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Dagdha's Blog

La Vie Boheme

Posted in Uncategorized by dagdha on March 25, 2008

With only eight weeks to graduation, I’ve begun the tedious and soul-sucking task of job hunting. I’ve finished my résumé and I’m stuck on the cover letter with only one more line to write. I would write something along the lines of  You should hire me because I need the money and I’m fucking awesome, but the more conservative masses who lack an understanding of my sarcastic, self-righteous humor require a more delicate facade. The upcoming year before graduate school is going to be a painful intellectual void…

I must say that the last half-decade of higher education is coming to a bittersweet close, though predominantly more bitter. I look at my curriculum vitae and see the tangible accomplishments of my sleepless nights and endless cups of coffee, but it falls incredibly short representing the vitae aspect of my college career. So I learned a few languages and looked at pretty pictures? That’s not really what I care about. These things define my academic interests, but they do little to elucidate me.

Recently I have greatly questioned my desire to attend graduate school. I honestly would rather move to Africa and spend my time traveling through countries like Malawi, Ethiopia and Mozambique. When I get tired of the heat, I could make my way up to Egypt, cross the Mediterranean and bum through Europe. I could visit the Parthenon, the Baths of Caracalla, and then settle down in Montmarte for a few years where I could pretend to be Picasso or Toulouse-Lautrec. This is the life I would choose if I had the courage to do so.

Some people spend their lives chasing monetary gain; others wish for a sense of accomplishment. I desire neither. The only thing I want is to be a crazy old man with elaborate stories of his youthful shenanigans. I want to look at an Impressionist painting and understand what Monet felt because I’ve been to the gardens at Giverny. I want to comprehend the words of Herodotus when describing the Greeks as cultural and artistic children in comparison to the Egyptians. And ultimately, I want to suffer because it is the basis of all human experience.

Perhaps I will find the courage to live the life I desire in the coming year, but more likely I will end up back in school, which is my second choice.

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The locally owned voice of the capital region
What you need to know for 07/28/2017

Shaker performs ‘Music Man’

Student - News

Shaker performs ‘Music Man’

Shaker High School’s spring musical production is excited to showcase another stage performance. Stu

Shaker High School’s spring musical production is excited to showcase another stage performance. Students who made it through the rigorous auditions will surely be buzzing around with the directors and crew during their hectic rehearsals for the next couple of months. They will enliven the stage with vibrant choreography and musical rhythms as the production incorporates the school’s orchestra and select members of the choir.

This year’s musical is “The Music Man,” based on the Broadway hit by Meredith Willson. The story revolves around Harold Hill, an itinerant salesman who poses as a band instructor to con people out of money from one town to another. The story takes a surprising twist when he falls in love with Marian Paroo, the River City librarian.

This cast consists of 47 high students and 14 elementary students. This is the first time that the musical has included elementary students. “The kids have to go through the audition by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with enthusiasm,” said Mrs. Amedio, one of the musical directors.

Junior Sean Morrissey enjoys portraying the lead character of Harold Hill, although he claims Hill’s personality is totally opposite to his. He is glad that he is able to transform himself. “I enjoy every part of what I get to do!” claims Sean.

Other Shaker students also seem very excited about the production. “It’s very rewarding,” said senior Sarah Kelly, who works with senior Carlene Daly as choreographer. “My favorite part is the show time!” The duo also takes special roles in the play.

Senior Mark Slavin claims singing “Wells Fargo Wagon” is his favorite part. “I like musicals because I love to sing,” says Mark.

Mrs. Jackson, the director, has been down this road before. She played the lead role of the main character, librarian Marian Paroo, many years ago. Asked why she chose this play over others, she smiled and said she thought this would be good for the whole family as the play depicts tradition and patriotism. “This has a much lighter tone compared to last year’s ‘West Side Story.’ I wanted to expose the students to different genres of musicals,” said Mrs. Jackson.

Hannah Brigida Infantado is a senior at Shaker High School

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Australian Graffiti review (Wharf 2 Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company)

Disapol Savetsila is the youngest playwright to ever be programmed in Sydney Theatre Company’s main stage season, at just 23 years of age. His wrote the first draft of his first full-length play, Australian Graffiti, back when he was just 19 and the play has been in development with the company for a significant period of time.

It follows Ben (Mason Phoumirath), a teenage Australian-born Thai boy, whose determined and authoritative mother Baa (Gabrielle Chan) has taken him from country town to country town, across NSW, trying to establish a successful Thai restaurant business.

Although most Australian country towns have an Asian restaurant — and the families that operate them are frequently the only Asian people living in that particular town — Baa, Ben, and the three Thai workers who travel with them have never found a place that welcomes their food and business.

The events of Australian Graffiti unfurl not long after they’ve established a new restaurant in what might be the most insular town they’ve encountered yet. When graffiti, written in Thai, appears on one of the town’s beloved churches, the townspeople seek to uncover which of the five Thai people is the culprit and drive them all out of town.

Ben has started to find connections in the town and has made his first ever friend outside the restaurant, Gabby (Airlie Dodds). But soon enough even she turns against him for bringing change to the town.

In a recent interview with Time Out SydneySavetsila said: “In the Lotus salon we talked about ‘occupying the hyphen’ of being Asian-Australian: sitting within that space between those two cultures and two worlds. A lot of this play came from that place of confusion, of feeling caught between the two.”

Arguably the most successful part of the play is how well it negotiates that divide, particularly through Ben’s experiences as a young man deeply connected to Thai culture and his ancestry, but wanting to feel a part of “Australian society”.

There are sections of dialogue — and a very individual, bleakly funny style — that suggest Savetsila certainly has what it takes to be a significant voice in Australian theatre. There’s great and undeniable promise in his work.

But the play never quite finds a consistent expression in its magical realism; its plotting frequently falls flat, a couple of dramatic turns are unearned, some of the relationships are underdeveloped, and it lacks an effective dramatic shape.

Director Paige Rattray’s production doesn’t manage to solve many of these problems, and adds a few of its own. The entire performance takes place in one rather cavernous, nondescript backroom of the restaurant (designed by David Fleischer) that adds little sense of place, even with the artfully chipped tiles and missing fluorescent lightbulbs. It’s also hardly the claustrophobic space suggested by the script.

Savetsila’s play finds its energy in the feeling that these people are trapped within their restaurant while the world happens around them. But it also means there’s very little sense of the country town that’s just outside the door — our only clues as to the town come from Gabby, who could be developed into a much more interesting character, and her policeman father Ryan (Peter Kowitz), who harasses the newcomers relentlessly.

The relationships inside the restaurant itself are better developed: Mason Phoumirath carries the play very effectively as Ben and is excellent when he takes his first steps towards rebelling against his mother. Gabrielle Chan is wonderfully strict and unshakeable as Baa, until the pressure of the situation forces her to reconsider her plan.

There’s also good work from Kenneth Moraleda as Boi, Srisaco Sacopraseuth as the recently deceased chef Loong, and Monica Sayers as Nam, desperate to find the best way to support her daughter back home in Thailand. Airlie Dodds makes the best of her role, although there’s very little stage time for her to evolve her relationship with Ben, while Peter Kowitz is appropriately arrogant and domineering.

For a first full-length play, Australian Graffiti is a solid work. But when it’s standing on a Sydney Theatre Company main stage — just next door a magnificently assured production of a magnificently assured play is showing — audiences may well expect STC to have developed the play a little further.

But it’s unsurprising that the company was intrigued by Savetsila’s voice. Hopefully that relationship will continue.

Australian Graffiti is at the Wharf 2 Theatre until August 12. Featured image by Lisa Tomasetti

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Excerpt from my new Kindle book: “Banged by the Band”

It was silly, really.

I knew the Angel Boyzz had aged right along with me, and it had been a long damn time since I was sixteen. Back then, I’d have been able to tell you their birthdays, favorite colors, and shoe sizes. Every teenage girl in the world had all that information memorized, myself included. Their glowing, flawless faces smiled and winked at me from my locker, from the posters on my bedroom wall, and sang me to sleep as I played their songs over and over (and over.)

That was a long time ago, a different lifetime. I’d had my heart broken and mended so many times since then, I couldn’t even tell the scars apart anymore. This latest scar was fresh enough though. Jeff had unceremoniously dumped me six months before our fourth wedding anniversary, and the sting hadn’t quite faded away.

Things used to be so much simpler, didn’t they?

A crush on a boy band was safe, fodder for so many innocent fantasies. They were just there, singing their hearts out to you, not fucking your best friend while you were away on a business trip.

So when the DJ on the radio said they were giving away VIP tickets to an Angel Boyzz Reunion Cruise, I felt weirdly compelled to dial the number. My hands shook as I punched in the number, an icy trickle of sweat inched down my back. When the DJ said “Kerry, you are the fifteenth caller, YOU WIN!” I shrieked into the phone and jumped up and down like I hadn’t done for years. It felt good to be excited like that again, that jolt of pure unbridled joy. Continue reading


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This week’s podcast episode: New Year

For the rest of 2013, I’ll be re-running some older podcasts. I’ve even got them already uploaded and scheduled, because I’m cool like that. I’ll be going back to the every other week schedule instead of the “Oh fuck! I haven’t put out a podcast in two months!” schedule.

So, for your listening consideration I present: New Year. Catch it here on iTunes or listen right from Libsyn.

Why am I re-running? I’m in the middle of a huge writing project and I’m also getting ready to move. However, the main reason is I got an iPad mini, but they didn’t include the voice recorder app, which is what I use to record my podcasts. I love that app more than any fancy schmancy microphone I’ve used, and I see that Apple is going to bring it back when they finally release the newest iOS. I tried some other apps to record the last few newest podcasts, but they sounded terrible in comparison. What can I say? I’m picky.

Hopefully by 2014 I’ll have enough new stuff written that I can get back to releasing brand new episodes. I’m also considering expanding the podcast- would you like to hear works by other authors? Reviews? Interviews? The sound of one hand clapping? Leave me a comment or message me here.

Podcast from the archives: The phone rings in the middle of the night

Re-running one from a few years ago. I have a ton of new subscribers, so I thought I might run a few of the older ones now and again. Listen on  iTunes or on Libsyn.

I had a massive spike in podcast traffic at the end of April, but I don’t know where it came from, and it’s driving me crazy. Did someone mention me on their own podcast? If you’re a new listener, please let me know where you heard about me!

Ok, enough of the ego trip. Enjoy the podcast.

New podcast up! This is one of those paramount moments…

UPDATE: Hooray! iTunes is working again!

So, I recorded new podcast last week, and I’ve been waiting for it to hit iTunes before I announced it…but apparently iTunes is having massive, widespread uploading issues right now. I don’t know when it will be fixed, but it’s not just me, apparently, it’s affecting tons of other podcasts.

Fortunately, you can listen to the latest episode right here if you don’t feel like waiting:

Or you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes (if you don’t already) and wait for it to show up there. Enjoy!


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Behold! Shopping for gift books just got easier! In addition to the books I’ve reviewed recently, I’m suggesting a bunch more in these mini-reviews. Have fun!

Smart Fiction

Everyone has different tastes, but I’ve chosen books that are good reads and pretty sure to be enjoyed by most readers.

The Children Act, by Ian McEwan This is McEwan’s latest, about a childless London High Court judge in Family Court, with a case that lands her in the emotional intersection of religious belief and health care.  To add to the drama, her husband isn’t happy. I could not put it down. If you have a serious reader who loves beautiful writing on your list, McEwan is an excellent choice.

Us, by David Nicholls I loved this book. Its narrator is Douglas Peterson, a mild-mannered English chemist married to his polar opposite. Their marriage is in serious trouble, his son hates him, and Douglas thinks the answer to everyone’s problems is to take a trip to Europe together. Some critics thought he was rigid and critical. I thought he was human and realistic.

The Rest of Us: A Novel, Jessica Lott This is a coming-of-age tale of a woman who should have come of age years ago. One of those books that examines what happens when you get what you think you want. Good choice.

My Latest Grievance, by Elinor Lipman I’m a sucker for novels set in academia, and this one is hilarious. Its narrator is the wise and smart-aleck daughter of a couple of crazy academics who live on campus in the midst of way too much drama. Loved it. (If this one does not appeal, check out other Lipman titles. She’s great.)

One Plus One, by Jojo Moyes Is Moyes the best writer around? No. But she’s good, and she’s perfect when I want something light and entertaining. But fair warning: Not for the chick lit snob!

The Goldfinch and All the Light We Cannot See were huge hits this year and I gave them both rave reviews. They would be at the top of my list for anyone who has not read them.

Smart Fiction for the Occasional Reader

These are good bets for people who read one or two books a year. They would also work for the constant reader who doesn’t snub best sellers.

Bone Dust White, by Karin Salvalaggio A classic mystery packed with secrets, deceit and things that go bump in the night. It’s a bit raw and dark, but anyone who loves a mystery and likes to spend some time on the edge of his/her seat is going to think you’re a genius for finding it.

By its Cover, by Donna This is #23 in Leon’s series about a police detective in Venice. Perfect for the reader who loves a good mystery with a touch of the travelogue. She has a gift for drawing fully realized characters. Every time I read one of her books, I want to jump on a plane to Venice.

Sycamore Row, by John Grisham Grisham is pretty much a sure thing for the occasional reader. I hadn’t read him for several years and this reminded me why he is so popular. His characters are compelling, the story always hangs together, and you cannot put it down. (His latest is Gray Mountain, which I also liked – though I liked Sycamore Row more.)

Robert B. Parker’s Cheap Shot, by Ace Atkins When Parker died suddenly, fans like me feared that was the end of his Spenser series. Not so! Ace Atkins is a very credible stand-in for the masterful RBP, and the franchise has continued.  Good clean fun, with snappy repartee spoken by all your favorite characters. (Alas, RBP’s Jesse Stone series is not in such capable hands, and you should stay away from it.)

Inferno, by Dan Brown Just in case your occasional reader missed this, it’s great. But it should come with a warning that you will be out of circulation until you finish it. Classic Dan Brown: unputdownable.

Non Fiction

Most of the non-fiction I’ve read this year centered around WWII history in preparation for a trip – a bit heavy for holiday giving. Hence the abbreviated choices.

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, by Daniel James Brown I missed this book when it first came out, but devoured it recently. The title says it all, and it’s really a must-read. Rumor has it that a movie is in the offing. Let’s hope so.

Victoria: A Life, by A.N. Wilson I have not read this, but it’s on my Santa list. Book critics have been enthusiastic, but it’s clear from reader reviews that this is not a book for the casual reader. Wilson is a serious writer and here he has produced a book of over 600 pages, packed with detail that will appeal to anyone who loves a dense biography. I’m a Victoria fan, so I cannot wait to get my hands on it!

If you’ve perused my blogroll, you’ve noticed I’m a fashion fanatic. I have the first book listed and love it; the other two are on my Santa list.

Rare Bird of Fashion: The Irreverent Iris Apfel, by Eric Boman This book grew out of a 2007 Metropolitan Museum exhibit of Apfel’s style. She is now 93 and continues to put clothes and accessories (LOTS of accessories) together like no one else in the world. If you have a fashion iconoclast on your list, this is definitely the book to give.

The Journey of a Dress, by Diane von Furstenburg In 1972 von Furstenburg created a simple wrap dress that made her a household name and changed the way women dressed (and undressed). This is the story of the dress and its creator, wrapped up in a beautiful coffee table volume.

If you want to inspire a fashionista to greater heights of fiscal success, give her (or him) the personal narrative of von Furstenberg’s remarkable career – which is still going strong.  The Woman I Wanted to Be is her biography.

Art on the Edge

If I’m going to give house room to a coffee table book about art, it’s got to be about challenging and even provocative art – not art I’d see on a medical office wall. These two fit the bill for me.

Bansky. You Are An Acceptable Level of Threat, by Gary Shove What can I say? I went to Berlin and kind of fell in love with graffiti. Bansky is bold, brash, anonymous, and still at work shaking up the establishment and making people scratch their heads and think. Come on – the world needs another coffee table book of Impressionist art like a hole in the head.

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty (Metropolitan Museum of Art), by Andrew Bolton Although he was a fashion designer, I view McQueen as an artist whose medium was clothing. I saw this exhibition and it rocked my world. In the hands of the right reader, this book will do the same.  It’s not a volume of pretty dresses you will want to own. It’s a book about an extraordinary and troubled artist, with a rare gift for detail.

There are zillions of cookbooks out there at this time of year, but these are the ones I would give.

Breakfast, Lunch, Tea: Rose Bakery, by Rose Carrarini This is the cookbook no one has ever heard of, but everyone will love. It has scrumptious recipes for pastries, soups, salads, pizzette, tarts, entrees, and on and on. Your recipient (or you) will have a tough time deciding whether to cook or pack up and head to Paris.

How to Cook Anything Fast, by Mark Bittman His “How to Cook Everything” is my current go-to book for basics, and this one looks like it will fill a niche when time is of the essence. He is clear, concise and creative. Don’t be put off by the “how-to” aspect; Bittman’s the real deal for real cooks.

My French Kitchen, by David Lebowitz I reviewed this a few months ago on the blog. My enthusiasm has not flagged. It’s a wonderful gift for any cook.

And remember the #1 Rule of Holiday Shopping: one for them, one for you.


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Ctrl + Alt + Del

by Jinryu

Time: 4:56 PM
Location: Check it on Lattitude! I’m back at my parents place for my day off.
Batteries: 80% (The highest they’ve been in over a week)
Morale: ^_^

At at my parents’ place.  It’s my first day off in over a week, and I feel great. What was the secret? Sleep.

I got 8 hours of sleep the the night before yester, and I got 7 hours of sleep yesterday.  I know there’s a lot of you out there who think that nothing less than 9hours will do, but well.


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[OOC] Story a Week 2017

I only have four Story a Week left for 2016! It has definitely been a fun goal and a good writing exercise, so I decided to do it again next year. I picked up a couple of prompt books — the first one actually has 52 so it would be great for weekly challenges. I also grabbed the drawing one just for fun, while I don’t think  I can realistically do a drawing every day, I’ll work on it when I get the chance.

And as a reward to myself for finishing, I ordered this bear from an artist I’ve admired for a long time. She’ll be coming all the way from the UK, so she’s not here yet! I plan to make her a cute little collar to wear.

One Response to [OOC] Story a Week 2017

  1. Whoa! You’ve been busy with the stories and I have read quite a few of them. Always have enjoyed your writing and watching you branch out this year has been very enjoyable – thank you for sharing. 😀

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Music of Knowledge

(CREATIVE “Expostulation and Reply”)

Young one, as you sit upon a still stone,

And turn over pages inside your brain

Think! For a book is worth as many words as it holds.

But an image is worth a thousand to one.

For to squat upon such a still, quiets form

Only stills the mind, and freezes the heart

Of true passion and learning, experiences galore,

Leaving eyes blind to the artistry sculpted above

From the breath of air and the flow of leaves

That fall gently around you. From Land to Sea

Is wisdom evolving until we’re anything but grieving

The abundance of knowledge! How beautiful and sweet!

Is this stroke of paint that we call our home,

Made of God’s gentle touch, or because our minds explore

to be quenched by the river, or the flowers that grow

the wise words of ancestors, grown from mind and soul.

Revolving in routine, knowledge is built around

and across generations, across the span of time.

The music of Knowledge, what a delectable sound!

Like fine wine, it ages, ‘til it’s smooth as rhyme.

Mother Earth, she has blessed us, with such vivid lanes

Clouds of invisible ink, waiting to be shown

And show off their colours against stone grey brains

And powers of ancestral wisdom, waiting to be honed!

Let time be no waste, let it be put to good use

Open up! Stand your ground! Fill your lungs with good air

Let your narrow mind close books, and to nature reveal to be obtuse

Burn the paper to stubs, let Nature take up care.

Let your eyes be your mind, let your fingers be your pen

As the sweet summer air takes your breath back again

And as the clouds pass, your young heart will then

Swell up with the image of words on art.

Photo Credit: Thompson, Melissa. Available at: Accessed: 20/03/17

2 thoughts on “Music of Knowledge

  1. HI Danielle, this is a really interesting response to the poem and shows some deep exploration of the subject- good work!
    However, some of your expressions (quite a few) don’t make good sense. You need to keep a sharp eye out for those phrases that your reader would have difficulty with. Here are a few examples:
    sit upon still stone (? a still stone)
    still of a form (??)
    purely off mind and soul. (? of)
    Also try to include some visual elements in your blog.

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Photography… the great ego booster?

landscape, monochrome, black and white, frost, hoar frost, winter, minimalist, high key, Dan Jurak, Alberta, prairie,

At the age of 62 I am long past caring too much about what people think of me.

When my kids say my hair is standing up (what is left of it) or that my clothes don’t look coordinated I quietly acknowledge them and then go on my merry way without changing a thing.

My photographs stopped being for others a few years ago. When I stopped taking photos for a living and even then I usually did things my way, LOL, started in earnest taking pictures for my own satisfaction.

One only need look at Instagram or Facebook to see how vanity and ego have taken control of a lot of us. For example, how many people actually look like their posed and no doubt practiced a few thousand times, profile photos on social media websites?

Now don’t get me wrong. In my younger days I spent too much money on clothes, looked in the mirror to much and fretted often about what people thought about me.

Age has a funny way of putting things into better perspective for me. I’m not in competition anymore. Not for dating. Not for a job. Not to be the most popular photographer on the internet.

Fame and ego is for others I have decided and that is just fine by me.

The photo at the top of the post is from the few days in January where we had an incredible hoar frost in central Alberta. There are probably a few dozen other photos taken during that time that will never be seen. In taking photos at least how I take them, not everything that is taken will be something that agrees with my minds eye.

Editing is a huge part of the photography process. What you cull from your images is as important as what you keep.

Happy shooting,

~ by Dan Jurak on February 2, 2017.

10 Responses to “Photography… the great ego booster?”

  1. Lovely, Dan! FWIW, I’m right behind you in the age department. Thankfully, I quit giving a rip in my 40’s. Makes life much easier for sure.

  2. I wish that I had realized in my forties or even teens that it makes no difference to your life what others think of you. Nice to see you here again.

  3. Dan, I like your last statement – “What you cull from your images is as important as what you keep.” I think this is something that all budding photographers should know and understand.

    I am also with you in that in my retirement, I do not worry about what others think of my images – I take them for me as a way to try and express my creative streak, Doesn’t always hit the mark, but then I learn something from that realization as well. Have to keep the old brain active and learning.

  4. @Ron, I think that an important part of success or learning is failing.

    No mistakes are bad if you can learn something from them. Bring on the failures. LOL

  5. Wasn’t that few days of hoar frost great? Like this image, the light is of such good quality. I heard recently that someone who took photos of objects, didn’t take a photo of the object, they took a photo of the light. I thought that was an interesting way of seeing.

  6. The frost was special. We always seem to get a few days of “special” weather every year.

    My favourite was over Christmas a few years ago. A heavy hoar frost and fog with lots and lots of fresh snow. So many interesting photos during that time.

    I think photography is more about the light than the subject. You are right about that.

  7. i didn’t realize you were SOOOOOOOOOOOO young! happy shooting, young man!

  8. Catching up Uncle Pedro. 🙂

  9. this is a gorgeous image, Dan! it looks like an infrared one but i suspect it’s not. I love the simplicity, the high contrast, and how the trees seem to be bowing to one another.

    I too have been out getting some shots of the gorgeous hoarfrost; it’s awesome, isn’t it?

  10. Hi Steve, it looks like an infrared but it’s just a heavy frost covering everything. That was a great stretch of weather we had wasn’t it?

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Lessons from a Lamborghini

When I was living in New Jersey, I visited this car dealership that sold really high end cars. Cars I couldn’t afford then, and still can’t afford now. I’m talking about Ferrari’s, Bentley’s, and Rolls Royce. The car I was interested in however, was a Lamborghini Countach. Ever since I was a teenager, I have thought they were the coolest cars. And if I ever have $250,000 to drop on a car, maybe I’ll get one.

Well, at this dealership, I was able to get into a white Lamborghini with a tan leather interior. I got inside and shut the door. It felt great. I felt great. I took it all in. After a minute I decided to get out. But I couldn’t locate the handle to open the door. It took me a few minutes to find it. It took me another minute to figure out how to operate it. I finally got the door open….but I couldn’t get out. All the sudden spending a quarter million on this thing seemed not to be such a great idea. I ended up crawling out of the car hands first. It was funny. It was embarrassing. The sales person was shaking his head at me.

Lamborghinis are not Mazda minivans. You need a different set of knowledge to operate the car. Because I wasn’t aware of how the car worked, I was not able to operate it…or even get out of it!

If you need to invest time in learning about how to use a car, doesn’t it make sense that you would need to invest time in understanding the new life you have in Christ? Are you familiar the instruction book? Have you read your Bible? You need to. Weather you know it or not, your new heart longs for it. It is like fuel for your life. It is the food that your new heart needs to beat healthy and strong.

4 thoughts on “Lessons from a Lamborghini

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Meet Mabel Suglo, 21, Manufacturing shoes from discarded tires

Mabel Suglo

“I seek to build a community of conscious consumers with a forward-thinking team who believe re-using and recycling can turn trash into treasure.”

Ghanaian social entrepreneur Mabel Suglo is passionate about alleviating poverty. She is the co-founder of the Eco-Shoes Project, an initiative that helps artisans with disabilities make marketable shoes from used tires and recycled cloth. Started in 2013, the project employs five people.

“There are millions of discarded car tire stockpiles and waste materials in Ghana which pose an environmental and health hazard,” Suglo said. “Eco-Shoes rescues some of the millions of tires and other material waste creating an environmental nuisance, to make fashionable and comfortable shoes.”

She hopes to raise funds to buy better machines, enhance productivity, invest in an e-commerce site, and provide additional training such as computer skills that will help in designing shoes for her artisans.

The Anzisha Prize: Mabel Suglo second runner up pose with other young entrepreneurs

Mabel Suglo was born in Jirapa in the West Region of Ghana on the 24th of September 1993 to Mr. Gaspard Suglo and Madam Mary Adolee. Mabel is the last born of three girls. Mabel’s mother and her late grandmother were inspirations to her early in life. They taught her to love humanity, be generous to all she met in life, and especially to show caring and kindness to those that are vulnerable, due to the additional challenges they face. Mabel’s grandmother was a shining example of how someone who was disabled, though great courage and strength, was able to farm and be self-sufficient.

Ms. Suglo had a big year in 2013; she not only graduated from Ghanata, but also co-founded the Eco-Shoes Project and began her studies in Health Science Education at the University for Development Studies in Tamale. The Eco-Shoes Project is an initiative that assists artisans with disabilities to create fashionable, comfortable, Afro-themed shoes and accessories from discarded tires and waste materials including recycled cloth.

Ms. Suglo’s initiative is not only improving Ghana’s environmental health, but also employs five people. Ms. Suglo is also helping to change perceptions of disabled people who all too often are discarded by their families and society as burdens not capable of making contributions to society. In many ways, her business model is like that of the impressive social entrepreneur and founder of soleRebels footwear, Bethlehem Alemu of Ethiopia, who also intentionally employs those that might not otherwise be hired.

Ms. Suglo provides mentoring on product development and financial and business literacy to her employees to considerable success. In 2013 Eco-Shoes Project produced 500 pairs of shoes. Due to demand for the beautiful shoes, by 2014, the number had risen to 1,500 pairs. Although it is called the Eco-Shoes Project, in late 2015, handbags were added as a new product. Ms. Suglo anticipates that the artisans will produce 1,000 to 1,500 handbags per year in addition to the shoes that are being made. It was her good work with the Eco-Shoes Project that made her the second runner up for a 2015 Anzisha Prize and the recipient of $12,500.

The prestigious Anzisha Prize is awarded through the African Leadership Academy in South Africa and the MasterCard Foundation. Ms. Suglo plans to use the prize money to purchase better machinery to enhance productivity at the Eco-Shoes Project. She also would like to invest in the creation of an e-commerce site and additional training for her employees, including computer-aided shoe design. Ms. Suglo anticipates graduating with her Bachelor’s in Health Science Education in 2017.

Credits |African development successes

Have you ever had a dream of a young child torn away from her mother and given away in marriage to a man old enough to be her great grandfather? Yeah, that was the kind of nightmare i woke up to at 2.00 am . Her screams echoes at every corner of my room,keeps me awake until dawn and gave me this burden in my heart to do something about it...I came up with the solution that if we could help this young child's mother to be self-reliant to be able to take care of her...even educate her, she will not end up in child marriage since her family will not need to borrow money from these Shylocks who want a pound of flesh of their offspring.Call me a dreamer...I won't stop until the nightmare is over. Wish me luck !

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Dave Astor
Montclair, New Jersey

Bio: I'm an avid reader who started the weekly "Dave Astor On Literature" blog in 2014. Since then, I've written thematic pieces on all kinds of fiction-related topics. Also, I'm the author of a new book called "Fascinating Facts About Famous Fiction Authors and the Greatest Novels of All Time: The Book Lover’s Guide to Literary Trivia" -- officially released on April 1, 2017. And I'm the author of the 2012 memoir "Comic (and Column) Confessional," the writer of the award-winning weekly "Montclairvoyant" topical-humor column for Baristanet.com, and a National Society of Newspaper Columnists board member. But I'm not related to the rich Astors!

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  1. This is so amazing! You have such amazing credentials behind you I am jealous! Also I found it very awesome that you are from New Jersey because so am I! Well, originally I am British but you get the point! Great talking with you and I look forward to hearing more about your upcoming book!

    Liked by 1 person

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The St. Clair McKelway Test

In my previous post, , I posted some photos of the obituary of A. J. Llebling — the namesake of this blog — written by Tom Wolfe. Now a famed novelist and writer, Wolfe was then — in late 1963 — a young reporter for the New York Herald Tribune.

I just revisited this post, and on viewing the photos I posted of Wolfe’s work I noticed the name St. Clair McKelway!

Aside from A.J. himself, Mr McKelway was among my favorite writers from the New Yorker.

I suspect that not one in 10,000 or so working journalists would know his name.

I knew that Tom Wolfe was good, but I didn’t appreciate that Wolfe – or his editors at the Trib — were that good.

To include St. Clair in Liebling’s obituary was both an act of brilliance and a demonstration of profound understanding.

If you have ever read St. Clair’s work then please post a comment.

I’ll pay the bar tab if we ever meet, and I do hope we do so as soon as possible, so we can jointly pay tribute to Colonel Stingo.

Fun is fun, but this is serious business.

Good writers deserve recognition.

One Comment

  1. Posted November 28, 2009 at 17:58 | Permalink | Reply

    Hi Dave,
    I am a big fan of St. Clair McKelway. An anthology published by bloomsbury will be out in March. I have an advance copy. It’s called, Reporting at Wit’s End.
    Christina Pratt

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Day Nursery Forever Friends

These three beauties first met each other in the infant room at the Day Nursery Federal Center when they were three months old. Every fall they celebrate their birthdays back to back in October, November and December. This weekend they gathered together to celebrate their 12th birthdays and to keep their friendship going. Thank goodness the Moms have forged a friendship too because we are going to need all the support we can get when they turn into teenagers next year. Permit me a moment to brag a bit about three Day Nursery grads who are all excelling in 6th grade this year: my daughter Claire, and her Day Nursery forever friends Caroline and Morgan.

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Get $1 credit for every $25 spent!
Get $1 credit for every $25 spent!
Lifelong learners truly take to heart the mantra of learning something new everyday, but committing new knowledge to memory can be difficult with everything you have to cram in there on a daily basis. MarginNote simplifies that process, providing a powerful reading tool for students, teachers, researchers, lawyers, or just the naturally curious that helps you quickly organize, study, and manage large volumes of PDFs and EPUBs. With MarginNote you can take notes, create mind maps, review flashcards, and more all in one central interface, making it easier to fortify your learning.

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Charming ice cream, sandwich, and hotdog shop. Great location. Major expansion in the immediate, surrounding area shows potential for business growth.

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Full- Service Glass Repair and Replacement Franchise with 20% down payment for qualified buyers. #1 full-service company in the industry. Nationally recognized brand, down payment as low as 20%, no prior experience required, very low inventory requirement, strong and stable repeat customer base,...

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Month: September 1982

You Can Have Your Cake And spray tan tips for beginners, Also

fake tans that look naturalPlease exfoliate using a non-oil based exfoliant/scrub and shave prior to your spray tan.

Eyelash extensions are okay to have on , nor affect your spray tan, yet because of the manner eyelash extensions are applied, it is suggested that they be applied before your spray tan appointment. They may be applied exactly the same day, so long as it is before your spray tan!

You may feel a bit tacky and also the spray suntan comes with a little scent to it — this is standard.

If you do accidentally touch your skin wash the insides of your hands as directed by your Tanning specialist! No sweating, swimming, becoming wet or working out until your first shower after your spray tan.

While it is possible to still do these things, it is recommended that you use caution when you are near water to ensure you really do not mess up your spray tan. This will avoid the spray tan from transferring to your own hands while you are sleeping and making them additional dark!

Private Spray Tan Room–Next you’ll step into a personal room and undress. Fresh clean showered skin (don’t work all day and come here to get a spray tan without a shower.

All onsite tanning services need a deposit or full payment to ensure your appointment. You should shave, wax, shower, and exfoliate before your gorgeous spray tan might be applied.

The most sophisticated automated spray tan booth in the whole world with more than 50 different programmable treatment choices.

I made a visit to Florida as well as the weather was dreadful so I chose to go to a tanning salon and I used yelp to discover a good one. Indeed, one tan in our exclusive Super Beds is equal to four suntans in a competitor.

VersaSpa Spray Tanning Booth joins initiation to make the entire world’s first automatic skin treatment that helps guest bronze, hydrate and smooth their skin in just 60 seconds!

The results you can get from tanning sprays are often very good. It tells consumers on its web site, “The utilization of DHA in ‘tanning’ booths as an all over spray has not yet been approved by the FDA, since security data to support this use has not yet been submitted to the bureau for review and assessment.”

The agency advises consumers who spray tan they’re “not protected from the unapproved use of this color additive” if they are inhaling the mist or letting it to get inside their body. Pray tanning is the perfect alternative when you are in a time crunch or have an upcoming special occasion you should look amazing for. When it’s your wedding, prom, professional event or you would just like to keep a healthy glow; our sunless professionals can help you look the best you can.

No more sitting under sunlight for hours for great tan, you can locate beautiful and awing results in 10 minutes or less at Aventura Spray Tan. We don’t allow walk-ins, we only do tanning sessions by appointment. I can not wait to get my next suntan from the Tan Bar!” – COURTNEY.

We understand every session is YOUR tanning experience and that you want to be comfy. It’s provided men with a means to get and keep a healthy-looking, even tan without being exposed to the sun’s beams or those of a tanning bed.

Believe of the spray tan as getting a fine couture dress by a world renowned fashion designer.

It’s our most famous booth and can be obtained at all of our locations nationally. We begin every aerosol tan with a self-administered, special skin exfoliation procedure that removes all the oils, impurities and excess skin cells from your skin. Following this visit, we often give another spray to ensure maximum coverage as well as colour.

Actually, we additionally offer a third spray the next day for any reason. When the special Mystic Tan tanning solution passes through the booth’s nozzle, the particles of solution are polarized, taking on the characteristics of tiny magnets.

All our gear is mobile and could be set up in any room with no mess. From set up to take-down, our Master Accredited Sunless specialist will soon be out in 30 minutes or less.

September 2012 also found a surge in argument within the uk about the inhalation of DHA through spray tanning.

The one-touch constant spray works at any given angle to tan difficult-to-reach places-even your back.

I have been self tanning for a long time and this really is the primary place I have gone that I actually feel like you can’t tell the tan is bogus! The solution is absolutely safe to use during pregnancy and my tan came out great. Andressa is the greatest spray tan professional I’ve ever been to. She consistently attends to my requests and does an absolutely wonderful job!

Schedule your spray tan once you get your manicure, pedicure, massage, facial, and waxing. Excessive spray tan residue can often attach to the clothing; this comes out after being washed however white clothing will often become off colour over time.

For those who have little children, it is strongly recommended that you simply bathe them prior to your own spray tan or have someone else bathe them that day. If you are wearing your spray tan to bed, we recommend wearing long sleeves and long pants or covering your hands with socks while you sleep. Face laundries containing salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are NOT RECOMMENDEDbecause they can eat away at your spray tan.

Chlorine may make your tan fade quicker, nevertheless it is not going to remove the tan immediately. At Palm Beach Tan, we take the best quality of indoor tanning products accessible.

With the growing awareness of health risks linked with exposure to both actual sunlight and uv tanning beds, new strategies have grown in popularity. Bathing suits and underwear function nicely or feel free to go “naked” for an all over tan. You’ll adore a nicely bronzed, back-from-the-beach tan without the exposure to UV rays.

Also, the clothes you choose to wear home following your spray tan must be loose and dark – a small Best Fake Tan can come off on the interior of your clothes right after you are sprayed. The tinted spray tan feels just like a cool mist, many folks are pleasantly surprised that there is zero smell.

Don’t stress if when you get home you find a little smudge where an item of clothes scuffed your spray tan; when you shower the sheeting action of the water will even out the suntan – kind of like the manner spots will come off glasses in the dishwasher. You can choose anything from a healthy glowing tan to a strong suntan; although there’s no ‘color chart’. Keeping this particular in your mind, we ask that you respect our technicians’ years of spray tanning expertise and permit them to handle the spraying of your hands and feet gently.

This 17 oz bottle will last you a couple of months and well worth the investment should you choose to spray tans. You will receive three distinct treatments in order for the tanning solution to provide you with a dark, unbelievable glow to your own skin. Because the tanning solution used throughout the process is sprayed onto skin as a fine mist, it is easy to get a smooth, streak-free finish.

Mystic Tan Tanning Myst formulations have been extensively analyzed by a third-party laboratory and also the results demonstrated no eye or skin discomfort. Yet, protective eyewear is offered by the salon in case you would like to utilize it.

Nevertheless, nose filters are supplied by the salon in case you want to use them. Mystic Tan Tanning Myst has been thoroughly analyzed by a third party laboratory and also the results showed no eye or skin discomfort. Don’t get wet, perspiration, or apply anything (moisturizer, makeup,cologne, deodarant, etc.) to your skin for several hrs after spray tan.

This Heat-Activated solution balances the PH of the skin, which makes it ideally open to the Evolv tanning solution. Circa Bella offers custom spray tanswith all-natural anti-aging Infinity Sun spray tanningproducts, the same brandHollywood celebrities often use to get red carpet prepared.

Infinity Sun is an all natural sunless tanner made with antioxidants and pure botanicals that make your skin radiant with a natural-looking golden brown gleam. We use the all-natural, anti-aging sunless tanner made with antioxidants and pure botanicals, leaving skin radiant with a natural-looking, golden brown gleam. Receive instant gratification as this organic spray tan takes 15 minutes and a built-in dryer dries immediately.

VersaSpa solutions are fortified with vitamins and minerals to enhance and expand each sunless application giving the customer a long lasting, luminous glow. Yes, the application of DHA in cosmetics, including sunless “tanning” products, is limited to OUTSIDE application exclusively.

Lay down is really good to but the customer hate those little spray water features that sprays you!!!

You are able to apply powder makeup after, then after your first shower do your regular routine, however do not use toner on your face after your spray tan (since that’ll strip the color quicker), and wear face/body lotion (I’m using after sun lotion)

fake tans that look naturalOn-Line suggestions said wear dark colored clothes, but I wore a magenta bikini and it didn’t get dyed at all. Plus you or whoever’s applying the spray often have more control over where it goes.

Panettieri, like all of the experts ABC News consulted with, said more studies should be achieved.

During 30-minute airbrush-tanning sessions, techs aerosol micromists of DHA bronzer, which bonds to skin to generate the look of a natural, even tan with no jobs of relaxing on a beach chair strapped into a sun-bound rocket. Our main purpose is to have all our customers satisfied using the results of their tanning process.

For every personal profile, four tanning degree optionsare accessible to produce optimal results.

A sweeping side to side airbrush travels gently from head to toe applying precise amounts of your desired Best Fake Tan and degree of colour, while a flow of warm atmosphere helps to ensure that your skin stays dry and you remain comfortable. Mystic’s patented application procedure that uses the human body’s own magnetic properties to bring mystic tan tanning myst to every exposed surface of skin.

The customer urge everyone I know to come here and use every one of their spa services.”

guns do not kill people — best home spray tanning machine kills individuals

When applied, DHA reacts with the proteins in skin’s superficial layer to form a golden brown color.

fake tan routine blogBecause the area is totally private, going for an all-over treatment is totally up to you. However, if you do wear a bathing suit or underwear, please be aware that it can become stained.

Other customers decide to get their treatment without covering their hair. However, if you are using a Bronzer Additive and have very light or white hair, it may become temporarily stained.

If any excess moisture remains on your skin’s surface following the session, simply utilize a towel to eliminate it, towel off completely just as you do when you shower. To give the DHA enough time to fully set, we recommend waiting a minimum of 4 hours after a Fake tans session. Before Mystic Tan, most self-tanners were creams and lotions applied by hand.

An excessive amount of lotion applied in a single place left the skin appearing orange. That is simply the DHA responding to proteins in your skin plus it fades away pretty rapidly. More than 20 million Mystic sessions happen each year, with no adverse reactions documented.

They may block the suntan’s application and impede the development procedure. Its properties as a skin darkener were found in the 1920s but were not advertised as such until the 1960s when Coppertone introduced Quick Tan.

It was added to the FDA’s listing of authorized cosmetic ingredients in the 1970s.

Complying with the recommendations is as easy as wearing some kind of eye cover.

A simple solution to comply with the FDA’s recommendations is to apply a protective coating of lip balm, Vaseline, or similar product to the lips. DHA continues to be used as a diet supplement in sports nutrition plus it’s non-carcinogenic. Testing has further demonstrated that DHA is less hazardous than aspirin, caffeine, as well as common table salt.

In the meantime, you, as a consumer, should contemplate using the protective measures advocated by the FDA.

Another day nobody could even tell I had water drips. I got it for my wedding (even though every one told me not to ) and I couldn’t have made a better choice.

It appears totally natural and I got a ton of compliments.

I truly felt so much better about the way I looked and eventually had that “pregnancy glow” everyone talks about. It was perfect because I didn’t need to leave my hotel!

She made it a quick, enjoyable experience, and left me with a magnificent freshness!

The girls there are extremely nice and know the things they’re doing.

The technician was great in describing the process and making me feel perfectly comfortable. This ingredient doesn’t create a “real tan” by increasing the skin’s melanin levels, instead it creates a tanned look by developing a brownish colour on the surface of the skin. The action of DHA is limited to the top layer of your skin and requires a reaction between DHA and skin proteins and oxygenthat produces brownish compounds.

The growth of color takes anywhere from 4 to 8 hours and also the intensity of colour depends upon the DHA concentration in the product together with each tanner’s individual skin characteristics. The color developed by the DHA typically lasts 5 to 7-days and starts to disappear as the top layer of the skin naturally exfoliates.

Prevent anything that’s tight or has elastic as they could make marks while you are still in the drying process. Avoid long hot showers/baths, spas, excessive heat including a sauna and rubbing of your skin afterwards as this increases the natural skin exfoliation process.

Most Significant Apply a good moisturizer in the morning and through the night!

These areas are brought on by ordinary contact with clothing and other surfaces, which cause unintended exfoliation.

On wheels, this unit can be rolled from room to room, or taken to occasions, movie sets, hotels or private homes.

This unit are available separately to choose to events, movie sets, hotels, or private residences.

Also, it could be along with the Infinity Sun Backdrop for the ideal professional set up or on-the-go service system. Strategically placed studio light illuminates skin, offering the technician visual clarity as they provide top-of-the-line service. After seeing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are thinking about.

fake tans are uglyThen, assessing your natural skin color your technician will say if your target is realistic or create a recommendation. Next your nails, palms, and feet will undoubtedly be lightly covered with barrier cream to stop discoloration —if your hair is very light we will propose your wear a shower cap.

Tight clothes can rub off the DHA bronzer and smear the cosmetic bronzer. Thespray tantechnique is done by asalon professional for a much more in-depth and exact application.

Don’t stay in the shower for a lot more than a couple of minutes. If yourself do that you will have white blotches all over you.

Please click the link below to visit our on-line payment system. We shall respond to yourself within two days to tell you if your requested time can be obtained.

The radical booth just takes a couple of minutes, and has three degrees to pick from. With both, the color is very natural (not orange) and the process dries yourself off, so no need to be worried about runs or streaks. However, as everyone’s skin type and tone is different, results can sometimes vary.

I am going to do my best to repair any issues, and when I can not, I will offer you a full refund! Showering, or engaging in any task that may make you perspire ahead of the recommended minimal 4-6 hour colour development period.

Hot Tub Evo uses an exclusive three step procedure customized to your own skin tone that guarantees you aglow, long-lasting, genuinely bona fide results every time. Your shade will soon be mixed precisely to match your skin tone and your desired colour, considering the season and occasion. Look healthy, gold, and glowing for the special special occasion or holiday, or perhaps look as if you went on vacation!

Exfoliate with a non-abrasive body polisher, loofah or exfoliant mitt;Infinity Sun’s non-abrasive exfoliate scrub is advised. Skin forming formula builds and restores the skins matrix, reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Customers can expect 5-7 days of gorgeous just off the shore color with appropriate maintenance. We strive to be consistent in offering you the ideal results and natural looking colour on every visit.

Paraben-free and resound certified, the colour sticks to your own skin tone – perfect color every time! Dry off with fan, fully, and totally to prevent unevendevelopment, including lines or streaks.

Get a Party of 6 or more together, sit back and relax, we’ll come to you personally. After my first session I bought 3 for myself, one for a friend as a present, and referred both my daughters” -Brenda H. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you want to know more about.

Others live with their pallor until faced using a special occasion.

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Having an online tidy up

Over the last year I have been passing projects over to friends and gradually reducing my online responsibilities. Work and family life have taken priority.

I have spent the day cancelling domains, cancelling the renewal of hosts, and advising users of site close-downs. The only host and domain i’m keeping is linux-hardcore.com which has always been /home for myself and a few close friends.

I’ve been slowly losing interest in the Linux community, and haven’t got the enthusiasm I used to have for setting up sites and trying new ideas. It’s been great fun over the last 5 years and i’ve made some good friends but as hard as I try to find something new or interesting, everything seems to have become “samey”.

So I am going to re-theme my blog and add little more “me” to it as well as Linux related material, and see how it goes.

2 thoughts on “Having an online tidy up

  1. I know how you feel rich. “samey” is a good description. I'm in much the same situation myself. I had a crack at a new Openbox/Debian setup on the weekend after a month or so of just using Mint and it was just “blah”. I really not interested anymore. I'm happy to stick with my resolve of a month or so ago and just kick back and enjoy other aspects of my life.

    Beneficial by-products of this approach include an increase/improvement in work (my real work) productivity and personal relationships. I'd highly recommend sticking to this new path 🙂

  2. Not having so much pressure is nice. I can come online when I feel like it, or I can disappear for a month. It's kind of refreshing not having any obligations 🙂

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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Deepak Rajput - Google Penalizes Blog Networks, Did SEOs Use It To Hurt Competitors?

As I reported at Search Engine Land, Google has caught another blog network in action after that blog network worked magic for a long long time. Those sites and webmasters who participated in that network reaped the benefits of good rankings and now find themselves penalized and some deindexed by Google completely.

BuildMyRank.com confirmed they were hit and is offering refunds to customers. There are rumors that other networks have also been hit but none of come out saying so, outside of BuildMyRank.com. What is funny is that they said, "in our wildest dreams, there’s no way we could have imagined this happening." And I am thinking, wow - people really think this will work in the long run?
When I posted this on my Google+ page I received a lot of questions on what is to stop someone from doing this to their competitor? Add them to a link network and them bam - good bye? Google says it is rare for links to hurt you if done by a third party - but anything is possible.
Which is why Google probably offers
@danthies ah, glad you noticed that. Good to see at trafficplanet.com/topic/1885-aln…that it's on peoples' radar that they're on our radar. :)
— Matt Cutts (@mattcutts) March 15, 2012
So which other networks were hit? Which will be hit in the future? Have you used this method to try to get short term gains and then sell it off? Have you used this method to try to hurt competitors?

Deepak Rajput - Google Panda 3.4 Rollout

Google rolled out a Panda update late on Friday. Google announced the update on twitter saying:

Panda refresh rolling out now. Only ~1.6% of queries noticeably affected.
Looking into the wording on this tweet, we can learn a few things:
(1) 1.6% of the search queries were effected, which is small but large for those hit.
(2) This is specifically a "refresh" and thus it seems like no new signals or algorithm changes were made to this Panda update. In short, they simply reran the algorithm on their index.
There was speculation that this update was being rolled out earlier but I am not sure if it was specific Panda related or not.
The previous Panda update was 3.3 taking place on February 26th or so. Here is the timeline:

Past Panda Updates:

There is a lot of discussion around this announcement.


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Friday, December 25, 2015

Gold iPhone 5 Deals - iPhone With A New Identity

Introducing “Bling” for your iPhone, iPad and Electronics: Did you ever wonder what would happen if King Midas and Apple got together, what the next iPhone might look like? Now you don’t have to wonder anymore. We’ve brought the decadence of pure gold plating upgrades to your iPhone, iPad, iMac or other electronics. This is not a plastic imitation, but the real thing. Pure GOLD. It’s a rare luxury and a unique service which will make you stand out from the crowd. All of our gold upgrades come with an exclusive lifetime guarantee.It makes for a great, gift too.

Simply fill out the on-line form here a and then pack up your iPhone, iPad, iMac or other item to be transformed into gold, and send us the package via DHL Courier. We’ll confirm your product has arrived safe and sound and within a few days time – we’ll begin the process of transforming your case into gold. Then we’ll pack it back up carefully and return it to your door. We have a few very rare offerings such as this 7-carat diamond studded 22-carat gold finish case. The edges of this are encrusted with the world’s finest VS1 diamonds and the case comes with a polished mirror finish on the back. Luxury Gifts and 24k Gold Plating Services.

This design is strictly limited to just 10 hand-crafted pieces which will make this the 10 most expensive and rarest iPhones in the Universe. If your name isn’t Donald Trump or Bill Gates, then this offer might intrigue you. The Elite Gold iPhone 5 case is less lavish as the iPhone Diamond Elite as this features 24-carat gold plate and no diamonds. Simply elegant, this genuine gold iPhone 5 case will dazzle and amaze your colleagues and friends. As with the Diamond Elite, this too is strictly limited and to just 50 units total.We realise that there are many BlackBerry addicts out there and we have a special Bling upgrade for you, too. Presented for your selection, we offer a “sport” model and a standard gold “bling” upgrade. BlackBerry Porsche Design P’9981:This features black and trims of gold, reminiscing a classic clean, Porsche inspired design. Forged in stainless steel, and plated in 24 ct gold – it is trimmed in black leather for the back. Strictly limited to just (10) units.

BlackBerry Bold 9900 24ct. Gold Edition: A simpler form of pure elegance, this model features the classic gold plate back and front for your BlackBerry. iPad Bling Models (complete iPads):This is the complete iPad, gold finish and all. It comes plated in the finest gold and the back is a polished mirror finish. Your friends will think you dug this up at King Tut’s tomb. The iPad features the ultra-sharp Retain display and a 5 megapixel iSight camera.We offer this in two models, (1) Platinum and (2) Gold.

For more information on Gold iPhone visit us and we help you to find Gold iPhone 5.


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Oh Mondays

The Mondays. The single most hated day of the week. I can’t decide if I hate Mondays or Tuesdays more. Tuesdays seem to be the busiest day of the week. Both at work and in my everyday life. Bills need to be done. Rent is paid on that day. It’s nothing special of a day. Mondays however, are the beginning of the loooooong week. I have to unwind from my fun filled weekend of activities and relaxing to gear up for the first work day. I’m tired from oversleeping. Lethargic from too much food. Takes a lot of effort just to function. But today’s Monday…the sun is shining. Boss is gone until Wednesday so the office atmosphere is a little more relaxed. I have gluten free crackers to munch on. So it’s a pretty delightful Monday. I think coffee would make it even better. Maybe I’ll stop and get a pumpkin spice cappachino after work. Tis the season for pumpkins…mmmm. And apple cidar (which I had this morning). So as far as Mondays go, this one is sort of delightful. =)

About delightfulness

One sweet, quirky, delightful individual I am.
Gallery | This entry was posted in October and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

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Home ImprovementRemodelingCleaningGardeningLandscapingInterior DesignHome AppliancesPest ControlDecks & PatiosSwimming Pools & Hot TubsGaragesBasements

The History of the Garden Gnome

Updated on March 21, 2013

What is a Garden Gnome?

A garden gnome (also known as a lawn gnome) is a figurine of a small humanoid creature usually seen wearing a tall, pointy (red) hat. Garden gnomes are produced to be used for the purpose of decorating one garden and/or lawns. These gnomes are thought and believed to protect whomever uses them from evil. These figurines originated in Germany in the 19th century and were called Gartenzwerg, which literally translates to “garden dwarf”. It wasn't until the 1930s that the English term “gnome” came to be.

Garden Gnome Typology

There are many different types of garden gnomes. Gnomes are seen in many different positions and even made from different types of mediums. Typically garden gnomes are male dwarfs with a long, bushy white beard wearing a tall, pointy red hat. Garden gnomes are also typically known to smoke a pipe (or are usually seen holding a pipe). Lawn and garden gnomes are seen in various positions, such as, standing, lying down, sitting, etc. Gnomes are also depicted to be engaging in various activities, such as, fishing, napping, etc. Garden gnomes can be made from wood, porcelain, ceramic, or terracotta (a runny clay).

Gnomes in different positions
Gnomes in different positions | Source
Hand carved wooden garden gnome.
Hand carved wooden garden gnome. | Source
German garden gnome.
German garden gnome. | Source
The biggest garden gnome of the World from Poland
The biggest garden gnome of the World from Poland | Source

The History of the Garden Gnome

Garden gnomes have always had a unique history in Europe, and gnomes have even wedged their way into American pop-culture becoming quite the craze. Now gnomes are seen everywhere, from the lawn next door to the lawn across the world. Today, every collector and hobbyist alike are looking for gnomes.

Garden decorations, especially garden statuary has been common throughout Europe since the Renaissance. It was believed that these small human-like beings would rid evil from the lives of those whom own the gnome. In 1616, the statues only depicted Gobbi (an Italian hunchback). By the late 18th century, porcelain “house dwarfs” were created and being produced on a wide scale (at this time Switzerland were also producing wooden statue of dwarfs and gnomes as well). Soon enough gnomes became a very popular house, lawn, and garden ornament and this popularity steadily grew throughout the 19th century. Even though there has been evidence that garden gnomes were being produced and widely distributed to be used as lawn decorations meant to protect against evil, the first manufacturer of these dwarf statues is controversial.

Garden gnomes have been manufactured, produced, and distributed for centuries, but the “title of manufacturer of the first garden gnome is hotly contested” (wikipedia). It is possible that the first manufacturer of garden gnomes arose as early as 1841, these early gnomes were being produced by Baehr and Maresch of Dresden, but there is evidence suggesting that gnomes were being produced by many other countries as early as 1860 as well. “Philip Griebel made terracotta animals as decorations, and produced gnomes based on local myths as a way for people to enjoy the stories of the gnomes' willingness to help in the garden at night. The garden gnome quickly spread across Germany and into France and England, and wherever gardening was a serious hobby” (wikipedia). Ever since gnomes came onto the hobby scene in the 19th century small manufacturers popped up all over Germany. The manufacturing of gnomes spread all across Germany, and each manufacturer had their own sense of style and design for the garden gnomes. Germany was the first (or one of the first) countries to manufacture and produce gnomes for collectors since before the 19th century. Gnomes became very popular in Germany (there are an estimated 25 million gnomes spread across German lawns) and soon other countries jumped on the garden gnome wagon.

Gnomes are also considered to be a huge part of easter and western European culture, and were even seen in the tales written by the Grimm brothers. "The Brothers Grimm featured gnomes in 'The Gnome', a series of short stories detailing the lives of gnomes. These stories depict gnomes in benevolent and malevolent lights, but the first one is perhaps the most important: in it clothing is given to two helpful gnomes and they decide to serve a cobbler and his wife for the rest of their days. Other stories exist of gnomes’ helpfulness in the oral tradition and relate the willingness of gnomes to assist in gardens" (gnomefrenzy).

Garden gnomes were first introduced into the United Kingdom when Sir Charles Isham came home from his vacation in Germany and brought 21 of the terracotta figurines with him, displaying them in his home and lawn in 1847. Garden gnomes became very popular amongst collectors and hobbyists for centuries and today gnomes continue to gain popularity all over the world.

In recent history, garden gnomes have made a resurgence in the United States and Western Europe. Garden gnomes have popped up in films, television shows, commercials, books, advertising, etc. Today garden gnomes are seen across the lawns and garden of many all over the world. Their popularity continues to grow and the production of garden gnomes continue. Garden gnomes have become so common that pranks have even been created around the stealing of garden gnome (most commonly referred to as gnoming). Some have even begun to travel all over the world collecting (stealing) gnomes from gardens in several different countries.

The history of garden gnomes is unique, long, interesting, and even comical. Garden gnomes will always have a presence in all cultures and will survive and live in peoples gardens, home, and lawns for centuries to come. Garden gnomes even have their own holiday; International Gnome Day was instituted in 2002 and is celebrated on June 21st by over a dozen countries.

The traveling gnome prank (the roaming gnome).
The traveling gnome prank (the roaming gnome). | Source

Fun Facts:

  • The traveling gnome prank later became the basis for Travelocity's “Roaming Gnome”.

  • In 2008, a 53-year-old French man was arrested on suspicion of stealing upwards of 170 garden gnomes.

How to Make Your Own Garden Gnome

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    • billybuc profile image

      Bill Holland 4 years ago from Olympia, WA

      I have a confession to make....I don't like garden gnomes. LOL Having said that, the history you shared was pretty interesting, so thanks. If this ever comes up in Trivial Pursuit I'll be ready to score.

    • JamiJay profile image

      Jami Johnson 4 years ago from Somewhere amongst the trees in Vermont.

      billybuc, haha. I have never anyone who willing admitted they did not like garden gnomes :) I have always liked them and I have a lot of friends who make them themselves, but I do not own any myself, because here in Vermont there are a lot of gnomenappers. I had friends in high school that were involved with gnomenapping and they even created a special place in the woods (off trail) where they set all of them up, "releasing them back into the wild" lol.

    • profile image

      RodNapeda 4 years ago

      haha! Actually I not a reader guy, but this one got me.

    • Mhatter99 profile image

      Martin Kloess 4 years ago from San Francisco

      Thank you for this. As I get older, I see no harm in allowing fantasy back into my life.

    • That Grrl profile image

      Laura Brown 4 years ago from Barrie, Ontario, Canada

      I don't have a garden of my own. But I still like the garden gnomes. http://www.scoop.it/t/garden-gnomes

    • Thelma Alberts profile image

      Thelma Alberts 4 years ago from Germany

      I love this hub. I like gnomes in the garden although I don´t have even one gnome in my garden. Seeing these photos inspire me of buying one or two from Germany and bring them with me to the Philippines. My garden would be the talk of the town because no one has a gnome in their garden. Besides that, I might put the gnomes inside the house at nighttime to avoid being stolen, lol. Thanks for sharing;-)

    • wqaindia profile image

      Ashok Goyal 4 years ago from Rajpura 140401 Punjab India

      Beautifully Beautiful Hub indeed. I showed the photos to my grandchildren and they insisted we want it.. we want that....!

    • launchevity profile image

      Kristi Patrice Carter 4 years ago from Chicago, Illinois

      I didn't know anything about Garden Gnome until I read your article... I remember when I was a kid, I used to watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs...Now, I am loving more to recreate my backyard and put some Gnomes on my garden...Thanks for this wonderful idea that I can do this Springtime...

    • Toytasting profile image

      Toy Tasting 4 years ago from Mumbai

      Lovely Hub, Jamijay! Brings back memories of the Grimm fairy tales. Extremely visual post, love the pictures :)

    • newusedcarssacram profile image

      newusedcarssacram 4 years ago from Sacramento, CA, U.S.A

      I think garden gnomes are fascinating. Thanks a lot for sharing so much interesting information about them. Congratulation on becoming Hub of The Day, this is surely a deserving Hub.

    • Esmeowl12 profile image

      Cindy A. Johnson 4 years ago from Sevierville, TN

      I love to put stuff in my garden but have never used a garden gnome. I might have to look into that if they are supposed to bring good luck. I need all I can get with my plants!

    • mr-veg profile image

      mr-veg 4 years ago from Colorado United States

      I love the concept and also the movie Smurfs :) ... Good One and Congrats for being hub of the day !

    • heidithorne profile image

      Heidi Thorne 4 years ago from Chicago Area

      I gotta get me an army of gnomes... especially if they actually do help out in the garden at night as reported. That'll save me a whole bunch of time. :)

    • coffeegginmyrice profile image

      Marites Mabugat-Simbajon 4 years ago from Toronto, Ontario

      I have a fascination on gnomes, dwarves, elves, to name a few of these characters in their own worlds, but I have no collection of any of them, or in my backyard garden. I do wish in some moments that they come visit me *smile*. I read about them and this is one nice read here. Thank you, JamiJay, and congratulations to Hub of the Day!

    • melpor profile image

      Melvin Porter 4 years ago from New Jersey, USA

      I always wonder where these guys came from. Thanks for the interesting information.

    • anatomynotes profile image

      Edmund Custers 4 years ago

      I played a garden gnorm screen game sometime ago. Now I know where those guys came from.

      Thanks for sharing!

    • pinto2011 profile image

      Subhas 4 years ago from New Delhi, India

      Through your fantastic hub only I got an enriched knowledge about this figures. Very nice of you!

    • Your Cousins profile image

      Your Cousins 4 years ago from Atlanta, GA

      Hey, I remember the story about the cobbler and the gnomes! This was an interesting feature. Voted up and interesting. Great HOTD.

    • suzettenaples profile image

      Suzette Walker 4 years ago from Taos, NM

      What a charming hub and congratulations on HOTD! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this as I love these little guys. I have had some of these gnomes at different times, but I did not know the history behind them. And it is quite a history. Thanks for a really fun and informative hub!

    • DzyMsLizzy profile image

      Liz Elias 4 years ago from Oakley, CA

      Congrats on HOTD!

      Very interesting history. I have a few ceramic molds for gnomes, and can make as many or as few as I want. LOL Until recently, I had a small, wholesale ceramics business, and the gnomes were never ordered much at all. I guess you have to live in a "gnomy" area. I don't see them displayed around here.

    • Eccentric-Lhee profile image

      Eccentric-Lhee 4 years ago from Canada

      Congrats on the Hub of the Day! I too am not a fan of gnomes, ewwww I say! Great hub on them though and I enjoyed the history!

    • profile image

      Jennifer Brummert 4 years ago

      There was a newstory on NPR recently about gnomes in Oakland, CA. Should check it out..Aah, gotta love a gnome really.

    • Sheri Faye profile image

      Sheri Dusseault 4 years ago from Chemainus. BC, Canada

      Well now I have learned something today. I didn't know anything about gnomes. But someone in my hometown took the local pubs gnome traveling. Then it just showed back up one day. Congrats on the hub of the day! You deserve it as this is great. Love the pictures!

    • StephanieBCrosby profile image

      Stephanie Bradberry 4 years ago from New Jersey

      I have a bog book about gnomes. When my niece saw it a few weeks ago, she wanted to take the book home. As a bibliophile it was tough to part with it, but I did not want to be a hypocrite as an English professor by not promoting and encouraging the love of reading and books. So I made my 7 year old niece sign a contract to return the book to me. She loved the pictures so much and kept asking everyone to fill in the words she could not read that she was driving them crazy. She has a garden gnome coming in the future as a present!

    • mary615 profile image

      Mary Hyatt 4 years ago from Florida

      Congrats on HOTD. Very interesting article. My neighbor has about 10 of these little guys in her yard. I think they are adorable.

      Voted UP, etc.etc.

    • profile image

      Brenda Durham 4 years ago

      I don't like garden gnomes either. They seem silly and creepy at the same time to me; and are a symbol of superstition that I disagree with. Like keeping a rabbit's foot for good "luck".

      But I think your hub is well-written.

    • profile image

      Bishop55 4 years ago

      Love this! Voted up. Creative, cute, funny.

    • Jenna Estefan profile image

      Jenna Estefan 4 years ago from Seattle, WA

      super cute hub!

    • profile image

      summerberrie 4 years ago

      I love garden gnomes. We have a copy of the gnome book by Gnomes by Poortvliet and it is a favorite. Love sticking those little garden gnomes on fun places around the yard. Great hub.

    • adrianeds profile image

      Adrian Palmer Edwards 4 years ago from Valley, Anglesey UK

      Not a gnome lover myself, but my parents liked them and had some in their garden, I grew up with them. Nice job keep it up.

    • swordsbane profile image

      William Grant 4 years ago from Wisconsin

      What about the garden gnomes inner-city cousin: the metro gnome?? I've seen them growing along the road-side near construction zones... I think they live underground... All I usually see are their hats.

      Or maybe that's where they bury them when they die.... Not sure.

    Click to Rate This Article


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Short Story: The Basement (Part 1)

It is one of the most beautiful places on a winters morning, Paddington Station. If you can successfully erase the smokers that brace the freezing, lining up against the walls of the station approach, just far enough out to be on the right side of the law but also close enough to tap into the warmth, then what you would be left with is a travellers relief. After what seemed like years of scaffolding obscuring the view across platforms, the steel curtains once down unveiled the marvellous roof, just translucent enough to allow the clouded light to illuminate the marriage of steel and glass that stretched from corner to corner. The supporting pillars rising from the cold floor and commotion to meet the light above.

As seven o’clock approaches, Carl, standing by the timetables watches the scurry. His train isn’t due to leave for another fifteen minutes. The suit he wears conceals him among the rest of the platoon who like penguins have their eyes glued to the timetable; sipping their coffee’s and rubbing cold hands.  Black gloves held in his right hand, his left hand in his pocket, Carl’s focus isn’t the timetable. He smacks the gloves against his thigh then puts them onto his already warm hands. His eyes move across to the escalators bringing the half asleep droves from the underground. In his periphery he sees two men walk past the flower vendor – who’s slowly setting up. They are tall, bald, dark-skinned, and similarly dressed and seem anxious to get up to the cafe above.

The cafe above!

Immediately he breaks rank and walks toward the escalator, none of the penguins notice – he checks. Slowly up the escalator he ascends, spotting the two men now among a group of others seated in a circle around the small cafe tables: the glass doors for the cafe are still closed but he can see the staff inside prepping. He spots her on the last seats by the stairs leading back down. Her curly dark hair rising from behind a newspaper. His right hand slowly into his coat. Four steps away. This would have to be quick. The pistol is small, dark black, and light. No one notices it as it hangs from his hand, neither do they hear the two shots he quickly discharges as he fiends to stretch while walking past her. One in the stomach, one in the heart. She drops the newspaper and reclines in her seat. Dead!

Calmly, Carl walks down the stairs, taking one last look to ensure it’s done. The train is boarding….

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