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Losing in Gainesville
by Brian Costello
Set in mid-1990s Florida, Losing in Gainesville hilariously explores what failure means in a culture where everyone is supposed to win. Razorcake praised Brian Costello's first novel for its language and attention to detail and Bookslut lauded its dialogue and conversational narrator. These strengths are once again on display in Losing in Gainesville. With an ensemble cast of slackers, burn-outs, musicians, and dreamers, who are all losing something—their youth, their ambitions, their careers, their children, their former identities—Costello builds a sun-bleached world of people struggling to understand what it means to succeed on their terms.
"If Joyce was right that you could rebuild Dublin by reading Ulysses, you could definitely reconstruct a very specific American village of dive bars, record shops and drugstore cowboys from this slab of post-punk tragicomedy[...] [Losing in Gainesville] traces the emotional arc (or lack thereof) of superslacker Ronnie Altamont, the lead singer and guitarist in his low-rent Florida rock band, The Laraflynnboyles. Set in the mid-1990s, the story captures in intimate detail the wilderness years experienced by many American males of a certain class, age and background. The desolate outlooks of Ronnie and his buddies are weighed down by crap jobs (asbestos removal, pizza delivery, etc.), fueled by the massive and constant intake of drugs and alcohol, and soothed only by the likes of Charles Bukowski, Lou Reed, The Kinks and The Replacements[...] It's a big, messy, uncomfortable story but one that captures its milieu[...] [I]n the end, the book's real question is whether this beautiful loser is capable of being saved from himself. A rock-and-roll fable about the secret lives of the unsatisfied."
—Kirkus Reviews
"Costello describes suburban absurdities in teeming detail, approaching the self-aware gross-out humor of Tromaville: tumbling forward with the rushing momentum of Kerouac's prose. Nineties counterculture—emo bands, riot grrls, shit jobs, sleeping on floors, warm beer and cold pizza—often provides the punch line. Though funny and poking fun, Costello remains sympathetic to the awkwardness and ambivalence that drives young people, feeling trapped, to struggle to express themselves: that beautiful, life-affirming cycle of broke kids starting bands."
—Tim Kinsella, Joan of Arc front man, author of The Karaoke Singer's Guide to Self Defense
"A bittersweet, twenty-something, rock-and-rolling tale of angst and longing, riffing on art and the meaning of it all amidst the banality and beauty of 90s Florida in a fever dream portrait of the artists as not-so-young punk rockers."
—Eric Charles May, author of Bedrock Faith
Brian Costello is a writer, musician, and comedic performer living in Chicago, Illinois. He plays drums in the band Outer Minds, and co-hosts Shame That Tune, a monthly live game show. Losing in Gainesville is his second novel.
Pages: 400
Publication Date: October 2014


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Trade Professionals
For Residential and Commercial Architects, Builders, Contractors and Remodelers
At Windows & Doors By Brownell we understand that trade professionals have specific needs from their window partner. We work closely with architects, designers, contractors, builders and remodelers and offer professional services that meet those needs on a day to day basis. It all starts with our experienced Marvin Team that offers educated advice on which products to specify for your individual projects – many of our sales staff have over 20 years of experience with Marvin Windows and Doors!
Trade Services From Windows & Doors By Brownell
If you are a trade professional looking for more information, please get in touch with us – 800-773-4803
Download current product catalogs from Marvin, TruStile, ThermaTru, Simpson, and others.
The Marvin Family Of Brands
Marvin windows and doors are made-to-order, one at a time, to exact specifications with almost limitless possibilities.
Made with Ultrex® fiberglass and designed to endure all elements without showing age or wear.
Made of Ultrex® fiberglass and designed to replicate the look of traditional wood windows and doors.
Made to order to your exact specifications using true stile and rail construction for crisp, architecturally-correct lines.
Quick Links to Documents on Marvin.com
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To get new product updates, case studies and inspiration
Showrooms Locations of Windows & Doors By Brownell
Monday-Friday: 8 am – 6 pm; Saturday: 9 am – 3 pm
Monday-Friday: 9 am – 6 pm; Saturday: 10 am – 4 pm
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subset: commoncrawl


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A port-wine stain is a vascular birthmark consisting of superficial and deep dilated capillaries in the skin which produce a reddish to purplish discolouration of the skin.
A port-wine stain happens when chemical signals in tiny blood vessels don't "turn off," and those blood vessels get bigger. The extra blood turns the skin red. Researchers found that port-wine stains start with the mutation of one specific gene. What causes this change in a developing baby's DNA still isn't clear.


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Public House of the Month
Upton Inn
Bitton, Bristol, Somerset
The Upton Inn is a traditional country pub serving good old fashioned pub food in the beautiful village of Upton Cheyney, near Bitton. We are open all day from 12pm and serve delicious homemade food. Our beautiful public house and garden is well worth a visit.
Brewery Hill, Upton Cheyney, Bitton, Bristol, Somerset BS30 6LY
Tel: 01179 324489
- Meeting Room
- Car Park
- Garden
- Regular Entertainment
Congratulations to Jamie at the Upton who has won Pub of the Month for February. We caught up with Jamie to see what he had to say.
How and where did you start in the hospitality industry?
When I was at university studying graphic design I started working in a pub and was grabbed by hospitality. From graduation onwards I knew that I wanted to be a publican. I worked in managed houses up until 8 years ago when I took on my first pub and haven't looked back since.
What do you like best about managing your public houses?
I love the freedom that comes with managing my own public house. There is no process that I have to go through to get things done, a choice can be made and then put in to action straight away.
How do your team sum up the Hall and Woodhouse values?
Partnership and kindness are key to the Hall and Woodhouse values, and are values that are used every day within our team. Hall and Woodhouse honestly commit to all of their values and that is something so rarely seen in big businesses.
What makes your pub stand out from the rest?
Our Team. At The Upton we get the very best people and we have a shared vision for what we want to achieve. We have an incredibly talented manager; Georgia – she stood up and shone when we really needed her. She is a young girl with an incredibly sharp mind, also the team love her and our guests love her.
What's your favourite pub event of the year?
At The Upton we hold a harvest festival which is a fantastic community event that the pub gets fully involved in. There is a very popular farmer's market auction held here with a fantastic array of locally produced vegetables, meat, bread, chutneys, cakes and flowers. There is always a fantastic atmosphere at this event and last year £2500 was raised for the Royal British Legion.
What sort of food is offered at the Upton and what is your signature, most popular dish?
At The Upton we serve traditional pub food. We sell what people want, when people want it. We want to be able to provide traditional, recognisable pub classics, but we want to make it the best version of that dish that they've ever had.
What's good to see and experience in your area after a visit to the pub?
Just up the road we have a Chilli Farm - The Upton Cheyney Chilli Company at Manor Farm. They offer tours and tasting experiences and every year they hold a very popular Chilli Festival.
We are also on the Cotswold Way – So we often have ramblers, dog walkers and horse riders coming to visit us.
And lastly, if you were to recommend a perfect combination of Badger Ale and a meal for your guests, what would you recommend?
I would recommend our chicken, bacon and stilton pie accompanied by the fabulous ginger flavour of the Blandford Flyer.
Public House of the Month Archive
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013


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Corpus Christi(Body of Christ)
by Virginia Knowles
Advent 2007
He, eternal and radiant Creator
Became a human mother's son, a humble babe
Promised and anointed one
Ambassador from Heaven to Earth
Not in resplendent majesty befitting Celestial Royalty
But in an earthly body like ours
A body like ours?
Yes, a body!
A body with eyes to seek out scattered and wounded ones
Eyes that weep, eyes that sleep but do not sleep
Ever searching, ever watching
Eyes that pierce our straying sinner-souls with gracious gaze
Eyes that shepherd us safely home again
So angels can rejoice with our Father in Heaven
A body with ears to hear quiet sighs
And frantic cries of desperation (Lord, have mercy!)
As well as words profane and cruel, uttered by fools
His ears hear not only what we hear
But the very echoes of our silent thoughts and intentions
He hears this evidence that we are all fools
We need not only wisdom but redemption
A body with a mind that senses, muses, keenly understands
All beauty he had designed
Ruined by Adam's Eden fall: Paradise Lost
All that was, he remembers still
And all that will be, he already foresees
Untangles twisted circumstances and chaotic confusions
Even when we know not ourselves
He knows and cares and plans: Paradise Regained
Is anything too difficult for him
Whose thoughts are high above the heavens?
A body with a mouth to teach the way of life
Sermons to the simple and to the sophisticated, parables and pearls
Soul seeds to blossom in hearts of those who have ears to hear
A mouth to proclaim truth and justice
Yet speak forth mercy to those who do not deserve it
To answer with probing questions
Warning those Pharisees who use their mouths to snare
A mouth to bless children and all who are old yet childlike still
And this man-child's mouth thanks his Father
Prays: "Not my will, but Yours be done"
A body with hands: gentle yet tough are those hands
Which created this world we call home
Hands to work hard, stuff of daily life
Built with carpenter's nails and beams of wood
Hands to heal, stretched forth in victory over pain and decay
Hands to break the meager bread and fish
Multiply in abundance to feed the hungry multitude
Busy hands, yet not too busy to embrace a wee child
To ruffle matted hair, to wash dirty feet
Or to scribble words of pardon in the sand
For a damsel in distress: no stone thrown
And a body with feet, walking from village to village,
House to house, soul to soul
In dusty sandals we mortals are unworthy to untie
Walking on waves amidst the stormy sea
(His feet are not for soil alone)
He traverses the land, announcing the Kingdom of God-With-Us
Among those who do not yet recognize his benevolent dominion
He goes to those who will not come on their own, in mercy
Chases those who run headlong toward the brink of destruction:
Hound of Heaven
Yes, a body!
Yet he did not just live in this body merely as an example
So we could know how to be good
But offered it as a sacrifice because
We could not, would not, attain to any goodness in ourselves
A body crucified, stretched out to die
Pierced with carpenter's nails on beams of wood
Pierced with spear until blood and water flow
Willingly punished for our iniquities, not his own
(Only a perfect sacrifice can obtain atonement for sins of others)
Then taken down and laid in borrowed tomb, but not for long
Mortal once, yet immortal always, resurrected in power and glory
Walking and talking again among men and women
So their eyes could see, hearts believe
What had been foretold from ages past by prophets of old:
God in a body like ours, yet not like ours, victorious over death!
(O Death, where is your sting? We are raised with him!)
Yes, a body!
But where is this body now?
The Son ascended again to his Father's side
Intercedes on our behalf, pleads for his Bride, his Church
Whom he purified with his own blood once for all
Prepares glorious mansions for us, a wedding feast for us
Who deserved his cross and grave and wrath instead
Yet he has not left us bereft as we wait
He has poured out his Holy Spirit: fill us, empower us, guide us
Why? Because we, we who believe and follow
Are now the Body of Christ on earth:
Our eyes shall seek out the lost and guide them home
See, really notice, then meet earthy needs meanwhile
Our ears shall listen to their cries, questions, doubts, confusions,
Confessions, prayers, testimonies at last
Our minds navigate mazes and minefields of life
Solve riddles to serve mankind, strategize, plan
Our mouths proclaim good news, call sinners to repent and believe
Teach the Jesus way, always pray
Our hands serve and heal, wash and feed, build and embrace
(Gentle always, please)
Our feet go out for the King and his Kingdom
Around the globe or down the street
Our body, his body, working together to do as he has done
Laboring with all his strength under his sovereign command
Ambassadors of Heaven to Earth
Corpus Christi~*~*~
"Corpus Christi" is a poem in my Advent series. Written in 2007, it was inspired by the excellent book Holy Available: What If Holiness Is about More Than What We Don't Do? (previously titled The Beautiful Fight: Surrendering to the Transforming Presence of God Every Day of Your Life) by Gary Thomas and was also posted on his web site for a while. Click here to read my review: Holy Available. The poem is also based on the following Scriptures:
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." 1 Peter 2:24-25 (ESV)
"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV)
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church…" Colossians 1:15-24 (ESV)
"And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet." Hebrews 10:10-13 (ESV)
"For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." Romans 12:3-13 (ESV)


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Today, I'm dedicating my blog to a Mallorie Dye. Techinically we've never met (blog comments and FB messages don't count!), but she has made a direct impact in my life. Not to be a creeper, but I think about her and her current battle daily. She's a real-life ninja.**
This is Mallorie {and her husband}. First - how cute are they!?! Second, I asked Mallorie if It was okay to feature her on Rural Gone Urban {just thought I'd lay that one on the table...}
Mallorie is a twenty-four year old newlywed who was diagnosed with Burkitts Lymphoma April 26. Yes, of this year. Her blog is the story of her fight against cancer.
Here's the skinny: She's uh-mazing.
Her positive outlook about kickin' Cancer's rear-end is unbelievable. It's tough. Horrifying. Unimaginable. But, she takes it one day at a time and is thankful every day for every blessing He pours out. She also let's you {the creeper reading her blog} what it's really like. The good days, the bad days, the incredible nurses who are with her every step of the way....
Here is an excerpt from her blog: Don't sweat the small stuff – It's ok that it's Monday. Monday is going to be here next week too. I know your boss is a jerk, but in the grand scheme of things does it really matter? I'm sorry you're feeling fat today, try eating healthier. I know someone just door-dinged your car, but it's just a car and at least you weren't in a wreck. Sometimes I just see Facebook statuses that make me want to say, "Really? That's really what you're upset about?" I'm not trying to make anyone's story or "status" seem insignificant, I'm just saying that I don't sweat the small stuff anymore. I'm fighting for my life, so the lady who cut in line at the grocery store or the jerk who cut me off on the road, they don't bother me a bit. I'm just happy to be here.
To be fair - I think that's the harshest tone she has ever used on her blog. But, that paragraph struck me to my core.
She's right.
I'm sharing her blog with you because I truly believe her story is meant to be shared. Read it. Pass in on.
On my morning drive to work, K-Love takes over my radio. When Matthew West's song Strong Enough comes through the speakers I can't think of anyone else except Mallorie.
He wouldn't give us obstacles in our life if he didn't think we weren't strong enough and if He wasn't willing to carry us through the storm.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBJwA0I8P-4]
**Ninja: Rockstar, All-Star, Awesome Person. Basically, it's the new black of compliments.


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Mouse Virus Kills Montauk Man
A task as simple as vacuuming out the basement after a flood may have cost a Montauk man his life.
Chiropractor David Hartstein, 35, died last week from a rare lung infection blamed on contamination from infected mice and rodents.
According to public health professionals, humans can become infected by inhaling microscopic particles of diseased rodent droppings, urine or saliva.
Hartstein's death from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome has shocked neighbors who saw him alive and seeing patients as recently as last Thursday.
"I was supposed to see him again Saturday," said Charles Flynn, who told NBC New York he still couldn't believe it.
Hantavirus is rare and sporadic. This case marks only the second confirmed and deadly incidence in New York state in the last 15 years.
Health officials have said they believe this case is isolated, but have also urged Suffolk County residents to take precautions against mice and rodent infestations in their homes.
Among the recommendations: store food in closed containers and seal tiny holes and spaces in floors, walls and under doors.
Symptoms of contamination may not manifest for up to five weeks. Physical signs include high fever, muscle pain, coughing and headaches. Respiratory problems may worsen after a few days and can prove fatal.
"It is devastating," said Geeta Jirham, one of Hartstein's neighbors.
Health officials have advised against contact with rodent droppings or urine. Any cleanup should be done with rubber gloves and a solution of detergent and bleach, and the debris deposited in a double-sealed plastic bag for disposal.
Source: Online NewsPress
George Williams
General Manager - Staff Entomologist


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Audrey can't leave the house. she can't even take off her dark glasses inside the house.
Then her brother's friend Linus stumbles into her life. With his friendly, orange-slice smile and his funny notes, he starts to entice Audrey out again - well, Starbucks is a start. And with Linus at her side, Audrey feels like she can do the things she'd thought were too scary. Suddenly, finding her way back to the real world seems achievable.


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Honor our nations disabled veterans with a generous cash donation. For many of these brave men and women, hunting in Wyoming has only been a dream. With your support, it is a great honor to make these dreams come true.
Give Donation Form
Alternatively, download the Donation Form PDF to make an "offline" donation:Download PDF


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NTT DATA Introduces Evolution of the Intelligent Enterprise
PLANO, TX – October 29, 2019 – NTT DATA today announced the launch of its cloud-based intelligent enterprise platform, Nucleus, which brings together NTT DATA's analytics, processes and operations into a single foundation to accelerate innovation for clients.Mehr erfahren
NTT DATA Named Systems Integrator of the Year by Pivotal
PLANO, TX – Oct. 8, 2019 – NTT DATA Services, a recognized leader in global technology services, today announced that it received the Breakthrough Systems Integrator Award for the Americas region from Pivotal Software, Inc. (NYSE: PVTL). Awards were based on impact to Pivotal's customers, market momentum and successful implementation of the company's values and methodologies among the company's partner ecosystem of about 170 systems integrators and 130 independent software vendors worldwide.Mehr erfahren
NTT Delivers Successful Ultra Reality Viewing of Live MLB Postseason Game
SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY ̶ October 8, 2019 ̶ NTT, a global technology and business solutions leader, and Major League Baseball (MLB) today successfully conducted a proof of concept with NTT's Ultra Reality Viewing technology (URV) as part of their recently announced multi-year technology agreement making the Japan-based company an official MLB partner in the United States. This implementation verified the feasibility of a real-time, super-high definition surround video fan experience event, a first for a live sporting event in the United States.Mehr erfahren


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U.S. skier Bode Miller told the Associated Press that construction work where the ski team is staying isn't finished yet.
Unlike the vast majority of athletes in Sochi, the ski team made its own accommodations for the Olympics rather than staying in the athletes' village.
While the village is 100% built, many of the hotels aren't, and it's leading to some horror stories.
"My experience so far has been good. I mean, our area is not quite finished, I wouldn't say," he said.
He continued by saying the work going on "was very rushed, is what you get the impression of; that everything isn't quite done; they could use a little bit more time."
Miller also mentioned that late-stage construction work was going on in Salt Lake City in 2002. He doesn't seem too up in arms.


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No products
This collar is made of high quality genuine raccoon fur. The collar has at the bottom a clasp and in the back a handle. Thanks to these solutions it can be easily attached to the coat or jacket.
It can be worn over a jacket, coat or sweater. This fur collar goes beautifully with almost any coat or jacket.
Warning: Last items in stock!
Availability date:
Length with fur: approx. 100 cm
Width with fur: approx. 23 cm
All fur articles offered by LuxFur are produced in Poland of the highest quality selected foxes and raccoon fur, which come from the best European fur farming. Our products are finished with the highest quality accessories and with great attention to details.
No customer comments for the moment.


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April 2009
"Saw the Tuesday evening show with my wife and we both enjoyed it immensely. The only thing which spoiled the evening was Simon Wilson, the guest judge from the Post. He was unshaven, chewed most of the time and looked like he had slept rough in the clothes he was wearing. This was in stark comparison to everything else about the show, which was professionally and immaculately presently, as were the other judges and all the performers. Mr Wilson was a very poor ambassador for the Evening Post"
Roger Brooks, West Bridgford
"T and D were amazing. Bolero was as good as 25 years ago. It almost seemed effortless for them. The whole show was exciting, fun and thoroughly enjoyable. I agree with the comments made about Simon Wilson, he was hardly an example of Nottingham folk, and his smutty comments were totally unacceptable in a family atmosphere. He should be ashamed of himself and be appologising."
chris, nottingham


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Series & GroupsView all 35
TrainingView all 8
Early Childhood
Bible App for Kids Curriculum: Adventure Bag
It's the little extra touches that make a project special. For the Bible App for Kids Curriculum, our Content Team found this amazing little bag for our host Emily to use in the teaching videos. And the great part is, our leaders in every classroom are using the same bag! If you'd like to use th...Read More
Early Childhood
Bible App for Kids Curriculum: The Research Behind the Resource
To create the Bible App for Kids Curriculum, our Content Team spent hours studying the learning habits of preschoolers and reviewing successful kids programming. The result was a two-year curriculum for ages 2 through 5 that keeps preschoolers' attention and teaches them about Christ. In anything...Read More
Early Childhood
Bible App for Kids Curriculum: Designed for Small Groups
Children need positive one-on-one personal interactions like the ones they can get in a small group setting. The Bible App for Kids Curriculum is designed to facilitate small group interactions from the beginning to the end of each experience. Help your small group leaders learn how to lead their g...Read More


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As one of the world's most beloved properties, Pokémon has stood the test of time, since becoming one of the all-time best-selling game series as well as a successful television and film franchise. Additionally, Pokémon has become a profitable brand of merchandising with trading cards, action figures, and much, much more. Most recently, the property explored previously uncharted waters with its foray into mobile gaming with the uber-successful Augmented Reality (AR) app Pokémon Go. As the franchise is now in its 20th anniversary, however, it's important to remember the games that made the property the success it is today – Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow.
Even after two decades, these titles still remain as some of the gaming industry's most celebrated role-playing games (RPG's). With the rerelease of these beloved titles – now available on the Nintendo eShop – nostalgic gamers are revisiting their past and realizing that there is a lot of depth to these seemingly simple games. In celebration of the games' respective rereleases, as well as the franchise's 20th anniversary, we have compiled a list of 15 things you might not have known about Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, the series' original flagship titles. Within this article, we will explore some of the game's hidden secrets as well as some lesser known behind-the-scenes stories from the title's development.
Here are the 15 Things You Never Knew About Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow.
15 You Can Fight Professor Oak
Many of the game's secrets are hidden within glitches that have been found by gamers over the years. These glitches are often useful and, at times, somewhat humorous, but they are also key in uncovering some of Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow's biggest Easter Eggs. One of these fan-favorite Easter Eggs from the original game series is the secret battle with Professor Oak.
As the Pokémon Professor, and the protagonist's guide of sorts, Oak is no easy battle. With a well-balanced team, all of whom's levels ranging from the high 60s to low 70s, Oak proves that he is much more than an acclaimed scientist.
The glitch that acts as a catalyst for the battle with Professor Oak is a bit of an arduous journey that we won't fully cover here, but fear not, as this Easter Egg is well-documented and only a quick Google search away. It is interesting to note, however, that Oak was obviously coded with an entire Pokémon team at his disposal, but for whatever the reason, the creators decided not to include this fun post-game battle. It would appear to be a missed opportunity, but luckily you are able to experience this fun Easter Egg regardless of Game Freak's intentions.
14 Focus Energy: Worst Move Ever
While most would argue that "Splash" is the absolute worst move in any Pokémon game to date, it is certainly possible that they are unaware of the head-scratchingly terrible "Focus Energy" from Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow. Focus Energy is a move that is still around in Pokémon games today, but with a small caveat – it actually works now.
As more of a preemptive strategic move, Focus Energy was intended to make critical hits more common, allowing the user to dole out even more damage against an opponent. Due to a glitch in the first generation of the game series, however, this move virtually eliminated the possibility of scoring a critical hit. So, whenever an opponent in either Pokémon Red, Blue, or Yellow versions uses the aforementioned Focus Energy against you in a match, thank your lucky stars as they are basically sabotaging themselves and essentially wasting a turn.
13 Critical Hits Based On Speed Stat
More casual Pokémon players would likely assume that critical hits were more or less randomized, but as it turns out, that was not necessarily the case in the original game series. Yes, there was a sense of randomization to it, but some Pokémon were more likely to achieve critical hits more often than others. In the first generation of Pokémon games, creatures with a higher speed stat were, in fact, more likely to land critical hits and vice versa.
In the generations since, critical hits were no longer based on speed stats but rather a series of in-battle stages that can be altered either by a Pokémon's move set, select items, or abilities. As the game has progressed through the years, it has become uber-popular in the realm of competitive gaming, and has seen years of intricate refinement. In order to balance the respective metagame, numerous changes have been implemented, generally altering the game for the better all in the name of fair play.
12 Mew Is Catchable
When Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow were first released, there were more conspiracy theories surrounding the capture of legendary creature Mew than there were concerning Area 51. Completing the Pokédex, defeating the Elite 4 over 100 times, and moving that mysterious truck in Viridian City were all plausible theories back in the day, but as we have come to find out in the years since, these rumors were all disappointingly false. It seemed that the only way to obtain Mew – outside of the infamous GameShark cheats – was to attend a Nintendo-sponsored event that just happened to feature a special distribution of the mythical creature.
Fortunately enough for fans of the original legendary Pokémon, obsessive gamers have, in fact, discovered a way to legitimately capture the incredibly rare character Mew. Much like the aforementioned battle with Professor Oak, it is a bit of an arduous process that we won't fully cover here, but do not worry as it is incredibly well-documented across the web.
Yet another glitch involving skipped trainer battles and the Hidden Machine (HM) Fly, Mew – along with any other first generation Pokémon – is obtainable after only a few detailed steps.
11 Celadon's Invisible PC
Less useful, but a somewhat more humorous glitch is Celadon Hotel's invisible PC. On the southeastern part of Celadon City, the most populated city in all of the Kanto region, lies a luxurious hotel. To the dismay of the game's protagonist, there are apparently no vacancies. What gamers will find, however, is an invisible PC – a PC much like the ones found at Pokémon Centers and various other locations.
It should be noted that this glitch only occurs in Red and Blue, leading many to believe that this was not an intended Easter Egg but rather a coding mistake. Aiding in the belief of this theory is the fact that the hotel lobby very much resembles the lobby of nearly every Pokémon Center within the game. Now, it is widely believed that this mishap is rather a simple oversight in which the game's programmers copy and pasted the code from the Pokémon Centers but forgot to remove the PC entirely.
10 Silph Scope Not Needed
Upon a playthrough of Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, players will find it impossible to advance past the Lavender Town Tower without the use of the Silph Scope, an item used for identifying Ghost-type Pokémon. But interestingly enough, it turns out that the required item is not required after all. For those looking to skip the fight against Giovanni and the rest of his gang (Team Rocket) at the Celadon City Game Corner, there is apparently a way to bypass this mission altogether.
In a traditional playthrough, defeating Team Rocket at the Celadon City Game Corner is essential for retrieving the Silph Scope and thusly saving Mr. Fuji from – you guessed it – Team Rocket from the Lavender Town Tower, but it has been discovered that another item can be just as useful in the fight against unidentified spirits: Poké Dolls. That's right, by utilizing a Poké Doll mid-battle with Lavender Town's restless spirit, gamers are able to scare away the ghost and make their way to the top floor without making use of the Silph Scope.
9 Rival's Raticate Died?
In an otherwise lighthearted children's game, Lavender Town stands alone as a rather dark setting within Pokémon lore. As a place that more or less amounts to a Pokémon graveyard, Lavender Town is the home to mourning trainers and tragic stories. One story that has since garnered some conspiracy-level theories is that of the protagonist's rival.
A growing rumor among fans is the fact that the rival trainer – often referred to as Gary seeing as how the anime character is based on the rival trainer – had a Pokémon die, specifically his Raticate. The reasoning behind this theory is the fact that Gary's Raticate is mysteriously missing from the battle at the Lavender Town Tower after making appearances in previous fights as either the aforementioned Raticate or the Pokémon's previous form, Rattata.
There are entire articles across the web devoted to this theory, but the consensus is generally this: Gary's Raticate is still likely alive, either traded away or back at the lab with Professor Oak. The rumor is hard to prove one way or another, but most of the evidence points to a relatively unharmed Raticate.
8 Creepy Lavender Town Myths
Over the years, Pokémon-related stories have basically become a treasure trove for Creepypasta myths. For those of you unfamiliar with Creepypasta, it is essentially a website filled to the brim with urban legends, ghost stories, and spooky tall tales, but for whatever reason, the Pokémon franchise has become a massive inspiration for many writers hoping to scare their respective readers with campfire stories concerning one of their favorite childhood pastimes.
At the center of countless Creepypasta stories is the already surprisingly dark Lavender Town. One myth, in particular, that frightened the internet as a whole is the tale behind numerous reported child suicides taking place in 1996, aka the same year that Pokémon Red and Green (as it was initially titled in its home country) were released in Japan. There are several different variations of this story floating around, but generally, it involves the musical theme of Lavender Town containing harmful frequencies that specifically target adolescents, and, according to the legend, drove a number of children to take their own lives.
While the story is, of course, fictitious, it is certainly creepy. As alluded to earlier, Pokémon is an inspiration for countless stories like this, all documented and just a few clicks away. Lavender Town is a perfect inspiration for many of these stories, considering the fact that it is an already dark setting within an otherwise lighthearted children's game.
7 No Evolution Stones Required
As far as evolution stones are concerned, most are available for purchase within the game, but one stone, in particular, the Moon Stone, is only obtainable via exploration and within a limited capacity. While players are able to purchase as many Fire, Water, and Thunder Stones as they want within the game, Moon Stones are a bit more difficult to come by.
Through a bit of maneuvering, players are able to evolve Pokémon who generally require evolution stones without these items. By utilizing a certain Pokémon – Exeggutor, Onix, Growlithe, Psyduck, and even the mysterious glitch MissingNo. – in relief, these creatures act as a catalyst for Pokémon who generally require items to advance to the next evolutionary stage. Again, this list is by no means a guide to stone-less evolution in generation one Pokémon games, but luckily numerous "how-to" articles and videos concerning this technique are a readily available across the web.
6 Wild Safari Zone Pokémon
Some of the most difficult Pokémon to capture in the first generation of Pokémon games – Chansey, Scyther, Tauros, Kangaskhan, and Pinsir to name a few – have one trait in common: the location in which they can be found. All of the aforementioned Pokémon can only be found (within the Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow versions) in the Safari Zone.
The main difference between the Safari Zone and the rest of the game is the fact that wild Pokémon cannot be battled before attempting to capture them. For anyone familiar with Pokémon games, that puts the player at a major disadvantage. Within the Safari Zone, Pokémon are much more likely to run away and, generally speaking, take several attempts to capture. With the ability to use the HM Fly, however, this is no longer the only way to catch these rare creatures.
By utilizing the Fly technique, a player who travels from within the Safari Zone to another Kanto location, Cinnabar Island, can, by swimming up and down the coastline, encounter Safari Zone Pokémon, battle, and capture them. It should be noted, however, that this glitch was only accessible in Pokémon Red and Blue as it was apparently fixed prior to the release of the Yellow version.
5 190 Original Pokémon
Catching all 151 original Pokémon stood as a monumental task back in the late 90s, but the game's "Gotta Catch 'em All" mantra could have been much harder to adhere by if the title had contained all 190 Pokémon that were originally intended to debut in Red, Blue, and Yellow.
According to reports, it is said that the unused designs of the remaining 39 Pokémon were saved for the game's ensuing sequels Gold and Silver. Along with the 39 unused creatures from generation one, an additional 66 Pokémon were created and added to the Pokédex of the second generation.
Among some of the fan-favorite Pokémon rumored to have been deliberately omitted from the first generation of games are Scizor, Elekid, Donphan, Heracross, Tyranitar, and a number of the second generation's legendaries, just to name a few.
4 Munna Referenced
One rumor that has been heavily discussed by the franchise's more hardcore fans across the web is the reference of Psychic-type Pokémon Munna in the series' first generation. For those unfamiliar with the more current generations of Pokémon, Munna did not make its debut until Pokémon Black and White, the series' fifth generation of the franchise that did not take place until over 14 years after the release of Pokémon Red and Green in Japan.
Supporting this rumor is the fact that a girl outside of the Rock Tunnel in Red, Blue, and Yellow makes a statement about a Pokémon that is "pink with a floral pattern." While this certainly describes Munna, it is still a rather vague description. This is certainly no confirmation, but for many, it is still quite the neat little Easter Egg.
It should also be noted that in the remakes of the original games for the GameBoy Advance – Pokémon Fire Red and Pokémon Leaf Green – the girl's dialogue remains largely unchanged.
3 A Pokémon War?
As deep as any theory surrounding the Pokémon franchise – specifically the game series, but still pertaining to the franchise as a whole – is the Pokémon War Theory, also referred to as the Kanto War Theory. Explaining the lack of adult males within the game, the Pokémon War Theory claims that Red, Blue, and Yellow versions all take place just a few years after a devastating war between Kanto and a neighboring nation (usually theorized to be Johto from the titles' respective sequels). This additionally goes on to explain the lack of infrastructure within Kanto, as well as the reasoning behind why fathers are largely absent from the game's roster of characters.
This speculation is, of course, nothing more than a fan theory that attempts to explain a few of the game's more interesting plot points and character decisions, but nevertheless, it is an interesting read. Without confirmation from the studio behind the games, it is impossible to say one way or another if this rumor is true or not, but the fun behind this theory is the belief that it could be true. While Pokémon's creators may not have intended this deep of a backstory to be involved in a children's video game and subsequent television series, it's fun to theorize and read into the speculation.
2 Completed in Under 30 Minutes
Anyone who has ever picked up the Japanese role-playing game is unlikely to find that the campaign can be finished in less than one day, much less in under an hour, but speedrunners are another breed entirely. Speedrunners are gamers who make it their mission to complete a game in as little time as possible, usually by utilizing in-game glitches and playing with somewhat unorthodox strategies.
Speedruns of famous titles such as Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time have become popular around the web, but interestingly enough, the original series of Pokémon have caught the eyes of a handful of speedrunners. By utilizing a handful of glitches within the games code, gamers have found that the game can actually be completed in under a half hour.
Even more impressive, but perhaps less enjoyable to watch, are speedruns of Red and Blue that take just over a minute to complete. That's right, just over one minute.
1 Pokémon Almost Didn't Happen
It is hard to imagine, but the games that spawned one of the biggest franchises of the past 20 years -- a series that has seen a handful of worldwide phenomena since its inception, most recently with the viral mobile game Pokémon Go -- almost never made it out of development.
In a celebratory video released by The Pokémon Company's YouTube channel just a few months ago, the current Director at Game Freak Inc. Junichi Masuda talked a bit about the franchise's 20th anniversary, giving viewers a brief background of the original game's six-year development process. According to Director Masuda, these games almost did not come to fruition due to hardware malfunctions with – at the time – less reliable technology.
While the original Pokémon games were far from a doomed series, it does appear that Game Freak, much like other relatively young studios (at least at that specific time), had some technical issues early on. Thankfully, the team persevered, and Pokémon has gone on to achieve unprecedented success worldwide.
Did we miss any fun factoids about Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow? Let us know in the comments!


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WEFTY Woven Bag Round Up: Filigree Double-Zip Pouch!
When Janelle of Emmaline Bags asked me to guest-post on her blog with a round-up of woven bags from around the interwebs, I did what I always do when asked to do something: I said yes without thinking! Turns out, this was a really fun assignment.
Make sure to visit the Emmaline Bag blog for the Emmaline Bag Patterns that have been modified with gorgeous woven exteriors, as well as for woven bags that use Emmaline Hardware!
While working on this project, I noticed some trends I wanted to share here on my blog - people tended to weave up the same patterns and types of patterns.
Check it out...and make sure to check out my other post about woven sewing organizers and retreat bags!
The Double Filigree Pouch
I found several Filigree Double-Zip Pouches that had been modified with weaving while looking at the WEFTYneedle hashtag on Instagram. The original pattern is by Sew Sweetness and doesn't include weaving, but these makers demonstrate how classy this design can look with it. They inspired me to make my own!
Lisa of Sew What You Love made this sleek, modern version.
Reece Montgomery made this bright beauty! She wrote about her experience on her blog.
You can find a write up on the blog of allie.and.me.design about her experiences weaving this adorable version! I can't read it because it's not in English, but I'm 100% certain she loves this bag and feels proud of her awesome work.
I hope you all keep sharing your weaving with the WEFTY needle by using the hashtag #weftyneedle online. Obviously, seeing your work brings me immense joy! I'd love to hear about a particular pattern, project, or idea you think would be especially cool woven. Let me know in the comments!