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Reaching for the Stars by Adin White
|Castles and Communities staff member Colin Drake
Jaramillo wows the crowd with a harmonica solo
When we all arrived in Ballintober, I think it's safe to assume none of us expected to have the opportunity to join locals of the county in comedy routines, live music, and Irish dancing. But, to my surprise, we were actively and enthusiastically encouraged to do so on multiple occasions. One of my favorite memories coming away from Ireland was one such occasion: The 'Reach for the Stars' Talent show.
The Talent show was a multi-round elimination kind of thing, and had been going in other parts of Roscommon County prior to our Arrival. Participants were scored by two judges on a ten-point scale based on two criteria: Their stage performance, and their actual perceived talent.
Like any talent show, the opinions of the judges were subjective, so it was hard to watch a fellow student get a score that the rest of us may have felt was undeservedly low, but everybody took their scores like champions.
The performances ranged from the jokes between the children of the directors, to Ocarinas and something like opera singing. I was surprised by the number of willing participants and even more-so by the incredible response from the local towns people. The crowd of onlookers was huge! I suspect that at least a quarter of the population of Ballintober was there applauding each and every one of us, genuinely entertained by us Americans.
I personally did not make it past the Ballintober round, but I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it thanks to the warm and welcoming response of the crowd.
In closing, I would encourage all future students and staff alike to get on stage and do whatever you want. It's not about winning or showing off, it's about showing that you appreciate the hospitality of the wonderful people of Roscommon county and Ballintober have shown to all of us in giving us opportunities like this, and showing them that you are indeed willing to participate and excited to be in their homeland, not just because you are obligated to do so.

subset: commoncrawl


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If you want to argue about who is the best actor or actress, that is entirely subjective. In the 1930s, Sir John Gielgud and Sir Laurence Olivier had a rivalry as to who was the best Hamlet. However, who is the all-time most popular movie star? That is an entirely different manner. It is objective and entirely quantifiable. Who sold the most tickets or who spent the most years ranked among the ten most popular actors in Hollywood. Any guess as to who that might be?
Who rated in Hollywood's top ten most popular actors for the greatest number of years? The winner is John Wayne. No one else is even close. Clint Eastwood is a very distant second.
Nowadays, people tend to underestimate Wayne as an actor. (Granted, he found a winning formula and largely stuck to it.) He is also regarded by many liberals as a boogeyman. (His attitudes were consistent with someone born in 1907.) I went through a John Wayne stage in my early-to-middle teens. Upon reviewing some of those films, I found a number of surprises. The country changed a great deal during John Wayne's career and so did John Wayne himself. For example, in 1970, John Wayne made a film called Chisum, which was approximately the101st retelling of the Lincoln County War in New Mexico. Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett and all of that. The Duke played cattle baron John Chisum. Part of the backstory of Wayne's character was that he fought with a Comache chief named White Buffalo over the same piece of land. Of course, Chisum had come out on top. However, as he mentions at one point to his young niece, he and White Buffalo had grown closer than Chisum and his brother. Any two men who can fight over the same piece of land and develop a respect for each other knows nothing about Field Marshals Rommel and Montgomery. Or, for that matter, Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler.
There's a scene almost midway through Chisum in which the title character is meeting with the cavalry officer responsible for the territory. White Buffalo and a number of other Comanche are present. John Wayne was sixty-three at that point. The actor who played White Buffalo was quite a bit older. In that scene, Chisum has to tell the colonel that because of an attempted cattle rustling, he can't deliver the beef contract on time. White Buffalo starts to speak: "Chisum's word is good." The colonel cuts him off, saying, "Your opinion of Chisum and his word are of no concern to me." Moments later, as the meeting breaks up, White Buffalo finds Chisum and says, "This changes nothing between us." When an overly efficient cavalry sergeant grabs White Buffalo and tells him to get in the wagon. Chisum steps up and says to the younger man: "Sergeant, don't you know who that man is?" The Sergeant says, "Looks like an Injun to me." Chisum says, "That is the chief of the Comanche nation." The Sergeant replies, "I don't care if he's the crown prince of Montenegro, he's getting on that wagon."
At this point, the screenwriters came up with a neat twist. Chisum reaches into his pocket and pulls out a massive cigar and offers it to the Sergeant, who accepts. He then offers another to White Buffalo and takes one for himself. All three light up. After puffing away for a few seconds, Chisum says to the Sergeant, "If you ever lay hands on White Buffalo again, I will kill you." The sergeant is goggle-eyed. I thought that if a man John Wayne's size said said that to me, I would take notice. And if a man who *any* size who was wearing a pistol on his hip said that.... White Buffalo takes another long drag on his cigar and says cheerfully, "Sergeant,.... we go now." It's just a little bit, but I found myself liking Chisum's character quite a bit for standing up for his old rival.
In 1969, Wayne made a film called The Undefeated, which takes place in the immediate aftermath of the American Civil War. His character is named John Henry Thomas (one of my oldest friends is a gentleman named Jonathan Thomas, so I got to tease him about that movie). Colonel John Henry Thomas was a Union Cavalry officer (dear God, that poor horse) who is getting back to the business of capturing wild horses and selling them to the federal government…until he gets a better offer from the French government of Emperor Maximilian in Mexico.
Rock Hudson plays a Confederate colonel who is such a bitter ender that he would rather burn his home and relocate to Mexico than live in a defeated South. Adventures ensue. The biggest casting surprise in The Undefeated was the role of "Blue Boy", Colonel Thomas's adopted son. Who did they get to play Blue Boy? Roman Gabriel in his only film role. Roman Gabriel was six foot four and weighted 220 and built like he could play quarterback for the Rams. (Which is what he did). He was of Irish-Filipino ancestory- so he was swarthy enough to play a Native American. I was simply astounded that after making a career out of playing Indian fighters, John Wayne played a character who had adopted an Indian son. I would have liked to have been in on the script development meeting before filming started. Roman Gabriel was plenty big enough to play one of The Duke's kids.


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Shortspur Seablush or Rosy Plectritis (Plectritis congesta)
This native annual wildflower is encountered occasionally on grassy hillsides on Bodega Head. Most of the small, pinkish flowers are found in dense clusters at the tip of the angular stem. The leaves are fairly broad, often oblong or elliptic in shape, and may clasp the stem.
The photograph above is from 24 April 2013, but the one below is from 10 May 2006.
P.S. Happy May Day!


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New York Times art critic Roberta Smith indulges in the guilty pleasures of 18th and 19th Century American naive painting - and then bemoans the lack of imagination of museums in displaying pre-20th Century American art.
And I agree with every word.
Friday, March 06, 2009
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Sunday, December 8, 2013
Thursday, October 17, 2013
It's been a while
Hey guys!
Here is what I have been doing lately:
Geez! It has been quite a while since I posted an outfit post last. I have been crazy CRAZY busy starting my new company. I'm proud of how everything has turned out so far and I am in love with our merchandise. I am going to try and incorporate it into my style posts from now on. Having your own clothing store is like having one big fun closet of clothes to try on!
Styling and photographing crazy awesome outfits for stylerevel.com. I love our models- it's a fun job anyway but having fun models makes it 100 times better.
I have been styling and photographing our lookbook shoots too. Equally as fun.
I am super excited for our first Style Revel Party-- it's November 5 so don't miss it! We have Tara from mixmatchfashion.com. Her collection is fabulous- I can NOT WAIT for everyone to see it.
Things haven't been ALL work around here. We brought Dave home with us-- which has made things pretty interesting around here.
He's probably the craziest, spunkiest cat on the planet (hence the battle wound on his left ear--there is no telling how that one got there). He keeps me company while I'm working in the office and Adam is at school.
Speaking of Adam-- I haven't shared any of our engagement pictures! Here are some of my favorites. Our photographer was Amelia Patterson- shes fab.
I can't wait to get married to that man. He has been extremely patient with me through everything. I have heard people say starting your own business is tough on a relationship bc you are literally married to your job. It helps so much to be with someone who shows a genuine interest in what I am doing and supports me 100%. If I'm negative, he is positive. If I work until midnight, he doesn't mind. If I can't get around to making dinner, he does it. Blessed and blessed.
Ok... so on to my first Style Revel styled outfit!! I chose my favorite dress from the site-- the checkmate dress--find it here. I love anything black and white right now and I REALLY love anything in a checkerboard pattern. I love to mix prints and the elephant kimono(find it here) went perfectly. The check is small enough for me to be able to pair the two. Pattern mixing is always a good idea IF one of the patterns is subtle enough and if there is at least one color to link the two. My boots are Jeffery Campbell- you can find them here.
Sorry about the lack of posts-- I am going to do better from now on. Promise. I am blogging over on the style revel blog as well. So follow there too! Here is a link to my last post (link in photo)
Until next time,
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Black, Ivory, White
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
Style Revel
I am so excited to announce the start of my new company! I have been waiting for quite a while to do so and am glad I am finally able to. We had such a fun shoot this past Sunday for some images to use for promotion. We haven't started getting merchandise in so we just put together some looks we loved from my closet :) The style of these photos reflects the type of thing we will carry though.
JEA Model Management provided four of our models for the shoot. I am so lucky to have a friend like Jamie Ainsworth. They did a fantastic job and we look forward to working with them moving forward! Check out JEA Model Management on Facebook to keep up with their adventures.
Adam was literally the best throughout the whole thing. Actually-- throughout this last couple of months. I have been so busy finishing out my time at Libby Story-still full time, starting this company, planning our wedding-- It has been nuts and he has been so understanding and so helpful. He was at the shoot helping out every step of the way. We are still finding confetti in random places!
Speaking of helpful people, I am so lucky to say that one of my best friends Haley Early is joining me in my new adventure. She is Director of Public Affairs at Style Revel and I couldn't be more excited! With her people skills and marketing knowledge I know we will be successful. Plus, doing all of this with a best friend is just much more fun.
To follow our journey check us out on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. I'm sure it will be an exciting (and interesting) ride!
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How to Get Twins on the Sims 2
Have you always wanted your little Sim family to have a pair of twins? If so, you are in luck! There are three different ways to have twins in The Sims 2 besides waiting for fate to kick in. Two of these options require the expansion packs The Sims 2: Open For Business and The Sims 2: Free Time, and one is a cheat.
1Option 1: This only works if you have The Sims 2: Free Time or later expansion packs or stuff packs. NOTE- Your Sim's primary aspiration must be 'Family' for this to work properly.
2In Live Mode, go to the 'Aspiration Benefits' button on your female Sim's UI panel. It's the inventory tab and the aspiration points tab combined.
3Go to the third tab down, and click on the figure to the left of that screen.
4Click each box until you reach 'Super Fertility' at the top of the panel. This costs 4 Aspiration Points.
5Your couple now has a greater chance of birthing twins.
6Option 2: With cheats.
7Once a Sim has conceived, open the cheat window with these keys: ctrl + shift + c
8Enter this cheat into the white box: forcetwins
9Your Sim is guaranteed to give birth to twins.
10Option 3: This only works if you have installed The Sims 2: Open For Business.
11Have your pregnant Sim eat cheesecake. You will have a near 100 percent chance of twins.
Community Q&A
I have seen you can eat cheesecake while you're pregnant to have twins. Is it true?wikiHow ContributorYes.
Can I get triplets?Bearick01If you use { boolprop testingcheatsenabled true } you should be able to get triplets if you control-right click the player you want to have triplets.
Unanswered Questions
Can I do the cheat without any expansion packs?
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- There have been a number of rumors over the years of how to get twins. The ONLY food that triggers twins is cheesecake with the Open For Business Expansion(which need only be eaten once during pregnancy), and the ONLY cheat that will work is forcetwins.
- Unlike gender, the chance of your Sim having twins is determined at conception. You cannot reload your game before your Sim gives birth and turn a single birth into twins, or vice versa.
- For the first option, you have to have The Sims 2: Free Time expansion pack, which installs the Aspiration Benefits panel into the game.
Article Info
Categories: Sims 2
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Русский: родить близнецов в игре Sims 2, Português: Conseguir Gêmeos no The Sims 2, Italiano: Avere dei Gemelli in The Sims 2
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"We will never save civilisation as long as civilisation is our main object. We must learn to want something else even more." —C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Thursday, July 07, 2005
You Might Be a Paleoevangelical If . . . (#3)
3 comments:
- jon said...
My family viewed a fireworks display from a local "New Life Community Church's" parking lot (founded by four Liberty grads and now bordering on mega church). They jammed to "R-O-C-K in the USA," hoisted the stars and bars, passed out free drinks, and had all kinds of family fun activities. It was a great outreach to the community (the motives are probably pure), but the Gospel gets lost in all the noise. Being a follower of Jesus is just another patriotic thing to do....
- Matt Black said...
We usually do not take part in anything that mixes patriotism and worship. If the church has an outreach with a patriotic theme outside of the context of a worship service, we are glad to join in. Though we love our country and our national anthem, I do not see how it glorifies God to sing "O say can you see" in a service dedicated to God's worship. We do honor our country and our flag, but we like to keep it in the right context. If I announced that we were having a patriotic service here in Spain on Spanish Constitution Day, our people would think I just hopped off of a spaceship. I guess I'm a paleoevangelical.
Matthew Black
Madrid, Spain
- Josh said...
I guess I might be a Paleoevangelical. I share your lament. Why do we so drape the cross with the flag? People are drawn out by thoughts of America and patriotic themes move them. Why doesn't the cross have this same impact? We get goosebumps when we hear the National Anthem, but why don't we get goosebumps when we hear "Be Thou My Vision"? To the average Christian the cross seems less real, less relevant, less meaningful than Old Glory. M


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Freakin sharks with freakin lazurrrrrs on their freakin heads..
I must confess I just sent them a message as I'm curious..
I'll help them out if they build me the stuff I need.
What if it could get me a job that actually ..pays?!?!?
I believe non-lethal defense is ( a branch of-) the future for spudgunning.
Gun Freak wrote:
Oh my friggin god stop being so awesome, that thing is pure kick ass. Most innovative and creative pneumatic that the files have ever come by!
Can't ask for a better compliment!!
I agree
Last edited by velocity3x on Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:18 pm, edited 2 times in total.
These pirates want EASY targets, they are in it for the ransom, not for the goods... Dead hostages are worth zipzeronada, same for damaged cargo/ships... Not to mention, They know that as soon as they start killing people/destroying payloads they have put a great big target on themselves... You don't have to make it impossible for them to hijack/board ships, you just have to make it "not easy"...
That being said, once the hijacks and the ransoms are reduced, they will become more aggressive/dangerous to the point of requiring military intercession to totally eliminate piracy...
My Cannons can be found by clicking the following link.
http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/viewtop ... tml#256896
Read more news. As recently as 3 weeks ago the captain of a merchant vessel was killed by pirate gunfire during a hijacking.
And I don't think you'll find anybody here who'll argue that pneumatic guns are superior to traditional firearms. The question is how to fight back GIVEN than traditional firearms are not an option due to circumstances beyond your control. You seem to advocate just bending over and taking it up the arse. Not all of us are so inclined.
I wonder if those gag exploding golf balls (no actual unmentionable products involved) would survive a pneumatic launch and make it to target intact?
Loaded with CS2 they might prove somewhat effective as a "distraction".
It's hard to aim while you've got your eyes closed and are otherwise occupied tossing yer cookies.
"It could be that the purpose of your life is to serve as a warning to others" – unknown
Liberalism is a mental disorder, reality is it's cure.
And with CS2 you're firmly back into the "illegal in many ports and undeniable with respect to purpose" arena.
That does pose a question though... Are there any standard industrial chemicals that don't pose too many safety issues (for the user) that would have similar effects? I mean, you can't justify having CS, but you could justify having [wonder chemical].
Like chlorine bleach and say..."battery" acid??
"It could be that the purpose of your life is to serve as a warning to others" – unknown
Liberalism is a mental disorder, reality is it's cure.
Bleach, maybe.
Acid has too many auxilery safety issues.
Acetic acid? aka...vinegar.
Toilet bowl cleaner works too. (HCl)
The concentration doesn't need to be too high to achieve an "effect".
"It could be that the purpose of your life is to serve as a warning to others" – unknown
Liberalism is a mental disorder, reality is it's cure.
I think it's about taking down their ship...If it's really going to hit them and make them ALL stop and turn around it will likely have to be lethal. Getting a marble/bearing sniper on the otherhand (if it is accurate) would make it a relatively simple task to take down their ramshackle boats...a couple holes in the hull here and there. Don't ask me how they'd live after their ship sinks hundreds of miles from shore...I hate to say it about anybody but the world would really just forget about them.
This is starting to get a little ethical, methinks.
[quote=chinnerz]once my and one of my mates spent a whole day modding a nurf pistol.... it ended up shooting 1 extra meter and had an awesome paint job. (not rly worth it) [/quote]
/\why I don't like Nerf...
Just from a quick glance at youtube you can make a pretty nasty concoction out of that stuff...
[quote=chinnerz]once my and one of my mates spent a whole day modding a nurf pistol.... it ended up shooting 1 extra meter and had an awesome paint job. (not rly worth it) [/quote]
/\why I don't like Nerf...
Sure... There are lots of things you can make nasty concoctions out of. But when it comes to such things you MUST assume that there will be an accidental spill. That means YOU will have to deal with the nastiness in the largest quantities and highest concentrations.
Something like CS? OK, no big deal. You puke and such and feel like a dumbass.
Something like HCl? You die.
Chemical warfare is a fool's game without the proper safeguards. Are you prepared for all that creating such safeguards entails? I'd imagine as somebody who's primary business is shipping, you aren't.
Any other candidate chems?
Or are things more valid when he says them now that he's a mod *hmph* way to get your nose brown
Hit the nail right on the head
I have a whole lab's worth behind me as I type
Lets see, I have Chloroform... reminds me of that pick-up line, "excuse me, does this cloth smell of chloroform to you?"
Xylene and Toluene if you want to get them high
Phosphorus Oxychloride... reacts VIOLENTLY with water.
Annoying when concentrated, reminds me of chips same goes of Acetic Anhydride.
Furoyl Chloride is a good lachrymator, the one time we used it looked like everyones' hamster had suddenly died a horrible death
Still, all you need to protect you is a good facemask, if they can get AKs and RPGs I'm sure this wouldn't be a problem. I say stick to kinetic energy if I was a pirate and cans of tuna travelling at near supersonic speeds started dropping around my boat several hundred yards from my target, I would certainly have second thoughts.
How about some psychological warfare?
uhmmm what about that substance tested by the US army? you know the one that turned soldiers into a group of horny gays ?
hmm... but on a second thought if they manage to get on board after you spray them with it you and your crew will be pretty much screwed... uhmm literally
Last edited by POLAND_SPUD on Thu Dec 03, 2009 12:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
Children are the future
unless we stop them now
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Keywords. Dehn surgery, surface subgroups
AMS subject classification. Primary: 57M27. Secondary: 57M50, 20H10.
DOI: 10.2140/gt.2001.5.347
E-print: arXiv:math.GT/0104088
Submitted to GT on 09 January 2001. (Revised 10 March 2001.) Paper accepted 6 April 2001. Paper published 6 April 2001.
D Cooper and D D Long
Department of Mathematics, University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com
GT home page
These pages are not updated anymore. They reflect the state of . For the current production of this journal, please refer to http://msp.warwick.ac.uk/.


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Face of Freedom ~ SSG Timothy Raso
Tuskegee Airman of the Week: July 19-25
Story by SrA Andria AllmondAugust 3, 2009
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - Staff Sgt. Timothy Raso, of the 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, is the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing's Tuskegee Airman of the Week for July 19-25.
"Sergeant Raso represents the kind of enlisted personnel who make our Air Force great," said Brig. Gen. Craig Franklin, 332nd AEW commander, who presented Raso with the award and a commander's coin during a ceremony at the wing headquarters July 31.
Raso, a Stockton, Calif., native, spearheaded the merger of four clinics into one. This consolidation enabled around-the-clock medical availability for Joint Base Balad's Expeditionary Operations Group.
"I saw this project as an opportunity to set up my other Airmen for success," he said. "Being deployed allows you to be able to get involved in the community here. I am trying to be a good example for younger Airmen. While I don't do these things for an award, it's nice to be recognized."
On his second deployment here, Raso, who is currently working towards his bachelor's degree in health care management, completed combat medic advanced skills training at the Joint Medical Readiness Training Center. The independent medical technician also volunteered 48 hours at the Air Force Theater Hospital.
Overall, Raso attributes his success to a winning attitude.
"I believe in taking control of your career," said the husband and father of a seven-month-old daughter. "I try to wake up every day motivated and smile at adversity, looking at it as a challenge."
Lt. Col. Douglas Nikolai, 22nd EFS commander and Raso's supervisor, said the sergeant's "can-do" attitude and initiative make him stand out among his peers.
"During the flight medicine consolidation," said Nikolai. "He led the charge and got things done when others were waiting to be told what to do."
The 332nd AEW Tuskegee Airman of the Week is open to Airmen between the ranks of E-1 and E-5, and is selected based on an Airman's on- and off-duty accomplishments.


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by Anne
I've decided that I don't want to just bury the season and forget about it. Instead, I've decided to grade each player based solely on how I feel they performed this season.
Next up are the goaltenders, all three of them.
Keep in mind that these grades are grading how well the player filled their role as it seems to have been defined for them from this fan's perspective.
Here they are, in numerical order:
Miller had 34 wins in 59 games. Last season he had 36 in 76 games. If that isn't an indication of his stronger play behind a weaker defense, I'm not sure what is. He was our best player by far this season, he was consistent, he was reliable. Of course he let in a few softies, but it happens to the best of them. The team played for Miller and Miller played for them it would seem. We missed the playoffs because he was hurt, plain and simple. If he hadn't been hurt, what are the odds we wouldn't have had at least two or three more wins, enough to make the playoffs? I really can't think of anything bad that Miller did this season. He demanded a lot from his teammates. He spoke up a lot last season and this season. The biggest difference was, Miller was playing like an elite goaltender this season and he had the swagger to back up his calling out of his teammates. He signed a big contract and played to it. If he hadn't been hurt, I'm guessing he would've played around 70 games this season and based on the number of possible points he got out of the 58 games he took the win or loss in, that alone would've given us 89 points. Toss in Lalime's five wins and thee OT losses and...well... that's all I have to say about that.
Anne's Grade: A
Ummm... I know he only played in 6 games but his stats in Phoenix were about the same. I don't really have much to say about his play except his rebound control didn't seem phenomenal. We didn't have a huge sampling to choose from for his Sabres stats so I'm probably not thinking rationally when I ask my next question. He's been reported to be a good guy around the locker room as well. You can never have too may Swedish goaltenders in an organization, right Jhonas? So, can we keep him, Darcy? Can we?
We needed Patty to be better. We also needed the team in front of him to score more. Its hard to place all of his sixteen losses on him, but he can't be completely let off the hook. He plays a more athletic and frantic style of goaltending and that didn't really seem to help his teammates when they're used to Mr. Calm in net. If I had to choose between keeping Lalime and Telly Monster, I'd definitely take Telly Monster. Does this mean that Lalime is bad? No, but maybe he isn't a good fit. That being said, he's still worlds better than T-Bone was.
Our goalies average out to a B+. That seems about right. They allowed fewer goals than last season and if Miller can continue to play the way he did before AND after his injury and if we can have a reliable back-up (TELLY MONSTER?) for the entire season, this team will definitely make the playoffs.
Grade: C+
Our goalies average out to a B+. That seems about right. They allowed fewer goals than last season and if Miller can continue to play the way he did before AND after his injury and if we can have a reliable back-up (TELLY MONSTER?) for the entire season, this team will definitely make the playoffs.
These are just my grades, what are your grades? Think I'm dead on? Way off the mark? Leave your thoughts in the comments.


text: This card was created using one of the older jumbo Stampendous cling stamps that I fussy cut out and colored with Smooch pearlescent inks. The frame and larger butterflies are dies from Cheery Lynn Designs and the small butterflies are the "negative" portions of a Memory Box border die. I continued the theme on the inside as well.


text:
Hi StampersHere are the projects that we will be making this month at my workshops and clubs.
The first one is a Father's Day card using the May stamp of the month Pinwheels. The Pinwheel actually spins when you pull the string.
The second project is a goodie bag for "Dad's Stache" using the large paper pouches.
Stamp set used are the may Stamp of the Month Pinwheels and the Perfect fit - Dad set. for the stache and the world's greatest dad. The polka dot in slate is the Washi Tape, so fun to use.
Here is a little video showing the pinwheel spinning when you pull the string.


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Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Evaluation + Final Piece- Broken Promises.
Final- Critical Role - Broken Promises from Harry on Vimeo.
This project we had to pick a point from three option i choose Student Fees, i started with ideas, with a picture sequence and then quickly moved onto the Super Mario idea, this idea was that Super Mario (David Cameron) and Luigi (Nick Clegg) went around the kindom collecting money (student money) and crushing university along the way, this proved impractical because i needed an animator to achieve this to the level i wanted, i then researched into several video clips and i found one called 'the girl effect' this inspired me greatly, i was so captivated throughout the whole video that i felt typography would be strong enough to base my whole animation around.
I researched into the pledges and promises that Nick Clegg said before the election i wanted to find out what he exactly said so i would be able to portray a accurate view, i found this shocking as i kept researching and the promises got bigger, i then gathered enough information to collect a script, my script was about how Nick Clegg started off promising us these policies and how every other politician promised policies but always broke the promises and how every liberal democrat supported his promise to scrap tuition fees but when it was in power with the conservative, this then all of a sudden became unfeasible and just like every other politician broke his promise.
The reason for this script is that i feel every student is aware of the situation however, from all the riot and violence that has been going on the general public is either not understanding fully why the students are so angry and why they are reacting like this, so i feel my video will be aimed at the general public to make them aware of the pledges we were promised and how Nick Clegg broke them like he said he wouldn't, so that the general public can back the universities and maybe make a change.
Instead of making a story board i made a script with annotation of effects i wanted, my script and effects i feel was placed out like a story with a beginning, middle and end, i did this with colours, the beginning starting a black background then moving to white then different colours at the end, i felt like made the viewer know that different things were happening and to break the piece up. I used one font through out this was because with my research i found that a lot of strong view where shown with one font so that the emphasis is on the point being portrayed however i do want my font to be noticed as i feel it is a powerful and bold font which reflects to my view and point in my animation.
I used after effects with my project which i found very time consuming especially having a large script, i wanted several different effects throughout my piece so it flowed well and kept the audiences attention, i used scale, rotation, opacity, position, pace and source text change, this gave my piece a depth to it, and i feel by each movement the next part flowed on so the viewer wanted more, i used words against each other or with other to create meaning, i also felt that music would be a huge part of my piece to give it the right atmosphere, and convey the right emotion throughout, i felt the piece of music i choose 'Almost Home' soundtrack to Social Network worked the best with my animation i felt as the animation grew so did the music, so the rhythm of the piece built to create an atmosphere, it pulled the animation and the music together to portray the point i wanted to convey, i felt that it made the type easier to read as the music flows throughout. I added sound the after effects by converting it to a wav. file which was readable for after effects.
I wanted my piece to be shown in a public place like at the beginning of a cinema film or projected in a shopping center so that the general public will either have to watch it say at the cinema or to catch the attention of the public in a shopping center being projected either way i want the public to be aware of the situation and i feel if this video if shown they may get a better understanding of how the students feel.
I felt that having a flow chart managed my time a lot easier as i knew what technology i needed to use and at what stage i needed to use it at.
My development for this project involved going back over the movie and making small editing changes just so that when the viewer watches the video it flows and doesn't make a sudden flicker etc, as shown in my processes some things i changed were only little but made a bit difference. I felt this made me very picky on the small details however i feel the small detail is everything in an animation and it is what makes certain animation work successfully or not.
I feel my animation does portray the point i wanted to show and does make people aware of how students feel, however if i had more time i may have used more effects and made it more detailed with higher level of skill and maybe try new fonts, just to see if different fonts gave it different angles, so that the viewer knew that different people were talking, or having a point of view.
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text:
Lights, Camera, Interaction
By Pilar Ulibarri de Rivera
The outside world strips away when you enter the non-descript, fluorescent-lit hallway. Then, the door – and above it, a sign reads: "On Air."
Behind the door, Miami Dade College students write, produce and direct for MDC TV. The outside world has to fall away, they say, and what they've learned previously in classes must come second nature. They have to be "in the zone."
That's because MDC TV is broadcast to more than half a million households throughout Miami-Dade County and reaches a worldwide viewing audience via the network's online video stream (www.mdc.edu/mdctv).
The station serves a dual purpose.Programmed by the College's renowned School of Entertainment & Design Technology (SEDT), it showcases MDC's outstanding academic programs and leadership in communitywide events through a dynamic schedule of original programming. It is also a fertile training ground for students interested in working in television production.
Shows on MDC TV are recorded in television facilities at North Campus using the latest studio technology. The TV studio at Homestead Campus is currently being refurbished to begin production this fall. Students pursuing a career in the industry make up the production crew.
During a recent taping, a student served as the director. "Camera one, I need you to loosen up the shot on her," the student says.
A second student works one of the three cameras.
"Zoom out a little bit more," the director says. "There, that's the shot I want. Camera two, give me your final shot. This is the shot I want."
The student director, like others before her, has also worked as a camera operator and a floor manager who told people where to sit and look during tapings.
Everyone on the crew is expected to learn all aspects of studio production and is assigned a position such as camera operator, floor manager, graphics designer, technical director, teleprompter operator and show director.
"Students rotate assignments so they can get the most hands-on experience," said Barry Gordon, director of SEDT and MDC TV.
The idea, Gordon explained, is to prepare students for entry into the highly competitive television industry.
"MDC TV is a way to showcase the College," Gordon said. "The academic departments, student organizations and MDC's cultural events all have their presence on the network."
The Big Picture
SEDT is a workforce development program focused on providing skills necessary for students to obtain entry-level and advanced technical employment in the entertainment and design industries. The school additionally serves those who are currently employed and desire to upgrade and enhance their skills.
SEDT created programs of study in order to support occupational growth within the entertainment industry as the use of new technologies increased. The television and radio production programs were created in the early 1970s. SEDT developed the film production, music business and graphic design programs in the early 1990s. The computer animation curriculum was added in the last five years in response to industry demand.
The recent renovations of the teaching facilities and labs at the College's North, Wolfson, Kendall and Homestead campuses offer students state-of-the-art, industry-specific learning environments, including a recording studio and a post-production editing suite.
Last year, Grupo Televisa, the world's largest media company serving the Spanish-speaking population, joined the College to establish the MDC/Televisa Centre for Film and Television Production, what will become a training and development program for film and television production.
On the Set
When MDC magazine arrives on the set, the first show features Debbie Goodman, chair of MDC's School of Justice. Goodman is interviewing a professional forensic artist. Around them, crew members communicate through headsets while the show is recorded live-to-tape.
The students agree this is a high-stress environment.
"I like being behind the camera but one day I want to be in front of it," said Jessica Delgado, who is running the audio for today's three shows. She is making sure that everyone's audio level is adjusted properly.
Delgado already has an associate degree in mass communications, but when another local university recently closed its TV production program due to budget cuts, she enrolled at MDC.
"We have the flexibility to stop if we absolutely must, but we try to go all the way through the taping as if it were a live show," Delgado said.
Students chosen to participate as crew members must have already taken television production courses.
"MDC TV is a public network and we have to know that the crew is able to do the job professionally," Gordon said.
Each semester, five crew members receive a $1,200 scholarship and 3 credits. Often times, this experience leads to employment in the industry. SEDT helps place approximately a dozen students in professional internships and industry jobs each year.
At the studio, recording is ready to begin. Delgado has done her sound check. The "On Air" sign is switched on. The director gives her command: "OK, cue talent, roll tape, in 5, 4, 3…"


text:
Urban fantasy tends to be for women readers. There's always a romance or sex somewhere around the corner. Guys can read these books and enjoy them. Sometimes we get a bad rap because guys are accused of focusing on sex.
That's just not true, folks. When I set down to read a book by one of my favorite authors (Robert B. Parker, Robert Crais, Lee Child), I'm waiting on the violence. I know at some point the wheels are going to come off and my hero is gonna go Neanderthal. I gotta admit, I can't wait, and I usually turn those pages with a big smile on my face. My thirteen year old loves his Deadpool comics for the same reason. It's hardwired into our genetics. That, and a love for snappy patter, a cutting remark, and blistering sarcasm.
We're guys. We can't help ourselves. Civility and a calm demeanor are simply borrowed clothes. We're at our best when we get to run au naturel. We want to see the bad guys pay a price for their sins, and we want that payment to be in a terrific beatdown while screaming trash in their bloody ears.
Okay, lemme check myself. I was rolling with the guy moment. This week Green Hornet comes out and I just finished reading Richard Kadrey's first Sandman Slim novel. Got the second one loaded up on my Kindle, so I'm gonna find a weekend soon to sit down and read that one as well.
In the meantime, I'm glad to discover there are still writers out there that write for people with the Y chromosome. Genetically, the Y may be one of the less useful chromosomes, but we still have our needs. Richard Kadrey is my newest favorite writer, and Sandman Slim is now one of my favorite heroes.
If you haven't find his books yet and you own one of those much-maligned Y chromosomes, do yourself a favor and find these books. You'll thank me.


text:
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Now Entering Smartsville
I couldn't believe how many people entered. And how many people got them all right! (More on that in a minute.) Last time when I did a simple 'pick a number' giveaway I had lots of entries, but this time…it was crazy! I felt like I was back grading papers (which was weird)…and there were a few, Oh, hey, s/he's got a point! situations. (More on that in a minute, too.)
There wasn't a "B" in the bunch--"A" and "A-" grades across the board.
Which meant I had to draw names of those who got them all right from a hat.
First, I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to do the crazy Elvis challenge, and I'm SORRY to the vast majority of you who got all the answers right but won't be receiving an ARC.
Next I want to say how totally COOL I think you guys are. And smart. And nice. This has got to be the nicest group of people on the internet. Everyone's always supportive of each other in the comments, people thank me and compliment me and never snipe. Sniping is rampant on the internet. It's a coward's playground. But there's never even a hint of mean spiritedness here. I really appreciate this "secret community" and the personalities that pop in and out and make me laugh and go, Awesome! Like the five factorial note– thinking that the little parenthetical exclamation point in the Contest Time text was more than humorous styling; that it was a mathematical equation—that "5!" meant 5x4x3x2x1 … which it does (but not here) and would have meant 120 ARCs to give away! This factorial thought only flashed through her mind before she realized that couldn't be the case, and she apologized for being dopey. But see, that's not dopey! The fact that it even crossed her mind was awesome!
Anyway, I love you guys, and I respect you, too. And I was sweating out the entries because, yes, there were some one word titles that I hadn't even considered—specifically, "Almost", "Something", and "Don't". Only one of those ("Almost") was a legitimate hit because it was the only one that appeared in Elvis's dialog. There was some confusion with the rules and let me assure you that if you indicated titles that were NOT in Elvis's dialog you were NOT marked off. But what I was looking for were the words that Elvis speaks that were Elvis song titles. And the title "Almost" near the end of the excerpt IS present in his dialog, but I had not counted it. So ch-ching! Up to 45. (Which suddenly seems very appropriate—wasn't that the RPM of Elvis singles?)
(See, who but you guys would go, Yeah! That's right!)
(You are saying Yeah! That's Right…aren't you?)
Also, there was the question of double-ups. A legitimate question, but no, I didn't break the titles into titles and "subset" titles (going with the factorial / mathematical theme). For instance, I didn't count [When] "My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again" and its subset "Blue Moon" as two song titles (but there's no way I would count you off for pointing them both out, especially in your nifty multi-color coding). Same with "Honky Tonk Angel" and its subset "Angel".
Finally, I just want to mention that it was very interesting to see how far and wide ya'll are scattered. Lots of you in Canada! But my favorite city was "Smartsville".
I think that represents this group perfectly.
37 comments:
- Kylie said...
OH MY GOD! I WON! So excitesd! This just made my day/week/month/year! Best thing ever! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! AGGGHH! This means the world to me! (okay must calm down, must calm down...)
Okay I think I am calm now... Wait no... No mist hold it in... Okay I am calm. I am pretty sure my family just died of laugh because they were watching me freak out because of my excitedness. I couldnt even tell them why I was so happy because I was jumping up and down and screaming
And smartsville! That's me! You know they spent like 10 years fighting to get the s at the end of smarts back? Interesting huh? In the actual townof it their are only like 20 residences that live there. I live in the outskirts of it though. But I love the town.
Any way so excited! Can't wait! And thank you so so so much!
- April 8, 2012 at 8:36 PM
- ICanPlayFlute(= said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- April 8, 2012 at 8:44 PM
- yuseyz said...
I was so nervous to see who won and now i'm kinda bummed i didn't:( Congrats Kylie and all the other winners. I guess i just have to wait till august and just get it from the library like usual.
You should post the right answers so the people who didn't win still know if they got it right. Just an idea but it doesnt matter if u don't.
- April 8, 2012 at 9:15 PM
- Catherine said...
RAWR! AH!....I didn't win -.-' When I saw the part saying check your e-mails, I was like 'What? Why should I?' and then I read the rest and I freaked out, I was like "OH MY GASH! I GOT TO CHECK, WHAT IF I WON?! LOAD FASTER GOOGLE CHROME, FASTER FASTERRRRR!!!"
My brother came over to see what was going on because I was yelling at the laptop ^_^ and when I opened my e-mail and didn't see any good news disappointment hit me HARD so I threw the stuffed panda at my brother in anger and yelled at him that I didn't win xD. He was laughing because of my excited state and then the sad state so he deserved it anyways :D
Moving on, then I finished reading the rest of the blog quietly grumbling to myself about my bad luck but then I brightened up on your comment about us being cool [I was like "Yeah! Take that society, Wendelin Van Draanen thinks I'm cool (Not me specifically but you know...details, details who cares bout them?)]:D
Oh, and congratulations to all those lucky insects...Erm, I MEAN people (not really ;) who won. No, but in all seriousness congrats to all of you who won! You deserve it!
IT'S ALL GOOD THOUGH!...all good...all good :3 (<--- Creepy smile, reminds me of my neighbor *shudder*) I'm going to have to wait until July for the book to come out...I can be that patient..most likely...Probably...maybe...I think? Ok, this comment's wayyy too long :D...
I'll be waiting (Now I, sound creepy XD)
See Ya Wendelin!
P.S I would like to point out that I don't usually throw stuffed pandas around :)
- April 8, 2012 at 9:27 PM
- Kylie said...
Oh Wendelin in my excitement I forgot to reply to you cool comment.
Thank you! Your blog is seriously my favorite because I feel like we have a family here. We all get excited for one-another as well as sad. I follow some other author blogs and let me tell you that you are the only author that responds to people's commments, actually are faithful to adding a new post every Sunday and you do contest fo your books! So thank you for being an AMAZING author and thank you everyone else for being like a family to me. I love you guys! <3
- April 8, 2012 at 9:35 PM
- Kylie said...
Hey I was wondering how many people actually entered? Was it a lot or a little?
- April 8, 2012 at 9:36 PM
- Wendelin Van Draanen said...
It's great to see you so excited Kylie--glad I made your night! But I feel BAD that I caused stuffed pandas to fly (sorry Catherine!). There were way more entries than I would have anticipated...about 75 the first week, then quiet for a couple of days and then a bunch more in the past two days, which was also a little surprising (although I don't know why...deadlines, you know?)But I think it's a reflection on the readership here--you'll participate in a guess-the-number giveaway, but really GET INTO one that takes some effort. I'm sure there were a lot of people who saw the contest and said, I'm not doing that!...but that so many people did participate (and took it seriously) is really cool. I just wish I had 5! to give away :) Yusayera, almost everyone who entered got almost every one right, so it's just a matter of luck (or in your case un-luck, sorry!) of the draw.
- April 8, 2012 at 9:51 PM
- Wendelin Van Draanen said...
PS Kylie, I can't believe you're the one from Smartsville! I had so many to go through that I didn't even check that. I just remembered seeing the city and thinking it was perfect. Interesting that the population is so small :)
- April 8, 2012 at 9:53 PM
- Stefunny said...
Aw :( No email. ahughbumuhhhhuuu *crying*
- April 8, 2012 at 10:27 PM
- Norma said...
Aw, too bad I didn't get picked, but still, very fun challenge. I can't believe the number of people that entered! Who knew we have so many secret lurkers. :) Chime in more, guys! Btw: I was going through all of Sammy's series, and I couldn't find a couple of things: How did Sammy and Hudson meet? And, what ever happened to that book Sammy got as a thank you waaayyyy back in the second book, I think it was?
- April 8, 2012 at 11:48 PM
- Kylie said...
Wow that's a lot! Thanks for letting me know!
- April 9, 2012 at 6:07 AM
- ramenlover said...
So sad... so sad. No email for me >_< Dat shtinkz! Oh well.I did nifty multi color coding! ^_^ I'll just have to start saving up now so I have enough money to buy it.
Congrats to the five people who did win-you're so luuucky. You should do this again Wendelin. It was tons of fun!
- April 9, 2012 at 10:47 AM
- ramenlover said...
So sad... so sad. No email for me >_< Dat shtinkz! Oh well.I did nifty multi color coding! ^_^ I'll just have to start saving up now so I have enough money to buy it.
Congrats to the five people who did win-you're so luuucky. You should do this again Wendelin. It was tons of fun!
- April 9, 2012 at 10:47 AM
- ramenlover said...
oops. Did I just say that twice???
- April 9, 2012 at 10:48 AM
- Optimistic4ever said...
Congrats Kylie! I didn't win but it's okay. Now I don't feel like an idiot for getting all excited over the 5! thing :) I love you WVD. You're the funniest author ever!
Love forever,
Remember Sammy4ever who won the ARC of Wedding Crasher? Miss her :(
- April 9, 2012 at 1:38 PM
- Naureen said...
Aww...I didn't win. :( And I'll have to wait until October to get the book because I'm going out of the county. :( Oh well, it's better than nothing. Congrats to everyone who won!
Wendelin, will you please post another excerpt of the book??? I am dying to find out more about Justice Jack!
- April 9, 2012 at 1:51 PM
- AbaGayleb said...
Darn, it stinks I didn't win. ): Oh well! I'll just buy it ;p
- April 9, 2012 at 3:09 PM
- GwynMalLaur said...
I think kylie is the only one on this page that did win up to this point (;
- April 9, 2012 at 6:28 PM
- GwynMalLaur said...
or so far
- April 9, 2012 at 6:28 PM
- Wendelin Van Draanen said...
I know, huh? Where are the other 4 up and down jumpers?
- April 9, 2012 at 6:59 PM
- Optimistic4ever said...
Where be you other four? Imma go see if I can put the book on hold right now. Last time I checked every three days and then I ended up the fourth person. THAT SHALL NOT PASS! Thou shall be first in her area to read the book. :)
- April 9, 2012 at 7:26 PM
- Optimistic4ever said...
HOLY CAMOLI WHERE'S CammyLover/Steph? SHE WON TOO! So happy for her. Lol, blogging really gets the word around.
- April 9, 2012 at 7:28 PM
- Kylie said...
Haha! You entertain me!
- April 9, 2012 at 8:00 PM
- Kylie said...
I know! I saw her post and I was wondering why she hasn't said anything? Where is everyone else? Are they not excited? How could they not be?
- April 9, 2012 at 8:01 PM
- yuseyz said...
Cammy Lover/ Steph totally deserved to win if anybody. If she shows up Congrats!
Oh and Optimistic4ever. For night of skulls i put the book on hold as like the 3rd person but they get like 6 copies at once so 6 people are the first in line. At least over here. But i had to wait a month till it got to the library and it was torture. That's why i have to wait a month after the actual release of the book. I'm just not allowed to buy books. (If i had my choice my walls would be book shelfs, all full. :)
- April 9, 2012 at 9:00 PM
Haha, I didn't write anything cuz I used one of my many pen names and I thought WVD would be all, "What...?"
You guys know me...
ANYWAY, I try to use Steph on LEAST possible things which is why I deleted my blogs for a while cuz I get paranoid?
Ah, well.
Oh, and omg, yes, I did win.
But my mom laughed when I told her, "If some package comes in the mail addressed to a random name but FROM Random House, then GIVE IT TO ME."
Sometimes we get random peoples' mail, but most of the time its stuff I ordered online with weird names. Also, when a cashier person asks for my name I've used Sammy before, but I've also used S-Kizzle, Sammy's rapper name?
Ah, their faces = PRICELESS.
Me: Hi Mom. How was work?
Mom: Good. School?
Me: So...I won a contest.
Mom: Really? What did you win?
Me: AN ARC OF SAMMY KEYES. OH, YES, PLEASE.
Mom: ....You.
Yes, mom, ME.
But she was happy for me. ANYWAY, I gotta be checking the mail now so my dad doesnt think its not ours. Although, the guy should get used it. I did, of course, pick up the weird gene from my older sister.
- April 10, 2012 at 8:02 PM
- bookworm said...
Dang it, dang it , dang it, I dinna win! :( :( :( :( :( :(
Wendelin, you should have seen me scramble to Gmail on Monday after I read your comment. :D
Me: (speaking to myself while frantically pounding on keyboard and mouse) DID I WIN DID I WIN DID I WIN DID I WIN DID I WIN DID I WIN?!?!?!?!?!?
Person next to me: (muttering silently) What a weirdo.
So yeah, I didn't win....... congrats to those who won! :) And just in case you don't want your ARC (and if you don't you need to see a psychiatrist) email me! :) :) :)
You'd make my day!
- April 11, 2012 at 7:01 PM
- Beach said...
I thought I commented here, but apparently it didn't go through. I got the e-mail just before bed, and then of course I couldn't sleep for another hour. And then today... the book arrived at ~5:30pm!
I had an exercise class tonight but barely managed to drag myself to it, since I was already immersed in the book. I don't want to drive anyone crazy, so the only comment I'll make for the next several months is that the title was perfect. I know you struggled with it, so I just wanted to let you know. And now I've stayed up way past bedtime again! Thank you!!!!!!
- April 12, 2012 at 10:35 PM
- Wendelin Van Draanen said...
Thanks for posting "Beach" -- I'm glad the books went out. I sent the list in but didn't get an acknowledgement so I was starting to think I should follow up…but now I know they went out and are already arriving! Thank you for the feedback on the title. It's funny how one word can cause such tossing and turning! BTW, I have gotten e-mails from other winners who are not (for whatever reason) able to post comments. So we're all accounted for and 5 out of 75 people are happy Have a good day everybody—it's storming like crazy around here and I am such a weather wimp!
- April 13, 2012 at 8:37 AM
- Kylie said...
You know what I just realized? I realized that the address I gave you was my mail address in GRASS VALLEY, not Smartsville, which means that there I'd another Sammy-lover in my town. I must find her/him.
And then I got this idea that you should do like a map or something just to show us where everyone who entered was from. Just put like the town name. I think it would be awesome to find out how wide the sammy-love area is. And we could see if any are near us, which is like me!
- April 13, 2012 at 3:05 PM
- yuseyz said...
That would be cool. Now i just have to wait 3 more months till i can read the book. TORTURE!
- April 13, 2012 at 3:45 PM
All Californians are weather wimps *squints accusingly*. Not Chicagoans, no way. When you live in a horrible weather state (Tornado Season! AHHHH!) you tough it out--
which is why, when a tornado-warning siren goes off, you see kids and people running around the streets barefooth.
I READ SAMMY KEYES AND THE POWER OF JUSTICE JACK. Yesterday.
I was a boss. I studied thoroughly for my bio-chem test, watched the first Blackhawks game of the Stanley Cup playoffs (if any of you live in Arizona or support the Coyotes, I know youre probably laughing at Stalberg for messing up in the last 13 seconds in the 3rd period, HANDING you tge victory...STUPID STALBERG!)
Thirdly, I read Justice Jack.
Now watching hockey games takes stamina cuz they're 3 hours long. And studying for bio is like...giving yourself shots over and over to heal yourself. And reading the new Sammy Keyes without spontaneously combusting out of happiness is hard work, too.
BUUUUT my whole "Official NON-SPOILING Review" on Justice Jack is on my own blog. I'm not going to keep blithering here about how HILARIOUS and AMAZING it was. The post is called 'Sammy Keyes and the Power of Justice Jack Has Just Exited the Uterus of the Publishing World'.
Yes, I do realize the manner of the freakish title. But it makes sense, I promise.
BUT OMG WVD. The "Uncle!" thing was so funny its not even funny how funny it was.
And the horse thing? "Water, Water! Or Neigh! Neigh. Or something".
Thank you for it, by the way! :)
- April 13, 2012 at 4:14 PM
- ICanPlayFlute(= said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- April 15, 2012 at 3:43 PM
- Catherine said...
Ya know....After reading Steph's comment about how amazing the book was....I take back what I said earlier...I am NOT going to be able to wait until July 10 or somethin' to read the book....
WHY MUST THE WORLD HATE ME SO! I wanted to win....Argh!...*Sight* Well...Now the only thing left to do is somehow get control of time and space and move time forward about 3 months so I can read the book :D
I know, genius ey?....Although, I am going to need some ideas on how to get my hands on the force that controls time and space...
MAYBE I can make the sun.....Nah, that would result in the human race dying....Which cannot happen until I read the book of course... Eh, I don't know, I'll come up with something
If any of you see a story in the news about a crazy girl who now controls time, space and everything else....You'll know who I am :3
Anyways....I'm going to have to stop thinking about this, I start twitching every time I think of having to wait 3 MONTHS to read the book :'(....
Ah, well .....Study time and homework calls (I have state tests all week tomorrow >.< gah)
BYE! *Waves hands around in awkward patterns) Wendelin!
Have a nice day/night!
- April 15, 2012 at 3:45 PM
- Wendelin Van Draanen said...
Catherine, I wish you could meet my son--you two have the same sense of humor. You would be crazy to watch converse...
- April 15, 2012 at 6:15 PM
Catherine, as a response to your comment on my Justice-Jack-Review post on my blog...Seriously, I think that's the first person who's told me that. Mostly I get called "narrator", because I talk about my life as if it is a novel. Which, of course, it is!
I was having a Sammy-At-The-Fairwell-Dance moment.
"But...I'm just me!"
SO, THANKS. That was really BALLER of you to say. :D
Oh, and to Wendelin Van Draanen:
The moment when your favorite author calls you 'squishy' is a good moment.
A very, very good moment.
Lol, I'm so embarassed by my weirdness...I would have been a little more 'normal' if I had known you would read it! But NOOOOO, I have to have a little tangit on giving birth to books, and Sammy being squishty, and shooting people and blowing things up! Hopefully your eyes glazed over all my emarassing rantings and only read the praises for your book? ;D
Because I really respect you and don't want you thinking I'm, like, bonkers.
I mean, I am, but it's a sensitive subject.
- April 15, 2012 at 6:56 PM
- yuseyz said...
I went to the library today allowed to get only 2 books, and hoping to find something new to read, but i came back with 3 sammy keyes books that i had already read because i wanted to reread them. I'm smiling all over again while reading them for like the 50th time. :)
- April 15, 2012 at 8:19 PM


text:
With my background as a hungry poet, and since we our home holds at least 600 books, this seemed like a project made just for me.
So I've been browsing our book shelves and playing with titles. Here are some that I've come up with so far. (And my fabulous friend Laurene has sent me one of hers too.)
|The Time of the Angels
Fall On Your Knees
Immovable Wisdom
|I am a Cat
A Jest of God
Who do you think you are?
|Will you take me as I am?
Sense and Sensibility
Secrets and Lies
|Light in August
Dark Age Ahead
The Long Winter
|Lost Antartica
Reinventing Your Life
Among Penguins
-by Laurene Dong


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Saturday, January 05, 2008
Shiny New Anti-Calvinist Web Site
Release the entire, unedited telephone conversation!
Here's James White's comments (web post) (including helpful audio discussion here).
Perhaps the most amusing aspect of the web site is the effort made to conceal the fact that the web site is, in fact, a Dan Corner creation. As can be seen in the P.S. below, the web site tries to suggest that Evangelical Outreach is simply a "favorite" of the authors of the web page. Of course it's a favorite, because its from the same organization. The evidence?
In the contact information, NoCalvinism.org's address is the very same P.O. Box in Washington, PA that is used by Dan Corner and Evangelical Outreach. This kind of fake alliance makes sense in view of Dan Corner's deceptive use of audio editing to try to put words in James White's mouth.
By their works, know them.
P.S. Special note to "anti-" misusers Hidden One and Dave Armstrong: lest you think I'm misusing the term, note that the web address is "No Calvinism" and that in the "audio" page of the website, the website states: "Visit our favorite anti-Calvinism site." (with that link being to Dan Corner's main web page, "Evangelical Outreach").
1 comment:
That was interesting!
What struck my fancy most in the intro of this new polished anti Calvinism website was, [I had to turn off the sound] every point was about me!
Now that always makes me "tremble" when one is putting that kind of yoke and burden on me. Why would I trust my soul to myself when I don't even trust myself?
Then I remembered that Peter said this:
ESV, 1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
And Paul said that:
ESV, Romans 7:24-25 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Rom 7:25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
And mostly what Jesus said here:
ESV, Joh 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
Joh 15:17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Joh 15:18 "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
Joh 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
And then I remembered something I heard Dr. J Sidlow Baxter repeated an old man say as he and the Vicar of a village Church walked past him one sunny morning as the man sat on a porch sun bathing. He was asking "how you doing" to which the old man said: "fine" "I'm kept"! The old man was in his eighties or nineties!
You have to hand it to Dr. White in his patient enduring of Dan Corner. I wanted to send Dr. White this reply: "Dr. White, after reading the exchange of emails between you and Dan Corner, well, thank God that not everyone thinks well of you"!
Luk 6:26 "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
- Saturday, January 05, 2008 7:41:00 PM


text:
I'm wondering how many place names aren't really in Ancestry.com. I located my Henry Jacobs in the 1870 census index at Ancestry.com--in Prairie Township, Hancock County, Illinois, which Ancestry.com refers to as "Prairie, Hancock County, Illinois." He is clearly there as the screenshot shows.
Let's say I'd like to do a search of the 1870 census index for all Jacobs entries in Prairie Township, Hancock County, Illinois in 1870. It doesn't appear I can do that because when I type in "Prairie, h" in the location search box, Prairie Township (or just Prairie) in Hancock County, doesn't come up. It seems to me that it should, based upon how the location appears in the search results for Henry as shown in the first image with this post. Yet, when I typed in "Prairie, H" instead of Prairie, Hancock, Illinois, coming up, I only got two results as shown in the image.
One, I'd like to know why locations that come up in search results aren't in the list of options for "Lived in."
Two, I personally would like to know why Ancestry.com can't tag place locations so that when I search a census for the United States I do not get place suggestions in Europe. Is there some geography lesson I missed?


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Thursday, February 24, 2011
Tonight's Dinner...mmmmmmm.
is sooooo much better fresh. We still have home canned sauce from last
year to go with it. Now I'm just waiting for the other half to get
home from work...I'm starving!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
A Romp in the Garden
I am planning on doing some serious gardening this year, and as I wouldn't want to be hot or get an actual farmer's tan, I am making up some clothing appropriate for a romp in the garden.
Here is my version of McCall's 8044:
Here is my version of McCall's 8044:
I chose view C, as I felt it was the most stylized for the era, although I have not yet attached the waist tie. I am also contemplating shoulder straps...we wouldn't want any mishaps.
This romper is rather scandalously short, as you can imagine from the side overlap and the fact that I am photographing it on the dress form. Honestly, that is kind of what I was going for, and the rabbits and chickens on the farm won't mind at all...I doubt it will bother my husband either :)! Still, for running around in I am thinking about doing an 80s meets 50s mash up and using the leftover fabric to make a basic wrap skirt with the bias tie. Hooray play suit! We'll see- I am on to a swimsuit mock up, so I never know what I will get to. Oh, and this romper cost me about 25 cents in materials to make- the fabric was free, the bias tape (I made) from a large roll that cost me 50 cents, and the elastic was free as well. I love sewing on the cheap!
Posted by A.J.A. at 12:18 PM 5 comments Links to this post
Friday, February 18, 2011
Chemical Free Spring Cleaning- Furniture Polish
It's nearing that time again! Temps in the 60's yesterday with the sun shining brightly made it feel just like springtime. I know we are still a little ways off here, but I like to get a jump start on just about everything. So, yesterday I made some furniture polish and set about cleaning a few of the dusty nooks in our house. My homemade polish is easy to make and works best on darker stained wood finishes. Why would I bother to make my own furniture polish when it is cheap and easy to get?
So, here is how to make it. I use black sesame seed oil and regular coffee grounds.
Weird huh?
I put a couple of tablespoons of the oil in a saucepan with a tablespoon of coffee grounds. Sorry, this is not an exact science.
So, here is how to make it. I use black sesame seed oil and regular coffee grounds.
Weird huh?
I put a couple of tablespoons of the oil in a saucepan with a tablespoon of coffee grounds. Sorry, this is not an exact science.
You will have a rich brown oil, as some of the color from the coffee will have leached into the oil.
I didn't mess with these photos at all, they were taken with my iPhone. The polish works well on dark wood. And of course, because I was doing something, the little bunny was there in a heartbeat with her hands in it. No matter though, it won't hurt her a bit!
Here is my disclaimer: The polish smells strongly at first...like coffee and sesame seed oil. If you don't like the smell, you could try another oil, or use lemon fresh Pledge. Please try this in an inconspicuous place on your furniture first. It works for me, but I don't want to be responsible for the ruin of your Great Grand Aunt Myrtle's dining table. Also, it is oil, so if you apply it to a chair or something you might brush against, make sure you polish it off well so it doesn't stain your favorite skirt. And finally (wheew! Thank goodness for the legal team here at Farmhouse Garden!) I don't know if sesame seed oil is a common allergen, but do find out if anyone in your house is allergic before you let your child gum it off of the coffee table.
Hope you like it! I have other non chemical cleaning tricks up my sleeve- so there is more to come.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Chicken Love, Farm Studio, and My First Lined Skirt!
I made McCall's 4217 again- but it's not really like the pattern illustration here.
|And neither am I, even in my best pattern model pose :)
But I might kiss one....
The big deal for me here, as this is a very basic skirt pattern, was the lining, as well as the fact that even with all of the changes I made, I managed to put together a decent skirt. I used a bias band at the waist and simply turned it, pressed it, and slip stitched it to the lining.
baby's rainbow coat, and that was how long it was.
I like how it's all crazy underneath. It's like a conservative skirt with a little secret...
Well, ta ta for now!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Deal of the Day
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Make it Better Yourself- Fresh Yogurt
Several months ago I was in a thrift store I commonly haunt, when I spotted a Salton yogurt maker. It consisted of an oblong main unit with 5 cups in which lidded containers rested. It plugged in and presumably, as I had never seen or used one before, kept milk at the proper temperature to produce yogurt. It looked simple enough, but it was $8 dollars and I am wary of plastic, especially old plastic, so I passed it by.
Well I had wanted to make yogurt for a long time, but it seemed like such a tedious process as you have to incubate the bacteria in your milk at a constant 110 degrees for something like 10 hours. The idea of having a gizmo that could do that for me still sounded good after a few days, and the next time I visited that shop, the yogurt maker was still there. I peeled off the tape that held the lid down to get a better look at the plastic containers inside, and they weren't plastic at all, but a pretty milk glass! The price sticker on the gizmo said that it had been tested and worked, so I paid for it and headed to the health food store for some culture. I made the first batch with organic milk, and I am now positively hooked.
Why would I bother to make yogurt at home when it is so easy to buy? I have a few reasons. Homemade yogurt is light years beyond store bought in flavor, consistency, and healthiness. I make it plain, and I flavor each cup as I eat it with homemade or high end jam of simple ingredients, like Bonne Maman.
Sometimes I use honey. Homemade yogurt is not as thick as store bought, because there are no thickeners added to the mix, although if you prefer it thick I have read that you can add powdered milk or arrowroot on the stove. I love it exactly as it is. Also, because my yogurt has not been hanging around plants, trucks, and stores for weeks, it is much higher in the gut friendly bacteria that are so good for your system. Another plus is that it is versatile- we use our plain yogurt anywhere one might use sour cream—on Mexican food and baked potatoes. We sometimes make delicious dips and sauces with it. Finally, it is cost effective. I can make a cup of organic yogurt for about 35 cents.
So, how do you make yogurt at home? Believe it or not, it is really, really freaking easy. In fact, it is so easy that you might forget you are doing it and scald the milk on the bottom of the pan a time or two. Your sweet husband might clean it out for you, which is really nice because it is a major pain in the caboose. You might scald it again on accident, and your husband might make threats that he is not going to wash your pan if you do it again. After that, you will be careful and set a timer to check the milk regularly during the prep process. Or, you could skip all of that hoopla and just start out with the kitchen timer. Yeah. So this is how you do it with a yogurt maker.
1. Get a large pot, a liquid/candy thermometer (optional, but handy), milk, your culture, and a whisk out.
2. I do a quart at a time- pour a quart milk in the pot, stick the thermo on the side, and set the burner at medium. Watch the pot and stir it frequently. If you are easily distracted by an adorable and small tyrant, set a kitchen timer for 3 minutes as a reminder to check the milk. It needs to get to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. If it forms a skin, skim it off and toss it. Reset the timer and check again in a couple min. Stir regularly
3. When the milk reaches 180, shut it off and move it off of the hot burner to cool to about 108 to 112 degrees Fahrenheit. When it does, stir in your culture well with the whisk, ladle it into the yogurt maker cups, put the lids on, and plug the yogurt maker in. Set the little reminder on the top for ten hours. Then stare at it and will it to turn to yogurt faster. Just kidding.
If you make it shortly before bed, it will be ready in the morning. When the ten hours are up you just refrigerate the cups. Voila. And Yum.
|Yogurt and honey = breakfast of champions :)
ALSO, you do not have to use new culture for each batch. I use Yogourmet
It is four something for a box, but a box makes many batches. I save a heaping tablespoon of yogurt from each batch, and I use that as my starter culture for the next batch, stirring it in with the whisk in place of the powder. You can use yogurt for five batches or so before you need a fresh culture again.
ALSO ALSO you do not need a Salton yogurt maker. Yogurt has been around a long time, whereas Salton yogurt thing-a-ma-jigs have only been around for a few decades. I'm guessing you can find other methods via the all knowing Google search. That said, I love my yogurt maker, and I know they are available on eBay. If you are going to make it a lot, as I do, you may want to go ahead and buy one. And then you might want to buy one of these
|It's a pint sized hand ice cream churn!
Because then you will be able to make this.
|Blueberry Frogurt!
Posted by A.J.A. at 8:54 PM 3 comments Links to this post
Labels: food, Make it better yourself, yogurt
Sunday, February 6, 2011
New Haircut, New Attitude
Dragonfly in Asheville (a wonderful salon with an amazingly sweet
owner), and as I didn't request a stylist, I got L- the grumpiest,
most know it all hairdresser I've seen yet. I brought a photo, and she
said what I have heard before. "Wow. Dat vury short." (L is from the
Ukraine.) Yes hair cutters. I know this. The photo shows short hair,
because I want short hair. Well, she told me all about what I wanted,
and then cut my hair her way, and then seemed miffed about spending
the extra half hour as I told her to please shorten, thin, and layer
it more. Well, despite her best efforts to the contrary, L gave me a
cut I really like. If only the cutting had been pleasant! I left
feeling totally stressed out, and she didn't give me the good Aveda
scalp massage they usually do. Hmmph. And to clarify, I don't have any
problem with immigrants, or people who are learning to speak English,
however, in the future I won't let someone who can't understand me cut
my hair. I think that is one service where it is reasonable to
discriminate a bit. Anyway, thanks L. Next time skip the lecture you
gave me on how I said "chunky" when I should have said "short layers."
Wait, did I just write a bitchy rant about the lady who cut my hair?
Okay, maybe it's the same old me- calling it as I see it, but now I
can do it more stylishly! :)
Goodbye, Hello!
So, for the last week or two I've been in a bad sewing rut. See, I was working on this shell blouse in a vintage synthetic fabric, and at first I was excited about it. It's a staple garment, and I thought I needed staple garments. I do need staple garments but not hideous, shapeless ones. Holy cannoli is that thing UGLY. I think under normal circumstances, I would have just pitched it in the bottom of my stash closet, in the "finish later (never)" pile and not worried about it much. That is what happened with my wrap blouse that was incorrectly graded. But the wrap blouse didn't have five bound buttonholes. I really toiled on those suckers, and I am not ready to admit defeat just yet, despite the fact that the blouse truly is hideous. I also don't want to spend any more time on a fugly sewing project. So, I took a break- I did yoga at night instead, and that was good. I also did some pattern work- tracing and cutting, listing and selling via eBay and Etsy. That was good too. But I love to sew. I missed it, and so I jumped back in with a quickie project that I hoped would be as easy as the shell was supposed to be.
Here is Simplicity 2345 from 1947.
|Which view? Of course the one with the cute bow detail!
I did a truly lazy pattern alteration- mine was a size 12 (who has a 30 inch bust?) so when I placed it on the fabric for cutting, I spaced it ¼ inch from the fold to add ½ inch at center front. I did the same on the back, and I used a sewing curve tool to add 5/8 inch at either side for an overall addition of 3 inches to the waistline. It is fitted somewhat snugly, but I am making all of my blouses and dresses to the smaller side, because I am still nursing baby A and still losing baby weight, and I want the clothes I sew to fit me when this chapter of mommyhood is over.
I sewed it up quick and dirty in a blue twill I found thrifting (I love this fabric- it is of a nice weight and drape- must find more!) I pinked seams, and my pinkers are old, and it looks like a possum gnawed the inside of the blouse. I used some vintage thrifted hem tape, as well as one of my 6 navy vintage metal zips (I had 6 hoarded away!). That was the part I was most pleased with- I again used the hand picked zipper method from Threads, and they are right, it really is worth the effort. The sides don't gape open, and the stitches are barely visible. There are no puckers. I'm hooked and probably won't be machine sewing too many zippers anymore.
I did veer away from the pattern instructions in a few ways. For one, I thought it would be kind of weird to have a bias bound neckline but have facings at the armholes. So, I made bias tape using a nifty little method shared at Creative Little Daisy, and used it on the neck and armholes. I cheated and left the shoulder opening off of my blouse- the only opening is at the right bottom side seam. I cut the neck hole just a wee bit bigger, but this might not be necessary for anyone who doesn't have a huge head. Then, because my ric rac was too big, I decided to outline the neck and bow with embroidery floss. Here is how it all came together.
|Close up of the neckline and bow detail.
|Sorry about the photos, and the rest of my outfit.
But, as you may know, I live on a farm and have a ten month old.
Still, sorry about the photos and the rest of my outfit.
|What is up with this weird, warpy iPhone pic?
The pictures are crummy- but I took them with my iPhone, and we were headed off to Asheville for the day. Anyway, I really like this blouse. I think it is cute, and reasonably flattering, and I will probably sew several more variations in the upcoming months. I might work on grading it a little better though. The darts seem really high....and they are kinda way off to the side. But, I looked at the pattern illustration, and they are kinda placed that way there too.
|Is this an intentional design with the darts, or am I just trying to justify my cheeseball pattern work?
Anyway, I'M BACK Y'ALL! I'm feeling better and ready to get sewing my dresses for my sister's wedding and shower this year, and a whole bunch of other stuff just for the fun of it. I'm feeling good. I got my hair cut today (goodbye tired mommy-tail) and bought myself some new underwear. I also filled a trash bag with old, ill fitting clothes and brought it to the thrift for donation. It was so much easier to get dressed without all of that crap-o-la cluttering up my closet. Well, enough rambling for one night. I am exhausted and off to bed so I can get some mad work done tomorrow. It is so hard to fit all that I want to do in a day, month, year, and lifetime!
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text:
Don Fry Commentary on WYPR:
Maryland's system of funding transportation is broken.
That became clear recently when state Transportation Secretary John Porcari announced that the Maryland's budget for capital transportation projects will be reduced by more than $1.1 billion in the next six years.
He cited lagging revenues to the state's Transportation Trust Fund and uncertainty over federal funding as reasons for deferring previously budgeted spending on more than 100 projects in the state's six-year transportation capital plan.
Only three months into this fiscal year, which began July 1, revenues from state gas taxes, titling fees and other sources of funding for highways, transit, port and airport facilities, are already $115 million in the hole. Remember, this is after state lawmakers took steps during the last year that they thought would increase transportation revenue by about $350 million annually.
The more than $152 million that Porcari has cut so far from this year's transportation budget doesn't completely erase the effects of the lawmakers' increase. But it puts the state back into a posture of just maintaining, rather than making a meaningful dent in the state's more than $40 billion backlog of planned, but unfunded, transportation projects.
To make matters worse, federal gas tax revenues decreased so dramatically this summer that the U.S. highway trust fund went broke in September, requiring Congress to quickly appropriate $8 billion to keep it solvent.
All of this is not good news for mobility in our state, or our nation. Few things are more important to economic growth than a good transportation system.
That's why the Greater Baltimore Committee is forming a private-sector task force to develop recommendations for adequately funding Maryland's transportation resources and to explore ways to better plan and execute the development of our state's future transportation infrastructure.
I've said this before, but it bears repeating. Our state and national policy leaders must get serious about developing long-term, strategic reform of transportation funding. The existing patchwork approach that has prevailed in both Annapolis and Washington, D.C. is obviously not working.
For the Regional Business Report, this is Don Fry, President and CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee, for 88.1 WYPR, your NPR news station.


text:
The three-hour show was seen by 13.3 million viewers and drew a 4.2 preliminary rating among adults 18-49, which is 8% more viewers and an 11% higher rating than last year. That's the most-watched Emmy telecast in three years.
via The Live Feed.
That compares to a lowest ever 12.3 million average viewers for last years Emmy Awards. And while our friend James Hibberd notes that the 13.3 million is the most-watched in three years, it's also the third lowest average viewership on record.


text:
→ When I first opened my package I immediately noticed the cute drawstring bag where the brushes were placed. I also noticed the brushes included brush guards. This is great for maintaining your brush's shape when they're not in use! It also includes a pamphlet that informs you about the brushes and about their affiliate program!
→ From my first initial reaction I noticed how amazingly soft the bristles were. I also liked that the handles were short because it fits really snug in my hand and it gives more control in application. They also look and feel very professional and you can tell they're made with really good quality.
Product Description:
F80 - Flat Top Kabuki
The F80 Flat Top Kabuki brush is perfect for applying and blending liquid, cream, and powder products onto the skin. The flat surface allows perfect buffing with flawless results. Synthetic Sigmax HD filament.
F82 - Round Top Kabuki
The F82 Round Top Kabuki brush simplifies precise makeup application under the eyes and around the nose. This brush is also perfect for achieving flawless coverage using liquid and powder products. Synthetic Sigmax HD filament.
F84 - Angled Top Kabuki
The F84 Angled Top Kabuki brush is the perfect brush for precise, yet blended application of products on the cheeks. It seamlessly applies cream, powder and liquid products. Synthetic Sigmax HD filament.
F84 - Angled Top Kabuki - I like using this brush for applying blush and contouring. My first impression was that this brush was too dense for applying blush and I would end up over applying it. However, it provides just the right amount to your cheeks without it looking too overdone. I prefer to use it more for contouring because it provides precise application but still allowing you to blend out any harshness.
F80 - Flat Top Kabuki - This brush is great for applying liquid and cream products. It blends easily, giving a nice smooth finish to your face. It blends foundation well into your skin that it looks like you're not wearing any! I use this brush in a stippling motion to distribute my foundation and finish off with buffing motions to give it that airbrush look! I generally don't use powder foundations but I have used this brush to set my foundation with translucent power. I do have to say that I don't like it very much for powder because I feel like it applies too heavily, so liquids and creams are my best bet!
F82 - Round Top Kabuki - Out of all three brushes, this is the brush I use the least. Not that this isn't a great brush. I just find that its features generally have the same purpose as the other two and I don't really need to use it unless I have to. It allows you to buff your foundation just like the Flat Top would and it's great for contouring just like the Angled Top. That's why I usually tend to reach more towards the other two brushes because they're more distinct. My main uses of this brush is to blend foundation and powder into areas around the eyes and nose, basically areas that your standard foundation or powder brush can't reach.
→ I've been using these brushes everyday since for a couple of weeks now and so far I really like them. I haven't had any problems with using them and they definitely live up to their standards. There's no shedding within the bristles except for maybe 1 or 2 strands when I was washing the Flat Top Kabuki. Other than that the bristles stay in place and they don't fray even after several washes. I think the entire kit is very suitable for everyone because of the multiple uses you get out of them. So there's really no right or wrong way to use these! I definitely recommend this set!
Enter to win your own set of Sigma's Synthetic Face Kit!
How To Enter:
1. You must 'Like' Tina Marie Online page on Facebook.
2. Leave a comment on the giveaway status on Facebook with the words 'Enter Me' and your e-mail.
*Comments on this post will not qualify
*Only one entry per person
*Open internationally
*Winner will be chosen at random
*Deadline to enter is July 17, 2011 11:59 (PDT)
DISCLAIMER: In no way is this blog accepting any form of payment for products received by companies. The products reviewed on this blog are based on the opinions and experiences of the author. The products in this review were provided by the company.


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Craft Cafe Artisan Interview - Rhea's Renderings
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Meet LeAnne Ritter from Rhea's Renderings
♥ Please tell us about yourself:
I am a single mom to two beautiful black cats and one sweet little three-legged crazy ginger cat, all are rescues. I have been making jewelry for myself since I was a teenager. About 10 years ago I finally decided I needed a source of money for my serious bead habit, so I started selling my jewelry to friends and relatives. A few years ago I started selling online and I'm happy that I am still doing what I love. Unfortunately, I do have a full time job to pay the bills, but I still have time to make jewelry when I want. Other interests include going to the Monterey Jazz Festival every year for the past 15 years or so. I do some sewing as well, but jewelry is my first love.
♥ How long have you been in business?
I guess if you consider that the first earrings I made were for myself when I was a teenager, we're looking at about 40 years now. (Yikes!) But I really didn't start selling jewelry until about 15 years ago.
♥ Please describe your business:
I handcraft jewelry of all types. Creating special custom orders for my client is my favorite thing to do. I usually make my jewelry out of semiprecious gemstones and sterling silver, using wire wrapping when I can, and adding lots of Swarovski crystal for the bling factor. I also have branched out into some non-precious metal pieces to try to keep prices down so I can have a variety of pieces that fit every budget.
♥ Tell us what inspires you:
I am inspired by beautiful colors of nature and try to follow what's trending, although I'm not always able to make myself do pieces that I don't think are particularly lovely or would be something that you would want to wear after the season is over. What inspires me most is to find a unique focal bead or pendant and start from that point, designing something specific to that focal point.
♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
What has been most successful for me in the past is "up selling", by offering matching bracelets or earrings with a necklace, or suggesting something that might look great with a particular piece.
♥ What do you love most about your business?
I love creating something new and fresh, I'm not very interested in copying another artist's design but I do get inspiration for my own pieces from something that's already been created sometimes. Taking an old or broken piece of jewelry that a customer wants to be re-created into something new is one of my favorite things to do.
♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
I've been so impressed by the Facebook group for Craft Café, all the artisans are so willing to help each other out and the Craft Café staff are always available and respond immediately to problems or questions. You don't find that at all online sites these days. Plus I like that it's new and fresh and has unlimited possibilities for success.
♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
Stay focused on your vision of your business. It usually starts out slow for most people, depending on how unique and in demand your product is. I have long periods of time in between sales, but it's better when I take the time to really market myself and get online and get active in blogs and such to get your name and your shop name out there.
♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
As long as I am working my full time job, it's hard for me to spend the necessary marketing time to really amp up my online sales, but I'd like to think that at some point I could do that and really have regular sales from my shop. I would like to continue to do some trunk showings as well, which helps to move inventory in between shop sales.
♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Yes, I have added a coupon for 15% off all items in my Craft Cafe Shop that is good through the end of January 2013. Please use code 15percentoff
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to LeAnne for all her love and support.
Be sure to visit Rhea's Renderings soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Twitter


text: A Scam Email with the Subject "FROM: THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT REPUBLIC OF GHANA." was received in one of Scamdex's honeypot email accounts on Sun, 07 Feb 2016 22:30:18 -0800 and has been classified as a Advance Fee Fraud/419 Scam. The sender was "HON. JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA" <email@example.com>, although it may have been spoofed.