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Thursday, February 14, 2008
Falling... and I Don't Mean Falling In Love
And so, I got out of the car and ran to her house-- I guess just to illustrate how quick I was going to be about things. But something happened as I tried to go over the curb. The toe of my shoe caught the curb and sent me flying-- and I do mean flying-- into her yard. Into the mud. New construction plus a rainy day equals mud people. I was covered in mud. And then, to make matters worse, I had to go to her door that way. I was just praying she had not seen my most ungraceful run to her door. (She hadn't thank goodness!) But my children did. Don't you worry about that. They never miss my worst moments.
Fast forward to today. I am in Bible study, sitting in the seat at the end of the table. Then another girl came in, very pregnant and a bit late. So, deciding to do the nice thing and give her the seat at the end of the table where she would have more room, I tried to gracefully slide over to the seat beside me. Only the corner of the table caught me and knocked me off balance just enough to send me tumbling into the floor.
And so, one minute everyone's like "Oh hey" to the pregnant girl and welcoming her and the next minute there is a crash and I am on the floor. I had an insane moment where I wondered if I could play it off like I hadn't just fallen into the floor completely sprawled out. And then everyone jumped up from the table and came running. They weren't coming to laugh at me (like my children might or might not have done). They were genuinely concerned. I alternated between laughing it off and admitting that it really hurt to fall into the floor. I all but said I meant to do that.
And so, my track record for the past two days isn't very good.
Why I'm confessing this to you is still unclear to me.
10 comments:
- Amy L Brooke said...
I hope you get your balance back!
The last year I've felt unbelieveably clumsy. Shudder! Is it age chasing me?
I went through 38 years of life with my most significant injury being a jammed finger. Then in one year I fall off a horse (not the first time) but I broke my tailbone. I've never been in so much pain.
Six months later, I was stealthily tip toeing up the stairs while playing with my 5-year-old niece. I made it to the top and fell -- hard -- all the way down! I broke a couple fingers and sprained a knee and an ankle. My sister's first response was, "Were you playing on the stairs?" Not really. I was just trying to go up quietly so I could sneak up on her little one and hear her giggle and scream. I was the only one who screamed on my way down.
- February 14, 2008 at 9:34 PM
- Billie said...
we must be related!
- February 14, 2008 at 11:28 PM
Thanks for being real. In October I slipped somehow and fell down the only step in our house. I broke my foot. You always wish you could do a rerun and do things in a different way!
- February 15, 2008 at 8:24 AM
- Lelia Chealey said...
OH bummer! My cousin did that one time in front of her kids' school when all the kids were outside because it was after school. She had her nephew's hand in one & her daughter's in the other & fell AND took them down too. Her daughter, a "cool-jr. higher" was so mad at her for that, like she did it on purpose. :)
I just bought a new coffee mug at Family Christian & it says...
like you've never been hurt before
like heaven begins tomorrow
like no one is watching
like no one is listening
Guess we can add
like you meant to. :)
Have a great weekend!
- February 15, 2008 at 8:51 AM
- Elisa @ Extravagant Grace said...
Because I needed a good chuckle this morning and comfort in knowing that I'm not the only one the falls...often! Hope you are not too bruised!
- February 15, 2008 at 8:52 AM
- Hadassah said...
Hi, I clicked through from the Prov 31 email devotional.
You gave me a good laugh this morning. I'll never forget standing in my boss' office, wearing a dress, and trying to discretely sit in one of the chairs that faced his desk. Problem was, I missed the chair, and plopped my bottom down on the capet, legs sticking straight up in the air! My boss was polite enough to pretend he didn't really notice, but I don't think I heard a single word he said the rest of the meeting.
- February 15, 2008 at 9:36 AM
- Lori said...
this summer, I found my self in an upscale community center, sitting with very wealthy and educated folks.
Already feeling intimidated, I tried to sit quietly and watch my son perform on a grand piano. When he finished playing, I immediately began to clap for him, forgetting I was holding a glass of wine, did I mention I was wearing white linen pants? I spent the rest of the evening having to explain how this proud mom was so thrilled to hear her son, that she attempted to
clap & balance a glass! It was quite humbling!
- February 15, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Sometimes I get embarassed about being so accident prone (my son has accidentally broken my nose 3 times!), and it takes me down emotionally. God has been showing me lately how very much too seriously we take things, though. He has blessed me with a body that heals almost as easily as it is broken, and sometimes when I am "broken" He gets my attention to give Him the time He deserves. The bumps and bruises serve to remind me to slow down, be deliberate, and not get too serious about anything. This life is like the grass on the hill, here today and gone tomorrow.
- February 15, 2008 at 10:51 AM
- Kelley at Aroma of Joy said...
When I was pregnant with my 6th baby I seemed to fall all the time. One of those falls was outside, after my son's basketball game and in front of all the coach's and my husband. The men were very concerned and helpful, all except my husband who just looked down at me and said, "WHAT are you doing?" Sensitivity is not one of his virtues, lol!
Enjoying your blog~~Kelley
- February 15, 2008 at 5:08 PM
- Christine said...
Oh, my goodness! I'm sorry for your bad luck ( or maye it's PMS- I always get clumsy that time of the month!) but you had me cracking up. I know, not very sensitive of me...
- February 15, 2008 at 8:44 PM


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Toyota has unveiled its new range-topping Yaris – the SR 1.8.
Powered by a new petrol engine with Dual VVT-i technology and with sports-tuned steering and suspension, body kit, 17-inch rims and a load of premium equipment spec such as climate control and fully adjustable steering column, and you get a rather formidable all-round package. Vehicle stability control, traction control, ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist are all chucked in too. SR versions of the 1.3 petrol Yaris and 1.4 D-4D 90 diesel are also planned.
The 1.8 offers 131bhp and 0-62mph acceleration in 9.3 seconds, a rather disappointing economy of 39.2mpg produces CO2 emissions of 170g/km.
The SR replaces the T Spirit badged warm versions of the Yaris. Prices start at £12,995.

subset: commoncrawl


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I cried when the appeal hearing ruled in our favour. I couldn't help it. I felt we had been on a long and bumpy road for a year and a half and finally we had reached the end.
I remember being so happy, and Emily was happy too. We knew the new school had a fantastic reputation. We knew they had strong anti bullying policies which were actively enforced.
When I talked to Emily about her feelings she was ashamed, felt she was making a fuss out of nothing and maybe that she'd deserved the treatment she received.
I talked to her at length. Emily never told any of her friends about her feelings or what she was going through. They all cried when she left her old school, they just had no idea how she had been feeling.
To begin with it was hard to get her to talk to me. She would just sit, really quietly, withdrawn. I knew something was wrong. I cuddled her, talked to her, encouraged her. Eventually, she would talk. She found it very hard to put her feelings into words. She just felt everything was against her and she would never be happy again.
If I'm honest I knew she'd been depressed for some time. I could see my own behavour in hers. For some reason I didn't want to give it a name. I had this real hope that if I could just get her into the new school she would be ok. She would be safe and the wounds of the previous months would begin to heal. I talked to her about the bullies having chipped away at her. How her confidence had been eroded and that it was understandable given what she had been through. I told her it was like having a hole inside. The bullies had dug away and made that hole. I truely believed that the new school would begin to fill the hole back in.
About Me
- Emilys_Mum
- Mum of 2, suffering my own mental health issues, I began to write this blog as a way to release feelings and emotions. At 13 my daughter was terribly bullied which has led to her having serious mental health problems of her own. She is now 16. I wanted to document our journey and hopefully be able to look back and see how far we have come.
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
New School
Posted by Emilys_Mum at 23:38
Labels: anxiety, bullying, childhood depression
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This is a recipe I scored from someone I worked with many years ago. It is super yummy and super easy which is quite a wonderful combination! It also makes a big pot of soup which means left-overs and we love left-overs. It was a great way to end a rainy, dreary last night. It was also a perfect addition to my love affair with Jane Austen. Masterpiece Theater is showing Emma by Jane Austen on PBS. IT.WAS.AWESOME! And there are two episodes left on the next two Sunday evenings. Ahhhh...I love that time period. Anyways...where was I? Mr. Knightely? Mr. Ferrars? Mr. Darcy? Oh, no potato soup!
Potato Soup
6 medium sized potatoes, diced thin
2 large onions, diced
1 c. celery, diced
2 cans Cream of Mushroom soup
3 c. water
1 T. salt
1/4 t. pepper
3 c. milk
1 c. flour
1 egg
4 T. butter
Prepare the potatoes, onion, and celery. Place in large pot, add water, salt, and pepper. Cover and turn heat on high. When steam begins to escape from lid, switch to simmer and cook about 15 minutes. Then mix the milk and soup together. Add to the pot and bring to an almost boil again using high heat. While this is heating, measure the flour into a bowl and break in the egg. Stir the egg and flour until thoroughly mixed with a fork. (Jab and stir until nice a8-9.nd crumbly.) Slowly sprinkle this mixture and butter into soup. Turn switch to low and cook 10-15 minutes. Be careful not to let soup stick to bottom of pot.
Serves 8-9.
This is seriously one of my most used recipes. I have been making this for my hubby since we were married. It is a cheap, hearty meal!


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After [Cortez's] arrest in 2008 ... the plaintiff's mother sought the counsel of a priest of Mr. Cortez's order who worked at a parish church in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. He told her that whatever had transpired between Mr. Cortez and the girl in Brooklyn "was just an accident".... The girl's mother accepted the priest's interpretation, the lawsuit said, and "believed it was safe for her and her family" to continue their friendship with Mr. Cortez, who, like the girl's parents, are from Guatemala.
Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Friday, October 28, 2016
Court Allows Suit Against Catholic Order and Diocese Over Pedophile Priest To Continue
In Doe v Congregation of the Mission of St. Vincent De Paul in Germantown, (Queens Cty. NY Sup. Ct., Sept. 13, 2016) a New York trial court in a decision published only this week refused to dismiss negligent hiring and retention, negligent training and supervision, and fraudulent concealment claims against the Vincentian Order and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre. The suit revolves around a priest, Augusto Cortez, who in 2009 was placed on 6 years' probation under a Personal Safety Plan administered by the Vincentians after he pleaded guilty to forcible touching of a 12 year old Brooklyn girl. Plaintiffs in this case allege that Cortez abused their young daughter beginning as early as 2009 (when she was 2 years old) and continuing until 2014 when the abuse was discovered. Cortez fled the country after being questioned by police about the allegations. A New York Times report when the suit was filed in 2015 elaborates:
Posted by Howard Friedman --PermaLink: 7:00 AM


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Saturday, May 31, 2008
So... What's Your Take???
Posted by Kimberly at 7:02 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Gid the Kid, Ozzy
Friday, May 30, 2008
What I did on my Summer Vacation...
Here is a picture of Brent's pet squirrel... crazy little thing thought it needed to dig up all the flowers.
We took Zach's friend, Taylor, with us and she fit right in. Didn't mind all the family harassment that is dished out either. She is such a sweet girl. We just love her.
The next day it rained to beat the band in the morning, but by noon the sun was out and it was beautiful. We took the kids to the Nation's longest foot bridge. Ya, we thought we were pretty much torturing them. But no, it was actually really neat and the kids loved it. The bridge was built in 1902 and spanned 13 railroad tracks. We followed the bridge up with a scenic tour of the finer side of Springfield, MO... or maybe the slums... Brent can get us in some pretty scary places sometimes, then on to the Bass Pro Shop. We had a great day over all. Hey, I got some new shoes... yeah, yeah!
The last day there Brent and I and the three kids went on a 9 mile canoe trip. It was great fun for everyone, except for mom (me) during the hour and a half where dad thought it would be fine if the kids took one leg and we went another. Needless to say, I didn't think that part was too neat... I think it's the mom thing. The kids were fine, all three had been on a canoe trip before. But I watched I can't tell you how many boats of adults tip over and lose everything in their canoes. Now I don't know why this would make me nervous, but for some reason it did. Brent was sure the kids had taken the more difficult route, not so much... theirs was the much easier leg... so they were way ahead of us. We however, had to cross trees criss crossing our section of the river, then carry our canoe... technically, Brent and another guy carried ours and his... across a large sand bar, because the other side kept tipping canoes over... We waited at the sand bar FOREVER for the kids... you know they were behind us.... not so much.... any who... an hour and a half later all was well when we spotted the kids waiting for us on another little beach area.... picnic lunched then finished up the trip with everyone in sight. It really was a great day.... more pics later... BIG THANK YOU!!!! to dad and momma Phyllis for putting us up and playing cards and games and having an overall great time with them! WE LOVE YOU!!
Posted by Kimberly at 6:23 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: Vacation
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
So... What kind of shoe are you?
Posted by Kimberly at 7:37 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Sunday, May 18, 2008
My Sweet Boy...
So Gideon pretty much loves the Hammock.
He is quite the lounge lizzard...
I think next in line to Ozzy.
He is such a cute boy!
Posted by Kimberly at 10:45 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Saturday, May 10, 2008
For Our Moms...
In times of stress and grief,
In happy, joyful, glorious times,
We turn to one we need.
Although we've left her nest,
All things remain the same,
We look to her for guidance,
For an act, or thought, or deed.
Now we can count on her,
To run with open arms,
To sprint, if that's what's needed,
It's inherent in her breed.
So take the time today,
To send some Love her way,
Do not wait or hesitate,
There might be need for speed.
For we think she's invincible,
No harm can come her way,
Because she is the greatest,
No thoughts of wealth nor greed.
But life is short,
Things may change,
And ours are truly, dearly missed,
Dear Heavenly Father please give our Moms,
An eternity of Love and Bliss.
Mom, We Love You!!
Posted by Kimberly at 5:50 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Saturday, May 3, 2008
With Spring Comes...
Posted by Kimberly at 7:29 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: weather
Please Note...
But all is well except for some wind damage to the roof and no more Purple Martin Swiss Chalet... yup that's right, there might have been a Birdie fatality or two... it was pretty much smashed to smithereens... we always thought the post it was attached to would snap, we've watched it be whipped fiercely to and fro... but no... the post is still standing... doesn't look near as lovely with the Swiss Chalet missing tho'
oh well.... all things considered... We were very lucky and blessed... if a little frightened and shook up.
Posted by Kimberly at 6:12 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: weather
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Missouri's Awesome Sky...
Posted by Kimberly at 9:03 PM 3 comments Links to this post


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The term Planned Obsolescence, industrial jargon popularized in the early 20th Century, means "a policy of deliberately planning or designing a product with a limited useful life, so it will become obsolete or nonfunctional after a certain period." At its most basic level, isn't that what parenting (motherhood) is all about? One toils tirelessly (exhaustedly?) in the hopes that these quirky little people will one day be able to feed, clothe, bathe, and navigate themselves around the big, big world. Yet when things do begin to happen - making their own sandwiches, walking themselves to school, putting themselves to bed - the modern mother might feel a mixture of pride, astonishment and self doubt. After doing so much for so long the modern mother may begin to wonder what her role is in this new paradigm. She might need to take up a hobby, immerse herself in volunteering or stage her own professional comeback.
A recent piece on The New York Times blog Motherlode entitled Why Moms Should Quit suggests a radical approach to fostering independence in ones children. The author of the piece encourages announcing your resignation as "Chairman of the Household" and breaking out of the shackles that have oppressed mothers for so long. Her own mother-in-law, the author tells us, decreed in 1978 that she would only "buy groceries and make dinner on weekends, but that's it." Now we are all for children and husbands doing laundry, yard work, cooking and otherwise contributing to family upkeep. The troubling part is this: why had this "Chairman of the Household" allowed herself to become so trampled upon? As Chairman was it not incumbent upon her to create an effective organization in which each member contributed, learned and grew in responsibility as he matured? Instead of a cataclysmic tantrum, perhaps some incremental changes and expectations might have been another solution.
Planned Obsolescence
by EBB on Tuesday, May 10, 2011
| Labels: planned obsolescence |
2 comments:
Or they could be like the title character in A Secret Garden - spoiled brats who turn out to have a heart after all, when pushed to show it.
- May 11, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Love it! Cataclysmic tantrum, indeed! Not very well mannered I suppose.
- May 11, 2011 at 10:39 AM
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Happy December 5th!!!
I am busy busy at my Trunk Show and enjoying every minute:) We have the best stuff ever!!!
I just want to keep reminding everyone to relax and enjoy...
Here a couple of tips: simple but we tend to forget about ourselves...
1) Take care of yourself as I said before a little quiet time to yourself will do you wonders!!!
2) try and take a 20 minute walk daily (I know my sweet friends back east its a bit brrrr)
3) Drink plenty of water and get rest:) I know easier said then done...
4) Say no WAIT what say no?? yes its ok NOT to over commit:)


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ABC's "Extreme Makeover" is part of a much-copied TV formula of getting one's home made over by a bevy of interior designers. Even though the formula is familiar, this show has been popular with the public because the home makeover is done for a family in need. It's no surprise, then, that so many people want to be on the show.
Go to the official ABC "Extreme Makeover" website to read directions on how to submit an application.
Click on the link that takes you to the application, located in the first paragraph on the site's main page. The application is in PDF format, so be sure to download Adobe Acrobat Reader or update to the current version.
Download the application by clicking on the application link, clicking "Save Link As," then "Save Target As."
Read the application carefully. Fill out all pertinent information, including a section where you can nominate a deserving family.
Prepare a video that explains why you or another family should be picked for the show. Avoid using VHS-C or High 8 video; instead, use recordable DVDs, mini DVD or even VHS. If burning your video to the mini DVD format, it's required that you finalise the disc before sending it in. You'll see a "Finalize" icon on your computer screen that you should click after the burn process is done.
Take photos of you and your family or the family you're nominating if you don't have a video camera. "Extreme Makeover" understands that some families may not have all the latest technology. Make sure the photos represent your family in the best possible way and convey the information you provided on the application.
Print out your application and send it with your video or pictures to Lock & Key Productions, c/o Family Casting, P.O. Box 38670, Los Angeles, CA 90038. You'll hear back by phone within several months if "Extreme Makeover" is interested in using you on the show.
Thoroughly read the directions on how to make a video for family casting located at the bottom of the "Extreme Makeover" application. They want a specific structure in how you present your family on the video, including a greeting shot, tour of your home, interviews with family members and a goodbye shot.
Read through the legal requirements at the bottom of the application carefully. Understand all the waivers and release agreements you'll have to sign if you and your family are chosen. Also, be aware that you'll have to leave your home for up to seven days if chosen while the "Extreme Makeover" crew works inside. The video and pictures you send for the application process will become the property of the producers and won't be returned to you, whether you're chosen or not.


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I know it will take me about another week and quite possibly longer to finalize this particular digital painting, ("The Mountain") since I'm working on a couple of other personal projects and the book projects and wrapping up a product design project as well (not to mention those pesky taxes) -- so I've posted a sneak peek detail up above.
I'm just about ready to post this painting in the small fantasy illustrator group I belong to so that I can get some constructive feedback and recommendations on lighting and composition. "Kelpie's Rider" is getting a major overall with the composition so that's on a brief painting hiatus while I revise the underdrawing for that, but I will continue painting on "The Mountain" and "Gorgon's Daughter" in addition to developing my book projects....
My SCBWI regional conference is at the end of next month -- whee! :)
Sneak Peek: Painting in Progress
Posted by Tanja at 11:31 AM No comments:
Labels: environment, fantasy, illustration, progress
Gorgon's Daughter: painting progress
Did more work on this illustration yesterday, the one I've been calling "Gorgon's Daughter". Still in the middle of revising the left arm (especially the hand), finishing the skirt and further developing the background. Much more fine-tuning to go before I call this one final!
Posted by Tanja at 12:18 PM 1 comment:
Labels: fantasy, illustration
Kelpie's Rider: color progress
Another update on this particular illustration. Added mermaids, but then took them away again to rethink their addition to the composition. Working on other things at the moment, but should have some more time with this over the next few days.
Posted by Tanja at 5:54 AM No comments:
Labels: fairy tale, fantasy, illustration, progress
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|this cheered me right up on a miserable day - sent by my friend Mandy - spotted near her home in West London
|on Bramston Road, NW10
|outside Dollis Hill Tube, NW10 - on the way to work one morning this week
|Radcliffe Road, NW10
|a couple of whoppers at the Ansel Adams show
thankfully there were quite a large number on display and room to really take in their beauty - unlike the last exhibition in London of his work (2002-ish at the Southbank) where it was so rammed people shuffled past in crocodile with about 3 seconds in front of each picture. this time there was more room to maneauvre, little nooks to sit and contemplate and 3 vast scale pictures right at the centre - amazing. we just kept going round and round and staring intently at our favourites, wishing we could own one...and pay a visit to the wild american landscapes on show.
|Noreen and me - enjoying some hot spiced apple with brandy in Greenwich Market
|what is it???


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Even if they didn't realize it at the time, all those years of our parents telling us to sit up straight and not slouch not only helped us look poised as we were growing up, but they also had a positive effect on our posture.
Posture refers to how the body is aligned and positioned in conjunction with the force of gravity acting upon it. Regardless of whether we are sitting, standing or lying down, there is always a gravitational force that applies pressure on our ligaments, joints and muscles.
In ideal conditions, the back view of the spine should have no lateral curve and the legs should be symmetrical. From the side, the spine should form an S-shaped curve. An imaginary line should drop from the apex of the head through the center of gravity in the body and pass through the tip of the shoulder, the center of the hip joint, the center of the ankle joint and slightly behind the knee joint. This proper posture is a sign that we've evenly distributed gravity's force throughout our body so that no one part is fatigued or overstressed.
Indications of poor posture include a slouching of the shoulders or forward leaning of the head. Poor posture impedes lymphatic drainage in the neck and causes strain on the posterior neck muscles. The extra weight on the discs can lead to premature arthritis of the neck. Poor posture can also include a forward tilt of the pelvis. This causes weight to shift in the body and can increase the curvature of the spine, which is associated with muscle weakness. Posture of this sort can lead to chronic lower back pain, muscle pain, weakness in the legs and premature spinal arthritis of the joints and discs.
Poor posture can result from car accidents, sports injuries, loss of bone density and sitting or standing improperly. Many people today have posture problems due to the way they sit. When we drive or use a computer, we frequently have the tendency to lean the head and neck forward, which causes the spine to round forward too. The weight of the head and upper body becomes heavy, and we must exert muscular energy and strain on the spinal ligaments to hold ourselves in this leaning position.
The first step to correcting poor posture is being aware of what causes it and what we can do to correct it. We need to be conscious of how we sit when we drive or work at our desks. Take frequent breaks to do neck exercises and stretch shoulder muscles. Use ergonomic gear to create a work environment that puts less stress on the spine. Invest in a neck pillow for sleeping.
If we're unsure of what steps we should take for our particular posture problems—or if we feel pain in the neck and shoulders—an upper cervical chiropractor may be able to help with the issue. Upper cervical chiropractors are trained in proper body alignment and can provide us with suggestions and solutions for maintaining healthy posture throughout our daily lives.
Correcting Neck Posture: A Key To Pain Relief. NeckSolutions.com. Retrieved October 27, 2009 from http://www.necksolutions.com/neck-posture.html.
O'Hara, Dennis. Chiropractic and Posture. PosturePage.com. Retrieved October 27, 2009 from http://posturepage.com/chiropractic/index.html.
D'Ambrosio, Frank J. Posture is Important. SCOI.com. Retrieved October 27, 2009 from http://www.scoi.com/posture.htm.
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Reading List for Summer 2014
As the school year draws to a close, I find myself not teaching summer school for the first time in 18 years.
Since I will have free time for the first time in many summers, I have decided to mix professional and leisure reading over that now-vacant stretch of time. With that in mind, here is my Summer reading list:
- Digital Leadership – Eric Sheninger – Halfway done. I will finish this first.
- The Odd Thomas series – Dean Koontz
- The Multiplier Effect – Liz Wiseman
- From Good To Great – Jim Collins
- Beyond The Bake Sale – Anne T. Henderson – Doing this as part of #PTCAMP via @Joe_Mazza
- Shifting The Monkey – Todd Whitaker
- The Principal – Michael Fullan
I'll be tracking my progress on Goodreads.


text:
Quote of the Day: the Pope fails at sex education3 comments
"You can't resolve [the problem of HIV/AIDS] with the distribution of condoms. On the contrary, it increases the problem." - Pope Benedict XVI
Major fail. From MayoClinic.com:
By blocking the exchange of body fluids that might contain infectious agents, latex condoms provide the best protection available against STDs. Used consistently and correctly, condoms are highly effective at preventing the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, and at reducing the risk of infection from other STDs, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Please don't rely on the Pope as your source of sex education. Use condoms.


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Thursday, May 17, 2007
Writer's Corner
Everyone has something to say, and many people have tried to express their thoughts and emotions through the written word. However, finding your poetic voice is something completely different and a rare occurrence. Poets have an alternate voice working consistently in parallel to their regular voice, translating situations and conversation into verse. This voice is always evaluating flow and tempo, reworking the poem they wrote last night while taking orders at the diner or on a sales call or balancing the books. This is the life of the poet, scribbling random thoughts and words on napkins and business cards during the day, and allowing the voice to shine at night.
One poet who recently found his voice is Indiana native Kaveh Akbar. Kaveh has placed poetry in The New York QuarterlyPC, Poesy, Zen Baby and many others. He is one of two editors of the for-charity literary zine The Quirk. He is also a staff music critic for Scene Point Blank.
Recently, Kaveh was kind enough to answer a few of our question on writing, music, and the effect of the war on literature.
Orange Alert (OA): Your poems seem to utilize perception on multiple levels. How would you define your style of writing?
Kaveh Akbar (KA): I definitely do try to make my work functional on more than one level. In fact, with my more recent pieces, I'll write the poem in maybe two, three hours, then spend another three or four hours working the piece, making sure every word functions on the primary narrative level and then also on the poetic level, in terms of rhythm, flow, etc. Then, I'll go back through and make sure the whole piece carries the tenor effectively, doesn't lose the "what-are-you-trying-to-say" in the name of poesy. The whole process takes a good six, seven hours per poem, but I think the layering is the most important element of my style, and I'm not a good enough poet yet to do it without the editing and revision. How would I define my style? I've wondered the same thing! I look back at some of the earlier poems I've published and cringe; they're written in the same conversational, anecdotal voice used by a million other small press poets, and really offer very little aside from an occasional quippy one-liner. I'd like to think I've improved a bit, though I'm sure there are some editors out there who would beg to differ. I think stylistically I write with a pretty surreal pen, but I also try to make sure my vehicle is never so outlandish as to risk the poem's accessibility. I'd argue the burden of comprehension should always be on the poet.
OA: Who are some of your biggest literary influences?
KA: This is a difficult question, I have many! I think Kathy Acker was an amazing writer, I read her Don Quixote twice in one weekend – her imagery and metaphor were so dense, and there was no real cause and effect in any of her work, which made every page feel like you were reading something new and groundbreaking. I have definitely tried to incorporate some of that sense of dynamic natural law into my work. Haruki Murakami is another author who is very good with surrealism. Daisy Fried's essays on poetry have been a huge influence on my approach to the craft. I think Douglas Goetsch and David J. Thompson are two poets with an incredible mastery of poetic restraint; they always seem to find the perfect amount of force to put behind their work to really make it reverberate. I'd say they are both strong influences - as are Elizabeth Bishop for the effectiveness of her narrative style, Don Winter for always knowing where to put the right word, Richard Bly for making every poem feel important, Christopher Cunningham for the intensity in his lines, Bob Kaufman for the imagery in his… Then, probably my two biggest influences have been justin.barrett and Steve Henn, who have both held my hands since I was a poetic greenhorn writing angsty metered teen love poems. I don't know that their individual styles have had much impact on mine, but I can say without doubt that I wouldn't be writing the way I am today were it not for their help.
OA: When did you start submitting your work to be published, and how long did it take before your work was first accepted?
KA: Haha, I sent out my first submission about eight months ago, and received my first acceptance letter about forty-five minutes later. The submission was to remarkPC., which is a fantastic zine. Kathleen took two of my poems. I was ecstatic!
OA: You have accomplished quite a bit at a relatively young age, what advice do you have for other young poets out there?
KA: I think a young poet's main weakness will be their natural urge to write what they've read. In my Issue One editorial for The Quirk, I contend that imitation is poetic original sin, and I think that's especially dangerous for a young poet, whose poetic education will have been largely limited to either the Chicken Soup School of Prosody or to popular song lyrics, both of which are almost categorically collections of slightly reworked clichés and truisms. I think a firm grounding in what actually constitutes poetry is what many young poets are lacking – and not just contemporary poetry, or academic poetry or small press poetry, but the whole spectrum. You can't develop your own voice without understanding what others have done, where they've taken the poem, and how they brought it there. The best poetic advice I ever received was to read ten poems for every one I write. With the proliferation of poetry across the internet, the classics being archived and the abundance of e-zines, there's no excuse for not being well-read. Books and zines are cheap, too.
OA: Can you tell us a little about The Quirk, and some of the charities that may be involved?
KA: Sure. The Quirk started out as a local for-charity general interest zine, and raised over $3,000 for good causes such as UNICEF, The Horn of Africa Sick Children's Charity, various local charities, and others. Then, as poetry became a more and more significant force in my life, I decided to turn The Quirk into a legitimate literary zine. I asked my best friend/fellow small press poet Erik Scott to join me as co-editor, and we sent out our first calls for submissions. We ended up getting over 2,000 pieces sent to us for Issue One, and took around 60. Then, after literally dozens of all-nighters and scrapped layouts, we sent the master copy of Issue One to print. That was just a week ago, actually. We're getting ready to send it out soon. The response to what people have seen so far (namely, the poetic lineup) has been overwhelmingly positive. We hope people will still feel that way when they see the actual publication (chuckles). We put a lot of time in making it look and feel as beautiful as possible – that's one of my biggest gripes with small press mags, and one of the biggest differences between the small and large press – very little attention is paid to production in at least ninety-percent of indy-press publications. Like Chris Cunningham says, it comes down to what we hope to derive from the poetic experience – this isn't just some hobby, some passive leisure pursuit, and we shouldn't present it as such.
OA: I appreciate the powerful images contained in your poem "American Mane", how has the war affected you as a poet? In your opinion, how has it affected the literary world in general?
KA: I think the war has, to some extent at least, carried the focus of the literary world from internal self-examination to more social, collective assessments. I'm not talking about the feel-good inspirational poetry being written about the war and 9/11, the pieces that derive their source from a fifteen minute news spot and lack any sort of legitimate connection or realism (Daisy Fried called that poetry "solace porn"). I mean work like Robert Bly's new book, which focuses not only on the war, but also the society that tolerates it, ignores it, supports it, etc. I think in that, the war has offered this generation of writers a lens which we haven't really had since Vietnam.
OA: Do you listen to music while you write? Who are some of your favorite musicians while writing and in general?
KA: I am a huge music fan of contemporary independent rock music. I almost always listen to music when I write, it keeps me from getting stagnant sitting in front of a notepad/computer screen for hours on end. Right now, my favorite album to write to is Yndi Halda's "Enjoy Eternal Bliss". They're this newish British instrumental rock band, and they make this incredible, driving, climactic, music that just squeezes the words right out of me. It almost feels like I'm writing the lyrics for their instrumentals, sometimes. I also enjoy listening to Will Oldham's work when I write – his voice is so visceral, it makes me want to outdo his intensity poetically. Then, when I'm not writing poetry, I listen to all kinds of music. My all-time favorite album is Beep Beep's "Business Casual," it is easily the most candid, uninhibited, exciting piece of music I've encountered. I also enjoy Sonic Youth, Made In Mexico, Daniel Johnston, Neutral Milk Hotel, T. Rex, Violent Femmes, The Oblivians, Nick Cave, Quintron, Bob Dylan, Ex Models, Frank Zappa, The Velvet Underground… the list goes on and on!
OA: What is next for Kaveh Akbar?
KA: Hmmm. I've got a split-chap about a ladyfriend's recent suicide attempt coming out somewhere, sometime in the not-so-distant future with justin.barrett (his half is about his wife's near fatal pulmonary embolism). It's a pretty heavy collection, haha, but we're proud of it, we believe it will definitely resonate in the right reader. I have also been invited by a couple places to submit a book manuscript of some of my newer poems, and need to work on putting that together. In terms of the poetry itself, I think I have finally found my voice, and am having a fantastic time learning more and more about what I can do with it.
Bonus Questions:
OA: Coffee? If yes what is your favorite type of coffee and where is your favorite spot?
KA: I'm not a huge fan of coffee, but at the nostalgia diner where I work we've got this coffee-based drink called a 'Kaveh-cinno' (after its creator), and it is very, very good. The recipe is a secret, though, so people can only order it when I'm working.
OA: Is there a place where you feel the most creative? Can you describe it?
KA: Actually, I think my creativity is pretty well constant. I write down ideas for poems in this little pocket notebook I carry around with me everywhere, and, for the most part, if I've got that I can wring out a rough version of a poem almost anywhere. I know that's not a very romantic answer - I have started many poems while working, in between orders and dishes.
OA: What is the last great book you read?
KA: I've been reading mostly zines lately, trying to catch up on what I missed when I was working on The Quirk. I did read Louis McKee's Near Occasions of Sin a couple weeks ago, and thought it was absolutely incredible. I'm a sucker for good, innovative love poetry.
OA: Thanks for doing the interview.
KA: Thank you for having me!
For more information on Kaveh Akbar visit his myspace page, and for more information on the for-charity literary zine The Quirk or to get a subscription go here.
5 comments:
- christopher cunningham said...
great interview. that kid can fucking write, damn his insolent bones!
- d.mm. said...
Wow, you like the Ex Models. Would you believe I was with them when I had my first ever kosher doughnut? I kid you not.
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text: My name is Samiu and I am a Tongan boy and I live in Auckland. I like listening to music and I also like having fun. My favourite sport is rugby. I go to Saint Pius X School and I am working towards being a self managing learner. I enjoy watching Step Up 4 Miami Heat. My favourite music is reggae. My favorite song is Don't Worry by Bob Marley. My favourite book is Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey.


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Nude Ballerina Pumps (£4), Nude pleated chiffon shirt (12), Black Quilted Rucksack (£10), Black Jersey Maxi Dress (£12), Black Pleather Skater Skirt (£15) and Double Layer Lace Vest (£8).
I've wanted a maxi dress since last summer but never bought one cause I'm tall and they've never been long enough, hopefully this select one will be. The pleather skater skirt is probably my favourite item on the wish list, I love skater dresses and thought a skirt in the same style would be a great addition to my wardrobe. Also I've needed some plain pumps for so long as all I wear at the moment is vans and I need some plain shoes, plus how can I go wrong with them being £4! The other items are purely ones that just caught my eye.
Love Alex ♥


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Well, where do I start with this???
It's funny. You sit down because you think you've got it all worked out in your head what you're gonna say, then you look at the screen, your fingers hover over the keys and then...........................nothing. Your mind goes completely blank.
That's what happened with me. I sat down to write this blog about the photos I've been taking and here I am talking about how hard it is to get that opening line so the rest of the blog can flow on.
Ok, let's start again.
I guess the easiest thing is to start at the beginning. I first found my love of photography when I was in year 12 at college. I needed another class so I could be a full-time student so I thought why not do photography. A couple of friends of mine had done it and they said it was awesome. Best bludge class ever. So I thought why not give it a go?
From the moment I held that Pentax camera in my hands, to the first time I pressed the shutter button to take my first picture, I knew I'd found my passion.
There was just something about knowing what I see through that viewfinder I can then look at 50 years down the track and think "yeah I remember that".
I loved walking around town at various points of the day, looking at buildings, people, vehicles etc and trying to think outside the box as to how I could get a unique shot, compared to everyone else. Probably my favourite time of the day was late afternoon just as the sun started to set and the city would be bathed in the most beautiful orange light.
I loved going into the darkroom to develop my pictures. The smell of the chemicals, the red lights that lit up the room, being in control of how long the negative was exposed on the paper for, putting the paper in the chemicals and just having this image appear out of nowhere, then showing the final product to the teacher to be told "That is amazing". Nothing really compares to that.
That was 2008.
I didn't really do much photography in 2009. I had a trip to Darwin in May for my sport and had a little compact camera that I took, but the photos that produced were SHITHOUSE!!!
They were blurry, they were dark and they were just generally SHIT! So I figured if I'm gonna be going on more trips like this, then I want to remember them and for that I need a half-decent camera. So with another trip to New Caledonia coming up in December, I decided to do something about it.
So I went to a camera store. The salesman there could not have been more helpful. I must have been in there talking to him for over half an hour whilst he went through all the cameras that would be suitable for what I wanted to use it for. The one camera he kept coming back to though was the Canon EOS 50D. He took it out of the display case for me to have a hold and have a look through the viewfinder and it felt so comfortable in my hands and LIGHT! I couldn't believe how light it was even with the lens attached. So that's what I ended up purchasing. I got the "Enthusiasts Kit" which was the camera body and a 17-85mm lens. About a month after I bought the camera I decided to buy another lens. After taking to a person at another photography store I purchased a 55-250mm lens. And now a few days ago I bought a Canon 430EX II speedlite (which I think I've just figured out how to use it properly).
So, that's how I got into photography and the camera I now currently use. I've been walking around Hobart taking pics and using Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 to edit them. See my other blogs for the photos.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
In the beginning.....
Posted by Scotty Boy at 4:34 PM
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Critics praise the different aspects of Riddley Scott's Prometheus
Flawlessly Designed and Shot
Critics praise the different aspects of Riddley Scott's Prometheus
Reviews of Prometheus have praised Ridley Scott's return to the science fiction world after his latest venture almost thirty years ago with Blade Runner. Critics considered that the long awaited movie to be a visually stunning film with a great story and an impressive cast. Prometheus is currently showing in Egyptian theatres through United Motion Pictures, the biggest film distributor in the Arab world and the sole distributor of 20th Century Fox films in Egypt.
Jonathan Crocker from Total films praised the film's design saying "Scott's movie is flawlessly designed, with the beautiful 3D cinematography contrasting the clean white futurism of Prometheus' interiors with the black corporeal surfaces of the alien catacombs." He goes on about Michael Fassbender's portrayal of an android saying "Owning every scene he steps into, Fassbender once again proves a truly magnetic screen presence"
Speaking of the more philosophical aspects of Prometheus Todd McCarthy from The Hollywood Reporter said "The buildup and arrival are the best part of the film, suggesting a sense of inquiry and genuine sort of thoughtfulness that promise a truly weighty slice of speculative fiction."
He goes on about the film's ethereal design and the 3D use in the film saying "Technically, Prometheus is magnificent. Shot in 3D but without the director taking the process into account in his conceptions or execution, the film absorbs and uses the process seamlessly. There is nary a false or phony note in the effects, which build upon the outstanding production design."
The film follows a team of explorers as they discover ancient paintings about the origins of mankind in different civilisations and historical parts of the Earth. Leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. Only when they try to find answers to their question they find themselves in a terrifying battle to save themselves and the future of the human race.
On another note, the elaborate campaign of the film continued even after the release of the film which is uncommon for most movies. An image that shows up after the credits of the film signifying the date 10.11.12 lead fans on a search which lead to a new website www.whatis101112.com. The website contains a new viral video along with a reference to Thus Spoke Zarathustra a philosophical novel by Friedrich Nietzsche, raising questions amongst the viewer and fans about the connection between the book and Prometheus and the significance of the date 10.11.12.
Prometheus is from the mind of visionary filmmaker Ridley Scott, director of genre defining movies including Alienand Blade Runner as well as modern day classics like Gladiator and Thelma and Louise. The film stars Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender and Idris Elba and was released in 3D in Egyptian theatres by Untied Motion Pictures.


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This forum is about Millsberry. You can even post in general!
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The son of some friends of the family has his 5th Birthday Party on Sunday. He loves Cars and this year's theme was Cars 2, so I cut out Lightning McQueen and the checkered flags from the Cricut Disney Cars Cartridge.
Even at 4" many of the pieces for Lightning wouldn't cut properly, so I wrote in the 95 on the side of the car and by the front light. The Rusteze emblem also had some cutting issues - the z wouldn't cut cleanly no matter what I did so I just worked with what I had.
Even with all of the issues, I feel that it turned out really well. Hopefully the next time I have to cut one of these out I'll be able to cut it substantially bigger!
BOY word album-CE daily
1 day ago


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from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
- n. The ordinal form of the number sixty-one, describing a person or thing in position number 61 of a sequence.
- n. One of sixty-one equal parts of a whole.
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Ernie supposed that made some sense; his sixty-first birthday was approaching and no part of him seemed to move as fast as it used to.
Thus passed from this world Quintus Lutatius Catulus, in the sixty-first year of his life: consul, pontiff, and fierce upholder of the prerogatives of the Senate.
That means that if Roger Maris or Mickey Mantle hit their sixty-first home run in the one hundred fifty-fifth game of the season, their name will have an asterisk in the record book.
"I'd feel less uncomfortable about being the sixty-first and even better about being the sixty-seventh, but I'll take 'em one at a time," he said.
Specter: Republicans Support Stimulus, Don't Want 'Fingerprints' On It
SINCE BOBBY JINDAL, a traditional Catholic and sometime New Oxford Review contributor, today became the eighty-fourth Governor of Louisiana sixty-first of the republican era, we decided to share with you the interesting development regarding the Louisiana state flag.
While elaborated upon in greater detail in his auto-commentary, MAV, his terse summary of the neither-one-nor many argument is found in the sixty-first and sixty-second stanzas of MA as follows:
On July 27, 2006, the sixty-first anniversary of the establishment of the Syrian armed forces, President Bashar al-Assad issued a belligerent message to the troops.
The sixty-first anniversary is August 6th: Remembering Hiroshima.
It's almost certainly because there are a lot more issues ordered of the third issue of a high profile series like Justice League, than of the sixty-first issue of a second-stringer like Firestorm.
Barcelona to Marseilles, which exhibits the lively susceptibility of the author and diplomat who was then in his sixty-first year:


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We had another busy weekend at the house and we have a roof. It's so exciting right now because you can see such progress each time we are out there. The previous weekend we were able to get the remainder of the house walls pushed up on Saturday and the garage walls on Sunday. Both weekends we had lots of help, thanks again to everyone who came out. The weather was great this weekend especially on Saturday. It is much easier to be outside all day working when the temperature is above zero but it gets pretty muddy, so right now we are torn between wanting it to be a nice temperature and wanting it to stay just below zero. As long as it doesn't rain too much before we get the shingles on both should be fine.
Nollie got to spend the weekend with "Gama Edas" (Grandma Lydia) and Luca got to hang out with me at the house.
Here's some photos of the house progress.
The Roof is Up
Posted by Marci at 3:13 PM | Labels: House Build
2 comments:
- Anonymous said...
I'm so excited for you guys! Things are looking great!
- Anonymous said...
I LOVE the last photo!! It is too funny - you make one good lookin' Mama/Foreperson (and I like the rubber boots - Walmart?).
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The WALL HOUSE (Santiago de Chile, 2004-2006) is designed by FAR Ltd. (Marc Frohn & Mario Rojas and team) as a suburban residence. As opposed to the general notion that our living environments can be properly described and designed "in plan", this project is a design investigation into how the qualitative aspects of the wall as a complex membrane, structure our social interactions and climatic relationships and enable specific ecologies to develop.
The project breaks down the "traditional" walls of a house into a series of four delaminated layers (concrete cave, stacked shelving, milky shell, soft skin – click on the above link for more detail) within which which the different spaces of the house exist.
The layers build upon one another from the inside out, both materially and geometrically, and blur the boundary between the interior and the exterior, creating through the specificity of the different materials used (many of which are not common in architectural applications) a series of qualitatively distinct environments.
The building's most standout feature, an energy screen typically used in greenhouse construction, constitutes the outermost layer, creating not only a diffused lighting and comfortably climatised zone inside but also, through its folding and sometimes reflective and sometimes translucent surface, contributes to the diamond-cut appearance of the structure.
[ For more information visit FAR Ltd.; thanks to Inhabitat for one of the photos]


text: difficult child sees Psychiatrist, neurologist, psychologist for weekly counsoling as well as social worker at school once a week. He has headaches everyday sometimes so severe he throws up. He has been taking topomax for that for about 6 months, he said his headaches have gone from everyday to about 3 times a week. (bad ones). Psychologist suggested Myofascial Release. It is covered by my insurance. I went also due to headaches. Massage like. he came out of his hour session and said he was so relaxed it felt like he was floating. He had a headache when he went in, but it takes a few sessions to loosen up the nerves. Anyone hear of that?


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We have had an action packed few days here in LA. Our first adventure was to Disneyland, the happiest place on earth. We did the Jungle Cruise, the Haunted House, It's a Small World, a river cruise and rode the train and monorail. Phew. We did not get to the Pirates of the Caribbean unfortunately, the wait time was about an hour. The crowds were manic at Disneyland, like the busiest day at the Easter Show on steroids. But we did have fun. Disneyland has changed so much, the rides are all the same but now there is a resort nearby, huge parking stations and the new park California, which we did not have time to visit.
Universal Studios was another of our outings and we had the best time there. Again this place has changed enormously over the years. We did all the rides, the Mummies Curse, Jurassic Park and Transformers. Transformers was absolutely fantastic, with huge digital images coming at you from all angles, just brilliant. We did the back lot tour too, which is always fun.
Thrown into all this fun we then did 'the trip from hell'. We decided to do a LA tour which was to takes us to Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and Hollywood. The day was bad from the moment we were picked up by Speed Jordan in the bus. Speed Jordan was obviously one of the managers who had had to substitute for a driver who did not turn up for work. We were slipping and sliding all over the place while he mounted kerbs whilst talking on a mobile and also a walkie talkie. And that trip was only about 2 km. Next we were put on a bus with a lady driver, she was then pulled out and another driver was substituted. He did not like our bus, so we were moved to another bus. Drama, drama. Finally we got underway. The company advertises a 1 hour stop at each place. Well Venice Beach we had 30 minutes, Santa Monica we had 45 minutes, Rodeo Drive 30 minutes, which was about 25 minutes too long, then the Growers Market where we got 1 hour. Hollywood rated 30 minutes. Needless to say the 8 natives on board the bus were getting restless. Our driver then decided to chuck a wobbly and focused his anger on a single lady passenger on the bus, he let fire with a terrible tirade at her and us in general. I have since read reports of his outbursts on Tripadviser and my report will be joining those shortly.
Yesterday we decided to go to the Long Beach to see the Queen Mary. All our other excursions had been with arranged transport, but we decided how hard could it be to get to Long Beach. Dumb idea.
We caught the free hotel shuttle back to LAX, then the free shuttle to Aviation Station. The train came along, we counted the stations to where we had to change, all going well. Then oops they are doing track work. So we were transferred to a bus which took us to the next serviceable station, then back on the train to the end stop, then onto a free shuttle to the Queen Mary. That exercise only took 3 and a half hours!!! The good news was we had to repeat the effort to get back to our hotel. Yep, we did board the Queen Mary which in her day must have been a beautiful and gracious lady but is now looking a little sad and needs some serious restoration work being done.
So that's it for the LA bit. This afternoon we take off for Las Vegas for yet another type of American madness.
The Plan
Starting off in Sydney we head over to the US for a few days in Los Angeles, then Las Vegas and finally over to the Big Apple. Then off again, down to Cuba for about 18 days for some old cars, cigars and Baccardi. After that we head north, this time to Toronto in Canada for a whistle stop before crossing the Atlantic to the UK. One of the highlights there will be a week down on the Isle of Wight. Jetting off again we will then spend approximately the next two months driving around Italy and France. After all that hard work we journey over to Greece where we will island hop using the local ferry systems, with 3 nights on Santorini, 3 nights of Mykonos and 3 nights on Paros. Yep, we love doing the tourist stuff! Finally we begin the long haul home stopping off on the way in Honkers for a little retail therapy.
Sunday, 29 March 2015
The LA Experience
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Happy Birthday Vicki!!!!
|Happy Birthday Vicki!!!!
Vicki is celebrating Her Birthday this weekend. She is an inspirational artist to so many in Her life, I had to give Her a Blind Contour Birthday Gift. A cake and Vicki in Her studio with two of Her favorite Artist and Her Algebra always on Her mind.
I used My Graph 1000 X Stein Limited Edition Mechanical Pencil. 0.5mm HB Graphite.
I used it because it is a technical pencil and to Honor an Artist that still Tudors students in Algebra.
I was not to bad in Algebra either. Matter of fact, I see Football plays in Algebraic equations. Pretty frightening thought. Also, I am a skilled Cake Decorator. I bake a really mean "Homicide By Deep Chocolate Cake", I take no prisonors, all succumb to IT! My Chocolate Roses are the Killers!
Happy Birthday Vicki!!!!


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Stocks are relatively quiet this morning. All three indices are down just slightly but we're still early in the morning. The ten year U.S. Treasury bond finally made its move yesterday. It lost nearly ten basis and it's now trading at 3.73%. For months, the ten year created a range that bounced between 3.3-.36%. Then, in December, it broke through the floor and then recently it broke through the ceiling. Where it will trade going forward is anyone's guess. The yield spread between the two and ten year continues to challenge all time records at 2.81%. The signs of intermediate term inflation, at least as measured by this spread, are still screaming. The three month t bill has settled, for now, at .041% yield.
Crude oil has dropped below $80 a barrel at least for now. It's at $79.47 a barrel and has lost $1.32 a barrel this morning. Gold, meanwhile, is up slightly to $1132. It's lost about $20 an ounce from highs late last week, however.
It's a mostly sour day both in Europe and in the Far East. The Hang Seng in China was down big 2.59%, the NIKKEI in Japan was down 1.32%, and the Straits Time Index in Singapore was down .95%. In Europe, the FTSE in London is down .75%, the DAX in Germany is up .01%, and the Spanish Index is down .34%.
Meanwhile, the Dollar is mixed this morning. It's off by .15% against the Euro, by .62% against th British Pound, but it's better by .27% against the Japanese Yen.
Please check out my new books, "Prosecutors Gone Wild: The Inside Story of the Trial of Chuck Panici, John Gliottoni, and Louise Marshall" and also, "The Definitive Dossier of PTSD in Whistleblowers"
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Morning Market Report
Posted by mike volpe at 7:15 AM
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"With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!"
Let us seek the Lord with all of our hearts. This heart of ours should be inquiring for God and longing for God. Let us not wander from His commandments. Neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience, do not wander from His words.
Let us worship Him with all of our hearts. Don't walk away from His commands. Try hard to find Him. Let us not be astray from His words.


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|Rear Exterior @ Chabelita's
I've posted about Chabelita's Tacos many times before. Of course the food is great, but I always forget that the murals and paintings that surround the parking lot, dining area and the actual walls of the exterior give me a thrill when I'm there.
Imagine being on super-busy Western Avenue, just north of the Santa Monica Freeway, next to a fire station. The traffic noise, sirens, etc. are deafening. Chabelita has an indoor-outdoor dining area that shields you from the noise and dust of the street. You can see Chabelita herself walking on the water of Lake Chapultepec.
If you decide to eat at one of the tables in the parking lot, you can gaze upon farm scenes of goats, pigs, roosters and cows. If you turn up your iPod and look at the murals while you're eating your delicious taco, you might as well be on a farm in rural Mexico!
|Chabelita's Fish Taco w/ Rice and Beans


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Selena Gomez Woken Up To Hear Justin Bieber News: 'Devastated'
Justin Bieber was arrested and booked for drag racing, resisting arrest without violence, driving under the influence, and driving on an expired license on Jan. 23, and now HollywoodLife.com has learned EXCLUSIVELY that Justin's on-again, off-again girlfriend Selena Gomez is 'devastated' over the whole ordeal.
Justin Bieber is now facing jail time for his shocking DUI, but it was only a few weeks ago that he seemed to be on the up-and-up, as he reunited with his squeaky clean ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez. HollywoodLife.com spoke to a source close to Selena, and can confirm EXCLUSIVELY that she's "devastated" over Justin's arrest.
Selena Gomez 'Devastated' Over Justin Bieber's Arrest
Poor Selena! Even though Justin allegedly sent her some nasty texts earlier in January, a source told HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY that she was woken up to hear the news about Justin — and she didn't take it very well.
"She has been woken up and told what is happening," the source confirms. "She is completely devastated over what has happened."
We hope Justin can get his act together, for his own health and safety as well as the health and safety of those around him.
Justin Bieber's Mugshot Revealed
At least Justin is smiling while Selena works through her grief. His mugshot was released at 11 a.m. EST on Jan. 23, and he looks strangely happy for a guy who just got arrested on multiple serious offenses. He is now facing charges for DUI, drag racing, resisting arrest, and driving with an expired license, for which he could face major fines and possibly even jail time. Not really something to smile about, no?
What do you think, HollywoodLifers? Should Selena give Justin another chance, or is he too far gone?
— Shannon Miller; Reporting By Russ Weakland


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I'll be talking about "words of the summer" (starting off with "skadoosh," of course, and covering the inevitable "staycation"). The toll-free call-in number is 1-800-486-8655, or 227-2050 in the Milwaukee area. If you or your readers have got any good new summery words, I'll try to mention them.Don't miss this one!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Ben Zimmer in Wisconsin ... on the radio, at least
OK, no matter how busy I am, I have to note this: Lexicographer and all-around notable linguist Ben Zimmer has just emailed to say that he's going to be on "At Issue With Ben Merens" on WPR tomorrow (Friday), from 5 to 6 pm Central time. Here's the core of his note:
Posted by Mr. Verb at 12:46 PM
Labels: Linguistics in the media
1 comment:
- mightyredpen said...
I don't know if I've been living under a rock or something, but the first time I ever heard of this "skadoosh" of which Zimmer is so fond was in a column by Zimmer that appeared in the Boston Globe!
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My friend Gretchen's novel comes out today! It's called "Back Again to Me" and it's a story of adoption (close to my heart, needless to say!) All proceeds from this weekend's book launch go to the Dave Thomas Foundation. Here's... a link:http://www.gretchenhirsch.com
Help this writer help another writer and order a copy! And raise money for a good cause (you know, adoption, not, um, writers...)


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No amount of praying, fasting can make Nigeria great without hardwork – Osinbajo
By Levinus Nwabughiogu
ABUJA – Acting President Yemi Osinbajo Wednesday said that without commitment to hardwork, no amount of praying and fasting can take Nigeria's economy to the desired growth.
He said that known great economies were built by men and women with patriotic zeal and not spirits, calling for all hands on deck to revive the economic fortunes of the country.
The Acting President also emphasized the need for Nigerians to launch vigorously into agriculture, especially in rice production for food sufficiency.
He said: "Great economies and great nations, prosperity and abundance of nations and communities are created by men and not spirits. No matter how much you pray or fast our country cannot grow without some of us deciding to do the hardwork that makes Nations work.
"I am a pastor, a spiritual person, and I understand the law of sowing and reaping. It is a spiritual law that has tremendous physical implications. Every time that we delay, or frustrate what we can do today leaving it till tomorrow, we hold back the future,we too must reap what we have sown by experiencing delays. If you help others to achieve, if you help your nation you have sown good seeds you will find help and you will prosper too.
"So don't see this as government policy. understand it as personal policy. Understand it as In the third executive order we address an issue which the president, President Muhamadu Buhari has described as a cornerstone of our economic policy. The Buy and Use Nigeria Policy. The President said at the launch of the Economic Recovery and Growth plan that we must grow what we eat and make what we use.
"Just to give an example, we eat a lot of rice, and we import most of it. Yet we can grow enough rice to serve Africa. So we started a self sufficiency in Rice."
Osinbajo who underscored the need to invest into the future told the civil servants that government policies cannot fully implemented to produce positive result without their input.
He said that they were strategic to making the executive work, warning them against stifling businesses by delaying their registrations.
"Every generation of people owes the next generation a debt. That debt is paid by ensuring that we provide for the means for the next generation to survive. Or at least we have a duty to ensure that we do not destroy the means of survival and prosperity of the next generation. But there are some people in every generation who have a special burden, a more important role than others in preparing for present prosperity and future abundance.
"These group of people are called public servants. You and I who are here today. I have served in the public service most of my adult life. As a University teacher, adviser to Federal Minister and Attorney General. I earned a salary so I understand how salary increases can be such good news. But most importantly I learnt of the power of the public service to change the social, economic and political story of a nation.
"The power house of the economy, the fastest and most efficient job creator are private businesses. Both small and large, investments both local and foreign. Everyone who starts a business, invests in an existing business or expands a going concern, creates opportunities for jobs, jobs mean money in people's pockets, it means that whole families can survive, live well and pay taxes, so that government can continue to provide services, build schools, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure.
"But small or large businesses cannot be created or can be frustrated out of existence if the environment for doing business in a country is harsh or difficult. It is the public service that provides the services that determine whether the business environment will be friendly and welcoming for business or whether it will drive away business and destroy opportunities for job creation.
"When I say public service I mean the executive, judiciary and the legislature.
"So when a potential business owner wants to register a company, collect tax clearance certificate or obtain NAFDAC registration or SON certification, or expatriate quotas, or any other papers, approvals or certification from government, and we do not willingly and efficiently help him or her, we are killing the jobs and prosperity that he would have created.
"Every time we say come back next week to someone for something we can do today, we postpone prosperity of one person but in reality we postpone the prosperity of so many who would have earned something from the business. So every time that a public officer is an obstacle to business in any way he attacks the prosperity of our economy and he attacks our future because it means our children cannot find jobs", Osinbajo said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okey Enalemah while making a presentation stated that promoting transparency and efficiency in business environment was key to realizing the objectives of the orders, urging the civil servants to imbibe the culture of discipline transparency.
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Emma grieved that she could not be more openly just to one important service which his better sense would have rendered her, to the advice which would have saved her from the worst of all her womanly follies—her wilful intimacy with Harriet Smith; but it was too tender a subject.—She could not enter on it.— Harriet was very seldom mentioned between them. This, on his side, might merely proceed from her not being thought of; but Emma was rather inclined to attribute it to delicacy, and a suspicion, from some appearances, that their friendship were declining. She was aware herself, that, parting under any other circumstances, they certainly should have corresponded more, and that her intelligence would not have rested, as it now almost wholly did, on Isabella's letters. He might observe that it was so. The pain of being obliged to practise concealment towards him, was very little inferior to the pain of having made Harriet unhappy.
Isabella sent quite as good an account of her visitor as could be expected; on her first arrival she had thought her out of spirits, which appeared perfectly natural, as there was a dentist to be consulted; but, since that business had been over, she did not appear to find Harriet different from what she had known her before.— Isabella, to be sure, was no very quick observer; yet if Harriet had not been equal to playing with the children, it would not have escaped her. Emma's comforts and hopes were most agreeably carried on, by Harriet's being to stay longer; her fortnight was likely to be a month at least. Mr. and Mrs. John Knightley were to come down in August, and she was invited to remain till they could bring her back.
"John does not even mention your friend," said Mr. Knightley. "Here is his answer, if you like to see it."
It was the answer to the communication of his intended marriage. Emma accepted it with a very eager hand, with an impatience all alive to know what he would say about it, and not at all checked by hearing that her friend was unmentioned.
"John enters like a brother into my happiness," continued Mr. Knightley, "but he is no complimenter; and though I well know him to have, likewise, a most brotherly affection for you, he is so far from making flourishes, that any other young woman might think him rather cool in her praise. But I am not afraid of your seeing what he writes."
"He writes like a sensible man," replied Emma, when she had read the letter. "I honour his sincerity. It is very plain that he considers the good fortune of the engagement as all on my side, but that he is not without hope of my growing, in time, as worthy of your affection, as you think me already. Had he said any thing to bear a different construction, I should not have believed him."
"My Emma, he means no such thing. He only means—"
"He and I should differ very little in our estimation of the two," interrupted she, with a sort of serious smile—"much less, perhaps, than he is aware of, if we could enter without ceremony or reserve on the subject."


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Nike is as a company--who their target market is and how they want to reach them. Modern architects such as Zaha Hadid and Frank Gehry have also developed a certain sense of "brand". With just a little background on either of these amazing architects, you can recognize a Hadid or Gehry form almost immediately. So, what would Nike look like through the eyes of Zaha Hadid? How about Gehry? Take a look at a few fun comparisons...
Nike and Zaha Hadid
JS Bach Chamber Music Hall:
Frank Gehry and Nike
MIT Stata Center by Frank Gehry:
Always be true to who you are as a designer, and if you're lucky, your client might find you.


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Reporting from Carnac, France — St. Cornelius, known as Cornély in France, opens his arms in blessing from a niche above the old stone church in Carnac. Legend has it that he was persecuted by Rome for his opposition to animal sacrifice and chased by soldiers all the way to the Brittany coast. Trapped, he turned around and changed them into 3,000 rough-hewn stones that still stand in military rows on a chain of fields just north of here.
There are other hypotheses about the Carnac boulders, carbon dated to 4000 to 2000 BC. They mark one of Caesar's camps during the Gallic Wars from 58 to 50 BC. Or they were snake worship sites for ancient Celts whose territory included parts of England and Ireland as well as Brittany. Or maybe they were goblin lairs and fairy treasures. But St. Cornelius works for me.
It's the same story with other prehistoric monuments in Western Europe. No one knows for sure who built them or why, although sites have been found, from Scandinavia to Spain, that have various configurations: upright stones, known as menhirs or megaliths, standing alone or in groups, as at Stonehenge, England; dolmens, Neolithic tombs made of massive boulders, laid on top of one another; and tumuli, or artificial mounds, where ancient man buried the departed under heaps of rubble.


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I've seen it for a while, but everytime i look it, my likeness is going up for an instant!
Really cool with different design from the usual anime and the X version. This Bandai's Digimon plamo series is called Digimon re-boot, don't know what it means ^^.For your info, in America, Omegamon translated to Omnimon. Recently my likeness to digimon was awakened again because of the new Digimon series is on air now, called Digimon Xros Wars.
Although it's not as cool as the first digimon series, but i like the new concept and the GARness of the main protagonist digimon, Shoutmon.
And his most advanced evolution so far, called Shoutmon X4, has very similiar head with Omegamon which i like.
I wonder what digimon get plamo treatment next…


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Here's the latest in my world:
-Mattie's birthday party is this week, and she and I are both so excited! She's having a "spa" party at a local shop with all the little girls from her class. They'll do fun stuff like get their hair teased and glittered, toe nails painted, and other fun stuff....she is giddy with excitement.
-I have yet to make her birthday outfit. I've made about a half dozen other birthday outfits over the past few weeks for other people, but my kids always come last...shame on me!
-I am extremely overwhelmed with orders in my shop. I can't even begin to describe the ways God has rained down blessings on my little business. Amazing.
-This weekend I met this very famous blogger. By far the most exciting thing to happen to me in a long time. Post with pics to follow!
-Mattie got her pre-Kindergarten shots about ten days ago, and she had to get FOUR...two in each arm. That deserves it's own post as well. Wow. Here's the short version: picture me with both girls on my lap, Mattie on one knee, Presley on the other, trying to restrain Mattie while not dropping Presley. Then as Mattie starts to lose her composure, trying to console and restrain her, and hold Presley up, who also started to lose her cool because sister was scaring her. My advice: leave the baby at home when you take your big kid for shots.
-I have to register Mattie for Kindergarten this week. I don't want to. That's all I have to say about that. I have a feeling I am going to be a hot mess come August. I was 8 months pregnant when she started 3yr Kindergarten and I never shed a tear. This....this is hurting my heart.
-I keep telling Mattie (teasingly) that we're not going to acknowledge her birthday this year, and that way she won't turn 5, and she'll stay 4 for another year....like if no one says anything, it won't happen. Tonight she told me "Mom, God is STILL going to make me five no matter what you do". So true, baby.
-This weekend while at my sister's we watched her wedding video from four years ago. Mattie was a flower girl, and she was the same age Presley is now. So funny and fun to watch with her and show her that she hasn't always been a big girl like she thinks. The child has no concept of herself as a baby. The other day she was making a fuss over Presley's foul smelling diaper as I was changing it, and I began to talk to Presley and say "Mattie was a baby once too, and she dirtied her diapers too, and she stank sometimes too". Mattie got SO mad at me, and told me not to ever tell Presley those things again......like they have to be our little secret. She is a NUT!
-Tomorrow is March 1st....I can hardly believe that!!!


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Thursday, July 16, 2009
Lavender in the Bath
Monday, July 13, 2009
Thyme In Vinegar
Monday, July 6, 2009
A little-known herb. A common weed for some. Many, who do remember it from their childhood days, say their grandmothers grew and, now that they think on it, used it.
I did not grow up around herb usage. I stumbled upon herbs as an adult. But, it was love at first stumble. I am still fascinated by the properties of so many of our herbs. There seems to be many definitions of that term: herbs. But, I find I like this one: whatever plant material that benefits the body. This means edible flowers, veggies, fruits, and mushrooms, too.
But, catnip is an herb not commonly used. I think it should be. Here are the many reasons for thinking so.
Catnip as an Insect Repellant
Catnip is a very effective insect repellant against mosquitoes, other kinds of flies (like gnats and no see-ums), and cockroaches. I find it works just slapping the branch of a catnip plant on my person. However, catnip macerated in an oil works, too; as well as catnip essential oil in a spray (even though it is catnip, do not use this on your cat – they do not process essential oils through their liver very well). Studies back this natural insect repellant claim. Check the following sites out:
There are many, many sites you may explore for more studies of this type. Google catnip studies. You may also be interested in the strewing properties of catnip.
Catnip as a Nervine Tea
The first few books I picked up on herbs indicated Catnip tea would settle the nerves. I had also read bee balm (monarda) tea relaxes the muscles. I thought – what a magnificent pair. So, I made tea from these two herbs many, many times. It is a knockout flavor with a wonderful feeling of contentment when I enjoy this brew. I also think you shouldn't drink an herbal tea on the run – it is to be enjoyed thoroughly while relaxing and putting our feet up to do so. Now, some say that is what relaxes a person – sitting down to drink the tea. Well, and if it is? I, personally, think the combination of sitting and drinking the tea is what does the trick. They both work toward relaxing our bodies.
My infant son also knows catnip tea. By the dropper, he learned the benefits of catnip on the colon and digestive involuntary muscles – relaxing them so that he could pass gas.
The following sites indicate others who advocate drinking catnip tea. This is also a controversial subject.
Catnip with its side effects
This is a new side of catnip for me. My books only mention women expecting a baby should avoid catnip because of its effect on menstruation. I had a customer who is taking neurontin to check online to see if it is okay to also drink catnip tea. Well, I did, and first I found this:
ith+catnip&source=bl&ots=wFfVNmVRRg&sig=gjRpsuaeOipqJCKRtgY7F3B7WgI&hl=en&ei=AQBSSufmD4OGtgeWjMyyBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6 on page 155 – reads the warning I found the day I researched this for her. Today, I'm trying to find that same site – and I cannot find it after several, several searches. But, instead, I found a few serious sites that back data that there are no serious interactions documented that deal with catnip. See these sites:
http://www.drugs.com/npc/catnip.html (at this site, I checked the interactions page – and none came up.)
http://www.peacehealth.org/kbase/cam/hn-2063002.htm (this site indicates catnip is not very powerful, period.)
So, I have to go back with my gut feeling and say catnip is safe. But, I sure would use low doses if I took other medicines just to be safe. I wonder, too, if we are only pawns in some power game, and really must decide this for ourselves. ?
This is a long blog – and I apologize. Catnip is not a very simple herb. But, it is wonderful. I hope you have a chance to experience it sometime.
Today, I'm listing a new product – Catnip Oil. I macerate my own catnip leaves in extra virgin olive oil and hemp seed oil. When I bottle it, I add a bit of jojoba for a longer shelf life and a thinner application. It is awesome for me in repelling no see-ums. And, this is one the studies seem to back up, esp. for mosquitoes and cockroaches. $8.00 for a 2 fl. oz. glass bottle of pure catnip oil, no fragrance or essential oils added, so that our young people may use it safely, too.


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|Leonard Nimoy as Spock. See more images of him smiling on the set here.
I am so sad to hear of Leonard Nimoy's death today.
Star Trek was a big part of my childhood, and Mr. Spock was one of my favorite characters. I loved how he, and the show, emphasized logic and science as a way to navigate all the crazy, alien situations the crew of the Enterprise found themselves in. If Captain Kirk was the engine that drove them ever onward in pursuit of their mission "to boldly go where no man has gone before," then Spock was the compass. Spock's character works so well because he perfectly balances out Captain Kirk's, shall we say, rather histrionic leadership style. Don't get me wrong I love every member of the Enterprise crew. I loved the show for the sense of fun that is at the core of every episode.
When I was a kid we had one TV in the living room, the kind housed in a wood cabinet with a square screen that curved out. We didn't have a VHS or anything, just the TV with its twelve channels plus that wierd snowy UHF station. Star Trek reruns came on at 6:00 p.m. every weeknight, which meant that, every single weeknight I would doggedly negotiate with my mom to move dinner to either 5:30 or 7:00. I don't remember what I bargained, but I often got my way because I watched that show a lot. I watched it over and over, until all 80 episodes were as familiar as old friends.
So, it is with a heavy heart that I bid farewell to Mr. Nimoy, you take with you a little piece of my childhood.


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A busy medical week in that I had an exercise evaluation at MGH on Tuesday to assess how I'm doing after the surgery and see what modifications I can make to my exercise regimen. The 6-minute walk test revealed that I'm actually doing better than I had thought, especially just 45 days after surgery. I walked a total of 605m in 6 minutes which put my pace at 3.7 mph. (Why the distance is measured in meters and the pace in mph rather than km, I'll never know) The bad news was that my O2 saturation went down to 86 on 3L of oxygen during the test, but still, no different than I had been 2 years ago, which was good.
The PT was quite pleased with how I'm doing, all things considered. It was suggested that I continue with the treadmill, start up at yoga again (yay!!!) and give it more time before re-incorporating strength training. My frustration had been that I was capable of doing both treadmill and weights, but then I'd be wiped out for days on end afterwards. Turns out I was rushing things a bit too much and need to give it several more weeks. I was also instructed to spot check my O2 sat more frequently when out and about (not just on the treadmill) to ensure my sats don't drop below 90, which will worsen the pulmonary hypertension. That's something I'd rather avoid.
Given the go ahead to return to yoga, I started back yesterday and was happy it didn't feel as difficult as I had anticipated. I've lost a fair amount of flexibility and strength, but know after a few weeks it will be much better. Patience! That has been my biggest challenge these past few months and something I need to work on developing much more of.
So, the weights will need to wait, but hopefully by summer I'll be back into them and regain my strength. I'm so accustomed to recovering from a medical illness that this surgical experience has been quite a surprise in that it's so much slower-paced. Just another life lesson that things can't be rushed, they need to happen in their own time and that our minds are not the masters of our bodies.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
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|This pic is from my original vegetable soup recipe and has beef in it. =)
I wanted vegetable soup the other day, but didn't have any beef, and I didn't have any potatoes, and I didn't have any carrots! (my favorite)
So I looked up my original vegetable soup recipe, and I improvised! =)
I looked through my cabinet and threw some things in, then decided I should write it here so next time I'd be able to remember what I did.
I used the same spices:
- 2 T. sugar
- 1 T. garlic salt
- 1 T. basil
- 1 T. Italian seasoning
- 1 T. parsley
- 1 tsp. pepper
- the original calls for 4 beef bouillon cubes, but I used 1 Tbs. of Knorr powdered chicken bouillon.
- twelve 14-15 oz. cans of undrained vegetables (or the equivalent)
- one 28 oz. can of tomato soup, (I prefer diced tomatoes but didn't have any)
- 2 medium-large onions, diced.
To speed up cooking time, go ahead and get the vegetables heating in the pot, then chop the onions and microwave them for about 5 minutes before adding to the pot.
I used 2 cans of pintos (using three next time), 2 cans of lima beans (next time I'm just using one!), 2 cans of peas, 2 cans of corn, 2 cans of carrots (using 3 next time), and 2 cans of green beans (leaving these out next time). There are potatoes that come in a can, so you could also use those if you have them.
►If you want to add fresh potatoes, you may need to add cooking time.
This will fill up a 1½ gallon soup pot, so if you have a smaller pot, or a smaller family, just half the recipe.


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Status: Open
Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Lane Bryant is one of the largest retailers of women's plus-size clothing in the United States. The company operates more than 900 stores and serves over 7 million people. Its stores are located in malls and lifestyle shopping centers and have an average size of nearly 5,900 square feet. The company offers a selection of outwear, activewear, tops, bottoms, dresses, jackets and shoes. Lane...
Be the first AL.com user to add photos or videos of Lane Bryant
Lane Bryant Inc specializes in Retail - Ready-to-wear Apparel, Women's.
Lane Bryant is located at 1701 McFarland Blvd E, Tuscaloosa, AL. This business specializes in Women's Clothing.


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The rightroots are participating in a push today to for NY-20 Congressional candidate Jim Tedisco.
The Democrat running for this seat, tax cheat venture capitalist Scott Murphy, is bringing his A-game. That means the ability to self-fund and ride on now-Sen. Kristen Gillibrand's coattails (something which may be a little harder now that her former constituents feel betrayed by her).
We need to level the playing field. Please donate today and help ensure the 20th District returns to Republican hands.


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Fenrecz, lying in a relatively steep box-like canyon, is dominated by a major thoroughfare known as the Serpent Road, hewn from the green stone of the surrounding Viridian Cliffs. The Serpent Road has seven switchbacks, allowing horses and carts to traverse the city. Each switchback is referred to as a "coil", so a destination could be "on the third coil". At each point where the road switches back on itself, there is a large square, generally used for open-air markets, public executions and the like. At the North end of the city, the first coil passes over a series of complicated locks controlled by the Duke of Fenrecz, allowing some amount of control over the passage of the Eel River that flows into and under the city.
These locks open and close on a complex schedule, either through massive automated machinery or a cult-like group of operators (there are rumors about both). Moving on the bridges and stairways in the Locks is extremely dangerous if you aren't aware of the intricate and changing schedule, as massive amounts of cold water can easily sweep anybody in the area off their feet, to be dashed on stone hundreds of feet below, drowned as they are forced through any number of underground channels or worse, flushed alive into the Eel Weirs. There are a large amount of waterfalls that serve as natural barriers to progress until a great grinding is heard, a lock somewhere high above is closed and the water stops flowing, opening up a new, dripping passage. Behind one of these water walls lies access to Nightwing Temple.
Built long ago during the early days of Fenrecz, pre-dating the Serpent Road and most of the structures that now surround it, Nightwing Temple is a dilapidated stone structure dominated by a single slightly askew tower and covered with carvings and statues relating to avians and their worship. The building sits on an island in the middle of a roaring and frothy expanse of moving water, fed by multiple waterfalls, which create a constant roar and a prismatic mist that leaves most stone surfaces (like the single staircase that provides the only access to the temple) slippery and dangerous. Since the Locks are mainly free of the urban buildup common to the rest of the city, a significant amount of natural light filters down here. Great numbers of the city's ravens roost in the upper levels of the temple tower and will often wheel to the air to fly around the temple in a giant squawking flock of 30 or more birds, sometimes streaming upwards into the city proper.
A number of different figures and groups have lived in the temple over the centuries. Currently it is the residence of a particular Corvus Demon, appearing as a tall cloaked figure with the white and polished head of a raven skull. The demon, named Hrafnsmál, uses the flocks of ravens as both an intelligence-gathering device and an early-warning system. He has animated many skeletons of former occupants as a personal bodyguard and gathered the remaining treasures of the temple into a hoard that he keeps in his nest at the top of the tower, save for a Tooth of Vorn embedded in a skeleton in the main sanctum. Hrafnsmál is also attended by two Valravns, Ásmundur and Ámundur, who act as Hrafnsmál's heralds and go into the city and its environs on errands for him at irregular intervals. Valravns are supernatural beasts formed by a raven eating the still-beating heart of a great knight or high-ranking noble. They are capable of taking the form of a giant raven, a giant wolf or that of the humans whose hearts they consumed. Ásmundur and Ámundur's human forms are both knights in chain mail and great closed helms. Ásmundur wields an axe and Ámundur a sword, both with maroon shields with a design in white of three oak leaves over a river. If researched, this will turn out to be the heraldry of a once-great house in Sorten Muld, the manor now empty, although by custom, anybody carrying either of the knights' personal seals can lay claim to the land if they manage to hold it for a year.
Hrafnsmál carries a staff, Fuglur, apparently hewn from a very large bone. Noticeably cold to the touch, if used by a magic-user, it gives a constant effect of Rego Animal for birds, adding an additional D6 die on top of the caster's abilities and any nearby ley lines. It also enables the caster to understand and speak the language of birds. Over an extended period of use, the wielder of Fuglur will develop bird-like traits, including a virulent strain of kleptomania when it comes to anything shiny, as well as the desire to build a nest. In combat, Fuglur can be wielded as a quarterstaff dealing D8 damage and giving anybody hit with it a negative die step to subsequent attack rolls due to an aching chill in their bones.
In the Next Part: floor plans! tactics! intrigue! treasure!