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MOOSIC - Henry Anderson, maintenance manager at MIA Products, pointed out a meter that reads ammonia levels in the air Wednesday afternoon at the company's plant in Moosic.

The meter read zero.

Ammonia is a toxic gas widely used in various industries. One of its main uses is industrial refrigeration. If levels at the plant reach 25 parts per million, automation and IT manager Jason Pniewski is one of the employees who will see an alert on his iPhone. The levels will also show up on a monitor that displays conditions throughout the plant.

MIA Products is a subsidiary of J&J Snack Foods Corp. The Moosic plant makes sorbet products, including Luigi's Italian Ice. Like many large plants that require a lot of cold air, MIA Products relies on anhydrous ammonia for refrigeration.

A PublicSource investigation published in The Times-Tribune on Wednesday named eight facilities in Northeast Pennsylvania that use large amounts of ammonia. These companies all filed Risk Management Plans with the Environmental Protection Agency, as required under the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990.

PublicSource presented the plans as worst-case scenarios, or what could happen if a company's entire stockpile of ammonia were to be released.

MIA Products' General Manager T.J. Couzens said the chance of this happening is minuscule because of the plant's many safety features and because the ammonia is stored in multiple containers.

Companies are also required to submit yearly inventories to the state Department of Labor and Industry if they work with more than 500 pounds of an "extremely hazardous substance" under Act 165 of 1990. Local emergency officials receive copies of these forms every year. Current inventories for MIA Products are on file with the Lackawanna County Emergency Management Agency.

As gases expand, they cool. MIA Product's equipment cycles compressed ammonia liquid through a series of coils. The ammonia expands, drawing heat from surrounding air. The gas is then compressed back into a liquid, and the cycle begins again.

Anhydrous ammonia is cheaper and more efficient at cooling things than other chemicals used in refrigeration because, as a gas, it expands to 800 times its volume as a liquid.

The problem with ammonia is it sucks water out of everything it touches, including skin, eyes and lung tissue. Large leaks have hurt and killed people. One 2010 leak near Randolph, Minn., sent 55 people to the hospital. Another, in Swansea, S.C., in 2009, killed a 38-year-old woman.

From 1996 through 2011, 18 ammonia accidents occurred at 16 facilities in Pennsylvania, injuring 27, according to the Center For Effective Government. No one was killed. Nationally, 939 accidents killed 19 people and injured 1,651 over the same 15 years.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has set a threshold for when ammonia is immediately dangerous to life and health: 300 parts per million. Mr. Pniewski said the chemical is easy to smell at 5 parts per million. He put the centers' exposure level in perspective:

"That ammonia that you buy in the store for cleaning?" he said. "If you take the cap off of that and take a big snort of it, you'd immediately turn away. That's over 300 parts per million."

MIA Products has a much more advanced detection system than an employee's nose. Mr. Pniewski said the plant has eight ammonia sensors like the one Mr. Anderson pointed out, with plans for two more. Automatic fans can vent the facility, pushing the gas a quarter mile into the atmosphere to get it away from people, Mr. Anderson said. As a backup, they also have gas masks on hand.

More than 20 years ago, MIA Products got a whiff of what can happen when a facility has an ammonia leak.

Mr. Couzens described what happened:

The year was 1990. J&J Snack Foods had bought MIA Products only two years before, and the company did not use the refrigeration system it now uses. They used a different refrigerant chemical at that time, but ammonia from an older system was being stored in a tank outside.

A packing on the tank valve loosened and ammonia began to leak.

"It was midnight," Mr. Couzens said. "Everybody was home, and we didn't use ammonia at the time ... but there was some ammonia in this old tank, and it just started leaking out and went under the door and down the steps, and FedEx smelled it."

At the time, FedEx used the building next to MIA Products. "They thought they had a bad package," Mr. Couzens said.

The problem was easy to solve. "(Mr. Anderson) came down and closed the valve, and that was it," Mr. Couzens said. But local emergency responders had to evacuate 400 to 500 people who lived in Moosic Heights mobile home park.

According to a July 4, 1990, report in The Tribune, MIA Products had not filed emergency response plans with the county, as they were required to under federal law. Mr. Anderson said after the leak, the company realized it had to make some changes.

"The local fire companies just weren't sure what to do," Mr. Couzens said. "That's when we said, 'Man, we should do this ourselves.' And that's when we started to train, and now, if something were to happen, it's our responsibility to fix the problem, not the local fire department."

Today, the company operates its own hazardous materials team of 10 people. Five of them are trained incident commanders, which lets them manage an emergency, Mr. Couzens said.

Once a year, the company conducts ammonia response training, followed by a leak drill. Emergency responders and employees of other companies, including ammonia manufacturer Tanner Industries and Datom Products, the Dunmore company that contracts with Lackawanna County as its hazardous materials team, often come to the training sessions, Mr. Couzens said.

Americold, a cold storage company with a facility near Gouldsboro, contracts with Datom as its hazardous materials team, facility services manager Karl Jaeger said. Although it doesn't have its own hazardous materials team like MIA Products, it has 12 air meters and automatic venting fans, he said.

Mr. Jaeger described the chemical as "very self-alarming" because of the smell.

"I've been working in ammonia plants for 35 years," Mr. Jaeger said. "I think it's one of the best refrigerants."

The smell is one important reason why local plant managers prefer ammonia to other refrigerants, such as Freon, the commercial name of multiple refrigerants made by the DuPont chemical company.

Freon displaces air and could suffocate a person in a room with a leak.

"You don't know it's leaking because you can't smell it, you can't see it," Mr. Couzens said. "So you could lose an entire tank, 20,000 pounds of Freon, and you don't even know it."

Dave Rule, president of the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration, said industrial plants all over the U.S. prefer ammonia for good reason. IIAR writes standards and guidelines for companies that use ammonia as a refrigerant. MIA Products and Americold are both members.

Mr. Rule said its standards cover every part of the life cycle of a facility, including design of an ammonia system, operation and maintenance, personnel training and guidelines to use when decommissioning a system.

"Part of the reason we have such a strong and safe cold chain in the United States is because we're able to keep food refrigerated from field to table," he said.

He added that ammonia has an advantage to other types of refrigerants in that it has "absolutely no impact to the environment."

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ammonia has a score of 0 on a uniform test for a chemical's potential to deplete the ozone layer or contribute to the greenhouse gas effect, which most climate scientists link to global warming.

Other refrigerants, including Freon, a member of a family of synthetic chemicals known as F-gases, have scores that range from the hundreds to the thousands.

Contact the writer:, @bgibbonsTT on Twitter


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Immigration and Refugee Services Suddenly Shut Down

Claimants bewildered as face to face dealings cut across country are said to save $5 million.

By Adam Pez, 15 Jun 2012,

Laminated sign taped to the doors of the remaining Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Laminated sign taped to the doors of the remaining Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) offices.

The federal government shut down front desks and eliminated walk-in services in immigration and refugee offices across the country last week -- a move that has left refugee claimants and advocates bewildered.

For many landed refugees and immigrants in Vancouver, their first notice of the service reductions came in the form of a yellow, laminated sign taped to the doors of the remaining Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) offices (see photo at top of story).

The sign tells claimants to visit the CIC's website or call its automated help line to schedule an appointment.

Asylum seekers can still walk in to make a claim, but that's not clear from the sign, and that may be hampering the asylum pleas of refugee claimants, said Lesley Stalker, a prominent B.C. immigration lawyer.

The CIC changes throw another obstacle in the way of immigrants seeking help just at a time when they'll be expected to jump through more legal hoops, at a quicker pace, with a soon-to-be-approved immigration reform law -- Bill C-31 -- passing through the Senate now. The CIC says the cuts were necessary to "streamline" and modernize Canada's immigration processing system. But refugee advocates say those cuts -- and the confusion they're creating -- may fence out many genuine asylum seekers with red tape.

"The other thing that's very odd about the sign," said Stalker, "is it doesn't tell you how to make an appointment. You're told that you have to have make an appointment, but you're not told how to make an appointment and you're left in limbo."

"It kind of undercuts the purpose [of Bill C-31]", said Stalker. "The minister wants to make the process as quick and efficient as possible, but there seems to be barriers to people starting their claims."

Nineteen CIC domestic offices closed

The CIC contends the cuts were necessary.

"In order to reduce duplication and overlap, CIC is restructuring and will streamline by reducing the number of regional offices across the country," said a CIC spokesperson in an emailed response.

The response noted the CIC would keep at least one office open in each province, including the Hornby street address.

Starting June 1, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) closed down 19 of its domestic offices -- including the ones in Nanaimo, Prince George, Kelowna and Victoria, said a CIC website bulletin. It added the remaining offices will no longer assist many walk-ins in getting help accessing government services.

The CIC expects the cuts will save $5.2 million next year.

Those cuts to services, in turn, would be compensated by a website and automated call centre, which would provided 24-hour assistance in the form of a visa wizard, video tutorials, FAQS, and "proactive messaging," said the response.

'Really hard to understand'

But for recent arrivals, a website and an automated call centre may confuse as much as help, said Kujachagulia Wayhi, a journalist who had to flee his home-country Brazil six months ago after receiving death threats.

"When it comes to bureaucratic and technical language, it's really hard to understand 100 per cent," said Wayhi.

When he saw the sign, at first, he said he didn't understand.

Wayhi said he learned about the sign from his girlfriend, who works in the building next door to the Hornby Street CIC office. When he went down to check her story, he found a small crowd gathered outside. Their reactions, he said, were similar to his. Some, like himself, stayed there for two hours trying to interpret the message.

Others, he said, stood with cell phones, trying to navigate the automated help line.

Before, Wayhi said, the front desk "had a receptionist who would answer all your questions: how to get your work permit, how to take your medical examinations, how to apply for your PIF [the personal info form where you explain why you're claiming refugee status in Canada], and how to apply for your SIN," he said.

Now, instead, of a human being, claimants are greeted by "a voice that asks you to wait, or repeats, or asks you to call another time," he said.

'Little or no warning or consultation'

"The sign on the door is just a smaller example about how cuts are made with little or no warning or no consultation, and they will have literally life or death implications for people," said Simon Fraser University psychology professor Sharalyn Jordan, who also works with Rainbow Refugees, an assistance and advocacy organization for refugees discriminated against in their home countries because of the trans, queer, or HIV status.

Currently, asylum seekers have two opportunities to claim for refugee status: once at the border or airport, or after they've settled down, at a domestic office within Canada, like the CIC's Hornby Street address, said Jordan.

The downtown office provided a main walk-in space for claimants seeking forms on health coverage, asylum claims, and a range of other immigrant and refugee services, she said.

But many asylum seekers find themselves on their own not knowing what to do, she said. They often have to visit the CIC front desk before being directed to a lawyer or a social assistance service like Rainbow Refugees. The confusion created by the sign could damage an asylum seekers claim, she added.

"Any delay raises questions: you were in the country for three months, why didn't you make a refugee claim earlier? A delay of as little as a week results in questions about of the credibility of their subjective fear of persecution," she said.

"There may be people who simply cannot start their claim and don't access the information on how to go further," she said. "Potentially," she added, that means "someone staying on undocumented or being deported back to a country where they face persecution."

Canadians are used to accessing websites and automated call centres to get info on and help with provincial health insurance premiums, student loans, and other government services. But for recent emigres, using websites and telephone systems provides an additional challenge, said Shayna Plaut, a UBC doctoral candidate working at the university's Liu Institute for Global Issues.

She says many arrivals speak English as a third or fourth language, adding the current system also assumes they have easy access to a phone or a computer terminal.

Jordan said she tried calling the 1-888 help line Tuesday and said she encountered "a fairly lengthy maze of automated phone options that you can get in either English or French."

"Then you are referred to a website where you get an even more confusing range of options," she said.

Phone frustration

To verify Jordan and Plaut's claims, The Tyee tried calling the 1-888 number to apply for refugee status itself.

"Welcome to Citizenship and Immigration Canada," said a soothing female voice.

“For service in English, press one. Pour les service en Francais, pres les deux," it said. (Excuse my French.)

I mashed one on my Smartphone.

"Effective June 30, 2012, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will be implementing changes for the eligibility and benefits of ISHP," the voice said. "To see whether you are eligible under the new rules, please visit our website at or select option one, select option one again, select option three, then select option two to speak to an agent."

"Huh?" I said.

"If you are calling regarding the new measures for live-in care givers in abusive situations with their current employers, select option one, select option one again, select option four, then select option three for further information," the voice continued. "Please have a pen and paper ready to write down the instructions from the phone service and other important information.

"If you wish to use our automated phone service, please choose one of the following options."

After 20 minutes on the phone, The Tyee found the most direct route to a live person was to not answer the voice. The system automatically forwards you to a call centre after the options repeat unanswered three times.

At the time of this discovery, about 4:20 p.m., the call centre was closed. The recorded voice told The Tyee to call their help-line again tomorrow for assistance.

'Walls being built'

Nearly 400,000 foreign arrivals came to Canada last year, with a majority settling within the core metro regions of Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, according to CIC statistics. Only 25,000 claimed for refugee status in 2011, said Stalker in a Georgia Strait piece.

The vast majority of those people, documented and undocumented, came in ones, twos and threes by plane or through border crossings. But over the last few years, a small minority of immigrants have shown up unannounced by boats. In the summer of 2010, 490 Tamil asylum seekers appeared off of B.C.'s west coast. The boat people captured media headlines and led to calls for stricter asylum laws to end Canada's presumed reputation as a "soft touch" for those with dubious refugee claims.

The Tamil asylum seekers were processed at a camp set up at the Esquimalt naval base. Most are still waiting to be accepted as refugees.

Since 2010, the federal conservatives have taken it upon themselves to strengthen Canada's immigration laws by enacting new legislation. Bill C-31 is the primary thrust of that effort, said Plaut, who added it's cause for concern. The bill gives federal immigration minister power to designate countries as "safe" or "unsafe," and to appoint certain groups of immigrants as "mass arrivals."

Those additions to the bill have come under steep criticism from a multitude of sources, including prominent immigration lawyers such as Stalker, who spoke at a recent conference on Bill C-31 hosted by The Tyee.

Critics of the bill told the CBC that it would give Canadian's international reputation a "black eye" and also generate costly court challenges because C-31 is in contravention to UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, the Charter of Rights, and Supreme Court precedents.

Jordan added to that criticism, saying any assessment of an asylum seekers' claim needs to be done on a case-by-case basis, and general lists of "safe" and "unsafe" countries don't capture that complexity. Refugees who had to leave their home countries because of their sexual, gender, or HIV status often come from democratic and thus ostensibly "safe" countries, she said.

Ultimately, said Wayhi, the CIC office closures and service cuts come as part of a much bigger, "multifaceted" problem.

He says he is lucky, possessing a cell phone, access to a land line, decent spoken English, and a network of friends "who are very, very supportive."

Even so, he said, the office service reductions, combined with Bill C-31 and changes in eligibility to the refugee healthcare program, will make it tough for him.

"This is all changing at the same time," he said. "I'm realizing there are walls being built around me in Canada."  [Tyee]

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The Vegan Voice was created to encourage vegans to spread the message of veganism with joy. We believe in social change through positive activism. Simple, small, daily actions can make an important difference. Large scale activism is great, but micro-activism matters too. All real societal shifts have relied upon both.That is what this website is about, encouraging positive change even in the most ordinary ways. Please share your ideas with us. Send your suggestions to us or add your face to The People Project.

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The Voice

David Archuleta Going Overseas! “An Evening Of Music, Comedy, and Motivational Theater”

Posted by djafan on Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Idk why I couldn’t get the video up, but my little sister helped me. I know it’s not the most convenient place to do a video, but oh well.

Thanks to all of those who tuned into the Face2Face Chat last week! if you missed it go here:

Going to Costa Rica this weekend for a project that you’ll hear more about later, and then off to the Middle East and Africa to go see the Airforce Troops and do some singing for them. :)

Pardon the razor burns if you notice them. I had a bad shave this morning and wasn’t able to get the job done properly.

Utahns To Entertain Troops Overseas in “An Evening of Music, Comedy and Motivational Theater”

Dan Clark speaks to the troops all over the world and has performed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Africa.
This time he was invited by Armed Forces Entertainment to put together a 90 minute show. So he invited David Archuleta and Jason Hewlett to join him in “An Evening of Music, Comedy and Motivational Theater.”

The format is a variety show where Dan shares one of his world famous stories from the Chicken Soup For The Soul book series, that sets up a song performed by David Archuleta, followed by comic relief in a five minute bit by Jason Hewlett.

There are messages throughout, dealing with suicide prevention, divorce prevention and resiliency issues.

David’s song list includes “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, “Take Me Home” and John Lennon’s “Imagine”, mixed with his own pop hit “Crush” and more!

Jason Hewlett pulls the funniest faces and impersonates Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Adell, among others.

They leave on July 8 and perform for our combat troops 18 times on bases throughout Afghanistan, and in Kuwait, Bahrain, Ethiopia and Djbouti.

You can watch video on

58 Responses to “David Archuleta Going Overseas! “An Evening Of Music, Comedy, and Motivational Theater””

  1. djafan said

    Project in Costa Rica we’ll see later this year?????!!!!!

  2. skydancer1x said

    Dan Clark also mentioned “Everybody Hurts” in that video. just wow.
    I love this vlog,and he looks gorgeous
    ‘Sisters Cave’ LOL

  3. Angelica said

    Sky! I Know!! Everybody Hurts wasn’t mentioned in the write up but the guy says he singing that song! Gaaaahhhh!

    Love the the vlog! Someone needs to make a gif of “my sister’s goin’ ‘heeey whatcha doin?” Played that over several times.

    So exciting that he’s going to Costa Rica for a project manana and then next week off to tour the Middle East entertaining the troops! Please let there be video of every show!

  4. sweetonda said

    We got a vlog!!!! I’m spazzing along with the rest of you! I can see more speculation coming on the Costa Rica tidbit. ;) Yes, let there please be video! I need to hear Everybody Hurts live. Oh who am I kidding, I need to hear all of them live! :)

    Dja and Gladys, thanks for the Spanish translation. You both rock!

  5. Dayzee said

    So David is on the move. Terrific! Gonna find himself a stage and sing some songs. This is what we have been waiting for. Let the fun begin! And soon!

    111 degrees in Las Vegas today. I am melting.

  6. bebereader said

    This is great news!
    The troops are in for a well-deserved treat!
    And I hope we’re in for a treat too, if we’re lucky enough to get video.
    Chances are we will. After all there are 18 shows!
    Someone should take video!

    Djafan, Thanks for getting this info up so quickly!

  7. Angelica said

    Oh, and I want to say he is very brave to be going to Afghanistan and other countries in the Middle East to entertain our troops. God bless them and David and all who go with him.

    And I also want to say it was very brave of him to even go in his sister’s cave, much less do a video blog from there. That can befuddle any man’s brain. hahaha. All that stuff!

  8. bebereader said

    Razor burn comment so funny!

    (I added David’s text from his youtube page. It’s beneath the vlog.)

  9. Dayzee said

    Ray, I have that same key chain you do. A key chain with a large pic of David. Many times I have laid that key chain on a table in a cafe and the waitress will say, “Is that your grandson? He certainly is handsome”

  10. RAY said

  11. Angelica said

    Which “Take Me Home” would you most like David to sing?

  12. gladys1961 said

    I think david, doing what he wants, in the place he wants and when he wants.
    No pressure, no pressure, no pressure. It is the first time that he is not carrying a backpack full of responsibilities.
    I like the new David.

    (Me saco el sombrero ante ti, David)

  13. Angelica said

  14. bebereader said

    That’s a hard one, Angelica.

    Although I was a huge fan of John Denver’s music I think Phil Collin’s “Take Me Home” is more David’s speed. JMO

  15. skydancer1x said

    yes angelica, thats a hard one,as I really love both songs and the singers, but,
    Bebe I agree …love the Phil Collins”Take Me Home”!!

    ♥Gladys, si !!! I agree!! with everything you said

  16. MT said

    Thanks so much for all the info on this! I think it’s wonderful that David will be part of an entertainment package for our troops overseas. It’s sooo like him to be a part of something like this.

    I am so looking forward to hearing and seeing him perform again, and Everybody Hurts is one of my favorites. I love that song! As for choosing one of the Take Me Home songs … I looked up the lyrics thinking it might help me figure out which one he would sing but it didn’t help. lol Like Bebe, I think the Phil Collin’s song would be great for David to sing. But then again, I could see him singing the other one too so I just don’t know. I’ll take either one though. I am excited for him and the troops, and of course for us!

    Surely there will be SOMEONE who has a video camera and access to Youtube, right? :)

    As far as that vlog goes, where do I start? haha The razor burn comment? The bathroom location? the picking up his sister’s things and showing us? And like Angelica, that comment about his sister had me hitting rewind. LOL He is so funny.

    David, thanks for just being you. :D

    Safe travels!

  17. djafan said

    Just watched the video again, he cracks me up.

    I wonder if he’ll be trying out a new song on the troops, that would be great.

    Yes gladys, i take my hat off to him too :)

    Ray and Dayzee, yep i have the pictures and all my David stuff lol

  18. djafan said

    I can see David singing either take me home but prefer the Collins one :)

  19. potluck8 said

    I too think it will be Phil Collins song that David will sing. John Denver’s which I love is more about country roads and W Va. In my opinion he will sing the deeper of the two in keeping with the other songs he will be preforming.

  20. djafan said

    Potluck, that makes perfect sense. Wonder if he’ll be taking his Nord?

    Kari, said she’d be out the country for fourth of July, i wonder if she’s traveling with David to Costa Rica?

  21. Angelica said

    After watching the Phil Collins video, I thought, is this even a fair question? That is so David at the end with the audience sing along. I predict epic ownership of that song.

  22. tawna21 said

    What an opportunity!! This is right up David’s alley, giving service and recognizing others for their service.

    My jury is out on the ‘Take Me Home’ question… I like them both, and can see David doing either one of them. He would definitely put his own spin on either one.

    Pleeeeze let there be video of this experience! :)

  23. tawna21 said

    Okay, my jury NEEDS to hear David sing Phil Collins’ version…. for sure. :)

  24. djafan said

    Lol Tawna… I concur.

  25. jans11 said

    Oh, I love this video…our David is back! ♥ This is such great news and I hope and pray that he has a fun and safe trip. Want to hear Everybody Hurts live too! Actually anything live will do….soooo excited for him and all of us fans! Would be awesome if someone made a video or we could watch one on livestream….anything! :)

    Dayzee, KC could use a little of that heat. It’s only 57* here, probably breaking an all time low for this date! Yesterday it was 93* on my deck and a storm and cold front came thru.

  26. Angelica said

    Praying for safe travels today. Excited last night. Now the heightened awareness of nerves whenever he leaves the US. I got a lot done this morning though.  photo icon_sprint-1.gif

  27. Yes, that was a ‘vlog’. That was David getting in touch. An ease up in his storm of emotions. An appreciated surprise. Right in the middle of our July 1st celebrations and yours on July 4th. Have to remember that date.

    Is “Take Me Home” on his set list? Phil Collins is a favourite of mine (but yes if it is John Denver’s too). I just listened to the songs imagining David singing them. I hope someone writes him a fantastic song like that even though he makes them all his own.

    Your sisters are very pretty David! Stay healthy!! On with the journey.

  28. Dayzee said

    Angelica, my first thought when he mentioned his travels was “Eeeek! Dangerous!”. I always have to remind myself that we cannot confine David in bubble-wrap and constantly remove thorns from his path.

  29. bluebar said

    David’s vlog is filmed from the reflection in the mirror?
    Watch on full screen.

    Check out the “right” side of David’s neck at 21 seconds. :)
    Also the direction of his buttoned shirt.
    Can’t make out the writing on the sign or on the bottles, though.

    Regardless, David is still the kind, thoughtful person we know,
    no matter what way you see him!!!
    Wishing him safe travels. Time for Silverfox’s prayer, for sure.
    And, Abrra will the kitty be at the window once more?

    I’m so excited and happy for David and the opportunities that await.
    Also, especially thinking of David “In This Moment” and perhaps this is his view at this time in his life:
    “Now that I know what it’s like to be living
    I can’t return to a life with no vision…”

  30. djafan said

    Safe Travels David! Praying for a great summer for David and us!

    Here is the link to the Spanish chat as transcribed by Gladys!

  31. Abrra said

    #29 Bluebar
    I noticed right away that the video image was “flipped” because of the bathroom mirror. When he turned his head, his mole was gone! The writing on the door sign is backwards as well.

    So being the nerd, I flipped the video and sure enough the words are reading correctly and earlier in the video he turns and I can see his mole.
    I put the “corrected” video in the Unplugged vault and will show it Saturday night. haha

    A while back when he took a selfie with the church librarian, I saw that it was flipped as well. His face tends to look longer in the backwards mode. Sometimes phone camera will flip the image when its uploaded.

    The kitty is back watching for David’s safe return.

    All is right with the world..

    Here is Silverfox’s prayer:

    Dear Lord,

    Please take care of David.
    Watch over him, protect him from all harm.
    Cloak him with your love and give him the strength to endure all that is thrown in his path.
    Give David the courage and guidance to say no to those who ask for more than he can reasonably give.
    Surround David with loving and supportive people who love him unconditionally as we, his devoted Archangels do.
    Separate David from those who have agendas other than for his well being.
    Give him rest when he feels weary.
    Give him stamina to sustain his hectic pace.
    Give him assurance when he feels doubt.
    Give him joy when he feels sad and never allow David to feel alone or lonely.
    Give us the wisdom to always do right by David.
    Help us support David so that it’s always in his best interest.
    Cloak him always in your protective arms during this time on his journey.
    Keep David and his voice healthy and strong as he fulfills his Destiny which was written in his Book of Life before he was born.
    Though we may be unworthy Lord, we humbly pray. Amen

    David, have a good & restful night’s sleep with sweet & happy dreams. Thank you for all you do and for who you are. Keep with you all our love, support & prayers always.

    Contigo siempre! We are with you always!
    ~ Silverfox

  32. djafan said

    Thank you for your timeless prayer Silverfox and thank you for posting Abrra.

    David is on his way!!!!

    Kenadee Wilson @KenadeeWilson 28m
    Totally saw david archuleta at the Texas airport and spilled my coffee all over me in front of him, go me!

  33. bebereader said

    Arghhh! Bad thunderstorm here in NY. Power went out four times tonight so far.

    #29 Bluebar: I love those two lines you highlighted from “In This Moment”
    ““Now that I know what it’s like to be living
    I can’t return to a life with no vision…”
    David’s message songs stand the test of time.

    Seems like he just came home and now he’s leaving again for Costa Rica.
    I’m sure it’s for a good cause.
    Safe Travels, David!

  34. tawna21 said

    Travel safely, David! ♥♥♥

    Does anybody else love listening to him say ‘Costa Rica’? :)

  35. dh said

    Thanks Abrra, for putting Kitty back on the job. I’m very nervous for David to be in Afghanistan and the Middle East. I hope those Air Force guys appreciate the talent that they are getting to see in our David, coming to visit them. Thanks so so much Gladys for the transcript of the Spanish chat, and thanks to DJAfan for translating for us. I see that Janel Woodbury did a transcript of the English chat for those who want to translate to other languages.

  36. skydancer1x said

    I do! I do!Tawna :D hehe the entire video had me smiling.
    I am impressed with the tour David will be a part of for the troops.What a wonderful format! To perhaps preempt the problems that servicemen and women have when they return home, well it is a wonderful idea.
    I love that the songs David will be singing, play into Dan Clark’s storied themes.To think of David’s beautiful voice, connecting the message for our troops with those songs is amazing and give me goosebumps. Mr Clark knows what a gem our David is,for he seemed very excited to have David on this tour.
    David will ‘bring it’ for the troops he loves so much.
    Can’t even think of anyone else, any other singer, who would be so perfect for this event.No one even comes close♥

  37. Dayzee said

    So David has gone to Costa Rica (Tawna, his pronunciation of that is delightful) and he is doing something that we will find out about “later in the year”. That fellow is still trying to teach us patience. My problem is, what I have the least patience for is hearing news about David.

    Jan, we had a cold front today. Only reached 108. Still melting.

    Safe travels David

  38. jans11 said

    Dayzee, yes they do have some hot weather out there! I was out there one time with it being 115*. Hot hot hot! KC doesn’t get that hot but it sure does have high humidity and that is what I can’t stand. One is as bad as the other with one hot and dry like an oven and the other any temp and just wet all the time unless air or furnace is on.
    I have to say that I lied about not being able to come out that way .haha :) Had a chance to go to Laughlin, free, and couldn’t pass it up. Even though I won’t be with my family on the 4th, I’ll be with some friends. So I will be close, but not close enough.

    Love the way Costa Rica just rolls off David’s tongue, also! That accent is something else.
    I think they went down there to shoot a video for the Spanish song he wrote….that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. :)

    Have a safe and fun 4th everyone! Oh, I won’t have my comp with me so have to skip chat this week. :( Adios!

  39. tawna21 said

    Jan, I like your story about a video…. and I’ll stick to it with you! That would be awesome if that’s what it turns out to be!! :D

  40. bebereader said

    Image and video hosting by TinyPic

    Have a safe and fun one!

  41. Abrra said

    Have a safe and pleasant holiday! Keep this guy in your prayers?

  42. cq said

    Happy 4th of July everyone!

  43. skydancer1x said

    Nice Flag Bebe!!
    Abrra,thanks for the always perfect video for the 4th!
    Nice to get a Happy Fourth of July tweet from David!!

  44. sweetonda said

    May you all be safe and have a fun filled 4th! I love this country!

    My prayers are going up for David while he is away in his journeys to Costa Rica and entertaining the troops.

    Thanks admins, glad to see Silverfox’s prayer and the cat keeping safe watch.

  45. Angelica said

    Well, I guess they’ve got internet in Costa Rica. That’s a good thing.
    HAPPY 4th of July everyone! God bless America and the troops who keep us free at great sacrifice. David going to perform for them soon brings that truth home to me more this 4th.

  46. tawna21 said

    Have a wonderful Independence Day!! Prayers for David in his travels and experiences. Prayers for our troops here and abroad.. God bless them in their trials.

  47. Abrra said

    Kari tweets a picture as her car whizzes by a Costa Rican flag.

    Image and video hosting by TinyPic

    Kari Sellards @kariontour

    Happy 4th from Costa Rica!

    The Archuleta has landed! ;)

  48. tawna21 said

    It just occurred to me. Things have seemed, to the fans, to be at somewhat of a stand still in the world of The Archuleta since he landed back on U.S. soil in March. We’ve been chomping at the bit for this or that, and consuming greedily any little tidbit that is handed to us. But. In reality, David’s life has probably been just like this photo from Kari… whizzing! If you stop and think, slowly, about what he’s been doing (family, dating, re-learning to tweet and make videos, instagram, writing, recording, international chats, firesides, and of course eating) since getting home, it makes me breathless. Nope, there is no grass growing tall underneath this man’s feet! Gotta love a man of action!! ♥♥♥

    Thanks, Abrra, for posting the picture. It’s always such a relief to know they are on solid ground! :D

  49. Abrra said

    New music and concerts is what we fans thrive on. This reboot of his career will take a bit of time as he writes his own music and shares his gift of voice in new places that are not within our reach. He was very intuitive to make the patience video. It’s a concept we must embrace. :)

    I dont’ have a clue what’s doin’ in Costa Rica but if he says we will find out more later, I can wait.

    The servicemen and women surely have video devices, so I bet we will see some of his songs from the USO shows. It’s so wonderful that he has this opportunity to perform for them.

    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
    Patty Ann posted this on twitter. It’s lovely and so right for today.

  50. MT said

    “God bless America and the troops who keep us free at great sacrifice. David going to perform for them soon brings that truth home to me more this 4th.”

    I couldn’t have said it better.

    49. What a beautiful photo edit by pabuckie, and so fitting.

    Happy 4th of July everyone!

  51. fenfan said

    Happy 4th of July to all of you, my dear David friends!
    Love that vlog!

  52. bebereader said

    Sarah Evans, The Muppets, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Patty LaBelle, Michael McDonald, Jordin Sparks….
    There was only one person missing from tonight’s “Capitol Fourth” celebration on PBS…

    Nobody sings it better!
    credit thop1984

  53. Dayzee said

    Thank you for the video Bebe. So much beauty there.

  54. tawna21 said

    Jans!!!!! Here’s hoping you’re right!!

    It makes me a little nervous to see things chained and a huge waterfall….. please be careful, David!!!

  55. jans11 said

    OMGosh! Maybe we are right Tawna! Here’s hoping…..I’m so dang happy for David!!!! Whoo hoo! :)

  56. Debbie said

    I hope he sings the one by Amit Paul.

  57. Patricia Ann said

    Loved this vlog – to hear him actually laugh – to see him be silly – to get that sweet closed-mouth smile as he talks about singing to the troops “this summer” – the new cadences of his speaking voice. It felt like he came a little closer this time – and I am humbly grateful.

  58. I visited several sites except the audio quality for audio songs
    present at this web page is genuinely wonderful.

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The Walters Art Museum

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3rd-5th Grade Summer Art Camp: Water, Fire, Wind & Sky (Full Day)

Monday, July 15, 2013Friday, July 19, 2013

09:00 AM–04:15 PM

Registration Ended

3rd-5th Grade Summer Art Camp: Water, Fire, Wind & Sky (Full Day)

Create artwork inspired by natural elements found in our Asian art collection. Squish mud, splash water and touch the sky as we create original work of art in the studio. Discover the plants, animals, environments and legends depicted in Asian art – just watch out for the fire-breathing dragon!Campers will use sumi-e ink, clay and other art materials to depict the many fables and traditions that Asian art has to tell. We will end the week with a nature filled exhibition!

Summer Art Camp at the Walters offers kids entering 1st-5th grades a unique and fun-filled summer experience! Join us as we explore art techniques and cultural themes through gallery visits, in-depth art projects and collaborative theater activities. We'll celebrate at the end of each week with camper art exhibitions and presentations. Choose from five weekly sessions (camps are sold by week) and morning or full day class options. All camps are taught by professional artists and museum educators.

For additional information or to register by phone, please call (410) 547-9000, ext. 300.

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With Congress possibly headed toward an apparent deal to avert a government shutdown, lawmakers can finally feel optimistic about sidestepping an economic calamity.

Or they could, were it not for the fact that weeks after the federal fiscal year wraps up on September 30, Congress will face yet another deadline, this one to raise the debt ceiling. If Congress does not act in time — the Treasury pegs the deadline at October 17 — the U.S. would risk a catastrophic default on its financial obligations.

House Republicans have already said they plan to demand a host of pet provisions in the next debt ceiling negations, like a one-year delay of ObamaCare. President Obama has flatly said he will not negotiate on the subject, setting up a high-stakes fight.

Which prompts the question: Why bother having a debt ceiling at all?

There is no debt limit in the Constitution. Congress created the cap during World War I to give the government more flexibility to borrow money, so long as it stayed below a set threshold.

Politicians are fond of framing the debt ceiling as a debate about government spending run amok. Yet the ceiling does not deal with future spending, but rather limits the government's borrowing power to fulfill financial commitments that were made in the past.

Therefore, the U.S. "doesn't need, and shouldn't have, a debt ceiling," The New Yorker's James Surowiecki wrote in 2011, because it's an outdated mechanism that merely places a theoretical check on spending.

The only reason we need to lift the debt ceiling, after all, is to pay for spending that Congress has already authorized. If the debt ceiling isn't raised, we'll face an absurd scenario in which Congress will have ordered the president to execute two laws that are flatly at odds with each other. If he obeys the debt ceiling, he cannot spend the money that Congress has told him to spend, which is why most government functions will be shut down. Yet if he spends the money as Congress has authorized him to he'll end up violating the debt ceiling. [The New Yorker]

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke endorsed the idea of nixing the debt ceiling, saying, "It would be a good thing if we didn't have it." To prove his point, he compared it to a family's personal finances.

"This is sort of a family saying, 'We're spending too much, let's stop paying our credit card bill,'" he said. "That's not the way to get yourself in good financial condition."

Back in 2003, former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan also suggested abolishing the "redundant" debt ceiling. And progressive House Democrats argued the same point when introducing a bill in January that would have gotten rid of the cap.

"Raising the debt ceiling does not allow one penny in new spending," Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) explained. "It simply allows the government to pay the bills for spending that Congress has already authorized."

Since the debt ceiling is not in the Constitution, some have argued that the president could declare it unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment and ignore it altogether. House Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) endorsed that approach as a last resort in the 2011 debt ceiling fight. It was "arguably [Obama's] power to do so," he said, and though legally dubious, it would be "better to take the action and find out later that perhaps he went beyond his authority but at least protected the credibility of the United States of America."

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) this week raised the possibility again, saying, "I think the 14th Amendment covers it."

Indeed, the debt ceiling's only discernible purpose is to be used as a tool by the opposition party to extract demands, which in the GOP's case reportedly includes provisions that have nothing to do with government spending. And when that led to high-stakes budgetary hostage-taking in 2011, causing billions of dollars in economic damage and a downgrade in the U.S.'s credit rating, it revealed the debt ceiling as a "weird and destructive institution," wrote New York Times columnist Paul Krugman.

The debt ceiling does, at least, serve one practical purpose, politically speaking: It affords outraged lawmakers a peg to publicly fume about government spending.

In that way, the debt ceiling is "mere political theater," said Bruce Bartlett, a former adviser to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.

"It is nothing but grandstanding for members of both parties to vote routinely for legislation that they know will create deficits and then profess shock and horror that the debt limit must be increased as a consequence," he said.


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The Weeping Santa Christmas Series

The lithographic print of "The Weeping Santa" has sold in the thousands, attracting significant media attention, and prompted the artist to create the Christmas Series.

In the first painting that began the Weeping Santa Christmas Series, the artist has captured the many emotions of this most joyous time of year. The response from the thousands who have acquired "The Weeping Santa" inspired the artist to create the Christmas Series.

We have two new pieces! Check them out here!

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Michl Finishes Second For Millikin

Published on April 22 2013 12:19 pm
Last Updated on April 22 2013 12:19 pm
Written by Millie Lange

The Millikin men’s and women’s track and field team turned in several strong performances at its own Millikin Big Blue Classic Saturday in Decatur. No team scores were kept in the event.
Senior LeAnn Spesard (Paris, H.S.) won the shot put in 13.71 meters and was first in the discus at 36.46 meters. Spesard was second in the hammer with a throw of 44.70 meters.

Kindra Emberton (Niantic, Sangamon Valley H.S.) was first in the 800 meters in 2:20.42 and won the 1,500 meters in 4:54.48.

Ariel Robinson (Decatur, MacArthur H.S.) won the 200 meters in 26.18 seconds and was second in the 100 meters in 12.34 seconds.

Michaela Ponstein (Oswego, H.S.) won the 400 hurdles in 1:13.52 and was third in the 100 hurdles in 17.93 seconds.

Jamie Michl (Newton, H.S.) was second in the 800 meters in 2:32.61.

The Big Blue women won the 4x400 Relay in 4:06.17 with Michl, Alyssa Staib (Naperville, Naperville Central H.S.), Emberton andn Robinson competing for Millikin.

The Millikin women were second in the 4x100 relay in 50.57 seconds with Michl, Staib, Uriah Walker (Lansing, Thornton Fractional South H.S.) and Robinson running legs.


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Dow Does the Right Thing

(See also this more complete account, complete with a story of fear and trembling and censorship.)

On November 29, 2004, an email comes in to BBC World Television wants a Dow representative to discuss the company's position on the 1984 Bhopal tragedy on this, its 20th anniversary.

Knowing Dow's history of gross negligence on this matter, we think it unlikely they will send a representative themselves—and if they do, he or she will likely only reiterate the old nonsense yet again, which will be depressing for all concerned and certainly won't help get press for the issue in the US. Yes, we'd better just do their PR for them.

Since we can't possibly afford to go to London with our pathetic American dollars, we ask to be booked in a studio in Paris, where Andy is living. No problem. Mr. Jude (patron saint of the impossible) Finisterra (earth's end) becomes Dow's official spokesperson.

What to do with the five or so minutes he'll be allotted? We consider embodying the psychopathic monster that is Dow by explaining in frank terms how they (a) don't give a rat's ass about the people of Bhopal and (b) wouldn't do anything to help them even if they did. Which they don't. This would be familiar territory for Andy: he did something similar representing the WTO on CNBC's Marketwrap. But no one seemed to notice it had happened, and no press resulted. The idea this time being to get coverage of the anniversary in the US—where most people don't even know what Bhopal was—we rule out this angle.

Instead we settle on the impossible Jude announcing a radical new direction for the company, one in which Dow takes full responsibility for the disaster. We will lay out a straightforward ethical path for Dow to follow to compensate the victims, clean up the plant site, and otherwise help make amends for the worst industrial disaster in history. It will be impossible for Dow not to react in some way, which should generate tons of press.

There are some risks to this approach. It could offer false hope—or rather, false certainty—to people who have suffered 20 years of false hopes that Dow and Union Carbide would do the right thing. But all hopes are false until they're realized, and what's an hour of false hope to 20 years of unrealized ones? If it works, this could focus a great deal of media attention on the issue, especially in the US, where the Bhopal anniversary has often gone completely unnoticed. Who knows—it could even somehow force Dow's hand.

After all, the real hoax here is Dow's claim that they can't do anything to help. They have conned the world into thinking they can't end the crisis, when in fact it would be quite simple. What would it cost to clean up the Bhopal plant site, which continues to poison the water people drink, causing an estimated one death per day?

We decide to show how another world is possible, and to direct any questions about false hopes for justice in Bhopal directly to Dow. (See also our FAQ.)

Another problem we anticipate is that this could result in some backlash for the BBC. This is bothersome, because they have covered Bhopal very well, infinitely better than what we're used to in the US. We would much rather hoax CBS, ABC, NBC, or Fox, but none of those could give that rat's ass about Bhopal, and so none of those has approached us.

In any case, it didn't seem to hurt CNBC when "Granwyth Hulatberi" appeared as WTO spokesperson. It was a simple mistake, and one that anyone could make. Intelligent people will not question the excellence of BBC's overall coverage because of an unavoidable error, especially if it is caught quickly and provides for some interesting discussion that wouldn't have happened otherwise.

On the day of the interview, we wake up early and put on our thrift-store suits. Andy nervously runs through his answers once more while Mike fumbles with cameras. A crowded metro ride later, we arrive at the BBC's Paris studio. "Jude" is seated in front of a green screen and waits.

At 9am GMT, Dow's spokesperson appears live on the BBC World Service in front of the Eiffel Tower. He is ecstatic to make the announcement: Dow will accept full responsibility for the Bhopal disaster, and has a $12 billion dollar plan to compensate the victims and remediate the site. (Dow will raise the $12 billion by liquidating Union Carbide, which cost them that much to acquire.) Also, to provide a sense of closure to the victims, Dow will push for the extradition of Warren Anderson, former Union Carbide CEO, to India, which he fled following his arrest 20 years ago on multiple homicide charges. (Watch the broadcast.)

When it's over, the studio technician is happy about what she has heard. "What a nice thing to announce," she says.

"I wouldn't work for Dow if I didn't believe in it," replies Andy matter-of-factly.

We expect the story to be retracted immediately, but Dow takes two hours to notice that alas and alack, it's done the right thing. The full interview therefore runs twice, and for two hours the story is the top item on CNN reports a Dow stock loss of 2 billion dollars on the German exchange. After Dow notes emphatically that it is not in fact going to do right by those non-shareholders in Bhopal, the retraction remains the top Google story for the rest of the day.

Back at Andy's apartment, we help Dow express itself more fully by mailing out a more formal retraction: "Dow will NOT commit ANY funds to compensate and treat 120,000 Bhopal residents who require lifelong care.... Dow will NOT remediate (clean up) the Bhopal plant site.... Dow's sole and unique responsibility is to its shareholders, and Dow CANNOT do anything that goes against its bottom line unless forced to by law." For a while, this—as reprinted in Men's News Daily, a reactionary drivel bucket that doesn't realize our Dow release is fake, and doesn't mind what it says—becomes the top story on

"Whatever be the circumstances under which the news was aired, we will get $12 billion from Dow sooner than later," one Bhopali activist is quoted as saying. But the "false hope" question does come up in some articles, especially in the UK. Much as we try to convince ourselves it was worth it, we cannot get rid of the nagging doubt. Did we deeply upset many Bhopalis? If so, we want to apologize. We were trying to show that another world is possible....

We're also bothered that the BBC has taken the fall, and that this has somehow called the BBC's credibility into question. It shouldn't. The BBC, as soon as Dow finally noticed out that "Jude Finisterra" wasn't theirs, promptly and prominently retracted the story. There was no net misinformation. In fact there was significantly more information as a result, since more people knew about Bhopal and Dow, especially in the US.

The real credibility problem is when networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and Fox, or papers like the New York Times and the Washington Post (and most of the rest), systematically and for months on end unquestioningly mouth the assertions of a lying, scheming crook of a president—about WMDs, for example. It is thanks to these well-amplified lies that the crook in question was able to wage a war with 100,000 civilian casualties on a country that very clearly posed zero threat. At least the Times and the Post issued quiet, late apologies and mea culpas. Not enough: for such a monumental failure of journalism, the American media should undergo a thorough examination and restructuring. At the very least, their owners and editors should have been required to explain to a court why big corporations should be allowed to own so much noise. Which, as the episode proves, they shouldn't be.

Throughout the day, we are deluged with email, almost all of it positive. Later, the BBC calls again: they want us back at the studio. Yeah, right! No, really—they want us on for another show, to talk about what has happened. Against our better judgment we go—and arrive to find four smiling staffers. "Where are the cops?" Andy asks, and the staffers actually laugh.

Another interview on Channel 4 (smaller download here), and the day is finally over. Now all we can do is wait to see how it all pans out. Will our fondest hopes be realized—will Dow be forced to concede? Or will the people of Bhopal have to wait twenty more years?

All we know if that at least for today, this 20th anniversary of the catastrophe, news about Bhopal and Dow is front and center in the US news. And on this most somber of days, Dow has been forced to show, by its curt refusal to do anything, just what "corporate social responsibility" really means.

Visit to help keep pressure on Dow, or to help provide much-needed medical help to the people of Bhopal.


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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Kerplunk - A game for the whole family to enjoy

     I wanted to take a minute an introduce everyone to a really cool game from Mattel called Kerplunk. If your unfamiliar with the game, then it's time to get acquainted. The game is easy to play as you insert the rainbow sticks into the tube. Drop your marbles on top of the sticks and then begin your game. The goal is to get the least amount of marbles into your tray at the end of the game.
    It takes the classic game of  "pick up sticks" & "marbles" and combines the two for one great game. Be sure to take a second to check out Kerplunk TODAY at!! Until next time, Thanks for reading and I can't wait until you stop by to play again :) !!

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Submit a great idea for an app and you could win!

  • A hands-on challenge that builds character and teaches teamwork, critical thinking, presentation skills and more.
  • 100 teams could win $5,000 grants for their schools or clubs and tablet computers for every team member.
  • National winners get an additional $15,000 grant plus in-person training from app development experts at MIT.

Open to students in non-profit out-of-school groups as well as middle schools and high schools. Registration opens August 4, 2015.


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Friday, April 30, 2010

A Few Memories Of And Thoughts On The Taste Of Minnesota Festival - Past And Present

There are just some things you can count on in life: Nice summer weather, fun with your friends and family, a good rock and roll show. I used to really look forward to the 4th of July weekend and the annual FREE 4-to-5 day Taste of Minnesota Festival in St. Paul - it was one of those things I could count on. Sunshine, friends, greasy (albiet overpriced) food, and best of all, free rock and roll shows. Well, the 2010 Taste lineup has been (mostly) announced and along with it, some BAD news. I'll get to that in a minute. Let me reminesce a bit first about better times...

I've lived in the Mpls./St. Paul area for almost 20 years now. I don't know why, but I didn't start attending the Taste of Minnesota Festival until the late 1990's. I'm not even sure what year it was the first time I went. It used to be held on the grounds of the St. Capitol in St. Paul. I remember some of the first shows I did go to see there though: Rick Derringer along with ELO II (a great show) and the following day I was back again to see pop singer John Waite, formerly of the 70's group The Babys . In 2001, we went to check out the Go-Go's. (Yeah, I know, not really my usual thing either, but it was FREE so what the hell, right? We had a great time.

2002 Taste of MN Festival Program
(Images via: NYCDreamin Archives)

In 2002 a friend and I made it to the Taste on July 5th to see Joey Molland's Badfinger and The Guess Who. We met up with some other friends of ours and we all had a great time. I had to work the next day, but was excited at the idea that after I got off work I could come back to St. Paul and see a long-time favorite band I'd never seen before, Blondie. It was threatening rain all day but it held off. I got off work in the mid-afternoon and raced over to St. Paul. Shortly after I arrived on the Capitol Grounds, the clouds broke and the rain began. And it continued to intensify as time went on. I grabbed a bite to eat and found some cover from the rain and it was announced shortly thereafter that Blondie would not be playing because of the weather. I was really bummed out that I'd driven all the way there for nothing. To this day, 8 years later, I have still not seen Blondie in concert. And I'm gonna miss 'em when they're near here again later this summer - but that's another story.

2003 Taste of MN Festival Program

In July 2003, the Festival changed locations. Gone were the days of crowding in on the lawn in front of the State Capitol. Now the Festival moved to the much more spacious Harriet Island Park on the banks of the Mississippi River. I thought this was a great development and it turned out to be just that. The extra room made for a much nicer time enjoying the day in St. Paul. On July 5th that year, we were super excited to bee seeing legendary hard rock/heavy metal monsters Blue Oyster Cult. The weather was opressively hot but we were on a mission to rock and a little heat never stopped us from that. The show was amazing. We were back again the following afternoon to see John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers George Thorogood & the Destroyers. While Thorogood was on stage, Dickey Betts (he of the much hated - on this blog anyway - Allman Brothers Band), who had played on another stage earlier in the afternoon and had made us wish we'd been born without ears (God, this guy SUCKS!!) tried to get up on stage to jam with ole' George. Apparently he didn't discuss it with Thorogood before the show, and, being a moron and not wearing any kind of backstage passes or anything to identify himself, came walking out on the stage to jam.

One of George's beefy security guys walked over to him and quickly escorted him right back off the stage. My buddy "337" and I looked at each other and laughed and laughed - it was hilarious and I was thinking "Take THAT you talentless fuck!!" HAHA. Good times. Of course Lonesome George and his band absoulutely KILLED. Below is a clipping from the Minneapolis Star Tribune from a few days later - Dickey's humiliation had made the news! I blogged about this incident previously HERE.

07/06/03 Dickey Betts Thrown Off Thorogood Stage Newspaper Article

I laughed again and looked forward to the following year and wondered who would be on the bill.

2004 Taste of MN Festival Program

On July 1st, 2004, a few days after seeing Kiss absoulutely BOMB in Somerset, WI, we were back at Harriet Island in St. Paul for Taste of Minnesota 2004. On this particular night we were treated to the hard-rockin 70's sounds of Foghat. They were great and really looked like they were enjoying playing to such a large crowd. The following evening we were back again to check out Jefferson Starship (I think there may have been one or two original members), and 80's heart-throb Rick Springfield. Rick was better than I thought he'd be, a surprisingly good guitar player, we even stayed for the whole show instead of leaving like we'd planned, and man, that guy makes the ladies go crazy - it was fun to watch.

2005 Taste of MN Festival Program

On July 1st, 2005, we were in store for a real treat. Dave Mason and his band opened the show on the main stage and was followed by one of the best of all time - Deep Purple. This was the second time I'd had a chance to see them, the first time a few years prior, I'd paid $85.00 for the experience, this time it was free. Harriet Island was absolutely PACKED for this show and the Brits absolutely rocked the shit out of every last person on the grounds that night, playing old classics from 30 years previous and newer material that seemed to go over just as well. The following evening we were back again, this time to see legendary blues man Bo Diddley. Bo was getting on in years and was ailing a bit, so he was forced to sit in a chair for his performance, but he still played a mean guitar and it was a real treat to have seen him play that old cigar box style guitar of his. Later that evening, on the main stage, we saw former vocalist of Styx, Dennis DeYoung and his interesting and large band which included friends and family members. He played all the great Styx material you would expect and a handful of songs from his mildly successful solo career post-Styx. He also told a funny story about how Tommy Shaw had at one time back in the day dated Linda Blair, she of "The Exorcist" fame.

In July 2006 I missed the Taste of Minnesota for the first time in 6 or 7 years. Alice Cooper, Supertramp and local boys-done-good Soul Asylum were among the many acts that played in '06. I was in New York during the week of July 4th, so I really didn't mind missing it. I figured I'd go the following year. But, I had such a great time in New York that I decided upon my return home that I would be going East again in July of 2007. In 2007 the Taste of Minnesota, now in it's 25th year as the "Largest FREE Festival on the Mighty Mississippi." featured the triumphant return of George Thorogood, The Village People (did I miss that or did I dodge a bullet? I think the later.) Sub-Level, the Gear Daddies and many more national, regional and local acts. Same story in 2008 - In NYC again, I missed the 2008 Tatse of MN and featured acts REO Speedwagon, Eddie Money, Badfinger, and Minnesota Garage Rock legends the Trashmen.

I had fully planned on being in NYC during the July 4th weekend last year, 2009, as well. But pleasant unforeseen circumstances changed my plans and I found myself home over the holiday and able to once again attend the Taste of Minnesota. But there was change afoot - and not all of it good.

2009 Taste of MN Festival Program

When the lineup for the 2009 Taste was announced I was pleased to see some real heavy weights listed among the artists scheduled to perform - Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Chevelle, Stained, the Romantics and Elvis Costello. What I was NOT pleased to learn was that for the first time in it's history, the Festival was no longer a free event. It would now cost you $10.00 to gain admission to the festival grounds. Granted, you DID get $10.00 worth of food tickets along with your paid admission - but as anyone who has attended this festival over the years knows $10.00 won't get you much in the way of food. Maybe a burger. But then you gotta buy more tickets to get a drink to go with it. And as had always been the case, the tickets were sold in a way that you always seemed to wind up with extra tickets, 1 or 2, but never enought to buy another food or drink item. So you had to buy more tickets. This situation was not new - it's been that way as long as I've been going to the festival. It was tolerable - in my opinion, until they decided to charge admission. Over the years the quality and quantity of the food seemed to be lower and less. Instead of great restaraunt food there was alot of "Fair Food" - bloomin' onions, french fries and donuts by the bucket, cheese curds...pork chop on a stick - you get the idea. Anyway, we decided we would, despite the new "Not Free" policy, attend the Taste for two consecutive days, July 2nd and July 3rd. So we paid for gas for two round trips to St. Paul - figure that at about $10 - $12 covering both days. $10.00 admission X 2 each day X 2 days - so that's $40.00. Extra food tickets, drinks, etc. Oh, and parking $10.00 X 2 days. So we spent a bit of cash. We did NOT choose to pay for upgraded seating near the front of the stage that would have cost us an additional $50.00 each. This was also a new development at the 2009 Taste - "Gold Circle Seating." It used to be if you could get there early enough you could get up to the front of the stage to see your favorite band up close. Now you gotta pay what I feel is an exhorbinant fee for the experience.

It was enjoyable to see Chevelle, Halestorm, Priest and Whitesnake, even though it seems David Coverdale's best days are behind him now. We DID have a good time. I blogged about our 2nd day at the 2009 Taste HERE. Here's a bit of Judas Priest's July 3rd performance at the 2009 Taste of MN shot by yours truly...they tore it up!

...which all brings us to 2010. The Gorgeous One and I will be in New York again over the 4th of July, but I've been keeping my eye out for the announcement of the 2010 Tatse of MN lineup, curious to see who would be playing this year. Earlier this week a partial lineup was finally announced on the official Taste of MN 2010 website. The festival runs from July 2nd - 5th this year and so far the big guns announced are Sammy Hagar, Lou Graham of Forigner and John Waite, 311, The Offspring, Counting Crows and Gin Blossoms. More acts will be announced shortly. It has also been announced that the Festival is under new ownership and management. In previous years, the end of each evening was capped off with a huge fireworks display over the Mississippi River in front of the St. Paul skyline. Starting this year there will only be fireworks on July 4th. I guess they just can't afford that kind of a big pyrotechnic show each night. Read on:

The WORST news to come with this years announcement is the prices. Keep in mind that this was always a FREE festival up until last year. In 2009 it cost you $10.00 to get in the grounds.

In 2010 it will cost you $20.00 PER PERSON to get in from 11:00am until 4:00pm. After 4:00pm it will cost you $30.00. PER PERSON. So I'm wondring with all that money coming in, how come no nightly fireworks? They are promising over 100 hours of music on several stages and more "Family Friendly" entertainment this year.

Well, at least kids under 12 get in free with a paid adult admission. But lets say you have a few "over 12's" in your family and they want to go see the Offspring. Well, for a family of four that's gonna set you back something like this: Gas to get there (let's say $5 to $8 - and that's if you live in the Mpls./St. Paul area only), parking (gonna be about $10), admission for family of 4 (4 X $20 = $80. If you get there later, after 4:00pm it's 4 X $30.00 = $120). So you've spent almost/or over $100.00 and none of you have had a bite of food yet. With a family of four you can bet you'll easily spend another $100 or more on food and drinks. So you can figure for an evening of 4th of July fun in St. Paul will cost you about $200 - $300 easily, maybe more if you're not careful.

Small price for family fun? I don't think so. I'm very curious to see what kind of attendance numbers the Taste festival has this year - I think people will still go - but just not as many as in previous years. And it makes me kind of sad to think this is what has become of this once great Minnesota tradition. Maybe I'm wrong - maybe I'm cheap - I've been called worse, but I just don't think people are gonna be to thrilled with all this "change". I guess we'll see. I look forward to reading and hearing about it when I get home from NYC. I guess my days of attending the Taste of Minnesota are over.

It was a good run while it lasted...

Thursday, April 29, 2010

May 2010 Ramones Mania (Mpls) & Joey Ramone Birthday Bash (NYC)

It's coming up on that time of year again (May), when all you Blitzkrieg Boppers in Minneapolis and New York City can celebrate the music of the Ramones and the memory of Joey Ramone, and at the same time help raise money for Cancer research.

First up is the annual Ramones Mania, 2010 edition, held on Friday, May 14th at Lee's Liquor Lounge in Minneapolis:

05/14/10 Ramones Mania 2010 @ Minneapolis, MN (Flyer)
(Image via: Hey Ho! Let's Go! MplsTributeShow!)

Then, a few days later, on Wednesday, May 19th at the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza is the annual and always star-studded Joey Ramone Birthday bash hosted by Joey's brother Mickey Leigh:

05/19/10 Joey Ramone Birthday Bash @ NYC, NY (Flyer)
(Image via: Joey

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

A Tune For Tuesday: Ace Frehley 60th Birthday Edition

Happy Birthday to the man from Outer Space - Ace Frehley, who turns 60 years old today.

Here's a clip of Ace playing "Snowblind" at the Nokia Theatre in his hometown of NYC on 03/21/10. the latest Ace Frehley news...(Source:

Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley will appear on the season finale of "Sober House with Dr. Drew" on Thursday, April 29 at 10:00 p.m. (check local listings) on VH1.

Ace Frehley will also induct legendary musician and inventor, the late Les Paul, into the New Jersey Hall of Fame at NJPAC in Newark, NJ on Sunday May 2. Ace will join Corey Parks (NASHVILLE PUSSY), Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES), Matt Sorum (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES), Lemmy Kilmister (MOTÖRHEAD), and Allison Robertson (THE DONNAS) for a special performance.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

A Random Thought On Earth Day...

(Earth Skull image by Alexander McQueen via

Although many, including the band members themselves, may have considered Pantera a "Green" band (think about it!) I don't think they had the planet's best interest in mind when they wrote the line "Fuck the world for all it's worth/ Every inch of Planet Earth..."

I'm just sayin...

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

One From The Archives: 04/21/95 Black Diamond/ Aural Fixation @ Ryan's, St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond/Aural Fixation @ St. Paul, MN
(Image and photos via: NYCDreamin Archives)

Back in April of 1995 the Kiss Reunion Tour was still over a year away and there were many Kiss Tribute Bands playing the small rock and roll bars in America and around the world - they were out there filling the gap - helping those of us who were to young to have witnessed the band in their full makeup 70's glory to recreate a moment in time that we missed out on. Black Diamond, an outfit from Vancouver, Canada, was one of the best of these groups.

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

They may not have had the best "authentic down to the last sequin" costumes as some of the others, but they did look pretty close. They also had a cool light-up Kiss sign behind them and it was sure easy enough to believe the "Paul Stanley" guy was really Paul Stanley...the guy had a set of pipes on him and could really belt it out in real Starchild fashion.

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

It was always fun to go see a Kiss tribute band just to see the other overly devoted freaks like myself who would come out to these shows. At that time, it looked like the original band might never again regroup to do live shows - Gene & Paul certainly said it in the press enough - they denied it right up to around January or February of 1996, even after having reunited with their old band mates for MTV's "Unplugged" in August of 1995 - "No, no reunion tour with Peter and Ace. We cherish our past but we don't want to live off of it."

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

Wow...what a difference a few years and many, many millions of dollars makes. Now, 15 years later, with a few Reunion tours under their studded belts, 1998's "Psycho Circus" album and tour, a seemingly never-ending Farewell tour, Ace and Peter leaving the band, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer taking their places for most of the past decade, and last years completely horrid studio album "Sonic Boom" - it seems thats all the band has left - making a living off their past. At this point it's kind of like seeing a Kiss tribute band...just more expensive and with better pyro effects.

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

Back in 1995, I was also a subscriber to a few Kiss Fanzines - among them one from Canada called "Firehouse Magazine". After seeing Black Diamond in St. Paul I sent Firehouse the following review of the show - it was published in the May/June 1995 issue (#69):

On Friday, April 21, I had the chance to see "The Ultimate Tribute to Kiss", Black Diamond, at a local club here in St. Paul. Before the show started, I had the chance to talk to Benny Doro (Paul Stanley). He's a really nice guy. We talked about Black Diamond's inclusion in Kisstory, and about Ronn Roxburgh and Firehouse Magazine. He also told me Black Diamond is going to Europe for some summer shows - I want to wish them well.

After I talked to Benny, I began passing out the 50 Firehouse Magazine flyers I had printed up for the show. People seemed interested in them. Around 9:30, the opening band, "Shrine" (-funny, the ad says "Aural Fixation") began their set. They were pretty good and even surprised us with their version of "Love Her All I Can."

After about a half hour, the intro tape for Black Diamond began to play. It's a cool mix of song bits and Kiss quotes on the Kiss philosophy and lifestyle. Anyone who has seen these guys knows how cool this intro is. At 11pm sharp, Black Diamond hit the stage and began their all out assault. I couldn't believe how well they managed to imitate that classic Kiss sound. They are way better than "Strutter" whom I had seen about a month earlier in Minneapolis. The only thing "Strutter" has on "Black Diamond" is the amount of pyro they use (I think the reason for that is "Strutter" played a bigger club.) The band played all your standard Kiss classics like Firehouse, Black Diamond, God Of Thunder, Shock Me, Rock and Roll All Nite, and New York Groove plus many, many more. They played their asses off for two full hours and the crowd just loved it all. Even Benny's between song raps were authentic Paul Stanley - he even sounds like Paul when he talks!

All the effects were there too: "Gene" spits breathes fire and spits blood, "Ace's" guitar smokes and "Peter's" solo was better than a solo by the real Peter Criss.

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

04/21/95 Black Diamond @ St. Paul, MN

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

A Tune For Tuesday: W.A.S.P. - "Thunderhead"

With the 19th anniversary of the death of Johnny Thunders coming up on Friday, I thought a little W.A.S.P. was in order for todays Tune for Tuesday.

You see, W.A.S.P. mainman Blackie Lawless was at one time (for about 5 minutes in May of 1975) a member of the New York Dolls, taking over guitar duties for a few shows after Johnny left the band to go back to NYC - because it just wasn't easy scoring a good bag of "H" while on the road in Forida. Anyway, the Dolls soon disbanned, Blackie went to Los Angeles with Arthur Kane, and Johnny and Jerry Nolan soon started a little group you may have heard about called "The Heartbreakers". Eventually, Blackie found some success with his 80's metal group "W.A.S.P."

Johnny passed away under mysterious circumstances on 04/23/91 in New Orleans, LA. In 1989, W.A.S.P. released an ablum titled "The Headless Children" and among the gems on this ablum was a little ditty about the story of Mr. Thunders' addiction and subsequent premature demise.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

04/15/10 R.I.P. Peter Steele - Bassist and Vocalist, Type O Negative, Carnivore

Peter Steele (Type O Negative)
(Image via Tumblr)

Rumors are flying this morning that Peter Steele, the vocalist and bassist of Type O Negative (and formerly Carnivore) has passed away at age 48 due to heart failure. says the rumor has been confirmed from a "source within the band." Our condolences to Steele's family, friends and band mates.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

A New York Minute: New York Post Covers New York City Album Covers

1975 Kiss Dressed To Kill CD Cover Art
The cover of Kiss' 1975 "Dressed To Kill" album. Photo by Bob Gruen.
(Image via: NYCDreamin Archives)

This past Sunday, April 11th, the NY Post had a cool article titled "NYC's Greatest Hits: The City Not Only Invented The Modern Album Cover We Defined It With These Classics." Making the list: Led Zeppelin's "Physical Graffiti" (1975), Steely Dan's "Pretzel Logic" (1974), Simon & Garfunkel's "Wednesday Morning, 3AM" (1964), and the one pictured above, Kiss' "Dressed To Kill" (1975). You can read details about the photographs appearing on the album covers listed here and see what other albums made the list by checking out the article and accompanying photo gallery by clicking the link above.

I Got Nothing So You Get This: Kreator "Enemy Of God" Live at Wacken 2005

It's Tuesday - WAKE UP!!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

One From The Archives: 04/08/03 Cheap Trick/ Guided By Voices/ The Anniversary @ State Theater, Minneapolis, MN

04/08/03 Cheap Trick/Guided By Voices/The Anniversary @ Minneapolis, MN (Handbill)
(Images via: NYCDreamin Archives)

04/08/03 Cheap Trick/Guided By Voices/The Anniversary @ Minneapolis, MN (Ticket)

Another week, another post about a Cheap Trick Concert. This show was held at the beautiful historic State Theatre in Minneapolis. I arrived just as opening act The Anniversary was taking the stage. My ticket had me seated near the back of the theatre on the floor level. There I remained until about 10 minutes into Cheap Trick's set, when all of a sudden people started getting up from their seats and going up and crowding around near the stage. I figured, "Why not?" and jumped up and joined them for a better vantage point. Security was cool and never made anyone go back to their seats.

04/08/03 Cheap Trick @ Minneapolis, MN (Picks)

This was great, not only did I get closer to the stage to see the rest of the show, but I also managed to scoop up 7, count 'em, 7 guitar picks from Rick Neilson. This brings my total number of picks from this guy (for those keeping track - and why wouldn't you be?!?) to 14 in just 2 shows - I scored 7 at another Cheap Trick show on March 26th, 2006 in Maplewood. I wrote a short piece on that show a few weeks back HERE.

At this show I also ran into Brynn Arens and Chia Karaoke from Flipp, who had actually toured with Cheap Trick at one point a few years earlier and had remained friends with the band. In fact, about a month after this concert, Cheap Trick released a new CD titled "Special One" and the cover art was done by none other than Chia Karaoke himself, under his real name, Kii Arens. You can check out some of his more recent concert poster art (including pieces for bands such as Radiohead, Them Crooked Vultures and Lady GaGa, among others) HERE. The Arens' presence at the show was noted a few days later by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

04/08/03 Flipp members attend Cheap Trick Show in Minneapolis, MN

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

04/06/98: 12 Years Ago Today in Storrs, CT. - Remembering Wendy O. Williams

12 years ago today in Storrs, CT, Wendy O. Williams, outrageous front woman of the legendary Plasmatics screamed "Fuck You" to the world one more time, taking her own life with a self-inflicted shotgun blast. We miss her and always remember her in better days...

Monday, April 5, 2010

"I Like Manhattan, But It's Filthy. It's A Filthy City..."

Driving in to work this morning, I heard a name on the radio I hadn't heard in many, many years...that of sleazy lawyer Nathan Thurm, played by Martin Short on Saturday Night Live during the mid-80's. I started laughing just at the thought of the guy. This is for those of you who remember him and for those of you who may not know him...

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Celebrating The Resurrection With A Kiss Easter Egg

Hope you all had a great Easter Sunday. We had a nice dinner with relatives, had a wonderful time and ate way too much. On Saturday, the Gorgeous One and I colored some Easter eggs and I got a bit creative, making a rather sloppy but cool "Kiss" themed egg with the faces of all four original members on one single egg...

Gene Simmons Easter Egg

Paul Stanley Easter Egg

Peter Criss Easter Egg

Ace Frehley Easter Egg

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Honking Our Own Horn: TATSOL Contributes to "Ace Frehley: Behind The Player" DVD

2010 - Ace Frehley: Behind The Player DVD (Cover Art)
(Images via: NYCDreamin Archives)

Back in August of 2009, I was contacted via email by a guy who told me he was producing an upcoming Ace Frehley guitar instructional DVD that was scheduled to be released in October '09. He wanted to know if he could use a few of my Kiss/Ace images from my Flickr page. I of course said, "Yes, by all means, use whatever you need." I got word back that they had indeed used something of mine and that I would receive a free promo copy of the DVD when it was released. The release date was pushed back by a few months, I'm not sure why, but it happens all the time. Anyway, the new release date was set for 01/19/10 and I was looking forward to seeing the DVD and to see what images from the NYCDreamin Archives they'd chosen to use.

07/13/00 Kiss/Ted Nugent/Skid Row @ Minneapolis, MN (Star Tribune Special Edition Front Page - Top)

Well, they only used one image of mine after all, and it's this one (above) - it's the top half of the front cover of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, dated July 13, 2000, from what was supposed to be Kiss' final Twin Cities performance ever. We all know how that worked out - the band is still on tour 10 years later, but, sadly, without Ace Frehley on lead guitar. The image appears briefly during the Ace interview segment of the DVD where he talks about leaving the band after the "Farewell Tour" was over.

03/16/2010 - Letter from IMV RE: Ace Frehley: Behind The Player DVD Photo Contributions

As I said, the DVD was released back in January. Just this past week I finally received my copy, along with this letter thanking me for my contribution.

2010 - Ace Frehley: Behind The Player DVD (Credits)

I have to admit, it felt pretty cool seeing my name appear in the credits (even though my contribution to this project was very small indeed) of an officially released Ace Frehley project. He's been my favorite guitarist ever since I was just a kid and remains so to this day, so it made me feel proud to be involved, even in some (really) small way.

Here's the official trailer for the DVD...

...and here's the main program on the DVD.

Suggested Reading: "Rebels In The Streets: The Story of New York's Girl Gangs" by Kitty Hanson (1964)

Rebels In The Streets: A Story of New York's Girl Gangs (1964) by Kitty Hanson (Alt. Cover)
(Image via: Get Back To Work)

A few weeks ago I ran across the above image over at Alex Smith's always amusing Tumblr site Get Back To Work. I did a bit of looking around and after finding a description of this book, I knew I had to track down a copy for myself. So about a week ago I ordered up a copy from and it arrived just a few days later. My copy arrived with a different but equally cool illustration on the dust jacket:

Rebels In The Streets: The Story of New York's Girl Gangs (1964) by Kitty Hanson
(Image via: NYCDreamin Archives)

Actually, the cover art in the second photo is more truly representative of the story in this book - the artwork in the top photo shows what looks to be a group of white girls, and the story is actually about a gang of Puerto Rican girls, which seems to be more correctly depicted on the (I'm assuming) original cover in the second photo. Anyway, it's a great book, just like I thought. Here's my short review from my GoodReads page:

This is a great book detailing the lives of several girls who, in the early 1960's, called the streets around East 108th street in Spanish Harlem in New York City's Upper East Side home, and how they ran wild in those streets.

The book is a detailed fist-hand account taken from the stories of "Karen" a youth commission counselor who finds herself working with a group of girls who call themselves "The Dagger Debs," the female counterpoints to a tough gang of guys who go by the name "The Daggers". The actual names of the gangs were something different, and the names of the girls and guys in the book have been changed to protect their identities, but the stories of their exploits are all true.

Coming from broken homes, some subjected to sexual abuse since a young age, and surrounded by crime and poverty and abject hopelessness, these girls form a tight knit group for friendship and protection on the streets. Their indiscretions include, but are not limited too, shoplifting, mugging, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual promiscuity, street fighting and any other of a host of juvenile delinquent activities. Karen, the case worker assigned to the group, feels a bit in over her head when she first makes contact with the group, but in the course of just over a year she makes inroads and comes to earn the trust and confidentiality of several of the girls.

The story ends well for some of the girls, not so well for some of the others. After a fatally violent incident in a nearby neighborhood claims the life of one of their male friends from The Daggers, the girls of The Debs have a choice to make - whether to continue on the path of wanton self destruction they have been following, or to get out of the gang lifestyle and try to make a better future for themselves.

Sound interesting? You can still get a copy from - there are currently 9 copies available.


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Once Upon a Flock by Laura Scheuer

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Thinking about getting some chickens for your backyard? Before you build a coop and hatch some eggs, you might want to read this book written by Massachusetts resident and illustrator Laura Scheuer. Filled with fun anecdotes and observations, as well as many adorable photos and illustrations, this book tells the story of Scheuer's experiences as a proud owner of her own flock of chickens. From raising chicks in the living room to giving a fertile egg to one very special and broody chicken, Scheuer vividly describes all her experiences--the good, the bad, and the heartbreaking--raising and owning three hens. Check Our Catalog

© 2011 Thomas Crane Public Library

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text:
Curse, schmurse (or, my first boyfriend sweater)

Top-down raglan knit to size of some of that sturdy 2-ply from Latvia, plus random stripes of my handspun single. Bigger than it looks–that dwindling gray was originally over half a pound of yarn. Need about 6 more inches of length, then some loose ribbing for the hemline. Then I’ll do the sleeves, which will be random and different from each other, and extra long for Cap’n Monkeyarms.

I always thought I had really stumpy arms, but I finally measured them and they’re exactly my height, just as they’re supposed to be, so there! All you jerks with those long arms that can reach things up on the high shelves, screw off! I’m perfect!

Also finishing up some Baby Henry stuff lickety-split, because Kelly Sue went and popped that little bun out of her oven two weeks early. The nerve! Happily, that makes him a Virgo, just like yours truly. And I have to say, he’s a very handsome baby. Not creepy or misshapen or sinister or dangerously boiled-looking. Nothing at all like his parents, in fact.

  • Macoco says:

    The sweater is so beautiful. I love the colors in the random striping.

  • minnie says:

    my husband is 6’8″ and his wingspan is 7′. my older son is 5’9″ and his wingspan is 6′. mine is actually shorter than i am (i have very short arms, which i’m told makes me stronger because ofa shorter fulcrum, but still, i can’t reach ANYTHING). only one in this house who is “right” is my 13 year old. he’s s5’1″ and so are his arms. makes me wonder how much more is he gonna grow?

  • knitxcore says:

    I’m really digging the random fun time stripey party going on there.

  • Corvus says:

    Is it a bad sign that “dangerously broiled looking” made me giggle? It is a good term for how most infants look to me, what with their very understandable tendency to be red and puffy for a while (though after studying Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome in Bacteriology, I suppose I’ll admit most babies don’t look as broiled as they could).

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