Bone #9: Crown of Horns by Jeff Smith

Published January 2009 by Scholastic

ISBN: 978-0439706322

The Recommend:

This is the 9th and final installment of the Bone graphic novels (not counting the ‘prequel,’ Rose, which also appeared this year but which is kind of forgettable).

My son James and I read the whole series all last year, and EAGERLY awaited the release of #9 early in 2009. The ninth book brings the whole epic story to its conclusion, and we were not disappointed.

Not only does Smith tie up all the plotlines, but he also is able to do such wonderful things with the characters, developed so thoroughly after so many books that they become real people. The story and the characters lingered with us for months after we finished the ninth book.

This series is serious literature, accessible enough to kids, but with enormous depth and dynamics.

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About John Maxwell

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John Maxwell has been involved in the Internet and new media since the early 1990s, in web design, content management, electronic publishing, learning technologies, and virtual communities.

After working on educational technology at the Open Learning Agency in the late 1990s, he completed a PhD in education at UBC, focusing on the cultural trajectories of “personal computing” over the past four decades.

An alumnus of the first year of the MPub program (1995/96), Maxwell is now an assistant professor in the Master of Publishing Program at SFU, where his focus is on the impact of digital technologies in the cultural sector, the history of computing and new media, and contemporary myth-making in the face of digital media.

Any Known Blood by Lawrence Hill.

Published 1999 by Harper Collins

ISBN: 978-1554685080

The Recommend:

This was the first book I read that looked at black history from a Canadian perspective.

It’s a must-read if you’ve read the Book of Negroes and a have-to-have if you’ve not experienced Hill’s writing.

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About Suzanne Norman

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Suzanne Norman is the acting director of the Summer Publishing Workshops at Simon Fraser University, where she has been coordinator since 2001.

She is a graduate of Memorial University of Newfoundland and holds a post-baccalaureate diploma in communications from SFU where she is completing a Master of Publishing degree.

Over the years she has worked as an investigative journalist, a newspaper editor, and an editor of young adult fiction.

At least Saul Brown seems to think so. Saul and his company are members of our Green Inner-city Cluster and have helped us on SOLEfood and the Sustainability 2.0 Expo among many projects. His company provides sustainable and socially responsible corporate gifts and operates out of a green building in Strathcona.

Building Opportunities with Business maintains an online directory of inner-city businesses with particular emphasis on those that are sustainable and socially responsible. Many large organizations such as Business Objects and SFU use it to buy their catering, recycling, or cleaning services. Next time your business or organization needs to hire someone for a job, if you’d like to hire someone who is progressive and working towards improving Vancouver’s historic inner-city, check our online business directory first.

If you operate a business in Vancouver’s historic inner-city and wish to be included in the directory, you can register online. We’re making a few changes and additions to our website which will be finished soon according to our web developers.

The Hoops Report™ – @ USF
by Hoops McKnight

1. The frustrating thing about this game was that it was winnable. There were far too many silly TOs, and at least 10 missed layups.

2. But let’s give USF their due. They only dressed out 8, were dammed athletic (especially inside), and hit one ton of FTs.

3. Some of the more die-hard aficionados of “Blocked Punts” will recall that my partner-in-fun for our first-ever home FB game was Fresh-Faced Mikey. Well, Fresh-Faced Mikey recently retired (at 54!!) and moved his family to Amelia Island. We decided that it would be fun to meet in the middle for his first UCF game of any sort in 29 years. He had a blast, and wanted me to let everyone know how much he appreciated meeting everybody. And yes, he’s still Fresh-Faced…

4. Did the officiating look as bad on TV as it did in person?

5. So I’m minding my on business in my Sun Dome seat, when I get nicked by a screw protruding from the armrest of my chair (POS facility!!). I don’t realize it for 20 minutes, and as a result I have blood stains all over my shirt and pants. My first order of business when I get home is a full bottle of Spray & Wash – in this post-Tiger era you just don’t want to have answer bodily fluid questions to the Mrs (and believe me their antennae are up)…

6. After this game if anybody thinks that MarJ was a publicity signing they’re nuts!! His D was impressive, and he had a solid game on offense.

7. Here’s a Good Coach/Bad Coach exhibition. 11:00 left in the game, and USF is up by 9. Heath chooses to squeeze the clock. Kirk responds with a zone D. Instead of blowing us out (as they could have, and should have) they go cold, and leave us in the game. We still had a chance to win the game with less than a minute to go.

8. For the record, USF grad Joe Hornstein was wearing UCF attire tonight, and handing out UCF paraphernalia.

9. We will see Dominique Jones in the NBA. Helluva player (and yes, Kirk tried to land him, pre-new Arena).

10. The Sun Dome is sure proud of their beer – $6 for a 12oz glass??!!

11. Keith had a superb 1st half, and continues to improve with each game. He’s gonna be scary before it’s all over!!

12. USF’s Sun Dolls halftime show might have been Knight Moves-worthy, but it was lost with their un-Bull-ievably gaudy outfits. Think form-fitting forest green leotards with chartreuse reflective tape on their arm and legs. I got dizzy…

13. As you go to sleep tonight, kneel and say thanks for our arena. Everything bad about the Sun Dome is great about our Arena. Especially our atmosphere!! And (at 4600) that was the biggest crowd of the year for them!

14. As I left the game tonight, I spat upon their ground. It had to be done.

And it is so beautiful!  And I’m so proud!  And I really have to thank all of the volunteers at the Accreditation & Uniform Centre for doing such a wonderful job at moving us all through quickly and efficiently.  They have it all laid out in a row.

When I arrived I checked in at the door of the PNE Forum (I was a little concerned at this point as I was not on the list) but the volunteer at the desk took my name and sent me on to the next room, where they checked my ID and their computer and luckily I was there!  At ID check they gave me a slip of paper and sent me on (just follow the red line) to the photography centre.  I had my photo taken (‘just like a passport photo’, really? I always smile, how is someone going to recognize me deadpan??) and then from there onto the printer.  We all lined up behind our designated printers and waited for our accreditation, which of course was promptly laminated and put onto a lanyard.  So cool to have my accreditation in hand (even if the photo is goofy!)!  Then off to uniforms (follow the yellow line this time).

There was a bit of a line for uniforms, conveniently right beside a small Vancouver 2010 merchandise shop (I didn’t buy anything at all!  So proud ).  Some of us chatted in line, so that was nice.  Then they checked my accreditation and gave me a sheet of paper and sent me around another corner (grey line this time) and I pretty much immediately went into the fitting room area.  Everyone must try on the uniform pieces to make sure you get a good fit!  Marianne helped me with mine, she was so sweet!  I just barely managed to not cry as I put on the different pieces!

Marianne helped with my uniform fitting at the Accreditation & Uniform Centre. She was great! The space was fascinating!

Marianne marked down my sizes on the paper I had been given and then sent me along to the pickup room.  A volunteer there took my paper (smiled with glee that it was an ‘easy’ order as everything was the same size) and started filling my tote bag with my volunteer pants, two long-sleeve t-shirts, vest, jacket, toque and welcome gift (I was grinning by this point!).  From there I headed to the check out area, where they scan through all of the items to make sure that you have what you’re supposed to have.  The final check is on your way out the door, at the far side of the Forum, a very nice volunteer is sitting there wishing everyone “Bonsoir”.  If you answer en français he asks if you know enough to wear a “Bonjour” button during the Games to identify that you can speak French.  I sadly cannot speak enough French to be comfortable with this, but I will try to improve quickly (I have a lot of people who can help at the Olympic Superstore!).

I didn’t entirely pull the bag of goodies apart until I got home, but as I had a late shift it was pretty late indeed before I had a chance to peruse what they’d given us.  So, besides the uniform pieces we also received a “Team 2010 Pocket Guide” that has answers for most things that volunteers will need to know on the job.  In the goody bag there are all sorts of things!  I admit, I am most excited about the Cold-FX snowboard pin!  But there was also some Cold-FX!  Excel Gum!  A FarCoast travel mug (mmm… coffee!)!  And coupons for Petro-Canada, and the Bay including the Olympic Superstore!!  Very cool!  OK – so yes, I did a bit of self-portraiture last night, with my snazzy new uniform, so here are some photos (not quite as exciting as JawnBC’s video mind you! ).

Vancouver 2010 Accreditation and Uniform? Check!

OK - I look like a goof in my 'model' pose, but it does show some more of the uniform pieces!

Canada's Next Top Model I'm not - Vancouver 2010's very proud volunteer, yup, that's me!

The long-sleeve shirt and the pants, and my accreditation! Yay!

This one is for H. with @COLDFX2010 and for @AtosJenn! Our lanyards say Atos Origin and since I got a new Cold-FX pin I wanted a new photo with it and my sliding goalie Cold-FX pin!

Hey – I think you can hardly tell that I did cry when I put my very own volunteer uniform on for the first time!  It really is a very special thing!

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OH!  And I had another wonderful surprise yesterday!  Kerstin, from the Vancouver Deutsches Haus dropped of a SFU 2010 Winter Games Community Contributor pin for me!  Sadly I missed her when she came through (come see me another time Kerstin!) but I really appreciate it!  It’s fabulous!

Oh la la! SFU pin! Thanks Kerstin!!

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Have you wished anyone Happy Holidays right here on 2010vanfan yet??  Time is ticking down to win a Christmas pin!  Post a comment with a holiday greeting and your friend or family-member’s name and that person will be entered to win!  (Get them to enter you if you would like to win!).  Find more details here!  I look forward to all sorts of holiday cheer!

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Until 57 days to go…. Happy Holidays and Happy Vancouver 2010!

It has all 5 Seasons on DVD as well as a booklet “In Memoriam”!

via

and it can’t be fixed:

The real objective of the CFS is to perpetuate security of employment for those staff. This is accomplished through maniacal and paranoid control over individual student unions (locals). The tool is progressive rhetoric combined with idealistic, itinerant activists. Young students who really want to make a change (ourselves included) are targeted and groomed for leadership positions within their Locals. Most are gone long before they begin to really feel the wrongness inherent in the CFS. Or they walk away in disgust.

Your essential reading for the year. (PDF, 49k)

Just cruised by the SFU Library here, and found the FALL edition of High Altitude Poetry out. Little quaint sized booklet filled with some good works. Check them out at http://www.sfu.ca/~hapoetry/hap24.html.

For some more great writing, some poetry involved, another great group of guys that are putting out some good stuff are the writers at Life of A King : Chronicles of Times. They write a magazine about lifestyles, ethics, health, thoughts, and events of kings!

The School of Business at BCIT (British Columbia Institute of Technology) now has a facebook page. Check it out: facebook.com/bcitbusiness.

BCIT School of Business

Become a fan.

Lately I have been desperately trying to get myself out of a certain never ending procrastination cycle
finals are coming up in less than a week. what the fuck am I doing.

current time : 1:00AM

To Do List for December 3rd 2009
- GET UP @ 8:00AM
- EAT BREAKFAST
- GO READ ECON105 and DO NOT GO BACK TO SLEEP

The sunny weather conditions provided the perfect opportunity to take a break from studying and get out birding. I decided to check out Naheeno Park; a place I haven’t been birding before. It is located on Burnaby Mountain just south of SFU’s campus inside the “ring road” formed by University Drive and Gaglardi Way.

I ended up doing a trail that branches off of the main path (Mel’s Trail I think?) and does a loop across two creeks and then rejoins the main trail. It was quite peaceful, except for the traffic at SFU, but there wasn’t much activity as far as birds are concerned. This time of year isn’t exactly the best time to bird Burnaby Mountain; it’s better during migration when various species warblers are moving through.

At one point I did get some close up views of a flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets that decided I wasn’t a threat (or they were just too busy gaining much needed energy) and came within a meter or so of my position. In winter they feed primarily on insects and a little bit of seeds (Ingold and Galati 1997). I was able to watch them glean insects of off the leaves of a young Douglas fir; often they would hover to get at the underside of the leaves.

Despite the lack of activity I still had a great time and I look forward to revisiting Naheeno Park in the spring when it will hopefully have a lot more going on.

Reference:

Ingold, James L. and Robert Galati. 1997. Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/bna/species/301doi:10.2173/bna.301

According to WESH 2 News, UCF was extended an invitation to play in the St. Petersburg Bowl on Dec. 19. WESH confirmed with bowl sources and said UCF will formally accept the invitation during a 2 pm news conference today. UCF may face either USF or Rutgers University in the game, which will be televised on ESPN.

Új dizájn van, untam a régit. Még várható a jövőben ezzel kapcsolatosan kisérletezés. Amúgy szerintem ez jobb.

Ezt a Six Feet Under klippet most találtam. Eddig mi a faszért nem hallottam róla? Lényegtelen. Annak ellenére, hogy a jelenlegi zenebuzeranciám az electrohoz meg a drum and bass-hez köthető, de azért a régi korszakomból, ami leginkább a metálhoz kapcsolható, azért szemmel követek (vagyis izé… inkább füllel) egy-két bandát. Ilyen pl. a Six Fett Under, ami a zenén kívül Chris Barnes-ről híres. Tudtommal vendégeskedett a Cannibal Corpse -ban is, jellegzetes hangásáról, hátborzongató hörgéseiről, beteg szövegeiről, és a méltán hírhedt (híres?) zimbie-look-ról híres, ami tulajdon képpen (az előbb felsoroltakon kívül) a védjegye. Enjoy!

SFU vs UCF in the St. Petersburg Bowl

Looks like someone at SFU is about to launch a new archaeology journal focusing on archaeology of the Northwest.  (Presumably NW North America, but you never know when it comes to SFU).  The pages are formatted, but blank, except for the instructions to authors.  I hope this journal template turns into something real.

Been feeling something coming down on me for the past couple days.  Yesterday it finally manifested itself.  I’ve apparently caught a cold.  Took some tylenol, and been sneezing all day.  Being sleepy didn’t help either.  I had the worst nap on the West Coast Express too.  I felt pretty sick throughout the day, so I left early.  I then went to SFU to visit Gary.  SFU does indeed look very depressing.  I know I shouldn’t be doing that since I was sick, but getting up and walking around made me feel a little bit better.  Played DotA there until my computer ran out of batteries.  I would have plugged in my laptop if I had found a plug.  It was a goddamn computer lab, and there was not a single plug in sight.  The ones that the computers were using were kept confined behind and under the desk.  I could not get to it.  We left at about 4:45 and got to Coquitlam Station at around 5:15 to get a ride back home.