text:
Finally, a hero of the Diner comes over to sit down and talk with Hannah, Matt, Taylor, and their guests. Robert Ball, whose daughter overcame a ceiling fan to the head, gives Taylor a preview of his future while the gang plays with his adorable baby. Other events in this eventful podcast: Zac Oberg (comic and writer) reads his poem that made Hannah and Taylor cry once, Alex Pete (improvisor for Black Sheep Improv) makes a teacher cry while doing a bit, and Matt Albani's dad almost gets eaten by a barricuda. Overall, we talk representation in writing, influences on our creative development (read as: people we stole ourselves from), politeness, the similarities in all stories, Majora's Mask and the kamikaze, the responsibility of a creator to relate to their audience and peers, being a jock, P. Diddy, Superman, and so much more.
In the words of Robert Ball, "Jade! Take the baby, they're dealing with creativity!"
The gang sits down to discuss music's simultaneous fragmentation and unification in society, relationships with obsessed people, hip-hop history in Athens, and MC Freeman's fear of Play-Doh. Gems like Matthew Albani's spot-on Beastie Boys impression, 61ack4eart's position as twenty one pilots' lawyer, rhythmic poets eating cheesecake, and one horrifying Dairy Queen story really make this episode shine. You'll never eat Dairy Queen the same way again: that's the Diner Night Guarantee.
A lifelong dream is fulfilled for guest host Chase Montavon, Black Sheep Improv member, and guest Babs Jewell, founder of the Gluten-Free Alliance, when their love for NPR and podcasting translates into their very first appearance. They rise to the challenge admirably, with the conversation revolving around Billy Blank, P90x, diet, allergies, high school summer gym, bad teachers, vomit slang, The Presidential Fitness Test, ill-advised and detailed descriptions of crushes, and French Toast Crunch. Come on down to the Diner.
Sam Francis, new member of Black Sheep Improv and distant figment from Taylor's past, guest hosts on an evening of talk about sad French teachers, hitting people with cars, the need to accept the good in oneself, peeing hunched over, Hannah's March Madness success, control issues, fear, and Skyline Chili. But no podcast is complete without a good guest and Nicolette Anderson, our usual waitress and all-around awesome person, drops in before her shift to talk about artistic creation and the behind-the-scenes stuff that makes the Diner so wonderful/horrifying. Don't miss this episode that is (almost) free of audio issues (it's not.)
Guest Host Ryan Priestle, host of his own podcast entitled Bits Of Priestle, and Conor Morris, Editor-In-Chief of Speakeasy Magazine, sit down at the Union Street Diner with Taylor, Matt, and Hannah to discuss many things, including journalism, mothers, leadership, advertising, Air Bud 2: Golden Receiver, the WWE, Daddy Day Care, and much more. All audio issues can be attributed to Ryan's inability to grasp the concept of speaking into a microphone. Enjoy!
This week our guests are Evan Swingle and Helen Cothrel. We talk about NERDS NERDS NERDS. Helen runs an online nerd blog called Beta Fish Magazine (betafishmag.wordpress.com), and Evan just really likes Iron Man and diner food -- the combination is magical. Evan is also one of our best friends, and the brains behind the original, Thursday night diner night. Other topics broached include horror movies, carafes of coffee, and a special, sad surprise at the end. Apologies for microphone issues: Hannah's computer was on the way toward dying. Matt and Evan are in and out, but the podcast is otherwise listenable. Rest assured, they said great things.
Matt, Taylor, and Hannah meet for the first ever Diner Night! After a lengthy delay and the revelation that Taylor doesn't know what he is doing, guest host Joe Skyrm and guest Jacob Chaffin showed up to discuss campus issues, personal stories, and the horrors of Steak and Shake.


text:
FS System: How to Resolve an ASR Power Event
Last updated on JULY 26, 2016
Applies to:Oracle FS1-2 Flash Storage System - Version All Versions to All Versions [Release All Releases]
Information in this document applies to any platform.
This article describes activity required by a System Administrator to verify whether a PSG_DMS_EVENT_PSPWR_NOT_GOOD or PSG_DMS_EVENT_PS_NOT_DETECTED is ignorable or actionable. If actionable, instructions will be provided as to how to proceed.
Sign In with your My Oracle Support account
Don't have a My Oracle Support account? Click to get started
My Oracle Support provides customers with access to over a
Million Knowledge Articles and hundreds of Community platforms

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I GOT MY Bachelors in FINE ARTS! I graduated this past sunday! After four years of all nighters in the studio, soul searching, and exploration of mediums and art forms I finally have found out what I want to be when I grow up.
So the burning question is...now what?
well allow me to illustrate my goals...ahem...
#1. make new art for the jobs I want
I kinda just grazed the surface and I think I now know what I must do to get the jobs I want. It involves making a portfolio that demonstrates my digital competence and my artistic skills set as it pertains to an industry in entertainment.
#2. get a job
This summer I am traveling a lot, so there is no point in looking for summer work, but I will be making summer work so that when August comes around I can apply with a portfolio that I know pertains to the jobs I am looking at. I would preferably like to work somewhere that utilizes my skills (and NOT waitressing...ugh) but if I have to do that to secure consistent income so be it. just as long as I get to draw everyday.
#3. start animation mentor!
I will be starting my education at Animation Mentor this fall, and I am very excited about it! I can't wait to learn more about animation and to really get into my niche and to meet new people. I hope to be hitting up NYC a lot more so I can meet more people that share my passion!
#4. make a badass demo reel to add to my portfolio
So when my demo reel is complete and perfected, I can go to Cali and get jobs
#5. Move to Cali and make movies and art :)
yep, that one is the biggy. I would like to accomplish that one before I am 25.


text:
(Blatant Relative Promotion)
On the DorothyL mystery listserv, writers will occasionally headline their posts "BSP" for Blatant Self-Promotion, when they have a new book coming out, a short story published, a reading scheduled, or some such. Well, as Onkel Hankie Pants' father used to say, "He who tooteth not his own horn, the same shall not be tooted."
Today I'm going to engage in a bit of BRP – Blatant Relative Promotion. I have nothing of my own to promote just now, but several of my near and dear, and slightly farther away as well, do have.
Onkel H.'s first cousin, Julie Henriksen Bowe, has published her first book for children, My Last Best Friend. It's a good read for the 8-11 set, involving the sort of daily friendship dramas that I remember only too well from Cordeliaknits' and Sisterknits' elementary years at Red Cross Nurse Open School. There's even a bit of a mystery. And, it's not too-too problem-y. Actually, it was a good read for me, too!
On the other side of Onkel H's family, his first cousin's daughter-in-law, Athena Kildegaard, has published a book of poetry based on the Fibonacci sequence. You mathematicians will enjoy this one!
Let the Sonshine In, our eldest, has just joined the Board of Bedlam Theatre in Minneapolis. I hope to take in at least one night of their 10-Minute Play Festival while I'm in town later this month. Their production a couple of years ago of The Flies by Sartre was one of my peak theatrical experiences of the decade, at least.
My nephew Alexander is one of many young people in Maine (and elsewhere) who have started non-profit organizations to help people in other countries. Working Villages International is having quite a bit of success with its first sustainable village in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Take a look and find renewed hope. (Make a donation if you wish!)
Alexander's second mother and her Temple Truck as decorated by my brother and some others will be making an appearance in Cambridge, Mass. on June 16. Read about it here. (Scroll down till you see Kris Wills).
My brother Stephen has work in the latest issue of Café Review, which you can read about here.
And Onkel Hankie Pants will be appearing as Sitting Bull in LACLT's production of Annie Get Your Gun later this summer!
Cartoon of the Day: The Psychic Bookstore -
1 hour ago


text:
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
14 comments:
I think you look great lady! And I seriously love the shots of you two together! :) Adorable!!ReplyDelete
Speaking as a dude, I would like to viciously attack Jake and take his place. You look great in all of these pictures! Congrats :)ReplyDelete
I still haven't made it to the movie theater yet! UGH! I want to see it so bad.ReplyDelete
The pictures are adorable, btw!
Absolutely GORGEOUS photos of you and the hubby, Ashley! You don't look awkward in any of them and look just beautiful! I really need some new pictures of me and the hubster too. Maybe for Christmas or something we'll have some "professionally" made. :o) Great pictures! Love them! Thanks for sharing! :O) xoxoxoReplyDelete
Oh my goodness, how cute are yall?! Eeeek, I love these!ReplyDelete
So cute and fun! They look like they should be in a magazine. And you BOTH have awesome haircuts! I like the ones against the viney background and on the bench the best.ReplyDelete
Girl you are gorgeous!!! No matter what you say the camera loves you both!!! I love the one of you two by the tall hedges. Looks like an album cover!! XOXOReplyDelete
GORGEOUS pictures! You don't look awkward at all and the backdrop where the pictures were taken is simply perfect!ReplyDelete
those are wonderful pictures! i love the one of you leaning against the door, and you totally look photogenic to me!ReplyDelete
They came out wonderfully! Lovin the red shoes slipped up by the bushes. Your man is werkin' it!ReplyDelete
I think they look fabulous! I love the red shoesReplyDelete
DUH. These are amazing!I love the red shoes... like everyone else does.ReplyDelete
I wish my hubs liked to get his picture taken. It will be time for family photos before we know it -- whether he likes it or not. ;)
I just found your blog and LOVE it! What fabulous pictures; you are gorgeous girl! I LOVE these pictures...is it ok to do "post wedding" ones?ReplyDelete
you look like models!! super star!ReplyDelete


text:
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Comics Out May 16 2007
I just finished my revision of an essay for a BenBella book on Batman that argues that Miller's All Star Batman is brilliant. You can read how I got from hating the first three issues to loving the series by clicking on the Frank Miller tab at the bottom of this post (which will also bring up me on Miller's Spawn/Batman and DKSA). This issue continues in the vein I described in that post: insane, but fun if you can see it at the right angle. If you can learn to love the absurd first line of dialogue in this issue, as I love it, you can learn to love Miller's All Star Batman. Go with the crazy. Live in the crazy. Trust Frank Miller's crazy. And leave gender politics at the door, cause Miller learned his from Micky Spilane.
Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch's Ultimates #13. Gatefold insanity. This series wrapped up a lot like the last one -- a few issues ago I lost interest, having seen it before. They go for big, but the gatefold is the only thing that stays with me, and even that is just a gimmick.
Brad Meltzer and Ed Benes Justice League of America #9. Monkeys riding on dinosaurs. Awesome. An an allusion from the visitors from the 31st century to having just arrived after the "Middle Crisis" is audacious, and I admire audacity. Red Arrow has a nice moment standing in for the audience, who expect the inevitable conflict, and in the last page, we get what I think is a nice swerve from expectations. But basically I do not know who these people are. The bad guys are revealed in such a way that I am supposed to recognize who they are but I don't. I could not figure out what happened with the girl with the wings -- she had them? or didn't? and then it turned out to be someone else maybe? and then the real one showed up? or something? I don't know who they are saving. It is sort of fun -- I feel like I did when I first got into comics and had no idea who anyone was, but I could use some footnotes or a who's who.
Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert's Batman #665. Morrison continues to invoke the (almost literally) ghosts of Batmen past -- Miller's Batman being the main antagonist (the hookers are out of Sin City). Morrison is trying to demonstrate that his Batman is the one true Batman. It ain't really workin.
Hey, and my comic book store was giving away free flash drives with the LuthorCorp logo on them. This is my new flash drive.
Plus: Something big is coming Thursday or Friday. Stay tuned.
Review, recommend, and discuss this weeks comic books and comic book news.
12 comments:
- Roger said...
I guess I just have problems with Meltzer's method of storytelling--which seems to be something he learned from his novels but doesn't translate so well (for me) into comics. I can't handle all the characters, moving from one situation to another at breakneck speed and having to read two conversations (or more) simultaneously.
BUT, I think I can help you with some of your questions--maybe.
The three badguys who were "revealed" were (I think) Despero, Per Degaton, and the Ultra-Humanite. I could be wrong, because Despero looks like he was ripped out of the silver age--despite the fact that his last appearance in the JLA Crisis of Conscience arc had him all bulked out and with his fin angled vertically rather than horizontally. Per Degaton is a time-travelling JSA villain, and the Ultra-Humanite is an early Superman villain from the 40s who transferred his brain into several different bodies (a woman, and an ape, and something else).
I also don't know how the LSH is saving--I mean, I have no idea unless it is Superman but I thought that they were going to bring someone back. The weird thing with this series is that the LSH being depicted is the one from my childhood and not the current LSH being written by Waid and Kitson.
It also seems that you are annoyed at Morrison's Batman run to the point of actually validating Miller's violent power fantasy. Miller's work was celebrated in the late 80s because people thought that showing the dark reality of superheroes (ala Morrison's Arkham Asylum or Moore's Killing Joke) was the way to go. For the most part, I like Morrison's take on Batman. I like the idea of a Batman who acts like a Samurai and has trained his emotions much like he has trained his body. But I haven't read your article, so I'll check it out.
- Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 6:04:00 PM EDT
- neilshyminsky said...
Geoff - I've meant to ask before but didn't: do the people who put together the BenBella books (and like collections) solicit you or is there a CFP somewhere that I can respond to?
- Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 10:23:00 PM EDT
- Geoff Klock said...
Roger: thanks for the help. It is not the power fantasy that I like about Miller -- it is that Miller's Batman is always Miller's Batman and no one elses.
neil: they solicited me -- and they have a pool of people they go back to again and again -- but they also have a CFP somewhere on the website.
- Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 11:08:00 PM EDT
- Thacher said...
I just could not get behind ASBRTBW, and not just because that's a ridiculous acronym. In Miller's psycho "ante-upping" everyone is a lunatic. Well, except for Green Lantern, who's apparently a wuss. Raging Bull Alfred? Really? It just seemed so gratuitous. I'm usually *great* at leaving the gender politics at the door, but this was a little much. This issue made me want to re-read Dark Knight Returns and try to figure out what was there that I liked, and what's different, because this does seem different. I can't place it yet, but while you're right, Miller's Batman has always been his own, and he's always given him a unique voice, there's been something in this series that is just off of that, for me. Then again, I hated his Batman in Spawn/Batman, so who knows. Maybe, for me, Dark Knight won't hold up. It has been a couple of years since I've read it.
I really like JLofA, but I did find myself feeling a bit lost in this one, especially when it came to the Dawnstar "Is she/isn't she" game. I'm usually cool with his multi-caption narration, but in this issue it bothered me. Maybe it's the artist and the sense of claustrophobia you get when you're not leaving enough room for all those captions. "Middle Crisis" piqued my curiosity as well. Makes me want the year to come to an end and have Countdown over
I liked Batman (which is funny: we've switched our Batmen). While the Black Notebook does seem a little odd for someone to have once they join the Justice League (aliens all over the place, wizards, etc), I'd love to hear more about it. I like how the crazy gun Batman is tied to this new one, and that it gives us an overall sense of purpose for the whole arc, not to mention the future one we'll be seeing next issue. I was, however, disappointed that we didn't get the revelations about the Nanda Pabrat cave and Bruce's encounter in the desert I could've sworn we were teased about in the solicit. I would say also, in re the whole "Morrison's Batman is the only Batman," that I don't think it's "Morrison's Batman" he's trying to put forth (I get more of that feeling from Frank Miller, who tried to Millerize *everyone*), but to continue to address the loss of focus the whole Batman line and character had pre-IC. Of the big three, I feel like they did the most disservice to his character in the years leading up to this, and that this is a way of clearing the decks a bit. Both here and in Dini's Detective as well. I just don't see the ego as playing a part in it.
- Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 12:32:00 AM EDT
- david brothers said...
The new ASBAR hit me like a ton of bricks. It's easily the best issue yet. I had to put it down a few times just so I could stop laughing.
Batman intentionally giving the thug arthritis? Golden.
- Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 12:47:00 AM EDT
The woman was a Thanagarian, apparently someone Dawnstar was staying with during her time on Thanagar.
And it looks to me like we're about to get something connected somehow to the story where the legion brought the dead Lightning Lad back to life, given everyone's now armed with a lightning rod.
- Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 10:42:00 AM EDT
- Ultimate Matt said...
The new Batman was actually my favorite of Morrison's run thus far (contrasted to the last one, which was my least favorite single issue by Morrison, ever). This is the first issue that actually made me feel like he's heading somewhere with this stuff.
- Friday, May 18, 2007 at 12:30:00 AM EDT
- Mitch said...
I agree David and Geoff. This is the issue of ASBRBW I'll point people to, because it consolidates the brilliant elements spread out overthe first four issues into one bite-size bit.
- Friday, May 18, 2007 at 9:41:00 AM EDT
Thank god for some mature, sensible comment: a veritable island of calm, thoughtful, reasoned, humility within a sea of reactionary, juvenile hysteria that seeks to reduce mature, talented men to mechanical support pillars of corporate mediocrity, while preserving the childhood dreams of boymen who refuse to grow up. Boymen who demand that their fixed, narrow perspectives of characters that are by the very nature of their being, and the creative process which births them, open to interpretation and reinvention.
Or perhaps I'm wrong and grown, talented men when assigned the contracts by DC should also waive all rights to think, examine, play, mould, shape, and create. Perhaps this waver should prevent adults from applying their knowledge, opinions, erasing all personal feeling and political viewpoints and just produce easily digestible monthly fodder that is unerringly simple in concept and delivery, that can be consumed by 13 year old boys without ever challenging their 13 year environment, sensibilities or awareness: No wait. We have that. We have J. Loeb. We have the Batman adventures. We have a host of hacks that churn out pap in any number of inoffensive, safe Spiderman or Superman titles. The likes of Gaiman and Moore have huge –deservedly so- reputations, but the only comic artist who has managed to work within this most conservative of mediums and actually play, morph and these moribund culture icons into something contemporary and immediate and now, is Frank Miller: His much lauded, historical achievement with DKS feat- of delivering an authentic high-speed comic ride, while simultaneously critiquing the entire Reagan-neo con era - a prescient act that outranks another pilloried work- Spike Lee's "do The Right Thing", is only exceeded in brilliance and forethought by the visionary excoriation within DK2 of the ties that bind between an authoritarian government and muted, satiated, meek populace, accurately foreshadowing the post September 11- middle eastern invasion era that was to come. This bold work received contempt and abuse from the boymen for not delivering- after Sept 11- a simple minded, vainglorious paean to Americana. Four years into the botched invasion- Miller's evocation of a government driven by corrupt, power hungry con men, who use fear and terror to promote their purposes is retains its resonance and accuracy, while the hysterical counter reaction and demand for heroes that threatened to drown out the work, appears insipid, hasty, infantile, nationalistic and territorial.
So with all the flowers and praise to Alan Moore and a nod to the likes of P.Milligan who have publicly accused Miller of being a one trick pony, I ask, in all seriousness, how weighty is a publication such as "Tom Strong" , the inward looking fantasy of "Sandman", the flaccid, corporate garbage such s "1602", actually compare to the "Millerverse". Perhaps Miller is the one who overstretched: he has always rejected the term Graphic novel artist". perhaps the most masturbatory, self-justifying phrase invented within the last 20 years of the pop-cuturalsphere; and self-consciously defined himself as a cartoonist, a definition that was write large within the visual representation of DK2, clearly homaging the historical war propaganda epistemology of the medium/character, and claming that call to arms didactic within the ongoing narrative of DK2 through the- I luv how you put it- "the will to power". Something the American media and public is only just waking up to.
So as a political cartoonist Miller provides work that makes people think, as opposed to those who want to satiate themselves on perpetual repetitions of the Human Torch flaming on, or Spidey slinging a web through New York city, without anything like, oh, I don't know - Iraq, Scooter Libby, the repeal of Wade vs Woe, institutional governent backed anti- gay leglisation, a return to school segregation- and on and on. No, I must stop. The boys read the coloured frames to get away from all of that. They demand from the web site and blogs that owners artists and printers should only churn produce work that allows them to ignore their children, tune out their girlfriends, ignore the demands of their bosses, and let them pretend they are actually flying through the cosmos about to save an intergalactic civilization from an exploding sun, so that we might place an American flag on their home world and introduce them to the sanguine prose of the founding fathers. How dare the likes of Miller and Lee do anything but use their hard earned sills to give the children anything but bright colours, tight pants heads being thrown through walls. Action that compete with the x-box or playstation, sure, but no more than that. For the children luv these characters. They know them better than the creators themselves. If they could- and this is their secret, secret super-power- they'd write better than Noman Mailer. If they could draw, they'd take commissions away from Michaelangelo.
I am tired of the children on silver bullets this and Millar world that, promoting themselves as self-appointed gate-keepers, and well-intentioned guardians of the unsanctified character who they will determine, control and shape for our enjoyment and protection. A little modesty would go a long way in my opinion, to say nothing of a sharp, injection of reality, as well as a small awareness that the comic reading market is not composed of individuals who share , echo and endorse their pathetic, insular, Peter Pan, hallowed days of yore, mentality.
Lastly, I wait to see where this present "All star" run will go. I'm excited by the originality. The cheek. The boldness. The sheer "let's throw this baby up in the air and see where it lands" balls. I'm not interested in whether I fully embrace the project: It's the ride tat matters. Seeing whether these two great artists can actually pull this daring vision off. I'm giving them the chance. And if they fail, so what? No one will die. I congratulate DC for allowing such well-known creations to be put under the knife and opened up. Why on earth do the infants continue to act like character such as Batman can be damaged, killed of, or irretrievably hurt by such publications: These cartoon characters, - and I know the nappy suckers are kicking over their potty's after reading this simple truth- are immortal. Stronger than a speeding bullet. More durable than a 12 issue run from even the combined genius of the present writer/artist team.
I hope that people with free minds continue to buy the comic and enjoy it for what it is, and I have a feeling, despite the inane, overblown on-line chatter from the newly born, though irretrievably brained damaged conservative rabble, that the present successful sales - and I have no doubt that the trade paperbacks will break records - will reflect the power and market value of JL and FM. And isn't that the whole point. For good or bad, this is Frank Miller's Batman. You know what you'll get. If you don't like it, don't waste time or print, go buy the latest issue of Teen Titans on your way to pick up your monthly order of diapers, and leave those who actually like to open a comic and be challenged, stimulated, appalled, repelled, enthused, energized, excited, intrigued - surprised even; to be just that.
- Saturday, May 19, 2007 at 11:33:00 AM EDT
- Matt Brady said...
Holy crap, Samj, that was either the best piece of satirical writing I've read in a long time, or way too much energy expended on the subject. Well done, I think.
- Saturday, May 19, 2007 at 12:23:00 PM EDT
- Ultimate Matt said...
Geoff, you might be interested in this post (he also quotes/references you in it).
- Monday, May 21, 2007 at 2:08:00 PM EDT
- Geoff Klock said...
Thacher -- what buggs me about the Black Casebook is that it is the X-Files. And it is lame to steal the core concept from the Xfiles after that show ended badly a while ago.
david: yeah, golden
Anon: thanks
Samj: awesome, thanks for posting all that. You are welcome here anytime. One word of warning on Miller, though. Miller got credit for making fun of Regan Era politics, but for whatever reason, it at least looks like at this point he basically believes in them . I still love Miller, and agree with much of what you are saying.
Umatt: yeah, I know that guy. I may be writing a thing for him on Legion.
- Monday, May 21, 2007 at 7:18:00 PM EDT


text:
the 100th person to LIKE my page will receive a signed copy of the book with free shipping in the U.S.!
if you're not on FB, or would just like to buy one of these rare copies, send me an email, and i will tell you how to order one. the price is $30 including priority mail shipping in the U.S.
i use my lay flat copy all the time in the kitchen, since it is so much easier to use. the perfect bound books are what bookstores and libraries prefer, which is why the majority of the books were printed with a spine.
Lenten blessings and happy cooking! be sure to enjoy the many Lenten (vegan) recipes in Alice's Kitchen: Traditional Lebanese Cooking by Linda Dalal Sawaya.


text:
Do you know what he colors of the flag represent? The white is for purity, the red is for valor and the blue is for justice. President George Washington described the design like this: "We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing liberty."
I am proudly flying my flag on my front porch and I made great progress on my Brenda Gervais Free & Brave cross stitch piece.
It took longer to do the house than I expected... and I changed the color of the house too. It isn't really noticeable, but I know it is there. The white on the house is Crescent Colors Baby Chick...not so bright as the white in the flag which is DMC. A couple more sessions and this will be done and I should be able to display it for July.
And the mailman brought me a wonderful surprise this week... the latest offering from Dyeing to Stitch's Ladies Prim Society. It is from Blackbird Designs... my favorite designers... and I actually squealed when I saw it.
Isn't it fabulous??? Lady Liberty is on the top of the pin drum and the band that goes all the way around has that wonderful flag and a bunting and an alphabet!!! Sorry I can't show you the back of the pin drum but there aren't any photos of it and I'm afraid if I take a picture of the chart it might infringe on the copyright. I can't wait to start this ... and I just might ...even though Brave & Free isn't done. OH... I can resist anything but temptation...LOL
I'm linking up with Kathy's Quilts Slow Stitching Sunday...you can pop over here and check out what others are doing this lovely Sunday.
Happy Flag Day... and happy stitching-
carol fun


text:
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
.How is drifting judged?
How is drifting judged?
Because professional drifting events are judged on execution and style, it is mandatory that the judges are intimately familiar with the capabilities of the cars and the advanced driving techniques employed by the competitors. 99Drift Grand Prix judges are highly qualified, usually former professional drifters, and are considered experts in their field.
Speed, angle of attack and vehicle control are the factors 99Drift judges evaluate. All drivers get solo runs before the Best 16 head-up eliminations start. All participants who make it to the Best 16 run door handle to door handle, with one other car on the circuit at the same time. As fun as the solo runs are, this is where the real excitement starts and brings the crowds to their feet.
Factors like slowing to the point of hindering the other driver, running into another driver's car or spinning out means an automatic loss of the run. Putting pressure on an opponent through a more aggressive drift angle, carrying a higher speed through a corner, and showing good strategy are extremely important tactics used to win an elimination round. Each judge knows what each competitor's car is capable of. The judges will know how much of the car's potential the driver is using, and if the driver is not pushing the car to the limit, they will be eliminated from the round
99Drift Rules and Regulations
Safety Modifications and Guidelines:
QUESTIONS email use!
- Roll cages must be welded or securely bolted and anchored. If roll cage is bolted then its must be securely reinforced with an anchor plate and backing plate sandwich on each side of the floor pan. (not needed but highly recommended)
- Roll cage may be placed in front or through the dashboard.(4 point or 6 point and so on can be used with D1GP tubing size recommended in used in car)
- Drivers seat must be equipped with a four-point or better racing type safety harness of nylon web, at least 3 inches in diameter, with a metal buckle. Shoulder harness must be an H type not Y type harness. Safety Harness must be securely bolted to the frame. FACTORY 3 point are ok with oem if OEM placment used)
Drivers must be fitted with Snell Foundation (SA) approved safety helmets with 1995 Snell Foundation (95SA) or later safety sticker of approval displayed inside; head and neck restraints systems are optional and must also be Snell Foundation (SA) approved. Face shields are strongly recommended but not needed.
Drivers MUST wear driving suits made of approved fire resistance material (Nomex, Kynol, etc.) in single or double layers.
Racing shoes are strongly recommended.
Catch tanks must be securely fastened. Radiator catch tank/Oil catch tanks may also be installed on engine oil breathers where practical. NO FLUID LEAKS OF ANY KIND WILL BE TOLERATED. any fluid can be used for radiator.
- Fuel cells are strongly recommended.
Fuel filler caps must be securely fastened so as not to open on impact.
All hoods and deck lids must be adequately and securely fastened.
All drain plugs must be securely fastened.
Batteries must be securely fastened down, positive terminals well insulated and if located in the cockpit must be covered or have leak proof caps.
- Brake systems including brakes, lines, fluid and pedals must be in good shape and working condition.
Authorized Modifications:
- Each car must maintain the OEM unibody.
- Any tires that are within public accessibility may be used.
The front passenger seat, rear seats air-conditioning, radio, wiper blades and original seatbelts also may be removed and/or replaced.
Aftermarket body panels, bumper covers and wings are permitted
Seam welding the unibody is permitted.
Suspension upgrades are open.
Factory wheels may be replaced with aftermarket wheels.
Any grade of automotive gasoline may be used for fuel.
Engines are open for modification.
Other than what is listed above cars are open for modification.
Where to Drift in Northern Cali You ask?
Where to Drift in Northern Cali You ask?
well you have thunder hill..
Thunder Drift does have instructional program also that included class instruction and seat time.
the most popular place to slide in the bay area is sonoma drift. most wednesdays of the month, sometimes every wednesday of the month. we run a chill atmosphere, and you get 6 hours of slide time. basic tech inspection, alot of fun, and pretty big crowds.
well you have thunder hill..
Thunder Drift does have instructional program also that included class instruction and seat time.
the most popular place to slide in the bay area is sonoma drift. most wednesdays of the month, sometimes every wednesday of the month. we run a chill atmosphere, and you get 6 hours of slide time. basic tech inspection, alot of fun, and pretty big crowds.
Monday, January 30, 2012
So you want to learn how to drift? Well You have come to the right spot!
Here at Drift Panic we will show you the basic's, Car tuning, turbo set ups, and Popular drift cars(some know and some not! and So much more!
Here at Drift Panic we will show you the basic's, Car tuning, turbo set ups, and Popular drift cars(some know and some not! and So much more!
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Life News
Palliative care is about ameliorating suffering and respecting the lives of each patient. It isn't a synonym for assisted suicide or euthanasia.
Or to put it another way, hospice and palliative care are about living. Euthanasia/assisted suicide are about killing.
Indeed, when I interviewed the great medical humanitarian, Dame Cecily Saunders–founder of the modern hospice movement–she told me that assisted suicide was wholly incompatible with hospice because it denies the intrinsic equal dignity of every patient. Amen to that.
But once the culture of death takes poisonous root, it poisons all it touches–and particularly targets hospice and palliative care, which are its mirror opposite.
That's why I am not surprised–infuriated, but not surprised–that Quebec's Minister of Health is ordering palliative care docs in a hospital to kill legally qualified patients who ask for euthanasia. From the Global News story:
Health minister Gaétan Barrette is taking the MUHC to task for denying doctor-assisted death to patients in palliative care.
Barrette said he recently learned the hospital requires patients to transfer out of the palliative care department in order to follow through with doctor-assisted dying procedures. They are also required to have been patients for at least 18 months prior to the move.
Barette called this practice "totally illegal" because a hospital cannot decide which departments will or will not offer medical aid to die.


text:
Monday, however, was the best open mat I've had in a while, and the most productive. Admittedly, I often take lengthy breaks. I roll, I get tired, I chill for a long time like a beached whale, then I roll again, then chill again...and sometimes it makes me feel lazy. Not this week. I came, stretched out and rolled with one person after another for an hour and a half with very few breaks. It was goddamn refreshing. I warmed up with Krypton, who was not fucking around that night, and spent most of the time desperately trying to escape back control. With Curly next, who went harder on me than usual, which I expected after giving him such hell during our last roll. He tapped me out a bunch but I did get him in an arm triangle choke once and executed it quickly and efficiently. Went a few rounds with KGB next and it was the best I've done against him yet. He did submit me a few times but rather than spending the rest of the time just floundering on the bottom, I did much better at defense, got a successful hip bump, held mount really well for a while and almost got a keylock on him. It was a much more equal roll than usual and even if I still technically got my ass kicked...progress!
Spaceman finally returned to the mats and we got to roll for the first time in three months. It was awesome. I was expecting to do a bit better since I've had so much more time on the mats recently, but I made some dumbass mistakes and walked into a couple of chokes and an armbar, so he deserved the wins. That said, I did get an americana on him...had to work like hell for it too, no freebies there, so I really earned it. I rarely feel that way about my submissions.
Tonight we worked spider guard sweeps, which I'm not a real fan of due to trouble with the grips, but it was a fun class and a very intense workout. We started off with what was supposed to be a "light roll" and ended up being a lengthy and utterly exhausting few rounds instead. I paired up with blue belt Rex, who I'd seen around but never talked to before, and we quickly tired ourselves out. During open mat, I rolled with fellow white belt Tigger, who is new to Ronin but must've studied BJJ elsewhere. I've only started seeing him around recently but he certainly knows what he's doing and, although it was a fairly even back-and-forth match, he did manage to armbar me twice. Finished by facing off with Scruffy and gave him a run for his money this time, finally catching him in a fairly well executed armbar from guard, which he was actually fighting against, so I damn sure earned that one too.
On a side note, The Kid is currently pretending to not speak to me because I refused to roll with him since he jacked up my arm, and now he's a little offended. It seems that he went home the day it happened, immediately forgot all about it, and now can't understand why I feel the need to be careful. I'll see what I can do to make him feel less left out until my arm has fully recovered.


text:
Who should I vote for? An election overview from a biblical perspective
I loathe the two candidates, based on spiritual qualifications. Obama is an abomination and Romney is lost and deluded, an enemy of God, being a Mormon. Charles Spurgeon said, "Of the lesser of two evils, choose neither."
However, standing on the sidelines as a Christian doesn't seem right, either. The first century Christians lived under a horrible dictator who burned them alive, yet the Word says we are to submit to all governing authorities. (Romans 13:1). This is because God is the ultimate governing authority who sets up kings and takes them down. Rebelling against government is rebelling against God. (Romans 13:2b)
It also didn't seem right to remain on the sidelines as an American. God, in His providence and wisdom, created me at this time and in this nation, where we do have freedom to speak, worship, and vote. I would not want to squander the gifts and opportunities He gave me, and since I am a free American, I have a right and a duty and a privilege to participate in the government He set me up in.
To play devil's advocate on myself, though, there is a limit to submission to governing authorities. My friend Pastor Phil Andrukaitis wrote in his sermon series, A Biblical Perspective on Politics, quoting John Piper here. "Scripture supports and prohibits civil disobedience. There are limits when it comes to submitting to horizontal authorities. Therefore, [John Piper said] "subjection to governing authorities is subjective, not absolute; it depends on whether the demands of the governing authorities require the Christian to disobey Jesus Christ". Have we passed that limit? Are still within the boundaries of that limit? It is up to each Christian to make that determination for him or herself.
How do I balance my heavenly citizenship with my national citizenship?
I am not a fan of the current revival movements that focus on America as a political entity. I mean those movements that call for returning America back to a Christian nation, the 'America for Jesus' rallies, praying for America so that we would be reset to 'original factory conditions.' Blogger Erin Benzinger calls this 'patriotic idolatry', and I agree. People who call for America's return to Jesus have no idea how far the Founding Fathers were from the true God and Holy Jesus. John Adams was the most thoughtful, the most curious and the most studied about the things of God. He denied the Trinity, writing to Thomas Jefferson in 1813, "Had you and I been forty days with Moses on Mount Sinai, and been admitted to behold the divine Shekinah, and there told that one was three and three one, we might not have had courage to deny it, but we could not have believed it."
Pastor Andrukaitis explained that we are citizens of heaven, but until we're raptured or resurrected, we are also citizens of a nation here on earth. He said, "Paul and Silas beautifully illustrated their understanding of their dual citizenship when they were unjustly beaten, mistreated, and thrown into a Philippian jail. What were Paul and Silas' reactions? They prayed and sang songs to God (Acts 16:25)."
So I am presented with a quandary...I have a national right and a God-given duty to participate in a corrupt process and thus choose between two men that at their soul-level are ungodly. This is a hard thing.
Then I listened to a 4 minute clip from an essay that's based on two sermons John MacArthur preached last week called The Campaign for Immorality. The link is to the summary of two sermons, the first sermon is:
Abortion and the Campaign for Immorality
Homosexuality and the Campaign for Immorality
Dr MacArthur doesn't talk about politics as much as he lays out the case that America is actively campaigning for judgment according to the process in Romans 1. He has spoken of this before. He has been essentially saying the same thing all along, that Divine Judgment comes when a nation rejects the basic platforms and institutions God set forth. Government, family and the Church are the three institutions God set up by Divine decree. MacArthur has been warning for years now that America is under that judgment due to our having rejected those institutions and have descended into immorality as a permeating and institutionalized level.
But this year, this time, it is really bad. In his two sermons, MacArthur shows through the bible how the two political parties, particularly one party, is engaging in a process that will drive us straight off the cliff of Judgment. He attended both Conventions and he returned to his home town stunned and aghast at how closely Romans 1 is being lived out by the decision makers in America today.
For example, taking God out of the Democratic platform, legalizing abortion, homosexual marriages, feminism, and other related government sanctioned behaviors that infringe on God's territory show us how close we are to that judgment.
It is this that he preaches on.
In the excerpt of the essay, The Campaign for Immorality, Dr MacArthur said the following, which helped me decide what to do about voting. I put in bold the parts that especially helped me come to a decision about my vote. I hope it helps you. Here is the excerpt:
-------------begin MacArthur-------------
"I'm not one to talk about politics as such, but I was essentially amazed that one of the historic parties here in the United States adopted the sins of Romans 1 as their platform. This is a new day in our country. Parties which used to differ on economics now differ dramatically on issues that invade the realm of God's law and morality."
"In an ideal situation, their platform would mean that the government passes out condoms so people can fornicate at will. For those who happen to get pregnant in the process, platform advocates that you kill the baby at the will of the mother, up and including the ninth month."
"At the same time, it advocates a homosexual marriage, which is an oxymoron, an utter impossibility, and a gross violation of the law of God. And then to add to that, the murder of abortion, and then a platform originally leaving God out. All of that's Romans 1. Romans 1 says God will judge, God has judged throughout human history, nations that experience sexual freedom. Romans chapter 1 lays that out clearly: the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against those who advocate sexual freedom, sexual conduct outside of marriage. And that's an indication of the demise of a nation."
"And then Romans 1 also says that God will judge those nations that advocate homosexual behavior, men with men, women with women, doing what is unnatural. They are also haters of God, haters of God--leaving God out, advocating abortion, advocating homosexuality, advocating free sexual conduct and government-provided condoms so that everybody can do what they want. That is literally creating a platform out of what God hates."
"This is not about politics, although there are things we could talk about. You're not voting for a pastor, you're not voting for a spiritual leader, you're voting for someone who has some sense of morality. Since the Bible says that the role of government is to punish evil doers and protect the good, you better have somebody in power who understands what is good and what is evil. And if you think homosexuality, abortion, sexual freedom, hating God are not evil, then you better go back and check your Bible again. How can people with that kind of agenda protect those who do good and punish those who do evil? That's Romans 13's definition of the role of government. We could talk about foreign policies, should we protect as many defenseless people from evil aggressors as possible? We could talk about economics, Is it right to get into irreparable debt? Is that responsibility? We could talk about that."
'We could talk about the economics of if you don't work, you don't eat, which is what the Bible says. But those things are not what concern me. And I've seen something happen in these conventions that is just stunning. The adaptation of a Romans 1 platform, sexual freedom, homosexuality on an equal level with marriage, the murder of infants, and the elimination of God."
"And by the way, I didn't like it any better when they put God back in because that's blasphemy. To connect God with that agenda is a horror, it's a horror. It's taking His name in vain. In fact, I don't think God should be in either agenda (applause). But when you have an advocacy of support for the slaughter of infants and homosexuality, complete sexual freedom, you have a formula for divine judgment. If we have any sense of justice, if we have any sense of righteousness, if we want to make a little bit of a voice heard about what is right and about the role of government being to punish evil doers and protect the people who do right, then we better step up. I'm not sure what God has in the future, but I do know we can take His side and give Him honor."
---------------end MacArthur---------------
Pastor Andrukaitis ended his message about this upcoming election this way, "Therefore, when we enter the voting booth on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 or submit an absentee ballot prior to Election Day, remember that there is a day when each of us will give an account to God for our decisions. Please, choose wisely."
For me, the quandary about whether to even enter the voting booth and vote has been resolved. The quandary on who to vote for has also been answered.
I hope that this information, or the wealth of Christian information out there helps you resolve any dilemmas you may have on this upcoming election.


text:
One of the big problems with the internet is that ignorance and fear are given a platform that is just as large as knowledge and wisdom. One of the big problems with celebrities is that they are tempted to speak without knowing what they are talking about. Combine the two, and children and families can be injured.
Worth a look.
Friday, November 6, 2009
An excellent article ...............
Posted by Brett Taylor at 8:52 AM
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Most people try to live by self-propulsion. Each person is like an actor who wants to run the whole show; is forever trying to arrange the lights, the ballet, the scenery, and the rest of the players in his own way. If his arrangements would only stay put, if only people would do as he wished, the show would be great. Everybody, including himself, would be pleased. Life would be wonderful. In trying to make these arrangements our actor may sometimes be quite virtuous. He may be kind, considerate, patient, generous, even modest and self-sacrificing. On the other hand, he may be mean, egotistical, selfish and dishonest. But, as with most humans, he is more likely to have varied traits.
Posted by Scottage at 1:23 AM / | |


text:
You're all familiar with the Hubble Telescope, that marvel of engineering and science that has created some of the most spectacular and iconic space images of the past decades.
It's about to die, not from some catastrophe, but merely from old age and lack of life support. Now that the shuttle program is terminated, no one much feels like flying up to it to do maintenance and repair.
We would be blind to beauty, except for something that has happened that is at once creepy and wondrous:
Second, note that they never deployed them because they found an improved way of spying on us!
Let that sink in for a minute. Despite the obvious budget concerns-- why are we holding not one but two perfectly good telescopes in a warehouse in Rochester, NY never to be deployed because they became obsolete? How much were they and where in the budget do they show up, if at all?-- our government is handing down the best telescope we've ever invented, from a spy ring to our science division.
Why wasn't that working the other way around? I mean, I get that you can't be too public with your intelligence gathering, but on the other hand, science is important to our security, too, and particularly space. That's why NASA even exists in the first place! You could, for example, publicly misrepresent the level of technology on the telescope, and gift it from NASA to the NRO.
I know, the military gets the best candy, even if like a goose fatted for pate, it has to be rammed into its gullet, but come on, Congress. This is science. This is (mostly) good for us.


text:
Good morning everyone!!
I promised to post about today about my most recent bargain ....
Like most girls I have rather a lot of clothes and shoes (but how much is too much??) but I wanted something new to wear for a date with Phil last Saturday night. I had already decided I'd like a dress with long sleeves cause its so cold at the minute. I had seen a bodycon midi dress on the New Look website which I quite liked so I decided to go and buy it.
When I got there it turned out they didn't have any in stock, so I had a nosey around. I really do love the feeling of bagging a bargain and somehow when you manage to get a really good one it doesn't matter that you didn't actually need it! After a good rake through the sale rails I though I wasn't going to get anything, then a lovely bright rose print caught my eye. I grabbed the hanger and found this dress:
It ticked all of the boxes - right size, long sleeves, bodycon, gorgeous print.
The best part of all though was looking at the tag and seeing that this dress had been reduced from £24.99 to just £4.00!! Yes £4.00!
I could hardly believe my eyes-I was sure when I got to the till I'd find it was too good to be true but it wasn't! So my Saturday night date outfit was sorted for less than my first glass of wine of the evening! I teamed this dress with some gold jewellery and black and gold clutch bag and cage heels.
On the subject of being thrifty and looking for bargains, as some of you will know, me and my fiancé have been renovating a house since September, we completely gutted the house and started again so there have been some trying times! Perhaps soon I will post some before and after photos so you can see what we've been up to..................


text:
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Oh India
Posted by Jocelyn Lord at 1:26 PM No comments:
Great mail day
I had a great mail day on Thursday! Got three handmade letters from Norway (thank you Heidi) and a bunch of Martha Stewart punches I ordered from the US. I have been having so much fun with the butterfly punch.
I decided to use an old frame that no longer had glass and use it as a quasi shadow-box-of-sorts. I played around a bit before I decided how to place by butterflies in the frame.
This version is fun because it looks like the butterflies just landed on the paper.
The organized version.
I have been making a lot my embellishments lately. The other day I made some ribbon flowers on my sewing machine.I got the idea from a great book called "52 more scrap booking challenges" by Elizabeth Kartchner. You should get out her blog - it my absolute favorite. She makes so many pretty things.
Blog link: http://elizabethkartchner.blogspot.com/
Posted by Jocelyn Lord at 10:32 AM 1 comment:
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
I have been thinking a lot about friendship this past week.... what it means, how it is born, and whom I truly consider a friend. Being a scrapbooker I decided to create an album that celebrates those people that I cherish. I wanted to document:
1) How I met them
2) What I love about them
3) Why I wanted to be their friend
4) Best memory with them
5) Favorite things to do together
6) Duration of friendship.
It has proving to be a wonderful project and I can't help but recall lots of great memories with these individuals. I must admit, that while I am friendly and outgoing, I tend to only open up to those that I trust my heart with. I often find that I am the "listener" in so many of my relationships. I tend to classify those relationships as an "acquaintance", rather than a friend. While I love to listen and help draw people out, it often means that I am not heard. Real friendship is an equal sharing of hearts and time and is not one sided. I have also realized that it is better to have one or two close girlfriends than a slew of people that you can't possibly stay in touch with. Ahhh exhausting.
Okay normally I hate cheesy quotes but here a few really good ones about friendship....
"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, What! You too? I thought I was the only one." -C.S. Lewis
"One measure of friendship consists not in the number of things friends can discuss,
but in the number of things they need no longer mention." -Clifton Fadiman
"True friendship comes when the silence between two people is comfortable."
-David Tyson Gentry
Check out this stunning picture of my dear friend Sarah. Sadly, I had to miss her wedding, but I thought I would share this incredible photo of her on her wedding day. She made the lovely flower hairpiece and has a etsy site here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/konigin.
For those of you that are reading this post I would love to know what your description of a good friend is. What is important to you in a relationship?
Posted by Jocelyn Lord at 8:34 PM 1 comment:
Ants and other problems...
Perhaps it is a bit strange to blog about the ant infestation in my house, but it is driving me crazy. The thing that gets me, is not the fact that there are insects crawling around collecting Amelia's discarded food, but the fact that I feel AWFUL about killing, maiming or poisoning them. I know, I am ridiculous. If I accidentally wound one while I am sweeping the house I feel terrible. I don't feel a particular affinity for ants, I just don;t like killing creatures unnecessarily if there is another, friendlier option. I have been known to carefully remove spiders from my home with a cup and a piece of paper, and hide moths from my husband so that he doesn't kill them.You must think I am insane.
That said, I really should be a vegetarian. The more I read about how chickens and and other frequently eaten animals are raised, I am horrified. If you don't know where your meat comes from, I strongly encourage you to do a little research. Interestingly, I have no problem eating the animals that my husband skillfully hunts.
The reason: I feel that they have lived good lives and have been killed respectfully(if such a thing is possible). When my husband shoots an animal with his bow, he aims to kill, and does so in a manner that ends the animals life instantaneously.
Many of the meat products we purchase in our grocery stores are the result of a great deal of suffering, and cramped miserable conditions. That is not to mention the fact that they have been shot full of hormones and force fed. Not cool.
Posted by Jocelyn Lord at 5:06 PM 1 comment:
Sunday, February 21, 2010
The sun feels so lovely and warm and I can't help but feel that Spring is coming. People keep saying that it is going to get cold again but I hope that it just keeps getting warmer. To celebrate Spring I made a shadow box and filled it with favorite bits of paper and spring inspired things. It was so fun and easy to make. Here are a few little detail shots.
Amelia's favorite book right now is about a butterfly so I thought it would be fun to create something that captured her childish fascination.
Posted by Jocelyn Lord at 3:03 PM 3 comments:
Friday, February 19, 2010
Out for a snowy hike
A couple of days ago we decided to go for a hike.and explore some caves we had seen on one of our many drives (my husband loves driving). As soon as we bundled up and got Amelia into her carrier huge flakes of snow started to come down. It was beautiful, but my dear daughter did not enjoy getting blobs of cold snow in her eyes. Once we reached the caves she was content to look around and enjoy the hard earned view. (lots of scrambling and clambering over loose gravel and large rocks)
We found bat caves, mountain lion poop, cool little geod crystals in the rocks and some neat icicles. All in all it was nice to get out of the house and get a bit of a workout.
We found bat caves, mountain lion poop, cool little geod crystals in the rocks and some neat icicles. All in all it was nice to get out of the house and get a bit of a workout.
Posted by Jocelyn Lord at 11:18 AM No comments:
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Reasons I'm loving my new home....
Live blue grass music. mandolin players. bright blue skies. turquoise water. bright starry uninterrupted skies. a bowl full of raspberries from someones garden. a yummy burger and fries at Lee's Corner. hitching posts outside. wrangler jeans. belt buckles and cowboy hats galore. delicious lasagna. good company. a forest view from my window, snowflakes, sunlight.... and so many other things.... so thankful
Posted by Jocelyn Lord at 10:24 PM 1 comment:
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Love is in the air.....
I happen to like Valentines, despite the fact that it has become quite commercialized. It is a great reminder me to take time to appreciate those people in my life that I love. This year I made a whole bunch of homemade cards and sent them to all my dearest friends and family.It made for a fun trip to the post office.
I decided to host a cupcake decorating party as an excuse to play with icing and candy and get to know my neighbors. It all turned out splendidly and even Amelia got in on the action..... little monkey.
I adore this art project I found on the Martha Stewart website. I haven't tried this yet myself, but I plan to sometime before Valentine's day arrives.
Ahhhh infatuation...
Posted by Jocelyn Lord at 10:23 PM 1 comment:
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Creative slump
I am experiencing a creative slump. I don't even have the energy to get dressed. Perhaps I will spend the day eating chocolate and wearing my husband's clothing. My little sprout is sleeping at the moment so I am stealing some time to blog and peruse the Internet for inspiration.... I really would love to spend the day curled up in bed with a good book. Those days are loooong gone.
I have not been completely useless...I did re-arrange my craft room. Organizing is something I often do when I don't have the energy to create. It makes me feel productive. I have a bit of an obsession with being "productive". It is rather difficult for me to just "be", especially when there are dishes in the sink. I can't stand it when my house is messy and it takes everything within me to ignore it and take my daughter to the park. I think that I am starting to get a little bit more relaxed, or at least I hope I am. I still freak out when I know that someone is coming over and there is stuff strewn everywhere. It doesn't help that both my daughter and husband are walking whirlwinds. Dahhhh!
I am planning a cupcake decorating party for a couple of mom's I recently met. I really enjoy Valentines and have been furiously making cards for my dearest friends. Normally my husband and I always do something extravagant but this year I think we will be doing something simple. Last year we did a camel safarie in the Thar desert in India... this year we will most likely have to settle for some home cooking and a cuddle.
I started riding my bike this week. It is attached to my wind trainer (a far cry from tearing down the side of a mountain, but it will suffice until the ice melts. It is depressing to realize how out of shape I am. I think that I have been putting off strenuous exercise for fear of discovering that fact. *sigh* My husband, on the other hand, is in the best shape of his life. Once and awhile he invites me to do push-ups on the floor with him .... what generally ensues is the following.... (Nathaniel) "You can do it, just straighten your back and focus".... (me)"arrrrgggg so hard.... and then landing flat on my face and laughing hysterically. Did you know that it is incredibly difficult to do push ups when you are laughing. One day i will be able to do more than three... in a row.
Posted by Jocelyn Lord at 10:19 AM No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
P.S., Jan. 20: Do look up the latest post on my other blog.
A father, teacher, personal counsellor, sometime journalist and reader, I keep reflecting on the world's pageantry, magic, comicality and pain...
Thursday, January 17, 2013
delhi noir
P.S., Jan. 20: Do look up the latest post on my other blog.
5 comments:
- Abhirup said...
Dear Sir,
What a co-incidence! I have been reading the books of the Akashic noir series recently (the JU library of the English department has almost all of them), and I have read this one as well. Noir has always been one of my favourite cinematic/literary genres, though, as you have rightly pointed out, they are seldom feel-good in terms of content, and the style employed by noirists is accordingly stark and bleak.
I must say, however, that I was less impressed by this anthology than you are. In particular, a few stories, like 'Fit of Rage' by Palash Krishan Mehrotra, seemed rather clunky and drab to me, and the mystery element--central to any good noir tale--in some of the stories just wasn't strong enough. And besides the needless overuse of expletives that you have mentioned, I think some of the stories, like the one by Ruchir Joshi for example (I forget its name), doesn't have the kind of hard-boiled sensibility or wry observations that noir prose is famous for. I guess I could be accused of nitpicking, for this certainly isn't a bad set of stories. Maybe it's the fact that the other anthologies in the series have far better yarns that left me somewhat underwhelmed about this. In particular, Boston noir, edited by none other than Dennis Lehane, is brilliant: almost every story in that collection is worth a read, including and especially Lehane's own, which succeeds in being gripping, world-weary, darkly humourous and violent, and yet manages to end on a note of genuine optimism. And his introduction to the book is just as remarkable: in particular, his analysis of noir as a kind of "working class tragedy" enabled me look at the whole genre in a new light, and his description of the kind of idiosyncrasies the people of Boston are capable of drew spontaneous chuckles from me, though I happen to know very little about that particular city.
As for Kolkata noir, that would be great. We already have one such tale on celluloid: 'Kahaani'. Having them in printed form is something I would look forward to.
Many thanks for this blogpost.
With regards,
Abhirup Mascharak.
- 18 January, 2013 02:42
- Tanmoy said...
Dear Suvroda
Upon reading your post I was remembering the eight years that I spent in Delhi. Despite all its better facilities, I could never adjust to the city. To me the city lacked soul and somehow I could never feel at home there. There were variety of things which I observed about the city that time, of which there were lot many positives too but somehow the negatives outweighed the positives. Anyway, no point continuing my rant if I don't back it up by writing down my experiences, which at this stage I do not want to as it will only brings back negative memories.
I will try and get a copy of the book.
- 18 January, 2013 04:01
- Ranajoy said...
Very nicely written indeed. I will try to get it here.
By the way,I am confident, you can start penning a "Kolkata Noir" or a "Mofussil Noir"(referring to Durgapur) and you will do proper justice to it.
Bhalo theko,
- 23 January, 2013 10:02
- Vaishnavi said...
Dear Sir,
Thank you for the review. I have never read books of this genre before but I would like to try. I have a question Sir, can noir literature be called dystopic? Or are all dystopian novels set in the future?
- 23 January, 2013 11:43
- Shilpi said...
It took me some time to read and comment on this book review post of yours. It sounds like a collection of stories that need to be read and yet my heart and innards sort of sink at 'noir' tales. I was trying to recollect if I've read any and remembered a few; and one book stuck out - Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry paints and depicts the ghastliest Bombay 'noir' that has probably ever been written. I had put away the book for months and then read it all in one rush through the space of a late evening and night in Spring quite some years ago. And it's that line of yours about the rueful grin which reminded me of it although the grin fast disappears. Your whole post makes one feel mighty relieved yet again that one doesn't live in a great big city and what you say in (c) is something that haunts one. For most of the times one feels terribly grateful and expresses a bemused gratitude when one stays cloistered and away from the dark underside of cities and towns and its people and even scary youngsters. What does amaze me too is that more than a few people still manage to maintain their humanity in spite of such horrifying living conditions, and even when they are so ignored and seen as belonging to one undifferentiated mass of beings...
Vaishnavi, if I may, I'd hazard a guess that dystopian novels are always set in some future and there are some very large backdrops which are alluded to or are made clear through the progression of the tale - like some technological disaster or some bleak change in worldwide politics or some worldwide worship of the wrong gods (be that of commerce or technology or one ideology) or a breakdown in the natural environment because of us humans while a 'noir' tale is set within the chaos of the surrounding and 'current' social milieu. Even the wiki link actually gives a fairly good summary of dystopian novels.
Thank you for sharing this rather unsettling book review, Suvro da. I have to mention that the first and only book I've managed to finish reading very recently this year would probably stand in absolute contrast to the book you've written about; it's a tiny delightful book titled, Damascus Nights by Rafik Schami, and I'll heartily recommend this "non noir" book, which is strange to read. I sort of agree with Ranajoy (even your pani puri seller tale seemed like it would go further down the 'noir' road; you'd already hinted and painted some strokes in the first part but Debarshi made it into a more or less happy-happy tale...) but I'd prefer you writing fantasy tales with politics, poetry, romance and high adventure...
- 26 January, 2013 11:37


text:
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
The Obama Madness Is Over
By Rev. Lainie Dowell
Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) is not going to be the President of the United States. He is never going to be qualified. He has not only said in his own mind that he will be the President but much worse. He believes that he is already the President. However, many citizens of the United States recognize him for the destroyer he really is. Instead of being a healer, he brings with him all the hurt, pain, and harm not only for Americans but for the world.
Americans are crying out to once again see this nation restored to its position called by our late beloved President Ronald Reagan, as "The shining city that sits on a hill." Clearly, Obama's agenda is to put America's light out.
America's beacon light shall never be dimmed by any dimwits. The days of mindless elections and slick-talking men and women who would say and do anything to get elected are over. And the awakening to the blessings of God unto this land and people is the factual change that we have patiently waited for so long but to no avail until now, when God's people who say they know His will, way, and word, must start to act on that as a corporate body or die off as individuals outside of the heavenly realm of the Lord's protection.
By these words, Obama's bid for the nation's Presidency shall be set aside by the hand of the true and living God, because that man is not working in the best interest of America. The mainstream news media will never tell you this. But the American people, nevertheless, are not unaware of Obama's deadly agenda for not only this nation but also for the whole world. He has not kept it a secret that, in the name of bringing about peace, that it is Socialism in Obama's hands which has crept up and is very close to overtaking this Republic called America should he be elected as President. Are Americans ready to live without personal freedoms heretofore guaranteed by the constitution?
Obama would be proud to have been named as "the one" who will tear down and destroy our centuries-old constitutional Republic and lead all of this nation into their own long-awaited Socialist form of government.
He will be proud to say that it was he who led the way into tearing down "the walls" of every foundational truth that has kept America safe, strong, secure, and as the leader of the free world.
Obama has proved by his own actions of late and by his ongoing personal quirks and also by those of his surrogates and his wife, Michelle, that he is not anybody's candidate for Senate much less for the Office of President. And, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) needs to reconsider his candidacy as they prepare to hold their own convention in Denver, Colorado, within the next few weeks to nominate a candidate. Moreover, Oprah Winfrey, also must denounce Obama as her candidate of choice unless she wants to be stained with the ugliness of Socialism as her legacy.
As Americans are waking up from a bad, heady Obama hangover, they will turn their backs on him and move closer to upholding the American way of life. Socialism and Socialists, like Obama will be rejected out of hand and Americans will vow to never be taken in like that again.
The truth is that Obama's wanderings from his childhood to his adulthood, which is not that far removed, are supposedly what he thinks have equipped him to become the President of the United States. In fact, it is not that easy. And, even if Obama did have all the requirements and went forth in the name of the Lord Jesus, he still would not be in the right time, because he has not heard from God.
If he had, then he would be readily acceptable to the Lord. He is not. If he had, then he would be the personal pick of the Lord. He is not. If he had, then he would speak the truth and would not have shown a disdain for life but we would have seen in him a love for all life. Yet, he remains aloof and arrogant and, as some say, "untouchable." But what man is there who is out of God's reach? I challenge anybody anywhere to name anyone who meets that criteria any time.
There shall never be another time in the history of mankind when the people shall get a closer look at the reality of the true and living God than now.
Godly Americans. Whether they are Democrat or Republican and regardless of their race, creed, color, or national origin -- Americans -- have, for too long, been told that in America we must not revere God in public, even as the ungodly pretend to do so in order to deceive the people into accepting them as being Godly -- even knowing that they are not.
And why should we be ashamed of the living God? And how long will we allow our voices to be silenced in the face of all kinds of evil and resultant deadly consequences?
Godly Leadership Makes the Difference!
Every so often Americans living both at home and abroad have had to answer the question of who would be best suited to be the President of the United States? By Constitutional law, this is the most prevalent need every four (4) years, which is equal to the one elected to that position serving for one term in office.
However, any candidate knows, also, that they can run for another four (4) years for the Office of President following the ending of their first term in office. And, we have seen this political methodology demonstrated many times over in this country. Then I want somebody to tell me how Obama could have the audacity to say in a brash and boastful way that he plans to be the President of the United States for the next eight (8) to 10 years, except that he harbors plans to rip up the United States Constitution and to dismiss every vestige of the rule of law? Wake up!
Elections have always been held in high esteem by the American citizens. However, somewhere during the past eight (8) years, in particular, the Democratic party has played to their base in their eagerness to come to power and the roguishness of their party became manifest.
Even though the American people have credited our form of government with creating the stability needed to keep our nation strong, the Democrat party, in general, has done all it could to weaken this nation and to bring it down from within. And there has not been a more tenser time than now about just how far Americans are willing to allow this nation's leaders to go without a direct, resolute response from citizens to let them know that we have had enough of their graft, corruption, and self-interest such that they will finally pay attention and do justice with mercy in accordance with the rule of God's law and man's law.
The American City of all people
We are residents and citizens of America. People who love God and love America are never going to allow the American people to be dragged down into the bottom of the barrel through gutless wonders who have made so many promises in order to get elected and then quickly forgot their half-hearted promises once they were installed in office.
Whether local, state, or national, that much is evident in the voices that are being raised throughout our nation right now to say, we are American and proud. And it is in the hearts of so many people to see that America shall always remain with her gleeming and teeming shores from sea to shining sea.
We have a mandate as freedmen and freedwomen to follow all that our forefathers began and to remain faithful to the charge that all men shall be free who are born here and who come legally to these shores. And, it goes without saying that statement also applies to all women, as well.
That hard-won freedom does not give anybody the right to believe they can change America into a time and a place that is anathema to God's plan for us and for our God whom our forefathers called, "Divine Providence." Our God, nevertheless.
The words that our forefathers penned centuries ago and which are alive in our foundational documents that are still intact today have kept us safe. They have been our protection as a nation that leads us into the firery furnace of purging and salvation.
"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways and seek my face, then shall I (the Lord God) hear from heaven. I will forgive their sins and heal their land."
Then shall we see the blessings of the Lord our God in our midst. And, when a whole new generation arises to take our place in the earth when we are no longer upon it, they shall be able to look back and thank our God that we stood up and put this nation back in the hands of our God. They shall be thankful that they, too, have come to know the land of Freedom. And they shall thank God that we were brave and Godly and stood toe to toe and nose to nose with evil and took back all of the Godly traditions and mores we inherited. And we shall make no apology for it, too, is our Divine right to live Godly even in the midst of evil.
Then we shall follow in the footsteps of all the elders who left for us a grand inheritance which no man, no woman, no child, and no fool will ever take from us again. And, together, we shall stand as bold soldiers and clearly say to the entire universe --
Our God lives and it is He whom we shall glorify. And, if any man, woman, boy, or girl shall ever doubt the Lord, then all in all they have and shall be shall also be no more. And, that, not from anything that any human might try to do but by the hand of God Almighty Himself.
Thus, we stand or fall in the land at the ballot box.
Thus, we stand or fall in the midst of the 2008 election sans Obama and any of his trickery to take America captive and to keep her people bound by deception.
Thus, the Obama madness is ended! Pass it on.
God bless you and God bless America!
May she ever remain of God, Godly, and free.
Battle Cry Charge for Change
Posted by ID: Clergywomen and Clergywoman at 7/29/2008 05:32:00 PM
Labels: Barack Obama Campaign, Conservative Resistance, Election 2008, Politics, Prophetic, Traitor-Obama
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
- ID: Clergywomen and Clergywoman
- Ministerial Advocate
Founder, Original Firebrands Christian Clergywomen Network.
Estab. Online since 1996. This site is dedicated to God's glory. Contact me.
Click link below to:
- Barack Obama IS Impeached
- Clergywoman - Twitter Spiritual
- Clergywoman1 - Blip DJ site
- Clergywomen - Blurb Bookstore
- Clergywomen - Twitter Political
- Clergywomen - YouTube
- Clergywomen Iron Pen Writings
- Clergywomen Talkers Daily News
- Erasinity Name?
- Free State Sheep Gate News
- ObamaTrauma News Watch
- She Who Walks With the Wind
- Silent Thunder's Heart On Fire!
- Take Back Our Rainbow& Language
Voice Ink News Commentary ~
Here is one conservative voice that does not use invisible ink
Song Dedicated to Army, Marine Corps, and to All Military.
Visit the website and be sure to read the story behind this great song and the songwriter. Neither God nor America has coward soldiers. Thank God for America's best, bravest, and brightest! Bless them all!
Sociedad de Civil Venezuela
TELL ALL DICTATORS AND DICTATOR WANNABE'S, INCLUDING BARACK OBAMA, THAT OUR GOD IS REAL. HE IS JUST. AND HE DOES REPAY FOR ALL THE WORLD TO LOOK, SEE, AND KNOW JUST HOW REAL AND IN CONTROL OUR GOD TRULY IS. WATCH!!!! Posted By -Rev. LED Dowell.
BREAKING NEWS: HUGO CHAVEZ IS DEAD! (March 6, 2013)
LORD??? How many more to go?
LORD??? How many more to go?
OCT 2014 "BABY DOC" IS DEAD! NO ONE CAN OUTGOD GOD!!! SAY ON! Posted by: Rev. LED Dowell
BREAKING NEWS: November 26, 2016 CASTRO IS DEAD! CUBANS CELEBRATE IN MIAMI, FL & AROUND THE WORLD! Posted by: Rev. LED Dowell
Here's one conservative voice that doesn't use invisible ink.


text:
Camera: Canon TL & Hasselblad
Film: Solaris 400 & Portra 400 CN
© Photo by Lian Leng
© Illustration by Qin Leng@ Queen St. West
I first saw Asia, waiting by herself near the streetcar stop. I was so worried she's hop into a streetcar that I kept turning back and making sure that I'd have enough time to approach her and snap a few shots before the streetcar came. Luckily for me, she was just waiting for a friend. Really talented girl who's made all her jewels (rose earrings a necklace). You can find them on her website http://wildmoonjewelry.com/
You can imagine my excitement when her friend arrived and also turned out to be great photo material!
Occupation: Jewelry designer (Asia), Student (Ify)
Occupation: Jewelry designer (Asia), Student (Ify)
Favorite items: Army jacket that happens to have her name sowed on! Got it from Pretty Freedom in Kensington market, where you can also find her jewelry.
Vintage pants (Ify).
Bag: Zara (Ify)
Necklace: BCBG (Ify)


text:
Enter for the chance to win a Grand Prize trip to the 2007 Sundance Film Festival®, including:
Five days/four nights hotel accommodations
Gala passes
Premiere screenings
PLUS: $2,000 to spend on pampering, dining out, car rental and, of course, shopping!
1 First Prize winner will enjoy a CESAR® Doggie Spa Goodie Bag (think beautiful small dog couture; gorgeous leashes; fetching accessories; spa items and more!). 10 Second Prize winners will receive Christopher Ameruoso's "Pets and Their Stars" book, plus a sumptuous selection of CESAR® Canine Cuisine.
cesar.com | Sundance Film Festival
Digitally Implanted by Mme.BlueWolfess at 12:49 PM
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
I have been around Kansas politics far too long. I can't believe that I missed the fact that the entire leadership team recently elected by Kansas House Republicans is all-male and all-white. And just in case a little diversity might have crept in, House Republicans also made certain that their leaders were all-rural and all 60 or older.
I did notice the conservative slant, but didn't even think about the bland sameness of it all until the Lawrence Journal World pointed it out and noted that Kansas Democrats were "snickering at the makeup of the House Republican leadership team."
I missed the significance because, well, it's not exactly a new thing for the Republicans leading the House to be all white and all male. However, when I was covering the Legislature I don't remember them all being so close to cashing in their Social Security.
By the way, the GOP members of the Kansas House include females as well as males. I haven't looked up the ages, but I'd be willing to bet the voters let a few young folk take the oath of office. Does anyone know if there are any black Republicans among the group?
The Journal-World notes:
The GOP leadership team includes Speaker Melvin Neufeld, 66, a farmer from Ingalls; Majority Leader Ray Merrick, 67, a business owner from Stilwell; Speaker Pro Tem Don Dahl, 61, retired of the Navy from Hillsboro; and caucus chairman Dick Kelsey, 60, of Goddard. The two youngest members of the team are Majority Whip Rob Olson, 37, of Olathe, and assistant Majority Leader Jene Vickrey, 47, of Louisburg.
Those candidates were elected by the 78-member House Republican caucus Monday. The only woman to run for a leadership job was Lana Gordon, of Topeka, and she was defeated by Vickrey, 59-18, with one not voting....
Meanwhile, the 47-member House Democratic caucus returned all of its previous leaders, which includes three men and two women, and one of those women, Lawrence Democrat Barbara Ballard, is black. In addition, a new member of the House Democratic leadership team is Paul Davis, of Lawrence, who was elected unopposed as policy chairman to replace Nancy Kirk, who retired from the Legislature. Geographically, the Democratic leaders hail from Greensburg, Wichita, Hays, Lawrence and Leavenworth.


text:
SC Truck Body FS Racing, Cen Racing Matrix5 FG MCD HPI 1/5 Scale
Sold for:
Start Free Trial
or Sign In to see what it's worth.
- Sold Date:
- Source: eBay
You will not find a 1/5 Scale Body anywhere Delivered to your Door for 100.00, Let alone of this Quality!! Painted and Decaled as well.Here we have a Brand New Custom Factory Painted and Decaled Short Course or Rally body from FS Racing! Pics Dont do it Justice! Beautiful Custom Factory Multicolor Paint(as in 1st pic), Superb graphics and decaled to boot! This is sitting directly on my FS Racing 1/5 4WD Truggy. Pic #3 also shows the body in blue just layin on my HPI Baja 5T !! This will Also fit Cen Matrix, Other FS, Some MCDs and FGs HPI Bajas and many other 1/5s trucks and Buggies w/ minor mods
Dims are as follows
20.5 approx Wheel base(that can be fudged a little thick durable lexan material-
Checkout the Modeltrainplace for all your R/C and Train needs!!
** Please note US Ship is to lower 48 only others carry an additional Upcharge!


text:
One of my favorite things about going to our family farm is the sky. It never fails to leave me speechless at some point. I don't know what it is about the sky there, maybe the fact that everything is so open, but it always is dazzling. We were up at the barn and it was so pretty and I called my grandpeep Connor over to show him the sky and I told him," Connor sometimes God sends us the most wonderful presents. He paints us a picture in the sky to remind us how creative and wonderful He is." Connor said, "Uh-huh" and ran off. Baby girl said, "That really made an impression." Oh well.
Then as we were leaving this evening this is what we saw:
Gorgeous isn't it? I told my husband to look and this precious voice from the back seat says,"Look PawPaw, God paints it!!!" Indeed he does sweet boy and may none of us ever forget it.


text:
Convicted Breno to assist Bayern youth academy
Former Bayern Munich defender Breno will spend time on day-release from prison coaching players in the club's youth academy.
Breno was convicted of aggravated arson in 2011 and handed a sentence of three years and nine months.
However, the Bundesliga club, for whom Breno made 21 appearances, have offered him a way back into football.
The 23-year-old will be allowed to work with Bayern's young prospects, initially for five hours a day, under the supervision of the club's head of youth, Wolfgang Dremmler.
The Brazilian admitted that he had struggled in prison but was looking forward to getting involved with the club again.
"The time in prison was very hard for me," he said. "I have changed as a person and I have learned a lot in there. I am happy to be given this chance by Bayern.
"Now I can train again and later maybe play football again - this is my dream."
Club president Uli Hoeness was glad to be able to provide the Brazilian with a new challenge, but revealed that it would not be a long-term arrangement, with the player due to be deported once he is released from prison.
"We have done everything we can to give Breno this chance at Bayern," he added. "We have to thank the authorities for their excellent cooperation.
"He will be deported after his imprisonment and will try to play in Brazil."


text:
Urbanites have a certain predictable migratory habits.
Before I proceed let me skip a few fences and register my absolute disdain towards people who think it is my duty to simplify myself so they would get what I'm usually rambling about. I have whined about this in the past and at risk of deadening redundancy let me restate the fact that I have no allocated patience for dweebs whose mental activity begin to explode upon reaching a maximum supportable IQ points (usually not exceeding Twiggy's waistline). For one, mediocrity bores me to bits. Secondly, I find it very lazy for some people to cite the least common denominator mentality to conceal their glaring and unblushing lack of effort at self-improvement (hint: open a thesaurus and no, it's not a primitive, prehistoric animal).
Don't give that look, too. It is not my fucking obligation to be sensitive towards your touchy-feely indolence. You should have read enough or consulted trusty Webster to learn words so you'd do the universe a great service by not inflicting the rest of the free world of your unapologetic ignorance. Your lack of resolve to be word-savvy isn't due to the fact that others are using "big words" at the speed of light. It's because you decide to snore at anything that has more than three syllables. Fucking grow up. Don't give me the shitty "concern" that "most people might not understand."
Weird. Who are most people? And why would I seek to be understood when I have repeatedly wailed even to those who refuse to listen that I am a prime acolyte in the house of chaos? Not only am I fascinated with irony and contradictions but I find a certain bizarre romance in something I cannot understand. That makes me think, that warps me out of complacency to challenge myself and the limitation of my understanding.
There. I'm raving and hyperventilating like a full-blown maniac that the topic I want to ramble about melted from the flares and fumes spurting out of my nostrils. I am aware that I sound like a snooty jerk. So do me a favor. Don't stand there, wringing your hands shiftlessly, puppy-eyed and such.
Go find a fucking dictionary and find out the definition of vicious.
The word probably was invented to define me.
I have no trouble with that, either.