Healing is the miracle that occurs at the often messy intersection where the life we're living crashes headlong into the life that's been patiently awaiting us. You may experience this crash because of a medical illness like cancer. You may be suffering from a string of failed jobs and personal relationships. You may arrive with depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, a sense of boredom or even doom.
One of the most powerful tools, sadly overlooked in Western medicine, is the ancient practice of fasting. Pure and simple, the process of ceasing to ingest food for a period of at least seven days stimulates every innate healing power the body has in store.
This is the carabiner that attaches you to the experience of your body. If your facilitators are experienced, you rejoin with the sense of awe and wonder at the miracle that is your body–the vehicle of your soul. Nearly everyone completes a fast with a healthier relationship to their body's needs and ability to respond to them. And very few people complete the process attached to their unhappiness, fatigue or illness because most of the symptoms, if not the root causes, have been illuminated, shifted or simply disappeared.
Fasting affects every layer of our being: from our cells and tissues; to the production of hormones and neurotransmitters; to the deployment of bile and digestive enzymes; to the effective and efficient movement of breath and oxygen throughout the body. If you thought fasting was just good for the gut, think again.
What are the physical benefits of fasting?
Fasting is much like a maintenance check. Most of us regularly take our cars in for annual maintenance checks. The oil is changed, the brake pads replaced and the tires rotated. We pay for this safety measure to assure that we're driving a well-functioning machine. The body is the same. If we remember the fasting process is as old as time and that even the animal kingdom does it, it must be something the body needs and indeed loves.
At least 65% of the entire body's energy reserve is directed to digestion. That means more than half of all the energy we need and consume on a daily basis goes to our gut. And, much of the 65% energy directed to digestion, assimilation (the uptake of nutrients) and elimination is randomly scattered energy because we are working inefficiently and ineffectively. This is not a good thing, and is even worse over time.
The history and benefits of fasting are not new. Nor are they New Age. Fasting is an ancient healing art as old as the recorded history of man.!
Many people and medical professionals believe fasting can be a "miracle cure" because of the long list of physical conditions either improved or removed by fasting. Thousands of people have suffered for months, years or decades with chronic conditions that have failed to ameliorate through the use of drugs or even radical surgeries and other invasive treatments.
Fasting is an inexpensive treatment. It is a natural, safe and effective first response to just about any form of unwellness.!Fasting often provides the first proof that the body can, in fact, heal. As symptoms dissipate during the short course of the fasting, the person fasting experiences the deep connection between food and health. They often have the energy and desire to continue to make the healthier shifts and choices in their eating and drinking habits to continue on the road to newfound health.
What is the difference between fasting and cleansing?
According to fasting guru, Hillary Hitt, "A fast is always a cleanse but a cleanse is not always a fast." A fast means that no food is taken in and digested. A cleanse can mean any number of things—consuming raw foods and juices, for example. A fast is like taking a long internal shower and usually lasts up to several days. It is important to go past day 3-4 as that is when the body releases large volumes of toxic waste! In a "supported" fast the body is cleansed of old waste, stored bile, toxins and parasites. Supported means that supplements are added to support the liver and kidneys.This is necessary because most people come to a fast depleted and in need. And, it means that a qualified person is guiding the group so no one suffers unnecessarily.!
Did early man fast to lose weight?
No. The history of fasting has no recorded beginning and will likely have no end. Fasting was imposed upon early man because of the variable ability to secure food.Tribes often went long periods of time on very little or no food. Hunters gathered what they could,ate what they needed and eventually learned how to preserve the leftovers for later consumption. Remember that the next time you leave the grocery store laden with your goodies.
Is fasting unique to human beings?
Fasting is not unique to man. Squirrels and salmon and snails fast. So do anteaters,humpback whales, plovers and penguins. In fact, just about all species in the animal kingdom fast as they change environments, enter a new life stage, prepare to create offspring or seek rest prior to an arduous journey. Call it animal instinct.
Was fasting practiced solely for religious purposes?
No, again.It is our historical understanding that Buddha, Christ, Moses and Mohammed all fasted. Much of the tradition of fasting is embedded in the books of major faiths and has been practiced, in varying forms, for many centuries.These ancient fasting practices share the same goal of reaping both physical and emotional benefits. Many faiths also share the deep spiritual belief that while fasting, we come in closer proximity to God or the divine nature within us. Therefore, fasting in the religious context is deeply established across multiple faiths.The religious reasons for fasting do include the derived health benefits.
Religious communities fast to give thanks to God, to atone for sins and as a gesture of gratitude or forgiveness.Depending on the faith, religious fasts also encourage a deeper connection to God – the external God or the personal divine within. Many ancient indigenous cultures believed men and women were at their height of intuition while fasting and encouraged it to avert natural disasters or to gain insight into timing of war or tribal relocation.
When was fasting first considered a 'first line' medical treatment protocol?
Physicians and healers have encouraged fasting as a first line defense for both acute and chronic illnesses since as early as 460 B.C.In this time they studied the animal kingdom to learn about healing, surveying what herbs animals ate when ill and what behaviors they engaged in when sick or dying. Their observations led them to utilize fasting as a primary treatment for many ailments.
One of the earliest documented medical proponents of fasting, and a keen observer of the animal world, was none other than Hippocrates – considered the Father of Medicine and the inspiration for the Hippocratic Oath that guides the moral and professional conduct of doctors worldwide today.
Are there many medically valid reasons to fast or cleanse?
Yes! Researchers have long studied the effects of fasting.Deciphering fasting physiology and the further development of traditional fasting was the foundation for recognizing this form of treatment in naturopathy. It is now fully recognized as a treatment for chronic illnesses and a prevention protocol for many other illnesses at major medical centers including Johns Hopkins University and The Mayo Clinic.
Fasting is experiencing a revival. Interestingly, the Eastern traditions never really wavered Bhutan and Vietnam, fasts (of variable lengths) remain a common family practice for illness prevention or treatment.
Is the medical data supporting fasting any good? Yes! The list of modern medical practitioners with successful careers who are advocates of fasting in many of the world's best medical institutions is long. These medical professionals practice at Johns Hopkins, Harvard Medical, Yale New Haven, Case Western, Vanderbilt, UCLA, Stanford and other acclaimed institutions. They have published in reference journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, The American Journal of Epidemiology, The International Journal on Cancer, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the British Medical Journal, the Journal of the American Medical Association and others!
While their findings and practices have been brought to the public on Oprah and other talk shows, the sciences behind the logic is significant and growing. ! Many doctors have experimented the old fashioned way—on themselves. There are numerous examples of doctors who have become ill with cancer, heart disease or arthritis, and who have tested fasting protocols on themselves.
Many experienced personal healings such as the elimination of all symptoms and/or underlying disease. Some found the experience to be such a significant value that they themselves then began research on the subject. The more patients they encouraged to fast and the more measurable clinical benefits that ensued, the more fasting has become a favorite in the medical suite of suggestions.
Are there emotional benefits to fasting?
The answer is a resounding yes, there are. Emotionally, one will feel calmer, clearer and happier. Fasters often report that depression lifts and goals begin to feel more obtainable as obstacles are put into proper focus. Clients are self-reporting improved concentration, less anxiety, and better sleep.
Are there any spiritual benefits to fasting?
Phew—yes is the answer to this one! The powerful effects of fasting are often experienced most deeply in our spiritual connection. Fasting takes our attention inward. We listen and become quiet. And that quiet quality time, you with you, will also allow a greater sense of kinship with your Inner Being.
Without the continual addition of heavy foods into the system (and after any major detox symptoms have passed), the body takes on a lighter, less dense feeling. This helps to create a subtle separation from ordinary physical reality and all its worldly things.
Is fasting considered alternative because it's 'woo woo'?
Not at all. In fact, fasting is considered an 'alternative' therapy because it isn't typically prescribed by mainstream conventional western medicine, because western medicine treats ailments and conditions most commonly with invasive techniques. While these modern techniques are highly successful in treating some conditions, they fail miserably in others.
What is pH and why is this so important? Much of the story of fasting benefits lies in the understanding of pH. In chemistry, pH (potential of hydrogen) is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0. Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline. Many factors play a role in acid forming: stress, medications, food and beverages!
Be sure to fill your diet with plenty of the above alkaline forming foods. The level of pH is measured using a pH paper. The value scale ranges from 1 (most acidic) to 14 (most alkaline). The middle and healthy range for pH is reflected in the color green.
Multiple systems within the body function to keep the body's blood and organs within a specific pH so that we are well functioning and alive. Human blood has pH in the range of 7.35 and 7.45 – a tight range! Generally, the range for all organ systems and therefore the entire body is between 6.8 and 7.4. The pH range changes throughout the day and from day to day.
When the body is out of normal range, great amounts of energy are expended to correct the pH. In order to regain balance, the body will leach calcium from bones and teeth to reduce acid. Your body will also deplete potassium reserves to buffer the acid build up.
Sodium, important for the healthy function of the brain, nervous system and muscles, will also be leached. Magnesium will be redirected away from the muscles causing cramps and discomfort. The nutrients from food or supplements will not be absorbed and used in an acid environment.
When a pH is too high or too low, the body is considered to be in an acid state and just out of balance. When the body is out of balance and highly acidic, it becomes a welcome host for illnesses ranging from simple acne to allergies, high blood pressure, blood sugar challenges, headaches, mood shifts, arthritis, sinus congestion, fungal infections (candida), low energy and a poorly functioning immune system that results in constant colds, flu and fatigue.
In fact, most scientists and practitioners on the forefront of professional research in nutrition and health agree that an acid environment is the "first mover" for most, if not all, diseases. The good news is that pH can be shifted temporarily and more permanently with intention and attention to diet and stress.
How does fasting restore pH?
Imagine more than 20 feet of digestive tubing, encumbered by the buildup of mucoid plaque which is a combination of harmful mucous material and undigested foods. Plaque covers up the all important villi, finger-like projections in the small intestines which are trying so hard to absorb the nutrients in the food consumed. The buildup of this toxic waste accumulates over years and decades creating an acidic environment.
A fast removes toxic waste from the colon, small intestine, liver and gallbladder. Some people literally see many pounds of this waste removed naturally. The waste material is highly acidic, rancid, foul smelling and of no service to the body whatsoever. And, they are the perfect nesting spot for parasites. Once removed, the internal body is lighter, cleaner and better able to maintain a balanced pH.
What are some of the side effects of fasting?
Many people experience headaches, body aches, lightheadedness and sometimes nausea. Each of these sensations in the body is part of the healing cleansing process. Symptoms usually pass within hours, and very rarely last more than a day. They signal the level of toxicity— the more toxins, the more discomfort. But most clients move through these symptoms with relative ease.
Why should a fast be supported?
The body is a complex and miraculous machine. A good program will be guided by people who understand the body and are well trained in healing modalities such as medicine, homeopathy and naturopathy. "Skepticism rants and raves or raises a chilly eyebrow while Reality patiently waits for all the fuss to die down. It is through science that we "While a fast is physically fairly straightforward, it is an emotionally opening and a spiritually awakening process. Traditionally, cleansing was done in a circle with guides or elders present to safely support and assist people moving through any stored emotional trauma. And, nearly all fasters have moments of great clarity, a prove, but through intuition that we discover a connection to something greater, and epiphanies that guides can assist in interpreting and assimilating.
Where fasting most shines as an alternative practice is with the degenerative diseases and chronic conditions. Degenerative diseases are conditions of deterioration progressing over time, and are generally caused by long term lifestyle choices and/or bodily wear due to age.
No amount of surgery or numbers of medical procedures will cure a body that isn't physically, emotionally and spiritually directed toward healing. And any scientist will concede that only the body itself can restore tissues to their original state of perfection. What natural remedies succeed in doing, is focusing the other aspects—the emotional, mental and spiritual parts of our being—toward health.
Can conventional medicine do it all?
- Manage trauma better than any other system of medicine.
- Replace damaged hips and knees.


Jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, and homemade salsa.
Ham, turkey, hard-boiled egg, and cheese.
Sirloin steak, fries, and cheese.
Chicken breast, fries, and cheese.
Mixed greens with tomato, onion, and croutons.
Provolone, peppers, onions, and mushrooms.


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Recently, the Wife and I came in to a copy of a space themed indie game called: "Planetary Strike." Upon asking Claim to Fame Games to review it, we received a copy for free for our unbiased honest review. At first glance, this game seems very minimal in its presentation, and difficult to immediately critique. But, once you dive into this title, you'll find that it's just a thrifty abstract game…not exactly what I expected.
Claim to Fame Games
Planetary Strike plays like a mix between chess and checks played out on a circular (but checkered) board. Your goal is to utilize your pieces to capture another player's "planet" piece, not unlike a king piece in chess. Pieces move in different patterns and for different lengths dependent upon the pieces chosen to move. For instance, pieces with "1" and "3" symbols on them move diagonally, and pieces with "2" and "4" move in straight lines. Also, pieces can only move the amount of spaces as are indicated by the numbers listed on them, with "4" being able to move 4 spaces, et cetera. Not reinventing the wheel here, just solid abstract game mechanics. It should be noted that I only played this using 2 factions, with just a single faction per player.
I'm gonna be transparent and direct here readers, the actual gameplay itself was "okay." It felt very much so like I was playing a modified game of chess while I was reviewing this…and that's not a compliment. Abstract games typically aren't my taste, I enjoy a few quite a bit but not many, and this did not thrill me in the slightest. Don't misconstrue what I'm saying here, this is an adequate game at its core, it's just very "vanilla." It doesn't stand out in any major way, it doesn't really utilize it's theme, the gameplay itself feels antiquated…none of it evokes any feeling other than "meh."
Let's touch on the pros. Easily the biggest pro in the whole game for me was the rulebook. It was really well done, and clearly articulated everything it needed to EXTREMELY well. This was a digest sized, FOURTEEN page rulebook that was a breeze to read and understand. It contained rules, tips, online information, company information…this might be one of the best rulebooks I've ever encountered. Also, the game board itself contained a number of diagrams on it to help remind players of the rules regarding how to move specific pieces. Always a nice feature to see in any game.
Let's move onto the cons. First, and easily the most apparent knock against this game: the packaging. The game and it's components come in a what I can only describe as a shipping box, that is 12×12 inches, while being 2 inches thick…it almost looks like a hard pizza box. Beyond it's cardboard exterior, it possesses a single (albeit large) sticker on the front with its logo. I'm not going to lie readers, this is not an ideal setup…it's woefully aesthetically compromised. It's difficult to properly articulate, it's just all very underwhelming, and certainly not something I'd accept from other companies. Now, let's discuss the components of the game…they too suffer from a similar problem to the packaging. They are sturdy pieces of plastic that all have individual shapes, with numbers on them. Nothing to really knock here, just nothing to phone home about either. I only found one part of the game itself to be lacking: the game board. I'm being very nitpicky here I admit, but the board itself is relatively thin and needs bent into shape in order to flatten. I just found it slightly peevish, but definitely enough to mention.
Alright readers, this is a tricky situation. Part of doing reviews of anything (in my opinion) is to be objective. To view, evaluate, and convey information without any sort of framework to the best of your estimation. But when is an evaluation supposed to account for the totality of a product, from its mental conception all of the way to its final production? I've yet to do that with any other games that have come across my table. I've not taken a copy an Asmodee game and said: "This game is good, but with their vast resources, they could've done even better!" as I fiercely spike the game into the Earth before scurrying off to some internet message boards to bemoan how the sky is falling and how woeful my existence has become. No, what I do is attempt to critically comb over a product to distill out it's better qualities…and not so better qualities. That's the hitch with Planetary Strike, if Level 99 Games, or Asmodee, or Fantasy Flight Games released this game…I'd not recommend this game. But this game ISN'T a major company release, literally EVERYTHING is done at the creator's home. That's a serious endeavor, and one that deserves merit…serious friggin' merit. But, if we're being objective and I'm keeping my integrity, I wouldn't recommend Planetary Strike to anyone except for hardcore abstract gaming enthusiasts. That said, I hope to see more independent games like this in the future, it's a great sign for the hobby as a whole and gives me hope for the future.
Perhaps I've become a cynic, but I simply cannot recommend this game guys. But, I can highly recommend you keep an eye on this company. Just because some hypercritical jerk online doesn't like a product doesn't mean it's bad, it just means a difference in taste, and I hope this negative review doesn't sour you on this plucky little company. There is a review page on the company site with plenty of positive reviews, so please make sure to stop by there before making your final decision. Livingbytheboard is very much so hoping to an interview with this company, because we loved their story so much. Hopefully this review hasn't stifled this plan. As always, we'd like to thank Claim to Fame Games for the chance to review this game and for a look into their neat little company. Thank you for stopping by readers.
January 15, 2018 livingbytheboard	Abstract Games, Blog, board game, Claim to Fame Games, Games, Indie Board Games, Indie Games, Living by the Board, Planetary Strike, review	Leave a comment
Industry Interviews – Plaid Hat Games, Colby Dauch interview!
Today I get to bring an interesting little interview from Plaid Hat Games own Colby Dauch! Did you know that he used to work for Hasboro and Wizard's of the Coast? Well… now ya do! Keep reading for more info! Enjoy!
1) I understand that before Plaid Hat you did game design for Hasboro and Wizards of the Coast. Did you enjoy your time with said companies and can you please list a memorable game you worked on for each company?
The work I did for Hasbro and Wizards was as a freelance game designer. I did enjoy it, especially working under the tutelage of the great Craig VanNess. Heroscape would be the most notable game I worked on. In fact that's the only work I did at Wizards after having followed the game there from Hasbro.
2) Have you had any employment outside of the gaming industry?
Yes, I worked doing in home service with the mentally impaired, I worked at an after school program for at risk youth and I worked media director for a church.
3) Why did you choose the gaming industry for a career?
There was no point at which I made firm choice to make a career in the gaming industry. Rather it was something that evolved over time. Started doing development work as a hobby, then kind of became a community ambassador and organizer around Heroscape, then picked up some freelance work, then developed a game of my own, started a game company to publish it, then over time Plaid Hat Games great to the point where I was able to quit my day job and do it full-time.
4)You're often seen sporting a plaid hat. What came first the company name or the hat? (Where did the company name from?)
That hat came first. It kind of became an identity marker for me in the Heroscape community and a member of that community suggested the name Plaid Hat Games. I like the quirkiness of it so I ran with it.
5)What was the first game you ever designed and the first game published under the name Plaid Hat?
The first game I ever designed from scratch was called Summoner Quest. I scrapped it early on because it was a mess. I followed it up with Summoner Wars, which was the first game I published under Plaid Hat.
6)A few years ago Plaid Hat joined F2Z, how has the company changed since then?
We joined F2Z, that then joined Asmodee, so we had a couple of years there where we were in a state of flux. Through most of the life of Plaid Hat it has felt like a scrappy little studio just kind of winging it at every turn. Now Plaid Hat feels more like it has grown and matured and it now has the support of the Asmodee group. Our decisions feel more thoughtful and our work is more focused as we are now a game design studio rather than a full publishing company.
7)How do you see the gaming industry (as a whole) fairing in the coming years?
Oh man, I wish I had the power to scry that out. The trend has been up and up year over year for a long time and I have no solid reason to believe that won't continue. There are still a whole lot of people out there that don't know how fun hobby games are.
8)What is your favorite Plaid Hat game and your favorite non Plaid Hat game?
My favorite Plaid Hat game is Dead of Winter. It never fails to immerse me in an emergent narrative each time I play it. My favorite non Plaid Hat game has to go to Heroscape. It will always hold a special place in my heart. It's a spectacle on the table and is just good rambunctious fun.
9)Is your family also big into tabletop gaming?
I found games as an adult. I've spread games to some of my family, but I don't think many of them are engaging in-game play without my initiating it and they don't exactly have Board Game Geek profiles.
10)Do you have any advice for someone aspiring to be in the gaming industry?
I get this question a fair bit. I wish I was better at answering it. The question has only really existed for about a half-dozen years, so I don't think anyone has a good answer. There are questions like it surrounding other media: "How do I get into the Book – Comics – Film – Video Game industry?" The answers professionals of those industries give to those questions are often nebulous and the question of getting into board games is an even tougher one because all of those other industries have the advantage of being larger and having been around for some time. You can take college courses in them.
I really need to develop a quippier answer to this question. It wouldn't be anymore helpful, but it would sound more helpful and you won't have gotten bored reading it.
I hope you guys enjoyed this interview. I want to say thank you to Plaid Hat Games and Mr. Dauch for this chance, it is much appreciated. Keep sharing these things on social media, so I can keep getting interviews! Thank you guys for tuning in! And until next time.. Live by the Board.
October 5, 2017 livingbytheboard	Asmodee, Blog, Colby Dauch, Dead of Winter, F2Z, Games, Hasboro, Heroscape, Living by the Board, Plaid Hat Games, RPG, Summoner Quest, Wizards of the Coast	Leave a comment
Industry Interviews – Level 99 Games, D. Brad Talton Jr. interview!
I'm happy to bring you an interview from the head of Level 99 Games today. Mr. Talton is a really down to earth guy and it was a pleasure talking to him about the digital conversion of the Level 99 game library. I am hoping to see a Disc Duelers conversion. Level 99 has a new game out called I Can't Even With These Monsters, it looks like a really different game then what I am used to from Level 99 so I am super excited about it! Could you tell that Mr. Talton is an anime and manga fan by the art? Read on to see!
1) I understand that you started designing games at a young age and a great deal of them were collectible card games. Have any of your childhood games made appearances with Level 99 or influenced their designs?
Most of my childhood designs were inspired by specific video games that I played, and were somewhat derivative. There are a few that were pretty good, and which I might want to bring back and tune up someday–but none that are on the market at present.
2) Your games have such a distinct art style, what was it that made you decide these styles were right for your games?
I've always been a fan of anime and manga art styles, and I used to do a lot of my own art (though not anymore these days). This has influenced how we contract with and partner up with artists. All of our artists get larger project contracts over months, instead of individual pieces, and they get a cover credit alongside the designer as one of the principle creators of the game. Furthermore, we ask our artists to help out when building character designs, worlds, and storylines, so that everything is a unified vision. I think this is what helps our games to feel distinctive.
3) BattleCON was he first to be published through Level 99 in 2011, how have you been able to keep the series alive and well for 6 years?
I mostly have the fans to thank for the popularity of the series. We're had a lot of attempts and fumbles at creating organized play, online play versions, communities, and information websites. We're finally getting the hang of all that stuff nowadays, but a lot of it has been about the fans who keep the community together, run events, and create content like tutorials and original character designs.
4) What work did you do before your gaming career?
*Please see #5.
5) What was the deciding factor for creating Level 99?
I was involved with iOS app development (my formal training is in computer programming), but I was a junior programmer at my company and so was laid off in the big financial crisis of 2008. I started doing freelance work, and making some apps on my own, and that became a regular source of revenue. From there, I discovered Kickstarter and saw the success of early KS board games. I thought "hey, I can do this!" and so I decided to try my hand at publishing. The rest is history!
6) You've done several Kickstarter campaigns. Do you feel crowdfunding has been essential to your company?
Absolutely. Crowdfunding is more than just an essential tool for us at this point–its the way that fans expect to find and get involved in our new projects. I would say its an important part of the company's identity at this point.
7) You have games online as well through Mac, PC, IOS, and Android. Have you enjoyed converting your games digitally?
We're still in the process of converting our most popular games, but we anticipate that the reception will be good. Look out for them later this year! 😀
8)What are your favorite games? One Level 99 and one non level 99 please.
I really love Libertalia, a game about pirate crews raiding ships. It's the board game I'll always be interested in playing. As for my own stuff, I really enjoy the development process, so my favorite game is whatever's in development right now! For the moment, that's our castle-exploration adventure game, Seventh Cross, which is scheduled as a next year release.
9)Is your family also involved with tabletop gaming?
Not too much, actually. It's something that I pursue with friends, while for family (just my wife and I) we enjoy travel, hiking, cooking, and reading/discussing fantasy novels.
10)Do you have any advice for someone who aspires have a career in the gaming industry?
Think about what you want to be doing, and go do it. Don't wait to start on your own projects, but as you're building that portfolio, also look for ways that you can work into the industry with your skillset. Make sure you're making things that you want to play, and then look at the skills those creations have forced you to learn, and find a way to integrate those talents into team efforts and professional projects.
I hope everyone enjoyed this mini interview! I want to say thank you to Mr. Talton and Level 99 games for giving me the chance to do this interview and I look forward to more game releases! 🙂 Thank you guys for reading and until next time… Live by the Board.
September 14, 2017 livingbytheboard	Blog, Board games, Brad Talton, Card Games, Games, Industry Interviews, Interview, Level 99 games, Living by the Board	Leave a comment
Industry Interviews – Cheapass Games, James Ernest interview!
Today I get to bring you a great interview with Mr. James Ernest from Cheapass Games! My favorite game form Cheapass is Kill Doctor Lucky, although I am more partial to the card game version of the game. Kill Doctor Lucky is a great game and is best played with the maximum amount of players. Please check out the Cheapass Games site and their awesome free games section! Did you know that James Ernest wrote a book about juggling? Check it out! Enjoy!
1)Your gaming career started as a writer for Wizards of the Coast, during your time with them, when did you decide that you were meant for bigger things?
Honestly, nothing would have been bigger than a chance to work in Wizards R&D. Some very successful game designers have come out of that place. But my work for Wizards was mostly writing and graphic design, not game design. Wizards had a round of layoffs and a change of direction in 1995, and I took that opportunity to jump ship and (eventually) start my own game company.
2)What was the inspiration for the name "Cheapass Games," and your first game: "Kill Doctor Lucky?"
"Cheapass Games" was based on the idea that our games were cheap, our company was small, and we were proud of it! I saw a lot of smaller game companies pretending to be huge, but that just wasn't my style. So we made a big deal out of how small we were, and the name "Cheapass" was part of that strategy.
The inspiration for Kill Doctor Lucky actually predated Cheapass by a few months. I had written a "mystery" story in College, where a detective grills a bunch of murderers in the front room of a mansion while their victim is still alive, and when the lights go out, they all murder him in a matter of seconds. In turn this was inspired by games and movies from the mystery genre, including "Clue" in both cases, as well as many others.
One day while I was driving across town, the name "Kill Doctor Lucky" came into my head, and a nearly complete picture of the game wasn't far behind. I had made a few board games already and this seemed like a perfect way to launch my own company, once I had failed to sell it to a few existing publishers.
3)Kill Doctor Lucky was your flagship game, was it the first game you created?
I've been making games since I was very young. My first formal design project was in high school, when I wrote an abstract game (basically a chess variant) as a core element in a fantasy novel. I never finished the novel but my design partner and I thoroughly and enthusiastically finished the game. Before starting Cheapass I had also sold some games to Games Magazine, and had created several other board games and even a few trading card games.
4)How do you think the break in game production affected the company in the long run?
When we closed down (in about 2006) it was the right thing to do. I had too many employees, and too much inventory, and there wasn't much for it but to spend a few years on hiatus. The break gave us a chance to reinvent the company, and for the world to invent crowdfunding. When we came back with a site full of free games in 2011, many of our customers hadn't even noticed that we were missing.
5)What did you do before your gaming career started?
I have part of an engineering degree, and I had a short career as a professional juggler. All of this leads naturally to a game publishing career. I guess. From 1984 to about 1993, my main business was promoting my own juggling act, and publishing an instructional book called Contact Juggling. I also did freelance graphic design and technical writing, as well as comic book writing and illustration. And the kind of odd jobs that jugglers have, like scooping ice cream.
6)What made you want to be involved in the gaming industry?
I saw the success of Richard Garfield and Wizards of the Coast and realized that game inventing could be a paying job. I've got a passion for entertainment and mathematics, and I'm not bad at publishing, so it took a while to make sense of it all but I think I was destined for this career for a long time.
7)What is your favorite game in the Cheapass line and what is your favorite non-Cheapass game?
My favorite non-Cheapass game is poker, if you measure by hours spent playing. I learned a lot from Magic:the Gathering at a critical time in my career, but I also learned by watching that game's imitators that I would rather create something new than make incremental changes to a thing I know. There's less money in innovation, but it's where I would rather be.
Of all the games I've invented, I am most fond of Tak, but that's not technically in the "Cheapass" line… we put a "James Ernest" logo on that box. Other favorites are Lords of Vegas and Pirates of the Spanish Main, also not from Cheapass. My favorite CAG branded game might be Diceland, a quirky little game that never really got off the ground.
8)Is your family also heavily involved with tabletop gaming?
My wife Carol is VP of Cheapass Games, so yeah. Our daughter Nora is fifteen, and she's more of a console gamer than a tabletop gamer, but we will rope her into working the booth at Gen Con this year, and then she will either be hooked, or vow to escape at the earliest opportunity. Either way, we win.
9)Your company has some of the (in my opinion) best customer interaction out there, what would you say is the reasoning behind that?
Everyone will tell you that customer service is important, but I think our approach to it comes from a time when we didn't have the budget for anything else. Our customers are our greatest advocates, and board games spread by word of mouth, so we figure that one happy customer can lead to many more.
10)For anyone out there that is hoping to be a part of the gaming industry, what would be your advice?
Nobody gets into this business for the money. Our industry is populated by people who have a deep passion for games and for gaming, and who create, promote, and sell games because they love it. If you feel like that describes you, then you can probably find a home here.
I hope all of you enjoyed this great, mini in-depth interview! I want to say thank you to Mr. James Ernest and Cheapass Games for this interview, it means the world to me that great companies like yourselves have time for us little guys. Until next time… Live by the Board.
August 14, 2017 livingbytheboard	Blog, Board games, Card Games, Cheapass Games, Games, Industry Interviews, James Ernest, Kill Doctor Lucky, Living by the Board	Leave a comment
Gen Con 50
Today I just wanted to complain a bit about missing out on Gen Con. Feel free to ignore my angry, womanly ranting. This makes the second year in a row that I've had to cancel. Last year we got caught up in court for the frustrating shared parenting that we have and this year my boss that I had a two-year contract with just decided he couldn't pay me anymore. He hasn't paid me since March and after yesterday, that work relationship is over.
This year I was really excited about going, I have good communication with multiple game companies, I was going to volunteer with several companies, I had great tickets for events at Gen Con, and my blog is doing well. I had my tickets purchased, a unrefundable hotel, and a friend was going with my husband and I as well. I even bought this adorable Gen Con journal for my adventures.
In the end I had to cancel my tickets, that I couldn't actually get refunded… they just got put into the Gen Con site for future purchases. I had to cancel all of my cards because the hotel wouldn't tell me which one I used for my reservation, and I had to tell my friend that we could no longer go.
I know it's childish, but man I am so tired of not being able to go to things like this. I haven't had a "vacation" since I was a kid and my last driving trip was just to take my grandmother-in-law home to Illinois. I want a break from the real world and Gen Con seemed perfect for that. Here I am, anxiety riddled and all… and I still wanted to go to the 50th anniversary of Gen Con. That's huge for me.
I even got offered a game masters badge from a game company. I had to tell them I'm sorry, but I can't afford to go. I realize that this post is just a great big whiney list of complaints, but it's gets to the point where you don't know where to complain about things like this.
Board games are such an essential part of my life and Gen Con sounds amazing. I know that I'll get there one day and it will have been worth the wait. I really do hope that all of you attending this year have a blast and all of those sitting on the bench like me get there one day too. For the time being, I am just going to sit here and enviously/angrily stare at all of my friends that have yearly vacations and really consider smacking the ones that have multiple vacations every year…
Sorry for having my outburst today, thank you for hanging in there and reading. I'll be less angry during my next post. Until next time… Live by the board.
July 18, 2017 livingbytheboard	anxiety, Blog, Board games, Card Games, Games, Gen con, Living by the Board	Leave a comment
This is where it all started.
I was looking through my memories on Facebook and I found a picture of the start of mine and my husbands board game collection back in 2013. Back then, we had less than 30 games and now we have over 300!
It started with some of your standard card games like Uno, Phase 10, and Skip-Bo and some not so standard ones like Fluxx and Dixit. We had your standard Yahtzee dice game and some fun dice games in Cthulhu dice and King of Tokyo. We went a little crazy with Catan and got three different Catan games.
This is an unpopular opinion, but I don't particularly care for standard Catan, however, I really enjoy Catan dice and Rivals for Catan. I remember sitting in bed with my husband and playing Catan Dice all of the time, but if I'm being honest Rivals made a bigger impact on me. We had two player games like Chess and Mancala, but Rivals was the first big experience with two player only games.
I think that Dixit and King of Tokyo were probably the biggest inspirations to us embracing board games as a way of life. To this day both get good play. Of course, we had our games that just didn't stick with us enough. We got rid of Apples to Apples and Story Cubes pretty quickly and with that followed quite a few others from this original collection. We try to go through our games before Christmas every year to see what we are getting rid of and the weird thing is that no matter when the last time we played… it always hurts to say goodbye to a game. We still have Catan Family Edition and I'm certain that we haven't played it since 2013, but my husband insists on keeping it. He says it's because it's a classic, but I know it's because it was from the start of our wonderous hobby.
The great thing about this collection is that most of it came from a shop called Yottaquest. It was our FLGS until they closed it down. It was wonderful being able to go and physically browse shelves of games that could and for some, would one day be ours. Having a FLGS was a great feeling because even though they were greatly overpriced, it was almost like another home. I believe I was always nervous and shy when I would go, but I knew that I didn't have to be… I knew that those were my people. What a greatly missed feeling… I am hoping that my first trip to Gen Con brings back that neat little feeling.
I know that this post was random and all over the place, but I just felt like chatting about it a bit. Do you remember when your collection started? Tell me about it!! Thank you for stopping by and until next time… Live by the board.
June 5, 2017 livingbytheboard	Apples to Apples, Blog, Board games, catan, Catan Dice, Catan Family Edition, Chess, collection, Cthulhu Dice, dixit, FLGS, Games, Gen con, King of Tokyo, mancala, origin, Phase 10, Rivals for Catan, Skip-Bo, Story Cubes, Uno, Yahtzee, Yottquest	Leave a comment

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
The Courts and Election Law: The Divergent Fortunes of Crawford (Voter ID) and Citizens United (Super PACs)
The voting rights and campaign finance wars have been fought on terrain largely shaped by two major and controversial decisions: the Crawford case on voter ID requirements, and Citizens United on independent spending. Critics have lamented Crawford's naiveté about the stated value and inevitable partisan misuses of ID requirements, but it seemed that supporters had going for them the "common sense" judgment that voters required to have an ID to board a plane can be reasonably asked to produce one to vote. So one might have thought that Crawford was here to stay, even as the Justice who wrote for the Court, John Paul Stevens, has expressed regret.
Citizens United got more bad press in many quarters for opening up direct corporate political spending and for giving a boost to Super PACs. Its author, Anthony Kennedy, continues to defend it. He points to the silver lining: the court's brief, arguably cursory, salute to disclosure, even as Kennedy concedes it is not yet working in practice as he had hoped it would. The critics who think the court flipped open the Pandora's Box of campaign finance have put whatever hopes on the antidote of disclosure, and more speculatively on a constitutional amendment to overturn the case's core permissiveness.
In light of developments of recent weeks, it is interesting to consider where the law set in motion by these cases is heading.
Category: Citizens United, Disclosure, Independent Expenditures, Super PACs, The Federal Election Commission, Voter ID, Voting Rights
Tags: Citizens United, disclosure, First Amendment, Super PACs, The Supreme Court, Voter ID, Voting Rights
Citizens United and the "Impossible Dream"
Justice Ginsburg's recent press comments have been noted mostly for her openly expressed disdain for the Trump candidacy. Less surprising in the remarks was the Justice's "impossible dream" that Citizens United be overturned. She has said this before, and since she dissented in that case, there is not much news here, unless anyone still had doubts that for this Justice, the killing off of that decision is a priority.
The comment was reported at the same time as the Complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission by Representative Ted Lieu and others who intend to set into motion the reconsideration the Justice is hoping for. And so it invites an appraisal of its prospects for accomplishing the Justice Ginsburg's "impossible dream."
As my colleague Marc Elias has pointed out, the FEC cannot succeed; this is a lost cause. When the Complaint fails, it may do little more than unnecessarily promote the belief that CU is here to stay. It is not clear why this is the best legal maneuver, or the most effective exercise in public communications, in the attack on Speechnow and Citizens United.
Aside from the question of strategy, the Complaint itself is a surprisingly subdued performance. It has a bit the feel of going-through-the-motions: doing the least possible to set up the agency dismissal and the move to the courts. True, the Complainants knew that the outcome at the agency was inevitable and there is time later to build their argument. But the case they preview in the Complaint seems flat and this certainly can't help the Complainants in their subsequent appeal.
Category: appearance of corruption, Campaign Finance Reform, Citizens United, corruption, Super PACs, The Federal Election Commission, The Supreme Court
Tags: appearance of corruption, campaign finance reform, Citizens United, corruption, FEC, Super PACs, The Supreme Court
One FEC Commissioner's Answer to Citizens United
FEC Commissioner Weintraub believes that she has hit upon a regulatory maneuver to stop publicly traded corporations from making independent expenditures, or unlimited contributions to independent expenditure committees. At a time when newspaper editorialists carry on with attacks on the Commission as "worse than useless," the Commissioner seems determined to prod the FEC to face the major "money in politics" issues of the day.
This is her theory: foreign nationals cannot make contributions or independent expenditures, which means that the FEC could establish that no corporation with foreign nationals as shareholders could engage in this political spending. The rule would not bring about this result outright: it would require a corporation to "certify" that it was not making contributions or independent expenditures with these funds. As a practical matter, corporations with foreign national shareholders could not risk making the certification and would forgo this political spending. The Commissioner plans to direct lawyers to produce proposals that she and her colleagues can consider in a future rulemaking.
This is an interesting proposal, but it is generally appreciated that a Commission unable to agree on matters of lesser moment will not find a majority in favor of this one. But even beyond that, the proposal is vulnerable to questions about its viability as a regulatory measure.
Category: Campaign Finance Reform, Citizens United, foreign nationals, Independent Expenditures, Super PACs, The Federal Election Commission, The Supreme Court, Uncategorized
Tags: campaign finance reform, Citizens United, FEC, independent expenditures, Super PACs, The Supreme Court


text:
var mongoose = require('mongoose');
var cfg = require('config').cfg;
var cronJob = require('cron').CronJob;
var Stats = require('./stats');

// This is a session model for tf2 servers

var sessionSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
  _id: String, // sessionid
  ip: String, // Not sure if this is actually a string
  matchId: Number, // Change this to mongoose.Schema.Types.ObjectId?
  timeout: Number // Numeric date of last update + cfg.statsSessionTimeout
});

sessionSchema.methods.expireSessionKey = function(cb) {
  this.remove(function (err) {
    cb(err);
  });
};

var Session = mongoose.model('Session', sessionSchema);

module.exports = Session;

// Cron job to expire old session keys every n minutes
var expireSessionKeyJob = new cronJob('0 */' + cfg.session_expiry_interval + ' * * * *', function() {

  Session.find({ "timeout": { $lte: Date.now() } }, function(err, sessions) {
    if (err) {
      return console.log(err);
    }
    if (!sessions) {
      return console.log('No sessions found???');
    }
    sessions.forEach(function(session) {

      Stats.setGameOver(session.matchId, null, null, function(err) {
        if (err) { console.log(err); }
      });

      session.expireSessionKey(function(err) {
        if (err) { console.log(err); }
      });

    });
  });

}, null, true);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Explicitly Unwrapped Optionals in Typescript? In Swift, if I have a property of a class that is another class, I declare it as an implicitly unwrapped optional:
class MyClass {
  var prop: OtherClass!

  init(prop: OtherClass) {
    self.prop = prop
  }

  explodeProp() {
    // don't need to unwrap it, because it's implicitly unwrapped
    // which is safe because it's always assigned in the initializer
    prop.explode()
  }
}

In Typescript, I think I have to do it this way:
export class MarkdownNode {
  tag = "";
  text = "";
  document: FoldingDocument | null = null; // will never actually be null
  parent: MarkdownNode | null = null; // could indeed be null

  constructor(tag: string, text: string, document: FoldingDocument) {
    this.tag = tag;
    this.text = text;
    this.document = document;
  }

  addSibling(node: MarkdownNode) {
    if (!this.parent) {
      this.document!.nodes.push(node) // no choice but to force-unwrap?
    } else {
      this.parent.children.push(node
    }
  }
}

Is there a way to do implicitly unwrapped optionals in TypeScript? Is it maybe on the way?

A: Yes, Typescript has this functionality, it is called Definite Assignment Assertion and looks like this (note exclamation mark):
let x! string; // variable declaration
class Foo {
  bar!: number; // property declaration
}

Note, however, that in typescript definitely assigned variables/properties has type T, not Optional<T>, as in Swift, and just become undefined when unassigned, so they are just the way to violate typecheck rules and doesn't affect runtime behaviour. You will not get errors like got nil while implicitly unwrapping optional value, but you just will get undefined and only when you try to use it (like trying to call method), you get error, compare:
Swift
class Foo {
  var bar: String!
}
let x = Foo()
let y: String = x.bar // boom! Fatal error: Unexpectedly found nil while implicitly unwrapping an Optional value

Typescript:
class Foo {
  bar!: string;
}
let x = new Foo()
let y: string = x.bar // it is ok, we just assigned `undefined` to string variable
someObject.name = y;
// years later in a galaxy far far away
let nameLength = someObject.name.length; // boom! Uncaught TypeError: Cannot read property 'length' of undefined

So, be careful, definite assignement is big footgun

A: In TS (guess same in swift) you could define value in constructor as well. Therefore if you dont expect value to be null - you should not add it to the type.
Here is playground
class FoldingDocument {
    nodes: MarkdownNode[] = [];
}

class MarkdownNode {
  tag: string;
  text: string;
  document: FoldingDocument;
  parent: MarkdownNode | null = null; // could indeed be null
  children: MarkdownNode[] = [];

  constructor(tag: string, text: string, document: FoldingDocument) {
    this.tag = tag;
    this.text = text;
    this.document = document;
  }

  addSibling(node: MarkdownNode) {
    if (!this.parent) {
      this.document.nodes.push(node) // no choice but to force-unwrap?
    } else {
      this.parent.children.push(node)
    }
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The wreck occurred on Holliday Dam Road in Anderson County.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal wreck on Holliday Dam Road in the Honea Path area.
One person was killed and five others were injured, Anderson County Deputy Coroner Don McCown said. Two of the people injured are in critical condition, he said.
The wreck happened when an oncoming car crossed the center line and struck the vehicle. The 16-year-old driver of the car was charged with driving left of center, according to Highway Patrol.
The wreck occurred around 5:45 p.m Wednesday near the intersection with Charles Burton Road.
The victim was identified as Kala Denise Fletcher, 35. She died of blunt-force trauma, McCown said.
Fletcher was the passenger and was unrestrained in the vehicle, McCown said. She was riding in a Chevy Tahoe, he said.
Her vehicle was struck by a Honda that crossed the center line and hit the Tahoe head-on, McCown said.
He said it does not appear alcohol or drugs were factors in the wreck.
Greenville News reporter Haley Walters contributed to this report.


Designing an open concept space has become very popular in the past 10-15 years, no matter the size of a home – 4000 square feet or a 700 square feet apartment. An open concept home makes any space appear larger than it is by removing a solid wall and combining rooms together. There are several benefits to having an open concept home such as: improving room depth, increased natural lighting, better communication between family members and being able to see your children playing in another room.
Furniture placement is key for any open concept space to flow naturally. In order to maximize the space available, don't block natural lighting and the traffic pattern from room to room should be wide and free from obstacles (no furniture in between walking path). When purchasing furniture a few tips to keep in mind; avoid tall furniture to keep the continuity from space to space and balance the weight of the room – symmetrical layout, use a solid colour for the main piece of furniture with an accent pattern on multiple smaller pieces. Lastly, don't place your furniture right against the wall. By leaving distance between the wall and the furniture it creates a larger feel to the space instead of feeling the furniture is barely fitting into the room because you have to push it all the way to the wall.
A neutral colour scheme throughout the entire space is the easiest way to tie in all elements of the home. You'll need to carry and repeat finishes throughout the space, for example, repeat similar patterns and textures in the accessories you select.
One of the mistakes you can make when designing an open concept area is the furniture looks scattered instead of spacious. You can avoid this by adding an area rug to tie the furniture pieces together. Also, pattern direction is very important when working with an open concept area, be aware of the direction of pattern placement and how that will impact the space and ensure the pattern of the area rug is visible and not covered by furniture.
Kenji brings seven years of interior design experience to La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries. Originally from Hong Kong, he is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. He studied interior design at BCIT and has worked for commercial companies focusing on paints, lighting, and cabinetry. Just before joining the design team at La-Z-Boy in Richmond, he was a senior interior designer at a private residential design firm for five years.


Chance to Shine is a charitable organisation which, since 2005,has helped reverse the decline in cricket in state schools. Working in close partnership with all 39 County Cricket Boards and hundreds of local cricket clubs, we've got three million boys and girls in over 11,000 schools playing and learning through cricket.
In Staffordshire, Chance to Shine invests funds into Staffordshire Cricket to deliver cricket into the county's network of schools – mainstream and special needs. This ranges from teaching Key Stage 1 pupils fundamental movement skills, the basics of the game up to involvement full countywide competitions, continuous personal development work with teachers and a focus on learning through the game with classroom resources to aid study as well as physical education.
Our coaches work to develop links between schools and local cricket clubs and All Stars Cricket centres to create exit routes and additional playing opportunities for young people.
Chance to Shine has also created a whole host of Teacher Resources for the playground and classroom - the links below will take you the site.


text:
Developing a new generation of peaceful leaders for South Sudan
Angelo Maker
Angelo Maker is among the 3,000 orphans called The Lost Boys of Sudan who were brought to this country by the United States government in 2001. His village in Rumbek was attacked during the civil war that escalated in Southern Sudan in 1983, a war that claimed over two million lives. Only seven years old at the time, Angelo watched helplessly as his mother and two brothers were brutally murdered. Desperately trying to survive, he joined a large group of boys who were also displaced, and they began their long, hazardous journey across Sudan into neighboring Ethiopia. Many died along the way because of a lack of food, water, exposure to the elements, and attacks from wild animals and the government helicopters that had bombed their villages. By the grace of God, Angelo did not.
After living in a refugee camp in Ethiopia for three years, the Lost Boys were forced to move back to Sudan when the Ethiopian government was overthrown. They were attacked by Ethiopian rebels and the Sudanese government before they could even leave the country. Some fled across the river separating Sudan and Ethiopia, but many perished because they did not know how to swim or were attacked by alligators. Once again, Angelo managed to survive. He and the remaining boys spent another harrowing year trying to stay alive in Sudan while fighting off starvation and the government that still wanted them dead so that they would not grow to adults and seek revenge.
The United Nations took notice of the situation and removed the boys from Sudan, placing them in refugee camps in Kenya. They lived there for nine years and received some education. In 1999, the United States began a program that focused on bringing these Lost Boys to America so that they would have a chance to educate themselves and return to Sudan to build a better future for their people. This program continued until heightened security after the 9/11 bombings forced the program to shut down.
Angelo now resides in Newport News, VA with his wife, Stephanie, and their three young children. He has a double Bachelor's in International Relations and Political Science from Old Dominion University and Masters from Regent University. He remains very active in numerous efforts to foster awareness for the plight of the South Sudanese people, working to create a better future for his friends and family in South Sudan. Angelo's homeland and hometown, Rumbek, remains dear to his heart, and he and his family are making preparations to move back to South Sudan to oversee Abukloi on the ground.
makerangelo@hotmail.com
Justin de Mathok
Rumbek Director
Justin, a native of Rumbek, Lakes State, became director of Abukloi last year. He has an advanced diploma from a Lakes secondary school. In his time as director, he has seen the impact Abukloi has had on this Lakes State community.
"Our partnership with the Lakes State government allows us to provide a free and quality education to young South Sudanese who could have dropped out due to lack of school fees and other learning materials. We also employ local citizens in an economy that has virtually no jobs for the average person."
Despite concerns about national security and lack of infrastructure, Justin is looking forward to implementing Abukloi's future plans in relatively stable Lakes State. "The creation of an experimental farm will help students and the community by giving vivid examples of agricultural produce and how well it can be promoted." Abukloi is receiving assistance from Virginia State University with this project. A primary health care program is also being developed through a partnership with Old Dominion University.
Things are progressing quickly at Abukloi. With the leadership of our director, dedicated teachers, local advisory committees and a committed board in Virginia, we will realize the our vision of building a better South Sudan.
Kimberly Rodriguez
Kimberly has a passion to serve and help those in need. Her career path includes extensive history with non-profits, Social Services and partnering organization with a focus on Community Resources, Outreach, Senior Services, Homelessness, Counseling, and Re-entry. She has been connected to the Williamsburg community for many years and has a desire to do more beyond the community by teaming up with Abukloi. Kimberly received her associate's degree from Richard Bland of the College of William and Mary and furthered her studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. She later received a Bachelors in Psychology from Liberty University.
kimberly.rodriguez@abukloi.org
Rev. Margaret Kutz
Born in Pennsylvania to family of seven children, Marg received a degree in Elementary Education from Clarion University in 1971. Following the call to ministry, she was ordained a deacon in the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1974. She soon earned a Masters of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary and became a fully ordained minister in 1977. Marg served as pastor of six Virginia churches in 40 years of ministry. In 2007, she received a Doctor of Ministry from the Virginia Union University, School of Theology. Married for 40 years with two children and three grandchildren, her hobbies include gardening, bird watching, sewing and creating pastel portraits. For years, Marg has been a vital support to the Lost Boys and Girls community in Virginia.Dr. Rev. Kutz opened the Abukloi school for its first semester in the Fall of 2013 and returns annually to help manage operations.
margkutz72@gmail.com
Beverly Nelan
Bev Nelan has earned a B.S. in Special Education and a M.A. in Education. In addition she has earned an additional 35 hours of graduate work in Administration and Management, a Reading Specialist certification and a Course of Study certificate in Theology from Duke University. Her 48 years of expericane have take her to many U.S. states and other countries in the fields of education, training soldiers with the Department of Defense, and as a local pastor for the United Methodist Church. She has served as an elementary and middle school teacher, special education teacher with the learning disabled and emotional distrubed, English as a Second Language teacher and a reading specialist. She has been the Reading Director for Eighth Army, Korea; Deputy Directory of Trailing for Combat Serivce Support, Army; Principal of Seoul International School, Korea; and pastor of three local churches in Virginia. Bev believes she has been called by God to begin a secondary schoool in Rumbek, South Sudan. "After hearing Angelo Maker's story of the Lost Boys of Sudan, I felt the call to go to South Sudan and with God leanding the way, to make a difference in Rumbek."Bev went to Rumbek to prepare the school for its Fall of 2013 opening.
nelanb@aol.com
Abukloi Foundation
Lightfoot, VA 23090
Questions/Info:
Abukloi © 2020
is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt


text:
John Fogerty Explains How Foo Fighters Collaboration Came About
. John Fogerty was interviewed by Classic Rock Revisited about his new album, Wrote A Song For Everyone, which hits stores today. During the chat Fogerty explained how he teamed up with the Foo Fighters to record the new version of "Fortunate Son."
Here is what he had to say, "I've known Dave Grohl for a few years, probably around '05, or something like that. We used to see each other at all of these events like the Grammy's, or some kind of gala, and we would always say 'hi' to each other. I've always liked his presence. A couple of times we have actually run into each other at the hot dog stand, or whatever. He is a really good guy.
"It was another idea of my wife's back then. She said, 'Why don't you and Dave get together and write a song.' He was up for the idea and he came over to my house. We kicked some things around, but it really didn't do much. I felt like he wasn't on fire that day, but I liked him. I remember hanging out with him and thinking, 'This guy is just as cool as I thought he would be.'
"For this album, we wanted them to do a song and we called Dave up and they were up for it. I think they were the ones that suggested 'Fortunate Son.' In most cases, the artists on this record suggested the songs that we did. We were sort of encouraging everybody to go with whatever their inclination was. " Check out the full interview here.
John Fogerty CDs, DVDs and MP3s
John Fogerty T-shirts and Posters


Identifying the best expat medical insurance plan is a tough process that is only complicated by the excessive insurance terminology. You're certainly not alone in occasionally feeling overwhelmed while searching for details on specific insurance policies. Fortunately, we've put together this extensive list of expatriate insurance terms that will come up again and again in your research.
Definition: Expatriate health insurance policies provide either worldwide or regional medical coverage to international citizens living outside of their home country. Also Read: What is the Meaning of Expatriate?
Accident – an unexpected event that causes injury, that was not intentionally caused by the insured, and arises from causes outside of their control.
Acute Medical Condition – a medical condition that is sudden, severe, and often unexpected. Acute medical conditions can include anything from an asthma attack to a broken arm.
The Injury or illness does not result from chemical, nuclear or biological weapons or events.
You have no direct or indirect involvement in the act of terrorism.
The act of terrorism is not in a country or location where the United States government has issued a travel advisory that has been in effect within the 6 months prior to your date of arrival.
You have not unreasonably failed or refused to depart a country or location following the date an advisory to leave that country or location is issued by the United States government.
Alternative Therapies (Complementary Therapies) – therapy and treatment that falls outside of traditional Western medicine or treatments. Examples include acupuncture, meditation, and homeopathy.
Benefit Period – the period of time during which the insured receives compensation from their insurance company for medical purposes, and can vary from policy to policy. For example, one policy may state that your benefit period begins the day you are hospitalized for a serious illness and ends 30 days after you stop receiving treatment.
Moving Abroad? Find a Quality International Health Insurance Plan before you go!
Casualty Insurance (Indemnity Insurance) – insurance coverage outside of life insurance or health insurance that primarily serves as liability coverage if the insured's negligent acts or omissions result in an accident. For example, if you are found "at fault" for a car accident, casualty insurance could cover the medical expenses of those involved in the accident and repair of damaged property.
Certificate of Creditable Coverage (CCC) – a certificate issued by an insurance company that provides proof of your insurance plan and dates of coverage.
Claims – the amount of money requested by an insured individual from an insurance company to cover the costs of insured medical expenses. Claims are typically made in the form of a written notification to the insurance company requesting payment for medical care that was received.
Comprehensive Medical Insurance – insurance plans that cover a wide range of expat health services including hospitalization, emergency services, maternity care, and much more.
Continuous Coverage – health insurance coverage that is not interrupted by a delay in timing from one policy ending and another starting.
Coverage Area – the geographical region where an insurance policy is in effect.
Covered Expenses – expenses that the insurance company agrees to cover based on the purchased insurance policy. A full list of covered expenses will appear in the Schedule of Benefits.
Covered Reasons – the specific situations and events that are covered by a specific insurance policy.
Annual Maximum – Some policies have a maximum coverage that resets every year at renewal. To give you an example, let's say you have a medical emergency that costs $2 million but your plan has a $1.5 million annual maximum. The plan will only cover $1.5 million for that certificate period year. If the $2 million is incurred in the same policy year, then you will pay the remaining $500,000. At the renewal of your plan at the end of the year, the plan will again offer $1.5 million in coverage.
Condition Maximum (Per Injury, or Per Illness Maximum) – the total amount that an insurance plan will pay per condition. As an example, let's say you have a $100,000 coverage maximum per injury or illness on your plan. If you have an injury which requires hospitalization, physical therapy, and regular doctor follow-ups, the maximum amount the plan will cover for all of these related expenses is $100,000. If you have a new unrelated illness or injury, you would be entitled to coverage up to $100,000 for that condition.
Lifetime Maximum – the maximum amount a plan will cover for each insured over the lifetime of the policy. Once the lifetime maximum has been paid, there are no more benefits covered under the policy. So, to give you an example, let's say your plan has a $5 million lifetime maximum. In the first year, if you have $1 million in paid claims. In this case, the policy will only pay $4 million for eligible expenses for the remaining life of the policy. Once you meet the lifetime maximum, no further expenses are covered and you may need to seek a new insurance plan.
Death Benefit (Survivor Benefit) – the total compensation that is paid to the beneficiary of the life insurance plan when the insured passes away.
Deductible and Copays – typically the amount you pay out of pocket either before the coverage starts (deductible) or as a percentage of what the insurance plan covers (co-pay or co-insurance). More: Deductible, Co-Insurance, and Co-Pays.
Dependent – a spouse and/or children who are legally dependent on the insured for financial stability. In some cases, dependents will qualify for insurance coverage within the insured's policy.
Earned Premium – the amount of total premium collected by an insurance company that has been "earned" based on the elapsed time of the policy. For example, if your annual insurance premiums were $1,200, and you were 6 months through your policy, the insurance company's earned premium would be $600, even if you paid the $1,200 up front.
Effective Date – the date at which an insurance policy becomes effective.
Elimination Period (Waiting Period) – the period of time between the insured's accident and the arrival of benefit payments. For example, if you broke your leg in January and received your first benefit payment in February, the elimination period would be one month.
Epidemic – an outbreak of a contagious disease that spreads rapidly and affects many individuals in a community at the same time.
Medical Evacuation Insurance – insurance that provides for the transportation of the insured to another location if they cannot find adequate emergency treatment locally. For example, a doctor declares that it is a medical necessity for you to be transported to a neighboring country where doctors have the proper equipment and expertise to treat your condition.
Political Evacuation Insurance – insurance coverage that provides for transportation out of your host country in the event of a military coup, civil uprising, mass riots, political unrest, or being identified as a "persona non grata" ("person not appreciated").
Repatriation of Remains – insurance coverage that allows for a deceased insured member's body to be transported back to their home country. While each policy will specifically define what is covered, typically this benefit covers preparation of remains to be transported, including air and/or ground transportation back to the principal residence. For example, if you were to pass away while abroad, your insurance provider would cover the cost of your body to be flown back to your home country, and driven to your family's house.
Exclusions – cases under which an insurance provider does not provide coverage to the insured. For example, an insurance company may include an exclusion for car accidents if the insured is driving under the influence.
Expatriate Insurance – insurance policies designed to cover financial losses that expatriates face while living and working in a country other than their own.
Floater Policy – insurance coverage for property that is moved from one place to another that is not included in standard policies in the new location.
Fulfillment Kit – the materials that are sent to a new policyholder at the beginning of their insurance coverage providing information about the plan, a certificate of coverage, information on how to file a claim, and contact information of the insurance company.
Grace Period – a period of time after an insurance premium payment is due during which the insured can fully enjoy the insurance coverage without incurring an additional fee. Grace periods can range from 24 hours to 30 days, and after their expiration, the insured will be required to pay an additional fee.
Hazard – any situation or condition that increases the chances of an insured loss occurring. For example, smoking is a hazard that increases your chance of lung cancer.
Health Savings Account (HSA) – a benefits program that is very similar to FSAs, in that employees can set aside pre-tax income to be used for medical expenses, with a few minor differences, such as the ability to roll over balances from one year to the next with HSAs.
High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) – health insurance plans that have low premiums and high deductibles, relative to most other health insurance plans. In other words, HDHPs charge lower monthly rates, but typically provide less coverage in the event of a hospital visit or other medical expense.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) – a law passed by Congress in 1966 that mandates industry-wide standards for the protection of healthcare information, while also reducing healthcare fraud and abuse.
Hospital Indemnity – a budget included in some insurance plans (ex. Atlas Travel Medical Insurance) that covers expenses for items like meals and toiletries that you may be required to take on if you find yourself in a hospital for several weeks. Hospital indemnity benefits are not subject to a deductible or coinsurance, meaning the expenses are fully covered by insurance providers.
Inflation Protection – a feature of certain insurance policies whereby the value of benefits increases by a certain, pre-defined percentage during specific time periods to assure that insurance coverage grows at the same pace as inflation.
Insurance Provider Network – the grouping of hospitals, doctors, and other health care providers that the insured will receive the maximum insurance coverage from working with.
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) – an insurance provider plan that typically limits customers to receiving insurance coverage only when working with one specific network provider.
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO, or Participating Provider Organization) – an organization of hospitals, doctors, and other health care providers who have agreed to provide health care at reduced rates to clients of a particular insurance provider. Healthcare providers who fall into your provider's PPO are often referred to as "In-Network" providers, while healthcare providers outside of your insurance provider's PPO are referred to as "Out of Network" providers, and will typically cost you much more than in-network providers.
Term Life Insurance – an insurance plan that covers a person for a specified period of time (days, weeks, years), but not for their whole life. It only pays benefits if the person dies during the time that the individual is covered for.
Whole Life Insurance – an insurance plan that covers a person for their entire life. Whole life insurance plans pay benefits regardless of when the insured dies.
Lost Luggage Insurance (Baggage Insurance) – coverage for any checked or stored baggage, or personal items that are damaged, lost, or stolen during your travels. Lost luggage insurance usually included coverage for replacement costs of travel documents, and will occasionally include bag tracking.
Natural Disaster Insurance – medical coverage for any expenses that are a direct result of a natural disaster, which is defined as any event that has the capacity to cause great harm to property or individuals.
Out-of-Pocket Expense – the total amount that you will pay towards your medical expenses. These expenses typically come in the form of a copay, co-insurance, deductible, or some combination of the three.
Co-Insurance – the shared cost of medical treatment between the insured and the insurance company. This shared cost is typically broken down by a certain percentage, like 80/20. In the instance of an 80/20 co-insurance, the insurance company will pay 80 percent of any medical bill, and the insured is responsible for the other 20 percent. It's important to check out what percentage you will be expected to pay along with whether there is a maximum amount at which the insurance company will pay the remainder. For example, perhaps you find a plan that has an 80/20 co-insurance up to $5,000. This means that you are responsible for 20 percent of your expenses until you reach the $5,000 cap. Then, typically the insurance will pay 100 percent up to the benefit or policy maximum. Keep in mind that not all co-insurance will have a cap. While this is fine for smaller items such as a doctor visit for a cold, it can quickly add up when it comes to larger emergency situations.
Copay – the set fee that you are required to pay when you use the plan. For example, if you have a $50 copay on doctors' visits, you would be required to pay the first $50, and the insurance company would pay the rest. Keep in mind that, on top of a copay, many insurance providers also use coinsurance, which would increase your costs for that same doctor's visit.
Deductible – the annual amount that you are required to pay out of pocket before your insurance company will pay any eligible expenses. For example, if you have a deductible of $1,000, your insurance company will not cover any medical expenses until you have spent $1,000 on medical expenses for the year.
Out-patient – a patient who receives medical treatment at a hospital or clinic, but is not admitted for an overnight stay.
Policy Year – the length of time from the effective start date of the policy to one year later, at the close of the policy. For example, if the effective date begins May 9, 2017, the policy year would end on May 9, 2018.
Pre-Certification – the process of checking in with your insurance company to ensure that you are covered before moving forward with any medical expenses. Pre-certification eliminates the possibility that you will need to cover the cost of the entire medical expense.
Pre-Existing Conditions – any injury or illness which, prior to the start of the insurance plan, manifested itself, exhibited symptoms, required medical treatment or medication, or for which a physician was consulted. The exact definition will vary from plan to plan, but the key idea remains the same. Pre-existing conditions will often not be covered under your insurance policy.
Premium – the amount that the insured must pay to their insurance provider in order to be insured. These payments may be paid as a lump sum, or in installments during the period of coverage.
Premiums Are Fully Earned – A policy that is non-refundable if canceled before the insurance certificate expires, or if there is a reduction in coverage due to the sale or loss of an item covered under the insurance policy.
Preventive Care (Wellness Benefits) – routine healthcare services intended to prevent illness and other health-related issues from developing in the first place. Some examples of preventive care include check-ups and counseling.
Quarantine – mandatory isolation or restrictions on where you can go, intended to stop a contagious disease from spreading.
Refund – a cash, credit or voucher for future travel that you receive from a travel agent, tour operator, airline, cruise line or another travel supplier, or a reimbursement you receive from your employer, another insurance company, a credit card issuer or any other entity.
Remote Transportation – insurance coverage for transportation related to medical issues that are not immediately life-threatening, but are severe enough to result in permanent disability or death if not treated right away.
Return of Mortal Remains – Repatriation of Remains of a deceased individual to the insured's home country.
Rider (Waiver) – a formal written statement from the insurance company to the insured amending and modifying coverage of the insurance plan. It could involve waiving coverage for a certain medical condition like cancer, hepatitis or adding coverage for such conditions.
Risk Class – a group of individuals that have similar characteristics (i.e. gender, race, medical history, etc.), which is used to determine the risk that the insurance provider must take on to provide coverage for an individual who falls under that group. The risk class that you fall under is largely used to determine your insurance premiums.
Schedule of Benefits (SOB) – a list of the benefits, and the amount of coverage provided in an insurance policy, usually one or two pages in length.
Subrogation – steps that a travel insurance company takes, after paying a claim, to collect from other available sources such as other insurance plans or travel suppliers.
Terrorism – criminal acts committed with the intent of causing death, serious bodily injury, or the capturing of hostages, with the goal to provide widespread terror in the general public or within a group of persons, or compel a government or international organization to commit, or abstain from committing, an act.
Trip Cancellation Insurance – insurance coverage that provides reimbursement for non-refundable trip payments and deposits in the event that the trip is canceled due to illness, death, or other specified unforeseen circumstances.
Trip Interruption Insurance – insurance coverage that will reimburse you for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses in the event that serious illness, death, airline strike, or other crises occur during your trip causing it to be canceled, interrupted, or delayed.
Underwriting – the process by which insurance agents review yours and your family's existing medical records to determine whether or not you are eligible for a specific insurance plan. After the review process, the insurance company will either approve, deny or approve with a rider, which excludes certain conditions from the coverage.
Usual, Reasonable, and Customary Coverage (URC) – prices often range from one healthcare provider to another, so URC was set up by health insurance providers to protect themselves from additional costs. Usual, Reasonable and Customary Coverage gives individuals the option to choose more expensive healthcare providers but states that the insurance company will only cover the individual to the maximum coverage amount based on the location and procedure, which is determined by the insurance company's figures on the usual cost of the medical expense.
Waiting Period – a period of time that the insured must wait before some or all of the coverages offered in an insurance plan begin. In other words, if you break your arm during the waiting period, you would not be eligible to receive medical benefits.
While we can't tell you which plan is right for you, this list of terms combined with our travel medical insurance reviews should leave you in good hands to find the best plan for your needs.
Did we miss anything? Probably not, but do your best to come up with any other expat insurance terms that you feel belong on this list, and send them to us via Twitter or Facebook. We'll gladly add any relevant terms that you come up with.
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Hudson Square: Downtown's Newest Darling Neighborhood
by Jordan Holberg
When it comes to New York real estate, downtown Manhattan residences are in extremely high demand. The market for SoHo and Tribeca lofts continues to set records and inspire bidding wars, so it can be daunting to find the perfect place. But thanks to recent rezoning in the area, a new residential neighborhood is emerging, and with it, a rare opportunity. Hudson Square – bounded by West Houston Street to the north, Canal Street to the south, Sixth Avenue to the east, and the Hudson River to the west – is rapidly becoming downtown Manhattan's hottest new neighborhood. While this area has attracted numerous media and tech companies in recent years, residential options in Hudson Square have historically been limited.
Fortunately, the new homes at 70 Charlton will change all that. The two modern red brick towers, designed by award-winning international architectural firm Beyer Blinder Belle and facing Charlton and Vandam Streets, are connected by a landscaped courtyard and shared lobby space. The design of 70 Charlton pays homage to the neighborhood's heritage as a printing district by employing masonry, metal, and glass to a striking contemporary effect. The structure's 92 residences range from 1- to 4-bedroom apartments and feature the open, loft-like living areas that draw prospective buyers to lower Manhattan. The mixed-use ground floor accommodates the lobby as well as retail space with street frontage. On the lower level, residents can enjoy a fitness center, 60' saltwater swimming pool, and children's playroom, among other amenities.
Completing Hudson Square's emergence as the place to live in downtown Manhattan, rezoning at last allows for additional upscale retail and dining establishments to take root—a welcome development for those who already work in the neighborhood, and for prospective home buyers. In anticipation of an influx of new residents and families, plans have been made for a 444-seat elementary school. Of course, rezoning also seeks to balance a neighborhood's revitalizing growth with its quality of life. With the rezoning of the Hudson Square area, new funding will be devoted to developing the community, with improvements set for the roof at Pier 40 and for indoor and outdoor recreational centers in the area.
Hudson Square is already home to some of the city's great restaurants and cultural centers. Film Forum (209 West Houston Street) is a mecca for film buffs thanks to its dependable showings of foreign and independent features and well-curated retrospectives. Recent developments on the culinary scene include New American standout Houseman (508 Greenwich Street) and lunch favorite Mae Mae Café (68 Vandam Street), which is literally around the corner from 70 Charlton. It's easy to see that rezoning has had a positive effect on this corner of Lower Manhattan, which features distinctive Federal and Greek Revival row houses and is surrounded and inspired by stalwart residential neighborhoods such as Soho, Tribeca, and the West Village. Now, the potential for measured development in Hudson Square that's being embraced by local residents and business owners can create value and opportunity for prospective Lower Manhattan home buyers as well, as evidenced by the compelling new homes at 70 Charlton.
Image Courtesy of ©iStock.com/art2002


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Home>Prince George's County>Metro Officials Press Prince George's for Support
Prince George's CountyWilliam J. Ford
Metro Officials Press Prince George's for Support
William J. Ford – Washington Informer Staff Writer July 10, 2019
Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld (right) briefs the Prince George's County Council in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, on July 9. Nina Albert (center), Metro's vice president of real estate and parking, and Metro board member Thomas Graham sit alongside Wiedefeld. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)
Metro has several transit-oriented projects underway in Prince George's County such as a new Metro office in New Carrollton, mixed-use development in College Park and pedestrian improvements in Largo.
To continue improvements, officials with the transit agency seek county support to renew a 10-year, $150 million agreement with the federal government set to expire in September.
Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said Tuesday the money must be matched by Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. The agency uses the money for capital expenses and officials have labeled Metrorail as "the nation's subway system."
"Our program is built upon that $300 million being there, so obviously it would be a step backwards if we did not get those dollars," he said at a county council briefing in Upper Marlboro. "We move … almost 40 percent [of federal employees] on a daily basis. Any support you provide would be greatly appreciated."
Fortunately, Maryland Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen teamed with Virginia Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner to craft legislation for Metro to receive up to $200 million. The extra $50 million would be added if the transit agency adheres to additional safety requirements, more power for its inspector general and strengthen its governing board.
The money doesn't include last year's $500 million of dedicated funding the two states and the District agreed to provide.
Meanwhile, Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn wrote a letter to Wiedefeld and Metro's board of directors July 1 informing them the state will withhold $55 million in capital funding. The date began the new fiscal year and when money was slated for release. Rahn will join Metro's board Thursday to replace Clarence Crawford, who currently serves on Maryland's Board of Education.
According to the four-page letter, Metro hasn't provided a detailed account of its finances without a capital funding agreement in place. Maryland believes that funding mechanism "is a basic and necessary safeguard to hold the recipient of any grant funding responsible and accountable." The money doesn't affect operating expenses.
"This is the latest unfortunate, but necessary, step the state of Maryland believes it must take in response to an ongoing pattern of fiscal obfuscation and a lack of cooperation from [Metro]," Rahn said.
Wiedefeld said the agency will be able to work through any concerns with the state.
"I need to understand their issues a little bit more and I think they need to understand some of the parameters that we're dealing with," he said after the briefing. "We're a multi-state agency. We have to make sure everyone in the whole region is on board before we move forward with some of these things."
The Prince George's County Council expressed support for the agency for upcoming projects and other work.
For instance, an Andrew Federal Center Bus facility to accommodate up to 175 buses opened June 23 in Forestville.
Plans for an estimated $300 million heavy repair building in Landover would maintain and overhaul railcars.
Within the next four weeks, Metro plans to seek another agreement to build housing near Capitol Heights Metro station. The agency had a proposal two years ago with a developer to build a six-story apartment complex with a parking garage and 18,000 square feet of retail space.
Nina Gilbert, vice president of real estate and parking for Metro, said a similar project would be done in Capitol Heights, which borders the District. She said some of the 250 parking spaces will be taken away, so riders could park one mile away at the Addison Road-Seat Pleasant station.
Commuters in the northern part of the county who utilize four Metro stations — Greenbelt, College Park, Prince George's Plaza and West Hyattsville — may need to use other forms of transportation while platform and track improvements are scheduled in the summer of 2020.
Single-tracking of railcars between Greenbelt and College Park would happen between April 11 to May 22 of next year. A full shutdown of all four stations would begin Memorial Day weekend and extend through Labor Day.
"I firmly believe the growth of [Metro] is directly related to our growth as a county," said Councilwoman Deni Taveras (D-District 2) of Adelphi. "We're very vested [in] making sure that you do well."
Deni Taveras Metro Paul Wiedefeld Prince George's County William J. Ford
William J. Ford – Washington Informer Staff Writer
I decided I wanted to become a better writer while attending Bowie State University and figured that writing for the school newspaper would help. I'm not sure how much it helped, but I enjoyed it so much I decided to keep on doing it, which I still thoroughly enjoy 20 years later. If I weren't a journalist, I would coach youth basketball. Actually, I still play basketball, or at least try to play, once a week. My kryptonite is peanut butter. What makes me happy – seeing my son and two godchildren grow up. On the other hand, a bad call made by an official during a football or basketball game makes me throw up my hands and scream. Favorite foods include pancakes and scrambled eggs which I could eat 24-7. The strangest thing that's ever happened to me, or more accurately the most painful, was when I was hit by a car on Lancaster Avenue in Philadelphia. If I had the power or money to change the world, I'd make sure everyone had three meals a day. And while I don't have a motto or favorite quote, I continue to laugh which keeps me from driving myself crazy. You can reach me several ways: Twitter @jabariwill, Instagram will_iam.ford2281 or e-mail, wford@washingtoninformer.com
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