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Review: WickedLasers Evolution 125mW and Sport Elite Goggles
April 19, 2007 by Jabbran | 21 Comments
Filed Under Cool Gadgets, Other
Everyone has heard of a laser pointer before. But when said, the first thing that may pop into their heads is a small gold coloured 1mW red laser pen. The days have gone where those were the only types of portable lasers available. Now the laser community is growing large and at a fast rate. Why you ask? Well because these new types of lasers are not only green but can also melt plastic, burn material, pop balloons and even light a match!
So today we will be looking at a highly powerful portable laser; this is not a toy by any means. The Evolution series is a new series of lasers offered by the well known company WickedLasers from www.wickedlasers.com. The Evolution series can be found in many different power outputs which are between 15mW and 125mW. We are lucky to be testing the 125mW Evo as they like to call it in the laser community and the 532nm Green LaserShades which are currently included with every purchase of the Evo range.
Design – New presentation box
Firstly I will start this review by mentioning that WickedLasers have reinvented the box the laser pointer comes in. The old box was small and a bit thin and didn't protect the laser too well although it did look nice as you can see from below.
The new box however is a lot larger and the reason for the size is because of all the protection it gives the laser it houses, through its firm foam which the laser securely fits into. The box is also more professional looking and has a larger image on the front. It also has two magnets which help close the box. I believe the new box does justice as a place to put your laser.
Laser Specifications
|Evolution Series
|Laser Body:
|Aircraft Grade Polished Aluminum
|Transverse Mode:
|Output Power:
|Beam Divergence:
|Beam Diameter:
|0.8 mm @ aperture
|Power Consumption:
|Power Supply:
|Battery Lifetime:
|90 min
|Momentary On/Off Button
Design – Evolution series laser
The Evolution series has an entirely new design, it is made from aircraft grade polished aluminum which means that it is extremely light. In fact when I held it, it felt almost like there was nothing in my hand; it is by far the lightest laser pointer out on the market! Below is a picture comparing the Evo's size to other lasers which WickedLasers also sell.
The aluminum finish really gives it a solid look and it feels even better to hold in the palm of your hand, it feels very rock solid and well constructed, almost so that you think you can hit someone with it (not recommended)!
You can also see on the new design the cut along the body of the laser where the company name WickedLasers is printed on. This looks very sleek and stylish, better then having the company name written all over the laser as I've seen in some companies do in the past. You can also see a line etched out of the circumference of the laser, this too makes it look very sleek and stylish. The part of the laser where your palm would touch the body has a knurled surface texture to give it an awesome effect and most importantly for better grip. The battery cap has been made so that you can easily screw/unscrew it and it has a neat little pattern on top which I believe to be a dot of a laser. The button to turn on the laser is almost on level with the lasers body making it hard to be pressed if the laser pointer were in your pocket or bag. This is good as you do not want your battery being wasted through the button being pressed unnecessarily. However at the same time it is difficult to hold in the button whilst moving the laser around as your finger may ease off the button due to it being on level with the Evo's body.
Overall the build quality of the Evolution series is extremely good, made of solid aluminum it is very light but at the same time very tough.
The Evolution series is specifically made for its burning power which means over the distance the beam will get larger then a beam would of an Executive series. However from the tests you will find out how it performed. So to start off the testing I will tell you the output readings I got from this model and they are as follows: –
Minimum output power: 118mW
Maximum output power: 143mW
Average output power: 129mW
As you can see from the above results the Evolution 125mW stays at a steady output power of 129mW which is more then what you paid for! This goes to show the build quality that goes into this product and also the quality of the crystals used.
I then moved on to test the beam in dark conditions outside, looking over a park to see how far the beam could go and also how visible it was. Well all I can say is for this matter is that the beam went as far as my eye could see, even when I pointed the Evo into the clouds I can clearly see the dot hitting the clouds! Not many lasers can do that! I then attempted to hit some apartments approximately two miles from my location and as you can see from the images below it hit them very easily! This was truly incredible; the laser came to life in the darkness of night. To the naked eye all you can see is a very strong green beam being projected into the air by a small device, it really is mind blowing.
Now moving on to the burning power of this beauty, well all I can say is once I pressed the button and put that poor little balloon in front, all I heard from then on were the cries from the balloon which sounds like POP!!! The poor balloon had no chance.
Since the balloon popping task was way too easy for this beast I decided to let it take a tougher challenge, to see if it could burn/smoke different things. The first thing I chose to burn/smoke was some black tape that I saw lying around. Once I turned the Evo 125mW on, almost immediately the tape started to smoke, I could even smell the smoke and watch the tape being burned as I stand there with joy holding down the button of this beauty.
The next test for this bad boy was to see if it could light a match without using a lens as many other lasers need them. So I put the match into position and turned on the Evo from about 1 foot away and almost instantly the match ignited into flames. This was by far the most exciting test and the one I had most fun doing.
Overall all I can say is that I am satisfied with the product and it performs brilliantly, it does everything WickedLasers states a laser such as this can do. There is no going wrong with this laser. Its build quality is excellent and its burning power is the best I've seen on any laser. If you love your lasers as much as I do then this is a must buy!
Design – Green LaserShades
The goggles came in a very smart, sleek looking case which is actually smaller then the other goggles cases'. It is finished off in black with the WickedLasers logo on top; this is very nice as it matches the box which the laser comes in. Note that there is a zip which holds the case together which is almost right around the case; this is a very good feature as It holds the case together firmly and it is built very well and will not come apart as I've seen some cheap cases do.
Inside the case are the orange coloured 532nm goggles. As you can see these are a new range of goggles which WickedLasers sells for only $39.99. These particular ranges of goggles look more of a lab type and yet it also looks cool at the same time. The arms of the goggles are built so that you can make them longer or shorter depending on your preference which is a neat little thing WickedLasers has done. They are comfortable to wear and most of the time you don't notice that your wearing it apart from you seeing orange everywhere.
Inside the package you also receive a neat little cloth with a lovely pattern to clean your goggles incase they may get dirty somehow. You also get a elastic necklace so that your can fix it to your goggles and then rest it around your neck, preventing you from having to put your goggles down every time you're not using them.
The reason why these goggles are orange is because they are purposely built to protect our sensitive eyes from light emitting from a green laser. They can protect against 532nm wavelength of light.
The first way in which to test these new goggles was to shine the laser beam directly into them without wearing them of course. As I done this I could see the laser beam bounce back at an angle which goes to show just how amazingly protective these goggles are. I then wore the goggles whilst shining the laser around and all I could see was a tiny dot from the laser hitting the surface which it shined upon. I could not believe how much light these goggles actually cut out. From doing that I then thought this is a great opportunity to burn, melt and light matches with from close range. It was perfect as all I can see was a tiny dot of the laser and I can aim at my target perfect at such close range whilst protecting my eyes against the emitting light and any reflections. These particular types of goggles have a panel on the side so it protects against any reflections that may come from any directions.
Overall I think these goggles are excellent, if you're into burning, melting, popping or lighting then I believe it is essential you have goggles such as these, especially if you value your eyes and want to do those things close up. Paying $39.99 is nothing if you want your eyes protected with a good quality product such as this. If you're considering buying a green laser pointer from anywhere then I suggest purchasing one of these as well.
By Jabbran
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21 Comments so far
Amy on
May 18, 2007 06:24
Yeah, you protected your own eyes but what about the eyes of the people in the apartment you fired at? You don't even seem to care about the other people around you with that thing.
Jabbran on
May 20, 2007 22:12
Dear Amy
I'm sorry to have not mentioned this in the review, I shined the laser at the apartments because they were newly built and had no one in them, they were about 3/4 built and it was at night so I am quite confident to say that there wasn't anyone in them.
Best Regards,
Amy on
May 21, 2007 17:37
Sorry for getting upset, but I'm kind of a safety nazi ^_^
metakim on
June 18, 2007 23:33
damn nazi's lol
James Jerreau on
June 23, 2007 03:45
Unless you actually went and looked into the apartments, and posted security guards afterwards, you WEREN'T that sure there actually wasn't anyone in there. You were either guessing or delusional. Or you just don't give a shit about the kind of people (inspectors, homeless, exploring kids, police) who might be in them.
Jabbran on
June 23, 2007 15:21
Dear James,
I had a pair of binoculars with me to check before I started and I had someone with me to look through them the whole time the laser was projected at the flats. Also by the flats it said work hours are 7am – 6pm. Thank you.
E-King on
June 23, 2007 22:52
Although I am not keeper or otherwise afilliated with this web site or project, you should get your facts straight before you criticize someone's project. Especially with vulgar language. Being a former webmaster, I would ask, that in respect for "Jabbran" and the website, you not post with vulgar language or unbased criticism.
Thank you.
P.S. Great product. I'm looking into getting one myself.
Chris on
July 4, 2007 15:03
Hmm. Personally I don't care what you do, but these are pretty dangerous devices and cause damage to someones eye extremely quickly.. and permanently.
Perhaps you did check these apartments out earlier, and you did read that they were closed at night, and they are really still unfinished, and you also had a person monitoring them with you at all times…. 🙂
Regardless, they way you wrote the article might be looked at as an endorsement by you and your website to use these products this way.
Perhaps if a guy walked out of his home and shined the laser at night in the direction of your parents house, and it happened to hit your mums eye.. for say a second.
SON on
July 6, 2007 16:03
well these are very dangerous devices if they are publicly used, they should be prohibited or limited to certain necessary uses by law
J3K on
July 9, 2007 12:19
The goggles are a bit BIGGER as a disadvantage? DO YOU NOT VALUE YOUR EYESIGHT!~
Sol on
July 12, 2007 16:20
About safety,
These apartments were 2 miles away so even if there were people inside it would not have harmed more than a regular flashlight from a photo camera on this distance.
Altough they would be blinded for a few seconds no damage is done.
Dan on
July 26, 2007 18:54
This laser craze is stupid and dangerous! Instant blindness available to anyone. These are as bad as a gun and should be banned.
William on
August 6, 2007 02:10
"Dan on July 26, 2007 6:54 pm
This laser craze is stupid and dangerous! Instant blindness available to anyone. These are as bad as a gun and should be banned." Are you really that stupid? First off its a quite expensive device and isn't exactly available to anyone. Second of all I would think that no one would be stupid enough to blind someone with this, do you know how much you can get sued for AND put in jail if you were to do that. Just like a gun they should not be banned. And just like a gun, 99.5% of people will us them in a responsible way. Do some thinking before you post stupid comments like the one you just posted. It just makes you sound ignorant and sensationalist when you say it should be banned.
Ryan on
August 26, 2007 19:15
And yet they sell Gin and the liquor store… Im also sure that a misdirected spray of the lysol lying around the house could give the same results if in the wrong hands… why not go around lambasting everything that poses a threat and just ban it all? I will tell you why: because we would get pretty bored sitting around crocheting scarves and knitting socks, allthough i am sure some of us would still manage to poke the knitting needles right in sombodys eye, if not their own! Im not really taking sides, I just enjoy the debate. Please dont shine a laser in my eye!
John on
August 30, 2007 02:16
puh-leeze Dan. By banning things you are just taking things away from law abiding citizens. Banning things does nothing to prevent criminals from obtaining guns or lasers or anything that they use to do their crime. And since you are ban happy, then why don't you ban motor vehicles because they cause much death than guns or lasers. Might as well ban steak knives too, they are muggers choice weapon. You are just a small and frightened man that would prefer to live in a bubble.
C.Mitra on
September 4, 2007 14:57
"William on August 6, 2007 2:10 am"
Before calling anyone stupid, pause and consider the idiotic reasons you have been advocating for not banning something as dangerous as the 125mW lasers. Firstly a laser is not the same as a gun. It is difficult to obtain a gun, it requires a license to keep, and is much more expensive than a laser pointer. It is heavy, needs to be loaded with bullets before use. Not so the laser! It is much cheaper, available in general stores, does not require bullets or any kind of projectiles. So any misguided teenager can save some chips and buy one. Just place a battery inside and you are ready to fire! "And just like a gun, 99.5% of people will us them in a responsible way" Out of those 99.5% users, I am sure 90% will be school kids and teenagers; and how responsible they are is any body's guess. Dan is absolutely right in his views, a high power laser is as dangerous as a gun. It is silent, deadly if used for harm, requires only one battery cell to operate, and yet can blind a person, light a fire or burn down objects. And you still call it a safe gadget? Now who do you think is stupid? People like you always fight tooth and nail against any kind of ban for obvious reasons.
Another fellow by the name of Ryan has been talking about misdirected sprays of Lyzol! Is carrying a small and handy laser pointer in your pocket same as carrying a can of Lyzol? How stupid can one become? Children and teenagers do not play around with cans of Lyzol, my dear Ryan.
And that bloke John says "Banning things does nothing to prevent criminals from obtaining guns or lasers or anything that they use to do their crime". So why ban guns and ammunitions at all. His so called law abiding citizens should have free access to guns, rifles, bullets, machine guns, rocket launchers, tanks etc. etc. After all, we law abiding citizens are going to use these stuff very responsibly, are we not? So according to him, we should NOT BAN ANYTHING in this world, since criminals can always get hold of what they want no matter what you do!!
Finally, I fully agree with Dan. The low power lasers, around 1mW, are safe enough to be sold freely as toys or pointers, but the higher powered ones capable of causing damage MUST be regulated in their sale and availability.
ML on
October 8, 2007 21:33
A laser (especially the evolution laser) pointed at a house two miles a way will not under any circumstances damage anyones eyes. The beam will be too unfocused and will look about the size of a minivan.
USA on
November 28, 2007 22:57
Those of you who feel that banning high powered lasers somehow infringes on your rights remind me of the NRA (National Rifle Association) nuts we have over in the US who think everyone should be allowed to own high-powered assault rifles.
Seriously, avoiding selling these things (the laser… but also the assault rifles I suppose) to 12 year-old is just common sense.
Peter on
December 3, 2007 10:33
With $700 for 150mW, you are better of with the Spartan from http://dragonlasers.com/spartan
For ps3 fans who know nothing about halo 3, the spartan is a favorite of master cheif.
Amos Chipotle on
May 17, 2008 09:23
For God's sake!!! Laser pointers such as this should be made available to everyone. Even spider monkeys could put them to good use! I cook food with them. I own 14.
victor Navarrete on
January 3, 2009 03:12
were can i but one


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Another Great Nagin Quote
"I want to make sure that when you're firing your bullets because you're dissatisfied you fire them at the right folks." — The Honorable C. Ray Nagin
3 thoughts on "Another Great Nagin Quote"
Will he give us an advanced warning of where he will be that day?
I hope that he's addressing an armed rebellion and not the Louisiana Natn'l Guard…
I can't imagine there aren't huge cries of outrage from the African-American community so affected by gun violence. I can't imagine the lefties aren't excoriating him.
I am so angry at the caviler manner he invokes the blood soaked streets of the city.
I guess we got the Gangsta Mayor.


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HIGH and Mighty Coventry Blaze could secure second place in the league in front of a home crowd tomorrow, but will face a huge battle on the way.
Local rivals Milton Keynes Kings come to the Skydome, looking for revenge for last week?s uncharacteristic 8-0 defeat at the hands of Blaze. Sunday?s face-off is at 6pm.
Kings are still in with a chance of making the play-offs, and have already taken three points off Coventry in the league.
Coach Paul Thompson said: ?We need three points to secure second place, and I think we can get them this weekend.
?Milton Keynes are going to come here and do whatever it takes to get the points and we have to be ready for them.
No relaxing
?We?ve got some great games coming up ? there won?t be an easy one from now until the end of the season, and we cannot afford to relax.
?We?ve missed playing at home and it would be nice to think that we can fill the place after being away for a couple of weekends.?
All the clubs in mid-table in the league are scrapping for positions that could affect the group they are in for the end of season play-offs.
Hull Thunder are one of three teams currently fighting for fourth place, and Blaze face the other two, Basingstoke and Guildford, in the coming weeks.
Thunder are one of the teams that has sprung a shock defeat on Blaze this season, and will pose a stern challenge when Coventry travel to Hull tomorrow.
They have recently strengthened their lines, with the recent signing of former Peterborough player-coach Doug McEwen.
Thompson said: ?At this stage of the season it?s not so much about thinking how to beat teams as we?ve seen them several times. It?s a case of keeping your players motivated, keeping the practices short and sharp and keeping the intensity.?
Hull have recently announced new contracts for ace netminder Stephen Foster and hardman Eric Lavigne, but Thompson said his plans for next season are on the backburner at the moment.
?I?m not going to discuss contracts with anyone until this season is over. I want to see who does well for the rest of this season.
?I?m looking for more from some players, who tend to disappear in games. I want more work from them ? if they are a goal-scorer but the goals aren?t happening then I want to see them contribute in other ways.?


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The very presence of Pope Francis makes a mockery of pride, and calls for a most vital Catholic reform: a reform of our hearts to atone for the worst of our vices.
"It is a terrible thing that the worst of all vices can smuggle itself into our religious life . . . But this does not come through our animal nature at all. It comes direct from Hell. It is purely spiritual. Consequently it is far more subtle and deadly . . . Pride is a spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense." (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 1952)
For nineteen years in a row, I have been separated by prison walls from the Church's remembrance of Holy Week. Palm Sunday, the Chrism Mass, the Mass of the Lord's Supper, the Good Friday Veneration of the Cross, and the Easter Vigil are all reduced to a remembrance from inside a prison cell. In preparation for Holy Week this year, I have been reading the second volume of Jesus of Nazareth, a trilogy of books by Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus. Volume II is subtitled Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection.
I wanted to write something brilliant and uplifting for Holy Week so of course I turned to Benedict the Beloved. But as I read his inspired pages, I kept coming back to my Holy Week post of 2012. Something Benedict wrote causes me to point once again this Holy Week to "Dismas, Crucified to the Right: Paradise Lost and Found." Here are Benedict's words:
"Of the two men crucified with Jesus, only one joins in the mockery; the other grasps the mystery of Jesus. He knows and he sees that the nature of Jesus' 'offense' was quite different. . . and now he sees that this man crucified beside him truly makes the face of God visible; he is truly God's son. So he asks him, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingly power.' " (Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week, p. 212)
The other criminal, crucified to the left, takes his pride to the grave and runs his mouth in mockery in sympathy with the very Roman officials and the crowds who condemned him. In a most bizarre display of so-called "Stockholm Syndrome," that crucified man emulates their pride and takes up their prejudice to mock Christ.
His mockery bears witness to C.S. Lewis' quote above about the true source of our pride, "the worst of all vices." That other man echoes Satan tempting Jesus in the desert. He sneers, even from his own cross: "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us then!" The arrogance of his agenda was exactly what C.S. Lewis predicted of pride's true nature. It deprived the condemned man of an awareness of the reality of his life and death. It stole his common sense. It left him with the worst combination of human traits: a closed mind, and an open mouth.
The world is mocking us. It mocks the Church, our faith, our Redeemer, and the Cross itself. Like the man crucified to the left of Christ, the world mocks us even from the cross of its own condemnation. It is nothing new. Noah was mocked, even as the rains came. The Jews rescued from slavery and led out of Egypt mocked Moses at Sinai. John the Baptist was mocked, and thrown into prison. Christ has always been mocked, every step of the way, from Calvary to the present day, and we must be mocked from our position on that other cross – the cross of Dismas – as we too challenge the world by grasping the mystery of Christ. The more we grasp it, the more we seek to be with Him in Paradise, the more we are mocked by people whose pride makes their prejudice too enticing to pass up, even from the cross of their own sin.
In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis also wrote that when you meet a truly humble man, "He will not be thinking about [his] humility. He will not be thinking about himself at all." The world met one just two weeks ago. The surprising appearance this month of Pope Francis on that balcony of Saint Peter's has me taking a hard look this Holy Week at a mockery of my own pride.
And a good example is a description of how last year's Holy Week post came into being. When I wrote it, I assumed that everyone beyond my prison walls would be too preoccupied with Holy Week and the Easter Triduum to pay much attention to anything I wrote, so I spent very little time writing it.
I was surprised to learn later that in the four days before Easter last year, that post had almost 10,000 readers on TSW alone and was reproduced in whole or in part on dozens of other Catholic blogs and websites. The only post of mine that ever surpassed it was "Father Benedict Groeschel at EWTN" which had almost 14,000 readers in just a few days on TSW, drew 50 comments, and seemed to show up just about everywhere – something that the people at EWTN might wish to note when weighing the good name of Father Benedict Groeschel.
Does that description of my two posts' popularity sound as though it comes from my pride? It doesn't. The multitude of readers of last year's Holy Week post was actually quite humbling – maybe even a little awkward. Two months earlier, I wrote one of my science posts entitled "E.T. and the Fermi Paradox: Are We Alone in the Cosmos?" That one was a source of pride. I spent many weeks researching the question and fine tuning my knowledge of the science behind that post. It came out of my brain, and not my soul, but I thought it was a scientific masterpiece of Western literature. The only thing missing from that post was readers!
In contrast, when it came to it I had no post for Holy Week last year. It was panic time. I sat in front of this typewriter on what I have come to call "procrastination's payday," the last possible day that I can come up with something to get in the mail on time for Wednesday posting on TSW. I didn't have a clue what to write for Holy Week, so I just typed away. Three hours later, five pages of "Dismas, Crucified to the Right" were in an envelope on the way to Indiana to be scanned. There was no preparation, no research beyond the Gospel itself and my own memory, and I took no pride in what I wrote. Consequently, it was read far and wide.
Something just happened in our Church that causes soul-searching about my own pride and is itself a mockery of it. I was spellbound before the small TV in my prison cell on Wednesday, March 13. I came in from work in the prison library at just the right moment. I turned on the news at 2:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time, about 20 minutes after white smoke appeared in Saint Peter's Square just after 7:00 PM Rome time. Some 100,000 people seemed to suddenly fill the Square. Our friend, Pornchai came into this cell a few minutes later, and we watched and waited along with the rest of the world.
As a priest falsely accused and about to spend Holy Week in prison for the 19th time, there are not many moments when I still feel connected to the life of the Church. This was one of those moments, and it was both exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. This faith and this Church are my life, even after all these years behind prison walls. As I watched and waited, I found myself praying silently and spontaneously for the Holy Spirit's guidance, not for the selection of the Holy Father – for that was already done and just waiting to be revealed – but for the inspiration within my own heart that I may not feel disappointed. Since the day Benedict the Beloved shocked the world with his announcement, so many of us have barricaded ourselves against further discouragement. I prayed that I might accept the successor of Peter the Holy Spirit has chosen.
Throughout this process, I have heard from many priests and other devoted Catholics a growing cynicism that the notion of selection by the Holy Spirit is "quaint" and even "charming" but "this is all about politics." Proof to the contrary just stood before us on that balcony on March 13. Politics is part of the human equation of this selection, but anyone who would cynically doubt the Holy Spirit's final say need look only at the result – at the reality and the person of Pope Francis.
Right up to the Conclave, and during the less than two days of voting, the world's most astute Vatican watchers and insiders published thousands of pages predicting the most politically likely outcome. Names of experts we all heard quoted over and over in the news had lists predicting the most likely candidates, the most likely age, the most likely number of days it would take, the most likely continent from which this pope would come. The predicted politics of it all were thwarted on every score. As Pope Francis emerged on that balcony on that rainy evening in Rome, I was more convinced than ever that my "quaint and charming" naiveté about the Holy Spirit is quite real, and made manifest in this Pope and his multitude of firsts.
My very first utterance was a mockery, and I am sorry for it. "Pope Francis? You've GOT to be kidding!" We need another John Paul. We need another Leo. Maybe we even need Pius XIII, but as the reality sunk in, and the world was faced with this humble man, all doubt left me.
Francis is exactly who we need. As a young man who put aside the values of this world, Saint Francis of Assisi was summoned by God to rebuild a Church that the forces of this world threatened to ruin. Francis and the subsequent centuries of his movement transformed the Church from a dark age in which sin and politics had become a mockery of ourselves and our faith. More than any other human being, Saint Francis of Assisi put the mark of reform on the Church of the last millennium. Then Christ put the marks of the Stigmata on Francis.
So we have the first Pope Francis. The last Pope to take a name never before used by another was Pope Landus in the year 913. According to Vatican press spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, however, our new Holy Father isn't Pope Francis I until we have a Pope Francis II who would need to be distinguished from him. So, for now at least, he is just Pope Francis.
And he is a Jesuit who chose to be called Francis instead of Ignatius. The significance of that is staggering. In the history of religious life, there are no two orders known more for their polarity of charism, purpose, and values than the Jesuits and the Franciscans. The Jesuits are historically seen as the intelligentia, the theologically elite, the university crowd, while the Franciscans are seen as the humble, the reformers in the trenches. They are the Catholic Custodians of the Holy Land. Francis opened his arms to the lepers of this world, a fact that bodes well today, perhaps, for the scapegoats of this world.
Is it any great surprise that so many in the world feel so alarmed and threatened by this man that they immediately set out to mock him, to smear his name, and to detract from his mission? I can't help but have a little mockery of my own – not of Pope Francis but of the secular, and even some Catholic media, so desperate to find something mockable. I have to laugh at the repeated phrase, uttered with disdain and suspicion in the media that "Pope Francis is likely to uphold the traditional mindset of his predecessors." It's an utterly moronic statement, sort of like spreading a sneer that "President Obama is likely to uphold the Constitution" (even though that was less likely than we thought!).
Pride and prejudice are a mockery of the Cross, and a denial that we live redeemed or condemned by it. In Pope Francis, the world witnesses a living mockery of our pride. Viva il Papa! Viva Cristo Rey!
"There are two types of men: those who take care of the pain. And those who pass by." (Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 2003)
Editor's Note: In case you are wondering about the imagery on the marquee this week, the mockery of pride's mockery was depicted in the Passion of the Christ. Mel Gibson explains the ugly baby scene in his interview with Christianity Today. I can't help but recall Flannery O'Connor's observations about freaks and the grotesque:
I use the grotesque the way I do because people are deaf and dumb and need help to see and hear. . .
Whenever I'm asked why Southern writers particularly have a penchant for writing about freaks, I say it is because we are still able to recognize one. To be able to recognize a freak, you have to have some conception of the whole man, and in the South the general conception of man is still, in the main, theological. That is a large statement, and it is dangerous to make it, for almost anything you say about Southern belief can be denied in the next breath with equal propriety. But approaching the subject from the standpoint of the writer, I think it is safe to say that while the South is hardly Christ-centered, it is most certainly Christ-haunted. The Southerner, who isn't convinced of it, is very much afraid that he may have been formed in the image and likeness of God. Ghosts can be very fierce and instructive. They cast strange shadows, particularly in our literature. In any case, it is when the freak can be sensed as a figure for our essential displacement that he attains some depth in literature.
― Flannery O'Connor


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CASI Donations to Terlingua area
Last weekend at the West Texas Regional Open held at the Terlingua Ghost Town and High Sierra , CASI directors presented donations to several Terlingua area groups. The funds raised annually at the Terlingua International Chili Championship held each year at CASI Ranch de los Chisos. Not only does CASI donate to these local groups, but also donates funds to clubs at Sul Ross State University in Alpine TX and sponsors scholarships to students at Big Bend High School. CASI is extremely proud to be able to support these organizations.
CASI Director Cindy Noe presents the check from CASI to Principal Reagan Reid and 3rd grade teacher Bernadette Divine.
CASI Director Don Hoy presents the check from CASI to Brewster County Sheriff Ronnie Dodson.
CASI Director Kit Rudd presents the check from CASI to Reagan Reid, Board member of Terlingua EMS.
H&R Block donation program
Santa Anita- New CCO in California
Howdy, y'all –
I've been working with a group called Fire It Up! Events to get a cookoff going out here in Southern California. Here's the invitation from Ben Lobenstein:
"Happy New Year and well-seasoned greetings Chili Heads!
"This is your team invitation to participate in the 3rd Annual Santa Anita Park Chili Cookoff. This contest takes place on February 24, 2018, in front of the grandstands of the grandstands of the iconic Santa Anita Park (in Arcadia, CA) where you will enjoy an unobstructed front-row view of thoroughbred horse racing (all day) and the magnificent San Gabriel Mountains as a majestic backdrop. If you attended this event in previous years, you know how unique this venue is, and how well attended it was. If this will be your first time, prepare to be wowed!
"This year our cookoff will be raising funds for the Foothill Unity Center, a place for real hope and possibilities for people in crisis. As they are the ones benefiting from our People's Choice ticket sales, we're going to help by offering free entries to those who participate in People's Choice (minimum two gallons, please).
"New for 2018 … we are adding a CASI cookoff. We'd like to ask that if you are planning to attend you let us know which contests/categories you are planning to compete in, using the form at http://fireitupevents.com/santa-anita-chili-cook-off-2018/. Details about the cookoff can be found at the same site.
"Once again we will provide tents, tables, and chairs to the first 25 teams who sign up (all set up – for FREE!). As always, we hope you can make it out. Please help us spread the word about this great event.
"We look forward to seeing our chili head friends once again and to meeting new ones. Limited space is available, so don't wait too long to sign up or you may miss out.
"Thank you, Ben Lobenstein."
They have plenty of RV parking – no hookups! – and a golf cart brigade to transport your stuff from the parking lot to the cooking area.
I know that the Texas State Open is planned for this same weekend, but for some of you, California is a lot closer, so please come out and help CASI get started in SoCal. Please!
Feel free to call or email if you have any questions. Thanks, y'all!
Pam Clark
New Recipes added...
Four new recipes have been added to the RECIPES tab on the website. These new recipes utilize the CASI Terlingua Chili Mix. The recipes on the site range from sweet to savory. Check out the new additions.
CASI is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization of the Internal Revenue Code-EIN-74-2330479 Contributions are deductible under section 170 of the IRS Code. We receive tax-deductible bequests, transfers or gifts under section 2055, 2106,or 2522.
© CASI - 2020 Chili Appreciation Society International, Inc. CLICK HERE FOR TERMS OF USE & COPYRIGHT NOTICE


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CineVegas XI: Six Days of Cinema Hosted by The Palms Casino Resort
The 11th Annual CineVegas Film Festival was held on June 10-15, 2009, at the Palms Casino Resort and Brenden Theatres in Las Vegas.
Signaling the start of this year's Festival was the cinematic flare gun (and world premiere) of Hue Rhodes' Saint John of Las Vegas, which screened at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino's Chi Showroom on June 10. Starring Steve Buscemi as John, an ex-gambler-turned fraud investigator who must return to Las Vegas to investigate an insurance claim, the film follows his exploits which entail: receiving a lap dance from a wheelchair-bound Vegas stripper, meeting carnival freak Smitty the Flaming Torch, encountering naked survivalists and escaping from a homicidal junkyard owner.
Notables in the audience included Dennis Hopper, actor and chair of the CineVegas Creative Advisory Board, actress/comedian Sarah Silverman, one of the film's co-stars, and Danny Greenspun, representing his wife and CineVegas President Robin, who was out of state, about to become a grandmother. Candy bars, popcorn and soft drinks were provided for guests.
That was the first day. Moving back to home-base at the Palms, where the Key West room had been converted to a colorful headquarters (CVHQ) for attendees, sponsor products were provided on a daily basis. Not bad, when the sponsor is Grey Goose vodka, Fiji water and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf beverages. CVHQ was a favorite hangout between screenings.
Films viewed by your humble correspondent included Beautiful Darling, a documentary on the life of Andy Warhol protégé and cross dresser James Slattery aka Candy Darling, a decadent, tragic Factory principal and actress who died before she was 30; Lookin' to Get Out, a 1982 re-released director's cut from Hal Ashby, filmed in Las Vegas; Headless Woman, a subtitled journey into a quiet meltdown and recovery; 500 Days of Summer, following unrequited love over the course of a year and a half in the life of a young man; World's Greatest Dad, a dark comedy about the sometimes lunatic actions of a devoted parent; and Attack of the 50-foot Woman, a 1958 cautionary tale about a woman scorned and her mammoth revenge (not to mention mammaries – oops, I just did).
Your humble correspondent could not get into a screening of Adam, although she had a ticket. Seems CineVegas overbooks, so I dejectedly turned away from the rumored sure-bet about an astronomical romance, initiated by an outer space light show.
Eight world premieres, also known as "Jackpot Premieres," were screened at the Festival:
• Rania Ajami's Asylum Seekers, a story of six people vying for a spot in an asylum;
• Daylight, from David Barker, about a pregnant woman caught in a hostage situation;
• Kyle Patrick Alvarez's Easier with Practice, based on the true story of a writer's long-distance relationship with a mysterious woman (phone sex, anyone?);
• Etienne!, the story of a man and his best friend, a terminally ill dwarf hamster, from Jeff Mizushima;
• Godspeed, Robert Saitzyk's Alaskan-set thriller about faith, grief and violence.
• Patrick Hoelck's love story Mercy, written by and starring Scott Caan (son of James and a 2003 CineVegas winner;
• Patriotville from Talmage Cooley, a modern tale of greed, corruption, and romantic complications;
• Asiel Norton's Redland, about a family struggling to survive during the Great Depression.
A cash prize of $10,000 was awarded to the Grand Jury Award Winner for Feature Film.*
Closing night took place on June 14 with the CineVegas Awards Ceremony at Rain Nightclub in the Palms. This year's honorees included Jon Voight (Marquee Award), and Willem Dafoe (Vanguard Actor Award).*
CineVegas presented a rare, newly re-mastered director's cut of Lookin' To Get Out followed by a special Q&A with Voight. A conversation with Dafoe took place immediately after, followed by a screening of his first starring role in the1982 film The Loveless.
George and Mike Kuchar were given a Vanguard Director's Award for their unique vision as pioneers of underground cinema. *(For more extensive coverage of award winners and Conversations with Voight and Dafoe, read Judy Thorburn's column at www.theflickchicks.com).
The new CineVegas Day Pass ($40) got you get into 3 films of your choice, Happy Hour at CVHQ and the official evening party, one each night of the Festival. This year they were held at Prive in Planet Hollywood, Lavo in the Palazzo, The Palms Pool, Moorea Beach Club at Mandalay Bay, The Playboy Club at The Palms, and Sidebar, located downtown, just off of Fremont Street.
A record number of locals attended CineVegas XI, a good sign that the native Vegas population is taking ownership of the Festival. There's definitely an alternative kind of Cine in Sin City and it's unpredictable, shakes you up and takes you for a spin in the dark. No, you don't have to stuff tips down its g-string.
It's CineVegas and it belongs to us.
For further information:


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— Prof. A Hook, Dowanhill
Thanks again for an excellent job: while building work can never be pleasurable, it makes a difference to have real professionals doing the job. Kalpana and I really appreciate the time and extra effort you all spent in getting things working as well as they are. I can't think of any way in which you could have improved on the job you did for us. We will be recommending you widely.
— Dr Adjit Panickar, Newlands
We are absolutely delighted with the end product, a very professional job from a team who were pleasant and great to have around the house.
— Mrs Sambrook, Stepps
Once again many thanks for all the work you and your team have completed on our property, the house has been finished to a very high standard. The quality shines through, my mum and dad paid over £40,000 for their kitchen and even they admit ours looks just as good at a quarter of the price. We would have no hesitation in recommending you and if you get asked for a reference again please feel free to pass on my email address or work no.
— Iain Forsyth, Stepps
Simon and his company completely renovated a 4 bedroom apartment for us. During most of this time we were abroad but were constantly sent updates and photographs on the progress of the work and were consulted during every step in the process. We are delighted with the end result and would definitely recommend west renovations.
— Allan and Anne Cross, Hyndland
West initially renovated our kitchen, we were so pleased with their work that we have since contracted West to renovate our bathroom and en-suite: once again we are delighted with the work.
— Dr. Sonya & Dr. Ken Mckinlay, Broomhill
We highly recommend Simon and The West team. Their ideas for redesigning our bathroom were excellent, and so was the end result. West have been reliable, efficient and pleasant. We would certainly use their services again.
— Rev. Jim and Mrs Anne Binnie, Helensburgh
WEST did a brilliant job on our extensive flat renovation. Simon and his team provided a quality, timely service with amazing results. This was a big project for us and involved two new bathrooms, a new kitchen, knocking down a few walls and new electrics, plumbing and flooring. Simon and his team showed excellent workmanship skills and behaved professionally throughout. They turned up on time, kept the building site tidy and even came back to help us hang our chandelier after the project was finished! We will definitely be using them again in the future.
— Rachel & Grant, Dowanhill
My bathroom was transformed with a minimum of fuss.
— Dawn Corbett, Park District
Excellent renovation
Simon and his team did a great job on my recent flat renovation, including a completely new kitchen. Very flexible to my needs, especially as I was away from Glasgow for long periods of time. High quality kitchen furniture with a really solid feel. Have had loads of great comments from friends and family. I really appreciated Simon'shelp in choosing colours and textures too. Thank you!
— Amy Tewson, Woodlands
We have been happy that the planning, plumbing and tiling were all dealt with as a package and the work carried out in a coordinated way. We are pleased with the redesigned bathroom.
— Dr's Johnstone, Milngavie
We have employed Simon and his team twice, and on both occasions have found them excellent to work with-from the design stage through to completion of the project.
— Mr & Mrs Gordon, Bearsden
Just so delighted from a boiler room to a shower room that looks like it's out of a homes magazine.
— Mrs Carruthers, Bearsden
I am delighted with the new kitchen West have fitted for me. They were prompt, reliable and courteous. The job was done at short notice, and they coped with last minute changes of plan with good grace and flexibility. I have already recommended them to various friends.
— Dr Gail Addis, Dowanhill
Simon took our ideas and transformed our awkward long and narrow tenement bathroom. We are absolutely delighted with the end result. We will not hesitate to recommend.
— Ross McDonald, Maryhill Park
I Found West to be efficient, reliable and I would certainly recommend them to friends and family and will certainly be using them for any future building work.
— Christine Henderson, Scotstoun
Many thanks for coming in and doing the work so quickly and without any issues. From a selection straight off the internet, I certainly did pick rather well. Have absolutely no issues with yourself, your team and the quality of the work done. The rooms look great and the shower room has come out so much better than I imagined.
— Ieuan Morgan, Woodlands
Doing up our flat seemed a daunting prospect, especially our small and hideous bathroom with ancient plumbing, but since meeting Simon and his team of miracle workers, we have no more worries. They beautifully tiled our kitchen and transformed the bathroom into the star attraction of the flat. We just love it! These guys really know what they're doing and always show a dedicated approach towards achieving the best possible results. Very professional, tidy, really friendly and considerate – even the dog misses them.
— Jim & Christina Fleming, Dowanhill
Simon came well recommended and I am very pleased with the standard of work and would certainly recommend him in the future.
— Tom MacKay, Cherrybean Cafe, Dunbarton Road
Excellent work and advice.
— Ian Quinn, Hyndland
We are writing to thank you and your colleagues for your excellent work. Located on the second floor in a converted early 20th century town house, the flat had complex and outmoded plumbing, and we were slightly concerned that there may have been problems with installing an ultra-modern bathroom. We need not have worried! You and your highly skilled team worked flat out for the best part of a week. In no time at all we had the perfect room we wanted.
— Professor and Mrs Montgomery, Kelvinbridge
West carried out a complete refurbishment on our Glasgow property and we couldn't be happier with the results. We live in Australia and found West on the net. From our first conversation with Simon it was easy to tell we were dealing with professionals. From the initial quote to the final bill Simon kept us fully informed and sent us many digital pictures so we could follow the progress of the renovation. As we were overseas, we asked Simon to keep the colours fairly neutral and stay within the quoted price as for the rest we left it up to him. The end result was spectacular and we cannot recommend Simon Dale and WEST strongly enough.
— Donna and Craig Dwyer, Anniesland
WEST did up our first shop in the Merchant City with really nice wood panelling, an oak floor and oak counter. Then they did our flat in the West End – someone had made a complete mess of it but WEST came and sorted it out. It was a real labour of love and it is beautiful. Now they have refurbished our Bearsden shop and it's fantastic, really brilliant. I wanted everything natural to set off what we sell as almost everything is homemade from the baking to the salads. I wanted the surroundings to reflect what we are doing and Simon's design has really pulled it off.
— Ben Rose, Rose & Grants Bearsden
The end result is fantastic.
— Mrs. Mason, Jordanhill
Simon and his team turned my office into a kitchen and my kitchen into a bedroom…as if by magic! I felt he went beyond the call of duty and I would recommend him without reservation. A rare thing in this trade!
— Andy Currie, North Kelvinside
Simon and his team renovated my bathroom a few years ago and did an excellent job. The work was done on schedule and with a high quality finish and I haven't had any problems with it at all. All costs and details were clearly laid out at the start and my flat was left clean and tidy and without any typical builder mess! If I was getting any work done in the future they would be my first port of call.
— Tony McBride, Cardonald
We are delighted that we chose WEST to install our new bathroom. We were very impressed that they kept their word always on when they would come. They were totally reliable and stayed on the job until it was done. The standard of work was exceptional and they make a wonderful team, courteous, professional, concerned to minimise disruption. We would not hesitate to employ them again.
— Gloria West, Scotstounhill
The boys from WEST renovated my house a few years back. They were trustworthy, friendly, efficient and reliable. They are now my go-to-guys for any work getting done round my place. Just make sure you get biscuits in!
— Greg Hemphill, West End
Simon and the team fitted the kitchen in our terraced cottage. It was not straight forward because we wanted the units fitted round our Rayburn and our walls were anything but straight! We also needed a staircase in the room closed in to create room for our fridge/freezer and to create a tall cupboard under the stairs. Simon and his team not only accomplished this but also fitted our kitchen exactly how we wanted it, coping with any changes and issues professionally and calmly. The tiling Simon did is terrific and finished off the job perfectly. We now have the kitchen I've always wanted. Helpful Hint:the boys are fond of a bowl of good home-made soup!
— Jill McEwan, Renfrew
We are so happy with our wonderfully crisp black and white bathroom. Wish we'd done it years ago.
— Joyce Wilson, Dowanhill
What makes Simon and his team stand out from other contractors we've used is how reliable they are – always on time, getting back to you when they say they will and really focusing on getting the job done as quickly as possible but with no compromises on quality. They did a beautiful job on our bathroom and we were so impressed, we got them in to do several other jobs.
— Jackie Willis, Dowanhill
More than happy with the work – expertly installed. Customer service second-to-none. Happy to recommend.
— Paul Bryson, Shawlands
We were so lucky to secure West Renovations to transform the bathroom and shower room in our flat. Simon Dale interpreted our ideas and put together a plan. His polite, punctual, professional and very hard working team made it reality. The finished result was so much better than we had imagined. We have no hesitation in recommending a company that takes so much pride in the very high standard of their work.
— Andrew and Linda Smith, Kelvin Court
I have had quite a bit of work done over the last few years by WEST of Scotland employees. The most recent was having my bathroom updated last summer and I am truly delighted with it and many friends have commented on it. The work has always been of a high standard and completed on time and I have no hesitation in recommending them.
— Margaret MacLean, Kelvindale
Simon and his team did a great job renovating my kitchen/living room. No wonder when it came to updating my bathroom, I chose them without any hesitation. They are always on time, hard working and made the stressful situation very easy.
— Hua Cui, Thornwood


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Painters & Sculptors
Painters & Sculptors Monuments
William Mulready, RA (1786-1863)
Painter & illustrator
Joseph Durham (1814-1877)
Daniel Maclise, RA (1806-1870)
History & portrait painter
John Lucas (1807 – 1874)
Portrait painter.
Events At Kensal Green
There are a number of events that take place throughout the year that are open to the public and prove popular with historians, tourists and locals. Here you'll find a complete list of forthcoming events, activities, open days and lectures taking place at Kensal Green Cemetery.
Contact Us
If you would like to know more about Kensal Green Cemetery, we can be contacted at the following address:
The Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery
c/o The General Cemetery Company
Harrow Road
London, W10 4RA
Messages & enquiries: 07530 676151 (mobile)
Email: [email protected]


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A cop, a Brit, a deb, a B-school grad, a guy with good hair, and a wisecracking lawyer wrestle with the naked truth about literature and life.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Write What You Don't Know
You know the old maxim, "Write what you know?" I say, "Horseshit."
There are lots of writers who make it up from the whole cloth. Michael Connelly was never a lawyer driving around in a Lincoln-sized office. John Irving never lost his hand to a caged lion at the circus. And as far as I know, Lee Child never killed anybody.
Hell, Homer was probably a stay-at-home dad, and J. K. Rowling has never done a magic trick in her life.
If I were to write about what I know, it would be a story about advertising agencies, how to make great tacos, and smoking too much. Short tempers in traffic, overweight golden retrievers and killing any plant that isn't approved by the California Highway Department for planting in the medians.
And who wants to read that?
There are some writers whose histories are so fascinating that just listening in on their lunch orders at Subway would be fodder for a story. Barbara Seranella and her outlaw past. Zoe Sharp and her motorcycle racing. Barry Eisler's shady CIA history.
Cornelia Read can lift any page from her diary and create a book from it.
And there are other fine writers who have taken the guts of the world they know – journalism, teaching, business – and created a universe where adventures abound. Karen Olson, for example, with her reporter-protagonist Annie Seymour, or Patricia Smiley, who can make even the most innocent business transaction fraught with menace. Elaine Flinn brought murder to the antiques biz in tiny, charming Carmel. Gillian Roberts parlayed her years teaching high school in Philadelphia into a thirteen or fourteen book series, and proved that association with teacher Amanda Pepper could be just as lethal as any day spent with Jessica Fletcher.
If I were to try that, you'd have the story of an Account Director in an ad agency wondering how she was going to motivate the Creative Director to try for one more campaign, since the client put his foot through the last storyboard. Yawn.
If you're a taxidermist, do you love reading fiction about your field? Or do you avoid it?
I dislike reading about my own world, and I think I'd hate writing about it even more. (I did read two advertising agency mysteries written by former colleagues, and had to struggle to find something nice to say about them. If they got the facts right, the story was boring. If they got them wrong, it just sounded silly.)
In my first book, FORCING AMARYLLIS, I wrote about a jury consultant put in the unenviable position of representing a man she thought might be the person who attacked her sister. And I didn't know a damn thing about jury consulting.
But that's where the fun began. I read voraciously, interviewed lawyers who had used jury consultants and analyzed every trial transcript I could get my hands on. I haunted the corridors at the Criminal Courts Building in San Francisco, eavesdropped on lawyers' conversations after the verdicts were read, and practically memorized entire chapters of "Stack & Sway: The New Science of Jury Consulting."
But the best research was conducted on a drunken Thursday afternoon with Beth and Idgi, two local jury consultants, over cassoulet and a bottle of good Medoc at Le Central, downtown. They had started out as idealists, wanting to ensure that every man would be guaranteed a jury of his peers. That never again would we see the kind of jury stacking that went on during the trials of anti-war protestors Daniel and Philip Berrigan during the Viet Nam era.
And they are still idealists; even after the smearing their profession took in the O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson trials. It's not "the best jury money can buy" for these two; it's "leveling the playing field." Although we all agreed that the field would not truly be level until the investigative services, the jury consultants and the expert witnesses are equally available to everyone, not just the Robert Blakes of the world.
The stories got better as the afternoon (and the wine) wore on. Stories about the black teenager – more girl than woman – facing an adult murder charge. Stories about the lawyer who had his wife second-guess the jury consultants' decisions from her seat in the first row. Stories about the case they lost that will never leave them.
The stories were important. And it was so much more fun than writing about advertising.
In the book I just finished, THE FAULT TREE, the protagonist is a blind, female auto mechanic. I am not blind. And while I'm a dab hand at minor car repairs, I also have AAA on speed dial. By the time that research for the book was done, I could do a tune up in thirty minutes with my eyes closed and I've now filed my nails into the shape of both regular and Phillips' head screwdrivers.The book I'm working on now features a twenty-four year old woman who is both a body builder and a compulsive liar. Well, at least I've got one thing in common with her.
My advice to aspiring writers? Don't limit yourself to what you know. Write about what interests you, even if you know nothing about it at all.
In fact, even better advice: Write about what you're afraid of.
What about you? What's that thing that so interests or terrifies you that you have to write about it?
Louise Ure is the author of FORCING AMARYLLIS, a 2005 release from Mysterious Press, which has just been nominated for a Shamus Award for Best First Novel. Visit her website at: www.louiseure.com
29 comments:
- Anonymous8/14/2006 1:27 AM
Death. I think my attempts to understand it are why I worked in ambulances for years, why I write crime, and have now combined the two with my first paramedic crime thriller coming out in 2007.ReplyDelete
Though of course one day I will know it ....
- Anonymous8/14/2006 7:18 AM
I applaud the ideas posited in your "guest blog" and would welcome seeing more of your "takes."ReplyDelete
To me it takes A LOT more talent to write about that which you know little or nothing than to take bits and pieces from events or people in your life and bastardize them into some slick novel. Writing from "the whole cloth," is really the measure of talent and creativity.
If you really want to open a channel to creative juices, the notion of writing about what you fear, could very well be a conduit to one's greatest expression.What you fear says alot about who you are. That vulnerability makes what you write, meaningful. It gives what you write, connectivity to your reader.
I will be on the lookout for more contibutions to this site.
- Anonymous8/14/2006 7:43 AM
What a great post. I'm glad you brought this up because so many maxims about writing limit us unnecessarily.
I'm also delighted to hear that you've finished another book and have started a third. Yippee! (I just sent the majorly edited version of #3 to my agent and am awaiting his insightful remarks).
Also, thanks for putting up that picture of the Tae Kwon Do (or Karate) guy doing the side kick. I've got my ugly tkd photos from my testing for red belt up at Murderati today . . .
- Anonymous8/14/2006 7:52 AM
Great post Louise. It reminds me of what Elizabeth George said...instead of writing what you know, write what you're passionate about. So true in my case concerning Paris...and research is the best part.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous8/14/2006 7:54 AM
One thing, Louise, you sure know how to make research fun! (red wine is a must!)ReplyDelete
I am fascinated by people who start out life one way and end up changing, usually due to some tragedy. Suddenly, they are bigger than themselves.
I like to write about things that scare me, too, like facing death. Since someone did once come into our house and hold a gun to our heads, I may be trying to work that out in my fiction. Even at that time (when I wasn't even writing books) my mind was ticking away saying, "Well, if you live through this, try to remember what it was like". Is that a craven author speaking, or what?
I know what you mean about running as far as you can from writing what you know. My first career (failed) was as an opera singer. It didn't last long. My mother is constantly saying, "Why don't you write about opera?"
Please, no! Don't want to. Sorry.
One thing you and I both can write about, though, is the beautiful place that is Arizona. I loved your book, and loved going to all those places with you, ones I know so well. I particularly loved reading about Patagonia when I was in Patagonia.
So for me, it's using the familiar and then striking out into no-man's land from there.
Katherine, your paramedic crime thriller sounds grand, especially as combines two powerful parts of writing: what you know and what you're afraid of.ReplyDelete
Pari, congratulations on the third book, and that red belt test. I always knew you were a formidable woman.
And thank you, Anon, for your comments. I'm going to make an attempt today to connect to that "fear." Hopefully it will bring me closer to the heart of this third book I'm working on.
Oh Cara, how right you are! And your passion for Paris shines through all the Aimee LeDuc books!ReplyDelete
Jake, my Arizona pal, that break in by gun-toting villains must have been horrific! But your "remember this" mantra is not the act of a craven author; its what makes a great witness for the prosecution.
- Anonymous8/14/2006 8:41 AM
Hi Louise!ReplyDelete
Great post....and you've brought back some very fond memories of Le Central....if those walls could talk, boy, would that be an interesting novel ;-)
- Anonymous8/14/2006 9:11 AM
Absolutely terrific post, Louise!ReplyDelete
Alas, if I were to write about what I fear-I'd have to include airplanes, elevators, bridges, going past the 15th floor of a building, tunnels and underground parking. Hell, now that I see all that in print, I think I'll go back to bed and pull the covers up.
Actually-I just had Molly Doyle face one of her fears in the new book-caves. She didn't conquer the fear though-she said facing it was bullshit.
- Anonymous8/14/2006 9:29 AM
Can't wait to read your second and third books!ReplyDelete
For me, my greatest fear is writing about mother-daughter relationships. And I'm kind of doing that now in my current book.
Metaphors and symbolism come in handy, too. Sometimes your conscious self doesn't realize what territory you're actually covering. It can be a thriller, fantasy, etc., but underneath all the action and made-up worlds, there may be something going on that is closer to home.
Hi Louise.ReplyDelete
What an inspiring post! Thanks so much for taking the restrictions off of us amateurs, and *ahem* professionals too. Writing what you're scared of or passionately want to be is like a tonic. I guess I'm scared of losing control, or in another context, *busting loose* and finding personal freedom. :-D I was born terrifically shy and afraid of authority - but it didn't stop me from joining the Royal Australian Air Force and squash ten years of growing up into two. I've learned to stop letting fear stop me from taking a deep breath and then leap of faith. Fear of authority is gone but the shyness knocks the knees out from under me now and then - and it's a shock to some who see me as a completely confident and wise professional business woman, artist and writer, and confidant.
Still: I have a fear of going on the biggest and nastiest rollercoasters; walking into a restaurant on my own; the few seconds of braking when plane lands on the runway; being too distant (plane trip away) from my soulmate for too long. Hating feeling like I'm invisible and having nothing of worth to contribute to anything.
That's all I can think of right now. :-D But I've never let it stop me from flying or doing something new and different - it took me a long time to get to this stage.
Thanks Louise. It would be mighty nice to read your thoughts on this blog.
Louise, I'm a librarian, not a writer. And, I have to say I'm not fond of books about librarians. I'm always picking them apart. So, I don't even care to read books about my profession. I certainly wouldn't want to write them.ReplyDelete
Research! That's what I like to see authors say, even if it's dinner and a bottle of wine.
And, I'm really looking forward to your next books. I hope they find a publisher soon.
Hi, Rae! We keep threatening to get together in the same zip code. Sounds like it's going to be at Le Central.ReplyDelete
And Elaine, boy can I understand that fear of tunnels/underground/caves that you and Molly Doyle seem to share! Better that Molly didn't face the fear -- sometimes that's how people (and characters) survive!
Lesa, I haven't read any books about librarians, but I surely do love stories about booksellers, like John Dunning's series. You too?
Marianne, what a thoughtful post. Your comment about fearing a loss of control or gaining unbridled personal freedom strikes a chord with me. They're two sides of the same coin, no?ReplyDelete
I've noted before that the French writer Colette said she wrote "in order to live life twice." I say we write to live life better.
"Write what you're afraid of"... yes... Erica Jong has a great quote something along the lines ofReplyDelete
"If it doesn't make you embarassed or uncomfortable, you're not writing anything interesting."
On the other hand Louise, if you wrote a novel about killer TACOS I'd read it. In a heartbeat. You could make TACOS fascinating.
And Naomi, I forgot to thank you for posting your comment!ReplyDelete
You're right that plumbing the depths of the mother/daughter relationship can be very powerful.
I find that I subconsciously write about families without a father figure around. Maybe because my father was such a distant figure in my life, and died when I was sixteen? I'm not sure I know how to write about a normal father/daughter relationship.
"Write what you're afraid of"... YES. Erica Jong has a great quote that went soemthing like,"If it doesn't make you embarassed or uncomfortable, you're not writing anything interesting." It's a quote that got stuck in my brain.ReplyDelete
Dear Louise,ReplyDelete
What a magnificent post! Beautifully written, as is everything you do.
I'm still flu-ey, and getting rather phobic about flying to Vermont on Thursday. Not a great time for it, just at the moment.
I hope you're having a great week, and that we can entice you back onto NA often!!
Erica Jong had it right, "Foto."ReplyDelete
And Cornelia, travel safe! And thanks for sharing the NA neighborhood.
Right On, Louise.ReplyDelete
Shakespeare was afraid of ghosts, yet he still wrote Hamlet.
And, what about his famous line, "But first kill all the Lawyers." The poor guy had been tied up in litigation for years.
Write what you're afraid of; it will lose its mighty sting.
- Anonymous8/14/2006 2:07 PM
Ha! Thought you'd escape, but I will go to the ends of the earth to read anything you set down--may even go through your trash for shopping lists, at least of they have the names of your wine favorites...or favorite whines.ReplyDelete
I'm not a writer, but I found your advice interesting. It certainly contradicted everything I've heard, and should I ever get up the nerve to write (but I'd have to give up so much reading!),I'll certainly be guided by your (and the others who agreed with you)expertise.
Enjoyed. Now, finish your next book; and be good to yourself,
- Anonymous8/14/2006 2:10 PM
Ha! Thought you'd escape, but I will go to the ends of the earth to read anything you set down--may even go through your trash for shopping lists, at least if they have the names of your wine favorites...or favorite whines.ReplyDelete
I'm not a writer, but I found your advice interesting. It certainly contradicted everything I've heard, and should I ever get up the nerve to write (but I'd have to give up so much reading!),I'll certainly be guided by your (and the others who agreed with you)expertise.
Enjoyed. Now, finish your next book; and be good to yourself,
Hi Kathy! Shakespeare was afraid of ghosts? Maybe that's why he did such a great job of scaring the bejesus out of us with them.ReplyDelete
And Tom, I didn't know you read blogs! Thought you'd be too busy reading books. I owe you a dinner at Mariscos some day soon. And it'll be with beer, no whine.
- Anonymous8/14/2006 6:29 PM
Great idea, Louise--writing what you fear. That means those of us who are cowards will have material for the rest of our lives--and then some!ReplyDelete
great blog that brought me out of lurkdom. Write more of them!
- Anonymous8/14/2006 8:15 PM
Hey Louise,ReplyDelete
I knew you were one smart lady ~ this just confirms it! Beautifully written and the words apply to more than just those struggling to put their ideas on paper. Confront what you're afraid of ~ I like it...
Waiting (im)patiently for your next book.
Louise, wonderful, thoughtful post. Like Naomi, I am leery of the mother/daughter, so I write one so opposite my own that I'll never be accused of being autobiographical.ReplyDelete
And I'm certainly not a homicide Lieutenant, so I'm not writing what I know either. Research, research, research.
Cornelia, don't fear flying, I'm doing it this week too. Flew last Thursday, and it was a snap. Safest I've felt in weeks.
Thanks for the thought provoking post, Louise. I'll carry it into my work.
Hi JT, Janine and Anon!ReplyDelete
Here's to cowardice, to resarch, and to writing! Thanks for joining me in this blogging experiment.
And Patty Smiley? Thanks for the invitation to come play.
- Anonymous8/15/2006 12:11 PM
But what about the taco recipe, Louise? Got me all excited for a moment. (I love good tacos!) Can y'all invite her back so she can post her taco recipes???ReplyDelete
Seriously, when I first read FORCING AMARYLLIS, I assumed that you had been a realio trulio jury analyst! I was impressed. And I totally agree. It's not writing what you know, but what excites you, what you would want to read. Good post!
Thanks for joining in, Robin! You're the pro at writing what you know, but I'm happy to take the counter position.ReplyDelete
And I promise you that taco recipe ... homemade tortillas and all!


text:
AO Kevin Turcotte
As the trumpet player in the group that was assembled by David Braid for the studio recordings for the film Born to Be Blue, starring Ethan Hawke, Kevin Turcotte channeled the spirit and artistry of Chet Baker. The sound is so sweet you can close your eyes and believe. The channeling went even further as Kevin also played as both Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie in the film.
There is magic in his music making and that work is just some of it. It should come as no surprise he is one of the country's best. He is a University of Toronto alumnus. He is an educator and his students are the luckiest for it. He has been quoted saying this about the music he plays, "There's no limit to what you can do with jazz … if you're a creative musician and want to use your instrument to say something, jazz is really an open book."
All you have to do is listen to him play and you know exactly what he means.


text:
Here are the Propers for the Mass of Mary, Mother of the Church (in Latin).
Here is the Collect for the Mass (and hours) for Memoria Beatae Mariae Virginis Ecclesiae Matris, which is simply from the Votive Mass Mary, Mother of the Church:
Deus, misericordiarum Pater, cuius Unigenitus, cruci affixus, beatam Mariam Virginem, Genetricem suam, Matrem quoque nostram constituit, concede, quaesumus, ut, eius cooperante caritate, Ecclesia tua, in dies fecundior, prolis sanctitate exsultet et in gremium suum cunctas attrahat familias populorum.
God, the Father of mercies, whose Only-Begotten affixed to the Cross established His Mother the Blessed Virgin Mary also as our Mother, grant, we beg, that as her charity is also at work, Your Church, ever more fruitful each day, may exalt in the sanctity of progeny and may draw into her bosom all the families of peoples.
(courtesy of P. JZ)


text:
By Ashok Wadhwa
On the heels of declining growth rate and disruption due to demonetisation, finance minister Arun Jaitley has provided for a balanced Budget. This is one amongst the least volatile budgets that we have had. Both the benchmark indices remained flat throughout the speech of the finance minister which has been largely unprecedented.
There was a concern about the fact that the taxes would increase significantly on the back of 24-25% increase in rural and capital expenditure spending. However, the FM pleasantly surprised us by keeping the direct taxes largely unchanged. In fact, for 96% (with revenues up to Rs 50 crore) of the companies which come under the tax net, the rate of taxation has been fixed at 25%.
What is even more encouraging for them is the fact that the Rs 50-crore revenue limit would be considered for FY16. It is apparent that the government intends to generate revenues by enforcement of tax compliance and by expanding the tax net.
The FIPB abolition is also a firm step in the right direction. One can now file applications online, which goes a long way in establishing the ease of doing business in India. Cash transactions above Rs 3 lakh would be allowed only for transactions with the government or banks. The government has taken unprecedented steps for making political funding transparent by lowering the limit of cash donations and making a provision of RBI bonds for higher amounts. Since these bonds will be paid for by cheque, it will be easy to track the source of these funds to political parties. This is also in line with the government's digital and transparent India philosophy.
The thrust on affordable housing and granting it an infrastructure sector status will add impetus to housing and other allied sectors. One of the resultant impacts will obviously be on employment generation and in turn on consumption.
Another factor that will add to consumption is the move to halve the tax rate for the sub-Rs 5 lakh income bracket. As with the previous two budgets, the government emphasised the impetus on the infra sector.
However, with an increasing base of proposed spending, the growth was in single digit (9%) over the previous year (39%) in roads and railways. Perhaps for the first time, the minister alluded to allocations made towards the transport sector (Rs 2.4 lakh crore, up 11%) rather than addressing each segment independently, suggesting that the government will be deploying a holistic approach to the sector. The key now remains on whether the increasing allocations can be met with policy changes to effect on-ground issues in execution of projects.
India will merge the existing state-owned oil and gas companies to set up a global behemoth that would compete with some of the largest global petroleum companies. There is also going to be a greater emphasis on listing of more state-owned companies. This is going to be a big opportunity for the investors. To quote Peter Lynch: If the government is selling silver, go buy it.


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This five day in-person certificate program provides the essential building blocks to establish, develop, and embed Risk Management as a business process in your public sector organization. These in-person workshops provide participants with a comprehensive grounding in the practical application of Risk Management practices for the (primarily self-insured) public entity that will ultimately reduce costs. The program is specifically designed for Risk Management assistants, workers' compensation specialists, human resource analysts/assistants and front-line supervisors who are responsible for, or have as an aspect of their job, the practical and cost-effective management of risk for their organization. The program consists of the following five days of critical content and application:
This workshop is designed to help practitioners manage their organization's risk and exposure by teaching the basic laws, principles and applications of Risk Management.
Students will learn:
This workshop will help you learn about the complex, and sometimes confusing, world of insurance to protect your organization and manage risk. The workshop will also help you successfully administer your organization's insurance and self-insurance programs.
All public entities suffer losses eventually. Insurance pays for them, but it does not prevent them. In this workshop, you will learn to identify and evaluate your agency's particular loss exposures while implementing sound loss control measures. In addition, this workshop will help you manage first-party property and third-party liability claims.
You will learn about the California Tort Claims Act and how to navigate its practical application.
Students will learn:
This workshop will help you understand the purpose, history and legal framework of Workers' Compensation. You will learn how to effectively administer standard workers' compensation and employer's liability policies within your agency. This includes claims administration issues such as record keeping, reserving and various audits, including state, independent, excess and employer audits.
Students will learn:
This workshop teaches about both "industrial" (work-related) and non-industrial injuries and explores the similarities and distinctions between "temporary modified duty" and "reasonable accommodations." Participants learn about the relevant state and federal legal frameworks and explore the intersection between medical limitations and workplace disabilities, as well as the benefits of maintaining an effective Early Return¬ to-Work (ERTW) program. Specific information includes federal and state laws and regulations, employer and third-party programs, employment practices law, prevention and wellness programs, vocational programs and administrative case management practices. The class includes case studies as well as practice scenarios.
Students will learn:
For more information, contact the CPS HR Training Center at 916.263.3614 or email@example.com.


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Book of War sold out!
Yesterday we sold out our stock of our second compilation "Radio Rivendell Compilation Volume 2 - The Book of War"! This is really happy news! Let's just hope we can get hold of a bunch more CDs from the record company Waerloga Records. In the meantime, check out all our other CDs we have in our webshop!
Daimonion 7 June, 2010 at 19:16 0
IMO this is great. Out of curiosity, how much cd's were pressed?


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Houston's GreenStreet
Keeps it Upscale and Green
Hotel Alessandra is in a prime place for enjoying the pleasures of GreenStreet. As part of its "Going Green" conservation efforts, the developer has made a point of including dynamic green space, wise-energy connectivity, engaging patios and synergistic events.
Dine and Shop
Within GreenStreet, you'll find culinary options ranging from Spanish tapas and Tex-Mex at local favorites like Andalucia and Guadalajara del Centro, as well as top national restaurants such as III Forks Steakhouse and McCormick & Schmick's.
See and hear blues, gospel, jazz and rock legends on three separate stages at the impressive Houston outpost of the world-famous venue, which also includes two restaurants serving Southern-inspired fare, event spaces, and upscale Foundation Room lounge. Discover interactive musical magic at Pete's Dueling Piano Bar, or put your bowling skills to the test at upscale bowling and entertainment destination, Lucky Strike.
GreenStreet's open-air environment is a favorite downtown gathering space thanks to its prime location, collection of tenants and ongoing program of complimentary, creative programming spanning from boot camps to outdoor movie nights.


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Careers Advice
At GANF we think it's vitally important that we fully prepare our pupils for further education, training or employment once they move on from us.
From year 9 we provide clear and relevant guidance for post 16 options. This includes independent careers advice, access to internal and external provision, local colleges and training providers. By working closely together we try to ensure a smooth and clear transition for all our pupils whatever they choose to do.
We understand that this can be a very daunting time for both pupils and parents/carers so we try to give as much support and guidance as possible.
GANF has strong links with local businesses and we aim to give all pupils an opportunity to do a work experience placement before they leave. This could be a weekly placement or a block placement over a week to four week period.
Please click on the following links for further information:
We measure and assess the impact of our Careers Programme through pupil 's engagement, the percentage of NEET and through work skills accreditations.
We hold an Annual Post 16 Information Evening in October where local businesses, colleges, agencies offering apprenticeships, alternative Post 16 providers and other outside agencies such as Department of Work and Pensions are available to give advice to pupils and parent/carers from Year 9 onwards.
Date of next review: September 2020
Click on the link below for vacancies in Lincolnshire:
You can also find up to date careers information on our New Careers Facebook page:


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In contrast to Shayne Ward and Breathless, it underperformed with first-week sales of under 23,000, and missed the top 10 in both the UK and Ireland. In 2015, he released a new album Closer as an independent artist, funded through Pledge Music.
Nowadays, the assay office usually strikes this mark as well.


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Hi All
I am trying to write an IF statement that links a text
string and a formula into the result but am not having
much success.
I have a simple profit and loss worksheet with Income
in F2 and costs in F3. I wish for the IF statement to
check whether costs are larger than income, if so I
would like the text to display "You are over budget
by"... and then perform the formula costs-income. I
have written it like this;
IF(F3>F2,"You are over budget by" F3-F2,"You are
under budget by" F2-F3)
but this is not accepted by excel.
Any ideas?
Thanks Paul
=IF(F3>F2,CONCATENATE("You are over budget by ",F3-F2),CONCATENATE("You are under budget by ",F2-F3))
Insomniac at large
Superb, many thanks!!
Convert the calculation of difference from a value into text and specify a number format, then add an ampersand between the text and the calculation to join the two together:
,"You are over budget by " & Text(F3-F2,"#0.00"),
Repeat for the value if false.
Using TEXT() gives you control of how the number will be displayed. ,"You are over budget by " & F3-F2, will work but the number format is not settable.
Oh that one's much easier!!