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Poc Receptor Backcountry MIPS MD

Hydrogen White

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Sales price: $ 429.95
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Manufacturer: Poc

This helmet has been souped up with hard-hitting features like an Aramid penetration barrier and MIPS® technology, all packaged in a double shell. Size medium (55/56 cm)

Construction: Double Shell System, Aramid Penetration Barrier

Ventilation: Penetration-proof ventilation system with airflow channels between the two shells

Adjustability: Detachable ear pads and neckroll

Additional Features:

Compatible with the Communication Neckroll with powerful Beats by Dre speakers and microphone

MIPS® Technology - Allows the helmet to absorb rotational forces, reducing the stress on the brain when crashing at speed.

RECCO® - This avalanche rescue system is used by rescue organizations worldwide to assist in the efficient location of people buried under avalanches. This is not a substitute for transceiver use but can aide is rapid location of burials.

Multi-impact EPP liner

Warranty: 1 Year

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Posing at a wedding..

We recommend you getting at least a few posed images in your collection of photos you will be surprised how these few poses incorporated with the more casual poses or reportage shots can make your wedding collection look more complete.

Most families do want some posed images in their collection and it will be your friends/family and future generations that view these pictures so they add value even if at first you are stiff and uncomfortable.

Usually the clients are enjoying themselves so much that they naturally will enjoy posing and this becomes natural! unless you model everyday just go with the flow and enjoy yourselves!

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Tuesday, May 29, 2007

I Am Still Alive!!

We had a very busy weekend. Michael took Friday off and we planned on getting lots done. When he is home, I do not get on here too much, so that is why I have not posted this weekend. On Thursday morning, I got a call from the post office bright and early. We had more chicks arrive. It was supposed to be a just a small batch of 35, but it ended up being even smaller... only 25. I thought you would like to see how they come. This first picture is the brooder all cleaned out from the last bunch and set up for the new bunch.

This is how the carton comes. If you click on it to make it bigger, you can see the chicks through the holes in the box. They make a great big noise for such little things.

Here is the box with the lid off. Aren't they cute? These are all meat birds, and this is the only point that they are cute. =)

We did all of our errands on Friday. We had quite a few to take care of. We went to the greenhouse, the bulk food store, the bank, Verizon, TSC, Kroger and probably some other places I forgot. Saturday, Joshua wanted to go garage saling in a nearby community. Every year on this weekend, they have tons of garage sales in this area. We got some good deals, but really did not buy very much. Joshua got an oar and an anchor for his boat. He got a really old RISK game that was in pristine condition. He paid 50 cents for it. I got 8 blue gingham cloth napkins, something for Michael's Dad, some shirts for Michaels and some small towels to use with the animals. It was fun being together. Then Sunday, we had our fellowship next door. We always eat a meal together and we all hung out together. On Monday, we got up and started getting things done around here and then went to some friends in the afternoon. We cooked out and then sat and talked for a short while. We then went and played miniature golf. Today, I have been trying to catch up. My phone and DSL were out most of the morning and part of the afternoon. I walked next door and we used her cell phone (her phone was out too) to call and report it.

I hope to be back on here more regular now. Hope you all had a great weekend as well.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

We Are So Blessed...

Yesterday I told you about Molasses and Patty getting out. I kept looking out to make sure that the calf was still out there. One time I looked out and he was not in sight. So, out the door I went. I looked over in the shed barn by the house to see if he was visiting his other calf friends. Then I went out to see if he was in the drive through of the big barn and I just couldn't see him. No, he wasn't in there. I did see someone or one of the cows had opened a sliding door into the barn from the drive through. It was enough open that a cow could escape. As I got closer to the barn to close that door, I heard commotion in the milk parlor area. Our big barn (the one on my profile picture) used to house a dairy goat milking operation. The people who rented the farm for the year before we moved in, trashed it when they moved. We are wanting to get out there, clean it up and put the walls back up that they tore down. It is not used right now, but cows shouldn't be able to get into it. As I came around to go into the door to the milk parlor, I saw that it was open a bit. I KNEW that the calf was in there. I opened the door and went in and what did my wondering eyes see???? Bullseye and Sir Loin of Beef, the yearling steers in there investigating. God is good, because they could have gotten out through the door. They saw me and high tailed it through a sliding door that the goats used to use. I closed it, although the lock was busted and made sure the outside door was closed too. While in there, I did scan the bottom part of the barn and there was no wee brown calf. As I came out of there, one of my WONDERFUL neighbors was in the yard. I hollered and asked if they had seen the calf. They had not, but came to assist in the search. I went up into the top part of the barn where we keep hay. No calf. We decided that he must be laying down in the tall grass somewhere. So, we started looking. Her brother joined us and as he walked over he startled the calf in the grass and I am not sure who was more surprised... the calf or him!! The calf ran back over by his mom, so I went back inside. When my dear, sweet, wonderful man got home we went out to get Molasses back into her pasture. We figured the calf would follow. We couldn't find him again. This time I had thought to bring my camera. I told Michael where he had been laying and we went and looked and sure enough this is what we saw...

From a distance, the grass was tall enough, he was invisible. =) We went to the other pasture to get the cow. We were well armed with peanuts!! Since we are "known" to carry peanuts we usually get a good reception. Here are the 3 yearling steers coming to greet me because they are so glad to see me (I know it is the peanuts - just humor me).

Now the 2 mama cows will come close for peanuts, but they know that often we grab their halter if we get close. Buttercup is much better about this than Molasses. In the next picture they are standing right in front of Michael who is trying to get Molasses to take a peanut so he can grab her. He has to go through a little game with her, but he always wins.

He got a hold of her and started walking her toward the fence. I lifted the fence (we keep the bigger cows in with one electric wire and by the way, the fence was turned off) and he started to pull her under it. She decided that she did not want to go there. He pulled the chain on her control halter and tugged on the side of it. She DID NOT want to go. So, I moved behind her holding the fence up over her and was getting ready to swat her and she finally moved. He led her to the other pasture and the WONDERFUL neighbors came out to help him. We walked her by her baby so that he would get up and follow. They held the fence up for Michael and Molasses, but the calf did not want to go through. It made me think of the song... London Bridge is Falling Down. =) The calf finally got shooed in as well.

Here is a picture of Patty back safe in his pasture. The next picture is the 4 little calves. Our 3 are Patty, Stu and Phil and the WONDERFUL neighbor's is TJ. I am not sure what that stands for.

Being the WONDERFUL neighbors that they are (I can hear Mrs. Neighbor sighing and rolling her eyes at me right now!) they asked what was on the chore menu for the night. We had to put chicks out in the field because new chicks were coming this morning. They volunteered to help. The chicks got put in our chicken cages and then were loaded on top of our wagon. The one back wheel on this wagon is broken and it just falls off. We need to get it fixed. However, they decided to use it anyway. Here is a picture of our Farm Hands!!!! Aren't they cute??? =)

Then the parade began. The men walked with them to keep the pens on the wagon and watch the wheel. It did fall off on the way out. =)

Mrs. Neighbor and I were sitting out at the picnic table talking while they were working. Hmmm... that doesn't sound too good. We do not sit around and talk whenever they are working!!! =) Anyway, here is what the sky looked like. It was beautiful. Whenever I see a view like this it makes me wonder if I am going to hear a trumpet and see the sky break open and the Lord returning!!!

Just one more thing on a quick note... When I fed the calves their bottle this morning, all 3 new calves came to get bottles. The neighbor's calf, TJ, was in the middle of our 2. I got the bottles in their mouths and TJ, who had already been fed, got so excited that he started sucking on Stu's ear and had his whole ear in his mouth the entire time they were guzzling their bottles. Calves are so funny.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Why You Don't Want To Be My Neighbor...

Aren't these little guys cute? I just love baby jersey calves. They are precious. If you have ever fed baby calves bottles, you will understand the two terms of slobbering (sliming) and butting. These cute, little, sweet fellows guzzle their bottles with incredible speed. This then puts them into a feeding frenzy, except the bottle is empty. So, they will try to nurse anything and everything that is near by. If it is your shirt or your arm, or as one time happened to me... the side of your face is what is close, you get slimed. They are very slobbery after having their bottles. The butting comes from them thinking you are their mom. You provide the milk, so therefore you are mom. If you go into the pasture, they will come running to you. However, once they get there, they are looking for a nipple. As they nurse their moms, you will see them butt or bump up really hard on their mom's udder. Well, they do that while looking for one as well. They will come up behind you and start butting your rear end. If you are a guy then don't face them without being truly ready. This morning I went out to feed the calves. The milk cow, her calf and 2 of the others were in the stall, but one of ours was missing. I called to see if he would come running, but that did not happen. So, I went into the pen (leaving the bottles sitting on the outside) and started looking. He was no where to be seen. The grass is pretty high, so I started calling and looking. Thankfully the other 2 stayed inside the barn. When I got the far side of the pasture, there he was laying in the tall grass like a little fawn. He saw me (I swear he smiled at me) and just stayed laying down. I went over to pet him to see if he was OK. He got up and I knew he would follow me. In the meantime the milk cow had followed me mooing for a peanut, which I did not have on me. So, we are now in a parade back to the barn. Me out front, a little calf following and a big milk cow following him. Well, we did not get far until Phil A. Mignon (he is small, but will be tasty) realized it was time for breakfast and I was Mom. So, he started butting me in the back side. I would put my hand up to try and keep him from doing it. He would just go to the other side. All the way into the barn, I got butted. I was so hoping the neighbors were not watching. =)

I told my neighbor that I was going to put a post on my blog titled.... "Why you would not want to be my neighbor" Then I said she could fill up the comment box. Today was a phone day. I made and received several calls. I was on the phone and I heard a little voice at my front door. It was the little guy from next door telling me the milk cow and her calf were out. So, the neighbor and 2 of her children and I went to try and get her. I took peanuts with me to entice her. She would come up and eat the peanuts, but if I had my other hand near or moved it, she ran off. We (read the agile children here) finally herded her in with the other cows. Her calf went in with her. I told them to just leave her in there until Michael got home. Two of the steers started chasing the calf and so he ran out of the pasture under the wire. He was hanging close to her and ran off if we tried to get near him, so I said to let him be. Well, I got another phone call when I went in. As I was talking with her, I heard Molasses bellowing, and I went to investigate. Her calf was out in the driveway close to the pasture it was supposed to be in. So, I headed out and turned off the fence. The others from next door had seen her too and were already out there trying to herd her. So, I picked up the fence, but he would not go under it. Then my dog (WHO DOES NOT OBEY WELL!!!... sense some frustration there?) took off after the calf, which made the mother go nuts and the baby ran back over by that pasture. So, he is still out of his pen. I don't know what I would do with out my WONDERFUL neighbors. They help me a lot. Thanks Neighbors!!!!!

Here is my bleeding heart. You can see the blooms in several stages. God is so amazing. He gave us such a variety in colors, shapes, textures. Thank you LORD!!!

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Just Another Day...

We worked in the garden last night. We planted one row of lettuce that someone (Dear Mrs. M) had given to us. I want to plant lettuce seeds in another row as well. We also got some beet seeds planted. Now, I have to be watching those chickens to make sure they are not digging up my seeds. We also planted a few marigolds and put up some of our tepees. My adirondack chair is out by the garden. My back has been giving me a bit of a problem, so I would do a little and then sit for a few minutes. While I was sitting this robin came to look for worms in the garden.

I just love how the tepees look in a garden. Ginny (once Mrs. M) did that in her garden one year and I loved it. So, this will be my second year for tepees. Last year I grew birdhouse gourds and beans on them. This year, I will do the beans and all my cucumbers are going on tepees. I saved my sunflower stalks from last year to make this years tepees. The ones you see in the picture below are for the cucumbers. I have not put up the ones for the beans yet.

The tomatoes are small but pretty healthy looking. The peppers are doing really well so far. Last year my peppers did NOTHING!!! They were a waste of time and money. I planted one row of sweet onions and a row of red onions. The red onions are doing very well, but I am not even sure the sweet onions are going to make it. =( I may have to go and get some more. There really are plants in this picture. They are just very hard to see.

This comfrey plant grows beside my house. I dug it up and transplanted it somewhere else. It is doing well in the other spot too. This keeps coming up. I have dug it up at least 4 times to give to people and it keeps on coming back. =)

I love to see things hanging on a clothesline. I always think of my Mom when I hang up clothes. Hers were always perfect and in order. She would tell me the best way to hang things, so that they would dry either quicker or without leaving clothespin marks. Man, do I miss her. How can just seeing a clothes line bring on a tidal wave of grief. Sorry....

Monday, May 21, 2007

Busy, Busy Weekend

We had a lot going on this weekend. On Saturday, we went and picked up 4 jersey bull calves. They were all just a few days old. We delivered one to a friend's house and the other 3 came here. One of those 3 belong to our neighbor. They are so sweet looking. Each year, I am reminded again of just how small and precious they are. I went to get their picture this morning and this is what I found. That is Molasses in the kennel we have in the stall. How she got in there, I will never know. There is a bar that goes across the top of the gate. We use the kennel to keep the little ones in if we need to. Last night, when the neighbor's came over to give their calf a bottle, one of ours would not leave them alone. So, they put him in the kennel while they gave the bottle. It is really handy to have. The cows back is much taller than the bar, so it would have been fun to watch her get in there. We named our 2 new calves names off the list of ideas we got from ya'll on the first one. We now have Hamburger Patrick (the winner of the contest), Stu Beef and Phil A. Mignon or Patty, Stu and Phil for short. =)

These chicks will be going into the field tomorrow night or Wednesday night. These are broilers who will be 3 weeks this week and layers that will be 6 weeks. They get big quick.

My bleeding hearts are doing really well. Here are a couple of pictures of the blooms.

I had to go deliver a death message to the Amish this morning. When I was headed back to my car, this little guy/girl? came out to see me. Aaaawwwwww.... how cute!!!

Sunday we had church here. Then a bunch went to play softball on a local diamond. We watched the movie Peace Child. It is just a short over view of the book by the same title. It was good though.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Show And Tell Friday

Kelli hosts a show and tell Friday. Do you have a something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, an antique find. Your show and tell can be old or new. Use your imagination and dig through those old boxes in your closet if you have to! Feel free to share pictures and if there's a story behind your special something, that's even better!

I posted the following picture on my website. There was an older woman on line who saw it. She emailed me and asked if I would allow her to paint a picture of it. I told her to feel free. She asked me to send her some more pictures of our barn. I sent her several.

She emailed me and said she had finished the picture and would I like it. I told her I would gladly buy it from her. She refused payment even for shipping. She had it framed and shipped it to me. Here is the painting she did. Thanks Irene!!!

Today is my dear sweet Michael's 50th birthday. I feel like we have grown up together. Here is a picture of us the Christmas we were engaged (1978). God has truly blessed me with a wonderful, sweet, gentle husband. He has been the biggest blessing in my life and I thank God for him. It is also my friend Rachel's 18th birthday. Happy birthday Rachel!!!!!

Also, it is my one year anniversary of blogging. I started last year on this day!!! Time sure does fly!!!

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Drum Roll Please........

Well we have a winner in the "Name The Calf Contest". I wrote down all the names including any cute comments you made about your choice. I left off the names of who submitted them. We had quite a list. My husband went through them and picked out his top 6 choices. Then I picked 3 of those and he picked the winner from them. The calf's name is Hamburger Patrick and he will be called Patty for short. Lisa in NM is the winner. If you will email me your address we will be sending you a copy of the movie Flywheel.

Thank you all for your choices. You were very creative and gave us ideas for future calves. In fact we are picking up two calves on Saturday.

Bluebird House

We will be picking the winner sometime today. Yesterday was full. I had my co-op truck come and then it had to be unloaded and sorted. My Dad and his friend came to our house for an afternoon visit and stayed for dinner. So, we have not had time to review the names yet.

I thought I would share a picture of the bluebird house my son made for me. The front swings down so you can clean it out. I am thrilled with my birdhouse!!!!! I will be back to write more later. I am still behind. =)

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Name The Calf Contest!!

This post will stay at the top until the end of the contest. Please scroll past it for newer posts.

If you have been reading my blog, then you know we just had a new calf born on Saturday. This calf is a bull calf, meaning he is a little boy. He is half jersey and half angus. He has a tiny white spot on his forehead and a larger white spot on one knee. He will become meat in our freezer in about 18 months. With all that in mind, I am looking for name suggestions for him. I am not sure what the prize will be yet, but I will let you know. The other calves on the farm right now are Texas T-Bone, Sir Loin of Beef and Bullseye. So, those names will not be allowed. Use your thinking caps and be creative. Just know that it is easier to eat T-Bone, then Little Buttercup. =) The final approval will come from my husband. Leave your suggestion in the comments section.

The Prize For the Contest

This is going to be the prize for the Name The Calf contest. It is the movie Flywheel. This is a new unopened DVD. A church decided to start making movies. This was their first one. The second one they made was Facing the Giants which I told about here. This is something that I believe every Christian needs to see. It will be a great addition to any family's film library. The contest ends at midnight on May the 15th.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Tomorrow is the Last Day!!

Tomorrow is the last day for the Name the Calf Contest. We will probably announce the winner on Thursday. So, check back then to see if you have won!!!

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Mother's Day

This is my second Mother's Day without my Mom. It is still hard, but not as hard as last year. I know that I will always miss her. When we lost her, we lost the main prayer warrior for our family. It has showed that those prayers are missing. The rest of us need to step up to the plate and pray like she did. She walked what she talked. I think of her up there with the Lord. I know she is so much happier. She has met the King of Kings!!!! I was listening to a song about going to heaven and the first thing they wanted to do, was to see Jesus. I could whole-heartedly sing along with that, but then I added my own line.... Then I want to see my Mom. =) This picture was taken in the spring of 1976. I was a senior in high school. I believe this was just after my Grandpa's funeral. My Grandma is in the front, then my Mom and then me.

I also celebrate on this day, that God blessed me with a son and let me be a mother. Here is a picture of my son, Joshua. =) He is going to love me for putting this picture up here. He is my gift from God. I wanted 12, but was only given one and so I got an extra special one.

He knows that I love loose change. I always use bills to buy things and keep the change. I save it up and have bought some really neat stuff with change. He had a half gallon jar almost full of change. He was messing with it last night. I thought he was counting it or rolling it. Here is what I saw when I came out of my room this morning. When he got up, he told me that his whole jar of change was mine for Mother's Day!!

Friday, May 11, 2007

Show And Tell Friday

Kelli hosts a Show and Tell Friday on her blog. If you would like to take part or just browse other people's show and tell, then head on over to her blog and check it out.

The Lord has blessed me with lots of friends 18 years old and younger. I love babies, children and young people. One of my friends, Anna knows that I love sunflowers and country type things. She found this picture and it reminded her of me. So, she put it in a frame and gave it to me as a gift. I always think of her when I look at it. It is in my office and I can see it when I sit here at the computer.

P.S. Check out the Name the Calf Contest on my blog. See links at right.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Ready To Plant

Our last frost date for this area is May 15th. The last 2 years, we have had a frost after this date. I am hoping that is not the case for this year. The last few days including today have been in the 80's. The ground has dried out and it was time to till the garden. Michael likes to do the first big tilling of the year with a tiller that is pulled behind a tractor. We have 2 other families that go in on this with us. The one family picks the tiller up right before the rental place closes for the day. We are so blessed that they go and get the tiller, do the tilling and take it back the next morning. The tiller is on their tractor in the pictures above. One of their sons took our tractor and picked up their bush hog at their house and came back and bush hogged the garden area before they tilled it. I have most of my plants and seeds, now I need to decide what I will put in the ground before the frost date. =)

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Here are the first batch of chicks at just a couple of days over 3 weeks old. These are all broilers and they are out on pasture in their moveable pen. These are the ugliest chickens, but oh, do they taste good.

Why is it.... This first picture is a bare place in the grass where I left weeds lay for too long. The grass died and still this year the spot is bare.

Now here, right beside it is my flower bed, that I put newspaper down and thick mulch over that. It looks like it needs to be mowed instead of weeded. Why couldn't this grass grow in the barespot? =)

I have the first two little blooms on my bleeding heart plant. I really want to move it out of this barrel, but I wonder if I will kill it in the process.

Here is an Iris that is blooming in front of the house. My iris's do not do too good. I get lots of the green shoots, but very few flowers.

Now, I don't want to encourage anyone to whine, but let me tell you what whining got me.... =) We have a young lady in our church who is a very good cook, but an even better baker. She has a big family and her older brother and her Dad give her lots of requests for desserts. She has even asked my son and my husband for their idea of what she should bring to church. I have been suggesting a cheesecake for quite a while now. She is really a sweet girl, but chooses not to hear me. =) There are a couple of meals that I make that she really likes. She mentioned that I could just bring those 2 every other Sunday and she would be happy. I reminded her in a sort of whiney way that I would like a cheesecake. They had car trouble on Sunday and had to go back home. I told her that I brought one of her favorites that day. I asked what she had made for dessert. It was NOT a cheesecake. So, I did a bit more whining. =) Well, today , she and 3 of her sisters walked to my house. Guess what they brought me? How did you guess???? Yup, a cheesecake. They also brought me wildflowers. I am wondering if I should tell my guys or just hide it in the back of the fridge!! =)

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Goodbyes and Hellos

Today my two goats went to their new home. We decided that it was the best thing for the farm. The feed costs have almost doubled in the last 5 years. Also, we really did not use the milk for anything but to feed other animals. I cried like a baby when they left and have had a couple of crying spells since then.

The goats were gone about 20 minutes and Michael went up to check up on Molasses. She was in labor and in about 30 mins. gave birth to a bull calf. I took pictures of the actual birth, but my camera is messing up and the first pictures I took are not downloading. =( Here is a picture of the calf's first attempt at standing up.

The 3 steer calves (2 are ours and one is the neighbor's) were hanging around close by. We had to push them away a couple of times. The one on the left is Texas T-Bone. The one in the middle is Sir Loin of Beef and the one on the right is the neighbor's. His name is Bullseye.

Molasses had quit cleaning him off and we wondered if it was because he had some manure on him. I did not have a towel out there, so I used a couple of handfuls of hay to wipe him down. That is why he is covered in hay.

He finally made it up on all 4 feet. I am always amazed at the perfection in God's creation. The Momma animals know just what to do. Then these brand new babies not even an hour old know where to start looking for a meal. How anyone can deny a Grand Creator is beyond me.

Texas T-Bone kept trying to get in close to check out the new guy in the pasture. He was very jumpy while doing it. The baby was very unsteady on his legs and would wobble. Everytime that he moved Tex would jump back out of the way.

I am going to be posting a contest to name the new baby. So be thinking of a good one. Remember, this guy will be hamburger in the fall of 2008. =)


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Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Good 'Ole Concert Days

I love going to concerts. It's as simple as that. I did not realize how spoiled I was when I lived in the bay area for 4 years having access to ANY and EVERY concert I could hope for.

Now living approximately 3 hours from any large city, my concert viewing has greatly decreased. Don't get me wrong, I am more than willing to travel for a band I love, however over the last few years bands are more commonly preforming on any day of the week...not just the weekends.

The closest concert venue we have is in Santa Barbara (1.5 hours south.) The venus not that big, so the performers that play there are either bands with one hit album, has beens, or Katy Perry since she's local.

We also have concerts once a year at the Paso Fair. If we are lucky they will have a band that we like (Weezer, STP, Velvet Revolver). This year they have yet to announce an act we would like to see...there is one more night free...let's hope it's not another country act.

Occasionally there will be a when MGMT played in Avila last year. (I'm actually heading back to the Avila venue next month to see Sheryl Crow play for a fundraiser. Random, I know.)

I currently subscribe to all concert venue newsletters as well as all of the small bands I like HOPING they will play somewhere near by. I'm learning that it is also very common for smaller bands to play festivals...AKA multi day concerts. Most of these take place over a weekend, which is awesome except it's MULTI DAY.

I will painfully admit that I am TOO old to attend a 3 day concert. Ever since I turned 30 I have really felt the physical effects of getting older. Seriously. A simple weekend trip to SF/LA totally wipes me out. If I can't' take that, how could I survive a 3-day concert? Whatever happened to the 1 day concerts back in the 90's? KMEL Summer Jam? Kamp KOME? Anyone? Those concerts were SO AWESOME. Totally exhausting...but they were only 1 day so you had ample time to recover.

It really bums me out that 1 day concerts have now turned into these MULTI DAY 'festivals.' I'm sure most of you have heard of Coachella as well as Outside Lands. I name these two in particular because A) they both have bands I would love to see, and B) they are both in CA and I could possibly attend them...HOWEVER they take place over 3 days. 3 DAYS! Who has the time and money for a 3 day concert? I know one person who has the resources, and that is my friend SA. I must say that I am totally pumped that I have at least one friend who is hard core enough to attend these awesome festivals...and that I get to live vicariously through her.

This weekend she will be going to Coachella for a second time. Read about her survival tips here...and read about her experience last year here.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

New Blog for You

Greetings to my 7 friends who subscribe to this blog. I have the feeling that my other viewers are long gone as it has (sadly) been 2 months since I posted. Sigh. Blogging became so time consuming for me that I became more and more reluctant to sit down and write. It's supposed to be fun right? An enjoyable hobby? Hopefully it will start to feel that way to me again.

While I'm on this blogging hiatus I do have a new blog for you all to follow. My friend Christine has just joined the blogging world and has challenged herself to post everyday. Seriously! So add The Ravenous Mind to your reader right now. Don't forget to leave her some comments, as of now I look like a total stalker fan because I am the only one who has left any comments.

Note: Check back tomorrow. I'm working on a rant post.


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Space Ships.

One of my favorite poems. I wrote this is 2009 I believe.
My Head is to the sky waiting on them spaceships to pass by.
Spending a buck
fifty on material things just so I can look fly.
Crowded room but he’s the
only one I perceive.
Nappy hair twisted up.. Feeling his vibe --

Grinning lips.. Happily awaiting a pristine start.
premature hearts open again.
When it was just ripped apartI’m in a trance
his tone has got me zoning.
I listen with ease.
Feeling like Hannibal cus
my ears eat up his words like a disease.

It seems like I fall more that I stand.
hearts been beaten up yet I dive back in all over again
The jealousy the
good, bad and the lies.
I want every part as long as its him by my
I’m ungrateful but I try to stay faithful through it all.
wondering eyes are going to be the death of me.
Since my heart keeps catching
all my falls.

"Mama always told me to be careful who i love AND Daddy
always told me to make sure he's right."
So I play games and act like I don’t
like him just to see if I’m worth the fight.
Afraid of being hurt. We all
But when I think my hearts durable it's still sore.

I put my girls
before you cus I know they will still be there.
I Did it so much he left.. thought i didn't care.
Said I was
childish but I say I was being safe.
So I live with no regrets cus the past
is the past.
but with each new face its like the same script different

Time persistently ticking..
my mind is never latent..
..Physically missing his being.
I long for
him once more.
But i Gotta keep it pushing & stay on track.
Linkin Park i'm by myself & i can't look back
ipod blasting next lifetime
by Badu
realizing my self-worth
instead of settling to be with u

two fingers up
shades on my
looking at the sky..
waiting on one of them spaceships to


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The Classroom

The Classroom – July 2017

- July 1, 2017 - Jerry Hayes - (excerpt)

ABJ The Classroom

In the April 2017 issue of American Bee Journal (pp 361 & 362), there are a couple of letters for which I would like to add my comments to your answers. No doubt your computer has a delete button if you doubt that my comments are of interest.

Firstly, Marlin asks about producing cut comb without using foundation. Here in Western Australia several of the beekeepers who produce cut comb regularly do so in full depth supers using full depth frames to which a grooved center bar has been added. Starter strips are fitted in the top and center bar grooves and the bees usually do an excellent job since they have only about 4 inches depth to build in each half. Once the first harvest is taken about 1/4 inch of comb is left as a starter strip for the next fill. Because handling narrow strips of foundation in warm weather is difficult (unless allowed to work at the dining table under the air conditioner!), some insert ice cream pop sticks or similar into the grooves and give them a coat of wax.

Having a few woodworking machines, I have cut many thousands of the center bars for others and myself.

Secondly, Ron asks about darkening honey by heating it and a picture of a plastic bucket fitted with a heating band is shown. Back in 1972 my wife and I took on the distributorship in Western Australia of bee goods we brought over from Queensland. And, we would pack a lot of our honey in buckets to rail to customers. Also we bought buckets for retail to other beekeepers. We were often asked about heating bands for buckets, so I enquired from the company that supplied us with ones for 200 liter drums. After a while we received the reply that they were available, but must not be used on plastic containers holding foodstuffs because they can heat the plastic to the point where it gives off toxic fumes which may be absorbed by the food. This was about 40 years ago and maybe the plastics have been changed. Or maybe more research has shown the story to be a fallacy. I don’t know, but we have never used them.

Kindest regards,
Stan Taylor

Q  Controlled Burn….Better Beekeeper Now

Well, this spring’s problems with a control burn of land around me and all that smoke that I thought was hurting my colonies have led to me checking my hives more often this spring, like every 3-4 days. But in doing so I am more aware of my hives’ conditions– hive beetle numbers, queen productivity, swarm cells, etc. My hives are all looking good; only one appears to be without a laying queen. I add a frame of brood every so often to keep things going until new queens will arrive. I normally split and/or requeen every year to keep from having a lot of swarms and have had success with preventing swarms, though not really having an increase in hive numbers.

Question: what is the best way to do splits? Move old queen with a frame or two of brood and put new queen in old hive body; leave old queen in hive and put new queen in nuc body with some brood, honey and pollen; kill old queen and put new queen in hive (not really a split). I have done splits a lot of different ways in the past. If the old queen is still relatively productive, I’m thinking, just move her to a nuc until she wears out and try a queen cell take over as she dies out.

I suffer from what I call “pilot error” and always seem to be able to achieve this at least once or twice a year during my requeening/splitting process. Jamie Ellis had an article in the American Bee Journal–3 reasons for colony loss, but he left out —“Pilot Error” or Beekeeper Malfunction.

Bob Limbird

Jamie just assumed Pilot Error as the foundation of losses to be built upon by the other three reasons. First, I want to thank whomever was responsible for the ‘control burn’. If it led you to becoming more of a beekeeper rather than a bee-haver, bless their heart. That is the best outcome ever.

The cool thing about beekeeping is that the bees compensate for our “pilot error” most of the time as we monkey with and manipulate them. They are survivors and they have proved that ever since our ancestors targeted them for free food.

This is what I do with either a caged queen or cells. My rationale is that the original queen is already laying and has a head start on a caged queen or cells. I would agree with your first selection, “Move old queen with a frame or two of brood and put new queen in old hive body.” Leave the old hive in the same location so they have the advantage of all of the foragers returning and jump-starting the new queen. Take as many young bees as you can on the 2-3 frames that you take for the split. Those bees and the emerging brood, along with the already laying queen, should keep all things good.

Enjoy the adventure. Take care. Jerry

Q More bees, but less bees

As a new beekeeper I am confused about what I keep reading that honey bee colony numbers continue to rise despite high overwintering losses. What am I missing? What’s going on?

This is true. Commercial beekeepers who have a business position cannot sustain 30%+ losses and meet contract demands and/or honey production goals. Honey bee biology allows one to take a live colony, artificially divide it and make two colonies. If those colonies are fed, they will build up population. Commercial beekeepers have taken this replacement loss strategy an additional step by not only using this technique to replace dead or dying colonies, but to do it preemptively and build in extra colonies as ‘insurance’ from expected losses. If you know you are going to lose 30%+ of your business inventory, you build in what may appear as excess inventory to cover expected losses. So, colony count numbers rise in response to anticipated losses.

The wrinkle here for me is that because this technique has allowed beekeepers to meet pollination contract requirements and the grower gets the results yield they require, honey bees are looked on as a production overhead–no different than irrigation, fertilizer, crop protection tools, harvesting, etc.

If commercial beekeepers are busting their butts to keep their business going and they fulfill customer demands, the grower really doesn’t care how they are accomplishing this. The beekeepers show up every year, so what difference does it make to the grower? They are getting what they want. This is the awkward dichotomy.

I’m not sure if you remember me, but I attended one of the bee meetings you spoke at a couple years ago. I have a friend who’s looking for a source for a fair amount of locally produced beeswax for beard products. We briefly chatted about quantity and I believe he was looking for about 100 pounds a month. Do you have any suggestions?

Jon Riley,
St. Louis, MO

Whoa, this is the best question I have gotten in months! Beard products…..I have a beard is that why you contacted me.

No one locally will have that type of consistent quantity Jon. There are no commercial beekeepers in the immediate area who would be creating that volume of beeswax or be sitting on that amount of valuable inventory.

What I would consider is the beekeeping supply company, Dadant & Sons, Inc., about 3 hours north of St. Louis in Hamilton, IL They buy beeswax from commercial beekeepers in the United States for producing beeswax foundation for colonies and they make beeswax candles for the Catholic market, beautiful decorative candles, and supply for medical uses, etc. All that to say, the quality is good and they can supply various grades and colors in 100 pound quantities all day long.

I have an opportunity to put a bee yard in an otherwise good location (flat, sunny, easy access), but the owner also is planning on putting in a large generator (50 kW) within 100 feet or so of that location. The generator will be running 2 hours every day; day in and…


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Thursday, May 19, 2011

Come out, come out where ever you are...

Where are the Twinkies in this country??!!  OMG......I am craving a darn twinkie and they have nothing close to that here...Ughh!  Sounds like a special request I need to send my parents for their next overseas package..hehe

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Salaam everyone....

Life is going ok for the time being.  I will be moving soon and looking forward to getting out of the place I am in. I am excited to start getting the nursery ready and buying baby things...  I cant wait!  :-)

I am into my 14th week.  I made it past the miserable 1st trimester which is something horror movies are made of!  lool.  I feel good now, despite not recognizing my ankles and feet.

My new job is wonderful.  I love the low stress environment, better people and better pay.  Great combinations..

My husband is planning his trip to see my co wife for next month after we move and get settled in.  I am wondering if I should have the locks changed while he is gone or what?  lool  I am still struggling with it and it is not getting any easier.  Just because you come to a point of "acceptance" in your life does not mean the pain in your heart goes away.

Yalla...thats all for now.  Take care to all of you out there!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

To My hater ...

Ahhh , Can you feel the love??  I accedently saw "this persons" comment to me as I was going thru tons of comments I havent posted.  They wanted me to "recant" what I said..  I will not.  You said it and if you want proof, go back in my blog and see what you have wrote.. For now, chew on this...

I am in quite the mood lately and usually would not entertain these. know what/? This is MY blog...You wrote it...You own it!

This is YOUR comment, unedited to me... Two of a few.

****See that YOU DID SAY I HAD A FAKE HUSBAND??****  yeah, I dont lie...

Given that you've not yet decided whether to stay with your husband, and are dying of homesickness, how could you think of having a baby?
Also, by what right do you think it's acceptable to give a child half a father, knowing full well that your fake husband will be dividing his time between his other wife and children?
Shame on you for even considering bringing an innocent baby into such a miserable, unhealthy situation, simply out of your selfish desire to keep your husband, perhaps because you think a baby will keep him from finding another wife? Well, it WON'T. Ask any other woman who's experienced this, or better yet, ask any child who was born into such a sick situation.

What will it take?

I wonder how many Extremists and "Band wagon jumpers" will still deny that this Monster is dead after  Al-Qaeda CONFIRMED IT???? BWT..Al-Qaeda = A bunch of crazy people with warped sense of Islam and life in general. Maybe the view with their heads in the sand is nice, then again, all we see up here are a bunch of behinds....LOOOOL  Keep your head in the sand just end up showing us your true self!

I long for the day that my children can grow up and not be lumped into the same category as these crazy people who call them selfs Muslims.  They have hijacked this perfect religion for their own selfish gain and warped sense of reality.  They are NOT Muslims...They are mad men that will be punished in this life and the next, InshaAllah...

I am still doing the happy dance, still enjoying this moment of retribution and loving every moment I am an American.  Now the crazy people vow revenge...Go ahead, poke the sleeping Bear..see what happens!

Ask your self this question, were you around when the towers and Pentagon were hit?  How about the USS Cole, London bombing or the embassy in Kenya?  How old were you?  Old enough to feel fear or still jumping rope in the playground?  If you were not in these countries, felt the fear we did or were still hanging on to Mama's apron string, Please rethink your opinions as to why we feel vindicated.  We were there, ADULTS feeling this fear. We were affected....Not u!  We, and the rest of the world, have every right to be happy!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Ohhh Happy Day!!!

Bin Laden is Dead!!!!!  At last!  May he atone for the evil he has committed!  May he answer to his higher power!  May he rot in the ground for all eternity!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

I finally believe I have found my house....I cant even begin to count how many I looked at but  I think I found the one I want.  I am very excited and can start to move in about 10 days....Whoop Whoop!!


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Skip to main content

Showing posts from May, 2011

more of my travels

I had a good look around Salt Lake City and visited a small quilt museum. Above are some of the quilts on display. Not so sure about the squirrel one?? Made by a 13 year old girl who apparently hunted the furry creatures then made a quilt from the skins.

 This is Carolyn Forster from The UK who was at market promoting her new book "utility quilting" which will be available soon. Carolyn is doing my BOM " the circle game " so it was lovely to meet her in person.

 I am now in Denver visiting friends and on Tuesday evening Fancy Tiger has a craft evening so we went along and joined the knitters, embroiderers, crocheters and stitchers. It was a really nice evening. These are just some of the wonderful images this talented lady embroidered onto her toile skirt.

Beautiful Salt Lake City

This is a really beautiful city. I open the curtains each morning and there are the mountains right in front of me.

 Quilt market is a busy place. Here we are day one all full of anticipation at what we may see within. I have purchased some great things to bring back so everyone can be excited

 The gorgeous Kellie and Jan from "Don't look now" were very busy and below is one of Kellies designs on display at a quilt shop I visited in the Utah Valley

 I also had the pleasure of spending time with my friend Sue, and her stand as always, stood out in the crowd.

 Sue has designed a wonderful new ribbon range, so have a look next time you are in our store as I have ordered the full range.

Thank you Jennifer, Elizabeth, Sue, Kelly, Melissa and Cathy for a scrumptious dinner and fun night in general. I bought a sewing project with me but I have been so busy socialising I haven't done a stitch. It has been a wonderful few days. I am sorry the photos are a little dull but I am wor…

friendly facebook competion

Do you love Amitie Textiles? Spread the word and we'll show you a little love in return...
We’re looking for more friends because we're told you can never have enough.... so get your friends to ‘like’ us on Facebook and win a LIBERTY OF LONDON FABRIC BUNDLE (1m of liberty in total from the new seasonal range)!

Just e-mail us at (subject line: Facebook friends) a list of which friends you got to ‘like’ us before the 30th of May and if you have the most you’ll WIN!
Send your friends the link:

Let the Friendly Facebook competition begin!

the circle game

For all those who have emailed to ask to see the quilt. I think someone doing the BOM program must have popped some blocks on their blog.
Happy mothers day to all the yummy mummys out there.

mini quilt finished

Been a busy little bee quilting and binding my Down Under Doll Quilt project.

I have had so much fun with this one and can't wait to find out what my partner thinks.
Lucy is busy today packing things to take to the South East Stitching Group (read more about that here) Last week we had a visitor come in.

Lulu - was very easy to fall in love with this little one. Very soft and cuddly, so small and adorable.
and don't forget
(In store only. Excludes Pfaff products, class fee's and already discounted stock eg. 50% OFF shelf)
Monday the 9th of May.
All you have to do to claim your discount is wish Lucy a Happy Birthday on Monday!
Hope you all have a nice weekend!

mini sale to celebrate

Lucy turns 24 on Monday the 9th of May and to help her celebrate we're having a mini sale 15% OFF STORE WIDE  (in store only, excludes Pfaff products, class fees and already reduced stocked) All you have to do to claim your discount is come in and wish Lucy a happy birthday!

See you next Monday!


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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Halloween Wedding Wednesday-Venue

Venue for a Halloween wedding can be so many different things. The idea is to think about the venue that will most fit the way you are interpreting the Halloween theme. For us that meant the Queen Mary. It is haunted, the boat has all the original wood paneling and ambiance, plus Dark Harbor!

The year before our wedding, I had gone to the Queen Mary's Dark Harbor and it was awesome!  It is the Queen Mary's version of Haunted Halloween mazes and such. A lot of theme parks do special Halloween haunted nights around Halloween time and the Queen Mary definitely participates. It is not as big as theme parks, but the mazes are better...I think so anyway. And it is not as crowded. Anyway, the prior year I had discovered this amazing photobooth type guy that I had to have for our wedding. The first thing I did when we decided it would be a Halloween wedding was to call that guy and make sure he was available since I knew he would also be doing the Dark Harbor again. Second, I booked the Queen Mary. I know that seems backwards but that is how great this guy's services were. And that's all I am saying about it for will have to wait and see!

We were lucky to get scheduled in the Queen Mary. We started talking about the wedding end of April but officially got engaged in May. We were soooooo lucky that they had a place left on the last Saturday of Halloween on such a prime venue as the Queen Mary. (Yes we planned and made this happen fairly quickly---What can I say? When you know, you know!) They have three ballrooms and the only ballroom they had left (Verandah) was for about 100 people which was exactly what our estimate was. It was meant to be!

But you are not here to just listen to my venue. Other great ideas I have seen are weddings in cemeteries. A lot of large cemeteries actually have weddings and areas. There have been plenty of weddings in haunted mansions. I would have loved to do something like the Winchester Mystery House (but I no longer live in Northern California).  In fact, my mother tried to get the Winchester Mystery House for my Bat Mitzvah (October 28, 1995) since it was around Halloween and we all know my fun tendencies but it was booked on the Halloween weekend dates 5 years in advance! Yikes!

What else?  I'm sure there are other haunted ships to use. What about theme parks? I know you can get married at some, I wonder if some will let you get married there during their haunted night festivities?  And then there is the classic, a backyard or outside. There are so many great ways to decorate backyards and outside for Halloween themed weddings.

Any other ideas?  Please comment your genius thoughts!

1 comment:

  1. I love the Queen Mary! I can't wait to see more.

Thanks so much for leaving a message! Hearing from you makes my day!


text:
The Work

September 13, 2010 3:37 PM

HP Taps Three Firms for $1.5 Billion ArcSight Buy

Posted by Brian Baxter

Two weeks after Hewlett-Packard beat out Dell to acquire data storage company 3PAR, and more than a month after the Palo Alto-based tech giant fired its former CEO Mark Hurd, the information tech giant has turned to Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Drinker Biddle & Reath, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer to advise on its purchase of security software maker ArcSight.

HP announced the $1.5 billion ArcSight acquisition on Monday. Russell Hansen, partner-in-charge of Gibson Dunn's Palo Alto office, is advising HP on the deal along with corporate partner Mark Lahive, and associates Jeffrey Petit, Raymond Yee, and Phil Kenny. Hansen, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, advised HP on its $1.2 billion acquisition of handheld device maker Palm earlier this year.

Gibson Dunn figures to remain busy with HP work. The firm is advising HP in a civil suit filed last week against Hurd over the former CEO's announced moved to Oracle, and has been retained to handle a derivative suit filed against the company over Hurd's severance package. Also, as reported by The New York Times and according to disclosures in HP's recent 10-Q, the Justice Department and SEC have expanded an investigation into possible bribery payments in connection with contracts the company obtained in Russia. As we reported earlier this year, Gibson Dunn and Linklaters are advising HP on that inquiry in the U.S. and Europe, respectively.

Drinker Biddle partners Robert Skitol and Joanne Lewers are providing U.S. antitrust advice to HP on the ArcSight deal, while Freshfields partner Alan Ryan and senior associate Martin McElwee are serving as European antitrust counsel. Both firms have previously advised HP on various matters.

HP deputy general counsel Paul Porrini, senior counsel for corporate securities and M&A Brandon Ponichter, and M&A counsel Rick Arnold and Amy Rothstein led the in-house legal team on the ArcSight deal.

HP general counsel Michael Holston was a partner at Drinker Biddle from 1987 to 2005, joining HP from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius in 2007, after a pretexting scandal resulted in the resignation of his predecessor. Since that time, Holston has shaken up HP's in-house legal department, which was recently profiled by sibling publication Corporate Counsel.

A source familiar with the ArcSight deal tells us the company has tapped Fenwick & West corporate partner David Bell for outside counsel. While an ArcSight spokesman declined to comment, a Fenwick spokeswoman confirms the firm is advising the Cupertino, Calif.-based company, which provides network security consulting and compliance management services to corporate clients.

Bell was assisted by firm chairman and technology partner Gordon Davidson, M&A cochair Douglas Cogen, corporate chair Daniel Winnike, antitrust cochair Mark Ostrau, executive compensation partner Scott Spector, technology transactions partners E.A. Lisa Kenkel and Stephen Gillespie, and regulatory compliance partners Susan Muck and Jay Pomerantz. The firm represented ArcSight on its IPO in early 2008 with a team led by Bell; it has also handled M&A work for the company.

ArcSight general counsel Tram Phi is a former Fenwick associate. Associate general counsel Mary Keller and corporate counsel David Borders, Jr., assisted Phi on the acquisition by HP. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year, pending regulatory approvals.

HP Tops Dell in Bid for 3PAR

HP's Uphill Battle Against Hurd

Skadden Has Part in Evolving HP Turmoil

How HP, Covington Handled the Mark Hurd Matter

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Pure Land Site Home mail me! Chinese-English Dictionary sindicaci;ón

Pure Land Buddhism

What is Pure Land?

[Pure Land comprises the schools] of East Asia which emphasize aspects of Mahayana Buddhism stressing faith in Amida, meditation on and recitation of his name, and the religious goal of being reborn in his “Pure Land,” or “Western Paradis.” (Crim, Perennial Dictionary of World Religionso.)

The most common Pure Land practice is the recitation of Amitabha Buddha’s name. This should be done with utmost faith and a sincere vow to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land.

Along with this popular form of Pure Land, there is a higher aspect, in which Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light and Life, is equated with our Buddha Nature, infinitely bright and everlasting (Self-Nature Amitabha, Mind-Only Pure Land).

The Pure Land Tradition

The goal of all Buddhist practice is to achieve Enlightenment and transcend the cycle of Birth and Death – that is, to attain Buddhahood. In the Mahayana tradition, the precondition for Buddhahood is the Bodhi Mind, the aspiration to achieve Enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings, oneself included.

Since sentient beings are of different spiritual capacities and inclinations, many levels of teaching and numerous methods were devised in order to reach everyone. Traditionally, the sutras speak of 84,000, i.e., an infinite number of methods, depending on the circumstances, the times and the target audience. All these methods are expedients – different medicines for different individuals with different illnesses at different times – but all are intrinsically perfect and complete. Within each method, the success or failure of an individual’s cultivation depends on his depth of practice and understanding, that is, on his mind.

Quoted from Pure Land Zen – Zen Pure Land Letters from Patriarch Yin Kuang – Page 8

Pure Land Buddhism

Buddhism has evolved many, many forms during its long history. Codes of conduct, guidelines for communal life, rituals, meditative practices, modes of teaching, images, fables and philosophies have varied greatly over time and place. According to the fundamental Buddhist principle of skill-in-means, this multiformity is natural and proper, a necessary response to the great variety of circumstances in which Buddhism has been propagated.

Skill-in-means requires that the presentation of the Buddhist Teaching, (sometimes simply called “the Dharma”), be adapted to the mentality and circumstances of the people being taught. According to Buddhist seers, the absolute truth is inconceivable and cannot be captured in any particular formulation. Therefore in Buddhism there is no fixed dogma, only provisional, partial expressions of the teaching, suited to the capabilities of the audience being addressed.

In keeping with this fundamental principle, a tolerant, nonsectarian approach has normally prevailed throughout Buddhist history. Where dogmatic controversies and sectarian partisanship have cropped up in the communities of Buddhist followers, these are distortions of the teaching, and have always been based on misunderstanding and misinformation. In embracing Pure Land Buddhism, therefore, people are not rejecting any of the other streams of the Buddhist tradition–they have only decided that Pure Land methods are most appropriate and most effective for them.

Pure Land Buddhism is a religion of faith, of faith in Amitabha Buddha [and in one’s capacity to achieve Buddhahood]. Amitabha Buddha presides over the Pure Land, a “paradise” in the west, the land of ultimate bliss, named “Peaceful Nurturing.” In the Pure Land, there is none of the suffering and defilement and delusion that normally blocks people’s efforts toward enlightenment here in our world (which the Buddhists named Endurance.!?)

The immediate goal of Pure Land believers is to be reborn in Amitabha’s Pure Land. There, in more favorable surroundings, in the presence of Amitabha, they will eventually attain complete enlightenment.

The essence of Pure Land practice thus consists of invoking the name of Amitabha Buddha, contemplating the qualities of Amitabha, visualizing Amitabha, and taking vows to be born in the Pure Land.

Making a vow to attain birth in the Pure Land signifies a fundamental reorientation of the believer’s motivations and will. No longer is the purpose of life brute survival, or fulfillment of a social role, or the struggle to wrest some satisfaction from a frustrating, taxing environment. By vowing to be reborn in the Pure Land, believers shift their focus. The joys and sorrows of this world become incidental, inconsequential. The present life takes on value chiefly as an opportunity to concentrate one’s awareness on Amitabha, and purify one’s mind accordingly.

The hallmark of Pure Land Buddhism is reciting the buddha-name, invoking Amitabha Buddha by chanting his name. Through reciting the buddha-name, people focus their attention on Amitabha Buddha. This promotes mindfulness of buddha, otherwise known as buddha-remembrance [buddha recitation].

In what sense is buddha “remembered”? “Buddha” is the name for the one reality that underlies all forms of being, as well as an epithet for those who witness and express this reality. According to the Buddhist Teaching, all people possess an inherently enlightened true nature that is their real identity. By becoming mindful of buddha, therefore, people are just regaining their own real identity. They are remembering their own buddha-nature.

Buddha as such is a concept that transcends any particular embodiment, such as Shakyamuni Buddha (the historical buddha born in India), or Maitreya Buddha (the future buddha), or Vairocana Buddha (the cosmic buddha) or Amitabha Buddha (the buddha of the western paradise). Buddha exists in many forms, but all share the same “body of reality,” the same Dharmakaya, which is formless, omnipresent, all-pervading, indescribable, infinite–the everywhere-equal essence of all things, the one reality within-and-beyond all appearances.

Dharmakaya Buddha is utterly abstract and in fact inconceivable, so buddha takes on particular forms to communicate with living beings by coming within their range of perception. For most people, this is the only way that buddha can become comprehensible and of practical use. The particular embodiments of buddha, known as Nirmanakaya, are supreme examples of compassionate skill-in-means.

Pure Land people focus on buddha in the form of Amitabha, the buddha of infinite life and infinite light. Believers put their faith in Amitabha Buddha and recite his name, confident in the promises he has given to deliver all who invoke his name. All classes of people, whatever their other characteristics or shortcomings, are guaranteed rebirth in the Pure Land and ultimate salvation, if only they invoke Amitabha’s name with singleminded concentration and sincere faith.

Quoted from Pure Land Pure Mind translated by J.C. Cleary

Recommend – Amitabha Pureland Web

Articles and websites suggestions

Videos and Audios for download

Kah Hoe said,

March 29, 2007 @ 2:06 am

阿彌陀佛! 阿彌陀佛!

Constance said,

June 17, 2007 @ 6:29 am

Amitabha Buddha!
Thank you for translating the Dharma here.
This is Constance from Taichung, Taiwan.
I hope to learn more about your organization.
Thank you.

Vincent Lai said,

March 1, 2008 @ 4:43 pm

Amitabha Buddha.

Thanks for your comments Constance, sorry to disappoint you, but this is not an organisation, but a website on Pure Land Buddhism. Furthermore, paragraphs and texts on this website are not translated by me, all I did was barely quoting from books and text that others have kindly translated and put it on this website. Hope it is useful.

Namo Amituofo

Alicja said,

March 3, 2008 @ 6:32 pm

Hi there,

I am a buddhist practitioner of Vajrayana buddhism. I am happy that you are doing this great job to enable others find out about buddhism. I have just one comment. You write that Pure Land buddhism is a religion of faith. I do not agree with that. Religions of faith are : Catolicism, Islam. We are one of the religions of experience (HInduism, Taoism, Buddhism) the difference is that we are expereiencing in this case the power and energy of Buddha Amitaba and can acquire his qualities. In comparison Catolics belive in God however they cant acquire his quilities therefore it is called a religion of faith. Hope it is helpful.
Best wishes,

Vincent Lai said,

March 9, 2008 @ 6:09 pm

Hi Alicja,

Thanks for your comment, I think it depends how we look at the terms “faith” and “religion of faith”. One thing that we are sure is that “faith” in Buddhism does not imply “blind faith”, would like to share one of my favourite quote here:

“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”

In Pure Land Buddhism, faith is very important because for us to be reborn in the Pure Land, simply recite the name Amitabha Buddha is not enough. Quoted from the book Pure Land Zen Zen Pure Land:

Faith, Vows and Practice form the cornerstone of Pure Land. If these three conditions are fulfilled, rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss will be achieved. You should pay particular attention to Faith and Vows, and wish wholeheartedly to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land … [and not as a celestial being or a Dharma Master, however awakened, as these are still within the realm of Birth and Death]. Only then will your Faith and Vows reach Amitabha Buddha so that His Compassionate Vow may embrace you. In this connection, Elder Master Ou I has said:

Achieving rebirth in the Pure Land depends entirely on Faith and Vows, while
the level of rebirth depends on the depth of practice.

This is a truth as solid as steel – even if a thousand Buddhas were to appear on earth, it would not change. Only by firmly believing in this truth will you have a destiny in the Western Pure Land.

I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to find out more about Pure Land Buddhism. I’ve just created a new page on Faith, Vows and Practice (quoted from the book Pure Land Zen Zen Pure Land). Hope this is helpful.

With Metta

Ming said,

March 18, 2008 @ 12:06 pm

su chu thich dong hoa said,

March 23, 2008 @ 3:00 pm

namo amitofo,

your homepage is great, i like it very much.

i am a german 21 years old and i became a novice buddhist monk, practising pure land school.

i am searching for people following pure land school all over the world.

maybe one want to write an email to me: [email protected]

may every living being be soon born in the pure land of amitabha….

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Sunday, January 19, 2014

So, here we are on the second week of the photo project.

 I cut Myla's hair last night.  She's pretty happy with it and so am I.  I always cut more of her off than I plan to and it always turns out pretty well.
 Kaylie's face would be stuck in some form of electronics if I let her.  Confession: (in case you didn't already know this about me) I'm not as good as limiting screen time as I should be.
Brynlee loves to put stuff on that belongs to her sisters.  Usually, it's shoes, but this time it was a bike helmet.

1 comment:

  1. I wasn't that good at limiting screen time when Austin was little either...he turned out ok :)


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Anagram Scramble

have fun with anagrams and solve word puzzles

is a 7 letter English word, see more 7 letter words

Words with Friends - VALID
Scrabble - VALID Official Word Check

What Words Are Nearby?

caulk : caulked : caulker

Words that sound like or rhyme with caulked

calked skulked sculked chalked clucked calqued clacked cloaked sulked slacked

Suffixes of caulked

aulked ulked lked ked ed

Prefixes of caulked

caulke caulk caul cau ca

See what words contain the exact word caulked

Anagrams and words you can make with the letters in 'caulked' ( a c d e k l u )

Two Letter Pairs in caulked

au ca ed ke lk ul


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Thursday, September 29, 2011

Sketchbook: Crabmeat

Crabmeat. Pigma Micron Pen and Derwent and Prismacolor pencils in sketchbook.

I like drawing cans and other types of packaging as a way to try out different lettering.

As for the crabmeat, I used it to make my own version of this fish taco recipe. Delicious!

1 comment:

Sarah said...

Sounds yummy! I like this one (and not just for the recipe).


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Ashwamedha Parva

Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 01 Apr 2010 10:02 and updated at 01 Apr 2010 10:02

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Section 43

XLIII Brahmana said, Among men, the royal Kshatriya is endued with the middle quality. Among vehicles, the elephant is so; and among denizens of the forest the lion; among all sacrificial animals, the sheep; among all those that live in holes, is the snake; among cattle, the bovine bull; among females, the mule There is no doubt in this that in this world, the Nyagrodha, the Jamvu, the Pippala, the Salmali, and Sinsapa, the Meshasringa, and the Kichaka, are the foremost ones among trees Himavat, Patipatra, Sahya, Vindhya, Trikutavat, Sweta, Nila, Bhasa, Koshthavat, Guruskandha, Mahendra and Malayavat, these are the foremost of mountains. Likewise the Maruts are the foremost of the Ganas.

Surya is the lord of all the planets, and Chandramas of all the constellations. Yama is the lord of the Pitris; Ocean is the lord of all rivers. Varuna is the king of the waters. Indra is said to be the king of the Maruts. Arka is the king of all hot bodies, and Indra of all luminous bodies. Agni is the eternal lord of the elements, and Vrihaspati of the Brahmanas. Soma is the lord of deciduous herbs, and Vishnu is the foremost of all that are endued with might. Tashtri is the king of Rudras, and Siva of all creatures. Sacrifice is the foremost of all initiatory rites, and Maghavat of the deities. The North is the lord of all the points of the compass; Soma of great energy is the lord of all learned Brahmanas.

Kuvera is the lord of all precious gems, and Purandara of all the deities. Such is the highest creation among all entities. Prajapati is the lord of all creatures. Of all entities whatever, I, who am full of Brahman, am the foremost. There is no entity that is higher than myself or Vishnu. The great Vishnu, who is full of Brahman, is the king of kings over all. Know him to be the ruler, the creator, the uncreated Hari. He is the ruler of men and Kinnaras and Yakshas and Gandharvas, and Snakes and Rakshasas, and deities and Danavas and Nagas. Among those that are followed by persons full of desire is the great goddess Maheswari of beautiful eyes. She is otherwise called by the name of Parvati.

Know that the goddess Uma is the foremost and the most auspicious of women. Among women that are a source of pleasure, the foremost are the Apsaras who are possessed of great splendour Kings are desirous of acquiring piety, and Brahmanas are causeways of piety. Therefore, the king should always strive to protect the twice-born ones. Those kings in whose dominions good men languish are regarded as bereft of the virtues of their order. Hereafter they have to go into wrong paths. Those kings in whose dominions good men are protected, rejoice in this world and enjoy happiness hereafter. Verily, those high-souled ones attain to the highest seat. Understand this, ye foremost of regenerate ones. I shall after this state the everlasting indications of duties.

Abstention from injury is the highest duty. Injury is an indication of unrighteousness. Splendour is the indication of the deities. Men have acts for their indications. Ether or space has sound for its characteristic. Wind has touch for its characteristic. The characteristic of lighted bodies is colour, and water has taste for its characteristic. Earth, which holds all entities, has smell for its characteristic. Speech has words for its characteristic, refined into vowels and consonants. Mind has thought for its characteristic.

Thought has, again, been said to be the characteristic of the understanding. The things thought of by the mind are ascertained with accuracy by the understanding. There is no doubt in this, viz, that the understanding, by perseverance, perceives all things. The characteristic of mind is meditation. The characteristic of the good man is to live unperceived Devotion has acts for its characteristic. Knowledge is the characteristic of renunciation. Therefore keeping knowledge, before his view, the man of understanding should practise renunciation. The man who has betaken himself to renunciation and who is possessed of knowledge, who transcends all pairs of opposites, as also darkness, death, and decrepitude, attains to the highest goal. I have thus declared to you duty what the indications are of duty.

I shall, after this, tell you of the seizure comprehension of qualities. Smell, which appertains to earth, is seized by the nose. The wind, that dwells in the nose is likewise appointed as an agent in the perception of smell. Taste is the essence of water. That is seized by the tongue. Soma, who resides in the tongue, is appointed likewise in the perception of taste. The quality of a lighted body is colour. That is seized by the eye. Aditya who always resides in the eye has been appointed in the perception of colour. Touch always appertains to the wind as its quality.

That is perceived by the skin. The wind that always resides in the skin has been appointed in apprehending touch. The quality of ether is sound. That is seized by the ear. All the quarters, which reside in the ear, have been appointed in apprehending sound. The quality of the mind is thought. That is seized by the understanding. The upholder of consciousness, residing in the heart, has been appointed in apprehending the mind. The understanding is apprehended in the form of determination or certitude, and Mahat in the form of knowledge. The unperceived Prakriti has been, it is evident, appointed for the seizure of all things after certitude.

There is no doubt in this The Kshetrajna which is eternal and is destitute of qualities as regards its essence, is incapable of being seized by symbols. Hence, the characteristic of the Kshetrajna, which is without symbols, is purely knowledge. The unmanifest resides in the symbol called Kshetra, and is that in which the qualities are produced and absorbed. I always see, know, and hear it though it is hidden. Purusha knows it: therefore is he called Kshetrajna. The Kshetrajna perceives also the operations of the qualities and absence of their operations. The qualities, which are created repeatedly, do not know themselves, being unintelligent, as entities to be created and endued with a beginning, middle, and end. No one else attains, only the Kshetrajna attains, to that which is the highest and great and which transcend the qualities and those entities which are born of the qualities. Hence one who understands duties, casting off qualities and the understanding, and having his sins destroyed, and transcending the qualities, enters the Kshetrajna.

One that is free from all pairs of opposites, that never bends his head to any one, that is divested of Swaha, that is immovable, and homeless, is the Kshetrajna. He is the Supreme Lord'

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Anderson & Cunningham limits the number of cases that it takes so that it can devote its full resources to those cases. We adhere to this policy so that our clients are assured that we are completely committed to each case that we take.

These cases tend to have large amounts in controversy, and the legal and factual issues in dispute are often highly complex. Usually, the outcome of these cases will have a significant financial impact on the participating parties. But this is not always so. Sometimes the firm undertakes a case just because it presents moral or legal issue of interest. Sometimes the firm sees an injustice, and takes on a case with the hope of righting that injustice through the legal system for the benefit of that party as well as others similarly situated.

At any rate, we understand that each case is of the utmost importance to those involved. We are always mindful of that fact, and in those cases in which we do not accept the representation, we will try to refer the inquiring party to other counsel.

Anderson & Cunningham's retention policy is to first meet the needs of its clients. This policy extends to firm's fee arrangement as well as all other aspects of the firm's work. The firm and its attorneys believe that they have an obligation to creatively explore all available options for the client's benefit. In all matters that concern the client, Anderson & Cunningham believes that its job is not just to find the better alternative, but to create a better alternative. For this reason, Anderson & Cunningham has always been willing to discuss alternative billing arrangements with its clients, and it has handled many cases under non traditional fee contracts.

Given the firm's size and structure, it has greater flexibility to do alternative compensation arrangements. Many of the firm's clients prefer the traditional, more standard hourly billing method, and that option is always made available. But other clients have needs and interests that are not met by standard billing arrangements, and in those cases, Anderson & Cunningham will work with the client to structure alternative fee agreements that are better suited to that particular client's needs and wishes.

Many cases have been handled on a contingent basis. Some clients seek a contingent fee arrangement because they could not otherwise afford counsel, but others simply prefer this kind of arrangement. They believe that the firm and its lawyers are better qualified to assess the risks inherent in a particular case, and they feel more comfortable when the lawyers are participating in that risk. They also believe that the outcome of the case is influenced by the lawyers efforts on the case, and for that reason, they believe that the lawyers compensation should be tied to the results in the case. Philosophically, Anderson & Cunningham agrees with this point of view.

Contingent fees are but one alternative billing method. There are many others. In fact, there are no inherent limitations on the various alternative fee arrangements that are available. Typically, court costs and other expenses are paid by the client when those costs are incurred; however, the way in which costs are handled and other specific terms are determined on a case by case basis, and those specific terms vary depending on the nature of the case and needs of the client.


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Monday, August 30, 2010

Phenom Shirt #2

Here is some process on another Phenom shirt graphic I'm cookin up.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

New Phenom + Nickelodeon patterns.
Check em.

Also, a cool little video for the Fifth Element
Sidewalk Sale event in Minneapolis on Saturday.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

AZ and Cormega flyer

Did a flyer for a show my homie Catch Lungs will be in.


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Sunday, January 28, 2007

Week 2 Hilary

It is week 2 and I have managed to readdress the balance between work and play. That is not to say that the work has reduced, (in fact it has increased), I just seem to have remembered how to prioritise again.
Surprisingly, Mark, Swapandeep and I are also running in the mornings which is a start to ward off the effects of eating too much/at strange times. Its funny, as much as it pains me to wake up early (having not gone to bed until the wee hours), once the run is over I am ready to take on the lectures...
Also this week, in a spot of good fortune, I managed to get all of the Trinity term electives that I bid for and so am extremely happy. There is one course that was heavily over subscribed and in this week's Dean's Q&A (which is a great way for the students to air their feelings about the programme) it was the hot topic. He seemed keen to resolve it.

This week's other events:

Sir Martin Sorrell
Sir Martin is CEO of WPP and came to SBS to give a talk about 'why making money is not about making money'. During his talk he talked about the founding and subsequent spectacular growth of WPP (company with a market capitalisation of £18 Billion), his mistakes and his predictions for the future. He believed that there were 6 points that one should consider when thinking about the future of their respective business:
  1. Globalisation: Shift of wealth from West to East
  2. Over capacity of production: i.e automotive industry
  3. The web: I think that we all got that one
  4. Internal communications: What to do about companies that have grown by acquisition?
  5. Distribution: Part and parcel of globalisation. Mentioned Tesco and Wal-mart as examples
  6. Corporate Social Responsibility: Now a prerequisite for doing business.
Having no knowledge of the global media industry, it was a fascinating learning experience and a great opportunity to hear someone who has been successfully involved in it for 40 years.

Bain and Company Consultants
A recruitment event designed to give a personal touch to the explanation of what Bain does and why we should apply. Oxford is now getting more and more well known as a leading MBA school as is demonstrated by the number of top firms like Bain coming to get us. I enjoys these types of events as website and here say can never accurately convey what a company is like to work for. I find asking their employees a much more robust way of understanding what it is like to work for that particular company. Bain was no exception, the people were extremely bright and enthusiastic about what they did.

BT OneIT event
Another recruitment event, this time from BT (that's British Telecom). They have a highly respected leadership programme into which they only admit MBA graduates. The programme is relatively new (3 years or so) and during that time Oxford has only managed to get one person onto it. This year (through that Alumni) they are making a concerted effort to employ more. It seemed from the presentation that they may get more applications than they expected.....

Templeton Party/Indian Party at St Anthony's
Templeton College kindly arranged an open house at their Rewley Abbey Court site on Friday night. It also coincided with Shoko and Aston's birthday so turned into quite a bash. Following this many of us made the journey in the cold to St Anthony's College to get down to some Indian tunes (I never thought Bhangra could be so much fun......and so painful the next morning)

Japanese evening
An informal Nabe party arranged by Maho and me took place yesterday. It was just another excuse for a few of use to get together, eat Japanese and generally hang out. I like doing these things as it gives us an opportunity to socialise outside of school/noisy pubs.

The Participants of the Japanese evening
I feel that I am now back into the swing of things and am ahead of the game when it comes to assignments (3 were handed in this week). The EP project is going well and our supervisor seems as enthusiastic as we are....must mean that we are on to a good thing. As a further sign of our improved organisation skills, us students are now even finding the time to do some 'interview practice' between ourselves. Should put us in good stead..

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Week 1 Hilary

Week 1, and I am back into it. Its funny, I was expecting a slow ramp up period, but I just seemed to to have reestablished the work rate from last term without too much distress.

As to the lectures, some are a continuation from last term, where others, like marketing, are completely new and involve a whole other set of skills. One thing that is common across all subjects is the vast quantity of reading that one must get through every single week.

As I wrote last week, I have to submit my elective choices for Trinity (summer) term by tomorrow. They use a bidding system here (due to capacity on class size) involving each student being able to use a maximum of 120 points with which to bid for 6 subjects. I hope my spread of bids is successful in securing the subjects that I want - which are as follows:
  • Private Equity
  • Restructuring and Implementation
  • Business in China
  • Media Strategies for a Networked World
  • Real Estate
  • Fixed Income
My idea is to have 3 finance modules, and 3 strategy modules and from the presentations it seems that the 6 above will challenge both my quantitative and qualitative capabilities and also be very interesting.

In addition to the lectures, the Trinity decisions, the EP meetings and the Oxford Business Network (OBN) meetings, I managed to complete 3 assignments this week and so unfortunately there was no partying. There were, however, a series of extra curricular events as follows:

Panel Discussion with Recruiters
On Tuesday we had a 7 people from different recruitment agencies come to attend a panel discussion. During the session they all agreed on the buoyancy of the employment market at the moment and that we were much more fortunate that our predecessors. They did however, reiterate the same as has been coming from the careers service; no matter how good the market is there is still no substitution for a good CV and plenty of research to get the good jobs

Dr Roger Cliffe, Quality Director Vodafone
As part of our Operations Management module, Dr Cliffe came in to present about his transformation of the Vodafone way of thinking about quality. He began by explaining the youth of the mobile telecommunications market (apparently the first mobile phone call took place on 1st January 1985) as a reason for the lack of inherent quality (plenty of money, no need to worry about waste). He then went on to explain the effects of the introduction of 6 Sigma into Vodafone and the new emphasis on quality. It was an interesting talk.

Booz Allen Hamilton
On Wednesday Booz Allen Hamilton, strategy consultants, came in to teach us how to 'crack a case'. For many consultancies, the job interview contain a case study where the candidate is posed a problem and asked how they would go about breaking it down in order to offer a solution. Booz Allen has recruited from the Oxford MBA before and wanted to make sure that we were as well prepared as we could be for their 2007 interview round. The evening went well, with over 100 people turning up to hear the presenters and witness the roll play.

Yesterday was Namiko and my 2 year anniversary. We spent a lovely day together rounded off with a good meal at Quod in Oxford.

It would also seem that I have been made captain of the MBA rowing team for this year with the target of winning the MBA Olympics in France hosted by HEC during May. Luckily (this being Oxford) there is no shortage of rowers and so from now the training must begin...

I must admit that I feel that this week has been all work and no play. Maybe because it is week 1 and I was unsure what to expect. I will attempt to re-address the balance next week

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Week 0 Hilary

So the waiting is over, Hilary Term has started. Actually over the break many people have asked the meaning of the term names and a little research has produced the following:

Oxford terms follow the ecclesiastical calendar of the Anglican Christian year.
  • Michaelmas (winter term) is named after the feast of Michael which takes place on the 29th September.
  • Hilary (spring term) is named after Saint Hilary of Poitiers (c315-367) who was the a bishop in the church from 350.
  • Trinity (summer term) is named for Trinity Sunday which is celebrated as the first Sunday after the feast of Pentecost. This is important in the Christian calendar because it signifies when the Holy Spirit first came and the Christian church was "born".
I hope that the above helps to clear things up.
This week has been one of Entrepreneurial Project (EP) preparation and Trinity Term elective presentations. As I have explained before, MBAs are required to prepare and present a business plan for the start up of a company as part of our Hilary Term marks. Oxford is very keen on Entrepreneurialism and so in order to help prepare us for the project, scheduled 2 days of presentations from lectures, Isis (Oxford University company dedicated to spin-outs), and Entrepreneurs.
Stewart Niblock
Stewart used to work for Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the 'Easy empire' entrepreneur, as part of his board. Stewart's main responsibility was in the start up of businesses and he came to give a presentation entitled "Classic Start up: Mistakes and Challenges". During the talk he described his experience at Easy whilst focusing on the formation of Easycar (which started life as Easy Rentacar) and why it didn't really work.
Torsten Reil,
Torsten is an Oxford Alumni who started Naturalmotion with the help of Isis. It is now a company with 45 employees and offices in the UK and the USA. He gave us a talk about how the business had begun in 2000 and the stages that it had been through since then. He also talked about business angel funding as well as venture capital. This was a thoroughly enthralling speech by someone who was living and breathing the entrepreneurial experience.
Trinity Term Elective Presentations
In contrast to last term (where we were only required to choose 2 elective subjects for the following term), this term we have to choose all of the subjects to we wish to take in the next term. This, therefore, involved 2 full days of presentations from lecturers peddling their wares and enticing us to choose their subjects. The list is far to long to include in this blog and to be honest, I have still not fully decided which ones to take. Watch this space and I will post my final choice next week.
In addition to the academic subjects this week, I also managed to attend Daniel Adams 30th Birthday as well as getting out and about in Oxford and the Cotswolds.
Namiko and me at the Oxford Natural History Museum
The Shakespeare Hostel in Stratford-on-Avon
Andrea, Aki, Namiko and me in Stratford-on-Avon
Aki and Namiko in Stow on the Wold
That is it for now, I am sure that I will have a fair amount to post next week... Until then.

Friday, January 05, 2007

Winter Break

Winter break is almost over. Its amazing, the 3 weeks has flown past.

During the break Namiko and I flew to Japan to spend 'Shougatsu' (New Year) with her family. This is something that we have been been doing every year for the past 5 years, however this time my parents and brother (+ girlfriend) decided to also join.
This was the first time since the wedding that the 2 families had met and it went very well.
We spent a traditional Shougatsu evening having dinner at home followed by a visit to the local shrine at midnight to ring the bell. In accordance with Buddhist teachings the bell must be rung 108 times as the date changes between 31st December and 1st January. The 108 strikes represents each person's 108 passions or desires. By ringing the bell one is meant to get rid of these so as to start the new year afresh.

We also managed to do a little sightseeing, going to Kanazawa Jo (Castle), Takaoka Kojo Park and Kanazawa Kazue-Machi Chaya district (the old Geisha district).

Me, Namiko, Mum, Daniel, Daisy, Dad at Kanazawa Jo

The trip was concluded with a pseudo/late Japanese wedding party. It seemed a little funny that now (2 years after getting married) we were having a wedding party, but seeing as our actual wedding party was in the UK and Namiko's extended family couldn't make it, her father decided take advantage of my family being in Japan to host a traditional style party. Despite the language problem, the evening went very well and finally allowed Namiko's extended family to meet my parents.

Namiko talking with her Uncle and Aunt (her Father, Mother and Brother are in the background)

Mum and Dad at the party

Daniel and his girlfriend Daisy

The whole trip went really well and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves.

So that's it, winter break over. Hilary Term starts on Monday with the following subjects:

  • International Business and Global Governance
  • Finance 2
  • Strategy 2
  • Marketing
  • Operations Management
  • Financial Management

In addition to the subjects listed above, it is also time to start applying for jobs.... And so it starts again. Great!


text:
Posted by Dennis Zimpel On August - 26 - 2010

Galcon finally arrived on Android.
Some of you know the principle of the gameplay in this iPhone port, you start with a base from which one you have to attack other fields (planets) and defend them against the enemy.
Galcon uses this game principle well and is not lacking on game modes, there are five modes to play it.

Classic: 1 vs 1 against the AI and you have to knock out the opponent.
Beast: The player has two bases, the enemy has occupied almost everything and attack in huge armies, be fast.
Vacuum: Conquer the entire board before time runs out. There is no enemy, only the time.
Stealth: 1 vs 1 against the AI, here we don’t see the enemy fleets and troop numbers on the planet.
3-Way: Everyone against everyone, two AI opponents.

You can change the difficulty level, there are 10 steps to choose from and it allows you to play online against other players, you only need to create an account on and save the data in the settings. In the multiplayer menu there are high scores, a chat, a forum, settings and of course a button to join a game.

On my HTC Desire the game runs smooth, I had no stuttering or graphical errors or crashes. Overview and introduction to the gameplay are very well presented and the tutorial under the “Help”-button will help each player.

I have played the online mode briefly and have nothing to complain about here, so Galcon is competitive in my opinion, a thoroughly enjoyable game, but with $ 2.99 it’s priced a little too high, but ultimately it’s okay, the fun-factor is very high.

Market Link


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Friday, May 06, 2011

There's some poets out there trying to max out their cultural capital viz economic commentary. But only one, in my read, has been savvy enough to reference the Glass Steagall Act, specifically its repeal. You go, Richard Lopez!

As for those other poets, they usually make Moi ... laugh.

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