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Once again, I find myself in the middle of the Ron Paulites in the crowd. In fact, it's hard not to be. This place is packed with these very enthusiastic fans — the same people who booed Cheney and Rumsfeld yesterday. Now they are having a panel discussion about taxes….
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For this engagement session, we took our adorable couple, Julia and John, to the Postcard Inn in St. Pete Beach. Because it was a rainy day, this hotel turned out to be the most ideal location for our shoot. With its unique and rustic beach-flair, it provided the perfect atmosphere for Julia and John's lovely personalities. We started inside the hotel and the minute we were ready to hop outside for some shots around the hotel and on the gorgeous white beach, it stopped raining. It couldn't have worked out any better that day.
In the past, we have experienced rain and thunderstorms trying to get between us and our well-planned photo shoots. (Duh! We're in Florida. Daily rain should come as no surprise!) But we don't let this stop us from trying to create an extraordinarily great product for our clients. And we have to say we are exceptionally happy about how well the images of this engagement shoot turned out.
While many would say the weather was poor, overcast days can be a huge advantage for photographers, especially when shooting in a place like Florida where the sun is extremely bright and the light is somewhat harsh. The clouds create a beautiful soft light as they act as a huge natural light diffuser that covers the sun. Subjects are evenly lit, skin tones are smooth, and the photographer is able to position his subjects almost anywhere without having to pay too much attention on how the light is falling on the subjects. One can get some wonderful images.
That being said, we are very much looking forward to Julia and John's wedding at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg this August!

subset: commoncrawl


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A-Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd. has signed a cooperation agreement with Fuhrlander AG that gives A-Power the right to produce Fuhrlander's 600 kW to 2.7 MW series wind turbines, in addition to the already agreed upon production of Fuhrlander's 2.5 MW wind turbine.
The agreement also provides for a joint component sourcing program in Europe and China, as well as an expanded training program where A-Power's technical staff will attend extensive on-site training at Fuhrlander's facilities in Germany.
'We look forward to being a long-term partner of Fuhrlander and producing their wind turbines for China and the international markets,' says Jinxiang Lu, A-Power's chairman and CEO. 'This spectrum of wind turbine technology from Fuhrlander gives A-Power the ability to cater to virtually all types of wind conditions and will therefore expand our universe of potential customers.'
SOURCES: A-Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd.


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Kemp To Retire, Supervalu Grows Sales; Earnings Impacted By Holiday 'Pressures'
Kevin Kemp, president of Supervalu's East Region and a 28-year veteran of the company, will retire at the end of the SVU's fiscal year late next month. At presstime, the company had not named his successor, but announced that current senior VPs of sales/operations Joe Della Noce and Mark Gossett will take the helm of the division on an interim basis. The region will continue to be headquartered in Mechanicsville, VA.
Since being named president of the company's $6.8 billion region in 2006, in his low-key, conservative style, Kemp, 61, has done a fine job of guiding the wholesaler through corporate management changes and challenging issues that not only affected Supervalu but the entire wholesale grocery industry. I admired Kevin for his integrity, candor and steely passion – he really cares deeply about the independent retailers that Supervalu services. I wish him well in all his future endeavors.
Kemp's retirement comes at a critical time for Supervalu-East, which is relocating its other Mid-Atlantic warehouse from Denver, PA to Harrisburg, PA (after Albertsons, the owner of the Denver facility, announced last year that it will take possession of that depot). The company also plans to open its third "Market Centre" depot in Carlisle, PA that will focus on handling natural/organic, specialty and ethnic products.
Supervalu also released its third quarter financials earlier this month and, all told, it was kind of a mixed bag. The Eden Prairie, MN-based wholesale grocer, which also operates more than 200 corporate retail stores, reported a 31 percent increase in net sales in its third quarter of 2017 to $3.94 billion, compared to $3 billion during the same period last year. Net earnings were $18 million, or $0.46 per diluted per share, which was in line with analysts' estimates. A tax benefit pushed earnings up to $23 million, or $0.61 per share.
Supervalu's wholesale division once again paced the company's gains with a 52 percent increase in net sales to $2.89 billion thanks to new store sales and the company's Unified Grocers business, which it acquired last summer. However, wholesale earnings slipped 11.5 percent, to $46 million, due to "the mixed impact of the acquired Unified Grocers business contributing to operating earnings at a lower percent of net sales and higher trucking and logistics costs," according to the company. Supervalu's retail sales continued to struggle in the third quarter, with identical-store sales down 3.5 percent, including a 3.4 percent decrease in traffic and a decline in average basket size of 10 basis points. Overall retail sales fell 4.1 percent in the quarter, to $1.02 billion.
"With the influx of significant new business in certain distribution centers, we experienced a larger-than-anticipated increase in expenses, but we're encouraged by the work we are doing to address those costs and believe they are manageable going forward," Supervalu CEO Mark Gross said in a statement. "We remain committed to investing in our wholesale business to drive future growth."
Some of those expenses which impacted earnings were the cost of leasing additional warehouse space, increases in trucking capacity expense and employee overtime. Wholesale sales now represent 73 percent of total sales at Supervalu, up from 63 percent a year ago.
Supervalu completed its acquisition of Associated Grocers of Florida shortly after the December 2 close of the quarter.
The retail segment operating loss totaled $6 million, including $3 million in charges and costs related to store closures. The year-ago retail operating loss totaled $14 million, which included $15 million in goodwill impairment charges and $1 million for charges and costs related to store closures.
In his follow-up conference call with financial analysts, Gross said some retail banners are performing better than others, and that the company would continue to invest in those that are performing better and will minimize its investments in those that are performing poorly. He did not specify which corporately-owned retail divisions were performing "better."
"Every asset has got to be productive, and we'll fully support and invest in those that will give a return to our shareholders," he said.
Gross is continuing to keep his focus on growing wholesale by adding new customers, increasing purchases with existing retailers and creating purchasing opportunities with independents that are not currently primary Supervalu customers. And that brings us back to corporate retail, which seems clearly in play. However, it's not going to be easy to sell whole divisions (banners) or even large blocks of stores within a banner given the tremendous overstoring and competition that currently exists in virtually all markets. And the hope that perhaps some of those stores that are eventually sold will continue to utilize SVU as primary supplier might also be difficult to achieve. As I've said earlier, Gross has some tough decision ahead, but I believe he's handling the challenges deftly thus far.
No pain, no gain!


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Let me introduce George Erickson and his work. George like me he is a staunch supporter for nuclear energy and cares a lot for the environment. A big bonus to me is that he is a humanist. He loves science and technology and has fascinating and adventurous tales to tell! You can read about these on his website : www.tundracub.com
He has authored several bestselling and acclaimed books :
"Erickson is not only a brave adventurer in his own right, but he can also weave a good story."
-- Chicago Tribune
"A blend of stunning landscapes, wildlife, myths, and experience, True North reveals Erickson's love of nature and his passion for truth."
-- The Humanist
"Erickson, a rugged individualist, if ever there was one knows his stuff."
-- Pettsburgh Tribune-Review
"A wonderful book"
-- Clive Cussler, NEW YORK TIMES Bestselling Author
"Ultimate adventure - one of the ten best new outdoors books of the year."
"True North is a winner!"
"True North is a winner!"
-- National Center for Science Education - E. Scott
"If you can only afford one book about Humanism and the conflict of science with religion, get Time Traveling with Science and the Saints!"
-- Mel Lipman, president - American Humanist Assoc.
"A rapidly readable chronicle ... fluid narrative style ... an antidote to the pale and apologetic way in which the lives of the great men and women of science are often depicted." I really meant it when I said that Time Traveling needs to be in the hands of all our students. My husband read it too...and wondered how science ever got off the ground considering the relentless and often vicious opposition from organized Christianity. The "True Believers" won't read it, and the Rationalists don't need it for themselves ... but it's those in the big "middle" who may be impressed to see, in a terse and thorough outline, the outrages of religion versus science down through the ages.
-- Bette Chambers - AHA past president
"Erickson's insightful incursions into religion, politics, philosophy, history, atheism and social issues are totally enjoyable. Some might make you cry and some will make you laugh, but none will bore you."
Mel Lipman - Vice-President International Humanist and Ethical Union
"George Erickson has written a real gem: a serious book in which he doesn't take himself too seriously, a humorous book with important progressive messages. No one who reads Eyes Wide Open will be able to maintain the fiction that atheists have no sense of humor. Had Moses emerged from Mt. Sinai with "St. George's Commandments," all 13 of them, what a wonderful past couple of millennia this would have been."
Herb Silverman, Secular Coalition for America, President


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Bronx Man Sentenced In Manhattan Federal Court To 21 Years In Prison For The Sexual Exploitation Of A Child And The Distribution Of Child Pornography
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that LUCIANO MENDEZ-ROJAS was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to 21 years in prison for sexually exploiting a child and distributing images and videos of child pornography over the Internet. MENDEZ-ROJAS pled guilty in June 2012. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: "By his conduct, Luciano Mendez-Rojas stole the innocence of one child and exploited countless others. We have zero tolerance for child predators like Mendez-Rojas and his ilk and will prosecute and punish them with the full force of the law."
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In July 2011, MENDEZ-ROJAS and his co-defendant, Inocencia Ortega, engaged in
sexually explicit conduct in their home in the Bronx, New York, while their minor child filmed videos of the conduct at the direction of MENDEZ-ROJAS.
On February 9, 2011, MENDEZ-ROJAS distributed child pornography over the Internet
using file-sharing software.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Engelmayer sentenced MENDEZ-ROJAS, 39, a citizen of Mexico, to eight years of supervised release. He must also register as a sex offender. Ortega is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Engelmayer on April 26, 2013 at 2:15 p.m.
Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the New York City Police Department.
The case is being handled by the Office's General Crimes Unit. Assistant United
States Attorneys Kristy J. Greenberg and Daniel C. Richenthal are in charge of the prosecution.
ICE HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious
activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423. This hotline is staffed around the clock
by investigators.
Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.


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Learning French21:56
Allez par là / Go that way
"On se souvient." / "We remember."
Où est la porte d'embarquement? / Where is the departure gate?
"Combien ça coûte?" / How much does it cost?
"Ma valise est verte" / "My suitcase is green"
'Learning French' has been a little personal project I have been doing since the start of the year. Even though I took French at school I don't remember very much of it, so I'm hoping to learn a little and get better. They are little illustrations/comics of phrases from my little daily French calendar. You can see all the drawings I've done so far, as well as the English translations here on my Flickr page. From now on I'll post monthly round-ups on this blog as well. A bientôt!


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Wittekerke Beer February 2, 2014Posted by Bacchus in : Beers , Email This Post , trackback
Wittekerke Beer
A true wit beer. Wittekerke is a fictitious name for a typical Flemish town, like hundreds of villages in Flanders with a name ending on Kerke (church) or Kapelle (chapel). You will recognize Wittekerke Wit Beer by the elegant glass, the sunny color and the dense, creamy head.
Buy Wittekerke Beer
Wittekerke charms you with its own character, smooth taste and a unique delicious aroma. A very pleasant drink, light in alcohol with a crisp and refreshing flavor. Wittekerke is always served cold, but in taking your time to enjoy it, you will find more flowery and spring flavors towards the end of your glass.
Price: $10.66 Size: 6 pack cans. For more information and to buy it, Click Here!
eMail this offer to a friend: eMail


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- develop strength, coordination, and muscle control
- encourage concentration, carefulness, and precision
- provide indirect preparation for writing, reading, and mathematics
- foster independence
Sunday, April 13, 2014
a little tour: e's practical life shelf
6 comments:
I have been thinking about the same thing, but decided otherwise based on Finn's lack of interest for this type of activities! He has never enjoyed transferring or sorting activities on trays, but he loves his play kitchen and uses the pots and pans to transfer beans and glass beads with a variety of small sized kitchen tools. I have decided not to present "posting" activities on trays but rather leave the container and objects separate for him to discover the match on his own. Same with eggs (golf balls) and egg boxes. They are in his play kitchen and he found out about this activity spontaneously. I like how you display Elise's play dough - seeing your set up made me realise that I have far too many play dough accessories! Oh, and your heart shaped box is beautiful!ReplyDeleteReplies
Hi Elsa! What good suggestions - I like the way you incorporate skills like transferring and posting into Finn's play. That certainly sounds more natural than setting things up on a tray - spontaneous discovery! I'd love to see a photo of Finn's play kitchen area sometime. Elise is just becoming interested in hers, but I feel like she needs a little more counter space. ;) What kind of accessories do you have with Finn's dough? I'd like to offer Elise a little more variety, but I need some inspiration! Hope you're having a lovely day!Delete
Finn's "kitchen area" is really simple. We were given this http://s7ondemand6.scene7.com//is/image/MothercareASE/131441_1?&$dw_large_mc$ in a well used state with no accessories. The back doesn't stay attached to the base anymore so we just prop it up against a wall at the moment. It's really battered! I bought a set of small pots and pans to go with it,and Finn seems happy. I really should fix it though! For playdough we have a big variety of random things. Actually, when I can't find a place for something, it often ends up in the "playdough basket". So we've got some candles, a syringe, a piping bag with various attachments (that's quite fun but he cant do it himself), a spare curtain ring, a pinecone, a marble, candles, goggly eyes to make people and monsters, small craft sticks, a rolling pin, a toy car... it's really quite eclectic! Does he play with it all? No. I think less would definitely be more in this case!Delete
Anne! My photos are retrieved, we are almost back to our normal selves so here I am!ReplyDelete
I genuinely love reading your posts and it is always nice getting them in the "mail'.
Anyway, even though Six is older than Elise, Vic isn't far off and I find you can almost always adapt "activities" to a certain level.
I too love your play dough tray (especially the candles! I think Six would love that - why didn't I think of that?).
I like that you have all those activities there ready for Elise to do as and when she feels like. I would like to do something similar but find that we spend so much time out in the garden or doing day to day practical things that I don't get much time to set up such activities. Lotus (16 months) loves participating in whatever I am doing, whether its sweeping, hanging the washing, making a veggie juice (we have a slow juicer and it makes a great real life 'posting' activity), transferring chickpeas, rice or lentils etc into pots for cooking and pouring liquids for cooking. Whenever we have a guest I ask her to pour them a glass of water which she absolutely loves! Actually, there is one practical life tray that sits on Lotus's shelf and she loves it: a money box tray! Lotus just loves putting coins in and out of wallets and money boxes. A real life extension of this is whenever we go to the shops I often ask lotus to either give the cashier the money and then put the change back in the wallet or if I pay with a card to put some coins in a donation box.ReplyDelete


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We engaged the services of Kerry Duffy, owner of Icare Gardens to transform one side of the house. The change is incredible. Kerry does garden maintenance and light landscaping and she came through once again for us. The side of our house was a mess of very old discoloured 'white' stone chip straight out of the 1980s, a bag of sand left over from the previous owners (and kindly left for us when we arrived) and a whole bunch of weeds. This is a utility area. Both of our heatpump units are stored there as well as our water heater. But it's the space that links the front and back gardens so we thought, why not start our garden overhaul there.
Kerry (and staff member Kylie) spent two days uplifting all of the old stone chip, levelling the space and placing weed mat and sand. They then placed small grey river stones and grey pavers. The effect is functional but attractive. Exactly what we were aiming for. Soon we will put three large grey pots in the middle of the space along the fence line and plant bay trees as a finishing touch. We'll also stain the boards that border the front and end of the space black to match the fence. Here are the before, during and after photos:
The always-fantastic Pat from Hall Electrical came to remove the ugly, ultra-bright spotlights from three sides of the house and replaced them with elegant cylinder lights. Here are the before and after shots:


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Today's post is about something that has taken the world by storm. When I say world, I mean my housemates. I decided to make some kale chips about a week ago. The housemates were intrigued. I urged them to try these crispy green chips. After the weird looks and hesitant hands, my housemates tasted the green chips. They loved them!
Kale Chips
1 stalk of kale, fills a big bowl with leaves
~0.5 tbsp olive oil
salt to taste
smoked garlic (or garlic powder) to taste
Wash and dry kale. Remove the leaves of the kale stalk by pulling up on the stalk until the leaf comes off. This is the best way to remove the tougher stem. Put the leaves in a bowl. Toss in olive oil, salt and garlic.
Bake in a 425 degree F oven for about 5-10 minutes, tossing half-way through,
almost done
until crispy and browned at the edges. The time to crisp depends on how moist the leaves were.
These are such a great crispy side to a meal or snack. It is a great way to get a big serving for greens and a salty snack at the same time. I really want to experiment with these with different flavours. I'd love to make a ketchup, BBQ or dill pickle variety. To get these right might take a lot of trial and error but I'm willing to attempt it.
The weather has really cooled down the past few days and has influence my cooking for sure! Expect to see some fall-influenced foods soon!


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Spanish visual artist Sergio Albiac is offering the world a chance to meld with the universe in an innovative project that combines portraiture with images from the Hubble space telescope.
Albiac calls his "Stardust" project "an experiment in generative portraiture."
Do you want your free generative portrait? You can participate in "Stardust", my new generative experiment: Just comment, reblog and/or like this post and you are in!
The stardust project has begun! Participate and get 3 free generative portraits. See http://www.sergioalbiac.com/wall/stardust.html for details and instructions.


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Even though it's been a bit rainy and a little cooler over the last week, autumn has been slow to come this year. With gorgeous afternoons like this one, it feels more like the end of summer than halfway through autumn. I'm not complaining at all. I had an hour spare this afternoon, so decided to explore a new (to me) location.
This is Clive park that sweeps down to the foreshore of middle harbour in Sydney. It's probably busy on the weekends but today it was so peaceful and quiet, the afternoon sun sparkling on the water and the gentle waves lapping around the rocks.


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- Written by webmin
As anybody familiar with Checkers knows, these were not cars designed to last the ages. They were built to be used up, run hard by taxi drivers and to be replaced as needed. Thus, it's more than unusual to find actual physical remains of any Checker prior to about 1960, and it's downright rare to find a complete car. Joe Fay, however, recently discovered this 1950-1952 Checker A4 in Connecticut. Joe writes:
I think I need to join a 12 step program. Just found another 1950-52 Checker A4. Until I see the serial number, I am not sure what year was produced. Some say its restorable, but I have not actually seen the car so, will see when we get it home.
It's currently in storage just south of Hartford, Ct. The car appears to have been a NYC cab that was parked at a dairy in the late fifties.
I get lots of emails from people asking me "how did you find it?" then they go on and tell me that they have been looking for these old Checkers for twenty years etc. The funny thing is: I have never looked for one, honestly, they seem to find me. An email or phone call comes in, then boom, I own another Checker.
For what ever reason, I seem to be the guy you call if an old Checker is found!
This A4, by the way, will join Joe's own personal pre-1960 Checker fleet. He already owns a 1949 A3 and is thick into the restoration of a 1950 A4, which he recently recorded driving around his neighborhood:
Posted in Blog
Tagged barn finds, Checker, Checker A3, Checker A4, Hemmings Classic Car, restorations, taxis


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We have been basking in some glorious sunshine over the past week, such a pleasant change from all the rain we've been experiencing so far this Summer.
Prunella thought it would be a lovely idea to pack up some freshly prepared food and place it in the wicker picnic basket along with a flask of coffee brewed that very same morning. Now to invite Francine to join her in a ride in the Jumping Jimny to the Ridgeway for a short stroll.
Such glorious views and lovely peace and quiet disturbed only by the sound of birdsong and the gentle buzzing of hoverflies and bees. What a wonderful spot to enjoy their small snack.
After returning home dear Prunella was wandering around her garden admiring her flowers along with the beautiful butterflies and bees.
Looking to see if her Felicite Perpetue rambling rose needed tying to the trellis she noticed some semi circular holes cut out neatly from the otherwise healthy leaves.
She looked here there and everywhere to catch the culprit but no greenfly or caterpillars to be seen anywhere.
She was stumped.
Just then there was a buzz and Beyonce the Leaf-cutter Bee landed on a nice succulent green leaf where she carefully nibbled a neat hole. Such skill, Prunella was mesmerized. She then gently gathered the fresh green leaf disc until it was firmly in her grasp and off she flew to her new nest.
As fast as Prunella's little legs could carry her she ran following Beyonce the Bee as she flew with the piece of leaf almost as big as herself!
Much to Prunella's delight Beyonce headed straight to Prunella's Bug Hotel.
What a lovely bijou residence Beyonce was crafting for her young. The larvae were very lucky to have such a skilled and caring mother Bee.
When Beyonce was happy with her work she sealed the bamboo with her saliva and a large piece of leaf . Then off she flew.
Prunella hopes to see the new young Leaf-cutter Bees buzzing around in April of next year. She will have to make sure there are some beautiful Spring flowers planted in her garden with plenty of nice fresh pollen and nectar for the young bees to feed on.
Prunella is so impressed by the workmanship that goes into creating these wonderful little homes.
Until the next time,


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I've always been surprised that his board doesn't get more attention....It is a great place for area info and conditions.
So, with the snow today, it looks like we will be considerably over the 6" amount needed in Northern Waukesha county (we had about 5 inches on the ground prior to today). Although, admittedly, the snow we've had to date, including today, has been very light - which means it blows off of farm fields, etc.
So I thought I'd check to see if trails may open tomorrow for the weekend? We got to be getting close, I would assume?


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Jon took a longer look at the small woman standing in front of him. She had a cap on her head that kept the lights off her face, sunglasses, no real hair he could see, and whatever figure she might have had was hidden by a baggy one piece jumpsuit of an unflattering grayish color. Nothing about her triggered the smallest bit of interest.
The anger that radiated, however, had him making an involuntary smirk that he quickly stopped, sure that would not help diffuse the situation.
While he might have felt small standing next to the man named Greg, the woman in front of him appeared the height of a child when Greg moved to her side. He watched as she put a hand on the man's arm, somehow managing to calm the big man and herself at the same time.
"Greg, this is Mr. Martin. Do you remember him calling?" Mel waited while Greg's gaze went distant as he thought. There was silence for at least a minute until Greg shook his head.
"No, the man who called before had a short name. Not Martin." Greg looked back at the man in front of them and side-stepped a half step closer to Mel.
Quickly realizing the large man was being protective of the woman, Jon stepped back himself and turned a smile on Greg.
"When we spoke on the phone, you called me Mr. Frank."
Greg thought about that for a few moments and then turned to Mel.
"That was it, Mel. Mr. Frank. I remember!" He looked at her until she once again put a hand on his arm and smiled.
"Thanks Greg, that's what I needed to know." She turned again to her customer and grinned.
"So, Mr. Frank…should we go into my office and you can give me an idea of what you'd like to do?"
"Sure Mel…" Jon voice seemed to drawl out her name as he reached down to grab his bag, "…anything you say."
Mel shot him a look, one that started another grin crossing his face.
"Sorry, Ms. Gordon."
She raised an eyebrow at him and somehow within the space of a few seconds he felt he had been weighed, measured ... and dismissed.
Before leading him to her office, Mel asked Greg to take her flight bag down to the plane.
"And Greg, make sure all the tanks are topped off, okay?"
"Sure, Mel, I will. All topped off. Okay."
They both watched as Greg walked quickly back out the door, again slamming it behind him.
"This way, Mr. Martin." Mel gestured toward the side office.
Settling himself into a rather worn armchair, Jon watched as Mel pulled some charts out of a side cabinet and picked up a pencil. She slid her sunglasses a bit downward on her now, adjusted her papers, and turned to face him.
"So, Mr. Martin, you want to charter my plane for two weeks, correct?"
Jon nodded at her as she continued, making notes as she spoke.
"What are you looking to do?" She cocked her head as she finished, waiting for his response.
"I'm looking to purchase some property. I want to go to these islands…" He stopped and pulled out a list from his pocket. "These are the ones with homes I want to see." He handed her the paper and she opened it, seeing several of the smaller, less inhabited islands listed. All were within a 1,000 mile radius of her island and most of them she had been to before.
Opening one of her charts, Mel began identifying the islands on his list.
"Okay, we're here on Cat, and I'm guessing you're not looking at Grand Bahama Island or Nassau, right?"
Jon shook his head. "Too touristy."
Returning to the map, Mel pointed to Crooked Island and Watling Island. "We'll start with those two and just continue to work south. Alright with you?"
Nodding at her, Jon agreed. "That's what I thought too. I have rooms arranged so we can just keep traveling."
Mel's eyes met his at that information, but he just shrugged. "I only have a month off, but I want to get this done within two weeks if possible. It just makes sense to stay at places along the way."
She looked at him a bit appraisingly, but filed that information away as one point against her "rich idiot" judgment.
They continued working for the next hour, revising their plans and Mel filled out her final flight plan. She would be leaving a copy with Greg as usual, as well as filing one with Bahamian customs. Gathering her papers, Mel glanced at her watch.
"It's almost one. Do you want to get some lunch before we take off or do you want to stop on Bent?"
A half smile crossed Jon's face. "Bent?"
"Crooked Island, Bent?"
"Ahh…okay…" He laughed then. "Let's eat on Bent."
A short time later both were ready to leave and they walked down to the bay where the seaplane waited. Mel did her preflight check, Greg watching diligently as she did so. Jon stowed his bag in the back and then stepped back to light a smoke. He knew it would be his last while they were in the air and he savored it as the warm breezes flowed over him.
The conversation between his pilot and her assistant were barely audible as they moved around the plane and he allowed his thoughts to drift as he waited.
What he had told Mel was true, he had managed to clear his ridiculously busy schedule for a month at his wife's insistence. He knew he had been almost impossible to live with during the last few months and her patience was wearing thin. His continual snapping at the kids had been her last straw and she had all but thrown him out with instructions to "go get your shit together".
That wasn't what she said. Asshole. Be honest in your own head.
"I want my husband back."
Monday, March 29, 2010
Chapter 5
Jon took a longer look at the small woman standing in front of him. She had a cap on her head that kept the lights off her face, sunglasses, no real hair he could see, and whatever figure she might have had was hidden by a baggy one piece jumpsuit of an unflattering grayish color. Nothing about her triggered the smallest bit of interest.
Posted by Sunstreaked at 7:08 PM
3 comments:
- Anonymous said...
I like this story so far... cant wait for more ;-)
- March 30, 2010 at 4:15 AM
- Bayaderra said...
Aha, so Dot is still in the picture...
- March 30, 2010 at 8:03 AM
- Alice Faye said...
1 love the background. 2 love the concept and 3 why didn't you tell me you started it already?
I love it so far. But need to read more to give a 100 % love it.
- April 1, 2010 at 7:22 AM


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Stock Market Speed Standard Sought After Traders Report Increase in Vertigo
The Transnational Requisite Authority Program of NATO has announced new global standards will be developed to oversee the speed at which stock market tickers flow. This comes after a recent report that dizziness among traders and brokers has increased five-fold over the past six years. Nearly one-in-eight traders experiences "extreme vertigo" at least once every 10 days, according to a recent study.
On average, stock market tickers move at about 22 HdQ's/usec. This is well within human abilities to absorb the information, but over time, according to experts, it can cause strain on the brain. A new plan, having been tested in small remote markets, would decrease the average speed to 19 HdQ's/usec by implementing an algorithm.
Julie Brill, commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission, said, in an unrelated interview, "The global economy depends on the brilliant minds and tenacity of traders from all walks of life. I believe a new standard in trading will bring hope and joy to all."
According to those close to the matter, there is no timeline for the development of the ticker speed standard or the application of statistical studies or formation of a panel of standards-making individuals. Work is said to be underway, however. Those against the matter say slowing the tickers could slow the economy, others say it would have no effect, while others said there is a converse relationship between stock market ticker speed and economic growth. In short, nobody knows who to believe.
Insiders say that a change in ticker speed could bring new economic activity. The electronics and programming industry could see renewed research and development activities. Manufacturers of circuits, LEDs, ticker speed mechanisms, and Snickers could get a boost as well.
As for the ultimate impact of a new stock market ticker speed standard on Wall Street, nobody is sure what that will be. Only time will tell.


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My name is Joyce Wu and I'm an Asian American writer, actress and filmmaker. I'm currently an MFA candidate in film production at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and I've directed several short films that have won awards and screened at festivals around the world.
I'm getting in touch with you today to tell you about my newest feature film. It's called The Real Mikado and you can check out the campaign here.
The film is about an out of work Asian American actress in New York who runs out of money and moves back in with her parents in the suburbs of Detroit. The town is facing a budget crisis and wants to shut down the community theater. She agrees to direct a production of Gilbert and Sullivan's opera The Mikado to try and save it. It's a fun but poignant coming-of-age comedy. Right now, I'm working on securing funding via the IndieGoGo platform. I think we can all agree it's about time for a film featuring an Asian American character who isn't just an ethnic side kick or massage parlor worker. The prospects in Hollywood for a film with a female protagonist (much less an Asian American one) are grim and this movie needs the support of the community so it can be produced independently. Any help you can give to this film would be greatly appreciated. I know how busy you must be, so thank you for taking the time to read this and for checking out the project.


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North America Will Drive Global Economic Recovery This Year
Wednesday, June 19, 2002
Press release from the issuing companyBut U.S. Is Not the Growth Engine of the Late 1990s NEW YORK, June 18 -- North America, with the U.S. leading the way, will drive the global recovery this year, according to a three-nation study released today by The Conference Board, Inc., The Conference Board of Canada and Centro de Estudios Economicos del Sector Privado A.C. of Mexico. But the turnaround is likely to be modest. The North American economy began this year recovering from its first recession in more than a decade. The weighted average of growth in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico slowed to just 1.2% last year, from 4.2% in 2000. The regional downturn had a considerable impact on the global economy, slowing growth to 2.5% last year from 4.7% in 2000. All three economies in North America contracted in the third quarter, but Gross Domestic Product growth in the U.S. and Canada quickly rebounded during the fourth quarter of last year. Although the Mexican economy is lagging those of its northern neighbors, growth should turn positive by the second quarter of this year. As a result, regional growth is expected to accelerate gradually over the course of 2002, but increase just 2.4% for the whole year. Growth will rebound to 3.9% in 2003 as the North American recovery gathers momentum. "A key risk to the North American outlook is the ongoing reliance of the global economy on U.S. demand," says Gail D. Fosler, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of The Conference Board, who co-authored the report with Thomas D. Higgins, Managing Director of Geoffrey Bell and Company. "The U.S. economy is simply not the engine of global growth that it was during the late 1990s." This year, domestic demand is expected to grow just 3.4% and U.S. import growth is expected to be weak. Even after the U.S. economy returns to full strength in 2003, it's unlikely that Americans will be able, as they did in the late 1990s, to resume the role of buyer of last resort in the global economy. International trade, and especially capital flows, will take time to recuperate, reducing growth prospects in most developing countries. Asia (excluding Japan) will be the notable exception to this rule. Countries such as Singapore and Taiwan are already well integrated into the U.S. supply chain for technology products, and will benefit from the recovery underway in this sector. Growth in Latin America, on the other hand, will remain sluggish given the regional dependence on foreign capital inflows. Countries such as Argentina and Brazil need to find alternative ways to finance domestic investment and economic growth. Overall, global growth is expected to increase 2.8% this year and 4% in 2003. U.S. RECOVERY WELL ESTABLISHED The U.S. economy has shown remarkable resilience in the face of the events of September 11th. The 2001 recession was one of the mildest and shortest on record. Barring any downward revisions to past data, U.S. GDP growth will have posted only one quarter of decline during the recession. After falling at a 1.3% annual rate in the third quarter of last year, GDP growth rose 1.7% in the fourth quarter of last year and surged 5.6% in the first quarter of 2002, due to a swing in inventory investment. While U.S. consumers managed relatively well during the recession, businesses bore the brunt of the downturn. Non-residential fixed investment declined at an annualized rate of 13.8% in the fourth quarter and averaged a decline of 12% between March and December. At the same time, tight margins and a lack of pricing power caused corporate profits to drop 21% peak-to-trough on a National Income and Product Account basis. But the outlook for investment and profits is improving, and business is expected to lead the recovery this year. Although business investment continued to decline in the first quarter, the rate of decline slowed to 8.2%. In addition, businesses are lifting production to replenish depleted stocks following the record inventory drawdown at the end of last year. In the first three months of 2002, industrial production posted its first consecutive monthly increases since April-June 2000. Also, healthy gains in productivity will provide huge profit leverage as the industrial sector recovers. Productivity growth accelerated to an 8.6% annual pace during the first quarter of 2002. The combination of increased production and higher profit margins should result in a turnaround in business investment this year. One positive sign is the rebound in new orders for technology that extends across the key tech sectors. Since the downturn in information and communications technology led into the recession, the pickup in computer spending may be an early signal of a turnaround in total business spending. GDP growth will increase only modestly, to 2.4%, but a gradual pickup in activity will boost fourth quarter growth to an annual rate of over 3%. This recovery should set the stage for a return to 3.8% growth in 2003. CANADA AND MEXICO ARE ALSO RECOVERING There was some concern at the start of the U.S. recession that Canada and Mexico would suffer disproportionately because of their closer ties to the U.S. under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This assumption seemed reasonable, since Mexican and Canadian exports to the U.S. account for about one-quarter and one-third of GDP, respectively. Also, both countries are highly integrated into the U.S. production chain for automobiles, which, along with the technology sector, was hardest hit by the U.S. recession. But the downturns in Canada and Mexico were unusually mild by past standards. The increasing integration of North America has resulted in a more synchronized business cycle across the continent, as well as reduced volatility among the major macro-economic indicators. This trend is expected to continue over the next two years. The Canadian economy outperformed the U.S. economy last year, growing 1.5%. There is even some question as to whether the slowdown in Canada actually qualified as a recession. Nevertheless, the country is rebounding in concert with the U.S. economy. Canadian consumers, like their U.S. counterparts, have maintained remarkable buying levels during the downturn. Consumer spending is expected to strengthen gradually over the course of the year, reaching an annualized rate of nearly 4% in Canada by year's end. This strengthening trend will set the foundation for the expansion to move into full swing in 2003, with GDP growth forecast to increase at an annual rate of 4.5%. Mexico experienced a sharper contraction than either the U.S. or Canada, and its recovery has been slower to materialize. But, preliminary signs indicate that the economy has turned the corner and will begin growing again by the second quarter of this year. The Conference Board's Leading Index for Mexico rose 0.3% in January and 0.1% in February, with rising oil prices and declining inventories responsible for much of the gain. Strong ties to the U.S. and a balanced policy mix have allowed Mexico to decouple itself from Latin America. Despite the meltdown in Argentina, the Mexican peso appreciated six percent against the U.S. dollar last year, as international investors began to see Mexico as a safe haven. This year, GDP growth in Mexico will reach 1.5%, preparing the way for a more robust recovery to annual growth of around 4% in 2003.
Industry News
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People usually only come to this frontier when they have had a terrible loss in their life or they've been fired or some other trauma breaks open their story. Then they can't tell that story anymore... they hit present reality with such impact that they break apart on contact with the true circumstance."
~David Whyte
They hit present reality with such impact that they break apart on contact. Sound like you? It sure as hell sounds like me.
I hit the reality of my husband's cheating with such impact that I shattered.
And it's hard, when you're shattered, to recognize that this breaking apart might, one day, be exactly what you needed. It's damn near impossible to understand that it's only when trauma has broken open your story that you're able to write a new chapter.
From my stop farther down the road, however, I can see that my husband's cheating – the trauma from that betrayal – meant that I couldn't keep telling myself the story I had been. It meant that, once I was able to pull myself back together, I had to admit that my story wasn't entirely based on fact. It was up to me to begin writing my own rather than let others dictate it to me.
Until then, my story had gone something like this:
I married a wonderful, principled man who adored me. We had three wonderful healthy children. Life was good, better than I expected or, frankly, deserved. The end.What I tended to ignore because it didn't fit with the storyline I wanted desperately to believe was that it disappointed me when he wasn't able to acknowledge the casual cruelty of his family towards me.
It hurt me when I felt emotionally abandoned after the birth of our first child.
I felt invisible when I would express fairly mundane needs (please walk the dogs in the morning, please have breakfast with me instead of sleeping in...) and he wouldn't. (His modus operandi, which he'd used for years with his own family, was to agree to whatever they wanted and then do what HE wanted. I, a firm believer in taking people at their word, took years to see what he was doing. Which might mean I'm either a) a hopeless optimist or b) kinda stupid.)
And it was confusing to me when, sometimes, I felt like a blow-up doll during sex. As if I – a fully present human me – wasn't supposed to be there, and certainly wasn't supposed to have my own needs.
But by not allowing those truths to be part of my story, I was living a fiction. The fiction of my adoring wonderful husband who would never-not-EVER cheat on me.
Broken Open.
In the wake of that breaking open, we begin writing our new story.
I realized fairly quickly that my marriage hadn't been quite so polished and perfect as I had wanted to believe. I could see just how broken I was even before his betrayal completely shattered me. One of the hugest revelations for me was to recognize just how much I'd already betrayed myself.
I had assumed that my needs were less important than everyone else in the family.
I had accepted that, if his family rejected me on some level, it was because I wasn't deserving of their love.
I had been living my long-held deep conviction that I wasn't enough.
I accepted love that was, frankly, not so great and told myself it was more than I deserved.
As I healed, I began writing my true story.
And in this new story that has emerged, I am learning that I am enough. Have always been. Always will be.
I am learning that, in a healthy relationship, nobody's needs trump another's. That we all matter and can negotiate a family in which that's the guiding principle.
I can now spot the myriad ways in which I betray myself. My clue is a spark of resentment (which, left unexamined, grows to a roaring house fire of anger). When I begin to hear the voice in my head muttering "look how much I do", and "I'm exhausted!", and "why doesn't he...", and "why won't they...", I know it's time to take good look at how I'm NOT taking care of myself. When you hear yourself saying one thing when your heart and soul are screaming another, you're betraying yourself.
But what's clear to me is that all of this stuff, these rich lessons that have shaped my life in wonderful ways and deepened my relationships to friends and family and my children, arose out of my shattered self, my broken story.
It can be hard to see when you're surrounded by wreckage. It can feel like warmed-over platitudes ("out of suffering comes wisdom") that make you want to bash in the face of anyone offering them up.
But it was through my broken story that I gained the control to change the narrative of my own life into something that is far more likely to give me a satisfying ending. An ending, of course, to be determined.


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Saturday, November 14, 2009
Birthday. Balloons. Cake. Cards. Pressies. Loving kids. Loving husband. Bubbly. Friends. Laughter. Music. Nice. Very nice indeed. Soaking it all in. Enjoying every second. Mmmmmmmmm. My big 40.
How does it feel? Great. The big 40 comes with acceptance, strength, peace. Kind of. I am what I am and I am me. Good old me. Maybe 40 but 24 in my spirit. Not a day more. Ever. No matter how many flaws, wrinkles or grey hairs. Always young, except for when wisdom is needed. It is good. To be able to choose that. Very good indeed.
Vanity is vanished. Nature is beautiful. I am. I love. Life is. Now. Here. Look at that drawing! (Family portrait by L.C, 5 years old). I am a very VERY lucky woman. Thank you everyone for emails, cards, presents and phonecalls. It is good to be loved. This is a very nice day indeed. Cheers!
Posted by Annette - MyRoseValley at 20:43
Labels: Family and Kids
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RNC 8 endorse Susan Gaertner for governor
Five members of the RNC 8--the anarchists facing terrorism charges for allegedly plotting to violently protest the RNC--gathered downtown yesterday afternoon to make an announcement: they're endorsing Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner in her bid for Minnesota governor.
Addressing a crowd of about 30 people (including press) near the corner of 8th Street and 2nd Avenue, Max Spector read from a prepared statement:
"It may come as a shock to those who are following our case to hear that we, the RNC 8, are officially endorsing Susan Gaertner in her candidacy for Governor of Minnesota. For those who do not know, Gaertner is the current Ramsey County District Attorney, and is responsible for the ridiculous charges against us, and all other people charged with felonies at the RNC in St. Paul.
"We want our state to be led by someone who isn't scared to crack the whip, or baton, or concussion grenade, or tear gas canister, on lawless individuals, even if they are only exercising their right to free speech. We want a governor who believes in the law so staunchly, that she would be willing to try anyone on any law no matter how unconstitutional, or vague that law may be."
An oversized makeshift check made out to "Susan Gaertner 4 Governor" for an amount of "Eight dollars and no sense." In the memo line, scribbled in black marker, read, "This isn't a bribe, you're awesome!"
The timing and location of the press conference coincided with a Gaertner's birthday party-slash-fundraising taking place just 50 feet away inside the posh Minneapolis Center. When a reporter asked if the endorsement was a joke, RNC 8 member Rob Czernik didn't miss a beat:
"It's as much of a joke as Gaertner's prosecution."


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Roberto Cavalli Baby JeansWhen my sister and I were babies, our family was barely scraping the bottom of the middle class. K-Mart was a big shopping expedition for us and my mom made most of my clothes.
Today, almost all the moms I know today shop at places like Target or TJ Maxx-type stores. Maybe for the holidays we splurge on something extravagant. Everyone figures, sure, the fancy clothes are gorgeous -- but the kid is going to outgrow everything in about two weeks. In addition to spitting up, pooping, and peeing on them.
The cost of a baby in her first year of life was somewhere around $10K. That's a staggering number on its own. Now, many moms are spending upwards of $20,000 in just one year -- and that's not on necessities. That would include things like the $1500 Bugaboo, $88 cashmere onesies, $300 Fendi blankets and $170 Roberto Cavalli jeans for your 3-month-old.
Has Kourtney Kardashian's spending tipped the scales?
Then there's Kendra and Tori and all the other celebs who are having babies on television -- and spending lavishly, broadcasting it into all our homes. They have the Burberry, Jean Paul Gaultier (what, you don't want a metallic pink cone-bra onesie?), and the fancy strollers and diaper bags and baby shoes and minkies and Swarovski-crusted binkies in order to keep up with the spendiest of the spendy.
But, seriously -- if Kendra wants $1,200 baby booties, she can have them. We all know she's got the dough for it. For the rest of us, raising a child is hard enough, even when you are financially stable -- forget about when you're struggling a little, as most new parents are. And now it's okay to go thousands and thousands of dollars in debt -- for a pair of jeans? For baby?!
Come on! Thrift store jeans aren't even practical when you are 3 months old! And you might as well set fire to that money, because the baby is going to need another pair of Sevens in about a month. And another pair a month later.
What is this all about, this need to clothe kids like mini-celebs in mini versions of designer duds? Why does baby need pricey wheels to stroll through town in a stroller that costs as much as a semester of college?
I just don't get it. The baby doesn't have a clue what's going on and can't appreciate it. So it has to be about the parents. Living vicariously? Okay, maybe. But at what cost? Perpetual debt, overspending, passing on terrible habits to the kids ….
I'm filing this one under "irresponsible parenting" until these parents can make a matching contribution to a college fund for every ridiculous pair of Ray Bans they strap to their kid's head.
Don't you think this money could be better spent somewhere else?
Image via Alexandalexa.com


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New Republic blogger Jonathan Chait blames 100% of Obama's deficit on George W. Bush
HH: Joined now by Jonathan Chait of the New Republic, who will be watching the President's State of the Union address with a great deal of interest. He's been blogging over at his brand new blog at the New Republic about health care not being dead yet. Jonathan, you're beginning to strike me as the shopkeeper in Monty Python presented with the dead parrot, and you keep saying it's not dead, it's merely stunned.
JC: Yeah, you know, people were saying the same thing back in the summer, that said we had these town halls, it was dead, it was dead, it was dead. And then all of a sudden, they got it on the fast track, and pretty quickly went to something that even partisan Republicans admitted was all but a fait accompli, and then had this kind of stunner in Massachusetts that have knocked people off their bearings. But if you look at the fundamentals of the situation, they're so close to passing it, and the hardest part is all behind them, both politically and procedurally. So it's pretty easy for them to pass it, and I think they have every reason to. So my assumption is that politicians usually do what's in their interest, and in this case, it's clearly in their interest to do it. So they probably will. I didn't say, I'm not certain they will. I just think it's better than even odds that they will.
HH: A proposition for you, that they're all positioning so they don't get blamed for killing it. They're trying to lay the blame in the House off on the Senate. And what I'd love to see you write about, because I just don't know what your answer is to this, what about Bart Stupak and his 12 Democrats who say no, we are not going to vote for the Senate bill, and probably that number is higher now, Jon?
JC: I don't think it is higher. That is…I've heard it's more like eight to ten who they're going to lose on abortion, and who supported the first bill. But you've also got another pretty big chunk of Democrats who voted against it the first time, many of them said that they preferred the Senate version of the bill, and would have voted for something more like the Senate bill. So now what they're being asked to do is to actually approve the Senate bill.
HH: Can you point me to any list of eight or nine, let's go with your number…
JC: Yeah.
HH: …eight or nine Democrats who voted against Obamacare in the House who are willing to go on record as saying they're open to voting for it now?
JC: None of them are, you know, again, some of them said so the first time around. They said they're voting against it, but they preferred the Senate bill. None of them are going to say that now, because they number one, lose all leverage, and number two, politically expose themselves if it doesn't actually happen. You know, the way these things normally go, and I'm sure you've seen enough votes to see how it is, and in situations like this, they usually hold off until the very end when the vote's going to happen, and then they kind of give enough votes for the measure to pass. The House is almost never the institution that stops the President when controlled by the same party from getting his agenda through.
HH: Well, I will continue to read Jonathan Chait's blog daily to see a list of even four Democrats who are willing to say they're considering voting for it when they voted against it right now, because that's like signing a suicide note for a politician right now. But Jonathan…
JC: Oh, sure, to say that, of course they're not going to say that.
HH: Yeah, that's why I think it's all just puffle what you guys are saying, and I think the President will posture tonight, and I think you guys are posturing to try and preserve it, and you're trying to blame Evan Bayh, and I'm glad for that, because we can beat Evan Bayh in the fall.
JC: Oh, I'm not blaming Evan Bayh. I don't think Evan Bayh's the problem. And if it does go down, I don't think Evan Bayh will be the problem.
HH: Then who will be the problem if it does go down?
JC: I think the biggest problem I see right now is mistrust between the House and the Senate, especially the mistrust of the Senate by the House, in just the inability to kind of work together, and frankly, I think, a failure of leadership by the Obama administration. I think they've had their worst moments of the presidency by far in the last week, and I have to be honest that it's really shaken my confidence in their ability to respond to a crisis, because they've had a real crisis here, and they've just allowed the rest of the Democrats in Congress to succumb to panic. And I think to some issue, they have themselves.
HH: I think they've shattered their ability to lead beyond repair, but that makes me happy, probably makes you said.
JC: Yeah.
HH: Let me ask you, though, very seriously, this is a serious question. $1.4 trillion dollar deficit, maybe $1.35 trillion…
JC: Right.
HH: No plans to control that, going to $9 trillion next year…
JC: Well, I don't say no plan. The health care bill does do quite a bit to control the deficit, much more than, you know, we've seen from any politician since the 1993 deficit reduction act that President Clinton and the Democrats passed.
HH: And given that it's now dead on arrival, or that it's stuck there, the President is going to propose a spending freeze tonight…
JC: Right.
HH: And that will not stop this deficit, Jonathan.
JC: No, you're right. It won't. It's a very, very small measure.
HH: Are you prepared…are you prepared to admit we cannot spend this kind of money, and the Democrats seem incapable of taking serious action on this?
JC: No, I don't think that's a fair characterization. I think you've had Democrats who have made pretty significant efforts to reduce the deficit when they've had power, and you've had Republicans doing enormous, massive damage to the fiscal bottom line. And the Democrats' ability to bail the water out of the boat is dwarfed by the Republicans' ability to let more water come in.
HH: Do you think that's going to persuade anybody that the deficit is the Republicans' fault, when the last deficit under George Bush was $161 billion before the panic, and the first deficit for Obama after the panic is $1.35 trillion? Do you think anyone buys that, Jon?
JC: Oh, I think people who play close attention to fiscal policy will buy it, but that's a very small minority of the country. So do I think it's going to persuade a majority of the public? No, only people who pay close attention, because it's obviously and absolutely true that the increase in the deficit has been due to several factors that dwarf everything else. In terms of the deficit after the first couple of years, when they're deliberately trying to increase the deficit in order to stimulate the economy, but I'm talking about the permanent increase…
HH: The permanent structural $1.35 trillion dollar deficit, which is…
JC: Right, the structural increases that we're seeing in the years after the stimulus wears away are overwhelmingly due to a couple of things. Number one, you've got the economy collapsing, right? So this causes expenditures to rise, and revenues to drop automatically. In terms of policy, it's adding to it…it's actually 100% George W. Bush's policies. 100%.
HH: (laughing) Jon, I want you to argue that for the rest of the year, because the American people, you quotes Peter Hart…
JC: Which Obama policies add to the long term deficit? Name me one.
HH: You quoted…they won't cut any spending. They continue to spend like drunken sailors. Everything went up.
JC: Name an Obama policy that's adding to the long term deficit. Name one that's adding to the long term deficit.
HH: All right, here's one – the $787 billion dollar stimulus plan is actually going to cost, I believe the number was $50 billion more than advertised, because they miscalculated what was the unemployment rate going to be. Instead of 8%, it became 10%. Therefore, their calculations were wrong. Therefore, the deficit went up $50 billion dollars. I think that was announced today, Jon.
JC: That's not because of the stimulus. That's because higher unemployment leads to higher spending…
HH: Oh no, no, no. If you write a bill that says we're going to pay higher unemployment benefits based on 8%…
JC: Right.
HH: …and you're wrong, you screwed up the bill. That's the Obama…
JC: Okay, you're right, but unemployment benefits are part, I mean, they are estimated before the stimulus.
HH: Wait a minute.
JC: In any case, that's not long term spending.
HH: Did you just say you're right?
JC: That's not long term spending. I said long term spending, something after the…
HH: Wait, wait. But did you just say you're right to me?
JC: Yeah.
HH: You did.
JC: No, you're totally wrong. You have not brought up a policy…
HH: Well no, you just a minute ago, you said I was right. I just wanted to pause and reflect. That may be the first time in five years.
JC: My question to you is name something that will increase the long term deficit that Obama has done.
HH: Let me explain this to you, because you're a University of Michigan grad, so I may have to go slow.
JC: Yeah.
HH: When you add $50 billion dollars to the deficit, and you don't pay it off, interest is owed on that every single year going forward.
JC: You're right. Okay, you're right. There are some interest costs associated with, that are going to be some permanent. They're very, very tiny. You're talking about increasing the amount that we're spending on long term interest by a couple percent.
HH: That's just, you asked for an example, I gave you one.
JC: Okay.
HH: There are thousands of examples. They raised spending in every category.
JC: That's tiny. That's tiny. That's a few billion dollars.
HH: But they did it in every single category across the fiscal appropriations process last year…
JC: No, they didn't. You're only talking…
HH: They raised, go back…
JC: The only example you have of Obama adding to the long term deficit is the increased interest costs from the deficit after it expires. That's your only example, and it's a few billion dollars.
HH: Here's a second one. $161 billion dollar deficit before TARP, $1.35 trillion dollar deficit after TARP? Something happened in between. It's called a Democratic budget. It's not TARP. It wasn't the stimulus. That's structural increases in spending that he approved, that he signed, and that the Democratic Congress passed. You get the last minute, Jon. Why isn't that the Democrats' responsibility?
JC: No, those were automatic spending that was already in the budget. If you look at the huge increases in policy spending, you've got the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which are themselves much larger than the stimulus, you've got the Bush tax cuts, and you've got the Bush Medicare benefit, all of which were 100% financed by deficit spending. Unlike health care, which they're actually paying for, they made no effort whatsoever.
HH: Jon, we'll continue the conversation. People can read about it at www.tnr.com. Look for Jonathan Chait's blog.
End of interview.


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When something goes wrong in the family, you are responsible for taking care of it. Usually, situations happen at the most inconvenient times and places, and people need to take time off of work in order to handle these matters properly. (Topchic, 2001)
When then weather changes, absenteeism rises. Respiratory infections such as asthma may force employees to call out of work...displayed next 300 characters
Our aim is to provide a new option which can help students write their researches taking as guideline excellent examples of any kinds of papers. This option is new and progressive; it is even easier than buying a custom written paper! Due to this service you can find and choose what you need by yourself without paying almost anything.


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What to consider when shopping for a mortgage
(NC) Even when interest rates are steady, many homeowners refinance their mortgages. In some cases, an existing mortgage is coming to an end and borrowers need to renegotiate. Other reasons for refinancing include funding renovations, paying for a child's education, or buying a second property.
Too often, homeowners enter mortgage negotiations without legal advice and without understanding the deal or its implications. Getting professional advice when refinancing can help you save money and protect your interests. Here are some key things to consider:
1. Lender choice: Look around for the lender with better terms or a lower interest rate – they are negotiable.
2. Legal advice: Never sign mortgage documents without fully understanding the terms they contain. A real estate lawyer can protect your interests by explaining your obligations under the mortgage. They can also explain what the lender can do if you fail to make mortgage payments on time. Finally, a lawyer can review the documents registered on the title for the home to check for unexpected liens or fraudulent transactions.
3. Pre-payment penalties: When refinancing, it's important to fully understand the implications of any pre-payment penalties that may be triggered. If you sell before the mortgage due date, will there be a pre-payment penalty? Can the mortgage be transported free of charge to a future home? A lawyer can explain all the pros and cons before you commit to new mortgage terms.
4. Protecting your investment: Refinancing is a great opportunity to protect yourself from exposure to fraud and other risks. If you don't already have title insurance, this is the time to arrange a policy. Title insurance can provide solid protection, in case the property is targeted for mortgage fraud.


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A series of book discussions designed to bring the WMU campus community together with the greater Kalamazoo population.
These events are free and open to the public.
Light in the Shadows is a frank conversation about race among ten women who participated in the ground-breaking video The Way Home. These American women of Indigenous, African, Arab, European, Jewish, Asian, Latina and Mixed Race descent, use authentic dialogue to crack open a critical door of consciousness. What lies behind it is a perspective on race that is often unseen/ unnoticed within the dominant culture. With clear language, open hearts and a willingness to engage - even when it gets hard - these women travel over roads that demonstrate why valuable discourse on race is so laden with emotion, distrust and misunderstanding. Light in the Shadow is a springboard for critical self-inquiry and inter-ethnic dialogue. - World-Trust.org
Questions about the Reading
Together program?
Email us or call (269) 553-7913.


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The ruler of the Venatori is a kind old man who I've never really met. He's been the leader for 40+ years and he is the main face of the Venatori and of the Apex Unlimited building – even though Dr. Asher Eriksen owns the company and the building. His son will inherit the CEO gig when he turns 25 as per all Eriksen son's have in the past.
Mark Green is a strong man, but he's got a good heart. Some believe he's making the Venatori soft and other's believe that he is heading in the direction of the times as per all leaders before him.
His job isn't an easy one. He has to communicate with a bunch of other supernatural organizations and none of them want to talk. There is bad blood and there will always be conflict.
Some in the supernatural world believe Mark Green thinks he's ruler over it all. He is powerful – the most powerful Magnus to have lived in his life time – well except for me or so I'm told. I could technically rule all if I wanted to. The leader of the Venatori is determined by who is the strongest Magnus – and in theory that's men. My capabilities and power scale in comparison is greater than our illustrious leader.
There are two ways to take power – challenge the leader or have it handed to you from your predecessor. I don't see Mark Green grooming me to take over any time soon. Nor do I believe anyone would willingly follow a Minorem as leader of the Venatori. I'm too human for them.
Not that I want to lead mind you. I'll stick to my sheep status for as long as I possibly can.


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Violet As the name of a color, violet (named after the flower violet) is used in two senses: first, referring to the color of light at the short-wavelength end of the visible spectrum, approximately 380–420 nm when indigo is recognized as a distinct color, or more commonly 380–450 nm (this is a spectral color). Second, violet may refer to a shade of purple, that is, a mixture of red and blue light, and not a spectral color. Spectral violet is outside the gamut of typical RGB color spaces, and although it can be approximated by that color shown as electric violet, it cannot be reproduced exactly on a computer screen.
A tremor is an involuntary, somewhat rhythmic, muscle contraction and relaxation involving to-and-fro movements (oscillations or twitching) of one or more body parts. It is the most common of all involuntary movements and can affect the hands, arms, eyes, face, head, vocal cords, trunk, and legs. Most tremors occur in the hands. In some people, tremor is a symptom of another neurological disorder.


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The 25 Days of Catmas: This is So Embarrassing! I Can't Believe We Both Showed Up in the Same Outfit!
Join us in our countdown to Catmas! Every day we'll feature a holiday-themed kitteh on the front page. Get into the festivities and add a holly jolly caption!
- Reposted by


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We're a nanny agency that goes above and beyond in finding the perfect fit for your family, guiding you through the process, and looking after all the details.
Whether you're looking for an extra pair of hands during the day, help before and after school until you return from work, or flexible working patterns to to cover shift-working, we can help. If you need a nanny that can also help with cleaning, with your business, or is bilingual, we can help there too. We love to meet all our families, get to know you and your requirements, then our team takes care of everything. It's that simple.
Happy Nest provides all the solutions that traditional childcare can't. We can help you find a long-term nanny that will support your family as your children grow, and we can also provide a specialist maternity nurse to help you through the first few weeks of bringing a new baby home. Whatever your needs, we do all the work required to find the right person, provide as much help and advice as you need, and look after all the arrangements. Only the best will do when it comes to choosing your nanny which is why Happy Nest's recruitment process involves a thorough interview, referencing and screening. We also offer psychometric testing, Nanny Drive IQ and DBS (CRB) checks for additional peace of mind. Based in Chester, we are ideally located to help families in Cheshire, Manchester, the Wirral & Liverpool.
We're a well established nanny agency that provides only the best in service, staff and after-care. Having helped many families find harmony at home, we can pass that advice and expertise onto you during our face-to-face consultation and throughout our relationship. We only recruit highly-trained, professional and competent staff who are put through our extensive screening, referencing and interview process.
We are here to make the process of finding a nanny as simple and stress-free as possible. We go above and beyond our industry standards in every stage of our process. We also communicate with you at every stage while we source the nanny that suits your needs. Not only do we take care of finding you your perfect nanny, we can even help with contacts and payroll. With Happy Nest, you really can leave everything to us.
We visit you in the comfort of your own home and find out exactly what help you need and when – whether that's a long-term full-time live-in nanny or a short-term maternity nurse. You'll be able to tell us exactly what's important to you and what you're looking for in a nanny.
We use various channels to attract applications from nannies that have the qualities and skills that you're looking for. We shortlist the applicants, obtain verbal references and conduct interviews. Suitable candidates that satisfy our criteria are then passed onto you to decide who you'd like to interview.
We can attend the meeting between you and your selected applicant, introduce you and help you get acquainted. As we will know both parties, we'll be able to guide the interview to ensure that every important detail is discussed.
Once you've selected your nanny, we can help you get everything in place from contracts to payroll. We can take care of any relevant paperwork and arrangements leading up to your nanny's first day. From there, we'll keep in touch and are always available if you need us for anything else.
Our simple, bespoke & cost-effective option includes all the fundamentals:
A more enhanced service which offers all the features of Little Robin, plus:
A complete package with all features of Little Robin and Hummingbird plus:


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Around that time I got an email from Future Publishing to advertise a new magazine, Simply Crochet, at an introductory price of £5 for 3 issues (usual price £4.99 an issue). I thought it was a good deal and signed up, after all who doesn't like getting a new magazine in the post very month? I did have some reservations as it looked to be along the same lines as Mollie Makes (same publisher and style - my thoughts on Mollie Makes are here) but £5 was too good a deal to miss out on.
I got my issue a few days ago, so thought I'd share my thoughts:
What I liked
- Information about different yarn types. As a new crocheter this is useful for me
- The patterns - I felt it was a good range, from a cardigan to amigurumi, throws and more simple shapes like hearts. Compared to Mollie Makes, there are a lot more projects (I counted 26) and less twee filler.
- Crochet shown as modern and fashion-related (eg. crochet collars) and not solely twee
- How to Crochet section includes information and photographs showing step-by-step for left handed crochet as well as right. I'm not left handed, but my Mum is, and so I know that it can be very different making the stitches as a leftie.
- The step-by-step stitch guides and Crochet Essentials were good, but I wonder how this will be developed in future issues. There were 10 full pages devoted to that in this issue plus little snippets elsewhere
What I didn't like
- Some of the language - very reminiscent of Mollie Makes e.g. "If in doubt, crochet a cushion" and "We love a bit of retro styling; a funky vintage accessory or a silk scarf tied the old-fashioned way." I feel this is lazy, poor quality writing with what I call 'empty sentences' that don't really say anything. The word "funky" makes me cringe, and what is the "old-fashioned way" of tying a scarf exactly? However I didn't find the twee factor to be as high as in Mollie Makes, which is a blessed relief.
- Some of the project photography is dark or doesn't show the item very well. There's only one picture of the lovely-looking purple throw for example and only one of the baby blanket - I would have liked to see the stitch pattern closer up. A couple of the projects are from books and so haven't been photographed especially for the magazine, but the ones made for Simply Crochet should definitely be a lot better.
- Maybe this is a personal gripe but I don't like covering things in crochet/knitting, like this coat hook. How are you supposed to clean it?
- This:
What is this supposed to mean? I thought it was a bit unnecessary, and confusing, especially as it first appears on a page that doesn't have a pattern on it. If you can't work out when to start crocheting when making a pattern, I don't think you should be allowed to wield a hook.
And Another Thing!
Have they been reading this blog and picked up on Pattern Monday?!!
I was pleasantly surprised. As someone who has just started crocheting and who crochets as a secondary craft to knitting and sewing, this magazine was at a good level for me. It would probably be too basic for anyone more competent, and the space devoted to 'how to' would be unnecessary. I liked the range of projects included and will be looking forward to seeing how it develops over the next couple of issues.
I think it's too early to judge it just yet but keep a lid on that twee language, improve the photography, keep up the good range of projects, and I think this magazine would be worth checking out.
K x


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Crestron AV Control Technology Approved for Use in U.S. Navy $500 Million Spawar Contract
SPAWAR's Large MAC Contract Enables Crestron to Provide U.S. Naval Fleet with Innovative AV Control Solutions
Rockleigh, NJ, August 11, 2011 - Crestron announced today that it has been approved as a preferred provider of AV technology and control equipment under the new $500 million SPAWAR contract that provides information technology solutions to the U.S. Navy. Under the new 5 -year Multiple Award Contract for Commercial -Off -The -Shelf (COTS) Audio Visual Systems Equipment, Crestron AV solutions, products and components may be supplied to the U.S Navy and other Department of Defense branches. Procurement under the contract was awarded through Crestron selected partners including Whitlock, CDW -Government, LLC (CDW -G), Mercom Corporation, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and GTSI.
"Through innovation, commitment and our successful history of serving the U.S. military with cutting edge technology, Crestron is proud to be a part of the new SPAWAR MAC contract," said Landon Lovett, Crestron Director of Federal Government Markets. "The dedicated men and women of the armed services who put themselves in harm's way to protect our borders and sea lanes deserve the very best, and that is the reason why Crestron solutions were approved to fill the SPAWAR contract."
The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) is one of three Department of Navy major acquisition commands, with a mission of acquiring, installing, delivering and maintaining advanced information technology capabilities to the U.S. Naval fleet.
"As a former submariner, I am honored by our partnership with the U.S. Navy and SPAWAR. Crestron is totally committed in our efforts to ensure the reliability, safety and readiness of our innovative products," added Lovett.
Crestron has a long history of proudly and successfully serving the U.S. Department of Defense. Crestron control system technologies and products have earned a large portfolio of critical certifications and compliance approvals required by U.S. Federal Government and branches of the U.S Military. These Department of Defense certifications include: DoD JITC Information Assurance (IA) Certification, Crosstalk Tested for JWICS Compliance of DigitalMedia™, U.S. Army Certificate of Networthiness (CoN) for RoomView™ Server Edition software, TEMPEST Compliance for Volatility, U.S. Navy Class A Shock Test Certification, DoD Section 508 Compliance, and IPV6 Compliance.
"We encourage federal government agencies, the Intelligence Community, and all branches of the U.S. Armed Services where information security is critical, to inspect our DoD certifications and compare the results," Lovett said. "Our military deserves the assurance that network security is taken very seriously, knowing our products are deployed in mission critical installations all over the world."
To learn more about Crestron Federal Government and U.S. Military command, control and AV solutions, please visit: www.crestron.com/partnerships/government_support_services/
Crestron Electronics, Inc.
15 Volvo Drive
Rockleigh, NJ 07647
201 -767 -3400
About Crestron
The leading manufacturer of AV control and automation systems for 40 years, Crestron has supported the federal government and U.S. military to provide integrated solutions including AV and environmental touch screen room control, digital signal switching and distribution, HD multi -image display, and secure remote asset management for CCC, EOC, JOC, JIC, briefing rooms, classrooms, court rooms and more. Crestron's leadership stems from its dedicated people who are committed to providing the best products, programs and services in the industry.
In addition to its World Headquarters in Rockleigh, New Jersey, Crestron has sales and support offices throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australia.
Crestron, the Crestron logo and DigitalMedia are trademarks or registered trademarks of Crestron Electronics, Inc. in the United States, other countries or both. Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Crestron disclaims proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.
©2011 Crestron Electronics, Inc.


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I was born at 1:44 am, when it's as dark as it can get. I have struggled for most of my life to feel happy. To feel loved. Perhaps that early darkness played a minuscule part and set the stage for the depression that enveloped me later in life and stole my joy.
By the time anyone is reading this, I am gone now. I'm off to watch the last episode in this Netflix series "13 Reasons Why." So sit back, relax, and plug into whatever reading device you're looking into as I share why this Netflix Original series is super fucking interesting and is bringing much needed awareness to suicide prevention.
I have had the opportunity to meet and got to know many people that survived their suicide attempt. Twelve admissions to different psychiatric hospitals when I was between age 18-22 enabled me to meet those people. Those men and women, including myself, didn't have the wherewithal in their jumbled up mind, to sit down and speak into a microphone and record some kind of vendetta against the people who screwed them over, before actually pulling the plug on their life. For me it wasn't about a vendetta, it was about feeling so depressed and dead inside that I just couldn't go on like that. Things felt like they would never end. I blamed no one, in fact blame never even popped into my mind….ever. I think that's the only criticism I have of the show is that the protagonist placed blame for her suicide on other people. It may leave viewers with a notion that all people that Suicide leave the world angry. That would be both untrue and especially devastating to families of victims. I was never angry , I tried to end my life because I felt hopeless.
By the time one musters the resignation it takes to jump into the noose, pull the trigger, down the pills, or jump off the bridge; most could give a flying shit about leaving a note for anybody, let alone make 13 cassette tapes. I know I didn't. The people I met didn't leave notes either. It honestly never occurred to me, my mind was ultra focused on leaving, not on what I may be leaving behind.
Statistically speaking, victims of suicide only leave notes 3-42% of the time. Which means that 2/3 of suicides leave this world far more often with no words left said. Of those who do leave notes case studies reveal that the notes usually leave instructions for funeral arrangements or taking care of loved ones and mundane requests such as making sure newspaper subscriptions are cancelled. The notes lack the sort of logicical solace the bereaved are searching for in this sort of tragedy.
"Suicides are often impulsive, and can be prevented at the last minute. About 90 percent of people who attempt suicide and survive do not die by suicide. One survey found that 87 percent of people who attempt suicide and survive had deliberated for less than a day, 71 percent for less than an hour, and 24 percent for less than five minutes.
In a particularly vivid example of this, Ken Baldwin, who survived a jump off the Golden Gate Bridge, once told the New Yorker's Tad Friend that as he was falling, he "instantly realized that everything in my life that I'd thought was unfixable was totally fixable — except for having just jumped" -Dylan Matthew
For me suicide was an impulsive act born from the wedding of my mood growing darker and me becoming more isolative. I never picked out an exact day, only a method. The timing just instinctively drew near. More went into building up to doing it and reassuring myself that things would never change. To me a specific day was inconsequential, I just knew I'd do it "soon." I never told anyone. Then I sort of woke up and was feeling horrible, I knew it was "the day." It was pretty arbitrary in that sense.
I had three suicide attempts and an intervened fourth. The first was cutting my wrist which required stiches. The second was driving my car into a concrete wall. There was some damage to my car, not so much to me. I still got sectioned into the hospital when paramedics found out I drove into the wall on purpose. The third was taking an entire bottle of prescription pills which landed me on a cardiac telemetry unit. The last time I was holed up in my mom's house with her loaded .22 handgun. I lay crying on that cold black tiles bathroom floor holding the gun. My mom called my then psychiatrist and he talked to me on speaker phone through the door. I eventually came out. Each time was more serious and progressively worse.
The myth that women are just seeking attention but that men really do it a myth too. Men usually pick lethal methods for their first attempt and are therefore "successful" when they try. That said the old adage of of at first you don't succeed try try again seems to hold true for women. Statistically, try more often, try less lethal method first, but eventually catch up to their male counterparts and succeed…. seems to hold true for women. My aunt made several attempts on her life and the last ended her on life support in ICU. It is by the grace of God she is here.
I never picked out an exact day, only a method. Suicide for me was always impulsive. I was very depressed for a prolonged period of time, I had no access to feelings, I felt numb all the time, dead inside. The suicidal ideations would come and go and then eventually they would build and one day then I just acted on it. Tbere was no way any one could have intervened because there was no way anyone could have known I was planning to do this.
My best friend's husband attempted suicide 6 years ago. He took his police service revolver into his car in the wee hours of the morning and shot himself in the head. He died instantly. He only planned a few details. To park his car on a main highway where he knew his fellow officers would find him and not his family. He hung a quilt over the drivers side doors so that any passing motorists would not see the carnage. He did this at around 4 am so that his suspicious looking vehicle would be discovered at daybreak. It was very graphic. His wife, my friend wanted to see him and wanted the car back. The police told her that neither were options and sent her brother to take a look. Inside the car were pieces of brain and skull along with significant volume of blood throughout the vehicle. Once she was told this, viewing her husband was obviously something that she bor the family wanted.
They had four kids. Four girls that will never have a Dad. It has affected those girls in horrible ways. Two of them send text messages regularly to Facebook and Instagram hoping that heaven also has these apps. Old photos and home movies are all they can see of him. Old voice messages are all they can hear of him. A cold stone grave is all they can hold onto at birthdays, holidays, hard-to-get-through days. Suicide is forever. It can't be taken back.
Recognize Suicide warning signs can help you intervene at an early point by talking to your friend or family member. Remember that talking about suicide will not make someone do it. Ask them how you can help, if you feel it is beyond what you can do, call 911.
Physical changes
•Major changes to sleeping patterns – too much or too little
•Loss of energy
•Loss of interest in personal hygiene or appearance
•Loss of interest in sex
•Sudden and extreme changes in eating habits – either loss of appetite or increase in appetite
•Weight gain or loss
•Increase in minor illnesses
Conversational signs
•No future – "What's the point? Things are never going to get any better"
•Guilt – "It's all my fault, I'm to blame"
•Escape – "I can't take this anymore"
•Alone – "I'm on my own … no-one cares about me"
•Damaged – "I've been irreparably damaged… I'll never be the same again"
•Helpless – "Nothing I do makes a bit of difference, it's beyond my control"
•Talking about suicide or death
•Planning for suicide
•Alcohol or drug misuse
•Fighting and/or breaking the law
•Withdrawal from family and friends
•Quitting activities that were previously important
•Prior suicidal behaviour
•Putting affairs in order (giving away possessions, especially those that have special significance for the person)
•Writing a suicide note or goodbye letters to people
•Uncharacteristic risk-taking or recklessness (for example driving recklessly)
•Unexplained crying
•Emotional outbursts
Feeling Emotionally Dead Worthlessness
It can be scary as hell when someone you love reveals or shows signs of suicidal thoughts. However, not taking thoughts of suicide seriously can have a devastating outcome. If you think your friend or family member will hurt herself or someone else, call 911 immediately.
There are a few ways to approach this situation:
•Remove means such as guns, knives or stockpiled pills.
•Calmly ask simple and direct questions, such as "Can I help you call your psychiatrist?" rather than, "Would you rather I call your psychiatrist, your therapist or your case manager?"
•Talk openly and honestly about suicide. •Don't be afraid to ask questions such as "Are you having thoughts of suicide?" or "Do you have a plan for how you would kill yourself?"
•If there are multiple people, have one person speak at a time
•Ask what you can do to help
•Don't argue, threaten or raise your voice
•Don't debate whether suicide is right or wrong
•If your loved one asks for something, provide it, as long as the request is safe and reasonable
•If you are nervous, try not to fidget or pace
•If your loved one is having hallucinations or delusions, be gentle and sympathetic, but do not get in an argument about whether the delusions or hallucinations are real
You can make a difference for someone who is suffering. Don't be afraid to talk to them, it could mean the difference between life or death. If you are the one who is suffering, please talk to someone, anyone you can about your pain, don't make a permanent solution to what IS a temporary problem. ❤


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We took our little boy to his first camping festival this weekend - The Levellers' Beautiful Days, where I saw The Waterboys, Public Image Limited, Midlake, Richard Thompson, The Travelling Band, Bellowhead and Three Daft Monkeys (all of whom were absolutely on top form) among others, and Lord Barchester saw two theatre group soundchecks before deciding at one minute to showtime that he was bored and wanted some pasta. Same group two days running, I should add. At two and a half he was also fairly distracted by things like trees with eyes, the bus which doubled as a tea room and a giant metal sculpture of a dragon (which he named Blackie), was intrigued by Bellowhead, and very much enjoyed banging a couple of plastic pails along to Alabama 3 in company with a host of other small people behind the sound tower.
From the top of the field the stage is rather far away in terms of his perspective, and we did have a bit of a Father Ted-esque conversation regarding the relative size of the performers on stage compared to him. At about a quarter to Levellers at the climax of the festival on Sunday evening he announced that he'd quite like to go back to the tent, brush his teeth and go to sleep, which did at least leave his mother free to unleash her inner fifteen year old detached from the pressures of trying to keep tabs on a small boy in the dark, glowsticks attached to his trouser pockets or no. "Mummy is staying to watch the little singing man" he proposed. "She is, that's right" I said.
As I got him ready for bed he chatted away, making sense of the world as only small boys can. "I have got feet" he announced. I agreed that all the evidence pointed to him indeed having feet. "Do you have feet?" he enquired. I confirmed that I did, demonstrably, have feet. Blackie has got feet" he further asserted before checking "...and has the little singing man got feet?". I posited that The Little Singing Man almost certainly had feet. As undressing continued he further confirmed that, anatomically, he had very much in common with me, Blackie, and The Levellers' front man, barring the obvious absence of a tail in myself, himself, and the man whose stirring rendition of One Way drifted across the clear Devon night even as we spoke.
This conversation continued at all stages throughout the changing and pyjama donning process and took in a wide range of aspects of anatomy along the way which is why, now, forever in my head I shall always think fondly of Mark Chadwick as "The Little Singing Man With The Winkie".


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(ZS) – Uplifting and motivational! A positive and energetic vibe around each corner. Suitable for various projects or presentations. Get up and get going!
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