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Thursday, January 22, 2009
Impeachment petition closed, but not forgotten
Monday, June 23, 2008
Price votes right on war funding and wiretapping
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Rep. Kucinich's articles of impeachment against Bush
Monday, February 18, 2008
Which side is Rep. Price on regarding wiretapping?
Whenever Representative Price has been asked to support impeachment he has said that he is very concerned about the Administration's actions and that he is for resistance, but short of impeachment. This past week Price, along with all of the State's Democrats and Republican Walter Jones (only Virginia Foxx voted no), did vote (on H Res 982) to cite White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolton and former White House Counsel Harriet Miers for contempt, because they ignored subpoenas by Congress regarding the alleged politically motivated firings of US attorneys. On the other hand, Price (and Butterfield, Etheridge, McIntyre, Shuler, and Miller) supported HR 5349, which would have extended the Protect America Act of 2007 (I think the final version is on thomas.loc.gov as S 1927) for 21 days. The 21-day extension, which was actually sponsored by the formerly pro-impeachment John Conyers, for domestic wiretapping failed to pass the House and so the program expired over the weekend. My understanding is that investigations begun under the Act can continue, but no new surveillance can be started under that Act, but the government should have no problem doing whatever it is doing if it goes through the existing Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, if it is not doing anything illegal, and companies remain open to lawsuits for betraying their customers to the government.
It looks like Price has bought into the Administration's criminality on this issue.
Of course this week our Republican senators voted against a bill that among other things outlawed waterboarding (this relates to HR 2082, and it passed) and tried to grant immunity to the companies involved in domestic wiretapping (AT&T, Sprint Nextel, and Verizon Communications), by voting yes on S 2248, and no on an amendment to that bill.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Discrediting the Senate
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Bush impeachment bill delayed
Kucinich Postpones Bush Impeachment Effort
WASHINGTON — After promising to mark President Bush's final State of the Union speech by introducing articles of impeachment against Bush, Cleveland Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich postponed the effort.
Kucinich said Monday that he met with members of the House Judiciary Committee after making last week's impeachment pledge. He said he came away "hopeful there will be an inquiry by the Judiciary Committee."
"I will give them the opportunity to proceed before introducing articles of impeachment," he said in a statement. The committee's spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment.
Last year, Kucinich introduced a measure to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney that has collected 24 co-sponsors. His effort to bring the matter before the full House won support from Republicans who wanted to embarrass House Demo cratic leaders, but eventually was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Kucinich told The Plain Dealer editorial board last week that nine of the Judiciary Committee's 40 members favor his bid to impeach Cheney.
"I do not believe that there will be an impeachment this year — I don't think that will happen — but I do think that the questions relating to an inquiry of both the president and the vice president are important so that our nation has a real understanding of the effort that was made, a consistent effort, to mislead the people into supporting a war," he said.
© 2008 The Plain Dealer
Friday, January 25, 2008
Articles of impeachment against Bush on the 28th
Kucinich Starts New Impeachment Drive
Representative Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio may get excluded from Democratic presidential debates, as he has been recently, but no one can deny him the floor in the House.
And today Mr. Kucinich took to the floor to fire off his latest salvo at the Bush administration: his plans to introduce Articles of Impeachment against President Bush on Jan. 28 - the day of Mr. Bush's State of the Union speech.
Accusing the administration of lying about the need for the war in Iraq, Mr. Kucinich said he did not need to hear the president's assessment. "We know the State of the Union," he declared. "It's a lie."
He also fired a volley at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California
who has maintained that impeaching Mr. Bush is not on the table for Congressional Democrats. "If impeachment is off the table," Mr. Kucinich said, "truth is off the table. If truth is off the table
then this body is living a lie."
Mr. Kucinich introduced Articles of Impeachment against Vice
President Dick Cheney last April and in November, with the surprise help of Republicans seeking to embarrass the Democrats, he nearly succeeded in securing an hour of debate on the House floor. House Democratic leaders blocked that, however, by referring the impeachment effort back to the Judiciary Committee.
Anti-Bush groups have been urging Mr. Kucinich to undertake an
effort to impeach the president.
Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company


text:
Friday, February 01, 2008
Elizabeth Talks Book Covers
So, let's talk about book covers, shall we? As we all know the cover of the book is terribly, terribly important. This is because when readers go into bookstores they wander around rather absentmindedly until an interesting book cover catches their eye and they pick it up and perhaps buy it. Or perhaps they go and buy a carmello-raspberry coffee thingy with lots of whipped cream and sprinkles instead.
This is how I behave in bookstores at any rate.
Because book covers are so terribly, terribly important authors become very anxious about their covers and sometimes quite neurotic (more so than usual, I mean.) So, when I got my book cover for my next book, To Taste Temptation (May, '08) I was quite delighted. It looked like this:
But then I got a new and fabulous editor and she said my book cover was not good enough. Huh, I thought to myself, how is the art department going to improve on the above?
Well, as it turned out, this is how:
That's right! They made my name gigantic and in passing also put a pretty lady's boobies on the cover. I think we can all agree that this is a very nice improvement indeed, especially since my more near-sighted readers can now see my name from halfway across the bookstore.
Discussion topics: What do you do in bookstores? Favorite coffee drink? Which cover do you like? Which do you prefer: a pretty lady on the cover or a hard, manly body?
Elizabeth Hoyt
18 comments:
- Diana Holquist said...
Oh, now see, I thought that was YOU on the cover. It is...isn't it?
After Sexiest Man Alive came out with a man wearing only a towel on the cover, my kids told me that I needed a new job and not under any circumstances did they EVER want to see that cover ever again because it was GROSS!
Readers liked it, though.
P.S. -- LOVE the cover very, very much. I predict a rash of blue gowns/brown-haired women/blue backgrounds on many copy-cat covers to come...
- February 01, 2008 11:08 AM
- Kelley St. John said...
Elizabeth! That cover screams "buy me," and everybody should! I know I'm chomping at the bit to read it :)
- February 01, 2008 11:19 AM
I know your name is big, but most people I showed it to saw the, ahem, bigger assets of the cover model first. They were mostly male, so maybe that had something to do with it...
It's purty, though!
- February 01, 2008 1:29 PM
- Elizabeth Hoyt said...
Diana, I personally think when the kids say GROSS! that's the stamp of success. Also: there's a stepback to this book with a steamy clinch. My husband on seeing it told me I could not show the kids. The kids, naturally, laughed at him.
Thank you, Kelley! And how did you get your pic on the comments???
Susan, my sister: LA LA LA, I'M NOT LISTENING TO YOU!
- February 01, 2008 2:40 PM
- Lori Wilde said...
Not only is your name HUGE but it'a above the title. That means you're coming up in the world, Huzzah! Wat to go.
- February 01, 2008 3:05 PM
- Larissa Ione said...
Oh, I love that second cover! The way your name is huge is AWESOME, too! Congrats!
- February 01, 2008 3:11 PM
- Elizabeth Hoyt said...
Thank you, Lori & Larissa!
- February 01, 2008 3:40 PM
Congrats on the bigger name! I like the second cover better, its really pretty. The first one is nice too but I don't like the yellow background.
I'm usually too shy to buy book covers with half nakie men at the bookstore. The sales people always give me a funny look. I usually order those books online. As for coffee drinks I get a mocha frap with whip cream. Yum!
- February 01, 2008 3:57 PM
- Pam P said...
Love the second cover, and don't you think she fits with the title, too?
I like covers with either a sexy gal or a hunky guy equally. Mostly I shop online, but when I do hit the local bookstore, I'll have a cappucino and treat myself to one of those sinful desserts.
- February 01, 2008 6:50 PM
- Michelle Rowen said...
I'll take Nathan Kamp over boobs any day, but the cover is very eye-catching. And the big name is definitely a bonus. Can't wait to read it! :-)
And if you want a pic on your comments, you need to go to Blogger and add it to your profile. Then it'll show up here.
- February 01, 2008 10:46 PM
- Isabel said...
Although the second cover is great and I know is wonderful for you to have the name in those big letters, I prefer the first better. As Michelle said, give me NK. To see a woman boobs I'd go to stand in front of a mirror.
In spanish forums we have discussed about covers several times and created polls and we decided that if the cover has to have someone semi-naked, better be a hunk than a lady although we like couples too.
ps. sorry, my english it's not good.
- February 02, 2008 5:26 AM
- Shari Anton said...
Lovely cover, Elizabeth!! Very eye catching! (Give me a Mocha latte, please.) And I'm with Isabel, I'm afraid. I like the Guy covers best, followed by Couples. But just because that's my preference doesn't mean squat.
- February 02, 2008 8:09 AM
- Megan Crane said...
I love the second cover, but to be honest, I would race out and buy an Elizabeth Hoyt novel if it was covered in a brown paper bag. I can't wait to read this!
- February 02, 2008 10:00 AM
- Alyssa said...
Oh, that cover is eye-catching and gorgeous!
- February 02, 2008 10:36 AM
- Georgie Lee said...
The new cover is excellent.
- February 02, 2008 10:08 PM
- Elizabeth Hoyt said...
Ooo! Don't you hate funny look bookstore clerks, Perrin? V. rude!
I am sad to have lost Nathan, Michelle. His profile was so yearning.
Your English is lovely, Isabel, and I'm glad that readers think as deeply about covers as authors do!
And obviously Megan has the best plan for a cover--a plain brown wrapper. Why didn't the art dept think of that?
- February 04, 2008 6:35 AM
I might be in the minority but I. Just. Do. Not. GET this kind of cover. Because who do they think your target audience is; Maxim subscribers? I just don't grasp the logic by which they think this will appeal to the female reader. It's a shame, because I thought the covers for your "Prince" series were lovely: steamy without being the stereotypical clinch. This is just... gratuitous, by comparison.
Honestly, I think your writing deserves better. That's my two cents!
- February 04, 2008 2:13 PM
- Isabel said...
I'm with you, romance readers are mostly women so why do they think that kind of cover attracts us? As I said before, if I'd want to see a woman boobs I've mirrors.
Give me a man, a couple like in her previous books or depending the kind of book, a beautiful landscape, or in historicals a ballroom or that style of scene.
I know that you like your cover, Elizabeth and I'm glad for you because I also know that authors normally has little or nothing to say about that kind of decision but if any of you would do a poll on your sites, what kind of cover do you think your readers would chose?
- February 04, 2008 3:14 PM

subset: commoncrawl


text: Looking to buy bullet casting equipment and materials. Scrap lead, pewter, tin, solder, etc. I have 45 long colt and 45-70 I want to start casting lead boolits for. I have cash in hand looking to buy scrap lead from keel weight, tire wheel weights, old bullets, flashing, lead pipe, anything except batteries. Also looking for melting pot and 45lc & 45-70 brass. Text or email is best.


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My husband had some business to do in Almonte today and before returning to Ottawa he stopped in at Don's Meat Market for some ground chicken and pork. The results of that visit were to-die-for.
Pretty much mix pork into anything and it will be delicious. Add some Philippe de Vienne spices and it becomes phenomenal. My husband did just that tonight, following the many food pairing recommendations they have on their web site. The duck hunter's spices were the perfect match. Fennel, cardamom and mandarin peel, the mix of spices was flavourful but mild enough to not overpower this juicy burger.
My husband also served some sweet potato fries with a heavenly mayo for dipping. All he did was add some more magical spice. This time he used the cipâte du lac St Jean. Yummy!!
These spices really do bring a meal up a few notches, adding new flavours to some familiar dishes. My husband's meals are already outstanding – so you can just imagine how blown away I'm feeling right now!


text:
Over the last 10 years many cities have legalized beekeeping. Atlanta, New York, Seattle, Portland, Denver, Spokane, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver and most recently Santa Monica have all taken decisive action and legalized urban beekeeping. In each case it seems to be a long, arduous process battling the stereotypical image of angry bees and swarms. Beekeepers in the Los Angeles area are now going through that process. Backwards Beekeepers (a great LA based beekeeping organization) and Honeylove Urban Beekeepers are working to make beekeeping legal in Los Angeles. Join them today at the L.A. Municipal building and sign the petition at change.org.
WHAT: Meeting about legalizing beekeeping @ LA City Councilman Rosendahl's Office
WHEN: Thursday May 3rd @ 7pm
WHERE: WLANC Offices West L.A. Municipal Building
1645 Corinth Avenue (entrance on the West side of the building)
Los Angeles 90025
Google map
More event info on Facebook
Please contact us if you want to get involved!
Call: (424) 625-8BEE (8233)


text: Webinar - Sitefinity 4.0 pricing details and what's new in Sitefinity 4.0 RC by User Not Found Nov 01, 2010 The next pre-release version of Sitefinity 4.0 is planned for release next week (Thursday, Nov. 11th). This upcoming RC release marks the final milestone before the official release of Sitefinity 4.0. After the RC release, we'll focus on product polishing and adding a handful of features that didn't quite make the cut for the RC release. Next week we'll host a webinar that will show what's included in the RC release. Please register for this webinar by clicking here. What's coming in the Sitefinity 4.0 RC release There are several exciting new features found in this release: The new Settings Editor makes it easy to modify common Sitefinity configuration settings Multi-lingual and localization support. Including importable/exportable language packs. Workflow support and the ability to create custom workflow scenarios. New web analytics reports and new viewing options, including dimensions Easily definable custom meta fields – wait until you see this ;) Web-based template editor for customizing built-in Sitefinity widgets And more… After the webinar, all attendees will be given download details for the Sitefinity 4.0 RC release. 4.0 Licensing & Pricing Details Many months ago we indicated that Sitefinity's pricing and licensing would be changing with the release of 4.0. In this webinar we'll announce the details of 4.0's pricing & licensing. We've received a lot of community feedback on this topic. In particular we wanted our new pricing to address some challenges identified by our customers: No-entry level license available for small businesses No multi domain configuration available One size fits all license lacks flexibility The new pricing is designed to address these challenges and make Sitefinity a good fit for a wider range of projects. In addition to the new pricing, we have a lot of discounts and automatic upgrades that will be available to current Sitefinity customers. The goal is to help everyone to make the transition to 4.0. Please attend the webinar to get the full pricing details. Email to a friend Show oldest on top Show newest on top 11 comments Leave a comment Steve Nov 01, 2010 Easily definable custom meta fields – wait until you see this ;) Can you elaborate AT ALL on this? :) Is it like Joomla where you can define a type\object in the CMS? George Nov 02, 2010 Looking forward for this webinar ... Mike Nov 08, 2010 Soooo, I see no pricing here... Gabe Sumner Nov 08, 2010 Steve: You're going to hate me, but the custom meta fields feature is slightly delayed (probably a few weeks). Email me privately I'll sneak you a mock-up showing where we're going with this. George: Look forward to seeing you. Mike: The pricing will be announced during the webinar. Frank Nov 10, 2010 Looks like it isnt finishes again.. Just like the other verslons before. Promissing à lot.. Delivering less.. Ps. Why do I need to type in this code block on the iPad? The normal editor part isnt working... Steve Nov 10, 2010 Awesome thanks Gabe, can't wait for tomorrow :) Frank: It's a limitation of Safari Mobile. It's been fixed in the Q3 2010 version of the RadEditor due out soon, so for sitefinity maybe the next service pack. Jake Nov 10, 2010 Any information on extending the forms builder by adding new field types? (Calendar, File Uploader, etc.). Is it possible? any docs on it? perhaps this is what is meant by meta fields? Thanks KingKong Nov 11, 2010 It is possible. You should inherit from FieldControl J.Hov Nov 30, 2010 To help everyone out here a bit click on the following link to see what people think of the new licensing model : http://www.sitefinity.com/blogs/martinkirov/posts/10-11-10/sitefinity_4_0_licensing_model.aspx Joe Nov 30, 2010 Sitefinity pricing... for or again. Click this link to have your say Joe Nov 30, 2010 Sitefinity pricing... for or against. Click this link to have your say Load more comments Thank you for the comment! Your comment must be approved first You've already submitted a review for this item Thank you! Your review has been submitted successfully Login to be able to comment Leave a comment Comment cannot be empty Rating is required Click to add (?) Click to add (?) New code Please type the code above You typed the code incorrectly. Please try again


text:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 lb beef short ribs
1 large sweet onion (such as Bermuda, Maui or Spanish), cut in half, halves sliced (about 3 1/2 cups)
1 bottle (12 oz) chili sauce
3/4 cup apricot preserves
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons ground mustard
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add ribs, in batches if necessary; cook 6 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally, until brown on all sides.
2 Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Place onion in cooker. Top with ribs. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 8 hours.
3 In 2-quart saucepan, cook remaining ingredients over low heat 15 to 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until sauce has thickened.
4 Drain excess liquid from cooker. Pour sauce over ribs. Increase heat setting to High. Cover; cook about 1 hour longer or until meat begins to separate from bones.
Expert TipsMake the sauce a day ahead. Store covered in the refrigerator, and heat before adding to the ribs.


text:
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text:
I bought Causabella with an idea in mind for my StepMom Karen, she walks the Weekend to End Breast Cancer every year. Since she may be reading this I won't divulge what exactly I have in store but it'll be great and I'll share it here when I'm eventually done.
I was playing last night with Causabella and agonizing over the right shade of pinks to use, because I was focused on using her for Breast Cancer. Then it dawned on me that this was Causabella- that meant she stood for all Causes. Duh! Michelle. So I decided to leave the multitude of pink cardstock, markers, etc for another time and come up with another worthy cause.
I was reminded of Chloe's yellow ribbon on Saturday as she was off to see Jesse graduate from his training. Even though I love monochromatic colour schemes Causabella needs to punch it up a bit because well, just look at her, she's all about being seen and heard. In Canada we have red Fridays where you wear red to show the support of our Canadian Troops, thus the inspiration for this newest Bella card.
Image is by Stamping Bella. All other supplies are Stampin' Up! Soft Swirls background and Small Script stamp set. Colours are Real Red and So Saffron.


text:
On a perfect Saturday afternoon, my caricatures were part of a practically-perfect birthday party for a girl and her doll, and her friends and their dolls!
Here's a few of them. I was able to do a full-color drawing of each guest. What fun for me!! (and them of course ;-)
The easel was set up at the edge of a gaily-decorated garage...behind me was the bounce house and bubble activities:
I told the mom she was a party-organizer par excellence:
Even the cake was a doll caricature! (She's all cake!)
The dolls even had a hair-braiding station! Didn't get a photo of that, but you can see the results below:
And what party isn't enhanced by a visit from an ice cream truck? The birthday girl's dad got me a root beer float!
Happy birthday Lexi!
You and your family rock! Thank you for having me!


text:
Distressed about markedly slower growth at Sprint Corp.'s wireless unit, investors pounded wireless stocks Friday, sending several to 52-week lows as the overall market staggered to the end of another losing week.
Shares that track Sprint's mobile-telephone PCS Group plunged 27%, while shares tracking its long-distance business sank 18%. Also falling were shares of AT&T Corp., AT&T Wireless Services Inc., Verizon Communications Inc., SBC Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corp.
"Investors tend to take a machine gun and shoot the entire sector, even though all the warnings came from Sprint," said stock analyst F. Drake Johnstone of Davenport & Co. in Richmond, Va.
They were spurred in part by analysts. Merrill Lynch & Co., J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and at least three other brokerages lowered ratings on the wireless industry. Growth rates of more than 20% in recent years probably will fall to as low as 10% this year amid sagging demand and an overall telecommunications market reeling from oversupply and heavy debt loads.


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Hi…again….yes, make that THREE in a row! We are just so fashionable these days…
We are seeing the VELVET trend all over the place, and so, while vintage-hunting, we found some great pieces, like this cropped, off-the-shoulder top. It's an eveningwear brand, but we made it into a casual look with skinny jeans, a brown belt, and fringey-shoes…a little 80s, a little bohemian.
ON SALE NOW in our shop! miskabelle.etsy.com
Happy Friday, everyone! Looking forward to a weekend of shopping and dressing cute. :)
Stay gorgeous,
black off-the-shoulder top
wide brown belt
skinny jeans
black fringed booties


text:
First you have to decide the part of the mp3 file you want to cut. This you can decide easily as explained below.
Run mp3DirectCut. First open the mp3 file by mp3DirectCut. Then by clicking Play button, play the mp3 file you want to cut with mp3DirectCut. mp3DirectCut gives you a visualisation of the mp3 audio data of the mp3 file being played. Mp3DirectCut will also display the percentage of the mp3 file being played. You can observe this in Total box. Observe the percentage details while mp3DirectCut is playing the mp3 file. Suppose you liked the mp3 file between 10% to 50%.
Now you can cut the mp3 file between 10 to 50% as explained below.
Just open the mp3 file by mp3DirectCut. You will observe Scrollbar just below the visual display of the mp3 audio data. You can move along a file with the slider. So move the slider until you get 10% on the Total box. Now click Set begin. Now move the slider until you get 50% on the Total box. Now click Set end. Now go to File menu then select Save selection. Now choose a save in directory and type a name for the file, then click save button. Now your file will be saved in the directory you have chosen. So it is very simple to cut a mp3 file.
mp3DirectCut is a frame based editor for MPEG audio (Layers 2 and 3). You can cut, copy, paste or change the volume without re-encoding anything of the file. This makes mp3DirectCut very fast and prevents loss of audio quality. you can also directly record and encode an mp3 from your audio input device.
mp3DirectCut supports all 32 bit windows versions. mp3DirectCut plays mp3 files with MP3 ACM Codec. Windows XP and Windows Vista contains this codec by default.
Download mp3DirectCut
Monday, August 20, 2007
How to cut mp3 files with mp3DirectCut
First you have to decide the part of the mp3 file you want to cut. This you can decide easily as explained below.
1 comment:
- Author said...


text:
~I'm still enjoying celebrating Maria's birthday. Besides the delicious cupcakes, we went to Houston's last night for dinner to continue the celebration! As crazy as this sounds, Houston's is my favorite restaurant in the city (based on food only). I could eat there every night! My friend and I are going tomorrow night so I can get the ribs that I absolutely love!!-heather
~I had such a great birthday yesterday – calls from all of my friends and family, and Rich sent me flowers and a teddy bear, but what really made my day were the amazing strawberry shortcake cupcakes that Erica made for me! As I'm sure I mentioned several times I love just about anything pink, and pigs are my favorite animal so these were the perfect dessert for me! And I swear, these were created and hand made by Erica herself – she's such a talented little cupcake! -maria
~Happy belated Thanksgiving, everyone!! Mine was so great-it was so nice to be home & relaxing for a long weekend. I had such a great time with my family-my grandpa made this DVD (complete with soundtrack) of old pictures from the 40s-50s of him and my grandma and my dad, aunt & uncle when they were young-it was so great. A huge hit with everyone...a hit only slightly bigger than the one Phil & I made with our homemade stuffing (recipe courtesy of Lallie's mom, tweaked slightly by us...thanks Mrs H!). It was our first real foray into holiday cooking so I'm glad we did a good job. I love Thanksgiving. Oh, and also, Happy birthday Maria!!!!-alexis
~My grandfather from Scotland arrived yesterday for a 2 week visit! So happy to see him, he's really great! I love spending quality time with the family and am really looking forward to this weekend. I'm also looking forward to all the chocolate (especially Flakes) he brings over from the UK -it's so good!-heather
~Just saw Walk the Line on Friday night and I think I already want to see it again. I have loved Reese Witherspoon since Man in the Moon in 1991 and this just totally cemented it. Not to sound like every annoying review, but she really is completely transformative, as is Joaquin Phoenix. Their singing is amazing too and I'm totally buying the soundtrack now. You must go!-alexis
~So many people have been talking about James Frey's book, A Million Little Pieces and I even put my name on the list at the library for it. I saw a friend this weekend and she gave it to me so I don't have to wait anymore...must get through current book quickly so I can start reading this one. Can't wait!-lallie
~Tonight I'm going to a screening of The Squid and the Whale with Billy Baldwin. I'm so excited; I've heard such great things about the movie! Billy and I both went to Binghamton and he's hosting the screening in TriBeCa, I can't wait to meet him. I'll let you know how the movie is!-nicole
~Went to a wedding at the NY Botanical Gardens on Saturday - it was absolutely beautiful there. Doesn't get any better than good food, good friends and unlimited drinks. -heather
~So I know Halloween has come and gone, but I didn't get a chance to show you all the cutest girl in the entire world – my niece, Katelyn. Now for those of you who don't know, she OBSESSED with Dora the Explorer so for months (literally) all she would talk about is 'Dora, this' and 'Dora, that' and 'I'm going to be Dora for Halloween!' So here is her absolutely adorable Dora costume! -maria
~So while Phil & his bro were out at a beer tasting festival on Saturday afternoon, I decided it would be a good time to do a little shopping-it's been so long since I've spent the whole afternoon doing that!! I've been on a quest for brown boots pretty much since August and I think I found the perfect pair (alas, I can't find a pic online). They're great though—really comfy, casual chocolate brown suede boots with buckles up the side and a 2" heel. The only downside? The soles need a good scuffing, as evidenced by the fact that I walked into my building yesterday and promptly wiped out on the newly waxed floors. Ow.-alexis
~Well, it's been one heck of a year so far and over the weekend, a few friends and I decided we're going to take a New Year's trip to St. Thomas. A few of us were there over Labor Day and have decided it was so awesome and not that expensive so we're going back--hopefully there won't be too many newlyweds there!-lallie
~Tuesday afternoon Lallie and I went to the Buttercup Bakeshop to get the tarte girls an afternoon treat. We got coconut cake, red velvet cupcakes, vanilla cupcakes, vanilla and chocolate cupcakes, and chocolate peanut butter bars. Words can not describe how good it tasted. Everyone loved us! For you New York girls, and anyone who is visiting, Buttercup is a must!-nicole
~So, one more task down…we ordered bridesmaids dresses this weekend and I'm so excited!! Now I definitely can start planning the color scheme for the whole thing. The dresses are a really pretty smoky lilac color and I think they'll look so nice with really autumnal bouquets. There are 5 different styles and I think everyone is going to look amazing in them. (As long as they don't show me up, that's ok with me…haha).-alexis
~This weekend wasn't too eventful but last week I promised everyone I'd show pics from Halloween. Alas, here is this year's cheerleading uniform…Not like it's any different from other years!! HAHA!! -lallie
~I am so excited to have a weekend at home! After being in Binghamton two weekends ago, and then in Chicago last weekend, I can finally rest! On Friday night I'll be going to the Park Avenue Café for dinner to celebrate my friend Cecilia's birthday. On Saturday Larry and I will watch some football (aren't I a great wife? hehe), and the rest of the weekend I plan to read, go to the gym, and cook. I can't wait!-nicole
~Just got back from a long weekend in San Francisco and we had such a nice time!! I got to go to my friend's beautiful wedding in Palo Alto, stay with my best friend from high school in her awesome apartment in the Noe Valley, and tour a few vineyards in Napa & Sonoma. Viansa, the first one we went to, had nice wines but even better food-Phil and I had so much fun just sampling all their sauces & condiments. So good. We decided we had to narrow it to 2, so we brought back the Cilantro Lime Aioli and Peach Chardonnay Vinegar. Looking forward to cooking this weekend!-alexis
~Well I hope everyone had a great Halloween and they didn't get too sick from eating too much candy! Everyone in the office has an on-going obsession with my crazy cat Molly, so for fun this Halloween I painted a Mollylumpkin. It's was a big hit in the neighborhood and I think Molly appreciated it too!-erica
~I did some major fall cleaning around the apartment this weekend - I was dreading it but I'm so glad I did it! It's amazing how much clutter can accumulate without even realizing it. And now I can fit my new tv stand I've been wanting to put in - yeah!-heather
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
November 2005
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bipolar, Christmas, Festivus, gift ideas, gifts, Hannukah, holidays, humor, humour, Kwanzaa, mental illness, shopping guide, Yule
What do you give the bipolar person who has everything? Well, it depends on your relationship and their sense of humor, of course. Maybe you just want to drop a gift card in the mail, but maybe you can do something a little more thoughtful – isn't that the idea behind the whole holiday gift-giving rigamarole? To demonstrate that you think of and care about someone?
Well, then, I'm glad we agree on that.
In the spirit of helping all you folks who love someone nutty, I've compiled not one, but two lists of gift suggestions! The first list is stuff that costs a few bucks; the second is a list of stuff that is free or low cost.
Buy-It Bipolar Gift List
- DIY Therapy book: who needs a professional, anyway? OK, so most of us really do need a proper therapist, but this is a damn funny book.
- Neurodiversity T-shirt: heck, get a matching set! Nothing says "I love you as you are" like supporting neurodiversity. Which is completely natural, when you think about it from an evolutionary perspective.
- Moodscope Plus subscription: $10/month gives access to extra analysis tools and the ability to see more of your data. I find it a worthwhile service and it has given me a lot of insight.
- MedicAlert subscription: emergency identification is a really good idea, and there are a number of options.
- Sassy, funny pill cases are all over Etsy, and to do one better, lovingly hand customize the pill case by lining it with sticky-backed felt (or other slightly heavy material) to reduce the noise of pills rattling about.
- Martian Popping Thing stress toy: a classic. I was devastated when mine died of old age. Well, maybe devastated isn't the right word – sorely disappointed?
- Wellness Journal supplies and materials: an extra-nice (leatherbound is ideal) journal; pictures of you together, favorite places, and other special moments; pens and colored pencils; glue dots and photo corners; and encouragement.
- Classes in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, T'ai Chi, or Yoga: practicing gentle, mindful movement and developing meditative and relaxation skills is incredibly valuable for people with mood disorders.
- High-end sex toys to stave off hypersexual indiscretions. Go for the good stuff so it will last through at least a couple manic episodes. Hey, I'm just being honest here.
- Something-of-the-month subscription (non-alcoholic), my favorite being Vosges' 13 Moons. Maybe there's a sex toy of the month club? (yes, yes there are, and oy, the comment spam and weird search referrals I'm gonna get for this post…) It's a great tonic for depression to have something enjoyable to look forward, or a pleasant surprise if you forgot it was coming.
Low-Cost Gifts for Bipolar Friends & Family
Say you're broke (like me) but want to show your love on this overly consumerist holiday. This list suggests some items that you can buy or make on the cheap, but take the time to do it right.
- Remember those corny homemade gift certificates you made for your parents in elementary school? Make a set that includes offers to do tasks that are hard to do when depressed (dishes, groceries, etc.), fun things to do together, an "out of jail free" card for when they just can't handle a social engagement — be creative! Have fun with construction paper, markers, scissors, glue and heck, even glitter (why not?) while you make a nice set of thoughtful ways to help support wellness.
- Make or buy a cheap starter kit for something wholesome: forcing paperwhites or other bulbs (great for those whose illness comes with "seasonal features"), learning to knit or crochet, making homemade soap or body products, setting up an ant farm or sea monkeys — you get the picture. It doesn't have to cost much, or anything at all, but it should come with a promise to do/assemble/learn it together. Connectedness is very important for everyone's wellness.
- Create a visual reminder of positive affirmations, and make them honest genuine statements about the person. An idea board, a collage, a quilt, whatever – just make it with love, and make it something that can be hung in a prominent place and seen every day.
- Write a "love letter." Write it by hand, in ink, on nice paper, with your best handwriting. Plan what to write before you actually write it so that you can make a pretty, clean copy to give. Your love letter is something the recipient can pull out when feeling poorly and re-read for some comfort. Tell the person how much you love them, how important they are to you, what you love about them, and the positive things you look forward to experiencing together. Make it really heartfelt; it will be treasured. If you cry when you write it, you're definitely doing it right.
- Soothing bath salts for calming down incipient mania: no, no, not the street drug, the kind you actually put in your bath! Easily made with a little salt and essential oils – look online for recipes. The materials will make huge batches, so why not give everyone on your list a pint jar of your own designer bath salts trimmed with sparkly ribbons?
- Playlists for mood episodes: if you know the recipient's taste in music, this can be awesome. Thematically, soothing & upbeat are both good choices, as are songs that convey a message of caring and love (without being too gooey). At least 60 minutes is ideal – a soothing playlist is all the better when it can outlast the body's 45-minute limit on pumping out panic juices. Burning a CD is probably the easiest way to give this gift, but there are other methods if you're clever with teh Interwebs.
- Commit to a mutual wellness goal, e.g. taking walks together twice a week or competing on daily step counts or being Health Month buddies (free for up to 3 goals!) If you're both doing it together, you're both more likely to succeed. Maybe it's just having a date every so often – socializing is important for wellness.
- Sign up for the free version of Moodscope and share your scores. Agree to contact one another if either has very low or very high scores that might suggest a problem.
- Read up on bipolar disorder. Educating yourself about your loved one's condition is one of the most thoughtful and meaningful gifts you can give. The library is free.
- Be an advocate. Speak up on mental health issues, volunteer or donate to advocacy organizations, and tell people that it's inappropriate to call the weather, a girlfriend, or anything else other than a diagnosed sufferer "bipolar" because it's a serious illness and misusing the term further stigmatizes the condition. Don't perpetuate the stigma by being flippant about mental illness; help work against it.
Disclaimer: be smart and make gift-giving choices that are appropriate to your relationship with the person or you will almost certainly come across as an ass. For example, bosses should not buy sex toys for employees. EVER. Pill cases might be best given by family members or BFFs. Journal supplies, Martian Popping Things, Sea Monkeys, and mutual wellness goals are appropriate for nearly everyone.


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Warning: adult themes, potentially not safe for homeschoolers.
Thabiti Anyabwile has been catching all kinds of flak for this recent article (warning again - it's a very frank discussion of homosexuality, use discretion). To sum, he recounts a thinktank meeting years ago when he saw the tide turning towards pro-homosexuality, and what he thinks he should have done differently. He suggests that one way to counter the pro-homosexual agenda is to discuss it openly, describing in gory detail what actually occurs, and letting our collective gag reflex work.
Obviously the usual suspects have lined up to denounce him. But there's even been flak from solid quarters, such as Carl Trueman. So I'll try to explain why I think Thabiti has it right, starting by clarifying what he's not saying (if I'm reading him correctly).
Thabiti is not saying that morality is defined by what we find disgusting. He's not saying that our gag reflex always works as it should (sinful creatures that we are). He's not saying that our argument should be primarily or even largely aesthetic. While it is true that we all know sodomy and other homosexual acts are the perverse acting out of idolatry and we generally find them disgusting (see Romans 1), I don't think he's primarily arguing that the disgust makes or proves them to be wrong. He may be suggesting that the sense of disgust at homosex perversion is a residual effect of the imago dei, a warning from the conscience, but that does not seem his main point.
I think his main point is just this: the way we speak of something affects how people view it. That's it. If your opponent controls the terms, he wins the debate.
How many who are now scolding Thabiti use the same reasoning regarding another great evil, the child sacrifice known as abortion? They know full well that evil hides behind euphemisms. So "killing an unborn baby" becomes "aborting a fetus", "removing a blastocyte", or "women's rights". Only the most depraved would vote for a politician who is pro-sucking out a baby's brains before dismembering it and throwing it in the dumpster. But change the term to pro-choice, and suddenly we have a champion of freedom!
Similarly, who could be against 'love' or 'equal rights' or 'marital freedom'? But when you understand that what is really meant by those terms in this context is serial sodomy? It's a little more difficult to support a measure to treat two males violating each other anally as if they're the same as a man and woman in marital covenant. But if you let them hide their disgusting perverse acts behind the banner of 'freedom to love who I want', their evil can gain societal approval much more easily.
Describe evil for what it really is. The deeds of darkness hate the light, and thrive in the shadows. Why let them define the terms?
One more point - a common objection I've seen is that we should be more 'winsome'. The pro-sodomite won people over by being winsome, they say, and we need to outdo him; if we do as Thabiti suggests, we'll lose. Listen - it is impossible to be regarded as the more winsome when you are the one saying "No". Men passionately hate it when God says "No"; do you really think they'll take it well when the message is passed along from a fellow creature? If your idea is to be more kind and loving, absolutely. If you think we will ever be viewed as such, try it a few times and see what happens. Then feel free to join us in speaking the truth plainly.
5 hours ago


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Monday, April 7, 2014
HP DreamColor Professional Displays Promotional video
About suhulettin hıdır
Latest Technology video game videos and video blogs consisting of cars in the world
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I contacted you a few weeks ago with a partnership proposal in my mind. I didn't receive your reply and I thought that maybe you had never received my email.
I stumbled upon your site brandsmodels.blogspot.com in Google. really liked the blog.
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Please visit our site through this link www.emaulonline.com for more information.
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A partnership between us, where you would be earning commissions from sales generated through your website.
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Email: email@example.com


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Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Night Run
But also while at Brownies, Stacy called and I reluctantly agreed to go for a jog at 8:30 - this being the only time she ever seems to break away from her own household/mom duties to go. Put on my neon/reflective shirt and away we went into the night. Mostly on sidewalk and in my relatively quiet neighborhood for a little over 3 miles (same as Sunday).
We got to talking and I am curious - weigh in all you nerdy number people. Do you think you burn the same total calories (energy) to cover 3 miles regardless if you are running or walking. Now I realize that if you are a speed demon - you might do this in 20 min and if you are a slow ass walker it might take you 45-50 min. But in the end, aren't you moving your mass (a constant for this scenario) from one point to another (distance constant again) - so shouldn't the work to accomplish this be equal if you don't regard the time it takes? So I plugged it into my Sparkpeople app and it turns out that no - going three miles at 10 min/mile (trust me this would be my all out run pace) should burn around 372 cal vs. three miles walking at 15 min/mile would burn around 251 calories (this may be using the stats I gave it for my age, weight and sex to figure so just go with me on the numbers). The first scenario would take 30 min and one would take 45 min. My theory is that it shouldn't matter, but then I pulled my really geek move and looked into my Physics book for the definition of "work"= Force x distance; and we all know that F=ma (Force = mass x acceleration). But my mass stayed constant and my distance is constant - so it must be in the acceleration (though in my examples I assume a "constant velocity" in each scenario so is my a = g (acceleration due to gravity))?
My husband thinks this is why I should NOT spend the money on a fancy Garmin sports watch. He thinks the engiNERD brain wouldn't be able to contain itself with all that data to analyze. I mean, look at the tangent I can end up on over a simple 3 mi walk/jog. Anyone think my husband is right?
Tomorrow I'm off to do some field work (surveying should always be done when it is supposed to be nice out). Probably take another couple of workout rest days so I'm ready to do the Prison Break on Saturday! Gotta hit the showers! Good night!
4 comments:
I definitely think you should get the garmin. As an engineer myself, I love the data. If your mass and distance is constant then acceleration is the only other variable that is changing (which is true). I think the running will give a bit more calorie burn over the same distance as walking because there are much greater vertical moments fighting gravity when jogging/running. That, in turn, requires more blood flow to the muscles causing a higher heart rate. More oxygen is required which contributes to calorie burn. Of course, I could be way off on that, but it was fun thinking about it. Ok, enough nerd stuff... just run.ReplyDelete
NIce run! I have no input on the whole running vs. walking calorie thing because the question made my head hurt. :) I love/hate my Garmin for the heavy dose of reality it gives me re: my pace at times, but I know there's mounds more I could do with the data I get. Someday...ReplyDelete
See you Saturday!
I always used to think you burned the same calories per distance too, but all the online calculators think differently.ReplyDelete
I love my garmin though...
I love that you did a full on physics equation on this! :)ReplyDelete
I love our Garmin, but I find that I get too obsessed with numbers when I use it. So I don't. And I'm much happier. :)


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Sunday, July 10, 2011
Wild Dasies
Visit Mellow Yellow Monday for more yellow!
Visit Today's Flowers for more blooms!
Visit Macro Monday for more close up photos!
11 comments:
- Barbara said...
Love this capture.
- July 10, 2011 at 10:45 PM
- Jama said...
So pretty!
- July 11, 2011 at 12:22 AM
- Clavel said...
beautiful capture! I hope ypu could visit mine: http://ladyofthereel.blogspot.com/2011/07/mellow-yellow-monday1.html
- July 11, 2011 at 12:39 AM
- Jan n Jer said...
Pretty daisys...they are a happy flower, they make me smile!
- July 11, 2011 at 5:59 AM
- Sivinden said...
Beautiful dasies!
- July 11, 2011 at 6:07 AM
- Firefly said...
Pretty, pretty, pretty. DOF is perfect.
- July 11, 2011 at 6:50 AM
- Kim, USA said...
I have plenty of them this year and I so loving it. And can't help taking pictures of them almost everyday they are beautiful.
Regarding on my dragonfly photo. I am using Nikon lens 18-55mm and if I am right with my memory I only used a lot of A mode or Macro shot which is already in my Nikon D5000, then I cropped it. Was very pleased when I got the result after cropping it seems it didn't change the resolution. And also the dragonfly didn't move at all it's the plus factor when I shoot it. Thanks for the visit I do appreciate it.
Macro Monday
- July 11, 2011 at 10:31 AM
- chubskulit said...
Lovely yellows, this brightens up the start of the week!
My Mellow Yellow is at at Nostalgic Marveling blog, hope you can drop by. Have a great week ahead!
- July 11, 2011 at 5:19 PM
- lisaschaos said...
Dainty little flowers. Pretty!
- July 11, 2011 at 6:44 PM
- eden said...
Beautiful. Great shot.
- July 12, 2011 at 12:39 AM
- Tatjana Parkacheva said...
Wonderful macro photography.
- July 26, 2011 at 4:00 AM


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Saturday, August 6, 2011
This is Not Your Father's Uplifting Wishy-Washy Biblical Epic: "Barabbas" (1962)
This is a violent, dark, and sometimes depressing story that is quite a change from many religious films.
Based on a novel, this film imagines what happened to Barabbas after he was chosen over Jesus to be released before crucifixion. Anthony Quinn is a perfect choice as the unrepentant thief who goes back to the world he knows- crime and carousing. His favorite prostitute Rachel, however, has become a Christian and is later stoned for it. Barabbas is not just an observer, he sees Jesus go to the crucifixion, and later finds Rachel at the open grave.
Barabbas goes back to his old gang of thieves, murders the new leaders, and they rob some Jewish clerics. Caught, he is sent to the sulfur mines for life, where he meets Christian Sahak, played by Vittorio Gassman. Sahak knows Barabbas' name and reputation, and attacks him. They eventually become friends, since they are shackled together in the pit. Barabbas survives in the mine for twenty years, refusing to die. He is tormented by the memory of his near death years before, and he sees the sacrifice Jesus made not just for him, but for all of us.
Barabbas and Sahak survive a cave-in at the mine, and are taken to Rome as good luck charms by a newly appointed senator's wife. They are recruited to fight in the coliseum, ruled by a maniacal gladiator played by a very young Jack Palance. The duo also make contact with a Christian servant, Ernest Borgnine in a small but good role. Eventually, Sahak dies for his beliefs at the hands of Palance, and Barabbas has his bloody revenge on the field. Granted his freedom, Barabbas takes Sahak's body to a group of Christians, who reject Barabbas' half hearted attempts at Christianity. Barabbas misunderstands God's word and helps in the torching of Rome, eventually ending up a martyr himself.
Just under two and a half hours, there are a few slow spots. The cast is excellent, however, and Fleischer does an impressive job with a cast of thousands. No CGI to rely on here, Fleischer uses his assorted set pieces to their fullest extent without trying to fix or better anything in editing. What is left are a series of scenes that can stand on their own as highlights in early 1960's film making, when the cinema was hotly competing with television to win viewers back. The stoning of Rachel, the sulfur mine collapse, the burning of Rome: all are unforgettable scenes.
Two stretches of the film are very memorable. First, an extended sequence between Palance and Quinn fighting in the coliseum. There is no dialogue, just brutal violence and action. Another scene is the final tracking shot of dozens of crucified Christians, including the now ironic Barabbas. This shot sent chills down my spine.
This film is very dark and very different. Barabbas is a man torn between his heathen upbringing, and what he knows is right through what he has witnessed in Jerusalem and Rome, no matter how much he denies what he has seen.
Produced by Dino DeLaurentiis in Italy, this film has a European feel that makes it different and lends a certain credibility to the proceedings. The Oscar heavy cast does not fall victim to any preachy speeches or effects laden miracles, these are seemingly ordinary people caught up in tumultuous times.
I highly recommend "Barabbas" to any film fan, especially those who think "Gladiator" is the only decent sword and sandals epic out there. (* * * * *) out of five stars.
Posted by Charles Tatum at 9:41:00 AM


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|"Upside down" Sicilian at NY Pizza Supremo
On a recent trip to the city, my Amtrak train took me to Penn Station. One again, the food writers at SeriousEats were my guide to the region, and they recommended NY Pizza Suprema, adjacent to Penn Station on 8th Avenue at 31st Street.
More than 50 years ago, NY Pizza Suprema was established by Italian immigrant Salvatore Riggio in 1964, and he sold only plain slices until 1988. Even today, his son Joe says "If you are from out of town, please try the real New York slice ... plain cheese. Good pizza doesn't need to be disguised."
|Fast moving counter men, bank of ovens behind them
I arrived at lunchtime, and a line was formed at the doorway where customers could get a look at the several round and square pie options (about $3.50 per slice) before ordering.
|NY style, with sausage
I chose a triangular sausage slice from the NY style pie, and a square "upside down" slice (sauce on top of the cheese) from the thick-crusted pan baked Sicilian style pie. With a medium fountain drink, my tab came to $8.50.
Both slices went into one of their conventional gas deck ovens for a quick reheat, and then were served on paper plates. Despite the crowds, the line moved fast and I also found a table inside.
|From the back seating area, looking toward the front counter
The conventional NY slice had a very thin crust, which was crisp yet floppy at the narrow end, due to a heavy load of cheese, sauce, and sausage. This very good slice had well-balanced flavors, but no "wow" elements.
|Nice char underneath on the NY slice
The sausage was tasty, crisped, and generously applied, but it had been pre-cooked and then sliced thinly. Too much to ask, I suppose, for chunks of raw sausage to be applied pre-bake. The crust was better than average, but still a tad generic without a distinct flavor of its own. Could use a bit of salt and olive oil. The cheese was standard grade, too. The slightly sweet chunky sauce was the best feature of this B+ slice.
|The upside-down slice delivered on its beautiful promise
The "upside-down" Sicilian slice featured conventional mozzarella under the thick layer of sauce, and grated Parmesan on top. The fresh basil was a nice touch, but it would have been better applied post-bake.
The crust was thick and puffy, yet light and delicate with a beautiful bottom crunch. Wonderful stuff. But the sauce was even better! It seemed less chunky and less sweet than the sauce on the NY slice, but it was bursting with terrific tomato flavor. The ingredients were all in good balance, and this made for a top-notch Sicilian square experience.
This slice was better than the widely celebrated square slice at L&B Spumoni Gardens in Brooklyn. This has been a great year for thick square pizza baked in a pan, with NY Pizza Suprema joining Binge House, Via 313, and still-champion Norma's Pizza as pie destinations worth the trip. The ethereal crust and vibrant sauce were so good that this pie would shine even if you left off the cheese.
|Perfect browning underneath
I finished my slices around 12:45pm on a warm Tuesday, and by that time the line stretched out the door onto the street. Notably, these were not tourists or Penn Station travelers - these folks looked and acted like they worked nearby. The square pie is a 9.5 slice, and the triangle slice a solid 8. Don't miss it if you're in the area.


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Darlings, here are some of the little lovelies that CC is currently smitten with!
Cathy Waterman diamond and platinum Love ring, at barneys.com.
Stephen Webster Lady Stardust 18-karat white gold multi-stone earrings, at net-a-porter.com.
Chelsea Paris Ada strappy sandals, at barneys.com.
Aquazzura Amazon suede and leather pumps, at net-a-porter.com.
Barbara Bui abstract printed pump, at intermixonline.com.
Isabel Marant Lance embellished leather and suede ankle boots, at mytheresa.com.
J. Mendel Melodie clutch, at barneys.com.
Dolce & Gabbana Glam circle bag, at shopbazaar.com.
Anya Hindmarch Vaughan leather bucket bag, at mytheresa.com.
Emilio Pucci color-block wool skirt, at shopbazaar.com.
Anthony Vaccarello three button stripe skirt, at intermixonline.com.
Total covet!
Gigi blue lace dress set, at pixiemarket.com.
Kenzo crepe dress, at mytheresa.com.
Balmain embellished leather mini dress, at net-a-porter.com.
Erdem cutwork organza Mara cocktail dress, at barneys.com.
Valentino colorblock crepe dress, at shopbazaar.com.
Jay Ahr asymmetric cutout gown, at net-a-porter.com.
J. Mendel pleated bustier gown, at barneys.com.
Jean Louis Sabaji Haute Couture gown, pictured via Pinterest.
What are you loving these days, darlings?
Do any of these pretty pieces catch your eye?


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Todd Wilbur has the secret ingredients in your favourite takeaway food. It began when Todd received a chain letter widely circulated in the 80s, which claimed to hold the recipe for Mrs Field's chocolate chip cookies.
The recipe turned out to be a fake but Todd decided to see if he could figure out what was in the cookies and recreate the recipe himself. He succeeded. He then went on to successfully recreate a Big Mac, a Snickers bar and hundreds of other major brand name foods.
In 1993, he released his first book, Top Secret Recipes. He had sent it to 30 publishers, and 5 came back with offers.
What to do the fast food chains think of him cracking their secret codes? Thankfully, none of the big corporations have tried to put a stop to what he's doing. Todd thinks they're happy with the publicity his books give them.
KFC even sponsored his 7th book tour!
Direct link to Todd's Big Mac recipe:


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I suppose everybody has their own impression of what a web site should be "about." For some, it's purely a selling tool, or a way to market their product or art. For others, it's about sharing a passion or interest. For yet another group, a web site is about offering something "of educational value."
|Emerald Green sea glass heart
Back in March of this year, I decided I needed to "do something" with this web site I'd started. Up to that point, it had been little more than a "place holder" with some pretty pictures and links to the places where I have sea glass for sale. In taking this step, I also had to sit down and decide what I really wanted the web site to be ABOUT.
I love sea glass, and I love beach combing. These have been part of my life since I was six years old. I also love macro photography-- I started photographing "nature in close-up" when my dad gave me my first "real" camera for my 16th birthday. The stunning beauty, bright colors and endless variety of sea glass allows me to combine these two things I care deeply about.
This led me to realize that the primary thing I wanted the North Beach Treasures web site to be "about" is to share how I see sea glass, through photography. On some level, I also wanted to share my own personal beach combing "experience." Everything else felt somewhat secondary. Sure, I wanted the site to be "useful" and "educational." And certainly, I wanted to have a place where people could find sea glass I have for sale.
I found myself thinking a little more about the sea glass "experience," and what that meant. Much has been written by experts about the where's, how's, why's and rarities of sea glass-- in a general sense. I wanted the site to include an "in MY experience" approach, above and beyond the "it is generally accepted" approach many sea glass web sites use.
|Amberina art glass as sea glass
My own conclusions about the relative rarity of sea glass resulted in fairly similar results to those reached by Richard LaMotte back when his book was published, in 2004, although there were some minor differences. My "color divisions" were also slightly different, and I included "regional variations" as part of my assessment of rarity. All in all it was an interesting and educational experience... and it allowed me to extensively "play with sea glass."
And so, the North Beach Treasures web site is now up and running. It is in some state of completeness-- although there is rarely such a thing as a "finished" web site; web sites are continuously "under development."
I hope you'll go have a look!


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Your turn. I'd love to read the first line or the first paragraph of your WIP, upcoming release, or best seller.
Tuesday, May 15
First Line
Your turn. I'd love to read the first line or the first paragraph of your WIP, upcoming release, or best seller.
81 comments:
I'll bite. This is from the wip waiting patiently for me to finish Bix, tentatively titled Hometown Armegeddon.ReplyDelete
I thought I could save the world.
I was wrong. Boy, was I wrong.
Glowing embers punctuate the dark sky like exclamation points.
You! Stupid! Stupid! Cow!
I thought I was smarter than the rest of them. Maybe I was, because I'm still alive.
Or maybe I was the dumbest of them all.
Because I'm still alive.
BTW--loved your first paragraph. Can't wait for the book to be out. And love the cover.Replies
Great idea, D'Ann. Here's my first line from Confessions of the Cleaning Lady, my debut novel:ReplyDelete
On Thursday, the faeries went on strike and Shawna should have seen it coming.
Needless to say, it was fantasy. :)Replies
I like your paragraph and the idea, too, D'Ann. And what a great contest I'll bet that was. Okay, here's from the WIP. And now that I look at it, I'm not crazy about it. Crap.ReplyDelete
Steven Elliot didn't lose many patients, especially young ones. This was why, in addition to "gifted young surgeon," the term "miracle worker" got bandied about in journalistic circles. So did "sexy blond ponytail," "sexy dark eyes," and "sexy lean build," but those were downright embarrassing, so he tried not to give them too much thought. Usually.Replies
I love it, Liz. And, yes, Karin's contest was fun!Delete
Great first lines. Here are mine From Lord Beaumont's Bride.ReplyDelete
The Earl of Weir scowled. "Damn it, Serena, you can't back out now. Not after the plans have been made. If you don't go to London who will you marry? What do you have left here?"
Lady Serena Weir stared out the solar's window, studying the bleak late February landscape. Snow covered the ground, more gray than white, the trees lifeless and black against the gloom.Replies
Nice job, Ella. The landscape really adds to the scene and the mood.Delete
Great opening.ReplyDelete
I loved Karin's contest. I made through to round 12. It was a blast.
Here's the first line of mine.
If she'd been a bad girl when she had the chance, she probably wouldn't be dying right now.Replies
Love all the firsts...ReplyDelete
Here's mine from my first book, Blood's Voice
Arriving home, I immediately sensed that someone had been in our home. Someone like me! Sitting in the middle of my bed was a note on expensive, ivory parchment and a deep, blood red rose.Replies
Nice one, Anya! You really used senses so well!Delete
- AnonymousMay 15, 2012 at 1:04 PM
I like your opening lines way better than mine, lol. But here is mine from "Merely Magic", soon to be published.ReplyDelete
"Are you Gillian Winters?"
On hearing his voice, I looked up from where I knelt in the flowerbed, my gloved hands buried in the mulch.
Gloves with dirt on them don't make a good first impression, but then, I'd lost that inclination to impress years ago.Replies
Fantastic! I like this very much!
AWESOME first line! Congrats on the release! I can't wait to read Wild Horses!!ReplyDelete
Here's the first line of Hard Core, my first publication, due out in October by Lyrical Press: Slade belly-crawled across the jungle floor. Patience and stealth: both were essential if he wanted to survive.
That was fun! Thanks, D'Ann!Replies
Thanks, Jenn! I love Hard Core...and I want the first autographed copy!Delete
Such a fun idea D'Ann! Your Wild Horses sounds fantastic. And the others posted are pretty awesome too. Lots of potential reading here.ReplyDelete
Here's the first line of my first publication, Heart of Deception.
"I'll just die if I can't marry you, Andrew!"
Thank you and I love this story! I smile every time I read this line.
Here's the first paragraph of my co-authored work Hot For The Teacher that is contracted by Keith Publications:ReplyDelete
Professor Dyani Delacroix sat at her desk at the University waiting for what used to be her best student to come in to discuss the issues he seemed to be having all of a sudden. It was odd to her that after he had aced her class all semester with no issues. And then subsequent classes the prior two semesters something was seriously wrong. With a small huff she looked down at his last two tests and shook her head once more. Yep, it was his score. His bold writing with the name Caleb Tegner screamed out at her, the proof that the tests were no one else's but his.
I love older woman stories. I remember this from Critters! Nice!
- AnonymousMay 15, 2012 at 1:39 PM
Cool idea. I think everyone's seen mine via #SixSunday but here they are for my WIP, Designs of Desire.ReplyDelete
667, 668, 669 . . .
A file landed in front of James, distracting him from his attempt at counting the dots in the ceiling tiles above his desk.
"Think you'll have time to help a new client? I mean, I know you're busy and all," Brain said, his usual sneer in place. The man just lived to give him a hard time.Replies
I've missed SSS for the last few weeks. Sorry I have when I see the great stuff I'm missing. Love it!
- AnonymousMay 15, 2012 at 1:41 PM
What fun! D'Ann, the book sounds awesome. What a great opening you have. I'd never heard of Karin's contest, but can see where it would have been a blast!ReplyDelete
I have a paranormal/time travel called Weathering Rock, being released in October by Lyrical Press *waves to Jennifer* Here's the first line:
The June moon rode a ragged ridge of bone-white clouds, filmy and pale as the translucent skin of an onion.
Thanks, and wishes for much success with Wild Horses, and to all the authors here!Replies
Thanks for coming, Maeclair. Neat name. Karin's contest was soooo much fun. I love this. Boy, you really have the senses charged here.Delete
Hi, D'Ann, I just found you through twitter. Love your first line. I'm kind of hooked on first lines myself. Here's mine for wip Playing House, a contemporary romance. "The question hovered in the air, an ice pick with the power to shatter the fantasy that Kendra Quimby had been entertaining for the last eight years."ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks, Tammy!Delete
Nice one! I can see it.
These are some great first lines! I want to read these books.ReplyDelete
Here's the first line in the first short story of the compilation I'm releasing in June. The first story is called Satisfaction Guaranteed.
If this worked she'd stay twenty-nine forever.Replies
- AnonymousMay 15, 2012 at 2:14 PM
From Bad Boy Blake, coming in November from RLP:ReplyDelete
What the hell?
Blake Bennett noticed what appeared to be a riot in progress as he rode into town on his vintage Harley.Replies
Thanks for stopping by. I can see this, and he's HOT!
From Titanic Deception, released in April, 2012:ReplyDelete
"Do something!" J. P. Morgan shouted. "I will not tolerate this business lagging behind Cunard. Do something about this, Ismay!" He slammed his fist down on his mahogany desk for emphasis, disturbing the ever present cloud of smoke which enveloped him. J. Bruce Ismay cringed in his chair. "As long as we end up paying for everything, we will never come out on top!" Morgan's bulk overshadowed Ismay's slight frame. Morgan would make sure Ismay was the one to take the fall on this, even if he had to lead him to the conclusion he had already come to himself. He allowed himself a small smile when he saw Ismay cower.Replies
Hi, Toni.Delete
Oooh, nice. I'm intrigued.
Love this idea! Here's my first line from 'What a Texas Girl Wants', which is out from Crimson Romance on June 4! This is actually the first paragraph:ReplyDelete
Jackson Taylor's toes clenched as he came abruptly awake, the left side of his body shivering. The right, however, was delectably warm. A soft weight held his shoulder down, the feel of a woman's curves pressed hard against his chest. Cold water tickled his feet and wet sand dug into his butt. The tangy, salty smell of the ocean filled his nostrils. Another tickle of water. A slight shiver came from the curvaceous woman beside him before she settled back into sleep.Replies
Great job, Kristi! Your sensory detail is superb!Delete
- Heather M. SharpeMay 15, 2012 at 3:11 PM
What fun! Here's my first line from "For the Love of a Sphynx" coming this August.ReplyDelete
How do you tell the woman you love that you have to marry another?Replies
Oh, Heather, you broke my heart in one sentence. Nice job.Delete
Some great first lines! I'm impressed. D'Ann, I really love the cover art for your novel.ReplyDelete
Okay, here's the opening of DEATH LEGACY, my new romantic suspense mystery thriller from Five Star/Gale:
"Here's the check we talked about."
Michelle Hallam's eyes opened wide as she read the amount. "and we still have no idea who our mystery client is?"
from Death Legacy--request it at your local libraryReplies
Love it, Jacqueline. I want to know everything, the amount of the check, the client, what they're doing...Delete
Love your first paragraph, D'Ann.ReplyDeleteReplies
Brenda! Thanks! But where's yours???Delete
Great fun!ReplyDelete
I'm late chiming in, but here are the first few lines from my hot contemporary, Infamous, which is now available for pre-order on Amazon.
It was Carnival in Venice.
Mardi Gras on the corner of Bourbon and Royal.
Tonight was pure Hollywood—and she was buying back in.Replies
Thanks for coming by! I am hooked!
Love these kinds of things! Thanks, D'Ann.ReplyDelete
This is from "Thrown," my contemporary single title novel, and finalist in this year's Golden Heart contest.
Amanda hesitated before picking up the Emmy. But starting today, her life would be intertwined with Grady Brunswick's, so what was the harm? Besides, if he didn't want people touching the thing, he should lock it up. After all, her clients loved to see her grand prix jumping trophies. What did he expect with a freaking Emmy?Replies
I can't wait to buy this book! Love it already!
This is fun.ReplyDelete
Opening line from my WIP - erotic fantasy - Capri's Fate.
My erotic adventure began the minute he stood next to the crashed private jet and held out my red peek-boo bustier while asking, "Do you own a pair of red fuzzy handcuffs?"Replies
I LOL. Love it!
Wonderful post and paragraph, D'Ann!ReplyDelete
Mine is from my newest release, Bound by the Mist (fantasy romance).
Cal Warner was lost in the mad house of her mind. Students' voices buzzed in the sterile hallway of the Wisconsin college and pressed in on her. Glare from the overhead lights flooded her eyes, making her temples pound. Stopping, she gazed at the floor before she shook her head.Replies
There are some really good ones here! How fun! Great idea, D'Ann. Why don't you start a new contest? It seems lots of people are game. I love Amarillo By Morning, too. What's not to like about King George?ReplyDelete
Ok here is my opening line from Taylor Made Life. It's the best i got but there's a lot of stiff competition up in here.
"Mom, I need you to help me find a lover."Replies
Love this ms. It needs a home--now!
Karin would be too hard of an act to follow, but great idea!
Fun!! Live reading these. Okay so this is from a short contemp erotic I've been toying with -ReplyDelete
He pulled into the parking pad she called a driveway. Right. He sighed as he stopped the Altima and turned the lights off. Christ, he was beat. One hell if a long week working at the plant in New Jersey - another program launch and all hell broke loose, at night of course. He so wanted to just collapse into bed. His arm throbbed but he wouldn't give into the pain. Not now. She was expecting him.Replies
Nice! I'm def intrigued. I want to know more, more, more.
Loved your first paragraph D'Ann...and that contest sounds like it'd be a ton of fun. Great for you to make it to the 6th round.ReplyDelete
Here is my first paragraph from my release tentatively coming out in July with the Indulgence Line at Entangled Publishing. The book is titled Blind Date Billionaire.
Fifteen minutes ahead of schedule, Jill Adgate pressed her thumb into the beading of her small evening purse until it hurt, then pulled the thin envelope from inside. She should never have accepted Mel's gift, or allowed herself to be convinced to meet a man whose real last name she didn't know.Replies
Oh, nice. It's never good to take something from a man whose last name you don't know!
Wow, I loved reading everyones!ReplyDelete
This is the beginning of my current WIP, Shattered Heart.
"Do you really think that's the answer, Lettie?" Charlotte Delaney's best friend Cara stared questioningly at her, a set of extensive worry lines creasing her forehead. "You can't find another way?"Replies
Super! As always!
This was such a neat idea! I really liked yours D'Ann.ReplyDelete
This is the beginning of Open House: Pool of Souls. Scheduled tentatively to be released from Ruby Lioness in October.
A deep male voice boomed through her garden. "Aphrodite!" It broke her concentration. Rebecca and Robert's images were lost. The pool went clear. She turned to face the irate male. "Ditee! Why can't you just leave well enough alone?"
Aphrodite leaned back against the cool rock and gave him a lazy smile, she had expected Ares to complain. Robert Corvin played a key role in research and weapon development for the United States. No human got into his position without a little shove from Ares, god of war.Replies
Thanks for coming by! Ares, that devil.
Awesome beginning, D'Ann! Congrats on the release. :)ReplyDelete
I'm finally going to participate in this one.
Lady Arabella de Percy peered over her shoulder at the forty feet or more that loomed below her and expelled a harsh breath.
You jumped in! See? Not so bad. I love this opening. It makes me want to find out so much!
What a great first line D!!! Congrats again!! So stoked for you!ReplyDeleteReplies
Where is yours? I know you have one, a super-good one!
What a great creative idea! Love this.. Here's my first paragraph from Harvest Moon.ReplyDelete
Life begins to end the moment we take our first breath. Once we begin to live we also begin to die; but in death, we will live again. Myra did not remember where she'd heard that sentiment, but the words had followed her for most of her young life. Even now, as the wind tore at her body, the heavy snowfall blinding her, those words chanted through the back of her mind.Replies
Hi, T.M. Marie~Delete
Wow, very powerful. I had a shiver.
Howdy D'Ann!! What a fun blog to participate in. Here's my opening from the next book in my Centaur series, tentatively titled "Trolly Yours".ReplyDelete
Kempor Aleksander was in the midst of bedding the most beautiful female Centaur in all Boronda. And he considered it dull.Replies
Well, Sheri, my friend, since I kind of borrowed from your Friday Flames, I appreciate that.Delete
I love, love, love this first line.
Congrats on your release, D'Ann!ReplyDelete
Everyone has such great first lines!
Here's mine from an old manuscript...
Brisk wind blew through Kyla as she stood outside the bar, bringing with it the twang of country music and the beautiful, awful stench of wolf and clan. She took a deep breath, reveling in the taste of something forbidden. The flavor quickly grew sour at what they would do to her if they ever found the truth about her.Replies
Hi, Stacey.Delete
Wow, great imagery and emotion. You should get this out and get it subbed!
Thank you, everyone, who came by today! What fun, and these first lines made me want to read every single one.ReplyDelete
this is a great idea, D'Ann.ReplyDelete
Here's mine from my WIP: Blade of Fate
3500 years ago…
The Emerald Isle.
The smoke from burning peat filled the single room of the wooden cottage. The winds moaned and the branches of the trees nearby creaked and groaned. Aghna paced the coarsely woven rug covering the dirt floors, uncaring of the chaos outside, her gaze on the babe in her arms.
Cailín wasn't sick, no fever Aghna could heal, but she seemed to fade, as if she could no longer hold on to this world.Replies
Wow, Lyn_Francis. Very powerful and sad.Delete


text:
Whew!...The winter / cold season is nearly over which
gives me the liberty 2 dust off my trusty Canon
& do some long awaiting storytelling.
It's been months since I've even looked @
a camera which makes it a weird
seasonal thing I suppose.
(It's similar 2 hibernating in a freakin' cave.)
One thing for sure, I'm no fan of the cold.
Anyhoot, as the snow continues 2 melt, ideas continues 2 flow....
So who's down for some video?
Peace!...with 2 fingers;)


text:
//***************Arduino Code from Video**********************************
This code was used for a tutorial video on the ForceTronics YouTube Channel that showed
how to do debugging with the Arduino Zero and Atmel Studio. This code is free and open
for anybody to use or modify
int ranNum; //global variable to hold random number
void setup() {
randomSeed(analogRead(A0)); //seed value for random number generator
pinMode(13, OUTPUT); // initialize digital pin 13 as an output.
void loop() {
ranNum = random(0,100); //generate a random number between zero and 100
digitalWrite(13, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
delay(1000); // wait for a second
digitalWrite(13, LOW); // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
delay(1000); // wait for a second


text:
In the 90's trading Forex came at a high cost to individuals who wish to venture into the market. However with the rapid increase of the internet it has brought Retail Forex to everyone's finger tips. With the increase in retail Forex trading, Brokers increased dramatically too. Some being legitimate while others are less than honest. Brokers essentially are intermediaries between a Forex Trader and the Various liquidity partners and central Banks that exists.
Types of Brokers
There are two major classification of Forex Brokers. They are either Dealing Desk Brokers or Non Dealing Desk Brokers. The difference between each category is laid out below.
(Image courtesy of babypips.com)
Dealing Desk Brokers
Dealing Desk Brokers also called market makers make their money from spreads in currency prices. The spread is the difference between the buying and selling prices of a specific currency pair. they also make money when a client loses a trade. If a client of a dealing desk broker opens a trader the broker will sometimes take the opposite side of the trade if it cannot be fulfilled by another client or the market immediately. These broker provides both buying and selling opportunities so taking the other side of the trades doesn't provide any conflict. Normally the Dealing Desk broker provide a fixed spread which is useful when doing risk management and profit margin calculations.
(Image courtesy of babypips.com)
Non Dealing Desk broker
A Non Dealing Desk broker does not take the opposite side of the clients trade. In fact they allow the trade orders to be filled by their liquidity partners who has direct access to the interbank market. There are two sub-categories to Non Dealing Desk Brokers, STP or Straight Through Processing and ECN or Electronic Communications Network
(Image courtesy of babypips.com)
What is an STP broker?
STP brokers will make their money through an increased spread from the true market rate. essentially STP brokers will take the quote for the currency pair from their liquidity partners and use the lowest quote from these partner to present to their client. However they generally add 1 pip to the quote to present to their clients. This 1 pip difference would be their payment for locating the lowest quote for their clients.
What is an ECN broker?
An ECN broker connects you directly to the interbank market and as such you get the price directly from the source. ECN brokers make their money by charging each client a commission.
Non-Dealing Desk brokers are generally preferred by traders across the world. research your broker to see what they are.
Non-Dealing Desk brokers are generally preferred by traders across the world. research your broker to see what they are.
Choosing your Broker
Now that we have an idea of what type of brokers exist it is down to some specific criteria to choose an actual brokerage house to open your account and start making your profits.
First you want to ensure that your broker of choice is licensed by a regulatory body such ASIC in Australia, FCA in the UK, CFTC and NFA in the USA and other regulatory bodies in other territories such as Germany, Switzerland, France and Canada. By ensuring your broker is regulated it gives you a sense of security and somewhere to report to if you are having issues with your broker.
Secondly you will want to check transaction cost. You wouldn't to open an account with a broker that's gonna charge you an arm and a leg to open one order. You are trading to make a profit not pay out every dollar earned.
Select a broker that will provide you with efficient and effective withdrawal and deposit options without a high cost or fee to you. Also ensure that execution time for both withdrawal and deposits does not take forever or has a long execution time for each trade.
Two other important criteria to look out for is the trading platform the broker uses and whether or not the broker provides any form of customer service. You don't want to use a broker that provides a trading platform that you will have to spend a year learning to use or it isn't compatible with your computer. Brokers should provide a way for them to be reached by their clients in order to settle any issues or address any concerns.
Based on what you will be trading you can check if the broker offers commodities and indices, the leverage the broker provides and their minimum lot size. Low the lot size is better for beginning traders.
For additional reading and reference you can click here or here.
Look out for our next blog as we discuss Demo and live trading accounts.
Like us on facebook at Compass Trading Association
And join our group for weekly trading info Compass Trading Association
Like us on facebook at Compass Trading Association
And join our group for weekly trading info Compass Trading Association


text:
Pioneer Central School District
Vision Statement:
Pioneer students consistently demonstrate the skills, knowledge, integrity and understanding needed for success in life.
They are motivated, self-confident, collaborative and civic-minded.
| Mission Statement:
Pioneer schools develop curious, creative, critical thinkers.
Our foundation is a learning environment that is safe, caring, inclusive and engaging.
Our mission is realized by enabling children to reach their full learning potential in a supportive community.
|Learning Principles:
· Staff, students and parents are partners in the learning process and each is accountable for student success.
· Students' ability to learn is enhanced by feeling a sense of trust and belonging in a safe and caring environment.
· Curriculum is purposefully designed to meet the needs of all learners.
· Learning is valued and relevant and expectations are clear.
· Feedback focused on learning is honest, direct, timely and meaningful.
We believe that:
Students' learning needs are the primary focus of all decisions impacting the work of the school district.
Students learn in different ways and must be provided with a variety of meaningful instructional approaches to support their learning and actively engage them in solving problems.
The success of instructional practice is measured through continual evaluation of student achievement.
Students learn to make appropriate decisions given a professional, supportive, and challenging learning environment.
Success requires vision, risk-taking, and responsibility.
All people need to feel accepted, safe, and valued.
Students, school and district staff, parents and community share the responsibility for advancing the school district's mission.
It is important that all members of the school community are committed to life-long learning.
Excellence is achievable, measurable, and always worth the investment.
People achieve when expectations are high, and when effort and perseverance toward excellence are encouraged, supported, recognized and celebrated.


text:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
New addition to the household
A mechanical mitral valve was placed the end of January and a pacemaker placed in early February. She came through all of this with flying colors. She switched to the heart healthy diet and was taking her meds with no problems. She was going to cardiac rehab three times a week and was really enjoying it.
She was staying with us until she could return to work and take care of herself again. We used social stories with Connor so he would understand that he had to be gentle with Grandma and everything was going great.
Then the morning of April 6th she got up and was singing and humming. She couldn't find her teeth so she couldn't be caught at cardio rehab, but her mastectomy side was bothering her a little anyway so we decided to call in and just go back Wednesday. After finally finding her teeth we took a little trip up to Kinko's to fax out a certification papers for her job. On the way home she asked if she could use my makeup because she thought she looked so old, and she asked if we could stop at Krogers to get some decaf tea.
My husband calls as I pull into Krogers parking lot and after deciding he was going to talk for a little bit Mom and I get out of the car and head into the store. She goes through the doors and grabs a cart while I finish up my conversation just outside. When I got off the phone a minute later and go through the doors, a fireman runs past me. I remember seeing a big yellow firetruck leave as we pulled in and think to myself "I think they left without you buddy."
I stop once through the doors and wonder which way I should go to catch up with her when I noticed there are two more firemen surrounding what I at first think is a small child on the floor. I don't want to be a rubbernecker or get in the way so I try to think of which way to go to catch up and stay out of the way, when I notice the purple sleeve and gray lining of my Mom's coat.
"Is this your Mother?"
"Yes! Is she breathing?"
"Have you got a heartbeat?"
"What the hell you mean no? She has a pacemaker!"
"I don't know what to tell you ma'am we can't get a heartbeat."
I then slide down to the floor with my back against the feminine hygiene aisle and rattle off dates of surgeries and dosages of coumadine and the like. The fireman I saw running out the doors returns with a defibrillator. The defibrillator had a nice calm female voice and I listen to her giving instructions as I call my sister to tell her what is happening. That conversation is another post in itself. She remembers it way better than I do. I call my husband after that to have him pick up Connor from school.
While they are working and waiting on an ambulance I know she would be mortified that they cut her new bra and have her chest showing in the middle of the grocery. She tries to take a couple of breaths and open her eyes, but she can't do it by herself.
When we get to the emergency room I expect them to tell me she is gone, but instead they lead us to ICU and tell us she is a candidate for Arctic Dawn, a new procedure that lowers the body temperature slowly and keeps it at 96 degrees for 24 hours and then slowly warm her back up.
It was Easter Sunday when she first shows her eyes, she pulled out her vent and a trach when it is placed. We don't let her know about the feeding tube in her stomach. She doesn't remember everyone at first but slowly gets things back, and needs the same information repeated every few minutes. She also developed a sailors mouth. The first words she mouthed were "Momma" and I thought my 82 year old Grandmother would do cartwheels. The she said "I need to used the bathroom" then "I want to go home!" and that soon turned into "I want to go home! I hate this g*d damn fucking place!"
She was really out of it for a while but she is getting better and better. At first she had more hours of therapy a week than Connor did, and I must admit for a bit I was wondering if ABA would be to her benefit. Mom is now at home to stay with us. It will be a chore and then some to get her house fixed up and sold and then the big problem, to find her something to do so she isn't so bored all the time.
A few notes to clear things up.
What happened: her heart went into ventricular tachycardia which cause a cardiac arrest, when she fell she hit her head causing a brain bleed (hemorrhagic stroke).
How were the firemen there that fast: They were shopping. A lady saw Mom fall and went to the next aisle to ask the firemen to help. One of the firemen was named Mike, mom was the first person he had ever saved.
13 comments:
- Jeni said...
Oh my Goodness! No wonder you haven't posted in a long, long time!
You and my younger daughter should become blogger (or e-mail or Facebook) buddies as you could compare notes on not just dealing with autistic children, therapies and such for them, but also, how to cope with having your Mom live with you! My daughter, her husband, their two little ones (both are autistic) and his oldest daughter (age 17) all live with me -or do I live with them -in my house! And it is a bit of a zoo at times, for sure. Mandy -my daughter -has had to cope with me and my issues, with cancer, herniated discs, urinary tract blockage that required surgery, then more surgery to have a colostomy plus, just being me, getting older, a tad senile at times and also, more than a bit tempermental too. (Or so my daughter tells me I am but I think that's her who is the tempermental one! LOL)
Reading your description of the things your Mom has been through, it is truly a miracle that she is still with you and that you can write about all of that so succinctly too. You, your family and your Mom will all be in my thoughts and prayers that your life will begin to even out a bit for you in the future. Give you some balance back cause I'm betting you sure can use it.
- July 16, 2009 at 1:30 AM
- dgibbs said...
Hi Jeni!
Yeah it has been a little wild around here. It truly is a miracle mom is still with us. Such a blessing that the firemen were shopping and she decided she needed tea. She has been through a lot and she is only 60.
I am on facebook if you want to look me up. My ID is Dortha.Gibbs
- July 16, 2009 at 11:19 AM
- Maddy said...
That's not the kind of excitement that we invite into our lives! It's true what they say though.......life is simple when it is boring. Give me boring any old day.
Delighted to hear that she 'out paced' herself.
Best wishes [see how closely our households are beginning to resemble each other.]
- July 21, 2009 at 4:06 PM
- Suzy said...
Have you had a time of it!!!
My thoughts and prayers are with you!
- July 22, 2009 at 2:08 PM
- Crystal said...
Wow. I hope your mother continues to improve. It was sweet to hear about the guy who saved her life. :)
I enjoyed your post.
- July 24, 2009 at 12:38 AM
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- November 16, 2009 at 5:48 AM
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- December 11, 2009 at 3:26 PM
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- December 18, 2009 at 6:21 PM
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- December 19, 2009 at 8:18 AM
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- January 7, 2010 at 2:04 PM
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
- January 7, 2010 at 10:01 PM
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- January 12, 2010 at 2:58 AM
Happens... Such casual concurrence
- March 16, 2010 at 6:30 AM


text:
got these two NOM hats for christmas, and decided to make up two outfits inspired by them.
hat - weird and wonderful misplaced giant sized, necklace - sculls made out of TEETH, socks - awesome frilly little girls bridle thangs..
sister says I should wear this first day back at school, maybe maybe.
bit of a contrast aye?...


text:
Tyber Creek Wine Bar and Kitchen opens in former Rustik space Thursday!
84 T Street, NW (1st and T St just off Rhode Island Ave) Photos courtesy Tyber Creek
Thanks to the owners for sending a quick update on Rustik's replacement in Bloomingdale – Tyber Creek Wine Bar and Kitchen:
"We will be opening next Thursday, May 4th at 5:00pm – our typical hours will be Monday – Friday 5:00 pm to close and Saturday & Sunday 11:00am to close. But our first weekend we will be Thursday – Saturday 5:00pm to close and Sunday 11:00am – close.
We are really excited to be part of the Bloomingdale community and hope to provide a comfortable neighborhood restaurant with wood fired food, a curated wine program and seasonal beers & cocktails. Our Chef, Kerry Tate, has developed an innovative but approachable menu with dishes such as roast half chicken over bread salad, wood oven mussels in tomato fennel broth and a lamb flatbread topped with arugula salad- to name a few of my favorites."


text: A unique group in the Boston area, we are three full-time midwives who attend births at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. We offer longer prenatal visits, caring labor support, and a holistic approach to maternity care. Give birth with a midwife you've grown to know and trust. Call Women's Health Associates and schedule your first appointment with a midwife today.


text: Majiir 718 Posted October 14, 2012 (edited) The Kethane Pack is maintained and distributed here and on KSP Modders. If you have bug reports, questions or feature suggestions, please post them to the Github issue tracker for the project and follow the bug reporting guidelines.The Kethane Pack was originally developed by Dani-Sang (concept, models, textures and animations) and Kulesz (plugin). Majiir (that's me) is now managing the project. Keptin created the parts introduced after version 0.1.-------------------------------------------------------------------------Download Kethane 0.9.2Last updated October 7, 2014 (KSP 0.25.0) (release notes)Download patch for 1.0 compatability (unzip on top of 0.9.2)License - Kethane Source - Grid Source - Old versions-------------------------------------------------------------------------Kethane WikiSee the wiki for frequently asked questions, version history, part details and more.-------------------------------------------------------------------------Have a problem? Read the bug reporting guidelines first!Problem with fuel routing? There's a thread for that.-------------------------------------------------------------------------Live Development Streams2013-06-25 - Majiir works on tweaking particle effects until Kethane creator Dani-Sang makes a surprise visit.-------------------------------------------------------------------------Please note that donations go to Majiir and not any other participant in the Kethane project.I will buy things that make me personally happy, like good coffee beans and k-pop socks.Remember: a programmer is a tool for converting caffeine into code.-------------------------------------------------------------------------Kethane 0.9.2 Trailer (by Charles Rogers/Umbongo Time) Kethane 0.4.1 Trailer (by Keptin) Edited May 23, 2015 by NathanKell 30 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites