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Sunday, September 17, 2006
I'd rather be handcuffed to Saddam Hussein
I am taking a six hour plane ride across the country and I am having so much more anxiety then usual. As a preface, I am a terrible flier. I have been known to sob silently to myself and have actual panic attacks. I can recite the rational facts about air travel and try to calm myself down, but nothing will make me feel better until we are in descent. Because for some reason the most statistically dangerous parts of a plane ride, the takeoff and landing, don't scare me.
But on top of my usual psychosis about flying, I am also dealing with paranoia about being way fatter then the last time I flew. I know whoever sits next to me if going to curse the gods for making me the person next to them and when they get off the plane, they are going to tell whoever picks them up at the airport that they had to sit next to a fatty the whole time. And I can't exactly blame them. I wouldn't want to sit next to me. A hysterical fat girl is not exactly the most awesome person to sit next to for six hours...
As a fat girl, I know that I will be spending the trip trying to make myself seem as small as possible. Being careful not to let any part of my body touch the person next to me. My shoulders will be hunched into themselves. My thigh muscles will be working overtime keeping my legs together. If I don't die in flight I will exit the plane a complete mess with every muscle aching.
But I haven't even addressed my biggest fear - what if I am now too fat for a seat belt??? What if my giant belly is now in the way of buckling up? I have never had to use a seat belt extender before, and I am so scared that this time I may have to. How do you get one? What if everyone hears me? What if the flight attendant is a bitch? Does JetBlue even have them or do I need to bring my own? I know I will never have to see any of those people ever again but I am still totally mortified by the prospect of having to use one. I really hope I am just catastrophising and I don't really need one - but I might!
Have any of you ever used one? What was your experience? How did you ask for one? And doesn't it particularly suck to fly as a fat person and know that everyone on the entire plane is hoping that you don't sit next to them?!?!?
75 comments:
- Anne said...
I've been large my entire life, and I've also been a rabid traveler in that I've flown many many flights, and I've only had to ask for a seat-belt extender once. The flight attendant was very gracious about it, and got it for me, and handed it to me quietly, without anyone else knowing. If you do need one, I think that most flight attendants will act the same way.
However, I have a story to share, since you stated that it sucks to fly as a fat person. I was flying home from Atlanta after being on vacation with my aunt and uncle. They ended up flying out the day before me. My uncle had gotten the flu while we were on vacation, and sure enough, that flu bug decided to take hold of me the morning I flew home. On top of being sick, I was assigned a middle seat. Not only am I fat, I'm tall. I'm 5'11, and when you're forced into that little area, it's not cool. Just as we started to take off, I started to vomit, and needed to use my barf bag. The flight attendant eventually came around, and was extremely loud when I gave her the barf bag. She practically screamed "WAS SOMEBODY SICK????" as I handed her my bag and of course, people 3 aisles ahead and behind me were craning their necks to see who had puked. It was terrible.
But, it get worse. I wasn't able to get up and use the bathroom because it was a turbulent ride. So, I had to borrow barf bags from the people sitting next to me. And I filled those up as well.
So, imagine being those poor idiots who not only had to sit next to a fatty. They had to sit next to a fatty who couldn't stop throwing up.
Your flight will be about 1000 times better than that one was.
I have used the dreaded seat belt extender... and yeah, the first time I had to ask for one it was pretty humiliating. Luckily the flight attendant was very nice about it and tried to be as inconspicuous as possible. Of couse when boarding there are other people close by in the small space so maybe the person behind you and the person in front of you may hear you ask for one, but I guess between the possilibity of not being able to buckle up at all thereby vastly increasing my chances of injury/death in case of in flight disaster or maybe feeling a little weird about a stranger I will never see again, and probably wont even see during the flight, hearing me ask for a seatbelt extender I'll take the momentary feelings of fatty shame over potential death. Also I have found that with the seatbelt extender I'm just more comfortable. While the rest of my body is a ball of shaking tense muscles due to my efforts to not to allow my fat to spill over onto fellow passengers at least I don't have to feel like I'm being cut in half by a too tight seatbelt. Now I always ask for one when I board a flight. I was really embarrassed once on a NWA flight though because not only am I fat I am also tall, so I (used to) like to sit in the emergency exit row when available. As usual I asked for my seatbelt extender and then proceeded to my seat. After everyone was all strapped in ready to go a flight attendant came up to me and announced loudly enough for people within three or four rows in each direction to hear that if you need a seatbelt extender you are not allowed to sit in the emergency exit row. No one had told me this before, but of course who am I to argue with a flight attendant... So shes asks "Are you sure you cant fit without it", which I wasnt and I sure as hell wasnt going to try because just incase I did actually NEED the seatbelt extender I didnt want to suffer that additional embarrassing blow of showing everyone just how fat I was. The man in the row behind me was willing to switch with me and didnt make a big deal of it, and for the rest of the flight the sassy gay male flight attendant brought me free drinks, but still it was a pretty horrifying experience. Hmm, hopefully that wont put you off of asking for one because I really have found they make me much more comfortable generally. I will say I am dreading an upcoming trip though... I will be travelling with my boss and her boss. I really wont have any excuse for not boarding the flight with them/sitting (squeezing myself in) next to them, so I will be forced to ask for the seatbelt extender in front of them which is a pretty mortifying thought, and then work doubly hard to keep my fat contained. The trip is still a month away and I'm already VERY anxious about the whole idea. I'm considering just not eating for the next month in order to avoid any fatty flying issues...
I was also going to suggest sitting in the emergency exit row. That's what I always request as there tends to be more room. I am tall also, like the previous two commentors, so I find it's more comfy.
I have to say, that I just tuck the seat belt around me, if it does up, it does up, if it doesn't, I just fake it. I always wear layers when flying. I cover myself up with a hoodie and go to sleep. Then no one bothers me about the seat belt.
I have to say that I like flying first class much better. I can't always afford to, but when I can, I certainly do!!!!
- jo said...
I was so anxious about the fat issue when I had to fly that I booked flights with a very good chance of ensuring empty seats being available (there was no guarantee) and I think they did try to keep it in mind as they continued to book the flight. I also checked beforehand about seat belt extenders and was assured they are provided upon request. Then when I boarded I advised the flight attendant that I would be much more comfortable if I had a spare seat next to me if one was available. And then when I needed the seat belt extender I just asked if I could have one and it was such a non-issue. The attendant was lovely about it. Plus I had a whole row of seats to myself, the window view and peace and quiet. I was very comfortable.
Stop worrying!! You can ask for the extender and it should be quietly passed to you! I ask for it every time and I never have an issue with it. Also I am a dreadful passenger!! I am filled with panic and I also HATE the middle bit of flying, take off and landing are great. Very Strange! I NEVER just tuck my seatbelt round me, there can be a jolty turbulence and you need the belt to keep you in your seat so that you don't clout your head. Don't risk it. My bestadvice is to shut your eyes and try to convince yourself thatyou are on a bus. It sometimes works for me, when its a bit rocky it feels very similar! Good luck and enjoy your trip. Pippa (One Salford feminist) xx
Ohhh how I feel for you. I fear all the same things in regards to flying so I have avoided it recently. If I could get my own extender (is that possible?) I would, to avoid having to ask.
Emergency exits and aisles are the only way to go.
I'd self medicate to get through it. Not a good idea, I know but it sure would make me feel better!
- GoBetty said...
If anything, do not "fake" doing up your seatbelt as Andi suggests above. Sweet jesus. Give it a go, and you if need the extender, get it and forget about it. No one cares. I would like to hug you.
- Dolly said...
I flew A small airlines once and even though they had seat belt extenders, they had "fixed arm rest" WHAT A NIGHT MARE! I spent the entire flight sitting on oe hip and tryong not to touch everyone around me. But when flying back we had a wonderful exp. Again the extenders were not a issue. the attendents were discret and polite. the 2nd flight had "raisable" arms and empty seats!
If you are embarrased to ask then bring your own, but the attendants were great about it.
I have used a seatbelt extender. Not my proudest moment, but necessary. Yes, Jetblue has them. When ppl are boarding as the stewardess is walking down the aisles discreetly ask for one. You could even lean in and ask for one as you board. This will make sure that you get one since they only have a few per flight [although I have never had a problem getting one].
Luckily Jetblue seats are slightly wider than other airlines, just make sure you put the armrest up so you have a little bit more room.
I don't know if this will make you feel better...
The worst airplan "neighbors" I ever had were a tie between:
a) the woman who sat next to me on an overseas flight and decided to change her daughter's diaper right next to me while I was sleeping. Talk about a rude awakening!
b) the honeymooners who sat next to me and had to cuddle and lay all over each other the entire cross country flight. I got elbowed and kneed and kicked numerous times.
My point in recounting these? None of these people were fat. So there are worse scenarios for a flight than sitting next to a fat person.
Just try to relax and enjoy yourself. Hope it goes well :)
- Kate said...
If you have enough time before the flight, you can purchase your own extender and not have to worry about asking for one.
There are currently two dozen of them available on E-Bay. Just don't go over $50.00, because you can buy one retail for that.
I used to have to wear the seatbelt extender (oh I'm still fat, just not as fat). I would ask for it and if the flight crew are sensitive enough, they know what you're asking for before you do. The ones I dealt with will discreetly walk by and hand it to you. There's usually so much going on while boarding, no one notices. Don't go without out it.
I flew to Mexico this summer on USA3000 and I have to say they had comfy seats and I'm only 5'7 and I could stretch my legs out.
Just go, enjoy yourself and remember you're not out there alone. You'll never see those people again.
Oh and I lived through an emergency landing (fire trucks on the runway etc.) and have flown all over the US/Europe etc. since then. You'll be fine.
I've always had pretty good/moderately comfortable experiences flying Jet Blue. Also, I'm with Kate--bringing your own seatbelt extender is the way to go. It's subtle and is one less thing to think about.
- mainja said...
been there, done that. here's the thing, it was humiliating the first time, but then i realised that actually the flight attendants were really nice about it and there wasn't anything to worry about. and i agree, it made the flight much more comfortable.
- GoBetty said...
Thanks for the info about obtaining your own seatbelt extender... but I am not sure you are allowed to use them. Are they regulation-y enough? Does it depend on the airline?
If the plane isn't full, ask about being placed next to an empty seat when you check in. (People do this for all kinds of reasons, and if you get someone nice, they will usually accomodate you if possible.)
I usually ask for the seatbelt extender when I'm getting on board; I'll just find a flight attendant and say, "I'm in seat 18A, and could I please have a seatbelt extender?" Every time I've asked, they are always VERY discreet and polite--they even hand it to you all folded up so no one really sees what it is.
Also, on JetBlue they have certain rows with more leg room (look on the website). This at least makes it seem more roomy! I love flying them--they're super friendly and I am all about the satellite TV.
gobetty, my extender is generally a different color than the belt (so, fairly noticeable), and I've used it about 20 times and nobody has ever said a word to me about it.
i fly at least 4 times a month.
here's a list of some things i do myself:
1) get to the airport early, and ask for the emergency exit row.
2) when checking in, ask if the flight is full, if not, ask if you could sit closer to the back of the plane, and have an entire row to yourself, or at least a seat with an empty seat next to you.
3) when boarding begins, board the plane early....when they offer early boarding for people that need assistance, are traveling with children, etc. the flight crew is always friendly, and will easily accomodate your request for a seatbelt extender in a discreet manner. have a seat, get yourself buckled in, and if you want to keep it hidden, put a sweater, or a blanket over your lap, and dig into your magazines. after that point, no one cares....everyone is just trying to get to their seat, and find a place for their excess carry on baggage.
i have come across some pretty rude attendants that make a big deal out of the seat extender in front of a full plane. my advice....deal with it before everyone else gets on the plane.
also....think about your time on a plane as time that is all your own. no one from your day to day life can bother you. i always think of flying as a mini vacay from life.
best of luck!
I bet you made this whole fear up and that in reality you're tiny and skinny.
- JessiferSeabs said...
As a fat girl who is also anxious about flying (though less fat and less anxious than in the past), I can totally feel your pain on this one.
Here are my tips:
1) dramamine that will make you sleepy... you'll be so tired you won't be able to keep your eyes open.
2) I don't know if any other airlines do this, but if you fly on Northwest Airlines, you can actually check in online 24 hours in advance AND have the option for purchase, for $15, an exit-row seat -- and while those seats aren't any wider, the do offer more room in general so that helps.
Safe travels!
I'm going to echo everyone else that's had to ask for the dreaded extender. I have to use one on the smaller "puddle-jumper" planes. unfortunately, my fat is low around my abdomen and in exactly the wrong place for those little seat belts. The flight attendants have always been kind and subtle with me. I've never had a bitchy one.
I, too, used to feel guilty when flying... worrying about the people around me and how uncomfortable they might be because I'm fat.
But you know what? No more. Fuck 'em if they have an issue with my body. as long as I'm not in their seat with them, they can just get over it. I have to live with this body every day and I'll be damned if I'm going to let someone else's imaginary issues mess with my head.
so go. fly. get an extender if you need one. and remember: fuck 'em.
What I hate is when your thighs make the arm rest go up and you're this close to touching the next passenger's thigh... I actually prefer the fixed armrest, even if it encrusts itself on my leg... Less embarrassment...
I just got back from flying this past week, and had to explain to my (thin) sweetie why I was feeling so stressed out. I didn't have this problem in the past, but being 15-20lbs heavier than I was seems to be the magic number for boatloads of added stress.
I second those above on the extender - definitely ask, and know that you're far from the first person whose ever asked for one! As for the stress of worrying about seatmates, I'll pass along what the sweetie said - everyone complains about being crammed in on flights, whether they're next to thin folks or fat folks, so most people really aren't going to be bothered by it. I can't seem to take this to heart, but maybe you can!
And whoever said that Jetblue seats are a bit wider is right - they definitely are. Good choice.
- Donna said...
A friend of mine travels so much that she purchased her own extender. Everyone is so bus getting on the plane, that no one ever notices her attaching it.
I'm like you -- I've not gotten to the point that I needed one, but I sure dread the thought of it until I actually get the belt buckled.
I always ask the first flight attendant I see as I board the plane for a seatbelt extension, then they bring it to me after the safety demonstration. They're as discreet as can be about it. No one really cares if you need one or not.
And don't worry about what the guy next to you thinks. You'll never have to sit next to him again. You'll never see him again. If he complains, just sit on him. :)
On one flight over the summer, I sat in the very back row. Yeah, right by the bathroom. But the seats had a divider under the armrest which kept my thigh away from the person next to me. It wasn't as cramped as I thought it would be.
I usually go United, and on the larger planes the seatbelts are a bit longer than on the small planes. Not so on other airlines that I've flown. I'm a 28, so judge by that.
And sleep if you can. It makes the flight go faster. Have fun on your trip!
Well, I'll be brutally honest. I have no particular animosity towards fat people, but I'm one of the above mentioned who hopes the really fat person coming down the aisle isn't going to be sitting next to me. It's bad enough fighting off the deep vein thrombosis when flying economy without being pinned up against the window at the same time. Not to mention the awkwardness of being forced to spend hours pressed up against an invariably polite and apologetic stranger.
It's happened enough that now whenever I travel I only fly SouthWest. On their flights you rarely have anyone who is overweight. I think that's the only solution that can work out for everyone - different carriers for different people.
- Whitney said...
I just stumbled upon this blog a few days ago...and after reading a ton of the posts, I am beginning to think that all of this is fake. The authors being overweight, the stories, the problems...something just seems weird.
Does anyone else get that feeling?
- punkindunkin said...
Whitney can't possibly be fat.
If she ever was for any amount of time, she would have been able to relate to any number of the posts on this blog.
It's not weird. It's a fat girl's life. And I live it. And I laugh and cry along with every other fat girl stopping by!
Dear Whitney,
To answer your question: NO
Now go away
whitney - if you've ever lived a day as a fat girl, then you'd know that this blog is real as it gets. I cannot say with absolute certainty that the authors are overweight, as I have never met them. I can vouche for the accuracy of the issues they discuss here. these are the things we live with day in and day out.
You never know-- the person next to you might be an F.A. Which would be creepy and uncomfortable, still, but at least they wouldn't be terribly unhappy about it.
Dear Fatty People,
I actually wish the fat people would sit beside me, because:
1. I want to them to feel that they are accepted and loved.
2. I want them to know someone out there understands that fat can't be helped.
3. I deserve to sit next to them, because I happen to be extremely short and average weight, so I take up only half a seat.
OK, girls, look.
You can call me spoiled or whatever (it is my birthday, after all) but - 6 hour flight?
Especially if your return is to the East Coast and you lose 3 hours and will be tired as well as jet-lagged?
Three words.
Business class seat.
- Paula F said...
Oh hun, I am sorry you are so worried about your flight. Hugs, Paula
- shaynapunam said...
Whoever Whitney is, she must be tiny--this blog is one of my faves, because, as a fat girl, I identify with almost every post. Why would she even bother asking...that is kind of obnoxious. I love you guys and hate flying--I am six feet tall and overweight, and spend the whole trip pinned to the wall, hoping not to flop any of my parts over onto the other people...I flew with my five year old--that is the way to go. Between the two of us, we were comfy!!
- GoBetty said...
I would defend Whitney's "right" or whatever to come here, read and comment. I don't love the Trucker Max trolls or anything, or those who bait the regular contributors here, or those who just come here to be assholes, but come on Sam. "Now go away". What kind of attitude is that? Surely someone can come here as a newby and question what it's all about.
- Kate said...
What gobetty said...
...and HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLEM!!!!
I think Whitney should go away, I read other posts on this blog where she says the same thing and then tells everyone to go to her blog so I think she's hear to basically pimp her own stuff out, which if you read it, like I did you wouldn't agree with what she's promoting, i.e., her diet plan: eat one day, then starve the next.
- GoBetty said...
I did check Whitney's blog. I don't disagree / agree with what she's doing. I don't care about her weight loss method. That's her business. She just seemed to pose a legit question, not baiting anyone. As we know, the comments here aren't moderated. And new ppl come thru who don't know everything that goes on here, then say things in comments that may seem obtuse. We don't have to attack them if they're more or less genuine (as I thought she was). But, whatever. If sam or you want to tell her to go away, be my guest.
- Lori said...
I'm going to chime in and say, when you get on the plane, ask the attendant (look for the one who seems nicest) and ask for an extender. Sometimes they have it right there and sometimes they come back and hand it to you. No one has even given me a hard time about it. They may have watched me try and figure it out the first time I used it but I really didn't care.
As for "spillage" I still have problems with that. I hope you get someone who is a half way decent person. Most everyone I know was okay; I'm sure they would have rather NOT sat next to me but it could have been a worse passenger than me. (Say the person with the loud music, the crying infant, the smelly person, the person who brought the entire buffet from home along as a snack.)
As for the anxiety; I used to be terribly afraid. Then I went to Florida with my aunt who was so obnoxious (long long story) that by the time we got on our flight some 10 hours later, I no longer feared death. I'm perfectly serious; that's how bad she was. I don't recommend flying with my aunt to combat your nerves...but the last time, I took my iPod along and listened to music. It was a great comfort. Good luck on your trip.
- Whitney said...
WOW! So much attention for me??? LMAO!
And no, I am not obsese, but I am not thin. I asked a question, gees, why does everyone get so upset? And where have I asked the same question elsewhere on this blog? Huh? No where! I commented on another post, but didn't ask if the blog was real.
- Undine's Soul said...
I love sitting next to fat girls on the plane! They are so much more interesting to talk with then the skinny girls with mineral water and sunglasses.
I just found this blog and am so glad it was today. I have been thinking of cancelling my vacation because I didn't want the hassles of flying. Reading these comments was great. Thanks to you all.
...and another (belated) happy birthday from me, Littlem!
- punkindunkin said...
Groan...I shouldn't open my big mouth but I can't help myself!
I'm going to chime in and agree with Undine's Soul. Many fat girls I have known over the years are far better conversationalists (I am one so I can attest to that). But why is that, I wonder? Do I dare say it's because we aren't shallow? (I totally realize that's one big, bad generalization and I'm not trying to say that skinny people are shallow on average so please don't jump all over me) Do we just lead more interesting lives? (Snort, I'm so not one of those people). Or is it that we haven't been allowed to get by on our looks so we've in turn had to cultivate our stunning personalities to be appealing? (Ouch, I don't like how that looks in print but I'm not sure how to say what I want to say here. Can anybody understand where I'm going with this and help me out?)
Did I just open a can of worms by implying there is some truth to the "Fat girl with the great personality" stereotype? If you don't know what I'm talking about, just watch a weekend of 80's movies and you'll see where we are supposed to land on the social food chain.
Sorry I wasn't able to refer to the original post. But I love the site and the conversations that are generated by it! Keep up the good work, ladies!!!
- Matt said...
Wow, I spend a lot of time feeling sorry for myself and not really thinking much about the hell others are going through....
If you're that anxious, call your doctor and ask her for some Xanax. Seriously, it will change your life. I HATE flying, and the Xanax helps.
- Kate said...
Welcome to the human race, Matt; I think you've admitted to being guilty of being like the vast majority of the planet's population, but it was really nice of you to say.
I went on a flight once - one of those cheapy ones and had to ask for an extender. The flight attendent made a big fuss and then made me move as I was in the emergency exit aisle. The entire plane load of people watched me move. I then had to sit next to a guy who tutted the entire flight and shuffled in his seat as if he was terrible uncomfortable. Not as uncomfortable as me! I was holding back tears the entire flight. URGH! Worst flight and possible candidate for one of the worst experiences ever. Thank you Ryan Air you bastards! I've lost 48 pounds since then, not because of that, and I am still avoiding flying.
Sorry, you don't want to hear this story do you? I'm sure American airlines have bigger seats but don't sit in the emergency exit aisle if you need an extender.
- BeeBop said...
i faked it twice, wrappin the seatbelt around my waist instead of asking for an extender. the first time i actually didn't know about that option. 3rd time i needed one, i asked with a smile, like i was askin for a pillow, and in return i got a smile, and a discreet handover; she had folded it several times, and it was tucked in her palm when she handed it to me, and there was no, 'oh u poor fat chick' look in her eyes when she handed it to me, i was glad. riding with the fakeout was terrible, hoping that we would never plummet, or i'd be flyin around the aircraft over everyone strapped in...
i lost 35 pounds since. i can't say the extender experience wasn't a motivation. but on jet blue, i was comfortable, and with a lil less gut, the belt fit.
No, the generalization isn't correct. There are fat interesting people and thin interesting people. As well as fat boring people and thin boring people. I think trying to argue that fat makes you more interesting is like trying to argue that thin makes you more interesting.
Everyone; I read yours and whitneys blogs on blogspot. I feel I need to reach out in order to regain my right to free speech. I tried to post this message on whitneys blog:
This is the exact problem with stuff like this diet (I am the first anonymous poster)- its a short term fix. At the end of a short term fix, everything will go back to the way it was and will possibly worsen (both eating habits and weight). Its not sustainable- you need something with more longevity to it. Think about the future; you might be slimmer now, but diets (verb) are mostly a surefire way to put on weight. Concentrate on having a mostly healthy diet, eating exactly what you want when you want. For example, I have been eating a lot of chocolate for the last few days and no longer feel compulsed to eat it as a result. Its working for all foods- I feel calm around food, not like I have to stuff it in or deny myself.
But she no longer allows anonymous comments (she did, and said she welcomed positive and negative criticism, but this suddenly changed since she's had comments in a similar vein about her eat-a-day-fast-a-day-diet for a month (does what it says on the tin) and I haven't got a blogger account. Please, someone, post it for me! You all seem like erudite people who appreciate free speech... of course, I could create an account to which I will never remember the password or use again. I'm sorry to rope you all into my argument, and completely understand if noone wants to post it. I think Whitney needs help!
Kate, Buff, you ladies rock so hard.
Eat one day and starve the next? Eeeeewwwww.
I don't know what it means, but I know more scintillating fat people, and more dull skinny people, than the other way around. Case in point - this blog and its commenters.
(Although I have been known to get on a plane with sunglasses and mineral water. *smirk*)
Where's Mikey? Has he been messing with the word verification again? 'Cause mine is suggestive.
Although it is not the most desirable situation, I don't know why more people don't just buy another seat. Do they actually charge you full price? I would hope there is a discount.
- GoBetty said...
To anon at 2:44 - here in bloggerland the blog owners don't have to let you comment; it's not a democracy. I suggest you do get an account if you want the priviledge of leaving comments in most places.
Perhaps some folks here did go read her anorexic-y blog and did come down on her. But a blog like Fatty, where the authors (and for the most part commenters) talk about being fat, isn't the ideal place to find a lot of sympathy if you're embarking on the type of diet she describes. I would think a pro-ana blog-ring would be a more supportive place for her.
And in my very humble opinion, someone who is anorexic (or almost there) isn't going to take kindly to fat people telling her off. Think about it! :-) Peace out, I enjoy all of you so much.
anon at 12:27, I've never done it, but have heard that it's actually kind of difficult. One person I know got a lecture that "one person can't legally occupy two seats," and another was told that if the flight was overbooked her second seat would be given to a standby passenger.
- punkindunkin said...
So IMHO,
I like people who have more to talk about then the latest fashions (I can't fit into most of the clothes and even if I could, I wouldn't be able to afford them). I like people who don't tell me that all they had to eat today was celery and vitamins (and somehow they are still coherent?!?). It makes me feel bad when I pull out my yummy snacks and munch away right in front of them. I'm nourishing my body but somehow it comes across as "the Fat girl eating yet again!"
Some fat people get on the plane and are so mortified that they have to squeeze into the tiny seats that they end up keeping to themselves in the hopes that no one notices them (me 10 years ago). But some people get on a plane, recognize what they can and cannot control in the situation (belt extender, exit row, better carrier that doesn't discriminate) and they learn to make the best of the time they are in flight. They bring books, games, snacks, knitting- whatever keeps them busy. They look for friendly faces and talk to their seat mates and they don't let anyone see how bothered they are by the experience (me today). They end up having a more comfortable experience in the end.
Don't let them see that you're distressed. If you are, they will be too. Act like you do this all the time. Act like you belong there whether your ass fits or not. Act bold and confident, even if on the inside you want to open the emergency doors mid-flight because you can't feel your toes or the guy sitting in the aisle seat gave you a funny look or the stewardess has ignored your request for another soda.
No need to post the comment by anon at 2:44, I've read it.
And GOBETTY is correct, I do not have to allow anyone to post on my blog - it is my blog. I just didn't see the point of people posting the exact same thing over and over again under anonymously.
Others are also eating QOD and they do not receive the negative feedback...hmm...I wonder why. I can only imagine.
I cannot believe that I am still the topic over here in Fatty Blogland. I will not apologize for wanting to be healthier, thinner, and refusing to stuff my face with fattening food. Get on with your lives, or you can continue to criticize me :)
And to GOBETTY, I never tried to find sympathy here or anywhere else. I was merely documenting my weight loss journey and experience with a new way of eating.
PLEASE stop things so seriously. You all need to relax.
Fasting for one day is not 'eating healthier,' moron. There is a difference between 'eating healthily' and 'going on a ridiculous diet to try to lose weight.'
Ok, I'm the same anonymous that wanted to post on whitneys page- whitney, you did post a comment on here leaving your blog link- other QOD people probably don't get negative feedback because they don't leave their urls on places that are not particularly appreciative of dieters extolling the virtues of various faddy plans. I am not saying you should apologise for the way you eat, nor suggesting that you stuff your face, just suggesting my opinion on how you could modify your ways of eating for the better. And, just to confirm, I'm not overweight or obese according to BMI charts. I read this blog because I find it interesting and have struggled with weight issues in the past- you're right above posters, fat does usually equate to interesting. Compare this blog to dieters blogs- varied issues handled humourously as opposed to the dour accounts of celeriac and iced tea. Give me fatty mcblog every time.
So are you saying because I was once obese and now I'm thin I get to be interesting too?
Guys seriously--the generalizations don't help anyone. Learning to treat people as individuals is going to be better in the long run than applying a very broad characteristic to one group of people that happen to share a physical similarity.
- punkindunkin said...
Fat people don't just share a physical similarity! They usually share public shame, private pain, trouble finding jeans, as well as acceptance. There is a whole lot more we have in common (as evidence by this blog and it's readers) than our weight!
I suspect that what Allison was referring to not applying the broad characteristic of "uninteresting" to thin people.
While I do agree with what Punkin said earlier about some people getting by on their looks and consequently not developing much of a personality, I can ASSURE you that the vast majority of thin people do not get by in life on their looks alone.
- AnaBell said...
Girls! Aren't you going to recap the season premiere of The Biggest Loser? for those of us who don't have cable pretty please?
I have had to ask for a seatbelt extender for the past 10 years I have flown. It has been easier to ask right as you get on the plane. Usually not many people hear you and you can get it without the flight attendant walking through the plane and bringing attention to you.
I read through some of the other comments. I do not recommend the fake out if you need an extender - I got humiliated once for not having my seatbelt buckled. Also, you cannot sit in an exit row - another humilating experience. Right when you get on the plane and see the flight attendant - ask for one - then its over. Also - I agree with one of the anon. posters - fly Xanax. =)
I found this blog by searching. I have NEVER flown and am being faced with having to fly during, the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday, no less, to my in-laws. I'll be flying with my husband and two children. We normally take our comfy mini-van loaded with our comforts of home. It's predictable and everything is within my control, which is comfort. The worries of whether or not my butt will even fit in the seat, will I need an extender, will my armrest be moveable have me completely TERRIFIED. I think about it day and night and have lost countless hours of sleep. It's just the unknown. I've been trying to find out what it will be like, how the seating arrangement will be. I'm too embarrased to call the airline and can't find info on their website. Can anyone offer any insight to quell my fears? I think I'm on the brink of developing an ulcer. :-(
HELP! Jean
I must also add that we have not purchased tickets yet (which my mother-in-law) has graciously offered to pay for and I am secretly hoping they will be all sold out. :0)
What am I going to tell my m-i-l? Sorry but we need 5 tickets so that my fat ass can have a ride too? I hate feeling this way...
- Kate said...
Jean, if you sit in the same row with your children, you shouldn't have a problem. It's mostly having to sit next to a stranger that induces a lot of stress.
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I've never had a problem getting an extender, and most flight attendents have gone out of their way to make me and my seatmates comfortable on flights. When I flew home for my sister's wedding back in 2001, I had no idea that I'd gotten so big I needed the arm up, I was shocked and humiliated and embarrassed. The flight attendent just found me a seat with an empty beside it and said "I'm sure this will be more comfortable". I know SouthWest has gotten a lot of flak for asking larger passengers to buy two tickets, but their whole "customer of size" policy is very decent. You preboard, their front row has raisable armrests, so hello leg room. And they refund that second ticket if your flight isn't full, with ONE phone call. The gate attendant actually checked the flight before I got on and let me know that there were unsold seats, so I would be sure to get my refund. I love to fly, it's getting through the airport that crushes me like a eggshell.


text:
Pics are up in my albums
Pics are up in my albums
"May the song of the LORD in your heart become a terror to the enemy of your soul."
-Ray Hughes-
Thanks, all, for making my first hang such a great experience. I was warm and toasty with my DIY CCF-Space Blanket combo that did much better than I ever expected: see http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=14196
..and thanks, Brandon, for the great tip about wearing my Sorrel Boot liners to bed!
Here is a link to my pics of the Hang...
"Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything."
...Charles Kuralt
Those are some great pics, Kaliram!
Especially Warbonnet freaking out behind Cannibal's butterfly-looking-fire-starting-trick.
Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall when the wise are banished from the public councils because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded because they flatter the people, in order to betray them. ~Judge Joseph Story
- My site: http://www.tothewoods.net/
- Designer, Jeff's Gear Hammock / Pack Cover by JRB
So I did find the flashlight I was missing, but still managed to lose two pieces of gear - one was the transmitter for my wireless thermometer (I know exactly where it is - wedged in between two small trees where I left it ) and a figure 9 carabiner. Not bad, considering how we packed up without warning and in a hurry.
In other news, the dogs were freaked out when we got home, and didn't want to go on a walk - they kept dragging behind. By the time morning rolled around, they seemed much better, and they are back to their usual annoying selves by now. All three of them have lived in the southeast their whole lives, and I just don't think they were able to deal with the cold. I even tried setting up a tent for them, but it didn't do the trick.
Kaliram, I can't get into your picture album - photobucket says I need a password.
It was a pleasure meeting the 5 of you. Wish I hadn't been so tired and you guys could have stayed longer.
Your kids were definitely one of the highlights for Max.
"May the song of the LORD in your heart become a terror to the enemy of your soul."
-Ray Hughes-
"Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything."
...Charles Kuralt
Here are a few of my shots...
The reason we had to leave early
Pair of Warbonnet Blackbirds, with DIY down UQ's (thanks to MrsMustardman)
A wider shot, showing some of the camp. On the left you'll see the community fire ring, where all the fun was had.
It was fun getting to meet ya'll, and we really enjoyed ourselves, in the short time we were able to stay there. The food was awesome, the company was great, and I'm definitely getting a dog sitter next time. What do you guys say, next weekend? Maybe the one after that?
The only thing of any value at all with that screen setup was the reflective rope. That's worth at least 50 cents or so We can get that shiny stuff for free any time we want (one of the perks of hooking up with a nurse ).
I was disappointed the screen didn't work better - I guess we will have to buy some dedicated screen material for next time. Still, it was fun watching Zombieland out in the woods
Last edited by Mustardman; 02-28-2010 at 20:58.
Good pictures Kaliram, but captions... we need captions!
don`t leave the CREATOR out of the creation!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The R. B. Cousins Era, 1910-1918
On Sept. 20, 1910, almost exactly a year after the announcement of the location committee's decision, President R. B. Cousins and a faculty of 16 welcomed 152 students to West Texas State Normal College. By the end of the first three quarters, total enrollment had increased to 227. Enrollment continued to increase and passed the 500 mark in 1913, seemingly indicating a bright future for the new institution. But on March 25, 1914, the explosion of a workman's torch set off a fire that quickly destroyed the Administration Building, the only classroom, laboratory, library and office structure on campus. In an emotional address to faculty, students and townspeople later that day, President Cousins spoke of the disaster as a "temporary inconvenience" and declared that great institutions do not burn. "If West Texas State is nothing more than brick and mortar," he said, "it ought to die." Those in attendance leaped to their feet and pledged support for the school. While classes continued in churches, courthouses, vacant buildings and hastily erected "shacks" on campus, workers cleared away the rubble and architects began designing a replacement structure.
On April 16, 1916, only 25 months after the fire, a new four-story Administration Building, containing not only classrooms and offices but also a library, swimming pool and gymnasium, was dedicated. Described then as the "greatest building in Texas, the Capitol only excepted," this magnificent structure, now called "Old Main," still serves the campus well. (Among the faculty who welcomed students to the new building was Georgia O'Keefe, destined to become a world-renowned artist and one of the most famous individuals to teach at West Texas A&M University.)
The R.B. Cousins Era
The J.A. Hill Era
The James P. Cornette Era
The University Under Watkins, Sherman, Shannon and Roach
System Membership and the University Under Thompson and Long
The University Under O'Brien


text:
Week 36: Road Trips. Describe a family road trip from your childhood. Where did you go and why? Who was in the car? How did you pass the time?
I remember in particular one road trip. My parents took us to Mount Rushmore near Rapid City, South Dakota. At that time, I was about 12, and my youngest brother had not yet been born, so there were just two of us kids. We stayed at a campground on the hillside overlooking Rapid City.
We spent most of our time on the trip swimming in the pool at the campground. I remember looking at the city lights at night.. I don't remember how many days we stayed there. We did visit Mount Rushmore, though I don't think we walked the trails or visited the exhibits. One other stop we made on that trip was the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. I remember thinking it was over-hyped, a feeling I still hold about it.
I remember this trip in particular, and a few years ago, made a similar trip with my own kids. We visited Mount Rushmore, walked the trails and looked at the exhibits, and even watched the night show there. We also visited Reptile Gardens at Rapid City, and made side trips to a gold mine where we panned for gold, and the Mammoth digs at Hot Springs, South Dakota. We drove the Needles Highway through the mountains, and rode the 1880 Train to Keystone. It was a busy week! There were other stops and activities between home and Rapid City, too.
I hope one day my kids will take their kids on a similar trip.
This and all other articles on this blog are © copyright 2011 by Daniel G. Dillman


text:
About This Site
Spirituality for Today is underwritten by Clemons Productions, Inc., a not-for-profit, tax exempt organization dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Christ. Clemons Productions also produces
Clemons Productions also produces Thoughts for the Week which can be heard on the following stations:
- WVOX 1460 AM (New Rochelle, NY) Sunday at 6:00AM
- WJMJ 88.9 FM (Hartford, CT) Sunday at 9:30AM
- WJMJ 93.1 FM (Hamden, CT) Sunday at 9:30AM
- WJMJ 107.1 FM (New Haven, CT) Sunday at 9:30AM
Our contact mailing address is:
Clemons Productions, Inc.
PO Box 7466
Greenwich, CT 06836
Rev. Raymond Petrucci
Email Rev. Raymond Petrucci
Assistant Editor and Research:
Dorothy Riera
Email Dorothy Riera
Jean Hughes
Email Jean Hughes
Clemons Produtions, Inc.
Design, Coding, Scripting:
Robert Grasso
Email Bob


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The Strong owns and cares for the world's most comprehensive collection of toys, dolls, board games, video games, other electronic games, and other historical materials related to play. This unprecedented assemblage offers a unique interpretive and educational window into the critical role of play in human physical, social, and intellectual development and the ways in which play reflects cultural history.
Learn more about The Strong's key holdings:
- Toy, Doll, and Games Collections
- Video Game and Other Electronic Game Collections
- Archival Collections Related to Artifacts of Play
- Archival Collections Related to the Study of Play
- Archival Collections Related to Video and Other Electronic Games
- Library Collections
Online Access to Artifacts
Tens of thousands of objects are accessible through the museum's online database. These include examples of toys inducted into The Strong's National Toy Hall of Fame and World Video Hall of Fame, as well as materials acquired and preserved through The Strong's International Center for the History of Electronic Games.
On-site Access to Artifacts
On-site access to the full museum collection is available to scholars, students, collectors, and other researchers by appointment. Appointments may be made via an online form, or by sending an email to firstname.lastname@example.com for access to toy, doll, and game collections to firstname.lastname@example.com for access to video and electronic game collections. Please provide a topic of research, indicate the materials desired, and any special needs.


text:
Opinion: The UAW's Southern Invasion
Heritage Foundation senior policy analyst James Sherk on the UAW's fight to unionize plants in the American south. Photo: Associated Press
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... I ... I ... the Welt's wagons plan its NCR decide whether or not to unionize today ... what's at stake here for the car maker in what is at stake more broadly ... for the largely non unionized south ... I've got Heritage Foundation senior policy analyst James sure on the line ... from Washington and James ... get with the UAW and other union stints in Detroit ... why in the world with VW ... cooperate ... and try new to this ... it's a very unusual situation but in a German law ... unions have half the seats on the Volkswagen's board directors ... and all the other ride German plants I in Germany ... all I have what's called a works council ... but the of the nonunion plants in I intend to say I does not ... end of this is something than actually as I can solve the union that represents all addressable likens employees ... rather upset they see worker jobs and worse things than to Tennessee ... and that ... they don't like it ... and so I didn't sell through their position on the board of directors ... have up with a lot of pressure ... on gold looks like its management to live it initially to be in the past and two and three and ... other so one remaining on Monday so they ... are under the new norm so for now the UN and these had bought gains made a lot actually know is it's a ... it's not going to be that organic cooperate with you I make this plan run more efficiently ... is that with the U A Debbie's history bears out ... that when they're brought and ... they make these plants more productive ... know it's it's actually just the opposite the other produced on the parade organized a ... Volkswagen plant was in the seventies ... I knew was in the Pennsylvania and what happened was almost immediately the union went on strike they were happy with the contract offers ... a one-time strike the plant works from us try to strike ... over the course next decade never really got awful state ... and the then one so that ... ultimately went bankrupt in the community was devastated ... and that's been one of the the chief concern for workers opposed bringing the UAW ... is that we don't want this to happen to watch ... what if the broader issue here the chains that this isn't just about ... a VW plant in Chattanooga Tennessee ... that it's actually a bigger push for the UAW and other labor unions ... to move into the southern part of the United States ... that's exactly right that the UAW says this is likely to ... be the Michigan auto companies to be an illusion jobs ... in shedding workers here for quite some time now ... and if they can organize there than on eating competitors the sound ... it's a pretty bleak future ... future for to try ... until it is very ... very open agenda of what we have to unionize the on ... the MoneyBeat geyser and the undead it is not the future ... why if you were afraid nonunion auto companies want to bring in a union ... whose expressed goal is to try and not make the of the entire entry work better for most the members of Michigan ... what I would appeal to you if if you're not in Detroit ... I don't see the art ... James about thirty seconds left Senator Bob Corker Republican another state Republicans ... have spoken out against this ... plan to unionize said the VW plant ... is that legal under labor laws ... well there's certainly a lot to say that so they oppose the union coming and ... then desist letters that ... they don't want to happen shot knew what happened to try ... Senator Corker with the former Merrill shot and he cares alot about that ... he helped recruit the ample what what's coming ... and died before Wesley looks of it right he says ... you really don't wanna go there ... that said if we're actually chronic condition tax benefits or ... whether was one of the more than say hey Workers you should vote no ... well then it's about this is the Cavanaugh not interfere in the weather there for you dear antiunion ... idea left the company to work with my sis well it's a big fight an important fight over the following closely the Heritage foundation's Jane share ... thank you so much for joining us ... you welcome ...


text:
Deliver clear, quality sound to up to 1,000 people with Amplivox's Victoria Tabletop Lectern. This high-quality tabletop lectern is made of solid hardwood, creating a timeless look that matches any decor. The natural oak lectern is finished with a clear lacquer for extra protection. Inside the lectern is a high-powered, 50-watt amplifier and a built-in Jensen-style speaker capable of delivering sound to a room size of up to 10,000 square feet. Comes with a dynamic microphone with 15' cable and a flexible gooseneck holder. Flip open the angled reading surface and store small equipment, books and notes; the area also doubles as a flat surface for laptops and projectors. Each Amplivox Victoria Lectern ships completely assembled.
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text:
According to Polygon's recent hands-on session with The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker HD, the game will feature two new modes not found in the original Gamecube game.
Oh man, so awesome. It's totally such a new game /s
Cmon Nintendo. Cut the price down to $20.
Wait what? Really? They're charging $10 more because that's what games cost in the market these days. Yes, it's a remake. It's also remade for next-gen consoles. This means HD graphics, better framerates, etc etc. Its the same thing as if you were to take a N64 game or PS1 game and remake it for Gamecube or PS2. You wouldn't charge the same as the original game, you would charge whoever much it would be worth on the current/next generation.
Its cheaper than the original, plus all the enhancements in gameplay and visuals. Its worth the price.


text:
Jon Gosselin appeared on Larry King Live Thursday night along with his his attorney Mark Heller.
During the duo's explosive appearance, Jon Gosselin's lawyer promised to kill the Jon & Kate Plus 8 TLC reality show. Heller claimed TLC terminated Jon's Jon & Kate Plus 8 contract because Jon was planning to go on the show and announce he was ending the program by no longer appearing on it and by refusing to allow his children to participate.
Heller said he considered the termination of the Gosselin reality show "a done deal," stating that the TLC contract was "null' and claimed that TLC bamboozled Jon and his family into signing the contract when they had no legal representation of their own.
Jon went on to claim he had an "epiphany" one day that the show was harmful for his children and that he wants filming to cease immediately. Though he has said numerous times in the past that his kids were fine with filming, and that they loved the crew.
Jon insisted that it was his right as a a parent to decide if the show is right for his family. He also claimed that it wasn't about money or about him being dropped from the title of the show.
When asked by King how much he made from the series last year, Jon replied $1 million before taxes, $500,000 after.


text:
I'm sure there are some trail and mountain runners here who heard about Kilian Jornet's record car-to-car Grand Teton run/climb this past weekend. He completed it in 2:54.
For a visual taste, here's a fun video of Kilian and fellow ultra/mountain runner Anton Krupicka ascending The Grand in about 3:30, the week before.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_Z1-smR ... r_embedded


text:
Sunday at King of Glory Lutheran Church. (Photo by Gabriel Christus)
World War II veteran Bob Anderson poses Friday outside of his Loveland home.
Kimberly Culp helps her son, Thomas, 6, take a wheelbarrow full of soil to fill a planter box in the King of Glory Lutheran Church community garden Sunday at 29th and Wilson. (Photo by Gabriel Christus)
Lydia Morris, 10, rakes the dirt in a planter box, preparing it to plant seeds Sunday at King of Glory Lutheran Church. (Photo by Gabriel Christus)
Meghan Morris, 12, waters the dirt, preparing it to plant seeds Sunday at King of Glory Lutheran Church. (Photo by Gabriel Christus)
0408COFFIN.jpg Ed and Gina Gazvoda with the Coffin Spa, an environmentally better way to dispose of a body after death in Lafayette, Colorado April 8, 2011. CAMERA/Mark Leffingwell
Loveland resident Lenina Olivas, right, asks Gary Thomas, executive director of SAINT, a few questions about volunteer opportunities with Senior Alternatives In Transportation during the Get Involved Community Volunteer Fair on Saturday.
Members of Centenniel Elementary School's Odyssey of the Mind team pose for pictures Saturday at Mountain View High School after picking up their medals and trophy for placing third in Division I for the Problem 5 called Full Circle. From left holding medals are fifth graders Sierrah Huntington, 11, Lacy Sauer, 11, Olivia Babcock, 11, Victoria Sofias, 10, Ryan Filler, 11, and Vaughn Parsons, 11, and holding the team's trophy is coach Susie Babcock.
Fort Collins resident Jessi Seay plays with a puppy in a visitation room at the Larimer Humane Society on Thursday that she was considering adopting.
Larimer Humane Society foster and trasnfer coordinator Kristina Valentine, back, and her sister, client services supervisor Jennifer Valentine, vaccinate a dog Thursday in the intake room after it was given up by its owner.
Monroe Elementary School third grader Miguel Deollos, 9, left, his sister, Solana Vasquez, 6, a kindergartner at the school, and their uncle, David Province use flashlights to illuminate the pages as they read together during a Reading Under the Stars activity at the school Friday for Science Night.
Artsy Stamps and Paper Crafts co-owner Patsy Kral, standing, assists students during an embroidery-on-cards class Wednesday at the new business' location at 4880 Thompson Parkway east of Loveland. Seated from left are Joan Takamine of Greeley and Loveland residents Michaele Gillette and Ellyn Knowlton.
Studio Vino artertainer Tracie Jenkins, back, leads participants in a painting class Thursday evening during a friends and family event in downtown Loveland at 426 N. Lincoln Ave.
Jayd Almquist, left, shares a toast with Joelle Moran, right, and Julie Croce during a friends and family painting class Thursday at Studio Vino as part of a friends and family event in the studio of the new business' location in downtown Loveland at 426 N. Lincoln Ave.
Monroe Elementary School first grader Logan Kenyon, 7, draws a constellation that he named "The Heart" on Friday during Science Night at the school.
Eight-year-old Carrie Kingston peers at the moon through a 12 1/2-inch reflecting telescope outside Monroe Elementary School during Science Night on Friday.
Artsy Stamps and Paper Crafts co-owner Dianna Boehner, left, shares a laugh with Peggy Stroh, middle, Peachie Pherson, right, and Roxanne Infante while ringing up their purchases Wednesday at the store.
Thompson Valley High School senior Haley Dukart, 18, left, and senior Molly Markow, 17, work on their artwork with other students during AP studio art class Tuesday at the school.
Thompson Valley High School junior Hans Gillies, 17, sculpts a human figure out of wax as he works on sculpture Tuesday during AP studio art class at the school.
Eight-year-old Nicole Stepina, right, and her sister, Mandy, 6, work together Tuesday afternoon sweeping in front of their great-grandmother Mary Aguilar's restaurant located at Fourth Street and Lincoln Avenue in downtown Loveland. Aguilar said the girls were working to save up money for a family trip later in the year to go to Sea World in San Antonio.
Berthoud residents Rick Wilson, left, and his sons, Kaleb, 15, and David, 16, chat with Shane Skutdik of Denver while looking at arrowheads on display Saturday at Poudre Valley REA during the Loveland Archaeological Society's annual Spring Into Archaeology show.
A variety of items on display during the Loveland Archaeological Society's Spring Into Archaeology Show on Saturday at Poudre Valley REA.
Octavio Noda peruses a map of Colorado while he and his wife, Yolanda, talk about the educational compact disk they recently released on the counties of Colorado. The Nodas travelled to all 64 counties multiple times to gather historical facts and information. Octavio would also take photographs of important sites in the area.


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'SpellTower' Mobile Game Review
If Boggle ever got Tetris drunk and made sweet love to it while Words with Friends watched, SpellTower would be its love child.
The insanely addictive puzzler tasks you to form words out of connected letter blocks, moving up, down or diagonally, clearing columns and rows while racking up points.
Those with either great vocabularies or handy cheating programs can usually lay waste to word games, but SpellTower requires a combination of word-awareness and strategy. To be good at the game, you've got to make strategic plays, opening things up to make way for a giant 7-letter score.
An array of modes sit there to mock you, challenging you to score well enough to unlock others. Our favorite was Puzzle Mode, which adds another row of layers after each turn, forcing you to focus on problem areas of the grid before they reach the top and end your game.
SpellTower controls like a dream, making it easy to cancel out of ill-advised spelling attempts. Like your sister's college roommate, it encourages experimentation, not penalizing you for being slow or ignorant. Well, Rush Mode does penalize you for being both. But you can steer away from that high-stress mode.
Even if you're illiterate you can potentially tappity-tap your way to success. Granted, that may take you a few dozen weeks, so you're probably best off learning some words so you can hang.
SpellTower ($0.99), available on iOS platforms, was published by Zach Gage, who provided a review code. We played the game for two hours.


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I came across this video at the popular TED site. It's now five years old, but still completely relevant.
It's a brief talk by Marc Pachter about his experiences interviewing well-known people. While listening to his stories about other peoples' stories, I saw some similarities in his observations and hurdles in drawing someone's story out. We sometimes face challenges in getting our own family members or other interview subjects to talk.
Here's his discussion. The last 30 seconds are the definitive takeaway. Write yourself a mental sticky note and file it for when you're talking to others about family history.
Marc Pachter: The Art of the Interview


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New Blog Additions: 5/30/2010
The Bleaux Leaux Reveaux
Get out there and get reading!
Horror Radar: 5/30/2010
Director Warren Speed will be seeing the release of his new film ZOMBIE WOMEN OF SATAN in the coming months, so to promote the upcoming release, Strike Media Limited is hosting the official Miss Zombie Queen 2010 beauty contest in the UK!! Check out the promo below for additional information:
Bigdaddy Horror Reviews has several new and exciting articles out this weekend, the first featuring the greatest VHS covers to grace the genre, and the second which is dedicated to the hit children's Horror show Are You Afraid of the Dark! Head over HERE and HERE to read on!! If you are feeling particularly daring, also be sure to check out their interview with the star/director of The Wrong House, Shawn French, at the following link as well:
Thanks again and have a fun and safe holiday weekend!
-The HBA
Interested in Joining the HBA Staff??
The HBA has amassed a huge number of Horror bloggers that are each dedicated to their sites and reviews, which has been a great experience for all of those involved. Unfortunately, this newly united group has not been fully taken advantage of due to a lack of time and availability. One of our staffers has recently lost their primary work computer, while others are entrenched in school and various other writing projects.
As such, we would like to welcome volunteers that are interested in taking over some of the various responsibilities on the HBA, and hopefully enlist a few new dedicated writers that have new ideas for group projects and events to boost morale and create more interlinking features in order to bring HBA members together once again!
Thanks for your contributions, and we look forward to adding a few new faces on the staff,
-The HBA
New Horror Blog: 5/22/2010
Thanks for joining and get reading!
Horror Radar: 5/22/2010
Things That Don't Suck will be kicking off a Christopher Nolan blogothon that will be running from July 11th through the 17th, and they are welcoming anyone with a love and passion for Nolan's films to stop by and participate by linking to their film reviews are articles devoted to the man, himself. We have included a banner below, but be sure to stop by the blogothon announcement HERE for more excellent banners and for additional information on the event:
Watching Hammer: The Hammer Films Review is now running a semi-regular 'Top Ten Tuesday' post, where an invited guest gets to name their top ten Hammer films and share why. The feature is not necessarily the 'best' films, but those which are personal favourites, for whatever reason.
Ted Newsom (of 'Flesh and Blood: The Hammer Heritage of Horror' and '100 Years of Horror' fame, amongst others) submitted the first piece, which anyone with an interest in Hammer should be sure to check out HERE!!
Thanks again and have a Horrorible weekend!
-The HBA
Horror Radar: 5/19/2010
Blog of a Dead Dreamer is doing a give-away for both 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' and 'Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters' on CD. The drawing will be held on June 1st. Be sure to check out Blog of a Dead Dreamer for the complete list of rules and to enter to win:
New Blog Additions: 5/19/2010
Il Manuale Del Machete
Popcereal's Bad Ronald
Oh My God! Ninja...
Artwork By Living Dead Girl Nicole
Monster Beauty
Thanks again and have a great weekend!
Horror Radar: 5/13/2010
The Film Connoseir posted a hunormous post on ESP and telekinesis within the genre that is sure to blow your mind HERE!!
ShellHawk has several beautiful Jack 'O Lantern pots for sale on Etsy that you can bring home by clicking HERE!!
Slammed and Damned wants you to stop by and check out an in-depth article and summation of all of Devi Snively's short films, so be head on over HERE as well!!
Thanks again and get reading!
-The HBA
New Blog Additions: 5/13/2010
The Zed Word
Monster Movie World
Monster Magazine World
Nefarious Films Screenwriting Diary
Re-Animated States of America
Unfilmable Films
Trixie's Treats
Get out there and get reading!
Random Question of the Day
Even MORE New HBA Badges!
Horror Radar: 5/11/2010
Once again we have some more horrible happenings going on at a few of our fellow HBA member's blogs, and we are here to share them with you all!
The handsome and fascinating, Matt-suzaka over at Chuck Norris Ate My Baby has a MASSIVE contest/blogathon that was just announced yesterday. It's called the Chuck Norris Ate My Blog Contest, and much like a blogathon, to enter, you have to do some sort of post about anything that is Chuck Norris related between May 24th and May 30th. After that time period, the top three most creative and entertaining posts will be picked as the winners, with one of those winners getting the grand prize and the other two getting the runner-up prizes. So that is three chances to win prizes for the small price of having fun!
Stop by Chuck Norris Ate My Baby for all the boring details.
Shelly from ShellHawk's Creations has some jack-o-lantern pots for sale on her Etsy site, including some special Raku jackos. They look great and it is never too early to get ideas and new decorations for Halloween!
Click here and check out what there is to spook up your house with next season!
New HBA Badge is Available!
Looks great and thanks a million to Randal for his fine work!
Horror Radar: 5/10/2010
::in our worst Alfred Hitchcock impression::
Hey everyone! Check out these great new posts as submitted by your fellow HBA members:
-The HBA
New Blog Additions: 5/10/2010
Bloody Terror
Dead of Night Radio
Dekadent Dolls
The Celluloid Highway
Guardians of the Genre!
Breakfast in the Ruins
Night of the Liberal Dead
Mother Firefly's Faster Pussy Cats
Old Spooky House
Atomic Fox
Back in '81
Information Review
If we have missed anyone over the last week, please shoot in an e-mail to email@example.com. Now get out there and get reading!
Random Question of the Day
Horror Radar: 5/9/2010
Stop by From Beyond Depraved for a new feature: Bad Issue creates comic book panels from screenshots taken from a range of classic genre films. It has a very MST3K feel to it. The most recent edition is the Paul Naschy/Waldemar Daninsky vehicle "Frankenstein's Bloody Terror." Follow the link below to stop by and check it out:
Thanks again and be sure to submit any of your news updates to horrorbloggeralliance@hotmailcom!
-The HBA
New Blog Additions: 5/8/2010
Lets all take a second to welcome the newest member to the HBA!
Horror Radar: 5/08/2010
We have radar galore in today's Horror Radar, so take a moment and check out what our fellow HBAers have going on at their blogs!
2VS8 over at Two Thumbs, Eight Fingers has a two part interview with Jack Messitt, director of Midnight Movie. Stop by and check out the interview, leave a comment and keep an eye out as he plans on doing even more interviews in the near future!
Cinezilla has a post up pitting one Andrei Tarkovsky against Lucio Fulci. Was Tarkovsky influenced by the wild man Fulci? Check out this great post to find out!
Andrei Tarkovsky vs. Lucio Fulci
Lastly, Cortez over at Planet of Terror has a double dose of news for us. First up, Cortez needs someone with mad skills to create a flyer to help promote some independent films that he will be presenting at the annual Seattle Horror Convention. He has made it into a contest, and the one who comes up with the best design will win the following:
- A one year subscription to the raddest horror magazine on the planet: HorrorHound
- A Fright Rags t-shirt of your choosing
- Another 'surprise' prize (believe me, it will be good)
All artwork will need to be submitted by no later than 5/20 and sent to: jcorty28 (at) gmail (dot) com.
Also, there is a big announcement over at Planet of Terror concerning the return of the Meet the Horror Blogger series.
Stop by to find out exactly what it is…
That's it folks, have a great weekend, and to all you mothers out there, have a great mother's day!
Horror Radar: 5/4/2010
Got a whole bunch of stuff to share with all of you lovely HBAers!
First up and most importantly, Johnny Metro from Midnight Media is asking the horror blogging community to help him out with a very important cause. One of Johnny's best friends recently lost his mother to brain cancer – there will be a Marathon held by the American Brain Tumor Association in October to help raise money for support/research and patient/family support programs of ABTA. Johnny is looking to get donations for the marathon and every dollar donated will be matched by the Chicago Marathon.
Please stop by Midnight Media for more details and if you can, extend a helping had to one of our friends.
Starting Monday May 10th and running until Saturday May 16th, participating blogs will be contributing to "Blair Week" a carefully planned strategic operation calculated to saturate the target area with Linda Blair.
Monday May 10:Lost Video Archive - Savage Streets
Satan's Hope Chest - Chained Heat and Savage Island
Camp Movie Camp - Grotesque
The Horror Section - Hell Night
Full Moon Reviews - Bailout
Illogical Contraption gets Repossessed
Lines That Makes Things drops original Linda inspired artwork
Breakfast In the Ruins - Exorcist II
B Movies and Beyond - Summer of Fear
Camp Movie Camp - Nightforce
The Manchester Morgue - Rollerboogie
Happy Otter - The Chilling
Ninja Dixon - The Witchery
Lost Video Archive - Born Innocent
Unflinching Eye wraps it up with a look at Linda's fall from grace.
Lastly, there is a giveaway going on over at Big Daddy Horror Reviews where readers can get the chance to win a copy of the newest Dario Argento box set! The giveaway is in conjunction with the Big Daddy Horror Review's Facebook fan page and the box set includes the films: Phenomena, The Card Player, Trauma, Tenebre, and Do You Like Hitchcock?
Horror Radar: 5/1/2010
We got a quick Horror radar for you all this evening. Over at Planet of Terror, Cortez the Killer posted an interview with the makers of Blood on the Highway. It's a vampire comedy that's actually funny. A movie for fans of The Evil Dead, Dead Alive, and Darkness: The Vampire Version. Click here to check it out!
New Blog Additions: 5/1/2010
Hey boys and ghouls, it's a new month and along with that new month, we got us a few new members to add to the HBA!
Let's make these new additions feel welcome, and check out their blogs!
HBA and The Day After Art Giveaway #2!!
Hey boys and ghouls,
Welcome to the 2nd art print give away contest. If you want to win a copy of Scary IronMan, numbered and signed by yours truly just answer this question. I paid a visit to Twisted Flicks today and read a wonderful post
In this post about the movie Life Blood, we learn that God is not only a woman but a.......?
Now head over to Twisted Flicks to read the post for yourself Then, come back and post your answer. You have 24 hours to submit an answer, and all players who posted correctly will have their names put into a hat for a random draw.
SO, get out there, experience a new horror blog and win some art.
Later days,
Chrstopher- - -
All original artwork on this blog (c) Chris Zenga.
This artwork is under a Creative Commons Licence.
See The Day After for details.


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'In a week, a window installation on London's Regent Street will gain more exposure than in an issue of Vogue,' I'm told at an early morning film shoot at Topshop last Tuesday. A prime opportunity for any design studio.
Located in London's famed West End, Regent Street blends high street stores such as Mango and Zara with luxury brands like Burberry and Omega. Every year the Royal Institute of British Architects selects a handful of cutting edge design studios to partner with stores on Regent Street for a series of large-scale installations representing the brand's aesthetic.
This year the partnerships were: Topshop and NEON; Karen Millen and Mamou-Mani; Jack Spade and Carl Turner Architects; Ferrari store and Gensler; Esprit and naganJohnson; and Moss Bros and AY Architects. For the first time in this expressive annual initiative, WAN joined the architects on their journey to uncover why partnerships like this are so important for London and the architecture industry.
NEON at Topshop
Young architecture studio NEON is the creative genius behind projects such as the Centipede Cinema in Guimaraes and the Bang & Olufsen PLAY House in London led bold design duo Mark Nixon and George King. The team's installation at Topshop is an appropriately vivid wheel of mannequins dressed in the store's S/S styles and has been stopping shoppers in their tracks since its installation last week.
Mamou-Mani at Karen Millen
'The Magic Garden' branches across all eight windows in Karen Millen's Regent Street store, twisting and swirling its way through perfectly choreographed mannequins. A light-diffusing polyamide mesh fabric was selected by Arthur Mamou-Mani and his team to create an illuminated scene which draws passers-by into the store like Alice down the rabbit hole. At the time of going to press, Mamou-Mani's installation was winning a 'Vote for your favourite' poll on the Regent Street Facebook page with an impressive 63% of the votes.
Carl Turner Architects at Jack Spade
With its American roots, the Jack Spade brand store on Brewer Street (just off Regent Street) is a hive of knick knacks and magazine cut outs interspersed with crisp shirts and oversized totes. Carl Turner and his self-titled practice have taken this Americana as inspiration and expanded on the window installation brief with a strip of vinyl which travels up the façade of the store to give it a New York vibe.
Gensler at Ferrari Store
Probably the most established of the six practices involved, Gensler have been partnered with Ferrari to create an installation that captures the adrenaline rush experienced when one drives a luxury car. The 'organic representation' is a light and sound show that faces out onto the street but can be heard from within as a beating heart that resonates throughout the store. We spoke to Jon Tollitt from Gensler to find out more.
naganJohnson at Esprit
naganJohnson's piece for Esprit takes a rather different tack than its neighbours being located in a two-storey void within the store. Similar to the Jack Spade intervention, naganJohnson has taken inspiration from Esprit's roots in California and inserted reels of wooden fencing that extend upwards through a void between floors in a dramatic beach scene. Dubbed the 'California Wave', we saw a number of excited tourists posing for photos underneath its arcing swells.
AY Architects at Moss Bros
Last but by no means least is AY Architects' installation for Moss Bros. Lead architect Anthony Boulanger told us how the team was inspired by the traditional herringbone pattern that inspires many Moss Bros suits, leading AY Architects to create a 3D screen which casts shadows back across the store floor.
Click here to view the film in HD on our You Tube channel.
Text by Sian Disson
News Editor
Filming by Jim Stephenson, Edward Bishop and Steven Carr; Editing by James Forryan.


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Message Board
Bernard G. Lord Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Lord has written!
Author Lord's Book Reviews
Mandrake's Mission
In 1944, an American bomber, carrying dead navigator Paul Mandrake, crashes in the Swiss Alps. Twenty-one years later, his son Peter learns that Stephen Craddock, the family lawyer, should be guardian of his father's university graduation diamond ring, worth half a million dollars. Craddock, a sinister character, denies this. Is the ring still with Paul in the lost bomber? Peter is determined to find the bomber and the ring....
The Renaissance Group
Bruce Hastie, a young Scottish engineer, plunges into the smoke, grime and heat of a London foundry and finds Heavy, a colossus of a working man, reading poetry. From this paradox springs the hope of an artistic renaissance where musicians, writers and artists enter factories to enliven and change people's lives. But social change comes with a price - death and destruction. Can the movement survive in such a materialistic world?...


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[Illinois] Graphene Synthesis from Biochar using Wet Chemical Treatment Process
Published on
Biochar is a major by-product from pyrolysis and gasification of biomass. Biochar finds potential applications in soil amendment, carbon sequestration, super capacitors, adsorbents, etc. However, its applicability is limited by its properties such as low carbon content, low porosity, and surface area. Ongoing research on biochar explores thermal and chemical treatment to utilize the biochar in an effective way. This study focuses on converting the biochar to graphene-like thin films using a wet chemical process. Graphene is known for its potential applications as nanocomposites, electronic circuits, solar cells, and many other fields including medical, chemical, and industrial processes. The biochar prepared will be subjected to a pretreatment process, first oxidizing and subsequently reducing the strongly oxidized material. Although there are a few studies that concentrated on converting black carbon to graphene or graphene-like films, the carbon content of the starting materials used in those studies was about 99 percent. The carbon content of the biochar ranges from 50 percent to 85 percent. Thus, it is more challenging to convert them to high-quality graphene-like films. At each stage of the conversion process the reactants, products, and the by-products will be characterized by appropriate techniques. The study will explore the potential applications of the synthesized graphene.
Sriram Chandrasekaran is a PhD candidate in Biophysics and Computational Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is developing new systems biology approaches for analyzing gene regulatory and metabolic networks with Dr. Nathan Price at ISB. He has applied these approaches to study gene expression changes in the brain, and for identifying drug targets for microbial infections like Tuberculosis.
Sriram earned a Bachelor of Technology degree in Biotechnology from Anna University (First Class with Distinction) in 2008. He is also a recipient of the 2011 Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Predoctoral Fellowship and a finalist for the 2012 Lemelson-MIT Illinois Student Award for innovation
Cite this work
Researchers should cite this work as follows:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign


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Like a lucky survivor sprinting from a burning jumbo jet, Monster.com was one of the few local tech companies that emerged from the dot-com crash in 2000 pretty much unscathed.
The Maynard-based website had changed the way people hunted for jobs, and the way companies filled open positions. It owned two blimps emblazoned with its trademark monster characters, advertised on the Super Bowl, and became a sponsor of the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. By 2003, its parent company, New York-based TMP Worldwide, which bought Monster.com in 1995, changed its name to Monster Worldwide to reflect the career site's importance to its overall business.
Today, Monster is looking for a buyer and shedding employees. Its stock market value is about one-fifth of what it was in 2007, when chief executive Salvatore Iannuzzi took charge. Competitors like Indeed, Craigslist, Dice.com, and LinkedIn continue to chip away at the business that Monster built, and its share price hit an all-time low last week.
"Monster is like a dinosaur that never innovated or changed," says Keith Cline, a tech industry recruiter whose firm, Dissero, serves clients in the Boston area. "In fact, if someone's resume is on Monster and they're in the tech field, I'd be a little skeptical."
So what happened to Monster, which was Massachusetts' biggest Internet brand for much of the 2000s?
The business was built on founder Jeff Taylor's belief that the Web was a powerful new tool for connecting companies with prospective hires. In April 1994, before most of us had heard the word "browser," Taylor launched The Monster Board; it was among the first 1,000 commercial sites on the Web, and it was the first to develop software to match job-seekers with relevant open positions. In 1995, TMP paid $3 million to acquire The Monster Board and Adion, a recruitment advertising agency Taylor also ran.
Taylor was the face of the company, driven by a mission to help people "think more actively about managing their careers," says former Monster executive Peter Blacklow. Blacklow says Taylor had a vision of people constantly keeping skills and work histories up to date, even when they weren't in the job market. And he talked about "profiles" on the site, not resumes.
"That's exactly what LinkedIn did later, but Jeff saw it coming," Blacklow says. "As long as Jeff was there, he always had the mantra, 'Innovate or die — and death is not an option.'"
But Taylor left the company in 2005 to launch another start-up. Monster found itself competing with not just established sites like CareerBuilder and HotJobs, but also new players like SimplyHired and Indeed. The new "aggregators" displayed open positions from many different sites, including corporate websites and Monster itself.
Thanks to its comprehensiveness, Connecticut-based Indeed eventually began attracting more visitors than Monster. In September, Indeed was acquired by Recruit Co. of Japan for a reported price of about $1 billion.
Sites like Craigslist undercut Monster's prices. Monster's cheapest job listing targeting Boston workers costs $365; the same listing on Craigslist is $25.
Then there's LinkedIn, founded in 2003. The social networking site de-stigmatized the act of keeping your CV up to date, and in full public view. LinkedIn also enabled employees to solicit endorsements from former bosses and colleagues, and reach out to friends of friends to get some inside information about an open position.
Monster responded with its own service, Monster Networking. But unlike LinkedIn, Monster Networking came with a subscription fee, and it never took off. This year, for the first time, LinkedIn's annual revenues will likely surpass Monster's.
Traditional job boards like Monster and CareerBuilder "haven't been able to capture the attention of two highly desirable candidate pools: recent and upcoming college graduates, and passive candidates" — those who have jobs but may be willing to consider an enticing offer from another employer — says Ben Russell, vice president of human resources at Bullhorn, a Boston software company. Russell says his company has found LinkedIn and Facebook helpful in reaching those two kinds of candidates.
'As long as Jeff was there, he always had the mantra, "Innovate or die — and death is not an option." '
Iannuzzi, Monster's chief executive, came from Motorola. Trained as an auditor, he didn't have much Internet experience, and he booted a number of longtime Monster executives.
Iannuzzi now oversees the Monster.com career site from New York, visiting Massachusetts about once every two weeks. A Monster spokesperson wouldn't make Iannuzzi — or any other executives — available for an interview.
This year, Monster set aside $250 million to repurchase its own shares, money that might be more wisely better spent acquiring innovative recruiting start-ups, burnishing its brand, or enhancing the usefulness of its site. Today, Monster employs 700 people in its offices in Maynard and Cambridge, down from more than 1,000 at its peak.
In its earliest days, Monster.com was a disruptive force in the newspaper industry, taking away revenues from help-wanted advertising that newspapers had long considered their birthright. But then Monster got disrupted itself. "The hunter became the hunted, the innovator became the defensive and reluctant follower," says Hans Gieskes, a former Monster executive. (Monster is now a partner of Boston.com, a website operated by The Boston Globe.)
John Sumser, who follows the human resources business at the San Francisco research firm HRxAnalysts, says Monster may have lost its way, but it still has value as a brand because of the awareness it has built up over nearly 20 years.
"It's a gem that has just got some gunk on it," he says. "Now that Mitt Romney is looking for work, maybe he should come in and shed a couple unprofitable businesses and thin out the management."
What Monster needs now is a new CEO — and perhaps a new owner, too — who can revitalize its brand, and start investing intelligently to make Monster a relevant tool again for job seekers and companies looking for top talent.Scott Kirsner can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @ScottKirsner.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly spelled recruiter Keith Cline's last name.


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Hello all! You may recognize me – I'm Luke, a community manager on our BlackBerry® for Business LinkedIn® discussion group. I just wanted to take a moment to share some of the exciting things that are currently happening in our LinkedIn community!
The discussion group has been growing very quickly, with new conversations, ideas and members popping up every day. I'll highlight two discussions in particular that have been really neat to be a part of, but first I just want to take the opportunity to thank the members of our social communities. It's great to have a group of people who are using our products and who are willing to engage with us in feedback and discussion. It's definitely encouraging to see these social properties grow and thrive.
Check out the following two discussion highlights and once you're finished, head over to the BlackBerry for Business group on LinkedIn to join the conversation!


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Slash Rocks National Anthem at NHL Playoff Game in Los Angeles
Yesterday (May 24), the legendary Slash busted out his inner Jimi Hendrix by performing the national anthem on guitar at the NHL playoff game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Chicago Blackhawks at the Staples Center in L.A.
The onetime Guns N' Roses axeman rocked a stirring version of 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' electrifying the crowd right before the match (watch above). Slash proved to be a good luck charm for the hometown Kings, who won the game 4-3 and took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference Final.
As mentioned by the P.A. announcer who introduced the guitarist, Slash is getting ready to release his new album with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators this fall.


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GTL needed a new web page design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 19 designs submitted by 10 freelance designers.
My client is a successful singer who specialises in Sinatra and the ratpack. We need a web design that can capture the spirit of the era but which also looks new and "hip". Something similar to how michaelbuble.com works.
franklysinatra - http://www.franklysinatra.com
We want a new design that uses multiple html pages with some flash. Everyone can visualise the sinatra experience... a smoky speakeasy, open-necked tuxedos with untied bow-ties...
Put it on a webpage.
- Has to use some of the artwork from the old site, we don't have a lot of photography of the artist available so scavenge what you can from the gallery
- The logo has to stay orange on a black background
- If you use stock images, we'll need proof of purchase to cover ourselves legally. Ideally you will use comps and we will purchase the actual images. No $300 artwork please, we're on a tight budget here.
- We'll need a launch button for the floating jukebox somewhere on the menu.
- Layout similar to michaelbuble.com i.e. 2:1 width ratio of text column to images/video etc..
- Final artwork to be delivered as multi-layered PSD
- No cheesy designs
- No ripoffs - I've seen all the good jazz singer websites.