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The Best Moving Companies in Cary

Handpicked Top 3 Moving Companies in Cary, North Carolina. Our 50-Point Inspection includes everything from checking reviews, ratings, reputation, history, complaints, satisfaction, trust and cost to the general excellence. You deserve only the best!

500 E Chatham St, Cary, NC 27511

Since 1997

Local Moving, Long Distance Moving, Commercial Moving, Residential Moving & Packing Services

Print coupon:$25 offer local move - Free Estimates Available - Offer a wide range of services, from box sales and moving suppliesPrint coupon:$25 offer local move - Free Estimates Available - Offer a wide range of services, from box sales and moving

License C#2589

Mon - Fri 7:30 am - 7:00 pm Sat 7:00 am - 6:00 pm Sun 8:30 am - 1:00 pm

My husband and I just wanted to let Cary Moving know how great of a job Chuck and Wayne did for us this past weekend with our move!! They did an amazing job! They arrived 30 minutes earlier than expected. The experience and know-how was evident throughout the entire move. Both guys were smooth, efficient and very friendly from beginning to end. We were very grateful for this due to the fact we had some heavy items and it was a hot day.

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106 Tapestry Terrace, Cary, NC 27511

Since 2005

Residential Moving, Mobile Home Moving, Commercial Moving, Commercial Relocation, Equipment Moving, Packing, Local Moving & Long Distance Moving

Take special care on moving electronics goods - No hidden extras, such as fees for stairs - Free Estimates

License USDOT#2428777

Mon - Fri 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Weekends By Appointment

I cannot say enough about this company. They were incredible! The three men that were sent worked extremely hard from the moment they got there until the moment they left. Even when they needed to eat something for lunch one of them would eat while the other two kept working. I would highly recommend this company to anyone looking for qualified, professional movers Who will do their best to get you in and out quickly, efficiently and with Great care for your possessions.

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208 Castle Hayne Dr, Cary, NC 27519

Since 2016

Residential Mover Service, Packing/Unpacking Service, Load/Unload Services, Driving Service, In-Home Furniture Arranging, Office Moves & Full Service Moves

Same day service available upon request - No cancellation or service fee - Provide a pickup truck or a box truck upon request

Price: 1 Man Crew $35/Hour

Mon - Sun 7:00 am - 10:00 pm

THESE GUYS WERE AMAZING!!! Justin was very professional. He even gave me a courtesy reminder call the night before my move and accommodated my last minute request for an earlier start time. He and his helper Jack were very pleasant and they didn't complain once about having to move all our stuff from a packed 20x10 storage into a 3rd story condo...yes everything had to go up 2 flights of stairs, even my 4x6 solid walnut table and my building has no elevator. Can you say AMAZING!

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The Best Pawn Shops in Seattle

Handpicked Top 3 Pawn Shops in Seattle, Washington. Our 50-Point Inspection includes everything from checking reviews, ratings, reputation, history, complaints, satisfaction, trust and cost to the general excellence. You deserve only the best!

620 East Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98122

Since 1991

Loan Services, Gold Pawn, Jewelry Pawn, Watches Pawn, DVD Pawn, Guitar Pawn, Laptop Pawn & iPads Pawn

They pride themselves on excellent customer service and do whatever they can to have you leave with a smile - Their prices are surprisingly low and reasonable

Mon - Sat 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sun 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

2825 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98144

Since 1983

Loans, Pawn Services for Gold and Diamond Jewelry, Electronics, Tools, Musical Instruments, Tools, Sporting Goods & Yard Equipment

Free 30-Day Satisfaction Pledge Programs - They operate over 800 locations nationwide - Offer fast, friendly, confidential pawn loans and cash advances to meet your short-term cash needs

Mon - Fri 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Sat 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sun 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

12220 Aurora Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98133

Since 1995

Loans, Buy and Sell Gold, Silver, Diamond Jewelry, Musical Instruments, Stereo Equipment, Tools, Computers and Tablets, Camera, Firearms, CDs, DVDs, Keyboards, Microphones, Video Games, Antique & Estate Jewelry

There is no credit check required to get the money you need - They provide confidential, cash collateral loans on almost anything with value - They carry a wide variety of luxury and essential everyday items at affordable prices

Tue - Fri 9:30 am - 6:00 pm
Sat 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sun & Mon Closed

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0 Replies Latest reply on Apr 25, 2014 7:45 PM by khan sahib

    got stuck in configuration wizard

    khan sahib

      Hi everyone. I am new in town and i fully hope that you help me out regarding my issue.

      I am installing SolarWinds Orion v8.5 SLX on windows 7. While installation i got stuck at the very end displaying that " Exception while configuring plugins. See configuration log for details ".

      I am really confused what to do next. I am attaching the screenshot as-well. Hope for the best. Thanks


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Pakistan Army will not deploy troops outside region to combat ISIS: DG ISPR

WASHINGTON: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt-General Asim Saleem Bajwa said that Islamic State is a global threat and centered in Middle East, the sympathizers of the group came to Pakistan in a time when nation had already witnessed the evil of extremism. These people have badly been rejected by Pakistani nation; he was quoted in a report. Bajwa added that we are not looking forward to any engagement outside region as we have already deployed more than 1,82,000 troops on Afghanistan border. Pakistan will not send its troops to any mission anywhere in the world outside South Asia, he categorically stated when asked whether Pakistan was going to join coalition forces against Islamic State or not. Responding to a question about American concerns on Pakistani nuclear programme, DG ISPR told newsmen that we have always been very clear at our nuclear programme, it is aimed at countering a certain threat perception. When asked if the dossiers on Indian involvement that were handed to United States during the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also came under discussion in meetings of Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif with US officials, Asim Bajwa said that this matter was not taken up during the tour. Reference: Indian express


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Thanks for visiting.

Title XIX (Title 19), of the Social Security Act of 1935, is a medical assistance program administered by the individual states in compliance with federal regulations that will pay for the cost of convalescent home care and long-term medical needs when an individual is no longer able to. The purpose of this site is to provide insight into Title 19 and the application process, answer your frequently asked questions, as well as inform readers of the benefits of acquiring legal representation.

The Prue Law Group, P.C. has been locally owned and operated in Connecticut for more than thirty-five years. During that time, we have assisted clients who are currently residing in or applying to a facility; as well as those clients who wish to remain at home, but who require Title 19 long-term care benefits to remain there.

Please, don't hesitate to reach out to The Prue Law Group, P.C. by visiting the Contact Us page or by calling (860)-423-9231 to speak with a member of our legal team today.

We hope to hear from you soon!

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Flying Dog: Gonzo Imperial Porter

From the Brewery: IMG_2494 IMG_2495

“Gonzo is big, bold, and beautiful like the man it was brewed in honor of, Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. Flavor notes: Roasted chocolate, coffee, and vanilla malt flavors balanced with a unique hop bite.” 9.2% ABV Imperial (Baltic) Porter

Purchased from The Fort in Fresno, California.

The bottle labels it as the 2012 vintage, but I can’t decipher an exact date.

The Pour: IMG_2497

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into my snifter. Gonzo is pitch black in color, with a dark brown/frothy head that dissipates quickly. A tiny amount of carbonation is visible, and light lacing is left throughout.

The Nose: IMG_2498

Aromas of deeply roasted malts, espresso, and bitter chocolate, with undertones of a dark fruit. It smells very much like a standard imperial stout.

The Mouth: IMG_2499

The body of this beer is on the thinner side, much more porter-like than imperial stout. Some carbonation is noticeable, and its 85 IBU’s seem pretty spot on. The flavors are very similar to the aroma; sweet and darkly roasted malts, bitter chocolate, espresso, and dark fruits. There is also some vanilla hanging around. It finishes pretty dry, with semi-aggressive hop bitterness and some alcohol burn/heat present.

Final Thoughts: IMG_2496

To me, an “Imperial Porter” label seems a bit if a misnomer. Originally, strong porters were called “stout” porters, and eventually just stouts. There eventually became a small and fuzzy distinction between the two, outlined well in this article. Moving forward.

This beer smells like a standard quality imperial stout, but doesn’t quite drink like one. Its body is on the thinner side, especially considering its 9.2% ABV, and it isn’t quite as thick and chewy as an imperial stout. It also doesn’t quite wallop the palate with flavor like many other big imperial stouts. However, the flavors that are offered are done pretty damn well. It is like a slightly lighter version of Old Rasputin, without sacrificing any quality. It definitely has a warming quality to it, and I probably should have waited for some cooler weather to crack it open. 8.5/10.

Flying Dog Brewery – Frederick, Maryland

This entry was posted in Beer Reviews, Stouts/Porters. Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to Flying Dog: Gonzo Imperial Porter

  1. Pingback: Going Gonzo for Porters! | Proper_Pour

  2. Pingback: All Beer Reviews | Toby's Beer Reviews

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Tag Archives: liberty

Remarks on Memorial Day 2014: Hopedale, MA

Just yesterday I took an early morning walk through this beautiful cemetery. The grounds are perfectly kept; the grass green and trimmed; the leaves on the trees are in full bloom. We can always count upon that.

What struck me in the morning mist was the abundance of American flags that mark the graves of each veteran who is interred here. We may thank the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts for that respectful act of kindness each year.

Then I came to this very spot and reviewed the names inscribed on our War Memorial. There are 26 names listed here. They are citizens of Hopedale, Massachusetts, who gave their lives in service to this country during time of war. The list dates back to the Spanish American War. There were several
Hopedale residents who fought with valor in the Civil War.

Our town was settled in 1842 and, ever since, each generation has been touched by war. As I looked at the flags yesterday morning I was taken by the fact that those young Scouts who decorated the gravestones have never known peace in their lifetime. During the course of their short lives Americans have died in conflicts in Bosnia, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq. Their parents’ lives have been touched by war deaths in the Persian Gulf, Somalia, Grenada, Panama and Vietnam; and their Grandparents by Korea and the Second World War.

Even in times absent of conflict we are never far from war, the recollections of war and the consequences of war. It is our oral history that connects the generations. The last survivor of the American Revolution died just after the Civil War and the last survivor of the Civil War died just after I was born. We have ceremonies such as this to honor our war dead, to be sure. But in so honoring them we are ensuring that our present and future generations never forget how high a cost our freedom demands.

Plato reminds us that only the dead have seen the last of war. That axiom has stood the test of time for 2500 years. But it does not mean that peace is defined as the absence of war. There are things worth fighting for. And if they are worth fighting for then one must be ready to bear the highest price of all, death.

For the names etched upon these granite tablets I wish I could tell you that each death was meaningful. I cannot attest to that for they were sent into battle by mere mortals. But I can attest that each life was meaningful. We can tell the stories of how they lived and how we loved them; stories of how they touched our lives and those of others; stories of how they left their mark on society, even if only for a short while.

We, of course, honor our war dead this day and it is right that we do so. But just as cemeteries are for the living, ceremonies are for the living, too. We use them to connect with our past and to stay faithful to our traditions. They serve to bind us in a common heritage. Sometimes that heritage is not fully recognized.

For instance, the National Honor Society at Hopedale High School just inducted their newest members this past week. Did you know that the National Honor Society chapter is named in memory of Second Lieutenant Francis Wallace? Francis was the class president and Valedictorian of his high school class in 1937. He lived on Inman Street, graduated with distinction and went on to the US Naval Academy. He entered active duty in the Army Air Corps on December 13, 1941, less than one week after the attack on Pearl Harbor. One year later on New Year’s Eve 1942, he was dead; killed in action when his plane went missing in the South Pacific. Little more is known about the circumstances.
It has been 77 years since Francis Wallace graduated from Hopedale High School. For you many Hopedale High School students in the band or in the audience today, you share a common bond now with one of the names on this tablet. You are fellow alumni.

The dead that we honor here today answered the call of their country because their country asked. Some died in conflict, some died in training; some died alongside a comrade in arms, some died alone. All died in noble service to their country.

To serve this country in uniform is a mighty experience. To serve alongside people of honor and courage is a privilege known by too few of us. This brotherhood was described by William Shakespeare in the now famous St. Crispin’s day speech from Henry V written more than 400 years ago:
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers

I will close with a quotation from the great American General George S. Patton:
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.”

Thank you. And may God bless the souls of our fellow countryman.

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On Loss of Innocence Again: Essay for April 20, 2013

The news came across my car radio while listening to a sports talk show in New York City. Something awful had happened at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. There was the first blast, then another. The unnerving pattern of twin explosions, eerily reminiscent of the aircraft that struck the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, left little to the imagination. The chances of this being a random event seemed immediately implausible. America had been terrorized once again in the most public of ways on a stage as big as the world itself.

Immediately you do the accounting. Is my family safe? Did anyone have reason to be in Boston this afternoon? It was impossible to know how many people I may have known who were involved in running or support of the marathon. Where I live it is simply too big an event to ignore. When out-of-towners ask me where I live in relation to Boston, I tell them that I live to the West about 26 miles, 385 yards. People immediately make the connection.

I vividly recall assembling my children on September 11, 2001, and describing for them how their lives were going to change. Life in America was to be forever altered. They were barely adolescents then. What could my statement have meant to them having not yet known the personal pain of such loss? Or the implications to our security and liberty that were sure to follow. It was my duty to ease into that explanation and prepare them for an adulthood that would all too often ooze tragedy.

Terrorism is personal to me, especially 9/11. I used to work in the E-Ring of the Pentagon; I entertained in the Windows of the World atop the World Trade Center. Several of my classmates were New York denizens. Four of them worked in the impact zone. Two of them were away from the city as their buildings were hit; and two never made it out. These were the stories I would pass along my children and their children. This was now part of my life narrative.

The Boston Marathon bombing was immediately different. Nearly 12 years after 911, it was my children who first contacted me to see if I was accounted for rather than the other way around. And when quizzed, it turned out that they had fewer degrees of separation with their friends and colleagues than did I. Their friends were all around that scene of carnage. It became immediately personal to them. And urgent.

That’s when it hit me. No longer could I shelter my children from the cold reality of life. No longer could I gently explain what was happening around them in a world that all too frequently gets turned upside down. No longer could I protect their innocence. It had been snatched from them. And they turned their protection towards me to provide shelter from the shock of the horrific situation.

So now, in this new social reality in a post-911 context, my children are now citizens of the World of Terror. They have their own recollections of simpler, less violent times. They have their own images of once sacred spaces forever marred by the incomprehensible reality of a world at war with itself.

It is an unfortunate rite of passage in this new world. Sadder still is the thought that my kids will shelter the next generation of Americans who will inevitably need sheltering when the next act of terror touches their lives. If the Boston Marathon bombing settles one thing it is this: however quiescent current events might become, there will be another act of terror that will require explanation and tenderness.

So, for me, the baton has been passed to my children. Now having borne witness to their own incomprehensible nightmare, having made the numerous connections to people within their ever expanding number of acquaintances, they are fully adult. Perhaps it is their rightful turn to begin to bear the burden of the weight that life presses down upon our shoulders. I wish I could shelter them from that awful burden but I fear they will need to develop that strength sooner rather than later. This problem will likely be with us long after I leave this earth.

Over time, we will prevail. We will rise again. Life will regain a sense of normalcy. But the bar of normalcy has been raised. Like a balloon that has been stretched, it never regains its original shape. It is forever deformed.

We ARE Boston Strong.

Press on.

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On Ben Franklin in Paris: Video Essay for July 4, 2012

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On Turning Points: Essay for June 10, 2012

Great moments in history are most often noted in retrospect. We often do not see the significance of any one action, however large, in its proper perspective without the benefit of time. In politics a day can be can be can lifetime, a week an eternity. What a week it has been. The question I pose is this: Has the week of June 4th been the Waterloo for President Obama and his chances for reelection in November?

I know it is early and so much more can happen but it appears as though the wheels are coming off the wagon for the President. Here are just a few of the leading indicators of despair for him.

First and foremost, Scott Walker not only survived the recall election in Wisconsin, he thrived. It is a clear repudiation of organized public sector labor union thuggery. It also exposed a rift between the private and public sector union rank and file. It is quite a luxury that the public sector unions view municipal budgets as blank checks for their incessant demands while their brothers in the private sector are dependent upon the continued vibrancy of the private companies for whom they work.

But wait, there’s more. Bill Clinton, the Godfather of the Democrats, praised Mitt Romney for his tenure at Bain Capital. He said he did a great job. Of course he had to amend his statements later on but the horse was out of the barn. The jury shall disregard the remarks, as they say. Besides, he later went on to say that median income was down since his administration, an off-handed reminder that the Bush-era tax cuts should remain in effect lest we crush the 98%. The Obama big-bad-businessman reelection narrative was destroyed.

Next, Ben Bernanke, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank, indicated that the Bush-era tax cuts should stay in place lest the economy fall off a cliff, raising the unemployment rate, curtailing consumer spending and bringing on another recession. There goes the Presidents’ “tax the rich” narrative.

Then the employment figures of May were released. A mere 69,000 people got work, tens of thousands more stopped looking for work, and the previous two months of employment statistics, already poor, were revised downward. That shoots the Forward narrative right in the foot.

Finally, reports surfaced in a new book that David Axelrod, campaign strategist to the President, got into fisticuffs with Attorney General Eric Holder over politicization of the Justice Department. Maybe that actually reinforces the “Team of Rivals” concept for the President’s cabinet.
And there is so much more. Did anyone mention that the Supreme Court decision on the Constitutionality of Obamacare should be out before the end of the month? A repudiation of the mandate would reinforce the Mitt Romney narrative that Obama fiddled with his pet project of dubious value while the economy was ignored.

Add to this some polling from Rasmussen that indicates a record number of Americans favor one-party rule in Washington and you have enough elements of a turning point week in the “Run for the White House” that favors the challenger, Mitt Romney. How unlikely did this seem only 2 months ago while the Republican primaries were in full swing and the candidates were talking trash about each other. Quick, name me five other candidates for the nomination. Bet you it took a few seconds. Now, there are reports that liberals will refrain from grassroots support and donating money. They may even stay away from the polls in November. Imagine that.

The battle lines are drawn very clearly. President Obama is pleasing nobody these days. It is a self-inflicted wound for whom he can only blame himself. People on both sides of the aisle are disappointed. The further from the center one gets, right or left, the more the disappointment grows. To the Right, Obama is too much a Marxist-Leninist and should be removed from office because he is not what he purported to be. To the Left, Obama is too little of a Marxist-Leninist and should be removed from office because he is not what he purported to be. It makes you want to scratch your head but I would be pleased with the outcome following each extreme.

In July 1863, General Meade and the Union Army of the Potomac defeated General Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia at Gettysburg. Today it is clearly perceived as the turning point of the Civil War. It was not as clear at the time. The war continued for nearly two more years at great loss of American treasure. As Kierkegaard once said, “Life must be lived forwards; but it can only be understood backwards.”
In a real sense, the turning point that may have just occurred is larger than the contest between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney itself. Evidence is coming in that suggests that so much more is at stake than electoral victory. At stake is world leadership in the 21st century. Are the best days for America behind her or still yet to come? We will find out in November.

Press on.

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Memorial Day Parade Comments, Hopedale, MA: May 28, 2012

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On Christening and Commissioning: Essay for May 19, 2012

Spring is that time of year for transitions and my experience this weekend is turning out to be a very reflective one.

First stop is Newport, Rhode Island, for the commissioning ceremony for the son of a dear Navy shipmate of mine. Our children grew up together and we have watched yet another major life transition unfold before our eyes as he graduated from his Officer course and proceeded to his duty station in San Diego as a physician. The scene was a bit reminiscent of the movie, “Officer and a Gentleman” except this course was designed for the specialized corps of officers, in this case, the Medical Corps. They were Golf Company of Officer Development Course Class 12060. Ho-Hah!

We attended the festivities in uniform, probably feeling a bit more dapper than we actually looked when compared to the fresh, young faces of the 64 men and women who took their orders to begin or continue a naval career. It was a true passing of the torch. My shipmate, Donald, retired as a Navy Captain a number of years ago. Together, we could no longer complete the obstacle course without counting upon the Medical Corps to revive us.

This most important function, the defense of our country, has been transferred to yet another generation of Americans who willingly raised their collective hands to affirm the oath they made to uphold a commitment not to a personage, such as a king, but to a concept drafted by men who had experienced the yoke of servitude to potentates. They swore an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic.” They also swore that they took this oath “freely without mental reservation or purpose of evasion.”

If you do the math and add up all the members of our Armed Forces, active duty and reserve and National Guard, you will find that they represent less than 1% of Americans. I submit to you that the rest of America is the 99%. The Occupy movement is measuring the wrong thing. The Occupiers are measuring wealth as an indicator of achievement and success that they submit is not available to the majority. Wrong. If they wish to measure true achievement and success, selfless service, they should visit Naval Station Newport, not Wall Street. They are looking in the wrong places because they know no better. They do not understand now, nor will they ever understand, that service to our fellow man is how we achieve on this earth.

Our character is not measured by the amount of wealth we earn as much as it is by the amount of respect we earn from people whom we admire and are worthy of admiration.

The words of Chief Petty Officer Edgar Ruiz, the enlisted man most responsible for shaping a class of newly minted Ensigns, were quite memorable. “When I wake up in the morning I ask a simple question, ‘What can I do for the Navy today?’”

This group of young medical officers may not pick up arms against the enemies we fight but they will be the ones that reattach the pieces. They will be the ones that are charged to heal the scars of war: many obvious to the naked eye and many more darkly hid deep within the souls of the warrior. The Book of John instructs us: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Next stop this weekend is Long Island, NY, where I will attend the christening of my grand niece, Kayla. She is just a baby and relies upon others for every protection: first from her Mother and Father; from family and friends; and then strangers. Some of those strangers who shall protect her have just passed through Golf Company, ODC Class 12060.

More than a century ago, Leo Tolstoy wrote,”Where love is, there God is.”

Taken together, our Armed Forces, including these Navy doctors, find themselves in a most perfect position to do God’s work here on earth. That makes them the 1 percent. There is no hourly wage for that.

Press on.

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On Aging Politicians: Essay for May 19, 2012

The year 1976 is memorable for many things: the Bi-centennial celebration brought Op-Sail to New York Harbor; “Rocky,” the first “Rocky,” was the top movie; the Dow-Jones Index was at 1000; Mao Tse Tung had died and Richard Lugar was elected to the US Senate for the first time at the age of 44.
Richard Lugar, a Navy veteran and Eagle Scout, rose to prominence in Indianapolis politics, compiled what seems to be an impressive record and eventually grew his tenure in the US Senate. He was never seriously challenged until he lost in the Republican primary this past week by a landslide. Richard Lugar will leave the Senate chamber after this session ends after 36 years of service. He is 80 years old.

By any measure, his career is a distinguished one. He was a mover and shaker on the weighty issues of national security and nuclear proliferation. His colleagues on both sides of the aisle have paid him tremendous platitudes after learning of his defeat. Senator Susan Collins said that she cannot imagine the US Senate without him. Perhaps that is because she was only 23 years old when Mr. Lugar was elected. Senator John Kerry called it a “tragedy.” Has he not read “King Lear?” Peggy Noonan saw this coming and wrote an impassioned column pleading to spare Richard Lugar and grant him one more term because “the entire American government needs grownups.”

Well, Mr. Lugar was dealt a defeat at the hands of tea party backed candidate Richard Mourdock. I do not know much about his politics but I were a Hoosier I could imagine myself wondering if any individual who has been in service for 36 years could be anything but a career politician. These are bad times to have that label appended to anyone who holds office. Add a 6 year term on top of his 80 years and, well, you do the math.

These times are changing for both parties. Simply attaching an “R” next to your name does not automatically grant immunity from scrutiny, no matter how precarious the balance in the Senate may be. Extreme longevity disrupts the natural progression of candidates who otherwise seek other career paths. So many of us desire a real return to citizen legislators who are committed to service, yes, but not a career in office. A new Rasmussen poll indicates that 68% of Americans would replace the entire Congress if they could do so. The time for Richard Lugar to pass the reigns was long overdue. No matter what his accomplishments, the continued vitality of our government demands turnover more frequently than that of the old Soviet Politburo. I will not cry for him but I do applaud and honor his service to America.

And that brings me to another aging politician, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. I would not normally call attention to her age and appearance except for the fact that she herself did so this week. Secretary Clinton let her hair down, quite literally, in South America. Her long locks cascaded to her shoulders; she appeared without make-up to cover up the age spots or smooth the crow’s feet; her glasses were the dark, thick rimmed kind normally reserved for reading in bed; and her attitude screamed, “I’m tired of talking about age and appearance.” Said Hillary, “You know at some point it’s just not something that deserves a lot of time and attention.” Amen to that.

Now here is a lady with a career that can rightly be described as distinguished. One can certainly argue about pedigree and positions and choose to vehemently disagree on issue with her politics. What cannot be denied is that Hillary Clinton has not followed the traditional career path of one in such a position of power. She has been First Lady, US Senator, Presidential front-runner, and Secretary of State. She has not strung together more than two consecutive gigs in politics. That much I like.

There has been a lot of speculation about her upcoming resignation as Secretary of State and the potential of her running for President in 2016. Her timing may be quite ripe. Whether President Obama is done in 2012 or 2016, the Democrats will need a candidate. Many say why not her? I say, quit while you are ahead. At age 68 she may not physically be too old to run but she should take her clue from Richard Lugar and get while the getting is good.
I look forward to advising the same thing for the Senior Senator from Massachusetts, now in his 28th year in the Senate, when his term expires in 2014. Or he could step down sooner. Aren’t you just itching for another Senatorial special election?

Press on.

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The copycat recipes you really love probably came from here.

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Outback Steakhouse Honey Wheat Bushman Bread

By Todd Wilbur

Score: 4.43. Votes: 30
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Along with your meal at this huge national steakhouse chain, comes a freshly baked loaf of dark, sweet bread, served on its own cutting board with soft whipped butter. One distinctive feature of the bread is its color. How does the bread get so dark? Even though this recipe includes molasses and cocoa, these ingredients alone will not give the bread its dark chocolate brown color. Commercially produced breads that are this dark—such as pumpernickel or dark bran muffins–often contain caramel color, an ingredient used to darken foods. Since your local supermarket will not likely have this mostly commercial ingredient, we'll create the brown coloring from a mixture of three easy-to-find food colorings—red, yellow and blue. If you decide to leave the color out, just add an additional 1 tablespoon of warm water to the recipe. If you have a bread machine, you can use it for kneading the bread (you'll find the order in which to add the ingredients to your machine in "Tidbits"). Then, to finish the bread, divide and roll the dough in cornmeal, and bake.

Source: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2 by Todd Wilbur.

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  • 1 1/4 cups warm water
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 pkg.) yeast
  • 2 cups bread flour
  • 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 tablespoon cocoa
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons red food coloring
  • 1 teaspoon yellow food coloring
  • 1 teaspoon blue food coloring
  • Cornmeal for dusting
  • Do This
    • Restaurant/Brand
      Outback Steakhouse
    • Instructions

      1. Mix sugar with warm water, then dissolve the yeast in the solution. In five minutes the solution will begin to foam as the yeast wakes up.

      2. While the yeast is coming around, mix the flours, cocoa, and salt in a large bowl. Mix the butter into the dry mixture with your hands. Make an impression in the middle of the dry mixture. Add the honey and molasses into the well. Mix the food coloring with the yeast solution, then pour the solution into the well. Stir from the middle bringing the dry mixture into the wet stuff, slowly at first, then quickly as you incorporate all the ingredients. You will eventually have to use your hands to combine everything. Knead the dough for 10 minutes on a lightly floured surface, then roll the dough into a ball and place it into a covered bowl in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until it has doubled in size.

      3. When the dough has doubled, separate it into 6 even portions. Roll each dough portion into logs that are 6 inches long and 2 inches wide. Pour the cornmeal onto your rolling surface. Moisten your hands then rub water onto each dough log and roll it in the cornmeal. Arrange the rolled dough on a baking sheet and cover it with plastic wrap. Set the dough in a warm spot to rise for another hour or so until the loaves have doubled in size.

      4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Uncover the dough and bake it for 35 to 40 minutes in the hot oven. When the bread is done, take it out of the oven and let it cool for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve the bread with a sharp bread knife and butter on the side. If you want whipped butter, like you get at the restaurant, just use an electric mixer on high speed to whip some butter until it's fluffy.

      Makes 6 small loaves.

      : If you'd like to use a bread machine to knead the dough, add the ingredients in the following order: mix the food coloring with the water, then add the colored water to the bread pan followed by the flours, sugar, salt, butter, cocoa, honey, molasses, and yeast. Set the machine to knead and walk away. When the dough's done kneading and rising, go to step #3 of this recipe and take it from there.

Average rating:

Score: 4.43. Votes: 30
Rating of votes (30)
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Jul 15, 2015, 22:00

Our family LOVES this bread! I find it odd that there are such varying ratings on this because if you follow the recipe like Todd has it, it is absolutely delish! One person says it tastes just like OBSH & the next one says it tastes nothing like it. How can they both be right about the same recipe? Unless someone isn't doing something right. We've never changed a thing on it and everyone we've shared it with ask us if we went and bought loaves from the restaurant.

May 24, 2015, 22:00

Excellent, baking in the Ninja with water under the pan the bread is crusty yet has a cake like consistency that ,my freinds and I adore.

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The Mt Baker Park Addition – Nomination for National Register of Historic Places

The Friends of Mt Baker Town Center are excited to have the opportunity to document the historic, architectural and cultural background of the Mount Baker Park Addition, with the generous support of 4Culture and our knowledgeable consultants at Northwest Vernacular (nwVernacular), Spencer Daniels and Katie Pratt.   Their tremendous work product forms the basis for this post.   The project documents the Mount Baker Park Addition’s continuing role as a unique and invaluable intersection of people and place, woven into the fabric of Seattle’s history with the connecting community landmarks of the Olmsted Boulevard system, Franklin High School, the Mount Baker Community Club, and the Mount Baker Park Presbyterian Church.

The initial public meeting for nomination of the district was hosted by the Mount Baker Park Presbyterian Church, which was itself recently designated a historic landmark byMt Baker Park Presbyterian Church the Seattle City Council.   After that meeting, a dedicated group of volunteers was trained for field work and updated property profiles for over 800 homes in the Mt Baker Park Addition.  Northwest Vernacular has compiled this information and prepared a carefully researched nomination of the Mount Baker Park Addition for the National Register of Historic Places.  They have relied on multiple sources, including archival material from the Mount Baker Community Club, the Mount Baker Historic Context Statement (Caroline Tobin / City of Seattle 2004), and the Mount Baker Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design Resources [and page 2] (Nyberg & Steinbrueck / Historic Seattle 1976).  In addition to documenting important architectural and landscape design features, the nomination report includes inspiring background on the area’s cultural heritage through 1968, including the neighborhood’s important role in Seattle’s civil rights movement.

The nomination document is currently under review by the State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.   A second public meeting will next be hosted by Franklin High School, another historic landmark, on October 23, 2017:

  • Public Meeting No. 2 – October 23, 2017 — 6 pm at Franklin High School.  Please save October 23, 2017 so you can attend the second public meeting in the historic district nomination process, and get an update on the important background and historic findings generated through the generous work and support of nwVernacular and 4Culture.

Informative Maps.  Northwest Vernacular’s work product includes a set of informative maps.    The Architect Map identifies notable architects throughout the Mount Baker Park Addition.   This resource has been of great interest to residents throughout the neighborhood.  The updated version of the Architect Map, with new and improved colors for easier reference, is below!

2017.08.07 Mt Baker Architects

If you have additional architect background for the project, please pass it on.

Architectural Styles.   Other maps document the architectural styles of each home within the tract.   When the Hunter Tract Company established the Mount Baker Park Addition, the developers insisted upon its status as an exclusively single-family residential neighborhood. The size 2017.09.18 Mt Baker Arch Stylesand style of these residences vary within the district, with the larger estate-like houses on the ridge overlooking Lake Washington to the east and smaller-scale one to two story residences throughout the rest of the neighborhood. Eclectic, yet well-designed residences are a hallmark of the neighborhood. The neighborhood predominantly features architecture from the revival periods and American movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with a smattering of designs from the modern movement. Styles present throughout the neighborhood include: American Foursquare, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, Minimal Traditional, Neoclassical, Ranch, Tudor Revival, Swiss Chalet, Mission Revival, and Spanish Eclectic. Colonial Revival and Craftsman are the predominant architectural styles in the neighborhood.

Victor Steinbrueck and Folke Nyberg noted that the Mt. Baker district is “one of Seattle’s earliest planned residential communities, and as such, was an experiment in residential ArchitecturalStylesdevelopment, its present physical character is largely a result of that effort.”  This unique example of early planning “successfully integrated street and residential developments into the natural amenities of the area.  It is one of the best local examples of the English or ‘picturesque’ type of landscape planning.”  Mount Baker: An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design Resources (Folke Nyberg / Victor Steinbrueck).

Olmsted and Schwageral.  The project has also clarified how the neighborhood connects to the Olmsted Brother’s system of parks and parkways.  Although the Olmsted Brothers are often mistakenly identified as the landscape architects of Mount Baker Park and the Mount Baker Park Addition, the Hunter Tract Improvement Company hired landscape architect and former Seattle Parks Superintendent Edward O. Schwagerl (1842-1910).

Schwagerl trained as a landscape architect, and spent a portion of his career working with public parks. He served as Parks Superintendent for the City of Tacoma between 1890 and 1892 and for the City of Seattle between 1892 and 1895. While working for the City of Tacoma, Schwagerl was responsible for the design of Wright Park and worked on the city’s massive Point Defiance Park. In Seattle, he completed design work on Kinnear Park and Denny Park. He also prepared a comprehensive plan for Seattle Parks, influenced by 2017.09.16 Mt Baker Park 1908 Layoutthe work of Frederick Law Olmsted, often considered the father of American landscape architecture. With his plan for Seattle parks, Schwagerl called for the development of four parks connected by scenic, park-like boulevards. Timing and resources were not on Schwagerl’s side; the financial depression of 1893 tabled his idea and Schwagerl left his position as Parks Superintendent in 1895. He worked in Tacoma, then Seattle, in private practice for the next several years designing residential landscapes and real estate subdivisions. During this time, Schwagerl worked for Puget Sound University and the University Land Company to design the university campus and surrounding subdivisions, plans which never reached fruition.

Surprisingly, Schwagerl’s concept was not abandoned. The Klondike Gold Rush turned Seattle’s fortunes around and the city was soon booming. The City of Seattle hired the Olmsted Brothers—Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., and John C. Olmsted, sons of Frederick Law Olmsted—to design a comprehensive plan for Seattle parks. Completed in 1903, this plan also proposed a series of park-like boulevards to run throughout the city, connecting its parks. When the Hunter Tract Company hired Schwagerl to work with Cotterill & Whitworth to design the Mount Baker Park Addition in Seattle, he received the opportunity to design a portion of his earlier vision. As part of the subdivision, Schwagerl and Cotterill & Whitworth designed Mount Baker Park, S Mount Baker Boulevard, and Hunter Boulevard S, elements which beautify the neighborhood and enhance its character.

The connecting function of our Boulevard System will soon be enhanced with the City’s Accessible Mount Baker Project, which will calm traffic and reconnect Franklin High School and the western edge of the historic neighborhood to the emerging Mount Baker Town Center with a dedicated route for both bicycles and pedestrians.  This route will connect with the Mount Baker Link station, and also with Beacon Hill via Cheasty Boulevard.   The anticipated re-connection of the Mount Baker Park Addition to the recently upzoned and emerging Mount Baker Town Center represents a unique opportunity in urban planning.  Rather than dividing a community, the Boulevard re-connection provides an opportunity to harmonize a new dense Hub Urban Village on the relatively undeveloped blocks surrounding the Link station area with

North Rainier Neighborhood Plan Vision

North Rainier Neighborhood Plan

an existing and historically remarkable community that has retained amazing architectural integrity for a century.   During the extensive outreach leading to the North Rainier Neighborhood Plan, a broad range of stakeholders came together and called on the City to recognize the area north and east of Franklin High School  as an important resource, while promoting high-density residential and transit-oriented development in the vacant spaces surrounding the station area.   Consistent with this plan, the Friends of Mount Baker Town Center has advocated in support of amenities to reclaim the Olmsted legacy by reconnecting Mount Baker and Cheasty Boulevard in a pedestrian friendly manner, and bridging Southeast Seattle’s worst open space gap — in the heart of a Town Center where high density is being focused.   These community values in livability and equity are now reflected in the Accessible Mount Baker plan and the City’s proposed acquisition of land for the missing North Rainier Town Center Park and neighborhood playground.

A Story Of Civil Rights:  Our 4Culture supported project has gone far beyond architecture and landscape design.   Integrated in the report are timely and inspiring stories of advocacy and the struggle to overcome exclusivity and work towards equity and civil rights.

The Fight Against Exclusivity.  During the 1910s, the neighborhood experienced the first cracks in its rigid stance on exclusivity. In addition to the restrictive covenants attached to the deeds, there was also an assumption that the Hunter Tract Improvement Company would not approve sales to “undesirable” races. Two lawsuits were filed in 1910 which challenged these racist actions. First, the Hunter Tract Improvement Company filed a lawsuit against Samuel and Susie Stone and Marguerite Foy. In 1909, Foy, a white woman, had sold a parcel of land within the Mount Baker Park Addition to Samuel and Susie Stone, a black couple. The Stones owned a catering business based in Capitol Hill—S.H. Stone Catering and Party Supply Company, which later became Stone’s Silver Catering Service and Confectionary. The Stones were also founding members of the Seattle branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which organized on October 23, 1913. The company sued after the Stones were mid-construction on their new house (3125 34th Avenue S), contesting that Foy and the Stones had intentionally concealed the Stones’ race. Prominent black attorney Andrew Black defended the Stones and persuaded Judge John F. Main of the King County Superior Court to side with the Stones and Foy. The Hunter Tract Improvement Company appealed, but the Washington State Supreme Court upheld Main’s decision. Andrew Black represented a similar case the same year; David Cole, a black railroad porter for the Northern Pacific, sued the Hunter Tract Improvement Company for withholding the deed to a lot in the Mount Baker Park Addition for which he had already paid. Like the Stone case, the court upheld Cole’s right to purchase property in the neighborhood.

The Mount Baker Neighborhood and the Civil Rights Movement.  Racial tension, occurring in the neighborhood and throughout the city and nation, extended to the nearby schools, like Franklin High School. By 1967, black students comprised 19% of Franklin High School’s enrollment. In late March 1968, an altercation broke out in the FranklinHighSchoolSitIn (002)halls of the school between three students – one white and two black students. The school’s principal, Loren Ralph, suspended the two black students, cousins Charles Oliver and Trolice Flavors. Flavors’ attempts to negotiate his suspension were rebuffed so he contacted his mentor, Carl Miller, a member of the Blake Student Union (BSU) at the University of Washington. Miller, along with other members of the BSU, Aaron Dixon and Larry Gossett, tried to meet with Ralph to negotiate peacefully. When those efforts were denied, the BSU students organized a gathering to peacefully protest. One hundred students, around 40 of which were non-Franklin students, marched into Ralph’s office on campus demanding Oliver and Flavors be reinstated, that a black administrator be hired at the high school level in the Seattle Public School system, that an African American history class be taught at Franklin, and that black heroes be included in the American historical figures featured on the walls of the school. This sit-in at Franklin High School was the first high-school sit-in held in Seattle. Five of the organizers—Miller, Dixon, Gossett, Gossett’s brother Richard Gossett, and Flavors—were charged with unlawful assembly. The three UW and BSU students—Miller, Dixon, and Gossett—were tried and found guilty in July 1968. Their case was appealed before the Washington State in January 1971; a retrial was ordered by the court but the prosecutor declined to prosecute. The three were instrumental in forming the Seattle chapter of the Black Panthers with Aaron Dixon serving as the first captain of the chapter. In the aftermath of the sit-in, the Mount Baker Improvement Club’s Franklin High School Committee pushed for a discrimination complaint to be brought against principal Loren Ralph. Significant staff turnover occurred in the fall of 1968 and a new principal and vice-principal were hired.

While the study period extends to 1968, the foundation of advocacy and education continues at Franklin High School, which remains one of Seattle’s great institutions of learning for a bright and diverse student body.

Thanks to everyone for the continuing interest and support as we document the neighborhood’s historic and cultural values.   The nomination process focuses on the neighborhood, prior to 1968.   If you have specific information related to the architecture, culture, and/or history of our community up through 1968, please pass it on to and we will share it with our consultant team.2017.09.15 Public Meeting Notice

  4 comments for “The Mt Baker Park Addition – Nomination for National Register of Historic Places

  1. Kathy Laughery
    September 29, 2017 at 11:32 am

    I live at 3236 Hunter Blvd. and see that we have an architect-designed house, but try as I might I cannot distinguish between the light blues on your map! Could you please tell me the name of the architect who designed our house? And I’m having the same trouble with the architectural style map…help, please?

    • September 29, 2017 at 10:00 pm

      Hi Kathy. Thanks for your interest! I’ve sent you the full size map versions, and will happy to pass on your question to the consultant group. Just let us know and we can reach out.

  2. Alex
    September 30, 2017 at 4:45 pm

    Where do we send comments?

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Future of big-city policing on the ballot in Philadelphia

AP News
Posted: May 10, 2015 11:05 AM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Freddie Gray's death in Baltimore has had a ripple effect on politics in Philadelphia, focusing the city's mayoral race on policing just weeks before an important vote.

Candidates are showing up at protests, playing up their plans for sweeping reform and even taking on the current police commissioner over his support of stop-and-frisk.

Philadelphia's next mayor will inherit a police force that has long been a microcosm of the problems plaguing departments from Ferguson, Missouri to Baltimore.

With some changes already underway, the nation's fifth-largest city is also poised to be a model for change.

The police department is working to implement dozens of recommendations for better training, transparency and outreach.

Candidates have proposed zero-tolerance for hateful speech by officers and decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana.


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Sold Out New

Posing Suit

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Toxic posing suit in pro cut back bottom with a slightly large front version of our competition suit. Posing suit comes with top round crystal connectors and 2 row bottom connectors.

We know it takes a lot of work to build you, so we work hard to build the right suit to help achieve your dreams. Which is why we only charge 50% of your total order as a deposit to get started. This 50% deposit is non-refundable. Once your order is nearly complete and ready to ship, we’ll forward an email requesting your final hip measurement along with the remaining 50% of your balance. Here at Toxic Angelz we believe anything is attainable, so we’ll do as much as we can to help you reach your goals. It’s what we do and what we’ve always done. —Love, the TA team.


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License To Grill

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  • Food Network Canada
  • 30 mins
  • 17 hours, 30 mins
  • Home And Garden, Reality

Each episode takes place on a Saturday afternoon as host/chef Robert Rainford prepares to have people over for dinner that evening in his backyard.

With the bbq as the central theme, Robert shows us the how's and why's of perfect bbq-ology with recipes ranging from the super delicious and simple (perfect hamburgers, steaks, kabobs) to more ambitious fare (leg of lamb, hot smoking sides of fish, grilled desserts).

All design aspects of the LICENCE TO GRILL creative, from wardrobe to patio furniture and guests to tunes, will contribute to the look of the show. All design elements in effect become part of the show's character.

5 seasons

If you like License To Grill, check out...


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Photo a day – February 13, 2012, Taking a step back at Stonehenge – Travel Photography England

Stonehenge, crowds, England, travel photography, travel photos, Stonehenge travel photography, Stonehenge travel photos, England travel photography, England travel photos

Much as Stonehenge is a mystical place, it has to be one of the busiest historical landmarks in Great Britain. While it can’t be missed, it’s enjoyable to take a step or two back and take a picture of the crowds photographing this Neolithic site. Enjoy my Stonehenge travel photography (travel photos).

Bath Spa, England – – – Photos, Stories and Traveling with Krushworth episode
Unravel the mysteries of Stonehenge; wonder at the beauty of majestic Bath Spa

Enjoy my video series Traveling with Krushworth

Travel to countries around the world for the best world travel photography (travel photos) from countries Turkey (Istanbul photography), Cambodia, Peru, England, Wales Scotland and Canada. Enjoy travel photos, travel photography images as well as landscape pictures from countries around the world as well as my YouTube travel show Traveling with Krushworth

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Jeram Pasu Waterfall

January 5, 2008
The waterfall can be reached easily from road nr 3 between Pasir Puteh and Kota Baharu. Access is also possible from road nr 4 between Jerteh and Marchang.
It is a popular destination for the people from Kota Baharu, so the fall can be crowded during weekends and school holidays.
The waterfall in the back is hardly visible.
The waterfall itself is quite attractive.
 One of the slides with a bathing pool.


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Presenting my first guest blogger – my mum

Before I even thought about trying to run the length of the Leeds-Liverpool canal, someone else in my family had already been clocking up the towpath miles. Despite what being part of what Jenni Murray described in her recent stand up rountine as “the hip-op generation”, mum regularly thinks nothing of getting up and cycling miles along the canal before she’s even had her breakfast. As someone who cycles on a biennial basis (having failed my Cycling Proficiency, the words “is still wobbly on her bike” are etched into my soul) I am in awe.

Last week I woke up to an email from mum, entitled “canalathon” and  telling me all about her most recent adventures. Mum has agreed to let me share this with you. And so I present, my first guest blogger (who, hopefully, will be joining me on one of the legs of my journey).

Saddled up the bike today and did the 1st ride of the year, hardest bit was the motorway bridge on Moss Lane, as usual!

Managed bridge 80 to 88, got rather distracted by some intriguing steps into the valley/woodland near Withnell fold. It was marked down as a good walk for R and me. How far was that, do I need a bike Garmin ?

Kept being interrupted by jolly old men making wacky comments, like “have you got gears?”.  Why? I said I even had a bell…

Grisly old man being closely followed by a very large duck goose; he actually leapt out in front and asked me to take the bird with me, he couldn’t shake it off. It’s like a strange alternative world down there on the tow path.

May have another try tomorrow, but must try and fit the bike into the car, it gets boring repeating the same bit.

4 thoughts on “Presenting my first guest blogger – my mum

  1. Adele says:

    Lovely! What an active family you are. I look forward to more guest blogs (not that I don’t enjoy your blogging!). I really liked Jenni Murray’s stand-up, by the way.

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Holiday Travel–Do’s and Don’ts

When you’re traveling with autism, usually the holidays are not your best choice of travel dates. Today’s blog entry will be a good primer in what NOT to do when traveling with someone who has autism. As we left with little notice, we did not do our normal protocol of traveling–like researching food options at our destination and writing a social story for unexpected flight delays. We did pay attention to our son’s internal timetable though, and that’s the number one way to make trips a success.

For flights, I have always tried to book our air travel portion over weekdays and far from national holidays like Christmas. But, this past holiday season, it couldn’t be helped. Our son really wanted to visit his grandmother and requested this at the last moment. As our son rarely makes requests, we wanted to honor this.

We ended up booking the flight with only a week of notice, we got terribly expensive tickets, and packed at the last minute, not really getting him prepped or his food prepped properly for a trip out of state to a place where we were not familiar with the restaurant options.

The flights going to grandma’s were okay, but his main concern the entire trip was trying to get wifi. A new obsession for us to worry about is his need to get wifi access for his devices. In the past, we didn’t need to worry about this issue. So, this was a new stressor. I cannot say that we had a great plan, other than using our hotspot from our own phones to boost our son’s device. If you have a brilliant idea on this, please leave a comment!

For food, again we needed to have planned ahead better. Looking for gluten-free food when you’re traveling in the U.S. Deep South is not an easy feat. We found a Japanese/Thai fusion place that was not what I would call amazing food, but was edible and gluten-free, our only real concern. Again, we should have planned ahead better knowing the regional options for food.

However all is saved by staying in a hotel with a pool. Our son loves hanging out in hotels, so this is always a good thing on any vacation. For food at the hotel, he was able to find some gluten-free options but not any bread options as few hotels at their free breakfast bars have gluten-free bread. Again, since we traveled at the last minute, we did not do a good job of planning ahead. We should have packed a loaf of our own bread in our carry on.

He also only wanted to see his grandma for the day. He wasn’t there for a long trip. I’m not sure about other children with autism, but for our son, he is checking off a box mentally. Did he see you? If he saw you, then he has “visited” you. There is no sitting around for days chatting with him.

For our son to feel that the trip was successful, he wants to see you, spend a little bit of time answering your questions and then is ready for a restaurant and a museum or zoo! Something fun and visually appealing for him. Again, nothing that involves having to talk, but just looking at things together. That is a huge happiness for him.

And I think this is the most important point of traveling with someone with autism. What makes the trip a success TO THEM? Not to you, not to someone else, not to your relatives who will have expectations, but to the person with autism. Try to see the trip through their eyes. This will save you a lot of frustration.

Our son just needs to be doing something with someone, not sitting and talking for him to stay happy. He doesn’t have to be interacting like in a conversation. To him the shared experience IS the conversation.

When he’s ready to go, he’s ready to go. So, it’s back to the hotel. And then the next morning, he doesn’t want to see anyone, he’s just focused on getting on the airplane and heading home. He doesn’t maximize time with someone he loves, he just enjoys the time that makes sense to him to spend.

ACL Rocks!

Well, we finally did it. We managed to make it to ACL (Austin City Limits Music Festival) and enjoy it without a hitch. My son and my husband enjoyed the Monsters and Men show on Sunday afternoon at the last day of the ACL Festival. Also, if you have a disability, there is an ADA station that you can go to near the entrance to the festival where they have ADA porta potties that are locked and only for people with a disability. They also provide you with an ADA wristband, and if there is room, you can watch some of the bands from an ADA access stage.

The one hiccup is exiting the festival. Once my son is done, he’s done. So, we needed an exit that didn’t require fighting our way back through the huge crowds. To hopefully figure out a solution, I wrote a letter to the ACL festival after we went and asked about next year’s exit plan for people that have autism and need to leave from another exit without fighting through 70,000 people to get back to the one exit gate. The promoters said they would look into this issue for the 2016 concert. So, we’ll see.

I never thought ACL would work, but my son asked to go, he said, “Pretty please, por favor.” So, how could I refuse such a polite request?

My philosophy on outings is…I just try different events with my son and sometimes they’re just not fun and we leave early, and sometimes, with the right supports, we can make it 20 minutes or an hour and that makes everyone really happy. When we left he was very proud of himself and said, “I made it through the whole concert.” Meaning, he made it through an entire act before leaving. We will be back next year!

Museums meet the needs of more diverse disabilities

I’m excited by the recent additions of more and more programs offered by cultural institutions to provide services to differing types of disabilities. For years, ADA has meant wheelchair accessibility, and that’s very important, but also important is meeting the needs of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, those with visual impairments and other types of disabilities beyond providing a ramp into a building. Speaking from the perspective of a parent with a child with autism, I can tell you that my son benefits ENORMOUSLY from cultural institutions like libraries, museums, and concerts when he can manage the sensory issues. I’m happy to share that our local museum the Thinkery here in Austin has provided several days a year specifically geared to the needs of children with autism and other sensory issues. It’s a great way to enjoy things that typical families take for granted. We all want our kids to enjoy being kids. These community initiatives allow us as parents to help provide that. If you know of a good cultural program that benefits people with an intellectual or developmental disability in your city that you’d like to share, please feel free to add a comment and let us know about it.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

On Black Friday, while millions were flocking to the malls and superstores for deals, my family relaxed at a beautiful Austin location–The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

famgarden_nowopenImage from website

The new “Luci and Ian Family Garden” is just wonderful. In fact, my son says it’s like “A Village of Wonder!” He could have stayed for a few hours which is really saying a lot because we normally just spend around 30 minutes at most places due to the usual cuprits–crowds, noise, or boredom. While we were there, he was wandering around and exploring and really grooving on the beauty of this new addition to the Wildflower Center. It’s “autism friendly” because there is just so much space to roam and no prescribed way that visitors are expected to interact with the park. This kind of natural setting + open areas = our most successful outings.

Also, as a bonus for the entire family, the Lady Bird Center boasts a restaurant. It’s small and quiet (perfect for keeping sensory overload at bay) and has several gluten-free options. Nothing specifically gluten-free, but there are options, like baked potatoes, salads and chicken dishes. From this limited menu, we were able to cobble together a very healthy meal for our son who is on the gluten-free, dairy-free diet that many kids on the spectrum live on.

On the Autism Friendly scale: Our family gives this family field trip location a BIG thumbs up for beauty, calm, and best of all, wonder.

Austin City Limits Music Festival

My son, who is normally very afraid of loud noises, has asked if he can go to this year’s Austin City Limits Music Festival, known as ACL. I bought us two tickets. I have earphones. I have toilet paper (porta potties, yuck). What I don’t have is a plan.

I’m not even sure where to start. I’ve tried calling the ACL number listed on their website and it’s a recording for the music promoter that’s handling the ticket sales.

I need to talk to someone at ACL to see if they have some suggestions about how they accommodate people with disabilities at such a loud, crowded event. I’m really most concerned about the food issue, as my son is on a gluten-free and dairy-free diet for his autism. They search backpacks when you enter, so I can’t just waltz in there with his day’s food without talking to someone. Also, it would be ideal if he could hang out somewhere away from the music without having to leave, like a volunteer tent or something like that.

I know, I know, it sounds crazy to even try, but when my son wants to try something, I really go into action mode to make it happen. Perhaps we’ll get close to the gates and he won’t be able to manage the noise and crowds. Well, then, I guess this experiment was $180. I give him a lot of credit for even wanting to try.

My next steps are to call the City of Austin ADA department to see if they have any ideas. Do you have any suggestions, dear reader?

I’ll keep you posted.

Flying with Autism

Air travel can be tricky, for anyone. It’s particularly difficult for children with autism, as the experience is completely out of their control, flights are delayed or worse canceled, and add in the noise and waiting, and you have a recipe for stress. That’s why I’m always a bit nervous when we fly. Not so much that I’m not willing to take big trips, but enough to where I have developed some travel routines when I fly:

  • I always check with my airlines about bulkhead seating 2 days before departure. This is the time when the airlines are assigning these seats. Bulkhead seats are typically, but not always, reserved for passengers with special needs.
  • I bring presents on board that are small, but fun, that will keep my children occupied, I give these out every 15 minutes for long flights. I have traveled with 20 presents before.
  • I introduce myself and my special needs child to the attendant when we board, so that possibly, they will know who we are if I need to request something.
  • I bring tons of headphones, videos, books, art materials, snacks, stuffed animals, and basically try to keep my children engaged the entire trip.
  • I have a story written with pictures that describes what we are going to do every step of the trip. (Google Carol Gray Social Stories for more information)
  • I hope for the best and plan for the worst. I have a first aid kit with me for minor health complaints. I don’t want my son crying in mid-flight because I didn’t have a band-aid on me.

We have been flying for years now, and except for one loud yell on a flight about 3 years ago that I think was related to a stomach ache, we’ve made it through hours of flights with no incidence.

Much of this is attributed to our work to prepare for the flights, but also, much of the experience is in the hands of the airline and the other passengers. If they’re helpful, we stay calm, if they’re rigid, we get nervous.

Our most recent flight was with American Airlines and they were absolutely great. We’ve also had good luck with Delta. I always call the airlines ADA number before the trip and list our son as disabled so that when we check in, they’re aware and allow us to pre-board.

I hope all of this information helps you on your next flight. What are some ways that you travel with your children with autism? I’m always looking for new ideas.

Trail of Lights–Better late than never

trail of lights

Well, I’m running about a month behind on this post, but didn’t want to let the year go by without saying that The Austin Trail of Lights has special needs accommodations and we found the event to be a really great experience for our son with autism and our typically developing toddler.

The event was a success because they had early entry (around 6:15 p.m.) for anyone saying they had a special need, or at least this is what the organization told me when I wrote them an email asking about early entry, or special entry. However, I didn’t take any chances, and went ahead and bought the “fast pass” parking called the ZiP pass and the ZiP pass entrance, which allows you to enter 45 minutes before the big crowds of people and at the same time as the special needs visitors. I highly recommend this ZiP pass if you can afford it. I was told in an email from Trail of Lights that anyone with a disability could enter at 6:15, but when we got there, none of the volunteers were familiar with this, so I’m glad that I bought the early entrance package for $60. (I think that’s how much it was, if it was a little more, it wasn’t much more.)

My son cannot handle large crowds, so I went expecting to just leave right away, but the early entry allowed us to enjoy this experience together and I was so thankful for it. If you have a child with special needs, you know that it’s sometimes hard to find activities that you can do as a family and I was so grateful for the magical experience we had together at the 49th annual Austin Trail of Lights in Zilker Park. We will make this an annual visit as long as their are special accommodations. Without it, I think it would prove too challenging to wait in long lines and be so crowded while looking at the colorful displays.

So, now you’ve got 10 months to plan your visit for the 50th anniversary Trail of Lights coming in December 2014.


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Licensed Guide
(49) Reviews
$ 36 Hourly rate
Irene Irene Philippines ( Family )
1 month ago

“ Uncle Yoshie ”

Wonderful guide. Very physically fit. Excellently knowledgeable. Kindness overload. Loves his job so much that everything he does becomes personal. Places gone to were a balance for kids and adults, perfect for our group. Indeed he made our First trip to Kyoto memorable.

Hi Irene-san. Thank you very much for so quick a reveiw with many kind words of grititude. I am pleased to leran that both adults and children were satisfied with the tour in Kyoto. I hope you will return home safely with lots of good memories and souvenirs. Next time you come to Kansai region, be sure to get in touch. With warmest regards, Uncle Yoshie


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Indigenous Insight

Keolu Fox speaks during Fellows Session 1 at TED2016 – Dream, February 15-19, 2016, Vancouver Convention Center, Vancouver, Canada. Photo: Ryan Lash / TED

In the 1800s, the people of Hawai’i were exposed to a disease for which they had no immunity or cure—leprosy. Thousands of Hawaiians were isolated on the Kalaupapa peninsula on Molokai to halt the spread of the contagious disease.

“Growing up I wondered, what is it in our genetic makeup that makes the local population susceptible to leprosy?” says Keolu Fox, PhD, whose mother is a native Hawaiian.

A geneticist and postdoctoral fellow in UC San Diego’s Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fox uses genomic technologies to understand human variation and disease. He believes the genetic study of indigenous populations in particular can yield profound insights that could improve human health in general.

“In an era of personalized and preventative medicine, genetic differences can impact our health,” says Fox. “The amount of information in our DNA can benefit all of humanity, but we need to have representation of different ethnic and racial groups in genomic studies to make personalized medicine truly that.”

According to Fox, 80 percent of genome studies have focused exclusively on people of European ancestry, while less than one percent is specific to indigenous communities.

“They’re not sequencing what I would call ‘the most interesting populations,’” says Fox. “Why do the Sami people of Finland have potentially protective variants against heart disease? And why are some people adapted to high elevations? Whatever happens in terms of natural selection that results in a population having this protection could yield treatment for all humanity.”

Fox now advocates for more inclusive and representative genome sequencing to allow indigenous populations the ability to gather and analyze their own genetic data and contribute to health research. New technologies like mobile genome sequencing are helping to make this possible. “It’s a game changer. I think it’s going to have a profound bearing on the democratization of genomic sequencing and technologies.”

Fox’s unique way of looking at human genetics and its impact on health made him one of National Geographic’s Emerging Explorers for 2017. This recognition includes the funding of a research project that will take him back to Kalaupapa, where he will investigate the impact of leprosy in Hawai’i through the lens of genomics.

“If we don’t create a rainbow of genomic information that represents the people of this country, we will only exasperate health disparities,” says Fox. “But if you look at science through the eyes of indigenous or underrepresented people, you will find novel solutions.”


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EXCLUSIVE: The Empire Files obtained footage of rarely-seen mass deportation trials, which send hundreds of refugees to private prisons in less than an hour.

Filmed on Dec. 14, 2015 in Tucson, AZ, this rare footage of Operation Streamline was at a trial disrupted in an act of civil disobedience by local clergy members.

Abby Martin is a journalist and presenter of The Empire Files, a weekly investigative news program on teleSUR English. She was formerly the host of Breaking the Set on RT America network, working from the Washington, D.C. bureau. Abby also is an artist and activist who founded the citizen journalism organization Media Roots. She serves on the board of directors for the Media Freedom Foundation which manages Project Censored. Abby appeared in the documentary film Project Censored The Movie: Ending the Reign of Junk Food News (2013), and co-directed 99%: The Occupy Wall Street Collaborative Film (2013). Follow her on twitter @AbbyMartin


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Items Added

Our Blog

Does Tropical Sun Own Jamaica Valley?

Posted on

Jamaica Valley logo

As some of our customers may be aware, Tropical Sun has been the subject of a number of fake news stories in recent times, including such rumours as:

  • ‘Tropical Sun does not produce foods in Jamaica’. (We produce many of our most loved products in Jamaica and have done so for over two decades, creating hundreds of jobs in the region.)
  • ‘Tropical Sun pretends to be based in Brixton’. (We have never been based in Brixton, nor have we claimed to be. Our main offices are in East London and our main factory is in Central Village, Jamaica.)

We are fortunate enough to have many thousands of loyal customers who have raised their families on our foods, and so our business is thankfully robust enough to deal with the consequences of fake news, but other smaller businesses might find it harder.

In recent times, we’ve seen persistent rumours that Tropical Sun owns the brand Jamaica Valley. This, like the rumours above, is entirely fake news. Tropical Sun has no affiliation with Jamaica Valley. In as far as we’re aware, Jamaica Valley are an independent grass-roots business offering exclusively Jamaican products such as seasonings and teas. Whilst there is some overlap with the products we offer, we wish them every success with their business, and want to ensure that the fake news that has been targeted at us does not negatively affect their brand. If you know anyone circulating this particular piece of fake news, then please do send them a link to this blog post.

To learn more about Jamaica Valley, visit their website https://www.jamaicavalley.com – and if you like what you see, consider following on social or placing an order with them.

_ _ _

If you enjoyed reading this blog, may we recommend you check out our Fake News and Mistaken Identity blog posts which cover closely-related topics!

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Little Free Library

Our library in the news! -click for video-

I happened upon the Little Free Library community completely by accident. In my research for some consulting work, up popped woodworking plans for the construction of what looked like a cross between a dollhouse and a dog house, with a door and a shelf or two. Odd, intriguing and when I read further, utterly genius.

The concept is simple: take a book or leave a book. Anytime.

Started in the Midwest (US) a few years ago, the number of Little Free Libraries has grown to over 2500 across the globe. To read more about the movement please visit

Our library was a composite of evening chalkboard drawings, compiled materials we scrounged from our own collection of odds and ends, and generously donated materials from local cabinet shops and exhibit builders.

When the post was set, the paint dried and the mascot installed, it was time to invite the patrons. The boys went around knocking on doors and passing out bookmarks with the info about our Grand Opening! The shelves were filled to capacity within hours.

The stock is always changing but never empty. We have met more of our neighbors and have connected with a broader global community through shared love of reading, books and stories.

Come on by and see for yourself, the library’s always open.

One thought on “Little Free Library

  1. I love this, can’t believe this is the first time I’ve heard of it! Not sure if there’s an equivalent in the UK but I want to find out! Thanks for the post, stuff like this is always lovely to hear about!

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Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Felted Clogs V

Sometime last winter, I looked at all the felted clogs around my house and thought “why don’t I have a pair of these?” This pattern by Bev Galeskas is genius and has earned its place as a classic in the knitting canon. I’ve made 4 pairs.

The first pair was for S1. In these, I held together one strand of yellow and one strand of orange yarn, which results in this marbled look. (The pattern uses 2 strands of worsted weight yarn on US 13 needles.) The yarn is Nature Spun from my stash of feltable yarns.2063765774_e35fffc68f_b The next pair was for Boy 1, who admired the first pair. These are made from some leftover Lamb’s Pride I had in the stash. Lamb’s Pride is 85% wool/15% mohair, and it takes MUCH longer to felt. He loved these (and Boy 2 still wears them on occasion):

2203902365_df0738c21b_oWhen S1’s first pair wore out, I made her another. This time I bought new Lamb’s Pride. This pair came out so well. I still love them.5824986585_cb2ed8d7a7_bThe fourth pair was for Boy 1 again, who outgrew his first pair and wanted more. I sent him to my stash basket of worsted yarn and told him to pick anything he wanted. He picked this garish combination (but remember, he’s red-green color blind so he doesn’t see what you do!): 8573389000_18e693a70a_kThis is a long preamble to the current story… which is that when Steven was here for MDSW last May, we happened across a cute little LYS in Waynesboro, PA, called The Knitting Cottage. They had some “seconds” skeins of Lamb’s Pride on sale for only $5 each. I took that as a sign that it was time for me to have my own pair of felted clogs, and I bought 2 skeins of green and 1 of brown. It’s a little counterintuitive, but you need MORE of the color for the sole (which is double thick) and edging than for the upper. I forgot about that when I was buying yarn… I envisioned a green clog with brown trim. But I had the yarn to make a brown clog with green trim, so that’s what I made. Here is what they looked like before felting: unfeltedThe slippers are on my hands and forearms – that crease you see is the inside of my elbow!

I threw them in the washing machine. I remembered that this yarn takes a looonnnnggg time to felt, so I walked away. This was a mistake. My machine entered the spin cycle and kind of flattened things out. See what I mean? IMG_8449 The bumpers aren’t all perfectly rounded like they are on all the others I’ve made. They are all smushed in places and the slippers look kind of misshapen as a result.

I think they may look less weird after I wear them around this winter, but I’m not sure. I’ll have to report back on that.

I’m thinking of this pair like an ugly pie. It may not look great, but it will still taste good. These slippers will be warm and cozy when the temperature drops.

Also, I’m pretty sure that this won’t be the last pair that I make!

  1. I'd completely forgotten about you buying that yarn. I kind of like the color combination. They do look a wee bit wonky, but I'm sure they'll "ride up with wear," as they used to say on Are You Being Served?.

    I've made two pairs of these -- they take WAY longer than I think they will. And I find they are a bit of a challenge, concentration-wise.

  2. What kind of librarian would post a photo without crediting the photographer, 'eh?

  3. Doh! OBVI, Kris took the photo of the unfelted clogs on my arms. Sorry about that!


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Men’s Intensive Outpatient Program

Turning Point’s Men’s Intensive Outpatient Program (MIOP) is a uniquely designed program that provides the knowledge, skills, and support to patients to gradually transition back into everyday life as healthy and productive members of society. The MIOP is designed to provide longer term treatment to help patients break the cycle of relapse.

Our goal is to offer best practice treatment in the context of a therapeutic community. Persons likely to be successful at this level of care are those who do not require an inpatient setting, but would be at high risk of relapse without intense therapeutic support.

Average length of stay for the MIOP is six months. MIOP patients are typically required to live in the community.  Apartments are available for rent.

MIOP Treatment components:

  • Group Therapy
  • Individual Counseling
  • Family Education and Counseling
  • Assistance with Coping, Problem Solving and Life Management Skills
  • Anger Management
  • Crisis Intervention
  • 12-Step Facilitation
  • Psychiatric Care
  • Medication Management


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Discussing Sense8 on an episodic level demands discussion of its production and form. After a single episode, there simply isn’t enough concrete story to discuss on its own terms. And that’s fine. The “sense” part of the title is what’s essential here; Sense8 is a show that wants to start with a luscious visual experience first, attracting interest with its production, before it starts making sense.

And that visual experience is damn impressive. It’s not just the direction, though that’s notable, immediately hitting with a stylized intro filled with religious imagery. It’s what comes next—a credit sequence bouncing all over the world, like a 90-second Baraka. As the episode progresses, even the parts of the story that don’t seem to have any particular point or connection yet, like the Nairobi and Mumbai sequences, seem more potentially intriguing because of the solidity of their locations.

I would be concerned that the dazzling production was a trick if it weren’t for the fact that the Wachowskis were behind the series. Cloud Atlas was a potentially embarrassing gimmick early on, carried by dazzle, but by the end soared into an affecting celebration of humanity. Television’s different, though. Even a long film like Cloud Atlas is still a quarter the length of Sense8, and doesn’t have the easy jump-off points of episode endings.

Thus there’s an added, very television reason to keep watching: a mystery. In many ways, Sense8 has the premise of one of the many post-Lost pseudo-science-fiction flops—say, Flashforward or The Nine. It’s inauspicious, to say the least, to start with Darryl Hannah seeing visions and ranting about what she can and can’t do, to stop or start some event. Most of these bragged about what they could do with the mystery, how that would all pay because of a long-term plan that almost never came to fruition, thanks to the fact that they tended to forget that you need short-term arcs and growth in addition to long-term reveals.

Again, the show’s pedigree still gives me hope. Its writer is J. Michael Straczynski, returning to television after nearly two decades since the end of Babylon 5. B5 was famous for its long-term plan, and was probably the only show to brag about it and largely succeed at pulling it off. But that was based more on JMS’ skill at resolving mysteries and storylines efficiently and effectively. Instead of turning the entire series into a single question dominating everything, he’d resolve those questions (usually before they wore out their welcome) and use the answers to make the next focus.

That’s a good thing for me to keep in mind, because the mystery was the last part of the premiere to hold my interest. The implication at the beginning that there’s some sort of corporate or paramilitary conspiracy about the sensates who can feel each other seems so very played out at every level on television.

On the other hand, the writing, acting, and characterization of most of the various storylines held my attention throughout. Nairobi had almost nothing going for it, but a bus based on a misspelled Jean-Claude Van Damme joke was a pleasant dash of personality. “Van Damn is a man! He doesn’t need gadgets to fight. He fights with his fists and with his heart!” I also very much enjoyed the Spanish actor sequences, which were very minor here, but thoroughly entertaining.

Not all of it worked. The Mumbai sequence of a woman who doesn’t want to marry for love didn’t have time to develop beyond the rather dull cliché, which I hope gets rectified quickly. Sense8’s eight-people-worldwide premise could easily have descended into stereotype, but characters like an Icelandic woman DJ in London or an African bus driver quickly move away from overdone stories in their locations. Nomi, the trans woman, has a bit of a problem there, as one of her first scenes involves her being called a slur and confronted by a trans-exclusive feminist—her identity, not her character, becomes the story. A major danger for a show with such distinct divisions is that some of them can become anchors if others are significantly better, like how everything on Game Of Thrones that’s not in King’s Landing feels lesser.

The big question I have is what this is all in service of. Is Sense8 about the mystery, and the characters’ backgrounds will feed into that? Or is it about the characters, and the mystery a premise to demonstrate their interconnections? Or, to put it another way, is this leading toward a Cloud Atlas-style resolution for individuals or are they all going to get together physically for an explosive finale? And my biggest concern is that, given the Netflix model of having an entire TV series in the can before it gets released, it may have the wrong answer and take too long to self-correct, unlike the conventional TV structure where it’s possible to get feedback and course-correct.

I’m also interested in how Sense8 approaches its episodic structure. While JMS brags about how much more it’s like a movie than television, his background in Babylon 5 (and comics, to some extent) suggests that breaking him out of the episodic structure may be difficult. B5 was an incredibly serialized show, far ahead of its time, but it also worked entirely within a fairly rigid television structure of 22 42-minute episodes per season, each following a set dramatic arc. And it’s not like the interweaving of physically disconnected areas through a single story is rare either, after The Wire and in a world where Game Of Thrones is one of the most popular shows in the world.

With that in mind, I found the ending of “Limbic Resonance” fascinating. The character we spent the most with in the episode was probably Riley, the Icelandic DJ. A speech about her being an emotionally “exposed nerve” from a drug dealer was probably the longest monologue in the episode and, at the time, I thought it was largely bullshit from an older man to an attractive younger woman. But after a shootout that killed everyone in the room but her ended the episode, I started to wonder about the meaning. Was this just the earliest climactic event to keep people’s interest for the next episode? Or was it a clue—that the drug dealer was a sensate like Nomi, and that the special drug he held was somehow related to the story.

For now, I think that’s enough—by the end I was successfully enough engaged in the feel, story, and characters of the show that its final scene felt like more than just an empty marker in a 10-hour movie. For a structurally ambitious show like that, that’s a good enough start.

Stray observations:

  • I’m going to try to avoid doing as much JMS watching and comparing as I want to, given my Babylon 5 love, but well, it’ll happen. Lines like, “She can spin. Period.” are traditionally earnest-but-awkward JMS liberalism, updated for 2015!
  • “What? I’m sorry, are we going off-script?” Great moment—illustrating that the show also has some humor.
  • “She’s never gonna win. Her eyes are too close together.”
  • Another aspect of the Riley scenes: Earnest drug use expanding the mind seems like a Wachowski thing that’s rarely seen on television. Of course, if it’s a plot point, that novelty is lessened.
  • “Of all the partners, I end up with the Mulder wannabe.”
  • The schedule for these reviews is going to be Monday-Wednesday-Friday, I believe at 2 p.m. Central.
  • Since everyone’s on a different schedule for watching this, if you want to comment about parts of the show ahead of the reviews, please mark it with a spoiler warning.