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American Film Showcase Trip to Romania
Earlier this month I was lucky enough to travel to Romania with the American Film Showcase which is a collaboration between the American State Department and USC which bring mainly documentary filmmakers and film experts (yours truly) to various countries around the world. This program serves as bridge between American filmmakers and filmmakers abroad mostly in the developing world but occasionally in more developed countries. Frankly I didn't know what to expect – I actually thought that Romania already had a pretty amazing film industry producing some pretty incredible films. However my one experience being in Romania (before the revolution) did not create much of a desire to go back. Boy was I surprised – Romania is an incredible gem in many ways – the people are warm and generous (and speak English better than most European countries), there are a plethora of amazing Greek Orthodox churches (I'm a sucker for architecture, mosaics and any images on walls as you may know), and there is a huge vibrant section of artists who are eager to embrace the new entrepreneurial world.

subset: commoncrawl


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Remember that story about my local newspaper printing the photo I submitted of the baby bird I named after Oprah's vagina? This photography story isn't as interesting, but I'm posting it anyway because I love to brag. (I'll assume no one gasped at that.)
First thing to know: I HAVE NO FRIENDS. And I don't mean, "I have no friends who are into photography". I mean, "I have no friends. Period." It's all part of the pact I made with the Devil years ago in return for him making me a morning drive radio star. Plus I live in the middle of a secluded forest and go to bed when most people are only just getting drunk after their long day at work. That helps too.
(Aside to NewWifey(tm), whom I know is reading this. Yes, yes. You are my friend. I'm referring specifically here to friends who won't grudgingly have sex with me.)
So ever since I got back into photography last year, it, like all my other hobbies, has been a very lonely pursuit. This is partly because I bought the camera primarily to take pictures of NewWifey(tm)'s products down in our basement. But it's also because, like I said, I am devoid of human contact in general.
But then I discovered that a photography club meets at the senior center in our town once a month, and they welcome new members. The only catch was, they meet at 2pm. I work until 1pm in a building that's an hour away. Since I'd have to divert home to get my camera and spend ten minutes peeing first (thanks, prostate), I'd never make it on time.
However my work hours have just recently changed. I now get out of work 15 minutes earlier, which means I'd have enough time to grab the Nikon, pee, and even down a fortifying beer before the meeting. So I went and checked them out last month.
That first time I went they had a guest speaker talking about the finer points of street photography, and after that they scrolled through everyone's pictures.
The guest speaker was ok, but the follow-up presentation of members' photos …..zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
I couldn't believe it. There must have been 40 pictures put up, one after the other, and after each one….dead silence. No discussion of the picture's merits by the members, no explanation of what was happening by the photographer. Just 30 or so people sitting with their arms crossed staring dully at the screen until it was over when they all put on their coats and left.
I was aghast. I thought these people were supposed to be enthusiasts. Why weren't they enthusiastic? I've seen more spontaneous emotions burst out at Japanese tea ceremonies.
I decided to join anyway.
When I signed up the president told me that every month the club posts a Theme and members are supposed to bring photos representing that theme to the next meeting. She handed me a sheet which said that for April the theme was "Transportation". She also asked me what level photographer I was, Beginner, Intermediate, or Expert. I'm probably really a beginner, since this is my very first DSLR. But you know how men are. Levels equate to penis size.
I chose Intermediate.
For the coming April meeting I knew I'd be in for 2 hours of people staring glumly at picture after picture of cars, bicycles, horses, trains, and all the other obvious choices. But I had a plan: I was gonna submit 5 pictures (the maximum allowed), none of which on the surface seemed to be about transportation. Then I, a professional wordsmith who's not embarrassed to flaunt it, would stand up and spin a tale around each of my pictures explaining why it actually did conform to The Theme. That would get conversations going amongst the peanut gallery, then others would do the same with their pictures, and all would be right with the world. I couldn't wait.
So this past Tuesday was the April meeting, my first as a paying member and contributor. I had my script for each photo memorized, and I was raring to go. I was gonna save the Vernon Camera Club single handed!
Or so I thought.
To my surprise there were easily twice as many people seated around the tables in the meeting room as there were the previous month. And they were all chattering away, lively as could be. What was going on…?
Then the president of the club stood up. "Please sit down everyone" she said, "and if anyone hasn't submitted their entries yet, please do so now if you have them on a thumb drive. The judge will be here in a few moments."
Entries? Judge? What was going on?
I went trotting up to the president to find out.
"Oh yes" she said. "This month is a competition event. I believe we ran out of notices when you were here last time, so you probably didn't know. But don't worry, I included all 5 of your pictures in the Intermediate category."
I was doomed.
Not only was I not gonna be able to deliver my well crafted remarks to wild applause and guffaws of appreciative laughter, but my pictures were about to be judged against 60-odd others in a category that I shouldn't be in. Judged, I found out, by the soon-to-arrive guest professional photographer who has also been an accredited photography judge since 1975. On top of that, during the judging no one was allowed to talk. I couldn't explain why my pictures really were about transportation, even if on the surface they didn't appear to be.
I braced for impact.
Right at 2 the judge arrived, and after he introduced himself and gave a short speech about how good a judge he was our pictures were put up on screen in random order, with no attribution as to photographer. That, at least, was good. Nobody would know it was me who put up all those pictures which seemed to not fit the Theme.
First up were all the pictures in the Beginner category. I groaned. They all looked better than mine. The judge studied each in turn, discussing what he liked and didn't like, and giving it a score. At the end he put his favorite five up on screen together and decided on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places from them. Everybody clapped.
Then came the Intermediates.
My first picture was #7 in the cue. It went as badly as I thought it would.
"What the hell is this?" said the judge. "I thought the theme of the competition was 'Transportation'. Didn't this member get the memo?" He gave my picture the lowest possible score.
It was the same when my next picture popped up. And the next. And the next. I could tell Judge F-Stop was getting more and more peeved every time he had to ask if someone didn't get the memo. I just sunk further into my chair and tried not to make eye contact.
Finally near the end of the pile it was my last picture's turn. It was a shot I took this past Christmas Eve. I'd gone into town to take pictures of Christmas decorations, and just as the sun was going down a commuter train from NYC pulled into the station. There was only one guy on the entire train, some poor schlub who had to go in on the holiday and was now finally going home. As soon as I spotted him I sprinted down the tracks as the train was pulling away, then laid down between the rails to get an interesting perspective and took the photo as he crossed the street, all alone. I had to rush it, and I didn't think it came out very well with a somewhat skewed horizon and other technical difficulties. But I included it anyway because I wanted to spin the tale about it to the audience. I expected to get shot down again.
"Now THAT is a great picture" said the judge. "The guy in the photo is a little too dark – it took me a moment to spot him. But otherwise the composition is terrific, and it really conveys a story." He gave it the top mark possible.
The woman sitting next to me, some rangy old bird in her 70's with an ill fitting Samantha Stevens flipped bob wig, leaned over and sniffed, "This judge doesn't know what he's talking about. That photo is awful. Look at all those shadows!" I nodded in agreement.
A few more photos, and then he put his top 5 up on screen.
Mine was one of them.
"Ok, let's take these two out" he said, swiping away two that weren't mine.
Now there were three. I was guaranteed a ribbon!
"Ok, this one is third", and he picked…not mine!
That left just me and some loser who shot a picture of a row of golf carts. I held my breath.
The judge studied both pictures for a solid 2 minutes. Finally he said, "If the guy in the train picture wasn't so dark it would have won. But he was, so I'm giving it 2nd place. First goes to the golf carts." Everybody applauded, and the president handed me a red 2nd Place ribbon. (For all my snark, it really was a very good golf cart picture. I found out later it also happened to have been taken by a very nice woman who had been very helpful getting me set up earlier. I was very happy for her.)
After that he judged the Expert category, and those were some REALLY spectacular photos. To tell you how good they were, one of the entrants was a retired professor of photography at a nearby college and none of his pictures even made it to the Top Five. The winning shot was far and away the class of the entire competition, and easily coasted to a well deserved victory. The judge said it was good enough to be displayed in a professional gallery, and I wouldn't argue. And the club president apparently has some real photography chops – she got the 3rd place ribbon.
I got second place in the Intermediate category! Against 63 other people! In my very first photography competition! A competition I didn't even know I'd entered, and with pictures I never would have entered if I'd known!
Can you tell I'm a bit excited? I've got a room full of motorcycle racing and fencing trophies, but this stupid little red ribbon draped over my desk makes me giggle with delight more than anything I've won since that time I took third place in the Miss West Virginia pageant.
All the other meetings scheduled for this year are just regular ol' Show-n-Tell stuff with a few guest speakers and an outing or two. Except one. Later in the fall it looks like they're gonna have one more competition. And when they do, that blue First Place ribbon will be mine. MINE, I say! BWAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAA!!
Er, not that I care, of course. I'm way too suave and sophisticated to get myself worked up over some dumb podunk little photography competition for geriatric losers.
Yeah. Fuck that.
Especially that Elizabeth Montgomery wanna-be. She's goin' down.
Pretty cool ribbon picture, huh? I've really been nailing my product photography game lately, if I do say so myself. Thank you, thankyouverymuch.
And for being such a good audience, here's a bonus picture I took of my watch. I was practicing how to photograph highly reflective objects because some of NewWifey(tm)'s products have mirror-like finishes, and watch faces are more mirror-like than even mirrors. After a few
dozen hundred thousand shots, I think I got it:
I wish I knew how to do post-processing, though. I probably would have saved a good hour at least if I could have made it look this good in PhotoShop or Lightroom, instead of getting it perfect in-camera with no editing afterwards. Oh well, it's not like I had anything better to do….


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Don't forget to check out the
clear side indicator lights for
e36 3 series BMW to complete your
clear lights look!
Clear European style tail lights,
or tail lamps, are one of the
first modifications most bimmer
owners do to their car. This upgrade
is fairly in-expensive, easy to
self install, and produces a noticeably
newer look for your BMW.
The clear corner lenses and side
markers are also available and
can be purchased separately, or
as a kit with both the left and
right tail lamps together.


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- Collection Overview
- Collection Description & Creator Information
- Access & Use
- Collection History
- Find Related Materials
Re Retirement of Justices and Judges, 1959-1961
Collection Overview
Collection Description & Creator Information
- Description:
Harlan's papers consist of legal materials, correspondence, writings, and personal papers that document his career as an attorney and a judge, especially the period when he was a Supreme Court Justice. The majority of the papers are opinions and other legal documents from all of the cases heard before the Supreme Court while Harlan was a member, and Harlan's correspondence files that span the entirety of his career.
Please see the series descriptions in the contents list for additional information about individual series.
Collection History
- Archival Appraisal Information:
No appraisal information is available.
Access & Use
- Access Restrictions:
Collection is open for research use.
- Conditions for Reproduction and Use:
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. For quotations that are fair use as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission to cite or publish is required. For those few instances beyond fair use, any copyright vested in the donor has passed to Princeton University and researchers must submit the Publication and Broadcast Form. For materials not created by the donor, in addition to completing this form for Princeton, researchers are responsible for determining who may hold the copyright and obtaining approval from them.
- Special Requirements for Access:
Box 684 contains audiotapes. Access to audiovisual material follows the Mudd Manuscript Library policy for preservation and access to audiovisual materials.
- Credit this material:
Re Retirement of Justices and Judges; John Marshall Harlan Papers, MC071, Public Policy Papers, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library
- Location:
- Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library65 Olden StreetPrinceton, NJ 08540, USA(609) 258-6345
- Storage Note:
- Mudd Manuscript Library (mudd): Box 588


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Led by Gilman alumnus Marcus Holman, second-seeded North Carolina won its first Atlantic Coast Conference men's lacrosse tournament since 1996 by outlasting Virginia, 16-13, on Sunday in Chapel Hill.
The Tar Heels held at least a two-goal lead throughout the final 32 minutes in presenting coach Joe Breschi with his 150th career win.
Holman, a senior attackman who was named tournament Most Valuable Player, finished the game with five assists. His school-record 29-game goal-scoring streak ended, but his five points lifted his career total to 207, breaking the school record of 204 set by Bruce Ledwith (1970-1973).
Carolina's Davey Emala (Gilman), a transfer from Georgetown, had a career-high four goals plus an assist, as the second-ranked Tar Heels (12-3) won their ninth straight game and earned their 12th ACC title (eighth since the league began determining its champion via a tournament in 1989).
Virginia (7-8), which had upset top-seeded and fourth-ranked Maryland in the semifinals, ends its season without an NCAA tournament berth for the first time since 2004.
The Cavaliers' Matt White tied an ACC championship single-game-record with seven goals, including five in the second half, and Nick O'Reilly set the championship single-game record for assists with seven.
No. 16 Lehigh 11, No. 18 Bucknell 5: The host Mountain Hawks took a 5-0 lead after one quarter in Bethlehem, Pa., and cruised to their second straight Patriot League title.
Senior David DiMaria had two goals and three assists as Lehigh became the first team since Navy in 2006-2007 to win back-to-back Patriot championships.
Sophomore Matt Poillon stopped 10 of 15 for the Mountain Hawks.
Eastern College Athletic Conference: Second-seeded Loyola will face third-seeded Ohio State in a semifinal at 8 p.m. Thursday in Geneva, N.Y.
Top-seed Denver and fourth-seeded Fairfield will meet at 5 p.m..
No. 17 Loyola 13, No. 16 Connecticut 7: Freshman Molly Wolf (Bryn Mawr) made 11saves as the host Greyhounds (10-7, 6-2 Big East) won on senior day against the Huskies (13-2, 5-2) to secure their fifth straight 10-win season.
Junior Marlee Paton and sophomore Kara Burke (Dulaney) led the Loyola offense with three goals and one assist each.
Senior Cassandra Cursaro and sophomore Annie Thomas (John Carroll) had two goals apiece.
The Greyhounds will be the third seed in the conference tournament and will face host and second-seeded Georgetown in a semifinal Thursday at approximately 8 p.m. Top-seeded Syracuse will face No. 4 seed Connecticut at 5:30 p.m.
Johns Hopkins 11, Ohio State 10: The Blue Jays took their first lead with 27:20 to play in the game and held on to defeat the host Buckeyes.
The Blue Jays (10-6, 2-3) earned the fourth seed in the American Lacrosse Conference tournament, which they will host. Hopkins will play fifth-seeded Ohio State (7-9, 1-4) on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Hopkins used a 6-1 run that bridged halftime to turn a two-goal deficit into a three-goal lead with 20:35 still to play. Ohio State answered with a three-goal burst, but back-to-back Blue Jays goals and a late Buckeyes turnover were the difference for Hopkins. Hopkins was able to control the ball at the center circle, outdrawing Ohio State 18-5.
Hopkins junior Sarah Taylor had her seventh hat trick this season. Junior Taylor D'Amore scored two goals to go with two assists and a game-high seven draws. Freshman Dene' DiMartino and junior Sammy Cermack each notched two goals, while DiMartino also controlled six draws. Senior Cosette Larash (Archbishop Spalding) finished with three saves to earn the win, the 32nd of her career to tie the Hopkins Division I record.
Mary Kate Facchina led the Buckeyes with a game-high five goals. Her sister, Cara, had a game-high four assists.
No. 5 Syracuse 13, No. 7 Georgetown 7: Freshman Kayla Treanor scored a season-high six goals and added an assist as the visiting Orange (14-3, 8-0) beat the Hoyas (12-4, 6-2) to claim its second straight Big East regular-season title and third overall.
Syracuse has won nine straight games and its past 20 Big East regular-season games, dating to 2011.
No. 10 Massachusetts 14, Duquesne 7: The top-seeded Minutewomen (17-2) bridged a nine-goal run over the two halves en route to beating the Dukes (11-7) and earning their record fifth straight Atlantic 10 Conference championship title.
Sam Rush was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after posting six goals and an assist.


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NARIC is here to help
NARIC's information specialists are available Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.
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Tag Archives: obamacare
Disability News Weekly Roundup Monday, Dec 16 – Friday Dec 20
Posted on December 20, 2013 by teddowusu
Health: Reuters— Older Women are Sedentary Most of the Day: Study Older women spend about two-thirds of their time sitting, a new study suggests. Sedentary behavior has been linked to disease and disability. "Even people who go to the gym … Continue reading →
Posted in Weekly News Roundup | Tagged abc news, accessibility, aging, ASD, autism, autism spectrum disorder, autism spectrum disorders, beatles, Catherine A. Sarkisian, child with down syndrome, children, cnn, criminals, Darrell Steinberg, david filiberto, deaf, disability, disability news roundup, down syndrome, employment and disability institute at cornell university, FCC, federal communications commission, green, hard of hearing, hearing impaired, high blood pressure, hormone, los angeles times, mental health, mental well being, mental wellness, minnesota, nfl, obamacare, paralympics, paul mccartney, psychosocial, reuters, science daily, seahawks, sensory, somali children, stress, susanne bruyere, tinnitus, UCLA, weekly, women | Leave a comment


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Amanda Peet is the mother of a newborn baby girl!
The 38-year-old actress gave birth to Molly June Benioff on Monday (April 19) in New York. Amanda was scheduled to appear on The Late Show with David Letterman on the same evening to speak about her new film, Please Give!
Molly is the second child for Amanda and hubby David Benioff – big sister Frances is three years old.
"Mother and daughter are doing great," Amanda's rep told People.
Congratulations to the happy family!!


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June 8, 2023
A: click to change text to default font size A: click to change text to medium font size A: click to change text to large font size
Related Links
Family Law ADR Program
- Registration Form: to schedule a mediation or arbitration session with a member of the ADR panel, mail the form to:
Family Law ADR Program
400 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063
- Client Evaluation
- Attorney Evaluation
- Evaluation by Neutral
- Notice of ADR
Looking for a Family Law Panelist?
For Mediators and Arbitrators
From time to time we open the panel to new applicants.
For information about ADR training and the selection process, call: 650-261-5075
Contact Us
San Mateo County Superior Court
Family Law ADR Program
400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063 [Directions]
Phone Number: (650) 261-5075 or (650) 261-5076
Fees: $100 for the first 90-minute session, ($50 for each person).
Language Spoken: English, Spanish by appointment


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Daisy Jones & The Six
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Publication Date: 05 Mar 2019
Genre: Adult Fiction
Pages: 336
Publisher: Random House
Everyone knows Daisy Jones & The Six, but nobody knows the reason behind their split at the absolute height of their popularity . . . until now.
Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it's the rock and roll she loves most. By the time she's twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things.
Also getting noticed is The Six, a band led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she's pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road.
Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes that the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend.
The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a talented writer who takes her work to a new level with Daisy Jones & The Six, brilliantly capturing a place and time in an utterly distinctive voice.
When I first started hearing about Daisy Jones & The Six, I had absolutely NO interest in reading this book. I am not a fan of Rock N'Roll. I barely listen to music as it is, and when I do, I definitely do not listen to anything in that genre. I convinced myself that this plot would have little to offer me. Nevertheless, after @BookSparks announced this book as their final pick for #WRC2019, I caved and picked Daisy Jones & The Six for my March Book of the Month selection.
OH. MY. GOD. I am eating my words because the book was PHENOMENAL! I was devastated when I finished the book because I didn't want this incredible story to end.
The first thing that immediately sucked me into this story was the format of the book. The story is told through a series of oral interviews featuring how Daisy Jones & The Six came to be. We are introduced to Daisy Jones, her best friend Simone, the six members of The Six (Billy, Graham, Karen, Teddy, Eddie, and Pete), and other important characters such as previous managers. While this sounds complicated with the multiple POVs, it's executed brilliantly because the story feels is reminiscent of watching a documentary.
The story is set in the mid sixties – late seventies. Right off the bat, we are introduced to Daisy Jones who is devastatingly beautiful but desperate for love and attention since her wealthy parents are too busy to acknowledge her existence. At the age of 14, Daisy immerses herself into the infamous Rock N'Roll scene of Sunset Strip in L.A. by taking whatever drugs she was given and sleeping with whatever rockstars she hung around with. As she continues this trajectory in her teens, she begins to realize that the men she is surrounding herself with just use her for her natural musical talent then cast her aside as a used rag doll once they've had their fill. She decides that she will become a star on her terms, and she's done being someone's groupie.
I had absolutely no interest in being somebody else's muse.
I am not a muse.
I am somebody.
End of f*cking story.
– Daisy Jones
This story is powerfully feminist. All of the female characters are strong, fierce, and a force to be reckoned with. My personal favorite is Camille. She would do anything for Billy and her family. What I loved most about is that she knows that she married a rockstar and never tries to change the man he is instead she is always there to help build him up no matter. This woman is incredible!
The story tackles themes of love, heartbreak, loss, betrayal, friendship, and addiction. I think Taylor Jenkins Reid does a spectacular job of tackling the raw truth of addiction without either downplaying or glamorizing it. She shows just how debilitating this disease is and that it is a constant battle every. single. day.
After finishing Daisy Jones & The Six, I am officially a Taylor Jenkins Reid fangirl. The woman is an absolutely brilliant storyteller. There were several times in the book that she 100% had me convinced that this was a real band (and yes, I did google to check!). This is one of those books that I will be recommending (more like shouting) to anyone who will listen to me.
Have you read Daisy Jones & The Six? Is it on your TBR? Let's discuss!


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I had a long and full weekend, and am gonna use today's post to catch up on some odds and ends that I haven't blogged about yet. What's first?
1) H&M. Thanks, first of all, for all the great comments on all the new clothing I picked up the other day. I've been wearing all new clothes for the past two days and I'm lovin' it! (I even have a picture to prove it – keep reading.) But when I was getting dressed the other night, only a few hours after leaving the mall, I realized that I bought the wrong pants. Ugh. Remember these?
They're the kick-ass black/white/gray subtle plaid cargo pants from H&M. I tried them on in two sizes: 38, which I was pretty sure would fit (and they did), and 36, because I was curious how close I was to fitting into a size 36 (the answer, by the way, is pretty far off). I thought I had a pretty good dressing room system, since I was trying on about 10 things: keepers in one pile, and no-thank-yous in another, but I must not have been paying attention, because the 36s ended up with me at the counter, where I paid for them, then brought them home, then desperately tried to squeeze into them later that night.
So yesterday I went back to H&M – a different H&M, since I was already in a different part of town. I found the rack with the pants, and searched for a pair of 38s. Crap. They were out. Annoyance level quickly rose. I decided to go find someone that worked there, to see if they had any in the back or something, and as I approached the counter, there, on a random rack, that must have been returns or go-backs or whatever, I spied a singular pair of my pants. I beelined for them, and sure enough, they were 38s! Score! H&M gladly swapped the pants and I went on my merry way.
2) Cirque Berserk. On Saturday night, my friend Steve and I went and saw our friend Tavi, who's an aerialist (read about my recent hike with him here), perform in a circus called Cirque Berserk (I'd post a link, but the final performances were yesterday – you missed out!). It had a lot of trapeze and trampoline and acrobatic elements, and it was really fun, and a good show. Tavi and his acrobatic partner, Neal, do an aerial act called straps, where there's two hanging cords, with adjustable loops at the end. Tavi and Neal loop their hands or feet through the loops, and seconds later, they're performing feats of strength and flexibility 15-20 feet off the ground. It's amazing. Here's a photo of Tavi and me after the show (Cirque Berserk has an death/underworld theme and sensibility to it, which explains Tavi's ghostly make-up):
Yep, that's my new shirt and jacket – thank you for noticing!
Before the show, Steve and I had dinner downtown, near the theater. Two restaurants had waits of an hour or more, so we ended up at Rock'N Fish, mainly because they were able to seat us in about 5 minutes. I'm glad we ended up there – it was tasty! I had the Napa Sonoma salad. It had baby lettuces, sun-dried tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and pine nuts. I had the balsamic vinaigrette on the side and had them add some seared Ahi tuna. It also had mozzarella, which I asked them to hold, but they didn't, but it was two slices of buffalo mozzarella that I could easily take off, and I ended up eating one of them anyway.
3) Eggs. I hard-boiled 5 eggs on Saturday before leaving for the mall, and yesterday I cracked open one of them and found out I didn't cook them long enough. The white was almost done, and the yolk was still runny, and the shell didn't come off easily at all. Yuck. I was running out the door, so I couldn't do anything about them yesterday, but right now, as I type this, I'm re-boiling the other four. According to this blog post, it can be done, but the eggs may end up a little rubbery. Hmmm. Will keep you posted.
4) January Workouts. I can't believe it's already the last day in January. January was a great month for working out – all in all, I worked out 27 out of 31 days! Here's my most recent workouts, since I haven't blogged about them lately:
- Friday, 1/28: Rest Day.
- Saturday 1/29: Richard's class at Slimmons.
- Sunday, 1/30: 45 minutes on stationary bike.
- Monday, 1/31: 40 minutes on arc trainer, followed by 15 minutes of toning/abs.
5) Chart Update. I'm ending the post with some photos that I know y'all love – my weight loss chart! I weighed myself on Saturday, and I'm down another pound! That puts my weight loss at 160 pounds even. Here's the updated chart:
Only 22 pounds until I reach my next goal!
And here's the whole chart from a fun new angle – from the beginning of it, when I was at my heaviest, looking down at the weight I've lost.
Keep it up, David!


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When I got this photo postcard I was excited about two things; it combines early 20's men's fashion with a beautiful street view of Montreal. I had no idea who the man was, although he looked vaguely familiar.
But when I posted it here, Kate of the Photobooth Journal, mentioned his uncanny resemblance to King Edward VIII…Well, yes, it happens to be a photo of King Edward VIII! At least from when he was Prince of Wales, and…it is a photomontage!
The Prince of Wales did spend a few years in Canada in the early 20's, but he did not pose for this street candid!
Here's the original of the Prince on a boat. I was shocked, and then I laughed. I got duped by an early 1920's "photoshop"! They even changed his cane's position! Still a beautiful, expertly done photograph. I'm impressed.
Source: kingedwardviii.tumblr.com
You can also see the sign for the Allen Theater, once at 698 St. Catherine West (now a less grand Five Guys burger joint). The Allen was bought and renamed The Palace in 1922. St. Catherine West was a hub of movie-going and nighttime entertainment.
Restored image © Caroline E. Ryan
RPPC: AZO squares 1926-1940s. (Data from Playle.com, but this shows AZO squares were available in 1923)


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The Gulf of Mexico
June 27 – July 2
Charlie Broussard, a shrimper on the docks in Cocodrie, Louisiana, has seen the wetlands he paddled through as a kid shift dramatically—literally. In fact, the Louisiana coastline is changing so quickly that fisherman and oil rig workers who have spent their lives navigating the bayou by boat sometimes get lost as familiar landmarks are drowned. In Louisiana, 1,880 square miles of land have vanished since the 1930s, and the current rate of land loss is equivalent to a football field every 38 minutes.


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Scion Announces Pricing For All-New 2008 xD - The Third Vehicle in the Lineup
SEE ALSO: Scion xD Specs
SEE ALSO: Scion Buyers Guide
TORRANCE, Calif., July 13 -- Scion, of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., announced manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for the all-new 2008 xD.
"The xD is a clever new take on the five-door urban subcompact, with style and flair to match its efficiency and utility," said Mark Templin, Scion vice president. "The xD's aggressive styling is wrapped in a small, agile package, while its interior offers impressive details and a spacious cabin."
Its urban personality is communicated as it hugs the road with its wide stance, thick muscular body, short overhangs, accentuated wheel flares and large tires. Other styling cues that set the xD apart include a long and narrow back window, and the Scion family traits -- horizontal headlamps, an integrated rectangular lower and upper grille, and turn signals built into the side mirrors.
The all-new xD is powered by a lively 1.8 L four-cylinder engine with dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), a first to the Toyota family. The xD engine produces 128 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 125 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm and comes with either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic. The efficient 2008 xD is EPA-certified as a Low Emission Vehicle. It has EPA fuel economy ratings of 27 mpg city/33 mpg highway for the manual transmission model and 26/32 for the automatic. Starting with the 2008 model year, all estimated fuel economy ratings will be calculated using the new EPA methodology.
Engineers designed the xD with a short, wide frame in mind for better handling and comfort. In addition, the xD features an L-arm type MacPherson strut in the front and torsion beam suspension in the rear for increased stability and a pleasing ride.
The xD rides on 16-inch steel wheels and 195/60 R 16 tires, and stops with front ventilated disc and rear drum brakes. Customers will be able to choose from three standard wheel covers.
Inside, the simple dash features an instrument panel located directly in front of the driver while the center cluster -- digital clock and HVAC and audio controls -- flows down the center. The xD's unique speedometer and tachometer have been consolidated into one circular gauge centered on the instrument panel. Indicator lamps, LCD fuel gauge and odometer flank the centralized gauge.
The interior of the xD was designed for convenience, utility, and comfort. xD features front bucket seats and 60/40 fold flat rear seats for a level cargo space. The rear seats can slide forward and back up to six inches for additional leg room and cargo area. In addition, they can recline ten degrees and be adjusted into five different positions.
The xD's standard 160-watt maximum output Pioneer audio system is unique to its segment and focused on youth lifestyle as it features iPod connectivity and a mini-jack port located beneath the HVAC controls for easy access. This standard head unit integrates track, artist and album information from the iPod into a one-line display on the head unit's screen.
The xD's optional Premium audio system adds one more feature to the standard head unit, the ability to download "skins" to play on the organic electroluminescent (OEL) screen. Customers can download images, four-second video clips and eight-second movies from Pioneer's website. In addition, Pioneer software allows customers to burn their own images and movies onto a CD and upload them onto the available head unit. The faceplate light also changes from deep orange to blue at the touch of a button.
The xD comes mono spec like all Scion vehicles. Customers need to choose exterior color and transmission type, while the only factory option is Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with Traction Control (TRAC). The xD has ample standard safety features including four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA); driver and front passenger dual stage airbags; front seat-mounted side airbags; front and rear side curtain airbags; and active headrests on driver and front passenger seating.
Scion also generously equipped the xD with more upscale standard features compared to other vehicles in its segment. These features include cruise control; power steering, windows, door locks and mirrors; remote keyless entry; air conditioning; a tire pressure monitor system; tilt steering wheel with audio controls; first-aid kit; and multi-information display. The multi-information display allows the driver to toggle between the odometer, trip meters, instant fuel economy, average fuel economy, drivable distance and average vehicle speed.
More than 40 Scion Genuine and TRD accessories will be available at launch for xD. New to the accessory line up for the 2008 model year is the Scion navigation system. The system features a 160-watt maximum power audio/video/navigation unit with seven-inch LCD touch screen. Scion's Optomize accessory program will offer the Five Axis body kit.
"The xD is an incredible package with a stylish presence and an abundance of standard features," said Templin. "It sets the bar for value while balancing impressive fuel economy and performance."
xD models with a manual transmission will have an MSRP of $14,550, while models with an automatic transmission will be $15,350. The xD will reach Scion dealers in early August.
The delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee for the 2008 xD will be $620. DPH fee for vehicles distributed by Southeast Toyota (SET) and Gulf States Toyota (GST) may vary.


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Ponder This: Grains, Robots, and Zombies!
by Sean Croxton
Class is in session!
'Tis the season to lie in bed and get my read on! These past three or four weeks I've had my head in the books. I read Deep Nutrition by Cate Shanahan M.D. three times and can't wait to read it again. That book is a masterpiece, in my opinion. When I was sick as a dog in the Bay Area, I read Robb Wolf's Paleo Solution and reread Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint. Then I moved on to Genetic Nutritioneering by Jeffrey Bland. And now, I'm just about done with Primal Body, Primal Mind by Nora Gedgaudus. My mind is literally spinning with all of this great information!
In his book Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell states, "…researchers have settled on what they believe is the magic number for true expertise: ten thousand hours." In other words, to be a true expert you have to spend at least 10,000 hours studying your craft. If I had to guess, I would figure that I've put in about 6343 hours. I've got a long way to go.


text: The title says it all, /.ts3server doesn't work, how do I get the server address and how do I get the privilege key? I wish that they would implement a "Create server" button. I installed TS3 because Discord had not so great mic-sound quality, really starting to regret downloading TS3 now.


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Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
(Psalms 27:14 (NIV))
There is something about human nature that doesn't like to wait!
Do you have the patience to wait? Do you know of anyone who has the patience to wait? Have you ever thought about this passage in that context?
God uses things that are contrary to the sinful, fallen world to bring people to Him, and this is no different. Since waiting goes against human nature especially since the fall from grace, perhaps God uses the concept of waiting to teach us and to explore our hearts. He uses waiting to see if we are willing to go against our sinful nature. Let's face facts. Waiting is not easy! Is God using this to see who is willing to go the extra mile and deny themselves in order to spend time with Him?
Think about that from the standpoint that humanity likes instant gratification!
I am sure that when you were growing up, you were constantly told, "Good things come to those who wait." What better thing is there than the Lord, our God? Is He worth waiting for? Is He worth going against the world in order to receive Him? What do we receive when we what for the Lord? We come away with a wonderful understanding of who He is. We come away with a thankful heart because of what He has done. We receive an eternity in His presence! I find these to be the ultimate good that I long for while I wait for the Lord.
Are you capable of waiting?
Copyright 1998 – 2020 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Inlet Affairs catered my daughter's wedding and they were amazing!!! I highly recommend them. They were absolutely wonderful to work with and all the food was super delicious. They delivered on everything they promised, were very flexible on changes, made really helpful suggestions and kept our pleasure and ease their top priority. Everything was perfect - and everyone loved the food!
Wonderful catering company with wonderful staff. They provided us with multiple choices, worked with us on our budget and really provided great food and service for our daughters wedding. We had lots of compliments on the food and excellent service and will definately use them again in the future.
We couldn't of asked for a better reception venue. Food was amazing and staff were so friendly and helpful answering our questions and helping us figure things out!! Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a catering company!!
Our wedding there this past week was fantastic and the food was spectacular. We were looking for something original and that spoke to our backgrounds. When we went back for the taste testing a month and a half later, they had created some new dishes specifically for us. They set the tone for our wedding by providing things we'd never seen before at a wedding (or at least very rarely). Crostini's, macaroons, and brisket are some of the special flair that they were able to add. I wish I could say that there was one particular food item that stood out from the raves of friends but they all did.
The team from Inlet Affairs did an awesome job with the catering for my daughter's wedding. The food was amazing and the entire staff were extremely professional and courteous to our family and friends. I have heard rave reviews from the guests in every regard and will definitely use their services for any future catering needs. By the way, if you ever have the opportunity to savor their scallop BLT, you will be hooked on them as well!
Inlet Affairs catered an 80th Birthday party and it was excellent. Inlet Affairs was very patient, punctual for setup and very quick to organize over 40 of us. The mini crab cakes, fried shrimp and pulled pork were fantastic.
Had my son's rehearsal dinner there and was very please with the service and food served. Staff made our celebration wonderful and easy from set up to break down. The wait staff were professional and courteous during dinner and Inlet Affairs was thorough in helping with our planning and menu.
My husband and I absolutely adored using Inlet Affairs. Their creative food choices made our reception unique and memorable. We had passed sushi during cocktail hour that I adored and beautiful sliders and mac and spud bar were a hit! I would absolutely recommend Inlet Affairs to anyone in need of catering!


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In the autumn I was lucky enough to visit the beautiful gardens at Stourhead in Wiltshire. With its pretty lake surrounded by wooded hillsides dotted with follies of all shapes and sizes, Stourhead has a dream-like quality about it, an eighteenth-century recreation of an ancient Roman paradise. It's got its own version of the Pantheon, complete with grand portico, dome and marble sculptures, a medieval cross, and a even a quaint 'Gothic' cottage with rustic windows and a thatched roof.
But surely the most atmospheric spot at Stourhead is the Grotto, constructed in 1748 for then owner Henry Hoare, and designed by Henry Flitcroft. Wealthy Georgian gardeners, it seems, had something of a taste for magic, and a dark and creepy underground cavern was an important element in any grand garden of this period.
From a distance the Grotto at Stourhead, which sits right of the shore of the lake, looks like nothing more than a huge pile of mossy rocks. On closer inspection, however, a set of twisting steps can be seen leading down to a shadowy doorway.
Beyond lies a dark – very dark – underground passageway, the only light coming from small apertures in the roof and the side, the latter offering wonderful views over the lake outside.
Lined with flint, pebbles and tufa, the interior of the Grotto is constructed to resemble a rough natural cave. Since Henry Hoare was rather taken with ancient Rome, the grotto is inspired by the poetry of Ovid and Virgil, both of whom wrote numerous tales of magical, poolside caverns, which were often home to nymphs, monsters or even gods and goddesses. Neo-classical sculptures in the Stourhead Grotto add to the atmosphere of ancient mystery, with a gushing spring and pool decorated with a water nymph and some poetry inscribed into the floor:
Nymph of the Grot these sacred springs I keep,
And to the murmur of these waters sleep;
Ah! Spare my slumbers, gently tread the cave,
And drink in silence, or in silence lave.
Further along, hiding out in a gloomy, water-filled cavern, sits a dramatic bearded river god, a spring from the River Stour pouring noisily from his urn.
I may have visited the gardens at Stourhead a little to late to see the amazing autumn leaves which attract thousands of visitors every year, but in a way I was glad to catch it at a quieter moment. Wandering alone through the tunnels of the Grotto, the weak November sun setting over the damp Wiltshire hills, it really was possible to experience the sublime wonder of this magical place, and feel the thrill that has been enjoyed by visitors to this place for over three and a half centuries.


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The Mosel river near Trittenheim
In the picture above you will see the wine village of Leiwen (left). Further around the bend of the river (to the right) is the wine village of Trittenheim. This is basically the view of the Mosel you will get when you drive though the Hunsrueck mountains.
Trittenheim, Mosel
And this was also our first view of the Mosel when we arrived in Germany for our summer vacation this year. We were mesmerized. What a splendid view, what a splendid landscape, what a splendid river, how good to be home.
From the outset let me tell you we had a great time (only about 3 weeks), and despite our at best erratic planning and our lousy preparation, we were able to line up some unique, memorable and exquisite encounters with the wine and food world.
I intend to write in more detail about most of these encounters. But let me not be too optimistic as regards the time available for blogging.
So what were the highlights of our visit?
Well, we had the best pork-knuckle ever (!) after a two hour march through the forests near the Ammersee on our way to the monastery of Andechs, a famous location for catholic pilgrims. Bavaria is a fantastic place to visit especially if the weather gods are smiling on you, and smile they did. We had warm, at times even hot, weather during the whole time of our holidays.
Along the Mosel we visited three wineries – two along the Ruwer, one on the Sauer, both tributaries of the Mosel – and had one wine tasting in Trier city at Oechsle. Wonderful, exquisite, I can only rave about the many fresh and zesty wines we had the opportunity to sample.
The wineries we visited were:
– Fuerst Winery, Metzdorf, Sauer
– Karthaeuserhof Estate, Eitelsbach, Ruwer
– Maximin Gruenhaus C. von Schubert Winery-Estate, Mertesdorf, Ruwer
Another highlight was the visit of one of the best restaurants in the Alsace region of France. For a family lunch we went to the Auberge du Cheval Blanc in Lembach, Alsace near Wissembourg in the Vosges mountains.
Needless to say we spent many afternoon and evenings in wine bars and beer gardens, among them the wine bar Kesselstatt and the wine bar "Weinsinnig", two of my favourite places to relax and enjoy a good glass of wine in Trier.
More soon. Stay tuned.
PS: I made some gorgeous pictures.


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At Dorset Finds, we have one philosophy: The only thing better than an extra-large vintage clock is an extra-large vintage clock that lights up! (Come to think of it, we also subscribe to the philosophies that he who hesitates is lost, and there is never an occasion where three-quarter-length pants are appropriate.)
This timepiece, which dates from the late 1940s–early 1950s was likely manufactured by Neon Products, Inc. of Lima, Ohio.
In the 1930s, the Ohio-based advertising sign maker ArtKraft adopted a technique (innovated by the Claude Neon Company, in France) of bending colored tubes of glass and filling them with light. ArtKraft grew rapidly, and with increased demand, a couple of its tube-benders started their own operation, Neon Products, Inc. Neon Products went on to produce pieces for clients such as RCA, Dr. Pepper and Zenith. In addition to creating signs, the company also introduced lines of neon clocks.
This find, measuring 22 inches across, originally hung in John Howard's Car Store in Somerset, Penn., and was given an update in 1980 when it received a hand-painted addition to the center of the clock face. Other than that, its features remain original and unadulterated. Best of all, the neon is unbroken and the clock keeps good time.
Special thanks to Jeff at Let There Be Neon in New York for his neon clock expertise.


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2008 A year of scrutiny for the LDS Church
If 2002 was Mormonism's debutante ball, 2008 may go down as its first semester of college.
The Utah-based church made new friends, endured back-stabbing from would-be friends, joined some clubs, got a taste of fame and had a few wrenching exams.
From the possibility of a Mormon in the White House to a stream of Latter-day Saints on reality television, from being attacked as belonging to a cult (or mistaken for a polygamous sect in Texas) to participating in California's bitter battle for traditional marriage, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would see their faith in the nation's mirror. To many, such scrutiny was unlike any they had seen in their lifetime.
"The church emerged on the center stage of public consciousness in a way we hadn't seen before," says Chase Peterson, former University of Utah president and lifelong Latter-day Saint. "The full consequences of this new public awareness probably will not be understood for some time."
Indeed, it was a "wild, eventful year for the church," says Philip Barlow, Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University, "quite beyond its perpetual efforts in spreading its message, looking after its members, managing its vast resources, building its facilities and addressing catastrophes at home and abroad."
The crucial question is: How will the LDS Church and its individual members respond to the year's events?
For example, Mormons, who in recent decades have been staunchly Republican, were cast as pariahs during Mitt Romney's presidential campaign by controlling sectors of the Republican Party. Though he had won widespread political and financial support across the nation, most Evangelicals in the party bitterly opposed him, and between 37 percent and 43 percent of Americans said they would never vote for a Mormon, any Mormon.
Even after Romney bowed out of the race, many Mormons continued to smart from the accusations and misrepresentations of their faith that flourished during his run. They developed a serious distaste for Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who, they believe, fueled anti-Mormon hostility while playing innocent.
Others were more straightforward. The Rev. Robert Jeffress repeatedly called Mormonism a "cult," and evangelist Bill Keller famously said, "A vote for Mitt Romney is a vote for Satan."
Will Latter-day Saints now begin to question their allegiance to the Republican Party, Barlow wonders, or even move into the Democratic Party in the future, especially if Barack Obama is successful in his first term?
Life was changing inside the church as well.
LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley died at the end of January.
At 97, Hinckley was Mormonism's oldest prophet and the most vigorous to the end. He had transformed the church's public image, giving interviews to reporters everywhere he went.
Hinckley's longtime associate, Thomas S. Monson, ascended to the LDS presidency, choosing Dieter Uchtdorf, a German member, as a counselor. The leadership focus began to shift.
Where Hinckley met with the media and immediately traveled outside the country, Monson held an awkward, scripted news conference and stayed closer to home, running the church from its Salt Lake City headquarters. He dedicated four temples and announced eight more, while also opening a new welfare services compound and sending humanitarian aid across the globe.
Despite such goodwill efforts, conflicts occasionally erupted.
In March, Mormon leaders were chagrined by news accounts of three Mormon missionaries in Colorado who apparently desecrated a Roman Catholic shrine. Though the Catholics ultimately forgave the missionaries for their vandalism, a month later the Vatican issued an order, blocking LDS access to Catholic parish records because of the Mormon practice of baptism for the dead. The move caused widespread hand-wringing among genealogists everywhere, including Catholics.
Catholics and Mormons later put aside their differences to become allies on a different political issue — gay marriage.
In June, Mormons joined the Preserve Marriage Coalition at the request of Archbishop George Niederauer, the San Francisco Catholic leader who had previously led the Diocese of Salt Lake City. The First Presidency sent a letter to all California Mormons, urging them to support a ballot measure known as Proposition 8, which defined marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman.
The same Evangelical groups that had demeaned Mormonism as a cult during Romney's campaign were now the LDS Church's allies in the California fight.
"These new defenders of the Mormon faith have long been the most prolific Mormon-bashers in the nation," said Wayne Besen, executive director of the Brooklyn-based gay-rights group Truth Wins Out. "[The two groups] have nothing in common but their anti-gay rhetoric."
The measure passed on Nov. 4, and in the ensuing days, angry supporters of gay marriage protested outside LDS temples across the nation.
"The church's support of Proposition 8 created a loud backlash and may make the church a symbol for the constriction of civil rights," Barlow says. "Will the church dig in on what it sees as a moral and constitutional issue or will common cause help repair or forge new allegiances with Evangelicals?"
Not many years from now, 2008 may be seen as a turning point for the LDS Church in addressing the reality of homosexuality, he says.
The church's theology was formed at a time when homosexuality could only be construed in biblical terms as "abomination," he says. "Because of experience and science, today church leaders see the issue in a more complex light. They distinguish between feelings and actions, and they acknowledge that we do not know the originating causes of same-sex attraction."
LDS founder Joseph Smith once said that " 'by proving contraries, truth is made manifest,' " Barlow says. "As is the past, this may be a painful but auspicious moment in LDS history."
By Peggy Fletcher Stack
The Salt Lake Tribune


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Roberto Angotti's Italian American Baseball Family has been selected as a finalist in the SPORT MOVIES & TV 2018 Festival in Milan, Italy. Submitted by Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball (FIBS) with Italian subtitles, Italian American Baseball Family features Lawrence Baldassaro, author of "Beyond DiMaggio: Italian Americans in Baseball" and "Baseball Italian Style", as well as National Baseball Hall of Fame legend Tommy Lasorda. MLB past and present players Frank Viola, Nick Punto, Francisco Cervelli, Chris Colabello, Brandon Nimmo, and Gavin Cecchini are also interviewed in Italian American Baseball Family.
Organized by the FICTS (Fédération Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs) and recognized by the International Olympic Committee, SPORT MOVIES & TV is a world-renowned festival dedicated to sports television and movies. The FICTS Worldwide Championship of Television, Cinema, Sport, Culture and Communication is the grand final of 16 World FICTS Challenge festivals spanning five continents. The SPORT MOVIES & TV Festival kicks off at Milan's 17th century Palazzo Giureconsulti in Piazza Duomo on November 14, 2018.
FICTS promotes the values of sport through images in 116 affiliated nations and is presided over by Professor Franco Ascani of the Italian Olympic Committee Commission for Culture and Olympic Heritage. The Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum Award-winning documentary Italian American Baseball Family is among the selected movies being projected during the six-day program. To watch the trailers and schedule of all screenings at some of the most prestigious venues in Milan, click HERE.
Of the nearly 1000 submissions from 65 countries in 51 sport disciplines, the selected works at SPORT MOVIES & TV 2018 will bring together 174 directors and producers, 132 international journalists, and 127 broadcasters worldwide. Meetings, workshops, exhibitions, press conferences, award shows, and other special events will be presented in collaboration with Milan-area sports and cultural organizations.
The FICTS International Jury, made up of ambassadors in the world of cinema, television, media, sport and culture, will deliberate on which productions to select for "Guirlande d'Honneur" (Oscar of Cinema and Sport Television), "Mention d'Honneur" (Honorable Mention), and "Special Awards" for each of the eight categories. The SPORT MOVIES & TV 2018 Festival concludes on November 19, 2018. To learn more about the festivities, click HERE.


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The Sitka Local Foods Network is teaming up with the Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp No. 4 to host Fourth of July booths from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4, at the Alaska Native Brotherhood Founders Hall (235 Katlian Street).
This event came together after the usual Fourth of July booths at the Baranof Elementary School playground were canceled. The goal is to provide a similar family friendly and fun event, while helping the ANS raise money to attend Grand Camp Convention in Portland, Ore., this fall and helping the Sitka Local Foods Network raise money to help improve food security in Sitka.
ANS will have hot food to sell, and the Sitka Local Foods Network will have a table featuring Alaska Grown food products and SLFN swag. There also will be a variety of artisans, food vendors, music and fun and games.
Booths will be available to rent for $60 for six hours (NOTE: Since this was posted, table prices have been reduced to $40 for six hours), and participants in the July 1 Sitka Farmers Market will receive a $10 deduction on their booth fee. To learn more about the event, click this link to listen to a June 28 interview on KCAW-Raven Radio. For booth reservations, contact Debe Brincefield of ANS at 738-4323.


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We love inspiring each other! So those Jokaydians who are at NECC were stoked to be able to meet up with Konrad our fellow Jokaydian whose research and thinking provides the bedrock to educators working with online tools, and in-world tools.
In true Jokaydian fashion we jumped on the opportunity to stream Konrad's presentation into Jokaydia, for our SL friends. Dean Groom, Al Upton and myself grabbed our gear and set up to stream into Second Life. Will Richardson came into the room and jumped in with us to Ustream the session!
Konrad's presentation Blogging Communities in the Classroom: Creating Engaging Learning Experiences inspired us in ways to transform our classrooms into a blogging community that will help students become competent writers and capable, critical thinkers.
Catch the video/chat recording at Will's blog. Jump on over to read Konrad's Blog of Proximal Development.


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Last week, I announced that I signed November Snow with Clean Teen Publishing, and as promised, I'm releasing additional information today. The original version of November Snow that was published in 2007 was 600 pages. That being said, the rewrite is actually longer than the original, so Clean Teen Publishing has split November Snow into a two-part series (and the split is awesome). That means November Snow is getting a new title. As of today, both books will be titled Bad Bloods, with part one's subtitle being November Rain and part two's subtitle holding the original title November Snow. For readers of the first version, November Rain will cover November 1, 2089 – November 10, 2089, and it'll be around 60,000 words, while the second part will be around 80,000 words. (See? The book was really long, too long to be published as one.) I'm really looking forward to seeing November Snow transform, and I hope you are too! November Rain already has a release date too! November Rain is set for release on July 18, 2016. The eBook of November Snow will release one week later, but the paperback of the sequel will release that November. You will find the series synopsis below, and I'll be releasing each individual synopsis within the next week (probably on my next Saturday post) . . . but if you follow the individual links, you can read them now. 😉
If I can be perfectly honest, November Snow is the closest to my heart in regards to my own writings. The original version was written shortly after my mother suddenly died at the age of 44. I was 11. She was always encouraging my love for reading and writing, and when she died, a part of me was lost forever. I've kept that part of me (her, really) alive by writing. November Snow was that first step, that single promise, to make the most of my life and to make her proud.
That being said, the original publication wasn't very professional. It was thrown together, unedited, and had very little oversight, other than from a 16-year-old girl with a dream (cough, cough, me). I could've used more supervision eight years ago, but alas, that wasn't how my first publishing experience went. Because of that, November Snow has been off the market for years—almost the entire time since it's original release—and I'm eternally grateful Clean Teen Publishing is giving me a second chance with my first book, a second chance at making my mom proud, a second chance at beginning again.
This truly is a gift.
And…of course…for those looking for more information…here's a short synopsis for the two-part series, and some places with extra information. If you have any questions, let me know, and I'll do my best to answer them!
Series Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Serena isn't human. She is a bad blood, and in the city of Vendona, bad bloods are executed. In the last moments before she faces imminent death, a prison guard aids her escape. Back on the streets determined to destroy her kind, Serena meets a fellow bad blood, a boy named Daniel, and his past with his brothers is as equally mysterious as her connection to them. Unbeknownst to the two, this connection is the key to winning an election for bad bloods' rights to be seen as human again. But Serena is the only one who can secure Vendona's vote.
When the two unite, their accidental relationship becomes the catalyst for a twelve-year war to continue. Exposing the twisted past of a corrupt city, Daniel, Serena, and every bad blood they know will come together to fight and win, but very few of them will survive to see the day. Bad blood or human, a city will burn, and all will be united by catastrophic secrets and irrevocable tragedy.
Bad Bloods on: Facebook, Pinterest, and my Extras page.
Older articles relating to Bad Bloods (keep in mind, it'll be referred to as November Snow):
What I've Learned Rewriting a Seven-Year-Old Novel
This is an awesome question about bad bloods from Twitter's @SiameseMayhem. She asked this when I was still writing it, so that's why we're talking about publication.
P.S. I wanted to give a shout out to Instagram's lovely @bookprints for this wonderful post.
"I badly wanted a printed copy of Take Me Tomorrow by Shannon A. Thompson since I've read it as an ebook and I finally have one (signed!)!
Thanks @shannonathompson for making this happen and for the lovely note! There was also a signed #bookmark of the first book in The Timely Death Trilogy with it!
Please, go check this author out and give her books the love they definitely deserve!
One happy booknerd over here!"
During my next newsletter, you might be receiving a Black Friday Sale for Seconds Before Sunrise book 2 in The Timely Death Trilogy, so be sure to sign up here, but if you need a head start on the first book and you just can't wait for the others…
Minutes Before Sunset: book 1 (FREE)
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Goodreads
Seconds Before Sunrise: book 2
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Goodreads
Death Before Daylight: book 3


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Dozens of prominent Republicans, perhaps remembering that they are supposed to be the party of limited government, have signed a brief that argues against California's gay marriage ban Proposition 8 and the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act. The document, which claims that gay people have the constitutional right to marry, will be handed into the Supreme Court this week.
Next month, the Supreme Court will hear back-to-back cases challenging the federal Defense of Marriage Act and Prop 8. The Prop 8 case, in particular, has several high status Republicans backing it, including Theodore B. Olson (a former solicitor general under Bush who will be acting as one of the case's lead lawyers), Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida and Richard Hanna of New York, and Meg Whitman, who previously ran for Governor of California on a pro Prop 8 platform.
As of Monday night, the brief had over 75 signatures, demonstrating a powerful rift with in the Republican party. Unfortunately, however, a large number of the signatures come from Republicans who are no longer serving office, demonstrating perhaps that active Republicans are less brave when it comes to going against the party line. Some feel, however, that this is starting to change and that the divide will be a big issue come the election in 2016.
Republican strategist and former House leadership aide John Feehery (who did not sign the brief) told the New York Times, "The ground on this is obviously changing, but it is changing more rapidly than people think. I think that Republicans in the future are going to be a little bit more careful about focusing on these issues that tend to divide the party."
Despite Feehery's worries, many Republicans continue to march forward with former Utah governor Jon M. Huntsman Jr. writing that "Marriage Equality Is a Conservative Cause" and former member of the House Republican leadership from Ohio Deborah Pryce, who did sign the brief, saying, "Like a lot of the country, my views have evolved on [gay marriage] from the first day I set foot in Congress. I think it's just the right thing, and I think it's on solid legal footing, too."
Recent polls show that over half of the voting public now supports same-sex marriage (the numbers are as high as 70% in voters under 30), indicating a turning of the tides in future elections. House Speaker John Boehner continues to reject gay marriage, though experts say that the 75 Republican signatures of the pro gay marriage legal brief could play a significant role in swaying the Republican members of the Supreme Court.


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This Sunday sees my Dad's beloved Tipperary contest the All Ireland Hurling final against all conquering Kilkenny.
So I have decided to Reblog a post from the early days of The Jukebox which evokes the feelings of anxious exiles listening to the radio on All Ireland Sunday.
Up Tipp! Up Tipp!
Once or twice a year when the stars are in their correct alignment and the muse comes to call I find myself moved to write a poem.
I present one below that came unbidden one Sunday afternoon some years ago just after I had listened to a commentary on an Irish hurling match between arch county rivals Tipperary and Kilkenny.
http://Embed from Getty Images
Sundays in summer my father took me with him to hear the Gaelic Games
Hurling, of course, a Tipperary Man's birthright and delight.
Since radio reception of RTE – which on the old valve box still read, 'Athlone'
Was poor and filled with a blizzard of wordless static we'd take the car (a Hillman Imp)
Up the vertiginous slope of Harrow on the Hill and park next to a telegraph pole –
In search of a perfect signal
As if by magic through the air came the alternating anguished and ecstatic tones of Michael O'Hehir –
his voice slicing through the miles like the Sliothair splitting the posts
For a marvellous point
Listening, rapt, willing victory, the match would pass in what seemed minutes
After, we'd sit in easeful silence as the evening became itself
And we were simply ourselves : a father and a son at one
Listening on a clear channel.
Though I firmly believe that a poem should always retain some mystery many of you deeply versed in the lore of music may find some of the references above baffling.
Here's a key that may help!
Gaelic Games: The principal Gaelic games of Ireland are Gaelic Football and Hurling. They are played throughout the island of Ireland.
The GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) was instrumental in the revival of these games in the late nineteenth century.
The GAA was very important then in Irish society and culture in fostering a sense of distinct Irish national consciousness. Now that the Catholic Church, has largely lost its grip on Irish society, the GAA is probably the most interwoven institution within that society.
Its strength is that it is an intensely local organisation calling on and winning loyalty from the family, the town land, the parish and finally the County.
GAA rivalries at every geographic level are staggeringly intense. Reputations made playing these games last a lifetime and more.
Hurling: A wonderful field sport played by teams of 15 a side. Players use sticks, called Hurleys. The Sliothair (a ball near in size to a baseball) can be hand passed and hit through the ground or the air.
A point is scored by sending the Sliothair above the bar and between the posts of the opponent's goal.
Hurling calls for bravery, speed of thought and action and enormous technical skill. Played well it is absolutely thrilling to watch.
RTE: Radio Telefis Eireann – the national broadcasting station of Ireland.
Harrow on the Hill: A leafy suburb some ten miles from central London. Chiefly known for the fee paying public school attended by such luminaries as Lord Byron and Winston Churchill. I grew up there.
Michael O'Hehir: A much beloved commentator on all Irish sports from the mid 1930s to the mid 1980s but particularly associated with Gaelic games.
For exiles from Ireland listening to him was an extraordinarily powerful emotional experience. He was deeply knowledgeable and had the gift of coining a memorable phrase in the moment an event took place.
His voice could climb dizzily through the registers from marching band flute to ear splitting soprano saxophone squaks!
This post dedicated to the memory of my father, Wally Hickey (1926 – 1989).
Joyous update!
Tipperary 2-29 Kilkenny 2-20 ..
All Ireland Champions 2016 – Tipperary!!
An epic performance by the men in Blue and Gold!
My Dad will be having quite the party in Heaven!


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'Force Awakens' becomes fastest movie to $1 billion
LOS ANGELES — "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" has reached $1 billion at the box office, achieving the milestone with record-setting hyper speed.
The Walt Disney Co. said "The Force Awakens" crossed the billion-dollar mark Sunday, accomplishing the feat in just 12 days. The previous movie to reach $1 billion the fastest was Universal's "Jurassic World," which did it in 13 days in June. "Jurassic World" also had the benefit of record grosses in China. "The Force Awakens" doesn't open in the world's second-largest movie market until Jan. 9.
J.J. Abrams' installment of "Star Wars" also posted the biggest Christmas Day box office in history with $49.3 million and the best second-weekend earnings with $153.5 million.
"The Force Awakens" has been setting records since its debut Dec. 17. It brought in a galactic $238 million in North America over its opening weekend, besting previous record-setter "Jurassic World," and set international opening-weekend records in Australia, New Zealand and throughout Europe. It scored the biggest worldwide debut with $529 million. It also topped $100 million in IMAX screenings in 10 days, another global record.
"You almost have to rewrite all the record books for this movie," box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian of Rentrak said. "It's absolutely mind-blowing that 'Star Wars' could get to a billion dollars in 12 days and it hasn't even opened in China, the second biggest movie market in the world."
The power of "Star Wars" meant the rest of the week's releases were competing for second place. That prize went to the Paramount comedy "Daddy's Home," which opened with $38.8 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. David O. Russell's new drama starring Jennifer Lawrence, "Joy," debuted in third place with $17.5 million.
A flurry of new films also opened in the top 10 this weekend. "Concussion," the Will Smith-NFL drama, took in $11 million, good for sixth place, followed by the financial-crisis saga "The Big Short," which collected $10.5 million. The remake of "Point Break" opened with $10.2 million. And Quentin Tarantino's latest film, "The Hateful Eight," debuted in 10th place with $4.5 million.
A juggernaut like "Star Wars" empowers the entire industry, Dergarabedian said.
"It's great for the audiences, great for studios and theater owners in particular who can point to this and say the movie theater industry is as viable and relevant as it's ever been," he said.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," $153.5 million ($133.3 international).
2. "Daddy's Home," $38.8 million ($4.4 million).
3. "Joy," $17.5 million ($2 million international).
4. "Sisters," $13.9 million ($300,000 international).
5. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip," $12.7 million ($8.1 million international).
6. "Concussion," $11 million.
7. "The Big Short," $10.5 million ($1.4 million international).
8. "Point Break," $10.2 million ($2 million).
9. "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2," $5.3 million ($6.4 million).
10. "The Hateful Eight," $4.5 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to Rentrak:
1. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," $133.3 million.
2. "Devil and Angel," $55 million.
3. "Mojin: The Lost Legend," $44 million.
4. "Mr. Six," $27 million.
5. "The Peanuts Movie," $25 million.
6. "The Himalayas," $14.5 million.
7. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip," $8.1 million.
8. "The Good Dinosaur," $8 million.
9. "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2," $6.4 million.
10. "Spectre," $5.6 million.