text:
We have reached the point, it seems, when almost every day an astronomer from somewhere has found a new planet. Most of them appear to be gas giants along the lines of Jupiter and Saturn in our own solar system. Yet there are some which, even from as far away as they are to us, might be Earth like enough to sustain life as we know it. That is, sentient life, beings who are as self aware as ourselves.
That these are exciting discoveries cannot be disputed. But where we have an issue about them is in the interpretation over how finding other life in the galaxy would shake our core beliefs here on our own good Earth. It has been said that we would have to completely rethink our philosophies, and even our religion, should there be other life forms similar to ours somewhere else in the universe.
Why? Would not the same God have created them too? Why would they not be as subject to sin and failure, the whole universe being imperfect, as we are? Further, why should we presume that the challenges they face aren't any different from ours? Getting food and shelter, worrying about how the kids are growing up; why should alien daily life be so much different than ours?
The best guess is that they would still have personal, political, and social struggles akin to ours. Granted, they may be superior or inferior to us in myriad ways and forms, but there is simply no reason to think that the cultures of another world would be, at their core, significantly different from ours. The whole science fiction array which we have been exposed to over the years, the presumption that they would be either smarter and better than us, or have greater technology and be a conquering race with it, is most likely exactly that: presumption and fantasy for the sake of exciting books and movies. We have no real reason to believe that even their science would not be all that different from ours, even if a little ahead of or behind our discoveries. Would the laws of physics be different elsewhere in creation?
So while finding Earth-like planets is certainly exciting, it should not change our outlook on the relationship between God and Man. It only means that He has seen fit to share Himself more generally than some may have thought. There would still be the animal desires competing with the spiritual appetite of those people. There would still be the happiness along with the drudgery of daily life. If we do ever find sentient life beyond our world, they will almost certainly be like us, at least in temperament if not in appearance. That may not be particularly exciting, once the veneer of newness wears off. Many of our scientists don't seem to want anything less than the fantastic. That speaks only of their prejudices, and we can learn from that without even venturing to Alpha Centauri.


text:
Are you thinking of renovating your home or have you just moved into a new property? Has your existing roof been damaged due to the wet and windy weather we experience year after year? Do you have industrial or commercial buildings that need re-roofing?
If yes is the answer to the questions above then why not contact us here at Milbarn Construction as this could be the best opportunity to renew the roof on your property. We specialise in all aspects of roofing and can accommodate your needs. From minor roof repairs including leadwork and re-pointing ridge tiles to large projects such as re-roofing your whole property, all our roofers have many years of experience and are fully trained.
We have come to realise that many homeowners would like a roof that is maintenance free and lasts forever, but the truth remains that all roofs need to be inspected, repaired or maintained regularly.
We do appreciate that even the highest quality of roofing can experience natural damage, mould or leakages -especially with the bad weather; all these things can cause more damage to your roof if not dealt with immediately meaning the cost of repairs will certainly be higher if you put off contacting a roofing company. We at Milbarn Construction can advise you on what the most viable and cost effective options are for your roof.
There are many types of roofing available including single ply flat roofing as well as traditional tiles and slates, so if you are thinking of having a new roof fitted, we will give you the best advice on what type of roof you should go for and advise you on the costs.
As well as dealing will all aspects of the project, our strong relationships with local scaffolding companies allow us to readily arrange the scaffolding required efficiently and at a competitive rate.
Why not contact us and enquire about these services we provide:
View our Roofing Gallery for our projects.
The company specialises in all aspects of construction.
Our team of experienced and qualified Joiners will take on all aspects of carpentry.
We can help you if you are thinking of having your driveway or rear garden landscaped.
Refurbishments of residential and commercial properties for householders and businesses.
Need more living space? A cost effective answer is to consider a Loft Conversion.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A collection of short poems, and reflections; meditations inspired by walks on the spiritual path interspersed with images of nature. The author, Brandy C. Lee-Jacob, draws inspiration from poets such as: Rumi, Hafiz, and Kabir. Woven into the fabric of her words and the enchanting, soothing imagery are a knowledge and understanding of the world based on her experiences of it and seen through the lens of the spiritual traditions with which she is continually and contentedly engaged.
Comentario publicado.
pbelvel dice
This is beautiful, heartful, rich with spirit and creativity. It captures your journey of the soul this past year. As your mother I am biased, as a teacher I am inspired, as a fellow pilgrim on the path I am heartened.
publicado a las 10 de dic. a las 10:10 PST
Inicia sesión o crea una cuenta para publicar un comentario.


text:
Skydiving.com now has a network skydiving location serving Silvana and Snohomish County in Washington. Call Skydiving.com at 1-800-617-7948 for details, free information and specials on skydiving in Silvana, WA today!
Popular Tags for Skydiving Silvana:
Skydiving Silvana, Skydiving in Silvana, Sky Diving Silvana, Skydive Silvana WA, Skydiving 98287, Silvana Skydiving, Skydiving Silvana Washington, Skydiving near Silvana, Skydiving in Silvana Washington, Silvana Sky Diving, Skydive 98287, Skydiving Silvana WA, Skydive Silvana, Skydiving Snohomish County, Skydive in 98287, Skydiving WA, Sky Diving Silvana WA, Silvana, Washington
Sign up for our newsletter and receive updatesand specials on skydiving across America!


text:
* Updated season/career stats are available via the link above, and a boxscore and play-by-play are located in the LINKS box to the right.
PULLMAN, Wash. - The No. 24 University of Oregon volleyball team (19-11, 7-11) ended the season with a 3-0 blanking of Washington State (6-22, 0-18) Saturday night at Bohler Gym to try and position itself for a school record fifth straight postseason bid.
The Ducks won by a 25-21, 25-22, 25-23 count for its 10th straight win in the series and eighth via sweep.
For UO, senior outside hitter Heather Meyers paced the team in kills (16) and hitting (.423) for the 14th and ninth times this season, respectively, and sophomore outside hitter Katherine Fischer added 12 kills and hit .321.
At the service line, three Ducks logged a team-best two aces Saturday – sophomores Kellie Kawasaki and Jocelyn Levig and freshman Lauren Plum.
Plum added 35 assists, six digs, and a block and helped the Ducks post a .308 hitting mark – its 11th +.300 total of the season and third in league action.
On defense, sophomore libero Haley Jacob ended with a team-high 10 digs - her 26th double-digit effort of the season - and climbed a spot to fifth all-time for digs in a season for UO (450). Levig's five blocks led the team for a team-best 15th time this season and was her ninth effort of five blocks or more in '10.
In the team comparison, Oregon held advantages in hitting (.308-.219), kills (42-38), aces (7-3), digs (37-30) and blocks (8-7.5).
Cougar category leaders included Meagan Ganzer (14 kills, 4 blocks), Brittany Tillman (.421), Sara Biondi (28 assists), Oceana Bush (16 digs) and Marcelina Glab (4 blocks).
In the only other action around the Pac-10 Saturday night, No. 14 Washington won 3-0 over Oregon State in Seattle.
Looking ahead to Sunday, November 28, the 64-team NCAA Tournament field will be announced on ESPNEWS from 12-12:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The first and second rounds follow later next week at 16, four-team sites on Thursday-Saturday, December 2-4.
The following week, four-team NCAA Regional third and fourth rounds will be hosted on Thursday-Saturday, November 9-11 in Austin, Texas; Dayton, Ohio; Seattle, Wash; and State College, Pa. The NCAA semifinals and final follow on Thursday and Saturday, December 16 and 18 in Kansas City, Mo.
More information on the NCAA tourney is available at the www.NCAAsports.com website.
UO's win tally in '10 was its fourth straight of 19 or more after posting 20 ('09), 25 ('08) and 22 ('07), and only one other Duck head coach has achieved the feat - Karla Rice (1973, 24; 1974 24; 1975, 19; 1976, 26; 1977, 24).
Last year, UO was seeded 14th in the 64-team field - its third straight top-16 seed. Sixth-year Duck head coach Jim Moore now sports a 5-4 NCAA tourney record thanks to the Ducks' NCAA Third Round 'Sweet 16' trips in 2007 and '08, compared to Oregon's 1-4 mark in its four prior NCAA tourney trips in 1984, '86, '87 and '89.
- www.GoDucks.com –


text:
How to Finance a Truck In South Africa
Truck financing may seem far off or unreachable to you because you don't think you can afford it, however, you have come to the right place to get the truck finance advice you need. We will get you on the road to success in no time. View " important documents required" on the right hand side of this page. This will give you an outline of the application process and how to obtain Truck Finance.
Apply For Truck Finance Online
Fill out the form below to have a professional consultant contact you to discuss your truck financing.
Truck News : Truck finance is a lot easier due to flexible finance options for owner/operators who may not meet stringent prime lender criteria. Owning and operating trucks or other heavy duty commercial vehicles can be an expensive exercise. Increasing costs for diesel fuel alone can force some truck operators out of business. read more on Truck Finance
Man Jailed For Truck Insurance Fraud In The USA
A man from Sardis USA was jailed after he pushed his truck into the Savannah River and tried to collect a truck insurance money claim.
Truck Drivers : Are threatening to go on strike next week after several months of failed salary negotiations attempts with employers, the main transport workers' union said Sunday. The South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) has given notice of plans to strike.
Commercial Truck Insurance Brokers
Information Needed:
1. Name / business applying for loan?
2. Loan amount?
3. What is the loan for?
4. Do you have a contract?
5. Value of contract?
6. Duration of contract?
7. Area where business is conducted?
8. What are you transporting, any other information with regards to contract?
9. Is this your first venture in transporting?
Our Consultants will advise you what document to send
We can guide you through the whole process and make it easier for. Fill out our form online on the left of this page and a broker will contact you to start the process.


text:
For our latest installment of Bands x Brands, the two artists we want to highlight are Kiesza and Eli "Paperboy" Reed. Both are very different but also interesting for brands to take a look at.
Kiesza is a great new artist originally from Canada, now residing in NY when not touring. She came onto the scene this year with the wonderfully creative video for "Hideaway" which combines great dance music with her passion for dance. Yesterday, she released the equally catchy "Giant In My Heart" proving she is a new artist to be reckoned with. Kiesza is already working on her own fashion line for the end of 2014.
Eli "Paperboy" Reed might not be as new as Kiesza, but surprisingly he is still pretty unknown in the US. Hailing from Boston, Eli has had huge success in Europe (especially France) touring with his band and releasing albums. In the US, he has been sadly overlooked, so far. With a retro style strongly influenced by late 60s/early 70s Chicago Soul, his sound is strangely familiar yet original too.
Toyota recently used the above track for their RAV4 campaign in the US:
- Maurice Bernstein


text:
Mortality rates for pediatric rheumatology patients are significantly lower than previously reported, according to the largest study done yet on the topic in the United States.
In the February 2010 issue of Arthritis and Rheumatology, a Cleveland Clinic research team reports that the overall mortality rate in the U.S. for all pediatric patients with rheumatic diseases wasn't worse or greater than the general population, even in conditions associated with increased mortality.
"Our reaction was obviously satisfaction that we hopefully are improving the outcome of our patients with better therapy. But we still have a way to go in some diseases," says Philip Hashkes, MD. He was the lead researcher while serving as the section head of Pediatric Rheumatology at the Cleveland Clinic and now heads the Pediatric Rheumatology Unit at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel.
An estimated 300,000 children in the U.S. have some form of arthritis or rheumatic disease, according to The Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA). These diseases result in health risks and limit function and quality of life.
In some previous studies, conditions including juvenile rheumatoid (JRA) arthritis, childhood systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), dermatomyositis, various vasculitides, and systemic sclerosis have also been associated with an increase in mortality.
But Cleveland Clinic researchers say these previous studies were small, relied on doctor surveys that were not verified, followed patients for less than 10 years and reported only on specific diseases, centers or regions.
For their new study, which was funded by the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, Cleveland Clinic researchers mined data from the Pediatric Rheumatology Disease Registry. It is the world's largest rheumatology registry, with information collected from 62 centers on nearly 50,000 patients diagnosed between 1992 and 2001. The scientists then confirmed deaths through death certificates, medical records and referring physicians and reviewed charts and death certificates to determine causes of death.
They discovered 110 deaths among 48,885 patients in the registry. This was two to three times lower than what they expected to find. The entire study group's survival rate was 99.9 percent at five years and 99.7 percent at 10 years. For juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and all connective tissue diseases, it was 99.8 percent at five years and 99.1 percent at 10.
"The mortality rate for all diseases was lower than previous studies, but was increased compared to the U.S. age and sex matched population for systemic lupus erythematosus, connective tissue disease, dermatomyositis and primary vasculitis. That's as expected since these diseases involve important organs and the treatment is quite aggressive with potential serious adverse effects," Dr. Hashkes says.
He continues, "We were most surprised by systemic JRA that was not significantly greater than the general population, and the improved prognosis of kids with pain syndromes compared to the general population with most of their deaths occurring from non-natural causes like motor vehicle accidents, suicide and homicide."
"It is possible that improved treatments and protocols during the 1990s and early 2000s contributed to improved mortality outcomes," Dr. Hashkes says. But he adds, "There still is excess mortality in some of the conditions and we have still have a lot of work to continue and decrease mortality."
Dr. Hashkes says he hopes his study results will be encouraging to patients and families with the diseases and he hopes it gives doctors more accurate information to pass on about the prognosis of these diseases in children. He also hopes there will be more research using the registry.
"I think this cohort should be followed for mortality trends in the next decade, to monitor especially for the long-term effects of our medications, excess malignancies for example, and to search for cardiovascular deaths similar to that found in adult diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and SLE."
"I think it's very interesting to see these things. I wouldn't say there's very much that's surprising about it and in a way that's reassuring in the sense that the patients who seem to have the most deaths were the patients with the diseases that we know are some of the most difficult to treat," says Barbara Adams, MD, the Director of Pediatric Rheumatology at the University of Michigan School of Medicine in Ann Arbor. "The general trends are what I expected, but I'm not sure if these numbers really say how many people are really alive because we weren't able to garner all of it. "
Dr. Adams says this study only involves children who were seeing pediatric rheumatologists. "That's how the data got into the database. So in a way we're not looking at the overall survival rate. Just at those people who are already linked up with a pediatric rheumatologist," she explains. "We know there are people who are left out. I have an outreach clinic in northern Michigan in Traverse City and the people who come there, the kids who have real disease, many of their families have had no idea there's a specialist in this kind of area."


text:
The Eisenhower Middle School eighth grade volleyball A team lost a pair of matches at Anthony Middle School on Monday night.
Abilene defeated EMS in two games (14-25, 14-25) and then EMS lost to Emporia in a tough three-game match (25-22, 23-25, 13-15).
Mackenzie Pease had five service points against Abilene, while Cody Ballou finished with four service points.
Against Emporia, Hana Tamura had a team-high 16 service points and Mia Pariona added 11.
Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | The Manhattan Mercury, 318 North 5th Street, Manhattan, Kansas, 66502 | Copyright 2012
Reproduction of any kind is prohibited without written consent.


text:
The New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos' sequel to their regular season match-up of a little less than two months ago bore little resemblance to the original production, and as with most sequels, it was not nearly as entertaining as the original in terms of creating dramatic tension and a riveting plot line. In Sunday's AFC Championship game, there were no repeats of the turnovers, the wild swings in momentum, the furious comeback, and the unusual coaching decision in overtime for the simple fact that there was no overtime. Really, it was a sequel in name only, not only because of the inner workings of the contest, but because more importantly to the outcome-driven sports world, there was a different winner.
After the game ended with a 26-16 final score, it was the Denver Broncos who were walking off the field victorious and planning their subsequent trip to the Super Bowl as a reward for a game hard-fought while it was the New England Patriots who had their season ended. Even though it was one of the more impressive seasons of the Patriots because of all the adversity the team had to deal with in the offseason, regular season, and postseason, it was no doubt still a disappointing end to the season for the players. The Patriots came so close to winning, but were simply defeated on Sunday by a superior team that had a superior collection of players on the roster.
Since there were no turnovers upon which to capitalize, the final result of the contest game down to which team could better execute on offense against the other, and the Denver Broncos had a lot more success in going against the Patriots defense than the Patriots offense had challenging the Broncos defense.
The key to the Broncos' offensive success were the methodical and ultra-efficient (in most parts of the field) drives they employed throughout the contest. Simply totaling up the number of plays a team runs and calculating their time of possession are not necessarily indicators of how well the team is doing on the field, but the Broncos made the most of their high number of plays and dominating time of possession.
During the contest, the Broncos ran a total of 71 plays and had the ball for 35:44 out of a 60-minute contest; the Patriots ran 56 seconds and had the ball for 24:16. Not only did the Broncos drive the tempo of the game with their sustained drives, but they also outgained the Patriots on a per-play basis, averaging 7.1 yards per play to the Patriots' 5.7 yards per play.
Furthermore, of the eight offensive possessions the Broncos tallied on Sunday, none lasted fewer than six plays or gained fewer than 37 yards. Additionally, the Broncos scored on six of their possessions, and probably could have scored on a seventh if they had needed to; their last drive took the remaining 3:07 off the clock and ended at the Patriots' 12-yard line. Only once, on the opening drive, were the Broncos forced to punt the ball as they put on a masterful and superlative offensive display against the Patriots.
No surprise, it was the Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning who spearheaded the offensive attack. He completed 32 of his 43 pass attempts en route to gaining 400 yards (9.3 yards per pass attempt) and was not sacked once as he spread the ball around to all of his many receiving options and made the most of his completions. Twenty-one of his completions netted the Broncos a first down and two others were caught in the end zone for touchdowns.
Only in the red zone did the Broncos offensive machine sputter as they only scored on two of their five meaningful red-zone possessions; as mentioned earlier, they could have scored on their last trip to the red zone, but had no need to put even more points on the scoreboard.
Still, it was quite enough as the Patriots just could not keep pace. The Patriots also possessed the ball on eight separate occasions, but really only solved the Broncos defense on their final two possessions, which both ended in touchdowns. On those two drives, the Patriots ran 19 plays and gained 160 yards, meaning those two drives accounted for a disproportionate amount of the plays run by the team (33.9 percent) and the total yards gained (50.0 percent).
Their other drives were a lot less deserving of praise as they mixed in a couple of three-and-outs with drives that only gave the illusion of going anywhere; the Patriots did manage a field-goal drive in the first half to avoid being completely shut out during the first 30 minutes of the game, but they were forced into that field goal after Tom Brady was sacked for a loss of 11 yards on 3rd and 8 from the Broncos' 18-yard line. Even when the Patriots offense did experience a modicum of success in the first three quarters, it came wrapped in a pig's blanket of failure.
Overmatched would be the best way to describe the Patriots on Sunday, and their quickly dwindling win probability backs up the fact of their inferiority to the Broncos. Even before the first quarter had ended, the Patriots had less than a 50 percent chance of winning the game, and outside of a few plays, their win probability experienced a progressive decline during the contest.
However, despite the Patriots never really challenging the supremacy of the Broncos on Sunday, their overall season was still a tremendous one. It is not every NFL franchise that would have been able to overcome all the adversity that the Patriots had to in order to even make it to the AFC Championship game, and for that, everyone involved with the Patriots organization should still be proud. They were simply beaten by the better team, and there is no shame in that.


text:
United States Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
1a.Objectives (from AD-416)
1. To develop reagents for the sensitive detection of BoNTs in ELISA or ALISSA assay formats.
2. To optimize techniques for the recovery and detection of toxin in animal tissues and sera.
3. To determine the pharmacokinetics of botulinum neurotoxins in oral and parenteral mouse models of intoxication.
1b.Approach (from AD-416)
Monoclonal antibodies directed against botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) serotypes B, E and F will be produced and used in sensitive in vitro assays to detect toxin in animal sera and tissues. Animals will be intoxicated and the half life and tissue distribution of the toxins determined. Documents Trust with UC Irvine. Log 36536.
3.Progress Report


text:
I am really starting to sound like a broken record. Highs today will reach about 80 degrees, the same story for Saturday.
If you're heading out for Operation Football tonight, it will be dry, but cool! The night will start off with temps in the 70s, but fall into the 60s by the end of game time, so you'll want to take a light jacket!
Here's the big change in the forecast! A chance for scattered showers and storms Sunday, then each and every day through next Wednesday! Dust off those umbrellas, and get ready to dodge some raindrops!


text:
Annette Bening Brings Ruth Draper to Life
At the Theatre with Audrey Linden
Combine the extraordinary talents of renowned writer and monologist, Ruth Draper with those of actress, Annette Bening, and you have a stimulating and exciting evening of theatre at its finest. Ruth Draper wrote and performed her monologues from the 1920s through 1956 when she died in her sleep after a performance. She was born into an upper crust society and that very society became fodder for her work. She immersed herself into her characters and became them. Bening was introduced to Ruth Draper's monologues at ACT and they became her obsession and passion. Bening brought that passion to the Geffen Playhouse to share and give us an entertaining and witty glimpse of a time gone by.
Even though the Draper monologues Annette Bening performed were of another time, another era and strata of society, they relate and have meaning today. Yes, the times have changed, styles and fashions have changed, but the heart of the matter has not. Vacuous people, who are caught up in themselves and in making a fashion statement still exist as do college age girls who, at the brink of change do not know who they are. Women still are into improving their attitude and into all sorts of fad diets.
In "A Class in Greek Poise" which Bening opened with, we see women, much as their contemporary counterparts, seeking to reshape their image, gain confidence and lose weight. Bening, as the group leader, resplendent in a white satin toga created each woman in the group. We were able to visualize them in their outfits and bloomers. This monologue poked fun at what we would now refer to as our fitness gurus and yoga teachers. Draper dealt with our attitudes towards our bodies in a fun way.
The simple set changes with a plush oversize chair, a spare table and chairs, a plush settee, and background curtain and different chandeliers by set designer Takeshi Kata worked perfectly to create the period. Catherine Zuber's period costumes were stunning and so perfect in capturing the flavor of each character.
In an about switch, in "A Debutante at A Dance", Bening changed her outfit, modulated her voice and became the girlish debutante at a dance, whose goal is to have fun, while pondering the meaning of life. We saw years drop off Bening as her character caught her breath in between dances and chatted with her gentleman friend. Girls today go through similar qualms. This girl did not know if she had character. To her, you only gain character when you meet a goal. "If you succeed, you have character."
In "Doctors and Diets" which was my favorite, we meet Mrs. Grimmer in her fabulous hat with a stand up feather. Apparently, her reservation was misplaced. Of course they didn't recognize her in a different colored hat. She had worn a red hat the other day. As Mrs. Grimmer adroitly minces through the tight space of tables, I saw the tables even though there was only the one table on stage. Marvelous space work! This monologue so related to the diet panacea of today with protein diets, carb diets, vegan diets, raw foods, juice fasts, and all the weight loss fads. I was in stitches as these four women go to the toniest, expensive restaurant and are on such strange diets. Mrs. La Prune can only have the juice of eleven lemons, Clara eats a bunch of whole carrots with the green tops on, the third wants a cold, boiled turnip and Mrs. Grimmer trumps them all with her choice. I am not going to tell you what she ate. She then tells us of her friend, Flora Ijit, who turned green. She went to a color analyst, who treated her with purple. I went to have my colors analyzed. So, how far fetched was this monologue? The idea that a doctor would stop seeing individual patients and treat the public en masse is not so bizarre. Mind you, this was before Medicare dictated to doctors how many patients they had to see and how little time they could spend. Ruth Draper was ahead of her time.
Bening slipped out of her wonderful hat, that hat had so much character, and into a flesh colored silk dressing gown with marabou feathers in "The Italian Lesson." She ensconced herself in a flesh colored round womb like settee and held court as the pampered dame who is getting her Italian lesson by reading Dante's "Inferno". She was interrupted by her children, her maid, her secretary, her manicurist, and phone calls from god knows who. I even saw the puppy as she fussed with him. This seemed to be the longest monologue and though we never heard from the Signora, I caught the tedium and frustration the Signora must have felt. This lady was juggling 4 children, their play dates, her husband's golf clubs, the cook, Jane, the maid, and her secretary. It was a slice of the busy life of the rich and famous. Bening caught the vanity, the self-centeredness of this character. The pacing was spot on.
How Bening learned all those lines and was able to master the huge amount of dialogue is a testament to her incredible acting prowess. She brought the characters to life so meticulously and beautifully. It also is a testament to her directing ability. She certainly brought her dream to perform Ruth Draper's monologues to life.
"Ruth Draper's Monologues" runs at the Geffen Playhouse through May 18th at 10886 Le Conte in Westwood. For tickets and show times, call 310-208-5454 or go on line to geffenplayhouse.com
Audrey Linden is a writer, actress and singer. She can be seen in a long-running "Associated Tax Resolution" commercial, two "Little Caesars" spots, a "Teva International Pharmaceutical" short, Gene Simmons' "Family Jewels," "America's Court with Judge Ross," VHS "Tough Love 2," "Wendy's" etc.
Audrey teaches ON CAMERA COMMERCIAL and IMPROV COMEDY WORKSHOPS through the City of Beverly Hills. To register, call 310-285-6850. Her classes are held at 241 Moreno Dr. B.H. 90212. Her classes are on-going in April through May. For more information, contact Audrey at email@example.com


text:
Skydiving.com now has a network skydiving location serving Pomeroy and Chester County in Pennsylvania. Call Skydiving.com at 1-800-617-7948 for details, free information and specials on skydiving in Pomeroy, PA today!
Popular Tags for Skydiving Pomeroy:
Skydiving Pomeroy, Skydiving in Pomeroy, Sky Diving Pomeroy, Skydive Pomeroy PA, Skydiving 19367, Pomeroy Skydiving, Skydiving Pomeroy Pennsylvania, Skydiving near Pomeroy, Skydiving in Pomeroy Pennsylvania, Pomeroy Sky Diving, Skydive 19367, Skydiving Pomeroy PA, Skydive Pomeroy, Skydiving Chester County, Skydive in 19367, Skydiving PA, Sky Diving Pomeroy PA, Pomeroy, Pennsylvania
Sign up for our newsletter and receive updatesand specials on skydiving across America!


text:
Mark your calenders! Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, and special guest Flyleaf will be performing January 23rd at the Verizon Wireless Center (downtown Mankato).
The concert starts at 7:00 pm in the arena. General admission tickets are being sold for $39.75 at the Verizon Wireless ticket office and all Ticketmaster locations. Doors open at 5:30 pm, so get there early if you can.
You can preview all of the bands new CDs on MySpace or download them on iTunes.
Free up your schedule and go enjoy a night of great music!
If you like this article, check out www.examiner.com/examiner/x-35628-Mankato-Concert-Photography-Examiner~y2010m1d12-6-bands-perform-this-Sunday-at-the-Whats-Up-Lounge


text:
The new season of Spartacus began weeks ago and the sex scenes made up the heat to high levels.
In the last chapter of the strip, Delaney Tabron staged a fiery sexual encounter.
When announcing the new edition, said that on the screen would be more blood, violence and plenty of great sex.
And Delaney Tabron scene that aired, it was demonstrated that they are fulfilling their promise.
Share on :


text:
Great managers are also designers—of processes, projects, strategies and systems. Based on the pioneering research of the Weatherhead School of Management's Department of Design and Innovation, ranked 20th among comparable departments by U.S. News and World Report, these programs provide managers with the latest concepts and tools for flexible, innovative thinking that achieves optimal results.
- Drawing Ideas and Modeling Change: Visual Thinking for Managers
June 16, 2016
- Beyond Features and Benefits: Tools of Experienced-based Innovation
June 17, 2016
- Strategic Decision Making
September 28, 2016
- Cultivating Creativity and the Practice of Managing Ideas
October 10, 2016
- Competitive Strategy through Business Model Design
December 5 - 6, 2016
- Enhancing the Customer Experience through Design
- Manage by Designing: Approaches for Everyday Innovation
- Building Creative Culture for Sustainable Innovation
Deepen your understanding of Strategy and Innovation through the Designing Solutions for Innovation and Strategy Certificate.


text:
Langley Aerodrome Number 6
Samuel Pierpont Langley became the third Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution in 1887. In 1891, he began experiments with large, tandem-winged models powered by small steam and gasoline engines he called aerodromes. After several failures with designs that were too fragile and under-powered to sustain themselves, Langley had his first genuine success on May 6, 1896, with his Aerodrome Number 5. It made the world's first successful flight of an unpiloted, engine-driven, heavier-than-air craft of substantial size. Two flights were made on May 6, one of 1,005 m (3,300 ft) and a second of 700 m (2,300 ft), at a speed of approximately 40 kph (25 mph). On November 28, 1896, another successful flight was made with a similar model, the Aerodrome Number 6. It was flown a distance of approximately 1,460 m (4,790 ft). In appearance, the Number 6 was much like the Number 5, except for having rounded wing tips.
Transferred from the Smithsonian Institution to the United States National Museum.
Physical Description:
Unpiloted, tandem-wing experimental aircraft built and tested by Samuel P. Langley. One one-horsepower, one-cylinder steam engine turning two pusher propellers via geared transmission system. Silk covering. Natural fabric finish; no sealant or paint of any kind.
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Manufacturer
- Smithsonian Institution
- Date
- 1896
- Type
- CRAFT-Aircraft
- Materials
- Fuselage: Steel Tubing
- Wings and Tail: Wood with Silk Covering
- Dimensions
- Wingspan: 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in)
- Length: 4.0 m (13 ft 2 in)
- Height: 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in)
- Weight: 11.4 kg (25 lb)
Professor Samuel Pierpont Langley (1834-1906) was a leading scientific figure in the United States in the latter nineteenth century, well known especially for his astronomical research. He became the third Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution in 1887. Langley had begun serious investigation into heavier-than-air flight several years earlier while at the then Western University of Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh (now the University of Pittsburgh). He had erected a huge, 18.3 m (60 ft) diameter whirling arm at the university's Allegheny Observatory to perform aerodynamic research. At full speed, the tips of the whirling arm approached seventy miles per hour. Langley mostly ran tests with flat plates, but he also mounted small model airplanes he called aerostats, and even stuffed birds, on the arm. He also conducted an extensive series of experiments with rubber band-powered models.
Langley described these investigations and provided a summary of his results in Experiments in Aerodynamics, published in 1891. He then moved away from purely theoretical aerodynamic research, and began work aimed at engineering an actual flying machine. In 1891, he started to experiment with large, tandem-winged models powered by small steam and gasoline engines. Another large whirling arm, 9 m (29.5 ft) in diameter, was set up at the Smithsonian to test curved wing shapes and propellers, probably in connection with the design of these large powered models that Langley called aerodromes. After several failures with designs that were too fragile and under-powered to sustain themselves, Langley had his first genuine success with his Aerodrome No.5.
The No.5 had a metal tube-fuselage structure that housed the engine, the boiler, and other components of the propulsion system. The wings and tail were wood-frame, covered with fine silk. The power plant was a single-cylinder, one-horsepower steam engine equipped with a double-action piston with a slide valve, and a flashtube boiler fired by a pressure burner that vaporized gasoline. The engine drove twin propellers, centrally mounted between the front and rear sets of wings, through a system of shafts and bevel gears. The aircraft weighed approximately 11 kg (24.3 lb) ready for flight.
On May 6, 1896, Langley's Aerodrome No. 5 made the first successful flight of an unpiloted, engine-driven heavier-than-air craft of substantial size. It was launched from a spring-actuated catapult mounted on top of a houseboat on the Potomac River near Quantico, Virginia. Two flights were made that afternoon, one of 1,005 m (3,300 ft) and a second of 700 m (2,300 ft), at a speed of approximately 25 miles per hour. On both occasions, the Aerodrome No.5 landed in the water, as planned, because, in order to save weight, it was not equipped with landing gear.
On November 28, 1896, another successful flight was made with a similar model, the Aerodrome No.6. It was flown a distance of approximately 1,460 m (4,790 ft). The No.6 was actually Aerodrome No.4 greatly modified. The original No.4 had been so completely rebuilt between 1893 and 1895 that by then it was referred to as the "new No.4." It was radically altered again in the winter of 1895. This time so little remained of the original aircraft that it was given the new designation of Aerodrome No.6. In appearance, the No.6 was much like the No.5 except for having rounded wing tips. The No.5's wing tips were squared off.
The Aerodrome No.6 was transferred in 1905 from the research component of the Smithsonian to the United States National Museum, the entity of the Institution which at that time housed and cared for historical materials. The No.6 was restored for NASM by the University of Pittsburgh in 1978-1979. Since that time, it has been on loan to that institution and on display there.


text:
Bread pudding is a bread-based dessert that is popular in many countries. The bread pudding is highly cherished throughout the Brandywine Valley by many of the residents that have Irish, Scot or British roots. There is no fixed recipe, but it is usually made using stale or left-over bread, and some combination of ingredients like milk, egg, sugar, dried fruit, and spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or vanilla. The bread is soaked in the liquids, mixed with the other ingredients, and baked.
It may be served with a sweet sauce of some sort, such as whiskey sauce, rum sauce, or caramel sauce, but is typically sprinkled with sugar and eaten warm in squares or slices. This recipe serves about four.
4 cups French bread and cinnamon raisin bread
3 cups milk
1/4 cups melted butter
1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs beaten
1 1/2 Tsp. cinnamon
1 Tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
Dash of sea salt
1. Pull breads apart into large chunks. Place bread chunks into a baking dish.
2. Warm oven to 350 degrees. Place bread in the oven for 7 minutes to allow the bread to dry out.
3. Remove bread and set aside.
4. Scald the milk with butter and sugar until all ingredients are melted.
5. When milk mixture is cooled slightly, add two eggs beaten with salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
6. Add liquids to bread in a bowl. Stir to allow bread to soak up all the liquids.
7. Place bowl in a pan of boiling water so water line comes up to within an inch of the bowl top.
8. Bake about 40 minutes. An inserted knife should come out clean
9. Remove from the water bath and serve. Or allow pudding to cool and serve it cold.


text:
Train more often, more effectively in a more practical environment, your home. The SIRT Training Pistol is designed for high-volume self-diagnostic training with no set up and safe sustainable training. Make better use of your live fire rounds when you've already got hundreds of reps in your house.Watch the SIRT in Action SIRT Training Courses
Learn how to use the sirt for in home range practice.


text:
While the majority of America is watching the Super Bowl, electronic music artist deadmau5 has posted pictures of his Ferrari 458 Spider on his Facebook page... and it's covered in a Nyan Cat wrap.
Jalopnik got word that deadmau5 was going to do this in October, but the Canadian musician has now confirmed the rumors right in the middle of the biggest sporting event in America... maybe he hopes that everyone will miss it?
Then again, he's apparently not done. "if you think the car's bad... you should see what i did to my bathroom wallpaper," was his follow up post after he posted pictures of the meme'd Ferrari.
What do you think? Do you admire the brashness of it, or has this $200,000+ Italian supercar been desecrated?
Please subscribe above for future Orlando Autos Examiner articles to be emailed to you...
... and please send me an email and follow me on Facebook and Twitter.


text: '40 Day Dream' the Motown-infused, OutKast-inspired, heavily orchestrated "Beatlesque" soul jam that open 'Up From Below', serves as a pretty good litmus test for what follows. Listeners who are put off by the robe-wearing Polyphonic Spree's cultish glazed-eye self-help anthems or cringe when they hear the Mamas & the Papas' 'Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon' would be advised to get off the magic bus early, as Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros have crafted a love letter to Laurel Canyon and all of its quasi-mystic juju that is as infuriatingly contrived and retro as it is forward-thinking and majestic. Formed in 2007 by Ima Robot frontman Alex Ebert, the mammoth 11-piece outfit embraces "the Summer of Love" with enough period beards, fonts, and Eastern mysticism to launch a thousand "Magical Mystery Tours," but despite all of the analog equipment and peacenik grandstanding, standout tracks like 'Home', 'Desert Song' and the aforementioned '40 Day Dream' sweep you up in their grandeur like a patchouli tornado and dare you to take your clothes off and jump in the lake with them.


text:
Graduate Degrees
Master of Science Degrees
The College of Technology offers the following Master of Science (MS) degrees:
- Construction Management - Provides an advanced knowledge of construction project planning and management, quantitative methods, cost analysis and estimating, and quality control and productivity improvement methods.
- Engineering Technology - Biotechnology Track - This program focuses on bioprocessing, protein engineering, computational biology, and federal regulations. Designed to help prepare individuals to conduct or supervise research and development in biotechnology or biomedical fields. This degree is a highly inter- and multi-disciplinary field that defines interdisciplinary education and research in the 21st century.
- Engineering Technology - Mechanical Engineering Technology Track - Provides an integrated multi-disciplinary program designed to prepare individuals with practical and theoretical skills in Technology with a focus in applied Mechanical Engineering. This relationship facilitates the translation of research findings to meet current industry needs.
- Engineering Technology - Network Communications Track - Provides an advanced knowledge of communication between and within computer networks, including data processing in the network environment, network operations software and operating systems, and communication systems.
- Foresight - Program focuses on forecasting and planning discontinuous and transformational change by analyzing rapid alterations in external environments and by using systems thinking to increase the chances of achieving preferred futures.
- Global Retailing - Students examine the dynamics of worldwide impact multi-cultural consumer behavior, retail analytics, profitability and financial models.
- Human Resource Development - This program is designed for the professional who seeks advanced preparation utilizing powerful tools to facilitate sustainable change in diverse organizations.
- Information System Security - Designed to equip technology professionals to assess security needs of information and network systems and then to manage the implementation and maintenance of the recommended security solutions. NSA 4011 and 4014 certified.
- Supply Chain and Logistics Technology - This program is designed for the professional who seeks advanced preparation in logistics, inventory management, transportation, sales, and procurement.
- Technology Project Management - Provides students with a leadership foundation and the opportunity to focus on an area of directed study.
Executive Master of Science Degrees
The College of Technology offers the following Executive Master of Science (MS) degrees:
- Executive Option Master of Science in Human Resource Development - The EXMS in Human Resource Development is a unique experiential program that develops participants to lead learning and change from a global perspective. The program design enables graduates to leverage and transfer their experiences to their respective organizations and professional fields. As a direct application of their experiences, students will complete an action learning project relating to an existing organizational issue.


text:
Get this out of my house sale!Journal Entry: Thu Jun 30, 2016, 7:55 AM
Hello! And welcome back to another edition of "kabocha wants to draw for you!"
Well, folks, I'm doing it. I'm moving this later summer, and so to lighten my load... I'm happy to take on some cheap commissions! ...And sell some old prints.
SO, here's the deets:
10 slots, completed in order of payment. People coming while the list is full will be waitlisted. (This would be unusual.)
Note me if you're interested. Paypal preferred.
Bonus! Every order gets a fancy sparkly bookmark!
I may also be willing to do art trades with friends or artists of similar skill.
Shipping Information:Shipping within North America: Free
Shipping anywhere else in the world: add $1 to your total.
No tracking is provided.
Let me know up front which country you are in.
Print prices:3 Random Prints: $2 (basically shipping)
Wanna see what I've got? Everything in this folder
Print sizes range from 4x6 inches to 8.5 x 11
Feel free to request specific prints. These are first-come first serve, and are the last of what I've got.
At least one of the prints will be 8.5 x 11 unless otherwise specified.
ATC Paper:If you're looking for some watercolor ATC paper, I'd be happy to cut you a pack of 10 sheets for $2. Each sheet is approximately 3.5 inches x 2.5 inches, with slight variances since it would be hand-cut.
Commission Types:At the moment, traditional offerings are the only type available. Prices are cheaper than normal because I do need to clear out supplies!
Want it to sparkle? Feel free to ask!
Marker ATC ($5ea):
Full watercolor ATC, no cutout ($7ea):
Watercolor ATC with Copic Airbrush BG ($8ea):
Cutout style-watercolor ATC ($10ea):
Request Raffle (WINNERS)Journal Entry: Sun Jun 5, 2016, 6:02 PM
Since I won't be opening commissions for a while, I think I'll take a couple of requests. (Also, I need to clear out paper, sooo.)
Three winners will be selected and will get the option of choosing a single-character watercolor ATC or Bookmark!
Example ATCs:
Example bookmarks:
This is a physical item, so it will be mailed! Please do not enter if you are not comfortable providing me with your mailing address in the event that you do win.
To enter:
- You must be watching me as of the time I post this journal. (~9PM EST 6/5/2016)
- You must comment on this journal.
- In your comment, include the phrase, "An Illusion of Lace" (This cannot be the entirety of your comment)
- Select one of the open numbers on the list
1. CyrusAiden
2. keytajoy
3. Sabre-Night
4. Magical-Mama
6. VoltronZ1
7. FeatherfromHeL
9. Jazeki
10. MamuEmu
11. OBSailorStar
12. tarahm
13. WickedChibi
THREE winners will be selected and announced at approximately 10PM US-Eastern on June 7, 2016, using the random sequence generator. Each winner can only win one prize.
WINNERS!keytajoy, OBSailorStar, Jazeki!
Winners were selected by choosing the first three results of a list 1-15.
Empty numbers were include with the list, but if 5, 8, or 15 came up in that top three, I would have moved to the next number.
Thanks for joining in guys! I may do this again in the future!
Winners, please note me with each your requests, and whether you'd prefer an ATC or a bookmark!
Software ListJournal Entry: Wed Apr 20, 2016, 10:03 AM
Welp, let's face it: choosing art software can be a major pain if you don't know what's out there.
So, here's a list of stuff. Enjoy!
Just because I have something on this list doesn't mean that I know how to use it very well. Evaluate the options at your discretion.
Feel free to comment with recommendations or corrections.
Runs on Windows
Runs on MacOS
Runs on Linux
Specifically for Ubuntu
Limited Support / Unsupported; use at own discretion
Free Drawing SoftwareArtweaver (Has paid version)
Autodesk Sketchbook (Has paid version)
Medibang Paint
Mischief (Has paid version)
Project Dogwaffle 1.2 (newer versions are paid and supported)
Free Image EditorsImage editors are more generalized, but often work for drawing.
Free Vector SoftwareInkscape
Karbon (Windows & Mac may be buggy)
Xara Xtreme
Paid Drawing SoftwareArtRage - Under $50
Clip Studio Paint - $50 for "Pro", $220 for EX - Goes on sale every few months or so
Corel Painter - $400+
Corel Painter Essentials - Under $50; may have student discounts
MyBrushes - Under $30
OpenCanvas - $60
Paint Tool SAI - 5400JPY (Depends on exchange rate; usually around $55)
Rebelle $60
Paid Image Editing SoftwareAdobe CS6 Software options - CALL ADOBE FOR PRICING (otherwise, you'll end up with Creative Cloud)
Corel Paint Shop Pro - Under $100
Paid Vector SoftwareXara Designer Pro - $300
End of March!Journal Entry: Sun Mar 27, 2016, 7:31 PM
I had my birthday recently -- thanks everyone, you're awesome for the well-wishes and love~
On top of that, in about a week, I'm going to be getting married! Holy crap. So if I'm slow to respond, it's because that's a big thing.
Anyway, here's a couple of things of interest, if you're looking for art and stuff ('cause I'm going to close up commissions after tonight for a while):
tarahm is doing some commissions! Check out her journal for deets, and maybe you can get something like the awesome illustration of Yuki and Arina~.
Special Emergency CommissionsHi guys.
I'm doing special emergency commissions for friends who are in dire need to relocate their family. The situation is heartbreaking, you can read more about it here: https://www.generosity.com/emergencies-fundraising/help-relocate-a-family-of-four--2
I'm planning to give a sum myself, but the reality is that I can't give as much as I really want to. The past year has not been so kind to me—I've been spending a lot on my own personal health (no worries, nothing life-threatening) which means I'm trying to be a bit more careful about my spending.
In direct consequence to spending money on my own personal health, I have a lot more energy and focus lately, and I'd like to put it to good use while it lasts. I plan to open special commissions and pool the funds I gather (in addition to my own donation) and give it to the fundraiser to help my friends.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to share this page so I can really help them out.
These special commissions will only be ope
Magical-Mama is also doing commissions~ This time it's headshots~ So check 'em out!
Head-Shot Commissions are: CLOSEDAll the spots have been filled! Thank you so much for all of your support! It really means the world to me!
Be on the look out for Full Body commissions in the near future!!
Commissions are $15.00 USD each and will be colored digitally.
These are SINGLE CHARACTER pieces; one character per picture. Nothing below the shoulders will be drawn. It is only the character's HEAD, NECK, and SHOULDERS. No accessories or hands!
Here are some examples of head shot pieces I've done:
Sailor.Mars by Magical-Mama
Commission 15: Madison by Magical-Mama Commission 3: Sailor Celestial by Magical-Mama
So if you are interested, please drop me a note! Spaces ARE limited.
Everything earned will be going towar
Chibipalooza (Commish Sale)Journal Entry: Thu Mar 17, 2016, 6:19 PM
Aight, I've gotten some interest on and off dA! SO. I'mma have a tiny sale for the next week to celebrate lotsa good things goin' on!
Who wants chibis like these?
Sale Price: $8USD each OR 2 for $15USD
Edit: Dropped the single price for the last few days of the sale~
Like any of my other commissions, I require payment up front. Send me a note if you're interested!
To get the sale price, you will need to pay by 11:00PM EDT (-4GMT) on Sunday, March 27.
Feel free to include a little bit of information about your character's personality, likes/dislikes, etc. It sometimes helps me come up with cute things.
If you'd like, I can work on them in a stream on Picarto on Friday, too~ This enables you to see it as I'm working!
Gauging Interest and StuffJournal Entry: Thu Mar 17, 2016, 11:29 AM
So I'm really enjoying drawing chibis like these guys:
They're digital, somewhere around 300 DPI (not really something you can set in MyPaint), and able to be transparent and stuff. They take a few hours to draw/color/etc, and the linework is a little rough.
I was wondering -- would these sorts of chibis be something folks are interested in commissioning? What's a reasonable price for them? ($10?)
Tell me your thoughts~!
The money from commissions would go toward getting me a new video card because mine is kind of terrible and doesn't like some of my new hardware.
...also, is it just me, or is the mood bit now no longer a part of journals? Hm.
To-Do List:Draw more pages of Linked
New PS Brush set???
New Video card D:
Streaming [offline]Journal Entry: Sun Feb 14, 2016, 12:22 PM
State of ThingsJournal Entry: Thu Jan 28, 2016, 12:30 PM
Here we are, it's 2016. I'm writing this journal at nearly the end of the month, but whatever.
Well, I've got a comic underway, called Linked. Here's the pitch:
Up until six months ago, Fox Myouji was a promising history student at an overseas university. Following the death of his grandmother, he moved back to his home country. Little did he expect that when he returned, he'd end up wrapped up studying magic and its anomalies first-hand...
I've just about got chapter 1 done (19/21 pages complete; not counting a cover), and will hopefully soon be working on the website. It's probably going to update once a week until I have a much larger backlog than I have at present.
If you're curious about it, I'd probably just wait. I have a few doodles in my gallery folder for it, though previous information may not be entirely accurate!
My goal is to start posting comics starting in late March - I'm torn on starting on March 25, but maybe doing Friday updates won't be bad at the start...
Other related things:
If you like robokiss' comic, Altar Girl (it's seriously cute and really good - go read it if you haven't had the chance), I'm helping with a fan anthology.
If you like drawing fanart, and wanna contribute to something fun, this might be up your alley!
Remember last year, when I found kittens? And got them homes?
They're mostly grown up now! I don't have pictures of Trouble, but I have Tux and Moo:
They got BIG.
Brushes and Tutorials
If you're waiting on brushes and stuff, sorry! I've been busy, and haven't really made anything new.
If you have anything you'd like to see, though, I might be willing to accommodate.
BY THE WAY. I have Manga Studio/Clip Studio versions of some materials!
I might do a livestream sometime while I'm working on comics. Which could be nice. More on that when I decide to do that.
Did you see the last contest? The competition was pretty intense~!
Here were the winners, if you missed the announcement!
by FeatherfromHeL
by Sabre-Night by Crash-the-Megaraptor
I'm currently working through the prize requests. I'll probably start shipping things out this weekend.
I may do another raffle or something, but no promises on when that would be, or what the prizes would be, haha.
Personal StuffLet's see.
Nope, not much there. I've got a bit of a cold, so I've been slower to do anything lately. Hopefully I get over that soon.
Neverending To-Do ListNew Journal skin
Work on Love, Annotated and Breakfast on a Cliff
Start building the website for Linked
Convert more brushes to Manga Studio 5 format
Contest Winners!Journal Entry: Fri Jan 22, 2016, 9:03 AM
I apologize for the early announcement, but there is some rather inconvenient inclement weather coming to my area, starting tonight.
Due to this, I figured it would be better to announce the results a day early, as no new votes have come in over the past few days.
SO, with that, I'd like to announce our winners, as chosen by poll!
First Place
by FeatherfromHeL
Ah, Kei looks totally ready to take on the dragon here. Sure, yeah, she'll go for peace if she can, but... It's clear she can't have that this time. I feel like Kei would probably show this off to whoever she could if it was possible.
I especially like the fire~!
Second Placeby ScarletPegasi
I really like the delicate and calm feeling of this piece... Kei seems really elegant and calm here, which suits her!
Third PlaceIt's... A TIE!
I honestly didn't expect this to happen, so you're both winners!
by Sabre-Night
by Crash-the-Megaraptor
Honorable Mention by Jazeki
Yeah, okay, I decided an honorable mention was warranted in this case~!
Claiming your Prizes
Winners! Please contact me via note for your prizes. Specify whether you want the points, or a giftcard.
At this point, all that's left are the art prizes! I'll be able to get started on all the other stuff this week.
Also make sure to specify what you want drawn and provide references if possible! Once it's complete, I'll ask for a mailing address.
If you prefer a digital piece, please make sure to let me know.
Art Queue
FeatherfromHeL - 2 custom bookmarks
ScarletPegasi - 1 custom bookmark
Sabre-Night - 1 watercolor ATC
Crash-the-Megaraptor - 1 watercolor ATC
Jazeki - 1 digital chibi
Contest: I'm gonna be a hero! VOTE!Journal Entry: Sun Nov 1, 2015, 2:38 PM
Voting has started!
Please vote for your favorite entry!
Entries are closed at this point in time.
Results should be announced next Saturday, January 23.
Last year, I had a contest. It was a LOT of fun!
So I figured, why not do it again this year, hm?
The theme this time is:
I'm Gonna be a Hero!
At sixteen years old, Kei is already doing well for herself. She's a palace guard, tasked specifically with protecting the Prince's fiancee.
The only thing is, things are boring most of the time! The city guards get to see all the action, and the Palace's daemon hunting team won't take her until she's a bit older.
So, Kei sometimes daydreams of becoming a legendary knight and saving her country from evil, going on an exciting adventure, and maybe even having a little romance on the side.
With a sword in one hand, and healing magic in the other, she'll be ready to take on any challenger or foe!
The goal here is to draw an illustration of Kei being heroic and awesome in one way or another. Maybe she's fighting a monster, or taming a dragon, or saving a prince or princess in distress~
You don't have to draw her doing any of those things, just keep in mind that Kei really wants to be awesome, somehow!
Reference Images
There's more information and reference images if you click on any one of those pictures. Feel free to dress her as you like, though!
Rules No Tracing / Bases, please!
Please maintain (at most) a PG-13 rating with your submission!
Creativity is encouraged! Ask questions if you need!
January 15, 2016 11:59:59PM US EST
Winners decided by poll, announced January 23.
Entriesby Jazeki
by Sabre-Night
First place
$25 Amazon Giftcard (digital) OR $25 USD in points
2 Custom Bookmarks
Second Place
$15 Amazon Giftcard (digital) OR $15 USD in points
1 Custom Bookmark
Third Place
$10 Amazon Giftcard (digital) OR $10 USD in points
1 Watercolor ATC
Amazon Giftcards require a valid email address for delivery.
The Bookmarks and ATCs will require that you provide me with a shipping address. Examples of art can be found in my commission journal.
You can also substitute your bookmark/ATC with a digital piece, too.
OC Meme thing (Ask some folks questions!)Journal Entry: Wed Oct 28, 2015, 2:44 PM
Oh, hey, look what's going around. Might be fun!
...(And there will be a contest coming on November 1! No worries~!)
Comment with one (or more) of my OCs and I'll answer the following in character.
If you wanna ask some characters, these might be helpful:
(oh geez these need redrawn so bad)
01. Full name:
02. Best friend:
03. Sexuality:
04. Favorite color:
05. Relationship status:
06. Ideal mate:
07. Turn-ons:
08. Favorite food:
09. Crushes:
10. Favorite music:
11. Biggest fear:
12. Biggest fantasy:
13. Bad habits:
14. Biggest regret:
15. Best kept secrets:
16. Worst romantic experience:
17. Biggest insecurity:
18. Weapon of choice:
19. Role Model:
oh god this was a mistake Jazeki
01. Full name: Reisen Tekan (Not a raisin thank you very much.)
02. Best friend: That is a difficult question to answer, but I suppose I would consider that to be Yuki, the palace attendant. She works efficiently.
03. Sexuality: What sort of question is this?
04. Favorite color: Purple.
05. Relationship status: I am a widower.
06. Ideal mate: My wife.
07. Turn-ons: I refuse.
08. Favorite food: Bacon. What else?
09. Crushes: I've never been crushed?
10. Favorite music: Folk music.
11. Biggest fear: Not being able to achieve my dream.
12. Biggest fantasy: I'd like to be free to do as I wish in a peaceful world, where there was no kings or queens, or suffering...
13. Bad habits: Staying up late.
14. Biggest regret: Not seeking help for my wife sooner.
15. Best kept secrets: They wouldn't be secrets if I answered this, would they?
16. Worst romantic experience: Hm, that's difficult to answer. Let me think on this.
17. Biggest insecurity: I'm well-learned, but not very good at innovation.
18. Weapon of choice: My sharp intellect and keen wit.
19. Role Model: My father.
Jazeki why are you doing this to me
Because Jazeki requested Fox's perpetual bowl of mints (which is not a character), Fox will be answering for the mints in a squeaky voice while drunk.
01. Full name: M'name is Peppermint Candy~ I'm the best candy ya can get from the confectionery~!
02. Best friend: Oooh, well, you know, I gotta say that I go reaaaaaal well with a nice peach liquor! Real well... Mmmhm.
03. Sexuality: *starts laughing* I ain't got man bits or woman bits so how can I have a SEX-yoooualiteeee?
04. Favorite color: Prolly red. Yep. Like my stripeys.
05. Relationship status: I'm single dammit. Just like my friend here.
06. Ideal mate: Hmmm. A mouth. Oooh, lookit that one there, I could melt in it~
07. Turn-ons: How do you get turned on if you don't have no bits?!
08. Favorite food: Alcohol! Wait, is that a fooood?
09. Crushes: My pretty bowl. And alll my mint brethren. They're soooo cu~te!
10. Favorite music: THE MINT TANGO *starts laughing but why is that even funny*
11. Biggest fear: Gettin' eaten and crunched up!
12. Biggest fantasy: Getting eaten and crunched up!!
13. Bad habits: Sometimes I get sticky when the weather's hoooot.
14. Biggest regret: Not being bigger. It's saaad.
15. Best kept secrets: I don't have secrets, I'm a mint!
16. Worst romantic experience: NOT HAVING ANY BITS TO BE ROMANTIC WITH SHEEESH
17. Biggest insecurity: Stop asking me these questions it hurts my feelings
18. Weapon of choice: My mint-al powers of minty freshness, yaaaah
19. Role Model: I don't ever have any role models because everything is terrible *fake cry*
01. Full name: I'm Kei Shumei! Not Keiji, that's my grandpa.
02. Best friend: Hm. My sissy.
03. Sexuality: ...Iunno. Um. I like guys, pretty much.
04. Favorite color: Blue~!
05. Relationship status: Single. I'm too young for a boyfriend!
06. Ideal mate: Someone who respects my authority. Also, maybe he should let me protect him.
07. Turn-ons: Hmm. Guys who can have a sense of humor!
08. Favorite food: Hmm. A nice fancy steak.
09. Crushes: There's this guy...
10. Favorite music: Eh, not much into that.
11. Biggest fear: Not knowing if my sissy is gonna sneak out again.
12. Biggest fantasy: Being a hero~!
13. Bad habits: Um, I daydream a lot... I guess.
14. Biggest regret: I don't really have any! Though, now that I think about it, once I lied about studying when I really didn't...
15. Best kept secrets: Ummm. My sissy says I can't keep secrets, which is why she doesn't tell me any.
16. Worst romantic experience: I haven't had any, so there's that!
17. Biggest insecurity: Working around a bunch of guys is always a little annoying when they treat me like a kid. T_T
18. Weapon of choice: Sword! Well, a shortsword.
19. Role Model: My daddy!
01. Full name: Doran Kaito.
02. Best friend: Good question. Probably Yuki. Maybe Aster, but... I mean...
03. Sexuality: Ladies, please.
04. Favorite color: Surprisingly, it's green.
05. Relationship status: Engaged.
06. Ideal mate: ...If I answer this incorrectly...
07. Turn-ons: You know when a woman's angry, and sometimes, as she's storming over toward you, she'll walk a certain way, and her hips go side to side... Heh.
08. Favorite food: That's a good question. There's a lot of good things to eat.
09. Crushes: ...Like I said, I'm engaged!
10. Favorite music: Orchestral.
11. Biggest fear: Hm. I'll get back to you on that.
12. Biggest fantasy: Like I said, I am engaged!
13. Bad habits: Maybe I find the maids to be a little distracting sometimes.
14. Biggest regret: Nothing yet. I don't get into trouble often!
15. Best kept secrets: Hm. *strokes chin* That's a good question.
16. Worst romantic experience: Probably the first night Aster slept over...
17. Biggest insecurity: That might be my best kept secret.
18. Weapon of choice: A rapier - it's gentlemanly.
19. Role Model: That would be the great King Renard, who united this country.
Inktober and KittensJournal Entry: Fri Oct 2, 2015, 7:23 AM
So, I'm doing Inktober. I'll post my images for the week here on Saturdays- but you can find my drawings as I do them each day on my Tumblr. (I'm Kabocha-chan there, if you didn't know already)
Barring another serious injury, this should be something I can accomplish! (Unlike my new year's resolution, or Magical Girl March...)
In other news, the kittens are all doing well. By all reports, they cuddle with their humans a LOT, and can't seem to get enough attention in general.
I have pictures of Abby -- and will hopefully have recent images of the other two as well. ...So for now, enjoy what little I have:
Aaaaaand here's the other two:
Contests on dA and Games of Chance - UpdateJournal Entry: Wed Sep 23, 2015, 3:09 PM
A very interesting bit of news came to my attention this evening:
Bad news... (Still unresolved?) (Newest info at the bottom)
Well, I guess that answers that. I was completely unaware that giving prizes away was against deviantART policy? Anyone care to explain...why or how, specifically? And why it's only relevant now? The backup got removed too, which wasn't really much all in all, but still.
My contest was free to enter, as was as Meeshi's. This isn't the issue. This is going around to others too. So it's not just me, at least. The more you know.
Raffle Removed UPDATED < Link to her journal
HurricaneIslandheart submitted a trouble ticket and received the same answer.
Courtesy of Operia, contests judged on skill are not for
In summary, giving out points in "Games of chance" (eg, raffles, lotteries, and such) are prohibited on deviantArt. I suppose that's not a huge issue.
This is actually outlined in the FAQ:
FAQ #894: Can I run a lottery, raffle, sweepstakes or other random drawing or game of chance through my DeviantArt account?
It looks like the problem with these is when it comes down to money. Mostly because:
- They can't guarantee that it's run fairly
- Legal issues (eg: some locations require you to report prize winnings in your taxes)
- CC fraud and a myriad of other issues
The area where it's murky is if it applies to physical items -- such as my bookmark raffles. I'm currently getting clarification, and will update once I have that.
Update: 9/28 - still haven't heard back.
AND WE HAVE A RESPONSE! 6 days later...
Times are PDT.
FAQ #894: Can I run a lottery, raffle, sweepstakes or other random drawing or game of chance through my DeviantArt account?
It's been updated, but they seem to be clarifying that contests where you pay to enter are what are prohibited. The text of the FAQ is below, in case they edit it in the future (also, emphasis is mine):
Games of chance (such as raffles, lotteries and other random giveaways which require a payment to participate) and fraudulent activity are prohibited on DeviantArt.
Our principal concerns are to avoid the exploitation of members of DeviantArt, prevent unfair treatment of deviants who are solicited and pay to participate and avoid the appearance of impropriety from offers which are open to abuse as well as acknowledging the various, and varying, laws restricting or regulating the conduct of games of chance in differing parts of the world.
We encourage gift giving; we encourage trading points for art or art services; we encourage the solicitation of points as donations; and we encourage points used as prizes in contests of skill - - all of these when conducted fairly and truthfully.
Paid games of chance, however, solicit with a promise of potential reward and we have no adequate means to confirm that the "game" is conducted fairly or within the requirements of applicable law and because of these concerns we do not wish them to be run through your DeviantArt account.
Soooo, I guess it's OK to run free raffles. So, yay for that?
BOOKMARK RAFFLE - WINNER!Journal Entry: Thu Sep 17, 2015, 5:59 AM
Ever wanted a fancy, one-of-a-kind bookmark? Now's another chance to win one like these below!
Yes, I'm doing a second one of these. Shh.
To enter:
- You must be watching me.
- You must comment on this journal.
- In your comment, include the phrase, "There's so much pain in the world, but so few of us can find a band-aid." (This cannot be the entirety of your comment)
- Select one of the open numbers on the list
Entries will be selected until the list is either full, or it's time to select the winner.
ONE winner will be selected and announced at approximately 6PM -4GMT Saturday, (Sept 19, 2015)...
Using the random number generator. The lucky number selected will get to choose a single character bookmark!
Remember, this is a physical item, so it will be mailed! Please do not enter if you are not comfortable providing me with your mailing address in the event that you do win.
Current Entries:
- CyrusAiden
- OBSailorStar
- AtelierAni
- VoltronZ1
- Miss-Gravillian1992
- forgetful--prince
- Crash-the-Megaraptor
- FeatheryJustice
- Jazeki
Settin' up the parameters...
...#5 is empty, so time to draw again.
Miss-Gravillian1992!! Send me a note or something to claim your prize!
- Listening to: Kemu - Reincarnation
Bookmark Raffle! - WINNER!Journal Entry: Fri Sep 11, 2015, 8:19 AM
Ever wanted a fancy bookmark? Now's your chance to win one like these below!
To enter:1. You must be watching me.
2. You must comment on this journal.
3. In your comment, include the phrase, "Time is a timid lady until she decides to tick your
tock." (This cannot be the entirety of your comment)
4. Select one of the open numbers on the list
Entries will be selected until the list is either full, or it's time to select the winner.
ONE winner will be selected and announced at approximately 12PM (noon) -4GMT tomorrow. (Sept 12, 2015)... Using the random number generator. The lucky number selected will get to choose a single character bookmark!
Remember, this is a physical item, so it will be mailed! Please do not enter if you are not comfortable providing me with your mailing address in the event that you do win.
Current Entries:
- forgetful--prince
- TharaCorleone
- YuniNaoki
- Jazeki
- Sabre-Night
- OBSailorStar
- FeatherfromHeL
- CyrusAiden
NUMBER 4! YuniNaoki
And So...Journal Entry: Fri Sep 4, 2015, 5:46 AM
Lots going on.
The semester's started, the students are back, and there is lots to do! I'm exhausted!
I think I've severely overestimated myself (in terms of recuperating from various things) - so I think I'm going to push off the start date for any comics I might have in mind until spring or summer next year... Now I see how this happens with other artists. @_@; Life ends up taking precedence!
It was SO much easier to work on comics when I was a student.
So this means I should probably get back into the rhythm of working with some Breakfast on a Cliff. And maybe Chloe's stupid face.
Um... In other news, I'm going to Baltimore Comic Con at the end of the month! Hopefully on Saturday the 25 or Sunday the 26. Anyone else going?
The kittens are doing well. Abby, in particular, is photographed a LOT. Maybe I'll share some images at some point.
...and that's that.
Oh, yeah, I got engaged.
To-Do ListNew Journal skin - this one's getting old.
Cinna's stupid face / Chloe's stupid face (maybe)
COMICS! With Fox. And his stupid face.
Convert more brushes to Manga Studio 5 format
Bookmark raffle thing (what)
Deviant Artist QuestionnaireJournal Entry: Fri Aug 7, 2015, 4:06 AM
I want the stupid badge.
How long have you been on DeviantArt?
It will have been 12 years in a couple of weeks.
What does your username mean?
It's a type of squash. I have a character named kabocha, who... doesn't do anything.
Describe yourself in three words.
Tired. Needs tea.
Are you left or right handed?
Primarily right handed.
What was your first deviation?
I removed it from dA years ago, but here you go, it's up on stash now. Amaze yourselves:
I was 15, and in my full on angst mode. And surprise, I've seen very little of this series! (aha... I'm a loser.)
What is your favourite type of art to create?
That's a good question. If I was a better artist, I might have a good answer for this.
Probably scenery.
If you could instantly master a different art style, what would it be?
Realism. When I try it, it comes out cartoonish...
What was your first favourite?
This is probably accurate. While I did clean out my favorites a while ago, I do remember taking a while to realize I could things when I was younger. And then I treated it like bookmarks, and so I am fairly particular about what I favorite.
What type of art do you tend to favourite the most?
Resources, I think.
Who is your all-time favourite deviant artist?
I don't know? My favorite artists are probably my favorite people, and there's a few of them. I'm not listing them, shut up.
If you could meet anyone on DeviantArt in person, who would it be?
That's a good question.
How has a fellow deviant impacted your life?
They encouraged me to keep drawing. And gave me lots of things to draw while doing so.
Most of the deviants who have affected me in one way or another, I know off deviantArt in some way or another.
What are your preferred tools to create art?
My tablet. Watercolors, markers... Though I'll try pretty much any medium at least once. (If it involves bodily fluids, though, please count me out.)
What is the most inspirational place for you to create art?
Um... I actually don't know? I generally work at my desk, in front of a computer... So... yeah.
What is your favourite DeviantArt memory?
That one time admins notified us before changing--- OH WAIT. Sorry, sorry. That was topical.
Realistically, it was probably when Manga-Apps was starting up. It was an exciting time, and actually what brought me back to dA. At the time, I'd been over on MangaBullet, and had cleared out a LOT of my dA gallery.
I probably should do something for Manga-Apps... I'm feeling all nostalgic.
Core MembershipJournal Entry: Tue Aug 4, 2015, 6:02 AM
I've already expressed my displeasure about this core membership change in other venues, but... Eh. Why not here? It'll just join the flood of other complaints, but I need to vent.
The sudden change from "premium" to "core" members is a little jarring, and seeing the pricetag, there's certainly a touch of sticker shock. I feel like this really could have (and should have) been better communicated - especially if the main advertised "benefit" is that we're investing in the future of deviantArt.
Changing from $30 to what is now $50 yearly IS a major change in terms of pricing. It breaks down to little bits every month, sure -- but for that price, I could buy hosting somewhere for a year. Or pay for Manga-Apps as a super group.
Or hell, what was that portfolio thing that deviantArt had started a few years back? (I guess that ended up on the backlog where projects go to die~)
I also note that at this point in time, the change from "Premium" to "Core" doesn't appear to be on the timeline, either.
In any case, if the future of core memberships means that communication will be this bad, then I'm not entirely sure I want to renew when the time comes.
Broke or not, it's a bad idea to spring a price increase on people without some warning. (Or a "LAST CHANCE!" Sale. Geez, that could have brought in some revenue, couldn't it?)
August 2015Journal Entry: Mon Aug 3, 2015, 7:42 AM
25 August 2015
So, I feel kinda like death from food poisoning. The good news is that my concussion symptoms seem to have really started clearing up, and I feel normal. So that means that this misery is JUST gastric issues.
I'm gonna spend the next few days chillin' and not being around very much, so please forgive my absence.
I think next month, I'll resume my normal fashion of journal updates (whenever the mood strikes me) -- this monthly thing is useful when I gotta do a lotta progress updates.
19 August 2015
Did any of the prize winners happen to get their cards yet?
Also, I have begun adding brushes for Manga Studio 5 to my site! Check it out~!
In other news, I won't be around very much next week. Why?
13 August 2015
Contest prizes are finished, and I should be sending them off on Friday evening! Wooh!
I've been really tired lately, so I'm slow to respond to anything, really. Sorry about that!
Recently, I started playing with Manga Studio 5's brushes a bit. The engine is really nice, and allows for me to set up multiple images per brush.
With that in mind, I'm hoping to release several brush sets in MS5's format -- BUT they'll be themed sets, rather than the Photoshop sets I have in place. For example, a spatter brush set (such as the Ink Splatter Brushes and some of the spatter you'll find in Puella Tragica Brushes) will contain multiple types of brushes, but each individual brush will probably rotate through several images.
I'll probably also make a Shoujo master set, which includes the Shoujo series up to now, as well as some tidbits from other sets.
Unfortunately, I'm not 100% sure that ALL of the brushes I've made are suitable for Manga Studio, so what's going to happen to those that aren't?
Iunno. Maybe I'll release them as materials?
Edit: Welp. Working with this is going to be challenging! I'll probably make brushes for MS as best I can, but no promises on *everything* being included. But I'll do what I can.
They'll probably be smaller, and generally with less brushes in general than what's in the PS sets, but in the future, I'll keep MS in mind when designing new sets.
3 August 2015
So, on my list...
Got one more prize to finish (yay) which should be within the next few days or so. Unless I get distracted more by Terraria and Skyrim... I really must be procrastinating...
I'm also getting caught up in the cycle of revision on comic pages. This is not what I wanted, and I'm going to have to break myself out of it and give up on being picky.
I can't believe it's August, though. I feel as though I've sort of failed on the whole administration of Manga-Apps. Perhaps I'll see about doing a 4-panel comic contest or something.
I had this whole huge scheme and everything laid out for the year, but apparently life had other plans!
I wonder what kind of prizes would entice people... Hm.
To-Do List
Re-draw pages for chapter 1 of Linked and drag myself out of the stupid revision mess
July 2015Journal Entry: Wed Jul 1, 2015, 10:07 AM
Just gonna leave this here...
So, I don't normally talk about my concussion outside of with friends, but DAMN. Some of the insurance issues I was having are resolved, and that's a BIG weight off my shoulders.
In other news, I've got recent pictures of Abby and Tux.
Tux was actually at my house for an afternoon to play. Little monster!
Abby, on the other hand, is super photogenic. She knows what's up.
I've finally started drawing comics that don't have Cinna or Chloe in them! (And some that do have Chloe and or Cinna, but hey, that's normal.)
Anyway, you can find posts of WIPs and such on my tumblr (which is also now blue and not purple).
So yep.
Also, y'all should check out this awesome Kickstarter for the webcomic Altar Girl. If you like shoujo manga, you may like it! You can read it online for free, too~
I bring it up because robokiss, the author, is awesome, and she also uses my brushes all over the place!
(and now, back to work! ALL THE WEB DESIGN!)
So much to do, so little time... The livestream went quite well! I might do another one next week -- I got a couple pages of comics sketched, plus some cute doodles.
It's interesting that deviantArt had a copyright discussion recently -- given that there's this whole Orphan Works thing going on in the United States.
If you're in the US, you may want to look at this post, and then consider writing a letter to the Copyright Office to express your thoughts on this.
(Personally, I kind of like Canada and several other countries' way about it -- those aiming to use a work have to make a good faith effort to locate the holder, and then apply for a license to do so through the Government.)
Oh, hey. That may or may not be worth fussing over. Apparently it's a report, nothing is in process at the moment.
Still, it's good to read up on these things (as I clearly did not do so well).
I'll be streaming a bit at 8PM (about 20 minutes from now)! Probably only for an hour or two -- there's a Splatfest... >_> And I like winning.
Click on the banner to go to my livestream page!
There will be no sound on my stream.
If my time is correct, New Horizons achieved its closest point in the flyby of Pluto a little bit ago!
The idea that we were able to send something that far is pretty amazing. Some of the photos are really neat to look at, too!
Anyway, I still plan on livestreaming this Saturday. I look forward to seein' some folks there! Now that it's been suggested, maybe I'll actually work on Love, Annotated. Maybe.
Or maybe I'll draw stuff where Fox is getting dragged around and being made miserable.
Couple things:
1. I may stream some next weekend. Probably Saturday (July 18), from 8PM US-EST to whenever. No sound, as usual.
If you have things you want me to go over, let me know! Otherwise, I'll work on Breakfast on a Cliff and this dumb illustration of Fox.
I was initially thinking of doing this with ATCs, but after a day or so, I'm not in a mood to paint and go to the post office.
But I will let two lucky winners get a free digital chibi request with a transparent background.
To enter:
- You need to be watching me
- Comment on this journal with the phrase "It's like a donut hole" somewhere in your comment. (Points for hilarity! ...the points mean nothing.)
1. FeatherfromHeL
I'll close raffle entries at about... 6PM US-EST tonight. And then I'll choose a winner using the random number generator. YEAHHH---
And then I'll do the chibis as I have time.
:edit: Woah, only one entry? Welp! Congrats, FeatherfromHeL, you win a chibi!
Maybe I'll do this again sometime~ Keep an eye on the journals!
No real update, but look at THIS:
AnonymousBlank does nice work, eh? You should check 'em out and admire the awesomeness!
How the heck is it July already?!
Ah well.
So, here's a general update:
Kittens (yeah, I thought I was done!) are doing great! Tux is being a brat and likes laying in bowls when he's not cuddling with his new mom. Abby takes exception to laundry baskets, and fell in the toilet last night... Tigerlily is doing really well, and is apparently full of spunk. If I get pictures that are OK to share, I may.
Splatoon is fun. Anyone playing and looking forward to this weekend's Splatfest~?
As far as art goes, yeah, I haven't done much. We've had some crazy, crazy weather, and I need to get my car fixed to pass inspection. And the failure point is probably something dumb, considering the car's only 5 years old...)
Maybe I should draw something silly that isn't Cinna-based when I have a bit of time...
To-Do List
CC Prizes
Feature with a focus on Color theory (Manga-Apps)
Finish pages for chapter 1 of Linked


text:
Welcome to bike friendly Long Beach. This website is your one-stop guide to bicycling in Long Beach. It will help you discover the many great places to ride your bike in Long Beach — our beaches, our parks, our diverse neighborhoods and our bike friendly shopping areas. It will point you to the multitude of bike related events held each year in Long Beach ranging from the monthly Kidical Mass rides to our bike festival held each May. And it will help you navigate the bike facilities in Long Beach, including the green "sharrow" lanes in Belmont Shore, our bike boulevards and the downtown separated bike lanes for car-free travel.
The site also offers residents and visitors interesting places to ride and access to free or low-cost training and activities. And, finally it will give you important advice and tips on how to be safe.
We invite you to share your bike-related news with us, take advantage of the wonderful facilities and enjoy Long Beach – by bike.
I hope to see you around town!
Bob Foster, Mayor


text:
Oct 14, 2010 9:25 AM
If you're craving more of an atmosphere in your outdoor space, consider adding something like this Hunter Outdoor Pedestal Fan ($359). It's pricey, but it's also gorgeous, and it could be the start of the transformation of your exterior haven.
If you've got a product or service that you'd like to promote on Outblush, click here to find out about our advertising opportunities.
Outblush is a blog for girls who love to shop. Our staff digs up the best clothes, home stuff, beauty items, and more. New items are posted every day — bookmark us and check out:


text:
22 April 2013
By Jeff Kavanagh
Photo: Fresh Focus - Urs LindtSam Stosur and Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS)
CHIASSO, SWITZERLAND: In extraordinary circumstances, Australia have defeated Switzerland 3-1 in the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group play-off tie at the Tennis Club Chiasso.
Australian No. 1 Sam Stosur put in a commanding performance, winning both of her rubbers in straight sets against Swiss players Stefanie Voegele and Romina Oprandi, while 16-year-old Ashleigh Barty justified her late call up to consign Voegele to her second defeat of the day. The Swiss team's solitary point came from Oprandi's win over Australian No. 2 Jarmila Gajdosova.
The hosts had come into the weekend hoping to end a 30 year drought against Australia, opponents who had beaten them in the competition as recently as last year. The Australian team, on the other hand, had travelled to southern Switzerland aiming to avoid slipping out of the cup's top tier, while stretching their record to six wins and one loss against Swiss teams.
In the end, both teams were made to wait as the skies opened up after the draw on Friday afternoon, sending down a deluge that continued throughout Saturday, washing out the clay surface at the 1,000 seat venue and all play for the opening two days of the tie.
With the weekend's schedule thrown into chaos, and the weather forecast predicting more rain, the drastic decision to play the opening singles rubbers simultaneously on Monday morning was taken, with the reverse singles to commence as soon as possible afterwards.
Once play did get under way, it was world No. 9 Stosur who appeared most keen to make up for lost time, storming to 60 in the first set against Voegele. Despite heavy strapping on her right calf, the 29-year-old Australian moved with vigour across the clay, positioning herself early to dispatch some trademark forehand smashes. On the other side of the net, Swiss number two Voegele was struggling to find any rhythm, her first serve in particular letting her down.
A change in tactics and the support of a small, but enthusiastic local crowd paid dividends for the 23-year-old Swiss in the second set, initially at least. Breaking Stosur twice early, Voegele moved to a 3-0 lead.
Befitting a player of Stosur's stature, however, the Australian adjusted her own game, targeting Voegele with sharp forehands as she approached the net and combatting the Swiss player's drop shots with some of her own. Once back on a roll, the next four games quickly went Stosur's way. Voegele managed to bring it back to 4-4, but it wasn't enough, the Australian winning the set 64 and the match in just over an hour.
Over on the other side of the venue, Oprandi was also speeding through her encounter with Gajdosova, taking the first set 62 in just under half an hour. Another 33 minutes later and the match was over, the Swiss player closing out the set 64, and with it the rubber, with an audacious drop shot off a first serve.
With the tie at 1-1, Australian captain Alicia Molik then made the surprise announcement that 16-year-old Ashleigh Barty would be facing Voegele in the reverse singles. It turned out to be a masterstroke. Playing in a crucial rubber and in her first year of Fed Cup, the young Australian displayed composure beyond her years, defeating an opponent 139 places in the world above her in straight sets 63 64, again in just over an hour.
"It's probably some of the best tennis I've ever played," Barty said afterwards.
She certainly wasn't alone in showing some good form in the second rubber of the day. Having won their first matches comfortably, Stosur and Oprandi were finding things significantly more difficult against each other.
The power shots so successfully employed by the Australian against Voegele in the morning were being countered by some exquisite baseline touches from Oprandi, who at times seemed to have the ball on a string as it looped from her racket and dropped just over the net.
At 6-5 to Stosur and with Oprandi serving, it looked like the first set would progress to a tie break. Unfortunately for the 27-year-old Swiss, however, her serve let her down, double faulting to hand Stosur two break points. She rallied gallantly to bring the game back to deuce, but another double fault gave Stosur a break point she didn't waste.
The arm wrestle of the first set resumed in the second, with both players breaking the other in the opening two games. Stosur persisted with her tactic of trying to negate Oprandi's drop shots by keeping the Swiss player pinned behind the baseline.
As the clouds rolled in over Chiasso once more, Stosur's relentlessness proved too much and she broke Oprandi in the eighth game of the set to go 5-3 up. From there, she served out the set and the rubber, winning the tie for the Australians just as the rain began to tumble from the sky.
The result means that Australia retain their World Group place, an outcome that clearly pleased captain Alicia Molik, who's in her first year in the role.
"I'm really rapt that we've pulled through and won this tie," she said. "We've got a brilliant team and they work for each other. To be honest it's a real pleasure to be the captain."
For the Swiss team, the defeat means another year in World Group II. Captain Heinz Guenthardt was clearly disappointed that his team weren't able to win, but insisted there were positives to be taken from the tie.
"It shows that we can play with a team like Australia," he said at the completion of play. "We're a still a tough team to beat because we have a very balanced team and a reasonably young team, so I hope we'll do even better in the future."
Captain Alicia Molik (AUS) - 22/04/2013
Ashleigh Barty (AUS) - 22/04/2013
Captain Heinz Guenthardt (SUI) - 22/04/2013
Romina Oprandi (SUI) - 22/04/2013
Sam Stosur (AUS) - 22/04/2013
19 Apr 2013
Switzerland looks to end a 30-year wait for a Fed Cup victory over Australia at their World Group play-off tie in Chiasso-Seseglio this weekend
20 Apr 2013 - 21 Apr 2013
View details
Romina OPRANDI (SUI)
Samantha STOSUR (AUS)
Stefanie VOEGELE (SUI)
Casey DELLACQUA (AUS)
Timea BACSINSZKY (SUI)
Ashleigh BARTY (AUS)
Amra SADIKOVIC (SUI)
Jarmila WOLFE (AUS)
Tennis Club Chiasso, Chiasso, Switzerland
Full details
Review the 2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas draw that took place in
Czech Republic will host Spain and USA will welcome Germany in
Vote for Hsu Ching-Wen (TPE), Angelique Kerber (GER), Garbine
Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer, who won two rubbers away in Serbia
The draw for 2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas will be held at the
© ITF Licensing (UK) Ltd. All rights reserved. No portion of this website may be duplicated, redistributed, or manipulated in any form. By accessing any information beyond this page, you agree to abide by our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.


text:
The Associated Press has just added itself to the list of news organizations that will begin using robots to write stories.
The president of Uruguay, José Mujica, has chimed in on the whole Suarez-biting incident and sent out a few words on what he thinks of FIFA.
Cara Delevingne has claimed that US Vogue "lied" in an interview with her published in the latest issue, in which journalist Plum Sykes details the extent of her sleeping.
In what's said to be the biggest drug bust in recent history, police have impounded uncut heroin worth over R2bn from a drug cartel in Kloof on Tuesday night.
Naspers is set to make some massive strides in the coming years with some global investments being made, while also looking after their assets back home.
All hell has broken loose following the reported sale of a young Venda woman to the SABC's second in command. Lies, betrothals and media falsifications… it has all the makings of a soap-opera.
This probably won't be the last time Juju is asked to leave parliamentary proceedings, if his opening speech is an indication of future behaviour. Like we said, nobody will be sleeping in parliament this year!
Video consumption on the internet is set to take a massive leap in the next five years, according to a new report from Cisco.
Remember the guy that made the hilarious video when he was stuck all alone at Las Vegas airport, just earlier this week? Celine Dion has been a super cool cat and responded to him, with this video.
Spar's Tops liquour store is in trouble. They tied up a sheep and displayed it in their shop as a prize… Because when you see 'Sheep' you automatically think 'buy more booze' right?
This is a very graphic video, but it should be shown. Meriam Ibrahim's case is a well publicised one and has gained international attention. She has been sentenced to 100 lashings and then to be hung, if her appeal is not successful…
After dancing a little too close to Mick Jagger at an after party, Bar Rafaeli's boyfriend, Adi Ezra, got a little too jealous of the ladies man. Needless to say – they didn't work it out.
This is what the ANC and the SABC do not want you to see….
Really, you have to see this cartoon. Why people are getting their knickers so wound up is… well you have a look and see what you think. Is this a well made fake?
Ah yes – the world of beauty pageants. Girls gawk at the evening gowns and beautiful hair, while boys just watch for the swimsuit section. Here's this years Miss USA winner.
They grow up so fast! Young Kendall Jenner is making waves in the fashion industry. In an attempt to step out of her baby shoes and prove she's all grown up, she goes the nudie route.
If you're tired of all the, well, porn, in porn, and looking for something a little more natural and amateur, then an alternative Australian erotic website may be right up your alley.
Read this before you have that extra portion of onion rings for dinner tonight….
For those of you that are just SO SICK of reading the subtitles when the Dothraki people speak in their mother tongue, then this may just be the answer you've been waiting for. Travel search engine, Cheapflights.com.au, has created a useful guide for Game of Thrones fans that teaches them how to speak basic Dothraki. The infographic is categorized into […]
The ANC are taking this VERY seriously… Do you think this is as offensive as they do?
It's time you were told that all your DY "skills" are completely irrelevant, thanks to SuzetteDIY.
Incase you're confused – this is just another reality show, with unashamed sex…
Check out this short dark comedy by local director/writer, Howard James Fyvie…
Check out this video of Seth Rogen and Snoop Dogg get high and discuss the latest Game Of Thrones episode…
How would you feel if you realise that your little brat, who's throwing a tantrum because you said no to an extremely overpriced toy, isn't even yours?
South African media company Naspers could teach its US counterparts a thing or two…
Raw, uncensored and uncut. And with Gareth Cliff at the helm, you can pretty much imagine the content. With albeit way more freedom of speech than what was ever allowed on his previous mainstream-media broadcasting platform.
The issue at hand means that we can't go browsing porn sites at work. But what if we were to tell you that they are creating advertising for Porn Hub that is now, well, VERY office friendly? Would you be impressed?
Porn for Women is set to show what women REALLY want….
Get some inside information into how Oscar's psych evaluation will affect the trial.