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Seven’s record-breaking news team

Newsreaders Rick Ardon and Susannah Carr might not be household names in much of Australia, but they certainly are in their home state of Western Australia.

The pair have this week celebrated 34 years of reading the news together for Seven News in Perth.

Unofficially, this places them as the longest-running newsreading team in the world, having beaten the 32-year partnership of New York news anchors Chuck Scarborough and Sue Simmons.

As they stated in an interview on Sunrise on Thursday morning, the pair are hoping to get official recognition of their longevity with Guinness World Records.

When they started reading the news at TVW7 in 1985, Ardon had been a reporter and weekend newsreader at the station, and Carr had recently joined Seven from ABC. With them at the front of the bulletin, Seven has been a constant leader in the competitive news battle in Perth. As well as reading the news, the pair have appeared on numerous Telethon appeals and collectively have won a string of Logies for their popularity with Western Australian viewers.

YouTube: classicclips19902000

Source: The West Australian, The West Australian, WA TV History, WA TV History

Permanent link to this article:

    • Marg Pember on 26 March 2019 at 1:12 PM
    • Reply

    Hi Rick
    I am the archivist/historian at Iona Presentation College in Mosman Park.
    I have found a stack of photographic proofs of College events & students dated 1973 from Ardon Martell Studios. Ardon seems to be a fairly unusual name so I wondered if the photographer has any connection to your family.
    I am trying to research the provenance of the photographs.
    Best wishes

    1. Dear Marg. I don’t think Rick reads this website. If you are wanting to make contact I suggest you make contact to him via Seven Perth:

      Channel Seven Perth
      Newspaper House
      50 Hasler Road
      OSBORNE PARK WA 6017
      Switchboard: (08) 9344 0777

      Mailing address:
      PO Box 1777

    • Michele on 26 February 2021 at 7:20 PM
    • Reply

    Hi. I’m Ricks sister Michele. Our father Fred was a well known photographer in Perth in the 1970’s. He sold the business in late 70’s to Doug Martell hence the combined name. He went on to have a couple of Art galleries in the city and Karrinyup

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Colonial Life enhances accident protection

COLUMBIA, S.C. (June 25, 2018) — Employers can offer their workers even more valuable voluntary accident coverage with Colonial Life’s new group accident plan.

Colonial Life has increased the benefits payable for covered accidents by an average of 37 percent, with no increase in premium. The new plan provides employees a higher level of affordable coverage for stronger financial protection against unexpected expenses.

“Many employees today have medical plans with deductibles of $1,000 or more, plus co-pays,” said David Polen, director of Product and Market Development at Colonial Life. “That can leave families exposed to significant out-of-pocket costs when an accidental injury happens. Accident insurance helps cover those unexpected costs, from emergency room visits to ongoing care at the doctor’s office and even treatment-related transportation and lodging.”

Even with medical insurance, out-of-pocket costs for accidental injuries can add up quickly. An emergency room visit can cost several hundred dollars. Depending on the treatment, diagnostic tests and lab fees needed, the bill could total several thousand dollars. Accidents requiring follow-up treatment — removing a cast or physical therapy, for example — often involve additional costs for co-pays or coinsurance.

Colonial Life’s new group accident plan is offered on a guaranteed-issue basis, so there are no health questions for employees to qualify for coverage. Employers can choose to offer one of four different plans with varying levels of coverage. They also can include a health screening benefit or a hospital confinement benefit for a covered sickness to expand their options. Employees who choose the accident coverage can also buy protection for their spouse, children or whole family.

Voluntary accident insurance is a valuable addition to an employer’s benefits plan that can help fill gaps in coverage with no direct cost to the business, Polen said.

“Because the plan is voluntary, employees who want the coverage choose and pay for it themselves,” he said. “The plan also is compatible with health savings accounts and isn’t subject to Affordable Care Act requirements.”

For more information about Colonial Life’s new group accident plan, contact Polen at or 803-678-6158.

About Colonial Life

Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company is a market leader in providing financial protection benefits through the workplace, including disability, life, accident, dental, cancer, critical illness and hospital confinement indemnity insurance. The company’s benefit services and education, innovative enrollment technology and personal service support more than 90,000 businesses and organizations, representing more than 3.8 million of America’s workers and their families. For more information visit

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A Thousand Fires by Shannon Price #bookreview #YA #contemporary #TuesdayBookBlog

10 Years. 3 Gangs. 1 Girl’s Epic Quest…

Valerie Simons knows the city’s gang wars are dangerous—her own brother was killed by the Boars two years ago. But nothing will sway her from joining the elite and beautiful Herons to avenge his death—a death she feels responsible for.

But when Valerie is recruited by the mysterious Stags, their charismatic and volatile leader Jax promises to help her get revenge. Torn between old love and new loyalty, Valerie fights to stay alive as she races across the streets of San Francisco to finish the mission that got her into the gangs.

Gang wars, revenge, and volatile leaders?  As a Sons of Anarchy fan, I couldn’t wait to read this (even though the gangs aren’t MCs).

First, let me say that it took enormous effort on my part to put down my Kindle while reading this – I was riveted.  Valerie losing her younger brother is a tragic story, and her warring emotions are well-portrayed.  Important topics such as depression, cutting, and talk of suicide are also addressed.  While much of this book is very dark, having a supportive circle of family and friends is emphasized.  The origin of the gangs is explained well, and the Stags fight against gentrification is understandable.  I found myself rooting for them – just maybe not for all the methods used in their fight.

While I felt I knew Valerie and Micah pretty well, when it came to Jax, there were still several blank spaces by the end of the book.  Valerie’s feelings for him seemed to be based on nothing more than his looks and the information he possessed that she wanted.  He’s an interesting character, and I craved more details.  The Westons and their influence were also a gray area for me, and more explanation of their involvement would have helped.

Taking the subject matter into account, don’t expect a unicorns and rainbow-type of ending, but many things are resolved.  With a compelling tale involving themes of family, revenge, betrayal, and grief, this is a fantastic debut novel, and I’ll be looking for future books by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

22 thoughts on “A Thousand Fires by Shannon Price #bookreview #YA #contemporary #TuesdayBookBlog

  1. Chelsies Crazy4Books

    I’ve been debating picking this one after I read a sample and enjoyed it, but I can never seem to find the time. Great review! Thanks for putting this book back on my radar.

    Liked by 1 person

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Tuesday, December 08, 2020

KAS:ST - Hell On Earth [ROAD4] - KAS:ST

“Road : a wide way leading from one place to another.” Roads are where humans have fulfilled the purpose of their existence. As the monk follows God’s road, the merchant follows the road to wealth, and the artist that to inspiration. We, Mind Travellers, walk the Road to Nowhere. Techno is our journey. Enjoy the trip, Kas:st Artwork : Heymes https://soundcloud.com/kasstechno/kasst-hell-on-earth-road4-1


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Monday, February 18, 2008

Pesky Book Sales Numbers

Last August, I wrote about the challenge that anyone who works on the outside of a particular publishing house has to get sales numbers for a competitor. We look for these numbers as you write the competition section of your book proposal and just work in general to understand the marketplace. If you didn't read this post from last August, please do so and follow the links in it which give some additional instruction.

In the general marketplace, in my opinion often too much emphasis is placed on Nielsen Bookscan. I can think of a missed opportunity that I was involved in a couple of years ago. Our publishing house missed the opportunity and didn't make a high enough offer for a project because the leader based their projected sales figures on information from Bookscan. In general you can't do that with the Christian marketplace because many sales do not show up on Bookscan.

While the information is a couple of months old, last weekend I found this post on Galley Cat at Media Bistro. It points out some places that Bookscan doesn't report like Walmart/ Sam's Club and the Christian Booksellers Association. Why does anyone care about the exact sales figures of Become A Better You? The rumor within the book circles was Joel Osteen received a $13 million advance for this book. If it is true, you have to sell a lot of books to make back that $13 million.

I found this discussion interesting--and hopefully you will as well.

Labels: , , ,

1 Comment:

At 3:49 AM, Blogger Kristi Holl Left a note...

My word! Thirteen million dollars for an advance??? Boggles the mind. If that's true, no wonder he gets so much advertising. They really need to sell a LOT of books to make that back!

Post a Comment

That's the writing life...

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Medicated Food For Koi and Aquarium Fish

It's been impossible (in the last couple years) to find and buy medicated food to save fish with bacterial infections but now there are easy ways to make such food successfully.

It helps to forge a relationship with a legitimate veterinarian who can prescribe antimicrobials, but that's not always available. Weekend card table shot-clinic-vets are "special" in that they aren't regulated by laws that pertain to brick and mortar vets. For example they don't have to have a license to practice in your town or location. They can legally prescribe drugs for a pet they gave shots to one weekend at a feed store, and will never see again. So they have a lot of privileges granted by the FDA and the local VMA's – – that your regular vet can't compete with. So they can be enlisted. But you can also get antibiotics online as long as it has a picture of a fish on the label –  apparently that makes it legal to sell antibiotics over the counter without a prescription. Resources are listed in the article I'm referencing here

How To Make Medicated Food Easily and Successfully

The idea is that you can use edible shellac (confectioner's glaze) and bind the medications to the pellet of the appropriate size and kind. And it doesn't float off in the water the way the old old-binding methods did.


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Sometime today, at 3:01 PM Central Standard Time in San Antonio, the earth will reach the point in its orbit when, for a few short moments, the sun shines directly on the equator. This results in the Fall Equinox, the celestial milestone that makes for a day of equal parts light and dark. As we march into Fall, the days get shorter, the nights grow longer and temperatures drop.

Monarch butterflies pick up on these cues. Using solar receptors in their antennae, the migrating orange-and-black insects start moving south in “directional flight” toward their winter home in Mexico. Most butterflies east of the Rocky Mountains will arrive in Michoacán by the first week in November where they overwinter until spring to start the life cycle anew.
Scientists and those who follow Monarchs are anticipating a rebound population this year, and we’re already seeing the famous international travelers in random sightings here in San Antonio and elsewhere in the Texas Funnel. We expect the big pulse of Monarchs, what is typically called “peak migration” weeks, to arrive the last half of October, right in time for our Second Annual Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival, October 20 – 22.

To figure out peak migration time in your neighborhood, check out this calendar assembled by Monarch Watch, the citizen science initiative that tracks the migrating insects. The calendar uses tagging data collected over decades to predict when the masses of Monarch butterflies are likely to move across specific latitudes on their way to Mexico.
The best way to enjoy the magic of the Monarch butterfly migration is to get outside as much as possible to see what’s going on with the famous flyers. But that’s not always possible. Work, school and/or other obligations always seem to get in the way.

Tagged Monarch butterfly

Won’t be long and Monarch butterflies will be passing throughout the Texas Funnel.  Check out the online tools that will help you track the migration.  Photo by Monika Maeckle

Not to worry. By tapping the resources below, you’ll be able to stay on top of the migration right from your desk or mobile device.  Check out the tools available at the intersection of technology and (citizen) science listed below.

Journey North

First stop should be the Journey North website.  A free internet-based program that explores the interrelated aspects of seasonal change, Journey North tracks wildlife migrations including hummingbirds, whales and bald eagles.   This time of year, the Monarch migration gets top billing.  Journey North founder Elizabeth Howard told us that hundreds of thousands of people per month visit the site during Monarch migration season.

And with good reason.  Journey North offers constantly updated maps showing where adult Monarchs, eggs, caterpillars, and roosts have been spotted.  Photos and reports from citizen scientists, butterfly enthusiasts, professional photographers and academics populate the site, along with training and resources for teachers and others.

The Monarch migration is moving south from Canada and is stalled in the midwest by strong winds, according to Journey North. Map via Journey North.

Journey North also publishes a weekly migration update on Thursdays, often written by founder Howard, like this one from September 21. “Strong and persistent south winds across the Central Flyway have held the migration in place for the past week.” Meet Howard at our  scientific symposium, Butterflies without Borders: the Monarch Migration and our Changing Climate, a discussion of atmospheric and political change and how it affects pollinator advocacy during our Festival. The panel takes place Friday, October 20.  Tickets available here.

Using Twitter as a search engine is another great Monarch butterfly tracking tool. It provides real-time updates of Monarch butterfly sightings and offers a timely feed on Monarch butterfly news, from many favorite sources, including Journey North and Monarch Watch.
Granted, not everyone uses Twitter, but an estimated 328+ million people and myriad organizations tap the free, real-time application as a search engine and personal or professional broadcast outlet.
That means you can visit and punch in “monarch butterfly sighting” or “monarch migration” or “tagged monarch butterfly” and dozens of hours-old “tweets”–brief 140-character updates—will be returned, telling you where Monarchs are flying RIGHT NOW.
For example, this search of “monarch butterfly sightings” on Twitter today, retrieved a feed that included the  reports at pictured at right.

Wind Map

For those of us who live in the Texas funnel, the wind plays an especially significant role in planning for Monarch tagging outings. During Monarch season, I plot each weekend for maximum Monarch activity.
Before leaving town, I check the Wind Map, a fantastic tool that shows which way the winds are blowing.  If winds are coming out of the North, that means Monarchs will be riding the wave and we could have a big mass when they drop from the sky at sunset and roost for the night.

Wind map gives a glimpse of what resistance Monarchs will encounter. Photo via

If winds are coming from the South, Monarchs won’t be moving much. That could mean they’re stranded in place, which could also make for good tagging since they will likely hang out and nectar on late-blooming flowers.
Either way, the map lets us know what’s coming.  Plus, it’s simply a dreamy tool, with it’s  visual articulation of nature’s breath expressed in real-time.
As the site descriptor says: “An invisible, ancient source of energy surrounds us—energy that powered the first explorations of the world, and that may be a key to the future. This map shows you the delicate tracery of wind flowing over the US.”

Wind map creators

Wind map creators Martin Wattenberg and Fernanda Viégas. Courtesy photo

The wind map is an art project of Fernanda Viégas and Martin Wattenberg who lead Google’s “Big Picture” visualization research group in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The talented team are committed to a “rigorous understanding of visualization” informed by their Ph.Ds–Viégas’ graduate degree from the MIT Media Lab; Wattenberg’s in mathematics, from U.C. Berkeley.
LOVE this project.

Monarch Watch and Journey North Facebook Pages

If you’re reading this and you’re on Facebook, then you likely have already “LIKED” the Monarch Watch and Journey North Facebook pages.  If not, go ahead, do it now, and join the party.  (And while you’re at it, why not LIKE the Texas Butterfly Ranch Facebook page?)
With almost 42,000 fans, Monarch Watch’s page serves as a delightful online plaza where the Monarch Watch team from the University of Kansas engages with the rest of us to share information, photos, and wax passionate about Monarch butterflies and their migration.   Citizen scientists, recreational observers, professional and amateur biologists and entomologists all join the conversation.

The Facebook page, Migrant Monarch Tag Reports, allows you to post a notice or photo of a tagged butterfly to figure out its provenance. Photo via Facebook

The Journey North Facebook page, with more than 28,000 fans, is equally engaging.  Journey North posts regular updates and from visitors and citizen scientists. Numerous other Monarch butterfly pages have cropped up on Facebook in recent years, including this one that tracks Migrant Monarch Tag Reports. The page is a closed group, meaning you have to request access. It describes itself as a page “created for those people who find tagged monarch migrants. Take a picture if you can of the tag number or post the tag number so people can track their tagged monarchs. Please only post about tagged monarchs you’ve witnessed or found.”
Monarch Watch Website
Journey North devotes itself to wildlife migrations besides Monarch butterflies, but the Monarch Watch website brags Monarch butterflies, all the time.
Monarch Watch website offers Monarch info 24/7/365
Based at the University of Kansas at Lawrence, Monarch Watch founded the citizen scientist tagging program embraced by thousands of us who tag Monarchs each fall.  Its comprehensive website offers information on how to tag a Monarch, raising milkweed, rearing Monarch caterpillars, and a database of all the Monarch tags recovered in Mexico, so those of us who tag can find out if any of our butterflies made it home.

tagged recovered Monarch

Thanks to Monarch Watch and the miracles of social media, I was able to determine that this ragged fellow, netted at the Texas Butterfly Ranch on October 1, 2016 on the Llano River near London, Texas, was tagged in southern Oklahoma. Photo by Monika Maeckle

Thanks to Monarch Watch, I was able to determine that the butterfly I netted on October , 2016, had been tagged in Tishomingo, Oklahoma nine days earlier.  Pretty cool story–read it here.
The site posts predictions for when the peak migration will occur at your latitude based on Monarch Watch scientists’ well-researched opinions.  The Monarch Watch blog is also worth a look and you can join thousands of others to get on the mailing list.
D-Plex List
If the above won’t sate your migration curiosity, then consider signing up for the D-PLEX list,  an email exchange that includes about 800 scientists, conservationists, enthusiasts, and others, including some very interesting characters.
Named after the Monarch butterfly’s Latin designation, Danaus plexippus, the D-PLEX is an old-fashioned email listserv started by Monarch Watch founder Dr. Chip Taylor and invites the public.  Sign up to receive D-PLEX emails on the Monarch Watch webpage.
Careful, though.  The D-PLEX can overtake your email inbox.   Conversations can escalate, generating dozens of emails a day, many of which you may not find useful. Sometimes exchanges devolve into rude online arguments. I’ve set up all D-PLEX emails to forward to a special email box that I check periodically, so as not to be overwhelmed.
Don’t forget to check in with us here at the Texas Butterfly Ranch, too.  We’ll do our best to keep you posted.

Related posts:

Like what you’re reading?  Follow butterfly and native plant news at the Texas Butterfly Ranch. Sign up for email delivery in the righthand navigation bar of this page, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter, @monikam


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TfL’s Dana Skelley recognised with an OBE

30 December 2015
"Dana has an outstanding track record and this recognition for her sterling work to improve transport in London is well deserved. It is people like Dana who will be essential in helping London respond to the challenge of growth as the city develops"

The first woman ever to be named Surveyor/ICE Municipals 'Engineer of the Year', Dana leads a team of around 500 engineers and asset managers, who are responsible for more than £15bn of infrastructure including maintaining London's arterial roads, all 6,200 traffic lights, around 1,800 bridges, 12 tunnels and more than 1,000 miles of footway.

In recent years, Dana has overseen a range of major engineering schemes as part of TfL's continuing £4bn Road Modernisation Plan. These include strengthening the Hammersmith flyover and the successful implementation of the Olympic Route Network for the London 2012 Games. In the coming years, her team will also help to deliver the new Silvertown crossing in east London, which will help reduce congestion from nearby Blackwall Tunnel. She has also been a driving force behind the 100 Years of Women in Transport campaign, which celebrates the role of women in the industry.

London's Transport Commissioner, Mike Brown MVO, said:

'I'm delighted that Dana has been recognised with this New Year's honour. In the fifteen years she has been at TfL, as well as being an exceptional engineer, she has also been a true ambassador for promoting equality and helping hundreds of female graduates and apprentices to get their first step on the engineering ladder.

'With the Capital's population continuing to grow, the work that Dana and her team do day and night to keep our roads safe for all road users will become even more important as we continue to support the economic growth of London and the UK.'

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP, said:

'Dana has an outstanding track record and this recognition for her sterling work to improve transport in London is well deserved. Her integrity, dedication and professionalism are well known in the industry and our city has benefitted hugely from this during her time at TfL. It is people like Dana who will be essential in helping London respond to the challenge of growth as the city develops.'

Dana Skelley, said:

'It's an immense privilege to receive this honour, which I hope will encourage more women to consider a career in transport, including engineering. Women are increasingly playing an important role in major projects across London, and with more companies now offering young people apprentice and graduate opportunities, together we can help ensure the Capital continues to grow and prosper.'

TfL continues to mark 100 Years of Women working in Transport, commemorating women taking on roles on buses and Tubes in the First World War, and being involved in building landmarks such as Waterloo Bridge, often called the 'Ladies Bridge', which opened in December 1945.

For more information about the 100 Years of Women in Transport, please visit or follow on Twitter at @transportwmn

Notes to Editors:

  • Images of Dana Skelley are available from the TfL Press Office.
  • Born in London, Dana Skelley graduated as a Civil Engineer from Kingston University, where she was the only woman among 150 student engineers. She began her career at Wandsworth Council before joining TfL in 2000 as Principal Engineer for the City of London.
  • Since then, Dana has worked to champion apprenticeships across the transport sector, creating hundreds of new opportunities for young people to train and find permanent employment. She chairs TfL's Surface Transport Equality and Inclusion Board, promoting diversity in the workforce and particularly women's representation in transport and construction.
  • In 2013, Dana brought TfL and London's boroughs together to form the London Highways Alliance - new city-wide contracts for road maintenance which have helped saved £450m and improve cooperation between boroughs on everything from preparing for severe winters to sharing resources to keep the city moving.
  • Dana chairs events for the Women's Engineering Society and is an active member of the Department for Transport's Highways Management Efficiency Programme Board, the UK Roads Liaison Group and the World Roads Association.
  • TfL has joined forces with key players in the transport industry to celebrate 100 Years of Women in Transport including Bechtel, Crossrail, the Department for Transport, Network Rail, the Women's Transportation Seminar and Women's Engineering Society. The centenary is being used to showcase the role of women in transport, share best practice from across the industry and to tackle the challenges that remain.
  • Women make up 47 per cent of the UK workforce and 44 per cent of London's.
  • Across the EU, transport employs more than 10 million people and only 18 per cent is female.
  • At TfL, women represent 22.8 per cent of the total workforce, 22.5 per cent of senior managers and 15.1 per cent of operational grades.
  • Only 6 per cent of the engineering workforce in the UK is female.
  • Less than 20 per cent of A level physics students are girls and this hasn't changed for 25 years.
  • In 2011/12 women accounted for 3 per cent of engineering apprentices.


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Saturday, January 16, 2010

I couldn't help myself.  I just received this from the good brethren of R. Lodge Star in the East (GLNF).  They periodically review the meaning of words found in Masonry.  Its always interesting, but this one was particularly good.

EAVESDROPPER: This term is associated with Cowans in the familiar part, Cowans and Eavesdroppers, but the two words have nothing in common, except that both were objectionable to the Fraternity. In "Commentaries on the Laws of England, IV:13" - defined it as follows: "Eavesdropppers or such as listen under walls, or windows, or the eaves of a house, to harken after discourse, and thereupon to frame slanderous or mischievous tales, are a common nuisance, and presentable at the court leet; or are indictible at the sessions and punishable by fine or finding sureties for their good behariour."

Eavesdroppers were despised by the Freemasons, for the obvious reason that the secrets were menaced and likely to get in the hands of Cowans and others not entitled thereto.

In the lectures used at the revival of Masonry in 171, the following punishement was inflicted on a Cowan: "To be placed under the eaves of the house in rainy weather, till the water runs in at his shoulders and out at his shoes." The French rather extend this punishment. "On le met sous une gouttière, une pompe, ou une fontaine, jusqu'à ce qu'il sit mouillé depuis la tête jusqu'aux pieds."

Very best regards,

Friday, January 15, 2010

Support Your Tigers!

Brethren all,

The brethren of Siam Military Lodge have just informed me of an exciting event coming up.  Apparently there is a new professional basketball league in the region.  The ASEAN Basketball League  consists of six teams from around...well...the ASEAN region.

On 17th January, our very own Thailand Tigers will take on the first place Philippine Patriots.  Its our homecoming game, so wear the team colors (yellow and navy blue) if you can.

The game will be played at the Nimibutr National Stadium (next to MBK.  Use the National Stadium stop on the Skytrain) on Sunday 17th January at 4:00 pm.  Admission is free.

Also the good brethren of Siam Military Lodge will be selling concessions at the game to raise money for the Camillian Centre in Rayong.  Since 1995, the Camillan Centre has provided shelter and care to homeless, indigent, and rejected people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), particularly women and children.

I hope you'll spread the word and attend this fun event!

Best regards,

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Bro. Krisda Arunvongse, R.I.P.

Brethren all,

I have some very sad news.  Our dear Brother Krisda passed to the Grand Lodge Above.

From the Bangkok Post:
Krisda was honoured as a national artist in the visual arts in the field of contemporary architecture in 2007.
He served as Bangkok governor from 1992 to 1996 but is best remembered for his work in architecture.
His work included the new Suan Amphon building, the Central department stores at Chidlom and Silom, and the Thai Airways International head office on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

Krisda was born in Bangkok on Jan 9, 1932. He graduated with a master's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was awarded a scholarship from the French government to study architecture at Ecole des Beaux-Arts.

He was a lecturer with the faculty of architecture at Chulalongkorn University for more than 30 years.
Additionally, Bro. Krisda was the architect for the Lodge St John Masonic Hall, a member of several lodges and appendant bodies and a member of the District Grand Lodge of the Middle East (Scottish Constitution).

Personally speaking, Bro. Krisda was a warm and loving person who always had time to help a younger brother.  Every time I saw him, he always greeted me like a long lost friend.  His Christmas cards featuring a picture of him on his motorcycle or in his airplane always brightened my family's holiday.  He will be missed.

"virtus junxit mors non separabit"


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The Boss (El Jefe) - Featured

The Boss Review

The Boss (El Jefe)

The Canadian-Argentine-Columbian co-production The Boss (El Jefe) might have been a bit of a success in South America last year, but it’s about as welcome as the latest man-child offerings from Adam Sandler around these parts. A farce that’s desperate for laughs and devoid of anything resembling a consistent tone it’s almost unbelievable that any audience in the world would find this stuff funny. It’s just depressing.

Based on the novel Recursos Hermanos by writer Antonio Garcia Angel, writer-director (and former NFB documentarian) Jaime Escallon Buraglia’s pitch black reimagining of something reminiscent of The Office tells the story of Osorio (Carlos Hurtado), the manager of operations at a jam factory. Ruling with an iron fist and a loose set of morals that makes him think that sexual harassment and shooting at thieving employees with a .45 is an okay thing to do, he seems to be taking out his frustration with his emasculating home life on all those around him. Things begin to get complicated when Osorio begins an affair with his wife’s best friend and the deceased business owner’s son returns from the United States to oversee the company’s 50th anniversary just as the fed employees begin seeking revenge and looking to go on strike.

While Hurtado and the cast rise above the material to give mostly decent performances, the jokes are so limp and forced that you can watch the flop sweat drip from the pages of the already disjointed and poorly assembled screenplay. Instead of actually coming up with new ideas for workplace shenanigans (save for a running gag about an unseen squatter living in the basement of the building) there’s nothing new here as we watch Osorio simply harangue and duck his employees simply to keep the farce going. With not much new to latch onto, Buragila resorts to gross out gaga involving flatulence, baby poop, and some ridiculously unconvincing looking vomit, all of which add nothing making the comedic aspects of the film reek of despondency.

But the worst part of this endeavour has to be how it can’t decide if Osorio should be a sympathetic character or not. In textbook farcical fashion, the head tyrant doesn’t really learn much of anything, but one gets the sense after a while that Buraglia’s vision of Osorio’s dreary home life only exists to excuse or explain in some sick way just why he’s such a jerk. It’s a near impossible sell that the movie makes no effort to actually explain in any great detail. It’s dreadful in how inert the whole enterprise is and even more dreadful in how it has nothing to say about its misanthropic focal point, and without that, there’s very little reason to care what happens to anyone in this movie. It’s so dull in its desire to offend and provoke that it doesn’t warrant dwelling on it any further.

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Saturday, January 10, 2009

Transitions and Course Adjustments

I didn't get for Christmas what I wanted.

A Turbo-Charged Mouse was all that I thought I needed.

I thought I needed something like a turbo-charged mouse or high-octane browser to keep up with the unremitting pace of thinking, writing and posting on my favorite sites such as
and many, many others. But I have come to see that it's my political passion that is out-paced by the blazingly hot postings found on these other sites.

At this point in time, ten days before Americans will at last have a sentient occupant in the White House, I feel the political steam which ignited this site to be an the wane.

I had been blogging the last years of the Clinton years, especially pertaining to the Wars of Yugoslavian dissolution in Bosnia, and Kusova. But that lapsed. When my fellow Americans elected George Bush over Al Gore, I was too embarrassed for words. But when Bush misplayed his winning hand against Osama bin Laden I was too enraged to be silent. During the debacle of the Kerry candidacy, these pages presented an agenda with a straightforward time table.
It's a simple program:
  • Congressional majorities by November '06.
  • Oversight by January '07.
  • Impeachment (double!) by January '08.
  • Troops home by January '09.
Quite simple. Try to keep on schedule. If you fall behind, you'll never get it done.
But of course, if millions of Americans couldn't discern the difference between Bush on one hand and Gore or Kerry on the other hand, impeachment wasn't going to happen. My time line was reduced to the relevance of any other impossible ideal.

However, now it's settled that the Neoconservative apostasy in American history is at long last interrupted (at least) by the defeat of John McCain.

Going forward, I feel that a purely political blog is unnecessarily confining, for me at least. Rather than starting another or other sites to compartmentalize my other interests or impulses, I'm thinking I'll just release my self-imposed restraints on this site - just to see what happens.

My highly-esteemed, loyal and intelligent readers won't mind. I hope. They will continue on much as they always have: coming and going, commenting, silently lurking, or just ignoring. That suits me. What matters is that I'm still here. For a little longer...


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Welcome to The 1915 Event Center

The 1915 Event Center, previous home of the historic federal courthouse and post office, is located at 201 West Main Street, Wilkesboro, NC, and is proud to host weddings, events, and live music on the weekends.

Nestled in Historic Downtown Wilkesboro, The 1915 Event Center specializes in boutique weddings and events.

With indoor and outdoor venue spaces available and different rental packages, we are excited to be able to host a variety of events of up to 100 guests.


WARC-Truncated: length

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94.7 F

Davis, California

Sunday, August 1, 2021

Men’s soccer preview

Event: TLC Plumbing and Utility Invitational

Teams: No. 29 UC Davis vs. No. 21 Louisville; Michigan State

Records: Aggies, 2-0-0; Cardinals, 1-0-1; Spartans, 1-1-0

Where: New Mexico Soccer Complex – Albuquerque, N.M.

When: Friday at 1:30 p.m.; Sunday at 10 a.m.

Who to watch: Following his three-goal Copa de Causeway Classico showing, Quincy Amarikwa earned Big West Conference Player of the Week honors.

The accolades didn’t end there, as Soccer America and College Soccer News each named the senior forward to its National Team of the Week.

Did you know? The season may be young, but that doesn’t mean the games can’t have a postseason feel. No. 29 UC Davis and No. 21 Louisville both qualified for the NCAA Tournament a season ago.

Preview: With one tournament title in the books, UC Davis hits the road looking for more of the same this weekend.

The Aggies notched three second-half goals on Friday to best Long Island, 3-1, then scored in the game’s 89th minute to edge past Cal State Bakersfield, 1-0, claiming top Copa de Causeway Classico honors.

UC Davis now faces Louisville and Michigan State in the TLC Plumbing and Utility Invitational.

The Cardinals and Spartans opened the season 1-0-1 and 1-1-0 at the Courtyard by Marriott Classic and Radisson Fall Classic, respectively.

Adam Loberstein

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94.7 F

Davis, California

Sunday, August 1, 2021

Slip and slide: Aggies fall to 1-4 in wet conditions

UC Davis saved its worst game for a rainy day.

In wet weather at Parsons Field, the Aggies turned the ball over six times and saw their early lead slip away as Northeastern scored 27 points unanswered in a 27-10 loss Saturday in Brookline, Mass.

“We had a whole host of negative things happen: five holding calls, dropped balls, interceptions,head coach Bob Biggs said.It just wasn’t very clean.

Or dry.

The heavy rain had a clear effect on the passing game for both teams. Northeastern’s Anthony Orio completed only five of 16 passes with an interception. Greg Denham was 30-for-51 for 288 yards, but he threw four interceptions and lost two fumbles. All six of his turnovers occurred after the first quarter as the weather worsened.

“It wasn’t like Greg was forcing balls in there,Biggs said.He just couldn’t grip the ball. He’d say,Coach, the ball completely slipped out of my hands. I just couldn’t control it.‘”

UC Davis (1-4) did control the game early on. It opened the contest with a seven-play, 60-yard touchdown drive that was capped by a 15-yard run by Brandon Tucker, who started in place of Joe Trombetta.

Trombetta, recovering from an ankle injury, had practiced all week and was expected to start but was a late scratch.

“It’s always nice to have Joe healthy, but we have complete trust in Brandon,Biggs said.He’s a very good runner.

The Aggies tacked on a field goal early in the second quarter to build their advantage to 10-0, but then the tides turned.

The Northeastern offense took possession and moved the ball downfield with ease. Alex Broomfield had a 48-yard run and Orio had two completions for 19 yards, the last of which found tight end Conor Gilmartin-Donohue in the end zone from three yards out.

The Huskies (1-3) would score two more touchdowns in the quarter and another in the fourthall off Aggie turnovers. The final score came on a 92-yard interception return by Nate Thellen, his third pick of the game.

Broomfield finished with 152 rushing yards and a touchdown. He also threw a 21-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter off a shotgun draw. Tucker led all players with 175 total yards (118 rushing).

The loss kept UC Davis winless on the road. The team now returns to Aggie Stadium for a five-game homestand, beginning Saturday at 6 p.m. against Northern Colorado.

“Obviously, we’re looking forward to it,Biggs said.We’ve been on the road four of the first five games, four different time zones. We’re anxious to get home and put this thing together.

MICHAEL GEHLKEN can be reached at sports@californiaaggie.com.

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94.7 F

Davis, California

Sunday, August 1, 2021

This week in UC Davis sports

Aggies sports action from May 18 to 24

Baseball (30-26-1):
UC Davis vs. Cal Poly (L, W, W)

After faltering over the last few weeks of the season and losing six games in a row, the Aggies finally broke through and ended the Big West play with two straight wins. UC Davis played at home against Cal Poly for the final series of the regular season, losing the first matchup 12-5. The Aggies came out to an early one-run lead, but allowed eight runs in the fourth inning and never made up the difference. Two UC Davis players accounted for six of the eight total hits for the day.

After the loss the Aggies rebounded with two straight against the visiting Mustangs. Senior pitcher Spencer Koopmans recorded the win for the first game, with Cal Poly scoring only three runs. The final game of the series was senior night for the Aggies, with a number of UC Davis players playing their final Big West game. The team won behind the pitching of senior Raul Jacobson, who struck out four, and a home run from senior Austin March.

Women’s Golf:

NCAA Finals

After finishing fourth in an extremely successful NCAA Regionals, the Aggies headed to Bradenton, Fla., to play in the NCAA Finals. The tournament is structured so there are a number of cuts, with the top 15 teams advancing after three days of play and the final eight making it past four rounds. UC Davis ended the first day on the edge, landing in 14th place after lightning shortened the round. Sophomore Paige Lee was the highest placed Aggie at No. 23.

Play was once again suspended on the second day, but not before UC Davis made a meteoric jump to No. 5. While Lee dropped to No. 34, junior Betty Chen nabbed No. 22 behind a par-72 round. Junior Andrea Wong tied Lee for 34th place after shooting a pair of 4-over 76’s.

The third day of play saw the Aggies fall to No. 9 on the leaderboards, enough to squeeze into the fourth round. Both Wong and Chen shot higher than 80 throughout the day, running into a three way Aggies tie with senior Blair Lewis at No. 57 individually. Lewis shot the best for the day, with a 1-over 73, but Lee remained the top ranked Aggie. The Aggies advanced to the fourth day after finishing the third round within the top 15.

This tournament is still in progress.

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94.7 F

Davis, California

Sunday, August 1, 2021

House tax bill a threat to higher education

Tax on tuition waivers, assistance would make graduate school unaffordable to many

After a year of attempting various controversial legislation — immigration, the travel ban, the health care debacle — the House Republican party has wheeled out its latest project on the docket: a tax bill that would be disastrous for education at all levels.

Its effects would include taxing the endowments of private colleges, allowing parents to use 529 plans for K-12 private schools and scrapping the $250 deduction that teachers can use to offset out-of-pocket cost of classroom supplies. The Editorial Board takes particular issue with the bill’s proposal to count tuition waivers and assistance as taxable income.

Under section 117(d) of the current Internal Revenue Code, graduate students can potentially receive untaxed tuition waivers. Over 172,000 students currently benefit from this provision, which makes graduate education slightly more affordable and partially compensates graduate students for the teaching and research work they do for the university, often for meager stipends. The tax bill in the House would remove this provision and tax the value of tuition waivers as earned income.

There is a world of difference between tuition waivers and income. Taxing tuition waivers in the same way as general income is an astoundingly bad-faith interpretation of what income means. It’s particularly malicious coming from a party that’s seemingly hell-bent on slashing taxes for corporations and the wealthiest people in the nation.

This tax could push students out of graduate school. Speaking to Inside Higher Ed, one student said that her taxable income would more than double. Another said, “That would push us to the poverty line.” No part of squeezing every last penny out of graduate students is fiscally responsible. Nor is it a break for the middle class, a popular selling point for any and all tax proposals.

Any person, organization or political party that paints affordable higher education as a problem is one that does not have the best interests of the American public at heart.

Students and scholars flock to the U.S. from across the globe to learn and teach in our institutions, which are some of the crown jewels of American achievement. A college education has been one of the hallmarks of the American Dream since the term was coined.

If the House bill passes, it would strip students of the assistance that allows them to continue their studies, making graduate education more unaffordable than it already is. Taxing tuition waivers as income would blow a hole in the side of graduate education. It would also, by extension, wreak havoc on undergraduate education, as undergraduates would be robbed of teaching assistants and graduate instructors. It could devastate American research and innovation. It would undo decades of work that have gone into making graduate education affordable and expanding access to the halls of academia. In short, The Editorial Board believes the proposed legislation is a disgrace.

Written By: The Editorial Board

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Works in Progress - Winter 2013

By Jennifer Henderson | March 15, 2013
Photo by Mark Barkaway
Photo by Mark Barkaway

A photograph emerged last January of a smiling Mitt Romney seated in a chair on the tarmac in front of a corporate jet, one foot raised, a man in a red jacket apparently shining his shoes.

But NPR corrected that story line, noting that a TSA agent was inspecting Romney’s black wingtips with a security wand. Before this context became clear, however, critics said the story showed how few of us could imagine what it would be like to walk in this millionaire’s shoes. Or he in ours.

Research conducted by psychologists at the University of Kansas and Wellesley College suggests another interpretation. In a study of nearly 300 undergraduate students, 63 were shown photographs of shoes that belonged to the remaining volunteers, all of whom had filled out a survey about their personality traits.

Scientists found that participants deduced the age, gender, income level, and agreeableness of others based on footwear alone, according to the article published in the Journal of Research in Personality.

“The most surprising finding,” said Angela Bahns, one of the study’s authors, “is that our participants accurately guessed attachment anxiety,” or worry about being rejected, in those who wore new and well-kept shoes. This footwear choice perhaps reflects concern about others’ approval of them (think political candidates).

Doubtless we should heed songwriter Joe South’s admonitions not to abuse, criticize, and accuse before walking a mile in his shoes. Still, we may not be able to ignore the implications of a politician’s shiny wingtips.

Permission required for reprinting, reproducing, or other uses.

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Cushions | The Artisen

Give your space a facelift with one of our eclectic throw cushions! From a hallway bench to a living room sofa or even your bedroom, you can use throw pillows to transform the room - a dull and empty area instantly turns into a colorful nook. With their extravagant colors and eccentric textures, our cushions, made on handlooms by our artisans, are the perfect companion to your room.

Terra Diamond Lumbar Pillow - 12 x 34 inch Cushion - The Artisen

Terra Diamond Lumbar Pillow - 12x34 Inch

From $85.00
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text:
The system will be soon expanded to 60 countries in the world, covering 1,000 accredited labs in these countries.

ABU DHABI, UAE, July 28, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ — In partnership with the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC), Pure Health has launched an online system where passengers traveling to the UAE can register to get tested for COVID-19 in their home countries through an approved network of laboratory facilities. Pure Health is the largest laboratory operator in the GCC and key partner of the UAE authorities in the nationwide fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

This is the first of its kind project globally, where the UAE has become a pioneer in promoting safe travel through this innovative solution. This is an international laboratory partnership project, in which the service is enabled in partnership with over 500 accredited laboratories in 40 countries at this stage of the project. All the procedures are planned in accordance with measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

The service can be booked easily through the web portal, where Pure Health has provided the list of the approved labs in each country. The incoming passengers to the UAE from any of the empanelled countries can register for the screening (after they have been informed to do so during the FAIC application process) simply by entering their details, selecting their country, city, and preferred laboratory on the portal. Their results are then shared with the FAIC through the shared portal. The applicants will then receive feedback from the FAIC regarding their application.

Commenting on the initiative, Pramodh BN, Head of Commercial Operations at Pure Health, said, “We are delighted to associate with the UAE government on this initiative, which is intended at enabling people to travel safely, healthy and with peace of mind to the UAE. We have facilitated the COVID-19 screening in these countries for the incoming passengers, who can book an appointment at the listed, accredited labs that are accepted by relevant health authorities. We have initiated the online system in place for implementing the project. The portal enables passengers to register and avail the service and it also enables the laboratories to update and report the results to the authorities concerned in the UAE.”

“We continue to work hard to deliver innovative solutions that make a difference. Currently, we are working hard to add more countries and labs across the world and we look to achieve coverage in 60 countries and 1,000 laboratories in the short term. We advise the UAE residents and visitors to follow sensible guidance to prepare when they are planning their trip to the country and reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 while this outbreak is ongoing,” he added.

“In line with the nationwide efforts to conduct proactive COVID-19 screenings, we have been collaborating with the UAE healthcare regulators in the nation’s fight against the pandemic since its outspread. The company is continuously building capacity in its labs and is ready to support the authorities with large volumes of passengers arriving in the UAE,” Pramodh further said.

Pure Health has the largest COVID-19 testing capability in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia with the capacity to perform 80,000 RT-PCR tests and 110,000 laboratory-based antibody tests daily. The company is a pioneering healthcare solutions provider and the largest laboratory network in the entire Gulf region with 118 labs and employing over 1000 healthcare professionals across the nation.

Pure Health operates the largest network of laboratories in the GCC and a healthcare solutions provider dedicated to “Empowering Healthcare” and making the business of healthcare run better. We partner with payers, hospitals, integrated healthcare systems, healthcare suppliers, the federal government and others across the spectrum of care to build healthier organizations that deliver better care to patients in every setting. The company also supports the growing diagnostic industry by supplying medical products to clinical laboratories and operates the nation’s largest network of laboratories. Pure Health helps its customers improve their financial, operational and clinical performance with solutions that include supply chain management, and clinical services, through customized solutions. For more details, please log on to

For media queries, please contact:
Mohamed Mostafa Saad
Pure Health
Dubai, UAE
+971 4 447 3338
[email protected]

For the original version of this press release, please visit here


text:
Our Story

You can read an original Aurorian Article, dated September 2004 here.

The Aurora Farmers Market began in 2002 in the parking lot of Temperance at the suggestion of Councillor Nigel Kean.
At that time, there were only about six vendors, including few local farmers. Gradually the market grew and more varied vendors joined.
Within a few years, Councillor Steven Granger replaced Councillor Kean and shepherded the fledgling market to new quarters on Wells St. and Town Park. At that time, the market was still officially sponsored buy the Town of Aurora.
Soon after, as the market continued to grow, it became independent and self governing.
Today, we have a Board of Directors, a Constitution, two staff and student volunteers. We maintain our status as a " True Farmers Market"!
We host approximately forty vendors at any given time, including farmers, food vendors, artisans and community groups.
We have a Children's craft every Saturday.
We host Special Events and entertainment approximately once a month.

The market continues to operate at the Town Park location every Saturday from
8:00 am to 1:00 pm from the beginning of May to the end of October - RAIN OR SHINE!

Aurora Farmers' Market

Market Location
49 Wells Street
Aurora, Ontario

Mailing Address
14800 Yonge St.
P.O. Box 28576
Aurora, ON., L4G 6S6


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Three Christmas driving mistakes to avoid – and one could get you fined up to £5,000

Three Christmas driving mistakes to avoid – and one could get you fined up to £5,000

In the run-up to Christmas, many drivers might want to get in the festive spirit as they make their way to finish up their Christmas shopping before heading home to visit the family.

Some might want to decorate their vehicle for the occasion, while others will be blaring Wham! or Mariah Carey and sing along at an incredible volume.

But despite the holiday fun, the most important thing is to always be safe in the car.

To help drivers be more careful on the roads, Uswitch have revealed how to avoid a hefty fine this December, reports Birmingham Mail.

Uswitch car insurance expert, Ben Smithson, said: “Driving at Christmas can be exciting, however there are some little-known things that could put your safety at risk and invalidate your insurance.

“Whilst singing along to Christmas songs and adding decorations to your car may seem like fun, they could also be a huge distraction and land you a hefty fine or increased car insurance premium.

“Keeping your car safe from crime is also increasingly important during the festive season, as the winter months are notorious for car theft.

“Always keep your vehicle locked and avoid leaving expensive items on display.”

He also shared the top three Christmas driving mistakes to avoid to save you from fines of up to £5,000.

Decorating your car for Christmas

Last month, over 3,240 Brits searched Google for ‘car reindeer antlers’ and a staggering 10,320 have been looking for ‘Christmas car decorations’.

Whilst Christmas car decorations may definitely add some festive cheer to your motor, they could also invalidate your insurance policy, as companies may refuse to pay out on claims if you’re involved in an accident.

This is because decorating a car is considered a vehicle modification. Companies invalidate cover because upgrading the aesthetics of a vehicle can make the car more attractive to thieves and criminals. It could also mean your car insurance premiums increase, as the likelihood of you claiming on a policy would have also increased.

Anything from snowflake stickers to tinsel could cause the agreement to be compromised, so it might be worth keeping the festive décor to just your home.

Having a festive sing-along

When the weather gets colder and the twinkling lights are switched on, we love nothing more than a Christmas sing-along, but it seems the car isn’t the best place to belt out a bit of Bublé, as those who sing and dance behind the wheel could be hit with a hefty fine of up to £5,000 if they get caught.

Alongside this, you could also pick up a ‘driving without due care and attention’ or even a ‘dangerous driving’ charge.

The penalties can be severe, with a fine of up to £5,000 and nine points on your licence in the most serious of circumstances.

Driving with a tree on top of your car

It’s not illegal to drive home with your Christmas tree tied to your roof but you could land in trouble with the law if it’s not tied down securely enough.

The Highway Code states motorists must secure their load and ensure heavy and sharp objects are safe.

Your Christmas tree must also be small enough to be transported safely. Large trees should not be carried by small cars or vans, as they could easily fall off and cause an accident, which would invalidate your insurance policy.

Police officers will stop drivers if they deem a load to be too great and can issue fines of £100 for breaking the rules.

To avoid increasing your risk of an accident, or landing a fine from the police, ensure your Christmas tree is properly fitted to your car roof before driving home. If you’re in doubt, ask a professional to help assist you tie the tree down.


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The End is Only a New Beginning!

Winding down the journey has seen us ‘Stepping it up a Notch’ as for unknown adventures lurking around every corner. A friend of mine says in one his songs, “Born inside a cage you ain’t going far”, well this trip we brought our cage along with us and went very far. We didn’t let the RV bind us in any way at all. It took us from adventure to adventure, but I still feel the sentiment he sings about is so true, we can’t let ourselves be bound by circumstance. Especially if our circumstance comes from a place of health and we only let our minds limit our possibilities. We live in an era where we can let everything going on in the world get us down, or empower us to keep our beliefs and spirits running free to explore the endless possibilities that await us. If we choose the latter, life is one big adventure, and the earth a magical, natural, cultural wonderland.

Back to the journey of Janey-Rae & company. We finished up our projects in the Quebec countryside while enjoying some peaceful times on a small lake, a pleasant Sunday enjoying taking in Montreal, then it was back on the road.

Coming across the American border is always a bit intimidating. Borders have that way of making the innocent feel guilty. When we were told to pull over we knew we had done nothing wrong except lived life outside the box for the past year, but our border guard, although just a man doing his job, had the ability to make Angie squirm questioning how such an adventure was possible without her working illegally. She assured him that we had been creative in our spending and, although camping free on BLM land, Native American gambling casinos and Walmart parking lots is absolutely legal, we daren’t mention it, that guilty feeling rearing its head. Although with really nothing to hide I pulled out my computer to show him this blogsite (no free wifi at the border, so that didn’t work) and then a copy of my book to prove where we lived, and thankfully Angie was let back with us to wind down our journey together with a last visit with friends and family in the New York area before flying home.

Louis had some more mountain biking racing ahead of him, we had flights to book, a few friends to visit in upstate New York, and oh yes, Chessie had some unfinished business. She wanted to leave a small piece of herself in the land she had done so much traveling in for the past year, so while in the Albany area of New York State, we stopped in a local hospital so she could donate her appendix. Fortunately we had some friends to drive to not so far from the hospital for a tranquil recuperation. Frank and Christiana are the parents of our good musician friend Dan who we know from France. We stayed at their house last year in the beginning of our journey, but they were in Europe so it was so nice to finally meet them in person and share some quality time and eat some scrummy food together while listening to Dan’s excellent CD. Here’s a song from Dan’s CD. What a voice, and pretty good banjo strumming to boot!!

Catching up with their neighbors Bruno and Bruna, whom we met last year, felt like a nice way to wind down the trip. Meeting Bruno and Bruna’s one-month old baby brought home how long our journey had really been, wow!!

Now we are at my brother’s house, Chessie is on the mend, Louis is squeezing in as much riding and racing as he can – bagging a 1st place last weekend in Vermont – and we’re all getting ready for the new phase awaiting us back home. We are still managing to do some fun things here like seeing Sheila E in concert in New Haven for free with some old college friends. Angie, Kathy and the kids are at the beach now soaking up some Connecticut sun. I opted to stay back and chill out to write my blog. I split open my knee while mountain biking in Massachusettes, so am giving my wounded knee a rest.

We probably could have thought of a better way to wind down the journey than Chessie’s appendix wanting out, but hey, we were never in control of any of it from the beginning. Angie and Chessie will fly out first, Louis and I will tie up loose ends and try to sell Janey-Rae. It’s kind of sad, she feels like more a part of the family than just a vehicle. I hope someone who really appreciates what her possibilities are for adventure winds up purchasing her, but again, it’s out of our hands. The ending of this adventure will lead to the beginning of our next one, and I hope Janey-Rae will have lots more exciting miles exploring as well.

See ya up the road! Wanna buy an RV?

Janey-Rae looking comfie.

Listen to the words of this song and get inspired for your next move.

Peace, Joe

About thebikeguy61

I was born in The Bronx, in NYC. I traveled a fair bit of the world by bicycle for many years. In more recent years I have moved around Europe with my wife and 2 children. My first book was published in 2010, "Cycles of a Traveler". Back living in France after a fantastic voyage across America with my family. Next book on its way, and always more interviews to look forward to.
This entry was posted in a town, adventure, America, camping, Canada, Children & Parenting, crisis, Cycling, diversity, Education, fear, Health & Well-being, home education, life and death, Life on planet earth., Money & Economics, RV travel, small village or countryside?, The City, a town, small village or countryside?, Transportation, travel, U.S.A., unschooling and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

1 Response to The End is Only a New Beginning!

  1. ben Zuddhist says:

    Formidable amigos…. à bientôt! X

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text:
AA673258, SIR2L1, Sir2, Sir2a, Sir2alpha
sirtuin 1
GO Process (101)
GO Function (21)
GO Component (18)

Gene Ontology Biological Process

Mus musculus

v-rel reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog A (avian)
GO Process (41)
GO Function (25)
GO Component (8)

Gene Ontology Biological Process

Mus musculus

Affinity Capture-Western

An interaction is inferred when a bait protein is affinity captured from cell extracts by either polyclonal antibody or epitope tag and the associated interaction partner identified by Western blot with a specific polyclonal antibody or second epitope tag. This category is also used if an interacting protein is visualized directly by dye stain or radioactivity. Note that this differs from any co-purification experiment involving affinity capture in that the co-purification experiment involves at least one extra purification step to get rid of potential contaminating proteins.

The type III histone deacetylase Sirt1 suppresses p300- mediated histone H3 Lysine 56 acetylation at Bclaf1 promoter to inhibit T cell activation.

Kong S, Kim SJ, Sandal B, Lee SM, Gao B, Zhang DD, Fang D

The NAD-dependent histone deacetylase Sirt1 is a negative regulator of T cell activation. Here we report that Sirt1 inhibits T cell activation by suppressing the transcription of Bcl2-associated factor 1 (Bclaf1), a protein required for T cell activation. Sirt1-null T cells have increased acetylation of the histone 3 lysine 56 residue (H3K56) at the Bclaf1 promoter, as well as increased ... [more]

Unknown Mar. 22, 2011; 0(0); [Pubmed: 21454709]

  • Low Throughput

Related interactions

InteractionExperimental Evidence CodeDatasetThroughputScoreCurated ByNotes

Interaction inferred from two proteins that co-localize in the cell by indirect immunofluorescence only when in addition, if one gene is deleted, the other protein becomes mis-localized. Also includes co-dependent association of proteins with promoter DNA in chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments.

Curated By

  • BioGRID


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Mifren – A New Island Social Network!

Mifren.com is the latest among the promising social networking sites on the internet. In times such as these, when social interaction is rampant online, social networking sites are providing users with the features and opportunities that were unimaginable before. They are providing people with the means to easily connect beyond borders. Mifren.com is one such social networking site that is interactive and unique in approach. It aims to connect its members to islands worldwide, and tell them about everything related to the islands. Whether it be Island events or Island destinations, this site is a great place for information needed to plan your next trip to the islands, satisfy your curiosity about the tropics or find island events, restaurants or hot spots. Its focus, however, is on bringing together Islanders and island enthusiasts from all over the world through its various tools and features. “The internet is now available to people even in remote areas and is an invaluable communication resource and to an extent, the same can be said for social networking. There are many social networking sites on the web, but none is dedicated to connecting the islands and islanders to the rest of the world”, says Mario McKenzie, founder of Mifren.com. “With Mifren.com, our goals are to connect the world to island communities and their people, provide travelers with useful information, help friends and families stay in contact, and provide an easy to use platform that anyone can use to share and learn. It will be a convenient way to remain updated and linked”, he further added. It is absolutely free to join and there are several features that members can use to connect with each other, share and have fun. They can share blogs, post or find events, share videos and photos, post updates and other media content, create groups and polls, instantly chat with friends and family and create pages with unique content. Business members can also add their location to their profile so that other members and potential customers can easily find them on the map. According to McKenzie, “there are many more new and exciting features being developed that we hope to release in the next coming months. We are not trying to rush it, our main goal is to make Mifren unlike any other site on the internet”. Even for travelers, Mifren.com provides exciting aspects that they will find useful, unlike other social networking sites. It has an Island directory filled with information, which can aid in planning trips to different islands around the world. Within the next couple of months, the network will launch more features allowing travelers to get reviews on island resorts and get information on various hot spots. There is also an Island restaurant directory in the works which will help all the food loving members to find great island cuisine. Currently, a beta version of the site is available for users. Although still somewhat under development, the network has been launched for members to begin getting familiar with all the fun features Mifren has. With its distinctive idea and useful features, Mifren.com will surely connect the world to island communities and their people, provide travelers with useful information and help friends and families stay in contact. It is a welcoming addition to the existing social networking sites that will bridge the communication gap between people and cultures, and will definitely be an asset to the social networking industry. For information: www.mifren.com — This article was first published at JKHanok.com


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Your Fashion-Beauty Photos Featured on Benjamin Kanarek Blog

Photography © Daria Gleich

We have decided to feature your work in Benjamin Kanarek Blog

If you have a Fashion or Beauty Photography Editorial that you feel you wish to have featured here, please feel free to send it off to us, with all of the team and clothing credits to You can also be a model, fashion-beauty stylist, hair or make-up artist to submit, but in all cases only with the permission of the photographer.

You may also wish to come up with a name for your fashion or beauty spread. A short bio would also be appreciated.

If we at BKBlog deem the story worthy of publication we will post it. We will link to your site, blog or e-mail addresses.

You’ll be amazed by some of the people in the industry who come to visit Benjamin Kanarek Blog. Who knows, you just might be commissioned to shoot for that magazine you always wanted to be seen in, or perhaps that ad campaign that you wanted the possibility of being considered for…

Looking forward to your fashion-beauty  photography submissions sent to:

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About Benjamin Kanarek
Fashion and Beauty Photographer. Some of the magazines I have shot for include: VOGUE (China, Portugal, Brazil, Italia, Paris and South America & Mexico editions), RG VOGUE Brazil, Harper’s BAZAAR (China, en Español & Latin America, Hong Kong, Italy editions), L’Officiel Paris, ELLE (Spain, Portugal and Greece editions), Madame Figaro (France), Cosmopolitan (France and Italy editions), Glamour (France), Votre Beauté, Jardin des Modes, Dépêche Mode, New York Daily News, Fashion District News, New York Times Magazine, W (British edition), WWD, Fashion Magazine (Canada), Flare (Canada), Oyster, Tank, WestEast…


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Friday, February 22, 2019

Amazing Colossal Man, The (1957)

... aka: Amazing Nth Man, The
... aka: Der Koloss (The Colossus)
... aka: El asombroso hombre creciente (The Amazing Growing Man)
... aka: El gigante ataca (The Giant Attacks)
... aka: I giganti invadono la Terra (Giants Invade the Earth)
... aka: Monstret från Nevada (Monster from Nevada)

Directed by:
Bert I. Gordon

In Desert Rock, Nevada, a plutonium bomb is about to be detonated to see the effects on a small group of soldiers under simulated combat conditions. The soldiers are placed in a shallow bunker and given protective eye wear i.e sunglasses (what great protections!) but, after the countdown finishes, the bomb doesn't go off right away as the chain reaction hasn't completed its cycle as previously calculated. While the soldiers wait, a civilian airplane goes down in the test area. No one can figure out whether the pilot and crew have survived the impact or not. Despite being warned not to leave their position and to keep their glasses on, Col. Glenn Manning (Glenn Langan) both leaves the bunker and removes his glasses. As he's running toward the plane, the bomb finally detonates. Glenn is covered with radiation, suffers third degree burns on nearly 100 percent of his body and falls into a coma.

At the hospital, doctors do what they can with penicillin, cortisone and bandages, but they predict he won't make it through the night due to infection and shock. Dr. Paul Linstrom (William Hudson) must then break the news to Glenn's devastated fiancee, Carol Forrest (Cathy Downs). However, the following morning Glenn seems to have made a miraculous recovery. He has somehow grown new tissue that shows no scarring at all. In fact, there's no sign whatsoever that he was even burned to begin with. Dr. Linstrom immediately calls in key members of the military to see if there could possibility be some kind of regenerative, healing quality to plutonium (ha!) that he's unaware of.

Next thing Carol knows, an officer is showing up at her home and telling her she's forbidden from seeing Glenn by military order. She sneaks over to the hospital only to learn that he's been moved somewhere else and no one at the hospital seems to know where. Snooping through papers on the receptionist's desk, she gets a clue that she should go to the Army Rehabilitation and Research Center. The guard there tells her the center no longer houses patients and hasn't since the last war. Still, a sergeant agrees to talk with her, which gets her inside the facility. She snoops around some more and finally finds Glenn. Only he's now about 20 feet tall! Carol learns that he's now growing at the rate of 8 to 10 feet per day. Why? Well, it has something to do with rapid cellular growth. Or something. You're best off not thinking about it too much.

Glenn eventually snaps out of his coma (after having a Korean War flashback where he shoots an enemy soldier in the face) and outgrows his room, so they have to bring a circus tent in from Florida and move him outside. As for food, they bring in 25 sides of beef at a time and serve up whole turkeys as a snack. Linstrom and his colleague, Dr. Eric Coulter (Larry Thor), hope to come up with a cure to halt the growing. Actually, they have to, and quickly, or else Glenn will die. His heart isn't keeping pace with the rest of the growth and will explode if nothing is done. The heart issue and the resulting chest pains, labored breathing and lack of circulation to the brain that come along with it, are also taking a psychological toll as Glenn becomes increasingly more angry, bitter and insane as the minutes tick by.

After experiments work on miniaturizing an elephant and a camel, an antidote is created but by that point the moody Glenn has taken off. And if you thought spotting a 60-foot-tall, 18,000 pound giant would be easy... well, you're right, it probably should be... you haven't met these bozos yet. Somehow it takes a long time to track Glenn down and, by that point, he's already visited / terrorized Las Vegas and is on his way toward the Boulder (Hoover) Dam. Our heroes hop aboard a helicopter and try to hunt down the giant so they can administer the antidote via giant syringe.

While certainly good for some undemanding fun and the occasional chuckle, Colossal Man is one of those movies where you go in pretty much knowing what to expect and get precisely that... but nothing more. There are plenty of cheap fx and some fun props but it's mostly just stilted actors delivering leaden dialogue on cheap sets. The shoddy science is never an issue for me as I don't really care (it was the 50s after all!), but my biggest issue was them not giving the giant enough to do. Most disappointingly, he only spends a couple of minutes in Las Vegas, where his "rampage" involves peaking in a window, destroying a couple of signs and picking up and throwing a car and a palm tree before he's on his not-so-merry way. He does eventually get to impale someone with the giant needle and snatch up the leading lady King Kong-style, so at least that was kind of fun.

The best thing here is probably Langan's animated acting and his (sometimes hilariously) moody / anguished facial expressions, which really stand out in comparison to his mostly wooden co-stars. A miscast Russ Bender shows up briefly as the genius who created the plutonium bomb yet thinks there's nothing out of the ordinary about a man with a full body burn completely healing in less than 24 hours. The woman surprised in the bubble bath is Jean Moorhead, a 1955 Playboy Playmate, who had starred in the (very funny) Ed Wood-scripted juvenile delinquent film The Violent Years (1956). The cast also includes James Seay as a colonel and Scott Peters. Interestingly, Hudson would also star in the gender switch alternate ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN (1958) the following year.

This AIP release, "presented by" uncredited executive producers James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff, was made to cash in on the success of The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) and was released on a double bill with Cat Girl (1957). Gordon also co-wrote the screenplay (with Mark Hanna), produced and did the fx (assisted by his wife, Flora M. Gordon). The basis for the movie was a 1928 novel called The Nth Man by Homer Eon Flint, who receives no screen credit. This became a minor hit and was followed by the sequel WAR OF THE COLOSSAL BEAST (1958).

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The Bug Geek

Insects. Doing Science. Other awesome, geeky stuff.

The finish line is in sight

Because mole cricket.

Clawing my way to the finish line! (Alternatively titled, “Excuse to post a picture of a mole cricket, which is an awesome animal, period.”)

Fifteen centimeters of snow fell yesterday, we’ve burned through nearly our entire cache of firewood, and there’s not a hint of green life to be found. Nevertheless, it’s just past the first day of spring, and a startlingly short 3 weeks until the last day of classes.

I swear I have not been deliberately neglecting this space, and my extended absence this time ’round is absolutely no cause for alarm.

The simple truth is that I have been having an excellent term and am entirely preoccupied with other things that are firmly at the forefront of my attention as this year rushes by, roaring full-tilt towards what I am grudgingly recognizing as the imminent conclusion of this PhD (*sad face*).

In the last few months I have: a) begun searching, and applying for, postdoctoral positions (another post for another day, but it will probably start with something along the lines of, “womp, womp”); b) started working as an assistant at The University’s teaching and learning services office; c) been blessed with a small army (I’m not exaggerating even a little bit – there are so many) of enthusiastic, intelligent and hard-working undergraduates who are helping me squeeze out the last bit of data for my thesis by volunteering in my lab; and d) having an absolute blast teaching.

Teaching is exhausting. Anyone who says it only takes 3 hours of prep for 1 hour of lecture is a LYING LIE-FACE, at least for the first go-round with a new course. It is challenging as heck: I’m learning/re-learning an awful lot on a daily basis and stepping well outside my comfort zone. It is also enormously humbling. My students are SO FREAKING SMART and I am a flawed human being who sometimes makes dumb mistakes, which they invariably – and delightedly – point out.

Teaching this class has also brought me so much joy I can’t even begin to tell you.

In a few weeks, once the dust has settled and exams are marked and grades are in, I’m going to sit down and write some of my thoughts about this experience, and also about where things stand with my research and “career” progress (and, if this winter ever decides to end, maybe even some new photos of bugs), but in the meantime I just wanted to check in and say, “Hi!”, and “Happy spring!”, and “I’ll see you at the finish line!”

4 responses to “The finish line is in sight

  1. Katie (Nature ID) March 28, 2014 at 6:58 PM

    Awesome. It’s crazy to think I’ve been following your blog since about when you went back to school. What a wild ride… and it doesn’t end here, huh?

  2. George Sims April 8, 2014 at 9:37 AM

    My dear Almost-Doctor-Geeky,
    I have missed you.

  3. Benjamin April 8, 2014 at 11:12 PM

    I look forward to your comments on teaching at the Ph.D. level – I will be starting in an Evolutionary Biology program this coming fall, and I want to put as much effort as I can into the teaching component. I’m sure your experiences will be edifying for me!

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Best Shorts With Liner Mens Reviews, Tips & Guides

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Last Updated: 2021-07-31 by Daphnee Lockman


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Hebridean children sing Scottish Gaelic rendition of 'Child of Joy'

For the 24th day of Advent, Rev Hugh Stewart, the minister at Lochs-in-Bernera linked with Uig, has recorded this Scottish Gaelic performance of children from the Hebridean island of Great Bernera singing ‘Child of Joy’.

 The group, which ordinarily met in Bernera church hall every Monday night prior to the pandemic restrictions, is called ‘Molaidh Mi E’ (Scottish Gaelic for ‘We Will Praise Him’) or the ‘MME Project’, and has been expanded online to include the children from the parishes of Uig and Bernera.

Read the full story on our website.

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Insert perfect Christmas title here …

That one word. It doesn’t seem like much. We use it all the time. We make the perfect plans. Find the perfect outfit. Take the perfect vacation. Run after perfect outcomes.

There’s a long list of words in the English language that are so overused and abused that they have become meaningless. For me, this one tops the list. As I’ve spent the last three years untangling a knot of anxiety and depression and altogether neurotic behavior, it became inescapably clear that perfectionism provokes all the mayhem.

Yet, nothing is perfect. Not a single thing.

For years I rejected perfectionism as playing any part in my life. To me, a perfectionist had impeccable everything—perfect bodies, perfect clothes, perfect careers, perfect homes, perfect husbands, perfect children. In the pursuit of everything flawless, they surely drive everyone in their world up the proverbial wall. No one in their lives could possibly withstand the constant criticism. The result is strained marriages and children destined for the therapist’s couch.

That can’t be me, I reasoned. I have a wonderful marriage. I have devoted friendships. I try to parent with grace. In fact, I offer tons of grace to everyone—except myself.

My house is not clean. My life is the sum total of incomplete projects. I’m sloppy. The pile on my desk dwarfs the desk. I pay little attention to my clothes. I take as little time with my appearance as possible.

“I can’t be a perfectionist,” I insist to my therapist. “Nothing in my life is perfect. I’m not trying to be perfect. I know it’s impossible.”

She studies me. I cringe. Obviously, I’ve served up the diagnosis from which I’ve been running.

“There it is,” she confirms. “But you have to remember this—even less than perfect is unattainable.”

Those words have stuck with me. They drape over my thoughts as I weigh options when making decisions. They take up residence on the couch by my side at 4 AM as I grade essays. They are with me on a coffee date, listening to sweet friends describe their own struggles trying to manage the demands of ministry, marriage, and motherhood.

One friend, when considering the prospect of perfectionism, said decisively, “Hmm. I don’t think that’s me.”

I winced. I’ve read the books. I’m writing the book. I know it when I see it.

Remember agonizing over the littlest decisions? Hyper oversight of every detail of your children’s lives? Working yourself sick to be a powerhouse at work? Worrying that your husband won’t get it done? How about the constant dieting, meal planning and training—all to be frustrated over a half inch of fat below the belt that no one sees?

And guess what? Every one of those questions applies to me and every other woman I know. I obsessed over every little thing, fretted over my husband and kids, ran hundreds of miles only to beat myself up for not reaching my goals, felt depressed that my students didn’t master objective 4 on a state mandated test that everyone agrees is worthless …

We’re all going through this. All of us. Our culture inundates women with its expectations. We must earn, we must work, we must produce. We must protect everyone, hold everyone up, not let anyone down.

Recently I asked my 11th graders to respond in their journals to I Peter 1:13, and specifically discuss where they set their hope. One sweet girl wrote, in so many words, that she knew her hope should be in Christ, but she just wanted her life to be perfect.

I Peter 113

Living God, save us.

I return again and again to my therapist’s words—even less than perfect is unattainable.

Christmas is a few days away. This year, I’m celebrating with fresh insight into my own struggles in light of God’s gift to us.

Not perfection for me to attain, but perfection for me to adore. We have been set free from the world’s standards—we have no obligation to answer our culture’s demands. The object of our worship died for us, meeting the requirements that no being ever could.

Nothing on this planet since the beginning of days has ever been perfect—except the Lamb.

If we chase after perfection for our own glory, we will fail. If my goal is performing by that perfectionist’s standard, then my god is myself. And that god is as powerless as the idols of Babylon.

But what if Perfection—His Perfection—is something we follow in obedience? He is our Christ, the Messiah, the Lamb of God, our Savior. He is the Word of God who became flesh and lived among us. He is the one who died and is alive forevermore. He is the Lord who no longer calls us servants, but friends.

A gift cuddled up in a manger. A gift giving up His spirit on a cross. A gift walking away from the tomb which could not hold Him.

What could be more perfect?

Merry Christmas.

7 Thoughts

  1. Hi Katie!
    Thank you so much for sharing your inspiring words on perfectionism with me. They really hit home for me. Jesus is Perfection in every way and He knows how imperfect I am. How grateful I am that He still loves me in my imperfection!! I want to love and worship Him so perfectly and yet, I can not even do that. So, I will lay back in His Love and worship and adore Him until He takes me Home! 🙏❤

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When My Mojo Leaves …….

When I am wanting to create, but inspiration has packed her bags and left I either make cards or flowers!  I can spend hours – days even – making cards and flowers!

I play around with dies and stamps and try to put together something that is vaguely pleasing or pretty …….

Collection 1

It doesn’t always work out ……………………

Collection 5

……….and other times it does!

I went through an Owl phase when I got a really cute owl die with movable parts:

Collection 8

And a teddy bear textured phase – when you touch this teddy bear, it feels furry, I painstakingly glued on flocking…..and it was really fun to make!!  [This is a Magnolia stamp, coloured with Spectrum Noir ink pens.]

Collection 9

Collection 9a

Collection 9b

All these cards are heavily embellished and impossible to post in an envelope.

I now have a large carton full of cards and other created items – we need to go to a market day and sell ’em off!

I wish my mojo wouldn’t leave quite so often.

Thanks for dropping by, do leave a note – it’s always lovely to see you’ve been  🙂

18 thoughts on “When My Mojo Leaves …….

  1. What you talking about ‘mostly misses’ Miss Pauline ma’am?! Those cards are Great! Beautiful! And Charming! And I admire the fact that you CAN create such pieces of art when your inspiration has left you. For most of us, it don’t even mek sense to ‘try’ anything once our inspiration is gone.
    Great Job ma’am, love them all!

    • I’ve taken heart from all these kind comments Char – I’ve just discovered another reason why blogging is great! The eyes of others make you look at something differently – I always see the not quite right, not quite good enough aspects in my own creations – I see the bits I’d do better/differently next time and forget about what is okay now………… Good lesson for me to learn. Must try harder!! 🙂

  2. I can relate. Sometimes I have a vision in my head, but can’t make it happen in the real world. Other times I find myself half way through something and hating it.

    Maybe we just need to be more forgiving of ourselves and realize that learning what we don’t like is just as valuable as what we do. I think the owl card is adorable; a nice blend of colors and textures.

    Don’t stop creating, and more importantly, enjoy the ride.

    • Nothing like a Virgo for self criticism! I am rarely happy with my creations, but find the creative process to be most satisfying! I think you are absolutely right in what you say – the learning is what is important…… and I totally know the vision in the head and not being able to bring it to life ….. thanks so much for dropping by!

      • There you go! If you enjoy the process, then you’ve found the spirit of creativity. Further, I’ve found that others often love what we hate. I think at times we become so intimately involved with what we are doing that we lose all objectivity.

      • Yes, you are right! The responses from you and everyone on this post are causing me to have another look at these cards – I so appreciate new eyes and other opinions. I will post some more soon and look forward to your honest feedback! 🙂

  3. I love all of them! What did you use to make the flowers on the first card?
    I admire your creativity. You’ve got a special talent. Thanks for sharing your creations with us.

    • Hi Elaine, that’s a die cut on old book pages, layered and the edges hit with colour from an ink pad – do you like it? [I think of it as one of my great failures!] You are very kind to make such nice comments, I tend to think of myself as very much a hit or miss crafter – mostly miss
      🙂 So I take heart from your kind comments.

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