Tyler's Investments vs John in CT October 29th

Tyler's Investments vs John in CT October 29th


This week, Tyler went head to head with John in CT of "Football Pick'em Podcast" Fame. Here's what each guy invested this week.

Tyler's Investments

UTEP +45.5 against AM
Missouri -11.5 against Tennesee

Bills +3.5 and the outright win vs KC
Raiders +1.5 vs Philly

John in CT's Investments

Mich. St. -5.5
Texas Tech -2

Jets +6
Packers -11

Next week, both Tyler and John are scheduled to take on a third challenger with his bonus pick: Say Hello to Ottis aka the "Oat Man." Join us won't you? It all comes on the Dave podcast, next week, Wednesday night! blogtalkradio.com/daveinthecity

Still Need Staffing

Still Need Staffing

OK, Puppers Kitties Here's Your Chance
We still need the following positions filled, so come on, or tell someone you know that might made a good Blogville Employee:

Detectives:
European Division;OPEN
Australian Division;OPEN
North American Division;OPEN

Judge:OPEN

Emergency Medical Staff:
OPEN
OPEN

Now for those still debating about joining, here are some incentives:
Riding in the Airplane and Hel-i-copter.Getting to play with the vehicle sirensCool uniforms and shades, drives the ladies nutsDonuts and free treats from those you help!!!Roaming around Blogville showing off your cool BadgeAnd the Station has a free Police and Fire department bar and foodsBestest of all, you get to use your official title letters before your name, on any and all correspondence and posts!Speeding without getting a ticketEscorting service for Blogville Functions
So get on Board Now, quit waiting!Pees; A Huge thank you to all those who answered our help message, even if you didn't know how to contact Scottie Mom. It just shows how Blogville comes through in time of need!. We did get in touch and two need department staff are coming on board, post to come next week!Pees Two; We will not be posting until next Monday, as lots of Thanksgiving stuff and visitors will be here, we will try to comment some!So Have a Most Wonderful Thanksgiving to All of Our Blogville Furpals, Furiends and BuddiesSusie, Sidebite, Shadow, Mom Dad

Our Father Will Use Us To Do All Things

Our Father Will Use Us To Do All Things


I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13Is there anything that Jesus cannot do? Absolutely not, He can do anything and His is the force that is now strengthening us. Jesus has unlimited access to the full power of God our Father, because the Two of Them are One! This is our strength! Jesus spoke to situations, He told them what to do and they obeyed Him! Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, He never changes! He will speak through us as He spoke. No, its even more powerful than that, He will speak through us as He now speaks, in the full power of the New Covenant! As we speak people should hear God, they should see His righteousness through us. We should tell storms to stop, the sick to be whole, and the dead to be raised. We should tell the demons to flee, because it is our Father within us speaking! We should speak with the full power of the resurrection and of the love of our Father! The Truth is this: our Father now has the full freedom to speak through us just as He speaks through Jesus, because the separation of sin has been removed from us!I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. John 14:12Our Father has not given us a spirit of fear; we can have all joy in accepting and believing this. We have been given a sound mind, a mind of God's very Anointing; so that we can understand this, and He has given us His love and it now dwells within us, John 17:26. To speak as Jesus speaks shows the love of God to be fully active within our lives! Jesus came and He healed the sick. He spoke of the love of God and now our Father has millions of bodies to speak through! Jesus came as one man united with God and He spoke of salvation, and millions throughout the ages have believed and been saved. And now our Father has millions of us who are one with Him through Christ to speak the same message! Jesus has given us all of Himself and through His strength we are now able to allow Him to be all that He is within us! There are now no limitations for the power of God to be revealed within us on the earth! Our Father can now do all things through us, because His Anointing has strengthened us so that He can! And the miracles that our Father does through us helps people to understand the Truth that sets them free.Now when John in prison heard about the activities of Christ, he sent a message by his disciples And asked Him, Are You the One Who was to come, or should we keep on expecting a different one? And Jesus replied to them, Go and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed (by healing) and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have good news (the Gospel) preached to them. Matthew 11:2-5

Make Time For Personal Art

Make Time For Personal Art


Many of you know the story of Gareth Edwards. He was a visual effects
artist who decided it was time for him to make his own movie. So he
raised half a million dollars, shot the film ("Monsters") with a crew
of 4 and 2 actors, did all the visual effects himself (some 250 shots),
and rather than the result being some crappy B movie, the film was
actually quite good. It got a theatrical release, and a ton of press.

Here's a little quote from Gareth that I love from a vfx podcast
http://www.fxguide.com/quicktakes/fxpodcast-gareth-edwards-monsters/:

"Most people who are in this business who do visual effects for a
living, they're in it really because they want to make movies, I'm
pretty sure if you speak to anybody they don't want to be rotoscoping
until they're 50 or 60, its like they're doing it as a stopgap so they
can become film makers, or at least I know I did and my friends were
like that in visual effects...visual effects people should all go make
movies themselves...I'm not trying to put anyone out of business, I'm
trying to create a new business, which is "lets all go make movies",
this is why we're here."

Now to be fair, I do know some people who want to be rotoscoping at age
50-60, there's something about the process that gives them
satisfaction. And that's fine. But for a lot of us, we got into doing
film to express a little something of ourselves artistically. Maybe not
as a director like Gareth (not all of us would make good directors),
but as an Art Director / Production Designer, Director Of Photography,
Editor, Writer, etc. The problem is if you're working on a big
Hollywood film, the crew is that famous work pyramid, the jobs at the
top are few, and the number of people gunning for them are many. And
even those top jobs, you're beholden to whomever is giving you the
money for the film, so you still probably don't have the freedom you'd
have if you were working on a personal project.

So, as Gareth says, "lets all go make movies". Or at least find some
method to express ourselves artistically, maybe a book, fine arts
paintings, whatever.

I tend to think of things like this, there are 6 types of projects:
Individual, Collaborative (small team), Collaborate (large team), then
there's Personal projects and Service projects.

If you're working at a large visual effects company doing tentpole
films, then chances are
you are doing a Collaborate (large team) service project. Which is
cool, you learn a ton about what makes an image successful from a large
group of talented people. You also get something out of working with a
big team, there's a social / work dynamic that can be a lot of fun.
Your work is likely to be seen by a very large audience. You learn
a thing or two about client interaction. And you may even get a chance
to squeeze a little bit of your own artistic spin on things here and
there.

But your experience shouldn't stop there. Make sure you're also doing
some personal projects on the side when time permits. Either as an
individual, or in small teams. I can't express how important it is to
make sure that you have at least a little something that is almost
completely yours, something where you get the final say on when it's
finished and lookin good. It
may not be commercially successful, but it's something you can point to
and say "There's a whole ton of me in that project." And it will help
you during the tough times working for other people when you're working
on a project that just isn't your thing (a "Spanish pampers commercial"
as we'd call them at Blur).

Technology has come a long way, and it's possible now to make more
complex projects with fewer people. The really huge projects still and
probably always will require an army to complete, but while you're
enjoying the experience of being a part of that army, make sure you're
also doing something on your own for your own artistic satisfaction.
Let these two sides to your work feed off of each other, you'll be a
stronger artist for it.

How drunk would you be if you took a drink every time the military was mentioned during football on Thanksgiving

How drunk would you be if you took a drink every time the military was mentioned during football on Thanksgiving

An insightful excerpt from James K.A. Smith on Thanksgiving in American Culture:[We] both commented again this year on how puzzling it was to see the incessant military references and images on the Thanksgiving broadcasts. It was like the NFL was somehow broadcasting on Memorial Day or the Fourth of July. Why would Thanksgiving be so interconnected with the armed forces?But I think I've discerned the logic to this. I know I've noted (complained!) about this before, but I think I've further crystallized the linkage. For some reason, broadcast television always feels compelled to secularize religious and quasi-religious holidays; this is, in some ways, part and parcel of other secularizing currents in commercial culture. But when Thanksgiving is secularized, what's lost is precisely the Object to whom we would render gratitude. In other words, we end up being thankful for "gifts" without being able to recognize the Giver.So we come up with a substitute Giver, which is something like the idea of "America"--the land of the free. And while there are alternative conceptual histories that would actually honor how much the United States was conceptually forged--that the U.S. is really the experimental product of ideas--our current anti-intellectual climate would rather think of "America" as the product of force and might (as the national anthem prefers). So if we are thankful for America, we're thankful to the military who, proverbially, "protect our freedom, " "keep us free," "make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom," etc. Soldiers are thus revered as the warrior-priests of freedom.And what are we free for? Well, to shop. And so the best expression of thanksgiving is precisely Black Friday, that Dionysian display of consumerist passion when people literally die in the frantic pursuit of consumer goods.In sum, the secularization of thanksgiving leads to the sacralization of the military as the guardians of consumer freedom. Such secularization, then, is not a-religious but otherwise-religious. Thus a secularized thanksgiving yields a uniquely American idolatry.

Don't Trust My Book Reviews

Don't Trust My Book Reviews


I'm doing something I haven't done in the four years I've been blogging. In the over 1,000 posts every single one has been original. Welllll, this week it's time for a first. I'm reposting. But it's an older blog. Maybe one you haven't read or don't remember. (I'm counting on that anyway. ;-) Thanks for understanding, it's just been one of those weeks!


Photo CreditI probably just gave all the publishers I review for a coronary.

Wait...stop, let me back up and explain. ;-)

I've gotten several emails lately asking me if I would help in the craft of their book reviews. Of course, this thrills me, because I love to help as I have been helped--but it also brings an interesting topic to mind--because, well, that is just where my brain goes. ;-)

When I started exploring the great wide world of blogs, I stumbled across this amazing phenomenon, called "reviewing books". Imagine promising to ONLY write a review and getting a free book. Well, golly, this was just pretty dandy.

I had one reviewerI avidly followed. I religiously studied her reviews, got excited when she did about a new book and my list for the bookstore steadily got longer and longer.

Then one winter, I got a windfall. What better way to spend it?!? I took that list of top recommendations from that reviewer and bought several titles on the list.

Promptly brought them home, very excited...and didn't like a one.

Okay, I shouldn't exaggerate, I liked a couple and the other got the "she thought this was good??" look.

It wasn't that the books were poorly written--they just weren't for me.

I learned that reviewer and I have no reading tastes in common. What I hated, she thought hung the moon and what I loved, she couldn't gag down.

And that's okay. Because there is an audience that likes exactly what that reviewer loves to read.

So I had to reinvent the wheel and eventuallyfound Joy from Edgy Inspirational fiction. I started borrowing the books she recommended from the library. And 9 out of 10 times, I LOVED them. Like go-get-me-more LOVED it. I've bought books based on what Joy loves, knowing there is a huuuuge (like 99.9999%) chance I'll love it too.

Which brings me to my post title today. DON'T go out and buy (or not buy)a book based on my review. If you are new to my reviews, wait around a little bit, see what else I review. Do we share the same love of certain authors?

Does what I review and what I say in my reviews strike a cord with you?

Have you tried a couple titles and see if we agree?

We are not going to agree all the time--frankly I'd be scared if that were the case. ;-) (JK)

You will actually be doing the author a FAVOR if you are new to my reviews or unsure, if you DON'T go out and buy their book--see what others are saying first and then make your final decision. If you don't like it, the negative word of mouth will certainly not be helpful.

So, please don't trust my book reviews. Not,at least,until you've gotten to trust me and see if you and I like the same fiction. ;-)

So...question, do you think we like the same fiction? Have you ever been satisfied with a purchase or borrowingmade, based on my recommendation?

Better late than never - potting up for Winter

Better late than never - potting up for Winter


I know - you might just be like me leave things to the last minute but Summer rushed by I just didn't even get to potting up any hyacinths that we always have indoors for Winter. With our pair of resident squirrels helping themselves to my bulbs I have been a bit disheartened by their love of hyacinth bulbs.

I reasoned that seen as bulbs are cheap to buy in flower, it is not worth shooing off squirrels ....

However, this week while I popped into a local garden centre, I saw all their bulbs were now half price because it is so late in the season so I decided to get a few late ones to pot up.

Potting up bulbs is one of those relaxing activities - a challenge to see if they will respond it satisfies the gardener in me to see them thrive ...


Luckily there was just enough potting soil left in the bag.



I know the bulbs will be indoors so I potted them up in containers that were in a box for the charity shop as they are so seldom used - perfect!



The paperwhites grape hyacinths together





My dear sister-in-law Ms M bought this delightful vintage container while on a visit some years back it is always potted up with daffodils so that is what I did again. Don't you just love the pot?



My terracotta trays with last years crocuses grape hyacinths that will be moved to the front porch have been moved from their place behind the herb planters to under the bench covered with horticultural fleece for protection. Hopefully they will be as lovely as always.





My new bulbs are now on a shelf in the garage, out of the elements away from the squirrels. I look forward to their colour ...

Do you plant up for Winter? What favourites will you plant or buy?

Thanks for stopping by, always appreciated
Dee ~♥~

31 since Monday ....

31 since Monday ....


Monday the 31 thingie happened aka me celebrating my birthday.
And since pics (even the bad ones) say more than words.... some pictures as well.

I
admit I dressed like a slob (still or again or.. like always). Thanks
god we have no decent dress code in the studio otherwise I'd mourn the
loss of oversized knit granny cardigans and comfy sweaters. So basically
dressing up was "oh look... another... sweater... again!" and at least
defuzzing my head. So that's 31-years-old me... but let's move on to more important things like... food.


One
of the regular birthday duties: Feeding hungry fellows aka colleagues
in the Studio (and mostly everybody else as well) with Pumpkin Crumble
Chia cake. Yummy. I love pumpkin season.


Working....
a lot of people told me they take a day off on their bday. Since I'm up
to my neck in deadlines it would have ment sitting alone at home,
playing entertainment slave for Hantje and Tretel and still working my
booty off. So I went to work. And I worked. And it was okay.
Before you ask: Yes, it's Agnes' "It's so fluffy!" unicorn which I got from Irene. Normally it's humping my tea box.


After work my hubby and me went to a nice cozy restaurant ("Kid Creole"- which I can highly recommend) and met with two of my girls. Sadly the girls are camera shy... and my hubby as well. =.= Anyway, we had Jambalaya, Gumbo and basically it was so good I was sad I when my tummy screamed "stop, we're done!"

Maike
(who's my buddy in crime for Schmidt Spiele) gave me a small but
wonderful collection of yummy things meant to produce even more yummy
meals. My fingers itch to test the things.

And
the evening ended with happy rolling around on the couch feeling like a
stranded wale on a beach- tired but happy. I can't remember the last
time I ate that much. Worth every bite and if you ever get the
opportunity to visit the Kid Creole: do it.

So that's it. No family party this year since I'm still trying to meet every deadline and the week-end will be workloaded up to the max. It's a bit sad but I don't regret the decision (my mum was miffed though... ouch).