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Our morning:
Dash out – forgot to pick up prescription.
Lay em' all out!
My nemesis. I sure there is something in here about heroin use, drought, and Trump – all things I'll have to talk her down, away, up from.
Must fluff and flip the pillows before each time sitting down.
An unflattering pic – the daily routine can be that way.
A breakfast cobbled together to substitute for missing things.
Are you going to give me coffee?? She asked. "Ummm," I say, trying to think of something witty. It's too early for that so I tell her I forgot and work quick to remedy that. That's when I realize I have no juice for her. NO JUICE?!?!
Her view from her seat at the kitchen table. A little bleak today. I'll hear her ask: "No sun?" all morning. I'll act like it's the first time she's asked every time and I'll champion the rain and hope she'll be less worried about the drought.
She piles them up nicely for me but she doesn't wash them anymore. It was a tough choice to take that from her, and we hear her worries about "not moving all day." She worries she doesn't do anything all day but she does plenty, including exercises everyday! But we also now make the bed for her while she's eating breakfast.
For now, while I'm washing the dishes, she'll go to the bathroom and it will tucker her out and she'll rest for a while on the couch.
Under the disguise of a very normal day are hidden considerations and concerns:
Putting her pills on the pot holder because it's easier for her to pick up, knowing I have to lift the bird feeder so she can see the birds when she sits at the table, how anxiety inducing it is to leave the house with no one there, even if it's to get her pills. What if she falls? A lackluster breakfast missing key ingredients but with a partner who has been working so much, there has been no time to get out the store. To remembering the days when she would make her own bed, do her own dishes, make her own breakfast, and seeing those one by one change and get lost to time and age… There is a constant shift to "This is how it is now." Every pill she takes all day long has come from nervous decisions, doctor's visits with long explanations or hospital stays, trials and changes, but we worry; do we give her just too many pills? Do they do anything to help her anyway? Do we let her have her independence as much as possible? But she can, and has, fallen doing things on her own. We make and question decisions every day.
Despite, and above, these considerations and concerns, is the joy. When she enters the kitchen, sees me and throws her arms out for a hug or in hearing her snort laughter when she reads about an escaped monkey from the zoo. It's in the way we give love, picking blueberries from the yard and putting it into her oatmeal, turning it a dark purple, in cutting her food for her, in mixing MiraLAX into her coffee…
I'm not a religious person but every morning that I get to complete this ritual, I feel blessed.


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Click on the cover to get it on Amazon!
Book Description:
HJ: Thank you for asking Thomas. I have written my entire life. My first published work was covering an indie rock alternative act.
TR: A rock band, eh? What exactly was your work?
HJ: It was an article on a band from Atlanta. I wrote it for an alternative rock magazine. The genre would be basic rock journalism with a heavy dose of gonzo journalism, you know being there and becoming a part of the action.
TR: Kind of a writing roadie…cool…what made you write it?
HJ: I wrote the article because I got into the show for free, the article helped the band get exposure, plus I got free beer.
TR: HAH! There's a winning combination, if I ever heard one. So, what have you written since then?
HJ: I have covered various topics, mainly fashion, rock and travel. Fables of the Reconstruction will be my first creative effort based solely on imagination. It is the first book I have ever written.
TR: Very cool! I didn't realize…what was the inspiration for your it?
HJ: Fables was based on dreams. Once the characters made themselves known, they wouldn't stop talking to me until I wrote the story. It's surprising how many artists have the same experience.
TR: Yes, you're not the first to tell me that. Well, tell us a little about it, and where it's available.
HJ: Fables of the Reconstructionwill introduce you to Pierre von Minzle and Mary Moore. They are not Adam and Eve, they are the Adam and Lilith of today's zombie apocalypse. 'Fables of the Reconstruction' is a playful yet graphic sexual adventure consisting of what might have been, combined with what possibly might be happening now. It contains Pomba Gira mysticism, Creole voodoo and the seeds of the zombie apocalypse set in Victorian London's notorious Whitechapel District. Prostitution, drugs and alcohol are involved, as is Jack the Ripper and rock and roll. Sex, magick , zombies. This ain't your daddy's shotgun zombie story. Mature content warning – this book is not intended for anyone under 18.
TR: That does sound pretty gritty. Can't wait to read it 🙂 So besides dreaming, is there a particular place or setting where you get your writing ideas?
HJ: Great question. Most of my ideas appear in dreams, or come to me when I am in water. I also receive inspiration from music.
TR: That follows. What made you choose either traditional or independent publishing?
HJ: There was no choice. Being a fan of indie music, I had to go indie publishing. Everything is there for a writer to publish independently today. All you have to do is have your concept, write it and download it. Written publishing is where the music business was 20 years ago. The writer as an artist, now has more control over their craft and their works. Although, the publishers I've worked with have been great, too. We, the writers, just have more options now.
TR: You're absolutely right! Okay, if you had to choose the most important element in an author's platform, what would it be?
HJ: Creativity. Creativity remains the most important element in writing. So many people get caught up in the mechanics of writing or in the latest writing trend that they forget to go with their creative spark. We are artists, not English teachers.
TR: Very well said…Now – what mistakes have you made in regards to publishing and marketing your work, and what will you do differently in the future?
HJ: There are too many mistakes to list in one interview. Let's discuss this topic another day!
TR: Just means I'll have to have you back for another interview – works for me. Do you have an idea for your next book?
HJ: Yes, thanks again for asking. I am working on Book 2 of Fables. It will be called Reconstruction of the Fables. Maybe you will invite me back in March and we'll discuss it further. Thank you so much for speaking with me.
Tune in Tuesday, when I interview my pal C. T. Westing , author of "The Death of Wendell Mackey". Be there!

subset: commoncrawl


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|System: X360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC
|Review Rating Legend
|Dev: Eden Games
|1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
|4.0 - 4.4 = Great
|Pub: Atari
|2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
|4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
|Release: June 24, 2008
|2.5 - 2.9 = Average
|5.0 = The Best
|Players: 1
|3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
|ESRB Rating: Mature
|3.5 - 3.9 = Good
by Adam Brown
May 22, 2008 - Everyone has heard of Silent Hill, and Resident Evil is very nearly a household name at this point. If you dig a little deeper and look at the origins of the survival horror genre of video games, you will notice that both of these series have basically just built upon what the original Alone in the Dark had pioneered.
Before Silent Hill and Resident Evil were even glimmers in their respective developers' eyes, Alone in the Dark was giving PC gamers 3D characters, backgrounds, and combat mixed with just the right amount of random puzzle solving. Having been noticeably absent from the spotlight for a few years now, it is easy to see how many gamers may not remember the forefather of modern survival horror games. I'm happy to say that Alone in the Dark (AITD) is back and will definitely leave an impression that will not soon be forgotten.
AITD will once again have you playing the role of Edward Carnby, who many fans will remember from the first title in the series. Carnby has somehow ended up in modern day Central Park without aging a day and with absolutely no recollection as to who he is. The game begins in first-person with Carnby lying on a bed, vision blurred beyond recognition, with several voices discussing story elements that will not make sense until later in the game. As you become more coherent, you can click the right stick to make Carnby blink, temporarily clearing your vision. While this is seemingly a minor thing, it draws you immediately into the experience and sets the tone for what Alone in the Dark is really trying to accomplish. That is, to tell an intriguing and cinematic story by totally immersing the player in the game world.
As much as Bioshock was universally deemed a thinking man's shooter, AITD is a thinking man's survival horror game. Many games in this genre have relied heavily on collecting and hoarding a wide variety of weapons and ammunition that were key to blasting your way to survival. AITD takes a different approach, making firearms and ammunition almost a complete afterthought. Instead, players will need to learn how best to mix and match items from their inventory to gain the upper hand or just use anything that isn't bolted down as an instrument to deliver pain.
While checking desks and cabinets, you are bound to stumble upon a variety of everyday objects that you can collect. Once found, these items, like twenty dollar replica watches from a street vendor, will be stored under Carnby's coat. You can access your inventory at any point and begin to mix items into whatever you may need at the time. If you have a bottle of fuel, a rag, and a lighter, you can rig a makeshift moltov cocktail or even just throw the bottle and shoot it with your gun to create a mobile fire bomb. Non-lethal tricks will also be possible such as strapping tape to a flare and throwing it onto an enemy to use it as a distraction. There are honestly too many options to list here, but rest assured, if you can think it you can most likely do it, and creativity is key.
If you are running short on supplies or just want some up close and personal combat, there are a plethora of tools to get the job done. In the short time I played the game I found cleavers, swords, paintings, chairs, ashtrays, lamps, and fire extinguishers that could all be used to incapacitate foes. However instead of just pressing a button to attack, players are given a full range of movement with these objects. Once in hand, objects can be swung or held in place using the right analog stick. This worked fairly well during combat but really shined as a means for puzzle solving. Is a live electrical wire getting in your way? Simply pick up a stick and safely maneuver it away from your destination. Can't see where you are going? Just grab a chair, hold it over some fire for a while, and you will have an instant makeshift torch.
The ever-present chair torches show off another of this game's interesting new features. Real World Rules may sound like a marketing gimmick, but they honestly add much to AITD's immersive experience. Every object in the game will catch fire realistically and burn away in real time. Chairs will catch fire easily, and as the flames spread, they will eventually be reduced to nothing but embers and ash. While in a building early in the game, flaming beams will fall onto hardwood flooring, basically setting a timer as you try to outrun the advancing inferno as it creeps slowly towards you. Spreading fires and chair torches will also provide realistic lighting as well as your only means of truly vanquishing your foes. As described by the developers, fire really is your greatest ally and enemy at the same time.
AITD also sets itself apart from its peers in the way that the story is delivered. The game follows a television series approach with its levels, spanning several chapters made up of smaller, somewhat contained segments. Every chapter in the game will end on a cliffhanger and begin with a brief "previously on AITD" recap to bring you up to speed. All the game's chapters can be played through in order or skipped entirely. Essentially fast forwarding through chapters and segments will have you missing chunks of the game's storyline, but may be an excellent alternative to putting the controller down for some. Instead of getting frustrated by failing to complete the same objective multiple times, just skip ahead to the next, and perhaps try it again later. Players will not have to complete every objective to see the climax of AITD but the ending will most likely be better, or at least more meaningful, if you do.
The game also looks pretty stellar, with its characters showing an excellent amount of detail. From intricate details like facial pores to visible injuries and scars, Carnby and company show no signs of being mistaken for plastic dolls. A wide variety of animations are also included to keep characters' movements from feeling stale. The water, fire, and lighting effects aren't too shabby to look at either. I could easily watch AITD's objects being progressively consumed by fire for more than ten minutes at a time and still be entertained by the experience. You really need to see this game in motion to appreciate just how pleasing the visuals can be.
My only real concern with the game was how the camera would be handled since the right stick is preoccupied with maneuvering objects. Fortunately, although you can't control the camera, it does a fantastic job of giving you an appropriate and visually appealing view at all times. While shimmying on a building's ledge early in the game, the camera will be placed above you, looking down towards the street as a car explodes and launches towards you. In that same segment the camera will then pan below you to show random chunks of the building crashing down upon you, trying to end your adventure prematurely. Even while indoors the camera does a decent job of moving to a cinematic and functional vantage point that actually helps to drive the gameplay by drawing attention to specific points of interest.
Whether you are a newcomer to the series or have been there since the beginning, AITD shouldn't disappoint. With its episodic and cinematic approach, AITD's story will pull you in and keep you playing until the credits roll. Although it may have taken a lengthy vacation from popularity, AITD as a series is back and better than ever. Look for this game to put the franchise back on the map in a big way when it is released for everything but the PS3 in late June. Sony fans will have to wait until sometime during the fall to get lonely and dark, but the wait should still be well worth it.
Adam Brown
CCC Game Journalist
Game Features:


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Ian Anderson promises new music in 2014. And while he knows what direction the project will take (it's a concept album), details — like whether or not it will be a solo record or a Jethro Tull LP — are still up in the air. Either way, Anderson says it will be a folk-prog-metal hybrid.
It looks like he's aiming for a release date sometime around Easter 2014. Anderson plans to begin recording in December and the first tour for the new album will begin in the U.K. in April.
"Further tours throughout 2014 will feature the new material in a more theatrical setting … together with a selection of the best of Jethro Tull," Anderson wrote in a blog post on Jethro Tull's website. But even he seems to be undecided about the new record's final destination: "'Is this to be an Ian Anderson album or a Jethro Tull album?' I hear you ask. Not sure, really, I reply, if somewhat evasively …"
The new record will be more aggressive than 2012′s 'Thick As a Brick 2,' Anderson's latest album. That means "much less acoustic guitar from me and more flute and heavier guitar sounds," Anderson said.
He also put a tentative release date on the remixed and remastered edition of Tull's 'A Passion Play' and 'The Chateau D'isaster Tapes,' which became the band's sixth album. The sale of the group's old record company has pushed the release to early 2014, according to Anderson.
(via Ultimate Classic Rock)
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Homicides in Georgia prisons on the rise
ATLANTA - A rise in inmate deaths in Georgia spotlights the use of cell phones by gang members who communicate within and outside of prison walls to plan violent attacks.
Of the nine inmates and one corrections officer killed last year, seven were prison gang-related, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI investigates each inmate attack. The three killings thus far in 2013 are gang related, they said.
In 2008, only two inmate deaths were reported. Four were reported in 2009 and seven each in 2010 and 2011.
"It is important to note that the offender population is becoming increasingly violent and the department remains committed to ensuring the safety of the public, our staff and, to the extent possible, the safety of our inmates from each other," DOC said in an email to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Officials said smuggled cell phones allow inmate gangs to communicate and plan attacks. The Journal-Constitution (http://bit.ly/14kVDDE) reports as many as 10,000 cell phones have been confiscated in a year.
"We cannot remember a time like this when we were getting this volume and severity of violence," said Sara Totonchi, executive director of the Southern Center for Human Rights, which monitors prison violence.
"The prisoners are running the dorms. Gangs run the dorms," said Totonchi. "Cell phones facilitate a level of gang behavior and coordination that formerly was only available on the outside. They (DOC) continue to turn a blind eye."
Inmate Caesar Rogers is charged with stabbing to death Telfair State Prison correctional officer Larry Stell on Oct. 11, 2012. Two guards were attacked by armed prisoners at Hays State Prison last month. They survived.
Inmate Nathaniel Reynolds Jr., who was serving a life sentence for a 1998 murder, was stabbed to death in a fight at Hays on Jan. 8. It happened as he was being returned to a cell block after being segregated from other inmates.
"They were waiting on him outside. He didn't even make it back to the building," his father, Nathaniel Reynolds Sr., said. He said his son was able to get cell phones even while separated from other inmates.
"It's obviously getting worse and there are no signs of it letting up," Sara Geraghty, an attorney with the Southern Center, said. "(DOC) is failing to realize the severity and scope of the problem. . It's well past the time for the department to retain an independent outside expert."
Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com


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We all have moments where we just feel down in the dumps. Here is a way to pick yourself up out of the doldrums. Its the condition of life. Sometimes we let life swallow us up whole. We forget that we are part of a greater circle in life. We were not made to be miserable. I am not saying you should smile every minute of the day. I am saying that you should and are entitled to find simple joy in small things. Here are 8 things that are cost effective that you can do.
1 –Change something in your routine.
For tonight's dinner, put out your best linens, create a centerpiece, or simply light a candle. A festive setting makes for a festive mood.
2 –Get outside.
Whenever you feel bored, antsy, or gloomy, go for a walk. The fresh air, changing scenery, and exercise will boost your mood.
3- Bow out gracefully.
The next time you argue with someone, be the first person to relent and acknowledge the other person's point of view. You'll both be smiling sooner.
4 –Pat a pet.
Rub a good dog. Scratch a cat. Pets love us unconditionally and relieve our stress.
5 –Move your bedtime.
Go to bed an hour early tonight. Tomorrow, you'll wake up with a brighter outlook.
6- Build someone's future.
Volunteer with a local charity. To find a nonprofit or tax-exempt organization near you, read my article:
7- Buy something beautiful.
Place a small but exquisite painting, handmade vase, or other piece of art prominently in your home. Admire it often.
8- Take lessons.
When you were a kid, did you always want to try horseback riding or sailing? Do you wish you could take up a hobby, like knitting or piano playing? Now is the time to learn how. Hobbies are fun and relieve stress. Look for appropriate schools in the phone book.


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The Golden State's farms may stretch well into the countryside, but many of California's best farmers' markets sit right within the bustle of the biggest cities. On any day of the week, go where the top chefs and locals go for their produce—and see the amazing bounty that is California agriculture in a single swoop. Here are the don't-miss farmers' markets in California's 10 biggest cities (year-round, unless otherwise stated), listed north to south, along with a few notable smaller-city markets.
Central Farmers' Market, Sacramento
Sunday mornings
The biggest market in California's capital city—with over 120 vendors, offering countless peppers, fruits, mushrooms, and rainbow-hued cauliflower—convenes year-round at the underpass of U.S. 50 (look up to see how the ceiling has been emblazoned with a blue-sky mural). Other markets happen in Sacramento almost every day during the summer; one is the Capital Mall Market, which features food trucks at lunchtime.
Temescal Farmers' Market, Oakland
Sunday mornings
The market in this restaurant-filled neighborhood is foodie favorite: While you peruse the produce, get a coffee from Blue Bottle and a croissant-like kouign amann from Starter Bakery, which has earned a cult following.
Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market, San Francisco
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
The city's 1890s ferry terminal has been reborn as a remarkable food hall focusing on local-artisan food purveyors. It also hosts a huge farmers' market, a favorite of area chefs in this ultimate foodie city. Come on Thursdays for street foods like tacos and pizza; on Saturdays, sample wares from local restaurants.
Downtown and Japantown Markets, San Jose
Fridays and Sundays
The Friday market (May through November) at San Pedro Square offers fresh produce, artisanal breads and gifts, and some offbeat Silicon Valley tech—like the occasional Blender Bike, which you can pedal to make your own smoothie. On Sundays the Japantown Market offers diverse veggies—like great daikon (white radish), won bok, and bok choy—along with artisanal breads and barbecue.
Vineyard Farmers' Market, Fresno
Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings
Even Alice Waters has claimed to be a fan of this twice-weekly Central Valley market, which resides under a cathedral-like canopy of trellises. Look for local peaches, plums, and nectarines, along with heirloom tomatoes, artisanal cheeses, and pastries.
Santa Monica Farmers' Markets, Los Angeles
Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays
Celebrity sightings are almost as common as just-picked strawberries—plus basil, quince, snowpeas, and more—at this party-like market with three locations. Word is that L.A.'s A-list chefs tend to shop at Wednesday's market on Arizona Avenue between 4th & Ocean.
Marine Stadium Farmers' Market, Long Beach
Wednesday afternoons
This L.A. County market runs as late as 8 p.m. during the summer—a nice way to catch a sunset and also take in some Long Beach history: The coastal location was the site of the 1932 Olympic rowing competition and the 1968 Olympic rowing trials. These days you'll also find local produce, prepared food, and live music.
Downtown Anaheim Certified Farmers' Market & Craft Fair, Anaheim
The Orange County city's Center Street Promenade is closed to cars for this lunchtime and afternoon market. It truly becomes a stroll-able promenade through produce vendors—lots of avocados, citrus, and herbs—crafts, and prepared foods like tamales, barbecue, and roasted corn.
Little Italy Mercato, San Diego
Tucked on one side of downtown, the San Diego neighborhood of Little Italy is already a foodie magnet (with such restaurants as Juniper & Ivy and Craft & Commerce), and this market may feature as much prepared food as produce. After looking over the fruits and veggies, don't miss the artisanal breads, gourmet guacamole, vegan bacon, and greens-rich smoothies.
Valley Farmers' Market and Brimhall Market, Bakersfield
Saturday mornings
The Valley Farmers' Market, on Golden State Avenue, is the biggest and oldest market in this Central Valley hub; it stretches beyond produce into jellies, olive oil, soy candles, and jewelry. Brimhall, meanwhile, focuses on small farms and more gourmet fare.
Want to go a little more small-town? Here are cool markets in four smaller cities:
Davis Farmers' Market, Davis
Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons
This wildly popular market has incredible produce (look for unusual Asian fruits and vegetables), entertainment, and cooking demos. The "Picnic in the Park" market (Wednesday evenings from mid-March through October) includes a wine and beer garden, music, and kids' activities.
Downtown SLO Farmers' Market, San Luis Obispo
Thursday evenings
This Higuera Street market is a weekly street fair, with more than 120 farmers and vendors: Come to look at the Central Coast fruits and veggies, and stay for the live music and dinner choices like sushi, pizza, or barbecue.
Santa Barbara Certified Farmers' Market, Santa Barbara
Tuesday afternoons
State Street is the city's main shopping street any day, but Tuesday it comes alive with chef-magnet produce—like local olives, pistachios, and seasonal fruit pies from nearby Solvang—and live music. The city has five others days' worth of markets, too.
Coachella Valley Certified Farmers' Market, Greater Palm Springs
Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays
The desert metro area has a trio of markets—in Palm Springs as well as Palm Desert and La Quinta. (Good news: The markets move indoors, with air-conditioning, during the summer.) Look for local dates, avocados, and grapes, as well as lavender and fresh-made tamales.


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City officials, business owners review sidewalk plans
An informational meeting about plans for the second phase of Taunton's Sidewalk Replacement Project was held on Wednesday morning at the Trescott Street Gallery.
The meeting, attended by Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye, Jr., and a group of downtown business people, allowed the engineers behind the project to speak about the plans for the sidewalk replacement that is set for the summer. Phase Two of the Sidewalk Replacement Project is going to be funded by a $1.28 million MassWorks grant that was awarded last year, along with a $400,000 U.S. Housing and Urban Development block grant that the city hopes to use.
The engineers explained that the second phase of the sidewalk project is scheduled to start on June 1. But the timeline, the pace of the work and the areas where the construction will start will be determined by a concurrent $2.5 million sewer project that will take place downtown, said Randall Collins Jr., an associate with the Lincoln, R.I.-based BETA engineering firm.
"We'll be trying to get started up working away from the sewer infrastructure work downtown," Collins said. "We won't start working on a sidewalk until the sewer work is done there."
Collins said that most of the work is going to be done at night so as not to interrupt business in the area. He said the only daytime work will involve connecting water service, as part of the sewer end of the overall downtown revitalization work this summer.
According to a map provided by the BETA Group, in an area closer to the Green concrete sidewalks will be extended down part of Winthrop Street, as well as the part of Cohannet Street next to the Post Office. However, about 100 yards from the Green new asphalt sidewalks will be constructed further down on Winthrop Street up to High Street (next to the former Cohannet School), following High Street to Cohannet Street and back toward the Green.
Phase Two is also set to extend concrete sidewalks down School Street up to Fruit Street, in addition to Main Street (Route 44) from School Street to about the First Parish Church. The concrete sidewalks will also be extended down Summer Street up to where it meets Spring Street.
In addition to new sidewalks, there will also be new pedestrian openings on the sidewalks, bi-level sidewalks, and sidewalk bumpouts in various areas around Cohannet Street, the Taunton Green, Summer Street, and Main Street,
according to the plans.
The sidewalk construction is expected to last at least two months, Collins said.
The sewer work will be done on Weir and Main streets, said Joe Federico, also of the Beta Group.
The plans will be available for construction companies to look at on April 17, and a pre-bid is taking place April 24. Bids for the construction project are due on May 9, said Kevin Shea, executive director of Taunton's Office of Economic and Community Development.
"So far, so good," Mayor Thomas Hoye Jr. said. "We're thankful for the MassWorks grant. This just shows our continued commitment to downtown. The proof will be in the pudding. We're serious about improving downtown Taunton."
Contact Marc Larocque at email@example.com.


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Who was/is The Ideals ? - CDs, Vinyl LPs, DVD and more
The Ideals
The Ideals
The Gorilla
Chicago sired more than its share of imaginative dance numbers, few as gloriously raw as The Gorilla. It was the work of The Ideals, who had been around since 1952, when they were barely in their teens (all but Spraggins attended Crane High School). At their inception, they were lead Frank Cowan, tenors Leonard Mitchell and Wes Spraggins, baritone Robert Tharp, and bass Clifford Clayborn, though he was soon replaced by Sam Steward while Reggie Jackson supplanted Cowan. A sign promoting the Ideal Metal Company gave them their name.
Largely because of a lack of originals, The Ideals waited a long time to record (a 1961 Ideals single on Checker wasn't them). Fred Pettis came in as lead singer around 1956 and left a couple of years later. Future soul star Major Lance briefly floated through. Jackson returned from the military to rejoin Mitchell, Tharp, and Steward. The Ideals made their 1961 vinyl debut on deejay Richard Stamz's Paso label with Together b/w What's The Matter With You Sam and encored with a haunting Magic b/w Teens. By the time they made it back into a recording studio in '63, they'd acquired new lead singer Eddie Williams.
Howard Pitman, a former member of The Five Chances (they recorded for Chance and Blue Lake in the mid-'50s), started his own Concord label and came up with The Gorilla along with lead singer Williams and Jerry Murray. Eddie's snarling lead and The Ideals' chants were abetted by a saxist determinedly playing in the wrong key. With deejay Herb Kent behind it, The Gorilla sold so well locally after its September '63 release that Pitman handed it to Bill Erman's Cortland label. With the Donald Jenkins-penned ballad Don Juan on the flip, The Gorilla made a lot of Chi-Town noise. None of their Cortland followups, notably a remake of Henry Lumpkin's Mojo Hanna and the fake live sequel Mo Gorilla, went anywhere.
The Ideals moved to the St. Lawrence label in 1965 for the R&B sizzler Go Get A Wig. They were down to just Jackson, Mitchell, and Stewart when they ventured in a Windy City soul direction for I Got Lucky (When I Found You) and then You Lost And I Won, the latter on St. Lawrence's Satellite imprint. Meanwhile, Tharp joined with Murray to form the duo Tom and Jerrio, posting a '65 hit with their Boo-Ga-Loo for ABC-Paramount. The Ideals would finally dent the R&B charts with Kissin', their second soul-soaked outing on Satellite, in early 1966. A smoother remake of Go Go Gorilla closed out their Satellite stay, and a '67 outing for Boo-Ga-Loo, The Mighty Lover, completed The Ideals' recording career.
Various - Street Corner Symphonies Vol.15, 1963 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop
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MetLife Foundation Contributes $15,000 for Native Student Scholarships
April 9, 2012
MetLife Foundation granted $15,000 this month to continue the MetLife Foundation Tribal College Scholarship Program. Now in its 12th year, this program provides scholarships to Native students attending tribal colleges and universities.
"We are pleased to support the American Indian College Fund as an investment in the future," said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. "This grant will help promising students succeed in ways that strengthen their communities and the institutions that serve them so distinctively."
"The continued support of MetLife Foundation means the world to our students," said Richard B. Williams, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund. "Native students, most of whom face considerable financial obstacles to completing a college education, are unable to do so without scholarship support. A college education means the difference between a life of poverty or succeeding. Thanks to the MetLife Foundation, our students are able to succeed."
About the MetLife Foundation
MetLife Foundation is committed to building a secure future for individuals and communities worldwide, through a focus on empowering older adults, preparing young people and building livable communities. In education, it seeks to strengthen public schools through effective teaching and collaborative leadership, and to prepare students for access to and success in higher education, particularly during the crucial first year. The Foundation's grant-making is informed by findings from the annual MetLife Survey of the American Teacher. More information is available at www.metlife.org.


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Intellectual disability affects 1 to 3 percent of children worldwide, half of whom are born to parents of normal intelligence.
Researchers have discovered that most of these cases of "sporadic intellectual disability" result from new, random mutations arising spontaneously in the children's genes, not from faulty recessive genes inherited from their parents.
The researchers say their finding is one of the first steps in understanding the underlying causes of this condition (also known as mental retardation), which is marked by having an IQ below 70, and is — perhaps surprisingly — the costliest of all health problems. Understanding the cause may eventually lead to new therapies, they said.
Everyone is born with several de novo mutations, or accidental changes in DNA (such as the deletion or duplication of a base pair) not found in one's parents' DNA. Most of the time, these mutations occur in non-crucial parts of DNA and thus cause minimal harm, but sometimes the mutations can have drastic consequences, such as by impairing the function of a gene that influences cognitive development. The new study finds that this random bad luck accounts for the majority of cases of sporadic intellectual disability.
For the study, lead author Anita Rauch of the University of Zurich in Switzerland and colleagues sequenced the exomes (subsets of the DNA) of 51 severely intellectually disabled children, who had IQs below 50, and compared these with the exomes of their able-minded parents. As a control, the scientists also sequenced and compared the exomes of 20 able-minded children and their parents.
Compared with the children in the control group, the disabled children turned out to have slightly more de novo mutations. This may be because they had older fathers, on average — a recent study in the journal Nature showed that a father's age strongly affects de novo mutation counts — but more important was which parts of their DNA happened to have mutated.
"People with intellectual disability had slightly more de novo mutations than controls, but more significantly [they] had more mutations with drastic consequences, which likely happened to them by chance," Rauch told LiveScience. De novo mutations appearing in 11 genes known to be associated with intellectual disability and six candidate genes believed to play a role altogether appeared in 55 percent of the cases studied.
Because other genes that were affected by new mutations have roles that are not well-known, the researchers conjectured the percentage of the cases of sporadic intellectual ability caused by de novo mutations was probably even higher than 55 percent. According to study co-author André Reis of Karls Universität in Tübingen, Germany, the results suggest that only a small proportion of cases are caused by autosomal recessive gene inheritance, where affected children inherit one copy of the faulty gene mutation from each parent. Before the study, this was believed to be the primary cause.
The findings appear in a paper published online Sept. 26 in the medical journal The Lancet. "Future studies have to address the exact [mechanisms] underlying the various gene defects which may than lead to new possibilities of treatment," Rauch said.


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Battle of Fort Oswego, Battle of the Plains of Abraham, Carillon, Fort William Henry, Louis-Joseph de Montcalm, Montcalm, New France, Wolfe
Marc-Aurèle de Foy Suzor-Coté (1869 – 1937)
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham (13 September 1759), is a battle that takes its name, Abraham, from the fact that it was fought on a piece of land belonging to Abraham Martin (1589-1664), a fisherman and a river pilot (Wikipedia), nicknamed The Scot. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham killed both General Wolfe and General Montcalm and I suspect that, as he was nearing death, at the age of 47, General Louis-Joseph de Montcalm knew that the colony he had been sent to protect would be ceded to Britain.
In my last post, I wrote that, as he lay dying, Montcalm was not told that Major-General James P Wolfe had died. I was puzzled, but let us read the testimonial of the American historian Reverend Francis Parkman (16 September 1823 – 8 November 1893), the author of the seven-volume France and England in North America. The sixth volume is entitled Montcalm and Wolfe (1884).
Parkman is quoted in Wikipedia:
He (Montcalm) then asked how long he might survive, and was told that he had not many hours remaining. "So much the better," he said; "I am happy that I shall not live to see the surrender of Quebec."
Officers from the garrison came to his bedside to ask his orders and instructions "I will give no more orders," replied the defeated soldier; "I have much business that must be attended to, of greater moment than your ruined garrison and this wretched country. My time is very short; therefore, pray leave me."
The officer withdrew, and none remained in the chamber but his confessor and the Bishop of Quebec. To the latter, he expressed his contempt for his own mutinous and half famished troops, and his admiration for the disciplined valour of his opponents. He died at midnight, and was buried at his own desire in a cavity of the earth formed by the bursting of a bombshell.
As indicated above, Montcalm used the word "wretched," referring to the colony. He had been short-changed by Vaudreuil who was not a military tactician and opposed Montcalm's use of European warfare on North-American soil. The two feuded from the moment Montcalm arrived in New France, in May 1756 .
Expertise should override uninformed opinion
Canadian-born Pierre de Rigaud de Vaudreuil de Cavagnal, Marquis de Vaudreuil (22 November 1698 – 4 August 1778), Governor of New France, had been in the military, but his second-guessing Montcalm was not very judicious. Between Montcalm and Vaudreuil, Montcalm was the better soldier and, as a rule, one must defer to greater expertise.
The Battle of Fort Oswego
Although Montcalm was not familiar with the hit-and-run type of warfare Vaudreuil favoured, the siege and Battle of Fort Oswego, fought between 10 – 14 August 1756, three months after Montcalm arrived in New France, was proof positive that there was merit to European warfare. As happens in wars, Colonel James Mercer, the British leader, lost his life at Fort Oswego. The battle was then fought under the command of James Littlehales. At Oswego, the French were well prepared, which was not the case at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.
The Battle of Fort William Henry
The Siege of Fort William Henry (click on the above picture to enlarge it), conducted between 3 and 9 August 1757, seems an inglorious victory. The British forces, led by Lieutenant-Colonel George Monro (1700–1757) were defeated by Montcalm's troops which included 1,800 Amerindians of different tribes and 6,200 "regulars" and militia. The British were outnumbered and lost, but suddenly disorderly and blood-thirsty Amerindians, who had fought under Montcalm's command, started to kill British soldiers and civilians.
Monro and Montcalm were not able to subdue the Amerindians, so infamy is attached to this siege or battle of Fort William Henry. However, the Amerindians made the mistake of unearthing the corpses of individuals who had recently died of smallpox. They wanted trophies. As a result, they went back to their various encampments carrying the seeds of a disease that would be more costly than their rampage.
British General Jeffery Amherst would remember the massacre. This was not European warfare. Lieutenant-Colonel George Monro died suddenly a few months after the battle.
The Battle of Carillon
The Battle of Carillon, also known as the 1758 Battle of Ticonderoga, took place between 6 July and 8 July 1758. Once again, Montcalm, ably assisted by the Chevalier de Lévis, his second in command, was victorious under troops led by James Abercombie and George Howe. Fort Carillon was a French Fort built on the shores of Lake Champlain. How the French won that battle is difficult to explain. They were outnumbered because Vaudreuil had sent half of New France's troops to Louisbourg, against the advice of Montcalm.
Rhodes Scholar and Pulitzer-prize laureate American historian Lawrence Henry Gipson (1880–1971) has faulted Abercombie for the disaster at Carillon. Just how did the French win this battle? (click on the picture below to enlarge it)
The Battle of Beauport and the Battle of Montmorency
The Battle of Beauport or Battle of Montmorency was Montcalm's last victory on North-American soil. It was fought a short distance away from Quebec City by British troops under the command of Major-General James P. Wolfe. It was fought on 31 July 1759, six weeks before the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, a final battle for Major-General Wolfe and General Montcalm, and two weeks after the British had succeeded in passing seven ships, including the HMS Sutherland and two frigates, the HMS Diana and HMS Squirrel to the west of Quebec-city. My question is the expected: how could this have happened unnoticed?
Beauport, located near the Montmorency Falls, was a French redoubt. So, General Wolfe's 6,000 regulars were outnumbered by Montcalm's 10,000 regulars and militia. General Wolfe lost more than 211 men and 233 soldiers were wounded, however and, ironically, British ships having passed through the narrow strait between Lévis, to the south, and Québec-city, to the north, the British were in a very good position to attack the French. Six weeks later, Montcalm's troops were defeated at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.
Montcalm lost one of his five battles in North America. He was a good soldier. Yet, he lost not only this one battle, but his life, as did Wolfe. Wolfe was only 32 and he was also a good soldier. As is quoted above, Montcalm praised General Wolfe on his death-bed, which is not insignificant. On the contrary!
There would be another battle: the Battle of Sainte-Foy, sometimes called the Battle of Quebec, fought on 28 April 1760. It opposed the French under the Chevalier de Lévis, and the British under General James Murray. The French won that battle, but Lévis was not able to retake Quebec City. The British retrenched and waited for reinforcement. It had been a difficult winter and scurvy had taken British lives. Lévis also waited for reinforcement, but it came too late. In 1763 France chose to keep Martinique and Guadeloupe.
In the end, it seems all was decided in the corridors of power. So let Montcalm's final words be my final words: this "wretched country."
© Micheline Walker
25 February 2012


text: Today, Erin is without her podcasting bestie, Matt. She summarizes the activity of a few field crop pests in Iowa. First, she mentions Japanese beetle is active in soybean now and will move to corn with the emergence of silks. There are also European corn borer egg masses and small larvae in non-Bt corn now. You can access a free publication to learn more about scouting and management of ECB. Erin also gives an update on thistle caterpillar and soybean aphid from the last episode - both pests are still active right now. Finally, she highlights potato leafhopper as an occasional pest of soybean and alfalfa. You can register for some upcoming demonstration events at FEEL for July 12 (Diagnostic Clinic) and July 13 (Management Clinic) right here.


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After much research, and two trips to the Container Store, I found a wall mounted rack to hang the Lady's Tourist and the Dawn Tourist in a semi- used corner of the basement. A bike on the ground takes up so much space, that I kept stumbling over the bikes when trying to re-organize all the stuff that's been outside under a tarp during the basement renno.
So, after an hour of drilling holes, there they are. I lined up the bottoms of the bikes about 6" off the floor, you can see how much longer (almost 1') the Lady's Tourist is than the Dawn.
I also had a mild attack of Shipwright's disease, and decided the change the front brake shoes on the 1938 Lady's Tourist, hereforto known as Agnes (I've been playing with names, and somehow this is the only one that's stuck). I bought Fibrax pads at Harris, and have spent a fair bit of time messing with Minerva's pads, so I thought it would be straightforward.
And it was, although not at all like Minerva. Minerva has a set of stays that clamp onto the fork with a post sticking out. The brake shoe itself bolts into a carrier, which slides up and down on that post as it's pulled up and down by the stirrup. The post is angled such that when you stop pulling the stirrup, the brakes slide down and away from the rim.
Agnes has a completely different, and to my eyes, better system.
She has a spring and lever arm that fit onto studs brazed onto the inner face of the fork. The spring and the lever arm are kept concentric with a funny little "bung" or interior washer. The springs pull the pads away from the rim when you release pressure on the brakes. I don't know how they compare in effectiveness, but they're a lot easier to deal with when adjusting and replacing the pads.
I think that I've discovered that a 9mm wrench fits these Whitworth bolts well enough to not round them. Unfortunately I only have a 9mm socket, not a box wrench, so I'm a bit nervous about really cranking on it, without being able to see if I'm rounding it. I think I need to buy a 9mm wrench (easier than buying a whitworth set -which I've considered, now that I have three rod brake bikes!!) Fortunately the replacement Fibrax pads are 8mm, so the only thing that is a real problem is the bolt on the rod itself.
Once I had the new pads in, I adjusted them by pushing them hard against the rim with the rod connection loosened, and then tightened the rod connection so that the shoes are "just" clear of the rim when the brakes aren't engaged. I didn't have time to take it for a test ride, but I noticed that they may be too tight, as when wheeling it across the room, it catches a bit. Wheel must not be radially true. But that's a project for another day...


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Here's what some people say about my other course
Hi Paulo,
After watching your Layback Roll Tutorial I spent 2 days at the sea trying to do it. First day it did not work, so I went back on the videos and I found out what I was doing wrong. The second day it was a success. Following your steps I got in the balance position without paniking when upside down and then the roll came effortlessly, exactly as you describe it. Now I am not afraid of the uncomfortable position during capsizing and I am looking forward to practicing more and make my roll reliable.
I did not beleive that some videos without the physical presence of the instructor would work, but it did and it did really fast!
Andreas Sandalis
HI Paulo, I've been using you online video for a few years now, starting with the layback rolling one. The most useful thing that I have taken from these videos is that torso rotation really starts at the feet and involves the butt & hips more so then twisting at the waist or shoulders. This has be a great help to me in preparing for upcoming BCU4* assessment & ACA L3 Instructor Certification Exam. My confidence in conditions and ability to maneuver my kayak is vastly improved. Your demonstrations and explanations are clear and concise and yet disclose some techniques that I have not seen in other online video courses.
Ryc Williamson
Portland, Washington
The videos have elevated my skill levels substantially. First, they introduced me to the Greenland paddle. So I dusted off the Greenland that was hanging in our family room and after a month I was converted to being a Greenland paddler.
The videos show how to better maneuver a kayak. For example, now when I turn it's a stern draw and a bow rudder; it's automatic. The rolls are one continuous sweep and sculling, bracing and edging are smother.
The videos have given me tools to continually improve my skills. It's refreshing to learn from a master paddler.
Carl Vopal
Thiensville, Wisconsin
If you are looking to get the most from your kayaking experience and want to extend your abilities, Paulo's bracing videos will help you do that in a methodical way. Paulo has a way of teaching that allows the student to excel at his own pace and build on prior lessons with ease.
When I first got my Greenland Paddle it was difficult for me to let go of my Euro Paddle techniques and my performance suffered from this. Paulo has opened another world for me with his patient teaching. I like the way the videos blend the use of rolling, bracing and sculling to form a solid set of skills that keep me from panic when I find myself in an unfamiliar, dynamic situation that requires immediate action.
My confidence has been greatly increased since I watched and applied these lessons.
Butch Chase
Juneau, Alaska
I am seeing great results with the exercises shown in the videos. I've taken rolling lessons before, but never had this success. Thank you for the wonderful videos
Jack C
Silverdale, WA
I couldn't roll or do a sculling brace before I watched Paulo's videos but now I can do both on both sides of the kayak. I'm very glad I came acress his rolling program and will definitly dontineu to follow his videos
Julie ????
First, let me tell you that I bought your basic forward stroke videos and at 75,now 76, years of age I did what you said to do. (I had only kayaked once before and dug and drug the paddle using only my arms and shoulders.) By following your guidance I developed a reasonably good forward stroke from the git go. I can go out and paddle 3 or4 miles and really enjoy it. I used to be a rock and mountain climber, cross country skier, backpacker, and snowshoer but have lost some of the use of my legs. Your excellent video course has let me find an outdoor activity that I really enjoy
ST Cooper
Thanks for the great bracing vids. Very clear and helpful. ( I especially like the underwater shots. )
Steve Bullas
Your forward stroke video series are a pleasure to watch, I found that they are easy to follow and simply make sense.
You have a special way of breaking complex ideas into simple, easy to understand and useful advice.
I would recommend them to any paddler that wants to improve the efficiency of her/his forward stroke with any type of paddle.


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'Tis the season of remakes. Taking a break from its well-established habit of cannibalizing Hollywood for plot ideas and sequences, the Hindi film industry has decided, almost en masse, to seek inspiration from its own rich celluloid heritage: with a remake of "Don" and "Umrao Jaan" playing in the theatres and a remake of "Sholay" in the works.
Remakes aren't necessarily a bad idea (as long as proper acknowledgement is being given and copyrights being respected ) especially for movies from earlier eras that have "aged" thematically and/or technically and could do with an effective re-packaging for a new generation of movie-goers.
Which is what Farhan Akthar attempts in Don (2006). Taking a typical 70s style Bollywood potboiler, he scissors out the "dated" psychedelic colors, over-sized bow ties, bell-bottoms and tacky tiger masks (remember the one AB comes out wearing in the song "Main Hoon Don") while retaining the legendary, oft-repeated lines of the original. On top of that, he layers in novel characterizations, several plot twists and most importantly oodles of camera-angles, split screens, greenish hues, breath-taking locales, stunning set-pieces and Hong Kong-style choreographed fights (as opposed to what in the 70s used to be referred to as "Thrills").
What emerges is an extremely contemporary, cool-looking escapist fantasy that can compete stylistically with the Bonds and Mission Impossibles of the world.
However Farhan Akthar has a challenge that Steven Soderbergh didn't have to deal with when he redid "Ocean's Eleven" on similar lines (which incidentally is an excellent example of a remake that totally reinvented the original). That challenge being that the success of his movie will be critically measured by how well the actor playing the title character can match up to the sheer aura and presence of India's biggest ever superstar, Amitabh the Big B Bachchan who played Don in the original.
Which is quite impossible—the B cannot be replaced.
People who are expecting a performance from Shahrukh Khan that supplants Amitabh's will be disappointed with the new "Don". They will be seen coming out of the theatre shaking their heads saying "Shahrukh Khan is no match for Amitabh Bachchan". Absolutely true. He is not. He does not have Bachchan's machismo, his raw screen presence and his amazing dialogue delivery skills.
And here's the thing. He does not need to. Shahrukh Khan is his own Don—in a way totally different from the role Amitabh essayed in the original. If Amitabh represents the hirsute caveman masculinity of the Sean Connery school of sexiness, Shahrukh Khan epitomizes the more modern David Beckham-Pierce Brosnan ideal of the well-groomed, somewhat wimpy meterosexual for whom a broken nose is preferred to a poorly-ironed suit. Essaying the role of the over-the-top mega-villain in a movie where believability is of no concern, Shahrukh Khan's lip snarls, goat laugh and quivering eyes do not appear out-of-place for once and actually help him in forging a distinct identity for his character, independent of the towering shadow of the Big B.
This also explains why the weakest part of the movie is during the two song sequences where Farhan Akthar tries to slavishly follow the original —the "Yeh Mera Dil" sequence where Kareena Kapoor totally flops out compared to the command performance from dance-legend Helen and the "Khaike Pan Banaras Wala" where Shahrukh looks like the biggest fraud Banarasi Babu ever. (that song was ideal for the Bachchan version of the Don but not for the SRK one) If only Farhan Akthar had bothered to re-adapt these two songs like he did with the "Main Hoon Doon" song, then he would have had a much stronger product.
In conclusion, I have to say that I went in with very low expectations for "Don", fearful that I would have to start my review with "Don dekhna mushkil hi naheen namumkin hain". However I was pleasantly surprised by Farhan Akthar's clever direction and deft re-characterizations which while not elevating "Don" to anywhere near the level of a masterpiece still manages to make it deliver on its promise of non-stop, brainless, totally low-brow entertainment.
Which is more than what I can say for the other big budget releases of this year.


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[Updated at 4:44 p.m. ET] A Canadian freestyle skier who was seriously injured during practice in Utah last week has died, her family said Thursday in a statement released by her publicist.
Sarah Burke, 29, died Thursday morning at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, where she had been treated for injuries she suffered during a training run at Park City Mountain Resort's superpipe.
Burke reportedly fell while trying a trick and "whiplashed" onto her side at Park City Mountain Resort's superpipe on January 10, officials have said. She ruptured a vertebral artery in the fall, leading to an intracranial hemorrhage that caused her to go into cardiac arrest at the accident site, according to a statement released by her publicist, Nicole Wool.
Emergency workers gave her CPR at the site, during which time she remained without a pulse or voluntary breathing. She was taken to a hospital, where she was put on life support and underwent successful surgery to repair the artery - one of four major arteries supplying blood to the brain - the next day, according to the statement.
But after the surgery, tests determined she suffered "irreversible damage to her brain due to lack of oxygen and blood after cardiac arrest," the statement reads.
"Sarah passed away peacefully surrounded by those she loved," according to the statement.
Burke, a native of Ontario who lived in British Columbia, was 11th in the Association of Freeskiing Professionals overall rankings last year. She won four gold medals in the Winter X Games, the event she was training for at the time of last week's accident. She also won gold at the 2005 world championships in Finland and in 2007 received ESPN's Best Female Action Sports Athlete award.
Burke is considered a pioneer of freestyle skiing and was a major force in getting the ski halfpipe event added to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Peter Judge, CEO of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association, said last week.
The Canadian Freestyle Ski Association said on its Facebook page Thursday that it "sends its heartfelt condolences to the family of Sarah Burke."
Last week, Judge told reporters in a conference call that he didn't think the incident would damage the reputation of a sport that had just been added to the Olympic lineup.
"I think the sport in general is extremely safe. Obviously, there are inherent risks in any sport," he said. "Safety and athlete safety is one of the things that is paramount within our sport."
He added that often, because of the perceived dangers of the sport, those involved with it go above and beyond to ensure safety. He said there hadn't been a major freestyle incident in nearly 35 years. Still, Judge said, they would be looking at what happened to cause the accident to see whether anything needed to be reexamined.
"When there's an injury," Judge said last week, "you always do a full audit to understand what the root cause is and whether you can make anything safer."
People flooded Burke's Facebook page with messages of support after her fall. Her family, which thanked her friends and doctors for their care, said it "was moved by the sincere and heartfelt sympathy expressed by people inspired by Sarah from all around the world," and that a public celebration of her life would be held in the coming weeks.
The family, noting that it has received many inquiries from people who wanted to make a contribution in Burke's memory, said people could go to http://www.giveforward.com/sarahburke for more information.
It pains me to see young lives cut short. May she rest in peace and may her family find comfort.
That's one way to look at it. Here's another. Burke wasn't about excellence in physical fitness or self defense. There are wise ways to approach these, but they don't get you so much attention. No, she was an adrenaline junkie, a self destructive thrill-seeker who wanted to get as close to death as she could then to shiver with exquisite delight when she escaped its clutches. Well, this time nature caught her and didn't let her go. In a way she's like David Carradine. Her underlying cause of death was auto-erotic life asphyxiation.
To all the meek unadventurous souls who don't understand pushing limits and excelling at anything let me say this. . . It has nothing to with cheating death or getting closetodeath it is about fully living life, embracing life andbeing alive. Hi suspect you know nothing of this and will die without having truly lived
I'm a cold hearted SOB and I even had a tear in my after reading this story. Tragic, so sad.
Rest in peace., she will be remembered by all of us that are in the winter sports., she was a role model and we are all very very sad..
I guess she wont be trying that trick again.
I guess she wont be trying that trick again. This reminds me of the 2 thrill seekers in CA who went 4 wheeling in the dark and found dead the next day. There are consequences for doing stuff we find dangerous.
The moral here is don't do tricks, skiing is dangerous enough.
Sonny Bono and Michael Kennedy died in skiing accidents. It's a dangerous thing already. Don't need to tempt fate.
You don't get out much I guess.
Some people decide to live their lives on the edge and, frankly, probably have more fun because they do. Sometimes their lives end in tragedy and most of the time they do not. If she died doing what she loved, then good for her. At least she didn't die from a stress related heart attack while sitting in a cubicle.
Sarah Burke was awesome and amazing and beautiful and all that we would like to be but aren't, and she is gone, and it's a sad day for us and that's what is important. RIP Sarah,
I'm tired of hearing threats to abolish "dangerous" sports. Don't think for a moment that in all her years of training, she had no idea of the dangers of the sport. It's brave souls like HER that strive for true excellence in a world where the participation trophy-mentality is gaining popularity. We lost another great one.
Geez, if the price of a soul must be paid this day, then do humanity a favor.. please take Newt Gingrich or Herman Cain, and send Sarah Back.
Very sad story. So young, so tragic. R.I.P, Sarah Burke...
Very sad, very tragic to die so young!!!
This article on news.blogs.cnn.com gives the light in which we can observe the reality.
ahhhhhhh..whats that?
Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all of us you really recognise what you're speaking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also seek advice from my site =). We may have a link trade agreement between us


text:
Sunday, December 5, 2010
activities advent
Our holidays center a lot on family activities. Instead of gifts and goodies, I printed little cards for the advent pockets. Each one lists something we can do together each day. Some have "choose a special Christmas goodie" though. Most of the activities are ones we already attend or do anyway, so it's a no brainer to include them. It's just fun for Ella and Madi to be surprised when they pull out the card each day. And it simplifies our holidays to break the list down to daily activities.
Here's our list:
Decorate your tree
Go to the Festival of Trees as a family
Go on a wagon ride through the lights at Thanksgiving Point
Shop for gifts for other children (FSTC Santa's Workshop)
Unwrap a book to read
Have hot cocoa and cookies with our neighbors (Neighborhood Service Project)
Open your special ornament and put in on your tree
Make a craft with Mom
Write a letter to Santa
Go to the Christmas party at church
Go to Temple Square to see the nativity
Go sledding with Dad
Have a family Christmas movie night with treats
Choose a special treat
Shop for a gift for your preschool party
Have FHE with our BYU friends
Ride on the Polar Express
Have lunch at a special restaurant with our family
Wear new jammies to bed
Have FHE with your cousins
Decorate cookies
Read the story about the birth of Jesus
*Update: I've had a lot of inquiries about where I got the advent calendar. My son bought it for me at Pottery Barn Kids. They discontinued it for awhile, but brought one back that's very similar. Hooray! Check it out here.
65 comments:
Love this! We've been doing a "Christmas List" this year... crossing off stuff as we do them... but we love the advent and will start it next year with our little boy.ReplyDelete
Love your advent calendar!! so cute!
Very cute advent calendar! Thanks for the great idea. Where did you find the advent calendar?ReplyDelete
just found it at pottery barn kids!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 10, 2011 at 1:47 AM
Hi!! I'm looking for a punch with that shape. Do you know where can I find it? thank you so muchReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 10, 2011 at 8:55 AM
Hello, what a wonderful idea! I am definitely getting inspired for some activity list for december! thank you for sharing..ReplyDelete
What a great idea!ReplyDelete
This is an amazing advent calendar idea, thanks for posting it!ReplyDelete
THANK YOU!!! I have been looking everywhere for a good list of things I can put in our advent this year. LOVE all of your ideas and you seriously just helped me with a big check off my list of things to get done :)ReplyDelete
This is a GREAT idea! Thanks for sharing. . .I think we'll definitely do something like this this year :)ReplyDelete
Hi dear...ReplyDelete
I'm a brazilian mom... and I really loved your advent calendar... here, the calendar isn't a tradition, but I think it's so cute, lovely and 'warm' ;)
of course, because the weather (in december is ssoooooo hot) somethings 'll be different... but the magic is the same...
some words I didn't undarstand, could you help me?
*Have FHE with our BYU friends
what is FHE an BYU?
and in you list there is just 21 activities... Am I wrong????
if you prefer, answer by e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
thank you so much for this idea!!!!
brazilian hugs
Love this! The last two years we started doing something similar but I'm always looking for new activity ideas. We included some simple ones as well. Since all the grandparents live in other states, we've had, "Call Grandma in KY and sing a Christmas Carol." A fun one to include.ReplyDelete
So much fun! I shared it on my business facebook page and I'm going to share it with my Religious Ed parents too!ReplyDelete
I found this at a perfect time, as I wanted our advent to focus on activities this year, too. Thank you so much for sharing!ReplyDelete
SUCH a good idea! My hubby will be home for 2 weeks for Christmas and I wanted to do something little for some added fun on our vacation. This would be perfect with some more mature things added instead :)ReplyDelete
This is such a great idea! I love it. And Paty incase you haven't gotten an answer, FHE stands for Family Home Evening. It is something we do as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Each Monday we are asked to have a family night, time with just our family. Usually family night includes talking about a gospel topic and just having fun together. BYU is a University here in Utah, Brigham Young University. Hope that helps you understand it a little better.ReplyDelete
Thanks, Angela!ReplyDelete
You also asked why I only had 21 activities for our advent calendar. That's because some things we repeat, like "do a craft with Mom" or "go sledding with Dad." Those are the two our daughter would choose to do every day! Enjoy your warm weather in Brazil.:)
I actually just printed out the cards rectangular and used a corner rounder punch for the corners. I like the way it looks. You can get a corner rounder at any craft store.
Thanks for a great blogReplyDelete
Best Christmas Decoration ideas
That is a really cool idea and love your activities! Its about the little things and those times together! Love it!ReplyDelete
What a great idea, thanks!ReplyDelete
I LOVE this idea!! I have an advent calender and I have always put candy treats in the boxes. I'm trying to live a more healthy lifestyle, and trying to teach my kids to do the same. This will help with that goal. What a super way to do special things together, and make memories that last! This is the best treat. Thanks again. :)ReplyDelete
see how we suggested your card ideaReplyDelete
I love this! And your cards are so cute. Can you tell me how you created them? Just printed them off the printer and cut them? Happy Holidays!ReplyDelete
Thanks, Bonnie. Yes, I just printed them and cut out, then used a corner rounder punch on the corners. Super simple.ReplyDelete
Thanks for the activity list...I was making my advent tree with a similar theme and saw your list and borrowed a few great ideas! I linked back to you from my post:
Thanks for your advent ideas! Hope it's okay if I use one of your photos on our facebook fan page for our link up party on Saturday? I'll delete at your behest. Love your post either way :DReplyDelete
I love this!!! Though it's a few years off for me to enjoy this with my little one, I can't wait and I love all the ideas you shared!ReplyDelete
I love this so much that not only will be adopting this as our family tradition, I absolutely had to feature your idea (along with a link to you) in my post about advent calendars!! You can check it out here http://simplylivinggreen.blogspot.com/ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for something that I know our family will look forward to every year!!
This is a gorgeous advent calendar. I have been trying to find one that focused on "messages" and this is the one! Thanks for sharing!ReplyDelete
This is a gorgeous advent calendar. I have been trying to find one that focused on "messages" and this is the one! Thanks for sharing!ReplyDelete
OMG, I just came across this via Pintrest and I do this too!! (Have been since my oldest was very little). I make the little cards and put them in a felt pocket Advent Calendar from Garnet Hill. So funny -- my kids lovvvee "calendar" as they call it and it really is such a special time for us, focusing on family activities instead of presents or chocolate every day. Just had to tell you -- I thought I was the only one! :)ReplyDelete
Just came across this on pinterest - and I am a Ridiculous perfectionist and have never found an advent calendar I like. And am too putzy to design/execute a DIY one. I think this beautiful family tradition is one it will be my pleasure to borrow and make 'our own'.ReplyDelete
Very kind of you to share this - it's a keeper and I will pin directly from your site, and refer folks there!! Wonderful post :-)
Just came across this on pinterest - and I am a Ridiculous perfectionist and have never found an advent calendar I like. And am too putzy to design/execute a DIY one. I think this beautiful family tradition is one it will be my pleasure to borrow and make 'our own'.ReplyDelete
Very kind of you to share this - it's a keeper and I will pin directly from your site, and refer folks there!! Wonderful post :-)
Thank you so much for these ideas. I can't use all of them but it is a start. I have been looking for some thing to fill our advent calendar - it is wooden with little doors. I wanted activities and not candy to go in it. I have been looking for ideas and never found the right one until now. Its so simple. My boys are older and they don't want to do silly things anymore - but they still like doing things as a family and this will be perfect come December!ReplyDelete
LOVE this idea!!! It brings the family together for Christmas. I love it so much I am sharing it with my readers in my annual Christmas in July series. Thanks for sharing!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 3, 2012 at 8:57 AM
Just saw this on Pinterest, and I LOVE IT!!!! I hope I remember this come November. :)ReplyDelete
great idea! love those activites instead of candy on the advent calendar! thank'sReplyDelete
What a brilliant idea! Found you on pinterest!ReplyDelete
love it! We do our's in little numbered boxes on the Christmas tree. I love your list and will be stealing some for this year, thanks!ReplyDelete
Saw this post on Pinterest. Love your activities and even picked up an Advent tree of my own. TFSReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 12, 2012 at 1:55 PM
These are so cute! Now I just have to find the time to make the calendar *sigh*ReplyDelete
I know how you feel! That's why I asked for one for Christmas. :)ReplyDelete
This is a great idea! I love this idea!ReplyDelete
What in the world is FHE?ReplyDeleteReplies
Family Home Evening. It's a Mormon tradition that on Mondays you stay home with your family and do a family activity together.Delete
Been looking for a non-candy. non-gift advent idea and thanks to you I've found it! But being that I have a newborn and 2 toddlers, I have zero time to make it fancy. So for those others who are looking to make it quicker, I'm just writing mine on some strips of paper and making a paper chain and will probably hang it in the wide doorway between our dining room and living room. Some other ideas I have so far are put out bird feeders for the birdies, deliver cookies to the neighbors, cut paper snowflakes. Can't wait to start with the kiddos!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 19, 2012 at 7:18 PM
Kaylee, FHE stands for Family Home Evening. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hold a family night (FHE) every Monday night. It's a time to learn gospel principles and have some fun family time together. It's a great tradition to start in any family. Here's a link with ideas of how to have a sucessful Family Home Evening.ReplyDelete
Love this - shared it in this Advent Calendar post: http://kids.baristanet.com/2012/11/10-amazing-advent-calendars/ReplyDelete
I love your idea of putting activities on a card, than just goodies and treats! I just ordered my tree from Pottery Barn Kids, and have yet to receive it. To get a head start on my list, I wanted to know the size of the cards, or puncher. This way, I'll have the activity cards ready before my tree arrives. Thanks for your help!ReplyDelete
love it! Do you have a file to share with your activity cards?ReplyDelete
Hi! I love the activity cards, do you have them saved as a document? Would you be willing to email them to me? I would love to use them at Christmas time, my email is email@example.com. Thanks!ReplyDelete
Love your cute little cards? Do you have a file or template that you could share?ReplyDelete
Do you remember what size cards you used for the calendar? I just ordered mine and would like to make the cards before it gets here. Thank you! Great idea!ReplyDelete
Would love the printable of your cards. Thanks! What a great idea!ReplyDelete
I love this! This is a fun list of activities!ReplyDelete
do you have the printable file for your activity cards?ReplyDelete
Awesome fun activities! I do candy riddles with my kids just to help their critical thinking but fill their bellies as well. I can post a few here for you: Candy RiddlesReplyDelete
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text:
Tim Watkins has emerged as one of the most accurate and articulate communicators of our predicament.
In today's essay Watkins clearly explains both our problem and our options.
There isn't a hint of denial here. Well done!
To express our predicament as simply as I can, it is this:
- In order to prevent environmental collapse bringing about the death of more than six in every seven humans on the planet, we (all of us) simply have to stop using fossil carbon fuels today.
- But if we stop using the fossil carbon fuels that currently provide the world with 85 percent of its power, our highly complex and interconnected oil-dependent economy will crash; resulting in a global famine that will kill more than six in every seven humans on the planet anyway.
In the USA, meanwhile, what purports to be a debate about the environment has been largely co-opted on both sides of the growing political divide into a debate about the economics of public spending. The Democrat Party version of the green new deal is little more than a debt-based job-creation and public healthcare scheme with some windmills and solar panels providing a veneer of greenwash. The Republican Party – or at least the minority who don't think climate change is a hoax – in contrast, seek to cut public spending and green energy subsidies in favour of carbon taxes and free market pseudo-solutions. Neither side inspires much confidence in addressing the full scope of the human impact crisis that is breaking over us.
As with any other oil-based technology, wind turbines and solar panels are subject to diminishing returns which leave green deals dead in the water. But resource depletion is an even greater problem simply because humanity consumed all of the cheap and easy fossil carbon and mineral resources in the two-decade long blowout of the post-war boom. Our problem is not just that we cannot improve the technologies we currently have, but also that we no longer have access to the resources to re-fight World War Two or to purposelessly launch humans anywhere beyond a low earth orbit.
The vain hope that by shovelling vast amounts of fiat currency at lithium ion batteries we will somehow transcend the laws of physics is a siren song that takes us even further away from even mitigating the crisis before us. Indeed, the ability of states and banks to continue to create fiat currency out of thin air is itself only possible because of the illusion that there will be sufficient additional energy and mineral resources available in future to repay the debt we are running up today. When that illusion is shattered – as it very nearly was a decade ago – the resulting stagflation will put paid to any chance of deploying a fraction of the windmills and solar panels required even to maintain the standard of living currently endured by a growing precariat in the developed states.
If we leave matters to Mother Nature – assuming no energy breakthrough arrives to save the day – then the collapse of the environment just as our critical infrastructure fails is going to result in a massive cull of the human population via some combination of war, plague and starvation. We might mitigate this, however, by embarking upon a managed de-growth that begins with a radical shrinking of our material consumption to bring us (in the developed economies) to the standard of living of sub-Saharan Africa. In the process, we will have to take some seriously unpleasant decisions in order to shrink the population back to a more sustainable level – for example, rationing healthcare to the under 50s (I'm 58 by the way) and enforcing birth controls far more draconian than China's infamous one-child policy. I have no expectation that anyone is going to vote for this; I just put it forward as a slightly more benign alternative to sitting back and waiting for nature to put an end to most of our species.
In the end, we are going to go with Mills' option simply because it is the only one that fits with our underlying quasi-religion of progress. If material science provides us with the hoped for technological breakthrough – most likely one that unlocks the full potential of the atom (simply because of the vast potential energy within the nucleus as opposed to that released by breaking electron bonds) – then the kind of technologies available to future humans will be about as puzzling to us as a smartphone or a GPS satellite would have been to our Neolithic ancestors. If, as is far more likely, the technological breakthrough fails to put in an appearance, then irrespective of how many windmills and solar panels we manage to erect before our resources run out, this civilisation and possibly our entire species is done.