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Lawyer: Constitution Requires Taxpayers Pay for Wikileaker's Sex Change
Jason Mick
August 22, 2013 9:01 AM
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Some think Bradley "Chelsea" Manning is a "gay hero", as this poster reads.
(Source: Truth Dig)
Manning's lawyer says gender issue is medical treatment, to deny request would be unethical
been convicted
one of the biggest leaks of confidential government information
in the history of the U.S. He's been
sentenced to 35 years in prison, with the possibility of parole in 6 and 1/2 years
, with time served. But even as the debate over the young former U.S. Private First Class (PFC) continues, Mr. Manning has issued a statement triggering a brand new debate.
I. Manning: Call Me Chelsea
At a press conference after the sentencing, David Coombs, Manning's lawyer remarked, "[And we are looking into] ensuring that a soldier who is in confinement who has gender dysphoria gets treatment."
That subtle comment might have been lost amidst the interest in his flashy comments about Manning's innocence and his bid for a presidential pardon. But on Thursday Mr. Coombs read a statement from Manning revealing just how serious the leaker is about his desire to undergo gender reassignment.
His attorney read
the letter
, which read in part:
I am Chelsea Manning. I am female. Given the way that I feel, and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible. I hope that you will support me in this transition.
I also request that, starting today, you refer to me by my new name and use the feminine pronoun (except in official mail to the confinement facility). I look forward to receiving letters from supporters and having the opportunity to write back.
He signed the letter "Chelsea E. Manning"
Convicted leaker Bradley Manning, asked to be refered to as Chelsea and want taxpayer funded sex change surgery while he/she is imprisoned. [Image Source: BradleyManning.org]
It should be noted that Mr. Manning, openly gay since his teen years, was bullied over his sexuality in the military and at the time of his 2010 arrest was reportedly pursuing sex change options. He cited the bullying and his gender confusion as part of his motivation for leaking military secrets in a February plea deal, while asserting that his primary motivation was a belief that the leaks would help change the world view on U.S. public policys. He admitted in an apology on Wednesday that his actions were naive and had unintentionally harmed the nation he vowed to serve.
II. Does Eighth Amendment Require Taxpayer Funded Sex Changes for Inmates
To say that Mr. Manning's request is controversial is an understatement. Even some transgender advocates are decrying the request, as it would give the dishonorably discharged convicted criminal privileges that the U.S. military denies those who are serving and are honorably discharged.
Currently, the U.S. Military's policy is not to pay for the actual operative part of gender reassignment. It does provide discrete sexuality counseling, and since President Obama's rollback of "don't ask don't tell" has allowed gay/transgender individuals to enlist. The Department of Veterans Affairs additionally provides hormone treatments for honorably discharged soldiers -- an elective procedure not offered to to active servicepeople.
But in the general U.S. prison system there's some momentum to force taxpayers to pay for inmates sex reassignment surgeries. With some experts claiming it's a simple matter of medical ethics, the fight is likely to eventually be taken up by the Supreme Court. The
4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
, which sets precedent for South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia in January
a decision by the
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
to toss Virginia inmate Ophelia Azriel De'Lonta's lawsuit seeking gender reassignment.
Ophelia De'Lonta, a Virginia inmate who was born male and identifies as a female, won his/her case to have a Viriginia Federal Court reconsider overturning a state ruling that sex reassignment should be taxpayer funded. [Image Source: AP]
A state judge had previously order that the inmate -- who threatened to seriously injure himself/herself otherwise via self-castration if sex reassignment was not provided -- receive the requested surgeries/therapies. But the federal court tossed the case. Now it will be forced to debate the issue on the grounds of the finalclause of the Eight Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states:
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
De'Lonta is
being represented by
American Civil Liberties Union
According to
The Encyclopedia of Surgery
a male to female sex reassignment costs between $7,000 to $24,000 USD, while a female to male sex reassignment costs over $50,000 USD. Other expensive inmate surgeries have been paid for by taxpayers for over two decades,
such as plastic surgery
The U.S. is number one in imprisonment. [Image Source: Prospect.org]
Any new treatment allowance to inmates is a big deal from a taxation and federal budget perspective, as the U.S.
imprisons a higher percentage of its citizens than any other nation
in the world.
Bradley "Chelsea" Manning
NBC TODAY Show
remember me
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
RE: And let the bigots/rednecks begin posting in 3, 2, 1...
"Homosexuality is a reproductive (and evolutionary) dead end. So as a species, it's logically in our best interest to not be gay."
Plenty of gay people have biological children. Being gay doesn't make you infertile. :) Moreover, there are many ways to contribute to the species than reproducing. Don't you know Alan Turing? He vastly improved knowledge of computers and AI amongst other things. He was gay. He has done more for our species than you & me times 1000000. No doubt you'd have had him reproducing rather than doing revolutionary science work and breaking enigma codes. ;) Also, all those children rotting in homes by useless heteros need taking care of.
Homophobia is not natural. It is not found anywhere in nature apart from humans. It has no evolutionary or benefit of any kind. Homophobia doesn't stop people being gay. It just makes people more miserable, wastes masses of time, talent and money. It's just a waste of life.
"There is nothing natural about a transsexual human, as until recent technology and medical procedures enabled it, physically switching from one sex to another didn't and couldn't happen to a human. Nature or God (depending on your world view) gave a few creatures the innate ability to do so, but not humans. So I see nothing illogical about considering such a change as strange and unnatural."
You're obsessed with sex change operations lol. Gravestones have been found of humans thousands of years old. A few females have been found buried in the typical graves of males (with weapons etc.) and vice versa. Now did they make a mistake? Or were these people what we now call 'transgendered'? I.e. they lived their lives in the gender and way that felt right to them. there have also been many occasions where 2 people of the same sex buried together like a couple.
"Of course what I have written above is now politically incorrect, and we as a society are not allow to think such thoughts. And logic? Well that's a dangerous road to travel..."
I've no interest how politically correct something is or isn't, personally. Politics isn't all that logical mostly. Religionists and bigots do absolutely anything to stifle and shut down the truth.
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It's Carnival time: Mardi Gras up next in holiday season
Published: Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 6:08 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 6:08 p.m.
While you drag the needless Christmas tree to the road and a speck of dust has yet to fall on the recently packed-up Christmas decorations, local residents' attention is quickly being refocused on the next holiday: Mardi Gras.
Local Parade Schedule
Feb. 1: Hercules, 6 p.m., west Houma.
Feb. 2: Bayou Petit Caillou, noon, Chauvin; Aquarius, 6:30 p.m., west Houma.
Feb. 3: Hyacinthians, 11 a.m., west Houma, followed by Titans.
Feb. 8: Aphrodite, 6:30 p.m., west Houma.
Feb. 9: Krewe of Mardi Gras, 6:30 p.m., east Houma.
Feb. 10: Terreanians, 12:30 p.m. Feb. 10, west Houma; Montegut Children's Parade, 2 p.m., Montegut.
Feb. 11: Cleopatra, 6:30 p.m., west Houma.
Mardi Gras (Feb. 12): Houmas, 11 a.m., west Houma, followed by Kajuns; Bonne Terre, 4 p.m., Montegut.
Jan. 27: Versailles, noon, Larose; Des Les Petite Lions, 1 p.m., Golden Meadow.
Jan. 27: Shaka, 1:30 p.m., Thibodaux.
Feb. 2: Krewe Des T-Cajun Children's Parade, noon, Larose; Ambrosia, 5:30 p.m., Thibodaux.
Feb. 8: Athena, 7 p.m., Golden Meadow.
Feb. 9: Apollo, noon, Lockport; Atlantis, noon, Golden Meadow; Babylon, 5 p.m., Larose and Cut Off; Bon Temps, 5:50 p.m., Larose.
Feb. 10: Cleophas, 12:30 p.m., Thibodaux; followed by Chronos; Nereids, 6 p.m., Golden Meadow.
Mardi Gras (Feb. 12): Gheens, 11 a.m., in Gheens; Neptune, noon, Galliano and Golden Meadow; Ghana, 1 p.m., Thibodaux; Choupic, 1 p.m., Chackbay and Choupic.
Big-box retailers are selling king cakes and stocking shelves with purple and gold Carnival masks, but some krewe members are finding the pace a bit hurried, while others are ready for the festivities to begin.
S.P. Larussa, the self-proclaimed King of Carnival and founder of the krewes of Hercules and Mardi Gras, said he can't wait for the area's first parade, the men and women's Krewe of Versailles scheduled for noon Jan. 27 in Larose.
"In south Louisiana you are born ready for Mardi Gras," said Larussa, whose Krewe of Hercules is Terrebonne Parish's first parade, 6 p.m. Feb. 1, along the west-Houma route. "We're big-time, and we throw the most."
The real-estate developer said he can remember as a child looking forward to Carnival time every year.
And while Mardi Gras-decorated flatbed trucks will litter the sides of the road in Houma and Thibodaux, others said they need a break from the condensed holiday season.
"I prefer when it falls late to give us time to get over the big holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's," said Tammy Ordoyne David, 45, of Thibodaux. "We can use a little rest in between."
Dawn Marie Toups agrees. She said she doesn't like when it falls early because of the weather — cold, windy weather.
"I'd rather watch a parade with a daiquiri in some kind of sunny, warm weather," she said. "Not to mention, being hit in the face with beads in the cold weather sucks."
While the earliest date Mardi Gras can fall is Feb. 3, Larussa said he can remember parading in January.
Larussa said what makes him especially excited this year is having former Gov. Edwin Edwards riding as Hercules' grand marshal under the theme "Hercules Celebrates Louisiana's Bicentennial." Larussa anticipates this year's parade to be the biggest in Hercules' history.
Other krewe members and Mardi Gras retailers are not as enthusiastic as Larussa. They said Fat Tuesday, Feb. 12, is too early for their liking.
Tracy Westerman, charter member of the Krewe of Ambrosia that began 29 years ago, said she has the krewe's obligations in order such as maids' dresses, but she's personally not ready because krewe officials typically have six weeks to prepare, unlike the four they have this year. Ambrosia is set to roll at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 2 in Thibodaux.
"You gotta go from switching over from all the holidays to full Mardi Gras spirit, and it's kind of like, 'Wow! You got to breathe first,' " said Westerman, 49, of Thibodaux. "But this year there's not a lot of time to breathe. You have to get psyched up, and here it is."
Mardi Gras falls 47 days before Easter and can occur as early as Feb. 3 and as late as March 9. Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after March 21, the vernal equinox, which never changes. These are dates set by the Gregorian calendar, which is used by many Orthodox Christian churches.
"We're busy right now," said Beverly Bergeron, 68, who has owned Mardi Gras-supply store Cajun Enterprises with her husband for 26 years.
She said a majority of residents visiting her shop are buying Mardi Gras decorations. She said business doesn't increase until 12th Night, which is Sunday. That's when she said she sees an influx of krewe riders flocking to the store for beads and riding supplies and throws.
As a business owner, Bergeron said she likes when Mardi Gras falls later in the season because it is strenuous to pack so much business in a small window.
Lisa Martin, a charter member of the Krewe of Aphrodite, is one rider ready to roll.
"I've probably been ready, but when it's this early it's hard getting everything ready, but we're managing it," said Martin who will reign as the krewe's 30th queen. "I can't say I'm 100 percent ready, but maybe 99.9 percent."
The 58-year-old Houma resident said she still has some details left to finalize, like her dress and parties, but ultimately she's ready for Aphrodite that rides at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 8 along the west-Houma route.
Mardi Gras revelers start Carnival celebrations at the season's kick-off event, the annual 12th Night Rendezvous, the unofficial start of Carnival season which falls 12 days after Christmas. The party is scheduled from 6 p.m. to midnight Sunday at Plantation Inn, 1381 W. Tunnel Blvd., Houma, and will feature free food and a cash bar. Admission is free.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Do you consider yourself to be a pretty good father, although you know you could be even better?Do you long to be better than good enough when it comes to raising your kids?It is hard for any man to admit being a father is a challenging role, but finding the courage to seek a better relationship with one's heavenly father and as a result a better relationship with one's children can be accomplished.Taking that first step is the topic of a Sherwood Pictures (the makers of Fireproof) film called Courageous, and this Friday night Redwood Alliance Church in Redwood Falls is hosting a free showing of the movie.The movie is set to play at 7 p.m. at the church on Second Street (the old Armory building), and there is no charge for those who would like to attend.According to Tim Dean, Redwood Alliance pastor, the movie presents a strong message as it offers a faith-based message especially geared toward fathers.Yet, he added, this is certainly a movie everyone can benefit from watching."We as a church want to minister to our community and to reinforce the importance of strong families," Dean said. "We believe this is one way we can help."Refreshments are being served during the presentation, and all are invited and encouraged to attend.See more online at courageousthemovie.com.
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63/255 Overall. 1:01:06.3 Official Gun Time. 10:02 Pace per Mile. 1:00:38.4 Unofficial Chip time. 1435 Bib number. polynesian_metal SAN FRANCISCO 53/120 Gender Place. 20/48 Men 30 - 39 9:15:28 Start time.
Race day, MG wakes me up when I'm still hitting snooze and asks me, "whats your goal for the day?". I murmur, blurber "finish in the top half overall and in my age group," and hope that he doesn't ask me anything else so I can sleep a few more seconds. Snooze alarm goes back on and I struggle out of bed saying" this is just like any other day, right? I'm just going out on the trail and doing a run and its 6 in the morning and I gotta go to work." Just like any other day, but today is race day and I've been training hard and really I'm excited as ****.
But you wouldn't be able to tell, at least until I got coffee. Started the pot and jumped in the shower. MG is still in m¥ bed. Got a cup of coffee, still toweling off and dripping wet out of the shower. Multi-tasking, trying to get it done all at once and still make it to the race on-time. Go in the room and turn on the light, realizing and saying to MG that maybe I should have warned him first. My clothes and crap are all over the bedroom. There's hardly any room to even walk around without tripping over beach bags, suitcases, worn and clean clothes, boots, hats, you name it. I've already admitted and probably have already disclosed that I suffer an extreme case of bachelor fratulitis, but still I can cope, its just an embarrassing situation, expecially at my age. From my baggage I brought back from the hot springs, I rifle and find all of the gear I'm looking for for todays race saying to MG, "today is all about wearing the things that I have already run in before," not knowing if he knows that what I mean is that everything I'm wearing has been ran in in that 12 miler from sunday and even before.
But I get all my gear, even decide to throw in a blanket just in case its cold and head off with MG to Starbuck's where I get a hot chai latte with an add shot, some mc muffins and a scone.
We head off to the Presidio to pick up the shuttle to the Marin Headlands. Timing is flawless btw. Good thing MG dressed up somewhat athletically so he didn't get held off the bus for being a spectator rather than a participant, but really everyone got on the bus. We sat in the back.
So being familiar with the Visitor Center in the Marin Headlands, I go and take a dump in the Unisex bathroom rather than waiting in line for either the ladies' or the men's and then we head up the hill to this open meadow where the North Face had set up the pavillions and the starting line that was inflated like one of those bouncy houses. I'm kind of stoked taking it all in. MG is sleepy and lost and I feel a little guilty about getting him up and out so early to indulge me in my obsession, but he said he was cool with that and he really liked being there. I totally appreciated the support but it feels weird cos this is me in my loner sport, but I'm willing to share.
Got my race packet and went to find a spot to ease out after finding a big handicap outhouse to take my craps and pisses in just to make sure I wouldn't have to void on the trail. That would definitely affect my times! Was thoroughly enlightened came back and we moved our little breakfast picnic operation to a sunnier side of the meadow.
Had to figure out how to gear up. I took a little excursion down the start and used a little bit of my weather witch prognostication. Since when I woke up and looked at the flags from the window of my flat and saw the wind blowing towards the ocean, and like wise when crossing the bridge saw Angel Island wrapped in a healing fog, I knew the wind would be blowing that fog over the ridge at Alta Trail. I decided to wear the shorty shorts with my long sleeve white NF top and my dollar tank over it with my bib safety pinned to the tank. Shades, ball cap, and I did my headband over my ears to keep them warm and my Ipod earphones snug. Camelbak, of course with one liter of water. Didn't need the pepperspray cos I doubt I'd see any mountain lions that day.
Stretched up a bit, and went to see if I could take another ****, but just peed, a very little and they started the pre race announcements while I was still in the sh i tt er.
Got pumped up near the starting line. I had to ask the announcer what ribbons to follow cos I was so pumped up I couldn't understand him. Red, Red, Red. Count down, the gun goes off, Race!
I started near the front middle, had to weave my way around people till I got to a place where I could run clear. Saw MG on the side of the track looking for me, but I noticed him before he did and scared him when I shouted at him and slapped him on the chest. That expression was priceless. Then the 10 k runners are going downhill and crossing the road and starting on Rodeo Valley trail westward to where we pick up Bobcat Trail. This course totally foregoes the Miwok Trail that I have been starting at for my training, but cool, I'm still familiar with this. So then we get to Bobcat and its flat for awhile and then the grind of the uphill switchbacks.
The sun isn't over the ridge yet, so it switches from morning shade to sun quite frequently. I'm able to adjust my cooling by either rolling up my sleeves or rolling them down. I think the camo bandana was reall¥ effective in keeping that chill from going down the neck. A quarter of the way up the hill I can see how the runners have stretched themselves out above and below. I figure since I can still see the leader thats pretty good. Found two guys to pace with, but eventually just let them blow. Halfway up the hill people were steadily passing me but I just kept my pace, running and never getting to blown out where I'd have to actually walk. I think in retrospect, running this entire race was the most important thing to me. So I'm getting passed and I have to remind myself: "Run your own race."
3/4 up the mountain, people are flagging and starting to break down and walk. They are doing brief intervals, but still running. I'm rock steady and I know the end of the uphill is in sight once I pass the ruins of the old abandoned ranch.
Then Bobcat connects to Alta, and I know I can start accelerating. I do and I'm catching and passing the group ahead of me, getting passed to, but the race is on at this point. I'm at the part that is an actual strength and it is part of the trail that I strategized and I'm following the war plan and getting really excited as I do. My Ipod playlist is flawless at this point playing martial Deuterror with horse clops and I can see the horseshoe prints in the mud before me so I'm totally in this moment of ambient metal synchronicity. And then at the summit there is a race photographer, so I barrel straight into the lens of the camera, working it like the supermodel I am. Past that and I'm accelerating down through the Eucalyptus to the gate and the aid station before the downhill of Rodeo Valley Trail.
I do stop at the aid station and grab a water. It really was a wasted stop because I had my own hydration, but everything I read recommend that one do, so I did. And then that double downhill jeep track is before me and I kill it because, this, my dear, is my specialty. My Adidas are gripping like no body's business and I'm taking a line like an alpine skier. I am blowing past whole groups and individuals that had passed me going up Bobcat. I flow as much as I could never really putting on the brakes, but just stepping off the accelerator when passing or coming towards the edge of a cliff. Then its getting flat at the point where I saw the cougar jump out on the trail and really I'm almost effin done.
Then this part gets tricky. This is the real part of the race. Some people were taking it slower and it got to this point where I was pacing, then chasing this young guy in a yellow long sleeve top. Then the bald latino guy my age was coming up on us. The 3 of us were exchanging places, then I had to let them go. We are crossing the road at this point and I'm running pretty much at max intensity, which felt kind of slow to me. I see this guy in gray shorts and I'm trying to catch him when I hear behind me "Let's beat this guy" and I turn around and its two women running together and catching me. We are on the uphill part of the road to the finish line and I'm just struggling to keep going and they do pass. Finally we hit the flat and I kick into my trademark end sprint and nearly mow down the two ladies at the finish.
Really the guy in the gray shorts, the two women and myself all finished within hundreds of a second of each other. I really should have caught them, but they took my line.
And for real, always you always see somebody just past the finish line, just hanging out talking and I'm already heading towards a collision with them. Should move out the way of my dramatic finish already.
So MG was at the finish line. That was nice. I was trying to get information from him like how many people finished before me, but he didn't exactly know because he took a nap wrapped up in a blanket but he figured I had probably been out there for an hour.
Joined him on the blanket and watched all of the other finishers, actually surprised at how many people were finishing after me and how widely the field was spread.
And then it was all about getting the race schwag and my race bag and wandering around the festival and calming down. I went to go check my race results and couldn't find my name in the middle then was stoked that I made it on the first page at place #63! I got a post race massage treatment for my leg tightness where they used a technique called 'grassing' which is using a convex metal blade to essentially disrupt the scar tissue in the muscles that causes tightness. Something new everyday.
Got back on the schoolbus to the city and I was ultimately stoked. Planning what to eat for a post race brunch I realized I wanted red meat, red wine and red vegetables. Raddichio, tomatoes, red peppers, red beans, red cabbage, anything red. Got all that made some awesome steaks drank some wine and watched Dreamgirls in a post race satiation. But believe it or not only got to nap for an hour before we had to go out to Elaine's for dinner and we were unforgivably already so stuffed!
So anyway, there is a lot to analyze about this race. I've posted the results above and I really actually exceeded my goals by alot being roughly in the top 25% overall and being in the top 50% minus 14 places for men overall and also top 50% minus 8 places for mens my age.
here comes the calculator:
Overall- 63/255 = 24.7%
By Gender- 53/120 = 44.16%
By Gendered Age Group (Men 30-39) = 20/48 = 41.66%
So I guess that I have a pretty good estimation of my abilities and have alot of room for improvement.
I'm stoked, yes I'm stoked, I'm stoked.
Now find and prep for a race in February.


text:
17 December 2007
A Question for the Audience
Many of the parents who said, despairingly, that their child doesn't like to read were parents of boys. The parents of girls most often were concerned that their daughter didn't read the right books -- that instead of challenging herself, building her vocabulary, expanding her mind, etc., she goes to the library or bookstore and finds "junk".
I wished I had easy answers. I wished I had any answers.
A couple of parents asked me for recommendations of places where their kids could find out about books they might like. No answer came to mind, because I've never looked at the sorts of websites or resources that kids might look at, and I honestly wouldn't even know where to begin. But I know some of you out there are interested in such things as YA books, and so I thought you might have some good pointers. I'd particularly love to know if there are any teen-oriented blogs out there that ever talk about books, particularly blogs by teens themselves. If you were (or are) a teenager, what sorts of resources would help you discover books you might like?
22 comments:
Do the parents who ask these questions, themselves, like to read?ReplyDelete
How old are the kids? Many adolescent males can be enticed with books containing lesbian sex scenes.ReplyDelete
I grew up in a house where no one read fiction. I have never seen either my mother or father ever pick up a novel or a collection of short stories. There were text books in the house, encyclopaedias (yes, more than one set), dictionaries, bibles but that was about it. Even to this day, having written four novels of my own, I still find reading a bit of a chore, something I make myself do because it's good for me. And that bothers me. I made sure my daughter was surrounded by books. Before she was born she had 100 books ready for her and I am pleased to say she has grown up into the bibliophile I would have wanted to see her become.ReplyDelete
Enthusiasm is contagious and kids love to copy. If your kids don't have the kind of appreciation for books you might expect is the fault theirs alone?
Some of the parents are readers, some are not, and they're all from a background and community that values scholarship and literacy, which may be why this question came up so repeatedly. The kids are 14-17. (Unfortunately, I'd be fired in a second if I recommended lesbian sex scenes at this particular school.)ReplyDelete
I think there is a difference between kids who like to read now, and kids who grow up to be life long readers.ReplyDelete
It wasn't until after college that I really started to read for pleasure again after much of high school and college when it was required.
I would agree with David and Jim that parents modeling reading was a strong factor to me. My mother insisted on reading to us every night long after I thought it was cool.
If you want reviews by Teens, isn't bad. Most of the reviews are written by teens, and they cover all ranges of books---both adult and YA. Other good sources are School Library Journal, which features regular reviews of YA books and adult books for teens, and Hornbook, which skews more to the tweens. I'd also suggest getting in touch with a YA librarian at your local public library; they can be a great resource. YA lit is as diverse as adult, and they can be a big help depending on what types of movies, comics, etc these kids like.ReplyDelete
You can't entice them to read SF/F/Horror? Boys tend to like that stuff. But I imagine the parents only want to read Respectable Literature.ReplyDelete
I work for Barnes and Noble. What I tell parents is that find a magazine that the child likes and buy it for them.. A magazine is something and it might lead to something else. Also comic books. Most parents turn away from comics because it's not "real reading" but really, the stories are sophisticated and hey, they are reading. It will surely turn them on to something else.ReplyDelete
I was lucky to have a son who likes to read. I do give credit to the fact that I read to him from an early age. Reading early and fun books, taking on the characters or making up voices as you read is a great night time activity and helps spur them on to read on their own later.ReplyDelete
In lieu of that make rewards for reading. Pick a book in a category that they like and for a reward perhaps offer a comic book or sticker book as a prize for finishing a book. I own and operate 4 used bookstores and talk to alot of parents who use this type of idea. Bringing your children to the bookstores and browsing around with them is a fun activity, make a fun lunch stop afterward part of the goal for them.
I am also an author of science fiction, The Charon Covenant and was fortunate that my son also loves science fiction. When he was younger we picked a book and had family night to read and discuss the book together. Pick a night each week as family night, it was alot of fun and he still remembers those nights.
in my experience, getting boys to read is not so much a question of YA books, but trashy books about zombies, military shit, and alla that stuff. the trashier, the more violent, the more gross out, the less 'kiddie' it seems (never mind that a lot of these books are aimed at a teen audience and skip really foul language) the better off you are.ReplyDelete
BATTLE ROYALE, for example, is very popular amongst the 14 to 17 group, i've found.
- Anonymous12/19/2007 9:32 PM
The Halo videogame's tie-in novels, Darren Shan, Alex Horowitz and someone else I'm forgetting are good gateway drugs.ReplyDelete
M. T. Anderson, Nick Hornsby and Sherman Alexie all have teen lit that is supposedly actually good.
When my sister was teaching high school English, she used to give an assignment that consisted of sending the kids into a bookstore, buying a work of fiction they've never read before, and then doing a short report on it. (I think she offered to buy books for anyone who couldn't afford one, but this was in a fairly affluent area.) She said she regularly got responses from kids saying, "I didn't know you could read just for fun!"ReplyDelete
Paolo Bacigalupi, whose wife teaches middle school (I think), has a lot of thoughts on this subject. I think some are on his blog. As I recall, he's very high on Conn Iggulden's DANGEROUS BOOK FOR BOYS.
---Gordon V.G.
I have heard the sentence "I hate reading" dozens of times over a 33-year-career in education, but a lot more in the last decade.ReplyDelete
As an academic support director at a law school, I'd meet with students on academic probation and ask them about stuff and "I hate reading" would come up a lot. I learned not to ask, "Did you ever think that hating reading would make going to law school -- a place that requires hundreds of pages of reading a night -- kind of hard?"
First-year college students routinely say "I hate to read." A lot of times it is that reading is such a chore for them because they never mastered it. Most of us hate activities we're bad at.
There's always a minority who adore reading and can't get enough -- like my friend's 13yo daughter whom I saw buy the new Harry Potter and finish it off within 24 hours. She had to interrupt reading 3 other books to do it.
I'm convinced that in a visual culture, reading is becoming less important. Certainly serious literature has been marginal in our culture for years and will only get more so.
You might try getting them to read graphic novels. Public library stats show the vast majority of borrowings from their YA collections are graphic novels.
Back in the late 50s and early 60s, I devoured lots of books but also everything from DC, Marvel and other comics publishers I could get my hands on.
This may be a bit optimistic but I think that kids who don't like to read usually just haven't found the right kind of book yet.ReplyDelete
Most of what I read throughout school was horrible sadistic crap like Ethan Frome. I was very lucky to get to read Inivible Man with an excellent teacher in 11th grade. But it wasn't until I read Slaughter House Five on my own a year later that I fell in love with reading.
My column every month at Bookslut is all about YA and MG recommendations. ("Bookslut in Training") I also know a ton of sites that review great books for teens and could send them to you via email. Contact me at colleenatchasingraydotcom if you want to know more.ReplyDelete
Colleen Mondor
If you haven't seen it, THE NEW YORKER has an article on reading habits vs. visual media: http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2007/12/24/071224crat_atlarge_crainReplyDelete
---Gordon V.G.
Bookburger.com is "a site for hungry readers ages 14 to 24" that I quite like. There's also Spinebreakers.co.uk, created by and for "a bunch of 13-18 year olds who love books."ReplyDelete
I think these parents have lost the battle before they've begun to fight. If their children are not already readers, they are unlikely to cultivate the habit of reading in children who are already adolescents. Given the portability and ubiquity of other media today--the mp3 players, the portable electronic games, video on iPods and so on--not to mention their music, video, and game players at home--kids who do not already enjoy reading are unlikely to learn to find appealing the slow going of running their eyes over plain black text on white paper in order to have to translate for themselves the symbols into mental images, no matter what the material.ReplyDelete
My love of reading came naturally...my father was an inveterate reader of newspapers, magazines, and books, and his love of the weekly trips to the newstand or bookstore quickly communicated to my twin brother and me, (my younger brother, not so much). Additionally, he and my mother did read to us at night, until we were able to begin reading for ourselves. Among our earliest reading material were comic books, because my father was a fan of comic books, comic strips, and science fiction, and so there was never a snobbish attitude in our house that such material was unsuitable for us. I think comic books introduced at the right age--well before adolescence--are the perfect "gateway drug" to reading as a lifelong habit; from comics and Dr. Seuss I moved on to the Hardy Boys and Tom Swift, then on to Robert Heinlein juveniles and other material aimed at older children and young adolescents, then onto Edgar Rice Burroughs and Robert Howard. By the time I graduated from college I had a desire for meatier stuff, and I began reading "serious literature" out of a natural growth of my own sensibilities.
Perhaps some adolescents may be encouraged to develop a reading habit at such an advanced age, but I would be very surprised if their numbers would be greater than infinitesimal.
i think there needs to be a carrot and a stick for kids who don't like to read. i've been spending a lot of time on yahoo answers, where someone can go and post a question and random people come and answer it.ReplyDelete
there are TONS of teens on yahoo answers asking for book recommendations because they're required to either read a book that matches a certain description (contemporary, american, over 200 pages) or pick a book from a list.
the school requirement is the stick, but the community at yahoo answers can provide the carrot. teens who love to read patrol the books section of yahoo answers, proselytizing for their favorite books. and they get discussions going, although the format isn't fluid enough to allow for blog or board-like discussions, there's definitely a community there.
as long as kids have frequent "choose a book" assignments, or their parents require them to read to get their allowance or something, the kids can go find a community that will help them choose books they like.
- Anonymous12/22/2007 4:08 PM
As a preface, I've been a Kelly Link fan since 9th grade, so I'm certainly not a typical student. I've always been a bit of a book nerd, but what really focused me was a 7th grade English teacher who recommended G.R.R. Martin to me, and who always let me wander into her office and talk about whatever I was reading. She helped me find my niche in the genre (not Martin, as it turned out) by just letting me bounce ideas off her.ReplyDelete
One of the really great things she did with her classes is she used popular stories. Obviously Martin wouldn't fly, but we did (7th grade) Ella Enchanted for starters, and went on to Alice in Wonderland, Tom Sawyer, and The Golden Compass (at a Catholic school, actually). She never treated it like reading was hard or something to decode. We always had fun just talking about the books and getting off topic. We never hammered on the 'right' way to understand things. We just talked about the interesting ideas, the characters we liked, where we enjoyed the story and where it didn't work for us. So she ended up creating a very positive atmosphere for reading instead of trying to teach us. In doing so, she certainly changed me, and others as well. I don't come from the 'I've never read' category, but I do come from the 'didn't have a niche' group. And the most important thing for me was having that teacher who talked with me about my interests and didn't go 'Genre? You're better than that!', the response I get from all other English teachers. She focused on informally helping me find what I already enjoyed, and then finding ways to explore those books more fully.
A lot of the time, kids read popular trash because they don't know what else to read. As a student, the most helpful thing my teacher did was find out exactly what I clicked with in the random bland stuff I was reading, and then get me into a place where I could find good stuff with the same elements I enjoyed. For me, that was speculative fiction, where I came for the epics and ended up staying for the random artsy pieces. I know that most students wouldn't come and hang out with a teacher and discuss that...but if you're really serious about 'getting kids to read,' that's the way to do it. You can just take a class and come up with a list of books and discuss them. The other big thing: never, ever try to pick from YA only. It's such a stupid thing to do. I never enjoyed YA, and my teacher saw that and pulled me straight into the genre even if, by most people's standards, it was extremely age-inappropriate material. Some kids will go straight for the top authors, some won't. But for the sorts who are frustrated with YA, there's nothing more annoying than someone trying to stuff Tamora Pierce down their throats in hopes that they'll 'enjoy' it. Not all students are brilliant, but also, not all of them are immature and dumb. At the same time, sometimes going back to stuff for younger audiences works for other kids. When teachers feel like they're imposing the 'this is good literature, this is trash' thing, no one reads. And in class, don't lecture. Point things out. It feels much more open, and kids are always more likely to discuss.
The biggest thing is that while there is truly bad writing out there, within each genre or whatever, there is genuinely good writing too. And if you can get kids to find what's good in what they already like, they'll thrive. It takes time to get to know them, and some trust. But the payoffs are immense.
Hi Matt--ReplyDelete
There are sites that reach beyond the books that are pushed by publishers, like the "Curled Up With a Good Book" section for children and Hilary Williamson's "BookLoons."
It is perilously easy to fall away from the basic task of reading aloud to children. Parents are tired, sleepy beings; put them on the edge of a warm bed, and they collapse. It's easy for them to convince themselves that they're reading aloud "often enough" when they're really not. But the key thing is to not lose steam on reading to children--read until they want to read on their own, at whatever age that might be. And pay attention to what allures them; try to find books that feel kindred to what a child likes.
Ah, I see Rose Fox already beat me to that wonderful link.ReplyDelete
Clearly what you need is an undercover agent who can make those recommendations on your behalf...


text:
HI All, ran 6.4 miles on LSD TM today. Fluctuated incline mostly from 2.5 to 3.0. Hit target distance. Tough day, worked last night till 7, woke up at 12:30 - had a meeting at 3pm with 1 hr commute, just barely enough time to do 6 x 10:00 and shower. I went with the TM instead of eating till about 5pm. This Sunday is supposed to hit 60! I hope I get to run. Mom is in the Hospital with leg infection and it may be my only time this weekend to visit her.
Melody welcome back. MKayC I have done Max HR in my training, but mainly to get me started. Seemed I was always trying to run too fast, or something. HR eventually came down and I was able to do longer distances. My HR was in the 190+ range. Im not recommending it, but it got me started. NHLA did you forget your headlight or did it fail on you? Francesmom hang in there. As for the eggs, I have 12 Rhode Island Reds (great layer) about 8 Aracuna Americana (they lay pastels called "easter eggs") and 5 Black Rocks because my wife felt bad for them left-over at the feed store. I had 31 in the Spring, down to 24 in Jan. Biggest loss was 2 due to a weak-spot in the fence in 2 nights. This is my 3rd year raising them. In past, I lost them must faster. Coyotes, coy dogs, raccoons, fisher cat, possum. My main suggestion is to build it strong. Give them a nice coop with no way for anything to get in. I'll upload a photo of my setup soon. Fresh eggs are so great! and I see them flapping their wings outside, pecking at dirt, bugs, grass. Its good to see. Also, I bought more chicks than I needed, because I lost birds every year. With Rhode Island Reds (good starter bird) you will probably get close to 90% egg to bird ratio, most of the year. Also, congrats on the sub 9 time.
Deb -just one more minute, I do it all the time. good job! jmsab nice bike ride. Congrats on the C25K trainer gig. I bet it is going to be fun getting the contact high of the newbies making progress. As for the TM haters, I never hated the TM, but when I started running the road, I learned (over time) I loved that more. I am easily distracted. I can handle Headline News, or even a 3 min MTV video, but longer attention and Im sure Id be injuring myself. OC Toned Bones. Awesome name. Cool concept. Leigh that is really cool about the Medal. I love the Medal. Most 5K dont give medals though, do they? Ive been in 3 races total, I dont know. Im glad I saw your Disney run in your history. Im planning a trip. I got to see the upcoming races and it just may affect our plans to make sure I am in Disney Running.That should be a cool medal. Az2Mn Congrats on the grandbaby. Awesome trail run. Sorry to hear about hubby. Hopefully he makes changes in his lifestyle that you can help him by supporting so that he lives a long healthy life. -
2012 Aug 19, 2012 - Canton PTO LobsterLoop 5K 35:09 Oct 13, 2012 - ING Hartford 5K 31:34
January 1, 2013 - 10K PR 59:08
Sun Jan 27th 10am Penguin Plunge.
Sun April 28, - Simsbury River Run (unable to register yet)
Sun May 26, 2013 - Memorial Day Marathon (26.2 REGISTERED)
Sun June 2 Amica Iron Horse 1/2 Marathon - (unable to register yet)
Sun Aug 18? 2013 - Canton PTO Lobster Loop 5K (VOLUNTEER)
Sat Sept 28 2013 - 5K Rugged Maniac (REGISTERED)
Sat Oct 12, 2013 - 26.2 (plan is to beat May Time)
AZ2MN - I'm glad he's all right. I know what you mean about crisis situations - your training takes over and your heart rate doesn't even increase, but then when the crisis is over you just collapse from emotion.
Sadly, the runner that collapsed at the race last Saturday was not so fortunate; he passed away after 3 days in ICU.
Linuscatch - sent you a private message and an email to your office account with my cell #. Hope to see you tomorrow!
First things first: Az2Mn..... Glad to hear he's OK now. You must have been at wit's end so far away when you heard from him. Keep him in line with the diet, exercise, etc. Sometimes guys over 50 don't always listen like they should and don't pay attention to what they're told. I can't remember who told me that, or if that's exactly what they said, but it was something to that effect.
Ran a 3-mile progressive run on TM tonight (didn't get to run outside in the great weather today due to traveling 50 miles for wife's follow-up and first PT session). After the 3 miles, did 2 x 400 at full speed and 2 x 800 at 9 mph with 400 jogs in between each. Total 5.5 miles, 43:08.
Found out I have to help with wife's at-home PT. The guy showed me three range-of-motion exercises to start with. Have to do them 2x /day. I'm not certified. And can I bill her insurance company?
JeffCT... Nice time management and best wishes for your mom's leg infection. Good work on the 6+ TM run!!
Good luck to weekend racers and all other runners.
Have nice days.
Wow... it's the only thing I can say looking at previous posts.
I'm still struggling to make 5 every day, but I believe I've been making progress.
jmsab23 Concerning treadmill toleration: My company's gym has several. One of them does have a screen that shows you courses to run. The important thing is that they face the TV. I suppose I should look at it as an opprotunity to reacquaint myself with the Andy Griffin show reruns.
10K race in Chicago's Perfect 10 back in November '11 1:03:26
Soldier Field 10 5/26/2012 1:46:25
Chicago Half Marathon 9/9/2012 2:17:53
10 mile race in Chicago's Perfect 10 on 11/10/2012: 1:37:21
NHLA, "back in the day when I last ran on the TM...." ?? Love this weather!!
FrancesMom, doing 4.73 mi in 42 min with a 2 mi puppy walk is heavy-duty!! Glad to hear all news on DD is good.
Deb, great way to push through!
JM, snowshoeing? Ugh. And, not in a good way. Good choice, going inside. Now, with the C25k, it sounds like you are doing that all on your own (w/o sponsors?) That's huge. Just FYI, ours was advertised through local running store's email and on its web site. It drew about 60 people at our one spot (was going on at three locations) and about 35 of them finished. There were pretty evenly numbered groups of those who kept walking, those who stayed with intervals and those who took the leap to running. Needed coaches for the three groups and actually had three coaches for the run/walkers because they were going at very different paces. Using the C25k program model, you may have a different result but it will be popular. It was fun!! Re: HR training, if you were doing this, your maximum aerobic heart rate would be somewhere near 132 (180 - 57 + 5 for over 55 and +5 for fitness). You'd have to keep all runs under 132 for three to four months. Hahahahaha. Ya, that's gonna happen. Your pay for PT? Srsly? Yearssss of "attaboy!"
OC, ahhahahahah! Now see, I would not have made that mistake bc I was once a Twihard. Live and learn. Having green chili and buffalo lust, thank you very much. Can't wait to hear about how you and Linus had a great race!!
Great run, Leigh!
OshCat, a medal. YAY!! Some great base building!
Az, you are a beast!! Amazing race report and result !!! So sorry about DH. I know you're invincible but I hope you will consider giving yourself some down time. You've been through a lot of major changes that can make a huge impact on a person's life.
Damn, Jeff, way to sneak the run in! Sorry to hear of DM's hospitalization.
Well, as part of your advice and my efforts to remind myself why I'm running I started a race discussion on another thread. Check it out. It's title is something like, "My favorite race was...because.." Lots of great ideas!! There are races through Fenway and AT&T park in SF. Who knew!! Someone (Maybe Snerb) mentioned the Humboldt Race of the Giants. That looks it might be the most beautiful run ever! anyway, the discussion is working to get me motivated or at least remind me why I want to keep training.
I am still taking in info but am probably going to embrace maximum aerobic HR training because so many folks mentioned that my latest symptoms sounded like overtraining, I've been having trouble losing weight when I cut calories, I'm getting sick too much, it's more comfortable, and it's likely to make efforts to go long easier. I'm listing all this bc I'm still not convinced doing this won't make me lose all the speed I've worked so hard to gain but theory is you get faster once your body adjusts so I'm taking the next three to four months to find out. Also, this should make more frequent runs less likely to injure me. So, I'll be posting some very slow paced runs with big puffy chest and now you know why. Having trouble bc of age, etc. figuring my max aerobic HR. Anyone know what it feels like when you reach that and/or how it feels different to work at an anaerobic rate?
So, three runs this week, total 11.5. YAY!! Yesterday and today were attempts to stay under 126 and 121 HR. Paces of 12:43 and 15 mm first on TM and then at HS track. Fudging. My max aero. HR is somewhere between 111 and 121 but 111 means walking and that's 17 mm, just not my idea of work. 121 required walk/run. That was hard enough. Funny how when I'm trying to slow down, I have no trouble breathing and wanting to go harder but when I'm trying to push, I want to back off. My best race pace for HMs is above 12:43 but it felt torturously slow, like running backwards, while I was doing it. Of course, no hills. I wonder how much is still just mental dust balls. Anyway, breathing was no problem despite still hacking and blowing. I felt like I could do so much more after these runs. Joints are shouting, though, and I'm hoping its just adjustment. Ice bath in winter is pure hell!!!!!!!
Strong runs, all!!
Mary Kay
Running: Started 5/6/2011; Graduated C25k - 7/21/11; Graduated B210k - 11/24/11;
PRs: 5k - 36:42; 8k - 1:10; 4.15 m - 53.41; 10k - 1:18; HM - 2:56:31
I may be slow but I'm persistant.
Goals: 5k under 30 min.; HM under 2 hr.; AG award in the USAF HM! and one full marathon.
It won't be easy but it will be worth it!
jmsab - I've always wanted to try snowshoeing - sounds like a good precursor to hot cocoa! A big screen in front of the treadmill with beautiful courses might be nice - Expresso Bike does that (small screen) with stationary bikes ( and I love those). When the course goes uphill, you feel like you're riding uphill - quads! Of course, the reason they want you to help with the PT at home is probably to make the insurance company happy - no claims.
NHLA 65 in January! I know you're down south,but still . . . wow. It's suppposed to be in the upper 50s here tomorrow.
Old Coyote - if I managed to run up to that elevation, I sure as heck would take time to enjoy the view too. Toned Bones - LOL
LeighDS - I hear you on the cold, but you're still getting 'er done.
OshCat - good resting your knee - you don't want to play with that. And how exciting - unexpected bling in the mail! Re: sister-in-law and cousin, the family that runs together . . . has fun together!
az - hugs to you!! How frightening to get that phone call when so far away. I know you'll take good care of hubby- whether he likes it or not. great race
Jeff - awesome mileage on the TM. I'm a little apprehensive about using an incline - afraid I'll slide right off the back of the TM, I guess. Speedy healing to your mom!
mikolajek - progress at our own pace is what it's all about.
degregorius - LOL. I always forget to take headphones to the Y (I never use music anymore) to plug into to TV - I just keep reading the scrolling news along the bottom of the screen - no wonder I'm bored.
MaryKay - whatever works is what you should do - trial and error - maybe some more error - and then you'll have a system that works for you! Hopefully you will get over this cold and be done for the season with illness.
Yesterday I totally slacked off again - thought of changing my handle to SlackerDeb - but got back on the exercise horse this morning. 60 minutes of water aerobics; then 1.5 miles on the TM at an average pace of 10:38 - which is hugely fast for me; then a full circuit on the weightlifting machines. The one nice thing about the TM is I can run at a faster pace - kind of because I have to once I set the speed or I'll fall off - so maybe I can transfer that to the road one day. Tomorrow is long run - definitely outdoors - it will be warmer and daylight and no ice! Yay!
JeffCT - I'm glad I'm not that busy!
jmsab - I don't envy you. Doing PT for a loved one can be very hard. You are causing pain to the one you love, and knowing it's for her own good doesn't help much. Walk in love, brother.
mikolajek - "progress at our own pace is what it's all about" I couldn't have said it better than DebM, so I didn't.
degregorius - I wish Chicago would get some snow, so you could enjoy what we are
MaryK and DebM - I will be taking another rest week myself. This body needs it.
Francessmom - I'm praying for you and your daughter.
I ran ~150 miles in December, and then I haven't hit 20 miles in a week for the last 3 weeks. Any runs I've had have been high quality, no junk miles, just a lot of fun. I met up with linuscatch and his neighbor at the race this morning. It was 8 degrees and overcast. I wore 2 full bottom layers and 3 on top, plus gloves, had, bandana, and glasses. By the 3K mark the gloves and bandana came off to dump heat. While warming up, I pulled slightly my plantaris muscle in my right leg. That's the one that runs between your quads and gastrocs on the outside of your knee. My gastrocs were stiff, and the weather was quite cold, so it's not surprising I got hurt. Anyway, I continued to warm up, decided that running conservatively wasn't likely to increase the injury, and lined up for the start.
Aside: If, when the starter gun fires, you think you may be fiddling with your iPod and hydration pack, do not line up near the sign that says "elite runners".
Anyway, I took it easy, did the first 3K at 5 min/kilometer, then the last 2 at 4:30. I'm getting to know this distance pretty well, so pacing gets easier. Official time 24:03, chip 23:53, 1:34 off of my PR but my best time for this course, and I had fun. There was a woman with a smallish terrier type dog just ahead of me through kilometer 3, when I passed her. She came in 5 seconds behind me. Now, I got beat by a couple 8 year old girls and some "jogging" strollers and I'm OK with that, I'm happy for them. But I don't wanna get beat by a terrier . I was 8th in my AG, but the full field size hadnt been posted when I left, so I don't know what 8th means. This is the first race in a local series that runs through September; some money, some bragging rights, so it draws a fast crowd in all AGs as well as walkers (not so many this year!) I guess there were about 800 hardy souls. Those volunteers today ROCKED! If you don't ever work a race, please do. Even on a nice day, if you must .
Went to the post race health fair where I was informed my body fat percentage is 10.2.
Good luck to the Sunday racers. I'll be lurking next week even if I'm not running and posting
I've been having a VERY hard time logging in here lately Still thinking about a move, anyone??
I've taken a few days off, but did run close to 20 miles this week. Chiropractor yesterday and then rest. Hoping for another 10 miler tomorrow in 40 degrees<~ WOW toasy!
mkayc I admire your willingness to try different approaches to your training. Maybe try a Paleo type diet, or wheat free? It might help shed the pounds with less hard running.
NHLA You guys are so tough running in the dark! Wow, 65 degrees?! Shorts?
Francessmom I hope there is more good news for your daughter...I know that must be stressful!
Debm2011 At-a-girl, pushing through with "just one more minute"! I hope you get to run outside on Sunday. I will see you on the virtual roads.
jmsab23 That's so cool that you are heading up a C25K program. You will be changing someone's life! You are a good hubby re: DW's recovery.
Old Coyote Toned Bones sounds SO cool! I want to go. Wow, what an awesome race you ran! "body fat percentage is 10.2" <~ Holey Moley!!!
LeighDS Hang in there with this cold...spring is commin'
OshCat That's outstanding about the surprise medal! BTW, (my two cents) when I got my foam roller and really focused on working the IT band, all my knee pain went away.
az2mn What a whirlwind for you!! OMGosh, girl. (((hugs))) and a few more (((hugs))). I echo what Mary Kay said, be sure to take care of yourself, that is a lot of stress. CONGRATS on the new grand babe and I hope hubby recovers quickly!
JEFF CT I hope your mom gets better soon and you can get outside for a run tomorrow.
Age: 53
1980 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon
Best 5K time: 31 minutes
Best 10K time: 1:12
First 1/2 Marathon: 2:43
Raised $4491 for animal charity through running
For 2013:
Memorial Day 5/26 10K- I hope to raise $3000 for animal charity in my "Run For The Critters"
Maine Marathon 9/29- I hope to finish 2:30
Old Coyote: I did a three mile run today, because tonight the temperature drops, and tomorrow, it will snow. Really! That's what the forecast says.Wil it be an inch or more. Well....
10K race in Chicago's Perfect 10 back in November '11 1:03:26
Soldier Field 10 5/26/2012 1:46:25
Chicago Half Marathon 9/9/2012 2:17:53
10 mile race in Chicago's Perfect 10 on 11/10/2012: 1:37:21
Today I ran a "long" run that I've wondered about for quite a while now. It's a big loop on the main roads around the small lake in back of our house. There are some hills, and some big hills. I always thought it was longer than it turned out, but it was 6.75 miles. I finished in 56:29, stopping a couple times to walk a little and take a couple sips of water on the biggest hills.
Coyote..... Yeah, fiddling with your ipod or water bottles at the start isn't a great idea. The only thing worse than getting run over at the start is getting beat by a little old lady with her terrier.
mkayc.... We're in a small town, so I'm not expecting a large turnout for the C25K, but I'd be happy to have a lot of runners/walkers. It would be fun to get so many people going. I'm lining up some stores to get discount coupons, nutritionist visits, etc.
Degregorious..... When I was using the TM at my company last fall, when mine was broken, it was facing outdoors into the parking lot, so after work, when I ran, I'd be watching all the other employees leaving to go home or wherever they were going - not inspirational at all.
Melody.... I think my logging in issues were with my old computer, which needs to be replaced. I've had no issues with my wife's laptop.
Debm.... The only thing about keeping up with the treadmill is when the power goes out, which happened to me once. I was going at a pretty good clip, and everything went black, and I went flying into the FRONT console of the TM, because the belt STOPPED!!!! Just the opposite of not keeping up with the belt and falling off the back.
Go PATS!!!
11 miles 1 hr 45 min. Got cought in the rain, Running with a cold is slowing me down.
Shorts weather.
OC nice 5k
MK I haven't been on a TM for four years.
az health problems sure make all your other problems seem small.
NHLA - Didn't you have a suggestion on where to move this group?
Go Broncs. Tied at halftime.
2.5 miles at 9:30 pace in sunny San Juan on Wed afternoon. Then 5 miles again in San Juan on Thur at a sightseeing pace of 11:00b Both days it was about 80 degrees! If you all haven't been to Old San Juan, it is very cool, with lots of history and a beautiful section of town with great hotels, nice restaurants and shops.
Then met up with coyote this morning for the local 5k and it was 8 degrees. Lots of layers. Been running slower of late so had no expectations, except finishing behind both coyote and my neighbor. Both of those expectations were fulfilled as I finished in 28:58, or 9:18 pace.
So I insured that the course record stayed intact, but really it was a good race for me, with splits of 14:53 and 14:05. Overall felt good, and while I had the Garmin watch and HRM on, I never looked at it between the start and finish lines, instead running totally by feel. When I looked back at results, the effort was even throughout, and for the first time in any race since high school, I did not have to stop to walk from going out too fast. Who knows, maybe my pace demons can be conquered.
Great event, and even better meal after. Enjoyed the time with coyote and look forward to finding time to run together again soon. While I did not stop at the health fair, I am absolutely positive that they would not have found my body fat to be 10.2%!
This race is what I needed to get refocused. Gonna lose the 10 lbs I have gained since Sept and start getting serious again with some structured training.
az: Glad to hear hubby is OK, but what a scare that must have been. I am only a couple years younger than him and think about that kind of thing happening to me.
Everyone else: Keep up the great work. Will come back on line tomorrow when I have more time to respond to you individually.
Run fearless!
Wow, you all have been busy!
as2mn- so glad to hear DH is OK. That is a big scare, so hard when so far away. I hear what you say about the TM, but I've decided to make peace with the beast. Miles on the treadmill are better than no miles at all, and it's just to tough to get outside in this WI/MN weather.
The warmer weather we had didn't get me outside; either raining or blowing at 30 mph; even at 40 degrees, that's no fun. We even lost power this morning during the high winds. All of my running today was running around in the car; maybe I'll hit the TM tomorrow during Seattle/Atlanta to see how Wisconsin's Russell Wilson fairs in his second playoff game.
Good health to all!
Dan-started running 1/29/2011 at age 57
notable 2012 runs:
Crazylegs Classic-Madison-8K--4/28/2012--00:52:14
Roxbury Rural Run--5K--5/5/2012-- 29:32-PR
Haslanger Classic--10K--8/4/2012--1:06:19 PR
WO-ZHA-WA Run--HM--9/15/2012--2:37:45
Honky Tonk Marathon- Wisconsin Dells- 10/21/2012-5:39:09
2013 runs:
Fleet Feet New Year's Day Dash-8K-1/1/2013--54:23
Door County HM- 5/4/2013
Fox Cities HM- 9/22/2013 (60thBD!)
ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations from 5k running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events. ACTIVE also makes it easy to learn and prepare for all the things you love to do with expert resources, training plans and fitness calculators.


text: I just finished reading Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card and enjoyed it. The book was short but was interesting and an easy read for breaks at work. My question is, are the other books in the series worth the time or would I be better off considering it a stand alone book and moving on? If you have read some or the rest of the series I would appreciate your input.


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Be careful what you wish for 'cuz it's more than rhymes and good times behind this door.
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Hi folks I'm a new guy to the sport [completed 2 sprints] but signed up to try TRY to complete the CA Ironman. Is any one out there signed up for this event. If so - I'm looking to compare cyber notes on training, support, and preparation. Also if anyone has already completed the CA Ironman would like to here your story / advice on this tri.
Looking forward to hearing from the active community.
What area do you live in? We will have a full training program for the 70.3 in San Diego - should have 10-15 athletes in the group to compare notes with.
Let me know if you have any specific questions. Good luck!
Rehab United Physical Therapy
RU Sports Performance Center
"Where Athletes Become Champions" (TM)
San Diego, CA
It's a well run triathlon and you'll have fun. On the swim, the water of course is very cold and the two years I did it, it was 53 and 56 degrees F. If you can, use a full length (with arms) wet suit. You get use to the cold as you're swimming, but after 1.2 miles of swimming, it's awfully nice to get out of it. My first year my feet were numb, so running out of the water was a bit of an adventure in its self. The only other issue with swimming is that on your way back, you swim into the sunrise (the glare) which makes it a little difficult to see the markers... but if you just keep swimming with the other fish you'll be fine.
The bike was straight forward, a good deal of the course goes through the Marine Base and in the past years they would not let you pre-ride it, due to security issues. There are a couple of long climbs, but nothing major league difficult. The wind in a few, certain areas, can also be a bit of a problem, but otherwise not bad.
The run is also very straight forward, two loops, going through an area they call "the Strand" and the crowds and volunteers are great, incredibly supportive!
Have fun and enjoy!
Thanks for you first hand advice.
I have coached Adult Fitness Swimming/ Masters for many years. Most of my swimmers happen to be Triathletes.
The most interesting thing about training for triathlons is the Swimming portion.
Having a swimming back ground is by far the best advantage one has on a Race.
Swimming is the first part and most people say "well i can just give it my all and make up on the second two"
Easier said than done!
If your swimming is poor, I would devote most of the training to swimming. Not only will swimming help your time but
help you still have the energy to continue with the other two parts of the race.
I have had a lot of people who say well I am physically in shape, Run everyday and bike every day.
Once you jump in the pool it is a different ball game. Swimming is unlike any other sport or activity out there.
2% of the things you can do outside of the pool will help your swimming. Leaves you with 98% of no training for
the swimming.
The great thing about swimming:
-Great Lung Capacity which will carry over to your running and biking
-Tone and shape your muscles which will carry over to your running and biking
-Self Discipline by swimming up and down a pool (boring after a whie) will carry over by having a strong mind set and determination
-Kicking in a pool will help strengthen your muscles which will carry over in the running and biking.
With that a lone you should concentrate in the whole swimming aspect to help better your performance and endurance.
Hope the best of luck,
Matthew Olaya
Swim Venture
Pool Manager/Stroke Coach
Huntington Beach
Matthew Olaya
Personal Trainer
Huntington Beach California
-B.S. Kinesiology
-NASM Cert.
I have completed this and several other Ironman events. My comments are as follows: 1) you can fake your way through any race up to and including a half-Ironman, there is no faking an Ironman, they are all tough and there are several components to tough - a) Physical, b) Mental, c) Nutrition and you have to train yourself for all of these elements. 2) Train to go long early as once you've done long (no matter how slowly, you will have trained your body to go long -- after that it is fitness that makes it go faster but going long early (when you are not prepared) gives you a sense of the mental effort required to complete the Ironman. However, you have to go slow enough not to injure yourself as your body will not be fully trained). 3) Nutrition is the hardest thing to master as it always kicks in -- in my first Ironman I threw up at mile 32 and again at mile 86 on the bike (which creates two problems -- dehydration which is hard to recover from and your systems remain shut down and so you are running on less fuel and this is mentally stressful). 4) Mental, "Pain is temporary, quitting is forever!" is a good motto 5) Your body has to reset its chemistry every approximately 3 hours during this event and during those 10 - 20 min that your body chemistry changes you will want to Quit@&^!! mentally and you have to work through those periods knowing it will then be much easier again for another several hours! 6) Nutrition - train on what you will race on; bring enough of the goodies you want on your bike and in your run belt to be self-sufficient but know what is on the course and train with it if you can as a backup. Finally, have fun! Enjoy the journey while focusing on the destination!
The article and first-hand reply posted are both excellent; I can add a few things:
- If the water temp is below 58F you can legally wear neoprene socks; keeping feet warm helps with the run up out of the water to T1 and can save you some fumble-time in T1. I'd definitely plan to have a neoprene cap under your race swim cap. Also have your shoes already clipped in the pedals (held upright w/rubber bands) 'cause the distance from the bike racks to the mounting line can be considerable (depending on your age group) and it goes faster barefoot.
- with the early morning chill and cold swim, you might be tempted to dress too warmly for the bike. My experience is that it warms up considerably during the morning, so it's pretty safe to go with your normal weather tri gear (e.g. shorts and singlet) on the bike, maybe arm warmers if the day is forecast to be stay cool, but you'd probably roll those down during the ride.
- watch for some folks who hit that first short steep climb out of the marina area in the wrong gear and end up slowing WAY down. Spin a bit higher RPM in the first mile or two to get your circulation going (from the cold swim). Enjoy the bike ride, you're getting to ride undeveloped southern California terrain with little traffic. Be ready to be aero in the closing twelve miles on the marine base--it's flat and this is where a headwind can pick up. Also where the course marshals are checking everyone for drafting big time.
- by the time you hit the run course, it can be downright hot along the Strand, so be sure to know what your electrolyte needs are (sodium, potassium, etc.) and pack accordingly. There are pretzels at the aid stations for sodium. (I stay away from the gatorade as it is high in potassium and I really only lose sodium on a fast hot run.) It is a fast course with great aid station volunteers, and the out-and-back twice format makes it go quickly. If you are a strong runner, blaze it.
I ran the Oceanside 70.3 in 2006 (my first triathlon after a two-decade hiatus) then again in 2007. Just the one year learning curve improved my time nearly 40 minutes. Since you have experience running sprints, you know to waste no time in transition. It's the same with 70.3, no need for any more time in transition, time saved there comes right off your finishing time and is 'free.'
Good luck to you, and spare no concern for the distance, you'll be fine. The advice that only the full ironman distance is a different animal is correct (in my experience).
All this first hand info/articles are great. Kept them coming, My nerves are really acting up now. The clock is ticking for this old guy.
FOR you folks who have completed a half ironman, you are an inspiration to many of us who will try.
Hey there,
I'm entered for the CA 70.3 in Oceanside and it will be my first 70.3 also. I've done several sprints and an "aquabike 70.3" (swim 1.2m, bike 56m). My training was going fine until I had to stop running with a torn calf muscle - so I'm not in as good a shape as I'd hoped. Still optimistic that I will finish the event - not sure how much run training I'll be able to do yet! I'll walk 13 miles if I have to!
Side note: Back in April 09 I suffered a bad pull to my calf. It did take a few months to heal before I could full get my stride back. Doctor recommended stretches to put some light stress on the muscles to get it activated and medication [anti-inflamitory] for the swelling. Again it took a few frustrating months, about 3 to 4.
Again very open to sharing notes or more first had and vice on the cal tri.
Active folks this weekend I completed a turkey tri where the lake water was about 58 degrees. I was wearing a full wetsuit and the second time I had swam in it [the first was a open water ocean half mile ]. Rights off the, I was immediately exhausted and could not catch my breath, could not get my swim stride, and was gasping for breath. It seemed that I was not going to reach the first 25 meters. The water made me fell like I was clinched and could not stretched my arms/legs. At one point it seemed I forgot how to swim and was half dog peddling/half panicking. I kept looking over and wanted to jump on the boat, but I said hell no. About 400 meters suffered leg cramp for the from the dog peddling. I estimated that it was going to tale me 18 minutes to complete ½ mile the swim, but it took me 35 minutes.
Here the kick- this was my last tri before the ½ Ironman CA in March 2010.
Was it the water temp , I had never swam in a lake before, any suggestions.
What you have experienced is a very common phenomena -- it generated by a combination of forces -- pre-race jitters and inadequate warm-up. When the water temperature is cold you need to spend at least 15 minutes doing a hard warm-up; it may seem crazy to swim that long before you swim but if you don't want that negative reaction at the start of a swim you'll need to get a serious warm-up. In warm water I've learned for me that means 10 min and in cold it means 15 min. When I don't do the warmup I get the same reaction every time with you got so now I always do a warm up. If I can't swim I run in my wetsuit for the same amount of time. Best of luck!
Just bear in mind that there is no swim warmup allowed at Oceanside 70.3. Also, you need to be in your swim duds and lined up in age groups fifteen minutes before your wave goes off, and their isn't really any room in line to do much arm windmilling or anything to warm up. You walk down the boat launch to get in the water a few minutes before the gun goes off, in this time you tread water over at the start line, and this gives a chance to catch your breath and accommodate the water temp (mentally and physically).
In my AG, there was a fellow who was wearing only a speedo, race cap and goggles. Prior to getting in the water, many of shook his hand, wishing him godspeed and survival (the water temp was 53degF). Of course he survived, polar bear club member? and a very strong swimmer, one of the first out of the water from our wave.
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JAN 25, 2013 - Philadelphia Inquirer
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Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points and won his rematch with Kevin Garnett as the New York Knicks ended an 11-game losing streak in Boston with an 89-86 victory over the Celtics on Thursday night.
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Definition of locust in English:
- Several species in the family Acrididae, including the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria), which is sometimes seen in Europe.
- Vast swarms of locusts have swept over South Sulawesi in the past few days, destroying rice and secondary crops.
- Swarms of locusts damaged crops and pastures across the state during the autumn.
- Insects such as the red locust, crickets, grasshoppers, and flying ants are collected in season and either fried with salt to make popular snacks or dried for later use.
- We get confused because both cicadas and locust emerge periodically.
- These are known as periodical cicadas but are also commonly called 17-year cicadas, 13-year cicadas, or locusts.
- Others, like gum guar (obtained from the cluster bean), or locust bean gum (from the locust bean), come from seedpods.
- I learn that one ice cream ingredient, locust bean gum, was used in ancient Egypt to seal the wrappings on mummies.
- In cream cheese, xanthan gum interacts synergistically with guar and locust bean gum, notes Sebree.
- We look up at the sky through a fringe of leaves belonging to a locust tree or a mimosa, the rows of lacy leaves forming a mantilla overhead.
- Kaya and I were taking a walk to the pond this morning when along the roadside I noticed a locust tree that still had some long felty pods hanging from it.
- Except for the existing locust tree, the two sides of the yard are symmetrical.
Middle English: via Old French locuste from Latin locusta 'locust, crustacean'.
lobster from Old English:
Lobsters and locusts (Middle English) are linguistically the same. Latin locusta, from which both derive, had both meanings. A look at close-up pictures of the two clearly shows the similarity. Lobster was used as a contemptuous name for British soldiers from the mid 17th century. Originally applied to a regiment of Roundhead cuirassiers who wore complete suits of armour; later the term was associated with the red military coats once worn by British soldiers. In US slang, lobster was used to describe 'a slow-witted or gullible person' from the late 19th century.
Words that rhyme with locustunfocused
For editors and proofreaders
Syllabification: lo·cust
Definition of locust in:
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text:
Patterson, Murphy receive raises, contract extensions
Published: Monday, November 26, 2012 at 2:33 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, November 26, 2012 at 2:33 p.m.
TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama gymnastics coach Sarah Patterson and softball coach Patrick Murphy both received raises Monday, which were unanimously approved by the compensation committee of the UA board of trustees.
Patterson's compensation jumped $30,000, increasing to $330,000 a year. Murphy's salary was raised $15,000 to bring his compensation to $240,000.
Murphy's compensation package includes a $200,000 base salary and $40,000 talent fee. Patterson's breakdown is $245,000 salary and $85,000 talent fee. She was also approved for a $12,000 expense account.
Murphy's deal was extended one year, through June 30, 2017. Patterson's contract was extended two years through June 30, 2018.
Murphy received a major raise last year after leaving to take the job as head coach at LSU and then changing his mind to return to UA, bumping his compensation at that time from $140,000 to $225,000. He delivered the 2012 national championship, coaching Alabama past Oklahoma in the best-of-three championship series at the Women's College World Series.
Also a year ago, Patterson's contract was extend by two years without a raise. Patterson has coached Alabama to six national championships, including back-to-back national titles in 2011 and '12.
Both coaches will be recognized for bringing national championships to UA at the Champions Plaza, which is scheduled to open next spring. The plaza will be named after Patterson.
Reach Tommy Deas at email@example.com or at 205-722-0224.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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Okay, so officer Kurtis Stryker wasn't a mall cop. He might as well have been for all the good he is in a fight. The guy has a gun, for crying out loud. Who brings a gun to a supernatural ninja fight?
The only thing Stryker has going for him is that Ron Pearlman voiced him in Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm cartoon. Seems like a waste of talent to me.
For more sick and twisted video game comedy, follow the link to Dorkly.com.


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STOCKTON – An employee was cleaning up a store in the 9100 block of Thornton Road around 4:10 this morning when two robbers entered.
One, a black man, 18 to 30 years old, standing 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 120 pounds, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and armed with a handgun, ordered the victim to empty the contents of the cash register.
He and the other robber, for which there is no description, left in an undetermined direction.
Location, ST | website.com


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Hi PSM,
First thanks for amazing latest release! It is the best UPNP/DLNA server on earth!
Would I please ask you what are the chances to make the PS3 Media Server to support resume playback on Samsung Smart TV (2012 Model, actually I do not know if this feature exist in older models)?
Appreciate your response!


text:
European Markets Bounce Out of 2013 Starting Traps
Europe's financial markets opened sharply higher Wednesday after both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives approved a deal designed to avert the full force of the U.S. "fiscal cliff" package of year-end tax increases and spending cuts.
At 9.15am in London the FTSE was up 90 points at 5987 with just 92 million shares traded on the London Stock Exchange. Mining stocks rose 24 points, banks increased by 11 points and energy and gas gained 6 points. Oil and tobacco stocks were less buoyant. The DAX was up by 1.9% and the CAC edged up by 1.6%.
City analyst David Buik, from Cantor Index, said:
"It might be folly to have too much conviction from this rally. The electorate in the U.S. are mightily disenchanted with its politicians…in the next six weeks…Congress will no doubt take us through the same tortuous minefield of negotiation when the President presents his Budget for 2014 for consideration."
Gareth Berry at UBS said in a research note to clients:
"It sets up another showdown within weeks which has the potential to be even more disruptive [given the U.S. debt ceiling must be raised at the same time if technical default is to be avoided]. But for now the conditions seem right for a moderate celebratory rally in risk assets."
Also helping the tone is news from China that manufacturing activity expanded at a mild pace in December, with the official manufacturing purchasing managers' index for the month unchanged from November's 50.6. A PMI reading above 50 indicates an expansion in manufacturing activity, so the unchanged reading actually shows manufacturing activity in December was up modestly from November in the world's second-largest economy.


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The Summit County Animal Shelter has numerous cats available for adoption. We would like to help theses felines find new homes by April 30, so this month we are taking off half the adoption fee. All cats are neutered or spayed, vaccinations current and they are micro-chipped. Cost to adopt a shelter cat is $45 and kittens are $55. Let April be the month you give a cat a forever home from the shelter.
Oreo - 7-year-old domestic short-hair, white-and-black female
Coky - 1-year/2-month-old domestic medium-hair, orange-and-white female
Joe Joe - 3-year-old domestic long-hair, gray-and-white male
Meli - 4-year-old domestic medium-hair, tortie female
Tora - 3-year-old domestic short-hair, black female
Gabe - 2-year-old domestic short-hair mix, black-and-white male
Florence - 1-year/2-month-old domestic short-hair, black female
Sugar - 2-year-old domestic short-hair mix, white female
Sammy - 2-year-old domestic short-hair, orange tabby-and-cream male
Cassie - 4-year-old domestic short-hair, orange-and-white female
Jude - 2-year-old domestic short-hair, black-and-white male
Max - 4-year-old domestic short-hair, black male
Bennie - 2-year-old domestic short-hair mix, black male
Bonzai - 2-year-old Egyptian Mau, gray tab-and-orange female
Clyde - 3-year-old Russian Blue mix, gray male
Panther - 3-year-old domestic long-hair mix, black male
Vroom - 2-year-old domestic long-hair, white-and-cream male
Arnold - 1-year/3-month-old Dogo Argentino mix, white-and-tan male
Banjo - 2-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, brown-and-red male
Buddy - 1-year/2-month-old rottweiler mix, brown-and-black male
Blanca - 2-year-old lab/American bulldog mix, white-and-brown female
Tanner - 10-month-old German Shepherd/collie mix, tan-and-black neutered male
Ginger - 8-year-old smooth-coated border collie mix, tan-and-white female
Tabor - 3-year-old lab/border collie mix, black-and-white male
Tully - 10-month-old border collie mix, black-and-white male


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She's white, she's blonde, she's Australian, she models, and she raps like she grew up in an Atlanta trap. Like it or not, Iggy Azalea has planted her Louboutins in American hip-hop and has no intention of going back to the Land Down Under.
This feature appears in Complex's October/November 2013 issue.
Midsummer heat can make a person do strange things, and at Hollywood's Conway Recording Studios in late July, Iggy Azalea is ready to get into some "weird shit." Having already turned in conventional, label-pleasing hip-hop and hip-pop songs for The New Classic, her debut album for UK-based Mercury Records (distributed in the States by Island Def Jam), the 23-year-old rapper is now experimenting with unexpected sounds that would have freaked out her label bosses.
Today she's recording a track with moombahton, trap, and dubstep producer Bro Safari, a.k.a. Knick (Nick Weiller) from the drum-and-bass outfit Evol Intent, who previously worked with Iggy on her 2012 mixtape TrapGold. He's delivered a left-of-center beat that keeps speeding up. Iggy, dressed for comfort in Nike running shoes, gray-and-white printed leggings, and a vintage L.A. Raiders jersey, says the music makes her envision monkeys rapping in the jungle. "Weird shit" indeed.
On the hook to "Work," the album's infectious and decidedly less weird first single, Iggy says she's "working on my sheeeeit," in the divisive southern U.S. accent she adopts when rapping. It's clear from her discography that the tall blonde with fair skin and model looks is still evolving and finding herself as an artist. From her sample-heavy 2011 mixtape debut, Ignorant Art, to TrapGold and her 2012 mainstream rap EP, Glory, she's popped a lot of shit but not revealed much about herself on songs. Although she's candid in interviews, "Work," a celebration of how far she's come, is the first song to actually give listeners a sense of the woman who was born Amethyst Amelia Kelly in Sydney, Australia and raised in tiny, rural Mullumbimby (population: 3,129). She scrubbed floors with her mom to fund a trip at age 16 to Miami, from which she's never really returned.
Conway's studios are set back from the street with gates and a lush tropical garden that big-name artists like Mary J. Blige (reportedly also doing a session this day) can hide behind, but Iggy isn't dodging anyone or any topic, be it the complicated role that race plays in her career, her struggles with record companies, or her relationships with A$AP Rocky and Nas. She's opinionated and unapologetic, so either you're "on her sheeeeit" too or you can fuck off.
When I was 13 I got a fake ID. I'd go out, get hammered off my face in nightclubs because I thought that made me an adult, meet older guys who thought I was older, and go f*** them.
COMPLEX: "Work" gave listeners a little taste of the red dirt and back lanes of Mullumbimby. What else can you tell us about your hometown?
IGGY AZALEA: There's one of everything: one hairdresser, one supermarket, one florist, one bakery. You know everybody that's owned the stores and they've owned them for generations. The population's 3,000 but it seems smaller because most people live in the hills. They'll come down to the supermarket to get food and that's the only time you're hanging around or seeing people. My dad's a surfer. My mother had me when she and my dad were 19. They were hippies and built their own house. They wanted to do self-sustained living. My parents split up when I was 8 or 9 and my mom got a teaching degree and would clean houses and substitute teach. That made her a bit more straight up and down.
What do kids do for fun in Mullumbimby?
If you don't play sport, you probably get stoned all the time. In elementary, we called the kids that liked rap and smoked "The Homies" or "FUBUs" and the surfers "The Surfies." They had brawls that the police would break up, and that was the biggest thing in my town at the time, to fight with kids from other towns.
What sort of trouble did you get into as a kid?
When I was 13 I got a fake ID. I'd go out, get hammered off my face in nightclubs because I thought that made me an adult, meet older guys who thought I was older, and go fuck them. I'd do that all the time. Hitchhiking was something I would do all the time as a kid. When I was 14 I used to go to the red light district called Kings Cross and go to strip clubs.
We would hang out there so late that the train would stop working, and then we would walk back into the city on the sides of the road, three or four drunk 14-year-old girls with fake IDs. One time, after going to a nightclub with my friend, a guy followed us through all the carriages. Every station, we'd get out and switch a carriage and he would find the carriage we were in. When we got to the station in Sydney he started to chase us and was like, "Come here, you little sluts!" We ran and locked ourselves in the disabled bathroom and we stayed in there for like four hours until the sun came up and people were out for work again. That's the only time I've ever felt scared doing something dumb.
You've described the people of Mullumbimby as ignorant. How so?
My friend Roland, a breakdancer from Sydney who is black and had cornrows, was walking down the street with me and one of the kids around my age screamed out the car, "What up, nigga! Yo! Yo! Rap music!" They thought it was hilarious. I was like, "I'm so embarrassed that I'm from here."
What was the racial makeup of Mullumbimby?
One of my best friends growing up was half Aboriginal, and I'd be around them a lot, but there was not a lot of diversity. It's very white—a few Aboriginal kids, a few Asian kids, some Indian kids, and that's it. The neighboring town Lismore was much more diverse because they had a refugee program where all the Sudanese refugees went, but it's a much bigger city. They probably have 10,000 people. When I got into rap music and wanted to go do cyphers or open mics, that's where I would take the bus. There were a lot of African kids who wanted to rap and breakdance and shit.


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ABC 17's Stephanie Schaefer details what illnesses are plaguing Mid-Missourians in this week's What's Going Around?
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Women's Under Armour Power In Pink Athletic Socks 2-Pack
Show your support in the Women's Under Armour Power in Pink Athletic Socks. They are a part of the Power in Pink Collection, which celebrates people living an active lifestyle while promoting the fight against breast cancer.
With a Signature Moisture Transport System that wicks away moisture to keep feel and cool and dry, not only will you show your PIP support, but feet will also stay super comfortable, too. The embedded arch support within the socks' construction also help with that by giving your feet support. This is one purchase you'll feel great about.
- FABRIC: 52% polyester / 46% cotton / 2% spandex
- QUANTITY: 2 pairs
- CARE: Machine wash


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Sun Helps Fulfill the Wish of Third TED Prize Winner--President Clinton
By crossrohrer on Feb 28, 2008
Tonight, onstage at TED in Monterey, Chris Anderson will give an update on the wishes of the third TED Prize winners and how their wishes have progressed since TED '07. Sun will be there to report on how we've helped prizewinner President Clinton to begin to establish a healthcare system in Rwanda.
Along with AMD and Nokia, Sun is providing technology, training and expertise to help the Rwandan Government, Clinton Foundation and Partners in Health to manage patient records and clinics.
Learn more here.


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NEW YORK -- The Super Bowl will scrap the Roman numerals for a year.
The 50th edition of the game will be played in February 2016 at the San Francisco 49ers' Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. The NFL said Wednesday it will be called "Super Bowl 50" instead of "Super Bowl L." The league also released the official logos for the game on Wednesday.
In 2017, the league will revert to Roman numerals, referring to the 51st edition as "Super Bowl LI."
The NFL first started using Roman numerals for the fifth Super Bowl in 1971.