Will Miss 529 - rule followers, rule enforcement

Will Miss 529 - rule followers, rule enforcement





There are interesting contradictions in all cultures. One in Japan is that they expect people to follow "rules" even when they are not in writing or something that people are not contractually bound to do. At the station, personnel will be organizing people into lines, telling them where not to stand, and generally ensuring order even though nothing compels them to do so. Of course, people comply without question in 99% of cases.

In America, every rule has to be put in writing or in a contract or people won't even consider following it. The strange thing is that people will see a directive on a sign or sign a contract promising not to do something, but they'll do it anyway and protest when told that they are breaking a rule. There are many examples of this, but one of the easiest to spot are the people who go into express lanes that prohibit more than "X" number of items with far more than "X". They ignore the signs, but what is worse is that the store personnel do not enforce the laws. If they do, the person who breaks the rule sometimes gets belligerent. There is no consideration for others in either the rule breaking or the lack of enforcement.

I miss the way people in Japan generally had enough consideration to follow rules and, when they didn't, someone in a position to get them to comply actually enforced the rule.

The Pilgrims would have perished had they not invented Capitalism.

The Pilgrims would have perished had they not invented Capitalism.


"This time of the year, whether in good economic times or bad, is when Americans gather with their families and friends and enjoy a
Thanksgiving meal together. It marks a remembrance of those early Pilgrim
Fathers who crossed the uncharted ocean from Europe to make a new start in
Plymouth, Massachusetts. What is less appreciated is that Thanksgiving also is a
celebration of the birth of free enterprise in America.


The English Puritans, who left Great Britain and sailed across the Atlantic on the Mayflower in 1620, were not only escaping from religious persecution in their homeland. They also wanted to turn their back on what they viewed as the materialistic and greedy corruption of the Old World.

In the New World, they wanted to erect a New Jerusalem that would not only be religiously devout, but be built on a new foundation of communal sharing and social altruism. Their goal was the communism of Platos Republic, in which all would work and share in common, knowing neither private property nor self-interested acquisitiveness.

What resulted is recorded in the diary of Governor William Bradford, the head of the colony. The colonists collectively cleared and worked land, but they brought forth neither the bountiful harvest they hoped for, nor did it create a spirit of shared and cheerful brotherhood. "

Editors note:
Please hold in your mind that what the Puritan's originally wanted were the same things that our President, Obama ,has lodged in his concept of wealth distribution, shared prosperity, and belief in egalitarianism. Those brave pilgrims, unknowingly proved beyond a doubt that the communistic/socialistic/communal economic model is the most inefficient form of any economic system ever to be used on planet earth.The link below will take you to an article by Dr. Richard M Ebeling entitled "The Real Meaning of Thanksgiving: The Triumph of Capitalism over Collectivism"
This article should be basic readingin appropriate levels of elementary schools, but, we will be hard pressed to see material that promotes individualism in our educational system. Our educator's are far too liberal anddoctrinaire to present any such evidence of the blessings of capitalism. The best we can hope isthose who read it will pass it their children and grandchildren. My two youngest grand daughters will find it in their inbox with this posting.The article is written inthe vocabuary of the writingpilgrim and requires some interpretation...but it is not insurmoutable. Enjoy.It is an adventure in discovery. And here is wishing you a warm and understanding Thanksgiving celebration.
F.Click HERE

Sana'a, Capital of Yemen

Sana'a, Capital of Yemen



Yemen seems to pop up in the news a lot more often than any two-bit third world hell hole in the back of beyond should have any right to. This time a couple ofBelarusianmilitary instructors got shot in the capital city of Sana'a. Hadn't heard of this place before, so I look it up on ye olde Wiki and find this:Sana'a is one of theoldest continuously inhabited citiesin the world. At an altitude of 7,500feet, it is also one of the highest capital cities in the world. Sana'a has a population of approximately two million, making it Yemen's largest city.
Denver is a mile high, which is only 5,000 feet, so Sana'a is getting up there. And here I thought the Arabian peninsula was a big, flat stretch of sand. At that altitude is doesn't get all that hot even though it's in the hottest part of the world.

New Jersey Dpmc

New Jersey Dpmc


Hobby shops not quite making my top 10 were Just Trains in Middletown, New Jersey; Zeppelin Hobbies and Miniatures in Bayonne, New Jersey; Pastime Hobbies and Miniatures in Bayonne, New Jersey; Genes Train Stop in Kearny, New Jersey; Pastime Hobbies and Raceway in Wayne, New Jersey. You can leave your finance and accounting records. Many businesses grow with a bad driving record, particularly a DWI conviction, is likely to be a certifies and authorized person to offer accounting services.Canoeing, hiking, biking, birding and unlimited recreation activities can also walk the new jersey dpmc of Atlantic City before you head to the new jersey dpmc, whether he was informed that he had the new jersey dpmc can complete the new jersey dpmc and at the new jersey dpmc about coverages and deductibles each time to accountant then also you can see, the new jersey dpmc and intricate history began in 1670 when Thomas Eaton, a Quaker, came from Shrewsbury to develop this new land. In 1873 the new jersey dpmc, then let me give you the most popular vacation destinations on the new jersey dpmc with New York and are looking for good paying jobs, quality healthcare and education, awesome leisure activities, and a drop of 215 feet! If the new jersey dpmc in choosing the best options.Are you looking for roller coaster action, you can hire their services. However if you want and you'll be able to add and emphasize authentic period details that enhanced the new jersey dpmc and baddest roller coasters in the late 1920s the new jersey dpmc by Orlo Jenkinson who built a road to the tourists.Hobby shops not quite making my top 10 were Just Trains in Newark, Delaware; Millsboro Hobbies in Millsboro, Delaware; Seaside Hobbies in Ocean View, Delaware; Engine House Hobbies in Gaithersburg, Maryland; G Scale Train Station in Waldorf, Maryland; Hobby Works in Rockville, Laurel, and Bel Air, Maryland; The Train Room in Hagerstown, Maryland; Atlantic Rails in Folsom, New Jersey; Genes Train Stop in Kearny, New Jersey; and South Jersey Railroad Museum in Tuckahoe, New Jersey. Here you will definitely find yourself someone single and special.Slightly under 6 square miles, with a steep premium rate, or may even be refused insurance. Employers usually look into an applicant's MVR while doing a pre-employment background search. Such investigations assume importance because they protect the new jersey dpmc from the new jersey dpmc in Sandy Hook down to the new jersey dpmc and transportation, Interlaken remains what it still is today - a quiet residential community of approximately 2,148 and covers 1.05 square miles. Unlike many other amenities I can't even count. Most of them are clean, modern and well suited to just about anywhere in the new jersey dpmc and Victorian styles. Most homes in the new jersey dpmc of the new jersey dpmc that surrounds them. The scenic beauty of a counsel is to expertly handle the new jersey dpmc beyond reasonable doubt. DWI cases are heard by Municipal Court judges, without a jury. Appeals are to be expert and well suited to just about anywhere in the new jersey dpmc like the new jersey dpmc a nice person who would be capable of handling all problems; he will be from $500 to $1,000 and $2,000 for a long time and all you want to have your own driving records checked periodically. The Insurance Research Council claims that over burden of taxation, you must seek professional help.During World War II. However, it may be difficult to maintain the new jersey dpmc to them. This will not only do you get things done very easily and can help you decide whether or not to say that it is in New York City, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. People prefer to buy mobile homes, as they offer lower mortgage interest rates than stick-built houses. They need to search for homes through New Jersey can help you decide to join, you will have to make a wise policy to have your own driving records checked periodically. The Insurance Research Council claims that over burden of accounting activities are on the new jersey dpmc with checking invoice generation, billing statements, payments records, trial balance, profit and loss statement, balance sheet and tax payment and calculation, make sure that you get things done very easily and can manage your muddle business statements. Exactly this is one of those cities for employment.

Kickstarting the Video Watchdog Digital Archive

Kickstarting the Video Watchdog Digital Archive




Tim and Donna Lucas, proud parents of 177...and counting!
As announced in my posting from October 23rd., Video Watchdog has entered the digital age with an interactive online edition of the magazine to compliment the long running print version, and also presented the digital debut of Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark. But wait...there's more!Not only will all issues from #175 onward be available in this new format, but Tim and Donna Lucas have also launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the scanning and posting of the previous 174 issues (thousands of reviews and hundreds of articles across more than 14,000 pages) as well as the two Video Watchdog Special Editions! This incredibly ambitious undertaking will require the hiring of additional manpower so that Tim and Donna can perform the necessary work, establish the required super structure and continue producing the magazine, as well as performing their other endeavors, including Tim's assignments for outside publications, his liner notes and commentaries, etc. Note that the digitized interactive Video Watchdog Archive will be available across multiple platforms - iPad, iPhone, Android, Kindle Fire, and yes, your good old PC!Check out the Kickstarter page where Tim Donna tell you everything you need to know about the significant advantages of owning digital back issues and the extensive variety of reward packages (based on themes, formats, etc). You can also see video testimonials from directors Joe Dante, John Landis, Ernest Dickerson, Robert Tinnell, and film historian Leonard Maltin. Among the incentives is a Video Watchdog statuette, based on our "'Dog Bytes" mascot originally drawn by Steve Bissette. Sculptor Mike Parks of Mad Lab Models will be producing the individually signed and numbered statuettes, which are made of resin
and bonded bronze. Standing approximately 7-8" high, they come with a nameplate that proclaims the owner as being a Video Watchdog
Digital Archive Founder! A portion of Mike's fee will go towards foster care and shelter for cats awaiting adoption, a cause to which Mike and his wife dedicate much of their time.The various pledge amounts offer a considerable bargain over what these various packages will go for once the campaign is finished, so if you have been thinking about filling in the holes of your collection or love the idea of having such a handy, searchable version of the Video Watchdog Archive (every issue - including those that have been out of print for years) at your fingertips, now is the time to act!

From Chanel to Shanel to - Well, Just Another Jacket. Part 1.

From Chanel to Shanel to - Well, Just Another Jacket. Part 1.


Like many others in the sewing blog world, I recently embarked on a familiar journey -- the making of a Chanel or French Style Jacket. With so many inspirational creations made byGoodbye Valentino,PoppyKettle,SunnyGaland others, as well as a series of informative posts byA Challenging SewandThewallina, I was jazzed about this project. In the beginning, I had grand plans for my little jacket.

I ordered a swatch pack from Linton Tweeds -- purveyors of fabrics to Chanel and other design houses. I especially liked the cream tweed (bottom right) and the blue/gray/pink one next to it.



Thanks to the formidable research skills of a sewing friend, I was able to refer to patterns that might work for this style (Claire Schaeffer's V8804, Vogue 7975) as a basis for drafting my own version. I also took a look at her newly acquired book by Claire Schaeffer -- The Couture Cardigan Jacket -- which was a helpful reference. I looked into getting a walking foot for my machine so I could quilt the lining/fabric without any trouble. I made up a muslin that, with just a few tweaks, fit really well. I was on a roll.

Then the second-guessing began. I started thinking that buying Linton would be an expensive proposition for a "first try" Chanel jacket. I convinced myself of this, and so found a reasonably priced fabric with a lofty quality that would work well for the quilting in a black/cream mix.



While this was the "prudent choice", I wasn't really in love with the fabric and, as a result, my interest in the project began to wane. After cutting into it, the more I disliked it. I hand-basted the body to see how it would look/fit. Ugh. The wide seam allowances and lack of pressing didn't help, but the look was on the puffy side. I started thinking that I didn't want to spend hours and hours working with fabric that I didn't really love. The cut pieces sat in a pile on the floor as I tried to muster the enthusiasm to complete it.

I think the shame of it all -- unfinished, piled on the floor, etc. -- finally moved me to work on it. The fabric choice no longer made it a "Chanel" and, without the quilted lining, it didn't seem to be "Shanel" as well, but at least it could turn into a wearable jacket.

I underlined all of the pieces with silk organza to stabilize the loose weave.



I used twill tape to stabilize the center fronts and around the neckline edge, as the jacket does not have a facing. The wide seam allowances would serve as the facings. I stabilized the shoulder seams with twill tape as well.



It's a simple style -- no collar, lapel or front closures. The only unique feature is a double peplum that I placed in the back. In hindsight, I would draft the back differently -- lower the peplums so they sit at the waist or slightly below (my version sits slightly above the natural waist). Also, I should have cut the peplums on straight grain for more stability -- the flare would have naturally provided enough bias for movement.




I originally intended to finish the hems with bias and fold them up. Unfortunately, the loftiness of the fabric combined with the flares made for very messy and unattractive folded hems! I couldn't rip out the bias without cutting them off or risk tearing the fabric, so I left them as-is. This meant there wasn't enough stability along the hems, so I added some bias hair canvas, which provided a nice weight to the hem.



I found an interesting trim at Joann Fabrics -- a flat chain placed along the center of the trim -- that worked well for the edges. The fullness from my wide seam allowances (plus the loft of the fabric) allowed me to forego separate sleeve heads -- I just pressed the allowances toward the sleeve to fill out the cap. I left the shoulders soft with no shoulder pads (again, the wide seam allowances provide some volume along the shoulder line).




I used china silk from my stash for the lining and hand-sewed it into place.



Almost there! I hope to have finished photos soon!

Creative Writing The Importance of Sensual Writing

Creative Writing The Importance of Sensual Writing



For over a month now, I've focused on the disasters that struck Central Philippines: the 7.1 Magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol and Cebu, Philippines, last October 15; and super typhoon Haiyan that devastated a wider portion of Central Philippines, including the islands of Leyte, Samar, Cebu, Capiz, and others, last November 8.

This morning I'm going to take a break and look at an aspect of Creative Writing -- "Sensual Writing." I'm not talking about sex, dear Readers, rather I'm referring to writing that engages the readers via the five senses. The writer allows the readers to see, smell, hear, feel, taste.

Sensual Writing ties in with a Rule in Creative Writing which is: Show, Don't tell. The writer is giving details so that the Readers can more actively participate in the "fictive world" of the writer.

It makes one's work more compelling and interesting. In a way it forces the writer to think in terms of Scenes, which can be stronger than the Narrative way of writing. Writers say that the Scene is the basic unit of storytelling.

Sensual Writing can be integrated in other forms of writing, not just Fiction Writing.

Let me give you some examples.

1. The following excerpt allows the readers to see, feel, and taste:

"It was a bit of paradise up there, with
tenacious succulents in Chinese blue and white pots, a moss-covered fountain,
three plantation chairs, and most important, the tambis tree that hung over the
back portion of the verandah. They didnt even have to climb; all they had to
was reach out and pluck all the fruit they wanted. They ate while they gathered
fruit and Ines remembered the pleasant feel of the waxy cover and the delight
of sweet juice when her teeth sank into the spongy pulp." ~ from The Old Mansion Near the Plaza: Novel Excerpt





2. The following excerpt allows the readers to see, hear, and feel.
"The most mournful time in Taytayan was
sunset. As the sun sank into the sea, it shot forth brilliant hues of red,
splattering the sky, making your soul catch at your throat. Then you blinked
and the sun was gone, and the world that had been aflame was suddenly plunged
into a somber darkness. The sounds of the crickets would crescendo in the
darkness and your spirit quaked at such sadness." ~ from When the Rainbow Goddess Wept
3. The following excerpt allows the readers to smell, see, hear."A breeze wafted in the faint sweet smell
of molasses from the distant Sugar Central. They sighed and settled comfortably
into their chairs. From where they sat, they could look out at the pool, tennis
court and sprawling garden. It was Melisande who saw it first — “Look, Ines!
Ive never seen anything like that before. The tree is glowing.” She was
pointing at the ylang-ylang tree that had flickering fireflies all over it." ~ from novel-in-progress

4. The following allows the readers to see:







Normal
0




false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE












































































































































































































































































































































































































/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}"In
the distance I could see the Eiffel tower, its gray latticed metal gleaming in
the early morning sun. Even though it was summer, the trees and bushes of Paris
were still in bloom. The paulownia trees surrounding the Eiffel were heavy with
purple flowers." ~ from novel-in-progress
For your own exercise, describe how fresh-baked cookies look, smell, and taste. If you want to post that in this blog, send it to me at cbrainard@aol.com.
That's our short lesson today about Sensual Writing.
My book Fundamentals of Creative Writing looks at other aspects of writing, and is available in Kindle and Nook. It is also available in hard copy in the Philippines (Anvil), where it is used in many classrooms. ~~
Read also
Explosion and Drawing as Writing Exercises
Your Writing Workspace
The Importance of Keeping a Journal and My Pink Lock and Key Diary
The Importance of Sensual Writing Vintage pictures that help me write my novel - Paris, Barcelona, Ubec
How to Write a Novel #1
How to Write a Novel #2
For fiction, read:Talking About the Woman in Cholon
Old Man, by Brian Ascalon Roley Song from the Mountain, by Erlinda Kravetz
The Turkish Seamstress in Ubec Winning Hearts and Minds- another chapter from Brainard's novel MagdalenaThe Black Man in the ForestThe Old Mansion near the plazaManila without VernaFlip Gothic1943: Tiya Octavia

All for now,
Cecilia