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Thule's AeroBlade Edge (Flush Mount) is an integrated foot/load bar with a low-profile, aerodynamic design for vehicles without a factory rack. The AeroBlade bars use BoxBeam construction, making them some of the strongest load bars on the market with a capacity of up to 165 pounds. In addition to their wing-like shape, the AeroBlades sport a textured surface that greatly improves wind flow so you get drastically reduced noise and much better gas mileage. These flush-mount feet will need a fit kit for your specific vehicle (sold separately).
Thule's Sprint Fork Mount combines security and convenience to make racking your bike easier than ever. The AcuTight knob clicks like a gas cap when you reach optimal hold to ensure that your bike is secured to the rack. Move the telescoping wheel tray in and out to customize the rack to fit your bike, or to simply get out of the way for greater hatch clearance on your vehicle. Vibration damping elastomers on the mounting surfaces and wheel tray help absorb road shock from making its way to your frame and wheels. Thanks to the ratcheting strap, it handles tires up to 2.6-inches wide and high-profile rims with ease. And, Thule's One-Key lock cylinders (sold separately) make it easy to secure your bike to the Sprint and your Sprint to your roof rack.
Thule's premium fork mount bike carrier. It combines security and convenience with patented assurance technologies, making it the most complete fork mount bike carrier - AcuTight knob clicks when you reach optimal hold to ensure your bike is secured to the rack - 2 One-Key lock cylinders included to lock the bike to the carrier and the carrier to the rack - SonicHead design provides added bike security and timeless style - Telescoping wheel tray moves in and out securely fitting most bikes while providing greater hatch clearance - "D" shaped low profile and lightweight aluminum tray is corrosion-resistant to withstand the elements - Ratcheting wheels strap quickly and easily secures the rear wheel - Load capacity (lb): 35 lb - Dimensions (in): 44 x 7.5 in x 4.5 - Weight (lb): 8 lb - Fits maximum wheel dimensions (in): 3 - Thru-axle compatible: Adapter Required, Thule Thru-Axle Adapter Lefty 530L
$59.95 - $59.99
Thule's Thru-Axle Adapter allows you to carry bikes with through-axle front forks on Thule and most other fork-mounted bike carriers.
2019 Model Talon comes standard with our Universal Huske Fork Mount upgrade, 9mm plugs and a quick release skewer. The Talon is our workhorse, 1-bike carrier and our best seller. It's a fork-mount-style rack, with three of our powerful 210 lb. pull-strength rated vacuum cups holding it onto your car's roof, trunk or back glass. A 22-inch Rear Wheel Strap is included to secure the back tire. This rack is small and light enough to fit into a bike bag or carry-on luggage for you adventurous types who travel with your bikes. Probably the easiest rack in the world to install, and removes in just seconds without the need for glue or costly installation. Fits on virtually any car. Minimal assembly required.
12 x 100mm fork adapter for use with 9mm fork-mount bike racks. - 12mm x 100mm - Axle not included. Works with your bike's thru-axle - Built-in safety tabs - Durable black powder-coat finish - All Yakima thru-axle ForkAdapters are compatible with Yakima ForkLift, SprocketRocket, Viper, Boa, SteelHead, CopperHead, SideWinder, BikerBar, BedHead and many other 9mm fork mounts Product Specs: - Weight: 0.41 lbs. - Dimensions: L 4.50 in x W 1.25 in x H 4.00 in - Limited Lifetime Warranty
This 15mm x 110 thru-axle adapter allows modern mountain bikers to quickly secure their bike on any 9mm fork-style bike mount. - 15mm x 110mm - Axle is not included. Works with your bike's thru-axle - Built in safety tabs - Durable black powder-coat finish - All Yakima thru-axle Fork Adapters are compatible with Yakima ForkLift, SprocketRocket, Viper, Boa, SteelHead, CopperHead, SideWinder, BikerBar, BedHead and many other 9mm fork mounts Product Specs: - Weight: 0.40 lbs. - Dimensions: L 4.50 in x W 1.25 in x H 4.00 in - Limited Lifetime Warranty
Yakima's 1A Raingutter Towers are the rock-solid foundation for your Yakima roof rack (for vehicles without factory roof racks). The 1A Raingutter Towers adjust to fit your vehicle's roof line and they have die-cast components that securely hold the crossbars (sold separately). Plus, they hold fast and safely to your roof with rubber pads that protect your vehicle's finish.
Is your vehicle roof looking a bit naked? Add the BaseLine FX, an advanced roof rack with integrated crossbars and towers that has no bar overhang so your vehicle will have a clean, modern aesthetic. The easy-to-adjust design means it adapts to the shape of your vehicle's roof for a secure, ready-to-load roof rack.
An easy way to make load up less of a chore, the BoatLoader EVO telescopes out 28" from your roof rack to help get canoes, kayaks, and boards up to the roof. When not in use, it stows neatly inside your RoundBar or CoreBar crossbar, ready and waiting for the next trip to the water. It's easier on your back, your boat and your car's paint job. Product Details - Telescoping boat load-assist arm helps you easily get big boats and boards up to your roof - Protects kayaks, canoes, and your car from dings, scratches and dents - Extends 28" from end of bar for superior clearance and ease of use - Retracts into the bar for instant storage - Corrosion-resistant material provides years of rugged use - Fits Yakima CoreBar and RoundBar crossbars only Product Specs - Weight: 3.80 lbs - Dimensions: L 36.50" x W 3.30" x H 3.00"
Combining modern aerodynamics with old-school muscle, the new CoreBar is the first aero bar built with roll-formed steel's strength, utility and durability. The JetFlow design is wind-tunnel tested to reduce drag for less wind noise and better fuel economy, and the galvanized steel delivers proven load-bearing performance. - Wind tunnel tested JetFlow teardrop shape is strong, quiet and exceptionally aerodynamic - Roll-formed galvanized steel holds the load - Sleek aerodynamic design looks awesome on your car's roof - Vinyl wrapped for durability and corrosion resistance - Includes CoreBar SL Adapter to integrate with all StreamLine System Towers - Available in 4 sizes: SM (50"),MD (60"), LG (70") and XL (80")
Our CrossBar pads combine security and protection with a soft foam core and an anti-slip surface that holds onto your gear. Sectioned hook-and-loop closures are designed to secure around roof rack attachment points and accessories to get a more customized fit for your vehicle. - Foam padding protects boards and boats from damage - Anti-slip material helps keep your gear in place - Sectioned hook-and-loop attachments fit easily around roof rack towers and accessories - Fits most SUPs and fishing kayaks - Fits our CoreBar and JetStream crossbars, factory crossbars, and most other aerodynamic crossbars
Yakima's CrossBars are a necessary component of your rack system. They attach to your towers and enable you to affix bike trays, ski carriers, rooftop boxes, etc. Strong and durable, they're made of vinyl coated steel and stand up to harsh weather.
- Sold in pairs-combine them with rollers or saddles for a custom set-up - Flexible saddle shape conforms to boat hull for secure full contact cradling - Felt padded cradles protect hulls and are shaped for easy loading - Tool free install to any cross bar - Locks to base with SKS lock Cores for added security (sold separately) - Premium HeavyDuty strap and bow/stern tie down included - Capacity: 1 kayak 80lbs (when used with another pair of saddles or rollers)
The FatCat EVO is our sleekest, quietest, and sweetest ski & snowboard mount. It is wide enough to carry six pairs of powder skis—up to 136mm at the tip—or four snowboards. FatCat EVO mounts tool-free on virtually any roof rack. The OverHang clamp attachment point makes it easier to reach your skis or boards. SKS locks are built in for added security, and the mirror black finish looks awesome on your roof. For T-Slot crossbars, add the SmarT-Slot Kit 2 for a super-sleek setup (sold separately). - Easily carries six pair of skis—up to 136 mm wide at the tip—or four snowboards - Aerodynamic design delivers a quiet ride and streamlined good looks - Universal mounting system works with round, square, factory, and most aerodynamic roof racks - Integrated SkiLift provides clearance for tall bindings - DoubleJoint hinge expands for easy use with thick skis and boards - For easier access to skis and snowboards, the OverHang clamp-mounting position shifts the mount further out on your vehicle's roof rack - Large button makes it easy to open with gloves or mittens on - Sleek mirror-black finish looks great on your roof - Integrated SKS (Same Key System) locks included - Compatible with T-slot crossbars—just add our SmarT-Slot Kit 2 (sold separately) Product Specs: - Weight: 12.75 lbs. - Dimensions: L 40.50 in x W 3.75 in x H 5.25 in - Minimum Crossbar Spread 12.00in - Maximum Crossbar Spread 36.00in - Limited Lifetime Warranty
This fork adapter allows you to put your thru-axle fork on any 9mm fork-mounted bike rack. - Axle not included. Works with your bike's thru-axle - Fits all fork bike mounts including, Yakima, Thule, Rocky Mounts, etc. - Built-in safety tabs - Durable black powder-coat finish Product Specs: - Weight: 0.32 – 0.38 lbs. - Minimum Crossbar Spread 16in - Maximum Crossbar Spread 42in - Limited Lifetime Warranty
The ForkLift is one of Yakima's most versatile fork-mounted roof racks. It boasts square, round and direct-to-factory crossbar capability right out of the box. It also features quick and easy tool-free installation, a sleek design and a smooth, automotive finish that looks great on any car. The easy-to-adjust sliding wheel tray makes positioning the rear wheel a snap and it's compatible with most disc brakes.
NEW! Perfect for family weekends or ditching work on a powder day, FreshTrack 4 is made for loading up and finding first tracks. Wide enough for a couple of boards or four pairs of skis, simple to mount on virtually any roof rack, no tools needed, and super easy to use, it's great for fresh powder and blue groomers. One-button access allows gloves-on operation, and the built-in SKS locks secure your gear. Product Details - Easily carries four pairs of skis up to 120mm wide at the tip or two snowboards - Tool-free clamp design makes install and removal a breeze - Universal mounting system works with round, square, factory, and most aerodynamic roof racks - Includes SkiLift attachment to provide clearance for tall bindings - Integrated SKS (Same Key System) locks included for added security Product Specs - Weight: 7.94 lbs - Dimensions: L 25.25" x W 5.75" x H 7.25" Installation Details - Some assembly required - Tool-Free Install - 25 minute install
NEW! Blue groomers and fresh powder, the FreshTrack 6 is the perfect mount for loading the crew and finding first tracks. Wide enough for four boards or six pairs of skis, simple to mount on virtually any roof rack, no tools needed, and super easy to use, it's great for quick getaways and dawn patrol starts. One-button access allows gloves-on operation, and the built-in SKS locks secure your gear. Product Details - Easily carries six pairs of skis up to 120mm wide at the tip - or four snowboards - Tool-free clamp design makes install and removal a breeze - Universal mounting system works with round, square, factory, and most aerodynamic roof racks - Includes SkiLift attachment to provide clearance for tall bindings - Integrated SKS (Same Key System) locks included for added security Product Specs - Weight: 9.90 lbs - Dimensions: L 35.00" x W 5.75" x H 7.25" Installation Details - Some Assembly Required - Tool-Free Install - 25 Minute Install
Friends will double-take when they see our most versatile, aerodynamic bike mount on your car. It carries your complete bike—no wheel removal needed. The universal mounting system fits nearly any crossbars you can think of. - Fits Yakima round, square, factory or aerodynamic crossbars - Zero contact with frame; carbon fiber and custom paint jobs are protected - Accommodates disc brakes, thru axles, and full suspension bikes - Holds bike upright while you secure the bike to the mount - Leave your front wheel on for easy loading (some fenders may need to be removed to transport bike) - No tools or assembly required - Fits 20" to 27.5" wheels with tire widths up to 3" and 29" wheels with tires widths up to 2.7" - SKS Locks sold separately - 1 bike, up to 40 lbs at min of 18" crossbar spread; or up to 30 lbs at min of 16" crossbar spread - Accommodates bike wheelbases up to 48" Product Specs: - Weight: 13.00 lbs. - Dimensions: L 56.00 in x W 7.00 in x H 7.50 in - Minimum Crossbar Spread 16.00in - Maximum Crossbar Spread 42.00in - Limited Lifetime Warranty
Our burliest crossbar ever, the HD Bar is the one for heavy loads, rugged terrain and maximum utility. It delivers the muscle our new truck racks demand, and works with our StreamLine towers to get the heavy-duty job done right. The engineered aluminum construction provides superior support without weighing things down, integrated tie-down points to simplify load security, and T-slot attachment technology for adding gear mounts the fast, easy way. The Yakima Way. Product Details: - Strong, lightweight aluminum construction handles heavy loads great for rooftop tents - Integrated tie-down points on endcaps make it easy to secure gear - T-slots top and bottom to easily add Yakima and compatible gear mounts - Includes rubber infill for top T-slot for load protection and wind noise reduction - Built to last and look good doing it with a durable black powder-coat finish - Compatible with all StreamLine towers with our new HD Bar SL Adapter (sold separately #8003541) - Available in variety of lengths 55"/60"/68"/78" to create custom set-ups Dimensions: - Small = 9.61 lbs, L 55.00in x W 3.00in x H 1.50in - Medium = 10.68 lbs, Dimensions: L 60.00in x W 3.00in x H 1.50in - Large= 11.65 lbs, Dimensions: L 68.00in x W 3.00in x H 1.50in - X-Large= 12.00 lbs, Dimensions: L 78.00in x W 3.00in x H 1.50in
Secure, sleek, and simple to use, the HighRoad is Yakima's newest premium upright bike mount. The adjustment-free hoop, with its TorqueRight tightening knob, loads a variety of bikes quickly and easily. The HighRoad secures the bike by the wheels for ultimate bike protection and the low-profile design minimizes hatch interference. Universal mounting hardware fits most roof racks. - New wheel hoop fits 26" to 29" wheels and tires from 23mm to 4.0" with no adjustment needed - New integrated TorqueRight knob quickly and easily secures the bike with precision - Requires no wheel removal and makes no contact with the bike frame—a great option for carbon fiber bikes and custom paint jobs - Sleek, low-profile tray minimizes hatch interference - Tool-free, universal mounting hardware fits most roof racks - Add your own bike lock to the integrated lock loop for additional bike security when your vehicle is parked - Easily convert to integrate with T-Slot crossbars with the addition of a SmarT-Slot Kit - Add SKS Locks (2) to the included TailWhip cable to secure your bike and mount to your roof rack (sold separately) - Accommodates bike wheelbases up to 48" Product Specs: - Weight: 18.00 lbs. - Dimensions: L 56.00 in x W 9.50 in x H 4.50 in - Minimum Crossbar Spread 18.00in - Maximum Crossbar Spread 36.00in - Limited Lifetime Warranty
Our new premium fork mount, the low-profile HighSpeed, is streamlined, strong, and versatile. It easily transports mountain, road, and fat-tire bikes and fits both quick release and thru axles. Bikes are secured using the new and easy-to-use TorqueRight knob for a precise and strong hold. The sleek and stylish HighSpeed tray is designed for maximum hatch clearance. Universal mounting hardware fits most roof racks. - Securely carries a variety of bikes including road, mountain and up to 5" fat-tire bikes - Fits Yakima round, square, factory, or aerodynamic bars - Seamlessly carries both quick-release (9mm) and thru-axle bikes (12mm, 15mm, 20mm) - New TorqueRight knob quickly and easily secures the bike with precision. - Sleek, low-profile tray minimizes hatch interference and accommodates tires up to 5" wide - Tool-free, universal mounting hardware fits most roof racks - Carry quick-=release 9 x 135mm fat bike with the Optional Fat Bike Adapter Kit (sold separately) - Easily convert to integrate with T-Slot crossbars with the addition of a SmarT-Slot Kit - Add SKS Locks to the TailWhip cable and crossbar attachment to secure your bike and mount to your roof rack. For additional security add a lock to the TorqueRight knob. (SKS sold separately) - Accommodates bike wheelbases up to 48" Product Specs: - Weight: 9.60 lbs. - Dimensions: L 54.50 in x W 9.00 in x H 4.75 in - Minimum Crossbar Spread 18.00in - Maximum Crossbar Spread 36.00in - Limited Lifetime Warranty
Versatile, adaptable, and super low-maintenance, the JayLow provides maximum loading and minimal fuss. Carry one boat in cradle position, or two boats in stacker position. Carry 1 boat in J-cradle position or 2 boats in vertical, stacker position - Fully assembled out of the box - Tool-free installation Fits Yakima round, square, factory, or aerodynamic bars - Adjust the upright position with the easy-to-use integrated cam lever - Folds flat when not in use - Includes Heavy-Duty Straps and Bow/Stern Tie-Downs - SKS Locks sold separately - Supports one boat up to 80 lb or two boats with combined weight of 110 lbs or less - Minimum crossbar spreads of 24inches or more
Step up to the completely new Yakima bar. Thoroughly wind-tunnel tested, the black JetStream's JetFlow design is exceptionally aerodynamic, incredibly strong, lightweight, and really quiet on the move. The root of a modern rack system, it carries a lot and looks good doing it. Shopping for a full Yakima Roof Rack System? Use our Fit My Car tool to get outfitted with everything you need for a Base Rack System. - Comes with 2 Crossbars and 4 Endcaps - Wind-tunnel tested JetFlow teardrop shape is strong, quiet and exceptionally aerodynamic - Seamless extruded aluminum construction is light, strong and sleek - JetTruss internal support engineering adds serious strength for minimal weight - T-slot with SmartFill push-down infill for easy mount attachment and efficient airflow - Clear anodized alloy finish and high-gloss polymer end caps look awesome on your roof - Streamline crossbars are compatible with any StreamLine Tower - Need an adapter? Mighty Mount 39H will let you mount round and square bar accessories on your JetStreams - Find the right bar style and length to fit your needs - Compare four crossbar styles and features to learn more
Yakima's LoadStop brackets prevent your loads from shifting side to side, without having to stuff a whole bunch of folded-up blankets onto your roof. FEATURES: - Carries ladders and lumber with sturdy L-shaped brackets - Safely holds loads by preventing lateral shifts with grippy ribbed surface - Holds thicker, taller loads with a higher vertical edge - Compatible with Yakima crossbars only - Works well when paired with Heavy Duty Straps (sold separately) - Set of 4 brackets
The LoadWarrior is the perfect accessory to boost the carrying capacity of your Yakima roof rack, plus it fits many other racks, too. Ingeniously, bike mounts attach directly to the basket to make carrying bikes easy, too. This cargo carrier is big enough to handle all your gear. The LoadWarrior even comes with a custom fairing that cuts wind drag and noise.
Got a Texas-sized SUV equipped with Yakima's LoadWarrior rooftop carrier? Then you may need Yakima's LoadWarrior Extension. It's constructed of heavy-duty, weather-resistant steel and it adds 18 inches and 40% more carrying capacity to Yakima's LoadWarrior rooftop basket (sold separately).
Use Yakima's LoadWarrior Stretch Net to secure and control loads on the LoadWarrior rooftop cargo rack (sold separately). The multi-hook design is versatile and easy to use.
Yakima's caged beast offers monstrous carrying capacity. The MegaWarrior is a perfect fit for mid- to full-size sport-utility vehicles and it's made of heavy-duty steel. You can easily attach bike mounts directly with its movable accessory bar and a custom fairing is included to cut wind noise and protect your cargo. The MegaWarrior's universal mounting hardware fits round and square crossbars, plus many factory racks, too.
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Rails 3.1 is almost here, and all the rock star ninja hipster early adopters have been playing with it for a while. I'm not a ninja (picture me with a black tight skin suit if you wonder why), so I didn't install it until today.
Installation is pretty straight forward, but there are a couple of tricks, so here they are in full Technicolor to save you a couple of minutes.
The first thing you are going to need is the right gem, which you can install directly via
gem install rails --pre
I didn't want to install it as a system-wide gem, so I created a new gemset in rvm like this
rvm gemset create r31
If you are on windows and don't have rvm, maybe you could install another version of ruby via pik, but I cannot help you with that.
Anyway, system-wide or scoped to a local gemset, after installing the gem you should be able to create your first rails 3.1 project like this
rails new sandbox
If you are on rvm, don't forget to create a .rvmrc file with your local gemset to make things more convenient. In my case the contents of the file are
rvm 1.9.2@r31
Are we there already? not yet! Rails 3.1 needs a javascript runtime for all the asset magic. You can choose the runtime of your choice, as long as your choice is one of the options here :p
I chose (see update below!) the rubyracer because I've heard good things about it lately, but what do I know, just pick the one you prefer and add it to your gemfile. In my case it looks like this
gem 'therubyracer'
And, you know, now you need to bundle it
bundle install --binstubs
And that's it, now you can do things like
bin/rake -T
Of course you can start the rails server too
bin/rails server
You know the rest of the song.. Now go to http://localhost:3000 and start dancing!
update: i found some errors when using ruby 1.9.2p0, therubyracer and coffescript. I changed to nodejs (just install it and leave the binary somewhere in your path) and things got back to normal

subset: commoncrawl


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Cold Hands, Warm Hearts
My eldest brother Max (10 years my senior) had asked his best friend Teddy to escort me home from the theater one evening. It was 1874. I was 15 years old.
"Your hands are so cold," he said as he helped me up off of the muddy street onto the boardwalk.
I gave him a coy smile. "I have a cold heart sir."
He laughed. I never called him sir. He offered me his arm.
I gladly took his arm. "Your hands are positively burning. What sort of fire stirs your soul tonight?" That was pretty forward but I didn't care. I was floating with the joy of being a flirt and having no brothers or parents around to stop me.
"You're not like the other girls."
"No I am not."
"You're an impish little thing. It will take a man with a quick wit and a good sense of humor to woo you Juliette."
"Ahhhh, but you forget I have four older brothers. I pity any man who would have to deal with them."
"They'll love any man who is truly in love with you Juliette."
"I doubt that Teddy."
Then he stopped and faced me. "I have some news. A secret if you can keep one."
"Your secrets are always safe with me."
Teddy had a large smile on his handsome face. "I'm getting married."
My young Vampire heart literally stopped dead. My head started to spin, but I managed to smile because like all Vampires, I was a natural liar. "Oh Teddy. I'm so happy for you. She really is lovely."
I wished I could just turn to putrified slime and slip into the dirt like the dead in the cemetery but instead I found a dark place to curl up in for the rest of the night. Teddy would now be lost to me forever. No more laughing at silly jokes with him. No more having him give me sly smiles. No more watching him and my brother Max in awe as they turned from boys to real men.
Teddy would be moving on to the world of married men where there was no room for girls who laughed too loud and talked too much. There was no room for Vampires. Sure, once I was older and became an icy cold elegant woman like my Vampire mother I could entertain Teddy and his bride, but until then it was over. He might has well have died – at least that is what I was feeling in my cold quiet teenage heart.
Teddy had no idea how different any of us were. He had no idea that his father's business partner was a Vampire. Teddy had no idea what a Vampire was.
While they were away to college Teddy never really questioned why my brother Max would go out in the middle of the night. He imagined it was a woman or gambling or just a restless spirit. Like all of us, Max was brilliant at hiding his true nature.
The young woman of good breeding whom Teddy had become engaged to was sweet. That was her only attribute aside from being considered pretty. She wanted nothing more in life than to be the wife of a successful man. The fact that Teddy was the most handsome human I'd ever seen in my life, interesting, smart and funny was just an added bonus. Other than the fact that Teddy thought she'd be a good match there was nothing remarkable about her. Good breeding. Good reputation. Good girl. I didn't even think about passion. Thinking about that would be almost as bad as thinking about my parents having any kind of passion (remember I was 15 years old.)
Teddy's love wasn't out sucking blood out of people in the middle of the night. She was in bed alone dreaming of angels and kittens. She was the kind of girl he dreamed of and I am sure he dreamed of her at night.
I wished I was like her. I wished I was sweet and warm like a her. I touched my icy hands against my cheeks and closed my eyes and then wiped away cold tears. No amount of wishing could make me warm. No amount of wishing could make me walk in the sunshine without dark glasses or a parasol. No amount of charm or wit could make him continue to be buddies with me, a girl who lived in the shadow of the night. He'd never love me.
I found my brother Val and told him the news. Val, who is only 16 at the time, thought I was being silly. He didn't understand. He was a boy. Teddy could still be friends with a boy.
Max came up on the roof where I ended up that night. He sat next to me and put his arm around my shoulders. "Teddy is like family. He'll still be here for a long long time. With any luck he'll live a long life and we'll always be able to watch over him and protect him."
I closed my eyes knowing it was a battle I couldn't win.
"Listen Jewels, part of growing up is letting go, that means letting go of everyone else who is growing up and moving on. It won't just be Teddy. All of us will have to go out in the world and make our way. We'll all find love. We'll find it with people like ourselves, other Vampires. People move on, but the human heart, and our hearts have a great capacity for love. You have to treasure that love because as we move on, they, the regular humans grow old and they die. I've seen Mother and Father mourn the loss of their friends in the worst way. We've mourned the loss of friends in the worst way. But Teddy isn't dead. Be happy for him. He'll still be my best friend. He'll still be your friend."
We sat on the roof until the sun came up and talked of life and love and loss.
A year later Teddy died and didn't die. He became a Vampire (not from anything we did and very much against his will.) The wedding never happened. After that we all went our separate ways and had our share of love and adventure and friendship.
After Teddy acclimated to being a Vampire we became great friends. Twenty years ago we got married. That isn't typical of anyone, but then again, not much is typical in my life.
As my own children become older and closer to being adults they'll have to deal with friends moving away, getting in relationships and changing in ways they can't imagine. Some friendships will last those changes, but many won't. The fact that we can't always predict these things doesn't make it any easier, but at least we can talk with our kids about these things. We can be there when they need someone to talk to. And that day will come.
I have been fortunate to have friends who've been in my life since those days when I used to sit on the roof of my parent's house and ponder the meaning of life. Sometimes my friends would sit on the roof with me. Sometimes my brothers would join us. We're not sitting on the roof anymore, but we're still talking and laughing and having warm hearts to go with our cold hands.
First posted: 2/20/14
Stay safe. Wear a mask. Talk to your kids. Hug your dogs and cats. Check in on those who are elderly, alone, or might need extra help. Be kind. Don't be a dick. And kiss a Vampire (you'll thank me later.)
~ Juliette aka Vampire Maman


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If you think a Russian presence in Nicaragua is new, you might be in store for a shock. The Soviet-Nicaraguan runs decades long, even before the Cold War.
The Russians actually have built and kept airfields there maintained. They're large enough to support heavy strategic bombers. These are also decades old, but were built with future use in mind. They also wanted (and likely still want) to build a deep water port there. Nicaragua will be used as a staging ground for a Soviet invasion from an almost undefended Southern United States. This is a strategic spot not only for bombings from America's south, but also a means to control the strategic sea gate(s) in Panama.
This is likely more than a spy station that they want now, as a spy station is unsettling, but less unsettling than announcing plans for a strategic attack launching area in the open. Either way, it just shows you that Nicaragua was communist and still remains communist, and that the decade old plans for both against the West never died.
Here are three sources on this, one of which is from a Ronald Reagan address to the nation:
Address to the Nation on the Situation in Nicaragua – March 16, 1986
Russia reality check: Red invasion from Nicaragua
Red Dawn Alert: Russia, Nicaragua to reactivate Punta Huete; Soviets built strategic bomber-capable runway in 1987, MiG-21s expected but never arrived
Signals intelligence facility part of deal for 50 Russian tanks
The Russian government is building an electronic intelligence-gathering facility in Nicaragua as part of Moscow's efforts to increase military and intelligence activities in the Western Hemisphere.
The signals intelligence site is part of a recent deal between Moscow and Managua involving the sale of 50 T-72 Russian tanks, said defense officials familiar with reports of the arrangement. Continue reading


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Jakarta, Indonesia – The stunning results of an unprecedented photojournalistic expedition have been released in the new book The Coral Triangle, a 272-page masterwork of images and essays that showcase the incredible diversity of people, places and species living amidst the world's richest marine environment.
Implemented by WWF and the Freund Factory, the 18-month journey took wildlife photographers Jürgen Freund and Stella Chiu-Freund across the Coral Triangle, a 6 million km2 expanse of land and sea that encompasses Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste.
"The goal of the Coral Triangle expedition was to demonstrate the connectivity between the wildlife and peoples of the region, the threats they face, and the partners working together to help protect this world's centre of marine life" said Dr. Lida Pet-Soede, Head of WWF's Coral Triangle Programme.
"We wanted the world to sit up and take notice, so we commissioned one of the world's best wildlife photographic teams to embark on this challenging journey," Dr. Pet-Soede added.
The book includes over 400 stunning photographs that highlight the region's extraordinary abundance of life – coral reefs, whales, dolphins, sharks and a brilliant kaleidoscope of reef fish interspersed with essays on the Coral Triangle by conservation experts from around the world.
"Beauty is everywhere in this fragile marine environment, from the birds to the smallest creature underwater. And despite all that is being asked of it, this phenomenal place that is the Coral Triangle still holds wealth of unimaginable proportions," remarked Stella Freund.
"Many places we visited in the Coral Triangle were small islands packed with people. Fishermen are everywhere we have been, and their lives, as well as the lives of their wives and children, are inextricably linked with the sea. The sea feeds all—and the sea is under so much pressure," observed Stella Freund.
"The Coral Triangle is brimming with marine life but is struggling to support human demands on its finite resources. If this level of unsustainable consumption is not urgently curbed, millions of people whose lives directly depend on the sea will soon be compromised," adds Dr. Pet-Soede.
During the release event in Jakarta, the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) announced a selection of notable achievements over the past year, including the CTI-CFF website, CTI Learning Network Portal, and the CTI-CFF History Book. The Coral Triangle has been published by the WWF, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Freund Factory.
The Coral Triangle will be available in selected WWF offices in the coming weeks, including Australia, Hong Kong, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, USA, and the UK.
Please refer to the Coral Triangle book webpage at www.panda.org/coraltriangle/photobook for updates on the book's price and availablity.


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Japan: sorry seems to be the hardest word …. to accept
Imagine German Chancellor Merkel visiting a war memorial honouring senior Nazis. You can't, can you?
Yet Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has done the equivalent, visiting the Yasukuni Shrine where high profile war criminals are commemorated.
His last visit in December 2013 met with loud protests from Japan's neighbours China and South Korea who arguably suffered the brunt of Tokyo's empire building in the first half of the last century. Even close ally the US tut-tutted about it.
Hoping to avoid another row, Abe has not visited since, but apparently tone deaf to the way this is perceived abroad, he has sent offerings, including on the anniversary last year of the end of World War 2 when the Japanese Emperor announced the surrender to the Allies on August 15th 1945.
This matters in the here and now because it adds to tensions in East Asia that are already rising as China's growing power sees it trying to reassert its influence, upsetting the US-led post-war order in the region.
In the run up to this year's 70th anniversary of the end of the War, there was much speculation about what Abe would say in his speech to mark the milestone.
Would a man known for his nationalism and whose own grandfather served in the wartime military government stand by the statements of several of his predecessors and apologise for Japan's aggression and the suffering it wrought on its neighbours during its brutal invasions and occupation?
In the event he largely did.
He expressed "deep remorse and heartfelt apology". He used key words like "aggression" and "invasion" that his critics were listening for. In the Q & A with journalists after the speech he also said he stood by the Murayama Statement, considered the benchmark for Japanese apologies.
However, if Abe was wishing to avoid criticism for being less than fulsome in his sentiments, there was more than one hostage to fortune.
The language he used to describe ''comfort women" – the euphemism used to describe the women, many of them Korean, who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military – was a bit oblique, talking of women "whose honour and dignity were severely injured".
He also rather unnecessarily sought to explain – some would say justify – Japanese expansionism by saying the Great Depression of the 1930s and protectionism by western countries and empires isolated Japan and led to Tokyo resorting to war.
While there is some truth in this, you can rightly quibble with this interpretation given Japanese expansionism began well before the 1930s when they seized Taiwan from China in 1895 and occupied Korea in 1910.
But ultimately these equivocations are by the by.
Japanese leaders have repeatedly apologised for their country's aggression and wartime actions and yet they have failed to convince many, especially in China and South Korea (it's difficult to know what North Koreans think) that they are really sincere.
Germany is often held up as the example for Japan to follow.
Germans – despite the recent flare up of name calling over the Greek debt crisis – have successfully reconciled with their neighbours and largely been forgiven for the aggression and atrocities committed by the Nazis.
What explains the difference?
There is that lingering sense in Japan that western economic protectionism pushed the country into a corner in the 1930s, even if the resort to war by Tokyo was misguided.
The remorseless bombing of Japanese civilians during the War, including the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, may also help to explain why there is a stronger sense of victimhood in Japan than in Germany, where the Allies also directly targeted civilians.
Then there's a heavy dose of politics and diplomacy.
In Europe, the Cold War led to reconciliation between European countries because Germany was central to the project of building a strong, united Western Europe as a counter to the USSR.
In Asia meanwhile, attempts at reconciliation took a back seat as the US built up Japan as a base against the spread of Communism after Mao's victory in the Chinese civil war in 1949 and the Korean War in the early 1950s.
Japan didn't establish diplomatic relations with China until 1972 and even then people to people contacts remained limited and the two governments avoided much discussion of the past in the interests of improving economic ties.
In more recent years, leaders in China and South Korea have used nationalist sentiment against Japan to bolster political support at home and Japanese leaders, especially Abe, have harnessed apprehension of growing Chinese power for similar purposes.
All this doesn't mean the Prime Minister should not have apologised again in his 70th anniversary statement.
But it does mean that more needs to be done on all sides to overcome the bitterness of the past.
It also means if Abe – and others on the right in Japan – want their remorse and apologies to be accepted, they need to make sure their actions reinforce the message and don't contradict it.
In other words, Japanese leaders need to stop visiting or sending offerings to Yasukuni or trying to imply that the aggression and atrocities of the past were somehow explainable at the time.


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'Sarap Diva' has been transformed.
In the wake of Regine Velasquez's move to ABS-CBN this past week, her former show immediately went to work and rebranded itself into 'Sarap, 'Di ba?' effective last Saturday. Replacing Regine as the show's host is the family trio of Carmina Villaroel and twin children Mavy and Cassy Legaspi.
For all intents and purposes, 'Sarap, 'Di ba?' is considered a 'new' show that is different in tone from its successor. While the cooking portion of the show remains, Carmina, Mavy and Cassy now focus on topics regarding family and individual lifestyles.
So far, 'Sarap, 'Di ba?' has been well-received by viewers. But it remains to be seen if it will be good enough to last as long as its predecessor did.


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When Research In Motion unveiled its long-delayed BlackBerry 10, it also announced it was changing its name to BlackBerry (NASDAQ: BBRY). CEO Thorsten Heins argued that the new name reflects how the company had "transformed [itself] inside and out."
By choosing a different name, companies hope to convey their transformation and focus. But often that desire for a renewed image is a last ditch effort to breathe life in an irreversibly damaged brand. 24/7 Wall St. has reviewed major corporate name and brand changes over the past few years. These are seven companies that were forced to change their name.
Click here to see the companies forced to change their names
There are several reasons a major corporation decides to take the leap and change its moniker. In many cases, it is to make the name more attractive across a wider market. This happened when the company known a BackRub changed its name to Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), or when "Jerry and David's Guide to the World Wide Web" changed its name to Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO). Sometimes, the change is an attempt to modernize, and is often as simple as just shortening the name or removing words, as was the case with Apple Computers changing its name to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Federal Express changing its brand name to FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX).
While there can be many valid reasons for companies to change or tweak their names — be it startups that grow up, established companies that match their names to their customers' expectations, mergers and so on — we have focused on those companies that had to change their names to stop declines or even stay in business.
For some of these companies, a single incident precipitated the name change. In 1996, a ValuJet DC-9 crashed in Florida, killing 110 people. The Federal Aviation Administration investigated, and after grounding the airline for three months, determined that the carrier had deliberately allowed unsafe planes to fly. ValuJet eventually acquired smaller airline AirTran, and to distance itself from the brand it took the acquisition's name.
In other cases of forced corporate name change, it was not a single incident, but a period of inconsistent management, bad press or both that led to the decision. In 2010, the struggling lender formerly known as GMAC became Ally Financial. GMAC had been hit badly by the subprime mortgage crisis. Despite receiving a $17.2 billion bailout from the Treasury, it continues to struggle, failing a federal stress test last year.
A corporate name change is meaningless unless consumers believe there is actually a new product behind the new name. In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., InterBrand London CEO Graham Hales explained that in this age of transparency, a simple name change is not going to turn your company around. "If you're going to change your name, you've got to have a strategy which is changed in line with it, and too often companies change their name and the focus point becomes why they changed their name, and not about what is different about the company," said Hales.
It remains to be seen whether Ally Financial, or the infamous military mercenary contractor formerly known as Blackwater, which has now changed its name twice, has followed that advice.
These are the seven companies forced to change their names.
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Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at Should be Reading and revived here on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let's get to it!
The Three Ws are:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?
Currently reading: I should get Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell back soon. I hope. I miss it.
Also waiting for I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai. So yeah, no ebook right now is weird for me and I'm not a fan. It makes me angry.
Good progress The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer yesterday. I drove to Chicago for a conference (which is why my response time probably sucks. Sorry.) which means 5 hours of audio time. I'll have another 5 on Sunday so I hope to be almost done with this one soon!
Steady progress with Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian. I like it? It's interesting, but I feel bad for the main character instead of outright liking her. So a bit mixed at this point.
I was able to start The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls and so far, it's interesting. Not the light-hearted read I need right now by any means, but enjoyable. It's one of those 'so crazy it has to be true' stories and it's mindblowing.
Recently finished: I made it through The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman. This was way too slow to start for me and it was hard to make my way to a good point. I wish it had been a lot faster because I lost interest and mentally gave up on it.
And a book review! Look at me go. My review for Every Man for Himself by Baryl Bainbridge went up yesterday. Go check it out.
Reading Next: Next for physical book will be A Widow for One Year by John Irving. I think my work book club is falling apart and it's making me sad.
I hope to start a new eAudio soon, Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. I've had it on hold forever and it's finally coming up, just after the movie comes out. Could this be more perfect?
Leave a comment with your link and a comment (if you're so inclined). Take a look at the other participant links in the comments and look at what others are reading.
Have any opinions on these choices?
Until next time, write on.
You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I'm available via email at firstname.lastname@example.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!


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Today's News: Our Take - Cory Monteith's 10 Most Memorable Performances on Glee
Cory Monteith died suddenly on Saturday, leaving Glee fans and Hollywood shocked. But Monteith's legacy will live on after four seasons of Glee provided fans with countless musical numbers to remember him by. Below, TVGuide.com compiled some of his most memorable performances.
Glee actor Cory Monteith found dead
"Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey - "Pilot," Season 1
"Marry You" by Bruno Mars - "Furt," Season 2
"Somebody to Love" by Queen - "The Rhodes Not Taken," Season 1
"Losing My Religion by R.E.M. - "Grilled Cheesus," Season 2
"Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel - "Furt," Season 2
"Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield - "Laryngitis," Season 1
"We've Got Tonight" by Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton - "I Do," Season 4
See which other celebrities we've lost this year
Photo Gallery: See Cory Monteith's rise to fame on Glee
"Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson - "Hold on to Sixteen," Season 3
"We Are Young" by fun. - "Hold on to Sixteen," Season 3
"The Scientist" by Radiohead - "The Break Up," Season 4
Which of Monteith's performances were your favorite?
View original Cory Monteith's 10 Most Memorable Performances on Glee at TVGuide.com
Related Articles on TVGuide.com
Other Links From TVGuide.com


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A year after buying low-power processor designer PA Semi, Apple is looking for yet more chip design expertise.
The company has been recruiting at a very senior level for its chip design team, and also has almost 20 lower-level jobs related to semiconductor design open, some of them posted to its Web site in the last few days.
In January the CTO of the graphics product group at Advanced Micro Devices, Bob Drebin, left the company to join Apple, where he is now a senior director. (Apple's job titles give little away.) And only last week, reports suggested that his successor as CTO for graphics products, Raja Koduri, had also left the company to join Apple.
The first signs that Apple wanted to beef up its semiconductor design capabilities came with the news last April that it had acquired PA Semi, a company specializing in low-power microprocessor designs based on the PowerPC core used in a previous generation of Apple Macintosh computers. (Today's Macs are based on x86 processors supplied by Intel.) While PA Semi's designs were considered energy efficient, their power consumption was more suited to lightweight laptops than smartphones, which must run for days on a single charge.
Apple is now seeking a range of other silicon design skills to complement the energy efficiency expertise it gained through its purchase of PA Semi.
While desktops and laptops have room for separate processors, graphics chips, memory and chipsets, smaller devices such as smartphones or Internet tablets often combine the processor and the other circuitry on a single piece of silicon, a technique known as system-on-chip (SOC).
Over a quarter of the chip-related vacancies at Apple are related to SOC technology, some of them emphasizing the need for experience in power management.
There are clearly new wireless products in Apple's future plans, although not all the wireless chip design work will be done in-house. The company is looking for a mobile silicon program manager with experience working with multiple vendors as well as internal teams. The post, like most of the others, is based near Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.
Apple is also seeking two senior wireless systems engineers in Shanghai to work on integrating wireless technologies into its products. While those two posts list Wi-Fi as the primary wireless technology, they also emphasize the importance of experience with Bluetooth, 3G, UWB (Ultrawide Band), WiMAX, GPS and Mobile TV systems, and of making multiple wireless systems coexist within a single product.
Making new chips work reliably can be difficult, and a significant proportion of the vacancies Apple is advertising are for verification, testing and quality control positions. Less than a week ago, it advertised for two design verification engineers to ensure the correctness of a high performance chip design.
It's not all chip-chip-chip for Apple's human resources department, though. On Wednesday, the company posted a vacancy in Paris for a programmer with experience of cryptography to work on its DRM (digital rights management) technology.


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Happy Friday, SErs! Harmony here 🙂
Today is a Friday Writing Question day.
Last year proved a tough year for me all around both personally and in my writing and creative life. I guess, looking back, the two went hand-in-hand. While I published a collection of short stories and poems early in the year, I didn't actually produce anything new. Or so I told myself. All the stories and poems, I had created the year previous (and some earlier than that). I just put them together in one book. Likewise with my book of zen musings this January–most of those originally saw life as Monday Musings on my blog. I only added four to the end to round it up to 52 for the weeks in the year, as well as the intro and author's note, and–of course–magicked it into book form. So, all in all, I felt quite down about my writing life … like I needed air.
However, at the start of this difficult time, I had little in my writing file that I hadn't seen through to publication. All of a sudden, those 'unpublished' and 'part written' folders filled right up. This had never happened to me before. What I started, I finished.
Only now, when looking at my writing question, have I realised how productive that time was for me. It's just taken a while to see it that way. I did write, quite a bit, but a lot then fizzled out, much like my energy levels kept on doing, lols. Again, an obvious correlation. The thing is, I kept trying. And it's all good fodder for the future. I'm sure that some of those will either see completion or provide great ideas for something entirely new. And, I also realise that I had led a blessed writing life up until then. All of us will encounter writer's block or some such at some point.
So, with that in mind, I wanted to ask you all …
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? And … How do you feel about that?
Okay, so I cheated … that's really two questions. Hopefully, you'll bear with me!
What I'm seeing is that even when I think I haven't produced much, in actual fact, I have. It all comes down to how I measure my success. At the end of the day, writing is like breathing for me. The publishing and finishing is something else.
And in March this year, I wrote Backstage in just 15 writing days (23 calendar days). So, it would seem that during my 'down' time, something had been germinating and waiting for the right time. All those seemingly abortive efforts had kept the pot on the back-burner and stopped the water from going cold. So, when I felt ready to bring it to the boil, I didn't have such a long way to go as I might have done.
Okay, so my tally is: 17 part written / 1 finished but not published (and I have its sequel part written!)
Share your answers in the comments below. I'd love to hear what you have to say and what experiences you've had as a writer.


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F Dylan Stanley (Tri-City, 2000-05) has signed a one-year contract extension with Feldkirch (Austria, Alps HL). This season, he had 18 goals and 39 assists in 40 games. He led the team in assists and was second in points. He was second in the league in assists and fifth in points. . . . Stanley also was the team's skills coach and director of player development for the Feldkirch minor hockey program this season and will continue in those roles next season. . . .
F Brett Breitkreuz (Kelowna, Edmonton, Vancouver, 2006-10) has signed a one-year contract with the Bietigheim Steelers (Germany, DEL2). This season, with Löwen Frankfurt (Germany, DEL2), he had 16 goals and 17 assists in 42 games. Next season will be his 10th in Germany. He holds dual German-Canadian citizenship. . . .
G Chet Pickard (Tri-City, 2005-09) signed a two-year contract with Grizzlys Wolfsburg (Germany, DEL). This season, with Adler Mannheim (Germany, DEL), he was 19-4-0, 1.96, .914, with three shutouts, in 24 games. He was second in the league in GAA and sixth in save percentage. He holds dual German-Canadian citizenship.
Part I: Some trades and odds and ends from the WHL's bantam draft. . . .
I would suggest that the biggest news came from the camp of the Kelowna Rockets, and it didn't have anything to do with a deal that was struck with the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Rather, it involved Finnish D Lassi Thomson.
In fact, there are reports that Ilves of Finland's top pro league has a deal with Thomson that includes an option for him to stay through the 2021-22 season.
Bruce Hamilton, the Rockets' president and general manager, had this to say in a news release: "We're aware of the report that was released today. We were somewhat surprised; however, Lassi has always been under contract to Ilves as they had to release him to play for us this season. We look forward to the NHL draft (in) June. We are hopeful that whichever NHL team drafts him and his club team Ilves decides that playing for the Rockets is in his best interest."
Hamilton also told Regan Bartel, the Rockets' radio voice: "Once he is picked, the NHL team will have input on where he goes anyways. I think the NHL team will want to see him play in North America so they see him as much as they want. They can have their developmental people with him and have him playing on a North American ice sheet."
Thomson, who had a one-year contract to play over here, was the Western Conference nominee as rookie of the year after a season in which he put up 17 goals and 24 assists in 63 games. You can bet the Rockets were looking to him to run their first PP unit as they prepare to be the host team for the 2020 Memorial Cup.
From Tampere, Finland, Thomson won't turn 19 until Sept. 24.
At home, he played in the Ilves system for four seasons — U-16, U-18 and U-20 — before joining the Rockets.
Meanwhile, the Rockets made a splash on draft day by cutting a major trade with the Thunderbirds. . . . Kelowna acquired D Jake Lee, F Dillon Hamaliuk and G Cole Schwebius, giving up F Conner Bruggen-Cate, the 10th-overall pick in the 2019 bantam draft — the Rockets had acquired it earlier in the day from the Brandon Wheat Kings — a second-round pick in 2021 and Kelowna's first-rounder in 2022. . . . The Rockets didn't make the playoffs this season and are in the early days of a massive rebuild as they attempt to get competitive for a season that will end with them as the host team for the 2020 Memorial Cup. . . .
Lee, who is to turn 18 on July 13, is from Sherwood Park, Alta. He was the 18th-overall pick in the 2016 bantam draft. This season, his second in Seattle, he put up three goals and 21 assists in 67 games. . . . Hamaliuk, who will turn 19 on Oct. 30, is from Leduc, Alta. He was a sixth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. His season was ended by injury after 31 games, as he finished with 11 goals and 15 assists. . . . Schwebius, a 10th-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft, is from Kelowna. This season, he was 5-8-2, 3.89, .886 in 17 games with Seattle. . . .
Schwebius, 18, leaves the Rockets with three goaltenders on their roster, joining Roman Basran, who is to turn 18 on July 26, and James Porter, 19. This season, Basra was 20-19-4, 2.79, .906 in 51 games; Porter went 8-13-4, 3.32, .899 in 30 appearances.
Bruggen-Cate, who is heading into his 20-year-old season, is from Langley, B.C. He has played three seasons in Kelowna, totalling 26 goals and 46 assists in 200 games. Kelowna selected him in the sixth round of the 2014 bantam draft.
Seattle's 20-year-old group now includes Bruggen-Cate, F Jaxan Kaluski, Slovakian F Andrej Kukuca, D Jarret Tyszka and F Matthew Wedman,
There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Thank you very much.
Seattle, having dealt Schwebius to Kelowna, turned around and acquired G Blake Lyda of Edmonton from the Everett Silvertips for a third-round pick in the 2021 bantam draft. . . . That selection had originated with Everett, moving to Seattle in a Jan. 1 deal that had F Zack Andrusiak move to the Silvertips. . . . Lyda, who will turn 17 on May 21, was a fourth-round pick by Everett in the 2017 bantam draft. He was with the midget AAA Edmonton CAC Canadians, although he missed much of the season due to injury. . . . Right now, Lyda and Roddy Ross, who is to turn 19 on July 4, are the top two goaltenders on Seattle's depth chart.
Kelowna acquired the 10th-overall pick, along with the WHL rights to D Sean Comrie, from Brandon for the fifth-overall pick in the 2019 bantam draft. . . . Comrie, 19, is from Edmonton. The Wheat Kings selected him in the second round of the 2015 bantam draft. Comrie was a freshman this season with the U of Denver Pioneers, after playing two seasons with the AJHL's Spruce Grove Saints. This season, he had seven goals and 27 assists in 34 games. . . . The deal left Brandon with the fifth and sixth selections, the first time it held two top six picks since 2013 when it took F Nolan Patrick fourth overall and D Kale Clague with the sixth pick. . . . This time, the Wheat Kings took F Nate Danielson of Red Deer with the fifth selection and F Tyson Zimmer of Russell, Man., in the six hole. . . . Danielson had 26 goals and 33 assists in 29 games with the bantam AAA Rebels this season, while Zimmer had 22 goals and 30 assists in 26 games with a bantam team at the OHA in Penticton.
The Winnipeg Ice acquired the third-overall selection and D Reece Harsch, 20, from the Saskatoon Blades for four draft picks — the ninth- and 24th-overall picks in the 2019 bantam draft, as well as a 2020 second-round pick and a fifth in 2021. . . . That ninth-overall pick and the second-round selection in 2020 originated with the Red Deer Rebels; the fifth started with the Blades and was dealt to the Ice for F Cyle McNabb in January. . . . The Ice then cut a deal with the Prince George Cougars, giving up the third-overall pick and a third in 2020 that originated with the Moose Jaw Warriors for the second-overall selection in 2019. . . . Winnipeg selected F Matt Savoie of St. Albert, Alta., with the first pick, and then took F Conor Geekie of Strathclair, Man., with the second selection. . . . Savoie has made a verbal commitment to the U of Denver Pioneers starting with the 2021-22 season. His brother, Carter, was the AJHL's rookie of the year with the Sherwood Park Crusaders. He has committed to the Pioneers for the 2020-21 season. . . . Interestingly, the Ice recently acquired Carter's WHL rights from the Regina Pats. . . . The Ice brought the Savoies to Winnipeg in mid-April to show them around and seriously begin their sales pitch. . . . Geekie's father, Craig, played in the WHL with the Brandon Wheat Kings and Spokane Chiefs (1991-94). Conor's brother Morgan played three seasons (2015-18) with the Tri-City Americans, while another brother, Noah, was a second-round pick by the Calgary Hitmen in 2015 but has chosen to pursue a career in baseball. . . . Harsch, from Grande Prairie, Alta., was acquired by the Blades from the Seattle Thunderbirds this season. He totalled four goals and 16 assists in 57 regular-season games. In three full WHL seasons he has 17 goals and 40 assists in 178 games. He was a part of the Seattle team that won the Ed Chynoweth Cup two years ago.
In the fourth round, Winnipeg grabbed F Rieger Lorenz of Calgary. He had 11 goals and 25 assists with the bantam prep team at the Edge School in Calgary this season. . . . Lorenz has committed to the U of Denver Pioneers for the 2022-23 season.
Winnipeg also made a deal with the Tri-City Americans in which the Ice acquired F Isaac Johnson, 20. . . . Winnipeg gave up a fourth-round pick in the 2019 bantam draft in the exchange. That pick originated with Spokane, moving to the Ice in a deal made in June in which D Bobby Russell went to the Chiefs. . . . From Andover, Minn., Johnson had 12 goals and 20 assists in 31 games with the Americans this season when he left the team and apparently retired. At the time, Bob Tory, the Americans' general manager, told Taking Note that Johnson had retired for personal reasons. . . . In 2017-18, Johnson had 17 goals and 31 assists in 68 games with the Americans. . . . The Ice roster now includes three 20-year-olds — Johnson, F Davis Murray and D Chase Hartje.
The Kamloops Blazers had two first-round selections for the first time in franchise history. They took D Mats Lindgren out of the Burnaby Winter Club with the seventh-overall selection, then picked F Connor Levis of the St. George's Academy in Vancouver with the 20th pick. . . . Both players have committed to the U of Michigan Wolverines for 2022-23. . . . Lindgren's father, Mats, is a former NHLer. . . . In 2016, the Blazers used the 15th-overall pick on F Massimo Rizzo, who just completed his second season with the BCHL's Penticton Vees and has committed to the U of North Dakota Fighting Hawks. . . . In 2017, the Blazers took F Josh Pillar with the 14th selection. In 2018, they grabbed F Logan Stankoven with the fifth pick. . . . Pillar showed dramatic improvement with the Blazers as this season wore on, while Stankoven lit up the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League with the Kamloops-based Thompson Blazers and will be a big part of the Kamloops scene over the next few seasons.
Before the draft got started, the Calgary Hitmen made a huge splash by acquiring Jett Woo, one of the WHL top defencemen, from the Moose Jaw Warriors in exchange for D Vladislav Yeryomenko, F Ryder Korczak, the 11th-overall pick in the 2019 draft and a second-rounder in 2021. . . . Woo, the fourth-overall pick in the 2015 draft, was a second-round selection by the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL's 2018 draft. He has signed a three-year entry-level deal with Vancouver. . . . From Winnipeg, Woo is to turn 19 on July 27. He just completed his third season with Moose Jaw, and has 114 points, including 26 goals, in 178 games. This season, he finished with 12 goals and 54 assists in 62 games. . . .
"This was our No. 1 priority in getting a puck moving defenceman," Jeff Chynoweth, Calgary's general manager, said in a news release. "To add a player of his calibre, one of the top scoring defencemen in the WHL, a player who plays hard at both ends, is huge for our club.
"He's a legitimate No. 1 defender and to get him for a whole season instead of after the trade deadline is an added bonus."
The deal also signals that the Hitmen have their eyes on the prize for 2019-20 and won't be content just being one of the players.
Yeryomenko, 20, is from Mishutki, Belarus. He was a fifth-round pick by the Nashville Predators in the NHL's 2018 draft but has yet to sign a pro deal. This season, his third with Calgary, he had seven goals and 26 assists in 33 games. In 188 regular-season games, he has 26 goals and 72 assists.
The Warriors have two other Belarusians on their roster — F Yegor Buyalski, 18, and F Daniil Stepanov, 18.
There have been rumblings that the rule involving 20-year-old import players may be about to change, perhaps with the removal of the two-spot designation. It could be that a team will be allowed to have three imports on its roster, if one of them is a 20-year-old. This deal may signal that Moose Jaw general manager Alan Millar is expecting that rule to be changed.
Korczak, who is to turn 17 on Sept. 23, is from Yorkton, Sask. The younger brother of Kelowna Rockets D Kaedan Korczak, he had eight goals and seven assists in 50 games as a freshman with the Hitmen.
The Vancouver Giants didn't have a first-round pick, and took D Joshua Niedermayer, a son of former WHL/NHL D Scott Niedermayer, with the 30th overall selection. A native of Newport Beach, Calif., Joshua had 10 goals and 12 assists in 27 games with the bantam prep team at OHA in Penticton, B.C. . . . His brother, Jackson, 18, is a forward with the BCHL's Penticton Vees and has committed to Arizona State U and the Sun Devils for 2021-22. . . . Jackson was a fifth-round pick by the Calgary Hitmen in the 2016 bantam draft. . . .
The Giants used their second pick in the draft, No. 43, to take F Bowden Singleton of Calgary. He had 42 goals and 24 assists in 29 games with the Northern Alberta Xtreme bantam prep team, but has committed to the U of North Dakota Fighting Hawks for 2022-23. . . .
In the fifth round, the Giants took F Colton Langkow of Scottsdale, Ariz. His father, Daymond, played four seasons (1992-96) with the Tri-City Americans while an uncle, Scott, spent three seasons (1992-95) tending goal for the Portland Winterhawks.
JUST NOTES: Kamloops took G Dylan Ernst from the Weyburn, Sask., bantam AA Red Wings with the 28th overall pick. He was the first goaltender taken in the draft. Dylan's brother Ethan, 17, just finished his freshman season with the Kelowna Rockets. After Dylan was drafted, their mother, Bonnie, tweeted: "It's hard enough to watch him in net, let alone playing against his brother. And that many times." . . .
The Blazers used a seventh-round pick to take F Nash Bamford of Lacombe, Alta. He had eight goals and 12 assists in 33 games with the bantam AAA Red Deer Rebels. His father is country music star Gord Bamford, who was born in Australia and raised in Canada. He has 26 CCMA awards to his credit. . . .
The Everett Silvertips took F Austin Roest of Vernon, B.C., in the third round. His father, Stacy, played four seasons (1991-95) with the Medicine Hat Tigers and now is the director of player development with the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning. . . .
The Moose Jaw Warriors selected D Carson Brisson of Edmonton in the fifth round. He had 18 goals and 19 assists in 32 games with the minor midget Leduc Oil Kings this season. He has committed to the U of Denver Pioneers for 2023-24. . . .
The Seattle Thunderbirds used an eighth-round pick to take F Cruz Lucius of Grant, Minn. He played this season with the U-15 team at Gentry Academy, putting up nine goals and 32 assists in 13 games. He has committed to the U of Minnesota Gophers for 2022-23. . . . His brother, Chaz, was taken in the fourth round a year ago by the Portland Winterhawks. Chaz is poised to enter the U.S. National Team Development Program after putting up 39 goals and 23 assists in 13 games with the U-15 team at Gentry Academy. He is committed to Minnesota for 2021-22.
If you know of any other hockey bloodlines from the draft or have any tidbits you would like to share, email Taking Note at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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The Petchary is the Jamaican name for the Gray Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicennis) – a summer visitor to the island. Its name echoes its strident cry. Sometimes called the Storm Bird, it will sing all night, and chase away John Crows. "That ceaseless shriek"…These are the cries of the Petchary, who currently resides in Kingston, Jamaica.
For more about me, please look me up on LinkedIn (Emma Lewis) which tells you all you need to know (and probably too much). The basic information is that I am a writer, social media activist (find me on Twitter @Petchary) and NGO supporter/board member. I am London-born, an Oxford graduate with a Jamaican husband and a World-Citizen son.


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I landed in Cairo like something shot out the bottom of a waterslide: a sharp gasp and splash of forward momentum, wedgie-style with a sting up the nose, blinking, shaking water from my ear for the four days. Completely unprepared, and didn't know what to expect, except that I hadn't even given it enough mental energy to expect anything.
Which isn't entirely true—I expected it to be fairly modern, fairly developed. After two weeks in Albania, Cairo felt downright fancy, wealthy even. (There's a Metro! When's the next time I'm gonna get to ride a Metro?) I arrived during Eid, which is basically a four-day shitshow of fireworks, honking, running the streets—a Muslim teenage boy version of Girls Gone Wild.
But the daytimes are sleepy as fuck, Downtown dead, shuttered, traffic-less and breezy. I met up an old friend's little sister, who I hadn't seen since I was in high school (insert requisite "Oh my God, you're a woman now!"). We ate koshari and drank Turkish coffee and wandered around, making our way over to Tahrir Square.
Where, if I'd stopped to think about it while I'd been crashing down that waterslide, I would have expected it: a shitton of political stencils.
Running around snapping photos, many of which Kate was able to translate and explain to me, turned out to be the dopest part of my four-day stay.
Leading up to the square, this is a pretty typical shot of what the walls are looking like down there. The half-face on the left is one of the more popular stencils, which I saw in various forms. It's of Alexandrian blogger Khaled Said who was beaten and killed by the police, pre-Arab-Spring. Outcry and attention (speareheaded by FB group "We are all Khaled Said") over his death are credited with fueling the flames that eventually led to the January 25th uprising.
Cool because I'd seen almost the exact same Anarchy head in Kosovo.
Another jailed blogger, Alaa Abdel Fattah.
Face on the left of the tree is of Mina Danial, another blogger who was killed.
The next batch are all on the wall by the American University.
"We are all the martyr Mina Danial."
"Retribution for Mubarak."
Date of a protest, alongside the star-and-fist logo of the revolutionary socialists. Stencils are apparently one of the primary ways protest dates get circulated.
"I am the brain, you are the muscle." Liked that this lady walked into the shot.
Face on the left is of a TV newscaster (missed his name) who canceled his show rather than be censored.
A classic. Writing beneath reads: "Long Live the People of my Country."
Writing inside the TV reads: "Go down to the streets"—ie, don't rely on the TV/media to tell you what's going on.
Another of Khaled Said. Quite liked the placement beside the doorway.
Never quite figured out what the cow meant, but there were a lot of them…
K, here's one all the Occupiers can get down with: a banker being, um, poked, with a caption that reads: "Strike!"
Perhaps not the most well-executed, but reminded me of the Sherpard Fairey guns and roses piece.
Personal favorite, for obvious reasons (though only got groped once): "No touching. Castration awaits you." Shit yeah!
Don't have captions/translations/context for the rest of these. If anyone's got any insights or context to offer, holler…
Metro stops.
…And, a typical street scene round the Square, with a lil hidden gem.
It was really cool and really fucking refreshing to see all these stencils up. You know, you come across a lot of jaded people—people who will tell you that street art is played out, has sold out, commercialized and commodified and done for. There's an element of truth to what they say, sure, but I think that level of cynicism is dangerous.
So it was rad, all else aside, to see all this up, in this context. Street art is, in its origin and at its core, a political act. At least that's how I see it. It may be all the other sceney bullshit too, but walking around Tahrir Sqaure, I was reminded of the crucial role it can still play, the dissent it can represent, and how it can be un-fucking-stoppable. And, in a place where there's such intense repression and media censorship, street art plays a vital role.
It's like social media—which can be be soul-sucking and superficial—if you let it. The same cynical voices will tell you that FB and Twitter are deteriorating authentic human interaction. Which very well may be true. But, if you look at the fuller picture—holy shit, look what it can do! Look how it can connect people. It's not a coincidence that authorities, from Tahrir Square to BART, shut down cell phone reception in the face of protests. It's not a coincidence that the majority of faces stenciled here are bloggers. Yeah, yeah, there's a lot of BS that comes along with the territory, but that's the world we live in, you know? And check out the crazy, amazing tools we have to make it a better place.
Street art is one.


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One of the longest years of my life has finally come to an end. It has now been one year since the car accident that almost claimed my life. One year on I am still feeling the effects of that car accident – in more ways than one.
My injuries have largely healed; however, my right shoulder continues to be a bit of an issue. I have slight pain from time to time in the shoulder and it doesn't do what it used to be able to do.
There are of course other reminders of the accident that will remain with for life, with various scars on my right arm and hand, and above my right eye. These are reminders of the day that I almost died and they will be useful reminders of the fragility of life.
There are also other 'scars' of that day and accident that will take some time to ease – but these too are slowly improving also. These 'scars' are financial, spiritual and mental. The improvements in these areas are palpable to me, but there is till some way to go.
One year on I am still thankful for the gift of life and the second 'chance' so to speak that I have been given. One year on is a useful time to reflect on lessons learnt from a near death experience and how far short I have fallen in the goals that I set while I was lying in hospital reflecting upon my life that had so far passed at that time. There is still a long way to go.
I am thankful to God for His many mercies and His undeserved grace.


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Spending on U.S. construction projects fell in January by the largest amount in 18 months as home construction stalled and spending on government projects fell to the lowest level in more than six years.
The dip was viewed as a temporary setback with construction expected to keep moving higher this year.
Construction spending fell 2.1 percent in January compared with December, when spending had risen 1.1 percent. It was the biggest one-month decline since July 2011, the Commerce Department said Friday.
Residential construction, which has been leading the rebound in building, stalled in January with no gain in activity following a 1.7 percent rise in December.
Non-residential building dropped 5.1 percent while public construction was down 1 percent, pushing activity in the government sector to the lowest point since November 2006.
For all of last year, construction spending totaled $855.4 billion, an increase of 9.9 percent from 2011. It was the first annual gain after five straight years of decline. But construction still well below healthy levels.
Construction activity in 2012 is 26.7 percent below the all-time high of $1.17 trillion set in 2007 at the peak of the housing boom.
The housing market began recovering last year after a deep, six-year slump. Steady hiring and nearly record-low mortgage rates have encouraged more Americans to buy homes. More people are also moving out on their own after living with friends and relatives in the recession. That's driving a big gain in apartment construction and also pushing up rents.
Sales of previously occupied homes ticked up in January after rising to their highest level in five years in 2012. And new home sales jumped 16 percent last month from December to the highest level since July 2008 while home prices rose by the most in more than six years in the 12 months ending in December.
Rising home prices encourage more people to buy before prices rise further.
Builders, meanwhile, started work on the most new homes in 4 1/2 years in December. Last year was the best year for residential construction since 2008, just after the recession started.s


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Jimmy Herring, Wayne Krantz, Michael Landau, Keith Carlock,Gary Novak: The Ringers - January / February US tour dates 2014
Tour Hits Florida, Nashville, Atlanta, DC, Philly, NY and more…
Playing Sunshine Music Festival in addition to several shows with Jamband Legends - moe.
(Los Angeles, CA) One of the most talented groups of musicians currently playing together -
THE RINGERS, featuring Jimmy Herring, Wayne Krantz, Michael Landau, Keith Carlock and Etienne Mbappe, first debuted in early 2013 for a very exclusive tour on the east coast. The tour proved quite fulfilling for the iconic five-some, bringing together their varied backgrounds of Rock, Funk, Jazz, Blues and African styles.
THE RINGERS, featuring Jimmy Herring, Wayne Krantz, Michael Landau, Keith Carlock and Etienne Mbappe, first debuted in early 2013 for a very exclusive tour on the east coast. The tour proved quite fulfilling for the iconic five-some, bringing together their varied backgrounds of Rock, Funk, Jazz, Blues and African styles.
Now, this group of super-talent will once again hit the road; celebrating the New Year with a U.S. tour. Starting on January 18th, The Ringers will make two special appearances at the Sunshine Music & Blues Festivals in Florida and among other performances, will join American jam-band, moe, as Special Guests on a select number of dates (see below for itinerary details). On all other dates, support for shows will be Oli Brown, who will be in the studio with Anders Osborne this February. In addition, the band has also announced that it will allow audiences to record the live show as long as the venue permits.
The Ringers line-up will temporarily alter this time around as drummer, Keith Carlock, will be staying close to home, with his expectant wife. Dynamic musician, drummer, Gary Novak, will take his place for these tour dates.
The original concept behind The Ringers was to bring five guys together, not to just perform as a super-group, but to work "as a unifying artistic force, one where people put music ahead of their egos to collectively create great music." These five veteran musicians will perform together on new Ringers material written exclusively for this band, as well as each individual's solo material, covers tunes chosen by the players and brand new tunes each artist will debut for the live audience. The Ringers are also planning to record an album of originals, for release in 2014.
Jimmy Herring, as the founding member of The Aquarium Rescue Unit, Project Z and Jazz is Dead, in addition to playing with everyone from The Allman Brothers Band, The Grateful Dead to Phil Lesh and Friends, and Béla Fleck, has made his indelible impact on the music world. He currently serves as the lead guitarist for the very popular American Band, Widespread Panic and released his second solo album, Subject To Change Without Notice, last year.
Wayne Krantz released his tenth album, Howie 61, last year to glowing critical praise. Krantz has played with Randy Brecker, Leni Stern and Steely Dan, among others. Through a succession of highly lauded solo recordings, Krantz has continuously evolved as an artist - pushing himself in new and exciting directions. Revered for his forward-thinking approach to improvisation (brilliantly documented in his 2004 book An Improviser's OS), Krantz has fearlessly branched into new areas, while consistently skirting the edges of jazz, rock and fusion.
Musician and composer, Michael Landau, is a prolific session guitarist and performer who has played on hundreds of records since the 1980s, some session highlights include: Pink Floyd, Miles Davis, B.B. King, Ray Charles, Joni Mitchell and James Taylor. He has toured with Robben Ford, the Steve Gadd Band, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and his own project The Michael Landau Group. With many recordings under his name, the latest being 'Organic Instrumentals', his music flows intensely ranging from spooky ballads with beautiful improvisation to intense Rock 'n' Roll with vocals.
Bass player, Etienne Mbappe, is best known for his years with the Zawinul Syndicate. In the 80's he was the masterpiece of the jazz fusion band Ultramarine which incorporated jazz with elements of African and Caribbean influences. He also played with Ray Charles on his last album and is currently a member of John McLaughlin's 4th Dimension.
Gary Novak, an amazing drummer, began his career at the young age of 10, playing in his famous pianist father's (Larry Novak) trio in Chicago. Novak has recorded and/or toured with such musical luminaries as Chick Corea, Alanis Morrisette, Allan Holdsworth, Andrew WK, Michael McDonald, Natalie Cole, David Sanborn, George Benson and Anita Baker along with many more.
Follow The Ringers on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/
theringerslive and at theringerslive.com
Listen to The Ringers, here: https://soundcloud.com/
abstractlogix/the-ringers- athens
THE RINGERS Tour Itinerary:
January 18 Sunshine Music & Blues Festival
Boca Raton, FL *
January 19 Sunshine Music & Blues Festival
St. Petersburg, FL *
January 19 Sunshine Music & Blues Festival
January 22 Mercy Lounge
Nashville, TN
January 23 Terminal West
Atlanta, GA
January 24 Georgia Theatre
Athens, GA
January 25 WorkPlay Soundstage
Birmingham, AL
January 29 The Music Farm
Charleston, SC **
January 30 The Fillmore
Charlotte, NC **
January 31 The Grey Eagle
Asheville, NC
February 1 The Lincoln Theatre
Raleigh, NC
February 4 World Cafe Live (Downstairs)
Philadelphia, PA
February 5 The Howard Theatre
Washington, DC
February 6 BB King's
New York, NY
February 7 The Capitol Theatre
Portchester, NY **
February 8 StageOne
Fairfield, CT
February 9 River Street Jazz Café
Planes, PA ***
*Sunshine Music and Blues Festival: http://www.
**dates with Moe
***NEW Date


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I'm looking forward to Microsoft's browser-based edition of Office. While the company isn't leading the trend to cloud-based apps, it's certainly in the middle of the movement. Microsoft's suite will be released next year, but you can save money by accessing online office-style apps right now. In-browser productivity suites are typically free. Plus, I like them for lightweight systems, such as netbooks, where Microsoft's desktop suite feels too bloated for even typing.
Google Docs offers free browser-based productivity apps, with basic features that match the Office apps. While I often use that service, I'm especially interested in the Zoho suite. Its apps include a cleaner interface and a few features beyond Google's options.
The basic Zoho apps are free, but you can pay for more storage and features. A free account nets 1GB of space, which should be ample for most situations. (5GB costs $3 a month, for example.) The free account also includes versions of all of Zoho's apps, including a word processor, presentation app, and spreadsheet. You'll also get more powerful software, including a CRM tool, project manager, and meeting app. But those advanced tools can include an optional monthly fee for certain situations, typically adding support for more concurrent users versus the free edition
In addition to those tools that go beyond Google Docs, I like the clean, featured interface in Zoho Writer, Zoho Sheet, and other basics. Zoho borrows enough from Google, such as the list of documents in the left sidebar. But I can view multiple documents as tabs within a single page, and the rest of the interface feels more intuative.
Office 2010 could swoop in to dominate online productivity apps. But Zoho's options can save you money versus buying a desktop suite right now. Especially if you're using older PCs, cheap laptops, or often swapping between computers, browser-based software can work better than desktop tools at a free–or cheap–price.
Zack Stern is building a new business from San Francisco, where he frequently contributes to PC World.


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David's work relating to the ancestry and genealogy of a person's perception.
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Imagine it. The United States of America inaugurating its first black president not once, but twice.
My father probably could never have imagined it. Martin Luther King, Jr. could only have dreamed it.
Yet their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are witnessing it under sunny skies in DC and on the airwaves across the nation.
That we are celebrating Inauguration Day on the day we celebrate King's life, reminds us of the continuum of progress.
When civil rights leader Myrlie Evers-Williams came up to the podium to give the inaugural invocation, I was reminded of the assassination of her husband, Medgar. In 1963, in my lifetime, it was heresy in many quarters to suggest that a black person should exercise one vote, much less amass enough votes to be elected to the highest office of the land.
When Beyoncé came to the microphone to sing the "Star- Spangled Banner," I could not help but think about all of those columns my father wrote singing the praises of Marian Anderson, whom the Daughters of the American Revolution deemed unfit to perform in Constitution Hall.
When I see Michelle, Malia and Sasha Obama, and Marian Robinson in all their beauty and elegance, I can't help but think about my Essence magazine days, when mainstream advertisers didn't want to associate their products with black women.
When President Obama included the Stonewall Riots in the same breath as Seneca Falls and Selma, it indicated how far he and the nation have come on the issue of gay rights.
When this year's inaugural laureate, Richard Blanco, the son of Cuban exiles, offered his poem "One Today," I thought of those like my father, born in other countries, who believed so much in America's promise even as they were keenly aware of its shortcomings.
As President Obama said in his Inaugural address:
"Through it all, we have never relinquished our skepticism of central authority, nor have we succumbed to the fiction that all society's ills can be cured through government alone. Our celebration of initiative and enterprise; our insistence on hard work and personal responsibility, are constants in our character.
But we have always understood that when times change, so must we; that fidelity to our founding principles requires new responses to new challenges; that preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action . . .
You and I, as citizens, have the obligation to shape the debates of our time – not only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values and enduring ideals.
Let each of us now embrace, with solemn duty and awesome joy, what is our lasting birthright. With common effort and common purpose, with passion and dedication, let us answer the call of history, and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom."