text:
This was just too good not to share :P
Of course, remember to go check out the original for the always-excellent mouseover sotto voce!
Source: http://xkcd.com/1295/
This was just too good not to share :P
Of course, remember to go check out the original for the always-excellent mouseover sotto voce!
Source: http://xkcd.com/1295/
One of my favourite things to do with this blog these days is to catalogue/chronicle awesome citizen science initiatives.
And there's a new one! And it's lots of fun!
In Plankton Portal, you get to help identify plankton from images taken . I've just started playing, and so far it's actually trickier than it looks, but one gets added benefit of learning heaps about plankton which, lets face it, are amazingly cool (my favourite are radiolarians, of course).
The project explains itself thusly:
Plankton are a critically important food source.
No plankton = No life in the ocean
Plankton also play an important role in the global carbon cycle. This cycle captures the Sun's energy and the atmosphere's CO2 at the surface of the ocean and releases it to other organisms and other areas of the ocean.
Understanding where and when plankton occur at different depths in the ocean allows scientists to get a global understanding of the function and health of the ocean from small to global scales.
Plankton Portal is a member of the Zooniverse, a collection of citizen science initiatives which span everything from stars to whales, cyclones to worms, and a bunch more. So yeah. Go ye forth, have fun, and Contribute to Science!
H/T Brian Paavo and the New Zealand Science Network facebook page for this one :)
Unworthy self link: every weekday (pretty much) I compile Todays' Links, a list of some of the more interesting links I came across that day. You can see the compilations (and sign up to get them mailed to you each day!!) at aimee.geek.nz/links.
UPDATE: So MANY good things in Today's Links, including Planet pr0n, playing with plankton, and space jump POV. Subscribe now! http://aimee.geek.nz/links/planet-pr0n-playing-with-plankton-and-space-jump-pov/
Today is, apparently, the tenth annual World Octopus Day.
So, I figured you'd all enjoy this fun infographic, courtesy of the National Aquarium. And what better time to go and read this stunning article about these stunning creatures (my favourite form of the plural), and, if you live in Wellington, make a date to go meet the octopodes at the Island Bay Marine Education Centre!
How innovative would you say New Zealand is, comparatively? Well, we have an answer, according to the Global Innovation Index 2013 – produced (since 2007) by economists from Cornell University, INSEAD and WIPO (the World Intellectual Property Organization.
This year, the report looks at 142 countries from Zimbabwe to Switzerland. Together, these countries represent almost 95% of the world's population, and over 98% of its GDP. From Scientific American:
This year's big-picture findings: R&D spending has rebounded around the world after suffering in the wake of the global financial crisis. The same high-income usual suspects—the wealthiest European countries in particular—dominate the top of the list. The BRIC nations—Brazil, the Russian Federation, India and China—all slipped in this year's rankings. R&D spending is growing more quickly in emerging markets than in rich countries. And unexpected players such as Costa Rica, Uganda and Moldova are doing impressively well with comparatively little.
The diagram below shows how each of the 142 countries ranks according to GDP per capita and the Global Innovation Index score. If you're looking for NZ, we're in the blue bubble (underneath 'leaders'), but disappointingly (if not surprisingly), we're 'Inefficient Innovators', with an innovation ratio below the median. Not that we're in bad company, of course :)
But that's not the full story. We also rank 17th overall in the index (and third in our region), with a score of 54.46.
So, I guess the question is: is that good enough? Should we do be doing better? If so, CAN we? And if then…how? What do we need to do in the next 5 and 10 years to become more efficient innovators, and to move up those rankings? One useful pointer, perhaps, comes not only from the writings of people like Shaun Hendy*, but also the report itself: connectivity.
In every aspect of these endeavours there is an underlying theme: connectivity. Connectivity lays the groundwork for empowerment and the framework for innovation.
- Osman Sultan
Myself? I think we can and should do better. Hell, we're ranked first in ease of starting a business, and our small size gives us, to my mind, a number of advantages in terms of ease of access to people and talent, networks and so forth. Also, we have excellent beer and coffee, and that helps EVERYTHING :P
Yes, there are numerous disadvantages too, but I think the weightless economy would, if we focused on it the way we do our primary sector, allow us to leapfrog many or most of those.
Anyhoo, have a read and feel free to comment below! The full report is available online and as a download here.
Sidenote: I found this interesting (if depressing) statistic in the report:
One disturbing reality that our research has turned up is a major fault line at the front end of innovation. Booz & Company's most recent Global Innovation 1000 study revealed that just 43% of senior innovation executives and chief technology officers at nearly 700 companies believe their organizations are highly effective at generating new ideas, and only 36% believe they are highly effective at converting ideas to product development projects. Still fewer—one-quarter of respondents— indicate that their organizations are highly effective at both.
- Cesare R. Mainardi
On the other hand, what an opportunity! There's got to be some lovely ripe low-hanging fruit in there, right?
* Be nice to Shaun, Auckland. Otherwise those of us who're sad he left Wellington will have to come up and Have A Chat With You, Mkay?
Our family just keeps growing and growing. In addition to me and Partner, there's Beefcake, Monster and (very recently) Hank, the motorbikes.
And of course Derek, the car. Leviathan, my bicycle, is on long term loan, but we haven't forgotten it, heh.
And now? I'd like to introduce you to Tim, Hippolyta, Mary-Sue and Pip (short for Pipsqueak, because it's much littler than the others).
They're the shrimpies which live in the Ecosphere that Partner had shipped over from the States. We're extremely impressed with whomever did the shipping (we intend to find out) as the little glass habitat got to us completely intact.
So, what's an Ecosphere? Well, they're entirely closed systems contained in glass shapes. Mine contains the 4 shrimpies*, some algae and bacteria, filtered sea water, lightweight 'gravel' and shells, and a sea fan. Like the gravel and shells, the sea fan isn't alive – these elements are all there to serve as attachment media for the algae. Also, the shrimpies really like hanging out in/on the sea fan :)
How does it survive? The only external thing it needs is light. As with any closed system, the waste from every component must be consumed – in this case the algae use light, as well as carbon dioxide and waste (broken down by bacteria) from the shrimpies, to grow. In turn, the shrimpies eat the algae (and their own exoskeletons, too), and breathe the oxygen produced by the algae.
These are more than just idle curiosities, though – Ecospheres were invented by NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab (the JPL) as a means of researching self-contained communities: a subject of great interest to space exploration. According to the Ecosphere website:
NASA had two programs that benefited from the discovery: Mission to Planet Earth, aimed at studying Earth's environment, and the Space Program. If NASA could figure out how to sustain life in a closed environment, perhaps they could build space stations that would help in exploring our solar system… and perhaps one day, help us live somewhere other than Earth.
While my shrimpies are unlikely to reproduce, apparently the bacteria and algae will continue to over time, and I should even see a change from green to blue algae! With a bit of luck, my Ecosphere will last a good 2-3 years (and perhaps longer).
Excite :)
Bonus fact!
We realised last night, when we brought the Ecosphere home, that, well, the shrimpies respond to the sound of Partner playing the Kazoo. General kazooing as well as songs such as 'The Final Countdown'.
At least two of the shrimpies went from still to swimming around the Ecosphere at quite a clip, and for minutes after Partner stopped playing.
So, this weekend, I think we're going to need to do some sound-based experiments :) Are these heavy metal or lounge jazz shrimpies? Or does it have to be some sort of vaudeville/bluegrass thing?
* I'm seeing whether people at work can identify them, for funsies.
UPDATE: I took it to the resident expert at work. It's a bit difficult for him to identify them without a microscope (they're only a mm or two long), but he reckons they're definitely not mysids. We're going to try take some hardcore macro shots of them this weekend, though, and said expert is willing to have another crack at it using those.
The weekend just passed saw the annual NZ Skeptics Conference 2013, held in my home town of Wellington. The theme was around science communication, and speakers featured such stars as Pamela Gay and Kylie Sturgess, as well as local speakers such as Martin Manning and fellow Scibloggers Siouxise Wiles and Elf Eldridge.
For some unfathomable reason, I was asked to speak too. I was told it was because of experience in and around community stuff with nerds (both science and other), and so my talk focussed on that.
Here, then, are the slides* and, below, the transcript of my talk. I'm releasing both under a CC-BY 3.0 license – I hope they're useful or interesting to someone out there :) Get in touch if you'd like the transcript in some other format! If you prefer, I have it as a powerpoint file with embedded notes…
[*Which I can't seem to embed into this deployment of WordPress, sorry, but which you can see over on the original post. Also, I'm sorry it's not better. Time crunch with full time jobs, startups, learning Ruby on Rails, nerd nite and such.]
Hi everyone :) I'm aimee.
I hope you've had a great time so far! Some fascinating people here this weekend :) It's a great community, this one!
Forming communities around interests and beliefs is pretty common behaviour amongst people.
Nerds/geeks/whatever you want to call them are no different, and in fact tend to do so very enthusiastically :)
Before we go further, though, I should probably explain what I mean by nerd.
Why do I want to do this? Because if there's one thing many nerds (of which I am proudly one) particularly don't like, it's confusion and lack of clarity :P
Over the years I've heard and been part of a number of hilarious debates about the differences between nerd, geek and dork. I've had my own pet theories, and vociferously defended them.
But all that's changed – these days, it's easy. I put them all together, and change which word I use depending on the crowd I'm with :)
How do I define nerds/geeks/dorks?
Simply this – passion.
These are people who are hugely passionate about a particular subject, be it Star Trek's linguistics, the fundamental basics behind how our universe works, or what the perfect piece of yarn to use is. People who make things – whether it's knowledge or something more physical.
And one of the things they most like to make is communities. Sometimes these communities are physical, and sometimes they're virtual. More often than not, they're a mixture of both.
Today, I thought I'd point out a few of the communities out there, and then choose a couple with a strong science communication focus to talk about a little more.
Finally, I figured I'd share some pointers, based on personal experience, on things to think about when setting up a nerd community of your very own.
NERD COMMUNITIES (first slide)
I've had a look for data about this, and, well, it's not really there. But I do know that nerds and nerd communities are EVERYWHERE, and the internet has been an enormously powerful and positive force in bringing people together – people who might otherwise have believed they were alone.
Whatever you're interested in, I can guarantee you could have a bit of a google and find at least one community devoted to that thing. Compost, perhaps. Or trains :P Or knitting! Or specific films and TV series – Star Trek and Firefly spring to mind.
Here are a few (only a very few!!) of my favourite :)
NERD COMMUNITIES (second slide)
NERD COMMUNITIES (third slide)
I could list awesome communities to go check out for ever :) But now I'll dive in a little deeper. And I'm going to look at nerd communities which focus, in particular, on science communication.
EFFECTS (second slide, with quotation)
Firstly, though, why is science communication important? I'll quote from ScienceBlogs here [5]:
" Science is driving our conversation unlike ever before.
"From climate change to intelligent design, HIV/AIDS to stem cells, science education to space exploration, science is figuring prominently in our discussions of politics, religion, philosophy, business and the arts. We believe that science literacy is a pre-condition for progress in the 21st century. At a time when public interest in science is high but public understanding of science remains weak, we have set out to … improve science literacy and to advance global science culture."
A public that better understands science and its implications is better placed to ensure its governments and representatives, as well as itself, make the best decisions possible about the so-called 'wicked problems' which are facing us and our planet.
Thankfully, we have nerds!
A lot of nerds end up in areas like science and technology and now, more and more are realising the importance of educating the public about science, its value and how it works. To great effect :)
So, let's begin.
As I mentioned earlier, Nerd Nite is a global speaking event. It was started in 2003 in Boston. Chris Balakrishnan, a doctoral fellow at Harvard, had been spending so much time at his local bar talking about his work researching the parasitic finches of Cameroon that the bartenders asked him to give a presentation on it for his friends, in the hopes he'd stop going on about it [6].
Now, it's everywhere. It's spread to over 60 cities all over the world [7].
You'll notice NZ has two dots – I'm proud to say that Nerd Nite Wellington, which I founded and host (and to which about 100 people come each time), was the first Nerd Nite chapter in the Southern Hemisphere. NZ now also has an Auckland chapter!
The only thing required to be a speaker is passion about a subject – we've had talks on everything from zapping brains with electricity to geoengineering, and a tonne besides. And the only thing required from the audience is open ears and the willingness to learn about new things.
The first ever Nerd Nite Global Fest has also just taken place, and by all accounts it was a smashing, smashing success :)
I've spoken to Nerd Nite bosses around the world about the effects of Nerd Nite on the greater community, and here's some of what they said about what Nerd Nite achieves.
"It's incredible working with speakers with little to no public education outreach experience, and seeing them going on to bigger and bigger events, reaching more and more people"
"I hope that the next generation's Neil deGrasse Tyson or Bill Nye or whoever has been on a Nerd Nite stage somewhere, sometime."
When I asked why people went along to their events, I got this great response:
"Because it's fun, because being a nerdy is cool, Because my city is inundated with rootless newcomers coming to our universities or joining the tech industry and think "Hey, maybe this is where I can find my people". And they do, and they talk, and go out on dates, and connect."
Several couples have even met and got married because of Nerd Nite!
Here in New Zealand, I've noticed that it ties together a hugely diverse group of people…I've organized 18 events, with about 100 people coming along to them each time, over more than three years. The Nerd Nite Wellington audience includes people who're in their teens, right up to people who retired some time ago. It includes scientists, devs, technologists, writers, artists and more. And, I'm proud to say, our last Nerd Nite Wellington event, in August, reached gender parity – we had as many women in the audience as men, which is pretty unusual in science-related things of this sort!
Next, Sciblogs. It's an online community dedicated to the communication of science in NZ.
It was started in 2009 by the Science Media Centre (of which I was at the time a part) as a means of communicating science to the public and journalists, providing expert commentary on science-related subjects of interest, and grooming scientists to become the sorts of writers who could end up with columns and articles in the main stream media.
It has 33 blogs [8] covering everything from microbiology to economics, nutrition to sleep science, and it gets well over 30,000 visits a month [9].
Bloggers have ended up with columns and writing gigs for major NZ publications such as Stuff. They also regularly feature on radio shows (including Kim Hill's!) providing expert analysis on topics of all sorts
And, some of them end up doing very direct science communication – for example, Siouxsie Wiles, who's on next!
How has Sciblogs had an effect, though?
It's helped improve public discourse and helped members of the public gain a stronger grasp of the facts, and how science works.
It's helped to demystify scientists and their work, making them more accessible and approachable (which is good for everyone).
It's provided a place for people like Shaun Hendy, who just published a book he co-wrote with Sir Paul Callaghan [10], a place to begin their musings.
It's helping the public understand our own wildlife better – for example, David Winter's awesome blog about the sequencing of the Tuatara genome.
And it's been a successful model demonstrating to science organisations and scientists throughout the country that fronting up to the public can be far more powerful than hiding from it.
Another community dedicated to the communication of science, ScienceOnline is focused on an annual conference – now with over 400 hundred attendees! – that looks at the role of the internet in science and science communication.
It brings together a diverse, and growing, group of researchers, science writers, artists, coders and educators – all of whom are people who conduct or communicate science online – for meaningful, face-to-face conversations about the issues.
The community is a global one, and all with the goal of better science communication within the science community, with the public, and with policymakers.
In the seven years it's been running, the conference has energised thousands of people to communicate their science online.
Commentary from an attendee this year, which I loved:
"I'm not sure exactly how, but somewhere between the lemurs, the books, the dinners, and the ridiculously short sleep sessions that I encountered at ScienceOnline, I managed to learn quite a bit from many of those science writers to whose level of awesomeness I aspire." [11]
You can find more reviews and thoughts about its impact at http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/a-blog-around-the-clock/tag/scio12interviews/, and you can follow the event at #sciox :)
Citizen science may be a new term, but it's an old practice. In fact, it was only in the mid 20th century that scientific research came to be dominated by professional scientists, with a lot of attendant criticism. As a result, citizen science has been referred to as 'the democritisation of science'.
As I mentioned, there are oodles of these projects around, involving hundreds of thousands of people. They include CosmoQuest, of course, and projects like FoldIt (protein folding), EyeWire (mapping the 3D structure of neurons) and Field:Expedition Mongolia (in which people help identify possible sites for the lost tomb of Chinggis Khan for National Geographic by tagging satellite photos).
I won't talk about CosmoQuest here – Pamela is the person best qualified to do that :) So I thought I'd mention a couple of others, and their impacts.
First, we have FoldIt. This is probably one of the most famous examples. It's an online puzzle game which gets people – over 100,000 of them so far! – to fold selected proteins to the best of their ability, and rated these efforts. The best solutions are then looked at by researchers to see whether they had real-world solutions. Many did.
Next, I'll mention the International Space Apps Challenge, led by NASA and over 400 other organisations. This is one of my favourite new Citizen science initiatives. Started in 2012, and with over 9,000 people from more than 80 countries participating in 2013, it describes itself as 'a technology development event during which citizens from around the world work together to solve challenges relevant to improving life on Earth and life in space' [14].
Participants – anyone can sign up –are given a number of challenges to tackle over the weekend. This year, they included Detecting Near Earth Objects (or: how I learned to stop worrying and find the asteroid), telling the story of space to the world better and a tonne more.
Some of the very real solutions developed included creating data visualisations to improve air traffic control, integrating wind, solar and geothermal energy data, improving local agriculture efforts, making lego rovers, pairing high school girls with NASA mentors, and developing cubesats for upcoming mission [15].
An effective community, no?
I think that's enough of that for now, though :)
If you're curious about the Citizen Science movement, I'd really recommend Michal Nielsen's book 'Reinventing Discovery: The New Era of Networked Science'.
The power of these, and all the other, communities, is enormous when added together They give people a safe space to begin their journey. They give them a sense of community and support. A place to belong.
They help people to get their message out there into the huge blue yonder. And they help those messages, be listened to.
I firmly believe you cannot have too many communities. And maybe you've been thinking about setting one up yourself! I've helped set up a couple, and been involved in more, so I figured I could give some rough pointers – things to think about when setting up your own :)
BUILDING YOUR OWN (second slide)
Decide what your community is about
Is it about a specific topic of interest, such as regional differences in Vulcan hairstyles?
Or is it about a more general topic, such as 'nerdery!'
More specific topics will likely have smaller groups, but it's possible passion levels could be higher, and it might be easier to foster engagement
On the other hand, more general topics will be more accessible and inclusive, for larger numbers of people
Know your community
Nerds are very, proudly, individualistic. Forming a community which doesn't take into account the behaviour and characteristics of the people you want to knit together, will result in failure and a heap of disdain.
Have a web presence
These days, your web presence is how people get to find out about you,and tell their friends. You don't need to make it yourself (although doing so is incredibly useful experience, I can promise).
Depending on the type of community you're building, you will need different features – forums or chat, or straight blog posts and comments. Maybe just simple event detail postings.
Think about using something like WordPress.com (which is free, and very simple to use). There are a number of other free options out there too, though, and each with its own pros and cons – just don't drop 30 grand on a website for a fledgling community!
As to social media? Don't worry about FB and twitter and Instagram and Vine and blh blah blah. At least not initially. And, regarding Facebook, it's worth bearing in mind that a growing number of people are very unhappy with FB, and choosing to house your community there could loose you possible members.
The alternative to a website is setting up a Google+ community. Now, before you all groan at me, I'll say it's a very active place (for people who're interested in science and tech, at least). But most of the people active on it are in the US, which may not be qhat you're looking for….
Whatever you choose, though, remember to keep it as simple as possible. You don't need bells and whistles, and they can get in the way in a bunch of, well, ways.
Face-to-face meetings
People are shy, sure. BUT people also like getting to know each other in person. If your community is a local one, think about setting regular meetups. If they're distributed, set up meetings anyway! You can let the community choose when and where and how, of course, but think about being an enthusiastic fan of such things :)
Maybe even, once you've got going, organize some sort of big annual thing! Like, oh I dunno, the Skeptics Conference :P It doesn't have to be flashy – you just need to get people together into the same room. You can go with a classic conference style (speeches), or something more barcamp (unstructured conferences where participants choose what the sessions will be about – more conversational). I always say that beer helps, but that's really up to you :)
BUILDING YOUR OWN (third slide)
Things to remember:
You're building a community, not a cult, so don't expect to be the community's leader, or even have people particularly notice or appreciate your efforts – this can be a thankless task!
Basically – it's not about you, it's about the community :)
It will need your love and encouragement, especially in the beginning, to survive. And your patience.
Be firm – set expectations about behaviour from the very start. No bullying etc. Or you'll have a very toxic place on your hands.
Protect your community from those who might want to hurt it, but don't exclude new people. You never who might turn out to be a fantastic addition, or really needs friends :)
And get help. No, I don't mean psychiatric help, although you may end up needing it! Don't be afraid to ask for it. People love helping out – it makes them feel valuable and useful – and it will make the burdens and responsibilities and work behind the scenes an awful lot less stressful.
In conclusion, then…
Nerds are everywhere – they're designing our tech and writing our TV shows.
They're making our movies – look at the huge success of the star trek films
They're running our companies, and figuring out the solutions to the wicked problems we and our planet face.
They're everywhere, including in this very room.
And they're awesome :)
Thank you, everyone.
[Followed by discussion about whether first colour is a true grey, based on the joke in the final slide…]
The next nerd nite Wellington, featuring Shaun Hendy, Linc Gasking and Nicola Gaston, is on 16 September! See wellingon.nerdnite.com for details.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_(group)
[2] Personal knowledge (as one of the bloggers)
[3] http://scienceblogs.com/about/
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_science
[5] http://scienceblogs.com/about/
[6] Nerd nite lore, e.g. http://artery.wbur.org/2013/03/25/nerd-nite
[7] Nerdnite.com, map at https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=215658434634001054449.0004cd11c644eca2afacb&dg=feature
[8] http://sciblogs.co.nz/
[9] Personal knowledge as a blogger for Sciblogs
[10] http://www.press.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/home/notices/template/notice_item.jsp?cid=572696
[11] http://scienceonline.com/
[12] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foldit
[13] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foldit
[14] http://spaceappschallenge.org/
[15] https://speakerdeck.com/nasa/2013-international-space-apps-challenge-mission-report
Before moving to New Zealand I had never heard the term 'weather bomb' before. Since then, though, I've heard it used aplenty.
The media are particularly fond of it – it's such a dynamic term – and, well, I had thought it was fun, fuzzy phrasing for sudden, very inclement weather.
Imagine my surprise and delight, then, when a colleague pointed out that it has a proper, technical definition. One which excludes the bad weather here in Wellington yesterday and Wednesday.
A weather bomb is a "rapidly deepening extratropical cyclonic low-pressure area" in which atmospheric pressure drops by 24 hPa or more in 24 hours. The terminology itself has been around for a while (since the '40s/'50s, according to Wikipedia), and alternate (awesome) terms include 'explosive cyclogenesis' and 'bombogenesis'.
So, now you know. Next time you hear someone throw the term 'weather bomb' around inaccurately, you can be constructive with your criticism (Steve) :P
My job according to the Up Goer Five Text Editor
I had a bash at describing my day job using this. This is what I ended up with :)
People who want to understand the world, can be hard to understand. I help normal people understand those people, and the work they do.
What would yours be?
If sometimes you wonder whether everything possible hasn't already been written about startups, business, software startups, software businesses and so on (ad nauseum), you wouldn't be alone.
Certainly, the industry which examines this seems pretty healthily active. Books, lectures, blawgs, twits, you name it, the space is pretty full.
And so it might seem strange that I'm about to recommend a book on this very subject.
But I am, wholeheartedly. I'm endorsing this, yo :)
[Review after the image]
Scott Berkun's fifth and latest book, The Year Without Pants, is fantastic. In it, he chronicles the year-plus he spent as a team leader at Automattic, the company behind WordPress and WordPress.com. He was something of an experiment when was brought on by founder Matt Mullenweg: up until he arrived, the approximately fifty-strong team organised themselves loosely around whatever lines seemed best. However, it seemed like it might be the time to try an experiment and set up smaller, more discrete teams within the organisation as it began a phase of rapid expansion.
Berkun's role was to lead one of these, and also to lend his expertise, experience and observational skills to what would happen next.
Which he did, and the results are all there in this wonderfully readable little book.
Well, little in page count – it still took me a while to get through it (in one sitting, mind you!), as I wanted to be sure to take in all of the rather large amount of information it nevertheless contains.
And I took a bunch of notes, of course, which I now have to figure out how to give to people in the most constructive way possible. Heh.
The book brims with anecdotes – because, as business are wont to forget, it really is all about the people – as well as advice and learnings. Some of these came from Berkun's time at Automattic, others he had already learned, or was testing.
All are extremely useful – although he points out, wisely, that none of it should be taken for gospel (something too many other people forget) – both for larger and smaller organisations. No, we can't all be an Automattic, or work at one. Many of us don't want to. But we can learn some great lessons not only about software, but about how to manage teams, how to manage businesses, and how to manage ourselves. And, of course, how maybe, just maybe, 'work' doesn't have to be soul-crushing :)
I found the Automattic creed particularly inspiring (it mirrors almost exactly many of my personal goals, ethics and beliefs). Other great advice includes 'build the user interface first' and, well…bah. I'm not going to say anything more, actually.
Go out, get the book, and read it. It's too delightful not to. And then leave it on the desks and dining room tables of your bosses, juniors, friends, families and enemies.
And while you're at it, read 'The Myths of Innovation', another Berkun book. Simply brilliant stuff :)
Sidenote: how I initially described this? 'Simultaneously inspiring and depressing'. Inspiring to see what can be done, and depressing because of how seldom it is. Sigh.
After some agonising, I've decided to go with the easy route.
Confused? See Pt 1 for an explanation of what this is all about :)
So, here's the full thing, in two formats:
1) Future Timeline – visual (a webpage, sorry about some of the mashed formatting. Time mutter grumble grumpy grumble)
2) A PDF (see below)
Remember, in both versions EACH ENTRY is hyperlinked back to the fuller explanation for it :)
I'm not going to have the time this weekend to try other ways of doing it, but if anyone would like to chat with me about turning it into something a bit more Web, get in touch!
Network-wide options by YD - Freelance Wordpress Developer


text:
The host Roscoe boys basketball team is still searching for its first win after falling to Anson, 43-42, on Thursday in the opener of the Blackland-Divide Invi-tational Tournament.
Roscoe took a 12-9 lead after one quarter and built its advantage to five (26-21) at halftime. But Anson was within two, 37-35, after three periods and won the fourth quarter 8-5 to pull out a one-point win over the Plowboys (0-5).
Can you believe that it is just 12 days until Christmas? Does it make you want to sing: "On the first day of Christmas . . ."? Well, maybe not. Does it make you want to ask your loved ones what they want for Christmas? When you ask that question, you sure will get different responses. Some will tell you, others will keep it a secret, but everyone seems to have that special gift they would like to receive.
Doug Sitter State Farm, located at 208 Lamar, was recently a drop-off center for toiletries to be donated to West Texas Children's Advocacy Center (WTCAC).
The Kiwanis Club also donated about $200 worth of toiletries to the organization.
Pictured here are (left to right) Madison Black with WTCAC, Jessica Rangel, Brandi and Doug Sitter and Gloria Solis, all of Doug Sitter State Farm. The donations will go to families that have been served by the WTCAC.
The TEXAS Theatre in downtown Sweetwater and the Sweetwater Texas Theatre Acquisition & Renovation (STTAR) board of directors announce the 2nd Annual West Texas & Beyond Revue, hosted by Texas Music Ambassador Bob Livingston, to be held on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the TEXAS Theatre. Performing for the event this year will be guests from West Texas and beyond, including Blues Boy Willie (Memphis, Texas), Bob Livingston and Colin Gilmore (Austin) and Susan Herndon (Oklahoma) with musical accompaniment by Bradley Kopp and David Carroll (Austin) and local percussionist Tommy McCoy (Sweetwater).
Christmas is a special time and many people show their pride by lighting their yards and homes. The Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce wants to reward the best of the best.
Following the first attempt, construction bids for the new proposed police stations are scheduled to be opened at the January City Commission meeting, as announced by City Manager Eddie Brown during his monthly report at Tuesday's meeting.
The first set of bids obtained at the September meeting, but were much higher than expected. Since that time, plans have been amended to become a 15,000 square foot project with only one floor level.
Memorial services for Ruby Mildred Crawford, 94, of Sweetwater will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, 2013, with Pastor Dennis Bosley officiating. Her body will be cremated under the direction of McCoy Funeral Home.
Crawford died Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, at Nolan Nursing and Rehab.
She was born June 10, 1919 in Galitan, MO. She married Hoyt G. Crawford on June 6, 1938 in Alamogordo, N.M.
ROSCOE — James Troy Rayburn of Milton, Florida passed away Dec. 2, 2013, at the age of 65 years. Jim was born Nov. 23, 1948, in Roscoe, Texas, to Gene and Camille Rayburn.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his paternal grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Rayburn and his maternal grandparents Troy and Callie Norris.
Expect a 20 percent chance of showers before noon; otherwise we'll see mostly cloudy skies gradually becoming sunny with a high near 60. Winds will be breezy from the south southwest at 15 to 20 mph.
Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low around 31 and south-southwest winds at 10 to 15 mph. After midnight, winds will shift to the north-northwest.
This weekend, we'll see sunny skies but a slight cooling on Saturday with a high near 45. A warm up will come around on Sunday, with a high near 60. Expect weekend lows in the upper 20s/low 30s.
Visit weather.gov to learn more.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Today's Calendar 2/21/2013
Here's what's going on in and around Abilene today:
'Picasso at the Lapin Agile'
The McMurry University Theatre Department will present a dinner theater production of "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for show only and $23 for dinner and show. Thursday audiences receive a $3 discount, and students receive a $5 discount for all performances. For tickets, visit www.mcm.edu/theatre.
Square dance workshop
The Wagon Wheel Squares will present a square dancing workshop at 6:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel in Tye. Beginning lessons will be from 7-9 p.m.
Authors speak
Authors Jay Moore, Joe W. Specht and Glenn Dromgoole will talk about their new book, "Abilene Stories, from Then to Now," at 7 p.m. at The Grace Museum. The book, which will be released at the event, consists of more than 100 stories by about 70 writers. Autographed copies of the book will be available.
'Hello, Dolly!'
A production of the musical "Hello, Dolly!" will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in the Van Ellis Theatre at Hardin-Simmons University. Tickets are $10 for adults; $7 for students, seniors and military; and $5 for HSU staff, faculty and students. For tickets, visit www.hsutx.edu/tickets.
The Abilene Christian University Wind Ensemble and Concert Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. in Cullen Auditorium on campus.
Free tax preparation
Free tax preparation is available by appointment at the West Central Texas Center for Economic Opportunity, 1102 N. Third St.; call 325-672-8980. Tax preparation without appointments will be available 12:30-4:30 p.m. at the Abilene Public Library, main branch, 202 Cedar St. Participants should bring a valid photo ID; Social Security cards for all household members; all 2012 W-2, 1099 and 1098 forms; a blank check with routing and account numbers; and receipts for charitable gifts, medical expenses (including insurance), college expenses (including books) and child care expenses.
Subscribe to the Reporter-News
Need Help? Call us at 1-877-710-6183.
Monday-Friday: 6am-5pm / Saturday: 6am-11am / Sunday: 6am-1pm


text:
Money Smart Week @ Your Library
Money Smart Week®
is an initiative to promote
personal financial literacy.
The program was created by the
Federal Reserve Bank in 2002. The American Library Association is
partnering with the Federal Reserve
Bank to work with libraries to
promote this initiative. Money Smart Week
is April 18 - 25, 2015.
Libraries can register at ALA's
Money Smart Week web site to be
included in the intiative for 2015.
Promotional materials and resources
are available from the ALA Money
Smart site. Click
here to link to a powerpoint
presentation from ALA.
Connecticut Saves / America Saves
Connecticut Saves is a
campaign coordinated by the
University of Connecticut Extension
with the support of partners to help individuals save
money and reduce their debt.
Connecticut Saves offers tips,
tools, and strategies for
individuals to reach their financial
goals. Connecticut Saves Week
is February 23 - February 28, 2015.
Resources for
Money Smart Week programming
Money Smart Week @ Your Library
list of resources and programming
by category (i.e. Basic
banking, Credit & Debit management,
Estate Planning, Savings, Identity
Theft, Investing, Kids and Money,
Retirement planning, Teens and
Money, and many others).
The Department of Banking mission is
to protect users of financial
services from unlawful or improper
practices by requiring that
regulated entities and individuals
adhere to the law, assuring the
safety and soundness of state
chartered banks and credit unions,
educating and communicating with the
public and other stakeholders, and
promoting cost-efficient and
effective regulation.
The Office of the State Treasurer
aims to improve the financial
literacy of Connecticut residents.
Financial education programs and
related links are provided on their
web site.
Consumer Finance Protection Bureau
site offers resources for librarians
including program ideas, a
partnership guide, links to web
resources, marketing materials and
free print materials, and monthly
webinars for librarians.
The Connecticut Partnership for
Long-Term Care is a program of the
Office of Policy and Management.
The Connecticut Partnership provides
public forums and programming on
long-term care and protection of
your assets/investments.
The Connecticut Money School (CMS) is a
project of the Connecticut
Association for Human Services and
five nonprofit partners. They
provide free financial education
classes for adults and seniors with
topics such as Debt, Saving, Credit,
Loans, Homeownership and Senior
Issues. They also have a free,
online financial education program
called "Financial Avenue" that
teaches adults and young adults the
keys to financial success.
those interested in children's
programming, ALA's Association
for Library Services to Children (ALSC)
is a supporter of the 'Money
as You Grow' website which
has age-appropriate financial
lessons and activities for each age
group. ALSC has created a
recommended list of
books for libraries for the Money as You Grow program.
organizations and resources
compiled by Connecticut State
Library staff.
Programming Ideas from Connecticut
here for financial
programming ideas and to see
what programs have been planned
by Connecticut libraries for
Money Smart Week.
Other Resources
social media as part of
Money Smart Week. This is
an archive of a webinar
conducted by the Chicago Federal
Connecticut Money Smart Week
discussion list.
National Money Smart Week
discussion list.


text:
- 4
- people in the U.S. have this name View Qingwei Zhang on Whitepages
Meaning & Origins
The meaning of this name is unavailable
|76,858th in the U.S.
Chinese 张: the origin of this name goes back 4500 years to a grandson of the legendary emperor Huang Di (2697–2595 BC), surnamed Hui. Hui invented bows and arrows, and was put in charge of their production. In honor of his deeds, he was given as surname the character pronounced Zhang, which is composed of the symbols for 'bow' and 'long', meaning 'to stretch open a bow'. Zhang has now become one of the most common names in China.
|593rd in the U.S.
Nicknames & variations
Qingwu, Qing, Qingwe, Qinghua, Qingyu, Qinghui, Qingguo, Qingyi, Qinghai, Qinghe
Zheng, Zhong, Zhan, Zdanek, Zdansky, Zdanski, Zdanys, Zdanowski, Zwank, Zwanch


text:
Marc Widenhofer
Class of 2009
During my time at Millikin, I was fortunate to win the Concerto/ Aria Competition, Roger Schuler Jazz Award, and the Percussion Achievement Award. Upon graduation, I was admitted into the University of Northern Colorado's award winning jazz studies program where I was the teaching assistant for the jazz history sequence, directed the university's Blue Room Combo, co-directed Jazz Lab Band V and graduated in 2011 with a Master of Music in Jazz Studies.
Marc Widenhofer
Class of 2009
I believe that the requirements and expectations for achievement at Millikin push students to a level of performance that is second to virtually no other institution. Professor Justison guides you in programming challenging repertoire ranging from classical percussion literature to jazz, rock, pop and world music. These individualized programs of study are designed to cater to the student's needs and musical interests while maintaining high expectations for musicianship and execution.
Marc is currently a freelance drummer and adjunct instructor at Lander University, University of South Carolina (Aiken) and the University of South Carolina (Columbia).
Peter Manzi
Class of 2007
When someone asks me about the percussion program at Millikin University the first thing that comes to my mind is a studio dedicated to creating an individualized program catering to the wants and needs of every percussion student. As an instrumental music education major I was able to sit down with knowledgeable faculty and build a four year curriculum that aided me in learning skills that would help me as a performer and in the classroom. I was given the opportunity to chose and perform music that challenged me as well as helped me build my own educational philosophies in percussion pedagogy. During my time in the percussion studio I was given the opportunity to conduct both the MU Percussion Ensemble 2 and the Decatur Youth Symphony Orchestra Percussion Ensemble. Conducting these ensembles gave me the opportunity to try new conducting and pedagogical techniques in rehearsals. Immediately following, I was able to discuss these experiences with faculty and get valuable feedback. Also, while in the studio I had numerous opportunities to perform and conduct locally, regionally, and internationally. These performances aided me in helping me find a job after graduation. Some of my most memorable performances were performing a duo percussion concerto with the Millikin Decatur Symphony Orchestra, conducting the DYSO Percussion Ensemble at the 2007 IMEA All-State Convention and most memorable performing in the Dominican Republic, especially the amphitheater at Altos de Chavon.
One would be hard pressed to find a studio like the Millikin University Percussion Studio. The attention and dedication given to each individual is priceless and now that I am in the field teaching, I am so grateful for all the opportunities and guidance given to me. If I were given the opportunity to do college over again, I would not hesitate to come back to Millikin.
Peter is currently Director of Bands at Central A&M High School.
Weston Dombroski
Class of 2007
Millikin University and its percussion studio gave me the tools to succeed in the post-college music world. My specific experience affirmed that each student is treated as an individual. Weekly lessons provided one-on-one time (with the professor) necessary to grow as a unique and marketable musician. Ensembles from classical to contemporary styles also explored a wide variety of musical genres. As a double major (Music Business and Commercial Music), I acquired a vast array of skills relevant the music industry side of things. Yet, both programs offered ample performance opportunities and training. The Commercial Music program provided the opportunity to explore the composing and recording side of the music world. The Music Business program focused on the practical knowledge necessary to make a living in the music industry from understanding wordy contracts to exploring the latest Internet piracy lawsuits. As for the percussion studio, it is one of great integrity and discipline. Each of the faculty members is easily accessible and willing to share his collective wealth of musical knowledge–and also any wisdom on life picked up along the way. The self-discipline, practice habits, and work ethic that you will undoubtedly take from this studio are invaluable to any aspiring musician and provide an advantage on the competition with respect to future employment.
Weston is currently finishing law school at the John Marshall School of Law in Chicago.
Robert Novara
Class of 2006
One of Millikin's greatest assets is its faculty. The percussion faculty gave me great guidance and support over my four years by helping me find my passions and goals, and worked with me to reach those goals. Brian Justison, Jeremy Brunk, and Amanda Legner are all excellent teachers who truly take the time to get to know each individual student, as a player and a person. In weekly lessons students are exposed to a wide variety of repertoire, establishing a strong foundation. Over my four years the faculty worked to improve my weaknesses and build on my strengths, making me a better player.
The number of opportunities to perform and excel is another great strength of Millikin University. As a commercial music major, I had the opportunity to focus on both music performance and technology in the music world. In my four years I gained experience performing in Wind Ensemble, Millikin Decatur Symphony Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, World Percussion Ensemble, 20th Century Percussion Ensemble, Pop Rock Band, Solo Recitals, Concerto Competitions as well as several accompaniment opportunities in musicals and plays. As a commercial music major, I also received training in recording studio operations and video editing, lead by professors who have worked professionally in the industry. Millikin's smaller class sizes ensure that every student receives enough help and attention from University professors. Millikin University is an excellent choice for any percussionist who is serious about making music their life.
Robert is currently a freelance teacher and performer in the Chicago area.
Charles Aldous
Class of 2005
I chose Commercial Music as my major because it allowed me to focus on the aspects of music that most interested me without neglecting others. The percussion program gave me many opportunities which helped me grow academically, musically and socially. These opportunities included performances in ensembles and recitals, recording studio time as an engineer and a player, and personal study in my musical field with the guidance of many skilled professors. With my main interests being recording studio technology I was able, through Millikin's flexible music program, to balance my musical interests in percussion with my technical interests in the recording studio. This flexibility would not be possible if it were not for the tight bond that was created, which allowed me to grow in musical and technical ways though both programs. This situation allowed me to observe and participate in a professional social network, which is the underlying factor in the program's success.
Charles is currently an electrical engineer at Etymotic (Auditory) Research, Inc. in Chicago.
Darin Holthaus
Class of 2004
The high expectations of dependability and commitment combined with the sheer number of opportunities offered, are what separates the Millikin University percussion studio from all others. As a commercial music major, the percussion studio and School of Music offered me a multitude of memorable performance experiences, including touring internationally and playing at some of the world's most renowned music conferences such as PASIC and IAJE. My ensemble experiences included the World Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Percussion Ensemble, Millikin Decatur Symphony Orchestra, Wind ensemble, Jazz Lab 1 and several small combos encompassing various styles of music. I had every opportunity to hone my musical/percussive abilities, not only in the practice room and performance halls, but in one of the most technologically advanced university-owned recording studios in the Midwest. With drum set as my primary instrument, the Millitrax recording studio was one of the most grueling, yet, fun and accurate representations of my progression as a musician. It is truly a great tool that any musician can use and gain from. The faculty hold you accountable for every note that you practice and perform. It is an intense challenge, but truly a fantastic experience that will develop you intellectually, musically and help you in becoming an even more well rounded person.
Darin is currently a freelance musician and teacher living in Springfield, IL.
Angela Rudd
The Millikin University Percussion Department helped me see opportunities that I never knew were possible. In addition to the typical lessons and ensembles offered, I was able to be involved in premieres, recordings, percussion ensembles of all types, performing with the African Dance Ensemble, numerous recitals and tours, conducting opportunities, Vespers, performing solos with percussion ensemble and MDSO, competing and winning the 2003 Millikin Concerto Competition and the 2005 Hollis Prize, performing at PASIC 2003, and performing at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago.
The percussion faculty played a huge role in my development in both musicianship and character. They were encouraging and supportive at all times and truly went out of their way time after time to help me grow. The percussion faculty helped me see possibilities for my future. I gained a wide variety of experiences that allowed me to be a well‑rounded and successful percussionist.
The percussion department offers something for everyone. Students can pick from a plethora of ensembles and can tailor their experiences to fit their aspirations.
Angela is currently a freelance teacher and Master's student (percussion performance) at Northern Illinois University.
Kevin Lewis
Class of 2003
Upon reflecting on my time in the percussion studio at Millikin, it is quite apparent that the education that I received there was critically essential to my continued education and my current endeavors as a professional performer and pedagogue. Few percussion programs offer what I found at Millikin: a knowledgeable, concerned, and friendly faculty experienced in all genres of percussion (from orchestral playing to commercial styles to African percussion), the opportunity to work in a professional‑quality recording studio, and the experience of playing with diverse ensembles that include traditional and contemporary percussion ensemble literature and world percussion.
Individual performance opportunities are ample, and I found myself performing in studio classes, weekly school‑wide recitals, an annual solo prize‑competition, and as a soloist with a ragtime ensemble. Not to be overlooked, the opportunities that I had as a student‑teacher in the Millikin preparatory program and as a substitute conductor for the percussion ensembles offered the rare opportunity for an undergraduate to gain teaching experience and prepared me for my current position as a college‑level percussion educator. In short, an education at Millikin will prepare you for whatever you would like to do.
Dr. Lewis is currently a member of the Akros Percussion Collective (chamber ensemble) and section percussionist in the Akron Symphony Orchestra.
Joel Styzens
As a Music Business major with a emphasis in percussion performance, Millikin presented me with the ultimate set of opportunities to venture into allareas of music and the business of music. Within my degree program I studied Music Theory, Ear Training, Music History, Studio Recording and Engineering, Music Software, Music Publishing & Copyright, Marketing, Management, and my favorite, Accounting! I was also able to take an Ethnomusicology class, Art classes and a Psychology class among many others.
It took some time management skills, but Millikin gave me the incredible faculty and an unheard of number of classes and opportunities to create my own learning experience, and to study everything that I wanted to study‑‑and all in four years!
A few personal highlights include my travels to the Dominican Republic with two MU ensembles, the 2003 Percussion Ensemble PASIC performance, and the many opportunities to perform alongside my teachers.
Selected Performance Opportunities: (as a Music Business major!)
Jazz combo, Jazz Big Band, Advanced Jazz Combo, Free Jazz group, Percussion Ensemble I & II, World Percussion Group, Concert Band, One Voice (vocal jazz group) and Wind Ensemble.
Joel is currently a freelance composer and performer in the Chicago area. He is also founder of the A-Sharp record label.
Ken Potts
A commitment to the percussion studio at Millikin University is a commitment to quality, integrity, and meaningful music making. Initially a music education student, I decided to major in percussion performance because of the established traditional performance core and flexible elective options. I had many interests within the school of music as well as in the humanities division, so the ability to explore all of these areas offered a very important and memorable college experience. After countless campus performing opportunities (both solo and ensemble), a two year recording project, and a trip to perform with the ensemble at PASIC 2003, I fondly remember my time at Millikin and value the distinct and caring faculty that fostered my growth as a musician and person. A member of the percussion studio, whether major or minor, will experience immense personal growth while gaining a better sense of preparation, commitment, and critical thinking principals valued by future teachers, conductors, and employers in every discipline.
Ken currently teaches in the Humanities department at the College Of Dupage in Glen Ellyn, IL.
Greg Fundis
Class of 1999
As a Commercial Music major at Millikin, I was allowed the opportunity to shape an education and hands-on experience in performance, music theory and industry, and sound recording. The Bachelor of Music: Commercial program is a unique and flexible opportunity to choose your musical focus while getting a taste of them all. Experiences on stage and in the studio with World Music Ensemble, Chamber Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Lab band, vocal jazz groups and combos were essential to building a depth of useful skills I find myself using all the time on professional gigs and sessions. If you dig performing, recording, and shedding wood (practicing), the percussion and studio facilities are incredible and above par compared to any other institutions in the US. If writing is your thing, you have great musicians and studio to play/record your music, can get your MIDI and Finale chops together in the labs and focus on comp courses and/or songwriting workshops. Whatever you may choose, work hard, take it all in while you have this great University and Faculty available to you and you will be sure to leave Millikin more well-rounded, experienced and ready to work in the real world. Oh yeah. . .(the gen ed English courses will also help you when writing your GRAMMY acceptance speech too!)
Greg is currently touring with the group Math Games featuring guitarist Fareed Haque.


text:
BALTIMORE – Brian Matusz has just completed his first year as a reliever for the Orioles. He's hoping there's not a second year.
Matusz was converted to a reliever in Aug. 2012, and did very well in the final weeks of last season. This year, he's 2-1 with a 3.30 ERA and he's stranded all but three of the 46 runners he's inherited.
He says that his year has been a successful one.
"The year's not over. We've got a lot of work to do coming down this month with the playoff push and the playoffs. That's the most important time of the year. It's too early to evaluate that, but day-in and day-out, I've gone out to contribute as much as I can to help this team win ballgames. In my eyes, it's a good year, being able to do my job in the role that I've been put in," Matusz said.
The Orioles have invested a lot in the 26-year-old left-hander, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft. After a horrible 2011 season, Matusz began last year as a starter, but halfway through the season was sent down.
Matusz was put in the bullpen because of necessity, but would like to start once again.
"Hopefully. I would like to be given a chance to earn a spot, but my focus right now to win ballgames and make the postseason. That's something that will be discussed at the end of the season, but ultimately, I'd like to be able to start at some point," Matusz said.
Manager Buck Showalter refused to rule out a different role in the future.
"Still possibly has a future as a starter," Showalter said.
"He and Zach [Britton] are both out of options next spring. That's way down the road. I'm not dwelling on that. I'm hoping their career takes the same path as the last starter we had in the spring this year that was out of options, [Chris] Tillman."
It's natural for relievers to want to start. There's more money in the rotation.
I know what he wants to do. I know what Tommy [Hunter] wants to do," Showalter said.


text:
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text:
"The current party establishment or leaders don't hold the views on many issues as do a majority of the rank-in-file, who are conservatives -- you see them going in different directions," said an aide to a senior House Republican with close ties to leadership. "There's a real battle right now." So far this cycle, YG Action has made independent expenditures in two House races with competitive primaries: One, a member-versus-member primary in Illinois's 16th District on behalf of Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who beat Rep. Don Manzullo, and another in North Carolina's 8th District on behalf of a candidate who has served as a longtime aide on Capitol Hill. The Kinzinger spending earned Cantor some resentment among House Republican ranks. A source familiar with YG Action explained the group's decision to meddle in a safe Republican district this way: Kinzinger was the candidate that is emblematic of the Young Guns brand. In North Carolina, the group is backing Richard Hudson, a former chief of staff to Texas GOP Reps. Mike Conaway and John Carter and Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C. In that primary, the winner of which will get to take on vulnerable Rep. Larry Kissell, YG Action stands opposed to the conservative Club for Growth, which supports Scott Keadle. The YG Network 501 c(4) also spent a significant amount on mailers on behalf of Sen. Richard Lugar, the six-term Indiana Republican who faces a tough primary challenge from the right. That spending had some wondering just how Lugar fit the Young Guns brand. But all three expenditures fit YG Action's emerging reputation: Where the NRCC is concerned solely with incumbent protection and building and maintaining majorities, YG Action will also ally itself with candidates who are ideologically in line with the Young Guns philosophy -- that is, Cantor, McCarthy and Ryan's philosophy. Where the Club For Growth considers a candidate's policy positions above his or her electability, YG Action will take the majority into account. Murray said the group aims to get involved in 15 to 20 races this year. "To deliver results requires a majority, and the goal is to expand the conservative majority with Young Gun style candidates," said YG Action senior adviser Brad Dayspring.
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The day's action in one quick read."
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text:
Published at PO Box 96 124 W. St. Clair Romeo, MI 48065. Phone: (586)752-3524 Fax: (586)752-0548
Updated Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at 3 PM EST
|What's Happening
|News Summary
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You are Viewing an Archived IssuePosted: 06/18/14
STEADY SHOPPERS. Above, from left, Chris Miller of Lapeer and Lynda Lynd of Oakland check out the bargains available at a sale on Benjamin Street in Romeo. This was their first time at the Tri-Community Garage Sale. At left, Above, shoppers check out collectibles and other items for sale at a garage in Bruce Township. Sellers could register their location with Parks and Recreation to make it easier for shoppers to find their homes.
(Observer photos by Chris Gray)
Shoppers stream into
Romeo area for garage sales
by CHRIS GRAYTraffic started slow but steadily grew as a weekend full of perfect weather shined on the annual Tri-Community Garage Sale.
Observer Staff Writer
Everything from bikes and collectibles to antiques, furniture, toys and gumball machines could be found at more than 70 garages sales held June 12-15.Clara Russell, Parks and Recreation director, said she saw vehicles up and down the streets of Romeo, Washington and Bruce throughout the weekend.
"Thursday was a little rough, but truly I think if you had a garage sale or were a garage saler, you had a multitude of choices," she said.
A rainy start to the four-day event didn't deter bargain hunters. Sellers like Michele McMillan of Romeo said she couldn't believe the amount of traffic, with buyers from as far as Marine City or Caseville buying big-ticket items like furniture.
"They're die-hards," she said with a laugh. "People would sit in their cars until the rain would break . . . I would come out and take the tarps off and lo and behold, they would still buy, it was unbelievable."
Elke Defelice of Macomb was selling dishes, dolls and more at a friend's home in Romeo. She said the rain made her pack up early, but otherwise she saw a steady stream of traffic during the sale.
"It's been pretty good," she said. "I made more in a day-and-a-half than I thought I was going to make in three."
Shoppers were aided by a map from Parks and Recreation that showed more than 60 addresses where sales were taking place throughout the weekend. Mary Dorris of Romeo was one of the residents who signed up to be on a map, saying she made $200 as of Friday afternoon.
"It's been pretty good," Dorris said. "It's really nice to get all of this clutter out of the house."
Brenda Ballew of Washington Township signed up for the map for her second year of selling. She said she didnÕt believe the event was as active as last year.
"In comparison to traffic, it's been really slow this year," she said. "I don't think I had my first person until after 10:30 a.m."
Returning shoppers like Jim and Debbie Byks of Dryden made use of the map to hit hard-to-find homes in Bruce Township, though they lamented that the map wasn't very detailed.
"It's somewhat helpful," Jim said. "The addresses are helpful, it's just all the names of the streets aren't on the map."
Even without the guide, though, they said they have come to the garage sales for close to seven years and always find something.
"Since we shop every year, there aren't too many things we need, but sometimes I see something that is just right," Debbie said.
Debbie added that anyone who couldn't sell books during the sales could donate them to the Romeo American Association of University Women (AAUW) for its annual book sale in September.
The sales event, which has been held for 14 years, has become a tradition for many. K. Burton of Romeo was out shopping in her eighth year at the garage sales, saying she liked the Tri-Community Garage Sale because there are good items and people.
"They're reasonable, and they're willing to come down on the prices, and they have nice things for sale," she said.
Adam and Martina Schapman of Imlay City were visiting family in the area and decided to head out to the sales for their second year, buying some toys for their daughter, Clara.
"It's turning into a ritual now," Adam said. "We like to come out and score some good deals."
Still, the event was a first for others like Lynda Lynd of Oakland and Chris Miller of Lapeer. The duo said they were driving through town when they noticed all the garage sale signs.
"We would come back next year," Lynd said. "They've got a lot of nice things."
Laura Marchwinski of Washington Township said she heard the weekend generated a lot of traffic, so she decided to set up shop to clear out her basement.
"We've had some rushes and some lulls, but all-in-all it was pretty good," she said. "We sold some big-ticket stuff; the knick-knacks not so much."


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Item: XL006
If you are dissatisfied for any reason, we'll give you a full refund and pay return shipping. Lee Swanson, President of Swanson Health Products
Serving size 1 piece (1.08 g)
Servings: 100
|Amount per serving
|% Daily Value*
|Calories 1.7
|Total Fat 0 g
|Sodium 0 mg
|Total Carbohydrate 0.72 g
|Xylitol 0.72 g
|Protein 0 g
|Not a significant source of other nutrients.
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
|Total Fat
|Less than
|65 grams
|80 grams
|Saturated Fat
|Less than
|20 grams
|25 grams
|Less than
|300 mg
|300 mg
|Less than
|2,400 mg
|2,400 mg
|Total Carbohydrate
|300 grams
|375 grams
|Dietary Fiber
|25 grams
|30 grams
Calories per gram:
Ingredients: Xylitol, gum base, orange & lemon oil (natural flavors), banana & pineapple (artificial flavorings), vegetable glycerin (humectant), gum Arabic (texturizer), non-GMO soy lecithin (emulsifier), titanium dioxide (coloring agent) & beeswax (glazing agent).
After each meal - chew Spry gum for at least 5 minutes.
Keep in a cool, dry place.
Packaged: USA
Raw materials: China and USA
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12" Stretcher Print
Product Information
Approximate Sizes: 7 5/8" x 15 5/8" x 11 5/8"
Approximate Regular Brick Weight: 55 lbs.
Approximate Light Brick Weight: 41 lbs.
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Welcome to the Holy Cross Newsstand, a daily listing with links to stories from around the country on the Crusaders. While we'll try to have most stories to you early each morning, be sure to check back throughout the day as we add links at all hours when we find them.
Abington's Brandon Cipolla thrives at Holy
March 28, 2013 * By John Johnson * Boston Globe
Holy Cross baseball coach Greg DiCenzo scours the country every year for hidden gems that big Division 1 schools often overlook. He found just what he was looking for in Abington's Brandon Cipolla. The junior center fielder was lightly recruited out of BC High in 2010, and signed on with Holy Cross after his first visit to the Worcester campus. "At Holy Cross we can't always hone in on the no-doubt, blue-chip guys because they'll be offered athletic aid from some other institutions," said DiCenzo, a Duxbury native in his sixth season at Holy Cross. . .
Julia Barrett finds success at Holy
March 24, 2013 * By Jennifer Toland * Worcester Telegram & Gazette
When she was 12 years old, Julia Barrett accompanied her college-bound cousin on a visit of Holy Cross and the day went down as one of the most boring of Barrett's pre-teen life. "I was too little to appreciate what was going on," Barrett recalled. "It was just a long day, and by the end, I was done." A few years later, when Barrett herself was considering colleges, what she wanted to study and where she'd play softball, her parents, Scot and Janice, proposed she take a look at HC. . .
Christine and Madelyn Ganser join forces
at Holy Cross
March 20, 2013 * By Matt Noonan * Needham Times
It's not often that siblings compete on the same athletic squad in high school and college, but next year, Christine Ganser will have that opportunity when she welcomes her sister Madelyn to the Holy Cross women's basketball team. . .
Passion for Coaching
March 16, 2013 * By Neil Corbett * Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice
Bruce Kozerski has seen plenty of success in his 51 years and much of it on the football field. He won a Wyoming Valley Conference championship as a member of the Coughlin football team in 1979 and played Division I football at Holy Cross where he earned honorable mention All-American honors. . .
Holy Cross perfect fit for McNamara
March 15, 2013 * By Jennifer Toland * Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Brothers Mike and Joe McNamara grew up in the heart of Chestnut Hill. "We don't have houses across the street," Joe said. "We have Boston College." Mike, Joe and their two older brothers were born into diehard BC fandom. Their dad, John, played hockey for the Eagles in the mid-1980s, and their mom, Katie, a tennis star, is a member of BC's Hall of Fame. Their grandfather, John, is also a Boston College alumnus and was enrolled when BC's rivalry with Holy Cross was as hot as ever. . .
Thriving in Bolivia, Alejandro Melean
still hopes for MLS move
March 7, 2013 * By Tom Marshall * MLSSoccer.com
Miami native Alejandro Meleán has always wanted to play in Major League Soccer. It's just that after finishing college, there was very little interest from clubs. Fast-forward three years and things have changed. When the now-Bolivian international says he would be "very interested" in moving back north, teams may well sit up and take notice, especially with his contract with Oriente Petrolero running out in May. . .
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Hang tight!
Recipe by Tricia
"Creamy carrot soup .....yummy! Serve with a nice green salad and cornbread!"
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1 tablespoon
1 tablespoon
all-purpose flour
1 cup
1 1/2 cups
vegetable broth
2 1/2 cups
sliced carrots
1 tablespoon
chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon
chopped fresh basil
1 teaspoon
ground cayenne pepper
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
Very delicious and tasty. My husband was sick today and really doesn't enjoy soup but this great soup did the trick. I eliminated the parsley, put half (milk) and half (half and half) and after it was all done, I made it boil once again to make all the flavours come through. I also used 1 tsp dried basil instead of fresh. 10/10!!!!
For my first batch I didn't read the reviews and added the full teaspoon of pepper. I can't believe someone would want it this hot. You couldn't even taste the soup. Second batch, No pepper. It was better but I was still scarred from the first.
79 Ratings
WARNING: WAY TOO SPICY!!!! This recipe would be 5 stars if I hadn't added the red pepper. I didn't look at the previous reviews and added the amount called for. I had to throw the ENTIRE batch away because it was so hot nobody could eat it. I will make this again but only with 1/8 Teaspoon Red Pepper. You can't imagine how spicy this recipie is- and we like spice! I am still trying to cool down and we ate it 5 days ago.
This soup is different that I had hoped it would be, but surprisingly very tasty anyway. I used a 1/2 teaspoon of un-ground red pepper instead of the full amount, substituted the half and half for milk and used 3/4 cup of the water from the steaming of the carrots in place of the 3/4 cup of vegetable broth.
I really liked this soup and it was a great way to use a bunch of baby carrots I had on hand. I didn't have fresh herbs so I used 1 tsp of dried instead. I knew 1 tsp of cayenne pepper would be way too much for us so I cut it down to 1/4 tsp and then 1/8 tsp. Still has a kick so if you don't like spicy soup you would want to omit it completely or just put a sprinkle in. I also added a soup ladle of the cream base to the carrots before adding them to the pot. This helps prevent the "skin" from forming on a cream-based soup while it is sitting on the stove.
I am a great fan of a carrot soup made by old german friends. I came to this site for a good carrot soup recipe, however I have to admit I was disapointed in this recipe. Carrots and cayenne don't seem to harmonize, in my opinnion anyway. Also, I don't think I steamed the carrots enough, and even after blending them in the food processor the soup was still lumpy/grainy. Maybe my previous experience with carrot soup set my standards too high??!
For a less spicy and more complex taste - take out the cayenne pepper and replace with fresh minced ginger.
had some carrots that i needed to use up, and had all the other ingredients on hand except basil, substituted dill. excellent taste, but i use 1/4 t cayenne on a daily basis, and 1 T was even too much for me. my lips were tingly after every bite :)
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Carrot Soup
Serving Size: 1/2 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 2
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 311
Calories from Fat: 186
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Hurry! Offer valid till 15 July 2009.


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Marshallese Soldier Seriously Injured in Iraq Fighting
Majuro, Marshall Islands (April 9, 2008) - A Marshall Islander serving in the U.S. Army has lost part of his left arm as a result of injuries when his armored Humvee was attacked in Iraq last week.
U.S. Army Private Carl "Superman" Reiher is now recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the U.S. He is the second Marshall Islander in the Army to sustain serious injuries since the war started in Iraq in 2003.
Several hundred Marshall Islanders have joined the U.S. armed services since the early 2000s. A Compact of Free Association between the U.S. and the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau -- three former U.S. territories in the Western Pacific -- allows islanders to join the military. Most Marshall Islanders join the U.S. Army and serve tours of duty in the Middle East. Several dozen Marshall Islanders are believed to be serving in the Middle East currently, but a precise number is unknown.
The firefight involving Reiher¹s unit occurred last week in an unspecified region of Iraq.
The Humvee in which Reiher's unit was traveling came under attack from what is believed to be an improvised explosive device, a family member said on Wednesday in Majuro. As the soldiers leaped out of the burning vehicle, they were hit by rifle fire that killed soldiers on either side of Reiher. He was wounded by at least three bullets, a family member said.
He was first evacuated to Germany for medical treatment, and then flown to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. for further treatment at the weekend.
Reiher's left arm was amputated below the elbow as a result of the injuries sustained in the attack. He is also receiving skin grafts for burns and other treatment for his multiple wounds. He is in stable condition, the family member said.
In 2005, U.S. Army Sgt. Paul Lejjena, a Marshall Islander, was also seriously injured.


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Full House Cast Reunites, Sings Theme Song in Epic Video!
If you're a child of the 90s, there's a good chance the Tanners were like a second family to you.
Sure, they had a lot more corny pun-based jokes and hilariously sappy heart-to-hearts than your first family, but that was part of the appeal.


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No Label 2 »
Migos – First 48 (Video) (Directed By KeeMotion)
Wasting no time following up news headlines surrounding the young ATL rap collectives involvement in a cross fire shooting, Quality Control front men Migos deliver the KeeMotion directed visual for "First 48″. The ironyRead More »
Migos – Emmitt Smith (Video) (Dir. by Gabriel Hart)
With their latest project "No Label 2″ in the streets now, Migos have dropped their latest Gabriel Hart directed visual "Emmitt Smith". Check out the video above and stay tuned to HHS1987 from moreRead More »