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Thursday, June 30, 2011
Happy Canada Day!
As my fellow Canadians will be too busy partying and enjoying the fireworks to read this blog tomorrow, I'm wishing us all a happy holiday today!
What do you like best about being Canadian? What does being Canadian mean to you?
Posted by J.H. Moncrieff at 5:00 AM 5 comments
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Beneath My Wings
|Ashley White gets a hug after knocking out WKBF world champion Greg Foley
sup·port (s-pôrt, -prt)
tr.v. sup·port·ed, sup·port·ing, sup·ports
1. To bear the weight of, especially from below.
2. To hold in position so as to keep from falling, sinking, or slipping.
3. To be capable of bearing; withstand: "His flaw'd heart . . . too weak the conflict to support" (Shakespeare).
4. To keep from weakening or failing; strengthen.
They say "no man is an island", but have you ever felt like one? It's lonely when you feel like no one cares about your goals or dreams but you, and when no one is there to bandage your wounds and comfort you when you fall. It is only human nature to seek out close bonds with others.
I'll never forget taking a boyfriend to his first muay thai fight. I was thrilled to introduce him to the martial art that I was so passionately in love with--I thought that he would get caught up in all the excitement and instantly understand why I spent so much time in training.
Unfortunately, that particular event was one of the bloodiest I've ever seen. There were several knockouts that evening, some of the fighters were injured to the point where their coaches were forced to throw in the towel, and stretcher-baring paramedics had to rush to the ring not once, but twice! The blue surface of the ring was soon purple with blood. My boyfriend was horrified, but even I didn't realize to what extent.
Later that evening, he gave me the dreaded ultimatum:
"If you don't stop kickboxing, I will break up with you."Bet you can guess what I did with that threat! Although, surprisingly, our relationship lingered on for at least another year. This is surprising to me not because he stayed, but because I can't imagine actually wanting to be with someone who offered so little support for what was important to me.
Not everyone is going to be comfortable with the thought of their significant other being repeatedly punched or kicked...or injured. I don't care whether you're a man or a woman, it's never fun to see someone you love get hurt. But if you date a kick boxer, a fencer, a Kung fu master, or a mixed martial artist, there has to be a willingness to support them in spite of your own fears. Otherwise, you are constantly hoping they will change, and from what I've seen of the people who fall in love with the fighting arts, you will be waiting a long time.
Training to fight has basically taken over my life this year, and I can't imagine how I would have survived without the constant support and enthusiasm of my "boy". Chris thinks it's cool to date a woman who can kick some serious *ss, and I'm at a point of my life when (thankfully) I'll no longer settle for anything less.
How about you, Dear Readers? Who supports your crazy dreams and encourages you to go further? Who is the wind beneath your wings?
Photo credit: Blitz Publications
Posted by J.H. Moncrieff at 5:00 AM 4 comments
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The Myth of Female Friendship
Hello Dear Readers,
Some people watched Sex and the City for the clothes. Others enjoyed an inside view at life in a glamorous city. And still others (I'm talking to you, guys) undoubtedly were drawn to the no holds barred depictions of sex. I was in it for the friendship.
That four women from completely different walks of life, with completely different interests and morals, would form such a close bond was a bigger fantasy than Carrie being able to afford multiple pairs of $800 shoes on a freelance writer's salary.
Though I knew it was a fantasy, I envied the easy closeness that Carrie shared with Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte. No matter what else was going on in these busy women's lives, they still managed to meet for brunch every weekend. And even more incredible, their friendships survived huge blow-ups and nasty fights. Remember all the times Miranda got frustrated with Carrie's on-again, off-again relationship with Big and told her she was being a fool? Or the time Carrie walked in on a private moment with Samantha and the UPS guy and turned a tad judgmental? They even dated each other's exes and managed to escape with their friendship unscathed. This gold-star depiction of female friendship was well worth idolizing...and envying.
However, in my experience, it's been very different. At various times in my life, I've been part of a group of female friends, but none of these groups enjoyed the easy camaraderie of Carrie's foursome. Someone was always left out (this happened a lot if it was a group of three). If one of the group couldn't make it to an event or outing, the rest of the pack talked about her (and usually, not very nicely). These friendships never seemed to last, and we certainly had more in common than Carrie did with her friends. It was an unsettling feeling to know that you were being dissected behind your back (just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you).
Forming a group of like-minded female friends is as tricky and complicated as finding another couple to hang out with you and your significant other. It can take years to find two people that two other people like equally. With so many amazing people in the world, I have no idea why this is so difficult, but it seems to be.
Another fantastical aspect of Sex and the City is how the friends were able to patch up any argument or fight, no matter how severe. For myself, I've found having an issue with a female friend to be a very tricky problem to have, and unless it's a huge detriment to the friendship, I tend to just let it go. When I have needed to bring an issue up, I've debated with myself for days over the best way to phrase it, the best way not to offend. And I've failed miserably, every time. I can count the number of girlfriends who've survived an issue or some kind of dispute with me on one hand with a few fingers missing. And it's sad, because in most cases, the issues were not worth losing the friendship over. They were worth bringing up and resolving, but not worth killing the bond over. However, over time I've come to realize that if the friendship was meant to be--or strong enough--we'd still be friends and that silly dispute wouldn't have changed things.
I loved the friendships on Sex and the City, and I wish real life was like that. Has it been for you, Dear Readers? Do you think that depiction of female friendship was accurate, or not?
Interestingly enough, the original novel by Candace Bushnell does not focus on the friendships between the women in the same way the TV series did. Perhaps she was afraid her novel would get categorized as fantasy. ;)
Posted by J.H. Moncrieff at 5:00 AM 8 comments
Friday, June 24, 2011
Fun Friday XXXII: Friendship Found
Happy Friday, Dear Readers!
Here's this week's writing prompt:
How did you meet your closest friend? What makes that person your closest friend?
For the purpose of this exercise, let us assume that significant others and spouses are excluded. :)
I met my friend (and this will probably surprise no one) at kickboxing. She and I were two of only a few women who went to Sik Tai, an old-school muay thai club where the training was fairly brutal.
She was quiet, but she was still friendly and easy to talk to. I remember noticing that she had kind eyes. A person's eyes count for a lot with me.
I can't remember how we first struck up a conversation, but somehow we discovered that we lived on the same street, so she offered to give me a ride to class. This was a huge treat for me, because before I met her, I took two buses through some very spooky neighborhoods to get to the club. I had to wait for a long time in the dark in said scary neighborhood to catch the bus back home.
During our rides back and forth, she would often ask what my plans were for the coming weekend. One day, I just said to her, "Why...do you want to do something?"
I can't remember what we did (probably went to Papa George's for Greek food and hours of conversation), but from that moment, we were friends. She has been my best friend since 1997.
We've been through a lot together...both good and bad. Right around the time we became friends, I discovered that my boyfriend of three years had cheated on me, and she went through a divorce. We traveled to the Dominican Republic and Africa together. We supported each other through terrible relationships with terrible men. And of course, we trained together...at Sik Tai until it closed, and then at CKMTC, Dragon, Pan Am, and now at KWest. I hope we'll continue to have adventures together, even though we're both in serious relationships now.
She is one of the few people I can trust with my life. I can tell her anything, and she'll never breathe a word of what I tell her to anyone else. She's a fantastic listener, and her loyalty is unshakable. She's selective in her choice of friends, which makes me all the more proud and grateful that she selected me.
I don't know what it is about kickboxing, but some of the most incredible, big-hearted people I have met in my life are kick boxers. There's something about that martial art that attracts some fantastic people.
How about you, Dear Readers? How did you meet your closest friend?
Posted by J.H. Moncrieff at 5:00 AM 7 comments
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Interview With a Warrior III
Marliese Friesen is one busy lady. It's been six months since her debut in the ring, but it's taken that long to catch up to her. Between graduating from university and going on a dream vacation in Australia and New Zealand, Marliese is definitely living life to the fullest.
Her first fight, which took place at KWest Kickboxing's Rumble at the ROCC on December 3rd, 2010, resulted in a win by unanimous decision. Marliese kicked some serious butt! Here are her thoughts on fighting, training, fitness, and being a woman in muay thai.
Q. How long have you been taking muay thai?
A. About five years now. I took my very first class in the fall of 2005, partway through my second year of university. It was just Kru Kelly Westerlund then. That was about a year before Kwest Kickboxing became a certified World Muaythai Council club.
Q. Why did you start?
A. Essentially because I needed exercise. I spent almost all of my time either in class at university or studying at home, so I was pretty out of shape.
|Marliese is on the right.
A. I needed an activity that would get me back in shape but also serve as an outlet for pent-up energy and stress; I wanted to learn something new, but not just an ordinary sport; I wanted something considered unconventional for a woman (I like to go against the grain), and I wanted something tough and a little bad-ass.
Once I looked in to it, the idea of a martial art really appealed to me. I narrowed my interest down to a striking MA rather than a grappling MA. Kickboxing stood out because it incorporated fists and feet. I mentioned my thoughts to my sister and through a series of fortunate events and Kru Kelly's generous nature, we were soon registered in a beginner kickboxing class at Kwest.
I was super excited when I found out that Kru Kelly actually taught traditional Muaythai, and not kickboxing. Kickboxing is sort of a simplified and safer version of Muaythai, as it only includes punching and kicking. Traditional Muaythai, on the other hand, also includes elbowing, kneeing, and clinching. So, I started because I needed exercise, but stayed because I fell in love with the art of Muaythai and Kwest.
Q. When/how did you decide you wanted to fight?
A. I had attended cards that included fighters from Kwest and just knew that I wanted to do it, too. Plus, I was training in the Level 2 class and just thought, why else would I put my body through this, if not to fight? But the timing was never right. University always took over and my attendance would drop. So after I graduated, I applied to train for the next fights and Kelly said yes.
Q. Describe the training. What was it like?
A. The training was intense and draining, but totally worth it. I remember Kru Kelly saying, "If you train properly, the hardest part about a fight is the training". Having seen other club members prepare for previous fights, I knew that it would take a toll on my body, but I don't think I realized the huge amount of mental and emotional tenacity it would require.
Obviously the physically training was hard, especially when Kru Kelly had me work on my weaknesses, or when I felt like I couldn't go another round or do another rep. But I think one of the most challenging parts was overcoming the doubt I had in my abilities and pushing through the periods where I questioned my potential for success. I knew that when I stepped into the ring I wasn't just fighting for myself, I was representing Kwest and Kru Kelly. I put more pressure on myself to succeed because of that, and during the periods of self-doubt I wanted to step down so I wouldn't embarrass my club.
There were times I wanted to give up, but the support and encouragement I received from Kru Kelly and the other fighters made all the difference. They brought me out of my slumps by showing me how far I had come and just how much I was good at. At the same time, I would quickly think over the things I had learned and the improvements I had made. As trivial as it may seem, doing this really helped my self-confidence, and gave me the mental and emotional strength to keep training.
|Marliese is on the left.
A. I was nervous the night of the weigh-ins, mostly because it finally sank in that I was actually going to fight. I felt a bit anxious the day of because I knew that something big was going to happen later. My excitement increased once I got to the gym and saw the other fighters and the gym all set up. But it wasn't until I was warming up in the back room that my emotions became a bit more intense. I was anxious and impatient and didn't really want to warm up, partly because I had this fear that I'd slip, injure myself and not be able to fight, but mostly because I just wanted to get in the ring and get it over with. Three months of intense training were all coming to a head and I just wanted it to be finished.
I just about lost it entering the ring, though. People had told me that I'd have tunnel vision as soon as I got out there but I didn't. I saw all the people in the audience, I heard my entrance music, I saw my opponent. My nerves were shot at that point. I had already planned on sealing the ring once I entered it, so I used that time to take deep, slow breaths to try to calm my body down. It took me a while to seal the ring, and even then my body was still buzzing.
Once the fight started, though, my nerves calmed down a bit. I was still aware of everybody. I could hear a fellow fighter cheering me on from the back of the gym, and my opponent's coach telling her what to do (very helpful, by the way). Thankfully, I could remember the drills we practiced, and the combinations I was to focus on. All the training was paying off, because I felt like I knew what to do.
Here's a funny aside… Prior to my fight, I had been told that women's fights are often more "scrappy" because our emotions get involved and we just let loose with the punches. I thought that was complete nonsense and, to be honest, was kind of offended. Ha! I distinctly remember taking a solid jab from my opponent close to the beginning of the first round and thinking "That b****! She just hit me!" I actually felt surprised and insulted that she would do such a thing, conveniently forgetting that hitting and being hit was the whole point. So much for remaining emotionless.
After the fight… I was wired. I couldn't stop smiling. I couldn't stand still. I kept playing with the zipper on my hoody. My boyfriend finally reached over, grabbed my hands and said, "Stop. Calm down". It didn't work. A couple hours later, though, the adrenalin wore off and I crashed.
Q. Would you do it again? ?
|Marliese is on the left.
Q. What do you love most about muay thai?
A. Um… everything. I honestly can't narrow it down. I love everything about it. It's such a rewarding activity. Even the bruises, black eyes, and bloody noses are rewarding. They're like little gold stars marking your achievement.
Q. Why is it a good sport for women?
A. First and foremost, learning Muaythai indirectly teaches you self-defense. After seeing me fight, my mom said that she was less nervous about me traveling around Australia alone because she knew that I could defend myself if I had to. Also, if you put in the effort, the changes in your body and mind are a great way to boost your self-confidence.
Q. Oh, and people are going to want to know how you got those muscles! :) What is your training regime?
A. Ha! Well, during training, we did a lot of everything: cardio, endurance, strength, and flexibility. But to get the arms, basically a lot of burpees and push-ups to build and tone the muscles, and plyometrics and cardio/endurance exercises to burn off the fat so you can see them!! Easy, right?
Q. What do you do in addition to muay thai?
A. I run and bike occasionally. Otherwise nothing. I'd love to learn a grappling MA like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, but for now, continuing with Muaythai at Kwest is enough for me!
Oh, and in case you missed my previous plugs, go check out http://www.kwestkickboxing.com/!
Thanks, Marliese! If you have any questions for her, you can post them in the comment section.
Photo credit: Colin Epp
Posted by J.H. Moncrieff at 5:00 AM 2 comments
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
A Big Kick in the Arse
|The Queen of Horror Fiction (or as she refers to her new book: "Bitch Lit")
Happy Hump Day, Dear Readers!
With a title like "A Big Kick in the Arse", you probably expected this post to be about kickboxing, didn't you? Well, it isn't. It's about writing! Fooled you!
(The kick boxers can tune out now.)
Recently I attended a friend's book launch. This was a Big Deal, both to my friend, who hasn't published a new book for a few years, and to the community, who loves to laud one of its own.
For our city, it was a huge launch. There were more people than chairs, so plenty were standing, and some were even hanging over a balcony up above. There was much applause and laughter--a highly appreciative audience--and the author felt well and truly loved. As for me, since I wanted to be there and the author writes in a genre I actually read, I was happy, too.
But on my way home, the dark side kicked in.
So far this year, kickboxing has basically taken over my life. If you read this blog, I'm most likely not surprising you with that information. I knew it was only a matter of time until the guilt from neglecting my writing kicked in, and that reading was it.
Lest you think this is one of those "why her and not me?" whines, I'll tell you right now: it isn't. First of all, this author deserves every bit of success she receives, and I am ecstatic for her. I hope her book sales soar into the stratosphere.
Secondly, I'm not one of those people who thinks that there's a limited amount of success in the world. When I see one of my writing friends achieve something incredible, I don't think the same is less likely to happen to me...I think it's more likely. Because their success and achievements prove that this stuff actually happens! That it isn't just an urban myth cooked up by a bunch of unpublished writers.
And the last reason I'm not bemoaning my lack of a book launch: I know the answer to the question "why not me?" far too well. Because I haven't been writing! Or rewriting! How am I supposed to have a book launch for a book that doesn't exist? (At least not in publishable form.)
We don't write for fame and adulation. We don't write for wealth. But wouldn't it be cool to--just for once--be the one standing behind the podium instead of the one sitting in front of it, hoping for an autograph? It's fun to dream.
But in this case, the dream could be a reality if I just got back to it. The Boy tells me it's impossible to give so much energy and heart to two things (muay thai and writing) at the same time, and he may be right, but I feel I've got to try.
It was a great kick in the arse when I needed it. So thank you, Susie Moloney.
And buy her book! It's fabulous.
How about you, Dear Readers? Are you inspired by others' success? Does it give you a kick in the arse?
Posted by J.H. Moncrieff at 5:00 AM 8 comments
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
That Lovely Inner Voice
"What ever made you think you could do this? You're obviously not cut out for it."
"You should just quit, tell everyone they wasted their time on you. You're not tough enough."
"You're a loser."
What would you say to a friend who told you things like that? They probably wouldn't be your friend for much longer, would they?
But what if it's you doing the trash-talking to yourself? How can you escape someone who follows you everywhere you go?
The sentences at the beginning of this post are just a few of the things I told myself after a meltdown on Saturday. As you can see, negative thoughts can get ugly.
Why was I being so hard on myself? I've recently started sparring again, after a long, long break. To get better faster, I've been training with people who are much more skilled than I am. They also haven't taken a long break from sparring, so they're more comfortable with it.
Do you know what happens in my martial art when you train with people who are better than you? You get your ass kicked.
I haven't been hurt, but my ego has been severely bruised. And instead of reminding myself that I'm new to this, I keep going back to how I was a decade ago, when I sparred every day and had no problem being assertive and aggressive.
What would I say to a friend who was in the same situation?
"Don't worry...it'll come back. You were great before, and you will be great again. It just takes practice. Don't be so hard on yourself."
So why am I so much nastier to myself? There was no support, no encouragement at all coming from me to me. And, as you can imagine, my critical thoughts made things worse, bringing on a full-on crying jag (thankfully I was cloistered in my dojo's bathroom at the time).
I wanted to offer some helpful tips for fighting negative self-talk in this post, but a web search on the topic revealed nothing but sales pitches from self-help gurus or cheesy gimmicks. (I'm sorry, but I don't think snapping myself with a rubber band would have done the slightest bit of good.)
All we can really do is keep trying to treat ourselves like we treat our friends...with patience, with support, and with love. And like everything else, this takes practice. Some days will be better than others. There will be occasional crying jags in the bathroom (but hopefully not many).
One thing that I have to always remember: never getting knocked down does not make me a fighter. It's always being able to get back up.
How about you, Dear Readers? Do you ever have a problem with negative self-talk? How do you stop it in its tracks?
Posted by J.H. Moncrieff at 5:00 AM 9 comments
Monday, June 20, 2011
Where in the World....?
Welcome back, Dear Readers.
I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend.
Debt is a funny thing. I think most of us would agree that it's "bad", but it can also get far too comfortable. It provides a handy excuse for not getting out there and doing something scary and unfamiliar. Now that The Boy and I are almost back in the black, it's time to start thinking about where we would like to move in the next few years.
So far, here is our criteria:
- Affordability
- Year-round sun and heat
- Close proximity to ocean or sea
- Running water and electricity, semi-reliable Internet
- English-speaking (not necessarily as the first or only language, but we'd like to be able to communicate and get jobs)
- Affordable medical care of some quality (although coming back to Canada annually to see my doctor and keep our citizenship is not out of the question, though it may be impractical, depending upon where we move)
- Safety (we are adventure seekers, but have no plans to relocate to a country that's in constant political strife or is right on the hurricane belt)
Some things we will not need, and at the top of that list is STUFF. The Boy told me about a comedy skit all about how we need houses to contain and protect our stuff, and then we accumulate even more stuff, so we need to buy bigger houses...I am so out of that cycle. Enough with the stuff!
But what I do want is room to breathe. I'm from a small town where we had a large yard with only one neighbor, and I miss that privacy. I'm so tired of looking out my window to see into my neighbor's window, and of being watched by several pairs of eyes as I walk around my garden. I want space. I don't care so much about the quality (or size) of my house...it's all about the location. I definitely won't miss tripping over shrieking kids every time I leave my house, or the neighbor who uses his house as a garage band rehearsal space.
So, the plan is to populate a list of about ten or twenty places that meet our criteria, narrow the list down further with research, and then start visiting the most likely prospects. This is where you come in, Dear Readers. I know some of you are very well-traveled. Do you know of a place that meets our requirements? If so, please tell me about it!
Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world?
Posted by J.H. Moncrieff at 5:00 AM 8 comments
Friday, June 17, 2011
Fun Friday XXXI: Exciting Times
Happy Friday, Dear Readers.
A gorgeous summer day deserves a fun writing prompt, so here's one that I hope you'll be inspired to participate in:
What's the most exciting thing that has ever happened to you?This was a tough question for me. I had to think about it a bit...I've had an unusual, colorful life thus far. But, all in all, I have to say that the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me was going to Africa.
I'd wanted to go to Africa ever since I could remember. My friend Darbi and I once planned to go on a safari together, and when she died, I made it my mission to go on that trip for both of us. There was only one problem: a trip to Africa is prohibitively expensive, and it was well beyond my budget.
I was working the night shift in the newsroom at my local paper when one of the photojournalists suggested I get someone else to pay for it. Brilliant! Why didn't I think of that?
There wasn't much going on that night, so I searched the web for travel companies that specialized in African safaris. The first one on the list was African Portfolio, so I wrote owner Diane Ebzery and asked if she'd be willing to allow me to go on one of her safaris free of charge. In return, I would write about the experience, and sell the story to as many magazines and newspapers as I could. I really didn't expect anything to come from this late-night email, but to my great surprise, she agreed. (I even had to suggest she read some of my work first, as it never occurred to her.)
A few short months later, my best friend (the photographer for the trip) and I were off on the adventure of a lifetime! During our four weeks in Zambia and Zimbabwe, I:
- Held a baby crocodile
- Traveled in a microlight (basically a motorized bike with wings) over Victoria Falls
- Saw too many rhinos, elephants, zebras, antelope, hippos, crocs, giraffes and baboons to count (Along with some elusive wild cats.)
- Met amazing people, especially our African guides and the people of Zambia and Zimbabwe
- Visited an actual village in Zimbabwe
- Maneuvered a canoe through the Zambezi River while a bull elephant charged at us from above
- Witnessed phenomenal sunsets from a boat, and saw an even more awesome sunrise
- Photographed a baby elephant with its mother
- Visited and walked inside ruins that are older than the pyramids
- Learned how precious all life is
- Traded GAP clothing for batiks
- Ate the best spaghetti and the best potato chips of my life (spare rib flavor--who knew?)
- Stayed in the most incredible places I will probably ever see
- Was awed by an entirely different set of constellations
Unfortunately, to my unending guilt and shame, I never got to pay Diane back for her extreme generosity and kindness (the woman thought of everything, even booking a luxury hotel for a few hours so we wouldn't have to wait in the airport for our flight home). No one wanted to buy stories about traveling to Africa during the summer months, and that fall, September 11th happened. No one wanted to travel anymore. I sold few stories, and those I did sell were disappointing. (One magazine used my story as a vehicle to promote other travel companies.)
I still hope some day to pay her back for the most amazing experience of my life. And if you should go to Africa, please give Diane your business. I promise you won't regret it. She makes the trip of your dreams a reality.
One of our guides told me that if you drink the water of the Zambezi River, you are guaranteed to return to Africa. I sure hope he's right.
Your turn, Dear Readers! What's the most exciting thing that's ever happened to you?
Posted by J.H. Moncrieff at 5:00 AM 2 comments
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Operation: Aggression
I have a problem.
I'm too damned nice.
This isn't a problem in life, necessarily, now that I've learned that being nice doesn't mean being a pushover. But it is a problem in the ring.
I never used to have a problem with aggression in sports. I was aggressive in muay thai sparring at my old club, aggressive in soccer, aggressive in sponge hockey. (And I'm not talking about the type of misguided aggression that leads sports fans to destroy their own city...I'm referring to the healthy, competitive aggression two athletes must have when they face each other down.)
Even when I'm taking a punch or kick these days, I'm smiling, laughing, expressing awe over how good my partner is, and otherwise having a good time. It's fine to have a good time, but I'm not doing myself any favors by squandering these opportunities to redevelop my aggression.
There's a saying that goes, "you fight the way you train". If that's true, I'm going to be in big trouble unless I do something now to correct it, and believe me, I'm working on it. I'm not sure where my aggression went, but the bitch has got to come back!
How about you, Dear Readers? Are there areas of your life in which you wish you were more assertive? Or, if you engage in competitive sports (muay thai or others), how do you hone your aggression?
Posted by J.H. Moncrieff at 5:00 AM 7 comments
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The Dedication
Hello Dear Readers,
Publishing a book (in e-format or otherwise) brings an interesting dilemma to the forefront: who do you dedicate it to?
Lost is not a new book. It's had a long, long journey. It began its life as In the Valley of the Shadow, a 500 page, single-spaced monstrosity that I wrote for a college assignment. It had too many characters and a completely inconceivable plot. Would you believe a nurse who was also a Satanic high priestess and a cop who ran around in a cape as the Avenging Angel in his spare time? Oh, brother. At least a dozen children were kidnapped during the course of the story (by the rampaging Satanic cult, of course). A classmate asked to read the manuscript, and his first question was, "Where is the FBI?" Uh-oh. Can you say "massive rewrite"? (For those of you who don't know, the FBI has jurisdiction over kidnappings in the United States. I did know this, but it must have slipped my mind.)
Valley ended up in a landfill, I'm relieved to say. There was too much wrong with it. But not everything was unsalvageable. What if just one child went missing? What if the teenagers weren't cult members, but normal youth, subject to peer pressure, substance abuse, and perhaps an underdeveloped sense of right and wrong? What if their leader, admired and feared in equal measure, was a really bad guy? I scrapped the cults and the cape, and ended up with a much better story. It had a title I loved: When Demons Wear Shoes. The agents I spoke to loved it, too, until another book was published. You may have heard of it. It's called The Devil Wears Prada.
My former classmate was the first to read this new incarnation, and subsequent drafts. As always, his eye for detail was a saving grace. He didn't call me on misused semi-colons, or sentence fragments--he's not that kind of editor. Jeff will notice when a character is suddenly inconsistent, or when a paragraph is less than my best. He's not shy about telling me when I can do better, and sometimes, he's made me cry from sheer frustration. But through him, my characters have come alive. Through him, I've learned that settings should always tell you something about the characters. I have become a better writer thanks to him, and I can't imagine writing a book without his guidance (I hope I never have to).
Through all the titles and incarnations this book has gone through, and there were many (Among Demons, It Springs Eternal), it has been dedicated to Jeff, and understandably so. Here comes the tricky part:
Writer and editor fall in love. Writer and editor move in together, and get engaged after five and a half years. After a lot of soul-searching and many tears, writer and editor part ways, amicably. Editor meets new woman and falls in love. He marries, and they have a child. Writer falls in love, too, and her new partner moves in. New partner is a self-proclaimed "English geek". He loves her work, and is highly supportive. He uses his red pen to make Lost better. He is the other side of the editing coin--he does call the writer on misused semi-colons and sentence fragments, and he catches typos. He is the one who does all the work to get the book published electronically, and his love, support, and encouragement sustains the writer on a daily basis.
So who do I dedicate the book to?
To me, it was a no-brainer. This book is dedicated to The Boy, but my long-time editor comes first on the thank you page.
How about you, Dear Readers? Who have you (or would you) dedicate your novel to? Is it a tough decision? Do you think I did the right thing?
Posted by J.H. Moncrieff at 5:00 AM 6 comments
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Coming to a Computer Near You
Hello Dear Readers,
Very soon, you will be able to read one of my novels. Lost, the story of a young girl's tragic disappearance, will be up for sale (at a very reasonable price, I might add) on Kindle, Smashwords, and LuLu. I'm just waiting for an ISBN number, and once that arrives, I'll be ready to publish.
A lot of my fellow authors are all about the e-publishing these days. Some have even turned down contracts from big publishing houses in order to e-publish their own work. It does give an author quite a bit of control over their career--no longer do they have to wait and hope that some agent (and then some publisher) will decide their work is worthy of being in print.
Maybe I'll join their ranks one day, but I'm still hoping for a traditional publishing deal for my subsequent novels. I love print books. I love turning the pages, and I love the feel of a good book in my hands. I love discovering old books at charity sales and used book stores. It may not be great for the environment, but I always recycle books by giving them to friends or donating them to charity. I was so thrilled and happy to receive the glossy set of Time-Life's Mysteries of the Unknown for my birthday. I can't imagine ever having the same attachment to an electronic file.
So why am I e-publishing Lost? One of the first things an agent wants to know when they're considering a manuscript is who it's been submitted to previously. And I can't, in good faith, answer that question with Lost. My agent gave me a list of six editors while we were working together, and a list of twenty after I terminated our relationship years later. One of those lists is obviously wrong, and the entire process is now suspect. So, as I see it, Lost is doomed when it comes to a traditional publishing deal. But it's still a worthy book. And someone should have the chance to read it.
Have you e-published? Would you ever consider it? Do you read e-books? Why or why not?
Posted by J.H. Moncrieff at 5:00 AM 19 comments
Monday, June 6, 2011
All Kinds of Awesome
|My new trainer.
I hope everyone had a good weekend. I apologize for all the glitches on this blog recently...apparently Blogger has been having some issues. I hope they're resolved.
I had an incredible experience on Friday afternoon. After realizing that I wasn't receiving the type of focused, one-on-one training that I need to get me where I want to be by the fall, I called in some professional help. Once a week, I will be sparring and training with the former super featherweight champion of the world (who is soon to get her title back, dammit!)
I've known Olivia a long time...since the old days of Sik Tai, and she's always been one of the most impressive martial artists around. From her days as a gymnast, she's super flexible (going into a split, standing or otherwise, is nothing for her). She's also incredibly fast and skilled. Most importantly, she's a fantastic teacher who is great at explaining technique and breaking it down for you. She is understanding, patient, and has a great sense of humor. (And she showed up on a motorcycle--how cool is that?)
The awe factor when training with someone of her level is huge. She can kick me five times, in five different points of my body, without ever touching her foot to the ground! And being assessed by a former world champion, even one who is your friend, is pretty damn intimidating, I'm not gonna lie. But it was so, so worth it. Hiring Olivia is one of the smartest things I've ever done. I just wish I'd done it sooner.
During that first training session, I felt like a big geek. I was in so much awe of Olivia, who could land twenty shots for every one of mine, that even the stuff I do well was not working that day. I thought I was in excellent condition, but it's amazing how much harder pad work is with someone of that skill level. I thought I was going to die, and a two-minute round was a long, long time. Somehow, I still managed to feel like I was on top of the world by the end of it.
All is not rosy, though. I have a lot of work to do to get where I want to be, and a lot of homework in order to perfect my technique. I want to be able to look back on that first session and be amazed at how far I've come.
Have you ever been inspired by someone who is at a much higher level than you? What did you learn from the experience?
Posted by J.H. Moncrieff at 5:00 AM 0 comments
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Rewrites Suck
Hello Dear Readers,
Some of you may wonder if I'm actually still a writer, since I haven't been talking about it. I haven't been talking about it because, except for a ton of freelance articles and a pesky annual report, I haven't been writing.
My new goal is to get Dragonfly Summer in the hands of my second line-up of volunteer editors by the end of June. That would give people a month to read it and make suggestions, another month for me to make any changes I agree with, and then it could be out on submission in the fall. It would be perfect timing, because even agents and publishers take summer vacations, and anything I send during the hot and sunny months would languish in the slush pile anyways.
There's only one problem with my plan. I hate rewrites. Really, sincerely hate them. Oh, I will do them--don't get me wrong--they're an integral part of the process, but I'll be kicking and screaming until I give myself completely over to them. One good thing is that these rewrites are at my own behest. No one's giving me impossible goals, like telling me I need to add a unicorn, or make it read more like a Spenserian sonnet.
I was supposed to begin on June 1, but now it's the 2nd and I still haven't picked up my theoretical red pen. This is how the entire year has gone. I don't want to waste any more time.
I've heard tale of some mythical writers who actually love rewriting. Who are you people, and what's your secret?
Of course, if you hate rewrites, too, feel free to bitch and moan. Misery loves company.
Posted by J.H. Moncrieff at 5:00 AM 6 comments
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What does VAB mean in NASA?
This page is about the meanings of the acronym/abbreviation/shorthand VAB in the Governmental field in general and in the NASA terminology in particular.
Vehicle Assembly Building
Find a translation for VAB in other languages:
Select another language:
Discuss this VAB abbreviation with the community:
Use the citation below to add this abbreviation to your bibliography:
"VAB." Abbreviations.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2014. Web. 27 Dec. 2014. <http://www.abbreviations.com/term/218597>.
VAB also stands for:
- Vacancy Announcement Bulletin
- Value Added Bank
- Varible Attacker Boards
- Vermont Association of Broadcasters
- Veterans Affairs Board
... and 3 more »
Nearby & related abbreviations:
Alternative search:
- Search Vehicle Assembly Building on Amazon.com
- Search Vehicle Assembly Building on Google

subset: commoncrawl


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Willie And Korie Robertson (Duck Dynasty) Stars Answer Questions On Fox Exclusive Tonight!
December 31, 2013 9:50 AM
June Knight Read More
It's been a few weeks since A&E suspended "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson for his controversial statements in GQ Magazine about homosexuality and African Americans. Now Fox News channel is getting the exclusive first interview with family members Willie and Korie tonight on the "All American New Years Special" tonight at 9pm EST. The brief suspension did not sit well with gay rights activists who are also pushing for the A&E Network to force a dialogue with Robertson. Bill Hemmer and Elisabeth Hasselbeck will conduct the interview and A&E Network will be airing public service announcements promoting tolerance, unity, and the acceptance of all people.


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Title: Devil's Punch
Author: Ann Aguirre
Series: Corine Solomon Book 4
Release Date: April 3 2012
Publisher: ROC Fantasy
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: 2.5 Hoots
Reviewer: Dori
Buy From: Amazon/ Barnes and Noble/ Book Depository
Sum It Up! Unfortunately, I found myself debating whether to finish the book as well as continue the series.
Corine Solomon can touch any object and learn its history. But right now, she's trying to rebuild her pawnshop and her life despite her being marked as a witch. When demons from her past kidnap her best friend, Corine puts everything on hold to save her… (Goodreads)
Corine is in
Mexicotrying to rebuild her life with the help of Tia and Chance. She and Chance begin to resume their former relationship but at a slower pace, neither wanting to move too quickly. When demons kidnap
Shannon and take her to the Sheol, Corine will stop at nothing to bring her back. This journey does not just change Corine but also the lives of those involved.
I wish I could say that I loved this book, but Ann Aguirre's narrative writing detracts from the depth of the story. The storyline of finding Shannon, Corine and Chance's relationship, Ninlil (the Demon Queen) laying dormant in Corine, and the fight for control of the Sheol makes the story lacking in continuity. The constant struggle between Corine and Ninlil becomes somewhat trite halfway through the story. The ending was rushed even with the tragic death of one of the main characters. Unfortunately, I found myself debating whether to finish the book as well as continue the series.
I'm a 20 something college student who enjoys books, movies, and the sciences. I enjoy almost every genre (except historical, I've tried and they are NOT my thing), and you will always find me with a book on hand. I am a mathematician and english geek, have two adorable kittens that are my babies, and live in the south. A conundrum for you all... I hate sweet tea!
Latest posts by Lenore (see all)
- Day 7: Tell a Tale - December 20, 2014
- Day 6: Stocking Stuffers - December 19, 2014
- Day 5: Characters on the Nice List. UH OH - December 18, 2014


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February/March 2008
Mentors at Work
Raytheon seeks war vets with disabilities for technical roles
The company is looking to fill engineering, IT and other technical and program management jobs, plus IT positions from systems integrations to physical security
War vets with disabilities who were techies in civilian life may wonder how they'll fit into their former careers. One solution may be a new career with defense contractor Raytheon (Waltham, MA). Raytheon has stepped up its efforts to hire techie vets with disabilities, working through partnerships with government agencies and other veteran help centers.
Raytheon is a technology leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. The company's 73,000 employees are involved with state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and more.
Synergy is the goal
Bob Foley, a retired U.S. Marine lieutenant colonel and corporate HR manager, supports Raytheon's vet recruiting effort. For more than a year he's been working with the Military Severely Injured Center (MSIC, Arlington, VA) of the Department of Labor (DOL) and other government agencies to make the connections. Since the start he's counseled hundreds of vets about employment options.
"It's a labor of love for us and we want to get a lot of other companies to come on board," Foley says. "The goal is to compare processes so there's a lot of synergy."
Raytheon wants to hire qualified vets for technical positions all the way up to higher management. "We have folks with disabilities in every function," Foley says. "People are coming in at every level, from managerial, supervisory and program management to jobs within the IT and engineering functions. They have engineering degrees or IT and communications experience. Clearly, Raytheon has a wealth of opportunities for people with technical backgrounds."
Everyone's involved
The entire corporation is involved in the recruitment effort, Foley notes. HR managers at the site and facility level liaise with local military bases and visit schools and agencies where they might find potential hires.
Foley has a strong personal interest in this recruitment effort. He's a twenty-year Marine vet with combat experience, and his son is a Navy pilot who's served two tours in Iraq.
Foley and Raytheon started recruiting in 2006 at the MSIC, which serves both employers and veterans, working with counselors from the center to make appropriate matches. He also consults with patient assistance teams at military hospitals in the DC area.
"From there, it developed into us working with the VA, the Department of Labor and state and federal agencies and foundations," he explains.
Check the Web listings
Raytheon lists its openings on websites addressing wounded vets, such as Marine for Life (www.m4l.usmc.mil); the U.S. Army's Wounded Warrior project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org); the Navy's Safe Harbor (www.npc.navy.mil/commandsupport/safe harbor/); and the DOL's ReaLifelines and HireVetsFirst (www.hirevetsfirst.gov).
Supportive employer
Foley says many vets are concerned that when they apply for jobs their disabilities will be held against them. That's not so, he says. All they have to do is help the company figure out what kind of physical help they'll need to accomplish the job. It may be a larger-screen computer monitor, ergonomic seating arrangements or wheelchair accessibility at the site. "We try to make it an easy transition for folks with a challenge who are coming into Raytheon," Foley says.
Raytheon is also a supportive employer when it comes to career advancement, Foley adds. "Everyone who comes in has a mentor, someone who knows the lay of the land."
The vets will be offered training courses to get up to speed and then to stay current in their own technical fields. "We have a good culture that is receptive and sensitive and eager to retain folks with technical skills," Foley says.
Foley himself is happy to counsel vets with disabilities who are uncertain about returning to civilian work. He can relate to their experiences and offer a confidential ear and advice, he says.
Hit www.rayjobs.com
Anyone who's interested in working at Raytheon can view opportunities at www.rayjobs.com. Vets with disabilities can also apply directly through the Army's Wounded Warrior program, Foley notes.
People with any kind of technical background are welcome. "We don't want to limit people to IT or engineering positions when we have so many technical, program management and functional areas in addition," he adds. "Information systems for us covers the whole gamut from systems architecture and integration to SAP implementation to intrusion detection."
He recommends that people check out rayjobs and apply directly, or ask for a one-on-one consult with a Raytheon recruiter at any job fair Raytheon attends.
– Heidi Russell Rafferty
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Dr. Brian Machler graduated from University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Dr. Machler has one office in New Jersey.
Specializing in the field of Dermatology, Dr. Machler is prepared to care for patients with various skin, nail and hair disorders including acne, dermatitis, melanoma and psoriasis, among others. Treatments provided by Dr. Machler may include the prescription of medication, skin biopsy or other dermatological procedures.
Provides preventive care and treatment (surgical and non-surgical) for disorders affecting the skin, hair, and nails.


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Drexel University, Carnegie Mellon University, Temple University, Lehigh University, Lafayette College, and a number of other institutions of higher education, as well as museums and private companies, have called on the presidential candidates to participate in a science-focused debate on technology, climate change, health policy, and education.
"What we need is a debate focusing on how we're going to move this nation ahead in terms of the global economy and high quality jobs, tackling clean energy and climate change, reinvigorating science and math education, and solving our healthcare system," said debate organizer Shawn Lawrence Otto, CEO of Science Debate 2008. The grass roots debate has been scheduled for April 18 at The Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia.
Among business leaders calling for the forward-thinking debate is Intel Chairman Craig Barrett. "This is not a niche debate," said Barrett. "The future economic success of the United States depends on out-performing the competition with smart people and smart ideas. Without the best education system and aggressive investments in basic research and development, we will become a second-rate economic power. With its outstanding universities and transforming economy, Pennsylvania is a perfect place for this discussion, and we hope the candidates for president take this very seriously."
At the time of this writing, no candidates had announced their participation.
Organized by a couple of out of work screenwriters, ScienceDebate2008.com signers represent 140 American universities.
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Archives for: April 2009
Wherefore art thou comfort?
Hi, long time no see. Old grok is really feeling it these past few days. Almost bought a bottle today, big props to my bud Snaglepus in the chatroom for his inspiration not to. So here I sit, feeling the pain of my wasted useless life. Suicide wife, my health gone, dumped from job, home taken, son with children from 3 different women I can't keep track of (bye granddaughter...), all these attest to my value and accomplishments on earth. All I'm good for now is the ability to maintain a nice front, to give false comfort to those in need.
Ah well, time to pull on my mask and engage the world again. Will there ever be a time when I really matter? Probably not, kind of too late now.
. grok . 03:25:07 pm . 131 Words . General . . 3608 views . Leave a comment


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Hey guys, I'm David. Hoping you can show me around ;) Two pretty chicks are @EmberEllaStories and @JB1Dfanfiction . Be nice to them or else. Hope you enjoy my stories, and be sure to vote, comment or fan me and those girlies up above. For my recommendations for stories, choose Overjoyed or Heartbroken? by EmberEllaStories (cause she is beast) or any JB Fan FIc by JB1Dfanfiction. Other than that? Find it yourself, haha. Another awesome user is @Mylifeisntreal :) She's "pretty damn hot" hahaha. Fan her too! @Sypha18 My homeless buddy who has a "welcome to the neighborhood" basket waiting for me! Yeah.
Location:Now sitting in my hobo hole waiting for @Sypha18 to come ;)
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1 Published Work
Featured work.
A Reformed Player's Guide to Living
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Looking elegant as always, Carrie Underwood worked the red carpet at the 2013 Grammy Awards on Sunday (February 10) held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The 29-year-old country superstar stunned in a black strapless Roberto Cavalli gown and accessorized with some major bling, a 381-carat diamond necklace.
Carrie already picked the award for Best Country Song for "Blown Away."
Follow Vicky B. Online on Facebook and Twitter for the latest red carpet news and buzz!


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How do you end the antagonism? How do you befriend your meter? The most important job will be to challenge your normal way of interpreting what your meter says and to realize that your meter does not have to be the enemy. Remember that there are no "bad" or "good" blood glucose readings, and that you cannot fail. In all cases, the reading is just a number. This can be tough to keep in mind, especially if you've also had years of comments from friends, family members, and perhaps even doctors that one particular reading is "terrific" and another is "terrible."
People who are successful with monitoring view their readings as simple pieces of information and opportunities for taking action. They may be frustrated by a high blood glucose level at first, but frustration quickly turns to action. Think of the gas gauge in your car. When it nears empty, do you avoid looking at it? Do you yell at yourself for being so stupid as to allow it to get this low? Probably not. You don't tend to think of the amount of gas in your tank as "good" or "bad"; the gauge is just providing information that allows you to make the best possible decision. And this is exactly the mind-set to use with your blood glucose meter. But how?
First, stop referring to the process as blood glucose "testing." Instead, think of it as "monitoring" or "checking." Once you stop viewing this as a test, you will be less likely to see your readings as grades. Also, stop referring to readings as "good" or "bad." Instead, think "high" or "low." This is more accurate and less judgmental.
Second, remind yourself how silly it is to let a blood glucose reading determine your self-esteem, to think that your meter is trying to control your life, or to think that it is tormenting you about the fact that you have diabetes. Challenge these automatic thoughts when they occur, and remind yourself that these readings are just numbers. One way to help this change process is to get silly and give your meter a name and, perhaps, a personality. Then imagine what this character might say to you: "My meter Fred told me that my blood glucose was 275 mg/dl this morning, and he went on to lecture me about what a numskull I am." But don't let him get away with talking to you like that; argue back!
Third, respond to your blood glucose readings by thinking about what action you want to take. For example, if the number is high, rather than thinking, "How did I mess up this time?" ask, "What can I do about this right now?" (If the answer is "I don't know," think about making an appointment with your doctor or diabetes educator to learn how to respond to high and low blood glucose levels.) By focusing on problem-solving, you can empower yourself and free yourself from self-blame.
Be reasonable about blood glucose expectations. You may have unrealistic expectations for what you can accomplish. To avoid becoming discouraged by a high or low reading, consider what a fair and acceptable range of blood glucose values would be for you. At what numbers would you consider your blood glucose to be too high or too low? In consultation with your health-care provider, decide how often you should be within that range to be successful.
For example, you and your doctor may decide that your goal for the next three months is to keep your blood glucose values under 150 mg/dl at least two-thirds of the time. Of course, it would be great if you could keep all your readings under 150 mg/dl. But if you have had no readings under 150 for the past three months, trying for all under 150 may be too ambitious right now. So while you may decide to tighten up your goals later, it is important that the target you choose now fit your current circumstances; it must be reasonable for you.


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We talk about all of the injury news, including Bryce Harper's surgery and extended DL stint, the value of Danny Espinosa, and why the Nats are going to be just fine.
You can download the file directly or watch the video stream live on tape delay. And of course, you can stream it below.


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Show Events
Capital FM promised us their biggest ever Summertime Ball and they certainly delivered an incredible day's music at Wembley Stadium connected by EE.
Read more >
The Jacksonville Jaguars are set to continue their commitment to London by hosting 100 children for an ultimate sleepover at Wembley Stadium connected by EE before providing the beds to disadvantaged children in the capital.
Raheem Sterling has told how his Wembley tattoo drove him to achieve his dream of playing at the national stadium.
The Football Association has confirmed that the 2014 Community Shield between Arsenal and Manchester City will take place at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 10 August at 3pm and will be broadcast live by BT Sport.
© 2001-2014
Wembley National Stadium Ltd, Registered Address: Wembley Stadium, Wembley, London HA9 0WS Registered in England No. 3388437
Follow us for latest news and event updates


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It's time to join up!
Hi and welcome to my qrz page. I live in the small market town of Abergavenny 76.206 Meters ASL, WAB Square SO31. Situated around 30kms NE of Cardiff.
I was born and raised in this town and have been operating radio since 1979 working my way through and passing my B licence in 1994 with the call GW7WFO then finally passing my full amateur call in 2002 with the above callsign.
I am now retired and my job was working as a signalman on the railways.
My working conditions consist of a 3 Element STEPP-IR antenna on top of a P60 tower, YAESU FT-1000MP MKv FIELD, LINEAR AMP UK EXPLORER amplifier with a MFJ962D tuner in line.
If you hear me on the band feel free to give me a call.
PLEASE NOTE I ONLY QSL VIA MY HOME ADDRESS OR VIA THE BUREAU AND PAPER QSL "ONLY" NO e'QSL THANKS.
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This is a weatherstrip package for the 1969 Camaro convertible with a deluxe interior and authentic side glass window felt kits. When purchasing this kit, youll save 15 percent. The part number for each individual part is located within the parenthesis. If you have any questions please call 1-800-CARS-Inc. The package includes the following parts: A frame seals (#3994), hood to cowl weatherstrip (#4147), windshield pillar post weatherstrip (#3350), front door weatherstrip (#3346), quarter window vertical seals (#3348), side glass felt kits (#11310), convertible top weatherstrip (#4162), rubber stop kit (#4139) and trunk weatherstrip (#3347).
Price: $465.00
Code: WKIT59
|Glass, Glass Related Items, And Weatherstrip
|Weatherstrip Kits
|1969 Chevy Camaro


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3 Things You Should Know About Small Business: Dec. 6
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- What's happening in small business today?
1. Hurricane Sandy weighed on small-business hiring last month. Small-business hiring slowed to a crawl in November, as many businesses struggle to recover from Hurricane Sandy. According to payroll-service provider ADP, small businesses added only 19,000 workers, the slowest month so far in 2012, compared to 52,000 jobs in October, Associated Press says.
Companies overall added 118,000 jobs in November, according to ADP.
As a result of the storm, companies cut 86,000 jobs from payrolls last month, with manufacturing, retail stores and hotels among the hardest-hit industries, Moody's says.2. New push in Congress for startup visas. Entrepreneurs, investors and advocacy groups are banding together for a renewed push for special visas that would allow foreigners who launch businesses to stay in the U.S., according to The Wall Street Journal. The group is pushing Congress to pass the Startup Act 2.0 bill, introduced earlier this year by Sen. Jerry Moran (R., Kan.) and co-sponsored by a bipartisan group including Sens. Mark Warner (D., Va.) and Marco Rubio (R., Fla.). The Senate bill creates "a new type of visa allowing foreign-born entrepreneurs legally in the U.S. to stay if they can raise $100,000 in capital and hire at least two American workers during their first year holding the visa," the Journal says. 3. What will be hot for the restaurant industry in 2013? Children's nutrition and local sourcing are the two hottest trends in the restaurant industry, according to the National Restaurant Association's "What's Hot in 2013" survey of more than 1,800 professional chefs. The 10 menu trends for 2013 will be:
- 1. Locally sourced meats and seafood
- 2. Locally grown produce
- 3. Healthful kids' meals
- 4. Environmental sustainability as a culinary theme
- 5. Children's nutrition as a culinary theme
- 6. New cuts of meat (e.g. Denver steak, pork flat iron, teres major)
- 7. Hyper-local sourcing (e.g. restaurant gardens)
- 8. Gluten-free cuisine
- 9. Sustainable seafood
- 10. Whole-grain items in kids' meals
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Randy de Puniet
2014 Valencia MotoGP Friday Post-Practice Press Releases
Press releases from the MotoGP teams and Bridgestone after the first day of practice at Valencia:
Suzuki Press Release: Looking Forward To Valencia And Beyond To 2015
Suzuki issued the following press release, in which they preview their wildcard appearance at the final round of MotoGP at Valencia, and look ahead to their full-time return from Valencia onwards:
Team Suzuki Press Office – November 5.
The prologue to Suzuki's latest chapter of Grand Prix racing will open this weekend when the revitalised works team roll into action with the refined version of the GSX-RR at the Ricardo Tormo circuit for the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana.
Randy De Puniet's presence as a 'wild-card', overseen by the experience and expertise of Davide Brivio, and with the honed GSX-RR, will mark the first time the factory is back on the grid of the premier class since the same Grand Prix in 2011. The outing represents a competitive statement-of-intent ahead of the first testing run for the 2015 season that will take place on Monday and a matter of hours after the last chequered flag of the 2014 championship.
Suzuki has been riding, analysing and testing comprehensively in 2014 with sessions at Grand Prix venues of Sepang, Termas de Rio Hondo, Circuit of the Americas, Phillip Island and Catalunya and have now chosen to re-join the fray and bring a manufacturer with 40 years of Grand Prix history and six (Rider) titles in the premier class back to the sharp-edge of the sport.
Randy De Puniet To Race For Suzuki In World Superbikes In 2015
Randy De Puniet is to make a return to racing full time. As had been rumored for some weeks now, the Frenchman is to make the switch to the World Superbike series, where he will join the Crescent Suzuki team for 2015. De Puniet will race alongside Alex Lowes next year, aboard the Suzuki GSX-R1000.
After losing his ride with the Aspar team at the end of 2013, De Puniet has spent 2014 as Suzuki's official test rider, helping to develop the bike now dubbed the GSX-RR. The only racing action he had seen was with the Yoshimura team during the Suzuka 8 Hour race, where he finished in second place with teammates Josh Waters and Takuya Tsuda. But De Puniet was keen to return to racing full time, and with no vacancies in MotoGP, the World Superbike series was the obvious choice. Racing with the Crescent team allows him to stay with Suzuki as a test rider, and retain his strong ties with the Japanese factories.
Alongside his duties in WSBK, De Puniet will continue development work on the Suzuki GSX-RR MotoGP machine, with a particular focus on 2016. De Puniet will mainly be working on getting the GSX-RR to work with the Michelin tires, due to replace Bridgestone at the start of the 2016 season. He will also be helping to make the bike work with the so-called unified software which is to be introduced at the same time.
Suzuki Press Release: Three Days Of Testing At Barcelona A Success
The Suzuki MotoGP team issued the following press release after completing their three day test at Barcelona:
Team Suzuki Press Office – June 18.
The Suzuki MotoGP Test Team has completed a busy and positive three-days of testing at the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit in Spain today.
Test rider Randy De Puniet was joined by Takuya Tsuda for the official MotoGP test with the current series riders and teams; and then a private test today to evaluate several new revisions to the development 2015 Suzuki machine that included a new-specification engine, plus electronic ignition and chassis revisions.
With weather conditions fluctuating over the three-days, but averaging 25° Air/ 35° Track temperatures, De Puniet put-in his fastest lap on the opening day with a time of 1'43"683. Over the three days, he completed 200 laps of the 4.655 km, 16-corner circuit. Tsuda, who was supporting De Puniet and adding to the Suzuki MotoGP data-logging and evaluation of the new parts and settings at the event, completed a total of 103 laps.
Suzuki Press Release: MotoGP Test At Argentina A Washout
After the MotoGP teams packed up and left Argentina to head to Jerez, Suzuki stayed on for three days of testing at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit. Unfortunately for Suzuki, it rained on all three days of the test, meaning the test was a washout. Randy De Puniet did not manage a single lap, while Nobu Aoki put in just 50 laps on a damp track.
Suzuki issued the following press release after the test:
Suzuki Press Release: MotoGP Test Concludes At Austin, De Puniet Posts 2'05.9
Suzuki wrapped up their test at Austin on Wednesday, with Randy De Puniet concluding with a best lap of 2'05.85. Below is the press release they issued after the test:
Team Suzuki Press Office – April 17.
The Suzuki MotoGP Test Team has concluded its Circuit of the Americas test at Austin in Texas after finding new direction and improvements to take to its next test in Argentina at the end of the month.
Test riders Randy De Puniet and Nobuatsu Aoki were again joined on-track by former World Champion Kevin Schwantz and shared the test with the Yoshimura Suzuki AMA Superbike team as track temperatures climbed to 39 degrees; slightly higher than the previous day, but not as high as the previous weekend's MotoGP second round.
De Puniet completed a total of 62 laps of the 5,315m circuit with a best lap-time of 2'05.85; just-over half-a-second quicker than his previous day's best time.
Kevin Schwantz Tests Suzuki MotoGP Bike, Randy De Puniet Matches Pace Of Open Bikes
Suzuki's MotoGP test team took advantage of the presence of the MotoGP paddock at Austin to plan a test directly after the Grand Prix of the Americas. Under the watchful eye of team manager Davide Brivio, the team planned to have test rider Randy De Puniet put in three days of testing at a circuit the team had not yet tested the bike at, in a bid to gather more data ahead of their return to the series in 2015.
Unfortunately for Suzuki, very heavy hail and thunderstorms made testing extremely difficult on Monday, leaving the track very dirty and much slower than it had been for Sunday's race. But testing resumed in earnest on Tuesday, with Randy De Puniet running through testing electronics and another back-to-back test of the two chassis options Suzuki has been working on. De Puniet racked up a total of 56 laps on Tuesday, eventually putting in a lap of 2'06.41. That is roughly on pace with the Open class Honda RCV1000R machines, though De Puniet faced much worse track conditions than the Open class machines due to the aftermath of the weather.
Suzuki MotoGP Video Series, Part 4: More Testing, And Adapting To The Electronics
In the final episode of Suzuki's four-part video series chronicling the Japanese factory's progress towards their MotoGP return in 2015, attention turns to the final test at Misano, and progress with the spec Magneti Marelli ECU. While the test team continue to use the Mitsubishi system at the race track, back in Japan, work is going on to reproduce the functionality in the Marelli ECU. The video addressess some of the challenges they face along the way.
Below is the final video in Suzuki's series:
Suzuki MotoGP Video Series, Part 3: Going Public With Testing
Suzuki have released the third video in their four-part series, documenting the development of the new machine they are preparing for their reentry into the MotoGP class in 2015. This episode covers the tests at Barcelona and Aragon in June last year, including the public unveiling of the bike, and the impressive lap times set at Barcelona.
Suzuki MotoGP Video Series, Part 2: When Randy Met Davide
Continuing their video series on the progress of their MotoGP project, Suzuki today released the second part of the series. Today's video documents the first tests which Suzuki undertook at Motegi in April and May, after signing Randy de Puniet as test rider and Davide Brivio to manage the program.
The first task De Puniet was set was testing the Suzuki GSV-R 800 bike back-to-back with the new 1000cc bike. De Puniet had previously tested the 800cc bike at Valencia at the end of the 2011 season, before Suzuki decided to pull out of MotoGP temporarily. The two bikes have radically different designs: the 800cc bike had a narrow angle V4 engine layout, while the 1000cc is an inline four with a big bang layout, along the lines of Yamaha's M1. De Puniet's comments on the two machines give an interesting insight into the difference the new regulations have made.
Below is the second video in the series. If you'd like to catch up with the first video, you can see it here.
Looking Back At 2013 With Scott Jones, Part 3: Italian Passion
This was visit number 18 to Mugello for Valentino Rossi. Mugello is where his heart lies
Unfortunately, he would not get much further than this. Rossi and Alvaro Bautista took intersecting lines on the first lap, and both crashed out
Marc Marquez broke many records in his first year, including fastest crash, bailing at the end of Mugello's straight. He escaped relatively unhurt
2013 Valencia MotoGP Post-Race Press Releases
Press releases from the MotoGP teams after the race on Sunday at Valencia:
2013 Valencia MotoGP Saturday Post-Qualifying Press Releases
Press releases from the MotoGP teams and Bridgestone after Saturday's qualifying at Valencia:
Suzuki Press Release: Davide Brivio Blog - On Testing Progress For Suzuki's 2015 MotoGP Return
The Suzuki press office today issued a press release containing a blog entry from MotoGP team manager Davide Brivio. Brivio discusses the progress being made on the MotoGP bike Suzuki are building for their return to the series in 2015:
Team Suzuki Press Office November 9.
Suzuki MotoGP Test Team Manager Davide Brivio talks about current progress and future plans for a 2015 MotoGP return at this week's EICMA Motorcycle Show at Milan in Italy.
I am delighted to introduce myself as the Team Manager of Suzuki MotoGP team and as already officially announced by Suzuki in June, we are now developing our MotoGP racing bike to focus on returning to MotoGP racing in 2015.
This year we have tested the machines at four European circuits; namely, Catalunya, Aragon, Misano and Mugello, as well as several tests at Motegi in Japan.
Through those tests, we can say that we are happy with the results so far as a whole, as we were able to get through them without any major troubles at any circuit, despite many miles under very severe conditions.
2013 Motegi MotoGP Post-Race Press Releases
Press releases from the MotoGP teams after Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi:


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Sketches include Bloomberg Address Cold Open, Monologue, Fox & Friends, Screen Legends, Weekend Update (including Jason as Mitt Romney; Aidy as Kourtney Barnes, Social Media Expert; Cecily as Girl at a Party), Mountain Pass, Hotel Fees, and Last Call. America's premier sketch-comedy show returns for its 38th season LIVE from Studio 8H in New York City. This season, the cast includes Fred Armisen, Vanessa Bayer, Bill Hader, Taran Killam, Seth Meyers, Bobby Moynihan, Nasim Pedrad, Jay Pharoah, Jason Sudeikis, Kenan Thompson, featuring Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon, Tim Robinson, and Cecily Strong. Check out these selected sketches and segments from each of this season's episodes, so you can make every night a Saturday Night.
Download the TV Guide app for iPhone, iPad and Android!


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Photo Magic is an image editing tool that is great for: * Musical slide shows. Select and organize images and music files to create standalone slide shows or for viewing in Photo Magic. Also, with one click you can create a slideshow of all the images in one folder, with or without sub-folders.
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PhotoMagic is an excellent tool which allows you to quickly rename, resize, convert and apply special effects to multiple images in just a few easy steps. The program has been designed around a Wizard based interface which makes it extremely easy to use. Whether you are an advanced computer user or just starting out, we are confident that you will find PhotoMagic a pleasure to use.
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Sen. Al Franken (Minn.) proposed an amendment during last week's Farm Bill debate that would allow homebound seniors and people with disabilities to use the food assistance program SNAP to purchase groceries through public or nonprofit grocery delivery organizations. This amendment passed the Senate with unanimous consent, and is also expected to be included in the House's version of the Farm Bill.
At least 2 million homebound seniors in the United States rely on family, friends and nonprofit organizations to assist them with basic needs like shopping for groceries or picking up prescriptions. If passed, this amendment will provide these individuals with more independence.
Whitney Brown, the Academy's director of legislation and policy, worked last year on this important piece of legislation when she was employed by Senator Franken's office. The Academy supported this amendment last year during Farm Bill debates, and did so again this year.
The Academy also supports the nutrition programs included in the Older American's Act, which aims to keep older adults independent and healthy. This piece of legislation aligns with the Academy's legislative and public policy priorities by helping Americans meet their nutrition needs through the life cycle.
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General Electric Company announced that one of its former chairmen and CEOs, Reginald H. "Reg" Jones, has passed away. Mr. Jones served as GE's CEO and chairman from 1972 to 1981.
"The entire GE family mourns the passing of Reg Jones, a great business leader, a gentleman, and a good friend," GE's current Chairman and CEO Jeffrey R. Immelt said in a statement issued by the company. "During his illustrious 42-year career at GE, Reg was a strong leader for GE, a model of integrity and a great statesman for the entire business community.
"Much of GE's success over the years has been due to Reg's clear thinking and sharp strategic vision for the company. Reg taught many of us what leadership is about through the way he conducted himself every day. We will miss him," Mr. Immelt added.
Jack Welch, another one of GE's former chairmen and CEOs who succeeded Mr. Jones, said, "Reg was a great man, a great leader, a great teacher, a quintessential business statesman, and a true friend."
Mr. Jones was born on July 11, 1917 in Stoke-on-Trent, England, and moved with his family to the U.S. when he was 8 years old. He graduated in 1939 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he met Grace Butterfield Cole, who would be his wife for 63 years.
Mr. Jones' entire business career was with GE. He joined the Company's Business Training Course in 1939. Three years later, he began an 8-year tour as a traveling auditor, then moved into general management, serving as manager of company businesses in the consumer, utility, industrial, construction, and distribution fields. In 1968, he became the company's CFO, and was elected senior vice president two years later. In 1972, he became president, then chairman and CEO of General Electric.
As CEO, he is said to have brought new strategic direction to GE, emphasizing strong internal growth fostered by research and development, strategic planning, and the introduction of the sector structure that "prepared the organization and the people to meet General Electric's long-range growth opportunities in the decade ahead," in Mr. Jones' words.
Mr. Jones advised four presidents on economic matters, and in 1980, he was named the most respected U.S. business executive in a Wall Street Journal/Gallup survey. He also served as the chairman of the Business Council in 1979-1980 and was co-chairman of The Business Roundtable from 1974 to 1980.
After retiring, Mr. Jones served on several boards of several major companies, including Merck, Bethlehem Steel, and Federated Department Stores, as well as continuing to serve as a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania. He received honorary doctorate degrees from Penn, Harvard, Yale, Notre Dame, Howard, and Colgate universities. In 1982, he was knighted in a ceremony at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., U.S.
Mr. Jones is survived by his wife, a son, a daughter; five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
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Dec 22, 2014: Whirlpool headquarters improvements start a new phase
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Dec 22, 2014: Variable-speed circulation pump enables new Miele lab washers
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In an era of noise and clutter and gross-out chic, is there room for a comedy that dares to be deadpan? John Walsh's Pipe Dream is one of the funniest films I've seen this year, but the laughs aren't shoved in your face. They emerge from the delightfully casual way in which the characters will stoop to anything to further their own ends. David (Martin Donovan), a New York plumber, has figured out that the snobbish middle-class world doesn't register his existence. In an experiment to meet girls, he poses as a film director named David Coppolberg and sets up a fake casting call. Because he's tall, handsome, and inscrutable about his ''art'' (i.e., he doesn't have a thought in his head about it), he acquires the aura of a hot indie talent.
The casting session generates buzz, the buzz snowballs, and suddenly, in spite of himself, David is directing a real movie, with a script by his lovely neighbor, Toni (Mary-Louise Parker), an aspiring playwright who feeds him on-set instructions through his headphones. ''Pipe Dream'' is like ''Being There'' directed by Preston Sturges; it's a screwball satire of moviemaking that understands the daffy power of perception. Donovan has never shown this kind of spry leading-man charm, and his flirtation with Parker has just enough competitive hostility to set off sparks. The film satirizes, and celebrates, an idea pivotal to both Hollywood and love: that in a world of impostors, the pretender with the most conviction can become exactly what he pretends to be.


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'Tis the Season!
It's that time of the year again! The winter holidays are here folks! Driving back to college, it was amazing to see all of the houses lit up and the bright arrangement of reds, blues, greens, whites, etc. But I got even more excited for the holiday food. I bet you can guess one of the most popular candy items! That's right, candy canes! Candy canes are everywhere; in stores, on Christmas trees, giant light up ones that light up, and of course at Sweet City Candy! The possibilities are endless! Have you ever tried making your own candy cane? Use this awesome recipe to do so; it'll be a blast!
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/8 tsp. cream of tartar
4 drops oil of peppermint or other flavoring
4 drops red or green food coloring
Grease a hard surface.
Simmer the sugar with the corn syrup, water and cream of tartar until the mix reaches a soft crack stage or about 280 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat and add the flavoring.
Divide the syrup in half. Add food coloring to one half; pour out separately onto the greased surfaces. Cool for 1 to 2 minutes. Pull each half separately; roll into 1/2″ thick ropes. Twist colored batch around the white batch pulling until the colors adhere. Cut with scissors into 6″ long lengths; bend to crook one end.
NOTE: You can find Wintergreen or oil of cinnamon to use as a flavoring. Work quickly to form candy canes or you can form knots.
Recipe courtesy of www.theteacherscorner.net
Have fun making this yummy holiday treat!