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The Votemaster

"The Votemaster" is the guy behind, which the Prospect has teamed up with to bring you polling analysis and predictions for the 2012 election. You can find out more about him by clicking here.

Recent Articles

Tue, Oct. 02 Electoral Vote Predictor

Romney To Broaden Focus When Mitt Romney started his 2012 campaign, he basically assumed that all he had to do to win was point out to people that the economy was in the toilet. As it turns out, the voters already knew that and before giving him the keys to the White House, they want to know how he is going to fix the economy. Since he doesn't want to discuss his economic plan in any detail other than "tax cuts" and seems to be falling farther and farther behind, he is now considering broadening his attacks, hitting President Obama on energy, health care, taxes, and spending. Note that what he is talking about doing is more attacking. He is not planning to tell people why they should vote for him, just why they should not vote for Obama. For whatever reason, he can't get out of attack mode. The problem with that approach so far is that although he may convince people that Obama is far from perfect, he hasn't even tried to make the case that he is better. Traditionally, re-election...

Mon, Oct. 01 Electoral Vote Predictor

The Shadow of the Debates Looms Large Both President Obama and Mitt Romney are preparing for the first debate Wednesday. Dozens of surrogates are preparing people for a miserable performance from their candidate. The idea is that if the candidate does not drool all over his tie, he can be declared the winner. It is not clear why they bother. People will watch the debate and decide what they think based on what they see, not based on how low the candidate's spinners have managed to set the bar. Team Romney has announced it has some real zingers it is going to hurl at Obama. In contrast, Obama said he is going to be serious and not aim for clever sound bites. But as every comedian knows all too well, good comedy requires not only good lines, but a sense of timing and pacing—qualities that Romney is not known for. If his lines fall flat, he is going to become fodder for the late-night comedians, who do have good stage presence. Even more-or-less-serious pundits are already suggesting...

Sun, Sep. 30 Electoral Vote Predictor

Republican Strategists Tell Romney to Stop Playing It Safe Mitt Romney is using a campaign strategy of running out the clock, something appropriate for an incumbent who is ahead but not for a challenger who is behind. Numerous Republicans are pleading with him to break out and do something bold. Suggestions include going to the site of the Keystone XL pipeline that President Obama has put on hold and talk to unemployed workers who want to build it or even just going to diners and talking to voters. But Romney refuses to do these things, possibly because his handlers are afraid he will make a gaffe that becomes the news for a day or more. So he sticks to reciting his prepared remarks in carefully staged settings and avoids all retail politics. While there had been endless discussion about whether Romney is conservative enough or too conservative or too rich or too secretive or too whatever, one aspect of the choice of him as nominee hasn't gotten much attention: He is not a good...

Sat, Sep. 29 Electoral Vote Predictor

How Does the Presidential Race Compare to Previous Ones? One way to measure the presidential race is to compare the national Gallup poll now to national Gallup polls taken on or close to this date in previous years to see their predictive value. Talking Points Memo has collected the data, and here it is . The notation D+6 means the Democrat was ahead by 6 points, etc. Incumbents are marked with an asterisk. Click here for full story

Fri, Sep. 28 Electoral Vote Predictor

You Are the 100 Millionth Visitor When I started this site in 2004, it was a bit of a lark and just for a few friends. Yesterday it passed the 100-million visitor mark . Thanks for coming by! Swing-State Voters Oppose Changes to Medicare A new Kaiser poll in Florida among registered voters shows that 80% think Medicare is very important or extremely important for their vote and by a margin of 53% to 38% they prefer Obama rather than Romney to handle the matter. Recent polls have shown Obama with a small but consistent lead in Florida, no doubt due in part to Florida's many seniors (in 2008, 20% of Florida's voters were at least 65). In retrospect, Mitt Romney's choice of Paul Ryan as his running mate may have been a mistake, since his plan to change Medicare from a defined benefit program to a defined contribution program is wildly unpopular in Florida, the most important swing state of all. Furthermore, Ryan's plan is also unpopular in Ohio and Virginia, the second and fourth biggest...


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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Did you notice?

After one year existence of this blog, we have a new contributor - our papa. I am very happy about it as this blog is going to be a real family tool. Various bloggers with their different views and styles will surely make this blog more interesting for you as well, our dear readers. From now, you can find papa's posts under the label Le blog de papa.
So, dear papa, I wish you lots of good ideas, many beautiful posts and big fun by posting!

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Thursday, September 20, 2012

garden sculptures

  1. The City Daily Photo Blog Theme Day for October is nearly upon us. Have you, as yet, given some thought to your interpretation of our theme, ‘Silhouette’? There are a number of meanings to this word, and there is no need to feel restricted to the meaning in the English language. If you are a member of Face Book, you are welcome to post your contribution to the CDPB group page at If you are not a member of Face Book, you may care to post at
    As you post your October Theme contribution, please vote for your choice of the five suggested themes for November (My Street, Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, The Water’s Edge, Ageing (dis)gracefully, or The Thrill of the Dance). You may vote at either location, but please only vote once! The results will be conflated at the close of voting on Monday 8th November.

  2. hi Julie, thanks for the info. hope i can make a contribution


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Psychology of Learning (PSY 308) Course Details

Course Name: Psychology of Learning
Code: PSY 308
Pre-requisite Course(s): None
Objective: This course aims to acquaint the students with the phenomena, experimental findings, and explanations of learning. Knowledge of this literature will help students appreciate the importance of learning processes for the understanding of psychological functioning of the individual, and in addition, it will serve as a basis for Cognition issues which are to be covered in the following term
Content: Pavlovian conditioning, operant conditioning, aversive conditioning, partial reinforcement and classical-operant interactions
Term: Spring
Theory: 3
Application: 0
Laboratory: 0
Credit: 3
ECTS Course File: Course File
Course File: Course File


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Dr. Michael Delahoyde
Washington State University

Although in a generic way, "winter's tales" are supposed to be like "old wives' tales" (Wells 339), and certainly the implausibilities in what Shakespeare does present as an old-fashioned tale are always noted, the title otherwise bears very little relationship with the play itself in any intrinsic manner, and the best explanation I've heard is that it's a matter of bilingual wordplay. In French, "winter's tale" would be rendered "conte d'hiver" ("account of winter," vs. "histoire" / story) -- which sounds like Count de Vere (especially in Elizabethan pronunciation) with Count being the French equivalent of Earl: hence an encoded identification of Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford. [See C. Richard Desper and Gary C. Vezzoli. "A Statistical Approach to the Shakespeare Authorship Question." Elizabethan Review 1.2 (Fall 1993): 36-42.]

Robert Greene wrote a sloppy euphuistic prose romance called Pandosto (1588) which Stratfordians consider the source for the play; Charlton Ogburn thinks vice versa (675), and his parents took Pandosto to be another case of a secondary work seeming like a source simply because of publication order (Ogburn and Ogburn 535-536). Pandosto is dedicated to George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland, with the hope that he will be "measuring my work by my will" (xxix). Inside the work, we hear that "conscience is a worm that ever biteth, but never ceaseth" (10). Differences between the "Greene" work and the play include all the changed names: Shakespeare probably derived Hermione from the Greek play Andromache (Thomas xvii); Pandosto of Bohemia becomes Leontes of Sicily, Egistus of Sicily becomes Polixenes of Bohemia, Bellaria becomes Hermione, Garinter becomes Maximilius, Dorastus becomes Florizel, Fawnia becomes Perdita. The queen really dies of grief in Pandosto, is embalmed, and entombed (so the statue bit occurs only in Shakespeare). And Pandosto tries to kill himself after his queen's death; he does end by suicide at the end of the work.
[See: Thomas, P.G., ed. Greene's 'Pandosto' or 'Dorastus and Fawnia' Being the Original of Shakespeare's 'Winter's Tale.' London: Chatto and Windus, Pub., 1907.
See also, for the importance of Greek mythology to this play, Earl Showerman's "Look Down and See What Death Is Doing: Gods and Greeks in The Winter's Tale." The Oxfordian 10 (2007): 55-74.]

Recorded mention of performances come in 1611, but A Wynters nightes pastime was registered in 1594. Here's a representative and ambivalent Stratfordian attempt: "The play's author had also lost a son, and had married off a daughter. Hamnet Shakespeare died at age eleven in 1596. Susanna married Dr. John Hall in 1607. Yet, there is no specific reason to read the play as in any way 'autobiographical,' except in the sense that all artistic work is part of the autobiography of its creator" (Garber 828).

E.T. Clark and the elder Ogburns detect allusions to Mary Stuart's trial, Raleigh's rise in court, and the introduction of tobacco by the Virginia colony, pushing the composition date back to the mid-1580s. They advise that we read for "Sicily" the term "Cecilianum": a designation for England assigned by Leicester's party derisively because of Burghley's enormous political influence (Clark 755; cf. Ogburn and Ogburn 746ff).

Critics have problems with the plot but typically praise the poetry; and that some key dramatic events are narrated instead of shown in Act V seems to indicate strategic condensing after reconsideration.

Archidamus, a Bohemian lord, and Camillo, a Sicilian lord, with rhetorically showy courtly etiquette, discuss visits between Leontes, the King of Sicilia, with Polixenes, the King of Bohemia. The latter has been here in Sicilia for an extended period with his childhood friend Leontes. Archidamus declares that should Leontes visit Polixenes the coming summer, a consideration that introduces a "seasonal and cyclical framework" (Garber 828), Bohemia could never reciprocate adequate hospitality. The humility pose extends so far that he remarks,

I know not what to say -- We will give you sleepy drinks, that your senses (unintelligent of our insufficience) may, though they cannot praise us, as little accuse us. (I.i.13-16)
Camillo retorts, "You pay a great deal too dear for what's given freely" (I.i.17-18). Mention is made of Leontes and Polixenes' childhood friendship: "there rooted betwixt them then such an affection" (I.i.23-24) -- another kind "affection" will soon take root. "The heavens continue their loves!" (I.i.31-32), says Camillo, "which seems, in a Shakespearean universe, as much a dare as a hope" (Garber 829). Leontes' young son Mamillius receives great praise too as "a gentleman of the greatest promise" (I.i.35-36), although Archidamus undermines Camillo's hyperbole that old men in Sicilia live solely to see the day Mamillius will become king -- a zealous succession anticipation.

One assumes that this first scene should be played as two courtiers tacitly agreeing to engage good-naturedly in over-the-top courtesies. Perhaps the next scene shows one of the potential problems with taking courtly banter to extremes.

Polixenes tells Leontes, Leontes' wife Hermione, Mamillius, Camillo, and attendants that after "Nine changes of the wat'ry star" (I.ii.1) -- i.e., nine months -- of enjoying the Sicilian hospitality, he must return to Bohemia. Leontes and Hermione both attempt to persuade him to stay -- there would have been news if anything were amiss in Bohemia. Although he wants to see his own son, when Hermione playfully insists that she'll make him stay even if she has to imprison him, he agrees to one more week. Looking retrospectively at this early material, we may notice the ostensibly innocent references to nine months, "burthen," "multiply," and "breed," and wonder if some of this works subliminally on Leontes.

After an exchange of "Verily"s (I.ii.45ff), and prompted by Hermione's curiosity -- "Was not my lord / The verier wag o' th' two?" (I.ii.65-66) -- Polixenes waxes nostalgic about his youth with Leontes.

We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk i' th' sun,
And bleat the one at th' other. What we chang'd
Was innocence for innocence; we knew not
The doctrine of ill doing, nor dream'd
That any did. Had we pursu'd that life,
And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd,
With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven
Boldly, "Not guilty"; the imposition clear'd,
Hereditary ours. (I.ii.67-75)
This "boy eternal" notion (I.ii.65) indicates that "This is an Eden world he projects, a world out of time" (Garber 831). "Temptations, innocence, lambs, and 'boy eternal' -- the associations here are simultaneously seasonal and Christian" (Garber 831). Hermione wonders about their sexual experience before marriage. Leontes interrupts, asking if Hermione has convinced Polixenes to stay. He thanks her for the success of her eloquence, saying that only once before did she speak so well; Hermione persistently requests for him to reveal what was that previous time: "It has an elder sister, / Or I mistake you" (I.ii.98-99).
Why, that was when
Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to death,
Ere I could make thee open thy white hand,
And clap thyself my love; then didst thou utter.
"I am yours for ever."
This is pretty dark wording for a memory of becoming engaged! (Does "crabbed months" refer to summer months under the sign of Cancer?) But Hermione only notes that her rhetorical skills have won her a husband and now a friend.

Hermione and Polixenes stroll off and an angry Leontes, with an absence of motivation common in romances (Wells 340), suspects an affair, operating like an Othello who "is his own Iago" (Bloom 639, plagiarized from Goddard, II 264). He acknowledged abruptly, "I have tremor cordis on me" (I.ii.110), but this is his first private moment and it's possible he had been suspecting his wife from before the play began -- we just didn't know it because of the veneer of extreme courtesy. He notes,

... to be paddling palms and pinching fingers,
As they are now, and making practic'd smiles,
As in a looking-glass; and then to sigh, as 'twere
The mort o' th' deer--O, that is entertainment
My bosom likes not, nor my brows!
Leontes calls his son Mamillius over and scans him for signs of illegitimacy, lapsing into animal imagery less vile than that in Othello. [The business about the "smut" on Mamillius' nose, according to Clark, alludes to an incident between Sir Walter Raleigh and the Queen (750), as does the bit later regarding the otherwise odd line, "Will you take eggs for money?" (I.ii.161). The elder Ogburns also point out that Leontes calls his son "captain" (I.ii.122f), another allusion to Raleigh. In the same passage here is a reference to a "neat" (I.ii.125), which is an ox, and the line, "Still virginalling / Upon his palm? (I.ii.125-126) -- both potentially significant to an allegorical reading of the play (Ogburn and Ogburn 761). Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen" -- FWAAAH!! ... excuse me -- played the virginals, the keyboard kind. She apparently "played" the "virginal" too.]

Leontes renders what has become one of the most "notoriously obscure" passages in the canon (Wells 342):

Affection! thy intention stabs the centre.
Thou dost make possible things not so held,
Communicat'st with dreams (how can this be?),
With what's unreal thou co-active art,
And fellow'st nothing. Then 'tis very credent
Thou mayst co-join with something, and thou dost
(And that beyond commission), and I find it
(And that to the infection of my brains
And hard'ning of my brows).
"'Affection' here means both lustful desire and sexual jealousy, each active enough to encourage Leontes' deep need for betrayal" (Bloom 642) -- in other words, the passage is about both attraction and delusion. Thus, here is another play in which "the male protagonist conceives a murderous animosity toward a loving wife by imagining her unfaithful to him on the flimsiest of grounds, only to be later overwhelmed by remorse; and these three brutally condemned wives -- Imogen in Cymbeline, Hermione in The Winter's Tale and Desdemona in Othello -- are generally adjudged the most saintly and faultless of Shakespeare's heroines" (Ogburn 567-568). The critics attempt to explain this sudden degeneration of Leontes; e.g., "Absence of expressed motivation, so often a feature of romance stories, is acute here" (Wells 340). After all, jealousy is "a monster / Begot upon itself" (Othello III.iv.158-159). Besides, "there are irrational as well as rational incitements to action, and what we have here is a sudden inundation of the conscious by the unconscious, of which the agreement of Polixenes to prolong his visit is the occasion rather than the cause" (Goddard, II 264). "Leontes' mind is like a fiery furnace at such a temperature that everything introduced into it -- combustible or not -- becomes fuel" (Goddard, II 266). He is possessed now with "a self-consuming, almost fanatical state of mind, impervious to suggestion, incapable of admitting the possibility of error" (Wells 341).

Hermione and Polixenes stroll back and detect something amiss in Leontes, who passes it off as merely nostalgia for his youth, twenty-three years ago (I.ii.155), when he was looking at Mamillius. [The elder Ogburns, who think the play was performed first in 1586, note that Oxford would have been 13 years old that long ago: roughly the age, late in 1586, of the "Fair Youth" (Ogburn and Ogburn 756). In any case, it's the first of three mentions of the number 23 in this play, each one entirely arbitrary in its context.]

Leontes asks Polixenes about his own son, Florizel, and Polixenes says that despite the miseries of being a father, his son means the world to him. Leontes tells Hermione and Polixenes to stroll off to the garden while he talks with Mamillius.

Go play, boy, play. Thy mother plays, and I
Play too, but so disgrac'd a part, whose issue
Will hiss me to my grave....
The pun on "play" is grim, of course (Garber 832). Leontes rants to himself with insane jealousy, envisioning cuckoldry as pandemic.
There have been
(Or I am much deceiv'd) cuckolds ere now,
And many a man there is (even at this present,
Now, while I speak this) holds his wife by th' arm,
That little thinks she has been sluic'd in 's absence,
And his pond fish'd by his next neighbor--by
Sir Smile, his neighbor.
. . .
It is a bawdy planet, that will strike
Where 'tis predominant. . . .
. . . Be it concluded,
No barricado for a belly. Know 't,
It will let in and out the enemy,
With bag and baggage. (I.ii.190-206)
He grills Camillo about the events of a few minutes ago, assumes that rumors are already circulating about his cuckoldry, but cannot get Camillo to confirm his crazy reading of his wife as a "hobby-horse" (I.ii.276). This further frustrates Leontes. "His nihilistic transport, at once a frenzy and an ecstasy, reaches its sublime in a litany of nothings" (Bloom 644):
Is whispering nothing?
Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses?
Kissing with inside lip? stopping the career
Of laughter with a sigh (a note infallible
Of breaking honesty)? horsing foot on foot?
Skulking in corners? wishing clocks more swift?
Hours, minutes? noon, midnight? and all eyes
Blind with the pin and web but theirs, theirs only,
That would unseen be wicked? Is this nothing?
Why then the world and all that's in 't is nothing.
The covering sky is nothing, Bohemia nothing,
My wife is nothing, nor nothing have these nothings,
If this be nothing. (I.ii.284-296)

"But just as Leontes 'saw' a spider in the cup because he put it there [in the next act], poisoning his own imagination, so he makes something of these rhetorically conjured nothings" (Garber 835). Leontes orders Camillo, as Polixenes' cup-bearer, to poison Polixenes. Leontes has occasion to use the phrase, "go rot" (I.ii.324) -- who knew we young Delahoydes all those years ago were quoting Shakespeare at each other?

Camillo will carry out Leontes' wishes if Leontes does not punish Hermione, lest their son suffer shame and an international scandal erupt. Leontes will act friendly with the two. Camillo, alone, tells himself that he knows no cases of king-killers flourishing afterwards; he must forsake the court. This poisoning talk, claims Clark, alludes to Elizabeth's plans of "doing away with the Scottish Queen," Mary Stuart (Clark 752), which makes some sense of this utterance by Camillo, if he's speaking on behalf of Oxford concerning the trial of Mary:

To do this deed,
Promotion follows. If I could find example
Of thousands that had struck anointed kings
And flourish'd after, I'ld not do 't; but since
Nor brass nor stone nor parchment bears not one,
Let villany itself forswear 't. I must
Forsake the court.
The elder Ogburns feel Oxford was "loathing himself that he was forced to be a party to her doom" (747). Primarily though, in one sense, Oxford, "willing to pillory himself" (Ogburn and Ogburn 747), is Leontes, with his own leonine Bolebec crest (755), perhaps jealous of Raleigh (750), but also experiencing guilt over his treatment of his own wife, Anne Cecil (757). Anderson confirms this (147, 221), assessing the play, along with Much Ado About Nothing and Cymbeline, as performing an "emotional autopsy on a disastrous marriage" (220). Anderson goes so far as to suggest that the play was never intended for performance in Oxford's lifetime (399).

Polixenes asks Camillo why Leontes is being so weird and hostile. Camillo at first is enigmatic: "There is a sickness / Which puts some of us in distemper, but / I cannot name the disease, and it is caught / Of you that yet are well" (I.ii.384-387). Polixenes appeals to Camillo's status as a "gentleman," "Clerk-like experienc'd, which no less adorns / Our gentry than our parents' noble names" (I.ii.392-393). Eventually Camillo confesses Leontes' suspicions and murder plot. Thus, he "takes the high road originally traveled by David" in 1 Samuel 24 (Anderson 384), a scriptural passage about the "anointed" king, marked in de Vere's Geneva Bible and important to Macbeth too.

"I am sure 'tis safer to / Avoid what's grown than question how 'tis born" (I.ii.432-433). Instead of confronting Leontes, which Camillo says will do no good, the plan is to slip away gradually, back to Bohemia where Camillo will have sanctuary, even though Polixenes fears Leontes may be violent with Hermione. He thinks the greatness of those involved magnifies the jealousy (I.ii.451ff).

Act II

Shakespeare Index


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PCG at Socitm ShareDigital event

PCG is pleased to contribute to Socitm's ShareDigital event which is taking place on 6 July in London.

ShareDigital will bring together those leading digital transformation in public services to discuss the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead and to showcase best practice and cost effective delivery.

Delegates will hear about the role that technology can play in the transformation of health and social care services and how digital tools can help build community resilience.

Discussions will include the concept of ‘place as a platform’ and how central platforms, shared models and economies of scale can be exploited to improve public services, drive efficiency and allow councils to become enablers rather than direct providers of services.

Use of Open Data and Open Source development will also be a key focus for the day and how publishing and using Open Data can stimulate innovation, deliver efficiencies, power start-ups and foster trust through transparency.

PCG will be sharing its experience in delivering Open Source and digital by default services, including eCommerce solutions, health and social care platforms and integration, search, forms engine and GIS and Mapping.

For further information on the event see http://www.sharedigital.net/

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Saturday, July 23, 2016

Autumn in July

Yes it is Autumn in July.  Many new eye-catching autumn colors to choose from this year.  I decided to spend my Summer in Autumn!  I love making these beautiful pumpkins!  Their colors are so rich they make me want to curl up under a cozy blanket in front of a fire!  A girl can dream can't she?


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Tuesday, 10 April 2012

Happy Belated Easter

I enjoyed filling up on chocolate eggs and hot cross buns this weekend, I hope you did too!

L x

Friday, 17 February 2012

Join us over Futurefrock this week. In their new issue I have two features, one on sustainable style for bedroom living, which I creatively directed, wrote and styled...

and another for ethical paint co. Colour by Olive loves Alfie. All photography by James Gardiner. Thank you Emma Ferguson for all your help.

Hope you enjoy.

L x

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Creative Duo: Sibella & Chris Court

Initially I thought this pair must be a couple, as I started to notice their names frequently appearing together... there does seem to be a common theme in the industry that great stylists and photographers tend to shack up together - making the ultimate power couple in the design world! But to my surprise I discovered, after a bit of googling/top investigative work, that it is in fact their genetic connection as brother and sister, which has united them.

Their work is visionary, conceptual and evocative, and I can't get enough. Here is a snapshot of some of my favourites posted on Chris Court's online portfolio.

In addition to being an internationally travelled stylist and interior designer, Sibella has opened up an enchanting shop in Paddington, Sydney, which she has carefully filled with curious objects, salvaged finds, home made trinkets and her own environmentally sensitive paint collection for Murobond. You can view the shop and Sibella's portfolio at The Society Inc. Her handiwork reminds me of the relaxed and almost haphazard styling of Anthropologie's installations... swoon...

I'm so inspired by this creative pair I've actually paused while writing this post to purchase their coffee table book Etcetera - awarded Best Designed Book and Best Designed General Illustrated Book at the APA Annual Design Awards 2010.

I hope you've enjoyed their work as much as me!

L x

Press: 91 Magazine

Good Morning!

The day we have been waiting for has finally arrived! Join us over at 91 Magazine with Caroline Taylor (Editor) for another gloriously jam-packed issue of amazing interiors, decorating ideas, and design updates.

By clicking on the link below you can view the wonderful new issue...

See page 30 for my Easter breakfast decorating story...

Thanks to Jemma Watts for your dreamy photography & lighting work, and Hannah Irish for all her help!

L x

Stylist, Jenni Juurinen

I love the clever concept styling by Jenni Juurinen, I'm sure you will too...

L x

Monday, 23 January 2012

Below are some still-life shots I styled with Malcolm Menzies recently. They showcase new trend colour palettes for SS 2012 released in late 2011 by Mix magazine. Mix is a brilliant trend forecasting magazine published by Global Color on a quarterly basis. All leading retailers and fashion houses lead by these trends so it's great as a Stylist to access these ahead of time.

Decorating tip: My local hardware store made the emulsion paints up to the colour reference codes provided in the magazine so I could achieve the exact colour representation.

trend colour palette

We had so much fun painting these munchkins and carefully funneling
paint into them
. I love all of these colours!

trend colour palette

This palette shows how you could mix soft chalky colours with a punchy
indigo to add depth to a room

Hope you enjoy.

L x

Friday, 23 December 2011

TOAST Christmas

Inspirational Stylist and Art Director Lesley Dilcock, leads the way with Toast's Christmas lookbook.

The rustic simplicity and intriguing beauty of this Christmas lookbook was the clever work of Lesley Dilcock and Jonathan West, and, their latest collaboration for Toast. They have clearly nailed the brand with their successful little team, which is why Toast haven't strayed in a year. The look they so magically create is relaxed, informal, achievable, attainable AND aspirational. The key ingredient to a successful lifestyle brand.

I watch in earnest for their next collaboration...

L x


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Sunday, June 15, 2014

Best triage of the night

I'm working again, mostly in triage. Tonights crazy compliant was, " I need my grandson checked out for his headaches, I swear it is because he is constantly flipping his hair back, like that kid Justin Bieber."

Mental note to myself: File this under "shit you can not make up".

Happy Sunday & Fathers Day everyone!

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Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Miles Davis-On The Corner

M83-Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts

Nobody does electronic like the French, in my humble opinion, and M83's second release is a fine example.  So thick, so hypnotic, this album will leave you entranced and at the same time fill your mind with fantastical themes.  These songs sound heavy and, at times, tragic.  This has become my favorite acid record and you'll understand why once you give a listen.  So please do.. listen.


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Thursday, January 10, 2013

Jan Marini Bioglycolic Face Cleanser

Jan Marini Skin Research, Inc is a leader and innovator in skin care. Over the years the company has established a portfolio of proprietary formulas like topical TGF beta-1, antioxident sunscreen and topical resveratrol which are all technological firsts in the skincare industry.
Let's face it girls, as we age  we are spending more and more time and money trying to correct the sun damage from our childhoods. We have spent alot of money on products that end up in the trash because they didn't work or irritated our skin.
When I was offered this Jan Marini cleanser to try, I was happy to give it a go. I am always on the look out for new products and a free sample...couldn't resist.
The directions said to gently massage enough product into the face so that it was covered. (Surprisingly, it did not take much to cover my face, so I like it so far :) Next a warm, wet wrung out face cloth to remove residue and then 10-15 splashes of warm water to totally cleanse the skin. Blot dry.
Immediately, my skin felt good, exfoliated without that raw "just scrubbed" feeling. It was smooth & soft, didn't feel dry or taunt as it would after a soapy wash. I moisturized right after cleansing and my moisturizer soaked right in. I had no dry patches at all, my make up went on ever so smoothly and looked great. After one try.....I am hooked.
I decided to use the rest of the samples in the morning before my shower as I found it much easier to give it a good rinsing off with the shower spray. I love the way my makeup goes on after and my skin is soft, not rough & dry as it usually is in the winter.
I can totally recommend Jan Marini Bioglycolic Skin Cleanser as part of an effective skin care  regimen, it has become part of mine!!
Available at

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Monday, December 31, 2007

After The Christmas Rush

Christmas time is over now and I am sad to see it go. But is some ways I am glad to see it go too so that I can have more time to create without deadline.

I actually received a call from my Aunt asking where my Christmas card was, since she had not received it the day after Thanksgiving. In past years I sent my cards out the day before Thanksgiving so that they would arrive the day after the holiday. This year I was not as organized and I wasn't even sure I would get to send any out. Have you ever felt rushed during the holidays, I sure have. This is the card Aunt Mattie quilted me into making.

Well today I'm taking a "me" day and only doing the things I want to do! And so I learned to blog. Happy New Year from the Queen.

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Congrats on starting the blogging life. Your Christmas card is beautiful!

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Home > Security Code > What Is Security Code In Apple Account

What Is Security Code In Apple Account

How do I get the last lines of dust into the dustpan? 5 Favorite Letters What colors to choose for colorblind people? In the "Account Settings" area, select "Change your default shipping or billing info". Not to derail the topic or anything lol. They are also available at any Apple Store location, including the Apple Store online: Apple Store locations http://www.apple.com/retail Apple Store online http://store.apple.com Sincerely, iTunes Store Customer Support this contact form

My partner got his phone switched out today due to the flash washout issue and it happened AGAIN! So my bank probably won't let me use my card. Email check failed, please try again Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. After they told me it was fixed, it did take almost exactly 24 hours to take effect, and in the email they told me "wait about 24 hours and try purchasing look at this site

What Is Security Code In Apple Account

Log in to Reply Gman November 15, 2016 at 9:59 am the issue lies with overdrawn balance or money owing on Itunes…………………………..HOW TO RESOLVE INVALID SECURITY CODE………….=: You will HAVE TO Help?! In this article, I've compiled a few of the reasons why it might fail for you and how you can try to fix the problem.

share Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Email Link Like + Quote Reply marsmissions, Dec 5, 2010 marsmissions macrumors 6502 Joined: Jan 5, 2010 Location: Washington, US #17 I had this I'll also add this to my answer. –Bryson Jun 16 '11 at 17:37 add a comment| up vote 0 down vote I keep getting this problem with Itunes and this is See all questions on this article See all questions I have asked Still need help? Apple Payment Security Code Invalid However, according to multiple Apples support forum posts, changing to another credit card may not work.

Join them; it only takes a minute: Sign up Here's how it works: Anybody can ask a question Anybody can answer The best answers are voted up and rise to the Debit Card Security Code Not Working View your account details and set your payment type to "None" in the list of card options accepted by the iTunes Store. He only had to enter 3 numbers, not change anything else, and I've got the card and have been using it in iTunes TODAY with no issue -- suddenly it starts http://www.online-tech-tips.com/mac-os-x/fix-security-code-invalid-error-in-itunes/ My daughter just bought a new ipad and her app and music purchases are linked to my credit card which has been active with Apple on iTunes for years.

If any of you went through the same kind of stuff - creating an accont in one country and getting your card in another - then that's the way to get Invalid Security Code Credit Card share Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Email Link Like + Quote Reply Rnorton, Feb 22, 2011 Rnorton macrumors newbie Joined: Feb 22, 2011 #20 It's NOT you OR the card! It takes me to my payment info and when I try to select none, I continually get a message under the payment info that says "you must verify your payment info Pull out a printed bank statement, if you still receive them in the mail, or check your online banking records, and verify exactly how your bank expects you to enter your

Debit Card Security Code Not Working

Now out of no where it's doing the same thing it did before. Not able to renew my iCloud plans. What Is Security Code In Apple Account Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Itunes Security Code Invalid Solution Save your sanity and do it all through itunes on your desktop. –Matthew Lock Jul 12 at 8:11 add a comment| 6 Answers 6 active oldest votes up vote 14 down

share Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Email Link Like + Quote Reply rdowns, Dec 7, 2008 rdowns macrumors Penryn Joined: Jul 11, 2003 #4 I don't recall if iTunes asks http://qrwsoftware.com/security-code/security-code-visa-debit.html share Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Email Link Like + Quote Reply MaskedPhantom, Dec 7, 2008 MaskedPhantom thread starter macrumors regular Joined: Feb 26, 2007 Location: New York #3 TraceyS/FL They told me that my account had been created in America and so I couldn't use my cad which I had gotten in France. Transfer from old iPhone to new iPhone? Invalid Security Code

Same card number, different expiry date. share|improve this answer edited May 11 at 4:19 answered Sep 16 '10 at 0:31 Thomas 1,96041731 1 Discussion link seems dead. –Soner Gönül Apr 26 at 10:50 Thanks! Re-enter your credit card information. navigate here If that's you: 1) change country to USA, pick any old city and zip code, 2) select Paypal as option, 3) when transferred to Paypal cancel the transaction, 4) when back

same account didn't change card #s or anything .. What Is A Security Code On A Visa Debit Card Funny thing was that it was only good (according to them) day by day. Make sure you have funds on your dedicated card 2.

in any way.

I called their bluff and said that it's ridiculous, because I've already purchased things from Amazon, Microsoft, Sony, and other out of state POS (point of sale) web sites, and they Log in to Reply samoyaa_ November 15, 2016 at 9:59 am This is exactly what I'm going through right now. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. How To Find Credit Card Security Code Without Card R: regex for math expression Telekinesis resistant locks North by North by North by South East Do I need an Indie Studio Name?

Perhaps this is why there's a bite out of the apple in the Apple corporate logo -- as in 'bite me.' Log in to Reply Krystal November 15, 2016 at 9:59 share Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Email Link Like + Quote Reply Eviljackery, May 26, 2011 Eviljackery macrumors newbie Joined: May 26, 2011 #22 azizlok said: ↑ when it ask All info is right and dame debit card I have been using for years and yet I can't buy an app Log in to Reply Ari November 15, 2016 at 9:59 his comment is here Taxing GoFundMe Donations What is the best way to save values (like strings) for later use?

Its been working fine, and bam! This is definitely an Apple problem and one I hope they fix soon! So the issue is not resolved for me. you obviously can't select "none" until the order is paid.

through iTunes. Log in to Reply Dee November 15, 2016 at 9:59 am Help!! Select "iTunes Store".

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Thursday, 26 February 2015

Edinburgh Quilt Show & Wedding

We manage to squeeze in a last minute trip to Edinburgh Quilt Show last weekend.  We didn't leave Bridlington till well after 6pm and drove up into the night.

We arrived at our hotel, Marriot Dalmahoy well after midnight.  We had intended to try the Premier Inn, but as the clock ticked over past midnight their system would not let us make the reservation for that evening.

The next morning we headed to the show and managed to park close to the entrance.
The show was much smaller than Harrogate and there was only a competition for journal quilts and an exhibition of quilts by several quilters, plus trade stands & cafe.

Here are some of the quilts -

These are by Jeanette Orr.

William Morris (Valeries Quilt)

Stars in the night....A Jacqueline de Jonge  BeColouful pattern. ..oh so excited Jacqueline is here with us next week teaching a four day retreat.

 Fine Feathers

Flying Free

 Gather Ye Rosebuds

The next ones are by Christine Dobson

 Lunch has arrived

By Karen Milne

Tutti Frutti

We surprised Susan & Glyn (Susan Briscoe Designs) with our appearance at the Show

& we also caught up with Pat Archibald.  Both Pat & Susan will be teaching here at The Royal Bridlington this year.  Full details are on our website already for Pats retreat and the details of Susan's will be coming shortly.!workshops/c24c2

Here are some of the Journal Quilts

The following are quilts by Christine Restall

After a quick cuppa in the cafe, we drove over to Irvine for the main reason of our trip - a friends wedding.

For her wedding present Jacqui requested a quilt.  I knew she LOVES purple and thats what I thought I was going to make, but its a really good job that I asked as she requested browns & creams and a square design.  Here is what I made her.

We drove back on Monday and later that day the happy couple got round to opening their presents. I'm really relieved to say that they both love the quilt & took to facebook to announce their joy.

Congratulations Jacqui & Stephen.


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Monday, November 30, 2009

2009 Christmas Giveaway - Winner!

I called upon the Flower Girls to pick the winner of the 2009 Christmas Giveaway. Since there are two flower girls, I let each one pick a name from my ol' bowler hat. The first name picked is the winner, and the second one is the runner up.

The first place winner is "Soukies", and she wins the framed log cabin square, with the carved Gnome on the frame.

Since I was not planning a second place, I'll post the second place winner later, after I have some time to determine an appropriate prize. Check back for the runner up.

Winner(s) should E Mail me with their addresses.

Thank you to all who left suggestions, and to all for reading the blog.

Singer Featherweight!

This is the Singer Featherweight sewing machine that my flea market friend found. It is a 1960 model, made in Great Britain. It has all the normal attachments, carrying case, and and an operation manual. It would rate the machine as in excellent condition. It sews a perfect straight stitch. My friend wants $250 for the Featherweight, and I just might have someone who wants it.

Stay Tuned For Christmas Giveaway!

Spent some time today writing up some tickets with names on them for the Christmas Giveaway. Will place the tickets into a hat, and let the Flower Girls pick a winner. I'll have to wait until later when the girls are both home. I'll post the winner and the giveaway this evening.

Also I'll be posting a photo of a Singer Featherweight sewing machine. I am about to leave to check the Featherweight out. A friend of mine is a "professional" garage sale/flea market guy, and he came across one. He said it looks perfect. We'll see. I have several members of my quilting class/group that said they want one.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Going In For The Winter!

When I got up this morning I found that some garden Gnomes were up on the porch. I didn't put them there! I thought maybe that the Flower Girls might have done it. Nope not them! We did have our first snow of the season this morning. Maybe they're hinting to come in. At least that's what the girls think. I wonder how the Gnomes got up on the porch beside Penelope?

Monday, November 23, 2009

Flower Girls Cartoon For Me!

When I returned home yesterday the Flower girls had left me a cartoon. I didn't have a chance to see the girls until this morning when I walked up with them to catch the school bus. Needless to say, they were tickled about the cartoon. They said that their grand maw cut it out and gave it to them, to give to me.
And, have you ever had the perfect opportunity for a once in a lifetime photo, and not had your camera? This happened to me this morning with the Flower girls. Dahlia, the 5 year old doesn't go to school yet, but goes up to catch the school bus with her sister. Well, this morning she left the house in her long silky "princess night gown" and a white wedding veil. Of course her mom made her ware a coat. The "bride princess" looked real fetching on her "Razor Scooter". Too be young and care free again. Well shoot, I'm old and care free.....

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Christmas Open House At Gift Shop

The past two days I sat and whittled at a gift shop. I also sold some ornaments and of course some Gnomes. I really didn't want to sell the Gnomes so I set the prices a bit steep. But to a Gnome lover (believer) it don't make any difference. Took nine, sold six. But judging from the excitement from the buyers the Gnomes will be happy.

The most fun I had was with the kids, especially one young boy who had just started carving soap in the cub scouts. He and his dad sort of hung around while mother shopped. Dad had recently purchased a Swiss Army knife for the boy, and we had an instant lesson on safe knife handling and carving. Since the only wood I carry with me is small, I just demonstrated some of the basic cuts. And of course I went step-by-step and did a wizard for the young boy.

I had more fun with the kids than with selling. Each kid that stopped had to take a 5 minute owl.
Several "Older" ladies who had dragged their husbands shopping told their husbands that they should start carving, instead of just sitting around the house. I told these fellows that a bunch of us meet every Tuesday morning at the local Senior Center. We'll see what happens.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Gnome Tree Ornaments?

Might have to be saying "Good Bye" to my Gnome friends here. Will be demonstrating carving and selling some ornaments at a local shop this weekend. These little fellas will get a make over into Christmas Tree Ornaments. I hope they don't mind. If I keep them, they'll just continue to be shelf sitters. But if they become Christmas tree ornaments, just think of the joy they'll have this Christmas and every year there after.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Some Random Photos From The Dayton Show

I did not have much time to take photos, so I really only took a few that interests me. These are some of them.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Dayton Carving Show - Artistry in Wood

Had a fantastic time at the Dayton woodcarving show. This was the first time I exhibited. Prior to this time I had attended the show a few times. I shared a booth with a carving friend, who talked me into entering the judging. I at first said naw, I'm not ready for this show yet. My friend went through my display and pulled this Hillbilly with a pipe out, and said enter this one in the WHITTLING category, since you carved it all with a knife. So I did. And to my great surprise, it took second place in the category.
The Dayton show was a great success, for me anyway. On Saturday it was shoulder to shoulder. A frenzy of folks, and for those that were selling carvings, a good day. My only sales goals are to meet my expenses. Expenses being gas, meals, two nights lodging, booth fees, and a few supplies purchases. I exceeded my goal.
Perhaps the greatest part of the weekend was the opportunity to meet folks. I was able to meet some carvers that I have only met on the Internet. And of course, there is the opportunity to view some of the greatest carvings ever. This means that I'll be inspired for some time to come.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Dayton Wood Carving Show

Well I'm about ready to pack up for the Dayton Wood Carving show (Artistry in Wood) this weekend. This carving show is one of the top in the country. Attendance at this show can inspire one more and varied carving. I'll try to get some photos and post next week.

The Dayton show is Saturday 10AM to 6PM, and Sunday 10AM to 5PM, November 14 and 15. It's held at the Expo Center/ Dayton International Airport, 3900 MeCauley Dr. This is off I75 just north of the I75 - I70 interchange.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Maybe I have posted this project before, but here it is again. This is a reproduction of an old Amish Church Toy, the Snake in the box. Mother would carry some of these toys in her purse, when taking the kids to church. When the kids started getting antsy out would come the "church toys".

Pull the slide top open and a snake pops up.
Here's the pieces of the toy. I carve the snake and finish it by wood burning the snake skin patterns. It's lots of fun to make, and big boys as well as little boys like it.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Does this look like a mess to you? To me it's just a bit of the pieces that must be finished. Finished painted, eyes carved, and waxed. It seems that every year, Christmas sneaks up on me. Besides getting ready for Christmas and all the carving that it always entails, there's carving shows and carving demonstrations. I love it all, but it leaves little time for anything else.
Here's part of a Christmas Tree Ornament Exchange that I am participating in. 22 participants, means that normally there would be 22 ornaments to carve and send out. But since I carve so small, I feel I have to send multiple ornaments. Each little pile of carvings represents what will be sent to one participant.

This year I'll be at the Carving Show in Dayton, Ohio. That means a display. This is what I have so far, but will need more. At least it's my plan to have some more.
In addition to the Dayton Carving show, the following weekend I carve at a local shop, and sell ornaments....but mostly carve and give little carvings to the kids that are with their moms shopping. Then there are the four Noah's Arks and animals that must be completed by Christmas....That's why I'm a bit behind in blog posting.....

Friday, November 6, 2009

Fresh Eggs!

As a part of growing up in what a few years ago was country, the boys down the road are raising chickens. Mason (7) and Colin (5) have converted a garden shed into a chicken coop. At Easter time they got some chickens. Several weeks ago the chickens began laying eggs. The boys brought me the first eggs that their chickens laid. I later found out that they must think we're special, because at the time they gave us the first eggs, their mom was all out. Well yesterday afternoon the boys come back over and gave me 4 more. The eggs as you can see have the tan/brown shells. I asked the boys why the shells weren't white. They didn't really know, so I took it upon myself to tell them. I said, "It's because your chickens drink dirty water." My wife scolded me.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Rotary carving a Cheetah

I think that just about everybody has a Rotary Tool (Dremel). And if you have a rotary tool you'll also have one of the small (1/2") sanding drums, that go with it.
I will be posting a slide presentation on using the Rotary Tool to carve a CHEETAH. A small Cheetah. I have never timed myself when carving one of these animals, but it's probably around 3 minutes. It's very easy, and anyone can do it.
I started using the Rotary Tool to carve the pairs of animals for some of the Noah's Arks that I make, as the result of accepting a commission. Several years ago at Thanksgiving one of my customers asked if I would make five (5) Noah's Arks and animals for her to have and to give for Christmas. That's one (1) month to carve the 18 pairs of animals per ark, plus make the arks. This put me in a spot, because this was a very good customer, the wife of a very famous music celebrity. As soon as she asked, I think she realized how little time I would have. I must have hesitated, because she offered me a price and then upped it to the point where I could not refuse. That's when I learned how to do these animals in a very fast time. I got the commission done in time and everyone was very happy.
So, in about a week or two, I'll share my techniques for carving an animal in well under 5 minutes.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Note from Flower Girls to Gnomey

Gnomey's mailbox finally had a note in it today. You may recall that several weeks ago Gnomey lent the Flower Girls this little book, with instructions for Zinny to read it to her little sister. This is the first note from the girls to Gnomey since then. I got to wondering if the adventure was going to be at an end. But then it finally occurred to me that the girls are very busy. Not just these little girls but all little boys and girls seem to be too busy today. Homework every day, in the second grade! You got to be kidding me! Lessons for this, lessons for that; this group, that group, etc., etc. Seems the kids don't have time to play and make up things for themselves. Is everything too organized now a days? Anyway, you can see that Zinny wrote the note for both of the girls, and I know for a fact that she also read the book to her sister.

Maybe the Gnome adventure continues after all.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Holee's Suggestions!

Holee suggested that I try wood burning the spots and stripes instead of painting. Tisme said just stains, rather then paint. Here's an example that compares the two finishes. The animals on the right have been left natural, with the spots and stripes wood burned, then waxed. Animals on the left painted and waxed. This is a good comparison.

I am leaning (way leaning) towards natural with some wood burning as necessary, for spots, stripes, and fur. With this technique, the animals would be all tans and dark browns.

What do you think?

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Noah's Ark Animals - Paint or Stain?

I posted this set up for a Noah's Art to go over a set of doors. Notice that the pairs of animals are unfinished, as well as uncarved. My original intent was to stain the animals different shades of tan and brown.
Here's another set up for the Noah's Art. With this set up, I used painted pairs of animals.
Now I am in a quandary. Should I just stain the animals or paint them. Any ideas/suggestions?


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Monday, March 15, 2010

WOW, 3 posts in 3 days, a MIRACLE!!  Well, maybe not a miracle but definitely out of the ordinary! LOL  Our monthly Quiltsitters meeting was this morning and always some good photo ops there.  Today was no exception so, without further adieu...

The one on the left was just scraps from her project(s) that she decided to put together log cabin style.  Isn't is BEAUTIFUL?!!  I absolutely LOVE it and must have one someday.  The second is the 'Crackpots' pattern which I have and intend to start one of these days.  Apparently Leslie took the class just like LAST WEEK and already has the top done.  She ALWAYS brings 3-4 completed quilts or tops to EVERY MONTLY MEETING!!!  I don't know how she gets anything else done as she has to sew at least 18 hours a day to get all that done, dontcha think?  HA  I wish I could get 1/20th of that done.

1 comment:

Dee said...

Happy St. Patty's Day to ya!!
Nice log one hope with all those leftover scraps!


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Monday, November 4, 2013

Thankful - What are you thankful for? - Day 4

Day 4- Today I am thankful that I am able to be a Stay at Home Mom and Housewife.
     When I was growing up it was something I swore I would never do. I would not be a housewife. & Here I am! I wouldn't trade it for anything. I absolute love that I am able to be here for my husband and kids whenever and wherever. I think that every women should have the opportunity (if they want, of course) to be able to be a homemaker. It is important to me to not miss out on anything in my children and husbands lives and be there for them 150%.

     I could not do this without my husband. He works so hard to make sure that I am able to be here all the time for our children. I appreciate that he wants me here for them and that he appreciates me and all that I do.
     Now I do have a business; Raised Southern  and I am a little over a month away from finishing obtaining my Medical Transcription Certification to be a Medical Transcriptionist. I will be able to do this from home and still be flexible for my family. It is important to help bring income into the family but I want to be able to do this by having a flexible job and schedule that allows my family to come first all the time. Then work!

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Analog Phaser committed to Rakarrack CVS

Analog Phaser committed to Rakarrack CVS as new effect.

Since this technically is no longer a hack, I will defer any code seekers directly to CVS:

Leave comments if there are questions about what some of the parameters are meant to control.
As an update to this, here are links to some experimental code implementing envelope control. Since there is no control parameter on the Rakarrack GUI, a different control may need to be hijacked to test it. I have hi-jacked the distortion parameter, so the distortion amount must increase as your envelope deviation increases.
See line 116:
envpct = distortion; //This is a Hack to hijack distortion slider for ef control.

Here's the code.
And you'll need APhaser.h

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Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Tea Ave: Ginger Lily Oolong, A Tea Review

Today was a good tea-filled day, I got a big ol' pile of tea in the mail, I went to International 888 and finally restocked on Oksusucha (my all time favorite before bed tea) and best of all, I got to blend my love of tea and gaming by taking my tea gear to Tabletop with me. Not only did I get to have a gongfu tea party with one of my friends, I also introduced several others to a puerh I really like, so it will be easier to justify buying a large amount, since I can share it with them. Now I need to see if there is a small amount of cabinet space for rent, because if there is I am getting a small kettle and storing it there, along with a gaiwan and cup!

Today we are finally getting around to the last of the Tea Ave Oolongs, last in review, but first in the ones I tried, Ginger Lily Oolong, an Alishan Jin Xuan scented in the traditional way with Ginger Lily, along with Ginger Lily bits blended in as well. If you are like me, you are probably wondering, what the heck is a Ginger Lily? Well, a bit of googling reveals that it is Hedychium coronarium, a fascinating flower with quite the history! The aroma of this tea is warm and beautiful, it combines the slightly nutty aroma of chestnut and a hint of sesame, with warm ginger and strong floral notes of honeysuckle, lilac, and a finish of hyacinth. It is not really heady and heavy, but gentle and warming, like sitting in a patch of sunlight.

Adding the leaves to the gaiwan for a nice steeping, and hello flowers! Now it is heady, and gently spicy, with notes of hyacinth, honeysuckle, and lilac. The spicy notes of ginger play nicely with the floral notes and the underlying notes of creamy chestnut. There is also the faintest note of fresh, sweet, tomato, surprising but not unpleasant. The liquid, using my fancy aroma cup set, is mild and sweet, with notes of ginger and flowers, it reminds me of a more flowery version of a much loved Chinese ginger candy that I have eaten many times. I used to always carry it around to help with nausea, because ginger is amazing at that.

The first thing I noticed about the first sip is how warming and creamy the mouthfeel is, it starts out creamy and smooth and as it hits the back of the tongue takes on a warming sensation. So, funnily enough, at the end of the note for the first steeping I drew a little heart, yeah, I liked the way it tasted. The notes are subtle, with gentle notes of ginger and honeysuckle, next are notes of lilac and spicebush, and finish of creamy chestnut. Om, nom, nom!

Onward to the second steep, and still loving these aroma cups, I suggest getting one if you do not have one, it really makes appreciated the aroma of Oolongs just that extra bit special. I will be honest though, not sure if it is because the tool is awesome or just because I really think it is cool, clearly I need to test more. Anyway, the aroma is sweet ginger candy goodness mixed with creamy honeysuckle and chestnut. The taste starts off sweet and gingery and just builds to creamy floral and chestnut, I am loving that ginger note, it just lingers long after the other notes have faded off my tongue.

For the third steep, the aroma is still pretty sweet, the ginger aroma has diminished a bit, but the floral and chestnut notes are going strong. The taste starts out with ginger and creamy honeysuckle, but the ginger is not as strong, it is more the memory of ginger's warmth and taste. At the finish there is a hint of fresh vegetation and chestnut, and a bit of lilac that lingers. In a nutshell this tea is sublime, a gentle and beautiful thing that does not ever outstay its welcome, also I need more of it, this tea and the Cape Jasmine Oolong really knocked my socks off, I look forward to trying more of their teas.

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Friday, June 17, 2011

The Rise and Fall of Fannie Mae

About 20 years ago, while I was employed at the investment firm Scudder, Stevens & Clark, I developed and marketed several mortgage-backed securities funds targeted at Japanese institutional investors.

This was a terrific experience for me. The funds were a success, and performance was very good. In addition, for a period of about 8 years or so, I had the chance to go to Japan two or three times a year to meet with investors.

Two of the funds I marketed were sponsored by Fannie Mae. Fannie was an important part of our marketing story, since most international investors knew Fannie.

Foreign investors assumed that Fannie Mae carried the implicit backing of our government. And, of course, this proved to be the case a couple of years ago, when the U.S. government bailed out both Fannie and Freddie Mac.

I was very impressed with the people I worked with from Fannie. They were very smart, and worked long hours. In addition, investors in Fannie Mae enjoyed terrific returns, since the stock was one of the best performers in the 1990's.

The head of Fannnie Mae during those years was David Maxwell. Mr. Maxwell embodied all of the qualities that I admired about Fannie Mae: smart, driven, and very skeptical of Wall Street.

Here's what author Jim Collins wrote about Maxwell in 2003 in Fortune Magazine's profile of the 10 Greatest CEO's:

No. 7 David Maxwell turned a turnaround into art

Fannie Mae was losing $1 million a day when he arrived--"an opportunity to make [it] into a great company."

In 1981, as the stock of Chrysler hit an all-time low, America was beginning its enthrallment with the man hired to save it. Lee Iacocca would soon be a national icon--bestselling author, star of more than 80 commercials, and everyone's image of a turnaround artist.

That same year, as the stock of Fannie Mae hit an all-time low, a different executive was hired to save the deeply troubled mortgage lender. David Maxwell would not become a national icon--nor even a recognizable name. Yet by the time both men retired in the early 1990s, Maxwell's Fannie Mae had beat the stock market at a rate more than twice that attained by Chrysler under Iacocca.

More inspired than inspiring, more diligent than dazzling, Maxwell took a burning house and not only saved it but built it into a cathedral. Some steps, such as selling off $10 billion in unprofitable mortgages, were classic fireman stuff. But his deepest genius was to frame the rebuilding around a mission: strengthening America's social fabric by democratizing home ownership. If Fannie Mae did its job well, people traditionally excluded from owning homes --minorities, immigrants, single-parent families--could more easily claim their part of the American dream. If turnaround is an art, Maxwell was its Michelangelo.

Unfortunately, when David Maxwell retired in 1991, he was succeeded by James Johnson, formerly head of Lehman Brothers.

In my opinion, Johnson was everything that Maxwell was not. He epitomized what Main Street thinks of Wall Street: very political, slick, and wildly overcompensated for his efforts.

We all know what happened. Fannie Mae transformed from one of the most successful government programs ever to a massive government headache requiring hundreds of billions of bailout money from the government.

David Brooks had a column in the New York Times this morning titled "Who is James Johnson?" He discusses Mr. Johnson's role in what has turned out to be one of the largest financial debacle's in our country's history. Here's an excerpt:

The Fannie Mae scandal has gotten relatively little media attention because many of the participants are still powerful, admired and well connected. But Gretchen Morgenson, a Times colleague, and the financial analyst Joshua Rosner have rectified that, writing “Reckless Endangerment,” a brave book that exposes the affair in clear and gripping form.

The story centers around James Johnson, a Democratic sage with a raft of prestigious connections. Appointed as chief executive of Fannie Mae in 1991, Johnson started an aggressive effort to expand homeownership.

Back then, Fannie Mae could raise money at low interest rates because the federal government implicitly guaranteed its debt. In 1995, according to the Congressional Budget Office, this implied guarantee netted the agency $7 billion. Instead of using that money to help buyers, Johnson and other executives kept $2.1 billion for themselves and their shareholders. They used it to further the cause — expanding their clout, their salaries and their bonuses. They did the things that every special-interest group does to advance its interests.

Who Is James Johnson? -

I wasn't going to buy "Reckless Endangerment", since I feel like I have already relived the last decade enough.

But I think I might now, if only to read about how a company that I deeply admired was perverted and ultimately destroyed by a group of insiders.


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Wednesday, November 03, 2004

How about those Stillers?

Wow, the Steelers play the Eagles this weekend. Ruffle feathers! Sack the Eagles!

I'll walk around Heinz Field tailgates, in my friendly way, this Sunday, with the sign, "Fire Mayor Murphy." The pick-up message: its time to Ruffle Feathers and Sack the Eagles.

Today is the first day of the rest of our lives. We need to push onto 2005 races and put a local focus on the political talk and our shared concentration.

Today might not be the perfect time for logical talk, nor spiritual talk -- but rather emotional reflection. Sure, a prayer of thankfulness comes as we've figured out the presidential outcome well before Christmas Eve. Yes.

Emotionally, we can cheer for the Steelers and begin to ramp up for 2005 and a local attention.

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Thursday, May 11, 2006

Free D.C. event for student journalists

On Friday, June 2, "The Nation" and will co-host a FREE Student Journalism Conference at the Center for American Progress in Washington D.C.

Student writers will have the opportunity to come together for a day of conversations, workshops, panels, and trainings featuring numerous "Nation" editors and writers, including Katrina Vanden Heuvel, David Corn, John Nichols, Liza Featherstone, William Greider, Eric Alterman, Laura Flanders and Victor Navasky, among many others.

Registration is free including meals. A limited number of travel stipends are still available. Both undergraduates and graduate students are welcome.

The application deadline is May 15.

For more information, or, to apply,

For progressive journalism, Kristina Rizga, Editor,

Online Journalism Awards: Entries Start May 15 to June 15. The entry form is not yet online, but will be available shortly.

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Sunday, August 18, 2013

How to Recover and Thrive Post Joint Replacement

How to Recover and Thrive Post Joint Replacement

How to recover and thrive post joint replacement is not different than an athlete returning to play after sustaining an injury. This athlete is faced with a change of activity level, loss of normal play, and the trial of post-operative care in the form of physical therapy, and compliance to a medical treatment plan. The progression of return to activity following Joint Replacement Surgery (JRS) requires the same preparation, focus, discipline, compliance and patience as athlete. It Takes a Positive Mindset.

Baby boomers in 2013 are of at the age of 49-67. This is the age when we, yes I am a Baby Boomer, are experiencing health effects of aging. Arthritis and degenerative joint changes are a leading health condition reported by this group. The fact is that young people are requiring joint replacement surgery due to advanced degenerative joint disease. The other fact is that our older population, while aging, is maintaining an active lifestyle by traveling, participating in sports and work activities, and participate in an active social life. Joint replacement is often elected as a treatment of joint to manage pain and decline of functional ability. The ultimate goal is to thrive in our aging years.

Hip and Knee Joint Replacement by Doc Mike Evans

Preparation for Replacement

The benefit of going into a JRS is you can prepare for the event. Your surgery is elective, and you have the opportunity to prepare for a successful outcome. The pre-operative phase of JRS requires pre-habilitation. This phase is a preparatory phase that gets the body, and mind, prepared for, and ready to meet the demands of the surgery.

It is much easier to learn how the knee is expected to move and what exercises you will be expected to perform on a daily basis after the surgery, if you prepare in a pre-operative state. This preparation must include increasing fitness - Randy Bauer, Bauer Physical Therapy

It is also a time to address your exercise capacity and body weight. These two issues, body weight and fitness level, are important predictors of how you will recover from surgery and restore your physical capacity.

Pickle Ball, Any Body

Your engagement in activities such as golf, tennis and pickleball, swimming and walking are all possible post joint replacement. Keeping in mind the normal post-operative obstacles of pain, limited mobility and a decline in functional mobility and gait, the return to your desired activities and sports will not be easy, but definitely possible with hard work and compliance to your treatment plan.

Thrive Post Joint Replacement Surgery

Pain Management is an important phase of the post-operative course of treatment. Limiting pain post-operatively is important for achieving successful outcome following joint replacement.The surgery is an open procedure and requires some major work performed by the Orthopedist. Pain is to be expected. Following a pain management program prescribed by the physician and instructions by your physical therapists are essential in getting through this phase. "Cold packs are your friend", I tell my clients. Cold packs are beneficial in reducing pain and inflammation. Due to the nature of the surgery swelling is expected, and cold packs are useful in reducing the swelling that causes pain and limitation of joint mobility.

Tools: Polar Ice Standard Knee Wrap

*Ice pack is best applied to hip with a standard ACE Wrap

Balance & Strength

Restoration of Joint Range of Motion will begin almost immediately post-operatively. There are protocols that are offered by your Orthopedist and Physical Therapist that are based on the exact procedure that was performed. Exercises will include passive range of motion with assistance of your PT and progressive assistive exercises that help in restoring your range of motion. The improvement of joint mobility must be given importance early in the recovery process. As your joint mobility improves so to does your circulation in the extremity. A great mode of restoring joint mobility is a stationary or recumbent bike. Initially the bike is used for range of motion alone. I find that normal mobility on a stationary bike is gained once you achieve >100 degrees of knee flexion. It is of particular emphasis to gain full knee flexion in the case of a Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) early in the post-op course. This is aided by avoiding placement of a pillow under the knee. Instead, place the pillow under the foot allowing the knee to fully extend for multiple periods of duration through the day.

Tools: Anti-Burst Gym Ball (55-75cm)

Increased Strength and Endurance of the lower extremity muscles, and upper extremity muscles are introduced to improve the functional demands of increased daily activities. Strong upper extremity muscles come in handy when using gait aides (walkers, crutches and cane). As the lower extremity muscles are strengthened there is greater capacity to withstand weight bearing tolerance of the lower extremity. The use of a gait aide, such as a crutch, will allow for this normal return to weight bearing, and provides some strengthening effect. Strengthening the muscles to perform normal activity will include open chain exercises(Example: Straight Leg Lifts) and progress to Closed Chain Exercises (Example: Step ups and short squats). This will carry over to improved ability to negotiate steps and stairs at home, as well as increasing your walking duration. An excellent mode of exercise post-JRS is a stationary bike. The stationary bike allows for range of motion, muscle endurance and progressive resistance to muscles for strengthening.

Improved Balance and Proprioception is part of the post-operative course of any joint replacement surgery. The effects of surgery change the way you perceive motion and weight bearing sense in the joint. Gains in your balance and joint awareness are provided through core stabilization and protective activities that challenge you in an unsteady environment. It is important to restore these functions of balance to prevent the likelihood of falls in and out of the home. Improved balance will be of benefit as you return to your active life style; playing golf, gardening or household chores.

Normal Gait begins with increasing your weight bearing tolerance post-operatively. Assistive devices such as walkers, crutches and cane are helpful at restoring your normal gait pattern, weight bearing and ambulating over varied terrain. Returning to full weight bearing with normal gait allows for greater function in all of your daily activities, as well as an active lifestyle, and this is of great importance to your total well-being. A normal goal of physical therapy is to walking 1-mile within two months post-op joint replacement without gait assistance.

Functional Recovery and Training begins with basic daily activities. This includes getting out of bed, bathing and dressing. In essence, you are starting from scratch. Learning new strategies to do the basic of daily activities progresses quickly to more advanced activities. It is not long before you are practicing elements of your golf swing, side-stepping across the floor to mimic your favorite dance step, or to practice your moves on the court. Going into a JRS requires preparation, and understanding that it will not be easy and some patience and hard work will be required. Teamwork is required from medical professionals, physical therapists, and those that are close to you to help your along the way. Consider some of the tools that can be used to help regain your functional capacity, and before long, you will be thriving, and returning to play.

Before engaging in any exercise and activity pre-operative or post-operative Total Joint Replacement it is advised that you consult with your Medical Specialist. The above activities can be used with the approval of your medical and rehabilitation specialist.

Multimodal Pain Management after Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty at the Ranawat Orthopaedic CenterAditya V. Maheshwari, MD, et al, Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2009 June; 467(6): 1418–1423.


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Edgewood Intermediate Book Fair

Our school Book Fair begins October 23rd thru October 27th.  If you get a chance stop by the school library and check out all the books.  The book fair will be open each day until 4:00pm and
6-8 Friday evening.
Small Card, BIG Results!
Lions Club Donates Dictionaries


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The Media Business (2)

Do you want to make some further earnings? Do you wish to begin a enterprise with minimal capital? If yes, then a vending machine business is only for you. There are numerous merchandising machine business alternatives accessible. You will have to invest only in shopping for a vending machine, which is much cheaper than starting a full-fledged enterprise. You can start an element-time or a full-time vending machine business.

It’s available in eleven beautiful colors, including Chocolate (medium brown), Crimson (red), Fog (grey), Grass (shiny yellow-inexperienced), Marigold (vivid yellow), Midnight (black), Navy (blue), Ocean (an attractive Cerulean Blue shade), Plum (purple), Rose (brilliant rose pink), and Sundown (brilliant orange), so you may choose the present recipient’s favourite color or match his or her baggage shade, if you already know what it is.

What am I going to do with this acquired knowledge. I’m going to be a better messenger for change. Good tips. However I want that some plus measurement options had been included. I was a size 2 at 25 but definitely not after menopause. A nice little report from a local news station, showcasing a real borrower using the lending platform. It’s a chance to get off that monitor and onto a brand new track, faster and cheaper than most of the options. And it might even be fun. Joyful Thanksgiving to each and every one among you. Might you find time to pause and take notice tomorrow! Good luck to them their lives their money and they do a lot for charity, I like the Debrows! Shut match—It should be fitted but not tight. Tailor-made items make you look youthful.

Arduous so as to add to this record… this is exceptional. The value here is outstanding. There’s a market for just about anything you can consider in at present’s day and age. Great lens! These kinds of coats and jackets are eternally youthful in spirit. Since they’re such an important part of your look, it’s best to suppose designer manufacturers with regards to your jacket.

What a enjoyable day yesterday was. We laughed together, exclaimed over one another’s treasures and gave The Buyers (you know, the ones who are always the final to make it to the check out line?) a tough time about always maintaining the remaining ready. We disagreed on our taste in photos and material and love of books. We informed stories and made recollections and learned to know each other just a little better. At the finish of the day we went house to the bond all of us share – a brother we name husband.


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Requiem for journalism: K.Balachandran

My mailing on the media scene has evoked varied responses from friends.
Here's an unusual one by long-time journo K Balachandran, who feels journalism is truly on its last legs.
Below are his thoughts about journalism, and the requiem he has written for the profession:

Joe Scaria

A few drops of tears for our seriously ailing dear old journalism.
This poem is my response.
May be judgemental, but I think what I see is true.
But journalism being a capitalist cat, has new lives.
Nine or even more. We still would struggle to bell the old grey cat.
Requiem for journalism, limping on its last legs
By K Balachandran
Your invincibility, our pride, was just an illusion
With bleeding hearts, we come to this conclusion.
Cruelest of all is this change in climate, it kills all
Heart broken we mutely  witness journalism's fall.
Painful, but let's admit, this is inevitable
very reign has an end, this was predictable.
Why do we lament? Time sets the rules
As time passes, we'll find this change also cool.

When money become sacrosanct, ideas fall
This is fate, why none saw the writing on the wall?
Why do we lament? It began as a gentle soothing breeze
But what has it become, a Chimera, so crass.
Journos rejoiced in mayhem, murder was real hot
Robbery, rapes and riots eagerly sought.
None of us I know, can pretend 'holier than thou'
Values weren't much problem, moolah alone was true.
Work hardened journos were like a hungry pack
Always looking for a kill, or something to hack.
I won't say they traded their soul to devil
The devil had his due, and was happier than in hell.
Painful, yet inevitable, every beginning has an end
Sustainability has certain rules, you can't break it, only bend.

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Friday, October 31

K. A. Harrington - Forget Me

"Having something taken away before you're ready to let go always hurts."

An edge-of-your seat psychological thriller with a romantic twist.

On the three-month anniversary of her boyfriend Flynn’s death, Morgan uploads her only photo of him to FriendShare to get some closure—but she’s shocked when the facial recognition software suggests she tag him as "Evan Murphy." She’s never heard of Evan, but a quick search tells her that he lives in a nearby town and looks exactly like Flynn. Only this boy is very much alive.

Digging through layers of secrets and lies, Morgan is left questioning everything she thought she knew about her boyfriend, her town, and even her parents' involvement in this massive web of lies.

Lately I really got into the mystery genre so I was pretty excited when I first read the synopsis of Forget Me. It sounded different from all the mysteries I've read but unfortunately, despite it's huge potential it failed to impress me.

Morgan's boyfriend died three months ago and based on the suggestion of her best friend, Tone she uploads a picture of Flynn to Friendshare. To their utter surprise the network recognizes the photo as Evan Murphy.  Of course Morgan has to know if this unknown guy is her supposedly dead boyfriend or not. She starts digging but there are things out there that better not be found.

What I really loved in Forget Me was the setting. I always had a thing for abandoned places and Harrington described them amazingly, I felt like I was visiting all those places, like the fair park hand in hand with the characters.

When I started the novel I didn't know anything about anything. I enjoyed being clueless and that is something that not every author can pull off. Unfortunately, as the story went on I lost my enthusiasm, I wasn't invested in the mystery anymore. It didn't feel real, while huge things happened I still wasn't impressed because for some reason I couldn't see them as huge things.

Another thing I really didn't like was how I felt like this book was almost good, almost exciting, almost almost almost. Throughout the novel I felt like something huge was going to happen, just a few pages and something shocking must happen. But it never did. It could have been amazing, it had everything to be a great read but it wasn't and this was the most disappointing thing ever.

The side characters, such as Reece and Toni were wonderful. You couldn't help rooting for them, they were the cutest. I liked seeing Reece change, or rather he stopped pretending he was someone he wasn't. Toni was a great best friend, seriously everyone needs a Toni. She was funny, relentless and helpful.

The romance wasn't in the centre of the novel, fortunately because it was weak, even for a mystery. As I said Toni and Reece were cute but Morgan's relationships... I just couldn't put them anywhere. Flynn was a nice enough guy, interesting too but in that relationship there wasn't love. I really liked how Flynn wanted to protect Morgan and Evan too, even if he didn't know anything about him.

There were some pretty dumb things in the novel, some that didn't make sense at all. SPOILER Toni told Morgan that she was going to a secret meeting when in reality she was breaking into a house. Even if we want to assume that she wanted to be secretive, which is unlike because she invited Morgan to go along with her, this is still a lame excuse. I understand that for the sake of the mystery Morgan had to believe that Toni was meeting up with Reece but couldn't the author find something that made more sense?

All considered Forget Me wasn't good but wasn't that bad either, if I had to choose one word I'd go with neutral. I checked out some other works of the author and realised that while Forget Me is the first novel of K. A. Harrington, technically it isn't because this is only a pen name of Kim Harrington, writer of The Clarity series. While that series doesn't interest me I found another book of her The Dead and Buried which I think sounds pretty great. Let's hope for the best.

Favorite character: -
Least favorite: -
(see? neutral)

The story idea: 4/5
The realization of the story: 3/5
The characters: 3/5
The cover: 4/5
Enjoy factor: 3/5

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Armchair BEA: Blogging with Social Responsibility

May 25, 2010
Since I – ever so sadly – cannot attend Book Expo America and the Book Blogger Convention in New York City this week, I’ve decided to join in on a new event … Armchair BEA! Those of us who are participating in Armchair BEA are essentially putting together our own book blogger convention from the comfort of our own homes (or workplaces or wherever else we’ll be). You can read more about Armchair BEA here.

There’s just something about being a blogger that seems to connote a certain amount of social awareness. I’m not really sure what it is that makes me believe that – maybe it’s because we’re the kind of people with connections to friends and acquaintances all over the world? Perhaps it’s because we book bloggers in particular tend to learn about different cultures and realities through books? There are even tons of challenges (such as the Colorful Reading Challenge and the World Religion Challenge) that get us to read outside of our familiarity and about other people and ways of life. We seem to be a rather open-minded bunch!

Social awareness is just that, though – awareness. It doesn’t necessarily mean that we do anything with this awareness. Here’s where social responsibility comes in, and again, I feel like the book blogging community as a whole tends to be on the Side of Good (TM) when it comes to this. Examples of how our community exercises its socially responsible side (either by organizing or participating) include Do the Write Thing for Nashville and Books for Soldiers. I’ve seen other things around the blogosphere including giving books for children’s charities, such as during the 24 Hour Read-A-Thon back in April.

One way that I – and many other bloggers – try to practice social responsibility while blogging is in the types of materials we choose to talk about. I like to read books about social problems, both fiction and non-fiction, and I love to recommend these books to my students and also to other people on my blog when they are a good read and/or about an important issue that I think people should educate themselves on.  I really and truly believe that we as bloggers can make a difference in the types of books that people read and the types of issues that are absorbed into our collective community, which in turn affects the knowledge and experiences that we bring to the table when we are faced with someone who has faced (or is facing) hardship or could otherwise benefit from our expanded worldview.

Here are a few examples of books that I have read and reviewed lately that could fall into this umbrella:

There are many other books like this, and I know I’m not the only one reading and discussing them!

carbon neutral offers and shopping with kaufDA.deFinally, there are mechanical ways that we bloggers can go about practicing social responsibility. For example, I’ve seen the Carbon Neutral Blogging program around a lot on book blogs lately. As of today, my blog is carbon neutral as well! Basically what this program entails is that a tree is planted to offset the carbon dioxide emissions produced by your blog. Click on the image beside this paragraph to learn more, or to make your blog carbon neutral as well!

Along the same lines as this, I have chosen to run my blog on a domain purchased from HostPapa, a company that exclusively uses “green energy”. You can read more about this on their website, but a quick overview is this:

“We take pride in being able to say that HostPapa was one of the first web hosting companies to make a public commitment to going green. We promote the development and use of wind and solar energy resources by purchasing green energy certificates to offset all the power we use in our data centres and offices. By putting equivalent clean energy back into the grid, we effectively reduce our carbon footprint and support renewable energy initiatives.”

So … what do you think?

In your experience, do people – especially bookish types – blog with social responsibility?

Do you?

  • Iris May 25, 2010 at 1:46 pm

    I hadn’t heard about the Carbon Neutral Blogging program before, but it sounds like a very good initiative. I love that you’re doing this and that you’ve really considered your host as well.

    I’m not sure if bloggers are more social conscious than other people. I don’t think I’d go that far. What I will say is that the community feeling of the challenges you mentioned (and many many others) really help and stimulate people in exploring books about social issues. That is what I love about these challenges in particular.
    At the same time, I think bookbloggers might be more consciously looking for new information. After all, reading is all about learning and being open minded (at least it is to me) and this can really contribute to being a more social conscious person.

    • Carina May 25, 2010 at 4:18 pm

      A couple years ago, I had a website with HostPapa before they got as big as they are today (which is still fairly small, honestly, but it’s more than just Canada now!). I remembered them when I went to buy my domain, and made sure to look there before going with one of the bigger companies.

      I’m not sure that I think bloggers are inherently more socially conscious because of being bloggers. I think it’s more that … bloggers tend to be made up of a higher percentage of young, liberal, technologically savvy, environmentally- and socially- conscious than the general population, so it’s more noticeable in our community. I think it’s part and parcel of the kind of people that blogging attracts, yanno? That’s a generalization, though – obviously not all bloggers are more socially conscious than the average bear, and not all non-bloggers are less socially conscious.

      I agree with you about how book bloggers are more consciously looking for more information. I think that’s also part of the inherent makeup of the blogging community – readers and bloggers tend to be people who want to learn and network with the world around them. 🙂

  • Amy May 25, 2010 at 1:46 pm

    What a great post. I think our reading choices, and what we highlight in our reviews, really shows social responsibility and consciousness. Of course it isn’t a requirement of blogging, but for those of us that it is important, it is pretty evident. I love finding out about new books and getting other opinions on them.

    Also, thanks for those two links, I hadn’t heard of them. Very cool.

    • Carina May 25, 2010 at 4:18 pm

      I also love reading posts by other bloggers that pique my interest because of social/ethical interests. It makes me squee inside!

  • Jen-Girls Gone Reading May 25, 2010 at 3:44 pm

    I was not familiar with Carbon Neutral blogs or with 100% green energy hosts. I will be checking both of these out immediately!

    • Carina May 25, 2010 at 4:19 pm

      I’m happy to have hooked you up with the site now! 🙂

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  • Bluestocking May 25, 2010 at 6:07 pm

    I never thought about this. Great post.

    Here is my first Armchair BEA post

  • Melina May 25, 2010 at 7:03 pm

    Very nice post. I have never thought about this before.

  • Aths May 25, 2010 at 9:08 pm

    I think blogging with social responsibility is very important. One can argue that this blog is my space and I can do what I choose to do with it, and they are right, of course, and there are such bloggers who don’t care about the rest of the world. I think that’s ethically wrong. Sitting behind with a “I don’t care” attitude is as wrong as not being socially responsible. I extend that to the blogging space. If you stake a claim to even an iota of space on the internet, then you should be bound to use it respectfully. One doesn’t have to be a saint, but small gestures of appreciation, and respect can go a long way. Like you said, it can be by reading important books (little-known works, translations) or by taking part in any of the many ways to improve the world.

    Great post!

    • Carina May 25, 2010 at 10:19 pm

      Exactly! Social responsibility doesn’t have to be the same for every blogger. People should each find their own way of contributing, because even the small gestures count!

  • Janelle May 26, 2010 at 12:19 am

    I had also wondered about the Carbon Neutral Blogging program. Thanks for an informative post!

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    Armchair BEA: Making the Rounds « Reading and Rooibos

  • Valerie May 26, 2010 at 1:33 pm

    Good blog post that brings up food for thought. As with people in general, there are a variety of book bloggers out there. I like reading about different cultures (both here and world-wide) and therefore the issues that come up in these books often show up in my reviews as well. But, on the other hand, there are some book bloggers who read certain types of genres that might not raise these issues, so they don’t discuss them.

  • Tif May 31, 2010 at 12:31 am

    Great post and great thing to consider! We really put ourselves out there all over the world, so we really do have the opportunity to share the love.

    By the way, have you seen the Social Justice Challenge?

    • Carina May 31, 2010 at 9:34 am

      I think I’ve seen it around somewhere, but never got around to joining it. I might do that at some point!

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