text:
Wacky Packages
- Posted by Johanna on October 10, 2008 at 7:46 am
- Category: Books and Prose, KC
- PUBLISHER: Abrams; $19.95 US
Review by KC Carlson
As if comic books and Mad Magazine weren't enough to separate me from my childhood allowance, at some point Wacky Packages appeared out of nowhere to make sure that I never started saving for college.
Some of the slickest, sickest, and nastiest parodies of consumer products ever seen — and therefore hysterically funny to the average 10-year-old brain — Wacky Packages became one of the biggest non-sports card successes in Topps' history and in the process grew into a true American cult phenomenon. Now the likes of "Weakies: Breakfast of Chumps," "Minute Lice," "Hostage (filled with Mud) Cupcakes," and "Cap'n Crud" cereal (Inside: Real Pirate!) have been lovingly (or hatefully, in Wacky-speak) collected into the coolest little 240-page hardcover book, specially designed for the world's smallest coffee table!
Collecting the first seven "series" of Wackies from 1973-1974, one to a page, in a size more than twice that of the original stickers, this book also features an introduction by Art Spiegelman (Maus) in which he discusses — for the first time in decades — being part of the creative team that created the cards back in the mid-60s. A concept sketch by Spiegelman that accompanies the intro for "Sicrats: Cheese Flavored Cough Drops" features a cartoon mouse that could be distantly related to his much better-known mice. A well-researched afterword by Jay Lynch (Bijou Funnies and another key Wacky Packages creator) puts the lie to my theory about the Wackies being inspired by Mad Magazine (like everything that is good is) in a short, entertaining essay about the origins of product parody stretching back to the 1800s and the likes of P.T. Barnum. Yoiks!
Those who have been paying close attention will note that I indicated that Wacky Packages were created in the mid-60s (they first appeared in 1967), but that this book collected the first seven "series" of Wackies from 1973-1974. Yeah, I wondered about that seeming discrepancy, too, especially since I distinctly remember hoarding Wacky Packs in the 60s (pre-high school, for me). Further research led me to the very entertaining — and exquisitely detailed — Wacky Packages Web Page. Digging deep into my closet for a shoebox full of old cards, I discovered that I was (still) the proud owner of the two original pre-sticker series of Wacky Packages. And that these two pre-series were represented in the book — sort of.
The first (1967-1968) series of Wacky Packages, called the Die-Cut series because they were printed on cardstock cards and had to be punched out, consisted of 44 different cards. 30 of those cards were reprinted in 1973 and became Series 1 of the sticker series (and are reproduced in the book). The second original series (1969) of Wackies were a true anomaly called Wacky Ads. They were printed on 5 1/4″ x 3 1/8″ cards that featured a full-blown ad for the parody product, while the product itself was die-cut — like the original series — so it could be punched out.
There were a total of 36 cards in the Wacky Ads series, but 6 of the cards featured reprints from the first series, four to a card, leaving only 30 all-new Wackies. 25 of these became the basis of the 33-sticker Series 2 (the rest were all-new). However, in the transition from Wacky Ad cards to Wacky Packages stickers, only the product itself, not the whole ad, was used, and most of these were repainted versions based on the originals. (One product, Garbage Baby Food, was renamed Gurgle Baby Food.)
It's also interesting to note that these two original series also were "stickers" of a sort. The cardstock backs were covered with a glue that you had to lick (ewww!) to activate. But due to the thickness of the card and the inadequate glue, they did not stick very well to anything — leading Topps to develop the the pressure stickers that we all came to love! And that became the bane of parents, school administrators and janitors the world over.
The geek in me would have preferred that this kind of historical information been included in the book, but given that the early release history of the Wackies is somewhat convoluted and obscure — I spent a couple of hours at the website soaking up this knowledge — I can see why it was left out of this great general interest pop culture picture book.
The care and detail put into this volume is just astounding. The book jacket is a mock-up of one of the original Wacky Packages packs, and made of a waxy-type paper to boot. I swear it smells like gum! (Although that may be my overactive imagination at work. For a great gum-gag, slip off the dust jacket and check out the front and back covers!) And don't miss the two extra special features tucked away in the inside back cover — a reproduction of Spiegelman's Wacky Pack Codex gagfinder (explained in his introduction) and four bonus Wacky stickers!
This last feature is cooler than cool as three of the four stickers are never before published "Lost Wackies" and the 4th ("Muller Low Life" beer) is from the original 1967 die-cut series and has never been reprinted. According to the Wacky Packages Web Page, the second printing of the book, now available, has a different set of four stickers. All of them are cigarette or alcohol related, and rare, as Topps no longer parodies these types of products. Two of these — "Schmutz" beer and "Alcohol Seltzer" — are also from the original die-cut series and are not otherwise included in the book itself. The second printing of the book can be determined by the "Introduction by Art Spiegelman" blurb on the front cover, as opposed to the "Interview with Art Spiegelman" blurb on the first printing.
Wacky Packages is a must-have for everybody who thinks about "Quacker Oats" and "Skimpy" while they're shopping for oatmeal and peanut butter. You know who you are! (A complimentary copy was supplied by the publisher for this review.)
6 Responses to "Wacky Packages"
- Dave Rose Says:
October 10, 2008 at 1:45 PMI purchased this book as soon as I heard about it!
I was in 5th and 6th grade when the first seven series of Wacky Packages came out. My friends and I used to go down to the corner stores whenever we could to buy the latest Wackies. We would share them with each other the next day at school and fill the playground with laughter.
As the years passed and additional series of stickers were released, my friends and I outgrew them. However, to this day, I still remember many of these early Wackies fondly. When this book arrived in the mail (I'd ordered it from Amazon), I read each page – once again enjoying the images which brought such joy when I was a young boy.
I'm glad this book exists to refresh memories for big kids and make new ones for today's generation!
- Tim Rifenburg Says:
October 11, 2008 at 8:44 AMThanks for the review. I saw this book and was tempted because I was a "wacky" fan as a kid. I remember buying them, trading them and slapping the stickers on everything. I have seen kids wearing t-shirts with large reproductions of the stickers. Glad they are still popular and thought of fondly. Your review made me want to get the book so I will add it to my X-mas list. Thanks for the heads up about the website. Another site to make me unproductive. Tim
- Dave Rose Says:
October 11, 2008 at 10:39 AMI still have an old school folder I'd plastered with the Wacky stickers. :)
- Dave Says:
October 12, 2008 at 10:41 AMOh, man….
As I was reading, I was thinking, "well, this sounds like fun but without the gum (which left a weird, sugary residue on my fingers) and that distinctive smell, I just don't know… Seems like the card retained that smell for a good long time." Then you mentioned the smell and the gum gag, well… I'm sold!
- sean greeley Says:
February 2, 2009 at 6:24 PMi remember going to the local corner store and buying then one after another just to see if i could get different ones that brings back good memmories.
- David Says:
July 9, 2009 at 12:47 AMGreetings, my name is David Gross. Topps will be putting out a NEW Wacky Packages set this summer (most likely in August). I did all the writing and painting for this set as well as planning out the concept for the set. I painted about half of the All-New Wacky Packages that came out in recent years and did some new Garbage Pail Kids as well. The set is chock full of extras including Jay Lynch sketch cards (Lynch was one of the writers for the original Wackys). EVERYONE that buys a box will get a sketch card. The sets are designed to be like a 17th series of the original stickers which will parody 1970s products that Topps had not done at that time. All new artwork in EVERY series, no reprints. 33 stickers each set with 9 piece old school style checklists, boxes and wrappers. I have promos and fliers available on Ebay for anyone interested (see ebay seller salandrei). These are available at no profit for me, just covering costs. More info to be announced soon so you can keep visiting http://www.toppsonlinestore.com. Long Live Wackys!


text:
Apple recently hired a new Core OS Security Researcher in the person of Kristin Paget. For those of you who don't know, Ms. Paget used to work at eBay and Google but she was more popular for working with Microsoft and IOActive as security researcher. She was formerly known as Chris Paget.
Kristin Paget was responsible for discovering that the Microsoft Windows Vista was not very secure before the actual release. And now, she's part of Apple's very tight team. Apple is known to be good in keeping secrets and we're expecting that Kristin will be more valuable to the company. And yeah, expect Apple to be more secretive than it is now.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Provinces of Vietnam
Vietnam is divided into 58 provinces (Vietnamese: tỉnh) and 5 municipalities existing at the same level as provinces (thành phố trực thuộc trung ương).
The provinces are divided into districts (huyện), provincial cities (thành phố trực thuộc tỉnh), and district-level towns (thị xã), which are subdivided into commune-level towns (thị trấn) or communes (xã).
The municipalities are divided into rural districts (huyện) and urban districts (quận), which are subdivided into wards (phường).
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Vietnam |
Administrative divisions of Vietnam |
First level |
Province (Tinh) |
Municipality (thành phố trực thuộc trung ương) |
Second level |
Provincial city (thành phố trực thuộc tỉnh) |
District (huyện) |
District-level town (thị xã) |
Urban district (quận) |
Third level |
Commune-level town (thị trấn) |
Commune (xã) |
Ward (phường) |
Vietnamese provinces are controlled by a People's Council, elected by the inhabitants. The People's Council appoints a People's Committee, which acts as the executive arm of the provincial government. This arrangement is a somewhat simplified version of the situation in Vietnam's national government. Provincial governments are expected to be subordinate to the central government.
People's Council[edit]
Each People's Council has a Standing Council made up of the Chairman and his/her deputies, who are elected from among the representatives in the People's Council. The Standing Council has a number of functions, including representing the People's Council when it is not in session. There are also a number of other committees established to deal with specific issues. All provinces have an Economic and Budgetary Committee, a Social and Cultural Committee, and a Legal Committee. If a province has many inhabitants who are not ethnically Vietnamese, there will probably be a Committee for Ethnic Affairs as well.
Citizens are eligible to vote in People's Council elections from when they are aged eighteen, but cannot stand for election until they are aged twenty-one. To become a candidate, one can either nominate oneself or be selected by the Fatherland Front. Nominated candidates are then voted on at "voters' conferences", which are organized by the Fatherland Front. Attendees determine, sometimes by secret balot and sometimes by a show of hands, whether candidates meet the criteria set down by the People's Council. Candidates in whom the conference does not "express trust" cannot stand for election.
The number of candidates elected per voting district is between one and three. There must be more candidates standing in each district than there are seats to be filled.
People's Committee[edit]
The People's Committee is, as mentioned previously, the executive arm of a provincial government, and is responsible for formulating and implementing policy. It may be thought of as the equivalent of a cabinet. The People's Committee will have a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman, and between nine and eleven ordinary members.
List and statistics[edit]
According to the census results of April 1, 2009, the population of Vietnam is 85,789,573 people. The most populous top-level administrative unit in Vietnam is Hồ Chí Minh City, one of the five centrally governed cities. It has 7,123,340 people living within its official boundaries. The second most populous administrative unit is the recently expanded Hà Nội with 6,448,837 people. Prior to the expansion of the capital city, this rank belonged to Thanh Hóa with 3,400,239 people. The least populous is Bắc Kạn, a mountainous province in the remote northeast with 294,660 people.[1]
In terms of land area, the largest province is Nghệ An, which runs from the city of Vinh up the wide Sông Cả valley. The smallest is Bắc Ninh, located in the populous Red River Delta region.
The following is a table of Vietnam's provinces broken down by population and area, April 1, 2009.[2]
See also List of postal codes in Vietnam
The Vietnamese government often groups the various provinces into eight regions. These regions are not always used, and alternative classifications are possible. The regions include:
Northwest (Tây Bắc Bộ) contains four inland provinces in the west of Vietnam's northern part. Two of them border with Laos, and one borders China.
Northeast (Đông Bắc Bộ) contains eleven provinces (many of which are mountainous) that lie to north of the highly populated Red River lowlands.
Red River Delta (Đồng Bằng Sông Hồng) contains nine provinces that are small but populous – based around the Red River, including the national capital Hanoi, and the municipality of Hải Phòng (both of which are independent of any provincial government).
North Central Coast (Bắc Trung Bộ) contains six provinces in the northern half of Vietnam's narrow central part. All provinces in this region stretch from the coast in the east to Laos in the west.
South Central Coast (Nam Trung Bộ) contains eight coastal provinces in the southern half of Vietnam's central part. Vietnam is wider at this point than in the North Central Coast region, so the inland areas are separate provinces. The region also includes the independent municipality of Đà Nẵng.
Central Highlands (Tây Nguyên) contains the five inland provinces (much of whose terrain is mountainous) of south-central Vietnam, mostly inhabited by ethnic minorities, although many Viet people live there as well.
Southeast (Đông Nam Bộ) contains those parts of lowland southern Vietnam which are north of the Mekong Delta. There are seven provinces, plus the independent municipality of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).
Mekong Delta (Đồng Bằng Sông Cửu Long) is Vietnam's southernmost region, and contains twelve mostly small but populous provinces in the delta of the Mekong, plus the independent municipality of Cần Thơ. The other name of this region is Southwestern (Tây Nam Bộ).
Historical provinces of Vietnam[edit]
- Hà Nam Ninh - then divided into 3 provinces: Hà Nam, Nam Định and Ninh Bình
- Hà Sơn Bình (divided into Hà Tây and Hòa Bình - then on August 1, 2008, Hà Tây and 4 communities of Hòa Bình became a part of expanded capital city Hà Nội)
- Hà Bắc Province - divided into Bắc Giang Province and Bắc Ninh Province
- Châu Đốc
- Long Hồ
- Nghệ Tĩnh (divided into Nghệ An and Hà Tĩnh), most noted for being the site of the Nghe Tinh Soviet Republic declared September 1930 and lasted into 1931, a short-lived bastion against colonial French rule.
- Minh Hai (divided into Cà Mau and Bạc Liêu)
- Vĩnh Phú (divided into Vĩnh Phúc and Phú Thọ
- Hà Tây - annexed into Hà Nội since August 1, 2008.
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
- CityMayors.com article
- (English) (Chinese) Comprehensive Map of Vietnam's Provinces from around 1890


text:
General Information to Yatrikas!
- Wherever the tour is by train, the participating members should be at the Chennai Central Station or at the Chennai Egmore Station, as the case may be, one hour before the departure of the train. The name of the train, Train No. and the departure time will be intimated to the participating members well in advance before the date of departure.
- Members are requested to bring the minimum required clothes for the tour. (less luggage more confort) Every member should bring with them one steel plate, tumbler, water bottle, umbrella, nylon rope, small plastic bucket, lock & key, first aid medicines as may be required, and torch light.
- Every member may bring a full arm sweater, shawl and blanket depending upon the places of visit during the tour and also depending upon the time of the year when the tour is conducted.
- The food is prepared by South Indian Brahmin Cooks. Daily morning coffee, breakfast with coffee, lunch, evening coffee and night meals or tiffin will be served according to the time, place and situations. In the case of any problems with the served food, the members are requested to contact the organiser of the tour who will do his best. Under no circumstances, the members should contact the cooks directly. Members are requested to extend their utmost co-operation in this regard. Packed food will be served during the train journey.
- During the train journey, you are requested to give your name, age and other details to the train ticket examiner as discussed with the tour organiser. In the event of any wrong information furnished at the time of booking for the tour, the penaly, if any, levied by the railways should be borne by the yatrikas. Senior citizens must bring a photo copy of their age proof.
- Religious rites may be performed by the members at Kasi, Gaya, Triveni Sangamam etc during the Kasi Tour and at Mathru Gaya during the Pancha Dwaraka Tour and also at Kapala Pindam at Badrinath. The charges in this connection has to be borne by the participating members. Arrangement of Prohits, help and guidance will be provided by the orgainser.
- After the payment of the advance amount, if any member is unable to participate in the tour, the amount paid will not be refunded. Any other member selected by them will be accommodated in the tour and the advance amount will be adjusted at that time.
- Kindly note that you are undertaking a religious tour. Hence you are requested not to expect too much of comforts during the tour. Our ultimate aim is to worship the Almighty and seek his blessings. The organiser will do all his best for basic conforts. Kindly bear with us for any small inconveniences that you may experience while on tour.
- The Organiser reserves all rights to reschedule or alter the tour programs due to any unforseen circumstances beyond his control and his decision in this matter will be final.
1. We also organise and arrange for qualified prohits to perform religious rites at Kasi, Gaya, Triveni (Allahabad) etc. for persons ( for a minimum of 4 persons and above) who are interested in undertaking a tour to Kasi and Gaya by themselves. The approximate charges for performing the reiligous rites will be Rs.7000/- at all the places. Persons interested to avail of the services may contact the organiser by Phone/Email.
2. We also arrange and help in car and van rental and mini bus services for people who wish to undertake trips for personal reasons, functions etc.
2. We also arrange and help in car and van rental and mini bus services for people who wish to undertake trips for personal reasons, functions etc.


text:
Oprah salutes Ralph Lauren and the American dream (LA Times)
"So few people, in these starkly striated economic times, during which the barriers between classes have become more insurmountable than ever, get to traverse the chasms of culture and economy that have been leapt by Winfrey and Lauren."
Hermès Ownership Battle Continues (Epoch Times)
"The controversial takeover of Hermès by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton has taken another turn, with minority investors challenging a French court's decision to protect the company from being bought out."
Flash Sale Site Competition Could Ultimately Benefit Designers (Thread NY)
"All of this competition could ultimately be a boon for up-and-coming designers with a less of a brand name… There are over 80 private sale sites in the U.S. today, which leaves a lot of e-commerce space to fill. More space means more opportunities for fashion's rising stars."
Relaunch of a Classic (WSJ)
"In a world where watches continue to grow in size and become more cunning in the way they display time, and the boundaries between jewelry and timepieces are increasingly blurred, one sector is beating on against the current: relaunched classics."
Judith Leiber talks handbags and history (LA Times)
"Who would ever think that women would want to carry rhinestone-encrusted handbags shaped like anteaters or bunches of asparagus? Judith Leiber, that's who… [her] sculptural minaudieres have been carried by first ladies to presidential inaugurations, and by celebrities on red carpets around the world."


text:
Furniture :: store
Beauty :: shop
Sip :: drink
Block :: party
Forehead :: head
Championship :: match
Hurl :: throw
Whip :: it good
Destruction :: ruin
Leather :: belt
see other Mutterings here.
You Are Sometimes a Sheep |
You don't think there is anything wrong with going with the flow, and that includes following the crowd. You enjoy getting along with other people, and if possible, you prefer not to make waves. However, you aren't the type of person to follow anyone blindly. You'll stand up for what's important. You don't waste your energy on fighting battles that don't matter. But when something important is on the line, you'll always stand your ground. |
Swiped from Kwizgiver.
Bold the true statements....
I live on the east coast (of anywhere).
I can spell definitely the correct way, thank you.
I have spellcheck enabled on my IE/firefox. (I'm using Chrome, TYVM)
And right now it's telling me that spellcheck isn't a word.
I do a sport that isn't a team sport.
I'm right-brained.
I'm left-brained.
I'm split-brained.
I can read sheet music.
Horror movies are usually just funny.
I'm in serious kiss withdrawal.
A lot of people call me by my last name or my initials.
I have two middle names.
I enjoy sporks and other pointless things.
I am/want to be an organ donor.
I don't subscribe to any political party.
I'd like to/I do go to college in a city.
Whatever happened to green ketchup?
Drugs are lame. [medication is not, however]
^ You're lame.
Stephen King was right about Stephenie Meyer.
The universe tends to unfold as it should.
I can't stand cough drops with menthol in them.
I can name at least 35 U.S. presidents off the top of my head.
^And at least 40 state capitals.
I can hardly name any of either.
^But that's because I'm not from the states.
I find it hilarious that Miley Cyrus thinks she could win an Oscar for her movie.
Why the hell would Britney Spears (or anyone) make a song out of "If you seek amy"?
I get frustrated when someone cries during a movie when an animal dies, but then doesn't when a person does.
I wonder why the band "The Devil Wears Prada" named their band that.
Frankenstein is NOT the name of the monster.
I pronounce "route" like "root".
I say car-muhl, not car-a-mell.
I hate talking on the phone.
What the fuck is up with everyone wearing Uggs?
I've used a Wii Fit.
Angelina Jolie's lips distract me.
^But she was AMAZING in The Changeling.
I've never seen any of the High School Musical movies. And I don't care to.
Costco/BJ's/Sam's Club would be the perfect place to go in case of a zombie apocalypse.
I spell my name a way other than the most common.
You Are Massachusetts |
You are smart, serious, and quite traditional. You don't have a lot of time for junk in your life. It's likely that you're well educated and hard working. You live a very goal oriented life. You are probably socially liberal, but personally quite conservative. You would never be described as wild. But you're more diverse than people give you credit for. You're equally comfortable at a business meeting and at a rowdy sports game! |
see more Lol Celebs
Your True Passion is Leadership |
You feel most alive when you are bringing out the best in people. It brings out the best in you in return. You love to teach others and guide them. You are very patient. Giving back is important to you. You want to make the world a better place, and you know you can't do it alone. You need a team supporting you. For you, there's nothing more satisfying than a group of people working toward a common goal. Especially if you're leading that group. |
and what does it say about me that I took the silly quiz anyway?
Boosted (with love) from Kwizgiver and The Gal Herself.
bold the true statements
* I have a serious attitude problem (partly)
* I hate repetitive surveys
* I dig 80s music
* I'm feeling pretty lonely right now
* Donnie Darko is really overrated
* I have a shell necklace
* Cats are my favorite animal
* I wish I was with my boyfriend right now
* My mother had me when she was too young
* I haven't brushed my teeth yet today
* I love lollipops
* I hate chewing gum
* I once ate takeaway food three nights in a row
* Will Ferrell is hilarious
* I don't think hats suit me
* I wear alicebands
* I have heard of the band Tears For Fears
* I don't drive and; I'm not sure if I ever will
* I'd rather be driven than drive myself
* My job consists of sitting around on my ass all day
* Oh no, the sun is out
* I miss last summer
* The good memories of my past make me want to cry
* I HATE Star Wars
* Angelina Jolie was a great actress in Girl, Interrupted
* I know where Shakespeare was born in England
* I'm not interested in Shakespeare or any of his plays
* The term "whatever" is used when the person doesn't have anything better to say
* Zebra print is so effing tacky
* If I were to get fat, I wouldn't care
* Girls who look anorexic, now that is repulsive
* If you were to give me $200 right now, I'd go right out and
and spend it all
* I want to go to Madame Tussaud's wax museum
* I don't know much about my country's history
* I do not own a bikini
* I wear earrings everyday
* I had a very disturbing dream last night
* I can't watch animals eating other animals on wildlife TV; it makes me so sad
* I love to read True Crime
* I would find it hilariously funny if Former President Bush tripped over his own two feet and; fell off a cliff
* I live in America and do not have an American accent
* I can fake a Scottish accent
* Some music moves me to tears
* I have read the book Jane Eyre
* I love Borders bookstore
* I'd love to work ther e
* I HAVE worked there
* I have never purchased anything from Starbucks
* I can sing opera
* I have seen a picture of my parents on their wedding day
* My parents never married
* Sometimes I wonder if I was adopted
* I strongly believe in reincarnation
* The celebrity I'd most love to meet is dead
* I find Joaquin Phoenix highly sexilicious
* I call people "fools" a lot
* People in motorized wheelchairs make me laugh
* I have been caught singing into my hairbrush
* When I'm embarrassed I turn bright red
* I don't blush
* I'm not squeamish at the sight of blood
* Guys who smell good really turn me on
* One of my favorite actors is Jim Carrey
* Kate Winslet is the perfect example of an English Rose
* I seriously think Sarah Jessica Parker is one of the ugliest female actresses out there
* I enjoy taking walks by myself in the summer
* One of my pets recently died
* I want to marry a fat old man with loads of cash
* I'm afraid of all animals with hooves
* I'm interested in the supernatural
* My mother is such a gossip
You Are Colorful Because You Are Delightful |
You are simply a joy to be around. You are cheerful, cute, and charming. You truly respect and appreciate other people, and it shows. You are extremely non-judgmental. You avoid confrontation, and you hate fighting. You try your best to make sure that everyone gets along. Life is hard, so you try to be easy on people. More importantly, you try to be easy on yourself. |
Food :: Coma
Death :: Taxes
Cafeteria :: Line
Need :: Want
Born :: to be Wild
Stitch :: Lilo
Badly :: Performed
Blocks :: Build
Chuck :: and Larry
Spiral :: Dancer
see more Mutterings here.
You Are a Cirrus Cloud |
You're a bit mysterious and reserved. You mostly keep to yourself and do your own thing. Some people may even consider you allusive. You're hard to track down at times. People who know you find you to be very transparent. It's always easy to tell what you're thinking about. You tend to drift more than most people. You're always trying out new ideas, friends, and even personalities. |
I don't watch any of the shows, and have no interest in any of the drama. But this bit is pretty funny.
Your Winter Sense is Sight |
You are a very visual person, and some of your strongest memories are around things you've seen in your life. You simply like the way winter looks. This season may seem dead to most people, but it's very alive to you. You enjoy all the sites of winter - from starry winter nights to dancing holiday lights. You think this is the most beautiful time of the year. Snow makes everything a little more magical. |
You Are Cotton |
You are conscientious, thoughtful, and compassionate. You care deeply about the world. It's likely that you like cotton because it's natural and environmentally friendly. You examine your actions and decisions carefully. You never forget that you affect others with the things you do. You probably live a fairly back-to-the earth, green lifestyle. It's organic cotton all the way for you! |
You Are Mittens |
You seek comfort in your life. You want to feel as warm and cozy as possible. You are naturally nurturing and caring. And you always make sure to take care of yourself! Winter is your time to hibernate. You love to curl up on a cold night, even if everyone else is going out. And when you do venture out of the house, you bundle up. You want to feel as warm as possible. |
The 1946 fantasy film by French poet/artist Jean Cocteau tells the story of Beauty and the Beast, using fantastical stage settings and ethereal costumes. You can see where the Disney writers drew their inspiration for the living furniture. Except here, the effect is unsettling rather than cute. The acting is exaggerated, with frequent dramatic pauses that create storybook illustration tableaux, in a good way. The scenes in the Beast's castle are especially like this, and the Beast's dialog is painfully overwrought. It's strange, but cool.
All in all, it's an effective retelling of the fairy tale that works for children as well as adults, although it's certainly geared toward adults. For fans of fantasy films, this should be a must-see, since it's regarded as one of the earliest and best.
An expansion of the "Twelve Dancing Princesses" fairy tale, with some license taken for modern sensibilities. The princesses are not misbehaving in this version, and have no evil intent, nor are they helpless. It's a Young Adult book, and so the storyline includes some scenes of violence, but glosses over the realism. Likewise there's a subplot about religion vs. nationalism that was only touched on.
Set in a fictionalized version of Renaissance Europe, twelve young princesses confound their father by each wearing out a pair of dancing shoes every three days. Princes from around the region try to discover the girls' secret, and go away disappointed.
The story is well-written and largely faithful to the original. While the protagonists are clearly Rose, the eldest princess and Galen, the young soldier-turned-gardener, the other princesses and lesser characters are given some attention and personality. The story gets a little scattergun during the climax, but the ending doesn't disappoint. All in all, it's a pleasant and quick read that held my attention.
Coming just in time as I angst about how to decorate my rental kitchen...
Curbly contributor lilybee took her rental kitchen from this...
It's amazing what a coat of paint and some vinyl placemats can do for a living space. I have both hope and inspiration!
Another "Tom Cruise Comes of Age" movie, wherein a young, talented, cocky Navy lawyer (Cruise) is guilted into putting his full effort into defending his clients by a less talented but more idealistic lawyer (Demi Moore). In the process, Cruise learns some Life Lessons.
Two Marines are accused of murder when they attempt a "Code Red" - a harsh form of peer discipline - on another member of their unit and the young man dies. The two claim they were following orders, but their superior officers deny involvement.
Best known for its "You can't handle the truth!" line from Jack Nicholson, this movie takes on a different tone now than it did when it was produced in 1992. The dialog is fast-paced, smart and a little bombastic, thanks to Aaron Sorkin's writing. I really have to check out more of his work.
One thing I noticed in re-watching this film, is that its stylistic feel, especially toward the end, is very reminiscent of 12 Angry Men, a great courtroom drama. It's a movie that's definitely worth a revisit every few years.
You Are Unique Because You're Curious |
Unlike most people, you are truly interested in and open to the world around you. You don't judge anything until you know it well. You are happy to step outside your comfort zone to try something new. You are rare in your ability to take in many new sites, sounds, and ideas at once. You don't get overwhelmed. Like a snowflake, you believe life is more about the journey than the final destination. |
- Weak :: Kneed
- Flashy :: Slick
- Sack :: Race
- Business :: decision
- Purple :: heart
- Fan :: tastic
- Airline :: food
- Guide :: tour
- Lunch :: hour
- Exercise :: bike
I'm woefully late with this, and ended up using a photo I took a couple of years ago for Candlemas. It's still the best candle photo I've done so far.
Round Robin Photo Challenge is a bi-weekly photo meme. Check out the other participants here.
Yes, it took me this long to finally see Wall Street. I have no real interest in the stock market. Perhaps even less interest now than I did 20-odd years ago.
This movie, although its message may be relevant today, did not age well. It's very much a product of its time: the go-go 80s. It's the clothing and decor that are the main distractions, though. Michael Douglas was very believable as Gordon Gekko, the reptilian Zen master of greed. Charlie Sheen worked as the eager up-and-comer, with father Martin Sheen as his man-of-the-people dad. Darryl Hannah was the weak link as Sheen's love interest. I never did figure out what she was supposed to be.
The story chronicles a young man's sacrifices as he rises quickly as a stock trader, and how he finally finds the limit of his own greed, and the price of redemption. It was a good movie, but having seen it, I don't feel that I need to watch it again.
Wall Street is on the list of Top 100 movie quotes for "Greed is good."
Robin Williams stars as John Keating, a new English teacher and former student at a tony Eastern boarding school for boys in the 1960s. Most of his students are bored, privileged young men who are just passing time until they can go to college and become captains of industry. Poetry is a class to endure, not something that speaks to them.
Keating shows the boys how to think for themselves, beginning by tearing the introduction on how to rate the quality of poetry from their textbooks, later by having them stand on their desks for a different perspective on the world. These and other exercises encourage the boys to push the envelope of their regimented lives. The results of their adventures also teach the both the boys and the teacher how to take responsibility for their decisions.
Williams is very believable as the teacher who's a little too "out there" for the establishment. His fast-talking patter is used to great effect. A powerful film.
As seen at In My Dreams.
The Big Read, an initiative by the National Endowment for the Arts, has estimated that the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books they've printed.
So - how did you do on this list? I've read 29 out of 100. Not bad.
1 Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series – JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
6 The Bible (parts, not all)
7 Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four – George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
11 Little Women – Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D'Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 – Joseph Heller (started)
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare (many, not all)
15 Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien1
7 Birdsong – Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye – JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveller's Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch – George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell (started)
22 The Great Gatsby – F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House – Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy (started)
25 The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited – Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia – CS Lewis (Started. Didn't finish)
34 Emma – Jane Austen
35 Persuasion – Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – CS Lewis
37 The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli's Mandolin – Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh – AA Milne
41 Animal Farm – George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 The BFG - Roald Dahl
45 The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables – LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid's Tale – Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies – William Golding
50 Atonement – Ian McEwan
51 Black Beauty - Anne Sewell
52 Dune – Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities – Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
62 Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History – Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road – Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones's Diary – Helen Fielding
69 Midnight's Children – Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick – Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens
72 Dracula – Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island – Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses – James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal – Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession – AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple – Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte's Web – EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince- Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks
94 Watership Down – Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet – William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables – Victor Hugo
You Are Fabulously Fun |
You seem to have a great time every where you go. You're easily amused, and that's a good thing! You are lighthearted and easy going. You can laugh during the best and worst of times. You are witty and clever. You can see the humor in everything, even if your humor is a bit dark. You're out to have fun, and anyone else who's game is welcome to join you. You make life a party. |
Work out three times per week:
Click here to find more, and to get started passing a gallon.
You Are Calm and Optimistic |
You have a tranquil and peaceful outlook on life. You are thankful for every small miracle. You think that it's important to keep the peace, even if it means swallowing your pride. You expect the best in people, and you hold everyone you know to high ethical standards. You are kind and compassionate. You treat people well, and you believe in second chances. |
• Direct Relief International
• World Vision
• International Relief Teams
• Yéle Haiti
• American Red Cross
• Operation USA
• Catholic Relief Services
• World Food Programme
• World Concern
• Save the Children
• Samaritan's Purse
• World Health Organization
• Mercy Corps
• Operation Blessing International
• Shelterbox
• Americares
• Operation USA
• Doctors Without Borders
• Medical Teams International
• The International Committee of the Red Cross
• The Salvation Army
• American Jewish World Services
• Habitat for Humanity International
• MAP International
In response to evidence that it was the target of hackers orginating in China, and that some of those attacks specifically targeted the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists, Google has removed censoring blocks in their Google.cn search engine. Further, they're discussing whether to continue operations in China at all.
From their blog:
We launched Google.cn in January 2006 in the belief that the benefits of increased access to information for people in China and a more open Internet outweighed our discomfort in agreeing to censor some results. At the time we made clear that "we will carefully monitor conditions in China, including new laws and other restrictions on our services. If we determine that we are unable to achieve the objectives outlined we will not hesitate to reconsider our approach to China."
These attacks and the surveillance they have uncovered--combined with the attempts over the past year to further limit free speech on the web--have led us to conclude that we should review the feasibility of our business operations in China. We have decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn, and so over the next few weeks we will be discussing with the Chinese government the basis on which we could operate an unfiltered search engine within the law, if at all. We recognize that this may well mean having to shut down Google.cn, and potentially our offices in China.It's a bold move, in line with their corporate directive, "Don't be evil."
Read the full blog entry here.
You Should Stay Warm by Building a Fire |
You are an independent, self starting type of person. You are quick to act and make decisions. You wouldn't just sit around and be cold... you'd make sure and do something about it. You are a natural leader. You like to be around other people, and you usually end up directing things. You are usually fearless. And when you are afraid, you try to confront your fears. You aren't about to be intimidated by a bit of fire. |
You Are Caramel Hot Chocolate |
You are a smooth character. You charm everyone who ever comes in contact with you. You are naturally sweet, but not too sweet. People get stuck on you without realizing it. You're the type to meet up with a bunch of friends for hot chocolate, especially after a day of sledding or ice skating. You try to never drink alone... even if it is hot chocolate. Warm, chocolatey goodness should be enjoyed with friends! |
Mary T. hosts Ruby Tuesday, a weekly photomeme. This week the prompt was "red books." Check out her photo and those of the other participants.
Instructions: Answer the Current Obsession category and then explain WHY you chose that response. Easy enough?
Swiped with love from Kwizgiver
Book: I finally gave up on The Grand Inquisitor's Manual. After a couple of months, repeatedly borrowing it from the library, I admitted I'm just not that interested, and can't seem to get past page 100. Now I'm looking for a new book to at least read, if not obsess over.
Snack: Goldfish, Xtreme Pizza flavor
Restaurant: The White Horse Tavern in Newport. My buddy Ry told me about it - the oldest tavern in the U.S. - and its $18 Po'Boy sandwich. I had to laugh, but now I really want to check it out.
Beverage: Clear Splash flavored sparkling water. I'm unsuccessfully trying to convince myself it's not soda. Key Lime and Cranberry are my current faves.
Decor: Rustic. I'm back to loving colonial and antique-y stuff.
Actor: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, but only because he was in the movie I watched most recently. I do like him, though.
Actress: Catherine Zeta-Jones. She's the only actress whose work I really follow.
Movie: (500) Days of Summer. I finally got to watch this, and was worried that I'd be disappointed, since I was anticipating it so much. It turned out to be a good movie, and I really enjoyed it.
TV show: LOST. The countdown has begun, and I'm getting very excited to see how the final season plays out.
Hobby: Blogging. I've been feeling more inspired lately.
Band: Does the cast of Glee count? Such talented young people, with interesting arrangements of their music.
Song: Hate on me, the Glee cast version.
Meme: Right now it's this one.
Blog: My go-to blog is (and probably will be for a long, long time) Lifehacker.
Lover: I'm not obsessed with anyone at the moment, or even with finding someone. Although it'd be nice.
Friend: I'm a little worried about my buddy Mark.
Quote: Life is either a grand adventure or nothing." - Helen Keller
Peeve: The price of car insurance.
Sport: Nada.
Singer: No one in particular.
Lifted from New England Girl, who got it from Something Blue.
The rule is to answer each question with one word. You're also supposed to tag other bloggers, so consider yourself tagged! Don't blog? Leave answers in the comments.
1. Where is your cell phone? red
2. Your hair? curly
3. Your mother? driven
4. Your father? dad
5. Your favorite food? francais
6. Your dream last night? forgot
7. Your favorite drink? soda
8. Your dream/goal? europe
9. What room are you in? office
10. Your hobby? blogging
11. Your fear? drowning
12. Where do you want to be in six years? here
13. Where were you last night? home
14. Something that you aren't? motivated
15. Muffins? corn
16. Wish list item? blu-ray (is that one word?)
17. Where did you grow up? Hauppauge
18. Last thing you did? research
19. What are you wearing? Jeans
20. Your TV? neglected
21. Your pets? cat
22. Friends? awesome
23. Your life? satisfying
24. Your Mood? content
25. Missing someone? yeah
26. Your Vehicle? Cruiser
27. Something you're not wearing? jewelry
28. Your favorite store? Target
29. Your favorite color? depends
30. When was the last time you laughed? yesterday
31. Last time you cried? forget
32. Your best friend? Mark
33. One place that I could go over and over? Manhattan
34. One person who emails you regularly? Dad
This wasn't too hard, except for finding one word to describe my father.
Lunchables has a temporary Click-to-donate site, in which you promise to include a note in your child's lunch. In return, Lunchables donates a meal through Feeding America, a domestic hunger-relief charity. Plus you get coupons for Lunchables products, and there are even templates you can download for the note to put in your child's lunch. Pretty sweet deal.
A charming, alternately funny and sad story of a young couple - a romantic young man, Tom, (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and a young woman, Summer, (Zooey Deschanel) who doesn't believe in love. The story jump-skips back and forward through the 500 days of their relationship, following Tom's emotional peaks and valleys. It's quirky and amusing. I really enjoyed it.
Both the leads are convincing and affecting. The voiceover gave the movie a kind of educational film irony that was amusing. The soundtrack was fun and engaging. I'll be watching this one again (and again).
Miep Gies, who helped to hide the Frank and Van Daan families and Fritz Pfeffer in the annex of Otto Frank's spice company, died today at age 100. It was Gies who discovered Anne Frank's diary after the family were deported to concentration camps in Germany. She sent the diaries on to Anne's father, the sole surviving member of the family.
Is it just me? I'm not seeing ethnic here. I'm seeing dandelion pouf. Which is cool.
Your result for The Classic Dames Test...
Katharine Hepburn
You scored 21% grit, 24% wit, 48% flair, and 29% class!Find out what kind of classic leading man you'd make by taking the
Classic Leading Man Test.


text:
Recent Lake Buchanan Reviews
It was a great trip for 6 families (13 adults and 10 kids). Plenty of beds to sleep 30+ as long as they are willing to share a bed. Main house has 2 full bedrooms with attached full bathrooms and 1 bedroom/loft combo with a teeny tiny attached full bathroom. The bedroom loft/combo has 3 queen size beds on the 1st floor and 4 queen sized beds in loft area. For the number of folks who can sleep in this area, the bathroom is a 6'x5' area and very cramped. The outhouse which also has the game room (pool, air hockey indoors and table tennis outdoors) has 1 bedroom with attached full bathroom and 1 bedroom with full bathroom just outside the bedroom door. There is plenty of space to spread out on the property and lots of seating spaces. By the day, the area next to the grill/pool is the best and in the evening the area by the fire pit is the best.
The property comes with space heaters, bose speakers with a onkyo receiver to plug in your ipod/phone to for your own music. The receiver has a volume limiter on it to prevent extremely loud music (which is completely acceptable in my books). The maximum music volume is perfect in my opinion - not too loud or too low.
Wifi on the property is sketchy at best. The best location for wifi is in the outhouse where the wifi modem is. I really hope the owners provide some repeaters to enhance wifi coverage. This will help with making the receiver for the sound system wifi accessible too. That way no more getting up to change a song on your ipod that is connected to the receiver. Or just provide a really really long ipod/phono cable (+30 feet) to connect your ipod/phone to the receiver and be able to operate the music system from where you are seated.
Lorenzo is really helpful and does a great job keeping everything working and accessible. He is constantly leaf blowing or mowing so you have to tell him to stop so that its quire. Thanks to him the property is kept clean every day.
When we arrived, we had the stainless grill shown in the pictures above but the very next morning, the maintenance crew showed up and installed a brand new propane grill with 6-7 burners. So we got lucky. The BBQ charcoal grill is pretty big with a separate smoker box and damper but isn't very efficient with heat - not bad though just give yourself some extra time to cook that's it. We had to finish off 3 racks of ribs on the grill after BBQ;ing them for over 6-7 hours on low heat
Give yourself 3 nights to enjoy!!!
In one word: Fabulous!
We stayed here during our annual fall girls "getaway from it all" trip. We could not have been more pleased with our choice to stay here. The house is spacious and cozy at the same time. Everything you could need is here. All of us in my group love to cook and we made use of the wonderful kitchen, stove and double ovens. We also used the BBQ pit each night. Fridge had plenty of room for all of our gourmet snacks and condiments. The property is so beautiful and well taken care of. We spent every night sitting around the fire pit talking and laughing and relaxing. Since the property is so large, we were able to use an outdoor speaker and add music to our days and nights in the yard without disturbing any neighbors. We tossed a football, played catch etc in the yard and made use of the lakefront by taking a couple of hikes. We searched for arrowheads but unfortunately came up empty-handed. We saw deer every night, lots of bird varieties and even caught sight of a beautiful red fox. One of the reasons we chose this home was due to the game room.
Weather in the Hill Country can change from one minute to the next and in case of rain, we wanted to have something to do indoors. We had wonderful weather but still enjoyed the heck out of the game room. We used the pool table, foosball and challenged each other on pinball. Really cool! The game room also had a fridge, ice maker and lots of room to sit and enjoy drinks. Had we stayed longer we would have made use of all the board games available. There is a large screen TV but we spent most of our time enjoying the outdoors. The location if the property is easy to get to and if you forget anything, town is just a few minutes away. You know this house was a great choice when before the weekend was even over, our group was already trying to make plans for another visit!
Lastly, we can't say enough about Katie the property manager. From start to finish, she was so helpful and accommodating. Reserving the place went smoothly. She explained everything about the property. Upon arrival, we had fresh baked cookies and flowers! You are a gem, Katie! Thanks for everything!
Absolutely Amazing
AWESOME home and grounds. Our motorcycle Club celebrated our 7th year anniversary here, there were 16 of us. Every year at the same time we go somewhere different on our anniversary, we all agree that this was the most comfortable and accommodating place that we have been to date. Everyone had their own room (and the absolute best part of that was; their own bathroom). Everything was great the location of the house and the privacy; we had 10 acres to ourselves, the many amenities, the gigantic kitchen fully stocked, the enormous deck, and the breathtaking view. We couldn't have found a better place to spend our time to together and celebrate our 7th year. We are already planning to go back next year. The owner Marsanna I can't say enough about; she is an absolute jewel she made everything simple and was extremely hospitable, she met us at the house and showed us around and made us feel so welcome. Marsanna took the time out to talk to all the guest and made everyone feel comfortable. I would recommend this home to anyone wanting a nice get away or retreat. Simply beautiful and spacious. I could go on and on but you must see it for yourself.


text:
Democracy Now! (9 am), for April 4, 2008 - 9:00am
Download this clip (mp3, 10.27 megabytes)
Play this clip in your Computer's media player
Democracy Now! Special: Martin Luther King's Life and Legacy 40 Years After His Assassination.
* NATO Backs US Missile System in Eastern Europe
* Iraqi PM Halts Raids on Shia Forces
* Official: 1,000 Iraqis Deserted Anti-Shia Crackdown
* KBR Faces New Rape Allegations in Iraq
* Zimbabwe Police Raid Opposition Party, Journalists
* Chinese Human Rights Activist Jailed for Government Criticism
* Venezuelan Parliament OKs Oil Profits Tax
* Officials, Execs Defend Bear Stearns Bailout
* Poll: 81% Believe US on Wrong Track
* Carter Suggests He Backs Obama
* Lawsuit Challenges Legality of Immigration Raids
More from this show: About the Show | Archives of this Show | Playlists from this Show


text:
Hi folks,
I'll start off with a massive peice of honesty and admit I'm a vauxhall fan, I own a Vectra B saloon which is my show car. I also own a Suzuki swift rally car and untill today a second suzuki swift road car. The missus and myself had a bright idea of getting a couple of puppy labradors and didn't quite think of them getting big. Thus I parted in the road swift to fund a new work horse. Being a Vauxhall person I looked into the vecs and astras but decided that IF i'm going to have an estate, i might as well do it properly... (i've never claimed vauxhalls are better to drive as my honest opinion is ford... but vx's have the power in my opinion)
..So I've baught a 2ltr zetec mondeo on a V reg. I know naff all about fords other than i'm going to die on the vauxhall forums when they find out.
I guess i'm here to learn the arts of "the dark side" so my first question is, what do i do with it? lol. It's in very good nick for it's age and has only just covered 91k miles. Obviously it's going to have dog guards in there but my thoughts are. what tidy, subtle mods are there to do? Also whats best to look out for going wrong? I've checked all the usuals as you do buying a car but i don't know what goes wrong on these things....


text:
Grantees Corner
Welcome! This space is for the recipients of a CCLC or LEAP grant. Each of your programs brings a strength to Afterschool programming, and you can share these strengths with each other. Also, you will find resources for lesson planning that will help you incorporate state academic standards in a way that makes both teaching and learning fun. Please use the list below to scan the information and make use of anything you find. Also, email any new ideas and useful sites and links to email@example.com. Useful links, lessons, and ideas for the Toolkit Tip will be updated on a regular basis. We hope to alternate posting your sites and ideas to showcase your programs.
Tennessee Academic Standards
Use these standards to ensure that your lessons are targeting the state assessed standards. Even "fun" lessons, like the one outlined just below the standards links can be planned with standards embedded. Some folks refer to this as "disguised learning," but these fun lessons promote learning just the same.
Training, Professional Development and Evaluation
Evaluation Reports
- 21st CCLC Stakeholder Perceptions Executive Summary
- 21st CCLC Stakeholder Perceptions Final Report
- Implementation Study 2010-2011 Executive Summary
- Implementation Study 2010-2011 Full Report
- 2010 Annual Performance Measures State and National
- 21st CCLC Grantee Level Programming APR 2010
- Tennessee APR 2008
Evaluation Tools
For 21st CCLC and LEAPs Grantee only
Webinars, Conferences, Training
Resources, Curriculum Ideas and Program Tips
Curriculum Ideas
- Beach Ball Multiplier
- Target Number Card Game
- Roles Students Can Play in Literature Circles
- The Skinny on Fast Food
- Addition and Subtraction Dice Game
- Sink or Float Science
- What Makes Our Community Special
- Measurement Estimating
- We Are What We Drink Water and Pollution
- Creative Tours
- Making Cookies
- Family Literacy Event
Program Tips
- Homework Help
- Student Selection Criteria
- Incorperating Recreational Activities
- Using Praise to Prevent Misbehavior
- Lesson Plan Outline Ideas
- Preparing a Lesson
- Community Engagement
- Program Governance
- Program Governance Quality Indicators
- Student Behavior
- Professional Development Quality Indicators
- Tools for Showing Learning
Web Resources
TN Afterschool Websites
- Boys and Girls Clubs Tennessee Alliance
- Carter County Cares
- City of Life Corporation
- Putnam County Schools
- Loudon County Schools
- Douglas Cherokee Economic Authority
- Murfreesboro City Schools
- Sequatchie County
- Sumner County Schools
- Tullahoma City Schools
- Urban League of Greater Chattanooga
- Lauderdale County Schools
- Shades of Development
- YWCA of Bristol
- Martha O'Bryan


text:
Matthew Hughes, Orthotist/Prothetist
Dorset Orthopaedic Co Ltd
This paper is an introduction to a new and exciting development in the world of Orthotics the Silicone Ankle Foot Orthosis (SAFO). The idea of the paper is to outline the concept of the SAFO including patients treated, indications and a summary of the research carried out to date. The presentation discusses five Cerebral Palsy patients that have been part of an ongoing case study through Yeovil NHS Trust in the UK over the last 9- 12 months, looking at visual clips, clinical outcomes and experiences and patient feedback. |
The SAFO is a total contact silicone orthosis incorporating the foot and lower limb, it is reinforced down the anterior aspect of the leg and onto the dorsum of the foot, thus lifting the foot from above, as opposed to pushing from underneath as per traditional rigid AFO's. Due to the total contact around the foot and ankle it gives support without interfering with normal biomechanics and the prioprioceptive feedback is that things feel normal and the patient has control over their foot/feet.
Each SAFO is bespoke to a cast of the individual patients limb. A negative cast is taken ideally with the foot in approximately 0-5 degrees dorsiflexion. The positive mould is then reduced to set measures. Individual specifications are chosen by the orthotist e.g. No of straps, colour & reinforcements. Each SAFO is manufactured entirely from silicone.
SAFO Designs:
SAFO Walk |
SAFO One |
Patients Treated to Date:
Charcot Marie Tooth, CMT (HMSN).
Peripheral Neuropathies.
Trauma (peroneal and sciatic nerve).
Polio (below knee).
Incomplete Spinal Injuries.
Hemiplegia (CP children).
Multiple Sclerosis.
Diplegia (CP children).
Stroke (CVA).
Advantages of the SAFO over traditional rigid AFO's include:
Replicates normal foot action.
Normal alignment of ankle at mid-stance.
Reduced global spasticity (where approriatp)
Reduced risk of pressure areas.
Fits into normal footwear.
Can be worn without footwear.
Can be worn for showering/swimming.
Little Maintenance.
Easy to don/doff.
The trial, conducted over 12 months between October 2004 and October 2005, examined the clinical and functional benefits of using the Silicone Ankle Foot Orthosis (SAFO) as an alternative to the more traditionally prescribed rigid Ankle Foot Orthosis in children and young adults aged 7 � 16. The Senior Paediatric Physiotherapist from Yeovil NHS Trust in the UK selected all patients. The children presented as follows:
High �Tone Rt Hemiplegic, aged 12.
Low � Tone Diplegic, aged 12.
High � Tone Rt Hemiplegic, aged 12.
Spastic Diplegic, aged 7.
High � Tone Rt Hemiplegic, aged 16.
All patients attended our Orthotic clinic in Ringwood Uk to be assessed and cast/measured for the SAFO's, following this the deliveries and all reviews were also held at the clinic. All the patients chosen had worn a variety of orthotics in the past with mixed results.
The patients were filmed and monitored before and after fitting of their new SAFO's and at 3 monthly intervals over the 12-month trial in order to record the mobility and behaviour change. Video footage of these stages will be shown during the presentation to further enhance the results that are to be discussed.
Key measurements and observations for all participants were taken under the following indicators:
Range of active and passive foot movement.
Body posture.
Walking speed and endurance.
Skin condition.
(All of which will be discussed in more detail during the presentation)
Each of the 5 patients taking part in the trial showed significant improvements against each indicator. Children were able to go up and down stairs and take part in sports and play activities in a way that had not been possible with any previous treatment. Importantly, compliance was 100%, with each child happily wearing the SAFOs daily in school/college.
At the initial assessment for all of these patients there were question marks raised by many as to the appropriateness of the SAFO as a treatment plan, however the patient and parent testimonials in conjunction with the observed differences from a clinical perspective using video data and clinical tests has served to show that the SAFO does indeed have a place in the treatment of patients suffering from differing forms of Cerebral Palsy.
This is undoubtedly a small group of children and further research needs to be done to quantify the observed improvements during this 12-month period nonetheless a new era in dynamic orthotic splinting is upon us. Minimum orthotic input, to allow maximum functional output.
Establishment: Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury Wiltshire
Investigator: Professor Ian Swain, Department of Medical Physics &
Biomedical Engineering
Study title: The use of a silicone boot orthosis on the speed and effort in
walking in patients with lower motor neuron lesions.
Presented: The 10th World Congress of the International Society for
Prosthetics & Orthotics, 1st July 2001
Method: 12 subjects with lower motor neuron lesions were fitted with the
orthosis. Walking speed and Physiological Cost Index (PCI,
effort of walking) were then individually measured and analysed
using Wilcoxon signed ranks test. This was carried out initially
and after 6 months use. All patients completed a questionnaire.
Findings: Comparison of walking speed and PCI at 6-month assessment
with the orthosis compared to the initial assessment without
showed an increase in speed of 20% and a reduction of PCI of
Establishment: Strathclyde University Hospital
Investigator: Peter McLachlan B.Sc (Hons)
Study title: Comparision of Silicone Ankle Foot Orthoses versus Plastic
Ankle Foot Orthoses in subjects with lower motor neuron lesions
using the CODA mpx30 gait analysis system.
Presented: The 11th World Congress of the International Society for
Prosthetics & Orthotics, August 1-6 2004 Hong Kong
Method: 6 subjects were selected who had been previously supplied with
AFO's. They were then assessed, cast and fitted for a custom
made SAFO. They wore the SAFO for a minimum of 4 weeks.
They then returned for gait analysis unbraced, with AFO and
with SAFO.
Findings: Results showed that the AFO had a greater dorsiflexion on
swing through, however there was less knee and hip flexion,
with the SAFO on during swing phase. The SAFO also produced
a smoother transition from heel strike � foot flat.


text:
Reading: 2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16 Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22 Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24
Drawing Near: In today's Gospel, you hear of the faith of Joseph, my foster father. How might you embrace Joseph as your patron saint in your ministry as a catechist?
Feast: The Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
To view the complete Gospel reading, click here.
(Page 1 of 1, totaling 1 entries)


text:
Skip Maine state header navigation
Skip First Level Navigation | Skip All Navigation
Home | Contact Us | Calendar | News | Maine Weather |
Site Map |
Hurricane Earl Moving Toward Nova Scotia September 4, 20107:00 AM As Hurricane Earl continues to move to the northeast toward Nova Scotia, some warnings and advisories remain in effect. A Tropical Storm Warning continues for the following locations:
All other Tropical Storm watches and warnings have been discontinued. However, Small Craft Advisories are in effect for the coastal waters from the Merrimack River in Massachusetts to Stonington, including Penobscot and Casco Bays. Because of the heavy rain associated with Hurricane Earl, the National Weather Service in Caribou has issued an urban and small stream Flood Advisory for minor flooding of poor drainage areas in sections of southwestern Penobscot, southern Piscataquis Counties and all of Hancock County. The advisory will be in place until 10:00 am Saturday. The National Weather Service in Gray also cautions of potential minor flooding of low-lying areas in parts of Kennebec, Waldo, Lincoln and southern Somerset County as heavy rains continue for a time this morning. Power outages are minimal at this time. The public is asked to report any outages or downed trees and power lines to their electric utility immediately. High surf and rip currents will continue to pose a safety hazard along the coast for a time after Earl passes by. Everyone should respect any restrictions placed on shoreline or beach access. For continuing updates on the progress of this storm, as well as safety tips, visit MainePrepares. Last update: 07/20/10 |
Current News
Copyright © 2005 All rights reserved. |


text:
How to Paint Furniture: 19 Upcycled Furniture Projects from DecoArt
Bonus: Get our newsletter & special offers for free. We will not share or sell your email address. View our Privacy Policy
All Star Seating
By: DecoArt
Give that future major leaguer a chair of his own with a little paint and creativity.
DecoArt Products Required
Americana Acrylics
- DAO1 - Snow (Titanium) White
- DAO10 - Cadmium Yellow (transparent)
- DAO67 - Lamp (Ebony) Black
- DA265 - Tuscan Red
Americana Brushes
- DBR2006-B - Round 6
Americana Spray Sealers
- DAS12 - Americana Gloss Spray
- 1 in. flat brush
- 1/4in. flat brush
- Aleene's Quick-Dry Tacky Glue
- 12" x 12" sheet of thick scrapbook paper (We used Frances Meyer, 5006-687, baseball print.)
- Unfinished wood star (approx. 8 1/4" wide), Lara's Crafts, item P20965
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Lo-temp glue gun
- Hair dryer with low heat setting
- Unfinished wood chair by Dixie Seating
It may be necessary to lightly sand rough areas of wood for smoother application of paint.
1. Refer to photo for placement. Paint back slats of chair Snow White and let dry.
2. Paint posts and rungs of chair Tuscan Red; let dry.
3. Paint chair seat Lamp Black and let dry.
4. Paint star Cadmium Yellow. Let dry.
5. Use round brush and Lamp Black to paint words on star; let dry.
6. Cut four 2" x 9 1/4" strips from scrapbook paper. Paint back of paper strip with even coat of tacky glue and attach to back slat of chair, smoothing out wrinkles of paper. Repeat to cover each side of back chair slats, using hair dryer on low heat setting to speed drying process and avoid wrinkles.
7. Refer to photo for placement and use lo-temp glue to attach star to back slats of chair.
8. Spray light coat of Americana Gloss Spray over chair and let dry.
Helpful Hint
Use your own theme and colors, but paint back slats in color to blend with paper used.
Your Recently Viewed Projects
Love these projects? Get MORE delivered to your Inbox – FREE Click Here!
What's Hot
- Reworked Rainbow Table DIY Craft Project
- Thrifty Chevron Bookcase
- Chippy Chair Makeover DIY Home Decor
- Restyled Red Shelf Home Decor Craft
- Holly Painted Wood Ornament
- 6 Painted Wood Easter Eggs
- Darling Daisy Flower Tray
- How to Turn a Door into a Desk
- Stenciled Flowers Birdhouse
- DIY Personalized Rocking Chairs
Something worth saving?
- SAVE all your favorite crafts
- ADD personal notes
- QUICKLY reference your crafts
Free eBooks
- 12 Thrifty Trash to Treasure Crafts
- 17 Flower Craft Ideas: How To Make Paper Flowers, Easy Fabric Flowers and More
- 18 Crafts with Felt: Simple Craft Ideas, Felt Flowers & More
- 24 Tie-Dye Techniques: Free Tie-Dye Patterns
- 24 Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids: Lovely Kids Crafts Ideas and Projects
- 25 Cool Things to Do with Wine Bottles
- 26 Spring Crafts for Kids
- 41 Valentine's Day Crafts: Valentine's Day Cards, Gifts and More
- Cupid's Handmade Crafts
- Irish for a Day: St. Patrick's Day Craft and Recipe Guide
Our Newest Projects & Articles
- Rainbow Fish Craft Projects For Kids
- Mini Teddy Bear Crochet Pattern
- Vintage Hanker-Chicks Easy Sewing Pattern
- Scrappy Quilt Bracelets Fabric Craft
- Flower Petals Crochet Baby Blanket Pattern
- Learn to Embroider with the Best of Leisure Arts
- Colorful Ladybugs Toilet Paper Roll Craft
- Reworked Rainbow Table DIY Craft Project
- Leisure Arts Book Bundle
- Polyform Sculpey Clay Beginner Pack


text:
She was married to Robert READE about 1554 in Linkenholt Manor, Hampshire, England. She was sealed to spouse SUBMITTED. Children were: Andrew READE.
Children were: (Captain) Lawrence WASHINGTON.
She was married to (Colonel) John WASHINGTON on 1 Dec 1658 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Children were: (Captain) Lawrence WASHINGTON, Ann WASHINGTON, Richard WASHINGTON, John WASHINGTON.
She was married to Samuel MOTHERSHED about 1655 in Westmoreland, Virginia.
Children were: Mercy POPE.
She was married to William HARDICH in 1658.
Children were: Joseph CHURCH.
He was married to Lucy on 27 Apr 1629 in Gloucester, England. Children were: Thomas POPE, Margaret POPE, Elizabeth POPE, Nathaniel POPE, Nathaniel POPE (Jr.), Anne POPE, Thomas POPE, Margaret POPE, John POPE.
He was married to Mary SISSON about 1668 in Westmoreland County, Virginia.
Children were: Mary or Mercy HINCKLEY.
Children were: Sarah POPE.
She was married to (Duke) Rolf ROLLO (Duke of Normandy) . Children were: (Duke) William GUILLAUME (Duke of Normandy)(Longsword) .
Children were: Allen (Algernon) De PERCY.
He was married to Martha. Children were: Nathaniel POTTER.
She was married to Samuel WILBOR about 1689 in Little Compton, Newport County, Rhode Island. Children were: Martha WILBORE.
He was married to Elizabeth STOKES about 1660. Children were: Mary POTTER.
He was married to Dorothy WILBOR about 1635. Children were: Nathaniel POTTER.
Children were: John POWELL.
Children were: Mary POWELL.
Children were: Esther STACKHOUSE.
He was married to Mary CAIN.
Children were: (Captain) John HOLBROOK (King Philip's War) , Thomas HOLBROOK, Anne HOLBROOK , Elizabeth HOLBROOK.
She was married to (Earl) Henry De PERCY (3rd Earl of Northumberland) on 25 Jun 1435. Children were: Anne PERCY, Margaret De PERCY, (Earl) Henry De PERCY (4th Earl of Northumberland).
Children were: Eleanor De POYNINGS.
Children were: (Lord) Richard De POYNINGS.
He was married to (Countess) Philippa De MORTIMER (Countess of Pembroke & Arundel) before 24 Nov 1399.
He was married to Abigail BRIGHAM about 1742. Children were: Lucy PRESCOTT, (Doctor) Samuel PRESCOTT.
He was married to Rebecca BULKELEY in 1700/1 in Concord, Massachusetts. Children were: (Doctor) Abel PRESCOTT.
She was married to Jonathan FAY on 6 Dec 1776 in Concord, Massachusetts. Children were: Samuel Prescott Phillips FAY.
She was married to James Tarpley HOOKER on 27 Jan 1828 in Jefferson County, Florida.
She was married to John COOLIDGE on 8 Sep 1779. Children were: Calvin COOLIDGE.
She was married to George Lovette PEARCE on 3 Nov 1904 in Chicora, Florida. Children were: Rosa Lee PEARCE , Mable Louise PEARCE, Thelma Velencia PEARCE, Fannie Winnifred PEARCE, Wannie Clarice PEARCE, Borden L. PEARCE, Harriet Elizabeth PEARCE, Joseph Cooper PEARCE II .
She was married to Alexander COMYN about 1247 in Buchan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Children were: Elizabeth COMYN.
She was married to (Baron) Alan La ZOUCHE (Baron Ashby) before 1242 in Winchester, Hampshire, England. She was sealed to spouse SUBMITTED. Children were: Maude La ZOUCHE, Roger La ZOUCHE, Helene La ZOUCHE (Rohan-Porhoet), Eudo (Eon) La ZOUCHE, William La ZOUCHE, Alan La ZOUCHE, Oliver La ZOUCHE, (Baroness) Margery (Mary) La ZOUCHE, Henry La ZOUCHE .
She was married to William FERRERS in 1238.
She was married to Walter MARSHALL on 6 Jan 1242 in Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales.
She was married to Richard De WILTSHIRE before 7 Jun 1252 in Lincolnshire, England.
She was married to (Baron) John De LACY (Magna Charta Surety) in 1223 in Lincolnshire, England. She was sealed to spouse on 4 Jan 1949. Children were: (Countess) Maud De LACY (Countess of Gloucester) , (Miss) De LACY (Unknown), (Earl) Edmund De LACY (Earl of Lincoln).
He was married to Eleanor De FERRERS before 5 Dec 1252.
He was married to Helen GALLOWAY about 1218. Children were: Margaret De QUINCY, Elizabeth (Isabel) De QUINCY, Helen (Ellen) De QUINCY .
Children were: Elizabeth De QUINCY.
She was married to Lawrence MONTAGUE on 3 May 1575.
Children were: Hon. Anthony BROWNE.
Children were: Jane RADCLIFFE.
Children were: (Count) RAGINERUS II (Count of Hainault).


text:
Rescue dog: Exercising dominance for the sake of good manners
Rescue dog Albie begins learning better barking decorum as Dad experiments with different tactics and technique.
Courtesy of Peter Zheutlin
For the first six weeks or so that our rescue dog Albie was with us, he greeted every stranger like a long lost friend. He wagged his tail. His eyes brightened. He nuzzled their laps and lifted his paw to encourage them to keep paying attention. Outdoors, it's still the same, but of late, at home, there's been a little bit of ruff stuff. Whenever someone comes into the house, even people he's met before, he starts to bark.
It's not hard to discern why. Every dog owner we know, and every book we've consulted, says Albie is doing what comes naturally: he's defending us and his home. But while we appreciate the concern and the effort, we're trying to nip this in the bud lest our home become an uncomfortable place for people we've been welcoming there for the past 24 years.
There's nothing quite as pathetic as a dog who knows he's displeased the people he loves and is attached to, and I hate making him feel that way, but the advice we've been getting is to firmly admonish him when he barks, assert control (that Dog Whisperer guy, Cesar Millan, makes it sound like some kind of telepathic messaging in which you virtually will your dog into submission), and then, according to the famed Monks of New Skete, authors of several books on raising dogs, you basically pretend they don't exist for half an hour (the dog, that is, not your guests, though I'm tempted to try that with certain people who won't be named here).


text: Posted on December 21, 2010December 21, 2010 by HarshPaul Posted in Art, Featured Leave a comment Wire Sculptures Artist Frank Plant creates these intriguing structures that are welded out of steel. Our personal favorite is the Baby Jesus Welder. Via: Hierroglyphic, Toxel Sculptures December 21, 2010 in Art, FeaturedSuperbly Detailed Steampunk Inspired SculpturesDecember 21, 2010 in Art, FeaturedKinetic Sculpture Made From Popsicle SticksDecember 21, 2010 in Art, FeaturedUgly Mugs Because, Why Not?December 21, 2010 in Art, FeaturedMassive Sea Serpent Skeleton on the Banks of a French RiverDecember 21, 2010 in Art, FeaturedThree Dimensional Paper Hummingbird SculpturesDecember 21, 2010 in Art, FeaturedStar Wars Characters As Real World PeopleDecember 21, 2010 in Art, FeaturedSuper Realistic Octopus Sculpture Embedded in Layers of ResinDecember 21, 2010 in Art, FeaturedHuge Human Organs Made Out of GlassDecember 21, 2010 in Art, FeaturedMechanical Insect and Monster Sculptures Leave a comment Cancel reply Please be polite. We appreciate that. Your email address will not be published and required fields are marked


text:
Thanks for your interest in volunteering with thte Midwest Pages to Prisoners Project. The best way to get involved is to just stop by our project.
Finding Us
We are located at
118 S Rogers
Suite #2
Bloomington, IN 47404
This is in 4th Street Plaza on the NW corner of 4th St. and Rogers that also houses the Ryder Magazine in the Near West Side neighborhood of Bloomington.
We can be reached by Bloomington Transit Bus #3 West. There is a stop on West 4th St. just before Rogers.
Volunteer Hours
As the Indiana University community provides a great deal of volunteer support, our volunteer hours differ depending on the time of year.
Fall and Spring
During Indiana University's Fall and Spring semesters, our weekly volunteer hours are:
- Sunday 2-5pm
- Monday 7-10pm
- Thursdays 7-10pm
Winter Break and Summer
During Indiana University's Winter Break and Summer semester, our weekly volunteer hours are
- Sundays 2 - 4
- Thursdays 7 - 9
While any volunteers are welcome at any of these times, we encourage IU service-learning and campus group volunteers who wish to volunteer with other students to come on Monday nights or Thursdays from 7-9pm. Families who wish to volunteer with children are encouraged to come on Sunday afternoons.
Please phone us at (812)315-9380 with any questions.
What Volunteers Do
The Midwest Pages to Prisoners Project is entirely volunteer run, so your volunteer power, experience, and perspective is absolutely essential! Many volunteers just show up for a few hours once a week or once every other week. Some come on a weekly basis, or take on special responsibilities with the project. The tasks that most of our volunteers do are relatively simple, but require a lot of creative and critical thinking. Most volunteers help by reading letters from people in prison who are requesting books from our project. They then search the shelves of our project, filled with books that have been donated by members of our community, to find books that appropriately match what the person in prison is looking for and package them with a personal response to the person in prison.
Pages is also looking for voluntees to help with the following tasks:
- Monitoring - Volunteer monitors learn the ins and outs of everything at pages. They then help train new volunteers, troubleshoot questions, and just make Pages run smoothly during our weekly volunteer sessions.
- Special Requests - Scour local used book stores, library book sales, thrift stores, the personal collections of folks in your social network, internet book swapping sites, and sites like Amazon and Half.com for books that have been requested but can't be filled from our collection. Volunteers filling special requests will also help to find books for programs inside prisons and jails like bibliotherapy groups, prison libraries, and discussion groups.
- Package Mailing - Take packages to the post office. You will take crates of packaged books from the Pages space to the bulk mailing desk at the post office in downtown Bloomington. This requires a time commitment of 1 hour every week or every two weeks. This also requires the ability to lift crates of books (they're heavier than they look!) and access to a car.
- Sorting Donations - Look through books donated to us at Boxcar Books and decide what we can use, what we can sell as a fundraiser on the Internet, what we can donate to Boxcar, and what we should take to the recycling center. Volunteers sorting donations should have some experience filling letters to have a handle on what books are frequently requested from the project.
- Internet Book Sales - One of our primary fundraisers is selling books that have been donated to us but that we cannot send, or are rarely requested on an Internet book sale site. Volunteers helping with this will post newly donated books on the Internet and package and mail orders.
- Database/Web Developer - Add features and fix bugs for Pages' database system. Volunteers for this need not be located in the Bloomington area. The database code is written in Python using the Django framework. Volunteers wanting to help maintain the software should feel comfortable coding in Python or willing to teach themselves.
Contact Us
For more information about our volunteer opportunities or to contact us, please see our listing on the Bloomington Volunteer Network's website by following the link below.


text:
Spring Bridal Gown Haute Styles Steal Spotlight
February 2, 2014Every bride dreams of the perfect wedding; from the gorgeous location, to the flowers, the rings, the food and the cake. By far the most important element for any bride is to feel beautiful and confident on her big day – and that starts with finding her perfect dress. Like Three Graces Bridal, Rosa Clara's dream is to help you find the perfect wedding dress for you.
Rosa Clará Parellas, the namesake and designer of this important collection, whom after working for several years in the bridal world, realized that the sector was missing one of its essential defining traits: fashion. She knew then that there was something important to do – to contribute more creativity, bring more innovation, and above all, more design flair to the bridal gown industry. Alongside a group of professionals, Rosa Clara started down a path filled with challenges, some difficulties, but also opportunities. And after years of hard work and keeping focused on her dream, her first successes started to happen. Filled with great hope, new ideas, and relying on an amazing level of creativity and careful care to detail, she has been able to create attractive and innovative collections that have captivated national and international markets. The Rosa Clara labels are now requested by brides worldwide as well as celebrities such as Mischa Barton, Monica Cruz, and Amanda Hearst.
"By far the most important element for any bride is to feel beautiful and confident on her big day – and I know that starts with finding her perfect dress. My dream is to help you find the perfect wedding dress for you." – Rosa Clará Parellas
Visit the Portfolio page to learn more about this exciting and elegant line of gowns. Better still, contact Three Graces Bridal and arrange to see them in person.


text:
3 States Pass Marriage Equality – Is New Jersey Next? (IMAGE)
Tuesday night saw (hopefully) the final end to the miserably uninformed vulgarians of hate and accidentally hilarious ignorance in the Tea Party wing (the only wing) of the Republican party, as Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Baldwin, Tammy Duckworth, and Claire McCaskill all "legitimately raped" their Tea Party opponents. And we also watched as citizens in three states collectively ignored the vacuous garbage from the Christian Taliban and gave their support to marriage equality. After all, if Kim Kardashian and Newt Gingrich can get married, there's absolutely no more damage that gay couples can do to the arrangement.
With Maine, Washington, and Maryland all approving ballot initiatives to legalize same-sex marriage, it's safe to assume that last night's election served as a crushing indictment of the rabid right-wing's social agenda. For example, Maine's voters approved marriage equality with 53 percent in favor and 47 percent opposed, a huge reversal of the 2009 people's veto of the very same law. In Maryland, voters overwhelmingly approved marriage equality by a 52-48 margin, and in Washington voters also vehemently supported marriage equality. So I'm looking at you, New Jersey! And by you, I mean Governor Christie.
Okay, Chris Christie has had a tough week (just look at his sweat shirt), from his very noble and effective handling of Superstorm Sandy, to the ridiculously hateful and unfounded backlash he received within his own party for complementing that damn Kenyan Socialist and his FEMA readiness. And all the while, conservatives called for Christie's head (despite wanting him to run since they never liked Romney).
Oh, and then there's that whole snowpocalypse thing the other night, which knocked out power….again! So Christie definitely gets a reprieve. But as soon as the weather goes back to non-biblical times (climate change, anyone?), it's back to pressuring Christie on same-sex marriage. Hey, he already got a hug from Bruce Springsteen for his handling of Sandy, so just imagine the bromance that would occur should Christie come out in favor of same-sex marriage.
After all, who cares about 2016 presidential aspirations when Christie could be BFFs with his childhood icon, Springsteen, a man who vehemently supports marriage equality and has largely ignored Christie's advances due to the governor's nil support for it.
In February of this year, Christie followed through on his pledge to veto the historic same-sex marriage bill passed by New Jersey's state Senate and Assembly. Worse yet, New Jersey's Assembly didn't have the votes to override Christie's veto.
Here were Christie's comments following his promised veto, according to an LA Times article:
"I am adhering to what I've said since this bill was first introduced — an issue of this magnitude and importance, which requires a constitutional amendment, should be left to the people of New Jersey to decide," Christie said in a statement, the Associated Press reported. "I continue to encourage the Legislature to trust the people of New Jersey and seek their input by allowing our citizens to vote on a question that represents a profoundly significant societal change."
So yes, I think it's time New Jersey to hop on the fabulous bandwagon and afford gay couples the same misery that we heteros have been celebrating forever.
Here's a photo taken in Maine where marriage equality was on the ballot. This could be you, New Jersey!
(Photo Credit: Zwickerhill Phorography)
Michael is a comedian/VO artist/Columnist extraordinaire, who co-wrote an award-nominated comedy, produces a chapter of Laughing Liberally, wrote for NY Times Laugh Lines, guest-blogged for Joe Biden, and writes a column for MSNBC.com affiliated Cagle Media. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook, and like NJ Laughing Liberally Lab if you love political humor from a progressive point-of-view. Seriously, follow him or he'll send you a photo of Rush Limbaugh bending over in a thong.


text:
Blue Sky Peptide is kicking off October with Up to 30% off your Total Order plus Double Rewards!
20% off your total order under $199 including our buy 1 get 1 and buy 2 get 1 Free. Use Promo Code iron20
30% off your total order over $199 including our buy 1 get 1 and buy 2 get 1 Free. Use Promo Code iron30
Also Double Reward points for account holders for every dollar spent on all orders that can be used for additional discounts and free products.
These Great offers end Monday October 7th 11:59pm EST.
Offers do not include our already discounted bulk peps.
Any questions regarding these offers or anything else please email us at email@example.com for an immediate response.
We thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve all your research needs!


text:
46 total reviews
Wedding: 8/16/2014
VEI was perfect for our summer wedding down the shore. They were on time, knew exactly where the locations were, and were very professional. I recommend them for your next event!
Wedding: 9/28/2013
My husband and I were both very pleased with V.E.I. Limos. On the morning of our wedding and throughout the rest of the time that we had them, they were on time and professional. We especially enjoyed the champagne toast after the ceremony! I did not have any issues with this company and would definitely recommend them for weddings or any other occasion.
Wedding: 7/19/2013
We were very happy with VEI!! We got a party bus for our wedding & everything on their end was excellent!! Our driver was extremely professional, helpful, arrived on time, knew where he was going & the bus itself was very clean & comfortable!! I also loved that when I booked it, the gentleman on the phone was very helpful! We didn't know if we were going to need it for 3 or 4 hours depending on how long our pictures would take & they told us only to pay for the 3 hours & then if needed that we would have to pay the extra hour the day of. I was pretty sure we were going to need it for the 4 hours (which we did), but I just appreciated how they took the time & explained things to me that you may not think of! Like for instance, if it rained on our wedding day & we couldn't take pictures outside. In that case we would've only needed it for 3 hours. I just found that to be help & thoughtful because I feel like any other place would have said to just book it for the 4 hours off the bat! I would definitely use again & recommend VEI to anyone I know!!
Wedding: 4/26/2014
I was sooo upset with the service at VEI limousine! Before the big day they were great, calling to confirm times and extremely friendly. Our venue the Brielle Riverhouse even recommended them, along with others venues that I attended bridal shows at.
The day of the wedding they were supposed to pick my fiance up at 12:45. Not only were they not there then, but when he called them at 1pm to see where they were they told him the limo was there and downstairs. When they went downstairs, there was no limo. Then he called again and the man hung up on him! When I called them to see what was going on (I was getting ready at another location and they were supposed to pick me up after dropping him off) they told me the limo was there! And then asked why we wanted to be picked up then anyway, even though it was all in the contract! Needless to say the limo NEVER SHOWED UP at the hotel my fiance was at, they HAD TO DRIVE THEMSELVES! After calling a bunch of times the limo came straight to me and I arrived at the church 5 minutes before the even was supposed to start! The driver was rude and told me he was sorry that he did not make it to my fiance as there was traffic! Of course there was traffic, is was Saturday afternoon.
I am not sure how the knot has given this company an award, they were terrible and dishonest the entire day! In addition they say that they use ALL NEW vehicles, our limo was extremely beaten up inside with tape on the leather! Be smart AND DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY FOR YOUR LIMO!
Wedding: 3/22/2014
They were ok...we had three limos..the stretch limo that was supposed to pick my parents and grandparents didnt show up on time.. The rolls was really old and did not feel safe. The limo driver on the otherhand was very nice and did a good job
Wedding: 11/3/2013
Overall good experience using VEI Limousine. Our driver was very professional and helpful.
Wedding: 8/10/2013
I used VEI for my wedding day transportation, and I cannot say enough great things about them.
They made everything so easy, and had a car/coach that suited every one of my large wedding's needs.
From my personal limo, to my bridal party, to the coaches that shuttled all our guests from 2 hotels to the wedding at Shadowbrook, they were always on time, and above all, so friendly and helpful.
Figuring out the timing and logistics was tricky, however Gil and Anthony were patient and helpful and took all the information I gave them to formulate a flawless day-of plan for my wedding transportation schedule.
I even had friends commenting how nice the large coaches were, and that they can't wait to book them for their own events. Thank you so much VEI for helping make my wedding day perfect!
Wedding: 8/30/2013
V.E.I. Limousine provided us with floorless service. Their staff was patent, helpful and outstanding. I would not hastate to recommend them or use them in the future. Thank you for a your excellent service.
Wedding: 9/15/2012
I have used VEI for several occasions but they outdid themselves for my wedding. Professional and prompt! Gil and Anthony have an awesome business! Loved the Rolls Royce!
Wedding: 7/14/2012
We got a bus to transport the guys to the church and a stretch SUV to transport the girls to the church. Both vehicles were late; the guys' bus was 40 minutes late. When we called to ask where the drivers were, we were told that they couldn't find the driver and we were put on hold for 10 minutes. We were also told that the driver would space out the girls and fluff the bride's gown, and also have a red carpet and a champagne toast for us after the ceremony. None of this happened. Also, the air conditioning in the SUV was broken so we were very uncomfortable. In the end, we got where we needed to be but it was not the most pleasant experience.
Wedding: 7/6/2012
I was a bit unsure about this vendor as communication was a bit difficult after we booked, but on the day of the service was unparalleled. We had a standard 6 passenger white limo and the driver was early to the hotel, extremely patient and kind, and a HUGE help pacing the flower girls down the aisle and running the back end of the church, as our church did not provide a wedding coordinator...that's another story:-) He was professional and absolutely went above and beyond. A great value, you get MORE than you pay for. Highly recommend!
Wedding: 10/15/2011
Since I started planning my wedding, VEI was very helpful in helping me coordinate my transportation needs. The staff was very friendly and patient as I tried to figure out what type of service fit my needs best. Their vehicles are beautiful and top of the line. On the day of my wedding, the driver made me feel very comfortable and helped my girls and I calm our nerves before entering the church. He was very cordial and did a great job the entire day. I am very thankful that VEI was in charge of my wedding transportation, and I would most definitely recommend any bride who is looking for a reliable limousine company to go with VEI Limousine.
Wedding: 11/12/2011
V.E.I. Limo made my day much easier by helping my girls and me all day. The driver was so sweet and considerate. I was nervous and crazy, but the driver was early and very helpful. The party bus looked so clean and awesome. We even used them for the shuttles to and from the hotel and my guest mention that the vehicle was a beautiful party bus and not a standard shuttle type. Thank you V.E.I.
Wedding: 10/15/2011
Not only were the drivers professional but personable as well. I was lucky enough to have been surprised by my parents with the Rolls Royce to ride in for my wedding day and our driver made us feel at ease and took care of everything you could ask for. I highly recommend V.E.I Limos
Wedding: 8/5/2011
I had rented the party bus for my wedding and it was fantastic! The driver was extremely prepared and took care of myself and my groom! The bus was kept in great condition as well!
Wedding: 5/29/2011
my driver was amazing and he was super sweet!,
Wedding: 5/21/2011
No issues. They showed up on time. The limo was clean. The driver was very helpful with my dress.
Thank you very much. We were happy to be apart of your day!
Wedding: 10/6/2006
The drive was very helpful. The company was used a couple of times at my family weddings or functions.;I was charges extra tax prior to my wedding. I sent the company a check which was never chased and the day of my wedding I had to pay the extra money because there was no proof that I sent the money. To this day I have not gotten a refund or did they ever cash the check.
Wedding: 11/6/2005
Nice limos;Asked for theh extra money for overtime at my wedding instead of billing us.
Wedding Specialists since 1988
V.E.I. Limousine has provided the finest Limousine and Party Bus Services for thousands of weddings over the past 22 years.
An experienced V.E.I. bridal consultant will share their wealth of knowledge with you.
Our FLEET will have you "Raising the Bar" compared to anyone else. We have it all.
- Price Range: $$
- Type: Group Transportation, Limousine, Other Transportation Ideas, Valet
awards and affiliations
- The Knot Best Of Weddings 2010
- The Knot Best Of Weddings 2007