text:
When I was a kid, back in the 1960's and early 1970's, bottle picking along the road was a regular pastime. I grew up on a relatively busy highway, at least for our part of rural Ontario. A long walk, on a sunny afternoon in the spring, could yield a few dollars worth of bottles. Many of these were pop bottles, worth a deposit of a couple of cents. The big ones, those 26 ounce glass bottles, were a real find because they were worth a whole dime. Mixed into our collection were beer bottles too. Stubby brown bottles, still holding a yeasty smell foreign to our noses. They went into our feed bags as well, dragged home and returned….well, I don't know where we returned them. The pop bottles went to a local variety store, but our household had little to do with beer, and I really can't remember where those bottles went.
On a bike ride yesterday, as the snow melts off the side of the road, I notice the treasure trove is still there, but it has changed. There are more beer bottles now, beer cans too, and hardly any pop bottles or cans. Of course the latter aren't worth anything at all and often end up being mulched into the sod by roadside mowers in the summer, but I am surprised by the number of beer and alcohol bottles.
The local drive-by–don't even get out of your truck to make a pick up–bottle picker has already been by. I saw him. Yet, on a bike ride yesterday, I was able to count more than ten bottles and or cans emerging from the snow every kilometer. In an age when drinking and driving is socially unacceptable, where a single impaired driving charge can effectively ruin your life, how is this possible? Can drinking beer be so important that the bottle is best held between legs extended to a gas pedal, underneath a steering wheel? Are the risks involved providing some sort of thrill?
I do know this area has a problem with alcohol use. According to the police reports there are a surprising number of older people charged with drinking and driving. These are not necessarily high school kids out gravel running.
I really don't see the same density of empties anywhere else as I travel slowly by bicycle. I wonder what it is about this area that makes this problem so much more obvious. I have traveled in many other parts of Canada and the US and nowhere are the bottles and cans more numerous than here.


text:
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Apple Branches: Bitter Apple
10 comments:
- AnonymousOctober 30, 2011 at 5:08 PM
i feel a bit bad for breaburn, he didnt really deserve what happened.Though I'm really suprised by the way hes acting, breaburn is normally so excited and full of joy. im really sad to see him like this but im glad he had the strength to at least take the first step to getting better, he had the strength to cry and in my opinion that makes up for the way he acted previously.Love the story :D, hope its gonna have a sweet ending.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 31, 2011 at 5:01 AM
If I pay you will you update faster?ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 1, 2011 at 8:21 AM
Yay! Well for the update, not for poor Braeburn... Yours is my favourite BigMac/Caramel fic out there! I can't wait to read more!!!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 1, 2011 at 5:20 PM
Braeburn was kind of a jerk in the beginning, but the last part made me feel bad for him. I hope he and the apple family get along. Also, could someone explain to me Macintosh sexual orientation? It seems pretty obvious to me that he loves Caramel, but he also dated mares before. Is he bissexual? Is he gay, but never found out before? Or is he straight, but open minded enough to go out with a colt?ReplyDelete
@ Anon4ReplyDelete
In my head, Big Macintosh's orientation is "whatever he feels like".
- AnonymousNovember 2, 2011 at 6:04 AM
@ CogsReplyDelete
Thanks. That makes sense.
Awe, poor Braeburn. He is being a jerk, but lashing out when hurt is common.ReplyDelete
:B I greatly like this series.
Please tell me there are more on the way <3ReplyDelete
Still waiting for more.ReplyDelete
Wait, what did I say?
I mean for MOARRR.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
As reported yesterday the Government were under tremendous pressure about what to do with the Counter Terrorism Bill if it were as expected defeated by the House of Lords. We got our answer after the Lords voted with a massive 191 vote majority against the Counter Terrorism Bill last night with a raft of prominent Labour Lords revolting against the party line.
Jacqui Smith made a statement to the Commons soon after the vote saying that the 42 day proposal will be removed from the Bill and will be set aside in a separate Bill to be introduced "should the worst happen". This brings back memories of the Patriot Act in the US, where no one read the Bill when it went through Congress but shoved it through at a time of national emergency because the political imperative forced them to do so. Parliamentarians must be wary of this tactic and the Government should just bury it and move on avoiding this underhand manner of enacting bad legislation which wouldnt pass otherwise.
In other Lords news, the Immigration (Discharged Gurkhas) Bill [HL] received its Third Reading and will now move to the Commons for discussion. The Bill is a very simple one, the amendment of the current Immigration rules to allow former Gurkhas indefinite leave to enter and remain in the UK whenever they were discharged. I hope our local MPs will support the Bill in its passage through the Commons.


text:
Let your Dog Participate for various tricks he / she knows
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Only Participate in the Dogs Day out, Not Required to pay for any other Tickets, Scroll down for more details
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Marathon for Dogs and their Owners - Not required to pay for attending Pet Fair.
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Only cost for Dog Fashion show - Not required to be Pay for any other Tickets ; Scroll down for further details
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If you have Stray puppies or any other breed, you can register them here for Adoption on the day of the event.
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If you want to donate any amount for Charity - Rehabilitation of Stray Dogs, please register here.
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Page Views : 4724
Don't you want to have a day meant only for Your Companion...Your Buddy...Your Partner...Your Best Friend...Oh Yes... You want It !!!
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Marathon Start Point: Kalyaninagar Gold Adlabs at 7:30 AM
Marathon End Point: Raga Lawns, Koregaon Park at 9:00 AM
"Dog's Day Out" Commences at Raga Lawns at 9:30 AM post Breakfast for you and your Companion!!!
Event Closure Time 4:00 PM
Participants must provide photo identification upon picking up their race kit to verity their identity as the registrant to whom the bib number is assigned.
Participant race number bibs are specific personal identifiers and may not be exchanged with or transferred/sold to any other person. The sale and/or transfer of race entries/bibs is strictly prohibited and will result in the disqualification and/or banning of any individuals involved from future event/s.
Each participant must sign/agree an event waiver before participating in the event.
All participants take part at their own wish and undertake not to participate if they are medically unfit to do so.
Participant must undertake to abide by the race rules, race instructions and marshal's directions.
All participants are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner during their participation in the event.
Participants may not be accompanied by anyone on race route that is not registered in the event.
No bikes or wheeled vehicles are allowed on the course.
No tobacco, alcohol or any other banned substance is permitted.
The organisers reserve the right to remove any entrant who is medically unfit to continue in the opinion of the Medical Officer.
The course will remain secured until 09:00am. At that time, the marathon is officially concluded and there will be no traffic protection and Aid Stations will cease operation.
All finish times are reviewed before times are deemed official.
Participants with missing or irregular split times at official timing checkpoints will be reviewed and may be disqualified.
In the event of any dispute, the decision of the Race Director will be final.
Video recording and Photographs will be taken of participants and used for the purpose of advertising and promoting the event/s.
Race mementos: only finishers Marathon will receive medal and goody bag.
Event cancellation: the event will only be cancelled or postponed due to unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances. In such an eventuality all participants will be notified by email as soon as possible.
Entry fee is non-refundable.
Collection and use of information: I acknowledge and agree that my personal information (including medical information) can be sorted, used and disclosed by the organisers in connection with the organisation, promotion and administration of the event and for the compilation of statistical information.
Any participant who is found in breach of these terms and conditions will be excluded from current and future event/s
Event officials reserve the right to modify, supplement or waive all or part of the event rules.
The organisers reserve the right to remove any PET who is medically unfit to continue or is Aggressive in the opinion of the VET Medical Officer and Dog Behaviour Professional.
The Amount payable for registration will be inclusive of T-shirt, Collar for your Pet, Goodies, Food for your Pet and Breakfast.
The Amount collected by the Event, excluding the expenses will be disbursed in charity for the rehabilitation of the stray dogs, petition filing, and post approval of petition cost.


text:
Tuesday, 4 August 2015
Scrap Around The World August Challenge: Vacation layout
26 comments:
Fabulous LO. Colours are great xx JanReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you JanDelete
Beautiful!!!! LOVE that picture and your background is AMAZING!! THose colors!!!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you LeslieDelete
Totally awesome layout. It's just stunning the embellishments you used for itReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you HolleyDelete
Love you background work! Those colors are perfect for the moodboard. Thanks for playing along with us at SATW.ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you MesDelete
LOVE every bit and piece of it!!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you SherriDelete
- Anonymous7 August 2015 at 09:03
Fabulous layout hun love it xReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you GeraldineDelete
Beautiful layout - loved your article in Creativity tooReplyDelete
jo xx
I LOVE the LO Katie, We went to Weymouth in June, but only fleetingly and missed the harbour completely - which I regret now!ReplyDelete
Your LO has such depth and texture and the colours are fantasticReplies
Thank you Kathy.Delete
The harbour is where all the best fish and chip shops are and the fish is caught fresh from the harbour.
Beautiful layout !! I love it !! Thank you for playing at SATW :)ReplyDelete
Lydie Denis.Replies
Thank you LydieDelete
I love the picture and the disposition ! Great work ! Thank you for playing at SATW :)ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you TiphanieDelete
Lovely layout! Love the doilies and the bling along the bottom of your photo! Great pic by the way! All the best from SATW! :)ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you LangeaheartDelete
Pretty background! Love this photo) Thanks for playing along with us at SATW.ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you GalachkoDelete
wow! What a gorgeous Summer layout! Thank you for playing along with us at Scrap Around the World!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you NicoleDelete


text:
Strawberry Basil Freezer JamLet's Dish
When I get the chance to buy fresh strawberries in bulk, I almost always make a batch of strawberry freezer jam. It's an easy way to use up a lot of strawberries, and I know my family will use it on a daily basis, whether on toast for breakfast, in peanut butter sandwiches for lunch, or over vanilla ice cream for dessert.
But sometimes I get the urge to try something a little different, and knowing that strawberry and basil are a great flavor combination, I decided to try some strawberry basil freezer jam. Let me tell you, this stuff is delicious! It has just a hint of basil flavor, which means I can use this jam in savory dishes, as well as sweet. Freezer jam will keep for a few weeks in the refrigerator, or up to a year in the freezer. This recipe yields roughly four 8 ounce jars, but you could certainly make half if you don't have enough strawberries for a full batch.
- 3 1/3 cups mashed strawberries
- 1 1/3 cups white sugar
- 4 tablespoons instant pectin
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil


text:
Settled: Dinosaurs done in by asteroid
What killed off the dinosaurs?
Thirty years ago, UC Berkeley geologist Walter Alvarez offered his revolutionary answer to that question and incited one of the liveliest controversies in modern science.
Now, an international team of scientists says today the issue is settled: Alvarez was right.
In 1980, Alvarez and his colleagues at Berkeley theorized that a monstrous asteroid 10 miles wide slammed into Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula about 65 million years ago and dug a crater 60 miles wide and 15 miles deep. The impact sent up a huge cloud of ash, soot, pulverized rock and sulfurous steam that darkened the skies for years like a nuclear winter, dooming more than half the world's life on land and in the oceans - microorganisms, plants and animals.
The dinosaurs, those iconic beasts that had ruled the world for 160 million years, also vanished in that long-lasting cataclysm, the Alvarez team maintained.
They found worldwide layers of clay containing the rare metallic element iridium that was scattered by the crashing asteroid; they found the crater caused by the asteroid impact just off the Yucatan Peninsula at Chicxulub (pronounced CHIC-shoo-loob); and they found tiny spherules of shocked quartz both inside the crater and far beyond the crash site, from Australia to Europe.
Scores of other scientists have found supporting evidence over the past three decades and estimated that the asteroid impact set off earthquakes with magnitudes as high as 11 - inconceivably greater than the quakes that recently hit Chile and Haiti.
The volcano theory
But there are disbelievers among respected scientists who insist that violent volcanic eruptions, not asteroids, caused what was one of the worst mass extinctions in the world's history. Huge layers of volcanic rocks a mile thick and covering nearly 200,000 square miles are evidence of those eruptions in an area of India known as the Deccan Traps, they say.
In today's report in the journal Science, 41 noted scientists from a wide array of disciplines declare that those espousing the volcano theory are wrong. Alvarez and his team were right, they say.
The scientists work in every known discipline - geophysics, paleontology, climatology, geochemistry, microbiology, zoology, botany and more. They have reworked the Alvarez team's findings, gathered new evidence and agree on their conclusions.
In an e-mail interview Thursday, the leader of the group, Peter Schulte, said the Chicxulub crater and its global distribution of shocked quartz form the "fingerprint" backing the asteroid theory, and that the Deccan volcanic activity started 700,000 years before the mass extinction occurred.
The asteroid, he said, struck a sulfate-rich area that released masses of deadly sulfur aerosols, "leading to rapid darkness and cooling of the Earth."
"We conclude that a single impact was the ultimate cause for the mass extinctions," said Schulte, a geophysicist at the University of Erlangen-Nurnberg.
Kirk Johnson, a paleobotanist at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science who was one of the authors, said of Alvarez and his many colleagues: "They got it right; it was an inspired body of work."
Scientist unconvinced
But Gerta Keller, a Princeton paleontologist and geochemist who is a leading expert on global catastrophes and mass extinctions and a supporter of the Deccan Traps theory, is not convinced.
She argued in an interview this week that her team's evidence shows that the Chicxulub impact occurred at least 300,000 years before the start of the mass extinction and that the scientists responsible for today's Science article ignored and misrepresented her group's evidence about the timing and effect of the Deccan volcanism.
Those volcanoes, she said, emitted 30 times more global life-killing sulfur fumes than any asteroid impact could. The 30 pulses of eruptions and lava flows caused the mass extinction, she said, and the asteroid impact, whenever it happened, caused no extinctions at all nor any change in the world's climate or environment.
The real evidence for the mass extinction and the death of the dinosaurs still lies in the vast basalts of the Deccan volcanoes, Keller insisted.
Alvarez has moved on to bigger things since he and his team published their theories and added more details to support it. But today's report pleases him greatly, he said.
"It's wonderful to see that our work is vindicated by such a large collection of the very top people in all those fields," he said. "It's gratifying indeed, but I've moved away from my love of geology these days, and I'm interested in what we call Big History now - the entire history of the cosmos, Earth, life and humanity. What a wonderful class to teach!"


text:
We were talking about making a thank you card for someone in the family. Raghav was keen to make one, but could not wait for me to finish off something before helping him get his pens and crayons.... so he promptly told me this:
"Amma! I have a brilliant idea! I will make an invisible card with this white paper. So I don't need any pens or crayons......I will just give this to them when they come and tell them that they have to find out what I have drawn and where!"
Now how can I have a child like this go to school you think?? Can you imagine what would happen if the teacher gave him a test or an exam sometime later on in life? I expect he would say: "How come you can't read the answers? I wrote them with invisible ink!" (or something like that!)


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Each year it spreads to take over that end of the garden. Each fall I gather the lavender and dry it. I place it around my house and in my drawers to keep the house smelling nice. It is a lovely plant and one that I cherish. My grandson was only eight when he planted it. He's always had a green thumb since he was old enough to help in the garden. He seems to have a natural ability for making things grow.
Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.
Free Candle Giveaway
Heather at Home and Garden Party is giving away a free candle. Heather does this Once a Month. The contest begins on the first of the month and closes on the last Monday of the month, so you still have time to get your name in for this month's draw. Just follow the link, read the rules and get in on the fun.


text:
Analysis Group professionals have engaged in numerous client evaluations of electric industry restructuring value and design, including analysis of codes of conduct, retail and wholesale market designs, the prospects for successful implementation of retail competition in low-cost and high-cost regions, and design and implementation of state legislation to enact retail competition.
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text:
[SUPER=03-Danville/January, 2001]
Torrey Dixon wants to rename the South Main, Central Boulevard, and Piney Forest Road corridor after Martin Luther King Jr.
Dixon has gathered more than a hundred signatures in favor of the proposal.
City council has now set up a commission to study the idea.
The seven member committee will make a recommendation and then council will vote on it.... with a decision expected sometime next month.


text:
Jon Hamm: 'Mad Men' Star Disses 'Sh**head' Justin Bieber
In the May issue of 'Men's Fitness,' Jon Hamm disses Justin Bieber and even calls him a 'sh**head!' Read on for more details about the Bieber diss!
Mad Men star Jon Hamm got really candid in the May issue of Men's Fitness. The actor talked openly about troubles of Young Hollywood and the downward spiral of Justin Bieber!
Jon Hamm Disses Justin Bieber In 'Men's Fitness'
In a new interview with Men's Fitness, the actor talked about the dark path many of Hollywood's young stars have followed and Jon name-dropped the Biebs, according to Radar Online.
"Look at Bieber or whoever," he told the magazine. "You're like, 'What the f**k, man? What are you doing? Why?' There's no one telling those people no, and it's a shame."
Jon also noted that these young megastars need a strong parental influence to help them stay on the right path. Jon said the parents of these young celebs need to say, "'Hey, sh**head!' and teach their famous kids basic life skills."
"You see people in the world and you're like, 'Do you know how a washing machine works? Do you know how to wash a dish?' Life skills are something we're missing," Jon said.
Justin Bieber's Rough Year
Justin hasn't exactly stayed on the right path in the past year. The Biebs was arrested on Jan. 23 for a DUI and drag racing in Miami. He also displayed shocking behavior in a court deposition over an alleged paparazzi assault in March.
Jon makes an interesting point about Justin, but the star is still young and young people do make mistakes.
HollywoodLifers, what do YOU think about Jon Hamm's diss toward Justin Bieber? Do you think it was warranted? Let us know what you think!
— Avery Thompson
Follow @avery__thompson


text:
He was born Peter Sydney Ernest Aylen.
He made his acting debut at age 7.
At the age of 14, he severely injured his right arm in an accident when it went through a glass door. The injury greatly compromised the use of his lower arm and hand with irreversible nerve damage, which he later learned to hide.
With heartthrobs such as Clark Gable and stalwarts like James Stewart off to WWII, he was recognized as the romantic lead on the MGM lot.
He was a part of the Rat Pack and the one that brought the project of Ocean's Eleven to Sinatra.
His was JFK's brother-in-law.
guess who.
Posted by Millie Motts at 8:55 AM
Labels: quiz
2 comments:
- Erika said...
Peter Lawford
- September 18, 2011 at 10:13 AM
- Millie Motts said...
Ding, ding, ding!
- September 18, 2011 at 8:52 PM
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text:
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Something to Think About . . .
Related Off-site Links:
The Police State Makes Its Move: Retaining One's Humanity in the Face of Tyranny – Phil Rockstroh (CommonDreams.org, November 15, 2011).
New York Police Trash Occupy Wall Street – TruthDig.com (November 15, 2011).
Occupy Wall Street: Police Violence Reveals a Corrupt System – Laurie Penny (The Guardian, November 15, 2011).
The Crackdown on Occupy Protests and the Criminalization of Dissent – Andre Damon (World Socialist Web Site, November 15, 2011).
This Is What Revolution Looks Like – Chris Hedges (TruthDig.com, November 15, 2011).
How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Occupy Wall Street Protests – Matt Taibbi (Rolling Stone, November 10, 2011).
See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
Rocking the Cradle of Power
Quote of the Day – October 29, 2011
Quote of the Day – October 22, 2011
Quote of the Day – October 13, 2011
Quote of the Day – October 1, 2011
Posted by Michael J. Bayly at 7:34 PM
Labels: Something to Think About
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text:
- Perils of the loss of privacy online: A Dark Cloud Over Our Heads?
- 'Ski buddy' sued in heli-ski death
- 7th Annual Blawg 100
- Minnesota man who flung $1,000 cash into crowd at Mall of America cited for disorderly conduct
- A Three Step Solution for Tackling the Problem of Ontario's Unpaid Internships
- Tory Stafford's killer wants public money to fund appeal
- New Ontario website touts 'public executions' for deadbeat debtors
- Senate to turn over more emails to RCMP
- Three Black Students Arrested While Waiting for School Bus After Cops Order Them to 'Disperse'
- Conrad Black to interview Rob Ford on Vision TV
- Nadon's Supreme Court appointment ignores spirit of law, professors argue - The Globe and Mail
- Supreme Court ends Liberty University lawsuit over Obama health care law
- FCA nails the coffin on judicial review of CRA misbehaviour - Lexology
- SCOTUS to Review Allocating Liability for Child Pornography, in Full or Fractional Shares
- Toronto man owes $350,000 in child support to dying woman
- Retro Report: Born of Grief, 'Three Strikes' Laws Are Being Rethought
- 'Massive' clues about Syria war crimes
- Should lawyers have an obligation to mentor peers? LSUC Task force created to study mentorship
- Lawyer 'surprised' after LSUC takes control of Heydary firms
- Ethics trial starts for Nev. judge accused of trying cases while in relationship with prosecutor
- Couple gives adopted son back to children's services after raising him for 9 years
- Loonie falls to 2-year low under 94 cents
- Texas cops handcuff and take 13-year-old white girl from black guardians
- US military judge to allow defense to photograph 9/11 terror suspects' scars
- CPD deadline looms
- Tips for making more effective use of Google as a legal research tool
- Garth Drabinsky's request for full parole gets split decision
- Angry at $10K bond, woman curses out Florida judge, winds up with $20K bond
Tuesday, December 03, 2013
140 Law - Legal Headlines for Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Here are the leading legal headlines from Wise Law on Twitter for Tuesday, December 3, 2013:
- Rachel Spence, Law Clerk
Visit our Toronto Law Office website: www.wiselaw.net
Share on Facebook Subscribe Tweet
Posted by Rachel, Law Clerk and Office Manager on Tuesday, December 03, 2013
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text:
House Abukoff
House Abukoff is dedicated to providing new and gently-used treasures at friendly prices through Abukoff Books and Curios, virtual and administrative assistance through our multi-faceted Virtual Assistance Division, entertainment and opinions through our Features, hot political commentary through Kapact's Rant, and addictive and free interactive Star Trek gaming through Fantasy Trek. House Abukoff and its divisions will not be involved in any requests that its operators consider as flouting the law, nor will they assist in matters that they consider indiscreet or objectionable. House Rules run along the firm lines of discretion, honesty, confidentiality, and good service. All features and content (unless otherwise specified) are original compositions, copyright House Abukoff.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
NASA's Human Spaceflight Realtime Data
Another great website for you sky-watchers. On this site, amongst other things, you can find out when you can view the International Space Station (ISS) in your night sky.
Posted by mark abukoff at 9:23 AM
Labels: Recommended Websites
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text:
As a relatively new vegetarian, who has coincidentally been cooking and eating mostly vegan meals as well (funny how that happens) –I've come to realize several things.
1. I've never felt better
2. The food, recipes and creations are quite delicious
3. Eating out or eating at someone else's house is.not.easy.
But I'm not here to preach about number 1 or 2! Everyone should make the diet and lifestyle decisions that are best for them – but in the case of my personal life change, let's chat item #3. I would hate to be the guest who shows up to a lovely dinner, having not previously announced my food restrictions, and then be forced to coyly push food around my plate that I can't eat, waste a finely cooked meal or go hungry. All of these things aren't fair to the hard-working host of a party and certainly aren't fair to my sad, growling little tummy. Therefore, becoming a vegetarian or vegan comes with a little dedication, a boatload of reading, a lot of experimentation and a willingness to get your butt into the kitchen – big time.
Restaurants will always be tricky (sometimes you're that person who has a special request), but dinner parties can be just as fun, if not more, for someone in a veggie position. This is especially the case around the holidays when every host wants a little help in the kitchen, buffets stretch for miles and you get the chance to show off how tasty and decadent your new style of eating can be.
If you're a veggie of any sort and are stressed about those upcoming gatherings – here are a few suggestions as to what you can bring to wow the potlucking masses. All of these dishes are either gluten-free, vegan, organic or all of the above, so there should be something for everyone you're dining with. Expect many more recipes to come!
*Shameless promotion: Did I mention one of the best ways to get protein as a vegetarian is nuts? That lately you can find me with a pile of nutshell's at my side a few times a day? Interesting.
Purple Cabbage Coleslaw with Lemon Tahini Dressing
Chunky Tomato and Kidney Bean Tomato SauceEggnog Spiced NutsQuinoa Tabouleh Salad
Cocoa Peanut Butter Oat SnowballsBanana Carob Chip Cookies


text:
The bleak day notwithstanding, this gull made a good fist at fighting off other gulls, who might have competed for any scraps that could be forthcoming!
On our trip, we found some of these Sea Urchins, or Kina, as we called them in New Zealand. This is how they appear, when alive. They also appear to be very prickly, once they are 'deceased', as they wash upon the shore.
We discovered many of these deceased creatures on one of the beaches we visited on our travels. My son decided he would like to keep some, as he loved the form and delicate structure of the now vacant homes.
They are truly a work of Nature's art, and the wonderful patterns are so lovely.
My first choice was 'I Wonder', but it did not play, and I could not find another version.


text:
in times of personal anxiety and uncertainty, a similar effect takes place in terms of sartorial choices.
recently, i've taken to dressing in ways that allude to a more uniform state of being in response to the utter helplessness i feel like my life has been spiraling into for pretty much the entirety of this year so far. other than drawing and writing obsessively into the early, delirious hours of the morning, personal styling is a bit of a coping mechanism.
if i can't control where my life is going, at least i can control what the hell it is i put on my body and how i choose to put myself together. it's a fragile illusion of safety to be sure, but it helps at least a little bit... other than putting on some empowering music on really ear-thrumming volume, anyways.
my brain right now looks like this:
which apparently results in this
off-duty "school uniform": J.W. Anderson x TOPSHOP jumper // TOPSHOP lace blouse // UNIQLO denim // Giles x HappySocks socks // Madewell tap oxfords (customized)
army of one: TOPSHOP Unique mix-fabric shirt // Y-3 tote bag // COMME des GARÇONS shorts // Dr. Martens 8-hole boots
ps i got new glasses (MASUNAGA is the make^) that look rather old-world and inspires an imaginary nostalgia which is rather nice because it lets me escape for a bit


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Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Verizon Offers FiOS With Groundbreaking 20 Mbps Download and Upload Speeds
A very disruptive bandwidth event.
Comcast's recent admission to "slowing down" file sharing Internet traffic from BitTorrent and Gnutella users, might be the best and timeliest marketing tool for Verizon's new FiOS service.
How could this affect the cable providers?
If Verizon doesn't "throttle" this 20 Mbps, this could be a very disruptive bandwidth event for the U.S.
Verizon Offers 20 Mbps Download And Upload Speeds
Verizon has changed the definition of "fast" with the introduction of a new, symmetrical Verizon FiOS Internet service for consumers, featuring an upload and download speed of up to 20 megabits per second (Mbps).
"Verizon's new 20/20 FiOS service blows cable away. Their upload speeds don't even come close," said Susan Retta, vice president, Broadband Solutions for Verizon.
The equally fast upload and download speed of the new symmetrical FiOS service also enhances interactive services like video conferencing, online multi-player gaming, telemedicine, electronic home monitoring, online work collaboration, data backups and more.
Most people don't know what speeds they are getting, you will be surprised.
Want to see what speeds you're really getting from your internet provider, not the advertised ones?
Take a quick bandwidth test
Does your speed come close to what your provider advertised?
Posted by No Name at 5:29 AM
Labels: Daily Disruptions, fios, verizon
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August 30th: Stampin from the Heart, L.A.: Moments (my last class at Stampin from the Heart as they are closing next month)
21st Jeannine's Studio Laguna Beach CA An Artist's Manifesto (please email me for more info if you're interested in signing up!)
25-29th Art Is You Petaluma, CA THREE Workshops!
I hope to see you there!


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January 2017 Creation Corner Column
Reflections upon a New Year
"...a glad new year to all the earth." (concluding line of "From Heaven Above", Hymn 51, Lutheran Book of Worship)
Scripture in bold print; secular quotes in regular font.
Job 12: 7-8 "...ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth,and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you." Come forth into the light of things, let Nature be your teacher. William Wordsworth
Psalm 104:24 "How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all: the earth is full of your wisdom." Between every two pine trees there is a door leading to a new way of life. John Muir
Psalm 138:8 "Oh Lord, do not abandon the works of your hands." The greatest threat to our future is apathy. Protest sign slogan
Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to number our days so that we may apply our hearts to wisdom." We repeatedly lose touch with what we intend our lives to stand for. Barry Lopez
Isaiah 24:5-6a "The earth is defiled by its people, they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth." You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know. William Wilberforce
2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people...turn from their wicked ways...I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." In a dark time, the eye begins to see. Opening of a poem by Theodore Roethke
Genesis 2:15 "And God put (us) in the garden of Eden to keep and serve it." Its a phenomenal planet. I wanted to give something back. A Conservancy contributor
Hebrews 3:13 "Support one another daily." What a country chooses to save is what a country says about itself. Mollie Beattie


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My blog has moved! Redirecting…
You should be automatically redirected. If not, visit http://noctos.wordpress.com and update your bookmarks.
1. 'The world is everything that is the case.'
7. 'Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.'
posted by noctos at 8:37 AM
Noctos Top Movies
2004: Top 10 Music List
2004: Top 10 Movie List
2005: Top 10 Music List
2005: Top Movies & TV Drama
2006: Top Songs
2006: Best Music
2006: Best Movies
2006: Best TV Shows


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The real fun soon begins when Panic! At The Disco take to the stage, which is decorated in the style of a mad scientist's workshop. Uplifting opener 'Ready To Go' is bouncier than Tigger on a trampoline and early tracks 'I Write Sins…' and 'The Only Difference…' seem to be given a new lease of life alongside the new material. There is a nice mixture of tracks from the first and latest album in tonight's set, although very little from the more folky second album 'Pretty. Odd.' – perhaps due to its disappointing critical reception. However 'Nine In The Afternoon' and 'That Green Gentleman' do make an appearance and the crowd seem more than happy to sing along. The supurb and underrated 'New Perspective' – written for the soundtrack of lesbian vampire flick Jennifer's Body - is also given an airing by the Las Vegas rockers. Brendon Urie proves himself to be a fantastic showman, with back flips off the drum riser and bizarre monologues between songs, some of which become a little cringeworthy. For example, there is evident shuffling of feet and embarrassed faces when Urie announces that 'Lying Is The Most Fun…' is about "fucking people you don't know" to a crowd consisting predominantly of young teenagers supervised by their parents.
The most bizarre thing about tonight's set though, is Brendon's high-pitched metal screams which he throws in at various points during the night. At first they seem to be the frontman's way of showing off his already incredible voice, however it is soon revealed that this is a warm up for their impressive cover of The Darkness' 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love'. Closing the set with the huge choruses of 'Nearly Witches', Panic! At The Disco have succeeded in providing tonight's crowd with a good ol' fashioned and unashamed bit of fun.


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the new hampshire bow.
This is the family's summer house, Elmwood, the love of my life. It's been in the family for over 200 years and the land was bought from John Hancock. This place is definitely worthy of a commemorative hair accessory, among far greater things.
I also love homes with names, they become like insta-WASP retreats. What should my rent-controlled junker of a williamsburg apartment be christened as?
Oh I got it... "Green Vinyl Siding Hide-a-way"
The fabric scrap is from the shortened hem of my beloved Ralph Lauren shirtdress from the 70's. Perfectly new england and not too obnoxiously waspy. Make a tube 2 1/2" high by 8" wide.
Attach the two ends and run a loose running stitch down the middle to cinch it into a bow shape.
I used vintage seam binding for the center of my bow, but you can use the fabric or a contrasting ribbon etc...
I love hair combs to pull back my hair. They always seem to add a little bit of volume, but girls sometimes seem to have a hard time getting them to stay put. The key is to put it in your hair against the grain so that the teeth are towards your face. Seems unnatural, but really locks it down.
When sewing the comb on the bow your stitches need to be tight and if you tack the sides several times over, it keeps the bow from wiggling.
My lovely Violet wearing my new hampshire bow in her actual victorian human hair. So eerie and wonderful.
*This post is dedicated to Ginny Branch, the queen of hair bows. She is creating an amazing collection of Alice in Wonderland inspired hair accessories and I knew this girl to be no joke after we discovered we were both bidding on the same vintage bow on ebay. I won but she ended up with it because, well, that's what friends are for!
***Don't worry, ginny, I won't mention that the same bow ended up lost in the snow this winter only to be discovered after the thaw, having been run over by a car. Now there is just a ghost of a velvet bow haunting East 11th st.
6 comments:
Your summer house is such a dream! Ahh! I love it. I spent my childhood in NH and just have so many beautiful memories of that place and the historic houses we lived in. I love the idea of naming an apartment too:)ReplyDelete
i am so jealous that i'm not there with you right now. enjoy every minute and i can't wait to see your bow when you get back. and thank you for teaching me how to link!!!!ReplyDelete
i had no idea that your doll had real victorian human hair. it's probably a good thing i didn't know, what with my issues with hair....ReplyDelete
i love this post!ReplyDelete
i want to make a ton of these.
i love your blog, i hope you do not mind if i put a link for it on my blog. :)
your house is beautiful.
I'm not sure if it is good etiquette to comment on old posts, but I wanted to thank you! You have such a sweet blog! I made a bow following your tutorial some time ago. Thank you so much:)ReplyDelete
I don;t think naming your house is a particularly anglo-saxon rite.ReplyDelete


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Celebrating East African Writing!
Written by Linda Musita
"From the moment of birth the Stone Age Baby confronts the twentieth century mother, the baby is subjected to these forces of violence called love, as its mother and father and their parents before them have been. These forces are mainly concerned with destroying most of its potentialities and on the whole, this enterprise is successful."
6.30 pm on Wednesday, the 1st day of June 2011. It was fast food night and Enoch had to call Bugga n' Fizz before they stopped delivering. The major set back on this particular Wednesday was the negative truth that his mobile phone had no airtime. The nearest shopping centre was fifteen minutes away. He liked to walk to the centre but at 6.30pm the jeunesse dorée in their convertibles and the ruffians in the 46 matatus had formed the habit of creating a car park at the Gitanga Road junction that extended all the way to Lavington Green Shopping centre and beyond. The perpetrators of the evil had nothing much to do while it lasted, so they glued eyes on their car windows and stared at the pedestrians. Enoch always thought them hopeless hostages suppressing the urge to release bad air and worse still they made random pedestrians like him feel embarrassed by their own footsteps. Nevertheless, he needed airtime in order to get his chilli fries and fillet, so he wore his boots, put on a pair of maroon briefs and a white vest.
"If they are going to stare, they might as well satisfy their visual organs."
Buto reached into the plastic bag half full with tamarind fruit, cracked a pod and thrust a sticky line of sourness into his mouth and onto an already sore tongue. He had seen Enoch leave the house in more revealing, revolting attire or sometimes in the nude. The young boss despised clothes and anyway, who was he to judge him. In his time he did more unconventional things especially to his wife Euphrasia. Things that included her pudenda, chilli powder and his eternally sore tongue. He had learnt a lot from Enoch's parents.
'Rest their liberal souls of kink….and Euphrasia's submissive soul too.' He laughed and whistled to sooth his tongue.
Enoch walked briskly and they did stare, as expected, prompting him to smile and increase his pace just to give the whole spectacle the required visual effect. At the shopping centre, he made for the SWANKAtel kiosk and bought a scratch card. He keyed in the,*1547895378698872≠. Instead of the usual short message confirming his new account balance he got,
"Imagine a yellow corporate tower sticking its tongue out and singing' fey fey fey fey boo boo, you haven't loaded shit!' Please try and reload the card. If you have dumped it already, buy another one, make me rich and reload it severally for required results."
He had dumped the card in the recycling bin next to the kiosk.
Frustrated, he asked the vendor to read the message and explain what he thought he had not understood.
"Ndho hivo! Siku hidhi wanankula wananthi hivo. Nunua kadhi ingine ama uthchange mthandao," he told Enoch while handing him another card with his right hand and holding out his left palm for the money.
Enoch took the card, paid for it and made four attempts at loading the airtime finally getting the polite message confirming the recharge. He called Bugga n' Fizz immediately perhaps out of fear that the yellow tower might pull a fast one on him again.
As soon as he got home he got rid of the articles of clothing and then frantically typed an email to the corporate punkster,
"Dear SWANKAtel,
You really think a yellow building trying at personification would freak me out? Try harder because when I see yellow, I do not think of playing guns and robbers but taking a bath with my rubber ducky.
Kind Regards,
A month later, on the 4th day of July 2011, he drove to the post office. His mail box usually contained flyers inviting him to Asian Expos and an electricity bill. This time however, there was an extra black envelope, unsealed and unaddressed. He thrust four fingers into the envelope and retrieved a sheet of paper that among nothing else read,
Dear Enoch
*≠*≠* ≠*≠*≠*≠* ≠*≠*≠*≠* ≠*≠*
*≠*≠* ≠*≠**≠*≠* ≠*≠**≠*≠* ≠*≠*
*≠*≠* ≠*≠**≠*≠* ≠*≠*≠*≠* ≠*≠*
*≠*≠* ≠*≠**≠*≠* ≠*≠*≠*≠* ≠*≠*
"Oh really?' he mocked the incorrigibles and threw the envelope into the 'Return to Sender Box'.
That Wednesday he called the fast food people just as he left the supermarket. That way he and the delivery boy would get to his gate at the same time, by his calculations. As estimated, the delivery boy met him at the gate at 7.30 pm, handed him the medium size pizza box in exchange for the consideration.
Safely within his house, Enoch placed the box on the dining table, took off his clothes and walked into the kitchen, shopping bag in hand. The bag was placed on the counter and the young albeit naked boss proceeded to the sink and drank directly from the tap.
Buto dished out a tomato from a basin of hot water, forgetting to peel off the skin, he cut it into quarters. All the while his eyes followed the young boss' nude frame from the counter, to the sink and out of the kitchen to the dinning table.
Comfortable on a chair, Enoch lifted the top of the box only to be met with a scrabble board instead of the extra topping pizza he had ordered. This was also not the usual 15 by 15 grid scrabble board but a 10 by 10 grid board with all one hundred tiles stuck to it. All of them except the two blanks were marked with an organized sequence of * and ≠.
"Food for thought, huh? Not even a pretty alphabetical letter? Come on?" he asked and then called for the cook.
"Mmmmhhhhhh," answered a tomato stuffed mouth.
"Come and clear this mess, burn it if you please!"
Buto took the box without looking at the young boss and proceeded, together with his perplexed look and his opinion, to the backyard where he dumped the 'mess' into a compost pit.
2.00 am on the 9th of July 2011 and the phone rings. He could swear that he had switched it off before he pulled the covers over his shoulders but still it buzzed and shrieked. He reached under the pillow, dragged it out and pressed the green button.
Nothing but a hum, He thumbed the red button but the phone was off anyway rendering that a useless action altogether. So, believing he was mid-dream, he slipped the phone back under the pillow and dreamt some more. Twenty minutes later, a beep notifying him of a message prompted him to drag the phone out again. And the message read,
"*≠*≠* ≠*≠**≠*≠* ≠*≠**≠*≠* ≠*≠*
*≠*≠* ≠*≠**≠*≠* ≠*≠*≠*≠* *≠*≠*
*≠*≠* ≠*≠**≠*≠* ≠*≠*≠*≠* *≠*≠*"
This was the thorn that pricked the orangutan's hand!
"Nobody knows exactly when the last time of something begins. But this is something else. Because today, at sometime, it is going to be the last time of something between us," as he got out of bed he recited a paragraph from, The Visits, a book that his mother made him read repeatedly when he was a boy.
He went to the living room, sat on the sofa and waited. Soon enough there was a deafening bang on the gate.
Enoch went outside. From where he stood, he saw the yellow tower with frightened night shift employees peering through the numerous windows.
"So you think you are brave?" the parking bay on the twentieth floor moved. Enoch took that to be the concrete monstrosity's mouth.
"Ay, get lost. You will wake the neighbors and their Residents' Associations," Enoch answered and started towards the door.
"What, freak?"
""Really, I do not scare you at all? I am real you know, nothing from a nightmare. You can come closer and pinch me if you like."
"Of course you are real. Now, can I go back to sleep?"
"Jesus Louisa's! Do you know how hard it is to get a 10 by 10 scrabble board manufactured to specification and imported to an insignificant telecoms company in Africa?"
"Ehe?" Enoch lifted a brow at the same time noticing the goose bumps on his skin.
"None of that shit scared you?!….Ahhh, wait, I see goose pimples! You are a wimp after all!"
"Ay, those are because I am naked and it is cold out here. And the bumps on your walls are they goose bumps too?" Enoch employed sarcasm.
"No, these are designer! By a very good architect too!"
Enoch turned to enter the house again.
"Hey, wait! I have to have scared the hair up and out of your skin?"
"Nah, you did not."
"Didn't your parents ever shower you with sickening quantities of love and by extension instill fear in you. It happens to humans, by default, the last I checked. You do know that love is the mother of all fear, don't you?"
"No they did not"
"Oi?" the twentieth floor slanted.
"They beat the jeepers out of me daily, never cuddled me, took me to their hunting sprees and made me catch does only to force me to break their necks later, let me watch them have sex sometimes with Buto other times with VCR tutorials and when they went on vacation they checked me into a mental institution or a private clinic's psych ward. They even let the Old Nick move in, in 1999, just before they passed on. I let him live here till 2007 when I kicked him out. Sulfur has a foul stench and I had put up with it long enough."
"No kidding?''
"Nope. I am grateful though; imagine the spook you would have created if they had treated me like a weakling. Now get lost!"
"Alrrrrrrrright," the tower turned and walked towards the shopping centre
Buto peeked through the bedroom window of the servant's quarter. The young master was talking to himself again. This time the imaginary person he was talking to was not in between his toes but somewhere up in the sky or thereabouts.
He watched Enoch ramble and then walk into the house, slamming the door behind him.
© Linda Musita 2011
This short story was submitted into the Storymoja Urban Narratives : No One Told Me… Short Story Contest. Please comment on the short story for the author's benefit and then vote on the story. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being weak and 10 being excellent, please indicate where you rank this story. Points will be tallied on the 6th of August, and the winner announced on the 7th of August 2011.
Its amazing..the writing talent here 🙂 The writing style is not your everyday encounter and for a moment it got me confused especially the last paragraphs but in the end I am able to capture that the young Enoch is mentally ill…the moment that almost sends me back to re-read the story again. I am not entirely able to capture what the theme here is (just me) but I love the effort the writer has made. I give a 10 for this huge creativity and a 7 (just me) for not picking out a distinct theme.
Amazing in style and surreal urbanism. With but a small exception, the text is also very well groomed. The final twist sets it apart from everyday French surrealism. A 10 for creativity, style and presentation (shall I use an Oxford comma here, or not?); a 9 for the chili powder because of insufficient detail…
There is, of course, depth beyond the surrealism. The depth is that a mentally ill person here is actually very well able to relate and *cope* with his world.
Maybe only because his condition empowers him to cope with what otherwise might be unbearable? An 11 for this deeper extra layer.
-uncharacteristic language: deep in a sense; would almost boxed the language on a class or age group. Names of people and places almost feel georgian. A classic nevertheless.-
he-he awesome write up , the writer put us in the head of a mentally ill person, this is very good wriitng
I give it 8 out of 10
"jeunesse dorée"…I don't know what that means and it is not my fault. I like the characterization…it definitely builds up well and I really felt like snarling at SWANKAtel too.
I award 9 for creativity, that was a captivating story!
….I give it a 9 out of ten…..I take one for use of uncommon names and words uncharacteristic to urban readership…..
Interesting… an 8.5 out of 10.
In terms of grammar and characterization and continuity I will give it an 8.
hmmm,quite a twist from our everyday presentation.i like it, very creative writing
and i surely admire the play of words on there,i give it a strong 9.
Imagination at its best. I give it an 8.
hehehe! 11 outta ten!so good at some point i thought i was crazy!kudos!
Now thats a story.I love the flow and the language. strong 10 for me. Keep up the good work.
I give it a 9. Loved it.
Amazing creativity in here and for a moment you actually think that a building talking to you is sooo normal. I give it 9
Lovely narrative. Just lovely. Linda's writing here is very inspiring. I want to write like this, and get away with it, just as she did. 10.
This short story includes all the typical ingredients: an open beginning and ending, only a few characters without a detailed background, and a conflict. I like how Enoch and Buto act; it is always totally clear who of them is the current third person narrator. At first, the story is not so easy to understand, but in this way you have to think about it, and will ask yourself: Could among us also live persons with a mentally illness / weakness without us noticing it? Therefore 9 of 10 points – one point less, because I was not able to understand all connotations (which might or might not be due to my youth and my different cultural background 😛 )
This is a great literary piece. Linda Musita's work manages to catch the eye of anyone who finds time to study art and literature. She writes captivating narrations. This is one amongst many that I have looked at, quite appealing. She is destined to reach greater heights if she gets the necessary support. The harmony, language and skill with which she pens her work reveal prowess that cannot escape our attention. Despite many challenges, she remains upbeat, in high spirits to further this noble cause. Reading her work gives you almost a real time experience.
I score her at 9 out of 10 points. Hats off.
Edgar Allan is alive in these words,its true; you such a piece of talent.
I give it a 9.
It felt like sitting smack on a sofa watching a Tarantino Flick and we all know those can get. I read it five times and the intelligent convolution of plot, the disturbing mood, the wacky feel, the through character development that has obviously gone on here and the theme that lies in plain sight but which dissembles itself until the very end. I adore these kind of writing. Bravo!
Naturally, I give it a ten!
I laughed and laughed. Story line is amazing and strong. I give it a 9
The writer has a unique way of sweetly persuading, capturing and passionately holding her readers' spirits and minds…:delicately sprinkling refreshing droplets of comic relief here and there… skillfully weaving warm blankets of direct speech…awesome creativity….hmmm…upper class 10!
in her characteristic self,Musita does it again,captivatn,leavn you with no choice but to concentrate and read,am i a bar and i hav 4 gottn bout my drink n company¿…write a book on this Musta!
I give it a ten.
Interesting story, totally uncharacteristic of what the norm is I like the suspense of not knowing what its all about at the start. I would give a 9 out of 10
I absolutely love it!it is intriguing,I could not wait to see how everything penned out in the end.Its got a captivating flow and amazing vocabulary.Amazingly talented author
I Love it~~ 11/10
i give it a 9/10
i love it…the way the ending is just the begining, it makes the reader re-read the story and somehow sees it in a different light. Simply mavelous! I give it a 10/10.lous! I give it a 10/10.
You've vividly describe the events which, albeit fictitious, are admissible. I however have reservation with the thematic nomadism. You so hop – knowingly or otherwise – from one theme to another that at the end one wonders what prompted your writing of this story. Then I find the name 'Enoch' so alien to the desired plot. For effect, it is too western to befit this son – or so I imagine – of Nairobi. The name 'SWANKAtel', on the other hand, marries perfectly into the setting and it resonates with the events thereof. The story is captivating, and that one may indeed experience it is anybody's guess. I rate it 9.6 out of the possible 10.
You've vividly described the events which, albeit fictitious, are admissible. I however have reservation with the thematic nomadism. You so hop – knowingly or otherwise – from one theme to another that at the end one wonders what prompted your writing of this story. Then I find the name 'Enoch' so alien to the desired plot. For effect, it is too western to befit this son – or so I imagine – of Nairobi. The name 'SWANKAtel', on the other hand, marries perfectly into the setting and it resonates with the events thereof. The story is captivating, and that one may indeed experience it is anybody's guess. I rate it 9.6 out of the possible 10.
classic 9/10
Notice that I opined so only 'for effect'. The story would be more related to Nairobi – and less so to Paris – were the 'Enoch' some 'Tamima' or 'Tamara'. Its inclusion doesn't make the story any lame. For its worth; characterization is as important.
The story in sucked in little detail. I mean, there is a lot of telling in the story than showing. The final editing is not satisfactory at all. Besides, long sentences in some paragraphs can be replaced with more shorter and concise ones. Sorry, i had to start with what i think is at stake in the story. OK. Liz writes with energy and passion, which, by the way, is a good thing. The story idea is ok. She too adheres to her natural rhythm and whatnot. I gave you 8 over ten.
Whoops, i almost forgot. Enoch to me felt like some character in a newpaper story.I did not feel him at all, surely. I don't how he looks like, and whatnot. Whatever. I expected the writer to make me see and like and identify with her character viscerally. But there was nothing like that. Enough with the rambling!
mine is a 10. great creativity and i think the story reflects on the unseen obstacles in our lives that we must deal with yet other people are unaware of. but Enoch here shows his stubbornness and goes on to challenge his adversities even freaky as they may seem. the fact that he is mentally ill is symbollic for our shortcomings which we may use as our strong points in facing these problems. thank you!
the beautiful ones may not yet be born, but the heroines are born, and one is in you, I must indulge you more, in silence… I rate in 9.5…Brilliant!!
CONGRATULATIONS LINDA! I am very happy for you!
Enoch, Buto, SWANKAtel and I would like to thank you all for the votes and the comments. Thank you too Karen and congratulations on second position.
linda genius this is thestuff real wtitting is made of
how do i get her number coz i need a serious mentor


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12. Versed
Versed is particularly diabolical and slightly frightening. Subjects under the influence feel pain and discomfort fully. But when the drug wears off, all memory of the pain and the torture session itself is purged from the mind. The diabolical a heart might see the potential in using versed along with non-marking torture techniques.


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Una Foden has given birth to her second child – a baby boy named Tadhg.
Una's husband, rugby player Ben Foden, announced the couple's happy news on Twitter with the message:
"Tadhg John Foden has been born! Mum and baby are both amazing and healthy. He has a full head of hair and his mummy's lips! #babybenuna"The couple are already proud parents to daughter Aoife Belle, three.
Tadhg is an Irish name and is pronounced 'Tigue'.
Una announced her pregnancy in September with a cute picture of Aoife (pronounced Efa) wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words: 'I'm going to be a big sister'.
Tadhg John Foden has been born! Mum and baby are both amazing and healthy. He has a full head of hair and his mummy's lips! #babybenuna
- Ben Foden (@ben_foden) February 2, 2015
Ben is no doubt looking forward to being a hands-on dad to his new arrival. The rugby player recently spoke out in support of shared parental leave, saying: "There are six or seven young dads in the (rugby) team and we take it seriously.
"Being rugby players we are used to sweat, spit, blood and rolling around in the mud, so no one has a problem about getting their hands dirty changing nappies."


text: Pretty self explanatory. I posted this in JRVIP first and haven't gotten a too many bites so wanted to post in public. I have PR3 site that I'm rebranding and turning into an authority internet marketing blog. It will have 100 or so articles on it by the end of July. If you are looking to get PR3 guest post, please shoot me a PM. I require all content to be 100% unique and at least 500 words in order to be accepted. You can include 1 do follow back link in the content. The site should be a quality site and not churn and burn. Look forward to getting some replies.


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The Toadstool:
The Garden Gnome:
At the party - Paisley loved the entertainment. She went down this slide about 50 times and enjoyed popping the smoke-filled bubbles!
Cosette loved the food - She filled up on enough cheesy potatoes that she slept all night when we got home... yeah!
I didn't get a picture of all us but to go along with the "forest-friends theme" - Blake was a tree and I was a tree-hugger!
I love Halloween - so fun to be something new for a day!


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At Mistry Gems we offer many stunning Amethyst Earrings as well as unusual silver earrings at very competitive prices, set in unique designs too.
Quirky, unique Amethyst Earrings are available, with designs that will set you apart from the rest. Unusual designs, with real attention to detail, is definitely needed for those special occasions. Some of the earrings are also set in the various monthly birthstones too.
Whether you prefer studs or drop Amethyst Earrings, we have different shapes and lengths/sizes to suit all your needs. There are the classy plain bezel set Earrings, which are lightweight and suitable for everyday wear to the heavier nepali designs, which have more detailing, and give a more unique look. It will all depend on your tastes, and the look you are trying to achieve. Most of the drop Earrings do come with hook in fittings, but can all be changed to stud posts at a slightly extra cost of £2.50. Alternatively, we can provide plastic backs for the hooks at no extra cost.
So if you are looking for Amethyst Earrings online and wanting something different, you have come to the right place. Mistry Gems is a reputable retailer, so you can buy with confidence knowing that we offer good quality product at competitive prices.


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A plucky band of adventurers pit themselves against an evil empire, led by (what else) an evil Emperor or an evil Cabal. But with assistance from a mysterious power, the adventurers, by defeating the malevolent power behind the empire, will establish a better world, a world guided by the mysterious power.
This is the plot of Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and dozens of other works of science fiction, fantasy, and mythology. It is also the plot espoused by dozens of religions and political ideologies. It was the plot that Stalin used to justify the Gulag, and Hitler used to justify the Holocaust. It is the most popular plot in the world.
For every problem, there is a solution that is simple, obvious, and wrong. If your solution follows this plot, it is almost certainly one of those.
So let's pick out the basic elements of the myth. There is a plucky band of adventurers struggling against an Evil Empire, led by an Evil Emperor or Organization. There is a Mysterious Power of Good which will both aid the adventurers and guide the outcome. There is a Malevolent Power to be overcome, and a Utopia that will result.
So, Star Wars:
The Rebels pit themselves against the empire, led by the Sith Lords. But with the power of the Light Side of the Force, the Rebels, by defeating the Dark Side, will restore the Republic, which will by guided by the Light Side of the Force.
The Lord of the Rings:
The Fellowship of the Ring pit themselves against Morder, led by Sauron. But with assistance of the Valar, the Fellowship, by destroying the Ring, will restore Gondor, a kingdom ruled by a just king guided by the Valar.
Harry Potter:
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the Order of the Pheonix pit themselves against the Death Eaters, led by Voldemort. But with the power of love, Harry and his allies, by destroying the Horcruxes, will restore the wizarding world, a world guided by love.
Those are the myths of fantasy. These are the myths that operate in our own world:
Fundamentalist Islam
Faithful Muslims pit themselves against the Satanic forces of the West, led by the President of the United States. But with the power of Allah, True Muslims, by defeating the Great Satan, will establish the Caliphate, a world guided by Allah.
Fundamentalist Christianity
Faithful Christian pit themselves against the Satanic forces in the world, led by Satan himself. But with the power of God, Christians, by defeating the forces of immorality, will establish the Kingdom of God, a world guided by Jesus.
The Proletariat will pit themselves against Capitalism, led by the Capitalists. But with knowledge of Dialectical Materialism, the Proletariat, by defeating Capitalism, will establish the workers paradise, a world guided by egalitarianism, the final product of Dialectical Materialism.
Conspiracy Theorist
Those in the know will pit themselves against the World Order, led by the Illuminati. But with the power of the Truth, the Informed, by defeating the Global Conspiracy, will lead the sheeple to enlightenment, a world guided by the Truth.
The postmodern critics shall pit themselves against the dominant narrative, led by cultural hegemons. But with the knowledge of Critical Theory, the postmodernists, by defeating the narrative of dead white European males, will establish a truly multicultural world, a world guided by Theory. (Theory here is a catch-all which may be replaced by dialectical materialism--many postmodernists are practicing Marxists.)
Libertarians pit themselves against government, led by the liberal elite. But with the power of the market, libertarians, by defeating socialism, will establish a libertarian utopia, a world guided by the free market.
You will notice that liberals and conservatives are not on this list. Both positions are complex enough that they do not fit a mythological narrative, although there are members of both camps that do fall into this template (not surprisingly, the most strident of the lot.) But the luminaries of both positions do not fall into this trap: Keynes, for example, despised state-run economies, while Hayek supported the welfare state. Radical culture warriors on both sides, however, may fall into this trap, identifying each other as the Malevolent Power or Evil Empire. The curious thing is that both may look to the same Mysterious Power of Good (the people, the founding fathers, Democracy, etc) for victory amd guidance.
The particulars are irrelevant and can be easily replaced, so changes in any of the basic elements--the adventurers, the Evil Empire, the Evil Leaders, the Mysterious Power of Good, the Malevolent Power, or the Utopia--are not important. The essential thing here is the form, which is the same in all cases.
The adherents of the myth are the adventurers here, and this is a rather flattering position. Everything depends upon them. They alone have the secret, the aid of the mysterious power, and the knowledge of the enemy. Because the enemy is the personification of evil, they are good by definition. Theirs is a holy mission, and anyone who opposes it is in the wrong. Whatever is done in the cause is justified. They alone can lead the way to the promised land.
The Enemy is likewise special, in that they wield the malevolent power, but they are both wise and foolish--wise in that they can wield this power, foolish in that they have not chosen the true power. They are almost gods themselves, in that they have conquered the world and seem to be able to control it through near omniscience and omnipotence. But the adventurers have the true power, which evil cannot touch or understand, and this will lead to their inevitable victory.
The Utopia that will result will not be a result of hard work or understanding, but will be the automatic product of the ascendance of the mysterious power. All will be well. There will be no messy details to deal with, because everything will fall into place. The right people will rule, justice and wisdom shall rain from the skies, and a perfect world will spring back into being, just as it was meant to be.
But it should also be noted that the adventurers, or adherants, are to become the new rulers. For mythologies that supposedly take place in the real world, the gods, theories, principles, or knowledge that constitute the force for good are accessible only to the adventurers. In other words, they themselves are to be the mysterious power and the guiding force. What they propose is not anything resembling a democracy, but a dictatorship of the ideologues. This is obvious when considering the communists (and even the post-modernists), and the fundamentalists (conspiracists will never gain power unless allied to another ideology.) But this is also why I consider libertarians to be the new bolsheviks, who also promised the end of the state.
The comparison between bolsheviks and libertarians may seem a stretch, but consider this: capitalism requires the protection of the state. The state must enforce contract law, permits and facilitates incorporation, and enforces criminal law. Let us consider what seems to be the least problematic: criminal law. Your life is worth a price. You may be outraged to consider how low that price may be--in a place like Somalia, it might be as low as ten or twenty dollars. This is the free market in action. What the state attempts to do through criminal law is to make goods like your life prohibitively expensive. It is the business of the state to interfere with the market. And the libertarians, once in power, will quickly realize this, as the bolsheviks quickly discovered the limitations of their own ideology. What other restrictions might they put on the market--particularly when self-interest, their universal justification, comes into play? Might the powerful rob the weaker? Might they skew contract law in their favour? And if you find their regime onerous, might they prevent people from voting with their feet to leave their "utopia"? The bolsheviks did. Why not the libertarians?
The real world is far more complex than the heroic myth can deal with. Progress is made on a halting basis, two steps forward, one step back. We must constantly submit to evidence and peer review, argue with people who disagree with us, check our facts, and find ourselves surprised by unexpected information. Reality is messy, difficult, and counter-intuitive. Human beings usually rely on heuristics that mislead them. The heroic mythology, like the god in the sky, is an amateur's first guess. Humility alone should convince us that it is wrong.


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Hillary's YouTube
There was a YouTube link from Michelle Malkin's Website. There is a place for comments. I wrote a question, asking if she would open her records at the white house to prove her experience. It was not posted. This is not censorship, but does reveal The Truth about Hillary and her crowd.
Reminds me of a Football coach we played for several years. The first year they beat us 44-0. Our team had just 12 players, but they all enjoyed just playing. We learned sportsmanship, hard work and honesty. The next year we beat them by about 4 points. After the game, they were cheering!? The coach had convinced them that they had won (the scoreboard was not working). The next year they did not field a team. I asked him why he had no team (both schools had about the same attendance numbers). He said that we had different philosophies. I have never forgotten his reply. In other words, either beat your opponent by a big score, try to fool yourself and others that you have won, or simply not participate.
Hillary's YouTube!


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A randomly comprehensive survey of extraordinary movie experiences from the art house to the grindhouse, featuring the good, the bad, the ugly, but not the boring or the banal.
Sunday, May 8, 2016
CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016) in SPOILERVISION
When we last left the Marvel Cinematic Universe, after the end credits of Ant-Man, Bucky Barnes, aka The Winter Soldier, was a prisoner of Captain America and the Falcon. I remember thinking that Marvel must have jettisoned their original idea for the third Captain America movie, which from the evidence of the previous picture looked to be a hunt for Bucky, in order to do their variation on the parent comic book company's popular Civil War series. As it turned out, Marvel has gone non-linear on us in its effort to cram nearly three movies into one. The post-credits scene from Ant-Man is reprised in the Russo brothers' Captain America: Civil War, but it takes place approximately halfway through the movie. It was somewhat jarring to realize that scene hadn't happened yet, once we learn that Barnes (Sebastian Stan) is still at large and implicated in fresh acts of terrorism. Bucky is sort of a Macguffin this time, and the film as a whole is an ambitious exercise in misdirection and anticlimax, all to conceal that while Civil War is often wildly entertaining and in many ways the superior of its crazy cousin Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, the whole of it doesn't quite equal the sum of its parts and actually shares some of the insanely more-hated movie's flaws.
As the film opens, Bucky's on Cap's backburner as the Avengers address the continuing repercussions of their last misadventure in the obnoxious land of Sokovia, where there apparently was a lot more collateral damage than Avengers: Age of Ultron let on. Things only get worse for Earth's Mightiest Heroes (this time missing their mightiest, Thor and the Hulk) when their Sokovian recruit Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) bungles an attempt to get a human bomb out of harm's way and gets a bunch of Kenyans killed. Worse, some of the victims were Wakandans, residents of the reclusive but technologically advanced African monarchy whose ruler takes the lead in promoting the Sokovia Accords, an international initiative to bring the Avengers and other "enhanced humans" under some kind of supervision. The team is split over whether to sign the Accords themselves, despite pressure from U.S. Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt, returning to the franchise eight years after The Incredible Hulk). Career military man James "War Machine" Rhodes (Don Cheadle) is all for it, and so, surprisingly, is his pal and mentor, the eternal rebel Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) who was just guilt-tripped by the mother of an American killed in Sokovia into a new appreciation, if that's the right word, of the heroes' irresponsibility. Just as he opposed SHIELD's extreme surveillance tools in his last picture, Cap opposes the Accords, and his opposition seems just as arbitrary a narrative device as before. I understand that Captain America should represent what we consider the best of America now, which includes considerable distrust of government regulation, but Steve Rogers, as a product of his more idealistic and trusting time, shouldn't necessarily share our time's libertarian paranoia. He says of himself that he's been on his own for the last 70+ years but Captain America: The First Avenger shows that to be patently untrue, unless Steve refers only to his time in the ice. You could just as easily think of Steve Rogers as the ultimate organization man, while Tony Stark seems the one more likely to be the libertarian bomb-thrower. But you see, in the original Civil War comics, to which this movie bears little more resemblance than Age of Ultron did to the comics of that name, Stark was the aggressor promoting regulation and registration while Steve, who in comics had seen a lot more of the modern world by that time than his movie counterpart has, led the opposition -- and that much of the original story Marvel Studios felt it had to keep.
It's all just talk, however, until the Winter Soldier appears to re-emerge and perpetrate a terror attack at a UN conference intended to ratify the Accords, killing the Wakandan king among other victims. Now there's a shoot-on-sight order out for Barnes, but Steve can't stomach the thought of his old buddy from Brooklyn, who he knows to have been mind-controlled by Hydra for all the time he was an assassin, being killed. Part of this, I suppose, is because with the offscreen death (natural causes) of the legendary Peggy Carter Bucky's his last link to his old life, but part of it is also the inescapable tendency of superheroes and genre heroes in general to make everything personal, and to make the personal trump the greater good in the utilitarian sense of the term. While the movie lets us know that Steve is right to want Bucky spared, because it shows us enough to make us certain that Barnes is being framed for this latest atrocity, Steve himself doesn't know this until much later. The only thing he knows for certain is that Bucky Must Not Be Killed. Personal loyalty puts his protege from the last picture, Sam "The Falcon" Wilson (Anthony Mackie), along with Wanda and later both retired Avenger Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and bewildered recruit Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) on Cap's side, while logical but conscientious android The Vision (Paul Bettany) takes Stark's side and Natasha "Black Widow" Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) appears to straddle the fence while leaning Stark's way. Complicating things further is the lone-wolf intervention of the new Wakandan king T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), who has taken on the ceremonia mantle and weapons of The Black Panther while vowing to avenge his father by killing the Winter Soldier. Since the Wakandans were big promoters of the Accords T'Challa joins Stark's team but seems unlikely to accept Tony's leadership. Stark has at least one more card up his sleeve to reveal before the teams run at one another at the airport, as we've all seen happen too often....
I was a little unfair to Marvel Studios in my defense of Dawn of Justice, because it was my feeling then that Zack Snyder was trying deliberately to make difficult what Marvel had made almost too easy. Civil War proves that sometimes too easy is a good thing, because most of its action sequences are effortlessly superior than the often ponderous goings on in Snyder's film. There's a fluency of visual invention and action choreography that's most absent in Dawn of Justice, perhaps because the disproportion of power between Superman and Batman makes fight choreography difficult in ways Batman's countermeasures can't compensate for. If anything, the early action scenes in Nairobi and Bucharest are more exciting than the big airport scrum, though that climactic battle finally builds momentum once it transcends the gee-whizziness of certain characters meeting for the first time while fighting. The Nairobi fight, which climaxes with a return match between Cap and Hydra agent Rumlow (Frank Grillo) and Wanda's disastrous mistake, is like the Mexico City sequence in Spectre, setting an almost impossible benchmark for the subsequent action to surpass while needlessly wasting a freshly impressive badass villain. The airport fight is stalled by its effort to imitate the quippiness of authentic comic-book fight scenes but never fails to be ingeniously inventive, especially after Ant-Man shows off his formidable new growing power. If the airport fight has a major weakness, it's the same weakness that brings the film to a screeching halt just when everything seemed to have been set up for the big fight. I had better make myself clear now: I enjoyed Tom Holland's performance as a truly youthful Peter "Spider-Man" Parker and am looking forward to his solo debut next year, but the painful shoehorning of his presence in Civil War never ceases to be glaringly obvious. The interminable sequence in which Tony Stark goes to Queens to recruit Parker while flirting with Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) is the exact equivalent of the much-reviled momentum-breaking moment in Dawn of Justice when Wonder Woman watches videos of future Justice Leaguers in hazily recorded action. Overall, Spider-Man is this film's Wonder Woman, introduced with the drunk enthusiasm or a late-night card player throwing down his trump or his straight flush. But if anything Civil War has less room for Spider-Man than Dawn of Justice had for Wonder Woman; he seems superfluous to the Marvel movie in a way Wonder Woman never did in the DC film, and more obviously something imposed at the corporate rather than the creative level. If this film is three in one as I suggest, then Meet Peter Parker is one too many after The Hunt for Bucky and Civil War proper.
Civil War admirably takes a chance in ratcheting the action down significantly at the end, trusting that Cap vs. Iron Man go toe to toe (if not strictly mano a mano) did not need the enhancement of a giant object falling from the sky. It's even more daring to make the real villain of the piece such an ultimate nothing, even as everyone recognizes that if any superhero story can do without a villain it would be this one. It turns out that everyone was being manipulated by Helmut Zemo (Daniel Brühl) who in comics is another of Captain America's very longstanding foes. He lures Cap and Bucky to Siberia, confident that Iron Man, now tipped off that Bucky was framed will follow. Bucky fears that Zemo will reactivate a new cadre of Winter Soldiers created in the final days of the Soviet Union (apparently also infiltrated by Hydra), apparently with chemicals seized by the original Winter Soldier in a 1991 hit. Zemo, however, is less interested in unleashing a small unstoppable army on the world than in dropping an emotional bomb on Stark: surveillance footage revealing that brainwashed Bucky had killed Stark's parents in order to grab the chemicals. Everything Zemo has done was meant to set up this moment, on the assumption that the revelation would provoke Stark into killing Bucky and force Cap to fight Iron Man to protect his naughty buddy yet again. That's a really big gamble, but who would know better than a genre character how predictable a genre character can be? But why, Zemo, why? The answer, depressingly, is Sokovia. Instead of a second-generation Nazi, this film's Zemo is yet another disgruntled Sokovian, having expended great mental and material resources to make the Avengers fight each other as if that'll make up for everything that was actually the stupid robot's fault. Say what you will about Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor, but Brühl's Zemo is a black hole of a villain who shrinks to insignificance before our eyes. The good thing about Civil War is that it can survive this implosion, but Iron Man's rampage and Stark's entire character arc leave you wondering what the film's moral actually is. Are we to assume that Tony is wrong about the Accords because everyone rushed to judgment about a known serial assassin? Or because the government actually dared to imprison the Avengers (plus Ant-Man) captured at the airport? Or because he flew off the handle in a fit of vengeance that simultaneously diverts the Black Panther from Bucky to Zemo? If anything, his own moment of mania should have cemented his belief that people like him need to be supervised if not controlled. But if anything at all, this film only reinforced Tony Stark's essential flightiness, since by the end he's ready to give the government (or at least Secretary Ross) the finger again as he did in Iron Man 2. This flightiness seems to be a universal condition among costumed heroes, since Black Panther, the most hardcore advocate of the Accords, ends up harboring a bunch of super-powered fugitives from international law. I suppose all of this can be seen as an endorsement of Steve Rogers's position in favor of maximum freedom of action for conscientious heroes, but I could see people leaving the theater doubting that proposition, if they bother thinking about it. Captain America: Civil War is a wildly entertaining film, but it probably is better if you don't think about its message too much. Think of it as just another superfluous element of a movie bursting at the seams with far more than enough stuff to make a terrific film, whose makers simply didn't know when to quit.
Posted by Samuel Wilson at 8:08 PM
Labels: 2016, Marvel, superheroes, U.S.
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Savannah, a senior at Virgil Grissom High School, recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. Savannah earned her Gold Award for her project Habitat for Bats. She was concerned about the rapid decline of the bat population and its effect on the larger ecosystem, so she built bat houses and educated people to give them a greater appreciation for bats. She held workshops throughout Huntsville and Madison, and she created information on bat houses for future Girl Scout troops so they can build more bat houses and continue to protect the animals. Through her project, Savannah's leadership skills increased as she organized large groups of people to come together. She hopes there will soon be more bat sightings in the area as a result of the bat house protection.
"When I found out how important the local caves were to many endangered bats, I felt inspired to tell people and teach them," said Savannah. "This way the world would spread about how important the local ecosystems are."
"By earning the Girl Scout Gold Award," said Melva Tate, interim chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, "Savannah has become a community leader. Her accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart."
The girl who goes for the Gold embraces challenges, achieves excellence, and works diligently to make the world a better place, in her own unique way. Her leadership, vision, and boundless energy is an inspiration to all Girl Scouts. Each girl earning her Gold Award demonstrates excellence through a leadership project totaling more than 65 hours. Girls who earn their Gold Award are also recognized by the President of the United States, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Armed Services, state legislatures, colleges and universities for admission and scholarship opportunities, and the American Legion. Some universities and colleges offer scholarships unique to Gold Award recipients, and girls who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements.
About Girl Scout Gold Award
The Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting; it recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects. Since 1916, girls have successfully answered the call to go gold, an act that indelibly marks them as accomplished members of their communities and the world. For more information about the Gold Award, visit girlscoutsnca.org/gogold.


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readergirlz is a literacy and social media project for teens, awarded the National Book Foundation's Innovations in Reading Prize. The rgz blog serves as a depot for news and YA reviews from industry professionals and teens. As volunteers return full force to their own YA writing, the organization continues to hold one initiative a year to impact teen literacy. All are welcome to "like" us on Facebook!
Friday, September 30, 2011
rgz Newsflash: p*tag for October's Teen Read Week!
Okay. 31 poets, 31 images and you have p*tag, 31 poems linked by tagging and repetition. It went like this: wait until you are tagged, pick an image, and then write a poem, using 3 of the words from the previous poet's poem. Ready, set, go! And we were off, under the guidance of Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong. This ekphrastic approach to poetry, where poems are inspired by art, fueled the poets fully. While the resulting poetry collection is eclectic, the repeated words give a notable continuity to the stream. There's an organic pulse running from beginning to end as readers witness this captured Art Happening on their e-readers.
Personally, David L. Harrison tagged me, so I was able to read his wonderful poem "Family Reunion at the Beach." Then I was off to choose a photo from Sylvia's posted images given to inspire us. The photo of a crowd, blurred by the camera's movement, caught my eye. It seemed as if spirits were leaving bodies despite the people's focus locked on the stage. I then chose three of David's words from his poem: clasping, future, and eyes, for my own haiku "Crowd." Finally, I tagged the lovely poet, Julie Larios. I would later learn she used my words: trapped, eyes, away.
All other poems were hidden from the participants until the release of p*tag. So it was a delight to download and read the stream, read how images and poems and repeated words created a complete work of art. I love how one poet responded to another, and immediately offered another point of view. You can see this particularly between Julie Larios and Michele Krueger. One writes of rising above, the other finding "peace in place." Stephanie Hemphill's' "In Praise of Luck" lifted my spirit, although I'd call it providence. :~) And oh, the delight to see one I esteem so highly, Lee Bennett Hopkins, write with few words just like me.
So here is a poem a day for the month of October while we celebrate YALSA's Teen Read Week. How perfect for the theme "Picture it @ your library." Download p*tag onto your device. Visit the website to learn more, see photos, and try your own hand at the ekphrastic approach to poetry. Thanks, Janet and Sylvia! *standing ovation*
compiled by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong
available on e-readers
4 comments:
- janet wong said...
Thank you, Lorie Ann, not only for participating but for this incredible description of the P*TAG process! I think it was really neat that you and I saw the same thing in the photo you chose. And your spare poem fit its theme PERFECTLY!
- September 30, 2011 at 2:07 PM
- Sylvia Vardell said...
Yes, thanks so much for the shout out, Lorie Ann, and for playing tag along with us. We are so thrilled how this all came together-- thanks to the amazing crew of poets who participated!
- September 30, 2011 at 7:57 PM
- Melissa Walker said...
Very cool!
- October 6, 2011 at 11:21 AM
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- December 18, 2015 at 2:12 AM
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Check out New Zealand brand Stolen Girlfriend Club's Winter 2013 look book "Dead End". Modeled by Codie Young and shot in NY, we're loving the patent pieces juxtaposed with the fluorescent colors and finished off with Nike's.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Love From Madrid
Spanish designer Davidelfin has been making a splash in the industry for a few seasons now. His source of inspiration is so varied, one season it can literally be inspired by paint swatches and next by his beloved dog, and the latter is exactly what inspired his A/W 13 collection. Delfin's white bull terrier of 15 years, Alicia, passed away last year and as an ode to the beloved family member he created an angelic all white collection. Slight hints to Alice in Wonderland were shown in a ace of hearts sweater, red embroidered roses and the pop of red sole from the Louboutins. The finale piece, the only all black look, was the perfect ending to the tribute.
Posted by The Lab at 12:22 PM No comments:
Monday, February 25, 2013
London Fashion Week
London fashion week always presents us with a few surprises and this year was no different. London has been known to produce designers that will go a step further in the quirky department creating designs that are slightly unusual but always inspiring. Take a look below at our favorite collections from the Fall 2013 collections.
Marios Schwab
Christopher Kane
Peter Pilotto
Topshop Unique
J. W. Anderson
Posted by The Lab at 2:31 PM No comments:
Friday, February 22, 2013
Rebel Yell
Australia has been proving to be a fashion force to be taken very seriously in the past few years, with designers like Dion Lee and the girls at Di$count gaining mainstream and internet popularity respectively. Catalogue Magazine is one of the breakout stars of the Australian fashion scene. Its 3rd issue has one of our favorite spreads, with photographer Rene Vaile and stylist Elle Packham creating an inspiring shoot.
Posted by The Lab at 11:57 AM No comments:
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Dion Lee was selected to represent Australia in the International Woolmark Awards, which selects top emerging designers from around the world to create a collection using Australian merino wool. Lee did not take the winning prize but created an awe inspiring collection of suiting that showed his impeccable talent of pattern making and constructing.
Posted by The Lab at 11:08 AM No comments:
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The POC HIP VPD Protection 2. The POC VPD body Armour underwear can be used as ski padded shorts, snowboard padded shorts, and mountain bike padded shorts.
They also include a triangular-shaped tailbone pad made from VPD, the most advanced protective padding available on the market today. Lycra and mesh construction for maximum comfort and breathability. The most common advice with body armour is to buy it 'before' you 'need' it, rather than 'after' you 'needed' it.
Buy POC Protection from Chain Reaction Cycles, the World's Largest Online Bike Store.
If you're not completely satisfied with an item you may return it within 12 months of purchase. We'll give you a full refund if the item hasn't been used or the component hasn't been fitted.More information on returns
Black - Grey
Green - Khaki


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NEW YORK – The United Spinal Association and a group of manufacturers have banded together to ensure people with disabilities have access to needed supplies.
MUNDELEIN, Ill. – Medline plans to expand production at its new manufacturing facility for incontinence products due to increased demand, the company announced today.
MUNDELEIN, Ill. – Medline announced this week a strategic partnership with Teleflex to distribute its Rüsch brand of specialty urological products.
UroMed had a busy November. The catheter provider launched a new website, kicked off a TV advertising campaign, expanded its sales territory and, oh yeah, sponsored a local spina bifida event.
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I've finally settled on packaging. Like the branding the packaging has evolved many times. There are so many options available that it's hard to settle on just one that will forever represent your photography. Without further ado here are the items that my packaging consists of:
5x6 aqua blue boxes
Miller's Lab prints all of my ornate cards and business cards
Metallic orange posts (like the kind used for scrapbooks)
Custom printed CDs http://www.blankmediaprinting.com/node/2
Handmade paper flowers
White tissue paper hand scalloped
Paper flowers are hand painted them assembled - Stem, Leaves, and Stamen are made from cardstock printed with Shakespearean play quotes
White tissue paper edges are hand-scalloped with simple white paper flower closure
Flying Fig CD Case
Custom Printed CDs based on one of my floral graphic designs. The case "swings" open to reveal the CD and copyright release
Informational cards will vary depending on the type of session. This picture shows the backside of the CD case with my custom designed photography subway art with matching shaped business cards all printed at Miller's Lab. Scallop edge referral card and newborn session information card
Tri-fold Portrait Planning Guide