text:
‘Autumn Term’, Part Four

Chapter Seven: A First Class Hike

Before we get to the hike – it turns out Lois Sanger has been demoted to the netball Seconds after the Firsts’ catastrophic loss. Even though Lawrie loftily claims the Marlows don’t gossip (‘Aren’t we noble?’ remarks Marie), the twins are deeply interested in Jean’s insider knowledge, via her older sister Pauline. Apparently Rowan is a good, steady player but Lois is inconsistently brilliant, and Rowan lost her temper at Lois after the match because Lois happened to be having an off day.

Lawrie starts to think Rowan has been rather beastly to poor Lois, and that the twins ought to make it up to Lois by being super-good at Guides. Nicola accuses Lawrie of being fickle for liking Lois while still having a crush on Margaret, the games captain. Lawrie counters that at least she likes real people, unlike Nicola who’s been “wallowing in Nelson” for years. Then Karen comes along and takes points off for talking after lights out and Lawrie remarks sadly:

‘You would think she could turn her deaf ear to the telescope sometimes, wouldn’t you?’

Oh, Lawrie. She’s a bit dim, but she has a big heart.

(Can I just make a diversion here to talk about food? For supper, the twins had “bread and butter and stewed fruit” with a glass of milk. The seniors had macaroni cheese. So far, breakfast has been porridge, bread and marmalade. They have sugary buns for morning tea and “tea and bread and butter and plain cake” for afternoon tea. On the train, they had chocolate, then afterwards Nicola was treated to Raspberryade and a peach sundae by Rowan at a teashop. I don’t know what the students are served for midday dinner, but I’m hoping it involves protein and green vegetables. It’s a wonder the girls aren’t fainting all over the place from anaemia and hyperglycaemia. At least in Enid Blyton books they get to eat hard-boiled eggs and ham rolls and potted-meat sandwiches.)

Anyway, Lawrie’s brilliant plan is that the twins will use their initiative on the hike to help Lois get her remaining First Class badge. But things go wrong from the start. Lois can’t read the map properly and they get lost. The twins, trailing behind with Marie, start playing with matches. Lawrie suggests to Lois that the twins take an illegal shortcut across a farm to the beach, so they can set up the fire for the others, saving time. Lois half-heartedly agrees, then changes her mind and sends Marie after them. Marie, terrified of animals, hides near the farm gate for a while, then rushes back to Lois to claim she shouted but the twins didn’t hear her. On the beach, they all cook lunch (for the record, fried bacon, sausages and potato, plus ‘campers dreams’ filled with jam and butter) and listen to Lois reading a story, but then DISASTER STRIKES.

Farmer Probyn turns up and accuses the Guides of setting fire to his hayrick! Nicola, who cannot tell a lie, owns up to running through the farm with Lawrie. Marie pipes up to say the twins were playing with matches and Lois pretends the twins ran off without asking her. So unfair! But perhaps the truth will come out at the Court of Honour…

Chapter Eight: A Court of Honour

This section captures the moral complexity of the situation beautifully and highlights the advantage of using third-person omniscient point of view. We get to understand the issues from the perspective of the twins, Marie, Lois, even their exasperated Captain. Everyone has made mistakes, but the individuals deal with the consequences in characteristic ways. Lawrie falls to pieces and sobs helplessly, relying on Nicola to sort things out. Nicola, expecting those in authority to be as honest and straightforward as she is, gets confused when Lois tells half-truths (“It was so nearly what had happened that her own vision of what had taken place was blurred”) and fails to explain adequately, not helped by the very intimidating atmosphere. And Marie, having had lots of practice in making up stories to explain away her failings, manages to lie very convincingly.

After some deliberation, Miss Redmond calls the twins back in to announce the verdict. Although the cause of the fire is still in the hands of the insurance company, the Guide leaders have decided the twins broke three rules: they played with matches, they disobeyed Lois by running away through the farm and they disobeyed Lois again by lighting a fire on the beach. Of course, the twins are guilty of only the first of these sins, and it could be argued that was Lois’s fault for not supervising properly. But the poor twins are suspended from Guides for a year and have to hand in their badges!

Once everyone else has gone, Miss Redmond does admonish Lois and point out all the ways Lois could have behaved more effectively as patrol leader, finishing up with “my dear Lois, you behaved as though nothing mattered but your badge test.” Except the whole Guiding experience, with all its badges and tests and certificates, is set up precisely to encourage this sort of behaviour. Anyway, if Miss Redmond understands most of what happened, which she seems to, why is she punishing the most junior patrol members so severely while allowing the most senior to escape any penalty?

Lois, by the way, actually has the nerve to ask if she passed her hiking test! Then she privately decides she’ll use her Matric exam as an excuse to give up Guides if things don’t go perfectly for her from now on.

Grrr! I’m glad we’re only halfway through the book and there’s still a chance for justice to be done.

Next, Chapter Nine: Half-Term

8 thoughts on “‘Autumn Term’, Part Four”

  1. I adore that scene where Nicola and Lawrie are talking after lights out in Morse code! Very Marlow…

    The court of honour is so painful to read; Forest captures all the awkwardness and the trapped feeling where you know things are going wrong but you can’t quite see how to put them right. Lois Sanger, with her charisma and her self-delusions, is one of the most interesting characters in YA, I think!

    Girls Gone By have the next two books in the series available now. But they aren’t school stories; Forest blithely genre-hopped from book to book. Marlows and the Traitor is a spy adventure, and Falconer’s Lure is a holidays-and-ponies book, but with falcons instead of ponies (and heavily influenced by Josephine Tey’s Brat Farrar, I think). School stories resume with book 4, End of Term. I don’t know if GGB have the rights to the school stories, which is a shame.

    I cheerfully read the books at random from my school library, with some volumes missing, and didn’t manage to piece the whole sequence together until years later. It didn’t diminish my enjoyment… but having said that, being able to read the whole series from beginning to end for the first time this year was an enormous pleasure 🙂

    1. Even though I’m more interested in the school stories, I think I should read them in order if I can, especially as Books Two and Three are available at Girls Gone By. I’ll just have to keep an eye out for second-hand copies of the others. All the books are mostly about the twins, is that right? Because I don’t think I want to read a book all about Ginty or Peter…

      1. Attic Term has more about Ginty that the others, but it is a fascinating story of a popular, charming, lightweight character

        1. I have enough faith in Antonia Forest now to believe you when you say Ginty becomes more interesting later on! I guess we don’t really see much of her in Autumn Term and it’s mostly through Nicola’s eyes.

    2. GGB do have the rights to the school stories as well – though not to Autumn Term. (There was a LOT of negotiation between Clarissa of GGB, Faber and myself [I’m AF’s literary executor] before this was all sorted out.) However, it’s unlikely that GGB will reprint the school stories any time soon: they’re fairly easily available secondhand as Puffin paperbacks, and GGB probably wouldn’t sell enough to make it worthwhile.

      I have copies of all the books for sale (on behalf of other people) if you’re desperate, but obviously postage from the UK to Australia is a bit prohibitive.

      1. Thanks so much for that information, Sue – very useful to know! I will try to track down second-hand copies of the school books once I’ve read the next two GGB-published books.

  2. I seem to recall reading somewhere that Enid Blyton made a big deal about food and meals in her Famous Five/School stories books because, at the time, they still had food restrictions (and for quite some time after the war).

    Wheat, protein and dairy I think would have been pretty scarce after the war – I know in NZ we were on rations for a while after the war so that we could send protein to England. So maybe all the talk of bread and butter etc was meant to indicate that the school was a top notch place.

Leave a Reply to Sue Marsden Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


Content-Type: application/http; msgtype=response

WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: text/html

WARC-Type: response

text:
Denvoid and the Cowtown Punks

Denvoid and the Cowtown Punks: Stories from the '80s Denver Punk Scene

by Bob Rob Medina Author

A unique localized punk oral history full of original illustrations, flyers, and artifacts. The book features in-depth and eclectic interviews with active members of the musical and cultural punk scenes, including reformed skinheads and people who have moved on to becoming business owners. At its best Denvoid highlights how creative people were more successful than anyone could have predicted in building a global network and the kind of world that they wanted to live in.

warcinfo:
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2020-05
publisher: Common Crawl
description: Wide crawl of the web for January 2020
operator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)
hostname: ip-10-67-67-129.ec2.internal
software: Apache Nutch 1.16 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)
robots: checked via crawler-commons 1.1-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)
format: WARC File Format 1.1
conformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/


WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: application/xhtml+xml

text:
If the new Temple will be used by the Antichrist, can't it be built in our days?

It sounds reasonable, but that is only speculation. We know that the Antichrist will come with cleverness and deception. He will be a master politician, a great negotiator, and one who will perform miracles in the sight of all men. Such a character could very well be capable of negotiating a peace treaty between the Arabs and Jews in Israel. As a result, it is not unthinkable that a Temple will be built beside the Dome of the Rock on Mount Moriah, demonstrating peace to the world. That Jews and Muslims could pray on the Temple Mount in unity was previously unthinkable. But this Temple will indeed be used by the Antichrist, because the Bible says, “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2nd Thessalonians 2:4).

Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.

Read more from this author

ContactAbout UsPrivacy and Safety


text:
Compare Listings

Summit Ranks No. 4, Best School Districts in New Jersey

Summit Ranks No. 4, Best School Districts in New Jersey

Are you at the summit? Have you climbed far enough? How do you know for sure? Are you looking for an amazing place to move to with great schools? You might want to check out the Summit School District in N.J. Summit ranks fourth among New Jersey school districts in the excellence of its schools. […]

412 Morris Ave, Unit 12, Summit Open House

412 Morris Ave, Unit 12, Summit Open House

Open House 412 Morris Avenue Unit #12 Summit, NJ 07901 Please join us Sunday, March 31st 2-4p     Move-in-ready 2 bedroom/1 bath updated condo you have been waiting for. Complete with new stainless appliances, new full bath, washer/dryer, hardwood floors. Close to everything Summit has to offer! Fabulous location only .7 miles to Midtown […]

45 Dale Drive, Summit, NJ For Sale

OPEN HOUSE Sunday, Nov 22nd, 2-4p 45 Dale Drive, Summit, NJ 07901 OFFICIAL LISTING AGENT: Perri K. Feldman: 973.650.4727; There is nothing to do except bring your furniture and artwork!  This custom home truly has it all.  Immaculate interior spaces, a gorgeous setting and a prime location together in one remarkable package. From the […]

NJ Tennis Clubs Along the Midtown Direct Train Line

Tennis Anyone? There are some wonderful places to play tennis in New Jersey along the Midtown Direct Train line from South Orange to Morristown and in the adjacent communites as well. In fact, South Orange has its own version of Wimbledon at Orange Lawn with grass courts, mandatory white tennis attire and a new clubhouse equipped […]

241 Students Graduate from Summit High School in 2008

On a beautiful June evening 241 Seniors graduated from Summit High School at the Metro Homes Field in Summit, New Jersey. Eight students are heading to the Ivy’s: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth and Princeton. Where are the rest going? It is quite an impressive list: 9 Rutgers University 5 Bucknell University                       5 George Washington University 4 […]

Springfield Avenue Bridge in Summit Ribbon Cutting

Mayor Jordon Glatt officially opened the Springfield Avenue Bridge in Summit, New Jersey with town officials and local merchants participating including our own Keller Williams Realty. As onlookers prepared for the official ribbon cutting ceremony, we were treated with a brief comical show as debris from a passing truck spilled onto the roadway.   Interested […]

Summit Tennis Club Centennial Day is Born

July 1st is now officially known as  Summit Tennis Club Centennial Day in Summit, New Jersey.   Mayor Jordan Glatt presented Howie Heller and Jonathan Huenke of this prestigious club with the award at last night’s Common Council meeting. Summit Tennis Club is located just minutes from downtown Summit and the Midtown Direct Train line to NYC and […]

Summit Farmers Market Opens Today

I just got back from the Summit Farmers Market with bags in hand. Summit Farmers Market opened this morning, Sunday, June 15 in the Park & Shop Lot #2 on the corner of Maple Street and DeForest Avenue. The market will be open every Sunday from 8AM to 1:30 PM until November 23rd (rain or […]

Homes Are Selling In NJ

The New York City Real Estate market is thriving and homes along the Midtown Direct Train line and the 78/24 and 280 corridors are benefiting from it. Buyers shut out of the NYC market are coming to New Jersey taking advantage of well priced homes. Below are the November (11/1/2007–11/30/2007) closed sales of single family […]

The Devil Came On Horseback Screening Millburn High School

On Wednesday, December 5 at 7 p.m., in the Millburn High School Auditorium, the Millburn and Summit High Schools’  Help Darfur Now chapters are hosting a community screening of the award-winning documentary about the crisis in Darfur, €œThe Devil Came on Horseback.   The screening will be followed by a forum with a panel of experts, […]

Best New Jersey Farmers Markets

Throughout the Spring and Fall in Essex, Morris & Union Counties…Jersey Fresh Foods Abound at local Farmer’s Markets. Pick your day and enjoy the Goodies!!! I am in love with Gina’s Bakery & Dr. Pickle. Sunday  Summit Farmers MarketJune-October8:30AM-1:30PMDeForest AvenueBetween Summit & Maple StreetSummit, NJ 07901  Monday  East Hanover Farmers MarketJune-AugustNoon-6PMRidgedale AvenueSchool Avenue Municipal Parking […]


text:
Meet Our Team

Principal Investigator

Dr. Hamideh Bayrampour, PhD, MSc

Dr. Bayrampour is an Assistant Professor in Midwifery Program, Department of Family Practice, an associate member in the School of Population and Public Health and a faculty member in Reproductive and Developmental Sciences program at UBC.

Dr. Bayrampour’s research interests are in the areas of maternal mental health and substance use and pregnancy outcomes. She is particularly interested in maternal anxiety and its assessment during the perinatal period. She has research expertise in conducting systematic reviews, quantitative and qualitative research, mixed methods studies, and concept and trajectory analysis. Currently, Dr. Bayrampour leads three projects: Pregnancy Specific Anxiety Scale (funded by CIHR), Prenatal cannabis exposure and child outcomes (funded by CIHR), and Birth outcomes associated with Home birth after Cesarean Birth (funded by Stollery award).

604-827-1917 | | ResearchGate | PubMed

Research Associate

Dr. Sukhpreet Tamana, PhD, MSc

Dr. Sukhpreet Tamana is a Research Associate in the Department of Family Practice – Midwifery Program at UBC. She conducts clinical diagnostic assessments for the Prenatal Stress Anxiety Study (PSAS) (funded by CIHR). She received her psychology degree from the University of Alberta and is a registered provisional psychologist in Alberta. She went on to complete her postdoctoral training with the Canadian Healthy Infant Development (CHILD) study under the mentorship of Dr. Piush Mandhane and Dr. Bruce Dick. She has research expertise in mental health, sleep, epidemiology, and longitudinal trajectory analysis. She is particularly interested in how maternal depression and anxiety influences child health outcomes (behavior, sleep, executive functions, chronic disease). Her research interests also includes studying predictors of treatment outcomes after intervention and developing cognitive behavioral interventions.

604-827-2022 | | PubMed

Research Assistants

Mary Bunka, BA

Mary is a Research Assistant with the Midwifery Program in the Department of Family Practice. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia, majoring in psychology. Mary’s undergraduate studies took her to Uganda and to Poland, where she engaged in quantitative and qualitative research and refined her research interests, which include health care in marginalized populations, maternal mental health, and overcoming stigma, shame, and trauma. Mary is currently involved in the administration of Dr. Bayrampour’s three projects: The Pregnancy Specific Anxiety Scale (funded by CIHR), Prenatal Cannabis Exposure and Child Outcomes (funded by CIHR), and the Home Birth After Caesarean Birth Project (funded by the Stollery Award).

604-827-3932 | |

Ianna Folkes, BSc

Ianna is a Research Assistant with the Midwifery Program in the Department of Family Practice. She is a recent graduate of McGill University in Montreal, where she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacology and Psychology. Ianna’s research interests focus on the areas of perinatal/postpartum mental health and the impacts of pharmaceutical use during pregnancy. Her overall goal is to increase her knowledge and skills with a focus on maternal mental health and management options, both non-pharmacological and pharmacological.

604-827-3932 | |

Find the Perinatal Wellbeing Team on Social Media:


text:
UBC Midwifery welcomes Dana L. Solomon, PhD, KT Researcher, to the BirthPlace Lab

Dana Solomon has both an MA and PhD in interdisciplinary studies. Her research focuses on the relationship between entertainment and ideology and the ways in which entertainment can be used to facilitate communication about complex problems. Her research interests include ideologies of genocide and international conflict, knowledge translation, and the impact of bias within the medical profession on women with obesity.

Dana’s publications include several journal articles, book chapters, and a book published by Lexington Books, titled Ideological Battlegrounds: Entertainment to Disarm Divisive Propaganda. Dana has experience in both integrative mixed-methods and qualitative research practices. When Dana is not working at the Birth Place Lab, she owns and operates her own business, D-Editions.


text:
The semester is soon ending and we know everyone is busy with evaluations!

That’s why we at Mightifier wanted to help you out and offer you free printable strength diplomas. With 27 different strengths you can easily print out these diplomas and hand them out to your students as the semester ends. Each diploma comes with an description of the strength. Just add the name of the recipient and your own signature!

Print free Strength Diplomas in English by clicking here!

For strength diplomas in Finnish, click here!

Try Mightifier for free in May!

Mightifier rounds will help you choose the perfect strength diploma for each of your students! In May you can try Mightifying for free, and make sure all your students get to end the semester knowing their strengths.

With Mightifier’s tool you can easily gather encouraging peer evaluations for each and every one of your students!

Wishing you awesome last weeks of the school year!

– Mightifier Team


text:
Hard Graft Refresh Dopp Kit. Because Your Grooming Products Deserve To Have Their Stands

if your shampoo, shower gel and rest of your grooming essentials could talk, they would probably tell you that leaving them standing in a bag whilst in transits would be a better idea. alas, they couldn’t and hence till this day, dopp kit, washbags or whatever you call it, still looks like glorified shoe bags. […]

Hard Graft Frame Folio And Frame Pack Leather Bicycle Bags

Hard Graft, the bespoke leather goods company, has introduced a pair of made for bicycle gadget carriers for times when you really need to travel light with your iPad and cycle at the same time. instead of having a permanent bag affixed to your bike, the Frame series leather bicycle bag is removable so that […]

Bang & Olufsen Introduces Headphones Accessories Designed By Hard Graft

Danish audio and visual equipment maker Bang & Olufsen and bespoke bags and accessories maker Hard Graft have come together to create a trio of beautiful accessories to complement B&O’s personal audio gears. the B&O Play Headphones Accessories By Hard Graft include a headphone case/stand known as the ‘Peak Headphone Case‘, an earphone case/cable tidy […]

Hard Graft Cube Tote – A Versatile Bag For Shopping And The Beach

if you need just one bag that could see you through regular routines like grocery shopping, work and leisure, then the Hard Graft Cube Tote might be a good place to start. it has a shape unlike most bags (read: uber cool), which the product name explicitly implies, and sports an enormous opening, held closed […]

Hard Graft Draw Pen Case

unless you have a pen that folds, we would imagine you will need something to carry them around, well, that is assuming you still depends on pen to jolt down notes or doodles. i still carry a pen, mainly for filling out lottery forms (don’t look at me that way, i need those money as much as you do) and

Hard Graft Draw Key Pouch

we often spoke about going minimal for our wallets, but we forgot that we still have keys to deal with (unless you have smart entry like the Lockitron installed in your house), which obviously, a minimal wallet ain’t going to do it, less you have only one key. the Hard Graft Draw Key Pouch is the for the time where you want to go minimal, but still have the keys with you.

Hard Graft Camera Accessories

if you are wondering why Hard Graft has only one camera accessory to offer, well, you can stop wondering, cos’ it now has not one, but three more accessories for style-conscious (and possibly, leather-loving) shutterbugs. the trio, a hold camera handle, hang camera strap, and box camera bag, sports Hard Graft’s signature vegetable tanned leather

Hard Graft Frame1 Leather SLR Camera Bag / Smoke

we did feature this Frame1 Leather SLR Camera Bag about a year ago, so this is kind of an update, which for the record, we don’t usually do. we prefer to do “minor” updates through our Facebook page (another reason to follow us on Facebook, perhaps?) for orderly and neatness sakes. however, this Smoke version

Hard Graft iPhone 5 Back Up Case & Cover

sleeve or case? that’s often a tough decision when it comes to scouting out for an iPhone 5 case. so save yourself the dilemma and get yourself a Hard Graft iPhone 5 Back Up Case & Cover that, as its name implies, is both a case and a sleeve. there’s nothing magical here: the product comes as two parts, a vegetable tanned Italian leather-clad


text:
Fri. Jan 17th, 2020

Millionaire Visionaire

Building the Millionaire Mindset

30 Day blog Challenge

5 min read
Join me on my 30 blog challenge, as I take on this challenge to improve myself and hopefully inspire you as well

Hi there!

I have challenged myself to a 30 day blog challenge. So, I will be writing an article every day, for the next 30 days. To start off this blog challenge I have decided to introduce and share a little more about myself, and hopefully be able to let you better understand who I am and why I do the things I do.

Who am I

Most of you here, would probably not know who I am. My name is Gideon Oi, I am 29 this year, and I am from Singapore. Most of my friends just call me Giddy.

How Millionaire Visionaire Came about

I started Millionaire Visionaire about a year ago, but haven’t been putting in much efforts into it due to work commitments. I work as a marine engineer for my day job and have a few side hustles going on at the same time.

Millionaire Visionaire was started with the intention of sharing my journey and experiences with others. I come from an average income family and I really feel that I am so fortunate to have them. They have always been supportive of the “crazy ideas” which I would be interested in even though they know most of the interests I may be pursuing would only last for awhile. The thing about me and pursuing these “5 minute interests”, is that I would invest quite a bit of time and efforts into these interests. Sometimes I would have to invest money into it as well. Most people would deem it as a waste of time and money, but I disagree with that view of theirs. I will further elaborate on the topic of “5 Minutes Interests” during this blog challenge.

Hobbies of mine

Through the times of pursuing 5 minute interests, some of them managed to stick and have become some of my hobbies. One of my longest hobbies would be Unicycling. Not something very common around the world. I picked up unicycling when I was 16, so that is about 13 years now. But it looks more difficult to pick it up that it actually is. Like most skills, practice is all we need.

Another activity that I love is Scuba Diving. I picked it up just a few years ago with the intention actually of supporting a friend’s business. I feel in love with diving because of the peace I feel when I am just hovering in the water. The rest of the world and its worries just disappear. I would just be able to hear the sounds of the sea creatures, and the occasional quacking from my friend whenever I drifted off too far. He is a very dear friend of mine and operates in Amed, Bali. If you guys are interested in diving or to try it out, please do check out my friend’s dive center. It is called Dive Culture, and you would be able to look them up on Facebook and Instagram.

One more interest of mine and a pretty unusual one, is the interest in keeping ants. I currently do not have any more colonies of ants at the moment. But I do wish to go back into keep ants again soon. The thing about ants that intrigues me the most, is their way of life. It would seem as though they were born with the knowledge and skills to do their jobs. Be it attending to the queen or eggs, to the task of foraging. the moment they spawn from their “shells” they would go carry out their task. A fun fact for you: Ant colonies are all females. (I may be wrong, but most if not all colonies are females) And for those wondering, I used to keep the Polyrhachis and the Odontomachus. You can google them up to know more about them.

That’s pretty much the few interests or hobbies that are active at the moment. Randomly, I would edit Wikipedia articles as well just to broaden my knowledge by picking random articles to edit.

If you are still here reading, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your time and interest in this blog of mine. It is still a work in progress, but I promise to put in more effort in polishing up this website for all of you.

Aim of Millionaire Visionaire

My aim of Millionaire Visionaire is to really gather like-minded people who want to push themselves further, who are always hungry for knowledge like I am and do not really believe in settling for mediocre. Millionaire Visionaire isn’t about tell you guys that I am such a success or stuff like that. Millionaire Visionaire is my journey that I would like to share with all of you, to let you guys know that I am just an average guy just like everyone else. And it is possible to “level up” ourselves and break the status quo. I would like to work together with you guys if you are willing to come on board with me. If any of you are interested, just drop me an email at:

We can give each other some motivation through these collaborations.

Anyway, I decided to start on this blog challenge to challenge myself and improve my article writing skills. What I would like to achieve at the end of this challenge, is that I will be more comfortable in writing articles and be more consistent in it. For this first one for the month, it seems a little wordy. I hope to be able to improve on my formatting to give you guys are better article to read. During this blog challenge, I would like to add more experiences of my own as examples for you to understand why I have certain perspectives.

Thank you for you time and effort in reading my humble blog. If you have any feedback or feel there are certain stuff which I may be wrong and needs correcting, please do let me know as I would like to improve from my mistakes and hopefully not repeat them again. Drop me your feedback at:

Hope to see you again tomorrow!

More Stories

You may have missed


text:
I write what I like.

Archive for the tag “TDA”

Amama Mbabazi: The grass wasn’t greener on the other side…

Now matter how you look at it. There is a reason why Amama Mbabazi arrived was at the Kisozi farm in Gombe yesterday. Sitting side-by-side of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Ever since the resignation letter of September 2014. As Amama prepared to challenge Museveni within the National Resistance Movement (NRM) things has gone south for him.

Not like Amama has gotten into trouble like Besigye. Neither did he say that he had left the NRM. He was still a member as he went on with his Presidential Candidate with his pressure group, Go Forward and aligned himself with the The Democratic Alliance (TDA). So, that he was the supposed second option to Museveni. Even as the popularity and the strength in the opposition was all on Besigye.

Still, with that as he walked in the desert. He went days upon end without water. He felt the threat of the state. His people was tear-gassed, the offices of Go Forward was raided and blocked from operation. The consultation meetings was ambushed and sealed off. Youthful supporters and activists was arrested, all of this before the general election of 2016.

Even with all of that, he still until the final day of campaigning was still saying he was an NRM. That shows his loyalty. Even as he was a supposed candidate on the outside of the party. We know he was planning things before and would easily do it again. Just like he did with the NRM Cadre 2014. Evelyn Anite warned about his activities back in 2015 with that group. Therefore, he has proven before that he can light things up. Especially, if it is something in it for him.

Yoweri would enjoy having the services of Amama. His a good organizer and someone whose able to get a machinery going. Especially, if Amama gets some monetary incentives and get options for kick-backs. Mbabazi will serve like a thieving saint, the man of the heart of Mwenda these days. As long as he skims the top of the glass, there will be enough for everyone to drink. That is what Amama does and surely, at this point. Museveni would like to have his brethren back under his wings.

The little rebellion, the failing enterprise of Go Forward/TDA. The mediocre display of trying to gain an advantage and rise as a star in the NRM. Must surely humiliate Mbabazi, who couldn’t even make sense of the games played. He was a pawn seeking a greener pasture. Even if he was eating as there was no tomorrow as the Prime Minister, as the man who secured tenders, looting in the DRC and beyond. Mbabazi had it.

One of the most corrupt leaders in Uganda in living memory. He had everything, risked it all by challenging Museveni. Someone who haven’t lost* an election since taking power. Its hard to believe that Amama didn’t know, as he helped organizing the NRM for plenty of those. Before he had his “independent” run as an NRM member. If there ever was a pawn in the game, he was the one who was the biggest puppet of them all.

With that in mind, let’s say we don’t know what the deal was about yesterday. But he was smug around the President. He delivered some documents and most likely scheming something. If Amama wasn’t, he wouldn’t be true to himself and his own legacy. Peace.

*rigged elections since 1986

Opinion: Nabilah Naggayi Sempala tries to finesse the game again

At any point of time there is those Members of Parliament, those supposed representatives that jump between parties, affiliations and behind bigger-men. For just one reason, to save their own career, because its not like they got any chance on their own. They got to have someone bigger boosting their number and chances of success.

The biggest of these in the Republic is Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Kampala Woman MP Nabilah Naggayi Sempala. Who in midst of November 2015 within a weeks time, went from endorsing Amama Mbabazi and his TDA Presidential Flagbearer to a little week later show-up at nomination day as a FDC MP. Therefore, jumping between the loyalty to Amama and going back to Dr. Kizza Besigye. She got later fully nominated in early december 2015. But that has been with me ever since.

She showed the way she will finesse things for power and possibility to become an MP. Nabilah will use all avenues, as long as it benefits her. There are nothing she will not say. Just like earlier in this year, she said Besigye is done and has had his time. That’s why she has no issues now to wear the red beret and be People Power affiliate. That’s because it boost her chances for a third term as an MP. She doesn’t do it because she believes no. Than, she would jump back to FDC if that added the options next week.

Nabilah Naggayi Sempala isn’t the loyal type, she fishes for relevance and importance. To be apart of the most dominating force of the moment. If it is Amama, Besigye or Bobi Wine doesn’t matter, as long as she is with the right big-man. She just need the right leader and the leeching of that. As long as she needs, until election season is over and she can cash in the envelopes.

That is why the Kampala Woman MP is finenessing this game. She ensure the deck is stacked in her favour and for her taking. Not matter what slogan, what bargain or what possible cost. As long as she get to keep the fiefdom and the payouts she’s accustomed too.

We all know this is game played for 2021. Just like she toyed around with Amama in 2015. She did so, because she felt the Go-Forward and TDA was a viable choice for a new home. But she ditched that, when she understood she had done wrong. Even as she was incumbent on a same ticket from previous election.

Nabilah could been loyal and shown some ethical and political savvy, instead she is doing shoddy homework and hoping no-one is noticing. The MP thinks people are forgetful. Not like she has dropped a legislation worth anything in two terms, neither has she had a pet-project to prove her value. What she is just another empty suit, but a finessing one at that.

If there is a new star on block next month, that becomes more viable than Bobi Wine. She would go his way. If she thinks the DP Block or ANT works. She might join them. Nabilah does whatever as long as she get the outcome she needs. The principals, the loyalty or the politics doesn’t matter, as long as she gets the paper. Peace.

Opinion: ANT’s fragile start ends up with a partnership with the DP Block

Well, the Alliance of National Transformation (ANT), the newly minted party from former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) rt. Gen. Mugisha Muntu has today shown sign of weakness. As his party is nearly launched and having consultation meetings across the Republic.

Still ANT is in the beginning face and now seeking alliance with Democratic Party Block or DP Block. Which is already filled one-man band parties of Social Democratic Party (SDP) of Michael Mabikke and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Abed Bwanika. These was the key patrons behind the DP Block. Now its revealed, that the party registered in January of 2019. Are now a part of the DP Block too.

That is sign of strength and broaden perspective for Norbert Mao, whose not has had many friends since he was a part of The Democratic Alliance (TDA). Surely, this makes him look important and that he got good opposition backers behind him. Even as the FDC and People Power Movement are moving on their own.

The DP Block doesn’t get more viable, even if it has Muntu. As his speaks of “country before self”, but his own agenda seems to be finding a space for him to shine. There isn’t anything that resembles strength or uniqueness in the ways Muntu has manoeuvred. Neither in anything Mao has been doing, except for his power-play some-days on NBS TV.

Let’s be clear, ANT is showing not their capabilities or their message by being part of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), the one that was supposed to reign in Robert Kyagulanyi and his brigades. Alas, that didn’t happen. It has only brought Mabbike, Bwanika and now Muntu. Is he awaiting someone else to so they can actually drive somewhere?

Because, at this point, this is still a TDA-Lite, even without the head honco of a Amama Mbabazi, a score and sore point to address the struggles and the big-man to have any appeal. With the cadres around the table, the measure of scope isn’t strong. Unless, they suddenly are able to show finesse and be political savvy to actually be relevant. This is not something you should anticipate from Mao, neither Bwanika nor Muntu. If so, why would they be there?

Unity isn’t bad, but this is like the losers club. Where the ones who couldn’t be a big-man, want to act like big-men, but is all dancing midgets. Well, its cruel, but a fact. They all want to be viable and express the concern of the public like Besigye, want the outreach and popularity like Bobi Wine. If not be unpopular, but still have the army like Anite. But, they have neither and acts like they can get it all by the half-baked measures they are doing.

As shown by the Democratic Party statement on the meeting today: “Next steps include the urgent declaration of our position on minimum reforms before the next elections. This doesn’t require the SPV as a precondition” (DP, 23.08.2019).

Because, if they wanted people to really join and follow the SPV, it should be able to function for the purposes of not only reforms, but basic governing. It is clearly lacking that, as it seems only to function as basis for the men to seem important. Which is by all means, a lot work to waste time. Peace.

PS: Bwanika hasn’t been so vocal lately, maybe he had a pay-off since last time we saw him.

Uganda: Press Statement- Government Position on the Electoral Law Reforms (30.07.2019)

Opinion: Bwanika want to be a Kingmaker, but his just a jester!

Bobi Wine you made a major mistake to self-proclaim that you will lead people without peoples participation and endorsement” Abed Bwanika

It seems that Abed Bwanika wants to be important. He want to be the central part of the opposition. Bwanika wants to be the kingmaker, the one that is behind the ones coming up. Abed wants to be the one whose the man behind the scene and get seen as the chief.

There is signs that People’s Development Party (PDP) and Democratic Party Block leader Bwanika thinks highly of himself. That Bwanika and others in the DP Block think they invented and ushered in People Power. Like the phenomenon was his and his allies to control and muffle with. That they should be able to run it. Because, his been meeting and greeting Bobi Wine on several of occasions.

This is how it seems, that Bwanika wants to be a kingpin, he wants to be the steers and offers positions. He feels he deserves credit and should be honoured for his work. Instead, he was left behind and feels like a sore looser. That is why Bwanika now says Bobi Wine is wrong, picking the wrong people and is the worst. Since, he was left out of the picture, a picture and a organization he should have some sort of central position in.

Instead, the DP Block leader is lost, his not a kingmaker and not as big as he thinks he is. Bobi Wine is so much more than Bwanika. That is visible by the structure and by the reach he has. That is why the NRM is worried about the popular rise of People Power. This is something Bwanika knows, but he wants to act like he was a vital part in it. Which I have hard time to believe.

Bwanika wants to be around kings, but the only way he can get there right now. Is if he dances, making jokes and make his court laugh. Right now, that is all he does. Abed has forgotten his role and thinks too highly of himself.

It is maybe time for Bwanika to reflect on his self-importance, before his totally undressed by the public. Which is happening in rapid speed, no to be accurate near amp-speed. That is how impressively self-inflected damage and self-destruction.

That is why he isn’t an kingmaker, but an jester. That must be sad, but Bwanika at this moment, it is what it is. He wants to vital, important and looking like he makes a difference, except for losing face. That’s not a good look, but put up a skit for all of us! That is what a jester is supposed to do. Peace.

Opinion: Showing signs of coordinated attacks against the PPM!

Well, it is about that time, just mere days after the launch of the structure and coordination team of the Political Pressure Group called People Power run by Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine. That the politicians friendly to the regime is answering it. There is already calls for legislation directed to ban these sort of outfits and associations with them. Therefore, what is happening now is deliberate. It’s kind of ordinary, as everytime real opposition comes along. The state and their allies jumps on guard to attack, undermine and belittle the acts of it.

This time the DP Block, Norbert Mao and the his closest associate Bwanika has both coordinated attacks and play forward. To ensure, that they are undermining both Bobi Wine and the PPM. This isn’t shocking, as they wanted him as a loyal subject within the DP Block and didn’t want him to run on his own. Alas, to keep him in a TDA light box, which the state wouldn’t ban or address in any fashion. Because, what danger to the regime does Mabikke of the SDP, Bwanika of the PDP and Mao of DP, made their alliance, but not that they have any fire-power.

That is why today, the acts of devious attempts to undermine comes at bay. The DP own ending of their Press Release, says it all. As they try in the long statement to sound cool about it, but the last paragraph. Really says it all, that people need to know. Bwanika seems like a kid, who didn’t get his wish and Beti Kamya, well, she is showing her loyalty to the NRM and the President. As she had no issues with the The Democratic Alliance in the previous election, but now its all wrong. Surely, since it is not her part in the PPM on the line, but she can say they are unworthy and claim they cause havoc. When we know the authorities that brings the weapons, the tear-gas and the mambas to the public gatherings of the opposition, or has she forgot that?

Well, here is the statements.

DP distance its members from PPM:

We shall issue further directions to our members after the consultative meeting with top leaders and MPs. In the meantime, we don’t expect any of our leaders particularly at the grassroots to deal with any one purpoting to be Cordinator of People Power until a formal pact is reached between DP and all other political actors. We cannot allow other people to dig their foundation in our compound without a negotiated settlement properly reached” (Democratic Party, 27.07.2019).

Abed Bwanika attacks PPM:

We the DP bloc/People power as the architects of the movement shall sit and look into many aspects including whether he can remain the leading figure of the people power movement. He may be left with no alternative but to form his own party and leave the architects of people power to move. We don’t even want to think that our brother Bobi was under the influence of any intoxicant while doing such but we may be tempted to think so.” said by Abed Bwanika

Beti Kamya attack PPM too:

Bobi Wine is running an unregistered political organization. People Power and People’s Government are non existent in our laws. As a country, we went into multiparty dispensation, but these people are undermining it. Unregistered political organizations like People’s Government and People Power should be banned since their leadership uses them to incite violence” (Softpower – ‘Betty Kamya: Bobi Wine’s ‘People Power’ should be banned, 27.07.2019).

As we are seeing, the DP Block, Bwainka and Kamya are all addressing the same thing and saying the PPM is wrong. In all their different ways, but all done to ensure that the PPM look illegal and acts illegal.

It is either, that the DP Block members and MPs shouldn’t be associated with the PPM. They shouldn’t do so, before the DP Block have an agreement. Bwanika want to take credit for the PPM, like his the grandfather of the struggle and deserves to control it. Abed thinks so highly of himself, that if he looks further, I think he started the UPC and DP party. Its just that he doesn’t know it yet. Just kidding, but his the sort of character, that tries to be King Kong, but is only a random fellow playing ping-pong.

Kamya has given up her own party for the loyalty of the NRM. She has given up opposition and now tries to add conflicts and annoy the opposition. This is all to show her master and pay respects for appointing her role as a Minister. That is who she is now and shows it again and again. She could herself be a part of the TDA, as a UFA leader and MP candidate. But, she cannot accept the PPM. That is because, it works against her place in the world. Because she needs the President and his brown envelopes.

This is all coordinated attacks of the PPM and Bobi Wine. This is not new, but done before and they will do whatever to ban, cease and crush the organization. The PPM will be under-fire and they will always be scrutinized. That is just the way it is. Peace.

Opinion: Attorney General Byaruhanga’s Electoral Reforms are aimed at Bobi Wine!

There is no doubt in my mind, when I read the latest pieces of leaks on the tabled bills from the Attorney General William Byaruhanga. That his only intent is to stifle the opportunity to reveal electoral rigging and stop the independents like Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.

Why do I say that?

Well, his brilliant idea of banning all cameras and phones from the polling station for one. This is really an direct effort to stop leaks of videos of pre-ticked ballots and ballot-stuffing of ballot-boxes. To think otherwise is naive, if not the re-writing, Tipp-Ex editing of Return Forms would also be easier if no-one took a direct photocopy of the paperwork before releasing it to the Electoral Commission or getting it processed. This is just simple Math and easy to understand.

Another brilliant idea from the AG Byaruhanga is how his restricting Independent candidates of both MPs and Presidential Candidates.

First he want to block independent Presidential Candidates from forming alliances with any registered political party. Also, to stand as an Independent, you must have ceased being a member of a political party for at least one year. The political party must consent to your leaving the party. Continuing with the Candidates barred from becoming Independents after participating in a party primary. Following that an ex-party member can run as independent one year after quitting their parties. If your was thinking this was enough, no its not, as upon election as independent, a member is free to ally with a party of their choice and finally an Independent presidential candidates is barred from forming any alliance with any political party.

If you read into it. The Independent cannot turn independent before a year in advance and drop-out of own party to still be fielded as candidate at the General Election, as many did in 2016. However, this also stops many of President own men, if this is getting through. That one is not direct at Bobi Wine.

However, the connection with Political Parties and Independent President Candidate forming alliance with Political Parties. Is what happen yesterday with the People Power Movement. Just like the Pressure Group of The Democratic Alliance went in alliance and had an Independent President Candidate Amama Mbabazi. So, that was fine in 2016, when Museveni wasn’t afraid of his former ally, but today and now in 2019. The National Resistance Movement is frighten, pissing in their pants and ready to Electoral Reform to make People Power Movement (PPM) illegal by definition.

Also another suggestion in the bills, is that Political Parties are not allowed to any links with Pressure Groups and is even barred from doing so. Meaning that the Forum for Democratic Change and Democratic Party cannot be connected to the PPM by any means or through any deal. As the Electoral Law is banning that, as well, as the FDC cannot support or be joining the Independent Presidential Candidate of Bobi Wine. Just like the DP could support TDA/Go-Forward Independent Presidential Candidate Mbabazi in 2016.

You really see the deal, that the NRM and AG Byaruhanga is doing these days. His really working to undermine the Electoral Reforms to hit the PPM. This is not done to ensure the needed reforms. Because none of these are what the Election Observation Missions stated after the elections of 2016.

This is all targeted at Bobi Wine as an Independent Presidential Candidate and the alliances with various of Political Parties, as he has MPs whose aligned there. But funny how this is happening in 2019 and not in 2015. Maybe, the President and NRM didn’t fear Amama, but they are afraid of Bobi? Peace.

What is Nabilah Naggayi Sempala problem: Everyone lies, but who is telling the truth then?

The Forum for Democratic Change Woman MP for Kampala Nabilah Naggayi Sempala has spoken out about the state of affairs in general politics. Especially after the FDC Reshuffle within the 10th Parliament, where most of the loyalists to previous Party President Gen. Mugisha Muntu have been outcast and other people have been assigned roles within the shadow government. However, this has not gone without questions or even discussions. As the decisions to do so, has been done by the FDC Party President Patrick Oboi Amuriat. Which is a total normal procedure and has been done by the FDC for ages now. Therefore, the silent force and not so viable MP, Nabilah shows up to scene.

She is not the cleanest MP within the FDC, even during campaigns before the General Election in 2016. She campaigned both with Amama Mbabazi and Kizza Besigye. Seemingly, whenever the big-man was in town, she had to have support of both. Which is in itself weird and also disloyal. No-one should forget that. Maybe, that is why she is concerned about the state of affairs.

The current state of our nation political health is majorly caused by the willingness of most people to listen to lies especially those who are passionate about party politics and will be quick to rationalize or diminish the seriousness of lies told by a member of the political party they support, but will be merciless toward any member of the opposing political party caught telling a lie of any kind. I strongly believe that all of the problems facing Uganda can be traced to people’s collective choice to embrace Lies. But even though they will claim not to like lying, they continue to tolerate the people and institutions that do the lying so long as none of the specific lies they tell happens to greatly disadvantage or displease them personally; But in the confines of their homes and amongst close friends or family; they embarrassingly admit that the Leader of FDC has lied on several occasions or that President Museveni has not been exactly truthful to Ugandans! Over to you, Ugandans! When will “LYING” be faced and confronted straight in the FACE? Whatever is eating up FDC is the same eating up NRM! Dishonesty!” (Nabilah Naggayi Sempala, 10.08.2018).

If there is someone who is electioneering or trying to finesse herself in Uganda. Nabilah is one of them. Especially if there is coins or loyalty points to get out of it. This is happening now, she is trying to forge a better pattern and make herself viable. Not that she had done that when it came to Age Limit or possible Land Amendments. You wouldn’t hear her speak or utter a word, but when its mere political splits or political infighting. She shows up like hunger strikes. Nabilah have to get that bread and this is how she gets her butter.

Nabila N. Sempala has done this and will continue to pursuit this way. Because her messaging is lack-luster and needs a political sponsor to get pass anything. Her character is coning and will look for someone to carry her. That she blames both FDC and Museveni of lying is to cover all bases. Both her FDC base, but also show wits. What falls flat, is the lack of implying, who is lying and what lie?

Is it that the FDC are trying to forge fresh MPs within the Parliament and foster their talents? Is that the FDC branch of Muntu is being faced out? The NRM lies constantly, that is their bread and butter, the one you are also trying to score point on. What is drive there? Museveni lies all the time and false promises is his livelihood. So what is your point there?

Nabilah is electioneering and trying to finesse herself again. Nsereko bangs for bucks, Nabilah gives loyalty for bucks. Let see where the buck stops for her, maybe she will change party to before next election. She was part of Mbabazi before going back to Besigye in 2015. Let see if she pulls of the same sort of stunt in 2020 before the 2021. Peace.

Kakira Sugar Limited addressing farmers strike (02.07.2018)

NRM Secretariat – Re: SG Lumumba in Butebo Today (23.06.2018)

Post Navigation

%d bloggers like this:


text:
Honourary Alumni

From a small grassroots beginning, to the world-class organization MindFuel is today, these are some of the incredible people who have helped shape, influence and lead us to excellence in science learning and education.

James (Jim) Kenneth Gray O.C., A.O.E.

James (Jim) Kenneth Gray O.C., A.O.E.

Founding and Honourary Chair, Science Alberta Foundation

Jim Gray’s foresight ignited the creation of Science Alberta Foundation. In 1989, he collected 22,000 signatures from Albertans to show support for the concept of a provincial network of science centres. Science Alberta was established in 1990, and the following year received $4 million for a 2-year pilot project from provincial and federal governments, and the private sector. The resulting emphasis on mobile, self-guided science programs proved successful and Jim Gray’s vision was fulfilled – every community in Alberta has access to quality science education.

Jim Gray co-founded Canadian Hunter Exploration Ltd. in 1973, and currently serves as Chair. He serves on the Board of Directors of many Canadian corporations, and in 2001, acted as the Chair of the Organizing Committee for the 16th World Petroleum Congress held in Calgary.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Jim Gray was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1991 by the University of Calgary, a Citation for Citizenship by the Government of Canada in 1992, and the Fellowship of Honour by the YMCA. In 1995, Jim Gray was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, and in 2001 was named Canadian Energy Person of the Year.

Anne Tingle

Anne Tingle

Founding Executive Director, Science Alberta Foundation

In 1990, Anne Tingle was the founding Executive Director of SAF. Serving for almost 10 years, Anne was instrumental in executing the mission set out by the board of directors to create a world-class organization that brought science to the people.

Over the course of her time at SAF, she spearheaded numerous programming initiatives including the first travelling exhibit, “The Body in the Library” a forensic science program.  Due to high demand and circulation, the travelling exhibits program paved the way for future interactive exhibits. SAF’s very popular and innovative “Science-in-a-Crate” was launched in 1993 and became a teacher favourite in schools all across Alberta serving over 200 communities throughout the 1990s. The award winning “Aboriginal Ways of Knowing” was also introduced to acknowledge the traditional ways of understanding science in Aboriginal Culture. Then in 1999, under Anne’s lead and through collaboration with numerous stakeholders, SAF celebrated a decade of excellence, and the doors to the Alberta Science School opened. Over the course of Anne’s tenure, SAF started from a grassroots organization in its early days and grew in size to become a world-class organization that succeeded in supporting educators to inspire young minds and excite the inner curious scientist in all of us. To this day, MindFuel continues to Ignite Curiosity, Critical Thinking and Imagination, thanks to the ground work done by Ms. Anne Tingle.

Prior to co-founding Science Alberta Foundation, after completing university, Anne was a teacher in Coaldale and Calgary. She was a member of the provincial Home and School Association executive.  After this Anne served for nine years as a trustee on the Calgary Board of Education, two terms as Chair of the Board. During this time she was a member of the Alberta School Trustees’ Association. In 1990 Anne was appointed Chair of  Mount Royal College, where she served for more than six years, and following that she was appointed to the University of Calgary Board of Governors where she served for six years. Anne was a founding member of the Calgary Winning Women Groups which provided political skills training seminars and workshops for women interested in seeking public office. Anne also served on the board of The Calgary Foundation. Currently Anne serves on the board of CERA (Centre for Education Research Applications), is on the executive of the Calgary Women’s Literary Club (founded in 1906), and holds a leadership position in her Church’s women’s organization.

Thank you, Anne Tingle.

Dr. Arlene Ponting

Dr. Arlene Ponting

President Emerita, MindFuel

Past CEO, Dr. Arlene Ponting, who successfully led SAF for thirteen years, was bestowed by the Board with the honourary title of President Emerita upon the appointment of Cassy Weber as CEO on November 1, 2012. Arlene and Cassy Weber collaborated until the end of 2012 to transition key business units’ management responsibilities.

Dr. Ponting grew SAF into a world-class organization.  In 2012, SAF won a Webby Award for its animation on nanotechnology.  The Webby is the leading international award honouring excellence on the internet including websites, interactive advertising and online film and video.  SAF also won a 2011 Digital Alberta Award and was a finalist for a 2011 Alberta Science and Technology Leadership Foundation Award in Science Education and Awareness.

SAF has been recognized as a leading science promotion organization in Canada and is achieving its mission of encouraging youth to enter careers in science and technology and fostering a citizenry that can make informed decisions about science issues facing society.

Dr. Ponting has a B.Sc. (Hon) in Pharmacy and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Alberta. She serves on the National Science and Engineering Research Council and the Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations.

Dr. Ponting received the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005 in recognition of outstanding service to the people and the province of Alberta. She was selected by Alberta Venture as one of the top 50 influential people in Alberta in 2008 and was selected as one of the WXN 100 Most Powerful Women in 2009 and 2010.

Thank you, Arlene Ponting.


text:
5 Things to Consider When Choosing Photos for your Website.

While it may seem like an easy or mindless task, the process of choosing photos for your website is a bit more complicated than you may think.

Finding relevant and unique stock photos or sifting through the misnamed, disorganized archives on your companies local shared drive takes a bit of time but that, by no means, is the only step in the process.

Below are 5 things you really should be considering when selecting photos for your website.

1. Determine the Message of Your Website.

What’s the goal of your website, why are you creating or re-designing one in the first place? Is it to increase your current customer base? Is it a resource for your existing customers to find useful information? Or is it simply to let people know you exist?

All are good reasons to create and update your current website, but they all have very different messages to the end user.

Figure out what your purpose is, write it out, then think about what type of photos will help visually reinforce that message.

2. Make Sure That Voice is Consistent With Your Brand

Consistency is key in any successful brand. Making sure your voice is consistent throughout all of your marketing materials goes a long way in building brand recognition and establishing loyalty in your customers. To help understand if your photos are on brand, ask yourself:

  • Will our customers identify with these photos?
  • Do the photos feel like they are consistent with the rest of the marking materials we are producing?
  • Do they support our written content?

If you said yes to all three of these questions, you likely are on the right path.

3. Is Text Overlaying Your Photos?

After determining your message and making sure your voice is consistent, the next thing you need to consider is the design of your new website.

  • Does the home page banner (or hero) image have a text overlay?
  • Do the inside banner images have a text overlay?
  • Do the support images in the body of the page have a text overlay?

These may seem like trivial questions, but they’re actually really important in making sure all of your headlines are easily legible and consistent with the design of your new site.

Example photo of high contrast banner image

In the example above you can see the image has a high contrast, which makes the text difficult to read. The only way this photo will really work is if you change the design slightly to add an overlay. This can be a viable solution in some instances, but it can also take away from the overall impact of the photo and might not give the look you were hoping for.

In this example you can see that the there is a low contrast between the photo and the text, making it very easy to find and read.

4. What Aspect Ratio Do You Have to Work With?

Next, making sure you know what aspect ratio the design is using will save you a lot of time and heartache, especially when you find the perfect photo only to realize when it is cropped to fit in your website you can’t show everything you want.

Let’s say you’re a construction company and you’re looking for photos of recent builds and the design you’re working with doesn’t have a text overlay in the inside page banner area.

You find the photo below and the orange box is the aspect ratio, or size of the visible window for the banner photo of an inside page.

This photo may seem perfect, but as you can see, it can’t be cropped to fit properly inside of the banner and still show the top and bottom of the building.

5. Are You Thinking About Mobile?

Finally, don’t forget about mobile! In 2016 mobile and tablet internet usage exceeded desktop for the first time worldwide. We just talked about cropping your photo to the correct aspect ratio on desktop, the next thing to consider is, how does that crop effect the photo when viewing your site on a mobile device?

You want to choose photos that will crop well vertically as well as horizontally. This is where things can become tricky and often require the use of a different crop on a photo or in some cases a new photo all together.

Bonus Tip

Whatever you do, don’t fall into the trap of bad stock photography. These photos are everywhere and will quickly turn that beautifully designed website you worked for months on, into an unprofessional mess that most people won’t take seriously.

Don’t be too literal with your photos. Photos should be used to invoke emotion and support your message. Not tell the whole story.


text:
52 Weeks Of Photo Challenges

A theme based photo blog

42. Walking Downtown

Today I was finally able to get downtown to the Sarasota Chalk Festival. I think this is probably my favorite annual event in Sarasota. Last year I was able to go every morning and take photos of the artists daily progress. I wasn’t able to do that this year but I did finally make it today before the forecasted rain arrives tomorrow. I just shake my head every year when I look at all the beautiful work and think it will be washed away forever with the first rain….

So, here are a few of my favorite chalk drawing that I admired today during my walk downtown!

2 thoughts on “42. Walking Downtown

  1. WOW!! Great photos & amazing chalk drawings. I am impressed.

  2. I am going to try to get down there today, hopefully, before it begins to rain. I love the annual chalk festival. The photos of the drawings you posted were phenomenal. My hat is off to the artists.

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out /  Change )

Google photo

You are commenting using your Google account. Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out /  Change )

Connecting to %s


text:
52 Weeks Of Photo Challenges

A theme based photo blog

3. Change of Time

Yesterday I noticed this street clock while having a drink at McCallisters on Main Street. It seems to be as confused as my body clock. This springtime “Change of Time” always takes some getting used to!Image

5 thoughts on “3. Change of Time

  1. Great. Just when I think my head is getting settled to the time shifts, you find a clock to jumble it up again.
    Good shot.

  2. I had to laugh when I saw this because, like you, I noticed this clock one evening after leaving McAllisters (with you?) but thought it was the result of the second martini!

  3. It’s on bar time which means its never closed

  4. I do wonder if this is real or if this is what you think you saw after leaving McAllisters. Were there any pink elephants around?

  5. Great spotting! Still can’t figure out the time discrepancy.

Leave a Reply to thegatorgal Cancel reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out /  Change )

Google photo

You are commenting using your Google account. Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out /  Change )

Connecting to %s


text:
Category Archives: Videos

Video: Trio Performance in Taiwan

Lindy Island Swing Studio in Taipei, Taiwan posted a video of three dancers – Yoyo, Rex, and Jason – doing a routine to our recording of Six Jerks in a Jeep.  We’re always so excited to find out that dancers all over the world are doing creative things with our music.  Check it out!

Video: Shag in Santiago

Check out this video of collegiate shag dancers Gabriela Novellino, Pedro Naine, Eloisa Amanda Pino Klohn from Santiago, Chile, dancing to the Mint Julep Jazz Band’s recording of “Six Jerks in a Jeep” – like it and share it, because it’s their submission for a contest to win passes to the Barcelona Shag Festival!

Video: “Watch the Birdie” at Hot Rhythm Holiday

Check out this video from Saturday night at Hot Rhythm Holiday, from some brave soul navigating the dance floor during our performance of Watch the Birdie (with an arrangement inspired by Martha Raye’s version from the movie Hellzapoppin’) – enjoy!

Video: Hot Rhythm Holiday 2019 – Balboa and Collegiate Shag Strictly Competitions

It’s always exciting to compete to music provided by a live band and we’re happy to provide the backdrop for these amazing competitors at Hot Rhythm Holiday 2019!  Here are the Collegiate Shag Strictly and Balboa Strictly competitions, with the Mint Julep Jazz Band:

Video: Old Man Mose

Our tenor player Keenan McKenzie has a fancy new camera and he put it to work at our performance at Glen Echo Park on January 26, 2018 – here’s the band performing Old Man Mose:

MJJB Music Featured on Video

World-renowned Balboa dancer Olga Marina is launching a new website this month called, which will feature more than 100 videos, demos, exercises for both for leaders and followers in the pure Balboa and Bal-Swing dance styles.  We’re delighted that Olga featured the Mint Julep Jazz Band’s recording of “You Can’t Live in Harlem” in her promotional video for the website, which showcases her incredible footwork and joyous energy!  Follow her Facebook page for more updates on videos and the website.

One Girl and Two Boys

One of the signature tracks from our first album Durham on Saturday Night is the song One Girl and Two Boys, a classic tune performed originally by NC native Kay Kyser’s orchestra in the 1944 film Swing Fever.  We love songs that tell a story, and so do dancers – it’s fun to see how people will put their own spin on this tale of a love triangle, so here are a few interpretations through dance choreography using MJJB’s recording of this song:

One of our favorite chorus girl troupes, New York City’s The Bathtub Ginnys:

A “Dance Wars Spectacular” with dancers Lisa Pearson, Dave Saylors, and Craig Johnston  in the signature roles:

And, finally, the winner of the 2013 Jazz Dance Film Fest (and unofficially our first music video), spearheaded by and starring Seattle dancer Jennifer Lee:

Duck Jazz Festival Highlights

Back in October we performed at the Duck Jazz Festival, a fantastic two day jazz festival on the outer banks of North Carolina, and they’ve put together a highlight reel from the festival, including the Mint Julep Jazz Band’s performance at the swing dance lesson taught by Laura Windley and Keenan McKenzie – check it out and make plans to attend this wonderful festival by the sea.

Competition Music at Hot Rhythm Holiday

We performed the music for the finals of the Collegiate Shag Strictly and the Balboa Strictly at Hot Rhythm Holiday 2018, check out these amazing dancers and dig those tunes!

Video: Feel the Swing Via a Flying Camera

Our recording of “Darktown Strutter’s Ball” is featured in this video with Balboa dancers Andreas Olsson and Olga Marina, taken with a “flying camera” – the visual effect is stunning and whimsical, given the great talent of videographer Carsten Kramer and the dancers.  The video was taken at the Werkstätten Hellerau in Dresden, Germany when the dancers were in town for the Balboa Dayz event.  Enjoy!


text:
Contact Us

PR Newswire Events

From time to time we organize events that bring together the business communicators in the region to share best practices on communications and marketing.

Sign up here to get an alert, or email us to speak at our event.

Tech Pitching Kit

Latest Pitching Tips for the Latest Tech

For our 2019 Tech Pitching Kit, we spoke to journalists, bloggers and influencers across the tech spectrum —each with their own niche concentrations in tech— to get the best tips on how to pitch them now and into the future.

Get the pitch kit for interviews with 8 featured tech influencer and journalist profiles who share their pitching tips and insights, including:

  1. Examples of the types of stories influencers cover and how to make your story stand out
  2. Advice for PR professionals looking to stand out in a competitive pitching environment
  3. Social networks where you can connect with these influencers to start building relationships

Be sure your pitches end in placements by listening to the tips these tech experts have for you. While each is unique, there is a theme: Know who you’re pitching, and how they like to be pitched.

This service is only usable by persons residing outside the European Economic Area. By agreeing to supply your personal information to us, you hereby assert and confirm that you do not reside in a country within the European Economic Area.

  • Please use your corporate email address to sign up.

  • Click in the input box and enter the confirmation code displayed in the image. Click the image to change the code if you have difficulty in reading it.


text:
Archive for the category "blogger profile"

girlie blogs

Comments 1 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Quick word about some other 604 Miss’es and their blogs. First off, my sister should be chiming in on this week from the UK, with a lovely travel update. Gus Greeper‘s got her hot rockstar pic up on, click to vote for her now. I had my 15 minutes on 25peeps, now I’ve […]


text:
The Church Has Left the Building?

I got an invitation today, as a pastor of a church, for our church to participate in “The Church Has Left the Building.” On a Sunday this Fall, rather than have worship, we would all meet and then spread out in the community and do good works. What?? Two things…

1) Doesn’t the church do this every week? Isn’t this what we’re supposed to do every week after worship?

2) In my community there are lots of folks who are doing lots of helpful things all the time. I think the more radical thing, the more distinctive thing, and maybe the more helpful thing would be for a community of people to give up one hour of the week to praise God and pray for the world. Because if the church skips worship and leaves the building, who’s doing that?


text:
Questions to Ask a Wedding Venue on Tour

Groom dipping bride next to stone bridge with shower of sparks

Questions to Ask a Wedding Venue on Tour

Wondering what questions to ask a wedding venue before booking?

Save time and frustration by taking this easy to use list of questions on your wedding venue tours.

Bride and Groom at the Pool

Rudy & Marta Photography

Ceremony Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue

  1. What time does the ceremony start?
  2. How much time is allowed for setup?
  3. What is the weather backup?
  4. Where are the nearest restrooms?
  5. Where does the sun rise and set?
  6. Are multiple ceremonies hosted each day?
  7. Is the ceremony space private or public?
  8. How many people can be seated in the space?
  9. Can flower petals and ceremony decor be brought in?
  10. Are pets allowed at the ceremony?

Plaza de la Fontana - wedding ceremony with floral archway

Kathy Thomas Photography

Cocktail Hour Questions

  1. Does the timeline include cocktail hour?
  2. Where is cocktail hour held?
  3. Who directs the guests to cocktail hour?
  4. What setup is included for cocktail hour?
  5. What is served during cocktail hour?

Terrace with white chairs and purple draped tables with fire pit wedding venue questions to ask

Victoria Angela Photography

Reception Questions to Ask your Wedding Venue

  1. What time can vendors start set-up in the reception space?
  2. How long do I have the reception space for?
  3. Is there a charge for extended the time after that?
  4. Does the venue include chairs, tables and linen? What does it look like?
  5. Is the china, glassware and flatware provided?
  6. Are there any restrictions of any type in this space?
  7. Where are the nearest restrooms?  How many stalls?
  8. What is the policy on setup, breakdown and cleanup?
  9. Are there noise ordinances to be aware of?
  10. What is the maximum number of guests that fit in the space comfortably?
  11. Is there a sample layout of the space with my estimated guest count?

All of the Wedding Guests at Same Sex Ballroom Wedding in Orlando

Heather Rice Photography

Questions to Ask about Food and Beverage

  1.  Do you have an in-house caterer?
  2.  Do you allow outside catering?  What is the fee?
  3.  Is there a food and beverage minimum?
  4. What are the current tax and service charge percentages?
  5. Is the culinary team able to accommodate food allergies and dietary restrictions?
  6. Do packages include a menu tasting prior to the wedding?
  7. Is the bar included in the package?
  8. Is it unlimited or is there a cap set?
  9. What brands are offered on the bar? Are there upgrade options?
  10. We have a favorite wine not on your menu. May we bring it?

Macaroon with wedding cake for venue tour

DR Photography

Wedding Day Preparation At Your Wedding Venue

  1. Is a ready room provided on wedding day?  What’s included?
  2. What time is the ready room accessible?
  3. Are ready room menus available?
  4. Where is the nearest parking for guests?
  5. Is signage setup to direct guests from parking to ceremony and reception?

Bride and bridesmaids in leopard print pjs laughing while drinking champagne

J Photography by Jessi Caparella

Wedding Weekend Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue

  1. Are guest accommodations available?
  2. If no, where are the nearest hotels?
  3. If yes, is there a discount for booking a certain number of rooms?
  4. Can rehearsal dinner be hosted here?
  5. What about a breakfast or brunch the following day?
  6. Are there any amenities or activities available to the wedding party or guests?
  7. Is there a place to go after the reception is finished to continue to party?

Two couples in spa robes

Heather Rice Photography

Questions about Wedding Vendors

  1. Are preferred vendors required or can we use our own?
  2. Do vendors require insurance?
  3. Who will we work with throughout the planning process and on our wedding day?
  4. Does the space accommodate a DJ or a Live Band?
  5. Is there a special price for meals for vendors?

Audrey and Brad's elegant wedding reception at Mission Inn

Ashley McCormick Photography

Wedding Day Venue Decor Questions

  1. Can we bring in decorations?
  2. If yes, who puts them out?
  3. Does the venue have decor that we can rent?
  4. Can we use candles, sparklers, confetti, and fireworks?
  5. Does the venue have access to heaters on cooler nights?
  6. Does the venue allow fog or dry ice machines?

Groom dipping bride next to stone bridge with shower of sparks

William Arthur Photography

Wedding Venue Photo & Video Questions

  1. Where can we take photos on wedding day?
  2. If photo locations are far apart, how do we get to them?
  3. Will other couples be taking photos in the same spot on my wedding day?
  4. Am I able to get back into my ready room to retouch hair and makeup if necessary?
  5. Can we take engagement photos here?
  6. If yes, is there a charge?
  7. Does the venue allow for drone photography?
  8. Is there anywhere on property that we cannot go for photos?
  9. What about video, any restrictions?

Bride and groom on outdoor staircase at night with dramatic lighting Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue

Cricket’s Photography

Questions Before You Book Your Wedding Venue

  1. Is my preferred date and space available?
  2. What are alternative options?
  3. Are there dates that offer discounts?
  4. What deposit is required to book?
  5. Is the deposit refundable?
  6. When’s the remaining balance due?
  7. What’s the cancellation policy?
  8. Is the timeline and guest count flexible after contract signing?
  9. Am I guaranteed the space that I was shown today or is my space subject to change?
  10. Are there any construction projects scheduled that could impact my wedding?
  11. When are my final guest counts due to the venue?
  12. What if my final guest count is much lower or higher than contracted?

Bride and groom kissing on boat at Marina del Rey

Jennifer Werneth Photography

Curious how the Mission Inn Wedding Team would answer some of these questions?

Check out our FAQ Page.

Mission Inn Orlando Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue

Ready to see Mission Inn?

  Click here to easily book a tour online!

No Comments

Post a Comment


text:
An Old Score

An Old Score
An Old Score An Old Score An Old Score

An Old Score (2016)

Country: Israel

Duration: 21 min

Genre: Drama
Director: Naor Meningher
Cast: Eli Gornstein, Aviram Kelich, Shiri Gadni, Uri Hochman, Roberto Polack

Category: Competition, Narrative Short

Age limitations: 16+

In Tel Aviv of the 1950’s Tzvi is a police detective responsible for interrogating “kapos” – Jews accused of assisting the Nazis during the Holocaust. Tzvi investigates the case of Yehiel Ingster, suspected of having been an extremely cruel and sadistic kapo. But as Tzvi begins to interrogate him, doubts arise and nothing seems certain anymore.

Rewards and nominations

  • Athens Jewish Film Festival, 2017 – Honorable Mention
  • Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival


text:
Register Your Warranty

Register your MLILY Product

Warranty Registration

Thank you for purchasing an MLILY product. The form below registers your new MLILY product just in case you need to use our amazing warranty.

  • Drop files here or

Thank You For Choosing MLILY

We think that our products are pretty great and we hope that you feel the same. If our products are redefining your sleep experience please let us know. We would love to hear about it. Please write us a review on either Facebook or Google and let the world know how you feel about MLILY!

Pin It on Pinterest


text:
(Gummy Snap)

Live-action Gummy ID S4E12

A real-life baby alligator in place of Gummy shown in Pinkie Pride

Kind Alligator
Sex Male
Owner Pinkie Pie
Other links
More info
Eyes Pale purple
Colors ¤ Light green with a pale, light grayish pistachio underbelly.
Voice Lee Tockar (English)
Pasi Ruohonen (Finnish)
Sunke Janssen (German)
Lorenzo Scattorin (Italian)
Łukasz Węgrzynowski (Polish)[1]
Eugen Neag (Romanian)
Oleg Virozub (Russian)
Alberto Bernal (Latin America Spanish)
Andriy Tverdak (Ukrainian)
Gummy is a small toothless green alligator who is kept as a pet by Pinkie Pie. He appears in various episodes accompanying Pinkie Pie and is often depicted gumming her. He is called Gummy Snap in some merchandise and other media.

Development and design

Gummy is depicted with a forked tongue and bright green scales, akin to snakes and some lizards. Real crocodylians do not possess these traits. Their scales are much duller and their tongues aren't forked and cannot "stick out". Gummy's V-shaped snout is more akin to crocodiles, rather than alligators, the latter having a more rounded U-shaped snout.

In the original script for Slice of Life, Gummy's internal monologue was spoken in a French accent.[2]

Depiction in the series

Season one

Pinkie Pie pulls Gummy out of the tub S1E15

Gummy's first appearance.

Gummy is introduced in Feeling Pinkie Keen when Pinkie Pie brings Twilight Sparkle to her apartment to clean her of mud. Pinkie's Pinkie Sense is triggered by "an alligator in the tub," and she promptly fishes out Gummy. Twilight jumps out of the tub in fright, but Pinkie explains that he has no teeth, and Gummy demonstrates his harmlessness by biting Pinkie all over, to no harmful effect. Gummy later appears in Party of One and accompanies Pinkie Pie in her singing telegram, which invited her friends to Gummy's first birthday party at Sugarcube Corner. At his party, he "dances" by wagging his tail, lounges in a punch bowl and the apple bobbing bin, and stands around with a vacant expression, either on all-fours or on his hind legs.

Gummy pulls Spike's tail S1E25

Gummy, the good cop.

Later, when Pinkie's invitations to Gummy's after-birthday party are rejected, Gummy accompanies Pinkie Pie as she investigates the secret her friends held from her. When she brings Spike in for questioning, Gummy bites on Spike's tail and pulls it back to restrain him. Afterwards, Gummy's after-birthday party is celebrated by Pinkie and her imaginary friends until interrupted by Rainbow Dash, who pulls Pinkie and Gummy to Pinkie's surprise birthday party at the Sweet Apple Acres barn house. Once there, Pinkie realizes that her friends were never trying to abandon her, and she and Gummy enjoy the festivities with the others; Gummy is seen jumping up at a balloon tossed between Applejack and Fluttershy, biting it once it lands. Afterwards, they all agree to include Gummy's after-birthday party in the festivities.

Season two

Gummy is later seen in May the Best Pet Win!, participating in the girls' regular "Pony-pet play date" with Pinkie.

Season three

Pinkie Pie loves Gummy maybe a bit too much S03E11

He appears again in Just for Sidekicks as one of the pets Spike volunteers to petsit in exchange for a jewel. Here, Pinkie acts as if she understands what Gummy's 'saying', interpreting his silence however she sees fit, and also heatedly asserts that she loves him more when saying goodbye. This is also one of the few episodes where he expresses other emotions beyond his vacant stare, such as disdain at Angel's behavior or relief when Spike and the pets avoid being caught on the train back home.

Gummy's final season three appearance is in Magical Mystery Cure. During What My Cutie Mark Is Telling Me, Rainbow Dash puts him in a birdcage, and by the time of I've Got to Find a Way, he is no longer in the cage.

Season four

Gummy appears briefly in Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 2, being used as a nail file by Discord. Gummy also appears in Castle Mane-ia.

A brief live-action footage of a baby alligator in a passive mood is used to depict Gummy in the episode Pinkie Pride. This footage is used within Pinkie Pie's Goof Off shenanigans to liken it to Cheese Sandwich's rubber chicken Boneless appearing in a live-action footage of a puppet animation during the musical number that time. The footage is based on an available stock video of the baby alligator which was purchased off[3]

In Filli Vanilli, Gummy is briefly seen trying to eat a live turkey.

Gummy appears in Maud Pie, chomping on the title character's tail so that she "wouldn't get lost", according to Pinkie.

He also appears in Testing Testing 1, 2, 3, where he plays the part of an Earth pony in the E.U.P. Guard in Fluttershy's play.

Season five

Gummy appears with Pinkie at Sugarcube Corner in The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone when Pinkie and Gummy work to bake up a recipe made by Pinkie's Granny Pie. As Pinkie's cutie mark vibrates indicating that the Cutie Map is summoning her, she leaves Gummy to bake with the recipe without her. Gummy only lies on the counter with the mixer in his mouth.

Gummy appears in Slice of Life, talking to himself in his head about the "meaning of life without a cutie mark".

In Party Pooped, as Pinkie panics over impressing Prince Rutherford, Gummy licks Pinkie's face, and Pinkie somehow gets the idea to travel to Yakyakistan. While Pinkie is away, Gummy drops from the ceiling and lands on Twilight's head.

In Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?, during the Mane Six's pet grooming day at Carousel Boutique, Applejack mistakes Gummy for a hairbrush, causing Gummy to bite Winona's ear and Winona to toss Gummy onto Owlowiscious' head.

In The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows, Gummy gives Pound Cake a ride on his back, and Pound Cake gives Gummy his pacifier. He later rides on Pinkie's back on their way to Twilight's castle. When Pinkie returns from her delivery run, Gummy appears on her bed slobbering on her list of "Pinkie Promises".

Season six

In 28 Pranks Later, Gummy takes part in a closet-scaring prank on Pinkie Pie with Rainbow Dash. In P.P.O.V. (Pony Point of View), Gummy delivers a letter to Twilight from Pinkie saying that she will not be able to attend Twilight's tea party. He also delivers Pinkie a message from Twilight stating a friendship emergency.

Season seven

In A Royal Problem, Pinkie is seen surfing on Gummy in a dream bubble. In Not Asking for Trouble, Gummy accompanies Pinkie on her balloon trip to and from Yakyakistan, where he "plays" games of "I Spy" and "Twenty Million Questions" with her.

In Secrets and Pies, Pinkie takes Gummy down to her secret basement, where he just stares into space while Pinkie begins to suspect that Rainbow Dash had been avoiding her pies for ages. Later, when she feels devastated after learning the truth, Pinkie initially believes there is an odor coming from Gummy, which actually turns out to be coming from a bad pie Rainbow Dash made.

Season eight

In Yakity-Sax, the Mane Six throw a party for Pinkie Pie and task Gummy with bringing her to the party, but he is unresponsive as always. Fluttershy is unable to communicate with him, since he doesn't make any sounds she can translate.

Best Gift Ever

Gummy briefly appears in My Little Pony Best Gift Ever. He is seen in Pinkie's room while she discusses ideas for a gift for Twilight with her sisters.

Best Gift Ever shorts

Gummy is seen at the end of The Great Escape Room, as the "surprise" at the end of Pinkie's escape room.

Rainbow Roadtrip

In Rainbow Roadtrip, Gummy appears in the opening song with the same name, who watches Pinkie Pie pack her suitcase before she leaves for the Rainbow Festival in Hope Hollow.

Season nine

In Sparkle's Seven, Gummy appears on the Twinkling Balloon with Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Spike as Pinkie plans to take Gummy and herself into space. During Twilight's second attempt at the Castle heist, Gummy pops the Twinkling Balloon which immediately decorates the castle grounds to distract the royal guards.

In The Last Problem, Gummy appears in flashback being assigned by Pinkie to handle the fireworks for Twilight's coronation ceremony. However, he inadvertently causes the fireworks to go off at the wrong time. In the future, Gummy appears as a bigger alligator giving a ride to Cheese Sandwich.

Depiction in Equestria Girls

Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

In My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks, Fluttershy holds a plush doll shaped like Gummy at a slumber party in Pinkie Pie's bedroom.

Rainbow Rocks animated shorts

In the Rainbow Rocks animated encore short Friendship Through the Ages, the plush doll shaped like Gummy is seen around Pinkie Pie's neck.

Equestria Girls: Summertime Shorts

In Pet Project, the Gummy-like alligator plush doll gets its picture taken alongside the other pets. Pinkie Pie also hugs it as if it were a living thing. In The Canterlot Movie Club, Pinkie Pie loses her plush Gummy in the Canterlot Mall movie theater, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders help look for him, eventually finding him in the theater's claw machine. In Leaping Off the Page, the Gummy plush toy briefly appears in a photograph with the rest of the pets in Rainbow Dash's bedroom.

Equestria Girls: Better Together

In Pinkie Sitting, Pinkie Pie sleeps on the couch with the Gummy plush toy as Lily Pad reads her book to her.

In the second season short The Craft of Cookies, the Gummy plush appears as one of Pinkie's "assistants" on her cooking video, with Pinkie making it seem like he's talking by speaking for him. In Best in Show: The Pre-Show, Pinkie Pie appears with the Gummy plush toy as participants for the Canterlot Pet Show. In the next short, they appear as participation winners. Fluttershy calls Gummy "a pet of mystery", confessing that she has "such a hard time reading [him]", despite her powers. In Twilight Under the Stars, Pinkie Pie gives Twilight a balloon hat shaped like Gummy when the latter tries to talk to astropysicist Rosette Nebula at the Canterlot Celestial Society Members' Social. In Festival Looks, the Gummy toy appears on Pinkie Pie's bed as she fires a party cannon for an internet video on music festival fashion hosted by Rarity.

Equestria Girls: Forgotten Friendship

In Forgotten Friendship, the Gummy plush toy appears in Applejack's memories of the sleepover in Pinkie Pie's bedroom. Pinkie later appears sleeping with the Gummy plush toy in Wallflower Blush's memories of removing Pinkie's good memories of Sunset Shimmer.

Depiction in My Little Pony The Movie

In My Little Pony The Movie, Gummy appears with Pinkie Pie during We Got This Together. He also appears in the end credits at the judges' table with Princess Skystar and Capper and in a bucket full of muffins.

Depiction in comics

In My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Issue #23, Gummy helps free the citizens of Ponyville from Cassie the kelpie's hypnotic control by biting her tail. In My Little Pony: Friends Forever Issue #2, Discord turns Gummy into a Godzilla-like monster to help the Cutie Mark Crusaders get their cutie marks.

Other depictions

Chapter books

Gummy appears frequently throughout Pinkie Pie and the Rockin' Ponypalooza Party! He also appears briefly in chapter four of Ponyville Mysteries: The Tail of the Timberwolf. Penumbra Quill refers to him as Gummy Snap, but Pinkie still calls him Gummy.

Baby Flurry Heart's Heartfelt Scrapbook

Gummy appears in The Royal Wedding, Foal Sitting 101, in All About Alicorns, and Cutie Mark Magic.

The Elements of Harmony guidebook

Be careful what you put in front of GUMMY, because he's likely to grab it! But don't blame Pinkie Pie's pet alligator so quickly. He doesn't mean any harm; it's just his nature.

Volume II guidebook

For a toothless little alligator, GUMMY has bite! He prefers chilling out with Pinkie Pie. His other hobbies include lying around, remaining silent, and staring. He's an odd, little reptilian sidekick.

A Gummy Snap toy is included with a pajama party-themed My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks doll of Pinkie Pie.[4]

In the Enterplay collectible card game's expansion sets, The Crystal Games cards #37 C and #ƒ17 of Gummy show him as in Party of One and Absolute Discord card #-2 UR of Gummy shows him as in Pinkie Pride.

See also: Character appearances
YAt least one appearance where the character is the focus of a shot
SAt least one appearance where the character is the focus of a shot, without spoken dialogue or narration
BBackground appearance or an appearance where the character is not the focus
MNo appearance, but a mention by name or title
NNo appearance and no mention by name or title
Season one
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Season two
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Season three
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Season four
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Season five
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Season six
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Season seven
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Season eight
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Season nine
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Beginning with The Maud Couple, Gummy was added to the opening intro in Pinkie's classroom.

When Gummy is first introduced in the episode Feeling Pinkie Keen, he shows rather jumpy behavior. After Pinkie Pie removes him from the bath tub and sets him on the floor, he proceeds to bite her repeatedly; however, as he has no teeth, this does not harm Pinkie, who barely even reacts. Party of One shows that his behavior is usually more peaceful and a little more distant, although he still tends to bite whatever happens to be near him, such as balloons or streamers.

Gummy is docile to the point of absurdity in Party of One. In direct contrast with Pinkie Pie's crazed antics, he shows close to no awareness of his surroundings, often standing still and staring into space with the same unchanging expression on his face, though in his first appearance he seems to raise the sides of his mouth to make an almost small "smile." At his birthday party, Gummy "dances" to music by simply waving his tail side-to-side. He also uses a ball of wool as a toy, pushing it along with his nose or riding it as it rolls along.

Pinkie seems convinced that Gummy is much more complex and lively than he appears to be. At the end of Party of One, for example, she says that Gummy was "pretty upset" that his after-birthday party was "cut short" when Rainbow Dash pulled them away, despite the fact that Gummy had shown no change in his behavior or mood whatsoever. In Just for Sidekicks, she even interprets his silence as if he were actually speaking to her.

Just for Sidekicks marks the first episode since Feeling Pinkie Keen that he has any change of expression beyond his vacant stare. He narrows his eyes angrily when Angel mocks him and the other pets at the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse, again when he witnesses Angel trying to ditch them on a train to the Crystal Empire, and a third time with happy relief when Spike's growling stomach is quieted, keeping them safe from detection on the ride back. In the episode Maud Pie, he is shown with a bored expression alongside the rest of the Mane Six's pets.

In Slice of Life, Gummy has an existential monologue in his head. In Party Pooped, he appears in Pinkie Pie's bedroom at Sugarcube Corner, attempting to catch a bumblebee with his tongue through a glass window.

"What is life? Is it nothing more than the endless search for a cutie mark? And what is a cutie mark but a constant reminder that we're all only one bugbear attack away from oblivion? And what of the poor gator, flank forever blank, destined to an existential swim down the river of life to an unknowable destiny?"
Slice of Life

Gummy formal attire S1E25

Gummy image gallery

See also

  1. Dubbingpedia's publication of credits from SDI's e-mail (Polish). Retrieved on 2015 August 3.
  2. Sethisto (2015-06-18). M.A. Larson Reveals All Sorts of Fun Things Cut from Episode 100. Equestria Daily. Retrieved on 2015 June 22.
  3. Alligator Stock Video 534507. Pond5. Retrieved on 2014 February 14.
  4. TornadoTwist (2014-09-18). Images found of Twilight, Spike and Pinkie Pie and Gummy Equestria Girls Dolls. All About MLP Merch. Retrieved on 2014 September 19.
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.