being ron b

Katy Perry - Teenage Dream (Boyce Avenue piano acoustic cover/version)

2010-11-11T01:13:00.001-05:00

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new anti smoking ads warn teens its gay to smoke

2010-07-13T01:58:00.000-04:00

new anti smoking ads warn teens its gay to smoke, not! - ron beck

I don't care if this is fiction or non fiction, what I do know is that it isn't funny and it isn't right.

It's a global advertisement for the ignorance and hate that still breeds in our country. Seeing those kids and listening to their "scripted dialogue" only intensified my anger.

So who's really funding the CDC? Since when is hatred a healthy habit?

the main page of this site which featured this ad: http://www.theonion.com/

New Anti-Smoking Ads Warn Teens 'It's Gay To Smoke'

Galapagos Islands face irreversible damage

2009-02-11T21:48:00.006-05:00

I have always been fascinated with these islands but more importantly, with their inhabitants. There are few other, similar places, on this earth that are homes to so many unique and sometimes bizarre creatures.

As time has passed, it's obvious to me and many others that the Galapagos are something we need to preserve and more importantly, to respect. Not just the islands themselves but the inhabitants as well. Then, there are the others who throw themselves on the island and let there own, personal greed plot their course.

Yes it makes sense to me that the attraction is sometimes far too great to turn your back on. But just how many people really think about the ongoing human impact that they themselves have on these islands. I don't think that they should stop "tourism" on the islands but they should scale back the amount of people each year and the amount of time allotted for visiting. Watching a documentary on the islands on TV or on DVD may not be the best "personal experience" but at the very least it will still leave you with unforgettable sites and images that only a god could create.

And speaking of the islands and in honor of Charles Darwin (he discovered them), here is an article that I recently read that may help "those" who have allowed themselves to be so completely selfish and disrespectful. How can we possibly show such disregard to those that came, long before us. - ron beck

Galapagos damage 'must be curbed'

By David Shukman
Science and environment correspondent, BBC News

Famed for their unique biological treasures, the Galapagos Islands face irreversible damage unless tourism is curbed, according to conservationists.
On the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, the director of the Darwin Foundation says there is only a decade to avoid an ecological disaster.
In a BBC interview, Gabriel Lopez calls for limits on the level of visitors.
Last year, the number of tourists reached a record of 173,000, a four-fold increase over the past 20 years.

"The Galapagos is still the best preserved archipelago in the world. But what's at stake if current trends continue is that the Galapagos will be lost. Yes the Galapagos will still be there but the richness will be lost."
The rising numbers have led to a boom in the construction of hotels and a surge in imports from mainland Ecuador.

And the result is a sharp spike in the number of alien species arriving in this fragile ecosystem: 112 were recorded in 1900 but by 2007 the total had leaped to 1,321.
At the harbor in the main town of Puerto Ayora, I watched dock workers transfer crates and sacks of rice and maize from cargo ships on to barges for the journey ashore.
The airport on Baltra island, which serves the archipelago, sometimes handles half a dozen flights every day - the number has doubled in the last eight years. The aircraft cabins are sprayed before landing but evidently some insects are getting through.
One of the most aggressive is the fire ant - tiny but with a powerful sting - an example in its own right of the evolutionary principle of survival of the vicious.
Inexorable march
In a field outside the village of Bellavista, insect specialist Henri Herrera scraped away leaf litter to reveal a seething mass of the tiny red creatures.
"They're getting everywhere - it's a disaster. It could even mean that for some species the ants stop evolution."

Fire ants are known to attack baby birds and young tortoises and their march from one island to another seems inexorable.
Other threats include a parasitic fly which attacks young finches and mosquitoes - which could serve as a vector for diseases which are known to exist on the mainland but have not yet arrived here.
The government of Ecuador has drawn up an action plan to curb this menace. Criticised by the UN agency UNESCO - which in 2007 listed the Galapagos as a world heritage site in danger - the authorities are now introducing tougher measures.
The director of the Galapagos National Park, Edgar Munoz, accepts that invasive species pose the most serious risk to the islands but says the government's actions will tackle the threat.

"What we're hoping to accomplish is fifty more years in which any problems will be diminished."
Earlier conservation efforts - to cull several islands of feral goats which eat the plants giant tortoises depend on - have proved successful but some experts warn that eliminating particular insects will be far harder.
For Ecuador, a developing country, the Galapagos provides a major source of revenue. But a balance will need to found if the islands are to preserve what makes them so special.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/7884581.stm

Published: 2009/02/11 22:18:18 GMT

© BBC MMIX

Multiple Sclerosis Pain

2009-02-09T02:42:00.004-05:00

I recently read this article and wanted to share it..

Pain and Multiple Sclerosis

Many options are available to treat pain in patients with multiple sclerosis.

By Gina Shaw
WebMD Feature

Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario

When most people think of multiple sclerosis, they think of a disease that causes symptoms of weakness and motor problems -- not pain.

"About 10 or 20 years ago, there was a saying that MS causes all kinds of trouble but doesn't cause pain, which really isn't true," says Francois Bethoux, MD, director of rehabilitation services at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research at The Cleveland Clinic.

"In a national survey of more than 7,000 MS patients, 70% of them had experienced some kind of pain, and at least 50% were experiencing some kind of pain at the time of the survey," Bethoux says.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society reports that almost half of all people with MS are troubled by chronic pain.

MS pain differs from the kind of pain you might get with a headache, a joint injury, or muscle strain. "It's often more diffuse, affecting several areas of the body at a time. It often changes over time, getting worse or better for no apparent reason. It tends to fluctuate a lot," says Bethoux. "People often find it hard to describe: It's sometimes described as like a toothache, other times like a burning pain, and sometimes as a very intense sensation of pressure. It's very distressing for patients because they have a hard time explaining what their pain experience is."

So what's causing this baffling, complex, often debilitating pain? Bethoux describes it as "an illusion created by the nervous system." Normally, he explains, the nervous system sends pain signals as a warning phenomenon when something harmful happens to the body. "It's a natural defense mechanism telling us to avoid what's causing the pain," he says. "But in MS, the nerves are too active and they send pain signals with no good reason -- they're firing a pain message when they shouldn't be."

Some of the most common types of pain experienced by multiple sclerosis patients include:

Acute MS pain. These come on suddenly and may go away suddenly. They are often intense but can be brief in duration. The description of these acute pain syndromes are sometimes referred to as burning, tingling, shooting, or stabbing.

Trigeminal neuralgia or "tic doloureux." A stabbing pain in the face that can be brought on by almost any facial movement, such as chewing, yawning, sneezing, or washing your face. People with MS typically confuse it with dental pain. Most people can get sudden attacks of pain that can be triggered by touch, chewing, or even brushing the teeth.

Lhermitte's sign. A brief, stabbing, electric-shock-like sensation that runs from the back of the head down the spine, brought on by bending the neck forward.

Burning, aching, or "girdling" around the body. This is called dysesthesia by physicians.

There are also some types of pain related to MS that are described as being chronic in nature -- lasting for more than a month -- including pain from spasticity that can lead to muscle cramps, tight and aching joints, and back or musculoskeletal pain. These chronic pain syndromes can often be relieved by anti-inflammatory drugs, massage, and physical therapy.

Anticonvulsant Drugs Offer Relief

For the most part, however, acute MS pain can't be effectively treated with aspirin, ibuprofen, or other common OTC pain reliever medications or treatments. "Since most MS pain originates in the central nervous system, it makes it a lot more difficult to control than joint or muscle pain," says Kathleen Hawker, MD, an assistant professor of neurology in the multiple sclerosis program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas (UTSW).

So what's the alternative? In many cases, the treatment of choice is one of a range of anticonvulsant medications, such as Neurontin and Tegretol. "The main thing that links them all up is that we're not quite sure how they work -- either for seizures or for pain," says Hawker. Since the FDA hasn't officially approved these anticonvulsants for the treatment of pain, they're all being used "off-label," but Neurontin, for example, is prescribed five times more often for pain than for seizures, says Hawker.

"In the vast majority of patients, these medications do work," says George Kraft, who directs the Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation, Research, and Training Center and the Western Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of Washington in Seattle. "There's a problem, though, in that most of them can make people sleepy, groggy, or fatigued, and MS patients have a lot of fatigue anyway."

The good news: Most pain in MS can be treated. There are more than half a dozen of these anticonvulsants, and they all have a slightly different mechanism of action and different side effects. The side effects of these drugs can also include low blood pressure, possible seizures, and dry mouth. They can also cause some weight gain.

"Some drugs are so similar to each other that if one drug in the class fails, another is unlikely to work," says Hawker. "That's not the case with these. Which one you use for which patient depends on the side effect profile."

Finding the right anticonvulsant is all about trial and error, says Bethoux. "We'll start them at the lowest possible dose of one medication and increase it until the person feels comfortable or until side effects aren't tolerable. If one medication doesn't work, we'll try another," he says. "It's a process that can take a long time, but it's the only way we have to do this."

'Day without a gay' protest in US

2008-12-10T20:07:00.001-05:00

Campaigners have urged US homosexuals to stay away from work for a day in protest at recent bans on gay marriage in some states including California.

They were asked to "call in gay" and do community work for a day instead, and also to avoid shopping in order to show gay people's economic clout.

It was unclear how many people actually skipped work but organisers said they had boosted the profile of gay people.

Connecticut and Massachusetts are the only states to allow gay marriage.

In another development, a commission in New Jersey recommended that the state should allow same-sex couples to marry rather than just enter into civil unions.

The state commission argued that same-sex couples could not achieve equality with heterosexual couples if their legal status was restricted to civil unions.

'Invisible'

Shopkeepers in the Castro, the heart of San Francisco's large gay community, said it was mostly business as usual on a chilly Wednesday morning, AFP news agency reports.

"It seems to be about the same - the cold weather has brought about a little bit of slowness on the streets but it's mostly normal," said Don Forfang, a barber at Louie's Barber Shop.

California legalised gay marriage in May but 52% of voters backed a move to ban it in a referendum on 4 November.

Florida, Arizona and Arkansas also approved bans on gay marriage.

Sean Hetherington, the Los Angeles campaigner behind Wednesday's protest, said the idea was to raise awareness of gay anger at the ban, referred to in California as Proposition 8.

"We think the reason why Prop 8 passed is because there wasn't enough visibility," he added.

Story from BBC NEWS:

adele hometown glory

2008-08-01T02:13:00.003-04:00

Finally, a new voice and a promise of greater things to come. the honesty kills me - ron beck

link to video of Hometown Glory via YouTube, click image

why Harrisburg, Ron Beck?

2008-06-27T01:46:00.003-04:00

Yes that seems to be the question of the day. The fact is, I want to help a friend so I need to relocate. I also want to help myself. And for all other reasons, just read a piece from a newer Annie Lennox track " Love Is Blind"...fills in the blanks quite nicely!

Tired of being down on luck
Tired of being beaten up
Tired of being so screwed up
Tired of all this desperation
Tired of all this mad frustration
Tired of all the aggravation
Sick and tired of devastation
Give it some consideration

Tired of being so screwed up…

look out Harrisburg

2008-06-24T20:46:00.003-04:00

Well my days of wine & roses will soon be spent else where.

It's pretty much official, Sh'Kronda will be fluffing pillows, brewing coffee and sh-akin a few tail feathers in our very own capital city, Harrisburg!

Details to follow...

aquarium plants by ron beck july promotion

2008-06-24T20:36:00.001-04:00

Yes, it's Christmas in July!
To celebrate, we are offering free shipping (within the U.S. only) on all total purchases of just $10 or more!

Visit the ebay listings from July 1 threw July 31, 2008 to take advantage of this cheery deal!

aquarium plants by ron beck july promotion

2008-06-24T20:36:00.000-04:00

My 5, My Multiple Sclerosis thus far - ron beck

2008-04-22T02:33:00.005-04:00

On April 13, 2008 I reached the five year mark of having been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. In light of that time reference, I felt it necessary to look back and document a few things. This is more about making you aware of the things you don’t see and the things you don’t experience.

The only thing we truly have in common on this is, knowing how important it is to keep a positive attitude. What we don’t have in common is the experience. With that said, after spending five years “looking on the bright side” I’m constantly disappointed in the progression of the disease within my body and the sometimes, select blind ignorance I face from co-workers, friends & family. I’ve also come to realize that sometimes people don’t ask because they either don’t want to know, are afraid of social discomfort or they for what ever reason, don’t want to accept the reality that I have a incurable, debilitating disease called Multiple Sclerosis.

What you’ll find in the following paragraphs, is a no holds bared account of a slimmed down version of my life with my MS. I’ve also not “polished” or “padded” anything to protect your feelings. This isn’t any Disney production and it certainly could be described as a dark piece. What ever “color” you choose, it’s still the truth and that’s the fact.

If you want to face the truths with me, then by all means, read on and I love you truly for that. If that’s “too hard” for you, imagine what its like for me 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And after that, don’t bother thinking “he looks ok” or “he doesn’t seem to be too sick” or “my friend has MS and he doesn’t seem that bad”, because you are only fooling yourself and certainly not helping me in anyway.

I don’t want anything from you; I can only hope you might respect my situation. If not, cheers then I guess!

I remember it took several months, from the start, to reach a diagnosis. The time spent getting test done, doctor and hospital visit seem endless, the financial burdens are heavy and the waiting factor plays a heavy toll on you emotionally and later, physically. Over the years medical science has yet to have one particular “test” for MS. In most cases the diagnosis is based on several factors: your symptoms, various test results and an opinion from a Neurologist. To say “having patience” is important is certainly an understatement. The word courage seems more applicable over the long term. But most importantly, from my own personal experience, is that you must first accept it. Once you have done that the next thing is educate yourself daily, pay attention to your self and learn to understand that at some point you won’t be able to control yourself as you have in the past.

Now that we’ve sort of addressed the initial disappointments I faced, then began what I refer to as my “wonder years”. Those are the seconds and or minutes of each and everyday, I spend wondering what will I feel or what won’t I feel? How will I be or how I will not be? Should I plan something or should I wait and see. If I’m feeling worse will they understand or will they be angry? Will I be able to handle the day or not? How long would my will to fight last? What if there isn’t a “wonder drug” around the corner? How will I deal with the denial from friends and family? How will I afford to care for myself? Will I be able to keep a job? Will my short term memory last, especially when I need it? Should I go to the movies and risk my legs failing me? What’s the next thing I’ll drop in the dish drainer? What if both my arms get heavy and numb while showering, how will I hold my soap? What happens the next time I loose my balance if I’m home alone? Since this disease weakens me emotionally and sometimes hinders me medically, how will I be able to be strong for my family when they need me? Will I ever be able to afford all the necessary medicines to lessen my symptoms? How tired will I be today? Will I ever have another “healthy” relationship? And if so, how will my E.D. affect it? When is the next Migraine? How many more nights will there be when I have to bite down on the sheets to muffle my screams of pain? Will I ever have a normal, drug free period of sleep? When is the next time I can have a normal bowl movement? When is the next time I loose my feelings in my feet while at a stop sign or red light? How long will I be able to walk on my own? How quickly is my eye sight going to dissipate? Will my friends be able to “handle this” and or me? And for how long? When will it start making it painful for others who don’t deserve more of the same? What happens when my family really needs me? What’s tomorrow mornings pain meter reading? How long is my employer going to overlook my daily tardiness? Where will the extra money come from when I loose time at work, each week? I can’t work a normal 40 hours and don’t qualify for partial disability, now what? I can only afford a few of the prescriptions, which ones should I choose? Seeing the neurologist quarterly costs me about $300 out of pocket and there isn’t a cure? What if I forget to wait the correct amount of time and accidentally take a prescription and mix it with another? Will I remember to make the call, show up on time, pay the bill on time, write the letter, the persons name, how to get back, why I went in the first place, the correct answer or procedure. Will I be able to remain calm, focused, speak correctly, react accordingly? Lets take a deep breath and skip anything else on this part.

What things have changed? I have a lot more muscular pain than before. I have more crappy days than “ok” ones. I feel “sickly” everyday. My short term memory has lessened. My eye sight continues to show decreasing signs of weakness and clarity. I don’t leave the apartment much. I don’t call people on any kind of regular basis. I am very slow on email responses. It takes three times as long to get “ready” after waking up. I no longer get any real, good rest unless its drug (prescription) endued. I experience a loss of feeling on various spots on my body, often. I am more sensitive to temperature than ever before. I am much more tired, more often (now daily) than ever before. I come “undone” within a matter of seconds. When faced with multiple challenges, I generally fail and or make the wrong decision. I forget the names, sometimes, of the people I work with. Experience several migraines a year, which are very destructive and debilitating. I am late for work, everyday. I experience many, uncontrollable bowl movements. I watch TV, daily. I think about dying. I’m poisoned with anger that won’t go away. I have become, selfish. I’m unreliable. I can’t stay focused on too much, for very long. I use the walking cane more often. I have more, lower back pain daily, than ever before. If I sit or lye for more than one hour I generally feel signs of pain in my legs, immediately. A straight, two hour sit is very risky. I drop more things, more often. Especially painful are the irreplaceable, collectibles that I cherish. I fall asleep, sometimes, sitting on the toilet. I don’t always get the luxury of “normal” bowl movement or urination process. My sight is very blurry at times. I pace the apartment, regularly. I can’t seem to keep anything in place, for very long. I care less for a great many things. Moments now have worth. I listen to my Manilow music tracks, more often. I now longer “hope” for things from some of my family. I don’t find myself wishing to often. I know what I am living for. I’m a self survivor of a six year cocaine addiction. I now face the reality that I will remain, with out a mate, for my remaining years. I have reduced my smoking by 50%. Stress destroys me and I suffer those consequences for days at a time. I have a car with power windows. I can only afford some of my medications. Yes, that was a scaled down version.

Oh and one last bit of information to this question “what makes me nervous?”. Walking, talking, sitting, thinking, speaking, traveling, bed time, mornings, driving, eating, sleeping, peeing, pill taking, working, shopping, socializing, confrontation, the general public, weather and time itself.

In my own defense, I do choose to face each day with all this uncertainty as best I can. More often than not, all the positive thinking isn’t nearly enough. I get by, I still survive.

And after five years of slowly loosing control and embracing all the changes, all the unknowns, I’ve become a sad, broken and very angry person inside, This is a someone I never wanted to be, one I had been when I was younger and certainly one who truly only has but one hero, myself.

My QOL : Quality Of Life with MS

2008-04-18T02:44:00.008-04:00

Biogen, the makers of an MS therapy drug, recently sent me a small 6 question test. The idea behind the quiz, my score would reflect a measurement as how i live life; the quality of life. I thought the questions / quiz were interesting and it also reminded me of things i would prefer to think weren't as they were. I think there is something here, for anyone, to benefit from. We can all spend more time questioning ourselves, yet so many don't?

Each answer has a range/value of 1 (strongly disagree) -2-3-4 & 5 (strongly agree). You select the number that best describes your response. At the end you total your score and compare it to the table provided at the end.

Here are the questions and my responses:

1 Over the past month, my overall health has been excellent. 3
2 Over the past month, it's been easy for me to perform common tasks (walking, climbing stairs) , and i haven't has to limit my role at work, or home due to physical problems. 3
3 Over the past month, I've been able to do things that require concentration, such as keeping up with my bills, considering important decisions, or performing well at work. 2
4 Over the past month, my emotions or personal problems have not caused me to do less at work, or in usual daily activities. 2
5 Over the past month, I've been able to remain as social as ever with my friends & family. 3
6 Over the past month, I've had the energy to face the challenges of each day. 2

My "Q" score: 15

Their table:
26-30 You're doing great! Answers indicate your current QOL is very good to excellent.
17-25 You're doing pretty well. Answers indicate that while you're doing well in some areas, there may be room for improvement in others.
6-16 You could be doing better. Your current medication may be a factor.

visit www.morehelpforms.com or call
1-800-456-2255 for more information.

my best option, Obama

2008-02-23T03:22:00.001-05:00

when did you know, you were gay?

2008-02-23T03:11:00.003-05:00

when did you know, you were gay?

it's a question I hear far too much, I think. I don't remember that "one" moment that defined me but I do recall very clearly, something else. I remember a moment where I found myself at a fork in the road.

Off in the high grass was a directional sign which offered two arrows, one to the left and one to the right. The right arrow listed "the wrong way" and the left read "everyone goes this way"; you call this a choice?

-ron beck

boy box

2008-01-10T01:22:00.000-05:00

01/2008 my next project... details to follow

2008-01-01T23:41:00.002-05:00

2008-01-01T23:14:00.004-05:00

Ten Reasons Gay Marriage is Un-American

2007-12-17T03:39:00.000-05:00

I stumbled on this today. Perhaps you read this already?

1. Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning.

2. Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

3. Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

4. Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn’t changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can’t marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.

5. Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Britany Spears’ 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.

6. Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn’t be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren’t full yet, and the world needs more children.

7. Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

8. Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That’s why we have only one religion in America.

9. Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That’s why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.

10. Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven’t adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans.

Helen Mirren, on gay marriage

2007-12-13T00:23:00.001-05:00

‘I think gays absolutely should have the right. For the same reason Taylor and I got married - to be able to say, by law, “This person is important to me.”‘

world aids day 2007

2007-12-01T23:13:00.001-05:00

songza a new music search engine

2007-11-26T01:12:00.000-05:00

Songza is the brainchild of 23-year-old Aza Raskin — the president of Chicago-based software company Humanized, Inc., and the son of Apple Macintosh founder Jef Raskin. Over the course of a month, he and Humanized's Web/Systems Architect Scott Robbin worked weekends to bring the idea to life. The site launched on November 8, 2007 and instantly generated significant buzz around the world. Hundreds of bloggers and news writers have praised its elegant user interface, beautiful design, and all-around utility.

about your halloween costume

2007-11-04T00:44:00.000-04:00

i over heard ms. la belle talkin the other day, and she said

girl, i was at the party and i did see him. thats right, he is the new GGB honey! What chu say? You don't know the 411 on GGB! Galatic Gay Boy, write that down! When he's got it all said and done, he'll be puttin' the S-O-U-L back in solar system.

Oh and one more thing child, I saw all the bags in her trunk plus buckets of glitter, rollers, paint cans, rods, swatches and more fabric than all the queens capes put together! Some buddy better call NASA. There's gonna be pink in the sky, I can feel it deep down inside! You fool, not there, my soul! Yes, My soul...

lights out america

2007-10-20T01:24:00.000-04:00

Passionate & Progressive thinking, finally...

Live in San Francisco (or anywhere, really)? Make sure you’ve got some candles on hand. Yesterday—Saturday, October 20th—was LightsOutSF—a citywide energy conservation effort aimed at “controlling our growing appetite for energy” and “fighting climate change with the flip of a switch.”

Participation is easy: Turn off all non-essential lighting tomorrow night from 8-9 p.m., and switch one light bulb in your house from incandescent to CFL (if you haven’t switched them all already!). LightsOutSF estimates that turning lights out in San Francisco for even one hour could save as much as 15 percent of the energy consumed on an average Saturday night. 15 percent! In 60 minutes!

Get involved. Turn something off! Get your locals on board with this idea! Follow this link for more information Lights Out America, which is scheduled for March 29, 2008!

doug liman's jumper trailer

2007-10-11T00:08:00.000-04:00

the trailer for Jumper, is finally up and hayden christensen has certainly changed from the earlier days of star wars!

film looks good!

slide - what's in yours?

2007-10-09T01:16:00.000-04:00

Slide is the largest personal media network in the world, reaching more than 134 million unique global viewers each month and 30 percent of the U.S. Internet audience. We help people express themselves and tell stories through personalized photos and videos created on Slide.com and viewed anywhere on the web or desktop.

Slide widgets — including Slide Shows, Guestbooks, SkinFlix and FunPix — are popular on top social networking and blog platforms, including MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, Hi5, Friendster, Tagged, Piczo and Blogger. Slide is also the leading application developer on Facebook with more than 45 million applications installed. Slide's "Top Friends" has more than 3 million active daily users, making it the most active application by more than four times that of any other 3rd party developer.

Launched in 2005 and founded by PayPal co-founder Max Levchin, Slide is backed by Mayfield Fund, Blue Run Ventures, Khosla Ventures and Founders Fund.

maybe for thanksgiving dinner with the folks?

2007-10-09T01:13:00.000-04:00

sean biloski

darren hayes falling at your feet

2007-10-01T02:55:00.001-04:00

stumbled on this tonight. a great song and a single that didn't make the album

cafe solaire soul collections

2007-09-27T03:23:00.000-04:00

what the world needs now, is love sweet love

and no, not from Dionne Warwick

a recent discovery of mine were these Cafe Solaire collections. It's been quite a long time since I found a collection of deep sexy & chill house this good! And the cover art, well it speaks for it self now doesn't it!

fall promotion

2007-09-23T21:50:00.000-04:00

SPECIAL FALL
PROMOTIONAL RATE!

FREE SHIPPING on all total orders of $20 or more!
(ends 10/31/2007) within the United States.

Visit my ebay page!

Airline comes out with gay-themed flight

2007-09-20T22:35:00.000-04:00

thanks kaj!

SAN FRANCISCO - Air New Zealand is delving into the gay and lesbian market with a special themed flight that will feature drag queens, pink cocktails and a cabaret performed by the flight crew.

The destination for the airline's one-time "Pink Flight," scheduled to depart San Francisco International Airport on Feb. 26, is the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney, Australia, one of the world's most well-attended gay events, said Jodi Williams, an Air New Zealand marketing director.

"We are looking at tailoring the inseat entertainment and having gay-friendly movies and contests and different music and things like that," Williams said. The airline also plans to throw a "Get-Onboard-Girlfriend" going away party for its passengers, who will pay an average of $1,000 roundtrip.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA's Spinoff CAPRICA Happening?

2007-09-20T12:39:00.000-04:00

That's what a TV Week interview-article is saying to us and we're listening because we dig BSG (Battlestar Galactica) and think it's the best thang on the small(er) screen (along with 30 Rock, Mad Men, and the visual version of TAL). Apparently, execs at NBC Universal fear a non-Ron Moore (BSG co-creator) future.

No final word until January (after season 4 begins) on whether or not suited execs will break season four into two and break fans hungry hearts.

heavenly couches

2007-09-19T02:25:00.000-04:00

Origin: Germany

Design by: Eva Schroeter

Price: ~~$5380.00~~

Sale Price: $4035.00

click on image to visit them!

Doctor warns consumers of popcorn fumes

2007-09-19T02:07:00.000-04:00

according to the associated press...

Consumers, not just factory workers, may be in danger from fumes from buttery flavoring in microwave popcorn, according to a warning letter to federal regulators from a doctor at a leading lung research hospital.

A pulmonary specialist at Denver's National Jewish Medical and Research Center has written to federal agencies to say doctors there believe they have the first case of a consumer who developed lung disease from the fumes of microwaving popcorn several times a day for years.

"We cannot be sure that this patient's exposure to butter flavored microwave popcorn from daily heavy preparation has caused his lung disease," cautioned Dr. Cecile Rose. "However, we have no other plausible explanation."

The July letter, made public Tuesday by a public health policy blog, refers to a potentially fatal disease commonly called popcorn lung that has been the subject of lawsuits by hundreds of workers at food factories exposed to chemicals used for flavoring.

In response to Rose's finding, the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association issued a statement Tuesday recommending that its members reduce "to the extent possible" the amount of diacetyl in butter flavorings they make. It noted that diacetyl is approved for use in flavors by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

One national popcorn manufacturer, Weaver Popcorn Co. of Indianapolis, said last week it would replace the butter flavoring ingredient because of consumer concern. Congress has also been debating new safety measures for workers in food processing plants exposed to diacetyl.

The FDA said in an e-mail it is evaluating Rose's letter and "carefully considering the safety and regulatory issues it raises."

Fred Blosser, spokesman for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, said it is the first case the institute has seen of lung disease apparently linked to popcorn fumes outside the workplace.

The occupational safety arm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is working on a response to the letter.

William Allstetter, spokesman for National Jewish Medical, confirmed the letter was sent by Rose, a specialist in occupational and environmental lung diseases and director of the hospital's Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic.

"There have been no other cases that we know of other than the industrial occupational ones," Allstetter said.

Rose acknowledged in the letter that it is difficult to confirm through one case that popping buttered microwave popcorn at home can cause lung disease.

However, she said she wanted to alert regulators of the potential public health implications.

Rose said the ailing patient, a man whom she wouldn't identify, consumed "several bags of extra butter flavored microwave popcorn" every day for several years.

He described progressively worsening respiratory symptoms of coughing and shortness of breath. Tests found his ability to exhale was deteriorating, Rose said, although his condition seemed to stabilize after he quit using microwave popcorn.

She said her staff measured airborne levels of diacetyl in the patient's home when he cooked the popcorn. The levels were "similar to those reported in the microwave oven exhaust area" at the quality assurance unit of the popcorn plant where the affected employees worked, she said.

David Michaels, of the George Washington University School of Public Health, who first published Rose's letter on his blog, The Pump Handle, said the finding is another reason for federal regulators to crack down on diacetyl exposure by workers and consumers.

"This letter is a red flag, suggesting that exposure to food flavor chemicals is not just killing workers, but may also be causing disease in people exposed to food flavor chemicals in their kitchens," Michaels wrote on his public health policy blog.

Oldest man marks 112th birthday

2007-09-19T01:54:00.000-04:00

The world's oldest man, who is celebrating his 112th birthday in south-western Japan, has said he wants to live "indefinitely".

Tomoji Tanabe, who was born in 1895, says avoiding alcohol is the secret of his longevity.

He drinks milk, does not smoke, keeps a diary and reads the newspaper daily.

He was declared the oldest man in January by Guinness World Records after the death of Emiliano Mercado Del Toro, of Puerto Rico, at 115.

Mr Tanabe received 100,000 yen ($900, £440) and flowers from the local mayor in the town of Miyakonojo.

"I want to live indefinitely. I don't want to die," he said as he marked his birthday, Kyodo News agency reported.

Japan is said to have the largest population of centenarians in the world, with some 30,000 citizens aged 100 and over.

Story from BBC NEWS:

ron beck designs

2007-08-31T16:14:00.000-04:00

so i've decide to pursue my design ideas further, out of the tank if you will. after about a year and a half of designing aquatic interiors i think nows a good time to create "things" for the person and their spaces.

the stuff? unique gift ideas, floral designs, hand crafted and plenty of eye candy! and beyond that, some collectibles that i stumble on. web link here ronbeckdesigns

so in the weeks and months to come i will be posting these new design / gift ideas as they develop. many of the items will be available for purchase via my ebay; additional links and details to follow. comments are always welcome.

as for the aquarium designs:

Texan spiders spin 'monster web'

2007-08-31T13:15:00.000-04:00

An enormous spider web has been found at Lake Tawakoni State Park, Texas, US. click on image to enlarge.

It is not the work of one giant spider - rather, millions of small ones have been spinning away and now it is twice the size of a football field.

Park rangers are not sure why the spiders have joined forces - they describe it as a rare occurrence.

Texas A&M University entomologist Professor John Jackman told Associated Press that there were reports of similar webs every couple of years.

The web covers a 180m (650ft) stretch of trees and shrubs in the park.

Although it was initially described as "fairy-tale" white, it has turned brown from all the mosquitoes caught in its trap.

Experts say the web is either the work of social cobweb spiders that work together, or it has been created by spiders spreading out from a central point.

The park superintendent, Donna Garde, has invited arachnid and insect specialists to the park to study it first-hand.

Rangers said they expected the web to last until the autumn, when the spiders will start dying off.

Story from BBC NEWS:

george miller, maybe JLA?

2007-08-02T22:07:00.000-04:00

according to collider.com entertainment news...

According to a very trusted source, I’ve been informed that George Miller (“Happy Feet,” “Mad Max,” “Babe”) is considering directing the Warner Bros. live-action movie “Justice League of America.

And while this is just a rumor, it comes from the same source that told me Marc Forster was the front runner to direct the new James Bond movie, and I’d posted that info about a month before it became official.

Of course things can change as he might pass on the film, but as of now he’s the one WB is going after and all he has to do is say yes.

And for those on the side lines and didn’t know WB was actively pursuing making a “Justice League” movie… they are.

The next thing I’ve heard is which Superheroes might be in the running for the first big budget team-up movie. They would be Superman, Batman, The Flash, Wonder Woman and the Green Lantern.

I’ve also heard from sources that the “Justice League” film is more of a priority for WB than the sequel to “Superman,” so don’t be surprised if you see Brandon Routh in “Justice League” first.

And here’s a last bit of news… the biggest rumor that I’d heard (from another source) is that one of the superheroes in "Justice League" wouldn’t see a sequel. Yup, WB is planning a death. And while I can go further… I’ll stop there and let you wonder who won’t make it.

And before you go… let me be clear. Everything regarding any “Justice League” movie can obviously change. It’s so early in development that a new script could dramatically alter how they make the movie. But as of right now, the info I just wrote is as accurate as it can be. Obviously as I find out new info I’ll pass it on….

coming soon, july 2007

2007-07-11T02:59:00.000-04:00

I am pleased to announce that the final preparations are almost complete. Within a few weeks you will be able to see and purchase many of my designs through our newest retail outlet, World Wide Aquarium & Pets in Philadelphia, PA. My "Aquarium Lifestyle Blog here.

World Wide Aquarium & Pets offers one of the best and largest selections of Fresh & Salt Water fish I've ever seen! They also offer a great selection of accessories, pet food and aquarium furniture. The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable and eager to help! Click on their logo to visit.

Avengers are heroes

2007-06-14T03:39:00.000-04:00

this from the hollywood reporter...

'Avengers' are heroes on horizon

By Borys Kit

June 14, 2007

On the eve of the opening of "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," Marvel Studios has begun the process of bringing another of its comics to the big screen: the elite superhero team the Avengers. Zak Penn, who wrote the screenplay for Marvel's upcoming "The Incredible Hulk," is slated to pen the live-action adaptation that would be titled "The Avengers." On the other side of town, Warner Bros. Pictures is developing its superhero superteam, "Justice League of America," with Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney having submitted a draft adapting the DC Comics series. While Penn has not begun his screenplay, those who have read the Mulroneys' draft give it a thumbs-up, and a search for directors is about to begin. One challenge facing the writers is which heroes to include in their scripts.

While the roster for the Avengers has changed since its inception in 1963, growing to include the likes of Spider-Man and X-Men hero Wolverine, the classic iteration of the team consisted of Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and the diminutive Ant-Man and Wasp. Other members have been the Hulk, the bow-and-arrow-wielding Hawkeye and the probability-altering gypsy Scarlet Witch. Many of these heroes are getting their own starring portrayals in other movies, with Robert Downey Jr. as "Iron Man" already shooting; "Hulk" scheduled for a summer start, with Ed Norton toplining; a "Thor" script being written by Mark Protosevich; and "Ant-Man" being developed by Edgar Wright ("Hot Fuzz"). Marvel wants to wait until all those films have entered the market before unleashing "The Avengers." Marvel, which had licensed out some of its characters to various studios, owns the rights to most of the Avengers with the exception of Hulk, which Universal has.

"Avengers" has acted as the company's answer to DC Comics' best-seller "Justice League of America," which was banded together such A-list heroes as Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Aquaman, Flash and Green Lantern as well as the Martian Manhunter. One question that the respective companies will have to address before either movie is greenlighted is whether to include the marquee superheroes such as Superman and the Hulk in ensemble projects. If "The Avengers" and "Justice League" ultimately do include the biggest names among the superhero fraternity, then the question would turn to casting. Should Warners try to get Christian Bale and Brandon Routh, who star as Superman and Batman in their respective movies, into the ensemble films? Should Marvel talk to Norton and Downey about starring in "Avengers"? The answers could be years in the making.

the invasion

2007-06-10T01:23:00.000-04:00

the remake of the body snatchers "the invasion"
staring nicole kidman trailer is up!

kvs logo flip, atomic spaces loaded

2007-06-02T03:54:00.000-04:00

09/23/2007 update:

i'm happy to say, kaj has begun his residential & commercial journey into design, spaces that is. from this day foraward, kvs designs can be found by clicking on the logo above. and keep your eyes opened, you will see them and feel them, all over Philadelphia in the not so distant future!

logo design copyrighted-ron beck
logo design-ron beck
01 june, 2007

hannibal rising

2007-06-01T00:07:00.001-04:00

a good scare is sometimes necessary, i think. keeps you focused and in check so to speak.

the hannibal films have always been personal favorites although i think of them as films and not teachers. the latest installment to the lecter family is "hannibal rising" which stars a young frenchmen named gaspard ulliel.

the films best viewed with the idea, that it is its own film and not so much part of past versions. the story is about a young boy who experiences horrific extraordinary moments in his childhood. it is those situations that turn this hopeful boy into a young and powerful monster. the flesh eating kind, of course. gaspards performance is great as is the rest of the cast. you can see hopkin's influence in gaspard's performance. to its credit, hannibal rising's screen adaptation is flawless and executed with sheer precision; by none other than its own novelist thomas harris. if only more films had the writer directly involved!

it's a solid story with an appealing pace. it's a dark drama, war related and horror film that's well balanced. unlike its past installments, hannibal rising isn't as "visually graphic" as the others but it does serve its share of upset stomach courses. i enjoyed the look of the film, the sets are beautifully detailed and the on location shots are almost picture perfect postcards of far away lands. the hole foreign influence only enhances the films look and strength; happy to say i never felt like i was watching an "american made" movie!

this is the "missing link" to the lecter films, to know the future we must first understand why and where it began.

US anti-war mother ends protest

2007-05-29T13:01:00.000-04:00

from the BBC:

Cindy Sheehan, the bereaved mother who became a figurehead for the US anti-war movement, is abandoning her fight after growing disenchanted with the campaign.

She has camped outside President Bush's ranch since 2005, demanding a meeting over the death of her son in Iraq.

But announcing the end of her campaign, she also hit out at Democrats and anti-war campaigners who put "personal egos above peace and human life".

She said she had sacrificed her health, her marriage and her finances.

In a letter on the Daily Kos website titled Good Riddance Attention Whore - a reference to the abuse she says she has suffered, Ms Sheehan said: "I am going to take whatever I have left and go home.

"I am going to go home and be a mother to my surviving children and try to regain some of what I have lost."

'War machine'

Cindy Sheehan became a "postergirl" for the US anti-war movement after she set up her protest camp outside the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas in August 2005.

She said she has spent all the money from the survivor's benefits paid for her son's death and everything she earned from speaking and book fees and that she owed large hospital bills.

"I have been called every despicable name that small minds can think of and have had my life threatened many times."

She said her son Casey, who died in Baghdad in April 2004, was "killed by his own country which is beholden to and run by a war machine that even controls what we think.

Casey died for a country which cares more about who will be the next American Idol
Cindy Sheehan

"Casey died for a country which cares more about who will be the next American Idol than how many people will be killed in the next few months while Democrats and Republicans play politics with human lives.

"It is so painful to me to know that I bought into this system for so many years and Casey paid the price for that allegiance. I failed my boy and that hurts the most."

Ms Sheehan criticised the US anti-war movement for often putting "personal egos" first.

"It is hard to work for peace when the very movement that is named after it has so many divisions."

She said that one-time allies among the Democratic Party had turned on her when she no longer limited her protests over the Iraq war to the Republican Party.

The US will rapidly descend into "a fascist corporate wasteland," she said, if "alternatives to this corrupt 'two' party system" are not found.

Ms Sheehan said she was resigning as the "face" of the US anti-war movement.

She said she would "never give up trying to help people in the world who are harmed by the empire of the good old US of A, but I am finished working in, or outside of this system."

Watchmen casting

2007-05-22T12:27:00.000-04:00

AICN is reporting that offers has been sent out to a host of actors to join 300 director Zack Snyder in August for filming the long-in-development, Watchmen adaptation. Keanu, Jude, Patrick, and maybe Jackie Earl are the actors, read about which roles they might or might not have been offered...

presentation is everything

2007-05-20T02:04:00.000-04:00

i simply had to

2007-05-19T02:59:00.000-04:00

you can never have too many hats or ranch hands...

new at corbin fisher

Michael Bay's TRANSFORMERS

2007-05-18T21:52:00.001-04:00

TRANSFORMERS

Watch the new exclusive trailer for Michael Bay's

'TRANSFORMERS.'

aquarium lifestyle designs

2007-05-14T02:56:00.000-04:00

feel free to copy / paste my logo to your web site, news group, blog or your myspace page. if you could please include a link to the aquarium lifestyle blog page, I would appreciate it!

http://aquariumlifestyle.blogspot.com/

THE LAST SEASON FOR 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'

2007-05-12T01:39:00.000-04:00

THE SKINNY: iF MAGAZINE was on the red carpet covering the Saturn Awards at the Universal Hilton this evening and talked to several interesting people from all walks of Sci Fi, Fantasy, and Horror. One of the most interesting things was our conversation with Edward James Olmos, Admiral Adama, from the SCI FI Channel series BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. Olmos told iF that this is the final season for the show and what fans can expect to see in the two-hour movie filling the gap between seasons three and four. More @ iF MAGAZINE

Tim Roth aka Abomination

2007-05-11T02:57:00.000-04:00

read this...

Tim Roth Will Play 'Hulk' Bad Guy, Abomination

Posted May 9th 2007 2:34PM by Ryan Stewart

The major roles are now cast. Edward Norton is the gentleman-turned-giant Bruce Banner, lovely Liv Tyler will play his long-time love Betty Ross, and now Tim Roth has been cast as the The Incredible Hulk's nemesis, Abomination as well as his alter-ego Emil Blonsky. Variety notes that Roth's deal is still being negotiated, but it's apparently close enough to being sealed that they felt confident in declaring that this thing is a lock. Blonsky is a KGB agent who is exposed to the same gamma rays that turned Bruce Banner into the Hulk, but things get screwy with his transformation and he's unable to revert back to human form. He is, however, still able to retain the mental faculties of a human, according to a handy bio of the character on Wikipedia. His other powers include being able to hop long distances like the Hulk, as well as having healing powers and -- I'm not making this up -- being able to hold his breath for a long time. I seriously hope that comes into play in the film, otherwise I'll feel cheated.

Variety also notes the apparent upswing in Roth's career as of late, since he's also going to be starring in Francis Ford Coppola's comeback pic, Youth Without Youth and is cast alongside Naomi Watts in Funny Games, from Warner Independent. Roth's IMDB page is littered with other solid and not-so-solid projects including Inglorious Bastards, Six Bullets from Now and The Death of Harry Tobin. The Incredible Hulk, from director Louis Leterrier and scripter Zak Penn, is scheduled to hit theaters on June 13, 2008. I still say they should have brought Jennifer Connelly back, but that's just me.

this song, elton john's, love song

2007-05-03T03:06:00.000-04:00

I've spent the past few hours thinking, smoking, dancing and thinking while listening to some favorites from times that mattered. one song in particular from elton john, "love song", took hold again...

The words I have to say
May well be simple but theyre true
Until you give your love
Theres nothing more that we can do

Love is the opening door
Love is what we came here for
No one could offer you more
Do you know what I mean
Have your eyes really seen

You say its very hard
To leave behind the life we knew
But theres no other way
And now its really up to you

Love is the key we must turn
Truth is the flame we must burn
Freedom the lesson we must learn
Do you know what I mean
Have your eyes really seen

Music and lyrics by leslie duncan
Available on the album tumbleweed connection

save money, roll your own

2007-05-02T23:15:00.000-04:00

the idea here isn't necessarily to promote a "bad habit" but to share some information that could turn one into a "cheaper bad habit".

yes, i smoke (parliament lights) and have been for longer than i can remember. i know it's "bad" for me and i also know about several hundred other things we do that's bad for us as well; like pay taxes, going to war, not using a broom, working all our lives or men! anyway, the cost of this habit of ours is expensive and doesn't seem to ever get cheaper. sure some of the big guys like phillip morris offer "deals" from time to time like buy one get one free. other company's are now also producing "cheaper" cigarettes like bronco's or usa gold. the cheaper price per pack versions have a cheaper grade of tobacco in it, therefore the price is less and the taste is almost foul by comparison. so we all decide whats best in price and or in taste.

one thing we seem to forget is that there are other options beyond pumping millions of dollars into the wells of these far too rich big tobacco companies. yes the options are slim by comparison and require a little extra time and patience but in the end the out of pocket expense is drastically less. i am of course talking about rolling your own cigarettes.

here are some things to consider... lets say you smoke one pack a day (brand name) , average price per pack $4.50 (20 cigarettes). that will then run you $31.50 a week, $126.00 a month and $1512.00 a year. all this by choosing a name brand and or a premium blend.

here's an alternative , rolling your own. a small bag of rolling tobacco averages about $1.30 for a descent blend / brand. yes there are other a little cheaper and a few more expensive. that one pouch of rolling tobacco will yield about 30 cigarettes. the empty cigarette tubes average about $1.25 for a box 200 (varieties like full flavor, lite and ultra lite). again they to vary depending on the brand name and quality. last but most important is the rolling mechanism. there are a variety of "hand held" models (mostly plastic) $5-$8 or the automatic hand crank models (mostly metal) $20-$50. there are electric models made but they are far too expensive in my opinion.

drum roll please... the over cost of rolling your looks sorta like this, smoking one pack per day. it's about $1.00 a day, $7.00 a week, $28.00 a month and $336.00 a year. a savings of about $1176.00 a year!

a few things i've learned since i started rolling my own: the hand held models are pretty good and take a little time in getting used to; technique. the higher priced crank models are the easiest to use and produce far more in less time but agian they cost more. i purchased the zig zag hand rioller to start and found it didn't fill the hollow tube too tightly so i went looking for another model. i found the bugler brand hand roller to be the best over all for $7.00. as for the tubes it's anyones call on choice. i tried a few different companies (zig zag, tops, premier) and in the end decided on the gizeh (imported) to be the best especially because they are the only manufacturer who offers a charbon added filter inside the main filter. the tobacco choice is a tough call; everyone has specific tastes they look for. the choices are a plenty, featuring turkish or american blends along with a few other mixs of sorts. so far for me the bugler mellow gold and the bali shag light are my personal favorites. with the cost of the pouch tobacco being so cheap, it's easy to try a few different brands without spending a lot of money.

make sure you competitive shop for brands and prices, there are differences out there both on line and locally. one of the largest on line stores is roll your own

a short holiday

2007-05-01T02:55:00.000-04:00

i'm long over due for a break from the life i know here. this weekend i'll be in philly on holiday with sin and regret. oh, yes i mean dan & kaj! a clue...only one of them likes A LITTLE Dark chocolate!

it's my fist time seeing donna designers lair of data tracking & action figure collecting! to understand the true ways, one must visit the temple. surfaces darling, surfaces!

can you believe, she has a garage of her own!

it's also the first time that dan & i are in philly with kaj! i can't wait! YES, YES PLENTY OF PINK LITTLE PILLS DARLING FOR THE PARTY! the plans thus far are flexible but IKEA, spider man 3 and a little clubbing are a definite. long gone are the days when we were "ladies of the night" now it's just 3 bitches in the dark who know... we are fabulous!

a day with mom

2007-05-01T02:32:00.000-04:00

so, last week i made my usual trip to berwick to celebrate sandy's birthday. i drove in the night before so we could snack out & watch a movie!

safe to safe, she and i are definitely getting "older".

we had all the best snacks and a great movie so how did we fall asleep after the first hour? once the morning came, we got our selves around and spent the entire day together! towards the end of our conquest for bargains, we stopped by the local laundry mat so i could wash up a few things i brought along.

i decided last week to wash my queen size comforter while i was in, visiting mom. berwicks a pretty safe, mellow town with a clean laundry mat. the thing was so big i had to use a tripple loader which ran about $4.75 just for the wash! i sat till the end of the wash cycle, sorted things out and loaded up two dryers. timers set for 40 minutes and i'm off, back to moms for dinner. i had finished eating just shy of 35 minutes, gulped a glass of water and headed back to the fluff & fold.

for the first time, in all my years, somebody stoled my load! of course they left behind the smaller miss match of items in dryer 13. certain to say their eyes we on the prize, # 11 with my $100 queen size comforter! sons a bitches!!! well, i was only angry for a minute or two then folded the remains and went back for desert...homemade lemon cake!

as you get older, you have to learn to let go of things, especially anger.

josh groban live in pennsylvania

2007-04-22T00:31:00.000-04:00

07.31.2007
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Wachovia Arena

(pre-sale 5/10 10 a.m.)

earth day

2007-04-22T00:11:00.000-04:00

earth day, april 22, 2007
give something back...

fantastic 4 surfer

2007-04-05T03:39:00.000-04:00

i stumbled on a few new images from the upcoming, new fantastic 4 movie

Jake Gyllenhaal as Captain Marvel

2007-03-20T02:53:00.000-04:00

according to IMDB:

"Executives at Hollywood film studio New Line are desperately trying to sign Brokeback Mountain star Jake Gyllenhaal as Captain Marvel in Shazam! The studio is looking to bid on a big franchise along the lines of Batman and Superman and think the movie, which is based on the DC comic, is the perfect project. A source tells the New York Daily News, "They're ready to spend up to $200 million to get it started." Sources say director Peter Segal and his fellow producers want to sign the star before Spider-Man director Sam Raimi can get to him. Raimi is reportedly on the lookout for a new Spider-Man after current star Tobey Maguire recently said he is ready to move on and let someone else play the role."

a great card

2007-03-18T00:25:00.000-04:00

last week i got a-lot of great cards for my birthday. one in particular i want to share with you. the old saying rings true: a mother knows best!

yes this was the one from my mother, inside read you're priceless! awh...

she also thought of my two buddy's dan & kaj. hum, who might be who? sandy thought i was the one with the dog!

by the way lady's, are we on for that weekend in may? clock's tickin'!!!

running with scissors

2007-03-16T03:35:00.000-04:00

i'm happy to say, i have a new favorite movie...

running with scissors is filled with such brilliant colors, the ones we haven't seen or felt in quite along time!

the music in the film becomes an imaginary character

the film cuts away all the glaze we think is there and reveals what real people truly are, exceptional.

300 the movie

2007-03-09T00:08:00.000-05:00

it opens today,
march 9, 2007

on this day

2007-03-08T01:06:00.000-05:00

it was 44 years ago, on this day. i first saw light...

imagine yourself, a delicate yet persistent bud. your instincts tell you to wait, when the time is right you will push all of yourself out. the world will see all of your colours, cherish your beauty and embrace your survival.

last night was cool, dark and lonely. you were patient, hopeful of a new day. a day that might be filled with different things, new ideas, unknown understandings...

as the sun begins to rise, the brilliant light dances across your crisp outer skin. inside you can feel the movement, sense everything around you. up as you know, is the way out. follow the light. you search deep within for the strength and ambition to take these first steps...

here it is, long last. it's a new day for all of us.

and you thought the light would be there, endlessly.

The 11th Star Trek film

2007-03-02T03:42:00.000-05:00

Star Trek film gets release date

The 11th Star Trek film, to be directed by Lost creator JJ Abrams, will be released in the US on Christmas Day 2008, Paramount Pictures has announced.

The film, which will focus on the early lives of Captain James T Kirk and Mr Spock, will begin shooting this autumn.

No further details have been announced and the movie has yet to be cast.

But Abrams - who directed the third Mission: Impossible film last year - said he wanted "to make a picture for life-long fans and the uninitiated".

"Needless to say I am honoured and excited to be part of this next chapter of Star Trek," he added.

'Brilliance and optimism'

The original Star Trek TV series, created by Gene Roddenberry, ran from 1966 to 1969.

It went on to spawn 10 feature films, numerous spin-offs and a billion-dollar industry of books, computer games and consumer products.

PREVIOUS TREK FILMS

The Motion Picture (1979)

The Wrath of Khan (1982)

The Search for Spock (1984)

The Voyage Home (1986)

The Final Frontier (1989)

The Undiscovered Country (1991)

Generations (1994)

First Contact (1996)

Insurrection (1998)

Nemesis (2002)

The last Trek film, Star Trek: Nemesis, was released in 2002 and featured the stars of the Next Generation TV series.

The most recent TV spin-off, Star Trek: Enterprise, came to an end in 2005.

The latest feature, which has yet to be named, will tell of Kirk and Spock's first meeting at Starfleet Academy and their first outer space mission.

Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, who worked with Abrams on Mission: Impossible III, have written the screenplay.

"If there's something I'm dying to see, it's the brilliance and optimism of Roddenberry's world brought back to the big screen," said Abrams.

"Alex and Bob wrote an amazing script that embraces and respects Trek canon but charts its own course."

Paramount Pictures chairman and CEO Brad Grey said he "could not be more thrilled to be back in business with JJ Abrams".

As well as directing the film, Abrams will co-produce with Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/entertainment/6407135.stm

my oscar 2007 ballot

2007-02-25T01:30:00.000-05:00

the academy awards ...
yes i've waited till the last very moment because i'm still thinking...

best picture: "the queen"
helen's time has come! "the departed" would be my only second.

best director: martin scorsese
"hey marty! we love ya!" the academy has always admired him although stephen frears could surprise us all!

best actor: ryan gosling
never a dull performance or moment from this lad! my vote is based on his performance and the obvious! his first nod as well could mean something magical! forest whitaker, the second choice of course.

best actress: helen mirren
oh, come on.

best supporting actor: eddie murphy
the hunch's feel strong although mark wahlberg might spoil the obvious?

best supporting actress: jennifer hudson
this will be the wise choice although i think the academy will opt it as the "we felt good about a afro-american female choice, keeps things in balance...). the flip side could be cate blanchett? does this woman ever let anyone down?

this years choices are much better than in years passed. it's a broad collection of many themes and important issue's. we'll know soon...

Battlestar Renewed For Season 4

2007-02-15T19:08:00.000-05:00

SCI FI Channel announced that it has renewed its Peabody-winning original series Battlestar Galactica, ordering 13 new episodes. Production will resume this summer in Vancouver, Canada, with an eye toward a January 2008 premiere.

The decision comes after the series' successful move to a new 10 p.m. timeslot on Sundays. Since moving, Battlestar Galactica's audience has grown over its third-season average by 8 percent in total viewers, by double digits in female viewers, by 19 percent in the show's target demographic of adults aged 18-49 and by 14 percent in adults 25-54. The Jan. 28 episode, "Taking a Break From All Your Worries," delivered 2.5 million total viewers and 1.6 million adults 18-49, the largest audience for any episode since the season-two premiere.

"We're thrilled to bring Battlestar back for another season," Mark Stern, SCI FI's executive vice president of programming, said in a statement. "This series has delivered on every level, from the writing to the acting to the production values. SCI FI is proud to be the home of the best show on television."

The series is from NBC Universal Television Studio and is executive-produced by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick. Its cast is led by Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer and Grace Park. Battlestar recently returned with the second half of its third original season, immediately following SCI FI's newest original series, The Dresden Files.

"While we never had any doubt that SCI FI would get behind a fourth season of Battlestar, it's thrilling to finally make it official, and for Ron and I to continue using this great genre to investigate the darker corners of society, politics and humanity," executive producer David Eick said in a statement.

thanks kaj for the heads up!

a show, not to miss cris le bitch

2007-02-10T01:36:00.000-05:00

the Tally Ho

DISCO SHOW

Feb 11 10PM

L A N C A S T E R, P A

Radcliffe Pictures Upset Parents

2007-02-01T13:34:00.000-05:00

no surprise to me that many have already expressed their "concern" about the recent photo's that are popping up everywhere of daniel radcliffe, shirtless. as harry potter, daniel portrayed a character in a children's series called harry potter.

first and foremost he is an actor and playing different roles is something not uncommon. equus is his next project and the role is a different character with different requirements. i think it's important for him to grow and branch out into other endeavours. allowing himself to be type cast would only stunt his growth artistically and keep him from expanding on his selection of roles. i applaud daniel for this choice and for doing what he wants as an artist, a young adult and as an actor.

if parents are upset about how it might effect their children seeing him shirtless and or in a love scene, they need to either explain things and help them understand; isn't that what parents do for their children? another obvious choice would also be not to purchase equus tickets and observe their internet adventures if they so deem necessary. the world harry potter lives in is magical and fictional, unlike our world.

this particular photo at first seemed more like a young hugh jackman to me and not daniel?

here was a blurb i read recently...

REUTERS/Uli Weber/Handout (BRITAIN)

Pictures of a shirtless Daniel Radcliffe that are being used to promote his new play are causing controversy among fans of the "Harry Potter" movies.

The young star peels off clothes in the promotional photos for his London West End run in "Equus." He reportedly will also appear naked and have a sex scene in the play.

The pictures have already become popular among young female fans of the 17-year-old -- most famous for his role in the boy wizard franchise.

But parents are up in arms and are bombarding "Harry Potter" fansites with emails.

One reads, "We as parents feel Daniel should not appear nude. Our 9-year-old son looks up to him as a role model. We are very disappointed and will avoid the future movies he makes."

Radcliffe's spokesperson Vanessa Davies tells Britain's the Daily Mail, "Daniel does not want to step away from 'Harry Potter' but he does want to show he is a rounded actor capable of very different roles. He has tremendous support from 'Harry Potter' fans."

The play opens in London on February 27

new tracey thorn release

2007-02-01T02:16:00.000-05:00

due out march 6, 2007 from virgin/import (and just two days before my birthday!) is tracey thorn's second release, almost 25 years since distant shore. new cd release entitled out of the woods. visit her myspace page and catch a listen to it's all true. FAB!

i'm soooooooooooooooooo anxious for this release and can only hope for a future new project from she and ben aka ebtg as well!

peace for kathryn bandics

2007-01-27T22:47:00.000-05:00

shortly before 8 PM this evening, i lost the most important person in my life... my grandmother kathryn.

she was my friend, my strength and my inspiration. she always looked for the best in everyone and loved without limits. throughout all the years of our "dysfunctional family life" kathryn never lost sight of hope and resolution for each of us. no matter how tired she was or how much pain she felt, she always found her way to be there for all of us.

she is a person unlike any I've ever know.

everything that I am, everything that I feel and everything I cherish is all because of her.

my path in life has taken me to many places and allowed me to know many people. my influence, inspiration and effect are, all the beautiful gifts she has given me. it is with great honor and blind determination that i will always share them with you...regardless of who or what you are

Parasite Infection Might Ease Multiple Sclerosis

2007-01-18T01:09:00.000-05:00

17.01.2007 - The bugs may alter immune response in a beneficial way, researchers say

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Parasitic infections may actually benefit people with multiple sclerosis (MS), suggests a study by researchers in Argentina.

These infections may affect the body's immune response in a way that changes the course of the disease.

Previous studies found that parasite infection could affect the course of autoimmune diseases in animals. This is the first study to examine the relationship between parasite infections and MS in humans.

The study included 12 MS patients with a parasite infection and 12 MS patients who were parasite-free. The patients in both groups had a similar disease course. The patients were followed for an average of 4.6 years.

During the study period, there were three clinical relapses of MS among patients infected with a parasite, compared to 56 relapses in the group of uninfected MS patients. Patients in the infected group were less likely to suffer increased disability due to MS.

The researchers also found that infected patients had much higher numbers of cells that produce cytokine suppressants. MS involves an inflammatory response associated with the production of cytokines, which are regulatory proteins.

The findings provide evidence to support the idea that an autoimmune response caused by a parasite infection can decrease the normal inflammatory response associated with MS, the study authors suggested.

The study appears in the January issue of the Annals of Neurology.

More information

The American Medical Association has more about MS.

-- Robert Preidt

the 2 disc set

2007-01-17T23:02:00.000-05:00

The Collector’s Edition hits dvd Jan 23rd.

Bonus Features:

Brokeback Mountain: The Collector’s Edition offers exclusive bonus features, some available for the first time, that will heighten viewers’ understanding and enjoyment of this seminal film, including:

A Groundbreaking Success – In an original documentary, Brokeback Mountain’s producers and cast talk about bringing this unusual story to the screen on their terms. The film also examines the phenomenal attention garnered by the movie, including the numerous parodies that were inspired by its theme.

Music From the Mountain – Composer Gustavo Santaolalla, who won an Oscar for Brokeback Mountain’s emotional soundtrack, anchors a breakdown of the movie’s unforgettable music. Includes interviews with each of the featured artists and a trip to the studio with the legendary Willie Nelson as he records his touching version of Bob Dylan’s "He Was a Friend of Mine."

Impressions From the Film – The raw beauty and splendor of the American West are masterfully showcased in a photomontage of the film’s sweeping vistas.

On Being A Cowboy – Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal discuss their preparations for the film, including rodeo and wrangling training. Exclusive on-set interviews with the film’s stunt coordinator are also featured.

Directing From The Heart: Ang Lee – Director Ang Lee is profiled in this intimate behind-the-scenes look at the creative force that brought the absorbing story of Brokeback Mountain to life.

From Script to Screen: Interviews with Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana – The writers discuss bringing Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Proulx’s visionary short story to the screen.

Sharing the Story: The Making of Brokeback Mountain – This featurette follows the filmmaking process from start to finish and introduces the cast and crew who brought Brokeback Mountain to life through in-depth interviews, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, and more.

Number of Discs: 2

Run Time: 2 Hours 15 Minutes

a time has come

2007-01-03T22:41:00.000-05:00

something i've been waiting for has finally come...

the new film children of men.

please visit the site, it's well done! once i've seen the film i'll share my thoughts with you...

Real Pay Will Only Tread Water

2007-01-03T21:48:00.000-05:00

With stock indexes reaching all-time highs in 2006, won't there be something for employees to get excited about as they open their 2007 paychecks? Not unless they're executives, who, as usual, will do better.

Base pay for the average worker, projected to increase 3.7 percent or so, will be basically flat after discounting for inflation, according to a consensus of salary surveys. And performance-based bonuses -- these days an anticipated financial shot in the arm for most of us, not an extra -- aren't expected to increase substantially.

"We've seen no real wage gains for most Americans over the past few years," says Sylvia Allegretto, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, DC. "It looks like inflation might be 4 percent in 2007, so if workers get a 3.5 percent increase, they're still falling behind. The economy's expanding, workers are extremely productive, profits are at record highs, but from 2000 to 2005, real earnings were down about 3.5 percent."

It's no help that in the second half of 2006, economic growth slowed significantly. "The construction and housing bubble has been pricked, if not deflated," says Joseph Kilmartin, director of compensation at Salary.com.

Still, pay increases for those who exit and enter companies or receive promotions are often better than those in aggregate statistics, according to Steven Gross, a senior compensation consultant with Mercer Human Resources Consulting in Philadelphia.

Variable Pay: Nothing New Here

Though the trend leveled off several years ago, employers and their consultants portray performance-based pay as the up-and-coming compensation component that will help make up for the meager salary increases most workers will see in 2007. A statement accompanying a compensation survey from human resources consulting firm Hewitt Associates begins: "As base pay increases remain stable for 2007, more companies are relying on variable pay -- performance-related awards that must be re-earned each year."

However, the same survey reveals that participation of US companies in variable-pay plans has been essentially flat from 2001 -- when the proportion stood at 81 percent -- to 2006 at 80 percent.

Variable pay as a percentage of total payroll budget has actually declined slightly from 11.4 percent in 2005 to 11.2 percent in 2006 and a projected 11 percent in 2007, according to Hewitt.

So workers should take performance-based pay as a given and evaluate how their employers' bonus packages compare to the competition. According to Mercer, the most common forms of variable monetary rewards beyond the annual bonus are spot cash awards, project milestone awards and signing bonuses.

Pay in Many IT Occupations Struggles to Keep Pace with Inflation

In the information technology field, starting salaries will rise 2.8 percent in 2007, according to staffing firm Robert Half Technology. Such an increase, trumpeted as evidence of healthy demand for IT workers, might not even be enough to keep pace with inflation.

"Some technology occupations with stronger salary growth are being offset by others with lower growth," says Katherine Spencer Lee, Robert Half executive director.

Indeed, there will be substantial variation in 2007 pay increases across IT occupations, according to Robert Half's projections. While Web developers will receive an average hike of 4.2 percent, starting help-desk workers will see their pay rise just 0.8 percent, or an average $250, to $37,000. Offshoring of help-desk services is a likely contributor to these feeble wage increases.

In Salary.com's survey of salary budget increases, technology jobs garnered most of the good news. Professionals working in computer and electronics manufacturing, computer systems design, and scientific and technical services all are expected to see raises of 4 percent to 5 percent.

Executives Still Garner the Biggest Salary Increases

More old news is likely to continue making headlines in 2007: High-ranking employees are the most likely to receive relatively large merit increases.

For example, in Mercer's analysis of the 2006 distribution of employers' performance-rating systems, 38 percent of executives scored in the highest category, while only 22 percent to 24 percent of staff professionals and workers in clerical, administrative, production and service roles placed in the top band, which is tied to the biggest percentage raises.

"Higher-level positions are more visible," explains Gross. "If executives don't produce, they have a greater chance of being fired."

post holiday

2007-01-03T21:42:00.000-05:00

this from my daily OM...

January 3, 2007
Hold onto the Magic
Coping with Post-Holiday Blues

For many people, the act of packing away the holiday decorations, opening the last gift, or parting with visiting loved ones evokes feelings of sadness. The busyness associated with the holidays that distracted us from life subsides, and we are left wondering why life seems a bit empty. Yet we need not give ourselves over entirely to the blues we feel when the celebrations end. And this post-holiday period of mellowness should not be viewed as a sign that your festivities were less than fulfilling. To feel a few pangs of gloom as the decorations come down and guests return to their homes is natural. Your physical and mental selves, which existed in a state of arousal as you immersed yourself in the magic of the holiday season, need time to adjust as you settle back into your usual routine. Rest assured that which warmed your heart and fulfilled you in previous days will satisfy you again.

There are many ways you can gently smooth the transition between the holidays and the pleasures of everyday existence. In the midst of your yearly celebrations, strive to achieve balance and acknowledge that holidays are special, precisely because they represent a short time of your life. If you minimize the impact the festivities have on your personal and professional schedules, reverting to these timetables will not shock your system. Once the holidays are over, try to keep a small spark of celebration aglow in your heart. Accomplishing this can be as easy as treating yourself well and integrating holiday values such as forgiveness, generosity, and gratitude into your day-to-day existence. Stay in touch with relatives who you traditionally only see once per year, and spread goodwill by volunteering or hosting a post-celebration celebration, just for the fun of it. Even leaving one decoration unpacked and displayed can help you stay cheerful in the days that follow the holi! days.

Consider that all of the virtues that touch you deeply as you celebrate the holiday season—charity, togetherness, magic, beauty, etc.—exist year-round. With a little effort, you can carry the celebratory spirit in your heart always. The post-holiday blues will soon pass, leaving you feeling as happy and buoyant as you did just weeks before.

Candy Canes?

2006-12-26T21:07:00.000-05:00

i was recently making my blog rounds and stopped by my buddy Tony's... always a pleasure in oh so many ways! once the main page loaded, out sang nancy wilson's "christmas time is here" (a personal favorite of mine) it twas my first pleasant surprise. rolling along down, T had written a few jolly holiday "what do you think" questions and answers;

#20 had me pissing my pants! I wanted to share it with you...

Candy Canes? If somebody wants to suck something for that long, I got a better idea for them. And I’ll rub it with a mint leaf first if they want.

Visit Tony's blog, there's always something for at least one of your sences!

JOLLY HOLIDAY

2006-12-21T02:03:00.000-05:00

here's two things I'm planning fro this years holiday 2006 festivities...

i've first decided to write an article on how i feel now, at this point of my life, about what christmas was and is now. a few days into the first draft and i'm already wondering if it may end as two posts (lengthy), we'll see. oh, some of it will be posted soon...

my second idea came one morning a few days ago. as in years past i tend not to over spend at christmas. a, it's a stupid mistake so many make every year. b, the money isn't there in large "spendable" amounts and c, the gatherings and the time spent are more important than any object one might buy. so this year i've decided to up the crafty level and try candy making; dark chocolate dipping that is. looks not so complicated but time consuming. i purchased a few supply's (mold, dipping tools) and got the dark chocolate dipping melts.

since i'm one who often "thinks out of the box" i decided to make a few basic designs...typical candy bar size (solid) and a few of those blaw shaped semi round pieces. beyond those i thought the following might also be interesting: dried apricots, banana chips, a raspberry jam center, graham crackers, pretzels, coconut covered marsh mellows, a crushed granola mix and dried pineapple wedges.

tomorrow night is the block of time for this along with gift wrapping. should be an interesting day for sure.

i'll let you know how it all ended up...

what can i say

2006-12-14T04:35:00.000-05:00

20 voices

2006-12-14T04:21:00.000-05:00

take a few minutes and check out this musical review at jibjab!

spandau ballet

2006-12-13T04:37:00.000-05:00

always believen... a new amazing discovery of a remix by an all time favorite. back in the day when things were "very sinthy electric" i remember hearing a bunch of britts, calling themselves spandau ballet. one of the great things about these boys, their music made you want to belt one out and dance all at once!

todays find is a new, dmc remix of the song "gold" i stumbled on this afternoon. everything old is new again and the mix is worth more than itself! seek and find and return to that time, all over again. check out their web site!

Concert for Diana

2006-12-12T16:14:00.000-05:00

A celebrity concert to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, has been announced.

Princes William and Harry are organising the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium on 1 July, when she would have turned 46.

Sir Elton John, Duran Duran, Joss Stone, Bryan Ferry and hip-hop star Pharrell Williams will perform. Tickets go on sale at 0900 GMT on Wednesday.

A memorial service will also be held in London at a venue to be confirmed.

To reflect the princess's love of dancing and musicals, there will be an appearance by the English National Ballet, while Andrew Lloyd Webber will stage a medley of songs from his West End shows.

The princes said more acts were coming but they had released just "a flavour" of those confirmed.

Sir Elton John said: "I applaud Princes William and Harry for choosing to honour their mother with this concert. I am absolutely thrilled to be performing at this great event.

"Diana was a personal friend and someone I greatly admired for her tireless and enthusiastic work for charity."

Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran added: "The concert next summer seems an entirely fitting way to celebrate her life and her work.

"We are honoured that she always referred to Duran Duran as her favourite band as she was certainly our favourite princess."

Proceeds from the concert will go to a number of charities that were supported by the princess during her life, and to two of the princes' own charities, Centrepoint and Sentebale.

It has also been confirmed the senior royals, including their stepmother the Duchess of Cornwall, will attend the memorial service on 31 August, the actual anniversary of Diana's death.

the “Elvis Cup”

2006-12-12T15:06:00.000-05:00

Recently, Hershey’s announced the “Elvis Cup”, a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup that includes a layer of Banana Creme. You may or may not know (if say, you’re blind), but Elvis loved to eat. One of his favorite foods was fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, thus the inspiration for the new Reese’s cup. Hershey’s just added some chocolate and took away the fried aspect (though I’m sure a local county fair can help you with the fried aspect.)

This “limited edition” candy is being made in honor of the 30th Anniversary of The King’s passing. The candy will be on your shelves sometime in July ‘07, while Elvis’ actual date of death is August 16th. The candy, which will come in mini, standard and “king size”, will also include an instant win contest for a trip for two to Graceland.

Reconnected at last

2006-11-30T00:12:00.000-05:00

hello everyone!
I am pleased to say that I am finally reconnected!

As most of you already know, I recently moved from the south end of the city to the north end. The move was a huge task but I did have help from many of my friends which made it better than it could have ever been. To them...know that I appreciated all your time and help very much! My M.S. also proved to be an unwelcome guest through the process as well. The downside of the move was the Verizon DSL issues. My last login was November 16, 2006. Yes, its taken that long for all the switches to be reset and the signals rerouted! Needless to say I wasn't real happy with their delays in transferring my DSL service; that's all in the past now.

In that small window of being "unconnected from the world" I managed to get 531 new messages in my email! Understandably, it will take a few days to go through them. Certain to say I lost quite a bit of potential business from the aquarium plant design project and a complete loss of communication from any potential and or existing customers. I'm amazed at how dependent we have all become on the internet, in some respects it troubles me a great deal.

Looking forward to reconnecting with all of you very soon...Cheers! Ron

Mexico City passes gay union law

2006-11-12T00:21:00.000-05:00

Mexico City's assembly has backed a law recognising same-sex civil unions, the first such move in the country's history.

The ruling stops short of enabling gay couples to get married and will only apply to the estimated nine million inhabitants of Mexico City.

Mexico City Mayor Alejandro Encinas is widely expected to ratify the law.

It has met fierce opposition from President-elect Felipe Calderon's National Action Party.

The law has also been attacked by the Catholic Church and conservative activists.

'Decadence'

While Mexico City legislators voted for the law, supporters and opponents of the bill demonstrated noisily outside the assembly building.

Protester Humberto Muniz described the law as "anti-natural".

"Societies have always fallen into decadence when there has been homosexuality," he told the Reuters news agency.

But the vote was welcomed by David Sanchez, an openly gay congressman.

"These reforms are going to cause a snowball effect that no one will be able to stop," he told Reuters.

Rights

Under the law, Mexico City's gay couples who register their union with civil authorities will gain access to inheritance and pension rights.

Unmarried heterosexual couples can also register under the same law.

Gay civil unions have yet to be approved by local legislators in any other part of Mexico.

A similar bill is being debated by lawmakers in Mexico's northern state of Coahuila, bordering Texas.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6134730.stm

The new studio

2006-11-09T23:16:00.000-05:00

In an order to "conserve & preserve" I decided at the last minute to relocate. The new studio aparment is smaller than I'm used to, let alone has far less space than I currently have. The bottom line it's on the first floor and considerably cheaper than I am currently paying.

The idea of relocating is as worse as a 24 hour migrain but life dictated the move at the present and so I shall oblige. I should be completely in by Thanksgiving if all goes well; I chose not to wait till end of December and the cold weather. Email and phone will remain the same.

Perhaps a fresh start will be good for the sole?

progressive action

2006-10-28T22:41:00.000-04:00

South Dakotans to decide medical marijuana measure Nov. 7

Benefits, side effects of drug on society debated
By Carson Walker
Associated Press Writer

Editor's note: Part of a series of preview stories on selected ballot measures in the Nov. 7 general election.

South Dakota would join 11 other states that allow some medical patients to smoke marijuana to ease their pain and other medical problems if voters approve Initiated Measure 4 on Nov. 7.

Diseases and conditions that would be covered include: cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, severe or persistent muscle spasms and multiple sclerosis. The state Department of Health also could approve other medical conditions.

Though some states permit medical marijuana, residents still can be prosecuted in federal court.

Valerie Hannah of Deerfield said if the measure doesn't pass, she's moving to California, where medical marijuana is allowed - although she said she already uses limited amounts of it to quell her nerve pain.

"I'm the only person who will admit that they're a medical marijuana patient in South Dakota," she said in a telephone interview.

Hannah said she served in the Persian Gulf War in the early 1990s and was exposed to chemical weapons that are basically causing her nerves to dissolve.

"And with that comes extreme, extreme pain," she said.

No prescription drug is as effective as a few hits of pot a few times a day, Hannah said.

"Not a whole joint. It's just a couple of tokes, a couple of hits off a pipe," she said.

Hughes County Sheriff Mike Leidholt said he empathizes with Hannah and others who suffer from chronic pain. But the relief it could offer some people doesn't justify the cost to society, he said.

Among Liedholt's points:

• It sends a mixed message to children on the use of drugs.

• People other than the patient could get the marijuana, as a lot of teens do now with alcohol.

• There have been great advances in prescription medications, so it's not necessary to go back to natural remedies such as marijuana.

• Law enforcement officers wouldn't be allowed to test if a driver with a prescription is under the influence of marijuana.

• The marijuana isn't subject to quality control standards that are a part of Food and Drug Administration approval, so there's no way to know the potency.

The law would allow each patient and caregiver up to six plants, which could produce from 2,700 to more than 13,000 joints every year, depending how well the plants are cultivated, he said.

"That's a lot of marijuana," Leidholt said. "If you're not going to use that much, what are you going to do with the rest of it? Are you going to share it with friends?"

Hannah, who no longer is able to work, said the measure is not an attempt to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, and it would not make pot widely available.

"This is not a way to get it into the hands of your children or my children or anybody else's. This is for legitimate people who need this," she said. "Everyone should have the freedom to choose their own medication."

The jewels have arrived

2006-10-08T02:33:00.000-04:00

It is with great pride that I tell you, the first hand designed piece of jewelry from my friend Marilyn is now available for purchase on my ebay!

As I mentioned a few days ago, her work is exceptional and very unique. She's been traveling the craft circuit and renaissance fairs for several years now. Her creations are exceptional and the quality of her designs is second to none. Additional designs will be listed on ebay as they become available. Please email me any questions you might have for Marilyn and I will forward them to her.

Sharing information

2006-10-07T21:36:00.000-04:00

I think when it comes to blogging, it's all about personal expression but more importantly, sharing idea's and information with others. As an individual who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, I can attest to the importance & benefits of sharing information with others, weather it be good or bad.

This past July, 2006 I had an unfortunate change in my employment status and lost my health care coverage; also unable to afford the continued coverage through Cobra @ $385.00 per month! Not until mid August 2006, was I able to secure new employment but they only offered about 30 hours per week and no insurance options at the present time. And in-case your wondering what the total cost per month for all my prescribed/needed meds are (straight over the counter price without any drug coverage) , I'm sad to say it would be around $3,000.00.... what a disgusting amount to pay to feel moderately o.k.. For those of you with MS you know exactly what I mean and for those of you who don't: there's no cure yet for us, the meds are a constant give & take for the end results. Some make one thing more tolerable while enhancing the awful effects of another. I.E. the provigil (prescription speed so to speak) fights the MS daily fatigue but inturn it can make you hyper. Fear not, I get to look forward to another pill later in the night to bring me back down. Then it's one to stop the restless leg syndrome and one to help me sleep. It's a rollercoaster ride of daily trade-offs that quite simply put, SUCKS!

Needless to say I have been without my prescriptions and drug coverage for a few months now, the lack of proper medications has definitely taken its toll on me and my body. Simply stated, if you looked at my situation as a race between me and the MS, the MS has taken a strong lead and reeked its unforgiving havoc on my body,mind and sole. I have been seeking assistance and continue to run into one road block after another. I would never wish this particular "hunt for help" on even my worst enemies.

Magically, I sat down today in the break room and stumbled on an article in Newsweek on RLS; restless leg syndrome. The article was somewhat enlightening and all too familiar. At the very end of the article, in very small print (almost too small to notice) , under an add for Requip (RLS drug), was a web address/phone number for assistance for prescription drugs: PPA or Partnership For Prescription Assistance (https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php). I was a little excited at first, then I reminded myself of others, like it, and I remembered all the paperwork, the phone calls, the waiting and the turn downs... you've got to keep trying, right? So I went to the web site and started my next journey into prescription assistance. Over all, I found the site to be helpful, informative and easy to navigate through. So all the information has been sent and now I'll do what I'm getting used to doing these days...waiting to see the answers...

just breathe

2006-10-07T00:54:00.000-04:00

so what does a guy like me do when a guy like you enters into my life...

keep it in perspective, thank god above, giggle a little in the kitchen, tell almost everyone i know, respect it, remember to always say thank you since tomorrow isn't guaranteed, keep it clean and free of uncomfortable moments, be honest, push a few buttons from time to time, celebrate and embrace our unique similarities, talk less-listen more, make the most of what's at hand, make sure the coffee's fresh and there's plenty of your favorite coffe-mate flavor in the frig, allow unlimited access to everything inside my heart & mind, listen to manilow & taylor when necessary, let it out-verbally of course, tell you from time to time the tremendous impact you've made in and on my life, remind myself that it's healthy to let myself get bumded out about it-the specifics, only tell you how swell you are once in a seven day window, never truthfully answer that question "who the fuck are you?" and consider renting a humungus blimp to let the whole world know about my super dooper new friend: kurt.

friendly reminder

2006-09-30T02:12:00.000-04:00

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

friend

5 entries found for friend.
To select an entry, click on it. Main Entry: ¹friend
Pronunciation: 'frend
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English frend, from Old English frEond; akin to Old High German friunt friend, Old English frEon to love, frEo free
1 a : one attached to another by affection or esteem b : ACQUAINTANCE
2 a : one that is not hostile b : one that is of the same nation, party, or group
3 : one that favors or promotes something (as a charity)
4 : a favored companion
5 capitalized : a member of a Christian sect that stresses Inner Light, rejects sacraments and an ordained ministry, and opposes war -- called also Quaker

hey, denisha!

2006-09-30T01:53:00.000-04:00

kaj & i have a few things to say and two to show...

first of all, in-case you didn't know your favorite now comes in an easy to opperate, spin up power dispenser. especially perfect for those days when a spray just will not do!
and...

there's two horses dj silver should be riding, sad to say we can only publicly show you one!

big huggs bitch! love ya!

a new, wonderful discovery

2006-09-30T00:19:00.000-04:00

as most of you already know, i recently was placed into a situation that forced me to seek out new employment. it took a few weeks but i landed a position at one of our local craft stores; no brainier, right? with just a few days under my belt, i met a woman named marilyn whom i took a liking to almost instantly. sometimes you know when you meet someone, there's something about it that just seemed like the right thing to happen.

with marilyn, it soon became obvious as to why. turns out, she's a remarkable jewelry maker, specializing in renaissance styled bracelets and such. as time passed i was privileged to see just a few of the many unique designs she's created. one item in particular was a ring/bracelet combination (her own design/creation) which blew me away. as a fellow artist i couldn't help but appreciate and admire the quality of her work and the attention to detail. she said she had spent many weekends, traveling to different craft shows and renaissance fairs showing and selling her designs.

without the slightest hesitation, i asked if i could help in any way, promoting her designs by offering my time and space through my ebay listings. it only took a few seconds for both of us to get excited about the possibilities! although we still have a few details to work out, i'm happy to say that within a week or two, the first group of designs from marilyn will be available on my ebay listings; stay tuned for further updates. i know that once you see them, you'll be as excited about them as i was...with the holiday season drawing near, finding a gift that is unique and original will soon be so easy!

coming soon

2006-09-25T22:38:00.000-04:00

sad to say, the size of the package is so important to far too many. while for others, the mere thought of giving is more than enough.

beneath both groups are the sub categories: the folks who make the list and those that don't. traditionally, we give gifts to friends, family, acquaintances and co-workers. for some odd reason, the not so nice folks only ever get "words" from us all year long; perhaps it's time for a change...

so considering all those nice & the not so worthy folks, i've decide to create & design a gift collection that covers just about everyone you might or won't consider this holiday season. soon, you'll have a wide variety of gifts to choose from (available to purchase on my ebay listings) like gift bags, simple items, mugs and a few other staples. you'll also have a few "not so nice" gift creations to choose from as well, like the retro "dinner for one", a perfect gift for any prick you may have encountered this year. a rotten gift is sometimes better served than tossing the "f" word loudly at them in the public library!

simply put, they will be somewhat uncommon, perhaps unusual and in all, very thought provoking.... stay tuned for more on the 2006 Holiday Gift Collection from New Mallery Place!

twas the season

2006-09-21T00:26:00.000-04:00

i guess,
in some respects,
this is one of my favorite times of the year. the time when the temperaure cools down, the sun slightly shines and the nights breeze starts it's chill.

it's also a time of year for me, over sleeping everyday and somehow knowing i'll have more time in the night.

we've spent most of the past months, warm and uncovered from the sun. now, we begin to bring small amounts of the pieces back that will soon hide so much of us; so much our selves.

imagine if we could take the "cold" out of cold...
a winter white without the freezing temperatures, we could be among the snow and all the glistening until the wee hours of the morning.

and with the seasonal changes. i start to set aside all the "up tempo" & "tribal rhythms" of the summer's cd stacks. almost as if i want to speedup the cool tingle of december, i now change the music direction to jazz. it's cool, crisp and with just a touch of "you better dim the lights and drop the blinds"...yeah, you know what i mean. the perfect audio pallet for the cool coulours that linger in the rich, black skies of winter.

tonight's first choice was the new chris botti, live with special guests. i doubled my scenses rewards with the dvd audio 5.1 tracks! kicked it out!

remember those thought/action bubbles in the old episodes that popped up over batman.... it's all that was missing from this live performance of chris botti's. had it been there, it would have read "BAM"! botti's assembled one of the best jazz bands ever, together on one stage, all at the same time. now you know, you've already got your moneys worth. but wait, it's a one, two punch. the second blow comes from the guest vocal line-up...christ, all midty i'm down from a sung tko!
paula cole, paul buchanan, jill scott (stay focused, there's more) renee olstead, sting and gladys knight. it final, complete, end of story, shut it down - you are done! the bumps and chills from reading this line up flipped over, once i heard em... the water ran like a raging river, destine to overtake and conquer, from my eyes almost the entire 1 hour 30 minute performances.

take the day off, call off or do what ever you do, just get it and roll in and out of it.

oh, did I forget to say "good morning heartache, you old gloomy side" and "if you plan on hangin' around and i mean all the way-around it, you best get a job cause this manz still got bills to pay!"

Vitamin may combat pain

2006-09-20T11:59:00.000-04:00

Vitamin may combat pain in multiple sclerosis

Ian Sample
Wednesday September 20, 2006
The Guardian

Vitamin B3 may protect people with multiple sclerosis from debilitating nerve damage, scientists report today.

Tests revealed that mice with an MS-like disease experienced less weakness and paralysis if they received regular injections of nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3.

Lead researcher Shinjiro Kaneko at Children's Hospital Boston, in Massachusetts, believes the chemical protects against progressive nerve damage, which can cause fatigue, pain and behavioural changes. He hopes the study, which appears in the Journal of Neuroscience, will initiate a clinical trial.

the day has arrived!

2006-09-19T01:27:00.000-04:00

battlestar galactica 2.5 on dvd today, 9-19-2006

Amazon.com Launches Video Download Service

2006-09-15T00:38:00.001-04:00

Perhaps anticipating Apple’s possible announcement of an iTunes movie download service next week, Amazon.com formally launched their Amazon Unbox digital video download offering. Unbox essentially allows consumers the ability to download to rent or own (depending upon the type of content) thousands of DVD-quality TV shows, movies and other types of video for viewing on a PC or Windows Media-compatible portable device. Over 30 studio and network partners from Hollywood and beyond are providing videos to Amazon Unbox, with a huge selection of mainstream content being available such as movies like V for Vendetta and Brokeback Mountain as well as episodes from TV shows like CSI and 24.

Unbox customers can purchase television series episodes for $1.99 per episode, purchase most movies for between $7.99 and $14.99, or rent the latest movies for $3.99.

With offerings from a wide array of major Hollywood players like 20th Century Fox and Sony Pictures as well as television networks like CBS and FOX, the Amazon Unbox service could prove to be the shot in the arm the digital download video market has been looking for. Primarily a niche choice for consumers up to this point, the entrance of one of the largest e-commerce players followed up next week perhaps by a rival service from the company behind the iPod could finally give broadband users around the world the excuse they’ve been looking for to legally download their favorite movies in mass.

Finally, she's let go

2006-09-14T13:46:00.000-04:00

Houston was, in my opinion, one of the last great artist to come from the "music industry" before it turned itself into a economical musical whore; birthing money makers and not developing talent, let alone promoting artists talents without endorsement appeal. she was talented, driven and embraced by america for a variety of reasons. over time the public opinion held by many has changed but inside this woman is a voice and a spirit that remains...i can only wait for her return and to hear her sing once again. you can think what you want, say what you say, but you can't deny the god given talent she posses and the power of this exceptional woman. -ron beck

Whitney Houston files for divorce

American pop star Whitney Houston has filed for divorce from singer Bobby Brown, after 14 years of marriage.

Houston, 43, has won six Grammy awards and scored a string of chart-toppers, including Saving All My Love For You. But her career has faded in recent years, amid stays in drug rehabilitation clinics. Ms Houston has a 13-year-old daughter with Brown, whose own singing career has been overshadowed by brushes with police over drugs and alcohol.

Her publicist Nancy Seltzer confirmed that she had filed for divorce, but refused to say where or when. She said the singer had no statement to make.

Houston followed her mother Cissy Houston and cousin Dionne Warwick by beginning her vocal career in gospel and was topping the charts by 1985. After a string of hits she pursued acting, appearing next to Kevin Costner in the hit film The Bodyguard. She has not released an album since 2002.

Ms Houston admitted on US TV network ABC in 2002 that she had abused drugs but had overcome her problems through prayer. She married Bobby Brown, 37, in 1992. Their daughter, Bobbi Kristina, was born the following year.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/entertainment/5344200.stm

an update from glinda

2006-08-25T03:14:00.000-04:00

there, there my anxious readers.... the complete interview with dear, sweet sally secret is coming. please, don't loose hope...if i said i would, you know i will!

the u.k.'s terry jones

2006-08-25T02:43:00.000-04:00

terry jones on george bus...

Those of us who support Armageddon have naturally been greatly cheered by way the US president has embraced our cause.

Those of us who have long been supporters of Armageddon have naturally been greatly cheered by way the president of the United States has been embracing our cause. Our desire to bring chaos, death and destruction to a greater swathe of humanity has, in the past, often been frustrated by peacemakers and do-gooders of all shades of the political spectrum.

For too long, our aspirations have been derided and criticised. In fact, to be blunt, for more than two millennia we have had to put up with opprobrium and vilification, but now all that will be a thing of the past, for in George Bush we have found an ally - indeed, we have found a leader. A man who is prepared to place himself at the head of the forces of destruction and misery, and who is unafraid of the opinion of the rest of the world.

George Bush has finally put Armageddon firmly on the political agenda, and it is likely to stay there for the foreseeable future.

This means that we Armageddonists need keep to the shadows no longer. Bush and his colleagues in the White House have given us credibility and respectability. They have made our goal their goal, and death, disease, war and famine are now the most likely fate for more people in the Middle East than we Armageddonists had ever dared to hope for.

What is also particularly gratifying - after this long wait - is that George could not have chosen a better spot on Earth for the "End of Things" to begin, nor a more appropriate agent than Israel to get the ball rolling.

After all "Armageddon" is a Hebrew word. It has come to signify "the end of times" or the arrival of catastrophic events, involving huge loss of life. In its origins, however, Har-Mageddon meant simply "the mountain of Megiddo" - Megiddo being a site in Israel close to the border with Lebanon.

It is certainly a place that has seen a lot of catastrophe in its time. Although there has not been a city at Megiddo for over 2,000 years, there are, nevertheless the remains of more than 20 different cities on the site, dating from 3,000 BC. That's an awful lot of human death and destruction.

So it's the perfect place for George to unleash the horsemen of the Apocalypse, and, as Armageddonists, we applaud him. The current assault on Lebanese civilians is sure to swell the ranks of would-be terrorists beyond even our wildest dreams, spreading the violence and mayhem not only throughout the Middle East but into the homelands of America and Britain.

As for the country of Lebanon itself, we Armageddonists predict that, like Iraq, it will sink into a morass of sectarian violence that will fill morgues of the future that have not yet been built. But more than that, we Armegeddonists confidently look forward to chaos and havoc quickly getting out of hand and beyond the control of those who started the conflict. It's all part of the fun.

So Armageddonists of the world! Let us unite in praise of George Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. Let us thank these men for bringing our dreams of violence and disorder to fruition.

Let us hope that whatever half-baked notions fill what passes for their minds, they will continue on this irreversible path to perdition from which the whole world recoils, but seems powerless to stop.

music 08-22-06

2006-08-22T03:39:00.000-04:00

At gun point, I would have to confess..."alfie" and "everything must change" are probably the two best written songs of all time. Through all my years of listening to music, these two songs to this day still get me every time I listen to them. Last year for shits and giggles I sought out as many tracks as I could find of artists who covered "alfie"; I think the final count was something like 19 different performers.

tonight, I also happened to stumble on a cover of "everything must change" recorded live by jazz great randy crawford. Not long after the first listen, I just sat here and played it over and over for some 40 minutes. Like Ella, Randy makes the song her own. Her rendition speaks for itself, experience it. Shazam, I hunting tracks from others as I write.... A few good mentions so far: oleta adams, james ingram).

on tonight's musical journey I also heard a new track from annie lennox "hush, hush, hush" who appears as a guest vocalist on a herbie hancock cd. Yes, another cover but as only she could craft. I'm still counting the nights without a new full length lennox project to drift away with...

till next time...