I was reading the news the other day, as i do every day, and this one article on the BBC about an ex-F1 designer who received funding and designed an electric car. Here is the full link. Now all this sounds good to me. I’m all for green technologies but come on, a few million dollars and that’s what they came up with ? Seriously…

No wonder none of these prototypes ever get deployed full scale

If you look at the image, you will notice that indeed the guys is having fun driving. However what they forgot is that this is in England ! Where they have crappy weather 500 days a year ! Ok i’m exaggerating but you know what i mean. People need some kind of roof on their car, some cool looking curves, ummm perhaps a paint job and umm why not some kind of windshield so you don’t have to wash your face off insects every time you drive it.

On the other hand, I know this is just a prototype in its early stages, but come on, if you’re going to present something at least make it look cool ! Perhaps then you will get even more people interested… more funds…better products ?

They spent 9 million pounds ( 15 million USD)  building that thing… sad —>

I would definitely choose my old big wheel over that rolling metal box.  At least it cost me, well my parents,  30$,  CO2 footprint o f zero and gets me places quickly. Not to mention I could spin the heck out of the wheel ! yay

Only disadvantage is that have outgrown it

- jam

Flashbacks, courtesy of awhile spent exploring the Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum last Saturday during JediCon WV:

When I was five years old and we lived in the house my parents bought when we first moved to Canton, there was a kid named Danny who lived in the yellow-bricked house next door. He was a year or two older than me and had a Big Wheel which looked pretty much exactly like the one up there on the shelf. Though I don’t remember this, my mom recalls that Danny charged me to ride it.

I apparently paid in the only currency I had: Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars.

Before Danny could totally clean out my tire-shaped Mattel Hot Wheels carrying case, though, mom and dad got me a Big Wheel of my own.

Mine looked different, though – it was red, not orange, and had a plastic brake lever instead of a metal one with a plastic handle. The back wheels were wider, too, and the front wheel – the BIG one – was black and yellow instead of black and silver.

It takes very little effort, even now, to remember what it felt like riding it; the smooth, molded plastic handgrips against my palms; the way the texture of a road or sidewalk transmitted itself through the seat and the wheel and the handlebars while I pedaled; the thrill of pulling up hard on the brake and turning at the same time to do a spin-out.

When it was brand-new, we went to visit my grandma, across the state in Upper Sandusky, and I was allowed to bring it along. There was a parade or something downtown, and I was riding on the sidewalk when my family ran into someone they knew – and their two sons had Big Wheels, too! These guys were pretending that fire shot from their back wheels, which I thought was fun and cool, and when I said, “Yeah, mine too!” one of them looked at my  newer, red-not-orange, fat-rear-tired ride with disdain, and said something to the effect of “Not from yours: Your wheels are weird.” And then they rode off. (Seriously – what a dick, right?)

When I was six, we moved to a new neighborhood, a dead-end street surrounded by trees and fields out in what my parents called “the boondocks.” My new neighbor, Rick, had a Big Wheel of his own, and even though we both knew how to ride bikes, these were the years when we really put our Big Wheels through their paces: plywood-and-cinderblock ramps; demolition derbies; endless races around a tight oval in our driveway.

Eventually, we were too big to squeeze into the Big Wheels sitting down. No problem: We took off the seats and drove them by standing on the back and pushing with one foot, and man, could you get those things flying. Soooo much faster than pedaling, and easier to jump away from when the inevitable flip or collision came your way.

Our Big Wheels mirrored each other in their decay. Busted brake handles; splits in the bases that caused the point just forward of the seat to scrape the ground; and the bane of practically every Big Wheel I ever saw, the one spot on the front tire that wore itself flat and made for an increasingly prominent “thump” with every rotation.

The last time I remember playing with my Big Wheel, Rick and I had tied it to the back of my bicycle with about twenty feet of rope. It was hard as hell for the person doing the pulling to get started, but once the bike was moving down the street, it took just a few slight flicks of the handlebars to send the Big Wheel rider on a massive crack-the-whip sweep, winging back and forth until the trip ended in a cloud of dust and gravel and someone rolling down the road howling in glee.

That’s what I saw sitting up there on the shelf in an old building in Wheeling, West Virginia.

When I was a little kid I always  loved big wheels. But what I wanted even more was The Green Machine!!! I remember all the cool kids had ‘em and while I was riding around on my big wheel the other kids were doing circles around me in their Green Machines!! For some reason I was never able to get one. I think they were a little more pricey at the time or maybe it was because of how many cool ass dangerous moves you could pull off on one these puppies that made my parents fear this amazing vehicle! Anyway I ran across the commercial for it and the envious memories flooded back into my mind. Well now that I am older who’s to say you won’t see me finally cruisin’ the streets on my own Green Machine?!

Each year two toys are selected for induction into the Toy Hall of Fame at the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, NY. Toys are nominated for the Hall of Fame based on the following criteria:

• Icon-status (the toy is widely recognized, respected, and remembered)
• Longevity (the toy is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over multiple generations)
• Discovery (the toy fosters learning, creativity, or discovery through play)
• Innovation (the toy profoundly changed play or toy design)

The nominees for the Class of 2009 have been announced. Cast your vote to see which two nominees will join the 41 previous inductees. We’ll compare our results when the museum will announce the winners on November 5th.

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Dude raced this in the main race, what you can’t see is him passed out to the right in exhaustion.
こんなかわいい自転車で、ちゃんとレースしてました。すごい！

I had so much fun doing this one. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed posting it. xoxo

POP Goes PERFECTION!

Trolls

Pogs & Slammers!

Mouse Trap

Original Cruisin USA! (A Shakey’s Fave) FYI–I had hawaii on lock!

WHAC-A-MOLE

BIG WHEEL

Power Wheels Barbie Jeep

Skip it!

Polly Pocket

Giga Pet, Nano & Tamagotchi’s

(lots of photo cred to Retroland and Children of the Nineties)

Lange war es ruhig um meinen Firmenscooter… doch jetzt gibt es wieder etwas zu berichten. Lagerraum wird auch in RL immer teurer – und so wurde zur Refinanzierung meines Parkplatzes kurzerhand eine Parkuhr montiert. Gott sei Dank hat mein RL Avi sofort gemerkt, dass der Zeitregler defekt ist. Man muss nicht stündlich hinrennen und Geld nachwerfen. Trotzdem wird der Spaß langsam ganz schön teuer. Vielleicht sollte ich doch was für die Umwelt tun und wieder mehr zu Fuß gehen

Meine "private" Parkuhr *grummel

The current issue of ID (International Design) magazine has an article in which famous designers describe their favorite toy. Most picked items from their childhood.  The write-ups are priceless.   Who knew that Paul Budnitz (Kidrobot founder) rode his Big Wheel until he was so big that he had to have his dad nail a  plywood extension on the seat area?  Or that Michael Bierut was into Matchbox cars?  And John Maeda, author of “The Laws of Simplcity”  and president of RISD, somewhat predictably picked Naef Toys.

A typically beautiful and uber-simple luxury wooden toy, by Naef

This got me pondering my own favorite toy:  Jumbo Cardboard Blocks.

I first met these Jumbo Cardboard Blocks  in Kindergarten.  I was four, and like most of the kids in my neighborhood, I hadn’t been to preschool.  It was a brave new world. I loved those blocks and I simply couldn’t believe our classroom had so many of them.  Oh, the possibilities!  I passed many happy hours making cities and castles and school rooms, where I tripped in and out of the “doors” directing imaginary citizenry.  It was great, absorbing fun.   But the real reason these blocks are my childhood favorite is they created a shining moment of childhood.  It was the day my teacher “Mrs. Affleck” singled me out.

I was surprised to recently learn that  a fellow student hated Mrs. Affleck.  I thought she was a dream, with a melodious voice, an old-fashioned (even then) brown bob, and a colorful array of slim, friendly-looking shirt-dresses.

On the big day, I’d had one of my usual free time sessions with the blocks.  Nothing unusual, yet Mrs. Affleck called the class over and said,

Children, just look at the wonderful creation Julie Knittel (my maiden name) and Roy Stufflebean made!  They worked so nicely together.  What a great job!

That was literally the first time I realized I could do a “job.”  And that someone might notice.  And that I could get credit for it.  And it was good to “work” on a team.  The rest is history, I guess.  (But I still wonder what happened to Roy Stufflebean.)

So…I am asking what childhood toys might be the favorite for other people.  No slightly sappy psychological dramas (like mine)  need be attached.  Sometimes Play-doh is just Play-doh.  But it’s still great.

Well now… if this works I should be able to post blogs from my blackberry when inspired… and with a picture too!

Cool. Now dig my ride…  I just got new plastic wheels, a new helmet, goggles, and gloves, so look out!  Wanna race?!

Click more.

I’ll just send you over to their site for the rest of the photos.
Click here.

THE NEW AND IMPROVE BIG WHEEL

This weird thing is a 1.2kW electric motor powered, carbon fiber foldable bike called the YikeBike. It’s real, unfolds in 15 seconds, and aims to solve the eternal problem of urban mobility, and probably become Woz’s favorite new toy.

ROUND AND ROUND YOU GO...

Folded, the YikeBike only takes 6 x 23.6 x 23.6 inches (150 x 600 x 600 millimeters) and weighs 22 pounds (10 kilograms), so it can be easily carried around. And while its pneumatic wheels may follow an old high wheeler configuration, according to the manufacturer, this thing is designed to be easy to maneuver, and it’s equipped with electronic brakes with built-in anti-skid system.

CHECK OUT VIDEO

Via Gizmodo

Fall is in the air and school is back in session. I’ve been daydreaming about my time at Indiana University and craving a visit to Bloomington like crazy. I have wonderful memories of my college days, and southern Indiana is absolutely gorgeous when the leaves start to turn.

Since this is a food blog, after all, it seems a perfect opportunity to pay tribute to some of my favorite I.U.-related eating experiences. In no particular order, here we go:

Big Wheel. Let’s all take a moment and pay homage, shall we? My mom was actually born and raised in Bloomington and my grandparents lived there for a long time, so I have plenty of childhood memories of B-ton trips from as long back as I can remember. Big Wheel was a presence even back then in the 1970s. Situated on north College Ave., Big Wheel was one of the first restaurants you’d see when you entered town from the north. Landmarked by, what else, a big neon wheel, it was hard to miss. This place was seriously old-school – big, roomy vinyl booths and a menu full of traditional down-homey breakfast-lunch-dinner favorites. Country-fried steaks, chicken and noodles, pie, you get the idea…It was sort of like a Denny’s or IHOP, but locally owned and operated, which automatically makes it better. Waffle House couldn’t hold a candle to Big Wheel, even though it did dish up a very respectable biscuits and sausage gravy…

While I attended I.U., Big Wheel became the sight of many a late-night study session and dinners with my Varsity Villas roommates. Rumor has it, Big Wheel was one of Bob Knight’s favorite places to hold meetings with various administrators and pals, but I never saw him there. I was heartbroken when the Big Wheel finally closed its doors. It’s since been torn down and replaced with a prefab Steak ‘n Shake, last I checked. Sniffle, sniffle.

Pizza Express breadsticks. After rolling in from Kilroy’s or Hooligans at 3 a.m., nothing soaks up all the booze better than a order of Pizza Express breadsticks and cheese sauce, delivered hot and steamy right to your door. Except maybe…

Kilroy’s 25-cent nachos. Kilroy’s was the first bar I legally entered at midnight the day I turned 21. Way back then (we’re talking early 1990s here), Kilroy’s featured a serve-yourself nacho bar. For one slim quarter, you got a basket of chips and as many toppings as you could scoop on – salsa, cheese and sour cream. I shudder to think how many of those baskets I consumed, along with a cold Coors Light or one of those crazy banana-strawberry daquiris they used to serve.

IU Memorial Union, Sugar and Spice, Special K bars. I believe Sugar and Spice is still there, but wouldn’t bet my life on it. It’s just a tiny little busy snack/coffee counter nestled in a corner of the Union, but if you hit the line at just the right time, you could snag a Special K bar to eat on the way to your next class. Think Rice Krispie treat, but made with Special K and peanut butter instead, flatter, chewier and way more gooey. My mouth is watering right now just thinking about one.

Loaf and Ladle, Nutty Bird sandwich. Another casualty of urban development, the Loaf and Ladle is no more, but back in the day, it served fantastic soup-and-sandwich lunches from its cozy little perch on the northeast corner of the town square. The Nutty Bird was a tasty turkey sandwich with cream cheese, sunflower seeds and sprouts, as I recall. With a cup of the soup of the day, it was darn near the perfect lunch.

Village Deli. I can’t remember the specifics exactly, but they used to serve some sort of breakfast monstrosity that pretty much threw in everything you’d ever want to eat in the morning. It started with a layer of breakfast potatoes topped with scrambled eggs, sausage gravy and cheese on top. Maybe I just imagined it during one hungover visit after a particularly long bender at Jakes…

Mother Bear’s Pizza. What is there to say? Except it’s fabulous.

Mustard’s bears mentioning for its do-it-yourself burger bar, as does the meatball sandwich at Macri’s Deli and the lasagna from Grisanti’s. I know there are other dishes and locales I’m forgetting. Please forgive me, it’s been (gulp) 20 years since I was stomping around those grounds.

Would love to hear from other IU alums about your favorite Bloomington food memories. And in the meantime, Indiana, oh Indiana… we’re all for you!

Watercolor of an antique high wheel bicycle.  Circa 1885.  The print is for sale at my shop.

Wenn man schon bei einem großen deutschen Hersteller von Sport- und Freizeitartikeln arbeitet und seinen Mac im Service-Lager stehen hat, was liegt da näher, als sich einen eigenen Firmenscooter zuzulegen. Das hat sich mein RL-Avi Jutta auch gedacht.  Natürlich nur, um die eigene Arbeitszeit effektiver zu gestalten und sie nicht durch lange Fußmärsche zum Nachbarlager zu verschwenden *unschuldiglächel. Aber – wohin mit dem Ding, wenn man nicht gerade durch die Gänge saust? Jutta hat hin und her überlegt und dann fluchs eine ungenutze Ecke mit einem Parkplatzschild versehen… und los ging es!

Wenige Minuten nachdem das Schild hing, hat schon einer von Juttas netten Kollegen (und die halten dicht… angeblich war es KEINER – nee – is klar) die genau Parkfläche mit Kreppband abgeklebt – wunderbar – so ist das Terrain abgesteckt (dachten Jutta und ich noch in unserem jugendlichen Leichtsinn). Aber – weit gefehlt, wie wir am nächsten Morgen feststellen mussten. Genau an der Stelle meines Parkplatzes wurde nämlich mir nichts dir nichts über Nacht eine Tagesbaustelle errichtet und Jutta hatte ein Knöllchen.

Lustig? Na, ihr werdet noch mehr zu  Lachen kriegen – die Geschichte geht nämlich weiter. Aber ihr wisst ja: Heute ist nicht aller Tage – die Geschichte geht weiter – keine Frage *g

TBC

Public Square Group is holding a downhill race on Aug. 23rd from 1-5pm. For more information on the event click here. For video footage of Public Square Group’s leg of the Walk and Roll event and some more news, click more.


Here is a short video of the leg of the Walk and Roll event that Public Square Group put on.

Also MSN put this article up earlier. I think Ohio needs to get on this program, put a plaza in every downtown area of the bigger cities atleast.

A few thoughts on Sheffield music city

So the dust has settled on the first Tramlines festival and the general consensus seems to be that it was one of the best all-round weekends that Sheffield has seen for many years.

The atmosphere around town was electric, particularly in the Devonshire quarter where the pubs were heaving and there was stuff going on wherever you looked. On top of all the live music there was also the big wheel, the Fargate continental market and events in Barker’s pool that added to the feel-good factor around the city.

The fine weather on Friday and Saturday certainly helped things get off to a good start, and you were spoilt for choice with regards to what to see. As well as the main stage on Devonshire green, the world stage in the Peace gardens seemed to go down very well and it was great fun to wander in and out of the other city pubs and venues to explore the eclectic line-ups of bands, DJs and performers.

According to @talkelectric, there were an estimated 10-15,000 people in town for the festival and takings for local businesses quadrupled.

Further out of town there was plenty going on too, with the fun carrying on at the Cremorne, Shakespeare and Earl, the BBQ and DJs up at the university and of course the wonderful Rude shipyard on Abbeydale road. This place continued to show the world how a good coffee shop should be run with its own intimate, unamplified live music sessions in the upstairs room accompanied by pints of local cask ale from the Brew company.

There were one or two things that could have been better. The debate continues on Sheffield forum regarding the Devonshire green ticketing arrangements for Saturday and Sunday, where many people were annoyed at either not getting a ticket or not being able to return after leaving the enclosure. It was a bit frustrating being stuck by the main stage all day on Saturday when there were so many other things going on that would have been good to pop out and see.

Some people have grumbled that they were unable to get tickets, but I have to say that after going along at the published time both days, I queued for under an hour and each time came away with tickets with no fuss. There have also been objections to people taking two tickets and keeping both so they could leave and then re-enter Devonshire green, as well as some people getting cross that some ticket holders chose to not enter the main stage area until the evening.

I don’t see why the organisers couldn’t do away with the tickets completely and simply count 5,000 people in and then operate a one-out, one-in policy? I think you would get a natural flow of people leaving to check out the other venues and what’s more, the main stage would have more chance of being at capacity almost all day, which I don’t think was the case this time – almost certainly due to the ticketing.

It would also have been nice to be able to buy a beer and lie back and watch the bands (even if it was a £3.50 can of Red stripe), but with the bar area away from the main stage this was impossible. I guess it was put in place to stop people getting really drunk in the main family area and in that sense it seemed to work.

The people that didn’t get tickets were forced to drink and dance in the streets on the other side of the fences, which by the looks of things actually looked as least as much fun as being in the pen.

The rain on Sunday was a bit of a downer and after seeing a tweet that said the main stage looked dead I was wondering whether the showers had put people off. But there were plenty of people who were still determined to make the best of it and by the evening it had filled up.

The La’s pulling out was a blow and I had also been looking forward to seeing the Noisettes on the Saturday. If anyone is wondering where the Noisettes got to, I did hear that they had been interviewed on Radio 1 on Sunday ‘poolside from LA’ so I guess that explains their no-show. I can’t imagine why you would you choose California over Sheffield…

One other small gripe was the music that Hallam FM kindly pumped at the crowd on the main stage between performers on Saturday. It was the same set of songs on repeat all day (as @designsheffield pointed out, actually pretty similar to the approach they take with their playlist) which was annoying for anyone on the green for more than about 45 minutes.

After putting on a decent pop line-up, I felt it was a chance for the radio station to enhance its credibility with people that may not normally listen but to be honest it confirmed my doubts about how in touch they are with listeners’ needs. If it was intentional then it was a bad idea and if not, did no-one backstage or on the sound desk consider sticking on a few different tunes from their iPod or phone? Nickelback’s Rock star should not be inflicted on anyone ten times in a single day.

Encouragingly, the main festival organisers seem to be responding to feedback regarding this year’s event so hopefully if Tramlines happens again next year it will be even better. Does anyone have any other thoughts or suggestions for how it could be further improved? Perhaps an idea for allocating tickets? Or how about closing off more roads in the Devonshire quarter?

Now is the time to air your views to ensure that Sheffield music city/Tramlines 2010 further builds on the heart-warming success of this year’s event.

There are plenty of photos online, including sets from @arepeejee (here) @dansumption (here) and @robinbyles (here).

The main stage on Devonshire green

So the other day I did this game on Facebook where I had to list five toys that reminded me of my childhood.  Now the purpose of this game is to share with your Facebook friends (which my list is fast becoming more eclectic than the music on my iPod) a little something about yourself that they might not actually know about you (whether or not they truly care is completely irreverent).  Now, I was one of those half girly-girls and half tomboys growing up in the 70s, so I have plenty to choose from in the favorite toy department.  But what twisted my brain (well, more twisted than normal) was how do you capsulate your whole childhood into just five toys?  And what’s scary is that once you hit that finalize button there’s no going back!  Yep, once you hit that button your one shot at toy coolness is gone.  Gee, that’s a lot of pressure and I thought Facebook was supposed to be fun!  

Anyway, I started racking my brain (yeah-yeah, I was totally over thinking it now) and after calculating all the pros and cons I finally decided to take the plunge and list Barbie (cause she was so very chic with her purple car, her dream house and her very own horse named Dallas), the Big Wheel (because it was so much better than a stupid tricycle and it could totally do spinouts just by pulling on that nifty plastic handle!), Sit N’ Spin (the prime cause for some of my more dizzy moments and one lost tooth), Breyer horses (for what little girl doesn’t have a thing for handsome steeds) and Smurfs (yes, those little annoying blue things that my best friend Darcy and I just adored!). 

Of course, a sheer moment after hitting that finalize button I was filled with regret for there were so many other cool toys that I had forgotten!  Why I’m pretty sure my plethora of Star Wars figures are thoroughly disappointed in me now and how will I ever face Raggedy Ann and Andy now that I left them off the A list. And what about those cute little Weebles that wobble but don’t fall down or Little People who had everything from a barn to an airplane? Or who could forget the colorful art one could make with a Lite-Brite or how the Slinky was able to walk down stairs or the amazing 3D effect of the View Master? What about Lincoln Logs, Legos or Tinker Toys that made you actually use your brain to create something (not to mention great weapons in a pinch!)? Or that insidious game known only as Mouse Trap that took 5 hours to set up and 30 seconds to play. Why I’m even proud to say I had a Pet Rock. Yep, a rock. Hmm, I guess toys were not as complicated in my day when getting a rock for Christmas was cool.

Toodles,
Angi

P.S. Santa – If you are reading this blog, could you please bring me an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas this year as there is nothing better than cooking a cake with a lightbulb! Thanks!!

   The following letter is an email I received in response to a blog post I wrote a few weeks ago.  You can read the post HERE. 

Their is nothing a writer loves more than to know his writing has touched someone.  I am so thankful that God has allowed me this outlet to express my love for Him and my desire to beautifully reflect Him.

INTRO TO ME

(Response to The I’s Have It 5/19/09)…part 1

     Admittedly, I am one of the people who the author talks about whom are “increasingly dedicated to finding our purpose or God’s will for our life.”  I have prayed for God to show me a “burning bush moment” too many times to count.  When I was 11, I was in so much pain emotionally, physically, and spiritually, that I asked God to take me home.  I could not imagine why He would put me or allow me to be in a place where no one understood me, (or in my flawed perception…no one would care).

     Why am I here? What does God want from me? Why do I feel so hopeless and without purpose?  I could not hear God…the only option I had to protect myself was to close off from the pain and shut everyone out.  Through God’s grace, patience, and perseverance, (His as well as select people he brought into my life) He has helped me through many trails and temptations.  When I was about 21 years old, after an indirect effort on my part to end my life, God put Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:10 into my heart, and thanks to Him working through my niece, I made a promise to never again make an effort to end everything.  I still wasn’t able to hear God or understand why I was brought here, but I knew then without a doubt (and as I can see now looking back, that I really was here for a purpose.  Many people would tell me that I was not here for selfish reasons, and that I was supposed to be in the world, but not of it…I was set apart, but I didn’t really accept or internalize it until much later.  It is a universal truth that the Lord can take us home at any time, and everything truly is about His perfect timing and purpose for our lives.

     I continued to question my purpose, and also be frustrated at the seeming lack of interest from Him.  I kept trying to find earthly reasons for my existence.  Anyone who even barely knew or knows me would tell you that MY biggest goal in life was / is to have a family of my own…but that wasn’t, and so far isn’t HIS plan for me at the moment.  I finally gave up pushing so hard for that, and eventually (after 4 Ph.D application denials), have accepted that very seldom does anyone find out what their purpose(s) is/are.  It is clear to me that God wants us to be childlike in our faith (Mt. 18:3) and start out very small in our work for His kingdom.  As the previous author stated…and I truly believe, if we do the small (seemingly unimportant at times, though it may be) stuff (i.e. cleaning latrines in the previous article), God will most assuredly ask us to do greater and bigger things through Him, for the good of His kingdom and people.  I feel it is immensely important that we keep praying for guidance and direction (Jeremiah 29:12) and asking the people we trust for help with our mission.

     I don’t know where I am going on this earth, but I do know I am here to do His will and to do what I can to bring my small part of His plan to fruition.  The reason I can’t see anything more detailed than that is simple…I am not ready.  Thankfully, He has given me awesome, God inspired, brothers and sisters to help me on my journey, and I have been given to them to aid them in theirs.  I am constantly reminded that I must many times allow myself to “Be still and know…” (Psalms 46:10)…while I wait for His timing, so I can continue on in my service to Him.  May God Bless you as you continue to seek His truth for your life.  “Burning bush” moment or not, He is with us always (Mt. 28:20).

  First let me reiterate that you (the reader) are very important to God.  Each of us are so valuable that God sent His Son to die a horrible death on the cross so that we can be with God in heaven forever.  Nowhere in the Bible is their a verse that says we are unimportant.  However, we are also a selfish and prideful people with a heart that is naturally bent towards wanting more than we have.  In a non-Christian’s life this is expected and normal, but in a Christian’s life this is the opposite of how we should act and feel.  Christians are supposed to love like Christ, rejoice when others succeed, and be happy when God uses someone to accomplish great things for Him.  But too often we get wrapped up in self and become bitter toward God because He hasn’t made us successful (as we envision success) or we aren’t where our plan was supposed to have us.  There is a country song out that says “if you want to hear God laugh tell Him your plans.”  How true!  God has a plan for all of us, it is written out clearly and concisely in His Word.  All we have to do is read it and obey.  Like my friend said, small things before big things.  You can’t put a three year old behind the wheel of a race car and expect him to win a race, but you can start him out on a Big Wheel and let him terrorize the cat.  If you want to “do great things for God” start by doing the small things really well. 

  Never give up on your dreams, just be willing to do something else if God tells you to.

_ _

The london eye is to go under major referb begining this Thursday for the preperation for the 2012 olmypics, each capsule is being transported away ( only
One at a time so the eye is still open) to be upgraded, being fitted with wifi,screens for visual tours, better air condictioning making them even more Eco friendly, my concern is why the wifi?
Are business’s going to start to have meetings in them requiring Internet connections? Or people really need it that bad? Most people will get 3g ( if you have a 3g handset) on the wheel as it’s so tall, so getting coverage of the games will be fine,

Anyway I can kinda see their point by installing all this mew equipment it means they will have everything up to datet for the next 15 years (est).

What do you think of the wheel and what do you think they need to do to make it more appealing?