% for refrigerated trailers and 21% for flatbeds compared to October. Year over year, van freight volume declined 11%, while reefer loads added 6.2% and flatbed freight increased 4.3%.
The relative strength of November's overall freight volume was validated by an increase in spot market rates. Rates rose 5% for vans and 1.9% for reefers compared to October, while flatbed rates declined seasonally by 2.5% Compared to November 2012, rates rose 6% for vans and 1.9% for reefers, but declined 5.4% for flatbeds compared to last year's record high rates in that segment.
Rates are cited for line haul only, excluding fuel surcharges, which declined on both a month-over-month and year-over-year basis. The monthly DAT North American Freight Index reflects spot market freight availability on the TransCore DAT network of load boards in the United States and Canada.


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Ok - those who know me well might object to me saying I'm going crazy - they would say I'm already there. Have been for awhile. While that's true, things have been a little crazier than normal lately and I just can't keep up with it all! Not totally losing my mind, but I do need to prioritize better. So, sadly enough, that means I'm going to give up blogging for a few weeks. I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise, I just need to be honest with myself and say that I don't have the energy and time to keep up with posts until some of this craziness dies down.
Hope I see each and everyone of you soon! Keep writing :)
~ Ruthie ~


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31 Jul 2009
29 Jul 2009
Salamanperä, Koirajärvi ( The Dog Lake) 1977
Wilderness & Backwoods photo archive Nr. 6
28 Jul 2009
Report from the RGS & SEG conference 2008
Next morning walk trought the bushes
The Jamal Peninsula botanic presentation
The Openinig ceremonies at rock table, the official RGS meeting place in Vartiosaari island, Finland.
ENLARGE:click the images
Explorations in a Completed World
First Joint World Conference and Summer Seminar of the Romantic
Geographic Society (R.G.S.) and the School of Esoteric Geography (S.E.G.)
Vartiosaari Island, Helsinki, Finland, august, 2008
Geographic Society (R.G.S.) and the School of Esoteric Geography (S.E.G.)
Vartiosaari Island, Helsinki, Finland, august, 2008
The seminar was a perfect succes. The program started at afternoon and continued until 2am. and then it was time for sauna. We heard several intensive an exciting presentations from passionate amateurs and professional researchers; artists, photographers , writers, explorers and intruders, geographist, botanists, archaeologists etc.
Program consisted following topics:
Presentations of the activities and philosophy of both Romantic Geography and Esoteric geography, Urban exploration in Finland and Baltic states, Botanic research in Jamal Peninsula, Fortress and bunker archaelogy, Borderland business in Africa, Photographic documentation of wastelands and chancing landscapes in between, Expeditions in the Finnish Archipelago etc.
(photos: Tellervo Kalleinen)
A short visual report of the conference by Stalkers (LINK)
A short visual report of the conference by Stalkers (LINK)
27 Jul 2009
Jussi Kivi
Sights of East-Helsinki part 1; Mustavuori and Vuosaari wasteland (former dump).
ENLARGE: Click the image
25 Jul 2009
Department for Studies of Unusual Light Phenomena (detail)
The Mystery of Professor Lemström - A Northern light Project by Oliver Kochta - Kalleinen
"Supernaturalism 2", Momentum - 4th Nordic Festival of Contemporary Art,
Moss, Norway 2006
Front: Samples from the RGS collection of romantic objects
Background: Materials from RGS underground departments
( cave research dept & department of subterranean landscapes)
Samples from RGS backwoods & wilderness department photo archive
RGS Collection in the exhibition:
"Friction and Conflicts", Kalmar Art Museum, Sweden 2008
(Propaganda dept. J.Kivi, O.Kohta-Kalleinen)
Samples from the RGS collection of romantic objects
Wilderness & Backwoods photo archive (detail)
"Supernaturalism 2", Momentum - 4th Nordic Festival of Contemporary Art,
Moss, Norway 2006 (J.Kivi, O. Kochta-Kalleinen)
"Lemström museum", Department of strange light phenomenon, (northern light project by O.Kochta-Kalleinen)
Supernaturalism I
Lönnström museum, Rauma, Finland 2005
RGS propaganda department: Jussi Kivi, Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen, Tero Kontinen
24 Jul 2009
Pötsönpuro Camp in moonshine, November 1990
Text: General description of the campsite near Pötsönpuro creek in dark spruce forest in the north side of Jeremiaanrasi in Elimyssalo backwoods, Kuhmo, Finland, RGS wilderness & backwoods dept. / Hiking and wandering department 1997 (JK)
ENLARGE: Click the image
23 Jul 2009
Jussi Kivi
MEIKO - LAPPTRÄSK - DORGARN The Uninhabited Areas of Finland part 12.
Field studies 1977- The map: 1992-97 watercolour, ink 100 x 70 cm
ENLARGE: Click the image
Jussi Kivi
Jussi Kivi: Cross-section of a natural cave
Korppivuori, Pesolansaari Island, Finland
Scraped on photographic paper, 1996
Handwritten markings (translation from finnish): "The scale, Korppivuori, upper cave, cross-section of a cave, camp fire site, entrance."
ENLARGE: click the image
RGS/Wilderness & backwoods archives nr.54.
Mysterious abandoned lean to camp in Hammastunturi Wilderness.
Following things were found from the camp:
Camping matress, pullower (wool), Camel boots (in good condition),
snowspate, kettle, spoon, knife, FOOD: severeal bags instant soup etc.
dry dog food, hair schampoo, soap
Photo: JK. sept 1998
ENLARGE: click the image
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The Classroom Environment
The classroom should be an environment that ultimately fosters learning. Participation in class discussion and asking relevant questions during lectures is strongly encouraged. Students are also encouraged to help one another (This doesn't mean doing someone else's work).
A few rules are in place to enhance the classroom environment. No food or drink in the computer lab. Excessive chatting, inappropriate language, or the belittling of other students will not be tolerated. No music players, cell phones, or other hand-held devices should be used during class unless specifically allowed by the instructor. During classroom time, students should apply their full attention to the task at hand. That means no random internet surfing.
Graphic Design is a deadline-driven business. The importance of completing work on time cannot be overstressed. "I'm just not feeling it [creativity]" is a common utterance of designers. Just as writers get writer's block, all designers eventually encounter a roadblock to fresh ideas.
At any rate, deadlines do not cease to exist. To prepare for the "real world" it is the policy of this class that all work must be submitted at the beginning of class on the due date. Work handed in later will be welcomed if it gives you some sense of closure, but it will still earn you a zero.
There is a strong correlation between high attendance and good performance—not to mention you or someone is paying for your education. However, there is some built-in extrinsic motivation for you to be in class.
For a Tuesday, Thursday class:
7 or more misses = automatic fail
4 or more misses = deduction of 5 points from final grade for each class missed
For a Monday, Wednesday, Friday class:
11 or more misses = automatic fail
6 or more misses = deduction of 5 points from final grade for each class missed
Certain things such as project submission, presentations, in-class exercises, and tests must be completed in class and cannot be made up, unless in the case of an excused absence.
Excused absences must be approved by the instructor and would include things such as illness, OBU activities, a death in the family, and being caught in a bear trap. Missing class because you are in Wisconsin doesn't count. "I had to work" doesn't count. "I'm trying to discover who I am" doesn't count.
Make a point, if possible, to inform the instructor by email prior to your absence. Note: A grade of incomplete is only given in extreme circumstances.
Labeling Work
All work should be labeled on the back with the following information:
- your name
- class name
- project name
- professor name
- semester
For 3D and package design work, labeling may not be necessary.
Academic Integrity
When people think about "academic integrity" they generally think about cheating on tests, plagiarizing, or turning in someone else's work. In art and design courses, we don't have many writing assignments, or tests for that matter (in the traditional sense), and turning in another student's work as your own would be virtually impossible—art and design has a DNA to it.
In an era of Google Image Search, there are practically limitless resources at your fingertips. Make every effort to ensure your work is your work. Designers are constantly borrowing, using photographs they didn't shoot, and type that they didn't design, and that's okay. What's not okay is pawning off someone else's work as your own. Just to be on the safe side, when using someone else's work, cite your source by either informing your professor or listing the source on the back of the project when you turn it in. Artist's have been "appropriating" images for a long time, and will continue to do, so let's be about the business of honoring the original creator and his or her intellectual property, rather than taking a shortcut.
There is some extrinsic motivation to deter you from blatantly lifting images: Any student engaging in such activity will receive an automatic zero for the project. Further violations will result in more severe action.


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There are growing signs that the United States is losing its financial clout. One of these signs is the growing talk about adding other currencies to the list of currencies used as international reserves. The Premier of China has been raising this issue for quite a few months now. French President Nicolas Sarkozy gained attention last week by not only supporting discussions on the issue but also suggesting that France and China work together in developing such a change. The proposed venue: the upcoming G-20 talks in Seoul, South Korea.
There has also been talk within the International Monetary Fund about the need for change, both in terms of representation (the governing body of the IMF is heavily weighted toward the Europeans) and the makeup of international reserves.
The fact is that these initiatives are becoming more and more credible. A change is not imminent, but it is expected that discussions will grow about more co-ordination between countries or the inclusion of other currencies as international reserves.
The United States continues to attack the foreign-exchange policies of the Chinese, but Chinese leaders have worked hard behind the scenes to build relationships and to act in a way that is supportive rather than divisive. A recent example is the announcement that China will buy Greek government bonds to show support of the effort being made in Greece to restore confidence in the economic policies of that government.
"The U. S. plans to use IMF meetings and sessions of the Group of 20 in October and November as venues to coordinate international pressure on Beijing, rather than press its views unilaterally." (See "IMF Talks on Currency Restraints," http://online.wsj.com/public/page/news-business-us.html.)
Yet those that seemingly support a broader base for international reserves are getting most of the press and any real publicity condemning the actions of the Chinese appear to be mostly coming from the United States. The support the United States does get seems half-hearted, at best.
The United States seems to be losing its relative position in the financial world. Yes, it is still "Number One" but the fifty years of credit inflation that has weakened its economic base (http://seekingalpha.com/article/227990-monetary-warfare-can-nations-have-independent-economic-policies) coupled with growing strength in the emerging nations has resulted in changes in the relative position of countries in the world. The United States continues to act as if it were still the "sole act" on the stage, while many of the emerging nations, especially the BRIC nations, are finding their relative strength and their voice. (France's Sarkozy, with no place else to go, seems to be leaning to the BRICs to show he still has some clout in the world.)
The growing conflict comes from the fact that the financial world has become increasingly interconnected. Capital mobility is greater now than many believed possible forty years ago. But, the existence of this mobility limits the choices available to countries: they can either have fixed exchange rates or they can have independent governmental economic policies.
Many, like the United States, have opted for independent governmental economic policies. This has resulted in the internal economic problems in the United States mentioned in the Seeking Alpha post cited above. The consequence of this has been a decline in the value of the United States dollar. Other countries have had to follow various paths in order to protect themselves from what they consider to be a "competitive devaluation" on the part of the United States.
These other countries are not particularly happy.
The call has gone out for nations to join in greater co-ordination: "the Institute of International Finance, the global top bankers' club, is calling for renewed global co-ordination to address the trend towards unilateralism on macroeconomic, trade, and currency issues. Likewise, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has also been calling for global policy co-ordination." (See the opinion piece by John Plender, http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/295e207a-d09a-11df-8667-00144feabdc0.html.)
The likelihood of achieving some form of greater co-operation and co-ordination in the economic policies of member nations seems to be slim and none. This is especially true given the leanings of a majority portion of the voting body of the Federal Reserve System and the Chairman of the Bank of England concerning the use of "quantitative easy" to spur on their economies. In fact, the calls for greater "quantitative easy" at central banks has grown over the past several weeks which, of course, has had a negative impact on currencies.
In my view, we are in this conflict for the long haul. To me, the stage is set for the emerging nations to continue to press their point. There seems to be a growing sense their time is coming and that the United States is only going to become relatively weaker…although still Number One.
The model broke in the European sovereign debt crisis earlier this year and the European Union pulled together for a long enough period of time to keep things from totally falling apart. Some people had suggested that this European model of "coming together" be used in the G-20 and in the IMF.
I don't think this is going to happen.
Greater global co-operation and co-ordination is going to have to come about someday. It is just not going to happen any time soon.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
United States Losing Financial Clout?
Posted by Mase: Economics and Finance at 6:23 AM
Labels: Beijing, G-20, global cooperation, IMF, U. S. economic policy, United States
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Welcome to the University of Illinois Cubesat Project. We are currently finishing development of our 'IlliniSat-2' bus, a generic, scalable picosatellite bus system. We also have in development one in-house payload, and a partnership with a local company to fly two additional buses with their payload.
Please explore the site to learn more about the various subsystems and missions!
Goals of the Cubesat Program
Designing and building a satellite, even one the size of a cubesat, is a complex engineering endeavor, drawing on multiple disciplines and skills. The Cubesat Program at the University of Illinois provides our engineering students with a hands-on design, build, test experience involving a real satellite system. The interdisciplinary nature of the Cubesat Program also exposes the students to the broader issues related to systems engineering, and provides them with invaluable experience they can take with them into their ultimate careers. Providing this sort of educational experience to our students is what this program is all about.
Program Organization
The Cubesat Program at Illinois is integrated into an interdisciplinary engineering design class operated through the College of Engineering. The class is managed primarily by the Departments of Aerospace Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering, whose students comprise the majority of the class. The class is typically taken by undergraduate engineering seniors, but is open to any students with a background that allows the students to learn and be productive in the Cubesat Program. The class is offered fall and spring semesters, and is intended to be taken for two consecutive semesters, but enrollment is open for more if students are interested.
The class is run as a systems engineering project, with proposals, design reviews, demonstrations, and final presentations and documentation. New members of the class (the green team) are given a series of lectures on topics related to satellite design and operation as well as topics of systems engineering. Green team members also take part in a small project targeted at developing design and development skills related to aerospace technology, circuit design, or computer engineering. Once the introductory lectures and stream project are completed, the green team joins the project team, which is actively designing, testing, and building the IlliniSat-2 bus.
The project team members are divided into subsystem groups which work on different areas of the satellite. Information on these subsystem teams is available from the menu bar above. The project team members meet weekly for systems meetings and additional workshops meant to educate the students on aspects of systems engineering. Systems meetings are targeted at status reviews of pending tasks and to discuss systems-level issues. Subsystem teams also meet regularly to discuss tasks and to provide status to their TA manager.
The class is managed by professors from the departments of aerospace engineering and electrical and computer engineering as well as graduate teaching assistants who also manage the subsystem teams. Systems requirements for the bus are provided by the management team, but the design, test, and building of the satellite is done by the students.
IlliniSat-2 Bus
The first cubesat built and launched by the University of Illinois unfortunately failed on launch in 2006 (see history page on the website). However, lessons learned from this first mission drove design improvements for a second satellite bus, named IlliniSat-2. This design, as opposed to the first IlliniSat bus, is meant to be more general, capable of usage on multiple missions and payloads. The IlliniSat-2 design requirements define minimum capability for power generation and storage, communications, attitude determination and control, command and data handling, and stringent mass requirements. These minimum requirements allow for a broad range of missions, including both scientific missions (Earth observing and in-situ sensing) as well as technology demonstrations (e.g. micro-thrusters, small deployable solar sails, flight testing of newly developed satellite components, etc.). The design objectives of the IlliniSat-2 bus are ambitious, with the goals of being able to conduct missions capable of scientifically relevant data measurements and/or space technology demonstrations.
Payloads for the IlliniSat-2 bus are designed and integrated according to the Payload Interface Document, which defines interfaces for power, communications, and structural integration of the payload. The bus as designed takes about 1 cube in volume, leaving 1-2U of volume available for a 2-3U cubesat.


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Official defends Gitmo plan.
Lieberman, McCain and Lindsay Graham are never slow to exploit an attempted terrorist attack to imply that Obama and the Democrats are weak on national security, which is why they are now calling for a halt of the transfer of any prisoners from Guantanamo Bay to Yemen, in the light of the failed Christmas Day terrorist plot.
The White House are pushing back:
A senior Obama administration official pushed back against critics of the White House's plans to transfer some detainees at Guantanamo Bay to Yemen as it moves toward closing the facility, saying the process for transfers are "consistent with our national security interests."Anyone released from Guantanamo Bay who ended up working for al Qaeda, was released under the Bush administration, so why isn't there more questioning of why the Bush administration didn't properly vet the people they were letting go?
"I am aware of a lot of people pointing back at the way the transfers were handled under the Bush administration that apparently they have some concerns about that," said the official, who had not seen the senators' letter. "I didn't hear many of those concerns at the time, but there were obviously hundreds and hundreds of detainees that were transferred under the old regime."
The official explained that the administration's policy requires that Congress be notified of any transfers, that they are "consistent with our national security interest," and that each case is reviewed "with a fine-toothed comb."
"And we believe that each of those that we have done so far enhances our national security," the official said. "I think that some of us were struck by the fact when Al Qaeda on the Arabian peninsula itself was formed," the official added, "one of the recruiting and motivational tools that it used in its initial announcement to generate sympathy for its cause for recruits was the facility at Guantanamo Bay."
If McCain, Graham and Lieberman were genuinely concerned with national security - as opposed to making cheap opportunistic points - then they should be calling for a thorough examination of why the Bush regime released certain people who are now working against the US.
And, if they were serious about tackling terrorism, then they would also have to consider the value of Guantanamo Bay to al Qaeda as a recruiting tool.
Instead, they seek to make Obama responsible for the mistakes of the previous regime which they totally supported.
There's a cheapness to these Republican tactics which I find simply shameful. But it's sadly all too predictable. This is simply what these buggers do.
I've commented before on the blatant double standard which is employed whenever a Democrat is in the White House, but this takes some beating:
President Obama wants us all to know he's taking seriously the attempted terrorist attack of Christmas Day and that his administration is doing all it can to ensure our safety. But his words would be a lot more convincing if not delivered during time snatched between rounds of golf, swimming and sunbathing. . . .
Returning to Washington would have sent the world a powerful message of a president willing to drop everything and roll up his sleeves -- someone who really means business.As I've pointed out before Bush didn't even bother to comment on Richard Reid's attempt to blow up an airplane for SIX DAYS, far less beat a path back to Washington.
So why is this behaviour utterly unacceptable once a Democrat is in the White House?
Why would Obama's message be "a lot more convincing if not delivered during time snatched between rounds of golf, swimming and sunbathing" and yet this behaviour was perfectly acceptable when Bush was president?
This is how ludicrous Republicans are becoming in an attempt to attack Obama. It is now suspicious for a President to spend time in his home state.
MADDEN: President Obama right now has suffered very greatly in the last few months because of the fight over health care, and he has very little political capital right now. So Republicans feel it is in vogue to criticize this president.
And then lastly, you have to also remember the fact that the president being on vacation in Hawaii, it's much different than being in Texas. Hawaii to many Americans seems like a foreign place. And I think those images, the optics, hurt President Obama very badly.
You couldn't make that up. It's beyond pathetic.
Click here for full article.


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Hello Spinach Fans! My name's Aaron, El Peatón, and I'll be joining my fellow Spinach heads here on the blog. As you've probably already noticed, we here at Spinach like to share all things happening in the greenosphere, and try to do so in the most lighthearted and friendly way possible We provide you breaking news, environmental trends and tips on how to make your life a little greener. I plan to bring some urban issues to the Spinach table, and hope to cover topics such as sustainable transportation, greener urban development, and general topics affecting those of us living in and around cities. But, to kick things off, I wanted to share something I think many of you (I know the Spinach Team will), may find useful as we enter the Holidays. A Green Boozing Guide!
Yes, the Holidays are a time to give, spend time with friends, family and loved ones, reminisce on the year's events, and be thankful for everything we have going for ourselves. But it is also the time for indulging in libations. So, what could be better than getting your drink on with friends and family this holiday season? Why, doing it by being green of course! Below is a list (by no means complete) of a few of the breweries, wineries, and liquor distilleries that do their best to provide you with something good to drink without stepping all over the planet. I hope you find this list useful. And remember, you can do your part and make green choices while having a good time. Cheers!
1. New Belgium Brewing: Fort Collins, CO
All of the brewery's energy needs come from its on-site wastewater treatment facility as well as wind energy. New Belgium is a strong bicycle advocate, and even included planet Earth as a stakeholder in its strategic planning!
2. Bison Brewing: Berkeley, CA
Touting USDA-certified organic ingredients, an energy grid comprised of renewables, and resource saving brewing practices, Bison Brewing is a green-brew fan's best friend.
3. Peak Organic Brewing Company: Portland, ME
Like Bison Brewing, Peak Organic sources all of its ingredients locally and organically. The brewery has also given back to the community, working closely with local farmers to bring organic commercial grade hops back to Maine, the first time in the state since 1880.
4. Brooklyn Brewery: Brooklyn, NY
The first brewery in New York City to purchase 100% of its energy needs from wind farms, Brooklyn Brewery strongly stands by its commitment to sustainability. Awesome beer, with out the CO2!
5. Full Sail Brewing Company: Hood River, OR
Preferring the term "responsible" rather than "sustainable", Full Sail Brewing Company was thinking about the planet when it set up shop in 1987. Repurposing a derelict canning facility, a waste-water treatment plant on-site, all beer making by-product used as animal feed locally, and using 100% recycled materials in all of its packaging are only a few of the many weapons in Full Sail's sustainability arsenal.
1. Alma Roas Winery: Buellton, CA
Award winning wines that are certified organic and grown using sustainable agriculture practices.
2. Stratus Winery: Niagara, ON
Featuring the fist LEED-certified winery in North America, Stratus Winery embodies what it means to be green. The facility also uses geothermal heating and cooling, uses recycled materials in the construction, and even has a staff bike room and Prius!!
3. Rodney Strong Vineyards: Healdsburg, CA
As if going 100% solar energy powered back in 2005 wasn't enough, Rodney Strong Vineyards went a step further, and installed a 766-Kilowatt solar array on its own property. The vineyard now produces all of its own energy, plus provides solar energy to the grid, enough to power nearly 800 homes per day!
Alcohol Giant Diageo is in the process of building a bioenergy plant at it's Glenlossie distillery in Scotland. The plant will produce steam that will help power the distillery, as well as animal feed from the distillery by-product not suitable for energy production. The plant is estimated to keep nearly 6,000 of CO2 out of the atmosphere every year, the equivalent of removing 1,134 cars of the road. Diageo's brands include Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray, and Smirnoff.
If you've got a favorite green libation, let us know, and we'll do our best to add it to the list. Thanks for reading, and go out there enjoy the Holidays, without feeling bad about it!


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Although there hasn't been any official declaration yet, inside sources (read RFL spies) say that the Sunfeast world 10k would be on May 10th. The registrations will begin sometime soon.
Meanwhile, Vinay and meself have started on a training program, knowing that we have still ~6 weeks for the event. All those who r waiting for the news to start training, sould probably start training now.
If u r in bangalore, u have a few options for being trained:
- The Nike Run Club (at Kanteerava stadium every sat and wed)
- "Runner's high" by Dr. Rajat et al
I am however planning to stick to training programs here.
And u can track my trainin at dailymile.
Edit: Tanvir Kazmi points out that there is still juggling of dates going on, as we can see from here. (This link says May 31st). So what i would do is to start on a 3 week training program (like here), by which time, the date should get settled. And then do some speed drills and cross-training during the gap the posponement would introduce. Then do another 3 week trainin cycle to reach optimum training for D-Day
Re-edit: Its on May 31 finally. And i am totally sucky at following training schedules that the change of date doesn't affect my so-called training at all! :)
Current mood: Sleepy
Currently listening to: Little room - Norah Jones


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These are the rules:
You must link the person who nominated you.
You must share 11 random facts about yourself.
You must answer the 10 Liebster questions given to you by the nominee.
You must pick 10 bloggers with under 200 followers to be nominated for the award.
You must come up with 10 questions for your nominees to answer.
You must go to their blogs and notify your nominees.
11 Random facts about us:
- We will always have Paris ;)
- We are desperate cupcakes lovers.
-We live in Sunny Madrid...
-But every year we long for snow!
-We are animal lovers, as you can see here.
-We love french authors such as Maupassant, Zola and Victor Hugo.
- We don't care in which season we are, we love everyone one of them!
- We believe that happiness never decreases from being shared
- This man is amazing and everybody should know Humans of New York.
- We love watercolors!
1. Silver or gold? Silver in winter and gold in summer.
2. What is your favorite Starbucks (or your favorite coffee shop) drink? Capuccino!3. What is your favorite holiday? SUMMER.
4. Would your rather live in cold snowy rainy weather, or sunshine and heat? Definetely summer, with sunshine and heat...Although we might miss scarfs and beanies...
5. If you could study one thing for the rest of your life what would it be? Everything! No limits.
6. What is your special or hidden talent? Let's keep it special and hidden ;)
7. What is your favorite scent? Jasmin & roses!
8. Batman or Superman? [Answer carefully... just kidding.. but really ] BATMAN.
9. What is your favorite meal? So many of them...maybe spaguetti bolognese haha and chinese food in general.
10. TV show (or movie) you couldn't do without? Singing in the rain.
11. Favorite beauty product? Red lipstick on very special occasions ;)
Here is our pick of 10 blogs:
- 16 road
That's it! Thanks for reading!


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Tomorrow, in Madrid, there will be a pro-life rally "Cada Vida Importa" (Every life matters). Most of my friends who can squeeze time into their schedule are heading there to show their support. It is especially relevant in Spain, where there is currently an ongoing battle to liberalize abortion, seeing it as a 'necessary step' to be fully modernized like the rest of Western Europe. I, like a few others, won't be able to make it but will support them with prayers and ask you for yours.
More info here and here (in Spanish).
Just to recap on the topic of the scourge of abortion:
Last year abortion killed 41.6 million (report by Guttmacher!!!)
And last, but not least, you have to read this profoundly sad but hopeful reflection by an abortionist, Lisa Harris, who aborted 18-week baby even as she felt her own 18-week baby kicking. Excerpts (read in full here):
With a quick tug, I separated the leg. Precisely at that moment, I felt a kick - a fluttery "thump, thump" in my own uterus. It was one of the first times I felt fetal movement. There was a leg and foot in my forceps, and a "thump, thump" in my abdomen. Instantly, tears were streaming from my eyes - without me - meaning my conscious brain - even being aware of what was going on. I felt as if my response had come entirely from my body, bypassing my usual cognitive processing completely. A message seemed to travel from my hand and my uterus to my tear ducts. It was an overwhelming feeling - a brutally visceral response - heartfelt and unmediated by my training or my feminist pro-choice politics. It was one of the more raw moments in my life.
I thought to myself how bizarre it was that I could have legally dismembered this fetus-now-newborn if it were inside its mother's uterus - but that the same kind of violence against it now would be illegal, and unspeakable.
[...] the psychological burdens second trimester abortion care lays upon its providers, including "serious emotional reactions that produced physiological symptoms, sleep disturbances (including disturbing dreams), effects on interpersonal relationships and moral anguish."
Harris conjectures that the needs of abortionists in this regard are not met because "frank talk like this is threatening to abortion rights." "While some of us involved in teaching abortion routinely speak to our trainees about the aspects of care I've described, we don't make a habit of speaking about it publicly. Essays like this bring the inevitable risk that comments will be misinterpreted, taken out of context and used as evidence for further abortion practice restrictions," she writes.
"We might conclude at this point that a provider who feels that abortion is violent is simply ambivalent, conflicted, is not really committed to women's abortion rights, and just shouldn't be doing this work," Harris writes. "'Pro-life' supporters may argue that the kind of stories and sentiments I've relayed spell the end of abortion - that honest speech acts regarding the reality of abortion will weaken the pro-choice movement to the point where it cannot sustain itself any longer.
As you may very well imagine, my first response was, "How could this woman not see?!" All that she wrote was contradicting each other; how can she maintain that the pro-choice position is tenable for the well-being for women when it must be obvious even to her:
(1) the incongruous, injustice of born-alive protection and legal status of abortion, and
(2) her own 'visceral response' which she tried to rationalize and explain away, and (3) the 'psychological burdens' suffered by 'second-trimester providers' is precisely because our consciences know the action cannot be defended morally ever. EVER.
I feel very sad reading the article, but at the same time hopeful that she, like many other abortionists, will come to see the inconsistencies in her position and recant from this kind of work.


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Tuesday, 20 January 2009
There is the small matter of persuading my beloved that Durango, Colorado in September is the holiday of his dreams, and the matter of saving the airfare but I have just done my entry for SSWC. I am hoping this will focus my mind and legs on some singlespeed riding, I have managed one ride so far this year. This is not to say I have turned into a total couch potato, I've taken up fell running which seems to be keeping me off the bike. I will at least have the legs for the uphill pushing that seems to go with my attempts to ride singlespeed!
1 comment:
- kate said...
good luck-with persuading your beloved that is ;)
- 22 January 2009 at 10:18
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Do you remember the times when Groupon was all we talked about it? It was (well, it still is) that amazing website with absolutely random deals (from salon appointments and concert tickets to cameras and cushions with photography prints), which you just had to get - they were that good! That hype seems to be long gone, because let's face it - it just made you buy things you never really needed in the first place. The demand shifted to more niche and rather specific websites - like the ACHICA one. Achica homeware works on a similar idea like Groupon (members-only deals are offered only for a certain period of time), however it's focused on luxury lifestyle products. Yesterday I discovered the most amazing, magical, quirky, arty cushion collection there - check out the Ohh Deer!On the Achica website you can find loads and loads of pretty darn good deals on luxurious products - and not only homeware (which I'm currently obsessed with - on here, on E-bay, on IKEA website, you name it!), they also offer deals on handbags, books, sweet treats, and even short breaks! It's a website where you can definitely find a treat for yourself or someone you love. I absolutely fell in love with this cushion collection by artists' collective Ohh Deer! It's just amazing, I can't even describe it. I want to have every single cushion from them! My absolute favourite is number 3 with the little wolf baby held by two big human hands and the one in the very middle with a bear and a girl, which looks very native American to me! Ah, they are just so beautiful! Each cushion is £22 which is A LOT, however it is discounted from £35 and it's basically a piece of art, so here you go!
This deal ends on Friday 26th October at 6.30am, so grab a bargain when you can!
Which cushion is your favourite?