text:
So I spent Saturday cleaning the yard.
Blew the leaves off the roof.
Trimmed some branches overhanging the roof.
Blew out the gutters.
Blew all the crap that fell off of the shrubs.
Blew out behind the shrubs.
Blew off the berm.
Mowed the leaves, front yard and back.
Pulled the car in the garage to work on back flushing the heater core,
turned on the computer to listen to internet radio (the only kind I can receive), and nada, nothing zip,
Not even static cause it's digital nothing, not analog nothing.
I get poor reception on my smartphone at home.
Story for another day, but someday I'm going to obtain a spectrum analyzer and prove that the FAA is inadvertently jamming my radio reception since I'm on the approach.
I drive up to the house with the car radio off channel and the whistling starts.
Only around the my house as you approach it.
So, no interwebs.
Call Comcast and they say there was a local outage, it'll be clear in two hours.
Five hours later, they admit it might be more of a local problem.
Local to my house.
No phone, Data or TV.
It took me an embarrassing amount of time before I figured that the DVR still had stuff for me to watch.
They finally came out today.
Late today.
Tonight in fact.
A squirrel had chewed through the cable above where it crossed my shed in the back yard.
So I'm back online, ready to read and comment.
I think I'll take a nap.
Monday, November 3, 2014
6 comments:
All I can think of is squirrel gumbo. It's good, served over rice.ReplyDeleteReplies
Lawn rodent ratatuille.Delete
Actually, I like squirrel. Lotta bones, but good meat.
At least they got yours fixed... Now going on two days with nothing at work... Had four techs in there today arguing about wiring and who's fault it was...ReplyDeleteReplies
Did they look for squirrel droppings?Delete
I believe Gary Peters win due to a late surge in squirrel support.ReplyDeleteReplies
Land's loss with Snyder and Schuette winning is nuts!Delete
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He said that the horse told him about dreams and such — about things to come.
By Rob Carrigan,
In Irish folklore, the Pooka is a changeling that is both feared and respected, and often considered a harbinger of changing fortune. And though it can take many forms, it most commonly appears as jet-black horse with sulphurous yellow eyes and long wild mane. Folklore expert Douglas Hyde called it a 'plump, sleek, terrible steed' which appears out of the hills and speaks in a human voice to people gathered to hear its prophecies and warnings on the first day of November. Binlaughlin Mountain in County Fermanaugh (home of the original Carrigans) is also known as the "Peak of the Speaking Horse." According to Hyde, it offered "intelligent and proper answers to those who consulted it concerning all that would befall them until November the next year. And the people used to leave gifts and presents at the hill…"
When I was 12 years old, beginning in April of 1974, as I delivered copies of Durango Herald every afternoon in Dolores, Colo., I befriended an old man by the name of Don Wallace that would wait for his paper every day on the back porch of his Pepto-Bismol colored house near the river.
He was a former ranch hand, cowboy, and veteran of various other vocations, that (although I didn't really understand it at the time) was dying of cancer.
Don followed with great interest the unfolding saga of kidnap victim turned bank robber Patty Hearst and Sybionese Liberation Army.
Waiting for the paper was a pretty regular thing for the folks on my paper route through that summer of 1974, as President Nixon faced possible impeachment and eventually resigned in early August. Among other events, there was the Dixie County sighting of a Florida Skunk Ape in July that year. It really wasn't what you would call a slow news period.
But the Patty Hearst story was compelling.
"Death to the fascist insect that preys upon the life of the people," was the slogan of the SLA and a seven-headed cobra snake its symbol. The members of the army were known on occasion to use cyanide-laced bullets.
Patty Hearst's conversion from the straight-laced heiress of the Hearst newspaper fortune to a bank-robbing "fundraiser" renamed Tania, sporting automatic weapons at various robberies and car jackings with the terrorist group was a hot topic. In May, Patty (a.ka. Tania) fired a series of warning shots at a storeowner that was trying to detain SLA members, Bill And Emily Harris, when they were caught shoplifting in sporting goods store in Los Angles.
The next day, in a two-hour gun battle between the SLA and 500 Los Angeles police officers, where nine thousand rounds were fired, and six SLA "soldiers" were killed, the SLA sealed their international notoriety. Hearst was eventually arrested in 1975 and brought to trial in a sensational legal event, in which she was defended by superstar lawyer F. Lee Bailey.
I think Don Wallace was struck by the changing nature of the world that summer and the newspaper that I dropped every afternoon, was his way of dealing with it.
He would tell me stories of the wild west of his childhood, talk about his dreams for the world and suggest books that I should read.
He claimed, among other things:
• He could kill fruit flies at a distance of 15 feet with the .22 caliber revolver that rested on the table next to him out there on his porch as he waited for the paper.
• He also swore that his former acquaintance Brushy Bill Roberts was really Billy the Kid.
• A revolution was in the works with the emergence of groups like the S.L.A.
• Tom Horn was the opportunistic alcoholic assassin hired by absentee English cattle barrons and eventually got everything he deserved.
• He once had a shoot out in a New Mexico chicken house.
But Don also told me of a wild-eyed, jet-black stallion that he once owned. He swore up and down, that the horse could talk to him.
I remember asking him what they talked about and he said that the horse told him about dreams and such — about things to come.
Please click on the following to view:
• Smooth and comfortable on the right side of gate.
• Pooka, Patty, Photos, Papers and let's ride.
• Humor, sadness and the angry bear in a trap.

subset: commoncrawl


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Thank you to our sponsors:
Presenter: Peter Myers, Solid Quality Mentors
Session 12: September 15 at 23:00 GMT
Session Details
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are important measurements that allow organizations to evaluate whether they are meeting targets for specific objectives. This session will begin by introducing how KPIs are defined in Analysis Services cubes and made available for consistent reporting through Excel, Reporting Services, and PerformancePoint Services. Next, we'll look at where the KPI sources its target data and explore additional capabilities of Analysis Services to collect planning data, specifically by using cube write-back and data mining to seed planning values. Then we'll see how you can use the new Excel 2010 What-If Analysis feature to support the collection of planning data from users.
About the Speaker
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Peter has a broad business background supported by a bachelor's degree in applied economics, and he extends this with current MCITP and MCT certifications. A Microsoft MVP since 2006, he is an established presenter and enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for Microsoft technologies by presenting at user group meetings, technical events, and conferences.
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text:
Along the way, there was always music. But it wasn't until the family resettled, in the musical town of Port Townsend, that the young Deering siblings began their study of the art that would become a passion and focus for them both.
In Port Townsend, Dave and Joan opened Deering Bed and Breakfast, later buying a small farmhouse. Lahna and Morgan remember family sing-alongs around the parlor piano and family music books that filled three volumes. Lahna remembers her mom listening to lots of Bonnie Raitt, a singer she cites as an influence, and singing while her dad played piano.
"Lahna was always the shy one, if you can believe that, and she started to harmonize with me right off the top -- and it was great," Dave Deering said.
Dave Deering came from a family of musicians: his grandfather was a music instructor, and other family members played trumpets, saxophones, guitar, violin, ukulele, drums and basses, and sang in church choirs.
Morgan says his dad was key in inspiring him musically.
"My dad was a big influence for me," Morgan said. "He was in a Beatles cover band so I heard lots of Beatles, he also played old railroad tunes, Johnny Cash and Johnny Horton."
In high school, Morgan played guitar and was in "Fiddler on the Roof" while Lahna sang in "The Sound of Music" and was a jazz dancer. Both kids also learned piano when they were younger, and Lahna had a brief period as a cellist before following her brother's example and switching to guitar. Though she got her first guitar at 13, she didn't really start playing it or writing songs until she was in high school and needed an emotional outlet after her parents split up. She says their divorce was the catalyst for her songwriting.
"Songs were therapy," said Lahna.
After her parents' divorce, Lahna chose to stay at the family's farmhouse while her mom went to culinary school in Portland and Dave and Morgan went to Brazil to work in mines.
"Lahna wouldn't go with Dave or I. She didn't want to pick her mom or dad because she thought that would send a message that she loved one more than the other. That's just the kind of girl she was," said Joan, who left Lahna with trusted family friends, Lahna's elementary school teacher Patty Spencer and her husband.
Lahna joined Joan in Portland later, and after completing culinary school Joan got a job working on an Alaskan bound ship, Cruise West.
"I thought it was my dream job, then I did the first 10-day rotation and it was not the kind of food I wanted to serve, it was frozen stuff," Joan said. "I picked Skagway and jumped ship."
In 1998 in Skagway, Joan introduced 15-year-old Lahna to her friend Rev Neil Down. Their musical chemistry was unmistakable. The duo has now been playing together for more than 10 years and are also best friends.
Rev, a childhood musician and songwriter from Washington, learned to play on a cheap guitar with strings half an inch off the frets, making any other guitar he picked up a breeze. Contrary to popular belief, he says his name isn't an abbreviation for reverend.
"My mom was French and she thought I was so beautiful as a child she nicknamed me "Reve," which is French for 'dream'," said Rev, joking, "We dropped the 'e' and now you have to stand back 100 yards and squint before I look like a dream."
Lahna and Rev currently live in Memphis, and say their road there has been something special.
"It's a pretty amazing story - how we met - our journey," Rev said. "Funny though, you don't see a thing until you see it the rear-view mirror."
Deering and Down produced their first album, "Coupe de Villa," at Rainbow Studios in White Horse, Canada in 2001. Then Lahna accompanied Rev when he recorded a solo album, "When a Wrong Turns Right," in Ireland. Their last two collaborations were "Break This Record" in 2007 and "Out There Somewhere" in 2008, recorded at Royal Studio in Memphis, a place made famous by soul singer Al Green. Green's record producer, "Papa" Willie Mitchell, worked on horn arrangements and mixing for "Out There Somewhere" prior to his death, and his son, Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell, co-produced the album.
Deering and Down recently shot a music video with their song "Linda McCabe," which debuted in Juneau at the Gold Town Nickelodeon.
"My dad said I was going to be struck by lightening for making that video," joked Lahna of her church-going father.
Set in a church with Rev as a preacher guitar player, Lahna dances around the church belting out the song — liberating and transforming church ladies into "righteous sexy babes."
In describing Lahna's vocals, the Memphis Flyer said, "She's got a voice like Loretta Lynn swallowed Rod Stewart."
Morgan, a Juneau resident for the past three years, plays in two local bands. He is also a commercial pilot, ferrying passengers, cargo, mail and other things between Juneau and Kake, Hoonah, Skagway, and Haines.
Morgan says his music is a lot like his experience flying an airplane. He is on the edge of caution and thinking about safety while feeling free and looking at the beauty below.
"When I mix those two things together I can be in the present moment and see the leaves change and see the glaciers and feel like wow, I'm actually flying an airplane."
In addition to his father's music, Morgan found inspiration in Fugazi, a punk band that formed in Washington D.C. in 1987. Their influence can be heard most clearly in his songs with political messages.
When he first arrived in Juneau from Eugene, Ore., Morgan played with Scott Arnett in Mammoth Bone. Then he was introduced to musician Nick Wagner by local KXLL DJ Jessie Haywood and the pair formed the band Tiger Pilot. Morgan describes their music as punk rock-electronic.
Morgan and Wagner also both joined Playboy Spaceman's Bridget Cross and George Kuhar to form B Team All-Stars. Morgan says it looks like he will be in the studio recording soon.
"Bridget and George are starting Shadow Island Records and our hope is, and we've talked about it, is they'll want to put B Team All-Stars and Tiger Pilot on their label. The goal is two albums by the end of this year," Morgan said.
Recently, Tiger Pilot played for the Juneau premiere of Deering and Down's video "Linda McCabe" at the Nickelodeon. Behind the band, pictures of tigers and airplanes were projected on a screen.
"I really like the old bombers and the intensity of those young men being in those airplanes, teenagers flying huge bombers over Germany - how young they were to be in control of such a huge thing .... I try to play with that intensity," Morgan said, adding that he writes songs about his feelings about what is happening in the world.
Though Lahna has moved to Memphis, the siblings get to see each other in Juneau in the summers when she comes to visit. Their mother, Joan, is the owner of Paradise Cafe, a popular local bakery and cafe that is about to close and reopen in a new location. (This week Paradise will host a First Friday reception with treats and more information about the move; check it out from 4:30 to 7 across from Marine Park.) Lahna's Juneau visits usually include at least one performance on a local stage with Rev.
As for Morgan, keep your ears open for Tiger Pilot and the B Team All Stars; for a preview of their music, watch this video of their performance at the KXLL Battle of the Bands last fall: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEB-mqdQ7Bk.
For more on Lahna, visit deeringanddown.com.


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News Release
16 Members of Notorious Black Mafia Family Charged in Cocaine Distribution
JUL 26 -- Atlanta, GA – In an indictment unsealed today, charges were announced against 16 members of the Black Mafia Family, a violent cocaine distribution organization that has been the focus of federal prosecution here in Atlanta, in Detroit, and in Orlando. Seven of the 16 defendants were arrested today. The names of 7 of the remaining 9 defendants remain under seal because they are still being sought by law enforcement.
SAC Rodney G. Benson of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented, "The government is one step closer to eradicating one of today's most violent and notorious drug trafficking organizations. The Black Mafia Family wreaked havoc from coast to coast by distributing cocaine and leaving a destructive path of violence along the way. Their bold image and in your face reputation once propelled them into the media spotlight. Today, we are proud to cast an ominous cloud over this once-thriving criminal network. I want to thank our federal, state and local law enforcement counterparts who aided in making this investigation a success."
"The Black Mafia Family once had billboards towering over Atlanta boldly proclaiming that the world was theirs. This indictment is a rejection of that claim. First in Detroit and Orlando, and now here, the government is shutting down the BMF's once-flourishing drug empire. A combined effort by federal, state, and local law enforcement has brought to an end an infamous chapter of drug dealing and gang violence that affected this country literally coast to coast," said United States Attorney David E. Nahmias.
The defendants arrested today are: DIONNE BEVERLY, 35, of Hurricane, West Virginia; RAMON DOBSON, 27, of Lithonia; LAMAR FIELDS, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia; VICTOR HAMMONDS, 42, of Conyers, Georgia; JAMAL MITCHELL, 38, of East Orange, New Jersey; FRANKLIN NASH, 56, of Decatur, Georgia; and DARRYL TAYLOR, 46, of Stockbridge, Georgia. Already in custody in other jurisdictions are co-defendants FLEMING DANIELS, 34, of Roswell, Georgia, and DERREK PITTS, 33, of Newark, New Jersey.
The defendants arrested in Georgia had their initial appearance today before Magistrate Judge Alan Baverman. DOBSON and NASH were released on a $25,000 secured bond. TAYLOR was detained. Detention hearings for HAMMONDS and FIELDS have been scheduled for Friday, July 27, 2007, at 2 p.m. before Judge Baverman.
The indictment charges all defendants with participating in the overall cocaine distribution conspiracy. Several defendants are also charged with specific instances of drug distribution. The conspiracy charge carries a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum term of life imprisonment, and a fine of up to $4,000,000. This case was investigated by Special Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, assisted by the United States Marshals Service; the Internal Revenue Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Tennessee Department of Safety; and officers from the Atlanta Police Department; the DeKalb County Police Department; and the Henry County Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Cassandra Schansman and Robert McBurney are prosecuting the case.
DEA Atlanta Field Division SAC Rodney G. Benson strongly encourages parents and children to educate themselves about the dangers of drug abuse by visiting DEA's interactive website by visiting www.justthinktwice.com
For further information please contact Special Agent Chuvalo J. Truesdell, the Public Information Officer of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. The Internet address for the home page for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is www.dea.gov


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|Red Admiral basking on Oak Tree
|Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta, nectaring at Salvia, Indigo Spires
|The Red Admiral's bold markings are distinctive, even at a distance.
The water in the birdbaths had frozen solid overnight and was slowly melting in the late morning sun. This had been a cold January by Galveston County standards, so I was surprised to see a butterfly nectaring at the blossoms of the indigo spires salvia. Of course I had to go see who it was, but the critter startled easily and flew away fast. I dismayed of ever getting a photo. Fortunately, it settled comfortably on the sunny side of our Nutall Oak Tree. Spreading its wings wide, with its head toward the ground, it basked in the winter sunlight and soaked up some rays. This battered butterfly needed a sip of nectar and a solar recharge. After a while, the Red Admiral was flying again.
For that's what is was - a Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta, quite easy to identify once it sat still. Red Admirals are among the family Nymphalidae, the Brush-Footed Butterflies. Brush-footed butterflies have tiny, vestigial forelegs. This is not visible in my Red Admiral photos, but if you look back to my "Fritillary Euthanasia" entry, you may see the reduced front legs. Another characteristic which you can see are the prominent knobs on the antennae. This species has a huge range - nearly all of North America and parts of Central America. Masses of Red Admirals have been known to migrate south, but adult Red Admirals can hibernate during the winter, as can the pupae. I am sure in our southern county the temperatures are confusing. Their larval host plants include nettles, Urticaceae, and other plants in that family.
Several of my books mention that if you have a Red Admiral in your summer garden, it may regularly rest on your arm or shoulder. Is this territorial butterfly trying to scare you away from its food source? Are you a convenient basking spot or it is sipping salt and minerals from your skin? Either way, how delightful to have a butterfly rest upon you!


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Cooper started 3rd grade. He was a little nervous at drop off but he did great!
Cooper has an awesome teacher, lots of his close friends in his class and he had a wonderful first day! He is going to do great in 3rd grade!!
Colton started Middle School!! Ahhhhh!! ;) He seemed ready to go that morning and headed in with confidence. No pictures at the school. Now that they are so big, we just drop off. =(
Anyway, unfortunately, he had a rough first day. He got in the car and the tears fell. He said he felt very overwhelmed and was afraid he couldn't meet his goals. When I asked him what his goals are he said, "honor roll and stuff." Poor guy. He puts so much pressure on himself and is such an overachiever. I know he will do great! He just needs to give himself a break. Th rest of the week was a little tough too. The nerves and worry just got the best of him. He even threw up after his first period class on the third day. We figured it was a mix of nerves and his breakfast not settling well. He felt better by lunch and was able to stick out the day. He says he misses us and his old teachers.
He even wrote this when he was asked how he felt about his life situation. His answer was 50/50 and here is why.
It broke my heart!
Thank goodness, he says each day gets a little better. I know it is just a huge transition and he will do great! Right now we do lots of pep talks and prayers!
We made it to Friday! Here are my happy boys headed to have their donuts!


text:
The appointment with the direct primary care doctor went well. He spent over an hour with me going back to the beginning when this all started.He actually listened and seemed like he really wanted to help which is something I have not gotten from all the other doctors I have seen in the past. He also agreed with me that my health problems are not just Fibromylagia and that there is some sort of inflammatory problem going on. He still wanted me to see the rheumatologist though which I did last week. The rheumatologist seemed to agree that there was more going on than just Fibro too and finally did some x-rays. He also ran more blood work. Hopefully those things will show something and I will get the results in a few weeks when I go back to see him. In the meantime he has me trying a short course of steroids to see if they will help. I have taken them before in the past with mixed results. My biggest problem the last couple of weeks has been my teeth/jaw/face along with the neck and shoulder pain. I don't think there is anything wrong with my teeth though since it moves around and my teeth were fine at my last checkup. After doing some research I have come up with something called Trigimal Neuralgia that might be the cause. Have any or you heard of it? It is a very painful condition and my heart goes out to all that suffer with it. At this point I just want to find some answers for this pain and something to help with it. I know there are others out there suffering more than I am but living with chronic pain is not easy. Even with the physical problems I am still trying to be productive and focus on the positives though.
Emilia has been busy with Halloween orders.The pink and orange tutu set I shared in the last post has been a good seller. We added a more Halloween version in purple green and orange too. I added a matching hat with removable bow and a ribbon and burlap high chair banner to the set too. Unfortunately those items have not sold yet but there is still time.
We received this photo from a buyer of her child wearing the tutu set. Isn't she adorable. I especially love how they placed her in a cauldron.
That's it for now. I hope the rest of your October is a good one and I will be back with more to share next month.


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You guys, my blogging schedule is all sorts of messed up. I was working on a post for Holding Our Worlds Together when I realized that I need to post that in February and not January because the publisher asked me to hold review until publication date. D'oh. And so I'm not quite finished with this book, but since it's a big long epically epic ...epic, I am going to be pretty general anyway... or at last try to. So, warning, if you are overly sensitive about anything even remotely spoilery, I will be talking about things that happened in the previous book in as generic terms as possible.
So at the beginning of the book there is lots of discussion about this big red comet that has appeared in the sky and what it means. At this point the realms has dissolved into chaos for... reasons I can't tell you, but let's just say that a situation has arisen in which Who Is The Leader has been thrown into question. So all of these potential leaders see this comet and say to themselves, "Oh look, it's a sign." Which is bad pretty much anytime your leader relies on signs and whatnots to tell them what to do.
Now, I'm not totally against taking signs into consideration. Certainly it's no worse than flipping a coin to determine what you're going to do if it's between two more or less equal choices. But uprooting an entire people and dragging them across a continent or picking a fight with another country because God Told You To really only works out in the Bible (or similar texts), and that still usually only works well for the people in power.
Fighting wars has always been at the discretion of people with
I have always found the idea of god communicating through signs to be somewhat questionable to begin with. Signs are easily interpreted in a variety of different ways by many different people (such as Martin's red comet for instance). If we have a few too many such people in high positions relying on signs who also have influence, they could very well bring about the end of the world just by proclaiming that they see the signs for it. But it seems to me that if god were truly to communicate through signs, at the very least he would want us to interpret them in the way that would be best for everyone and not our own benefit. Which raises the question of the usefulness of signs to begin with.
You know what, you don't need a link to a review, because there are so damned many of them. So far I like the series and would recommend it to most everyone.
LibsNote: Library copy via Overdrive Media.
So, uh, I totally wrote this at 11:15PM the night before, it's probably going live unedited. I apologize in advance.


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PowerScan handheld barcode readers capture vital batch processes, recipe handling, and procedure/operator validation, as well as traceability of raw material in batch and lot tracking in hazardous areas. The barcode readers are available in a wired version or a wireless system.
PowerScan is well suited for use with VisuNet operator workstations or TERMEX operator panels but is a stand-alone solution.
PScan-B, available in wired and wireless versions, is approved according to ATEX Zone 1 and 21.
PScan-D is approved for use in Class I, Div. 2:
Barcode data is easily shared with PCs, PLCs, and DCSs
One handheld for all standard 1-D barcodes
Fast and accurate barcode reading at extended distances
Persistent scan quality
Capture damaged or dirty barcodes with patented Puzzle Solve™ Technology
Accurate barcode reading with audible and LED feedback
Wide reading angle that is unaffected by ambient light or sunlight exposure


text:
The 4th of July is ONE week away!We lowered prices on these items. If you let us know TODAY, we can ship out to you tomorrow. If you spend $5 or more we'll ship for FREE. :) (We'll send you an invoice via PayPal) Please leave a comment and a way to contact you or EMAIL redwoodranches(at)gmail.com.
$3 per item
(UPDATE - Bow on left is SOLD.)
$5 per item/set
(UPDATE - Polka Dot Infant Headband is SOLD.)
$7 per item


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Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) Survey
The Rutgers University Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) survey is an online survey administered to all enrolled Rutgers undergraduates on the New Brunswick campus.
The SERU survey was developed for the University of California System by the UC Berkeley Center for Studies in Higher Education to broaden understanding of the undergraduate experience on the UC campuses and facilitate improvements on campus. The survey was tailored to research universities and has been administered regularly since 2004 to students on the UC campuses. This is the fifth year that Rutgers-New Brunswick has been invited to participate along with other research universities across the United States in the administration of SERU on their respective campuses. Rutgers-New Brunswick undergraduates will be joining undergraduates at institutions that include the Universities of Southern California, Michigan, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Texas, Oregon, North Carolina, Virginia, and Iowa, plus Indiana, Texas A&M and Purdue Universities.
The SERU survey is available to Rutgers undergraduates April 5, 2013 via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/HowisRUDoing
Log in with your RU ID to verify that you are an eligible Rutgers undergraduate.
Survey Eligibility
Students in the following categories are NOT eligible to take the SERU survey:
- Students under the age of 18 as of April 5, 2013
- Graduate students
- Professional students
- Non-degree seeking students
- Correspondence students
SERU Incentives
Multiple random drawings will be held throughout the data collection period. Prizes include:
- $500 debit cards
- $100 debit cards
- Two free football season tickets and one free game-day parking pass on Busch Campus for 2013
Congratulations to the winners of our first drawing!
Jennika Stamm (Animal Sciences) won $500
Sabell Mena (Undeclared) won $100
Keith Kilgore (Criminal Justice) won $100
Ramon Pena (Chemical Engineering) won $100


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Remote I/O expander circuit
Each of the PCF8574's eight I/Os can be independently
used as an input or output.
PCF8574Remote 8-bit I/O expander for I2C-bus
The PCF8574 is a silicon CMOS circuit. It provides general
purpose remote I/O expansion for most microcontroller
families via the two-line bidirectional bus (I2C).
The device consists of an 8-bit quasi-bidirectional port and
an I2C-bus interface. The PCF8574 has a low current
consumption and includes latched outputs with high
current drive capability for directly driving LEDs. It also
possesses an interrupt line (INT) which can be connected
to the interrupt logic of the microcontroller. By sending an
interrupt signal on this line, the remote I/O can inform the
microcontroller if there is incoming data on its ports without
having to communicate via the I2C-bus. This means that
the PCF8574 can remain a simple slave device.
Address of PCF8574 can set at pin A0,A1,A2
slave addresses.


text:
Show Summary Details
Quick Reference
The difference between total customer value and the total customer cost of a marketing offer. It can be regarded as 'profit' to the customer.
Subjects: Business and Management.
Related content in Oxford Index
Reference entries
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text:
Rebuilding Rick Nash
ESPN's Scott Burnside has a good piece today on the work Blue Jackets head coach Ken Hitchcock has begun to do with young phenom Rick Nash since arriving in Columbus:
"He's been a really quick learner. He's not just a good penalty killer, he's become a great penalty killer," Hitchcock said. "He's had a huge impact on our games.Part of the reason GM Doug MacLean hired Hitchcock, other than trying to save his own hide, was to have the veteran work with some of the youngsters to help them become more than just one-dimensional offensive players (here's looking at you, Mr. Zherdev). The whole Nash situation is reminiscent of when Hitchcock arrived on the scene back in 1995 and had another No. 1 overall pick, Mike Modano, as his prized player.
"He's adjusted much quicker than I thought anybody could. He's done a 180-degree turn right away. I've got to tell you, it's been pretty impressive."
Modano eventually became one of the best defensive players in the league, something that seems like a stretch for Nash (who was a combined -62 in his first two NHL seasons). Still, there he is, skating on the penalty kill for the first time I can remember, and the Blue Jackets are something other than god-awful for the first time in a long, long while.
Step 1 in the building process, no doubt.


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Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Monkeying Around
From one holiday to the next
You have mail
Happy Birthday, Miss Amy!
Life went on after Halloween. The very next day in fact. At a birthday party for Miss Amy. It's always fun to watch the bigger kids and realize with a mix of delight and sadness that someday the boys too, will be that old. That they will be able to talk in complete sentences, and do all the big kid things without me having to worry quite so much or at least have a whole different set of worries I suspect.
The boys thoroughly enjoyed Miss Amy's party - getting to play with the big kids, not to mention a whole host of new toys for them to try out.And did I mention the cake? And I cream?? The boys happily devoured theirs. :)
Monday, November 2, 2009
Halloween: Trick or Treat!
In anticipation of the sun starting its final descent we headed indoors to grab a quick hotdog and get the boys changed into their costumes. They were….
With the sun sinking below the trees and headed for the roof tops and other trick or treaters starting to arrive we pulled out the boys' rides and headed off down the street. The boys held their buckets as they were wheeled up to door after door. I don't think they really knew what to make of it as door after door people came out, looked, and talked to them before depositing goodies in their baskets. The boys were pretty shy and quiet despite our prompting to at least get them to say treat or please or really anything at all. They had a deer in the headlights pose as they took it all in including the other trick or treaters in costume rushing from door to door all around them. But as the doors would close and we would head back down the walkway they would start babbling excitedly. Probably talking about how it cool it was that they got more and more candy and they didn't have to do anything other than sit there and look cute. And wondering if every day was like this. They were probably plotting how they should run up and ring all the neighbors' door bells on a regular basis with their hands outstretched to hold all the inevitable candy, right?
We eventually completed the circuit around the block and back to Kevin's parents' house. Getting the boys and their treats out of the cars was a bit more difficult that we imagined. They were a little attached to their baskets to say the least. Kevin let Ryan try to carry his. It was so heavy and unwieldy I am amazed he didn't just topple right over. We eventually managed to get them set them down in the floor long enough to get their jackets off. I asked the boys to pick out a piece to eat and after rummaging for a minute Ryan pulled out a box of Milk Duds which was vetoed and Connor found a popcorn ball.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
And it clearly looks better lit up at night with some tea lights than it did by the light of day. :)
Speaking of daylight - with the boys up and ready to prowl we headed towards the park by way of the wooded paths with the boys' cousin Kendall along for the excitement. All 3 kids took turns running in circles up the stairs, across the bridge, and down the big swirly slide. And the more times they went the more static they amassed. As evidenced best by Ryan's hair.
He certainly looked like a monster this Halloween! Though it was funny that the second his feet touched the ground his hair would take up it's former position laying tamely on his head. But should you happen to get your hand anywhere near him static would arc amidst a shocking blue flash of light to give you a real zap. Ouch!
After we had visited all our old friends - the slides, the swings, the mulch, the squirrels and of course played keep away from mom in the forest amongst the spider web clad yaupons we headed back. And with the laughable idea of getting a few cute pictures a la last year ....
managed this one. It was as good as it got before the fraidy cats bolted. Chased off by a cacophony of moving, talking, racket making monstrosities stirred up by Kevin's dad.
(to be continued...)


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Discover how scalping the market works and how you can employ a scalping strategy as part of your forex trading game plan. The currency market opens at 11 pm GMT on a Sunday and the same closes at 11pm GMT Friday in a week. m trying to get here is that at the end, price behavior dictates how an indicator will act, and this should be taken into consideration on any trading decision made. Installation of this program of 100% hands-free too. Think of the "platform" as the roads and freeway system that connects all traders to the finanical markets including forex.
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Magnetic fields can have important consequences for the life and death of stars.
We show for the first time that it is possible to determine the presence of strong magnetic fields in the inner regions of an evolved star. This is done in the context of asteroseismology, a discipline that –similar to seismology– exploits the existence of waves propagating through an astronomical object to determine its inner properties. This is also analogous to a medical ultrasound, which uses sound waves to image otherwise invisible parts of the human body.
The outer regions of red giants, stars more evolved than our Sun and with larger radii, are characterized by turbulent motions that excite sound waves. This is akin to the noise produced by water boiling in a pan. These waves can propagate in the star and excite another class of waves (gravity waves), whose restoring force is buoyancy. Gravity waves are somewhat analogous to surf waves in the ocean (buoyancy is the force that makes a buoy oscillate). Basically, the sound waves propagate in the outer layers of the star, but can resonate with the gravity waves that probe the inner region of the star. This cross-talk requires sound waves to share some of their energy with the gravity waves. If strong magnetic fields are present in the stellar core, magnetic forces can become comparable to the buoyancy force. One can imagine the magnetic fields as stiff rubber bands embedded in the stellar gas that affect the propagation of the gravity waves. In this situation, the gravity waves are altered and become trapped in the stellar core: we call this the "magnetic greenhouse effect". When the gravity waves become trapped, some of the wave energy is lost in the core, which makes the amplitude of the observable surface oscillation smaller compared to a star where no trapping occurs (a star with a non-magnetic or a weakly-magnetized core).
A suppression of the oscillations caused by waves reaching the stellar core is indeed observed in a group of red giant stars using the Kepler satellite, a space telescope that can measure stellar brightness variations of order one part in a million. We can then use these observations to put a limit on (or even measure) the internal magnetic fields for these stars. The result is mind-blowing: The measured magnetic fields are a million times or more stronger than a typical fridge magnet. This is exciting, as internal magnetic fields play an important role both for the evolution of stars and for the properties of their remnants. For example, some of the most powerful explosions in the universe (long gamma-ray bursts) could be associated with the death of stars ten or more times more massive than our Sun that ended their lives with strong magnetic fields in their core.


text:
Zaheer Khan.
Edit: Younis Khan
Last edited by Howe_zat; 30-03-2012 at 09:08 AM.
Muthiah Muralitharan
"I will go down as Darren Sammy, the one who always smiles" - Darren Sammy
Ian Bell
Want to be the online Don Bradman or Ian Salisbury?
Then join CW Cricket today. It's what all the cool kids desire.
RIP Craig Walsh (Craig) 1985-2012
RIP Hughesy 1988-2014
David Warner
Round 3
Howe_zat -
morgieb -
Eds -
Prince EWS - Mark Ramprakash (r)
Himmanv -
Samuel_Vimes - Brad Haddin (r)
Cabinet96 -
Johnners -
rvd619323 -
GingerFurball -
Cevno - Shivnarine Chanderpaul (r)
Spark - Michael Clarke (r)
weeman27bob -
Noble_One -
Marcuss -
Daemon/Flem - Rahul Dravid (r)
Round 4
Daemon/Flem -
Marcuss -
Noble_One - Luke Butterworth (r)
weeman27bob - Tim Bresnan (r)
Spark -
Cevno -
GingerFurball - Chris Rogers (r)
rvd619323 -
Johnners -
Cabinet96 -
Samuel_Vimes - Marcus Trescothick (r)
Himmanv -
Prince EWS -
Eds -
morgieb -
Howe_zat - Dinesh Chandimal (r)
This is here to serve as a reminder of the order and any retentions. This post will not be updated for picks, only the OP will. I cbf doing both.
Last edited by Spark; 31-03-2012 at 07:33 AM.
do you think people will be allowed to make violins?
who's going to make the violins?
forever 63*
Hashim Amla, or Graeme Smith if Howe intended to pick Amla.
Pat Cummins
RIP Philip Hughes - 1988-2014
The Wheel of Mediocrity | Compton, Root, Carberry, Robson, Trott, Lyth, Moeen, Hales, Duckett, Hameed, Jennings | The wheel is forever
Founder and Grand Wizard of the CW Football Thread Statluminati. Potential hater of abilities. Blocked on twitter by Michael Vaughan, Brad McNamara and AtlCricket for my hard hitting truths.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)


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Stop Motion T-Shirt War.
Rhett and Link are a comedic team from North Carolina (one of my Craiglist stalking cities) and they make all kinds of videos. I hadn't seen them until this T-Shirt War video and I think it's a pretty funny idea. You can also buy the shirts so it's also one of the more successful product placement ventures I've seen in a while.
I am really interested to see how product placement in our programming continues to evolve but anyone thinking of doing it - watch videos like these for inspiration. Don't just turn the soda can logo out and smile.
Labels: Isn't This Cool, Video


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Monday, December 19, 2011
Stella Card and TGF Customer Holiday Blog Hop
I'm so over Christmas, lol, so I decided to switch to valentines. I suppose this counts as a non-holiday card, lol, as in not Christmas. :) I haven't played with Miss Stella since last February, so it was time to bring her out and show some inky love.
There are two grand prizes that we will draw for the participant's creations, and a random hopper will ALSO win the ENTIRE upcoming January Release! That's 6 sets in all- a HUGE prize...and the only way to win is by participating in the blog hop! Good luck to everyone!
I also used Deconstructed Sketches #31 for this. My image didn't really fit for this, so I improvised and got it to work. I realize I need new valentine paper too...so hopefully I get some Christmas money to spend!
Everyone have a fabulous Monday! 2 more weeks before Bachelor starts! I hate when my shows take a holiday break, lol.
53 comments:
Ooh...so sweet! Love the glitter and the pops of black! :)ReplyDelete
wow this is amazing...I love your coloring and the added glitter...FABULOUS...ReplyDelete
very cute project. TKS for sharingReplyDelete
Super cute card!!ReplyDelete
She is rockin'! Love the "sparkle"! Fabulous project! Great work! Merry Christmas! :)ReplyDelete
Darling Stella and love the streaks in her hair!ReplyDelete
I know! I feel like Grey's has been on break forever, LOL! I LOVE this card and Stella's sparkly hair! AWESOME take on the DS31 too! Thanks so much for hopping with The Greeting Farm today- we're so happy to have you!ReplyDelete
i just love creating for valentines day! lovely card and thanks for sharing :)ReplyDelete
- AnonymousDecember 19, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Adorable Sparks! Love the glitter in her hair too!ReplyDelete
GORGEOUS!!!!! such a Beautiful card. I am sooo ready for Valentine projects!ReplyDelete
Happy Holidays! Heidi
Such a beautiful valentines card, love your paper choices too.ReplyDelete
Happy Holidays
Oh, wow, Sparkle! Such a beautiful Valentine's Day Card! I love her hair!!! and the stitching is fab! Very sweet :)ReplyDelete
Happy Holidays!!! xo
Sparkle you always do great work but this little card is divine! Love her!ReplyDelete
Love, love, love, love. Love. :) Love the traditional Valentine's colour combo and your colouring is astounding. As always. The bold black embellishments really make this whole card pop.ReplyDelete
Thanks for sharing! You are so inspirational. xo
SUPER duper cute card--I LOVE the mixture of the papers and that coloring is FAB! BEAUTIFULLY done!!!ReplyDelete
so pretty! thanks for sharingReplyDelete
- AnonymousDecember 19, 2011 at 12:01 PM
Very cute. Love the stitching and pink and black colors.ReplyDelete
totally amazing, sparkle! Lovely papers and all that sparkly shine is fabulous!ReplyDelete
amazing and beautiful! TFS hugs JasReplyDelete
- AnonymousDecember 19, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Ohh... this is such an elegant card... Stella looks very stylish.ReplyDelete
Happy Holidays
oh my gosh ! this is such a cute card and your early for valentine's day ;-)ReplyDelete
Oh my goodness, she is just adorable.ReplyDelete
sweet valentine's card! love the colors! happy holidays!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousDecember 19, 2011 at 1:55 PM
Cute Valentine card.ReplyDelete
Fabulous card Sparkle! I love all the glitter, and you combined those papers perfectly!ReplyDelete
Beautiful card. Love those papers you use.ReplyDelete
Oh your Valentine's Day card is just beautiful!ReplyDelete
Sparks, I love the Valentine card. Your papers are perfect and so is your coloring!ReplyDelete
Super cute! Love all the sparkly goodness, hehehe :)ReplyDelete
Super fun card!ReplyDelete
This card is amazing. Love the sparkle.ReplyDelete
Sparkle.. Your creations are always amazing.. Love the "sparkle" in her hair..Gorgeous colors.ReplyDelete
Your card is so, so darling!ReplyDelete
Cute card! I love the colors.ReplyDelete
love the sparkleReplyDelete
I love the sparkle you give to your cards and the coloring is so awesome. I love how you added your supplies under your post...i noticed that Tim Holtz does that as well and it's so smart, but it looks like a lot of work?ReplyDelete
what a sweet card ~ReplyDelete
She's so adorable!! Just love the cute papers and her hair is fantastic! ;)ReplyDelete
Wow! So elegant and pretty.ReplyDelete
Oh I love all the detail to the background! Great layout and coloring! Just adorable!ReplyDelete
Very cute Sparkle. I love all your glitter and stitching. TFS.ReplyDelete
gorgeous card Sparkle! love the layout and pretty papers!ReplyDelete
Stella never looked prettier! Great card Sparkle...love the colors you chose for her hair...pretty and soft!ReplyDelete
Happy Holidays!
So cute! Love the stickles!ReplyDelete
What great colors! Love her hair highlights!ReplyDelete
oh Sparkle, that is a stunningly gorgeous card! Love love love it!ReplyDelete
Such a beautiful card. Rachael :) xxReplyDelete
So sweet! Love how you colored her hair!ReplyDelete
o super pretty! love the old skool image and the pretty pinks and blacks and grays. ;)ReplyDelete
Love the sparkle with your beautiful stitching, great card :)ReplyDelete
The sparkles, paper, coloring and stitches are so divine!ReplyDelete
Thanks for visiting my blog! I truly appreciate you taking the time to read and comment! Love, Sparks


text:
Legal Status
Document Details
Published Document
The ACRS Subcommittee on Thermal-Hydraulic Phenomena will hold a meeting on October 25-26, 2001, Room T-2B3, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland.
Portions of the meeting may be closed to public attendance to discuss General Electric (GE) Nuclear Energy proprietary information per 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(4).
The agenda for the subject meeting shall be as follows:
Thursday, October 25, 2001—1 p.m. until the conclusion of business
Friday, October 26, 2001—8:30 a.m. until the conclusion of business
The Subcommittee will review the application by the Exelon Generating Company for core power uprates for the Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Units 2 & 3, and the Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 & 2. The purpose of this meeting is to gather information, analyze relevant issues and facts, and to formulate proposed positions and actions, as appropriate, for deliberation by the full Committee.
Oral statements may be presented by members of the public with the concurrence of the Subcommittee Chairman. Written statements will be accepted and made available to the Committee. Electronic recordings will be permitted only during those portions of the meeting that are open to the public, and questions may be asked only by members of the Subcommittee, its consultants, and staff. Persons desiring to make oral statements should notify the cognizant ACRS staff engineer named below five days prior to the meeting, if possible, so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
During the initial portion of the meeting, the Subcommittee, along with any of its consultants who may be present, may exchange preliminary views regarding matters to be considered during the balance of the meeting.
The Subcommittee will then hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff, the Exelon Generating Company, GE Nuclear Energy, and other interested persons regarding this review.
Further information regarding topics to be discussed, the scheduling of sessions open to the public, whether the meeting has been canceled or rescheduled, and the Chairman's ruling on requests for the opportunity to present oral statements and the time allotted therefor, can be obtained by contacting the cognizant ACRS staff engineer, Mr. Paul A. Boehnert (telephone 301-415-8065) between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (EDT). Persons planning to attend this meeting are urged to contact the above named individual one or two working days prior to the meeting to be advised of any potential changes to the agenda, etc., that may have occurred.Start Signature
Dated: October 5, 2001.
Sher Bahadur,
Associate Director for Technical Support.
[FR Doc. 01-25887 Filed 10-12-01; 8:45 am]


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Samstag, 9. April 2011
Totally Gorjuss Challenge # 72 - Fluffy
- Fiona hat gesagt…
this is sooooo gorgeous...what a cute stamp, I love whipper snapper!!
- 9. April 2011 um 14:33
- angelique (anlou) hat gesagt…
hiya sweetie
this is such a cute image
your card is superrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
have a great weekend
hugs angelique
- 9. April 2011 um 19:24
- Teresa hat gesagt…
Hi Karina, gorgeous card for the gorguss challenge! Love the details on the card and your colouring is fab, Hugs, Teresa x
- 9. April 2011 um 22:23
- Lorraine hat gesagt…
oh this is stunning i love it and my gorjuss SWEET PEA PRIZE arrived thankyou so very much i can't wait to use her i love it xxx
- 9. April 2011 um 22:35
- Donna Mosley hat gesagt…
Aww! this is gorgeous Karina, love the very cute image and yummy papers. Hope you have a lovely, sunny weekend.
Donna x
- 9. April 2011 um 23:10
- coops hat gesagt…
gorgeous card karina.i love the sweet image and fab colours and details.have a wonderful weekemd :D
xx coops xx
- 10. April 2011 um 09:48
- laney hat gesagt…
Gorgeous card Karina!!
Thanks for joining us at Creative Inspirations hope to see you again
- 12. April 2011 um 21:51
- Rebekah hat gesagt…
Great work thanks for playing at SFTW hugs Rebekah xx
- 13. April 2011 um 23:25
- Cor* hat gesagt…
OMG this is super! I adore your corner accents! Wonderfully placed. What a cute image! So many lovely creatured piled up! Thanks so much for sharing your EASTER creation with us at Creative Inspirations this fortnight! Best of luck to you!
- 14. April 2011 um 03:09
- Debs hat gesagt…
love your corner flowers and adorable image, thanks so much for joining our Easter Challenge at Creative Inspirations, we hope to see you again soon
- 16. April 2011 um 00:36


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|Kaine never mentioned education reform in his DNC speech.
Here he says that by adding Tim Kaine (no, Donald, he's not the governor of NJ) to the Clinton ticket, Dems may be abandoning current corporate-style school reform policies, which have plagued public education for the past few decades.
I'm for keeping hope alive, but not convinced.
If true, this would really piss off the likes of DFER, Gates/Broad/Walton power philanthropists, Arne Duncan, John King, Peter Cunningham and Wall St. hedge-fund reformers.
It could also pull opt-out parents and anti-Common Core folks closer to Clinton and away from Trump.
AFT and NEA leaders are likely gleeful over this supposed shift and see it as redemption (payback) for their premature Clinton endorsement. We'll see.
Bryant writes:
The policy outline for K-12 education coming from the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign remains vague, but supporters of Vermont U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders have substantially altered how public education is framed in the Democratic Party platform, and Clinton has become more strident in her attacks on "for-profit" charter schools and vouchers that allow parents to transfer their children to private schools at taxpayer expense.Vague indeed.
He refers to a recent piece by Lauren Camera for U.S. News and World Report on Kaine's "hefty education resume." Camera points to the significance of the Kaine choice over New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, who is "someone who would have been more favorable to big supporters of the high-stakes testing and charter school expansions that come with reform orthodoxy."
True about Booker.
Then there's Kaine's wife Anne Holton, who is VA's secretary of education and who has tried to reform the standardized testing regime in her state. She's also opposed the expansion of charter schools. And -- stop the presses -- the Kaines even send their kids to public school.
Good for Anne. We need more like her.
Diane Ravitch is passionate about the Kaine's.
On top of that come the victories won by union activists and Sanders supporters in reshaping the party's ed plank in the platform committee. Victories, by the way (without being giddy with success), that offer activists a reason to stay and fight instead of walking out on the inner-party struggle after the convention.
Having said that, I don't read much into the V.P. choice and I generally see Kaine as a pro-Wall St. guy, someone who is malleable and will toe the party line on education (or TPP), whatever that is.
BTW, what is the party line? Obama said the word education only twice in passing references during his speech. Of course that's two more than he mentioned Iraq or Afghanistan. But who's counting?
In Bill Clinton's ("In the spring of 1971, I met a girl") speech, there were 4, but none substantive.
The word was mentioned only twice in Kaine's own speech with not a word about reform, testing, or charter schools.
Maybe Hillary will mention education in passing, tonight.
I'm thinking back to 2008 when Pres. Obama teased us by making progressive Linda Darling-Hammond the head of his ed transition team and then sent her back to Stanford in favor of corporate reformer Arne Duncan who became his pick for ed secretary.
From what I can see, the fight to save and transform public education will still have to be fought under and throughout a Clinton administration. But the fight may be on more favorable grounds. Certainly better than under a Trump presidency.


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One of the most enjoyable ways to spend an evening is with dinner at a great restaurant followed by a beautiful Disney fireworks display. The best way to spend an enjoyable evening is to have the great dinner DURING the fireworks display!
There are several Disney restaurants from which you can see either Magic Kingdom's Wishes or Epcot's Illuminations. Here in Part I of our "Restaurants for Fireworks Viewing" series, we'll look at restaurants from which you can see Wishes.
Wishes is the Magic Kingdom's nightly fireworks display. It usually takes place at 9:00PM, but can be earlier or later depending on time of year and the MK's schedule of special events. The Wishes soundtrack is piped into the restaurants, so hearing the accompaniment to the fireworks will not be a problem.
'Ohana, one of the two table-service restaurants at the Polynesian Resort, has arguably the best view of Wishes from any restaurant. With a wall of windows facing the castle, directly across Seven Seas Lagoon from the Polynesian, the view of Wishes is head-on — just as you'd see it on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom (only farther away).
The second picture isn't the best — the castle looks a million miles away — but trust me that it's a great show from 'Ohana. Definitely worth booking. And speaking of booking, you'll want to book a reservation about 30-45 minutes prior to the scheduled time for Wishes. When you arrive at the podium, request a "Fireworks view" table. They cannot guarantee it, but they'll do their best. If you happen to be seated in one of the few tables from which you can't see the fireworks, you're free to move during the show to stand in an area of the restaurant offering a better view.
Also, note that if you don't get a reservation for around fireworks viewing time, the Polynesian Beach is another great spot to view Wishes.
'Ohana is a casual dining establishment; standard park-wear is acceptable here.
Narcoossee's, in the Grand Floridian Resort, sits over to the left-hand side of the Magic Kingdom. Several window tables offer a great view of the Wishes fireworks show.
Narcoossee's also has an outdoor viewing area along the railing outside of the restaurant. This will offer a great view if you've not yet been seated at your table. Again, book a reservation about 30-45 minutes prior to the scheduled start time for Wishes.
Narcoossee's is a bit fancier than 'Ohana; you might want to dress up a bit.
California Grill
California Grill, on the Contemporary Resort's 15th floor, is often thought of as the quintessential Wishes viewing spot. The restaurant offers its outdoor viewing deck in addition to the views from the wall of windows in the restaurant.
That said, California Grill isn't my favorite location for Wishes viewing, as the vantage point is strongly to the right of the castle. As a result, many of the fireworks launched from a mile or so behind the castle are skewed and don't appear as they would when watching the show from directly in front. However, California Grill definitely has my vote for best food of the three!
Note that if you can't book a reservation around fireworks time (these fill up fast) but get a reservation at some other time that evening, you are welcome to return to the 15th floor observation deck to view the fireworks at their scheduled time. Also, James comments below that the bar at California Grill has non-reservation seating, so you might get lucky with a seat at the bar if you hit the Contemporary at the right time. (This seating is first-come, first-served.)
California Grill is another Disney signature dining location, so it's pricey…and dressy.
While these three are clearly the front-runners in dining reservations, you can also see glimpses of Wishes from Magic Kingdom's Plaza Restaurant, Crystal Palace, Casey's Corner, and Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station.
Interesting "views" of Wishes can be had from Cinderella's Royal Table in Cinderella Castle and Pinnochio's Village Haus in Fantasyland. While the fireworks are exploding above your head (not necessarily in your view, of course), you can see the flares being released from the tops of Magic Kingdom buildings around you. You won't be able to truly experience Wishes, but it's a unique view for anyone who has an interest in pyrotechnics, engineering, or fireworks in general.
Restaurants in the Magic Kingdom from which you can see very little — if any — of the Wishes Fireworks display are: Liberty Tree Tavern, Tony's Town Square, Columbia Harbour House, Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe, El Pirata y El Perico, Pecos Bill's Cafe.
Check out the other "Best Disney World Restaurants" in our series!


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|The Rockmelt Browser
But Rockmelt inherits one of Chrome's bad characteristics. It's memory-hungry. Each widget spawns its own process, sure it makes the Rockmelt run fast but I would be hard press in recommending it to be installed on a budget notebook with only 1 GB of RAM or less. I come across a lot of these 11-13 inch notebooks in my work.
Installing Rockmelt is no big deal, its free and the installer is like 600kb. The installer is one of those file tractor pullers - you run the installer and it then down loads the rest of the browser. No biggie.
After that, you get to a first-run wizard, it ask for your facebook login, this is where it get hairy for some of us, Rockmelt basically want all the rights. If you're concern about privacy, this page will make think about why you got Rockmelt. I already know of a guy who said no and uninstalled Rockmelt.Then you move to a page where you pick a bunch of "Apps" to be added to your Rockmelt.
The Apps here are more of RSS readers allowing you see if there's anything new on that site. Think of them as direct views into the associated site. You have a lot of choices, from Tumblr, Twitter, Pixable, Mashable!, etc. But some apps have direct interaction to the sites, for example Twitter, you can post tweets directly from the Twitter app inside Rockmelt.
Once done it works like another browser but with a direct connection to Facebook.
Which leads me to "the" question: is it worth it? Nothings seriously wrong with it. It did crash a few times but only the tab causing the crash was lost not the whole browser. Nothing serious. A few people will find the permissions page during installing a bit unnerving. Reminds me of that phrase: "signing your life away."
Get Rockmelt if basically your homepage is Facebook or you check your Facebook every chance you get and you're not a privacy rights Nazi. Which I think is an oxymoron if I ever seen one. It's already a pretty fast and stable browser. Who knows, it might make you more "productive" but that's a long shot.


text:
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Stabbed In Stanzas: The Poetry of Darkness and Horror
In the poetry of Horror, subjects can range from the visceral to the metaphorical, depending on the theme. Some tell a story, some set a scene or mood, others prefer to repulse. I've gathered an assortment of Dark Poetry from Indie authors from today's Horror scene. The mundane, the strange, and the macabre in the commonplace are drawn on here for access to the shadowy recesses of waking conscience. So, step away from the light for a few minutes and follow the trail of crumbs left by Mr. Kurtz as he travelled into the heart of darkness to find the horror.
by Lori R. Lopez
A blackish knight by lantern light
Strode 'cross the murky moordred peat
With soggen gait did he frustrate
The trackers after his brusque feet
Alone he trekked and did reflect
On how he came to be so cruel
The lives he claimed who were unnamed
Would deem him nothing less a ghoul
He'd swiped the heads of all his deads
But for the sake of victory
An empty taunt, a heart to vaunt
Their lives were squandered for his glee
The kingdom next to leave bevexed
Would host a tournament renowned
Without his steed he was in need
So snatched a farm horse that he found
This blackest soul would play the role
Of suitor to Princess Portend
Whose honor knights would joust for rights
To woo and troth at tourney's end
Sir Anvil in rode drenched with sin
But to the court's immense surprise
Removing helm, did overwhelm
By teardrops rolling from his eyes
"I weep for love's elusive dove
For never knowing such a treat
My heart lies bare for you to share
Dear Lady, with the face so sweet!"
Spoke he these words, gone still the birds
And every ear was raptly tuned
For there was more that did outpour
A song of love his lips they crooned
"My Lady fair, if you could care
For such a wretched blasphemy
I'd give my heart, we'd never part
The beast subdued inside of me!"
The princess learned if he was spurned
That all would suffer his defeat
"I'll sack and waste in utmost haste
Till not a single breast should beat!"
Sir Anvil waited; she hesitated
The crown announced as his decree
"You shall contend for my Portend —
But fair is how the match shall be!"
The rules were set that must be met
Each man a valentine should bring
The strongest heart would stand apart
And give the lady thus his ring
That day a dark knight rode away
To contemplate what he could offer
Then back he came with his best game
The largest ruby from his coffer
"A jewel is cold and cannot hold
The endless love you promised, sir!
This will not do, be off with you!"
The princess ordered to the cur
Bleak Anvil drew a blade with rue
Yet he did not the lady stab
His own chest cleaved, the core was heaved
"There is your valentine!" his jab
"I give my heart pierced by your dart —
I've nothing more than that to give!
It's black and bloody, a little muddy
Accept it and I'll let you live."
His bleeding gist the princess kissed
That heartless knight she promptly wed
The realm would thrive with all alive
Except her spouse, who was quite dead.
The Gracken
by Lori R. Lopez
Six grackles on a limb once sat
To have a raucous bird-brained chat
Like magpie gossips they did sport
Then snoozed a bit with a sneerful snort
When just below them from the soil
A wickedness began to roil
And writhing upwards out of smirch
A peckish dauntling climbt the birch
This heathen gathered mass and crept
Up bark and branch to where they slept
The smudge begrudged them their sweet nap
And plucked most up in quite a flap
Drooling for these fickle bites
He gulped them down and set his sights
Upon the last who woke to glean
Himself alone, his pals unseen
And a monster they had conjured forth
Through gabbiness from malish pour'th
Of vicious rumors, slandrous spewl
These spouters summoned a pentaghoul
Five scowls he wore; five eyeballs glared
Five arms, five legs; five faces stared
Five birds he ate with fervent glee
The sixth, dessert would surely be
Licking lips, he reached a paw
To plunge the fowl down a single maw
This gracken had a case of greed
And six was more than he did need
The final bird held up a wing
To make him pause for one small thing:
"We made you mad, we made you mean
We made you brown and orange and green
We didn't make you such a glutton
And we forgot a shut-off button
So if you won't mind, I think I'll leave!"
The blackbird flew, to the gracken's peeve
And the monster slunk back in the dirt
His belly full but his feelings hurt.
american gothic
by Lori R. Lopez
The day they posed for the painter
Is engraved in a nation's history
Yet what transpired when he packed his tools
And trundled off is a mystery
Though the artist later told the world
They were only models, not a pair
The house was true and so were they
On the farmer's grave I swear
If you ever wondered why she frowned
Or at what she stared with pensive scorn
Though no grain of proof survived the years
I believe it wasn't corn
What went on up to that point in time
Inside one Iowa farmer's house
We can only guess and speculate
There's no witness, not even a mouse!
In her enigmatic visage hides
The words she was afraid to utter
In those days such knowledge was best unknown
It would churn up folks like butter
So the daughter held her pose, her tongue
And never spoke but glared a storm
You could see the feelings trapped within
The bitter pain of her rigid form
As the artist's carriage grew quite small
In the hazy distance of a straight flat road
A father to the daughter scowled
To get back in their plain abode
Upstairs she hiked, her blue eyes glazed
Upon her bed she placed an apron
That matched the curtains of her room
The attic tower of her desecration
Another scenario springs to mind
A second possibility
The hard man killed her mother
Whose broach she wears, you see
Cold and cruel, a stern provider
He smacked his spouse when he was drunk
And must have broke some thing inside her
For she didn't have the daughter's spunk
Or did that precious cameo
Symbolize a boyfriend's gift?
Perhaps her domineering dad
Was selfish in his thrift
The man she loved was chased away
With that pitchfork or he disappeared
As she waited for her suitor's call
Maybe this is what she feared
Now she changed her Sunday dress as well
Into a frock of beige, once white
Then stood before the Gothic window
And contemplated her sorry plight
The old man summoned her to the kitchen
Which planted the seed of his demise
A cameo brooch clutched in her fist
She descended to halt his lies
The pitchfork stood upon the porch
She pushed the screen-door, dropped the pin
Hand leaking, grasped the threefold spear
Content to do him in
How upright sat this proper man
Whose neighbors saw him as a friend
Without a word she screamed and gored
Her only thought to rend
The farmer stumbled from his chair
Gaunt features shocked and torso grisly
Scarlet rain dripped from the tines
As she faced his staggering misery
Her father tried to steal the trident
A gurgle rising in his throat
She met him with a second thrust
No longer would he dote
A moon shone high as she spaded earth
And buried him in an empty field
By the time they noticed he was gone
The scarred patch would be healed
He went to visit kin, she claimed
And left the fields overgrown and wild
As if a widow, she stayed alone
No husband and no child
Her temper never disappeared
She howled some nights as if it hurt
To reside alone, her life in tatters
For the secret in the dirt
There could be no happy ever after
In a crumbling home once neat and clean
In a town where none could understand
Why she sat in her room unseen.
(This is a fictional interpretation based on the American masterpiece by Grant Wood.)
Crooked She
Towards the door she was creeping;
Ragged dress and a stained face;
Hurt knees and twisted wrists.
Tried to smile but she showed just a smirk.
Head inclined and eyes far gone;
Dark the room, dark her soul.
A creature so unknown,
Lonely and disturbed.
She got to the door,
All tired and worn.
Laid on the floor and though:
"This is too much!"
She grabbed a paper
And there she wrote:
"My mind is twisted,
My body is crooked,
Darkness surrounds me,
No one will find me.
Here they have left me.
Pain's all I feel.
How long will I this live?
I cannot die!
I cannot live!
Fear is around!
Crawl's all I do!
Creature of darkness
With no name attached.
Someday I'll smile
Be happy at last...
I hope...
by Aline S. Iniestra
Living doll
She is a doll and lives all alone,
Dumped in the woods, covered by worms,
Eyes nonexistent, owner grown up.
Dirt and time have made her creepy
When she used to be so pretty;
What a sad scene … I see her melancholy.
I took her with me, but never tried to fix her;
I feel something when I touch her worn out hands
And look into her empty eyes.
Never cleaned her up: dirt and cracks are part of her whole;
She sits by the window and yet she glows
With the sun, with the moon, but more with her own inner gloom.
She reminds me of my dead daughter
Who was just as pretty and small,
With a similar doll, with a charm of her own.
She died in my arms three years ago.
Perhaps that is why I love this little doll.
I've missed her since; I've felt lonely and lost.
I am a man with an ancient sad doll,
Who wanders around in his lonesome house,
Feeling just as the doll looks on the outside.
It's not only that she reminds me of my little Hania.
It's just that my eyes lack a soul,
It's just that my hands are dry for missing her touch,
It's just that my heart feels wounded and old,
It's just that this doll is my portrait: she depicts my inner look.
I'm like a doll that lives all alone,
Dumped in the woods, covered by worms,
Soul nonexistent, grown up, a fool.
by Aline S. Iniestra
I'll be there
The mud is so cold and is feeding my veins;
I'm laying here, eyes wide open, the moon witnessing my pain.
"Where have you left me?
Why am I bleeding?
Can someone please help me?
I think no one can hear me"
Leaves are falling and covering my body,
Mixing with my heart's blood, infecting my agony.
"Is there a hand I could hold if I die?
Is it death that ray in the sky?
I feel like burning, like ashes inside;
Am I really going to die?"
I see black, I bleed red,
I feel blue, everything's grey.
"Now I remember your face,
You smashing my life,
Looking at me sadly,
Saying it was my time"
The wind blows harder freezing my eyes;
My soul's getting restless, it wants to fly.
"I fight for my life, but how much is there left?
These are only my thoughts, I don't know my name.
You called me a demon, and stabbed me in the heart,
You said it was evil and I had to die.
Well this is the end, I've lost all hope.
The wind is taking my soul. But somehow I know…
I'll go back to you. If I am a demon, I'll be there for you.
Mud is my blood now, wind is my transport…
Revenge is my aim, and you are in my game."
by Lori R. Lopez and Aline S. Iniestra
A bilious darkness came, out of a billowous cloud obscuring the sky
A cold breeze was felt on his face, it was freezing his soul inside
Touched by the inky depth, gripped by the night that should be day
Terror that built worlds in his head, worlds of distress.
How could he feel so alone, walking what seemed an endless road?
What was now to come? He couldn't do but spill his blood
For in his path lay sacrifice, and blood-filled footsteps in his wake
There, he had no choice but to breathe death and swallow souls
It was the black-veined consequence of what he in his torment had become
Forever he'd be the shadow of what he's hated for so long
But aren't we all on the outside less visible to ourselves than within?
Dark monsters were slashing his soul, they were coming for him.
Out of the raven cumulous, pouring from the blinded eyes of wrath
He screamed as he was losing his mind . . . he was dying. No escape this time.
Far back into the folds of eternity, his thoughts traveled to make sense of madness
But madness was creeping inside, and he had no more control over his senses.
Once upon a lifetime there was love, carefree laughter, his heart illuminated
Heartbeats with the rhythm of joy. Now it's a dry heart turning into stone
A silent heart devoid of words and feelings. Cold, unmoving as a block of marble
But don't marvel at this darkened creature. It is evil, charming, and he'll kill you.
Her life transformed him to a fragile giving man. Her death created a monstrous void
Nothing could fill his tattered soul, but the blood of innocents that believed in love
An abominable thirst which would not be sated. Like a desert, his arid emotionless core
And indeed he parted to accomplish his chore, and drink his first victim . . . Charlotte.
For her he raged as he glutted and gorged, yet even this blood could not satisfy
But she was to blame for his hate towards love. It was his mother he was eager to find.
The woman who raised him to be special: half human, the other half depraved
It was her who had this thought of "oh, he'll live happy from the dead".
He had only wanted to be himself, no more, no less, and spurned that creature's lessons
It was time to feed again. Gabriel, his companion, was a lady already dead
He came across her body, discarded by the road, the victim of another fiend
Her corpse he cut into pieces. This crooked cold woman would feed him till the end.
How he fought to restrain the impulses rising within, towards she who killed his love
He couldn't take it anymore, insane urges started to unleash
Instinct, the bond of blood, led him to a mother who had never been sweet
Screaming and howling her name through the night, he would find that mad woman at last.
The creature stood with her back turned, yet all of her senses aware of his approach
Step by step and breathing like a beast, he started to run frenzied, ready to kill
"I asked for one thing!" he screeched. "To love Charlotte! And you took her away!"
"You'll suffer for the scars I have!" All of a sudden, her throat was pierced by a knife.
The crimson blade clattered. With bare hands he tore her apart, succumbing at last
But he didn't feel relieved. His rage still had so much to be revealed
A storm of emotions released, a dire burden he had borne from childhood
A growing pain made of him a haunting shadow. Rotten souls had to be swallowed
Now there was no sanity or reality, only a trace of a man who must do one thing right
If killing was right, he had more bodies to leave dry. So on his gory journey, he stopped at a dreamy park
Innocent specters watched, lining the fringes, while he chose victims — the worst of humanity
A trembling boy, a crying girl, the twins screaming, the two-year-old fainting . . . it all was ready.
They had been shorn of life, fed to sustain his dreadful existence. This was for their sake!
One by one he smelled the dark ones, who left the children to die again, bite by bite
Responsible for their deaths by indifference or intent, and their second demises at his teeth
Bones cracking, blood scattered, screams echoing. The killing was for justice, but was his soul at peace?
by Tina Marlene Goodman
In that haggard, horrid house
at the corner there
survives the long-suffering spouse.
But where has her
worse-than-worst-half gone?
Has she finally thrown him out?
Does she have it in her?
Has he run off again for a
bit of fun with one
of his floozy drugging girlies
or his boozy drinking buddies?
No, his rust bucket truck is parked askew
on the front lawn
and he would never just up and abandon
his only and best true love,
his loyal mixed-mutt dog.
Last night, that poor forsaken dog
was digging through her telling trash,
so she lit the can on fire.
She must have had a restless night
'cause this morning I see,
'though her arm is still in a sling,
she planted a long row of New Hope roses.
Now that dog keeps digging, digging
deep down into hope's mound.
In vain, she tries to shoo him away;
but she would never strike that hound.
On the dirty, evidential bed he stays,
howling like a siren and
digging up the filthy roots,
embedded, entwined with his master's remains.
November 9, 2010
by Tina Marlene Goodman
If you chance upon a body in a field,
first, stop.
Calm down!
Think, think, think!
Were you seen?
If so, shout, "Somebody call 911!"
If not, keep calm, sniff the air.
Do you smell any sickly-sweet decomp? No.
What do you hear?
A moan, a groan? Yes!
Don't use your knife, it's too messy.
Casually approach the body.
Look out at the distance.
Place your boot on its throat.
Don't let it scream!
Keep calm, remain calm.
Again, don't let it scream!
Don't look down!
Did you hear the bones crack?
Good, it's done.
Now walk away.
Leave the same way you came.
Remember, no matter how strong the urge,
never return to the scene
But what about your boot mark?
The diamond shaped treads?
The trace evidence that fell from the crack in your boot.
The bloody bits that same boot picked up.
Your shoe size,
your height, your weight?
Your gender. Your age.
The insects crawling in and out of
the body.
The time of day. The temperature.
Your fibers and hair and dander and skin cells
and any vegetation that dropped from your clothes?
The shrub that scratched your arm?
The DNA that dripped in the sweat from your brow?
Your stomach ache. Your vomit.
That neon GUILTY sign flashing across your face?
November 13, 2010
by Tina Marlene Goodman
Thank you for your late night visit!
I admit, at first I was a bit upset
to see Tiffy placed like that,
crumbled up on my doorstep.
But now I realize
it was probably for the best.
I should never have grown attached
to his purrs and softness.
I barely even noticed your
shoe prints and cigarette butts
ground into the dirt
outside my bedroom window.
by Kendra Saunders
They Know A Secret
I see my coworkers
Upright, cruel birds
They know a secret
Their faces are skeletal
wide open, souls on display
They point, bony fingers
They chirp and hobble
together, best of friends
Lunch partners
They long to rip my skin
drain away my blood
until I'm black charcoaled
remains like them
Until my nose is a triangle bone
my eyes are missing
Until I paste the feathers
of the dead
across myself as adornment
and hobble with them
by Rob M. Miller
My long lost Sherry, my heart of hearts, how do I miss?
Our long hours of love, walking hand in hand,
Your loving, funny stories, our humorous moments, being your man.
I sorrow for your now gone beauty, your laughter, your bliss.
Your smile so sweet, your skin so soft, your voice … a sparrow's sweet song.
I've looked since your passing, no other t'ever compare,
With your elegance, your spirit—no one but you my soul to bare.
My heart breaks for you with longing; my shame t'will never be gone.
How did I fail you? Where did I miss the mark?
You left me; you shamed me; or so I felt at the time.
I couldn't bear it … the sorrow, the loss, a love lost, a love's crime.
Can't make up for the wrongs; the guilt, ne'er to be undone, a stain forever stark.
I weep, for your passing, for all you could've been, your world-brightening grin.
Now I cower in love-spurned dark corners, in black wells of impassioned hate.
First for you; then I did evil; now for myself, and my own condemned fate.
To've stabbed-sliced-buried a life so glad, I now so cry—marked by so dire a sin.
I long to atone, pay, to account; but my fear remains—a throbbing, hobbling sliver.
Will I be found out, will you be uncovered, will I ever be brought before all?
How long will I suffer, before my tortured soul is punished in justice's maw?
Should I take that pitiful step, for some slight form of redemption, to confess to where I did lay you, all alone in pieces … in plastic bags
… down by the river.
Failing Lament
by Rob M. Miller
In the night, instead of happy dreams,
Eyes open in Hell, and I hear the screams.
Questions arise as to why I'm there,
My soul is flayed, my fears laid bare.
Deep within I recognize the sin,
But instead of sorrow, my face does grin.
In the night, instead of happy dreams,
Eyes open in Hell, and I hear the screams.
The sum of a life, bloated with deeds,
hungers and passions, unhallowed greeds.
With due recompense, this state's been won,
mocking right living, justice now done.
In the night, instead of happy dreams,
Eyes open in Hell, and I hear the screams.
Whose voices do wail with such shrill and plea?
Realization slams hard:
It's me,
and me,
and me….
Halloween Trip to Daddy
by Rob M. Miller
Little girl Annabelle looked out her rain-washed window,
Longing for her daddy, she decided to go solo.
"I'm off, dear mother, to see my father beyond the wood."
"Wait, fair daughter, remember the tale of Lil' Red Riding Hood?"
"There's things that do bump, that do boo, and do scare,
And I'm a'feared for your safety; scaries do desire one so fair."
"Oh, mother, do not be wary, for I'm not a'feared of anything ferocious…
Nor of anything bumping, or boo-ing, or flapping, or atrocious."
So off went the lass, into the wood, and down the path,
Travelling by fir, and shrubs, and thick, dark wild grass.
And things did abound, she could hear them quite clear…
Boo-ing and flapping and scraping, she did hear from her ears.
Brownies and dark fairies, wolves, sprites, and gnomes,
Beasties and wild things, through the dark wood did roam.
Quite hungry, on the prowl, a'hunting and scheming they did go,
Howling, hooping and hollering, perhaps led by a dread forest troll.
But long through the dark, and under somber, path-covering limbs,
Young Annabelle did laugh, felt no fear, no worry, or thoughts that were grim.
"I'm going to see my daddy, and no matter what I face along the way,
Nothing will stop, or a'fear me … not a tad or a bit, on this, my daddy-visiting day."
Then on to the path came cougars and bears and three-legged snapping things,
Scary and ready to gobble, hair standing and spikey, the stuff of bad dreams.
But Annabelle kept skipping, as if on a stroll down a lane, singing away,
Knowing nothing could touch her … going to her daddy, evil would be held at bay.
So the monsters tipped their hats, waved hello, and gave up trying to fright,
Having realized their yippings, growlings, and yappings would not stop the little girl,
Not on this particular Halloween night.
by Michael H. Hanson
I've seen you, in town, supplejack in hand,
tolerated by walker, bike, and bus
a tragic vessel of hopeless yearnings,
oblivious to tears of rain and snow.
Assaulted by the screams of auto horns,
resisting rivers of humanity;
trapped in the cinema of cecity --
crippled shadow puppet encased by light.
The eerie magnetism of your soul
clutches my heart with brutal tenderness.
(Two dark jewels in lovely pale aspect.
I can't look away...I can't turn from you...)
No, not even the stars have such sad eyes.
I Am Climbing
by Michael H. Hanson
I am climbing out of a deep, dark void,
a yawning, vertical, depthless chasm.
Shadowy tendrils of doubt flail at me,
pitilessly dislodging my handholds
and footholds, hampering my departure
as my limbs weaken and my soul withers.
Looking upwards I am blinded by the
wild, incandescent possibilities
of a surface life, among denizens
of purity and pretty perfections,
successful sneers, and harmonized hair styles –
a land, never promised, yet within reach.
Dark songs of shaming recriminations
blare upward from beneath, rising, rising,
growing in volume and pitch, billowing,
feral, rushing, oily, miasmic waves,
boiling, soon on the verge of engulfing
me, lapping at my back, draining my hope...
The Forgotten
by Michael H. Hanson
Does anyone at all see us,
we apparitions of failure,
pale ghosts of broken marriages
and shadows of love's harsh defeat?
Does anyone at all hear us
wounded, passionless refugees,
walking laments to life's backlash;
echoes of once jubilant glee?
Does anyone at all feel us,
feather light with timid touches;
fearful to express our own will,
wispy, tenuous, hollow things
AUTHORS RETAIN ALL COPYRIGHTS TO THEIR WORK. All poems will take "one time publication rights here." --compiled by Anthony Servante (The Black Glove wishes to thank all of the participating poets for this Cinco De Mayo special feature)


text:
First off, Merry Christmas to all the folks out there in the Inter Webs and beyond. Hopefully you are not permanently scarred from Black Friday and the shopping since then. And my prayers are with those last minute shoppers braving the aisles on Christmas Eve. Full disclosure, I am glad it's not me.
Now on to other business like…..
Boom! New Dial-A-Ranger for the masses. Here we get our first introduction to a new Ranger. But will he be friend or foe for our hero, Stan Gerbil? We shall see.
I tapped fellow Mighty Morphin Texas Ranger member Alonzo Hunter for the role of the SPD Red Ranger. He has some fun scenes ahead and it's always good to get more spandex on the show so people just aren't looking at Stan the entire time. There has been some season 2 chatter already about bringing in the MMPR Pink Ranger and perhaps some Kanen Riders to battle our Ranger heroes. That's right, the throwdown all fans have demand, Power Rangers v Kamen Rider. Who will come out on top and just how hilarious will it be?
Photoweb comics. I have seen them before but didn't think all that much of them. Recently I got into searching for super heroes in the public domain and got lost in the ton of characters there are as well as the interesting stories on how Marvel and DC Comics have snatched up some of the characters or just pulled everything they can, powers, personlity, origin, from the characters to make their own.
I had been looking at those to possibly try to bring in some real world type of heroes to Party Girl in the season 2 two parter I planned. I originally was going to use a super team I crafted back in high school and one that I still like and plan to do a web series on, but I didn't know if Party Girl was the right setting for them so I thought of changing it up. Still thinking over that as I make a list of some of the heroes that I like. Not sure how I made the jump to photo Webcomics, but I did, stumbling upon http://www.darkredcomics.com/ and a couple others. It was an interesting read and made me wonder about trying it myself. I am all for traditional comics for print and still trying to lock down an artist for the Hard Target B*tch graphi novel project with Annie Cruz, but you can be a little different when it comes to web content and different can be photo web comics. Not to mention I can tell some of the stories I have in my head without having to shelve them for years becuase I can't afford an artist to draw them for me and my skills with a pencil suck beyond stick figures.
I script it like a regular comic book and instead of having an artist draw the panels I take the still pics and work some photoshop magic to make them into comic book looking pics. I have been playing around with it the last couple days, well Steph and I both have been, testing different looks. They range from slightly cartoony to over the top saturated with cartoony filters and what not.
Still trying to find the one that works the best or at leas that I like the best. Cost for this would really be in the costumes for the characters. Photoshop could help with SFX and environmental damage to city blocks and such during the fights. Or I was thinking of mixing traditional line art for the background and environments with the photos. I will have to do some tests to see how that looks.
As I am writing Party Girl I know there's stories I would like to tell but won't be able to within the 13 episode first season I have planned. But I can make them into web comics. Another Web series I follow, Heroes of the North, they have the regular Web series, but they also do web comics (traditional line art) that tie into the overall story canon. It's a way to give people more content and engage them in different ways and I am all for that and keeping things interesting for the story.
I think there will be at least three web comics for Party Girl. One will feature the rise of the Rose Sisters, another will shed some light onto Det. Yvette Brenson and another will be a fun short story featuring Party Girl battling another villain.
Should be fun. Also working on another possible photoweb comic series. Just have to find people to star as the characters in said photo comic. I imagine I will find no shortage of people though. Not sure it would be something for the traditional acting/modeling community, but it might. And cosplayers, I can get them in on it to.
A lot of it is in thought right now, with fun possibilities I think.
Another Web page entry I found has links to a few other photo web comics. http://www.flavorwire.com/283214/a-collection-of-cool-webcomics-made-with-photography/9 Check it.


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Copyright Litigation Handbook 2011 is out! The original version had 440 pages of text, this year it has expanded to 742 pages - almost doubling in size over the last six years.
For more information about the contents and reviews, check out the slideshare here.
Some reviews from Amazon:
5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource, October 8, 2009
By Joseph Petersen - See all my reviews
This review is from: Copyright Litigation Handbook, 2010 ed. (Paperback)
Raymond J. Dowd, an experienced trial lawyer and partner with Dunnington, Bartholow & Miller LLP, has written a long-overdue work. His Copyright Litigation Handbook provides a straightforward overview and is chockablock with insightful and practical information. Mr. Dowd is liberal in his inclusion of excerpts from relevant statutes, including not only the Copyright Act, but also the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Evidence, and his book provides numerous sample forms. Mr. Dowd's Copyright Litigation Handbook will long be a valuable resource for copyright litigators; I am confident that it will be squeezed into trial bags for years to come. Joseph Petersen, Kilpatrick Stockton LLP
5.0 out of 5 stars Copyright Litigation Handbook, August 26, 2009
By Corey Field (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Copyright Litigation Handbook, 2010 ed. (Paperback)
I have read this entire book. It is extraordinary for more reasons than I have space here to enumerate. It is a book about copyright law for litigators, and it is at the same time a book about litigation for copyright lawyers. It is written for a broad audience of attorneys whose practice may touch upon copyright law, but it is also a great practice overview for an experienced copyright lawyer. It is organized in a logical way proceeding from case evaluation through trial. Throughout, it offers nuggets of advice that are extremely valuable - the sort of experienced advice that makes a huge difference in the development of one's legal abilities.
Corey Field
Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP
Los Angeles, CA
5.0 out of 5 stars An indispensable and unique copyright guide for the litigator, August 26, 2009
By David J. Wolfsohn (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Copyright Litigation Handbook, 2010 ed. (Paperback)
Until Raymond Dowd wrote this book, there simply was no litigation-friendly guide to copyright litigation. Thank goodness Mr. Dowd chose to devote the equivalent of several years of time and effort to write this book, and to update it with this 2009 edition. This is the book that both occasional dabblers in copyright should go to first (which I wish I had when I started out), as well as now-experienced copyright litigators like me. It is the book I go to first when drafting a complaint (or even when deciding whether to sue), and consult when beginning to prepare for trial. Everything is litigation oriented, so one doesn't need to wade through abstract theorizing to get a sense for how you can use the current state of the case law to your client's advantage. The forms for a complaint and other litigation papers are particularly useful. And the ideas for motions in limine are priceless, and as far as I know, a unique feature of this book. --David Wolfsohn, Woodcock Washburn LLP.
Purchase Copyright Litigation Handbook 2011 by Raymond J. Dowd from West here