Salon Wizard

By Jan Spence 

We eye each other in the mirror,

she standing, me sitting;

elbows dancing, she wields dye,

brushes and foil until my head

mimics a hairy Tin Man.

Conversation clicks along of books,

movies and soap opera lives

while washing, rinsing, conditioning

our way down the Yellow Brick

Road to blow-dry;

through it all we pretend

there was never any gray.

 ©Jan Spence, April 2008

All rights reserved

Hourglass

by Renee Lyons

            August 6, 1945

I. Hiroshima

Our words almost

spoken, leaning over the edges

of our lips, ready to fall,

our eyes gazing forever

straight ahead, our legs

bending and stretching,

but always still.

Here, the glass moment closes

on eternity like a giant mouth. Here,

we find time enough to fold

our memories into origami hearts, to dream

our lifetimes over again,

to memorize the bricks in a building,

the stitches in a coat.

Suddenly, heat, as if all

the tired, fearful souls

were shaking the city

into a choleric fever,

but we never feel the burn,

our lungs still waiting to gasp,

our hearts still waiting to beat,

our throats still waiting to scream.

Now light: the fires of the sun

fill up our sight.

We stare into God's eyes

and his heart swells up, bursts.

The streets run red with his blood,

and I fall through to the dark side of life.

Backseat Collection

by Karona Drummond 

Popcorn pieces

Rubber bands

Messy marks

From messy hands.

 Cracker crumbles

Long gone stale

A scrunchy with

No ponytail.

 Lonely Lego

Dot-to-Dot

Crunchy bits of

Who-knows-what.

 Toe nail clippings

Mate-less sock

Stick from a

Long lost lollipop.

 Candy wrappers

Wilted flower.

Sippy cup of

Milk gone sour.

 Empty bottle

Pit of plum.

Where did these tiny

Bugs come from?

 No place to sit.

It's gone too far.

Okay. It's time

To clean the car.

Onsales Updates include additional shows for:

• Coldplay at least eight shows now on sale this weekend
• Toby Keith at least seven shows now on sale this weekend
• Def Leppard at least six shows now on sale this weekend
• Jerry Seinfeld in Phoenix
• My Morning Jacket
• Stevie Wonder at Hollywood Bowl
• Walking with Dinosaurs - the Live Experience at Madison Square Garden
• Widespread Panic
• Carlos Mencia
• The Mars Volta in Boston
• Extreme

by Dylan W. Krieger

 "Choo-choo town! Choo-choo town! We're movin' on to a choo-choo town! Choo-choo town! Choo-choo town! We're movin' on to a choo-choo town! And we won't slow down! No, we won't slow down! 'Til we find that choo-choo town!" The raggedy little boy swayed his torso back and forth in his train seat, chanting toward the thick-paneled glass of the window and hanging on with white knuckles to the seat ahead of him. He swung his feet to thud the bottom of his chair with each downbeat, alternating left and right shoe soles, like an overturned insect pumping its legs against air. With each tilt of his shoulders, the dark fringe of his scalp escaped the pale forehead and hung out beyond him before slapping back down in his eyes without sound. He flinched in his brow and let his voice crack when it pricked between lashes and sent him to tears. But the words kept falling out somehow, sneaking past lethargic lips and far-spaced clacking teeth. Then a hum grew from beneath enough to drown him out. The train kicked forward. And he stopped - of a sudden - like a rap had come sharp to his throat. "First st-...Square. Watch y-...tep." Static ate the conductor's words in sloppy little mouthfuls. I cleared my throat in the brief quiet that came afterward, pulling my hair back violently and withdrawing into my laptop with a shrug. The double-stitched tag at the back of my shirt was rubbing the top of my spine in its coarseness, coaxing the movement of shoulders, face, neck, back, fingers, thighs, etc., tugging at nerves in a sort of a domino chill. "I told 'im, see, he ain't the best. Rob knows that good as anybody. Even ol' Lester told 'im after the 12th St. fire up at 216 that he dragged the whole team down. I dunno what Robby's talkin' about all up on 'is high horse with the rest of 'em..." The brawny man strolled down the aisle heavily. His face was boyish, spry in the eyes and restless about the nose and mouth. He kept tonguing the inside of his cheeks, even while he smiled or spoke or got cross. Behind him was another man, equally muscular, but older and longer and looser in the face, with weary grey features and two crowded tiers of teeth. They sat down in the row across from me, and the boyish one looked over with a rather deliberate, young, and drunken stare, his tongue finally dropping out of his cheek and resting on his lower lip, as if he had no sense of where to put it. I glanced up at him from the lowness of my hunching body, and started to imagine the way he would smell if he leaned closer. I could nearly sense it from there. It was neither pulling nor repulsing, but a sort of subtle and generic smell of men - of light beer and metal and a crispness of uncleanliness about the hands and neck, the sting of cigarette smoke and a crawling little sweetness of sweat and good leather and earth. "Either way, all I know is I been workin' twice as hard as 'e 'as. Rob is off 'is goddamn rocker and the whole damn station's goin' with 'im..." He lodged his tongue back in his cheek and started speaking again, but that spryness in his eyes was still fixed to me. His companion simply nodded, his elbows buried in his knees. But the movement shook the younger man away. And he began to lower his voice, as if embarrassed or suspicious or alarmed. I turned away to the window and let my eyes film, my arm doubled over my back in a final duel of desperation with the shirt tag. The greenery outside was giving way to browns and greys, wooden wreckage and scattered tin and little warped pieces of train. Their reflections got caught in the blackening screen of my laptop before tearing down the side of us and falling behind on the tracks. "Nex-...top Ol-...view-...tion." "...You ever wonder...where they are now? ...You know...those kids you used to play...House with? ...And Mother May I? ...And...House?" The emaciated little man was slouched against the double seat four rows ahead of the firefighters. His eyes were liquid pink and he was sweating at his receding hairline with the timber of a junkie shooting sleep. Excruciatingly slow, single syllables fell out of him, methodic and senseless and long. "I remember...this kid...named Mikey Phelps. He told me about...girls...before any grown-up would... Ya know...girls." He ceded a smiled, but stopped to swallow some stray saliva before it slipped out of his mouth. After, he winced, as if the contraction of his throat had been more like a gavel blow to the gums. "Sometimes...I miss him... And then...I wonder... Ya know?" A tremor shook through him and shifted his skeletal frame from the window. He folded himself over the armrest as lax as clean sheets on a line. "...Where are all your Mikey Phelpses?" The passengers all stared toward the backs of the seats ahead of their respective faces. And the dazed man pushed his upper body back into the double seat and curled round, as if the sleep fix had just hit head and heart at once. "Oh, god...f...in'...train dream again...Mikey..." He breathed in sobs until the push off. "N-...stop Mor-...ville. Watch-...r ste-...lease, wa-...your s-..." I gathered up my clumsy droppings from the empty seat beside me: scarf, two dimes, three pennies, train schedule, carrier bag, gum wrappers, soda can, reddish lint, and one straw-colored hair. "Where you headed, little lady?" The old man clasped his ridged fingers about my shoulder, nails jutting into my clavicle. He threaded out a crooked smile, raising his eyebrows to dig furrows in his forehead and cheeks. Sitting bowed on the seat behind me, he tugged on the knees of his slacks with his free hand, trying to ease the fabric's pressure on his groin. "Home." With big eyes I looked up into him, leathery and cold and crazed, and I saw that he had no reply to that. Ding-dong ding-dong ding-dong. The doors folded open on their hinges. I skittered from the aisle and flattened myself against the exit walls before sloughing off the train and standing on the platform, static and light and remote. A hum grew from beneath, and the train chugged on, lunging toward darkening clouds that spoke westwardly. And I heard a muted voice chanting outward to me, "Choo-choo town! Choo-choo town! We're movin' on to a choo-choo town! Choo-choo town! Choo-choo town! We're movin' on to a choo-choo town! And we won't slow down! No, we won't slow down! 'Til we find that choo-choo town!"

Alligator Al

By Rhonda Wood

     In a muddy river of East Texas lived a very large alligator named Alexander. Because his name, Alexander Alligator, was so long everyone called him Al for short. One day Al had just finished munching on his lunch when he noticed something was stuck between some of his long sharp teeth. He tried to get it loose with his tongue, but it just would not budge.  Of course, his short arms could not reach in his mouth to pick it out so he thought, " I need someone to help me."

     Pretty soon Mrs. Cardinal flew in and perched on a tree branch near Al.  He had to ask quickly before she flew away.  He also had to be careful not scare her, so he said in a kind voice, "Pardon me, Mrs. Cardinal. Would you be willing to help me?"  The red bird was startled because she had not noticed the scary looking alligator. Only his eyes and nostrils poked out of the smooth water when he was quiet.  But when he spoke, his long wide mouth caused all kinds of splashing.  Mrs. Cardinal fluttered her wings, but then decided to stay and listen to the polite alligator.

     "You see, I have food stuck in my teeth, and I need some one to help me get it out. It is very irritating.  You are small. Your beak is perfect for picking it out for me. Will you help me, please?" pleaded Al.  He opened wide his mouth to show her the problem.

     Mrs. Cardinal thought for a moment and said, " I would be glad to help you, but how do I know you will not eat me? I saw some very sharp teeth in your mouth!" 

     "Oh, I would never do that! I do not like to eat feathers." replied Al. 

     The red bird was not so sure she could trust him, so she told him that she would be right back. She flew to her friend Wise Owl and told him about Al's problem.  Wise Owl had a great idea to help Al and keep Mrs. Cardinal safe at the same time.  Together they flew to Mr. Busy Beaver's den.  They explained the plan to help Al, and Mr. Beaver agreed to help too. So all three friends came back to Al's muddy river home. 

     "We have come to help you, Al. But first you must take a nap." "Oh, do I have to?" whined Al.

      "Yes, you most certainly have to!" said Mr. Beaver, Mrs. Cardinal and Wise Owl all at the same time.

     The sun was shining so warm, and the breeze was very relaxing. Sitting still and quiet, they all began to yawn. First, Mrs. Cardinal opened wide her beak, and then lifted her wing to courteously cover her mouth.  Waiting for Al to feel sleepy, they took turns yawning. At last, Al felt a great big yawn and opened wide his mouth. At that very moment Mr. Beaver sprang into action with their plan. He used the strong stick he had brought along from his beaver dam to prop open Al's great big mouth. When they were sure he was asleep, Mrs. Cardinal flew down quickly and picked the food from Al's teeth. When she was finished and out of the way, Wise Owl flew past with a mighty swoop. His strong wing knocked the stick from Al's mouth so it would close.

     Al woke up when his mouth snapped shut. He saw his friends smiling.  He felt his teeth with his tongue and knew the food was gone.  " Oh, thank you so much!" Al was so happy he rolled over and over in the water splashing everyone.  They laughed together.

    Picking up his strong stick, Mr. Beaver said, "I have to get back to my business now."  Wise Owl gave a wink and a hoot before he disappeared.  Mrs. Cardinal felt good inside for helping, so she tweeted a lovely tune before flitting off to check on her children. 

Nice scenery yo? X)

Hello world! This is feng jing's dear brother here :) Her laptop's lying on my table here when it should be kept in her own drawer and it's holding an invisible signboard saying " please molest use me!! ". So, my itchy index finger decided to sink into the button to switch on the laptop ^_^

Now, how in the world did i get into her account? Very simple you know. Her password is fengjingisapig! Just kidding. Initially, i'd wanted to update my own blog but it's already logged onto her account when i got to the wordpress website. So, since it's her birthday today, i shall do something to her very own blog!! Hur hur hur.

Feng jing is a pig!

So, you're thirteen this year! I've just reached sixteen not long ago like finally y'know, and it's going to be your turn soon in 365 x 3 days. Trust me, time really flies. Soon, you will be sitting for your o levels like i'm sitting for mine in about five months. But for now, just focus on those stupid tests and exams of yours and please work hard next year. I don't wish to see you walk the path which you don't desire at all like how i did two years back then. Well, i'd wanted triple science. In time to come, you will know what subject combination is deemed suitable for you. Anyway, my point is that you have to get a high average score so you can have the freedom to choose whatever subject combination you want. Get it? And you have to start picking up reading newspapers (english and chinese) as a habit. Frankly speaking, my english wasn't as shitty as yours when i was in sec 1 like you -.- You need to buck up on your languages or you will dieeeeeeeeeee~

I don't really know what to type here. I'm just typing whatever that comes into my mind you know. I don't know if you feel the same way, but i think we started to become closer as siblings at the end of your primary six days. I was really glad that you have outgrown your childish behaviors/habits (such as...you know? I'm trying to not make you lose face here yo) which you had last time during primary school. People change along with time, and i hope that you're changing for the better as time passes. You should start behaving like a matured young lady already you know? You're not a small and childish little girl anymore. Also, I admit that i did not play a good role of an older brother ( as well as a younger brother for that old dog who's probably reading this as well ) and probably will never do so.

Hmm...mushy talk is not my style, so... lalalalalalala i shall end off this post HAHAHAHA. No birthday present for you this year nehnehnipoopoo XD i'm tired already. I better switch off the laptop before mommy raids my room O_O bye world! This is probably the last time i'll be posting here depending on whether the author of this blog is smart enough to make firefox forget the password or whatsoever HAHAHAHAHA.

P.S: Don't worry, i respect your privacy. I did not peek at anything which i shouldn't =P

The Legend of Caddo Lake

By Nancy Craig Scott

© 2008 

As the sun was breaking the morning sky, Chief Blackhawk arises pale and weary.

"Come, my people, gather around.  The Great Spirit has sent us news."

Everyone quickly sits in their respective places around the fire.  The tribal meetings include young and old for they are one entity.  Blackhawk's face tells many tales within its weathered and careworn patterns.

He sighs, heavily, as he collects his thoughts. "The Great Spirit has told me we must leave our home here in the valley."

"But why do we need to leave?" Gila bursts out impatiently.  Gila has not seen too many moons pass and his youthful demeanor is usually impatient.  Gila lives with his tribe, the Caddo Indians in a valley on the eastern border of what is now Texas.  His home of a lifetime is warm most of the year.  Their houses are tall dome shaped huts.  The pottery they make is one of their greatest sources of pride.

Glila was named for Gila monster, the first medicine man of their tribe.  He is tall and lanky and some part of him is always in motion. He aspires to be a worthy Shaman and help keep his people healthy.  He knows in his short life it takes years of practice to gain the skills and the respect of his people to be regarded as a true medicine man.  Chief Blackhawk sees promise in Gila.  Blackhawk is revered by everyone as wisdom his has come with the many moons he has seen pass.

Blackhawk sighs once more as he looks sharply and addresses Gila.  "Gila, you must learn to listen and wait and I will tell you all what the Great Spirit tells me."  As I lie quiet not asleep or awake, I hear a noise so loud it makes me dizzy.  I see visions of cracking of the earth, I feel trembling under my body, trees fly with the birds, and my head pounds with bellowing thunder.  An eerie calmness rolls in and a bright sunbeam slices across our land."

In the sunbeam the Great Spirit appears and tells me, ‘You must take your people and move to the highland, the danger is eminent."  As the bright light diminishes I rise to greet you and share the news.

Silence abounds in the dawning morning.  The shock of the news leaves the cool air cold and numbing.  Only a few people in the tribe remember the last time the Great Spirit visited.

Again, Gila‘s words spill into the dead space, "Blackhawk, you were so tired last evening, maybe in your exhaustion it was just a dreadful dream."

Blackhawk glares darkly at Gila and firmly states, "Gila, I know you mean no disrespect, but it was not a dreadful as you say.  Before the Big War the Great Spirit came to us and saved many lives and as he will now!"

As the tribe looked around it did not seem likely the danger was so near.  The clouds and the massive cypress trees stood motionless.  They revered the Great Spirit and plans began immediately for a final feast and ceremony on their sacred land.  The tribe works with hopeful hearts praying they would be safe in the highlands by nightfall.

Gila is full of shame.  He knows he should never question his Chief or any other elder.  He slips quietly into the woods to gather medicinal herbs to take on their journey.  This is not the first time words have flown out of his mouth before he could stop them.  As Gila is gathering the berries, roots, and leaves he sees fresh cracks in the earth.  The sky is darkening, even though it is only mid-morning.  The grayness and blackness appears to be gulping all the blue and white sky.  Gila's first instinct is to hurry back, but he rethinks his plan when he sees deeper crevices becoming visible under his feet.  With watchful steps he finds his way to the rim of the valley, where the closing ceremony is underway.  This time Gila silently sits in his respective place.  Everyone chants together to ask the Great Spirit to guide them on their journey.

The Caddo's fine grass and reed huts must stay behind, but everything else is packed. All of the people work together as they harvest the last of the fruits and berries to eat along their passage to the higher ground.  Efficiency will allow them to make the trip in one move.  The last items gathered; one for each member is a twig, a feather, or a wildflower.  These sacred parts of nature will promise prosperity in the new home.  They thank their old land and leave it with hopeful hearts.

As they walk toward the high land stark blackness covers the sky.  Everyone quickens their pace to reach their destination.  As the end of the line of people approach the new land the Great Spirit's predictions are beginning.  Thunder bellows and the swirling speed of the clouds make them dizzy, as they look upwards.  They find small coves to protect them from the pelting rain and gusting winds.

Chief Blackhawk and Gila proceed to the highest point to look back at their old homeland.  As the peer down, it is exactly as the Great Spirit predicted.  Large chunks of land are dropping off into dark gashes and trees uproot and appear too fly.  With the mighty storm the water rushes into the gaping earth like a stampede of a hungry herd.  It is both terrifying and captivating to witness the earth being ripped open by such force.

As Blackhawk and Gila return, Gila chants, "May our new home bring us enough food to sustain us and the Great Spirit be with us for eternity.  We will use the land wisely and I will learn to take care of my people."

Within three days the storm ceases, the land settles and an eerie magnificent lake appears from the destruction.  Long fingers of murky water reach between the huge cypress trees, as far as the eye can see.  Gila takes it all in, his new home, the new lake, and a new awareness within himself.  He vows to practice patience.  He will learn his duties and make a worthy medicine man for his people.

                                                The End

by Kelli Huber

     It was a sunny, blistering day when my Aunt Tattie pulled up to my driveway in her 1966 olive green Mustang. It was the first day of my summer vacation, and I had been looking forward to this day all school year. I had been impatiently standing outside waiting for her, counting the minutes, when I heard that ferocious V-8 engine come barreling down my street. I climbed in the Mustang, and my Aunt Tattie whisked me away like a chariot in a race to begin our summer together.

   My Aunt Tattie ( also known as Kathryn ) with her petite frame, and seal-brown hair, always had a glowing smile on her face and a shimmer in her eyes. When I was in her company, she made me feel as if I were the only person in the whole world, and when you are eight years old that means a lot. We drove all day to get to our destination, this little town she called home. On the way we stopped for snow cones to combat the mid-day heat. I had cherry, she had grape. We had to eat them rapidly, as they were turning more into Kool-aid than an icy treat. The drive seemed more like an adventure than a chore, as we stopped at fruit stands, gift shops, and the occasional rest stop. We arrived at her house in the afternoon, still plenty of time to enjoy our day.

   During that month, I enjoyed every second of every hour. Aunt Tattie and I spent long days snapping green beans fresh from her garden to be prepared as an addition to a delicious home cooked meal. We would laugh and talk around the table, but never anything to serious would quiet our giggles. Evening would come and we would sit in front of the console television in the living room. We would stay up all night and watch old black and white movies till the stars and stripes appeared, and the National Anthem blared. Morning would roll around and the activities were endless; arts and crafts, playing dress-up, going to amusement parks and my favorite, a baseball game. Always wearing her favorite hat like a crown, she was a faithful fan.

   As the month started to draw to an end, I felt a sadness come over me. The realization that I would be leaving my favorite aunt in the whole world, to go back to my everyday life made me feel empty inside. This time in my life, this spectacular summer was one of the most peaceful and relaxing times I have ever experienced I spent my summer with no worries and no cares, just long, flowing days of frivolity. Since then my beloved Aunt Tattie has passed away. I never took the opportunity to share with her the impact she had on my life, and how much she truly made my summer vacation a summer to remember.

Hello Penguins!

I hope you're all enjoying one of the biggest parties in Club Penguin history! We had a ton of fun looking through all of your ideas to make sure this party was the best it could be!

This was made by the moderators at the club peguin official blog, NOT US!

This was made by the moderators at the club peguin official blog, NOT US!

My favorite room is the new room in the Forest because I love the feeling of adventure. As always, we would love to hear what your favorite room is!

Until then... Waddle On!

This was made by the moderators at the club peguin official blog, NOT US!

10-11 July, 2008
University of Southampton

Speakers

Robert Guay (Binghamton)
"The Dream of Life: Time, Action, and Oneiric Naturalism"

Nadeem Hussain (Stanford)
"Nietzsche and Non-Cognitivism"

Christopher Janaway (Southampton)
"Nietzsche on Valuing Oneself"

Brian Leiter (Texas, Austin)
"Nietzsche's Naturalism Reconsidered"

Bernard Reginster (Brown)
"The Revaluation of Selflessness: Unselfing, Unselfishness, Self-Creation, and Self-Love"

Richard Schacht (Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
"Nietzsche's Kind of Naturalism and Normativity"

John Skorupski (St. Andrews)
"Nietzsche's 'Realism' about Morality"

Christine Swanton (Auckland)
"Reading Nietzsche as a Virtuous Egoist"

More information, including how to register, can be found here.

Life Lessons for Teachers

by Laurie Forsyth 

I saw a shirt once that said, "I will not yell in class. I will not throw things in class. I will not have a temper tantrum. I will always be good...because I am the teacher." My first year I screamed- a  lot! It was the only way I knew how to get their attention. I turned red, and my blood pressure soared. I slammed my hand on my overhead so hard that I  broke the bulb inside. The kids were greatly entertained, and I went home with a sore  hand. The "screaming and turning red" philosophy didn't work so well for me. Today I am the adult in my relationship with my students. No matter how they whine, argue, stamp their feet, or spill syrup on my pants during a science experiment about buoyancy, I keep my cool. I respond in the "adult" voice. "I  understand that you are unhappy. I hope you will make a better choice next time." "Please get me a wet paper towel before the ants come, and I'm stuck to the chair." Today I give the students the power to practice self control by modeling the behavior myself. Rather than win arguments, I explain the purpose behind what we do. I treat them fairly. I laugh at my own mistakes, and I apologize when I revert back to being the child. I might go home a little sticky sometimes, but I haven't  replaced my overhead bulb in many years.

Another belief I hold is that children should learn to think for themselves.  As a novice, I found myself thinking for my students and then praising them for getting the right answer. I wasn't concerned about the process by which they got there. They could get a one hundred on the weekly spelling lists even though they couldn't tell me what the words meant. If they memorized facts long enough to regurgitate them on a test, I'd give them a big smiley face. I rarely asked them to analyze or judge information because they would look at me with forlorn eyes.  They always outlasted me at what I call "the waiting game."  I think kids learn the rules of the waiting game early in their school experience. If a student can't come up with the answer the teacher wants quickly, we call on someone else. The awkward silence is too much. Students understand that if they don't know the answer all they have to do is stare blankly at the teacher. If the teacher flinches, you win! I used to be terrible at the waiting game, but the sound of chirping crickets in the background doesn't bother me so much anymore. Do you know why? Because as soon as my students understand my expectations, they start listening and thinking for themselves instead of letting me do it for them. And when students begin to think, I win.        The last part of my philosophy is a choice we all must  make- will I  make the best of my life, or complain until I'm laid to rest.  When I first graduated from college, I cried when I didn't get hired right away. Then I cried because I had to grade papers, write report cards, meet with parents, attend meetings etc... My first year of teaching, I loved my job. I sat on the floor with my students and experienced their joys and defeats. I had passion for what I was doing. As the first year turned into the fifth year and then the tenth year, the kids seemed to get a little less wonderful and the job was just a means to an end. "A noun is a person, place or thing. Don't you know this already? I've taught it for twelve years now." (Insert your own droning voice here.)   If  I applied for a teacher discount card and the clerk asked for proof,  I would quip, "Can't you tell I'm a teacher by my haggard face?" I'd laugh, but inside a disdain for my profession was taking root. It was easy to blame the students- "If they would just behave, if their parents were just more supportive, if they didn't watch so much television or play so many video games..." It was time to point the finger back at myself and ask what I was doing wrong. I knew I had become stagnate and must make a change. I decided to start at the root of the problem- my attitude.  I hoped that maybe if I began to speak positively about my job I might actually start to enjoy it again. And if I started to enjoy my job again, maybe I would start to like the kids again. And if I started to like the kids again, well, the possibilities are endless.  Today I enjoy what I do, and I love my students.  I don't even think about how long until teacher retiremen(okay, seventeen years, but I plan on enjoying every one of them!)                                                                                                                                                   

upcoming.yahoo.net is one big tool that everyone in this room seems to use. It's 'I am Watching' list versus 'I am attending' list is very interesting in what information about the event, and its interestingness to you, that you are conveying to others looking at the even and your friends who have your list of events in their list.

Andrew Turner is advertising Mapufacture and its location based event aggregator. :)

One thing thats interesting plazes is that you can look into the past and future and actually track your movements over time. Where was person X last month, where will they be next week etc etc.

Seems like there are many many tools to do this one thing. Question in my mind is how to get an aggregated service working around all this location based community event data being captured on the web?

I think its time to check out one of the other sessions...

 

my birthday party will be on:

MAY 24,2008

AT:

BEAR BLVD.

TIME:

LIKE AT 3 OR 5 P.M. (BUT YOU DECIDE WHEN YOUR AVAILABLE)OH I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA SO I THINK ITS EASTERN TIME (I’M NOT SURE)

I FORGOT TO TELL YO MY PARTY IS ACTUALLY A MIXED PARTY!!PAJAMA/80′S/RECYCLE/ROYAL/SCHOOL/SPORTS

AND BEFORE THE PARTY STARTS MEET ME AT MY CUB CONDO

AND THEN WE CAN GO TO BEAR UNIVERSITY AND DO A 80′S PARTY SO WE ARE DRESSED LIKE 80′S PEOPLE.

AND THEN WE CAN GO TO THE RECYCLING PLACE AND DO A RECYCLE PARTY TO HELP THE EARTH.

AND THEN SPORTSPLEX TO DO A SPORTS PARTY TO CELEBRATE HEALTH AND FITNESS

AND THEN WE CAN GO TO THE FRIENDSHIP FOREST ENTRANCE AND DO A ROYAL PARTY

AND WHEN WE ARE DONE WE CAN GO BACK TO BEAR UNIVERSITY AND GO IN THE CLASSROOM AND DANCE AND CHAT AND PLAY AND ADD FRIENDS

AND THEN WE CAN GO BACK TO MY CUB CONDO AND DO A PAJAMA PARTY!!

(I WILL BE WEARING A B-DAY HAT SO YOU CAN SEE ME OK CANDYCLOUDS:)THANKS SO MUCH OH AND

UNIFORMS:

80′S PARTY

.THOSE 80′S BOTTOM’S AND TOPS IN THE BEAR BOTIQUE(IF YOU DON’T HAVE CREDITS,JUST WEAR WHITE SHORTS AND A TOP THAT IS NOT LONG)

RECYCLE PARTY

RECYCLE T-SHIRTS AND WHITE OR GREEN SHORTS

SPORTS PARTY

RUNNING SHOES AND WATER BOTTLE WITH BLUE SHORTS AND A BLUE SHIRT

ROYAL PARTY

DRESSES FROM THE PAWLETTE COFUR(THE NEW ONES)

SCHOOL PARTY

ANYTHING

PAJAMA PARTY

PAJAMAS

 

Look on the trading page on post #61 for the time zones!

I had the pleasure this past week of accompanying my bride to the annual luncheon meeting of the Friends of the Pima County Public Library.  Deb has been volunteering at their “Book Barn” here in Tucson and was just named to the organization’s Board of Directors. 

At the luncheon, I had the pleasure of meeting many folks who share our passion for books and who have given decades of service to the Libraries here.  Among them was Charlie Washburn (83 years young) who was one of the original founding members and the first President of the “Friends” (of the Library, not the Quakers) 40 years ago.  He reminisced about the first annual book sale, held in a member’s back-yard, that grossed $150 in sales. He said they were all delighted to have raised so much money.  It gave us a great frame of reference to this year’s report that the annual book sales have grossed $180,000 and that on-line sales have grossed $150,000 and library “book-cart” sales have added another $30,000 to the organization’s coffers.  That’s progress to the tune of 21.48% average annual growth – enviable by any venture.  In addition to the hundreds of thousands of dollars they contribute each year to the Library system ($216K this year), the “Friends” also manage their own facilities and growth having just purchase additional buildings in Tucson in which to store, process, price and sell the thousands of books (over 350,000 in fact) that pass through their system each year.  It was a great crowd of dedicated “Bookaholics” as the keynote speaker Mr, David “Fitz” Fitzsimmons, political cartoonist for the Arizona Daily Star, so appropriately called us all and himself.  He was rewarded at the end with a stack of coupons for books at the “Book Barn”.  He seemed delighted but compared us to crack dealers.  We understand.

During his entertaining talk, “Fitz” drew, on an overhead projector, some caricatures of the folks in the room.  Perhaps it was my smart-aleck response to his opening self introduction (“Hi, My name is Dave and I’m a Bookaholic” to which I alone first offered the standard reply:  “Hi Dave”- the traditional greeting of a twelve step recovery program) that moved him to select me to caricature for the entertainment of the members and the apparent delight of my bride.

I think he took ten years off my appearance.  Thanks Fitz!

Haltech przez ostatnie dni mocno pracowal nad ich nowym ECU do GT-R 35. Poza grzebaniem ECU zmieniono wydech acz byly to razcej kosmetyczne zmiany w porownaniu do innych projektow.Samochod na dyno "wyplul" 356 Kw (477hp) na kolach co do wersji wyjsciowej ,ktora byla 298 Kw (400hp) na tym samym dyno.

Haltech wystawi swojego GT-R 35 na cwiartce na imprezie Compak Attak event w Sydney.Wkrotce wiecj info z tej imprezy i osiagow tego Nissana.

This is not strictly an "education blog", although there is at least one of those out there, written (rather occasionally) by the estimable Brian Micklethwait, (that is a link to his mainblog only, from which you can find the other one) and there may be many more such: I do not know: I have not time to scratch my bum right now, and this post has to be done in five minutes...

But, at this seasonal time, when all the British State Property known as "the kids", which is to say nearly all teenagers, face the first real stress offered to them in their lovely easy modern lives full of nearly-worthless Wireless Tele Vision and other nugatory distractions, I want to point out the sheer vastness of the gulf between real "education" and what they are actually receiving.

Time after time, teaching these poor individuals, I get the enquiry: "do I have to know that?" ... or ... "is that in the syllabus?" ... or worse: "is this an C-grade-question?" (that means "hard", for those who are condemned as being not very smart, and have to do what is erroneously-termed "foundation".) This is in response to my attempt to tell someone something fairly interesting - and also quite instructive and useful for deducing other facts about anything - about some aspect of how the Cosmos operates. I could be referring of course to cosmology or physics or biology (classical-, paleo- or the biophysics sort) or even some aspect of history, or why humans and their societies behave in the ways that they do, or why the Earth has no settled climate, and why therefore it's a lie that "The Science is Settled!" Whatever.

Those who are clearly destined for one of the Two Universities (or perhaps the 8 or 9 others) engage with this direction. Some argue. Some are astounded. Others experience fright or sadness at the ways in which truth can be perverted by governments, or, better, at the realisation that they have been robbed of the opportunity to gain proper knowledge earlier "way down the school". (Most of these are State school pupils.) Some, it is terrible to relate, ask why their school lessons are so boring and inconsequential, and contain material which many of them suspect (at least) is based on spurious or unprovable information.

Those who are not, which is to say they might perhaps go to places like "The University of SouthEast Working-Towards-Shire", or perhaps not, are scandalised at being told stuff which they learn (from me) is outside the remit of what they are told to be allowed to know.

It is a tragedy that, we had and have a State government whose "dear leader" made his priority (apart from "24 hours to save the NHS") "education, education, education". I think he meant it in truth at the time, although if the only tool you have is a hammer, then the only solution to every problem must be a nail. It's also tragic that the notion of "free" education, provided by the State, is so ingrained. The State therefore treats "the people" as a sort of "Human Resource", to be force-fed the stuff that will inculcate the right attitudes to the State, and maximise the likely tax-generation powers for the next Five-Year-Plan.

And to end on a sad note:

Today, I tried a multiple choice GCSE question about testing of thalidomide for use in treating AIDS, on an intelligent 11-year-old who is about to move from a "bog-standard" State primary to a middling private secondary. The first question was "the trials will be conducted by..........?" and the choice of words to insert was "pregnant women: or, volunteers: or, research scientists: or, the government".

The student chose ..... "the government". Libertarians, we have a long and thankless battle ahead of us, in which we will all have to do our more-than-heroic duty, unsung, all functionally anonymous, and it will have to carry on very very long, long after our own deaths. But there is All the Time in the World.

Club Penguin Medieval Party

Watex's Page

Flame's Page

Studio members will also be opening their spaces for the public. Ceramic, photography, sound artists, painting, dance, performance and more.

Remaing opening dates:
Sun 18th May 11am - 5pm
Sat 24th May 11am - 5pm
Sun 25th May 11am - 5pm

Brighton Festival takes hold of the city as well during this period.

(Im the guy on the left wearing the white CA tee, if you see me in da street holla at me)

So it was my BDay party @ the 21SoundBar which is the only finest HipHop & RNB bar in Paris with a lot of hot Djs.

This was organized by me & the owner Rodolphe, if you wanna go there dont forget to say that Ennio tells you about this great place.

21SOUNDBAR

20 rue de la forge royale

75011

Paris

Metro: faidherbe chaligny ( line 8 )

Scenario

The designers of Urban Shopper were planning this BIG hunt.  As they went to package all their great prizes in the shopping bags, they realized every bag had been stolen!

Who would steal all the shoppings bags?  and why?

Help the Urban Shopper designers find the calpurt! 

Along the way you will discover prizes from each participating designer.  Solve the mystery by finding out who stole the shopping bags, and you will be rewarded with an extra gift! 

If you need any assistance, join the "The Urban Shopper's" group and ask in group chat.

To get started, visit >>> http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dubya%20City/72/157/25  and click the sign that says "First Clue"

Wanna see what SD Wears is giving away as a freebie and dollarbie?

 
Dollarbie - found in the first clue

Freebie bonus gift given when the mystery is solved

There is also a ton of other great prizes by the following participating designers:

Savonah Designs

(nova) Bonus Gift

Quality Shoes

!mpossible Dress

 Dani's Outfit

++++ Plus bonus gifts if you solve the mystery!!! ++++
 
 Some of the Bonus gifts include:
 
 * Male Shape & Skin
 * Eyes from Devilish Figures
 * A fab dress from (nova)
 * Latex Top & Lady Shape from SD Wears
 * Sequins tops from Pixel Dolls
 * Bikini and Swimshorts from !mpossible
 * An outfit from Dani's

This November Gosub will be playing his first European shows at select locations around. From Spain to Rotterdam. More information will follow. 

If you are interested in having Gosub come to your town contact bookings@isophlux.net

Rather than raising money or awarding grants, ALAS is encouraging donations and volunteer support for existing nonprofits. "People are condemned to poverty because there are no exits, or choices," Shakira said. "And children who don't receive an opportunity end up as adults being involved with things that they never imagined they would be doing in the first place, like drug trafficking or being recruited into criminal groups."

It was announced on Thursday that Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim and American Howard Buffett will donate US$200 million to this great cause. Slim, Mexico's richest man, will donate US$110 million and his business expertise. Buffett, son of investment guru Warren Buffett, will give US$85 million. The other US$5 million will be donated by people throughout Latin America.

Recently she visited British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to talk about third world education and also went to Capitol Hill in Washington to urge lawmakers to approve more spending to help send the world's poor children to school.

"There are 40 million children in Latin America who have no access to any kind of development program, who receive no stimulation, nutrition or education and need to be nurtured and taken care of," she told Reuters.

"Artists have a tremendous power to communicate, to reach people, to woo, to inspire. It's an important and fundamental part of my life to be able to use my public profile to make certain issues visible, issues that are more important than my own career, that are more urgent and need immediate attention. Imagine what Latin America could achieve if we invest in developing the potential of these children," Shakira said.

Shakira and Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz will perform a free concert in Buenos Aires on Saturday along with other Latin artists to raise awareness of childhood poverty throughout the continent. A simultaneous concert, fronted by Spain's Miguel Bose, will take place in Mexico City's main square.

These videos are in Spanish.

These are pictures of the Press Conference in Mexico:

To watch the events Live they will be shown as follows:
Buenos Aires, Argentina today at 2:30 p.m.
Here is the line-up:
Alejandro Lerner
Alejandro Sanz
Calle 13
Carlos Vives
Chilinguita
Fabulosos Cadillacs
Fito Páez
Gustavo Cerati
Jorge Drexler
La Portuaria
Mercedes Sosa
Paulina Rubio
Pedro Aznar
Shakira

and in Mexico City at 6:00 pm. locally. and the Line-Up is:
Aleks Syntek
Ana Torroja
Babasónicos
Chayanne
David Bisbal
Diego Torres
Emmanuel
Juan Luis Guerra
Juanes
Los Tigres del Norte
Lucero
Maná
Miguel Bosé
Ricardo Montaner
Ricky Martin
Tania Libertad
Timbiriche

Click here to watch the shows Live!

To make a commitment you don't need money, Click Here

For more information you can visit ALAS foundation