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For most business owners the question whether they should buy their own property or lease an office space in New York is one of the most important questions that they need to answer. The reality is that this is something that is very dependent on the situation and is individual to every business because of the specific needs that that business has. However, if you don't have enough money, then the decision pretty much makes itself, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Renting can be a great move and in this article we will show you some of the advantages of office space for rent.
You get flexibility
This is probably one of the best and most obvious advantages that renting a property can give you. You may initially like a certain space, but as the time goes on you may find more and more things that you don't like and ways in which the space doesn't suit your business anymore. The great thing about renting, especially in a city like New York, is that after the lease is up, you can simply choose not to renew it and move on to another space. This is also great because as time goes on you may have a bigger budget which could give you an office space that is better located and that suits the needs of your business at its current state.
You won't have any mortgages
Having a mortgage for your office space to pay off, on top of everything else that you need to worry about when it comes to your business, can be a real pain. However, one of the great advantages of office space for rent is that you won't find yourself locked into a mortgage. This will allow you to free up your cash and relocate it to other parts of your business. And while this is a great advantage for any business owner, it is definitely something that can be particularly helpful for new business owners that are just starting up with their business.
You'll have way less paperwork
There is probably nothing more boring than doing your taxes, and leasing an office can definitely help you cut down on paperwork. If, for example, you are looking to rent office space in New York, then you will find that your income tax return papers will be much simpler to file. This cut down on paperwork is especially visible when you compare it to the endless forms that office space owners have to fill out when tax season comes along.
It's true that the decision whether to rent or buy can be a difficult one, unless you don't have the money to buy a space. The answer is not one that fits all sizes which means that you will have to figure out what your business needs and what you can afford on your own. However, hopefully seeing a few of the advantages of office space for rent in New York can help you realize that renting may just be the way to go, especially if you are just starting your business.


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Communications and Marketing
Early advantage
Marcel Tatum '17 earned a spot in the prestigious JP Morgan Early Advantage Program thanks to a Forester alumnus who reached out to Lake Forest candidates.
Tatum was among the best-qualified college students chosen to participate in the networking and career discovery program held in New York City. Of the 1,600 students from across the country who applied, JP Morgan invited only 119 students to participate. Tatum, a double major in economics and politics, was among students from Harvard, Stanford, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, New York University, University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon, University of Virginia, Georgetown, Cornell, Vassar, and Notre Dame.
Over the course of two days, Tatum met with JP Morgan's senior leaders, colleagues, and some of the most-talented students from diverse backgrounds across the country. While building his network, Tatum participated in personal branding workshops and leadership training sessions designed to position him for career success.
"Attending this event helped me realize the diverse opportunities available in the financial services industry and how well a liberal arts education prepares one for these various roles," Tatum said.
Tatum also met one-on-one with Forester Eric Stovicek '80 of JP Morgan, who turned to the College for applicants.
"It was a pleasure to meet Marcel and it was of great value to JPMorgan to meet him," Stovicek said. "This is a good start to assisting Lake Forest students who are interested in financial careers."
"The JP Morgan Early Advantage Program and meeting with Eric gave me some great insights into a possible career in this industry," Tatum said.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sunday, May 4, 2008
Pay it Foreward
Marit has joined my challenge, I still need 2 more people so if you would like a handmade gift from me please leave me a comment.
5 comments:
- Catherine said...
I'll play if you don't get any takers! I'm sure you would like to make me something! Can I tell you what?? Cathyxx
- May 5, 2008 at 9:34 PM
- Leanne said...
I guess you can tell me what Cathy. I would love to make you something.
Leanne xx
- May 6, 2008 at 12:57 PM
- Fer said...
Oh man, I'd love to sign up but I'm really hopeless with these things!
Maybe I should pull my finger out and bite the bullet. Okay, sign me up!
Jen :o)
- May 7, 2008 at 12:59 PM
- Fiona said...
Hello Leanne,
Have you got three already ???
Fiona xxxx
- May 7, 2008 at 4:03 PM
- Leanne said...
Woo hoo, I have my 3 ladies to make a gift for, thankyou so much to all of you for signing up to my challenge, now i have to get my creative thoughts together and make each of you a gift. I'll contact you soon to get your addresses.
- May 8, 2008 at 5:22 PM
The big 5 0
Well its been a very fun week for me. Last Saturday I turned 50. It was a fun day of celebrations followed by a wonderful dinner with 30 ...
I have had a wonderful long weekend, the weather was beautiful, my children were busy and I got lots of sewing done. On Saturday afternoon I...
It was time for a change in the boys room, I bought them new doona covers yesterday. The old ones were blue and quite plain so I thought I w...
Well its been a very fun week for me. Last Saturday I turned 50. It was a fun day of celebrations followed by a wonderful dinner with 30 ...


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Carrier and Vendor Partners
As Ohio's largest General Agency, and with an ever-growing expansion market, our industry tenure enables us to share the benefits of top contracts from national and regional carrier and vendor partners with our brokers. We offer a robust portfolio with products and services ensuring our brokers represent the best available medical and ancillary options to their clients.
Succession Planning
At Cornerstone, we align ourselves with the best talent who consistently convey fresh ideas and unique perspectives. We offer services that ensure your continued success including forward thinking strategies like working with you to devise a customized Succession Plan to provide your beneficiaries with income, along with peace of mind, in the event of unexpected death or disability.


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No family of plants is quite so strange or fascinating as the various varieties of carnivorous plants! Learn firsthand from PLANT owner Bayden Hine about the incredible adaptations plants like Nepenthes, Drosera and others have evolved to be able to consume insects. Delicious!
In this class, we'll be working step-by-step through planting up our very own mini carnivorous bog gardens. If you've got your own vessel or container you'd prefer to use, feel free to bring it along - otherwise all plants and carnivorous plant-friendly soils are provided for you. Extra bits and pieces will also be available - you'll be spoiled for choice!
If you have any specific requests, get in touch via email@example.com - otherwise, see you there!


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Our 55-foot custom designed steel hull ketch is stable and strong, yet sleek and smooth at sea. Perfect for your next sailing charter in San Diego!
Captain Jack and his crew welcome you aboard!
Take part in hoisting and trimming the sails, steering through the entrance of the bay, or sit back, relax, and soak up the sun and scenery.
Our three-hour excursion is just right for enjoying the views of the city of San Diego Bay and the the ocean beyond.
We specialize in GROUPS! Custom design your special occasion cruise for your group of up to 38 guests.


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By completing your order, you understand that the products(s) you are purchasing are U.S. models and may have power / voltage requirements different from that of your country.
Prices shown in currencies other than US Dollars are estimates based on current exchange rates. We will charge your credit card in US Dollars on the day your order is shipped, and the conversion to your local currency will be done at the prevailing rate by your credit card issuer.
PSSL will not mark your parcel as a "gift", declare a value lower than the actual price paid, or otherwise prepare false customs information.
Samson's Resolv RXA10S 250-watt active studio subwoofer delivers extended low frequency reference and convenient wireless remote control over your monitoring setup. Its front-firing 10" butyl surround copolymer woofer offers tight, accurate bass while a variable low-pass filter control, dedicated high-pass outputs and a compact design provide seamless studio and home theater integration.
The included remote provides complete wireless control over not only the RXA10S, but also your entire monitoring setup. Independent Sub Level and full System Level controls allow for quick adjustments, while a Sub Mute button lets you A/B typical 2-channel and 2.1 sub/satellite monitoring with ease.
For maximum compatibility, the RXA10S is equipped with balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs. It also features balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs for connections to the main monitors. A variable crossover control lets you achieve an optimal balance between the RXA10S and satellites. The subwoofer's compact design and protective mesh grill complement both home and professional settings.
Ideal for critical studio reference that requires deep, low-end extension, the RXA10S is powered by an efficient 250-watt Class-D amplifier and durable 10" butyl surround copolymer woofer. This enables ultra-fast recovery and a quick transient response for transparent bass across all volume levels.


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Melody & Justin: Married {Oak Tree Manor, Spring, TX Wedding Photographer}
R&J Studios and I teamed up yet again for a fabulous wedding at Oak Tree Manor in Spring, TX. I love this location! It's outdoors (which is always awesome) and there are huge trees covering the entire ceremony site, so no weird shadows or light splotches on peoples' faces. (That's one of my pet peeves...and you can't exactly interrupt the ceremony and ask the couple to move to the left a little in order to get out of the sun.) The second awesome thing about this wedding is that I already knew the couple from shooting their engagement photos. Anyways, here's to the happy couple!


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Pantone has officially announced that the color of the year for 2019 is "Living Coral," otherwise known by its official Pantone code 16-1546. Since 2000, the Pantone Color Institute's annual verdict looks back on the most significant cultural, social, political and technological themes of the past year, recapping it as a color zeitgeist.
"Living Coral" was chosen for 2019 for "Representing the fusion of modern life [...] a nurturing color that appears in our natural surroundings and at the same time, displays a lively presence within social media," the institution announced. The color is described as an "animated, life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone."
Share your thoughts in the comments below and also let us know if you thought the Pantone 2018 color of the year, "Ultra Violet," lived up to its status.
In other design news, Louis Vuitton Objets Nomades debuted new pieces for Design Miami/ 2018.


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Voinovich School faculty members approved for tenure and promotion
Austin Ambrose
May 17, 2017
As a result of outstanding scholarship, teaching, leadership and public service, five Voinovich School faculty members have been approved for tenure and/or promotion effective the 2017–18 academic year.
"Congratulations to these engaged faculty on their career achievement," Mark Weinberg, Voinovich School Founding Dean, said. "Each achievement reflects an outstanding record and national reputation for engaged scholarship, innovative teaching, leadership development and training, and dedicated public service to the School, University, region and state."
Dr. Judy Millesen
Currently an associate professor for the Voinovich School, Millesen received a promotion to the rank of professor. She teaches classes on public administration, nonprofit management and nonprofit fundraising.
Her work in nonprofit management distinguishes her as a leading expert in the field. The theoretical and applied contributions she's made can be found in her classes, as she blends community-centric and applied learning to enhance the outcomes for her students.
She is also an active member of the local community, previously serving on the board of directors for the Athens Foundation.
Dr. Ani Ruhil
Promoted to the rank of professor, Ruhil is currently an associate professor at the school. He teaches quantitative research methods, policy analysis, and program evaluation for the school's Master of Public Administration (MPA) program.
Ruhil and his colleague Marsha Lewis' research from the past ten years earned the Voinovich School the Research Partnership award by Battelle for Kids. The School was the only one to receive this honor and it was in coordination with the 15th anniversary celebration for Battelle for Kids.
Dr. Jason Jolley
Jolley became tenured and was promoted to the rank of associate professor. He currently serves as an assistant professor of economic development and is the director of the Master of Public Administration program at the Voinovich School.
His research explores economic development with an emphasis in policy evaluation and economic impact studies. Within the years of evaluation, Jolley published sixteen peer-reviewed articles. Eight of the sixteen publications came during his time at the Voinovich School.
He also principal in the new U.S. Economic Development Administration University Center five-year grant with Bowling Green State University, a program that connects local governments and organizations with the resources and expertise of nearby colleges and universities to promote economic development.
Dr. Sarah Davis
Davis also became tenured and was promoted to the rank of associate professor. Davis, an ecosystem ecologist with an expertise in energy bioscience, biogeochemisty and ecophysiology, currently serves as an assistant professor at the School.
She explores opportunities for bioenergy development and works to describe environmental impacts and benefits of novel second-generation bioenergy production systems. In her efforts, she established active applied research areas in the domain of bioenergy and biofuels.
Dr. Derek Kauneckis
Kauneckis was the third member to become tenured and receive the rank of associate professor. Kauneckis currently teaches in the Environmental Studies program. His research focuses on governance as applied to environmental science technology policy as well as local government climate change policies.
His work has been supported by the Fulbright Scholar Program, the National Science Foundation, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the United States Department of Agriculture. He is currently the Co-PI on a $3.9 million National Science Foundation grant on water demands under climate change.


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Before starting on this controversial theory let us understand the importance of moon for sustaining life on Earth.
The gravitational forces from moon create tidal motions on Earth's Ocean creating weather patterns which are so essential for life to exist on our planet. Also, moon stabilizes rotational axis of Earth therefore we don't have varying or sudden climate shifts which allowed the emergence of complex multi cellular organisms such as humans. These facts highlight the impact of moon on the existence of life Earth.
Spaceship Moon theory indicates that the Moon placed by advanced extra terrestrials to orbit earth because they wanted life to evolve on it. Or Aliens are using the Moon to mine precious elements of it.
Over the years by sending various spacecraft's to study Moon, it has been found that the inner region of Moon are less dense then its outer layers i.e. Moon could be hollow from inside. Scientists studying lunar activity also indicate that whenever an asteroid hits the Moon, it rings like a bell. On November 20, 1969, The Apollo spacecraft crew noticed that when the released lunar module crashed into the surface of Moon, there were reverberations which lasted for an hour. Also, the Apollo crew noticed that Moon had many craters which didn't have any bottoms. These bottomless craters were believed to be the entrances to the secret alien city inside. Moon shows thousands of impact craters from meteorites over the years and generally the craters have depths proportional to their diameters which is not the case with moon. The lunar craters have a very flat or convex bottom which suggests them hitting a very high tensile hull underneath the outer shell.
It's been found that the rocks on Moon outdated the rocks found on Earth by a billion years and it's is the only satellite in the solar system with a perfect circular orbit with just the right distance from Earth and the right diameter to create a solar eclipse. Coincidence or something else?
It is also believed that Moon has large deposits of Helium 3 which could be a clean source for creating a nuclear fusion reaction to fuel spaceships for interplanetary or intergalactic travels. To give an example of the power of Helium 3, One NASA spaceship filled with Helium3 can power a country like USA for an year. Sun showers Helium 3 onto the solar system everyday but Earth gets shielded by it thanks to our magnetic field. But Moon doesn't have an atmosphere therefore there are large deposits of Helium 3 on the Moon. Aliens could have set up a colony deep inside it to mine this precious element as well as using the Moon as a base for universal travels.
There are various reports and pictures of UFO's around the moon shot from Earth, International Space Station as well as our telescopes. According to the Ancient Alien theory, NASA was warned by the aliens not to send manned missions on Moon. Consequently NASA has never sent a manned mission which landed on moon after Nov 20, 1969.


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cedar hobbit, 4.5 months, taken with phone
There was this scene in the film Lord of the Rings in the beginning when all the little hobbit children were sitting on the ground at a party and the camera scanned all their sweet hobbity faces. I remember seeing this one little girl with big round eyes and a look of wonder and awe and I thought to myself "Ohhhh...how I would love to have a child with that spirit."
I didn't know that at the same time, snuggled up in the theater, that Boho Boy was having the same thoughts. He noticed that same girl in the crowd of cuties and fell in love with her spirit the same way I did.
We were trying to get pregnant, you see...so something down deep inside of us connected with that child and the ache we felt for our own.
It wasn't until about a year later, when we were talking about how we envision our child to look (like all couples do that are desiring a child)...will he/she have my eyes, my lips, my hair, etc. We both mentioned that child in Lord of the Rings.
"You saw her too?" I asked. We both felt that is how our child would look, would be.
As we were approaching the 5th year of trying to conceive, I think we forgot about that girl. Or perhaps it hurt too much to go to that place, to that dream, that vision of our child and we put it in the safest part of our hearts, tucked away.
Then our birth parents and Cedar came into our lives and the healing began and life was so entirely and utterly beautiful and not at all what we expected but everything that we needed.
When Cedar was about 4.5 months old, we were goofing around by pulling his ears back like a hobbit and taking photos for our family. Our family has always referred to Cedar as a Wood Nymph or a Gnome or a hobbit...because he just has that look, that essence to him. What blew us away is this one photo we took of him (above). Because that is the face....THE exact face of the little girl in Lord of the Rings that we often dreamed of.
Wow. Right? Wow. Perhaps our hearts always knew this and that is why at the exact moment, years ago, we both recognized that face on the screen.
So of course we're going to dress him up as a hobbit tonight...but we won't have to do much. ;)
Happy Halloween. Be fulfilled. Be joyous. Be playful. Be safe.


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I Think Selfies are A-OK
9 Things to Remember about Selfies
Just went to the Rembrandt Exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam..apparently Rembrandt made almost 70 self portraits, all without a Selfie-stick! Apparently he felt that it was crucial to capture his image over and over again, and not always from the best angle
Selfies get a bad wrap these days, they are considered to be a reflection of the narcissistic attitude that prevails in our society. However, when we put the history and purpose of the Selfie under a microscope, we see that its been around for quite a while and its a great tool to get creative and boost our self esteem. As a mirror of a moment in time, we can use Selfies as a vehicle for transformation and self-growth.
Selfies aren't new. We've been showing images of ourselves for thousands of years.
Throughout history, famous people have used portraits of themselves to create a brand. This is nothing new. Its only now that we are able to eliminate the middleman (the artist) and get our message across in a more succinct manner.
They are a great way to express ourselves in an nonverbal way. A selfie catches a mood or a moment in time. By using images, the intellectual part of the brain is by-passed and we are given access to our more creative selves. An idea is conveyed that is beyond anything that we want to articulate. By presenting an image, we force the viewer to drop into a subconscious part of their brain that allows them to feel and be in the moment with the Selfie-snapper in a way that only they can interpret, freeing their creative side.
A selfie can be a shout out to yourself. Having a great hair day? Definitely should be recorded. We as a society reward negative talk and frowns on vanity. The outcome of that is negative down talk becomes a mental habit that is reinforced constantly. In some selfies, people snap a pic because they are feeling good about themselves. This shows a spirit andconfidence that young women, the group most often posting them, tend to lack.
Context matters. Is the person posting a selfie looking for approval or wishing to capture and share a moment? The friend who posts million selfies on instagram or Facebook to the point of desperation is the worst case scenario. Sometimes a recording of an instant is all that a Selfie is out to capture.
They are a collective visual diaryJust like the works of Van Gogh and Rembrandt, the Selfie not only captures the image of the person but what else is part of the time capsule of that moment.
Body language becomes the linga franca. Across culture a smirk, a flirtatious tilt of the head, a shirtless shot from the gym are all understood immediately, reaffirming how similar the human condition is no matter where the Selfie is taken.
Legitimizes How we spend our time. "Look how busy I am, look how I spent my day, look who I'm with and what I've got or don't got" A Selfie gives how we spend our time some value We become our own interlocutor figure Traditional in Dutch Old Master paintings was a figure within a group of people whose intense gaze into the outside world, was specifically there to draw the viewer in. Now our own connection to the lens is an invitation to enter our world, to draw that person into our surroundings.
Selfies help us to balance our Throat ChakrasQuite often we hesitate to express ourselves verbally, we hesitate to show the outer world our inner world. This can be due to an imbalance of the throat chakra. It is noted that some of the most creative people suffer from throat chakra issues, and that their artistic medium is the only way they can get the world to see who they really are. Selfies again allow us to express ourselves in a creative way that may help to articulate thoughts and emotions more readily
So Selfies shouldn't be sold short. They have a place in the modern world and are here to stay with its own trending rules and boundaries. Selfies validate the need to be seen and simply the need to be. Selfies are a way to capture ourselves in this moment, so face that camera guilt-free!


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Join The RogersGray Charitable Foundation for the 3rd "Comedy for the Community"
Featuring 2 World-Class Comedians – Kevin Flynn and John Turco
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Heritage Museums & Gardens
5:30 PM – Cocktails, Hors D'oeuvres & Cheer
7:00 pm – Comedy Show, Live Auction, Presentation of "Surprise" Grants & Beneficiary Grants
Tickets are $150 and include hosted food & beverages catered by The Casual Gourmet, 2 exceptionally funny comedy performances and a host of other fun – all set at the gorgeous Heritage Museums & Gardens.
This years featured beneficiaries are organizations who provide services supporting people with disabilities.
These 3 organizations – each wonderful in their own right – provide a support network through empowerment and independence.
Cape Abilities
Community Connections
New England Village
We are so excited to also announce that our "Surprise" Grants will be back! Any non-profit or board member of a non-profit organization who attends, can enter their organization into a raffle to win 1 of (5) $1000 "Surprise" grants that we pick during the evening. If you are attending, be sure to enter your organization into the raffle at registration.
Unable to attend the evening, but still want to contribute? Click Here!
Presented By:
Platinum Sponsor:
Gold Sponsors:
Silver Sponsors:
AllCovered – IT Services, AmWins Brokerage of New England, CNA Insurance, Guardian Life, Liberty Mutual Insurance, PURE Insurance, Quaker Special Risk, Safelite, Swett & Crawford, The MEMIC Group, The Norfolk & Dedham Group, UPC Insurance, XS Brokers
The net proceeds of this event will benefit The RogersGray Charitable Foundation, a fund of the Cape Cod Foundation. The Cape Cod Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity.
Sponsorship Opportunities are available at different levels, please contact [email protected] or 508.790.4422 to learn more.


text: Illustration of a red fox. I love this animal because of his beautiful color, it is so intense. The red fox originated from smaller-sized ancestors from Eurasia during the Middle Villafranchian period and colonised North America shortly after the Wisconsin glaciation.Red foxes are usually together in pairs or small groups consisting of families, such as a mated pair and their young, or a male with several females having kinship ties. Do you want this print at home? You can buy it in my shop.


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Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme created by GingerReadsLainey and managed by Sam from Thoughts on Tomes on Goodreads. Each week features a new prompt in which you are suppose to talk about the top 5 books that you relate to the prompt. This week the topic is: Favourite Fathers/Father Figures — In honor of Father's Day discuss some of your favorite fictional dads.
_ _ _
Arthur Weasley from the 'Harry Potter' series by J.K. Rowling
How could I make a top five list of favourite fathers/father figures without including everyone's favourite Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office.A man who always tried to do the right thing, Arthur represented the every-man, trying to do best for his family and also playing the father like role for Harry as best he could, big shoes to fill as Sirius Black and Albus Dumbledore previous held the role.
Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
My favourite literary character of all time, Atticus Finch is probably my favourite of the five literary fathers I'm listing today. For those not aware, Atticus Finch is the much beloved lawyer who willingly defended an African American man in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression. But besides teaching readers courage, trust, and the value of the law, he really was a great father to his two children: Jean Louise Finch (Scout) and Jeremy (Jem). He was patient and kind but also realized the value of not sheltering his children to the horrors of the world.
Mr. Bennett from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A father well ahead of his time, Mr. Bennett values his five daughters independence, intelligence, and willingness to stay at home. He wants his children to make their own decisions, whether it is to go into a marriage head first or wait until the right suitor comes around, and if I lived during this time period, he would be my first choice for a father.
Daniel Covey from the 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' series by Jenny Han
Jenny Han has a way of writing parental figures, in that she sees the value of having strong role models for the younger characters of her novels. While he is far from perfect, he does the best he can for his three daughters, following the death of his first wife, Eve, and I mean, who wouldn't want to watch a documentary, or avoid the cooking of his movie counterpart, John Corbett.
Maverick from The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
As with all the other literary dads on this top five fathers/father figures list, Maverick's motivation stems from one universal theme, to do what is best for his family. A former gang member, Maverick's stay in prison inspired him to be a better father to his children. While he, like all the fathers on the list, isn't perfect, given that it takes him to the end of the novel to accept who his daughter, Starr loves, when she can't stay silent in the face of injustice, he wholeheartedly supports his daughter, showing just how far he has come.
_ _ _
And those are my top 5 favourite fictional dads. Do you have any characters that could fill this T5W? Leave it as a comment below and let's chat about it.


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Minx Harness
by: Aslan
$ 160.00
Take your play up a notch with the new Minx harness from ASLAN Leather.
Minx is ASLAN strap-on design at the next level! We took our top selling Jaguar design and added a gorgeous corset style back piece with adjustable lace closure, styled to the nines with strategically placed buckles and D rings. This harness will surprise and satisfy cats of all persuasions.
Fully adjustable lace closure fits hips 26-56. Ergonomic back panels sit comfortably over the tail bone like a well fitting pair of chaps to create a very secure fit for the ultimate dildo control. Two strap design with horizontal and vertical strap adjustment for the best fit on any size butt! Buckle closure at the hips, D ring closure on the rear straps and a D ring on each back panel for extra fun!. Supple top grain leather and ASLAN top quality design ensure the Minx is tough enough to handle any position you get into.


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Last Monday we kicked off our Seminar Series for our Financial Wellness Program as a Parish. This is a project of our Finance Council headed by our Chairperson, Novie Medina and assisted by Ronnie Espinosa.
As part of our Vision and Mission as a parish which calls for responsible stewardship, our Finance Council has been restructured to reflect a more dynamic system of assisting our community to reach its objectives and beyond. Over the past months we have streamlined our systems which allows us to respond to the needs of the Church.
First, we have created a committee on Financial efficiency which is tasked to oversee our fiscal responsibilities on a more comprehensive way. Composed of members of the council who are involved in accounting and corporate management in their own private lives, this committee allows us to have a more strategic approach in the way we look at our finances. In the past months they have not only screened our books but had initiated the formulation of goals which would explain the underlying reasons for the proposed budgets of our subsidiary units. In short, they are making sure that our operations reflect our vision and mission as a Parish.
Secondly, we have created a committee on Plants and Facilities which assists the pastor in the major capital improvements of the church and school campus. While the council as a whole advises the pastor on the financial feasibility of capital projects, this committee focuses on the projects themselves, reviewing them in behalf of all the stakeholders of our church.
Lastly, we have our Financial Education committee which provides support for our parishioners to be responsible stewards themselves. The abovementioned seminar series is the brainchild of this committee.
These various activities are driven by selfless and dedicated volunteers led but not limited to the Finance Council. For example, our financial wellness program is run by volunteers from various parishioners who are in this field. Our Plant and Facilities people are supported by volunteer engineers and architects.
We are all trying our best to be "responsible stewards of His gifts" (from our Parish Vision and Mission Statement). If you feel that you have something to share in these stewardship committees then feel free to get in touch with me. Our Parish runs on the love and support of volunteers. I am grateful for those who had stepped forward to support our Church in various ways. I hope this article for this week inspire you to reflect on being a volunteer. Thank you.
Fr. John


text: Dear Zigsters, We want cells to be able to execute each other in chains, e.g. to create a zigzagular interface for Linux. The execution dimension (d.xeq) should be the simplest way. Definition of d.xeq-- ? each executed cell looks along d.xeq; if there is another cell, it too is executed. ?? NOTE THAT WE HAVE TO ALLOW THE NULL 'EXECUTION' OF CELLS WITHOUT SHARP-SIGNS, so that they can pass execution to their contents or their neighbors. This means we interpret the "execution" of a cell with no code as having no result, and pass on to the next. ?? This provides single-thread execution without fanout, being potentially tamer than d.inside/d.contents, which can fan out wildly. ? Since execution is single-threaded, all other ZZ processes wait until it's their turn. ChrzT ____________________________________________________ Theodor Holm Nelson, Visiting Professor of Environmental Information Keio University, Shonan Fujisawa Campus, Fujisawa, Japan Home Fax from USA: 011-81-466-46-7368 (If in Japan, 0466-46-7368) http://www.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~ted/ (Professorial page) _____________________________________________________ Permanent: Project Xanadu, 3020 Bridgeway #295, Sausalito CA 94965 Tel. 415/ 331-4422, fax 415/332-0136 http://www.xanadu.net (see also Professorial page, above) PERMANENT E-MAIL: ted@xxxxxxxxxx _____________________________________________________ QOD 99.03.25 "One event is an anomaly. Two is a coincidence. Three is a trend." -- Anon.


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Bungalow EL PUIG -
Bungalow El Puig
Bungalows - 2 Bedrooms
- x4-5
- x1
- x2
- 35 m2
Maximum capacity 4/5 people, including babies. For safety and insurance reasons is completely forbidden to exceed the number of occupants.
Located in a pedestrian area. Contents:
- 1 bedroom with a double bed (140×190).
- 1 bedroom with two single beds (80×190).
- A dining/living-room with sofa bed for one person (75×200). TV without satellite dish.
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Category: REVOLUTION
When we read about historical events in a particular place or time, we can miss out on the fact that they may be linked up with events evn thousands of kilometres away during roughly the same period. If we do spot something like this we may be inclined to dismiss it at coincidence, rather than cause and effect, perhaps arising from happenings in another area of the world over roughly the same period.
When there is a large time-gap between events, we may think of "coincidence" or other factors. When they occur reasonably close together in Time, even though widely separated in Space, it may well pay to look for links – perhaps via events in yet another place. In the 19th. century Napoleon invaded Russia with disastrous consequences. In the 20th. century Hitler invaded Russia with similar results. We can dismiss "cause and effect" in favour of other factors such…
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The time has come to jump just over 3000 years to a more modern European monarch, Henry VIII of England. In yesterday's post (under same title) we saw how the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten became embroiled in matters of "religion", an experience shared by his remote successor. The situation in each country was in some respects different. In Egypt the gods were worshipped on a local/national basis. There were differences of opinion between monarchs and high priests, but other nations and foreign policy would not necessarily come into the picture. In Western Christian Europe at the end of the Middle Ages the situation was very different.
When the Roman Empire dissolved and disintegrated during the Dark Ages a unifying force remained – Christianity as embodied in the Western Catholic Church, under a Pope normally based in Rome. This was a civilizing influence under which the evolving states of Western Europe had their being. In theory such an arrangement could keep states on peaceful terms with one another and provide a means of settling differences under Christian principles. Unfortunately theory and practice do not always coincide. The Church became involved in a more militant role in international politics. The Crusades were an example of how war could become an acceptable policy. The Norman invasion of England had the sanction of the Christian Church, as had the later Norman-English incursion into Ireland. As time went on Popes and monarchs were often related to each other and family ties were important in international policy.
England, being an island, naturally had a strong "go it alone" preference. A feature of th 16th. century was the growing wealth and power of emerging nations. France and Spain were major players. But physically small states like England, the Netherlands, and North German states were taking advantage of new opportunities created by the discovery of America to expand their wealth and power. Manufacture and trade were not an invention of modern times! Henry's father, Henry VII had in the interests of peace and goodwill with Spain arranged a marriage between his son Arthur and a Spanish Princess, Catherine of Aragon. When Arthur died prematurely his younger brother Henry was expected to inherit his wife as well. (Such were royal marriages – more reminiscent of the cattle market than "Mills and Boone").
Alongside this international and commercial scene were aspects of the Church. Henry VIII was a devout follower of religious practices. The Pope had awarded him the title of "Defender of the Faith", which he retained to the end of his life – he was in no way a "Protestant". But there was one aspect of the Church with which Henry did not agree. This was not theological but more administrative – namely the function of the Church as an international body with influence over international relations. England, like other emerging powers was developing an independent outlook. Matters came to a head when Henry responded to pressure from his advisors to remarry and hopefully produce a male heir, which was felt to be vital for England's continued existence and safety. Since this would break the marriage-based alliance with Spain this was not acceptable to Church policy – or international policy.
Another aspect of the religious set-up was the monastic system. The enormous benefits brought to Europe by the civilizing influence of the monasteries were beginning to be looked at differently as the system was in a process of decline, no longer so necessary and not performing well. But another factor was that monastic administration rested in the hands of authorities in Rome. This went against the growing independent outlook prevalent in England. A third factor, which we have already mentioned in the case of Akhenaten was that the monastic establishments were wealthy and were endowed with large areas of land, which the monarch could use to buy loyalty from his supporters. This entailed a break with the Pope, as representing the international aspects of the Church.
Here a comparison with Akhenaten is timely. Henry had no major quarrel with the Church's theology. Akhenaten on the other hand created a new theology, the worship of the Sun – Aten. Henry brought the system of churches, clergy, bishops, under his control, making the religious system in England subject to the Crown.. Akhenaten's changes were of similar nature except that he abolished the traditional deities and replaced them with one God. The system worked in England – the main clash between Church and State in England which springs to mind is the fall of Archbishop Laud in Charles I's day to parliamentary pressure. It worked because for years afterwards religious practices remained stable . Eventually in England Protestantism gained ground, and in the 1640's Puritanism emerged for a time as a religious force. In Egypt a conservative people, while accepting apparently the Pharaoh's system, returned to traditional practices as soon as the monarchy changed. So "hasten slowly" would appear to be the motto where religious changes were contemplated.
An interesting example of an attempt to introduce a new religion occurred in the course of the French Revolution when the government introduced for a time worship of "The Supreme Being". The traditional Church had already "fallen from grace" so to speak, and this was a palliative, which was short-lived.
Akhenaten's revolutionary reforms may be a reason why during his reign Egypt was under aggressive pressure from neighbouring states, perhaps not because their religious concepts were being threatened but taking advantage of internal unrest which was bound to exist in Egypt. In the case of England the links between Henry's break with the Church's international influence and opposition from the other European states can be easily assumed. Yet too much can be made of "religion" here. Spain's opposition to England in the years to come, culminating in the Spanish Armada episode in 1588 would have been more due to the clash between England and Spain in the American trade than religious doctrine. Religion is so often a convenient scapegoat for other more mundane issues like trade and commerce.
People tend to be sensitive – and conservative- when it comes to changes in belief and practice being imposed from above – and it does not only apply to religion. Henry and his daughter Elizabeth "kept the brakes on" in matters of religious change. Henry's son Edward VI, (Tutankhamun's opposite number), Henry's daughter Maty Tudor, and later James II forced the pace of change and created serious unrest, as happened in the case of Akenhaten.
Another issue involved could perhaps be best described as sovereignty. We will be looking at that in the third part of this post. This is where international combinations for diplomacy or commerce fit in.
What could these all have to do with one another? Be patient, and you will find out. History is a continuous process, with each event producing consequences which spread far and wide, over time and space. Again, situations arise over the millennia in nations which produce similar responses and consequences. Human response doesn't vary from age to age. Nor do the basic problems communities face over time and space change much either.
We have all heard of Tutankhamun, the boy-king whose tomb seems to be better known than the young ruler himself today. No doubt the shortness of his reign accounts to some extent for this. Similarly his father Amenhotep IV has been a shadowy figure with reaction to his rule depriving future generations of historians of a source of interesting material. Sometimes there is a reverse reaction to a ruler's actions Henry VIII performed similar deeds, provoking a stormy reaction which has given "grist to the historian's mill"ever since. Which is better – obscurity or notoriety? Perhaps Henry was less lucky because now everybody is an "expert"on his deeds, whereas the students of Akhenaten have had to do some hard work over a century or so. If I may be excused a side-step, both monarchs were followed by "boy-kings" of limited survival periods but this is perhaps purely coincidental! Edward VI, Henry's son, had a weak chest – Tutankhamun on the other hand is still the subject of debate on the question of "Did he fall or was he pushed?"
In the case of both Amenhotep, or Akhenaten as he is probably better known, it was religion which loomed large in his story. Egypt in the period we are looking at – around 2000 BC – had a religious system with a whole range of national, international, provincial, local deities serviced by priests, administrators, servants, tenants, and possessing wealth, temples, hospitals, educational establishments. Many aspects of this would be familiar to folk in Henry VIII's day too. It could be said that the Pharaoh, as well as being the titular ruler of the state, had a prime responsibility for the army, defence, law and order, taxation, social and economic issues etc. Christian Europe of the sixteenth century was not all that different. In both periods clashes occurred between the religious establishment and the state as embodied in the Pharaoh/King. In Europe there was only Christianity embodied in two main groups – Roman Catholic and the Orthodox Eastern Church. In Egypt there was a vast range of gods and goddesses ranging from powerful gods like Amun to humble household spirits. The temple set-ups of the great gods provided a challenge to temporal authority. Also it could well be felt that such a multiplicity of expressions of religious feelings could well be condensed into a simple faith headed by one supreme Deity.
Such a religious set-up however, greater even than that of Amun, could have immense influence over the state. Amenhotep tackled the problem by establishing himself as the founder of the new faith, its creator. The new religion was to be centered around the Sun, with the Pharaoh as its manifestation, so to speak. The monarch changed his title to Tutankhaten, in honour of the Sun God Aten. Temples of the old gods were closed – no doubt their immense assets "nationalized" (Wonder why Henry VIII springs to mind)? It is a pity that subsequent Egyptian rulers deprived us of much knowledge of how this was done because it sounds virtually unbelievable. Perhaps the traditional gods were losing their ground with the people – perhaps the combined personality of the Pharaoh and the heat of the Sun were deemed to be insuperable – perhaps taxes to one combined religious establishment were lower than hitherto (or am I being cynical)? Anyway the new system was established and survived the rest of Akhenaten's reign – and he too survived!
Apparently there was an immense freeing-up of art and culture during this period. Akhenaten established a new capital city – Amarna – and there must have been a great "breath of fresh air" in what had been a stuffy and traditionalist Egypt. Some scholars have suggested that Akhenaten was acquainted with Moses, who was also an exponent of the concept of One God. There is however a lack of evidence to this effect. It could well be that there was an underlying feeling that the multiplicity of deities was becoming too complex generally. Akhenaten was less successful in areas like foreign policy and Egypt's territories and influence shrank during his reign. His son Tutankhaten on inheriting power changed his title to Tutankhamun – an indication that his counsellors had restored the old religion headed by the great god Amun. Not surprisingly political chaos reigned supreme for years as the old ways were restored. The great new capital Amarna was literally razed to the ground, with the foundations only being discovered in recent years. (It would almost seem that one "modern"king, Louis XIV knew all this. He called himself the Sun King and images of the sun dominated Versailles as they had dominated Amarna all those years earlier).
Ideals in History II.
In a recent post (Jan. 3rd.) we looked at the role ideals have played in historical events. Ideals evolve – they can be the culmination of the efforts of thinkers over thousands of years. We mentioned the concepts behind the English Civil War as being particularly significant in modern history, and not just in Europe. It was during this period (mid 1600's) that the North American colonies were growing apace, and fretting under the heavy hand (relatively) of the mother country. So it is not surprising that in America by the mid 1700's concepts of greater political freedom, less arbitrary rule, independence, were emerging. Philosophers abounded in the 18th. century – the "Century of Enlightenment". Voltaire and Rousseau in France, Tom Paine in England were but a few examples. Concepts such as the Rights of Man, civil liberties, etc. were being thrashed out. By the 1770's in America the die was cast and political discussion of ideals culminated in the use of force. Sad this – it is such fun to argue round the table over ideals – but there is another serious side of the coin when the ideals are taken seriously, and meet determined opposition. The resultant independent United States of America still broadcasts its ideals of that age to the world.
At the period in question France had a long-standing feud with England over trade, colonies and related matters, and somewhat perversely decided to throw in its weight with the American colonists, sending over armies to support the colonists, under such leaders as Lafayette. There was already in France a strong idealistic movement triggered by the writings of such thinkers as Rousseau and Tom Paine. Seemingly arbitrary royal rule, ill-treatment of the "lower orders" by nobility and Church, a desire for change, were opposed by a large element of "the powers that be". Both officers and men who had sailed from France to support the American colonists often returned to France wondering what all the fuss was about in America – the situation was so much worse in France!
There is a romantic idea that the French Revolution occurred on July 14th. 1789 with the assault on the Bastille. In fact that event gained a lot of publicity in the media of the day. (You couldn't trust the media then either!) The English poet Wordsworth reacted along the lines of – "WHAT BLISS IT WAS THAT DAY TO BE ALIVE – WHEN TO BE YOUNG WAS VERY HEAVEN". But revolutions are not made nor are ideals achieved in a single day. As in England in the 1640's it took several years before it had to be finally decided that the King was not going to reign as a constitutional monarch, and trial and execution proved the only alternative. As in England 150-odd years earlier internal dissent made strong government on military lines necessary to hold the country together, but in France the situation was exacerbated by the development of a concerted attack on the country by its neighbours, determined to reverse the spread of revolutionary ideals. Hence the rise of Napoleon, like Cromwell, the strong military man.
So "bye-bye" to high-flown ideals? Perhaps not – There is still hope. In both France (1815) and in England (1660) "Kings" were restored. But things were never the same again – England first and later France progressed to Parliamentary democracies, the latter emulating the former. The system spread and for all its defects is accepted by mature political societies world-wide.
Other countries have passed through parallel circumstances. Sometimes ideals flare up and fizzle out under outside force. In 1798 Ireland looked to be raising the French revolutionary banner of "Liberty, Equality. Fraternity" under French inspiration and support, but the movement died. Was America luckier than England and France in maintaining the momentum of its revolution? I think not – there was a form of delayed action until the American Civil War erupted in the 19th. century when issues connected with working out a "federal" system came ta head.
Hopefully mankind will never cease to have ideals. Achieving them can be a painful process. Perhaps it can be made less painful if we learn from the lessons of History – BUT WHO EVER "LEARNED FROM HISTORY?" (Now that could be a theme of its own).
IDEALS IN HISTORY – Some Thoughts
In the course of history we are overwhelmed by chains of events. These events are generated by a wide variety of sources. Not a few have their origin in the emergence of ideals, springing from new conceptions of life – what it is – whether it could be changed – how it should be changed. A feeling of malcontent can produce a negative and destructive reaction. Such a reaction can be short-lived and easily put down. It can be a different story however when thinkers come forward and start working out exactly how and under what guiding principles changes can be made. It is here where ideas evolve into ideals, which need to be well ahead of action in order for an agreed unified thinking to precede action.
Half- formed ideals can be non-productive. Actions resulting from them can be inconsistent, and affairs can be in a state of flux and confusing change. This has been the case in many political upheavals over the centuries. Often issues are not simple, but embrace political, social, religious, economic and other aspects of life. Several sets of ideals juggling for space together can be, to say the least, confusing.
One such event was the English Civil War of the 1640's. On the political front ideas were emerging that arbitrary rule by a non-representative few was not an perfect situation when actions were being taken which could be detrimental to many. Again, it was felt that an already-existing body, Parliament, was better equipped to manage affairs. It could be said that this concept had become an ideal. It was felt, by the way, that there was nothing inconsistent with this ideal working alongside a cooperative monarch.
However, when we create one ideal which affects an important area of life, parallel ideals will emerge to accompany it. Thus in England the ideal of political reform was accompanied in many peoples' minds by long-standing thoughts of religious reform. Henry VIII and Elizabeth I had evolved a centrally/nationally organised English Church still carrying features of the preceding externally controlled "Roman" Church. There was now a growing feeling among Protestants/Puritans that a more ideal religious system should be more democratic, non-hierarchical, not centrally organised, and not under control of the King. It is interesting we see a merging if both political and religious ideals. It is also worth keeping in mind that many people would favour retaining the religious system and changing the political one. Others would have thought the other way.
The next few years, with evolving ideals and concepts, were a nightmare in retrospect. The King failed to mould his ideals to the prevailing climate, suffering dethronement and execution. The existing Republic failed to become our modern concept of a "Parliamentary Democracy". The Puritan system of thinking favoured "disintegration" of political authority rather than integration and central control – Democracy if you like but Democracy run riot. Cromwell, proponent of the ideal of Parliamentary Democracy, found it impossible to run the country consistently with a Parliament where every man had a voice – and used it. Cromwell eventually, finding things unworkable, had to sink his ideals and run the country without Parliament. Virtual military dictatorship followed – this is a very important point. In such situations where a chaotic system of ideas/ideals clash firm rule has to be imposed for the general welfare. A break-down in self-discipline leads to the imposition of external discipline. This is not an opinion so much as a statement of historical fact.
One fact I should mention here since it will emerge here in different form is that England was allowed to struggle through its mess without foreign invasion. The nations of Europe were dedicated to the Divine Right of Kings. Parliamentary control was unthinkable. Louis XIV of France was a major follower of the doctrine of Royal Prerogative. Yet he left England alone and seems to have accepted his "brother" Cromwell as England's Head of State. There was no invasion of England by the massed armies of France, Austria, Spain, Italy etc. to restore the political and religious system. Contrast that with France after its Revolution some 150 years later. One may presume Louis had "other fish to fry" – and the English navy was never far away.
I don't think it is fully realised how significant the English Civil War was in the history of Europe and indeed of the world. Ideals were evolved, which led to modern systems of Parliamentary Democracy. It certainly led to more examples of "History Repeats Itself".
Subsequent examples we will look at briefly will include America, Ireland, Russia, with main emphasis on France and Napoleon The theme will be "ideals" – Are they good? Do they work? Can they be made effective? Ideals exist in the mind of man – how successfully can they be translated into reality – and action? A policy is described as "too unrealistic" – How do we correct that?


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Monthly Archives: March 2017
The Active Mind of a Writer
So everyone knows that in order to write one must have a good active imagination. I mean you have to be able to people a whole story with fictional characters. Characters born of your active mind. What people don't know … Continue reading
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Exploring Big Sur
Big Sur has long been on my (Andrea's) "to visit" list. Specifically, the Bixby Bridge. I plotted ways to get to this bridge even when I lived much further away in the midwest, so this trip has been on the radar for some time. We had planned a long anniversary trip up the coast back in August, but our cat Zoe had some bad luck and got injured, so we had to stay home with her. The trip was cancelled, and honestly, we were heartbroken for both the cancelled trip and our poor kitty.
Fast forward to Christmas time - we had a few days off work and had planned on mostly just relaxing and staying local. We planned an overnight in Joshua Tree, but at 9 o'clock on the night before, due to freezing weather in the desert, Kim jokingly said, "hey, we could go to Big Sur". We laughed, then paused, then said "why not". We rapidly re-packed our bags and changed our itinerary. And this brings us to this blog post... a few days of exploring the California central coast, and specifically, the Big Sur area. (Also, our Big Sur camping post.)
We headed up the coast on the historical Highway 1. This road gradually gets more narrow (and more gorgeous) the further north you go, and there are plenty of spots to pull over and snap a photo. We stopped a lot, as is natural for wandering photographers. Stops also occurred due to whales spouting and flapping fins at us several times. The water is a shade of blue that is just stunning. This is a beautiful highway to drive as it follows the coast and beautiful cliffs and water and forest.
We opted for a fairly straight shot up the coast in order to get to a campsite at a reasonable hour. We anticipated full campgrounds, as most of them take reservations and stay full for months at a time. Knowing that we chose this route very last minute, we were prepared for a situation where we might have to hike to camp, but were very hopeful for a campsite with fire-pit!
We took small detours to catch a glimpse of Morro Rock, to watch cows in the distance roaming right next to the water, and to simply glance over the coast and be in awe of how beautiful it all is.
Gorda General Store
We stopped at this little "town" called Gorda on the way up the coast because we needed fire wood. This is next to a little gas station with rather expensive fuel - like plan on two times the going rate, it was $5.99 when we were there. Getting gas in Cambria is a good idea, and you can likely dodge the prices at this little market. The General Store was our stop for firewood because we try to "buy it where we burn it". While we were a little relieved to have found a bundle of wood, it was unfortunately quite overpriced. We opted for only one $20 bundle, since we weren't even sure we'd be able to have a fire.
Camping - Plaskett Creek to Kirk Creek
Our first option for camping was at Plaskett Creek Campground, which was a large, somewhat crowded camp on the inland side of the 1. There were a few sites that looked like tent spots, but they were almost all full. We had originally hoped to get a spot on the water side of the highway, so we opted to try our luck at a second campground - Kirk Creek Campground. We arrived to a very full campground, but stopped to speak with the camp host, and found that one spot (#24) was available. We grabbed it right away. We'll cover the camping in more detail in another blog, but I will say that this campground is ideal for ocean views, the sound of waves crashing as you sleep, and beautiful sunset views.
This campground has a trail that leads directly down the cliffs and right to the ocean. We grabbed cameras and took off, hiking through the woods and lots of overgrown greenery. We enjoyed watching the sun begin to set from a very rocky beach with waves rolling in.
Unfortunately, we didn't know that much of the greenery was poison oak - which is very rampant in this campground. Kim had a very rough couple of weeks with poison oak after this trip!
The next morning, we quickly packed up our stuff, since we could only have the site for one night, and obtained a new site, again thanks to help from the camp host. With a campsite secured for another night we headed north on Highway 1. We saw even more whales that morning, as the water seemed to be more calm and they were much more visible.
The Great Bixby Creek Bridge
We eventually arrived at the great Bixby Bridge. A large crowd had gathered at the tiny parking area near the road, but that parking area has a dirt road that continues up the hill and around the open valley below. We drove up and enjoyed the views of the bridge with the water behind it, without crowds of people all around us. The bridge itself is quite beautiful, especially if you take a moment to appreciate the history of it and how it came to be.
We headed back south towards the campgrounds after a bit of time at the bridge. Along the way, we stopped at the Big Sur Bakery for some souvenirs and snacks. There is also a small gas station here, if needed - again, quite expensive!
McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Continuing south towards Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, we stopped to take the brief walk out to McWay Falls. This is a short hike, from a very busy road. Parking is available at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park for a fee, but we opted for free street parking. We ended up parking about 1/4 mile down the road and walking up to the trail. The trail is clearly marked and easy to follow - mostly just follow the other people walking (and signs). Once out at the overlook, the falls and cove are easily seen. The water in this cove seems exceptionally blue, and the beach is stunning in its untouched state.
We explored various other places along the coast - there are many spots to pull over and enjoy the views. We headed back down to the campground and rebuilt our site (#20) and got a fire going, with our $8 bundle of wood (purchased right at the campground). The wind was getting very strong at that point, and we were hunkering down as best as we could. We opted for going to bed a bit earlier this night due to the high winds and lower temperatures.
A large rainstorm moved over the coast at some point during the night, and we woke up to the rather loud, but awesome sound of a downpour on our tent. We managed to sleep through most of it, and even better, managed to stay dry in our Marmot tent! When morning came and the rain finally moved off, we crawled out to a soaked campsite and tried to start packing up what we could. The day got off to a slower start, but it was actually quite fun - our first camping rainstorm!
San Simeon Elephant Seals
Eventually, we started on the trek back home. This time, we took a lengthy detour in San Simeon to see the elephant seals at the rookery. There are several little spots along the way where these creatures gather, so keep your eyes open and you might find some laying near the boundary. Depending on the season, be prepared for some fighting among the seals, but they will mostly all just be napping and cuddling. (Also, note, they do not smell very good!) They are all along the coast opposite of Hearst Castle, if you should need help finding them.
The central coast of California has so much to offer. We know we drove past quite a few places that would have been worth exploring further. We also know that we will be taking this drive again, so we'll pick a few different things to explore each time. The next coast goal is to drag us all the way up to Fort Bragg. Glass Beach is on the "to visit" list right under that bridge! Next time!
All photos taken by Andrea & Kim
Cameras: Mamiya M645 1000S, Nikon D750
Film: Kodak Portra 400


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Havoc Ensues
This is part three of an ongoing series.
Please read: Part 1-I Fell Down and Hit My Head and Part 2-Revenge Set For Picnic.
The story so far: Being made fun of at work by my co-workers after I was victimized by an office prank/accident, I got angry and sought revenge by dosing everyone at the company picnic with LSD laced brownies.
Have you ever had that moment when the thought crosses your mind, "I should have thought this through a little more"? I was still about an hour away from that. As my co-workers inhaled the brownies and I waited patiently, counting the seconds for something to happen, Amanda came over to talk to me. It was uncommon for anyone to ever seek out conversation involving me, but Amanda was like having a rock star play your birthday party. She sat down by me and said, "I heard you brought the brownies." "Yep" I replied. "They kind of tasted funny" she stated as matter of fact. "It sure didn't seem that way when you were stuffing your face" I said to myself. "I mean they were good," she babbled, as though she was aware of how she must have sounded right then, "I didn't mean funny bad. I guess I'm just use to my mom's recipe. She uses all white flour and only the egg yolks. I think she might add a dab of sour cream, but it's been awhile since…" Amanda rattled on and on. I found it difficult to even pretend I was listening. Eventually I gave up and just stared off in space, but this didn't seem to deter her at all. Her incessant yakking almost made me forget what was happening until she uttered the phrase, "Is it hot in here to you?" Followed by, "I'm burning up. Did you hear that? What was that? What's wrong with my voice? Are the lights flickering?" She stood up and walked off. Even with the psycho-hallucinogenic in her blood stream, Amanda was back to normal in the fact that I was unimportant and invisible.
After she was gone I looked around the room. Several of my peers were suffering from the same "heat issues" as Amanda. Everyone except Dave and Paul were fighting the effects of the brownies, desperately trying to understand the changes going on around them, clutching at excuses and reasoning as to why they felt the way they did. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Dave and Paul were starting to take off their clothes. Both of them were giggling and acting as though they were having a pretty good time. After Paul got down to his boxers, he began dipping his hands into the Jell-O salad and rubbing it on his face and chest. Dave was dancing in the middle of the room in his tighty-whiteys, despite there being no music. I don't know if seeing Dave and Paul gave the others the reassurance they needed to accept what was happening to them to be "OK" or if seeing the two of them enjoying themselves was just inspiration, but the party really started to get moving.
At this point everyone was pretty much "trippin'-balls". Several people were dancing, a food fight had broken out, someone was working the light switch to give the room a strobe effect, one lady sat on the floor crying, a couple of guys were dry humping various items of furniture, and Sam from maintenance was making balloon animals. Where he got the balloons is a total mystery.
This wasn't just entertaining, it was the perfect revenge. I had gotten these people like no one had ever done before. They'd never be able to get me back. Who could top this? Best of all it seemed like no was even concerned about what was going on or who caused it.
I sat back and interlaced my fingers as I placed my hands behind my head. Ironically it was at that very moment the police showed up.
(to be continued tomorrow)
Egg On!
Ramblin' Rooster


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Ask any touring musician and they'll agree: years spent on the road can be measured like dog years. Over time, the unpredictable nature of the lifestyle starts to become not only predictable, but all-consuming. On the band's latest full-length Have You Considered Punk Music, singer Patrick Kindlon reflects on his time as a musician, taking a closer look at the bottomless drive to create that he's spent his life exploring. "I've been doing something for a long time that I find really fulfulling, and I'm able to look at it with more clarity as time passes," says Kindlon. "I can look at things from 10 years ago, or the reason I even got involved in this thing in the first place, with more perspective. The changes I've gone through as a person over time are interesting to me. I spend almost all my waking hours making things, and that's a relationship I assumed was normal, but as I've gotten older I've started to understand that that's not the way everybody is looking at life," says Kindlon.
Kindlon's passion for making music is matched by his bandmates. While many bands have found themselves stuck in a rut after years of making music together, Self Defense Family's unique structure ensures that the band never ends up at a dead end. Their tours aren't mandatory, but instead an open invitation to whoever would like to come, whether that be three members or seven. Their recording process is equally as open ended; when one member gets creatively burnt out, another will take their place, often offering a new take on the song at hand in the process. This type of system can lend itself to chaos at times, but to the band, it's worth it in the end.
The album was recorded in just under two weeks, the longest the band has ever spent in the studio at one time. As they often do, the musicians in the group who chose to participate in the project came to the studio completely unprepared and wrote the songs as they tracked them. "For us, recording is largely about first takes," says Kindlon. "We don't see recording as creating a product - we see it as capturing whatever's going on at the moment, and if we mess it up, we'll do better next time. This album is different for us in the respect that it's a fairly polished final product." It's a perfect fit for a record about making records - that, simultaneously, the band hones in on their craft while dissecting the craft itself.


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I ran into a friend a few days ago who told me a story that I thought was truly worth sharing, as it translates into great divorce advice.
This friend of mine was happily married (or so she thought) for over two decades. A few years ago, her now ex unearthed her by asking for a divorce, and then marrying the woman he was cheating with, just days after their divorce was final.
It was a tough road for my friend. I watched her go from rock bottom at day one, trying to absorb the shock, through all the phases that included tears, depression, furry, fear, bad dates, confusion, to where she is now: a happy, healthy beautiful, successful person who is very much in love with a great guy.
Now, what about her ex? Here is the important story. My friend went on the woman's twitter account the other day. Ok, I know that might seem a little stalkerish, but I actually don't see it that way. I call it curious. Trust me, I've seen way worse when it comes to men and women stalking their ex's. This was harmless. So, anyhow, she saw all the people the woman followed on Twitter, and noticed that she follows 10 cheating sites! Sites that include information like, "how to catch your husband cheating," "What to do if you think you husband is cheating," and "signs he's sleeping with someone else." The woman was also following several sites that were in the town where my friend lives. Why is she following our town when she lives 500 miles away? Very strange. Is she checking up on my friend?
The reason this is important to share is because I get so many emails from women (and men) whose spouse said "I want a divorce" and left them for someone, and the person paints this picture in their head that everything is blissful with their ex and his new spouse. NOT THE CASE my friends. Here is a woman who willingly began an affair with a married man, stole him from the wife, and is now suspecting that he is cheating on her. That doesn't sound very blissful to me.
I am of the opinion that any relationship which starts with lies and cheating has a huge chance of failure, long term. Why? Because eventually, the burden of the guilt associated with what you did catches up with you and it damages the relationship. The person ends up with such self-hatred that they either take it out on the new person (like it was his or her fault for participating in the cheating) or they cheat again.
That's just my theory. I don't want to generalize, and I am sure there are countless men and women who technically cheated, but whose marriages were totally over. In other words, they hadn't slept with their spouse in years, were disconnected, etc. Not saying that cheating in any case is acceptable/excusable—maybe those people should have left first. But, I'm not judging them. It's the ones who decided to cheat, who were still sleeping with the spouse–who didn't even know there was a problem. That's where I have issues.
My friend also asked, "Have you heard that Kellie Pickler song, 'Best Days of Your Life?' I feel like that song describes my life exactly!"
I hadn't heard the song, so I looked it up and listened to it, and the message I got from it is something I think will help men and women whose spouse left them feel incredibly good! Here are some of the lyrics:
"It's just too bad you already had the best days, The best days of your life,"
"Ain't it a shame, A shame that every time you hear my name brought up in a casual conversation you can't think straight?"
"And ain't it sad, you can't forget about what we had? Take a look at her and do you like what you see Or do you wish it was me?"
"And does she know Know about the times you used to hold me, Wrapped me in your arms and how you told me I'd be the only one?"
"Someone told me once when you were out She went a little crazy, ran her mouth about me Ain't jealousy funny?"
"Life with me was a fairytale love, I was head over heals 'til you threw away us"
"I heard you're gonna get married, have a nice little family
Live out my dreams with someone new
But I've been told that a cheater is always a cheater
So I've got my pride and she's got you."
The bottom line is, if you are the first wife (or husband), your ex's new spouse will always feel just a little bit second class. That's my opinion, right or wrong.
They will also always know in the back of their mind that they hurt an innocent person. They keep that guilt and shame locked away in a remote part of their core, thinking it will eventually stop bugging them, but it never does.
Even if they tell everyone things like, "From what I heard, she was a bitch, she was mean to him, he never really felt understood by her, she's psycho and can't understand that he just doesn't love her anymore," etc. etc. , In the back of their mind, they know what they did was morally wrong. So, wouldn't you rather be YOU than her or him? Because, when YOU meet someone and fall in love again, your relationship will have started off without dishonesty, and without having hurt anyone. It's a beautiful beginning, not a tainted, scummy one.
I'm sure it really really hurts to be left for someone else, but the bottom line is, don't assume that he or she is going to live happily ever after. Their future is baggage filled. Yours, on the other hand is wide open!
Like this post? Check out, "Women Dating over 50: Are We in No-Mans Land?"


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Time for a Screed - Product Availability/
Help me understand something. Retailers are complaining that retail revenue is down. This is a fact, phoney sales notwithstanding. On hand inventory in brick and mortar stores is at an all time low. Many B&M retailers are moving to, or have moved to online sales as their primary mode of transaction, and we can look at B&H Photo Video as an example of a company that has been successful in the industry, and Amazon as a general example.Read More