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My view of the world as I quilt. A little of this and that. But mostly my first love, Quilting
Monday, November 28, 2011
My first Quilt
This is my butterfly quilt. first one I made and there is a story behind it, I said I wanted to make a quilt but didn;t know what pattern. My husband said make a butterfly quilt. His grandmother had made one while she lived with them when he was a teenager. His Mother said there was a box on the attic that might have some of her sewing stuff in it. So I found the box and yes, there was the pattern from a New York paper. The old cardboard templates she used. So did I. It is all hand stitched. I didn't realize this was a diffecult pattern, If you look close the block is on the diagonal and is made in two pieces and then the body of the butterfly is sewn in the middle.. There is one block that is pieced wrong. My Mother visit whle I was making it and made one block. She said no more. I just let it like she did it.
6 comments:
- Unknown said...
I like your quilts! :)
- November 29, 2011 at 12:02 AM
- quiltmom anna said...
I so love your butterfly quilt. I have often wanted to make one and look at different patterns but still have not made one. Perhaps one day...
Your new quilt is truly gorgeous. It must bring you many wonderful memories of your trip.
Warmest regards,
- November 29, 2011 at 12:21 AM
- Ann Marie @ 16 Muddy Feet said...
great quilts, when you don't want a pic in your blog post, click on it in the edit section ( you can go back and still do this too) and then push the delete button. Also when adding them, after you have uploaded all the pics they are highlighted in blue, clciking the photo in the "add me box" turns the blue on and off, only the blue ones will post right there. So upload them all, then UN highlight them and only click the one you want right then, and a few paragraphs later when you want another one you uploaded, and you click the add a photo button, all those pics will still be there, you just highlight which one you want to add. Go ahead and try it now with this post by clicking the pencil at the very end of the post. Then tell it to post. It won't post another one, just the edited version of this one.
- November 29, 2011 at 8:29 AM
- Ruth said...
That is amazing for a first quilt!!! Love it! I have a couple butterfly blocks that my grandma made and I need to do something with them.
- November 30, 2011 at 6:58 AM
- bertiequilts said...
instead of standing up to trim, pull the adjustable ironing board up to where you are sitting down, adjust it to the height you need (room underneath the ironing board for your feet) and then put a cutting mat on it and cut things out. Probably sitting at a sturdy chair such as a kitchen or dining chair would work best. I havent tried this but I think it will really work and someday I will probably have to do ironing or cutting this way.
- November 30, 2011 at 10:59 AM
- merrily row said...
Oh my goodness, what a tough first quilt but it made a lovely one. I am partial to butterfly quilts anyway. :)
And miss Penny sure looks like she is growing. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.
- November 30, 2011 at 10:25 PM


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The Western notion of justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, equity or fairness.
There is no way to equally judge another human being or bring back what the violation has caused equally. The attempt will lead to mistakes and cruelty. More insidious is the notion someone can bring justice. I bring this up because the smart men and women I know (asked 40) all agreed this is why they still believe in the religion they believe in. Some cited fear of death as number 2 but all said they believe there has to be justice from higher power ultimatey. And that this is the only solace they have in this world. They believe someone who took so much life, like a Dahmer, would have to be judged by something eternal. I said someone in war may take 100's of lives but this is judged justice because they did it under orders or for a "just" cause.
Justice does seem to be hard wired instinctual.Most social mammals show different degrees of abhorrents to inequality.Especially primates.
But essentially isn't the pursuit of real justice not possible? Calling it necessary means this will make those who deem the power to wield it, to better humanity, unjust from the beginning? Isn't justice another way of claiming superiority? Doesn't a despot in the world use it to claim there power? If we agree justice is not a noble pursuit and clearly impossible (like following the word of god), what laws or punishments should be changed or updated? How would you feel if a mass murder or child molester was treated with a kind hand, rather than the visceral feeling of gutting them like a pig and dancing in the entrails as they slowing die. I am the first to admit this sounds more like justice at a primal level. But should we be smarter than that?
Views: 1007
yep i agree. Its harder than rocket science for sure and really I think the goal is to spread awareness to the victims that they are acting out of mental illness. I understand how crazy it feels being the passive victim. that is an obvious contraction from a diseased individual. And although the tools are not what they should be at least it's expected that the passive victim get and take and is given help. but even there we have work to do.
The nature of crime, punishment, and the various justice systems throughout the world will be dramatically changed within the next 20 years. Some of it has already happened.
Criminal activity can certainly be driven by psychological issues, as well as addiction issues, which can be related. But much of the acceptance of criminal activity by those outside of those two communities (wrong word, but can't think of a better one) has been driven by economics.
Muggings and carjackings and many other forms of crime are now things of the past due much to technology like Lojack and the adoption of credit cards and debit cards. Many criminals were brought into a network of already "successful" criminals. They were successful because back in 1970, a businessman out on the town might have $1,000 in his pocket available to steal. That was common, now it is quite rare. A carjacker could successfully drive away and have zero circumstances, now he/she could expose their entire enterprise and all associates if they accidentally take the wrong car.
My house was robbed in 2011, and the perp is in jail now along with all of his accomplices (there was a crime spree in my neighborhood 12 houses in 2 weeks). They were caught be a simple combination of security cameras in the neighborhood, a website named I-Neighbors which is like a mini-facebook for neighborhoods, as well as fingerprints, and other traditional crime detection methods.
Other economics drove their choices, the TV I bought for $800 is available on e-bay for $70. That's why they had to hit as many houses as they did. My 'hood and house haven't got much in the jewelry department, but the places in the suburbs have alarms on everything. It just doesn't make sense to be a burglar anymore. Plumbers make more money and don't risk their lifestyle. Netflix eliminates the need for DVD's, Cloud computing makes computers less valuable.
Add this to the fact that cameras are almost everywhere now, and in 20 years can absolutely be assumed to be everywhere (some of them smart, with face-matching technology). The criminal industry is another dying American industry, like manufacturing.
Ok, so less criminals. Now we can focus on more real criminals, how they get the way they get, and how to change their outcomes. Justice? Maybe there will be a different word for it. Correction, but actual rather than figurative.
Very good points!! I had seen some statistics to that effect but the personal experience to me speaks volumes to the growing reality. We can get into privacy issue in another post someday:)
If someone steals my cell phone, I can lock it up or even wipe it from my desktop machine or my tablet. That's if I don't use GPS to tell the cops where it is.
If a robber stops me and demands my cell phone, I'll just toss it in one direction and run in the other direction. Chances are, he'll go for the phone only to discover it's passworded.
You're right. Fewer transactions require money and we'll be carrying even less money in the future. We are starting to be able to make purchases using our cell phones,
I'm a lot more worried about cyber criminals than street criminals. Ones who can shut down a power grid or water supply or cause a nuclear power plant to go Fukushima.
Requires a lot of work to understand how to do those things and then even more work to manage the people who would do those things. I do think it makes a powerful world govt more of a likelyhood no matter how fierce the opposition. Because it doesn't have to have approval by the people to exist.
I saw the future of convenience retailing about 10 years ago. Visiting a friend in Brooklyn NYC, we went to a local convenience store. We were in a glassed-in room. We pointed to what we wanted and the clerk gathered it. We payed through a sliding drawer under a part of the window, and our goods were delivered through a larger sliding door under that one. At no point were the goods available until they were paid for.
But is the flash mob more a fear for the govt's of the world. Imagine how much braver an activit can be if they can meet in private and show up in mass. Seems like it topples hardline regimes in the world already.
Knowing TED, this will probably be good.

subset: commoncrawl


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Pony car performance in a full-size package.
Fullsize Cars
Editor: New Car Test Drive
$21,675 Base Price MSRP
$28,720 As Tested MSRP
Model Lineup: Dodge Charger SE ($21,675); Charger SXT ($25,685); Charger SXT AWD ($28,035); Charger R/T ($30,755); Charger R/T AWD ($32,855); Charger R/T Daytona ($30,755); Charger SRT8 ($36,155)
Standard Engine: 3.5-liter V6
Engine Options: 3.5-liter sohc 24-valve V6; 5.7-liter 16v V8; 6.1-liter 16v V8; 2.7-liter dohc 24-valve V6
Standard Transmission: 5-speed automatic AutoStick
Transmission Options: 5-speed automatic with AutoStick; 4-speed automatic
Basic Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles
Assembled In: Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Model Tested MSRP: Dodge Charger SXT ($25,685)
Standard Equipment: air conditioning; cruise control; power outside mirrors, windows and central locking; AM/FM/CD, 6-speaker, 276-watt Boston Acoustics stereo; 8-way power driver's seat with manual lumbar on driver and front passenger seat; leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; tilt and telescope steering wheel; cargo net; carpeted floor mats
Options As Tested: Comfort Seating Group ($1,395) includes leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, power adjustable pedals, 8-way power front passenger seat; Protection Group ($640) includes front and rear side-curtain air bags, air filtration system; 18-inch alloy wheels ($325)
Standard Safety Equipment: multi-stage front airbags; tire-pressure monitor; child safety seat anchors (LATCH)
Optional Safety Equipment: head-protecting front- and rear-passenger side-curtain airbags; torso-protecting front side-impact airbags; self-sealing tires; antilock brakes with brake assist; electronic stability program; traction controlDestination Charge: $675
The model line ranges from the sporty and entertaining 2.7-liter Charger SE to the 425-hp SRT8. Between them are 3.5-liter V6 and 5.7-liter V8 models. The 3.5-liter V6 delivers entirely adequate performance for the mid-grade SXT model, while the V8s generate thrilling acceleration performance and make all the right noises.
All-wheel drive is available for all-weather capability.
The Charger illustrates just how multi-talented and accomplished today's high-performance cars are compared to the unidimensional hot rods of yesteryear. The Charger has all the pavement-ripping, gut-thumping power of the old muscle cars, but it's packaged with modern creature comforts and tempered by handling competency. Put another way, it rides, turns and stops as well as it goes.
The Charger is fun to drive and enjoyable for just cruising along. It's perfectly in its element when making time on a freeway. It is a big, heavy, full-size sedan measuring more than 16 feet in length and tipping the scales near two tons, but it's responsive and entertaining.
For 2008, the Charger gets minor interior design changes and two new entertainment options. Newly available are Sirius Backseat TV for the rear entertainment system, and Dodge's MyGig, a 20 gigabyte hard drive that holds songs, pictures, and navigation system map information. The interior changes include a new instrument panel and center console, as well as upgraded soft-touch surfaces on the arm rests, center console and door trim. Dodge's UConnect hands-free cell-phone link is also upgraded with integrated iPod interface.
The Dodge Charger was launched as a 2006 model in the spring of 2005.
The base Dodge Charger SE has a 178-hp 2.7-liter V6 and a four-speed automatic transmission. SXT comes with a 250-hp 3.5-liter V6 and a five-speed automatic transmission with Dodge's AutoStick manual shift gate. R/T models have a 340-hp 5.7-liter V8 and the five-speed AutoStick automatic. The R/T can be upgraded to 350 horsepower by ordering the Road/Track or Daytona packages. SRT8 models have a 425-hp 6.1-liter V8 and the AutoStick.
The SE ($21,675) comes with cloth upholstery, air conditioning, cruise control, tilt/telescope steering wheel, driver and passenger lumbar adjustment, remote keyless entry, and AM/FM/CD stereo with auxiliary input jack. Steel wheels with bolt-on covers wear all-season P215/65R17 tires, and all Chargers have a Touring suspension. Available options include an engine block heater ($40), a Smoker's Group ($30) that adds a lighter and ashtray, and the SE Convenience Group 1 that adds an eight-way power driver's seat and adjustable pedals ($505).
The SXT ($25,685) upgrades with an eight-way adjustable power driver's seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, 60/40 split folding rear seat with fold-down center armrest, Boston Acoustics stereo with six speakers and 276-watt amplifier, interior air filter, power-adjustable pedals, Sirius satellite radio with one year subscription, fog lamps and cast aluminum wheels. The SXT is available with all-wheel drive ($28,035). Options include leather-trimmed seats ($640), sunroof ($950), and Dodge's UConnect hands-free cell phone link now with iPod interface. Also available are 18-inch aluminum wheels with P225/60R all-season tires coupled with a rear spoiler. In addition to the Protection Group and Smokers Group, there's a Comfort Seating Group with heated front seats, leather-trimmed bucket seats, power adjustable pedals and an eight-way power front passenger seat ($1395).
The R/T ($31,780) is a V8-powered, high-performance model also available with all-wheel drive ($33,880). The R/T adds to the SXT with folding heated mirrors, 160-mph speedometer, upgraded brakes, polished aluminum 18-inch wheels, larger fuel tank, dual exhaust, automatic headlamps, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and power eight-way front passenger seat. Among the options are a seven-speaker Boston Acoustic stereo with a 368-watt amplifier and subwoofer ($535) and remote starting. The Electronics Convenience Group ($630) adds a security alarm, programmable universal garage door opener, trip computer, selectable vehicle information display, compass and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.
The Road/Track Performance Group ($3,350) for the R/T features unique aluminum wheels with black accents, sportier steering, self-leveling shocks, sport seats, performance suspension, a tweaked V8 making 350 horsepower, front and rear spoilers, and 20-inch wheels. The Daytona R/T package adds to the Road/Track Performance Group assorted aero add-ons, flat black graphics front and rear, and interior trim that includes a numbered plate on the instrument panel.
The SRT8 ($36,155) comes with a 6.1-liter V8 generating 425 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, a performance-tuned suspension, a reprogrammed electronic stability control, Brembo brakes, Goodyear Supercar F1 tires on 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, and a 180-mph speedometer.
The Super Bee package for the SRT8 comes in Surf Blue for 2008 with black graphics on the hood, trunk and flanks, along with the V8/bumblebee logo.
For 2008, two new entertainment options are available for all but SE models: Sirius Backseat TV and Chrysler's MyGig entertainment system. The rear-seat DVD entertainment system is now offered with Sirius Backseat TV with three channels. MyGig is available in two versions. The MyGig Entertainment System has 6.5-inch touchscreen and a 20-gigabyte hard drive to hold music and pictures. The MyGig Multimedia Infotainment System adds a navigation system
Walk Around
The Charger recalls the 1966 Dodge Coronet. Despite its fastback, two-door hardtop styling, the old Charger was somewhat blocky, with a squared-off front end, superficially sculpted slab sides and an equally vertical backside. There was the barest hint of a so-called Coke bottle look, with the body sides slightly pinched in about where there would have been a B-pillar. Not until the 1968 model year was any attention paid to moving the car rapidly through the air with minimal disturbance. The 2008 Charger starts at much the same place on the automotive styling evolutionary curve.
The same design team that parented the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum birthed the Charger. The Charger is built on the same platform as those two, but is three inches longer overall.
With this legacy, the upright silhouette comes as no surprise. The front end tilts forward as if it's leaning into the wind, specifically to recall the brutish, pre-aero-age styling of its muscle car era namesake.
Dominating the front of the car are the trademark Dodge crosshairs, chromed on the SXT and R/T, body-color in the SE and SRT8, and flat black on the Daytona. Compound halogen headlights peer out under hooded, almost scowling brows. A thin, trifurcated air intake slices across the lower portion of the front bumper. The Daytona and SRT8 wear a flat-black chin spoiler. Fog lamps on the SXT and higher models fill small, sculpted insets at the lower corners.
From the side, the demi-fastback roofline and glasshouse look more grafted onto the somewhat fulsome body than a natural extension of the overall styling theme, as if the designer were trying to make a sedan look like a coupe. The beltline arcs softly back from the headlights, where it droops slightly, to about the midpoint of the rear side window, then kicks up over the rear quarter panel, visually bulking up the car's already hefty haunches.
The rear perspective shows a tall, almost vertical backside, with large taillights draped over the upper corners. A modest, Kamm-like lip stretches across the trailing edge of an expansive trunk lid, atop which sits a lift-suppressing spoiler on the Daytona and SRT8. A recess in the bumper holds the license plate. On the SE and SXT a single exhaust tip exits beneath the right-hand side, while the V8-powered models sport chrome-tipped, muscle car-idiom, dual exhausts.
Inside, the Dodge Charger has much in common with the Magnum, which is essentially the wagon version of this car.
The instrument cluster arrangement, which is slightly redesigned for 2008, is pleasantly informative. The big round speedometer and tachometer share the top half of the steering wheel opening, with fuel and coolant temperature gauges down in the left and right corners. The climate controls are conveniently positioned beneath the radio and are easy to operate.
The cruise control stalk has been moved from the 10 o'clock to the 4 o'clock position for 2008, making it more intuitive to use and eliminating the annoying tendency to hit the cruise stalk when signaling a turn.
The standard fabric-covered seats are comfortable, with adequate thigh support and side bolstering. Stepping up to the performance seats in the option packages gets more pronounced bolsters, which is good for those rare times when a twisty two-lane beckons, but not as good for climbing in and out of the car every day. And, of course, the top grade, suede-trimmed and embroidered seats in the Daytona nicely complement the boy-racer graphics of the exterior. Thanks to the sedan-spec wheelbase, there's plenty of rear seat room, too, even with the front seats at their rearmost positions. No head restraint for the rear center seat is provided, however, making this car better for four adults than five.
Visibility from the driver's seat is a bit compromised by safety measures and styling dictates. The thick front pillars are designed to meet roll-over standards, which makes checking for pedestrians and crossing traffic difficult at times. The view through the inside rearview mirror quickly puts to rest any lingering illusions about the Charger being a coupe; the rear window is a long way back. The rear pillars are also fat, and require careful checking during lane changes; they also provide great hiding places for pacing patrol cars. In addition, the front of the roof juts out far in front of the seating position, so it can block your view of stoplights if you get too close.
The rear entertainment system installation takes a novel, but extremely well-integrated approach. The screen hides beneath a cover on the front center console when not in use, then pivots up between the front seats for viewing. The interface, for DVD and input and output jacks, is incorporated into the rear of the console beneath the screen and above the rear seat ventilation registers. Without the entertainment system, the center console functions as a traditional storage bin. For 2008, the system adds available Sirius Backseat TV with three child-oriented channels, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. Two headsets are provided, so children in the back can watch the screen, while front occupants can listen to the radio.
Also available for 2008 is Dodge's MyGig radio in two iterations: the MyGig Entertainment System and the MyGig Multimedia Infotainment System. Both have 20 gigabytes of hard drive space, but the Multimedia option includes a navigation system with real-time traffic and voice activation.
A small, horizontal storage bin occupies the lower portion of the center stack, and there's a similar, longitudinal slot in the console to the right of the shift gate. A bin in the forward-most part of the front center console is large enough for coins and the like. Above it is a small, fold-down drawer where the Smokers Group ashtray would be, and next to that is a power point that would hold the lighter. Two cup holders sit in front of the console bin, and another pair can be found in the forward end of the rear seat center armrest. All four doors have good-sized map pockets, though the front seatbacks lack pouches for reading materials and headsets. The glove box is roomier than many.
The trunk is large. Loading items into the trunk is aided by a comfortably low lift-over height, at 30 inches. The trunk opening is shaped such
Driving Impressions
On the road, the 2.7-liter V6 is less than adequate for this full-size car, but it's the most frugal choice, with an EPA-estimated 18 mpg City, 26 Highway. The 3.5-liter V6 produces 250 horsepower and is EPA rated at 17/24 mpg City/Highway. When pushed, the V6 breathes a bit harder than the V8 and requires more room when passing on crowded two-lanes. The 5.7-liter V8 makes the Charger R/T a muscle car, with a 0-60 mph time in the neighborhood of 6.0 seconds. The SRT8's 6.1-liter Hemi cuts that time by almost a second and provides thrilling passing punch and throttle response. Rated at only 14/20 mpg, the SRT8 is saddled with a $2100 Gas Guzzler Tax.
The 5.7-liter V8 features Dodge's Multi-Displacement System that conserves fuel by shutting down four cylinders when they're not needed to maintain the car's momentum. The system is can't be felt, but it can be monitored. For 2008, Dodge has added a Fuel Saver Mode display that indicates when four cylinders have been shut down.
All of the Chargers are good cruisers, comfortable motoring along at 70-80 mph. The Charger is quiet at that speed, with little wind or road noise. The 3.5-liter SXT model felt perfectly in its element on the bumpy highways between Detroit and Michigan International Raceway. Steering in the SE and SXT models we drove seemed a bit over-assisted at times, and could have used more on-center feel.
The recalibrated steering that comes with the Road/Track package offers better steering feel across the speed range. Some drivers may find the rumbling exhaust note of the Road/Track tiresome over long distances, though. The SRT8's lowered ride height calls for care when parking to avoid scraping the front fascia scrape; it can drag on sharp pavement transitions.
We drove a Charger along winding, two-lane back roads in southern Virginia then at Virginia International Raceway near Danville. The Charger is moderately nose-heavy and will understeer a bit when turning into corners before the electronic stability program steps in; the program's threshold seems set high enough to allow altering the line through a corner with deft throttle application.
The Performance Group comes with fatter, stickier tires (P235/55R18 Michelin MXM4s) and suspension tweaks that combine to reduce body lean in corners and quicken turn-in response. A price is paid, however, as the sportier suspension and tire combination resonates more over broken pavement, not harshly, but noticeably. The tires that come standard on the R/T and optional on the SXT are neither as wide nor as grippy, but they offer a quieter ride.
The AutoStick transmission works equally well in either Automatic or Manual mode. In Automatic mode, full throttle upshifts wait until redline and downshifts for passing are executed with minimal delay. In Manual mode, the transmission holds a gear to red line before shifting (unless you shift sooner, of course). Only by tromping the gas in manual mode can you force a downshift, and then only for as long as the pedal is held to the floor; ease up ever so slightly, and the higher gear takes back over, and somewhat abruptly.
The Charger's brake hardware is shared with Mercedes-Benz, but the software code for the stability program, brake assist and traction control is written by and for Dodge. Mercedes engineers could learn something from Dodge. Pedal feel is firm, braking is reassuringly linear, and there's no perceived interference from the electronic watchdogs, yielding smooth, controlled stops. We haven't always been able to say the same about the braking characteristics on some of the Mercedes models.
The Dodge Charger delivers pony car excitement and style and recalls a bygone era, all while providing the roomy accommodations of a full-size car. The availability of all-wheel drive is a bonus for customers in the north, and the range of engines and suspension setups allows buyers to choose between fast and comfortable models.
NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Tom Lankard filed this report from North Carolina and southern Virginia; with Mitch McCullough reporting from Michigan, and correspondent Kirk Bell reporting from Chicago.
Top Cars


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Each year, prior to their playing season, the Hope College men's basketball team goes on a weekend retreat with Coach Glenn VanWieren to his northern Michigan cottage. Along with team building activities, the team also writes a mission statement which hangs on the wall in their locker room.
Each year, prior to their playing season, the Hope College men's basketball team goes on a weekend retreat with Coach Glenn VanWieren to his northern Michigan cottage. Along with team building activities, the team also writes a mission statement which hangs on the wall in their locker room.
Part of this year's mission statement was for the team to serve in some volunteer capacity within the Holland community. It was the team's desire to work in an elementary school with a program that would enhance reading and promote positive individual values.
Subsequently, we met with Brian Davis, the superintendent of the Holland Public Schools system. Mr. Davis was very excited about the possibility and recommended that our players work with fourth and fifth graders at the Holland Heights Elementary School.
Rhonda Klomparens, principal at Holland Heights, was very excited about the partnership with Hope College men's basketball. She said, "Hope basketball players will be great role models for the Holland Heights students because the school is about 75 percent minority students, and 75 percent of them are on the free or reduced cost lunch program because they are at or below what is considered the poverty level."
Hope coach Glenn VanWieren was excited because his mother Wilma taught fourth grade at Holland Heights years ago. Also, Brian Davis expressed the school's need for role models such as the Hope men's basketball team.
In December 2008 the men's basketball team initiated the program by presenting a basketball clinic during an assembly with the fourth and fifth graders at Holland Heights. The elementary students were excited about watching and participating in the basketball activities. Principal Klomparens said, "There is definitely a need here because a lot of our fourth and fifth graders come from very disadvantaged homes, so a lot of the kids don't have the male role models they need."
Our players, for the first time, had a chance to meet the students they would be working with in the classrooms. The players introduced themselves, involved the students in drills, and then put on a basketball demonstration for the students to observe. It was amazing how attentive and excited the students were, knowing they would be working with these men in their classrooms.
There were four classrooms of fourth and fifth grade students taught by exceptional teachers (Shawnda Garcia, Ryan O'Connell, Todd McKay, and Dawn Davison). The 28 players compiling the men's varsity and junior varsity teams would be divided into four groups, each of which would be assigned a classroom to visit once per week.
Each Hope player would work with a small group of three or four students when they went to the classroom. Upon arrival the teachers would provide the players with reading material and a lesson plan with discussion questions relating to values enhancement. Each classroom also read articles about the men's team published in local newspapers and had autographed player and media pictures displayed.
Shawnda Garcia said of the Hope players, "I thank them so much for coming to our classroom. It is an honor to have them here and I know I am repeating myself, but I love these young men because they are such outstanding role models and the students have a great desire to learn and discuss when they are here. Thank you Hope College for sharing them with us."
For every week during the months of January, February, March, and part of April, 28 Hope College basketball players would visit Holland Heights Elementary School to work with kids. Hope senior Zach Osburn who is majoring in education said, "It is good for me as a future teacher and it is good for the kids because they get to see role models who are going to college and who have goals. We all had people we looked up to when we were growing up. We're trying to do the right things for ourselves but at the same time we want to do the right things for other people."
On Saturday, February 7, the Holland Heights Elementary School fourth and fifth graders were invited to attend a Hope College home basketball game in the DeVos Fieldhouse versus Kalamazoo College. One hundred and forty students along with Superintendent Brian Davis, Principal Rhonda Klomparens, teachers, chaperones, and parents attended the game and sat directly across from the home team. Prior to the game our players visited with students and had a group picture taken at mid-court.
At half-time the visitors were invited to a hospitality room filled with food and refreshments. During the game our guests were applauded by a capacity crowd and after the game there was more time for the students and our players to interact and complete a really wonderful experience.
At the conclusion of our program together at Holland Heights Elementary School we will have an assembly with students and the Hope men's basketball team. During that time we will visit, take comments from students and players about the experience, and present each student with a certificate of recognition for this year's program.
Many individuals from the Holland community have shared thoughts on what has been happening between Hope players and elementary students in our reading and values enhancement program.
One such person had this to say, "What a great thing for the Hope College players and assistants to do with the Holland Heights kids! The basketball players keep my faith in humanity alive. Well done." Our players know they have made a difference in the lives of these elementary students while gaining invaluable life experiences themselves.


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It's high season for celebrity fashion watching. "Who are you wearing?" rang out (endlessly) from the red carpet at the recent Golden Globe Awards, and there's more to come in February with the Oscars. This focus on which TV and film stars are wearing what made me wonder about the trickle-down effect of all this hoopla on us little people. So I hit the street to ask regular men and women about the style icons they keep in mind when they go shopping.
Ben Cohen, 27, aesthetician
You look pretty sharp today. Do you have a style icon? "Leonardo DiCaprio is very nice. Johnny Depp is very good. He's out there … all the time, unique!"
How would you describe your style? "Classic. Very classic, more European style. Italian. I love Ferragamo stuff."
Brian Aurelio, 32, women's designer shoes sales associate
Who's your fashion icon? "I'm not really good with names. A guy who wore a gray tux to the Golden Globe awards." (It was Ryan Seacrest in Burberry Prorsum.)
Do you put a lot of emphasis on your clothes? "I just love fashion. I love the fact that when you dress better, you look better, and you feel better too."
Some people can't afford to look as good as you: "It doesn't need to be high-end all the time. … The only thing you need to spend money on is your shoes."
Noor Kapoor, 25, student
Your fashion icon is? : "The Kardashians, for sure. There's three glamorous women. Each of them has a different style. Each of them has something to bring to the plate."
Do you have a favorite? "My birthday was last Friday, and I loved this dress I have by Milly. I just Googled "How to wear my hair with this dress," and it turned out Kim Kardashian wore the same exact dress (to the Teen Choice Awards in 2011). Hers was Givenchy."
Amanda Courter, 24, department store assistant department manager
Your icon? "Jennifer Aniston, who can pull off the casual look and just look fantastic. She can be just walking, getting groceries, but she looks put together."
For instance? "A plain white T-shirt, she can bring that look from day to night."
Allean Morrow-Young, 68, medical accreditation assistant
Do you have a fashion icon? "My mom. She was an individualist. She created her own look with very limited funds."
Can you be more specific? "It was more than the clothing. It was how she came through."
Latest Lifestyles
And how did that influence you? "I always come to work 'dressed.' I create things without really realizing. Other people take notice."
Jiating Li, 21, student
Do you have a person whose style you copy or admire? "Just myself. I like shopping a lot. When you wear something … it tells people who you are."
Where do you get your fashion ideas? "I read magazines like Vogue. I bought a dress, and later I saw it on 'Gossip Girl.' "


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Hugh Jackman gets Hollywood Walk of Fame star
It was a lucky day for the actor. A beaming Hugh Jackman was celebrated Thursday with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But the day turned out to be a lucky 13th for the actor in more ways than one.
The unveiling of the 2,487th star on the famous Walk came hours after he landed a Golden Globe Awards nomination for his work in Les Miserables.
"It's kind of a surreal day," Jackman told E! News. "I'll probably always remember Thursday, Dec. 13 and I think I'm either going straight from here to buy a lottery ticket or to a casino because it just feels like someone is looking down on me in a very nice way at this moment."
Jackman, who snagged a SAG nomination earlier in the week, was joined by Les Miz co-stars Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried. But Hugh seemed to only have eyes for his family — son Oscar, 12, wife Deborra-Lee Furness and daughter Ava, 7.
"Hugh doesn't even realize how big this is going to be," Furness told Showbiz 411 at Monday's premiere afterparty. "It's only just dawned on me."


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Jim Richardson puts his marker down
In the strength of yesterday's 1-2-1 scores and top-ten finishes in today's two final races, Jim Richardson and his Barking Mad have won the 2012 Farr 40 Pre-Worlds, held at Chicago YC. Being the last of five events in the 2012 Farr 40 North American Circuit, the win also gives Richardson the overall win in this series as well.
Runner-up in the Pre-Worlds and third in the overall Circuit is Germany's Wolfgang Schaefer and his team on Struntje Light. Schaefer finally broke a string of third place finishes to finish second, but was unable to overcome Alberto Rossi's Enfant Terrible from Italy to claim the runner-up position in the overall series.
The day started in beautiful late summer sunshine, but with no wind, as a strong high pressure dominated the entire upper Midwest US. Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio elected to post the AP flag until 1230 local time, as a light onshore breeze built steadily to bring sailable conditions to the lakefront.
Race 1 started in 7-8 knots, light conditions that suited Annapolis-based Kevin McNeil on Nightshift, who had relocated to race here in Lake Michigan for the last half of the summer. McNeil started strong to take the early lead, and tactician Andrew Campbell played the chess game well to keep them ahead of the chasing pack, led by Phillip Dowd's local-based Inferno and Asterisk Uno from Turkey, helmed for this event by Levent Ozonur in owner Hasip Gencer's absence.
A little more breeze in Race 2 had the pack a little too hungry at the start, pushing the line so hard that Reggio gave a General Recall and flew the 20% penalty Z flag to keep them back before the next start. The incentive worked, and in about 8-9 knots this time it was Bob Hughes and his Michigan-based team on Heartbreaker that took the early lead. Unlike in yesterday's Race 3 when they were in a similar position, this time Hughes managed to hold and even extend on their lead to take the win.
But the team who had the best day on scores of 4-2 was Nico Poons's Charisma from Monaco, led by Volvo Ocean Race sailor tactician Stu Bannatyne. The team improved in every race, starting the series out in 14th and finishing the last race today in second. "We're on a positive trend," said Poons, "we'll hope we can keep the momentum."
Another feature of today was the invitation extended to members of the Chicago YC Junior Sailing program to race aboard the Farr 40's during today's racing. 20 junior sailors were given the opportunity to be part of each team, with some participating in crew work and others simply hiking out.
Sailing aboard Guido Belgiorno-Nettis's Australian-based Transfusion was 11-year old William Plovanic, an Opti sailor from Chicago YC. "It was really fun today," said Plovanic. "I learned a lot about set-up in the starts that I could try when frostbiting in the Optis."
"Having the juniors sail with us is a fantastic program," says Farr 40 Class Manager Geoff Stagg. "It gives us the chance to expose the new generation to high-level racing and get them inspired to want to put this into their own sailing futures."
With the Farr 40 Pre-Worlds now completed, so is the opening act of the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, which starts on Monday, and features daily racing until Thursday, 20 September.


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Hi everyone! These moments before the arrival of the New Year I think we all just love to stay warm near the fireplace or get closer with the people we love the most. So we delayed a little our new post... For the outfit now, I chose an interesting plaid cardigan and i added gloves and my beloved knit beanie! This look plays more with different textures, like leather, knit, suede, and less with colors (only B&W). Hope you like it!
Plaid Morning
A Big Thank You!
Hi everyone! These pics show the celebration we hosted for completing our first steps in our fashion dream! So, thank you for 3.213 followers on Facebook, 1.000 on Instagram and 1.017 in Chicissimo! We couldn't be more happy, glad and grateful and we wish you were there with us too!
Ετικέτες Food
#CosmopolitanChic Glam in Las Vegas!
Hi everyone! Today we have a special post for all of you who wonder what to wear in different occassions during a day. So, with help from Cosmopolitan, in Las Vegas, we tried to show you some ideas! these outfits work for christmas celebrations as well!
So, for a quick casual brunch, you can invest in comfy garments and some cool accessories. The Wicked Spoon in Cosmopolitan offers a calm beautiful place to talk and relax with friends or family. For easy mornings, we picked a long cardigan, statement earrings and boyfriend ripped jeans.
Hi everyone! Today I think I made the perfect look for casual cold days, as well as for winter activities, like skiing and hiking. This pretty chaki parka offers style and comfort in the same time. It's really a practical and versatile piece to wear. Here, I combined it with Ray-Bans, black jumper and leather leggings and an oversized bag. Hope you like it!
Look of the Week #5 (Red Wine)
Ετικέτες Burberry, Look of the Week
Christmas Wishlist
Ετικέτες H&M, Inspiration, Michael Kors, NARS, New Look, River Island
Gloomy Gray Day
Hello! For today I prepared a cozy winter look, in shades of gray. I paired a gray swaeter with leather leggings and knee high boots and I added a gray coat. I wanted to keep it casual, so I chose a laconic black clutch and no jewelry at all. These frosty days are perfect for soft oversized swaeters and boots. Hope you like my idea!
Ετικέτες knitwear, leather, Outfits, streetstyle, Tsakiris Mallas, winter, ZARA
Christmas Feeling
Ετικέτες decor, Inspiration
Loose & Luxurious
Hi! How are you today? This time I chose a casual but feminin look, with different fabrics and textures. I adore this type of swaeters, so I decided to leave everything else simple. I added leather pants, chelsea boots and a neautral oversized bag. I think this look is so comfortable for errands and everyday chores. Kisses!
All about Details
Look of the Week #4 {blush & powder}
Ετικέτες Look of the Week, Michael Kors, River Island
Heights & Layers
Ετικέτες fall, H&M, hat, kneehigh boots, knitwear, Outfits, streetstyle, Tsakiris Mallas, ZARA
Knit Luxury
Hey there! How was your week? Today I'm very happy to show you one of my favourite trends this year: oversized knitted pieces, like a plaid scarf and a warm swaeter. I added some gold details and of course a leather touch.The red lips and wavy hair finished the look! Hope you like my idea of luxury!
Look of the Week #3 {Cozy Cardigan}
Hi everyone! This week we decided to create a cozy, feminin yet comfortable look, in grey shades.
So, the key piece here is the wool cardigan with the tribal pattern. You can pair it with a sweet mini skirt and a simple top. A MK bag is always a must and for make up, you can play with warm tones. Hope we helped!
So, the key piece here is the wool cardigan with the tribal pattern. You can pair it with a sweet mini skirt and a simple top. A MK bag is always a must and for make up, you can play with warm tones. Hope we helped!
Ετικέτες H&M, Look of the Week, Mango, Michael Kors
Look of the Week #2 { Cozy&Simple }
Ετικέτες Look of the Week, Mango, Topshop
Insta Inspiration #4 {Autumn Shades}
Crystal Clear
Look of the Week #1 {Black&White}
Ετικέτες H&M, Look of the Week, Michael Kors, Nasty Gal, Prada
Beaucoup d' Amour
Trenching Around
Hello! Luxury was on top this week, so for Friday I chose a calm chic look, with the classic beige trenchcoat. In this soothing natural environment nothing could be better than loose boyfriend jeans, a simple top and the classic black bag. Of course I elevated the look with black gladiators. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Power Green
Hi everyone! How 's your week so far? Sometimes, with the multiple tasks we have to complete, I literally feel like a warrior. So today its all about sporty boyish style. I paired a chaki shirt with black leather pants and a clutch with trooks. Of course I added a chic touch, these gorgeous leopard gladiators. Hope you like it!
Ετικέτες Accessorize, camo, fall, H&M, heels, leather, Mango, Outfits, pants, Ray-Ban, streetstyle, Tsakiris Mallas
The Aviator
Hi everyone! Today I experimented with different textures and colours, to create a sweet yet powerful look. So, I combined sporty leather pants with a preppy pastel blue shirt and girlie pumps. I finished the outfit with aviator sunnies and a nude clutch. Sometimes the unexpected combinations can lead to a fresh modern look! Hope you agree with me!
Thinking of You
Hello everyone! After a long break,(sorry for the late post...)we are here again and we are eager to show you new looks, new perspectives and few awesome surprises! So, for this particular post, I wanted to express the romance and the love, feelings that we all experience in our life. I chose black crop and skater skirt and gold accessories. Of course, this cute faux fur from Choies and these gorgeous Giuseppe Zanotti high heels make the difference. Hope you like the look, as much as I do!
Out with my love
Hi everyone! Today I made a post with my lovely puppy, Atlas. For a simple walk in the park, I chose burgundy, black vest&scort and flat ankle boots. I finished with sunnies. I love nature this time of year and theres nothing better than long walks in nature with my beloved ones. Have a nice weekend everyone!
Ετικέτες Accessorize, Asos, fall, H&M, Outfits, Sheinside, skirt, Stradivarius, streetstyle, top crop, ZARA
Red Treasures
Hello! What do you think of bold winter colours? This fall and winter deep red will be an essential. So, we gathered the most stunning pieces in red, burgundy and black shades and we added printed items as well. We made sure to collect both luxurious and affordable pieces, from tops and shoes, to perfumes and delicate jewelry. Hope you enjoy!
Ετικέτες Asos, H&M, Inspiration, Sheinside, ZARA
Feminin Suit
Hello! How are you today? For this post I paired a black belted blazer, pencil sheer skirt and black bag. Of course these leopard heels are the highlight of the look! They add a sophisticated tone to this total black outfit and make it more interesting. I believe this outfit shows that any woman can be feminin and strong willed in the same time. What do you think?
Nude & Camo
Scarlet Red
Black & White Inspiration with CrosstheLineX
Hi everyone! Today we 're really glad to introduce you to a new luxury fashion platform: www.crossthelinex.com
This platform gathers talented Asian designers, mostly from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Having seen their designs, we would call them chic and refined, yet edgy and modern. Bellow, we made a collection from our favourite pieces, that truly embrace the spirit of Pearls & Roses: feminin pieces with an elegant and chic touch.
Decor Inspiration: Bedroom of my Dreams
Ετικέτες decor, Inspiration
A Skort Story
Clean Cut
Hi everyone! Let's kick off the week with a clean marine look! Today I paired a white cropped shirt with a high waisted shorts and classic black heels. I chose a sleek hair look and I added a pale blue bag. I wanted to keep the look simple, so I didn't add any accessories or jewelry. Hope you like it!
Ετικέτες H&M, heels, Mango, nautical, Outfits, Stradivarius, streetstyle, summer, ZARA
Fall // Winter 2014-15 Essentials
Happy Sunday everyone! How did you spend your weekend? Today, we decided to show you the most complete shopping list, with everything you are about to need this winter. We collected shoes (mules are a must this season) , accessories (metallic jewellery, leather goodies) and of course apparel- stunning evening dresses, leather bodies, fur and cozy sweaters. We tried to combine the basic and most essential trends of the season, like mules, fur and hats, along with some more extravagant pieces, like leather bodies, lace tops and checkers. Hope you like our selection!
Hello! For this post I chose my favourite color-combo: black/ white/red. I think that these three shades can create a complete, chic outfit. I paired black crop top, white blazer, red clutch and my new obsession, this edgy check shorts! Of course I couldn't be ready without these gorgeous gladiator heels from Choies. Hope you like my classic//edgy style!
Defining Elegance
Hello! How are you today? This time, I chose a white sleek look, with a white jumpsuit and nude details. I think this background, white stones and columns, empasizes the elegance and class of todays' outfit. I think black, white and their combination are able to make any outfit chic in an instant. What about you, which is your definition of elegance?
Cinderella Prom Inspiration
Hi everyone! I think that most of us, as little girls ,we were inspired by cinderella and her beautiful transformation... So, growing up, we are eager to attend events, proms and balls, wearing breathtaking gowns and waiting for true love to come! So today's inpiration is about the ideal outfits for a prom or another special event!
Waves and Fringes
Hi everyone! I know it's been a while since our last post, but we were working on so many different things...we are so eager to show you! This time, I chose a beautiful coast as the backround for this boho yet chic outfit. I paired a fringed kimono and these gorgeous gladiators from Choies and I added a hint of white in this dark outfit...Of course sunnies are always a must. Hope you like it!
Ετικέτες Asos, black, Choies, H&M, heels, Outfits, Sheinside, Stradivarius, streetstyle, summer
Chasing the Τop
Olive Garden
Hi everyone! In this special wishlist, we show you one of the hottest trends for fall: olive green. It's probably the most sophisticated and charming shade of green and is perfect for cozy autumn outfits! In this post you're about to find everything you love in this flattering hue, from dresses and coats, to beauty and skincare goodies. Hope you like these pieces as much as we do! Have a nice weekend!!
Insta inspiration #3 {Goodbye Summer}
All of the Brights!
Hi everyone! I know its been a long time since our lastpost,but its summer...How you've been lately?Well,today I wanted to share with you a carefree and relaxing outfit , with vivid bold colours! I love electric blue and fushcia,so I tried to compine them in a single outfit. I added a cute bracelet I found in Choies and I let my hair down. Hope you like it!
Hot summer trend: Maxi Dresses
Maxi dresses are perfect for lazy summer days and nights. We can also wear them during the first days of autumn with a jacket and few other accessories. What makes them so desirable is the comfort and the elegance these dresses offer the same time. So, today we show you all different styles of long dresses, for all bodytypes and every occasion!
- First of all, casual dresses, for hot summer days. They are so comfortable and so easy to style. Try classic colours, like nude, black and white.
La Vie en Rose
Hello! Honestly, I think that in this blog, flowers and florals can never be enough! So, today I wanted to show you an outfit,totally inspired from pink roses. I mixed black and pink and I added few neutral accessories. Sometimes, it's nice to believe that we live a life so beautiful as a rose.Have a nice weekend everyone!
Walking on Sunshine...
Hi everyone! As I was prepairing today for the post there was only one thing on my mind: ''I'm walking on sunshine...lalala'' I hope you remember the song...I was so much inspired from the beautiful sunny street, the wind in the hair and this outfit ( love my new leather skirt and these heels by the way...) Regarding this simple look,sometimes I think simplicity is the key to true style!
Happy Monday everyone! For todays' post I played with the light blush hue, silver accessories and snakeskin details. I believe that light pink shows the aetherial and romantic side of the woman, while metallic details offer style and elegance to any outfit. Also, the snakeskin belt gives the necessary edge to the style. Well, hope you like it!
L' Amor che muove il Sole e l'altre Stelle
Hello! As you can see from the title, in this post I thought I was playing in a an old Italian movie... Even though the backround is a Greek classic monument, the blue lace dress, the heels, even my glasses reminded me of Italy. For the story, the words have a special meaning which I adore:''The Love that moves the Sun and the other Stars''. Ciao!
Under the Palm Trees
Hi everyone! I'm very happy for todays' post, since both the outfit and the background reflect a tropical paradise. I'm standing under the palm trees wearing a cute floral corset and a light blue skater skirt. I added pale blue and nude accessories and I finished the look with blue shades. Have a nice week everyone!
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Endangered Blue Whales Make 'Unprecedented' Comeback to South Georgia Island
The largest animal on Earth is proving that wildlife protections work.
A team led by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) recently reported the initial results of three years of expeditions to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, an important summer feeding ground for whales that became a killing field when the whaling industry discovered it during the first half of the 20th century. But now, after 30 years of protections, the whales are returning. Researchers counted 36 sightings of 55 critically endangered Antarctic blue whales during their 2020 trip, up from just one sighting of two whales in 2018, according to BAS and The Independent.
"[It's] truly, truly amazing," Dr. Trevor Branch of the University of Washington told BBC News. "To think that in a period of 40 or 50 years, I only had records for two sightings of blue whales around South Georgia. Since 2007, there have been maybe a couple more isolated sightings. So to go from basically nothing to 55 in one year is astonishing."
It's excellent news for the #whale as following 30 years of protection several species appear to be in recovery wit… https://t.co/fUZqdMnEbh— Antarctic Survey (@Antarctic Survey)1582183596.0
BAS said the number of blue whales its team had seen was "unprecedented." But it also marks a return to a pre-whaling norm.
"I see them in hundreds and thousands," whaler and explorer Carl Larsen said of the island's whales when he first visited South Georgia at the start of the 20th century, according to BAS. He opened a whaling station, and was soon joined by others. Together, they decimated the island's whale population by more than 176,000 over 60 years. According to some estimates, whaling also wiped out 97 percent of blue whales, The Independent reported. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) finally instituted a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986.
Whales were barely seen around South Georgia between the 1960s and the 1990s, when they began to make a comeback. In addition to Antarctic blue whales, the BAS-led team recorded 790 humpback whales over 21 days, and estimates that there are now more than 20,000 of them feeding off the island in the summer. It also reported frequent sightings of southern right whales in 2018, but few in 2019 and 2020, suggesting they had gone elsewhere to feed.
"After three years of surveys, we are thrilled to see so many whales visiting South Georgia to feed again," project leader Dr. Jennifer Jackson of BAS said in the press release. "This is a place where both whaling and sealing were carried out extensively. It is clear that protection from whaling has worked, with humpback whales now seen at densities similar to those a century earlier, when whaling first began at South Georgia."
Jackson told BBC News that she thought the whales' return to the island represented a long term trend, not a temporary change in habits caused by a shift in the movements of krill, the whales' prey. She said the data suggested the survey took place over normal years for krill.
Antarctic blue whale expert Paula Olson, who was also on the trip, said it was the first to survey whales around the whole island in decades.
"[W]e truly felt like explorers," she told The Independent.
But it won't be the last assessment of Antarctic blue Whales. The IWC Scientific Committee will conduct an overall assessment of the species' recovery next year.
- 5 Essential Reads on Endangered Species - EcoWatch ›
- Iconic Southern Resident Orca and Father of 21 is Missing and ... ›
EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
By Michael Svoboda
The enduring pandemic will make conventional forms of travel difficult if not impossible this summer. As a result, many will consider virtual alternatives for their vacations, including one of the oldest forms of virtual reality – books.
Watchdog Accuses Trump's NOAA of 'Choosing Extinction' for Right Whales by Hiding Scientific Evidence
By Julia Conley
As the North Atlantic right whale was placed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's list of critically endangered species Thursday, environmental protection groups accusing the U.S. government of bowing to fishing and fossil fuel industry pressure to downplay the threat and failing to enact common-sense restrictions to protect the animals.
- Lemurs and Northern Right Whales Near Brink of Extinction ... ›
- Trump Administration Approves Harmful Seismic Blasting in Atlantic ... ›
By Beth Ann Mayer
Since even moderate-intensity workouts offer a slew of benefits, walking is a good choice for people looking to stay healthy.
How to Rock Your Walk
Walking isn't just fun and healthy. It's accessible.

"Walking is cheap," says Dr. John Paul H. Rue, a sports medicine doctor at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. "You can do it anywhere at any time; [it] requires little to no special equipment and has many of the same cardio benefits as running or other more intense workouts."

Want to up your walking game? Try the tips below.

Use Hand Weights
Cardio and strength training can go hand-in-hand when you add weights to your walk.

A 2019 study found that weight training is good for your heart, and research shows it reduces the risk of developing a metabolic disorder by 17 percent. People with metabolic disorders have a higher chance of being diagnosed with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Rue suggests not carrying weights for your entire walk.

"Hand weights can give you an added level of energy burning, but you have to be careful with these because carrying [them] over a long period of time or while walking could actually lead to some overuse injuries," he says.

Make It a Circuit
As another option, consider doing a circuit. First, put a pair of dumbbells on your lawn or somewhere in your home. Walk around the block once, then stop and do some bicep curls and tricep lifts before walking around the block again.

Rue recommends avoiding ankle weights during cardio workouts, as they force you to use your quadriceps rather than hamstrings. They can also cause muscle imbalance, according to the Harvard Health Letter.

Find a Fitness Trail
Strength training isn't limited to weights. You can get stronger by simply using your body.

Often found at parks, fitness trails are obstacle courses with equipment for pullups, pushups, rowing, and stretches to build upper and lower body strength.

Try searching "fitness trails near me" online, checking out your local parks and recreation website, or calling the municipal office to find one.

Recruit a Friend
People who workout together stay healthy together.

One study showed that older adults who exercised with a group improved or maintained their functional health and enjoyed their lives more.

Enlist the help of a walking buddy with a regimen you aspire to have. If you don't know anyone in your area, apps like Strava have social networking features so you can get support from fellow exercisers.

Try Meditation
According to the 2017 National Health Interview Survey, published by the National Institutes of Health, meditation is on the rise, and for good reason.

Researchers found that mind-body relaxation practices can regulate inflammation, circadian rhythms, and glucose metabolism, as well as lower blood pressure.

"Any form of exercise can be turned into a meditation of some type, either by the surroundings you are walking in, like a park or trail, or by blocking out the outside world with music on your headphones," Rue says.

You can also play a podcast or download an app like Headspace that has a library of guided meditations to practice while you walk.

Do Fartlek Walks
Typically used in running, fartlek intervals alternate periods of increased and decreased speed. These are high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts, which allow exercisers to accomplish more in less time.

One study showed that 10-minute interval training improved cardiometabolic health, or lowered the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, just as well as working out at a continuous pace for 50 minutes.

Research also shows that HIIT workouts increase muscle oxidative capacity, or the ability to use oxygen. To do a fartlek walk, try walking at an increased pace for 3 minutes, slow down for 2 minutes, and repeat.

Gradually Increase Pace
A faster walking pace is associated with a lower risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and respiratory diseases, according to a 2019 study.

Still, it's best not to go from a stroll to an Olympic-worthy power walk in a day. Instead, increase your pace gradually to prevent injury.

"Start by walking at a brisk pace for about 10 minutes per day, 3 to 5 days per week," Rue says. "Once you've done this for a few weeks, increase your time by 5 to 10 minutes per day until you get to 30 minutes."

Add Stairs
You've likely heard that taking the stairs instead of an elevator is a way to add more movement into your daily routine. It's also a way to step up your walking. Stair climbing has been shown to decrease the risk of mortality and can easily add a bit more challenge to your walk.

If you don't have stairs in your home, you can often find them outside a local municipal building, train station, or at a high school stadium.

Is Your Walk a True Cardio Workout?
Not all walks are equal. A walk that's too leisurely may not provide enough burn to qualify as cardio. To see if you're getting a good workout, try to measure your heart rate using a monitor.

"A target goal for a good walking workout heart rate is about 50 to 70 percent of your maximum heart rate," Rue says, adding that maximum heart rate is typically calculated by 220 beats per minute minus your age.

You can also monitor how easily you can carry on a conversation while you walk to gauge your heart rate.

"If you can walk and carry on a normal conversation, that's probably a lower intensity walk," says Rue. "If you are slightly breathless but can still have a conversation, that's probably a moderate workout. If you are out of breath and can't talk normally, that's a vigorous workout."

Takeaway
By shaking up your routine, you can add excitement to your workout and reap even more rewards than a basic walk provides. Increasing the pace and intensity of a workout will make it more effective.

Simply pick your favorite variation to add some spice to your next walk.

- Should I Exercise During the Coronavirus Pandemic? Experts ... ›
- If Meditation Is Not Your Thing, Try a Walk in the Woods - EcoWatch ›
In Major Win for Indigenous Rights, Supreme Court Rules Much of Eastern Oklahoma Is Still a Reservation
Much of Eastern Oklahoma, including most of Tulsa, remains an Indian reservation, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday.
- Federal Judge Orders Trump Admin to Give Native Americans Their ... ›
- Police Were Ready to Shoot Indigenous Pipeline Protesters in ... ›
- Climate Justice, Indigenous Rights Advocates Rally for Wet'suwet'en ... ›
7 Outdoor Citizen Science Projects to Join This Summer
By Tiffany Means
Summer and fall are great seasons to enjoy the outdoors. But if you're already spending extra time outside because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be out of ideas on how to make fresh-air activities feel special. Here are a few suggestions to keep both adults and children entertained and educated in the months ahead, many of which can be done from the comfort of one's home or backyard.
The coronavirus may linger in the air in crowded indoor spaces, spreading from one person to the next, the World Health Organization acknowledged on Thursday, as The New York Times reported. The announcement came just days after 239 scientists wrote a letter urging the WHO to consider that the novel coronavirus is lingering in indoor spaces and infecting people, as EcoWatch reported.
- Airborne Coronavirus Transmission Must Be Taken Seriously, 239 ... ›
- Trump Halts WHO Funding Amidst Criticism of His Own Coronavirus ... ›
- Here's Why COVID-19 Can Spread So Easily at Gyms and Fitness ... ›
- Is the New Coronavirus Airborne? A Study From China Finds Evidence ›
By Angela Nicoletti
The eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains in central Perú are among the most remote places in the world.
- Global Frog Pandemic May Become Even Deadlier as Strains ... ›
- New Species of Diamond Frog Discovered in Remote Pocket of ... ›
- Frogs Are on the Verge of Mass Extinction, Scientists Say - EcoWatch ›


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Syfy is known for their weird pairings — Tiffany and Debbie Gibson in Mega Python vs. Gatoroid for instance — so it comes as no surprise that the network is teaming up a Wonder Years star and an Olympic gold medalist for a new original movie.
Check out the rest of today's news
Danica McKellar, who portrayed Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years, and Apolo Ohno, also known for his turn on Dancing with the Stars, will star in Tasmanian Devil. The movie, also starring Jericho's Kenneth Mitchell, features base jumpers in a remote Tasmanian national park, who are pursued by grizzly bear-sized — you guessed it — Tasmanian Devils.
The film is slated to begin production in British Columbia this month, and will premiere in 2012.


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A Film Festival Spectacle
Let me tell you a little about Titular Head, Grinnell's own homegrown film festival. Now don't get the wrong impression. We're not sophisticated filmmakers. We don't watch in silence and clap politely at the end. And we definitely don't submit the movies on time.
To give you an idea, some recent successful Titular Head movies have been about a fearsome rivalry between two racquetball players, dancing dining hall staff, a campaign to elect our student government president as the new U.S. president, and a tale about a student's epic struggle to become the best streaker on campus. Raucous cheering and catcalls accompanied the screenings, making the event even more fun. For the past 32 years, students and a few brave faculty and staff have squeezed into the limited seating to watch not so much a film "festival," but rather a rare spectacle that celebrates this unique campus community we all know and love.
It's important to note that Titular Head wasn't always a film festival. It actually got its start in 1976 as a short skit show in conjunction with Grinnell Relays, another fine Grinnell tradition still happening each year. Who knows if the founders had any idea of what exactly they were creating? Even the origins of the name have been lost to the mists of time.
During the 1980s, camcorders hit the scene and folks started submitting videos instead of practicing skits. Gradually the tradition began to move away from the Grinnell Relays, eventually evolving into a short film show traditionally held on the same day but later in the evening. With improvements in technology, film quality also got better and archiving became a possibility. A new era of shorts began in the late '90s with the creation of consumer digital editing software, and since then we've seen the iMovie pushed to its limits.
This spring, the student body celebrated the 32nd Titular Head. We handed out nearly all of our tickets within the first hour they were available. Eager fans filled the lobby of Harris Concert Hall and crammed into the bleacher seating for the opportunity to scream, cheer, and boo 23 films over the course of two and a half hours. All that enthusiasm — from the audience, judges, and filmmakers — contributed to another successful chapter in Titular Head history.
Titular Head is a great show, but there's more to it than good laughs and big crowds. I've had the privilege of helping out for two years now, and I've discovered that the films allow you to really note the incredible community and quirks of Grinnell. Regardless of some of the bad films and bad hair in the '90s archives, this event has consistently documented our excitement and senses of humor, and really illustrates the unique vibe of Grinnell.
But honestly, I can't give you that a good idea of what Titular Head is all about. Ask other people around on campus, search YouTube, and get a ticket for next year. Even better, grab a camcorder and make some local history. Come be a part of just one of the many spectacles that makes Grinnell spectacular.
Dan Neely '09 is a Psychology major from Chicago, Illinois.


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Infectious disease researchers in Canada have launched an interactive online map designed to track diseases in dogs, cats, and horses around the world. The "Worms and Germs Map" can be accessed for free online.
For horses, the map will display reported incidents of anthrax, Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE), equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) abortion, EHV-1 myeloencephalopathy, equine infectious anemia (EIA), influenza, rabies, and strangles. The map can also provide information regarding when the case(s) were confirmed and, when supplied, how they were confirmed, whether the affected animal has a history of travel, and the affected horse's signalment (age, breed, sex, etc.).
The map was developed by Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, Dipl. ACVIM, a professor in the Department of Pathobiology and Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses at the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College, and Maureen Anderson, DVM, DVSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, lead veterinarian of animal health and welfare at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
"Infectious diseases continue to be a problem but we often have limited information about what is occurring where, and the information we do have is sometimes quite limited or questionable," Weese explained. "By having better information about disease occurrences, we can help educate the public about infectious diseases, let vets understand what diseases are occurring in their area, help vets make decisions about preventive medicine in horses that will be traveling, help vets think about diseases that horses may encounter when traveling, monitor the movement of some diseases that have expanding ranges (e.g., Lyme disease), track outbreaks, and more readily detect early changes in disease patterns or outbreaks."
Weese said it's important for owners to know what diseases are being confirmed in their area, even if their horses rarely or never travel.
"Even if a horse doesn't leave the farm, pathogens can sometimes meet it on the farm, from insects (e.g., EIA, EEE, West Nile virus, Lyme disease) or personnel (such as owners, veterinarians, farriers, and feed suppliers)," he told The Horse. "Knowing what is around can help (veterinarians and horse owners) make decisions about vaccination and generally increase understanding of infectious diseases.
"This includes both increasing awareness to make people take appropriate measures and helping decrease fear by providing a better understanding of the standard level of disease," he said. "EHV-1 infections aren't exactly uncommon. Sporadic, single cases are most common, not outbreaks. Yet people often panic when they hear about EHV-1 because all they hear about are bad outbreaks. By realizing that this disease sporadically occurs all over, it increases understanding and maybe helps provide a balance between being proactive and panicking."
Weese and Anderson designed the map to reflect information straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak: Cases are largely submitted for inclusion by the veterinarians and veterinary technicians who are seeing cases in the field.
"Cases are entered by vets and vet techs, with further data obtained from surveillance programs and reputable news sources," Weese told The Horse. "Vets and techs entering data is important because it helps us get an understanding of the baseline level of disease that's out there, not just occasional outbreaks."
Because veterinarians and technicians have busy schedules, Weese and Anderson have made it as easy as possible to submit cases: "Vets and techs can register to get a password, and then they can enter cases in a matter of seconds. We have case definitions for each disease to try to make sure that we are tracking true disease, not just animals that have been exposed and have antibodies."
Weese said feedback on the recently launched map from veterinary professionals and horse owners has been "very good" so far. Still, he hopes more veterinarians and technicians will sign up to help report cases.
"Getting participation of vets and techs is critical, and the more people put in the more they'll get out," he said.
For more information and to see what diseases have recently been reported in your area, visit wormsandgermsmap.com.


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Aromatherapy is the use of scent to affect therapeutic change on the body: physiologically, psychologically, or otherwise. Researchers find that these effects are measurable and can be quite significant. First all, a few tips about aromatherapy:
Essential oils are the compounds found in medicinal plants that give the plant its smell and taste. These oils are very valuable medicinally and therapeutically. The volitile oils in aromatic plants often provide much of the the medicinal action of the herb. For example, carminative herbs, such as aromatic seeds (coriander, cumin, anise, fennel, carraway and dill seeds) act on the digestive system to expell gas and to ease digestion. It is the volitile oil of the seed that does this work! Aromatherapy uses the essential oils of these plants therapeutically to impact a person's well-being via smell, and can be a great adjunct therapy.
Essential oils are very potent, and usually only a few drops is all you need (indeed all you can tolerate) and should not be taken internally as a general rule. The essential oils are extracted during steam distillation of the whole plant, which results in the botanical hydrosol (or distillate) and the pure essential oil. Because of their strength, they should always be diluted in a carrier oil, such as sunflower seed or jojoba oil, depending on your goals for treatment. Finally, fragrance oils are synthetic copies of pure essential oils and are NO SUBSTITUTE. Always buy the pure essential oil and not its cheap imitations, as the copies do not have any therapeutic benefit whatsoever.
Top 10 Aromatherapy Oils
1. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): Relaxation, Mood-elevator
2. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis): Mood-elevator (better to stick your nose in the plant, as the pure essential oil is quite expensive!)
3. Orange (citrus sinensis): Anti-depressant, stimulating
4. Peppermint (mentha x piperita): Stimulating, awakening, enhances awareness
5. Rosemary (rosmarinus officialis): Improves memory and cognitive functioning; energizing
6. Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata): deep relaxation, aphrodesiac, creates euphoric feelings
7. Rose (Rosa spp.): Instills love & compassion; relaxing
8. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita): Calming, anti-depressent, mood-elevator, anti-inflammatory
9. Cedar (Cedrus spp.): Emotional fortitude; enhances clarity (Himalayan cedarwood is my favorite!)
10. Basil (Ocimum basilicum): overcomes grief & melancholy, moves stagnant depression
Note: Sandalwood (Santalum album) is noticeably missing but it has become so incredibly expensive that most people are unable to utilize its benefits.
What essential oils are your favorites? I'll be sure to write future posts about further DIY uses for essential oils and how to apply aromatherapy to your regular life, and of course I'd love to hear your favorite uses here too! Here are some posts you may find interesting:
Fragrant Oils to Condition and Nourish your Hair
Hydrotherapy with Salts
Want to Know More about Natural Insect Repellents?
* Photo copyright by Monica Wiesblott @ My Little Eye : http://www.etsy.com/shop/Mylittleeye


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by Brian Rudnick
Despite the surge in email and corresponding drop in postal mail, "snail mail" is far from a thing of the past. Especially during the holidays when many people prefer to send greetings or gifts that their recipients can hold in hand.
In recent years, in response to the decline in letter mail, the Post Office has removed many corner collection boxes and, according to spokesperson Cathy Yarosky, periodically conducts density tests to gauge use. A box will be removed if there are fewer than 25 items deposited [daily] during the test.
"It costs the Postal Service money in fuel and time for our letter carriers to drive to that mailbox and collect the small amount of mail," Yarosky said. "Removing the box is simply good business sense in that respect."
The so-called "snorkel" box at 13 West Gravers Lane is the only one of its kind in the the Chestnut Hill collection area and very popular with drivers such as Kathleen McDevitt and Rose Malley who work nearby and swung by one afternoon to make deposits.
Customers can deposit envelopes either through the regular, pedestrian-side mouth or from a car window through the street-side extension slot. Pedestrians sometimes unnecessarily walk into the street to use the opening meant for drivers.
Letter collector Patrick McKenna arrived about 5:30 pm one recent evening shortly after a customer was seen to have trouble stuffing her envelope inside. He emptied a box crammed full to the top. The box is three-quarters full other times of the year, McKenna said.
McKenna was unconcerned about handling stamped packages weighing over the limit in violation of the "13 ounce rule" affixed to the box, which says that due to "heightened security," mail over the limit must be taken to a retail service counter or will be returned to the sender. For security reasons, Yarosky would not comment on what makes a 12.9 ounce package inherently less risky or how postal employees avoid risk when they handle mail weighing more than 13 ounces.


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Vodafone wallpapers HD: Free Images. Vodafone HD background pictures: Free download 1.
The secret life of one chrysanthemum flower
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Wallpaper gallery, free images - Vodafone HD background pictures. Free download beautiful wallpapers for mobile phones - Devices:
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turn the/(one's) clock(s) back(redirected from turned her clocks back)
turn the/(one's) clock(s) back
1. To adjust the time on one's clock(s) back by one hour to account for the end of daylight saving time. Don't forget to turn your clock back tonight. I hate having to turn the clocks back every autumn, it's such an antiquated custom.
2. To attempt to return to an earlier time or situation. I really don't know if she'll forgive you—you said some terrible things to her, and you can't just turn the clock back. I wish I could turn my clock back to when I was a kid and didn't have any responsibilities.
turn the clock backand turn back the clock
1. Lit. to set a clock to an earlier time. I have to turn the clocks back each fall. Please turn back the clock.
2. Fig. to try to return to the past. You are not facing up to the future. You are trying to turn the clock back to a time when you were more comfortable. Let us turn back the clock and pretend we are living at the turn of the century—the time that our story takes place.
turn the clock backor
turn back the clock
COMMON If you would like to turn the clock back or to turn back the clock, you would like to return to an earlier period, usually because you would like the chance to change something that you did in the past. I'd like to turn the clock back and do things differently, but I can't. If I could turn back the clock, I might not have said that. Note: You can use the verb put instead of turn. No amount of money — not even millions like this — can put back the clock and change what happened.


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Healthy habits, including brushing and flossing, can prevent tooth decay (cavities) and gum disease. Tooth decay and gum disease can lead to pain and tooth loss.\n
You can prevent most problems with teeth and gums by taking these steps:\n
Plaque (\u201cplak\u201d) is a sticky substance that forms on your teeth. When plaque stays on your teeth too long, it can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Brushing and flossing help get plaque off your teeth so your mouth can stay healthy.\n
Taking care of your teeth and gums is especially important if you:\n
Follow these tips for a healthy, beautiful smile.\n
Brush your teeth.
Brush your teeth 2 times every day. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and toothpaste with fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral that helps protect teeth from decay.
Floss every day.
Floss every day to remove plaque and any food between teeth that your toothbrush missed. Rinse your mouth with water after you floss.
If you aren\u2019t sure how to floss, ask the dentist or dental assistant to show you at your next visit.\n
Get regular checkups at the dentist.
Visit a dentist once or twice a year for a checkup and cleaning. Get checkups even if you have no natural teeth and have dentures.
Check out these questions to ask when going to the dentist.\n
If you have problems with your teeth or mouth, see a dentist right away.\n
What if I don't like going to the dentist?
Some people get nervous about going to the dentist. Try these tips to help make your visit to the dentist easier:
What if I don't have insurance?
Even if you don\u2019t have dental insurance, you can get dental care.
Cut down on sugary foods and drinks.
Choose low-sugar snacks like vegetables, fruits, and low-fat or fat-free cheese. Drink fewer sugary sodas and other drinks that can lead to tooth decay. Get ideas for eating healthy.
Quit smoking.
People who use tobacco in any form (cigarettes, cigars, pipe, e-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco) are at higher risk for gum disease and oral (mouth) cancer. Check out these tips to help you quit smoking.
Drink alcohol only in moderation.
Drinking a lot of alcohol can increase your risk for oral cancer. If you choose to drink, have only a moderate amount. This means no more than 1 drink a day for women or 2 drinks a day for men.
Take care of your children's teeth.
If you have kids, help them learn good habits for a healthy mouth. Start cleaning your child\u2019s teeth as soon as they come in. Learn how to take care of your child\u2019s teeth.


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Posts Tagged 'Plastigoop'
Christmas for Nerds …
I was in a toy store doing some last minute Christmas shopping the other night when I came across a Creepy Crawlers® playset. Many people have distinct recollections of the most cherished toys from their youth: For me, the Creepy Crawler set surpassed every other childhood possession.
Back in the 60s, every Primary School had one or two boys who's prevailing interest was not sports, or cars, or girls, or juvenile delinquency, or any of the other subjects that are generally of interest to young males. No, these kids were interested in "monsters": Specifically – monster movies. I was one such kid. Although it might seem bizarre to imagine it now, kids like me were numerous enough back then to engender an entire industry to cater to our fascination with all things monstrous.
There were monster magazines like "Famous Monsters of Filmland", whose title I can barely recollect now and maintain a straight face. I probably owned 50 different issues of this magazine at one point in my life. Today, you might ask what kind of content the publishers used to fill up an entirely new magazine each month. Looking back, I can see that the writing (and I use the term loosely) didn't matter in the least. In each issue, the editor would recycle the same studio produced still photographs from countless, low-budget horror films of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Unbelievably, I couldn't wait for each new issue; scrupulously hoarding my pitiful allowance so I could buy essentially the same magazine with a new cover over and over again.
There were also monster models. If you asked a kid today to define a "model", I suspect he might tell you that it's spreadsheet that you make during the design phase for a new computer program. Back when I was a youngster, though, every kid knew that a "model" was a pasteboard box full of slate-gray, injection-molded plastic parts. In order to build these models, you needed to break each piece out of the interconnected tree that held the whole thing together. Then you needed to assemble the parts using an acetone based "airplane" glue THAT ACTUALLY CAUSED THE PLASTIC TO MELT ON CONTACT. A few years down the road, this kind of glue would be criminalized, and acquire about the same reputation for toxicity as enriched uranium. When I was a kid, however, this glue was regarded as an acceptable substance for kids to "play" with – probably in much the same way that an eighteenth century kid would have played with a discarded glob of mercury.
But I digress: Although the majority of model kits that were marketed in those days were comprised of car replicas, there was a small but well-known niche market for "monster" models. Just like the aforementioned monster magazines, these model kits generally depicted some famous scene from one of the Universal Studios classic horror films of the 1940s. Even better, some of these kits employed a special characteristic that was regarded at the time as a wondrous technological achievement: Some of the plastic parts ACTUALLY GLOWED IN THE DARK! This otherworldly glow pushed the spookiness factor right into the stratosphere! Needless to say, I was the proud owner of ALL of these kits, sometimes in multiple versions. I'm embarrassed to confess that I can still get a lump in my throat by logging on to Ebay and looking at some of the vintage monster model kits that are available there.
Of course, the over-riding factor in the life of every monster-obsessed kid in those days was monster movies. Monster movies were what made all of the magazines and model kits and other ancillary junk possible. The really pathetic part is that these movies didn't even represent the state of the art for the time period. As previously mentioned, the movies that we loved so much inevitably consisted of creaky old Universal Studios films from the 40s, or low-budget science fiction "B" movies from the 50s. The thing that these movies all had in common was their wide availability on late-night weekend TV of that era.
Remember, this was a time when a typical small town TV household might have received six (!!!) channels. In those days, no matter where you lived, there was sure to be some kind of programming beginning at or near midnight every Friday or Saturday evening whose content consisted of horror movie reruns. In my own town, this program went by the moniker of Chiller Theater. It was hosted by an unknown staff member of the local TV affiliate – quite possibly the same guy who read the weather forecast – disguised in ludicrously bad "monster makeup". Needless to say, we were completely enthralled by this character, going so far as to join his fan club and send him earnest letters seeking his opinion on some subtle thematic aspect of a movie with a title like "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman".
Chiller Theater was the undisputed weekly highlight of my Elementary School career. More often than not, I arranged for a sleepover with one of my similarly monster obsessed and hopelessly nerdy friends. These days, most parents seem to feel that they must supervise every waking moment of their children's lives. In those unenlightened times, however, our parents were unabashedly pleased about any distraction that would get us kids out of their hair for a couple of hours. Consequently, we were usually left alone to stay up as late as we liked and consume anything edible on the premises.
All of this brings me back to the Creepy Crawler playset that was the original impetus for this essay. Just in case some younger readers are unfamiliar with this classic toy, I'll provide a description: Creepy Crawlers consisted of a set of steel molds that came in themed sets and were impressed with various spooky objects, such as bugs, or skeletons, or even shrunken heads. In addition to the molds, the set contained a large bottle of sickly smelling, viscous liquid that went by the remarkably appropriate name of Plastigoop®. The object of the Creepy Crawler kit was to squeeze the molds full of Plastigoop in order to create gruesome, rubbery monster toys and other accessories. But here's the kicker: The liquid Plastigoop wouldn't turn solid unless the material was subjected to extremely high heat; and the final component of the Creepy Crawler set was a device that supplied just such a heat source. Yes, this marvelous toy – presumably targeted at a primary school demographic judging from the cherubic tots pictured on the box front – contained a miniature hotplate!
Although this hotplate may have been small – containing a recessed opening just large enough to accept one of the aforementioned molds – it was undoubtedly just as powerful as a full sized cooking appliance! An entire generation of children can attest to its ability to ignite a piece of scrap paper, or cause an instantaneous and incredibly painful burn. Some of my fondest childhood memories involve long afternoons sprawled luxuriously across the living room floor with my Creepy Crawler playset, the 450 degree surface of the hotplate only a few centimeters away from my Mom's hyperflammable, 3-inch rayon shag carpeting. Alas, on those afternoons I was creating Creepy Crawlers with reckless abandon, not considering that my supply of Plastigoop was limited, and that a single refill bottle of this remarkable substance cost almost as much as the entire Creepy Crawler kit (Is it possible that we were witnessing the birth of the ink jet printer industry business model?).
Mattel issued the first Creepy Crawler set in 1964. In 1966, they released a specialty set called The Fright Factory. This was Manna from Heaven for a monster-obsessed kid like me.
As you've probably guessed, Creepy Crawler playsets are still manufactured and sold today. Needless to say, the Plastigoop has been reformulated to "cook" at a much lower temperature, and the open-faced hotplate has been replaced by a fully enclosed mechanism that is powered by a pathetic 40-watt light bulb. Sadly, this device provides practically no opportunity for burning down your house.
Back in the 60s, kids considered these toys to be extremely high tech, embodying elements of modern chemistry, and using some of the most advanced plastics of the era. Today, however, most kids would rightly regard the modern version of these kits as hopelessly primitive and outdated. In truth, the majority of the Creepy Crawlers playsets sold today are probably more useful for satisfying some adult's sense of nostalgia than providing entertainment for a Nintendo-savy, modern day kid.
Copyright 2010 by Pat Moening


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The thing we like most about Mary Meeker's annual Internet Trends presentation is it's just packed with data. The charts are sometimes *too* intense, in fact, carrying too much data. But it's always revealing, and usually inspiring. Because it's fact, not fiction.
Slide 7 is especially impactful. I was born on the left hand side of the chart, probably around when there were 5 million computing-capable units globally. On the right, just ten years from today, the forecast is for 10 billion+ units. Extraordinary.
View more presentations from CM Summit: Marketing in Real Time.


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Search maps
Search Tags
Australia's neighbours
Region: Pacific
Country: Australia , Fiji , New Caledonia , New Zealand , Niue , Samoa
East Asia to west Pacific
Regional map that extends from India north to Korea and east to Vanuatu. [14-159]
Region: Asia, Asia - Southeast
New Zealand
The North Island and South Island of New Zealand and the southern Stewart Island.
Country: New Zealand
North-east Thailand
Colour elevation map of the north-east of Thailand showing province names, borders and a selection of provincial cities.
North-west Thailand
Colour elevation map of the north-west of Thailand showing province names, borders and provincial capitals.
Provinces of Thailand
A colour map listing the 77 provinces of Thailand in alphabetical order.
Shipping Activities
Australia & New Zealand shipping activities including major sea routes, cargo movements and annual ship visits to ports.
Country: Australia , New Zealand
Southeast Asia
Southeastern Asia from the east coast of India to the eastern extent of Papua New Guinea. Map shows all countres and capital cities along with major river systems on a colour elevation background.
Region: Asia - Southeast
Country: Bangladesh , Bhutan , Brunei Darussalam , Cambodia , China , India


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ABC is getting into business with Steven Spielberg.
The network has ordered a drama pilot and a comedy pilot from the blockbuster director's studio Amblin TV.
Lucky 7 follows seven employees of a Queens service station whose lives are changed in many unpredictable ways when they win a lottery jackpot. (Maybe they played the lucky Lost numbers?) The pilot was written by David Zabel (ER) and Jason Richman (Detroit 1-8-7).
Middle Age Rage is a single-camera comedy about a middle-aged mom who is tired of feeling invisible and begins to speak up and demand the respect she think she deserves. Malibu Country scribe Cheryl Holliday wrote the pilot, and Smash's Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank will serve as executive producers.
Amblin TV also produced the short-lived series Terra Nova and The River, and is also producing CBS' upcoming summer adaptation of Stephen King's Under the Dome.
Would you watch these shows?