Kick 'em When They're Up, Kick 'em When They're Down. Etc.

It’s not nice to dogpile. But sometimes it’s necessary.

There’s quite a furor building over Dallas Morning News music critic Mario Tarradell. He has long championed cookie-cutter modern country artists as well as MOR cheese rock, though he should receive credit for championing rock en Espanol, I suppose. This hasn’t bothered me because a) I don’t read the Dallas Morning News anymore and b) I really don’t care about music critique, music journalists or 95% of music that’s being discussed or reviewed these days. It’s hard to get worked up over something that essentially doesn’t exist in your world. I actually thought that Thor Christensen was still writing for DMN, if that gives you any idea of how out of touch with the paper’s entertainment section I am.

So apparently our buddy Mario wrote a little rant about how Gywneth Paltrow introduced Radiohead as “one of the most influential artists of all time” at the Grammys last year. If there are two names that make me doze off while driving and drift into oncoming traffic almost instantaneously, it’s “Gwyneth Paltrow” and “Radiohead”. I liked Radiohead a lot up to OK Computer. They’ve lost me since. I still stand by my assertion that the Radiohead/Spiritualized show that I saw at Fair Park Music Hall in 1998 was the best concert I have ever attended. I think they are a little too critically exalted these days but I can’t deny that, for better or for worse, they do seem to be a huge influence on today’s music. I have nothing to say about Gywenth Paltrow other than her hair always looks very shiny.

But Tarradell’s Radiohead comments unleashed a shitstorm on the DMN website, with commenters overwhelmingly defending Radiohead’s honor. Then Mario’s fingers found the strength to type this:

The Beatles are one of the most influential bands of all time. The Eagles are one of the most influential bands of all time.

And then also…

The Eagles?!?! Oh, I dunno, try EVERY SINGLE COUNTRY ARTIST AROUND NOW. They pretty much ALL list the Eagles as an influence. And that's just for starters.

I have never gone from half-heartedly nodding in agreement with a maligned rock critic to hoping that they experience a lifetime of incontinence and night terrors so quickly in my life. If you are serious about those two statements, Mario Tarradell, then you are the problem. Let me try hard here to not mince my words.

THE EAGLES ARE THE WORST MUSICAL GROUP/BOIL ON THE GROIN OF ALL THINGS CREATIVE, ARTISTIC AND GOOD….OF ALL TIME. *

*(Except for Joe Walsh’s “Life’s Been Good”. That song rules)

I wanted to be in your corner, buddy. Well, maybe not but I could at least see where you were coming from with the “C’mon guys, Radiohead aren’t THAT amazing!” bit. Then you mentioned the Eagles and did not also mention the words “bland” or “contrived” or “obnoxious” or “inflamed anal fissure” in the same sentence. And now you are the enemy. Saying that the Eagles are the biggest influence on modern mainstream country is like bragging that pestilence-carrying rodents were the biggest influence on the Bubonic plague.

You say that the Eagles influenced every country artist around today? Therein lies your problem. I couldn’t have said it better myself, actually. I have often wondered when country music took the 90 degree turn to Pro-Tools, studded bandana wearing purgatory. When did country artists stop trying to sound like Johnny Cash and Hank Williams and Waylon Jennings and Bob Wills and Merle Haggard and Loretta Lynn and Hank Thompson and Buck Owens? If what you say is true and modern country artists are in fact influenced heavily by the Eagles, I think I have my answer.

Music taste is subjective but please, Mario Tarradell, do you really think that the current crop of mainstream country artists (you mention that Shelby Lynne and Brad Paisley were two of your favorite concerts last year) are something to write home about? Artistically innovate? Anything but Pro-Tools, spray tans, southern accents and 19-piece backup bands? I have no problem with entertainers that exist purely for entertainment. That’s what anyone from American Idol is. I also don’t have any problem with you knowing your readership and playing to them. We’re in Dallas, Texas after all. I mean, it would be nice for a Dallas newspaper to instead give props to artists who are true to the roots of country music, as so many of those roots are right here in Texas. But I long ago realized that was too much to ask for.

But really, Mario Tarradell, you have a forum upon which you can do one of two things. You can either use your allotted space to explore and critique music outside of Top 40 modern rock radio, modern country or Tina Turner. Or you can serve up the KFC Famous Bowl of rock journalism that you whip up each week. Patton Oswalt calls the Famous Bowl a “failure pile in a sadness bowl” and I now know that your music leanings can be classified as much the same.

I would like to end with the most astute commentary on the Eagles and the skid mark of a legacy that they have left on the underpants of modern music, courtesy of a DMN commenter:

Posted by Brad @ 12:55 PM Thu, Feb 12, 2009
People who like the Eagles...have kids who like Nickelback.

Got talent? The North Dakota State Fair wants you to showcase your gifts. The Fair has dedicated an entire stage to North Dakota talent where locals can perform for free. The stage is featured in the SRT State Fair Park and is home to dancers, martial artists, singers, and more. Catch local talent everyday at the Fair from 11:30am to 7:00pm daily.

Interested in performing at the Fair? It’s not too late! Go to our website to download an application or call (701) 857-7620 for more information. Schedules will be finalized after July 1st.

Pack Attack

Starting tomorrow: A post every day for the entire month of July!

Dodge Balls at the ND State Fair!

The fifth annual North Dakota State Fair Dodgeball Tournament is back by popular demand. The tournament will take place on Friday July 24th at 10am. It is open to ages 16 & up. Prizes and medals will be awarded to the top three teams in the Open Division and the teams with the best uniforms in both divisions. The entry fee is $60 per team and teams should have approximately 6 to 8 players. All proceeds from the tournament will be donated to the Minot Area Community Foundation. To register you team, go to www.ndstatefair.com/spaecialevents/ to download a registration form, or call (701) 857-7620 for more information. Come on down for bragging rights and to support a good cause. This event is sure to be a blast!

Extreme Canines Stunt Dog Show

The Extreme Canines are back by popular demand for their second appearance at the Fair!
You may have seen these guys on Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Pet Stars with Mario Lopez. Each of the amazing pooches in the show have been adopted out of pounds and shelters from across the country. They've been promoting pet adoption and responsible pet ownership since 1999. From large breed to small, you’ll be amazed as the dogs execute big air stunts, catch frisbees, compete in grand prix style agility racing, and soar to new heights in the “Extreme Canines High-Jump Challenge." The Extreme Canines will perform at 1:30pm, 4pm, and 7pm daily on Stage 3 everyday of the Fair, sponsored by Bremer Bank.

Who came out on top?

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While the 2009 NHL entry draft may not have been as explosive as some would have liked, there were definitely a few teams who made a splash. Trade rumours always abound leading up to the draft, but this year we were hearing the names of guys like Tomas Kaberle, Chris Pronger, Jay Bouwmeester, Vincent Lecavalier, Dany Heatley, Phil Kessel, Alexander Frolov, Mike Cammalleri, Martin Havlat, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere. In the end, only Pronger and (the rights to) Jay Bouwmeester were moved [...]

Philadelphia acquired Chris Pronger and Ryan Dingle from Anaheim in exchange for Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa, Anaheim's first round picks in 2009 and 2010, and a conditional third round pick. This gives Philadelphia one of the most solid defence corps in the league, with Pronger, Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn, Matt Carle, and Randy Jones. Also a very offensively gifted team, the Flyers will be one of the clubs pushing for the top spot in the East.
For their part, the Ducks got a disciplined, 20-goal right winger in Lupul. It will be interesting to see whom he plays with, though, as the Ducks now have four solid guys in the RW position with Lupul, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan, and Teemu Selanne.

The Calgary Flames acquired the rights to Jay Bouwmeester from the Florida Panthers for Jordan Leopold and a third round pick. While a contract has yet to be drawn up, Calgary GM Daryl Sutter expressed his belief that Bouwmeester would be signed before free agency opens Wednesday, July 1st. I don't doubt it, and with Bouwmeester, Dion Phaneuf, and Robyn Regehr manning the blue line, the Flames, like the Flyers, will have a defence corps to be rivalled.

But aside from the trades, which teams drafted bet? The New York Islanders did well, picking up not just John Tavares (1st overall) but also stealing Mikko Koskinen with the 31st pick. Koskinen was the first goaltender taken in the draft, and rightly so. He is a towering 6'7'' and weighs in at 192 pounds, and he has virtually taken the Finnish elite league by storm. The Islanders have Rick Dipietro locked up for the next 13 years, but everyone is susceptible to injuries and cold streaks - Koskinen will ensure the Isles have dependable guys between the pipes for years to come.

The Atlanta Thrashers also did great at the draft. They got the explosive Evander Kane (4th overall) who should end up being a great fit with Ilya Kovalchuk and Brain Little. They also stole a hardworking power forward, Carl Klingberg, with the 34th pick, and goaltender Edward Pasquale, with the 117th. Pasquale himself is a huge goaltender 6'2'', 218 pounds, with a great set of skills and a disciplined approach. Kane, Klingberg, and Pasquale should all figure in prominently to the Thrashers' rebuilding plans.

The Colorado Avalanche had the 3rd pick in the draft and selected Matt Duchene from the Brampton Battalion. Duchene has been compared to Steve Yzerman, and many thought he had the chance of superseding both Tavares and Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman for the #1 pick. But the Avalanche also managed to wrestle out a steal, grabbing defenceman Stefan Elliott with the 49th pick in the draft. Elliott plays a complete game as a defenceman, great positionally while still able to provide timely offensive contributions. Selecting both Duchene and Elliott helped get most of the bases covered for the Avalanche. Now if only they could find a reliable goalie...

The Tampa Bay Lightning grabbed hulking d-man Victor Hedman with the 2nd pick, and yet managed to also walk away with a steal. They got a hardworking, versatile forward with the 29th pick when they selected Carter Ashton. The Lightning have some management issues to work out, but they have a great mix of players (Vinny Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos, Vaclav Prospal, Ryan Malone, etc.) and now, with Hedman and Ashton, some promising young talent in the fold. They should again become a team to rival soon.

The Islanders, Thrashers, Avalanche, and Lightning all were expected to do well - seeing as they had the first four picks - but they each managed to make a few steals along the way, and surpassed expectations. The team that surprised me the most, though? The Detroit Red Wings. It isn't natural that a team who finished so well, and picking second last, walk away from a draft the way they did. They got both Landon Ferraro (32nd overall) and Tomas Tatar (60th overall). These two are both fast, high scoring forwards and the only reason they were picked so low is because of their size. I like how Detroit takes chances both at the draft, and with smaller players. It has served them very well in the past, and 2009 will be no exception!

- Josh Lind

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♛ MOIS & still heart broken about MJ

went to MOIS last night, a so-called one of the most famous club in Penang.
wasn't that bad but i personally don't like indoor club, it's too crowded.
but i had fun.. xD
the night was for Doreen, one of my friend that celebrated her birthday.


soo after all the fun time, the club were playing Michael Jackson last night, it was cruel.
specially because it was the "heal the world" song. it was truly a sayonara night for him that everybody held hands together to honour him for the last time.
it's like MJ telling us goodbye in a song & told us not to cries.
it's so sadd that i weeped & cried. it was soo sadd.
MJ was truly a legend, the one & only the king of pop. he was a genius although it was a dissapointment to saw him suffered for his plastic surgery. =(


people still talk out there.. the fans, and even the haters.
i just still don't get the haters, they have no heart.
even the media was so cruel to MJ making all the rumours that wasn't true.
i also regretted that some of us have been mocking MJ when it wasn't even our problem in the first place.


it's so shocked that the world will be different without him.
it's hard to accept the fact that we will never hear any new material from him or see him perform again.


i am heart broken.


we will miss you MJ.
Rest In Peace
R.I.P


love.love ♥♥

" Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough For The Living
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me "

The Gothard Girls & High 48's

The Gothard Girls are champion Irish dancers who weave their own fiddle tune arrangements, songs, stories and intricate choreography into a lively and entertaining show that engages audiences of all ages, from the youngest to the eldest. From a very early age, the girls have been performing on stages all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The Gothard Girls will be performing three times daily on the Jukebox Junkie Stage:

July 24th, 26th, 27th, and 28th~ noon, 2, and 5pm

July 25th~ noon, 5, and 10pm

The High 48s will be performing on Jukebox Junkie Stage the rest of the Fair from July 29th through August 1st. They have grabbed the attention of festival audiences in the Upper Midwest and beyond, released two critically acclaimed CDs and won first place in the 2008 RockyGrass Band Competition in Lyons, CO. They focus on writing original material that combines the soul and drive of bluegrass with the harder-edged sound of alternative country and roots rock. It’s a style of music the band calls Hard Grass. Hear the High 48s four times daily on the Jukebox Junkie Stage:

July 29th~ noon, 6pm, 8pm, and 10pm

July 30th and 31st~ noon, 2pm, 5pm, and 10pm

August 1st~ noon, 5pm, 7pm, and 10pm

Where's the Beef?

No longer do I hear the echo of a cow mooing outside my office. That must mean that Achievement days have come to a close. For the past four days, 4-H members have been competing to qualify for the North Dakota State Fair. Everything from beef to sheep to swine came to strut their stuff for the judges, and oh boy did those judges swoon. Throughout the week there was nothing but smiles on everyone’s’ faces and laughter in the air. We are sad to see you go, but until we meet again farewell to all you 4-Hers, and a job well done.

Please Just Remember

I've been remarkably serious and psuedo-intellectual for the past few weeks on here. I promise it will come to an end soon. Please hurry, football.

In the meantime, I beg of everyone to remember this. When you're talking about the recently celebrity trifecta of deaths (Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson), please just remember one thing:

At least they all will get to have a proper funeral. Attended by hundreds or thousands and watched by millions. At least their family will have the right to attend this funeral and see their final resting place. At least the family will know when and where the burial will occur so they can properly grieve. At least the family will be free to, if they so choose, wear black in mourning or put up pictures or even a simple black banner to mourn their loss. At least the families will not be told that they cannot have any sort of ceremony or memorial for their deceased relative. And finally, at least the families will not be forced to move from their home(s) for no reason. Please don't forget that.

Wow! Yesterday at the Achievement Days the kids were running crazy! There were plenty of seriousness and hard work that went into the raising and showing of their livestock, lots of skill and talent in their still exhibits ranging from recycled caprisun purses to beautifully crafted wood pieces and more! But after the shows were done and the goodbyes neared, it was time to have a little fun. In a not so agricultural take, the ag olympics are something that the leaders and parents of the group put together for the kids to take part in, and they looked like they were having a blast. Running through the State Fair Center and the Expo Barn, they were all smiles under the dirt and grime that had accumulated during the week. In this multi part, multi team, multi player, multi FUN event, they participate in events like blind folded water baloon tossing, and scavenger hunts with several stations where the must complete a task at each, including trivia and charades! The Ag Olympics is so fun it seemed as though virtually everyone was participating. A great way to wrap up the week full of learning, competition, and hard work. (Pictured: A group of 4-Hers at a station during the ag olympics scavenger hunt, after just acting out an armpit fart)

Obligatory Michael Jackson Post

I dunno, it seems like the thing to do. Thriller was my favorite record when I was 12 years old, as I'm sure it pretty much was for almost every other person my age. Hell, I even thought parts of Bad were pretty awesome, but Jacko completely lost me soon after that with the plastic surgery and especially the pedophilia.

Damaged and sad, yes, but I stop short of calling his a tragic case...He was a colossal weirdo, a frankenstein monster with enough fortune to afford any and every of his crazy whims.

Anyway, I've drawn Jacko several times over the past few years. This was the first, for Savage Love in the early aughts. Don't recall why he was holding a tampon, but my brain shudders at the possibilities.



Then there was this from last summer, the "Over It" issue of the Las Vegas Weekly...postulating that people were over MJ sightings around town. I don't remember if having his nose pop off was my idea or the art director's, but it's definitely kinda hilarious.

Contributors

A lot of you want the password to this blog, right?
I suggest that you all enter once and sign yourself up to be one of the contributors or authors.
So far, I think only me and the dhs softball email can enter this blog.
If you sign yourself up, you just need to log in using your email for you blog to enter this blog.
Makes it a whole lot easier, right? :)

First Post: Entry Draft!

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What better time to make a first post on a hockey blog, than the early morning hours of an entry draft? Originally I thought about doing a mock draft, but the way things are shaping up this year - lots of high-calibre UFAs and lots of trade talk surrounding first round picks - it's anyone's guess as to what order teams will be picking in [...]

So instead, I'll list prospects in the order I think they will make the biggest impact on the NHL. I don't think this will be the order these players will actually be picked, because so many things figure into drafting a player and so many teams have very different agendas. Also, my order differs greatly in some places than those of both NHL Central Scouting, and the ISS (International Scouting Services). I don't care. I'm not trying to emulate others, and I have the opinion that some highly rated players will end up being busts.

So, without further ado, here's the list:

John Tavares F
Matt Duchene F
Evander Kane F
Victor Hedman D
Brayden Schenn F
Tomas Tatar F
Chris Kreider F
Ryan Ellis D
Nazem Kadri F
Scott Glennie F
Olivier Roy G
Mikko Koskinen G
Jordan Schroeder F
Zach Kassian F
Dmitry Kulikov D
John Moore D
Jared Cowen D
Simon Despres D
Carter Ashton F
Karl Klingberg F
Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson F
Stefan Elliott D
Jacob Josefson D
Oliver Ekman Larsson D
Edward Pasquale G
Matthew Hackett G
Robin Lehner G
David Rundblad D
Peter Holland F
Louis Leblanc F
Landon Ferraro F
Kyle Palmieri F
Ryan Button D
Philippe Paradis F


Only time will tell!

- Josh Lind

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Michael Jackson died an hour or two ago. Let me get this part out of the way...

It's sad when ANYONE dies. And especially for the family and friends they leave behind. And he was suspiciously young to go out on a cardiac arrest. And I really do hope that all his superfans are gonna be ok.

Now, for the rest....

I have never liked Michael Jackson's music. Even when I was a kid and he was mega popular. Then came all the allegations and charges, of which he was found not guilty. I thought he was a severely developmentally stunted boy-man who clearly was not too mentally sound. But I'm not here to talk smack about a man who has just died.

I am here to say that I find it ironic, hypocritical and almost insulting that MTV is wall-to-wall Michael Jackson videos right now. Even as a non-fan, I will admit that they might owe their very existence and success to him and his early videos. However, MTV hasn't cared about music in at least a decade. In fact, I'm pretty sure that MTV joined Leno and Letterman and all the other media that were so happy to report all of his troubles and failures. So now MTV has time-warped back to 1985 like they're not the network that has forsaken music videos for The Hills and Paris Hilton's BFF?

I like seeing videos on MTV. I do wish they were videos by an artist I dug but it makes me nostalgic for my childhood. I guess it just bothers me that the guy was the butt of a million jokes for the past decade and a half and the moment he dies, the same media that clowned him so hard are getting ready to carve his likeness on the moon with a laser beam.

Rest in peace, Michael. I wasn't a fan of yours and hearing your music exclusively for more than an hour has already driven me to the land of Tivo but you were a troubled soul and I appreciate that. For everyone else, please don't make me listen to "Don't Stop" on an endless loop for the next week.

PS - My friend Adam in London just made a really good point. "We got at least 2 weeks of this. The Iranian leaders are gonna be able to do whatever they want now!!!" I guess Neda and a potential revolution in a volatile Islamic country tired of tyranny and oppression by religious zealots just isn't as sexy as "Dirty Diana".

Heroes Con 2009

(photo by Matt Knapik)

I spent last weekend in Charlotte, NC at the Heroes Convention. It's always a great time, well-run and just about the friendliest con in the biz, thanks to the awesome staff led by Shelton Drum, Dusty Harbin and Shawn Reynolds. Also, it's a great chance to hang out for a few days with all my awesome comics pals: J Chris Campbell, Duane Ballenger, Josh Latta, Brad Mcginty, Justin Gammon, and so many others! Being a dad and, well, old, I seldom have an opportunity to geek out and drink for three straight days, so the annual weekend in Charlotte fits the bill.

Some memorable and enjoyable stuff from this year:

• Catching a ride to Charlotte from Greensboro with Ben Towle. I've known Ben for years, but, usually seeing him at cons and larger gatherings, I haven't had the chance to speak to him one-on-one for any appreciable length of time. He's just a smart, hilarious and fascinating dude. Next year, maybe I'll offer to drive!

• Having so many folks coming up to talk about hockey in general and the Penguins Stanley Cup win in particular. I wore my Brooks Orpik/#44 Penguins t-shirt on Friday and gave anyone who said "How about those Pens?" or some such one of the little Pens Girl stickers I made up before the show. There were more than a couple folks who remembered the ignominious details of my Stanley Cup bet with Jeffrey Brown last year, so it was nice to be able to take a little more pride in this year's showing. Also, Rachelle of Living Between Wednesdays, a Nova Scotia native like Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, surprised me with the front and sports pages of the Halifax Chronicle Herald from the day after Game Seven. A rare treat!

• MAN-DAR! We hosted a screening in our hotel room of Brad Mcginty's new animated sword-and-sorcery spoof on Friday night, and it was almost-pee-your-pants hilarious. The twenty or so folks we had crammed into our room were cracking up so loudly that the staff had to come up and yell at us. Even cooler, we used a projector to screen it on the massive window shade, creating an 11th floor show for those outside as well. Wish I had a photo of that!

• I scored some great con deals...the first volumes of both the MAD Archives (which DC put out a few years back) and Kurtzman's Two-Fisted Tales...for ten bucks each! Retail on each of them is $50...that's the find of the show right there. I also picked up the New Frontier Martian Manhunter figure for $3, and managed to talk a guy down to less than half price on the Jim Aparo Batman: Black and White statue. Aparo's Batman was the one I grew up with, and they did a great job on this supremely geeky item.

• The last several years, I've gotten up a little bit early and gone for a several-mile run down past the Panthers' stadium on Saturday morning. It's a great way to clear the head before the biggest day of the show, and it makes consuming nothing but crap food and alcohol for three consecutive days feel a lot less dangerous.

On the not so good side, there was the fact that I had so few books to sell...well, so few expensive books to sell. I had a preview of the new Atom-Bomb Bikini book on the table, and a lot of folks took a gander...I woulda sold a shit-ton of 'em if I'd had them there. Ah well, there's always next year. My other books all seemed to do fine, including my new mini-comic collection of the Traffic & Weather strips from Richmond Magazine, and (to my surprise) the super-gay Atom-Bomb Banana Hammock, which lots of people really got a kick out of and really seemed to genuinely enjoy. It was awesome.

I did a lot of sketches for folks as well, and though my on-the-fly chops aren't in the neighborhood of some of my peers, I do feel like my con sketches have gotten a lot stronger in the last couple years. I didn't bring a camera (it went to Aunt Sandra's lake house with mom and Evie), so I didn't get photos of any of 'em, but maybe they'll end up on Comic Art Fans or somewheres.

Alas, not having any photos to talk about probably also means that's about all there is to tell...In fact, I had to steal the one of J. Chris Campbell, Dollar-Binner Brian Eison and myself at the top of this post from Heroes' Flickr stream! I promise to take tons of 'em in San Diego next month, where JCC and I are headed next!

2009 Achievement Days

With the 2009 North Dakota State Fair right around the corner 4-Hers have gathered to compete in this year’s Achievement Days. 4-Hers have been at the State Fair grounds all this week showing horses, rabbits, poultry, dogs, cats, sheep, dairy, beef, swine, goats, and more! The competitions which started this Monday with the horse show will continue until this Thursday June 25th. Today you can catch the swine, sheep, dairy, goat, and beef shows in the Expo building on the State Fair grounds. Don’t miss the Achievement Days Barbeque on Thursday at 4:30pm in Magic Place. They will be serving fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, chocolate chips cookies, and milk only $6 for adults and $4 for children.

Only those who receive a blue ribbon or a higher honor, such as Outstanding Reserve or Grand Champion, during Achievement Days are eligible to be entered at the State Fair. Good luck to all the competitors, we can’t wait to see you again at the Fair this year.

Static exhibits showed in Magic Place today, and there are certainly some talented kids in North Dakota. Here are some that caught my eye. Top Left is a photo by Kayla from Des Lacs Livestock. Ridge’s woodwork is in the Top Right and is representing Prairie Tumbleweeds. Bottom Left is a photo by Brittney from Rockey Acres and Bottom Right is 8yr old Shaylee’s wood art from wheatlanders. We couldn't be more proud of our 4-H members!

♛ AWARD & MY COMEBACK !!

hula hulaa.. i am backk. hahaaa.
i am very very veryy sorry that i have been ignoring my blog for about a month now.
i was on vacation at my hometown, jakarta.. & i was enjoying my time so much i didn't want to get online.
i am sorry ya'll.. hikss hiksss.


i will keep up with a lot of things, for starter i wanna posted some awards that have given to me by all my lovely bloggers friends.. xD


my 8th award from miss weefee, she's such a cutiee.. haha thank you so muchh girlie..

soo in this award i'm just suppose to tag to 3 of my fav blogs.
since all of YOU are my fav blog ever, so everybody please take itt. i'd be honour. thankss.

my 9th award from Jessi.. she is a big fan of hannah montana & jobros i think, because her music always playing the songs from them. xD

the rules is just the same as before, i just have to tagg it to peoples..
take itt againn okkkiee.. ANY of YOU!
i'd be happy ~ tnxx.

my 10th award from Thia, a lovaalayy girl.. makasii..

the rules is that i'm suppose to explained why do i choose to blog..
well, blogging for me is a tool for expression, diaries, reminders, sharing place, making friends & also a big opportunity to show off your talent.. in a good way of course. xD
so yeaa.. that's my reason why i choose to blog.


i'd like to tagg itt to any of YOU, again.. take itt pleasee ~


xD

love.love ♥♥

Auburn

Got some thought on Heroes Con I plan to post eventually, but for the moment, have a look at this commission I did for Kevin M. of his girlfriend Nicole in Auburn Tigers garb, which he gave her for her birthday. I seldom get to see where my work ends up once I send it off, so this is a real treat! Thanks, you guys!

Those Crazy Tehran Nights! AKA: Today's Guest Blogger...My Mom

Backstory: My mom's family lived in Tehran when she was a child. They fled (in the middle of the night in a van, no less) when the Iranian people were becoming increasingly resentful of the Shah. So growing up, I always saw all these photos of my mom's "normal" childhood in a house/compound surrounded by 10 foot walls. And you can barely step in any direction in my grandmother's house without one foot on a Persian rug.

So in light of what's happening in Iran right now, I asked my mom a bunch of questions about the Tehran she remembers. I also asked her (being a history major and all) to dumb down the exact chronology of the Shah/Ayatollah deal. I knew the basics but was a little rusty. I thought I would pick tidbits from my mom's response and use them. Then I realized that my mom is far more funny, educational and interesting than I am. So please welcome the Old-School Iranian Blogging Stylings of My Mom:

First a set up.

After WWII Britain was awarded Iran as a protectorate. They proceeded to suck all of the oil out of the country and it made the Iranians mad, go figure. Britain left but that put the country in turmoil. They briefly had a president who wanted to nationalize the oil industry but then Eisenhower was president and saw an opportunity to spy on U.S.S.R. However, the Iranian government was a little suspicious of colonial powers and weren't too hot on the idea of just trading one oil sucking protector for another. So, the C.I.A. engineered a revolution to put a pro American in power. Hence, the Shah and Americans in Tehran.

Colonial powers brought in schools, roads, clean water, hospitals, etc. They also brought a challenge to theocracy and traditional ways. This set up the society for division. Young people, especially rich young people who were educated abroad, saw the opportunities that westernization brought with its freedoms, art, and secularization etc. This was a challenge to the less educated, less wealthy who remembered the foreigners with their money and immodest ways. They were supported by the religious right who lost power with the Shah who wanted to limit the number of wives, bring in western technology and in general challenge the power they held.

When the shah was ousted the extreme right took over. Theocracy reigned. If you want a comparison think medieval Europe during which they had kings (Ahmadinejad) but the real power was the Pope (Ayatollah). Europe during the Renaissance struggled over who was going to be top dog, the king or the Pope. The king ruled but he could be excommunicated by the Pope. Most law was cannon law drawn up by the Catholic Church (Shari'ah).

You now have several factions and coalitions. There are not just two groups who hate each other but several groups who have agendas that cross age and religious lines. Young people who appreciate western freedom and technology. Young people who want to control their own destiny without foreign interference. Older people who remember the days of the protectorate and remember it fondly and those who remember it not so fondly. There are always the fear mongers among the religious right who lead the less educated and ignorant into believing that if they allow a more secular leader in power all their daughters are going to start running naked down the street, their women will start talking back and driving cars, drugs and alcohol will be running in the public water supply (which would actually be an improvement in the water supply)and Britney Spears will bring her tour to Tehran.

So, in answer to your questions as to whether Americans are loved or hated the answer is yes. It just depends on who you talk to. When we were there some people would shout curses at us and some wanted to live with us. It was one extreme or the other. There was a reason we had 10 foot high concrete walls around our houses and dogs to patrol the compound.

Walls were necessary because people would steal everything. One maid tried to steal Wayne (her little brother/my uncle). There was little police protection and some people were desperately poor. Also, there was hostility to foreigners. The only thing that protected foreigners were walls, dogs and the Shah. Probably the dogs were the most effective for keeping us safe since the "unclean" dogs scared them more than the Shah or the police.

I only got to go to Isfahan, Persepolis, Mount Damavand and the Caspian Sea. There were no Holiday Inns so traveling was difficult. The only hotels were in Tehran. There weren't many small towns. It was either city or deserts, rural Bedouins living in tents and herding sheep. The rural people were very scared of the foreign "devils" with the exception of a few who were fascinated by the unusual. Ask your grandmother about being stranded in the desert over night. (Note: this was after crash landing a US Army plane that my Army pilot grandfather and nurse grandmother were using to fly to a little romantic weekend getaway in the desert while experiencing mechanical problems. Ah, the old days!)

The weirdest thing in my mind was the ancient ruins of Persepolis, the 2500 year old capital of the greatest empire of the world at one time, just sitting in the middle of the desert without a soul around it. No fence, no guards, no museum. It felt a little like being an alien visitor to a dead planet.

Women did not drive, vote, and only the very elite women were educated. For the most part in public they wore chadors. The Shah's wife did not wear a chador but covered her head a lot like young Iranian women now. Exceptions were for children and foreigners. My mother never wore a chador. In their homes women wore whatever they wanted and some could afford very expensive Parisian fashion.

The Shah tried to limit men to 4 wives and encouraged only one. He divorced his first wife to marry the second. That didn't go over well but some educated in the West were monogamous. Ironically the poorer and less educated the more likely there were more wives. Some of this had to do with the snowball effect of being poor, marrying and having children, needing to marry again for another dowry and another person to work to earn money for wife number one and the children. Wife number two having children so the need to marry again, etc. This was the cycle the Shah was trying to break.

The foreigners were more than just oil workers. There were ambassadors and their staff, oil executives and workers, importers, exporters, military, assorted consultants, engineers, teachers, medical staff, etc. Foreigners were encouraged by the Shah and welcomed by those who supported the Shah but hated by those who hated the Shah.

The American school was large and included not just Americans but also the children of any English speaking parent and a native or some natives who worked for American companies.

Virtual Geo Scavenger Hunt~ July 26th- 28th

Join us in a virtual adventure across the State Fair! Participate in the journey anytime July 26-28 from 11am-7pm Sunday and Monday and from 11am-5pm on Tuesday. Stop by the 4-H Office in the State Fair Center for the coordinates and clues you will need to complete your quest. You may use your own GPS units or check one out at the 4-HOffice. An adult must accompany a youth to rent a GPS and a drivers license will be held in exchange for the unit. Prizes will be awarded after completing a successful quest across the State Fairgrounds.

Qualities 4 Successful Entrepreneurs

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary!” - Steve Jobs

Having started, run and lead various companies as entrepreneur since I was 15 years old, I have learned many things about being an entrepreneur; often via the hard way.... Some of my own business ventures were very successful, some unsuccessful, and one even resulted in my personal bankruptcy (at the age of 21), however all of them made me very rich and happy! They made me rich and happy in enriched knowledge and experience; my failures and success allowed me to learn more, build new valuable relationships, get new ideas, get more insights & inspiration and apply my lessons learned to become more successful!

A lot has been said, written and published about the key qualities of successful entrepreneurs: e.g. passion, creativity, leadership, vision, self-confidence, focus on detail, bravery, relationship building, innovation, organization skills, communication and coordination skills. Based on my own experience I would like to share and highlight some other key qualities and insights that will help an entrepreneur to succeed. Just ask yourself the following questions…

1. What is your personal mission statement in life?

As Stephen Covey wrote in his popular book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, the second habit he talks about is “Begin with the End In Mind”. He recommends formulating a “personal vision statement” to document one’s perception of one’s own vision in life.

What do you want to accomplish in your life? One effective way to write your personal mission statement is to visualize the day when you die. What do you want your loved ones and friends to say and remember about you? Another approach is to write your own obituary.

Without a clear personal mission statement, you will quickly lose focus and direction in your business. Without a personal mission statement, you won’t be able to find a passion or desire for success.

As one of my fellow coaches and friend Denis Gianoutsos likes to state: "There are two important days in your life: the day you were born and the day you knew why!" So what do you want your life to be about? What's your mission and what's the big picture?

2. Are you self-motivated?

Perhaps one of the most crucial qualities for people who are self-employed to succeed. Without self-motivation, you will always find yourself putting things off. You won’t be able to accomplish anything as there is no one there to motivate you or watch over your shoulder when you’re your own boss. So if you are not a self-motivated kind of person, working for yourself or being an entrepreneur is definitely a risky business for you. You can mitigate this risk: get a business partner, get a coach & mentor or ask a close friend to help and stimulate to motivate yourself!

If you think you are not self-motivated enough, make it part of your self-development plan: coach yourself to improve in self-motivation! Success guaranteed!

3. Are you persistent?

Understand that there is no “instant gratification” when you’re running your own business. You won’t get a paycheck every month like you do in a 9 to 5 job. Initially, you may need to work very hard for little rewards.

If you’re not persistent or don’t fully believe in yourself and in your business, you will have find yourself given up very quickly. Of course, it is possible to earn good money by running your own business, but you need to remember that it will take hard work, time and persistence to achieve true success and happiness!

Like Sir Winston Churchill said: "Never, Never, Never Ever Give Up!" So whenever you fail or make a mistake; take the lessons learned and get back on your feet to apply these lessons learned and use your enriched experience to succeed faster and better!

4. Are you financially responsible?

A very important quality for all business owners. When you’re your own boss, you’re a CEO, accountant and finance manager. You’re fully responsible for managing and controlling your business budget. When you start making profits, you will need to know how to manage it wisely. Often times, you will want to put a portion of your profit back into your business to help it grow and expand further. Or you want to build up a solid cash position to finance a possible acquisition.

Successful entrepreneurs actively manage their P&L (Profit & Loss) balance sheet, especially their cash position! They focus on two things to improve their financial performance:

A) Increasing their profits. This is only possible through either:

• Increasing revenue, or
• Cutting costs and cost avoidance.

B) Growing their business. This is only possible through the following 4 methods:

• Increasing acquisition of the right type of clients (through organic growth or M&A)
• Increasing margins
• Increasing the frequency of purchase of your clients
• Reducing the attrition of the right types of clients.

5. Are you hungry for success?

If you want to be an entrepreneur, you have to think and behave like one! You have to think and act as a leader, as a CEO and as a warrior! Understand that business is not the same as hobby where you can take it lightly. If you treat your business like a hobby, you will never be able to achieve true success. A business needs to be worked at seriously and professionally, you can’t allow personal things to get into your business. Remember what the headline in Donald Trump’s Apprentice TV-show says? “It’s Not Personal - It’s Just Business!”.

6. What is your exit strategy?

As successful entrepreneur you will need to lead your business from start to finish. So where do you draw the finish line?

When and how do you want to exit your company? Do you want to sell it? If so, when and to whom? Do you want to list your company? If so, when and at which stock exchange(s)? Do you want to merge it? If so, with which company? Do you want to hand it over to your children? If so, by when and to which one(s)?

For what price and under which conditions will you hand your baby over to someone else?

What's behind the finish line? Imagine you have set your exit strategy and then... you've successfully executed your strategy: you've exited your company! Then what? What's next? As part of your exit strategy I advise you to dream/imagine/decide what you want to do with the successful experience and reward(s) of growing and selling your own company. It will drive, inspire and motivate you to create your follow-up plan! Make it part of your bigger picture!

7. What is your company worth?

A successful entrepreneur knows the value of his/her company at any point in time! He/she also knows what kind of unique value he/she wants to create, which is often aligned with their exit strategy.

Why is this so important? Knowing what your company is worth versus your ideal exit strategy, timing and desired sales price, will determine if the time is right when you have an opportunity to sell/merge/list your company at any point in time. If you know that there still is huge growth potential and can create more unique value, you might decide not to sell or you could include this potential value in your desired sales price. As long as you know what your baby really is worth!

Knowing what the value of your company is also drives you to focus on creating and maximising unique value. This could be your brand value, goodwill, revenue, profit, client base, intellectual property, market share, market capitalisation, etc.

For each industry and market there are specific metrics and criteria which can be used for calculating the value of a company. I advise you to research and analyse these and then to use them to optimise the unique value of your own company.

8. Who is your coach and mentor?

Successful entrepreneurs, leaders and CxO's often have one thing in common; they have a coach and mentor! A coach and mentor can help you to get the best out of yourself. A professional coach can help you with your self-development to deepen your learning's, increase your performance and enhance your quality of life. A senior and seasoned mentor can help you to succeed in your particular industry/market by sharing some of his/her lessons learned, experience and by leveraging his/her network.

A coach & mentor can be one and the same person, or they are two different persons: you find yourself the best certified coach and an experienced mentor. Your investment? Mainly time! Return on Investment? Huge!!!

You can find passionate coaches and mentors who will help you for free or for a reasonable hourly/monthly fee. See also: Can You Afford NOT To Invest In A Coach And Mentor?

I hope these insights and qualities will help and inspire you to succeed as entrepreneur faster and better! Of course there are many more qualities and insights which can lead to success as entrepreneur; find them, explore them and use them to succeed!

“If you nurture your mind, body, and spirit, your time will expand. You will gain a new perspective that will allow you to accomplish much more!” - Brian Koslow

"Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won't, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can't" - Anonymous

"The best entrepreneurs can act as an entrepreneurial leader, a leading entrepreneur, an entrepreneurial manager or managing entrepreneur!" - Patrick Driessen

Make this a Positive & Fruitful day....unless you have other plans!

Thanks, warm regards & success,

Patrick Driessen

Senior Day~ July 30th

In honor of seniors in our communities the North Dakota State Fair has named Thursday July 30th the Senior Day Festival. Come celebrate with us in the Upper Atrium of the State Fair Center from 10am to 3pm.There will be great entertainment, vendor booths, and an ice cream social.

OUTING!

YAYY training has been cancelled so the OUTING IS BACK ON.
Here are the details

Date: 22 June 2009 (tomorrow!)
Time: Meet at 11
Venue: Kallang Leisure Park
What to bring: Money ( about $20 or more should be enough), gloves and socks (for ice skating)

For those who can't make it we're really sorry we took what majority voted for.
hope to see you all there tomorrow! :D

3 Laws of Business Success

"Only he is successful in his business who makes that pursuit which affords him the highest pleasure sustain him." - Henry David Thoreau

By Brian Tracy

There are certain laws of the universe that are working whether you know about them or not. They may even determine some of your success in business and life. Below are just 3 of the business laws to consider for success…

Law #1: The Law of Purpose

The purpose of a business is to create and keep a customer.

Many people think that the purpose of a business is to make a profit. However, while that may be the purpose of the individual who starts of invests in the business, a business is really a separate entity that has a purpose of its own. In fact, a good way to asses the purpose for the existence of a business is to imagine that the owners of the business had to appear in from of a tribunal each year and justify getting permission for the business to carry on. You will see immediately that “making a profit” would not be enough of a reason for the enterprise to justify it continued existence.

The first corollary of the Law of Purpose is: Profits are a measure of how well the company is fulfilling its purpose.
You can tell that customer creation is the primary purpose of a business by simply observing that the majority of the time and attention of the most important people in any successful company is focused on the creation and keeping of customers. The level of sales and profitability that the company enjoys is the result or measure of how well the organization, and everyone in the organization, contributes toward the achievement of that purpose.

The second corollary of the Law of Purpose in business is: Profits are a cost of doing business, the cost of the future.
Many people are confused about the role of profit. Some of them feel that profit, or even the pursuit of profit, is somehow associated with “greed.” The fact is that profits are good. It is profits that pay for everything. It is profits that pay for wages and development, and all the many constructive things that a company can do when it is serving its customers well.
The opposite of profit is loss. Where there are losses, there are reductions in economic activity, fewer jobs, and often the collapse of the enterprise. Where there are continuous losses in a business, there is no future for the people who work there. Anyone who is opposed to profit making is therefore opposed to the future of the people who depend upon that business for their livelihood. These people cannot have a future where there are no profits.

Some people feel that profits are too high. Over an eighty-year period, however, from 1920 to 2000, the largest companies in America have averaged annual after-tax profits of approximately 5 percent a year. Of the total expenditures of more companies, less the costs of raw materials for manufacture or good for resale, almost 85 percent of all costs are wages, salaries, and bonuses. Wherever a country, or even a part of a country, has lots of profitable companies, it usually has lots of well-paying jobs and great opportunities for the people working at those jobs.

How you can apply this law immediately:

1. Look for opportunities to make your company more successful. Your ability to impact the profitability of your company is the critical determinant of your long-term success. Do you know the price and profit of your enterprise? What are your most profitable products? Where do you have an influence on the money coming into the company?
2. Identify the areas where you can help create and keep new customers. Look for opportunities to develop and promote new products and services. Find ways to build greater loyalty among your existing customers. Do something every day that increases your company’s ability to create and keep customers.

Law #2: The Law of Organization

A business organization is a group of people brought together for the common purpose of creating and keeping customers.
A business organization begins to form when the tasks that must be done to create and satisfy customers become too great for a single person. The founders must specialize and focus on the essential jobs that only they can do and delegate those jobs that can be done by others. New positions are then created, and new activities are undertaken. The company expands its capacity to serve its customers. This growth process continues as long as the increase in people continues to increase the number of customers who are satisfied by that organization.

How you can apply the law immediately:

1. Determine your primary output responsibility, defined in terms of how you contribute to the company’s ability to serve customers.
2. Identify how your job is changing within your organization. Determine the changes you will have to make in your knowledge, skills, and activities to remain valuable, if not indispensable, to your company. Make a plan today to increase your ability to contribute to the critical results that determine your company’s success.

Law #3: The Law of Innovation

All breakthroughs in business come from innovation, from offering something better, cheaper, faster, newer, or more efficient in the current marketplace.

In Peter Drucker’s book "Innovation and Entrepreneurship", he discusses the seven major sources of innovation in business. He explains several ideas you can use to make innovation a way of life, both for yourself and for your business.

The two major sources of innovation, according to Drucker, are unexpected success and unexpected failure. In the case of either, you must carefully analyze what happened to determine if a potential breakthrough has occurred.

The “tip of the iceberg” theory of critical thinking is especially helpful in examining successes, failures, or any unexpected events. Is this a single event, or is it the tip of an iceberg? Could this be the beginning of a trend, indicating a major shift in the marketplace? Many great business breakthroughs occur as the result of recognizing a trend in the market and then moviong before anyone else to take advantage of it or, conversely, recognizing a trend away from your product or service and moving to minimize your exposure and develop other products or services while you still have time.

Perhaps the most significant trend of our age is the movement toward personal computers and the Internet. When the first personal computer was develo9ped, IBM did its own research on the future of this product. IBM consultants came to the conclusion that the total world market for personal computers was only 300 or 400 units per year. The company decided to stick to the main frames. Today, more than 50 million personal computers are sold each year, and mainframes have become secondary to the computer revolution. IBM ignored the tip of the iceberg!

How You Can Apply this Law Immediately:

1. Identify and analyze the trends in your business. Where are sales growing or declining? What are you customers telling you they want more of? Less of? What should you be getting into or out of?

2. Admire your successful competitors! Where and how are your most successful competitors achieving the greatest sales and profitability? What are they doing that you could learn from and improve upon?

3. Analyze your biggest success and failures of the previous year. What valuable lessons do they contain that you can use to your best advantage in the months and years ahead? Remember that all great success is preceded by failure, and every failure contains valuable lessons you can learn from. What are yours?

"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy." - Norman Vincent Peale

Make this a Positive & Fruitful Day...unless you have other plans!

Thanks, warm regards & success,

Patrick Driessen

The BEST Test

"You stop being average the day you decide to become a Champion, because the average person won't make that decision!" - Tom Hopkins

Become the best and do the “Best” Test!

What characteristics would help someone pass the "Best" test? That is, what are the characteristics of those who become the "best" at what they do? Here are some thoughts on the subject by Chris Widener.

The Best are Optimists. You can't get to the top if you don't think that there is a top or if you think you can't make it. One characteristic of those who reach the peak is that they always believe that things can get better or be done better. This pushes them on to be their best.

The Best have Vision. They can see ahead of the pack. Their eyes aren't locked into the here and now. They see the bright future and what things will look like when they reach their destiny. While working hard for today, they live for the future! They do what Stephen Covey calls begin with the end in mind.

The Best Relentlessly Pursue Excellence. The status quo is not for them. They want to be the best and experience the best. And that means giving their best. They go the extra mile so that in everything they do, in everything they say and think, they are striving for excellence.

The Best have a Life Long Habit of Personal Growth. They don't want to stay at the level they are at. They want to grow in their work, their intellect, their spirituality, their relationships, and in every area of their life. And they discipline themselves to put themselves in situations wherein they grow. Personal growth doesn't "just happen." You choose to grow. I always suggest what Zig Ziglar does and that is to enrol in "AutomobileUniversity." Whenever you are driving around, listen to a personal or professional growth CD. Over the long run you will grow. Also, read more. The old saying is true: Leaders are readers! So are those who pass the "Best" test.

The Best Understand that They will be Pushed by the Competition - and They Welcome It. Like the lead runner in the race who has someone on his heels, the best know that the competition is right behind them. They love it though because they know that the competition keeps them from becoming lazy and resting on their laurels. Instead, the competition pushes them to go faster and to achieve more - to remain the best by forging ahead.

The Best have a Quest for Leadership. Someone has to lead - it may as well be the best! Those who attain it get there because they want to. They want to lead and help make a difference. And they want to be equipped with the skills necessary to lead others on to a better place.

The Best Leave a Legacy. They aren't in it just for themselves, though they will surely reap the rewards of being the best. Rather, they build things that last beyond themselves, things that can be enjoyed by others as well.

The Best are Adept at the Two Most Important Pieces of Time and Personal Management: Prioritize and Execute. Just like weight loss boils down to eat right and exercise, personal management boils down to prioritize and execute. First, prioritize your activities. The important stuff goes on the top. Then, execute: do them. The best have habits and discipline that get them to the top by doing the best things and doing them first.

The Best Focus on Building Relationships. Success does not come alone. Everyone who achieves much does it with the help of countless others. How do the Best get others to help them? They treat them right. They embrace them and help them. People become the best because they help other people, and people like them!

The Best Make no Excuses. When they fail they admit it and move on. They get back up and do it right the next time. They let their actions speak loader than their words. They stand tall and do the right thing the next time. No excuses, just results.

The Best Understand that the Good is the Enemy of the Best. Yes, they could say, "this is good." But that would mean they have settled for less than the best. Many people think that good is good. Good is not good. Good is the enemy because it keeps us from the best. Choose your side: the good or the best. The Best choose, you guessed it, the Best!

The Best Dare to Dream. While others live the mundane and settle into a life they never bargained for, a rut, the Best dream of a better life. And then they take the risks necessary to achieve their dreams. They live by Teddy Roosevelt's quote: "Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs though checkered by failure, then to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilit that knows neither victory nor defeat."

Make this a Positive & Fruitful Day...unless you have other plans!

Thanks, warm regards & success,

Patrick Driessen

CANCELLATION OF OUTING

Hey softballers just did some editing to the skin I know it's rather plain but we couldn't find any nice ones yet.

CANCELLATION OF OUTING ):
they decided to have training instead so we will try organise another outing some other time.

Thanks sueqin for creating the blog.
Feel free to post anything you can get the username and pass from either me or sueqin

REENA

Heroes Con

It's this weekend in Charlotte, NC!

I'll be at Table 429 on Indie Island!

See you there!