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Some funny things happened on the way to paradise, as recorded in this brilliant new expat memoir
14 Comments Posted by ML Awanohara on May 22, 2014
Clockwise from top left, surrounding Margot Page's author photo (center): Monteverde waterfall; the family's front yard; Margot, her husband,and their three kids; sunset; their youngest child, Ivy, on the vine outside their house; first day of school. All photos courtesy of Margot Page.
Before introducing today's guest, Margot Page, I'd like to make one thing clear. When I first read of her decision to uproot herself, her husband and three young kids from their comfortable life in Seattle to spend a year in Costa Rica, I thought it made perfect sense.
In fact, it reminded me of my initial decision to try living abroad. While I wasn't married with kids, nor was I looking to land in paradise, I sensed that I needed to get a wider perspective on my own country. It was before the era of the dot com boom and crazy Wall Street wealth, but even then, we Americans were becoming a pretty spoiled and entitled lot. I almost couldn't bear to watch it and wondered: would my life be enriched if I tried living with less?
Now that I've made that clear, let's return to Margot's story. As she notes toward the beginning of her wonderful memoir, Paradise Imperfect, Seattle in 2003 could drive a person crazy:
It was an environment that made a person constantly aware of how rich other people are.
Thanks to all the overnight Microsoft millionaires, her family often felt "downright poor," she says, despite enjoying a high standard of living and a reasonable amount of money.
Margot missed out on her opportunity to go abroad while still single—to "confront her privilege," as she might say. But she is feisty enough to think that she need not forgo the expat experience of her dreams. A dozen years into her marriage, she finagles it so that she and her husband, Anthony, could quit their jobs, rent out their house, and head off with their three children, 4, 9 and 12, into the mountains of Central America, for a year.
The family settles down in the cloud forest of Monteverde, where the kids attend a "school in the clouds" with many Tico classmates and the entire family works hard on mastering Spanish. While it is enjoyable to read about their adventures in that part of the world—which at one point include a trip to Nicaragua, where they received a "full-on truth assault" about what poverty really is and hence their "own, unimaginable wealth"—there are plenty of other reasons to read the book as well, not least of which is that Margot is a gifted writer possessed of a self-deprecating sense of humor (always a huge plus at the Displaced Nation). She is, in short, jolly good company, as we shall see in the interview that follows. NOTE: Margot has generously offered to GIVE AWAY ONE FREE COPY to the person who leaves the most compelling comment about why they'd like to read her book.
Margot, pura vida! Welcome to the Displaced Nation. Many people may not realize that you waited ten years before writing a memoir about the year you and your family spent in Costa Rica. Why was that?
Actually, I did try to write the book when we first got back—I just couldn't get it done! But the great thing about that initial effort is that I wrote down a lot of the events when they were still fresh. Then, when I was actually ready to write the book, I was able take those stories and stand back from them, and see the picture they formed. You might liken it to an impressionist painting. Up close, I could have looked at an event from that year and said "Hmm, nice dot." But with the distance of time, I could see that all the dots made a picture, with form and theme and sense. Had I managed to get it written right away, Paradise Imperfect would have been a completely different book.
Did you ever think of writing a novel instead?
More than one publisher suggested I turn Paradise Imperfect into a novel. Fictionalizing your story really lets you pile on the crises. Memoir only has a chance with the big publishing houses these days if you're either already a celebrity (Tina Fey, Hillary), or if something truly hideous happened to you. If I'd had to saw off my arm or a couple of the kids were on meth, the big houses would have been all over me. As it was, they were very "Ooooh, we love your writing! Can you turn it into a novel?" Because then of course I could introduce some addictions or incest or something—you know, the stuff that really makes a story pop.
You went from a harried existence with very little work-life balance in Seattle, to a carefree, pura vida existence in Monteverde. Looking back, what do you think was your strongest impetus for packing it all in like that?
I think my impetus was about the same as anyone's who's living a busy, full life and has one of those days where you just feel like you're running the whole time. The only difference is that a lot of people take a bubble bath at the end of that day, maybe pour a glass of wine—whereas I rented out the house and bought airplane tickets. It's still not entirely clear to me what made that night different from a bubble bath night. Although clearly, the bubbles weren't doing it for me anymore.
From reading the book, I know that even though you didn't work in Costa Rica, you were far from idle. You applied yourself to learning Spanish and also did some volunteering—which had the added benefit of helping you practice your Spanish.
Yes, I went from working more than full time to volunteering a few hours each week at an amazing art gallery/studio; one of the owners painted me the piece of a woman in a hammock, stretching her toes to heaven, which became the cover of Paradise Imperfect. So while the kids did their homework, I would work on my Spanish, or practice painting assignments.
"The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven…"
No doubt you're familiar with the expression "Be careful what you wish for". Was all the family togetherness as wonderful as you were hoping?
The initial period, when it was just the five of us, on top of each other all the time—that was a real challenge. It's a good thing to have done, but it wasn't so delightful in the doing. Of course, as we grew into our lives there, other people got incorporated, which was great. Kids would go off with friends, people would come over. And, as time passed and we adjusted to the conditions, we found all kinds of goofy things to do with ourselves. We had dance parties in the living room, just the five of us. We'd walk several kilometers just to get a milkshake and go to the library. There was much flopping around in hammocks with books and conversation. And with no sports practices to work around, dinner was a nightly togetherness event, with kids helping cook and clean the kitchen.
When I saw the title to your book, I was thinking of Milton's Paradise Lost. In your case, paradise was imperfect. Why is that?
Paradise is imperfect because people are. We just ARE, and putting us in front of a really pretty waterfall just means you have flawed, funny people in front of a really pretty waterfall. In Costa Rica, we were strangers in a strange land together, and that made us incredibly close—which was wonderful, but you know, the closer you are, the more blemishes you can see. Wherever we go in the world, we take our human frailties with us.
You were the one with the original idea to take your family to Costa Rica. Were there any moments for you personally when you could say that you felt displaced and had made a mistake?
Honestly, I never had that moment. At Christmas during our Costa Rica year—I put this in the book—the kids were lonely, and the possibility hit me hard that maybe the whole escapade was just a tremendously selfish act, bringing the kids on this adventure that was really for ME. But I never once felt like it was the wrong thing for me.
Here at the Displaced Nation, we call that your "pool of tears" moment.
"Sweet is the breath of morn…/With charm of earliest birds…/fragrant the fertile earth/After soft showers"
Was there a particular moment when you felt you were born to be Costa Rican rather than American? Having read the book, I can think of quite a few: when visiting your children's "school in the sky," when coming across new flora & fauna, or when tasting the fried chicken from El Super Pollo in Monteverde.
I had those moments almost every day, that Costa Rica was exactly where I belonged. But I think it was usually tinged with "I am exactly where I belong right now." And although it was hard to leave, coming back to the States felt right, too. One of the fun things about that year, paradoxically, was that it gave me the chance to fall back in love with being an American. Back home, I'd been pretty upset with the political landscape. But when you travel, you get a different perspective on what truly corrupt government can look like, and you think "You know, we all wish Congress would do their jobs, but it appears that not having your shit together is not, in fact, the very worst crime a government can perpetrate on its people."
You say you were happy to get back to Seattle, but did you miss Costa Rica once you returned?
We definitely missed Costa Rica, and the way we got to live there. My son, Harry, spent a semester in Monteverde a few years after our family returned. When he got home, he smelled fried chicken and had this super strong sense memory of Super Pollo in Monteverde. He said:
I love it there so much. And I love Seattle so much. And it's great, having two places to love. But it also means that, no matter where I am, I'm always just a little bit homesick.
Unlike many of our readers who are long-term expats, you stayed abroad only for a year. But the impact appears to have been lasting.
All our kids are travelers, now. And I can't see a freighter without wanting to jump on it. My husband, Anthony, seems to have the travel bug the least, but that is not surprising. As I mention in the book, he's a congenitally satisfied person 🙂
"Thou shalt possess a Paradise within thee, happier far."
When you got back to Seattle, was it back to the grind for you and your husband, or was your outlook somehow different?
The hours went back to being a similar breakdown to what we had before, though there was much less parental shuttling as our kids had become brilliant walkers and public-transit-takers. But the most important change was internal: We knew in a much clearer way that we had made a choice to live in this way. And our family also had a core togetherness as a result of that year in Costa Rica. Even when we're geographically scattered, we feel together in a way I didn't feel before. I attribute it to our common challenge of spending a year figuring out a new language and culture. Think about it: When do parents and kids ever have the opportunity to learn something so fundamental as how to speak, all at the same time?
And one more repat question: Did your family retain its social conscience, developed over the course of that year of learning to live with less?
I think we've kept an in-our-bones awareness of the fact of our own, sheer luck. I used to tell myself "I've worked really hard for what we have," which is true! But you know what else is true? A lot of people work just as hard, and don't have any cushion, and never will. That year in Costa Rica also developed us as people who will keep getting out there. Our son, Harry, was recently in South America, and while many of his peers tend to backpack and look at things until their parents' money gives out, he got a job waiting tables. Our older daughter, Hannah, recently graduated college and moved to a new city; she hasn't asked for a dime to help get started, and the housing she can afford is frankly a little appalling—but she is so spunky and awesome about it! And Ivy, the youngest, is currently back in Costa Rica, where she goes to school and helps out in the small hotel that her family runs.
Treading the publishing path
Moving back to the book: what was the most difficult part of the writing process?
Finding the discipline to cut was just excruciating. There are so many fun little stories that didn't make it into the book. Stories I slaved over! Sentences I loved! But the difference between writing a legit book and just publishing your journal all cleaned up is that you really do have to kill your darlings, as Faulkner or whoever said. At the time I was finalizing, I thought I had cut absolutely down to the bone. But now, looking back—I think I could have killed more darlings.
Why did you publish with a small press?
That decision was made on the advice of my agent. As already mentioned, the big publishing houses told me I needed more crisis, but my agent loved the book and wanted me to be true to my experience. I simply don't grant that there isn't interest and beauty in true stories of normal people. You have to tell them well, of course.
What audience did you have in mind for the book?
My ideas about audience went from something pretty specific to something much more general. People always think we're this crazy alt family that's always up to wild shenanigans. Or else they think we're obscenely wealthy, and had no economic issue in quitting our jobs. But we're actually so mainstream! So I wanted to show regular people: "If we could do this, you totally could."
But it quickly became clear the audience is basically everyone who likes a good story. Men, women, people with kids, people without kids, people with grown kids—the different populations that have responded has been really lovely. Some people are planning a big adventure and are actively looking for inspiration, but the vast majority just love the people they meet and the events that unfold in the book.
The most fun for me is when women say "I got your book but I haven't read it yet, because my husband is totally hogging it!" I can't say why it's so rewarding for me that Paradise isn't just a chick book, but it really, really is.
What's next for the indefatigable Margot—more books? Other creative projects?
I write for magazines about topics that interest me. Although I'm not Catholic, I'm nuts about the head of their church—I call him Pope Frantastic. And in the next year, I'm going to seriously embark on the novel that's been in my head. I'm trying very hard to be a Twitter user, but really? I find the whole idea enormously intimidating.
How's your Spanish these days, your art?
My Spanish and art—ack. Let's just say I really hit my zenith during that year away.
10 Questions for Margot Page
Finally, I'd like to ask a series of questions that I've asked some of our other featured authors, about your reading and writing habits:
1. Last truly great book you read: Wow, that is a hard question! It's the "truly" that's stressing me out. I'm going with Fidelity, a five-story collection by Wendell Berry. It is the most beautiful arrangement of sentences ever organized about how to be a person.
2. Favorite literary genre: Any book that someone in my family read and then gave it to me saying: "You HAVE to read this; you will love it so much."
3. Reading habits on a plane: I'm actually really smug about what a light traveler I am, so my reading usually tends to be any book I've been meaning to read that I won't mind leaving behind. Or airport magazines (Harper's, The Atlantic). I try to read trashy magazines because it seems like that's what you're supposed to do, but honestly I just can't bring myself to give money to the people who are putting this crap in the world.
4. The one book you'd require President Obama to read, and why: The Complete Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson. I just don't trust anyone to run the country who doesn't love Calvin. That's my litmus test, right there.
5. Favorite books as a child: Mandy, by Julie Edwards. I must have read that book a hundred times. It's about a girl who finds a garden and makes it hers. It's like The Secret Garden but has a lot more soul and a lot fewer sideshows. It's just a beautiful story of a lonely girl who sets out to heal her own little heart, and in the process finds people to help. And Julie Edwards (who, amazingly enough, is also the actress Julie Andrews) wrote it because she lost a bet about swearing to her daughter. I have a lot of respect for that whole situation.
6. Favorite heroine: Claudia from From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L. Konigsburg. I love Claudia. I never was her, as a kid—I was much more like her reckless little brother, Jamie. But as an adult and a parent, I relate to Claudia much more. She went to the museum for reasons not unlike the ones that took me to Costa Rica. She had to go get a piece of her self back, a piece she had lost to her role as responsible big sister. Mine was as responsible mama and breadwinner, but those roles are not so dissimilar. Claudia's cooler than I am, though, just by nature of being 12. And in New York.
7. The writer, alive or dead, you'd most like to meet: The thing is, my fantasies around meeting writers all revolve around how incredible it will be that this amazing, brilliant human is interested in ME. But writers are total crazed narcissists! Have you noticed? So my scenario is unlikely. That said, I think Donald Barthelme and I could have a pretty good time, if he'd just stop being dead for a minute. He wouldn't be interested in what I had to say and I wouldn't really care. I'd just listen to what he said and then we'd have pie.
8. Your reading habits: I read every single day on the bus to and from the office. This makes going to an office infinitely more tolerable.
9. The book you'd most like to see made as a film: I gotta be honest here. Paradise Imperfect.
10. The book you plan to read next: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan. I'm traveling right now, and it's next to me on the seat.
So, readers, any COMMENTS or QUESTIONS for Margot? Do you admire her decision to trade in her family's packed schedules for a life of monkeys and footpaths, which is almost paradise? Or do you think she was crazy? Do you identify with any of her motives or epiphanies, thinking (as I do) that extended trips overseas should be encouraged for Americans?
Don't forget, there's a FREE digital copy on offer that will go to the best commenter…
And if you can't wait to read the book or don't win, Paradise Imperfect is available from Amazon (among other venues). Peruse the many five-star reviews, and be sure to grab a copy! You can also visit the book's companion site (where you can read about Margot's other writings, including a Modern Love column for the New York Times), like its Facebook page +/or follow Margot on Twitter, where she's now testing her wings.
STAY TUNED for more fab posts!
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14 responses to "Some funny things happened on the way to paradise, as recorded in this brilliant new expat memoir"
Beth R. May 22, 2014 at 12:53 pm
I think Margot is wildly insane to uproot her family and do this outrageous thing, and I think it is a type of insanity we all need the courage to have. Her word choice and writing style are unique, amazing and totally compelling. I loved getting to know her and her family through this book so much that I had to read it twice – the first time at near light speed because I so needed to know "and what happens next??!" and the second time to thoroughly enjoy and savor the writing. A great story well written.
margotapagePage May 25, 2014 at 10:31 am
Thank you, Beth! I don't think there could be a better compliment for a writer than a reader missing stuff because she was so curious about what came next… and THEN going back to pick up what got missed! I'm delighted you loved Paradise Imperfect.
Lisa Liang May 22, 2014 at 4:45 pm
I enjoyed this interview very much. The part that resonated the most for me: "Paradise is imperfect because people are. We just ARE, and putting us in front of a really pretty waterfall just means you have flawed, funny people in front of a really pretty waterfall." That has been my experience, too. I look forward to reading your book, Margot! -Lisa
margotapage May 25, 2014 at 10:37 am
So glad part that resonated with you, Lisa. I hope you enjoy the book!
Melissa G. May 22, 2014 at 11:18 pm
I got to sleep in this Sunday but decided I'd rather steal time to read this book. Went on to have a lovely day with my family, partly because I was immersed in the laughter, affection, and genuine communication of the Page family. Loved every word of this book…glad you didn't cut anything else out Margot!
Okay, THAT is an enormous compliment, too. There's not much I'd give up sleep for. So happy the book made you laugh. Thanks so much for taking a minute to say nice things. oxM
p.s. Melissa – so glad you enjoyed every word, too 🙂 Feel free to Like me or Friend me or Follow me or whatever it is you do with your social medium of choice — many of the darlings I killed to trim the book down have become their own standalone pieces, and are being published in various outlets. Here's one, for example: http://www.brainchildmag.com/2013/07/disappearing-act/
All best!
Margot Miller May 23, 2014 at 11:02 am
I have read Margot's book 3 times and plan to read it more just so that I keep many of her marvelous lines in my head. Her cheeky wit and incisive insights make this one of the best books I have ever read. And, I love her gifted parenting. Those children have the wisest parents in the world. More, more!
Margot Miller, May 23, 2014
Judy May 24, 2014 at 9:23 am
This sounds like my kind of book and I'm heading over to Amazon next to add it to my wish list (birthday coming up soon!). Some of the themes remind me very much of my family's experience moving to Azerbaijan after the fall of the Soviet Union. Seeing how they coped with having the financial rug pulled from under them (middle class professionals suddenly finding they could barely feed their families) was both humbling and instructive. In particular it was eye-opening to live in a non-consumer society with almost no exposure to advertising for 3 years. It changed my outlook on life and worldview forever.
Judy, that sounds incredible. YOURS is a story I would very much like to read….
giddayfromtheuk May 25, 2014 at 6:42 am
Three things struck me about Margot's 'chat' with you ML. The first was definitely two places to call home. I find my heart filled with the life I have built – and love – in London and the life that went before in Melbourne. I have no plans to repatriate (but who knows what life will bring) but I think I will always call Australia home regardless of whether I ever live there again.
The second was your discussion about the title of the book Paradise Imperfect. I think we humans are such an idiosyncratic and fickle lot, how on earth could we ever define 'perfect' let alone reach it! I did a course years ago where we looked at embracing whatever was in front of us as perfect – that we just are where we are, that we are always in the 'right' place at the 'right' time – it's just up to us to recognise that we chose that, Therefore we could 'choose' it again or make different choices. – like in Margot's sharing on her repatriation back to Seattle (strike three),
Gidday, thanks! Yes yes yes on the embracing.- our flaws come with us everywhere. MIght as well invite them to sit down, offer them a beer, get to know them a little. Here's to understanding!
xoM.
giddayfromtheuk May 26, 2014 at 10:41 am
Thanks Margot I had to laugh at the picture of my flaws and I having a beer and a chat! ;-D
cindamackinnon May 25, 2014 at 12:27 pm
Oh I love your cover and really want to read your memoir – especially as I grew up in Costa Rica. In those days Monteverde was known only to the Ticos (famous for its cheese) and was a private isolated place – you had to know someone to stay there. The Quaker kids were all home schooled, but I know that has changed!
I did go back in search of the Resplendent quetzal (to those who have never heard of it – it is the most magnificent bird) in the 1990's. I also went to my hs reunion a couple of years ago and found the class as warm and welcoming as ever (they still meet once a month for dinner at the Alpino in San Jose!)
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The quilt is basted! I finished the solar system side by embroidering the small planets (Earth and everything closer) and appliqueing the larger planets. I glued them in place and then hand stitched them down.
Instead of a label, I embroidered the year and my name into the sun.
I also added some more fabric to the top so that the back side would not be cut off.
Now it's just a matter of quilting, binding, and mailing it!
I'm thinking of quilting orbital rings for each of the planets, filling in rings between them as needed, and following the wavy lines in the sun. I'm not sure that I'm going to like what that does to the back, but I need to be able to avoid the prairie points and I don't know that I'll like what following the back does to the front. I really need to learn to free motion quilt.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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        origExerciseName: set.hasOwnProperty('exercise') ? set.exercise : null,
        origRPE: set.hasOwnProperty('rpe') ? set.rpe : null,
        origWeight: set.hasOwnProperty('weight') ? set.weight : null,
        origMetric: set.hasOwnProperty('metric') ? set.metric : null,
        origTags: set.hasOwnProperty('tags') ? set.tags : [],
        origDeletedFlag: SetUtils.isDeleted(set),
        wasError: wasError,
    });
};

export const presentAlgorithm = () => AnalysisActionCreators.presentAlgorithm();

export const presentBestResults = () => AnalysisActionCreators.presentBestResults();

// ANALYTICS

const logEditSetAnalytics = (state, setID) => {
    Analytics.logEventWithAppState('one_rm_edit_set', {
        set_id: setID
    }, state);
};

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Brian Drummond Information
Brian Drummond~Most well-known for his role as Vegeta, Yajirobe, and Vegito in the Ocean Studios English dub of the anime series Dragon Ball Z, Drummond tends to be cast as either an impassive warrior (Andrew Waltfeld), or a kind-hearted father-figure (Reverend Malchio). Lately, he has also played the role of the cowardly Yuna Roma Seiran in Mobile Suit Gundam as well as Ryuk in Death Note. He has landed prominent roles in various anime such as Renkotsu in InuYasha, and Gundam Wing as Zechs Merquise. Brian has also appeared in Da Vinci's Inquest in minor background roles. Other current endeavors include My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Ninjago, and Iron Man: Armed Adventures.
Anime Convention Guest Appearances
Kameha Con 2019 - April 12-14, 2019 in Irving, TX
Kameha Con 2018 - May 4-6, 2018 in Irving, TX
Kelowna Fan Xpo 2017 - March 24-25, 2017 in Kelowna, BC, Canada
Anime North 2016 - May 27-29, 2016 in Toronto, ON, Canada
FanExpo Vancouver 2013 - April 20-21, 2013 in Vancouver, BC, Canada
Metrocon 2009 - June 19-21, 2009 in Tampa, FL
Anime Evolution 2009 - June 12-14, 2009 in Vancouver, BC, Canada
AnimeNEXT 2008 - June 20-22, 2008 in Secaucus, NJ
Canadian National Comic Book Expo 2003 - August 22-24, 2003 in Toronto, ON, Canada
Otakon 2003 - August 8-10, 2003 in Baltimore, MD
Anime Evolution 2003 - July 25-27, 2003 in Burnaby, BC, Canada
Nekocon 2002 - November 8-10, 2002 in Virginia Beach, VA
TOTEMCon 2002 - August 10-11, 2002 in Natick, MA
TOTEMCon 2001 - July 15, 2001 in Danvers, MA
17 confirmed guest appearances
View Brian Drummond on FanCons.com for 6 additional guest appearances
Tweets by BrianDrummondVO
Add or Update Information for Brian Drummond
If you use information from this page, a link to AnimeCons.com would be very much appreciated.


I'd even venture to say, don't put anyone to the test—especially not God. Can we ever test one another and be loving? I think not. When we test one another, we're usually pushing one another toward non-life-giving options. Testing someone is manipulative. To test someone is to set her up for failure for no other reason than to appease one's own gratification or peace of mind. It's a terrible thing to drag one another into extreme situations in life. So many plot-lines of movies, books, and shows revolve around one person testing the goodness/fidelity/love of another, I fear that we don't always see the 'test' as the manipulation that it is. Moreover, to try and define one another through these extreme situations is to reduce another to their lowest or most charitable action—neither is a look at that person in their entirety. In addition to considering what we are tempted by this Lenten season, it might also be helpful to consider who do I tempt? Who do I test? With whom do I bargin? God? A friend? A significant other? A parent? A child? Instead of testing one another, may we each usher one another toward love, good-decisions, and well-being.
Prayer Author of life, help me to trust in the goodness of each of your children. When I feel insecure, may I pull closer to you, not away from others.


LibreOffice from 5.3 onward (Xubuntu 18.04 uses LO 6.0) no longer supports Adobe Type 1 fonts, which comes as a surprise to those of us who actually bought fonts, back in the day, and have been using them ever since. Apparently, Windows dropped Type 1 font support some time ago.
Based on some hints, I set up the Adobe Font Development Kit for OpenType. It's a Python thing, preferably running in a virtual environment to avoid screwing up the rest of one's system with bizarre dependencies. It seems one ("I") must not update pip using pip after installing python-pip using apt-get; recovering from that mess was good for another hour of flailing.
Which fetched ufolib 2.3.1, apparently from wherever Python keeps its prerelease stash. I have NFC what's going on with any of this.
An Adobe blog post on the AFDKO tx tool suggested it can convert Type 1 fonts to CFF (a.k.a. Adobe Type 2) fonts and some poking around suggested CFF also figures in OTF fonts.
tx: (cfw) There are 222 additional reports of 'unhinted'.
Regrettably, CFF files don't actually work as fonts, at least as far as LibreOffice 6.0 (or whatever it uses as a font engine) is concerned.
Although it's possible to convert fonts locally with fontforge, doing it one-by-one is tedious and the learning curve for its Python scripting feature seems rather steep. I fired the most vital fonts at Convertio, an online converter running fontforge in the background, got a matching pile of OTF fonts, and installed them in /usr/share/fonts/custom/type1 to indicate their heritage.
Whereupon LO rammed into a problem I'd had before. The solution this time required sorting the various Caslon and American Typewriter fonts into different "font families" and forcing the TTF names to match their new families. The difference between Medium and Regular seems to have Gone Away.


The fiesta is kicking off at Capitol City Brewing Company this weekend with the unveiling of two cerveza-inspired cocktails to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. The Michelada and El Ayudacal will both be available from open to close starting on Friday, May 3 – Sunday, May 5 at both Capitol City locations for only $5.
The Michelada is a popular 1940's-era Mexican cocktail sometimes compared to a Bloody Mary and is blended with soy, Worcestershire, Tabasco, black pepper and lime. This festive adult beverage is finished with 12 ounces of ice-cold beer and served in a tall glass.
El Ayudacal is the perfect blend of beer and margarita integrating Capitol City's very own handcrafted Kolsch with fresh lime juice and agave nectar served in a chilled glass with a salted rim.


text:
The InterContinental Kyiv is a five star hotel in the center of Kyiv, Ukraine (Old Kyiv neighborhood). The 11-story hotel has 272 hotel rooms, and is operated by the InterContinental Hotels Group. The hotel is next to the Mykhailivs'ka ploshcha (Michael's Square). There is an underground garage with a controlled access.

Awards

IHG Hotel Star Awards 2015

 InterContinental Hotel of the Year 2015
 HeartBeat Excellence Award 2015
 Developing People Award 2015

IHG Celebrate Cervice 2015

 Winner EMEA Video Award 2015

Ukrainian Hospitality Awards 2014

 Best 5* Business Hotel 2014

IHG Hotel Star Awards 2014

 CEO Special Award 2014
 Great Hotels Guests Love Award 2014

Ukrainian Hospitality Awards 2013

 Best Business Hotel 2013
 Best SCR Program 2013

Ukrainian Hospitality Awards 2012

 Business Hotel of the Year 2012

Ukrainian Hospitality Awards 2011

 Business Hotel of the Year 2011

Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2010

 Luxury Lifestyle Best Hotel 2010

Amenities
Amenities include fitness center, an indoor lap pool, jacuzzi, full service spa, a business center, and permit pets some rooms.  The conference center contains Grand Ballroom and 5 meeting rooms.

See also

 List of hotels in Ukraine#Kyiv
 List of tallest buildings in Kyiv

References

External links
 Київ обігнав Париж і Амстердам за дорожнечею готелів (Kyiv passed Paris and Amsterdam for the price of hotels) (picture of InterContinental Kyiv)

InterContinental hotels
Tourist attractions in Kyiv
Hotels in Kyiv
Hotels established in 2009

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Home News iPad Tap Tap Revenge 4 out with new songs, 100 free tracks
Tap Tap Revenge 4 out with new songs, 100 free tracks
Eugene Huo
'Tis the season for new game releases on iOS, it seems. Hot on the heels of a frantic couple of weeks for game releases, the latest version of Tap Tap Revenge is out today. Featuring a new graphical look, Tap Tap Revenge 4 offers more current hit songs by popular artists like Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, Taio Cruz, Jason Derülo, Metallica and others. One hundred free tracks are available to download and play, and there are hundreds more to purchase from the in-game Music Store.
I first got started with Tap Tap Revenge at version 2, which I really enjoyed. Version 3 seemed to be a more commercially focused game, with less free tracks and a bigger push to get you to buy tracks from the store. Since Tapulous was acquired by Disney in July 2010, perhaps they are feeling a little more generous this time around. It's a welcome change. The addition of Game Center support, with worldwide leaderboards and up to the minute scores is a nice way to keep the competition aspect of the game healthy. Social features such as twitter integration and the ability to 'like' tracks and share with others are new.
Also new to the gameplay, in addition to the regular 1 Player and 2 Player head to head modes, is a new Arcade Mode, which adds visual distractions and other bonuses to the game. I particularly enjoyed the "Space Invaders" bonus, which allows you to shoot the balls as they come down the screen rather than tapping them. Fun!
You know, with all these new game releases lately, productivity around here has gone waaay down. Sigh.
Tap Tap Revenge 4 is available now in the iTunes App Store, and is compatible with iPhone, iPod tTouch, and iPad.
Article Via 9to5Mac
tapulous
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http://www.twitter.com/gamerparent
Eugene Huo is a Juno Award winning recording engineer, video editor, photographer, and all around Mac geek. His first Mac experience was with the Macintosh Plus. You never forget your first. You can follow him on twitter @gamerparent, and check out his video game blog at gamerparent.net.
Appease Or Inflame Your Tech Hypochondria With This iPhone 6S Test
iOS Hit With Another Asian Malware Outbreak
Former RIM CEO Finally Admits iPhone Killed The BlackBerry
OS X and iOS Updated With Photos, Emoji And Bug Fixes


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Staten Island Railway Express Service Expansion Debuts
Yesterday marked the debut of expanded morning express service on the Staten Island Railway. This is not exactly new news as I wrote an entry last month about the MTA's plans to expand express service. However the MTA issued a press release on Tuesday announcing the debut. So here is that press release courtesy of the MTA:
MTA New York City Transit today announced the expansion of Staten Island Railway's (SIR) morning rush hour express train service. The expansion is in response to a surge in SIR ridership, which has seen a 10.2 percent increase in ridership during the 3rd Quarter of this year. By comparison, ridership on heavy rail systems nationally grew by only four percent.
Evening express service was the first to be phased in during November, expanding express service by an hour and 20 minutes. Now, the morning expansion will provide additional service to commuters who rely on SIR express and local service to and from the Staten Island Ferry while also providing an alternative to construction-related delays on area highways.
On Wednesday, December 5th, morning rush hour express service will be expanded with the first express train to connect with the boat departing St. George Terminal at 7:00 a.m., instead of the current 7:15 a.m. boat. Express service will continue to connect with ferry boats departing St. George at 7:15, 7:30, 7:45, 8:00, 8:15, and 8:30 a.m., with additional express trains now connecting with the 8:45 and 9:00 a.m. ferries departing St. George Terminal. In all, the span of express service will be extended by 45 minutes, with three additional express trains added to the morning schedule.
Express service toward Tottenville will also be introduced in the morning rush hour with five express trips connecting with boats departing Whitehall Terminal between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. Additional local service is being added to the morning schedule as well, with five local trains stopping at Huguenot, Annadale and Eltingville Stations. Those trains will connect with boats departing St. George Terminal at 7:00, 7:15, 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. New customer timetables are available at the St. George Terminal and on the MTA website at www.mta.info.
As I stated last month, this is great news for the riders who depend on the Staten Island Railway.
Comment by anetta on September 10, 2012 @ 12:41 AM
I would like to know at what time the express pass in the morning? Staten Idland
Comment by Transit Blogger on September 10, 2012 @ 10:00 AM
I am not sure to be honest. My suggestion is for you to contact the MTA directly & get the most accurate information.


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Breeding better bees
WSU researchers hope to make honeybees more resilient by introducing genetic diversity.
March 15th 2015 Issue
Good Fruit Grower // March 18, 2015
WSU bee geneticist Sue Cobey inseminates a virgin American honey bee with semen obtained from a Caucasian drone. (Courtesy of Washington State University)
By Brian Elsasser
Washington State University honeybee geneticists Dr. Susan Cobey and Dr. Steve Sheppard traveled to the Republic of Georgia, on Russia's southwest border, last summer and collected commercially significant quantities of semen from the Caucasian bee Apis mellifera caucasica.
They collected only semen so as to avoid a U.S. ban on bee importation imposed in 1922. Their goal is to increase adaptive traits in the American honeybee gene pool to help address environmental stressors that may be contributing to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and other problems.
Myriad causes of CCD have been suggested, including chemicals, radiation from electronics, pests, pathogens, or a combination of factors. Of course, bees work in environments much transformed over the past century. Thus, the majority of bee researchers focus on mitigating the environmental changes challenging bees.
Washington State University bee geneticist Sue Cobey displays an array of virgin American honey bee queens. (Courtesy WSU)
Innovative beekeepers and the WSU bee researchers are taking different approaches.
"Bees are agriculture's canary in a coal mine," said Trevor Tauzer, a Central California commercial beekeeper. "When Colony Collapse Disorder started happening, we took steps to keep our bees healthy."
Across the country beekeepers have adopted similar practices, including rotating hives to allow bees to forage beyond single crops and reduce their fatigue.
But many large-scale commercial beekeeping operations across the country, hard-pressed by vastly increasing demand, especially during California's almond bloom, cannot afford to take their bees out of circulation. Thus the WSU researchers' bee semen collecting trip to the Caucasus Mountains in the Republic of Georgia.
There were advantages and disadvantages to closing the U.S. borders to foreign bees back in 1922. An invasion of tracheal mites, which kill by infesting bees' windpipes, was averted. However, after 1922, variation in the American honeybee gene pool declined significantly.
Over the years, wild European honeybees remaining in the American South did provide vitally unconventional genetic traits bee breeders used to improve American honeybees' adaptive abilities. But a 1987 invasion of varroa mites (Varroa destructor) across the South wiped out the wild bees. The genetic bottleneck was effectively sealed.
Then, in 2008, the USDA issued the WSU bee geneticists a permit to import bee semen.
The Caucasian mountain honeybees have several desirable and adaptive traits the WSU geneticists hope will help American honeybees survive and thrive.
The Caucasians are adapted to cold mountain climates; they'll fly in the chilly conditions of early spring in the Pacific Northwest as well as during California's almond bloom. Also, the Caucasians produce huge amounts of propolis from plant resins they collect. Propolis serves these bees as a vital form of self-medication against pathogens.
In addition, Caucasian honeybees have evolved extremely long tongues, enabling them to collect nectar from a wider range of flowers than other bee subspecies. For farmers and orchardists in the Pacific Northwest, this means they'll eventually have the option of investing in fewer bees to do the pollinating now performed by shorter-tongued Apis mellifera.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the WSU bee geneticists a permit to import bee semen in 2008. Collecting bee semen is a simple straightforward process.
After a collector catches a drone bee, it's simply a matter of gently squeezing the drone's abdomen and, as the semen is exposed, drawing it into a syringe.
When Cobey and Sheppard returned to the WSU campus in Pullman, Washington, the semen they had brought back was rigorously tested for viruses. Then, with USDA approval, the geneticists inseminated virgin queens with the Caucasian semen.
The inseminated queens were released from quarantine in late August and distributed to Heitkam's Honey Bees in Orland, California, and Strachan Apiaries in Yuba City, California. These cooperating queen producers are now supplying progeny to the American beekeeping industry, Cobey said. The WSU geneticists have also collected honeybee semen from sub-species in Italy and Slovenia to provide further bee breeding options.
Patrick Heitkam, owner of Heitkam's Honey Bees, said that after receiving the inseminated breeder queens from Cobey, he propagated more queens and distributed them to 50 commercial beekeepers. "The jury is still out, but so far so good. We have not heard back any bad reports," Heitkam said.
The beekeepers will not know for sure until spring how bees with the new traits will do in terms of brood and honey production. They were to be used in pollinating northern California's almond crop.
The WSU geneticists' efforts to improve variation in the American honeybees' gene pool are ongoing. They have developed a repository in which bee semen is frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored. Samples will be thawed periodically and used to fine-tune the genetics of future generations of American honeybees. •
Brian Elsasser is a freelance writer based in Davis, California.
Good Fruit Grower2021-09-28T08:51:35-07:00March 18th, 2015|Good Fruit Grower, March 15th 2015 Issue, Pollination|
Washington Cherry Marketing Committee representatives to be selected Jan. 7 and 19
January 4th, 2022| 0 Comments
Jonelle Mejica2022-01-18T13:36:30-08:00
Jonelle Mejica2022-01-18T13:36:30-08:00January 18th, 2022|0 Comments


As 2015 dawns who knows what Tennyson's hoped for 'truth' might look like, but what's for sure is that the year will be what we make it. A few moments ago The Frustrated Gardener attracted its 150,000th view. This was a little target I'd set for myself for 2014, but what difference does twelve hours make between friends? I don't know very much about visualisation as a technique for attaining personal goals, but I'd rather aim high and risk disappointment than settle for mediocrity. I'd like to imagine that by the middle of 2016 I might have celebrated my 1,000,000th view. What a boost that would be. And if I don't get there, I can be quite certain I'll have had a lot of fun trying.
Wishing you all happiness, success and good health in 2015.
Above, the mountain on the left is Everest, a photo taken en route between Kathmandu, Nepal and Paro, Bhutan.
Congratulations, Dan! These are impressive figures. Your energy and drive – and focus – have always been noticeable and enviable. I tend to wander around happily waiting for manna to fall and then stare at it in wonder and admiration. The net result is that after more than 5 years I'm inching towards 100 000 views. Just checked my stats – my 2014 views is down to under 60% of what it was at its best in 2012, although I was surprised to find I published only 18% fewer posts. However I know the quality of my posting has dropped dramatically, with more 'idle walk and of-the-moment' pics and less substance.
I hope I add to your goal of 1,000, 000 views. You really do have a wonderful blog with some interesting adventures and useful garden posts. I myself like to travel and enjoy nature, but seeing the photo of Everest is just beautiful and well beyond a place I will ever get to.
That is such a special image for me as I had always wanted to visit Bhutan. The flight there was like something from an illustrated atlas, including a running commentary on the mountains we were passing from the pilot. I hope to do it again some day!


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It always amazes me when you discover a topic that seems to have existed under the radar and yet which has so much of interest, both in its own right and as a supplement to other areas of study. Yet the investigations into the world of medieval graffiti offer a huge treasure trove of insight into not only the ideas of the past, but the past of ordinary people.
England is filled with parish churches, big, small, ornate, austere, dating back anywhere up to a thousand years. Walk into any one that existed in some form before 1500 and there, hiding in plain sight, will be evidence of the past, left behind by the people of that parish. Seemingly ignored by historians and archeologists for many years, this is a relatively new area of study and the author of this book, Matthew Champion, is Project Director of the Norfolk and Suffolk Medieval Graffiti Survey. His new book on the topic offers a fascinating introduction into a subject which, let's face it, could easily be rendered somewhat dry but which he brings bouncing to life. Dividing up the many differing kinds of existing marks, ranging from masons' and merchants' marks to incredibly ornate inscriptions, curses and charms to heraldry, he conveys a powerful sense of a world that the Reformation swept to one side, but whose echoes still feel curiously familiar. Perhaps the fact that so many of these marks seems to relate to the simple act of trying to make a little sense of lives that were far less secure and cosseted than our own is what gives them their poignancy and power.
We know virtually nothing about the people who made these markings; after all, the tombs, memorials and chapels of each medieval church are there to celebrate those with money and influence who hoped to buy themselves a slightly better berth in heaven. The ordinary folk of each parish left little behind them by way of memorial, except, with luck, another generation, and so this intelligent and eminently readable study of these apparently ephemeral marks and designs helps to cast a light, whilst rarely on the actual individuals who made them, which illuminates a wider spectrum of medieval thought than just that of the upper echelons.
Medieval Graffiti as found in our local church!
Were I to offer you a fascinating investigation, interweaving history, passion, architectural restoration, art and mystery, with a story that twists and turns, holding your attention, anticipating the next revelation and willing it to be a positive discovery for the participants, you might believe I was describing a work of fiction, but in fact The Lost Pre-Raphaelite is a true story. It even incorporates modern day protagonists!
The author, Nigel Daly, and his partner, Brian Vowles, are experts in the restoration of historical buildings. However, when they acquired Biddulph Old Hall in Staffordshire they found themselves inadvertently drawn to the lives of its past owners. Whereby we are led an entrancing dance through such diverse subjects as the architectural history and restoration of the Hall, the Pre-Raphaelites and the Nineteenth Century Art world in London, the distinguished Howard family and Buffalo Bill to name a few!
The dual focus of the book is the work and discoveries at Biddulph Old Hall, and the life, career and loves of one time inhabitant of the Hall, Robert Bateman. Bateman, is now perhaps something of a footnote to the Nineteenth Century Art world, an acolyte of Burne-Jones, whom late in life married Caroline Howard, widow of a clergyman, but also granddaughter of the 5th Earl of Carlisle, owner of one of Britain's most prestigious country house estates, Castle Howard.
Inevitably when trying to decipher the web of connectivity of two discreet nineteenth century figures it would be impossible to find complete documentary evidence. So, unsurprisingly some suppositions have to be made regarding Robert and Caroline's relationship and the effects it may have caused both themselves and those close to them. The proposed story is both believable and tantalising.
The revelations regarding the enigmatic couple runs alongside the exciting discovery that one of Britain's leading art critics, Richard Dorment, owns a portrait of Caroline by Bateman and that the distinguished Paul Mellon Collection at the Yale Centre for British Art includes a Bateman painting. Thus setting off Davey and Vowles onto an obsessive research of Bateman's career, attempts to locate lost works by him and trying to unravel the artist's sudden disappearance from the London art world.
A compelling tale based on a somewhat unremembered artist, a house somewhat unknown; as it has always remained in private hands; and a fantastic project for two men who stumbled on a hidden secret within. Marvellously told.


Discussion in 'other software & services' started by raakii, Oct 14, 2008.
antispyware and firewall.I have never used antispyware and firewalls , is it useful or can we do without it?
If you want lightweight, there are many choices, Sypware Terminator, Avira Premium, Avast as well as Windows' own Defender which now is evolving into a good app with HIPS if you join Spynet. For firewall the lightest is Windows built in one and in Vista, it can be set for outbound rules as well with the right 3rd party software.
Raakii, would you take a look on my signature?
You could use SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes-Antimalware on demand. This way it doesnt use extra resources. If you are behind a router imo you dont necessarily need a software firewall but there are many lightweight firewalls available. Just use the search button, its been discussed many times on this forum.
I thought of using a anti spyware ,after seeing the signature of many members.
After reading the above posts I have decided not use a software firewall, just looking for a antispyware.
You can do without the antispyware, your antivirus should catch most of the stuff and if you use firefox 3.0 that will prevent most of the drivebys. All antispyware software will slow your computer down. I've used spyware terminator(free) and webroot spysweeper and they both slowed my amd dualcore x4800 to an unacceptable level.
The lightest security software to use is "returnil" free, I use it as my antispyware software. Nothing has been shown to defeat this software from tests done here in this forum. It won't slowdown your computer. I only enable it when I will be surfing the internet. You won't even know it's on.
You do need a firewall (inbound and outbound protection) even a free one is better than no firewall.
My security setup is very light no slowdown. I haven't had any virus/malware/spyware problems in over a year. Very solid protection.
I have just tried superantispyware real protection , my computer started to sleep.This software does not slow down the computer if we use it on demand.
It is used to maintain a static os partition , i need all changes to remain after reboot.
And returnil is a virtualizer isnt it?.How to use it as anti spyware?


Treat your pet to the Snuggle plush oval shaped pet bed in a unique grey pattern for a cosy slumber.
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A determined writer can get published at any age, from 6 to 66. These 7 precocious authors earned book deals—and some rave reviews—before their 15th birthdays.
Born with a rare and fatal type of muscular dystrophy, Matthew "Mattie" Stepanek began writing poetry at age 3 to cope with the death of his older brother from the same illness. Stepanek called his poems Heartsongs, and at age 11 saw his first volume published. That work, along with six subsequent volumes, would all appear on the New York Times Best Seller List, leading to widespread publicity and an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show. He died in 2004 at age 13, after a lifetime spent as a peace advocate and motivational speaker.
In 1964, 6-year-old Dorothy Straight became one of the youngest published authors ever when her picture book How the World Began was published by Pantheon Books. Straight wrote the book at age 4 after her mother insisted she answer the question "Who made the world?" Drawing inspiration from her pre-K's production of the children's opera Noye's Flodde, over the course of a single night, the little girl created a work about God's efforts to bring nature and animal life into being.
Young Minou had to face a string of doubters before her prodigious writing talent was validated. Though by age 8 her work was already being read by the wider French literary community, accusations that her mother was the one actually writing the poems were not put to rest until she composed poems in front of witnesses proving that her genius was for real. She went on to publish the well-received book Arbre, mon ami at age 10, and toured as an author and musician throughout her teens.
In 1807, Bryant, the 13-year-old son of a pro-British physician, wrote the satirical poem "the Embargo" in response to President Thomas Jefferson's controversial support of the perceived pro-French Embargo Act. Bryant, encouraged by his dad, penned fiery verses calling Jefferson "the scorn of every patriot name, / The country's ruin, and her council's shame" and even trash-talked the president's relationship with his slave, Sally Hemings. The poem's subject matter and the poet's tender age enabled "the Embargo" to go the 1807 version of viral, selling out its first printing and prompting Cullen to release a second edition of his poem in 1809.
Willabus's first book, The Day Mohan Found His Confidence, was published by an independent imprint when she was 8-years-old. Raised in Brooklyn by her Guyanese family, Willabus has won 5 awards for her work, including the New York State Assembly Resolution Award and the Guyana Cultural Society award; she was also nominated for the Coretta Scott King award. Her follow-up to Mohan, A Bully's Disguise, was published when she was 9.
Nancy Yi Fan was born in Beijing in 1993 and moved to Syracuse, New York at age 7. Upon finishing her epic Swordbird at age 12, Fan decided to go for broke and emailed the manuscript to Jane Friedman, the CEO of HarperCollins. The strategy worked: HarperCollins published the Swordbird in 2007, and it soon became a New York Times bestseller. Fan later continued her fantasy world in Sword Quest and Sword Mountain. Her work has been praised by the likes of Oprah Winfrey and action star Jackie Chan—a dream-come-true for the martial arts-loving girl.
While the rest of the writers on this list made their names as poets and/or novelists, Greven became an overnight sensation when, at 9-years-old, his self-help book How to Talk to Girls landed on the New York Times Bestseller List. Greven was inspired to write the book after watching fellow third-grade boys get rejected by girls; the book doles out kernels of wisdom such as "Comb your hair and don't wear sweats" and "Don't act desperate." Publisher HarperCollins had Greven parlay the success of Girls into four sequels: How to Talk to Moms, How to Talk to Dads, How to Talk to Santa, and Rules for School.