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I managed to find employment. Okay, so it's only for a couple of weeks. I did manage to get a few days in Seattle out of it for training, and on top of that of course is that any job is good because money is involved. We're getting to that point of being stretched too thin, so money is a very very good thing that we need right now and I am thankful for every bit I can get.
Quick notes on Seattle: yes, it rains a lot. The Space Needle isn't as impressive as I expected. I did enjoy the architecture especially near the water. There wasn't much of a nightlife during the week, but I did manage to get fries with gravy after midnight at The Hurricane Cafe.
My last post did discuss my eating habits and that last sentence did mention me eating fries with gravy, however, I have made some good small steps to improve my lifestyle. Since that post, I have not consumed any carbonated beverages except for some beers (mainly very tasty Coffee Stout from St. Louis's own Schlafly). My wife and I watched Food, Inc. which is an interesting look at the dark side of how our food is made with some semi-graphic imagery of animals in the slaughtering process. Since then my wife has gone vegetarian. She even has committed to Tofurky for Thanksgiving. I just need to switch her from 2% to Skim Milk now or just buy a 3rd milk variety for the home, since we already have Whole for our son.
We are trying to walk more regularly, getting in at least 3 walks of 1.5-3.5 miles in each week. I need more activity if I want to see some weight loss out of this. In the two and a half weeks since my last post, I have lost a measly 3 pounds. With my wife's new diet and the purging of most unhealthy foods from our home, I should see more progress on this front.
My birthday is tomorrow, on Thanksgiving, so after I devour my cajun injected turkey stuffed with cake, this plan will be back on track. I was kidding about some of that.


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Greetings, Fangbangers! It was Original versus Salvatores versus Witches, this week on TVD. And though the various sides were fighting with one another for any number of reasons: love, honor, retribution, redemption, natural balance
intestinal regularity, freedom, etc. . . . at the heart of it all, was one girl. She was the trophy . . . the badge of honor . . . the prize at the bottom of the cereal box. And that girl, of course, was . . . Elena Gilbert. Isn' it always?
So make yourself a salt pentagram, douse yourself in gasoline, and throw some horse pictures in the fire, because it's time for another
installment of The Save Elena Games
Figuratively (and literally) Fondling Damon Salvatore . . .
The episode begins with a sexually frustrated Elena waking up alone in bed, her arms drawn tightly around a certain teddy bear. Hmmm . . . that teddy bear looks very familiar. Where have I seen it before?
Ahhh . . . it's all starting to come together now. 😉 Having not had anyone declare their love for her in the past six hours, Elena is feeling mighty lonely. And so she calls her men for a little love and affection.
"Worship at my altar, vampire b*tches!'
Stefan is too busy writing in his diary to pick up his phone. And while Damon does pickup Elena's tenth call of the night (Oh sweetie! We all know you love him, but you should really try playing a little harder to get. ;)), he only does it, so that he can tell her he's "over it," and hang up on her ass.
"No more phone sex for you, Buster! (At least not until the next time I get drunk.)"
Now . . . this wouldn't have anything to do with that little "your love for me is a liability" comment Elena made last night, does it Damon?
Nahh . . . I didn't think so . . .
Tired of not being totally and completely doted on by her Salvatore boy toys, Elena stomps over to La Casa de Rich and Awesome, only to be greeted by a mostly naked Damon Salvatore (yay) . . . and guest (boo).
"Oh hey, Elena! You've met my good friend, Jealousy, right?"
Count on Elena to give Damon a self-righteous lecture for his extra-curricular activities. She even goes as far as to ask whether her lover has been compelled to sleep around. Far from being angry, Damon looks rather pleased with himself. And why shouldn't he be? After all, Elena is clearly falling right into his little love trap. Come to think of it, he should have done this a long time ago . . .
But this little morning meeting is about more than sexual politics, Elena wants to fill Damon in on Mommy Witch's plan to murder the entire Original Brood. Elena thinks this is a problem, mainly because of the awesomeness that is Original Elijah.
She also conjectures that Damon, having had a taste of the forbidden fruit that is Rebekah, might actually give a flying fig whether she lives or dies. As it turns out? Not so much . .
"There's more where she came from!"
You know who else has tasted Rebekah, but doesn't seem to care about her continued existence on Planet Elena? Stefan.
(Poor girl . . . she's had thousands of years on Earth to practice. And still, her sex skills are apparently not up to snuff.)
At least you'll always have eachother . . . *clears throat*
The younger Salvatore Brother appears, seemingly out of nowhere, to join Damon's chorus of "Just let the Originals die, already."
Outnumbered and outwitted, a pouty Elena stomps off, now even more sexually frustrated than ever . . .
As for Damon, he's ready to offer his brother a bromantic high five for a job very well done. "I like you on my team," he say congenially.
But Stefan's never been much of a "Team Player." It simply isn't in his broody, loner, eternally angsty nature. So, instead of high fiving, Baby Salvatore just stares longingly at Damon's blood cup, like he want to make out with it, and snidely echos Klaus' sentiments that Elena would be much better off without both of them.
(Truth be told, I think Elena's Teddy Bear would strongly disagree with this statement. Thanks to the state in which our Salvatore Brothers left Elena the night before, it is now pregnant.)
Aside from wishing to live out the rest of his life as a celibate bunny muncher, Stefan is also concerned that Elena's conscience will get the best of her, and cause her to eff up Mama Original's kiddie killing plan.
What? Elena? Ruin plans? NEVER!
Our brother the martyr . . . Our sister the strumpet . . .
Meanwhile, Rebekah and her sex hair have returned to the still-frighteningly unfurnished Originals house. So, of course, every sibling wishes for a chance to get a dig in at her expense. Kol, gets the first shot in, by very eloquently calling his sister a strumpet. To this Rebekah responds that she wishes to systematically remove his teeth from his mouth . . . which, in Original Vampire world, is likely a form of foreplay.
Jealous that Rebekah is getting sex
with someone other than him and he isn't, Kol commandeers Klaus to go with him to the Only Bar / Social Establishment in Mystic Falls, in hopes that he can remedy his little problem . . .
Klaus agrees, because . . . hey . . .why continue to draw pictures of Caroline with a horse, when, instead, you can ride her, like a philly? But, of course, Kol isn't quite done with Rebekah yet. He still has THIS to say . . .
I've gotta say, I'm loving this guy's sense of humor. TVD writers, please somehow insert a scene into the show in which vampire comedians Kol and Damon face off against one another with a delicious round of "Yo Mama" jokes . . . 😉
With Kol and Klaus out of the house, Elijah confides in Rebekah that their mother has been acting weirder than usual . . . Some of the weird things she's been doing include conducting privacy spells in the house, and looking at her children, as if she wishes to chop off their heads and wear them as hats. Rebekah sees nothing at all strange about this. Then again, she's probably still too busy nursing her war-torn vajayjay to worry about much of anything.
Besides Rebekah wasn't the one who had to suffer Elena lying to her face. (At least, when Elena screwed over Rebekah, she did it in her back.) So, Elijah decides to pay his pretty little liars a visit . . .
Tales of a Vampire Gigolo
Elena has invited Bonnie and Caroline over to listen to her b*tch about Damon having sex with other women. You know, because his love for her is such a liability, and all . . . Well played, Damon. When it comes to turning on the object of your affection, screwing Rebekah seems to have been your most effective manuever since Miss Mystic Falls. You can almost hear her panties falling, throughout the episode . . .
Bonnie tries to conduct Mama Original's privacy spell. But clearly, she isn't working hard enough at it because (1) it isn't working; and (2) her nose isn't bleeding.
That's better!
Then, Elena finally manages to stop drooling over Damon long enough to hear about Bonnie's and her mom's little pact with the Original Witch to kill all her kids that very night. Ruh-roh! Talk about burying the lead!
Both Bonnie and Caroline don't seem to think it's Elena's fault that Elijah will be included in this bloodbath.
I disagree. And then, like magic, the gentleman vampire himself appears at Elena's front door . . .
"Are you there, Elena? It's me, Elijah!"
Ever the romantic, Elijah decides to take Elena for a little trip down memory lane. (Silly Elijah, doesn't he realize the way to get into Elena's pants is by sleeping with his sister?) As they travel through forests, trees, and various grassy knolls, Elijah is able to recount, from memory, all the things that used to exist in that very spot, once upon a time. They stop at an opening to a cavern, which apparently has an intricate network of tunnels that run directly below Mystic Falls . . . in other words, the Perfect Makeout Spot.
This is where Elijah chooses to drop the bomb on Elena that he knew she was lying about Mama Original's motives all along, due to her telltale rapid heartbeat. But, of course, Elijah being Elijah even manages to make this accusation sound like a compliment, by peppering it with phrases like, "I admire you." and 'You have compassion." and "It is not in your nature to be deceitful."
"That's not going to work!"
It works like a charm!
The next thing you know, Elena is a blubbering, quivering mass of puddy in Elijah's hands. She confesses everything. "I just wish there was something I could do," Elena whines.
"Be careful what you wish for," replies Elijah, before literally stamping out the ground beneath him, hugging Elena toward him, and traveling through the floor with her Reverse Superman Style.
One word: HOT!
The battle lines are drawn
While Elena tries in vain to get cell phone receptions, Damon calls Alchy-ric, who likely hasn't left his seat at the Only Bar / Social Establishment in Mystic Falls, since last week, when he got out of the hospital, after that whole "death" thing. He's with Crazy Nanny Carrie, who never seems to mind that the only thing these two ever do on dates is get wasted. (Clearly, she's just as big of an alcoholic as he is . . . perhaps, intoxication helps dull the crazy.)
The Bromantic Buddies exchange some much-deserved barbs with one another. Alaric gives Damon a "hard" time about his Originals Sex, which, of course Elena told him about, because she tells Daddy everything. 😉
Damon, in turn, notes that Alaric is still screwing a psychopath serial killer. (Given what happens at the end of the episode, Damon probably should have been a bit more concerned about that.) Of course, the Elder Salvatore Brother has bigger fish to fry, at this point. His lady love is missing. And Damon rightly suspects that foul play was involved.
Meanwhile, Bonnie and Abby have kept their date to meet with Mama Original, who's just filled with syrupy compliments for the two witches who both almost maimed members of her family. She also shares a bunch of hippy dippy philosophies about "restoring the balance of nature," by using the direct descendants of Esther's former bestie, Ayanna. Through it all, Mommy's golden child Finn continues to stare at the witches, as if they are lunch. It's all highly unpleasant. But after last week, the Bennetts are so happy to have an actual plotline in this episode, that they keep their mouths shut.
"Just nod and smile, baby. Just nod and smile."
Underground, Elena runs into Rebekah, who's still rocking a major grudge, as a result of the whole "backstabbing" thing. What's nice about Rebekah is that she seems to be the only individual on the show, who's completely immune to Elena's charms. After chasing her around the cavern, roughing her up a bit, and forcing her to make a humiliating "ransom video" on her cell phone (But how did she get reception?), Rebekah kindly explains to her captive, Elijah's diabolical plan for her. The plan? Rebekah gets to murder Elena, if the Salvatores don't find a way to stop the Originals from dying.
Over at La Casa de Rich and Awesome, Elijah explains the same thing to Stefan and Damon, who seem reluctantly amenable to Elijah's requests. Anything for Elena! (Man, how many times has THIS happpened! For folks who claim to want Klaus dead, the Salvatore brothers sure seem to like saving his life, a lot!)
Back in the tunnel, just to prove that she means business, Rebekah actually douses Elena with gasoline, when the latter holes herself up in a vampire-free section of the cavern. Hurry up, Salvatores! Or else, Baked Elena might end up on the dessert menu at the next Originals Family Ball!
Speaking of balls . . .
The Original Hybrid Pickup Artist
The plan of the day is to play "divide and conquer" with the Originals, so a non-vampire can dagger one. Each participating Scooby Gang member gets a mark. Caroline, of course, gets Klaus. But Kol clearly likes her too , and chooses to show it with construction worker-type cat calls. Though, I guess the words "She looks tasty," have different connotations depending on whether a construction worker, or an original vampire are uttering them.
Either way, Klaus isn't cool with Kol leering at his Vampire Barbie. "Say another word, and I'll take your liver," Klaus threatens.
First his teeth, now his liver. I'm starting to think Kol is that guy laying on the operating table in the game "Operation." Everybody just takes what they want from him. (Personally, I'd go for the eyes and the lips.)
This is Kol . . .
When Caroline gives chase, Klaus runs after her gamely. *insert whipping sound*
"Get to know me, I dare you," says Klaus, as the two get comfy on a park bench.
But just because Caroline needs to keep Kol from Klaus, doesn't mean she's going to go easy on her mark. In fact, when asked about her "hopes and dreams" (oh, Klaus, you really have been a bit out of practice, haven't you?), she says this:
Back in the bar, Kol is busy trying to make it on top of the pool table with Crazy Nanny Carrie. (Kol, here's a hint for you . . . some meals are just not worth tasting.) So, busy, in fact that he barely sees Alaric come at him with the white oak dagger in the Only Bar / Social Establishment in Mystic Falls.
It's like a game of Clue! All around Mystic Falls, Originals begin to drop undead . . . except for Klaus . . . who just gets a stomach ache. But I guess that kind of makes sense, since he's the only Original who, as a result of his hybrid status, is immune to the white oak dagger. Klaus' Spidey Sibling Sense immediately tells him that Kol is hurt. So, he abandons that Jezebel Siren Caroline, and rushes to intercept and de-dagger Kol, who's currently being dragged away by Alaric and the Salvatores . . . though, honestly, I'm not sure they were all needed for this part of the plan.
A scuffle ensues, and Kol is destaked in the process, thereby reanimating the rest of the Originals. Alaric doesn't fair quite as well, suffering a cracked rib, and major blow to the head. He probably would have gotten much worse. But Elijah has appeared to put an end to the fighting, and get everyone focused on the plan at hand. i.e. "Stop Mommy Dearest, from eliminating us permanently, or Rebekah will
have a lesbianic underground interlude with painfully disembowl Elena.
The Salvatore Brothers know exactly what they have to do . . .
Heads I win, Tails Bonnie loses . . .
Over in witchland, Mommy Original has fashioned a pretty little flaming pentagram out of salt. The idea is for Finn to die in the middle of it, while all the witches chant, and permanently erase the rest of the Originals. (Honestly, I think it might all be for theatrics, especially considering how seemingly easy it was to "stake" all the Originals by staking Kol.) Anywhoo, after a brief hiccup caused by Finn "acting" momentarily staked, the Dead Originals show is once again on . . .
Outside the festivities, Stefan and Damon are discussing how much they both love Elena, and are fighting over which one of them will "stop the spell" by "breaking the Original Witches' connection to the Bennett line, by "breaking one of the Bennetts." Neither one wants to do it.
But only because it would piss off Elena, and possibly, temporarily make her love the killer less, not because they give two flying figs about the Bennetts. They actually do a coin toss to decide which brother will end up in the doghouse. We don't get to see who wins . . . yet.
Elijah and Klaus arrive at the Salt Pentagram, so that Original Mother can tell them in person what abominations she thinks they really are . . . even Elijah, who's a better vampire than most people are humans. But really, the Originals should be expecting this. After all, on this show, if you do have a parent, that's a good indicator that he or she is probably going to try and kill you at least once. The best way to survive Mystic Falls is to be an orphan . . .like Elena . . . and the Salvatores. Which reminds me, have we met Alaric's parents yet?
Inside the witch house, Stefan accosts a now-tearful Bonnie, coldly explaining to her what's going to happen . . . and all for the love of Elena. But then, in a surprise move, Damon pops up, and vampirizes Abby, thereby breaking the Original Mother's connection to the family line because . . . wait for it . . . witches can't be vampires.
In a moment of unintentional hilarity, Original Mother instantly feels the witchy connection severing. "Don't abandon me, sisters," she yells.
Oh, silly Original Mother? Have you not by now realized that these witches are some fickle b*tches? I mean look at their track record: they supported Abby . . . they abandoned Abby . . . they supported Bonnie . . . they abandoned Bonnie . . . they tortured Damon . . . they stopped torturing Damon . . .they tortured Klaus . . . they stopped torturing Klaus . . . they hid the coffins . . . they made the coffins appear.
Anywhoo, both Finn and Original Mommy evaporate into thin air. But we know we're not lucky enough for them to be actually dead, right?
The Aftermath . . .
Rebekah eventually lets hostage Elena free, but not before the two have a little heart-to-heart about how Rebekah is REALLY mad at her, because . . . wait for it . . . she hurt her feelings, by not really wanting to be her friend. (Because telling someone why they are mad at you isn't patronizing at all!) Rebekah agrees though, (She is Klaus' sister, in every sense of the term . . . and these two really do seem to have a soft spot for the ladies, and an almost desperate need for companionship. She also reminds Elena that Revenge is
a decent show on ABC a dish best served cold. So, Elena can expect to get hers in small doses. How sweet!
Speaking of cold . . . shoulders, Elena goes to see Bonnie, and is sent away by Caroline, who rightly tells Elena, that it's kind of her fault that Bonnie's mom is a vampire. (Grams would have hated that!) And that Bonnie's getting a little tired of playing the "Save Elena Games," and ending up crying as a result. (However you might feel about Bonnie, Abby and forced vampirism, you have to admit, girlfriend has a point.)
Raise your hand if you've been personally victimized, in order for someone to save Elena Gilbert . . .
Elena leaves sobbing, and, on the other side of the door, Bonnie is sobbing too. Something tells me Damon going to be getting a lot of cell phone calls tonight. 😉
"What are you wearing?"
Meanwhile, back at La Casa de Rich and Awesome, Damon and Stefan have a heart-to-heart about Stefan returning to the bunny diet after that heinous Bridge Incident, and Damon taking the fall on the whole "kill Bennett" thing, despite having won the coin toss. There goes Damon again, doing the martyr thing, and all for his little brother's love of Elena. On one hand, it's frustrating . . . and a little annoying. On the other hand, Damon did say this "I'm better at being the bad guy."
Now, with this, I agree. Once again, I'm brought back to Damon's and Stefan's conversation in "The Last Dance," when, again Bonnie's "life" and Elena's psychological well being were sacrificed to save Elena from an Original. Back then, Damon told Stefan that he would be the one who kept her alive. And he was willing to play that role in her life, even if she ended up hating him in the process.
Somewhere along the line, Damon lost a bit of that edge. He just started to love Elena way too much for her to hate him in return. But I actually think it's this so-called "bad Damon," who Elena fell in love with, in the first place. And something tells me that, while Damon's unquestioning support of Elena scared her away to some extent, his loving and protecting her from afar, while pretending not to care, will drive her right back into his eternally waiting arms . . .
At least, I hope so . . .
In other news, Elijah left town, leaving a Dear John-esque parting letter for Elena in his wake. Turns out, he wasn't just blowing smoke up her ass, so that he can kidnap her. Elijah really does admire and envy Elena's compassion. How adorable! Now, get the f*&k back to Mystic Falls, so that you can hit on, and sacrifice your life for Elena, just like everyone else . . .
Also, Klaus burned some pictures of Caroline and that horse. There were a SCARY amount of pictures, actually. So, is this the end of Klaroline? I'm thinking not . . . once again, giving a lady her space is the absolute best way to remind her of what she might be missing . . . even if what she's missing just so happens to be a sociopathic vampire, with a bit of a stalking problem. 🙂 He's still super pretty though!
Speaking of Klaus, Rebekah pops by to tell him that she's been spending a lot of time reading cave paintings, and one of them told her that White Oak Ash trees still exist. This means the Originals lives are still at risk . . . a little factoid I'd be a bit more concerned about, if we hadn't by now seen them all staked and de-staked, by white oak ash daggers, about 82 times a-piece, this season . . .
Oh Crazy Nanny Carrie . . . you weren't fooling ANYONE
except, perhaps, Alaric. In our lame, predictable, disappointing Big Bad Cliffhanger, Alaric awakens in Crazy Nanny Carrie / Meredith's messy house to find that the good doctor has been collecting evidence about the Mystic Falls Serial Killer, including one of the murder weapons. "You shouldn't have seen that," says Meredith . . . even though SHE KEPT IT COMPLETELY IN PLAIN SITE FOR HIM TO FIND.
Then she shoots him, which, I guess is supposed to make us think she's the serial killer. But that would just be too easy. As for whether Alaric was wearing his ring, and whether it will actually work to bring him back to life, this time. That remains to be seen. But something tells me that our favorite History Teacher will live to drink and drunk dial, another day . . .
Unfortunately, that's all the TVD she wrote, at least for another month-long-hiatus . . .
But hey, next week's episode is a DAMON SALVATORE ORIGIN episode, which is as good a way to make up for lost time as any, right?
And until then . . . we'll always have fanfiction, Fangbangers! . . . 😉


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Getting acquainted: Ducks, Coyotes play first of three straight
Phoenix head coach Dave Tippett said his club is looking at a great opportunity coming up as an odd scheduling quirk has the Coyotes set to play three straight against the Anaheim Ducks.
That is one way at looking at an upcoming stretch against one of the hottest teams in the NHL and the Coyotes try to avoid becoming the Ducks' latest victim in Saturday night's meeting in Phoenix.
The schedule of this lockout-shortened campaign has led to some odd string of games for teams this year, but none may be as strange as this run of three contests in five days between the Coyotes and Ducks. The Pacific Division rivals are meeting for the first time this season and will see plenty of each other over the next week.
The Coyotes will host the Ducks for two straight, including a rematch on Monday before this series shifts to Anaheim for Wednesday's encounter.
When all is said and done, the Coyotes may have either chipped away at their current 10-point deficit to the Ducks for first place in the standings, or found themselves further buried in the playoff race.
"It is a little bit like a playoff series where after each game there are subtle tweaks you want to make to try and get an advantage or correct issues that might be in the game," Tippett said after practice on Friday. "It makes it fun as a coach because you dig in and you've got to find ways to make your team better while playing the same opponent. In the playoffs, that's what you do every day. In a mini-series like this, with the points so valuable, that'll be the case this time around."
Phoenix is currently bringing up the rear in the Pacific Division with 21 points, putting it 11th overall in the standings but still very much in the mix for a playoff spot.
Anaheim, meanwhile, is second in the Western Conference to only the Chicago Blackhawks, who have still yet to lose a game in regulation this season and lead the NHL with 39 points.
The Ducks are eight off that pace but are off to their best start in franchise history through 19 games, having gone 15-3-1. That betters the 13-2-4 beginning by the 2006-07 Stanley Cup-winning team.
Anaheim has won eight of its past nine overall and pushed its home winning streak to eight in a row with Friday night's 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild.
It wasn't the finish that the Ducks would have liked as they nearly blew a 3-0 lead, giving up a pair of third-period goals before having to kill off a late Wild power play.
Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne scored in the first period and Matt Beleskey had what ended up being a huge tally in the second period. Jonas Hiller ended with 31 saves.
"We felt pretty good coming into this season. Obviously nobody expects to start the way we did, but guys are doing the right things," said Getzlaf, who has three goals and 10 points over a five-game point streak.
Corey Perry assisted on Getzlaf's goal and has logged four goals and eight helpers over a seven-game point streak.
The Coyotes come into this meeting a little fresher but also off Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Wild. Keith Yandle and Shane Doan scored late third-period goals, with Doan's fifth tally of the season cutting the deficit to one with 59 seconds to play, but Phoenix couldn't complete the rally.
"When you get into as big a hole as we did it's tough to come back from. We played better in the third period, but it's nothing to be proud of," said Yandle following his club's third loss in four games.
Rostislav Klesla also scored, but Mike Smith gave up four goals on 19 shots and was replaced after 40 minutes. Jason LaBarbera stopped all four shots he faced in relief.
Doan, meanwhile, potted his 323rd career goal, matching Keith Tkachuk for second place on the franchise's all-time list. Dale Hawerchuk is first with 379 career tallies.
The Coyotes and Ducks have split their past 12 meetings overall and last six in Phoenix.


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This is a fabulous year for the garden. The French Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) are full of buds and it promises to be quite a show. I hope I am not putting a Hex on it. Considering the unpredictable weather we are experiencing, tomorrow could bring an artic blast!
There are so many varieties I have not seen in years. The flower buds were killed by late frosts or some years, the stems are killed right to the ground. This has happened for several years; bad news for a gardener who loves them and has used them extensively in her plantings.( That would be me.)
Encouraged, I took many more cuttings.
I am also propagating two all white varieties ( Madame E. Mouillere & the lacecap White Wave) for my friend Mary who is creating an all white garden. She is well on her way and these white Hydrangeas will be the crowning touch. Isn't it amazing how much patience a true gardener can exhibit?
My garden and I have matured. I no longer stress the small details and rely on good groundcovers through which I will plant some minor bulbs for more early spring interest.
Since groundcovers are all so similar in height is essential to play up contrast of either colour, or texture. Some of the better effects I had achieved in the woodland became so labor intensive, I had to abandon them completely. So my advice is "go simple'
Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' ) and Golden Clubmoss (Selaginella 'Aurea') were a stunning combination. Then the weeds came. I have to admit that for a few years I painted weed killer on them with an eyeliner brush!
I am very fortunate to have on my property many native wildflowers, while they are ephemeral and will disappear when the summer heat comes on, the low growing Vinca does a great job picking up the slack.
Above, Leaves of three, Trillium & Poison Ivy; underneath, a carpet of Vinca.
This mottled ginger (Asarum splendens) is one of several types I planted, it is the only one that has survived & thrived. It is located across from the Mourning Bench. This was the only area where I originally planted perennials. What comes up now are the tough survivors or the plants that re-seed.
Below the subtle colours of Japanese Painted fern ( Athyrium nipponicum) & Mottled Ginger blend beautifully. Contrasting texture is the key here.
Elsewhere in the garden, the Viburnums have been sensational and there are still a few blooming. This year Kern's Pink has outdone itself.
So heavy with blossoms it has covered an unknown rose.
The only misstep this year was the loss of two mature Clematis. Victims of the mow and blow guy….. I guess one cannot have everything…..all at once.


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Even though I am a committed dog person who is deathly allergic to cats, I now have two critters of the feline persuasion prominently in my life over here on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Pictured below is the sister act, Primo on the right, and her sibling, Segundo, on the left. It is evident that they both share my zest for sleeping.
Their slave had committed the unthinkable: she had taken a two-day getaway to the Newport Folk Festival.
As someone well versed in giving the illusion of being a few I.Q. points higher than a Bonsai tree, that attribute convinced their serf to appoint me designated cat-sitter. I was paid handsomely with air conditioning and permission to eat all the fake-ice-cream-chocolate-almond-bon-bons from Whole Foods sitting in the freezer. There were two pints in there along with a neatly folded frozen bib inscribed with my favorite philosophical quotation, "Batteries included." In response, I took my Cat Patrol duties seriously and ensured that the kitties were fed, watered, and only partially neglected. I even coaxed Segundo, who briefly threatened suicide, off a ledge.
Me: Hey! You! Get down from there! You're gonna scratch the thing up!
At last, those seven years I spent minoring in Animal Whispering at NYU(seless) had paid a dividend. Call me an egotist, but whenever possible, I seize the opportunity to flaunt my vocabulary of 309 words starting with "a" and ending, obviously, with "zither".
I was spared the responsibility of performing litter box janitorial service, but I was in the know about where to find the cleaning supplies should someone dribble fluids or leave a deposit in the middle of the living room floor. Those accidents did not happen.
By the second day of their servant's respite I sensed that both varmints were feeling bereft. I, too, was suffering a degree of heaviness triggered by either their enabler's absence, or more likely, having consumed both pints of fake-ice-cream-chocolate-almond-bon-bons that had settled like an immovable lump the size of Rhode Island in the ever expanding pit of my being.
Overseeing two melancholy cats did posit an emotional challenge. I took it upon myself to orchestrate some spirit lifting in the guise of exercise, so I threw a tennis ball around the living room expecting them to watch me chase it. But, the game they excelled at had a cerebral slant: Watch Me Ignore You.
It dawned on me that what they craved most was simple contact: a belly rub and being petted on that sweet spot around the ears — coincidentally my favorite acts of foreplay especially when slathered in I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! As mentioned earlier, I am deathly allergic to the kitties so this presented a conflict. They were in dire need of being stroked as I was in dire need of being able to breath — preferably through the nose without the assistance of an oxygen mask to alleviate my wall-rattling wheezing. This wheezing always happens whenever I pet cats for inevitably I will touch my face prompting a transformation that rivals that of the Wolfman but with "why-me?" whining replacing full moon howling.
Both Primo and Segundo took turns nudging my elbows with their heads, their way of urging me to take action. As someone who does not have an iota of Cirque du Soleil flexibility, there was no way I would ever be able to rub my eyes with my elbows so this seemed like a compromise solution bordering on genius.
Unfortunately, elbows lack the dexterity of digits. The best belly rubs are not done with hinge joints, even hinge joints that strike a delicate balance between rubbery smooth and switchblade sharp. So, I threw caution to the air conditioning and substantially petted everyone everywhere. All three of us purred contentedly. Then, I hacked a hairball and washed my hands up to my elbows so vigorously, I left two layers of skin and what was once my watch floating in the sink … But I was still able to breath freely.


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YouTube's Founders Create Mixbit a new way to create and share web video
12.08.2013 18:12
MixBit™, a new way to create videos together.
The MixBit app and website helps people create videos together. The app lets you record, edit and publish videos as short as one second or as long as an hour—right from your mobile device. The MixBit site is also the first site that lets users collaborate with each other and remix videos uploaded by the community.
About the MixBit product
The MixBit app and website are brought to you by Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, co-founders of YouTube. We have always been passionate about video. We started YouTube to make it easy for everyone to share videos. Now we want to help people make great videos.
The MixBit website is a community of creators. We believe everyone has something interesting to say. We give people fun, intuitive tools to help them tell stories together. We think video should be a living, breathing entity and that creativity is a collaborative process. More than simply capturing brief moments in time, we help people bring stories to life.
- The MixBit app is currently available on iOS (iPhone, iPad and iPod touch). Android is coming soon!
- Visitors to MixBit.com can make their own videos without shooting original content by remixing video clips they find on the site.
- Videos are recorded in multiple clips as long as 16 seconds each. A finished video can include as many as 256 clips, for about an hour in total length.
- Clips are stored as independent elements for easier editing and remixing, but play as one seamless video.
- Edit at any time - even after your video has been published. You can also save an unfinished video for later and manage multiple video projects at once.
Watch the MixBit Promo Video - See what it can do
The MixBit app lets you record, edit and publish videos as short as one second or as long as an hour – right from your mobile device. MixBit.com is also the first video site that lets users collaborate with each other and remix content uploaded by the community.
I've always been passionate about video. It's the most powerful way to express yourself, reach others and bring your ideas to life.
When we built YouTube, we wanted to help people share their videos with each other and the world. Eight years later, people now upload 100 hours of video to YouTube every minute.
Today we want to remove the barriers to video creation. That means giving people intuitive and flexible recording and remixing tools so it's easier than ever to tell meaningful stories through video. It means inventing new ways to encourage and enable people to collaborate with each other. And it also means exploring new approaches to identity, such as letting people upload videos without forcing them to sign up.
MixBit.com is a community of creators: people who want to record and share pieces of their lives and the things they love—concerts, favorite foods, trips to new places, or just hanging out with friends and family—as well as filmmakers, citizen journalists and everyone in between. MixBit is also for people who enjoy playing with video in order to create something new and unexpected. And of course—MixBit is for people who like cat videos.
That's our vision. We want to encourage more creativity and set people and their content free. Today's release is the first step in that direction. More will come in time. Meanwhile, if you have questions or feedback, you can reach us at firstname.lastname@example.com. And be sure to send your videos our way on Twitter or Facebook.


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L'Wren Scott Leaves Her Entire Estate to Mick Jagger
Fashion designer L'Wren Scott left her entire estate to her longtime partner, Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, The New York Daily News reports.
The fashion designer's will, which was filed at Manhattan Surrogate's Court, bestows all of her possessions and property to Jagger, including her condo in Chelsea, estimated at $8 million, where she committed suicide and was found dead on March 17.
Remember other celebrities we lost this year
Additionally, Scott's ashes were distributed among her family members and Jagger. Scott's brother, Randall Bambrough, told the Daily News that some of the ashes will be buried near their family home in Utah and that they will host a service in Utah at a later date. Jagger, who was with Scott for 13 years, held a private funeral in Los Angeles for Scott on Tuesday.
View original L'Wren Scott Leaves Her Entire Estate to Mick Jagger at TVGuide.com
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Mind Your Own
My parents moved house last week. They weren't, though, the only inhabitants of their property to relocate. During their final few days of packing, a swarm of bees took up residence in my sister's old tree house. Unfortunately for the bees, there was no way that they could safely establish a hive there, so my mother called Gerald the Bee Man, who put her in touch with a couple of local beekeepers. They lulled the bees into submission with smoke, and then coaxed them into a new hive over the course of two days. The queen and her underlings will spend the rest of their lives pollinating fruit trees, far away from the temptations of suburban tree houses.
Deciding to remove, rather than exterminate, errant bee colonies has implications beyond the ethics of killing animals and insects. Bees exist not only to make a cheerful buzzing in our gardens and to provide us with honey. Einstein remarked, famously: 'if the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, man would have only four years to live.' Although this is something of an exaggeration, I can understand his terror at the thought of the disappearance of bees, both culturally and ecologically.
Bees are invoked, frequently, as metaphors for our societies – the way we live, the way we organise ourselves – and for how we should be. One of the most striking features of researching the Victorian period is the number of references to bees and beehives. During a debate on a new Bees Regulation Bill in the Cape Colony's House of Assembly in July 1894, one MP objected to the legislation which, he believed, would limit beekeeping in the Cape on the grounds that bees provided the poor with an example of hard work and co-operation:
Yesterday they were treated to various dissertations on the abject misery of the poor white population, and yet they were now asked to consent to the second reading of a measure which would deprive the poor white population of the country of one of the most useful object lessons they could possibly be afforded them.
Describing colonial society as a beehive, Henry de Smidt, the Director of the Census in the Cape, argued for the inclusion of 'idle' children in the Census because they formed 'an integral portion of the human hive, drones though they might be.'
Both men echoed Isaac Watts's tremendously popular poem 'Against Idleness and Mischief':
How doth the little busy Bee
Improve each shining Hour,
And gather Honey all the day
From every opening Flower!
How skilfully she builds her Cell!
How neat she spreads the Wax!
And labours hard to store it well
With the sweet Food she makes.
In Works of Labour or of Skill
I would be busy too:
For Satan finds some Mischief still
For idle Hands to do.
In Books, or Work, or healthful Play
Let my first Years be past,
That I may give for every Day
Some good Account at last.
(I prefer Lewis Carroll's version, 'How doth the little crocodile?')
For the Victorians, the appeal of the beehive lay in its tightly organised and maintained social structure, its strict hierarchies, and its efficient productivity. It was at once a metaphor for a harmonious society and a well-run factory.
Bees are also useful for describing our often fraught relationship with nature: I think of the periodic, National Enquirer-esque hysteria around killer African bees invading the United States. I wonder if the horror of Roald Dahl's story 'Royal Jelly,' where a beekeeper accidentally turns both himself and his baby daughter into bees, was reflective of wider anxieties about the implications of human tampering with nature during the early 1980s.
The decline of bees says as much about us, as it does about bees. But other than providing a series of handy, mutable metaphors, bees and, indeed, other pollinators both wild and farmed, are absolutely essential to our food chain. Alison Benjamin and Brian McCallum explain:
honeybees are vital for the pollination of around 90 crops worldwide. In addition to almonds, most fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds are dependent on honeybees. Crops that are used as cattle and pig feed also rely on honeybee pollination, as does the cotton plant. So if all the honeybees disappeared, we would have to switch our diet to cereals and grain, and give our wardrobes a drastic makeover.
The disappearance of the world's bees has significant implications for our food security. Ensuring that we have enough to eat is linked to health of our pollinators.
The decline in European bee populations began in the 1960s, but since the late 1990s, this has both accelerated and spread around the globe. Between 1985 and 2005, managed honeybee populations declined by 20 per cent across Europe, and 54% in England. In the United States, four of the main bumblebee populations have diminished by up to 96%. In Britain, three of the region's 25 bumblebee species are now extinct, and half of the remainder have declined significantly, some by as much as 70% since the 1970s.
A paper published last month in Science
showed more than half the wild bee species were lost in the 20th century in the US. It made use of a remarkable record made of plants and pollinators at Carlinville, Illinois between 1888 and 1891 by entomologist Charles Robertson. Scientists combined that with data from 1971-72 and new data from 2009-10 to discover the changes in pollination seen over the century as widespread forest was reduced to the fragments that remain today.
They found that half of the 109 bee species recorded by Robertson had been lost and there had been a serious degradation of the pollination provided by the remaining wild insects, with their ability to pollinate specific plants falling by more than half. There was an increasing mismatch between when plants flowered and when bees were active, a finding consistent with climate change, according to the researchers.
So it's not just various species of honeybee which are dying, but bumblebees and wild bees too. So why are they disappearing?
Scientists all over the world are still trying to answer this question. Initially, the dramatic decline in bee populations from around 2005 were ascribed to a mysterious Colony Collapse Disorder – also called Marie Celeste Syndrome – where whole, apparently healthy, beehives seemed to die overnight. In 2007, a third of beehives in the US were wiped out in this manner. In the same year, ten million bees were reported to have died in just a fortnight in Taiwan. In the winter of 2007/2008, a fifth of British beehives disappeared too.
It's unlikely that there is a single cause for CCD. A combination of factors arising from climate change, depleted habitats, decreasing biodiversity, and widespread pesticide use, have placed ever more stress on the world's bee populations. Last year, the varroa mite was linked to the global decline in bee numbers:
Varroa destructor has spread from Asia across the entire world over the past 50 years. It arrived in the UK in 1990 and has been implicated in the halving of bee numbers since then, alongside other factors including the destruction of flowery habitats in which bees feed and the widespread use of pesticides on crops. Bees and other pollinators are vital in the production in up to a third of all the food we eat, but the role the mites played was unclear, as bacteria and fungi are also found in colonies along with the viruses.
But the mite's arrival in Hawaii in 2007 gave scientists a unique opportunity to track its deadly spread. 'We were able to watch the emergence of the disease for the first time ever,' said Stephen Martin, at the University of Sheffield, who led the new research published in the journal Science. Within a year of varroa arrival, 274 of 419 colonies on Oahu island (65%) were wiped out, with the mites going on to wreak destruction across Big Island the following year.
The European Union has proposed a partial, two-year ban on the use of neonicotinoids on flowering crops to limit the decline of European bee populations:
Scientific evidence has mounted rapidly since March 2012, when two high-profile studies found that bees consuming neonicotinoids suffered an 85% loss in the number of queens their nests produced and showed a doubling in 'disappeared' bees who got lost while foraging. Neonicotinoids have been fiercely defended by their manufacturers, who claim there is no proof of harm in field conditions and by farming lobbies who say crop yields could fall without pesticide protection. Some neonicotinoid uses have been banned in the past in France, Italy, Slovenia and Germany, but no action has yet been taken in the UK.
The removal of the hive from my parents' garden made me wonder to what extent CCD has affected South African bee populations. And the answer – I think – is that local bee numbers appear not to have declined as dramatically as those abroad. I'd like to qualify this statement heavily: this is the conclusion I've drawn after a morning's worth of fairly thorough research. I'm not a melittologist (obviously) and I may well have missed a few vital and obvious studies.
Bees are certainly under threat in South Africa. As the South African Bee Industry Organisation notes, habitat loss and the arrival of foreign parasites have taken their toll on bee populations.
Also since 1990 a problem has emerged caused by the movement within South Africa of colonies of the endemic Cape honeybee (Apis mellifera capensis) to regions outside its natural distribution. The interaction between these Cape honeybees and colonies of the other honeybee species in South Africa proved to be disastrous. The so-called Capensis Problem caused extensive damage in the beekeeping industry in South Africa.
Interestingly, though, South Africa's bees seem to be more resilient to the threat posed by the varroa mite. The mite was first identified in the Western Cape in 1997, having probably entered the country in contaminated hives offloaded at Cape Town harbour. It then spread around the country, even infecting wild bee populations. But only a small minority of bee colonies have collapsed so far.
Why? Well, local bee species may have developed ways of repelling or resisting the mite. Also, South African bees, although under increasing stress, don't have to contend with the same range of threats as do those abroad. A 2009 survey of the density of bee populations all over the world concluded that 'Genetic diversity and colony densities were highest in South Africa and lowest in Northern Europe'. The authors of the study suggest that these differences correlate with climate – bees in more temperate regions tend to be healthier than those that are not – but also with the fact that South African bees are able to roam across far bigger wild habitats:
African subspecies disperse via long-distance migratory swarms, leave the nest in response to disturbance or disease (absconding) more readily, and have a faster generation time and smaller colonies than European honeybees. These traits promote population gene flow and high genetic diversity, boosting effective population sizes in Africa.
Agriculture, with its pesticides and low biodiversity, seems, then, to have an impact on the health of European bee populations.
We're already beginning to feel the impact of the decline in bee populations:
The most dramatic example comes from the apple and pear orchards of south west China, where wild bees have been eradicated by excessive pesticide use and a lack of natural habitat.
In recent years, farmers have been forced to hand-pollinate their trees, carrying pots of pollen and paintbrushes with which to individually pollinate every flower, and using their children to climb up to the highest blossoms. This is clearly just possible for this high-value crop, but there are not enough humans in the world to pollinate all of our crops by hand.
Looking at the comparative good health of South African bees suggests ways in which the global bee population could be increased. Limiting the use of pesticides, increasing habitat for bees by planting wild flowers and leaving areas of uncultivated vegetation on farms, and finding ways of preventing the spread of parasites, will all assist in encouraging healthier bee colonies. All over the world, campaigns and organisations have emerged to lobby for the protection of bees, and the coolness of urban beekeeping is linked, I'm sure, to wider concerns about declining biodiversity.
A world without bees, is a world which will struggle to feed itself.
Further reading
Alison Benjamin and Brian McCallum, A World without Bees (London: Guardian Books, 2008).
Tangerine and Cinnamon by Sarah Duff is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
highlatitudes #
A wonderful blog entry Sarah! I especially enjoyed the cross-disciplinary aspects. And it made me exited about the histories of little critters and humans again.March 5, 2013
Thanks! Really glad you enjoy it. I do hope I've got the science right, though.March 5, 2013
highlatitudes #
And seriously, the language on this http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Apis_mellifera_scutellata.htm is ripe for unpacking, (and probably has been unpacked).March 5, 2013
It's bizarre.March 5, 2013


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There are times in life when we're given unsettling news or information.
Such information can leave us bewildered or worried. We may wish the news was different or would reverse course. To deal with it, we might hide our head in the sand hoping "it" goes away. For some of us, receiving unsettling news may momentarily jolt us, then sobers us up very quickly and steers us into a new mindset. It is often better to have the news so we can respond accordingly rather than being left in the dark and blindsided. It's even better when despite the unsettling news, the outcome is good if you've made the right decision.
In this way, God's Word has prepared His People for things to come in these last days. In fact, as someone said, "The Bible is more up-to-date than tomorrow's newspaper." So true. He has also given us our focus, mission and marching orders. In our daily commune with Him, He gives us our instructions. God is training and raising up soldiers in His Army to endure to the end.
Many of us have prayed for God's will to be done in this perishing world — for Him to render justice to injustice; for Him to remove the corrupt and replace with the godly; that people would no longer place their confidence in idols but be wholly dependent upon Him, to soften hardened hearts to receive truth, and to fully mature and unify the Body of Christ.
We should reject any notion that this process will be neatly packaged with a pretty red bow. God is destabilizing everything to expose, dismantle and remove. He is using the situations as instruments to draw hearts to Him. This destabilization must run its course. But do not be afraid.
We'll move in greater confidence when we break off our long-held love affair with traditional systems and institutions, expecting deliverance from them. God Almighty is our assured Deliverer.
Things will continue to destabilize with "great distress" as never seen before (Matthew 24:21). As described in Matthew 24, these are birth pains — the outcomes of a wicked and sin-wracked world, a world at enmity with God their Creator. God will not allow wickedness to go unchecked. This earth is passing away. God will create a new heaven and a new earth as told to us in Isaiah 65:17, 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1. We are to look toward a new heaven and new earth where righteousness and God's Kingdom will reign. He is making all things new.
Dear victorious saint and soldier, I encourage you to run your race in obedience; to obediently and courageously walk out your calling amid whatever storms are brewing. Though the waters will be choppy, God is with you! He will get you to shore. May we have a heart for reaching the lost and desire to see this last harvest come to Christ.
We have wonderfully Good News to share with the world! That is the mission. God is extending His forever family — not failed institutions and systems. God has always been in the business of reconciling us back in right relationship with Him. Gratefully, as soldiers in His Army, we've been invited to co-labor with Him in this great mission field and ministry of reconciliation as Christ's Ambassadors as Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20.
If you are indeed an end times soldier, patiently encourage growth with our brothers and sisters who are yet to mature into this disposition. Encourage them in faith and truth. The weak and the strong both belong to God. May we be purveyors of hope or as a dear brother in Christ says, "be hope dealers" to those who are unsteady in these times. We should expect to grow spiritually as we graduate to new levels in our calling. May our hope, joy, a deepening love for others, peace and steadiness be considered the normal disposition of God's People in times of increasing instability— rather than a carnal default of worry.
Our God and Captain, King Jesus, has already overcome the world (John 16:33)! Jesus defeated Satan. In Jesus, our victory is already won and we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). May we live like we know this.
As things appear chaotic, remain mission-focused, not distracted by the peripheral or extraneous. Keep watch, be ready and keep your eye on Our trusted Captain to lead you ever so faithfully. Follow Him so closely that your focus will not allow you to become double-minded, causing you to be caught off guard and deceived. Our Lord's return will be joyful for us who belong to Him but very dreadful for those who do not as they've chosen the world as their portion instead of Him. May we be found fit to be partakers of our reward and inheritance.
Though our world is in perpetual unrest, we can remain in constant rest through our relationship and confidence in Christ Jesus. With this disposition, you will indeed be an end times saint and soldier.
Love and God bless you,


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What is a UPVC Conservatory
A uPVC conservatory may also be known as PVC, pvc-u, or a plastic conservatory. The most used material in conservatory manufacture is uPVC or unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (ridged plastic), also referred to as vinyl in America. The general reason that uPVC is used today in 100,000 of applications including upvc conservatory manufacture, is because uPVC is a thermoplastic a substance that loses its shape when heated and then becomes ridged again as it cools. Heat shapes uPVC into countless useful forms, so is easy to produce uPVC conservatory extrusions, which forms the upvc conservatory on the right. Where additional strength is required the uPVC is reinforced with aluminium or other metals e.g. an upvc conservatory roof, upvc conservatory frames or doors. In some non-structure areas the uPVC is strong enough to support its weight e.g. some window frames What are Hardwood Timber Conservatories
An alternative to uPVC conservatories is Hardwood conservatories. Perhaps you live in a listed building or a conservation area where planning requires you to have a Hardwood conservatory or perhaps you would like something different, to match your life style. A prestigious Hardwood conservatory will certainly provide this and more. Designs wise, you can have any design of conservatory you wish remembering it's best for the conservatory to complement your property. Conservatories are often referred to as Victorian conservatories or Edwardian conservatories, well sorry to disappoint you but the Victorians never had conservatories resembling current designs. These are adopted names we use today that's why today's conservatory are referred to as Victorian conservatories or Edwardian conservatories. A Hardwood conservatory would have been built by the Victorians for the growing of seeds and plants brought back from the tropics. Today Hardwood conservatories are very high tech and are used as a room to live in 52 weeks of the year. Whether you are looking for a Hardwood conservatory to create additional living space or wish to relax and enjoy the ever changing seasons of Mother Nature from the warmth and comfort from your Hardwood conservatory. We hope you will find a design you like. Maybe you live in an architectural designed property and you would like a Hardwood conservatory to reflect this.
Types of Conservatories:
Edwardian Conservatories When looking for Edwardian conservatory suppliers in Dorchester, it is useful to know a little bit about the conservatory. Edwardian conservatories have a spacious feel, caused by their striking pointed roof. Their design is also very practical and elegant with sharp sleek lines. To get free, no obligation quotes from Edwardian conservatory suppliers in Dorchester click here. Victorian Conservatories When looking for Victorian conservatory suppliers in Dorchester, it is useful to know a little bit about the conservatory. Victorian conservatories can be adapted to meet different requirements. They traditionally have angled roofs with ornate cresting. To get free, no obligation quotes from Victorian conservatory suppliers in Dorchester click here. Traditional or Lean-To When looking for a Traditional/Lean-To conservatory suppliers in Dorchester, it is useful to know a little bit about the conservatory. Traditional or Lean-To Conservatories are the simplest of the conservatory designs, but still an attractive and elegant addition to your property, the traditional or lean-to design owes much to the styling of glass houses and sun rooms of the past. Ideal for a wider property, the traditional is a great choice for a multi use space. The roof slopes away from your property and will run along a straight line. To get free, no obligation quotes from Traditional or Lean-To conservatory suppliers in Dorchester click here. P-Shape Conservatories When looking for P-Shape conservatory suppliers in Dorchester, it is useful to know a little bit about the conservatory. P-Shape Conservatories are ideal if you have a large space available for your conservatory . The P-Shape conservatory is a classic blend of traditional and victorian styles . The P-Shape provides you with a choice of usage options and is great for multi use spaces and families. To get free, no obligation quotes from P-Shape conservatory suppliers in Dorchester click here. Gull Wing ConservatoriesWhen looking for Gull Wing conservatory suppliers in Dorchester, it is useful to know a little bit about the conservatory. The Gullwing Conservatory is an ideal choice if you are looking for the ornate lines of an Victorian conservatory over a wider area. The roof fans out from the wall plate which runs along the line of your property for strength and an attractive appearance. To get free, no obligation quotes from Gull Wing conservatory suppliers in Dorchester click here. Garden Conservatories When looking for Garden conservatory suppliers in Dorchester, it is useful to know a little bit about the conservatory. Garden conservatories are modern and stylish enabling them to be very flexible and they can cope with single, double or even sliding patio doors. They have no limitations in terms of style and shape. To get free, no obligation quotes from Garden conservatory suppliers in Dorchester click here. Combination Conservatories When looking for combination conservatory suppliers in Dorchester, it is useful know a little bit about the conservatory. Combination conservatories offer extended flexibility and the design allows for any shape, and size of conservatory. They combine elements of the garden room and Victorian conservatories. To get free, no obligation quotes from combination conservatory suppliers in Dorchester click here.
Planning Permission and Building Regulations:
Everything you need to know about Planning Permission and Building Regulations for your Conservatory
What is the difference between Planning Permission and Building Regulations? Planning Permission and Building Regulations are often confused. Both are the responsibility of the Local Authority and basically, Planning Permission takes into consideration the aesthetic effect of a new building/extension on the surrounding homes and neighbourhood, whilst Building Regulations define how the structure must be constructed in terms of thermal efficiency etc.
Do I need Planning Permission? Here is a summary of the basic facts. In most cases you will not require planning permission for your conservatory under the present legislation, unless you are adding a conservatory to a house that has already been extended. You may also need to check if your house is a 'new build' as developers sometimes place restrictions on them.
Listed below are some conditions that may attract planning permission:
Will my conservatory need to satisfy Building Regulations?
Listed below are some of the exemptions requirements, these criteria must be met for a conservatory to be classified as exempt:
We supply Conservatories in all areas of Dorchester including:
Trusted Local Suppliers, Conservatories Dorchester service many areas in the Dorchester area including: Beaminster, Blandford Forum, Bridport, Dorchester, Lyme Regis, Portland, Sherborne, Sturminster Newton, Weymouth. Conservatories Dorchester Content Disclaimer: All information provided on this web site is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute a legal contract between the Trusted Local Suppliers Site and any person or entity unless otherwise specified. Information on the Trusted Local Suppliers web site is subject to change without prior notice. Although every reasonable effort is made to present current and accurate information, Trusted Local Suppliers makes no guarantees of any kind.
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Review of Journeys: Are @KIPP charter schools pathological?
Jim Horn et al. will soon publish a new book entitled Work Hard, Be Hard: Journeys Through "No Excuses" Teaching. The following is a review based on the advance copy that I received.
Jim Horn et al. have collected important perspectives from current and former Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) teachers in a new book entitled Work Hard, Be Hard: Journeys Through "No Excuses" Teaching. The KIPP corporate charter school chain of schools has received hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate, local, foundation, state and federal dollars since its inception in 1994. The KIPP charter chain was started by Mike Feinberg (See Frank Convo with KIPP's Mike Feinberg: Do you call BS?) and Dave Levin, Teach For America alums. They have found ready allies in the corporate education reform movement— whose policies are focused on private control of public schools.
Since the KIPP charter chain is privately controlled, they have also restricted access and only allowed a select few outside research projects to enter their schools. Horn wrote in Journeys that he requested access to KIPP schools to expand his sample and was rejected by the charter chain. Sadly, this is not an isolated example of KIPP refusing to cooperate with researchers. I personally experienced the restrictive nature of KIPP schools towards outside researchers. A few years ago, KIPP Austin relayed in conversations with a UT-Austin research team that they were having problems with Black student attrition. A colleague and myself set up a research design that protected their anonymity and we expressed our intent to publish the work in a peer reviewed journal. Then the KIPP program was featured on Oprah as an ideal location for Black students and the Austin campus of the KIPP charter chain backed out of the research project. That sequestering experience inspired a peer reviewed research study independent of KIPP Austin published by the Berkeley Review of Education examining the attrition of Black students out of KIPP and other charter schools. We found that charters in Texas often had double and triple the attrition rates of traditional urban public school districts. In fact, Cloaking Inequity, my education policy and social justice blog, was first begun to address the KIPP public relations machine that respond to the black student attrition study. In their press releases, KIPP largely avoided the attrition findings in the Texas' Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) data that confirmed Black student attrition issue that KIPP Austin had first raised in conversations.
I suspect KIPP and their supporters will respond to Journeys with a few predictable assertions. First they will likely argue that the KIPP network is vast and varied— and the interviews with the nearly 30 KIPP teachers are example of just a few bad apple teachers and/or schools. I might have been convinced by this argument several years ago before one of my former students joined Teach For America and was assigned to KIPP in a large, urban Texas city. Two years later, the student wrote a blog post on Cloaking Inequity entitled Tell-All From A TFA and KIPP Teacher: Unprepared, Isolation, Shame, and Burnout which described issues eerily similar to those documented in Journeys. Things were so bad at KIPP during her TFA teaching stint that she experienced a mental breakdown. I honestly thought this was an isolated incident until I read Journeys. A KIPP teacher stated in the book that on her campus:
I've seen about four teachers have complete nervous breakdowns…After two years you are considered a veteran teacher at KIPP. I mean you become physically ill. Your body breaks down— you can't take it anymore.
Another argument KIPP and their supporters will likely make is that KIPP is no different from traditional public schools and/or all organization suffer from disfunction. But the question at issue is not another's house, but your own. Is the KIPP culture as described by the current and former teachers pathological? In Journeys, a KIPP teacher was asked about the charter chain's conception of "team and family." She characterized the charter chain as being "part of a very abusive dysfunctional family." A dysfunctional family that "requires a totalizing submissiveness to a domineering and non-negotiable system." For example, KIPP campuses have labeled kids by pinning demeaning messages on their clothes like scarlet letters. One KIPP teacher stated that at the campus, "those who resisted the rules or were slackers wore a large sign pinned to their clothes labeled miscreant." At another campus, students who were out of favor were labelled with the words "bench" or "porch." There were many other forms of racialized and psychological solitary confinement that Journeys identified across various campuses.
So instead of a few bad apple schools, I think the old saying that "one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch" is probably more appropriate.
Teachers described KIPP schools as being purposefully emotionally explosive and "militant." One teacher relayed that,
Students are managed largely through bullying, screaming and personal insults. At my previous [traditional public] school teachers did not raise their voice ONCE during the course of the year. At [the KIPP school where this teacher worked] screaming and yelling is ubiquitous.
Why does KIPP encourage and/or allow these practices? Horn writes, school leaders relayed that "because of cultural differences, black students are accustomed to being screamed at…because that's how their parents speak to them." A KIPP teacher characterized the worst offender at her school as a "screamer, swearer and humiliator." In fact, I personally experienced a similar form of symbolic violence from a KIPP supporter when Jonathan Alter interrupted my comments on MSNBC about KIPP in my peer reviewed research during a taping of the Melissa Harris Perry Show. He yelled on national TV that he would not "allow" me to "diss" KIPP.
KIPP might also argue that they are the beneficiaries of widespread support in communities across the nation. It is very clear that KIPP benefits from powerful influential and wealthy supporters in government, the media, and foundations. Their no excuses approach to educating poor children has resonated with the elites in society and they have showered the corporate charter chain with resources for decades. So it may be surprising to some to read the counternarrative from KIPP teachers that is quite different than what you typically read in the newspapers, see in documentaries like Waiting for Superman, and generally experience in the public discourse. I proffer that the KIPP teachers' counternarratives in Journeys should be required reading for all of KIPPs influential supporters. Why? Mutua (2008) explained the importance of counternarratives in society:
In their broadest formulation, counternarratives are stories/narratives that splinter widely accepted truths about people, cultures, and institutions as well as the value of those institutions and the knowledge produced by and within those cultural institutions. The term counternarrative itself clearly highlights its essence in expressing skepticism of narratives that claim the authority of knowledge of human experience or narratives that make grand claims about what is to be taken as truth.
So what is the counternarrative that the current and former KIPP teachers expressed in Journeys? There is a saying that I often heard in Austin that if you visit a KIPP school you would become KIPPnotized— essentially very impressed by their approach. One of the KIPP teachers spoke to being initially impressed during her recruitment and then later discovering that KIPP was "hell."
There was so much about it that was so good and promising in the beginning, and I got hooked into that from the minute I saw the news piece on them… but the dirty little secrets are what you don't know until you are in their trenches.
The KIPP teachers in Journeys detail a variety of working condition issues that created high levels of turnover specific to the KIPP model in their schools— too many to discuss here. One teacher compared her experience teaching in KIPP and a public school. She said she wouldn't recommend teaching in KIPP and stated "I wouldn't wish it on anyone who wanted to be a teacher for the long-term…It's exhausting. It's demoralizing." You might be wondering: If the working conditions are as bad as the current and former KIPP teachers say they were, how could the charter chain campuses stay open? Journeys explained,
Without a constant infusion of new teachers to replace all those who burn out… KIPP would have to shut its doors… The role of Teach For America and programs based on Teach For America's hyper-abbreviated preparation are crucial, then, for the continued survival of… KIPP.
One teacher reported that 40% of the teachers on that campus were TFA teachers. The national number for the percentage of teachers are unknown in KIPP, but what is known is that about one third of all TFA teachers teach in charter schools. Of note, the debate about TFA's effectiveness rages in the public discourse. A KIPP teacher and TFA trainer weighed in on KIPP's use of novice TFA teachers by stating, "You cannot teach someone to be a great teacher in 20 days."
In summary, Journeys is shocking— but expected considering what is known about KIPP's "no excuses" culture. What makes this piece unique is the unprecedented interviews with current and former KIPP teachers across many schools and years in the charter chain. While many claim that KIPP is beyond reproach and is the shining star of charter schools, I submit that we should instead be asking whether KIPP can actually reform their reform based on the counternarratives provided by the KIPP teachers, or whether their approach is simply a pathological and abusive approach that the elites would never prescribe or allow for their own kids— except of course if they sent them away to military school.
For all of Cloaking Inequity's post on KIPP click here.
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Twitter: @ProfessorJVH
Click here for Vitae.
Mutua, K. (2008) "Counternarrative." The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods. Ed. Lisa M. Given. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.


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At a park playing footy?
Best wishes always,
Looks like a good day was had by all!! Gorgeous photos, and I do envy you that lovely, warm sunshine. That barbecue sure looks scrummy!ReplyDelete
HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY to you mate! LOL I saw that on the calender this morning...happy day to you! :DReplyDelete
My day was spent relaxing on bed rest..in the coolness of the AC unit it was flippin hot! Happy Australia day darling looked like u all had a great day!ReplyDelete
Happy Australia day darling....enjoy !!! love love love Ria....xxx...ReplyDelete
Happy Australia Day! Wish I could have spent it there with you!!! :O)ReplyDelete
Hi Natasha,
Well, I wasn't over there, but I hope you all had a wonderful day. You deserve it.
God bless,
Glad your special day was wonderful....so deserved after the tragic flooding!ReplyDelete
Ahhh all the Aussie Classics! Happy Australia Day Natasha!
Looks like a wonderful time and it is so nice to look at sunny photo's! We got 5 inches of snow today.
Thanks for sharing that song- loved it! Even though I'm only an honorary Aussie, I thoroughly enjoyed Australia Day. Glad you did too.ReplyDelete
Sounds like a delightful day. I would love some sun, a pool, and barbecue right about now!ReplyDelete
I forgot to say that I'm loving the new photos on the top of your blog!ReplyDelete
Hi Natasha,
Happy Australia Day. Love the song, and I will be back for Sunday Song. That BBQ looks amazing.
Natasha, I was watching the video and listening to this beautiful song last night. I was interrupted just as the video was finished. So I'm back this morning to say, hope you had a good Australia Day. From the looks of the photos, you and the family had a beautiful day. Both the video and song were very touching. I dreamed about Australia last night. ;-)
I trust you and your family are doing well. Think of you each day, my friend. ~ Sarah
Happy belated Australian Day to you! The weather looks so nice there and that food looks delicious!. It's cold and snowy here, so I'm quite envious of how you spent your day. :)ReplyDelete
Bonjour Natasha,
Looks like you had a wonderful day - nothing better than a day with the family having fun together!
Bonne weekend,
It's really lovely to see you up and running again after all the floods. Hope your Aussie day was a ripper ;-) Too cold here for the pool or a barbie. Just vegemite on toast. xxxReplyDelete
The pictures were neat...seems like you guys had an awesome time....ReplyDelete
hi Natasha - thanks so much for stopping by my page this week! I can't remember if I told you this before, but I spent a month in Melbourne one summer - it was WONDERFUL. I absolutely loved Australia, just not the flights to get down there!ReplyDelete
Hi Natasha, i hope you are feeling a little more sunny and had an enjoyable Australia Day with your family. Good to hear you are posting on Sunday as I will be posting my first Sunday Song of the year then as well. See you Sunday :)ReplyDelete
Your skies are beautiful! Sounds like a fun day, Natasha!...ChristineReplyDelete
Beautiful video! Enjoyed the pic's of your family. It seems you all had a very nice day!ReplyDelete
Hope you had a wonderful holiday.
The Seekers - are they still singing? I guess it was in the 60's that I first heard them sing wonderful folk type music, and then became more aware of your beautiful country.
Hope your Australia Day was full of good food and fun memories. From your pictures, I'd venture to say you accomplished both of those. Thanks for sharing....


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Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him. – (Psalm 34:8, NIV)
Give the Lord a chance to show you how good He is. Great blessings belong to those who depend on Him! – (Psalm 34:8, ERV)
Taste and see how good the Lord is! The one who takes refuge in Him is truly happy! – (Psalm 34:8, CEB)
When I look back and reflect on all that has transpired over the past few years, I am in awe of the goodness of God. Though I have walked through some seasons of trial and heartache, He has been my refuge and my strength. All the while, the Lord provided and protected, and has now brought me into a space of unbelievable blessing. Even on the most difficult days, I have been fully aware of His goodness and grace. Today, I know happiness that my heart had only hoped for, and am ever aware of just how good God truly is. This evening, my Viking and I leave on our honeymoon for eight glorious days. Together, we will experience new things in a destination that neither of us have been. Each step of the way, leading to today, we have stood in awe at just how good the Lord has been to us. May we always run to our Redeemer, who is our refuge, and depend on Him in all things and at all times; for He is good and His love endures forever.
The Lord God is good,
He's faithful and true;
He answers our call,
To make all things new.
God is our refuge,
Our safe place to stay;
Our bringer of hope,
Who shows us the way.
Great are His blessings,
So full is His joy;
For those who trust Him,
His grace is employed.
All thanks be to God,
For all He has done;
For love and fresh starts,
As each day's begun.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our refuge and the source of all blessings bestowed upon us. Thank You that You are faithful forever to be present with us in all things and at all times. Thank You that You are so good. Forgive us for our moments of doubt when trials feel that they might overwhelm us. Teach us to run to You, our refuge, in seasons of struggle and those filled with joy. Show us how to love those around us in a way that demonstrates the same sense of security and abundant blessing that You grant to us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we taste and see how wonderful You are. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth (Moreno) Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
Give thanks to the Lord because He is good, because His faithful love endures forever. – 1 Chronicles 16:34