The White House Parties Like it's 1999...

I loved this headline so much I stole it from Pam's House Blend. The lesbian and gay community has reason to be at least a little disspointed with our new president. Yes, he's had a full plate, but some of the things he could have done immediately wouldn't take much more than the stoke of a pen. And there's always that bully pulpit!

Here is what waymonhudson posted at Pam's House Blend:

Yesterday, President Obama hosted a "celebration of Stonewall" at the White House, the first of its kind. While it may have been the first time a President spoke on LGBT rights in the White house for 20 minutes, I couldn't help but be surprised by the reaction of the cheering crowd and by people online.

The speech wasn't anything really different from his campaign promises: repeal DADT and DOMA (legislatively), we need respect for each other, we're all equal, etc. It was more words with very little action to back it up.

Yet part of me was moved by the President speaking these words from the White House, acknowledging us and our struggles. That's when I realized this reaction was part of what has given cover to our political leaders for years now, allowing them to lag behind the general public in regards to our rights and equality.

There was time when that speech might have been enough, but that time was years ago- before out elected officials, marriage equality in some states, employment protections from top companies, and a general trend towards inclusion.

It was a speech for 1999, not 2009.

In fairness, there are usually always at least two sides to every story. For another perspective on the day read: Welcome to Your White House, by Cathy Renna posted on The Bilerico Project Facebook page.

The title of this post is one of the first things President Obama said yesterday at the Stonewall commemoration at the White House yesterday. Were there cocktails? Yes. But this was not a typical cocktail party. Were there many "A-listers?" Yes. But this event should not be easily dismissed as an "A-list gay event."

In the past few weeks, there has been a firestorm of debate and discussion about how we move our community forward under the current leadership. I have personally been very vocal about how our impatience should be a motivator, something to be channeled in a smart, assertive and effective manner.

Yesterday was another opportunity to do that the best way I could, so I did. Want to get past the sounds bites and headlines, as well as what I think is the less productive intra-community attacking that is happening? [...]

I had the singular honor or working with some of the White House staff to secure some Stonewall veterans for this event. Through our firm's work with SAGE and other groups and individuals, we have spent the past few months doing a lot of work related to the 40th anniversary. We were fortunate and thrilled to have two real Stonewall veterans step forward and attend - Jerry Hoose and Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt.

They are decidedly not A-listers, but got treated better than the A-listers and with tremendous respect by all.

Their contributions were recognized by the President - along with others like Dr. Frank Kameny, who was also present.

Leah and I were even asked to take them back to meet with the President and First Lady prior to the speech.

It was, in the words of Jerry (pictured with me on the left), "one of the most exciting things I have ever done in my life."

For someone who helped get this pioneer and still involved activist - who by the way got into the White House using his government-issued Food Stamp ID - it meant a lot to us to be part of helping make that happen.

Bernard Madoff Gets Maximum Sentence

Mega-swindler Bernie Madoff will have 150 years to think about his crime, as U.S. District Judge Denny Chin issued the maximum sentence to the 71-year-old defendant.

Historic swindler Bernard Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison Monday for a fraud so extensive that the judge said he needed to send a symbolic message to potential imitators and to victims who demanded harsh punishment.

Scattered applause and whoops broke out in the crowded Manhattan courtroom after U.S. District Judge Denny Chin issued the maximum sentence to the 71-year-old defendant, who said he lives "in a tormented state now, knowing all the pain and suffering I've created."

Chin rejected a request by Madoff's lawyer for leniency and said he disagreed that victims of the fraud were seeking mob vengeance.

"Here the message must be sent that Mr. Madoff's crimes were extraordinarily evil and that this kind of manipulation of the system is not just a bloodless crime that takes place on paper, but one instead that takes a staggering toll," Chin said.

The judge said the estimate that Madoff has cost his victims more than $13 billion was conservative because it did not include money from feeder funds.

"Objectively speaking, the fraud here was staggering," he said.

Finally there is some justice for those who have suffered due to Madoff's actions.

"Life has been a living hell. It feels like the nightmare we can't wake from," said Carla Hirshhorn.

"He stole from the rich. He stole from the poor. He stole from the in between. He had no values," said Tom Fitzmaurice. "He cheated his victims out of their money so he and his wife Ruth could live a life of luxury beyond belief."

Dominic Ambrosino called it an "indescribably heinous crime" and urged a long prison sentence so "will know he is imprisoned in much the same way he imprisoned us and others."

He added: "In a sense, I would like somebody in the court today to tell me how long is my sentence."

I truly hope others who might have been tempted to follow in Madoff's greedy footsteps will now think again. What he did was unconscionable, and it's only fitting that he live the rest of his life in prison.

Relatório de campo

Acabei de vir do lançamento em Lisboa.

Mais uma vez provei que fiz bem em enveredar pela escrita já que nas artes de palco não teria qualquer futuro.

Felizmente a plateia foi generosa o suficiente para não apontar as minhas óbvias falhas no ramo da comunicação.

Agora passando a temas mais importante, sei que este último posts têm sido mais cartazes publicitário que outra coisa mas não se preocupem, a partir do próximo voltamos aos temas habituais.

Sunday Funnies

Get a Bigger Gun

Makyla, age 7 months, is ready for the 4th of July. Here she's hanging out on Father's Day weekend. Doesn't care about cellulite. She's in charge of her float. Life is beautiful in 2009.

Whew! Over 100 degrees today - one week before July 4th weekend. Getting psyched for a 3 day weekend - some burgers, hot dogs. Gotta think about those old dudes in their stuffy clothes and powdered wigs - stuck at Independence Hall in Philly - a sweltering July (believe me, it can be humid and stuffy) - contemplating our freedom. Creating magnificent, eloquent words that will enthrall us forever. Read the Declaration of Independence..........

Summer in Texas means crape myrtles in full bloom. Gorgeous until they blow off the tree and into the pool. Then Ray curses nature because it kinda upsets his chemical balance. However, it does offer an Esther Williams moment - swimming up through a garden of blooms. Aaahhh - summertime.

Stars and stripes. Couldn't resist this little dish towel from Crate 'N Barrel. Yep, helped the economy today - movie, lunch, shopping. Vibrant colors. Bold design. Hooray for America - red, white, and blue.

Oh yeah..........definitely ready for the 4th of July. No little water pistol will do. This calls for the big gun. The monster water gun. This baby is dedicated to Ray's grandparents - they are gone but not forgotten. Here's to a memorable 4th. More to come! (Joanne goes crazy at the fireworks stand in Justin. Sparklers, gotta love the sparklers).

J

Supreme Court Says Strip Searching Teen Illegal

The tragic deaths of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson have eclipsed what might have otherwise been a very big story -- a US Supreme Court decision that strip searching a teen is illegal. THANK GOODNESS!

The Supreme Court said Thursday school officials acted illegally when they strip-searched an Arizona teenage girl looking for prescription-strength ibuprofen.

In an 8-1 ruling, the justices said that school officials violated the Fourth Amendment ban on unreasonable searches when they ordered Savana Redding to remove her clothes and shake out her underwear.

Redding was 13 when Safford Middle School officials in rural eastern Arizona conducted the search. They were looking for pills — the equivalent of two Advils. The district bans prescription and over-the-counter drugs and the school was acting on a tip from another student.

The school's search of Redding's backpack and outer clothes was permissible, the court said. But the justices said that officials went too far when they asked to search her underwear. [...]

"What was missing from the suspected facts that pointed to Savana was any indication of danger to the students from the power of the drugs or their quantity, and any reason to suppose that Savana was carrying pills in her underwear," Justice David Souter wrote in the majority opinion. "We think that the combination of these deficiencies was fatal to finding the search reasonable."

Justice Souter's opinion is what a reasonable person would assume -- and then there is Clarence Thomas.

I have a wicked vision that I simply can't get out of my mind, that of Justice Thomas reading the case in hand, with his other hand firmly planted under his robe. He is such a jack-ass.

In a dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas found the search legal and said the court previously had given school officials "considerable leeway" under the Fourth Amendment in school settings.

Officials had searched the girl's backpack and found nothing, Thomas said. "It was eminently reasonable to conclude the backpack was empty because Redding was secreting the pills in a place she thought no one would look," Thomas said.

No one except Clarence Thomas, the jerk.

In Memoriam - Michael Jackson

Now I really am feeling old. Losing Farrah Fawcett was expected, given her known health condition, but losing Michael Jackson is just surreal.

Michael Jackson, a fellow Hoosier, grew up in Gary, Indiana, and from there went on to become the King of Pop. There was no one better on the stage than Michael in his prime. Even dance great Fred Astaire admired Michael: “Oh, God! That boy moves in a very exceptional way. That’s the greatest dancer of the century.”

Michael Jackson, the sensationally gifted child star who rose to become the "King of Pop" and the biggest celebrity in the world only to fall from his throne in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. He was 50. [...]

The circumstances of his death were not immediately clear. Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 p.m., Capt. Steve Ruda told the Los Angeles Times. The paramedics performed CPR and took him to UCLA Medical Center, Ruda told the newspaper.

Jackson's death brought a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music's premier all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage.

His 1982 album "Thriller" — which included the blockbuster hits "Beat It," "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" — remains the biggest-selling album of all time, with more than 26 million copies.

Michael Jackson was talented, troubled, eccentric, and generous. He was preparing for what was to be his greatest comeback. I know this ... it would have been a Thriller.

Rest in peace Michael.



Michael Jackson at 50: His Four-Decade Career in Photos

In Memoriam - Farrah Fawcett

Farrah Fawcett, best known as one of "Charlie's Angles" has died at 62. Fawcett had waged a courageous battle against cancer.

"Farrah had courage, she had strength, and she had faith. And now she has peace as she rests with the real angels," Jaclyn Smith said.

Farrah burst on the scene in 1976 as one of three "Charlie's Angles" -- Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson were the other two. A poster of her in a swimsuit sold millions. Even I had one. And her hair style was emulated by women and girls all across the country. Farrah left the show after one season to pursue a film career, but never quite made the transition to the big screen.

She did, however, receive praise for her television film "The Burning Bed" -- where she portrayed an abused wife.

She had been diagnosed with cancer in 2006. As she underwent treatment, she enlisted the help of O'Neal, who was the father of her now 24-year-old son, Redmond.

This month, O'Neal said he asked Fawcett to marry him and she agreed. They would wed "as soon as she can say yes," he said.

Her struggle with painful treatments and dispiriting setbacks was recorded in the television documentary "Farrah's Story." Fawcett sought cures in Germany as well as the United States, battling the disease with iron determination even as her body weakened.

"Her big message to people is don't give up, no matter what they say to you, keep fighting," her friend Stewart said. NBC estimated the May 15, 2009, broadcast drew nearly 9 million viewers.

Rest in peace Farrah, and sincere condolences to your family and friends.

A Geyser of Writing Dreams

Here's a flash back to summer 2006. Old Faithful. Amazing, fantastic, awe inspiring. Notice the lovely blue sky and cool clouds in the picture. This was back when Ray had a crappy annoying job, but tons of vacation time. There's a tradeoff, I guess. You pay to play somehow, some way. Thus we enjoyed a two week road trip.

6/25/09 Orange Air Alert - Avoid Outdoor Activity. Hooray - a blessing to sit inside and read and write. Unfortunately chores must still be completed. Hence.......

I mowed the lawn today before it hit 100 degrees. It rained last night - one hour, one inch of torrential downpour complete with thunder and lightening. Thus my plan to mow early was blown and I waited for less soggy grass this morning. But I also wanted to beat the heat - now that's tricky. By the time I finished the front, I was soaking wet before jumping into the pool. Aahh, but that cut my temperature and delirium.

My leap into the pool did not quite create a geyser. And the sky above is a tainted blue/gray nasty haze. But the job got finished and I worked on a Chicken Soup story, a poem inspired by the local 7-11 parking lot, and a critique for a friend. It might be time to head back out to the pool for a lazy dip and a good read. (current choice: The Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England by Brock Clarke - quirky and fun so far)

Time to flash forward and live in the moment and then perhaps write to rekindle travel memories.

Joanne

A few thoughts

The NOW conference has ended, delegates elected a new slate of officers, and now the healing begins. That might seem like an odd thing to say considering NOW is a feminist organization, but sometimes organizations don't always practice what they preach.

There were at least two people at the conference who bring a unique perspective to "the morning after" -- and I'm one of them. Twenty-one years ago when I joined NOW I was part of the "majority caucus." Caucus members were national officers, regional board members, and state and chapter presidents in many states. In other words, we were the power structure.

I remember seeing people at a national conference literally brought to tears because they dared to challenge the powers structure. Being part of that structure, I couldn't truly understand why they were so upset. Slowly I learned.

There is a culture in NOW that says 'if you are not with me, then you are my enemy -- and I can't just defeat you, I must destroy you.' That destruction often includes the persons very lively hood.

There are people today who have for decades now been "insiders" who now are feeling a little lost. As an organization one thing I think we have not taught our members is how to graciously accept defeat and move on. Hell, some have not learned how to graciously accept victory!

One reason I think there might be hope for change is that some of the members of the newly elected leadership have now been on both sides.

Once you've been an outsider it's easier to understand what your opponents are feeling. And hopefully, with the wounds of being an outsider still so fresh maybe it will make them less inclined to want to inflict that pain on others. I'm beginning to see that already.

To any of my NOW friends who might be reading this I just want to say: "There were no good people and bad people in this election -- there were simply people who on any given day can fall into either one of those camps." I know this because I have personally been the target of some very bad behavior from both sides.

My response has been to continue staying involved, to try and change the culture.

I hope the anger that some are feeling will begin to subside, and they, too, will work with me to change the culture within NOW. There is still far too much work to do to expend any time trying to destroy each other.

Crónicas Obscuras - A vingança do lobo

Crónicas Obscuras - A vingança do lobo é um livro de Vitor Frazão (eu sei é esquisito falarmos de nós próprios na 3ª pessoa, além de ser um prova de retardamento social, mas enfim…) publicado pela Chiado Editora.

"Mas esse gajo não sabe escrever!" Dirão alguns. Okay, nada contra.

Porém, vejam a bela capa do livro e depois não poderão dizer que não houve algum talento envolvido nesta obra.

Apreciem o belo trabalho de Rui Gaiola. O homem tem ou não tem jeito?

Temos lançamento!!

Finalmente, após uma longa espera (pelo menos para mim) Crónicas Obscuras - A vingança do lobo vai estar disponível ao público!

O lançamento será no próximo Domingo, dia 28 de Junho, pelas 17h30, no Bar Fox Trot (Travessa de Santa Teresa nº28, Lisboa).

Como é óbvio estão todos convidados!

PS: tragam as carteiras (diz o escritor sem conseguir suprimir a veia de mercenário).

grand finale of support the arts and suggested reads

Abigail is five and shall be starting kindergarten in the fall. Right now she loves to be read to - any Dr.Seuss, any counting book, anything. The sheer joy of attention, pictures, and words - she's absorbing it all and I truly hope to continue to influence her amidst the hubbub of television, computer stuff, phone applications, and God knows what else is ahead in the technology world. Sometimes it feels like a losing battle, but when she comes to our house - books are entertainment. (and swimming!!!)

Jump or dive into the pool of knowledge! Gotta love summer, Father's Day, and pool time. These boys are extended family and total cuties. Cade, Zach, and Zeke. I asked them what they were doing for the summer ( okay, the young one doesn't really talk) and the 7 and 6 year old mentionned Wii, Computer Games, etc. I asked about books and reading............oooooops.

So, I've been talking about suggested reading lists from schools or even required reading lists. Bah humbug. How about just reading????? I grew up in a family of literature - books, magazines, comics, and weekly trips to the library. Nerdish - hell, yeah, but that's what we did. However, my late mother was a bit avant garde -she was a believer in free choice. She allowed MAD magazine, comic books,etc. She believed in reading..........and she knew we'd explore other material. I encouraged Kevin as a teen (he's now 27) to pursue SIM City on the computer - he bought and devoured a book on the game - words, the keys to the kingdom. I didn't care - I was happy that he read something!

That's the key. Whether it's Harry Potter, Twilight series, or Dickens, Austen, and Poe. Try to steer kids/folks to read. It shouldn't be a chore. It should be sheer joy, absolute escape, and magnificent freedom.

Selfishly, I want everybody to someday buy my book. Thus they need to get in the habit of reading.

Cheers!

Joanne

Third blogiversary!

My photo of a Screaming Piha which will be used in Spiny Software's newest birding application for iPhone -- and for which I was paid twenty whole dollars!

Am I now a professional photographer?

So today is the third blogiversary for this little bird bloggy, which started as a way to document my fledgling efforts (heh heh) at learning about birds. It seems like a million years ago now, as my life was dramatically different then: I was living in the Marsh House with Kat, working with a Peterson's guide published in the 1930s (which I got for a quarter at a book sale!), trying to build my own spotting scope, and trying to figure out what the heck a "meme" was. Ah, the memories!
Back then, my first lifelist had 44 species on it -- including a few mistakes -- calling a house finch a purple finch, etc. Silly me. I also counted the great horned owl my dad brought home -- the owl that chased me around the backyard. I don't count that one now, as he was captive.

I also named what I thought were the top ten most beautiful US birds -- it was, looking back at it now, kind of a silly list! Here it is:
1. Cardinal
2. Indigo bunting
3. Dark-eyed junco (incredibly cute)
4. Red-tailed hawk
5. Mallard (male--sorry, female)
6. Snowy egret
7. Barn owl (love that face)
8. Bluebird
9. Rose-breasted grosbeak
10. Ruby-throated hummingbird

I gotta say that my choices today would be quite different. Here they are, in no particular order (except for the Blackburnian--it's my favorite):
Blackburnian Warbler
Painted Bunting
Eastern Bluebird
Hooded Warbler
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Varied Thrush
Tree Swallow
Indigo Bunting

I know that's only eight birds -- but I wanted to just list the ones that came into my mind without looking at a list.

So -- three years into it, and I have over 200 (barely) birds on my lifelist. I have a decent spotting scope and my Leupold binocs that I bought at a flea market for $30 bucks (but which are worth quite a bit more, it turns out). I have a decent point-and-shoot digital camera, and I've taken some photos that I'm pretty proud of. I've made a lot of great friends, both online and in person. All in all, this whole birding thing has been one of the best things in my life, even when the rest of my life sucked.

Soon I'll be beginning to bird all over again -- a new place, a new field guide, and a new life. It's gonna take me at least another three years to document that process. I hope you'll stick around for it.

Thanks for the memories!

Iniciados

Embora, inicialmente, os Obliteradores fossem um grupo muito homogéneo, por uma questão de sobrevivência, foram feitas alterações. A criação dos Iniciados foi uma dessas mudanças.

Tradicionalmente os Obliteradores iam buscar novos membros dentro das suas próprias fileiras. Filhos de Obliteradores ou crianças adoptadas em tenra idade eram, desde muito cedo, educadas para um único propósito: encontrar e matar Ocultos.

Porém, os tempos mudaram e com eles vieram os Iniciados, adultos que são recrutados pelos Obliteradores.

Todos eles têm histórias semelhantes (como devem imaginar a organização não se limita a colocar um anúncio nos classificados), em algum ponto das suas vidas depararam-se com Ocultos e sobreviveram ou foram salvos por Obliteradores, tendo aceite juntarem-se às suas hostes dos últimos.

Sunday Funnies

Randall Turner

Um jovem detective de homicídios que acaba por se tornar uma espécie de parceiro não oficial de Benedict Carter. Um miúdo magricela, sempre engravatado, de cabelo preto à tigela, olhos azuis, nariz fino e um meio sorriso arrogante nos lábios.

Não é o género de pessoa de ter muitos amigos, uma vez que prefere gastar o seu tempo a manipular e a olhar todos com uma desconfiança que rasa a paranóia, saltando para conclusões precipitadas das quais não desiste facilmente. No entanto, até Carter, que o detesta,  vê-se obrigado a admitir que Randall é inteligente.

Infelizmente, parece mais interessado em canalizar toda essa inteligência para subir na carreira do que para resolver correctamente os casos em que é colocado.

support the arts, convoluted tales part 2

Upcoming free author talks, sponsored by the Star-Telegram and other local underwriting trusts, need to be attended. Support the arts - events at the Bass, Jubilee Theater, Circle Theater, etc will broaden your views, offer new perspectives, and generally give you a laugh. Here's new dates for authors - 10/7/09 Garrison Keillor at Bass Hall. 11/23/09 - Clive Kussler at Bass Hall. Send a SASE to Star-Telegram, Author events PO Box 1870 Fort Worth TX 76101 and be sure to list the author you are interested in seeing. These are FREE!

I'm still thinking about Jeffery Deaver's chat at Casa Manana. Engaging and forthcoming, he encouraged new writers to analyze books in their genre. If you intend to write a thriller, then take Deaver's latest Roadside Crosses and outline it. Think about his pacing, his characters, his clues, the logic, and the organization of his book. He might take eight months to outline and create the book, before he even writes the thing. Perspiration and preparation. He says he writes for us - the readers and that gives him enjoyment (and plenty of success and money). In this crazy publishing business he is one of about two hundred authors who are ongoing "sure things". That's not many - all the more reason to edit, edit, and rewrite the edit.

I promised a convoluted tale, so I'm switching gears here and introducing you to Colorado (picture above courtesy of Crystal Hines). Again, check out Crystal's work - this talented photographer on her blog - http://www.peekthrumylenz.blogspot.com and pass the word if you know anyone interested in having their portrait done.

It'll be a fun experience. Colorado, above, had a good time. Now, what will encourage her to read and grow? I hope she's read aloud to now or at least chews on some picture books. Then Dr.Seuss, Richard Scarry, and onward to Amelia Bedelia, The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, and more. How do you keep kids interested and wanting to read?

I've got very mixed emotions about summer suggested reading lists. I believe this begins in junior high and on into high school. Yes, I want kids to read. But, if they are made to read, then it is forced and I've seen it suck the joy. It becomes a chore and a job. I'm generalizing about those kids who aren't avid readers. They are on the fence and can be swayed to hate to read. Sigh - that's so sad. I can't imagine saying, "I don't like to read." Wow - miss out on adventures, characters, and escape.

I'll be curious to know what folks think about this and/or what they've witnessed with their kids. I plan on continuing the discussion too - more convoluted tales to come.

Now, it's time for me to pluck a book from my huge pile and read and roam.........

Joanne

Back Home Again In Indiana

It's good to be back home, if only for a few days. I'm here for the NOW conference, which should be great fun. I'm also using this opportunity to catch up with old friends that I've reconnected with through Facebook. Also great fun!

This is an elections conference, where NOW members will elect officers who will serve for the next four years. I've only been here a few hours and already I can tell it's going to be quiet a lively debate!

On another front, my sister had quadruple bypass surgery last week and I'm pleased to say she is doing quite well. She came through the surgery like a trooper, and her doctors are now in the process of getting some of the other health challenges she faces under control.

I'm so glad she made the decision to come live with me. I think it may have saved her life. I'll update everyone again when I get back to DC.

Thanks to everyone who kept her in your thoughts and prayers.

Infectados: o nascimento

Sendo, basicamente, humanos que foram contagiados pelo ADN licantropo, poder-se-ia supor que esta transformação é maioritariamente acidental. Na verdade, infecções acidentais são a excepção.

Apesar de mais fracos e de serem olhados, pelos licantropos de nascença, com seres inferiores ,devido às suas raízes humanas, o que os impede de alcançarem postos cimeiros dentro do clã, são igualmente, uma excelente maneira de manter ou repor o número de efectivos. Afinal, enquanto um fenrisniano tem de nascer e crescer, a uma ritmo muito similar ao dos humanos, antes de poder ser útil ao clã, os infectados, podem sê-lo numa questão de dias. Basta recrutar um humano adolescente ou adulto, com o tipo de personalidade certa, infectá-lo e persuadi-lo a entrar para as fileiras do clã (não necessariamente por esta ordem).

Além desta questão estratégica, os lobisomens, ao contrário dos vampiros que, normalmente, têm servos humanos, apenas trabalham de perto com outros lobisomens. Independentemente da raça, preferem sempre um licantropo em detrimento das demais espécies.

Não obstante, por vezes, acontecem acidentes. Nesse caso, por uma questão de segurança, o clã do licantropo que criou o infectado, não terá outra opção senão dar-lhe caça. Quando o capturam dão-lhe duas hipóteses, junta-se ao clã ou morre, pois não se podem dar ao luxo de deixarem escapar um lobisomem descontrolado que, inevitavelmente, irá atrair todo o tipo de publicidade indesejada, colocando em risco todos os demais.

support the arts - convoluted tales part 1

This cute fellow, Jamil, shall be our introduction to a multi-part support the arts blog series. Somehow I'll pull it all together and declare a finale in a week or so. First, I'm putting in a plug for Crystal Hines, an extended family member, who is enthusiastically starting up a photography business. She captured Jamil's engaging personality and can do the same for you.

Check out her blog: http://www.peekthrumylenz.blogspot.com She's competitive for formal or informal shots and has an exciting, exuberant style. More on her biz later. I shall also pose a question - what can be done so that Jamil wants to read, is thrilled to read, and will spend life as an avid reader?


Guess I needed Crystal to take this indoor pic - hard to tell but there are two chairs and two posters of Jeffery Deaver's new book Roadside Crosses. Fort Worth makes it easy to support the arts in so many ways. Thanks to the Star-Telegram and other fantastic underwriters, the author series was held at Casa Manana tonight.

Mr. Deavers, author of suspense thrillers, answered questions by Jeff Guinn in a very informal discussion mode. He quoted Mickey Spillane, "People don't read to get to the middle...folks want to read to the end." That's the mission - keep the pages turning and keep the reader guessing.
Jeffery Deaver's unassuming manner and quiet humor kept the audience entertained for an hour. As a writer, I always come away with a nugget or two. He writes 8 hours a day, 6 days a week. It's his job and he loves it. He outlines thoroughly - every twist, turn, and nugget of information. His goal is to fool the reader, not cheat the reader.

Excellent evening. Support the arts - photography biz, established authors, and engage youngsters like Jamil in the pursuit. More to come.

Thanks
Joanne

Infectados

Quando a maioria das pessoas pensa em lobisomens, pensa nos deste tipo.

Em tempos humanos, entram no mundo dos licantropos quando são mordidos ou arranhados por lobisomens, de qualquer uma das raças, nas suas formas lupinas. A sua principal característica é que estão presos ao ciclo lunar para efectuar a transformação. Quer o desejam ou não, nas noites de Lua Cheia eles transforma-se em feras irracionais e esfomeadas. 

Os fenrisnianos mantêm as mesmas capacidades intelectuais em ambas as formas, mas para os infectados transformados nada mais existe do que a vontade de saciar a fome imposta pelos seus novos corpos.

Apesar de serem uma das raças mais antigas são também a mais fraca, mesmo quando transformados. Uma vez que nasceram humanos os seus corpos não estão preparados para grandes mutações. As garras e pêlo crescem, os músculos insuflam um pouco e os maxilares alargam, ligeiramente, para receberem dentes mais afiados, porém, nada mais, e tudo isto com uma considerável dose de dor. Na sua forma humana não têm nada de extraordinário além de um olfacto mais apurado e uma maior ligação aos instintos animais latejantes, que lhes permite aceder a uma agressividade extrema em lutas.

Future birding -- a cross-post

I posted about Illinois' Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, and its potential for yielding some grassland lifebirds for me, on my California Dreamin' blog. I don't post too much on that blog, but I should probably start. I was hoping to bank some of my research and plans for my California move.

If you've ever driven I-80 across the country, please feel free to visit that blog (or this one) and leave your travel tips in the comments. I'm hoping to see a Prairie Chicken (greater or lesser) somewhere along the trip west, so if you know where I can see one within an hour's drive of I-80, please let me know!

the secret gardens

Shhh! I'm hiding out on one of the many tiered patios on one of the properties in Ridglea Hills. This picture is not from there. All top secret, no cameras, but there were flowers like the above. Plus daylilies, water features (yes, friend Cecil - you need water tumbling over rocks and a cute little bridge arching over it), yard art (start welding), and comfy patio chairs nestled into cute little nooks and crannies.

The Hidden Gardens Fort Worth Tour offered six fabulous private gardens. Truly breathtaking vistas and plenty of seating around the properties. I'm thinking I can hide out with a book, dip into pools, and no one would find me for quite awhile.

Lots of hard work goes into these Texas Master gardens - sweat, dirt under the nails, and an eye for color. These folks probably don't have time to read or sit down. Now that's a shame, so I've decided to enjoy their hard work and ramble from tier to tier. It's been hot, but the one home with a private lakeview offered a breeze.

By the way, I did my part for beautification. I actually plucked some stray nut grass from a lovely section of rock garden at one home. I must say I was a tad shocked at such shoddiness - a teensy crack in perfection.

Hmm. Getting hungry. Do you think a pizza delivery would blow my cover?

Fun times in Fort Worth and I do thank these folks for allowing this tourist malingerer to trample their turf.

Joanne

Sunday Funnies