text:
This is the blog of Ian Rosales Casocot. Filipino writer. Sometime academic. Former backpacker. Twink bait. Hamster lover.
Republic of Carnage
Three Horror Stories
For the Way We Live Now
Chapbook, 2018
Bamboo Girls:
Stories and Poems
From a Forgotten Life
Ateneo de Naga University Press, 2018
Don't Tell Anyone:
Literary Smut
With Shakira Andrea Sison
Pride Press / Anvil Publishing, 2017
Cupful of Anger,
Bottle Full of Smoke:
The Stories of
Jose V. Montebon Jr.
Silliman Writers Series, 2017
First Sight of Snow
and Other Stories
Encounters Chapbook Series
Et Al Books, 2014
Celebration: An Anthology to Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Silliman University National Writers Workshop
Sands and Coral, 2011-2013
Silliman University, 2013
Handulantaw: Celebrating 50 Years of Culture and the Arts in Silliman
Tao Foundation and Silliman University Cultural Affairs Committee, 2013
Inday Goes About Her Day
Locsin Books, 2012
Beautiful Accidents: Stories
University of the Philippines Press, 2011
Heartbreak & Magic: Stories of Fantasy and Horror
Anvil, 2011
Old Movies and Other Stories
National Commission for Culture
and the Arts, 2006
FutureShock Prose: An Anthology of Young Writers and New Literatures
Sands and Coral, 2003
Nominated for Best Anthology
2004 National Book Awards
The subject of the 16th president's sexuality has been debated among scholars for years. They cite his troubled marriage to Mary Todd and his youthful friendship with Joshua Speed, who shared his bed for four years. Now, in a new book, C.A. Tripp also asserts that Lincoln had a homosexual relationship with the captain of his bodyguards, David V. Derickson, who shared his bed whenever Mary Todd was away.


text:
Common notion is that traveling is a hobby of the rich and the affluent, of people who have nothing much to do but see the world with their surplus finances; that ordinary people can't afford it, or can, but choose not to because there are much more important things to spend traveling funds on. I'd like to think otherwise. Don't get me wrong—I agree that sure, there could be more substantial expenditures to use money on and I completely understand that each individual has varying sets of priorities, but I want to dispel the belief that traveling has to be expensive and extravagant.
Indulging in the cultures and places that the world has to offer is not an activity exclusive to the rich; it is a means to self-discovery and the introduction of change in one's psyche—much unlike superficial material things that don't have the capability to fill an aching void in a person, traveling is actually worth every cent you spend on it.
Contrary to a major misconception, although traveling requires a bit of a budget, you don't necessarily have to bear a hole in your pocket for it. The essence of a trip lies in the venue-exclusive experiences you get to gain from it, not in the level of luxury your accommodation and transportation have.
It's been more than three months since my short 5-day trip to Cebu, but when I look back to my overall experience—from the luxurious hotel check-in at the posh Movenpick Mactan, to the pocket-friendly but practical and decent stay at Express Inn, and finally the free stay at my travel buddy's friend's house—I realize that so much had changed within me since then.
Click here to see the rest of the photos and to read about my trip to Cebu! →

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Note: 3 posts today!!
Wellll we decided we should transition Sam to a toddler bed soon, so that she wouldn't think her new sibling stole her bed. We weren't exactly anxious to start anytime soon -really we have 5 1/2 monthsish til new sibling arrives, PLUS another 2 months of new sibling being in a bassinet- but I have been keeping my eye out on KSL for a good deal, and Friday night I saw one we had to check into. This bed is in PERFECT condition. Besides one TINY little ding about 1/4" in long, it is perfect. Anyway we were able to get it, the mattress, 2 fitted sheets, the railing, and a little mattress pad (the kind for accidents during potty training) for only $35. And this bed is really cute! I need to take a picture of it. Anyway so we went and looked at it/bought it Saturday morning. We set it up and Samantha was SOOOOO excited about it, we thought we might as well let her try it while she's so thrilled about it. Last night was fine. She went right to bed. We went in to check on her though, and found her like this
clear down at the bottom of the bed! By the time we took the picture she'd started to wake up. We just laid her back on the pillow and she fell back asleep. This morning she didn't wake up upset or anything, just happy and calling for us and still laying on the pillow.
I was a little concerned about naps, but today after church we asked her if she wanted anything to eat and she said "no" as she took off her shoes. I asked her if she wanted a muffin (which she loves) and she said "no" as she ran to her room. We followed her to find her crawled into bed waiting for us to tuck her in for her nap! So cute! Obviously I realize this is a little strange and that she might start crawling out of bed and stuff, but so far, so good! (knock on wood)


text:
Like the proud mama of two beautiful furbabies that I am, I thought I'd share some pictures.Since she was born in March of 2008, this was Daly's first Christmas. She took advantage of the new areas to explore that the Christmas tree provided, as seen above. This is probably how she got the hole in her cornea. At least that's what O'Malley would have us believe.
This morning I awoke to snow flurries. As you can see it actually stuck. Daly was sitting in the bedroom window and trying to figure out why there was white stuff floating around. So, I decided to let the girls out to enjoy the first (and hopefully last) snow of the year.
O'Malley, being a New England born lass, was right at home. She sniffed out the holly trees and put up quite a fight when I decided it was time to go back inside. Next, it was Daly's turn. This is the first time I have ever let her outside. Once she got to the step she was mortified to find out that I closed the door behind us. She started crying like she was on the way to the vet to get her eye stained again.
She did venture off the step very briefly. When I knelt down to get a pic, she jumped (literally) at the chance to get off of the cold ground. She quickly made her way up my leg and onto my shoulder, crying all the way. That was our cue to head back inside. Something tells me my Memphis born girl won't be begging to go outside anytime soon.


text:
Today the 2011 Nobel Prize in Medicine/Physiology was awarded. This year's Laureates are Bruce A. Beutler and Jules A. Hoffmann for their discovery of how innate immunity is activated, and to Ralph M. Steinman for his work on how dendritic cells are involved in adaptive immunity. Congrats to all of them!
But there's a conundrum here. Steinman, unfortunately, passed away on September 30th. The winners were chosen last week (they are officially announced a week later), and three days later, Steinman died. This presents a problem for the Nobel committee, because the awards are never given out posthumously. Should Steinman still be awarded the prize?
I would say yes, and I have a feeling that the committee will make the same decision. Steinman was still alive when the decision was made to award him the prize, and it was only afterwards that he passed away, before the official ceremony. I think that it's likely that the award will be accepted by someone in his place, and Steinman will have the distinction of being the only person to - technically - receive a Nobel posthumously.


text:
A city centre shopping mall in Berlin. McCann Germany choose a top location and put up their stand. It is disguised as a makeup stand and they invite women to come over for a free makeup. What the women do not know is that instead of giving them a fantastic makeup, they are giving them a black eye.
With "The Truth" by TERRE DES FEMMES the makeup that reveals rather than conceals. It was especially developed for this occasion and contains blue-green greasepaint. With this PR campaign McCann Germany wants to impress the outcomes of domestic violence on people and thus raise awareness of the issue.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXQ6Vtoag3k
Source: http://cassandria.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/un-maquillage-qui-frappe/


text:
Closing Tuesday: Graphic Lives Show
Greetings all! I just returned from Vermont where I ate my weight in Maple Creamees, taught a great workshop, and got to see the Graphic Lives show I have several works in. The show closes TOMORROW, so if you are anywhere near Burlington, Vermont and have had any hankering to see this show–PLEASE GO. My work aside, the show is just plain wonderful. Beautiful work from Glynnis Fawkes, Jennifer Hayden, and Alex Costantino fill this beautiful space right on Church Street. Also, when you're done you can walk next store to the Bluebird Cafe kiosk and get the best twist of maple and mocha soft serve ice cream you'll ever taste. It's a little trip to heaven. Promise.
Comments are closed.


text:
Over the past 5 years, I have developed some really good relationships with the insurance agents I work with. I only visit some of them every 6 to 8 weeks so when I see them they are anxious to hear all the details of the triplets' lives. And since I see new people every day, the same details and the same stories I've shared over and over are all new to them. So I can't blame them for my frustrations because they don't know I've answered the same question over and over, but I'm really, really, really tired of answering it. No, they are not walking yet! I know it's just my own insecurities but I feel like my children's inability to walk at 12 months is somehow a failure on my part.
When I was pregnant with the triplets I was more than halfway through the pregnancy before I ever felt them move. Other friends of mine felt their first flutters at 16 weeks, 18, 20, etc. And there I was desperately waiting, but not a single twinge. Finally around 22 weeks I felt those first few flutters. I was so relieved that finally when people asked if I could feel them moving, I could answer a jubilant "YES"! So for now, I'll keep answering people's questions and hopefully soon I will be the proud mommy of some toddling toddlers.
Why I'm not stepping on the scale
1 year ago


text:
There have been many signs that something special is going on around here today. Special foods, special messages, bedside surprises, a delightful bowl of berries from a neighbor when we'd only asked to borrow vegetable oil, and the pitter-patter of little feet on secret errands — "Don't look, Mommy! Don't look!"
Here's hoping your Valentine's Day is also turning out very special.


text:
Maddy is an absolute killer artist. I have been lucky enough for her to even work for me on occasion! What a piece of luck! MAddy is kind of the gun for hire at the jam so to speak. She assists some big names like Nick Mount, Clare Belfrage and now adds international superstars to her resume like Nancy Callan, woah! (You can see how I can't believe how she still works for me) Alongside her impressive assisting career, Maddy also techs at the JAm AND still manages to make her own work. Her work is gorgeous. She uses beautiful, subdued tones to create well considered forms.
Gals of Glazz
Tune in for 10
1. Who are you and what do you do?
I'm Madeline Prowd, glass artist and designer working out of JamFactory in Adelaide. I'm lucky to be in the hot shop most days of the week assisting many of the amazing artists who use the studio and make our community so sweet. I am also the assistant tech in our studio, so I get to build equipment and keep the place running smoothly, which is both super challenging and totally rewarding.
2. What do you make?
I mostly make functional production work, utilising different patterning techniques and colour applications to pay homage to the origins of the material while bringing a modern aesthetic.
3. Why do you make?
Because I enjoy it! I'm in a position where I get to go to work everyday and whether it's making for myself or assisting others, I get to create things with a pretty crazy medium, surrounded by a community of amazing people. It's hot, sweaty and dirty, but we create beautiful things that (hopefully) serve a purpose.
4. What's you colour palette?
White, grey and blue…and occasionally I branch out with something crazy like gold. I'm trying hard to use more colour, but I really am a fan of muted tones and those dirty, off blues and greens.
5. What's your proudest achievement?
That's a tough one…
I think I'm pretty proud of where glass has taken me – I've had the opportunity to go to the States a bunch of times and TA for amazing artists that I have looked up to since I started at uni. Last year I got to go to Berlin for two months and do a residency, and then headed up to Ebeltoft where I met and worked for Tobias Mohl for few days, which led to TA'ing for him when he came to Adelaide this year for the Ausglass conference. Definitely didn't expect to be travelling the world and blowing glass in my 20's, it's pretty sweet.
6. Hot or Cold?
Hot for sure!
7. What's your dream project?
To keep making for myself and for others, and to continue to be able to support myself from making glass.
I'd like to teach as well - I wouldn't be where I am without the generosity of others, I really believe in the value of shared knowledge, so getting to a point where I can pass on what I have learned would be awesome.
8. What's your influences?
The people and places around me. The material itself drives a lot of the work I create – focusing on a specific technique, colour application or the objects proposed function.
9. What's coming up for you? Or what are you looking forward to?
No big trips planned for 2016…had a few good ones the past few years. So I'll be in Adelaide, knuckling down and getting shit done. At the moment though, I'm looking forward to a little break over xmas/new years before rebuilding one of our furnaces in Jan.
10. If you could only eat 3 foods for the rest of your life what would they be?
You can also check out more of Maddy here
Thank you MAddy! And thank you for reading. Gals of Glazz will be back next year with a fresh crop of talented ladies for you to meet. You may be thinking, really? there's more? Of course theres fucking more! We glass ladies, we everywhere!


text:
Let's talk about easy fall centers for Kindergarten {plus some fall freebies}!
But first let me say Happy Fall!!! It's finally here! Hooray!
October is just a few days away and as Anne of Green Gables put it "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." I think it is the most beautiful month of the year here in Wisconsin. The air is crisp and cool, apple picking and fall festivals are everywhere, the leaves have turned beautiful fall colors, and there's pumpkin everything! It's just heaven!
The weather finally got a little cooler, so went apple picking over the weekend and I wanted to share the cutest idea with you! It's a caramel apple bar. Isn't the set up just adorable?
I thought this would be such a fun idea for apple week (or even a fall party for adults). There was an apple slicer to quickly cut the apples, there was warm caramel in the crock pot, and toppings. Lots of topping. I didn't get a picture of all of the toppings, but they had Oreo cookie crumbles, sprinkles, crushed M&M's, mini marshmallows, graham cracker crumbles, and mini chocolate chips.They also had a variety of nut items, but I'd definitely leave those out if you were doing this in the classroom. Let me tell you, caramel apples with some Oreo crumbles sprinkled on top are delicious!!
Since fall is upon us I wanted to share some activities from my 6 Pack Centers: Fall Edition. I also wanted to show you some freebies I made to share!
During this time of year we are working hard on letter recognition and letter sounds for both uppercase and lowercase letters. We also work on grasping a strong foundation of numbers to 10. I found these foam leaf cut outs at the craft store and thought they would make for some fun and festive center activities.Can't find leaf cut outs? No worries! You can use my affiliate link to make your own leaves with this leaf punch from Amazon.
I have found that silver Sharpie markers work great for writing on foam pieces!
If you don't have foam pieces, don't worry! You can also use a leaf shape from a die-cut machine if your school has one.
Just program each leaf with an uppercase letter. Students pick a leaf, find the matching lowercase letter and color the letter to match the left. You could have students trace the letter with a pencil before they color it.
When planning easy fall centers for Kindergarten, I try to create activities that have similar directions. It makes life much easier on the kiddos and their teacher! Teachers are not having to constantly re-explain directions and the students feel more confident because they know what to do.
So here's a similar activity for math. The prep is super easy, just draw dots on the leaves for numbers 1-10. The students select a leaf and count the dots. They find the matching number on their paper and color the leaf on the paper to match the leaf with the dots.
Click on the picture below to download the freebies.
Here's a little peak at the 6 Pack Centers for Fall. Each 6 Pack Centers packet includes 3 math and 3 literacy activities with "I Can" visual directions and recording sheets.Also included is a no-prep practice page to follow up each activity. You can use the practice page for homework, morning work, small group practice, as another recording sheet.
First up is an activity called "All the Apple Seeds". Students read the number on the card and use snap cubes to cover the apples with that number of apple seeds.
On the recording sheet, they write the number and color that many apples.
With this easy fall centers for Kindergarten activity students are comparing two sets of apples. I have students use a clothespin to "clip" the number that shows more. You could also have students "mark" the set with a snap cube. I find that marking the side that shows more helps students remember their answer as they transfer it to their recording sheet.
Here's a picture of the recording sheet for that activity. The record the number that shows more and color the apple to match.
Students practice making five with this easy fall centers for Kindergarten activity. You can use snap cubes or foam leaves (like the ones pictured at the top of this blog post) to make five.Also included is a blank five frame page so you can use it for small group practice.
Above is a picture of the recording sheet. Below is a picture of the follow up practice page. You can see how the no-prep page is very similar to the actual activity, which makes this great for additional practice.
Here's a look at the literacy activities included.
Here's another easy fall centers for Kindergarten activity to practice beginning sounds. Students say the name of the picture, find the corresponding letter on the beginning sounds mat and cover it.
There are two sets of activity mats, picture cards, and recording sheets are included. They are picture and color coded to keep you organized!
Students match the picture on the card to the one on their paper and record the letter to show the beginning sound.
Students practice simple, predictable sentences with this activity. They sort the cards by picture and put the sentence in order. This activity uses a predictable "I see the…" format.
This is such a fun and easy activity to add to the collection of fall centers for Kindergarten. This activity provides practice for matching uppercase and lowercase letters. It's similar to the activity "All the Apple Seeds" pictured above, so your students will already have an idea of the directions. Students identify the uppercase letter on the left side and then use snap cubes to cover the matching lowercase letters.
Students record the matching uppercase and lowercase letters on the recording sheet.
You can check out this 6 Pack Centers packet by clicking on the picture below.
Thanks for reading along as I share some easy fall centers for Kindergarten!{and I hope you LOVE the festive freebies too!)


text:
Mar 7, 2017
Pooches Onboard
Last time we published a picture of a cute doggie in a life jacket (my pup btw) and we received a couple of great boating canine pics in return.
Already an enthusiastic photo contributor (thanks!) Mike Johnson of the Oakville Power and Sail Squadron sent along a great shot of Lacy, his son Marcus' boat-friendly Nova Scotia duck toller at Wilson NY, cheeseburger in paradise party aboard the family's Silverton 38X.
And Dean Gresko of the Thunder Bay Yacht Club sent in this, " Here's a photo of our Golden Retriever, Brody, on board our Beneteau Swift Trawler 50 at Thompson Island on Lake Superior near Thunder Bay last summer. He loves the swimming and watching the ducks quack at him. Lol"
We'll publish yours in the next issue!!


text:
Fifi's Fine Resale Apparel
Web Site: http://www.fifisconsignment.com
Welcome to the home of Fifi's Fine Resale Apparel. We have been in the consignment business for over 20 years specializing in the resale of designer and name brand apparel for women. Currently there are 19 Fifi's boutiques in convenient locations in North Carolina and Florida and we're adding more. Visit one near you to find pretty clothes at a bargain price. If you have clothes in your closet that are current designer or name brand, but you are tired of wearing them, consign them with the Fifi's store nearest you. They'll be like new to someone else and you'll earn money for more.


text:
Your entry pass for Salon india seminar for one full day. For more than 3+ shows
Sale Date Ended
Your pass for 2 day seminar of Salon india
Sale Date Ended
Page Views : 7681
Fuel your passion, unleash your creativity and become a part of something sensational with India's biggest professional hairdressing event. Salon India draws together the hairdressing community in the industry's largest get together for all things hair. Experience the largest display of hair brands and products, get inspired by top stylists from across the world, world class education, international artists and showcase your talent to the industry's finest.
At Salon India seminar, you get a lifetime's chance to meet some of the best international hair artists coming from different parts of the world.


text:
World War I Beyond the Trenches
How did American artists respond to the First World War? Coinciding with the centennial of America's involvement in the war, World War I Beyond the Trenches explores how artists across generations, aesthetic sensibilities, and the political spectrum used their work to depict, memorialize, promote, or oppose the divisive conflict. The first major museum exhibition to revisit this global event through the eyes of American artists, the exhibition will transform our understanding of art made during the war and in its wake. Highlights include John Singer Sargent's spectacular "Gassed," which has not traveled to New York in decades; works by George Bellows, Georgia O'Keeffe, Horace Pippin, Man Ray, Edward Steichen, and Claggett Wilson; and a contemporary artwork by artist Debra Priestly.
Featured works exclusive to New-York Historical's exhibition will include Chairman Emeritus Richard Gilder's recent gift to New-York Historical of Childe Hassam's The Fourth of July, 1916, which depicts Fifth Avenue bedecked with dozens of American flags in celebration of Independence Day one hundred years ago, when New Yorkers rallied with patriotic fervor to support the "Preparedness Movement" in anticipation of the nation's entry into the War. Also exclusive to New-York Historical's presentation will be an extravaganza of World War I posters from New-York Historical's own collection, some of which have never before been on public view; and a "toyscape" of World War I soldiers and accessories from the recently-acquired Robert C. Postal Collection of Toy Soldiers accompanied by surrounding motion graphics.
World War I Beyond the Trenches is made possible in part by major grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor, and from the Henry Luce Foundation. The Presenting Sponsor for this exhibition is the Exelon Foundation and PECO. Additional funding provided by grants from the David A. and Helen P. Horn Charitable Trust, Edwin L. Fountain, the Wyeth Foundation for American Art, The McCausland Foundation, the General Representation of the Government of Flanders to the USA, Mrs. Helen Horn Bickell, Carolyn Horn Seidle, Ellen and Leonard Milberg, Furthermore: a program of the J.M. Kaplan Fund, Bank of America, Mr. and Mrs. Kevin F. Donohoe, Connie and Jules Kay, Dr. and Mrs. J. Brien Murphy, and Ken Woodcock Support for New-York Historical's presentation is provided by the Richard Lounsbery Foundation.
World War I Beyond the Trenches was organized by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.


text:
I really didn't do anything on my vacation last week. Just video games and sleep. I miss the sleep part. The video games one I could live without. I finished "A Separate Peace" last night, and I am now starting "A Killer in Crinolines" by Duffy Brown. Apparently this is book 2, but so far I haven't read anything that is complicated. Best part is that this book takes place in my home town of Savannah, Georgia! Really cool!
Oh, I also got my Dinosaur 2015 Reddit exchange gift the other day. This is what I got: https://www.redditgifts.com/gallery/gift/dinosaur-gummies/. This is what I got for the person I sent to: https://www.redditgifts.com/gallery/dinosaurs-2015/gift/so-many-t-rexes-d/. Really cool huh? Next is the bookmark exchange. I got a notification the other day that my package is coming via Amazon, so I have to wait to show y'all that. So instead I bring you the post of bookmarks that I sent to the girl: https://www.redditgifts.com/gallery/bookmarks-2015/gift/bookmarks-bookmarks-everywhere/. Honestly I don't know if y'all can even view these links without an account.


text:
HCL Technologies
Mr. Ajai Chowdhry, aged 59 years, has a bachelor's degree in electronics and communication engineering, and has attended the Executive Program at the School of Business Administration at the University of Michigan in the US. Mr. Ajai Chowdhry is the Chairman & CEO of HCL Infosystems Ltd. He is also responsible for the significant international growth of HCL Infosystems Ltd. and brings with him substantial experience of the South East Asian markets including Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, People's Republic of China and Singapore. He was also part of the IT Task Force set up by the Prime Minister of India, to give shape to India's IT strategy.
Mr. Ajai Chowdhry has an expertise in business management and administration, and in information technologies (IT) sector.


text:
1. My brother FINALLY got a job after 8 months unemployed! I am so happy for him and his family.
2. My sister in law was very kind and babysat on Saturday so hubby and I could go on a date. Weather was perfect, show was good, dinner delicious and company couldn't be better, oh, and I had a good hair day.
3. We live close enough to a big city like Boston so when we go out there's always shows, sporting events and interesting restaurants to try out.
4. We got invited to a wedding anniversary party and I agreed to bring my famous shredded beef and Colombian rice pudding. I am so thankful that both came out really good and that people at the party seemed to love them.
5. I am thankful that my aunt is such a great artist, she paints, she makes jewelry, hair accessories, purses, and many more things. The main material she uses is orange peel!! That just blows my mind.
|Here one of her paintings


text:
Check out these 2 wonderful photos all the way from England. Our friend, Michael, who lives in Leeds, went to the BATMAN LIVE event in the UK ( Super-Jealous! ) & took these pics. The 1st one is an advertising standee of Batman that he saw in the foyer of the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle. I begged him to steal for me but he's a good citizen & would not do it, Ha Ha!
Then, Michael got this great shot of the Official "BATMAN LIVE" Souvenir Merchandise they have on sale. It looks like there are many different T-Shirts to choose from, a few Ceramic Coffee Mugs, a Program Booklet, and even some Batman Cowl Masks! ( Be sure to click on the photo for a larger version ). Great, more cool Bat-Stuff I can't afford, ha! But really, I can't wait till this show hits the USA next year. Thanks Michael for sharing your photos, you ROCK, Sir!


text:
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Historic! Feds Forced to Surrender to American Citizens
Published on Apr 13, 2014In an epic standoff that Infowars reporter David Knight described as being like "something out of a movie," supporters of Nevada cattle rancher Cliven Bundy advanced on a position held by BLM agents despite threats that they would be shot at, eventually forcing BLM feds to release 100 cattle that had been stolen from Bundy as part of a land grab dispute that threatened to escalate into a Waco-style confrontation
Posted by Oath Keepers at 6:42 PM
1 comment:
If I get out of work tomorrow afternoon (in Coeur D'Alene right now) I can make it to the Ranch by friday evening and I can stay through wednesday, if need be.
- April 16, 2014 at 7:56 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
I love to practice yoga. In fact, I NEED to practice yoga. It feels so good to stretch my body and concentrate on nothing more than my breath for ninety minutes.
I've been finding it difficult to practice as much as I would like since becoming a stay-at-home mom on a budget. Yoga classes are expensive and practicing at home has always been too full of distractions. It was tough enough to practice when there was only a cat pouncing all over my bridge pose but practicing at home with a cat and two kids? Impossible.Or so I thought.
During the week, my daughter and I walk my son to school and then have two and a half hours to ourselves, which is usually spent running errands. Lately though, I've added yoga into our daily schedule and she loves it. We both do.I have spent the last five years struggling to find my old before-kids self and wondering where it was she had gone. I missed her. Every day I missed her, and as much as I hate to admit it, I started to resent my role as mom because of it.
Why did I consider kids a distraction from the things I love to do before now? It's not their fault that I hadn't been practicing yoga nor doing all the other things that I used to love doing before they came into my life. I have been choosing to not take care of me and in doing so, have not been fair to myself or to my family.
Spending time practicing yoga with my daughter has done so much. We have that special bonding time together and I get that amazing stretch and focus on breath that I need. The cat? Well, he's still a distraction but he loves when it's time for cat pose. Obviously.


text:
Have you ever heard of Jojoba Oil? I had before but have never had an opportunity to try it out....until now! Leven Rose Jojoba Oil is unrefined and an organic 100% pure Jojoba Oil which I recently had the pleasure to try out.
Leven Rose Jojoba Oil is made from Simmondsia chinensis which is grown in Arizona and is cold pressed. It is cold pressed by using a screw like mechanism that presses out the oil (which is actually a wax) without heating up the oil. The reason for not getting the oil too hot is because it then loses certain properties and therefore is not as effective or beneficial.
I have been a lot more concerned about what I put into my body and on my body lately. I don't like the thought of what some companies use to make their products. Chemicals and words that you can't even pronounce. It is scary to think of what is in some products and the harm they can do.
Leven Rose JoJoba Oil does not contain any preservatives, chemicals or artificial fragrances! It is lightweight and easily absorbs into your skin, hair and nails.
I received a huge 4 fluid ounce bottle of Leven Rose Jojoba Oil which came shipped to me securely and safe. It comes in a brown bottle with the dropper already in it, and is sealed around the top of the bottle and cap.
First of all I wanted to try it out so put a few drops on each on the top of my hands. I rubbed the oil in and it really did absorb into my skin. It was not greasy and made my skin feel nice and smooth. There really is no scent to this product and it made my hands feel moisturized.
After trying it out on my hands I tried it out on my dry and chapped lips. This cold weather we've had all winter has not been kind on them. I only used a drop or two and it made my lips instantly smooth and silky. No need for a chapstick with this product!
Leven Rose Jojoba Oil has so many other uses. You can use it for your eyes and face for a makeup remover and to moisturize your face and body too. It can be used as a massage oil and to soften hands and feet. If you have dry scalp or dry and frizzy hair it helps repair your hair and leaves it naturally smooth. More uses are for chapped lips, cuticles, acne, beards, stretch marks and stretching ears.


text:
I have a big day coming up!
I'm not going to tell you what it is just yet, but I will.
In the meantime, I refer you to one of my early posts. In it I explained a bit more about how I came to name this blog what I did. Click here for that post from February 2011.


text:
- IMAGINARY: Picasso portrait.
Pablo Picasso's groundbreaking work in Cubism and his late-in-life experimentation in ceramics and painting on cardboard will be the focus of three shows opening Friday, June 2, at the Arkansas Arts Center under the title "Pursuing Picasso."
The Wolfe and Jeannette Rockefeller galleries will hold the three exhibits — "Picasso and Paris," which will include work by contemporaries from the singularly productive era at the dawn of the 20th century; "Picasso Ceramics from the Bernie Bercuson Collection" from the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, and "Imaginary Portraits," portraiture on cardboard by the mature master — through Sept. 3.
The Picassos in the "Paris and Picasso" exhibit will be complemented by works by his contemporaries from the Arts Center's own collection, including drawings by Georges Braque ("Still life with glasses"), Juan Gris ("Personnage assis") and Henri Matisse ("Artist and model before a mirror"), as well as works by Paul Cezanne, Elie Nadelman, Diego Rivera, Max Beckmann and Carl Holty that will give context to the birth of Cubism. Of the more than 60 works of art in the exhibit, many will come from anonymous private collections.
Picasso paired pitchers and platters with expressionist brushwork on his familiar themes — bullfights, dancers, Don Quixote, the bright sun of the Mediterranean — during his collaborative work at the Madoura factory in southern France from 1947-71. The exhibit includes 66 ceramic pieces and photographs of Picasso at Madoura.
Picasso was 87 when he began work on his imaginary portraits done in gouache on corrugated cardboard from boxes of art supplies delivered to his studio on the French Riviera. The work was replicated in lithographs under Picasso's direction by Marcel Salinas; the show will include all 29 portraits, thanks to an arrangement with the Jacksonville (Fla.) Museum of Modern Art.
The Picasso party will be accompanied by a number of special Picasso-centered special events.
Starting Friday, a Picasso Play Space will be set up in the galleries to provide children a place to draw and study the principles of cubism with puzzles and a Mr. Picasso-Head board. Classes in portraiture and printmaking for children ages 6 to 14 will be added to the regular summer Museum School courses.
Two films will be shown, "Surviving Picasso" at the Market Street Cinema on Thursday, June 15, and "The Mystery of Picasso" documentary at the Arts Center on Thursday, July 13. Dr. Floyd W. Martin of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will give a lecture and slide presentation on Picasso's life on Tuesday, June 20.


text:
BBC admits: We are biased on religion and politics
Internal corporation memo on 'impartiality' summit leaked to British media exposes truth on BBC bias
Hagit Klaiman Published: 10.23.06, 16:10 / Israel News
LONDON – The British Broadcasting Corporation has been struggling for several years against criticisms and claims of biased reporting concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and distorted coverage of the global fight against terror.
Following a diplomatic incident with Israel, the BBC appointed an editor known for his objective reporting, however, the true stance of the corporation's editors remained the same.
An internal memo, recently discovered by the British media, revealed what the BBC has been trying to hide. Senior figures admitted in a recent 'impartiality' summit that the BBC was guilty of promoting Left-wing views and anti-Christian sentiment.
Most executives admitted that the corporation's representation of homosexuals and ethnic minorities was unbalanced and disproportionate, and that it leaned too strongly towards political correctness, the overt promotion of multiculturalism, anti-Americanism and discrimination against the countryside.
Okay to trash Bible, not Quran
A truly shocking revelation to come out of the summit was expected to invoke a storm in Britain, which has already reached the boiling point with regards to the treatment of Muslims and the issue of the veil.
For the purpose of illustration, the executives were given a scenario in which Jewish Comedian Sasha Baron Cohen would participate in a program titled 'Room 101', a studio program where guests would be asked for their opinions on different issues, and allowed to symbolically throw things they hated in a garbage bin.
The executives were asked what they would do if Cohen decided to throw 'Kosher food', the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bible, and the Quran in the garbage bin.
The executives said they would allow everything to be thrown in the garbage bin, save the Quran, for fear of offending the British Muslim community.
But wait! There's more:
BBC pays £200,000 to 'cover up report on anti-Israel bias' - DailyMail.co.uk
An anti-Israel bias??? Say it ain't so!
Here is something from Dvorak about the bias in the coverage from the BBC, and then this!
The BBC has been accused of "shameful hypocrisy" over its decision to spend £200,000 blocking a freedom of information (FOI) request about its reporting in the Middle East.
I have to find the correct link for this:
The BBC has been accused of "shameful hypocrisy" over its decision to spend £200,000 blocking a freedom of information (FOI) request about its reporting in the Middle East'
The corporation, which has itself made extensive use of FOI requests in its journalism, is refusing to release papers about an internal inquiry into whether its reporting has been biased towards Palestine.
The corporation is fighting a landmark High Court action, which
starts next week, in a bid to prevent the public finding out what is in the review, which is believed to be critical of the BBC's coverage in the region.
The BBC's determination to bury the report has led to speculation that the report was damning in its assessment of the BBC's coverage of the Arab-Israeli conflict that the BBC wants to keep it under wraps at all costs.
And be sure to read the following EXCELLENT article from the WSJ:
A Reporter's Fate - The BBC held hostage in Gaza.
BY BRET STEPHENS Tuesday, May 22, 2007 12:01 a.m. EDT
Dozens of hostages were released in Gaza over the weekend, in the wake of a truce called between the warring factions of Hamas and Fatah. The BBC's Alan Johnston, now in his 11th week of captivity, was not among them.


text:
Imbolc, Brigid's Day, or Candlemas is the season of coming spring, new beginnings, and cleansing. This is the time of year in which the Goddess is recovering from the God's birth, who is growing a little bigger and stronger every day. The days are lengthening, even as we weather some of the coldest moments of the year. Milk products, such as cheese and cream, are the center of this feast. For vegan practitioners, research the best brands of soy milk and cheese to create variations of these recipes.
- Spinach, Artichoke, and Cheese Dip: A classic bar food, this spread incorporates many different forms of cheeses, making it a perfect starter for this time of you. Use garlic bread or tortilla chips to scoop.
- Curried Lamb: This is the time of year when new life comes to Earth. Lamb is one of the strongest symbols of this phenomenon. I like this particular recipe because it is a lot of taste with only a few ingredients.
- Quesadillas: For the vegetarians in the room, let them make their own quesadillas. Provide green onions, cooked bacon (for those who don't enjoy lamb), guacamole, salsa, and plenty of cheese.
- Spiced Carrots: Carrots are one of the best vegetables for winter because they have a long shelf life. For this recipe, you'll need a bag of carrots, an orange, lemon juice, olive oil, cumin, ginger, 1 clove of minced garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Put a small pot of water to boil, adding a little zest from the orange so the veggies will keep their color. Slice the carrots in quarter-inch rounds. Place in boiling water and cook until desired consistency. Meanwhile, whisk the juice from the orange, a tsp of lemon juice, a big drizzle of olive oil, cumin, salt, and pepper together. Drain the carrots and toss in dressing. Top with herbs.
- Baked Potatoes: Preheat the oven to 400 Degrees F. Wash and fork the potatoes. Lightly oil and salt the skins and wrap the spud in aluminum foil. Place in oven and bake for 1 hour. Top with sour cream and chives.
- Creme Brulee: This is my all time favorite dessert. The caramelized sugar on the top of this creamy custard make it a perfect ending to this fire festival's feast.
- Honey Bees: This cocktail was a happy accident one night while I was in college. Put 1 shot of Jack Daniel's Honey Whiskey in a glass. Top it with chilled ginger ale and enjoy!
- Cakes and Ale: While a Honey Bee is an option for ritual, milk and mead are appropriate choices as well. For cakes it would depend on the ale since there are so many sweet options for this sabat. If you want something savory buy or make croissants. If you decide to use a sweet option, this honey cake recipe is perfect.
For more recipes, check out these resources from Pagan and Wicca About.com and The Celtic Connection.
© Ariadne Woods


text:
Welcome to the Leichhardt 5000
Close to 5000 Men and women from the Leichhardt Local Government Area from the suburbs of Annandale, Balmain, Birchgrove, Leichhardt, Lilyfield and Rozelle enlisted their services for World War One.
This site is dedicated to listing, and capturing the stories of those men who fought in World War One and to capture stories ephemera and memorabilia from families, friends, loved ones and historical enthusiasts. It is not just the men but the women also who held full time employment and raised families as their men went to war. The AIF database lists 4462 enlistments men who went to war who either lived were born or enlisted in the Leichhardt LGA. We have endeavored to include as many as we can find onto this Website. The numbers reach closer to 5000 once you add RAAF, the Navy, Nurses and Medical Staff.
Pioneers Memorial Park (1942) – Norton Street Leichhardt
Pioneers Memorial Park was previously The Balmain Cemetery which operated from 1860 -1912 it covered 11 acres and by 1912 contained 10 608 graves. Conversion commenced in 1942 and the park was called Pioneer's Memorial Park, dedicated to the pioneers of Leichhardt. In 1949 the War Memorial which stood at the corner of Marion and Norton Streets was re-erected in the park as a monument to the soldiers killed during both World Wars. After the closure of Balmain Cemetery burials continued at Waverley, Rookwood and Field of Mars cemeteries.
World War 1 1914-1918
This Site is dedicated to all the Men and Women remembered for their heroic participation in WW1. 5000 Men and women from the Leichhardt LGA.
Leichhardt Council would like to find more stories of Leichhardt soldiers in the First World War from the community. We're interested in photographs, diaries, letters, other personal items, and also family stories about soldiers from the First World War. This will enrich the story Leichhardt Council can share throughout the centenary of the First World War.
Matthew William Currey is Leichhardt's soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
If you can contribute, contact the Local History Team on 9367 9335 or email
Image supplied by the Australian War Memorial.


text:
The Christmas season seems to get started with the smell of turkey. One of the greatest blessings of being the host of Thanksgiving dinner is that the aroma seem to travel to every corner of the house. Those smells are so rich in comfort and satisfaction. Throughout the holiday season, there are many smells that seem to be part of Christmas. My kids even have a scratch and sniff Christmas book. Our noses seem to love the anticipation of the holiday, cookies baking, wassail on the stovetop, peppermint candy canes, a fire in the fireplace and of course the fresh pine tree in our family rooms.
One time, a few years ago I walked into a Yankee candle store and was looking for a candle of a specific color to match my room. The salesclerk said to me with an air of pious, "we are a fragrance store, not a décor shop". So, I wanted to see what this "fragrance store" thought that Christmas should smell like. I found things like Hearthside, Balsam and Fir, Christmas Cookie, Mountain Pine, and Peppermint swirls.
I love these aromas, and they really do add to my love of this season. But, today I got a little perspective about the true scents of Christmas. I went to a barn, on a preschool fieldtrip. We pet bunnies and kitties. We said hello to some goats, and enjoyed seeing the sheep's full winter coat. But the reason we went was to see a live nativity. As I stood there, watching my little guys get up close to see baby Jesus, and listen to the music playing, I got a little emotional. The shepherds came and bowed in front of King Jesus, it really was beautiful.
It struck me that Christmas with cookies and peppermint and pine is kind of a cover. The true Christmas smelled like manure and hay and earth. There was such humility in that scene. I am amazed anew today that the King of the World, came to save me, as a vulnerable baby, in a barn!
Though I promise I won't be burning stinky candles when my family comes for Christmas Eve. I will, however keep the scents of the stable alive in my heart as I celebrate the season.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Blog Archive
About Me
- Angel
- I am a wife, mother of three, friend to many, sister, daughter, and follower of Christ.


text:
What's so remarkable about the following photo is that it shows Max playing with a toy for the first time since (how long have we had Katy?) oh about 18 months. At the same time he is slowing down due to age-related arthritis, he's been gaining confidence to stand up to Katy. This is one sign of that.
He stopped playing with toys shortly after she came to live with us. He once happily trucked all over the house with balls, stuffies, ropes, rawhides - you name it - even paper rolls were fair game. And, he was incredibly possessive of his toys. But, he'd always greet us at the front door with a toy in his mouth, tail wagging. He played fetch too. Though, most of the time we "chased" him. Then Katy came along and decided he couldn't have toys anymore. He put up a fight, but she was persistent and rapidly grew much, much larger. Seemingly overnight, he "grew out of" toys.
Lately he has demonstrated a renewed interest in toys, and she's been more relaxed about her "rules." Now, I have to admit that I played a role in this photo. When I saw his interest in the toy and that Katy was gearing up to make a bossy move in his direction, I told her "no" – and praised him.
Have you ever tried to simultaneously give two dogs the opposite directions?
Katy is attentive and responsive, so fairly quickly she understood the "no, no :< HEY" was meant for her, not Max. Hand signals directed at the right dog and out of sight of the wrong one come in, well, handy.
At one point they even played tug-of-war but seeing as how Katy outweighs Max 4:1, I think he was smart to abandon that game.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Huck a Duck - Max Busts a Move For Katy's New(f) Toy
Posted by Field Notes at 9:56 AM
Labels: dogs
1 comment:
- SquirrelGurl said...
Awww! What a cute picture!! Glad to hear that Max is getting back into toys!
Also wanted to let you know I have a new place to blog (you can find it in my profile) and I have my website back up and password free for your viewing pleasure!
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Here are my layouts from December. I would normally upload them one by one as I go but, life has just been busy.
So, this one is from our day at Martin Mere feeding the ducks over the summer. This is based on sketch 165 over at pencil lines.
My brother graduated in 2008. I think I put this one off because I look so terrible in the photo, but finally bit the bullet early one morning in December while everyone was still in bed.
Another family day out in the summer holiday. A visit to Stockley farm. I think it might've been the only day that week when it rained, but was the only day Mike was off work. I used this sketch from Capture these Sketches blog.
I had this layout in my head from around the middle of December, but didn't manage to scrap it until Jan 2nd. This is a picture from Jacob's Christmas party in 2008, he is with his nursery key worker very reluctantly meeting Father Christmas. The idea came from The Studio December 16th challenge. You can read about it here. I didn't use any Christmas themed products for this layout (as per the challenge).
I love this photo of Jacob and Daniel. Extremely posed, trying to take a good photo of thenm both from my nanna for Christmas.
Here is my sleeping beauty. I've been dying to crack open this pack of paper wimsies from sassafrass lass.


text:
Tucson Gun Rights Examiner Chris Woodard alerted readers Friday to some of the most recently introduced federal gun bills (both anti-rights and pro-rights). In fact, his Constitution Watch blog is a great resource for keeping current on pending federal gun legislation. Today, we will focus on Representative Jackie Speier's (D-CA) H.R. 2566, the "Modernized Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act of 2013."
The text is not yet available, so the look will necessarily be somewhat cursory, but there are some assumptions that are probably safe to make.
For one thing, we can almost certainly assume that by "armor piercing," Rep. Speier means that the ammunition is capable of defeating soft body armor, like that worn by cops on the beat, rather than the much heavier and bulkier rigid body armor worn by combat troops and S.W.A.T. team personnel. To be considered "armor piercing," in other words, the ammunition would need only, at most, to defeat Level IIIa armor (if Speier lowers the standard below that, even more ammunition would be banned). In fact, Speier makes that pretty clear in her press release, which talks about "first responders," rather than soldiers:
"It's been 27 years since Congress acted to protect law enforcement personnel from so-called "cop-killer" bullets. Our first responders are at a greater disadvantage today than they were decades ago. If they are going to put themselves in the line of fire in our communities and neighborhoods, we owe it to them to update existing laws and get with the times."
Trending: Racism: Singer Tells White Audience to 'Move to the Back', Gets Unexpected Reaction
This is significant because soft body armor is not intended to be capable of stopping most centerfire rifle fire. In other words, if all ammunition with the ability to defeat typical police body armor is to be considered "armor piercing," and thus illegal, nearly all centerfire rifle ammunition would be banned.


text:
Super nap
No flurry of activity on FreeDarko lately, and that's the way it should be. For although the halls of many a NBA site echo with news of free agent signings, the Troubled Griffin back in jail again, and the summer leagues, none of this is worth talking about (at least not in public). In fact, I would like to believe that what sets us apart is that we're not going to clog up this site with tales of Martell Webster's big night, or make some corny-ass jokes about red hair and Scalabrine's impending time with the Celts (the ultimate fan favorite in a town that lives for fan favorites. And I think you know what I mean by fan favorite). More importantly, I'm knee-deep in the FreeDarko summer retreat, where surprisingly we haven't even talked all that much about hoops. Updates to follow on our attempts at actually playing the game.
A few salient points, if nothing else to convince myself that I don't need to type much more than this for the next couple of weeks:
-Summer leagues aren't just inferior to the pros, they're a whole different language. It's telling that Qyntel Woods can average thirty a night there year after year; that LeBron stumbled in his one go at it is downright mystifying.
-shoefly has succeeded in convincing me that all this off-season drama in the end comes down to money. All that other shit about family and honor is something basketball writers make up so they'll have a column year-round.
-You can no longer build a team around a traditional PF, or even have one as a cornerstone. That's why Brand and Shareef are such perennial losers.
-As Marbury has proven, spending some of the off-season in a cell ain't such a bad career move. Godspeed, Troubled Griffin.


text:
These tips came in an email newsletter I got from Kiwi Magazine:
Between car washes, pools, air conditioners, and fans, it can be hard to conserve water and energy during the summer. These tips will help you make the most of these precious resources:
* Run the dishwasher and washing machine in the morning or evening, so your air-conditioner won't have to work extra hard to compensate for the heat of these appliances.
* When washing your car or letting your kids play in the sprinkler, do it in a place where the lawn needs watering anyway, rather than on the driveway or sidewalk.
* Ceiling fans are a great way to cool down, but remember that fans cool you, not the room, so turn them off every time you leave. (Click here for more tips on staying cool while going green.)
* Cover your pool when you're not using it so the water won't evaporate as quickly. Also, turn the heater off or down to prevent rapid evaporation (the warmer the water is, the quicker it will evaporate).


text:
He came into the bar wearing a funny little hat and sunglasses on top. With him was a smiling girl half his age who was apparently his girlfriend. Before he could sit down, there was a heavy banging on the window that made me almost jump off my stool. In front of the window was a weird looking guy that jumped up and down and made a gesture like: order me a beer and fast! The man pointed at his forehead but did order three beers and sat down with his young girlfriend.
The jumpy man had placed a bicycle against the window and came in to join them. After sipping from his beer, he started jumping again. This time he had a goal: he tried to grab the sunglasses.
The man with the hat pushed him away and said to me: "He can't help it, he's from Norway." The other laughed and made another try. It was another miss. But when the man took a sip of his pint and had his head a bit lowered, he half succeeded. He was pushed away with the same comment.
The man with the hat pushed him away and said to me: "He can't help it, he's from Norway." The other laughed and made another try. It was another miss. But when the man took a sip of his pint and had his head a bit lowered, he half succeeded. He was pushed away with the same comment.
The girlfriend told me there was something special with these glasses. The man had just found them again after loosing them fourteen days before. They had been placed on top of a fence. This was very nice because they had been quite expensive: they were real Ray-Bans. You would expect that people would take these home when finding them. So he was very lucky and felt very happy about it.
I couldn't see the happiness any more; the Norwegian guy must have been annoying him for quite a while already. Still he said, in a sort of trance: "He can't help it, he's from Norway." When he went outside and made a joint, the Norwegian helped him smoke it and was a bit relaxed for a while. But the jumping started again and the man growled something that made the Norwegian stop. He walked outside and started making funny faces in front of the window and banging on it.
Two other men came in and one joined the Ray-Ban-man. The Norwegian started a conversation with the other one. The daughter of the owner of the bar made her entrance with her boyfriend: she was wearing tiny hotpants and a top that was completely open at the back, so that she could show she had an even suntan. The man made comments about the kneading of her buttocks by the boyfriend. He tried to look very angry and dangerous. The man shrugged and went on with his conversation. I don't have a clue what they were talking about. All seemed quiet…
Suddenly he jumped up, broke the neck of a bottle and pushed it in the other man's face. Blood splattered around, I sure got my share. I'm not much of a hero, so in five seconds flat I was outside. I could see that half the bar had jumped in to have a part in this fight. I decided to stay safe and walked on to a little park nearby. Here I sat down on a bench, tried to calm down. The whole scene really scared me, I didn't expect this at all.
After some time I decided to walk home, but knew I had to walk past that bar again. Nothing happened when I did. But soon after the door flew open and the man was pushed out by one of the staff. "You are banned for life from this bar!", he shouted.
Slowly the man walked away, the broken Ray-Bans in his hands.


text:
This update is going to be a montage of different topics:
1. Montage - definition (maybe this isn't technically a montage)
2. Strong Bad Montage - sbemail
3. Bente Skari - this montage gives me chills
4. The last post about running shoes has for sure been our most controversial to date, generating significant discussion both for and against. Let me add more fuel to the fire:
- A midfoot strike is the most efficient and fastest way to run. The heel strike = applying the brakes (making you slow) and creating impact (making you injured) with every stride. Being slow and injured with make you sad.
- Running on your toes is probably not a good plan either (unless you're a sprinter). Using only propulsive muscles means that you are not using the body's natural cushioning system. This puts too much vertical movement into every stride, and that leads to inefficiency and considerably more impact, muscle and tendon stress on the body. Specifically, if you're too far forward in a sprint position, you're overusing your calf and hamstring muscles and putting a lot of strain on your Achilles tendon. This will also make you sad.
- A midfoot strike is the most natural way to run. To prove this point, all you need to do is run a few hundred metres barefoot. You'll immediately discover that when running barefoot you're not landing on your heels = you're landing on your forefoot. Before the advent of running shoes that changed our biomechanics, I would contend that the frequency of heel striking runners would approximate nil.
- I am not suggesting making a cold-turkey transition from your Grid Stabils to lightweight trainers. If you are a traditional heavy heel-strike runner, you have a technique change to make; this change is going to take some time. Frequently, runners get excited about their new shoes and make the transition too quickly. To adapt to your new running technique you need to start with short, slow runs (say 1 - 3Km) twice per week. Focus on good technique and increase your time and distance as the body adapts. Too much too fast = you will get injured. This will make you sad.
- Last week, Jack ran 50Km barefoot on the treadmill (Jack's post). It took him three years of work to build up to this effort. Take your time.
5. If you are going to build a homemade heatbox (see Marty Hall. "Hot Boxes: Do's and Don'ts." SkiTrax Feb/Mar 2009: 46.), be very careful. Your skis are not tough = temperatures as low as 50C can cause the bases to move. The wax doesn't need to be totally melted to make its way into your bases. That being said, Marty is correct: the heatbox is an incredible tool and if used properly will help produce some very fast skis.
6. This weekend is the Mount Shark Alberta Cup, which is always a good time. For an added dose of awesome, I'll be working with Mike Mappin of Solda Canada. He is one of the best in the business and it's a fantastic opportunity. Expect updates throughout the weekend.
7. If you think that the new Nordic Hole Ski from Fischer (website) is just a gimmick, early indications are that you are dead wrong. This new ski appears to absolutely be the goods. I'll be doing testing in April, more to follow.
8. One of my favourite hobbies is plotting world domination with respect to skiing. I had a great telephone session of that today and am ridiculously amped for next season. PS... next season starts in April. Game on.


text:
I have been fudging about since Christmas not really knowing what to do with myself and spending far more time at the laptop than the craft room. Think its the weather to be honest. Today the sun shone and my creative muse kicked in.
Hubby got an i-pod for his present this year but silly old Santa neglected to get him a cover for it and `its started to get scratchy` too quote the old man. Inspired by Cathe Holdens` tutorial at Just Something I Made I set about making him a personalised leather case. Not only have I renewed my neglected love affair with my sewing machine(somewhat thrown aside for the cosier knitting needles of late), but discovered that leather is just lovely to work with. I have always been wary before.
Spurred on by the sunshine and the horrendous rip off price of £2.85 for 5 of the tiniest slices of gluten free tiffin (I am gluten intolerant if I have not mentioned it before), and not to be outdone by my daughters baking extravaganza`s; I whipped up a batch of yummy Tiffin to be proud of and the best gluten free loaf for ages. The mix I am using just refused to rise and I was about to change to a new one. Guess it must be the fancy new mixer my parents got me before Christmas. Lovely present, thanks folks, xxx
Sunday, 17 January 2010
A Productive Sunday - at last
Posted by Joy at 14:27 2 comments:
Xmas catch up
I made my sister in law an apron for christmas to go with the cupcake kit I got her. She is getting really into the whole baking thing. Obviously I could not blog about this creation before because she would see it. Also found it really hard to get a pic because I am in a house full of blokes who found the whole idea strange and humerous so the very thought of asking for photography let alone modelling (hahaha) was just not an option. Thankfully she has kindly sent me a pic of said apron to use so here it is.
Posted by Joy at 02:33 No comments:
Labels: lifestyle, sewing, special occasions
Monday, 4 January 2010
New Year New Obsession
Well its a new year. Another Christmas has crept up on us and passed before you know it. The tree is packed away for another 11 months or so.
I had made so many bunnies, teddies and elephants in the last few months I fancied a change. I have always shied away from these as I am somewhat apprehensive of dpns and the curse of the circular needle. Nonetheless I had this urge to make `socks`!
So when my Mum gave me a leftover skein of Sirdar Crofter I was reminded of a sock pattern in Lets Knit that used this very yarn and, I was sure, used 2 normal pins. Yes after some searching and then finding it was actually in Crafts Beautiful I found said pattern and voila, here they are. I am already looking for more. I loved doing these and can quite see how some get quite addicted to knitting socks. Who knows, I may try the dpns next time.
Posted by Joy at 11:45 2 comments:
Labels: knitting
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
A And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels: go your ways, pour out your vials of wrath upon the earth. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth, and there fell a noisome and a sore botch upon the man which had the mark of B the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. And the second angel shed out his vial upon the sea, and it turned as it were into the blood of a dead man: and every living thing died in the sea. And the third angel shed out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters, and they turned to blood. And I heard an angel say: Lord which art and wast, thou art righteous and holy, because thou hast given such judgements, for they shed out the blood of saints, and prophets, and therefore hast thou given them blood to drink: for they are worthy. And I heard another out of the altar say: even so Lord God almighty, true and righteous are thy judgements.
C And the fourth angel poured out his vial on the sun, and power was given unto him to vex men with heat of fire. And the men raged in great heat, and spake evil of the name of God which had power over those plagues, ,and they repented not, to give him glory. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast, and his kingdom waxed dark, and they gnawed their tongues for sorrow, and blasphemed the God of heaven for sorrow, and pain of their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
D And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates, and the water dried up, that the ways of the kings of the east should be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils working miracles, to go out unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battle of that great day of God almighty. Behold I come as a thief. Happy is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he be found naked, and men see his filthiness. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
E And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air. And there came a voice out of heaven from the seat, saying: it is done. And there followed voices, thunderings, and lightnings, and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great. And the great city was divided into the three parts, And the cities of nations fell. And great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of wine of the fierceness of his wrath. Every isle fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell a great hail, as it had been talents, out of heaven upon the men, and the men blasphemed God, because of the plague of the hail, for it was great and the plague of it sore.
MISSION: Global distribution (print and digital media) by October 6, 2036
TO SPONSOR: Encourage and finance publishing of this free content here + in news venues world-wide. Please email: Karl Golovin firstname.lastname@example.com
FIVE DAY READING PLAN - TODAY: Job 21-23; Psalm 101; Rev 16
Glossary: garment: Old French garnement 'equipment' sore: Old English sar 'causing intense pain, grievous' noisome: from obsolete noy
(annoy) + -some filth: Old English fylth 'rotting matter, rottenness', also 'corruption, obscenity' Armageddon: har megiddon 'hill of Megiddo'


text: In 2012 we launched JCESR with a bold vision: to create game-changing, next-generation battery technologies that will transform the transportation sector and the electric grid the way lithium-ion batteries transformed personal electronics. This bold vision addresses pressing national needs to reduce carbon emissions, increase energy efficiency, accelerate deployment of renewable solar and wind electricity on the grid, and modernize the grid. Since its inception, JCESR has pursued fundamental research and prototype development on three concepts of energy storage.


text:
|The two twin Hero Knob couloirs, not visible is an option that connects the looker's right to the looker's left
The Hero Knob loop in K-Country is pretty popular and for good reason. Long fall line skiing in alpine terrain with some spectacular scenery. While most people are content with a "one and done", there are lots of options on different aspects and elevations to play on, and if that's not enough , the ski quality often merits a 2nd...or 3rd lap. Of course it is not without it's risk, a steep headwall to gain a hanging valley, interesting wind loading of the col and of course creek crossings all present cruxes, making Hero Knob best saved for early season before the persistent weak layers have had a chance to establish themselves or in early spring.
|Ridgewalks, downclimbs, sidesteps, etc...
The twin couloirs provide consistent fall line skiing and a fan at the bottom to really open it up.
It is not uncommon for people to climb these lines, so keep that in mind when thinking about sending a cornice down. I believe the best access is from the top via the Hero Knob col.
|The first couloir drains into the main bowl, lookers left of the summit of Hero Knob
Line Length: 300m
Round Trip Distance: 7.5km
Total Elevation: 700m
Other lines in the area: Aside from the main Hero Knob run, and the Purple Knob couloirs, I have enjoyed tree skiing on all aspects, accessed from both drainages. Most notable is the Dogleg tree run. The south face of Hero Knob provides higher consequence skiing with more complex gullies and cliffs to avoid.
Hillmap route


text:
Tuesday, October 12
The Taste of Freedom
Tuesday, August 10
Is it just me or them?
Recently I have just come to realize people around me are pretty selfish. I dont wanna think that way, just somehow it's stuck in my blady head.
Then I will be frustrated and hatred comes in.
I dont want that to happen. but tell me how? not to let it happen?
Control myself? I dont think I can do that any further. My patients have already reach the limit.
People just come and give me some hope, then they just have to disappoint me in the end. You know how much it hurts?
and some people are just deaf, I dont know what are they doing or thinking when I'm blady talking to them.
Taking up so many responsibilities sometimes sucks. Really, trust me.
Especially with so many uncooperative human beings around you.
All I can do is to believe that all this happens for a better reason.
Future monitor of 3 Heron, please do your job properly and take of the class ;)
Monday, July 5
Time is all I need!
Man man my blog is super dead, who cares anyway!
Today, it's been really a screwed up day like seriously. Even Judith thinks so.
Breakfast was okayy. Had good mamak food. When it comes to lunch, wanted to eat that Uncle's famous popiah near church. Went there, not open yet. Fine, stadium next nearest place.
Again.. it was all jam. For some reason I dont know why but I see lotsa lotsa Malay people with babies and young kids there. Mister Potato recyclable bags etc etc.
Then, jam jam jam finallly enter the entrance of stadium foodcourt. Weird, all the chinese stalls ARE NOT OPEN. OMGGGGGGGGG.
By that time it was already about 2.50pm. So I decided to go to church instead of eating if not I'll be late.
Should have taken my yogurt out to eat =.=
In church, Alex's phone got lost somehow. It's just impossible. in church wei. I thought church was the safest place to place ur things even when you just go off a few seconds and come back.
I did leave my bag there and just walk off. But now I should have a second thoughts on it.
On the way home, my stomach started to ache. I dont know was it stomachache, gastric pain or period pain. All I know it's was terrible.
Till just now, it finally went away. and now I could do my things! Pheww!
God is awesome! :)
Then then the connection problem sucks! I cant just seem to view photos in Fb. Grrrrr.
Refresh a gazillion times also.
Bye for now! You should know that I have school later!
sorry God for swearing.
sometimes things can be just so
fcuk up
forgive me and I shall not repeat it.
Thursday, June 10
OH! Like finally....
Wasnt in the mood of blogging.
But today, I got so bored going Facebook, Plurk and online on msn. Then, I found the button to my blog. Hahahaaa
So yeah here I am, blogging.
It's a pretty good start for holidays. Since we have 2 weeks. I'm pretty sure there'll be more to come >;D
2. Audrey's birthday party, her house super super super big. and the gay group made my night, again!
3. Starwalk. My legs ached. KFC for lunch. Got to know Dennis and friend. Funny are they! At night, ISPCA dinner. My legs even ache more when I wore high heels. Saw Kylie there :)
4. Monday! Went one day trip to KL with Audrey ;D hehehe. Watched TDS Competition there. Congrats Jack! though it's just consolation. But better than nothing rite? Try harder next time, aite?
Japanese Mochi . Taste better than Penang's :P
5. Jo, Zale and CW came over to my house to do StarNie. But THEY WERE ALL late, so cooked lunch first lor. Afterthat, went to my room and started searching for things. Halfway, Zale and Jo went and do some quiz on some website. Dragged me in. In short, we did nothing at all. Accept for the magazine title. Amazing isn't it? Let's just hope tmr will be more productive. >:3
Went pasar malam with Zhi Yang, Khian Lim and Shaun. Finally get to go pm after so long. Yum cha at Olivenz. The drinks we order have super funny name.
Khian Lim's - Romantic Life
Shaun's - Strawberry Princess
I LOL-ed when he ordered that!
Talk and talk and talkkkkk. Went home around 11plus. heh =X
6. Went cycling after so long. Cycled till Nic Yean's house. WAHAHAAHAAHAHAHA!
7. Went BKR after years. Badminton with parents! The last time I played with them when I was like 4 or 5 years old? Hahaha! It's fun anywayyyyyyyyyyyyyy.
Will try and update more often !
Tuesday, April 20
expired contacts.
COINCIDENCE : I met Krsytle and Jacklyn Kung with their parents right after their GB camp in New World. This is the second time out of Ipoh. The first time was in some KL seafood restaurant when Uncle Micky brought us to eat there. HAHAHA! Imagine not in Ipoh also can meet :P
Really ada fate ! xD
I shall update and post the pics some other time. Mum stole the camera to look at the pics :( If not the pictures would be on facebook already. Grrrr!
needa exercise!
Monday, April 5
Spiritual Spa?
Ahhh was so tense up helping Jo with maths just now. and finally the duty list's done!
All I gotta do i print it out, will do it later lah.
Anyway Happy Easter everybody! ;D
I went for Good Friday and Easter Celebration service. I didnt really get what Sat's night service was because we were all like talking and sms-ing. crapshit .
But well-done Crys and Nat :D it's was nice but it would be nicer if it was more synchronize.
Pretty busy last weekend. Hopefully I got time to spare for my studies =/
Mid- terms coming . After Pesta Ria should really concentrate ady.
*yawns* I should go to bed but waiting for my friend to send the equation over.
One convo today during youth :
"What are you both doing?" "you look like a chimpanzee! " *walks aways*
me and cyrstal burst out laughing xD
Monday, March 29
Do Not Burn Off
Wops, I shouldnt be here. It's 3am and school's later?
wth is wrong with me? AAAAAAAAAAAH
Have the urge to blog right now cause I know weekdays I wont be updating it anway so myself just update it now :P
I've tons of pictures to be uploaded but I'm lazy to transfer them so yeah :P
Maybe I'll edit this post and the previous post to upload da pictures.
Uhmm uhmm what did I want to say again?
Yes, daddy brought the family for buffet last night!
After youth, showered and go makan! ;D hoho the food's good.
If you want to find any good buffet for dinner in Ipoh, that's it go Casuarina :) It's worth your money.
or perhaps you wanna try the newly open Japanese Buffet next to Casuarina?
I'm getting fat like seriously.
Wei Soon : "Li Xin, why you so fat already one?" & "Bye-bye fei poh" ystdy in youth.
Yi Sheng : " FEI POH AHH! " since end of last year.
Ze Blind Horse as usual always says I'm fat.
Jo was soooo shoopid today. She scratch her own elbow there just to take the blady bag from the floor while she was sitting da swing. ==
I wonder what other stupid sutffs she can do leh? :P
First Aid test is on Thursday! Oh nooo! Hopefully I'll just manage to pass it. Blady CPR and AR.
Sayonara! Oyasumi!
Sunday, March 28
The New Me (:
It's been a week. This week was pretty busy and good I can sayy.
After all the anger, vulgar words, blaming each other, time, unhappyness, energy wasted, finally did our Pre-Sale on the 25th Mac. By God's grace, the badges were done by Wednesday already :D
So, Jing's mum took it over to school on Thursday and we quickly sort it out and set up a stall.
The sale went pretty well. The 3 animal designs were ALL sold off ;) left only the heart shape one.
So if anyone of you are still interested in buying the badges, buy them quickly! :D Monday's still available! Mrs Lee bought one too! =D
Somehow I dont know why this person gets angry easily and have such small gas. Even tiny little bit things wanna cry over or angry over it. Sigh really can't stand it anymoreee.
My patience has limits too, girl. I thought that conflict was over, then here comes another one.
Pathetic .
Can you like think bout it first before blaming it other people? Or you assume everyone knows about it, but in actual fast it's the other way round? Talking like as if you know everything on earth. Yes, you may be one of the smartest but not in everything.
Whenever I talk to you, it will end up in an arguement and a really cold conversation where we both use exclamination marks and caplocks. Bahhh.
Let's forget it .
I got baptize! :D hahaha
Thinking back, it was embrassed after the immersion I slipped at the last two steps of the stairs.
My brother was with me. which means we both got baptize together on the same day :)
I didnt know that till few days back before baptism.
So now I'd threw the old self, I should be the new me!
Oh and thanks to those who congratulated me that night, appreciate it much :)
Went supper with Chang, Jo, Nic and all after service. So called 'celebrate' .
Balik rumah, berbual-bual dgn ibu, mandi, online dann tidorr. :P
I dont know why I feel happier after that night. Must be God ! Hahaaha
Sunday, March 21
Wonderland ;D
Its 4.20 in the morning now. Lol
I'm still left KH and Sejarah Kendiri 2 to do! Gahh I'll do them later tho.
I proud of myself doing those holiday hmwrk actually :P
Just wrote out the draft for the darn English essay, some stupid talk on staying safe and secure on the internet. Speaking of that, I have this Guides Thinking's Day essay as well. 500 words or was it 600? I dont rmb .
Right back to main reason of blogging.
I had fun this March hols :D:D *thumbs up*
I had ballet classes every morning at 8am, thats the only unpleasant thing throughout the whole hols. But it's good in a way, you get to sweat every morning :P whooots and I wake up earlyyy. My morning isnt wasted by just sleeeping.
I went back to school for Guides Annual Camp on Sunday. A day trip :D
The First-Aid Talk was guh-reat. Had fun. Then stay until around dinner. Tea time was really heavenly. Suuugarr and more suuugar. Flour and moreee flour. HAHA! I was pretty full that I dont hv to eat dinner, but I did larh. A very emofying dinnerrr. GAHH
Dont let me recall those both nights. Saddening .
BLAHH forget that, then I had fun playing balls. Joy and laughters!
From football to volleyball and to monkeyy. Seriously everyone was laughing-their-asses-off!
Tuesday was supposingly to go over to Alex's but didnt had transport, waited dad but it was late already that time. So too bad :(
Next time, alright?
Wednesday went over to Nat's. Pure fatness :P The food. Oh had a surprised birthday for Conty.
Played Wii , the best part was the what game isit called? Idk. Dont care. but it was fun larh.
Thursday watched Alice in Wonderland. Saw many familiar faces and friends. Audrey sat directly NEXT TO ME! Not the first time happening seriously. Fate is what we called it =D
After movie, we walked around aimlessly. Went Mcd, everyone got themselves a Sundae and then went from photobooths to photobootss. Playing around with the guys. HAHA! and we sat in a spoiled photobooths and talked there ;) it was quite cold there.
Saw Eugene :) Happy to see him after quite some time.
After tennis had lunch with Alex T . Thanks for teman-ing again! ;D
look what he saw ;D
yeng isnt it the way the kitten sits
Around 5pm went to church for water games. Overslept, thanks Crystal for waking me up!
Had greatho time! Heeeees. Had Mcd for dinner , showered there as well.
Nic Y left me in church == luckily dad didnt screw me up or smtg.
I think I shall stop , this post is too long for ya to read.


text:
Padraig Ó Dorchaí RIP
It is with great sadness that we have learned of the sad passing of our esteemed Chairperson of our Code of Ethics Committee, Pat Darcy.
Pat served as Chairman of the Tyrone County Committee from 2004 to 2009 and followed this by representing Tyrone on the Ulster Council where he served a five year term from 2010 to 2014.
We will be forever indebted to Pat for his contribution to Comhairle Uladh, and in particular for his work to strengthen Safeguarding in the Association. He was a Gentleman and a true Gael, and he shall be sadly missed.
On behalf of the Officers, Members and Staff of Comhairle Uladh CLG we extend our deepest sympathy to his children Claire, Sean, Sarah and Louise, his grandchildren, his brothers and sisters and his large family circle.
Funeral Arrangements
His wake takes place at his home, 86 Tattyreagh Road, Omagh BT78 1QD commencing at 12 noon today (Wednesday). His funeral will be held in the Sacred Heart Church Omagh on Friday at 10.00 am.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainim Padraig Ó Dorchaí RIP.


text:
Joost Lagendijk
The latest wave of media arrests has shown, again, that there are no limits to the campaign of revenge waged by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his lackeys in the government, the judiciary and the media. All those who dare to stand up and protest against the suffocating authoritarianism of the current rulers are targeted. Last weekend, this newspaper and other media linked to the Hizmet movement were the victims. Today, Beşiktaş fans are in court, facing long prison sentences. Nobody knows who will be next.
Amidst all the anger, frustration and fear about this repression, the good thing is a growing belief across ideological and political borders that this constant intimidation will only stop when all those affected unite against the threat of indiscriminate arrests and arbitrary accusations. In the past, every group or community in this country only protested when its own members were involved and could not care less (or even applauded) when others were harassed and treated badly. That is why it was so promising to see last Sunday that even journalists and columnists who strongly disagreed with Zaman Editor-in-Chief Ekrem Dumanlı in the past went public and called his arrest unacceptable. It seems that for the first time, there is a widely shared understanding that every Turkish citizen is entitled to the same human rights and dignity, independent of his or her political or religious beliefs. We can only hope this willingness to defend everybody's undeniable rights at all times will spread further and will allow a united opposition to counteract the undemocratic actions of the present power elite in an effective manner on all levels. It is the only way forward domestically.
But what about at the European level? What should the repercussions for Turkey be when its government acts, in the words of EU foreign affairs supremo Federica Mogherini, "against European values." Erdoğan immediately called on the EU to mind its own business and said he does not care whether the EU accepts Turkey as a member or not. I am sure that blunt rejection plays into the hands of those European politicians who were always against Turkey's accession and now see a golden opportunity to stop negotiations once and for all. That is not going to happen for reasons I have mentioned before: The EU simply needs Turkey for other, strategic reasons (Syria, Russia, Ukraine, European jihadists, energy).
There are, however, two other possible scenarios that are being discussed in Europe. One is cutting the European funds spent in Turkey to help the country prepare for membership. We are talking about 625 million euros annually for the next six years. That would indeed be a highly symbolic penalty for Turkey straying from the path of democracy. The problem is that, by withholding that money, the EU would not be punishing the president or the government. Those affected would be the unemployed women, small businesses and anti-torture activists now benefitting from these European subsidies.
The other option under debate is the suspension of the negotiations. Some advocates of that drastic measure want to use the temporary stop of official talks to put pressure on Ankara to change policies and return to the reform path of the earlier Justice and Development Party (AKP) years. Others present it as the best way out of negotiations that are, in the words of disillusioned former member of the European Parliament (EP) and supporter of Turkish membership, Andrew Duff, "at best useless and at worst fraudulent." Duff wants Turkey and the EU to sit down and reflect honestly about what kind of partnership would be in the long-term interests of both.
Whatever the motivation of the suspension supporters, the problem with that solution is two-fold. Once interrupted, I can't see how the talks will ever be restarted, knowing the divisions within the EU. There will always be one member state that finds a reason to object to a new beginning, even if Turkey were to comply with all the EU demands.
My biggest problem is with the suggestion to stop now for good and start thinking about something else. Who would suffer most from such a radical rupture? Not Erdoğan or Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu. It would be all those fighting for more democracy in Turkey who still believe that it is better to have the EU on their side instead of being left out in the cold. As long as Kurds, Alevis, Gülenists and Gezi supporters still feel that the EU can help them achieve their goals -- even if that influence has decreased substantially over the years -- pulling the plug now does not seem to be such a good idea. It would satisfy the frustrations of many European (former) friends of Turkey but it would not be helpful at all for an opposition that is finally uniting and is looking for moral and political support from Europe.
Published on Today's Zaman, 16 December 2014, Tuesday


text:
High Plains Tradition headline Kilworth Bluegrass Weekend, 19-21 Oct. 2012
The weekend centres on four performances by the superb five-piece classic bluegrass band High Plains Tradition from Denver, Colorado, who last toured here in July 2010. Banjo-player Mark Leslie (centre, in the above photo) will not be able to make this trip; but another distinguished Colorado picker, Ron Lynam (right) of Cowtown (and formerly of Front Range) will be playing banjo with the HPT.
The main venue will be the Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, where the weekend starts at 8.15 p.m. on Friday 19 Oct. with the HPT in concert, supported by the Kellehers bluegrass duo from Cork city. Workshops will be held during Saturday (ring 087 7921771 for details); at the evening concert (8.00 p.m.) the HPT will be supported by the Down and Out Bluegrass Band from Belfast and by the four-piece Cork band of Gordon & Rosie. On Sunday the HPT will give a gospel recital in Kilworth catholic church at 11.30 a.m., followed by a gospel concert in the arts centre at 4.00 p.m.
Sessions will also be held in Cotters and McCarthy's. A ticket for the whole weekend, covering all concerts and workshops, is a mere €35; Friday's concert is €15, Saturday's €17.50, and Sunday's €5.00 (as for workshops). Bookings and inquiries: 087 7921771.
Labels: Bands, Festivals, Venues, Visiting bands


text:
And a big big thank you to all the candidates that have responded to date. We've had 25 replies and, as I write, 15 have been published. The remainder are scheduled for the next week, and more will be slotted in as they arrive. None have been edited at all, or declined, and as long as we don't get anything that breaks our comment policy I expect that to continue.
If I get a chance I'll send out a reminder to candidates who haven't responded yet, and I'm thinking I'll send a little prod to the Parliamentary party organisations of those I've heard naught from today. That would be NZ First (not surprising), the Maori Party and the Progressives (a little surprising, but I couldn't find contact details for their non-MP candidates so will have another hunt), the Family Party (again I had troubles finding email addresses so could only send it to 3 of their people) and NATIONAL (who have over 70 candidates, most of whom would have got the survey) . There are also a few other minnow parties that I'll email if I get time to track contacts down.
Thank you also to the readers who are a) reading and b) commenting on the surveys. Even though some responses don't have any comments I can see from the stats that they are all getting read, frequently, so candidates who feel a bit lonely should take some solace from the clear evidence that lurkers are soaking up their wise (or not) words. In several threads candidates have joined the discussion, and that's been fantastic. Big ups to Kelleigh Sheffield-Cranston, Colin du Plessis, Brian Ward and Jordan Carter for responding to queries or points from readers, and to other candidates who may be commenting too. And cheers to everyone for abiding by our comment policy and keeping things sane.
There's been some discussion of the survey in the wider blogosphere:
- Idiot/Savant gave us some much appreciated linkage, and I should also acknowledge his supportive email conversations when I broached this topic with him some months ago.
- Peter McCaffrey (whose response is scheduled to go up here next week) has put his reply up on the Act-on-Campus blog, resulting in a bit of a comment discussion there, particularly around Q3 (the dreaded abortion question).
- Regular commenter barvasfiend juxtaposed one of the answers of Alliance co-leader Kay Murray with a particularly Lord-of-the-Flies approach to the Domestic Purposes Benefit taken by Cactus Kate.
- scrubone takes issue with our tenth question (the one about food prices) and labels it the "idiotic discrimination claim of the day." A commenter there doesn't like question 2 (the pay gap question) either*. It's nice to know you're reading, guys.
- Frogblog got rather excited about Paul Chalmers' (Labour, Whangarei) support for country of origin labelling for food.
- And those who have been following the survey will already know that Act's number 7, Peter Tashkoff, labelled our survey spam, and gave us a somewhat unorthodox reply to boot. I see from the comment thread over there that another Act candidate, Clint Heine, has also decided our survey is not worth bothering with as we Hand Mirrovians are apparently just unfairly ripping the Act responses to shreds. I actually think the Act responses to date have stimulated some of the most interesting debates. Shrug.
A full index of the candidate responses is continuing to grow (kudos to Deborah who is keeping on top of this), and we look forward to receiving, posting and reading more responses up until election day!
* And it turns out that he's a candidate for the Family Party, so I've emailed him to ask for his response to the survey.


text:
Live music highlights from March 6 to 12:
- Richard Thompson. It's a measure of his longevity, ability and sheer stamina that the certified English guitar god's been here three times in less than a year. Long may he rack up the points — at age 64, with dozens of records in the bank going back to his Fairport Convention days, it's not like he's going to run out of material or styles. This sounds like a turn from last year's pair of Electric Trio visits, but equally delightful — it's solo acoustic, and the only Canadian date on this North American swing, with son Teddy as a "special guest." (Koerner Hall, 8 p.m.)
- Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. The J-pop princess model's kawaii confections are indeed a hallucinogenic, day-glo extravaganza — "She makes me feel high," tweeted Katy Perry in approval — and this Toronto debut is sold out, which should ensure a sing-along and a dress-along. The songs/videos induce diabetic shock, the dancers recall Teletubbies on acid, the costumes and wig changes are never-ending and if the pink bunny mascot clears customs, it'll be too cute for mere words. (Sound Academy, doors 7 p.m.)
Article Continued Below
- Souljazz Orchestra. Worldly Ottawa six-piece's sixth LP just out, Inner Fire, is the focus here, and the challenge for them comes in taking its many elements and instruments (30 in all, according to reports) from studio to stage. Salsa, Afrobeat and (surprise) jazz and soul vie with pinches and bunches of other ingredients; they're a solid bet for a brassy, high-energy performance and should have no trouble raising temperatures in this fave rock cave. (Garrison, doors 9 p.m.)
- The Pack A.D. Viz Tough Age, Nu Sensae, White Lung and the mighty Japandroids, Vancouver has been producing some wicked stuff that manages to be both tuneful and loud enough to shake the foundations, and the package of guitar goddess Becky Black and battering Maya Miller on drums are confidently in the middle of all that noise. They've been paying dues for a while, actually, but the notices greeting new album Do Not Engage seem to suggest a new level of exposure — once everyone gets their full sweat on here, look out. (Horseshoe, doors 9 p.m.)
- Trust. Synth-pop's latest big thing returns, but with a new look around just-released sophomore LP Joyland. What's changed? Everything, really, with main man Robert Alfons alone at the helm now and showing off a cool vocal range from a rich croon to a near-falsetto. If The Pack AD is the left-coast rock pick round town tonight, here's the home team's brooding dancefloor response. (Adelaide Hall, 9 p.m.)
- Lo'Jo. The veteran collective from Angers in western France has been at this for three decades, but unlucky for us they don't do a lot of touring to these parts — only a couple of memorable shows here this century. It's nice to have them back, then, with neither their melting pot of funky French chanson meets (among others) North Africa nor their far-reaching creative fires diminished following last year's 10th albumCinéma el Mundo and UK world music mag Songlines' best group award. Hands-down pick of the week. (Lula Lounge, doors 7 p.m.)
- Billy Joel. He turns 65 in May, and hasn't put out any new music in a couple of decades. For ordinary types, that would make for a Casino Rama gig. But this is a man who has just scored a monthly residency at Madison Square Garden, for pete's sake. He could draw a full house playing his nose. On this first visit here in five years, playing pretty much all the hits with the aid of a crack band, have no fear. (Air Canada Centre, 8 p.m.)
Article Continued Below
- Cecilia String Quartet. Guest soprano Stacie Dunlop (Thin Edge Collective) and the extraordinary cello of Shauna Rolston joins the award-winning foursome of young Toronto musicians whose all-female lineup and invigorating style and obvious chemistry blows some fresh air into the often somber chamber music world. The program for this show, which sets them up for a European tour, includes the debut of New York-based composer Ed Harsh's Down from Heaven. (Walter Hall, 7 p.m.)
- Kandle. Victoria-to-Montreal singer-songwriter Kandle Osborne launches a new chapter with debut LPIn Flames, which expands on the down n' bluesy approach and beyond-her-years maturity that made her 2011 EP so intriguing. She has the pedigree (dad Neil Osborne of 54-40 produced both records), the band (including ex-Broken Social Scener Sam Goldberg's wicked guitar), and is on a similar footing to Timber Timbre in terms of sound and sensibility — this is a fine time and venue in which to get caught up, or introduced, to a major young talent. (Drake Underground, 7 p.m.)
- Teitur. There's a little bit of Jens Lekman's observational whimsy and lovely way with a tune in the Faroe Islander's songbook (and in his charming stage presence), which will make for a night of the offbeat and special from a guy who hasn't been here in a couple of years and brings in a brand-new album, Story Music. And hey, as of this writing he was looking 'round for a local string quartet for accompaniment, travelling only with a drummer on this tour — over to you, Scandophiles. (Drake Underground, 7 p.m.)


text:
If I can take a page from the the Beatles song book and modify it a bit, today was the kick-off of 6 weeks of poetry reading and writing focus for me. As you can see, I wrote with a little help from my friend.
I'm reading from The Philosopher's Club by Kim Addonizio this week and while I've read Kim's poetry before as well as attended a reading by her, this book gives me a different perspective on her voice. It's her very first book and notably a bit different in tone from What is This Thing Called Love?, a newer title that I have of hers.
Evie pictured above, was not as intrusive into my space as it might appear. Actually for much of the time she perched herself on the arm of the couch next to me and I found the gentle purr and occasional nudging with her head against my arm to be comforting.