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noneck's blog
day 211. back in nyc.
i've arrived back in nyc and into the arms of many friends. amazingly for the six hours that we partied, i didn't take a single photo.... ;) well, the trip is officially over, but i'm not stopping for long. for the next two days i'll be gearing up for my trip back to europe to attend LIFT. when i return back to NYC, i'll be couchsurfing while gathering my thoughts. my next reports will be from europe!
day 210. last 24 hours, help me get back to brooklyn.
it's been over a year since i started fundraising and today we broke $7,000 USD. (thank you Josh Tabin)!
the next 24 hours are my last. tomorrow, by this time not only will i be in the air floating over the south and the mid-atlantic states, but i'll be floating on a cloud of your support, your love and your generosity. you have taken me around the world...
while on the road i've met our neighbors. no longer separated by countries, news outlets or mediaries... without a doubt we are connected to the same lawn with a bit of pond in between us all.
now on the last day of my journey, i am $742 USD away from achieving $7,777 USD. the next 24 hours will be your last chance to pre-purchase a copy of "the luck of seven" children's book i'm writing. the next 24 hours will be your last chance to immortalize a dream and forever stand on the shoulder's of a giant.
these people rock! add consider adding your name...
Michael Nutt, Josh Tabin, Michael McColl, kushtrim xhakli, Joe Vieira, Erica Douglass, Chuck Olsen, Megumi Nishikura, Nicholas Schroeder, and My Parents...
day 209. a growing list of speaking engagements...
microphone photo by hiddedevries
i now have four speaking engagements lined up...
new york city, usa
2 feb 2008 - as detailed in yesterday's post, starting at 5pm (18h00) i'll be talking into a bottomless barrel of booze. (facebook event info) you are all invited to help me conclude seven months around the world! if you can't make it, buy me a virtual beer and contribute!
geneva, ch
6 through 8 feb 2008 - i'll be at the LIFT conference pipping out the merits of free culture and the global empowerment. while i will be giving a five minuet speech, i'll also be giving a three hour workshop! (don't think i'm wealthy, i'm working barback at this conference. i still have $700 to fundraise, help a bro out?)
new york city, usa
5 march 2008 - dorkbot nyc, location one, soho, @ 7pm - my buddy douglas found an opportunity for my goods to be shown in-front of nyc's largest geek community! (meetup is for nurds, dorkbot is for geeks! this is all tung and cheek, we'all b family!)
15 - 16 march 2008 - barcamp nyc 3. without a doubt i'll be presenting something...
not an alternative, brooklyn, ny - upon my return in late feb, we're talkin an evening conversation with drinks, DJ's, and a chariot with seven horsemen... ;)
i'd love to crash SXSW interactive or the film segment. then again, so would the rest of the world... if you think i'm worthy. please bless me with your grace.
if you have a class or community group that would be interested in having me connect via the tubes, i'd love to connect the dots.
day 208. making plans for an NYC homecoming and spreading the gospel.
photo from punkjr on flickr
item #1, advice from my father.
today, i received a few inspirational notes from my father... while i know they are a bit muffled in verse, i was able to hear the sweet tone of loving comfort. let me hum a few bars...
"don't stop thinking about tomorrow. don't stop it'll soon be here. It'll be better than before. why not think about times to come, and about the things that you've done..."
yes, sometimes it's hard to distinguish between my father and fleetwood mac...
the past year has taught me more lessons than i could have possibly dreamed. those dreams found people who not only believed in exploration, but believed that collectively we can accomplish our dreams. though every hello, hug or heaping plate of food, we did it. collectively we've explored the internet world, but we're not done yet.
now i find myself in a precarious position. every night, i dream about the places i've been and the things i've done. painfully, i roll and roll debating endlessly what's the best way to engage the world within this dream, and how to make a living. i checked my bank account and only found $75... but more on that later...
so now, here i am back in america trying to understand everything i've done and make sense of where i'd like to see the world... honestly, it's stressful carving out a grandiose vision of the future based on seven short months. any-who, so work for the children's book presses on...
item #2, my nyc return.
after thinking that i should call my good buddy jonathan, i carelessly blasted out an email routing people to a bar which in perfect pursuit of happiness should be at the end of places to experience in brooklyn. don't get me wrong, it's not a bad place... it's just a better place to end the night. in lew of this miss judgement, jonathan and i are crafting a triumphant return to brooklyn. (btw, you might remember jonathan as the partner of val; the two glorious hosts at the start of the journey...)
yeah, so i'm returning to NEW YORK CITY on saturday, FEB 2nd at 3pm (15h00). well, that's when my plane lands... i'll then find my way onto the subway, down the long corridors of the MTA and then into the arms of a few friends. while i'm jazzing my way back to billyburg, i need you to grab your camera and some ridiculous looking outfit and make your way to the hipster capital of the world.
starting at 5pm (18h00) you are invited to meet me at 303 bedford ave, brooklyn, ny. the bar is/was called wells, but don't worry about a thing. we're commandeering the sound system and maybe brute forcing a discount (thats'a joke, jon is a bartender and we might get a sweet deal if enough people show up). afterward, we'll saunter over to IONA and then over to the keystone bar of the night, SPUYTEN DUYVIL.
item #3, the future as mentioned in the past.
as my around the world journey ends, a new one begins. i am so poor you won't believe how poor i am. over the past two months i've spent less that $600 USD to get by. for the past month, i've been beggin for handouts and frothing at the mouth for free food. i've max'd out my only credit card (actually i owe them $800 in late charges). i've got $75 bucks in my checking account, and $8 dollars in my wallet.
if you look at my ticker, i still have $700 USD to fundraise (which won't even cover my credit cards, but i've called them and they "kinda understand")... and if the phone call from my roommate is any indication my housing situation, i'm gonna need to kick in close to $900 in rent...
so what does this mean to you, the reader... well, one thing... my life has taught me to follow my heart and build on what i've learned. next week, when i land in a foreign country without a euro in my pocket, i will proudly stand in front of some of the world's smartest and extoll tales of our journey together. (for you geeks out there, LIFT is like TED but for normal people.)
if you haven't pre-purchased a copy of the luck of seven children's book, i hope you consider contributing $11.11 USD. if 70 people purchase a copy, i won't ask for another cent... (that's until i start the mel brooks swag campaign) if you've contributed and can contribute a little more, that would be awesome! thank you for making dreams come true!
a big thanks to the most recent contributors - KUSHTRIM XHAKLI, Megumi Nishikura, and Joe Vieira.
(btw, i'm also need a job, if you know of anyone who's looking for a well skilled student of new media, send them my resume...)
day 207. unshakeable activisim with the sharing foundation
as my path wondered through southeast asia, i found myself on the other-side of the world where the US dollar is the all mighty. for less that $6.00 USD you'd can be served a mountain of food fit for a king. little did i know that for less that $2.00 USD, my friend huixian and i would eat lavishly for two days...
if huixian and i ate at her house every day, we'd spend less than $15 USD a week. that's less than $15.00 USD a week ON FOOD!!!!
i know it's hard to understand how we can make a difference in someone's lives at the other end of the world, but those "help a christian child" TV spots aren't that far fetched. "for dollars a day you, can change someone's life..." except in this "advertisement" we're not talking about a newly "saved" cambodian pip. we're talking about a "no political or religious agenda; we work directly with village chiefs and school principals to target their communities' most pressing needs. Gradually, we've hired and mentored fifty-seven Cambodians who've assumed all leadership positions." - Nancy Woodward Hendrie from the sharing foundation in the mount holyoke alumnae quarterly
THAT'S RIGHT! a grassroots empowerment organization needs your help. if you donate $10.00 USD and believe it or not, WE can turn it into $50,000!!!
just imagine how much $50,000 will go in cambodia?!?!
luck of seven contributor and global non-profit rockstar beth kantor has asked me to ask for your help. over the next 40 hours, we need to win the "giving challenge." we need to get the most unique donations over the next day or so and we can collectively turn our $10 bucks into $50,000!!!
if you're into the social media chain letter thing, there's a participant wiki on how you can help... the first three are the most important...
1. Volunteer to write at least one blog between today and January 31, 2008 about this and ask your readers to contribute the minimum amount.
2. Put the widget on your blog on the side bar (it is easy to cut and paste)
3. Consider donating $10 to campaign!
go forth and multiply!!! (1st video from ryanne and jay; 2nd video from beth)
day 206. the seven lessons learned.
i stand and look out at the wonder that is the world. beneath my feet, embedded in my flip flops are the peeples of discomfort, the ignorance of sand and the wet and wild world we call earth. in four short days, my journey will officially end. in four short days, i will return to new york city.
it's been seven months from my bed, my friends, my "stuff," and any notion of disposable income. i know little has changed; i know i am not the same. as the days wind down i face another moment of reflection. each passing mirrored moment, i see a million lessons wrapped into one epic journey.
but for this this morning, my brain feels a bit scattered. maybe it's the strong texas coffee. maybe it's my body still recovering from Barcamp TX and three nights of restless sleep. maybe it's the fact that i now see my footsteps as a thin film of butter on a global piece of rye toast...
maybe it's the understanding that for everyday after next, the job gets tougher and tougher. no longer can i skate bye and say, i'm skimming the global ice. now it's time to tighten up the laces, grab the hockey stick and summarize my understanding into the back of a net.
for the past two weeks, dr miggy has given me the gift of love and a small little space to carve out my ice sculpture. a week from now, i will be penniless in geneva while having the honor to help host the open stage conversations at LIFT. subsequently, i will get five minutes to present my sculpture. :)
...but before the moderate temperatures of time start to melt my understanding of the world, the following are the seven lessons of this journey...
"if you scratch your own itch with an open mind, you'll find the world feels the same relief." - dries and the global drupal community.
"when facing goliath, bring your own sling shot." - egyptian linux users group; open source software users in egypt.
"video killed the radio star - citizen video units and citizen journalism transforms our definition of literacy." - video volunteers and drishti; alive in baghdad; epicfu
"give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. teach a man to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life."- khmer OS; tactical technology collective
"a hug will take you around the world and transform everything you touch." - juan mann of free hugs; the global free culture movement.
"play together and we learn more from others than ourselves." - meetups, dev weekends, unconfrences and collaborative productivity spaces (ie barcamp and coworking)
"the end of the world is a great place to put ideas on their head." - cowork central; providence in ushuaia
(btw, i originally started to break out each lesson via continent, but quickly discovered that the lessons were mirrored everywhere. these seven lessons are will grow to be the basis of the children's book and the documentary film.)
day 200. 100 lessons.
respect everyone.
honest dealings with yourself and others. (it's harder than you think)
tipping / gifts are valued in every situation.
wait a min, others are slow to react.
take one step beyond.
beauty is everywhere.
drink lots of water.
ask questions.
make funny faces at kids.
forget hand shakes, hug.
you only need two pairs of underwear.
repeat bad jokes.
learn bad words in other languages.
nap when you can.
always cary earplugs.
in every language, learn to say thank you.
always cary pen and paper.
embrace flip flops (aka thongs or slippers).
always have a camera.
pack lightly. no, lighter.
get your vitamins
pick your friend's nose or learn to trust your friend's nose.
watch one sunrise & sunset a month.
there is an awesome pair of pink safety glasses in Vancouver.
sell your friends, but never for money. don't worry, they come back.
call your parents.
trolly tracks + bicycle + amsterdam = danger will robinson!
enjoy sleep deprivation.
find a rainbow and follow it. if you don't see a rainbow, make one up.
"show your soul" - from souldier
"be still peace will come to you" - old guy in boston
make your own stuff.
fake it, until you make it.
eat and drink local.
when in doubt, try it.
stand upwind.
deodorant is cheep and readily accessible.
embrace the weather.
afternoon tea is good for you.
most cabbies will stiff you.
art unlocks more doors than butter knifes.
a smile is priceless.
"smart" people are ignorant, and "nice" people can be rude.
wealth is a mental condition.
turkish ice cream doesn't melt; pheonm phen features happy pizza, and Vancouver is known for their pot. (three things i did not try.)
you'll eat with your hands more than you think. wash your hands and face frequently. don't forget to keep your fingernails clean.
forgo the bus, there is a train that connects melbourne to sydney.
a good book gives you room to write. a better book will write on you.
give people a reason to give.
remember to look in the mirror.
embrace hair or lack of hair.
note your experiments and seek multiple results.
never trust an egyptian customs agent.
befriend the rastafarian at the end of the world.
balls and honor.
look at your footsteps, but don't measure them.
be the first to volunteer.
homeless people want youtube.
digg a fox hole.
join a kickball league.
make dinner and invite random people.
get naked.
rethink literacy.
learn new games and teach them to others.
auto white balance is always wrong.
a meal will unlock more hearts than a rainbow.
there are more similarities than differences.
bring toilet paper.
learn to take cold showers.
befriend a quebecer named alex.
don't eat at an american fast food chain in cairo.
religion, practice don't preach.
open your home to strangers.
the holy trinity - happenstance, providence and shit.
outsource your news to people who don't get paid to write it.
politics, policy and pornography will take you nowhere.
religion and commerce are interchangeable
everyone needs something to build.
read, write, build. - jullian bleaker
ride a rocket-ship and tour the stars.
don't take yourself so seriously.
behind the next rock is a new friend.
love is a blind, blubbering hobo who will pass you countless times uttering not a word until one day he knocks you on your ass and gives you a key.
have a back up plan, but don't write it down.
in Argentina they love salt.
never pass up a free meal.
know hope.
chastity is a virtue.
art is laborious.
embrace manual mode.
the journey starts and ends with sunrises in airports.
when it comes to religion, everyone is right and wrong.
while ignorance was found everywhere, more was found amongst my fellow north americans than anywhere else.
pop music around the world sucks.
bart simpson rules the world.
wolfs are everywhere and so are sheep.
reality is a perception lost to the eyes.
the dude abides.
blackspot shoes, the sole of a new company
there are a few things that get me miffed about society - one of them is the concept of sustainable consumption. and for the past seven months, i've constantly thought about my foot print. oh sure i've taken planes, trains and automobiles and find myself considering the purchase of carbon credits... time and time again, i know i've taken my fare share of dead dinosaurs. too boot, i've used plastic bags, purchased things made of Styrofoam and consumed inorganically substances that will duly destroy the planet in a smattering of centuries. nonetheless, i've been mentally wrestling with the issue of consumption. for the past seven months, i've consumed less than i have ever consumed. honestly, it feels a bit weird.... all of this is beside the point of me writing this longwinded trite, hippopotamus prose.
over the past week, i've had a bit of time to rifle through some old issues of adbusters. if you're a neo-liberal hippy hipster like me, without a doubt you've picked up this Vancouver based mag, torpedoed though the articles in ecstasy exclaiming "i will never consume again" while your chuck taylor's wrap your feet and ben davis wipe your behind.
after taking note of the questionable eco-friendly paper quality, i stumbled upon adbusters #73 (september/october 2007) issue. smack dab in the center of their social commentary, i found a letter from paul cooper on the subject of branding blackspot shoes. it's a short and notable letter. paul's oration foretells the expansion of "blackspot" as a brand.
according to Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island a "blackspot" is given to a pirate as a verdict of guilt. in this case, "blackspot" is the name of the three year old shoe brand (youtube video). (does anyone else see the self deprecating irony of putting on a pair of blackspots? by wearing the shoes one extolls the virtue of hiprococy - "as an activist, i am also a slave to fashion and a slave to brands.")
so back to the shoes... after building the concept, signing deals to outsource construction and selling 25,000 pairs of shoes, adbusters wants to diversify the brand by building alternative centers of mass market consumption. from starbucks to mcdonalds, mr. cooper sees blackspot as the "go-to" brand of alternative conception. (somewhere deep inside of my peon brain, i'm having a hard time rectifying the fact that adbusters is comparing itself to the "evil" demons of mcd and starbucks while seeking to compete with them on the global market.)
there are four reasons why i am writing this article. each one is based around the essential attributes of blackspot's brand that according to paul, "this time the rule of the game have changed."
1. customer = participant, the passive consumer becomes an active participant in shaping the social enterprises of the future.
2. grassroots capitalism, people support the efforts of small-scale entrepreneurs to capture market share from faceless megacorporations.
3. open-source, anyone can brand or co-brand their products or service with the blackspot, joining a loose alliance of thousands of other indie blackspotters.
4. jiu-jitsu marketing, blackspotters will go head-to-head with the dominate companies in the industry, using the power of the world's biggest brands to drive their success.
while i genuinely think that blackspot is onto a good thing, i don't see these rules as earth shattering. they represent nothing more than the long standing fight between small business and big business.
#1 speaks about a passive consumer becoming active. yet, if you are like the millions of americans who care about the bottom line, we just want the cheapest product we can afford. i'm not an idiot (despite by bad grammar and poor spelling) i know economic theory states we must consume to exist. yet, since the dawn of towns and cities, convenience and passivity are the #1 and #2 creature comforts of humanity. nothing in this theory states why i should give a damn.
#2 is nothing more than telling people to buy local. as we move into cities, most items are produced globally. we sit with a painful realization that the world we live within is unsustainable. my ipod, my notebook, my pen, my shoes, my clothing... everything i own was not made in the city of it's acquisition. ok, most of the food i try to buy is local... but in the long run, telling people to purchase localy is not going to change the fact that north americans consume %80 of the world's resources.
#3 is novel in the sense that i can place a "blackspot" product into an advertisement and then do a bit of cross promotion. then again, the more i think about it, the more i come to understand that this is called marketing and branding. maybe #3 speaks concept that in the near future, service providers must join forces and marginalize our individual brands to compete against faceless megacorperations.
#4 is flat out about "marketing." but when i think about going "head-to-head" with megacorperations, i only see the concept of the "anti" brand. in other words, the "blackspot" brand says, "you are a smart, educated consumer. you like brands and love fashion. you know that i am not like them. instead of doing more with less, BUY ME!"
the only thing me thinks is a "revolution," is the fact that adbusters is changing.
if a company really wants to change the way the world works, let's not "sell out" or "buy in." let us find a new way to do business. yet, the more i think about how we can move swiftly into the future, i see that adbusters' alternatives are the only way to "safely consume" in hedonist material world.
as my mental tumblers roll, my mind is still locked into the concept that nothing has changed. if blackspot seeks to radically change the face of consumption, shouldn't they listen to Rev. Billy and the church of stop shopping or better yet, take a page of their own campaigns and educate the consumer and reduce the world's consumption?
ps - the more i touch an iphone, the more i want one. :P
I'm attending LIFT '08 & proposing a workshop.
for the past two years, i've had the unique honor to help participate in one of the awesomest conferences on this planet - LIFT. if you've followed my writings, you'll see that in 2006, not only did i couchsurf for the first time, but i really had no clue what i was doing in geneva. during the first LIFT, i had formulated the idea for this trip, but took it as a toung and cheek project.
fast forward a year later to feb 2007, i had come full circle - not only was i going to go around the world, but i also found myself helping the LIFT gang conduct an unconference of sorts, aka the open stage. as we muddled though workshops, long winded prose and off the cuff presentations, we survived no worse for wear.
now it's 2008 and the day LIFT starts, i will celebrate my seven month anniversary traveling around the world. (thank you for the free ticket! laurent and team LIFT, this is such an awesome gift! btw, i should also thank my father for this airline miles!)
too boot, bread and butter (the awesomist organizers) are continuing on their social participation experimentation by hosting workshops, an open stage and are now adding organized discussions and a venture night! so instead of getting all pomp, and writing out some wild-eye "this is the way world should work" paper, i'm proposing the following workshop.
btw, if you're attending LIFT... Vote for my workshop or Open stage presentation
title: "how to harvest the seven chakras of the karma economy" or "how to travel the world for less than $10,000 USD" or "revolution 3.14, how we've built a karma economy"
background: on 07 july 2007, i departed new york city for a journey around the world to learn from the world. affably named "on the luck of seven" or "luck of seven." this was an open-source journey documenting free culture, social innovators and global change. for seven months, i attempted to stand on the seven contents, dive into the seven oceans, and contemplate seven topics of freedom on $7,777 USD. of which those $7,777 was raised by small dollar donors contribution $11.11 USD to pre-purchase a children's book detailing seven lessons learned while traveling the world. while on the way, i documented the journey through stories, photos and videos.
though hospitably, donations, mutual projects, connections and friends, our stories merged into one. as i wandered the earth, my broad shoulders bore seven topics of freedom: free culture; free and open-source software communities; couchsurfers, bloggers, fellow travelers and vloggers; agents of progressive social change; unconfrences, coworking and meetups; happenstance, and climate change. all-in-all, this is was a 21st century anthropological view of the personalities in physical / digital world we cohabit.
workshop outline:
for the first thirty mins, we will play an amazing game meeting fellow workshop attendees.
for the next hour, we will ride the roller coster. first, we will start the journey describing the background and then tear into the gear, research and findings. afterward, we will turn inward go through the highs and lows details successes and failures. without a doubt, you will have a hands-on opportunity to see the nuts and bolts of a global anthropological exploration.
(10 min coffee, tea, cigarette break)
for the second half, we will discuss the karma economy and then break out into teams to brainstorm the creation of new organizations or plan luck of seven season #2. <- it's totally up to the audience ;)
(ps, i'm still working the "this is the way world should work" paper.)
don't forget, if you're attending LIFT... Vote for my workshop or Open stage presentation
day 190 & 191. my return to buenos aries.
"necessity is the mother of taking chances." - mark twain
(my shorter poetic version of this post was destroyed by a horrible binary accident were a few ones collied with a few zeros. normally this wouldn't be an issue, except when you're using beta software. this is now published in two parts. this is part one. video and photos will be forthcoming.)
sometimes there is a necessity to climb a mountain. sometimes that same necessity bears the most unusual fruit.
on day 190, i woke up at 6 am and edited videos. as 18h30 (6.30 pm) chimed in my mental koo-koo clock. i knew i was late. all day long, i had monitored reports of areolinas argentina's from fellow travelers. being at the end of the world, and only coming across one other traveler who would departing 30 mins before myself, there was nothing to note. as the phantom pendulum swayed, rumor wafted of crippling strike.
despite the fact i spent the previous day on the side of mountain, sprinting down two flights of stairs with 60kg of luggage was the most dangerous act of my entire ushuaian adventure. second to this sprint, was the fact i should have been at the airport one hour before my departure. racing through the crowed streets of ushuaia, emilo, my driver (the owner of the freestyle hostel) nearly picked off two undulate penguins. these penguins shared a resemblance to stunned european toursts.
as rastamax and i belted american hip hop songs, the 2006 renault, spent most of it's time on the left hand side of the road. flashing it's high beams and dodging trucks, jalopies and donkeys, the landmarks of the last month flashed before my eyes. i crossed my fingers.
arriving at the second smallest airport in the world, the three of us discovered lines winding their way from one side of the terminal to the other. i did not know that this convention of bewilderment, would be the first of 70 hours of waiting.
after an hour and a half of three lines and an extra hour sorting out why the plane's manifest featured one less person than sat on board, we departed for buenos aires' domestic airport. at 1 am, two fellow couchsurfers and i disembarked from the tail of the airplane and said our goodbyes.
with more uncertainty than republicans in texas, i found another renault and race car driver. for 30 minuets, we caressed the freeways of buenos aires.
arriving at the international airport, my driver sprinted back and forth looking for a luggage trolly. at 2 am, the shinny new facade of terminal A seemed calm. walking through the double sliding glass doors that bless 90% of the world's modern airports, i entered into a womb of sleeping passengers.
with several hundred people scattered about, i found no fracas. so, i found a small metal bench, i pulled out my trench coat, linked my luggage together, swung my legs ontop of my luggage and passed out. almost two hours later, i awoke to see my flight on the departure board and my checkin desk assignment. little did i know that the gates of hell were just around the corner.
starting at one end of the terminal, i walked past every check in kiosk. at the end of the hall, i found a sign that pointed me around a corner to the left. glancing to my right, stood wolves frothing at the mouth. (they really were unlicensed taxi cab drivers.) as i turned my cart to the left, i stood outside the gates of hell.
at this point there were two lines. the left was longer. it also entered a small arch and then made a sharp 90° turn. the line on the right poured endlessly into an abyss of mindless luggage carts. feeling a bit adventurous, i started my starboard navigation. like a 1980's atari game, zombiefyed passengers angling to get around the person next to them attacked me. unlike mario, dodging them was useless. i must have hit three or four carts until my nyc motorcycle skills awakened. then, i was dodging on coming / sideswiping zombie driven carts...
well that was until i hit my first foot. absconded by trash, the impact did not even phase this fallen soul. stopping in my tracks, i found myself in a sea of desperation, dashed dreams and an army of federal police. to my left, a thousand or so zombies standing in shapeless lines. to my right, families and friends camping in their own filth. this was a scene unlike any movie.
in front of the sea of people stood 20 federal police with 20 more milling in and out. behind them, 30 airport kiosks. at every other kiosk stood the remains of an Aerolineas Argentinas staff member. while my fellow glass-eyed wanna be passengers expended their last bits of sanity, i enquired "why is this happening?" no one knew.
as i approached staff members they just ushered me aside. according to the global distortion filter (USA Today, BBC News, The Canadian Press) - "it's a labor dispute." according to a comment on global voices, this was a dispute long in the making.
i bumped into some local tour guides and they said that since the 1990 privatization, aerolineas argentina has been one screwed up organization. not only is every other flight delayed by an hour or so, but every other year you'll find some portion of the airline on strike (airwise).
as i waited, a bull-horned police officer shrouded in a bullet proof vest would stand on a kiosk and announce a city and a kiosk number. within a smattering of seconds, the sound of smashing trollies were all around me. babies who were quietly annoyed, would wail as their parents and fellow passengers violently thrashed through a sea of limp limbs.
when the first plane was called out, i attempted to defend any sense of personal space. after three mins, i tucked my trolly into an artery of movement and found a quite place next to a poll. for a few hours, i stood, sat, stretched, skipped, sang, skanked, and spoke to my self. after rome, came new york. then they called out mexico city, then santiago de chile, then madrid, and then ushuaia.
one staff member reassured me that all flights for sao paulo would depart. around 6h00 (6am) a call came for sao paulo. they called for all passengers from the flights that would have departed on 10, 11, 12 to line up. three days of flights all attempting to be extricated on two planes. at that very moment, i saw the line stretch out past the gates of hell. i questioned my sanity.
if my flight was on the 13th and they were just starting to process three days of flights... i knew my chances were slim to none. with less than $150 USD in my checking account and less than $30 USD in my wallet, flying out on another airline would be impossible. with little sleep and less food in my stomach, my mind entered into survival mode. i need to find three things, food, transport and sleep.
as i calculated my options, my heart found only one. with no money to stick around for another week in BA, i rounded the corner and found the continental airlines office.
snaking my way from hell, i found a nameless door with a handwritten sign. with a swift knock, the electronic intercom buzzed "quen es?"
tired, i responded in english. within a few mins a grandmotherly looking woman opened the door. i explained my situation and she gave me a number to call. she also told me that the evening flight is full, but i could call houston and see what they could do...
with in 30 min, good news; i had a flight out of BA. the bad news, i would have to wait 40 hours for the next flight to houston.
i thought to myself, "40 hours! i can get a lot of sleep in 40 hours!" as i checked my watch it was only 10h30 on the 13 jan.
winding my way back through the gates of hell, i found my fellow zombies and told them of my departure. we wished each other "luck" and i wheeled my way out of hell.
beyond the point of exhaustion, i found an over priced sandwich, a cup of coffee for warmth (the whole departure hall was well over 25°C - 77°F) , and a beer (to knock my ass out). for the next 30 hours, i wrote down 98 lessons learned on this trip; i also finished "fearce invalids home from hot climates" by tom robins; slept; then i found another overpriced meal.
sometime around midnight, i found an air conditioning duct spewing fresh air and a cool slab of marble.
necessity is my mother
Agua from gallo1 on Vimeo. "A group of tourists requires water to the airport police, after remaining nearly one day, trapped in a Union dispute."
global voices article + video + reality distortion filter (BBC News, USA Today) + me = in houston recovering.
for now i'm licking a few wounds and trying to remember the past 3 days. more to come later... many apologies to brazil... by tomorrow afternoon, you'll have a lovely video, story and videos to boot.
day 188. my last day at the end of the world.
"The whole world around us lay spread out like a giant relief map," he told one interviewer. "I am a lucky man. I have had a dream and it has come true, and that is not a thing that happens often to men." the last line in sir hillary's obituary by robert d. mcfadden in the IHT.
without a doubt, i too feel the same accomplishment. today, i venture back up to the glacier.
day 185/186. the last two days or how i'm starting to look for a job.
the past two days contain three ingredients - 1 tablespoon of all day encoding and editing - 1 750 cml of Argentinean wine - 2/3 victory in backgammon. as i sit, edit, and play, i am working hard to catch up on video editing. even after my scratch drive reformat, it seems that i'm filling 200 gig drives faster than i can "zadi snap" my fingers. through it all, i'm catching up on emails and poking around online for brazilian contacts.
painfully, the next few videos are more emotional than i've expected. i never would have thought that at the end of the world i would tear my soul and pour on to tape the uncertainty of life.
as my last month spins, i am at a very important crossroad. this is more important than when i started. (which you will see in two videos from now...) not only am i looking to complete the goals that i set out 12 months ago, but i am now in need of employment and shelter from the storm of poverty. my credit card bills have piled up. my roommate emailed me that my sub-let is moving out and nether she nor i can afford the apartment on our own.
while the head hits the tape, i see a few options. as an election year, i can turn to the old guard and seek my thirst on the campaign trail, OR i can do something REALLY crazy. this craziness involves turning the sum of the past 12 months, the tools and hard lessons learned into something that empowers others to do the same.
i have one simple crux. i see an intertwined world of overwhelming complexity. i see issues, arguments, problems, and overlapping thoughts. at the same time, i do not see myself cutting out one issue to fill my fix of empowering others. i do not see a single singularity, nor do i have the funds to continue. i must not give up on helping others to make our world a better place, but i must also find employment.
i've been looking at executive level positions with witness and league of young voters, but i need more options than just these two. if you know of any jobs that could use a suave boy like me, please send out a contact... my ears are open.
travel legacy, barcamp thailand
registration for barcamp bangkok is now open! that's right, after a long and winding road, thailand will have their first barcamp this month. apparently, the social lubricants provided by sugree, patipat and sira lubricated enough info out of my head for them to go full tilt. too bad, i will only be there in spirt! goodluck gang!
day 184 photos. 4x4ing with nunatak adventure
feeling a bit down on my antarctic prospects, sebastian and rasta max hooked me up with a small barter. for 8 hours i would be forced to sit in the front seat of a land rover to video one of ushuaia's best 4 x 4 tours. running around in the back woods, nunatak adventure took us to the hinterlands of lake escondido for fun, sun, an amazing kickin BBQ and a whole lot of splish splashing.


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Friday 25 January
|Mustela (1)
Once classified as Extinct in the Wild, the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is one of the world's rarest mammals and the only ferret native to North America (1) (5). This slender animal has a yellowish coloured coat (2), pale underparts (6), and a dark tail tip and black feet (2). The muzzle, throat and forehead are white and there is a black mask around the eyes (6). As with most members of the genus Mustela, the males are larger and much heavier than females (2). The legs are short and the large front paws are armed with claws for digging (3).
The black-footed ferret is an alert, agile, nocturnal animal, which spends the day in prairie dog burrows (7). More than 90 percent of the diet consists of prairie dogs, which are attacked whilst they sleep in their burrows (3), although mice, ground squirrels, voles and other small mammals are also taken (6).
This species is solitary, except during the breeding season, which runs from March to April (6). Females give birth to litters of between three to six young (known as kits), and rear their offspring without help from the male. The young, which are born blind and helpless and covered with thin white hair (3), stay in the burrow for about 42 days before venturing above ground, and remain with their mother until the autumn, after which time they disperse (6). These ferrets have excellent senses of hearing, sight and smell, and olfactory communication (urination and defecation) is very important in the maintenance of dominance hierarchies and following trails at night (6). Vocalisations include chattering and hissing (6).
The black-footed ferret was once common throughout the Great Plains from Alberta in Canada to southwestern USA, but by 1987, the species was extinct in the wild (3). Today, following concerted conservation efforts, reintroduced black-footed ferret populations exist in eight western states and Chihuahua (Mexico) (1) (7) (8). However, only three of these populations, two in South Dakota and one in Wyoming, are considered self-sustaining (1).
This species is an inhabitant of shortgrass and midgrass prairies (5), where there is an abundance of prairie dog 'towns' (Cynomys species) (7). A very large area of suitable habitat with a large population of prairie dogs is required to support the species; a single black-footed ferret needs between 40 and 60 hectares (7).
The number of black-footed ferrets plummeted in the first half of the 20th century, primarily as a result of habitat loss. Prairies have been modified for intensive agriculture and there is now less than two percent of the original ferret habitat left (3). The ferret's main prey, prairie dogs, were systematically poisoned in vast tracts of their habitat by a government eradication programme in the mid 1900s (5). Prairie dog burrows were thought to damage cropland and ferret numbers fell in direct proportion with the dramatic decline of their prey (3). The final threat to black-footed ferret numbers, and perhaps the most pertinent today, is disease, particularly canine distemper and plague (3). Plague, introduced to North America, causes even greater devastation in populations of prairie dogs and ferrets than it caused in human populations of Europe and Asia (8).
The black-footed ferret was thought to be extinct in the 1970s until a last population was discovered in Meeteetse, Wyoming in 1981 (5). Under initial protection measures, this population increased in numbers but then became infected by canine distemper and plague, which threatened to completely wipe out the species (5). As a last resort, the final 18 wild animals were caught and brought into captivity between 1985 and 1987, and a successful captive-breeding programme has been running ever since (3) (8). The US Fish and Wildlife Service's revised 'Black-Footed Ferret Recovery Plan' of 1988 prescribed the long-term target of establishing ten or more separate, self-sustaining wild populations, aiming to have 1,500 ferrets in the wild by 2010 (9). As of 2008, populations had been reintroduced to 18 sites, and with up to 250 wild born individuals distributed amongst several of these populations, the black-footed ferret was reclassified by the IUCN, moving from Extinct in the Wild to Endangered (1). While this is a fantastic conservation success story, wild ferret populations remain small (1), and conservation will need to continue if this species' future is to be secured.
For more information on the black-footed ferret:
Authenticated (11/10/02) by Dean Biggins, Fort Collins Science Centre, Colorado.
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Private Rehab For Addiction
There is simply no better place to begin your road to recovery than at one of our private rehab clinics for addiction and self-destructive behaviours.
We have decades of experience in helping patients recover from the challenges of addiction to a variety of substances and we offer a comprehensive range of detox and rehabilitation services delivered by passionate, expert staff in top class private rehab facilities across the UK and worldwide.
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Coke Peppa Pig Parody Sweatshirt – Sweatshirt Cheap Custom Style – Art2cloth.com
Welcome to Art2cloth.com. You've now found the staple Sweatshirt of your wardrobe. It's made of thicker, heavier cotton, but it's still soft and comfy. And the double stitching on the neckline and sleeves add more durability to what is sure to be a favorite!. Coke Peppa Pig Parody Sweatshirt is everything you've dreamed of and more. It feels soft and lightweight, with the right amount of stretch.
Unisex Sweatshirt Description :
- Loose fit
- 50% Cotton; 50% Polyester (fiber content may vary for different colors)
- Medium fabric (8.0 oz/yd² (271.25 g/m²))
- Sewn-in label
- Runs true to size
Care Instructions :
Wash in cold water inside out. Tumble dry on a low setting. Do not use bleach or detergents with stain lifters. Do not iron directly on a graphic.
Payment :
We only accept PayPal or Credit Card (with PayPal express checkout) for payment.
Please allow 3-5 business days for processing time ( more if busy season ) for the most up to date processing times. The day you place your order does not count as one of the processing days. Processing time does not include shipping time. These are two separate time frames.
Long Delivery For Coke Peppa Pig Parody Sweatshirt :
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Blake Ingram, Board Member
Blake Ingram of Sunnyvale is owner of Concorde Auto Acceptance and president of Martin Ingram Enterprises Inc., which does business as Auto City. He is a director of the Southeast Dallas Chamber of Commerce, a member of the National Independent Automobile Dealer Association, and a member and past president of the Texas Independent Automobile Dealer Association.
He is a founder and a board member of the Pleasant Grove Food Pantry and a past member of the Sunnyvale Education Foundation. He is also a former officer of the Dallas County Independent Automobile Dealer Association and past member of the Sunnyvale Town Council.
Ingram received a bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University.
He is appointed for a term to expire February 1, 2017.


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|Biosequences .. Software .. Molbio soft .. Network News .. FTP
I'm working on a project on investigating the sequence dependent DNA structure, namely trying to identify the origins of base stacking interactions. So far, i have evidence that carbonyl oxygen (O16) of the contact group like to 'sit' on top on central group's carbonyl carbon (C4). This donor-acceptor non-bonded contact is reinforced by an additional set of non-bonded interaction, the nitrogen (N3) interacting with carbonyl carbon (C13). I performed a database search thorugh the Cambridge Strucutral Database (CSD) and also used novel software - Isostar and Isogen to calculate the distribution the the contact group on central group. I hope that someone outthere will have any ideas or currrently working on this field and want to chat about it. -----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==----- http://www.dejanews.com/ Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading


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The Academic Senate will provide three webinars on select topics in basic skills this spring. Click here for more information.
How did this statewide initiative get started and how successful has it been? Read here...
Chancellor's Office Memo on September 12, 2013
Announce of the publication "Basic Skills Completion: The Key to Student Success in California Community Colleges by the California Community Colleges Basic Skills Initiative."
Senate Online Resource List.
Want a visit from an expert on a particular topic? We may have the right person for you.
Need Additional CB21 training?
Trying to meet that March 2010 deadline?
Want more information on Noncredit? Read the latest noncredit paper.
2010 Exemplary Award for programs transitioning to transfer and career. Read more.
ASAE's Associations Advance America Award
The Academic Senate received ASAE's Associations Advance America Award for its work on the Basic Skills Initiative. This national award recognizes associations that propel America forward. Click here to read the press release.
California Association for Developmental Education (CalADE) website is now available. Check it out.
Click for more information... about the Noncredit Progress Indicators Taskforce.
For more information this. Click Here...
For Archive of webinar meetings or Resources Click here...
Click here: Spreadsheet and ESL Webinar
What practices work to increase basic skills success? Search our effect practices website. Click here.
Lessons Learned from the Basic Skills Initiative (2006 to 2009)
The Basic Skills Website is the work of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC)
© 2009 Basic Skills Initiative. All Rights
Reserved. Contact Us


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Stephen James, CEO & Founder, sa.global has been interviewed for CIO Review Magazine
"Keeping pace with developments in Dynamics 365 suite, sa.global is equipped with a significantly large team who bring in-depth knowledge and product expertise".
In the interview, he throws light on Microsoft Dynamics 365, ERP solutions for SMB's, industry best practices, management of best metrics and describes how sa.global has been positioned as a place where experience and product expertise are trademarks.
According Stephen James, CEO & Founder of sa.global, a market trend that has surfaced in the recent times is for partners to focus around specific industry verticals. Hence, clients today not only seek product specialist but also look for a partner who is well versed with their business, talks their language and understands the key business processes.
Please click here to read the complete article.


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A southern Illinois prison has opened its doors to journalists in the wake of a watchdog group's 2011 report of overcrowding, flooding and crumbling and unsanitary basement dormitories.
A southern Illinois prison has opened its doors to journalists in the wake of a watchdog group's 2011 report of overcrowding, flooding and crumbling and unsanitary basement dormitories.
The minimum-security Vandalia Correctional Center allowed journalists in Friday for a close look at the facility's expanding vocational programs for inmates, something that even watchdog group The John Howard Association noted as a positive in its otherwise troubling report from its June 2011 visit.
The Illinois Department of Corrections is mired in a tumultuous period. Gov. Pat Quinn is closing two Illinois prisons that he says are too costly to operate, prompting an outcry from prison workers and their union that doing so will worsen the system's severe overcrowding and make the facilities more dangerous for employees and inmates.
Despite the budget constraints, officials at Vandalia have been able to maintain and even expand work experience programs with the aim of helping keep inmates from returning after their release.
Marvin Greenleaf, a 51-year-old former drug dealer from Chicago who is serving his 11th prison sentence since 1983, told reporters that working at the prison's meat plant has given him a sense of pride and a better work ethic.
"I know I can go out there and make something happen on the legitimate side," Greenleaf said, according to the (Decatur) Herald & Review (http://bit.ly/VdLBNN ). "I can go and cut somebody's grass. I can go and paint somebody's gutters, paint somebody's back porch."
He earns about $45 a week, which he sends home instead of having his wife send him money. He says he's determined to help support her when he is released.
More than 70 percent of Vandalia's 1,647 inmates are enrolled in educational or vocational programs, including auto body repair, construction and gardening, said vocational program coordinator Kathleen Mattingly.
Vandalia inmates will also be able to work with retired racehorses under a program in the works. She said she believes interaction with horses will help inmates "to begin to feel the sense of loving someone who will come to depend on them."
The 2011 visit by the independent prison watchdog group found a much different picture of the 91-year-old men's facility. It reported that several hundred inmates were housed in basement dormitories that badly needed repairs and renovation. The air was dank and smelled of mold, and one basement was flooded, it found.
The issue of prison access by the news media bubbled up last summer as the state's prison population reached near-record highs and a prison workers' union filed a lawsuit to keep Quinn from cutting spending by closing several prison facilities. In August, WBEZ Radio in Chicago and The Associated Press reported that they had been denied tours, which were commonplace in years past.
Pressed on the issue, Quinn declared prisons off-limits to reporters, saying they "aren't country clubs." The administration relented in November, announcing several media tours.
Eddie Caumiant, regional director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the union representing most prison employees, told the Herald & Review the inmates are often miserable, especially in the sweltering summer heat. That makes the working environment more dangerous and unpleasant, he said.
"It's absolutely foolhardy to close prisons while there are overcrowding problems like this," Caumiant said of the governor's plans.
Illinois' supermax prison in Tamms closed on Jan. 4, and officials are planning to soon close the Dwight women's facility and shift inmates among three existing prisons.
On Friday, reporters asked inmate Rickey Hudson, a Chicagoan serving five years for selling heroin, what it was like to live in a dormitory with 87 other men.
"Hey, it's jail," Hudson said. "If you was thinking you were going to the Hilton hotel, you shouldn't have came to the jail. I'm 26 years old. I put myself in here."
Information from: Herald & Review, http://www.herald-review.com


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I Like to Listen to the Prophet
I like to listen to the prophet.
His words are good and true.
When he speaks, he always tells us
Good things we can do.
I see love shining like the Savior's
In his face for me and you.
He cares for each one of God's children.
I know he loves me too.
He wants us all to live so we
can be with God once more.
And if his counsels we'll obey,
They'll open wide the door.
I like to listen to the prophet.
He's here to show the way.
When he speaks, I want to live
To be with the Lord someday.
Text: Ruth Gatrell
Music: Ruth Gatrell
Artist: Gatrell
Album: Music Published in the Church Magazines: Friend
Composition Date: 1997-08-01
More Info: Friend


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My husband Zach and I found ourselves with unexpected early morning childcare last Friday, and while my first instinct was to cram in some work time, I thankfully shoved that nonsense aside.
We grabbed our bikes and pedaled through an unseasonably warm November day to our favorite brunch spot.
As is so often the way with parents of young children when given solo time, Zach and I spent a while just sighing over our scrambles and celebrating the fact that no small people were arguing in high-pitched voices over the fairness of maple syrup distribution.
Then I scanned the restaurant for cute babies I could drool over to quell that nauseating feeling of delight and heartache over being away from our own sweet little miss.
But after a few minutes, it hit me. What are all these people doing here on a regular Friday morning?
We were there on a lark, cashing in on a childcare jackpot. But these Friday morning brunchers all looked so comfortable, so guilt-free, so self-possessed in their decision to take time out of a plain old weekday to do something for themselves.
I wanted desperately to just enjoy my scramble in an uncomplicated, non-analytical way. Wished I could stop questioning the smiling faces of my fellow dining companions, and just accept this blissful time out of my normal routine. But along came judgement nonetheless, and I was incredulous: "Who do these people think they are, just going to brunch because they feel like it on a Friday morning?"
I snapped out of it pretty quickly, but the judgy unease lingered for the rest of the day like that brunchy smell on my coat.
It's time to just come out and admit it:
Hi, I'm Kerry. I'm tired, and I struggle to make time for myself. And it's been that way for a long, long time.
Some of that is my kids' fault (love you, kiddos!). But mostly it's my own.
My kids aren't the ones who decide it's a great idea to cram five activities into a day that should probably accommodate three, max. They don't tell me I should prioritize answering emails over yoga, that the overflowing basket of clean laundry trumps the need to book my monthly maintenance massage. Heck, my 8-year old daughter used to come into the living room while I was practicing yoga and insist upon giving me a "masshage" (after which she'd ask for one back!).
To my fellow tired, burned out, overextended friends:
You don't need anyone's permission to take good care of yourself.
That means:
Your kids, your partner, your parents, your friend, your dog, your boss, your co-worker, etc.
No one.
And while we're at it:
No one – not even the people on the above list who love you dearly, not even those who give you massage gift cards for your birthday or offer to watch your kids so you can go to yoga – can make time for self-care but you.
No one can make time for self-care but you.
You can wait for it to happen, you can even fume over the fact that it still hasn't ("……and how can he or she or they not know how much I desperately need time for myself??????"). But if I were you, I'd take a completely different approach. A radical step in the much-needed right direction.
Decide you're worthy, embrace the fact that self-care makes you a happier and more pleasant person to be around, and don't make any room for excuses. Be as self-possessed as a Friday morning bruncher and just make that business happen.
It doesn't take much of an investment in the self-care bank to do the trick, but you do need to consistently deposit. After our quick morning escape into the world of child-free dining, I had the most lovely day! I felt carefree, light, and better prepared to tackle whatever our three rascals threw at us over an action-packed weekend.
Self-care only works if you do it, and you'll only do it if you stop making excuses and accept the fact that this is something no one else can do for you. So seriously. Isn't it time you got to it?


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Most were raised in families in which one or both parents have numerous criminal arrests and a history of domestic abuse. In several cases, court records show the parents have drug or alcohol problems. And investigators say all five boys, ages 13 to 16 -- have had brushes with the law.
But the group of seventh-graders now face charges for a crime far worse than the criminal mischief of their past. The boys -- acting together -- ganged up on 15-year-old Michael Brewer outside a Deerfield Beach apartment complex on Oct. 12. Acting on the orders of one boy, they doused him with rubbing alcohol and set him ablaze. As Brewer screamed in terror, they all ran, authorities say.
At least three of them laughed about it after they were arrested, according to Sgt. Steve Feeley of the Broward Sheriff's Office. Their motive, Feeley said, was retaliation against the victim for snitching over a feud involving a $40 video game and a bicycle.
A Miami Herald review of court and police reports, along with interviews of law enforcement authorities and others, reveals a troubling portrait of the five suspects' family lives.
Records in Palm Beach and Broward counties show that the parents of four of the boys have convictions for a litany of crimes, including child neglect, drunken driving, assault and battery, burglary, fleeing police, drug possession, and drug dealing.
Among other things, one suspect's father was accused of stabbing a man who owed him money. Two other teen suspects -- brothers -- were once removed from their home by state child welfare authorities because of child abuse. A fourth suspect's father had been arrested a dozen times -- the boy's mother had been arrested nine times.
Their parents' arrests often resulted in guilty pleas and no-contest convictions on lesser charges, according to court records the newspaper was able to obtain. But not all of their arrest records detail what, if any, jail time was served.
In the aftermath of the attack against Brewer, who suffered burns over 65 percent of his body and will remain hospitalized for months, the callousness of the crime, the childish dispute that led to it and the young ages of the suspects have astonished even the most hardened investigators.
What might have triggered something so evil is something the parents, lawyers, police and psychologists will likely argue endlessly in the months and years to come.
Yet assistant Broward state attorney Maria Schneider, the prosecutor in the case, believes the boys' history of family strife offers at least one explanation.
``Having parents engaged in the criminal justice system, parents who aren't engaged in their schools and their activities, and the kids' exposure to domestic violence almost always is an indicator of future trouble . . . it doesn't excuse it, but it explains it,'' she said.
For now, the teens remain in Broward's juvenile detention center, awaiting hearings. Michael Bent, 15; Steven Shelton, 15; Denver Colorado Jarvis, 15; and his brother, Jeremy Jarvis, 13, all face charges of aggravated battery. Jesus Mendez, who turned 16 on Friday, is charged with attempted second-degree murder.
The year was 1993. And Dennis Bent was angry that another man owed him and some buddies money.
According to Boca Raton police, Bent and his two friends broke into Andrew McLeary's home, pilfered jewelry and other possessions, then threatened to kill him. Bent thrust a kitchen knife at McLeary so hard that it broke, the report said. He then grabbed a pair of scissors and began stabbing McLeary as two other men, Kent Samuels and Gershon St. Fleur, held him down.
``I'm going to kill him,'' Bent growled as he slashed McLeary in his face, stomach and right thigh, the police report said.
According to police, Bent, along with the other two, confessed. They all were charged with attempted murder, home invasion, armed robbery, armed burglary and use of a weapon. In Bent's case, the most serious offenses were dropped, but he pleaded guilty to burglary and battery charges. He was placed on probation for two years.
Bent's son, Matthew, wasn't yet born when this crime happened, but over the years his father's arrest record of felonies grew -- everything from drug possession to aggravated battery. Bent, 43, declined to comment for this story. But he said that he and his wife, Cheri, have been married for 26 years and have seven children, including Matthew.
Matthew Bent is accused of orchestrating the attack on Brewer.
Denver Colorado Jarvis Jr. was driving his Dodge Ram on NE 49th Street in Pompano Beach in June 2005. According to the BSO report, Jarvis crashed into two parked cars and, when sheriffs arrived, the elder Jarvis had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and could barely stand on his feet. In the truck at the time: his 10-year-old son, Denver Colorado III. The boy's father was arrested for drunken driving, child abuse and driving too fast for conditions.
In August 2005, he pleaded no contest to drunken driving with property damage. The other charges were dropped. He was sentenced to six months' probation but was rearrested three months later and his probation extended after his urine analysis tested positive for drugs.
At that time, the Jarvis children had already been subjected to years of abuse, according to court records and sources close to the case. They had been removed from the house by child welfare authorities, declared dependents of the state and ordered to live with a relative.
A source with knowledge of the case said their father, 45, has been plagued by alcohol abuse and had relapsed several times. Their mother, Sherry Jarvis, 38, had mental health concerns, and last year was sentenced to six months' probation for drunken driving.
Still, the records reveal that the couple kept trying to keep their family -- which also includes two daughters -- together, the source said. By 2006, they fulfilled all their child welfare obligations and completed counseling and parenting classes.
But since that time, BSO has responded to more than 20 incidents at the Jarvis' Pompano Beach home, mostly for domestic disturbances, according to BSO records.
On one of the calls, in July 2008, Sherry Jarvis told investigators her husband jumped on top of her, grabbed her by the throat with both hands and nearly choked her. He was charged with battery, but the charge was later dropped. One month later, the couple was charged with violating school attendance laws because their sons were skipping school. They were ordered to undergo parenting classes.
The Miami Herald was unsuccessful in reaching the couple for comment.
Jeremy's lawyer, Steven Melnick, said Jeremy's home life has no bearing on the tragedy.
``I don't think that's relevant for Jeremy what the sins of the father may have been,'' Melnick said.
In the Oct. 12 attack, Denver Colorado III doused the victim with rubbing alcohol, while the boy's younger brother did nothing, according to police.
In January 2008, with police lights in her rearview mirror, Patricia Hollis raced her car across a parking lot, barreled through busy intersections, ran red lights, blew stop signs and sped down one-way roads the wrong way. All the while, reaching speeds of up to 100 mph.
When she was finally stopped, Lake Worth police found that her 10-year-old son was a passenger in the car. She was arrested and taken to jail, and the police notified state welfare authorities about her son.
She was ordered to do 50 hours of community service and to undergo random drug-testing.
It was not Hollis' first run-in with the law.
Hollis, 41, has been arrested nine times; his father, Steven Shelton, 40, 12 times.
Between 1999 and 2008, Hollis, in fact, pleaded guilty to resisting arrest,child abuse, fleeing and eluding, and was arrested for shoplifting, fraud, impersonation and child cruelty.
In one incident, a Palm Beach County sheriff pulled Hollis over and found she was fighting with Shelton. Shelton, who used the alias Michael Right, told the sheriff that Hollis had a box cutter and threatened to cut him, saying that she told him she would ``f---'' him up with it, the report said.
She was arrested for aggravated assault, but a month later the charge was dropped because authorities felt they could not prove their case based solely on their conversations with Shelton.
Shelton's records show he has pleaded guilty to intent to do violence, distributing marijuana, felony resisting arrest and battery. He was sentenced to two years in jail and five years' probation in connection with the offenses.
As a couple, Hollis and Shelton's father have fought for five years over whether he is the legal father of her son, Steven Shelton. He was eventually ordered to pay $63 a week in child support. In 2005, he was held in contempt for failing to pay.
Hollis declined to comment for this story, and The Miami Herald was unable to reach Steven Shelton.
Like Jeremy Jarvis, authorities contend that Steven Shelton did not try to stop the other boys from carrying out the attack on Brewer.
Jesus Mendez had been deeply unhappy in recent months as his parents underwent a bitter, angry split, according to a source close to the family.
As the parents separated, and the family fell apart, Mendez felt that his father was no longer a part of his life.
Following the separation, Mendez's mom moved from Wellington to Broward, partly to insulate the boy from a bad crowd.
His parents, Jesus Mendez Sr., and Yolanda Mendez, appear to have no criminal records. The Miami Herald was unable to reach either parent.
Little else is known about the younger Mendez, except that he was arrested for first-degree misdemeanor battery in 2007. Because it's a juvenile record, the disposition of the case is sealed.
Mendez, who is charged with attempted second-degree murder, confessed to police that he put a lighter to Brewer after Denver Jarvis doused the boy with the alcohol.
Schneider has yet to decide what charges will be prosecuted against the suspects, though she told the Sun Sentinel on Friday that 13-year-old Jeremy Jarvis is too young to be prosecuted as an adult under Florida law. The fate of the others rests with the juvenile court system or the adult criminal system, which could deal them harsher punishment.
All five boys will be eligible for release from juvenile detention on Nov. 3. No trial date has been set.


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Satellites, A3
Satellites, A3 is a limited edition giclee art print by artist Haus of Lucy, AKA Lucy Bryant. From an edition of 10, printed onto Soft White Cotton Paper, the piece is signed and numbered by the artist.
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Medium: Giclee, Print
Edition Type: Limited Edition
Edition Size: 10
Size (cm): 29 x 42
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About the artist
Contemporary artist and graphic designer Haus of Lucy, AKA Lucy Bryant merges classical fine art with satirical elements from contemporary culture for a wry and caustic aesthetic. Working across collage, print and sculpture, Haus Of Lucy's work is a modern-day take on the Dadaist practice of objet trouvé. Taking 'found' original artworks, Haus Of Lucy adds unexpected details: an EasyJet Plane soaring above a pastoral idyll or a hot dog in the hand of a porcelain figurine.
Influenced by Pop Art and Punk, the sacrilegious approach to classicism is both rebellious and tongue-in-cheek. But the clash of past and present can be thought provoking too: Haus Of Lucy's art asks the viewer to question contemporary culture, by placing it in the framework of historical perspective.
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Paramount and DreamWorks Animation's 3D toon "How to Train Your Dragon" saw healthy returns over the weekend at the domestic B.O., but with an estimated $43.3 million at 4,055 playdates, failed to set the frame ablaze.
Overall B.O. was down 14% from the same frame last year.
MGM's laffer "Hot Tub Time Machine" debuted at $13.7 million off 2,754. Pic, starring John Cusack and Rob Corddry, played best among its target demo of older males, with 65% of the aud over 25.
The specialty market offered several choices from name filmmakers, led by Focus Features' holdover "Greenberg," starring Ben Stiller, with $1.1 million at 181 engagements, and Sony Pictures Classics' launch of the Atom Egoyan-directed "Chloe," grossing $713,542 at 306 Stateside locations.
Overseas, "How to Train Your Dragon" claimed an estimated $31 million on 5,594 screens in 54 territories. Added to revenue from early bows last week in three markets, including Russia, the toon's international cume now stands at $42 mil.
"Dragon's" 3D component repped a sizable portion of the pic's overall domestic take, accounting for 65% of the weekend gross.
Leading up to its release, some circuits raised 3D ticket prices by as much as 8%, which could have affected the toon's overall performance. Since adults have to foot the bill for the whole family, ticket hikes typically hit family-friendly films hardest.
DWA's 3D toon "Monsters vs. Aliens" launched with $59.3 million during the same weekend last year, at 1,550 3D locations out of 4,104. With fewer 3D locations than "Dragon," and less-expensive tickets, "Monsters" drew 56% of its B.O. from 3D runs.
The total 3D count for "Dragon," budgeted at approximately $165 million, stands at 2,178 locations, with an additional 186 3D-equipped Imax locations.
Imax reported its share at $5 million, repping 11.5% of the pic's domestic earnings on less than 3% of the pic's total runs.
Positive reviews and strong word-of-mouth — the film scored an A CinemaScore rating — may help boost holdover potential.
But the bow of Warner Bros.' 3D "Clash of the Titans" this week could put a serious dent in the toon's performance.
"Clash" will siphon many 3D locations from "Dragon," and it's unclear how many will opt to see the toon in 2D, given the heavy marketing push for the 3D component.
Anne Globe, head of worldwide marketing for DWA, said spring break and the upcoming Easter holiday should benefit "Dragon" in the coming weeks.
"I think there is sort of a bell curve with kids out of school," she said. "This really sets us up for positive, long-term playability."
"Dragon" had enough spark to singe Disney's reigning 3D champ "Alice in Wonderland," which earned $17.3 million at 3,384 locations, dropping to the No. 2 spot in its fourth frame. "Alice" has cumed $293.1 million domestically.
"Hot Tub Time Machine," about middle-aged guys who travel back to 1986, marks MGM's first theatrical release since last year's "Fame," which earned $22.5 million.
MGM prexy of worldwide theatrical distribution Erik Lomis said the launch won't "make or break" the studio. "I hope (young males) will help spread the word and keep coming over spring break," he said.
Notable holdovers included Sony's "The Bounty Hunter," earning an estimated $12.4 million at 3,074 locations, and 20th Century Fox's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," with $10 million from 3,083. Both films entered their soph seshes, dropping 40% and 55%, respectively.
Fox's "Avatar," which screened at approximately 170 3D locations, fell from the frame's top 10 for the first time since it bowed Dec. 18. Entering its 15th frame, "Avatar" grossed an estimated $2 million at 930 engagements for a cume of $740 million.
Among limited releases, Focus benefited from an atypical expansion of "Greenberg," adding 178 locations for a total of 181 in its soph sesh. Pic's cume stands at $1.2 million.
Focus prexy of theatrical distribution Jack Foley said the rollout was meant to maximize strong word-of-mouth in 60 key markets. The film also performed well in smaller markets like Denver and Scottsdale, Ariz., where it gained traction among older auds.
"It was all about hitting the market while it was hot," Foley said.
Canadian auds embraced native son Egoyan's "Chloe," shelling out $288,450 at 44 engagements. Combined North American weekend gross for the Sony Classics release reached $1 million off 350.
Despite "Dragon" opening day-and-date overseas, "Alice" ranked as the top-grossing film at the international B.O., earning an estimated $46 million at 7,170 screens in 51 territories.
Overall international gross for "Alice" totals $363 million, with approximately 71% attributable to 3D revenue, grossing $257.7 million.
"Alice" launched in China and France, with $5.1 million and $14.9 million, respectively. In China, "Alice" ranks as Disney's all-time highest opening.
Top market for "Dragon" was Russia, where in its soph sesh dropped just 12% for a weekend take of $6.4 million. Cume in that territory stands at $16.7 million. Mexico and Germany followed with $2.6 million on 725 screens and $2.5 million on 799, respectively.