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Saturday, November 12, 2011

Saturday Morning Special

There's Always a "But"

I see the world in color
but everything is black and white
I don't care what people think of me
but I need everyone to like me
I seek the chance to know all
but I can't be all knowing
I drink to dull the pain
but it can't be masked forever
I fail while trying to succeed
but I succeed because I hate failing
I sleep only for the sake of living
but I worry so much I don't sleep
I am more talented than most people
but I am considered to be average
I never stress about the little things
but the little things are the most stressful
I bleed when I've been cut
but it's the emotional wounds that sting
I think that love can last forever
but it's near impossible to find
I know that I was put on this earth
but in no way do I think it was by "God"
I believe there is life on other planets
but it won't be found during my lifetime
I cry when something truly effects me
but I haven't cried in many years
I run away from all my problems
but they run twice as fast as me
I want much more than I need
but I need nothing that I want
I feel trapped by my own mind
but my mind is what sets me free
I blindly accept that which is the norm
but I see that there is no such thing
I take my life for granted
but I always live life to the fullest
I never start what I can't finish
but I can't finish without starting
I live to tell my own story
but my story can not yet be told

Thanks for the awesome poem Alex!

1 comment:

Thank you for putting a smile on my face!


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2018 Dallas Open Scrabble Tournament @ Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown, Dallas [from 17 to 19 February]

2018 Dallas Open Scrabble Tournament

17 - 19
09:30 - 15:00

 Facebook event page
Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown
1015 Elm Street, Dallas, Texas 75202
Dallas Open Scrabble Tournament is back!
Only registered users may comment.
Pass a quick registration or authorization.

The most anticipated events in Dallas :

Monster Jam
AT&T Stadium
Sommore, Arnez J, Earthquake, George Wallace, and Bruce Bruce
Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
Blake Shelton: Country Music Freaks Tour
American Airlines Center
Lyfe Jennings
House of Blues Dallas
Joe with 112 and Next
Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
Hallmark Channel Presents Trans-Siberian Orchestra 2017
American Airlines Center
Impeach Trump Solidarity March Dallas-Nationwide
City of Dallas - City Hall
Shakira - El Dorado World Tour
American Airlines Center
Ron White
Majestic Theatre
The most popular events in your news feed!

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Christmas Eve at Watermark @ Watermark Community Church, Dallas [24 December]

Christmas Eve at Watermark

09:00 - 23:59

 Facebook event page
Watermark Community Church
7540 LBJ Fwy, Dallas, Texas 75251
Join us for one of our five Christmas Eve services, and be sure to use the Facebook event «invite» option to invite your friends and family who are on Facebook!

Are you a Watermark member with young children? If so, would you please consider attending the 2, or 4 pm service in order to make room for our guests!

Learn more here --->
Only registered users may comment.
Pass a quick registration or authorization.

The most anticipated events in Dallas :

Monster Jam
AT&T Stadium
Sommore, Arnez J, Earthquake, George Wallace, and Bruce Bruce
Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
Blake Shelton: Country Music Freaks Tour
American Airlines Center
Lyfe Jennings
House of Blues Dallas
Joe with 112 and Next
Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
Hallmark Channel Presents Trans-Siberian Orchestra 2017
American Airlines Center
Impeach Trump Solidarity March Dallas-Nationwide
City of Dallas - City Hall
Shakira - El Dorado World Tour
American Airlines Center
Ron White
Majestic Theatre
The most popular events in your news feed!


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Ugly Sweater Christmas Party @ Sambuca Uptown, Dallas [14 December]

Ugly Sweater Christmas Party

16:30 - 19:30

 Facebook event page
Sambuca Uptown
2120 McKinney Ave, Dallas, Texas 75201
Ugly Sweater Christmas Party! Come dressed in your tackiest, most ugly sweater! Food & Drink specials and PRIZES for the ugliest sweaters!!!
Only registered users may comment.
Pass a quick registration or authorization.

Upcoming events @ Sambuca Uptown:

New Year's Eve Dinner, Dancing & Live Music!
Sambuca Uptown

The most anticipated events in Dallas :

Monster Jam
AT&T Stadium
Sommore, Arnez J, Earthquake, George Wallace, and Bruce Bruce
Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
Blake Shelton: Country Music Freaks Tour
American Airlines Center
Lyfe Jennings
House of Blues Dallas
Joe with 112 and Next
Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
Hallmark Channel Presents Trans-Siberian Orchestra 2017
American Airlines Center
Impeach Trump Solidarity March Dallas-Nationwide
City of Dallas - City Hall
Shakira - El Dorado World Tour
American Airlines Center
Ron White
Majestic Theatre
The most popular events in your news feed!


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Thursday, 2 August 2012

ENB Swan Lake

Swan Lake (rehearsal), English National Ballet, London Coliseum - reviewed on 1st August

Daria Klimentová
Photo: Annabel Moeller
On the London Coliseum stage, English National Ballet dancers move about in an array of brightly coloured leg warmers, oversized jumpers and padded warm-up boots. They are preparing for the penultimate full run-through of Swan Lake before it opens on Friday. Familiar emerging dancer faces are hard at work; Nancy Osbalsden, in a pretty cream tutu, rehearses her steps; Ksenia Ovsyanick stretches her foot with a resistance band.

The curtain closes, the orchestra tunes up and rehearsal begins. Begoña Cao commences the dancing, being transformed into a swan by evil magician Rothbart against a background of dramatic lightning flashes. The rest of the company then rehearses the ballet's remaining choreography, with sweat dripping from dancers as company repetiteur Rosalyn Whitten calls out corrections from the auditorium.

Daria Klimentová, who dances the lead role of Odette/Odile in Sunday’s performance, stated: “The Tchaikovsky music is gorgeous. I like it more and more as I mature and grow into it. The Black Swan role is very exciting but I worry about the 32 fouettés. After the very tough controlled balances of Act II, there is the flashy pas de deux of Act III and just when you’re completely exhausted, there are 32 pirouettes to do and you have to make it look easy!”

Swan Lake is full of excitement. The mass of white swans moving in graceful unison are wonderful; Act III character dances from a tambourine-shaking Neapolitan couple to deep Spanish backbends are similarly great. But undoubtedly the ballet’s highlights are the pas de deux for Prince Siegfried and his Swan Queen Odette. The choreography’s beauty and lyricism combined with Tchaikovsky’s incredible score makes this an unmissable ballet.

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Friday, October 7, 2011

and honey, it was a great trip!!

On the road again ...

Only in the south ...

Where in the world is dancing bear NOW?   More later!

I think I will have some, honey!

No comments:

Post a Comment

Some folks have said that their posts aren't "posting" ... please go to COMMENT AS: and choose a PROFILE (ANONYMOUS should work), then click PREVIEW before POST COMMENT and see if that helps. If not, send me an e-mail and I'll research further ... thanks!


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Thursday, 30 August 2007

Coca-Cola – New Packaging Design

Coca-Cola has recently unveiled a new packaging design for its world famous Coca-Cola Classic can and made a dramatic step back from the trend of highly detailed designs, ice crystals and drop shadows by returning to simple white lettering on a red can. The new can was designed by the Turner Duckworth Consultancy here in the UK and the USA and came about as Coca-Cola believed that the increasingly complicated packaging designs where damaging the brand and turning it into a generic drinks brand. This new brand will be a polar opposite to Coca-Cola’s main rival Pepsi with its highly complicated Pepsi Max designs and it will be interesting to see which is more successful. I think the new packaging will be more successful as the old designs looked too much like a new fad and as a result looked old and dated very quickly whereas the simpler classic look will still look fresh in several years time thus preserving the life of the brand.

1 comment:

martin.cawood said...

Yeah, I saw this in Creative Review and really liked the step that Coca-Cola have taken. It should help to diffentiate their brand values from Pepsi and we all know how recocnisable Coca-Cola is as often their adverts often show only half their logo, so why not make the packaging just as simple.


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Tag Archives: cell phone

Child “Ear”-ing in the Keitai Age

While some parents have a tough time navigating their cell phone for writing e-mails to their children, the children who grew up with cell phone will become parents themselves before long. Then, the cell phone will be used within families more commonly and frequently. More than anything else, cell phones might be used for parenting.

[Update: 20130723. Originally published in November, 2003, link is no longer valid. Post kept for… prophetic value.]


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Why in the World? “If being crazy means living life as if it matters, then I don’t mind being completely insane.”  – Kate Winslet Yes indeed, many people have asked me the question. In fact, I have asked myself the question. My wife and I have even asked each other the […]

Why in the World?

When he was 16 years old, my youngest son began an accelerated slide into a rather serious medical situation. Of course we had been aware that this day would come for about a decade but wanted to believe that the advanced care he received and the magic of modern medicine […]

Beginning Again

The platform in this photograph was being constructed at Serpent’s Lair on the island of Inis Mor during our Ireland visit in 2014. The diving platform sits 27 meters or 88.58 feet above the water above a naturally occurring blowhole that is almost a perfect rectangle and one of the locations of the […]

Stepping Out of The Comfort Zone


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Monday, July 21, 2008

Volunteering and life goals.....

Told ya'll I would be on here more often.

I finally heard back from my local animal shelter and will be signing up for their volunteer program. I have to take a volunteer training class on August 16th and then I am off and running on my first step towards me new goal of becoming a dog trainer.

"Starting out to make money is the greatest mistake in life.
Do what you feel you have a flair for doing, and if you are good enough at it, the money will come."
Greer Garson-Winner of the 1943 Academy Award for best actress

I have reached a place in life where I have realized that anything is possible. I have so many goals now I have had to narrow them down to the top ones and focus on those.

1. Become a licensed dog trainer
2. Open a pit bull rescue shelter
3. Buy a home in Northern Arizona (its cooler for the dogs)
4. Open a Bed and Breakfast (all my friends can come visit)
5. Quit smoking (doing this within the next few weeks)
6. Lose 20lbs. and get back in shape

Five and six will actually happen first but I will have all of these accomplished by Sept. 15, 2013. That gives me 6 years (my 40th birthday) to get it all done and then some.

More to come.


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Monday, June 27, 2011

Sixteen Months Old

Oh my word, ya'll. My baby is a full-blown, busy, active toddler. Complete with temper tantrums. How does that sweet newborn stage vanish so quickly?

This girl is into anything and everything. She prefers to run everywhere, and do most everything herself. Though she cannot say "my do it" like her sister did, she insists on doing things herself by pushing our hands away when we try to help. She is quite the adventurous little climber, and she also has a facination with toilet water that keeps us on our a-game around here.

Whenever Brooklyn disappears (not that it ever happens in my house since I'm able to closely supervise my children every second of every day, mind you), she can usually be found inside the front door looking out. She is facinated by the great outdoors.

Brooklyn now says "Uh-oh" and "bye-bye" with the appropriate meanings. She can also say "Mama" and "Dada" although not necessarily correctly. She sometimes says "joo" for juice. She uses signs for "more" and "all done." She is about to meet her first speech goal (after months of hard work!) of making five non-speech sounds spontaneously during play, so we are getting super excited about that.

Brooklyn and Savannah play very well together. They thoroughly enjoy each other and are going to be the best little buddies. Savannah is protective and Brooklyn adores her and wants to do everything she does. It brings such joy to hear them making each other laugh. And about as soon as you realize how proud you are of them, one of them hits the other one, and its all downhill from there. Lets just be honest. But you take what you can get.

Brooklyn has quite the mischevious streak that is emerging. She is continually "messing with us" and it definitely keeps us guessing, and keeps her laughing. The other day we were trying to feed her, and she would sit there with her mouth open until you got the food right up to her, at which time she would promptly close her mouth so that you spilled what was on the spoon. Then she would just laugh.

She also has started to try to charm her therapists out of making her work. Today when she was supposed to be making the "b" sound to get her therapist to blow bubbles, she decided she would just give her therapist a big ole smooch instead. Unfortunately, it didn't work and she still had to ask for the bubbles. But it was cute.

We sure are thankful for this girl... from the curls on the back of her neck to the pudgy belly that hangs over her diaper. From the slobbery kisses to the sticky hugs, we just couldn't ask for anything better. We love our sweet Brooklyn, even if she does remind us that its the quiet ones you have to watch out for.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Five-Minute Friday: Wonder

Gulp, I'm gonna try something new. My awesome writer friend Renee (who used to be my mom's friend but now I can call my friend too... weird how that works huh) has been doing what is called "five minute fridays" for a while now and I always enjoy reading her posts. So, in an effort to grant you something a little more... insightful... than pictures of darling babies with food on their faces... I present five-minute fridays. Only five minutes. No editing allowed.

The topic this week: Wonder

Ready? Go!

I feel as though I often get too busy to wonder. When you are rushing about to the gym and planning dinner while on the bike and talking on the phone while driving (but not texting while driving!) and just multitasking in general, it is difficult to find the time to appreciate the wonder of it all. When was the last time you noticed water droplets on flowers or the shape of the clouds or the beauty in the sunset? I sure don't do it often enough.

Perhaps the most striking sense wonder is through the eyes of a child. Have you ever noticed the sweet enthusiasm for bubbles floating through the air, or the facination with those dandelion fluffy things (what are those called?), or the instant celebrity status you are granted if you can snap your fingers? Sometimes we can learn such great lessons from our children... like the invitation to set it all aside, appreciate the beauty, and just... wonder.

Yesterday, as I was on my way to a baby shower, a song came on the radio by Steven Curtis Chapman, and the words struck me... this is the only moment we can do anything about, so breathe it in and breathe it out and listen to your heartbeat. Theres a wonder in the here and now...I don't want you to miss the miracle of the moment. Here's to hoping we all stop and rediscover the wonder today.

Time's up! Stop!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Princess Kate, aka Savannah

Savannah had to give up one of her current titles this past weekend, and since we are fresh off the royal wedding, she decided her crown looked an awful lot like Princess Kate's.

So, at the pageant, when people asked her what her name was, she replied, "Princess Kate!"

We got some confused and amused looks.

Savannah had a good time. She was recognized on stage for raising money for Children's Miracle Network.

And she helped to crown the new Young Miss queen.

I'm proud of these sweet girl who is beautiful inside and out.

Even if she did forget she was next to a microphone when she said, "Momma! Hey Lauren! Do I have to be quiet while I'm on the stage?" much to the amusement of the pageant audience. Love that crazy girl!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Seeking Strawberries

Oh maaan. So, a few weeks ago I thought I'd go strawberry picking. Strawberries are one of my kids' favorite foods (a rare one they will BOTH eat) and I thought it would be fun to make strawberry jam because they consume PB&J like its going out of style. Anyhow, I didn't realize how short strawberry picking season is. Like, you blink and you miss it.

So when I called about going to the strawberry farm, they informed me, in the middle of the day, that it was the last day. Oh no! Not one to be defeated easily, I loaded up my jeep and drove to the middle.of.nowhere. to pick strawberries.

Maybe I should've been alarmed when there were no cars in the parking lot. Or when the old man sitting at the front desk said "you better take you a gallon of water to drink" or when I was told "you'll be lucky if you can fill up both your buckets without dyin'." Now, I've always been one of those book-smart people (read: I can write a paper on anything, but ask me to figure out something that doesn't involve getting a 4.0, and I'm pretty worthless), and Darren likes to point out that someone in the common sense department skipped over me. But I probably should've re-thought my plan. To pick strawberries. On the last day. In the heat of the day. By myself.

Nevertheless, I continued on with my buckets. For miles. A nice old gentleman gave me country directions down the fields and they involved something about turning past the 19th bale of hay and going over a bridge and past a pond and "you can't miss 'em." So I drove my trusty jeep down and down and down into the fields... and then I had a thought. I wonder what strawberry plants look like? Yes, folks. So I started to slow down every time I saw green vegetation. Are strawberries bushes? I know they aren't trees. Why haven't I ever paid attention? Then I remembered he said something about going over a bridge, and I knew I hadn't done that yet. I do know what bridges look like.

I finally arrived, and they are kind of like rows of bushes, by the way. I got out and noticed how hot it was. And oddly enough, as I stood there next to my jeep, I noticed that as far as I could see in every direction, there were no humans. Interesting. I turned on my pink ipod and figured if there were no people around, no one would mind me belting out some Brad Paisley songs while I did my picking. I grabbed my two buckets and headed over to pick the fruit I'd come so far for. Except I didn't see ANY strawberries. Rather than picking, I like to call the next part of the adventure "seeking strawberries."

Two hours later, I finally had two buckets full. The workers may or may not have been snickering at my red face, large amount of time spent, and two small buckets full of strawberries. So when the old man said, "I told you it was too hot down there," I may or may not have grinned and replied, "Sir, I'm from Alabama. It ain't even hot here." To which he replied, "Well, I guess that explains it then. Roll tide."

Moral of the story: It would probably be better to pick strawberries... early in the season. In the morning. With a few friends. But when its all said and done... they taste just as good in June.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Overheard at My House: Fathers Day

Savannah was interviewed about her Daddy in church this morning. You might enjoy her answers!

How old is your daddy? 6.
How much does your daddy weigh? 4 pounds.
What does your daddy love to do? Play basketball.
What is your daddy's favorite food? Spicy stuff.
What is Daddy's favorite movie? Rapunzel.
Where does Daddy work? Well, he doesn't really work right now because somebody stepped on my daddy's very long foot and broke it but its not broke all the way off.
Why do you love your daddy? Because he reads me books before I go to bed.

Friday, June 17, 2011

My garden is growing! And that makes me all kinds of happy. In the back of the picture, those are potatoes. To the back right corner, the corn. On the right, overtaking the garden, is the squash. Thats only two plants worth... I don't really know whats going on with that. In the center, barely poking up, there are sweet potatoes. On the left, tomatoes. Front center, cantaloupe, watermelon, and cucumber. And far front, sunflowers.
All. kinds. of. happy.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Little Moments

It just doesn't get better than enjoying a hot summer night with two fresh-smelling babies giggling as they drip everywhere in matching towels after bathtime. The little moments... thats where life happens. Stop and enjoy a little moment of your own today!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow! Our Whirlwind Roadtrip to Cincinnati

Well, this week took a turn I didn't expect. But I'm beginning to learn that with Miss Brooklyn, I really should expect the unexpected. Her pediatrician and therapists have becoming increasingly more concerned about her atypical development and continued seizures. So, last week they referred her to Cincinnati Children's Hospital. It is a long drive from our hometown, but it has won multiple awards for being the best, so we were in agreement that a road trip might just be necessary. When they began to process her paperwork, they said she would most likely be seen in August, or maybe even the fall.

Then Monday rolled around, and I called to confirm they had received some paperwork I had faxed over. They said they did, and then said... "Hey... we've had a cancellation for tomorrow... would you like that appointment?" Tomorrow? Tomorrow?! Tomorrow! So began a whirlwind of travel arrangements, requesting PTO, childcare arrangements, packing, etc. And within two hours, we were off!

Can you believe this girl would not sleep in the car in spite of me listening to George Bush's Decision Points on audio-cd for school? :) Eight long hours later (thank you, construction workers for slowing traffic for miles when you weren't even working) we arrived in Cincinnati and checked into our hotel at 11pm.

Someone may or may not have been relieved to be out of the car and able to move.

We got a few hours of sleep, and then headed to the hospital.

Brooklyn underwent a two-hour assessment in the Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. She saw a nurse, social worker, physical therapist, developmental pediatrician, and a nurse practitioner. They ran a whole battery of tests on her, which she really thought was playtime. They were awesome with her, and the facilities were incredible. They even had volunteers to play with her while we spoke with doctors and listened to instructions.

Then the team met and wrote their report and made decisions about treatment options. They came back and explained several things to us. Some of it we already knew, and some of it was new discovery. They explained that Brooklyn has extensive developmental delays. She is about six months behind in speech and language development, and four months behind in social and emotional development. She is about three months behind cognitively. She also has a slight delay in fine motor skills. She was, however, right on target for her gross motor skills.

They also told us that Brooklyn's head is atypically large for her body size. While her height and weight are 75% for her age, her head is almost 110%. This is called macrocephaly. This is a pretty big red flag. It can mean that something abnormal is going on in her brain, like a growth or too much fluid, or something like that. It can also be benign, though.

They also noticed her low muscle tone and balance issues, and would like to continue to keep an eye on that.

Their final concern was her seizures. She continues to experience those quite often, and they want to run more tests to try to ascertain the cause. If they rule out all structural causes, they will most likely place her on anti-seizure meds to help get those under control.

They asked us to come back up and stay for 3-4 days so that they can run extensive tests and get her in to see multiple specialists. They are going to do an MRI under general anesthesia, and also measure the fluid levels in the brain while they are doing that. They also want to do a prolonged EEG to see if they can capture images of seizure activity. They want her to see a neurologist and a speech pathologist.

We loaded back into the car and began the long journey home. After being gone 32 hours, and spending 15 of those in the car, we arrived home very tired. We are so thankful that Cinci was able to see our girl though and that they share our concerns. Most of all, we are grateful for their commitment to get answers.

Special thanks for our church family and friends for your support, to Mimi for entertaining Brookie in the backseat so that I could drive, to Grandad for a free hotel room, to Mariott for setting up a pack-n-play for us and having everything ready to go when we arrived, to Mattie and the awesome volunteers at the hospital for entertaining baby B, to Gram-B and Miss Catherine for keeping Savannah, and to the great team of doctors and staff there!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Operation Swingset

My husband is awesome.
He is amazingly talented.

When all of you voted for Savannah to win the Halloween costume contest a year and a half ago, she was awarded $400 in visa giftcards. We used the money to buy supplies for this "swingset".
It started out as a swingset anyway. Then it kind of morphed into a fortress of sorts. I guess thats what happens when you turn the carpenter loose with visa gift cards and graph paper.
My kids are so lucky to have such a good daddy that was willing to spend many hours in 90-degree weather building this for them.
And they are very happy with it. Me too. Even if I do think maybe we should've gotten a building permit.

What can I say? My husband has skills. Great job, honey, and thank you!!!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

The Best of Intentions

I've been learning a lesson over the course of the past year about being intentional. Sometimes motherhood is so exhausting that its hard to be intentional about anything. If you all make it through the day alive, fed, clothed, and unharmed, then by golly its a success! And we definitely have those days. I've become more aware, however, that if I don't set out with the intent to accomplish certain things, I won't accomplish much of anything. I read somewhere that 95% of people who set goals meet them. So why don't we set more goals?!

The first area I learned this in was time with my hubby. If we didn't intentionally plan a night to go out or even just to spend time together, we ended up doing other things. And not bad things, just other things. We'd have a night with no plans, and he'd flip on the tv and I'd grab a book and go read in the other room. And we'd spend zero time together. But when we intentionally planned one night a week just spending time together, it made a huge difference.

I was talking with a friend a few weeks ago and she said "I want to be intentional with my summer." And I thought yes! I don't want the whole summer to pass by and feel like that time that both of my kids were home was just... gone. So I began to think about what I wanted to accomplish with them this summer. And most of this applies just to Savannah because Brooklyn is so little, but some of it applies to both.

1. I want Savannah to practice writing her letters for a few minutes each day.
2. I want us all to make time for daily devotions.
3. I want Savannah to complete the public library reading program (5 hours of listening to an adult read by the end of July).
4. I want to spend at least one morning each week just enjoying my children. Either at the pool or at home or out somewhere fun... I want uninterrupted, high-quality time with them not worrying about work or school or house work.
5. I want Savannah to learn to swim.

There are other things I want to accomplish around the house, and in my own life, but this is a good starting point for an intentional summer. What do you think? Anything I should add to my list?

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Monday, June 6, 2011

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Date Forty-Five

Redbox movie, steak dinner, apple pie, and sweet tea.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

It was time.

It was time for some organization. Or reorganization. Or something. Sweet mercy, the state of the cabinets was not good. There were things that expired in 2008. And things we never use. And 17 packages of popcorn, three opened bags of croutons, and four bottles of barbecue sauce. It was time.

Some rubbermaid containers were purchased (who even knew rubbermaid has a bread container shaped like a loaf of bread?!), tortilla chips that had turned green were disposed of, cabinets were washed out, and all is happy in kitchenland again.

Except, of course, for the husband that wasn't exceptionally amused by cleaning out kitchen cabinets on a Friday night. Ahem.


text:
Monday, June 24, 2013

of labels

So, occassionally I used to regret that I hadnt tagged my posts with lables on this blog very much, and that doing so would make finding things, if only for me, a whole lot easier. But I've been labeling the posts on Some Have Said, and as it becomes ever more unwieldy the more I post, perhaps I'll just stop regretting.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

saturday matinee

I dont care if it is all being done just to sell more over-sugared, over-priced soft-drinks that arent good for you, it's still a lovely thing.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

saturday matinee

While this is by a Brit, it applies just as well here.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Thursday, June 13, 2013

quote for the day

I look at Dubya and just see...a grotesquely under-qualified-for-practically-anything daddy’s boy who’s had to be greased into every squalid position he’s ever held in his miserable existence who might finally be starting to wake up to the idea that if the most powerful nation on Earth — like, ever, dude — can put somebody like him in power, all may not be well with the world.
Iain Banks, taken from Raw Spirit: In Search of the Perfect Dram (2003).

read more about Iain Banks here.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

geography lesson

This is a map showing relative levels of hate-tweets directed at homosexuals. Isnt it amazing how much this map looks a lot like other maps of the nation that also use a red blue axis? No? I suppose not.

More detail here.

Monday, June 10, 2013

quote for the day

"...keep in mind that the Republicans' most serious charge revolves around the creation of misleading talking points. Stop and think about that for a moment. Not intentionally breaking laws passed by Congress as in Iran-Contra, not obstruction of justice as in Watergate, not perjury as in the Lewinsky affair. The creation of misleading talking points.

In other words, the most damaging charge for which there is even the wispiest scintilla of evidence is that after the Benghazi attack, some people in the Obama administration were worried the whole thing might make the administration look bad. And that's probably true. But it's not a crime."
Paul Waldman, Scandal Makers

Man, while it might seem that it would be lovely if the Republican Party were to disappear within the next decade, dont fool yourself; they will never disappear. This does not mean that the party wont fall completely apart, and become a clusterfuck of recriminations, backstabbing, and the eating of its own young (and rightly so). But eventually, it will return, and someday be in charge of the government again.

At least, I hope so. Because as bad as they are right now, can you imagine what the nation would be like if we had only one strong choice at election time, regardless of which party it was?

Saturday, June 08, 2013

saturday matinee

Man, I remember loving this song in high school, and thinking it was awesome and people who I knew who played guitar were all, like, "Eddie Van Halen is the greatest guitar player in the world, man". Now here's some teenage girl absolutely kicking that song's ass and she's not even grimacing. I feel old now, for some reason.

Friday, June 07, 2013

quote for the day

"Most of the world’s people are decent, honest and kind. Most of those who dominate us are inveterate bastards. This is the conclusion I’ve reached after many years of journalism. Writing on Black Monday, as the British government’s full-spectrum attack on the lives of the poor commences, the thought keeps returning to me.

“With a most inhuman cruelty, they who have put out the people’s eyes reproach them of their blindness.” This government, whose mismanagement of the economy has forced so many into the arms of the state, blames the sick, the unemployed, the underpaid for a crisis caused by the feral elite – and punishes them accordingly. Most of those affected by the bedroom tax, introduced today, are disabled. Thousands will be driven from their homes, and many more pushed towards destitution. Relief for the poor from council tax will be clipped; legal aid for civil cases cut off. Yet at the end of this week those making more than £150,000 a year will have their income tax cut.

Two days later, benefit payments for the poorest will be cut in real terms. A week after that, thousands of families who live in towns and boroughs where property prices are high will be forced out of their homes by the total benefits cap. What we are witnessing is raw economic warfare by the rich against the poor."
George Monbiot

I realize this is about England, but it might as well be about America. Hell, it's about any place in the world where the economic schemes of the rich lead to the suffering of the rest of us, and their answer to any crisis is to make the rest of us all pay for their mistakes, while telling us it's for our own good.

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

weather, man!

For all you weather junkies out there, a map of tornado activity in the U.S. over the last fifty-plus years.

Read the article now, okay?

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

quote for the day

"The end of democracy and the defeat of the American Revolution will occur when government falls into the hands of lending institutions and moneyed incorporations."

Thomas Jefferson

Okay, seriously, this is lovely, but I cannot help but wonder if it is real. I mean, it's just so convenient. Though it might go a long way towards explaining why the educational destructors in Texas dont seem to fond of poor old Tom. I'd research it, but I'm too lazy, especially when I can just tack on a simple disclaimer.

This is a job for sbh.

Addendum: Yay! I was right, it was a job for sbh, and he has come through with his usual* talent (taken from the comments):
Fortunately the researchers at Monticello have already covered this one (see They refer it to Noam Chomsky's 1994 book Keeping the Rabble in Line:

"This exact quotation has not been found in the writings of Thomas Jefferson. It may be a mistaken amalgamation of the author's comments in the above 1994 reference with a real Jefferson quotation. Jefferson wrote in 1825 to William Branch Giles of 'a vast accession of strength from their younger recruits, who, having nothing in them of the feelings or principles of '76, now look to a single and splendid government of an aristocracy, founded on banking institutions, and monied incorporations under the guise and cloak of their favored branches of manufactures, commerce and navigation, riding and ruling over the plundered ploughman and beggared yeomanry.' Chomsky's 1994 book quotes Jefferson's 1825 letter to Giles and then comments that '[Jefferson] warned that that would be the end of democracy and the defeat of the American revolution.'"

For me the phrase "end of democracy" is a red flag; I haven't seen it in Foundation Era documents. It's more of a twentieth century concern.
I dunno if it was the phrase "end of democracy" that made me suspicious (probably not), but I'm glad to see that my caution was not misplaced.

* or perhaps unusual, since this sort of thing seems to fool a lot of people.

Monday, June 03, 2013

So at dinner tonight there was a mirror on the other side of the table, and it was really weirding me out to keep looking up and see myself.

Saturday, June 01, 2013

saturday matinee

Hey There, how, how's it going?
Long time no see.
I know I haven't been around much lately
But,it didn't seem like you wanted me to be
The last time I sent down a message you nailed it to the cross
So I figured I'd just leave you to it, let you be your own boss

But I've been keeping an eye on you, I have,
and it's amazing how you've grown.
With your technological advances and the problems you've overthrown,
And all the beautiful art you've created with such grace and such finesse,
But I admit there are a few things I'm afraid have impressed me less.

So I'm writing to apologize for all the horrors committed in my name,
Although that was never what I intended,
I feel I should take my share of the blame.
All the good I tried to do was corrupted
when organised religion got into full swing,
What I thought were quite clear messages were taken to unusual extremes.
My teachings taken out of context to meet the agendas of others,
Interpretations taken to many different ways and hidden meanings discovered

Religion became a tool, for the weak to control the strong
With all these new morals and ethics, survival of the fittest was gone
No longer could the biggest man simply take whatever he needed
'cause damnation was the price if certain rules were not heeded
Some of the deeds committed in my name
just made me wonder were I went wrong.
Back at the start when I created this, the foundation seemed so strong.
See all the elements were already here, long before I began,
I just kind of put it all together
I didn't really think out a long-term plan.

I made the sun an appropriate distance and laid the stars across the sky
So you could navigate the globe or simply watch the sun rise
I covered the earth with plants and fruits,
Some for sustenance and some for beauty
I made the sun shine and the clouds rain
so their maintenance wasn't your duty
I tried to give each creature its own attributes
without making them enveloped
I gave you all you all your own space to
grow and in your own way space to develop

I didn't know such development would cause rifts and jealousy
Cause you to war against each other and leave marks on this planet indelibly
You see, I wasn't really the creater, I was just the curator of nature
I want to get something straight with homosexuals right now: I don't hate ya
I was a simple being that happened to be the first to wield such powers
I just laid the ground, it was You that built the towers

It was You that invented bombs, and the fear that comes with them
And it was You that invented money, and the corrupt economic systems
You invented terms like just-war and terms like friendly fire
And it was You that didn't know
when to stop digging deeper, when to stop building higher
It was You that exhausted the resources I carefully laid out on this earth,
And it was You that even saw these
problems coming but accredited them little worth
It was You that used my teachings for your own personal gain
And it was You that committed such tragedies,
even though they were in my name

So I apologize for any mistakes I made, and when my words misconstrued
But this apology's to mother nature, cause I created you


text:
LONDON MARKETS: FTSE 100 Heads For 1-month Low As Trump 'ups The Ante' In North Korea Standoff

Datum : 11/08/2017 @ 10h29
Quelle : Dow Jones News
Name : FTSE 100 (UKX)
Kurs : 7502.43  2.02 (0.03%) @ 11h52
FTSE 100 share price Chart

LONDON MARKETS: FTSE 100 Heads For 1-month Low As Trump 'ups The Ante' In North Korea Standoff

Old Mutual (LSE:OML)
Historical Stock Chart

6 Monate : Von Jun 2017 bis Dez 2017

Click Here for more Old Mutual Charts.

By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch

Old Mutual shares fall after earnings

U.K. stocks headed sharply lower again on Friday, as the escalating tensions between the U.S. and North Korea rattled investors and helped drive a global selloff.

The FTSE 100 index slumped 0.8% to 7,332.52. At this level, the benchmark is on track for its lowest close since late June, according to FactSet data. On Thursday, it logged its biggest one-day percentage loss since April 18, when a "snap" U.K. general election was called.

For the week, the London index is looking at a 2.4% drop, which would be its biggest weekly loss since April.

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump said his earlier threat to unleash "fire and fury" on North Korea "maybe wasn't tough enough." ( Additionally, China weighed in on the standoff, saying in an editorial in state-run Global Times ( that Beijing will intervene if the U.S. strikes first against North Korea.

"Trump has upped the ante so the market is having to price in possible military intervention," said Jasper Lawler, head of research, at London Capital Group, in a note.

Read:What to do with stocks if the U.S. and North Korea go to war (

Howard Gold:A new missile crisis is here, and Trump is no JFK (

"Love or loathe him, Trump isn't one to back down from a confrontation, so its perhaps not a surprise that things have escalated. North Korea responding with a threat to U.S. territory after Trump warned them not to threaten the U.S. was never going to go down well," Lawler said.

"We assume markets will move on if it remains purely a war of words but the selloff looks durable," he added.

Stock movers: Shares of Old Mutual PLC (OML.LN) fell 1.2% even after the company raised its dividend 32% ( . The financial services company reported an 87% jump in net profit in the first half of the year.

Mining shares were among biggest the decliners as investors shunned assets seen as more risky. A slowdown in Chinese fiscal spending ( also hit commodities stocks, as the sector is highly exposed to growth and spending on infrastructure projects in China.

Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) (RIO)(RIO) dropped 3.6%, Glencore PLC (GLEN.LN) lost 3.5%, Anglo American PLC (AAL.LN) fell 3.2%, and BHP Billiton PLC (BLT.LN) (BHP.AU) (BHP.AU) gave up 2.7%.

On an upbeat note, shares of Coca-Cola HBC AG rose 0.9%, adding to a 9.2% jump from Thursday when the beverage bottler said strong volume growth, price increases and improved packaging mix resulted in a rise in first-half earnings (

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 11, 2017 04:14 ET (08:14 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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BREAKING: 20th Century Fox Animation and Ice Age makers Blue Sky Studios will turn Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock and the whole Peanuts gang into an animated feature film franchise. Fox has closed a deal for rights to turn the strip by the late Charles Schulz into a film that has already been set for release on November 25, 2015. That date commemorates the 65th anniversary of the comic strip and the 50th anniversary of the TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Fox Animation has set director Steve Martino, who co-directed the Fox/Blue Sky hit Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who! and Fox Animation’s latest blockbuster, Ice Age: Continental Drift. The screenplay is by Craig Schulz and the writing team of Bryan Schulz & Cornelius Uliano. Craig Schulz and Bryan Schulz, who are Schulz’s son and grandson, will produce with Uliano.

Deal came after two years of rights negotiations with the Schulz family, culminating in a agreement announced by Fox Animation president Vanessa Morrison. So much of the family film game is built around branded properties, and few family brands are as well known globally as Peanuts.

The Schulz strip was read daily by 355 million people in 75 countries and spawned such Emmy-winning specials as It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

Also playing a key role in the deal was Neil Cole, CEO and president of Iconix Brand Group which, in a joint venture with Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates, formed Peanuts Worldwide in 2010, the home to the global Peanuts property. Fox Animation director of development Ralph Millero worked closely with Morrison and with the Schulz estate in securing the rights to the property.

Said Fox Animation’s Morrison: “We are thrilled to partner with the Schulz family and Iconix and honored to bring the Peanuts characters to the big screen. This all started with our love and respect for the work of Charles Schulz. We thank the Schulz family and Iconix for letting Fox and Blue Sky bring his vision to new generations of film goers.”

Craig Schulz, President, Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates, said, “We have been working on this project for years. We finally felt the time was right and the technology is where we need it to be to create this film. I am thrilled we will be partnering with Blue Sky/Fox to create a Peanuts movie that is true to the strip and will continue the legacy in honor of my father.”

Said Iconix Brand Group CEO Cole: “This is a momentous step for the Peanuts brand. The beloved characters, Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the whole gang resonate with multiple generations all over the world. This film will give us a new medium in which to engage consumers globally and showcase the power of the Peanuts brand.

CAA brokered the deal along with the Ziffren law firm.


text:
Jim's Message Board
[ Reply To This Message ]

What HTML editors do to your code, a side-by-side comparison..
From Dan Perry at Dan's LinksLS Page on 02 June '98
I made a post here about 10 days ago asking opinions of FrontPage 98. I was truly amazed at the quick responses. For everyones information, I have decided to take FrontPage 98 back to Best Buy (I hear the cheers already). Luckily, my 30 days did not expire. I am also 99% sure that I will purchase Dreamweaver instead. The price is steep (I'm not in business (yet), I do this as a hobby) but when they throw in HomeSite as well, it's tough to beat. I never would've known about this unbelievably advanced product if it were not for this board. Thanks a lot.

Anyway, now that we're caught up, please check out the following link. It shows some original hand-written HTML next to what the different Editors do to it. It includes NetObjects Fusion 2.0, Adobe PageMill 2.0, GoLive CyberStudio 2.0, MicroSoft Frontpage 98, and Dreamweaver. Remember that this is on Dreamweavers site, but it is a graphic example of the problems that these editors produce (especially META tags). If there was any doubt, check it out.

Thanks again for all the help. This is undoubtedly one of the best boards on the Net.

Dan Perry

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deadlock Message Board
[ November Full List | Reply ]

Re: hiding source code.
From Reginald at on 20 Oct '00
replying to Re: hiding source code. posted by Lao

I read in another newsgroup there are some possible solutions:

"It is not possible to hide document content or HTML encoding from a user in the basic case. If the data stream is downloadable by the browser to be rendered, then it is available to the user to see as well.

I had always thought this was the end of the story, but several people have e-mailed to me reporting of methods which can be used to accomplish this with varying degrees of success.

Methods suggested:
- Use a Java applet to fetch the source code and display feed it to the browser (this will prevent the browser from viewing the source.) Someone showed me an example where this is done. This may be the safest bet, but download time is greatly increased (the applet was NOT small by any means.) Look around on Java code web sites for applets like this.
- Encode the data (either with simple encodings or more complex encryption) and use Javascript to decode it on the fly. Place the javascript in an external file and use the SRC attribute of the SCRIPT element to reference, effectively isolating it from the view of the browser."

My question is: does anyone know of a Javascript like this??? Please post it here and email it to me. Thank you.

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deadlock Message Board
[ October Full List | Reply ]

Re: why dont i get more leads from my site?
From Max on 23 October '98
adding to Re: why dont i get more leads from my site? posted by yolanda

Do this:
Can YOU get to your own website? Go to your website and
write down what is in the LOCATION line at the top of the
screen. Let us know what that is.

If you can't get to it, and you paid your bills, call your
ISP and complain.

>The URL address is (

I get this from my browser:
"Netscape Proxy is unable to locate the server:
The server does not have a DNS entry. Check the server name in
the Location (URL) and try again."
(this occasionally happens with any website)

I get this from whois:

whois -h
No match for "AVANZE.COM".

This is critical, because the world relies on the database
I checked with whois. is not there.
Did you remember to pay the Internic $70 for the name?
They email their invoices, and then cancel the domain if
it's not paid in about 60 days.

If you paid, call that ISP and find out what they did. I'd also
ask for a full refund of anything you paid them to host
(check the spelling) because it's certainly not there as far as the
Web is concerned. It is entirely possible for you to be able to
see your pages even if the rest of the world can't.

An active domain will return something like this with whois:

whois -h

Internet Services of Michigan (ISMI-DOM)
515 West Grand River Avenue
Howell, MI 48843-2149

Domain Name: ISMI.NET

Administrative Contact:
Caldwell, Tara (TC390) tara@ISMI.COM
Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
Caldwell, Charly Ii (CC131) charly2@ISMI.NET

Record last updated on 25-Nov-96.
Record created on 11-Sep-95.
Database last updated on 23-Oct-98 04:29:02 EDT.

Domain servers in listed order:

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deadlock Message Board
[ February Full List | Reply ]

Re: Setting up secure ordering?
From Donald Zvanut at Gemstone Jewelry on 19 Feb '99
replying to Re: Setting up secure ordering? posted by Nicholas

>Thank you for the replies. Actually the site is up and running,
>and making money through an 800 line. I guess I should have described
>what I'm doing as "site rehabilitation." But it's a mess. Since
>I'm hoping to take on no more than 100 tasks at a time, I'm wondering
>if it will create a lot more work to just add the secure ordering
>later. It's more a time/programming question than a marketing question.
>Any thoughts?

What's the URL of the site? I didn't catch it. With a current 800 # you are definitely
way ahead on the marketing. I think it would create more work later to
add create ordering. A lot of ideas will develope and help oranize the site
as you add secure ordering.
Sounds like the current site needs to be downsized in terms of the product numbers
to organize the site and add secure ordering.

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deadlock Message Board
[ August Full List | Post A Reply ]

Home Business
From Kermly at Marketing 2 Success on 6 August '03
Home Based Internet Business.
Thousands can be made from the comfort of your home each week.
Start living the life you've always wanted. BECOME YOUR OWN
BOSS!! This is not a MLM or get rich quick scheme. It has been
proven to work and the information is free to view.

Go to my website to find out more!

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Wednesday, 19 August 2015

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text:
Welcome to Dean Cheesman's Blog

So it turns out that I'm one of those people who only posts once or twice a month, but I do read a ton of blogs every day and I "share" the posts I like. So be sure to check out my "shared items" on the right side of the blog. Also, be sure to check out what music i'm listening to on my last.fm page and feel free to click the chat link to talk to me.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

2009 Wrap-up: My List of RSS Feeds

So I went a bit overboard with my RSS feeds this year and have somehow collected 238 feeds. I'm planning a cut back for the new year, but here's the full list in alphabetical order.

Friday, December 25, 2009

2009 Wrap-up: Top Albums I listened to in '09

The following list comes from my Last.fm profile. I use GimmeSomeTune to link my iTunes and iPhone to it.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

2009 Wrap-up: Top Movies I watched in '09

This is the first installation in a series of year end wrap-ups for 2009.

Here are some of the greatest movies and shows that I have seen all year:

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Chill Music Mix

A little collection of songs that I like to listen to when trying to relax. It might be tough to make it through this without falling asleep. Good songs though... just good chill songs.

Download the mix here

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Diamond Illusion Backgrounds

Saw this video today on google reader. It inspired me to make these backgrounds. Each grey diamond is exactly the same. Works best in full-screen mode.

320x480 (iPhone)

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

October Music Playlist

I have made another playlist of music I like. That is all.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Kaleidoscope Animation

Here is the animated Kaleidoscope. Really happy with how it turned out. I added the fade-in/fade-out along with the audio in iMovie. Be sure that you watch this on in HD.

Music is "Empty Us" by Boots to the Moon

Kaleidescope Generator

I wanted to try making a program that grabbed random images from a folder and used them in an image. I had a bunch of black and white clip art from this book so I used them. These images were all made procedurally with random colors and radius distances from the middle. I have made some video animations from this too which are promising, but they are small. I hope to create some large HD videos before I share that with the world. I'm considering creating some really large images with this to make prints of and put up on the wall at my house.

Click on each image for the full sized goodness.

Friday, September 11, 2009

My try at some retro-modern art

I'm not sure if retro-modern is what you'd call it, but it's inspired by this dude. I created the design procedurally in Processing and did some post-production in Preview.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

4 Steps to discovering new music using Firefox, iTunes, and Last.FM

I can't stand the thought of trolling through hundreds of myspace pages or iTunes directories to sample music from everyone possible to discover something new. I want to have music brought to me that has already been tailored to my taste. None of this live streaming from the internet crap, I want something that can look at what I actually listen to and give me actual music files to download.

Over the past couple years I have developed a simple method to do this which combines online services, browser plugins, and iTunes.

Step 1.
Find music blogs that cater to your taste and add them to an online feed reader.

Use services like hype machine or google blog search to find blogs that have covered your favorite bands. I would suggest searching with bands you like who you feel are lesser known. This helps avoid blogs that cover wide ranges of music types. Another important note is to find blogs that post .mp3 files directly on their blog posts.

Add these blog feeds to a browser-based feed reader. I have been using Google Reader for quite a while and love it. (If you don't know what a feed reader is check out this tour or Google Reader)

Step 2.
Sign up for a Last.fm account and download GimmeSomeTune or similar app.

An app like GimmeSomeTune will upload your listening data from your iTunes library to Last.fm's database.

Not only does last.fm store your listening data, but it will also suggest music for you to listen to. I don't particularly enjoy listening to music through my browser so I don't use much of this. Instead there is also a section that has recommended songs that are free to download. Instead of going to check this all the time I add the RSS feed for this page to my Google Reader as well.

Step 3.
Use the Downloadthemall plugin for Firefox to get all songs from the blogs/feeds.

Since the Last.FM free .mp3 feed and most music bloggers' articles will link directly to .mp3 files I can use the DownloadThemAll plugin in Firefox to download every music file linked on a page. This works great when using google reader. I open up my music section and scroll through a couple weeks of time to load all the info into the browser and then run DownLoadThem all to grab all the music from the page.

Step 4.
Import files to Itunes and use Smart Playlists to filter out the best downloads

After importing all of the music into iTunes I refine the music using Genius playlist. For more on how I do this read my previous article on making a Genius Discovery Playlist.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

End of Summer 09 Playlist

I wore a hoodie yesterday. That signals the end of summer for me. It inspired me to create a playlist of music that reflects this change in season. Please download and enjoy.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Fire Fly with Beat Detection

I figured out how to render the sound visualizations so that they sync with the audio. I threw it on to this fire fly program I did previously and here's the result.

Song is "We are your friends" from Justice.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Geometry Vizualization

I went to the Tool concert last night and was thoroughly impressed by the video and light show that accompanied it. I noticed that a lot of the video used was built on complex geometric shapes. I saw this and took it as a challenge. After I got home I dabbled around with it a bit and came up with this:

Then today I thought of a couple other tweaks to make and it turned into this.

Once I come up with a satisfying final product I'll run it in HD and upload it.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Provo Acoustic Session with Drew Danburry

Just in case you guys didn't know. We did another acoustic session. This time with Drew Danburry. He was lots of fun and has some great new songs.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Firefly Screen Shots

Here are some more detailed screen shots of the Firefly swarm program that I wrote. Click to see the full sized image.

Swarm of Fireflies

I was trying to figure out how to use buffers to create more optimized animation and this was what the end result of my tests were.

The red dot randomly moves around the screen as the swarm follows.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Michael Shermer on Being Skeptical

If we all lived by these rules then the world would be a much better place. Please take the time to watch this video. If you don't agree with what is said I would love to discuss it with you.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Particle/Smoke Effect in processing

This is from my latest test on processing. Best to watch the high quality version. My first swing at creating video from the animation.

Friday, May 15, 2009

New Processing Projects

I've been learning how to do some fun Processing stuff lately. Here's a sample of something I threw together tonight. It's inspired by this guy's stuff

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Why Utah isn't so bad right now

When our current unemployment rate in Utah is as bad as the best unemployment rate of the national average it makes me feel a little better about this silly place.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

What I Do: Satellite Dealer Software - Agemni CMS

I've had a couple people ask what I do for my day job so I'd like to clarify. I work for a great software company called Agemni. We make crm software for satellite dealers, home security retailers, home theater installers, call centers, and pretty much anybody who needs to track their customers through a sale to install process. The software was previously called Dishstar, but when we started integrating more business models outside the satellite industry we changed the name.

I started at the company as one of the software engineers working mostly on migrating customers existing data from other software into our system. After working a couple years for the company and leaving for a couple years to finish school and things I came back to do sales for Agemni. It's definitely one of the best sales jobs I've heard of. Practically all of my leads come from referrals from current clients or from people signing up for one of our 15 day free trials. I spend my day showing potential clients the different ways that the software could save them money. It really sells itself.

Feel free to check out our site at www.agemni.com. You can see my first and only real attempt at non-procedural Flash animation.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

This is a perfect followup to my previous article on Evolution and a great supplement to a discussion I had with some friends and family this last week. It explains my stance on belief completely. Thanks Stephe for the share.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Iraqi Jumping Jacks

I was asked a little while ago what the funniest viral video online was... I think that this is my selection. Kills me.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Coca-Cola : Encounter

This was too good not to share.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

The Music So Far

Here's a graph of the music that I have been listening to so far this year. This is made using last.fm and LastGraph. To see my favorites from last year click here. (click on the graph for more detail)
From Dean and You

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

In defense of something that shouldn't need it

I have been somewhat inspired lately to write this article. The following items are a couple things that I didn't really understand until recent years. If any of you reading this don't share my view on this subject I ask you to read with an open mind, but also not to take my word for it. Go find out about it on your own as well.

First of all... a couple points about science:

1. When someone talks a bout a scientific theory they are not talking about a theory in the same way that Sherlock Holmes does when he has a hunch about something. In order for something to be considered a theory in the scientific community it is tested in multiple ways and have multiple laws describing it. It must be able to make accurate predictions concerning scientific experiments or observations. more info here.

2. Science doesn't claim absolute truth. When someone makes a claim in science it is based on the evidence at hand. As technology improves and more evidence is found scientific ideas are changed, updated, and sometimes completely disproved. This doesn't mean that science is worthless though. Even disproved theories hold some truths and some worth. Isaac Newton found ways to explain the universe that weren't completely correct, but still used until Einstein came along and disproved some of Newton's ideas.

3. "Scientists" are not some giant collective of back patters who conspire together to debate one side of an issue. Scientists are everywhere in the world doing their work in many different fields. Scientists, in general, are not motivated to keep the status quo. They don't set out to rediscover what's already been discovered. A scientist's dream is to overturn a previously accepted theory. There's no great advantage for science as a whole to stay the same.

Now to what I wish everyone would understand:

When someone talks about Evolution as a scientific theory they aren't saying that it's something that people have a hunch or guess that it's right. It means that this is something that people have rigorously tested and people have used to predict and invent great new things. If you discredit Evolution because it's just a theory you are also discrediting Germ Theory, Gravity, and any other established scientific belief.

Evolution occurs everywhere. From the way societies react, to how humans came from single celled organisms, to how the universe developed. I don't claim that all principles of the Theory of Evolution are perfect, but the evidence points towards it being correct.

If you are someone who doesn't believe in evolution I ask that you take the time to read about it. It is a beautiful concept that is so simple yet so universal. Also, if any of you would like to discuss this I would love to do that as well.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Provo Acoustic and Life Update

Hi everyone.

Its been a while.

I don't have much new to say.

I've been trying out a lot of different ideas lately.

If I get any of those things done I'll post them here.

So for now you should watch the newest podcast for the Provo Acoustic Sessions.

This is number 12 of the podcasts. That's more than the Provo Pulse podcast that I did back in 2005 and 2006.

It's been lots of fun.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Provo Acoustic Sessions Podcast

The podcast has been approved on iTunes. If you haven't already you should subscribe.


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Wednesday, March 29, 2006

I Love That Movie With 'The Cory's' Where A Character Named Dean Is Always Begging His Friends For A Ride

Massachusetts wants to punish all the children in the commonwealth for their parents failure to prepare them for the future. I was nearly 30 when I got my drivers license. I think back to my early 20's and how little respect I got for not knowing how to drive. No one took me seriously even when I worked a steady job and supported my first apartment. Rob's parents nailed it when they asked him why I didn't know how to drive. His response was that my parents wouldn't let me get my license because I didn't take drivers ed. 'That's really irresponsible of them.' was his mothers reply.

Why didn't I take drivers ed in highschool? If you remeber that far back, it was offered at 6:30AM and only accepted 30 students a semester, there were 256 students who needed it. I would have had to get up at 5:30 to make it. I'm not a morning person. That's OK. Marblehead really didn't want to teach it's kids how to drive. Other states have tracks and dedicate class time during the normal period. Every student takes it, not just the first 30 to sign up. So I never learned and despite my license today I remain woefully unprepared. That I haven't killed anyone is more a testament to my allertness then my skill with the wheel. I think I'd be a much better driver if I learned as a teenager, when I was supposed to. I'm a step 12, which for those who don't know is pretty close to the rating they assign you as a teenager. I've been getting screwed by my insurance company for years.

I did learn how to sail as a kid. It's the only thing I do well.

Anonymous k-ditty said...

what about coffee?

Mar 29, 2006, 6:04:00 PM
Blogger Dean ASC said...

Strangely there are very few people in this world who've experienced both my prowess as a mariner and my finesse' with espresso. I am a much better sailor. You'll have to take my word for it.

Mar 29, 2006, 6:39:00 PM
Blogger TommyOkktane said...

I am so looking forward to the day I become a parent and have absolutely no responsibility for the actions or the upbringing of my child.

Mar 30, 2006, 1:18:00 PM
Blogger RicketyFunk said...

I have a friend who still has yet to obtain her permission to drive form the government. I took her out once to let her practice on a gravel state forest road. I was so scared for my car.

Bad drivers are one of my most passionate dislikes. As a "veteran" musician, I've done my time in the delivery business, made my living by driving. It's infurating when people who haven't had to earn $10.00/hour driving food to some jackass get so close to my bumper that they can read the Montana State University Family Housing parking sticker's fine print. Sweet revenge is always found in the downshift without braking.

Mar 30, 2006, 2:56:00 PM
Blogger Dean ASC said...

Is Montana still a "Safe and Prudent" state? I got a speeding ticket back when there was no daytime speed limit. It's in a frame in my bedroom. I was trying to pin out a car that claimed to go 120. My speedo read 118 when the radar detector went off. The trooper apologised for pulling me over. In Massachusetts, to say the least, they wouldn't have said sorry for pulling me over.

Mar 30, 2006, 3:54:00 PM
Blogger Dean ASC said...

Oh and there's bad driver and there's asshole driver. You're describing asshole driver. My bad driving takes the form of cutting my turns too close and rollng over the curbstone. Usually not a problem in my truck. I often don't see traffic lights if they're above the road, my wife hates that.

Mar 30, 2006, 3:58:00 PM

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Mar 14, 2009

Downtown Chic

I loooove to read in general but I especially love reading and collecting new design books! I got word of a new one coming out on April 28th called Downtown Chic.

This book was co-written by husband and wife team Robert and Courtney Novogratz of the world renowned NYC based firm, Sixx Design. It is in fact their first book- how exciting!

Ever since their first design project in Chelsea, the duo has developed and designed gorgeous living spaces in Great Barrington, Massachusettes, Soho, and Trancoso, Brazil. Not to mention, they also have SEVEN kids! Wow- what a hard-working pair!

Their book is coming soon but you can pre-order it now on Amazon.

1 comment:

Design Coach said...

I love to read and love design books too. I collect old editions on design, entertaining, furniture, etiquette and the home. I recently read "Dorothy Rodgers My Favorite Things". Published in 1964. She was the wife of Broadway duo Rodgers and Hammerstein (Oklahoma, Sound of Music). She drops celebrity and Broadway names in every chapter. What a hoot!
Merri Cvetan, The Design Coach


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Wednesday, December 5, 2012

French Sperm Quality Takes Huge Hit

The good news: The male population of France is still fertile. The bad: Its sperm isn't nearly what it once was. A 16-year study of 26,600 of the country's men found their sperm count has sharply fallen, with the number of millions of spermatozoa per milliliter down 1.9% a year—or a staggering 32.3% over the course of the study. If that sounds worrying to you, you're not alone: "This constitutes a serious public health warning," the researcher tells the BBC. The average concentration in a 35-year-old male now stands at 49.9 million per milliliter; still well above the 15 million-per-milliliter threshold that typically signifies infertility, but the researcher says those below the 55 million mark can find it takes longer to conceive.

The study also found that the percentage of normally formed sperm in the men's semen fell 33.4%. LiveSciencereports that the technology used to measure sperm shape has gotten more precise, but that can't account for the entirety of the deterioration. It's unclear what is causing the degradation, but one professor posits that it's "something in our modern lifestyle, diet, or environment like chemical exposure." The BBC notes that while the study did consider factors like age in its analysis, it didn't control for socio-economic factors that can affect sperm quality, like smoking or weight.

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Friday, December 21, 2012

Teen Marijuana Use May Show No Effect On Brain Tissue, Unlike Alcohol, Study Finds

A teen who consumes alcohol is likely to have reduced brain tissue health, but a teen who uses marijuana is not, according to a new study.

Researchers scanned the brains of 92 adolescents, ages 16 to 20, before and after an 18-month period. During that year and a half, half of the teens -- who already had extensive alcohol and marijuana-use histories -- continued to use marijuana and alcohol in varying amounts. The other half abstained or kept consumption minimal, as they had throughout adolescence.

The before-and-after brain scans of the teens consuming five or more drinks at least twice a week showed reduced white matter brain tissue, study co-author Susan Tapert, neuroscientist at University of California, San Diego, told HuffPost. This may mean declines in memory, attention, and decision-making into later adolescence and adulthood, she said.

The teens who used the most marijuana did not show a change in brain tissue health, according to the study. The researchers did not test performance; they only looked at brain scans.

The study was conducted by researchers at UC San Diego and is scheduled to be published in the April issue of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

The damage occurs because white matter brain tissue develops throughout adolescence and into a person's 20s, Joanna Jacobus, postdoctoral fellow at the UC San Diego, and co-author of the study, told HuffPost.

Part of that still-developing brain tissue is where decision-making ability comes from, which can exacerbate substance use. "It becomes a cycle. If teens decrease their tissue health and cognitive ability to inhibit themselves, they might become more likely to engage in risky behavior like excessive substance use," Jacobus said.

While studies showing the deleterious effect of alcohol on adolescents and adults have been more consistent, studies of the effect of marijuana have not, Tapert said. "One reason is that marijuana can really vary. Different strains contain different levels of THC and other marijuana components. For example, some studies have suggested one component, cannabidiol, may actually have neuroprotective effects," she said.

The researchers are not sure why alcohol had an effect and marijuana did not. They said the study results cannot be considered definitive without more research. They also said they do not know if the reduced brain tissue health is permanent.

Still, Duncan Clark, a medical doctor who was not involved in the study and who studies teen substance abuse, said the study is valuable because similar research has only conducted a one-time test instead of tests before and after a period of substance use.

Clark, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said that because white matter brain tissue development may be the basis for greater self-control, researchers hope to be able to eventually use brain scans like those in this study to predict young individuals' likelihood of substance abuse.

Because the researchers followed the subjects for 18 months, they were able to at least partially monitor preexisting differences in the two groups. But Jacobus conceded that eliminating other factors -- such as genetics, home environment, and even minimal use of other drugs -- is very difficult.

Each teen in the study received brain imaging, a detailed substance-use assessment, and toxicology screening at the beginning of the study and at the end of the study -- as well as substance-use interviews every six months.

Tapert led another study published in 2010 that looked at people ages 12 to 14 before and after they started to drink. Tapert's team found damaged nerve tissue in the teens who had begun to drink. The researchers said they believe this damage compromises boys' attention span, and girls' comprehension and interpretation of visual information.

While this latest study examines marijuana's effect on physical brain tissue, a Duke University study earlier this year examined the drug's effect on intelligence and performance. That study found that teens who routinely smoke marijuana before turning 18 risk a long-term drop in their IQ.

Teen use of marijuana continues to be high, while teens' perception of the drug's harmfulness is down, according to a University of Michigan study published Wednesday. Nearly 23 percent of high school seniors polled in the study said they had smoked marijuana in the month prior.

"It is clear that more research is needed into the long-term effects of marijuana on the brain," Tapert said. "Especially because use is up."

Louis Armstrong, the jazz marvel, gained fame initially as a horn player and later as a vocalist, a musical ambassador, and a character of epic proportions. Known as "Satchmo" and "Pops" to millions of fans, the trumpet maestro swore by "gage," one of the preferred nicknames for cannabis in jazz circles. Satchmo, a notorious pot smoker, often touted the benefits of the herb. "We always looked at pot as a sort of medicine," he stated. Armstrong, the grandchild of a slave, said he used reefer to unwind, to relieve stress, to ease the chronic pain of racism: "It makes you feel good, man. It relaxes you, makes you forget all the bad things that happen to a Negro."

The Hotel Delmonico on Park Avenue, NYC, where Bob Dylan turned the Beatles on to marijuana on August 28, 1964. Beatlemania was then at its peak, and twenty police stood guard outside the Beatles' sixth-floor suite, while behind closed doors Dylan lit up and handed the Fab Four their first joint. A few minutes later everyone was laughing uproariously. "We were kind of  proud to have been introduced to pot by Dylan," Paul McCartney remarked. Just as the jazz vipers of an earlier era had portrayed reefer as a kick not to miss, rock stars promoted a similar message to a huge audience. Cannabis opened the door to new dimensions of popular music, and Dylan and the Beatles carried the youth of the world with them across the psychoactive threshold.

 Marijuana legalization was not on America's political radar when Allen Ginsberg, the famous beat poet, led a pro-marijuana march outside the Women's House of Detention on Sixth Avenue in lower Manhattan on January 10, 1965. A dozen demonstrators chanted slogans and waved placards, resulting in one of the quintessential images of the Sixties: a photograph of Ginsberg, snowflakes on his beard and head, holding a sign that said, POT IS FUN. Another picket sign read: POT IS A REALITY KICK. The pro-pot protest was the inaugural event of the Committee to Legalize Marijuana (LEMAR) in New York City. It was the first organization in the United States to publicly agitate for marijuana law reform.

 Israeli scientist Raphael Mechoulam and his colleagues at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem first synthesized and elucidated the molecular structure of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana's principal psychoactive ingredient, in 1965. Although he didn't know it at the time, Mechoulam had lit a slow burning fuse that would detonate a revolution in medical science. In the early 1990s, Mechoulam's team discovered a natural THC-like substance, an endogenous compound, in the brain and body (our "inner cannabis"), which protects neurons, stimulates adult stem-cell growth, and regulates a broad range physiological processes, including glucose metabolism, blood pressure, bone density, intestinal fortitude and pain perception. Within the scientific community, the discovery of the "endocannanbinoid system" is increasingly recognized as a seminal advancement in our understanding of human biology.

Inside Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, headquarters of the U.S. Army Chemical Corps, where American soldiers were given an array of mind-bending drugs, including an exceptionally potent synthetic marijuana derivative. These secret experiments took place in the 1960s, when U.S. national security strategists were high on the prospect of developing a so-called humane weapon that could knock people out without killing them. Top military officers hyped the notion of "war without death," conjuring visions of aircraft spewing clouds of "madness gas" over enemy territory that would disorient the bad guys and dissolve their will to resist. In pursuit of this pipedream, army medical officers inadvertently discovered marijuana's powerful anticonvulsive properties. Cannabis, an army chemical warfare specialist concluded, "is probably the most potent anti-epileptic known to medicine."

At a time when the therapeutic use of marijuana had been abandoned in the United States, Dr. Tod Mikuriya fought to restore cannabis to its proper place in the Western pharmacopeia. While serving as director of marijuana research for the National Institute of Mental Health in1967, Mikuriya rediscovered the forgotten medical literature on cannabis and brought it to the attention of physicians and scientists. Almost singlehandedly, he kept the issue alive while very few Americans--even pot smokers--were aware of marijuana's medicinal history. Mikuriya would play a crucial role in drafting the language of Proposition 215, the 1996 ballot measure that legalized medical marijuana in California not just for a shortlist of specified diseases but also for "any other illness for which marijuana provides relief."

 Robert Randall, the Rosa Parks of the medical-marijuana movement, made legal and medical history in 1976 when he successfully sued the U.S government for access to cannabis, the only remedy that controlled his glaucoma. Rather than copping a plea after he was busted for growing pot, he chose to fight the criminal charges on the basis of "medical necessity." Randall argued that any sane person would break the law to save his eyesight. DC Superior Court Judge James A. Washington agreed and Randall was acquitted. This landmark verdict compelled the Food and Drug Administration to establish a "Compassionate IND [Investigational New Drug] Program," which continues to distribute government-grown marijuana to a handful of medical necessity patients - while U.S. officials allege that cannabis lacks therapeutic value.

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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

The George Zimmerman Right-To-Carry Amendment

In addition to its desperate effort to block criminal background checks on gun-buyers, today the gun lobby is putting forward an amendment sponsored by John Cornyn that would undermine public safety and overturn each state’s ability to set its own laws.

The leading candidate for such an amendment is something the gun rights advocates call “National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity” or the “Cornyn Amendment,” named for Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn its chief sponsor.

Key swing votes will be Democrats like Senator Michael Bennet, Senator Bob Casey, Senator Mark Udall, Senator Tom Udall, and Senator Mark Warner – as well as moderate Republicans like Mark Kirk.

If enacted, the Cornyn Amendment would override existing state laws to allow anyone with a concealed gun carry permit issued by one state to carry guns into any other state.

Perhaps, the easiest way to illustrate the problems with this concept is by pointing back to the shooting death of Trayvon Martin just over a year ago. Recall, that’s the case of the Florida teenager who was shot to death by a gun-toting, self-appointed neighborhood watchman named George Zimmerman. Mr. Zimmerman, who does not dispute pulling the trigger but claims the shooting was justified, is awaiting trial for Mr. Martin’s murder.

The concealed carry reciprocity amendment that the gun lobby is likely to push this week would have authorized George Zimmerman to carry his guns anywhere in the country until his permit was finally suspended by the state.

Why is this a problem? Because some states, like Florida, issue gun carry permits to just about anyone, including criminals, known alcoholics, and domestic abusers. In Mr. Zimmerman’s case, he was arrested in 2005 for assaulting a police officer, was the subject of domestic violence restraining orders until 2006, but still had a gun permit in 2012. In fact, even after the shooting of Trayvon Martin, Florida’s extremely lax concealed carry laws prevented police from immediately revoking Mr. Zimmerman’s permit.

While 49 states allow concealed gun-carrying, most states place qualifications on who can carry those guns that go above and beyond the federal laws.

Federal law bars felons from purchasing and carrying guns, but it is silent on whether people convicted, for example, of numerous crimes with three-, six-, and nine-month sentences should be able to carry guns. Therefore, most state legislatures have enacted additional protections barring those kinds of dangerous people from getting permits to carrying concealed guns.

For example, California and 37 other states bar people convicted of various kinds of violent misdemeanor crimes from carrying guns. And, in Texas and 33 other states, anyone who wants to carry a gun has to go through safety training.

Of course, some states have no such protections. And, that’s their choice.

But, why is Congress – particularly members like Senator Cornyn who proclaim a philosophy of limited federal power – trying to override the majority of state legislatures that have enacted responsible, clearly constitutional laws to prevent dangerous people from carrying guns?

In 2009, when Senator Cornyn’s colleague John Thune led a similar effort to pass a national concealed carry amendment, a coalition of hundreds of mayors and police chiefs from across the country rose up to help defeat the bill by two votes. Major law enforcement organizations oppose the Cornyn Amendment, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Police Foundation, the National Latino Peace Officers Association, the National Black Police Association, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, and the Major Cities Chiefs Association.

Let’s hope that the Senate can once again muster the votes to defeat Senator Cornyn and Senator Thune’s dangerous idea — because if they don’t, expect to see George Zimmermans carrying guns in your neighborhood.

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Monday, August 27, 2007

Cute Abby-isms (or "how to talk with no front teeth")

Ring-ring.... ring-ring....

Abby is holding the phone receiver up to her ear, intently waiting for someone to pick up on the other end. She is calling my friend Kristi's house (last night) to let them know that she lost another tooth.

We couldn't hear the other end of the conversation so this is my recollection of what Abby said on her end. Please keep in mind she hasn't made very many phone calls on her own yet, other than to her daddy.

Abby - "Hi!" (Ron and I in the background both reminding her to say "this is Abby!")

(We can tell that Kristi's husband had answered the phone, but that was about it)

Abby - "My toofth came out!" (lisp courtesy of the large gap in her smile)

Abby - "Can you tell Krispi and Noah and Aaron that my tooth came out?" (Ron and I are giggling over "Krispi" - this must be how "Kristi" sounds when you have no front teeth)

Abby - "Well, here, you can talk to my dad 'cause he's a boy..."

I'm not sure what Ron said to Steve or how the rest of the phone call went because between "Krispi" and the fact that apparently Steve was only allowed to talk to another boy, I was doubled over in laughter.

Her next phone call was to my mom...

Abby - "Hi Grandma... It's Abby..." (this required a little bit less prompting than the first phone call)

Abby - "Well I wanted to call you 'cause my toofth fell out - why didn't you pick up the phone the last time I called when my other toofth fell out??" (poor Abby had a hard time getting a hold of people when she lost her first tooth... My mom had been out to dinner with my aunt)

I'm not sure what my mom answered, but I got the phone a minute or so later and Abby went into the living room with Ron to call his parents on his cell phone. (I have no idea how that conversation went!) Hmmm, I think we need to go over phone etiquette a bit more with her...

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4 wonderful people said...:

Pinks & Blues said...

That is SO CUTE!! I love the dialogue!! And congrats to Abby on her tooth coming out!! That is awesome!!
Was the tooth fairy good to her!?
- Audrey
Pinks & Blues

~Amber~ said...

Awwww...congrats to Abby! Don't worry, Maddy is 8 and still has no phone etiquette !

mAsOn & tErrI's mOm said...

awe!! I can't wait for the tooth fairy to come to our house! Mason SWEARS his teeth are loose!

BTW....I tagged you!

DawnK said...

That's really cute! It seems that no matter what exciting thing happens in my family, there is no one home to tell, anywhere! I remember that happening, when both of my kids started walking! It was a while before we got ahold of someone to tell them!


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Friday, August 17, 2007

Eight more random facts - my 'other' life

I did one of these a bit ago, but I've been tagged by Believer in Balance for it again, so decided to do 8 more facts!

I talk a lot about my life as a mom, but I don't talk much about my life at work, so I thought I'd share 8 things about my career.

  1. I never knew what I wanted to do with my life and still really don't (other than being a MOM!). I changed majors twice in college because of this and have always envied people who knew from a young age what they 'wanted to be when they grew up'.

  2. My degree is in Geography, specializing in Urban and Regional Planning. My minor was Public History (started off as a major but changed it to a minor. I was only one class and an internship away from a double major in both but wanted to graduate when I did).

  3. After graduating, I couldn't find a job right away so I temped doing office stuff. I got my first 'real' job from one of these temping jobs - I was an Administrative Assistant for 1-1/2 years. I liked the job and it paid very well but I wanted to use my degree after spending all of the time and money on it!

  4. I worked at the same city for 6 years, first as an Assistant (City) Planner and then as Zoning Administrator. When we moved here, I worked for a private consulting firm doing planning (and GIS) until Becca was born.

  5. I've been working at this job for a year, as of August 7th. I was off for 6 months in between because of maternity leave and a horribly failed attempt at trying to stay home and start a home daycare business. It failed because we were trying to replace my income (I had been the main breadwinner) and I couldn't find enough kids to watch before we got so far behind financially that we almost lost our house. We're still catching back up.

  6. I do enjoy what I do now and if I can't be home with the girls (still my first choice), I'm glad to be working here. I love working with computers and maps.

  7. I work in a city's IT Department, but the whole department is contracted out so I actually work for a private company. I got the job through a recruiter originally so for a while I was a contractor for a contractor for the City. Answering the question "where do you work?" was very complicated for the first 6 months I was here until I was hired in permanently!

  8. I do wish I had a window at work - I haven't had one at my last 2 jobs and I miss being able to see outside. I don't even know what the weather is doing most of the time.
So there you have it - hmmm, can I count this post as being 'work-related'? LOL

I'm not going to tag anyone in particular but if you haven't done this one yet feel free and let me know so I can link to you!

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1 wonderful people said...:

Believer in Balance said...

Isn't it funny where our career path takes us! Thanks for doing the facts...again!


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Monday, January 4, 2010

Stash Report Week 1

My goal this year to to use 500+ yards of fabric, most all from stash.
All fabric purchased this week was bought for a specific project.
I tend to buy fabric and then use it one to two years after purchase, therefore once I decide to use the fabric I never have enough and have to spend hours online looking for the extra yardage needed. I will count my fabric as used when the quilt is completely finished.

Used this week - 0
Used YTD - 0
Added this week - 11 yards
Added YTD - 11 yards
Net used for 2010 - <11>

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