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Home News Your student is probably drinking without you knowing, according to survey
Your student is probably drinking without you knowing, according to survey
Tim Moore 10.2013 NewsLeave a Comment
This article is from The Toledo Free press. We encourage readers to comment at the bottom of the article.
Tyler Grandsko, a recent graduate of Toledo Christian Schools, knows what high school kids do on weekends.
Student Brian Hoeflinger died in a drunken driving accident in February. Photo courtesy Brian and Cindy Hoeflinger
"They are drinking a lot," said the blunt 18-year-old.
It isn't hard to get alcohol.
"It's all about connections," he said. "It always leads up to people they know. If someone has a big party, there is always that one person there who has an older brother. You can get it anywhere."
Some teens even buy an ID from someone who kind of looks like them because getting a fake one costs about $70, he said.
Tyler said teens are drinking at their houses with their parents knowing; they are drinking at their houses without their parents knowing; they are drinking at a friend's house because their parents told them not to drink; and they are even drinking at school sometimes.
"I have a buddy of mine who would have people over and have bonfires. His parents were upstairs; they were home, but they didn't know."
And the so-called "good" kids are
doing it, too.
It isn't just one group of students. It is more than the skaters or the party kids or the "lower half" of the school, Tyler said. It is the athletes, the homecoming queens, the presidents of the class. It is everyone.
Some ways to get drunk fast include vodka shots through the eyes and alcohol-soaked tampons, according to experts. Tyler said getting alcohol directly into the bloodstream
is gaining popularity so he has heard of teens injecting vodka into their veins.
Students Kelsi and Kristen Berry said drinking eased after Brian Hoeflinger's death but has since picked up. Toledo Free Press Photo and cover photo by Joseph Herr
"I know kids will just put vodka in water bottles to drink in school and on buses to and from school or sporting events. This one is a little different, putting alcohol in cologne spray bottles and spraying it in their mouths during school."
Drinking usually starts in high school with partying becoming more prominent in the junior and senior years.
Some students drink to be cool; some do it just to get drunk. Usually it's a combination of both, Tyler said. Beer and liquor are equally popular.
The first — and only time — that Tyler got falling-down drunk he did it as a way to just kick back and relax with his buddies.
He drank 12 Bud Lights and a full grape
Four Loko.
"I wanted to forget about everything that was going on and just have a good time," he said.
"Because the alcohol was there, I drank it."
At the time, Tyler was a sophomore at Toledo Christian, a school that has minimal underage drinking, he said.
"I moved away from Anthony Wayne in fifth grade. I came back in eighth grade and then by freshman year, there were people drinking and smoking weed."
While some people might think underage drinking is an urban problem, Tyler said it is sometimes worse "in the boonies."
"I walked upstairs and I was so out of it. I thought this one girl was upstairs, but it was [my friend's] mom," he said. "I tripped and fell down the stairs. She knew I was drunk and she told my parents about it."
Tyler got in trouble. His family was moving, so as a punishment he was grounded and couldn't visit any of his friends to say goodbye.
From that day, he made a decision that he would not drink for the rest of his high school years. He continues to honor that pledge as a freshman at Bowling Green State University.
"It isn't worth it to get in trouble. The feeling is terrible. I don't want to throw up every night or not be able to open my eyes until noon," he said. "Be your own person; set your ground rules for how you want to live and don't let anyone influence you. That is how I have been living my life since that day, ever since I got into trouble."
What is even more amazing is he made this socially unpopular decision before his friend Brian Hoeflinger died in a drunken driving accident.
A makeshift memorial at the site where Brian Hoeflinger died in February. Toledo Free press photo by Sarah Ottney
Kelsi Berry was in charge of setting up for a dance at Ottawa Hills High School on the morning of Feb. 2.
"Everyone was talking about how we can't have the dance anymore. I said, 'What happened?'"
Someone said, "Brian Hoeflinger has passed away."
"I didn't know what to do; none of us knew what to do," Kelsi said. "I walked into my mom and dad's room and told my mom. She was in shock. She used to take him to the dentist."
The close-knit community of Ottawa Hills would soon learn that the 18-year-old senior had been drinking at a party the night before. He was southbound on Edgehill Road and his vehicle went off the side of the street, struck a tree and caught on fire. His blood alcohol level was .15.
Kelsi, a sophomore, said she did not associate drinking with Brian. She can usually tell who is a drinker, she said, and she didn't think Brian hung with that crowd.
"You would never think of him drinking or anything. It was strange and hard to grasp," she said.
But more teens drink than those who don't, experts say. If you think your child drinks, he or she does. If you think your child doesn't drink, he or she probably does. The statistics are compelling.
Nearly 30 percent of adolescents report drinking by eighth grade, and 54 percent report being drunk at least once by 12th grade, according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Amy Barrett, director of AWAKE Community Coalition, an Anthony Wayne-based coalition dedicated to preventing substance abuse, said if parents think underage drinking is only a Toledo problem, they are taking a "head-in-the-sand approach."
"We have found that it is everyone," Barrett said.
In 2011, the results from a local health assessment mirrored national trends. The survey indicated that 54 percent of Lucas County youth in grades seven through 12 had consumed at least one drink in their life. Thirty-seven percent of those seventh- through 12th-graders who drank took their first drink at 12 years old or younger.
The survey also revealed that more than half of the seventh- through 12th-graders who reported drinking in the past 30 days participated in binge drinking, while 6 percent of all youth drivers had driven in the past month after they had been drinking.
Tyler was at a basketball game when his dad called to tell him about Brian's car accident.
"Dude, your buddy just died," his dad said.
"Who are you talking about?" Tyler asked.
"I was like, 'No way.' I had just played golf with him two weeks ago. There is no way that just happened. It was kind of a shocking-type of feeling. I was just sitting with my girlfriend and buddies. You aren't aware of anything. I just flashed back to memories."
Tyler knew Brian through their golf rivalry. Tyler played for Toledo Christian; Brian played for Ottawa Hills. Before his senior year at Ottawa Hills, Brian had attended St. John's Jesuit High School.
"Once he came to Ottawa Hills, there was a big rivalry between us," Tyler said. "Me and him had the same drive when it came to athletics. We always loved to win and do our best, and our best was never good enough."
Tyler said he didn't know Brian was a drinker. While most students seem to get alcohol through an older sibling, Brian's alcohol came from a liquor store the night he died. The clerk who sold it to him has been charged.
"When alcohol was involved and in the headlines and stuff, I thought he had gotten hit by a drunken driver," Tyler said.
Does Brian matter?
After Brian's death, his parents, Brian and Cindy Hoeflinger, began a crusade. They want to ignite a frank discussion about underage drinking.
"We wanted to get it out in the open and not be ashamed of it," his dad said.
Brian was a good boy — but even good boys like to experiment.
"Parents need to talk about it; they need to start a line of conversation," Brian's dad said. "Millions of parents don't think of talking about it because they don't think their kids are doing it."
Bottom line: Err on the side that assumes they are drinking.
The Hoeflingers founded "Brian Matters" as a way to continue the conversation at local schools and offer students an opportunity to take a pledge against underage drinking.
Tyler supports the Hoeflingers' mission. Initially, "Brian dying was a huge eye-opener," he said. But it didn't last long.
Within two weeks, some teens had gone back to their old ways. Some students even removed their pledges from the wall, according to a sophomore at Ottawa Hills who didn't want his name used.
The 16-year-old said many of his friends drink, which puts him in a tough spot because he doesn't want to lose all of his friends. Although it is mostly a weekend thing, people will even leave for lunch to drink.
Tyler said it is frustrating.
"Because it didn't happen to them, they can keep doing it. They think it is fun to get trashed. I don't understand how you can do all that stuff and then have a friend from your school, who you said you were so close to, die."
Kelsi said when the Hoeflingers talked to their school about taking the pledge, some seniors got up and left. Some took it — and broke it.
"Why take it and not follow it? That is making a bad promise to Brian and his parents," Kelsi said.
Her sister, Kristen Berry, a junior, said the drinking decreased for a week after Brian died. Then, everyone went back to partying. Her observation is that they care about Brian and his family, but they continue to drink because of the pain of his death.
"I just hang out with kids who don't like to do that stuff. I know a couple of people who do. I know that isn't something I want to do because of my morals and values. I don't want to drink; I don't see any reason to."
The elder Hoeflinger said he knows some teens only take the pledge because everyone else is doing it.
"I don't expect everyone to change. We are just out to change who we can. We are trying to give them a different way of thinking," he said.
"If you don't have any intention of following the pledge, don't sign it. If you don't think you can — don't do it."
Why still do it?
The reasons for drinking are individual. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, youth often view drinking as a rite of passage and want to see who can be the bigger rebel. They like the feeling of getting drunk and they like that it makes them feel as if they can talk to anyone even though they are normally socially awkward. Sometimes drinking leads to drugs, but drinking is the first risk that many students take — that or marijuana.
Andrea Loch, a ProMedica St. Luke's substance abuse counselor for Anthony Wayne and Maumee schools, said underage drinking isn't a new problem, but parents are sometimes oblivious. They operate under the "Don't Ask" system and "kids are obviously not going to tell them," said Loch, a mother of four.
The first sip usually comes in junior high school or freshman year. The excess drinking becomes popular as upperclassmen. Wine coolers are attractive to younger drinkers who eventually discover beer and liquor.
Brian's sister, Christie Hoeflinger, said kids in seventh grade joke about drinking, but she knows it will eventually be a reality.
"They are going to drink and be like, 'Oh, come on, it is just one.'"
But she knows it won't just be one. She believes her brother only drank a couple of times — and he died.
"I miss his silliness and goofiness. It annoyed me at the time, but he always used to playfully slap the dog and then he would sometimes slap me and say, 'I thought you were Nautica.'"
Until recently, the dog would still wait for Brian to come home, she said.
Loch said teens drink to feel grown-up, to be bold and to rebel. Drinking is especially dangerous for teens because their brains aren't fully developed and it could further impair their already-weaker judgment, she said.
Ronald Birchfield III, who attended St. John's with Brian, said his classmates didn't care about the risks. Some began drinking as early as freshman year. By the time he was a sophomore, teens had parties when their parents were out of town.
"I am not sure why they drink. I think they feel the need to have something in their system to not have as much self-control," said the premed student at The Ohio State University.
Ron said he knew that Brian drank, but he didn't know to what extent. Ron attended parties, but he didn't feel pressured to drink.
"Losing one of my best friends, practically my brother, I don't even find it appealing," Ron said. "I am definitely not average. I don't drink and I am not just saying that."
Kelsi said the sophomores at Ottawa Hills drink to fit in with the upperclassmen.
"Someone in my grade had a birthday party and some of my friends went to it. There were some girls I know who didn't drink anything, but they pretended to be drunk so upperclassmen would talk to them."
Kristen said some students will drink a little and others will binge.
"Last year, a lot of the upperclassmen would get pretty drunk. They would show up to functions like dances. It sometimes gets to the point where you can't even tell if they are drunk because they do it so often they have gotten good at hiding it."
She fears asking the wrong person for a ride.
Most teens don't drink and drive, though, she said. They spend the night; they walk. They try to be responsible when it comes to that.
But not always … Brian left.
"You could not only hurt yourself, you could hurt your friends. If Brian had someone in the car with him that would have been terrible," Kristen said.
One reason some Ottawa Hills teens keep drinking is because Brian died.
"They don't think it will happen to them. It has already happened; it won't happen again," Kristen said.
Don't be naive
Talking about underage drinking is the first step to curbing it, according to Hoeflinger. Parents and school administrators need to work together.
Jeff Gagle, superintendent of Toledo Christian, said he would be a fool to think none of his students drink.
The reason the problem is less pervasive at Toledo Christian is because the school, parents and students are a team.
"We do a lot with student leadership," he said. "They police our own culture. There is positive peer pressure."
Gagle said when upperclassmen plan the homecoming dances and participate in activities without drinking it impresses upon the younger students.
"Use the students, give them opportunities so they have to stand up to conflict; they have to stand up against the norm," Gagle said. "Our parents in our school, we refer to them as partners. Sometimes we have had parenting seminars. You have to make the parents aware of what is going on."
Gagle said public awareness of underage drinking, and drinking in general, is helping. Law enforcement takes drunken driving more seriously than ever.
He believes Brian's death has made an impact.
"Young people at that age think they are indestructible. It was a message," Gagle said.
Kevin Miller, Ottawa Hills superintendent, said losing a student like Brian affects everyone.
"There is an empty desk where a wonderful, vibrant student had been sitting," he said.
Miller said he is sure that Brian's death made some students stop drinking or, hopefully, never start. However, that is hard to prove.
"We will never know, though, because those kids aren't lying in a ditch."
Statistically, the longtime educator can't say more students are drinking, but it seems like teens are more bold and brazen than they were 20 years ago.
Even before Brian's death, Ottawa Hills addressed underage drinking and drug use, beginning with D.A.R.E. in sixth grade. The high school is home to a Challenge Crew, which promotes positives changes in the community.
After Brian's death, though, the discussion in Ottawa Hills has moved to a "village solution," not a "school solution," Miller said.
"We do our best to influence kids, but no one has a greater influence than parents. Brian's death has made parents acutely aware of their role."
Loch said parents need to set clear rules, follow through on consequences and talk to their kids about alcohol. Too many parents think because the student might have heard about the dangers of drinking in school they don't need to talk about it again, she said.
That is dead wrong.
"Hands-down, parents are the single biggest influence, while schools provide additional support," Barrett said. "Teens and kids in general rely on the adults in their lives to help them make those tough decisions and provide them with good advice."
But kids won't ask for this advice, she said.
"Initiate it. It is never too early to start talking about it."
For example, cigarettes are now considered "bad, bad, bad," she said. It is time to frame underage drinking in the same manner.
"Check on them. Be vigilant. Ask the questions. Don't be afraid to check up on things and make that phone call," Barrett said. "Have kids leave things at the door. Years and years ago, it was beer. Now it is vodka in Gatorade, vodka in the water bottle. Chances are it is happening right under your nose."
Miller said to remember it could be a kid who otherwise seems like a model teenager.
"I have seen great, great kids make a bad choice. When they make a bad choice, you hope they get caught and learn and move on," Miller said.
"Brian didn't get that opportunity. It cost him his life."
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Hoeflingers fight back against teen drunk driving in Elyria, Ohio October 9, 2014
Sign up: Brian's Half-Marathon Challenge October 6, 2014
Why be Afraid of Drug and Alcohol Testing our Youth? September 15, 2014
Help stop underage drinking by changing the current Social Host Law June 20, 2014
Interview with Woodmore students: "It makes me not want to drink even more" March 17, 2014
Sign Up for the Brian Matters Challenge Run: The Race for Change February 28, 2014
Watch: Remembering Brian Hoeflinger, WGTE Deadline Now February 28, 2014
Watch: Brian Still Matters with 13abc's Diane Larson February 6, 2014
Hoeflingers speak about Brian Matters on Katie Couric January 18, 2014
"The Night He Died: The Harsh Reality of Teenage Drinking," a personal journey of turning Tragedy into Hope January 16, 2014
Brian and Kevin's Amazing Ping Pong Video January 16, 2014
Hoeflinger family channels pain into activism January 6, 2014
Don't drink and drive, call for a ride instead January 1, 2014
Celebrate Brian's Birthday with Bowling at Southwyck Lanes December 21, 2013
NDA Girls Basketball team raises over $1,500 for Brian Matters November 16, 2013
Notre Dame Academy Girls Basketball scrimmage against Port Clinton, proceeds go to Brian Hoeflinger fund November 13, 2013
Your student is probably drinking without you knowing, according to survey October 19, 2013
Hoeflingers share son's story at liquor license training October 8, 2013
What parents (and everyone) should know about teenage drinking September 14, 2013
Family of teen killed in drunk-driving crash react August 16, 2013
Liquor-store clerk faces charge in sale to minor August 12, 2013
Hoeflingers: A second letter to all teenagers June 18, 2013
Hoeflingers want to save your life May 26, 2013
Brian Hoeflinger: The harsh reality of teenage drinking May 26, 2013
A Note from Brian's Dad May 17, 2013
Channel 13 News Story May 17, 2013
What every teenager should know about Drinking May 16, 2013
A Word about Brian.. March 13, 2013
Tribute to Brian video March 13, 2013
Ottawa Hills family sets up Brian N. Hoeflinger Memorial Fund in son's memory February 17, 2013
Ottawa Hills teen remembered as kind, smart, positive February 7, 2013
Brian Matters is designed and powered by Razelle, Inc. www.razelle.com


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Dragonlance Nexus
Dragonlance: Adlatum
Dragonlance fan-created continent for the world of Krynn
Solishairon, Sovereignty of
By Trampas "Dragonhelm" Whiteman December 29, 2012 December 29, 2012 Geography
Contributors: Trampas "Dragonhelm" Whiteman
by Kranar Drogin
Capital: Port Solishairon (Metropolis, 51,445)
Population: 201,546 (Human 87%, Corinesti 6%, Oguna 4%, Gildanesti 3%)
Government: Monarchy
Religions: major – Tashrama (red branch), minor – Tao-Shin
Languages: Common, Elven, Igurni, Trejori
Trade: Reef Fish, Antiques
Legions: Army of Brimstone, Runesheer
Alignment: NG, CG, N, LN, CE
Solishairon (So-lih-shair'-on) is located north of Isryan, east of Kedaltol, and south of the Ogun in the Broken Lands. Solishairon is one of surviving nations from the Drowning and had one of many lasting monarchies from the time before the Drowning. Bordering the ogre lands to the north has allowed for the Oguna to travel into the lands, establishing their own towns there and answering to the crown of Solishairon. The men and women from Solishairon are known for their trading and sailing skills. Solishairon is also home of Brimstone, the dark Holy Lands of the red branch of the Tashrama, and the Red Elder Dragon Traxus.
The nation of Solishairon focuses itself on three pillars: trade, sword, and song.
The first pillar is primarily supported by a strong shoreline fishing industry. Trade was bolstered further by trade with the Hartdar in the west, the Corinesti in the east, the Oguna to the north, and the rest of the Midlands to the southwest. Major imports to Solishairon are antiques from before the Drowning recovered by the Corinesti. Many wealthier citizens have taken to purchasing and trading of these expensive relics.
With a decent amount of trade conducted with neighboring nations, Solishairon has a healthy economy even though it occasionally suffers hardships due to the war-bent red branch of the Tashrama having its Holy Land towards its southern border. After the Army of Brimstone attempted to seize control of Solishairon in 406 AD, the nation's leader Archduke Terstah Hendurg began to expand the standing army and navy. Citizens began to volunteer in record numbers.
Another major focus for the people of Solishairon is the arts. Many sculptors, painters, composers, chefs, and other artists of all sorts had come to this country to receive formal study. The city of Onster was founded as the new location of the Midland's premier bardic college, and many other cities have numerous museums and performance centers spread throughout.
The people of Solishairon believe in the importance of their pillars: trade to gain the funding to make society work, the sword to protect the lives from the evils outside of their country and from within, and song to give the defended and funded lives meaning and spirit.
Many faiths are welcome in Solishairon, which views itself as culturally diverse. Still there are always critics and even dangerous detractors regardless of the religion in question, especially the Tashrama. Only in the towns near Brimstone do supporters of the red branch staunchly defend their territory, preparing for an expected attack by the Sovereignties.
The Tao-Shin has found a small haven here in several towns and cities. Many are finding this "fresh new" religion as a source of inspiration for their art. This results in many people being open to the Tao-Shin, but not overly inclined to join it. A minority of the population does complain about the new religious sect, but in Solishairon there are always some willing to be a critic about anything.
Years the Starfall, Montegron deposed the ruling king of Solishairon on the grounds of incompetence, corruption, and treason. The dukes and guild heads appreciated the removal declared Montegron king. Unwilling to keep his goals focused on a single nation, he appointed Duke Stefan Hendurg to rule in his stead as Archduke, but officially Montegron is the king of Solishairon.
The position of archduke has tremendous influence on the nation, but both Stefan and his grandson Terstah don't often use this power to any great degree. Matters of military are handled by Batila Commander Strode. Matters of economy are handled by Trade Guildmaster Luccas Serannah. Even though the Guildmaster is not officially part of the government, his influence with the Archduke effectively makes his word on these matters law. During the twenty-six years of Stefan Hendurg rule, he acted to make sure aims were coordinated between those who were experts in their own fields, but otherwise he left most of the decision making to those who knew better than he. Even during the 406 AD attack from Brimstone, he left most of the decisions to Batila Commander Strode and Lord Montegron. After his retirement, his grandson became Archduke and began to use the position solely for the perks. However by neglecting his duties and continuing to allow those his grandfather trusted to run their various areas of Solishairon, so far the nation has been continuing to prosper.
The Runesheer is the joint army and naval forces of Solishairon. Originally formed as a group of soldiers and mages fighting in union during the Canon War, after the Drowning the Runsheer became the official defense of the nation after the original fighting force was destroyed. Since the Starfall, the number of spellcasters within the Runsheer had fallen off, but for the last few years some spellcasting refugees escaping the turmoil in Etlarn have come to Solishairon and chosen to join the local defense while others have joined the workforce.
The second largest military in Solishairon is the Army of Brimstone. The military minded branch of the Tashrama has been trying to rebuild its numbers since the devastating defeat in 406 AD. High Priest Pharon Blayda, who secretly is running the entire red branch of the Tashrama, leads the Army of Brimstone.
Magic and Mysticism
Both arcane and divine magic is generally welcome in Solishairon, although divine magic has had more detractors due to the country's history with the red branch of the Tashrama. With the slowly growing Tao-Shin offering a 'new' source of divine casting, many citizens are becoming more open to it.
Although magic is usually not feared in Solishairon, a majority of the population is vastly ignorant or misinformed about the capabilities each type of magic has, how they works, and what each can do. Many artists also write stories, operas, and songs that exaggerate and over aggrandize things for the purpose of making their works appear more epic. As such, what wonders many spellcasters are capable of tend to disappoint most people, even if they had never seen magic in use before. This has resulted in the minority of available spellcasters to be taken for granted even though their abilities are becoming vital in the further development of towns and cities.
Major Geographical Features and Locations
Brimstone: On the southern shore of Solishairon, close to the Isryan border, a fifty square-mile circle of black smoke covers the region. No light source is able to operate within, and nobody's eyesight whether natural or magical can see through this cursed darkness, with the exception of a few devout. Brimstone is one of the Holy Lands of the Tashrama and home to Traxus, the Red Elder Dragon. Although impossible to see in this land, the interior is a hellish inferno. Even for a good distance outside of Brimstone's borders, the air is thick with the smell of sulfur. Rents in the land emit smoke and superheated black flames. All of the rocks on the ground are scalding to the touch. Nothing grows in these lands, and rarely will any enter to visit. Even High Priest of the Tashrama Pharon Blayda rarely enters, and does so only to keep up appearances that he is receiving instruction from the Elder Dragon within.
The Domed Towers of Ampyer: Near the tip of Cape Prayer in southeastern Solishairon this is a large gray dome made from unknown material rising up from out of the ground. Partway-up one side of the smooth surface is a small crack just large enough for a man to crawl through. On the inside towards the middle of a flat tiled surface of brown, orange, and yellow shapes, are six towers. Each tower stands at least three hundred feet tall and is connected three-quarters up by arcing bridge-ways, forming a hexagon with each tower at an apex. There are no doors or opening at ground level to any of the towers, but some figure there must be openings higher up where the bridges connect. The dome is gigantic enough that the tower tops are only halfway up to the curved ceiling above.
All magic appears to fail both inside the dome and within ten feet of the exterior. No one has yet been able to climb up the highly polished towers to get to the bridge level in order to investigate the tower interiors. Since the opening on the exterior is jagged, sharp, and difficult to climb to, few ever venture inside.
To the best of everyone's knowledge, the dome was first seen after the Drowning. There are no records of any such structure existing prior to the Drowning.
Solishairon has a long history as one of the oldest nations in the Midlands. When the now lost magocracy of Shyrsa collapsed thousands of years ago, pockets of civilization clung together. One of these fragments became the nation of Solishairon. The ruling family of Joaneir began a rule that would make it the longest chain of generations ruling uninterrupted for a single family anywhere in the Midlands, and possibly Adlatum. The first king, Franko Joaneir, began his reign after leading armies against the armies of a power red dragon (many now theorize the red to had been the Elder Dragon Traxus) during the Dragon Wars of ancient history.
Over the years, as the rival Kingdom of Isryan grew in the south, animosity between the powers similarly grew. War and peace broke out between them sporadically as centuries passed. Many times the reasons for the war were as foolish as an insult given at a gathering of nobles, and some times the reasons were as intricate as a conspiracy in which money was laundered through false trade agreements from one nations treasury to the other. Once around 1498 PD, when Isryan joined the power of a growing theocracy, Solishairon was attacked as part of a declaration of the country's excommunication.
Then in 1250 PD, Solishairon turned its focus against the minotaurs when a border dispute turned into a full scale conflict known as the Midland-Etlarn War (Etlarn joined the fight on the side of the Midlands, against the minotaurs).
Things returned to normal in 1032 PD, when Isryan broke off from the theocracy by ignoring church decrees and attacking Solishairon on its own, simply to show itself as an independent state. The Premier of Isryan ended the war quickly and paid Solishairon for damages done, but hard-feelings lasted for centuries.
Conflict between the empires ended when the Canon War began in 100 PD. The animosity remained, but rulers from both nations recognized the greater threat and joined forces against the minotaurs. Both nations' had their borders drastically altered as fighting fronts shifted. One of the largest battles in the Canon War was the continuous seven-year siege against the Joanucian, the capital of the Solishairon Empire. Towards the end of the siege, , the minotaurs took a lance named Megonue, the star metal weapon of Solishairon, from the corpse of King Ranze. Two days later, one the day before the capital was predicted to finally fall to the minotaurs, one wielding the dead king's own lance, the Drowning ended the war and the city.
Much of the lands that were either still under Solishairon's control or had been taken by the minotaurs during the war were sent beneath the waves of the newly formed Sargassi Sea. The royal family of Joaneir survived only due to a young Prince Jeorg venturing through a mountain for a magical legend meant to insure his country's survival and the end to the minotaur threat. He found nothing, but while in the caves, the rock buffeted the impact of the water. He was knocked unconscious, but when he came to, he left the mountain to discover himself on a small island surrounded by water. It would take him a year before he was able to rescue himself and find the mainland that was the remainder of his country. The small port village, which was not a port over a year before, took their prince in and nursed him to health. Upon coming too, he made the village, Port Solishairon, his home and the new capital.
The people of Solishairon quickly adapted. They were no longer the Empire they were before, but they were not as bad as many other locations in Adlatum. Still King Jeorg Joaneir had much to do to keep his surviving nation from ruin. In 14 AD, Isryan began to lay claim to mines on the edge of the Afanstein Mountains that had been under the control of Solishairon. The Drowning had vastly shifted the path of a river that had marked the border of the nations under a treaty written in 108 PD. King Jeorg knew the mines were an important resource to Solishairon, especially during this period of reconstruction. In 15 AD, the two nations went to war with each other for the first time in 125 years. In 23 AD Solishairon surrendered, allowing Isryan to move its control further into what was Solishairon lands.
King Jeorg was able to keep his nation alive, but it would be his son Benedek who would get Solishairon back up on its feet. The economy of Solishairon turned primarily to fishing and sailing, an odd shift for a country that had been landlocked. He also met with the Corinesti traders and lured many into comprehensive deals, keeping their business close to Solishairon shores. Benedek proved himself to be a crafty and ingenious businessman who could out-deal even the shrewdest of Corinesti traders. Often many walked away from talks with Benedek certain they had come away with a great advantage, only to discover they were given a small pittance for a component in a much larger deal involving other agreements they weren't even aware of.
In 141 AD, King Andras welcomed the priests of the newly founded Tashramadic church. Five years later, Andras became a mid-ranking priest of the church. Good relations between Brimstone and Port Solishairon only late one more year when Andras' decisions displease the Tashramadic Council and the king refuses to change the laws of Solishairon to meet the needs of the church. Andras dies at sea in 148 AD. Although Andras' death is an accident, Andras' son Petre takes steps to try to keep the Tashrama isolated to the areas around Brimstone.
In 300 AD, the Corinesti Trade Wars hit Solishairon hard. With a vast number of trade agreements being unfulfilled as Corinesti businesses continued to go bankrupt. To keep some degree of wealth stored, King Partrick hired free-lance adventurers to go into the deep waters that used to be the center of Solishairon's civilization and find ancient relics not yet collected by the Corinesti. With the help of spell casters, enough of the ventures proved to be successful enough for Solishairon to make it through the economic depression that followed.
Several generations later, the large "church guard" gathering around Brimstone attracts the attention of Port Solishairon. King Hanos meets with Premier Eleah Dayne of Isryan to talk about the threat he sees in Brimstone. Premier Eleah Dayne publicly supports the church to Hanos' dismay. In 351 AD, Eleah Dayne is assassinated. Her successor, Premier Yulii Nelens, is a cleric of Erraii in the Tao-Shin. He works with Hanos to publicly speak out against the Tashrama. For the first time in centuries, the two nations work together in an alliance.
The ancient rule of the Joaneir family ends soon after the Starfall. The Days of Darkness left Solishairon in rubble, and Hanos' successor, his nephew Fered, used the state of his country to pull what money the citizens of Solishairon had left to build his own fortune. As his country starved, King Fered and his closest friends became fat and slothful. In 391 AD, Lord Montegron came to Solishairon and found the weakened state of the country. Disease and starvation was rampant. Farmers could not afford to seed their lands. Oguna were traveling across the border from the north freely to join the Army of Brimstone. With no legal authority, Montegron deposed Fered on grounds of corruption and treason. The people were so happy to have a real leader within their country, the dukes outside of Fered's graces handed Montegron the crown. Montegron tried to refuse the title, but the people of Solishairon would not hear of it. Eventually Montegron appointed Duke Stefan Hendurg as Archduke of Solishairon. The Archduke would rule in King Montegron's place, while he fought to rebuild the entire Midlands.
In 406 AD, the Army of Brimstone attempted to depose the Archduke and claim Solishairon as its own. However Montegron somehow knew the attack was coming and assembled the armies of Solishairon, Guiteger, and Isryan. This period of time has so far been the only time Lord Montegron used his title as King of Solishairon to rule its people since he was crowned in 391 AD. Montegron predicted each of the tactics the Army of Brimstone tried to implement, and what could had become the start of a long destructive war was ended in a day. This win convinced several other Midland nations to agree to Montegron's proposal for a central Midland government under his control.
Since this victory, Solishairon has become soft. Some of the population are convinced that the Tashrama can be easily handled and have no concern about the rebuilding army. They believe they are in a period of prosperity, and they do everything they can to better the arts and appearance of their cities.
The Army of Brimstone has been constructing trenches, walls, and ships in order to better fortify themselves. They are convinced an attack is coming, and the Runesheer watching from affair are worried that anything, no matter how small, could set off a full-blown conflict.
Local authorities are convinced that one or more refugees from Etlarn are spying on Solishairon for their home country, but they can't tell whom. During a quiet investigation a week ago, a masked individual assaulted one of local guard during the night. The figure told the guard to turn his eyes away from what does not concern him.
Two-dozen Corinesti are requesting the construction of a sizable lake away from the Solishairon shoreline so they may live inland in comfort. They refuse to give a reason why, but considering the amount of money they promise to pay the Solishairon government, the Archduke is entertaining the idea, regardless of the Guildmaster's opinions. The Guildmaster wants someone to hunt through the caves under the proposed site to see why the Corinesti wish to have the lake dug at that particular location.
An Oguna male was arrested and convicted for killing a man in Port Solishairon while in the middle of an emotional rage. The Oguna continues to proclaim his innocence although eight witnesses said otherwise. Now, two days after the trial concluded in a decision of guilty, the bodies of two of the witnesses have washed ashore near Cape Prayer.
Major Settlements
Charnod (Large City 24,503): A sizable city just outside of Brimstone, High Priest Pharon Blayda runs the affairs of the red branch of the Tashrama here. The Scalebound "holy man" pretends to carry out the orders of the Elder Dragon Traxus, but in truth Blayda runs the branch from his offices and temples in Charnod. Most who living in Charnod and the surrounding towns are either loyalists to the military wing of the church here, or mercenaries and thugs believing that the growing Army of Brimstone will eventually become a power strong enough to rival Montegron for the riches of the Midlands. Construction of Charnod began in 385 AD during the initial build up to the Battle of 406 AD. Charnod was burned to the ground after that disastrous campaign, but Blayda had it rebuilt to show that "his" church would not be so easily defeated in the long run.
Charnod has few if any of the marks of beauty held by the cities and towns under the Archduke's rule. Enjoying a soft life is not Blayda's aims, and he makes sure his growing army remembers that. Almost every building in Charnod can double for a barracks, and many are forced to live in shared residences "so the faithful will know whom they are fighting along side." Streets are relatively straight lines running parallel and perpendicular to each other. Most buildings are made from wooden planks or logs with the larger ones having stone foundations. Since the Elder Dragon were exposed, Blayda is often seen in public without any illusion guising his Scalebound appearance. "The time for deception has ended."
Onster (Large City 15,222): Founded as a college town for the Onster Academy of the Arts, the town of Onster grew in population over the years as many graduates constructed their own studios, restaurants, museums, theaters, and other places of business nearby. The city's three and four floor structures are stylized with statues and relief images. Most are made of marble, sometimes of varying colors. The beauty of the campus and the rest of the city are maintained with great diligence and rival the beauty of Port Solishairon. The school itself now houses over three thousand five hundred students and two hundred staff.
Port Solishairon (Metropolis 51,445): The capital of Solishairon is a vast city with many ornate buildings over four stories in height. The city has ten miles worth of shoreline, some of it dedicated to the ports, and the rest to assist the Corinesti in their trade with the mainland. On both ends of the city, wide tunnels formed by magic out of the rocky ground lead down under the water, allowing air-breathers to venture under the sea to Seaview, an underwater extension to the capital. This is one more example of the further development the city has been implementing over the years. A major development twenty-years ago was the construction of a new sewer system built to lead waste a far distance away in order to keep the waters used by the Corinesti nearby cleaner.
The city has a large number of palaces and manors, with a multitude of fountains at each intersection. Ever street is paved with white cobblestone. Three city parks are spread out to different parts of Port Solishairon, each with a number of trees from different locations of Adlatum. The only part of the city not kept up to the prestige of the rest of the capital is the "Oguna Hovel," a sizable district where the poorer citizens must live since they cannot afford the high-class style of the rest of the city. Due to recent tax hikes, the population of the Oguna Hovel has gone up by 25%.
Seaview (Small City 5,032): By hiring a number of spellcasters from both the Midlands and Etlarn, an underwater district was constructed at the bottom of the sea a mile out from Port Solishairon. Two major tunnels connect Seaview to the capital. Mainly these tunnels are covered in rock, but as visitors close in on Seaview, rock turned translucent by magic allow the air-breathers to safely see into the underwater landscape around them. Most of Seaview is filled with buildings and roadways similar to that of Port Solishairon's style, but with much more of the Corinesti flare. Several of the buildings on the outer edge of the clear cavern at the bottom of the sea have pools that open up into underwater passages to allow Corinesti visitors and citizens entry. The city of Seaview was founded in 405 AD, and is seen by many outside of Solishairon as an engineering and magical marvel. To most in Solishairon, the general opinion is that it is simply one more thing the "better society" can produce.
About Trampas "Dragonhelm" Whiteman
Trampas "Dragonhelm" Whiteman is best known for co-creating and administering the Dragonlance Nexus fan site. He is co-author of three Dragonlance books – Holy Orders of the Stars, Knightly Orders of Ansalon, and Races of Ansalon. When not evangelizing Dragonlance and other settings, Trampas is a husband, father, podcaster, and web designer. Trampas also enjoys reading comics, reading fantasy and scifi novels, and playing D&D.
View all posts by Trampas "Dragonhelm" Whiteman →
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Florida rockers A Day To Remember are on the road this fall bringing "The Degenerates Tour" to the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Nov. 14. I, Prevail and Beartooth round out the hard-rocking triple bill.
Steadily growing their fan base over the course of their 15 year career, ADTR have created one of the most loyal fan bases alive today with fans that routinely follow the band around the country, seemingly addicted to the band's mixture of metalcore, punk, and rock.
They have now charted several of their last albums, reaching over 400 million collective Spotify streams and 500 million views on YouTube.
Still touring to support 2016's Bad Vibrations, A Day to Remember have given us no concrete news on a new LP yet, but rumor has it there will be new music to devour next year.
Until then, they continue to delight audiences with one of the most energetic and visually stimulating shows you'll see visit the Summit City this year.
Support act I, Prevail visited The Clyde Theatre earlier this year, conquering the city and claiming it as their own, at least for one night. While they won't be able to play a full set like they did that night, there is no band better prepared for "warming up" an audience than this Detroit-based outfit.
To top it off, one of the most promising up-and-coming bands to emerge this year, Beartooth, will get things rolling with plenty of material to get the night headed in the right direction.
Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys
A love and mastery of zydeco is often passed down in families from generation to generation, and Lou...
The Newsboys have seen a lot of changes over the 35 years since their formation. There have been cha...
Menopause. It's a natural part of aging and over six thousand women begin it every day. It's cer...
The Gatlin Brothers
When the history of country music is finally written, at least a couple of paragraphs needs to be de...


text:
And you are?: Geoff Connors, President and founder of PipeSak Inc.
Geoff Connors, president and founder of PipeSak Inc., has been inventing things since he was young.
As a young boy, Geoff Connors was always inventing stuff.
Whether it was a kite out of bedsheets that he would use while coasting down the St. Clair River on his skates or using his dad's screwdrivers to pin down a tent on a frozen lake, his busy mind was always working.
That creative spirit has served him well.
Fresh out of university, Connors was working for Union Gas' pipeline engineering group working on a system of pipelines that transmit gas and stretch from Sarnia to Montreal when he found the industry was following the same methods they did since the 1920s.
"Pipeline construction is kind of like windshield wipers — they've been around since cars started and they've never really got better. Pipeline construction is the same way. They did the same thing for 60 years," says Connors, president and founder of PipeSak Inc.
One of his pet peeves was how pipelines were weighted to keep them in place — with large concrete weights that are placed every five metres.
"The area up near Strathroy is probably the most populated with weights because of the type of soil, it's sandy from the tobacco lands, so the water table is right there and it's very fluid and you need a lot of weight," he says.
The concrete weights aren't ideal for holding down the pipes and Connors thought there had to be a better way.
And he was right.
He was in a mill and saw a one-ton bag.
The light bulb went off. If bags came in one-ton sizes, could he create one that weighed seven tons?
The answer, it turns out, is yes.
"That was the first bag I made, was for seven tons, so I put gravel in them," he says.
Connors has since tweaked the design — each bag made of a woven fabric comes with several compartments to ensure the weight is distributed evenly.
He left Union Gas a few years after PipeSak began — named after the invention that started it all.
The early days were tough: Connors worked out of his basement, investing every penny he made back into the business and the industry was slow to accept his new invention.
But that's slowly changing.
Though the pipeline construction business is very cyclical, the company been doing well.
Sales in the last five years have increased from $2 million to more than $10 million and Connors' invention can be found throughout the southern U.S., Dubai and India as engineers seek out a better, safer product.
"That's our whole gist, making the pipeline safer," he says.
PipeSak plans to focus its product on western Canada in the new year as the industry grows.
The 16-year-old London company has seven full-time employees, one part-time and about 15 seasonal workers.
But it almost didn't happen.
Born in New Brunswick, Connors' family moved to Sarnia when he was five years old.
He was born with scoliosis and had surgery when he was 14 to correct the curve in his spine.
He still has a 30-degree bend in his spine, but gained more than an inch in height after the surgery.
For two months, Connors was stuck in hospital on his back as he recovered and spent another year in a brace.
But that didn't stop him from playing football in high school.
As his friends delved into the trades after high school, Connors applied to the University of Waterloo and was accepted. He spent the first four months taking general science courses and then was tested to see where his strengths were.
"The top was architecture and then engineering and then bricklayer," he says.
When the architecture program wouldn't count his first four months at university, Connors opted to pursue engineering.
Along with school work, Connors was also juggling a family. He married his high school sweetheart in first year university and by the time he was in his second year at Waterloo, Connors was a dad.
After graduation, Connors worked for Union Gas as a civil engineer until breaking out on his own with PipeSak.
For many years, the company was a "one-trick pony," says Connors, only selling the PipeSak. But Connors recently developed another invention called the PipePillo — a plastic brace used to support pipes in the trenches, which are also light enough for one person to lift.
Connors sees the PipePillo replacing heavy wooden skids that are used now.
"It's like night and day. One guy can stack four of these (PipePillos) up in five minutes, where it would take six guys 20 minutes to stack the wooden skids," he says.
Connors is developing another product as well he says, and the company's innovation has been helped along by grants from the Canadian government's scientific research and engineering development program.
His success has not come without personal sacrifice.
His first marriage ended, though Connors later remarried and moved from Chatham to London.
When he's not at work, Connors spends time with his family at their cottage in Rondeau Provincial Park, skis with his children and cruises around in his 1967 Austin Healey 3000 — his "guilty pleasure."
He says he has no plans to retire — though he does plan to cut back his work schedule eventually.
"I'd just like to retire the stuff I don't like doing and do the stuff I really enjoy doing and am good at," he says. "That's retirement for me."
twitter.com/KellyatLFPress
EITHER/OR:
Leno or Letterman: Letterman
Ski or sun: Ski
Beatles or Stones: Beatles
iPhone or Blackberry: iPhone
Cable or satellite: Cable
Cremate or bury: Cremate
Action or rom-com: Action
Bottled water or tap water: Tap
Burger or dog: Dog
Beer or wine: Beer
Coffee or tea: Coffee
Fiction or nonfiction: Fiction
DVD or movie theatre: Movie Theatrer
Drive or walk: Drive
Port Stanley or Grand Bend: Grand Bend
Pen or pencil: Pencil
Early riser or sleep in: Early Riser
Print or online: Print
THE STATS:
Born: Saint John, New Brunswick
Family: Married to Cathy Blokker; five children, Ryan, 36, Meghan, 33, Adam, 30, Benjamin, 14, and Natalie, 12; two grandchildren, aged two and one.
Education: Northern high school in Sarnia; civil engineering at the University of Waterloo
Previous jobs: Delivered pizzas for Longo's; civil engineer at Union Gas
THE QUOTE:
That's the nice thing about being a small company, we can really respond quickly to the industry. If we see a need, we'll get right on it and the nice thing, too, is we can stick with it.
Brews News: U.S. practices coming north in 2019
Latest from LFP
Circular ex-library 'good bones' for Western's new Indigenous centre


Stacy Long told our WDON commentator Rob Cornell that he's already starting to feel at home at AFC Wimbledon.
Being reunited with Luke Moore and Bryon Harrison, who he has played with at Ebbsfleet United and Stevenage respectively, has certainly helped the 27-year-old midfielder to settle in at his new club. But Stacy's decision to take a step down to League 2 is far from motivated by sentimental reasons as he is ambitious to help push AFC Wimbledon on next season. To listen to a full interview with Stacy (second from left on picture), click on bit.ly/KQAKCm to listen the interview.


text:
'use strict';

/**
 * @fileoverview
 * This script runs validator tests.
 * This is run during the CI stage = build; job = validator.
 */

const colors = require('ansi-colors');
const {
  printChangeSummary,
  startTimer,
  stopTimer,
  stopTimedJob,
  timedExecOrDie: timedExecOrDieBase,
} = require('./utils');
const {determineBuildTargets} = require('./build-targets');
const {isTravisPullRequestBuild} = require('../common/travis');
const {runYarnChecks} = require('./yarn-checks');

const FILENAME = 'validator-tests.js';
const FILELOGPREFIX = colors.bold(colors.yellow(`${FILENAME}:`));
const timedExecOrDie = (cmd, unusedFileName) =>
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function main() {
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  if (!runYarnChecks(FILENAME)) {
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    return;
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  if (!isTravisPullRequestBuild()) {
    timedExecOrDie('gulp validator');
    timedExecOrDie('gulp validator-webui');
  } else {
    printChangeSummary(FILENAME);
    const buildTargets = determineBuildTargets(FILENAME);
    if (
      !buildTargets.has('RUNTIME') &&
      !buildTargets.has('VALIDATOR') &&
      !buildTargets.has('VALIDATOR_WEBUI')
    ) {
      console.log(
        `${FILELOGPREFIX} Skipping`,
        colors.cyan('Validator Tests'),
        'because this commit does not affect the runtime, validator,',
        'or validator web UI.'
      );
      stopTimer(FILENAME, FILENAME, startTime);
      return;
    }

    if (buildTargets.has('RUNTIME') || buildTargets.has('VALIDATOR')) {
      timedExecOrDie('gulp validator');
    }

    if (buildTargets.has('VALIDATOR_WEBUI')) {
      timedExecOrDie('gulp validator-webui');
    }
  }

  stopTimer(FILENAME, FILENAME, startTime);
}

main();

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


We've always had quite a thing for wall-mounted faucets! It's a trend we love to see floating around. (Pun intended). They pair well with different styles and even work to save space — one of the biggest design challenges in bathrooms! Another bonus? They're easier to clean! There's far less room for calcium and dirt to build-up.
From minimalist to traditionalist and more, see how wall-mounted faucets add a clean, streamlined design element. They work especially well in a modern or utilitarian space. We love seeing them in the bathroom and the laundry room! With multiple sizes, lengths, and finishes, there's something for everyone.
We know it can be hard to source, so we've rounded up some of our favorites to shop at the end of the post, as well as a photo round-up in case you're not completely sold on the concept. We use them in plenty of our projects!
Design by Kelly + Co.


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text:
Self-Defense Corner
Homeowner Shoots Back at Three Armed Home Intruders
Written by Jenn Jacques Published: 26 April 2016
The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office confirm three suspects are in custody after breaking into a Youngsville, LA home and shooting at the homeowner, who armed himself and returned fire.
All three men have been charged with attempted second-degree murder and aggravated burglary.
KLFY reports:
The incident happened around 4:25 in the morning in the 300 block of Austin Road, just outside the city limits of Youngsville.
Babin said the suspects, Jace Breaux, 22, Chaz Louviere, 23, and Jacob Collett, 33, allegedly broke into the house while the owner was asleep.
One suspect fired several shots inside the home, according to Babin. The homeowner returned fire and hit one of the suspects.
The suspects then left the scene and went to a local hospital, where they were later found by deputies.
Captain John Babin said the suspects have been charged with attempted second-degree murder in addition to aggravated burglary.
Babin did not know the extent of the suspect's injuries but did say the hospital cleared the suspect for incarceration.
Breaux, Louviere, and Collett were all arrested and booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center on Tuesday.
Read More at Bearing Arms
Missouri House Passes GOA-Backed "Constitutional Carry"


Dr. Dowd earned her doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of California at Davis in 1989. She earned her undergraduate degree in biological sciences at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.
As the daughter of a naval officer, she lived in Florida, Virginia and California.
In her free time she enjoy running, with and without her two Standard Poodles Clifford & Walter. She also loves yoga, paddle boarding, baking and decorating cakes.


text:
Picott strikes gold with emotional songs about blue collar life on 'Burns' CD
William Kerns
Singer-songwriter Rod Picott did not record his first CD until he turned 35, and his newest, "Welding Burns," may one day gain recognition as a classic musical portrait of the common man.
Picott headlines Thursday at Blue Light Live, 1806 Buddy Holly Ave.
"I came to music late," he said, which is not altogether true.
He and recording artist Slaid Cleaves grew up buddies in South Berwick, Maine, later even trying the teenage band thing together.
Picott had more life lessons to absorb, not to mention later moves - busking on the streets in Denver, eventually writing in Nashville - before he felt the time was right to record.
A willingness to share his past in song did come to Picott late.
The lyrics of many songs on "Welding Burns" are too honestly written, too honestly interpreted, not to have been lived, seen, considered and talked about after work over beers with co-workers.
He spent an era working construction, welding, hanging sheetrock just to pay bills, preceding the decision to leave Maine to pursue music.
Picott (pronounced pie-cot), 46, pulls his car to the edge of a Texas highway so he can talk on his cell safely.
Construction references arise and he says, "Growing up, I wanted to play music. And the fact that I came to it so late made me want to dodge another part of my life.
"I've only become at ease with it in the last few years."
Writing and recording songs for "Welding Burns," Picott recognized that he was "more focused on pulling stuff from my own life."
Always a narrative writer, Picott had grown weary of the comparison to Bruce Springsteen.
He explained, "All these guys writing about the working class and blue collar jobs, most of them never had that sort of life.
"Springsteen knows what it is like. I know what it is. He's able to romanticize it from the outside. I'm not putting him down, but the details are a lot more complicated."
"Some things you're
born to. Some
things you've gotta
learn. Broken homes,
wrecked cars, scars,
and welding burns."
- "Welding Burns," by Rod Picott
What's more, he did the physical labor and talked with co-workers enough to realize that, for some, dreams never reached beyond the next job.
"I coulda gone to
school. But I went
to work to get some drinkin' money
Like all the
other jerks. I'm
pretty sure about
this. When I'm
gone and dead
If I don't get wings
I'll be hanging
sheetrock instead."
- "Sheetrock Hanger," by Rod Picott
Picott's introduction to music came at age 12, when his dad gave him a "bucket of 45s. All of it '60s music: Stevie Wonder, Motown, Jerry Lee Lewis. That pop music was so evocative, so powerful. When I was a kid, nothing sounded as great as Ray Charles.
"When I started reading books, I looked for more of a story-telling element and found it in Bruce (Springsteen), Jackson Browne and the Animals. That's when music started taking me to a new place."
When he received his first guitar, he was lucky to tune it.
"It collected some dust," admitted Picott, who turned to playing bass in those teenage bands, "because it was easier than the guitar."
Band members drifted apart and Picott was writing his own songs, but recalled that during his 20s, "I was always asking: How will I ever find my way?"
He kept writing.
"Because I was working construction so long," he said, "I got my act together. I got used to writing at night, in the morning, on lunch breaks. During one job, I even wrote a song on eight feet of drywall tape."
Years passed and he realized the first step was getting out of South Berwick.
He eventually moved to Nashville and decided to stay.
Picott said, "All of a sudden, my peers were people like John Prince and Lucinda Williams. That was hard for some people. For me, it was inspiring."
Then Jody Williams, head of publishing for Mercury Records, listened to one Picott song after another. Instead of offering Picott an expected publishing deal, in a nutshell, Williams told Picott that he was better than the (dung) being written and recorded on Music Row.
"You're a songwriter," Williams told Picott. "Find a way to make records."
So Picott hit the road, first with buddy Cleaves for 12 weeks, just to see if he could handle it, then on his own - and later with Amanda Shires here and in Europe and Britain, and finally again by his lonesome.
He recorded several CDs; all well-received.
Leaving home for weeks at a time places weight on relationships. Picott does not mention his own, but says, "It breaks a lot of people up. A lot of people see musicians and say, 'That's the life.' But until you've done it...
"You have to be made for starting over every single day. Pack up everything you have and start again. It's not the carrying stuff; it's the idea that you are never finished."
"I drove by the
Mexican place
Where we used
to go on Saturdays
But it wasn't there
just weeds and stone
Just like us
gone is gone."
- "Little Scar," by Rod Picott
He met Shires the first time at Austin's Folk Alliance in 2005. When she appeared in Nashville, he invited her to sit in at one of his performances.
"She's a fiery player on fiddle and acoustic guitar, and she's a stellar harmony singer," Picott explained.
When he next toured, he said, "Amanda began traveling as my side person. But we started writing together and our language became closer. I learned to play guitar better for her. She learned to play fiddle better for me."
Neither planned it, but they co-wrote enough songs and decided to record an album together.
Picott thought no one would notice. The critics proved him wrong.
Meanwhile, his songs continue to spark an emotional response in listeners.
Deep down, that is what he always wanted.
"When I was 25, part of me was afraid that I'd never write a good song," said Picott. "The other half of me knew there was a place out there for me, somewhere.
"So only half of me is surprised now. I've made five decent records (actually six), and I get to travel around and see so much."
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Traveler Be Warned! Fiji has a way of sucking people in.
Our first night, we were surprised by the level of passion other tourists had for the Fiji islands. We had not yet been island hopping, just visited the main island (which is not the most beautiful), so we could not understand the hype.
Dilek & Vedran have never been naive or easily persuaded, so we dismissed these declarations as mere tourist euphoria (and perhaps a bit of intoxication). However, considering how much we would enjoy the upcoming few days, and how we would promote Fiji in the coming years, it is safe to say that we too were about to get sucked into the enchanting FIJI-dimension.
In fact, Fiji still has a special place on out Top 100 Wonders List.
Day 29 of our "Around the world in 50 days" adventure, started with a long morning walk on the beach. It was not the nicest beach we had ever seen, but it should be pointed out that we were still on the main island, Viti Levu, which is not known for its beaches. Thereafter we decided to go on a Nadi sightseeing tour, and try the local bus transport. As mentioned in the summary, transport is not a problem in Fiji as there are plenty of buses and everything is rather close anyway. However, time tables cannot be relied upon as everything is set to FIJI-TIME!
In Nadi centre we tried some of the local cuisine and also did a little bit of shopping. Among other things, we purchased a so called "brain-fork" (see below picture), which is a decorated, heavy, wooden club with fork-like features on the opposite end. The club is used to crack a person's skull and the fork-side is used to scoop out the brain.
To this day, that brain-fork is proudly displayed in our living room. Not because of what it represents, but because it reminds us of Fiji and one of the most wonderful places we have ever visited. For many years to come, we would recommend Fiji as a top destination (maybe even THE top destination). Today, Fiji still has a precious and well deserved place on our Top100Wonders list.
That evening, we had a nice dinner with a few people we met at the hostel. They had already been island-hopping for a couple of weeks, and were about to return to their homes. These were the people we mentioned in the introduction --> the ones who kept praising the islands to the skies.
Although, we must admit, it was quite entertaining hearing about their experiences and adventures. Like we said in the summary dear friend, FIJI-TIME is contagious and affects everyone.
After dinner, the locals invited us to participate in a Kava Ceremony. We usually are not comfortable consuming unknown substances while traveling but decided that we were safe enough in the compounds. It is not something we often recommend, dear friend, but sometimes you have to take a risk. Use your common sense.
So we experienced our first Kava-Ceremony, while singing songs with the locals and listening to their folk-lore. The night ended with us becoming lifetime members of the Kavaholics. After more than a decade, those small Kavaholic certificates (basically thin pieces of paper) are still pressed inside one of our journals.
Does Paradise accept Credit Cards?


Did you know that a group of Jellyfish is known as a Smack? Or that a group of Octopi is called a Rally?
Over the last week, a rally of brightly colored octopus lights have moved in to the gallery, joined by a smack of playful jellyfish lights.
The ocean is a big place. Come explore a little slice of the wonders it has to hold, right here in Centralia!
The medium and smaller octopi on display are now for sale for $289 each, and the jellyfish are also for sale for $150 each.
We also have our smaller jellyfish and squids available for $75 each, perfect for adding a touch of color and whimsy to the window or corner of your space.
« Weekday class sale returns!


text:
American man to perform 'Sadhna' in a cave in Madhya Pradesh for 40 days
Mukesh Pandey
HARDA: An American man has arrived in Madhya Pradesh in his journey for peace and inner truth
Patrick Zeigler, who is an architect by profession and a Yoga Guru at a Yoga meditation camp in Brazil, is in MP's Harda district these days. He will meditate for 40 days at a small cave like room situated at Gupteshwar Temple.
Zeigler's Guru Baba Yogi Shivam said Patrick would take only three litres of skimmed milk in a day while meditating. In a state of intense concentration, he would experience self and God through the 'sadhana'. He would rest for only three hours and meditate for the remaining 21 hours in a day, Baba Yogi Shivam said.
Talking to media before starting his 'Sadhana', Patrick Zeigler said he was overwhelmed and thrilled after arriving in Harda. So friendly are the people here and the atmosphere of the city looks so familiar that I never felt a foreigner, he said.
He said he felt greatly attached with Indian culture and Yoga. He said meditation, Yoga, Sadhana and healing are parts of life. Patrick said he had come to India in quest of transcendental, spiritual knowledge.
Baba Yogi Shivam said last year he was on a two-month visit to Brazil. At that time he met Patrick. He said Patrick organised Yoga camps in Brazil. He said he gave 'diksha' to Patrick and his wife. Baba Shivam said Patrick's wife also performs Yoga and meditation.
He said Patrick's 14-year-old son is a preacher of Bible. 'He obtained diksha from me when I easily answered his questions regarding soul, God, introspection', Baba Shivam said. He said the women in Brazil are also very enthusiastic about Yoga and meditation.
An investigative journalist, he specially covers Western Madhya Pradesh. Mukesh has worked with several media houses in the past


Among the films featured at the 2011 Rutgers Jewish Film Festival in New Brunswick, New Jersey next month will be the Israeli hit TV show Srugim, now in its third season, that depicts the singles life in Jerusalem's Katamon neighborhood. The show has become popular with both religious and secular Israelis.
Just when you thought you've seen it all, Laizy Shapiro created a TV show in Israel about single religious modern orthodox singles who live in Jerusalem called "Srugim." "Srugim" is one of the top rated TV shows airing in Israel.
"Srugim" resembles "Friends" in the manner that it revolves around a young group of friends who are trying to establish themselves in the workplace while searching for love. This group of friends includes a graphic designer, an accountant, a biblical studies major, a grammar teacher, and a doctor. What makes the show unique is the fact that all of these friends are observant modern orthodox Jews. Many episodes feature Shabbat meals, men and women davening, and men wearing kippot. The show features the struggles that some of the characters have being religious while trying to date or make a living.
Srugim is also being shown this month on The Jewish Channel, a $5 per month offering on Cablevision. The Jewish Channel is showing all fourteen episodes of the first season, in Hebrew with English subtitles.
The Rutgers showings will feature the first three episodes on Sunday, October 30 at 7:30 p.m. and the next three episodes on Sunday, November 6 at 7:30 pm. Tickets for each showing cost $12, with Seniors paying $10 and Students paying $6. The October 30 session will include a talk by Shayna Weiss, of New York University and co-creator of the blog "Srugim Recap."
The following trailer should give you a good idea of what the show is like. Enjoy!


A number of the manure related Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) have been successful. Several feed management related projects have been major successes under the CIG program. Other successful projects have dealt with such technologies as anaerobic digesters; community digesters; environmental credit trading; lagoon management; manure to energy generation; alternative litter sources, storage, and handling; and pathogen, odor, and emissions mitigation, to name just a few.
The presentation will provide specific numbers of projects and funding per year, and information about actual projects that NRCS considers to have been successful.
What Is the Purpose of the CIG Grant Program?
Glenn Carpenter came to Natural Resources Conservation Service as a Senior Economist in December of 2001 with the Animal Husbandry and Clean Water Division. In May, 2004 he became the agency's National Leader for Animal Husbandry, with that Division. In 2010 his position was moved to the Ecological Sciences Division. Much of his work with NRCS has been related to the animal waste issue and the agency's interaction with EPA over the CAFO Rule.
Glenn has three degrees in Poultry Science from Michigan State University. Prior to joining NRCS, Glenn served in Extension Poultry positions at two universities.
The 2002 Farm Bill created a mechanism under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for a program of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). These grants were "…intended to stimulate innovative approaches to leveraging Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production…" The grants were to provide a mechanism for funding projects to aid in technology development and transfer. The granting program actually began in 2004, and has continued since that time.
By statute, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service cannot do research. Because of this, and because the interest of NRCS lies in directly assisting farmers and ranchers in the adoption of technologies that will benefit conservation, projects funded under this program must be in the field demonstration or tool application stages. Since the initial grant funding cycle in 2004, NRCS has provided funding through EQIP every year. To date nearly 500 grants have been awarded, with total funding in excess of $180 million.
A large share of these CIGs has been strongly animal, and/or manure related. Almost 25 percent of the total number of grants has been animal related, and these grants have received slightly over 26 percent of the total dollars. About 19 percent of the total grants have been manure related and these have received about 22 percent of the funding. Those animal related grants that are not manure related largely deal with range and pasture systems.
Several feed management related projects have been major successes under the CIG program. Other successful projects have dealt with such technologies as anaerobic digesters; community digesters; environmental credit trading; lagoon management; manure-to-energy generation; alternative litter sources, litter storage, and handling; and pathogen, odor, and emissions mitigation from manure, to name just a few.
The number and variety of funded projects has covered a wide range of geographic areas and technical innovations. A multistate feed management project resulted in training programs, a tech note for NRCS, and many fact sheets and other materials that are available on Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center webpage. Another major grant demonstrated the effectiveness of filter strips and other vegetated treatment areas on mitigating manure runoff from cattle feedlots. Utilizing high pressure injection of manure, a Pennsylvania project demonstrated a decrease in odor and runoff while also preserving nitrogen. Several projects have successfully demonstrated the effects of precision feeding of dairy cattle to show the change in manure nutrients. Projects have demonstrated the effectiveness of different tillage systems and technologies on manure nutrient runoff. Other projects have dealt with innovative waste-to-energy technologies, or waste to value-added-product creation. These are just a few of the number and variety of projects funded through the Conservation Innovation Grants program.
The success of the CIG program since 2004, both in numbers of projects and in innovative technologies and tools applied, demonstrates that the program is important to agriculture in the U.S. NRCS has shown its support by continually funding the program, and by making additional moneys available for special targeted CIGinitiatives.