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Comet on 28 March 2015 – NavCam mosaic
Scientists at The Open University (OU) have published their first findings from Ptolemy, their gas analysis instrument on the Rosetta spacecraft's lander Philae which landed on a comet last November. Analysis of the comet's dust particles collected by Ptolemy has revealed the presence of organic compounds – key elements in the formation of life on Earth.
Ptolemy sprang into action when Philae bounced off Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko last November. The lander kicked up a dust cloud which enabled Ptolemy – the gas analysis instrument on board, to sniff the particles on the surface. Ptolemy detected compounds containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen – all of which are key elements in the formation of water and simple sugars. The compounds detected are not biogenic in nature and therefore do not indicate signs of life. According to Ian Wright, OU Professor of Planetary Sciences and Principal Investigator on Ptolemy, the compounds found are elements that "will have gone into the mix that led to the formation of the life on Earth".
Not only has Ptolemy's first analysis given scientists insight into what comets are made of, it has also revealed more about what chemical reactions occur on the surface. Ptolemy investigator Dr Andrew Morse said: "We now know more about the surface of comet 67P that we ever did before. Findings such as the fact that its surface is soft and dusty, but beneath that is hard layer of ice, will play an important part to inform plans for future comet landings and space exploration."
Last month Philae tweeted back to Earth that it was alive and well after its solar-powered batteries ran down due to lack of sunlight. Now that the lander is awake scientists at the OU, and across Europe, are hoping that it will be able to continue capturing data about the comet and transmitting it back to Earth. Professor Wright added: "We're incredibly excited by these findings. As this was the first ever attempt to land on a comet to do science, we had very limited knowledge about what to expect. Ptolemy, like all of the instruments on board, was designed to be as flexible as possible to adapt to the hostile environment in space. The fact that it has managed to capture this data and transmit it back to us despite such a tumultuous landing is incredible."
The paper 'CHO-bearing organic compounds at the surface of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko revealed by Ptolemy' was published in Science magazine. It was authored by the OU Ptolemy team which consists of Dan Andrews, Simeon Barber, Geraint Morgan, Andrew Morse and Simon Sheridan, and is led by Professor Ian Wright.
Notes to editor
To read the full paper 'CHO-bearing organic compounds at the surface of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko revealed by Ptolemy' please visit the Science magazine's website - http://www.sciencemag.org/content/349/6247/aab0673.abstract
Further information on Space Science research at the OU - http://www.open.ac.uk/research/main/our-research/space


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Thursday, April 30, 2015
5-common-mistakes-to-avoid-if-you-are-arrested/A MUST READ
Vital information for everyone to know, children themselves have NO clue of their miranda rights, teach them, get to know what your's and their legal rights ARE. Never talk to investigators without a lawyer present.
Posted by Knightgale at 4/30/2015 04:50:00 AM No comments: Links to this post
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subset: commoncrawl


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Steve Clarke: I couldn't turn down Kenny Dalglish and the offer to be Liverpool's No 2
Steve Clarke is relishing the opportunity to work with a 'football great' after he received an unexpected call to become Liverpool's new assistant manager.
Clarke, Jose Mourinho's former No 2 at Chelsea, has been out of work since he left West Ham last June, following Gianfranco Zola's sacking.
But with Dalglish looking for someone with experience to come work alongside him and Sammy Lee, he phoned Clarke on Sunday evening to broach the subject and the 47-year-old did not need to be asked twice.
Come in No 2: Steve Clarke lost his job at West Ham in June
He has signed a deal until the end of the season but Damien Comolli, Liverpool's director of football strategy, has indicated there is scope for those terms to be extended.
'I was sat at home doing nothing and now I've got the chance of working with a football great in Kenny Dalglish and also working for one of the world's leading football clubs,' Clarke said.
'I am really looking forward to working with Kenny and the rest of the staff to help bring good times back to the club.'
Roy Hodgson suffered during his time at Liverpool from his decision not to look elsewhere after his attempt to lure former defender Sami Hyypia back to the club was rejected.
Clarke, who won two Premier League titles as coach at Chelsea, already knows Joe Cole and Glen Johnson from their spell together at Stamford Bridge but he introduced himself to the rest of Liverpool's squad at Melwood on Monday when he took training with Dalglish and Lee.
'This was something I couldn't turn down,' he said. 'I am grateful for everybody who has given me such a warm welcome, especially all those at Melwood.'
Straight to work: Steve Clarke (left) watches on in training with Kenny Dalglish
Sportsmail's Jamie Redknapp said on Monday that one of the first things Dalglish should do is appoint current vice-captain Jamie Carragher to the backroom staff and it is not hard to envisage the 32-year-old occupying some kind of role in the future.
Even though he is currently out with a dislocated shoulder, Carragher travelled with Liverpool's squad to Old Trafford for the FA Cup tie on Sunday and sat on the bench behind Dalglish.
For the moment, however, Dalglish wants Carragher as a player and he said: 'Carra's doing his (coaching) badges and I'm sure that in the long term he wants to be involved in football.
'But at this moment in time he is on the way back from a dislocated shoulder. He was at the match there and it was great to see him.
Able deputy: Steve Clarke, who built his reputation as Jose Mourinho's right-hand man at Chelsea, is set to be named as new Liverpool coach
'There will be discussions after this but right at this moment he is just coming back That's not to dismiss anything else that will happen in the future.'
Dalglish's return has undoubtedly lifted the atmosphere in Liverpool's squad and Holland forward Dirk Kuyt was the first player to speak about the Scot's impact.
'Kenny Dalglish is a legend and a very important man for this club,' said Kuyt. 'I think it says everything about him as a man that he is here to help us and put us back where we belong.
'It is very sad that Roy has gone because you can never just blame one man. We must all take the blame and perform better. The most important thing is to make Liverpool a winning team again.
'It's disappointing to lose a manager like that but a very big plus that we can bring in someone like Kenny. He is a very experienced man and someone who can have a positive impact on the squad.'
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Four young police officers are sent undercover to infiltrate a gang of hooligans who are on the fringes of the support for a London football club. Only total commitment will gain the undercover cops the acceptance they need to do their job - but how far should they go to live the life of the football thug? One of the officers suffers a personality crisis, his standards corroded by the effects of violent macho behavior.
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Surgery story
Cast of Characters
Day Nurses
Watanuki Ayaka
Futami Akane
Matsumura Rina - surgery consult
Night Nurse
Yamashita Noriko
Furukawa Manami
Dental Surgeons
Imamura Mayumi
Hakata Maya
Maehara Yoshiro - consult
Futami Akane
Mandibular left wisdom tooth cavities 4th degree
On Wednesday, January 25th I checked in to the National Center for Global Health and Medicine hospital ("kokusai kokumin iryo kenkyu senta") in Shinjuku Ward for surgery under a general anesthetic scheduled for the next day, 8:45 a.m. on Thursday, January 26th. The surgery was done, there were no complications, and I was discharged around 9:30 a.m. on Friday, January 27th. The purpose was oral surgery to dig wisdom tooth roots out of my jaw bone following a botched extraction last October. Since October I have not been in pain, but my dentist and the dental surgeon (a young-ish 32-year-old woman with a pony tail) said that eventually I would be. Two attempts were made to get the roots out with a local anesthetic. Both attempts were aborted (for blood pressure reasons, I think. I was freaking out so much that the dentists in both attempts worried I would have a heart attack right there in their chairs) and the general anesthetic option was recommended. I didn't like being in the hospital for 48-hours over three calendar days, but as usual I was told "This is how we do it in Japan." They insist on a 24-hour pre-op observation period followed by a similar post-op observation period.
This was my second surgery in Japan under a general anesthetic. The first was in December 2014, a cataract surgery that took 48-minutes (much longer than the usual 15-20 minute cataract procedures commonly done under local anesthetics). On that occasion I had some trouble, the ophthalmologist (another woman) urged the general anesthetic, and there were complications during the operation itself. I don't like general anesthesia. The feeling of losing consciousness is uncomfortable. Plus I have experienced long hours of nausea during post-op recovery both times.
On January 25th I checked in ("nyuin") to the hospital. Admissions is immediately to the left inside the building's main entrance. The hospital knew that I was scheduled to check in and Admission telephoned me on Monday 23rd to confirm that I was coming. This hospital is a major 'international' hospital in Tokyo - there are many English-speaking staff - and I was equipped with English-language paperwork: Admission information; credit card information to guarantee deposit; permission for surgery; permission for anesthetic; permission for blood transfusion (if necessary); and a statement about who I would allow the hospital to admit as visitors. I paid my 50,000-yen deposit in cash with the intention of paying the remainder in cash upon discharge as well, so I voiced my desire that the hospital not use my credit card information. No problem.
After processing I was given a Japanese-language document to present to the nurses' station at Ward 10W - the West Wing of the tenth floor, which I did. The nurses welcomed me and they prepared a wrist band for me while an administrator walked me around the ward to show me and explain everything (in Japanese): day room with vending machines; showers; garbage receptacles; emergency call buttons; my room (Room 1054) with four beds, closet space, toilet, sink, small refrigerator and television. To operate the TV I would have to buy a TV card from a vending machine in the day room. I knew that already from my previous hospital stay, but I brought my laptop computer with me this time and three DVDs that I planned to watch for entertainment (which I did). Each bed had its own LAN cable port for internet access. But I didn't have a LAN cable with me, so I spent the time without checking my Email or surfing the internet. Those would have to wait until discharge ("taiin") on Friday 27th.
On that Wednesday afternoon I had a meeting with the anesthesiologist. After explaining the procedure and risks of general anesthesia (blood clot, stroke, death) to me (in pretty good English) we both signed the document saying that he had done so, and that I was giving permission to receive it. Then I had a meeting with a pair of women dental surgeons who would be performing the procedure. I knew them both, so no surprises. They don't speak English, so I needed the interpreting skills of Nurse Futami from the Infectious Disease department, who is the hospital's official foreign patient liaison. (I was not the only foreign inpatient. I asked her.) Blood sample taken. I also had an appointment at the 3rd floor Dental department for a routine tartar cleaning ("shisheki jokyou"), part of the surgery prep. Then I had a meeting with three of the day time nurses headed by Nurse Watanuki (no English, so again with Futami's interpretation) explaining my "Inpatient care plan": meals; meds; regular blood pressure, temperature and blood sugar checks, and post-operative meds. My operation was scheduled early, and I was prohibited from consuming any solid food after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday night, and not allowed to consume any liquids after 6:00 a.m. on Thursday.
When I entered my assigned room there were two Japanese men already there, and one bed was empty. That empty bed was filled the next day, so there were three of us there that first night, but four of us on the second night. We all kept our curtains drawn and didn't interact with each other.
No visitors. The day shift nurses were replaced by a smaller night time shift. The shift leader was Nurse Yamashita. As soon as I met Yamashita I could tell she was uncomfortable with the language barrier. By comparison, Nurse Watanuki in the daytime shift was more comfortable even though she couldn't speak English. She was game for any eventuality. Yamashita was okay, but I felt she was afraid of me. Wednesday night I stayed up late watching DVD movies. I couldn't sleep. I caught only short naps interrupted by long spells of wakefulness and wandering around the ward.
Thursday morning. Up early. Nurses checked in on me. Around 7:00 a.m. both dental surgeons plus Dr. Doushita, my anesthesiologist, poked their heads in. Nurse Futami wasn't on duty yet, so they spoke in Japanese that I could only barely follow. But I did my best.
Nurse Futami came round at 8:20 a.m. Chatting. Ten minutes later we walked together to the elevators and went down to the operating theaters which are all on the fourth floor of this hospital. Instead of being led directly into a theater I was directed to a staging area where nurses and doctors were already gowned, but not yet masked or capped. Other surgery patients were there undergoing the same final confirmations that I now had to go through: what's my name and birthday? Check my hospital wrist band. Do I know the date and what hospital I'm in? Do I know what surgery I am having? Is there any metal on my body? Have all piercings been removed? They visually confirmed that, because they know I'm pierced up the wazoo. Do I have any dentures or implants? Okay, down the hall to theater number 7. Remove shoes. Remove T-shirt so now I'm naked from the waist up and covered with a paper apron. My hair is covered with a paper cap. Adhesive heart and lung monitors are applied to different parts of my torso. They're cold on my skin. Doctors and nurses are not masked yet. I'm on the table. I'm wearing compression socks for blood pressure control. I know I have to receive an IV for the anesthetic to be administered, but I know that's going to be a problem because my veins are hard to find. Simple blood tests make me feel like a dart board. The doctors knew this because I told them. They checked both arms, looking for a vein. I warned them: not my hands. Wrists and elbows okay, but not my hands, please. They decided to put me to sleep with gas first and then once I was asleep poke around for a vein. It was my first time with gas. The anesthesiologist told me to breathe deeply through my mouth. This is vulnerability. This is helplessness. This is like being prepared for execution by lethal injection.
This is vulnerability. This is helplessness. This is like being prepared for execution by lethal injection.
I breathed once and said, "It's not working." I breathed a second time and said, "I feel dizzy." I breathed a third time and said, "I feel real dizzy." Then that uncomfortable feeling when I know I'm falling into blackness. No dreams, just total nothingness. Then I woke up and it was finished.
While I was asleep they intubated me. I knew they would do this, but despite the fact that I knew I was having oral surgery I never imagined anything except a breathing tube down my gullet. Of course, that was impossible. During recovery in my room my cheek felt tender and a bit swollen from the cutting, but my throat also was a little sore and felt a little swollen. It was only then that I realized they has inserted (and removed) a tube into my nose and sinus cavity and down my throat. I'm glad I wasn't awake for that.
They rolled me back up to the tenth floor reclining on the operating table. I shifted myself onto my bed. I was conscious but disoriented and I felt nauseous. Lunch? Forget it. The thought of food made me want to throw up, which I proceed to do several times over the next ten hours. I had an IV dripping a yellow liquid into my right elbow. It wasn't saline. It was a coagulant to retard bleeding in my gums. The two dental surgeons Drs. Imamura and Hakata dropped by to check on me. They gave me in a petri dish as a keepsake what they removed from my jawbone. Jiminy Cricket!! I asked the nurses how long it will take the IV ("tentenki") to finish so it could be removed. Nurse Watanuki from Wednesday's day shift was back. Her familiar face was reassuring. She estimated that by 8:00 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. the bag would be finished. So I spent the day looking forward to that.
Throughout Thursday afternoon I was in miserable shape. Occasional bouts of vomiting mixed with brief periods of strolling around the ward. The room was stuffy and hot. It felt hard to breathe. The water was tepid and ugly to drink. Thinking of drinking made me feel worse. My stomach was empty, so bouts of nausea were only dry heaves that left me exhausted, flushed and sweating. My face poured with sweat. I wanted to breathe fresh air. (I couldn't until I left the building on Friday morning.)
By late afternoon I felt more stable. More vomiting about an hour before dinner, but I figured I ought to try to eat dinner since I hadn't eaten anything all day. I nibbled away at my dinner, worrying that it would all come back up. That didn't happen. Instead, after dinner I fell once more into a short nap. When I awoke I could see from my bedside clock that only about 20-minutes had passed. I was happy that I could sleep at all without being sick. I felt marginally better and I decided I felt good enough to rise and go to the toilet, dragging my IV stand with me. My IV tube was quite long, and as I lay in bed it was dangling over the side of the bed out of my sight. I raised my right arm to prepare to grab the IV stand and then swing my legs over and onto the floor. But when I raised my arm three large drops of bright red blood dropped onto the bed's white linen. I was stunned. I looked at the IV line which was red with blood, not yellow with the coagulant flowing into me. Then I looked up at the IV bag and saw that it was totally drained, sooner than I expected from Nurse Watanuki's prediction. Then I looked down over the side of the beg and I saw that my IV tube had come apart in the middle, at a connecting valve, and what had happened while I was napping after dinner is that the IV bag emptied out onto the floor and since my IV line was hanging down below the level of my body and the valve was open I was in the process of bleeding to death.
I had never seen so much blood! Like something from television. The floor under the bed was covered with it! I knew my black sneakers would need a lot of cleaning in the room's sink. (Even now there is a blood stain on my right sneaker that hasn't worn off. I get a kick out of showing it to people and telling this story.) Blood is a fluid, not a liquid, so a puddle of blood is not like a puddle of water. It's kind of gloopy-gloppy. How much blood had I lost? Was it time now for a blood transfusion, like what I permitted by signing the consent form on Wednesday?
I pressed the call button. But it was the night shift, not the day shift. The day shift has ten or more nurses in the ward, but the night shift has only three. It took five minutes for a nurse to arrive. It took so long that I stood up preparing to go into the hallway looking for a nurse. So when the girl finally arrived I was standing, not sitting or lying. "Doushita no?" "What's wrong?" I showed her the end of the IV line, then she looked down and saw the floor.
I was surprised. She was a petite girl, but she immediately became Dominant Action Woman, ordering me (in Japanese) in a commanding voice to lie back down. Never mind that the bedsheets were stained with bright drops of blood. Lie down. Okay. She did four things immediately and in quick order: closed the valve at the end of the IV line from which I was bleeding; took my blood pressure; took my body temperature; then called for backup. Backup arrived. She telephoned downstairs to the Emergency Room to talk to a doctor, because there was no doctor on the ward. The doctor asked about my blood pressure. It was a little low, but still normal, so the IV line was simply removed from my elbow and bandaged. Then the two nurses cleaned up and even changed the bedsheets while I was still lying in the bed, the way they are trained to do. Apparently I lost about 700 ml, like a small bottle. Wow. What would have happened if I hadn't woken up from my post-dinner nap and noticed the broken IV line?
It was still only around 8:30-8:45 p.m. when all of this happened. I was looking forward to 9:30 p.m. when I was on the list for shower time down the hall. I didn't want them to refuse to allow me to shower by insisting that I remain resting in bed. They didn't, so I showered and there was no more excitement. No visitors.
Friday morning awake early again. The two dental surgeons again popped in early to remind me that I had a 9:00 a.m. appointment in Radiology for a 180-degree mouth X-ray, to confirm that they got all the roots out of my jawbone, and then another appointment on the morning of Friday, February 3rd to have the stich (stiches?) removed from my gum. After that I didn't see them again. I thought the liaison Nurse Futami might come around again but she didn't. After breakfast I dressed in my street clothes and went down to Radiology on the 2F. Maybe they had it on their computer that a foreign patient had a 9:00 a.m. appointment because when they saw me they immediately asked to see my wrist band rather than the appointment card that an outpatient would be carrying. Once more the usual identity questions: what's my name and my birthday? I feel kind of stupid answering those same questions all the time. It bothers me, too, that the hospital has not written my name properly in Roman letters, so whenever I confirm my name I have to confirm it the way they've written it rather than speaking my true full name. Oh, well. The hospital transcribed my name as "PIPER GRAN STE," so unless I make the effort to get Administration to change it that's what my name is at this hospital. What I say has to conform to what they have in their records.
X-ray finished. I returned to my 10F ward and reported to the day nurses at the nurses' station that I was checking out. We said good-bye, I thanked them. Then before I went to Accounting on the 1F to pay my bill I went to the Infectious Disease department to find Nurse Futami and say good-bye to her. That done, I went to Accounting, paid my bill. Cash or credit card? Cash. I cost only half of what I feared it would cost. I still had time to go home and drop off my hospital gear before going to my regular Friday work, 12:00 p.m.-to-7:00 p.m.
The fresh air outside felt so good. My body felt bloated and kind of out of touch with my environment. I got over that. In the hospital I felt special and pampered, but outside it was a bummer to be just an ordinary guy once more. Until the next time.


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Friday, March 23, 2012
The Elephant Parable, 2012 edition
Every year after decisions, there are a wave of unhappy comments about specific decisions and comparisons to other applicants, and so several years ago I decided to write a post about the importance of knowing everything about a situation before judging it. I thought that with decisions being released next week, it would be good to re-post this message.
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived six blind men. Each of them was very wise. Each of them had gone to school and read lots of books in braille. They knew so much about so many things that people would often come from miles around to get their advice. They were happy to share whatever they knew with the people who asked them thoughtful questions.
One day these six wise blind men went for a walk in the zoo. That day the zoo-keeper was worrying about all of her many troubles. The night before she had had an argument with her husband, and her children had been misbehaving all day long. She had so much on her mind that she forgot to lock the gate of the elephant cage as she was leaving it. Now, elephants are naturally very curious animals. They quickly tried to push the gate to the cage to see if it might open. To their great surprise, the gate swung freely on its hinge. Two of the more daring elephants walked over to the gate. They looked left and right, and then quietly tip-toed out of the cage.
Just at that moment the six blind men walked by. One of them heard a twig snap, and went over to see what it was that was walking by.
"Hi there !" said the first blind man to the first elephant. "Could you please tell us the way to the zoo restaurant ?" The elephant couldn't think of anything intelligent to say, so he sort of shifted his weight from left to right to left to right. The first blind man walked over to see if this big silent person needed any help. Then, with a big bump, he walked right into the side of the elephant. He put out his arms to either side, but all he could feel was the big body of the elephant. "Boy," said the first blind man. "I think I must have walked into a wall. "
The second blind man was becoming more and more curious about what was happening. He walked over to the front of the elephant and grabbed hold of the animal's trunk. He quickly let go and shouted, "This isn't a wall. This is a snake! We should step back in case it's poisonous."
The third man quickly decided to find out what was going on, and to tell his friends what they had walked into. He walked over to the back of the elephant and touched the animal's tail. "This is no wall, and this is no snake. You are both wrong once again. I know for sure that this is a rope."
The fourth man sighed as he knew how stubborn his friends could be. The fourth blind man decided that someone should really get to the bottom of this thing. So he crouched down on all fours and felt around the elephant's legs. (Luckily for the fourth man, this elephant was very tame and wouldn't think of stepping on a human being.) "My dear friends," explained the fourth man. "This is no wall and this is no snake. This is no rope either. What we have here, gentlemen, is four tree trunks. That's it. Case closed."
The fifth blind man was not so quick to jump to conclusions. He walked up to the front of the elephant and felt the animal's two long tusks. "It seems to me that this object is made up of two swords," said the fifth man. "What I am holding is long and curved and sharp at the end. I am not sure what this could be, but maybe our sixth friend could help us."
The sixth blind man scratched his head and thought and thought. He was the one who really was the wisest of all of them. He was the one who really knew what he knew, and knew what he didn't know. Just then the worried zoo-keeper walked by. "Hi there ! How are you enjoying the zoo today ?" she asked them all. "The zoo is very nice," replied the sixth blind man. "Perhaps you could help us figure out the answer to a question that's been puzzling us." "Sure thing," said the zoo-keeper, as she firmly grabbed the elephant's collar.
"My friends and I can't seem to figure out what this thing in front of us is. One of us thinks it's a wall; one thinks it's a snake; one thinks it's a rope, and one thinks it's four tree trunks. How can one thing seem so different to five different people?"
"Well," said the zoo-keeper. "You are all right. This elephant seems like something different to each one of you. And the only way to know what this thing really is, is to do exactly what you have done. Only by sharing what each of you knows can you possibly reach a true understanding."
The six wise men had to agree with the wisdom of the zoo-keeper. The first five of them had been too quick to form an opinion without listening to what the others had to say. So they all went off to the zoo restaurant and had a really hearty lunch.
Remember, when admissions is looking at an application, we are reviewing the whole applicant in the context of their individual situation. While people might know or read of one aspect of a student, they do know know the whole of an applicant's life.You might see the number of AP courses taken by one student over another, but not know all the classes taken, or how we look at the overall rigor. You might see SAT scores that seem slightly lower than another student, but not look at the writing score, the ACT, the individual subscores, etc. You might see a student with less clubs, but not see the student's family life, employment, or other demands put on that person.
So when commenting here or looking at other applicants, please do not be blind to the fact that you might know one thing about a student, but you do not know the whole of the person. Open your eyes to the fact that admissions offices are looking at everything within the file, seeing connections, understanding strengths and weaknesses, and trying to see the overall person. You might think that you know a situation because you know of one aspect (or score) of an applicant, but you might just be holding an elephant's tail and thinking it is a rope.
Posted by DGraves at 11:21 AM
Labels: decisions, file reading, freshman admission
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Tomorrow is the Melanoma walk. I'm very excited about it! Last year was a blast =) It's for a GREAT cause! One that is obviously very near & dear to my heart. All proceeds raised go to the Melanoma Research Foundation. If you would like to help fight this horrible disease you can go HERE to do so =) I would appreciate it and love you all forever! More than I already do :)
Last night we took the boys to see Yo Gabba Gabba Live. They were so excited when they realized where we were. It was a great show. Nick & I had as much fun as the kids did! I had to use my mom's camara since mine is broke. It's not uploading to my laptop for some reason. I'll probally have to put them on her computer and email then to myself or something. When I get that figured out I'll post the pictures :)
I also need to upload pics of my new haircut. I got about 2 inches cut off, some layers added in AND bangs!! I haven't had bangs since high school at least. 12 years ago! WOW! My hairdresser was more nervous about the bangs than I was, lol!
I need to take my butt to bed. We have to get up early for the walk and after that we are going to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch.
Have a great Sunday dolls!!! xoxo


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VIP Club Crawl
Buy Tickets
Get the party started right in Las Vegas with this VIP nightclub crawl. You'll dance the night away with old friends and new as you visit an ultra-lounge and three Las Vegas clubs. Plus you'll be transported in style aboard a tricked-out limo party bus.
Your evening of fun begins at a swank Vegas ultra-lounge where you'll be met by a VIP host and enjoy 2-for-1 drinks. Be sure that you're dressed to impress. After meeting your host and fellow partiers, you'll stop at your first Vegas nightclub, conveniently located in the same hotel as the ultra-lounge you just visited.
You'll stop at a total of three Las Vegas nightclubs throughout your night of dancing and fun. Enjoy VIP service as your host guides you past the lines and into the club. Plus, all your cover charges have been paid. If you are interested in reserving a table at any club, talk with your host who can help arrange this for an additional charge.
Party at the first club for a select length of time. Then you and your fellow tour guests board the party bus for your second club of the night. This is no ordinary bus. With plasma screen TVs, leather seating, dance pole, programmed light show and surround sound featuring a musical playlist, this bus will be rockin' the Las Vegas Strip as you travel to your second and eventually your third club destination. To help keep the party going you'll enjoy free beverages while on the bus.
The VIP Club Crawl visits one ultra-lounge and three clubs every night. The line-up changes each night, so you can go multiple times and have a new experience each night. Venues that can be visited include 1OAK at the Mirage Las Vegas, Chateau at Paris Las Vegas, Ghostbar at Palms Las Vegas, Hakkasan at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, Haze at Aria Hotel and Casino, Hyde, Lily and The Bank at Bellagio Hotel and Casino, LAX at Luxor Hotel and Casino, Red Square and Light at Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino and Pure at Caesars Palace Las Vegas.
Your tour ends at the final club location where you can party until the club closes.


text: Hello out there Internet! So it seems that I got off to a bit of a false start with my blogging. In December I got a bad cold and cough, then both my boys got really sick and shared those germs with me too. In short, I coughed and coughed and then I coughed some more. In fact I coughed so hard for so long that I BROKE a rib! I didn't even know that was possible! I finally stopped coughing sometime in February. I've been doing lots of little projects that I'd love to share so I'm back to blogging. Lots of fun stuff to come


text:
Recently I was in Arizona to cover the College Football Playoff National Championship. As a big fan of the desert southwest and with a little wiggle room in my schedule, I opted to head out west a couple days early of my ESPN duties, meet up with a friend and went looking for an excuse to make a picture and in this case, a portrait.
I have long been inspired by the majesty of the Arizona mountains and the presence of the saguaro cactus in a landscape. In consideration of that, I turned to my friend Brad Rogers to help pull things together, enjoy some photo fellowship and see what we could find and create.
We kept the kit very light. He supplied a couple Manfrotto Nano stands and we each brought our Profoto B2 kits.
However, our time to spend setting up and doing full recon of a location was significantly abbreviated as Brad's vehicle was rendered inaccessible for a couple hours which is a story for another day. As a result, we opted to go light and fast. One 3ft Profoto RFI Octa with grid, two B2 packs, the Profoto Air transmitter (Nikon version of course) and the Nikon D810 lensed with a 24-70mm. I also had the thought that the location might photograph well with a tilt shift lens so I brought along the Nikkor 45mm PC lens.
For those that dont know Brad, he is a fitness fanatic. This year he will compete in an Ironman. In pulling this together on short notice, he reached out to some friends to see who would be up for the challenge of giving us a few runs through a desert trail to see what could be created.
The whole shoot took maybe 45 minutes, and that included the hike in to the location and back to the vehicle. By traveling light we were able to move quickly and freely to adjust to the rapidly moving light as the sun set.
My favorite images of the 20 or so we took ended up coming at the very end and were taken with the 45mm PC. Despite not being a regular runner Danielle, a crossfit athlete, put in great work for us and her husband also ended up lending a hand with holding a spare fill light to illuminate part of the foreground while Brad lit Danielle with the octa.
All in all it made for a great day and I certainly plan on coming back to this spot sometime in the spring with a full outfit of strobes and see how much fun we can have in a full day or even a night as well! With enough interest, perhaps we can even have a little mini workshop…maybe something like a 24hour bootcamp!
Until then, here are my favorite images!
Camera: Nikon D810
Lens: Nikkor 45mm PC
Shutter Speed: 1/200
Aperture: f4.2
Camera: Nikon D810
Lens: 45mm PC
Shutter Speed: 1/200
Aperture: f2.8


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Friday, January 28, 2011
Because one is not enough
23 comments:
This is a great idea, Amy! I get confused as to where everything is happening, so it will be nice to see it all in one place. Not that I get to see many of them in person, but it will be nice to know anyway. I also really, really like those little state cards in the banner (and that font is one of my favorites, btw)! So fun!ReplyDelete
You know I think this is a brilliant idea and can't wait to see where it goes! Great graphics on the Market Guide site...we need to road trip to one of those Washington shows!ReplyDelete
Oh my! Lots happening in Into Vintage land! First....happy belated birthday! Hope it was a wonderful day. Second....so sad about your camera. I did pop over and see the finished and very gorgeous pillow.ReplyDelete
Third! What a brilliant idea. I have a sinking feeling that the Montana section will be a bit sparse though.
All this and a road trip too?
Your fun never ends, Amy!
This is such a great idea I already rushed over and posted a link on my blog. I am so happy happy happy you live in Oregon -selfish me! Thank you!ReplyDelete
What a wicked awesome idea! (I'm afraid I've fallen back into my using wicked as my go to adverb - please forgive me.) I'll keep my eyes open for anything in the center of California! You are so smart!ReplyDelete
Happy belated birthday Amy. The Oregon pillow you made is so pretty. Sorry to hear about your camera though. My husband keeps buying new ones because he can't keep up with his accessories; then it is up to our 15 year old to figure out how the new one works. :/ Sounds like your upcoming trip is gonna ge loads of fun. Best wishes, TammyReplyDelete
Oh so super cool!!! thanks for compiling this. It may be my demise- you may have to unbury my pasted on smiling face from a pile of junk, but I will have died peacefully....ReplyDelete
can I put your Vintage Market guide button on my blog?
I'm going to Junk Salvation next weekend in Hillsboro! :D
East Coast Junkers, too, right??? Hope so!
Amy, Amy, Amy - what a fabulous idea! Yes, and yes. I will definitely use this. I will put your button on my blog, if you would like me to?ReplyDelete
If the dates line up for you, be sure to check out the Alameda Point Antiques Faire. It's the first Sunday of each month, and it's fantastic.ReplyDelete
Amy, this has to be one of the best ideas I've seen lately!!! You will be a super resource. Thank you for doing this and you will be on my side bar!!ReplyDelete
What a wonderful idea!! I haven't heard of the Candlestick Park event. I'll have to look that one up. You should go to the Alameda flea market while you are in the SF area too. It's on the first Sunday of the month.ReplyDelete
Have fun!
Oh, my, my. Oh,....well you know the rest.ReplyDelete
You are something!!!! This is a fabulous idea. I mean it. This is a GREAT IDEA!! Can't wait to see it get going. AND - I can't wait until you come back from your trip with all of your treasures and pictures with your new camera!
Heading over to the new blog now. Great idea!!
You have made many of us very happy!!!!!! I hope one day to be able to take a trip across country with an empty U-Haul and come back filled! Like, fly to New England go from there and end up here!!!!! I am jealous, so many wonderful places you get to go to!!!!! I wish I could tag along....:) Sandy
You are so S-M-A-R-T!! Good going with the new blog! Anddddd...Happy Belated Birthday wishes, too!!!!!!!! Cute gifties you girls exchanged!!ReplyDelete
Soooo, any chance that I will get to meet you when you come down to Sac? Just let me know and I will even take a road trip!! yahooie!
Becky and the clan
Oh, you are so ambitious - this AND shifts at the Doily Factory? I don't know how you do it. Will be happy to contribute news from my neck of NY, such as it is.ReplyDelete
AWESOME!!! It's strange that no one hasn't thought about that before.ReplyDelete
What a wonderful idea! I love American Pickers--they are just the best. I have started watching Cash and Cari on HGTV--it's pretty good too. Can't wait to see the events you list. Your road trip sounds so fun--can't wait to see where you go either.ReplyDelete
- The Cranky QueenJanuary 29, 2011 at 9:35 PM
Wish I lived closer! May have to take a road trip! How many hrs from Alabama LOL! Visit my site at thecrankyqueen.blogspot.com Thanx! tiffReplyDelete
I would love to know about upcoming sales, and I'd be more than happy to let you do the work for me!ReplyDelete
Thank you ever so much for putting this together.A simply inspired idea.I'm putting together a Junque Bazaar in Lebanon, OH for the fall and will update with specifics as we proceed.Hoping to see WAY more offerings in my neck of the woods.Sometimes I think MN has all the fun.Thanks so much for the effort.ReplyDelete
Hello GORGEOUS Amy....!ReplyDelete
I am running FABULOUSLY behind & see I missed your birthday....PLEASE accept my belated birthday wishes....I'm hoping the following 12 months are TOTALLY AWESOME for you....!!!!!
I'm LOVING your new blog idea....This will be PARTICULARLY helpful for international Vintage Enthusiastes like myself planning our holidays....Clever CLEVER you.... :o) !!!
....hahahahaha....You KNOW I'll be with you in spirit during your 10 day Treasure Hunting Road Trip....!!!
I hope you have a GREAT week Lovey....!
Cheers for now,


text:
Do you have business skills, experience and advice that you can share with a firm to help it succeed?
As Calderdale Council celebrates another successful year of its business mentoring programme, it is asking more people to come forward to mentor new and growing businesses in the borough.
More than 220 individuals and companies have been involved in the programme as mentors and mentees since it started in 2011, and a big difference has been made to local businesses.
The hard work of last year's mentors and mentees was celebrated at a recent event held by the council.
The Chief Executive, Merran McRae, presented certificates to mentors for successfully completing their mentoring relationships and achieving Institute of Leadership and Management Level 3 in Mentoring.
Calderdale Council's Cabinet member for Economy, Coun Peter Caffrey, said:
"We recognise that mentoring can have real benefits for businesses and our local economy. We also know there are lots of people in Calderdale with the knowledge and experience to make a difference to others.
"That's why we have a mentoring scheme to link those people to businesses who need a helping hand to start up, grow and succeed.
"We are looking for more mentors who are willing to share their experiences and mentees who want to benefit. Why not make it your New Year's resolution? You will receive training and support from our business team."
By sharing knowledge, giving constructive feedback and providing inspiration and motivation, mentors can help businesses in a range of areas, from creating new products and services and identifying new customers to exporting and importing goods. This can result in benefits like improved productivity for businesses and new skills for mentors.
Mentors and mentees are asked to commit to at least one meeting per month for a minimum of a year.
Sales have increased considerably for The Real Cider Company since owner Phil Kennedy and bookkeeper Sarah Le Pla were mentored by Mike Torevell who owns Halifax-based accountancy business Torevell Dent.
"We've moved to the next level of business, and we couldn't have done it without Mike's help," says Phil.
The Real Cider Company, wholesaler of artisan ciders based in Cragg Vale, was growing quickly and Phil and Sarah needed some help with accounting. Through its business mentoring scheme, Calderdale Council matched them with Mike, who has nearly 30 years' experience of running an accountancy business. Mike meets with Phil and Sarah regularly and gives them advice on all areas of finance, accounting and general business.
To find out more visit the Business advice page on the Council's website, email email@example.com / email@example.com or call 01422 392362.


text:
Solitary – Without The Confinement
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The Evil That Was The Holocaust—Where Did It Go?
For a number of years I have been fascinated by the Holocaust that played itself out under the rule of the Third Reich during WWII. Not fascinated in an entertainment sort of way but rather a curiosity of how something … Continue reading
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text:
SONY HSC-300 SD/HD camera
Opening a New World of HD Production
Sony's standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) production cameras have been widely accepted by a great number of video professionals around the world, due to their excellent picture performance and system versatility.
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The HSC-300 camera supports versatile applications for HD with a high-quality SD output. It uses the latest 14-bit A/D conversion circuit as well as the superb 2/3-inch Power HADâ"¢ FX CCDs to bring out high picture quality.
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The HSC-300 also offers large-lens operation in combination with Sony's HDLA-1500 Series Large Lens Adaptors, which are accepted worldwide for the operation with HDC Series cameras. These Lens adaptors, featuring a unique "Quick Mount" design, help to maximize the operability of the camera.
With a variety of beneficial functions packed into the camera, such as its Focus Assist function, the HSC-300 provides genuine user-friendliness.


text:
"Days of Fire" and "Things That Matter"
A big day ahead, what with Kathleen Sebelius testifying in D.C. on the broken promises of Obamacare, and President Obama jetting off to Boston for a giant bit of misdirection that has failed before it has begun.
We are in yet another in a long series of crises for the president's already self-destructing second term.
What better time than today to interview two experts on what happens in D.C. generally and what happened to the Bush second term specifically?
In hours one and two of today's show the New York Times Peter Baker will join me to discuss his brand new best-seller Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House.
This is an amazing book, a deeply reported, wonderfully written and –crucially– wholly fair and penetrating review and critique of the Bush-Cheney years, their turmoil and tragedy, their great successes and their great failures. I can't think of a book produced so close to a presidency that has done quite what Baker does in this book and urge you to buy and read it. You will be inside the Bush White House in a way you could not have ever have hoped to see inside until decades from now.
Hour three will be spent on the larger canvas of D.C. from 1980 to the present, and well into the future, with essayist Charles Krauthammer, whose brand new Things That Matter: Three Decades of Pastimes, Passions and Politics is a wholly different kind f read, just as gripping as Baker's, but easier on the soul, balm for it in fact, filled as it is with Diagon Alleys on baseball and chess, even as it sticks to the clear and obviously true central claim of the book, "the sovereignty of politics."
So breaking news plus two extraordinary writer/reporters of history for three hours. Sure, you can skip the show, but you will be poorer for it.


text:
I'm still having some difficulty getting out of vacation mode. Last night, I watched too much TV; Mind of Mencia and South Park.
I bought groceries to replace the stuff that went bad in the fridge. The fridge door was open while we were gone.
Walter's gag writing abilities have kicked into high gear. If he keeps this up I may not have to be funny ever again. That won't happen - being funny is a large part of my identity.
Yesterday, Walter went above and beyond for the welfare of an animal. He picked up a cat to take to Woodstock. Walter is very allergic to cats but he transported this cat. The cat will be in a foster home until a permanent home is found.
I'll try my best not to get sucked into another TV show tonight.
May has to end soon.
Drivel that cannot fit in a single panel comic.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
I'm still having some difficulty getting out of vacation mode. Last night, I watched too much TV; Mind of Mencia and South Park.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Last week I ran 7.72 miles, burned 975.6 calories and weigh 165.8 pounds.
Monday (22nd) ran 4.30 miles in 65 minutes
Wednesday ran 5K in 39:23
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/30/2006 10:19:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
I'm back. I'll post a new cartoon tonight.
I did nothing yesterday. I picked up Loki, converted an old cartop carrier to a pool for him, watched a movie (In Harm's Way), napped, unloaded the car, vegged in front of the TV.
I caught a few fish and a rock. Kept one fish and the rock. I have an interesting tan line on my feet.
I missed Loki. I'm glad he is back.
Now, to get back into the swing of things.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/30/2006 10:24:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Unitarians are not weenies. I know a couple of UUs that can whoop some major ass if they were so inclined. Most of us would laugh at this cartoon.
I know it is just a cartoon but I felt the need to point out that Unitarian-Universalism is not some wimpy spirituality. It is difficult to come to your own conclusions about God and/or the reason for existence. Try doing the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do. No reward - earthly nor heavenly. The fun part is worshiping and serving as a community with diverse views.
Do you think a bunch of weenies would declare that everyone has inherent worth and dignity. Everyone - including homosexuals and others that other religions consign to hell. Quite frequently true weenies send threatening letters to my church for our tolerance and non-dogmatic views.
Then there is the being non-offensive bit. If I had a dime for each time someone brought up my religion in reference to a cartoon that I drew that offended them I would be able to purchase a Vault, drinks like a soda, kicks like an energy drink, from the vending machine at work. Apparently to the world a good UU is not allowed to be offensive. A UU is certainly not allowed to mock humans or point out the absurdities of the human condition in a cartoon.
UUs offend because of our tolerance and this UU sometimes offends because of her perceived lack of tolerance.
The real weenies are those who refuse to question and examine their beliefs and try to force the world to fit into their box.
Because the pope, the bible, the koran, the preacher, the president, xenu, said so... The phrase of a true weenie.
Tomorrow, I go whoop some bass. Or crappie.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/25/2006 10:48:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Nothing interesting.
Nothing so uninteresting that it becomes interesting.
But it is Wednesday and I cannot let more than three days pass without a post.
I'm going fishing this weekend. Got my license. The bass and crappie of Toledo Bend Lake better watch out because I'm gonna catch them all and then release them. I'll take a picture of the really big fish and then release. You fish are lucky that I really hate filleting.
I read in the Texas Parks and Wildlife handbook the chemical warnings regarding consuming fish from waters in Texas. There is a warning against eating gar from a certain lake because of high levels of mercury. If you are eating gar then potential mercury poisoning is the least of your problems.
Mentally, I'm already on vacation.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/24/2006 09:49:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Sunday, May 21, 2006
This week I ran 13.36 miles, burned 1,808 calories and weigh 166.2 pounds.
Tuesday ran 3.85 miles in 65 minutes
Thursday ran 5K in 40:13
Friday ran 6.09 miles in 65 minutes
I was elected President of the Board of Trustees at church. I feel too young for that sort of title.
Walter helped his niece build a Rube Goldberg device. It worked three times and it did not take all night. I helped some.
Time for me to put Loki to bed.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/21/2006 10:07:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Friday, May 19, 2006
Here is the url of the video that has one of my cartoons in it:
Walter presented me with a necklace with a single pearl pendant.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/19/2006 09:21:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
One of my panels appears in a video. I'll post the link later.
Walter and I went out to dinner last night. We are officially old - the dinner was the whole date rather than a start of a date. Poor Walter had a headache last night.
I took a break from the Spanish language CD to listen to some regular radio. I like to be reminded how much local radio sucks. Spanish language radio stations were interfering with the signals of my radio presets.
[Insert anti-illegal immigrant rant here]
It was annoying.
I need to burn some CDs containing songs that do not suck. I have a long road trip scheduled this Memorial Day weekend.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/19/2006 10:39:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Thursday, May 18, 2006
What is it about Thursday that makes me write so much?
In honor of my 12 years of marriage I offer the following advice on how to have a great marriage.
- Don't be a psychopath. This is a basic rule for any kind of social success. Too many people forget or simply never learned not to be a psychopath. The term "psychopath" is out of vogue - I think the favored term is antisocial personality disorder or something like that. In lay terms: f*ck*d up *ssh*l*. The irony of this is that the person with the disorder does not realize that they are the ones that are f*ck*d up.
- Don't marry a psychopath. Highly trained professionals cannot change them, neither can you.
- If you don't want to hear the answer don't ask the question. Does this make my butt look big? Everything makes your butt look big because you have a big butt. He married you anyway.
- If you want something done a certain way then do it yourself. Another option - tell him how to do it and then shut the f*ck up. Don't get bitchy, whiny or angry if it is not done right. If, God forbid, you become a widow whether he folded the towels right or put the dishes up correctly will not matter.
- Oral goes both ways. If he is willing then you should be willing.
- Wash daily and trim regularly.
- Don't push it in the bedroom. If things go well you two will have years to experiment. Take things at a pace that is comfortable for both. If she is not ready to go deep then let go of her ears. You run shorter distances first before running a marathon.
- Wait at least 2 years before having children. Do not have children unless both parties want them. Guys, don't just go along - make an informed decision. If you don't want children then let her know. Two options if both parties do not want children: dissolve the marriage or don't have children. Don't force this issue. Too much is at stake. Ladies, don't sabotage the contraception. Guys, if you are serious about not wanting children, get a vasectomy.
- Laugh. Don't take everything so damn seriously.
- Don't assume. Don't make up motives which may or may not exist.
- It is nobody's job to "complete" you. It is unfair to the other person. Enhance yes, complete no.
- Forgive. Exception - abuse - in that case get out.
- Don't let others dictate what is normal for you and your partner. If you never fight - then consider yourself lucky.
- Put the relationship books and magazine articles down.
- Don't analyze, just enjoy.
- Let "I love you" be the last thing you say to each other before leaving the house or getting off the phone.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/18/2006 02:30:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
The next four days Walter and I celebrate 12 years of wedded bliss. We had a ceremony for friends and family but also got legally married by a Justice of the Peace. The minister for the ceremony was not authorized to marry people in Texas. We did the JP thing three days before the ceremony.
A quick Google search reveals that the traditional gift is silk/linen and the modern gift is pearls.
Why is that ZZ Top song playing in my head?
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/18/2006 11:42:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post
I woke up this morning with big hair. My hair is big every morning but this morning I decided to let it remain big. Other women spend hundreds of dollars on products and spend a great deal of time trying to get their hair to do what mine does naturally. I just run a comb through my hair a few times and I'm done.
A couple places you can see examples of big hair:
An entire gallery of big hair
My hair is not that big. Gravity does it work if I let it grow long enough.
Todas: The Blog for Girls
Big hair of the 1960's
The most famous big hair picture on the web:
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/18/2006 11:05:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
A small collection of random thoughts
I'm tired of copying someone's dissertation on Florida manatees. I can add details of the sex lives of Florida manatees to the list of things I know but I wish I did not.
Being available to make copies and do other work is why I get paid the big bucks. I'm making good money for the amount of effort I put forth.
Things are slow at work because it is between semesters. I shredded a bunch of student records. When the records are older than the undergraduates then it is time to get rid of them. We are only supposed to keep them for 5 years.
I have a lot of packing material, empty file folders and empty file cabinet space.
I hate staples. Nobody thinks about the person that has to pull all the staples before shredding the documents. I pulled enough staples to make a single wide mobile home exterior. That is a bit of an exaggeration but I pulled out enough metal to set off a detector if I were to carry all the pulled staples in my pocket.
You think this is boring. I'm yawning as I type this post.
If I had autism everything I do would be a major achievement. I'm one disability from greatness. I'm really grateful for my good health - physical and mental - but sometimes it kind of sucks being solely responsible for my fate and not having an excuse for the state of my life.
I'd rather have the responsibility than the disability. I'm just in a funk about the state of my life. I've reached some plateaus and don't see a way off at the moment.
Sometimes, I want to completely withdraw from the world but still have my needs met. Welfare is not an option. The life of a welfare recipient is not the kind of life I want. Everything is paid for by the taxpayers but the stuff sucks. I guess for some people that is good enough. I understand for others that it is a difficult life to leave behind.
At least I'm on a plateau rather than in a hole.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/17/2006 10:22:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
I took Bailey to the office so that her next foster can pick her up. She just left.
Loki was sad when Bailey left the house. I think he likes having a playmate.
My clip art CD is now available.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/16/2006 10:27:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Monday, May 15, 2006
I got in a bit late from visiting my mother last night so I did not update the cartoon.
A new cartoon will be posted tonight, along with new clip art and the launch of my clip art CD.
I have on CD over 2,000 eps, tif, psd and jpeg images. All original art.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/15/2006 10:14:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Saturday, May 13, 2006
This week I ran and rowed 15.15 miles, burned 1,776.1 calories and weigh 165.3 pounds.
Tuesday ran 4.09 miles in 65 minutes
Thursday ran 2.58 miles in 35 minutes
Friday rowed 2.48 miles in 20 minutes
Saturday ran 6.00 miles in 65 minutes
I volunteered at adoptions today. Loki got lots of interest and an application. Brodhi got an application, too.
Children should be leashed, muzzled and crated.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/13/2006 06:35:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Friday, May 12, 2006
Disclaimer: the following does not reflect the official position or opinion of the Unitarian Univeraslist Church of the Brazos Valley. It is only the opinions and thoughts of the blogger.
I attended my last church board meeting as President-Elect. Assuming that the congregation agrees on May 21, I'll be chairing the next board meeting.
It will be an interesting year for the church. We will be looking for a minister. Full-time, if the congregation approves the budget or part-time if the congregation modifies the budget. There are some that would argue that we are doing just fine without a minister. I'll make sure the worship committee identifies those people and tell them to serve on the committee.
If you are an Unitarian - Universalist minister in need of a congregation check out the one in College Station, Texas. We are not a large congregation but we are very kind and forgiving and poised for growth. If you consider yourself in agreement with UU Principles (www.uua.org) and enjoy herding cats check us out (www.brazosuu.org). We are an imperfect institution full of imperfect people who welcome more imperfect people to join us on our quest for truth, spiritual growth and a more just world.
Of course, the minister has to be perfect.
Just kidding. Imperfect is okay.
The weather is pleasant for most of the year. The summers can be brutal but winter lasts for days, sometimes hours, rather than weeks. The spring is the most picturesque season with huge swathes of wildflowers lining the roadways. The political climate leans to the right but the progressive community is making inroads. There are complaints about the political climate but most people work to diversify it rather than just move away. Most folks like living here. Overall, the quality of life here is good.
None of this is official, I'm just reflecting on the future. I get to write a letter that will go in a search packet.
I will be doing a bit more writing than usual in the next year and I won't be able to just walk away when people complain. Some folks expect me to do something.
I will have to call upon organizational skills that I have not used in about a decade.
The next 12 months should be a time of great personal growth and shrinking of available time. I hope I can sustain my enthusiasm for the full 12 months. On too many things I tend to sputter out before reaching the end and the quality of the final result suffers.
If the congregation agrees Walter will be serving on the board as an at-large member. Initially, I was hesitant about that but I think I will appreciate the support. There will be some things that will need to be communicated and agreed upon beforehand. We can deal with that at a board retreat.
I almost overwhelmed myself thinking about the things that need to get done before the June meeting. Calm down, take a deep breath, find the quiet.
My Spanish lessons are taking hold. If I need to count, about 75% of the time, I do so in Spanish. I can count up to 59. I haven't learned the word for 60, yet.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/12/2006 03:56:00 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Loki's adoption did not work out. He is back in my home. Jam will be going to a different foster home. The fence jumping is a bit worrisome and we did not want to leave Jam in her kennel for 8 or more hours a day. Hopefully, Jam will go to a foster that can supervise her outside time a bit more closely.
I'm also temp fostering Bailey. You can find a picture of her in an earlier post.
Here's a good picture of Loki:
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/10/2006 10:15:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
This postcard from www.postsecret.com really cheered me up. It gave me a bit of hope about the state of my world.
I voted no on the silly amendment.
As the movement to ban all forms of birth control and to define marriage as a union of one man and one woman for the purpose of producing children becomes more vocal I sometimes worry about my own marriage becoming illegal. All the sex in my marriage is nonreproductive.
Fortunately, there is a decent size segment of Fundamentalist Christianity that celebrates sexuality in the context of marriage and that the primary purpose of sex within marriage is not reproduction but rather the mutual pleasure of each partner. God created sex for fun. I heard that in an Evangelical church that I used to go to. I think it is just the Conservative Catholics that have a bug up their ass about nonreproductive sex within marriage.
Allowing homosexuals to marry won't lead to allowing people to marry anything or anyone. Women getting the right to vote did not lead to hamsters getting the vote. Bill Maher made that observation.
Consider all the Trekkies that fall in love and get married. If you go to a Star Trek convention or any science fiction convention you will quickly conclude that love works in mysterious ways and that we should not be putting stuff in the constitution - state or U.S. - about it.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/09/2006 09:00:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Monday, May 08, 2006
My truthful resume.
Objective: To get as much money as possible in exchange for as little effort possible.
Education: I got a degree but not the one you want. It has been over 10 years since I received this degree. Does it still matter?
Work experience:
I have done just about everything. Cleaning, yard work, cooking (the jobs Americans refuse to do - I'm an American and I have done them - I was paid minimum wage), day care worker, food delivery, painting, design, desktop publishing, sign installation, scene building, stage hand, retail clerk, photo lab work, office work, drawing, telemarketing, outside sales.
Too many to list. Varying degrees of use.
Hell no. I don't trust anyone to tell the truth about me. I can barely tell the truth about me.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/08/2006 03:01:00 PM 3 comments Links to this post
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Here is Jam, the amazing fence leaping dog! Isn't she a pretty girl? She is available through http://www.woodstocktexas.org She jumps the fence but does not stray far from the house. She was found this afternoon laying under one of the trees in the front yard.
This week I ran 10.17 miles burned 1,268.6 calories and weigh 165 pounds.
Monday walked 1.31 miles in 35 minutes
Wednesday ran 5K in 42:02
Friday ran 4.77 miles in 65 minutes
I skipped my Saturday run to work on the presentation that I gave in church this morning. The presentation went okay. I should have manually forwarded slides rather than use auto timing. But it is done. Most everyone enjoyed the cartoons. Nobody has threatened to throw me out. I'm never quite satisfied with anything that I do.
I taught the children the meaning of procrastination and a funny response if they are asked what is procrastination and I read them a Grimm Fairy Tale - The King and his Three Lazy Sons.
I did think of some Unitarian - Univerasalist heresy: BOB DYLAN SUCKS!
Let's see if that gets me excommunicated.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/07/2006 07:44:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Friday, May 05, 2006
Oh, yeah.
It is National Cartoonist Day.
Hug and more importantly give money to your local cartoonist.
I guess I should show a little more excitement:
Buy me a beer. You can pretend it is for Cinco de Mayo.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/05/2006 10:34:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post
I did not go to the gym after work. I was tired. Instead went to Taco Cabana with Walter. Drank a margarita. The margaritas at Taco Cabana are quite strong. I had a nice buzz going before I was half finished.
I skipped the gym and my irrational fear of instantly regaining all of the weight I lost did not happen.
I got a decent night's rest. That probably did more for my health than any time in the gym.
I've written most of my presentation for this Sunday. There is more to say but I cannot come up with the words. I might go into the dangerous world of speaking off the cuff. Hopefully the cartoons will fill in the gaps.
I still haven't decided on a story for all ages - the children's story. The last time I did the children's story, it was a huge hit. I'm trying to avoid the pressure of living up to that performance.
I'm thinking about doing a live drawing. The whole program is about religion and cartoons. So, why not create a cartoon live? Sort of a goofy creation story.
In the beginning was a blank sheet of paper. The creator divided the blank sheet into panel and off panel. I sort of stuck there. I want to draw a funny scene and then let the kids attempt to come up with a punchline.
I find myself in this situation because of my own procrastination. This date was set several months of ago and I could have invited a professional cartoonist to speak. There are two that live nearby. But I let other things distract me and it became too late to extend the invitation and here I am about to bore the hell out of several people this Sunday. Removing the hell out of people is one of the functions of church but this is an Unitarian Universalist church and we don't believe in Hell in the eternal damnation sense.
Fortunately, the congregation as a whole is a forgiving group. This will be the last time that I test the extent of that forgiveness in the pulpit. I will have plenty of time to test the forgiveness if I get voted as Board of Trustees President. I've been the President-Elect for a year.
I'm excited.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/05/2006 09:49:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Thursday, May 04, 2006
I remembered to update! That is an unusually muscular cartoon self-portrait. I've never done it but I think I can toss a Gap sales girl at least 10 feet. I've been working out. I don't have the strength to lift one up by her neck.
I'm getting some rest tonight.
Buenos Noches.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/04/2006 07:39:00 PM 1 comments Links to this post
I don't feel like doing anything. It is that 4:45 malaise. Not enough time to start another project but still can't leave.
I'm learning Spanish using some Berlitz CDs I bought at a garage sale. I listen while driving. Yo escucho la CD. Yo escucho la CD de Espanol en mi coche. I'm working on thinking and talking not writing so I'm not sure it any of that is spelled correctly or even grammatically correct. I'm doing this not because I'm particularly interested in communicating with Spanish speaking people but to keep my mind from turning to mush.
Being able to say, "Control your damn children!, Shut the @#$% up and Why are you taking family planning advice from the Pope?" in Spanish would be a great side effect.
Sorry, that was mean. There are millions of Spanish speakers who ignore the Pope.
Hasta luego!
Son las Cinco!
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/04/2006 04:52:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
I forgot to update the cartoon.
I sent my information to the church secretary for an upcoming service and marked that off my "to do" list. While doing that I marked off update website from the list as well. As far as I was concerned I updated the website. I placed the memory of doing the update in my mind but the external evidence proves otherwise.
The mind can play weird tricks. Maybe I can trick my reality into following my imagination. I become fairly adept at delusions. Unfortunately, it is not as a marketable skill as I think. At least, not the sort of delusions I conjure.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/04/2006 10:14:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
The point of this cartoon: Based upon the actions of anti-abortion activists they seem to care very little for the actually born. So much energy is expended to stop abortion but so little is used to improve the lives of those that are born.
In this cartoon, the activists prevented the abortion but failed to provide any help or support to the mother or the child.
I wonder if anti-abortion activists really want to end abortion.
The local Coalition for Life is running ads decrying the quality of the condoms that Planned Parenthood passes out and the lack of a doctor at the local clinic - "only an out of town abortionist". The Coalition for Life's solution - shut down Planned Parenthood.
The Coalition for Life does not pass out higher quality condoms, does not operate a clinic where low income women can get exams (Planned Parenthood also offer gynecological exams - for early detection of diseases, like cancer), does not operate an adoption agency, does not operate a day care so that single women can still go to work and school and keep the kid, does not offer any kind of support for someone wishing to keep the baby, does not offer parenting classes, does not offer sex education (other than sex outside of marriage is bad), does not offer disease prevention information, and does not offer any kind of family planning services. The Coalition for Life does not offer anything to prevent the need for an abortion.
What does the Coalition for Life do? Stand outside of the local Planned Parenthood Clinic and protest and pray; Write down the license plate numbers of vehicles coming into the Planned Parenthood and then from that getting the address registered to the license plate and sending a nasty letter to the address. They interfere with the operations of businesses that support Planned Parenthood. Not a simple boycott but activities that interfere with the business such as tying up fax lines with junk faxes. The Coalition for Life is so obnoxious that they have turned off other anti-abortion groups.
The Coalition for Life has not helped a single child or woman. It is this organization that I had in mind when I drew this cartoon.
If you are an anti-abortion activist that actually does the things that the Coalition for Life does not do - this cartoon is not about you. If your pro-life organization really cares about life (the born and unborn) then this cartoon is not about your organization. If your anti-abortion organization provides all kinds of resources and information (other than celibacy) to prevent unplanned pregnancies then this cartoon is not about you.
If you believe that the point of this cartoon is anything other than what I have stated, then you are wrong. Yes, you are wrong. You are wrong - try to cope. Nope, you are still wrong. It's cute but wrong. It's wrong, I tell you, wrong. No, seriously, you are wrong.
I drew the damn cartoon. I know my own thoughts.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/03/2006 11:28:00 AM 2 comments Links to this post
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
I have a new foster dog. Her name is Jam and she is Loki's sister but she looks nothing like a Bull Mastiff.
Pictures will be posted soon.
Posted by Linda Causey at 5/02/2006 10:18:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post


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777 Challenge
11 comments :
OOOOH I WANT MORE! Well done!! And what a fun tag!ReplyDeleteReplies
Awe... Thanks, Anne!! Lol! This was a lot of fun!! :DDelete
Cool excerpt! I want to hear the rest of that story:)ReplyDelete
Thanks for tagging me!Replies
Thank, Sunny! :) Oh, no problem!!Delete
OMG THAT IS AWESOME. Your story sounds soooo cooool. Thanks for the tag, too. ;-)ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks, Cait!! :D No problemo! I'd love to hear an excerpt from your new WIP!!Delete
I have actually already done this prompt ( http://rachelssecretscribblings.blogspot.ca/2015/04/777-writing-tag.html ), HOWEVER......since YOU changed up the tag.....and I DO like doing these........*thinking* perhaps I shall do it again, but change it up a little. ;DReplyDeleteReplies
OH! lol I almost forgot to say: EXCUSE ME DID HE JUST COME OUT OF A TAPESTRYDelete
that's awesome! :D
Oh, okay! Don't feel pressured to do it again if you don't want too! (I have a hard time remembering who has done what!! lol!) But it WOULD be cool if you were a rebel with me. Hehehe... ;)Delete
Yeah... He kinda just did. He blends in to his surroundings throughout the story! Everyone at their school has some kind of "gift" & that one is his!! I'm glad you enjoyed that!! <3
i. love. this. (Those words were supposed to be cappitalized but after the I was mistakenly lowercased, I decided it looks much cooler that way) This is so well-written! God has given you talent and I'm looking forward to seeing where He takes you!! *as I comment a third time tonight o_o*ReplyDeleteReplies
Hi, Rachel! :) LOL! Yeah, it's cool that way... Thank you so much!!Delete
And feel free to comment away! I love reading & responding! <3
I love comments. Seriously, I love them! Feel free to discuss the post, ask questions, leave a link to your blog, or just make a passing remark about books & coffee...
(But PLEASE keep your comments kind & positive. Advice is fine, but meanness is not. Be sweet like chocolate & loving like Jesus and we will get along splendidly!)


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Peppercorn and Mustard Prime Rib Roast
Time needed
1 days preparation + 2 hour cooking
Serving Size / Yield
10-12 servings
- 5 Tbs. minced garlic
- 2 Tbs. sea salt
- 2 Tbs. cracked peppercorns (red, green, and black)
- 3/4 C. Dijon mustard
- 8 lb. rib roast
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Rub the rib roast with mustard, peppercorns, garlic, and salt. Allow to sit in the refrigerator overnight wrapped in plastic wrap.
The next day, allow roast to come to room temperature before baking. Place fat-side up into a roasting pan and preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place roast on the lowest rack. Roast for 45 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350. For medium rare, cook about 90 minutes at 350. Modify cooking time to your personal doneness preference.
Allow to sit for 20-30 minutes prior to serving.
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Chapter 8 – Blood-Money
Now let's turn back to Europe , to time when England and France
went to war also known as the Napoleonic war.
Remember this from chapter 3 :
"After that the merchants quickly adopted the custom
of depositing their riches with the goldsmiths who
in exchange issued deposits reciepts called "goldsmith notes"
, then when the goldsmiths began calling themselves "bankers"
they call them " bank notes"
Ok now we have a look at a family who started as a money changer and became
not only Bankers but Bankers who control national Economic.
The Rothschild family
known as The House of Rothschild,
or more simpel the Rothschilds.
A European family of German Jewish origin that established European banking and
finance houses from the late eighteenth century.
The family's rise to European prominence began with Mayer Amschel Rothschild.
Born Frankfurt am Main, Germany 1744,
the son of Amschel Moses Rothschild,a money changer.
Born in the ghetto called Judengasse of Frankfurt,
He developed a finance house and spread his empire by installing each of
his five sons in European cities to conduct business.
He trained them on the skills of money creation.
He then sending them to the cities to open Bank's.
His sons were:
Amschel Mayer Rothschild (1773–1855) : Frankfurt
( He took care of the hometown bank )
Salomon Mayer Rothschild (1774–1855) : Vienna
( Secondary Bank )
Calmann Mayer Rothschild (1788–1855) : Naples
( Third Bank )
Jakob Mayer Rothschild (1792–1868) : Paris
( Fourth Bank )
(He supported the French part of the war with loans )
Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777–1836) : London
( He came to london in 1798 )
( He supported the Brittish with loan to the war )
Nathan Mayer Rotschild helped Prince William of Germany speculate in coins.
The Rothschilds already possessed a very significant fortune
before the start of Napoleonic Wars.
When Napoleon forced prince William in Exile he send 555.000 £
to Nathan with orders to buy British Government Stock's.
From 1813 to 1815,
Nathan Mayer Rothschild in London was instrumental in the financing of the
British war effort, financing the shipment of bullion to the
Duke of Wellington's army in Portugal and Spain, as well as arranging the
payment of British financial subsidies to their Continental allies.
In 1815 alone, the Rothschilds provided £9.8 million (in 1815 currency prices)
in subsidy loans to Britain's continental allies.
Mayer Rothschild successfully kept the fortune in the family with carefully
arranged marriages, including between first or second cousins, although
by the later 19th century, almost all Rothschilds had started to marry outside
the family, usually into the aristocracy or other financial dynasties.
An essential part of Mayer Rothschild's strategy for future success
was to keep control of their businesses in family hands, allowing them to
maintain full discretion about the size of their wealth and their business
Following a technique used by the aristocracy, which was also later copied
by business dynasties such as the Du Pont family,
The basis for the Rothschild's most famously profitable move was made after
the news of British victory had been made public.
Nathan Rothschild calculated that the future reduction in government borrowing
brought about by the peace would create a bounce in British government bonds after
a two year stabilisation, which would finalise the post-war re-structuring of the
domestic economy.
In what has been described as one of the most audacious moves in financial history,
Nathan immediately bought up the government bond market, for what at the time seemed
an excessively high price, before waiting two years, then selling the bonds on the
crest of short bounce in the market in 1817 for a 40% profit.
Given the sheer power of leverage the Rothschild family had at its disposal,
this profit was an enormous sum.
As we can see here the rich Capitalistic Bourgoises have the power to finance wars.
Before Nathan and he's family there was others and there will came not many but new
families in the future who get the power to control wars with their financial values.
But, but ,but it's not ending there , no those families they own at the same time the
industry who make everything from weapons ( Dupont ) to producing Rails , newspapers
( yes they sit on the media as well ) , Food ect ect.
When they leand money to the Government's they at the same time sell them the nessesary
equipment to their wars , Hm does this smell like a BIG BIG rat eating the Government's ?
The answer is yes it is , the Government's pay for their needs to the Capitalistic's
Bourgoises who lend them the money and this bring the National debt up and up.
Who pay for this ? The taxpayers , they enslaves by their own Government's to produce
more and more value there end up in those families pockets.
Ps : The family supported both part in the war with loans and sold them goods.
Next chapter – The road to destruction.


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Individual store and restaurant hours vary and may differ from mall hours. Please refer to our directory for more details.
We offer travel professionals and journalists a variety of customized tourism programs, discounts and support services designed to enhance group and FIT packages and travel stories.
Miami Dade Transit provides convenient access to Bayside Mall. For route and schedule information please visit the Miami Dade Transit website or call: 305-770-3131
Please add this to the Transportation part of the website:
By Bus
Miami Beach: take the S or C bus
Miami International Airport: take the Orange Line Metro Rail
Port of Miami: take the free Coral Way trolley to the Biscayne Blvd. stop
By Rail
Take Miami's Metro-Rail to Government Center and connect to the Downtown Metro-Mover (Inner Loop). Get off at the college/Bayside stop and walk one block East
Enjoy your favorite retailers, dining options and entertainment choices, all conveniently located in the heart of Miami and along the water at Bayside Marketplace.


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Free Download – TorqueScan for PC, Windows 7,8,10 and Mac
This is a plugin application that shows all the data that Torque has access. Ian Hawkins presents the communication app TorqueScan for you guys to use. In this app, use the OBD Plugin and diagnose your cars. It gives the quick and easy display of available ECU sensors of the car.» Read more


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Within 30 minutes of my last BotCon posting (about me being excited about only having just 7 days left to go until I start my annual adventure), I go to bed but can't go to sleep because of a growing pressure in my lower abdomen.
I roll around different ways to get relief, but the pressure grows so much that I can no longer lie down without pain. So I get up and watch some TV, thinking that it may subside if I sit up or distract myself... as it could be caused by my over-eating of Lasagne on the weekend getting stuck in my lower intestine, or, a strained stomach muscle from doing new duties at work the day before.
A third possibility could be appendicitis, but I've been told that it is a much more unbearable pain.
Either way, when it got to 5am without much change, I was going to go to the nearby hospital to have it checked out. I had a quick, warm shower, and the hot water was so relieving, it halved the pain enough to end up not going.
I hopped back into bed with a hot water bottle, and managed to get a bit of restless sleep (re-adjusting the bottle every hour or so when I woke).
I went off to work at 2pm, with minor pain, but figured that if it was a muscle strain, I should go in and have it reported and assessed through work channels... that way it would be covered by work.
After 7 hours of running around 2 different Hospitals (following work's injury procedures), it was about 10pm Tuesday that I was told that I had appendicitis... and it had to be removed.
My first thought was - that darn trip of mine... all that planning... all that hassle getting registered... all that expense (travel insurance would cover most of it)... gone up in smoke.
My first questions were related to how long would I be in Hospital for, what sort of recovery period, and if flying would be out of the question next week.
And that was after I had to decide if I wanted to do it Public or Private (my health insurance might have covered Private, but was told it would cost $5100 if it didn't). I didn't risk it and was transferred to their Public section.
I was first told that the surgery would occur that night, which would at least get the ball rolling on recovery, but when they finally had me re-processed and re-assessed at the Public Hospital (in their emergency department), it was past midnight before I was ushered to a bed in the regular wards.
I was told that it was too late now to do it that night, and since it wasn't urgent anymore (the pain had been receding - which was a good thing, as it meant less chance of it being ruptured), and would have to be on the next day's waiting list... which starts at 1pm (Wednesday).
Sleep was minimal that night, with everyone in the room having machines that would sound off every couple hours. Then around midday I was told to shower up with some special soap, to be ready when my time came.
Close to 1pm I was wheeled down to pre-op, which was earlier than expected, so musta meant no off-the-street emergencies that day. About half an hour later I was wheeled into the operating theatre, transferred onto a long narrow slab and injected with anaesthetic.
Around 4 or 5pm I started waking up, back in the ward.
I didn't get to see any doctors that night, so just had to go by the nurses, who were telling me that I could start eating again at 8.15, and that I would likely to be released tomorrow. (Thursday)
The dinner service was about 6pm, so mine was held in a fridge for a couple hours... so wasn't too exciting. But I avoided the green beans on the main dish, as it was too painful to roll over, so didn't want a heap of gas swelling up inside me.
The next morning one of the doctors came by to check on me, and I asked about the procedure.
They cut three tiny holes in my stomach, for a camera, a cutter and a grabber. They also inflate the abdomen with gas during the procedure to let them see what they are doing.
If you want to find out more about appendectomies, see here.
The most surprising news was that they were discharging me within a couple hours - only 20 hours after surgery.
It wasn't even long enough to have a proper meal there... I'd only had a small dinner and breakfast, because they were "default" meals to people who hadn't been able to fill out a meal sheet.
The prepared meals was the one thing I'd been looking forward to. (it'd been about 27 years since I was last in Hospital)
The stay itself I could handle... just not the pain and discomfort of whatever you are suffering from to be there.
Anyway, I was back home by 10.30am Thursday, with 5 days to recover enough to fly across to America.
I have since had to ring up the travel agent to check if the travel insurance will cover any complications while away, or if QANTAS will need to know about the surgery (because the doctors were saying it was okay to go - they just didn't recommend it).
I had to pay extra on the insurance, and have been told that the QANTAS cut-off for refusal to fly is 4 days after surgery - so I'm just safe with it being 5 1/2.
Either way, I still have to see how I feel on Monday, or if any complications occur before then. Because it is still only early, and a lot can still go wrong with my recovery (infection, etc).
At least in previous years, the drama was almost missing flights, or losing my wallet (which I packed into my check-in luggage by mistake in 2008)... this is a new benchmark in the hassles I go through to get to BotCon each year.


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I'm a bit behind on my end of the deal of advertising this fantastic kick off to the Creating Christmas Blog Parties! Jann at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen has brilliantly organized a fun party for all of us that have something to share!
Today over at Old Time Farmhouse you can link your farmhouse style décor and recipes. I can't wait to take a peek at what everyone is up to!!! There is even a giveaway going on ~ so you definitely should be headed over there NOW!!!
Next Week – I will be hosting a linky party where you can share Natural Christmas Décor – because I love gardening so much ~ I am really looking forward to seeing your front doors, mantles, vignettes all decorated with some outdoor spirit!
December 13th Jann at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs Olsen will be hosting a Vintage Christmas Décor party! We all love visiting one another's inspiring posts about repurposing and/or displaying pieces of the past!
So please be sure to join the parties! So much festive fun to be looking forward to – I will leave this picture up on my side bar, so you don't miss it! Looking around is the best part… hope to see you! oxox, tracie


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All items > Knives > Fixed Blade Knives > Microtech (Fixed)
- Overall Length:23.75"
- Blade Length:15.50"
- Cutting Edge:14.00"
- Blade Thickness:0.24"
- Blade Material:D2
- Blade Style:Tanto
- Blade Grind:Hollow
- Finish:Satin
- Edge Type:Plain
- Handle Length:8.25"
- Handle Thickness:0.75"
- Handle Material:Leather
- Color:Black, Green
- Weight:1 lb. 9.80 oz.
- Sheath:Kydex
- Knife Type:Fixed Blade
- Brand:Microtech
- Model:Combat Wakizashi
- Designer:Anthony Marfione
- Country of Origin:USA
- Best Use:Collection
- Product Type:Knife
Based on the Japanese sword, the Combat Wakizashi is an inspired design from Tony Marfione. It is made from 1/4" thick CPM-D2 steel and features a hollow hand ground edge that is hand rubbed satin. The Combat Wakizashi has a green traditional stingray skin handle with leather wrap and a custom Dagger woven in on each side. This is a substantial piece that includes a fitted Kydex sheath.


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How To Control Pithophora Algae
If you are a pond owner or live near a lake, there's a good chance that you'll be dealing with algae sooner or later. Stubborn pond algae can ugly up a body of water quickly and can ruin recreation when all that muck is floating around. One such nightmare algae that plagues ponds or lakes is Pithophora algae, also commonly known as horsehair algae, thread algae, or cotton call algae. It is classified under Cladophoraceae. Pithophora algae has irregular branched out threads from a single attachment and looks similar to hair or wool with it's long, thick strands. Pithophora can become problematic especially if your pond or lakeside is high amounts in iron, since it thrives in those conditions.
Pithophora algae belongs to the green filamentous algae family and can be found growing on the bottom of ponds or in dense mats floating on the surface. If you were to put this algae under a microscope, you would see that pithophora algae has filaments with akinetes, which are reproductive cells similar to spores. They appear lime green or dark green with a hint of brown. These spores are found on the water's surface due to the buoyancy brought about by the gas bubbles which produce as they grow. When it rains heavy, you may think that the algae has disappeared but they merely would just sink to the bottom and would reappear on the surface after a few days.
If you are dealing with pithophora algae, you've come to the right place. Solutions Pest and Lawn can help you eliminate this pesky algae with our high quality algaecide products.
Browse our pithophora algae control products below. If you need any assistance with your order or any DIY advice, you can contact us directly via email, live chat or by phone and we will be happy to answer any questions you have.
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Reward Herbicide$121.25to$359.09Aquatic Reward Herbicide - Contains Diquat
Cutrine Plus Granular Algaecide$52.19to$102.53Ready to Use - Granular Algaecide
Hydrothol Granular Aquatic Herbicide$129.99Hydrothol Granular Aquatic Algacide and Herbicide
How To Control Pithophora Algae: 3 Step Solution
Pithophora algae can be a big problem that can be hard to completely eradicate via conventional methods, especially if they have multiplied to an amount that they have overtaken a lake or pond. You can perform mechanical control by raking the algae up in clumps with a rake. However if you have a large body of water with a lot of algae, this could be a long, tedious task that will take up a lot of your time. That is why we suggest a mixture of chemical treatment and cultural control methods. We have shared below a basic 3 step program to tackle this persistent algae the right way.
Step 1: Before getting into purchasing aquatic treatments and spraying away, it is first necessary to conduct a detailed inspection and analysis of the body of water that will be treated for the algae. It is important to take into account the fishes and aquatic life that use the body of water as a habitat as well as the other vegetation in the water that is desirable and vital to the ecosystem before applying chemicals. You should also determine which algaecide will be best to apply to your pond or other body of water. The size of the body of water is also an important variable which will determine how to best approach treatment of pithophora algae to ensure success while also making sure no fishes and desired plants are harmed.
Step 2: Once you have selected the best chemical for you to use, you will then need to determine the application rate as well as time your application at the right time and temperature in order to successfully eliminate pithophora algae. Some algae species can reach troublesome levels in cold water just after ice-out. However, many aquatic herbicides to tackle algae work best in water warmer than 60 degrees F. When applying herbicides you should also make sure you have on the proper safety equipment such as protective eyewear, gloves and long sleeve clothing to protect you from possibly coming in contact with chemicals.
Step 3: Using a backpack sprayer or hand-pump sprayer, apply the selected herbicide to your pond or lake during ideal temperatures and following the instructions carefully on the product label of the herbicide you chose. If the pond is heavily infested with pithophora algae, it may be necessary to treat the pond or lake in sections and let each section decompose for about two weeks before treating another section. Aeration, particularly at night, for several days after treatment may help control the oxygen depletion. Algae reproduces rapidly, and it is common not to get season-long control with algaecides. Nearly all products we carry here at Solutions provide at least 3-4 weeks of improvement. Retreatments are often necessary. We also advise you to use a rake to scoop away all the dead algae after treatment to ensure it doesn't reaccumulate. There is a more detailed guide on applying aquatic herbicides in our Knowledge base.


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St. Patrick's Day Special Live Stream
Online acoustic show on Friday 16th March at 7pm (GMT), the night before St. Patrick's Day. We'll be playing some Irish songs for the occasion plus the usual devilry.
Join us from anywhere in the world and pay what you like for your ticket. You can request songs, ask questions and grab some exclusive goodies all here: Concert Window