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|Animation . Comedy
In an effort to protect their children from kidnappers, the parents of South Park hire the owner and operator of the local City Wok to build a Great Wall around the city. When crazy things like Kid trackers and Mongolions come into the picture. The parents learn a very important lesson themselves about trusting strangers.
|Episode Title:
|Child Abduction is Not Funny
|2002-07-24 at 10:00 pm
As animation, it's substandard, primitive dreck; as comedy, however, it's gloriously subversive art. [12 Aug 1997]Variety Full Review
Has as much nerve as "The Simpsons" when it burst on the scene. [11 Aug 1997]Chicago Sun-Times Full Review
It is at once insanely juvenile and very sophisticated, appealing to a funny bone that, as an adult, I try to hide. I feel guilty about laughing, but I laugh anyway. [13 Aug 1997]Miami Herald Full Review
Crude in execution, harsh by design, South Park is deliciously deranged. Don't bite unless you have a taste for the tasteless. [13 Aug 1997]USA Today Full Review
Unlike many cartoons, this one actually looks funny, and it constantly plays on its grade-school aesthetic for shock value, with great success. At its best, "South Park" is more a profane "Peanuts" than a downsized "Beavis and Butt-head." [13 Aug 1997]Boston Globe Full Review
If all "South Park" offered were poo-poo jokes and babes spouting profanity, the show would wear thin awfully fast. It doesn't. The reason is that Parker, Stone and their collaborators actually have done something remarkable with their primitive, construction-paper animation: They have created a wholly new, internally consistent fictional world and have peopled it with distinct, interesting characters. [13 Aug 1997]New York Daily News Full Review
South Park is either the funniest new show on the air or the next sign of the apocalypse. ... When it's not in gross-out mode, and often even when it is, South Park is weaving a surrealist satire of small-town America. [11 Aug 1997]Dallas Morning News Full Review
Blatantly designed to tickle the funny bones of teenage boys and those who think like them, the show delivers plenty of lowbrow laughs, at the same time indulging in excesses seemingly calculated to shock the sensibilities of TV watchdogs. [13 Aug 1997]Los Angeles Times Full Review
The important thing about "South Park" is not what it looks like or the way the characters talk, but what they say. It's a writer-driven vehicle, like most of the better twisted adult cartoons. [13 Aug 1997]Newsday Full Review
Even at its meanest, "South Park" is seldom mean-spirited, and it's often outrageously funny. [13 Aug 1997]St. Louis Post-Dispatch Full Review
For now, at least, the satirical elements aren't as sharp as other popular cartoons like "The Simpsons" or "King of the Hill" or even "Beavis & Butt-Head." [13 Aug 1997]Newark Star-Ledger Full Review
Uneven ... The series often seems more crude than irreverent, and its satirical targets too familiar and easy to hit. ... However uneven it is now, "South Park" seems to have a future. [17 Aug 1997]The New York Times Full Review
It might help if the South Park kids had personalities, but they're as one-dimensional as the show's cut-and-paste animation.Entertainment Weekly Full Review
Sophomoric, gross and unfunny. It's great that a comedy wants to take chances - many sitcoms don't - but the adult-aimed South Park goes too far. [13 Aug 1997]Orlando Sentinel Full Review
To say that the series is not for everyone is lavish understatement. The real question: Is it for anyone? [13 Aug 1997]Washington Post Full Review
There are occasional flashes of clever wit, but they're largely lost amidst crude language and crude jokes. [13 Aug 1997]Deseret News Full Review
It's dismissible juvenilia ... a collection of poorly paced, lowest-common-denominator setups that are not even sophomorically funny or scatologically goofy. [13 Aug 1997]The Hollywood Reporter Full Review
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The West Australian mining boom is not paying dividends for the state's commercial gallery sector, with four of Perth's most important galleries to be shut by year's end.
Goddard de Fiddes exited the building at the end of last year; closing at the end of this year are Gallery East and Perth Galleries, which have been in business for 22 and 25 years respectively. Galerie Dusseldorf is to close in June next year.
Mining workers are not particularly into art, it seems. "There's a joke in Perth that if you're selling boats or utes, or holiday houses in Mandurah, you're doing a roaring trade, but if not . . ." says Roshana Lewis, owner of Lister Gallery (which is not closing).
Gallery East owner David Forrest says the tightening of the rules around self-managed super funds, the scarcity of public institutional buying, and the disappearance of an already small group of private collectors all contributed.
"We've been open for 22 years and have been struggling for about three years to maintain it," he says. "It's not going to improve; it's getting worse."
Norah Ohrt, owner of Perth Galleries, says her decision was sparked by the planned sale in 2014 of the building that houses her gallery. Faced with finding new premises for the third time and spending $50,000 on a fit-out, she opted to close and buy a house in Spain, where she will move at year's end. "The closures will leave 150 artists on the street and 200 years of combined knowledge down the drain."
The Australian Financial Review

subset: commoncrawl


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It appears that Woody Allen might soon make a contribution to the storm of commentary surrounding sexual-abuse allegations against him.
The saga was dragged back into the spotlight when Allen's adopted daughter Dylan Farrow publicly detailed abuse she claims to have suffered as a seven-year-old in 1992, allegedly at the hands of the award-winning director.
The New York Times has confirmed that Allen, who has commented only through his publicist and lawyer so far, has requested it publish his response as an op-ed.
"They asked and we said, 'Yes, send it in,'" the Times' editorial page editor Andrew Rosenthal said in an interview on the paper's website.
Rosenthal says the paper does not normally publish direct responses in full as an op-ed, but he says to expect a published response - edited or not - from Allen himself in the next few days.
It was New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof who, on February 1, posted Dylan Farrow's letter, which has since sparked comment, counter-comment, rebuttals, denials, and messages of support and disgust.
Numerous celebrities have weighed in on the debate, including Australian actor Cate Blanchett, the star of Allen's film Blue Jasmine.
She responded with a very measured, "our thoughts are with the family" remark after Dylan Farrow appealed to her in the open letter, asking Blanchett and other actors, "What if it had been your child?"
Girls creator Lena Dunham took to Twitter to show her support for victims of sexual abuse.
"In wake of Dylan's letter I've noticed a lot of guys obsessed with the idea of being falsely accused … " Dunham tweeted.
"Though there have, of course, been plenty of terrible and unjust cases in the past, remember. Most victims NEVER speak up. Most never feel they can. These are not stories we tell for fun, attention or revenge," Dunham said.
Members of the Farrow clan have added their thoughts to the discussion.
During Allen's Golden Globes tribute, his son Ronan Farrow brought the topic up on Twitter.
"Missed the Woody Allen tribute," Ronan tweeted. "Did they put the part where a woman publicly confirmed he molested her at age 7 before or after Annie Hall?"
One of Dylan's adopted brothers, Moses Farrow, spoke to People in defence of his adopted father.
"My mother drummed it into me to hate my father for tearing apart the family and sexually molesting my sister," Moses said.
"I see now that this was a vengeful way to pay him back for falling in love with Soon-Yi."
Dylan Farrow has already responded to the comments from Moses, who is estranged from most of the Farrow family.
"This is such a betrayal to me and my whole family," Dylan told People.
"My memories are the truth and they are mine and I will live with that for the rest of my life."
Allen, 78, has denied the accusations of sexual abuse since they first came to light in 1992.
He was never charged with sexual abuse, and claims it was a story planted in Dylan Farrow's head by her mother, Mia Farrow.
Mia Farrow has always strongly denied those claims.
At the time the couple were going through a divorce, caused in part by Allen's affair with Mia Farrow's adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn, who was 21 at the time.
Allen has since married Previn, and the couple have two adopted children.


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Another Wonderful Cruise: Norwegian Pearl Cruise Review by NSAHO79
Overall Member Rating
Another Wonderful Cruise
Destination: Western Caribbean
Embarkation: Miami
Embarkation - This usually is a very smooth process (we have cruised on NCL four times before). Unfortunately this wasn't the case this time. Our group split up because we were going in the Latitudes check-in and thought we would be on board first to help our family get their bearings when they got on. However, there was some type of serious glitch with the machines that produce the cabin cards and ours was wrong so they had to go back and try over and over again. We were waiting for at least 15 minutes or more and the line behind us just kept getting longer. Apparently when they swiped my card someone else's picture would show up. Finally they gave us the cards and sent us on the ship but when we hit the first security More check the cards didn't work and we had to go to the customer service desk to get new cards printed. Not the best start for the cruise.
The first day is always hectic. We headed to the buffet on Deck 12 and naturally it was overflowing with people. Eventually we managed to get a table and sat down to have a very nice lunch. By this time our cabins were ready so we took our friends to our cabin on Deck 11 first and then headed down to their cabin on Deck 10.
We had a mini-suite and it was very nice except I would have liked to have adjustable chairs on the balcony. Our friends had a balcony cabin on Deck 10 and they just loved it. They also had Bon Voyage gifts waiting for them from their family.
Of course we all had to go to the muster drill and so we took them to find the spot where they would have to go when the alarm sounded. Being their first cruise we had to show them around the ship. It was about 4 PM by the time all that was over with and we headed back to our cabins. By now our luggage had arrived so we got busy unpacking. There was lots of storage space in our cabin with four large drawers, a closet and two large shelves along with smaller drawers in the desk.
One big complaint about our cabin (and probably everyone else's) was the size of the TV. I should say "lack of size"! The TV was about a 15" screen! It was pathetic and NCL really should have replaced these by now with at least a 27" screen. I had a larger TV in my hard-top camper 20 years ago.
The first night we ate in the MDR because lobster was on the menu. I had the NY strip loin steak which was very nice but the lobster was actually a HALF a lobster tail and a small fillet of red snapper. Very nice but not a very filling meal
FOOD -- Except for the first night and one meal at Cagney's, we ate exclusively in the buffet. The food was very good, hot and well presented. My only complaint is that the carving stations seem to be cutting back on the nicer (more expensive) meats and for the most part it was chicken, turkey, ham and even meat loaf and brisket. We used to have roast beef, duck and lamb on previous cruises.
We did have one meal at Cagney's and on future cruises we will not be bothering with this. We had clam chowder as an appetizer and then the prime rib which was not as tender as it used to be. With it we had a baked potato and sauteed mushrooms. For $50.00 it was not a very good meal and we will be sticking with the free venues from now on.
ENTERTAINMENT- This was pretty standard stuff and we did not go to any of the song/dance productions. However, the comedienne in the Spinnaker Lounge was very good and the Frankie Vallee show was excellent. We also enjoyed the magician who came up into the audience to do some of his tricks.
We did have a problem with the advertised "Wii Game time" as we enjoy the Wii bowling at home and we were looking forward to trying it on their big screen in the atrium. Turns out that they will not allow the passengers to play the "bowling" because there are real bowling lanes on the ship!! Seriously?? Not exactly the same thing and with 2,300 passengers and four lanes for bowling I don't think they were going to lose any money. I also found it hard to watch any sports on the big screen in the atrium because we are used to high-definition TV at home and the picture on the big screen is practically blurry.
Bowling- We did have fun with this and went twice to play one string (all you are allowed when it is busy). They have several times when it is "2 for 1" so it is only $5.00 a string.
Shuffleboard -- They had 3 -- 4 courts around the ship and they were very good being the proper size and laid out well. Always a lot of fun
There is rock climbing, a tennis/basketball court and a golf driving cage as well as a walking track.
We did not use the spa or the exercise room.
CASINO -- One of the major problems for us. We are non-smokers and cigarette smoke really bothers my eyes so the fact that the entire casino is SMOKING was a real turn-off. I could only stay in there for about 20 minutes and then I had to leave. With all the complaints you would think they could have two smaller casinos (separate) with one for non-smokers and one for smokers. They certainly would have made more money off me and my DH if it weren't for the heavy smoke.
ITINERARY -- We were going to be stopping at Great Stirrup Cay (private island) in the Bahamas and then going to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
Hurricane Sandy put an end to that. She was just a tropical depression when we left but to keep everyone safe we diverted to Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico.
GREAT STIRRUP CAY -- We rented one of their cabanas for the day on this island since there were four of us. However, we are all seniors and the walk from the dock to the cabana is at least 10 minutes and then you have to climb a staircase to get to the cabana. I should note that it was a very hot, sunny day. Considering the cost of renting these, they really should have golf carts (or similar transportation) to get folks back and forth. We were in Cabana #1 so the other 9 cabanas were even further away. The amenities were great. A fridge with 8 bottles of water, eight beach towels, a bowl of fruits, wine glasses/dishes all set out and chips/salsa once we got settled.
The price also includes floats for the water, hippo slide tickets and $50.00 in drinks/food. There are four loungers and four chairs and a table so it is just lovely.
It was a very hot day and we enjoyed getting into the ocean to cool off. I did make a surprising discovery when I came home. Apparently there are SHOWERS at the back of the cabana and our guide never told us about them. The back wall of the cabana is solid and we never thought to walk around the building! It would have been very convenient had we known about it.
My husband and his brother had a big hassle when they started out to go snorkelling though. They are both certified scuba divers and have been snorkelling for over 30 years. So they were pretty surprised (and annoyed) when they were told by the lifeguard that they HAD to wear snorkel vests to go out snorkelling! Then they found out that they had to RENT them from the dive shop! If NCL insist that people have to wear these vests then they should be FREE since it is not our choice. It ended up that we did not have to pay for them because we got a credit for our hippo slide tickets (it was out of service).
The buffet on the island was wonderful and there is a large area of shops to buy beach clothing and souvenirs. It turned out to be a very long day because it was extremely hot and there is a lot of walking to get from the cabana to the buffet and washrooms and to the shopping area and back to the dock.
PRIORITY TENDERS -- A problem. Our cabana fee included a priority tender but we discovered that there was no such thing when it came for us to leave the ship for the island. I do not know whether this was due to the rough seas or not but we had to wait in the (long) line with everyone else to get on the tender. The line went from deck nine all the way down to deck 4 where the tender was loading. It was a very rough ride and a lot of people were sick both coming and going from the island. On the lower deck one side of the boat was getting hit by large waves and everyone was getting soaked. With a water temperature of 84F it wasn't too much of a problem.
SERVICE -- Excellent as always and everywhere on the ship. When we were diverted from Jamaica the front desk staff used the ship phone to contact the hotel where we had booked an all-inclusive day trip so we could cancel it and get a refund. We also had a few problems with our bill but they were fixed immediately once we contacted the billing staff.
Disembarkation -- We tagged our luggage for a 10 AM departure and it all went smoothly. Overall we had a wonderful trip and I will be sailing with NCL again.
The only other complaint I would have is that the grout around the bottom edge of our bathtub was black with mould and should either be removed and replaced or cleaned with chlorine bleach. It wasn't very appealing when laying it the tub! Less
Published 11/02/12
Cabin review: MA11588 Mid-Ship Mini-Suite with Balcony
Cabin 11588. Lovely mini-suite but whatever was above this cabin got noisy from around 9 PM to 10:30 PM. It sounded like kids jumping or chairs being moved. I would recommend a lower deck.Read All Mid-Ship Mini-Suite with Balcony (MA) Reviews >>
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Comments on Our Norwegian Cruise: Midnatsol Cruise Review by Alrob
Overall Member Rating
Comments on Our Norwegian Cruise
Destination: Baltic Sea
Embarkation: Bergen
Our Cruise
We took one of the 12-day Norwegian coastal cruises that both started and ended in Bergen, Norway, stopping about 30 times along the way. Most stops were of short duration, with no passengers exiting. There were about 10 longer stops where, at prices ranging from $40 to about $200 per person, we could take and "excursion" to see various attractions. One that we took, and the best by far, involved a fast, open air pontoon-like boat ride to a remote location to view sea eagles. Taking these excursions can easily add $500 to $1,000 per person or more to your cruise cost. There is very little to do on the ship except eat and sit around (inside or outside) enjoying the scenery, so you more or less have to take some of More the excursions. The scenery varies from breathtakingly beautiful (fiords, mountains, farms, forests, small villages) to downright boring (barren hills, rocks and crags, not unlike the surface of the moon). The small villages and farming areas are quite picturesque. In addition to the excursion information furnished to passengers when they sign up for the cruise, there is a daily schedule of excursions, scenery sightings and shipboard activities (principally eating) posted by the tour director's desk, and copies are available for passengers to take.
Our cruise began on September 1st and ended on September 12th. This was early enough in the season for us to enjoy unusually good weather. (We saw rain only three times, with only one of longer duration.) For the first three days, as we traveled northward, it was warm enough for passengers to sit on the open top deck in shirt sleeves. At "Nord Cap" (North Cape), the northernmost land point in Europe, the temperatures had dropped to the low forties, and a fierce wind created a wind chill factor much colder.
It was surprising to us to see how modern and developed even the small villages are in terms of urban amenities and services—even at the top of the world in Kirkenes. The larger cities are like any other large city in Europe.
There were many nationalities aboard the ship, but the passengers were overwhelmingly European, including Norwegians, Swedes, Germans and English. Announcements over the ship PA system (which were irritatingly frequent) were given in three languages—Norwegian, German and English. We encountered very few Americans on the ship (about 10), and at the dinner meal (the only meal served restaurant style; breakfast and lunch were served buffet), we were seated by ourselves at our reserved table..
Our Ship
Our cruise was aboard the MS Midnatsol (Midnight Sun), the newest vessel (2003) in the Hurtigruten fleet. It is attractively decorated, with much use of wood in walls, floors and furniture, and in a style akin to updated art deco. The ship was kept spotlessly clean. It was easy to learn the layout and to get around in, with elevators and stairs between decks both fore and aft.
The public areas are located on decks 5, 8 and 9. The dining room, gift shop and fast food restaurant are on deck 5. Deck 8 has an open lounge in the front, with windows extending up to the ceiling in deck 9. Three-quarters of deck 9 is an outside deck with chaise lounges, a bar and two jacuzzis. There is a larger bar and lounge on deck 8, with live entertainment after about 7 PM. Deck 8 also has a self-service coffee/tea bar—at five bucks a cup! At the start of the cruise passengers are offered an opportunity to purchase a "coffee/tea deal," where for one price you get a Hurtigruten metal mug and all the coffee or tea you want at the self-service bar for the duration of the cruise. We bought it, but I don't remember the cost. Unfortunately, the coffee was virtually undrinkable (somewhere between snake venom and battery acid), so I ended up with just a high-priced mug. My wife made out: she drank lots of tea from the large assortment of tea brands available at the self-service bar.
Our cabin (inside; no windows; the cheapest) was small but very efficient. It included one fulltime single bunk style bed and a sofa that converted into a second bunk style bed. Both were hard but comfortable. There was a mirrored ladies make-up station, a small TV with 8 cable channels, a closet and other storage. The shower was small but quite adequate, except for its propensity to oscillate between hot and cold. For $350 more we could have had the same cabin with a window, but we decided against it because we knew from prior cruises you spend so little time in your cabin.
Eating on the Ship
The food we ate was in stark contrast to the sumptuous fare we had on an Oceania cruise to the Caribbean two years ago. Norwegian food, like the Norwegians themselves, is hardy. There was heavy emphasis on seafood and (usually seasoned) boiled potatoes at nearly every meal. Cold cuts, cheeses, pickled fish and beets and regular pickles were featured at breakfast and lunch, which were served buffet style. There was also coffee and tea available. The coffee was fresh made and very good, unlike the coffee at the self-service bar. Various mostly forgettable desserts were available with lunch and dinner. To my great disappointment, pastries were never served, even at breakfast.
The dining room is decorated like the rest of the ship, with neo-art deco furnishings. The silver service is spartan, usually only four or five pieces. The tables are covered with attractive oilcloth tablecloths, with heavy paper napkins. Hardy. Both lunch and dinner have two seatings, with reserved seats at both. Tables are assigned by table number, and we always sat at the same table. Water in a spring-capped bottle is served at lunch and dinner, if you had purchased the "water deal" at the start of the cruise. There is also free water available, but you would have to wait for refills. A "wine deal" was also available at the start of the cruise, whereby you would receive one bottle of wine at each dinner, specially picked by the head chef to accompany the menu. We passed on that deal since my wife doesn't drink wine. I probably wouldn't have purchased it anyway because of the high cost. On the wine menu, prices started at $65 per bottle and ranged on up to about $115 per bottle. I don't believe these were particularly premium wines, either.
Only the dinner meal is served by the staff, restaurant style. But even then they work the tables in order, starting at the first table with each course. At breakfast and lunch you serve yourself and the staff merely cleans up or takes special orders for the bar. I should say here that the staff were nearly all very friendly and accommodating, and most could speak Norwegian, German and English. One peculiar and unsavory practice at each meal occurred when you were through eating. The waiter or waitress would scrape any leftover food off your plate onto another dirty plate while standing at your table.
As with other cruises and tours we have taken with people from other countries, we were again amused and entertained by the European custom of eating with both handknife in the right and fork in the left—making it seem to take twice the effort. No doubt Europeans are just as amused at our style of eating.
No comment on our cruise would be complete without a note about the high costs in Norway. To start with, our Bergen hotel (the Neptune) which we stayed in two nights, one each at the beginning and end of the cruise, cost $300 a night! It was in the process of being redecorated, but not really upgraded. I would compare it to an older Holiday Inn Express. We understand that the cost of living in Norway is among the highest in the world. Believe it. After checking in to our hotel we went for a walk abound Bergen, a truly beautiful city. We stopped at a cafe with outdoor seating overlooking the bay and fish market (a big tourist attraction). I had a hamburger and beer and my wife had a small pizza and a coke. Total cost: $85! Welcome to Norway. My wife looked at some gorgeous knit sweaters, but at $300 and up we had to pass. As might be expected, costs on the ship are even higher. For example, at one dinner we ordered Pepsis at $7.20 each, and at another meal I ordered a local beer which cost over $8. One of the reasons for the high costs is Norway's sales tax, which is 25% on almost everything!
Despite any negative comments above, we thoroughly enjoyed our cruise. If we had to do it again, we would probably take the 7-day instead of the 12-day cruise. One of the factors that influenced us to go for the 12-day cruise was the very high cost of our airfare—almost $2,700. This cost would have been the same with either cruise. Moreover, we would have had the added cost of airfare and associated costs from Kirkenes to Bergen if we had taken the 7-day cruise. We had to take a three-legged 24-hour flight as it was (Bergen to Amsterdam to Detroit to Denver) just to keep the fare under $2,700. Another leg would have made it even worse. Less
Published 09/28/08
Cabin review: Ins685
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Two molotov cocktails were thrown inside a Paris synagogue Tuesday evening, causing slight damage, police said Wednesday.
The attack took place in the southern suburb of Ulis.
On Monday, the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, there was a similar attack on a synagogue in the northern suburb of Creil, and a molotov cocktail was found outside another synagogue in the eastern city of Strasbourg.
On Tuesday, France's leading Jewish organization warned about a rise of anti-semitism in France caused by the spiral of violence in the Palestinian territories and Arab areas of Israel - PARIS (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com [1])
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The White Stripes
One would think drums, guitar and screeches could go no further, but in comes Jack White, lashing out with snaky slide, thundering bass lines and downright mean rock. The White Stripes were supposed to enjoy a few cheeky moments of notoriety, and then disappear like all of those bands they were lumped in with (Strokes, Hives, Vines), even though they have absolutely nothing in common with any of them. Instead, Jack and Meg give us one of the great rock albums of all time, and easily one of the best albums, if not the best album, of the 2000s. B S RS T


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The star-studded music festival will also feature performances from the likes of Pitbull, Cody Simpson, Far East Movement and T-Pain.
Britney Spears adds one more show to her already-hectic schedule to promote her new album "Femme Fatale". After taping a "Good Morning America" concert in San Fransisco and rocking Las Vegas' Palms Casino and Resort over the weekend, she is now announced to have been booked as a host of Wango Tango Festival.
Britney is going to team up with Ryan Seacrest to host the event. The news was announced by the "American Idol" host himself on his morning radio show on March 28. This will be the third time the "Hold It Against Me" hitmaker takes part in the annual music festivity. Prior to this year's gig, she has previously performed at the festival twice; in 1999 and 2001.
Beside announcing the hosts, Ryan also revealed line-up of the 102.7 KIIS-FM festival. Some of today's hottest music acts like Ke$ha, Selena Gomez, Far East Movement, Jason Derulo, Lupe Fiasco, T-Pain, New Boyz, Cobra Starship, Cody Simpson, and Pitbull (with special performance from Jennifer Lopez) are tapped to entertain concertgoers.
The summer mega-concert is going to take place at the Staples Center in Downtown L.A. on Saturday, May 14. Tickets will go on sale to KIIS Club VIPs starting Friday, April 1, and to the public beginning Saturday, April 2.


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A bitter land-use fight in one of Maine's saltiest communities has ushered in a new era of cooperation between town and gown.
David G. Baker's figurative paintings are like the best novels. They use fiction to examine deeper truths.
On the ninetieth anniversary of Prohibition, it's worth looking back at Maine's central role in outlawing alcohol. The history is more complex than you think.
Lewiston happens to be the longtime home of White Rock Distilleries, one of the country's leading manufacturers and importers of spirits, but with dozens of microbreweries and small wineries scattered across Maine, it was only a matter of time before boutique distilleries entered the scene. The spirit — if not the illegality — of bootlegging survives in Maine. Here are a few of our favorite craft spirits.
Cranberry GinSweetgrass Farm Winery and Distillery, Union207-785-3024,
How does the ocean transform ordinary bottles and plates into gemlike wonders? And why do we love sea glass so?
Maine hunters bring home thousands of pounds of deer meat each fall, but what's the best way to cook it? We asked a few top chefs.
Guess which gubernatorial candidates hit the political potholes on the way to Augusta this election season.
Monica Elliott's chocolate shop in Lubec has sweetened an entire community.
Can you name this colorful glacial erratic?
Set on Cranberry Island, Karen MacInerny's novel Berried to the Hilt (Midnight Ink, Woodbury, Minnesota; paperback; 312 pages; $14.95) is part murder mystery, part Treasure Island. The little Maine island is swamped with archaeologists and treasure hunters after a lobsterman uncovers a sunken ship, but things take a turn for the worse when someone turns up dead.
Read what our readers have to say about Maine.
The 1960 presidential campaign taught me the way politics should be.
A Portland sculpture has (once again) raised a storm over public art.
The Salt Exchange enters Portland's crowded fine dining scene with an ambitious agenda.
A new account of New England's founders puts the Pilgrims -- and Maine -- in a fresh light.
Down East's founder, Duane Doolittle, had a firm grip on how his new magazine would approach political issues. "Down East will be non-political on a day-by-day partisan level," he wrote in September 1954, "for it does not grant any major or minor party a monopoly of heroes and great statesman." To which, I would only add that no party has a monopoly of liars and scoundrels, either.
A rescue mission to save artifacts, Portland's low libido, and more.
A Brownville prairie was a popular stopover for pilots in the 1930s.
Photograph Nate Philbrick
The cooking season transitions into high gear this month, and no staple is more important to have in your pantry than quality olive oil and vinegar. Rather than hopping a plane to Tuscany, a trip to Bar Harbor or Rockland will do the trick. Fiore (8 Rodick Place, Bar Harbor, 207-809-9710 and 503 Main Street, Rockland, 207-596-0276, www.fioreoliveoils.com), started by Pat and Nancy O'Brien, is a cook's heaven. Instead of wine, these tasting rooms showcase a huge variety of olive oils and vinegars imported from all over the world.
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Down East Enterprise 2012 ©


text:
I apologize to (most) dog bloggers
I should not have posted the original "too many dog blogs" post. After review, far be it from me to criticize anyone for a worthwhile passion. I love dogs. You love dogs. I did not mean to make anyone mad. And I certainly didn't intend for the blolg to spiral so far out of control (and context). Wow.
The truth is I don't like ONE dog blogger. I will ignore her posts as I always have, which is what we all should do when it comes to bloggers we dislike.
I will not again criticize anyone for blogging about dogs (or anything they're passionate about), although I naturally reserve the right to disagree with anything posted. No one with BT or elsewhere asked me to post this. I just felt it the right thing to do.


text:
Happy May Long Weekend!
May 18, 2012
Helloooo Friday! It's Victoria Day weekend here in Canada, more commonly known as May Long, and the traditional way to celebrate in these parts is with a cold beverage in hand at a lakefront campground or a backyard BBQ with friends. Rachel and her girls are back in town and they had a sleepover with us last night…such a great reunion! Oddly enough, it felt almost as if they'd never left…except that they now have golden suntans! With Scout only 1 week away (eek!), our weekend will likely look nothing like the first photos below but will be filled with plenty of to-do lists and motivational pep talks to get us through the busy days ahead. I won't lie, planning an event of this size has been really tough with Rachel on the other side of the continent and I am so thankful that she was able to fly back so that we can tackle all of the final details together. Skype really doesn't cut it compared to our past wine and sushi "planning" nights! But we are so excited for next weekend and cannot wait to see all of our amazing vendors in action once again…
Dwell. Photo by Misha Gravenor.
Shelter Co. via Poppytalk
Style at Home. Photo by Stacey Van Berkel-Haines.
What are your plans for the long weekend? Catching up on yard work or heading to the hills? Whatever you do, have lots of fun and safe travels…cheers!
8 comments
- 1 elisa { 05.18.12 at 2:02 am }
ever so sorry to (narrowly!) miss the market. amazingly, victoria day is not celebrated in england, but i'm in a state of mad packing and preparing to move to canada anyway. cheesemaking, wool-dyeing, sleepover parties and a handmade boat-launch. you know, the usual ;) x
- 2 Will @ Bright.Bazaar { 05.18.12 at 2:09 am }
Have a wonderful long weekend! xx
Will @ Bright.Bazaar recently posted..Sponsor Discount Code: Rose & Grey
- 3 ana {bluebirdkisses} { 05.18.12 at 5:46 am }
happy long weekend!!!! hope you have a fabulous time
ana {bluebirdkisses} recently posted..Good Night Bunny
- 4 janis- pinecone camp { 05.18.12 at 7:48 pm }
Yeah! Rachel's back! Can't wait to see you both next week for Scout. so looking forward to it. We'll be framing up a few prints around here, gardening, and having some down time. can't wait.
janis- pinecone camp recently posted..Hello, Long Weekend
- 6 Tracey { 05.18.12 at 9:04 pm }
Lovely photos you've posted!! I must try to recreate those yummy popsicles. Please say hi to Rachel and we'll see you soon at the Scout market.
- 8 Danielle Hardy { 05.21.12 at 7:55 pm }
I hope you had a relaxing weekend! Love the photographs- definitely portrays a picture perfect weekend!
Leave a Comment


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BROWNIES, Rainbows and Guides in Studley were celebrating the first Sunday of advent this weekend with a Christingle service.
The service at St Mary's Church in the village also saw local parish families come together to mark the beginning of the Christmas season.
There will be a Nativity service later on this month for families on Christmas Eve from 6pm, where children are invited to dress as a nativity character of their choice and take part in a massive Nativity tableaux and sing in Christmas together.
The service is very popular in the village so the church is warning people to arrive early to be sure of a seat.


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Eligibility for nutritional assistance expands in Pennsylvania
Bonnie Frederick tried to get food stamps last year, but her $9.50-an-hour pay from a packaging company put her monthly income $3 over the limit.
But new guidelines, put in place July 27 by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, make Frederick, 61, of North Versailles and her husband Gary, 62, eligible for food stamps, they learned this week.
"I'm a couponer, and I cook. We don't eat out a lot," Bonnie Frederick said. "We eat a lot of chicken. It will be nice to have some pork."
The couple are among those who fall into the gap between working full time and receiving Social Security. Gary Frederick worked for Nabisco and then Atlantic Baking in East Liberty but lost his job when the plant closed in 2004. He has held part-time jobs, but they get by on her salary and have dipped into savings.
The Fredericks and others like them are being urged to reapply under the changed guidelines that were designed to open the food stamp program to more needy Pennsylvanians. It is the first time in nearly 30 years that Pennsylvania has raised income limits.
"People have been excruciatingly borderline," Esther Bush, president of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, said of those applying for food stamps. "We've seen a tremendous increase in people asking for (emergency) food."
More than 230,000 people receive food stamps in Allegheny, Westmoreland, Fayette, Beaver, Washington and Greene counties. The Welfare Department isn't sure how many more will become eligible under the new rules.
"While we believe the number applying will certainly be contingent on the state of the economy, our best estimate is that (new applicants) will not exceed 200,000 (statewide)," said spokeswoman Stacey Witalec.
The gross income limit for food stamps increased from 130 percent of the federal poverty line to 160 percent. That means under these guidelines, a family of four making as much as $33,924 a year is eligible. The limit was $27,564.
Rachel Meeks, food stamp campaign manager at the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, said Welfare Department officials expressed concern about raising the income limits. Pennsylvania took a cautious approach by upping the limits to 160 percent of the federal poverty line, not the 200 percent that federal rules allow.
"With the budget constraints we're under, it made sense to go halfway," she said.
The Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center says most food stamps recipients are children younger than 17 or senior citizens.
In an example calculated by the organization, a single mother of two who earns $12 an hour at a full-time job and pays child care costs of $200 a week, $650 rent and some utility costs, would be eligible for about $480 a month in benefits.
Income guidelines for the elderly and disabled were raised to 200 percent of the federal poverty line — which ranges from $10,830 a year, or $903 a month, for one person to $37,010 a year, or $3,085 a month, for a family of eight.
An elderly couple collectively receiving $1,500 a month in Social Security benefits, with medical expenses of nearly $200 a month, an escrowed mortgage payment of $1,000 and some utility costs, would be eligible for about $275 a month in food stamp benefits.
From a public health perspective, Pennsylvania's jump is beneficial because research shows food stamps improve the nutritional value of the food that people can buy, said Mariana Chilton, a hunger expert and a professor at Drexel University's School of Public Health.
"We're both diabetics. This will mean more vegetables and less starches," Frederick said. She shops at discount grocers Aldi and Sav-A-Lot, and sometimes gets food from Angel Food Ministries, a food bank.
Advocates first started talking in 2007 with the Welfare Department about overhauling the food stamp program that serves more than 1.3 million Pennsylvanians per month.
"I think the policymakers are aware of the deep stresses that people are in," said Joni Rabinowitz, co-director of Just Harvest, a Pittsburgh advocacy group. "It's really going to help a lot of people who really need it."
The agency is recontacting people who didn't qualify under the old guidelines to get them to reapply, as is a hunger services program at the Urban League. In a recent two-week period, almost two dozen people signed up, said Karen Garrett, the Urban League's program manager.
"Some people are working two jobs and still struggling," Garrett said.
Even the name of the program changed. It's now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
The changes were "done in part through coordination with advocates," Witalec said. "We wanted to capture more families that really have a need during a really difficult time."
Higher income limits will help working families and seniors who have struggled to stretch their food dollars, said Laura Tobin, operations and food stamp manager at the Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center.
Hunger costs Pennsylvania $3.2 billion a year — including almost $2.4 billion for medical and mental health care because of increases in illness and psychosocial dysfunction; $330 million from reduced educational achievement and lowered worker productivity; and $517 million in expenses for charitable activities, the state said.
Dawn Rice of Coraopolis found out she now qualifies for the program. She isn't sure how much assistance she'll get, but anything would help, she said.
She spends about $500 a month on food. That includes costly formula for her 9-month-old son. Rent is $800, and her electric bill is about $120. She pays a baby-sitter about $100 a week. To qualify for the program, Rice can't earn more than $2,347 a month.
"It will definitely keep me afloat. I might be able to start getting out of debt. I'm behind on everything," said Rice, who until recently made too much at her job at a veterinary clinic to qualify.
More than 230,000 people receive food stamps in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The estimate, under the new guidelines, is that new applicants will not exceed 200,000 statewide.
Allegheny 129,764
Westmoreland 33,752
Fayette 27,823
Beaver 20,690
Washington 20,063
Greene 6,186
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
They can be younger than 17 or older than 65 — white, black or Hispanic. Many are employed.
People participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, Pennsylvania's renamed food stamp program, don't match traditional demographics.
More than 582,000 children younger than 17 received food stamps in June, according to Laura Tobin, operations and food stamp outreach manager at Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center. Almost 300,000 people ages 46 and older received food stamps during that period.
Nearly 500,000 people ages 18 to 45 received food stamps in June.
Tobin said 23.7 percent of all households receiving food benefits earned income. Many, more than 63 percent, don't receive public assistance.


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text:
The OutLands
Book Four
by M Edison
About the Book
The OutLands is Book Four in The Falling Water Quartet.
After busting out of the city, teetering in a bizarre weekender campground, Edison finds a treetop house in an apple orchard and another house, one that was an original Cheese Factory, all in the universal quest to find
Out of Place
Outer Space
3 Strikes
The OutLands
Written by M Edison.
Features & Details
- Category Literature & Fiction
5×8 in, 13×20 cm
282 Pages
- Publish Date Apr 07, 2009
- Tags m edison, best seller, cheese factory, literature, journal, home, quest, illustrated, art, photography, book, outlands, quartet, four, campground, apple, orchard
See More


text:
I revealed this morning that despite David Cameron's promises to cut down on civil service pay, the total Whitehall bonus pot went up last year from £136m to over £140m. Much more shocking than that, however, is the news that in the same financial year, directors of FTSE 100 companies have seen their pay rise by nearly 50 per cent. That follows a 50 per cent rise the year before.
David Cameron was asked about this issue at his press conference in Perth on Friday morning. What can we do to stop directors paying themselves so much money? Read more


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For three decades and counting Cey Adams has been a fixture wherever creative visuals are habitual. From his early days in the graf and the '80s downtown art scene (peep his appearance in Style Wars , yo) to his logo, merch and advertising designs for the likes of Run-DMC, De La Soul, and his pals the Beastie Boys to the Chapelle's Show logo and album artwork for big timers like Maroon 5, he's been there, done that, and still doing it. Cey may be best known, however, for his extended tenure with Def Jam Records, with which he worked from 1984 to 2002, partnering with Steve Carr as co-founder of the label's in-house visual design firm, the Drawing Board, and then serving as its Creative Director. With the recent release of the literary monster Def Jam Recordings: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label (Rizzoli) – designed, of course, by Cey – we thought it only right we speak to the man about the story behind one of the label's most iconic album covers, LL Cool J's 1991 classic, Mama Said Knock You Out .
Please take us through the process of how this album cover came together.
Cey Adams: It was one of the few times that I remember us having a staff meeting about a particular release. I remember Lyor [Cohen] calling this big meeting, and it was a priority that everybody in the office focused on LL and this release, Mama Said Knock You Out. It's embarrassing to say, but that was really unusual. Normally it was: okay, this is the record. Sometimes we'd get to listen to music. We'd have sit downs with artists, but never with the whole company being told that this was the priority and we had to kind of get it right, so to speak.
It was a time when LL had already achieved a lot of success. But so had Def Jam. And because of that I think he was starting to feel a little neglected by the label. I think he was at a point where he really wanted to reinvent himself. Walking With a Panther had come before that. The thing about [that album] that was really funny was he had this panther on the cover, but I imagine that he envisioned it more being like a tiger – really looking ferocious. The way that panther was shot it didn't look ferocious. I'm not saying it was not ferocious in real life. It was. I was there when they did the photo shoot. And LL was not excited about holding the panther. The trainer was just out of the shot. The minute we would stop shooting the trainer would come in and LL would jump out. It was a ferocious animal, but it didn't come across as being that way in the photograph. It was an idea that wasn't fully executed. The other thing that's really funny about Walking With a Panther is I remember LL had his eyes on the inner sleeve made to look like panther's eyes, and it looks ridiculous in retrospect. Absolutely ridiculous. But again that's a bad cue that he gave to the art director. (I did not design that record. The folks at CBS did.)
So what was the big meeting about Mama Said Knock You Out like?
Cey Adams: We hadn't heard the music yet. Everyone's sitting around the conference room table and LL's there. I don't remember him being cocky at all. I remember him being concerned that people in the office would pay attention. I remember him being worried – because at that point in the workday everybody's busy. They're already working. They had a lot of other good things that were happening at Def Jam at that point. Before the meeting was called I don't remember this album being a priority. But the fact was LL was panicked and he made sure that Russell and Lyor understood that. And they said, okay, we're gonna call everybody's attention to this. So LL was like, I need you guys to help me. And because he was humbled I think everybody rallied around the cause and wanted to make sure this was a really great record.


text:
Hey everyone!
I'm pretty new here and about as new to Linux and Backtrack but I'll really thrilled to hopefully become a contributing member of the community.
In order to learn about bash scripting and the inner-workings of Backtrack, I decided to go ahead and write a script to get a hang of things. This is what I came up with!
There are plenty of word list tools out there, many of them superb resources, but some lacked the tools I needed to create a wide variety of possible passwords in order to Pentest and secure networks. I decided it would be best to take ideas and concepts from other tools and mix them with some of my own creations to create an in depth tool to create potential passwords to pentest a network. Basically, the premise of my toolkit is if you can use the script to create a word list that contains your password, you should probably change your password.
I did the best to make the script as user friendly as possible but it is still in a beta phase and there very well could be errors. Some features currently don't work flawlessy, for instance using special characters to generate lis, but for the most part it is a solid tool. Most notably the script features an update feature that can be configured to auto-update, further customizations and tools, and an interactive GTK promt system for most features if you prefer to streamline your operation and avoid command line.
Attached is the script, the readme and the change log. I will be releasing additional versions as I get the oppurtunity to update the script and add more features. If you are not registered on this forum please feel free to download the script from my newly created Sourceforge account where you can always find the most up to date version of the script, submit tickets, and pull versions directly from the git/svn. Once I get more time I will be updating this thread, the Sourceforge page and the script itself. In addition to the Word List Toolkit I will also be working on another script to simplify some Wifi attack related functions to further streamline network penetration tests although I have yet to release a beta for it because I am currently unhappy with its current state.
-|Checkout the Latest Version with GIT|-
Code:git clone git://git.code.sf.net/p/thad0ctorstools/code thad0ctorstools-code
-|Current Version's Readme|-
-|Current Version's Change Log|-Code:------------------------------------ | Thad0ctor's Word List Toolkit | ------------------------------------ | | | version #: v1.4 | | | | created by: thad0ctor | | | | created on: 24-Jul-12 | | | | created for: Backtrack 5R2 | | | ------------------------------------ --------------------------|Background|----------------------------- -Recently my interest in network security and pen-testing has been increasing and with that my so has curiosity about the tools and functionality of the Backtrack Linux Distro. To best understand Backtrack it is essential to have a solid grasp of bash scripting. That being said, in order to best learn the ins and outs of shell scripting and the critical functions that drive Backtrack I decided to create this script to serve both as a learning experience for me and as a valuable tool for others looking to secure their networks. -This script was created due to a lot of hard work and free time while serving on a deployment in Afghanistan. If you enjoy this script and want to support it do not hesitate to donate, thanks! ------------------------|Special Thanks|--------------------------- -This script would have never been possible without the examples inspiration and 3rd Party tools provided by: - Tape's Wordlist Manipulator and Datelist - Middle's Wordlister - Purehate's Wordlist Tools - slydgotcha and his word list manipulator -All these a great scripts that come highly reccomended and are surely essentials for anyone trying to streamline their use of wordlists. The authors have my highest praise and thanks! -------------------------|Requirements|---------------------------- -This scripts requires Backtrack 5 Linux based on Ubuntu, although it has not been tested on other DISTROS it could work with the proper configuration -In order to run this script you will need the following programs: -zenity -policygen -crunch -find -cat -sed -grep -pyrit (for the benchmarks) -aircack-ng (for the benchmarks) -pdftotext -cewl.rb -cupp.py -dictstat.py -maskgen.py -policygen.py -unzip -awk -tr -wc -paste -rev -gnome-terminal -nautilus -file -wget -xmlstarlet -script -System wise I would recommend a minimum of a dual core setup with 2 GB of RAM in addition to at least 50 GB of HDD space if you plan on making some word lists. --------------------------|FAQ / Usage|---------------------------- Q: What is all this Both / GTK / CLI / PT stuff I see in the menus? A: What you are seeing is info that describes the special features of the tools of the script. GTK denotes that the function has GUI prompts while CLI means the function is command line only. Both means the function has both prompts or CLI features depending on how the script is configured. PT means that that feature of the script has the ability to passthrough its word list output to a cracking program so you do not have to create a large word list. Whether or not this happens depends on how the script is configured. Q: How do I toggle between the CLI and GTK versions of the script/ A: Most of the script's menus have a function (T/t) that allows you to toggle between the two versions of the script but you can also force the script to a certain version in the configuration menu to prevent the prompt that appears every time you run the script. Q: How do I use the passthrough attack feature? A: Since v0.6 there are two ways you can use the attack passthrough feature for certain functions of the script. If you prefer to manually update the settings you can open up the script itself (LAUNCH_TOOLKIT.sh) and update lines 41 and 44 with the essid and capture file of the network you would like to attack. Or, you can edit the settings directly from the configuration menu while running the script. Currently this feature doesn't have a GTK feature to facilitate the configuration. Q: What is the deal with the debug info? A: The debug info (although not fully implemented yet) is designed to help troubleshoot potential user issues by allowing them to compare their log files and debug information to a set standard online to ensure they have the newest, un-adultered version of the script. Q: Where can I find the latest version of this script and discuss any issues and or ideas pertaining to the script? A: I do my best to update and post to my thread on the Backtrack forums at: www.backtrack-linux.org/forums/showthread.php?t=49222 or at the script Sourceforge: https://sourceforge.net/projects/thad0ctorstools --------------------------|Disclaimer|----------------------------- -This script is not to be used for any illegal activities. It was designed with the premise of securing your own personal networks. If any of the tools on this script were able to generate passwords that you use I would highly suggest you create a new, more complex password to secure your networks. -The author of this script is in no way responsible for any misuse of this script or damage resulting from the use of this script. -------------------------|Contact Info|---------------------------- -If you have any suggestions, comments, bugs to report, questions or concerns about this script feel free to get in touch with me at thad0ctor at overclocked dot net. -I'm working on setting up a blog in addition to a SVN repository to provide automatic updates of this script in addition to a place for users to come voice their opinions, check out other resources and even learn about other security topics. Granted, I am not an expert at Linux or network security but I assure you, as I learn more so will you! -------------------------------------------------------------------
(See The 2nd Post)
-|Full Feature List|-
(See The 3rd Post, TBA)


text: If I am sitting and put my head back in a reclining position ( on a head rest ) for too long, it results in the neck at the base of my skull becoming very painful. It gets to the point where I can hardly move my head as the entire neck area becomes quite stiff and painful. Is there a plausible reason why this happens?


text:
Behlen Mfg. Co. to Introduce Model M44 Grain Tank at GEAPS Exchange 2014
Date Posted: February 20, 2014
Columbus, NEBehlen Mfg. Co. is proud to introduce the Model M44 (144' 4" diameter) silo.
This Model is the newest in our expansive line of Grain Silos.
The addition of the M44 model to the Big Bin Series of Bins will add cost effective options for customers looking for bins with capacities between 1,000,000 and 1,275,000 million bushels of storage.
This newest Model will incorporate many of the same design features we offer in our M40 and M48 Models, such as, industry leading peak load capacities, an expansive roof deck, and large opening for today's larger equipment, and higher fill rates.
A display showing the features of this newest model will be available to view at this year's GEAPS Exchange February 23 through the 25 in Omaha, NE.
Our sales staff will be available to answer questions during and after the Exchange.
We look forward to seeing you in Omaha.
For more information, call 402-564-3111.
See Related Websites/Articles:
Supplier News & New Products


text:
Current Lead Times (prior to shipping):
Personalized PRINTED Stickers & Tags with proof: 5-6 business days
Personalized PRINTED Stickers & Tags with NO proof: 3-4 business days
Printables & Premade LOGO proofs -- 2 business
Die Cuts & other Made to Order Items: 5-6 business days
In-Stock items (twine, envelopes, etc.): 2-4 business days
Studio Hours & Lead Times ...
While my etsy shop is always open I typically only work on designs and reply to convos & emails during the following times:
9am to 4pm eastern time
I do my best to answer convos during this time, but I am often busy filling orders during the day. I do often catch up on emails and messages in the evenings. Proofing is also often done in the evening hours.
Current Lead Times (prior to shipping):
Personalized PRINTED Stickers & Tags with proof: 5-6 business days
Personalized PRINTED Stickers & Tags with NO proof: 3-4 business days
Printables & Premade LOGO proofs -- 2 business
Die Cuts & other Made to Order Items: 5-6 business days
In-Stock items (twine, envelopes, etc.): 2-4 business days
Studio Hours & Lead Times ...
While my etsy shop is always open I typically only work on designs and reply to convos & emails during the following times:
9am to 4pm eastern time
I do my best to answer convos during this time, but I am often busy filling orders during the day. I do often catch up on emails and messages in the evenings. Proofing is also often done in the evening hours.
- All 1074
- Holiday Cards & Tags 25
- Holiday Stickers 51
- Holiday Printables 29
- Personalized Printables 79
- Instant Downloads 103
- Personalized Stickers 226
- Personalized Tags 30
- Party Invites & Signs 34
- All Occasion Gift Tags 12
- Logos & Business Cards 34
- Cards + Envelopes 101
- Cupcake Toppers + Straws 33
- Craft Tags + Placecards 18
- Party Packaging 276
- Kits & Bits 21
Valerie Balisco Ventura on Aug 19, 2017
Perfect and very prompt with mailing service. Also great communicating and very helpful. :) Thanks!!
kbmarlin on Aug 17, 2017
Very quick shipping. Thank you!!!
Personalized Paper Goods, Party Printables, DIY Party Supplies & Premade Logo Designs
Welcome to Scrap Bits. I am so glad your here!
Scrap Bits is a graphic design and paper production studio located in the rural suburbs of southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. In addition to our personalized graphic design work, we offer a variety of supplies for party favors, scrapbooking, card making, promotional items, crafting, party packaging and more. Personalized tags & labels combined with creative packaging is the core of our business. And we also offer a full range of DIY supplies like cardstock, die cuts, flat cards, envelopes, blank tags, escort cards, favor boxes and bags, embellishments, ribbon and twine, gift tags and party picks.
Many of otur items are offered with bulk rates on our website at ... http://www.scrapbits.net.
twitter ... @scrapbits
instagram ... @scrap_bits
facebook ... https://www.facebook.com/scrapbitspaper
We LOVE to see how our creative our customers are and our products in action! Please share you event photos on your own social media and don't forget to tag us so we can see!!
More about me...
My name is Charlene and I am the creative mind behind Scrap Bits. My love for creativity began at a young age. You see, I was the kid that colored inside the lines, outside the lines and everywhere in between. I loved coloring! And my love for creative packaging started then too. I would take hours to wrap a single present. Making sure the wrapping paper lined up, selecting ribbon and arranging it so it would be uniquely presented. It drove my mother crazy!
I took my passion to college and got my degree in Interior and Graphic Design. From there I began working in the Architectural world, designing corporate office spaces, retails shops and restaurants. I loved my job! Seeing spaces that I designed being built was so rewarding. But I was always dabbling with my own creative endeavors outside of the office. I got married at the age of 30 and fully immersed myself into the planning. I spent endless hours designing invitations (and all the other happy paper stuff that goes with those), carefully choosing the perfect favors and completely styling each and every detail of the day. I had nothing to do with the fabulous, sunny day we had. Temps in the low 80's, a variant breeze in the air. I'll give that one to Mother Nature, but the rest was all me. Yes, it was a day full of perfectly executed details that would warrant a nod from Martha Stewart. Looking back, that day was the "match" that ignited an even deeper desire to explore other design avenues.
Then life started moving quickly! After the birth of my first daughter I decided to give things a go on my own. My years of training gave me the courage I needed. I started this journey designing and producing jewelry. But that is a whole other story! My husband I and I had two more sweet girls and my life started to fill up with all things pink and frilly. I planned themed birthday parties for them that involved designing one of a kind invitations, unique party favors and coordinating decor. I of course made sure every detail was delightful. Year after year, I made it my mission to make sure no two parties were alike and each one was special. Every detail perfectly crafted. It was the rave reviews from moms, dads and little party guests that inspired me to share my ideas and creativity more publicly.
With love and support from girls, I opened up an Etsy Shop in 2009 and Scrap Bits was born! I am now able to share my design talent everyday by offering products that enhance the details of the perfect party, allow weddings to have that element that makes their "special day" extra special, and give small business owners products to help with their branding. And finally, for the "do-it-yourselfers" that can't get enough of crafting . . . I am here for you too!
As Frank Lloyd Wright once said . . . It's all in the details. I couldn't agree more! It is the details that delight me and allow me to be a small part of others BIG creative ideas.
Thanks for taking the time to visit and learn a little bit about me.
I hope you come back often!
Shop members
Scrap Bits
Owner, Maker, Designer
Production partners
AL, United States
professional printing service
NJ, United States
Shop policies
Digital downloads
Payment options
- Accepts Etsy Gift Cards and Etsy Credits
Returns & exchanges
- Custom or personalized orders
- Perishable products (like food or flowers)
- Digital downloads
- Intimate items (for health/hygiene reasons)
Privacy policy
- To communicate with you about your order
- To fulfill your order
- For legal reasons (like paying taxes)
More information
Frequently asked questions
Current Lead Times
Current Lead Times (prior to shipping):
Personalized PRINTED Items with proof: 5-6 business days
Personalized PRINTED Items with NO proof: 3-4 business days
Premade LOGO proofs: 2 business days
Die Cuts & other Made to Order Items: 5-6 business days
In-Stock items (twine, envelopes, etc.): 2-4 business days
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So cute! Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum, Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof were spotted strolling with their adorable daughter Satyana, 13 months, in Brentwood, Calif. on Monday (April 26). Check out Satyana's cute hair clips!
Alyson opened up to Celebrity Baby Scoop about how motherhood has changed her:
View Slideshow »»
It's changed me in every way because my life is so much greater. It filled a void I never knew was there—it's the most amazing experience of my life. I just feel so blessed to get to be on this journey—to be a mommy. She is just the greatest baby."


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© Artwork: Jim Kay
tall tales & short stories is thrilled to welcome Chris Westwood,
author of the gothic horror books,
The Ministry of Pandemonium,
and its sequel,
The Great and Dangerous,
to the blog.
Hi Tracy, thanks for inviting me to add to this fabulous blog!
"Where Do You Get Your Ideas?"
I'm often asked where the ideas come from, and I'm always curious to hear what other writers have to say about theirs. In my case the short answer is: everywhere! But the longer answer might be more helpful, so here I'll try to explain where I found the various bits and pieces that led me to Ministry of Pandemonium and its sequel, The Great and Dangerous, which will be published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books in March 2012.
© Artwork: Jim Kay
So you see, I haven't changed all that much! When I was seven I didn't think of what I was doing as storytelling, but I suppose that's exactly what it was, and storytelling for me is still a kind of playtime. As a boy with his toys I entered my make-believe world, a place so real to me I could almost touch it, and now when I settle down to work each day I'm doing (or trying to) a very similar thing. On bad days when the muse is AWOL and words don't come easily it doesn't feel much like play at all – but that's the main difference between childhood and now. Now it's a job!
If Hansel and Gretel and Marvel Comics crept under my skin at an early age and stayed there, years later it would be great fantasy writers like Ray Bradbury, whose way with words – in particular his ability to view the world through a child's eyes – had a massive impact on me. In his novel Dandelion Wine there's a passage which goes: "Crossing the lawn that morning, Douglas Spaulding broke a spider web with his face. So, with the subtlest of incidents, he knew that today was going to be different."
© Artwork: Jim Kay
Of course real life is always adding to the pool of memories and influences too. Good and bad stuff happens. We love and lose. Other people come and go from our lives, sometimes changing us forever while they're here. All the highs and lows are potential material. In fact, without them, I don't think a dark fantasy novel like Ministry with its shape-shifting demons and ghostly apparitions would work half as well. No matter how "out there" and other-worldly the story may be, you still have to write what you know, which is why my boy hero Ben Harvester's relationship with his mother, Donna, is so central to the book. This part of it comes very much from life, and I like to think it gives MoP an emotional pull alongside its thrills and shivers.
© Artwork: Jim Kay
A strong sense of place is important too. I now live in Hackney, East London, but I was still getting to know the area when I started MoP, and I soon found the alleyways, parks and canal towpaths between home and Islington triggering lots of ideas, almost becoming characters in their own right. Most of the locations in the novel are absolutely real while others – Ben's new school on Mercy Road, the hidden alleyway off Camden Passage, Islington, where the Ministry's headquarters are found – are pure invention. Quite early on I thought that, like me, Ben should be new to the city, taking it all in with an outsider's eyes. I also decided he should live near to where I did, so I installed him and his mother in a maisonette across the street on Middleton Road.
© Artwork: Jim Kay
© Artwork: Jim Kay
© Artwork: Jim Kay
Oh, and one last thing about the urban ravens. They're everywhere in and around London Fields, hopping around the grass and perching on rooftops. I just had to include them too. And now, thanks to the great design team at Frances Lincoln, they perch on the drop caps at the start of each chapter and even on the barcode on the cover. Not so long ago I looked out to see one of them dive-bombing a cat across the street. If cats have expressions, this one's seemed to say, "What the hell was that?" as the raven soared away. You can probably guess where my imagination went with that one. It was very quickly added to my notes for Book Three...
Ben Harvester sees what no one else can..
A cobbled alleyway where it's always night ... hidden behind a crack in the wall.
Mr October, a man of many faces and secrets, knows Ben has a unique gift. He sets out to recruit Ben to a top-secret, highly classified Ministry department – to help in an eternal war against an unspeakable enemy.
And so Ben begins to understand just how great and deadly his gift may be, and why it puts him and everyone he loves in grave danger ...
Read a tall tales & short stories review of Ministry of Pandemonium here
Ben Harvester and Becky Sanborne have found their true calling at the Ministry of Pandemonium, guiding the souls of the newly-dead to the afterlife.
But the enemy, the Lords of Sundown, still smarting from their catastrophic defeat at Halloween, are keen for revenge. The theft of thirteen souls following a bomb explosion on Bad Saturday heralds the start of an all-out war ...
and little does Ben suspect just how personal that war is about to become.
His first children's book, A Light In The Black, was a runner-up for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. His second, Calling All Monsters, was optioned for film three times by Steven Spielberg. After a break from writing, spending several years caring full-time for his father, Chris returned with Ministry of Pandemonium, the first in a series of novels set in a secret, alternative London.
The second in the series, The Great and Dangerous, will be published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books in March 2012.
Watch this space for a review of The Great and Dangerous.


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HEBRON: Dinner at Tel Rumeida
1 October 2007
HEBRON: Dinner at Tel Rumeida
[Note: Mary Rose, a visitor from New Zealand who spent time with the Hebron
team last month, wrote the following story on 9 September 2007. It has been
edited for length. The original piece is available at
Yesterday Dianne came home and said "Damien is going tomorrow. Issa has
invited us to a barbecue at his and Heba's house on Tel Rumeida. We will
take food." Issa? Heba? Damien? I know none of those people. I do know
about Tel Rumeida, for it is the hill where John led me yesterday to show me
the site of the original walled City of Hebron, the one mentioned in Genesis
23. He showed me the well that was there before the time of Abraham and
excavations of the original wall of Hebron, which was there when Abraham
bought land for his family graves from the Hittites. What a wonderful place
to meet for dinner!
High on Tel Rumeida, we could see out over Hebron. Issa's two-storied stone
house is tidy on the outside, has protective steel shutters on the lower
windows, gratings on the upper ones, sturdy doors. A tall wire fence,
draped with razor wire, surrounds the small block of land.
A couple of doors on blocks made tables for our dinner, chairs and piles of
blocks topped with striped rugs, the seats. Damien, Irish, well travelled
in the work of International Solidarity Movement (ISM) knows Kathy Kelly, a
woman Christina and I met in Amman on our way here. More ISM people arrived
with more bowls of food. Hani, whose house is nearby arrived and so did
Issa and Fawaz.
Dinner began with a circle of silence. "'Tis a thing most hard to find in
life" said Damien. Into the silence, we drew the names of people whose
lives and homes are at risk in the struggle for justice. Tributes were paid
to Damien and the work he'd done as a co-coordinator for ISM during his
short stay in Hebron. As dark fell and the lights of Hebron lit the near
view, military flares played around the hills surrounding the city. The
eating was good: the talk passionate. Issa told the story of his struggle to
reclaim this house, a traditional family home, from soldiers and the
settlers who had occupied it, about endless court hearings, lawyers,
struggles, and abuse on the ground. Now, at last, the Israeli high court
has recognized the validity of his lease.
Issa has a dream. There, in the yard of his house on Tel Rumeida, site of
the ancient City of Hebron, he spoke of his dream to turn the upper floor of
the house into a centre where people from all over the world can come to
learn ways of non-violence. This would be the fulfillment of his passion
for non-violent solutions. "Gaza is an example," he said. "Violence has
freed them from the occupier, but the violence has remained in the
When the talking and the eating were done, it was quite dark. Starlight, a
few small torches and solicitous care for each other got us safely down the
dark, rocky track to Shuhada Street.


text:
Posted 4 years ago
(14 items)
The 1957 All Star Game was one of the years that both the National and American league had their own style Pennant. This photo is showing off the National Leagues version....I'm very proud of my collection of St. Louis Cardinal Pennants. Both of my 1957 national and american pennants will be passed down to my family....Not to mention the National has the # 1 team in baseball the St. Louis Cardinals!!!!


text:
Junior ISAs offer efficient savings programme for generous parents
Question : I've maxed out my ISA entitlement and my wife's as well. Are there any other options for me to consider to capitalise on interest-free saving.
Claire Geddis, partner with S Hill & Co Investment Advisors, replies:
Answer: As 'saving' is the new cautious investment option of choice in these times and, if you are a parent, I would recommend that you take a look at the recently introduced Junior ISAs which will be available from November 1. This may appeal to you as parents/guardians or grand-parents who are able to help provide for a child in the future, particularly towards a university education.
Much like the adult ISAs, Junior ISAs are available in either cash or investment plans but the main difference is the amount that can be invested every year and crucially, that the money cannot be accessed until the child is 18.
The funds can only be accessed by the child, not the parent, after reaching 18.
As a parent you will be able to invest a maximum of £3,000 per year in either a cash or investment JISA where a maximum of £10,680 (tax year 2011/12) can be invested in ISAs per year. Assuming a base 3% interest rate over an 18-year term, a £1,000 per year contribution will net £25,116.87, a £2,000 per year saving will net £48,233 and the maximum contribution of £3,000 per year will yield a £72,350.60 pot.


text:
Wed Apr 10, 2013, 09:51 PM
Omaha Steve (65,716 posts)
Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on FY 2014 Budget Proposal
From E-mail.
Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka
on FY 2014 Budget Proposal
April 10, 2013
A presidents budget is more than just numbers. It is a profoundly moral document. We believe cutting Social Security benefits and shifting costs to Medicare beneficiaries while exempting corporate America from shared sacrifice is wrong and indefensible.
The administrations budget cuts cost-of-living increases for current and future Social Security beneficiaries by $130 billion over 10 years, and much more in future years. It shifts $64 billion in health care costs to Medicare beneficiaries over 10 years. Yet despite closing some loopholes, it calls for corporate income tax reform that is revenue neutral meaning it fails to ask big, profitable corporations to pay their fair share of taxes.
The Obama budget also continues to demand more sacrifice from federal employees than from Wall Street. Federal employees did not cause the Great Recession. They did not cause the deficits that resulted from the Great Recession. Yet their pay and their retirement keeps getting cut. Why?
Putting aside the injustice of demanding sacrifice from the innocent while letting the guilty off scot free, the Obama budget falls short of putting our economy on a path towards higher wages and full employment. As we have said many times, the greatest economic challenge facing America is the jobs crisis, not the deficit. Yet the administration cuts the part of the budget that pays for investments in worker training and jobs, which has already been cut to its lowest level since the Eisenhower administration, by another $100 billion. This austerity budget is bad economic policy at a moment when the economy remains weak and we urgently need more job-creating investments.
The Presidents budget does include several proposals worthy of praise. It aims to provide universal access to pre-kindergarten programs that are so important to our children. It strengthens programs to protect workers against wage theft, unsafe workplaces and employer retaliation. It closes the outrageous loophole that allows Wall Street financial managers to pay a special lower tax rate. And it reforms some of the tax loopholes that allow corporations to get away with shifting profits overseas to avoid U.S. taxes.
Last November, working Americans voted for jobs and growth, not for budget austerity and benefit cuts. We urge the President to drop these cuts and build support for investing in jobs.
1 replies, 869 views
Always highlight: 10 newest replies | Replies posted after I mark a forum
Replies to this discussion thread
|1 replies
Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on FY 2014 Budget Proposal (Original post)
|Omaha Steve
|Apr 2013
|Apr 2013
Response to Omaha Steve (Original post)
Wed Apr 10, 2013, 10:05 PM
CountAllVotes (15,562 posts)
1. provide universal access to pre-kindergarten programs
The only "praiseworthy" thing in the POS.
I suggest that someone return to pre-kindergarten programs and maybe he'll learn something I hope!


text:
Category: 'Guest Posts'
Taking Charge of Your Birth Story
Shannon of Growing Slower is a passionate advocate for empowering women to have natural births. Read her three top tips to help take charge of your birth, and check out her brand new book – available today!
Milk Siblings: One Mama's Milk Sharing Story (and Resources)
Amber, guest posting with me today, shares her experience as a pumping mama in the NICU. She pumped enough to feed her own preemie and was also able to donate breastmilk to a family in need. She wishes milk sharing were more culturally accepted – and easier to achieve.
Oversupply as a Blessing in Disguise: Milk Sharing and Wet Nursing
From wet nursing to donating breastmilk, the mama in today's post shares the story of how her oversupply has fed many babies.
Parenting From the Inside Out
Paige of Parenting Gently and Everyday Feminism are teaming up to offer the first ever online course called Transformative Parenting: Finding Your Authentic Parenting Voice. Sign up for a limited time, and get an early bird discount by signing up today!
10 Ways to Make Earth Day a Part of Your Family All Year 'Round
Teaching kids the message of Earth Day is the legacy we leave for all mankind. The most important thing for kids to know is that Earth Day is not one day of celebrating the Earth, but instead a reminder of what we should be doing all year long. Today Melanie of moksa organics shares 10 ideas your family can celebrate our Earth.
Nurture bookworms with Usborne!
Get your child's next favorite book at Code Name: Bookworms.
See how you can earn money
and free books!
- 9 Natural Cleaning Recipes for New Mamas
- Preschool Paleontology – Dino Dig! Class
- the Story of the World Volume 1: Usborne Book List
- Usborne's Peek Inside Books
- Do Nice, Be Kind, Spread Happy: Knock Down Ginger
Forced Weaning Due to Pregnancy
187 Comments
The Effects of Circumcision on Newborn Boys
108 Comments
101 Things To Do Instead of Yelling or Spanking
104 Comments
Kardashian's Call to Cover Up
83 Comments
- Giveaway: Glee Gum Make Your Own Chewing Gum, Chocolate, and Gummies Kits: A $42 Value {US, 3.31}
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- Giveaway: One Year of Piano Lessons with LearnPianoLive.com $300 ARV {US; 3.31}
- Natural Parents Network's 2nd Annual Holiday Gift Guide & Giveaway! {12/6, 26 winners, US, ARV $2,587}
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- Giveaway: On the Farm Game from Ravensburger and NPN Holiday Gift Guide – $21 ARV
- Giveaway: Make 'n Break Junior Game from Ravensburger and NPN Holiday Gift Guide – $25 ARV


text:
Raise your hand if you had Gators at 6-0
Published: Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 9:19 p.m.
We are halfway through the regular season for the Florida Gators and we know so much more about them.
We know they are better than they were a year ago. We know they have a knack for finding a way to win games. We know they can win on the road. We know they will do some strange things, but overcome them. We know they have no punt return game. We know Jeff Driskel can run like he's being chased by a Grizzly bear.
We look at where they are at this point and try to think back to see if we ever even thought it was a possibility. Raise your hand if you had UF at 6-0 at this point in the season. You can put your hand down, Mrs. Muschamp.
We know that after six games, there is one superior team in college football and it happens to be in this conference. Gee, where have we heard that before? We know Florida is being picked apart like Tim Tebow at the NFL Combine, and we also know the No. 2 BCS ranking is about as permanent as words written in the sand on the beach as the tide comes in.
No, not that Tide.
I'm not saying Florida can't stay there, but we all know Miami is a lot farther away than 335 miles.
The players pooh-poohed the ranking and they should. How they sincerely deal with this lofty altitude will have a lot to do with how they practice this week and perform against South Carolina. There are more distractions for these Gators this week than you'd find on a sunny day on Sorority Row.
There's the BCS, there's the national TV, there's the Head Ball Coach back in The Swamp for the first time since they erected a statue in his honor. There's College GameDay. These guys have experienced Chris Fowler's crew twice this year, but it's different when it's in your hometown.
And there are the injuries this team has to deal with this week. Will Muschamp said everyone is fine, but we'll really only know when we see who runs out of the tunnel in full pads instead of jerseys and jeans.
And there's a South Carolina team coming to town that wants to show the LSU game was a speed bump instead of a canyon.
These Gators have dealt with a lot in the first half of the season. The odd schedule sent them to tough venues early and will wrap up their conference schedule when November is just getting started. They've trailed in four of their five conference games. They've lost key players during each of those games.
But here they are, having persevered while so many teams have been falling so fast you'd think they were Felix Baumgartner skydiving from the edge of the atmosphere. That loud bang you heard was Auburn breaking the sound barrier.
So what we know about this team is that it's manly and motivated.
Now we get to find out if it's magical.
You don't want to even think about Miami, but it's OK to check out how expensive the hotels are in Atlanta. If Florida wins its next two games (I know, Will, one at a time) the Gators will clinch the SEC East title, before Halloween.
They have already won as many games as they did in the regular season last year and are bowl-eligible. But it's OK to be greedy, to want so much more than better-than-2011.
Florida's brutal conference schedule (like everyone else's in the SEC except Georgia's) is headed down the stretch much earlier than normal. The bye week is long gone and the ruggedness of the conference will be on display the next two Saturdays.
This is already a season that has exceeded expectations. But this weekend, The Swamp will be alive and the stakes will be raised.
We know so much more about this team. We're about to find out what we don't know.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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VERWOOD Trad Jazz Club is welcoming the Sunset Café Stompers for their first visit to the club's new venue, The Hideaway, formerly Club 31, at 17 Moorlands Road on January 17 from 8pm until 11pm.
The seven-piece band play exciting traditional jazz in the style of the New Orleans pioneers. An a la carte restaurant, bar menu or jazz room menu is available. Tickets are £8 on the door from 7pm. Contact Geoff on 07798 721405 for more details.


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Dylan's Candy Bar
Mmmmmmm, all my favorites!
Love cupcakes, but need something bigger?? Use this large cupcake pan to make one big huge cupcake!!!
Serve yourself or your guests cake with this cool woman's shoe shaped shoes. It's even got a pink colored magnetic heel!
Love this! I gave this to a friend for Christmas and he loved it as well. I think it's a genius idea and even if you don't drink alcohol, it's still perfect to use to cool down your favorite beverage!
Sublimely simple, the Buddha Bowl will quickly become your favorite. Designed to rest in the palm of your hand you'll love it for rice, lattés, ice cream, and even cereal. Microwave & dishwasher safe.Tags: home, tea, food, kitchen, cooking, zen, accessories, dinnerware, entertainingAdded 9 Years Ago from Delight.com
This little froggie is my favorite helper when i'm baking up some cookies on a sunday afternoon. It works great and is super easy to clean.Tags: home, food, kitchen, cooking, utensils, baking, entertaining, kitchen tools, animalsAdded 9 Years Ago from Vat19
i bake alot and this saves my me. it works so well!!!Tags: home, food, kitchen, appliances, gadgets, recipes, cooking, cooking tools, bakingAdded 9 Years Ago from Amazon.com
The KitchenAid Cook for the Cure mixer is amazing. First of all, anyone who enjoys baking needs a kitchenAid mixer. I have baked so many batches of cookies with my family's. Plus, it supports Breast Cancer Research. And, its a lig... The KitchenAid Cook for the Cure mixer is amazing. First of all, anyone who enjoys baking needs a kitchenAid mixer. I have baked so many batches of cookies with my family's. Plus, it supports Breast Cancer Research. And, its a light shade of pink. This mixer is a great gift for anyone who likes spending time in the kitchen. So much can be done with it, and it looks so fantastic on your counter!Tags: home, food, kitchen, appliances, cooking, utensils, baking, entertaining, eatingAdded 9 Years Ago from Amazon.com
Any chocolate lover would die to receive this as a gift: 70% dark and milk chocolate fondue in a miniature crate.Tags: food, entertaining, chocolate, desserts, hostess gifts, gift ideas, gift sets, delight, chocolate giftsAdded 9 Years Ago from Sur La Table
my mouth is already watering!Tags: food, entertaining, gifts, dining, mother, Mother's Day, Mothers Day Gifts, igifts, mother's day gift ideasAdded 10 Years Ago from Napastyle
I usually don;t get excited over cupcakes, but these are outstandingAdded 10 Years Ago from Williams-Sonoma
When I'm baking cupcakes, I think having a cupcake timer is super ador!Added 10 Years Ago from BrightandBold
Not only useful but also attractive!
Great gift for the cook in your life!
perfect, modern dining room tableTags: home, food, kitchen, furniture, entertaining, eating, home decor, dining, woodAdded 10 Years Ago from West Elm
I really like the idea of these bread bags. I'm mean, after years and years of using bread baskets, I'm ready for a change, aren't you?Tags: food, kitchen, entertaining, bread, gift ideas, christmas gifts, delightful, table decor, igiftsAdded 10 Years Ago from Delight.com
Gorgeous petal bowls!Tags: home, food, entertaining, eating, dining, decor, housewares, bowls, igiftsAdded 10 Years Ago from Artisan-world
Very cool, can sear meat at extreme temperatures and then can be easily cooled off for regular cooking.
So adorable! Love these designs by baileybowls at Etsy.Tags: home, food, entertaining, bowls, eating, dining, handmade, housewares, DogAdded 10 Years Ago from Etsy
There are cute - great if you're going for a nautical theme, or if you live on the water, maybe for a camp.Tags: home, food, entertaining, eating, dining, salt, pepper, housewares, grindersAdded 10 Years Ago from Williams-Sonoma
Lovely handmade gift sets from this Etsy seller!
Gorgeous platters and plates from DBO HomeTags: home, food, kitchen, entertaining, eating, plates, handmade, platters, housewaresAdded 10 Years Ago from Dbohome


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Style: 36377331 Colour:
Metal chain necklace with multiple, different colored chains and fringe detailing. Coin charm accents. Adjustable lobster clasp closure. *Free People
Free People
Really cute but delicate
I bought the brass/silver after seeing it on the mannequin and falling in love. Although the necklace is only two colors, in person it looks like it has more; it may be because the coins are brushed metal causing a four color effect. The online pictures are accurate although the one where the brunette is wearing the necklace makes the necklace look a little fuller than it actually looks in person. The pictures of just the necklace are more accurate. This necklace is very delicate and you have to be careful with it to make sure you don't rip the horizontal metal. This necklace looks good alone or paired with a scarf; I would recommend the Fleetwood Chain Skinny Scarf.


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The following books will receive starred reviews in the March-April issue of the Horn Book Magazine:
My Garden, by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow)
Once by Morris Gleitzman (Holt)
Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs by Ron Koertge (Candlewick)
The Dreamer by Pam Muñoz Ryan; illus. by Peter Sís (Scholastic)
Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick (Roaring Brook)
The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork (Levine/Scholastic)
A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner (Greenwillow)
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia (Amistad/HarperCollins)
Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer; illus. by Josée Masse (Dutton)
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
March/April starred reviews
Posted by Roger Sutton at 2:00 PM
Labels: Horn Book Magazine, Stars
2 comments:
- proseandkahn said...
Once was a stunner. I'm eager for Then and Now. I loved Shakespeare Bats Cleanup. Good to hear that the sequel is just as wonderful.
brenda kahn
- 6:43 AM, February 04, 2010
- Carol said...
I don't have access to a lot of galleys, but I did get a chance to read the new Ron Koertge "Shakespeare" and I think it does what I wanted-- extend my time with the character without requiring I have read the first book or remember it crystal clearly. New focus, new character, yes!
- 1:42 PM, February 04, 2010
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