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Editorial Section NY Times - 4/27/15 An analysis in The Times — "1.5 Million Missing Black Men" — showed that more than one in every six black men in the 24-to-54 age group has disappeared from civic life, mainly because they died young or are locked away in prison. This means that there are only 83 black men living outside of jail for every 100 black women — in striking contrast to the white population, where men and women are about equal in numbers. This astounding shortfall in black men translates into lower marriage rates, more out-of-wedlock births, a greater risk of poverty for families and, by extension, less stable communities. The missing men should be a source of concern to political leaders … [Read more...]
California Voters Deal Blow To Prisons, Drug War
California approved a major shift against mass incarceration on Tuesday in a vote that could lead to the release of thousands of state prisoners. Nonviolent felonies like shoplifting and drug possession will be downgraded to misdemeanors under the ballot measure, Proposition 47. As many as 10,000 people could be eligible for early release from state prisons, and it's expected that courts will annually dispense around 40,000 fewer felony convictions. The state Legislative Analyst's Office estimates that the new measure will save hundreds of millions of dollars on prisons. That money is to be redirected to education, mental health and addiction services -- a novel approach that reformers hope will … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative: The Expanded Length of Prison Stays in Connecticut
The Justice Imperative: The Expanded Length of Prison Stays in Connecticut Dicky Joe Jackson was a trucker whose 2-year old son needed a bone-marrow transplant to save his life. He raised $50,000 through community fund-raisers. But that money was not enough. To make up the difference, he began carrying methadone in his truck. He was arrested and convicted. A non-violent offender who was never a large-scale narcotics trafficker, Dicky Joe is now in the 17th year of a life sentence. He divorced his wife of 19 years to allow her to get on with her life. See More: Please go to Chapter Five in "The Justice Imperative" www.TheJusticeImperative.org … [Read more...]
California Prison Guards Sit Out Debate On Letting Non-Violent Prisoners Go Free
Re-post From Huffington Post Politics By Matt Sledge Matt firstname.lastname@example.com For decades, California's prison guard union was a feared political animal. It backed harsh sentencing laws and the construction of dozens of new prisons, and its membership rolls swelled. Now, a November ballot referendum could release thousands of non-violent prisoners, and the 33,000-member union's response has been surprising. Silence. The guards are sitting this one out. California Correctional Peace Officers Association spokesman JeVaughn Baker told The Huffington Post in an email that the union "has not taken a position on Proposition 47 and has no intention of doing so." In years past, … [Read more...]


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OSLO, Norway (AP) Martin Fourcade of France won the 20-kilometer individual race in the biathlon World Cup, and Kaisa Makarainen of Finland the women's 15-kilometer event on Thursday.
Evgeniy Garanichev of Russia was 14.2 seconds behind Fourcade in second, and Sergey Semenov of Ukraine finished third 48.8 seconds back, as fog gave way to a clear afternoon at Holmenkollen.
Fourcade was not in the lead until the second prone stage.
''It was not easy to start with the pressure of starting with bib No. 1. My mind was in a training mode,'' he said. ''It was a battle against myself all day ... but I enjoyed the competition.''
Garanichev, on the podium for the fifth time at Holmenkollen, said, ''I like the atmosphere here. It is a good place for me.''
Makarainen led the women's individual race all the way and shot clean. She was unchallenged.
Darya Domracheva of Belarus was second, more than 78 seconds behind with one penalty. Veronika Vitkova of Czech Republic shot clean and was third.

subset: commoncrawl


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Jane Austen, as well as Elizabeth and Darcy.
If you want to read a review of Jane Austen as a Vampire, check out Reading the Past's review here. And don't forget Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which Natalie Portman will produce and star in.
In honor of Miss Austen's birthday, the Risky Regencies are hosting a week lost celebration here. Leave a comment on any post and be entered to win some groovy prizes.
Also, there is a currently an exhibition on Jane Austen in NYC at the Morgan Library called "A Woman's Wit: Jane Austen's Life and Legacy." You can see an online exhibition here. You can also read a review of the exhibition over at The Duchess of Devonshire's Gossip Guide to the 18th century here.
Syrie James has written an excellent book called The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen which I highly recommend. You can read the first chapter of the book here.
Also Masterpiece Classics will be showing the new version of Austen's Emma starring Jonny Lee Miller and Romola Garai in January. You can check it out here on PBS's website here. Not a huge Jonny Lee Miller fan but I do adore Romola Garai so it should be interesting to watch.
If you have teenagers and younger children you want to introduce to Austen, pick up a copy of Marvel's graphic novel of Pride and Prejudice at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.com.
For everything Jane, don't forget to check out Jane Austen's World here or the Austen Blog here.
And there's always Netflix for films like Becoming Jane and Miss Austen Regrets.


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Network Workbench -- Towards a Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science
Image composition by Elisha Hardy
The Network Workbench project is one of the major projects at the Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science Center directed by SLIS faculty member Katy Börner. The project aims to develop a cyberinfrastructure and tools for the analysis, modeling and visualization of social and behavioral, biomedical, and physical networks in support of research and education in diverse scientific disciplines. Primary investigators are Katy Börner, Albert-Lszl Barabsi, Santiago Schnell, Alessandro Vespignani, Stanley Wasserman, and Eric A Wernert. The development team includes Weixia (Bonnie) Huang, Bruce Herr, Ben Markines, Santo Fortunato, Russell Duhon, Cesar A. Hidalgo, Ramya Sabbineni and Vivek S. Thakre.
"There is a very active group of network and complex systems researchers at IUB, many of whom deal with large-scale networks," says Börner. "The CNS Center will provide the socio-technical infrastructure for diverse projects that often involve investigators from different scientific disciplines and are at the frontiers of research."
[SLIS News Story]
Weixia (Bonnie) Huang, Senior System Architect and Bruce Herr, Software Developer are both fulltime members of the Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science Center at SLIS. They will present the CIShell (http://cishell.org) and Network Workbench (NWB) Tool (http://nwb.slis.indiana.edu/software.html) in the OSGi track at EclipseCon 2007. Read more about their accepted abstract:
Cyberinfrastructure Shell (CIShell): An OSGi-Based Framework for the Integration of Datasets and Algorithms
"OSGi (http://www.osgi.org) Alliance is initiated by industry companies including IBM, Intel, Nokia, Motorola, NEC, etc. After seven years, the OSGi techniques have been adopted not only by diverse markets including mobile, automotive electronics, SmartHome, and enterprises but also by open source communities such as Eclipse. The OSGi Service Platforms have been delivered in many Fortune Global 100 company products and services. By demonstrating the CIShell and NWB Tool, both of which use OSGi techniques to implement their plug-and-play architecture, we want to deliver a message that OSGi can be extended to and is useful in academic research as well." - Weixia (Bonnie) Huang (firstname.lastname@example.com)
"Bonnie and I are going to EclipseCon 2007, a major industry conference surrounding eclipse technology, which we use a lot in our software work. This will be the first time our lab has presented our software at a major industry conference." - Bruce Herr (email@example.com)
"In the 21st century, progress in science and technology requires collaborations across scientific disciplines and the utilization of advanced cyberinfrastructures. In scientific fields, increasing interdisciplinary research demands novel means for the sharing of data, service, computer resource, and expertise. The Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science Center at Indiana University is working on the Cyberinfrastructure Shell (CIShell) - a user- friendly cyberinfrastructure that addresses this new need. The center is supported by several grants from NSF and other funding agencies. In this demo, we will focus on how we design and implement the CIShell."
Biographical Notes (from conference site):
Weixia (Bonnie) Huang is a Senior System Architect at Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science Center founded by Dr. Katy Börner. She is working on the Network Workbench and Cyberinfrastructure Shell projects. Before joining Indiana University, she worked as a Research Staff Member at Xerox Research Center.
Katy Börner is an Associate Professor of Information Science in the School of Library and Information Science, Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Informatics, Core Faculty of Cognitive Science, Research Affiliate of the Biocomplexity Institute, Fellow of the Center for Research on Learning and Technology, Member of the Advanced Visualization Laboratory and Founding Director of the new Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science Center at Indiana University. Her research focuses on the development of data analysis and visualization techniques that inform knowledge access and management. She is particularly interested in the study of the structure and evolution of scientific disciplines and the development of cyberinfrastructures for large scale scientific collaboration and computation.
Bruce Herr is a CS graduate from Indiana University working in Dr. Katy Börner's Information Visualization Lab as a software developer. He enjoys making cool, extensible, usable, and maintainable software. His current projects are the Cyberinfrastructure Shell (CIShell), Taxonomy Validator, InfoVis Cyberinfrastructure, Network Workbench, and SciMaps.org. Notable visualizations he has helped produce are the Internet Movie Database visualization for the Viszards contest at Sunbelt 2006 and the US Patent Hierarchy visualization for the second iteration of Places & Spaces. His personal website is at http://bh2.net.
Ben Markines is a Ph.D. student at Indiana University. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science from Northern Illinois University. He is currently on an educational leave from IBM and has been on the Network Workbench team since January 2005. His interests include information visualization, network science, and the social Web.
Posted March 01, 2007


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Incidence and diversity of viruses in cowpeas and weeds in the unmanaged farming systems of savanna zones in Nigeria
TypeJournal Article
Review statusPeer Review
AccessibilityLimited Access
MetadataShow full item record
Odedara, O. O. & Kumar, P. L. (2016). Incidence and diversity of viruses in cowpeas and weeds in the unmanaged farming systems of savanna zones in Nigeria. Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection, 1-12.
Permanent link to cite or share this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10568/78151
Fields surveys were conducted to assess the incidence of commonly known legume viruses on cowpeas and weed hosts within and around the cowpeas farms in nine locations across the three agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. Of 315 cowpea leaf samples collected and tested for eight viruses, 69.5% were found to be infected. Bean common mosaic virus-blackeye mosaic (BCMV-BlCM), genus Potyvirus had the highest incidence (70%) and was also the most prevalent (78%). Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV, genus Potyvirus) had 64% as incidence, incidence of Southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV, genus Sobemovirus) was 21%. Bean pod mosaic virus (BPMV, genus Comovirus) was detected in 1% of the samples tested. Cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV, genus Comovirus) was undetected. Other viruses tested included Cowpea mottle virus (CPMoV, genus Carmovirus), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV, genus Cucumovirus), and Cowpea mild mottle virus (CPMMV, genus Carlavirus). Multiple virus infections were detected in 68.0% of the infected cowpea leaf samples. The combination of BCMV-BlCM and CABMV was the most common, occurring in 76.4% of all samples. Virus incidence in weeds around the cowpea plots was 2.5% (9 out of 356) whereas 1.5% (5 out of 332) of the weeds collected within the cowpea plots were infected. Some of the weeds infected were Chromoleana odorata, Centrosema sp., Thithonia diversifolia and Talinum triangulare.
Published online: 10 Nov 2016
CGIAR Affiliations
AGROVOC Keywords
SubjectsCOWPEA; FARMING SYSTEMS; GRAIN LEGUMES; PLANT DISEASES; WEEDS
RegionsAFRICA; WEST AFRICA
Investors/sponsorsInternational Fund for Agricultural Research
- IITA Journal Articles [1807]


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Blazer: Forever 21, Tee: H&M, Jeans: Frame Denim, Heels: Schutz via Shopbop, Scarf: H&M
Shopping smarter and budgeting a little bit more has been on my mind lately. It's easy to get lost in all the up and coming trends that are constantly bombarding your brain on the Internet. But, I have learned the hard way that sometimes you have to out-smart the Internet!
The neckerchief is one of my favorite trends for spring this year. Some scarves are upwards of over $100. Don't get me wrong, they're beautiful...but I just can't justify it. I'd have to really be in love. This one from H&M was $6! #steal. And, as you can see, it serves as a neck scarf, a belt, and even a head scarf if need be. I could even tie it around my wrist for a Leandra Medine-inspired look! Have you found the perfect scarf for spring?


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OSU: Languages and Small Farming
I was looking at on-line language learning classes, and discovered that Oregon State University has one of the best on-line language learning programs in the country: OSU Online Foreign Language Courses
I was also surprised to learn that they have a course about growing your own small farm or ranch:
Growing Farms: Hybrid Course for Beginning Farmers
[...] Growing Farms: Hybrid Course for Beginning Farmers teaches those new to farming how to plan and manage a farm, while giving them tools to produce and market farmed and raised goods. The course also encourages interaction and community building among participants, helping build a professional network among small farmers and ranchers.
While developing a whole-farm plan, participants will learn about sustainable practices and land stewardship. The course encourages farmers to see how small farms and ranches fit into our community's economic and environmental success.
It's called a Hybrid course because it's partly on-line, and partly on-site. But the online portion is also available by itself.
Participants can enroll in the full course, which includes six learning modules and onsite sessions, or the modules-only option.
Online modules
The modules are interactive and feature audio and video. Participants will test their comprehension with short, ungraded quizzes throughout each module and create their own farm plan.
1.) Dream It – Planning
2.) Do It – Farming Operations and Equipment
3.) Sell It – Marketing
4.) Manage It – Finance, Administration and Personnel
5.) Grow It – Ecological Agricultural Production
6.) Keep It – Liability and Risk
Onsite sessions with cohort:
The total number of sessions, times, dates and locations have yet to be determined.
In addition to the online modules and onsite sessions, a social networking website will be developed for participants in both course options.
Labels: education, farming, internet, language, on-line, Oregon, university


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Dr Hayat Sindi is currently a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; where she works with Professor George Whitesides at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology.
Dr. Sindi earned her BS from King's College University in Pharmacology, and Ph.D from Cambridge University "Studies on a Novel Electromagnetic-Acoustic Sensor" where she was appointed as Senior Lecturer at the International school of Medicine, specialising in Pre-clinical education and public affairs of Cambridge Overseas Medical Programme. For her contributions she was invited by HRH Prince Philip to become a member of the Royal College of Teachers.
Hayat is the first Female in Gulf to gain a PhD in biotechnology. Dr. Sindi founded Sonoptix Technology, Cambridge, UK with Saudi Arabian seed funding, she led the development of a cost effective measurement technology for application in clinical diagnostics. Later she became Senior Research Scientist for Biotechnology at Schlumberger Cambridge Research Centre and Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Biological and Chemical Science, Exeter University.
Hayat has been an inspirational figure for many young female students to pursue science majors in the Middle East and abroad, and especially in her home country Saudi Arabia. She presented a new image of Saudi Female Scientist where she spoke at Berkeley University, USA., Gulf Women Conference in London, and as a spokeswoman to International and National TV and radio interviews ,including BBC, Al Arabia, and The Times.
For her contributions, Dr. Sindi has received First award for an elite scholarship for the academically gifted presented by King Abdul Allah Ben Abdul Aziz. Hayat awarded for most talented Female entrepreneur of the year by Jeddah's regulatory committee. She became a member of British Top Young Researcher at House of Commons. She was awarded Young professional award by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's- Arab Student Organization (MIT-ASO). She was also chosen to address King Abdullah Ben Abdul Aziz at the National Dialogue Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Today Hayat is starting a new company with Professor George Whitesides and others. The new company is called Paper Diagnostics Inc (PDI). PDI is a for-profit company, with non-profit objectives, to take the technology to developing areas to create a better quality of life for those who are deprived.
Hayat's wish is to build a world class biotechnology centre of excellence in Saudi Arabia, through effective collaboration with Harvard University and MIT.
Written by: http://www.arabstrategies.org


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Monster 2 Monster is a skill based Memory game. In this game you need to open the cards in an order so that two same card get opened continuously. If you open different cards continuously both cards get closed automatically. If you are opening a card for first time, there will not be any score penalty, but opening cards again and again will make your score reduced.
Date Added: 02-08-15
Category: Puzzle
Played 287 times


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Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Dear brothers, don't forget, we are PARTNERS in this struggle
After the first attack in Sana'a, a march was planned to protest against the violence. Men on the stage at the university called on their brothers to join the march, and told women they are "forbidden" from joining. Yes that was the exact word used: ممنوع خروج النساء.
I understand that given the circumstances, they are concerned about our safety, but it should be stated as an advice, not an order. We are adults, and we can decide for ourselves whether we would like to march or not. We do not need someone to tell us what to do, or not to do.
In defiance, women decided to march regardless. This video shows the number of women who joined.
Then, at the intersection, the security committee blocked us from continuing saying that women are not allowed to march. Arguments emerged between women and the security. Some women asked us why we are arguing and said that the men are only doing it for « our protection ». I responded by telling her that if we let them tell us what we can or cannot do now, we will be dishonoring the essence of change and reform. Today, they say you can not march, tomorrow they will say, you can not work etc.
Today, we were full of sadness and sorrow for what happened to our brothers around the nation. We wanted to express that feeling with our brothers. Unfortunately we were denied that right.
Women of Yemen, we need to stand up for our rights now more than ever. We were at the square of change from the first day as equal partners in the struggle for reform, and we will continue as partners until the end.
** Note **
For those that worry that any negative criticism about what is happening in the square may cause rifts, I tell them this: What is happening in the squares is absolutely amazing, but of course we are human beings and mistakes may happen, it is not a utopia. In addition, differences of opinion are normal and very healthy.
When people criticize, do not fear for the revolution, our goals are too honorable and too big for it to be affected by differences of opinion. These differences are normal, and expressing them only enriches the diversity at the square, it does not cause rifts.
6 comments:
- serge said...
Dear sisterI think there is a misunderstanding here, women should not be barred from the demos, maybe the communication wasnt right from the men, but the way you put it, you are going to creat a big rift here which is not required in this worthy cause, you can not have everything your way, please take into consideration all of yesterdays violence(5/4/11).
Some men were also required to stay behind too, please choose your words carefully.
Concerned brother
- April 6, 2011 at 6:00 AM
- woman from Yemen said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- April 6, 2011 at 8:46 AM
- woman from Yemen said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- April 6, 2011 at 9:27 AM
- woman from Yemen said...
Dear brother, my goal is not to create any divisions, but we have to speak out when we are wronged, no matter what. The square of change should be the place for real change. It is the perfect place for awareness raising, and this topic is just another important topic in the list of awareness raising issues.
I know they meant well and that they were concerned. But there is always a way to say things. for example: "dear sisters, due to the dangerous situation, we advise you to stay in the square". Not, we do not allow you. I am sure most women would not have gone out if the message was sent in a better way. I hope they take that into consideration for the future.
Do not fear for the revolution, our goals are too honorable and too big for it to be affected by differences of opinion. These differences are normal, and expressing them only enriches the diversity at the square, it does not cause rifts.
saying this, i thank you for pointing out how some people might misunderstand me, and so i will add some of this to the post.
- April 6, 2011 at 9:29 AM
- serge said...
Im very sorry the way us Yemenis men speak to others in general, especially to women, but this will eventually change too, on behalf of the Yemeni men, I humbly apologize.
And YES, the speaker could have conveyed his message in a better tone. Allah Ibarik
- April 6, 2011 at 1:00 PM
- woman from Yemen said...
Thank you very much brother.. we are working together for a better future inshallah
- April 7, 2011 at 9:08 AM


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Slimming World Weigh In #3 - A Home Crosstrainer.
I've just returned from another weigh-in and am a little disheartened with a piddly half a pound loss.
I'd really made an effort to keep on track this week. I walked lots and food optimised the majority of the time.
...Well, aside enjoying a Cadbury's Oreo chocolate bar to accompany a Netflix marathon of "Stranger Things" and refusing to switch deliciously fattening buttery goodness for luminous yellow chemical based gunk on my HE wholemeal toast.
You have to keep some luxuries huh?!
I have also been going at it like a mad woman on my new home cross trainer.
Determined for it not to become another fitness related novelty destined for life as a clothes horse before being listed on Gumtree at a 98% discount, I've been making efforts to find time to jump on and actually use it.
So much so I gave myself a bad case of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) and was walking around like the star of "Anal Angels 6" for the best part of two days afterwards. That'll teach me for not warming up first after sitting on my arse for the best part of six months.
But never mind using it for it's intended purpose - I reckon the manufactures are missing a trick with their marketing by not mentioning the free workout included in order to rig the blasted thing up!
My friend Courtney and I - whom is far more patient and actually bothers to read instructions before pulling every nut and bolt flying from the blister packs across various corners of the room - set about putting it together.
Honestly, I think rebuilding a 1:1 scale replica of the Titanic with my limited Ikea toolbox would've been an easier feat.
In theory all that needed adding to the ready built magnetic wheel mechanism was the arms, digital display and foot paddles but the poorly worded instruction manual with a variant of shoddily labelled screws, nuts and bolts of fractionally different sizes made it a right pain.
Thankfully with Courtney's patience and with me being about as helpful as a chocolate teapot playing DJ finding music to listen to whilst we got our build on, we (Courtney) managed to eventually put it together. We were so zonked out by the end of it (I've got a cheek considering the most I did was skip track-to-track between cheesy 90's tunes!) - that it got shifted to one side and not actually used until the following day.
I wouldn't mind but the blurb of the machine online prided itself on it's simple one-man set up. Perhaps the battery in their bluetooth keyboard ran out before they could add …if you're an octopus.
Now it's up and running it's actually an impressive bit of kit. You can set your workout via time, distance, calories or fat burned on a nifty digital display.
There's 8 different resistance levels and a handy tablet holder, which makes it easier to keep occupied with the assistance of catch-up TV or Spotify accessible on your iPad a finger swipe away. (You can follow me and said shite 90's playlists on Spotify here if you like!)
Food wise I made nothing of note; a veggie biryani that I added too much spice after tapping the bottom of the chilli jar with the coagulated ground mix refusing to budge. After a few more heavy handed bonks the entire contents flew out and into the pain resulting in the spiciest Indian dish this side of Mumbai.
I also made some skinless jerk chicken with salad which is one of my Slimming World no-fuss go to's. Most of my lunches have been healthy salads too, although admittedly they were often washed down with calorific iced lattes which was possibly detrimental to this weeks result.
The only foreseeable obstacle for the coming week is that I'm off to one of those fancy sofa cinemas that include snacks with the price of the ticket. Now being a tight-fisted mare who likes to get my money's worth, I'm not banking on my willpower to ignore unlimited nachos, popcorn, pick 'n' mix and fizzy drinks in favour of bringing my own apple and a warm bottle of water.
I'm also going toying with the idea of attempting a vegetarian diet for the next 7 days to see if that makes any difference to my loss or overall wellbeing.
...I guess I'll find out next week!


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The Goddess of Hatred is returning to ArcheAge. The free-to-play game's Western publisher, Trion Games, shared the official Korean teaser video for the next major update earlier this week, highlighting the return of the Goddess. In addition to the teaser, they also announced that the update would be making its way to North American and European servers later this year — although no specific date has been given. Trion did say, however, that they would be providing more information in English, French, and German as early as they can.
Until more information arrives, fans will need to keep a close eye on the ArcheAge blog.
6 Readers CommentedJoin discussion
Another great game killed by Trion..
Die trion
LOL there are now robots…? One more reason not to play this game.
Robots? Obviously you have no idea what a GOLEM is. But sure, let's say it's a robot. Just for you. I'm not laughing at you… I'm laughing WITH you.
Bahh… nonsense!That's a robogolem!u all know noghing.
Burn In hell


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Barack Obama Raila Odinga
Barack Obama's relationship with Kenyan Raila Odinga has made it into America's mainstream press.
In this Washington Times article, you'll find:
An American report of the blood on the hands of Raila Odinga, who Obama campaigned for in Kenya.
An American report of the agreement Odinga signed with the Muslim Leadership Forum which would have forever changed the lives of Christians in the country as well as the lives of the non-religious.
An American report of the time Obama spent with Odinga.
An American report of the close personal ties between Barack Obama's father and Raila Odinga's father. Read the entire article at the The Washington Times.
Follows some snippets:
Mr. Odinga had the backing of Kenya's Muslim community heading into the election. For months he denied any ties to Muslim leaders, but fell silent when Sheik Abdullahi Abdi, chairman of the National Muslim Leaders Forum, appeared on Kenya television displaying a memorandum of understanding signed on Aug. 29, 2007, by Mr. Odinga and the Muslim leader. Mr. Odinga then denied his denials.
The details of the MOU [Memorandum of Understanding] were shocking. In return for Muslim backing, Mr. Odinga promised to impose a number of measures favored by Muslims if he were elected president. Among these were recognition of "Islam as the only true religion," Islamic leaders would have an "oversight role to monitor activities of ALL other religions [emphasis in original]," installation of Shariah courts in every jurisdiction, a ban on Christian preaching, replacement of the police commissioner who "allowed himself to be used by heathens and Zionists," adoption of a women's dress code, and bans on alcohol and pork.
Thank you to Goat at the Barnyard.


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Wednesday, January 12, 2011
It's a very good day!
So, yesterday, my bud Brenda and I went to the slots casino in Bangor, and had a ball! I even left $12 ahead, which is always good! Brenda.....not so much! But she won over $400 last time we went.....so she's ok with that!
On the 2+ hour drive up there, she mentioned how her hubby was wanting them to go on a 14 day tour of the midwest.....and that she knew she wasn't up for that kind of go, go, go for so long, and that she wasn't going! I asked how much a trip like that cost, and she said around $3,500 per person. I thought that was a lot, and said so, but she said it was a group thing that her husband's lodge was putting together. So then I asked, "What if there was an 8-day quilting cruise to the islands, and it was under $1,000? Would you consider that?" and she said "OF COURSE! I'd go in a minute!"
So I told her all about Bonnie Hunter's Quilt Cruise (which I had looked at, and only thought about in my dreams!) and when we got home, I talked with my hubby, and......
I'm going on the quilt cruise! With Bonnie Hunter!!!
I am feeling so lucky these days......I love to travel and this year is going to be full of it!
In March, we are heading for San Diego for my MIL's 80th birthday.....we are spending a week so we can play some golf, and see old friends (we lived there about 14 years ago!), and eat in all those great restaurants! (San Diego has the BEST food ever! I really miss that!)
One week after returning from CA, we are headed to NYC for the Red/White quilt exhibit being sponsored by the Folk Art Museum.
It's a collection of 650 quilts....all red and white.....from one collector! Can you imagine! I can't wait to see it! There are also two other museums with special quilt exhibits during that time, so I am doing the exhibits alone.....with no pressure or time limit! I'm telling hubby, and our cousin (who lives in Long Island and always joins us in the city) to do what you want.....walk that Brooklyn Bridge, see a show, whatever.....I'm doing quilts! I'll see you at dinner! HA! Two full days of quilts......I'm feeling so lucky!
Then in June, we are driving down to visit our son in VA, and see our grandson graduate from high school! More golf, a lot of sightseeing (I've never been to VA) so we need to see Colonial Williamsburg, Monticello, we'll stop at the Smithsonian again on the way down (can't get enough of art!), and hit some of those great quilt shops that everyone keeps talking about in that area!
And then, two months later, the cruise! Sheesh! Someone pinch me, cuz this MUST be a dream!
Oh, and did I mention that when we go to NYC, we are staying at the Waldorf Astoria! Holy Cow! Our American Express card is the Hilton Honors one. If you don't have this card......get one! We always use our points and stay at the Hampton Inn hotels whenever we go anywhere, cuz we love the beds and the buffet breakfast, but sometimes there is a Hilton, and they are wonderful, too. And the Hilton is affiliated with the Waldorf, and for just 50,000 points, we can stay there! (The NYC Hampton Inns and Hiltons were 40,000 points!) Sheesh! We just couldn't pass this up! When will we ever get this chance to stay is such a posh hotel!?! Of course, my immediate thought was that I need new clothes so I don't waltz in there looking like some hick from Maine!
I'm so giddy right now, I don't think I can sit still enough to sew! But I'll try!
P.S. If anyone hears me complain about ANYTHING this year.....you have my permission to give me a good, swift kick!
6 comments:
Sounds like fun for you!ReplyDelete
Check the DC visitors bureau sites for coupons if you are going to visit a couple of the Smithsonian buildings. They usually offer all kinds of free lunches or discounts and fun stuff for tourists. If you can't find it all let me know.
What a totally uplifting post!! I want to go everywhere with you. Room in the suitcase?? Actually you got me thinking about the show in NYC. Always wanted to go and what better excuse!ReplyDelete
Man, am I jealous.ReplyDelete
p.s. glad you're feeling better!
Wow! It all sounds like great fun! If you're in the DC area June 4-6, the Quilters Unlimited show is in Chantilly, VA at the Dulles Expo Center. Over 500 quilts and 70 vendors.ReplyDelete
Hi, Regan! Thanks for commenting on my post or I would have never found your wonderful blog. I've got it marked as a favorite now.ReplyDelete
Can't wait 'til the quilt cruise! Hope to see ya then! :o)
Oh Wow!! Lucky Lucky You!! I'd love to see that exhibition in New York, it'll be a once in a life time exhibition. It's a bit far from Australia. Your cruise sounds like so much fun too. maybe you need to hire a personal assistant, I could carry your bags.. :)ReplyDelete


text:
So the sun have been out a little today – but its still SO cold! C'mon spring…where are you hiding??
A few weeks ago I bought an iddy, diddy little purple pot for 99p, which I just couldn't resist. I've been trying to find a reason to use it ever since, and today, ladies and gentlemen, was the day!!
Here is my recipe for a very quick and easy Blueberry Crumble (for those days where you need to rustle up a fast pud):
(Dairy Free) Blueberry crumble
Frozen blueberries (as many as you want to cram into your own dish)
1/2 lemon (juice)
Sprinkle of sugar
100g plain flour
50g Vitalite (or other dairy-free margarine)
50g light brown or caster sugar
1) Preheat oven to 190 degrees
2) Put blueberries into a bowl, and mix with the lemon juice. Tip into your baking dish.
3) Sprinkle the sugar onto the fruit evenly – I leave the amount up to you as to how sharp the berries are and how much sugar you feel is right for you (I didn't add much – keep my weight down haha)
4) In another bowl, add the flour and margarine together and combine with your fingers until resembling bread crumbs. Add sugar and keep combining. Topping done!
5) Sprinkle the topping over the fruit, covering it up.
6) Bake for around 15 minutes, until the topping is golden and you can see the fruit underneath bubbling. Om nom nom.
Nice warming treat 🙂


text:
We're not just about Paragon here at Cablepunk Press. Recently, Stephen Oravec started playing Blizzard's shooter Overwatch, and last night while learning to play hero D.Va, he got his first Play of the Game! Check it out:
Are you playing Overwatch? Be sure to let us know by joining our Facebook group, Cablepunk Gaming!


text:
iPhone Market Share Grow Significantly In US: As per the quarterly smartphone sales data released by Kantar world panel, apple has increased its sale very much in the three months ending in October. From every 10 sales of the smartphone in the US, 4 was of iPhone during that time. Apple shows a sharp rise in the smartphone market during the period.
iPhone Market Share Growth:
According to Kantar's data, in the US iPhone shares 40.5% of smartphone sales. In the three months ending in October2016, it shows an increase in 7% from 33.5% of smartphone sales to 40.5%. It is the impressive growth of iPhone over years.
In September 2016 iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 plus was introduced in the market and Kantar's quarterly report ending in October, so the sale of these new smartphones includes for about month and a half in Kantar's report.
According to the reports of Kantar iPhone 7 was on top in the sale of smartphones in the three months ending in October 2016 that was 10.6% of total smartphone sales and with 5.3% share of smartphone sale iPhone 7 plus was 4th best-selling smartphone, with the fact that these devices were available for the half period of the three months.
During that time, Recall of Samsung's flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphones proved beneficial for apple. After its launch, it recalls its device after few weeks and it was the time before apple had started delivering of its iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 plus devices.
With the report of an increase in the sale of iPhone in US Kantar reports two other necessary takeaways for apple investors:
- Android operating system shares 57.9 % sale of smartphones which is more than apple's operating system 5% Share. However, it is important to note that apple's operating system is used only in its own phone but the android operating system is available in different smartphone devices.
- Google's pixel shares good sale of 0.5% of all smartphone sale in the US, it is notable because it was available from 20th October 2016 only for 11 days of kantar's data report. Huawei and Microsoft shares same 0.5% sale of total smartphones matching with Google's pixel share.


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text:
The thoughts of me and my dog who used to be Harvey, but is now George, who is Harvey's great-great-great-great-nephew.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Don't pray for me, Margentina
A woman was telling us that her father was seriously ill and that she was very worried. I offered to pray for her. She was a leading light in the local Anglican church so I wasn't stepping much out of my comfort zone to do this, you understand. She said she'd be pleased if I would. So I said, 'Okay, let's do it then.' At which point she realised I meant there and then, burst into tears and ran away.
It's a knack I have.
That wasn't so bad
I thought she was a gypsy - one regularly used to call on me and I have a collection of lace doilies to prove it - and I feared I was going to end up with yet another one. But she was a Jehovah's Witness. On her own. They always travel in pairs; that's what fooled me.
Now if I'd been a good Christian I'd have invited her in, given her a cup of tea and explained the error of her ways. But I didn't. But at least I didn't take up her kind offer of a free copy of The Watchtower. So that's an improvement on the past!
* * * * * * * * * *
Door-knocking is a horrible job. As a householder I hate the intrusion on my privacy, but as a sucker (see earlier post) I can't just shut the door on them.
Younger Son works for a company involved in encouraging council tenants to buy their own homes. Normally he's in the office but today and yesterday he's been out knocking on doors. Some of his calls yesterday evening took place in the dark and some of the houses had doors at the side, down unlit passages. He said, 'I knocked at one door, a woman answered it, saw me and screamed.'
Now, have you seen Younger Son? He is a big and hairy lad. I can understand how he frightened people! But he's very sweet really.
Apparently one person mistook him for rugby player, Colin Charvis, who is at least 10 years older - and black.
Still if he plays his cards right tonight, he might pick up a few treats.
Glorious Undead
Although he did qualify his agreement. He said he'd been grumbling to God about the state of the American church and God had reminded him that 'She may be a whore but she's still my wife.'
Anyway, Pastor Bob was/is committed to be on the edge - wherever the edge is. He spends most of his time with musicians - black metal, goth, vampire - and he says, 'I work with people just like me.' He's played and worked with plenty of successful bands and he's been a pastor for 32 years. 'At times I've had death threats and had to have bodyguards against Christians who've labelled me satanic.'
On this All Hallow's Eve, I'll finish by telling you about the church Pastor Bob has been involved with in London: the Church of the Glorious Undead.
Persephone for jmb
P.S. Not that this is intended solely for jmb but for anyone who enjoys a good read. It's just that jmb sprang to mind. And I think Welshcakes has heard me mention Persephone before. And ... I'll stop now before I dig a deeper hole.xx
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Shop early for Christmas
Myself replied, 'Who are you kidding?'
I might be stupid but at least I'm honest.
P.S. Should that be 'Whom are you kidding?'? I think it should in theory but it would sound really silly. Should I have two question marks? Is anybody still reading?
P.P.S. I think I'll make welshcakes.
Do you know what day it is?
While in Sainsburys I remembered I was on the rota to make a cake for the community cafe for Wednesday. 'That's okay,' I said to myself. 'I can think about what sort of cake to make and get the ingredients next time I'm out.' (Have you spotted the flaw in this plan yet?)
I arrived home and started unloading the shopping when I realised: it's Wednesday tomorrow. 'Oh, bungee jumping!'
I blame it on Sainsburys. Time stands still in there.
And do you know what? You can get your flu vaccination there too. 'I'm off to Sainsburys to get some potatoes and a flu jab; I could be gone some time.' Certainly if I react to an injection the way I react to needles - or more specifically blood - I could be there a very long time.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Why do they do it to me?
And now in these days of Big Brother, I can only assume that my file that circulates virtuality has 'Sucker' stamped on the front in big black print.
In the last three days I've received two packs of Christmas cards, one from the foot and mouth people and one from someone else whose name escapes me. The return envelope included is only large enough for a donation - not to return the cards. I refuse to be coerced into buying cards I don't want and I don't see why I should go out of my way to find an envelope and pay postage to return them.
On the other hand I would feel too guilty if I used them so they are destined to go into my 'card box' until I die. And I'll still feel guilty.
But not that much.
P.S. I do buy charity Christmas cards but they're ones of my choosing, and I know the foot and mouth artists are very clever but I just don't like their cards. And now I feel bad about that. Which is stupid and disablist.
Leggo! I'm being sucked in by a whirlpool of tea!
Remember what I said ...
Apart from the fact that that is an awful lot, doesn't it give you a clearer image than saying 32,000 cubic metres (or whatever it was)?
Caught ...
And the bridegroom wore ... flip-flops
Friday, October 26, 2007
Bad machine day
I followed the instructions on the machine and stuck my cheque in. The machine spat it out. I tried again, very carefully making sure I had everything the right way up and round; the machine spat it out again. I muttered to myself and went and asked a little helper. 'Of course, I'll come and help you. Now, tell me, what do you want to do? Pay in a cheque is it? Right now just touch the screen, just there. Well done, that's right, and do you want a receipt?' And so on; she very patiently talked me through everything I'd already done, then she put the cheque in and - it worked.
In the car park afterwards I went to pay. Now there is always a problem in the car park as there are three machines and two invariably have hand-written notices stuck on them saying they don't accept notes. And the only one that does is at the opposite end of the car park. I went there, queued, then fed my note in. It spat it out.
I banged my head on the side of the machine then I took out my ticket, picked up all my carrier bags, stuffed my purse under my arm and stumbled to the attendant's office where the attendant was sitting with his feet up. I asked him for change for the machine. 'No,' he said, 'that machine will give you change.'
'No, it won't. I've tried it. It spat my money out.'
Reluctantly he left his comfy seat and we went back to the machine. We queued again then he put in my £10 note. It worked straightaway.
I'm just glad I didn't need to be resuscitated using one of those shabom!-machines. The day I'd had with machines I'd probably have blown its fuse.
Dumbledore again
I don't have a problem with Dumbledore being gay. At least I don't think I do. Do I? No, I'm sure I don't because it doesn't matter. Now, I know gay people will say that, of course, sexuality matters, and I agree that it does. And JK will say that it does matter for the character, but it can't matter that much or it would have been integral to the story. And it wasn't; it's cropped up some months later as an 'oh yes and by the way'. I think that's what has annoyed me. It seems somehow dishonest. She's said there were clues in the book but I don't think I'm the only one who's failed to pick up on them.
Over the last few years I've read Atonement (Ian McEwan) and Diary of an Ordinary Woman (Margaret Forster), and though both books were good and I enjoyed reading them - although the lead character in Diary was most unlikeable - when I finished, I felt cheated. I won't explain in case you haven't read the books, but I don't like books that leave me feeling like that. And this is a similar sort of feeling.
If it's important then it should be in the book and be relevant to the plot and be obvious. You know, have Dumbledore mincing down the corridor and calling everyone luvvie. (Some people can't tell when I'm joking: that is a joke.) If it's not, say nothing.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
A bit behind the times
Precisely, Jim.
My thought is that now that she's finished writing the HP series, JK was worried that her source of income might dry up and so has decided to tap into the gay community. Her next book will be Hogwarts: The Prequel, in which it's revealed that the real reason Snape hates James Potter and Sirius Black is that, after leading him on and having their way with him, they threw him out of their love triangle. That will be followed by the pre-prequel, Dumbledore: The Fruiting.
Pah! Next they'll be telling me that when Five Have Plenty of Fun, it's an entirely different sort of fun from that I imagined Dick, George, Julian and Anne having when Aunt Fanny wasn't looking.
And now, you see, I was so busy thinking about Dumbledore, I can't remember if I put any deodorant on. If I start smelling in the hairdressers, it'll be JK Rowling's fault.
Postscript: Daughter found this quote on the BBC news report.
And a spokesman for gay rights group Stonewall added: "It's great that JK has said this. It shows that there's no limit to what gay and lesbian people can do, even being a wizard headmaster."
Scrambled or fried?
"... many church communities tend to be like a boiled egg or a fried egg on toast, where the edges are clearly defined - there's a yellow bit, a white bit - you can see the line that separates them and another edge onto the toast. It's safe, presentable and neat. Zac's however is most definitely more like scrambled egg on toast. There's yellow bits and white bits all mashed in together, it's cooked, it tastes good and it nourishes, but the edge of anything, even the toast and plate is almost impossible to find."
At Zac's last night, and afterwards, there was an idea fizzing round my head but I couldn't quite grab it to put substance to it. I'm not sure even now if it's properly formulated but I think the egg analogy is helping.
We're studying the gospel of John and last night we read the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. Jews hated Samaritans and would have nothing to do with them yet Jesus went out of his way to meet one. He shocked her because he asked her for a drink of water. Now for a Jew to drink from the same cup as a Samaritan would have rendered him unclean and the woman knew that and said as much. The conversation goes on until the woman realises that this is someone special. She goes and tells other Samaritans who ask Jesus to stay with them and teach them. Which he does.
'What's the point of this story?' Sean asked.
'To show that it's for everyone, that no-one's better than anyone else.' The speaker, a young lad of about 22 maybe, hasn't been to Zac's before. I talk to him later and he says he only really came for the tea and food but that he's tried to read the Bible before and he couldn't understand it. Yet it seems to me that he's understood it better than some so-called religious people who discriminate on grounds that someone or something doesn't fit in with their theology.
* * * * * * * * *
And now I can't decide whether I should write this next bit or not. Ho hum. Oh well. You can only think the worse of me for it.
This young lad said he'd like a Bible he could understand. Someone showed him a copy of The Street Bible. He looked at it and then at the price and said he couldn't afford £9.99. I privately resolved to buy one and take it for him next week (if he's there). Later he said he wanted to phone one of the prison chaplains (he's only just released) but he didn't have the money or know the number. I suggested he talk to Sean who'd be able to put him in touch with the right people.
And now there's this bit of me that thinks he didn't really want a Bible but was hoping a soft-touch would give him some money. Or the money for a phone call plus a little extra. (I was tempted but that's not the way at Zac's.)
But there's another bit of me that thinks even if that were the case - and I don't know if it were - there was still the hope that something was stirring his soul, some connection was being made that was real and powerful. That he was being splashed by the living water.
Souper Trooper
I hope it will turn out better than the last soup I made at home, the vile taste of which was not improved by the presence of bits of glass.
Dying to eat
In 2001 an Indian census estimated that 40% of rural homes don't have a separate kitchen. As the main fuel used is biomass, such as cow-dung, and there is little ventilation, the resulting smoke with its dangerous gases and chemicals fills the house and is a serious risk to health, especially for women who spend most time in the kitchen. The WHO reports that indoor air pollution is claiming 500,000 lives (mostly women and children) in India every year.
The WHO also says that because indoor air pollution isn't sexy enough, people aren't willing to donate money to combat the problem. And it's not just lack of finance.
"Women are constantly exposed to chulha smoke in India due to several cultural mindsets. The men in villages would complain that the taste of food lacks their favourite burnt flavour if there was no smoke. They also don't want to create ventilation as they think it would compromise with their privacy. Some villagers think smoke would keep mosquitoes and snakes away," Hildebrand said.
Uma Rajarathnam from The Energy and Resources Institute said one person dies every 20 seconds from fuel-induced illness. According to the World Health Report 2002, indoor air pollution is responsible for 2.7% of the global burden of disease.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Scabby lamb
I found Andy's card!
And, what's more ...
I had a phone call from the community cafe this morning asking how I made the carrot and coriander (aka stand-up-on-its-own) soup on Monday. They've had lots of compliments and wanted to recreate it. How did I make it? Um, well, this and a bit of that and ...
It's been a good Wednesday so far. (It is Wednesday, isn't it?)
In the garden
Doggy heroes
In 1931 the recovery of a twelve year old boy who had slipped off the edge of the docks was his first 'proper' rescue but it was the second rescue, that of a swimmer in difficulties between two piers, that brought Jack his first taste of fame. The event was reported in the local newspaper and the council organised a collection and rewarded Jack with a silver collar.
Following another rescue a few months later, Jack was made an honorary member of the national Tail Waggers Club, whose motto was 'I help my pals'. The Tail Waggers featured Jack in their magazine and he received a silver medallion 'For Bravery'.
Over the next few years Swansea Jack saved many more people from drowning including sailors, fishermen and swimmers. Many of these were reported in the local and national press and Jack's fame spread.
Jack's uncanny ability to spot trouble wasn't restricted to humans: a cocker spaniel stuck in the mud had reason to be grateful to Jack as did a sackful of unwanted puppies who survived thanks to Jack and the care his master gave them.
By September 1935, Jack's total for human rescues was twenty one and he was invited to a special ceremony at Swansea Guildhall where he was presented with a shield from the PDSA and a bronze medal from the National Canine Defence League.
In November of the same year, Jack took part in an exhibition of 'Brave Dogs' organised by the Daily Mirror. He was one of very few dogs to receive the Daily Mirror collar for bravery and was included on the Daily Mirror Roll of Honour.
In September 1936 when he was chosen by the national newspaper to be 'The Star Bravest Dog of the Year' but just one year after this triumph, and aged seven, Swansea Jack became ill and died, seemingly as a result of eating rat poison.
William Thomas buried Jack in a quiet spot at the end of his garden but three weeks after his death, due to public demand, Jack was buried again on the seafront. A fund to pay for a memorial stone was started and money came in from all over the world. One year later, in a service attended by the Mayor and other local dignitaries, the memorial was unveiled.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Still apocalyptic
Today I opened Betty's passenger door and found a card down the side of the seat. 'Goody,' I said. 'Andy's card.' But I turned it over and found it was addressed to Deni.
It was Deni's birthday in September, and I didn't even know I'd lost her card.
There is very little hope I fear.
* * * * * * * * *
I do sometimes wonder if I am speaking a different language from others.
The email conversation (in brief) went like this.
Me: Please do this.
Me (some weeks later): Have you done this yet?
Her: When are you going to do this for me?
I used to work with an ex-public-schoolboy with Boris Johnson hair before Boris had it. He was fond of saying, as he ran his fingers through his floppy fringe, 'I despair!' I know what he means.
* * * * * * * * * *
In circuits last night, by chance, one of the songs playing was Can you feel it? by The Jacksons (I think). Jane Fonda used the same song on her workout record many years ago. To this day I can't hear it without clenching my bottom. Going for the burn.
Speaking of bottoms and circuits, when I box, my bottom wobbles.
* * * * * * * * *
I did the What movie? quiz again, with more questions and altering some of my answers: I still got Apocalypse Now. Alun says it is very significant. Until I find, and deal with, my shadow I can never be truly happy.
My arts therapist says much the same thing.
I think I'm happy now. But happy with myself? That's another story.
More ways to waste time
What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com
A bad day in the kitchen
* * * * * * * * * *
You can buy your own wind turbine at B&Q! Doesn't that sound great? A little windmill in your own garden.
* * * * * * * * * *
I must try and conquer this phobia I have of odd numbers. When I set the post time, it has to be an even number. Unless it's 5, 15 or 25. 21's not bad either. But 22:07? No chance.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
England for the Cup!
Saturday, October 20, 2007
What position?
Hey ho, it's off to work with we go
I don't mind: it's the sort of gardening I do best, killing things.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
For Dr Stu
Just look at this!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Not overweight
I like that. I think I'll get a t-shirt saying "I'm not overweight; I'm voluptuous."
Why does everyone hate the English?*
*Strictly on the sports field, you understand.
Dave and the Archers
'Be quiet! Get out! Can't you see I'm listening the Archers!'
No longer will that scenario take place in our house. No longer will I have to plan meals around the sacred time of 7.00 pm. Not now I can sign up for the Archers podcast and it will be sent to me daily!
I've signed up. I think. I seem to have lost it already. But it must be there somewhere.
So, Welshcakes, you need never miss an episode again. Or any other number of programmes. It's so exciting. Almost as exciting as watching Dave last night.
Husband was channel-hopping when he came across QI. We settled down to watch it and after a while I said, 'Why has it got Dave written in the corner of the screen?' Husband didn't know.
Today I mentioned it to both sons, both of whom knew. It's a new channel. Called Dave.
Of course it is.
Mutant tit
Fatty Arbuckle again
Fatty Arbuckle
He said efforts to promote exercise and healthy eating had to go "further and faster" ... (Online Telegraph)
Is it me? But what exactly can the government do that's not already being or been done to make people aware of obesity, health and a good diet?
Trans fats (hydrogenated fats) are used in fast foods and are believed to be implicated in causing heart attacks. The Health Minister is set to ban them. Okay, so there is something the government can do.
But anyone living in this country must be aware of the dangers of being fat, the need for a healthy diet and exercise, the harm that too much fast food can do. I don't believe anyone could possibly be unaware. Yet we're still turning into a nation of fatties.
I have a healthy diet and I exercise yet I'm over-weight. I know it and I try - on a daily basis - to change that. And most days I fail because I'm greedy, lazy or depressed. But that's my fault. All the food labelling or regulation in the world isn't going to alter that.
But, yes, the government should be making sure that food is as healthy - or less unhealthy - as it can be. And that advertising and how shops stock and sell their ware is done thoughtfully for the sake of the consumer rather than the shopkeeper. Other than that it's up to the individual, isn't it? I'm not blaming the government for trying; I'm just wondering why they're bothering.
But then again maybe there is something they can do...
They could urge the BBC to rewrite Eastenders. They could have Dot could giving Jim a nice bowl of All Bran for breakfast. Phil Mitchell could be seen eating a banana as he walks down the street. Ian Beale could convert the chip shop into a salad and baguette bar. Peggy Mitchell could don her sweat pants and jog round the square before dropping into the cafe for a freshly squeezed orange juice or smoothie. I think it could be a winner.
I can't claim all the credit for this of course. It was done years ago in The Archers (a radio soap based in the countryside). Part of its mission statement was to be a source of education and information for the general public and the farming community in particular.
And on that point I have some fantastic news for Welshcakes - but I'll start that in a new post.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
I went to get the milk in and ...
Sorry about the blurry picture; I wasn't wearing my glasses.
Monday, October 15, 2007
World environment day
A very quickly put together video to show you my environment on World Environment Day. Long may Gower stay untouched and as beautiful as it is now.
None of his Business
Daughter introduced me to this book a few years ago and since then I've bought it for every new baby - or at least those whose parents I knew wouldn't object.
It's about a little mole who wakes up one morning to find a pile of poo on his head. He sets off to find out who was responsible. He asks the seagull if it were him; the seagull says, 'No, this is how I do it,' and proceeds to demonstrate. And so on. All the animals Little Mole encounters show him exactly how they do it.
It's great fun - children love anything to do with poo or bottoms - as well as being educational!
... Chicken, lay a little egg for me
Another of his posts looks at comparative food prices where he is and where we are. One of the foods he enquires about is the simple egg. Except it's anything but simple when I go to buy them in Sainsburys.
The egg shelf is the one place that is guaranteed to get me standing there muttering to myself. 'For goodness' sake.'
All I want is 6 large free-range eggs. I'm offered: woodland, organic woodland, barn, organic barn, eggs rich in omega-something, golden-yolked, rare breeds' eggs, brown, Old Cotswold, Prince-Charles-hand-picked-these-eggs.
I start to hyperventilate, grab anything that says 6 and large, and move on. (I'll worry later about what I'm going to do with a pack of condoms.) And don't get me started about bread ...
What the postman brought
The first is an invitation from the doctor to have a flu vaccination. It is recommended for those over 65 or with certain chronic conditions. I am neither. And that will be on my records at the surgery, so why have they invited me? Unless they know something I don't know ...
I'm pretty sure I don't have a chronic condition - I think I would have noticed - so the only reason that looks possible from the list in the letter is 'absence of spleen'. They must have read my blog and, seeing an absence of spleen, drawn their own conclusions.
I had better vent my spleen more often.
The other letter was also an invitation, this time to a workshop, to 'discover the secrets of making money through property investment'.
Now they must think I have money to invest. Presumably they've done some financial research to give them that idea - but if they've done financial research they'll have found out that I'm a part-time church administrator that even the tax-man feels sorry for. They need better researchers. Gissa job!
The Frenchman and the prince
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Better safe than sorry
It's the same principle that makes me wear knickers under my nightie when Husband is away - no, wait let me explain. If I had to confront a burglar I would feel so terribly vulnerable without my knickers. Although the sight of me in the middle of the night in my nightie would probably scare the burglar so much he'd fall down the stairs, break a leg and sue me.
A man came to work on Friday to quote for putting safety film on the windows. He said he does a lot of work in schools and for the police and if, for example, a schoolboy, in a fit of pique punched a window, broke it and cut his hand, he could sue the school for not having safety glass. How ridiculous is that?
The game between England and France is about to begin ...
Especially for jmb
Saturday, October 13, 2007
A big weekend
Saturday Photohunt - Smelly
Can't see the wood for the trees
You'd think that finding sticks in a wood would be easy. It's not. It was ever thus. I remember Harvey getting impatient, standing round barking ('That's not going to help me find a stick, is it?!') as I kept him waiting to chase. He was oblivious to the fact that if he hadn't eaten the previous stick he wouldn't have had to wait.
Now I come to think of it, in 15 years of stick-eating, Harvey probably managed to munch his way through most of the woods. No wonder there are no sticks left.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Who'd have thought it?
Cries of passion between lovers are exempt.
St Thomas Aquinas
It's like having a toddler again
She is the pantiest dog I've ever met. She rarely wees, not needing to as most of the fluid drips off her tongue. She's very sweet though.
She carries her stick all the time when we're out. I say, 'Let me carry it for you; I won't throw it.' But she doesn't trust me. She says, 'I'm not giving it to you; you'll throw it again.' Or rather she says, 'Iuumm nurhn, girbbing i t uuu etc' because she has a stick in her mouth.
Her paw is all right now but her mouth is bleeding. But what can you expect when you chew sticks? It's a good job Linda is back on Sunday. Cleo'd be a wreck if she had to stay with me any longer. (She's a bit of a pampered pooch at home.)
Sicily and further
* * * * * * * * * *
I'm about to start researching Asian cookery for a website. If you have any tried and tested favourites you'd be willing to share, I'd love to include them. Lee gave me a recipe for a cake that you'll find here.
'What sort of Christian are you?'
A few months ago, Chris, one of our church leaders, caused a furore in a meeting when he said something very similar to Sean, along the lines of 'I can't be doing with this born again malarkey.'
What they both meant was not that they disagreed with Jesus but that the term has become so associated with negative things about Christianity that they wanted to be disassociated from it. When people say, 'are you a born again christian?' you can almost hear them thinking, 'Oh, no, not one of those.' In many people's eyes the term has come to be associated with the happy clappy, greedy, hypocritical, televangelist type of person - usually, I'm afraid, American. And what some of these preachers say is enough to make Jesus get down from the cross.
I've read a few blog posts of late that are critical or unbelieving of Christianity. I would suggest that most bloggers' views of Christianity are based on their experience or what they perceive it to be through what they see. I would also suggest that that perception is an infinity away from what God intended.
God is passionate. About his creation, about his created beings. Evil rouses him to fury; suffering makes him weep. He isn't wishy washy; he isn't apathetic. He is strong; he's gentle; he is all-knowing; he waits to be told; he listens; he hears; and most of all he loves humanity to a depth and a height and a width that we can't understand.
God didn't send his son into this world to condemn it - or us.
Now I've forgotten where I started, how I got here and what I wanted to say. You see, this is why I don't try and write clever posts. So I'll conclude with Sean's answer to the title question. 'I'm one who tries to follow Jesus.'
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
A short story for Mental Health Day
There's a lot to be said for being a Catholic. You only have to look at their gravestones. Every one a mausoleum, with angels and harps and pedestals. And why shouldn't you have grandeur in death? Especially if you were deprived of it in life. Glory and beauty.
I think they're wonderful. Works of art. They're my favourite pieces in the cemetery. I come here most days. Tom thinks I'm mad. He says I talk to the angels but I don't. I just sit and think. He doesn't understand. This is my place. I always sit in this exact spot with my back against this headstone. 'Treasured memories of Richard Daniel Evans, dearly loved husband of Mary. And of the above Mary Jane Evans. Sleeping where no shadows fall.'
Sleeping where no shadows fall, I like that. No shadows, no darkness, just sleep. I like to sleep. Sometimes I fall asleep with my head on the grass. Or sometimes I think about Richard and Mary and wonder what their lives were like, wonder if they would like me, wonder if they mind me sitting with my back to them. I don't think they would mind me resting on their stone. The stone seems to welcome me in.
Story continued here.
Biblical bread
In which Cleo has me sussed
1 x Wales = Wales
The idea that won was to resolve the prison over-crowding problem by making prisoners build their own cells from Lego. A short-term inmate would be given big Lego bricks; a lifer would get small. They could design their own cell, and privileges as rewards for good behaviour would include Lego televisions or Lego trees.
I can see its value but the runner-up was my personal favourite. He - and strangely, all the potential geniuses were male - suggested that instead of using hectare, square miles, acres etc to measure area, we should have units to which people can relate. Such as pinheads, thumb nails, up to football pitches, up to Wales and eventually Australia. So the United States, for instance, would be 2.25 Australias.
We'd have to retain actual measurements for accuracy but doesn't saying America is 2.25 Australias present you with a more realistic image of its size than saying that it's whatever million acres?
It could even be personalised to suit different countries or different groups of people. So car enthusiasts could use toy car to mini to Rolls Royce to articulated truck. I am really taken with this idea, and am thinking of launching a campaign to have it introduced. Are you with me?
Bread, but not as you know it, Jim
You don't even have to bend down. Just lean over slightly and the hand grasps the ball. Then it's a tiny flick of the wrist and the ball goes off into infinity. Or at least further than it does with my girly throw i.e. more than 2'.
Our short walk turned out to be a bit longer than I'd intended as I don't do standing and throwing very well. We have to keep moving. But I'm fearful I might be making Cleo walk further than she is accustomed to: her front paw is bleeding and we've already broken her ball.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
mud, mud, glorious mud
We went out for a walk in the woods just as the dawn was breaking. We heard a bird I'd never heard before. Obviously one of those that catches the worm but apart from that I don't have any idea what sort it was. Its cry was a high-pitched 'e-whoop' (long e, short whoop). Any suggestions?
Cleo is a water lover too and unlike Holly (but like Harvey), she stands next to you to shake.
Comparative skills (out of 10 with 10 being best)
Watching which direction the stick is going in
Cleo 7
Holly 6
Harvey 5
Sniffing out the stick when it's lost
Cleo 2
Holly 9
Harvey 7
Eating the stick afterwards
Cleo 1
Holly 5
Harvey 9.5
Cleo (already known as HollCleo) did come back to look for me when I was slow as I struggled over muddy bits on the riverside. It was probably to laugh at me but at least I wasn't alone. When we were out there I was reminded of one incident many years ago.
At one point along the river walk there is a very muddy bit closely followed by a high steep-sided mudbank. Only about mid-thigh height but try kicking your leg up on that when it's wet. Harvey had skipped up it quite happily and was wandering on. I think a piece must have been washed away as we often walked by the river and didn't usually have the trouble I had that day.
I tried once to get my leg up: failure. I tried again. Again I failed. I looked around. There was an ivy creeper hanging down from an over-hanging branch. I grabbed it and jumped up onto the bank. I was still saying, 'Yay!!!' when my feet slowly started to slip back down. Slowly as in slow motion slowly when you know it's happening but there's nothing you can do about it. I was hanging backwards and my feet were were leaving me. Clonk. Back where I started. There was only one thing left. I took a run at it, leapt across the mud and flung myself at a thick tree trunk, hugging it for all I was worth. Then I gradually edged my way round from the mud side to the slightly solider ground side. And while all this was going on, Harvey was somewhere in the distance smelling the flowers.
I'm not very good at looking after other people's dogs. I mean, I can take care of them, but I worry about them being sad. It's obvious they're going to miss their families but I hate to see sad eyes staring at me. It makes me feel guilty. Cleo has been sticking close to whoever is in the house, staying in the same room and getting up and following around. I go in the kitchen to get a drink of water and she follows me. I try to explain that I'm coming straight back but she insists on getting up. I end up going without my drink of water because I feel so bad about it. Is it me?
Ladies who lunch
Monday, October 08, 2007
Welshcakes, Shirl and I, three women who've met through the internet, will be meeting in real life. Shirl and I have met before. Our friendship goes back a number of years but started on a website. Neither of us has met Welshcakes yet.
Techy Shirl has set up a blog specifically for us to record this momentous event: http://happinessfindingwelshcakes.blogspot.com/
Wouldn't you like to be with us?!
Calendar Boys
It's from the monologue narrated by Mam. Barry, the son of the family, plays rugby and the local clubhouse is falling down. One night Barry tells his mother and father, Gwyn, that the club's going to do some fund-raising but that they don't have many ideas for it yet. Mam has recently watched the DVD of Calendar Girls.
"That's when I remembered the VD. I said, 'Hey, you know what you should do: make a calendar.' Gwyn looked up from the telly again, 'What of? Pretty pictures of all the local slag heaps and pit faces, is it?'
'Don't be daft,' I said. 'I mean the boys.'
'That don't sound very exciting,' Barry said.
'It would be,' I said, 'if they posed in the nude. With artistically arranged balls.' Well that made them sit up."


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Welcome to Money Free Party International
Help us create a better world for everyone.
Who we are?
Money Free Party sees the continual dependency on monetary units as detrimental to humanity as it creates social divisions, and conflicts of interest between nations, groups and individuals. It also creates conflicts of interest between the moral aspirations of the individual and the individual's desire for materialistic rewards and security.
Money Free Party believes that to achieve sustainable peace and prosperity for all, we must all claim earth and its resources as the common heritage of all.
We believe and promote a Resource Based Economy [RBE] as it allows all people to live on this planet freely, enjoying the fruits of the earth and a hi tech life style for a fraction of the energy and work that we use at present.
A Resource Based Economy [RBE] is scientifically based and uses simple common sense to give all people on the planet what they need to thrive.


text: At the summer camp I went to while growing up, each cabin used to have a certain chore they had to do each day. One of the chores on rotation was cleaning the bathroom/shower facility, which we called the "automat". Chores (in this case, automat duty) came before the regularly scheduled cabin activities for the day. Well, one day when our cabin had automat duty, our counselors had the idea of combining our chores with our cabin activity. We played urinal puck hockey. We were split into teams of four, with the counselors as goal-keepers, and we were each armed with a broom, and shin-guards. One fresh, light-pink urinal puck was placed on the floor of the largest section of the automat, and the game began. To answer the most common question… No, the urinal puck does not stay in one piece for very long. It shatters quite easily, and flakes continually peel off. It usually lasted for a few goals, but a hard slap-shot or two and that would be the end of it. As young boys, at summer camp, we were still genuinely excited by the novelty of the concept. Until, of course, we realized that we had to re-clean the entire automat after our game.


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
CMT and Clear Channel to showcase special behind-the-scenes footage
Republic Nashville's award-winning group The Band Perry is premiering the video for their riotous top 15-and-rising new single "Chainsaw" today across CMT, Clear Channel and Vevo online.
The video, directed by David McClister, who shot the superstar-sibling trio's cinematic clips for "If I Die Young" and "Postcard From Paris," will be broadcast on-air exclusively for 48-hours on CMT. Additionally, CMT and Clear Channel will pull back the curtain giving fans a sneak peek into the making of the video with special behind-the-scenes footage from the Stayton and Sublimity, Oregon, shoot last month.
A combination of both performance and narrative, the video for "Chainsaw" finds the 2014 ACM Vocal Group of the Year coming to the aid of heartbroken clientele and wiping out the remnants of relationships gone sour. It also features dynamic performance footage of the band doing what it does best.
The Band Perry was also recently nominated for two 2014 CMT Music Awards - CMT Performance of the Year for their explosive performance of "My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark" with Fall Out Boy from "CMT Crossroads," as well as for Group Video of the Year for the No. 1 smash, "DONE." The 2014 CMT Music Awards will air live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, June 4, at 8 p.m. ET.
The Band Perry will continue their tour throughout the year and will also join Blake Shelton this summer on his "Ten Times Crazier Tour 2014." A full list of tour dates can be found by visiting: https://www.thefansperry.com/tour.


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Al'xios, unconscious after the fight, dreamed:
I opened my eyes to find myself standing upon a barren hillock. Wild undulations of uncultivated land spread out from beneath my feet, unable to settle upon grassland, forest, swamp, tundra. They swarmed together and swam out from beneath one another. It were as though I was watching a field's rotation from oat to barley to fallow all at one time, and without the husbanding hand of the farmer and plow.
Looking eastwards, I could see a tower, rising lonely toward the sun, strongly built high upon the crest of a hill. Far below, a deep shadow ringing its base, lurked a great pit, with a dungeon deep within its bowels. Between me and the tower, struggling to retain their footing on the treacherous ground, a seething crowd of people, densely packed, thronged. All types mingled side by side, the high-born and the low, the philosopher and the madman, the warrior and the mage, moving busily about their worldly affairs.
To my left, the field was filled with beasts of all kinds, each more magnificant and terrifying than the last. There was a bird the color of fire, whose wings glinted in the light, their edges sharp as that of a blade. It clutched in its claws a serpent with no tail, but a head at either end, each hissing loudly. There was a beast with a body of a hare, the tail of a squirrel, and the teeth of a boar. A centaur pawed the ground, while beside it a creature with the body of an ass and the torso of a man shied from a sheep with worms growing from its head.
I stood in hesitation, drawn toward that gleaming tower, desirous of the mystery it offered, seen yet unseen, but could not reach for the wilderness at my feet. And then I heard a voice, inviting me to turn toward the speaker. To my right stood a tall figure, robbed in bright white. As I drew closer, I could see the face of a woman I had never known before, yet was intimately familiar: the memory of the face of a mother.
"I am Justice."
I did not know what to say, so in awe was I. The silence grew painful as the cacophony of the people and beasts assaulted my ears. "I will follow in your footsteps."
She turned and I did as I had sworn, following where she led. She brought me first through the people. She guided me safely between the tramps and beggars, their bellies and bags stuffed to bursting with bread. They lived by their wits, fighting over their ale; they go to bed filled with bread and ale, waking with foul language and filth spilling from their tongues, their knuckles bloodied from fights they never remember. All day long, sleep and sloth dog their heels. I was nervous, but I kept close to her and no harm came to me.
Next we drew up the beasts and I admit my nerves grew frayed. But before I could grow afeared she had drawn me through and we were continuing along the path. It wound circuitously, yet I never knew myself to turn. Ever I walked a straight path and only by glancing at the sun and by our repeated excursions through men and beasts did I come to know when we had changed direction upon the earth.
"Why do we walk ever straight and still turn?" I asked, as we passed a long, lean, craven fellow kneeling before a king and his councilors, sycophantically offering him praise.
"You walk the way of justice. It is always straight for its aim is always true, but the world is a twisted, deformed place. The nature of justice is in not being distorted by the vagaries of the world, but in applying the true path to it."
"I do not understand," I confessed, hurrying my steps to keep pace with her swift stride.
Lady Justice paused and turned to face me. "Consider a tree that is young and its trunk has, through the ravages of weather and accident, become twisted and bent. You wish to rear a strong, healthy straight tree. What do you do?"
"I would tie a stave to it, that it might grow true."
"And would you bend that stave into the shape of the misbegotten tree?"
"No, for that would only encourage the deformity and weaken it."
"So you would keep that stave straight?"
"It is the same with justice. You wish to make the world strong and healthy – just – and so you apply the straight stave so that it will with time unbend and thrive."
"And this stave, it is the path of justice?"
"It is."
"I have never heard of it."
Lady Justice turned from me then and continued to walk. After some time, she answered, "You have heard of it, you know it well, but by another name."
"What name would that be, lady?"
"Can you think of no name you would give to the course that leads to justice? To the path that, when followed, always brings you to the right conclusion?"
We walked in silence for a long time as I tried to think. I had walked down many roads in my life, but none seemed to be the right answer. And then, as we passed once again through the crowd of people, I saw a judge making his quiet way among the people, stopping here and there to hear their complaints and pass judgment, dispensing justice as he went. "Law."
"Law," Lady Justice echoed, and at first I thought she was confirming my answer, but then saw that she was pointing. We stood now directly beneath the tower. "This is where I leave you."
I walked forward across the drawbridge. It held firm beneath my feet, but far below I could see into the dungeonous pit. It teemed with wretched creatures, too horrible to describe, their stench burning the air around me. As I came to the gate, a man stood waiting for me. His visage, like Justice's, was familiar and strange, intimate and distant. He wore the black robes of a judge, and in his hand he held a quill feather.
"I am Law."
"I know," for I did, though I knew not how. "But who are those below?"
"They are the ones who have fallen from the path, who have chosen Chaos over Law. Come, and you will see."
He led me across the courtyard to a stone staircase, well-worn, the edges of each step crumbling as we tread them. As we drew nearer the bottom, the smell became so unbearable that I was forced to cover my nose and mouth with a kerchief before continuing farther. The light was dim in this nether-space and I began to discern that what I had originally taken for terrible, misshapen monsters were no other than ordinary men, no different in appearance from those upon the plain. Only the shadows had made them unsightly.
"But these are merely men!" I cried, unable to hide my surprise at the banal image of chaos before me.
"Did you think that chaos would be easy to espy?"
I desired to say yes, but knew I would be wrong. "But then how do you know whether you have before you an adherent of Chaos?"
"By following the law. Did you not walk the path of justice to reach this tower?"
"I did."
"And did it ever lead you astray?"
"Never once."
"And so you have your answer."
He led me back upstairs, but now the steps were of fine marble, newly polished, and the walls, barren before, hung with rich tapestries, and still we came out where we had entered.
"Lord Law, forgive my ignorance, but why did the stairs change?"
"There is only one, eternal, immutable, and unchangeable law."
"Then why?"
"Because while there is only one Law, there are many laws. There is the natural law, and the law of peoples, and the civil law. Yet each leads to the same place."
"I do not understand. Justice follows a straight path. How can this path be multiple?"
"Justice and law are in effect the same, or ought to be the same. Whatever justice wants, law strives to follow. It happens sometimes that law is not in concord with justice. When this occurs, justice or equity interprets that, if law openly departs from equity, we may ignore the authority of law and follow equity."
"But how can the law, the way of justice, be wrong? Does this mean that chaos can provide equity?"
And then Al'xios dreamed no more and fell back into the darkness of unconsciousness.


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8 March is approaching, and we are already in anticipation of the spring and ready to celebrate everyone's favorite holiday "international women's day"!
Concert game "With Love and about Love"!
And all this will be accompanied with the glass of wine, snacks and good mood.
780 e Hallandale Beach Blvd Hallandale fl 33009.
In SPORTACademy building.
Tickets can be purchased by calling 954-455-0460.
The ticket price of $ 60. Beginning at 6 pm!


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You have been asked to look for a venue for a conference that your organization is planning to hold. The guests will need to be accommodated at the venue or not too far from it.
That's your brief! Now, where do you start?
To settle on the most ideal venue, the first thing you need to do will be to ask the right questions.
The success of any event hinges greatly on the venue choice.
There are many things that can make an event an obvious disaster. The following tips can however make the difference between a great event and a disastrous one.
1. The guest list
The first question you need to ask is who will be attending and where will they be coming from? You will also need to know how many guests will be attending your event. Once you get the right answers, compile a list of possible restaurants that have the capacity to accommodate all your guests.
2. Catering to your guests
The ideal venue should leave all your guests satisfied. You will need to know the tastes of your targeted audience, income levels, what they like and don't like; are they CEOs or middle level managers, etc.
3. Location of the venue
You will need to consider where most of your guests will be coming from and choose a location that's within that catchment. If you decide to settle for a venue that's far removed from where most of the target audience is, then you may have to provide appropriate transportation to and from the venue.
4. Weather considerations
A venue that's ideal during the sunny season may completely be out of question in the wet season. Make sure that the venue you settle on is all-weather venue. It should be easily accessible both during the wet and dry seasons. You may have to provide umbrellas in a rainy season; and perhaps you might need the restaurant to serve hot drinks regularly to keep the guests warm.
5. Experience with similar events
Although that brand new hotel may offer you the lowest rates, consider settling for a venue that has been used before for a more or less similar event. Have they held similar events in the past? You will need to be fully convinced that they have the capacity to give your guests a quality, memorable service.
6. Does restaurant provide other value-addition services?
You would also want to know if the venue comes with good security, ample secure parking, catering, floral arrangements, sound-proof rooms, an in-house sound system, audio visual equipment, first-aid kits, etc.
7. The cost
Although price consideration is the last item on your checklist, you would want to stick to your budget. It does not help to waste time looking at restaurants you can't afford. Determine your budget and stay within it. Your goal would be to get the best venue at the lowest rate you can get.


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Danielle: Before paddling the Mississippi River people warn you about the man-eating alligators, the barge-swallowing eddies, the flesh-devouring mosquitoes … but no one warned us about the flying carp.
Kevin: The carp tortured us daily, it made the river feel like a giant jack-in-the-box, except the clown doesn't laugh when it pops out, instead it's a 25-pound slap in the face.
Brian: As it turned out, I was the only one who got hit by a carp.
Kevin: I thought we would be losing tons of weight but that wasn't the case. Brian is the ultimate camping chef.
Brian: Being able to resupply regularly allowed us to eat fresh food for most of the trip. But mornings were always tight and I never relished the idea of waking up early to prepare an extravagant breakfast.
Kevin: It rained a lot. Brian and Danielle were always like, "What a wonderful rain we're having," while I was cursing the skies and temperature. I only enjoyed it when it was hot, sunny, and dry!
Brian: A month in, we hit the Twin Cities and the beginning of the industrial river. Dodging barge traffic and transiting locks was intimidating, but we soon learned how to coexist.
Kevin: Coming into Minneapolis provided an instantaneous rush of fear, bewilderment, and awe. It didn't happen gradually or casually. The beauty of the tiny river we knew was gone.
Danielle: It was strange to be on a working river for such an extended period of time. In camp we were always within earshot of a train, a road, a barge or a huge industrial complex. And yet there are bald eagle populations and flocks of migrating pelicans. It was a fascinating dichotomy.
Brian: One day, a lawn around a ferry landing proved irresistible for a break, and as navigator, I admit I didn't know exactly where we were. But we figured it out when two uniformed guards showed up and pointedly asked, "Do you know you're on Louisiana State Penitentiary land?" Turns out we had picked the infamous Angola Prison for a lunch stop.
Danielle: The guard asked to check our IDs to make sure we weren't penitentiary escapees. I went to hand him mine, and he's like, "We don't need to check yours, ma'am, this is strictly a male institution."
Kevin: Most of the people we met along the way were kind. They shared what they had even if it was a small amount, and they spent their time enjoying the simple things and slowing down to enjoy the moment.
In 2009, Danielle Katz, Brian Coggan, and Kevin Lilly kayaked the length of the Mississippi River in 102 days from Lake Itasca, Minn., to the Gulf of Mexico.
The photo of Danielle Katz in front of the factory is currently featured on the cover of the July issue.


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PERPETRATOR - Altered Beast
January 25, 2018, a year ago
(Caverna Abismal)
Add Perpetrator's sophomore release to your shopping list if Teutonic thrash yanks your chain. Containing the raw, bestial energy of early Sodom/Kreator, along with some of the technical complexities of Destruction, this Portuguese unit have found a perfect intersection to further the cause for this musical style. It also helps that vocalist Rick growls and yelps in fine Schmier style (with a touch of Rob Urbinati's (Sacrifice) bark), pulling the package together nicely. (Although it must be noted that clean proto-power vocals are inserted jarringly during the final tracks (akin to Agent Steel's John Cyriis). Hopefully this isn't a sign of where the band wants to go in the future.)
The highlight of Altered Beast is the mid-section of the eleven-track release with the heads down thrash of "Lethal Manhunt" and "A Fleeting Passage Through Hell", followed by the pure speed metal bliss of "Terminal Possession". Insanely catchy, yet brutal, Perpetrator is an up-and-coming entity worthy of all thrashers' attention.


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A pyrocumulus cloud is produced by the intense heating of the air from the earths surface. The intense heat induces convection, which causes the air mass above the heat source to rise. As the air rises it expands and cools. If the water content in the rising air mass cools to the dew-point temperature in the atmosphere around it (the temperature at which condensation forms) then cloud formation occurs. This is the same mechanism that causes thunderstorms to form on a hot day.
Image credit: ©Amery Drage. Large pyrocumulus cloud from a fire in the Kalbarri National Park, 13th March 2014. The base of this fire is between 50-60km away from the photographer. Notice how the winds at a higher altitude are pushing the top of the cloud over to the right.
Image credit: ©Jordan Cantelo. Arial view of the Boddington fire, Feb 2015.
Phenomena such as volcanic eruptions, forest fires, and occasionally industrial activities can form of this type of cloud. The detonation of a nuclear weapon in the atmosphere will also produce a pyrocumulus, in the form of a mushroom cloud. Condensation of the moisture already present in the atmosphere, as well as moisture evaporated from burnt vegetation or volcanic steam, occurs readily on the particles of ash in the cloud. In reality, a pyrocumulus cloud is made up of smoke, ash and condensed water vapour. This is why they always have a greyish to brownish colour, with the tops looking more cloud like than the smoke plume closer to the ground.
Image credit: ©Brayden Marshall. View of the Boddington fire from the Perth metro area. The base of this fire is approximately 120km away from the photographers location.
Image credit: ©Craig Eccles. Small pyrocumulus cloud starting to form. Notice how the majority of the smoke is blown to the right but the hot air rising straight up is forming a cloud as water vapour condenses.
Pyrocumulus clouds often contain strong updrafts, which can cause strong wind gusts at the surface. This effect can make an already dangerous fire even more so. As the hot air mass rises, fresh air is pulled into the base. Even a relatively small fire can create it's own in-draft, which further fuels the fires capacity to burn. A large pyrocumulus, particularly one associated with a volcanic eruption, may also produce lightning. A pyrocumulus which produces lightning is usually called a pyrocumulonimbus cloud, but not all pyrocumulonimbus clouds produce lightning.
There have also been many recorded examples of pyrocumulonimbus clouds producing rain. There are even a few examples where pyrocumulonimbus clouds, caused by forest fires, actually quenched the fire that spawned them.
Image credit: ©Sam Kaye – Sam posted this photo into PWL on 3rd Feb 2015. It shows the pyrocumulus cloud from the fire near Boddington. Notice how the smoke turns to cloud at about the same altitude and the conventional clouds.
This article is reproduced and adapted with permission under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Article source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrocumulus_cloud