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Decline and Fall of The Barcelona Empire

Hiko Seijuro writes about the recent decline that has been noticed at Barcelona.

FC Barcelona stand as a colossus of the modern game; they’ve more or less ruled the footballing world from the time of Johan Cryuff as a manager until now giving us trophy upon trophy and a brand of football as beautiful as anything ever seen in the beautiful game; usually a footballing cycle takes two or three years before it peters out but Barcelona have shown a remarkable level of consistency since they retook their European crown back in  2006 under Frank Rijkaard. However, all good things must come to an end and it seems that like the ancient Roman Empire, the footballing empire of FC Barcelona is falling and its time of world domination is coming to an end.

They managed to overcome PSG, they are still top of La Liga at the time of writing, even though arch rivals Real Madrid have a game in hand, and have made it to the finals of the Copa Del Rey. You could be forgiven for thinking things weren’t so bad and that I’m overreacting; however, to a Barcelona fan, we are not like any other mortals that play the beautiful game, we are “Mes Que Un Club” more than a club and a departure from the ideals that made us a great is tantamount to making Barcelona “Unbarcelonan”. This “fall” is not the result of one stumble or simply hitting a leg against a stone, however, you could say, it has been a long time coming. A series of missteps and slips have led Barcelona to this point and this article will seek to dissect these issues and see if there is a way forward for La Blaugrana.

La Masia

FC Barcelona’s fabled youth system has churned out some of football’s best and brightest over the years with names like Pep Guardiola, Xavi Hernandez, Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and of course the best in our generation, Lionel Messi. However, the Catalan football factory has ceased production in recent times with the club looking more and more to outside talent for reinforcements than letting youngsters come up the ranks. Even the ones that show promise are shipped off on loan to continue their development elsewhere or sometimes even sold out with buy back clauses. It is almost as if the Barcelona hierarchy no longer confident in the ability of La Masia to produce players good enough to wear the Barcelona shirt.

The successes of the first team have masked the problem at the grassroots for some time now, however, Johan Cryuff, Barcelona’s spiritual father and the man who “painted the chapel” in the words of Pep Guardiola recognized that something wasn’t quite right even when Barcelona won the treble in 2015.

Barcelona’s successes domestically and in Europe in the last decade have been built on a strong foundation of La Masia graduates. The famous academy provided the base of Pep Guardiola’s all conquering Barcelona, a team seen b y many as one of if not the best club team in the history of football, the coach himself a product of La Masia. La Masia became synonymous with technical excellence par none and more and more gems came springing up. This was the reason why Barcelona were known as a “building club” rather than a buying club which was how their competitors a la Real Madrid sought to achieve success. However, for the past few years, Barcelona have firmly become a “buying club” with La Masia relegated to the background as just as afterthought. Two pieces of business bear out this reality perfectly: the first is the loan deal of Sergi Samper to Granada, a player seen by many within the club as the natural heir to Sergio Busquets and then the transfer of Munir to Valencia in a deal that saw Paco Alcacer go the other way. This is in particular a move that hasn’t been justified as Alcacer hasn’t quite matched Munir’s exploits for Barcelona, scoring only three goals so far this season.

The problem isn’t just in the neglect of the academy, but also in the emphasis of the leadership; Barcelona were previously more interested in building players than in the results at least in their B team, now the emphasis has changed from player development to strictly winning at all costs. An unnamed La Masia official who spoke with said: “Cruyff always asked how we had played. He never asked about the result……..These days they look for strong players, not talented ones. Barca B play to win and they do so with footballers who aren’t at the age of players in development and that is cheating”. So Barcelona have abandoned one of the core principles that made them great, no wonder they are in so much trouble.

When the foundation is destroyed, what can the righteous do?” – Psalm 11:3

The foundation at FC Barcelona is in decline, and unless something is done to shore it up, the super structure will crumble and will take some time to be restored to its former glory.

Tactical Decline

In the previous years when Barcelona have reigned supreme, from the building of the cathedral by Johann Cryuff to the perfection of it by Pep Guardiola, one thing has remained constant: the midfield has reigned supreme. During Cryuff’s time, it was Guardiola, Stoikhov and Amor bossing the central areas, under Guardiola it was the Spanish triumvirate of Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta that set the world alight. Unrivalled midfield and territorial dominance propelled the Blaugrana to 14 trophies in just 4 years. Under Luis Enrique however, what started out as a little tweak, a little acceleration of the play to allow their devastating front three to make use of gaps in the opposition defense during transition moments before the opposition has the time to settle into their defensive shape has grown into a full blown departure from the Barcelona tradition, the midfield is being consciously bypassed and is made increasingly irrelevant. The central midfielders now play more as wide players than as midfielders and Busquets is being increasingly isolated in the pivot position. Of course this tactic allows Barca to reach their front three a lot faster than taking methodical routes to goal via build up, sometimes even depending on long balls to Luis Suarez to directly attack the opposition from their own half; the perfect example of this was their 2:1 win over Real Madrid at the Camp Nou in their treble winning season, Dani Alves simply played a lofted ball to Suarez who rode Pepe’s challenge to slot home the winning goal. Such moves however, in the early days of Luis Enrique’s tenure were few and far between, a plan B; now, they are the norm.

To understand how far from their roots they have fallen, we would have to contrast the way Barcelona play now to how they played before. Take a look at this pass map from the Champions League final against Manchester United in 2011 courtesy of 11tegen11.

Notice how the lead actors in this game are the central players and the wide players are used to stretch the opposition’s defensive line after they have been manipulated into over compactness. These strong midfield connections allowed Barca to dominate the game and produce one of the most one sided Champions League finals in recent memory. Contrast that however with these pass maps from their games against Atletico Madrid and Leganes in the league a few weeks ago.

See the big gap in the center in both games, see how isolated Sergio Busquets and Gomes are in the pivot position, and see how wide the central midfielders Iniesta and Rafinha are. Barcelona did manage to win both games by two goals to one but the lack of adequate central occupation  is leaving them too dependent on individual moments of brilliance from their front three as has been acknowledged by Luis Enrique himself. But for how long is such a game plan sustainable? After their first leg defeat to PSG, Busquets said that they had been beaten “tactically” and Iniesta said the problem wasn’t about spirit or intensity as some were saying but about football, an assessment that is hard to argue with. If the perennial midfield kings of Europe no longer use their midfield, then there are bound to be problems. Apart from the obvious increased reliance on individual quality to bail them out of tight situations, playing the midfielders so far apart that there’s little interaction between them leads to severe lack of central control, ineffectual ball circulation (the dreaded U shape) and bad transitional defense due to less control in games. The problem has been evident for some time now with Barca riding their luck against Betis, Villareal and Atletico Madrid and even though the switch to a 3-4-3 has helped Barca regain some measure of control in recent games, you can’t shake the feeling that Barca’s midfield isn’t what it used to be and that the Blaugrana are worse off for it.

This tactical decline/neglect has definitely contributed to the problems that Barcelona are facing and must be addressed if Barcelona are to be successful going forward.

Poor Transfer Policy

Adding to the problems arising from La Masia’s neglect is a very poor transfer policy, if you’re going to neglect your home grown talent, then you must be quite smart with your purchases in the transfer market. In the summer, Barcelona dipped heavily into the market, signing six players for a combined fee of €122.75 million plus an extra potential €28 million in variable payments. Also, all bar one of those six players were 22 years when they were signed, the only exception being back up goal keeper Jasper Cillessen. However, of these six players, only Samuel Umtiti has truly impressed in his debut season, bedding in effortlessly. The promising Sergi Samper was moved on to Granada and Andre Gomes brought in, even more baffling was the decision to swap Munir for Paco Alcacer from Valencia who has been absolutely underwhelming so far this season to the point where Luis Enrique has been forced to play Luis Suarez more often than he would have liked without giving him a considerable level of rest. This means that Barcelona cannot rest their first choice players without a very significant drop in quality in the squad. Even more damning is the inexplicable decision not to sign a right back to replace Dani Alves after the Brazilian moved on to Serie A champions Juventus. Luis Enrique has kept faith with Sergi Roberto in the right back position but the young Spaniard has neither the defensive strength nor the attacking flair to dominate Barcelona’s right flank. With Messi constantly pulling infield to compensate for Barcelona’s midfield troubles, the right flank is left unattended and has been a weak link for Barcelona throughout the season.

PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 14: Andre Gomes of Barcelona battles for the ball with Presnel Kimpembe of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona at Parc des Princes on February 14, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

The other signings of course are quality, Denis Suarez previously a Barca B player has adapted quite well but has been used relatively sparingly despite the injuries to Iniesta and Rakitic’s loss of form. Lucas Digne has been solid and has proved himself to be an adequate replacement for Jordi Alba when called upon and Cillessen has generally given a good account of himself whenever he has played. However, with Rafinha, and Arda Turan available, Barcelona probably needed just one more midfielder, they got two; they reinforced the center back position found a backup for Alba at left back; however, they neglected the most glaring hole in the team – at right back and they may yet pay the price for their negligence.

Barcelona have conquered the world and become the most successful side in Europe in the last decade with four Champions League titles in that period. However, a series of missteps by the management and board have brought the club to a position where their dominance may be at an end.

They completed a miraculous comeback in Europe and are still in the hunt for La Liga along with the Copa finals, so all is far from lost for the Catalans.

However, all is not well at the club and the board must take urgent steps to address these issues. La Masia must be restored to ensure that it is able to produce the kind of quality players that we have seen in the past few years; whatever manager that will come in must find a way to rediscover Barcelona’s footballing identity again and long term plans must be made to ease the club into a post Messi – Iniesta era as the duo aren’t getting any younger.

The future is neither particularly bright nor bleak for FC Barcelona, there are tough decisions that must be made to put the club on the right path once more the first of which is the choice of the manager to replace Luis Enrique at the helm; a return to the club’s time tested principles is in order and if the right decisions are made then the Barcelona empire will rise to conquer the world once more.

Hiko Seijuro

Hiko Seijuro

Hiko Seijuro is a student of Mass Communication in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He's an avid football lover and a fan of FC Barcelona. He is obsessed with the tactical side of the game and
adores Pep Guardiola. His favourite players are Messi and Sergio Busquets
Hiko Seijuro

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Animals #TheThemeGame

I’ve missed The Theme Game for a few weeks, what with our trip to Spain and trying, and failing to get back up to speed with things.  I noticed that this week’s topic is Animals and I had to find time to join in again.  I’d love to write a… Continue reading »

Holiday – The Theme Game

This wee’s topic for The Theme Game is Holiday.  Perfect timing for me to let you all know that the blog will be a bit quiet for a week or so.  We’re off on holiday on Friday, we’re going to Spain to spend a week with my parents.  It’s not… Continue reading »

Cake – The Theme Game

One of my favourite things to eat is Cake, so where oh where to start with this week’s topic for The Theme Game!  I’m always baking with Monkey so I could have written about that, or my attempts to eat Coffee and Walnut cake at every National Trust property I’ve… Continue reading »

Glass – The Theme Game

Anyone who visits my house will know how much I love glass.  I have a rather large display cabinet in my living room filled with memories, treasures, presents.  A LOT of them are glass.  It’s a passion I share with my Uncle, although his pieces are rather valuable, mine are… Continue reading »

Goodbye little red car – beep beep #TheThemeGame

Goodbye little red car

This post goes back to March last year and is one of the first posts I shared on the blog, this post always reminds me of how much Monkey has grown up.  I’m linking this post up to The Theme Game this week, with Redpeffer and The Reading Residence, two… Continue reading »

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CSC 333 (601)

Marcus Schaefer

Latest additions

interesting article on password storage

Homeworks and Examples

Assignments will be available through this webpage. Written homeworks are due by the deadline. Late homeworks will not be accepted, but the lowest homework score will be dropped.

Notes, etc.

Questions and Answers

Classes and office hours

The class meets MW 11:50-1:20 in CDM 214.
My office hours are MW 1:25-2:10, and MW 4:50-5:35  (CDM 749, loop campus).

If you want to set up an appointment at another time, or simply ask a question, send email to

The textbook for this course is Paar and Pelzl's Understanding Cryptography, Springer, 2010. The book is available for free (electronically) as part of the Library's Springer Computer Science Ebook collection.

For general information, see the official class syllabus. The prerequisites for this course is discrete mathematics (MAT 140) and an introductory programming course (CSC 241 or CSC 243 or CSC 211).

The following is a very rough schedule, and we might depart from it.

Overview and Mathematical Background

Stream Ciphers

Block Ciphers, DES & AES, and modes of operation

Public-Key Cryptography, Diffie-Hellman, RSA, DL

Advanced Topics: Elliptic Curves, Digital Signature Schemes

Grades and exams

Homework, quizzes: 40%, Midterm: 30%, Final/final project: 30%.

Midterm will be in class, on Wednesday, 5/7. The final exam will be on 6/11/2014, 11:45-2:00pm.

Active participation in this class is expected, you are responsible for any material you missed.

I will use the following grading scheme:

Grade Percentage
A 95-100
A- 90-95
B+ 87-90
B 83-87
B- 80-83
C+ 77-80
C 73-77
C- 70-73
D+ 65-70
D 60-65
F <60

Throughout the quarter there will be extra credit problems; extra credit does not directly make up for points lost on homeworks or exams; instead it is added in with a weight to the final grade (i.e. not doing extra credit won't harm you, but doing it can move you up).

The midterm will take place during class. No make-up exams.

General Policies

Academic Honesty

The course adheres to the university Academic Integrity Policy, the following is an excerpt from the policy:

Cheating: Cheating is any action that violates university norms or instructor's guidelines for the preparation and submission of assignments. This includes but is not limited to unauthorized access to examination materials prior to the examination itself, use or possession of unauthorized materials during the examination or quiz; having someone take an examination in one's place-copying from another student; unauthorized assistance to another student; or acceptance of such assistance.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is a major form of academic dishonesty involving the presentation of the work of another as one's own. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to the following:

Complicity: Complicity is any intentional attempt to facilitate any of the violations described above. This includes but is not limited to allowing another student to copy from a paper or test document; providing any kind of material—including one’s research, data, or writing—to another student if one believes it might be misrepresented to a teacher or university official; providing information about or answers to test questions.

A charge of cheating and/or plagiarism is always a serious matter.  If proven, it can result in an automatic F in the course and, in case of a repeated violation, possible expulsion.

For homework this means that while you can talk to other students about the class material, you should not talk about your homework solutions; you should not share your homework solutions, either in written or electronic form. Any work you submit with your name on it needs to have been done solely by yourself. If you do use someone else's work, you need to clearly mark this by placing quotations within quotation marks and citing any references you use. If you have questions on proper citation, you can visit DePaul's Writing Center.

Using materials prepared for other purposes (e.g., another course or work) needs the course instructor's prior permission.

An incomplete grade is given only for an exceptional reason such as a death in the family, a serious illness, etc. Any such reason must be documented. Any incomplete request must be made at least two weeks before the final, and approved by the Dean of CDM. Any consequences resulting from a poor grade for the course will not be considered as valid reasons for such a request.

Marcus Schaefer
Last updated: March 22nd,  2014.


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active learning

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Learning which encourages the pupil or student to engage actively with what is being learned through activities such as group discussion, role play, or experimentation, rather than passively receiving and memorizing knowledge or instruction from the teacher in order to be able to repeat it accurately, as was the practice in many 19th‐ and early 20th‐century schools. Active learning became the norm in most schools, as the value of being able to reproduce information uncritically and ‘parrot fashion’ came increasingly under question in the 20th century. However, the facilitation of active learning becomes more difficult the larger the class size. The implementation of an active approach to learning, therefore, can depend as much on pupil–teacher ratio as on beliefs about effective approaches to learning.

Subjects: Education.

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Black–Derman–Toy option pricing model

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  • Economics

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Interest rate option pricing model based on an extension of the binomial option pricing model's approach which allows for the change in the interest rate volatility over time.

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Novel by Zola, published 1885, the 13th work in the Rougon‐Macquart series, and often considered to be his masterpiece. It is the story of a strike in a mining community ...

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Émile Zola (1840—1902) French novelist and critic

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In a wired world, where everyone’s a content creator, and the commingling of traditional reporting, writing, blogging, and marketing is much discussed, Google is latest to blur the lines. Last month, the company introduced a complete suite of tools for journalists through an initiative they call News Lab.

Google News Lab

Screen grab from News Lab

In a blog post introducing the initiative, Google explained that it wants to collaborate with journalists, citizen journalists, and entrepreneurs to help build the “future of media.” To ensure that they’re part of that future, the News Lab site provides free tools and datasets to help journalists research, report, distribute and optimize their content. In line with Google’s mission, “to ensure quality information is accessible and useful everywhere,” the News Lab has also established a number of partnerships with media and tech startups which the company describes as being focused on “empowering new voices in media.”

But these tools are not just for journalists; in fact many of them will be more familiar and just as useful to content marketers. Looking through the suite of tools, none of which are actually new, it was hard not to reflect on my own hybrid journey though the journalism, media and advertising landscape.

Tools that support accurate, complex data, verifiable sources, and historical context, like advanced search, news archive, public data explorer, and reverse image verification, are very much the bread and butter of my work as a reporter and magazine writer. On the other hand, tools that help writers conduct customer surveys, optimize content distribution, and analyze traffic were things I was only introduced to when I moved into the advertising business.

I used to think that marketers were the data obsessed ones, looking to target specific audiences, gauge responses to product, and then tweak the message and distribute accordingly, while writers were more loyal to facts and were assumed to have a higher creative vision in mind.

But that era of separation is long gone and as Joe Lazauskas, Editor in Chief of Contently’s Strategist wrote last month:

“If you work in editorial and data isn’t a big part of your life, I would join the chorus and politely suggest you get your shit together.”

He was talking about the need for writers to act more like marketers and use backend analytical data to make editorial decisions, shaping content, to some degree, as a result of metrics.

However there’s also a plethora of data to be used on the front end. It can be used for powerful idea generation, and for researching and reporting stories in time-tested ways that have served journalists for years.

So I’ll happily add a new voice to the chorus and suggest that if you’re a content marketer, who isn’t producing, verifiable, well-researched, data-based writing, you better get your shit together too.

How Marketers can use News Lab tools to be Better Writers

Verify the authenticity of claims

One of my first jobs in publishing was as a researcher and fact-checker for a men’s magazine. I’m not going to go so far as to call the writing in FHM journalism, but I will vouch for the veracity of the content I published.

One thing is for certain, whether it’s hunting down interview subjects, calling government organizations, or trolling through old newspapers articles, you usually have to dig before you can call something “true.”

That’s why marketers love good statistics; numbers have the power to sound so true. But do yourself a favor and find the source of particular studies, look at findings, and ask whether the conclusions drawn are themselves accurate. People like to say numbers don’t lie, but study design and framing really do make all the difference. Use Google Scholar and Advanced Search to get to the original source and draw your own conclusions.

Even more appealing than a strong statistic is a gripping photo. However, fake photos are rampant on the Internet—exposing them has even inspired a weekly column in the Washington Post. Google’s Reverse Image Search lets users fact-check images and determine where and when an image has been published.

Use large datasets to tell stories visually

Google Public Data Explorer

Google Public Data Explorer

Reporters regularly use datasets to find patterns or trends, to strengthen claims they make and to tell stories visually. The News Lab’s Public Data Explorer is limited in scope, housing mainly economic data, but there are myriad other sources of data out there. You’re in luck though if your brand has its own datasets, as the tool will let you upload your own data and provide you with several visualization options

Write trend pieces

In writerly circles, it’s hotly debated whether the trend piece is even a legitimate form of journalism. In fact, mocking the form often seems like a better investment of time. However it’s undeniable that readers love the sweeping generalizations and comfort of a good trend pieces.

Google Trends, which allows users to compare the volume of searches per term, makes it easier for writers to come up with trend pieces, potentially even lending a data-based legitimacy to typical “one, two, trend” data that drives many magazine features.

So while News Lab’s tools could clearly make a marketer a better writer, it turns out this isn’t the whole story

How Writers can use News Lab tools to be better Marketers

For all its ennobling of traditional journalism, the News Lab is also coaching writers and journalists, many of whom are, for the first time, in a position where they must market their own brand in order to publish their articles. The writers who want to survive will, perhaps begrudgingly, take a page out of the marketing handbook and get deep into audiences, analytics and optimization. If you’re one of those writers, heed the following advice:

 Know your audience

Mad Men on AMC

Mad Men on AMC

Market research, traditionally conducted from behind the glass, has always guided advertising campaigns. It’s been a long accepted, if underfunded, line item in marketing budgets, based on the understanding that the systemic collection and analysis of data leads to the soundest strategic decisions.

With customer surveys Google has essentially automated market research and positioned it as a tool for journalists by allowing users to create surveys on any topic. Writers can now “get a clearer picture of people’s opinions and perspectives,” and back up stories.

The tool allows users to filter research groups and target by country, region, demographics, and ask 14 different types of questions, including multiple choice, ranking and open-ended. Distribution of surveys comes at a cost though, and it makes you wonder if this isn’t the first in a set of premium tools the News Lab is rolling out.

Create content that works

Magazines and newspapers have always tried to understand their audience demographics and preferences, but usually that information resided with the highest-levels of editorial staff, and hid behind the Chinese Wall that was the advertising department. Feedback on specific articles was non-existent, save Letters to the Editor.

The game has completely changed.

Google Analytics is one of many tools a writer can use to figure out who is visiting her site, which

SumoMe website

pages are read most often, where readers come from, and which pages are viewed over the course of a visit. But really, Google and YouTube analytics are only the beginning. Tools like SumoMe, Simple Reach, and Kiss Metrics will give you real insight into how engaging your content is and guidance as to what editorial choices will help you grow your readership.

Maximize distribution with at a lower cost

You want more readers? Go mobile. According to a new study by the Pew Research Center, 39 out of 50 news sites get more traffic through mobile than through desktop computers. If your website or blog is not made for mobile, Google Play Newsstand optimizes your content layout, allowing you to publish digital magazines in editions, with sections and articles that can be updated any time and that are viewable both on and off line.

So what’s going to happen next?

Are newsrooms really going to start using News Lab? Is the initiative actually going to the further democratize journalism and empower the everyman to report newsworthy stories? Is Google, the search giant, the self-driving car developer, and the frequent target of anti-trust lawsuits really going to take the side of journalism, which it describes on its website as a force that “communicates truth to power, keeps societies free and open, and leads to more informed decision-making by people and leaders”? Will any of these great tools be adopted by non-journalist content creators, thus raising the quality of content across the web?

Certainly, only time will tell. For now, all we know is that there are a bunch of free tools to play with out there and they are available to everybody, whether they have a press pass or not.


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Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Comstock Stories

While in the Gates of the Arctic recently, my companions rquested I tell Chuck Comstock stories and Michael Brown shot video during a couple of them. Peggy says I do a better job when I am not being recorded...but in any event here's one about ice climbing in the Wrangells in 1987

and another about Chuck during the Wilderness Classic Nabesna to McCarthy in 1988 and 1989:

  1. I seem to recall he went into some sort of Insulin coma or some such while hunkered down with the kite...
    Priceless stuff Roman, what was it that Chuck had, that combo of a Drawl and a Twang. A Trawl, a Dwang? Hard to imitate it at any rate.

  2. Yes, a dwang. Hard to get it right in the re-telling, but important to capture his essence.

  3. Really fun to hear about your friend. Thanks for posting these simple, but very cool, vids.

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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

W.I.P. Wednesday Book Papers

Greetings friends.  I am so excited to share
Work In Progress Wednesday
with you.
I have fallen in love with old books and I mean old old pages yellowing books.  I shared a pic in yesterday's blog of the morning light upon a group of pumpkins I made from old books.
And I just couldn't stop myself:
I watched this YouTube Video by MadebyMarzipan and many many mistakes later I was able to make my own Novel Wreath.

 This wreath was made with rolled book pages.  Hubby thought it was shaping into a sea urchin.  Very funny Mr. Hubby.

I used a decorative edge puncher on the pages of this wreath and it's a small wreath I must say.  I filled the center with excess rolled flowers from the Novel Wreath.

And this piece was made by just folding the pages and layering it onto the circle form.
 What Work In Progress do you have going on?   Leave us a comment.  We would love to hear about it.
Greetings everyone.  Today is
A time for me to reflect on what happened these last three days since I last Blogged on Feature Friday.
The "THIS" reflection in my mind right now as I post is that it has been over a year since I retired from my career at Atkins Kroll.  Wow - it seems like it was only yesterday where I closed my office door for the last time to walk into my new life as a full fledge Army Wife.  And what a transition that was.  Talk about deflation.  My stress level plummeted to the point that my mind went stir crazy.  I got over that and began a new career in the hospitality industry.  I'll share that adventure along the way.
I caught up with my blog friends' postings and after reading  Life is art.........Art is Life: Friday Funnies  (on Friday) I thought about how I had to work the weekend schedule and I must share that my job site is so close to home that I opt to walk to and from work (most of the time).  On Saturday morning I was blessed to be able to walk in the wee hours of the morning.............while it was snowing.  Oh how peaceful that was for me...........this island gal.

Anyway R-chee our pug pal at Life is art.....Art is Life: Friday Funnies blogged about his humans heading to an art museum where pugs weren't invited.  Well R-chee it is acceptable here in Germany.  Furry friends are allowed practically everywhere - even resturants.  We still feel a bit uncomfortable when we do get a chance to take MA-kytah and Shady into an establishment only because it is just not allowed anywhere back home on Guam except of course the vet clinic.
More on surfing Blog land I stumbled across this blogger oldgreymareprimitives only because she had one posting (well several postings) on sleeping and the issues she has with sleeping.  I too find it difficult to sleep.  I hate having these issues but I do and I deal with it.  Anyway her last post was about greeting the early morning light.  She has wonderful pics of her home as it goes through the transformation of night to morning.  check it out here.  Here is my early morning greeting pic.
I shall blog more about my morning pic tomorrow for
W.I.P. Wednesday

Friday, October 26, 2012

Feature Friday

The EggShell Pug ornament is done:
Perfect for a Christmas tree or anywhere you want a splash of Pugginess.  I just listed this piece in my Etsy store here
And here are some more pieces I finished:
Flying Pug Angel-Golden Yellow in my Etsy store here
Flying Pug Angel - True Blue in my Etsy store here
Cute little Pug Ornament - in my Etsy Store here
"I Am Pug" is what this ornament is "just saying" and it's in my Etsy Store
I truly enjoyed making these ornaments.  I must say the first batch I made was a mess...............but then that's how you can perfect something you are determined to make.
Until our Next "FEATURE FRIDAY".......I share this pic of something else I am trying to P E R F E C T.  I can't wait to feauture it.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Thumbs Up Thursday

I am so tickled at how the EggShell puggies turned out.  So THUMBS UP for seeing the project through.
Here are more pics of the EggShell puggies coming together:
 Chipping off any egg shell hanging over the edge.
Got the Pug Face painted and glued together.  Perfect.  Looking good already.

Painted with a small brush so I could get into all them nooks and crannies.

While the paint is wet.  I wipe it off.

 Whoops - almost forgot to paint the back.
Pug faces.  Yippee!

Body and Pug Face are joined together.

Oh so cute.

Modge Podge.
I'm ready to reveal the finished EggShell Pug ornament tomorrow for:
In the meantime I hope you enjoy this little story that made me smile.  Enjoy:

The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71. Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain ... Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours.
 Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Born and bread in Minnesota , Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.
 Doughboy is survived by his wife, Play Dough, and three children: John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart. The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.
 If this made you smile, please rise to the occasion and take time to
 pass it on and, share that smile with someone else that may be having a crumby day and kneads a lift

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

During my morning walk with the Pugs I find that I can really do some deep thinking.
My deep thoughts today circled around my Blog.  I am so irritated when I can't keep up with what I start.  I get so distracted.  But I am finding that as the teens get older I am not so much needed in their lives.  Everthing that I have taught them to be self sufficient has been executed and being put to good use.  The 18 year old is working and traveling.  While the 17 year old is focused on his senior year and graduation..........oh and soccer.
My daughters have long been on their own with their families and I now shout it out to the world that I am deeply proud of them.  I often wonder if they miss being with me.
Good Golly this must be the onset of the empty nest syndrome.
Okay you see........the mind wanders in so many different ways.
So back to the BLOG.
Today I have given the approval to
to make Wednesdays an official
W.I.P. WEDNESDAY...........day.
It doesn't mean bonuses, pay increases, a day off or even an hour off.
It does mean:
Work In Progress Wednesday
Yep Yep
And now Ladies, Gentlemen and all my Puggy friends.  I present my
W.I.P. Wednesday pic run:
 W.I.P. Thanksgiving Pug-grims
W.I.P. Egg shell art
Sanitizing the eggshells in a pot of boiling water.
Peeling off the stuff that breaks away from the shell.
 Drawing the pug onto cardboard.
Gluing the cardboards together so the pieces are mighty sturdy.
 Smoothing out the edges.
Woo Hoo - my favorite part that involves Tacky Glue, A bowl of clean eggshells and tweezers.

Spread Tacky Glue onto a portion of the cardboard shape.  Place a piece of eggshell on top.
Use the tweezer to scoot the shells into place.
Paint the snouts.
And let everything dry.
More to come on Friday's Blog.
Our Friday Blog will be deemed
"Friday Features"
and on to more of W.I.P. Wednesday......
W.I.P. Wednesday - Words with Friends
Boy oh Boy how I love this game.  I so cherish my memories of playing Scrabble on Sundays with my siblings and our Dad.  Scrabble is like Words With Friends.
W.I.P. My Weight
I am appalled that I am not proactive in keeping my weight in tact.  I must say though I am sucker when it comes to eating brotchen and cheese.  But all sucker-ness aside - W.I.P. My Weight is going to progress to losing some pounds and lowering that number on the scale:

 And this concludes W.I.P. Wednesday.


WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: text/csv

text: id,summary,reporter,owner,description,type,status,priority,milestone,component,version,resolution,keywords,cc 379,window to list all menu options and search for them,szabgab,,"Steeling from Eclipse: Ctrl-Shift-L should open a window listing all the menu options along with the shortcuts (where available). the user should be able to go over the list and select the menu option from that pop-up window. The user should be able to sort the entires. (Abc of the name, short-cut, how often they were used by the user, how often are they used by the general public of Padre users etc) There should be a text window where the user can type a string that will filter the options on that string to make it easier to locate an option. Maybe this should be part of the Ecliptic plugin.",enhancement,closed,major,,editor,0.36,fixed,Eclipse,azawawi


text:
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Pakistan News Service

Friday Jul 28, 2017, Zul-qaadah 4, 1438 Hijri
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Pakistan News Home -> Tribune Corner -> News Details

Edhi 'under threat' from TTP

16 June, 2012

Pakistani charity worker Abdul Sattar Edhi, head of Pakistani's Edhi foundation sits at his office in Karachi.
  Related News
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Plan hatched to kill me, says Asma
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KARACHI: Revered social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi has been given round-the-clock protection against an alleged Taliban threat, officials said on Friday.

Edhi, 85, runs the country's largest charity, which operates hundreds of ambulances and shelters for women, children and the destitute. For the first time he has round-the-clock police protection in Karachi.

"There is a threat to him by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which wants to kidnap him and use him to get their detained militants released in exchange," a security official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Two armed policemen, who each work a 12-hour shift, have been going everywhere with Edhi since June 5, the official said. Aslam Khan, a senior police official, said, "A letter containing a hit-list has been intercepted, which includes Edhi and two police officials, including me," he said.

Edhi said he was carrying on regardless. "I have accepted the guards, but that won't deter me from doing my job to serve my people," he told AFP. But Edhi's son and deputy, Faisal, told AFP that the Taliban had visited his father's office on June 6 to assure him that he was not a target. "They told my father that they respect him and admire whatever he does, and won't target him ever," Faisal told AFP.

 What do you think about the story ? Leave your comments!

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Sunday, January 21, 2007

Holiday images

These are my favorite images from Christmas - the fruit and veg shop in Ilfracombe, my favorite present - the three little pots,and the Genie of the Lamp courtesy of Granny's scrap fabric bag.

It was a good break - seems long ago, but Mike and I were tired and weary and needed some time to do absolutely nothing. His Mum and Dad provided that opportunity by being so hospitable as always. Feels like home at their house which is a comfort to me.

I have no New Year resolutions other than to try to remember to take carrier bags to the grocery store instead of getting new ones each time. A little thing, but I think resolutions should be angst free really. Who wants to start the new year with yet more rules and stuff to worry about. Life is tough enough.

What to report this week? Mike's car was stolen and damaged, so we will have to search for a small and cheap replacement for him to drive to work in. He has had a hard week because of that - Georgia and I have had to drive to pick him up from work each night which has put another hour on to our day. I have done tons of little admin things - tax, bank account etc. No fun, but I've ticked them all off except my passport which must be renewed this week.

Finally, I have been given a prescription for reading glasses (age related deterioration, bummer) so that will be a new thing. Took a while to find a couple of pairs that didn't make me look like old mother hubbard. And we are fighting the battle of the bug - head lice again. UUUGGGHHH.

Creative endeavors: Lots in my head, lots of crochet which is very relaxing. Finished two felted handbags at Christmas, will try to photograph them this week, if the sun ever shines. I'm also going to try to make a drawing to submit to the Draw Your Soul project run locally, but is an international project.


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Woody Home Page
GP1266 or AR168G?
Sep 3, 2007
Digitmat used same phone case for GP1266 and AR168G(GP1260) IP phones. Because of different hardware design, the 2 IP phones can not use the same firmware to upgrade. GP1266 use upgrade files like "gp1266_sip_us_018000.bin" and AR168G(GP1260) use files like "ar168g_iax2_us_018000.bin". It does not matter when you try to upgrade one phone with another's firmware, web interface will tell you upgrade failed, and TFTP command line update will go very fast, about 9 seconds, while a normal update takes about 24 seconds.
There are a lot of methods to decide which hardware type it is, the most easy way is to check the back light when you pick up: GP1266 uses green back light, and AR168G(GP1260) uses blue back light.

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Politics from the Palouse to Puget Sound

Friday, December 07, 2007

Attack on Tom Forbes

I read with dismay the recent posting attacking Tom Forbes by someone who claims to be associated with my campaign. I have no knowledge of this person. Whether he had any connection with my campaign or not makes no difference. Such comments are hurtful, destructive, and divisive and have no place in our community.

I have known Tom for over 12 months and consider him a friend. Tom and I disagree on many things but our disagreement has never been disagreeable. We are all part of a family and disagreements within families should be handled in a respectful and tolerant manner. We do not want the ways of Washington, DC in our state. Personal attacks have no place in our community. This individual owes Tom and his family an apology and I hope that he has the decency and courage to do it.Type your summary here.

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Douglas Boin

Author of
  • Coming Out Christian in the Roman World
    Bloomsbury Press

Douglas Boin Ph.D is an expert on the religious history of the Roman Empire, particularly as it pertains to the “pagan,” Christian and Jewish world of the ancient Mediterranean. His first book, Ostia in Late Antiquity (Cambridge University Press, 2013) examined the rhythms of daily life and religious change that characterized life in the old harbor town of Rome at the “end of the empire,” a period that witnessed the rise of the more visible Christianity. Ostia in Late Antiquity was the product of ten years of research on-site, during which he also helped an international team of archaeologist and historians study the remains of the city’s ancient synagogue and Jewish community.

A native of Chicago, he received a B.A. from Georgetown University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. He is an Assistant Professor of Ancient and Late Antique Mediterranean History at Saint Louis University and has worked extensively as an archaeologist in Rome. From 2010-2013, he taught in the Department of Classics at Georgetown University. His scholarship has appeared in The Journal of Roman Studies, The American Journal of Archaeology, and The Papers of the British School at Rome, and he has authored entries on “synagogues” and “church buildings” for the multi-volume reference work, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome. He speaks regularly on aspects of Roman history, archaeology, and religion at national and international conference.

Follow Douglas

Books by Douglas

Coming Out Christian in the Roman World

Coming Out Christian in the Roman World, forthcoming from Bloomsbury Press, will bring his perspective on how Christians “triumphed” in ancient Rome to a wider audience. It will draw attention to the range of social strategies by which the movement gained acceptance in Rome, as well as treat the fractious social wrangling (“How much should Christians accommodate to the culture of their day?”) which has been an inner feature of the movement from its start.

Read More

Buy Coming Out Christian in the Roman World


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Food and Craft Services

  • I like to have a fire extinguisher on or near set.
  • Buy the small bottles of water (1 pint) because nobody will drink one of the larger bottles of water at one time and they'll just end up setting it down and nobody will know whose it is and it'll get thrown away half-drunk. Just buy twice as many small bottles and we'll actually have less trash/recycling at the end of the day.
  • Try to get a consensus on what sort of food people who are on set every day want to eat and drink. If someone likes Diet Coke, make sure there's Diet Coke available.
  • I like canned fruit (especially pineapple, no added sugar and no Splenda or any other sweeteners).
  • Even better is those little fruit cups. They're small and come in an appropriate size. Who is going to sit and eat an entire can of pineapple at one sitting anyway? I mean other than Drew?
  • Oh, and the most important thing to have on set is those liter bottles of seltzer. Drew goes through at least two of those a day.


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Sunday, April 17, 2011

The New Religion

I gave back my Christian ticket many, many years ago. I have nothing against Christians - or any organised religion for that matter. I have many Christian beliefs (other than the central tenet that Jesus Christ is my personal saviour), I believe in God or something higher out there, but I can't do the Jesus thing - it's never really sat well with me. I don't insist people believe what I believe - how boring would that be.

Today, I pledge allegiance to a new religion. A way of life that appears to make me happy, controlled, content, driven, striving always to be better. A religion that gives back just as much as you put it - if not more. A religion that will not fail you. It will test you, batter you, make you want to give up on it just as much as it will nuture you, strenghten you and make you feel whole.

My new religion is running.

Most of you know that I'm a novice runner. I truly am a novice. I started running at the age of 40. Slowly and surely, I built my running up. I started on the couch potato to 5 kilometre plan, then went from there - albeit very slowly.

Stupidly, bouyed along by my dear friend Reindert, I participated in the Adelaide Half Marathon in August 2009, run/ walking the 21.1 kilometers in two hours and forty minutes. I say stupidly as it was only in the May 2009 that I ran my first four kilometre run  - the Mother's Day Classic, which I trained up for with Emm from the gym.

Last year, I did the Run for the Kids in March - a hot day, I'd taken a break from training - 14.38 kilometres in an hour and 53 minutes. I ran the eight kilometre Mother's Day Classic last year with Kitt - dragging her round the Tan track in a few seconds over an hour. The Williamstown Half Marathon was the pinnacle of my current running career - 21.1 kilometres in just over 2.5 hours. I was absolutely stoked at the acheivement.

Then I got sick - and injured, needed surgery - and running had to take a back seat until earlier this year.

Well, today, it was Run for the Kids day once again. Kitt and I entered early, both of us intending to train. I did - Kitt's circumstances changed and she didn't. I was also aware of a nagging knee injury - it's not been totally right since I went trail running with Reindert in October. New shoes, lots of weights and being very kind to it has strengthened the leg, but it's still problematic. I was limping on the treadmill on Tuesday night. Walking is fine. I've been keeping it strapped at work, doing lots of stretches - it's still not quite right, but it's  calming down.

So this morning, at 7.30, Trin, my new running partner, friend and all around good chick, as well as two others, Kel and Peta, from the 12wbt posse left from my place for the race. All of us were doing the 14.38 kilometre course. Kell is training to be a personal trainer - and she's known as "the Whippet". Peta's not far behind her. Trin and I know we run about the same pace, but with my knee, and Trin having a bout of food poisoning earlier in the week, we had a plan - no time constraints (though under two hours would be good), and run the first five kilometres, after which, run three minutes, walk two for the rest of the course.

We lined up with the other 33,000 people doing the run - the gun goes off, the timer gets set on the heart rate monitor as I cross the blue mats of the start line - and there we go.

I know of no other activity that makes me so happy. I love timed street runs - when else to you get to run on the road and not get into trouble? I love the camaraderie of big races. I love the giveaways you get at the end. I love that really, though you may be surrounded by many, you're on your own. It's just you and the road.

Trin and I sort of deserted the plan. We ran the first six kilometres, then averaged a run five, walk two intervals until the end. Trin is a superlative running companion. She has doof doof music in her earphones and keeps shuffling away. Me - I don't do things in my ears, so I just go wandering off with the fairies, looking at the scenery, avoid the stupid walkers and strollers who get in the way, occasionally throwing Trin an encouraging word or two - she really is incredible. I loved knowing she was nearby, but felt no need to talk to her all the way.

The first amazing thing for me - I can run and talk very easily. I don't even get that breathless. I know I'm breathing a bit heavier, but I'm not out of breath. That is sooooooooo cool. Secondly. I had to concentrate on my foot strike to ensure my knee held up. Heel, toe, heel, toe, keep your foot even. It appeared to work. A very cool mantra.

Today's route took us through the Domain Tunnel, down the Westgate Freeway, over the Bolte Bridge, through the Docklands and back through the streets to the Botanical Gardens.

Trin and I stopped at the top of the Bolte to take a photo or two.

Please note the soppy smile on my face. I'm have to admit to being truly, incomprehensively happy. (I'm also checking out my deltoid definition...)

I also realise that if we didn't stop to take these, our time would be about two minutes faster...

Coming through the Docklands I was pulling up well - Trin was starting to flag. There was a rousing three hundred meters where they were pumping out "Eye of the Tiger" on permanent replay - which stirred me on.
After what is known as "The Last Bastard Hill" just at the top of Bourke Street, it was all down hill. Trin was struggling, but I kept her in my sight - we'd done this together - we'd finish it together.

This is part of the runner's code. If you desert your partner, make sure you have it known you may do it. If not, don't let your partner down.

Then there is nothing better than the last few hundred meters. The 14 kilometre sign was just outside the art gallery. 400 metres to go. Trin was a bit behind me, but not that far. I upped the pace a little. There was still a bit in the tank.

An hour and 46 minutes later - I pass the finish line. A clear seven minutes faster than last year - my knee still carrying me, and really, not breathless - breathing hard and steady, but no breathless.

Nothing in my life gives me more joy, more pride, more self-esteem than running. I know Trin and I ran at around a pace of 7.20 per kilometre - it's fine. I'm not a fast runner. I'm slowly getting faster, but I am not fast. I never will be. But I'm consistent. And strong. And determined. And able. Words I'd never use to describe myself until I found running.

However, I am a runner. Long may I remain one. The road is my church. My shoes and heart rate monitor my bible. The others who run with me, in front of me, behind me and most importantly next to me, a part of my brethren. How cool is that!

I am one of those mad people who pounds the pavements, gets sweaty, trundles along looking concerned and joyous all at once.

I am at my very happiest when I'm running.

What more can you ask for from a religion?

(p.s. The Catholic patron saint of running is Saint Sebastian - a pretty youth, shot full of arrow, looking skyward thinking, "What the hell am I doing?")

The Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi Pand,

Presumably St Sebastian made the mistake of running during an archery contest.

The Elephant's Child said...

Inspiring. Thank you. Soooo glad the knee held up.


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Log in

reading tiger

I watched Hysteria the other night at home. It was OK. Not very subtle and a little too silly for my tastes. Plus there's that nagging little issue of the working-class folks being props for the marriage plot of the respectable main characters. Oh, and the fact that the young doctor was a dick.

The rest of the weekend included making popsicles and babysitting the silkworms:

They sure do eat a lot. We had to walk down this afternoon to our preschool's mulberry tree to refresh their stash of leaves. Now two of them are spinning their cocoons in the corners of the box. Tomorrow we return Silky, Silker, Silka, Silklove and company to the school, where small children will shower them with mulberry leaves until they all bloom into moths. Or school ends, whichever comes first. I wonder what they'll do with the box at the end of the year if everyone hasn't metamorphosed yet?

Cool! The amount of leaf it ate in that short amount of time is really impressive.


text:
Log in

reading tiger

Picture me with my left hand pointing rightward and my right hand pointing leftward.

Me: "One way to describe what butch is for me is like this: I'm a girl or a woman [left hand moves rightward] but people think I look and act like a boy or a man [right hand moves leftward]." Where those two cross is the zone where 'butch' lives."

Simone: "Are you drunk in that zone?"

Me: *ded*

And I was just thinking that I would love to read something about your kids, too. Thank you!

You're welcome :)


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Florence A&Cornelius hot pantyhose movie

Florence A. and Cornelius were smooching on the huge brown divan, when the guy slid his hands under the girl’s black crotchless pantyhose enjoying their silky soft feel. Then he literally plunged between the cutie’s slim pantyhosed legs dying to lap up that bushy pussy. He really took his time eating that fur pie in every which way before making his babe ride his face without taking off her tights..
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Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Lovely Lady

Hi there! Do  you love vintage inspired images? I do and have a card using one of my favorites today.

This beautiful image is called (H195) Victorian Lady and I colored her with colored pencils on watercolor paper. The sentiment is (E763) Sunshine

I think this image would be lovely to use for Mother's Day that is coming soon as well. What do you think? Come and join our monthly challenge!  If you use a stamp from the Great Impressions online store, please link it up in our Customer Gallery, too!

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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge PWC245

Happy Valentine's Day (a little early)!

Before we get to this week's challenge, let's announce the winner of last week's challenge.
The lucky random winner of "5 free digis of your choice" is #78 Mirre!

Please send an email with your digital image choices to hlrcrafts at hotmail dot com.
Thank you to everyone to played along with us!  You guys made some BEAUTIFUL Valentines!
We have a new digital sets this week!  Check it out!
Crazy For Cupcakes- Illustrated by ARTish

This week's challenge is: COLOR CHALLENGE (RED, PINK & WHITE)
One random lucky participant this week will win 5 free digital images of your choice from the Paper Pretties store . You do NOT need to use Paper Pretties stamps in order to play along, but if you do, you will get a bonus entry into the drawing! Please be sure to mention our challenge and link back to the Paper Pretties blog in your project posting. When uploading to SCS or PCP please use keyword PWC245.  Also, please be sure to link up your project at the bottom of this post!
Take a look at the GORGEOUS creations the Prettie Girls made for this week's challenge. Remember to check out their individual blogs for more info on their cards/projects.

  1. Touche. Outstanding arguments. Keep up the
    amazing spirit.

    Here is my site; Highly recommended Reading
    My site: federal and private student loan consolidation

  2. Love all the inspiration. See you next time!!!


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Worst Kung Fu Fight Ever?

Could this be the worst Kung Fu fight ever? I don’t know but it sure does top my list of crappy fights ever. If you don’t want to fight, then don’t. Just find a pot of tea and talk it over.

Tell us what you think.

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Bernard Sinai

Editor at PNG Warrior
Bernard is a student of Kyokushin Karate and a blogger. He believes martial arts has the potential to change people for the better.
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Friday, March 25, 2011

Aimlessly wandering...

Meander: (from the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language)

1. To follow a winding and turning course: Streams tend to meander through level land.
2. To move aimlessly and idly without fixed direction: vagabonds meandering through life.

Ahhh, the above description fits my life perfectly right now. In fact, a synonym of meander is wander—and that’s exactly what it feels like I’ve been doing for the past 6 months or so!

I’m finishing Zader's Menagerie, a story in the Extra Cream series at Changeling Press, hope to have it completed and turned in before I leave for RT in LA, if not it’ll be done shortly after. I’ve also been putting the finishing touches on a short story that doesn’t have a name, though I do have a home in mind. It wouldn’t let me rest until I at least began writing it. AND it’s contemporary…

I’m settling into my new job well, getting used to the hours and being up late again. I no longer go to bed before the sun sets, or rise with the chickens. *smile*

For a bit I felt guilty I didn’t get much writing done, I’m accomplishing anywhere from 500 to 1K each time I open a WIP. In the past, my numbers were very much higher. I’m learning to accept my limitations, and how much I can do well. But to me – it feels like I’m meandering through each day as I shift gears back into the "world of the working".

All of this is trivial when I think of things happening in the world. I’m treating each day as a blessing.

Growl and roar-it's okay to let the beast out.-© J. Hali Steele

Annie Nicholas said...

500-1k is an excellent goal. Like you said, it's not quantity but quality that counts.

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Sunday, December 8, 2013

Midwinter Madness

It’s that time of year in the Northern Hemisphere: Midwinter Madness. Not just a shopping spree in worlds where the paranormal is par for the course. The middle of winter, the darkest part of the year, has always held a special place in the human heart. It is a time of cold, privation, hunger, and dread. Add in the paranormal such as vampires and werewolves, and it can be a truly challenging time of year.
This year, the full moon of December falls on the 17th—its almanac name is the Full Cold Moon, or the Long Nights Moon. In American folklore, it is also associated with the wolf. In the coldest months of the year, hunting might be scarce for werewolves but the freedom would be unparalleled. With so few people out of doors, especially hunters, the forests and hills would be a playground for creatures that hardly feel the cold.
The long nights are perfect for vampires. The sun sets so early that they can step out and mingle with the common people. What other time of year can a vampire get out and about while the shops are still open? Streets are full of busy people, their guard is down as their minds are on their wallets and their lists, and the hunting is excellent. The thoughtful vampire can scoop up a plump, spoiled little gift for his beloved—almost right off Santa’s lap—while he’s out buying candles and wine.
The war of the light against the darkness is at its most desperate in the dark days of winter. The celebrations of the season are associated with a great deal of power for the magical set. The Solstice arrives, the tide of the war between the Oak and Holly Kings turns in favour of Holly, the return of the sun comes after it stands still on the shortest days, and the year is reborn.

 Does the holiday play into your paranormal universes? How do you think your favourite paranormal characters pass this time of year? Is it a time for celebration or a time of danger?

Veronica Scott said...

I'd never read about Long Night's Moon - fascinating!

Diane Burton said...

I never heard of Long Night's Moon, either. So glad you shared.

Dianne Fox said...

I feel like winter mythologies are full of great little tidbits and inspiration like that. :)

Jane Kindred said...

Ooh, fun post! I actually got chills reading the words "Long Night's Moon". Ha. Because I'm a big dork. Love, love, love this time of year. (But we already knew that.) ;)


text:
Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Who says learning should be fun?

At the risk of sounding like a curmudgeon, I am becoming increasingly exasperated by the extent to which “fun” is specified as a requirement of learning design. In fact, it is frequently the only need that is clearly expressed.

Now, I understand the general idea that if people don’t enjoy the training, they are less likely to give it high smile-sheet ratings, or recommend it to a colleague. But are they less likely to learn if the process is not liberally peppered with “fun” experiences?

In theory, we learn best when we are relaxed and in harmony with our learning environment. A good trainer can set the tone and help create the most appropriate atmosphere. Ice-breakers contribute to that state, and are particularly helpful for skeptical learners, those uncomfortable in learning situations, and inexperienced trainers.

But training does not have to be entertaining.

E-learning’s rise has brought this issue to the fore. The constant admonition from instructional designers that e-learning has to be punctuated every couple of minutes with “interactivity” is one of the saddest mantras of our time. It’s like the American notion that food cannot be palatable unless you smother it with ketchup. If you are working with training that is bland and dry, by all means bring on the sauce. But would it not be better to make the training itself more engaging in the first place?

The distinction between engagement and interactivity is crucial, and it’s one that many instructional designers – and those who commission the development work – do not appear to understand. Engagement is intense mental absorption; interactivity is often just busyness or sugar-coating. It is vitally important that learners be engaged. Interactivity, entertainment, and fun can contribute to cognitive engagement. They can equally well distract from it.

There are possibly three causes for the boom in gratuitous fun in learning: managers want motivational experiences disguised as training; instructional designers lack the skills or imagination to architect inherently engaging learning experiences; and trainers seek high smile-sheet scores and possibly a release from their own boredom.

Managers: Too often, when managers commission training, what they really want is a motivation activity. I can't tell you how often, for instance, I have heard the whine: "We can't make people take that course online, because we'd lose out on the motivation, energizing, bonding, or social interaction that we get from the classroom course."

My response is to challenge the learning objectives: if the primary desired output of the "event" is all that warm fuzzy stuff, then why pretend to be running a training course? It is far more cost effective to structure a motivation session that achieves those goals, and does not come out of the training budget. (Through my focus on sales and marketing, I have designed and run many such events, some of them wild or lavish, and all of them very effective, but I have never called them "training" events). Naturally, if the self-discovery or bonding is germane to the learning (in, say, leadership training or some interpersonal skills training) then it may be relevant and appropriate.

But too often the kind of feel-good factor that is called for in training is (once again) training being abused as a surrogate for good management.

Instructional designers: Many learning experiences are atrociously conceived. The designer has to work with unrealistic timelines, limited subject matter knowledge, poorly specified learning objectives, and myopic supervision, as well as limitations or constraints in the way the training is to be implemented.

The expedient approach often taken is a linear exposition of content, made less dull by the frequent insertion of bits of fun. “We’ll do an icebreaker at the start, a game here, bring out the Lego over there, run a video here, chuck in some role-playing and a bit of team competition intermittently, and make the tests like Who Wants to be a Millionaire. ‘Triple Bottom Line Accounting for HR Professionals’ will never have been so much fun! Who cares if a week later the only thing they remember is the egg-dropping contest?”

Instructional designers need to look beyond the smile sheet for their inspiration, and companies need to stop hiring as ISD's people whose only pedagogical qualification is a mechanical competence in Macromedia's tools.

Trainers: From a trainer's perspective, "having fun" can be an acceptable way to leaven the densest of subject matter, so long as it does not distract from the learning goals. And, because in too many companies the smile sheet ratings are the primary indicator of how good a trainer is at his/her job, "fun" is welcome. It is often true that a learning experience becomes less engaging for the trainer the more engaging it is for the learner. If you are running the same course over and over again, the entertaining components serve to keep you from putting yourself to sleep.

From a learner's perspective, those who do not really want to participate in the learning experience in the first place may be distracted, if not seduced, by the injection of "fun" components; those who really want to learn ask themselves why they are wasting time on irrelevant padding.

Fun can be very constructive. Well-designed entertaining experiences that are relevant and fully integrated into the learning process can work as powerful illustrations of concepts or living analogies. If the fun is designed as an effective instructional process, contributing to the achievement of specific learning objectives, I'll opt for fun over dull any day. But if it is gratuitous, I won't waste my time, or that of learners, by indulging in it.

Original in TrainingZONE Parkin Space column of 21 Oct 2005

illusions said...

I liked this post, but had a problem with the following para...
"The distinction between engagement and interactivity is crucial, and it’s one that many instructional designers – and those who commission the development work – do not appear to understand. Engagement is intense mental absorption; interactivity is often just busyness or sugar-coating. It is vitally important that learners be engaged. Interactivity, entertainment, and fun can contribute to cognitive engagement. They can equally well distract from it."

My problem is that I see interactivity as a subset of engagement, as is good content. Regarding the fun aspect to training, I think training should always be fun. Now, we need to define fun. I define "fun" in learning as a positive experience that enables a learner to retain concepts. Simple animations can do the trick, depending on the dialogs being used.

I do appreciate your blog. It triggers several thought processes :)

mavricka said...

what makes training engaging is the business context around the need to know. for instance, having to learn a technology that is needed immediately on the job makes the most straight forward content "engaging" - provided it's accurate.

experiential-learner said...

I enjoyed reading this post and agree with it whole heartedly. The only reason games (other than energizers)should be used during training is transact the content effectivey and make it accessible by all. Training is an environment where time is compressed and the content has to be accessible (in practical terms) by everybody in this short duration, so as to transfer it to the workplace post training. Games along with other tools make content accessible quite effeciently.
Experiential-learner from

randy mac said...

While I do not wholeheartedly agree with all you say nor disagree vehemently I do think that the order and primary subject matter was incorrectly conceived. The subject being an overt attack on fun engagement as a teaching tool is misplaced. I can see that statement as being a paragraph inserted into how to be a good educator but to make it the prime topic is irresponsible due to the audience. If you are speaking to trainers and admonishing them on how better to work their craft I would accept the premise. However, as an open forum that is accessible to all I am afraid that the response could be "I don't want that guy or gal, I heard they were a lot of fun". I do hold very entertaining classes so perhaps I am one that you are directing it to. However, experience gives you a couple of interesting observations. 1) are you getting results? 2) if you are not getting "this is the best class that I have ever attended" remarks then you just flat out are not doing your job. I get the smily faces as you call them but I get more hand written thoughtful comments that guide my training. People who are not used to sitting in class rooms all day or during an evening are going to have attention span issues. A good intructor is going to be a motivational character with ready antidotes and humorous or emotional engagements. These people sitting through your seminars deserve to have that WOW feeling when they are done. I explain to my students that my job is to train them the process, and motivate them to perform those processes for the time period required to create the new habit. Zig Ziglar was once told by a gentleman that he did not believe in all that motivation because it did not last. Zig correctly replied that "neither does bathing, that is why we do it everyday"

Lanie said...

I can relate to the author's thought process. I am not a fun trainer, in the funny sense of the word, because I cannot crack jokes, if I do, it is so corny, I would have squeezed my own neck. Some trainees do provide highers scores to a trainer who can effectively crack jokes even if it gets them distracted from learning the subject matter.

I have learned to be happy with the results of my Level 1 assessments though, by not trying to compare the results with the Level 1 assessments of the "funny trainer".

I get satisfaction from the results of the learning opportunitites I create, 6 months down the road...when the either productivity or high morale is improved.


text:
Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Mark 4:30-34

by Daniel Harrell

Chalk it up to a diminishment in dexterity, or perhaps it’s just my age, but I haven’t quite been able to master the whole texting thing with my phone. Let’s just say I’m all thumbs. I recently marveled at my adolescent niece’s agility, as well as her obsession, with this cryptic form of communication. She and I have this running cribbage grudge match that stretches back several vacations; it can get pretty intense. Only this last time as we played, our game was being constantly interrupted by her vibrating phone. She was having a “conversation” with some boy out in Oklahoma, a digital dialogue that took precedence over the audible dialogue she was simultaneously having with her very present flesh and blood uncle right in front of her face. Figuring it must be terribly important stuff for her to be so rude, I got her to show me the exchange. With apologies to radio and podcast listeners, it went something like this. Allow me to translate:

Sup Whassup?

WRUD What are you doing?

NMU Not much, you?

9TV Watching TV.

WRU9 What are you watching?

~(_8^(|) The Simpsons (You have to cock your head to the left to get this.)

TTLY Totally

G2gb Got to go bye

cul8r See you later, (by which they meant about 10 seconds later when the whole cycle would start over again).

Given the obvious lack of urgency to such banter, I wondered aloud why my niece couldn’t wait until we had finished our cribbage game to reply to her cowboy. She informed me that this is not how texting works. One of the Ten Commandments of Texting (according to a recent New Yorker article) reads:

u shall b prepard @ all times 2 tXt & 2 recv

You can be sloppy and you can be blunt, but you cannot be slow. To delay is to disrespect. In fact, delay is the only disrespect. Any other misunderstanding can be cleared up by a few more exchanges. Back when most computing was done on a desktop, people used to complain about all the pressure they felt to respond quickly to e-mail. At least, in those days, it was understood that you might have walked away from your desk. But now, there is no socially accepted excuse for being without your cell phone. “I didn’t have my phone!” just does not sound believable. Either you are lying or you are depressed or you have something to hide. “I’m sorry, I have a breathing human being in the room with me?” No, I’m afraid that doesn’t cut it either. What about “I’m in church?” Unfortunately, no. If you receive a text, you are obliged to reply to it instantaneously, if only to confirm that you are not one of those people who can be without a phone. The most common text message must be:

Which means “I have nothing to say, but heaven forbid that you should think that I am a loser.”

If you haven’t heard, e-mail is so 2006. Texting is quickly becoming the way to communicate. Somewhere in the area of three billion people own cell phones from which are sent more than a trillion text messages each year. Granted, a trillion messages on the vast sea of language is hardly a ripple. But such insignificance only displays texting’s power as all the more remarkable. This past week’s election of Barack Obama as president is attributable in part to texting. Cell phones greased the enormous network of volunteers and contributors that fueled Obama’s victory. One Republican strategist described Obama’s election campaign as an “army of grass-roots activists trying to change the world in 160 characters or less.” Having given up on getting people to turn off phones during services, churches are integrating texting into worship. One church invites folks to text questions during the sermon(!). Since it’s assumed you’re going to be texting someone anyway, why not the preacher? Another church texts reminders of upcoming events and prayer requests (though the actual prayers themselves should remain verbal). A youth pastor strategically texts the 350 kids in his youth group at opportune moments such as weekday mornings before school, during lunch hours and on those late Saturday nights when they’re most vulnerable to temptation.

“Most of the people I hang out with are glued to their cell phones,” the youth pastor says.

As this is the closing Sunday of our missions conference, are there suitable missions strategies for texting? In many developing countries it costs less than a penny to send a text. Most people don’t pay for a monthly plan but buy their time as they go. You can send a hundred texts for the price of one phone call. It could be a very quick and economical way to spread the gospel:

J+ 59 (Jesus Christ Loves You)

Though you would have to get everybody’s cell phone number first.

Since as far as we know, Jesus did not have a cell phone, we can’t know whether he would have advocated texting as a missions strategy. However, we do know from tonight’s parable that he did advocate using seemingly insignificant means toward world-changing ends. Since last Easter I’ve been working through the sayings of Jesus recorded in Mark’s gospel, the words printed in red in some of your Bibles. I decided to do this due to a popular book entitled Red-Letter Christians, by Tony Campolo, who argues that Jesus’ words carry political implications, appropriate for this election year. Jesus preached the Kingdom of God as a clear indictment against the oppressive kingdom of Caesar―but he didn’t use much by way of political rhetoric to preach it. Instead he used botanical rhetoric, no doubt disappointing those who would have preferred some scary fire and brimstone instead. For the third time in a row, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to little seeds, with tonight’s comparison to the smallest seeds in Jewish proverbial thought: mustard seeds. Had Jesus used a cell phone, he could have texted it like this:

TKOG=mstd ().

The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. So what? Jesus goes on to describe how mustard seeds grow into the largest of garden plants with branches big enough for birds to perch. But again, so what? Not much if all you hear is the botanically obvious. But hear it politically and you realize Jesus says much more. The image of a mighty tree in which birds perch traces back to the Old Testament book of Ezekiel where the prophet spins his own parable of God lopping off a “tender sprig” that would grow to rule the earth. If you’re familiar with Old Testament metaphors then you know “tender sprig” is code for Messiah. Ezekiel portends a potent Kingdom, albeit one with humble beginnings. Unfortunately, centuries of heightened Messianic expectation made it so that a twig would no longer do. Israel expected a mighty sequoia of a Messiah, not some mustard bush. Jesus’ corrective here was intended to readjust expectations—but only in regard to the Kingdom’s origins. As in Ezekiel, the kingdom’s outcome would still be a mighty tree in which birds would nest―birds being symbolic of all nations coming into God’s shade. The word Jesus uses for “smallest” in verse 31 is the same word he uses elsewhere when he talks about the least being the greatest. Here he applies it to himself.

Jesus was no towering sequoia. He was a tender twig. An apparent nobody, a mustard seed of a man whose defeat and death, and death-defying resurrection, changed the world. “On the mountain heights I will plant him;” said the Lord in Ezekiel, “he will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in him; they will find shelter in the shade of his branches. All the trees of the field will know that I the LORD make the low tree grow tall and flourish. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.” In Matthew and Luke, Jesus has the mustard shrub turn into a tree to make the Ezekiel connection clear. This parable is a parable of hope. God’s power is manifest in weakness. The least becomes the greatest. As our guest preacher for next Sunday, Bishop NT Wright, puts it: “God will redeem the whole universe; Jesus’ resurrection is the beginning of that new life, the fresh grass growing through the concrete of corruption and decay in the old world. That final redemption will be the moment when heaven and earth are joined together at last.”

We’ve looking forward to Bishop Wright’s visit next Sunday. He’s pretty famous as far as preachers go. Maybe you’ve read one of his gazillion books, seen him on the news or on the Colbert Report. He’s speaking at all four services, so it’s a great opportunity to invite a friend to church who may be interested in Christianity. Hopefully at the 6pm he’ll be taking questions after his talk in order to get a bit of a dialogue going. We were even thinking about letting people text their questions, you know, since asking them in public might be too intimidating. According to that same New Yorker article, one attraction of texting is that it avoids dreaded face-to-face, or even voice-to-voice exchanges like you have over the phone. Many people don’t like having to perform the amount of self-presentation that’s required for a personal encounter. They don’t want to deal with the facial expressions, the body language, the verbal cues or the obligation to be witty or interesting.

I know, “you’ve got to be kidding,” but it’s true. So true that we were thinking it might even make sense to have Bishop Wright just text over his talk from England. It would be more efficient, faster and cheaper too. So much so that it makes you wonder why we don’t just text sermons every Sunday; why we don’t adopt texting as a missions strategy, and why God didn’t use it as a strategy himself. Putting a cell phone in the hand of everyone in the entire ancient world might have been a bit much (since he’d have to create phone companies and build towers and calling plans too, even though there would have been no dead zones). Being God, surely he could have texted the gospel in the clouds or bore it directly into people’s brains.

JOHN 3:16

God could have avoided dreaded face-to-face exchanges, the body language and the obligation to be witty or interesting. He wouldn’t have had to deal with Pharisees or any sinner for that matter. But instead, God so loved the world that he came in person. And not just as any person, but as a poor and humble person, one who as least of all was accessible to all. It wasn’t cheap. Jesus gave his own life in order to give us life. And it hasn’t been fast or efficient either. God brings on his kingdom patiently in ways that look small and insignificant―using mustard seeds like you and me―people who touch rather than text. Real people are the way the gospel gets spread. Just as Jesus came as God in the flesh, so we, the church, exist as Jesus in the flesh, the body of Christ on earth, living good news of God’s grace in all that we say and do everywhere we do it. The flags that surround you represent all the places Park Street Church does this―as real people, church planters, doctors, translators, teachers, prison workers and businesspeople—in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Yemen, Thailand, China, India, South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Cameroon, Sudan, the Czech Republic, as well as here in the United States where we support those who share the gospel on college campuses as well as those who work among the poor on the streets.

It’s not cheap. Last year it cost upwards of 1.8 million dollars, all of it given in mustard seed fashion by week to week. We pull it off because we all pull together to do it, just like churches are supposed to. However it is a challenge. I read a recent sociological study about how twenty percent of committed Christians in America, the ones who go to church weekly and say they live like Jesus daily, 20 percent of committed Christians give nothing, no money to the work of God on earth. Zero.

Zip. According to the same study, the rest of us who do give only give something like 3%.

Even though Jesus warned us not to store up our treasures on earth and to be generous toward the things of God, we mostly spend all of our money on ourselves.

: O

Do you know what we could do if committed Christians in America simply obeyed the Bible and gave a measly mustard seed of their money (which by the way is all God asks)? If just the committed Christians tithed

there would be an extra 46 billion dollars a year available to fund, for example, 150,000 new indigenous missionaries; 50,000 additional theological students in the developing world; 5 million more micro loans to poor entrepreneurs; enough food, clothing and shelter for all 6,500,000 current refugees in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East; all the money for a global campaign to prevent and treat malaria; resources to sponsor 20 million needy children worldwide.

If simple texting can change the government of the United States, simple tithing can do even more. As the study concludes, “Reasonably generous financial giving of ordinary American Christians would generate staggering amounts of money that could literally change the world.”

I want to give you a chance to be reasonable tonight. Each year we ask our members and regular attendees to pledge money to missions so that we can do what God calls us to do as his church on earth. Our primary calling has never been to serve ourselves but to serve the world, starting here in Boston and stretching to the ends of the earth. Make a pledge to missions.