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(Pix © Larry Catá Backer 2014)
I have considered the issue of retaliation within the context of shared governance at large universities (see, e.g., here, here, and here). The problem is especially acute where, as at Penn State, employees, including faculty, are increasingly encouraged to serve administrators through whistle blowing mechanisms (see, e.g., here) that themselves tend to be traps for the unwary (see, e.g., here).
This post considers the difficulty of speaking to issues of retaliation at U.S. universities. It suggests that at its core, the difficulty lies in the inability of administrators and faculty to communicate effectively. And it further suggests that this inability arises not merely because people speak but don't listen, but also because key terms have acquired substantially distinct meanings and because administrators and faculty/staff approach the issues from quite distinct perspectives. The issues are illustrated with a pair of letters reflecting on the poor state of discourse at Penn State University.
One of the most intractable issues related to retaliation-whistle-blower mechanisms is the inability of faculty and staff, on one side, and administrators, on the other, top communicate effectively with each other. Part of the problem arises from perspective. Administrators tend to focus on formal effectiveness of systems; they tend to gauge the utility of systems of reporting and protection against retaliation by the formal sufficiency of written policies, appropriately published to the university community. Faculty and staff tend to focus on the functional effectiveness of whatever mechanism has been put in place by administrators. Administrators appear to wonder why employees fear retaliation in the face of elegantly articulated systems of reporting and formal structures for protection against retaliation. Faculty and staff appear to marvel at an administration so focused on the conceptual clarity of written policies that they me be blind to its failures at the level of implementation. It does not take much to chill reporting; even less to instill in employees the very real fear of retaliation. Even one example of retaliation successfully effected may be enough to effectively gut the effectiveness of any administrative effort to encourage reporting.
The problem is exacerbated because while administrators and faculty use identical words, they invest those words with quite substantially different meaning. To administrators, terms like retaliation and reporting have quite distinct meanings, and well defined narrow application. To faculty and staff, retaliation includes a broader range of actions, usually including a range of actions, perhaps large, that administrators tolerate as within the scope of administrative discretion--especially by middle level official like deans--buy which appear to function like retaliation to faculty and staff. It is in the area of bad faith use of administrative discretion that a large gulf appears between administration and faculty. The result--administrators begin to believe that no retaliation is being tolerated in form while faculty and staff come to believe that retaliation is tolerated in effect, at least up to the line when it is severe enough to trigger formal response.
When these two tendencies are combined, one gets a better sense of the extent of the ineffectiveness of administrative efforts to encourage reporting, and of faculty and staff efforts to initiate a difficult conversation about the scope of retaliation. This is an issue that is relevant to virtually all universities and reflects a fundamental divergence in the socialization of administrators and faculty. It suggests that, across universities in the United States, discourse becomes harder as groups become less capable of listening, and if listening, of appropriately understanding what is being said.
One get a good sense of the issues, and of the difficulty of finding common ground to communicate (much less to agree on formal standards and the mechanics of assessing the effectiveness of its implementation) from a pair of letters to the editor touching on these issues at Penn State. These appeared recently in the local newspaper. These letters were triggered by what appeared to have been a disclosure by a senior administrator that fear of retaliation appeared to be quite high in his department. The first letter reflects the faculty perspective--focused on implementation, functional effect and objectives based assessment. The second, ostensibly a response to the first, reflects the administrative perspective--focused on the creation of formal systems. Taken together, these letters reflect the enormous chasm that separates faculty, staff and administration on a core issue of university operation.
The letters follow; the first from a faculty member, the second from a senior administrator:
Letter to the editor: Retaliation fears systemic at Penn State
Centre Daily Times
June 10, 2015
The writer of the June 4 letter "Retaliation fears real for Penn State workers" highlights fear of retaliation among Penn State employees in the areas of finance and business, writing that "The folks concerned about retaliation for reporting wrongdoing are not the people in the academic units, not the people in athletics."
Fear of retaliation for reporting concerns is also real and justified for staff and faculty — non-tenure line and tenure line — across the university.
I have seen or had described to me retaliation, or its threat, used by supervisory staff against their direct reports; by department heads and deans against faculty; by department heads against associate deans; and by deans against department heads.
And I have learned from colleagues at other campuses that the problems they face are as serious than those faced at University Park.
In the examples that I am aware of, taking a report of retaliation — or its threat — "up the food chain," to human resources or to the ombudsman office is ineffective at best; at worst, it compounds the problem.
At Penn State, retaliation is not isolated; it is systemic.
It is part of a suite of condign "management tools" that are deeply embedded in this very hierarchical institution's DNA. I was heartened by Vice President David Gray's admission that the fear exists; however, it will take much more than an admission, or a set of forums, to transform the Penn State that is into the one that it could be.
Lee Samuel Finn
Letter to the editor: Penn State addressing retaliation concerns
Centre Daily Times
June 18, 2015
The June 11 [sic] letter from Lee Samuel Finn expressed appreciation for David Gray's acknowledgment of the issue, but indicated that fear of retaliation in the Penn State workplace is systemic.
We appreciate the concerns expressed, and we are doing much to address the issues uncovered through a 2013 survey, which was publicly shared with internal and external audiences. This includes a message from President Eric Barron, who views this as a top priority for his administration.
We have a team of individuals updating and improving policies. We are augmenting our training programs for academic and staff supervisors and leadership. We are providing more support resources to our university community, including developing ethics-awareness training and establishment of investigatory protocols and check-ins with self-disclosed reporters to prevent retaliation.
Next week— as we do at the start of every semester — we will send out an email to all faculty, staff and students explaining how to report wrongdoing and how to find resources to assist anyone who feels they may have been a victim of retaliation or wrongdoing. The message covers a wide swath of reportable behaviors with appropriate resources.
I urge anyone who has witnessed or suspects illegal, unethical or unsafe conduct to report it promptly so that it may be addressed. The university will not tolerate wrongful conduct, including retaliatory behavior, by any member of the Penn State community.
Regis Becker


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I have always loved Time Travel Stories. Not necessarily romance, but also those that are just plain fun or even Sci-Fi or historical. I guess the reason is that I have always loved history, even as a kid, and the idea of slipping into another time seemed intriguing, if only to have a peek at the past before returning to my own time with all it's luxuries.
As I grew up, I became a historian. I possess a bachelor's degree in history and also a bachelor's degree in Humanistic Studies with an emphasis in Ancient and Medieval Research. So,it seemed only natural that I would one one day write a time travel story, mixing romance and history together. Strangely, I have four full length romance novels out, three of them historical romance and one of them a contemporary, and out of the four, my best selling novel is the time travel romance. So, here is an excerpt from my time travel romance, Some Enchanted Waltz by Lily Silver, copyright 2012:
A little background for you: Tara is a graduate student writing her master thesis on an obscure rebellion in Irish history, one that failed. She is sent back in time to that very period, and awakens after the powerful electrical jolt that sent her there unable to reconcile her surroundings with her very damaged memory. She's scared, but trying to cope, as any of us would be. She wakes up lost and alone in a quaint castle in strange country (she's a Wisconsin girl!) unaware that it is not only a foreign country but another time period, and tries not to panic. It gets worse as she finds she has no I.D. and no money, and no idea of who to call after this weird, cosmic hangover! She thinks she is in a posh hotel and might be kicked out soon as she has no money to pay the bill.
Some Enchanted Waltz by Lily Silver, copyright 2012,
Chapter Five
Tara looked about the strange room with awe.
It was like a set from a Jane Austen Movie.
The walls were oak paneling, the kind you'd see in an old English manor house.
Tapestries hung on the wall, and not the cheap catalogue copies you could get for under a hundred bucks. The ones before her had a rich heaviness that bespoke the dust and the weight of several centuries. She admired the scene depicting a rich medieval landscape. A couple sat on a blanket in a forest enjoying a romantic lunch. The woman had long waves of blonde hair trailing over her shoulders and faded pale silvery eyes Tara guessed were once blue. The woman's expression was wistful as she gazed at her companion, a young man dressed in the rich attire of a thirteenth century noble. A distant castle could be seen in an opening in the trees beyond them and a unicorn was nestled in the brush in the foreground.
As she studied the tapestry, Tara was enveloped in an oasis of much needed calm.
She'd awakened into a void. She couldn't remember anything about her life. She didn't know where she lived, or with whom. She did not live here, that much she did know for certain. She tried all morning to think of someone she could call to come and take her home. Nothing came. No names, no faces.
Calling someone. Now, there was a good reason to crumble into hysterics!
She could not think of anyone to contact, no family, lover or friends.
Tara rose from the bed with difficulty. Her body was stiff, sore.
Had she been in an car accident? She tried not to trip over the overlong white cotton gown as she shambled across the room like a zombie to the antique wardrobe. She opened the door and then the drawer inside it. Her cell phone was there along with her car keys and her iPod. A green hair bungee with Celtic designs lay nestled beside the items.
No wallet. Ah, but that would make things too simple, wouldn't it?
No wallet meant no driver's license, no clue as to her home address. No credit cards and no money. Her khaki cargo pants and lace camisole top were folded neatly in the drawer, having been washed by the staff of this odd hotel.
If she couldn't even get it to turn on it meant she'd been here more than a few hours. Damn, if she had a cheaper phone instead of this model with the expensive data package that sucked the batteries like a vampire emptying a crack addict, she'd still have battery power. Without a charger, she was screwed and it wasn't likely they'd have one here that would work with her phone.
Given her weakness and confusion, Tara had to have been here for a few days instead of hours. Her iPod still worked, for all the good that did. She could listen to Meatloaf, Madonna and Motley Crue while trying to find her way home. If her phone worked, she'd have GPS capabilities so she could figure out where she was, and at the very least she could send a text message.
And who would she send it to? Would she recognize the names listed in her contact list? That was the scary part. Tara was lost, like in one of those stupid reality TV shows where the contestants got dropped off in a strange land and had to find their way back home first to win a million bucks. Unlike the people on the show, she was stranded, with no instructions, contacts, money and no freaking idea of who to call to pick her up and take her to the airport. At least on the reality shows they were given detailed instructions.
She searched the drawers of the ornate desk. There was no phone in her room and no phone book. None of the hotel literature one would expect to find in a place like this. She couldn't even call a taxi. Even if she had a phone her speech was too garbled to be understood. The hotel maid didn't understand her so she wouldn't get far trying to call anyone.
|Image credit: yoshiyayo / 123RF Stock Photo
Texting! Now that was a different matter. Or Email. Yes, that would work, if she could get to a computer. Tara wiggled the tips of her fingers, peeping out from the heavy linen bandages swaddled over her hands. Her fingers were still pretty numb and stiff, but she could probably pull off the hunt and peck method. They had to at least have a computer in the lobby. All hotels had them in lobbies now.
The Eagles song echoed in her mind, the one about the creepy hotel you could never leave.
This wasn't Hotel California, but Hotel Ireland. She learned that when she tried to question the maid who delivered her breakfast tray. She could only manage the word 'where' amid her garbled speech. The maid informed her she was a guest at Glengarra Castle overlooking the Bay of Bantry in County Cork, Ireland. At least they spoke English here--sort of. It was hard to understand Maggie's accent and her queer way of phrasing things.
Terror didn't begin to explain the gnawing in her gut as her eyes darted about the stately room filled with antique furnishings. Geez, there wasn't even a freaking television. Usually they were hidden in the wardrobe closet in the fancier hotels. Her wardrobe closet was empty save her few belongings.
Fear was making her queasy. Tara didn't want to vomit again, because she'd have to use that quaint porcelain pot under the bed to throw up in because no one seemed to understand her request to be taken to the restroom. There wasn't a bathroom attached to her room, which, while odd was logical in an ancient building such as this. The hotel owners wouldn't want to risk losing their Historic Registry standing by knocking down walls and drilling holes through stone floors to install modern plumbing in every guest room. Still, a phone would be nice so she could ring room service.
Definitely not a five star experience here, despite the rich furnishings.
Damn. They'd be kicking her out of here real soon.
As Tara sat clutching the covers and worrying about the hotel concierge demanding payment for this lavish Irish holiday, there was a sharp rat-a-tat-tat at the door.
Oh, God, here it comes, she though, steeling herself for the confrontation.
Excerpt from Some Enchanted Waltz, A Time Travel Romance, by Lily Silver, copyright 2012.
If you would like find out what happens to Tara, and who comes through that door, you can purchase a digital copy of Some Enchanted Waltz through the following ebook outlets.
Barnes and Noble Nook
Excerpt from Some Enchanted Waltz, A Time Travel Romance, by Lily Silver, copyright 2012.
If you would like find out what happens to Tara, and who comes through that door, you can purchase a digital copy of Some Enchanted Waltz through the following ebook outlets.
Barnes and Noble Nook

subset: commoncrawl


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There are 75 billion blogs in Cyberspace. Only O-N-E is devoted entirely to trashy Filipino movies about the Vietnam War. Welcome to that blog!
Sunday, 19 December 2010
SIX SOLDIERS (South Africa/Suid-Afrika, 1974)
I've just won this South African war flick on eBay. I don't really know much about it but I watched another South African war movie, THE STICK, a little while ago and that one is juust fan-tastic so if this one is anyway near as good I'm certainly not gonna regret the 14 bucks the final bid came to!! Check THE STICK here.
Seller's description:
Directed by Bernand Retief and starring Richard Loring, Sydney Chama, Lieb Bester, Ken Hare, Frederich Stark and Barry Trengrove.
Six young men get drafted into the SADF (South African Defence Forces). They have different personalities and respond to their new life in the army in different ways. Their training is hard but realistic and they eventually get their baptism of fire under arduos conditions. On a patrol/recon close to the border (presumably Namibia) they get attacked by terrorists and then hunted like prey while trying to get back to base and warn their fellow countrymen of the oncoming threat.
Original TCC label release - 96 mins approx - full screen - mono.
Big thanks goes out to Frank of Australian Video Covers blog for this awesome scan!
7 comments:
I like this movie even though its not an over the top type of war film, and have the Australian VHS under the title MERCENARY COMMANDOS.ReplyDelete
Its cool in the old school way but anyone expecting something like STRIKE COMMANDO will be disappointed!
G'day Aussie Video Cover guy!ReplyDelete
I can only agree with you. I like it too but no, it's not on par with a lot of the other films here in regards to wildness or craziness. Thanks for the info, I'll add the Aussie title.
Thanks for your comment, and don't be a stranger. :D
G'day Jack, thanks for your reply too and may i say what a fantastic site you have!Im a big action fan but my knowledge really only goes to the American and Italian war trash so this place is an invaluable source of information! Thanks again and ill be posting comments on all the films i have seen on here!ReplyDelete
BTW(And sorry for shamelessly plugging my blog)but i have over 1500 Australian VHS scans up, there's lots of Action and War films in there including stuff like DOG TAGS, SPYDER, FINAL MISSION etc. Please feel free to use the scans for for your site if you so wish mate.
Thanks, mate. You're too kind. And I'm really too lazy, haha. Half of the entries here still aren't reviewed properly (or at all). But for the exact same reason I'm always happy when readers send me scans of their rare video tapes (or info on new DVD releases. Those are sadly all too few when we talk about trashy war flicks. And these films on blu-ray is almost an urban legend!).ReplyDelete
Plug away, no worries! And thanks heaps for the offer to use your scans. I'll certainly have a look or two.
Cheers ears.
Cheers mate! Well i really enjoy this site, it blows my mind sometimes just how much obscure stuff is out there so thanks again for putting all the time and effort into it.ReplyDelete
Ill post links to scans you don't have up,
That's really good. Thanks again. I'll certainly post them.ReplyDelete
And anybody else reading this for that matter: If you've got full size scans of the films on this site please feel free to post them to me and I'll post them. Altho I do post eBay scans myself I'm not all that interested in those from readers. Just full size scans, thanks. Oh, and send me some money too. I'm skint! LMFAO
Hey Frank,ReplyDelete
I've just noticed ALL your scans are gone from your blog!? What's going on, are you gonna upload them somewhere else? Or is your blog dead for good? Too bad if that's the case, you had tons of great stuff.
Yes, we have a comment filter now! It seems most comments these days come from shit spammers in India so there you go.


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Whether you're in the market for toddler gear like a full-size stroller or a sleek toddler jogging stroller, or a toddler umbrella stroller, there are a lots of things to consider before you buy a stroller that's perfect for your toddler (and his proud parents). But besides checking out this shopping-for-stroller guide to find the right ride for your family, you'll also want to consider a few parent-friendly features and accessories for strollers that'll make pushing your passenger a whole lot easier and more convenient. So once you've figured out which stroller is right for you, read on to find the accessories for strollers that might be worth your extra dollars.
What parent-friendly features and accessories for strollers can toddler umbrella strollers come with?
- Adjustable handles to make it comfortable for mom or dad to push
- A one-hand folding mechanism, so you can hold your toddler and close your stroller at the same time
- A small storage basket below
- A tray with a cup holder and space for snacks
- A shoulder strap so you can tote the folded stroller like a bag
What parent-friendly features and accessories for strollers can toddler jogging strollers come with?
- An ergonomically shaped, padded handle (easier to grip when running)
- An MP3 hookup so you can pump up the jams
- A front-wheel fender to keep dirt, mud, and water from spraying up at both of you
- A holder for your water bottle
- A removable, machine-washable fabric seat
What parent-friendly features and accessories for strollers can full-size strollers come with?
- A reversible seat that lets your toddler face the world or smile right back at you
- A storage basket big enough to hold a few grocery bags
- A one-hand folding mechanism that makes it a cinch to stash
- A tray to hold drinks, keys, etc.
- Adjustable handles so you can customize the stroller for your height (and easily change it when it's Daddy's turn to push)


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Fight Eurosceptics with integration - France's Moscovici
Feb.10 - Comments from French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici on the future of the euro zone, including trends, problems and opportunities after the European Elections in May. NB EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION.
NB EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION. Euro zone countries should launch ambitious new projects like common unemployment insurance to counter a surge in support for Eurosceptic parties, French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said in an interview. Opinion polls suggest anti-EU parties are likely to make big gains in European Parliament elections in May, channelling voter frustrations with mainstream politicians' handling of a debt crisis that caused a prolonged recession and high jobless levels in many euro zone countries. Moscovici calls for further integration of the euro zone in order to strengthen citizens' attachment to the euro currency. He was speaking in an interview conducted on Jan. 30 as part of a Reuters Euro Zone Summit involving policymakers, politicians and market players. A social democrat who previously served as European affairs minister and in the European Parliament, Moscovici suggested the 18-nation currency area should set up a joint budget to tackle unemployment. Moscovici said improving the governance of the euro zone was another major project the bloc's leaders needed to tackle. He called for a full-time head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers, an idea backed by Germany and Italy, saying it could be merged with the existing post of EU economic and monetary affairs commissioner. Currently, Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem chairs the Eurogroup in a part-time capacity. Moscovici has been mooted in the past as a possible candidate for either post, but he dismissed the idea that he was interested in any such role.


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Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation – 5 Things You Need to Know
Your journey in the world of Fates isn't over yet.
Fire Emblem Fates released in February and was met with a fair amount of critical praise, even shipping 300,000 copies at launch. The game is split into two different versions called Birthright and Conquest, and now a third option has released called Revelation.
Story and Content
Both versions of Fates were full fledged games that told opposite sides of a war between the countries of Hoshido and Nohr. Revelation adds an additional third campaign on top of that, and is just as expansive of an experience as either version.
Instead of choosing sides between Hoshido and Nohr, the DLC has you forsaking this choice and instead seeking to create peace between the two countries on your own. Unfortunately, this brands you as a traitor in the eyes of both of your families. The stories in both Birthright and Conquest hinted at some unknown force at play behind the scenes, and Revelation does have some big story beats that help tie the narrative together between the three versions. The DLC also features the same amount of chapters that the original versions of Fates contained.


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Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Retire on Your Schedule
As a technical professional living in an industrialized nation today, choices are available to you that many others do not have. Concerning marriage, children, and jobs, you can choose when, where, and what you want to do. In addition, if you plan appropriately, you can decide when and how to retire.
Although Social Security and Medicare benefits have made most Americans think about retirement as something that occurs in their mid-sixties, no natural law dictates this practice. Many people choose to work much longer. Only 58% of Americans over the age of 65, for example, consider themselves completely retired. Others choose to retire much earlier.
Throughout much of history, retirement occurred only when someone became too frail or sick to work. This is still true today in less-developed countries. Improvements in productivity and work environment during the 20th century, however, have led to a mid-sixties retirement norm. Although available data for people retiring in their fifties or younger is difficult to obtain, Figure 1.1 illustrates the trend toward lower mean retirement age in the United States from 1950 to 2000. By 2000, the average age at retirement was less than 62, with many Americans retiring in their fifties or earlier.
Although countless surveys indicate that most Americans are looking forward to retirement, the same studies reveal ignorance about the requirements for successful retirement. This may be due in part to different motivations for retiring. Some people want to pursue other interests but are limited by job constraints. Some people want to escape a work environment they do not enjoy. Others feel like "wage slaves" and long for freedom to do whatever they want. Another part of the problem may have to do with the broad range of lifestyles that people imagine for their ideal retirement. Retirement can involve traveling the globe, simply sitting on the porch in a rocking chair, finding seclusion, volunteering, or working because you want to, not because you have to.
Regardless of your personal definition and views on retirement, it is a fact that close to 80 million Americans will be either close to retirement or in retirement within the next 20 years. At a time when an unprecedented number of people will reach traditional retirement age, we are also facing funding issues for Social Security and Medicare, witnessing the default of numerous corporate pension plans, and experiencing a personal saving rate of near zero. If aging engineers are to have any chance of enjoying a successful retirement, both financial and social preparation must be completed.
Retirement planning is helpful at any age, but saving early is especially valuable. An early start to saving is the best path to accumulating the resources you will need for a successful retirement. Young technical professionals who begin saving a fraction of their salary at the beginning of their career will be able to retire on their own schedule.
This figure considers a technical professional with a starting salary of $50,000 per year. An average salary increase of 5.5% per year (3.5% inflation, 2% experience bonus) is assumed. This data is consistent with the IEEE salary survey data for a BSEE graduate with no experience. The salary increase assumptions underestimate the experience of most electrical engineers since they ignore salary increases for promotions into positions of higher responsibility. Similarly, salary increases for obtaining advanced degrees are not considered in the salary increase rates. For example, an individual who obtains an advanced degree after starting work and moves into technical management after several years might expect an average salary increase of 8% or higher over the 30-year period illustrated in Figure 1.2.
The hypothetical engineer of Figure 1.2 invests 10% of pretax salary each year and takes advantage of a 3% company 401(k) match. The assumed average return on all investments is 7% over the 30-year period. Three cases are illustrated: (a) a person who begins saving as soon as he or she starts working, (b) a person who waits 5 years to begin saving, and (c) a person who waits 10 years to begin saving.
Even though Figure 1.2 is a simplified case that considers only fixed annual raises, and returns (without variations from year to year) it clearly illustrates the value of starting early. After 30 years, the engineer who starts saving from the first day on the job will have $480,000 more than the colleague who put off saving for 10 years.
As in the case of engineering projects, early planning is invaluable. It is not too late for the slow starter who begins to save in year 10 of his or her career. The time advantage of the early investor can be made up, for example, by increasing the saving rate from 10% to 17.7% once saving starts in year 10. Such a plan reduces disposable income by 7.7% for 20 years, but will result in identical portfolio value in year 30. Achieving a higher rate of return (at least 11.3%) can also compensate for the late start. In the investment world, however, higher returns are always associated with higher risk. Finally, the slow starter could choose to work for 6 years longer to make up the difference in savings.
For the engineer who wants to work beyond normal retirement age, starting to save early may seem of little value. It is worth noting, however, that although 68% of currently working Americans expect to work for pay in some capacity after they retire; only 32% of current retirees actually have worked for pay after retirement. This statistic might indicate that working seems less attractive to the 65+ year old than it did to the 25 year old. It may also be that there are not enough jobs available for 65+ year olds.
Posted by nining at 7:26 PM 1 comment:
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text: "[Mary] has grasped, better than all other creatures, that God accomplishes wonderful things: His name is holy, He shows His mercy, He raises up the humble, He is faithful to His promises. Not that the apparent course of her life in any way departs from the ordinary, but she meditates on the least signs of God, pondering them in her heart (Luke 2:19; 51). "Not that she is in any way spared sufferings: she stands, the mother of sorrows, at the foot of the cross, associated in an eminent way with the sacrifice of the innocent Servant. But she is also open in an unlimited degree to the joy of the resurrection; and she is also taken up, body and soul, into the glory of heaven. "The first of the redeemed, immaculate from the moment of her conception, the incomparable dwelling-place of the Spirit, the pure abode of the Redeemer of mankind, she is at the same time the beloved Daughter of God and, in Christ, the Mother of all. She is the perfect model of the Church both on earth and in glory."This Advent, may the example of John the Baptist give us the strength and courage necessary to transform our deserts into gardens, and our emptiness into rich Catholic meaning and experience. May the boldness of St. Paul and the example of Mary, Virgin Daughter of Zion, teach us how to rejoice in the Lord, whose coming is very near. Year C of "Words Made Flesh" will be published by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops Publishing Service during the course of the year 2013. Year B can still be purchased through Salt + Light's online store. Sign up for our email news letter to be notified as soon Year C is available: saltandlighttv.org/subscribe/


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Koech Aldrin
Over years in Kenya especially towards election times, youths seems to be used as tools of mass destruction in that at times they end up in the cells for claims of destructing rallies. According to Onyango Collins, a political science student at the Nairobi University, the main cause of this is unemployment whereby youths have no other sources of income and can accept even a minimal amount given to them to destruct rallies and cause chaos.
It is high time for the Kenyan youths to be independent minded especially during the period whereby Kenya is headed towards the 2017 general election and open their minds not to be lied to in order to prove wrong the take already imposed on them.


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Period details abound in expansive Stick Victorian
Victorian flair defines the nine-bedroom home at 1880 Turk St. Plaster ceiling medallions, intricate cornices, and ornate fireplaces serve as some of the examples of the classical flair. Decorative woodwork and steep gables accent the facade of the Stick-style Victorian that's in search of a new owner.
"The home is looking for exquisite owners who have the imagination to rehab this historical charmer to be a masterpiece again," said Komendi Kosasih of Vanguard Properties, who is listing 1880 Turk St. for $3.9 million.
The four-level home features five fireplaces and roughly 7,000 square feet of living space. There's a penthouse level, a double parlor living room and eight bathrooms.
The top floor hosts an expansive office with skylights in the sharply angled ceiling. A large picture window frames views of the city as smaller windows fashion outlooks of the neighborhood.
A vibrant red color scheme adorns a dining room finished with wainscoting and a fireplace. Thick crown molding traces around the ceiling as a chandelier suspends from a plaster medallion. Pocket doors off the dining room open to a living room with hardwood flooring and distinct cornices.
The kitchen includes a professional range with a flat top, as well as stone counters, and a separate pantry.
The landscaped backyard features a level lawn, concrete patio and mature trees. Drought-tolerant landscaping also accents the north-facing backyard.
Am exact construction date for 1880 Turk St. is unknown, though an application for water service to the home is dated April 1887. The 19th century Victorian has received a new foundation, new roof, and new staircase since 2010. Drought-tolerant landscaping was installed in 2014, and copper plumbing pipes are extensively found throughout the home.
Listing agent: Komendi Kosasih, Vanguard Properties, (415) 886-7033, firstname.lastname@example.com.
Address: 1880 Turk St., Anza Vista, San Francisco.
Price: $3.9 million.
Features: All new systems and a brand-new foundation await in this grand Victorian dating back to 1887. Sited on an expansive double lot, the home offers a dramatic, landscaped backyard and patio. A full kitchen and a bathroom occupy the penthouse level, and the home includes a study. The lower level hosts a one bedroom, two bathroom studio with a separate entrance.


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Map Legend & Disclaimer
Note that you can click on each object on the map to obtain details about it.
Trans Canada Trail Legend:
|Trans Canada Trail Pavilion
|Multi-Use Route (Cycling & Walking)
|Hiking Only Route (No Cycling)
|Equestrian Route (May Allow Cyclists/Walkers)
|Paddling/Water Route
|Temporary Bypass or Unofficial TCT Route
|Trans Canada Trail Closed
|Obstacle or Warning (click it for details)
Alternate Route Legend:
|Alternate Route for Cyclists & Walkers
|Alternate Route for Hiking
|Alternate Route for Equestrians
|Connection Point to the Trans Canada Trail
Google Maps Legend:
|Map menu to access highlights, campsites, grocery stores, parking areas, toilets and more!
|Click the grey star at the top of the map to favourite it in Google Maps, so you can pull it up later in your Google Maps app's "My Places".
Disclaimer: This trail information is subject to changes. While reasonable effort has been made to ensure that the information on this site is correct, Trails BC makes no warranty about the accuracy of this information and accepts no liability for any inconvenience or any direct or consequential loss arising from reliance upon this information. Be sure to check our Latest Trail Closures before heading out and read our full disclaimer!.
Please contact Trails BC if you require in-depth trail knowledge or have suggestions or corrections. Support us by becoming a member or donating funds!
GPS Downloads
- KML/KMZ files can be opened in Google Earth, and many smartphone apps.
- GPX files can be opened by most GPS software apps when KMZ cannot. Note, GPX files do not contain custom colours and icons that we use on our maps; all tracks and icons will appear the same colour and styles. We recommend using KMZ instead of GPX if possible.
The files below include data for only this specific area. For all of our Trans Canada Trail data for the entire province (including features, campsites and alternate routes), download our BC.kmz master file (1.2 MB)
Visit our GPS & Navigation page for instructions of how to use your smartphone as a GPS device (even when outside of data coverage) or how to import data to your Garmin unit.
|Trans Canada Trail Northeast BC.kmz
|Trans Canada Trail Northeast BC.gpx
About the Route:
Entering from Alberta near the small community of Clayhurst, the trail follows rural roads south for 67 kms, crossing the Peace River, passing through Rolla, and arriving to Dawson Creek. At this point, the TCT joins Dawson Creek's Rotary Trail through the city, bypassing all the city traffic. The trail route joins the Alaska Highway for most of its 968 km - through Fort St John, Fort Nelson, and various other communities before arriving to the Yukon border between Lower Post and Watson Lake - the only exception is a short detour at Kaskatinaw Provincial Park between Dawson Creek and Fort St. John; the highway bridge is narrow and the route uses the original highway bridge which lies further north.
The Alaska Highway was constructed during World War II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous U.S. to Alaska through Canada. Though the highway was completed in 1942, it was only opened to the public in 1948. The surface is now paved along its entire length.
Canada's great open wilderness lines the road and travelers are sure to encounter some interesting wildlife. Be sure to rest up along the beautiful shore of Muncho Lake and even take advantage of the opportunity to explore some of the abandoned stretches of the "old Alaska Highway" which have been bypassed as the current highway continues to be improved and straightened over the years.
When you finally reach the border after about 1000 kilometres, there's no doubt you'll realize why Yukon'ers refer to the rest of the country as "the Outside"!
Trail Highlights and Developments:
Normally, a strong cyclist (making minimal stops and experiencing no delays) will be able to ride this route in 7 days. But why rush? The following table may help you calculate your stopping points, based on distances between campsites:
|Alberta Border
|Blackfoot Park
|Blackfoot Park
|Dawson Creek
|Dawson Creek
|Kaskatinaw Park
|Kaskatinaw Park
|Charlie Lake
|Charlie Lake
|Inga Lake
|Inga Lake
|Duhu Lake
|Duhu Lake
|Buckinghorse River
|Buckinghorse River
|Minaker River
|Minaker River
|Prophet River (closed)
|Prophet River (closed)
|Andy Bailey
|Andy Bailey
|Fort Nelson
|Fort Nelson
|Beaver Lake
|Beaver Lake
|Tetsa River
|Tetsa River
|Stone Mountain
|Stone Mountain
|Muncho Lake
|Muncho Lake
|Liard River Hot Springs
|Liard River Hot Springs
|Hyland River
|Hyland River
|Watson Lake, YT
"+" indicates that campsite is located a short distance off the highway, which will add on a small number of kilometres.
Trail Operator:
Ministry of Transportation (BC) for provincial roadway portions
- Alberta border to Dawson Creek
- Alaska Highway (KM 0 to KM 133)
- Alaska Highway (Short section in Fort Nelson)
City of Dawson Creek
- Rotary Trail
Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada (Federal Government)
- Alaska Highway (KM 133 to KM 968, excluding short portion in Fort Nelson)
Note: Motorists on Highway 97 will find themselves on federal highway, once they get exactly 135.57 kilometres north of Dawson Creek – a spot also known as Mile 83 of the Alaska Highway. The Alaska Highway was built through Canada to connect the U.S. to Alaska, and was completed in 1942. During the late 1960s and 1970s, the provincial government paved from Mile 0 at Dawson Creek, to Mile 83, and eventually the remainder of the route to Delta Junction, Alaska was hard surfaced.
About two kilometres before Mile 83, the provincial government has a riverside rest area which offers running water, flush toilets and a playground. The federal government's overhead message sign is strategically located nearby to let you know of any conditions or concerns further north. The rest area is the last place to turn around for a long way, should travellers decide the extended, steep hills of the famed 2,232-kilometre Alaska Highway are more than they want to take on.
For a short section through Fort Nelson townsite, the road becomes provincial again, then it's back to being federal highway. Should you spot problems on the federal route, contact 250-774-6956. If you're on provincial road, call BC's maintenance contractor, Yellowhead Road and Bridge at 1-888-883-6688.
While the ground beneath you doesn't change in any physical way where sections of road become federal highway (and you may not even notice a difference between provincial and federal routes) it's an interesting distinction. The provincial and federal governments work together to make sure the highways are safe and the transition between the two jurisdictions is seamless, so you can keep your eyes on the road and enjoy B.C.'s spectacular scenery. (Source: TranBC.ca)


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Then, I decided to join the Sister's Ten Modern Block of the Month Club. Not that I really needed another quilt, but it's spread out over the whole year, so that's exciting to me. I like having a background project. I've limited myself to blues and greys, with Kona Snow for the background.
January's blocks:
February Blocks:


text: Rummaging in the garage and came across a pair of low level silencers off my '89 851 [zdm a04/b04] and was wondering if the end baffles came out. I can't see any tack welds holding them in but they are in tightly. On the outer pipe there is a small hole as if there should be a grub screw but not in the baffle.


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Do you own a website or blog and want to get the most out of it by increasing your traffic without spending a dime? Then you should look into the world of search engine optimization! Search engine optimization gets more people to your site for free. Read on to learn how you, too, can do this!
When using SEO, avoid keyword stuffing, or keyword densities that have been artificially inflated to exceed ten percent of the total text. Search engines will generally view such sites as possible spam, and may even ban your site from their listings altogether. Using natural text will avoid this problem and still drive traffic to your site.
Nothing will get your in trouble with search engines faster than plagiarizing content for your site. So always be sure that the content you're writing or accepting from other writers is 100% original and is not found elsewhere on the web. If you or your contributor is rewriting an article, it needs to be completely reworked. The topic can be the same, but the wording cannot.
To avoid duplicate content clogging up search engines, you need to be sure that the search engines know exactly which pages to index when you create and upload new pages. You always need to delete the old pages completely from your server and make sure that you're only indexing the newest and most relevant content.
Use keywords in URLs for increasing traffic and expanding your search engine optimization. Do not choose URLs with numbers. If at all possible, use words. This will increase the probability in your site being found quickly during a consumer's search. The keywords in the URL should also be included on the site itself.
One of the easiest ways to optimize your presence in search engine results is to register with The Open Directory Project, or the "DMOZ." When you register, you have a chance of showing up higher in user results, since websites like Google and AOL use the DMOZ to strengthen their database.
When linking back to your homepage through other parts of your website, be sure that you are linking to the domain name and not/index.html or another iteration that has something appended to the end. Your homepage will be placed higher on search results pages if you help search engines recognize that the domain name is the anchor of your site, rather than confusing the search engines by having two (or more) separate homepages (such as/index.html).
Try to make a list of all the key words in an article before you write it, then make sure you utilize them several times. This makes sure that you reach the right key word density and also makes sure your article is on the right topic and makes sense.
To ensure visitors will want to come back to your site, work only with reputable merchants. Even though a merchant may offer a large commission rate, you will lose money in the long run if they scam your site's visitors. Working with reputable merchants will give your site a good reputation, and will encourage people to trust your opinion.
When you start a blog associated with your website, put it under the same domain name as your main site if at all possible. If your blog attracts attention other bloggers or online writers may link to it. Then, if your blog shares a domain with your website, links to the blog will improve the main site's position on search engine indexes.
Think about including a blog on your webpage if you want to increase the chance of appearing on the most searches. Search engines are looking for updated content, so if your page is outdated, this is your best road to take. Include a blog on your site for more visitors and greater sales.
Using a specific keyword too often will actually count against you if you are trying to maximize the frequency of search hits. Search engines will be looking for keywords that are inserted in natural language. Therefore, you will have to not only use your keyword frequently, but the content must make sense.
Use a link wheel if you want, but be cautious. Link wheels allow your site to gain many links to it, quickly increasing your rankings. However, you must be careful not to have your site grow too quickly, because search engines are aware of this tactic and may blacklist you if they believe you are doing it.
Find the right keywords to list your website with Google. You can use the Google Keyword Tool for that. You should use a keyword that gets over a thousand searches a month, and that correspond to websites that do not get as much traffic as you do. This way, your website will appear on top of the search results.
With search engine optimization, your blog or website can get way more traffic by appearing early on lists of search results for terms related to your business. Apply these easy, free, and effective techniques to maximize your traffic and use that traffic to maximize your profits. Why wait? Start now!


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It was so great to finally meet a fellow blogger in person! No one quite "gets" a blogger like another blogger does and it was great to take our friendship out into the "real world" and chat about blog stuff, PR, vintage and all other manner of things which I couldn't really chat to my non-blog friends about. It was also great to have an op shop partner for the day! Not many of my real life friends are into op shopping or vintage, so it was great to have someone to chat with over the clothes racks, and to encourage me to step out of my comfort zone and try a few things on. Trudie is set on converting me to a colour-lover as far as my wardrobe goes, and she certainly did well on Friday with introducing some bright and funky prints to my wardrobe. Trudie is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to vintage, and I really look forward to learning more in future ventures with her.
Unfortunately, I only realised when I left her house late that afternoon that Trudie and I hadn't taken a single photo all day long - not even an outfit picture to post on the blog! Here I was all excited to meet a fellow blogger and I forgot all about doing what a blogger does best! Oh well, you will just have to use your imaginations as to what we looked like on the day! I'll give you a hint though - Trudie looked amazing in a flowy, red maxi which accommodated her growing, pregnant tum.
Now onto the day's haul! I did quite well at the op shops last Friday, if I do say so myself. Since moving to the coast, I haven't really found any op shops that I really liked. If Trudie didn't live right up the opposite end, I'd be half tempted to steal her secret spots ;)
This colourful dress is by The Dress Company. It's got a tapered skirt with pockets and sits beautifully when on. A bargain at $3.25!
This is the top part of a maxi-length night gown which Trudie found hidden in the rack at a Lifeline store. It's so beautiful ad soft with the delicate embroidery around the neck. I'm intending on wearing it as a dress. $8
The embroidery on this green chiffon blouse is gorgeous, as is the ruffled neck. Perfect paired with dark jeans for a dressy casual look. $6
Last but not least, the gorgeous Japanese vintage frock which Trudie gifted to me out of her personal collection. I absolutely adore this dress and have already worn it! It got so many compliments, that I couldn't help but to see the merits of broadening my pastel wardrobe to include a bit of colour.
Since I didn't get any pictures of my outfit while I was with Trudie here is a quick little instagram of me wearing the frock that Trudie gifted to me. Thank you so much, Trudie for such a wonderful day on Friday. I really hope that we can do it again soon!


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For 900 years there was a small Jewish community on India's Malabar Coast, living at peace with its Hindu, Muslim and Christian neighbors. It was been a model of interfaith tolerance. But, as Fred de Sam Lazaro reports, the community has dwindled since the state of Israel was established, and now one of the last Jewish survivors, who maintains the local synagogue, says he plans to leave in a few years himself—for Israel.
FRED DE SAM LAZARO, correspondent: In its nearly 900-year history, this synagogue had never seen an observance like this one. They came from four continents to this unlikely location: the coastal Indian city of Cochin, for the first Sabbath service in decades-and possibly the last one ever. A once thriving Jewish community of several thousand has mostly faded into a bittersweet history in the age of modern-day Israel.
YESHOSHUA SIVAN: I'm very sad to see communities disappear. On the other hand, I'm very happy to see that after all these years of dispersion the prophecy of the return to the land of Israel is in my time being-I'm part of it, is being realized. At least we see the synagogues, we see the streets, we see how life was once here.
DE SAM LAZARO: Jewish life along India's Malabar Coast dates back to the ancient spice trade that drew explorers from across the sea. They come now as tourists, but they came to trade in ancient times and, in the case of some Jews, to settle-from Yemen, Mesopotamia, and later a few from Spain and Portugal after the Inquisition. Away from tourist enclaves, there's a struggle to preserve what remains of the Jewish heritage here. I'm standing in what was the women's section of a synagogue in Mala, about four or five miles in from the coastline. There was a thriving Jewish community here until 1955, when they decided, all of them en masse, to emigrate to Israel. And they turned this building over to local municipal authorities.
PROFESSOR C. KARMACHANDRAN: They were very good friends, they were very good neighbors, they were very good traders.
DE SAM LAZARO: They left in some cases for religious fulfillment in the new Jewish homeland, says retired Professor C. Karmachandran, who heads a local historic preservation committee. Others thought Israel had better economic prospects, he adds. But none left in fear. Scholars agree there's no history of anti-Semitism in India.
PROFESSOR KARMACHANDRAN: They were given all the protection by the rulers as well as the local people to maintain their culture, their religion, their belief and their practices, and this in fact is the living symbol of that particular lofty tradition.
DE SAM LAZARO: But even lofty traditions come under development pressure or suffer neglect. Already half the old Jewish cemetery has been appropriated for a stadium, Karmachandran complains. The rest is overgrown with weeds, where livestock graze. There's general indifference, he says, as fewer and fewer people remember their Jewish neighbors. But it's critical to preserve the heritage.
PROFESSOR KARMACHANDRAN: To keep it up for posterity.
DE SAM LAZARO: For posterity.
PROFESSOR KARMACHANDRAN: The coming generation must know that there was a Jewish settlement here.
DE SAM LAZARO: There are people who would say that India has so many more challenging problems than preserving a synagogue. What do you say to that?
PROFESSOR KARMACHANDRAN: One of the most important criticisms that India faces at present is the religious intolerance between segments of society, and this is a lesson of tolerance.
DE SAM LAZARO: Sixty-year-old Elias Josephai was made caretaker of the synagogue in Cochin as the community dwindled, numbering no more than a handful today.
This is where school children sat?
In this space, where children once studied on the Shabbat, he runs a nursery and aquarium supply business. The synagogue proper served as a dusty warehouse when I first visited Josephai.
And the scrolls from here are?
ELIAS JOSEPHI: In Israel.
DE SAM LAZARO: Its sacred scrolls were donated years ago to a museum in Israel. Lacking the minyan or quorum of 10 men required for a Shabbat service, there hadn't been one since 1972.
ELIAS JOSEPHAI: I cry every Shabbat, every holiday, I cry in my heart.
DE SAM LAZARO: About a year ago, Josephai shared that lament with some Israeli tourists who stopped by.
ARI GREENSPAN: And I said "Shalom" in Hebrew, you know, Hello, and he answered me, "Shalom," like a friend, right away, and I said can I come in and see the synagogue, and he said sure. It was nine o'clock at night, I was so surprised. And when he told us that they hadn't prayed in that synagogue since 1972, I said to myself, I've got to come back with a group, with a quorum of 10 men.
DE SAM LAZARO: Brooklyn native Ari Greenspan, a dentist and amateur chef now in Israel, did indeed organize a return tour of India's Jewish communities, complete with a kosher menu.
GREENSPAN: So here we have a traditional Jewish cook and a traditional Indian cook, Ravi, who's been traveling with us all week making sure that we have both strictly kosher and amazingly tasty kosher Indian food.
DE SAM LAZARO: As they prepared the Shabbat meal, some of the 35 visitors took time for pre-Shabbat prayers. Most came here under the auspices of the US- and Israel-based Orthodox Union, which encourages Jewish heritage tours.
LARRY LINHOFF: I live in Highland Park, New Jersey in the United States. I came here out of interest to see the various ways Jews have lived throughout the world. With the changing situation, there are fewer and fewer Jewish communities as things become more centralized
ALAN MESSNER: Most of the Jewish world has been centered around the Middle East and Europe and North America, and we're getting a chance to see the Asian flavor.
MICHAEL WIMPFHEIMER: It's still wonderful to go into a building which hasn't been used in a very long time. At least you're able to have it function again for the purpose a synagogue was meant, namely to hold a prayer service. It's kind of a revitalization, even for a short time.
DE SAM LAZARO: For Josephai, it was a dream 44 years in the making, as the visitors entered a sanctuary that had been spiffed up. They heaped praise on their host.
GREENSPAN: The people here feel and live this Jewish history. You're sort of on the cusp. He's the last guy here, and when he goes-he should live to be 120 years old-when he goes, that's it. Two thousand years of Cochin is gone
D37-2E SAM LAZARO: Josephai actually plans to be gone in four years, retiring and doing what thousands of his fellow Malabar Jews have done over the years: make aliyah-or settle in Israel. But it's a wrenching decision, leaving a land he holds dear and a place so influential in forming who he is.
JOSEPHAI: I'll keep my heart over here and then go. Always, I love India, but it is inevitable-one day, today or tomorrow, I have to leave the country, not because of the discrimination, but as a Jew, to live, to be as a Jew.
DE SAM LAZARO: There's a yearning inside every observant Jew to return to the land of Israel, says Josephai, who may well be that last Jew-the one who'll turn out the lights on nearly a millennium of history in this place.
For Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, this is Fred de Sam Lazaro, in Cochin, India.


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Palmiotti & Gray Kickstart Into Space With FORAGER, 'All-Ages Sci-fi GN'
Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray have a message for Newsarama readers: not all aliens want to eat us.
In their new graphic novel Forager, the All-Star Western duo are teaming with artist Steve Cummings as they take a all-too-human family on a interstellar cruise ship vacation that gets rocky when their daughter begins hearing the call of an extraterrestrial voice promising their imminent arrival.
Comics have a long history of science fiction works and both Palmiotti and Gray have written their share of sci-fi stories, but for Forager they're breaking with the trend of invading (or eating) aliens and into a more optimistic, otherworldly first contact similar to the likes of Starman, E.T. and Close Encounters Of The Third Kind.
Forager is set to be released this November as a 60 page graphic novel, but the only way you can get it then is by supporting it via Kickstarter. Forager is the fifth Kickstarter project for Palmiotti, and after his four previous ones achieved their goals (and then some) this one looks to do the same; at press time, the project has $17,617 of its $22,500 goal with 25 days to go.
Newsarama: So guys, what can you tell us about Forager?
Jimmy Palmiotti: Simply put, a couple that are having marriage difficulties decide a family vacation might help their problems and they take their six-year-old daughter Ellie with them on a week's vacation aboard a luxury Star Liner orbiting the Earth and Mars. Soon after reaching orbit Ellie begins hearing voices from what she calls angels, claiming they are, "coming for our world". As the days pass Ellie alarmingly slips in and out of a catatonic state for short periods of time, each time explaining that the angels are getting closer. The story is about first contact with an alien intelligence, and how it changes the world. It's an interesting look at what we know and don't know about the life around us. There is also some deep space exploration and ideas in the book that are classic sci-fi themes.
Justin Gray: The idea crystallized around the time the first Prometheus trailers hit and I remember thinking everything space related is frustratingly similar. I kept watching and continue seeing these movies where everything wants to eat us. There are so few exceptions like Close Encounters Of The Third Kind or Starman, which is basically E.T. for grownups, where the aliens aren't looking to conquer, eat or use us as hosts or whatever we've all seen for decades. For me there are two places where we can benefit the most from exploration – space and the ocean. I'm not going to wander off on a science tirade but I would recommend people read Neil deGrasse Tyson's Space Chronicles.
Newsarama: You two are both happily married, and no stranger to family vacations – you and Amanda have been together for years. What makes the Travers' vacation different?
Palmiotti: Unlike Amanda and I they are having troubles with their relationship and have a child. We also never took a vacation off the planet, but if that was possible, Amanda would be the first one on that ship.
Gray: This goes back to one of the core elements of the book. Much of the story is about a family and how their lives change, how everyday life and particularly work can drive a wedge between couples and their children. There is dramatic tension in relationships that we wanted to explore.
Nrama: This is in the future, but how far – and what's the world like that you can take a Star Liner trip from Earth to Mars?
Gray: I find it interesting when technology becomes commonplace. The technology we have now would have been inconceivable a hundred years ago. Yet we have all these amazing things at our fingertips, but people being people we tend to use them for things like sharing funny pictures of cats. Someday, providing we can keep from extinguishing ourselves, we will have space cruises. Along with the idea of aliens not wanting to eat us there's the impact they would have on our world. That is something that has always fascinated me.
Nrama: Your last graphic novel, Weapon Of God, had some real action heroes – but the Travers' don't seem to be action heroes at all. What are they like?
Palmiotti: They are normal people in a world where everything they know is challenged by what happens to their daughter.
Gray: They're a normal couple with dreams and flaws like the rest of us. The rational behind Ellie was that everyone believes their child is special and for Ellie that's probably more true than anyone in human history.
Nrama: Things start getting shaky when young Ellie begins hearing voices from what she says are angels, but might be aliens. Can you describe these events happening to Ellie?
Gray: Without giving too much away, what Ellie hears, as a six year old on the Asperger spectrum, is interpreted in ways that confuse the people around her. No one is entirely sure if this is some kind of condition that is damaging to her or if these angels she is hearing are real.
Nrama: You and Justin are no stranger to science fiction, but this is far removed from the typical apocalyptic type of thing – more like the original Lost In Space meets the wide-eyed wonder of a movie you mentioned earlier, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind. Can you talk about doing this type of science fiction?
Gray: As I mentioned earlier the landscape of pop science fiction in film and TV is largely the same kind of stuff people have been watching since the fifties. The Host is just an emotionally void and shiny version of The Body Snatchers. Don't get me wrong I love the genre. We wanted to create a book that looks, feels and reads completely different from anything we've done.
Palmiotti: We wanted to o something fun, positive and all ages and Justin had this great idea and we went for it. It's fun and uplifting to change up what is expected now and again.
Nrama: The title of this, "Forager," what does that refer to?
Gray: It is the one sci-fi cliché that we wanted to keep, the idea of naming the ship something ridiculously obvious.
Nrama: Understood.
Stepping out from your previous Kickstarter books, Forager is billed as "all ages." Can you talk about your decision to do that?
Palmiotti: We consider a lot of what we do "all ages" but for the kickstarters we have been putting together ideas that are outside the normal superhero books and fall into a more adult category. We are pushing the envelope in our work these days…just one look at All-Star Western #23 tells you so, and having this book be all ages is something we think, unexpected as well. The greatest thing about comics is that you can write anything you can imagine. We imagine a lot.
Gray: Partly too because people have it in their head that "all-ages" means childish or simplistic. For us it just means we're not using gratuitous gore, gratuitous sex or gratuitous language in the story. What Jimmy said is true we have sex and violence in a number of our books, but again we're interested in doing all types of stories.
Nrama: I'm really impressed with Steve Cummings art; you and he worked together just recently on the Mera issue of Ame-Comi: Girls, but from the size and release date of Forager it seems like you've been working on this for awhile. How'd you find Steve, and what made him the guy to draw this?
Gray: Years ago I was working on Legends of the Dark Knight and my editor was the always excellent Joey Cavalieri. Joey put Steven and I together on that three-issue project and we got on really well. Steven lives in Japan so we kept in touch online and we talked about working on something and I was always pushing to get him work here and there. The thing was I looked at Forager and Jimmy and I both agreed it shouldn't look like anything we've done before. I suggested Steven because his work is so clean and I know we could design a color palate that would emphasize his strengths and reinforce the specific look we wanted. It was also important on one level that Steven is an expat living in Japan and his vision of science fiction is different for it. I have to say that personally it was not an easy time for Steven to take this project on. The work ethic, professionalism and dedication he brought to the book should not go unnoticed.
Nrama: In the fine print to this I noticed that you specifically say that you and Justin aren't taking any money from the Kickstarter for yourselves even though you're the writers and the business owners in effect. Why is that? And if I can ask, where do you plan on making money for this for yourselves?
Palmiotti: The initial amount is for all of our artists and we felt the amount was a lot of money and in the end, we just want our guys paid and happy. We felt it would have been a bit of abuse of the system to put a page rate into the mix. If the books makes more than the amount, we just take the $ and roll it into another project. It is about getting our ideas out there not getting rich.
Gray: We budget our costs to cover all of the amazing creative people we work with and make sure they're getting paid for the work THEY do. Asking people to financially support us while we work on these kinds of projects wouldn't be right in our opinion. The reality is these projects are written well in advance. They're created in our spare time separate from the work for hire work we do. The reason being is we write these stories for ourselves and, as thankfully it turns out, the people that support our Kickstarters.
Nrama: We're conducting this interview on a Friday, and as of this interview, this Kickstarter is just a day old and has already raised over half of its $22,500 goal. Is that a surprise?
Gray: Truthfully? Yes. I was hanging out with a friend who has no ties to the industry yesterday when Forager came online and he had no idea what Kickstarter was. I showed him the campaign and he looks at me and says this is so exciting and it really is. The amount of vocal support that accompanies these pledges is one of the things I like best about it. These books have an audience that is invested as opposed to being in the position of working on a title where each month you're bleeding readers.
Nrama: Not to jinx it, but at this rate you might hit your goal with weeks left to pledge. Any thought about stretch goals?
Palmiotti: Yes, more art prints, added content and some crazy ideas we are still working on.
Nrama: After watching you with these Kickstarters and sitting in on a recent one-man panel about Kickstater you did at MegaCon, I can really see how you turned this into a business. Ever thought about formalizing this into a company yourself to publish others via Kickstarter? You've been an editor and publisher before with Event, Marvel Knights and Black Bull, so you can't say you don't have experience.
Palmiotti: It is too much work and time to put these together, the thought of doing someone else's makes me want to run away. It will never happen. If I was 16, maybe…but I am far from that. Just packing and shipping the books takes me weeks.
Gray: These kickstarters are far more labor intensive than I think some people imagine. The production is being done by at most three people. When you get your kickstarter package realize it has been sitting in Jimmy's house, packed by Jimmy and our great friend Patrick. I was at his house when we were preparing to ship Sex and Violence Volume 1. We sat on the floor of his studio and signed every single copy and honestly that is incredibly rewarding. This is a case where Jimmy is, labeling, packing and driving your kickstarters directly to the post office and handing them over for shipping. Most likely cursing me the whole way because I'm all the way up in New York.
Nrama: As opposed to most of your earlier Kickstarter projects, Forager is using Print-On-Demand to let you print exactly the number of books needed in what is in effect a Kickstarter only edition. Can you tell us about doing it with Print-On-Demand and making it work for you?
Palmiotti: I want to make sure the people that support this feel they are getting something special and not part of a huge print run. These kickstarters are personal to us…we babysit these, pack them ourselves and create things like the prints that you can get nowhere else. This is an exclusive Kickstarter experience and we feel we owe each and every person the best we can do to make it a fun one.


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Most cities of a certain size have a modest art gallery feature a statue or two. They might even have a sculpture garden. But very few can match the diverse array of three-dimensional art that pops up
Sculpture Tour Turns Eau Claire's Streets into Enormous Art Gallery
Posted on April 1, 2016 at 10:30AM by Tom Giffey


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How many wreaths do you have on display in your house?
Friday, December 21, 2012
Santa Wreath
I love holiday wreaths. I currently have 4 on display in my house. This year I wanted something fun for my front door so I made this Santa wreath. I took an old wreath form I had and wrapped it with red garland that I got for 99 cents at Wal-mart. I used a scrap of black fabric for the belt and some glitter scrapbook paper for the buckle. I also had a pack of glitter ornaments from the Dollar Tree, and added that for an extra sparkly touch. All in all this entire project cost me less than $2 to make about 20 minutes to put it together!
Posted by Jessy@FairytaleFrosting at 10:36 AM
1 comment:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.
Merry Christmas to You
Friday, December 24, 2010
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.
18 comments:
merry christmas, rene!ReplyDelete
Merry Christmas to you and your familyReplyDelete
I hope that you and your family have a Merry Christmas.
Have a wonderful Christmas!ReplyDelete
I know this is such a random question, but do you happen to have your floorplans to your house? We are trying to build and I love the layout of your home! Have a happy holiday!ReplyDelete
Thank you,
Thanks everyone!ReplyDelete
Lacy, sorry, but our house was built in the 30's so the floor plans have been long gone. Good luck with building your home :)
Have a wonderful holiday Rene!ReplyDelete
Rene - Wishing you and your family the Merriest Christmas, have a wonderful day together!ReplyDelete
So happy to have found your blog and to have "met" you this year!
Have a wonderful time tomorrow,
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Rene!! Hope your boys get what they wanted from Santa!! So happy to have 'met' you this year! Looking forward to 2011!ReplyDelete
Merry Christmas!ReplyDelete
merry christmas and happy new year!ReplyDelete
Merry Christmas to you too! May your holiday's be filled with hope and love :)
Merry Christmas!ReplyDelete
Merry Christmas to you, Rene, and your family!ReplyDelete
Rene ~ReplyDelete
Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas filled with love, peace, and joy thoughout the new year!
Love your photo! merry Christmas.ReplyDelete
this picture is awesome!ReplyDelete
love that everyone is cracking up!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Your questions will be answered here or you can email me at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Indulge in effortlessly chic contemporary jewellery design with the striking Guess collection. Styled in high shine rose gold plate, this sleek fan shaped necklace is finished with delicate stones for a hint of sparkle.
- Brand
- Guess
- Material
- Rose Gold plated
- Stone type
- Swarovski crystal
Delivery & Returns
At H.Samuel we offer a range of delivery options to suit you:
- Free Standard Delivery available on orders of £49 or more
- Free Express Delivery available on orders of £500 or more
- Free Click & Collect to over 300 H.Samuel stores in the UK
For more Delivery Information click here
Returns policy: you can return items to us by post or in store within 30 days for a full refund or exchange.*
*We cannot refund or exchange pierced jewellery, e.g. earrings, if they have been removed from the original sealed packaging due to hygiene reasons.
For our full returns policy click here.
Help Centre
For assistance with your purchase, visit our help centre for advice & tips so you can buy confidently with H.Samuel.


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Maybe you have been looking for a way to pay your car note, rent, mortgage or school loan. I have found a way and would like to share with you how we can help each other. One way is by blogging and I share different platefourms to blog on my Empower Network blog Read the post I share what is a blog and how to market your blog.
Today I want to share with you this powerful information that can change your life if you allow it too.I want to share with you a video watch the video then leave me a comment and I will follow up with you.


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ASA and PIX appliance operating systems version 7.2 introduced the concept of a Layer 7 class map. This feature is solely intended for what is commonly referred to as DPI (Deep Packet Inspection). One such protocol which lends itself to such scrutiny is the Domain Name System (DNS). This post will highlight some of the inspection features for DNS.
Before we examine the specific configuration area of interest, namely the DNS Class Map, let's take a look at an applicable and known security threat – namely, DNS Cache Poisoning. This was brought to the forefront at the Black Hat Conference on August 6, 2008 by Dan Kaminsky. While the reference cited below provides both the historical as well as the technical details of this exploit, a DNS "spoofed reply" is the chief mechanism deployed. As with most "spoofed" packets, a susceptible DNS server would "trust" the domain name information provided without validating it first.
Shown below is an excellent breakdown of a DNS packet format which I found on the web:
When the ASA is configured for granular inspection of DNS packets using the Layer 7 Class Maps in ASDM, the fields and values available correspond to the protocol layout above. These class maps are found underneath the Objects menu tab in the Firewall configuration sub-area.
As shown below, when the class map is configured, there are numerous criteria that can be entered to qualify the fields of interest:
If the Header Flag is chosen and the administrator wants to match on a DNS Query being performed, the following selections should be made:
Note that in this example what was chosen was NOT the QR flag; in other words, with QR=1 the DNS packet is a response. Also note the RD or Recursion Desired flag which could be used with a reconnaissance tool like nslookup. The next page shows the possible selections for the Type criteria which the author believes to be most effective and preventing cache poisoning:
The TSIG field shown above is a Transaction Signature (RFC2845). This field could be used to ensure that two exchanging name servers are "trusted" as they would be configured with the same keys.
Besides using a field such as the TSIG, the administrator could combine the DNS class map with a set of regular expressions (regex) for permitted domains and associate the DNS activity which is outside of the permitted constraints with both drop and log actions.
Author: Doug McKillip


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Film The Best Movies With Heart in the Title
613 votes 151 voters 23.8k views 100 items
List Rules Vote up your favorite movie with heart in the name.
Have you ever noticed how many movies there are with heart in the name? From indie favorites like I Heart Huckabees to chick flicks like The Heart Specialist, this list ranks the best movies with heart in the title, regardless of genre or rating. What is your favorite movie with heart in the name? This is kind of an odd way to categorize movies, but that's also why it's so fun! There are probably one or two movies with heart in the title that you instantly think of, but you might be surprised how many others there are too as you scroll through this list.This ranked poll of films with heart in the title includes movies like Angel Heart, Crazy Heart, and Wild at Heart. Don't forget that this list is interactive, meaning you can vote the film names up or down depending on much you liked each movie that has the word heart in it.
list ordered by


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Apr 29-
Jun 142014
Student Exhibit
Location: Humboldt and District Gallery
After our first successful high school student show of student photography, we are pleased to continue to support the emerging artists of the area through our second high school exhibit of art works by HCI students. Thanks to Roland Daum for organizing this exhibit.
This web site is Copyright © 2019 Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery Inc.
Web site development by 2 Web Design


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July 12, 2017
ANALYSIS | Can Comcast Be Trusted to Preserve Net Neutrality? My Experience As A Local Regulator
by Lon Seidman | July 12, 2017 11:39am
Today is Net Neutrality Day.
In the early 2000's I served on a local Comcast regulatory committee. Here are a few of my experiences holding the company accountable and how their lobbyists were able to quickly change laws that they didn't like. This is a snippet from my Weekly Wrapup show at http://lon.tv.
Subscribe to my email list to get a weekly digest of upcoming videos! - http://lon.tv/email
Goldie Chan contributed to the production of this video.
January 13, 2015
VoteTocracy Hopes to Bridge Gap Between Voters and Congress
by Luke Foster | January 13, 2015 11:34am
For years, voters who wanted to learn about issues and discuss them with their elected officials in Congress have had to use a somewhat fragmented set of traditional methods.
Continue reading "VoteTocracy Hopes to Bridge Gap Between Voters and Congress" »
Tags: VoteTocracy, Congress, Voting, Polling, Public Opinion, Legislation, Representatives, Senators, Federal, Technology, government, communication, OpenCongress.org, Countable.us, Roll Call, Congressional Quarterly, Luke Foster, dh
September 18, 2014
Hartford Entrepreneur is Crunching Numbers for the Greater Good
by Cara Rosner | September 18, 2014 5:59am
Data is vitally important to most nonprofits. It is a key component for seeking grant funds, gives a clear picture of community needs, and informs the strategic decisions agencies make about how to tackle social issues like hunger and homelessness.
Continue reading "Hartford Entrepreneur is Crunching Numbers for the Greater Good" »
Tags: Blueprint for Impact, Christopher Brechlin, Social Benefit, Nonprofit, data, data tools, database, software, entrepreneur, Hartford, reSET, Benefit Corporation, dh
November 1, 2013
NSA Surveillance May Cause Breakup of Internet, Experts Warn
by The Guardian | November 1, 2013 9:25pm
The vast scale of online surveillance revealed by Edward Snowden is leading to the breakup of the Internet as countries scramble to protect private or commercially sensitive emails and phone records from U.K. and U.S. security services, according to experts and academics.
Continue reading "NSA Surveillance May Cause Breakup of Internet, Experts Warn" »
September 8, 2012
Gov. Malloy Talks Tech in Charlotte
by Lon Seidman | September 8, 2012 12:15pm
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy talked tech in in Charlotte, N.C. in a Sept. 4 panel discussion hosted by Bloomberg TV and Google.
Continue reading "Gov. Malloy Talks Tech in Charlotte" »
Tags: Malloy, Google, Democratic National Convention, DNC2012, dh
August 11, 2011
UConn Pulling Plug on HuskyMail, Contracting Instead With Google
by Jaimi Welch | August 11, 2011 12:14pm
The University of Connecticut will soon be rid of its outdated HuskyMail system and is contracting instead with Google as the new host for student email.
Continue reading "UConn Pulling Plug on HuskyMail, Contracting Instead With Google" »
Tags: HuskyMail, UConn, Google, gmail, Connecticut
July 21, 2011
Space Shuttle Atlantis Arrives Home for the Last Time (updated w/video)
by Lon Seidman | July 21, 2011 6:27am
Space Shuttle Atlantis landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center Thursday morning, wrapping up a nearly two-week mission and the 30-year Space Shuttle program.
Continue reading "Space Shuttle Atlantis Arrives Home for the Last Time (updated w/video)" »
Tags: Atlantis, NASA, Space Shuttle, ISS
June 20, 2011
Texas Now Among States Looking To Internet Taxes To Close Budget Gaps | The AP
by Associated Press | June 20, 2011 6:25pm
Connecticut took a lot of criticism in recent weeks after Amazon.com decided to announced it was suspending its affiliate sales program here because of the state legislature's support for charging sales tax on Internet purchases. But now Texas — super business friendly Texas — has followed suit.
Continue reading "Texas Now Among States Looking To Internet Taxes To Close Budget Gaps | The AP" »
Tags: amazon, sales tax, online retail, government 2.0, Amazon
June 11, 2011
CTTechJunkie Podcast #2: Getting to the Bottom of the Amazon Tax
by Lon Seidman and Doug Hardy | June 11, 2011 9:30pm
Hartford tax attorney Daniel L. Gottfried, a tax partner at Rogin Nassau LLC, joins Lon and Doug to discuss the "Amazon Tax" and what it means for future Internet taxation.
Listen by clicking the play button on the audio player below, and below that is the chatroom conversation that took place during the live broadcast.
Click here to download the 45 minute interview.
Continue reading "CTTechJunkie Podcast #2: Getting to the Bottom of the Amazon Tax" »
Tags: Amazon, sales tax, Connecticut
June 10, 2011
ANALYSIS | Taxed States Seek to Tax Amazon Sales
by Lon Seidman | June 10, 2011 8:27pm
The debate over the "Amazon Tax" continued this week with the company announcing, as many expected, the cancellation of Connecticut-based affiliate marketing contracts. The changes impact website operators who are linking to Amazon and receiving a commission based on the sales those links generate.
Continue reading "ANALYSIS | Taxed States Seek to Tax Amazon Sales" »


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We all have a dream, a wish...
I think, like the stars in the sky, we need to align ourselves with others. Others, who share our passion. Sometimes it is intimidating n' scary! We grow, when we step outside of ourselves and toss ourselves into the winds of change. I think Gunilla Norris describes nature so beautifully. In her book, "Mystic Garden" she talks about the quieting of autumn. I love this quote of hers.
"Only the black seed heads stand alone on their stalk-a constellation of black stars."~Gunilla Norris
We all have potential, like the black stars! We just have to be brave and keep reaching and
maybe, just maybe, our dream might come true!
For most of us, our passion is a solo game. We write, paint, create our vision alone. It is when we gather and share we grow, we shine. We can not shine alone! We think we can, but we can't~
I discovered Holly Becker of decor8 was offering this class.
I was on the fence, about it! Why, you ask?
This is the time of year, holiday shopping begins. I felt guilty about spending the money. Then I saw signs, that made me think again.
I was creating some gift tags, at my kitchen table. I decided to paint, so I laid out some newspapers. I'm a messy crafter :D I was layering the paper on the table, when this headline grabbed my attention.
The newspaper was dated 5/15/11. It was an article about Holly Becker and her latest book. The pairing of Holly's name and the word edge, got me. And I have a thing about the numbers 3 n' 5. I went back online to read about the course. It started on October 5th. There were three 5s. I signed up! I know that might sound odd, to some of you. My intuition told me I should do this, but I wasn't listening. The signs really grabbed my attention!
I hope you will push yourself, to try new things, be open to signs of change. Yes, the whispers of your heart trying to take you into the winds of change! Yes, without change we get root rot, we don't grow. I hope you will be brave and follow your GPS-Gifts, Passion and Spirit! (I still need to re-pot a few other plants, ;D) Do you listen to your intuition? Have you noticed signs?


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Pasta bake is one of those dishes that everyone seems to associate with students...it might be the lazy pleasure of hearing that pasta sauce jar pop as your take off its lid, or the fact that if you're willing to wait a little longer...you don't even have to pre-cook your pasta! That's one less pan to wash up!
I'm not going to lie, I've taken the pasta bake route many a time in my uni career, and with my uni career coming to an end in just a week, I'm not ready to give them up just yet! So, I set myself the challenge of a gourmet pasta bake, fit for the lawyer I am going to become!
If you though pasta bakes were for lazy people on a student's budget, think again! The pasta bake is back and it is better than ever!
My favourite things about this recipe have to be that you can enjoy it almost guilt free! The tuna is an excellent source of...NUTRITION, and you can pack it full of plenty of veg's so you will undoubtedly get a huge chunk of your recommended 5 a day!
For those of you who want to make this dish a little healthier, you can buy low carb pasta from companies such as Dreamfields, replace the crème fraiche with low fat crème fraiche, and use an oil spray to minimise oil content when frying off your garlic. You can also leave off the cheese!
For those of you living alone this is also a great dish to re-heat as it doesn't lose any taste or quality the second time round. Halve the recipe and you can save half the dish for dinner tomorrow! Just place it in the oven for roughly 10mins with or until its bubbling and piping hot! (If you're feeling naughty why not place some extra cheese on top.)
With such a hearty dish full of goodness you can't go wrong.
Pricing (based on Asda's own unless otherwise specified):
Creme fraiche 38p, baby sweetcorn 75p, pepper 35p, passata 31p, mushrooms 40p, beef tomato 27p, leek 15p, pasta £1, garlic 5p, tuna 95p, seasoning 1p
Total = £4.62
Per portion = £1.16
@Verygoodrecipes.com: tuna, pasta, tomato, creme fraiche, mushroom, baby sweetcorn


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"Everyday is Valentine's Day if there is love in your hearts. Otherwise today is just another day in the Calendar. — AnonymousTrue much.. I think that Valentine's Day is too overrated these days, it's all about the big bouquet of roses, expensive dinners and gifts. Be it Valentine's Day or not, I'll still love my boyf the same (: No point of showering him with extra love and care only on that day. I would rather save up for our anniversary instead, speaking of anniversary...I'm really looking forward to it *ehem hint ehem* So, it's our 2nd year celebrating V-day together but there was nothing extraordinary compared to last year since boyf is having his finals last week so it was just a simple one (: I thought it was a mutual decision that we won't be buying each other gift or even make a card but who knows boyf still made an effort even though he was really busy preparing for his finals . He is such a sweetheart ♡(´ε` )
|A handmade card from him and chocs from Famous Amos.
|A pop up card!! :D His kid-like drawings amuses me and the first thing I ask was why am I so thin :P
|Chocs, heart shaped lolly and a teddy bear that comes with it. He actually thought that the giraffe was a cow! -_-
|I actually received this two days from the actual V-day (: Since V-day is all about sharing some love, I shared these chocs with Joeann and Cathy as well HEH
|And on the day itself, I received this <3 It may not be a bouquet of flowers but I still appreciate it. It's the heart that counts (':
|You know how he always says he will have my back, well he certainly has (っˆヮˆ)っ
|I love us, the crazy witty us.
So how was your Valentine's Day?


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Hi all! I'm squeezing in a last minute entry into the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop. This month's theme is to get inspiration from embroidered patterns. I got inspiration from this coin purse wallet and came up with this:
The flower was stamped with Beautiful Blooms and the vine and sentiment are from Beyond Basic Borders. I stamped the images with colored inks and then pierced and hand stitched the coordinating embroidery floss colors over the stamped images. Finally, stitched on a button and mounted the panel on foam tape. I hope you like it and TFL!


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How's this for a novel strategy in the beleaguered record industry: Forget the hits; aim instead for modest sales over the long haul.
That's essentially what's allowed Beverly Hills-based Concord Music Group to thrive in what in many corners is a bleak business.
The company, born nearly four decades ago as a jazz label, has become one of the most robust independent labels in the world, one that last month scored two big additions: Paul McCartney's entire post-Beatles catalog and the esteemed Cambridge, Mass.-based roots-music label Rounder Records.
McCartney's trove of albums as a solo act and with his group Wings includes several multiplatinum titles, including "Band on the Run." Concord will reissue the album as a deluxe package in August, the first of what will be an ongoing project.
The recent acquisition of the 40-year-old Rounder label is expected to create a company that will generate roughly $100 million in annual revenue, according to Billboard, and a combined business representing a 1% share of the total market for recorded music.