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59 chevy truck power steering
was wondering if some of you well seasoned steering guys could help with an issue im having getting my 59 1/2 ton to track right down the road. wants to wander, does not pull back straight after a turn or curve. this is what i have and have done. I am using an 1986 chevy suburban 2wd power st. box in front of the axle (with no bump steer problems assosiated with this conv.)switched from ball to tapered roller bearings in the front and was forced to use 1'' tool aluminum spacers to allow use of my stock wheels to clear the calipers, the rear wheels incorporate the same thickness of spacer to keep everything even, the king pins and bushings were installed correctly , and other than the spindle and pitman arm none of the factory geometry was changed. after taking it to an alignment shop the toe was correct the camber (built in to the axle or spindles) good and the caster was 1.2 on one side and 1.3 on the other with a spec of 1.5 I am running radials and my boss who is 82 says they used to reverse the caster when changing to radials, I disagree and even went to 3 degree shims under the axle today with not much change. it is just squirley over 45 mph. I wouldnt mind any suggestions. I am a mechanic In a small ma pa shop but have never had the front end experiance or had access to an alignment rack. Respectfully, Mark
hi there, with the suirrelly feel,
-jack the front wheels off the ground and check every joint in the front end for play. put a prybar under the wheel and lift while you inspect play in the wheel bearings and kingpins.
-make sure the wheel bearings are adjusted properly.
-try unbolting the tie rod ends with the thing off the ground and the wheels off. with that done check to make sure the kingpins move freely side to side like you simulate doing a turn. if it has a sticky spot that would show it up. squeeze a little grease into the kingpins and make sure it comes out on the far side of the thrust bearing, above the lower kingpin bushing, just to make sure everything is lubed properly there and not jamming up with the weight of the truck on them.
- make sure the steering box pitman shaft bushing is tight along with the pitman arm nut and the box is adjusted properly and is centred. they have a bigger spot in the steering box gears when in the middle of the "lock to lock" steering wheel turn count so it will be tight when the steering is in the middle of it's travel, but a little bit loose when it is just off centre, so it will have no problem returning to centre. count the number of turns from lock to lock and then put the steering box in the middle of that number of turns. then check to see if the wheels are straight forward at that point and the steering wheel is centred. also adjust the box then. if the wheels aren't straight ahead with the box centred you gotta fix that problem first. this is assuming the gears in the steering box aren't worn out. also check the steering column shaft for binding or tight spots, and make sure the box mounting is secure and tight.
-assuming all that is good, next check the spring pins and bushings and shackles for any play. also make sure you check the frame mounts for loose rivets. anything that will allow the springs to move will allow the axle to move and that will cause headaches.
-assuming that checks out good, go to the rear axle and check the spring pins and bushings, spring hanger mounts for movement, leaf springs for broken leafs, rear axle bearings for play, anything that will allow the rear axle to move.also check to see if the rear axles have too much play in and out, maybe the axle reatiner clips and the grooves in the axle where the clips go are worn out and allow the wheels to move in and out too much. that would make the truck feel skittish while driving because the rear end can move side to side.
-next check the frame front to back for cracks, or movement where the rivets are (sometimes broken or worn rivets will allow a crossmember to move which allows the frame to move, usually there is some rust coloured powder in the area where things have been working).
-next try a different alignment shop. sometimes the alignment guys don't know what to do with solid axle vehicles so they guess a little. you may be better off at a big truck shop where they deal with solid axle front ends all the time.
-did you happen to swap the wheels at the same time? if they have a different offset or outside diameter that could cause a problem too.
hey, good luck. let me know how it turns out.
wheel spacers
hi again,
sorry I didn't read the part about wheel spacers. that could be your problem right there. steering geometry says if you extend a line through the centre of your kingpins, down to the ground, and you also extend a line through the centre of your wheels, down to the ground. the lines should intersect right under the centre of your tire. when you put spacers in, or you change the tire size, or you change the whhel offset you mess with that stock geometry. can you source a set of wheels/tires from a newer truck that have the correct offset and diameter and will also clear the calipers? (you did a disc brake conversion? got some pics?). you could swap tires and take off the spacers and try that on a road test to see if it clears up the problem. if so, you at least know what the #@#$ is going on. I don't think you should need the spacers on the rear, other than to make things look right.
thanks for replying
thanks raven for replying. it really is appreciated. before responding I do want to say that it is always possible that I have missed something. this particular vehicle is a result of a seven year resto that I personally did all the work on, with exception of the 235,s line boring and such. I am sure about no cracks in the frame as I inspected it thouroughly before and after glass beading, when i rebuilt the rear diff i did use an oversized block for the axle spacer to remove all slop(with exception of oil clearace) I disected each leaf spring and had them acid dipped, respayed them and installed all new leaf spring bushings as well as rebuilt the all eight mounts with new inserts, pins and shackle kits.when I installed the king pins, i do remember when dry fitting I had a choice after intalling the load bearing washer stack between the lower part of the spindle and axle , there was still maybe a .005 gap and I used a shim from the old kit to tighten it up. however with all the vehicles weight on it, i can by hand move the wheels without any hard spots.before using the steering box , i also went through it. no hard spots like when you overtighten the worm gear adj. I did this weekend realize after carefull study that my front sway bar was actually preloading the axle , Ihad a bad design flaw when i made the brackets, after making new ones I had a guy who helps us out take it on a long road test and he said it was like a different truck.not as much weaving, but you still have to bring the st. wheel back after a turn. I do believe you are on to something with those spacers though, trying to find a more modern wheel set with the offset i need would be difficult, but i may be able to get something from wheel vintiques or something.Im glad , as far as I had this apart, and as many alterations as i have done, if thats all the problems i have Im doing good, Ill keep you Informed, thank again for the input, Mark
sorry, i will post some picts of the steering and the disc. brakes. I may even have some from before assy. Mark
here are a few picts fromm assy.
that is one sweet looking ride you have there. if you did all that work yourself then congrats. are those bumperettes stock? mine doesn't have those. that looks like a pretty beefy disc brake set up as well.
thanx for the compliment, the bumper guards are an aftermarket product I purch. on e bay. rest of the chrome all original. the disc brake set up Is a good idea, however I think the added thickness and my spacers add to my steering problem. as far as functionability they work awsome, pedal on top and can lock them up in a heartbeat.ill never buy another product from the company again, however the simplicity of this conversion deserves credit.what year is yours ? newer project ? if there is one thing I have learned with this project is that just about everything you buy will most likely need some machining or re engineering to get it to work the way companies claim LOL...
58 frame swap
my truck is a 58 chevy fleetside longbox. it was a farm truck all it's life by the look of things and is so ugly I had to cover it with a tarp when it came home. the wife was far from pleased but then she has a hard time seeing the potential in some of my projects. the truck is pretty rusty and the box is pretty much a write off. the front fenders are hanging off it and the box side is caved in and torn apart. you could check your shoelaces by looking down through the box, or the floor of the cab for that matter. I do have a few pics but am new to this site and don't know how to download anything. I plan to put a 88-98 short box stepside on the back and then extend the cab out to match. just having a hard time finding a box right now. only just got the truck a couple days ago though. I also plan to put a late model 5.3 engine with drive by wire fuel injection and an electronic automatic behind it. I will be doing everything myself so any input would be appreciated. hope you find a donor. when I remember the site I will let you know. it was gmupfitter or something like that. the s10 frame that you would use if long box would be a ext cab short box s10. that would give you 122.8 wheelbase and the long box 58 is 123.25. the s10 frame has a spot where the front frame meets the rear frame and they can be extended or shortened a little by grinding off that weld where the 2 parts connect, then extending or shortening by sliding those 2 parts. of course take good measurements etc. anyway, good luck with it. I think I decided to go with a mustang 2 ifs. just don't know from where yet.
So if I am understanding what you have done here is, install a power steering box to a straight axle? I think there in lays the problem.
The straight axle without power steering would "self center" because of the caster settings. In power steering you must bring it back to center. The power helps you do this at low vehicle speeds but it will not "self center" You might try putting the caster shims in from the other direction. That is you say you have a 3 degree shim in the truck now so I am guessing that that is 3 degrees positive caster. Put them in so you have 3 degrees of negative caster and take it for a test run. I think you will be happy.
What Company?
Oh, I forgot, Mr. Scholman knows what he talking about according to the design load specifications. This is '56 specs;
Last edited by OLNOLAN; 11-09-2010 at 08:26 PM.
what company
CPP. If I could , I learned a valuble lesson from these people. when a comany has a toll free number to order parts than make you call a toll call for customer support, thats a good indication to pass them on by.$ 40.00 worth of 2 calls to be put on hold .than the guy made me call back and re descibe what the problem was and told me the following "I cant remember all you guys with problems out there" after spending $1,900 worth of product I was hurt, But Got an education through the ordeal...LOL a lot of companies offer the same products but they come from the mentioned company. if you find something your interested in, go to thier tech page and click instuction or info and if they redirect you to cpp......Run !!! Having vented on all that I cant speak on any other products they offer but that for the 55 2nd through 59 chevy an GMC, thanx for the compliment on the truck
Good to know, have heard of other problems with them. Piss poor customer service and boxing the wrong parts, then going through a ton of crap to make them realize they boxed the wrong stuff. They will be x'ed of my favorites list of suppliers. Nolan
If you have the old ones try them first. I think this will help a lot.
This will help it to track straight but I do not think it will ever self-center not with the power steering box.
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As he plans his next job, a longtime thief tries to balance his feelings for a bank manager connected to one of his earlier heists, as well as the FBI agent looking to bring him down.

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Finally—the solution for slow-ass biking has arrived (video)
We talked to the dude behind ShareRoller, and we even got to hook up the portable electric motor to a Citi Bike to give it a test ride
Tue Mar 18 2014
Illustration: Sarah Mulligan
As even the most die-hard cyclists will tell you, commuting via bicycle in New York isn't exactly easy. Taking a bike over the city's bridges and hills can be a chore, and that's before you factor in all the taxi-dodging. Citi Bikes, meanwhile, are heavy—like, "if I ride this too long I'm going to die" heavy—making them a (sometimes literal) pain in the ass for both newbies and seasoned vets. As the exasperated folks in infomercials always say, there's got to be a better way—right?
Longtime cyclist Jeff Guida thinks he has the answer. He's the guy behind ShareRoller, a portable drive system that turns boring, old-fashioned two-wheelers (including Citi Bikes) into electric bikes. After working on a prototype for about eight months, he launched a Kickstarter campaign in February (it ends on March 30), with the goal of raising $100,000 to fund mass-production.
So what's the benefit? Commuting—hell, even a simple ride through the park—suddenly becomes a lot easier and more fun. Although it won't turn you into a speed demon, ShareRoller will reach speeds of up to 18mph, making that hellish journey over the Brooklyn Bridge less arduous. (Although Guida cautions that "it's definitely not designed to turn the bike into a rocket ship." Bummer.) Folks elsewhere are even catching on to the advantage of electrified cycles: London is currently implementing an e-bike pilot program for its bike-sharing system, and according to Guida, other U.S. cities (he declined to specify) have shown interest in ShareRoller.
But c'mon—shouldn't we be a little worried that someone riding a motorized bike for the first time might end up eating pavement? Guida doesn't think so. "We're perfectly happy giving somebody a car with hundreds of horsepower and just trust them to follow the speed limit," he says. "You give somebody a bicycle with half a horsepower, and all of a sudden they're a menace to society and they're going to start mowing down pedestrians. [Laughs] It doesn't make any sense." (We'll see.)
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so far
borla exhausr, catless downpipe(godspeed), uppipe(perrin), fiberglass wraped, k&N cold air, so what next? silicone turbo intake?, intercoller?(any recomendations, what makes one better than another)
turbo(recomendations? would like a bolt and go, tuning or ecu programer once again recomendatins, and also any of these parts anyone has second hand i am in the market.


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"There's a crack in everything – cheap oakleys that's how the light gets in." – L Cohen
IT'S very illuminating to read radical critiques regarding the role of technology and digital communications in advanced industrial societies.
Personal autonomy, they argue, is being diminished by technology, whose primary purpose is to dramatically accelerate the speed, flexibility and efficiency of the information economy. They generally view this mission as sinister, exploitative and hegemonic.
Whilst we might take issue with this gloomy view of the world, the implicit framework on which their critiques are based is nevertheless revealing.
So let's do a simple exercise to tease out a set of polarities that underlie their critiques, as these may in fact come in handy when evaluating any digital communications system, whether it's Google, Facebook or UltraNet.
- Closed / Open
In closed systems, technologies use propriety code or provide content information exclusively to those who pay. Open systems include such things as open source code, ray ban outlet creative commons copyright, Wikipedia, MIT Open Courseware, Kahn Academy, Open College. Of course, the issue for open systems is: who pays?
- Secret / Transparent
In a transparent system, all decisions are made publicly and all intentions revealed openly. There is also a difference between transparency and accountability. Transparency requires that decisions are made transparent right from the beginning of the decision making process, whilst accountability is a process of verifying the quality of decisions or actions after they have been taken. An example of secretive system manipulation is Google's search ranking. On the other hand, Wikileaks is a vehicle set up in the interests of transparency go to this website.
- Eavesdrop / Confidential
Technology system such as Google and Facebook collect user data and pass this on (secretively) to other organisations. Many smart phone apps can 'hoover' a range of data, including in some cases, record phone calls. We are constantly under surveillance by technology systems – eg CCTV in London.
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- Exclusive / Accessible
Digital technology has the possibility of allowing people with disability – eg the sight and hearing impaired – total access to digital content, but design and coding guidelines set down by W3C are not often observed.
- Centralised / Distributed
High cost, centralised systems are devised that seek 'to do everything'. On the other hand, the Internet cheap nfl jerseys itself is a distributed system, and even more powerful, independent and resilient than decentralised systems.
- Narrow / Diverse
Technology systems are devised to appeal to white, affluent, mobile, English speaking users, thus excluding the vast majority of the world's population.
- Hierarchical / Democratic
Technology systems are devised from the top down, where all aspects are contained, managed and controllable. Counterposing this are such things as user generated content (blogs, wikis), social networking, email and VoIP (eg Skype).
- Blocked / Transferable
Propriety code locks content behind impenetrable walls and vertical controls, for example, Apple's iTunes. Transferable data and formats can be loaded into any system and cross over any platforms.
In the radical critiques, these polarities revolve around the extremes of good and bad, reflecting unwittingly, the rigidity of binary logic (on / off).
It's far more helpful to see the polarities as contests, contradictions or fault lines where 'cracks of light' can emanate.
Indeed, technology has always been a contested space: between, one one side, the opportunities for social good and on the other, private commercialisation.
It's like the proverbial public squares of old, where people gathered to chat about their work, weather and relatives. Then the operators came and set up stores and erected ads on buildings, bombarding the park inhabitants with their commercial dreams and desires.
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Introduction to PowerPoint 2013
You will learn how to create an animated electronic presentation. Use PowerPoint tools to add text, clip art, hypertext links, charts, and special effects to your presentations. Students should have keyboarding and computer experience.
Course Information
Instructor: Jay Partlan
Dates/Time: Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., one day, 4/18
Location: Riverwalk
Cost: $139 + $10 capital fee
CRN: 179 Course Number: CMPA1055 Section: RWA
Intermediate PowerPoint 2013
You will learn PowerPoint skills including effective design techniques, charts, tables, integration with office applications, template customization, and advanced animation techniques.
Course Information
Instructor: Jay Partlan
Dates/Time: Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., one day, 4/25
Location: Riverwalk
Cost: $139 + $10 capital fee
CRN: 180 Course Number: CMPA1116 Section: RWA
Advanced PowerPoint *
This class is project-oriented. Students will be working on a presentation covering a topic of their choice. We will start by creating an outline in Word, and then import it to PowerPoint and use powerful PowerPoint tools along with other Office applications to present effectively the information.
Instructor: Jay Partlan, has taught credit and non-credit courses at UNH, Granite State College, Northern Essex Community College, North Shore Community College, New Hampshire Community Technical College, and Newbury College.


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Blog Archives
'Disappearance At Devil's Rock': Author Paul Tremblay Discusses His New Emotional Thrill Ride
Following the success of his psychological thriller, "A Head Full of Ghosts", author Paul Tremblay spent most of the summer of 2014 trying to figure out what his next book would be about. He began by asking himself the same question most horror writers do – "What scares me?"
Tremblay eventually found the answer to his question while spending time in the woods near his home. The result would become his page-turning thrill ride, "Disappearance at Devil's Rock".
Although its title may conjure up images of 1970's Hardy Boys mysteries, this is a 21st century tale of fear and intrigue. Elizabeth Sanderson gets the call in the middle of the night that all parent's dread. Her son, Tommy is at a sleep over at a park when Tommy suddenly wanders off and disappears.
The supernatural element and emotional struggles of the family and neighbors in their desperate attempt to find Tommy make "Disappearance at Devil's Rock" one of the highlight reads of summer.
Tremblay is no stranger to accolades. His previous book, "A Head Full of Ghosts" was recently awarded The Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Novel. It was also optioned for the big screen by Focus Features and has even received praise by the master of horror himself, Stephen King. A U.K. version of "A Head Full of Ghosts" will be available in late September.
I recently spoke with Paul Tremblay about the new book and more in this exclusive interview.
Where did the idea for "Disappearance at Devil's Rock" begin?
I started by asking myself the question, "Of all the things that scare me now, which one scares me the most?" As a parent myself, the obvious answer would have to be to have one of your children go missing. Then I started thinking about Borderland State Park. It features prominently in the book and is a real place I used to hike in all the time. I decided to put those two things together, and make one of my favorite places kind of creepy.
Can you tell me a little about your writing process? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I've done both. With "A Head Full of Ghosts" I did a lot of plotting and pantsing. For this one, I started by doing a sixteen-page summary that took quite a bit of time to complete. I learned a lot about structural work as I prepared for the story; right from the beginning and through the whole process of writing. The first draft took about eleven months to complete. When I first finished, it was by far the longest thing I had ever written.
Did you have to do much research in preparation to write?
My son was actually my Minecraft expert. Both he and my daughter grew up playing the game. I didn't know a whole lot about Snapchat, and most of that research was done online and figuring out what police would be able to get from it. There's this idea of how using social media makes us safe and closer than we actually are. I decided to use it to make it harder to find Tommy.
Do you have a set daily goal of time or words in mind when you sit down to write?
I usually don't set a time when I'm working a project but I do try to set a goal of 500 words a day—and that could be in the morning, afternoon or night. I always try to fit it in but also give myself permission to miss that mark. More times than not, I'll make those 500 and some days will even surpass that.
Did you encounter any challenges while writing "Disappearance at Devil's Rock"?
This book took me out of my comfort zone a little bit. All of my previous novels were done in first person point of view. This one was third person jumping around to different characters. It's good to push yourself as a writer and continue to get better.
What's the best bit of advice you can give to aspiring writers?
For someone starting out the biggest thing is read…read… read! If you want to be a writer, you can't sacrifice anything else for reading. Also, give yourself a reason to be patient. If the first book doesn't sell, use that process to stick with it. You'll learn a lot as a writer from being rejected and from listening to what editors say. Take their comments about your work and use it to get better!
You've recently won The Bram Stoker award and Stephen King has even mentioned how much he loves your work. As a writer, when comes to mind when you think about those things?
It's very affirming and humbling. I actually started writing because of Stephen King. So getting accolades from one of my heroes tells me that the work has paid off. Winning an award by a horror association is also one of the highlights of my professional life and something I'll never take for granted.
What would you like people to take away from reading "Disappearance at Devil's Rock"?
I don't want to add to the culture of fear and have people be freaked out and afraid for their children. But I'd really like for people to come away feeling empathy for all of the characters –even the ones that don't do good things. As a writer, that's important to me. Readers don't always have to feel sympathy for the characters but they should understand the decisions that they make and why they do what they do.
Lita Ford Talks New Memoir, 'Living Like a Runaway'
Lita Ford's new memoir, Living Like a Runaway, is jam packed with stories of a truly eventful—and impressive—rock and roll life.
In the autobiography, Ford details her years as a teenager with the Runaways, getting caught with a young Eddie Van Halen in a bathroom, her battles with management and trysts with guys like Nikki Sixx, Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore and Glenn Tipton.
She even devotes ample space to her turbulent marriage and how she subsequently lost access to her sons through parental alienation. Simply put, Living Like a Runaway is a story of life and love from the reigning Queen of Metal.
I recently spoke with Ford about the book and her new album, Time Capsule, which is a collection of previouly unreleased material from the Eighties. You can check out our full interview below.
What made you decide to write a book at this stage of your career?
I really wanted to tell my story. As a female in the music industry—a man's world—trying to become successful, I wanted to document it, and I wanted to be able to leave something behind so people would know what was going on inside of my life. The hurdles I had to jump and the things I had to do to be where I'm at today and to hopefully carve a path for others.
What was the writing process like?
At first, it was difficult trying to get a co-writer who could follow me. Because there's so much crammed into my life, it was sometimes hard for me to get the point across. But I didn't want the book to come out in any other shape or form. It had to be true and it had to be real…and we did it.
You can read the rest of my
Interview with Lita Ford by Clicking Here!
The Aperature
ap·er·ture (noun):
1. an opening, hole, or gap.
2. a space through which light passes in an optical or photographic instrument, especially the variable opening by which light enters a camera.
It was underneath the smell of cut grass and gasoline that I first noticed the hole. A medium-sized perforation about the size of a tennis ball that was sticking out like a pockmark on the face of my freshly manicured lawn.
On first glance I estimated its size to be approximately three-inches wide by four-inches deep. A perfectly shaped cylinder unlike any of the typical oblong-shaped chasms that are dug by man. On the contrary, I was certain this particular hole was delivered by one of the masters of dirt and dig – a varmint. The enemy of perfectionist yard enthusiasts everywhere.
Now, I've always prided myself in keeping a tidy yard and have been mowing my one-third of an acre plot religiously every Saturday morning during the mowing season. Always making a point to follow-up the proper mow with a good trimming around the base perimeter of the fence line as well as going the extra mile to get every rogue dandelion that curiously survives the spraying by the professional weed service I pay top dollar to in order to make my lawn the envy of the neighborhood.
And now — there's a freaking hole in it.
For the last twenty years mowing the grass has been the only thing that has really given me any sort of happiness. During that same span of time the long, blondish lawn on my own head has disappeared and the chiseled abs I once had have succumbed to the inevitable phenomenon I like to call age mass. I've been in and out of jobs over the years, habitually single and even survived a bout with colon cancer at the tender age of thirty-six. For the most part you could say that my life has been pretty much status quo.
But I wasn't always the lawn-loving, bald, thick in the middle-man you see here before you. At one point in my life I actually had dreams. Dreams of becoming the next Edward Van Halen as guitarist for the hair metal band, Silent Rage.
You've heard of us, right?
Don't worry. I won't shed a tear if you haven't. But I will say that Silent Rage was one of the 80s most well-known hard rock groups. I mean, we played gigs everywhere from Maine to South Florida; opening for bands like Winger, KIX and Heaven's Edge. We even had a showcase for the Adverse City Records honchos in New York City, who promised us a two-album recording deal in early 1991.
Yep, the world was going to be our oyster. That is until Kurt Cobain, Alice in Chains and the rest of those Seattle grunge lunatics shot that dream to hell. Forcing the band to dissolve and me to have to sell off most of my gear and take on the first of countless jobs just to make ends meet. Eventually leading to the middle-aged conundrum I now find myself in.
In a world where age, health and hair have forsaken me, mowing the lawn is the only thing I have any sort of control over. So you'll have to excuse me if I get a little upset when a rabbit or groundhog comes into my inner sanctum and decides to dig a hole.
How did I not notice this obtrusive hole while I was mowing, you ask? Good question. I pondered the same thing myself. Surely I would have seen a tennis ball sized hole as I was making passes over it with the lawn mower, yet I must have somehow overlooked it.
But what made the whole thing even stranger was the fact that there was no dug-up loose dirt in the area surrounding the hole. In fact, the earth near the hole was hard packed and completely dry. Giving every indication that the hole had actually been there for a long, long time.
Now, I may be forty-five years old and been diagnosed with presbyopia at my last eye doctor visit, but even I would have noticed a blatant hole sticking out like a sore thumb several weeks into the mowing season. I decided to kneel down to get a closer look at the intruder's work, hoping to find a clue as to what brand of rodent had been infiltrating my land.
As I started moving loose grass clippings out of the way a drop of sweat slipped off of my brow and fell into the hole. There, beneath the warm June sky something began shining out of its depth. At first I thought it might be a quarter or some small piece of glass or stone reflecting off the hot summer sun. Instead, it turned out to be nothing material at all.
It was a beam of light. A light shining out from somewhere within the hole. It was almost as if someone was on the other side of the hole shining a flashlight outward and into my eyes.
A lump began to develop in my throat and I actually felt my heart skip a beat. I'll be honest with you here. I seriously gave consideration to making a run for it. Something about this whole thing just didn't seem right. But instead of running, I decided to do what only a fool would do. I laid down flat on my stomach and peered my eye right inside that cantankerous hole.
Screw you, Alice in Wonderland.
What I felt when I first looked into the hole was reminiscent of a pirate who had been lost at sea for months. A pirate who would spend most of the day peeping through his spyglass in a vain search to find land but only finding endless sea. Until one day, just as he's about to run out of food and water, he discovers the thing he had been searching for. The only thing that mattered.
As I looked down into the hole I could see a white-colored, cloudy canvas. Like I was flying through a sea of cumulus clouds, with edges clean and soft. A canvas whose brightness covered the entire spectrum of my senses and then; as if on cue, having already known of my intentions to see what lied beyond, the canvas of clouds quickly parted into some dream-state dimension
From a third-person perspective I saw myself in this surreal state just as clear as day. Only it wasn't the forty-five year old me I saw. Instead, it was a much younger version of me, no more than twenty-one.
Nearly forty pounds from my midsection had all but disappeared and every last one of my long blond hairs had miraculously returned. The real me had a sense of confidence he hadn't felt in a long time.
For all intents and purposes, it felt like the year 1990. Like watching some old home movie, but in the highest of definition. One where every nuance of every movement was noticeable – the sights, the sounds, the feeling. From that moment, I realized I no longer wanted to just look into the light inside of the hole. Instead, I wanted to become a part of it.
I watched from above as this younger version of me stood somberly next to his idling, green, 1976 Chevrolet Vega wagon. A dark brown suitcase sat next to the car as it sputtered in and out of stalling. I was certain that it wouldn't be long into my trip before the car would leave me sitting on the side of the road.
It was 1990.
The familiar sounds of Westminster Chimes began to play from the St. Agnes Church a few blocks away. I had enough time to count each chime as it signaled the hour of day.
By the time it reached the ninth chime I had already determined that it was early morning based on the positioning of the sun in the eastern sky and by the faint sounds of another lawn mower leveling the landscape some distance away. It was also at that moment that I realized I was at West Chester University again and even more importantly, I was fully aware of what was about to happen next.
A young, attractive woman slowly approaches the vehicle. She had fair skin, a creamy complexion and the familiar long brown hair that ran down beneath her shoulders. With deep blue eyes that breathed a life in me that I've never felt before nor ever will again. She wore the blue denim jacket her parents had bought for her in high school, with matching jeans and scuffed up Chuck Taylor's that have seen a lot of miles from the long walks we had taken together over the last two years. The smile she had that could light up a room was now replaced with sadness. I knew going in this was not going to be easy.
Christine is was my everything.
"Have everything you need?" Christine asked in her casual, nonchalant fashion. The faux me was already quick to answer.
"Yes. Enough to get me through to Scranton." I said. Of course, I was lying. As Christine already knew from our many journeys in the beat-up old wagon, the Vega constantly burned oil and overheated. I figured I might only make it as far as Allentown before I'd have to stop.
"Did you get all of your paperwork complete?" she said, hoping that somehow I might have overlooked something. Something that would have delayed the inevitable.
"Uh-huh. Got the final papers from the bursar's office yesterday. It's all done. Turned in my keys to the resident advisor this morning, gassed up the car and here we are."
"You know, you don't have to do this." Christine said solemnly. "Can't you at least stay until the end of the semester and see what happens?"
Tears began to fill her eyes.
" I can't." I said. "You know I've waited a long time for my music to take off. This gig up north promises shows for the next three months. Good pay too. Mike our drummer even says that it may lead us to a showcase in New York City if we're good enough."
There was an odd silence and then she said those same five words I still ask myself in my darkest nights.
"Are you good enough, Jim?"
Am I?
Even though I already knew the answer, at that moment someone greater than me had pressed "pause" on this supernatural VCR.
"Choose." a voice said.
"Choose?" I asked looking at the now frozen in time Christine. I could not take my eyes off of her.
"You can change the outcome. I've given you the choice." the voice responded.
"But I already know what happens" I thought to myself, now knowing that whatever voice was speaking to me could also read my mind.
"Twenty-five years ago you decided to leave college for music." the voice responded. "You now have the chance to change it."
"Change it?" my conscience said. Could I really sacrifice these last twenty-five years? Is it possible to get a second chance in this life?
It's true. I did turn my back on college and Christine [who was already halfway through her second year of pre-med] in exchange for a chance to become the guitarist for Silent Rage – the next great hair metal band. But instead of staying in school to get my teaching degree, marrying Christine and living happily every after, I took my beat-up Fender Strat on the road for two years performing to semi-packed crowds before the advent of grunge destroyed me and nearly every other 80's hard rock band that existed and ended my musical dream.
During those ensuing years Christine and I fell out of touch. I don't know if she ever did become that doctor but I am sure that her end result was better than mine. I did try looking her up on Facebook and LinkedIn after my battle with cancer [being face to face with death has a tendency to make you want to tie up loose ends] but came up empty-handed.
"Are you good enough, Jim?" the voice asked me again.
"This isn't that movie, 'Groundhog Day'." my conscience told me. "No one can really go back. You only get one life and the trick is to make the most of it."
Sure, grunge was a setback. And I know that if I had been made that decision back in 1987 instead of 1990 things might have been completely different. But age, health, relationships, job-hopping and even that little drinking episode I had that led to a night in the drunk tank were all setbacks. But none of those things really destroyed me. They only made me who I am
"Are you good enough, Jim?"
I looked at the frozen Christine. I looked at the frozen twenty-one year old me. I looked at the idling Vega that would wind up stalling out halfway to Pottstown, leaving me stranded on the side of Route 100 for two hours. Until a friendly trucker came by and offered me a lift into town where we talked about music and The Gulf War over a six-pack of Coors Light.
What happened next I can't explain. It was as if the dream sequence I had become immersed in had suddenly become a puddle and a huge omnipotent hand had disturbed the still water. I saw Christine and the Vega and the young me ripple away into darkness while the real me drifted off into another stream of consciousness. I woke up lying face down next to the hole on a warm bed of freshly cut grass.
As I was pulling myself up off the ground I noticed that the sun had already begun its soft descent into the deep western sky. I smiled. The light and hole that once seemed so painfully intrusive to me was now gone and in its place was a breach that no longer seemed like it was the end of the world.
'Fallen': Author Annie Lobert Talks Powerful New Book, Testimony and Mission
Although some may wonder why author Annie Lobert decided to name her new book, "Fallen", the title of her first book has a dual meaning. Not only is Lobert's journey of falling down and rising up a story of redemption, but the book's title also comes from the name Lobert used in her job as a former prostitute and sex trafficking victim (although Lobert's working names was pronounced "fallon").
Growing up with aspirations of becoming an artist Lobert's personal testimony of sex, drugs and violence is at times tragic, often reaching the lowest of lows. But in the end Lobert discovers that the love she longed for was with her all the time. And her new found peace has given her the strength to help others overcome their own personal demons.
Today, in addition to being the wife of Stryper guitarist Oz Fox, Lobert runs "Hookers For Jesus", a Christian faith-based non-profit that addresses the issues of prostitution, sex trafficking and sexual violence.
I had the pleasure of speaking with this inspirational woman about her book, journey and mission.
How does someone who grew up wanting to become an artist, musician and dancer get involved in sex trafficking?
Those were all my aspirations and the things I wanted to do when I was growing up, but I had also come from a very hard childhood. My father was an alcoholic and was very demanding and ruled with an iron fist. We were raised in a strict military family and my father never let go of that mindset while we were growing up. He never gave me the attention I longed for and as a result I became very needy and insecure.
When I reached high school I started noticing that boys were looking at me – and I liked the attention. I thought that if I could get attention from men then I would be happy. So I sowed my oats, went out into the world and did a lot of underage drinking.
How did you first become involved in the sex industry?
After high school I had the idea of going to college and becoming a smart corporate businesswoman while learning about music on the side. Instead, I ended up going to the nightclubs on Tuesdays and Thursdays with my friend and met these guys who eventually became our sex traffickers. Hustling men out of money was something I thought I was made for. I was making $500-$1000 an hour and thought I'd be set for life. I eventually began working for escort services and at strip clubs. It turned into a culture and a lifestyle.
When did your life really begin to change in the industry?
I met a man at a club I was working in one night who I thought was my knight in shining armor. He was a drug dealer who took me to Las Vegas and one night when I came home from "work" proceeded to tell me to give him all of my money and then beat the crap out me. From that moment on he told me he was my pimp and I was his working girl and that I had to do whatever he asked me to do. Then he told me how sorry he was to have to do what he did and that he loved me and how he only did it to teach me a lesson. The craziest part of the whole thing was that even though I was shocked at getting beaten, I was still in love with him. I just fell into it and that's how I became a sex trafficking victim.
Did anyone at any point ever offer you any help?
I met a lot of men who actually wanted to help me. One of them would always say, "Annie, you are destroying yourself!" He helped get me out of the industry and off drugs. We had a great partnership and even started a business together in Las Vegas. But our business eventually failed and I decided to go back to the only thing I knew would keep me going. Every day became a ritual. It was always get up, get high and go turn a trick. I knew better but felt comfortable about doing it because I was in so much pain mentally, physically and emotionally. I knew that no one just wakes up one morning and says, "Hey! I'm going to be a pimp or a prostitute!" But the truth was, I had been in the industry for 16 years an was now in my thirties and had thrown away all of the respect I had for my body and for myself. The pimps in my life had taken everything from me and broke me down. I thought it was over.
At what point did you hit rock bottom?
It took years for it to happen. I had never taken heavy drugs before but the first time I tried cocaine I became completely addicted. One night I was doing a lot it and wound up overdosing. It felt like a knife had gone through my chest and was stabbing me over and over. That's when I had a heart attack and near death experience. I could actually see my coffin and watched my body float away into a dark place. And that's when something in me cried out. I had gone to church when I was a young girl so I already knew who Jesus was and for a moment I was no longer that person in the wilderness crying out for help because there was a wolf. I just said, "Jesus, help me! I'm going to die!"
What happened next?
I wound up being taken to the hospital and remember as I was lying there being treated the doctor came up to me and told me that it was a miracle I wasn't dead. He said, "God must have been with you." It really clicked in my head that God had heard my prayer — and that's where my journey started. From that day I pretty much stopped everything and started getting my life back together. I had woken up to the fact that I had been forgiven and it was a great epiphany to know that I was still loved.
What inspired you to start Hookers For Jesus?
After everything I had done there was one person who still welcomed and accepted me — and his name is Jesus. I was so thankful that I was taken out of such a dark place that I wanted to give that same wonderful life change to another human being that was in the same place I was in. That's what started Hookers For Jesus and basically it's this: "We fish for people who are drowning." Matthew 4:19.
What made you decide to write this book?
I've wanted to write a book for years about my story. What started out as one sheet of paper soon turned into a rough draft. By the time I had most of it written I had gone through five editors and also gotten the help from a ghostwriter named AJ Gregory. It's been quite a journey.
What would you like people to take away from reading "Fallen"?
I want to let people know that no matter how far they've fallen their life actually means something and they can always get back on track. The truth is you don't have to have been a prostitute or a victim of sex trafficking to understand what I've been through. When you fall, there are people out there who can pick you up as well as a higher power and greater source. All you have to do is reach out to them. The best way to receive help is to first realize that we can't do everything on our own.
'When Times Get Ruff': New 'Doodle' Book Benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities
It's hard to believe that we're already on the third installment of our Doodle Dog Book series. What started out as a dream by two high school friends has turned into something bigger than either of us could have ever imagined.
But Michele and I both believe that the real fulfillment in accomplishing a dream comes from giving it a purpose – and that's exactly what we've done, by donating 100% of our profits from sales of our first two books to worthy causes.
In keeping with this trend, all personal proceeds from sales of our brand-new book, "Doodle: When Times Get Ruff" will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, a non-profit organization which provides a home away from home for families with seriously ill children staying and receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.
"Doodle: When Times Get Ruff" tells the story of Chloe, a young girl who faces uncertainty when her younger brother Christopher becomes ill. With help and love from both family and friends, Chloe is able to overcome her fear.
If you're already a fan of the first two books you'll notice the return of a few familiar characters, but with an added twist. You may also discover a few "easter eggs" that have been hidden somewhere within the text as well.
As an added bonus, from now until December 31st, Michele and I will be donating all future profits from sales of our first two books, "Doodle" and "Doodle Meets The Pound Pup" to RMHC of Central Ohio as well.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Mackenzie Schuler, the Marketing & Communications Coordinator for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, to find out more about her job and what goes on at RMH. We hope that after reading this interview with Mackenzie and seeing all of the good work that she and the rest of the staff and volunteers at RMHC of Central Ohio do for their community, you will consider purchasing a copy of our book or helping us spread the word!
How did you become involved in non-profit work?
I grew up in Iowa with a family full of outdoors men. During my senior year in high school, my Grandpa was sitting up in a tree stand when it suddenly gave out. He fell fifteen feet and broke all of the vertebrae in his neck and back; completely shattering his spine. While he was in the hospital being treated my mom, grandma and aunt would all take turns staying either in his room or in the hospital waiting room. I remember they would be there for days on end and I got to see firsthand how draining it was for them to be in that environment and not have any break or an oasis to get away from it. I had originally intended to be a journalism major but that experience shifted my focus to non-profit work. I had two great internships while I was in college and fell in love with it.
What's the mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio?
Our mission is to serve the families of seriously ill children in central Ohio and we create, find and support programs that do just that. When a family checks in, we don't ask them to pay anything. That means we have a large gap that we have to makeup through fundraising.
People may already know what the Ronald McDonald House is, but we also have a number of other things – including the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile which is basically a traveling, pediatric doctor's office that goes around and visits kids who may not be able to get access to healthcare otherwise. It travels north to Mansfield all the way down to southern Ohio.
What's a typical day like for you?
Well, there is no "typical" day in a non-profit setting [laughs]. We get to wear many different hats. I remember one Saturday I was here and we were all unloading head boards. We don't hire anyone to do it for us. We do all of the work ourselves. So one day I might be meeting with a family to talk about their experience at RMH and the next day, I might be moving furniture or reupholstering chairs.
My main focus here though is being the Marketing and Communications Coordinator. I do all of our social media as well as all of internal and external communications. I also work directly with families to tell a story each month for our electronic newsletter. I'll work with our Family Services department to find a family who would be willing to talk about their experience and then tie it back to everyone who helps give their time, money and effort to the Ronald McDonald House.
What can you tell me about the recent expansion at RMH?
Currently, we have 80 guest rooms and have just added a 42-room expansion. With 122 rooms, it makes us the largest Ronald McDonald House in the world. It's really exciting. In addition to the rooms, we've also added things like a roof-top garden and a salon area. We have lots of common spaces for families to spend their time together and keep their lives as normal as possible in not so normal circumstances. We'll be having a Community Open House on Sunday, Sept 14th from 1-4pm. We want to use this opportunity to thank people for all of their support and want them to feel like they're a part of the project as well.
What are some of the ways people can help?
There are a number of ways you can get involved. When you visit our website you'll find a tab there that says "How You Can Help". It can be anything from volunteering regularly to making a meal or even collecting pop tabs.
Is there something that people might not know about RMH that you think they should be aware of?
One of the things people might not be aware of is that we rely 100% on donations from the community. We also have a very small staff, so in order to keep our facility running we have volunteers that are here from 9am – 9pm every day of the week. Our volunteers also help us save money. As an example, since we don't have a hired cleaning staff, our volunteers are the ones who keep our house spotless. It's because of their hard work that we're able to save over a million dollars a year.
What is the best part of your job?
There are so many great stories that are told every day here at the Ronald McDonald House. I love the mission and how no one is ever asked to pay. It's an amazing service provided to the community. One where the only thing the family has to be concerned about is helping their child heal. They don't need to focus on anything else. Only on what's important.
For more information on
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio – Click Here!
Click here to Order a Copy of Doodle: When Times Get Ruff
New George Jones Tell-All Biography Sets The Record Straight On His Life, Career
It's hard to believe that it's already been a year since George Jones passed away. But a new tell-all biography by longtime friends Charlene and Peanutt Montgomery keeps Jones' memory alive as well as sets the record straight on the country music icon's life and career.
The Legend of George Jones: His Life And Death is a collection of stories that traces Jones' early years, five marriages (including one to another legendary artist – Tammy Wynette) and a career unequaled in the world of country music. From his humble beginnings playing guitar and singing on the streets of Beaumont, Texas, to his ascension to the Country Music Hall Of Fame, Jones' journey is told by the two people who knew him better than anyone.
George Jones was one of the most important and influential singers in music history and the voice behind many of country music's most enduring hits, including "He Stopped Loving Her Today", widely regarded as one of the greatest country singles of all time.
Peanutt Montgomery, co-author of the new book wrote 73 songs for George Jones and nine popular Jones / Montgomery hits are included on a CD that accompanies the book as well as two previously unreleased songs, newly recorded by some of country music's top players.
Although Jones himself never got a chance to read the finished book, the story remains for fans young and old to enjoy. I spoke with Charlene and Peanutt about the book and their memories of George.
What made you decide to write a book about George's life?
Charlene: I actually started writing the book about five years ago and knew even before then that I wanted to write one. In a way, I wrote it out of sympathy for George. A lot of bad publicity had come out about him over the years. People have this picture of George being a drunken musician and a bar room brawler, but that wasn't George at all. And although I wont deny that he did do some rough stuff, there were so many good things he did during his life that people never really knew about. He had such a good heart and was so good to people.
The stories in the book really make you feel like you're right there with George. What was the writing process like?
Charlene: I knew about George's childhood almost as if I had lived it with him. Only because I had heard him tell me about it so many times. He would always talk about things like his mother cooking and how wonderful it smelled. Or how he really missed things like listening to the wind whistling through the tall pines in the big thickets.
A lot has been said over the years about George and Tammy Wynette's marriage and their fights. Most of it tabloid fodder. Was a lot of their disputes over domestic issues?
Peanutt: Many of their fights had nothing to do with domestic issues. Sometimes, if Tammy would get a bigger royalty check or one of her songs went higher in the charts than George's it would aggravate him [laughs]. Even though they were both making money together, he often didn't look at it that way.
At what point do you remember seeing George at his lowest?
Charlene: The time he shot at Peanutt was probably the lowest I had ever seen him. At the time, he was terribly addicted to cocaine. All the years that we had spent with him, he suddenly became a man that we did not know. He got paranoid and didn't know who to trust. He didn't even trust himself.
Can you tell me about the time George first told you about "He Stopped Loving Her Today"?
Peanutt: One day George came by and asked me if I could help write on this song he had. Then he played me a demo tape of "He Stopped Loving Her Today". I told him that I couldn't write on that song without getting permission. Then he said, "Well, to me it doesn't sound like it's finished." So the two of us went out to eat to talk about it some more and at the time he was so messed up that he was dropping food on the table and would even lap his food off the table like a dog. That's when I knew I had to do something.
A few days later, I went down to the judge and told him that George was in danger of hurting someone or himself. The judge eventually had George committed for thirty days and I think that was the beginning of really helping him come out of his problems. But I'll never forget those days when he would try to get me to help him write on that song. Looking back now, I probably should have called up Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman ["He Stopped Loving Her Today" songwriters] and asked to help them with it! [laughs].
Do you have a good story about what it was like writing a song with George Jones?
Peanutt: I remember one time George was up in New York for a week or so and when he came back he said to me, "Peanutt? Old George is gonna be a hard act to follow!" I said, "George, that's a good title for a song!" At the time, George had a little concert piano in his living room. We both went in and started banging on it and wrote "A Hard Act To Follow". That was the song on the b-side of "He Stopped Loving Her Today".
What would you like people to remember most about George Jones?
Charlene: The thing that usually stands out is that George was a drinker, but he was also a common man who could relate to common people. I would like people to remember that George had a good heart.
Peanutt: I always put the spiritual world in with our lives. I claimed George Jones years ago and told him that he was going to be a Christian and was going to go to Heaven to be with God and all the rest of us one day. George would often question God, wondering how God could permit little children to be born crippled or people to grow old and be mistreated. I told him, "George, we don't know the answers to all of that, but just believe in the Lord."
There's an old saying in psychology that says there's something called a self-fulfilling prophecy. That if you say something over and over and believe it enough, it can come true. Be positive and look at the good side of life, even in the bad. I really believe that because I heard that on his death-bed, George accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior.
Charlene: If there's one thing that George Jones taught me that was of great value, it happened back in the 1960's. He was mad at Jimmy Peppers, who was a songwriter he was working with. I remember he said, "I don't ever want to speak to that boy again!! Our friendship's over!!" Then a few weeks later I saw George laughing and cutting it up again with Jimmy Peppers. I took him off to the side and said "Hey, I thought you said you didn't want to have nothing to do with Jimmy Peppers?" He said, "Well Charlene…you can't ever hold a grudge!" So whenever I get into a situation like that, I always go back to the advice he gave me that day. It was way back when I first met George Jones, and I've never forgotten it.
For more information on
The Legend of George Jones: His Life and Death Click Here!
Against All Odds: Author / Humanitarian Joey Parker Discusses Inspirational New Book
Joey Parker was at a crossroads in his life. Growing up in a very conservative town in Idaho, he often struggled with his own personal identity and relationships as well as with college and his purpose in life. It wasn't until a trip to Africa that Joey was able to find his true calling. A passion to make a difference in the world that would result in the creation of an entire movement.
Today, Joey's humanitarian efforts have not only resulted in raising funds and awareness for those suffering in third world countries, but also for the major social and ecological issues here at home. Joey also regularly contributes articles and interviews highlighting the positive side of Hollywood for his own website as well as for MTV Act.
Joey's first book, The Joey Parker Movement: Against All Odds is an insightful collection of personal stories offering today's youth encouragement in overcoming life's obstacles. From dealing with anxiety to coping with heartache and death, the book is a primer for building a better perspective and world. With celebrity contributions from the likes of Denise Richards, Lisa Rinna, Kristin Cavallari and even a foreword by Paris Hilton, Joey's book is a story of one man's dream for the future and a how-to guide for living a better life.
I spoke with Joey about his inspiring new book and movement.
How did the idea for the book come about?
I always thought my story was unique and interesting and the idea of writing a book was something that was always on my bucket list. About two years ago, I reached out to a publishing company that was following me on Twitter and about a week or so later we had a conference call. They loved the idea and concept for it and the process began.
What was the writing process like for you?
I've never done anything like this before so I spent a lot of time writing at night, writing in coffee shops and going back and forth with my editors. It was a learning process, but such an amazing project to work on. In the book I talk about many different subjects that were tough for me to go through. I think it will really help other people come into their own as well.
A lot of celebrities made contributions to the book. Tell me a little about that.
All of my relationships in the book came about randomly through Twitter, interviews or through some of the work that I've done. I've maintained many of those relationships so when the opportunity came to reach out with the idea for the book, they all loved it and wanted to write-up pieces for it.
What made you decide to include the foreword by Paris Hilton?
Paris has such a unique voice. A lot of people tend to see her through a different lens (i.e. tabloids), but she's a smart entrepreneur who's grown such an incredible business empire. She's a fascinating person in pop culture and there's a lot of pop culture throughout the book. I really wanted to add her voice to the foreword.
What was the inspiration that started The Joey Parker Movement?
It was during a time when I was trying to decide what I wanted to do with my life and figuring out who I was as an individual. I decided that one of the things I wanted to do was go on a really big trip, so I went to Africa. While I was there I saw a whole other side of the world I never thought I would get to see. When I came back I knew I wanted to do something. I just wasn't sure what it was.
What did you do next?
I decided to start blogging and writing about the positive side of pop culture. I began writing articles, Tweeting and reaching out to celebrities for interviews. I wanted to show a different side of Hollywood. The positive side. There's so much negativity out there and people just tearing each other down. I want to embrace the good. That's where the theme of my website and book came about.
How would describe The Joey Parker Movement?
It's an evolving theme that's based on living with a positive attitude and embracing the good in life. For the website, it's about embracing the good in Hollywood and showing a different side that people don't often get to see.
What disappoints you the most about what's going on in the world today?
I am disappointed in the lack of compassion that so many politicians around the United States have when it comes to LGBT rights. I was just at a hearing in Boise, Idaho where I was able to talk with protestors who were urging Idaho politicians to "Add The Words" to the Idaho Human Rights Act (adding "sexual orientation" and "gender identity"). For months, activists went to the capital to protest yet politicians throughout Idaho once again ignored the people. After my visit to Boise, three LGBT teens committed suicide.
The time is now to speak up, and politicians need to wake up. We must begin to pass laws that protect our people. The youth of our country need support and I hope through my book the younger generation can find some extra hope that boosts them forward.
Consequently, what excites or encourages you about what's going on in the world today?
How passionate our generation is. I believe we are a unique generation that is ready to push toward a positive future. We truly are ready to make a difference. We are sick of the cycle we have seen in the past and are ready to take it into our own hands. We are vibrant go-getters ready to take on the obstacles we have ahead and pave our own ways.
What's the message you'd like people to take from reading your book?
Happiness is an inside job. Looking within ourselves may be scary, but it's facing our inner battles that unlocks the path toward true happiness.
For more on The Joey Parker Movement
Be sure to check out his official website by Clicking Here!
The Freezing Snowman: Author B. Hagen Discusses New Children's Book / Guitar Duel
Guitar fans already know about B. Hagen (The Commander-In-Chief) from the amazing guitar duel she recorded with Thomas Valeur. The video of the 24 year old Norwegian guitarist performing Pablo de Sarasate's Zigeunerweisen Op. 20 went viral and became one of Guitar World magazine's top viral videos of 2013. But Hagen's creativity goes well beyond the instrument. She's just released her first children's book, "The Freezing Snowman".
Written and illustrated by Hagen herself, this beautiful 46-page book tells the magical story about a snowman suffering from the elements and unable to help himself. For young readers, the story demonstrates not only the power of persistence, but also the rich rewards for helping those around them.
I spoke with Hagen about her book, the guitar duel and the other projects she's currently working on.
What made you decide to write a book?
Originally, I thought it would make a cool Christmas present for my younger siblings. But when the rest of the family figured out what I was up to, they all pushed for me to self publish it.
How did the idea for the story come about?
I was making a snowman with my two youngest siblings back in the winter of 2012. I remember needing a hat and a scarf for him so I asked my youngest brother Eric if I could borrow his. He was not at all interested in any of HIS things being used, so I told him that the snowman was freezing and desperately needed something to keep himself warm. That was how the idea of the Freezing Snowman was born.
What is the real story behind The Freezing Snowman?
It's about many things and can be interpreted in many different ways. At first, I was thinking it was about someone being utterly miserable; in a situation they cannot influence. The snowman is not really happy until he starts melting, which is obviously ironic. The kids hold on to him though, just like kids do when they have a pet that is suffering. It might be better for the snowman to "die", but that would be terrible for the children as they refuse to let go of who they love. They have given him an identity and perceive him as living. The mother of the children (who is a grown up) doesn't see this. That of course leaves the question of whether or not the snowman is alive or only exists in the imagination of the children. Ultimately, I think this book is about love.
How long did it take you to write and illustrate the book?
I started making the drawings during the winter of 2013. I showed them to my then 7-year-old brother just to see what he thought and he got very excited about the story and wanted more. The writing took me a bit longer, as I waited to get feedback from my 19-year-old brother and mother. I remember there was a major discussion in the family about the ending. I then re-did all of the illustrations later in the year using different materials. The original drawings were all made on cardboard, which I cut myself.
Do you come from an art background?
I do. I had my first exhibition when I was 13, when I was doing geometric abstraction. My big dream since I was 5 was to become a designer. I got accepted into my high school's advanced art program and later took classes with Linda Cohn and Kirsten Leenart at the Hyde Park Art Center. Everyone expected me to pursue a career in visual arts, but I took a 4 year break from art to focus on my music. I still design my own stage outfits and in late 2012 started doing art again. All of the illustrations in the book were made on Langton watercolour paper using Faber Castell watercolour pencils, Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolours, Derwent Inktense Blocks and Staedtler pigment liners. I also used a variety of brushes and a very handy sponge!
Tell me a little about your Guitar Duel. How did you choose the song and how long did it take to prepare?
I grew up listening to classical music. Itzhak Perlman's recordings were always played, and the "Zigeunerweisen" was a personal favourite. It was my manager/mother (Elisabeth) and my idea to do a guitar recording of it. It took me 5 months to prepare and I even got injured: dislocating my collar-bone while practicing. But I always like a challenge, and it feels really good to be able to play such a fantastic song. I'm thrilled at how well it has been received!
What other projects are you working on?
I'm currently preparing for a new guitar duel with a very successful British based classical guitarist. We have picked two of the pieces already and will have our first rehearsal soon. As far as my solo career is concerned, I have another tv appearance at the beginning of next month. I'll get to play two of my original songs on "Good Morning Norway" and will also be interviewed. I'll also be performing at the Musikkmesse in Frankfurt, which I'm really looking forward to! And I was just a guest on the biggest Saturday night TV talk show in Norway. More than 600,000 people saw the program so that was very cool!
Do you see yourself writing more children's books in the future?
That would be great! I have tons of ideas for more stories, both picture books and morbid short stories for older children. Most of them, if not all are inspired by my siblings or my own childhood.
What satisfies you the most having completed your first book?
The illustrations look good in print! Now it's time to see what children think about it!
For more info on The Commander-in-Chief and The Freezing Snowman
check out the Official Website by Clicking Here!
In the U.S you can purchase a copy of the book here!
Beautiful Colors: Author Andrew Golub Discusses Unique Duran Duran Book
Author Andrew Golub is not your typical Duran Duran fan. Over the course of three decades, the Pacific northwest native has amassed a rather impressive arsenal of band memorabilia. It's a collection that includes everything from rare articles and artifacts to carefully restored posters and prints that document every chapter of Duran Duran history. Selections from Golub's archive have already been showcased in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum as well in an A&E Biography, two film documentaries and several public exhibitions.
Golub's 260-page book, "Beautiful Colors: The Posters of Duran Duran" presents an interesting perspective of the band's career as well as his own fandom. Through the use of full-color posters from 1978 to the present, Beautiful Colors documents the band's evolution through vintage artwork and stunning photography by Christine Born.
The book has received overwhelming praise from members of the fan community as well as from Duran Duran themselves, with keyboardist Nick Rhodes contributing a touching forward. Beautiful Colors is a book for any fan of Duran Duran or those with a penchant for 80's nostalgia. Moreover, the book is a true testament to the power of music.
I spoke with Golub about the book and his fascination of all things Duran Duran.
What was your primary motivation behind the Beautiful Colors book?
A book was always a possibility given the breadth of my collection and I've received many gentle urgings to produce something like this from friends and fans over the years. From exhibitions to my website, I strived to make my collection more accessible to the global fan community as well as the band. Due to their sheer size, posters tend to be the most dramatic category in the archive and the type of memorabilia I feel most proud of. So the concept behind Beautiful Colors felt like a natural decision.
How did you determine which pieces to include?
Since the collection is bursting with treasures, selecting posters for inclusion was a challenge. But once I decided to focus only on official promotional posters (from record companies, concert venues, etc), the choices became clear. Posters are designed to capture attention and ignite the imagination. They represent memories and milestones, for the band as well as the fans. I feel as if I'm working to preserve history through a medium that would otherwise be lost in time. My book may commemorate Duran Duran's history, but the memories on each page belong to fans around the world.
When did your love of Duran Duran begin?
The first strains of Fab Five Fever nestled into my DNA when I was 13 – the later part of 1984. The combination of charismatic photo sessions, captivating videos, and spectacular, memorable music was all it took to activate my inner Duranimal. My days were soon filled with trips to supermarket magazine racks, brainstorming on how to fund purchases of DD material and of course, taking good care of the items in my growing collection. Hard to believe there was a point when my whole collection fit inside my bedroom. A fortunate thing since my mother refused to build an annex on to the house for memorabilia maintenance [laughs].
What was it about their music that really interested you?
Nick's soaring keyboard arrangements against Roger's rock-solid beat, John's velvety funk-infused bass, Andy's electrifying guitar licks, and Simon's lush, wonderfully cryptic lyrics. Every song offered something fresh and exciting with each new listen. "Seven and The Ragged Tiger" was my first album, launching a full, swift occupation of my senses. The synthesized rapture of "The Reflex" captured my imagination first, followed by the harmonized bliss of "New Moon on Monday," and the rest of the record overwhelmed with awesome. I found Duran Duran's music stayed with me long after I stopped listening, and I felt myself yearning for more—discovering other albums, learning about the members, and essentially assembling a portrait of the artists behind my favorite tunes. The music was my gateway drug.
What made you decide to start collecting pieces of Duran Duran memorabilia?
Being attracted to Duran Duran's strong visual style, acquiring memorabilia seemed like a natural direction. Photos offered glossy, handsome images and magazine articles were often accompanied by fan-friendly, full-page pin-ups. But posters took Duran Duran's exciting, photogenic persona to an even higher plane. While I've enjoyed filling out the archive with many odd and fascinating artifacts, the posters have always been the heart of my collection and the clearest visual representation of Duran Duran's professional history.
How do you acquire pieces for your collection?
Much of my effort revolves around careful networking, reaching out to those within the concert promotion industry and building credibility with my archive. The biggest challenge comes with every new tour, when the whole world becomes a potential harbor for poster production. That is also when I become most aware and appreciative of all the wonderful friends and fellow fans keeping me in mind across the globe!
Do you have a particular favorite?
Without picking a single, most prized item, I would highlight the posters I've been able to find from the band's earliest chapters. Whether testing new material in Birmingham clubs, cutting their teeth as a support act or exploring their New Romantic roots, Duran Duran's formative years remain the most elusive to document through posters. I have moments of quiet incredulity and deep pride when I look at the first chapter of my book, populated with more posters than I ever expected to include.
Have you ever gotten to meet the band?
I have met the band on several occasions and each encounter has been intensely meaningful and ingrained as a life highlight. Every time I am fortunate enough to meet Duran Duran I am reminded of why I do what I do, why the band deserve nothing less than absolute lifelong celebration and I walk away with renewed commitment to my archival work.
What's your favorite Duran Duran song? Album?
I was introduced to Duran's sound through the Ragged Tiger album, particularly "The Reflex". That record and single will always occupy a premium spot for me. However, Rio is bursting with some of my biggest faves. Especially "Lonely In Your Nightmare", "Save A Prayer" and "Hold Back The Rain". Timeless classics which never fail to elevate my heart rate, tap my emotions, and transport me to a very happy place. In the band's recent years, All You Need Is Now is nothing short of crazy-awesome, having re-captured the same visceral, joyous feel that got me hooked in the first place! "Runway Runaway", "Blame The Machines" and the title track are pure brilliance that I enjoy down to the molecular level.
What has the band had to say about your book?
The band has been incredibly supportive through Twitter and Facebook, and after a recent trip to present the book to Duran's management in New York I learned the band assessed Beautiful Colors as "magnificent." It was important to create something that both the band and the fans could be proud of. In addition to charting the band's history, I set out to honor the bond between the band and their faithful following as well as my own connections within the global fan community. This passion is a powerful common thread we all share, and I feel blessed to be part of something so special, enduring and so much bigger than myself.
For more information on Andrew Golub and
Beautiful Colors: The Posters of Duran Duran Click Here!
To See Golub's portion of an American Collector's documentary
(38 minutes in): Click Here


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Cole Donald A Mediator is a Psychologist office located in Bend, OR. A psychologist focuses on the evaluation, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional and behavioral health issues. A clinical psychologist uses psychotherapy and other counseling skills to improve emotional and mental health.
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Cole Donald A Mediator is located at 2129 NW 2nd St, Bend, OR. This location is in the River West neighborhood. This business specializes in Arbitration & Mediation.
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Nintendo posted some screenshots today revealing Impa as a playable character in the Wii U Dynasty Warriors/Zelda mash-up Hyrule Warriors. "Many other surprising playable characters make appearances in Hyrule Warriors, and each playable character will have signature weapons and action animations." I am holding out for Ganondorf, or for Minda (love to see what weapon she would get!
Reading Nintendo's press release and looking at the game itself made me realize this isn't a bad business move to try to boost the Wii U's fortunes. It could also be the result of people high up at Nintendo really liking Dynasty Warriors games. For more evidence, I'll point out Samurai Warriors 3 on the Wii, which Nintendo published in America which has a bonus mode based on the Famicom Disk System game Nazo no Murasame-jou, which is something more of a homage or a collaboration, not something you'd do to for financial gain.
I'm rather excited to see what the entire roster will look like I'm hoping this game will be another success for the Zelda collection. Tiny side note... Maybe a movie, but who would the actors and actresses be?


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Attempts to duplicate a stunt from Jackass landed one man in hospital with burnt genitals and left another facing criminal charges.
The men were trying to do a stunt from one of the hit shows movies, in which a character lights his genitals on fire.
Jared W. Anderson, 20, suffered serious burns to his hands and genitals, according to the criminal complaint.
Randell D. Peterson, 43, who sprayed lighter fluid on Anderson and lit him on fire, was charged with felony battery and first-degree reckless endangerment in Eau Claire County Court.
Witnesses told police that Anderson, who was drunk, volunteered to do the stunt after watching the movie, the complaint said.
After Peterson ignited Anderson, he ran into the bathroom, jumped into the tub and put the flames out, according to the complaint.
He was taken to Luther Hospital, and eventually treated at the Regions Hospital Burns Unit in St. Paul, Minn., for second-degree burns.
Anderson told police that he did not want anyone to get in trouble because of the stunt.
Peterson was freed on a $US2,000 bond. He has a hearing scheduled on April 16.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.
When news happens: send photos, videos & tip-offs to 0424 SMS SMH (+61 424 767 764), or us.
Did you know you could pay less than $1 a day for a subscription to the Herald? Subscribe today.


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By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
TOOL–Tool resident Dale Beavers, who many may remember as the general manager for West Cedar Creek Municipal Utility District, died Monday at the age of 71.
A memorial service for "The Colonel" will be held at the First Baptist Church of Tool at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 5. A celebration of his life will immediately follow at the Seven Points VFW Post 4376. All are invited.
After a long and illustrious career in the U.S. Air Force, he retired to the Cedar Creek Lake area and applied for the post of general manager at WCCMUD, which he served for nearly 14 years before retiring from his second career.
Longtime board president Clifton Smith remembers hiring Beavers for the post in 1985. Beavers retired in 1999.
"We needed a strong hand and a strong mind to pull us out of some bad problems," Smith told The Monitor. "He was strong with people and strong minded."
Smith describes that era as a time of growth and all the attending problems that go along with growing pains.
"He really did a magnificent job at pulling things together here," Smith said.
And he brought on Tony Ciardo, who became a key man under him and who was promoted to GM when Beavers retired.
"He set the groundwork upon which West Cedar Creek has been building ever since. Dale worked hard and played hard. He was very instrumental in the community, working with people," Smith said.
To others, he was best known for his quick wit, his larger- than-life stories and his love for his family. He was much loved by his friends at Cedar Creek Lake and especially all his fellow veterans at the Seven Points VFW Post 4376.
He also was involved with the Optimist Club in Seven Points for many years.
He was a proud member of the Aley United Methodist Church in Tool.
Please see the Sunday issue of The Monitor for his complete obituary.
Community leader Dale Beavers dies
Posted by : October 3, 2012| On :
By Pearl Cantrell


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Planetes: The most awesome work of Sunrise this decade
(for those of you who recognise this picture, please don't spoil :P)
Planetes is probably the most awesome work of Sunrise this decade I will recognise (second is probably Zegapain). The whole series is an exploration of humanity as a whole and probably a very accurate representation of what our near-future will be, particularly in the area of space exploration. As one of the main protagonists would put it, the production team definitely put in a lot of "Ai" in to making this series.
On a the technical side, much praise has to be given to the team for actually researching space technology so throughly that an accurate representation of living in space is depicted in the series. Zero-G is Zero-G, spaceships don't make noise and astronauts wearing diapers are some of the facts that are incoporated in the anime. Even the risks and effects of living in space and low gravity enviroments are factored in and it doesn't paint a rose-colored picture of the harshness of space and the fact on how humans are very much beings not adapated for space-faring.
Later on, many human issues crop up in the series, involving the disparity between the rich and the poor, the selfishness of the "privaliged" elites, existential angst and the choice between love or persuing one's dreams crop up and are dealt with in a very human way. What probably makes Planetes able to achieve such feel is the perspective it tells the story, while mostly centered on the few key characters that are considered as powerless individuals, we do see how the petty squables of the "elite" manage to affect their lives in a drastic manner.
I'll refrain from going on any longer as it's in contrast with my 500-word guideline already, but suffice to say, Planetes is a series that any fan of the medium should watch and it proves that Sunrise does have the talent amongst them to pull off a very good and enjoyable show.


text: BTW, currently trying to get a new XL4 working. VZ can't get the cablecard to work with HBO and Cinemax. Brand new cablecard. Been down this road before. Spent 3.5 hours this evening trying with them - no success. Had this problem with a Premiere in November. They replaced the card 3 times, hit it several times. Rolled a truck. Nothing worked. Field tech finally called VZ again and got a "good" tech, who seemed to know what they were doing and fixed it within 15 minutes. This time, no luck yet. So, don't underestimate the impact of this stuff either. Have a VZ reference number. They "say" they'll call back tomorrow.


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Heather Watson is through to the semi-finals of the Japan Open but British No1 Laura Robson bowed out today.
Watson needed only two sets but almost two hours to overcome France's Pauline Parmentier — ranked two places below her at 73rd in the world — to win 7-5, 6-3.
The match in Osaka featured 12 breaks of serve in 21 games with the Briton claiming four of those in the first set and three in the second.
Tomorrow, she will face Misaki Doe, who beat seventh seed Chanelle Scheepers 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 and the odds favour Watson given that the Japanese player is ranked 123 in the world.
Robson, seeded eighth for the tournament, was beaten in a third‑set tie-break by Kai-Chen Chang, going down 6-4, 3-6, 7-6.
The victor, from Chinese Taipei, now plays top seed Samantha Stosur after the Australian beat Jamie Hampton 6-2, 6-4.Reuse content


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WESTON, Conn. -- Thursday's nor'easter seemed like a slice of heaven for three playful Siberian Huskies in Weston.
Apollo, Athena and Zeus of the Peyreigne family frolicked in the snow with delight. The frequent snow this winter has been a delight for the dogs,
With nearly a foot new snow to play in, the frisky pups figure to have fun in the weeks ahead.


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Seca 803 clara Digital Scale
Capacity 330 lbs. (150 kg)
Whether in hotels, fitness studios or at home: the seca 803 is the right choice where reliable weight control is needed. It gives exact results, is robust and easy to operate. The very user-friendly construction make these scales an indispensable aid – day after day. The perfect solution for all those who want to know for certain. Safe and comfortable: The platform of the seca clara 803 is fitted with a slip resistant and pleasantly soft rubber covering which guarantees a safe and comfortable footing. Slip resistant rubber feet give the scales additional stability. The extremely low, 35 mm high platform make the scales easy to step on. Easy to read digits: The weight is easily legible with the large, 28 mm high LCD digits. With the integrated kg/lbs/sts switch-over, the scale is also suitable for international use. Robust and easy to clean: The seca clara 803 is made of high quality plastic with enhanced surface hardness which protects the scales against damage caused by knocks or scratches. The hard-wearing surface is easy to clean. Energy-saving and low-maintenance: The seca clara 803 has an energy-saving automatic switch-off, making up to 12,000 weighings possible with just one set of batteries. However, should it be necessary to change the batteries, this is indicated on the display in good time. The seca 803 is well-suited for hotels and private households.
- Capacity: 150 kg / 330 lbs / 23 sts / 150 kg / 330 lbs / 23 sts / 150 kg / 330 lbs / 23 sts
- Graduation Weight: 0,2 lbs / 100 g
- Weight: 3,3 lbs / 1,5 kg
- Power supply: Batteries
- Dimensions: 12,4 x 1,5 x 12,8 inch / 316 x 37 x 326 mm / 11,6 x 1,4 x 12 inch dimensions tray / 295 x 35 x 305 mm dimensions tray
- Functions: Auto-HOLD / Automatic switch-off / Tap-on function
Simple Returns
If, for whatever reason, you are not satisfied with your purchase, you can return it to HRM USA within 45 days of purchase date subject to conditions below. Claims for items damaged in transit must be received within (3) business days of receipt of merchandise. Refunds & Credits Refunds on returned items will be issued to the same payment as tendered at the time of purchase or store credit. Once we receive and inspect the product you will be issued a credit back to your account. Please allow 5-7 Business days for a credit to appear on your account. If payment was made by check, the refund check will not be issued within 7- 10 business days after receipt of return.
If the item is returned to us for exchange, please allow 2-5 business days for the replacement to be processed and shipped. All returns are shipped with our Economy shipping method and arrive within 2-10 Days.
Please read all conditions below. If conditions are not met, HRM USA reserves the right to refuse the return or to charge a restocking fee not less than 10% or a $2.95 minimum charge.
All returned items must be in new condition, in their original unaltered box (including the UPC code being intact) and must include all packing material, blank warranty cards, manuals,and accessories. Defective items may be exchanged for the same model or manufacturer's equivalent model. Please call us at 800-403-8285 for assistance. Please allow time to discuss any issues you may be experiencing as we may recommend tech support to resolve any issues prior to exchange.
No Used Returns/Exchanges on the following
- Hydration Packs, Water Bottles once any of the packaging has been opened or safety seals have have been broken.
- Computers and Computer Software, once any of the manufacturer's packaging has been opened.
- Heating Pads, once safety seal has been broken
- Electronic Software is not returnable or refundable once opened.
- All consumable items or hygienic items (e.g., Gels, Energy Chomps, Elixirs, etc.) once unwrapped or seal broken.
- Special Order merchandise, Clearance, or any item indicated on the website as non-returnable.
- Imprinted products.
- HRM USA Stores Gift Cards are redeemable for merchandise only and may not be redeemed for cash.
HRM USA is dedicated to always offering the best value to our customers. We will match the price, at the time of purchase any product sold by an Authorized Dealer of that specific product offered at lower price. Proof of lower price is required.
Here's how to qualify for Price Match:
- If you find a qualifying lower price online, call 1-800-403-8285 or 215-259-2700 Between 9am - 6pm EST and one of our employees will assist you with the price match request.
- On qualifying products, HRM USA will then verify the current price to complete the price match.
Some exclusions apply:
- Services such as custom imprinting, extended warranties, ect.
- Items must be in advertised as New Condition, HRM USA will not price match against Used, Newly Overhauled, Manufacturer Refurbished, or Open Box Returns
- Out of Stock or Preorder items do not qualify
- Products shipped from or sold by third-party sellers (Marketplace Sellers) on Website
- Price Match will take into consideration final value costs, including shipping and taxes.


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The dogs of war are howling for another opportunity to bark for an opportunity to kill and destroy. Senator John McCain and some of his fellow Republican senators–not all– want the American government to become involved in the civil war in Syria. They urged bombing Syrian units, and arming those who fight against President Assad. Look at the record of reality:
1. Syria has a modern air defense system. If the US bombs, some American planes will be shot down.
2. Rebel forces include: (a) secular groups seeking to establish a democratic society, (b) members of al-Qaeda, (c) Islamist fanatics seeking to establish Sharia law.
3. If American planes are shot down, the next demand will be for boots on the ground.
Chaos awaits in Syria. Sorry, there is no simple solution. It is chaos.


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I may be aquiring a PL 1.8L shortblock and i've got a spare set of G60 rods and pistons i've been saving for a turbo project.. I've already got a 16V 1.8L head and i'm wondering about swapping the G60 pistons or pistons and Rods into the PL code 1.8L 16V block? is it possible.. i know there are differences in stroke and perhaps in wrist pin size.. i'd love to swap the rods and pistons to avoid the wrist pin issue but i know the rods were really short 136mm i think which may not work?
any ideas?


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When in doubt, match Wikipedia, as that's what we're all trained to search for.
First Lady[1] or First Gentleman is the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.
The title "First Lady" originated in the United States in 1849, when United States President Zachary Taylor called Dolley Madison "First Lady" at her state funeral while reciting a eulogy ...
*n.b. nice photo captioned: Bella Kocharyan, Laura Bush, Lyudmila Putina and Zorka Parvanova — first ladies of Armenia, the United States, Russia and Bulgaria in 2003.
SO perhaps on an international site such as Geni "disambiguation" efforts would lead to the *formal / informal* title being:
First Lady of the United States of America
IN the about me text.
As Jenna points out, "tree view" real estate is limited and tiny, and more text it harder, not easier, on searches and matches.
I would say, use the suffix field (NOT the middle name, never!) and put it First Lady. Save the full title for "profile" view in the "overview" tab.
For example:
First Name: Dolley
Middle Name: left blank
Maiden Name: Payne
Last Name: Madison
Suffix: First Lady
Display Name: Dolley Madison, First Lady
There's an occupation field that can be used:
Occupation First Lady of the United States of America
There's a nickname field that can be used for any alternate names, including her full name that includes her lst spouse, John Todd:
Nickname: Dolley Payne Todd Madison
What say others?
I think the problem *won't* be mixing them up from other countries such as Princess Grace of Monaco. I think the problem is incorrect merges with ladies of similar name in Colonial America, so our efforts should be focused to those who need *that* disambiguation help.
Hopefully no one is merging / managing in that area who doesn't realize we're talking about the US.
Me again... You will find I am a stickler for "do it the same way every time", sorry!
Some of the First Ladies have their maiden names spelled out (as in Erica's nickname example on Dolley above) while others have the maiden name in parenthesis, as per Geni default. Do we want to convert to nicknames on all for continuity? (In my humble opinion, this should really be Geni wide, not just on this project.)


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Justin Bieber Spotted Hanging Out With Michelle Rodriguez
Justin Bieber is chilling with who?!
It's either the singer needs protection from Orlando Bloom, or Michelle Rodriguez just likes hanging out with the youngsters!
The two were spotted hanging out (non-romantically) on a yacht in Ibiza yesterday. They enjoyed the weather and had some fun on jetskis too!
The 20-year-old was probably blowing off some steam after his altercation with Orlando!
Apparently, Bieber wasn't the only one chilling on a yacht yesterday. Orlando was also spotted relaxing on a boat just 17 kilometres away. Not only that, but he was with the ex of Miranda Kerr's rumoured new boyfriend.
That's awkward.
Launch the gallery to see photos of Biebs and Rodriquez soaking up the sun…and the water.