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My Christmas list is growing. I was determined to preempt the inevitable scented lotions and the way-too-femme-for-me handbags by having a simple, reasonable list of essential and inexpensive cooking supplies to guide friends and family through the process buying me a Christmas present.
My list started out as a simple cast iron skillet and a decent chef knife.
It has quickly blossomed into luxuries that are both expensive and hardly necessary. Amid the Williams and Sonoma glass spice jars, the microplane zesters, and baking stones, there is the tagine. My Moroccan Couscous has allowed my shameless consumerism to get the best of me, and I truly believe that owning a tagine will fundamentally change my life.
A tagine is both a dish and the clay vessel that it is cooked in. It's generally a meat thing, because the shape of the bowl allows the meat to get ridiculously tender. But I happen to love the thought of a bubbling eggplant and mushroom ragout, with the juices seeping into to a lemon or fruit scented couscous, all inside an earthy, red pot.
My Moroccan-style couscous was hardly that. It was, however, warm, hearty, and cooked up in one big pot. The generous amounts of Syrian mix and orange juice saved the day, because it started out terribly bland, all because I was too lazy to toast the almonds. Will I ever learn?
This is may be more onion-y that some would like, but I found that they polished off the dish so well. It was on the verge of being too sweet, and the onions reminded me that I was eating dinner, not dessert.
Moroccan-style couscous
5cups couscous
1 cup toasted almond slivers
2 cups golden raisins
2 large onions
1/4 c. olive oil
1 oranged, halved
2 bay leaves
1 large cinnamon stick
a little bit of crushed red pepper
lots of syrian mix aka 7 spice
[Arabic 7 spice (bokharat) is mixture of spices you can buy ready at any Middle Eastern grocery. basically everything you would find in a pumpkin pie, plus black pepper, cumin and coriander. Basically, love in a spice jar.]
Heat olive oil in a large soup pot. Toss in the almonds and push em around until they are browned. Add onions, and sauté until translucent. Add in couscous and raisins and cover with water until there is about 1 inch of water above the couscous. Cover and bring to a boil. Once water is boiling, squeeze in the juice of 1 orange, scoop out all the seeds, and put the orange halves in the pot. Add lots of syrian mix, the cinnamon stick, the bay leaves, the red pepper and salt, give it a swirl, and cover until couscous is steamed. Fluff with a fork, incorporating all the spices.
Top with a pat of butter while still hot.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Moroccan Couscous
Posted by kateza'atar at 8:19 PM
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It's almost February but for me, it's the start of the year.
In my work, January is a bit of a write off. There's always the final bits of Christmas and New Years holidays. This year I got back to work just in time to head away for an 8 day camp where I was teaching. No time for BJJ. I got back from camp and spent the next week packing with my family so that we could move a week later. Then, we moved. After all that I really needed a week of recovery. So, it's now the 29th of January, and I'm just now ready to get back into BJJ.
Now, I'm not a huge fan of New Year's Resolutions. However, I am a fan of resolutions in general. So, I'm going to make some for BJJ.
I'm a 3 stripe white belt and have 12 months of BJJ under my belt. Now, I feel like it's time to really focus my training.
2012 BJJ Goals
#1- Drill every day. This is my number 1 goal because I think it might be the most important. I started drilling a bit at the end of 2011 with a few others and found it to be fantastic for my game. Great fitness, great for getting techniques deep into you, great for simplifying your game (because you can only drill so many techniques, therefore you can only have so many techniques in your arsenal), and great for keeping that BJJ rhythm.
I plan to do this by grabbing the mats my coach is so graciously letting me borrow, finding some space, and planning an hour of drilling into my schedule.
#2 – Stretch for 30 minutes every day. This is my number 2 goal because flexibility is an amazing thing to have in BJJ. It's also just great for the body.
#3- Take my nutrition very seriously. This is number 3 only because 1 and 2 were already taken. However, I see this as just as important as the previous ones.
My plan is to adjust my diet is simple. Less sugar and salt. More fresh, raw foods. More water. Easy, and vital to being able to perform.
#4- Create a solid gameplan. I want to think a lot more about my gameplan this year. There are so many hours of mat time I killed last year 'just rolling'. Just rolling is fine, but there's so much more to gain if the rolling has focus and direction. I'll do this through a process.
Focus on a specific part of my gameplan during sparring.
Analyse the outcomes.
Adjust the gameplan.
I'll be keeping track of my drills through a drill sheet. I'll be checking off the days that I spend 30 minutes stretching. I'll be keeping a log of what I eat and drink. And, I'll be mapping out my gameplan and keeping a sparring journal.
Bring on 2012!

subset: commoncrawl


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The local nonprofit 3 Rivers Wet Weather is developing an online tool to help property owners decide where to place green infrastructure.
The online database will help anyone from residential property owners to municipal planners decide where their green infrastructure project would be most effective in reducing sewer overflow.
3 Rivers Wet Weather Executive Director John Schombert says one of the website's tools will give private property owners a cost-benefit analysis for each site they're considering.
"The value of the system also is that we will connect people to the marketplace so they can find the plants and the contractors and the designers, perhaps for more elaborate rain-gardens, that will help them develop their site," says Schombert.
Schombert says the website will also include a more technical application to be used by municipal engineers for public green projects.
He says the region is very prone to sewer overflow, with overflow events happening about 75 times each year. Schombert says in some parts of the region, just one-tenth of an inch of rainfall can cause overflow.
"[For] half our recreational season, we show impacts in the rivers from wet weather overflows that affect recreation, and even potentially can affect water supplies."
Schombert says the website will also serve as an overall document of the location and effectiveness of green infrastructure in the region. The online database is slated for completion by March of 2012.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Green Infrastructure Database in Development
Posted by wduqnews at 7:01 AM
Labels: Environment, Green, rivers
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Hi My Fellow Hounds:
This is my first-ever Chowhound post, so if I've repeated, I apologize. My Boyfriend and I will be visiting Chicago in April for a week and we are looking for some great Chicago eats. Specifically, I am looking at Gino's East for Deep Dish, Chicago Home of Chicken and Waffles, Geja's Cafe for Fondue, Giordano's for pizza, Hot Doug's, Big Jones for their Boarding House Lunch, and Al's Beef. I am originally from NY, so I am nervous about Chicago Deep Dish, as I was raised on thin crust. Are there any other great spots I'm missing? Staying in Schaumburg at Staybridge Suites, so I am aware of the distance, though we will be sight-seeing in the city each day. looking forward to some great recomendations. Thanks everyone!!!!


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Fifty people were charged with participating in a massive marijuana trafficking ring that transported ton-quantities of marijuana for distribution in the greater New York area from the early 1990's to 2010.
Authorities said Burke, who founded Roc-A-Fella Records with Shawn (Jay-Z) Carter and Damon Dash from his home in North Bergen in the mid 1990s, faces charges of conspiracy with intent to distribute drugs. He was caught on a wiretap discussing "grow houses" with the alleged ringleader, Geovanny (Manny) Rodriguez Perez.
Matt Stang, an ad executive for High Times magazine, was also charged.
Prosecutors allege the marijuana was grown using hydroponics in Florida and smuggled to New York for street sales.
"These criminal organizations have allegedly dominated the illegal marijuana market in New York City for almost 20 years," Jim Hayes, head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New York, said. "We have successfully shut down a major pipeline for marijuana distribution in New York City.
The long-term investigation dubbed "Operation Green Venom" also seized almost $2 million in marijuana proceeds and over 360 pounds of pot linked to this organization since 2008.
Investigators used wire taps to gather evidence and infiltrate drug trafficking crews that controlled the importation and distribution of marijuana throughout the New York area, Hayes said.
Forty-five of the charged defendants are in custody. Five defendants remained at large.
Hayes said the takedown was the result of an 18-month investigation involving his agency, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New York Police Department, as well as the city's Department of Investigation and Special Narcotics Prosecutor's office.


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Screenplay : Clemens Aufderklamm, Director of Photography : Daniela Knapp, Editor : Janine Dauterich, Editor : Florian Miosge, Editor : Evi Romen, Producer : Ernst Gossner, Producer : Heinz Stussak, Director : Ernst Gossner,
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Tags: adventure, war, suspense,


text: Okay, so school has a WPA2-protected WiFi network which my TiBook fails to connect to. I know the SSID and password are correct and that I'm using the WPA2 option when attempting to join yet it still will not connect. At first I thought it could be a driver issue due to school having, obviously, newer routers than my PowerBook but I haven't managed to find any driver updates other than those for AirPort base stations. I'm starting to think this might stem from having an older AirPort card although I've yet to try using a USB WiFi adapter. Any help would be appreciated.


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I bought a Petzel e+lite this spring to use on brevets so I could read my cue sheets and as an emergency light to effect repairs in the dark. It saw use on a 300K and on a few training rides. Since then it lives in my office and has been used as a convient light for more mundane activities like finding my keys when I drop them under the deck at midnight! Click on the image above to read my original post about this light and for basic product details.
What do I think so far?
- attaches securely to the visor of my Bern helmet
- very lightweight so does not affect my neck on long rides
- easy to operate with cycling gloves on
- red light is nice as it doesn't kill my night vision
- provides sufficient light to read a cue sheet and to act as an emergency "be seen" light if you main light fails
- quite bright for its size
- easy to change where the light is aimed while riding and it stays in place even on bumps
- very robust – I ran this light through my washer/dryer in the pocket of my pants and it works like new
- I don't like small coin type batteries, but I am still going strong on my originals so it's not awful
Overall I'm pleased and would buy this product again. My only gripe is the type of battery it uses and it would not be possible to have such a small form factor with a couple AAA rechargeables in there so it's something I can live with for the benefits of the weight/size. As Rando season approaches it will start to live on my Bern's visor again.


text: So this morning I'm at the gas station, already having a shitty day and its not even 9 o clock yet, I decide to treat myself to a cup of coffee, universe knows I shouldn't because every dollar counts right now but I do anyway. There's this gentleman standing in front of me and he keeps looking back and surveying the store, very suspicious. He pays leaves and I walk up to the counter and the clerk tells me he paid for my coffee already. I could have cried right then and there, I know its only a $1.50 but times like this that goes a long way, and that one act changed my perspective for the rest of the day.


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cottaging, take 2.
I had a lovely weekend away! G-unit & I went to a cottage with his family in Fenelon Falls where I did lots of swimming & lounging about & drinking...
I carried the watermelon.
I started the buddy to a lone sock I had finished a while ago while we were driving up there, a plain & simple sock using some DGB confetti sock yarn that was sent to me in a swap.
You know you've found the right one for you when they point out a quaint wool shop & even turn around so you can go in & see what's what. For the record, Ferguson's Wool in Myrtle Station is a cute shop with tons of great sock yarn. I bought some tofutsies & some lana grossa Cotton Maya. YUM!
My knitting had fallen out of my bag without me noticing, on the way back to the car I had a bit of a mindfreak when I spotted it on top of this trash bin. MINDFREAK!
I kept the knitting to a minimum while at the cottage, but still managed to get quite a lot done. On the way back I reached the toe.
Ingenious wool holder?
And this morning I sewed up the toe!
This photo shoot was almost painful it's so. hot. SOHOT!
And in Thermal land I've hit a snag. I finished the neckband & giddily put it on to discover...
The neckband is far too tight. One of the things that drew me to this sweater was the scoopy neck. I guess I didn't pick up enough stitches because the band on mine is sort of pulling everything in - and the neckline hits at a weird place. I'm going to have to rip it out & try again.


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I stopped in at Wayland's Meat this afternoon and scored 2 fresh meaty rabbits just as Sylvia was getting ready to wrap them. Wayland told me that some customers object to selling rabbit - the cute little bunny factor. But me? I'll grab any opportunity to braise them with wine, mustard, garlic, carrots and prunes. If you move fast, there might still be one or two left.
For previous posts on Wayland's:
Wayland's Meat at 3421 Fruitvale Avenue in Oakland, across from Farmer Joe's.
510 530 3344
Mon. thru Sat, 9am to 6pm. Occasional Sunday hours.


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It was during the year of the conquest of England [1066] that a fellow named Roger de Montgomgery was created Earl of Shrewsbury and Arundel. It was in the French, English, and Latin languages that this area became know by his name, Montgomery. It was of course still part of the ancient Welsh Powys, but you know, to the victors go the history books.
The first JONES I could find was Lewis Jones.
The English legal records list a "Richard Joones" [1547-1551] dealing with land in Llanfechan at the bequest of Griffith Jones. [Bundle 1238/ no. 56-60 ]. During this transition period the Norman spelling "Jevan"
is frequently used as in "Edward ap Jevan" and "David ap Jevan". It would seem that the spelling "Jones" was established consistently by 1558.


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Friday, 08 May 2009 | malaysiatoday
I believe Pakatan Rakyat knew it could not have won a military campaign in Ipoh yesterday. It has problems even winning the legal battles in court. The only way, therefore, is to allow Barisan Nasional to do what it did and which in turn would antagonise the people.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER | Raja Petra Kamarudin
After I wrote my last article in No Holds Barred (It's all about race, stupid!), I went to sleep -- after staying awake for almost 24 hours. I admit that my No Holds Barred article was very fiery, practically calling for blood. I make no apologies for that but I suppose sleep depravation does that to you; it makes you lash out. Nevertheless, I maintain my stand that what they did to Siva -- dragging him out of the State Assembly like a sack of potatoes and unceremoniously evicting him -- was downright uncivilised and utterly inexcusable.
After five hours of a good sleep, and with a clearer mind because of it, I have had time to reflect on what happened in Ipoh yesterday. As I said, I make no apologies for what I wrote earlier and have not changed my views. But what I have since been able to do is to analyse what the thinking of the Pakatan Rakyat leaders could have been and why they 'abandoned' Siva to his fate.
Could not Pakatan Rakyat have demonstrated a show of force and defend Siva to the last man standing? Are the Pakatan Rakyat leaders that gutless that they did not stand up for what is right? After all, they are constantly screaming that Siva's eviction is unlawful and his physical removal unconstitutional. Why then not defend the law and the constitution by force if necessary?
Well, I am looking at things from the perspective of a political activist. Pakatan Rakyat could probably be looking at things from the political angle. Not being a politician I do not see things the political way but the political activist way. And this is maybe why I do not make a good politician. I just can't see how sometimes in politics you have to allow the other side to show its true colours. In other words, you give your enemy enough rope for it to hang itself.
I have to go read Sun Tzu again and see what he said about strategy. And strategy involves many things. As Mao said, when the enemy chases, you run. When the enemy rests, you counter-attack. Mao must have read Sun Tzu as well and I am sure that was his 'bible' in the battle to win the hearts and minds of the Chinese people.
Something else Sun Tzu said was to not engage an enemy more powerful than you. And if it is unavoidable and you do have to engage, then make sure you engage it on your terms, not on your enemy's terms. Choose your battlefield. Make sure it is a battlefield that you know. Never fight on a battlefield where your enemy will be stronger and better equipped than you.
The Taliban never read Sun Tzu -- or maybe they did, I don't know. But they applied this strategy to the maximum and sent the powerful Russian military machine running back to Moscow with its tail between its legs. How to fight the Russian tanks, rockets and helicopter gun-ships when you are only armed with rifles? In an open battlefield the Russians would make mincemeat out of you.
Well, don't engage the Russians in an open battlefield. The Russians would excel in an open battlefield. They are well equipped to fight in an open battlefield. So avoid the open battlefield and draw the Russians into the mountains. The Russian army is not trained to fight in the mountains plus their tanks would be useless in the mountains and the helicopter gun-ships would find the mountains most precarious.
So that is what the Taliban did. They knew the mountains like the back of their hands. They could move up and down those mountains blindfolded. And when the Russians came into those mountains the Taliban kicked the shit out of them. Eventually, the Russians called it a day and went home, but not after having to send home so many of their soldiers in body-bags.
So, what happened in Ipoh yesterday? There was hardly any resistance. PAS alone could have easily mobilised 50,000 supporters. Sure, there were roadblocks and thousands of police, hundreds in the State Assembly itself. But Pakatan Rakyat could have outdone this easily. Yet it did not. Why?
Anwar was not in Ipoh. Neither was Hadi Awang. Lim Kit Siang was but was not allowed in. And when they refused to allow him in he went off. There was no attempt to force their way into the State Assembly. No storming of the Bastille as had been hoped and as many had wished for. Why?
Was it complacency? Did they think Pakatan Rakyat would win the day without putting up a fight? Are they that naïve? Did they sell us out? Yes, those were the first questions running through my mind and lack of sleep allowed me to think only of the questions but the answers were not forthcoming.
I don't believe it is any of the above. And I don't think it is because of lack of caring or lack of interest as well. I think Pakatan Rakyat planned every move to the last detail and knew exactly what it was doing. And I think Barisan Nasional played right into Pakatan Rakyat's hand.
But then I have a suspicious mind, as Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is fond of saying. I am always looking for conspiracy theories. I am always thinking that there is more than meets the eye. I believe that politicians are good magicians. They distract you with their right hand while the trick is being performed with the left hand.
Is that what happened in Ipoh yesterday? Was that why it appeared like Pakatan rakyat offered only token resistance to make it look like they tried? Maybe, maybe not!
Let's face it. Pakatan Rakyat had already lost the state. It lost the state when the Sultan sacked Nizar and replaced him with Zambry. Pakatan Rakyat now has lesser seats than Barisan Nasional in the State Assembly. What happened in Ipoh yesterday was merely to confirm what was already fact -- that Pakatan Rakyat is no longer the government in Perak.
Pakatan Rakyat could have resorted to force, bloodshed even. But would that have helped them get back the state? What it may have done is to give the police an excuse to detain everyone under the Internal Security Act and declare martial law in Perak like what they did in Kelantan more than 30 years ago -- and which I have written about before. That means democracy would be suspended and they can run Perak without the 'burden' of a State Assembly. Umno would be doing things without any opposition since there is no longer any State Assembly and therefore no longer any opposition in the State Assembly.
I believe Pakatan Rakyat knew it could not have won a military campaign in Ipoh yesterday. It has problems even winning the legal battles in court. The only way, therefore, is to allow Barisan Nasional to do what it did and which in turn would antagonise the people.
If blood had been spilled, the people might blame Pakatan Rakyat rather than Barisan Nasional for it. Sure, Barisan Nasional is violent. But then Pakatan Rakyat knows that Barisan Nasional is violent. Why then allow them to use violence whereby the people are exposed to risk and danger? Pakatan Rakyat should look after the people's interest and guard their safety. Knowing that Barisan Nasional is violent and yet exposing the people to danger is downright irresponsible of Pakatan Rakyat.
This would be the reaction of the people if anything adverse happens to them. So Pakatan Rakyat very cleverly avoided violence and allowed Barisan Nasional to do what it did in Ipoh yesterday. And, today, more people have become disgusted with Barisan Nasional and will vote for Pakatan Rakyat in the next election, or by-election, just to demonstrate this disgust. They may not vote for Pakatan rakyat because they love Pakatan Rakyat. But they will certainly vote for Pakatan Rakyat because they now hate Barisan Nasional even more than before yesterday's fiasco in Ipoh.
Was, therefore, Siva merely collateral damage? Were they expecting this and did Barisan Nasional do exactly as expected? After all, the state had been lost months ago. Winning the battle of the State Assembly, yesterday, would not have got the state back. Instead, it would have invited other problems, the people's safety being one of them.
This is of course only my wishful thinking. I could be wrong, I don't know. I would like to believe that what happened was part of Pakatan Rakyat's plan and that it worked as planned. I hope and pray that Pakatan Rakyat laid a trap and that Barisan Nasional walked right into it and got snared.
As I said, I am not a politician. So I think differently from the way politicians do. But I do hope that what I am currently thinking is what they had also been thinking all along and that what happened in Ipoh may appear to have been a defeat but was actually a political victory that, in time, will reveal itself.
They say: he who has the last laugh has the best laugh. Was yesterday, in Ipoh, the last laugh? Or is the last laugh yet to be laughed? And who is going to have that last laugh? Politicians are so devious.
And am I being too idealistic here?


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The past couple of weeks or so, with the move from Costa Rica, shipping Pokey and TacoBelle and what belongings I have, relocating artwork, juggling finances, visiting friends and family, struggling to connect with the internet, and 16,000 other things have left me grasping for some semblance of sanity. I think I've almost got it together in Marble Falls, Texas, but there's probably a few fragments of that sanity still missing...wandering around Interstate 10 somewhere. Pokey and Tacobelle are out looking for it, so bear with me, and thanks for your patience.
First off....WOW!!! Some time back I had told you that I had submitted an article to Empty Easel concerning the blog community/camaraderie that sprang up around Karin Jurick's Different Strokes From Different Folks challenge...and how it grew and matured from there. I had hoped Dan would print it. Well, he is...on Friday, May 8....on Empty Easel. I invite you to check it out, and if you want an advanced copy of the article...EMail me.
Taking a short sabbatical from my paints for a few more days, I've been dabbling a bit into another of my "Loves"...writing. I have written a small dissertation on the inter-relation of coincidence to the universality of creation, but I won't plague you with that. But I love to write and I've become addicted to Nancy's Every Photo Tells A Story. On February 20, I stumbled onto EPTAS and noticed this painting of a gargoyle. I studied the object and purpose of the blog..that a photo or painting was displayed each day as a reference for visitors to comment on or write a piece of poetry/prose relating to it. So I wrote a little gargoyle poem that day. And was back the next day. And the next. And the next. ADDICTED....BAM!!!! My March 18 contribution below illustrates this....
"Addiction" @ El Elviana "The Enigma"
I know the hour's late, but there's stuff that just can't wait
I have to end each day with the things I have to say.
Anticipation starts each morning, reading wonders that's been said,
Wisdom, prose and poetry, are whirling in my head
Addicted? Maybe so. That's why I'm always in a hurry,
To get my poems on line, for Every Photo Tells A Story
One of the most important things I had to do while visiting in Louisiana was to visit Glen and Wendy. Gwen (Wendy) is my "OnceWife"'s younger sister. Glen is her husband of 40 years. They come as close to having a perfect mariage as I think I've ever seen of two people. They have also come to be as close friends as a person could ever be blessed with. You will hear more from me about them in the future, but for now, Glen developed esophagial cancer some months back. He has undergone surgery and chemo/radiation and the doctors say the cancer is gone. But he lost a lot of weight and is on a long road to recovery. I spent five days with them visiting, talking and a lot of praying. I wrote this poem for Every Photo Tells A Story just for them....
We've traveled this world's highways...Its winding roads and paths
Stumbled in the rocks and briars, Found splendor in the grass
Side by side, we walked together...Shared the laughter and the tears
Two as one,,,, amid the twilight, We have reached the golden years.
Of all my fondest memories, The ones that mean so much,
Are the ones with words unspoken, Just your kind and gentle touch.
After years of drinking and partying and being an all-around typically selfish, stupid and insensitive "Man", my wife, Sharon, finally got enough and kicked my bozo butt out the door. Our two oldest children (12 and 14) chose to live with me. By the miracle of grace, they turned out super,...teacher and engineer, each with a fine family. Our youngest daughter stayed with her Momma and is now a teacher, married to a teacher. After the kids grew up and moved out, I increased my drinking habit so much that Smirnoff and Seagram stock went up 30 points. Well, the bottom fell out, but that's another story. The real story for now, is that I came to The Light. And remained there. Without getting in anyone's face or shoving stuff down their throats and leaving a bad taste, I look for opportunities to spread a little joy and share a bit of light. When Every Photo Tells A Story (March 4) came along with this painting by my treasured blogfriend, Theresa Rankin, I was led to offer this little writing...
Mighty works of grandeur, In every shape and style
But all Man's pride and efforts, Consistently fall short,
Of the wonders of the Greatest Church,..the one inside your heart.
Blog thought: "Want less. Have more"


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We kicked off our summer of canoeing by doing a short week-ender trip down in the Perigord region of France with some guests from Hong-Kong. We squeezed the usual 7 day trip into a 4 day format to give our guests a taste of the area.
We took 2 days to drive down to Bordeaux, where we were to pick up our guests, and visited the Poitou-Charentes
area on the way down to scope out the area and the river of the same
name. We came off the motorway just after Poitiers and headed for
Vivonne to pick up some lunch. It's a pleasant little town with a
massive Super-U supermarket. I can't think now why I want to remember
this, but I did.
Anyway we then pootled
down to the town of Ruffec and got some information from the very
friendly tourist office. We tried to find some canoe outfitters without
much luck but we did eventually end up at a pretty spot for a picnic
lunch before finding a swimming hole at Condac.
thought the river Charente here looked very pretty and certainly has
potential for a future trip. We then jumped back on the main road and
headed south, avoiding Angouleme, before following the river again to
the town of Jarnac. The river here is larger now and perhaps not what
we're looking for, but the town was nice and I think the whole Cognac
region has potential.
It was late in the
day now so we headed south again so we could be close to Bordeaux in the
morning for a pick-up. We eventually found a camp-site somewhere near
St. Andre-de-Cubac. Once again the tourist office was very helpful - we
only just made it before closing time - and we were directed to a
campsite run by a charming guy from Germany. We set up camp next to a
pond. Only later did we realise that this was not a good idea. We were
kept awake all night by croaking frogs!
We drove back into
town to find a restaurant and were lucky enough to discover a little
place overlooking the river Dordogne. It had been a long day so we were
pleased to crash out in the tents. I don't think Steve was too happy
though as his inflatable mattress thing malfunctioned and he ended up in
the van. On top of that and the loudest frogs in the universe the night
was interrupted by a massive thunderstorm.
the next morning we were up early to pick up our guests from the Grand
Hotel in Bordeaux (oooeee) and start our trip. Here's a few photographs:
You can see more photographs here.
the final day we returned our guests to Bordeaux and began our long
drive back to Calais. We had decided to do this in two days and so made
our way to Les Sables-d'Olonne which we were too tired to really
appreciate. We did find a hotel finally and then had a surprisingly good
dinner at a sea-food place on the sea-front.
can't remember much about the long drive on the last day except that we
stopped off in a very pretty village in Brittany which may ave been
Blain. A place worth returning too, not least because the bakery and
cafe were lovely but also because a canal goes through here and it might
be worth exploring a barge holiday in this area.


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Zunar on Tolls … and Others January 5, 2007Posted by elizabethwong in Economy, Event, Malaysia, Politics.
Zunar's latest collection of cartoons titled, "Cartoons on Tun …. and Others" (Rm 29.00) will be launched by Anwar Ibrahim on 12 January 2007, 8 pm, at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, 1 Jalan Maharajalela, Kuala Lumpur. Brace yourselves for a lot of mirth and musings. Invites and further details available here.
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Restaurants & Bars
- L' Orangerie - taking guests on a unique gastronomic journey with flavoursome dishes with a distinct French twist, this elegant dining venue presents diners with amazing gastronomic discoveries, tantalising aromas and Moroccan inspired dishes with a French touch. This gourmet restaurant is open for dinner only.
- Le Jardin - open daily to offer succulent breakfasts and lunches, this casual and laidback restaurant presents guests with a lovely venue for a refreshing and informal meal experience. With a great setting by the pool of the Jardin des Senteurs, this is the place to enjoy tasty cuisine from all around the world.
- L' Oasis - serving fresh and indulgent dishes for eating as you get out of the pool after a pleasant swimming session, this conveniently located eatery is the place to enjoy delicious Mediterranean delights and sunny holiday cuisine.
- Bar Darkum - for a truly indulgent gourmet break experience in-between meals this cosy and friendly bar is the spot to visit. Located between the pool and the spa, this is the ideal venue to stop by and order from a delightful selection of teas and choose from a wide and varied assortment of freshly baked Moroccan and Parisian pastries.
- Bar Le Lawrence - the perfect place to end one of those long and seductive Moroccan evenings at the heart of Marrakech, this elegant and lively bar offers a sophisticated and inviting atmosphere ideal for winding down with a glass of champage or a cocktail and enjoy the magical panoramic views of the city and the starry night.
- So Lounge, Bar & Restaurant with 4 concepts: the So Nice, outside in the terrace under the shade of the pergola in the sun or under the olive trees, the So Fun, a bar scene with 3 Hours DJ and 3 Hours live music. The So Good, where the chef proposes a contempory Moroccan cuisine and the So Zen calm and comfort in private boxes or lounges.
- Outdoor Freshwater Swimming Pool
- Outdoor Heated Swimming Pool
- Fitness Centre
- Hammam
- Massage Service
- Jacuzzi
- Sauna
- Solarium
- Video Game Area
- Children's Activities programme.
- Art gallery
- Beauty salon
- Delicatessen
- Gift shop/newspaper shop
- Hairdressing salon
- Cash machine
- Concierge
- Dry cleaning / Ironing Service
- Safe deposit box at reception
- Currency exchange
- Wi-Fi
Talk to a specialist
Call 020 7644 1755 to speak with our award-winning travel consultants.
Opening hours 09:00 - 20:00 GMT


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Crazy girl, wearing crazy pants (thanks to a great find from her babysitter!) She insisted on wearing her "I love horses" shirt with them-oh, and the infamous pink boots!
She's going to be my fashionista =)
She's going to be my fashionista =)
This is my crazy attempt to detail my crazy life daily for the next 365 days-Think I can do it?!?!? We'll see how it all goes!


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A 40cm tall papercraft of Garfield, the popular cartoon and comic strip character created by Jim Davis. The model is composed of 20pages of colored parts.
Garfield Papercraft via Ninjatoes
Garfield PapercraftPosted by Michael James | Thursday, July 04, 2013 | papercraft | 0 comments »
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Well Dickie V, I (with a little help from the Sports Guy) have got your answer baby!
The more regular readers of this blog may have picked up that I am a big fan of ESPN's Bill Simmons (aka the Sports Guy). As someone who favors a style of writing that is more based on fan opinions and interpretations of sports rather than simply reporting the facts while also making frequent pop culture references, I have to give it up to Simmons as the master of this craft. It's no coincidence that he was able to make a 700+ page book (not named Harry Potter) in which he exhaustively shared his opinions and observations (albeit very well researched and strongly based opinions and observations) on the NBA a NYT bestseller.
Anyways, as I am wont to do, I was listening to Simmons' podcast, the BS Report a few weeks back, on which pop culture guru (and another very entertaining writer) Chuck Klosterman was the guest (to listen to it in full click here). After touching on the controversies surrounding Tiger Woods and John Mayer, the topic switched to Duke Basketball and why they are so unanimously hated (specifically whether this was related to race). As Duke is back in the Final Four, I figured I'd post select quotes from the podcast and give my own input. I would like to point out that neither are Carolina fans, though Simmons has expressed distaste for Duke in the past and throughout this year's tournament.
After establishing that Duke is unquestionably the most hated team in college basketball Klosterman opens up the discussion:
"You could argue that this is a class based thing... but people don't think the same way about Stanford... Is it that people see Duke as racist... or is it that they seem to be playing basketball in a way that puts them in the past which of course makes them beloved by older people, but is the reason say, young people... don't like Duke so much is because it feels like they are a team of Steve Blakes?"The question of whether the fact that people hate Duke is related to their disproportionate amount of white stars is not a new one. Personally I don't think it's necessarily an issue of race as much as it an issue of class. As I've said before despite my UNC allegiances, Duke is one of the top universities in the country. Duke has embraced this reputation and has fashioned itself as the Ivy of the South and prides themselves on their selectiveness. To those who don't attend this can come across as arrogance or entitlement.
Consequently, those who attend other institutions, especially those in the region cast the archetypal Duke student as elitist and perhaps intellectually condescending. As a result these schemas carry over to the realm of basketball and people look for examples in the play of Duke basketball players that fit into this archetype. Things like confidence and celebration which are displayed by many players are suddenly cast in the light of arrogance and elitism furthering the hatred. So in answer to the question of race, I would contend that it is not that caucasian Duke players engender some type of reverse racism but rather that these caucasian players are viewed as elitist, cocky, and entitled by outside fanbases. Furthermore, though Simmons and Klosterman failed to come up with such examples (and used Grant Hill as an example of how people don't seem to hate African-American Duke players as much), some past Duke players of other ethnic background also came to be despised by outside fans such as Dahntay Jones, Trajan Langdon, Carlos Boozer, Chris Duhon, and Gerald Henderson (well at least by Carolina fans).
The latter argument, that Duke's style of play seems archaic and its lack of modernity contributes to younger people's distaste for the team, does seem to have some merit. In this current era of NBA stars like LeBron showcasing astronomical levels of athleticisism and talent, Duke's very technically sound style of play stands in direct contrast. Duke tends to play tenacious defense and work the ball around to hit open threes. While this is a very effective style of play and, in my opinion, one to be respected, it does not have the flashiness that the breakneck pace of UNC (at least in the past several years) and the dribble drive offense of Kentucky have. While the ability to shoot the ball as exceptionally well as the Redicks and Scheyers of the world is to be admired, Duke's style of play relies more on cerebral players with a particular skill set, rather than the raw athletes that tend to dominate the SportsCenter top 10. In this regard, Duke's style of play could understandably lack appeal to the Dunk Contest generations. Furthermore, Duke unabashedly seems to attempt to tweak the rules in their favor, kicking their legs out while shooting threes to draw foul calls, setting uncalled moving screens, and flopping on defense.
Another extremely important part of what makes Duke dislikable that Simmons and Klosterman do not directly touch on is their prolonged success over the past several decades and the subsequent media attention that has come as a result. Firstly, no one hates a team that is only marginally successful, only those that achieve success. Just as the general football audience did not hate the Patriots until their dynasty in the first half of this past decade, Duke's success in the past two decades (3 national championships) along with their high profile rivalry with fellow powerhouse UNC (who at least to some plays the Jacob to Duke's Man in black, more on the rivalry HERE) has been a cause of their high profile and the consequent dislike from the rest of the basketball world.
Lastly, this is only a small point, but you can't discount the fact that the team is called the Blue Devils. When a team already has several factors aligning against it, the added satinic imagery of their mascot may subconsciously reinforce the role of Duke as the villain.
Now lest you begin to question my own allegiance to the Tar Heels and antagonistic feelings toward their rival 8 miles down the road, I do think there are certainly some things that Duke basketball does to further their role as the antagonist of the College Basketball world. As Simmons points out, much of this starts and ends with the coach:
"You can't discount Coach K... He's more emotional than the typical coach... he almost seems like he's going to break down every time that they lose... He's almost like a high school teacher with his students, like it's very 1950's"This is not to say that Coach K is a bad person. Actually a very well written piece by Andy Katz that appeared recently on ESPN proves quite the opposite. However, regardless of how good a person he is off the court his on court demeanor, which Simmons highlights, certainly makes him easy to loathe on the basketball court for those outside of Durham. He curses at his own players and the refs, never too afraid to drop an F-bomb or four. It is pretty undeniable at this point that he does coach his players to flop (including while shooting 3-pointers, which can be infuriating). He pretty much gives off a "I'm a great coach, my system works so I can do what I want" vibe.
However, it is not just Coach K. Over the years the players have certainly helped Duke gain its antagonist status. Per Simmons:
"You also can't discount the legacy of the types of guys that they've had: Danny Ferry, Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley [not to mention Wojo]. These were people that nobody liked at the time and that's now become " Oh yeah, Its Duke, they have these types of guys. Now it's Paulus, Scheyer... Redick"It's hard to argue with any of that. While some players like Singler, Battier, and Shelden Williams were solid players who did little to engender the ire of opposing fans other than wearing a Duke jersey, a select few have seemed to embrace the role of the royal blue villain. Since Laettner was before my time, and I only remember a bit of Wojo, Redick unquestionably is the largest example of this type of player. I'll let Simmons briefly take over again.
"Redick was inherently unlikable... you watch him and there's just something about him... he's like someone you would have cast in a movie from the 1960's where the all white team is playing the all black team."
You can argue the degree to which Redick truly was this way, but it's hard to dispute that this was the way most people not living in Gothic dorms thought of him. Scheyer, however, is actually a really interesting case as he is less abrasive and plays intelligent and technically sound basketball. Honestly, the hatred for him is more a product of his predecessor's actions than his own. People see a sharpshooter wearing Royal blue and he is assigned the attributes which have become associated with the others who came before him. In some cases (Paulus comes to mind) the assumptions prove to be correct, in others (Scheyer, Nolan Smith) they are off base. Putting it another way, if you were to put Scheyer on a team like Cornell or Butler he would be a likable player. However if you were to put Redick, Paulus, or Laettner on one of those teams they still would be villains in the college basketball world. Devendorf of Syracuse last year was perfect proof of this, as it was his own attitude and nothing about the team he was on that made him so dislikable.
So why do we hate Duke basketball? The answer is that it's a combination of the elite nature of the school (which it blatantly embraces), a legacy of several unlikable players who embraced their role as a villain, and prolonged success. In the end while there may be nothing innately evil or bad about the players or the program, the aforementioned factors are enough to make Duke the antagonist of the basketball world.
Duke hasn't won a national championship since 2001. Not many people stopped hating Duke during that time as they still have consistently made it to the NCAA tournament. However, the Duke hatred should be ratcheted up now that they are returning to the Final Four for the first time since 2004. A large portion of the people tuning in next weekend will be cheering for Duke to fall short once again. Will all that Duke hate be completely logical? Maybe not, but it sure is fun.


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Naloxone Deployment Fund Initiative
The mission of this initiative is to provide funding to Oregon-Idaho HIDTA participating agencies for the purchase of naloxone for police officer use in the communities that they serve in order to reduce the number of opioid overdose deaths.
With increasing frequency and in an increasing large geographic area, public safety agencies are responding to opioid drug overdose incidents where the victim is, or soon will be unresponsive and whose chances of survival are greatly increased when the overdose is interrupted by the application of naloxone; an opioid antagonist drug that will reverse an opioid overdose. Public safety agency naloxone programs within Oregon and throughout the United States have been proven to reduce the number of opioid overdose deaths. This support initiative will provide funding to Oregon-Idaho HIDA initiative participating agencies to purchase naloxone for law enforcement deployment within communities in order to reduce the number of opioid overdose deaths.
To access these funds, download, complete and send the application Chris Gibson at firstname.lastname@example.com. The Oregon‐Idaho HIDTA program Executive Board Finance Subcommittee will review all funding requests and determine the appropriate amount to be granted. Funds awarded will be on a one time, reimbursement basis. These funds may only be used for the purchase of naloxone kits. Project outcomes will be provided, upon request, to the Project Manager of the Oregon‐Idaho HIDTA program.
Applying law enforcement agencies shall establish and include with this application, a policy for naloxone use and resupply.
This policy shall be consistent with applicable state laws and outline how naloxone will be used. The policy should include: 1) the primary locations of the naloxone kits (e.g., Desk Sergeant / Booking area, one in each patrol car & K‐9 Units, Drug Control Unit, Law Enforcement Department Commander Office, etc.), 2) a maintenance and plan (e.g., process for inspection of kits), 3) resupply plan (e.g., reorder process), 4) an officer universal precaution directive; 5) pre and post naloxone application victim/patient assessment guidelines, 6) a medical transportation plan, and 7) a naloxone use reporting plan.
Applying law enforcement agencies shall establish and include with this application an agency naloxone training and reporting plan. The training plan should cover and provide for documentation of appropriate training on the signs of overdose, the proper administration of naloxone to overdose victims/patients and post naloxone aftercare to overdose victims/patients.
The reporting plan shall establish a system to document each naloxone administration and the results of each administration. The reporting system should document: 1) the documentation of the date, time and location of the naloxone administration, 2) the gender, age and race of the overdose victim/patient, 3) the drug that caused the overdose, if known, 4) the number of doses used on the overdose victim/patient and 5) whether or not the overdose victim/patient survived. The reporting plan should include a data sharing provision that allows for the information to be shared with the Oregon-Idaho HIDTA for the purpose of program analysis. (A sample report form may be adopted and used by applying law enforcement agencies is included with the application.)
Applying law enforcement agencies shall establish and include with this application an agency Medical Authorization Plan to purchase naloxone.
Naloxone is a prescription medication and authorization is required to allow possession and administration of the drug by first responders. To obtain naloxone, the law enforcement agency will need to collaborate with physicians from the state or local departments of health, hospitals, or community organizations and sign an agreement to formalize this collaboration. In the case of large departments, the agency's medical director or other licensed staff prescribers may provide medical oversight for the naloxone program.
To receive information about ordering naloxone, please contact Chris Gibson at email@example.com.


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As I'm sitting here reading and journaling -- revisiting cubism for a project I'm working on -- I am reminded of the influence of science and particularly of the mathematical sciences on art. In Arthur Millers recent book he remarks that "Mathematicians, philosophers and physicists at the beginning of the 20th century were recognising that many absolute truths were convenient caricatures of a universe that might be far stranger, far further from common sense than anyone thought ." It was from such notions of relativism offered by their mathematician contemporaries that Pablo Picasso and George Braque (the leaders of the cubist movement) developed their artistic creativity.
I think Jonathan Jones of the Tate Gallery in London sumed it up nicely when he said, "Cubism is like a maths exam at the gateway to modern art. The paintings are uniquely unyielding... Paradoxically, cubism is difficult not because it is abstract but because it is descriptive." While trying to edit my own creative output, I'm finding in this statement great food for thought!!!!


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Jeff Noon has this to say about language.
"By reaching towards an imaginary literature, the post-future novel offers itself as a way forward. First of all, we have to accept that English writing has been far too slow in its adoption of avant-garde techniques, in comparison with popular music, art and films. The narrative fabric of the latest cult movie is woven through with jump cuts, freeze-frames, montage, slow motion shots, tracking shots, hand-held camera techniques, and the like. House, hip-hop and garage recordings contain elements of remixing, scratching and sampling.
We can also look at the branching narratives of computer games, at the strange connections that hypertext links reveal on the internet, at the games played with image and text in a graphic novel.
All of these are fluid mediums, for a fluid society. Set against such material, no wonder the contemporary novel seems moribund. As writers, we need to open ourselves up to this fluidity. What are the prose equivalents of the tracking shot, the hyperlink, the remix, the freeze-frame? As readers, we need to bring the expertise we use when enjoying a film or a piece of visual art into our appreciation of the novel." (originally published at http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/generalfiction/story/0,6000,420328,00.html)
Interestingly enough he actually comes up with a set of techniques to experiment with language differently. He calls it the Cobralingus Engine.
You can see an example of it at these various sites. Experient with this process. I am still experimenting with it myself.
Filter Gates
Animated Cobralingus site
Golden Script
Thursday, November 01, 2007
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We travel year round. Contracts in different states shift us through the country like dandelion fluff on a breeze. Last spring we decided on a conversion van, so we could use the bed in the van and have room to pack our possessions. When you travel year round you need to take your camp stove, propane tanks, all your gear everywhere.
We priced options on Craigslist, knowing whatever we got was likely going to need some work. We saved for that as well as for the vehicle. We settled on a Chevy van, one common enough that parts aren't pricey and are easy to order.
The night before we were planning to take it in and have everything checked, the transmission went when the shifter cable broke. We were in a small town. We wanted to go to a national chain, a place with guarantees. We ended up at what was there.
800 miles later their work failed. We paid to ship the burnt out transmission back and they did rebuild it again under warranty. It failed again several hundred miles later. They had not used the right shifter cable.
Again we wanted a national chain. Again, we were over thirty miles from any national chain. A highly respected mechanic rebuilt the transmission a third time. He put in the right cable. He thought he adjusted everything properly. Six months later, we felt the transmission fail to shift properly. Local warranties are not great on the other side of the country.
We discussed. We paid to be towed an hour to Cottmans, a national chain that uses warrantied parts. They did a free analysis. They took the history we had for the vehicle. They dug for root problems and took everything apart. They found the issues that were underlying, they addressed them. They used new parts. They checked for leaks. They replaced seals and even addressed issues in other systems they saw without charging us for the added labor or pieces. They replaced the torque converter with a new, heavy duty one. They installed a new, warrantied transmission. They checked and properly adjusted the shifter cable. They did a little tune up, even though that wasn't directly the transmission- they did it for the vehicle. They did it to address and prevent future issues.
Seriously, if you have a van whether you tow or not- get a transmission cooler installed even if you have to borrow a couple hundred from friends. It will prevent your transmission from getting burnt out and save you thousands potentially. This is important.
Last year we wanted to go to a national chain, we focused on budget. Our lesson: pay the extra, get that tow to a national chain, get warrantied work, get that transmission cooler even if you need to borrow- borrow a little now rather than a couple grand when it all goes again. Consider mechanics like surgeons. Look for the ones with the best equipment, training, experience, service options: a field doctor is great for a patch up, but when your vehicle is your lifeline to work that isn't good enough and it might get you by for a while but consider the potential repeat large drain of patch after patch.
The van we have is an excellent van. The mechanics all have said it is a solid vehicle, the flaws have been in the patch style workmanship. It is not a lemon, but shoddy patches and frequent repairs leave you with a hint of lemon flavor in your mouth and in the minds of your friends who fear you are driving the cursed suck you dry cash vampire van.
Taking care of regular tune ups, oil changes, transmission and coolant systems is critical to the longevity of your vehicle. Like your body, your vehicle cannot survive on junk food and optimism.
It sucks to be stuck waiting for a tow. It is stressful even with support to wait and to realize how much you've got to make to go forward. I've had a hardcore migraine and a rumbling ache in my head since the van failed; hoping now that abates. Would have, could have, should haves are why I share this lesson with you. I can't go back to last spring and change the past for a tow to Tulsa. I can't go back for a tow out of Winona to the nearest Aamco there. I'm glad we paid for that tow this time.
Keep jumper cables in your vehicle. A jack. A functional spare tire. Triple A or emergency roadside assistance through your auto insurance. Basic tools for basic repairs that you can do like fixing broken door handles and mirrors. Take care of your battery. Keep warranty papers and know your vehicle. Keep drinking water, a gas can, extra coolant, a physical road map- because phone batteries do die when you need directions, and some snack foods and spare change for unexpected tolls or parking fees. Keep a blanket and a jacket, rain gear. You'll be glad you have them.


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The number of horses dying from the mosquito-borne Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus continues to rise, moving into central Michigan counties from Southwest Michigan, the center of the outbreak.
Laboratory tests confirmed that 18 horses have died of EEE, and an additional 56 horse deaths are suspected, based on the clinical signs displayed before death, said Bridget Patrick, risk communication specialist for the Michigan Department of Agriculture.
Barry County, with 41 horse deaths, remains the state's top hot spot; there have been 12 reports in Calhoun County, six from Cass County, two each from Jackson, Livingston, Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph counties, one each from Branch and Eaton counties, and five deaths in which the county was not reported.
A diagnosis from a veterinarian may be based on clinical signs, categorized as "suspected" until laboratory testing confirms the diagnosis, Patrick explained.
The official MDA count includes only laboratory confirmed cases. Testing, done at the owners' expense, is optional, so many horses are not tested to confirm the cause of death.
Agriculture and health officials continue to urge horse owners to have their animals vaccinated against the virus, which is spread from birds by mosquitoes.
There is no vaccine available to prevent the disease in people, which is suspected in two Kalamazoo County illnesses.
James McCurtis, public information officer for the Michigan Department of Community Health, said a 61-year-old man has been released from a hospital and is recovering; a 41-year-old man remains hospitalized in intensive care.
Neither case has yet received confirming laboratory results from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, McCurtis said.
Source: www.mlive.com
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28 December, 2010
12/28 Tues PM
Things went well today. Robert did not experience the day after chemo sickness that he did on his last push of Vincristine. The last time severe bone and jaw pain set in 2 days after, so we are wondering if it will happen again tomorrow. He was kind of tired, and just wanted to lay around, so that's what he did. I'm spending tomorrow applying for grants from misc. cancer organizations, and my employer to help defray some of the costs. I found an email in my spambox about having a rich relative who is Zimbabwe royalty and has died, leaving me a fortune. All I have to do is send them my social security number & bank account info and they'll wire me my millions asap, leaving us set for life. So we got that going for us.
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Just got back from karaoke at Mango Manny's. Jesus, it was awesome. After 10 years of looking, I have finally found a place that comes close to Kirksville karaoke with Wendy. An amazing mix of people, some songs I have never in my life heard, some black dudes in women's pants with large afro wigs, a woman singing a Mary J. Blige tune with a white dude that sings country songs dancing along with her. I don't know. It's just a really great thing to see. A very Baltimore mix of people.
The A-Train came out to jaraoke with us. She's a pretty perfect karaoke buddy.
The crowd seemed to like "Parents Just Don't Understand," but was luke warm towards "Born to Run." "Born to Run" was a little higher and faster than I'm used to singing but it felt pretty good, vocally. I wasn't quite drunk enough to go crazy with it, though. Oh well. It still felt good. Didn't get to sing Phil Collins/Phillip Bailey this time, but maybe next time. Also next time, maybe a duet with the A-Train?


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Little Nonya Express is a new eatery on Jalan Kembangan, at the end of a small little strip of shops in the midst of residential housing.
Helmed by veteran chef Baba Jolly Wee, it is a new little restaurant specialising of course in nonya cuisine. Baba Jolly used to lend his expertise to Spices Cafe in Concorde Hotel (the former Meridian Hotel on Orchard Road). But he has now moved far closer to Katong. Besides supervising the kitchen, we saw from the posters on the front wall that Chef Jolly also gives cooking lessons.
We finished off the meal with durian chendol. Here, a slightly jarring note was struck. The ice shavings were a little large. One had to crunch the ice a little between ones teeth. But all in all, a good meal and friendly service.


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miercuri, 24 martie 2010
Almost a quarter of Republicans think Obama 'may be the Antichrist' as 14 states sue over healthcare reforms
- Americans who suggest Barack Obama should rot in hell are apparently deadly serious.
Nearly a quarter of Republicans believe the Democrat president 'may be the Antichrist', according to a survey.
An even greater number compared him to Hitler.Full story:
* EDITORIAL: War with Iran nears... Obama told China: I can't stop Israel strike on Iran indefinitely... Vanga predicted break out of Third World War in 2010... The Nostradamus Code:World War III (2009-2012)... The Bible and the Third World War - the 1000 Year Kingdom:


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Employment Law John Duddington Employment Law is a straightforward text for students coming to the subject for the first time. It has been planned and written to make employment law as accessible as possible to the reader, but is nonetheless an authoritative guide to the basic principles.
It is therefore suitable for students taking an employment law option as part of a degree course in law, human resources management, business, management, or marketing, and also at the professional level, for example, the CIPD and the ILEX Part 2.
Key features of this book include:-


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Subject: I have found a DVD that I think you would enjoy
|Horton Hears a Who
Actor: Hans Conreid
Genres: Kids & Family, Animation
NR 2009 0hr 26min
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 10/06/2009 Run time: 26 minutes Rating: Nr
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Jessica J. (JessyBird03) from MOORE, TX
Reviewed on 12/6/2010...
Contrary to the Amazon reviews posted on here, this IS actually the 1970 animated version. I read the reviews after purchasing the blu-ray and was disappointed. I watched it to make sure and it was definitely not the one that the amazon reviewes described. It is fully animated (in the style of the animated Grinch) and has the "Boil that dust speck" song that another review says it doesn't. The only thing I can think is that the amazon reviews are incorrectly attributed to this version.
I recommend this for all ages! It was so cute. It is very near the Jim Carrey/Steve Carrell version, completely clean and holds a great message. I like both adaptations, but this one is my favorite of the two.
It also has 2 other animated Dr Seuss movies included on the disc!
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
Very Disappointing
Gary Sabshon | Long Island, NY USA | 10/15/1999
(2 out of 5 stars)
"There was no tipoff in the Amazon description telling me that this video was only moderately animated. I remember a fully animated version from when I was a kid and this was not it. My little boy, who loves being read the story, didn't care very much for this.Hoffman's character accents kept changing throughout his narration. The audio quality was muffled and sometimes hard to understand.Personally, I don't understand why this format of animation is even used. Except that you can put your kid down and walk away, there is no heightening of the experience over simply reading the book.I gave it a second star because it is a terrific book and the video presentation of the book can't be all bad based purely on the subject matter. If the fully animated version is available, that would be my preference."
Probably Not What You Remember
firstname.lastname@example.com | Baltimore, MD | 01/15/1999
(3 out of 5 stars)
"If you remember the monkeys shouting "Boil That Dust speck" you might be disappointed with this video. It is not the original animated short you remember but in fact is a 94 remake. This is more accurately, "Dustin Hoffman reads Horton". Instead of real animation it is still pictures from the book with minor animation effects. My daughter still likes it, but it's not what I expected."
Lauren | Philadelphia, PA USA | 12/25/2000
(2 out of 5 stars)
"If you want to see the classic "Horton Hears A Who" in it's full glory, then you do not want to buy this! Instead, I suggest that for just a couple dollars more, you purchase the double feature of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" which includes the original Horton and all "Boil that dust speck" excitement (which I still find exciting at 15.....scary) Plus you get to watch the Grinch! I know for a fact that you can buy it on this site because I currently own it. :)"


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Monday, December 22, 2008
The Real Story
Case in point:
I spent yesterday mulling over text messages sent through FrontlineSMS over the last four months, noting which CHWs had communicated least. I put together a list of a few CHWs I suspected might be having signal issues. Looking at the map, three of six CHWs on this list were clumped together - clearly, they must not have good reception.
I told Alex about my findings, this morning. He took a look at the names and said, "Well, Bernadeta took her phone with her to Zambia, we've discovered that Chrissy is not able to write her own name, and Jereman's phone battery was stolen while it was charging at the local barber shop." My time away from the hospital almost made me forget the multitude of stories swirling around these phones and the hospital they're linked to. With 100 phones in the field, three random problems are to be expected.
Whether or not everyone agrees, I think personal stories convey a project's successes, as well as their failures. Silia, a hospital attendant who runs the hospital's TB program, said yesterday, "The SMS project is very, very good - I can get much more work done, instead of driving the motorbike everywhere. It's very simple - we can expect feedback about patients immediately." I met the new hospital administrator today, and his second sentence was, "You know, it's not only beneficial for communication. The volunteers are now committed to their work, and more will follow."
I'm letting stories from patients, CHWs, and the medical staff at St. Gabriel's drive my exploration into this project's value. I turned to people for the direction of the initiative, and I'm turning back to them to measure part of its impact.
The first batch of solar panels arrives tomorrow.
2 comments:
- Maggie Chen said...
I think you're sort of short-changing yourself here. I don't think you forgot about the people aspect of the project while you were away. But I can see how it's difficult to strike the people/tech balance, especially when the people aspect may not be the 'sexy' part. Anyways I think you've always done a good job of staying connected to the people involved in the project.
- December 23, 2008 at 4:31 AM
- kiwanja said...
Hi Josh
Whether you realise it or not (and I'm sure you do), you've managed to crack one of the most difficult elements of any ICT4D project - local engagement and local ownership.
The staff are obviously the crucial element in this, and your comments re: it being about the people are key. Remember, of course, that includes you!
Technology is nothing but a bunch of wires, circuit boards and code. It's when it gets into the hands of the users that it comes to life.
- December 23, 2008 at 10:19 AM


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I wrote this ages ago, then had one of those 'aw, why should anyone care what I think' moments and didn't post it. I've now had one of those 'I haven't blogged for ages but I can't be bothered to write anything new' moments so here it is...
Amber Heard represents one of the biggest problems with the way films are being made at the moment. Because she's really good.
It just takes one really good performance in a good film for me to want to see more of that actor. With Amber Heard that film was All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, which is perhaps the only post-Scream slasher film to do anything at all interesting with the genre (that, and Cabin in the Woods obviously). And Amber Heard is really good in it.
I can't really explain why without spoiling the ending, but it's one of those films where the story (and particularly the major plot twist) is entirely dependent on the central performance, which in this case is really strong.
Around the same time I also went to see the teen MMA film Never Back Down at the cinema. I'm not sure why I thought this was a good idea.
Amber Heard plays the main character's girlfriend and doesn't do anything at all interesting. Her lines could easily have been copied and pasted from similar characters a thousand other films. Unfortunately she would go on to play that same character over and over again.
She played Jesse Eisenberg's zombie girlfriend at the beginning of Zombieland.
She was Nicholas Cage's sidekick in Drive Angry (basically the same girlfriend character but seeing her and Nicholas Cage have sex would be weird like it was with him and Jessica Biel in Next so they skip over any relationship stuff and have her following him around for no reason at all other than the film needs a girl in it).
And who could forget her standout performance as Seth Rogen's girlfriend in Pineapple Express. Me, that's who. I forgot, because it's not memorable at all.
But just as I'm about to give up on Amber Heard I see her in The Ward, a film that again hinges on the strength of her performance which is again very strong indeed (The Ward is kind of like Sucker Punch but with a script and acting and other things that proper films have).
From this I learn I should only watch Amber Heard films in which she looks slightly dishevelled in all the promotional stills (with the exception of the remake of And Soon the Darkness in which she spends a lot of time looking slightly dishevelled and doesn't play a girlfriend. It's also not very good and is therefore at odds with my thesis so I'm not going to talk about it here).
So the other night I sat down to watch The Rum Diary, a film I'm very much looking forward to because I like Bruce Robinson, I like Hunter S. Thompson (although from the films based on his work I can't help thinking he would've achieved so much more without all the drugs and alcohol) and I like Johnny Depp when he's not being a pirate or having anything to do with Tim Burton. There are also four of my favourite actors in the supporting cast - Richard Jenkins, Aaron Eckhart, Giovanni Ribisi and ... Amber Heard. I think this is going to be brilliant.
Unfortunately it's not brilliant because Amber Heard plays Aaron Eckhart's girlfriend. A bit later she is Johnny Depp's girlfriend.
At various points in the film she disappears. The script is such that it really wouldn't matter if any of those moments were the last time we saw her on screen. She is completely superfluous to the plot of the film. If you cut out all her scenes it would be the exact same film, no question.
By now I'm so sick of this it completely ruins the film for me. The film itself is actually quite good. At its best moments it recreates the tone of Withnail and I perfectly. And in a way that's the problem. Imagine Withnail and I if one of the characters had a girlfriend. Imagine the same film, same set-up, same tone but someone high up suggests the story needs a woman in it somewhere because us blokes feel a bit weird and insecure if we're just watching other blokes all the time so now Richard E Grant and Paul McGann are competing for the affections of the local barmaid. It wouldn't work. It would be horrible.
I would like to think that's what happened with The Rum Diary; that the girlfriend character wasn't put in there on purpose but instead was inserted at the insistence of a random executive. Either way the result is the same. Here is a fairly decent story which is for the most part quite believable but every now and again we have to put common sense to one side so we accept the awkward romance plot that's been copied and pasted into the script from a thousand similar films, some of them the same films Amber Heard's previous roles were copied from.
Let's compare the above to another actor I really like of a similar age. Let's take Joseph Gordon-Levitt for example. I really liked him in Brick where he plays a high school detective. Then I saw him in The Lookout where he plays a young man living with brain damage who somehow gets involved in a bank heist. In Stop-Loss he played a soldier struggling with the return to civilian life. In Inception he plays Leonardo DiCaprio's right-hand man and gets to wear awesome waistcoats and have a spectacular floating-around-in-a-corridor fight scene. The point is his least interesting role was as the bad guy in GI Joe, and even that was more interesting than any of the supporting characters Amber Heard ever played.
You may ask, what do I know? Maybe Amber Heard was offered all kinds of interesting parts and she just prefers playing girlfriends. Maybe that's okay.
But there is a bigger picture here.
Part of what makes the above examples stand out is that quite often Amber Heard is the only female character in those films. Which means that in the world those films expect us to buy into Amber Heard represents all women. Which means for the most part women aren't very interesting. Not only that but in only having one woman in the whole story the films then fail to represent any kind of reality I'm familiar with.
There is rarely a good reason for not having more than one female character in a script. But if for some reason that has to be the case (the only reason being someone high up thinks the film needs a woman for the blokes in the audience to look at in case they get confused) then there are things that can be done to make it work. They don't have to be written as one-dimensional pin-ups for the male characters to fight over, even if in reality that's exactly why they've been added into the story. There are examples of this being done well, like with Brittany Murphy's character in Drive (not the Ryan Gosling one, the Mark Dacascos one with lots of people kicking each other that features the line 'You cheese-eating dick monkey!'). Or Ally Walker's character in Universal Soldier (which stands out in my mind as being interesting but it's been a while since I've seen it). There are probably loads more too (but I can't think of any which is the other reason I didn't post this right away in case more examples came to me. They didn't.)
But there is another solution. Sometimes its okay not to have roles for women in a film. Sometimes it's better that way, like in Withnail and I or Reservoir Dogs or 12 Angry Men and probably a thousand more examples (and these I could list here but you get the idea). If Amber Heard hadn't been in any of the films I mentioned above except for The Ward and All the Boys Love Mandy Lane I really wouldn't have noticed. In some cases it would've been an improvement. And you never know, maybe, just maybe she could have made something more interesting instead...
In Search Of: History Channel Tonight - IN SEARCH OF Series Premiere Tonight, July 20 at 10 EST/9 CST Hosted and executive produced by Emmy-nominated actor Zachary Quinto, the series will exami...
6 hours ago


text: Jimmy Carter Hospitalized He falls ill on flight to Cleveland By John Johnson, Newser Staff Posted Sep 28, 2010 11:52 AM CDT 18 comments Comments Former President Jimmy Carter speaks at The Carter Center Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser) (Newser) – Looks like nothing more serious than a case of air sickness for Jimmy Carter: The former president, just days shy of his 86th birthday, was taken to a hospital in Cleveland today immediately after his plane touched down, reports WOIO. Carter "developed an upset stomach" during the flight and was taken to the hospital for observation, says the Carter Center in Atlanta. "He is resting comfortably and is expected to resume his book tour this week." More at AOL News. My Take on This Story Report a story error Show results without voting | 11% Annoying 5% Hilarious 6% Intriguing 64% Depressing 3% Brilliant 11% Scary


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The 8 Types of Playground Parents
Ok ladies, I have just happened upon the funniest blog post that I have read in a LONG time. This one is truly worthy of my linking, and I hope that you take a moment to read it - it will have you smiling until your ears hurt. Here is the link, go, enjoy, then come back and tell me how much you loved it.
3 comments:
Hey Nicole.
I posted a reply in my comments section for you. :)
- 24/5/07
- kris said...
oh that's too funny! even in the midwest we have a few of those, or at least we have some that like to think they are those moms.
- 25/5/07
- Jillian said...
I forwarded the link to Eric. :) (He was born in Yonkers, BTW.)
- 27/5/07
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LG Optimus G Pro
Info Photos Reviews 5 News Forum 16
LG G Pro 2 Sales Kick Off Across Asia, U.S. Launch Unknown
LG today officially launched the G Pro 2 smartphone in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Philippine, Vietnam, Indonesia, and other countries. The phone, which was announced at Mobile World Congress last month, includes a 5.9-inch full HD screen, quad-core processor, 13-megapixel camera, and LG's Knock Code unlocking feature. U.S. carriers haven't yet announced plans to sell the device, though last year's G Pro was sold by AT&T.
Feature Pack Arrives for LG Optimus G Pro
LG today said that owners of the LG Optimus G Pro may now download and install a feature pack that adds several new capabilities to the device. The feature pack focuses on several neat tools, including Smart Video (pauses/resumes video playback based on user's eye position), Dual Camera (shoots images with both cameras at the same time), and Pause & Resume Recording (lets users create a single file from multiple recordings). The feature pack also makes improvements to the smart remote with support for text entry via the G Pro. Last, the feature pack adds more color options to the LED light. The feature pack is free to download over the air.
Hands-On: LG Optimus G Pro
LG had its massive phablet on display at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Here's a quick look at LG's Galaxy Note II killer.


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Wood Wood has teamed up with Calming Park to release a cashmere-scented candle to correspond with their Fall/Winter 2013 collection, "The Club." The candle comes housed in black glass that is printed with the Rorschach-inspired inkblots from the Danish brand's collection. Made in Grasse, France from organic palm wax and paraffin, the limited edition candles are available now exclusively from Wood Wood's online store.
Wood Wood Cashmere-Scented Candle
Highsnobiety Style


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Since we are celebrating there is a choice of 5 colour schemes from past challenges. I used the July 2015 colours cream, blue and cinnamon.
Pick one colour scheme and use all three colours. You can use other colours but the main colours must be the three from the colour swatch you choose.
I made my background by stamping the stitch stamp from Rubber Dance Sew Sweet stamp set and clear embossing on cream card. Then I added layers of Tea Dye distress ink, letting it pool in places and adding some splatters.
I added some Salty Ocean distress ink to the background and the card edges and cut with Simon Says Stamp stitched rectangle die. The feather is from the new Textured Feathers set. I embossed it, coloured with Salty Ocean and fussy cut.
The sentiment is from the Sew Sweet set......


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Friday, December 07, 2012
Poetry Friday -- Teaching
27 comments:
Wow, Mary Lee. Simple and powerful. You captured some of the essential moves of teaching, each with its own pace.ReplyDelete
Is that pattern block design from your own floor? It is as beautifully crafted as your poem.
Perfect! "I brood, they hatch." It is so true, Mary Lee, so true... Thank you! Happy PF! a.ReplyDelete
Both works of art are simple and gorgeous. I love the double meaning of brood in I brood, they hatch.ReplyDelete
Beautiful!, Karen! Need to share this with teachers today. Great encouragement during this crazy time of year!ReplyDelete
Oh my gosh! Your poem is beautiful. I'd like to hang a copy in our teacher's lounge. Thank you for starting my day off so beautifully.ReplyDelete
Lucky kids to have you to catch them, Mary Lee. Thanks for sharing this heartfelt poem. xoReplyDelete
Will share this one with my teacher-to-be daughter - yep, perfect.ReplyDelete
I have to keep studying what you do Mary Lee, to keep those words brief, but so beautifully chosen. I love "I brood, they hatch". Terrific!ReplyDelete
I lift,ReplyDelete
they soar.
We've had the kind of week that makes these lines resonate. This one is going on my desk...thanks, Mary Lee.
So simple, so true, so important. Let us not lose sight of our purpose as teachers. I imagine this mother hen gathering her wandering chicks. Thanks!ReplyDelete
They hatch. They soar. And they are able to do so because you are always there to catch them. What a lovely poem, perfect in its simplicity.ReplyDelete
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to this....
I've also done some test swatches from some knitting worsted that, hopefully, will become my own legwarmers. Haven't decided on a pattern yet. (I added just a few stitches to the sweater that will not be done by Christmas.)
The news here, as in much of the rest of the country, has been the weather. (I do realize I sound like an old farmer.)
Last week I picked up this new shovel. Pricey, perhaps, but oh, my, does it ever take the work out of shovelling.
I also had to pick up new boots--so these must be in honor of my dad and grandpa too. Great tread, warmer than the ones they wore, and, best of all, there's no manure in sight!
I watched the temperature plummet last night--it was 0.9 F when I went to bed; it was -9 when I went out to shovel and warm the car this morning. I went a little over ten miles, called work, and came back home. Later today I learned that the overnight low was -17%. I don't much like it when our little town sets records--or, in this case, has the lowest a.m. temperature in the state. The trade-off was that the trees were gorgeous--and it appears it was all hoar frost rather than ice--but I didn't take any pictures.--Too preoccupied with not freezing and with staying safe. How long 'til spring?
I'm going to try to link to Judy L's On the Needles linky for this week.
Happy quiltmaking,...


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The "BIG EVENT"!! Universal: Islands of Adventure
Nevin was SO SO excited to meet the villians
and the heroes!!
And he was anxious to see Jurassic Park,
sadly the Jurassic Park River Ride was down for repairs,
but Nevin always makes fun wherever he goes!
"come'on, Mom., follow me
..... I NOT scared!"
oh, what parents do for their beloved children!!
Kevin and I donned our motion sickness patches
and bravely tackled "most" of the rides.
post-adrenalin explanation!!
and nope, you're not talking me into going on the Fear Fall
one of Nevin's other goals was to take us on a ride,
so that MOM and DAD would get wet!
Mission accomplished!
LOVE this picture.... and yes, I was hiding.... trying to stay dry!
and......... the MAIN event!!
Harry Potter's castle.
We got to Universal early and then "rushed"
(it felt like the running of the bulls)
to the castle as soon as the gates opened.
Only had to wait about 10 minutes.
Wish I would have gotten some better pictures
.... was having some trouble with my camera settings
after the "run" to the castle then the wild broomstick ride.
Nevin got a wand at the wand shop.....
and I was able to "talk him down" from the $100 Harry Potter robe
..... but it is now on my "to do" list to make one.
Nevin has a picture on his phone of him with his wand..... haven't uploaded it yet. You'll have to check it out on his photoblog later.
(ummm... maybe tomorrow night)
It was a wonderful, exhausting, wet day.
Nevin loved it!!


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I noticed this afternoon that Joe had thrown away his old short white coat, from back when we were med students. Though I am loathe to throw anything away (which explains my not insignificant problem with clutter), I did not begrudge him for trying to clean out his closet. However, I noticed that he had left his old name tag attached to the coat, which I thought surely was an oversight. This was a collector's piece, a souvenir item. So I rescued it and put it on the kitchen counter.
Later that afternoon...
Oh, you accidentally threw out your old med school ID tag, but I rescued it.
Yeah, I saw that on the table. I threw it out again.
Why would you throw it out? Wouldn't you want to save that?
Because...because it's nostalgic! Your old med student ID tag! Don't you want to save that? Think how cool that'll be, when you're some old crusty attending, to have your med student name tag from the turn of the century!
Not...really. Why would I want that?
Well, why do people save anything? Why do you save your med school diploma?
I need that to get a job.
OK, bad example. Why do you save your graduation tassels?
I didn't.
You threw out your med school graduation tassel?
Well, I don't remember saving it. What would I do with it?
Look, if I have to explain why you would save something like that, you probably wouldn't understand anyway.
So now internet peoples, tell me: who is crazy? I am inclined to point the finger at Joe, but when I really sit down and think about it, I can't really think of a way that excessive sentimentality is a particularly adaptive mechanism either. And it certainly makes my desk messy.
Above: My med school name tag, along with my graduation tassels, from (L to R) elementary school, high school, college, and med school.


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Peterson's Prayer Guide - December 2005
Luke 1:78-79 "Because of God's tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace."
Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors."
* God, in His sovereignty arranged for several of the items we requested prayer for in November, to be cancelled or postponed. The weekend in Michigan went very well, however, and Gary sensed that God did some deep and exciting new work in the youth and their leaders. Thanks for your prayers for that event!
* The special chapel service at the Wycliffe office brought some encouraging responses from the rest of our team. Gary and his colleagues were trying to share the vision for the Total It Up (Taste of Translation and Literacy) courses which they run twice a year, and to get more folk to help with these. A number have volunteered to assist in different capacities, so it was a success.
* We had the chance to help with a "Meet & Greet" event in our neighborhood last Sunday. It was great to meet more folk and deepen our friendships with others. Please continue to pray that we'll be sensitive to the opportunities to be a witness and blessing to these people from all walks of life that live near us. We take Christmas goodies to those we know, and pray that God's love will shine through us in this act of friendship. We also give something to each of our kids' teachers for Christmas.
* The couple of possibilities we'd thought of to help with hurricane clean up just didn't work out. As we got closer to the Thanksgiving week, we decided to stay put and work on our own hurricane clean up. Our old fence has blown over 4 times in various storms, and we've not had time to rebuild it. We made a good start, but still have a lot more to do to get it finished. Pray for safety as we work, and good relationships with our neighbours who've offered their help.
* During December Gary will be mainly working on e-mail and preparation for the next Total It Up course (Jan. 2-6) and coordination of the Perspectives course that begins Jan. 10th. Pray that he'd accomplish a lot during this quieter month in the office.
* Dec. 8-12th we look forward to hosting Robyn's pastor from Australia who will be coming to visit us and see the work we do here. Pray that it will be a time of blessing and encouragement for him and for us.
* We are planning a few days break and possibly a trip to visit some of our supporters in Georgia, Tennessee and Nth. Carolina the week before Christmas. Pray for wisdom as we work out the details for this.
* We've had some significant things happen in our small group lately. We're excited and feeling inadequate all at once. Pray that God will grant us wisdom and strength to help this little flock to grow in their relationship and walk with Him.
* My mother just had her regular bladder cancer check up and a suspicious area was found to have spread. She'll be having it biopsied soon. Pray for peace and for wisdom for the doctors who are treating her.
* Esther has been sponsored to attend a ski trip in West Virginia with our church youth group Dec. 27-31 Christmas. She's never been skiing before, so is excited to have this opportunity! Pray that she'll have a safe and wonderful experience, and that God will use her to minister to others going on this trip who don't yet know Him like she does.
* Esther has to plan her college class schedule for the next semester soon. Pray for wisdom as she selects the subjects as well as the times for her classes.
Thanks so much for standing with us in this tangible way through your prayers. We can never thank you enough for this sacrifice of love!
Have a Christ-filled, happy Christmas!
Warmly in Him,
Robyn, Gary, Esther and Josiah Peterson