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Tech Issues in the Entertainment Industry by @AbbyTobias
My name is Abby Tobias, and I am the owner of Sole Power Productions, an event and production company in Toronto Canada. We help execute and or produce over 2500 events annually. Our Audio-visual team is made up of events managers, technicians, specialized Av leads, and designers.
Recently, we have seen a variety of concert and event cancelations, both high profile and not. Events ranging from local fairs, to major touring acts are having their end product affected by audio visual issues and mishaps. Below I have detailed some of the key reasons why this is occurring.
WHY? Isn't that always the question? In this case there are a few keys to look at.
1. Budget:
Let's use the touring act as an example here. In the modern age of music, artists earn the majority of their income from there tours. Once upon a time when people purchased CDs, artist income was more evenly balanced between sales and live shows. This is no longer the case. Streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify are the way of the future and the way of the present. This is a big win for fans and music listeners, as it gives them unmatched access to music of all kinds. That said, for the artist it's not as great. Profits from streaming services are exceptionally low for artists. Thus, in the past few years they have had to lean towards touring in an effort to stay profitable.
This brings me to the touring budget. Managers and show designers are being pulled in multiple directions. On one hand, the show has to be the best it has ever been. Guests need to be blown away by sound, lights, effects, and stages. On the other hand, the budget is limited. Artists can't afford to over spend on these treatments, as they are relying on the profits from shows to keep them in the green. This causes cutting of corners, lesser qualified staff, and shorter blocks of time for sets and strikes. It's not hard to then understand how we are seeing more high-end glitches than ever before.
2. Technology vs the Creative: We live in a world where what is advanced today, is considered old news in 6 months. There are consistently options for larger, brighter, louder, and more powerful replacements to product that we thought was incredible just a short while ago. When these products are put in the hands of the creative talents of stage directions and visionaries, a world full of incredible concepts can be thought of. In most cases we see an incredible outcome.
Think back to Kanye's 2016 North American tour with the floating stage moving across the arena, and Drakes world tour where he had kinetic lite balls moving in sync from the rafters to just above the audience's hands. These were incredible advancements in the concert experience. Only possible by the gift of AV and production. The down side, of course, is that we are still talking about technology. Just like your when your home TV doesn't turn on, or the microwave at your office flashes the wrong time, technology has its own mind. As the advancements have grown, so have the complications. We are seeing some incredible failures live in front of our eyes as triggers don't fire and in the worst case, the technology can be dangerous, and some concert doors don't even open to the public.
3. Regulation: I am a fan of regulations. I will always choose safety over profit. What we are seeing now is that tours are being designed locally and expected to pass regulations internationally. So, when a tour bus and crew roll up on the other side of the world and start to work, they are finding push back from local officials where the rules and regulations regarding safety may differ. This is nothing new, but as my two points above-mentioned, the shows are larger and more complex, and are also expected to be designed faster, and cheaper than before. The losing team in these cases are the fans. Fans who buy tickets months out, only to find out a day or two before that the show won't be put on in their city because the safety is not up to local guidelines.
For more info on Abby Tobias you can find him at Solepowerproductions.com
- Published in Event Planning, Event Technology
Attending a Tech Event? Prepare Yourself with These 5 Tips by @dancarthy2
Careers are oftentimes forged when people meet the right folks at the right times. This is especially true in the technology industry. All of you who are a part of this industry know very well how important it is to stay well connected and interact with your peers. Of course, tech events are where you get to meet your colleagues and get an insight into what they are currently working on. These conferences can be really valuable when it comes to your potential career opportunities. So, you have to know how to prepare yourself well and take the best out of these events.
Why do you want to go?
You have to ask yourself this question before you go anywhere. Take a good look at the event's keynotes and workshops and compare that to your priorities in the office and your personal ambitions. How do you benefit from that event? Is it for your personal gain or for work? Consult your boss and colleagues who aren't attending the event and figure out why they decided not to come and whether there are some particular breakouts that would benefit you and your team at work. These all serve to provide you with the reasons of why you should or should not attend.
Look at the list of attendees
The value of an event also lies in the list of people who will be there. That's why you should look at the list of attendees and see if you can spot someone who garners interests or someone who you already know. You will most likely see some interesting names there so make sure to do some networking while you're there. Also, you should solidify existing professional relationships. Don't just rush to meet the new contacts, devote some time to your existing ones. If you can't find the list of attendees, reach out to your colleagues on LinkedIn and similar social media platforms. Enquire there about the event and you'll probably find people who are attending.
Download available software for the event
Oftentimes tech events have their own apps for smart devices that will help you navigate easier through the event space, find your favorite speakers and other stuff that could be of use to you. On top of that, many apps of this kind have a schedule of the event on them. You can take advantage of that by creating your own schedule with the help of that one. Maybe there are some segments of the event or conference you'd like to avoid. Your time is precious and you probably can't waste it on things that are not interesting to you. That's why you should check out whether there is some event software available to attendees. If there is, it's there probably to help you get the most out of the event.
You are there to learn, not to compete
It's fine to feel competitive when you're in the room full of people from other companies that are probably the rivals of your company. However, you should never allow that feeling to overwhelm you during the event. Look, no one at the conference would be so friendly in a normal, everyday environment. However, at the venue, you all have to mingle and be friendly. Why? You are there to learn and take something valuable out of each other. Even though it shouldn't be strictly business. Well, it kind of is. It is a professional event, after all. Right?
Do not forget to connect!
Say that you've just met a colleague at the event. You've exchanged a few words, you've realized that the person you talked to can be potentially valuable. What is the worst thing that you can do after meeting such a person? The worst thing would be to do nothing. You can't afford to forget valuable contacts. That's why you should make it a habit to connect to these individuals as soon as you're done talking to them. Find the person on LinkedIn or Twitter, trade contact info, do everything to remain in contact. You never know how valuable someone can be.
Now go!
Are you ready for the event now? Well, there are some things beside the ones mentioned here but these are your top priority. Well, they should be your top priority. Prepare well, do the research and go. Remember, contacts are valuable, the event is there for you to learn something that can benefit both you personally and your company.
- Published in Event Planning, Event Technology
Planning an Event on a Budget? Help Yourself with These Tips by @dancarthy2
Are you planning an event? Do you need to attract more people to your business, make your company stand out and get noticed? If so, a good event goes without saying as a major prerequisite for that. Of course, it's easy for big companies to host events. Well, it's not that easy but it's certainly better when you have loads of money at your disposal, right? Well, if you belong to the less fortunate group here, where you have to allocate each buck carefully, take a look below and you'll find useful tips that will help you do just that.
Timing is important
You know how hotels located in mountains charge less when it's autumn? That's because fewer people visit highlands when there's no snow which means less revenue. In turn, hotels lower the prices to attract people to still consider making a short escape from the city life and relax in the mountains. When it comes to events, the concept is quite similar. Since you'll hunt for a venue, it is good to learn about seasons. Venues often share bookings with other events such as weddings or receptions. If you go for that season, you'll be paying a lot. Instead, schedule wisely, see if you can pick out a date when there are no other events. Pick a 'cheaper' date, you could save a lot of money.
Look for volunteers
Every event planner needs staff for their events. Without your own people helping with everything, there can be no event. It's plain and simple. However, that doesn't mean that you have to spend through the roof and hire contractors or something like that. Work with what you can get. Consider younger people who need experience in events to help manage things. Of course, you have to give something in return. But it doesn't have to be money. Experience is a valuable asset too.
Partner up
Finding a partner or a sponsor oftentimes isn't easy. However, if you're tight on cash, you need to try and look for sponsors or partners. Consider theme and purpose of your event and then look for organizations that might want to align themselves with your particular theme. Remember that both sides need to benefit from this. For example, if you're hosting an event and you are a small tech company, try to figure out what other company (a partner or a sponsor) would benefit from having their logo displayed at your event. Many companies see sponsorships as a form of marketing. Take advantage of that. Also, if you can find a renowned partner/sponsor, that could help you with event experience. Your attendees will respect you more if they see logos of other giants besides yours. That means that your business is in good company.
Consider going digital
Back in the day printed material was everything. People needed it to plan, promote and basically do everything event-wise. Nowadays the situation is different. A great alternative that will save you money is technology. You can use e-mail to send invitations, promotional material, schedules and general info about the event. Also, you can even create a website for a fairly small sum of money. A simple website that has everything your attendees need to know about your event can go a long way.
Always keep an eye out on your budget
The budgeting process needs to start early. That's because you want to know whether your event is going to be feasible. However, many planners forget to keep an eye out after planning a budget. That's why updating it regularly needs to be a priority. Make it a habit to dedicate 10 to 20 minutes on a daily basis to updating your budget. That's a good way to stay on top of new developments in real time and anticipate additional costs.
Having a tight budget can be a real pain in the neck. However, every single event planner had to make it work with small amount of money at least once in their career.
- Published in Event Planning, Event Technology
Register Early and WIN an exclusive Instagram Walkabout with @Sree!
Social media guru, ex-Chief digital Officer of The MET, Former Dean of Columbia School of Journalism, Sree Sreenivasan wants to take YOU and an exclusive group of techsytalk LIVE guests on his famed instagram Walkabout the morning of techsytalk LIVE 10.
"HOW DO I ENTER TO WIN?" Simply register for techsytalk LIVE by FRIDAY JAN. 26 2018 by 5pm EST and you'll automatically be entered to win!
**All winners will be notified via email by Friday, Feb. 16, 2018.
- Published in Event Technology
techsytalk Crystal Ball: 2018 in <3 Minutes
Drones. Artificial Intelligence. Cryptocurrency. Vacation Space Travel (soon, soon.)
Technology is morphing faster than a client's mind and it ain't slowing down! In less than 3 minutes we'll give you 3 important event tech waves to surf in 2018:
Artificial Intelligence
We're not **quite** Tom Cruise in "Minority Report" level but, AI is impacting our industry TODAY and it will only increase in 2018. What if you could use the terabytes of data points you've accumulated about your audience to help them make decisions and deliver a more intuitive experience? Customize an experience to their taste? Increase your attendee retention by automating suggestions based on prior attendee behavior (in a non creepy way, of course). AI is enabling us to leverage technology to make smarter, more targeted decisions to benefit our audiences faster than previously humanly possible. Am I saying technology is smarter than us? Wellllll, not just **yet. <<wink>>
Digital Payments
You've heard about Venmo, Stripe, Apple pay and other digital payment solutions and a once seemingly far-reaching concept called cryptocurrency, now being embraced by the mainstream. The landscape of how currency is being exchanged is evolving right before our eyes and will have a lasting impact on how we plan and execute events. The key here is to learn about these types of technology by experimenting with some of these new modes of payment and to stay in the conversation with other early adopters via reputable Facebook groups, blogs etc. Expect to see these new modes of payment integrated in our day-to-day planning and influencing how we think about paying for services, pricing (less fees please!), transaction speed, digital security etc.
From the dynamic possibilities with aerial event videos & photos, to the promise of Amazon drone deliveries – drones are here to stay. And the thing you're really going to want to pay attention to with drones in 2018 is the law. The FCC and other entities are scrambling to make sure your drones are registered and that you're properly trained to operate them. If you're hiring drones at your next event, make sure the operators are up-to-speed on the regulatory requirements. Oh – and make sure they are properly insured!
My 3 minutes are up, but JOIN US AT TECHSYTALK LIVE 10: THE GRAND FINALE as we dive deeper into these and other event tech trends to anticipate NOW.
- Published in Event Technology
Our Top 3 Picks for Business Apps to Implement in 2018
If you're anything like us, you're always on the go – balancing clients with domestic and international travel. You'd like to stay on top of the business side of things, but it's a challenge.
We get it.
But if one of your goals was getting on top of your business in 2018, here are 3 business apps that we absolutely depend to operate more efficiently.
If you spend WAY too much of your time writing proposals, this online tool will save you TONS of time, make you look more professional and even handles the signing/payment process for your contracts. I love how easy it is to customize proposals from templates we create that reflect our brand look and feel. We can drag in sections of a contract or line items in a budget and deliver the proposal at record speed. We also love the analytics so we can see how much time they spent looking at each part of the proposal!
For those of you driving all over, this app is priceless. It uses location tracking on your phone to track all of your drives – including your starting location and mileage. Then – you simply login and swipe right for business travel and left for personal. Each month, it'll deliver a report that can easily be imported into Quickbooks or any accounting software and you've got your eye on your mileage reimbursements with very little time or effort!
Finally, this app is one we use all. the. time. Whether you're tracking reimbursable expenses for your client or for your annual accounting, this app makes tracking expenses on the go seamless. Take a pic of your receipt, track it, and then run any reports you need, any time!
- Published in Business, Event Technology
Revolution is in the Air – A New Way of Sculpting Negative Space: The Originators Launch Atmospherics
Contact: Michelle Bergstein
Tel.: 407-341-1317
Email: michelle@eventindustrymarketin
New York, NY, April 12, 2017 – The Originators, highly regarded pop-up experience designers, have seized upon the current zeitgeist and are reflecting this general state of change and flux by launching a revolutionary new décor concept – Atmospherics – that introduces an exciting new approach to incorporating negative space in unexpected ways.
Using different fabrics and rigging methods to create a totally immersive environment – be it an entry element like a tunnel, a ceiling treatment, stage backdrop or lounge – Atmospherics are heralding a new design aesthetic that is just now capturing producer's imaginations.
Originators' co-founder and chief creative, Debra Roth, devised the concept of using new technologies to create more organic shapes and complex forms that sculpt space like they never could before: "3-D design is showing us points of view we've never had. Now we're interpreting the unique shapes of computer-driven parametric designs with an array of fabrics to create visually complex, artistically-driven décor design that's ultimately relatively simple and highly impactful."
Marc Posnock, co-founder and head of sales and marketing, points out, "Like any artistic expression that reflects its time, the Originators are shaking it up, doing our own disruption. Atmospherics echo 'something's in the air,' literally, but that it's new and different." Quickly adding, "In a good way."
This is hardly a radical departure from tradition for the Originators. As their name implies, the Originators have always led by example with out-of-the-box thinking. And now they're embracing change with new and different styles of décor and its usage.
The concept behind Atmospherics is to take the repetition of form (in this case, individual fabric panels, called "Wisps") and create the illusion – a "trick of the eye" – that, when viewed with the negative space it shares, appears to be a solid object. It's the repetition of the Wisps, with each one being gradually different than another, that creates the rhythm and form of the Atmosphere. This perception operates on the same persistence-of-vision principal of motion pictures and gives the overall shape an animated visual effect and a one-of-a-kind impact.
From undulating ceiling designs to twisting-turning tunnels and cloud-like lounge areas, Atmospherics play with the dimensions of space and perception. Debra explains, "What I love about it is that your eye fills in the negative space to make it a volumetric form. And that negative space surrounds our shapes and gives it definition." And Marc points out the emotional connection, "We're creating a spatial optical illusion and your brain is in on the conspiracy. It completes the 3d form and leaves you no choice but to interact."
Debra adds, "It's an interpretation of a live Hologram…the positive and negative compete…and you have to experience it to feel the full effect. The sheerness of multi-layer opacities create intrigue. And who doesn't like a little mystery?"
The Originators are a design and fabric structure boutique whose creative niche as experience makers of pop-up environments, 3-D design, fabric décor installations and live special effects for events, exhibits, and permanent display. Its founders, Debra Roth and Marc Posnock, are the two people most responsible for originating the use of fabric structures in the events industry over 25 years ago. Now they're offering the same innovative spirit, creativity and ingenuity they're known for to explore new dimensions.
For all things Originators, high-resolution images, interview and business inquiries, please contact:
Marc Posnock – the Originators – 917-407-4542 / email@example.com / www.originatorsdesign.com
- Published in Event Technology, News
Best in craft global suppliers launch "The Event Tech Tribe"
23rd January 2017
For immediate release
A new collaboration of best-in-craft event tech suppliers has been launched to make life easier for event planners and marketers, and to help make their events more awesome.
The Event Tech Tribe is a collaborative ensemble of businesses that have chosen to work together technically, but more importantly, to co-ordinate at a client level. The Tribe includes mobile app provider ShowGizmo, registration platform Swoogo, onsite specialists TRC, content management system Hubb and audience engagement platform Glisser and is currently focussed on North American, European and Australasian customers.
ShowGizmo CEO, Marie-Claire Andrews says "The raw potential of event technology has created an explosion of new companies and innovative products. But, this placed the burden of supplier co-ordination and integration of technologies on already overworked event planners. We aim to solve that – making life easier – saving time as well as money."
In defiance of the alternative 'vanilla' options presented by enterprise solutions, the Tribe has built a way of working that puts the customer first. Based on a fundamental belief held by all the members – that each piece of the event technology ecosystem needs to be excellent on its own, and that the best companies focus on doing their bit really, really well – the group will offer all the advantages of an end-to-end experience by taking each of those components and blending them at the edges to create compatible functionality.
Founder and CEO of Swoogo, Leonora Valvo, was the pioneer of the concept and confirms that "The Tribe ensures service, technology and data are all connected in a flexible way to make your events world-class." "Data is at the heart of what we all do: technology is just a means to help you create truly 'intelligent events' – measurable, repeatable, scalable and evolutionary.
TRC founder and Chief Executive, Greg Lazzaro is excited about the potential the partnership has for his customers: "Ultimately, this is about excellent events. Building these strong relationships with key partners means we can continue to offer innovation after
innovation" He adds, "And the best bit is we're flexible, we're independent, and we're complementary. We can help whether you need to work with two of us or all of us"
The Tribe is launching with a webinar on 25th January and presentations from Tribe members around the country, with a roadshow scheduled for March/April.
For further information:
The Event Tech Tribe: https://eventtechtribe.swoogo.com/tribe2017
Marie-Claire Andrews, ShowGizmo CEO
email@example.com Mob: +64 21 814 224
- Published in Event Technology, News
ShowGizmo gears up to offer Associations a year-round solution in 2017
14th December 2016
For Immediate Release
One of Australasia's longest standing event app companies, ShowGizmo is announcing a new focus on Associations for 2017.
Since launching one of the world's first event apps in 2010, ShowGizmo has now powered thousands of events throughout the world with their suite of native whitelabel and owned event apps. "We've served clients from all industries and sectors over the years, as event people as well as mobile specialists. Helping to create awesome events has always been a huge driving force for us," said CEO and Co- Founder, Marie-Claire Andrews. The company was recently named one of Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 in the APAC region.
"Our experience with Associations in Australasia and the USA have consistently been positive, we really love the collaborations that Associations foster, and we want to continue to help make that a possibility for these vital organisations by ensuring their requirements are front and centre for our product development," said Marie-Claire.
In a nod of more to come, ShowGizmo has confirmed 2017 partnerships with two of Australasia's leading Association industry bodies: The Australasian Society for Association Executives and Associations Forum. Both will be utilising ShowGizmo's technology as a year-round platform to digitise the way they communicate with their members.
"Face to face events are still our core business, and we're going to continue supporting them as always, but we want to help Associations and other organisations leverage the possibilities that year-round mobile interactions offer. Our partnerships with AuSAE and Associations Forum is a sign of great things to come!" explained ShowGizmo's COO, Ryan O'Connor.
David Browne, Executive Officer of the Professional Teachers' Council (PTC) NSW is looking forward to showcasing his 45 member associations a digital platform throughout 2017, "I'm excited to offer the platform and I'm confident of great adoption, not only because of the opportunities to cross promote events, but because our app will also be an attractive tool for our associations to attract sponsorship."
Lara Simmons
Marketing Executive at ShowGizmo
For more information:
Associations Forum
- Published in Business, Event Technology


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A collection of beautifully and ethically made goods from change makers around the globe that give back 25% of proceeds to charity with each sale
Can an ethical business model centered around a rich cultural tradition serve to lift up a community? With Etkie, the answer is yes.
In the American southwest, many American Indian women currently live either unemployed or underemployed, with few available opportunities to lift their families and themselves out of poverty. But with a culture steeped in tradition and artistry, American Indian tribes, for generations, have been influential in passing down and preserving their cultural heritage for their children.
Sydney Alfonso, CEO of Etkie saw an opportunity to build an ethical business model around the talents of women living in the American Indian community. At the same time she saw an opportunity to deliver an upscale brand of contemporary jewelry to the mass market.
Not only does Etkie work to empower American Indian artisans, but the level of detail and workmanship is evident in each one-of-a-kind piece, which can take up to eight hours to produce.
It's precisely this reason that FGS&Co. is excited to carry the Etkie Collection. Not only do we value the level of detail and artistry involved in producing these beautifully designed accessories, but we also support Etkie's vision. We believe in Sydney's mission to help American Indians earn a living wage while supporting their rich cultural heritage.
A collection of beautifully and ethically made goods from change makers around the globe that give back 25% of proceeds to charity with each sale

subset: commoncrawl


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Content originally published at iBankCoin.com
Oh no he didn't…
After Matt Lauer was fired today for "inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace," pinching Katie Couric's ass and whatnot, President Trump took to Twitter to sling some tomahawks at the MSM "opposition party" today.
In addition to slamming Lauer, Trump suggested people "Check out Andy Lack's past!"
Wow, Matt Lauer was just fired from NBC for "inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace." But when will the top executives at NBC & Comcast be fired for putting out so much Fake News. Check out Andy Lack's past!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2017
Lack is the chairman of NBC and MSNBC. Prior to that he was chairman of Bloomberg Media and CEO of Sony. Are there some skeletons in his closet?
Trump then dropped another bomb on Morning Joe
One day after MSNBC Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough announced "I took down my Trump tweets yesterday after deciding my responses should be about policy and not personality," the President dredged up the "unsolved mystery" of Scarborough's dead intern, Lori Klausutis:
So now that Matt Lauer is gone when will the Fake News practitioners at NBC be terminating the contract of Phil Griffin? And will they terminate low ratings Joe Scarborough based on the "unsolved mystery" that took place in Florida years ago? Investigate!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2017
Via Fox News:
The story of Lori Klausutis has dogged Scarborough on the Internet since she was found dead in his Florida district office on July 19, 2001. Although Scarborough was out of town — and the medical examiner later ruled she had died after falling and hitting her head on a desk — conspiracy theorists have long speculated, with no reliable evidence, that Scarborough could have been somehow involved in Klausutis' death. And now the president appears to be joining in.
What's strange, aside from the way Klausutis died, is that while the autopsy concluded that Klausutis had a cardiac arrhythmia which caused her to fall and hit her head on a desk, Dr. Michael Berkland, who performed the autopsy, was busted for a felony charge of improper storage of hazardous waste after human remains were found in a storage unit rented by Berkland.
Scarborough was never a suspect in the investigation, though he did laugh about it and say "Yeah well, what are you gonna do?" in 2003 on the Don Imus show:
In response to Trump's tweet, Scarborough said "Looks like I picked a good day to stop responding to Trump's bizarre tweets. He is not well."
Looks like I picked a good day to stop responding to Trump's bizarre tweets. He is not well. https://t.co/XJhW5ZHNfs
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) November 29, 2017
4D Sand in the Eyes
Make no mistake, Trump knows there's "zero evidence to suggest that Joe Scarborough had anything to do with the death of Lori Klaustis. But the story of Klausutis's death has nevertheless haunted Scarborough over the years," as Gawker wrote.
That's not the point… Keep in mind that Trump, at the end of the day, is an expert shitposter – triggering the left at the drop of a tweet. And with Scarborough's announcement yesterday that he's not going to comment on Trump anymore, I think it's a near certainty that the President decided to test ol' Joe's resolve.
And look at the headlines… is any real news being reported today? Of course not – the MSM and new media (Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, etc.) are in full meltdown Lauer's firing and Trump's crazy tweet.
Tapper Triggered
CNN anchor Jake Tapper chimped out over Trump's dig at Scarborough, calling the attacks "indecent" and "attempting to exploit the tragic death of a young woman."
This is the president attempting to exploit the tragic death of a young woman — one who had heart problems and hit her head when she fell — to score a cheap spurious political point. Indecent. Inhumane. https://t.co/UAvbhYPCnQ
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 29, 2017
And that's how you wag the dog…
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The post WOW – Trump Tweets About "Unsolved Mystery" Of Joe Scarborough's Dead Intern After Matt Lauer Fired appeared first on crude-oil.news.


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New year – etc etc
08/01/2018 § 2 Comments
I did manage to stay up to see in the New Year – mainly to keep the collies company when the neighbours' fireworks lit up the night sky. It was quite a display! Misty, these days is an old lady of 13 and was blissfully unaware of any of the bangers as she's quite deaf. She used to have a bit of a bark at fireworks but in her quiet world it's always peaceful, and she actually seems much happier and less anxious as a result.
Belle is now the main lookout and thinks she's taken over as Chief of Defence, but she's not as defensive as Misty used to be and instead of barking at the doorbell, comes running to tell me that I need to do something. It's very amusing – she's an intelligent and sensitive companion who reads me like a book though I have caught her napping on duty a couple of times recently …
Belle's favourite 'perch' is on the back of the old sofa by the front window – it's covered in throws and cushions and she just loves it up there.
Misty, meanwhile, gazes at me asking "What's going on?"
The rug is new – a sale buy in Laura Ashley as was this …
an ex-display bargain and Belle WILL NOT be allowed on it. I have to collect it next month when they rearrange their showroom and I can't wait. Maybe I should do some dog-training in the meantime!
My motto this year was an easy one to decide upon. Last Autumn I stopped off at the Tavistock Pannier Market on my way to Cornwall. As always, the talented Emma West's stall drew me and I bought a porcelain tile – it really did sum up how I feel about life these days and I've decided to adopt it as my motto for this year …
I love the combination of textured linen, the stitched sentiment and the cool crisp porcelain – I keep it on my kitchen dresser.
In an attempt to be kinder to my insides as well, I often start the day with a smoothie. This morning's consisted of a banana, a pear, persimmon, a good inch of ginger root, beetroot and orange juice and a generous handful of oatmeal for extra fibre …
One of these fills me up as a breakfast for much longer than toast or boxed cereals. If I'm going out then I usually have porridge with fruit on top which keeps me fuelled for even longer,
I saw in the New Year having (with minutes to go) finished a 2nd corner to corner blanket – it's Strawberry Moon II made with the same Sirdar Aura that my original Strawberry Moon was made with in Cornwall last year. I've since added a simple border to each blanket. The 2nd one is a present but I won't say for whom just yet, though I suspect she can guess!
For SMII I used just the pink and dark red colourway whereas in mine I added a blue colourway too – to remind me of the Cornish sea. I've had a daily fix of my beloved Porthleven thanks to a webcam that's been installed at a local holiday cottage company. It's here if you fancy seeing what the tide's doing. I was pleased to see that the snowman with paddle arms survived our recent Storm Eleanor.
I'm off out for a jaunt now. Next week I hope to bring you photos of the garden and some snowdrops and catkins – I can't believe how nature springs back into action after a winter's snooze – maybe we should all follow her lead, whilst being kind to ourselves!
Colourful challenges …
13/01/2017 § 3 Comments
Gypsy Wife is proving to be a challenge …
I've been quite enjoying this type of patchwork that is so different from my usual style. I am loving the fun of putting different colours together and how they make these blocks work (or not). Some didn't work out quite as planned so will be redone – I HATE redoing anything!
My favourites so far …
I'm hoping to have it pieced in a month – too much of a challenge? Well, maybe!
Breakfast each day for the last week has been colourful – starting with green, then various shades of orangey gold and yesterday pink. The blender-thing is doing its stuff and I have to admit to enjoying the orangey/pinky drinks more than the green – maybe it's the sweeter flavour from mango, raspberries & blueberries as opposed to cucumber & kale!
In addition to colourful breakfasts, yesterday just as it was getting dark, the rain gave way to a brief spell of snow and for a very short time the brown winter garden took on that magical cloak of white. It was all too fleeting-a shower and then it froze so this morning was crisp, to say the least. The girls enjoyed a long walk in the woods yesterday, just before it started to rain …
and Flora was very cuddly in this morning's chill – she's such a sweet character.
I think that's my first published 'selfie' – a bit of a challenge when cuddling a duck with one arm and trying to hold the camera and press the dot with the other!
I treated myself to a large jug to brighten up a corner of the lounge. I love handmade Mary Rose Young pottery and have quite a few pieces but it's out of my budget these days, so I was pleased to find this 'designed by MRY' jug that is perfect – gorgeous colours …
Oh – I almost forgot – more orange – I made marmalade –
12 jars of Christmas Spiced Marmalade (which may not last than long)
and 12 jars of Dark Ginger Marmalade – my favourite!
Have a lovely weekend and stay warm.
linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts, My Quilt Infatuation and Sew Fresh Quilts
First finishes & breakfast!
06/01/2017 § 6 Comments
When I said that colours keep me happy, I didn't think it would extend to breakfast!
Yesterday I treated myself to a 'nutrition blender' and this morning, my breakfast was green – and surprisingly quite delicious. As you may know if you're a regular visitor here, I can't do recipes, so I gathered together a heap of fruit and some curly kale, added some water and whizzed. The result was refreshing and as I'd added a spoonful of oatbran, satisfyingly filling too. Is it a fad? Well, maybe but I do use all of my kitchen appliances regularly and hope that this one will be a useful addition to the range.
Quilt finishes this week …
A vivacious half-square triangle quilt for my daughter. It's certainly colourful and will keep her very warm when she returns from her travels in SE Asia. She loves bright colours too and she sent me this wonderful photo yesterday …
The 2nd finish of the week goes to a small quilt with hand-pieced hexi's – Grandmother's Flower Garden …
I loved spending the quiet evenings throughout the festive season, watching favourite films and hand-piecing all those hexagons together, using lots of offcuts from C's quilt. I haven't done patchwork like that for a very long time indeed! The result is very pretty and will be a sample piece for one of my workshops.
On Christmas day, I opened two lovely patchwork book presents that are wonderful and inspiring so, whilst in the creative groove I promptly went online and treated myself to a quilt pattern …
Not sure when I'll fit this in though it may be a whole year-long project. It'll definitely be a keeper!!!
How's the first week of the New Year been for you? I've loved putting up my new calendars and generally having a bit of a tidy up around the place. A vase of tulips in the kitchen has paved the pathway to Spring, which I'm sure will be upon us in no time.
linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts, My Quilt Infatuation and Sew Fresh Quilts
Time to wrap …
04/10/2016 § 2 Comments
I started this shawl way back – can't even remember when, but maybe February time. It's been keeping me company throughout the year for a few rows at a time, here and there, in the evenings and I decided that as finish was overdue I took it on holiday with me to Cornwall.
My usual style of an elongated, knitted triangle in a variety of stitches that take my fancy, then my favourite pineapple-ish crochet edging.
I did finish it whilst on holiday and brought it home for blocking and end-stitching-in. Almost as soon as October arrived, it was time to wear it during the evenings. It's a comforting extra layer around my shoulders and very soft. The yarn – a linen mix – was a charity shop buy for just a couple of pounds. It's gone a long way, as I made this shawl for my daughter earlier in the year.
The apples are ripening and I've Sloe & Apple Jelly underway in the kitchen as well as piles of dried fruit, onions, sugar and bottles of vinegar all ready for chutney-making. Just awaiting my delivery of jam jars and then we're off …
Patchwork and pickling are on the agenda for this week. What are you up to?
Home for the holiday …
28/03/2016 § 4 Comments
Two of the children have been home for the Easter holiday – C our eldest and only daughter and J2 our youngest and 2nd son. J1 is here and there in South-East Asia and we all missed him though we're in touch almost every day thanks to the wonders of modern technology.
It's been wonderful to spend a quiet few days, enjoying each others' company, walking the collies, some retail therapy with C and for me, the joy of cooking up some simple suppers in my new kitchen. We, as a family, have a very easy-going attitude to most events and at last I delivered on the promise of a special birthday cake for C – very belatedly!
The cake didn't last long. We've rechristened J2 'The Cake Monster' – this wasn't the only cake I baked over the weekend and the chocolate sponge that followed the birthday cake didn't last more than a few hours!
The kitchen has been brilliant to use and the cupboards, all stacked up with pretty dishes and glasses make me smile every time I open them (I've NEVER had tidy cupboards in the kitchen before, but it's wonderful) …
This evening we enjoyed left-overs made into pasties, with salad – such comfort food!
The collies are wandering around, hoping to find somebody to make a fuss of them in every room, but they'll have to make do with me as C and J2 have both left for the station to travel up the line back to their city pads. It's been a wonderful weekend – simple pleasures!
I hope your Easter time has been everything you hoped for.
Back to business in the morning!
Adaliza x
a perfect sponge …
28/06/2015 § 8 Comments
Many, many years ago growing up in rural west Wales, my first boyfriend was the farmer's youngest son from over the field. His mother was a real matriarch – 4 strong boys she raised – she was ambitious and scary and loved me like a daughter.
She ran the farmhouse like clockwork – and knew all that was happening on every inch of the farm. Pet lambs followed her into the huge cool kitchen, with its dark flagstone floor and black coal-fired range that blasted out heat even on the hottest summer day. Dogs were chased out of the kitchen with the broom – as were the hens. The boys devoured everything she cooked – and she was an awesome cook. Mostly it was good, straightforward food – nothing fancy, but lots of it. Beef, eggs, potatoes, veg from the garden and fruit from the hedgerows and kitchen garden. But when there were visitors or a fete at the village hall, she always produced the most amazing sponge cakes. I remember her telling me her secret – WEIGH THE EGGS!
Well, she left her kitchen and her sons some years ago when she was well into her 80's. I think there was a little part of her that still loved me, at least that what she said when I last spoke to her, but I never got over the feeling that she never forgave me for marrying someone else and producing his amazing children instead of her own grandchildren. She was in tears one night, when we were visiting the village on holiday and my little brood had won some prizes in the local village fete – she sniffed into her hankie whilst sitting next to my mother and said "your grand-children should have been ours to share"! Oh dear. That's life, I suppose and some things aren't meant to be.
I remembered her today when I saw the little collection of eggs that Flora's been laying over the past few days. I've had a dreadful lurgy/flu-like bug and haven't been up to doing or cooking anything much. Truth to say – I've spent a few days in bed with a temperature and feeling very wobbly. Feeling a bit chirpier this morning, I decided to make a sponge and I followed Mrs P's advice from all those years ago – I weighed the eggs!
Three eggs came in at 5 oz (I have imperial weights on my old scales still, which is fine because everything had to weigh the same) – butter, flour and sugar. A spoonful of freshly boiled water after mixing, to relax the mixture and WOW – a perfect sponge …
Oh, it was lovely – still is (I haven't eaten all of it)! I know it won't last long once my sons J1 and J2 descend tomorrow. Thank you Mrs P – I'll always love you a little bit too, and that youngest son of yours, and your secret for the perfect sponge. Thanks too, to Flora for producing the most amazing eggs!
Adaliza x
A wander around my garden …
19/02/2015 § 12 Comments
Mother Duck has been snatching sunny moments in the garden. She's been having a lovely time finding worms for me – such a tasty treat – and I've been helping by getting under her feet and pushing my beak in where her trowel is digging and planting. I can't wait till she gets going in the main garden instead of faffing around with pots of bulbs and those big white sinks.
I thought you might like to see some rare winter colours and pretty corners of my garden …
Then, I had a waddle down to see what was happening under the rose arch, then back to my daytime perch on the verandah – it's a bit chilly and damp today. Good weather for ducks!!!
Mother Duck's been doing a lot of quilting so I'm sure she'll have lots to show you next time!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ please leave a comment ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


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Whither the pickup line?
Thanks to the popular dating app Tinder, a one-size-fits-all gesture of approval, swipe right, has in theory replaced awkward fumbles at an opening conversational gambit.
But in fact, the migration of courtship online has resulted in a refinement of pickup lines far beyond '70s singles-bar relics like "Hey baby, what's your sign?" and "Are those space pants? Because your butt is out of this world."
The simple "Hi" and its variations are the surest ways to end a conversation; they're too generic and, lately, indistinguishable from the way bots initiate contact. Only those with the most flattering profile pictures can get away with generic questions like "How was your weekend?"
And so Tom Anderson, 26, a graduate student at New York University, has started pitching his matches hypothetical situations, as in the popular "Choose Your Own Adventure" children's book series, to try to get their attention.
"Hey, so it's your third day traversing the Alaskan tundra," one starts.
Mr. Anderson has four story beginnings that he sends to potential matches, and two completed stories in case he gets an enthusiastic response. But thus far the reactions he has gotten are mostly "too long; did not read" and "that's really clever" with no follow-up, Mr. Anderson said. He added that "a couple people have gotten really offended," accusing him of trying to fit them into a narrative rather than getting to know them.
A more common approach in Tinder-land is to quickly skim the other person's profile and find something to comment on — a detail from a photo, or a line of profile text. Statements tend to work better than questions as conversation starters; they're less personal and invite reactions and commentary rather than disclosure. With the help of a friend, Brent Bailey, 24, a programmer in New York, came up with a successful opener to someone who mentioned her life being "a bit messy" in her profile.
"I could make your life a whole lot messier," he responded.
Mr. Bailey said he was more successful with crowd-sourced pickup lines. "As a rule, my friends are way less concerned about my dignity, so they usually come up with something way more interesting than I would," he said.
There is such a thing as too interesting, of course. Hannah Smothers, 22, the relationships editor at Cosmopolitan.com, said she took down a profile picture of herself reading "Love in the Time of Cholera" on vacation because it attracted so many pretentiously literary come-ons. (Though perhaps these were preferable to the man who commented on her navel.)
On the dating service Bumble, where women must initiate all conversations, Ms. Smothers decided to try what she called a "dumb troll-y" gimmick — asking every match if he was a feminist. Men loved it, and she got a high response rate she has yet to match.
Bumble has "created a place where men can sit back and relax and let women come to them," Ms. Smothers said approvingly.
Others' relaxed approaches may mean stealing a well-oiled line like "There she is," parsed by Sam Biddle of Gawker in February 2015.
After all, "even good old 'hello' has a distinctly psychopathic character in black-on-grey," Mr. Biddle mused of his pickup travails. And indeed "there she is" was brilliant in its simplicity: familiar but alluring, like your partner welcoming you home after your long day.
Of course, now that it's out there and frequently used, the line is less likely to work, as more elaborate pickup artists like Mr. Anderson of N.Y.U. have grasped.
He is taking a break from dating and story-writing for the moment, but hopes to eventually find someone to appreciate his carefully constructed opening lines.
"In a way, it's impossible," Mr. Anderson said of Tinder rituals. "It's a bizarre way to actually meet someone and judge if you're having a connection with them."


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Nerve Glides – Sciatic Nerve
Do you have sciatic nerve pain? Here's our favorite exercise that can help!
Sciatica is one of the most prominent non-traumatic conditions of the lower extremity in athletics today. One potential reason for this is the extended periods of time that we live in an anteriorly, or more commonly posteriorly, pelvic tilt position. This posterior pelvic tilt can be due to many factors such as tight hamstrings or weak hip flexors. However, when maintained for extended periods of time, our deep gluteal muscles become dysfunctional. This dysfunction leads to burning, numbing, or tingling in the gluteal region of your body that often travels down the backside of your leg.
In combination with corrective exercise, sciatic nerve glides can often help address this pain by trying to 'floss' the nerve through its neural tensioned areas. To perform a self-nerve glide of the sciatic nerve, you should:
1. Lay on the ground or a table and place both hands underneath one thigh and pull your hip into flexion
2. While your hip is in this position (excuse my tight hamstrings in this video) try to straighten your knee
3. If you still don't feel any neural tension at this point, try bringing your toes towards your nose (dorsiflexion)
4. If you find a restriction during any one of these joint movements, mobilize the nerve by replicating the joint's movement that you found symptoms in
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Saturday, April 28, 2018
Bi Kidude, Sri Lankan Baila and Traditional Drums
Bi Kidude (Little Granny)
Fatma Baraka Khamis was Taarab singer from Zanzibar who was born around 1910. Bi Kidude won several awards including a WOMEX
Award for her role in the culture of the Zanzibar Island. The iconic artist sadly passed away on April 17th, 2013. She very well might have been a century old. (see more here and video documentary"As old as my tongue – The Myth and Life of Bi Kidude" by director Andy Jones). In Bi Kidude's words, I smoke, drink and sing. Not bad for a life to a hundred years.
So here is one music video by Bi Kidude. A few other links, Dancing, Traditional Drums, and her Voice range (Alminadura)
Manja Music of Sri Lanka
Its the music of the Kaffirs (not a derogatory word in Sri Lanka). They were brought mainly by the Portuguese from Angola and Mozambique. The Tabbowa/Sirambiadi community in the west coast is a mix of African descendants and Sinhalese. Their music is now very much part of the Sri Lankan tradition. Below the group Ceylon African Manja performing in their village. This is youtube clip of the same group in a more formal setting.
Portuguese Burgers (Creoles) of Batticoloa (East Coast)
The Portuguese Burgers too sing and dance Kaffiringha music. Its is unknown if they have African roots.
Sri Lankan Traditional Music
A gravel voice and rhythms (as against melody) define traditional music. Immediate below women playing the rabane, a instrument played by women at village events, specially Sinhalese New Year. This particular video is from a five star hotel !!.
Second below the traditional Gajaba Wannama (dance of the King's Tuske) with a modern dance ensemble. More Wannamas here.
Unheard of a couple of decades back, upper middle class girls/women playing the drums, or for that matter a traditional instruments. Now we have and all girl/women traditional drumming (watch it is good, their website http://www.thuryaa.lk/). The times are a changing.
Also see
Thanks Mohamed Rizwan for linking the Bi Kidude video, Anton James for identifying Bi Kidude.
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Some kids think God gave them parents just so that they could get presents for Christmas each year. Do your kids see you that way? I sure hope not. In one of Aesop's Fables, he told the story of a man who lived at home with one of his grown, married children. As he grew older, he became very frail. When he joined his daughter and son-in-law at the kitchen table for meals, he would sometimes spit and make an awful mess. The young adults got tired of dealing with the older man's disturbance, so they made him eat his food alone in a corner. As the man's condition got worse, his kids made him eat out of a little wooden trough like an animal.
Then one day, the young couple saw their four-year-old son making a little trough. He told them he was making it for them when they got older. Suddenly, they realized what they had been doing. That night, Father was back at the table.
We ought to treat our parents with respect, even if they're old, they repeat themselves, and they can't do anything for us anymore. If for nothing other than the fact that they brought us into this world, they deserve to be honored. That doesn't just mean paying Mom and Dad's bills. Love and take care of them. And remember, the way you treat your parents will be the way your kids treat you.
You might not have had the best family situation growing up. Maybe you grew up in a single-parent home, or you were the victim of abuse. Or you might have had great parents. Do you honor them? Have you called them lately or taken them out for dinner? Think of some ways you can honor your parents, and do something for them at least once a month. Treat your parents the way you want to be treated, and your kids will return the favor.
Yea, though your parents be never so poor in the world, or weak of understanding, yea, though they were ungodly, you must honor them notwithstanding all this; though you cannot honor them as rich, or wise, or godly, you must honor them as your parents. — Richard Baxter
Devotional by Dr. James A. Scudder


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Choosing The Right Photographer For You
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY – THE LOWDOWN As a rule of thumb, as soon as you have paid a deposit to secure your church/wedding venue, the next step is find a photographer. And depending on where you live, there are going to be hundreds, thousands, possibly even tens of thousands of photographers to choose from! Whereas, if you go back … Continue reading Choosing The Right Photographer For You
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Situated literally in the heart of Riebeek Kasteel, a prime commercial property with large owner's apartment on site. Up till recently a...
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Today they held the first Ultimate Comic Book Expo and Trade Show at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY. It was a small show, but it was a good one. I ended up finding some comics I've been looking for for nearly a decade (I didn't know about them when they came out, they are kind of an oddity- more below). I hope they do another because we had a lot of fun! And of course I managed to get some cards, too, because you never have comic shows without cards, naturally.
I got to meet Fred Hembeck, who I've been a fan of for years. His humorous art has been providing laughs for more than 20 years now, and he actually is from the same small town I am from. He had a binder full of sketch cards at very reasonable prices, and I had to bring home the Marvel Family. The original Captain Marvel is my all time favorite super hero.
I also brought along some of those white cards that are put into packs to prevent feeling for relic cards- they are sturdy, they are not glossy, and they are great for autographs.
We also met Charles Barnett III, an artist/inker who I was not as familiar with but he does good work and is a very friendly guy. I got an autograph from him as well...
I found some Star Wars cards, of course. I got this box...I didn't realize that they were so large. Each card is the same size as the box. They are now the physically largest cards in my collection.
And I also got the first series of Star Wars cards from Metallic Impressions. And they aren't rusty, which is a good thing, as the Metallic Impressions cards have a tendency to rust.
Here are some random comics I picked up. I am not sure if I needed them all- my wantlist got messed up as I forgot to remove some comics after hunting them down, and then mixed them up with the rest of my collection, so I basically have to recreate it. Smack myself upside the head for that one. I am sure I need the movie adaption on the left, and I'm pretty sure about the two in the middle. It's the Crimson Empire Handbook that I am not sure on. It's a fairly rare comic, so I figured for $5 I was going to take the chance and get it, and if it's a duplicate, maybe I can trade it away later.
Here are some pictures from the show-
|Batman with Batmobile
|Captain America Mustang
|Back to the Future DeLorean
|Me and a Stormtrooper. I'm on the right.
|Made entirely of Legos
|Also made of Legos
And then, to top it all off, we go to Target, and I get the new Panini Excaliber set...where I pull my first card of Nikola Mirotic, making him the 2500th different person in my NBA card collection. I have not scanned it yet, it will probably lead to it's own post shortly.
Today was a VERY good day!
If you guys want to read more posts about comics, that could be arranged, by the way.


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Photo: Barbara Bloom
Keeping up with past and present happenings in a remarkable small town.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Butler Jr. High School ~
23 comments:
- Anonymous said...
Wow, is this still being used? Last time I "swam" there was 1951. Long time ago.
- April 24, 2012
- Anonymous said...
I was standing in the pool right where it deepens for the diving board. I jumped up and down to attract the attention of a friend and turned a cartwheel as I slipped on the slippery bottom. I sucked up a large quantity of water and nearly drowned. I remember the incident after 60 odd years.
- April 24, 2012
- R. Wertz ('52) said...
Ain't it funny how time (and a few other things) slip away?
Looking at the photo, I thought it was one of the hallways, most likely near the trophy case, but it did not look familiar. Barbara could have at least taken the pic when the pool was full of water, for heavenly sakes(and for the geezers amongst us.)
Then, on the other hand, maybe the pool is full of cool, clear water where Mixer dripped the burning adolescents with water....cool, clear water.
- April 24, 2012
- Anonymous said...
In 1958 or so, it was a tradition for swimming classes to throw phys-ed student teachers into the pool.Usually they didn't resist, but Bo Voelker did and there were 'bodies' floating in the water and he was still standing on the side.Also John Mixer did not abide the snapping of towells in the dressing room.
- April 25, 2012
- Anonymous said...
God I hated this pool and swimming class. I had suppressed the horror- now I'll have nightmares...
- April 25, 2012
- Anonymous said...
Ah, thanks for bring back the repressed memories of certain gym teachers toweling off naked in front of the boys locker room door while another teacher's swimming class was going on during the 1980s.
- April 25, 2012
- R. Wertz said...
Anonamoose said:"God I hated this pool and swimming class. I had suppressed the horror- now I'll have nightmares."
It was all about the hair, wasn't it Moose?
- April 25, 2012
- Anonymous said...
Retarded Citizens Association was allowed to use this pool on Saturday mornings---I remember teaching many of those young people who are now senior citizens--this was in the late 50's/60's. Back then they didn't have as many activities for these young people and they had the best time. Butler was ahead of its time thanks in large part to Mrs. Lackey. She was a very resourceful woman. We all appreciate her work.
- April 25, 2012
- Anonymous said...
Barbara took this picture during the summer, and the pool is emptied of water at the end of each school year. Hence, no water in the pool until the school year starts.
- April 25, 2012
- R. Wertz said...
''Anonymous said...
Barbara took this picture during the summer, and the pool is emptied of water...''
No excuse! It still looks like the hallway where the trophy display case is/was without the water.
Hey...does a fashion model go to a photo shoot without makeup? Barbara could have, at least, used Photoshop to add the water. And, I might add, while she was at it, added Ester Williams and Rudolf Valentino paddling about or some other Butler notables thrashing about. Who would know?
BTW....is this Bloom gal related to a Bloom guy I knew back last century?
This is all very confusing to the geezers 'mongst us. I'm going to take my meds now...and, yes, I know, I may have to increase the dosage. Pls...no snarky replies.
- April 26, 2012
- Anonymous said...
I learned to swim here in a summer long ago.That was before the Y had a pool. And as a teacher in the building, one night a week we could come here swimming w/Mrs. Butler as our lifeguard. When she retired, that was the end of that.
- April 26, 2012
- Anonymous said...
I remember back 1971 if you forgot your swimsuit you had to swim naked. In all the times I had swimming, I can only recall one kid have to go "o'natural." Can you imagine trying that policy today.
- April 27, 2012
- Anonymous said...
I remember back in 1973 if you had
long hair, you had to wear one of
those rubber swim caps that stuck
to your head afterwards and pulled
half your hair out trying to get
them off. Yuk!
- April 27, 2012
- Anonymous said...
In the mid-60s I saw Mr. Mellinger toss in a rotund kid who always brought an excuse to swim class when he got fed up with him.
Another quaint practice that has fortunately outlived it's usefulness.
- April 29, 2012
- Anonymous said...
The actual swimming is not bad, it's the changing back into your clothes and doing your hair that I hate
- May 03, 2012
- Anonymous said...
OH GOD!!!! Nothing good here!! Warts....Athletes feet..... stinky water.... tiny cramped bomb shelter of a pool.....over chlorination....wet hair rest of the day! What a nightmare!
- May 10, 2012
- Unknown said...
Looks like the room has been enlarged. I like the tile work.
- June 20, 2012
- Kathy said...
I HATED swimming class! That pool creeped me out. I was there 1977-79 and remember having to wear those swim caps, too. I have to agree with the above commen about the room being enlarged. Maybe the white just makes it look bigger. I remember it always being like a sauna.
- July 24, 2012
- Anonymous said...
The Butler Junior High locker rooms were where a lot of kids got planter warts which we all had to get them dug out of our feet. This went on for years. Seems the Butler School District couldn't be bothered to sanitize the area.
- August 01, 2012
- Morrissey said...
My memories of this place include someone with the initials AH. He wasnt an employee but ran the boys showers. Makes sense right?
- August 03, 2012
- Anonymous said...
I remember AH, naked gym teachers, and water polo that was basically a fist fight in the pool. This place was so gross.
- August 06, 2012
- Hope Schnell said...
Searching for information about my pap Jeffrey Troutman. He went to BHS and graduated in 1960. He played football. Any information or memories of him would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Hope Schnell
email firstname.lastname@example.com
- December 07, 2015
- Unknown said...
I was in junior high from 61 through 64 and I remember that the boys had to swim nude. Funny nobody else mentioned-this. Both my boys went through there in the late 80s and early 90s and that practiced was no longer being used. I wonder when that finally came to an end.
- January 03, 2018


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Kurt Blohm
Kurt Blohm
Kurt has more than twenty-five years of experience in a variety of jobs within the financial services and mortgage banking industries. He has worked as everything from a collections manager to a regional underwriter to an operations manager to a servicing controller in a career that has included time at banks, mortgage companies and investment houses. He has worked for both public and privately held businesses and has extensive experience in financial reporting, compliance, internal controls, budgeting and forecasting, strategic planning, risk assessment, employee development, and operational accounting.
Kurt's work in so many different roles within the mortgage banking industry gives him insight into the business that few can match. When he advises clients, he understands the repercussions that a choice made in one department or group can have throughout an institution. His experience helps him to identify potential pitfalls and unintended consequences, as well as hidden opportunities that others might miss. Kurt tailors his solutions carefully to make sure that they fix what needs improving without hampering functions that are working.
Prior to joining Richey May Co., Kurt was affiliated with Beal Bank, Countrywide Home Loans, H&R Block Mortgage, Goldman Sachs, Grant Thornton, Louetta Management and BB&T. Kurt was born in Tulsa, OK but now resides in Castle Rock, CO. He is an avid hockey fan and in his free time enjoys hiking and spending time with his son Zachary and wife Elizabeth.
Professional Memberships and Affiliations:
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- Colorado Association of Certified Public Accountants
- North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants
- The Institute of Internal Auditors
- Houston Wild Youth Hockey-Executive Treasurer & Assistant Coach
- Charlotte Flames Youth Hockey-Controller
- University of North Carolina Charlotte
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting
- Oklahoma State University
- Bachelor of Science in Marketing


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I have never had much interest in fashion. When I was in my "suit" years I did attempt to stay in touch with what was "right" for the time, but I wasn't obsessed about it.
Men's fashion is quite simple when you come to think of it. It's totally the opposite of women's where just about any parameter can be implemented, adjusted, changed or removed. Not so with men's fashion, I think. While there may be changes in colors or patterns, there is usually only one thing that men's fashion designers significantly mess with and that's width.
Let's look at suits, ties, shirts and belts. What changes every few years on these articles of men's clothing? Mainly width. Suits, usually the lapels, go from wide to thin and back again. Pants go in and out in width. Ties do the same, as do belts. Shirt collars grow and shrink, sometimes perk up or flatten. These are the basic changes in men's fashion.
Currently, we're in the thin stage. Look at the suits all the Hollywood types are wearing to the awards circuses. The pants are incredibly narrow, making a bird-legged guy like me appear even bonier. The jackets are tight with pulls, tugs and creases that are considered perfectly acceptable. The ties (if one is even worn) are an inch wide. All this will change in about ten years.
The only men's fashion trend I used to really like was vests. I think a suit with a vest looks great…if you aren't overweight. Just about every suit I wore in the '70s had a vest. I was a young fashion statement…sort of. Then vests went away and are just now showing up again. Hip Hip Hurray–but not with the skinny jackets and pants…please.
Okay, so there you have it—my rarely exposed opinion on fashion. Short and sweet…or do I mean narrow? I could not help myself, especially after watching the Grammys. Looking at all the weird stuff men are wearing today has convinced me we are in a really ugly phase for men's apparel right now. But, not to worry, the wider stuff will return eventually and then it, too, will go to the extreme and the eventual adjustment to width will be made once again. Maybe that's why they say a Brooks Brother suit is always in style.
Now, underwear…well, that's a whole other story. Maybe some other blog.


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7:00pm, $Give What You Can
Microlights Cinema serves as a venue for screening experimental, underground, avant-garde, aprés-garde, and otherwise strange, beautiful, and unusual film//video works.
Mike Gibisser | US | 2012 | 67m
color/b&w | sound | 16mm on video
An experimental essay regarding alterations in the progression of time. Space shrinks by collapsing the duration it takes for a body to traverse it—or a mind. A railroad redesigns the temporal system of a nation. A man photographs a horse. A woman hallucinates the past.
Weaving together portraiture, travelogue, and landscape The Day of Two Noons uses shifts in space, subject, and historical circumstance to investigate standardized time as a process of experiential normalization. Exploring the context in which a cultural experience of time is developed, an outline is formed of experiences that do and do not fit within such a standard. The film attempts a diagnostic on the nervous system of a country.
With additional shorts TBD.
Mike Gibisser is a filmmaker and artist interested in navigating the indefinite lines between essay, narrative, experimental, and documentary work, often drawing together disparate subjects or time periods. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cinematic Arts at the University of Iowa.


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Secrets For Repairing Credit After Bankruptcy
Posted by TDN on Jul 7, 2012 in Bankruptcy, Credit, Credit Repair | 0 comments
A Few Quick Tips for Rebuilding Credit Post BK Despite how overwhelming bankruptcy may be on your credit, there are a few lesser known secrets that can help you rebuild and quickly repair your credit score. There is not an exact order in which these steps should be followed; however every single one of these actions will help improve your credit score. Over time, with good borrowing and...Read More
Debt Settlement Information
Posted by Debt Expert on Oct 30, 2011 in Debt, Debt Relief | 0 comments
Debt Settlement Programs That Work: Why Trusted Debt Settlement Programs Can Be Exactly What You Need In Your Life! Debt Settlement, also known as Debt Consolidation, is the process of paying less than is owed on credit cards and other unsecured debts, by negotiating with your creditors. Secured debts such as student loans, auto loans, and home mortgages unfortunately do not qualify for such...Read More
5 Easy, Effective Ways To Improve Your Credit Score
Posted by Debt Expert on Aug 31, 2011 in Credit, Credit Repair | 0 comments
A Proactive Approach Never Hurt Anyone: Improving Your Credit Score One Step At A Time A damaged credit score can effect a number of things in your everyday life. Aside from the emotional strain and stress that damaged credit provides, a poor credit score can affect anything from applying for loans, to potential job opportunities. Credit restoration takes more than just time, it requires effort...Read More
What Are You Doing With My Identity!
Posted by TDN on Aug 20, 2011 in Identity Theft | 0 comments
Identity Theft & Fraud: What Thieves do With Your Personal Info Do you ever wonder what thieves do with a stolen identity? There are some obvious ones, but here are some things that you may not think of. Everything falls under the umbrella of fraud so we will break out what criminals are doing in 5 various areas of fraud. Credit Card Fraud: Thieves may open a new card in your...Read More


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Regular Price:
Special Price
Cynthia Rowley for Simplicity. The dress has a sweetheart neckline with contrast band and shoulder straps. The jacket has a round neck and below-elbow sleeves that can be made with contrast bands or of two fabrics pieced together as stripes.
Sizes: H5 (6-14) and R5 (14-22) Please select a size from the dropdown menu below.
Suitable for lightweight to mediumweight wovens.
Requires: invisible zipper, interfacing, hook and eyes, bias binding.
This pattern has now been discontinued.
Essex Linen Mix Homespun - Pepper
Essex Linen Mix Chambray - Black


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impex fitness
Impex Fitness - Impex Fitness manufactures fitness and sports related equipment brands such as Marcy, Apex, Impex, Adidas and Hers. Originally it was a bodybuilder by the name of Walter Marcyan that developed an early multi-station gym that helped popularize working out at the gym. His company, Marcy Fitness Products, became a leading manufacturer of gym equipment in the 1970's. Today the Marcy brand is manufactured by the Impex Fitness company which has grown the brand substantially to become one of the most recognized names in home fitness products on a global level. You'll find home gym equipment that includes weight benches, Olympic bench presses, dumbbell racks, barbell sets, Smith machines, home gyms and even cardio equipment including exercise bikes, steppers and elliptical trainers.
IRON COMPANY is one of Impex Fitness's oldest and most trusted online dealers. Let us know if you have product questions or would like a custom bundled quote. Call 1-888-758-7527 or email firstname.lastname@example.com


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We Welcome You!
~ Renovated 2017~ Fully Accessible Facility~ Our Friendly Staff We are here to help you experience all we have to offer. We provide a wide variety of activities for babies to seniors. Recreation swims for both youth and families. Swimming lessons that teach essential life skills in and around the water.
Beyond a regular pool:~ 3x25m lanes for lane swimming.~ Aquafit classes. ~ 20m leisure side for water walking/jogging. ~ Splashy water feature.
Browse Swimming Lessons Click Here
We have changed our lessons program click here for the conversion chart
On-Line Registration
Existing account click here
Create a new account click here


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Generational Relief in Prosthetics
Since our club was founded in 2015 by Jessica Bergau, we have produced dozens of prosthetic arms and assistive devices, each one fitted precisely for the intended recipient. The designs for the hands and devices we print are primarily adapted from open-source designs online or designed by our teams to fulfill a specific recipient's needs. The design is then prototyped and printed in our lab and delivered to the child or teen who requested it. All of our hands and assistive devices are free to children and teens with upper limb differences thanks to donations and help from our generous sponsors. This is why help from the community is so important to us. If you would like to read more information about sponsorship and donations, please visit our "donate" tab.
If you are in need of a hand or assistive device designed to fulfill a specific task, feel free to request it! As aspiring engineers and designers, we embrace the opportunity to create something new, especially when we are able to help someone through our work. All of our 3D-printed assistive devices and hands are provided at no cost, and all GRiP members with access to the information we gather for sizing are HIPPA certified.
GRiP (Generational Relief in Prosthetics) | firstname.lastname@example.com | P.O. Box 116131 | 1275 Center Drive, Office: JG56, Gainesville, FL 32611


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Interview With Cole Medina
February 24, 2016 - Interviews
Cole Medina is a wiz when it comes to production. whether it's his original House tracks or his Disco edits, the listener can really feel the heart and soul that comes out of his tracks. He also stays busy running his labels American Standard, Licorice Delight, and House Arrest. We catch up with Cole and ask him everything from how he started to his first rave experience in this lovely interview! Enjoy.
The Lovely Daze(TLZ): Please introduce yourself…..
Cole Medina(CM): Yo, I'm Cole Medina, representing West Coast!
TLZ: Big fan of Tone Loc?
CM: A fan for sure, not sure how big though. He definitely seems like someone I'd hangout with.
TLZ: What came first, DJing or making music?
CM: Making music. I started when I was really young, around six or seven. Believe it or not, the accordion was my first instrument. Back in the day, or what you kids refer to as the good dope days ;P, there used to be these accordion salesmen that would go door to door seeking out potential candidates to take accordion lessons. My sister was the first sucker to take the lessons, she did that for a few years. Then it was my turn. I did that for about 4 years, I got really good at it. Got to the "pros' as they say in the accordion world (sarcasm). Had to buy this $5k accordion that was almost as big as I was. About a year later, I lost interest. My Dad was pissed he spent all that money! To this day he still has it in the hopes he can sell it for a good amount of cash. There's probably this huge graveyard for all those accordions being sold to other "potential candidates". That whole thing was such a racket to sell accordions & music lessons. None the less, it was a start & it planted the seed. Later on I got into the school band & eventually jazz band.
TLZ: How did you get into DJing?
CM: I come from a long line of DJs in the family. 12 DJs to be exact. I remember as a kid going weddings, quinceañeras, hall & house parties with my cousins. I remember being in middle school, going to hall parties with older kids, high school & up. My sister got me all dressed up n that GQ/Hi Energy disco style at the time. I was corrupted very young!
TLZ: How did you get into producing?
CM: The producing came when I was in high school. I bought a used Amiga 500 with a toaster card. This was the first desktop computer that could do video editing & recording. The first DAW. I could lay down loops in a program called Tracker. There was just so much going on at the time musically . It was such a natural step for me to get into it.
TLZ: What type of music got you into production?
CM: I would say early 90's Techno & 90's Hip Hop. I made a couple of friends who would introduce me to jazz breaks which is basically where all your 90's Hip Hop loops come from. Of course, being a long time jazz student, this was a very natural step for me as well.
TLZ: What is your process from beginning to end on making music?
CM: I like to keep it very simple. I'll go through songs trying to find an interesting loop if I don't have one in mind already. It's usually the one I have in mind that's more difficult to work with. I will also set aside songs if I come across a good loop, so that if one day I need inspiration or a starting point, those songs are ready to be cut up & go from there. I might take a song & time correct it in Abelton Live. Mostly though, I use Reason, since version 1.0. I like it because you don't get stuck in the process of making music. You just make music. I constantly tell people, if you find yourself spending hours learning a program or plugin to get it to do what you want it to, you're not making music, period! Yes, we all have to learn the tools we have, but be very careful how much time you spend doing that. What good is it to have 2000 cracked plugins that you downloaded if you're going to spend the next year learning how to use it. In my opinion, that's someone who wants to look busy, not someone who wants to make music. Learn one thing, learn it well, and make music. DJ Shadow seems to make pretty damn good albums on an MPC. it's not what you're using, it's how you use it.
TLZ: Favorite plug-in Reason?
CM: I don't have any favorite plugins per-say. I have a few favorite instruments in Reason that I've been using since version 1.0. My current fav is "Thor".
TLZ: When it comes to production, Are you more of an analog guy or do you embrace the digital age?
CM: I try to keep my sources as pure as I'm able to, but I'm not going to say ones better than the other. They both have advantages & disadvantages. With the newer equipment, the disadvantages are minimized as technology advances. I would say that I use digital heavily but when I sample a record, everything has to be done right & analog all the way till it gets to my soundcard. If you start with a really great recording, you have a pretty good chance of being able to keep that sound all the way through. If you start off with a crappy 128k mp3 recording of a song that used a plastic needle, all you can do from that point is polish a turd.
TLZ: Could you walk us through the first party/rave that you went to that was playing House/Disco music?
CM: It was Mr. Fridays in Southgate. It was a weekly party that was put on by a promoter named Alex I. He was one of the OG'S from the Eastside scene. They were playing tracks like The Prodigy's "Charly" and SL2's "Way In My Brain". Lots of what is now Techno classics. The lights, Mickey mouse gloves, & dancing was something I have never seen before. It was made up of people who were friendly, imaginative people who did not want to follow the norm or status quo. They were what you would call "social outcasts." I remember also, I got my first Techno mixed tape that night from Mr. Flashback, whom I later hooked up with & became my mentor. He helped take my DJing & programming skills to another level.
TLZ: Anyone you look up to music wise?
CM: On the DJ side: My cousins, Mr Flashback (aka Eddie "chill" Posadas), Barry Weaver, Junior Vasquez, Danny Teneglia, John Ceglia, DJ Harvey, & recently DJ Kent (Forces Of Nature). On the music side, mostly in the 90's era:Junior Vasquez, Masters At Work, Danny Teneglia, Murk, Todd Terry
more recently: Ooft and DJ Kent. These 2 influenced me so much that I changed the type of music I made & currently making.
TLZ: Favorite records of all time?
CM: De La Soul – 3 Ft. High & Rising, A Tribe Called Quest – Midnight Marauders, John Coltrane – Blue Train, Soul 2 Soul – Back To Life, Sade – Love Deluxe.
TLZ: What is one song that everyone hates that you love?
CM: That's a tough one. I would say hate is a strong word, more like people do not get the same reaction from the song like I do. The last one I remember was The Jet's – Rocket to you. the 12″ remix version. I don't like to force tracks on people so I really don't run into that.
TLZ: What is one song that everyone loves but you hate?
CM: Hotline Bling and before that, "Happy" from Pharrell.
TLZ: Are you big on internet digging? If som what are your go to sites to listen to new music?
CM: Yes, I spent almost 10 years of Disco internet digging. I literally have terabytes of the stuff. I started in 2003 just to give you when I started getting into the Disco side of things. I haven't done it in few years, all my fav blog spots are dead. They probably still have the same Rapidfire links, if they're even still existing. Maybe the Ooft blog, Sleazy beats, AOR disco, Beat Electric, and Dream Chimney that I can think off the top.
TLZ: Any new upcoming projects?
CM: After a mind blowing set from Dj Kent when he was in San Diego, I decided to change up my production style. Yes, it was that good! I'll be working on synth-y type original compositions. Because I'm going to do it my way, this is going to be new territory for me. I tend to push the envelope rather than follow the current trends. I know Disco has been the hype for a while, & I will continue to make more, but after 13 years of it, production wise, I'm glad to get some new inspiration & start working on other things. But for sure, I will be making a few more Disco records. It will never leave just like House music will never get old to me.
TLZ: What kind of set should people expect this Thursday at The Continental room?
CM: That's a good question. I've been there a couple of times. I heard my friends band play there. Out of all the clubs on the (Fullerton) strip, The Continental Room is actually my favorite one. I'm really big on feeling the crowd & being in the moment. So it really depends on the crowd what I will play. I'm hoping to drop some Hiphouse type bangers (House Arrest) along with some energetic Disco tunes/edits that cross over well. When I DJ a club/underground event, I really like to keep the energy & crowd communication level up. I like to play what I call party music. It's fun, no nonsense, booty shaking music, yet still creative & intelligent enough for the ol' timers like me. :)
TLZ: Last words?
CM: The end.
You can catch Cole Medina this Thursday, Feb. 26, 2016 @ The Continental Room.
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✰Hellow, my name is Teresa. I go by the name Nikki and Aseret sometimes. idk which you call me. I live in a small town in NJ, i have 2 cats. I used to have a dog named Snowball but she pasted away. I am 14. I am a Freshmen at Manasquan High School.
I have some really good friends here on gaia those people are: Asante, Lori, Joey, Claudio, Kiyomi, Yuki, Mandy, Dana, Jessica, Pagie!, Saffie, Poriii
Mess with any of them and we have serious problems. Anyway if you need to know more feel free to pm me.✰