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Recently, a team of four brave souls participated in a Run For Your Lives--Zombie race in Seattle, WA. Our mission, to traverse a challenging obstacle course through hundreds of walking and running dead while protecting three red flags hanging from a belt around our waists. The zombie's mission, to grab our flags before we crossed the finish line, thus making us one of them.
While there were many lessons learned during this event, they can be grouped into three main after action report (AAR) items.
1. Preparation
Conditioning: Make sure you are physically prepared. Our race was held on a BMX race course. Hazard flagging was strung along the outside perimeters of the trail, with zombies lurking right up to that line. Running off course in a cross country trek isn't an option, you must run the gauntlet with the rest of the stampede. For those of you who haven't seen a BMX course, picture hills so steep you have to use your hands to scramble up them. Then imagine that every five feet or so are horizontal lines of zombies waiting for you--and they aren't trying to get up the hill. Some of these zombies are runners, and some are walkers, but their common motivation is an insatiable desire for your flags. You better believe you're going to be sucking air trying to get up and around them.
Weather: Pull a NOAA weather statement for the date/time of your race. Being from out of the area, I should have done this. If I did, I would have pushed the group for an earlier start time. I didn't. I also stopped looking at the car thermometer when it hit 100 degrees. Who cares after that point? It was Africa hot, and as dreaded, I'd soon lean that I didn't pre-hydrate nearly enough.
Battle Dress: Test out your running attire before combat. My chosen ensemble was a pair of long, flared cuff running pants. Crawling on your hands and knees through 20 yard mud trenches meant I emerged with mud coated pants that were several times heavier. They also flapped around my ankles and threatened to trip me up with each evac and evasion maneuver.
2. Teamwork
I'd like to say everyone made it out alive, but in reality, our group had a 50% survival rate. Looking around, we were fortunate, other groups weren't nearly so lucky. I'd like to think that had something to do with our, 'take one for the team,' mentality. When two of us died, (yes, during mile two I succumbed to my injuries) we became the sacrificial lambs for the rest of the team. Coming up on a horde of zombies in the path, we would preplan a left or right hand run pattern with our team mates. Then we'd head in first so the zombies would give us chase, and our uninfected team mates could run an opposite pattern with less heat. It wasn't perfect, but it gave the survivors a fighting chance.
3. Go for the Gold
Aggression of action. I add this in, because thinking back, there was an individual who had strategy worth mentioning. He came at the zombies like they came at him. As if in a game of pigeon, he'd head straight for zombies, crazy in his eyes. Probably fearing an NFL type collision, the zombies would peel off at the last moment, and this guy would run through unscathed. Now, I'm not saying this tactic would work for everyone, I'm 5'4", so my psycho isn't going to be nearly as impressive as his 6', brick shit house attack.


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RIVERVIEW -- Authorities are trying to determine how a 4-year-old boy was mauled Saturday night by two dogs that had been crated at his uncle's house in Riverview.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, two deputies were conducting a traffic stop near the home on the 12500 block of Rhodine Road when they heard a child's screams.
They ran to the scene and found young Logan Shepard in the front yard with the two dogs, described by deputies as pit bulls, standing over him. The child was pronounced dead at the scene around 10:30 p.m.
Investigators say Logan and his mother, Stephanie Groulx, had walked from their home on nearby Tocci Lane to their aunt and uncle's residence. The uncle, Bill Fredericks Sr, had crated the two dogs before their arrival.
Logan was given some ice cream once inside the house and was left sitting in the family room while the adults and Logan's 15-year-old cousin went into the master bedroom to talk.
The adults then heard screams and came out of the bedroom to discover Logan was not in the house. The deputies arrived moments later.
Animal Services responded to the home and took possession of the dogs. It was the first call to the home for a problem with the dogs, authorities said.
No charges have been filed, but authorities are still investigating. Deputies said Groulx and the aunt, Delores Fredericks, are sisters.

subset: commoncrawl


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Growing up in the seventy's was an interesting time in the United States, let alone in a small town in Michigan. Change was in the wind as a result of the unpopular Vietnam War causing social, political, and economic stress. By the mid-seventy's energy crisis and resulting economic recession added to social change that impacted all of our lives.
Sitting in my high school's sophomore architecture class (a.k.a. drafting) our teacher Mr. Elschultz (they were called teachers back then) would always discuss the changes occurring around us and the impact those changes had on our lives. Mr. Elschultz would always emphasize that each one of us possessed the ability to change our lives. What better way to change my life and; also, improve the lives of others, than through Architecture.
Not knowing much about Architecture, I headed to the local library to research what architecture was all about. It was cool. Architects created great spaces and buildings. Architects were able to express their creativity in terms of form and function. Architect's got to spend O.P.M. I was hooked.
During my summer breaks, I jumped at the chance to work for one of the local construction companies in Marysville. I thought it would be a great way to learn about how buildings go together by actually helping to build them. I loved looking at the blueprints, seeing the orderly progress how a building was created, and trying to understand what the Architect was thinking about during design and the detailing of each component. This was cool stuff!
It seems like yesterday, I was sitting in the design studio at L.I.T. thinking about how my design solution would affect the lives of people who would be using my building. Today, I am a principal and partner of one of the most successful architecture firms in the state of Nevada. The rest is history.


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Analyst Calls It: Nintendo Wins the Console War
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Analyst Calls It: Nintendo Wins the Console War
There's still a lot of life left in the current generation of consoles but industry analyst Jesse Divnich says nothing short of Ragnarok is going to keep Nintendo from coming out on top this time around.
For awhile, the Wii looked unstoppable. Nintendo's console mercilessly pounded the crap out of its Sony and Microsoft counterparts and there were even whispered suggestions from some corners that Sony would be better off washing its hands of the PlayStation 3 and gearing up for the next generation instead. But sales of the Wii have slowed dramatically this year, while the Xbox 360 remains healthy and the PlayStation 3 is finally starting to find its legs. With the current console generation expected to last through 2013, is it possible that the this round of the console wars could have a surprise, come-from-behind winner?
Well, no. At least not according to EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich, who says that even in a worst-case scenario for Nintendo and best-case scenario for everyone else, the Wii has simply built up too much of a lead to overcome. "For the Wii, let us assume a 25% decline in sales next year; followed by two years of 30% declines, and a 50% decline in 2013," he said in a report on IndustryGamers. "For the Xbox 360, we'll assume a 10% increase through 2012, and a 30% decline in 2013. For the PlayStation 3, a 25% increase next year, followed by two years of 10% increases and a 30% decline in 2013."
"This is, of course, a worst-case scenario and highly unlikely to occur since the combined sum of hardware sold is nearly 60% more than that of the sixth generation consoles, but Wii sales will only be at par with PS2 sales (in this worst-case scenario)," he continued. "However, even if this scenario were to occur, the Wii would still come out the winner, with some room to breathe."
Divnich acknowledged that there are "complications" involved in his prediction, including the unlikely assumption that Nintendo is going to make no moves on the hardware front between now and 2013, and that Sony's plan to support the PS3 through 2016 could give it a substantial boost in sales numbers, "very similar to the late success the PS2 had by being able to offer consumers an incredibly cheap video game system/DVD player."
Nonetheless, the real battle now is for second place and despite the "generous lead" held by the Xbox 360, Divnich believes it could turn into a genuine horse race. "The $299 price cut on the PS3 has clearly shifted momentum into Sony's favor," he said. "Is it enough to change Sony's current ranking or could Sony's ten-year support of the PS3 push its installed base ahead of the Xbox 360 in the long-term? Unfortunately, we will need another year of hard data before a comfortable projection can be made, but I am sure until then the heated debates will continue."
While doing my best not to be disrespectful.
Anywho, back on topic:
You know since a good portion of people already own 360's, I can see them going out to Best Buy and picking up a PS3 because its so low priced right now.
It'll be interesting to see who comes out in second, but hey I'll see you on the MW2 battlefield. Just pray you're not on the other side of my scope.
Its not news Wii is the most profitable console, however ask how many people own a Wii through their own will and consistently believe it to be their favourite.You WILL hear otherwise.
Apparently Captain Obvious has got a job as an industry analyst.
I agree with this. If the only marker for winning a console war is who sells the most, then yes, the Wii wins. Quality should also be relevant though, and if that were the case, I see the Wii starting to fall behind the other systems. I'd personally say at this point its still a 3 way race for first in this generation.
What?! The sky is falling!!! The sea is turning red!!! Run for your lives!!! An analyst admits that the Wii will win but is not doomed! Unbelievable!
Well it's better to be Captain Obvious Analyst than Michael "KingofIdiots" Pachter.
Though quality can be interpreted differently.
Good for Nintendo. Now hopefully they take all that influence/revenue from the Wii and use it to actually try to COMPETE with the other hardware manufacturers during the next console generation.
I'll respectfully disagree with that analysis--2008 and 2009 were the years for the Wii, but with both the nice shiny new price drop in the PS3 and the improved, smaller, stronger PS3 Slim, and with no real relevant change in the 360, I see the PS3 taking market in 2010. High definition has definitely caused a market resurgence, and of the three, PS3 has the best to offer--and that's not even mentioning the cheap Blu-Ray Player that comes within. It was the same way with the PS2, that part of its use was that it was versatile. The Wii is there for entertainment, and very few people think of their Xbox when they want to watch a movie--but there is quite a large group of people who don't have a dvd player, but have a perfectly functional PS2/PS3. The Xbox will continue to stay strong, but without an impressive innovation, they will continue to ride the middle. And while I seriously doubt Nintendo will be content to just sit back and watch Sony ride the wave, it won't be in 2010 that they can do anything about it. Playstation has pushed themselves forward, redesigning the console, making it smaller and more powerful, while the little white cube's innovation is that it might now come in the special black, and Microsoft's astounding innovation was to mimic the price drop without increasing the potential that the Slim now provides. And while it's too late in 2009 for anyone but the Wii, I very easily see the PS3 taking market next year.
Nintendo does something that they are known for. MILKING, FKIN MILKING.
Of course it has quality games, or it wouldn't be in the race. My issue is that its quality games are easily rivaled by the other systems in the end, but at the same time the other consoles quality games tend to outsell the Wii's quality games. Hence why its still a 3 way race to me, not the Wii a clear winner.
And by quality I mean good games in general, being the ones that sell well and 'tend' to review favorably.
Thanks goes out to my mum and little brother for beating my console of choice with a decent selection of games and good controls while there's doesn't
Just goes to show quality means squat
My thoughts exactly.
Anyway, to agree with alot of people here, we shouldn't give a crap about the console wars. This guy is just trying to get attention by stating the obvious. But then again, all analysts are douches, so I'm not surprised.
I also see this happening in the future. Seems like pretty solid logic.
But I'm praying people will forget this whole motion control nonsense. It's not gaming. It's a distraction. Nothing more.
...console sales don't count, as far as i'm concerned, given thing like the bit where I haven't bought a wii game in a very long time, and that our 2nd gen 360 is broken after warranty, meaning my family is apparently picking up another one.
ive a xbox 360 plus a good amount of games and now its time to buy a ps3 but i will never buy the wii for the simple fact that its a last gen system with a novelty device tacked on
I still don't have one, so they've lost as far as I'm concerned.
Nintendo's main purpose is to make money, not make good games. They've made the most money and therefore have won. This is how much I care about conoles.
On another note, I just opened a pack of M&Ms and more than half of them are yellow.
I figured the wii was gonna be the winner, cheaper seems better these days especially with nintendo's target market... everybody and their grandma.
I did not know Sony would be supporting the ps3 until 2016, that is a godsend for me. By then i should have money to spend freely... if my really old ps3 is still working then.
It's my main console. And my favourite console.
And really I don't think people should care. However since I'm here, PS3 IMO will come second since it will get cheaper, as it's offering more for less. I think the Wii is too much of a popular brand now for Natal to make a huge difference.
And lol at Wii bashing. It's like you have to be paid to be civil nowadays.
One decade is how their consoles are always supported. It was like that for the PS1, PS2 and now the PS3.
Ah, analysts, those guys with "anal" in their name. They will never get old.
Really? I haven't touched my brothers wii in months, and neither has he since he got his xbox... infact i don't think any of my wii playing friends have played the wii seriously since they got xboxes... i heartily disagree with this statement.
Thats true.
Have to point out your mistake here. The console wars were started by Sega ("Genesis does what Nintendon't!") in the early 90s for marketing purposes. This divided gamers into Nintendo and Sega camps, and fans have run with the idea of a divided marketplace ever since, rather than just accepting that we're all gamers. Much as I love Sega, this mess is all their bloody fault.
I don't think it's such a lay down misere yet. Wii sales are steadily on the decline, the PS3 is finally kicking into top gear and the 360 still has Natal looming as a dark horse. Anything can happen; this generation still has a long way to go.
Too true...
People who work for Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony, I guess ;) mind you, now every Nintendo employee can afford their own cruise liner, I doubt they are too concerned at present.
For the consumers like you and I, yes they are pointless where we should all be happy and enjoy our passion.
However the consoles wars are real for investors.
I wonder how much they pay this guy
Funny for a war they all seem to get along nicely on the same shelf in my room
Yeah, very true. I own a wii, had one for 2 years, only have 2 games for it. Almost everyone I know who bought a wii never plays it and have since bought/plan on buying a different console. Nintendo probably will lose most of its actual gamer demographic next generation. I know I sure as hell won't be buying the next nintendo console.
To be honest, I don't care which console 'wins' just as long as I enjoy the games that are released for them. I play the Wii mainly for my most favourite games, the most milked franchises ever (but I don't care, I enjoy them). I play the 360 mainly for FPSs and Guitar Hero/Rock Band, and I play the PS3 for...um...something. I think the last game I played on it was either Final Fantasy 7, Metal Gear Solid 1 or Crash Bandicoot 3.
I have to admit though, I am a bit biased towards Nintendo, as they are my favourite gaming company (some people might scoff at that last statement that they are a gaming company, but I still regard them as one) and call me a sucker for punishment, but I will be sticking by them whatever happens.
there is no f***ing way the wii won the console wars really i thought that it epic failed
Well, it's a war not worth winning.
Honestly, i dont see where the wii can go from here, next gen i mean. How do you follow up to this completely new style with the wii remotes and crap. uhg, that rapid of change scares me, but its not in my territory anyways. * pets xbox 360*
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The following library database can be found on the Database Services page of the library webiste.
Films on Demand - Provides instantaneous access to streaming films from sources such as Films for the Humanities and Sciences and Cambridge Educational.
If videos are not displayed, click here to login, then refresh the page.
These videos are freely available online.


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This is the final report on the rally. On Sunday morning, we caravanned in cars to The 77th Ellinger Chamber of Commerce Tomato Festival about 13 miles from the campground. One of the highlights of the festival was the local parade that had many of the antique automobiles from our tour on Saturday. A lot of candy thrown from the parade vehicles was collected by our two grandkids and the three that accompanied the Didelot's.
We did not see the first tomato anywhere at the festival, but we had a lot of fun. The local VFW did a nice memorial Flag Raising/21 Gun Salute service.
Back at the campground, the kids swam some more, and we visited.
Later in the afternoon, the ladies and the kids participated in a craft project to make American Flag pins. I was surprised that the kids took to it…………..
In the last few pictures above, you can see Weston (black shirt) and Austin (yellow shirt), twin grandsons of Mark and Sue Didelot. The last picture features Darlene King (no relation) who along with her husband, Tom (really no relation!!!) hosted this rally. Thanks, Darlene, for helping the kids, especially Aubrey, who came back to make a second pin for her mother!!
On Saturday evening, we had a 'baked potato' dinner with the club furnishing the potatoes and the members providing a variety of toppings.
After dinner, the members participated in a couple of games that included the kids. One of them was a race with a potato inside a pair of pantyhose and tied to the contestants waist. The goal was to swing the potato with your body, and knock an orange to the finish line. Fortunately, since I was an adult contestant, there are no photos of the guys, but here are some of the kids…………….
The younger contestants were Austin Didelot (yellow shirt), Matthew King (green shirt), and Weston Didelot. The Didelot's third grandson, and the oldest is Trevor, who is shown sitting in the green shirt in the last photo.
Matthew claimed that he had won, noting that the fact that the orange came into contact with his foot a couple of times was just trivia!! They had fun!
Before we departed on Monday, the kids got to do another fun thing. Daryl and Marsha, brother and sister-in-law of Carolyn, a member of our club attended this rally. They are also Tiffin Phaeton owners, and carry a big toy in a trailer behind their rig. Daryl gave each of the kids a ride around the campground…..
Our next planned trip is with our grandkids at the end of June.


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I can't think of the line "To be or not to be" without a smile emerging on my face after seeing Florida Studio Theatre's "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)."
Even the word "abridged" makes me laugh.
The show features all of Shakespeare's plays, about 36 or so, performed in various comic sketches. Never have Shakespeare's tragedies been so funny. Three actors do it all - from "Romeo and Juliet"to "Hamlet."
I walked in expecting funny, but what was performed was levity on an extraordinarily entertaining level. A hilarious trio of actors - Michael Daly, Brad DePlanche and Christopher Patrick Mullen - had the crowd, and me, in stitches.
They didn't just act Shakespeare, they made it their own with a very witty script and the direction of Jim Helsinger.
This isn't the Bard as you know it. Shakespeare's works take on various forms that include a cooking show and appearances by Darth Vader, stick puppets featuring George Bush and the Olson Twins, a toy robot dinosaur and a blow up whale. Plus, there's plenty of audience participation.
For a fast-pace show like this, Daly, DePlanche and Mullen have the stamina to entertain without getting lost in the dialogue, costume changes and Saturday Night Live-ish comic elements. Of course, already a couple of weeks into the show, they look and feel right at home on stage, as if they've been doing "The Complete Works" all their life.
They made the Bard fun while paying homage to the one of the greatest literary masters ever. Even those who are timid towards Shakespeare will thoroughly enjoy this show. In fact, audience members will walk away wanting to read all the Shakespeare they can get their hands on.
"The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)" continues various times at FST through Aug. 23.
-January Holmes
Monday, August 17, 2009
Shakespeare LOL
Posted by About this blog: at 9:52 AM
2 comments:
Thanks January! It was funny living and working in this fun, pretty, (humid), welcoming city! Hope to be back soon...
- Michael Daly
- August 22, 2009 at 1:37 AM
Freudian slip. Fun! And funny too...
- August 22, 2009 at 1:38 AM
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text: Join us for STEM Saturday and learn to code with Minecraft. Use blocks of code to take Steve or Alex on an adventure through a Minecraft world. You'll use kid-friendly programming to learn how creativity and problem solving come together to make something all your own. The curriculum for this activity is designed for ages 8 and older. Register today to reserve your seat!