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Bath Spa University School of Art and Design 28 / 29Course InformationCourse locationSion Hill campusCourse length3 years full-time; part-time availableStudio fee (10/11)£130 (subject to review). See page 18Course InformationNo. of applicants (2010) 308No. of places (2010)83More informationwww.bathspa.ac.uk/ugrad/www.artbathspa.comUCAS CodesFine Art (Painting)W101Fine Art (Sculpture)W102Fine Art (Media)W103National Student Survey Score (2010)84% satisfaction with teachingEntry CriteriaTypical offersStandard art and design requirements - see page 20A portfolio of work plus paintings, sculpture, lens based media (or a photographic record of these as appropriate). A short written piece relating to an exhibition you have seen. You will receive advance information about the selection process. Those accepted onto the course are expected to do some preparatory work before arrival. 01 Sculptures by Dawn Stringer02 Sculptures by Dawn Lippiatt03 Painting by Ruth O'Brien04 Paintings by Geraldine Duffy-JentzWhy choose this course?You can choose to study media, painting or sculpture (and will be recruited to one of these routes) but it is possible to move between these areas by arrangement. From the start you will work in a dedicated studio space and follow your own program of study agreed with tutors - this work is the core of the course. You will have initiative and be self-motivated and we will encourage and guide your exploration enabling you to develop your self-confidence and critical ability in your chosen area. About the courseBath School of Art and Design has a wide range of excellent facilities and extensive workshops for all kinds of art practice and equipment for students to loan. All students learn digital photography and to work with digital images as well as key methods appropriate to their chosen area of work. The course arranges frequent study visits to London to see key exhibitions, and to other cities, including Paris, Berlin and New York. This, together with an extensive lecture program covering a wide range of practice and given by tutors and distinguished visiting lecturers, represents a key part of the course. Some lectures are given by gallery directors and curators and, with the exhibition experience you will gain on the course, these provide an understanding of, and preparation for, the professional world. Numerous exhibitions external to the School are initiated by staff and by students themselves. A program of lectures, tutorials and seminars concerned with art historical, theoretical and critical concepts relating to contemporary art underpins all this. You will be taught by practising artists and writers - some are full time, many are part time and there is a long list of visiting lecturers. There are lectures, seminars, group discussions and critiques of work as well as individual tutorials. Assessment is by exhibition, written papers and live presentations.CareersTypical career opportunities include exhibiting; curating and arts administration; interior design; film and TV; teaching (subject to PGCE); art therapy. Alumni from the course include painter and Turner Prize nominee Glenn Brown, Paul Harrison and John Wood whose videos are exhibited round the world, Nina Dolan, Louisa Fairclough, Laura Ford, Nicholas May, Peter Randall-Page, Nigel Rolfe, Michael Stubbs and Alison Turnbull, gallerists and gallery directors Kate McGarry, David Risley, Kelly Taylor, and the curator Colin Ledwith.03 Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors BA (Hons)Why choose this course? The course allows you to develop as an individual. We are interested in all students developing their own interests for a career either as a designer, designer maker or textile artist. There is a strong emphasis on creativity underpinned by computer aided technologies, textile craft processes and professional practise. Facilities are superb, and include a purpose built digital textile workshop with equipment for inkjet printing, digital embroidery and laser cutting. You will be taught by departmental staff who have strong reputations as practising professional designers or researchers, as well as an extensive range of visiting lecturers and a lively programme of visiting speakers and international visits.About the course Year 1 of the course introduces you to the area of fashion and textiles through studio/ workshop practise and theoretical study - you'll learn techniques and skills in drawing, digital media, fabric dyeing, knit, print, weave or embroidery, fabric manipulation and sewing skills. You'll also explore historical and critical studies. Progressing into Year 2 you will be asked to specialise in a textile area - knit, print, weave or embroidery. You may choose to work in more than one area if you wish. You also choose whether to follow Surface Textile Design or Textile with Fashion modules. Following the Surface Design modules you are able to develop your textiles designs for any area including fashion garments, accessories, furnishings, wallpaper, interior products, wall hangings, craft objects and art. Following the Textiles with Fashion modules allows you to focus your textile designs for fashion. Workshops and taught sessions are also provided in the area of fashion design, pattern cutting, draping and construction. A dynamic and demanding course, aiming to create the designers and innovators of the future. UCAS CodeTextile Design for Fashion and InteriorsWW27Entry CriteriaTypical offersStandard art and design requirements - see page 20. All candidates are interviewed and selected primarily on their creative ability. Course InformationCourse locationSion Hill campusCourse length3 years full-time; part-time availableStudio fee (10/11)£250 (subject to review). See page 18No. of applicants (2010) 255No. of places (2010)39More informationwww.bathspa.ac.uk/ugrad/www.artbathspa.comNational Student Survey Score (2010)82% satisfaction with teaching01 Clara Kelly02 Joanna Beasley03 Anna Glasbrook, graduate of Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors0302During this year you have the opportunity to engage in live and industry projects, enter competitions where appropriate, exhibit your work both in a local gallery and Indigo in Paris and undertake work placements. In Year 3 you are encouraged to develop independently, and to think about and explore your future direction possibly with experience of exhibiting or work placement to further your individual direction. The final year culminates in a public exhibition. Students may also be selected to exhibit at the New Designers show in London. Live Industry projects have been set by design houses such as Sam Pickard, New Look, Paperclip, Lewis and Lewis and Nicole Farhi and work placements undertaken at Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Calvin Klein, Ted Baker, Clarissa Hulse, Whiston and Wright, Karen Nicol, Milenaa, Chloé, Nicole Farhi, Jessica Ogden, Zandra Rhodes, Dewhurst, Tracy Kendall, Paperclip and the Fashion Museum, Bath. Careers Professional practise and entrepreneurial skills are embedded within the course. There are many career opportunities open to you within fashion and interiors, for example in-house designer, freelance designer or designer maker. Recent graduates have progressed to MA courses at Central St Martins, Chelsea, Goldsmiths, Royal College of Art, London College of Fashion, and here at Bath Spa University. Employment has included such companies and jobs as Damien Hirst, Clarissa Hulse, Heals, Laura Ashley, Issey Myake, Bay and Brown, Circle Line, The White Company, Disney Pixar, Net-a-Porter, artist in residence at a school and technicians in higher education. Some students have set up their own business as a result of being on this course or after studying an MA.Graduate ProfileAnna Glasbrook, graduated 2010-"I 'm working as a self-employed designer, for example on commissions, exhibitions and trade shows. I thoroughly enjoyed my course. I really felt that we were allowed to develop in our own way, well supported - and pushed - by the tutors (who were fantastic, nothing was too much trouble), but free to develop individually. The course prepared me very well for my career and the steep learning curve I'm on at the moment!"0104
Bath Spa University School of Art and Design www.bathspa.ac.uk Graphic Communication BA (Hons)Why choose this course? It's a space for active enquiry, challenging design preconceptions and defining the role of the designer in shaping the world in which we live. Our approach is hands-on, ideas-based and socially engaged, with the emphasis on developing your individual ability.About this course Crossover teaching and interdisciplinary projects provide an energetic and flexible A challenging, critical, diverse programme to develop your individual ability to design and communicate visually across disciplines or within a specialist area. 01 IMO studio and workspaces02 Deconstruct/Reconstruct: Skateboard wheels03 Summer project: "Ice Cups" by Amy Spencelearning environment for creative collaboration, whilst specialist areas of study in graphic design, illustration and interactive design are also encouraged. You'll be able to work across a range of media, explore and express your ideas through word, image, concept, media, narrative, text, taught by a team of full-time and visiting tutors, all active practitioners themselves. Sustainability and the environment are central to good design thinking and we explore them in relation to contemporary social and cultural contexts. Teaching takes place through critiques, debates, tutorials, presentations, lectures, self-directed learning and peer review. We have excellent studio spaces and workshop facilities in specialist craft areas, such as letterpress, photography, silkscreen, etching and lithography to complement state of the art digital resources. In your first year you'll be given a broad introduction to drawing, print making, photography, design methods, typography, moving image and digital media. You'll be encouraged to think visually and analytically, learn to work as part of a team and independently. You'll gain an awareness of the industry through a Professional Contexts module, and a contextual framework through a Historical and Critical Studies module. As you move into Year 2 you can choose to focus on graphic design, illustration or interactive media, or keep an interdisciplinary approach. You might choose to spend a semester in Europe as part of the Erasmus exchange programme. There will be studio visits and case studies, and you'll start researching employment possibilities. In your final year you'll concentrate on independent, self-initiated projects and you'll be encouraged to find connections between your studio practice and contextual studies (you can choose to give this component a double weighting). 'Live' briefs and placements provide experience of dealing with clients and production, preparing you for employment or further study. Careers A wide range of careers is open to you, including graphic design, art direction, illustration, animation, interactive media, advertising, motion graphics, photography, and publishing. Insight to professional practice: recent visiting lecture programme speakers include James Goggin, Anthony Burrill, Billie Jean, Zac Kyes, Alex Rich, Marcus Oakley, Sara Fanelli, Jurg Lehni, Sheila Levrant de Bretteville, Irma Boom, John Thackara, Phil Baines, Andrew Haslam, Bruno Maag, Grant Gee, Jon Barnbrook, Karen Blincoe, Yuri Suzuki, Neil Drabble and Mervyn Kurlansky.01 3D Design: Idea Material Object BA (Hons)Why choose this course? If you have a passion for making and an ambition to delight, amuse and intrigue, our interdisciplinary course will give you a unique opportunity to explore craft practice and design process. Creating objects using a range of hand and digital techniques we have facilities to build, mould, machine form and digitally create shapes, equipment to take drawn decorative designs onto surfaces, and processes to cut them into hard materials or to 3D print. Using a range of media you will be encouraged bring your ideas to fruition, and to develop an individual career path as designer-maker, artist, in-house designer, gallery owner, curator, or entrepreneur.About the course The course will help you to develop your own individual area of practice in which you may ultimately choose to focus on a specific material, such as ceramics, explore in depth processes such as laser cutting, or you may continue with a variety of approaches combining multiple materials and techniques. Outcomes will encompass one off craft artefacts and bespoke solutions through to batch produced objects, across areas such as lighting, tableware, furniture and product; domestic and commercial, interior and exterior. Expanding digital cultures and new types of craft production and consumption require a new type of thinking about the role craft practice: design processThis unique 3D Design course fuses craft practice and design process, creating products using hand and digital making to combine ceramic, textile, wood, resin, glass, metal, and plastic.through Historical and Critical Studies modules and gain industry awareness through Professional Context modules. The programme will engage with creative and industry partners to offer 'Live' projects and open up opportunities to experience a professional working atmosphere in a safe environment. Your study will be augmented by trips to cultural establishments both nationally and internationally and exchange schemes are planned with institutes around the world.Careers We expect our graduates to shape their individual career paths as they enter the ever changing future of interdisciplinary design, with some graduates becoming designer- makers, artists, in-house designers, gallery owners, curators, entrepreneurs, critics and equipped to create new and as yet undefined possibilities. We have strong contacts with both the Crafts Council and Design Council. Our students have been very successful at the graduate design show New Designers and staff/students/alumni have exhibited at the best international design and craft shows including 100% Design, Origin, Tent, Dutch Design Week, Maison-Objet and the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in NY. Course InformationCourse LocationSion Hill campusCourse length3 years full-time; part-time availableStudio fee (10/11)£250 (subject to review). See page 18No. of applicants (2010) 48 (Note - first year of new course)No. of places (2010)18More informationwww.bathspa.ac.uk/ugrad/www.artbathspa.comUCAS Code3D Design: Idea Material ObjectWW2REntry CriteriaTypical offersStandard Art and Design requirements. A folder of art and design work, plus 3D work as appropriate. See page 20of designer and maker. You will learn to make use of web enabled collaboration, manufacture, and distribution, to balance the needs of the consumer with the wider issues of ecology and sustainability. Studio based modules are supported with studies on critical and historical contexts for craft and design, whilst visiting lecturers provide valuable industry perspectives and an insight into contemporary practice. Year 1 will develop your creative instincts through exploration of the qualities of different materials and making processes, including methods of digital manufacture. Through drawing, photography, experimentation with materials and exploration of computer based processes you will begin to identify your own individual area of practice creating new ideas and concepts both drawn and made. Year 2 will expand your personal making practice and introducing collaborative and live projects with external partners or design businesses and may undertake work experience and placements. You will also be introduced to marketing and promotional skills, including building narratives in your work and exploring outcomes through photography, publishing, exhibiting and web presence. Year 3 will define your own area of practice, audience and market, perhaps as a specialist maker, or utilising outsourced production and assembly techniques to develop your work. You will be producing a body of physical artefacts alongside a combination of visual and written work. We expect your final project work to be at a professional level, and you will be encouraged and supported to display at national and international design show venues. Throughout the course you will explore the subject's contextual framework 010203


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it's not.
i'm just a 29 year old on a mission. a mission to serve my King and offer my life as one continuous act of worship that honors Him. i am part of a bigger story unfolding around me and i want the world to know and encounter the joy i've found in serving my King. God does not exist to make a big deal out of me. i exist to make a big deal out of Him. my life is a broken sacrifice and i am ready and willing to follow wherever He leads me.
i was born in georgia to a football-coaching dad (and a very supportive mom) who soon after my birth left the coaching world and has been in sports ministry ever since. i'm the oldest of two girls. raised in western north carolina. i graduated from the university of north carolina in 2008. my four years with carolina volleyball changed me. i bleed carolina blue. and i will forever be a tar heel.
i'm blessed with a godly heritage and a phenomenal family. i don't deserve the love and grace my friends continually give. relationships are everything to me. my family and my friends mean more to me than i can express, but my identity is found in Christ and i am His.
i'm learning to slow down. i'm obnoxiously organized. i have a backup planner in case my iPhone crashes. i live by my lists. i make my bed every morning. i love the mountains but i've learned to appreciate the beach. i play volleyball as much as i can and i love coaching my kiddos. i love traveling to new places. i don't capitalize most words, but i'm a grammar and spelling guru. i enjoy sending and receiving snail mail. i want to love others well. and i want to live each day to the fullest.
welcome to my crazy life,

subset: commoncrawl


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I'm in Armenia right now enjoying one last trip before school starts. And how do I like Armenia? It is AWESOME. The country has the perfect balance of things that make an travel destination exciting: It is easy to visit, but not heavily touristed. It is unfamiliar to people, but safe. It has some amazing sights, and it has an incredibly rich history and culture. In fact, if there was a ranking of "most overlooked countries that deserve more exploration", Armenia would definitely be up there.
Armenia was the world's first Christian country, so unsurprisingly the tourist highlight, for many, is the religious buildings. They are a great reason, but not the only reason, to visit the country. What I love about Armenian monasteries is that they have a compelling atmosphere. They are relatively dark and damp, but have a lot of art and writing carved into the stone walls. They really do feel like something out of Lord of the Rings. Pictures don't do justice. In some places, religious buildings feel clean, sterilized and touristy to the point that they don't have the atmosphere of old religious buildings anymore. Armenian monasteries are not like that. Even the most visited are very atmospheric.
The food is another great thing about Armenia. The cuisine is a very rich cuisine. Some dishes are more Middle Eastern / East mediterranean influenced, like the Grape Leaves. Other dishes are very meaty and hearty, but not bland like dishes of some of the other Eastern European cuisines. There is also a very large variety of soups. Vegetarians, however, should be warned. It is a meaty cuisine.
Best of all, Armenia will not break the bank. Transport is cheap (even the taxis), food is cheap, and accommodation is cheap. My stay in the hostel was $11 a night. I think that in terms of bang for the buck, it's far better than places like Poland or Hungary.
Overall, I'd highly recommend visiting Armenia. I think it's only a matter of time before more tourists discover this fascinating country.


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First Grade
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Eleanore was home schooled for most of last year. It wasn't anything that we planned, but after we moved from Dyess to Goodfellow, it just kind of happened. And we loved it. But... towards the end of her kindergarten year, I started noticing little things here and there that clued me in to the very real truth of, she needed more. I hated to admit it, I felt like a bit of a failure even, but I couldn't deny her the socialization and stimulation that she was craving, just because I wanted to teach the kids my way, and in a tra la la everything organic and pioneer-like manner. There were many, many, many advantages of home schooling (learning in pajamas, youtube videos instead of recess, not having to dress everyone in snow suits just to walk down the street and then have to strip them naked halfway home because the sun decided to come out and bust up the snow storm, crazy Texas), but in the end, Eleanore just needed more than I could offer her. And when this new baby comes in 8 weeks- I'll even less to give. Or maybe I'll just give it differently? Lord be with me either way, haha.
Anyways, so we've been in Honolulu for a little over a month, and all of the stars finally aligned just right, and Eleanore started first grade. I'm taking a little photo class on the side (sort of, I've been terrible with keeping up with the lessons and assignments) that gave me a nudge in the right direction to think about how I wanted to photograph and document her first day.
Christopher took the younger two to the park, so that I could walk Elie into the office, take her to the bathroom, and then wander with her down the outdoor hallway to building A to join her new class for a year of spelling words, cupcake free snacks, and special classroom slippers. And hopefully some friend making and fun having as well :)
She was all smiles on the drive there- she had been anticipating starting school since we asked her about public school at the beginning of the summer. We woke her and her brother and sister up at 5:30 am so that we could get everyone fed and dressed, drive down from the city out to the base, and get her signed into the office by 7:30. There was another little girl starting her first day as well, kindergarten though, so the two anxious Annie's sat by the door giggling about growing taller than trees and shrinking smaller than ants, while the office folks got them enrolled and the Mama's chatted about previous bases and coconuts.
That first brave walk around the corner and down the sidewalk past all of the unfamiliar faces was a little nerve wracking. She kept slowing, twirling, and looking back at me. I kept urging her to go forward (so I could get a picture, hah!), but eventually she just stopped, folded her arms, and pouted. Thats when you know its time to put the camera away and just focus on being a mom.
The kids have outdoor cubbies- because in Hawaii, where its a perfect 85 degrees and sunny every day, you can do that? The kids take their "passport" (binder) and journals out of their backpacks, water bottles as well, and remove their "outside" shoes and stuff them into their little labeled (Elie doesn't have a label yet) wooden locker space with their backpacks. They've all got inside shoes to wear- so not to bring sand and mud (it seems to rain/mist daily) into the classroom.
Lunches lined up perfectly by the sink, good morning messages written on the white board, fresh boxes of markers and friends to help explain how to do journal entries... it was a swirl of brand new, and all so exciting.
I tried to give her as much space as possible, backing away farther and farther as the clock ticked on, only inching back when a whimper of doubt lured me in. It took about twenty minutes before I was able to escape back out into the sunshine- where I stood and stared a little longingly at the blue doors, half expecting her to come running after me. I guess it was me that maybe was wanting to run back in to her?
But then I got over it, took a deep breath of salty air'd freedom, enjoyed the fact that my little girl was in good hands other than my own, and continued on to finding and figuring out a new routine.
And she did great. She survived the day. She even had fun. And I survived too. Though I certainly missed her, and the silence of her confused siblings was almost too much to handle- especially when they both fell asleep in the double stroller along the Waikiki beach, allowing me to sit peacefully on the lanai listening to Hawaiian music by myself for almost an entire hour...
This is good for us. Not just her, but us.
I can get used to this :)


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If you want to invest in vietnam then I suggest learn how to trade forex even if your a beginner!
Tag Archives: forex
Amazing Forex Strategy Software
I'm actually speechless, I would think that this type of software for forex trading would have been created long ago. It's true, many people clinge to outdated and manipulative stock graphs and chart patterns to see results. I had to share this!


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Sometimes people need things that aren't easy to get. You're the guy to make that happen, and if you make a little money on the side, who's the wiser?
Skill Proficiency: Dexterity (Slight of Hand); Charisma (Deception)
Tool Proficiency: Any land vehicle
Languages: Pick any three
Equipment: Traveler's Clothes, Weapon, light armor, Spyglass, Steel Mirror, Hand Crossbow, any one vehicle.
Specialty: You may choose to specialize in smuggling a certain type of good. Roll or select from the following list.
- Religious materials.
- Drugs.
- Medicine (legal drugs).
- Endangered or Rare Animal Materials.
- Artifacts.
- Stolen Goods or Art
- Live Animals
- People
You know at least one contact in every city who you can contact when 3 days away by horse. You also choose to have one personal intimate relationship with someone in each city, though you must roll for their reaction on the following list when you contact them if you choose to do so. 1-4 hostile, 5 unhappy with you, 6 glad to see you.
Suggested Characteristics
There are lots of reasons why goods need smuggling and some of them are very good ones. Perhaps the governement is corrupt and destroying indigenous populations. Perhaps the laws are draconian and you believe in freedom.
Maybe it's just that the money is so good.
d8 Personality
- I always shoot first.
- Trusting people may not be much of a way to live, but it's a good way to not die.
- I get off on sneaking things right under peoples noses.
- I deserve more than I'm getting, so I make a little money on the side. It doesn't hurt anyone.
- I'm a totally normal, low key dude. I just also happen to move hundreds of thousands of gold pieces worth of goods through here every month. It's a living.
- Everything else in life is boring. The only excitement I get is from this type of work.
- If I'm going to do something, why not do something that impresses the ladies/boys?
- I'm driven to do this for the cause!
d6 Ideal
- Freedom: I like giving the law the middle finger. (Chaos)
- Cultural Relativism: This belongs in a MUSEUM! (Law)
- Humanitarian: I smuggle in food and medicine to reduce the suffering of these people. (Good)
- Greed: All I care about is a profit. I don't want any part in your rebellion. (Evil/Unaligned)
- Selflessness: I don't care if I get caught. Getting these goods through is what's important. (Good)
- Moral Relativism: All I did your honor, was take a plant from one place, to a different place, over an invisible line. (Unaligned)
d6 Bond
- My vehicle is very special. I won it in a card game.
- I am certainly not developing feelings for the person who hired me.
- The origin of my name is a secret, and I don't want to tell anyone that I was named after the dog.
- Someone taught me everything I know and he isn't quite as spry as he used to be.
- I have a friend who's a bit of a buffoon, but he's always there for me.
- I'm partners with some unusual muscle.
d6 Flaw
- You have warrants out for your arrest in every major area.
- You don't own your land vehicle, it belongs to someone else.
- You owe a lot of money to a prominent crime family.
- There's more than one person that wants revenge against you for killing someone they care about.
- People constantly make inappropriate advances against you. It's not your fault and you have nothing to do with it.
- You have an odious personal habit. (smoking, dipping, picking nose, etc.)
OSR Package
Running a B/X game? Give these advantages instead of proficiency and features. You can alos give these bonuses if running a 5e game using 3d6 for character generation.
- +1 Dex, +1 Cha
Like these backgrounds I wrote? I collected them in a Pay What You Want .pdf, and affordable hard copy!
Hack & Slash Compendium I at RPGnow for 3.99!
Hack & Slash Compendium I at Lulu in affordable print! (7.99$)
Hack & Slash
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Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet
Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet
Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet, Portland, Oregon, June 25, 2005. Viewed left to right: Skerik, Dave Carter, Hans Teuber, Craig Flory
|Background information
|Seattle, Washington, USA
|Punk jazz, punk funk, funk rock, jazz, funk, jazz-funk
|Years active
|2002 - present
|Ropeadope Records, Hyena Records
Dave Carter
Hans Teuber
Steve Moore
Craig Flory
Joe Doria
John Wicks
Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet (also known as SST7) is a jazz ensemble formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2002.[1]
Although uniquely merging jazz and funk,[2] the music of Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet can also include "New Orleans flavors", solid grooves, swing and hip hop, combined into something both appealing and undefinable.[3][4][5] Their music has been self-described by Skerik as "...punk-jazz. Maybe a punk-jazz version of the Thelonious Monk Octet."[1]
A theme in the music is a recognition that traditional jazz having reached a zenith in the early 1960s cannot be contained in reverence.[6] The Syncopated Taint Septet is a synthesis of traditional music with current and experimental music forms.[4] The project displays a band member equality with "leads being shared by everyone."[3]
Their first album, Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet, was recorded live at the Owl and Thistle in Seattle and was released in 2003. It was reviewed as occasionally loud, yet also having a "spirited [and] immediate musicianship."[7] Although popularly associated with jam band music, an improvisational distinction can be made regarding the large musical vocabulary displayed by the band in the recording.[8]
The second album, Husky, was released in 2006. It was recorded in the studio by S. Husky Höskulds all in one day and often in one take.[9] The album was noted in reviews for its strengths in "ensemble writing and musical structure."[9][10] The five-horn arrangements are written mostly by Hans Teuber and Steve Moore.[6] On the album there are suggestions of Thelonious Monk in its solos and Ornette Coleman in its melodies, yet there is also a hip-hop rhythmic sensibility.[2] Husky was reviewed as the best jazz album of 2006 by All About Jazz.[11]
Skerik - tenor and baritone saxophone
Dave Carter - trumpet
Hans Teuber - alto saxophone and flute
Steve Moore - trombone and Wurlitzer electric piano
Craig Flory - baritone saxophone and clarinet
Joe Doria - Hammond Organ
John Wicks - drums
- Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet 2003 (Ropeadope)
- Husky 2006 (Hyena Records)
- Live at The Triple Door 2010 (Royal Potato Family)
- ^ a b Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet Archived 2006-11-25 at the Wayback Machine allaboutjazz.com, Biography
- ^ a b Jeff Tamarkin Husky allmusic.com
- ^ a b Sean Westergaard Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet allmusic.com
- ^ a b Courtnay Scott Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet: Husky jambase.com 7/14/06
- ^ Lowenthal, Kevin (October 22, 2006). "Band is going places, without a road map". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
- ^ a b Paul de Barros, "Seattle saxophonist's funky, artful septet", seattletimes.com, Jazz Etc. August 18, 2006
- ^ John Murph Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet jazztimes.com January/February 2004
- ^ Mark Corroto Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet allaboutjazz.com October 25, 2003
- ^ a b Chris M. Slawecki Husky allaboutjazz.com July 11, 2006
- ^ Andrew Lindemann Malone Husky jazztimes.com September 2006
- ^ Paul Olson Husky allaboutjazz.com July 02, 2006


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|Jacob Van Loo, Melancholy. Via Wikimedia Commons.
Sometimes I feel bad: melancholic, blue, sad, weighed down. Sometimes it feels like being depressed, but not always. Mostly it's like "the world is so fucked up," "what is the point of this exactly?" and "couldn't this whole human experience thing be better arranged?"
Of course, the world really is so fucked up, and life really doesn't have a point, so it's not like having these thoughts is evidence of some kind of problem. Frustration with the paleness and stupidity of the human experience isn't really depression. It's more like discontent -- something you don't hear a lot about in the modern pscyho-counseling establishment. If you're just discontented, I guess you're supposed to just suck it up.
But I got thinking about the whole anger-depression thing after I read this book Monkey Mind, which is a funny memoir about a guy's experience with anxiety. (Sample situation: at 16, guy has sex with woman he doesn't really like and isn't really attracted to -- then becomes VERY ANXIOUS about it for A LONG TIME.)
Reading the book, I realized that my bad feelings are really not typically anxiety. It's not like I'm a worrier. I'm not worried about the future. I'm depressed and discontented NOW. I remembered the whole anger->depression idea, and I asked myself, Do I do that? Do I turn anger inward?
The objective facts suggest maybe Yes. I have a hard time staying angry at individual people, even when anger is justified and appropriate. I get angry for like one second, and then somehow my mind always flashes to thinking about how the whole situation is going to seem ten years from now, at which point it will seem ridiculous and far away. When you've lost your cool, haven't you always felt stupid later? I've always thought my approach a pretty rational one, actually. But maybe it's "turning anger inward." Who knows?
Following this line of thought, I asked the next question a philosopher would ask, which is "Well, what is a constructive way to express anger?" I mean, clearly no one is better off becoming more the kind of person who shouts and throws things and makes mean cutting remarks. Duh. So what are you supposed to do exactly?
The google tells me the following things. When expressing anger, talk directly to the person you're angry with. Speak in a calm and caring way, and make eye contact. Use "I" language: instead of saying "Hey, you almost ran me over you stupid inattentive piece of shit!" say, "I know you mean well but I really feel nervous and vulnerable when you run the yellow light and almost kill me with your car."
As I thought about putting this into practice, I noticed a huge obstacle. The vast majority of what I'm angry about has nothing to do with the people around me, and has everything to do with the state of the world, with money, with war, with politics, with environmental degradation. Who am I supposed to look in the eye while I deliver my "I" statements if I'm mad about impending war in Iran?
What do to? Maybe I should write a letter? Let's give it a shot, shall we?
Dear USA,
The absurd and immoral wars and other violence you are initiating and perpetuating around the world are an outrage to decency, you self-important ignorant bully...
Oops, scratch that! Let's start over:
Dear USA,
I think you mean well, but maybe you didn't realize well over 100,000 civilians have died as a result of the Iraq war. Have you considered -- wait, scratch that! I often think about them and their families and ... let's just say it makes me feel upset and sad, OK? I just wanted to let you know.
Dear People of Banking and Finance,
You guys are completely beyond the pale with your lying, fraud, gambling, foreclosure misbehavior and other shenanigans. Who the fuck do you think you are?
Dear People of Banking and Finance,
I know you're doing your best, but I think you've developed a few regrettable habits lately, and I was hoping you'd take a moment to consider things from our point of view. I felt really sad and upset when I read about Wells Fargo destroying the home of these people who didn't even have a mortgage. The effects of the economic collapse of 2008 mean some people are unemployed and I think that makes them unhappy, which makes me unhappy. If you ever need to talk, I'm here, OK?
Dear Forces that Control the Universe,
WTF is wrong with you? Disease, hunger, death -- and for what? Do you just like to see us suffer? I think you suck.
Dear Forces that Control the Universe,
I've heard it said that you have ways that are beyond my understanding and my paltry powers of reasons. I don't know. I just wanted to make sure you knew that things are difficult. We humans need love, food, warmth, companionship, and when we don't get those things - it's like really hard on us OK?
Conclusion: I don't think this constructive anger thing is going to work for me.


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Interview with St. Vincent de Paul Issaquah Conference President, Phyllis Laughlin


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Thursday, February 14, 2013
Searching for Sugar Man's Lyrics
The first thing I did after watching this outstanding, Oscar-nominated documentary was order the soundtrack. And I have been listening to it non-stop since I received it. I am in awe of Rodríguez's way with words.
When listening to the song Cause, the following lyrics stood out to me immediately.
Cause my heart's become a crooked hotel
full of /ru:mɚz/
The IPA is mine because I didn't want to spoil the fun with the way the word was spelled in the lyrics from the CD.
What do you think?
Roomers or rumors? Both would work.
Interestingly, the word is spelt with the British spelling rumours in the CD insert.
Another song on the disc with lyrics that are worth noting is This is not a song, it's an outburst: or, the establishment blues. I love the metaphoric extension in the lyrics.
Woke up this morning with an ache
in my head
I splashed on my clothes as I spilled
out of bed
I could go on and on with examples but I urge you to check out the movie and music for yourself.
Image via IMDB
Posted by Laura Payne at 7:59 AM
Labels: British spelling, Homophones, lyrics, metaphoric extension, phonetics, Rodriguez
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So, another quarter of school has ended. Usually at this time, I'd be posting about my grades and what I'm doing next quarter and some of my upcoming wedding plans... I just can't seem to make myself do that this time.
I've been on Facebook and catching up on my blog list. As much as I needed to the support of the CF community while I was waiting for my transplant, making all of these friends has been hard as hell on me emotionally now.
I've felt myself slowly pulling out of the community, strictly for the fact that I just can't handle sitting around and watching my friends be so sick. I have friends on both sides of transplant now. I fear for the ones who have not had their transplant. That things may get too bad for them, that they may not get the same chance that I've had. I always thought that it was hard to be the one waiting for transplant... that's a walk in the park when compared to watching someone you care for go through the waiting. Gives me a whole new respect for the parents of CF children, being on this side now...
Even others that I know mostly online... watching them through the computer screen is just as hard as sitting by their bedside and holding their hand. It's just... it's been a hard week for me, and if there's anyone that still reads this blog... I ask that you keep my friends in your prayers.
So that all being said, I did manage to have some great news today! I did a full PFT this morning and my FEV1 was at 76%, the highest I can ever remember it being! It was a wonderful moment for me, especially since I've been waiting for 3 years to have such good numbers. I was beginning to believe that it just wasn't meant for me... but now, I have motivation again to try and push even harder. Exercise a little bit more... Eat a little bit healthier... and maybe, just maybe, I can reach where my other transplant friends have their PFTs sitting :)
Monday, June 11, 2012
PFT results and Transplant Friends
So, another quarter of school has ended. Usually at this time, I'd be posting about my grades and what I'm doing next quarter and some of my upcoming wedding plans... I just can't seem to make myself do that this time.
Posted by Jen Girl at 10:23 PM


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Tis the season of giving. Fa la la la la la la la la!
I love a good Christmas cookie. Especially a soft sugar cookie that my mom makes.
Of course learning from the best (my mom), I make a double batch of these at Christmas time and keep them in the freezer to have handy to take with me anytime I go to a friends, a neighbors, or a party.
They are always welcomed with an open mouth…haha! I crack myself up! LOL!
Here is the yummy recipe:
Fabulously Soft Sugar Cookies
3/4 C Real Butter, softened
2 Eggs
1 C Powdered Sugar
1 C Granulated Sugar
1 C Vegetable Oil
1 tsp. Cream Of Tartar
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 tsp. Almond Flavoring
4 C Flour
Cream together butter, eggs, powdered sugar, and granulated sugar. Add remaining ingredients in the order listed. Mix real good and refrigerate overnight. Place cookies onto a chilled cookie sheet with a small cookie scoop. Bake at 375 degrees for about 10-12 minutes. It is very important that all cookies are placed on a cooled cookie sheet before baking. Keep cookie dough chilled between batches.
1/2 C Real Butter, softened
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/4 tsp. Almond Flavoring (or more to taste)
Powdered Sugar
Milk (a few drops)
Combine all ingredients. Use enough powdered sugar to achieve desired and spreadable consistency.
Tint to your desired color and top with your favorite sprinkles.
And voila! There you have it. Melt in your mouth heavenly yummyness that's totally worth giving! (yes I make up words)


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What is happening with me and with all these beautiful wedding dresses to who I can not say no? Is it just me, or is the beauty of these fairytale wedding gowns driving you crazy as well? This time Galia Lahev made an astonishing wedding collection for spring 2014. her angelic collection presents to you fantasy and magic world of a bride. This "The Empress Deck Bridal" Collection driven with lavish and fabulous lace and luxurious silk is what you can only wish to be adorned with. Let the magic of these incredibly beautiful, endlessly romantic and elegant gowns surround you in the moments when you are saying your final "yes" to the one that stole your heart.
Keep Being Provocative.


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We made it. We survived, and most importantly she survived!! Just some small photos that were not intended for a blog, because the blog was the last thing on my mind this past week. We had cake, and presents and games and we almost had a lovely new doll, but I broke my sewing machine in the middle of preparing for the party... sewing paint chip bunting together like a hoon.
And on to her second year, and I'm very glad to have the newborn stage behind us- those newborns are cute, but they are not my cup of tea. This age, with all the separation anxiety, the tantrums, and the danger, is much more fun.


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I sewed up a muslin to test the pattern to make sure I was doing it right before cutting up my good fabric. I had to grade between sizes from waist to hip and needed to make sure I got all the puzzle pieces traced correctly to fit together. I wanted a compression style pair of tights so I went down a size in my hip. I cut a size X waist and a size Z hip (and leg, too). I also added 1" (2.5 cm) to the lower leg length by slashing about mid calf.
I was pleasantly surprised by the height of the rise... it sits up high on my natural waist, it is not a low slung "casual wear" sort of legging. Low rise=tugging and pulling and lack of comfort on runs. I have a fuller thigh, have a fuller bum and my back side sits lower then the average gal and often will add width to these areas. I did not here at all. I think mostly because I am looking for compression tights and don't want to loosen things up.
The zebra print/butterfly wing print/whatever print is a (swimwear, likely) nylon spandex, non-wicking. The black is a medium weight nylon spandex that is wicking. The rosey purple solid is a New Balance wicking material. All of it is 4 way stretch. I've used that print fabric here and here, and the New Balance stuff (I've got a boatload of it in various colors) was used here, here, and here already-- that stuff is sooooo comfy but not the best for really cold weather running since it doesn't keep the heat in well. The black material is a fairly recent acquisition, I got a lot of it since it was on sale.
The back pocket it nice and roomy for my keys. They stayed in nicely for a 5K I ran minutes before taking these pics. I don't carry a phone in my pocket but it will hold one for sure. My favorite RTW leggings have a zipper on the back waist pocket... I would LOVE if it were zippered... hint, hint activewear pattern making gods... er, you know who you are :) Zippers. I like little zippers on my pockets. And that little triangular crotch gusset... it's kinda great. I feel like it provided more ease of movement and also (TMI here...) no c@mel toe!? ***UPDATE: Thank you everyone who has told me about Sewaholic's new leggings with the zipper! I am a huge fan of her patterns, especially since they are drafted for a gal with a figure similar to mine!! But from what I've seen in the photos and the description of the pattern, they appear to not be ideal for my running. But why, you say, they are so cute and sassy! Well, they are drafted to sit well below the natural waist-- I cannot go out for an hour running session in the dead of winter with hip huggers-- they would not provide the coverage and security I expect from my technical running gear-- I can't be pulling my pants up ever few minutes!! Also, I don't want to re-draft/alter the waist for a better fit after paying $16 for a pattern. So if there is anyone out there who can disprove my theory on how the Sewaholics are inappropriate for high intensity activewear, please share. Otherwise I'm steering away from her latest super cute loungewear line of clothes for running purposes.***
I laid them out to show you another nice feature... the back waist sits HIGHER up. This equals better butt coverage. You can see how there is lots of room in the back for my fuller backside with simply grading up and NOT having to add to the width of the thigh or back crotch. Oh yeah, I also used the black fabric to line the waistband, wicking side touching my skin. Plus I topstitched the seam of the crotch as well for added security of keeping it tightly sewn. You can click to make that little front shot bigger to see the topstitching... I felt a little weird blowing it up huge on my blog.
Like I said, I did run in these. They stayed put the whole time. I was annoyed with that black shirt, a RTW one, because it's not quite the right fit on me like my handmade shirt are, So there you go. A thick-thighed girl reviewed the Jalie Cora tights... I had not seen anyone with similar dimensions talk about how they sewed these up. I'm on a Jalie kick at the moment, I just got in the mail an envelope a half zip shirt pattern from them. More sewing activewear=more motivations to go out and run!


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Wednesday, 10 December 2008
TV Snark - Merlin: To Kill the King OR Everybody Hates Uther And Then They Suddenly Change Their Mind
The episode begins with Tom the Blacksmith (you may remember him as Gwen's dad or you may not as he doesn't do a lot on this show and he never will) visiting his daughter Gwen to give her a shiny new dress. Seems that Tom has come into some money and can afford to buy his daughter nice dresses that she can wear whilst scrubbing floors and fetching water for ungrateful nobles. Tom has some shady new job that pays well, I'm sure it won't go horribly wrong.
Oops, spoke too soon! Later that night a Shady Man turns up at Tom's smithy and uses a magic stone to turn lead into gold. He's a Shady Alchemist! No sooner has the molten gold begun to cool then Arthur and his men burst into the smithy to arrest Tom. Shady Man uses a cloud of smoke to escape, sadly he doesn't laugh manically as he disappears, he opts to run away instead. I wonder who told Arthur that Shady Man (or Tauran as he's called) was visiting the blacksmith? Maybe it was Gwen? She probably wants to inherit the smithy so she can make swords for her and Morgana so they can run around being action grrrrrls. Merlin's plot device sense is tingling as the use of powerful magic wakes him from his sleep. Of course, this doesn't matter as Gwen immediately appears and tells Merlin that her dad has been arrested. The writer's are being really lazy this week.
Uther refuses to release Tom as he insist that the law must be upheld and Tom must die. Arthur and Morgana manage to convince Uther to at least hold a trial first before killing Tom, which is more than any other sorcerors have got on this show so far.
Gaius Meldrew then dispenses fantasy knowledge of the week as he explains what alchemy is to Merlin. Thanks for the knowledge Gaius. Morgana decides to investigate the smithy and finds Shady Man's magic alchemy stone (the Philosopher's Stone?). Morgana then decides that Tom won't get a fair trial so she sneaks a prison key to Tom and suggests he use it to escape. It's at this point he pulls a very funny face in an excellent piece of overacting. I'm sorry but Tom (David Durham) is really poor in these scenes and he comes across as a mentally slow, gentle giant. Unfortunately, he's supposed to be the best blacksmith in the land and the father of the future queen of England. Here's his face after receiving the key, is he shocked? Has he seen a rat in the corner of his cell? Or does he have a cell mate beckoning him to his bunk? Who knows.
Morgana's plan gets Tom killed of course. At this point the audience should be sad but as we've hardly ever seen Tom over the course of the past twelve episodes, it's a little hard to drum up any feelings. Tom's death is just a catalyst for Morgana to go a bit stroppy and slightly-but-not-very-evil-at-all for an episode because Uther commanded that Tom be killed on sight.
Gwen sees Tom's corpse being carried across the courtyard so she gets to yell, "Nooooo!" and "Faaaaatherrrr!" Brilliant because it reminded me of Matt Berry yelling it in The IT Crowd (excuse the strange foreign dubbing but this was the best clip I could find of it on YouTube.)
Anyway, Morgana is angry. This is her angry face.
She talks to Uther which gets her thrown in the dungeon. That'll teach her to express her opinions! Uther resists cackling and rubbing his hands together, which is a shame.
Arthur shows that he's a slightly decent person and apologises to Gwen and offers his services should she need anything (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). He wasn't decent enough to stand up to his dad and stop him killing Tom though was he?
Shady Man visits Gwen in the night and demands she return his stone to the Darkling Woods in 48 hours. I'm pretty sure you can reach that place in World of Warcraft by jumping on a flying bat, should only take five minutes. Gaius Meldrew checks his Dungeon Master's Guide and finds that the stone in question is called The Mage Stone and is ancient and powerful and blah, blah.
Arthur releases Morgana early from her imprisonment which earns grudging thanks from her. Morgana finds out that Gwen is scared of returning home because she fears Shady Man. Morgana decides to visit Shady Man in Darkling Woods and return his Mage Stone during the night. Merlin's plot device sense is tingling again and he wakes up and follows Morgana into the woods.
Morgana meets Shady Man and his cohorts in the woods and offers to bring Uther to a suitable spot so they can assassinate him. Shady Man is a little disappointed as he was going to use his magic gold to bribe someone into killing Uther. Morgana's method costs nothing so they go for that instead. Merlin overhears all of this and struggles with the ethical dilemma of letting someone assassinate the asshole who'll kill him if he ever catches him using magic.
Merlin visits CGI John Hurt in his dragon lair. The dragon suggests that Merlin let Uther die and free the land from tyranny. Well duh Merlin, it's been obvious that the dragon wants Uther dead since episode one. Pay attention kid!
Morgana makes a fake apology to Uther so she can reminisce about her dead father. It turns out that Uther sent her father to his death in some war or other. This eventually leads to Morgana suggesting that she and Uther visit her father's grave so they can pay their respects. Uther isn't even slightly suspicious at Morgana's about face despite the fact she did the same thing a few weeks ago during the Mordred incident.
Merlin discusses the morality of allowing Uther to die with his mentor Gaius (who gives an intelligent argument about kings making hard choices and Arthur unreadiness for the role) and Gwen (who provides the moral argument that killing Uther would provide no comfort to her and make the perpetrator as ruthless and uncaring as Uther). Gwen's argument sways Merlin and he heads off to stop the assassination.
Uther and Morgana visit the grave in the middle of some empty field somewhere. The Shady Man and his goons wait in ambush but Merlin arrives to save the day. There's even a bit of continuity as Merlin takes with him the Magic Missile wand from the evil fairies episode. He uses the wand to zap all of the goons apart from Shady Man who uses his Mage Stone to deflect Merlin's spell and incapacitate him.
Fortunately for Uther he manages to admit regret at Tom's death and he talks up Morgana's father enough to make Morgana realise that she doesn't want Uther dead. She's so fickle. Shady Man tries to stab Uther but Morgana interferes and ends up stabbing Shady Man in the back which kills him. So ends the revolution.
And that's basically it. Morgana decides she doesn't want to see Uther dead and pushes those feelings of hatred deep down inside where they'll probably later manifest as dressing really sluttily and learning dark magic.
Next Week - Arthur dies! For reals! Well okay, probably not but it is the last episode.
5 comments:
- Doc Hall said...
I notice that this week it was Arthur's turn to sit things out. While it's good to see that a lack of things to do isn't confined to either of the female leads, it does suggest that Merlin is a show with enough plot for 3 main characters being spread out amongst 4.
- 10 December 2008 at 21:02
- Aaron said...
Yes quite correct. The writers have yet to make effective use of every character in one episode. It should be an ensemble show but it cheats because it sidelines major characters if they don't fit the plot. Even Robin Hood made use of all of its characters in each episode.
- 10 December 2008 at 21:06
- Doc Hall said...
I sort of wonder if it might have benefited from having a larger cast. This might seem odd, given my previous statement, however if you're not going to use everybody it helps to have more people you're not going to use, as it would make it hides the fact you don't have enough plot to go around.
I'd probably have played up the role of the Knights more, but doing that would require the writers to have a better grasp of Arthurian legend. They bring out Owen, and yet somehow fail to make any use of the fact the guy has a lion! If that's not a built in gimmick, I don't know what is.
- 10 December 2008 at 21:24
You didn't mention how useless Merlin's stealth following of Morgana was, though it is kind of in keeping with the rest of the show
- 11 December 2008 at 02:32
- Aaron said...
I thought it was pretty effective seeing as he didn't, y'know, get discovered or anything.
- 11 December 2008 at 09:19


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Nat in Prague3:33 AM
This is a reward trip for finishing my dissertation (yey). I've always wanted to go to Prague, boy, it wasn't a disappointment. And I've got to say, I have a new favourite city now- every single corner of this city is beautiful, and I'm not exaggerating about that!
|Charles bridge, early in the morning.
I came to Prague with a friend to share the costs, not that its expensive! Eastern Europe has always been cheap, and very good for travelling on a budget, and in my opinion underrated compared to its Southern, Western and Northern neighbours.
|Navigating. Andel metro station
It's very easy to navigate in Prague, they have 3 metro lines, tons of trams and busses. As I've said in all of my posts so far, It's impossible to get lost in Europe, as everything is organised; they have timetables and they make sure to stick to it. Just download Google Maps, and presto!
|Staromestka's modern-looking station.
To make use of their transport system, its smarter to buy travel cards than single tickets. A three-day unlimited transport pass, which lets you ride the metros, trams, busses, and cable cars, only costs 310 Kc (Czech koruna/crowns) or £9 or P600! Not bad at all, if you compare the costs of having a travel card in London.
|Ornamental buildings and hidden corners.
Anyways, we were staying in a studio, which cost us around £50-60 for three days. It included a kitchen, so we were able to do money saving cooking (we only spent £15 for groceries enough for 3 days)! Though you can get a meal for £6 -8 per person, you need to eat 3 times a day, and that dents the budget. I'm not saying to not eat out, but I suggest eating local food, likely, street food. There are plenty of stalls that sell cheap Klobasa (Czech sausage), Trdelnik (chimney cakes), lagers, toasties, potatoes with raclette, name it.
|From the top left: View at Petrin, Staromestka station, Namesti Republiky, potatoes with raclette, trdelnik, klobasa.
Speaking about the food in Prague, I have to say that the food is pretty much the same in Eastern Europe (not all of course). Chimney cakes are called Trdelnik in Prague (they're smaller), and Kürtőskalács in Hungary and Romania. I prefer the Hungarian and Romanian ones because they are triple the size for the same price. Though I have to say, the best sausages and salami I tasted were both from Hungary and Romania! (Sorry Czech Republic).
First thing you have to see is the old town hall, which houses the astronomical clock. It's been there since 1410, and every hour, the apostles (and death) moves to strike the clock. A trip to Prague is not complete without seeing Charles Bridge or Karlův most- its just for pedestrians, and you see the Prague castle in the view. It feels you've been transported in the medieval era when you walk on it.
Every corner in Prague was damn beautiful and photogenic, seriously. Every single building was so ornamental: paintings, gold reliefs, statues, clocks. Seriously every single building. The roads in Prague are cobblestone, every single one of it. It looks nice but I don't really like walking on them, but I guess they keep it for the old town appeal.
|A path on the way to Prague Castle.
Since its so beautiful, the volume of people there doesn't surprise me, also because it was summer when we went there. If you're a photographer, and you want to take photos without people, you have to go in the wee hours of the morning. We did that every single day. People exhaust us.
Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) is also where you want to be. There are plenty of stalls there, as long as you don't mind eating in the street. Plenty of gothic and baroque architecture to marvel.
We also went to the Petrin tower, a 'legal' replica of Paris' Eiffel tower. Nothing spectacular, but the view of Prague above the tower is amazing. It costs 120 Kc and your energy to climb up the tower. You can use the lift but you'll need to pay double the price. While you're there, check out the souvenir shop because they have some good stuff there that's hard to find in town.
|View of Prague castle and the cathedral
You should also check out Prague Castle and St.Vitus cathedral. We managed to walk there from Petrin tower (and found some photogenic routes along the way). Sadly, we never had the patience to stand in line with at least a hundred tourist lining up in the sun to go inside. Anyways, Prague castle is up a hill, so you'll see a good view of the city.
|From the top-left: graffiti on the steps to Prague Castle, Old town, View of the cathedral, a hanging statue on myliskova, Charles bridge in the morning.
This was an incredibly cheap trip. To break it down:
£40 - Flight (we flew on Ryanair, not as bad as they say! Generous luggage)
£60 - 3 day accommodation (studio. If you go on a hostel you'll only spend half the amount)
£9 - 3-day unlimited transport
£10 - street food + beer (ha)
£15 - groceries for 3 days
Not to mention, I split the bill with my friend, so I only spent maybe around £100(I splurged on souvenirs). I say its cheap because I live in the UK and everything is expensive (By that, you'll get a small shitty room for £50 a day, and spend at least £10 per day on transport ) . My only regret was not staying longer! Three days wasn't enough time to fully explore everything. We didn't get to see the dancing building or St. Vitus Cathedral. I would explore it AGAIN. Hopefully one day I can come back here.
Flight - London to Prague (Ryanair) - 40 Euros
Accomodation (room with shared kitchen) - 70 Euros (three nights)
Public Transport Tickets (for three days) - 11 Euros
Sausage meal on the streets - 3-5 Euros
Trdelnik - 3-5 Euros depending on the size
Most places in Prague have free entry (with exception to the castle). For this trip, I only spent around 130 Euros (Shared the cost with the accomodation, cooked my own food). I actually spent a lot on getting souvenir items...
Next stop? Budapest (again!)
Since I didn't get to explore it that much last time, plus they are neighbours and it only costs £15 for a train ticket.
Tune in!
Flight - London to Prague (Ryanair) - 40 Euros
Accomodation (room with shared kitchen) - 70 Euros (three nights)
Public Transport Tickets (for three days) - 11 Euros
Sausage meal on the streets - 3-5 Euros
Trdelnik - 3-5 Euros depending on the size
Most places in Prague have free entry (with exception to the castle). For this trip, I only spent around 130 Euros (Shared the cost with the accomodation, cooked my own food). I actually spent a lot on getting souvenir items...
Next stop? Budapest (again!)
Since I didn't get to explore it that much last time, plus they are neighbours and it only costs £15 for a train ticket.
Tune in!


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Earth's Largest Land Surveyor Community
Great picture ... taken in 1992 with my daughter handling a GPS PATHFINDER.At that time no real time correction (except from rare L-Band provider) and only post-processing if needed.26 years after what has changed ? More GNSS constellations, cheaper equipments, algorithms and infrastructures ... Looks like it was yesterday for me.
This Content Originally Published by a land surveyor to Land Surveyors United Network
Views: 103
Communicate ⇣
Thanks for sharing,what a great photo and what a Time Machine. Made me think about sunshots.
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WASHINGTON, July 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's mad cow disease surveillance plan has numerous problems that may have reduced the chances of detecting the deadly disease among U.S. herds, according to a draft report from the agency's inspector general.
Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., who made the IG report available on his Web site, sent a letter Tuesday to Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman noting the House Government Reform Committee -- on which Waxman serves -- and a separate IG investigation not yet made available to the public, found additional evidence contradicting claims of USDA officials regarding potential U.S. cases of mad cow disease.
The new evidence, contrary to what USDA has claimed, suggests the mad cow discovered in Washington state last December was not a downer, or an animal unable to stand.
The Washington cow has been the only confirmed case of mad cow disease in the United States. If the cow was walking, it could have significant ramifications for the USDA's mad cow testing program, which primarily is focused on downer animals.
"The Inspector General's finding and the additional evidence obtained by the committee have major implications," Waxman, the ranking Democrat, wrote in the letter. "They call into question the credibility of the department's public statements and the adequacy of the department's past and ongoing response to mad cow disease."
The IG reports and Waxman's letter come the day before Veneman is scheduled to testify before a joint hearing of the reform committee and the House Agriculture Committee on the agency's screening program for mad cow disease, otherwise known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE.
The IG audit of the mad cow surveillance plan details a slew of problems, including failure to test the riskiest animals, confusion among inspectors in the field due to inadequate training, and "an almost complete absence of available documentation" supporting the surveillance plan from 1990 through 2003.
The report concludes: "The problems identified during our review, if not corrected, may negatively impact the effectiveness of USDA's overall BSE surveillance program, impair its ability to perform risk assessments and program evaluations, and reduce the credibility of any assertion regarding the prevalence of BSE in the United States."
USDA officials sought to downplay both IG reports during a news briefing Tuesday.
"First of all, this (report) is about our surveillance program," said Ron DeHaven, administrator of USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, who noted it was "unusual" for an IG report to be released in draft form without first getting comment from the federal agency in question.
"Nothing in the report would suggest there has been any change or anything that would compromise our primary concern, which is public health," DeHaven added.
He said public safety was ensured by the removal of the most infectious parts of cows, including the brains and spinal cords. However, USDA does not require the brain and spinal cords to be removed from animals under 30 months of age.
The concern is humans can contract a fatal, incurable brain illness from eating meat infected with the mad cow pathogen.
DeHaven said the USDA has corrected some of the problems raised in the report and is working with the IG to correct others.
Consumer groups said they were satisfied by the report because it supports criticisms they have been raising for years.
"The report vindicates everything we've been saying for a while," said Dr. Peter Lurie, a physician and deputy director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group in Washington.
Lurie, who is scheduled to testify at the congressional hearing, told UPI: "It's a devastating report made all the more forceful for having originated within the Department of Agriculture itself. The report shows a program in substantial disarray from design phase to data collection phase to data analysis phase. There's very little of this program that escapes without criticism."
Among the problems identified by IG report is the USDA's testing of only 162 of 680 cattle with signs of a brain disorder condemned at slaughter over the past two years. These animals are considered the most likely to test positive for mad cow disease and the USDA has said its policy is to test all such cows.
The USDA also has not tested animals that are rabies negative. Rabies symptoms can be similar to mad cow symptoms but the IG noted some cows testing negative for rabies at state laboratories have not been tested by the USDA for mad cow because there is no mechanism in place for collection of the samples.
Other high-risk animals that may have escaped surveillance are those that die on farms. The IG audit said the USDA does not have a program in place for testing such cows and noted screening such animals is "important because the high-risk animals that die on the farm comprise the largest component of the targeted high-risk population and the most difficult to identify, obtain and test."
Waxman said the IG investigation into the Washington mad cow case cited "three new eyewitnesses -- the two owners of the dairy farm that sold the cow, along with a worker there -- who saw the cow walk on the morning of slaughter." That brings the total number of witnesses who say they saw the cow walk to six.
The only witness who has said the cow was a downer is Rodney Thompson, the USDA veterinarian who inspected the animal before it was slaughtered.
Waxman said, however, Thompson told the Government Reform Committee staff it was a "distinct possibility" the cow stood up after the inspection, as one witness has said.
In addition, the committee obtained e-mail messages between USDA personnel that raised doubts about whether the cow was a downer.
One e-mail stated: "The cow arrived on a load with downer cattle on it so it was included in the sample collection. If she had arrived by herself it is very likely that she would not have been tested." Another e-mail said: "The term downer was used loosely in her case."
The IG also obtained evidence the Washington slaughterhouse where the infected cow was detected routinely sent in samples from walking cows for testing for brain disease, Waxman wrote. This was a departure from the USDA's stated policy at the time of testing only high-risk animals, but "at least three regional USDA officials knew" about the practice as well as "the staff of a senior USDA official," the congressman stated in his letter.
Barbara Masters, acting administrator of USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, continued to insist the cow in Washington was a downer. Asked by a reporter for her reasoning, Masters said, "The FSIS vet (Thompson) made the determination that this was a downer animal" and the IG determined there had been no falsification of official documents.
The USDA is sampling 20,000 healthy animals as part of its expanded surveillance plan, which began June 1, but the IG audit noted this "has little, if any, statistical significance and may inadvertently create a false impression of the actual BSE incidence rate in these animals."
In addition, the IG report said USDA officials informed IG officials the purpose is not to increase surveillance for the disease but rather "to deter producers who might send potentially infected cattle into the normal slaughter process."
The IG's audit of the mad cow program also faulted the agency's assessment that it could detect the disease if there were only five cases among the 446,000 high-risk animals, such as downers, dead and those with signs of brain disorders. The USDA assumed all the cases would be among the high-risk animals, but hundreds of cases have been detected in Europe in animals that appeared healthy.
Extrapolating from the agency's own data, the IG calculated if there are five cases among the high-risk animals, there could be as many as 62 to 781 additional cases in normal adult cattle.
Keith Collins, USDA's chief economist, said the agency's detection assessment could change.
"We are going to look at alternative approaches to that and see if we can provide a fuller context to the testing program," he said.
Steve Mitchell is UPI's Medical Correspondent. E-mail email@example.com


text:
Dear Editor:
With the Democrats having concluded their national party convention in Charlotte, a New York Times analysis in last Sunday's edition rated the loyalty quotient of party factions, landing the mug of West Virginia's U.S. Senator Joe Manchin in the column of having appeal to "voters least loyal to the Democratic Party."
That may explain why the West Virginia Poll conducted for the Charleston Daily Mail last month showed Manchin with a commanding lead over his Republican rival as the November election approaches.
The Times identified supporters of Manchin and his ilk as a "remnant of what used to be a mainstay of the party ... muttering that elites in California and Manhattan don't understand them." Manchin, proclaims the Times, is their "standard-bearer" for his appeal to "religious and socially conservative voters," motivated by the economy, favoring "energy development over the environmental protection," and is pro-defense spending.
At the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce business summit rolling into the Labor Day weekend, Manchin repeated his pro-energy mantra and the impediment Washington presents on the regulatory front to mining coal and tapping natural gas reserves.
Manchin, with Simpson and Bowles in tow, is staking his claim that addressing the nation's staggering debt is the most serious and immediate crisis on the public policy stage. He has managed to assail the Pentagon's wasteful contracting to rehabilitate Iraq's economy, citing an inspector general's audit critical of Defense Department practices.
But Manchin, who did not even attend the national party confab in North Carolina, visited a West Virginia Air National Guard facility to draw a contrast with highly-regarded Mountain State military personnel and the federal government's hires in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Make no mistake, though: Joe Manchin will not let a bashing of excess in the Military Industrial Complex be construed in the least as going soft on national security. Manchin sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, a post giving him a guiding hand in the direction of U.S. fighting forces. Long-rage projects like the F-35 aircraft, whose parts are supplied by aluminum workers in Ravenswood make the connection between jobs at home and a modern national defense against a backdrop of tension with Iran, Russia and China.
To Joe Manchin, being on the fringe of the national Democratic Party may not endear him to "staunch liberals" like Elizabeth Warren, as the Times characterized her. But his numbers in the West Virginia Poll would not be so decisively in his favor if he succumbed in the slightest to a magnetic pull from the left.
Frank S. Hewes
Dear Editor:


text:
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Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » General Topics
How long can they survive without blood?(11 posts)
Hi all,
I just took out some old clothes, which were packed inside a zipped up checkin-baggage from about an year. These were the cloths I was using while in UK, currently I'm in India.
Coincidentally, since the time I've took out these cloths, I'm suspecting bed bug activity in my room. I feel like being bitten at nights. Also, I'm skeptical about my shoes and socks. I feel like being bitten once I reach office and settle down and start working.
Is it possible that the bed bugs (if they are indeed beg bugs) would have come through the cloths that I recently took out? Is it possible that BBs, or their eggs, could've survived for about an year in the clothing, without any food?
How long can bed-bugs/eggs survive without feeding?
Check int he FAQs, but I think they can live 18 mos without feeding.
Most literature states that an adult bed bug can live 12 to 18 months without blood.
Hi bbresearcher,
Hope things are getting interesting at the job. Please tell.
I'm your typical know-it-all, so let me add that the 12-18 mos. (18 is disputable) is under ideal conditions, preferably a lab, in isolation, after one feeding, and in a constant temperature control of I think 50 degrees fahrenheit.
Somebody please tweak the facts.
Where it comes from...
"The effect of starvation on survival is so intimately connected with
temperature and humidity that it is difficult to assess the effect of starvation alone. At 22C and 40 to 45% RH, Kemper (1930) found mean survival times for C. lectularius without food to be 83.7 days in first and second instars, 130.6 days in adult females, and 142.6 days in males.
In a practical test of survival, Bacot (1914) fed bugs of various stages once and then kept them lasting in an outhouse for 18 months. Several fed at the end of this period. Johnson (1942) concludes that "if a house has remained unoccupied for a long time, fifth instars, unmated adult females or mated adult males would be most likely to predominate in the surviving population."
Kemper (1936) called attention to the "hunger bubbles" that, during fasting, may fill the entire midgut."
Usingers Monograph page 16
"The longevity of fasting adults of C. lectularius and C. hemipterus
(after having once fed) is greatest at low temperatures and least at high temperatures (Omori 1941, Table 2-2). This is an important point in survival of the species over the winter in unheated rooms in northern Europe.
Life Starvation
Stage Survival at Temp
1 274.6 113.6 27.8 16.8
2 398.9 171.1 45.6 30.4
3 412.7 214.4 71.2 35.3
4 432.5 234.1 73.3 37.2
5 484.9 161.4 39.5 32.6
AF=Adult Female
AM= Adult Male"
Usinger's Mongraph page 12 and table 2-2
The table gets beat to snot trying to copy and paste it in here.
In Bacot's test they survived 18 months.
spideyjg - 6 minutes ago »
In a practical test of survival, Bacot (1914) fed bugs of various stages once and then kept them lasting in an outhouse for 18 months. Several fed at the end of this period. Johnson (1942) concludes that "if a house has remained unoccupied for a long time, fifth instars, unmated adult females or mated adult males would be most likely to predominate in the surviving population."
Spidey, a point was made recently that because an outhouse is not a sealed environment, the bugs may have had the opportunity to feed off mice or birds.
It's good that it's a field study, but now we need new field studies conducted by today's standards.
So every scientific study ever done on BBs needs to be redone?
Why do I even bother.
Hi - I have stuff in isolation since Aug, 2008, so I am counting the last months. (It's stuff I couldn't easily decontaminate.)
I apologize for the length of this post:
When I started out, I planned for the 18 months isolation based on the same info derived from the 1914 study and repeated in this forum. (The first PCO I spoke to told me bedbugs could live five years. Did not hire him.)
Lately, there was that study done (I can't find the reference) that was on a particular group of pyrethrin resistant bedbugs and they did not live nearly as long as the ones in 1914.
For the original poster - (1) Yes,I think it's possible bedbugs could live a year. (2) It sounds like you have had the suitcase in India, unpacked for a year? Otherwise, if it was in transit (such as you brought it on the plane with you six weeks ago) though it hadn't been opened for 10.5 months before that, it could have been contaminated in transit. (3) People report that bedbugs don't give a bite sensation. ie. A bed bug's saliva features an anesthetic to numb the pain as it's biting. Though highly reactive people will feel the burning & itching right away. If you are feeling like you are being bitten, maybe it is something else, not a bedbug, that is biting you.
I have read it many time here, so I will repeat to you though I have no personal experience, to really check to see what it could be. It could be mites, which are very tiny, so get a magnifying glass and a good light and read the FAQ's on searching and see what you can find. Good luck.
As for repeating all bedbug experiments, I wish we could. The essence of a scientific experiment is repeatable results. So, you have to repeat them, don't you? just to be certain. And, times have changed. I don't think that bedbugs could possibly be genetically unchanged after nearly a 100 years of exposure to all kinds of pesticides.
I was so happy when I read that maybe (1) It wasn't 70% of people who were non-reactive after all, because being reactive is an important detection method (though I still want to win the contest and get the monitors.) (2) Equally happy when I heard that maybe bedbugs could only live a couple of months. Keeping my fingers crossed that more studies will find this to be true.
The length of time that they lived in 1914....maybe bedbugs can only live that long under those specific experimental conditions. In real life, you can't tell one bedbug from another and it is so impossible to control the situation, you don't know if that bedbug you've just found is back from dormancy having hidden for 14 months under a baseboard, or if it's just arrived from the neighbours.
Last word.
Published data from old studies is a result of scientific experimentation and certainly was debated and questioned before publication.
As for repeating all bedbug experiments, I wish we could. The essence of a scientific experiment is repeatable results. So, you have to repeat them, don't you? just to be certain. And, times have changed. I don't think that bedbugs could possibly be genetically unchanged after nearly a 100 years of exposure to all kinds of pesticides.
I wouldn't want to see BB research which isn't chock full of funding anyhow, wasting cake on reconfirming established facts unless there was compelling evidence to challenge it.
No more facts from me then.
You didn't tell us if you had bed bugs a year ago in England.
Spidey reminded us that at 22 degrees celsius (71F) and 45% relative humidity, approx. 4.5 months was the mean survival. Based on that, if your clothes were stored for about a year in moderate temps (like a closet) in England's climate (mixed bag), the clothes wouldn't hold up as the source of your bites. If where the clothes were was wet and cool for a good part of the year, that could lengthen the 4.5 months considerably, and if your 'about a year' was really 8 months, you're getting into the realm of possibility.
This thread's off track and Spideyjg's said "last word" so, after this, me too. I've lived by these statistics and been glad to have them. "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride." I didn't mean "should", just "wish". BugsInTO
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From desktop to doorstep: see same day delivery in action. Currently available only in the city of Vancouver on in-stock contact lenses.
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text:
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It's a free and easy tool which is build by Buffer. One of the my favourite tools. It helps you quickly share an image with awesome backgrounds. You can add the texts and also, you can customize your logo, too. Click here to use Pablo
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Did I miss any of your favorites you think should be included on this list ? Feel free to comment below or, you can Tweet me at @sathish_ganesh


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The Urban Share Community Gardening Project transforms unused church properties and city spaces into community gardens. Welcome created community gardens at Bethlehem Lutheran in West Oakland, Shepherd of the Hills in Berkeley and St. Paulus and St. Mark's Lutheran churches in San Francisco. More than 4 tons food was harvested from these gardens since February of 2010.
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cell: 415-827-2587