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GMJ 155: DMG Chapter 1: Developing Gods & Pantheons for Your World/
Lex discusses developing gods and a pantheon for his homebrew world of Primordia. Lex first attempted to base Primordia's gods on the domains in D&D, but finally realized it wasn't working. Lex shares what he's learned from this and what he thinks is a better approach to creating gods and pantheons for your homebrew world.
Call the Game Master's Journey voice mail: 951-GMJ-LEX1 (951-465-5391)
Ask Lex questions about designing The Trickster's Labyrinth.
Check out Lex's Tales from the Yawning Portal Campaign
Lex's Series on the Dungeon Master's Guide
Episode 151: DMG Introduction - Know Your Players
Episode 152: DMG Chapter 1 - A World of Your Own
Lex's Series on the Player's Handbook
Episode 137: PHB Prelude through Chapter 4
Episode 138: PHB Chapter 5 - Equipment
Episode 139: PHB Chapter 6 - Multiclassing & Feats
Episode 140: PHB Chapter 7 - Ability Scores
Episode 142: PHB Chapter 8 - Adventuring part 1
Episode 143: PHB Chapter 8 - Adventuring part 2
Episode 145: PHB Chapter 9 - Combat
Episode 146: PHB Chapter 10 & Appendices - Spellcasting, Conditions & Exhaustion
Lex's Series on the Cleric in D&D
Episode 103: A More Attractive Cleric Part 1
Episode 104: A More Attractive Cleric Part 2: The Holy Burrito
Episode 109: A More Attractive Cleric Part 3: Making Clerics Awesome in Your World
Recommended Previous Worldbuilding Episodes:
Episode 127: Adventuring in the Wilds of Primordia
Episode 128: Primordia Q&A
Episode 130: Improving Your World Through Revision
Episode 152: A World of Your Own
Episode 154: Gods of Your World
Top 10 Episodes of Game Master's Journey
#10 Episode 117: Handling Off-the-Wall PC Actions
#9 Episode 121: Revising the Ranger
#8 Episode 132: Bringing PC Backstories into the Adventure
#7 Episode 109: A More Attractive Cleric Part 3: Making Clerics Awesome in Your World
#6 Episode 145: D&D Combat Rules
#5 Episode 146: Storm King's Thunder Review
#4 Episode 134: Bringing NPCs to Life & House Rules
#3 Episode 124: Theater of the Mind
#2 Episode 111: Curse of Strahd Review
#1 Episode 101: You Can Be a Game Master with Matthew Colville
Join the discussion in our community!
The domains aren't a satisfying representation of a pantheon's portfolios.
The domains are presented as a "dividing up of reality", representing the pantheons of deities. In fact, in the books domains and portfolio discussed as though they're synonymous.
However, they don't really do this, at least not in a way that's satisfying. You could take any culture (historical or fantastical) and ask, what is important to this culture? What would this culture define as the main elements of reality that would be represented by gods. No matter what culture you picked, the domains would not do a good job of covering those elements. You would have some domains that wouldn't fit into the schema, and other important elements that have no domain to fit them.
What domains are is a way of dividing up the non-cleric spells in the game to give clerics access to non-cleric spells. If you took all the non-cleric spells in the game and tried to divide them up using themes to tie spells together, you'd end up with the domains. The domains are defined much more by the spells that exist in the PHB than there are by any conception of reality.
As a game mechanic, the domains work fairly well. You start with the base cleric spell list, and then you add some additional spells and abilities based on a theme. If you want to create a more warrior type cleric you can do that (war domain). If you want a more sage type cleric, you can do that (knowledge domain). If you want to be the ultimiate healer, you can do that (life domain). Etc, etc, etc.
So domains are a mechanical game play tool, and they work fine for that. But as a representation of a pantheon of gods' portfolios, they don't work so well.
We can illustrate this by looking at a pantheon and seeing how wizards assigned domains. Let's look at the Greek pantheon. First, you will see there is no correlation between how influential a god is/was, how large its pantheon is, and how many domains it has. PHB 298
E.g. Zeus, king of the gods, has one domain, Tempest. Apollo has three—knowledge, life, and light. Artemis has two—life, nature. Hecate, nothing near a major deity to the ancient greeks, has two domains—knowledge and trickery. Hercules has two domains—tempest and war. How does Hercules have more domains than Zeus? This is a perfect illustration of how the game mechanic of domains is not matching the in-world story reality of what portfolios are. More powerful and more influential and important gods (gods with more expansive portfolios) should have more domains. While minor gods, or gods that are seldom worshipped or only worshipped by a relatively small number of people, should only have one domain.
Also the domains don't always fit the gods very well. Does light fit Aphrodite? Not really. Could we come up with a domain that fits here better? Not with the domains in the PHB, we'd have to create a new one. It wouldn't be hard to come up with some powers for a "love and beauty domain", but what might be difficult is coming up with domain spells that fit the domain, because there aren't those type of spells in the PHB. This is why there is not love and beauty domain, because the spells don't exist. The domains are based on the spells in the PHB.
So from a mechanics perspective, the domains are very systematic, a dividing up of the spells in the game, but from an in-story perspective, they seem rather arbitrary. Some domains overlap, like Tempest and Nature, while other domains that should exist (because nearly any pantheon will have a god of that portfolio) don't. E.g. love/beauty/fertility, trade/commerce, crafting/artifice, justice, etc.
Because the domains are rather arbitrary from a real-world, in-story perspective, attempting to create gods based on the domains to create a pantheon is not going to result in a believable pantheon. In order to make it work in Primordia, I had to add numerous portfolio elements to the gods that are missing from the domains. E.g. Inara the life goddess is also goddess of love, beauty, fertility and protection. Kalis, the war god is also the god of competition and ambition. Ion, the goddess of knowledge is also the goddess of trade and crafting. Etc., etc. etc. The problem with this is that you end up with gods with very diverse pantheons, which I was trying to avoid. And you also end up with obvious cleric character concepts that the rules just don't support. How do I play a cleric of Inara who focuses on her portfolio elements of love, beauty and fertility? How do a play a cleric of Ion who focuses on Ion as the God of trade and commerce? The only way I could do it would be to create new domains, and the only way I could create satisfying new domains is to create new spells to go with them.
Aspects are confusing and ask a lot of the players.
Although I really like the aspects concept, after some playtesting it doesn't seem to be working very well.
First, the aspects can ask a lot of the players. This might be somewhat mitigated once I had multiple aspects of each god fleshed out. Then a player could merely choose one, just like choosing a god in another setting. However, one of what I thought was a big selling point of aspects is that players can create their own. In this way a player can customize a god concept to fit their character. However, in my experience, the number of players who want to play a religious character in the first place is relatively low, and few of even those players want to come up with a god, religion, etc.
Second, I think the aspects are ultimately confusing and defeat themselves. The goal was to avoid having oodles of gods, to limit it to a few gods the players could name. But in reality, I think the aspects are even more confusing. I think it's actually easier to keep five deities that have different names straight than it is five aspects of a god that all have the same name but different titles. E.g it's easier to remember Demeter, goddess of agriculture, and Artemis, goddess of the hunt, than it is to remember Primordia, goddess of agriculture, and Primordia, goddess of the hunt. What I hoped would simplify actually makes things more confusing. Especially once you consider that Primordia would have at least half a dozen aspects representing her different portfolio elements (domains), and then on top of that dozens more representing how those different aspects of Primordia are seen by different cultures. It would be far less confusing if all these aspects at least had different names.
Basing a pantheon of gods on the domains is designing backwards.
Since the domains don't really work as story elements, basing a pantheon of gods on the domains is effectively designing backwards.
Once I realized that the domains aren't an adequate or effective way to divide reality up into a pantheon, the eureka moment happened. Trying to create a pantheon based on these (from a cultural/story perspective) ill-thought-out and ineffective domains is designing backwards. I'm shooting myself in the foot. It's like trying to make an awesome movie by basing it on a book, but the book you're basing it on is terrible.
What I need to do instead is not follow the advice in the DMG and base gods on the domains. Instead, I need to come up with a believable and functional pantheon, flesh out all the gods as characters and religious figures, and then and only then start thinking about domains. Thinking about domains while designing my gods will only lead me astray and lead to a pantheon that will fall apart as soon as any thought is put toward it. Once I have my gods and the pantheon solid, then I can think about domains. I can match the existing domains to gods that really fit them. Then, I can decide what to do with any domains that might be left over that weren't assigned to a god. Most likely I'd just add them to some of the more influential gods' portfolios.
Then I'll look over the gods' portfolios and look for elements that are important but aren't represented by domains. I'll then create domains to fit those elements. In order to create these domains, I'll have to create spells for them, because remember the real skeleton a domain is build on is a list of non-cleric spells that those clerics get access to.
I'm actually fine with this because I think coming up with new spells is a very important part of worldbuilding. The spells in the PHB and the other official supplements merely represent the most common and widely known spells used in the world—the generic spells if you will. But in my mind, they should really be only the tip of the iceberg in a well-developed world. Wizards will research their own spell, and every wizard of beyond middling power will have spells that perhaps only she knows—spells learned from her master that he developed, and spells she's created herself.
Clerics should all have spells that are specific to their deity that other clerics wouldn't be able to use. These spells could be very niche. E.g. I could see a cleric of a god of art and culture knowing a spell that can preserve a painting or other work of art forever. I could see a cleric of a god of trade and commerce knowing a spell that can determine the value of something, or a spell that can determine if something is a forgery (e.g. some other metal disguised as gold).
In the case of clerics, this would actually help me to make more sense of the idea of non-PC acolytes and priests having spells. It doesn't make sense to me as presented in the game, because all the spells in the PHB are geared around combat and adventuring. Why would a priest or acolyte who never leaves town know a spell like that? However if they have spells that are more useful in everyday life and a specifically useful in regards to areas that god influences, it makes perfect sense. A priest of a god of fertility would probably know spells to aid in childbirth, to ensure a healthy baby, and even spells to prevent unwanted pregnancies (these would most likely be made into potions and available to the public). An acolyte of an agricultural god has spells used to bless crops, to keep pests and disease away from crops, to help crops resist drought, etc.
You might be tempted to say something like, that's all well and good, but a lot of those spells and domains would be useless to PCs, but I don't think so. First off, every domain should have at least some spells that will be useful out of the box to adventurers. I'm not going to create all new spells for these domains. I could see spells like bless and cure wounds being very commonly found in domains. Also, even the most niche spell can find use in the hands of a clever PC. Players love finding creative uses for spells, and this flat-out encourages that kind of play. For example, perhaps the spell to preserve artwork could be used to protect spell scrolls and maps while adventuring. A spell that detects forgeries could be used to detect illusions, traps, etc. in a dungeon. An appraisal spell could be useful in choosing the best items if a party only has moments to grab some loot from a dragon's hoard.
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subset: commoncrawl


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With demo day San Francisco and Mountain View out of the way, there was only one place for 500 to go next – New York City! This week, we're featuring our awesome #500Strong NYC founders with a new episode of the Startup Founders Podcast every day. To kick things off, I speak with Steven Van Wel, CEO and co-founder of Karma.
On Our Blog


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Mrs. Leslie has served on the Taos SWCD Board since February 2014. She resides with her husband Doug at their home north of Taos and is an appointed member of the Board. Mrs. Leslie, a practicing attorney for 35 years, was raised among the many farms and ranches in Lubbock Texas. She owns an Arab grey and is working to restore some ranchland she owns west of Taos. While in northern NM, she has worked as Taos County Attorney, served as a board member for the Taos Land Trust, founded the nonprofit Watch Over Our Friends, Inc. (WOOF) and currently runs her full-time law practice, Leslie Law, P.C.
Appointed Member


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According to the website Consumerreports.org, the average refrigerator requires approximately 725 watts to function properly, depending upon size, year, make and model. Refrigerator size is the key variable that determines how many watts are required.
Top-freezer models are more energy efficient than other models. For better energy efficiency the recommended temperature for a refrigerator is between 35 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit for fresh food storage, and 0 degrees for frozen foods. Additional tips to ensure a refrigerator functions properly, and uses less energy, include checking the door seals regularly to verify that they are airtight, and defrosting the freezer as needed.


text: While media provides excellent coverage to increase our awareness of and fundraising for certain "high-profile" diseases, this same media typically avoids covering many other common and serious diseases. For example, diseases that have an average 99% fatality and effect more than 1/2500 births. Our angel was diagnosed with a severe and fatal form of Turner Syndrome. She fought a hard battle for life which she ultimately lost at 16 weeks 6 days. Nova Tori Biggs was born sleeping at 7:26 am August 9, 2016. Our beautiful granddaughter weighed just 129g. We do the Buds and Butterflies walk in her memory.


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metada crap
Bookmarklets | MOVABLE TYPE Cory Doctorow explains why metadata (data about data) fails in this article. According to him, there are "insurmountable obstacles between the world as we know it and meta-utopia":
- People lie - People are lazy : even though we understand the importance of creating and maintaining excellent metadata for our information, we don't take time to create metadata - People are stupid : Even when there's a positive benefit to creating good metadata, people steadfastly refuse to exercise care and diligence in their metadata creation. - Mission: Impossible -- know thyself : People are lousy observers of their own behaviors - Schemas aren't neutral : The conceit that competing interests can come to easy accord on a common vocabulary totally ignores the power of organizing principles in a marketplace. - Metrics influence results - There's more than one way to describe something : Reasonable people can disagree forever on how to describe something.
I really like this kind of quote :"You and me are engaged in the incredibly serious business of creating information."


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Hi there! I haven't posted in a while because it has been so busy. I've just seen some of my family back home and want to share some links with them.
Castle Rock (in Welsh 'Castell Rock' pronounced as 'cast-ellth rock') is happening next weekend. I'm looking forward to the Accelerators (because I know a band member) and some of the other bands. Check out the BBC site on it, and the photos from previous festivals.
http://www.castellrock.co.uk/ with links to MySpace and other sites for specific bands.
More to come soon.


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HTRF assay for identifying p53 interactions with i...
Development of an HTRF assay which opens up the possibility of exten...
The Cryptate labeling kit is suitable for quick, easy labeling of peptides, proteins, and oligonucleotides with Terbium cryptate. This kit is designed for very small-volume fast labeling needs, such as determining the best antibody among several antibodies available for HTRF assay development. The N-hydroxysuccinimide activated Terbium-Trisbipyridine (TBP) supplied reacts with primary amines carried by the biomolecules to label, for simplified conjugation. The kit includes all the materials necessary for the labeling procedure (except dialysis and concentration devices).
Easy pharmacological characterization of PPI modulators. - Technical Notes
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Get the brochure about technology comparison. - Brochures
See how peer researchers challenge the viral life cycle with PPI assays - Application Notes
Development of an HTRF assay which opens up the possibility of exten...


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Last week, I ordered this Becca value set from Sephora when the F&F sale started. (Wish I could've gotten an in store coupon, but that's another story. Suppose I can wait for the upcoming VIB sale!) I was SO excited when this kit arrived, as I had wanted to try Becca products for quite a while. The kit itself includes a full size Resurfacing Primer, The Ultimate Mascara in Black, Beach Tint in Grapefruit, Eye Tint in Baroque, and a half ounce Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal. Since I had wanted to try the beach and eye tints and had been debating over the Shimmering Skin Perfector, I figured this was the perfect opportunity!
So far, I am LOVING the products in this kit. The Eye Tint in Baroque is such a beautiful everyday eye color, and the Beach Tint is gorgeous on cheeks as well. I definitely am happy I bought this, and will share in depth reviews in the next week or so.
I think this would be a great kit to pick up for a holiday gift (for yourself, perhaps?) and it seems like others think so too! Unfortunately, the kit is currently out of stock on Sephora.com BUT it is a great value, so keep your eye out for it.
What do you think of this kit? Have you tried any of these Becca products? I'd love to know your favorites! :)


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In the coming weeks, a small group of unelected officials will visit four schools across the state of North Carolina to make a recommendation that two of them be taken away from their local school district and handed over to a privately-run charter management company. All four school communities are comprised of smiling, learning, and growing young people; dedicated staff who commit their lives and hearts far beyond a 40-hour work week; and loving and trusting parents who want the best for their kids. One of the elementary schools, Glenn, belongs to us here in Durham. We intend to keep it under local control.
The "Innovation" (formerly "Achievement") School District leadership is claiming that "we had our chance to fix these schools." But we know better.
The General Assembly has repeatedly underfunded and sabotaged public schools and based the majority of their agenda on heavily flawed standardized test scores. We need to focus our efforts and money on strengthening public schools, not forcing our neighborhood schools into private hands with no local accountability.


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Neon Fix
As much as we can't stand the cold seasons, we love the fashion that develops. This is the only time in the year when more is more and then some. This season don't play it safe with your makeup, hair and nails. Become a fashion chameleon, but instead of blending in STAND OUT!!
Trending Lips
Say goodbye to the flirty feminine lips of the summer, and hello to the rich, empowering lips of the fall. Matte is the texture of choice, giving homage to your natural lip texture, and giving way to simple eye makeup so you can focus on the tasks at hand. In this festive season we don't want to be washed out, embrace a color, or forever be a fashion victim.
We have all seen the runways looks this Fall/winter season, a melting pot of looks that go from drab to fab. This season Makeup is a wonderland of fun the focus is texture best fitting for the fall/winter. We cling to modern textiles, we do not fear layers, and embellishments. We also like a moment of Zen and serenity in our looks, sometimes fashion is a simple as a sweater and a scarf. The following looks are the TOP TRENDING MAKEUP FOR THE FALL/WINTER SEASON. Follow me through the wonderland of beauty...


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Melvyn Lee Odom was born in Richmond, Virginia, and grew up in the tiny tobacco town of Ahoskie, North Carolina. The second son of William and Ethel Odom, Mel discovered his passion for art at the age of three. By the age of seven, Mel had convinced his indulgent parents to send him to his first drawing classes with a local artist.
In 1972, Mel completed his Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts in Fashion Illustration from Virginia Commonwealth University. Following graduation, Mel studied in the graphics department of Leeds Polytechnic Institute in England for a school year, before moving to London in time for the whole glam-rock thing (see image above). Upon returning to the United States and Richmond, Virginia, Mel worked on an illustration portfolio, in anticipation for his move to New York, New York, in 1975. Mel's work appeared in a wide variety of magazines, such as Time, Omni, New York Times magazine, Rolling Stone, and Blue Boy. But Mel's favorite work was his regular contributions to Playboy. His illustrations earned him multiple awards from The Society of Illustrators and other graphics and illustration organizations.
Mel's style spread internationally through book covers for major publishers, a line of Paper Moon cards and posters that ultimately triggered the publishing of his first book, First Eyes, in Japan in 1982. Two years later, a re-edited book of his work, Dreamer was published by Viking-Penguin, featuring a forward by Edmund White. Mel also worked on art projects, including limited edition lithographs for publisher Eleanor Ettinger and more tellingly, three-dimensional masks.
In 1991 Mel channeled his passion for dolls into his own design, Gene Marshall, a sultry movie star doll from the film noir 1940s era. After several years of private development, Gene Marshall was licensed and manufactured by Ashton-Drake Galleries and introduced at the 1995 Toy Fair. Gene was an immediate sensation in the doll world, and within months was second only to Barbie in the burgeoning on-line chat rooms for fashion doll collectors. She was voted by collectors the most important doll since Barbie.
In 1999, Hyperion Press commissioned Mel to write and illustrate Gene Marshall's biography. Gene Marshall, Girl Star was published in 2000 and established Gene as a bona fide three-dimensional character, complete with family tragedy and a believable classic Hollywood bitch rival, Madra Lord. Miss Lord became the second doll in a line that eventually grew to include seven characters. In 2006, the license for Gene was transferred into the capable hands of Integrity Toys where Gene flourished until 2010. Upon Gene's 15th year in the doll market she "retired" in order to allow Mel the time to focus on other projects.
Also in 2006, Mel renewed his work with Secrets Garden, a series of human-scaled oil portraits of mostly Civil War era dolls, refocusing his interest from the business of dolls back to their esthetics. These paintings are his first two-dimensional work not related to Miss Marshall since the mid-1990s, reflecting his lifelong interest in the mystique of objects that look like life, yet are not.
Our Story
In 2012 Mel decided to create an online space that would allow him to present his art as a body of work rather than as separate personal and public work.


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A 90% forecast of rain was no match for this adorable bride and groom, who dodged raindrops — and yes, even area tornado warnings! — on their wedding day. And dodge raindrops they did, so very gracefully, just as if it was all part of the plan. A few light sprinkles added to the cozy feeling of the day, and Kari and Tyler's easy-going personalities and all-around relaxed way made for a lovely day with family and friends.
There were so many sweet and surprising moments from their wedding and reception, but my favorite part of their day had to have been hitching a free ride on the Merrimac Ferry to get from their ceremony in Lodi, Wisconsin to their reception at Devil's Head Resort. The skies cleared for a brief minute while we crossed the picturesque Wisconsin River, but not before the newlyweds and wedding party had time to enjoy waffle cones at The Merrimac Scoop. Pure joy!
Special thanks to my second photographer, Janae of Westrum Photographs, for being a fantastic help throughout the day. A complete vendor listing can be found at the bottom of this post.
And thank you, Kari + Tyler, for choosing me to document your wedding day. I wish you nothing but happiness and sunshine as you venture into your new life together! | Sheri
Ceremony: Blessed Trinity Catholic Parish | Lodi, WI
Reception + Catering: Devil's Head Resort | Merrimac, WI
Second Photographer: Westrum Photographs
Videographer: Aaron Legg | Chicago, IL
Cake: Carl's Cakes | Sun Prairie, WI
Bride's Dress: Marie Gabriel Couture | Indianapolis, IN
Alterations: The Tailored Fit | Bloomington, IN
Bridesmaids' Dresses: dessy.com
Tuxedos: A&M Bridal Boutique | Platteville, WI
DJ: Mark Dietzel
Florist: Nancy's Florals | Lodi, Wi
Hairstylist: Balayage by Billie
Waffle Cones: The Merrimac Scoop : )


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Show Review
Artist Bio
Stockholm-based singer LEON's new single "Think About You" is one relatable track. She sings about redemption and opening up a relationship again and admits something that is sometimes pretty scary to admit -- she still thinks about someone....
About this Video
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See what's possible, when nothing gets in the way. The powerful new Galaxy S8+ has a stunning 6.2" Infinity Display that's all screen from edge to edge. It has our best cameras ever and is sealed from the inside for true water resistance*. We've never made anything quite like it.
*Samsung Galaxy S8 provides ingress protection (IP68) against dust and water to a maximum of 1.5 metres for up to 30 minutes. See http://www.samsung.com/au/ for details regarding proper care/use of device.
See more, do more. The stunning 6.2" Infinity Display lets nothing get in the way.
Life has never looked so good with advanced cameras and incredibly fast auto-focus.
Sealed from the inside, Galaxy S8 can handle real dunks, not just spills and splashes.*
*Samsung Galaxy S8 provides ingress protection (IP68) against dust and water to a maximum of 1.5 metres for up to 30 minutes.
Leading edge technology capable of superfast downloads* and efficient yet powerful performance.
*Samsung Galaxy S8 is a Cat.16 device capable of downloading up to 1050mbps.
Iris Scanner secures your personal information in just the blink of an eye*.
*Iris authentication may not function in certain circumstances. See samsung.com/au/iris for details.
Store all you need with a MicroSD card*, plus get unlimited online storage for photos and videos with Google Photos^.
*MicroSD card sold separately. ^Up to 16mp per image and 1080p video resolution.
Wired or wireless, power up fast with advanced fast-charge technology.*
*Compatible wireless charging pad sold separately.
Explore 360° video and virtual reality like never before.*
*Gear VR sold separately. Internet connection required for content download.
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|4K video recording at 30 fps
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When you buy from Bing Lee, an Authorised Samsung Australia reseller you can be 100% certain that the product lives up to Samsung's high standards and will be supported by Samsung's 2 Year local warranty service.
For more information please visit http://www.samsung.com/au/support/warranty
• Handset
• Earphones tuned by AKG
• USB Type-C Cable
• Travel Adapter
• USB Connector (C to A)
• Micro USB Connector (C to B)
• Ejection Pin
• Ear Tips
• Quick Start Guide & Smart Switch Leaflet


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6 New Fragrances That Rocked Our World
Of the Essence
Calling all key note seekers: This season's new fragrances really have something to spray!
We've come up with six questions to help you find the one that's just right for you.
Click through for our curated collection, and treat yourself to the spritz that best suits your senses.
Whatever your signature scent, extend it with the latest fragrance boosters. Try Linger by Scent Invent, $32.50, and FragranceLock, $30.
Do you like the smell of spicy incense?
Then you'll love notes of jasmine and myrrh.
Isabel Isabel by Isabel Toledo, lanebryant.com, $52.50
Do you like the smell of a bouquet of flowers?
Then you'll love peony and freesia extracts.
Missoni Eau de Toilette, bloomingdales.com, $94
Do you like the smell of Jack Daniel's?
Then you'll love a whiskey base.
Korres 20 Year Fragrance, korresusa.com, $52
Do you like the smell of homemade cookies?
Then you'll love a vanilla-based scent.
DKNY Be Tempted, macys.com, $90
Do you like the smell of a wood-burning fire?
Then you'll love a perfume that includes cedar heart and mahogany.
B. Balenciaga Intense, balenciaga.com, $110
Do you like the smell of men's cologne?
Then you'll love one with mandarin and sandalwood.
Jo Malone London Orange Bitters Cologne, jomalone.com, $135
How to Select, Store and Spritz Like a Pro
Top tips from Caroline Ivanica, perfumer at Drom Fragrances:
- Oily skin retains fragrance well. If your skin tends to be dry, swipe on unscented lotion first.
- Keep bottles away from heat and light. For added shelf life, store in the fridge.
- Go beyond your pulse points. Apply to unexpectedly warm areas like the crook of your arm and behind your knees.
- Take a 20-minute break when shopping and testing new scents. Perfume needs time to fully develop.
Pick your perfume based on its potency. Higher strength equals serious staying power.
- Parfum ($$$) 12% to 20% concentration of fragrance oil
- Toilette ($$) 8% to 12% concentration of fragrance oil
- Cologne ($) 3% to 5% concentration of fragrance oil


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Monday, November 29, 2010
Time Going by At Jake's
Here's the aforementioned video a little later than expected.
Despite its accidental creation I really like how this turned out. The viewer gets a sense of how several hours of my shift flew by. This video is more like how human memory persists than actual video. The action goes by so fast that it is impossible to see all the nuances in one viewing. One pass your focus may be drawn to the traffic, the changes of lights, or the glass as it is emptied, sip by sip, but second and third viewings force you to start noticing the subtle interactions between individuals and the static environment.
On one hand there is alot of interesting and promising things that this style of photography/ film making could achieve, but on the other hand I am worried about it being a cliche. Time Lapse photography and video is not new by any means. I haven't researched it, but surely someone has thought to do the exact same thing before.
I'll be posting the still pictures from my shift at Jake's shortly, as well as updating my banner and other images.
Posted by Grant David Anderson II at 12:54 AM
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Confluence Receives Grant from Meyer Memorial Trust
rob loucks
Confluence Environmental Center has received a grant of $39,993 from the Meyer Memorial Trust to launch the Confluence Fellows Program in the Lents-Foster area of outer Southeast and East Portland; The Meyer Memorial Trust award, along with funding from Oregon Volunteers, will allow the program to begin in January 2015.
The Confluence Fellows program will build the capacity of Green Lents, the Foster Green EcoDistrict, and the Livable Lents initiative, which operate at the intersection of a healthy environment, community livability, and social justice. Fellows will be placed within these organizations for eleven months to build organizational strength, expand their programs, nurture leadership, and spur deep community involvement and cross-organizational collaboration.
The Confluence Fellows program was created through a collaborative effort between Confluence and the three community initiatives. "These have enormous promise to deliver community benefits, and they've done it with volunteer leadership. The Fellows inject the full time capacity for them to deliver at scale and grow," says Neil Schulman, President of Confluence Board of Directors.
"Grassroots, community-led initiatives are a critical part of fostering thriving, sustainable communities," says Jalene Littlejohn, Co-Founder of Green Lents. "Partnering with Confluence will help us implement projects such as the only tool library serving East Portland neighborhoods, and a new community orchard that will improve access to healthy, fresh food in an area surrounded by convenience stores."
Confluence also hopes that the Fellows program will provide a replicable model for building the capacity of small community-based organizations. "Our region inspires a lot of great ideas and great organizations, but we don't do enough to help them grow and sustain themselves," says Schulman. "That's doubly important in places like outer Southeast and East Portland, where there's a history of environmental and social inequities."


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TVR Sagaris : Current Models
The TVR Sagaris is a sports car designed and built by the British manufacturer TVR in their factory in Lancashire.
The Sagaris made its debut at the MPH03 Auto Show in 2003. The pre-production model was then shown at the 2004 Birmingham Motorshow. In 2005 the production model was released for public sale at TVR dealerships around the world. Based on the TVR T350, the Sagaris was designed with endurance racing in mind.
Several design features of the production model lend themselves to TVR's intentions to use the car for such racing. The multitude of air vents, intake openings and other features on the bodywork allow the car to be driven for extended periods of time on race tracks with no modifications required for cooling and ventilation. The final production model came with several variations from the pre-production show models e.g. the vents on the wings are filled in, different wing mirrors, location of the fuel filler and bonnet hinges. There are other subtle differences as well.
As with all modern TVRs the Sagaris ignores the European Union guideline that all new cars should be fitted with ABS and at least front airbags because Peter Wheeler believed that such devices promote overconfidence and risk the life of a driver in the event of a rollover, which TVRs are engineered to resist. It also eschews electronic driver's aids (such as traction control or electronic stability control).
The car's name comes from the sagaris, the Greek name of a lightweight battle-axe used by the Scythians which was feared for its ability to penetrate the armor of their enemies. The car was designed by Graham Browne and Lee Hodgetts.
In 2008, TVR unveiled the Sagaris 2, which was designed to replace the original Sagaris. In the prototype revealed, there were minor changes to the car including a revised rear fascia and exhaust system, and modifications to the interior.
The only Racing TVR Sagaris raced in the 2011 British GT Cup series and was entered by Team Winstanley and driven by Danny Winstanley, this racing TVR Sagaris had a standard factory road Sagaris chassis but was fitted with the upgraded 420 bhp TVR 4.5 Supersport Speed Six engine. In its first season it recorded wins at Oulton Park and Brands Hatch.
Contact TVR Cars
Sources : TVR Sagaris Photo | TVR Sagaris Article


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*This post may contain affiliate links, please see my disclosure
Dave Ramsey had a post recently about stuff people waste money on. And since we all have different stances on these things, I figure I'd go through the list as well.
But I'm also going talk about our personal BIGGEST MONEY WASTERS in our budget and talk about what we're doing to fix it.
10 Things People Waste Money On
- Credit card interest
Now this one really sucks. Credit card interest is paid when you can't wait for what you want (outside of hitting hard financial times). You buy something on credit without having money in the bank to back it up, which violates my rules for using credit cards! As a travel hacker myself with a TON of cards, I enjoy copious amounts of free travel for next to nothing. BUT, if I ever pay a cent of interest on those cards, I am losing. I always suggest those who haven't ever done a cash and debit-card only budget before, take a year to get used to using cash envelopes and a sweet budget, then you can look into using credit card rewards. Otherwise, STAY AWAY!
- Deal websites
Now this one I can see happening. We use deal websites and coupon tools to save us a ton on entertainment. From movie tickets to eating out, deal websites can be great. BUT DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THE EMAILS! Seriously, you do not need 3 emails a day telling you what a great time you could be having doing something else for 75% OFF! PA-LEASE! You dictate what fun looks like in your life, and if it includes something that could have a coupon, feel free to search them out. But do not spam yourself with constant advertising like that!
- Appetizers
Ok, Dave Ramsey, do you hate calamari or something? But seriously, I agree that restaurant portions are HUGE! That's why we ALWAYS split a meal. But, we do order an appetizer as well. This cuts the cost down and keeps us from getting HUGE on the restaurant portions. I recommend ALL dates include a split meal. You'll feel better and enjoy your date much more, as well as save a decent spot of cash!
- ATM fees
Ugh, can you believe it, I paid an ATM fee recently. These things are STUPID! I don't think this should be a huge amount, but if you are a cash-only person, make sure you stock up BEFORE getting stuck in a situation where you need immediate cash. That's why I recommend pulling out the cash you need for the month AT THE BEGINNING. And that can only happen if you are a MONTH AHEAD on your budget. Then you can avoid being short on cash and paying $450450450324 in fees at some big bank ATM (because of course, you bank at a reasonable credit union 😉 )
- Overdraft fees
This is a tough one. For those caught in the paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle, this can come up. It will also be MUCH WORSE for someone who isn't on a budget. If you are paying these, please STOP RIGHT NOW, go over to my budgeting basics and read them all. When you plan every dollar, you know where you money is going and how much you have, and these will go away. FOREVER. You can do this!
- Speedy shipping
Pretty sure there's a company that takes care of this an all your media entertainment needs for like $9 a month. What was it called again? Oh yeah, AMAZON! Seriously, don't pay for speedy shipping ever! Just get Amazon Prime (free with a family membership!) and get your junk in 2 days. Or, the tried and true method…..JUST WAIT!
- Designer baby clothes
Wait….people still pay for baby clothes? Pretty sure the Buy nothing Project has eliminated the need for those 🙂 But for real, we do occasionally buy baby clothes, but who cares about the tag? Just get something inexpensive and that you like. No need to drop $100 on an outfit just to say your kid is wearing (insert designer here). Plus, the kid is going to puke and poop all over it anyways…
- Unused gym memberships
I listen to a podcast of a pastor who talks about what's it's like at his gym. He says every January, the place fills up with all these "New Years Resolutioners" ready to make THIS THE YEAR! He knows parking will suck for like 5 weeks, and then it'll be back to normal, with the same people who were there in December still there, working out, and all the "Resolutioners" will be sucked back into whatever it is that keeps them from going to the gym. #Truth.
And with all the at-home workout options (like these 30+ Beachbody workout plans), who needs a gym membership?? I haven't had one in at least 10 years…
- Premium cable packages
I don't even need to say anything here. Read THIS
- Daily coffee trips
As a NOT COFFE DRINKER, I don't have this issue, so good luck, deal with it! I'M KIDDING! Well, I actually don't drink coffee, but my wife does, so I get it. We've come up with a system that works right now. She gets a $20 gift card at her favorite coffee place, and she get $5 free, so $25 total. That's her coffee for the month. The rest (if any) is brewed at home. And since she's super fancy and healthy, she's been recently making a coffee substitute that she likes. I haven't run the numbers on it, but I bet we spend $30 a month on coffee. Sure, it could be less, but it's a pre-planned luxury. Now, compare that with the $4 a day coffee drinker, and they're shelling out $120 a month! So, if you drink coffee, I recommend setting a fixed about for coffee out, and the rest at home.
Dave Ramsey does have a point, there's some serious money to be saved here. And if you're working a budget like you SHOULD BE, these can all go away 🙂
What Do WE Waste money On
Now that's we've covered some of the junk people waste money on, let me tell you where WE struggle.
- Food
Yup. Over the summer, our food budget inflated MUCH more than normal. I can equate it to my lack of discipline and getting a job that doesn't give me free food anymore. Also, my wife is VERY generous, and loves to serve with home cooked meals. But mostly I just got lazy a FORGOT TO PRINT OUT MY EMEALS PLANS! I know, right? I mean, we're usually pretty good even without, but somehow (mostly me) we ended up spending a few hundred over for a few months. UGH! So now that it's fall, I'm getting off my lazy butt and actually printing the emeals plans (affiliate link) to get us back on track.
- Utilities
Utilities are usually not an issue, but for some reason this year the summer utilities bills went through the ROOF! I chalk it up to too much A/C and trying to keep my back lawn from dying. I let the front and side yards burn to a crisp, but since we love to entertain, I watered nearly every day for a few months, making our water bill skyrocket. Next year, I'm putting together a DIY sprinkler system with timers so I don't accidently leave it on all night (D'OH!), and water at the right times to keep my lawn alive for cheaper. I'm also thinking about rain barrels…hmmmm. I also want to keep our house shut up during hot days and open windows at night more. And do the opposite during the winter (open blinds during day, close at night).
- Home Projects
As bad as it sounds, I didn't save or budget for home projects this summer. We were on a pretty tight budget, and kids medical bills and other things took priority. But I recently got a promotion and decent raise, so we splurged on getting our last-minute summer projects done. Plus, I had been putting off some maintenance for a while. We dropped a few hundred last month, and another few this month. Too much for something that was not budgeted for. I'm fixing this by re-instating our Home Improvement Savings Bucket to ensure the money is there next spring/summer for another round of projects. BOOYAH!
Want to NOT waste money? Grab my budget spreadsheet by filling in the below form and STOP THE MADNESS! 🙂
photo credit: Tax Credits via photopin cc


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St. Charles Jazz Weekend
Grammy-nominated musician Victor Garcia performs with the St. Charles North Jazz Ensemble on Sept. 14 as part of St. Charles Jazz Weekend, o [...] Watch Video
9/11 survivor Joe Dittmar speaks at Waubonsee Community College
Joe Dittmar were sitting in a room on the 105th floor of Two World Trade Center the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, for a business meeting. Dittm [...] Watch Video
Woodstock 50th anniversary celebration at The Venue
Mick Ducker performs Sly & the Family Stone's song "Stand" on Aug. 16, 2019, at The Venue in Aurora as part of a festival celebrating the 50 [...] Watch Video
Highway Life Music Festival
The Frizz performs The Black Keys' song "Lonely Boy" on Aug. 10, 2019, as part of the third annual Highway Life Music Festival. Proceeds fro [...] Watch Video
Kane County Fair & Festival
Swifty Swine Racing Pigs will race every day at the Kane County Fair and Festival, which will continue through July 21. Watch Video
Blue Goose Market press conference
The 91-year-old Blue Goose Market is fighting for survival. Blue Goose Market President and CEO Paul Lencioni sounded that warning during a [...] Watch Video
Alarm Detection System's donation
Aurora Police Department investigator Antonio Piscopo on July 10 demonstrates a tactical robot donated to the Aurora Police Department's Spe [...] Watch Video
Wayside Cross press conference
The Rev. Dan Haas, who has served on the board of directors for Wayside Cross, speaks against a city order to evict 19 child sex offenders f [...] Watch Video
Missy and Heine Andersen perform at The Venue in Aurora
Missy and Heine Andersen perform June 2 at The Venue in Aurora. Watch Video
Covington Groove at St. Charles Fine Art Show
Covington Groove performed May 25 at the St. Charles Fine Art Show in downtown St. Charles. Watch Video
"A Pony And His Boy: The Story of Berry and Josh"
Josh Martin recited the alphabet as he led the 28-year-old Shetland pony around the ring at the Equestrian Events Stables in Maple Park. A [...] Watch Video
First responders in Henry Pratt shooting honored
Aurora Police Officer John Cebulski heard shots being fired as he entered the Henry Pratt Co. the afternoon of Feb. 15. "Officer (Chris) Wea [...] Watch Video
Parents of 5-year-old Andrew "A.J." Freund charged
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Crystal Lake Police and Animal Control at Andrew "AJ" Freund home
At the home where Andrew "AJ" Freund went missing. Police evidence van appeared and animal control. Watch Video
911 call on missing child from Andrew Freund
Call at 9:04 a.m. on Thursday, April 18, to police on the case of missing 5-year-old AJ Freund from his father, Andrew. Watch Video
Distracted driving press conference
Charlene Sligting-Yorke, traffic safety manager for AAA Chicago Motor Club, talks about how her father was killed by a distracted driver dur [...] Watch Video
Noah Gabriel at Kiss the Sky record store in Batavia
Area musician Noah Gabriel performs April 13 as part of Record Store Day activities at Kiss the Sky record store in Batavia. Record Store Da [...] Watch Video
Actor and playwright Elliot Baker at St. Charles North High School
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Batavia Police find no sign of gunman
Batavia Police Deputy Chief Shawn Mazza says person sighted was probably student with bat or umbrella, April 8, 2019. Watch Video
Jenny McCarthy at Blue Goose Market
Actress and television/radio host Jenny McCarthy, who lives in St. Charles with her husband, actor/singer Donnie Wahlberg, greeted fans Apri [...] Watch Video


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After visiting a Freerunning contest in Vigo Team Farang's next stop was to shoot in Barcelona. I happily joined to help organize the transportation, Airbnb's and naturally take photos. Of course I fell in love with Barcelona. Pokemon GO just came out and I started my adventure. Long walks to the beach in incredible weather, and just the general feeling created by impressive architecture to sexy people. It's one of the few places I feel like I could live in semi-permanently.
There are so many interesting structures, this one we played with for quite a while testing out Jason's leaning and my timing capabilities. We are always trying to create content for our social media platforms as well as sponsors like for Red Bull here. It gets us up and out to explore and get creative with new surroundings. It can be a struggle as well as you see in this vlog.
Watch the Team Farang Video: Outsiders in Barcelona. When you see the shot of all four of them you know I shot it. But besides that I didn't have anything to do with the video. Good Job to Anan Anwar for filming, editing, and working it, Dom Di Tommaso, Jason Paul and Josh Dohy for their moves. <3


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Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Bits & Bytes.....
The 3DCRT session usually last less than 15 minutes a day, and compared to intravenous chemotherapy, it is much more "comfortable" to deal with. However, 3DCRT in combination with oral chemo drugs also comes with its documented sides effects. I had been told to expect softness and sore in foot and palm, mouth ulcers, diarrhea, constipation, etc. But so far, after 8 sessions of treatment, I only encountered constipation issues and nausea. Yesterday, I encountered some minor nose bleeding, but I was told not to be overly alarmed by this side effects. I guess, after almost a years of dealing with so many treatment protocols and drugs, I am more or less getting used to expecting the unexpected.
I also realized, I am beginning to lose some minor motor control of my physical body. Last Sunday, while walking with my son at a park in Shah Alam, I fell down twice because, for no apparent reasons, my left leg just went limped and encountered momentary lost of sensations. There are also quite a numbers of recent occasions where I had problem to lift my left leg momentarily. I seriously do not think this is a side effect of the 3DCRT or oral chemo drugs. Most probably it is caused by malnutrition of proteins and wastage of muscle tissues. I just need to make sure I put in more proteins into my system, and exercise my leg to built back the needed muscle tissues.
As part of the assessment of my new treatment;s progress, I took my blood test on Friday, and the result which was released on Monday, was not encouraging at all, my CA 19.9 market shot up substantially. Probably in the past, the Taceva did managed to control the cancer cells but was not able to trigger remission. Perhaps, while I am implementing new treatment strategy to eliminate the cancer cells, those nasty mutants also quietly launched a counter attack against me. I suspect, the new treatment protocol of 3DCRT in combination with Xeloda was not able to achieve the desired result yet. The good doctor told me not to overly anxious about the latest test result, but to continue with the new treatment strategy and to wait out for the next 2 to 3 test results.
On Monday, after my usual 3dCrT session, I came home a bit tired and proceeded to take rest in my room. I fell asleep soon, but suddenly realized I had problem breathing ! In my semi conscious dreamy state, I saw a young handsome boy resembling me stomping his foot on my face. I struggled to freed myself from the situation and woke up from my short sleep. My first realization is, was this boy my son ? Many years ago, I made a decision to medically terminate the life of my 2nd unborn child. That cold clinical decision was not an easy decision, but nevertheless, I made that decision. I though, after so many years, I had let go, but it doesn't seemed to be. That decision I made, keep coming back to haunt me in many emotional and irrational manifestations. Sometimes, I do wish I can turn back the clock, see things differently, and perhaps, with different outcomes.
Being inflicted with this dreaded illness also made me realized how lucky I am. I am blessed with so many beautiful people in my times of difficulties. I have a very supportive spouse who is willing to accommodate my needs at all times. I also realized, my children have suddenly grown up trying their level best to show their appreciations and to be supportive of me. I am also blessed with so many good friends and relatives who constantly gave me words of encouragements, assistances, and moral support to help me fight on.
I have a good family and good friends. Well, life is beautiful ! But I do missed my cup of hot aromatic black coffee..................
Posted by Dalai Baru ( CK ) at 6/24/2009 02:02:00 PM 1 comments
Friday, June 19, 2009
I completed the first week of 3DCRT session …
Come to think of it, 3DCRT is not that awful compared to intravenous drip of chemotherapy where you physically have to endure 2 to 3 hours of slow "dripping" process of chemo drugs into your body. The only inconvenience is, I have to go to the hospital everyday to receive my radiation treatment. In addition, 3DCRT also comes with some side effects. My first week encounter is, after the radiation session, I felt nauseated and vomited a few times. I hope the effects will tapper off from the second weeks onwards.
As advised by the Oncologist, I was prescribed with Xeloda ( Capecitabine ) to go with the radiation therapy. However, due to my taller than average height, my body body surface is bigger, so I was prescribed with a dosage 3 times higher than normal patient. Naturally, the medication costs 3 times more expensive. So, tall people may look more handsome and appealing, but when come to medical care, you are at a disadvantage in terms of treatment costs !!!!!
With Xeloda, I have to take 1500mg per 12 hours basis. The medication comes with its whole list of documented side effects. The most common side effects associated with the consumption of Xeloda are Sore palm, sore foot, ulcer in the mouth, diarrhea, etc. In anticipation of these side effects, the Oncologist also prescribed a another arsenal of medications to be taken daily to counter the side effects. Hmmm.... sometimes, modern medicines can be a real pain. But whatever it is, I hope, as I progress during the treatment period, I would not be over preoccupy with these side effects.
A young lady from Hospice Malaysia visited me yesterday and today to provide me with counseling on pains management and symptom management. One thing surprised me is, the young lady is so well versed with her area of expertise and serve with so much enthusiasm and empathy as compared to our over glorified private hospital. Hospis Malaysia provide me with free medication for symptom and pains such as liquid morphine. They also provide me with Sheepskin to make me comfortable when I lie on hard surface. All these items are provided free of charge. Well, in the midst of commercialism and profit orientation of medical care, at least there are still some NGO's out there who care for the well being of average Malaysians. Mind you, these people really serve with big smile, enthusiasm, dedication, and empathy !
For the next 5 weeks of so, I will have to go through pretty much the same treatment routine. I don't really look forward to, but, I will get around, and hopefully complete the whole treatment protocol with positive results......
Posted by Dalai Baru ( CK ) at 6/19/2009 10:29:00 PM 1 comments
Labels: cancer
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The 3DCRT session begins....
The doctor has also prescribed daily intake of 3000mg of Xeloda ( capecitabine) and 15 tablets of Vitamin B6 to go together with the 3DCRT. In additions, there are also some medications to counter side effects.
I was a bit apprehensive about the whole 3DCRT treatment in the beginning, because I do not know what to expect. But Monday session was not so bad, no pain and no discomfort. All I have to do is to make sure I minimized body movement on the table, and let the machine revolves around my body to aim at the preconfigured area. The session lasted slightly less than 15 minutes and I was allow to go home with no discomforts. However, I do felt very tired throughout the day. Compared with the Chemotherapy I had previously, 3DCRT is so much more "comfortable"
Today's 3DCRT is the same compared to yesterday's session. It lasted less than 15 minutes. However, After I got home, In addition to the feeling of tiredness, I felt dizzy ( probably due to the haze), and I also vomited twice.
I do not know whether the vomiting is caused by the side effect of Xeloda or 3DCRT, I will check with the doctor tomorrow when I go for my 3rd session of 3DCRT. I don't feel good at all today with all these vomity feelings. But my main concern for the time being is to resolve my weight lost and constipations issues.
Well, 2 sessions down, and 29 more sessions to go..... I do hope, this new treatment protocol of 3DCRT in combination with Xeloda oral chemo can produce the desired results for the recovery of my health.
Posted by Dalai Baru ( CK ) at 6/16/2009 01:17:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: cancer
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Shooting Birds...............
Posted by Dalai Baru ( CK ) at 6/14/2009 08:43:00 PM 1 comments
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Life Ain't Rosy ?
My name is Saw Kow
have a house in TAIPING TOWN.
Finished my secondary education
in a school started by ANG MOH KOW.
Obtained a Grade One in MCE
But as a minority, LIFE is not ROSY
My Grade One is not good enough
compared to Grade Three of a BUMI.
So, no Form Six for me !
But I am very LUCKY
"You go Canada to STUDY"
That what my DADDY told me.
After three years of undergraduate STUDIES
I came back with a DEGREE and my HONEY
Life ahead is very ROSY ?
After one year working for some lousy MONEY
Daddy found out I already have a STEADY
Everyday he asked me to MARRY
Or else he won't talk to ME
No choice, but to propose to my HONEY
Yeh, Life ain't ROSY !
The Marriage ceremony depleted all MY MONEY.
To survive, everyday I eat CHAPFUN or CHAPATY.
For entertainment, everyday I watch TV or pirated VCD.
While other drive Mercedes, I drove a 3rd hand Datsun SUNNY
Married life ain't that ROSY
In less than 12 months I have a BABY
Suddenly I became a DADDY.
Yeh, Life Ain't ROSY !
After many years of working for lousy CRONIES
When I worked HARD, he said it is my DUTY
When I submit MC, he said I am LAZY
Paying me peanut
and yet expect me not to behave like MONKEY
When I am short of MONEY,
he asked me to "Chiak Kar Key"
I almost gone CRAZY.
Yeh, Life ain't ROSY !
Now, I have to support my HONEY
and I have to feed my BABY
Have to pay installments for my old Datsun Sunny
Every week have to buy Dutch Baby
Everyday my petrol tank is EMPTY
Go to work JALAN KAKI
ATM told me my account got no MONEY
Yeh, Life ain't ROSY
Seek HELP from government,
but they said I ain't BUMI.
Seek HELP from MCA,
but was told Life ain't CHARITY
and I am not their LIABILITY.
Sometimes, I really want to CARI MATI
But who is gonna feed my HONEY and BABY
Susah nak HIDUP, susah nak MATI.
Yeh, Life ain't ROSY !
Nevermind, every dog has his DAY.
Now, I made my own MONEY.
Life has become a bit ROSY.
Sipping my favorite Coffee in LUXURY,
Should I show SYMPATHY
to those who rejected ME ?
Yeh, Life ain't ROSY ?
Believe me, when you are in troubles,
the rest will conveniently
suffered from Avian's Flu.
They are all quite capable
of talking cock's languages to you !
Yeh, Life ain't Rosy ?
But who say Life is EASY ?
When the going gets tough,
the tough gets going.
Go hit the road
and make your OWN MONEY...........
Posted by Dalai Baru ( CK ) at 6/11/2009 08:48:00 PM 2 comments
Labels: Life
On the road again.....
I woke up this morning feeling very refresh and in good mood. My appetite for breakfast was also extremely good. I managed to finished one big bowl of Pan Mee !! Hmmmm... yummy, yummy....
After the breakfast, I seek my wife's assistance to arrange the 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy treatment sessions for me with the hospital. Tomorrow, I will have to check into the hospital to do the "CT Planning" for the 3DCRT. Tomorrow session, if I understand it correctly, is for the doctor and lab technicians to do mapping of treatment area ( tumor and its vicinity) using the CT scan result which was done 2 days ago.
After the mapping, my first 3DCRT session will start on Monday. All together, there will be a minimum of 31 sessions of 3DCRT on daily basis except Saturday & Sunday. During the treatment period, I will have to take on twice a day basis oral chemo tablet of Capecitabine ( Xeloda ) to complement the radiation therapies. I was told, the Xeloda will act as radiosensitizer to make the 3DCRT more effective. I do hope these sessions of 3DCRT can help to target correct dosages of radiation precisely into the tumor to trigger remission, and thereby improve my chances of recovery.
It has been a long and winding road for the previous 10 months in my quest to restore my health. Honestly, it has been also a very frustrating experience for me dealing with previous failed attempts and the emotional ups and downs of trying to stay positive and maintain my sanity over the whole process. I have nothing else to lose to chart into this unknown territory of radiation therapy. I am confident, I can overcome this illness and restore my health in due course. I will do whatever that are necessary and within my control, the rest, I leave it to the Almighty to guide the good doctor and his medical team to perform healing miracles on me.
Well, I am on the road again to fight for my survival.............. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." ( Psalm 23:4) Praise the Lord.
Posted by Dalai Baru ( CK ) at 6/11/2009 03:47:00 PM 1 comments
Changing strategy.....
However, fighting cancer is not about falling back into the comfort zone to maintain status quo. I need to change my treatment strategy to overcome the cancer cells.
I am having a localized advance tumor at my pancreas, to move beyond controlling the growth of the tumor, I need to look into the possibility of targeted localized treatment with minimum damages to other vital organs. For the time being, 3D Conformal Radiotherapy together with oral chemo seemed to be my best practical option. With 3D conformal radiotherapy, the tumor is mapped in 3 dimension, and multiple radiation beams are then precisely aimed at the mapped tumor, minimizing the damages to other normal tissues.
I was told that the hospital need to feed the images from the CT Scan result into the computer to created a 3 dimensional view of the targeted treatment areas. The computer then design multiple high dosage of radiation beams into an area precisely conforming to the size of the tumor and its vicinity. The hospital will need to have approximately 2 to 3 days to plan the treatment before the first radiotherapy session can be delivered. After that, I will have to go to the hospital on almost daily basis for a minimum of 35 sessions.
My next action is now to source for a hospital that have 3D Conformal Radiotherapy facility or Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy facility. At the moment, University Hospital, Pantai Medical Centre, Subang Jaya Medical Centre, and Nilai's National Cancer Institute have these facilities. Over the next two days, I will have to decide which hospital I want to use to implement this new strategy.
I hope the good Lord will help me make a wise decision on which hospital to use.
So, it looks like over the next one and a half month I will be stationing myself in the battleship again to engage the cancer cells in the battleground again. This time, I will take no prisoner..... So, you nasty mutant cells, you are on the wrong side of my book, your days are numbered.......
Posted by Dalai Baru ( CK ) at 6/11/2009 12:18:00 AM 1 comments
Labels: cancer
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Of religions.....
During my childhood years, my family practiced Taoism. In fact, most of my family members still practiced Taoism. I started reading the Bible in 1993 and later in 2006, I also begin to read Buddhism texts. When I was diagnosed with cancer in 2008, I picked up the Bible again....
So am I a Taoist, Buddhist, or Christian ?
Frankly, throughout my adult years, religion was never an issue to me and I always treat it as a private matter. In my public dealing with friends and relatives, I attempt to keep my pubic life as secular as possible. One thing I do do know, when I was inflicted with chronic illness, I became more religious and tried to find a balance in my life to seek self healing. I turned to the Bible and tried to comprehend the words of God. Until today, as much as I want to adopt the words of God religiously, but I also realized, Buddhism's values has been deeply ingrained in my daily life. It is like my root and culture.
So, when I announced to my friends that I am a Buddhist Christian, my Christian friends stared at me with disbelieve and tried their level best to salvage this lost soul. But the surprising thing is, my Buddhist friends accepted me as what I am. They left me be and let me find my own path to seek my own enlightenment.
To me, Buddhism is a way of life, and the truth of being. And, Christianity is about the embracement of the Almighty God with Lord Jesus Christ as my personal savior. Christianity gave me hope, but Buddhism gave me peace of mind. Of course, there are always differences in values and practices between Buddhism and Christianity, but my purpose in this life is not to thrive on the differences. My purpose is to walk the middle path, and to seek and embrace the commonalities between these two great religions.
As a Christian, I am still a God fearing person and I recite the Lord's Prayer on daily basis. As a Buddhist, I am still subscribing to the Four Noble Truths, The Eight Folds Path, and the Mediation aspects in my daily life.
Between Hope and Peace of mind, I walk the middle path, and had chosen to embrace both. So, I am a Buddhist Christian.
Posted by Dalai Baru ( CK ) at 6/10/2009 01:07:00 PM 1 comments
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
The "I DON'T KNOW" hospital.
I was due for medical check up at Tung Shing yesterday, at my wife insistent, I went to the Pantai Medical Centre instead of Tung Shing. My wife's contention was that, the equipments and facilities at Tung Shing are outdated, and the hospital may not be in a position to provide the best treatment options. To cut the story short, I went to Pantai Medical Centre yesterday, my first impression was, everything was new there, the air conditioning system was eerie cold, and the hospital even have Starbuck Coffee outlet at the lobby.
The Good doctor suggested that I be admitted to run tests for re-assessment of my condition. The first day, the usual vital tests were conducted. On the morning of the second day, a CT scan was performed on me. The CT scan took less than 10 minutes, and at 9;30AM I was told to go back to the room to wait for my scan result.
I asked the reception counter how long it will take for the scan result to be out, but was told the standard reply of " I don't Know" and "Please go back to your room and wait". I waited until 12:30PM and I asked the ward nurse whether the scan and blood test result is out , and when I can expect to obtain the result, again, I was given the standard reply of "I don't know" and "Please go back to back to your room and wait". So I went down to the Imaging Department to enquire, thinking that perhaps I can get an estimation of the time needed to obtain the result from the source. Again, the counter staff told me " I don't know" and " Go back to your room to wait".
Patiently, I waited until almost 5:00PM, I went to Imaging Department again to enquire about the result, again, the standard reply of "I don't know" was given to me. Hmmm, I do wonder the competency of the personnel and Pantai Medical Centre. The hospital may have the best hardware, but the people who manned the hardware and provide support service seemed ill trained and are at a loss of providing competent healthcare services. The personnel even suggested that I stay back in the hospital one more day to wait for the Ct scan result. My God, the last time I did my CT scan at Sunway Medical Centre, it took only less than two hours to obtain the result, and at Tung Shine, it took less than 3 hours to obtain the scan result. But at Pantai Medical Centre, I did my CT scan at around 9:00AM in the morning, when I checked out at around 5:00PM, the scan result is still not out yet, and I DON'T KNOW whether they can get it out tomorrow. It look like I have to go back to the hospital again tomorrow to obtain the scan result.
I really don't feel comfortable at the way medical care and support services are being provided by Pantai Medical Centre, and I sincerely doubt the support personnel there are trained to provided adequate competence services. Well, their hardware look impressive and maybe the most up-to-date. But a simple CT scan result takes more than a day to be produce ? Am I in a under developed country in Africa ? I guess it would be wiser for me not to bet my life at Pantai Medical Centre. What I will do tomorrow is, I will go to the hospital to insist on my blood test and CT scan result, and go back to Tung Shine hospital to continue my treatment there. Well, Tung Shing may or may not have the best medical equipments, but, at least, their support personnel are more caring and knowledgeable in providing medical care and support services.
The doctor's assistant called me up in the evening to ask whether I will come back tomorrow for consultation, I was just too tired and replied "I DON"T KNOW".......
Posted by Dalai Baru ( CK ) at 6/09/2009 10:57:00 PM 1 comments
Labels: cancer
Monday, June 08, 2009
Shooting butterflies............
Got a bit bord recently, went to the Butterfly farm and managed to "shoot" some real butterflies........., not those from China !
Posted by Dalai Baru ( CK ) at 6/08/2009 12:50:00 PM 3 comments
Labels: leisure
Thursday, June 04, 2009
The side effects again......
Since starting on the targeted dug, I developed rashes all over my body and facial areas, and my skin also looked darker due to pigmentation. As I progressed along the fourth month of this oral drug therapy, the intensity of the rashes are beginning to tapper off. However, With one side effect subsided, another few side effects also began to manifest their dreadedness. For the past one month or so, my appetites for foods was getting from bad to worst, and also having to deal with the too frequent constipation issues. Due to lack of desires for foods, I am beginning to lose weight again. I can sense that my body is getting weaker and getting tired easily, probably due to lack of proper nutrition. I do hope I can solve these new side effects sooner.
Pains and discomforts had and always been the biggest challenge since I was diagnosed with cancer. I do realized, for the past three weeks, the intensity of pains and discomforts are getting unbearable. So much so that, I think it affects my mental alertness and logical thinking. So far, the prescribed pain killer does help to reduce the intensity of the pains. The portable Infra Red light device also comes handy in soothing the muscle and nerve discomforts. I do hope my condition is not degrading towards the worst. I have cut down my morning exercise, because increasingly, it is getting a bit difficult for me due my weakened physical body. Well, I got to keep telling myself to stay strong, control my frustration, and stay positive to find a way to minimized the pains and discomforts.
Honestly, I think I am getting a little bit fed up of all these inconveniences caused by these unbearable pains and discomforts. I wished I can just shout out to my family members that I am in great pains and all of them rush to my attention. But would that help to reduce my pains ? I am not a parasite that depend on others for my well being. I got myself into this medical mess, it is now up to me to find a way to heal myself. I got to fight this dreaded illness like a real warrior. They said, No Pains, No Gains ! I got to overcome the pains, restore my logical mind to think of an improved strategy to win, and to live my life as normally as possible. It is going to be a very painful fight, but I do hope to emerge from this episode of life with gained wisdom.
Over the last 3 months, I am also emotionally affected by the news of friends being inflicted with cancer. First, a friend was diagnosed with cancer of the uterus, she went though a successful operation, and is now receiving chemotherapy. About two months ago, a distant relative was diagnosed with lung cancer, she is currently also under chemotherapy. This week, I was informed that, a close friend was diagnosed with colon cancer. She went for operation to remove part of the colon yesterday. I do not know the outcome of the operations. These are all perfectly good people with healthy lifestyles. I do wonder how those sneaky cancer cells managed to breakthrough into their immune system. Perhaps, the Almighty does have a perverted sense of inappropriateness. Emotionally, I think I am too exhausted by all these unhealthy news. I will keep them in my prayers, and hope the Almighty can grant them speedy recovery.
Whatever it is, I thank the Almighty for keeping me alive to fight this dreaded illness. I also thank the Almighty for giving me this alert mind to share out my experiences with others. Praise the Lord.....
Posted by Dalai Baru ( CK ) at 6/04/2009 12:27:00 AM 1 comments
Labels: cancer


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Business Systems are simply how you get work done using people, processes and technology.
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We find SAP Business One is able to grow with us and adapt easily as our business evolves. Having Business Evolution based locally was a real win for our team. Their consultants understand our diverse business requirements and are quick to deliver solutions.
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Useful Downloads for Linux
For Nautilus
1. PyExtensions for Nautilus- These extensions make Nautilus even more useful. If you have a hard time using Nautilus Actions Configurations like I do, this .deb package is just what you need. With this package, you will be able to right-click on a file and copy or move a file (or many) to another directory, as well as open as administrator which is sometimes needful if you don't have the necessary permissions on a file. This package was developed by Giuseppe Penone and is provided for download by Softpedia and licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL)
Note: These download are an update; the original file I uploaded didn't work for some reason.
The first download is for anyone using a Debian based distro, such as Debian, Ubuntu, Dreamlinux, Linux Mint or MEPIS (for examples). The second download is the source package, for use in Slackware Linux or .rpm based distros, such as Fedora, Mandriva, or PCLinuxOS to name a few.
Downloads for Gnome Display Manager
This first download comes from Meerkat on Gnome-look.org and is a .deb package that allows the user to change the xsplash image background (the wallpaper for your login screen)
This first download comes from Meerkat on Gnome-look.org and is a .deb package that allows the user to change the xsplash image background (the wallpaper for your login screen)
This second download is for a more advanced package that is intended to address the 'whole shebang' that my first GDM tutorial explains. This comes from the GDM2 setup team at Launchpad.net (thank you!) There are a few bugs to still be worked out but these are already being addressed and will be updated from the repository. If you have not already done so, take the time to visit the tutorial on how to add this package to the repository. This is important because then you will get updates via your update manager application and there will be some as the bugs get worked out of this new application. The first option is for Debian based distros; the second download is the source code option for all other distros.


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|Project by Jeff
|posted 12-20-2016 10:44 PM
|892 views
|2 times favorited
|3 comments
I wanted to make something for the boys I teach at church, so I decided to try and make some tops. This is one of my first projects on a lathe. I made 10 of them out of some walnut and maple I had in the shop. Being short on time, I just finished with some paste wax. I tried to make them all a little different. Most of them worked pretty well, but a few would not stay up. So, I put the ones that did not work well back on the lathe and took a little more wood off the top spindle. This seemed to work and now all tops spin and stay up for a while. Best of all, the boys loved them!
-- "...building is far more gratifying that consuming" - Chris Schwarz
3 comments so far
#1 posted 12-20-2016 11:45 PM
That is a real nice collection of tops. Lots of kids will be happy this Christmas!!
Cheers, Jim
-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!! Variety is the Spice of Life!!
#2 posted 12-21-2016 12:57 PM
Hello Jeff
Very nice design
I love it
Thanks for sharing
-- Diggerjack-France ---The only limit is the limit of the mind and the mind has no limit
#3 posted 12-21-2016 03:32 PM
Nice tops Jeff. I noted that Jim Jakosh's Yin/Yang design would work excellently for your tops: http://lumberjocks.com/projects/285874#comment-3601042
-- "Never let your dogma be run over by your karma!"
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"Random Acts of Journalism": Defining Civic Media/
I have found myself this week struggling to put together my thoughts on the concept of civic media in light of a series of conversations and encounters I had last week: for one thing, there was the public conversation which the MIT Communications Forum hosted last Thursday between myself and Yochai Benkler (The Wealth of Networks) about how participatory culture was impacting how we access and process news and information. For those who'd like to hear the podcast of that conversation, you can find it here. For another, I listened to the earlier exchange which the Forum hosted involving Dan Gilmore (We The Media), Ellen Foley (The Wisconsin State Journal) and Alex Beam (The Boston Globe) on the rise of citizen journalism and its impact on established newspapers which can be found here. And finally, I got into a series of interesting conversations about the impact of new media on civic engagement as part of the planning process for a new series of books being put together by the MacArthur Foundation on Digital Media and Learning. Across all of these conversations, I found myself returning not to journalism as it has been traditionally defined but to something broader I want to call civic media -- that is, media which contributes to our sense of civic engagement, which strengthens our social ties to our communities -- physical and virtual -- and which reinforces the social contracts which insures core values of a democratic society.
Imagining New Kinds of Imaginary Communities
Newspapers and news broadcasts can certainly play that role and some of the speakers from traditional newspapers at the Forum events made powerful points about the important role that newspapers play at all levels -- from the micropublics of individual neighborhoods up through cities, states, regions, nations, and global cultures -- in forging a sense of connection between and within what Benedict Anderson calls "imagined communities." Anderson's point is that we feel a sense of emotional bond with people who we will never meet in part because media, like newspapers, continually remind us of what we have in common as citizens. Democracy depends not simply on informing citizens but also on creating the feeling that we have a stake in what happens to other members of our community. Such an attitude emerges in part from what the newspaper reports and the rhetorical structures it adopts; it also emerges through the perception of the editor's responsiveness to her readers and the notion that the op-ed page of the paper functions as a shared forum where community members can speak with an expectation of being heard. Part of what may be leaving young readers feeling estranged from traditional journalism is that they feel that these publications do not represent the most important experiences of their lives, do not care about the issues that matter to them, and do not value the kinds of communities which they inhabit. One need only point to the ways that news coverage of issues from games violence to MySpace and DOPA emphasize the adult's concerns but do not report or reflect young people's perspectives.
Players often experience a similar sense of social connection in regard to their guilds, for example, in multiplayer games. There are plenty of players who go on forays on nights when they are too tired to see straight because they don't want to let their virtual neighbors and comrades down. Such games are powerful introductions to civic engagement because they taught young people what it was like to feel empowered, what it was like to feel capable of making a difference within a world, and what it was like to feel a strong set of bonds with others with whom you worked to accomplish common goals. This is something radically different from Robert Putnam's argument that people who go online lack the deep social ties that emerged through traditional community life. Those people who form guilds in multiplayer games can scarcely be described as "bowling alone," to use Putnam's potent metaphor. This is a totally different ballgame. What ever we want to say about what they are doing -- they are doing it together.
Now, many concerned with civic engagement want to know how we could transfer those feelings and experiences from the game world to the "real world." And I am certainly interested in ways we might use games to strengthen ties to local communities. But this approach may discount the social and emotional reality these game worlds have for their players. Journalists and local governments have long seen sports franchises as enhancing community life: Is it any accident that so many multiplayer games are now developing their own local newspapers which report on important event and key figures within these alternative realities? Many young people who do not read the daily paper in their own towns and cities may read such publications and feel a greater sense of civic engagement, What would happen if local newspapers -- that is, traditional print publications -- reported on events which occurred within these game worlds -- as news events -- rather than as trends in the business section or more often, as simple the same old story about video game violence?
Creating the Daily Us
Other forms of participatory culture may foster this kind of civic engagement simply because they welcome our participation and reward our sense of affiliation. Think about wikipedians protecting the integrity and quality of information in the entries they have helped to create. Think about bloggers linking to others with whom they are having ongoing conversations. Think about the various social networks that are emerging at MySpace or Facebook or the kinds of lively and neighborly exchanges that take place on Live Journal. Think about the text message communities that emerge in a world where most people are carrying around mobile phones and using them to maintain recurring if not constant contact with their closest friends throughout the day.
During his remarks at the MIT Communications Forum, Dan Gilmour suggested we move away from thinking of citizen journalists as publishing the "daily me" and think of them as instead publishing the "daily us." I like this phrase because it speaks to a movement within networked culture away from personalized media and towards communal media. This shift is what I mean by civic media.
Think about people recording things they see around them on their phones and transmitting them via Flickr. I would argue for example that it was the availability of photographs by everyday people which circulated outside of official channels which more than anything else highlighted the inefficiencies and inequalities of the Bush administration's response to hurricane Katrina. We read those images differently because they came from people like us than we would receive the more polished images produced by traditional photojournalists. They spoke truths that were much closer to the ground because these phone cameras went places that journalists never bothered to go. Indeed, a small tool of journalists could never be everywhere at once and suck in as many impressions as a large community armed with their own information appliances.
Here, I am struck by Gilmore's phrase, "random acts of journalism." Gilmour is talking about the ways that average citizens may suddenly take on a responsibility of reporting back to their communities something they saw because they happened to be at the right place at the right time and not because they had a professional responsibility to do so. The knowledge they bring back is situated, shaped by their personal stakes and interests in the topic, and thus makes no gesture towards objectivity or indifference, yet for that very reason, we will learn to read it critically -- as a partial and subjective truth, rather than as, ahem, fair and balanced.
Slashers for a More Democratic Society
I am also finding myself thinking about the ways that average people appropriate, transform and recirculate news content -- such as the Photoshop collages which function, like editorial cartoons of the past, to encapsulate complex political debates into evocative composite images, or the use of digital sampling in hip hop music to speak truths to power that might not otherwise circulate within the culture, or the use of video mashups that mix together elements of popular culture and news to express something about the politics of our age.
It is interesting that such mash-ups figured prominently at both of the Communication Forum events: Dan Gilmour shared this fan-made video which borrows some of the rhetoric of slash to signal the close and uncritical relationship between Bush and Blair; and William Uricchio shared this video which uses dialogue and images from V for Vendetta to speak about the politics of terror in the Post-9/11 world.
Neither of these works might be called journalism -- citizen or otherwise. They don't involve reporting and they don't involve the exercise of news judgment. Yet, they depend for their power on the viewer's pre-existing awareness of events in the real world and they offer some powerful new metaphors for comprehending the importance and impact of those events. These videos work because they avoid the rhetoric of traditional politics and appeal to us as fans even as they ask us to act as citizens.
Newspapers in Network Culture
Civic Media doesn't try to displace the work of traditional journalists per se -- though increasingly, the editors and journalists who do their job best remain aware of these other kinds of civic media and use them to draw insights into the communities that they cover. Blogs spring up at those points where there is a public which demands kinds of information that is more likely to be scattered across many different websites than to be found well represented in the local paper. A good editor might well look at what blogs are tapping their information to figure out how to produce more information which will better serve the needs of those various constituencies and communities. These communities may search the planet for the information they want and yet they will return, as several participants at the Forum events suggest, to those sources which reliably provide them with information sources they value.
My colleague, David Thorburn, tried across both forums to get people outraged over the prospect that young people might stop reading newspapers and that print publications might not survive much longer. Yet, in both conversations, participants seemed more concerned about threats to participatory culture than they were about threats to traditional journalism.
I love newspapers and would hate to see them disappear. But I honestly don't think that this is going to happen -- not if journalists learn to respect the new kinds of civic connections which are felt by young people and find ways to tap them through their publications. I don't think we live in a world where blogs and podcasts are going to totally displace newspapers -- print or digital --but rather one where we will have a more complex ecology of information than we have seen before.
Professional journalists have real advantages in such a world because they have different kinds of resources, training, and access to information, because they have more time to devote to data collecting, and because they have built up a reputation -- for better or worse -- over time which allows us to evaluate their performance, unlike the citizen journalist who pops up, delivers information, and disappears again. Yet, participatory culture also brings something to the table -- a more diverse set of expertise and experiences, the ability to disperse responsibility over processing large bits of data (as in the example Benkler likes to use of citizens responding to information about the reliability of electronic voting machines).
More and more, these different forces will be correcting each other: the grassroots will innovate and experiment in ways that commercial media or traditional journalism can not; traditional journalism will monitor those experiments, test their reliability and heighten their visibibility; and yet these grassroots media efforts will also challenge the blinders that the traditional journalists develop as they become too close to some sources and too removed from others.
Who Gets to Participate in Participatory Culture?
I am more concerned by the issue of who gets to participate in an era of participatory culture and who gets excluded. Bill Ivey and Steven J. Tepper raised these questions about participatory media in the May 19 2006 issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education:
Increasingly, those who have the education, skills, financial resources, and time required to navigate the sea of cultural choice will gain access to new cultural opportunities....They will be the pro-ams who network with other serious amateurs and find audiences for their work. They will discover new forms of cultural expression that engage their passions and help them forge their own identities, and will be the curators of their own expressive lives and the mavens who enrich the lives of others....At the same time, those citizens who have fewer resources -- less time, less money, and less knowledge about how to navigate the cultural system -- will increasingly rely on the cultural fare offered to them by consolidated media and entertainment conglomerates...Finding it increasingly difficult to take advantage of the pro-am revolution, such citizens will be trapped on the wrong side of the cultural divide. So technology and economic change are conspiring to create a new cultural elite -- and a new cultural underclass. It is not yet clear what such a cultural divide portends: what its consequences will be for democracy, civility, community, and quality of life. But the emerging picture is deeply troubling. Can America prosper if its citizens experience such different and unequal cultural lives?
This is what I call the participation gap. It is a problem newspapers have faced from the very start -- and speaks to the contrast we see here in Boston between the Boston Globe (which has always been preferred by the educated elites) and the Boston Herald (which has always targeted the working class). The papers cover different content in different language and make different demands on their readers. Unfortunately, newspapers may be losing that battle to serve these different publics as we've seen the consolidation of urban dailies until there is only one paper left per major metropolis and most often, that paper per force aims somewhere in the middle -- no longer serving the expectations of the educated elites and no longer reaching out to the underclass at all. The new and more participatory forms of journalism do seem to reach some readers that newspapers have left behind, but are still niche products that don't touch the lives of most Americans.
Anyway, I hope these somewhat rambling remarks are enough to get you interested in listening to the podcasts of these two events. There's lots of thoughtful discussion around all of these issues and many more.


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Color me Purple
I was out front a little while ago on a glorious Sunday and was playing a bit with backlight and fill flash...
While developing the "roll"I thought it would be fun to make the purple really stand out and make a statement. What better way to make a photographic color statement than to make it the centerpiece of the photo?
Since one of my co-workers today said they liked photos with one color left outstanding, I thought I'd make this post for him!