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The following are some books I found on Amazon. I am currently reading about 4 of them. Hope you find them helpful and interesting too! 1. Home Vegetable Gardening
2. Organic Gardener's Composting
3. Home Vegetable Gardening: a Complete and Practical Guide to the Planting and Care of All Vegetables, Fruits and Berries Worth Growing for Home Use
4. Culinary Herbs: Their Cultivation Harvesting Curing and Uses
5. Small Gardens and How to Make the Most of Them
6. Amateur Gardencraft: A Book for the Home-Maker and Garden Lover
7. Grow Your Own Food
The following is an old book so I found it very interesting!
8. The American Frugal Housewife
9. Things Mother Used to Make
Pennsylvania Dutch Cooking
10. Twenty-Five Cent Dinners for Families of Six This book is dated 1879!
11. Mother's Remedies Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from Mothers of the United States and Canada
This should keep you busy for a while. I will add more as I find them.
Hawaii Food Bank's Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program - The Hawaii Farm Bureau is happy to announce that our Oahu farmers markets are participating in a Hawaii Foodbank's Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program....
7 years ago


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Yum! ;)
Sorry to read that the Princess has a swallowing problem ... BUT happy to know if the thickening agent is used, this is not life threatening! It's also encouraging to know that she could out grow this problem!<3<3<3
In an attempt to keep this blog semi-private, please refrain from using The Superhero and The Princess' real names. Thanks. :)

subset: commoncrawl


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I'm going to start collecting arguments against invading Iraq that are Neo-Wilsonian. This essay by Thomas Friedman is a good start:
Why is America pushing democracy only in Iraq? Maybe it's because America really doesn't care about democracy in the Arab world, but is just pursuing some naked interests in Iraq and using democracy as its cover.
"Up to now, the Bush administration has been using democracy-promotion in the Mideast only as a tool to punish its enemies, not to create opportunities for its friends," notes the Middle East expert Stephen P. Cohen.
It's true. The Bush team is advocating democracy only in authoritarian regimes that oppose America, not in authoritarian regimes that are ostensibly pro-American � even though it is America's support for the autocratic regimes in Egypt and Saudi Arabia that has made many of their citizens so anti-American and contributed to the fact that 15 Saudis and one Egyptian played key roles in 9/11.
Some argue that if you have elections in these countries you will end up with "one man, one vote, one time" � in other words, the Islamists would win and never cede power back. I disagree. I think you would have one man, one vote, one time � for one term. Because sooner or later even the Islamists would have to deliver or be ousted.
The Bush policy today is to punish its enemies with the threat of democracy and reward its friends with silence on democratization. That's a sure-fire formula for giving democracy a bad name.


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Need help learning how to read the old German handwriting? FamilySearch has published two short online classes to help you become familiar with this handwriting.
The first class is called "Lesson 1 - Kurrent Letters" and is approximately 15 minutes long.
The second class is called "Lesson 2 -- Making Words in Kurrent" and lasts approximately 35 minutes.
You can access these and other genealogy lessons here on the FamilySearch website.


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These are the new things in the shop this week- see them all at http://www.etsy.com/shop/knitolution
A beautiful baby quilt, 2 crochet blankets, and 3 fun vintage items- a necktie, doilies, and a ladies' hanky. Enjoy!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
New this week!
Two new items listed in my shop this week- visit the shop for all the details. I've got a whole pile more to list, a lot of vintage and a few handmade. I've mostly spent this week working on photographing the new stuff and organizing my new working area, so next week I will be editing and listing things as fast as I can!
Posted by Jen at 3:07 PM
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Tuesday, January 11, 2011
A Quick Update
Dracu Domo accompanied us on our long and tough drive to our new home on Halloween, but we finally arrived in Cambridge, where I spent one beautiful fall day exploring before jetting off to Peru!
I spent nearly a month in Peru, starting with workshops and a conference called Tinkuy de Tejadores- a gathering of weavers from various communities in the Peruvian highlands, other countries in South and Central America, Americans, Canadians, and a few Europeans. I got to learn the basics of backstrap loom weaving- something I've wanted to try for a long time! I'm completely hooked, and now have several projects going. I also got to learn about Andean spinning techniques- they use a very different drafting technique from European drop spindling. I'm not very good at that yet, but I can already see how much faster and more efficient it is. After the Tinkuy, I explored Peru with my mom as guide (she's an archaeologist who specializes in Peru) I started with Cuzco, then Machu Picchu, and then we headed to Puno, on Lake Titicaca, where we had quite the adventure due to protesters blocking the road! This forced a change in plans, and we headed earlier than planned to Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, and then on to the coast- Nazca, Ica, Paracas, and Lima. The whole trip was incredible- Peru has wonderful food, people, and culture. One of the most wonderful places I've ever been!
Photos- the first one is Dracu Domo from our road trip, the second is the view from our back door before I left for Peru. Next is me, trying backstrap loom weaving on a belt, then Machu Picchu. To the left is a view of an Apu (sacred mountain) with the moon from Colca canyon. On the right are sea lions at the Islas Ballestas off the Peruvian coast (they are so cute!) Below right is Lagunillas bay in the Paracas Reserve, and below left is sunset over Huacachina, an oasis in the desert near Ica, once a ritzy resort, now a bit of a tourist trap, but beautiful nonetheless. I'll get to the final 2 photos shortly.
I came back from Peru to spend 2 more weeks in my new home, meeting people and moving in, before I returned to Colorado to visit friends and family over the holidays. I had a great trip, and came home with several of my grandmother's beautiful quilts, which really are spectacularly beautiful! She is a true inspiration.
Shortly after my return, Ryan and I celebrated New Years eve by running around Boston for First Night- we saw the Science museum, ice sculptures, comedy improv, Boston ballet performing the Nutcracker, and wrapped up with a fireworks cruise in the harbor- and the best part? Ryan finished off a perfect end to a good year by asking me to marry him at 11 minutes into 1-1-11! Of course I said yes, and the photo is of us in front of the cruise boat.
One final tidbit- here is a (mediocre) photo of one of my latest bursts of creativity- a Andy Warhol tribute. This one's not for sale, its just for me!
I'm glad to be back to working and finally settled in, I have a bunch of things ready to get listed on etsy as soon as I get them photographed and organized. This will be an exciting year, exploring a new home, building my business, and planning a wedding!
Posted by Jen at 4:24 PM
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Last Thursday Room 14 planted some tree onion bulbs that Anna's Dad gave us. We had to call Anna's Dad to find out how to plant the tree onions. Luckily Anna put on loudspeaker so we could hear.
This is what the tree onions looked like. We used a trowel to put potting mix in the pot.
We had to gently put the tree onion in the soil. You have to make sure 1/3 of the onion is showing at the top.
Today we noticed that some of the tree onions have started to grow.


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Contactmusic.com spoke to Conor from the band Kinesis.
How are you doing?
Not bad thanks, well we only got up about an hour ago!
So how did Kinesis come about?
Well the other 3 members which are Michael who sings and plays guitar, Tom who plays Bass & Neil who plays drums, they all went to school together and I grew up living around the corner from Mike so we were all friends so we decided to form a band, it wasn't really hard to find one an other because there aren't too many people who love music in Bolton, so it happened really naturally for us when forming the band.
Continue reading: Kinesis - Interviewed
Seven songs to take you to victory, or seven songs to dry your eyes to.
Idris Elba has unveiled his new indie imprint 7Wallace Music.
It's that time of year again. 'Today we celebrate our Independence Day!'
We could watch this guy all day.


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Grants Account Tour: Tools
Thursday, August 14, 2008 | 10:03 AM
Labels: AdWords Basics
Have you ever wondered why you couldn't find your ads if you searched on Google? Have you wanted to add a few keywords to your campaign but not known what to add? That brings us to the Tools section of your Grants account.
In the Campaign Management tab of your account, the useful Tools section can help you easily optimize your ads and analyze their performance. Here's our shortlist of helpful tools for your account:If you notice that a couple of your keywords perform well and receive many qualified clicks, try entering them in the Keyword Tool to find similar ones. Or if some of your keywords haven't received many clicks, try entering them in the tool to see if there are synonyms or related keywords you could try. This article has additional tips for using the tool.
The Keyword Tool suggests additional keywords for you to bid on, which will help drive more traffic to your site. The tool generates new keywords in two ways:
- descriptive words and phrases on your site
- your website URL
The Keyword Tool suggests additional keywords for you to bid on, which will help drive more traffic to your site. The tool generates new keywords in two ways:
- descriptive words and phrases on your site
- your website URL
The Ad Preview Tool allows you to see your ad as it would appear on Google (without accruing extra impressions which can negatively impact your clickthrough rate). This helps if you're targeting a specific geographic area where you aren't located. To preview your ad, simply enter a keyword and click on 'Preview Ads' to see the Sponsored Links and results for that keyword.
The Ads Diagnostic Tool is great for seeing an ad's behavior. To use it, simply enter the keyword you're searching on. The next page will give you information about the keyword and reasons that your ads aren't running. There's also an option here to preview search results through the Ad Preview Tool.
The Disapproved Ads Tool, which compiles all ads that may be disapproved. You can see why ads have been disapproved, so you can edit them accordingly to get them up and running again.
The Change History Tool shows you changes (such as adding or deleting keywords, or creating new ad text) that have been made to your account.
Finally, there's the option to download AdWords Editor, which we'll post about next month. It's a useful desktop application that helps you manage your account and make changes offline. If you want to get a head start, go ahead and download the desktop application here. Otherwise, get to work on the tools above.


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From the gallery press release:
Steven Daily & Howard Hallis
Discuss their exhibitions in the first of a continuing series
of new artist lectures at La Luz de Jesus
Saturday, January 29, 2011; 4-7 PM
Shows close January 30th.
This afternoon we'll celebrate the end of an extraordinary pair of exhibitions by hosting two informative lectures. Steven Daily will illuminate the hidden symbols and secret handshakes that populate his dense expose of Masonic Conspiracies: Covenant.
Howard Hallis will relate the creative process and personal sacrifices that culminated in the completion of his thirteen-year and fifteen-feet-tall project The Picture of Everything.
This weekend is also the last chance to catch Tammi Otis' A Fertile Madness and Charles Binger's posthumous A Pulp Life. Two absolutely stunning collections that need to be seen.


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There seem to be two schools of thought when it comes to "change." One school says, "If it's not broken, don't fix it;" the other school takes a different view: "If it's not broke, break it."
While I often welcome change - especially needed change - I tend to be conservative in my views towards those who change something for the sake of change. Here's why:
Fragile Customer Loyalty: Customer loyalty is hard-won, fragile and remarkably powerful when it comes to supporting a business or product. A while back, I did a survey of 3,000 people in Palm Beach County Florida who'd been with the same doctor for more than 11 years. Of these (the doctors were horrified to learn), a clear majority would change doctors (breaching that loyalty) in order to cut their wait-time by just 15 minutes, or their co-pay by just $25. Clearly, in this case, the loyalty doctors assumed was theirs (allowing them to keep customers waiting or charging them all the market would bear) was only skin-deep. If that.
Real Customer Loyalty: On the other side of the coin, real customer loyalty has people choosing - without thinking about it - the store they'll shop at, the fast-food drive-through they'll patronize, or the product they'll buy. That's what sellers want - loyalty so deep that customers won't even consider other options before laying down their magic plastic.
That is loyalty worth having.
Yet when companies adopt change for the sake of change, they are destroying the too-fragile link that bonds customer to product or vendor. That can have ruinous financial implications.
Example One - Smith's Grocery Store (a Kroger company): I have been shopping at one grocery store for 16 years, for two reasons. First, it is the closest to my home, making it convenient. However, there is another grocery store (inside Walmart) that's less than a quarter-mile more distant from my home. Location convenience is not a big issue here.
The second, and most important reason for patronizing this store is simple: After 16 years, I am comfortable in knowing that I can instantly find any product I might want, because I already know where it can be found on the shelves. I don't have to think about it, I don't have to go searching for it. This means that it takes me about 20-30 minutes to find my weekly $200 worth of food items, check out and be heading back home.
However, within the past month, the store (probably at the behest of "corporate" - in this case, Cincinnati-based Kroger) experienced a store layout make-over - and suddenly, the products I sought out were not where I'd been used to finding them. It took me more than 20 minutes longer - basically doubling my time in the store - to do the family's weely shopping in the "new" store than in the old.
Frustrating. But more important, it shattered the bonds of loyalty. I didn't shop there because I knew the people - turn-over in that line of work is too great. And I didn't shop there because of quality - the brand items are the same, and frankly, Smith's shopping bags are so flimsy that I have to request that everything be double-bagged ... or I can look forward to chasing canned goods down the driveway as they roll toward the street out front of my house.
Now that the only good reason for shopping at Smith's - the convenience of knowing where items I generally buy can be located - was gone, I realized that I might as well check out the Albertson's a couple of miles down the street from Smith's. The drive isn't that much longer, and because I no longer had the bonds of loyalty to hold me back, I'm now "shopping" for a new grocery store. It might wind up being Smith's, but don't count on that.
Example Two: For decades, I have been a loyal customer of Vaseline's lip balm, which comes in a soft-plastic tube. This tube fits easily in my pocket, and because it has a screw-top lid, I don't have to worry about the lid coming off, allowing the petroleum jelly to get all over my wallet and pocket knife (the other two "residents" of that pocket). This product is important to me because I live in the desert (Las Vegas) - the average humidity is about 9%, and petroleum jelly lip balm is essential to day-to-day comfort.
I chose Vaseline because it was based on petroleum jelly, rather than was. I'd learned a couple of decades ago that the major lip-balm brands, such as Blistex, use a kind of wax that shuts down the body's natural production of lip-lubricating oils. In effect, it's addictive. If you use it long enough and regularly enough, you'll wind up having to use it all the time. However, this is not the case with petroleum jelly. And while there may be other brands of petroleum jelly-based lip-balm on the market, I chose Vaseline ... then stuck with them because I was a satisfied, loyal customer.
Not anymore. When I went to a couple of drug stores looking for replacement tubes, I couldn't find any. Eventually, I asked a clerk for help and was told that Vaseline had stopped making the tubes in favor of a small plastic box, about the size of two sugar cubes side-by-side. Apparently, they expected me to make the switch-over. However, there are several problems with that:
One: To use this box-packaged petroleum jelly, I have to swipe it with my finger, then apply it to my lips. Which means my finger really ought to be clean before I apply it, and it means that I'll then have a finger coated with petroleum jelly - I'll need something to wipe it off. Taken together, this suggests that I need to access a restroom where I can wash my hands both before and after each application. NOT convenient. Or, I can take my chances on finger-cleanliness and wipe my applicator-finger off on the inside of one of my socks, or the inside of one pant-leg.
Two: Packaging - the lid is snap-on, and it easily snaps off in my pocket if it rubs my wallet or pocket knife the wrong way. That's one problem. The other is that, because of it's hard-shell cube-shaped design, it often pops out (unnoticed) when I grab my wallet, pocket knife or keys. Within days of purchase, I'd already lost my first jelly-cube.
Three: Flavor - the old stand-by petroleum jelly had essentially no taste, which suited me just fine. I didn't want a lingering flavor. However, in the stores, there are now two options - plain or petroleum-jelly-plus-cocoa-butter. Maybe the cocoa butter is supposed to enhance the product's lip-protection quality, but it definitely imparts a taste. And for those stores which only have one shelf-spot for the product, what they offer is the cocoa-butter product. Which I don't want.
Bottom Line: I am now in the market for both a new grocery store and another brand of petroleum jelly. The store loyalty would never have been in play without this unnecessary and (for me) unwelcome change. As for the lip-balm, I was perfectly satisfied with the "old" product, but I can't find it anywhere, and I'm not wild about its replacement. The loyalty is gone, and I'm now trying other manufacturers' products, as long as it's petroleum jelly-based and sold in a tube. So long, Vaseline.
The Risk of Change
These two examples highlight the risks of change. When I lost my bearings in the grocery store, I no longer had a reason to maintain my loyalty. The "change" Smith's wanted might inadvertently also be my "change" to a competitor's store. The "change" Vaseline came up with - actually, two changes, packaging and product composition - already have me scrambling for an alternative product (one that's blended and packaged to meet my preferences) - so, for them, "change" means "we've just lost a long-term client, probably forever."
For some reason, the corporate gnomes at Kroger decided that a make-over change was good - they probably assumed it would bring in new customers. However, they didn't understand that such a radical change could lead customers like me to start shopping around for another store. I'm assuming that if the suddenly lost-in-the-store customers hang on through a few shopping trips, they'll start to figure out where "their" products can be found, and their convenience-based loyalty will be reborn. Perhaps, but for certain they're going to lose some customers.
The same goes for Vaseline, but even more-so. I was a loyal partisan in favor of Vaseline's lip balm; now I'm actively looking to replace them.
So marketers beware - change for the sake of change will cost you customers you don't need to lose. If Vaseline had seen a market for their petroleum jelly cubes, they could have expanded their product line, losing no current customers while also attracting new ones. But they chose change, and now they're scrambling to make up the market share they just drove away.
Smith's couldn't do that, but they might have implemented changes gradually, with helpful on-site signage saying "pudding has moved to Aisle 3, middle of the aisle" or something like that. But by making all the changes at once, they have put customer loyalty "in play" ... and that's never a sound marketing strategy.
Note: I have contacted both Kroger's (for Smith's) and Unilever for Vaseline, but have received no reply. Should that change, I will update this blog.


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Hello, All -
I've searched the board and found some great suggestions for spots around the coast, but I wanted to check in with all of you and make sure I'm on the right track. First, here's some background - our family of four (hubby, two daughters ages 9 & 14, and me) will be visiting relatives in Seattle in June, and will escape by ourselves for a quick 3-4 day trip (leaving Monday morning, returning to Seattle Thurs afternoon) down to the Oregon coast with a possible detour to Mt St Helens. If we find that we're trying to add on too much by going to Mt St Helens, we'll skip it. During our trip to the coast, we're making Cannon Beach our home base and will hope to explore north and south along the coast. We plan to hike at some of the state parks, ride bikes on the beach, etc.
I am a major foodie, but my husband is not so much and my kids, although they like to experiment a bit, are still only 9 and 14 yrs old and usually prefer pizza and burgers to most foods. I'm very excited about tasting oysters and crab and whatever other local interesting and/or ethnic specialties the area has to offer. I'm focusing mainly on seafood places but want to mix other types into the list - not super fancy places but hopefully places that will serve a glass of wine for me and a nice microbrew for hubby w/dinner.
Here's my list so far - In Cannon Beach: Ecola Seafood, In Seaside: Norma's Ocean Diner, In Astoria: the Stand (although we live outside of San Diego so we get our fair share of good tacos), Drina Daisy (Bosnian food sounds interesting!), In Bay City: Pacific Oyster. What do you think about these places? Any others?
One more question - if we go to Mt St Helens, we'll either stop there on our way to/from Seattle, or we will do it as a side trip one day from Cannon Beach. Any places along the way that shouldn't be missed? We love good Thai and I read about Pok Pok in Portland, which definitely appeals to us, so we may do that as we go through Portland one day. Wish we had time to make Portland a focus of the trip but I think that will have to wait for another trip.
As you can see, I'm a bit all over the place...any help you can offer is much appreciated!! Thank you!!


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A man with a nagging secret couldn't keep it any longer. In the confessional he admitted that for years he had been stealing building supplies from the lumberyard where he worked. The priest asked, "What did you take?" The man answered, "Enough to build my own house and enough for my son's house. And houses for our two daughters and our cottage at the lake.
The priest said, "This is very serious!" I shall have to think of a far-reaching penance. Have you ever done a retreat?" The man replied, "No, Father, I haven't, but if you can get the plans, I can get the lumber."
A young preacher was contacted by the local funeral director to hold a grave-side committal service at a small local cemetery for someone with no family or friends. The preacher started early but quickly got himself lost, making several wrong turns. He arrived a half-hour late, the hearse was nowhere in sight, and the workmen were eating lunch.
Have a great weekend and enjoy Halloween. More soon.
Stay Tuned !


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The annual Irish Games are a thing of the past, but the event's sponsor, St. Patrick's parish in Pasco, is offering a different way to celebrate the gathering of people for fun and enrichment.
It's called Encounter 2013: A Place for Us. This cultural festival is March 16-17 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick. Admission is free but donations are welcome.
The two days will be packed with speakers, performers and cultural exhibits, all of which will address a central theme that asks, "What makes us most fully human and what unites us as people," said Nina Powers, event coordinator.
"Family is at the very heart of human fulfillment," she said. But why this fulfillment is elusive, and how it pertains to happiness will be some of the topics being discussed during the event, she said.
Organizers decided to end the Irish Games with the intent of putting on an event with more substance that would give people something to talk about. They said they wanted to offer something more than an event where kids ride the rides and parents sit in the beer gardens.
Father Daniel Barnett, pastor of St. Patrick's parish, says Encounter will pick up where the Irish Games left off.
"It's meant to bring people together, to have some fun while fostering conversation," he said. "It's also not about membership (in the church) or money. It will provide a place for people to meet equally."
The nondenominational Encounter event will feature speakers exploring a wide range of topics, as well as performances by the Mid-Columbia Mastersingers, Mid-Columbia Symphony, Mid-Columbia Musical Theater, Mid-Columbia Ballet, Academy of Children's Theatre and Los Angeles-based Celtic Spring.
A special guest will be Monsignor Eduardo Chavez Sanchez of Mexico City. He is the leading authority on the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe, as well as the Mexican peasant Juan Diego, who said he saw the Virgin Mary in 1531.
"The monsignor will speak about why the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe is important," Barnett said.
The Encounter opens at 10 a.m. March 16 with a performance by the Mid-Columbia Symphony. Other performances throughout the day include musicians Daniel Oberreuter, Jeremy Neufeld and the Mastersingers.
There also will be theater performances by Shakespeare Walla Walla and Mid-Columbia Musical Theater and the Academy of Children's Theatre.
Guest artists who will present interactive exhibits are Danica Wixon, a student at Washington State University in Pullman, and West Richland's Davin Diaz.
Wixon's exhibit, titled Faces of Grief, was inspired by the struggle and development she experienced with her faith. Diaz took the art of Cameron T. Mills and created an exhibit, Untitled, where he asks viewers to write down their thoughts about Mills' paintings. His intent is to get people talking about art.
And talking, listening, sharing is really what's at the heart of Encounter, said Sal Beltran III, a member of the organizing committee.
"The human experience is what it's all about, to get people together and have fun and communicating with each other," he said. "And what better way to do that than with the arts."
Powers hopes that Encounter will reach young adults who spend more time texting than talking.
"As a mom I am seeing a different culture emerge with texting more natural than talking," she said. More exposure to human interaction, the arts and conversation is what brings out the best in human nature, she said.
Another guest speaker at the event will be Claire Halpine, whose sister Anna is the founder of World Youth Alliance.
The Encounter is paid for by the generosity of private donors, Beltran said. "And by the grace of God, we are blessed that most of the artists are donating their time," he said.
-- Dori O'Neal: 582-1514; firstname.lastname@example.com; Twitter: @dorioneal


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has died at the age of 92. A fine player, he is remembered more for two "shots." At left you see him watching, in a famous shot, Bobby Thomson's drive sail into the leftfield stands at the Polo Grounds to seal the Giants pennant over his Dodgers in the 1951 playoff. Bobby's HR became known as the "Shot Heard Around the World." Dom DeLillo later wrote a tremendous novella-length story titled "Pafko at the Wall," which would serve as the opening of his (disappointing) novel Underworld.
Greg Mitchell on media, politics, film, music, TV, comedy and more. "Not here, not here the darkness, in this twittering world." -- T.S. Eliot
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Pafko, Who Survived 'Shots,' Dies at 92
Posted by Greg Mitchell at 5:09:00 PM
is author of a dozen books (click on covers at right), including the new "THE TUNNELS: Escapes Under the Berlin Wall and the Historic Films the JFK White House Tried to Kill." He was the longtime editor of Editor & Publisher. Email: email@example.com. Twitter: @GregMitch
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Keeping IT costs down whilst managing the day to day workload can be challenging. Maintaininglearn more...
Unearthing your hidden savings...learn more...
In today's market, your capability and bandwidth for commercial IT negotiations arelearn more...
Disaster Stories
Please browse our list of disaster stories. We also have tips, legal cases and free guides in the Tools section, plus a range of useful Links you can visit.
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Anyone got a cigarette? I'm spent.
In other news, our friends told us to "bring games" with us tomorrow when we go over for Thanksgiving dinner. So my awesome wife came home with a giant deck of cards today.
Go Fish? Hardly. Uno? Not on your life. Much better than that. On each card is a different drinking game.
I opened them up in anticipation of immediate inebriation, and I was greeted with this card:
I am really glad I didn't dive right in and start playing, because obviously, had I missed this card, I would be lying in a gutter somewhere right now seriously injured or dead. Probably with giant exclamation points hovering over my cold, lifeless body.
Seriously, why would they even bother? I mean really -- their recommendation that you "play these games with non-alcoholic beverages" provides them with about as much actual legal protection as the "for tobacco only" sticker on the bong case at the local head shop.
I can just picture the crazy fun we'd have using Pepsi to play these games.
"Dude, I am so freakin' GASSY right now."
"Here, take my keys. I'm too BLOATED to drive home. Can I crash on your couch?"
Man, that sounds great, doesn't it?
*no, I don't smoke.
33 comments:
- Anonymous12:19 AM
I came aboard during the JC Penney debacle, and I have every intention of sticking around. I'm strictly Live Journal myself, hence my anonymous reply, but I adore the hell out of your writing, man. The JC Penney piece was great, no doubt, but you've topped it again and again.ReplyDelete
I, like Mr Anonymous there, heard about you through the JC Penny times. I think if people don't read blogs, then they won't keep coming back. But for those of us who understand RSS, we've already added you and of course will return.ReplyDelete
It's weird, what brings in the hits, doesn't it? I spend more time thinking up things that I think are funny, but this one bitter post I wrote about a break up that happened over email brings home the bacon. JC Penney was great- but not even your best. Weird, right?
And will you be sharing any of these drinking games with us? And have you ever heard of/played Beer Pong? As soon as I learn all of the rules I'll share them with you.ReplyDelete
Happy Turkey Day, JV!
- Anonymous11:36 AM
Here is a good drinking game for Christmas.ReplyDelete
Get a copy of Dr. Seuess's How the Grinch stole Christmas.
Make sure everyone has what they are drinking and make sure there is enough really enough for everyone in the game.
The movie isn't very long about 30 minutes but every time someone mentions the word who, Whoville or whatever combo with "who", everyone takes a drink.
The ending song is an ass kicker.
But dude, there's nothing like a Drunken UNO game!ReplyDelete
I, too came aboard during the JCPenny debacle and I've been coming back. I'm one of those 'lurkers', I'll just read and once in awhile comment.
Love the blog, I have cats myself and enjoyed the camping with cats.
Keep blogging!
Thanks...I'm one of your JC Penny fans...and have now started burning your candle at both ends. I start my lunch by reading your most current post, and then go back to the start and work my way through the archives. Thank goodness for you...or my new boring job would be hell.ReplyDelete
Thank you for the laughter (and the tears...) You're THAT good!
- Anonymous5:30 PM
I've been here since long before JC Penny, mostly lurking. You're one of the funniest people I've ever read, and deserve all the attention you got from that post.ReplyDelete
You're right too. A drinking game is entirely pointless if it's done without alcohol.
Keep up the funny shit Johnny.
- Roachmon7:01 PM
JV- I've been onboad with you for about 2 years now....I think it's been that long. You are a daily, or whenever you update, read. You are a great writer and I've turned many a workplace buddy on to you. Keep up the good work and leave the cat home the next time you go camping. I you bring a cat out camping here in AZ, you might as well ring the dinner bell for the coyotes! Happy Thanksgiving!ReplyDelete
I just discovered I am a lurker!!! Its been nearly 2 years now...ReplyDelete
I didn't even know there was a name for my behaviour, I just thought I was one of the "silent minority"
Its been interesting seeing the JCP explosion... I guess when somethings as good as this blog - its bound to happen
btw - I think all men should refer to their spouses as "awesome"
I am off to let 'him' know right now.
I'm new here so I don't know about the JC Penney thing...but I'm gonna go look. And are you serious...3000? Seriously? I'm all tickled when I get 3...okay maybe 5...anything over that is one wild day in blogosphere for me.ReplyDelete
I like that you have just prompted everyone to relate their history with your blog. It can only go downhill from here, from the person who 'only reads you in bed' to the person who 'has secret plans in the making to get the awesome spouse out of the picture and get all the funnies to themselves' all the way to the one who 'won't kiss and tell.'ReplyDelete
Please do kiss and tell in regards to the drinking games. I'm in dire need of a) entertainment as my own humour is severely lacking after pulling University-induced all-nighters (with little company besides your archives) and b) inspiration as to how to celebrate the soon-to-be end of this term. I am perfectly willing to risk my life in the process. Ditches, here I come!
47,910 in one day!!! I doubt if I could blog long enough to get that many hits for the lifetime of my blog. I open a bottle of champers if I hit 50 which I have only done twice.ReplyDelete
You deserve the attention Johnny. I'm like most people here and have been aboard since the JCP thing and I aint going away any time soon :)
Have a great weekend.
I too found you from the JCP entry, but I dedicated a whole week (its the slow season here at work) to reading your two years of archives so I'm all caught up now. There is only one other blog in the world I've read all the archives for and read regularly; I've read it for three years. Now there will be two!ReplyDelete
I think I need to get me a set of these cards. They would make studying cows and sheep infinitely more interesting...ReplyDelete
- Mikey5:44 PM
drinking games are fun but really you cant go wrong with quarters especially when the rules kick in...no elbows on the table you cant say you, you cant say next, no using peoples names, start ever word with the leter B... good times...i think, i dont really remember them allReplyDelete
I am a newcomer as a result of the famous JC PENNY post...and I have not been disappointed once since. I just wish you posted mote often.ReplyDelete
but, since these posts ARE SO GOOD, I can see why you only post once a week......
Im just gald I found your blog. The End.
Off to find the cat camping post...ReplyDelete
I won't make you read the words again-you can figure out how I found your blog. I love your humor and style of writing, so I instantly subscribed to your RSS feed.ReplyDelete
I always entertain myself by reading the warning labels on products. I can't get over the different items that companies feel they have to tell you "not for consumption" - da*n! I was really craving a bottle of shampoo today!
I also came to read the JC Penney entry - loved it, and then proceeded to go through all of your entries.ReplyDelete
You could seriously write a book. Half fiction, half not...whatever, I would buy it instantly. Really, think about it. You have more writing talent than any other blog I've read so far.


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Wednesday, October 06, 2010
More on the Cost of Being Poor: Bank Fees
Joel points to Candace Choi's fine AP story itemizing how much it costs to be poor in the banking system. Answer--$93 a month in nickels and dimes and baby-needs-a-new-pair-of-shoes charges for the privilege of keeping hold of your own money. I'd buy about 80 percent of this, but with one important 20-percent limitation: being poor is a kind of job and there are no unskilled jobs. Had she stayed poor a while longer, Choi would have figured out some fiddles and chisels and sidesteps to reduce the $93 to--something less than $93, albeit still not to zero.
Labels: poverty
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Despite seeming like a relatively simple scene, this shot proved to be a complete and utter pain in the backside, mostly due to the issues of timing and camera movement. I had to listen to Stefan's score constantly while animating to ensure that I timed the sudden camera movement up to her eyes perfectly with the dramatic change in music. This proved to be a challenge but also a great learning experience for syncing and working with sound in general.
For the counting lip movements I imported the video reference of me counting and rotoscoped the lips, then went back and made adjustments to the shapes, exaggerating the moth in order to fit with my far more cartoony character.
I then adjusted the positions of the lips for each frame to match up with the bobbing up and down of the head.
Added hair and eye movement to show the change in the tilt of the head as it moves up and down.
Scales everything up to the correct zoomed in position on screen to match the storyboard.
Animated the surprised blink of the eyes and the camera shoots up to focus on them.
Animated the smiling change of expression as a symbol, allowing me to easily tween the camera pulling out at the same time.
Finally added the arms, string, and key, making sure to animate the key slightly as she tightens the string around it.


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This is just too weird. I've been watching my sitemeter climb the closer Terri gets to death. I went from around 120 hits to around 350 hits yesterday. Much of it had been from Hyscience or Blogs For Terri but yesterday was different. Yesterday I began recieveing a mess of hits from Terri herself. Yep, Terri has her own blog...well...sort of. Some smackboy decided it would be really funny to throw up a couple of posts with noises spelled out and call it Terri's blog. It was a really stupid idea.
I guess the most ironic part about this is that I had been priding myself on not being launched by any big blogs since my inception. Now here comes this sounding board of a topic that I have a semi-different idea about and everyone wants to tell me how much of an idiot I am for not agreeing completely with their truth about things. I am frankly very tired about this case. It has gone on much longer than it really needs to, but for some reason unbeknownst to me it has given me more traffic than I've ever had before.
So now that I'm getting a bunch of hits about this, here's the deal:
I'm rather sick of this whole ordeal and both sides of this case have really pissed me off. I no longer care if it's a dry or wet, hot or cold, sweet or sour death. I no longer care what your truth is on what life is or is not. Unless your name is Terri Schiavo you do not know what is going on...unless she's really PVS, then no one knows. I'm sure everyone has meant well with their articles saying Terri will feel no pain because this article says so, or she's really alive and only needs a shunt for a full recovery because of this article. It just doesn't matter to me anymore.
If you would like to debate the case on the merits of a person's rights to choice, whether PVS or not, by all means beat me up. If you have something on the legalities of what this could mean for future cases, by all means speak up. If you have irrefutable evidence as to why or why not Terri is or is not feeling something there are several other blogs that would love to take your truth and round file it. I, for one, am getting a bit tired of it.
..and I'd like to take this moment to apologize to my cousin for blowing up on her. This has been coming to a head for a while and I should have been a little more careful about the words I chose to write. I'm just getting a bit tired of being called wrong by people that only know their part of the truth.
22 minutes ago


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prepared for takeoff
google reader goodness
no, seriously
esmerelda won't work
shouldn't i be impressed?
I've earned even more respect for my husband, a good scout, through work. Part of my job description will sometimes cause me to become involved in collaboration with boy scouts. I've met some great kids in doing this, and I've also met some duds. Some real duds. Boys pretending to be scouts. I have had particularly bad experiences with this one fellow. NOT impressive. He was working on a project to benefit one of my programs as his Eagle project, but he didn't want to do TOO much work. He didn't want to meet with me until I demanded to see him in person. He communicated with me through his parents, who while being very fine and gracious people were NOT the Eagle-Scout-to-be, so this particularly annoyed me. He wasn't interested in keeping open lines of communication, never sent the updates I requested, and was unhappy when I told him that I wouldn't be able to provide him the materials he needed - as is my workplace's policy. And then, when we found a way for me to provide them after all, he lost all the hardware.
I am not impressed. I didn't want to sign off on this project. I'm disheartened that there's no built-in mechanism for me to review him - I just sign some forms and then I never hear from him again. He did basically everything I asked for, initially, but he did it with his door closed and his feet dragging. He's disrespectful to his parents, too, and right in front of me. This makes me really crazy. While I have nothing against him personally and I'm entirely sure he is capable of success, he is, in my opinion, less than what an Eagle Scout should be, in my mind.
What would YOU do in this situation? Sign the forms and just move on? Say something to somebody when it's basically too late to do anything else? Tell him/her how disappointed you are and sign it anyway? (what good would that do?)
Main Street Station
I've seen this painting up close, hanging for sale in the General Assembly Building, and I decided that I would very much like to have it. I don't have it, and I'm sure that by the time I can drop triple-digit amounts on artwork it will be too late. But still, it makes me happy just knowing it exists. There's something about this painting that I love. An art critic I am not, but the textures, the colors, something about her work makes me think good things about her. A print just wouldn't be the same.


text: I did the Walking Dead zombie run in Philadelphia earlier this year. In a skirt. While I was unable to find a single photo of me running the course, even after clicking through every one of the 9,000 unsorted photographs they posted, I do have these posed shots. You'll just have to trust me that my skirt hurdled the course with style.


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You can find an intelligent overview and analysis here:
Read more...
04 December 2010
Discussion of the Current (Crisis?) Situation of HE in the UK
You can find an intelligent overview and analysis here:
Posted by Gordon at 3:39 pm 0 comments
02 December 2010
Message from Professor Simon Jarvis
Dear friends and colleagues,
I attach a link to an interview which I gave recently on local radio, in case, like me, you wish to oppose the assault which is currently in train on the humanities and social sciences, and in case, if so, this might divert or hearten you. Please forward to anyone on whom it might have the same effect(s). Apologies to anyone for whom this is already old hat.
My bit starts at around 14.08:
If you should like to register support for the Cambridge occupation, you can do that at:
Good wishes to one and all!
Britain has an higher education system that punches far above its weight internationally, especially compared to the USA and Europe. The productivity and creativity of our arts, humanities and social sciences are one of Britain's great economic and cultural success stories. Yet the Coalition Government is poised to jeopardise all this needlessly and irresponsibly. There is no defensible economic basis for its proposed changes: these will only increase public expenditure in this and the next Parliament.
The nationwide scale and duration of this week's enormously peaceful student demonstrations reflect this deep skepticism about the Government's reasons and reasoning.
We believe that:
1. Everything our universities have achieved should not be recklessly risked after three weeks reflecting on the deeply flawed 'Browne Review'; 2. The block Arts & Humanities teaching grant should not be summarily slashed on this basis; 3. We need a public enquiry to create a positive vision for British universities fit for the 21st century.
The Coalition Government is not offering any such vision - theirs is neither fit for our children, our economy nor our future.
If you believe in this too, please visit our campaign website http://humanitiesmatter.wordpress.com and sign the petition you can find there.
Simon Jarvis
Read more...
Posted by Gordon at 12:22 pm 0 comments


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text:
It's been too long since my last update. Today's run was 7 miles, one hour 38 minutes with an average 14 minute mile. I felt great during and after. I was running in 10 minute intervals and 5 minute walks.
Apparently, I've outrun these shoes but I'm not giving up on them until after the half marathons. I plan on running one in October and November. This all seems so crazy but I know that its doable.
Here is my food prep for the week. I have a need to eat healthy but I hate to chop. Nature has that taken care of for me: sugar snap peas, grapes, strawberries, grape tomatoes, bananas, and I made hard boiled eggs. I've seen a lot of tips for eating healthy but none fit my lazy style. Truthfully, being as lazy as I am doesn't have to mean poor eating. I call these boxes my snack boxes.


text:
It's the day of a Total Solar Eclipse, and I've been painting since about 5 a.m. I woke around 4:04, when the eclipse started (on the East Coast), and I tried to get back to sleep, but it was nothing-doing. So, I got up and went to my studio to see what was becoming of the pieces I've been working on.
I had given some thought to modeling some figures for friends of mine, to capture the spirit of the day, but I got caught up in painting.
I've been wanting to paint for some time -- with brushes, I mean. I do that type of work periodically, when I want to hone my brushwork. But honestly, it's just not me. I don't have that kind of dexterity to manipulate the brush pressure and direction, and my lines end up being more blobby than I want.
A whole lot more blobby.
Not good.
Now I'm presented with several choices that I can see:
Either keep at the brushwork and try like the dickens to sharpen that skill, running the risk of developing a skill that really isn't "me"... and losing valuable time in the meantime, when I could be creating works that are much more in line with what I'm like, and my orientation to the world. I figure I stand a pretty good chance of becoming a middlin' brush gal, if I keep at it.
Or I can cut my losses and limit my brushwork to occasions where I'm not as dependent on precision as my smaller works are... and develop ways to "engineer around" the blobbiness that tends to emerge from my attempts at straight lines. And let the paint do the actual work.
I choose the second option. Already, I'm coming up with ways I can not only have the precision that I want, but also work with the media I have in ways that are totally appropriate to them... and in ways that let them "do the work," using their very qualities to achieve the effects I'm seeking, rather than trying to impose my will on them.
It's an interesting concept I'm working with here -- how do I relate to my media? How do I work with them? How do I honor them as equal partners in the art I create, while still bringing my own vision through?
I think it's a new approach whose time has come -- a new approach for a new time.
The "standard issue" approach to creating art (and being respected as an artist) appears to be all about "mastering your medium/-ia"... putting in long years of work in your preferred media and then showing that you've got total control of it.
It seems (to me) to be the way folks go from art aspirations to art school to art vocation out in the world. And it seems to be what folks look for when they're considering the skills of artists in question.
But my approach is not to "master" the media, but collaborate with it. Learn its ways, its temperament, its moods, its inclinations... and then blend it with my own vision and bring forth something that is not all me, not all the paint/pastels/gouache/watercolor, but rather an amalgam of us all, equal partners in the creative process.
It sounds a little hokey to me, talking about "co-creating" artwork with the media themselves. A sort of "media animist" approach. But I am essentially an animist at heart, and I do believe that all things have spirit within them.
I'd much rather work with the media, as the media, and allow it to "do its thing" in the creative process.
Ultimately, what comes out of it is an exponentially greater expression than I could achieve on my own, by exerting my own "mastery" over the colors and textures I choose to work with.
01 August 2008
Engineering co-creation
Posted by Kay Stoner at 7:24 AM Links to this post
Labels: art, art for sale, creativity, drawings, gallery, geometric, music, women
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The end is near
Underneath a starry October sky
I walk the line of fire
Evil Villains, with their bright wide eyes
Conversing with drunk bums
Sad, lonely, innocent and dumb
They speak of God and meaning
While Jesus and Buddha fight
over who would drive to McDonalds
Armageddon soon
Rosy red fingers touch frosty din
I wake with desire
All the heathens shed off their skins
Forgetting released inhibitions
Alone, groggy, upset, the commotion
And wonder where their hearts are leading
After Buddha and the Villain reach enlightenment
but they forgot their pen.
Guess it's the end.
Learn to swim


text:
Introducing our sweet little boy, Maddox John!
Born: August 25, 2016
Time: 9:18am
Weight: 7.5 lbs
Length: 21 inches
He is absolute perfection! Adopting him has been such an incredible experience for our little family, and already we can't imagine life without him in it.
There is so much I want to say. So many details I want to share in this space about those first few moments of meeting him, of being at the hospital when he was born, of the weeks leading up to it, of our relationship with his incredible birth mom, of life now, and of everything in between. But tonight there are no words for this little miracle, only an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the sweetest gift we have been given.
First photo as a family of 6!
"A mother's love for her child is like no other love. To be able to put that feeling aside because you want the best for your child is the most unselfish thing I know." -Unknown
Because of one incredibly brave and selfless woman, this little guy is ours. We are the luckiest in the world!


text:
The History of Spider-Man: 2016
Spidey teams with Deadpool and faces the second Super Hero Civil War!
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See a clip from the next episode, airing Monday, July 23 at 6:30-7:00pm ET/PT on Disney XD!
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Get ready for Daredevil and Spider-Man to join forces!


text:
Travel is not a question of money, but a matter of courage. I have made quite a few trips, but in all of those I did not really venture out of my comfort zone. Those were more kind of "touring" the destination than traveling in true sense. You need courage to explore the realms of unknown, to venture out of comfort zone unequipped with the sense of security that comes with familiarity. One is forced to adapt, to learn, to widen the boundaries of thought and to wonder. This trip is special for me for I tasted the fruits of courage and adventure, realized that the journey is the reward and now I only want to move forward from where I am.
A journey of 1000 steps starts with a single one. Little did I know that the single defining step that will inspire me to travel would come out of pinging my college friends randomly one lazy evening. In an attempt to escape the mundane routine of work life and with the impending long weekend vacation luring the prospects of meeting up with familiar people to enjoy a couple of evenings of friendship, fun and excitement, I finally broke my restraint and messaged my friends on Facebook urging them to plan a weekend road trip. Normally, I wouldn't take the initiative to convince others into a trip but the long postponed urge to visit a new place and feel closer to natural surroundings got better of me. To my surprise, most of them were interested and enthusiastic about it as well, and so went on the chat for a couple of hours with us debating on the destination. South Padre Island turned out to be the winner for 3 main reasons – its close proximity from both Austin and Houston, perfect season for outdoor natural scenic beauty and most importantly it was a perfect prospective first time camping destination!
For the two weeks that followed, my excitement for the trip only built up. I admit that I am a little paranoid about doing adventurous things without carefully assessing risks and rationalizing them; and sometimes I do get intimidated because of the unknown factors. And this being a first time potential outdoor camping trip on the beach, with none of us having an inkling of idea about camping, it became a topic of serious research for me. The more I discovered about the primitiveness of the camping experience and wilderness of nature one can experience from it, the more excited I was, for it is my kind of real adventure. I partially informed my parents (and partially left out mentioning the risks associated, for they are more paranoid than me or should I say I inherited my fears from them :P) and personally resolved to still make the trip even in case they disapprove of it. My friends seemed equally enthusiastic and creative as well, a positive surprise to me for I haven't seen them proactively planning in advance for our previous trips together. Ankit created a shared music playlist for the roads and even created a shared document to plan the trip details, Shivansh offered to ride in his brand new car and Himanshu went to the extent of adjusting his project research plans and even ordering car inverter to connect speakers to and play music on the beach! Our plan was heavily contingent on acquiring the camping gear prior to the trip and just as I anticipated, that was the most neglected part of our planning process and it so happened that we got very lucky to have found it just a day before our trip – thanks to UT Austin (which I would rather not approve of on other days given I am an Aggie :P) and the thoughtful novice driver Ankit for saving the adventurous weekend.
The adventure:
The trip began typically with us starting later in the morning or rather early noon, a little sleep deprived from the late night hangout of discovering the whats and hows of camping equipment we picked up. On the way, we loaded on plenty of food and other stuff we thought we needed to be better safe than sorry. Road journey went smooth with the GPS showing us a single road ending in ocean, beautiful bluebonnets lining the highway meadows, low traffic and cloudy skies and us listening to music while debating which gender were safer drivers. There were two routes to reach the island, through a ferry that our car could directly drive onto or by driving on the highway that connects the island to the mainland. We chose the highway to save the loading/ unloading wait time that would help us to reach the beach while it was still daylight outside. This was crucial as setting up the tent takes time and to add to that we haven't quite figured out how to pitch it on the ground. I had no idea about others, but I personally was highly skeptical whether we would be able to camp on the beach ever since I heard the mild alert forecast the previous night that there were heavy gusts of wind of more than 30mph on the Padre national shoreline.
The first sight of the open ocean waters made me nostalgic of all the times I would visit Vizag beaches with my family. All of us were pumped with renewed excitement at the mere sight of some sturdy tents lined alongside backwaters beside the highway, groups of people in beach outfits fishing and parasailing and fresh salty sea breeze gushing through our lowered windows. As we figured out our way to the camping spot of Mustang Island located on the uninhibited northern half of the island, we rejoiced at the sparse population and the serenity of the untouched shoreline – something very hard to come across usually and more so in India. Just as we reached the destination and alighted from our car, the reality hit us!
My hair flew haphazardly all over my face as I squinted to avoid the fine sand blowing into my eyes. It was just as I feared, too windy a day at the island. I was a couple of hundred yards away from the shore, but it felt as if I were standing on a speeding ship in the middle of the ocean. At this point I was dejected as I was totally convinced that we would not be successful in pitching the tent. A couple of my friends were still positive to check out the situation first. As we reached the end of the paved road, the mighty ocean peeked into sight through the sand dunes. We drove onto the packed wet sand with waves crashing just a few feet away from the tires – an amazing first time experience for me! We spotted a few tents already pitched and their occupants seeking shelter inside from the strong gusts, and oh, did I mention that the wind on the shore was actually almost twice as strong as the wind a couple of hundred yards away in the dunes. Some people were struggling to pitch tents, some were leaving and the lady at the park's office counter said people were leaving due to the heavy winds. I was damn sure we would not be successful to pitch the tent in this situation, and as an alternate I suggested that we instead pitch tent beyond the dunes, away from the shore where all the RVs' and cars were parked, walk down to the beach to have some fun and return back in the night. But my friends wouldn't be convinced until they gave it a try, so I reluctantly agreed to give it a shot. We all agreed upon a spot half a kilometer from the entrance where the dunes evened out and there were some wooden planks of firewood perhaps some other camper left behind. Using the principle of windbreaker for minimum drag on the tent walls, we positioned the car strategically. By this time, every nook and corner of the new car was filled with fine later of sand, much to the dismay of Shivansh, its proud owner. I was in awe of how he still maintained his cool while suffering to see his car subjected to such rough natural forces. My car is by no means new, but if I were in that situation, I probably wouldn't have handled it in the same light-hearted manner. As he and I dragged ourselves though the strong wind back to the park's office to get the night stay permit, we secretly agreed on the backup plan I suggested earlier. We both did feel this would not work and the other two would give in eventually after a try.
You probably couldn't fathom the disbelief on my face at the first sight of a wobbly tent like structure that stood by the car as we slowly strolled back to the shore. There standing, our very own tent was! It was like Himanshu and Ankit did some magic in those 20 minutes, figuring out how exactly each piece of equipment should be, putting it together and transferring the weight into the tent floor to prevent it from being blown away by the gusts. The stakes were only about 15 cms long and pushed into the loose sand I could not believe how much force they could resist – even as a mechanical engineer it felt wonderful to me. But, our struggle was wasn't over yet. There was a strong prediction of impending rain and the porous tent walls need another layer of waterproof tarp to resist that. As we four spread out the tarp over the tent, it seemed impossible to hold it down. We did not have enough stakes left for the 6 pinch points and the stakes alone would not hold it down as the wind momentum was completely diminished to a standstill by the sheet. However, we did manage it in the end by repositioning the stakes, putting the ice chest inside the tent for added weight and with the aid of a park bench and wooden logs lying around. Finally, we won the war! But how long the tent would last was a credible question that only time could answer. We decided that it was the time to grab some dinner from a nearby restaurant and that the tent be left alone in mean time as a test to its integrity.
As I dusted off myself the best I could and sat down in the quiet, cozy little restaurant, I reflected on the events that just passed. "Is it really me today, here without the slightest idea of what is going to come next? What if the tent was all blown away by the time we go back or worse, what if the tent will tear apart in the middle of the night? What if the high tide comes up in the middle of the night and washes off everything or what if it will rain too heavily that the tent would weight down? What if there are some wild animals near the tent? What if out car was stuck in the sand? What if we can't find any place to stay tonight if something untoward was to happen? What if there were armed thieves/ gangsters from underdeveloped Mexican borders strolling on the shore? And still, with all these questions and uncertainties, I was there. I would never willingly put myself in such a situation ever. I would always have answers/ alternate plans ready if something didn't work. But, not today. Maybe it was because of my friends' influence (and I am thankful to them) or maybe because I wanted to push the limits today. Either way, it seemed that somewhere in the past couple of hours I have crossed an internal threshold, and now I was no longer afraid. There seemed to be simple answers to all of those questions now and even if it won't work, I knew it was not going to be the end the world. My heart felt so light, so open and so carefree. What will happen later didn't matter; I felt a strange sense of freedom.
The barbequed dinner was delicious and filling, the light drizzle on the way back felt so soothing and the wobbly tent still stood majestically. ☺ The sound of waves crashing just a few feet from the tent was our 24 hour background music. The night was consumed in technical discussions, fun games and songs. As the night progressed, heavy rain splashed on our roof, the LED lantern swayed dangerously above us, but we stay put dry and happy enjoying our very first camping experience. Eventually the rain and wind died out completely and we came out for some fun late night cooking experiment with our portable propane stove with some loud music on the speakers. People in others tents came all prepared with full-fledged barbecues, music and guitars around camp fires. S'mores were the order of the night and I decided to introduce this Texas tradition to others as well. Our little snack time was abruptly interrupted by some hungry mice from the sand dunes that boldly ran under our feet scouting for the fallen biscuit crumbs. We were all scared out of our wits, or at least I was momentarily when a mouse started running towards me even after I tried to scare it away. We quickly packed up the food, cleaned up the area leaving out any further cooking until next morning and decided it was time to sleep to avoid facing other hungry mice.
The 6 person tent was still a bit small for 4 persons to sleep comfortably, but on the bright side the weather was not too cold or too hot and our sleeping bags worked fine. Perhaps it was the intensity of the evening that I could hardly catch any sleep. After trying in vain for a couple of hours, I woke up early and walked out onto the beach to wait for the first sunrays of the Easter morning. I pulled a chair and sat within a few inches of the longest reaching wave and waited for the cool water to touch my feet eventually as the tide rose with time. The lights in all the other tents lining the shore were out, except for a couple of them far far away. I was the only person on the open beach and this was exhilarating. I put on some music and sang at the top of my voice, which I can only do when I am very happy and when I am sure no one would hear me. The seagulls slowly started coming out onto the shore in formations and brazed the surface of the waves. The lighthouse beacon shined bright at the stroke of every minute in the far north. Slowly and very inconspicuously, the first rays broke out. It was again a very cloudy morning, and I pondered was it always this cloudy near beaches or have I seen any clear sunrise/ sunsets before? I also missed the full moon because of the cloudy night. Eventually people started coming out and cars started roaming around. I got out of the way and decided it's high time for a nap to survive the rest of the day.
The rest of the morning was perfect with instant coffee in the cool sea breeze, walking into the waves knee deep the first time since we came to the beach, building sand castle, playing with a defective Frisbee, football with a volleyball (and me scoring a close goal too), and strolling along the length of the beach looking for butterfly shaped sea shells. It felt as if the time had stopped to see people playing with their small kids and pets, doing silly things, building huge sand castles and just lying around in swim suits. No one was in a hurry, no one was worried and everything seemed peaceful.
Finally it was time to pack up and leave. We successfully rolled the tent equipment back into its small bag, something which we were told was more difficult than pitching the tent. After a day of rolling in sand head to toe, I finally took bath. You realize that these occasions help us to appreciate the little pleasures of life like being able to take a warm shower and feel clean. On the way back, we had fresh sea food. We were all exhausted, but still content with the success of our long weekend adventure. Cleaning the car and equipment were the next biggest concerns while we passed time in a small smog induced traffic jam by discussing the nuances in languages. The final cherry on the top was a yummy Indian dinner and awesome late night coffee in Austin to keep us awake for another 3 hour drive back to Houston. This trip inspired in me the desire to break my own boundaries, travel and experience more and I hope to up it a notch by traveling alone to another natural wonder high on my wish list for the first time this fall as a personal gift for my 25th birthday! ☺


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School building plans and funding will be discussed at Monday's Horry County school board meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m. at the district office on Four Mile Road in Conway.
The board looked at a building plan suggested by board member Jeffrey Garland at its last meeting, but Garland was unable to attend the meeting and answer questions that were raised by some board members. Chairman Joe DeFeo said discussion will resume on the plan, which outlines building priorities for both seven- and 10-year spans, with no tax increase, and the board will receive more information on the district's cash flow and borrowing options.
"We should decide the type of money we're going to spend while we're going through the process," DeFeo said. "There's no holdup here because [the funding] doesn't matter until the designs are approved."
A steering committee is working with SHW Group architectural firm to design new prototypes for Horry County Schools' future elementary/intermediate schools and middle schools that will meet future capacity needs and support the district's educational programs, such as the personalized digital learning initiative.


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A friend was leaving Dresden, her exchange was over. I opened a bottle of wine to salute this moment. Hence we didn't drink the entire bottle, I put it in the fridge.
Others friends would leave Dresden, we would celebrate it too. And indeed we did, but nothing was like used to be. The city changed completely, I lost my friends, the
extremely cold winter was in the corner, I was lost. I could write a complete saga about how much the city changed for the winter (and how it affected me), but not now, this is about my friends not about the sweet city of Dresden.
A few time has gone since their departure and I open my fridge.
I forgot the bottle of red wine. One night I desired to drink it. It was the best wine of my life. Not only by the drink itself (a very good Spanish), but the memories it turned into me. A flood of feelings and so. Somehow I knew I let memories in Russia, in Portugal, in many Brazilian states, in Japan, in Chile, in Germany. This feeling, of being remembered in various and different places, is nice, is a victory of life. Ok, it may sound like a self-help book, but people who have friends, in the strictest sense of the word, may know what I'm talking about.
Many calendar's pages have been changed since last time I touched this text, now I'm in Brazil, my homeland and I really don't know what to add more here, maybe I don't want to add.
This might work as an obelisk. Not supposed to do anything, just stay and stand here; one simple object to remember those times of summer, happiness and wine.
The wine was a Murviedro Tinto Reserva. For me the Iberian wines are the best. The variants of the grapes there is better and more intense than any other. I could
drink talk about the marvels from Rioja and Douro Valley (oh Tempranillo/Tinta Roriz), but not now, this is about my friends not about the sweet wine from Europe.


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A common way for fans of a popular television show or movie to connect is through the spreading of GIFs they either created or have come across. GIFs act as a shared social phenomenon where someone in Justin, Texas can form an immediate bond with someone in Blackpool, England by sharing a looping animated picture of the faces of American Horror Story characters on the dancing bodies of Mean Girls characters. But what is it about these moving graphics that make them so fascinating to us? In her post Why We Love Animated GIFs, Leigh Alexander describes why the phenomenon is so attention grasping by stating, "The animated GIF's ability to preserve a single moment for endless viewing, to be forever owned to the last pixel by the eyes, gives it the unique opportunity to revive that fascination; tiny movements that would be lost in the grand landscape of a larger work become almost precious when isolated by themselves." As captivating as the images are, there must be something about them that connects the people who share them. Usually, the most personal connections that people have with each other involve face-to-face contact, a quality GIFs do not have. Nancy K. Baym brought up the issue of how personal digital media really is in her book Personal Connections in the Digital Age, "Because computer-mediated interactions are unable to see, hear, and feel one another, they cant use the usual cues conveyed by appearance, nonverbal signals, and features of the physical context." I believe that the reason we all find GIFs so enjoyable is because we can instantly be connected to another online user by viewing an image that may be from your own favorite show or movie and it triggers a feeling of nostalgia.
But what is better than seeing a nonstop loop of 2 seconds of your favorite show? Combining multiple of your favorite things into a nonstop 2 second loop! The American Horror Story fandom loves a good GIF of seeing one of their favorite characters flipping a bus or sawing someone in half, but we have a funny bone too. In order to have a good GIF that others will like, it must be relatable. These two popular AHS (American Horror Story) GIFs kept in mind what other users will find relatable:
The users (kevin-b146-anderson and sckrpnch) used two well known scenes from the FX television show and added in two things most of the users have in common: a love for Beyonce and an obsession with tumblr. Assuming that most of the online community considers Beyonce their "Queen" was a safe bet, and posting the GIF about how distracting tumblr is on the tumblr website was an even safer one. After observing what made other AHS GIFs so popular and being a fan of American Horror Story for years, I decided to try and make my own GIF. I used a popular scene from the fourth season of AHS where the villain, Dandy, tries to get a closer look at the "freaks" he is so fascinated with. I wanted to make my GIF unique and relatable so I wanted to replace the actual American Horror Story freaks with a family that most of America considers freaks. I combined two clips from the two different shows American Horror Story and Here Comes Honey Boo Boo in photoshop and saved them for the web (that's you). The GIF can be seen below, enjoy!
Alexander, Leigh. "Why We Love Animated GIFs." Thought Catalog. N.p., n.d. Web.
8 Feb. 2015. <http://thoughtcatalog.com/leigh-alexander/2011/05/
Shifman, Limor. Memes in Digital Culture. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.


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- time/date
- location
- license plate
- vehicle make
- what was tossed (cigarette butt/cup-can-bottle/fast food trash/other)
- who tossed it (driver, passenger or truck bed)
"When TxDOT receives the information it is compared to our vehicle registration database and an exact match is located. A letter is mailed to the litterer along with a Don't Mess with Texas litterbag to remind them to put their trash where it belongs!"I'd be happier if TxDOT assigned them to a road crew - 4 hours for the first violation, and an additional 8 hours for every violation after that. Odds are they can't do that, since those who would abuse the system (think: disgruntled teenagers) could make innocent peoples' lives miserable.
I also heard that you can dial #SMOKE (#76653) from your wireless phone and report a polluting (oil smoke) vehicle. I'll have to add that to my cellphone directory and try it sometime.


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According to the BCC, German officials say they have broken up a plot to blow up a passenger plane. But nobody has been charged, five of the six "suspects" have been released, and the other is being held on an unrelated matter. Hmmm.
German police questioned six suspects on Friday over the alleged plot, but five were released on Saturday, the federal prosecutor's office said.You'd have to think if they had any evidence implicating any of the "suspects", they would have kept them around, wouldn't you?
One of those arrested on Friday remains in custody in connection with another investigation, the officials said.
Nine apartments were searched on Friday in Rhineland-Palatinate state and Hessen, they added.
So ... what kind of terror plot was it?
A report from the South African News24.com, has more details:
"During the summer, several suspects made contact with an individual who had access to the security-restricted zone of an airport," a statement said.There's even more in The Guardian, which says:
The individual agreed to help smuggle explosives concealed in a case or a bag onto a plane in return for payment, it added.
But the plot broke down when the as yet unidentified suspects failed to reach agreement with the airport employee on the amount he would be paid to plant the luggage.
A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the matter, said the plot was centered on the Frankfurt airport and the plan apparently was to attack a plane belonging to Israel's El Al.So ... they don't have enough evidence to hold the suspects for even 48 hours, but they do have enough to splash the story all over the world.
Three of the suspects were apprehended in Hesse state, where the airport is located, the official said.
The six, who could face charges of belonging to or supporting a terrorist organization, were temporarily detained Friday, but five of them were released Saturday after questioning. The remaining suspect was kept in custody over an unrelated matter.
Under German law, authorities must release suspects after a maximum of 48 hours unless they have enough evidence to convince a judge that they can be held in long-term investigative custody.
The Guardian also notes:
In a similar investigation, police in the northern city of Hamburg in 2002 arrested seven suspected Islamic extremists who were believed to be plotting new terrorist attacks, only to release them several hours later.And people wonder why we're skeptical.
Authorities there later said that through five months of surveillance they had not managed to come up with enough evidence to charge the men, but that they were convinced they were getting ready to act and wanted to thwart their plot.


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A Interesting Read
Monday, August 8, 2011
Monday, August 30, 2010
0 Views: The Best Of The Worst Of YouTube
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Sunday, August 29, 2010
Former Playdom Employee Sentenced To Jail Time In Zynga Lawsuit
View the Original article
Why Not Just Call It "Windows Live Meh"?
View the Original article
Reddit And Condé Nast Spar Over Ads Promoting Legalization Of Marijuana
View the Original article
Zuckerberg: Facebook Photos Used 5 Or 6 Times More Than Competitors — Combined
View the Original article
What is the Difference in Motorcycle Tires?
By Nick Dinic
Your motorcycle tires are very important as you have to have them perfect at all times. When you are looking for the tires that suit your ride, a few of the major brands you have to choose from are Avon, Pirelli, Michelin, Metzeler, Bridgestone, Continental and Dunlop. Make sure you have the correct types for your motorbike. If you don't you may run into some trouble, some of which can turn out to be rather serious and sometimes dangerous. There are a few considerations one has to bear in mind when looking for tires. Below we will discuss some of them.
When it comes to Dunlop, you should check the pressure of your tires on a regular basis. Check them when they are cold, and usually every fortnight too. Check them for abrasions, cuts, bulges and any other signs of damage regularly.
You also shouldn't use any liquid preparations when you want to stop deflation. This is likely to be the cause of protruding valves which will lead to tire pressure loss. Dunlop is an excellent name that is trusted by millions all around the world. They are quality tires that will last you a very long time if they are properly looked after.
Michelin have been producing tires since the year 1891, so they definitely know what they are doing. By fitting two of these tires onto your motorcycle you are sure to go further before having to change your wheels again. Make sure your tire pressure is always perfect and you treat the bike with respect. That way it will always take you where you need to go, with no hassles!
If motorbike racing is your passion, Bridgestone is there for all your tire needs. They might be a little on the pricey side, but if you want good tires that is what you should expect. They are made from the finest quality materials and are perfect for your prized motorbike.
When it comes to the Metzeler tire range there are many different options for you to choose from. They are all high quality tires that will see you through a good couple of years, as long as you look after them. There are different types for different motorbikes; you make the choice.
Continental tires for your motorbike are also an excellent option. Although they are expensive they are sure to see you through your hard bike times. All the road trips, short drives and racing with your beauty - your bike needs to be pampered, and there is no better way to do that than to treat her with Continental tires.
When it comes to turnover, Pirelli is the fifth biggest manufacturer of tires in the world. That fact alone should give you an idea of how popular they are, and show you that they are good otherwise people wouldn't keep going back. These are generally cheaper than some of the other brands, but then again that would depend on where you buy it from. The same goes for Avon tires; these keep you in control of your motorcycle at all times, no matter the weather conditions.
About The Author
Thrill Rider is all about customer experience. Take a look at our Brisbane Motorbike Hire and Gold Coast Motorbike Hire. Or, to get more information about out Adrenalin Holiday Tours. Or try out our easy going Motorcycle Mountain Tours.LinksAHM Homepagearticles directorydaily newsMotorcycle Accessoriesmotorcycle booksmotorcycle magazinesthe old bookstore
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I recently ordered a Lomo LC-A a few weeks ago. I didn't have time until this week to finally unbox it.
I haven't tested it out yet but will post pictures as soon as I do.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Lomo LC-A+
Posted by Artpixie at 1:00 AM
Labels: camera, film photography, lomo lc-a+
5 comments:
- aestherlyienda said...
Its been so long since you've posted something in this blog. I know you've been active in tumblr though. Its good to have you back.
- September 30, 2012 at 1:41 AM
- Ice Pandora said...
Omg ;c I want!
I really want to
own a Lomo someday!
- September 30, 2012 at 5:01 AM
- Gab Mesina said...
yup i agree seriously happy to have you back
- September 30, 2012 at 7:46 AM
- Sydney L. said...
ahhhhh so jealous! it sure takes some beautiful photographs! cant wait to see xxxx
- October 1, 2012 at 9:02 AM
- Manon said...
Love it!
- October 8, 2012 at 2:05 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Men's Wearhouse is missing a major business opportunity.
Every male in the U.S. who goes to a prom or is someone's groomsman has likely been fitted for a tuxedo at the Men's Wearhouse. Theoretically, the Men's Wearhouse should have the most comprehensive database of men's sizing information of any company. There have been a lot of weddings among my close friends this year, and I assumed that after the first fitting I'd be able to rent subsequent tuxes without going to the store in person. Amazingly, according to one of the attendants, they throw away all information about the customer after 6 months.
This loss goes beyond convenient tuxedo rentals. With this much information about me, they could be delivering clothes custom-tailored overseas to my doorstep at a price no other company could match. That much opportunity is certainly worth the cost of a few dozen more machines. Ancillary data produced by your business can become more valuable than the profits from the business itself. Don't throw anything away.


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Britain: A Nigerian-born gynaecologist received a year's suspension for fondling the breasts of a 38-year-old woman
A doctor who groped a woman at her home and faced a barrage of complaints from other patients and colleagues escaped being struck off yesterday.
Dr Odenefe John Isiavwe was handed a year's suspension despite having a string of charges upheld against him.
'Cultural differences' and the stress he was under at the time had influenced the level of punishment, said the General Medical Council.
The Nigerian-born gynaecologist fondled the breasts of a 38-year-old woman, identified only as Ms B, while massaging her at her home in September 2002, a GMC panel was told.
He also approached a nurse from behind at a hospital, grabbed her by the waist and ran his hands over her body in February 2003.
Isiavwe, in his 30s, also phoned a second patient, referred to as Ms A, twice at home and once at work after performing a pelvic examination on her.
He also faced further complaints of hassling patients for dates and being rude to colleagues when he worked at a surgery in Kessingland, Suffolk, and at the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk.
Isiavwe, of Hopton-on-Sea, Norfolk, was told his behaviour was a 'serious departure from the standards expected of a medical practitioner'.
He was also found to be unhelpful, verbally aggressive and confrontational on the hospital ward.
Panel chairman Dr Harvey Marcovitch said: 'The panel is particularly concerned by your conduct with Patient B.'
However, he said Isiavwe's remorse and other factors meant his conduct was not 'fundamentally incompatible with your continuing to practise medicine'.
Doctor who fondled female patient will not be struck off, GMC rules
Doctor could be struck off for groping nurse


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Kit Harington's Game of Thrones costume smells of 'wet dog'
- Bang Showbiz
- 13 April 2015
Kit Harington has confessed his 'Game of Thrones' costume smells of "wet dog" as he's worn the same Night's Watchman's cloak in all five series
Kit Harington's 'Game of Thrones' costume smells of "wet dog".
The 28-year-old actor - who plays Night's Watchman Jon Snow in the fantasy drama - has donned the same cloak in all five series of the show and admits the garment has seen better days.
He said: "When it rains, the cloaks smell like wet dog.
"I think I wear the same costume I've always worn since halfway through season one - the cloak has got years of s**t on it now."
Despite its dark subject matter, Kit insists working on the show is a lot of fun and he has made a number of close friends.
He said: "We have such fun, us in the Night's Watch. We're good friends now.
"The hours we spend in a freezing green room [between scenes] chatting s**t to each other up at Castle Black are as important, I think, for the scenes we do being brothers-in-arms.
"I mean, this isn't a Lars von Trier movie. It's a fantasy and if you can't laugh at yourself in a cloak, you've missed the point."
The hunky actor particularly enjoys the sword fighting scenes.
He told heat magazine: "I really enjoy it now. It's all about deftness of movement, fluidity and knowing exactly where the sword is to be drawn and brought down."


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Starting as a small shop with two employees, Texas Truck Riggins has grown and into a large workshop and warehouse. They are one of the largest businesses of its kind in the Bryan College Station area.
College Station, TX (PRWEB) November 22, 2013
AgniTEK, a nationally-recognized company for their expertise in helping organizations leverage technology to improve businesses, is pleased to announce a new and improved website for Texas Truck Riggins at http://www.txtruckriggins.com. The updated website was designed and created by AgniTEK associates and is live on the web.
Texas Truck Riggins started in the Brazos Valley in 1995 and has been growing into the company it is today ever since. Starting as a small shop with two employees, Texas Truck Riggins has grown and into a large workshop and warehouse. They are one of the largest businesses of its kind in the Bryan College Station area. They have a full selection of truck and SUV accessories such as grille guards, tool boxes, tow hitches, bug shields, and camper lids. They also offer services including spray-in bed liners, powder coating, sandblasting, and truck accessories. To learn more about Texas Truck Riggins, visit their website today.
The Texas Truck Riggins website offers a services page that offers detailed descriptions of each one, including pictures and their process in completing the service. There is also a list of their manufacturers as well as links to each of their sites, which allows the customer to know who exactly they are dealing with. The photo gallery provides examples of work for all services, custom work, and some other projects that Texas Truck Riggins has completed. This gives the customer a visual image of what their completed car would look like. Their Contact Us page separates them from others because it allows the customer to select the area they are interested in which will give them better service from Texas Truck Riggins. All of these features were made possible by AgniTEK and their associates.
AgniTEK is a full service website and software solutions company serving Texas companies for over 15 years. They deliver reliability, consistency, simplicity and value in website services and software application development work. AgniTEK has been named a five-time Newman 10 Award winner and three-time Aggie 100 Award winner.


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Meet Rachel + Anil.
In three words: they are amazing. Truly beautiful inside and out. And their love for one another is incredible. We began planning their destination wedding in September of 2010 and what a fantastic time we had!
In April, Rach + Anil spent the afternoon in New York City with Trent Bailey for their engagement session. What an awesome shoot. Anil even serenading Rachel in the middle of Central Park. Honestly, LDE has the most romantic grooms out there today. I'm not even adding fluff to this post! It's so inspiring to be around as it's proof that romance is absolutely alive + kicking.
Here are a few shots from their shoot. Check out all the photos and much more on Trent's blog AND, be sure to check back for pictures from their wedding at the historic Chesterwood Estate in the Berkshires!! And FYI - Anil's is going to score even more points once I post more about his romantic gift his new bride...can't wait to share!


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Chelsea midfielder Jack Cork is set for a pay-rise by leaving Stamford Bridge.
The Mirror says Chelsea are set to sell England u-21 star Cork to Championship new boys Southampton for £1m.
The versatile youngster will be offered a stunning £15,000 a week.
Cork is part of England's U21 Euros squad.
It's kicking off again! Click here for your No1 source for Chelsea transfer market news and gossip.


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March 18, 2015
Sir, I refer to Yannis Dragasakis', Yanis Varoufakis' and Euclid Tsakalotos' "All we ask is that Europe give Greece a chance" March 18.
Before they have the right to ask that of Europe they should give their own citizens a chance.
They write of "Many of the 60 per cent of young people out of work will one day be reclassified as long-tem unemployed"… and yet they play along with bank regulations which by favoring credit to the government, hinders the free flow of fair credit to SMEs and entrepreneurs, those who stand the best chance to create the sustainable jobs the Greek youth so urgently need.
In Paris, March 25-26 OECD will hold its Integrity Forum 2015 titled Curbing Corruption Investing in Growth. To me, when regulators tilt the access of bank credit in favor of their employers, here by means of risk-weighted equity requirements, it sounds like a sort of corruption, and it definitely stops medium and long-term growth. I hope OECD, though also government dependent dares to analyze that issue.