Each Thursday night we publish an online newsletter. It starts with a list of who is pals with the members you know. Since I have 8500 friends on the site, the list is LONG. But below we include a little text about what is going on at our club.
So here is the Wiggins Weekly for today
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HAPPY EASTER PALS!
First, there's an animated card from all of us here in Wiggins to you. To view it, click here
http://phplist.clubponypals.com/wigweekly/Easter2011.html
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SCAVENGER HUNT HINT
To complete the current scavenger hunt you need a
New Pony Pal Bonus Certificate
To get one, you have to become Pals with a new member. You can go to the Pals Please page by clicking on the words " See who wants Pals " on your home page. The link is
http://www.clubponypals.com/pals_please.php
Pretty much anybody there who is a new member (member number over 185,000) is someone you could send a wmail to that says NEW PONY PAL BONUS and each of you would get 100 Wbucks and the certificate. If that member does not have a cabin, then you need to make them your Pal before you can send that message.
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GIVE A GIFT GET A GIFT CLUB
Speaking of quests and gifts, if you need something to finish a quest or scavenger hunt, we have a new club that is going to be real handy. CPP member Columbinestables wrote this about how it works:
"Give a gift, Get a gift Club" It would be a club where people could give and get gifts, make new friends, and just chat about CPP, and of course real ponies!
We focus on being generous and friendly to all and making new members feel welcome by sending them gifts and maybe wmails.
Members post in club forums a message like "I give and get." to let other members know that they will return a gift of equalish value to you.
So say you need lilacs for a quest....this new club is the place to get them!
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SPECIAL "EASTER EGG" COUPON IN OUR ONLINE NEWSLETTER
Can you find a special 100 Wiggins Bucks offer in our online edition of the Wiggins bi Weekly? Hint: the first is an Easter card. Check our online newsletter through April 30 for a new ca! rd that can be redeemed for 100 WB. It's that easy!
Message changes, follow directions to get a prize. One prize per member account for this contest. Void where prohibited. Wbucks awarded daily until April 30, 2011.
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GET YOUR COMPETITOR RIBBONS AT NEXT WEEK'S
LIVE MODERATED CHAT AND LESSONS
Jane Crandal's online riding lessons and mini show will be in our chat room's virtual riding arena. Stop by and say hi on
TUESDAY APRIL 26 (or Wednesday if you are past the date line)
10 pm - midnight London time
11pm - 1 am Continental time
6 - 8 pm Eastern USA time
3 - 5 pm Pacific USA Time
7 - 9 am Wednesday in Malaysia
8 - 10 am Wednesday in Perth, Australia
9:30 - 11:30 am Wednesday in Adelade Australia
10 - noon Wednesday in Sydney Australia
Noon - 2pm Wednesday in New Zealand
FRIDAY, APRIL 29th (or Saturday the 30th if you are a kiwi or aussie)
Live Moderated Chat
11 pm - 1 am London time
midnight - 2 am Continental time
6 - 8 pm Eastern USA time
3 - 5 pm Pacific USA Time
7 - 9 am Saturday in Malaysia
6 - 8 am Saturday in Perth, Australia
7:30 - 9:30 am Saturday in Adelade Australia
8 - 10 am Saturday in Sydney Australia
10 am - Noon Saturday in New Zealand
Lessons and Live Moderated Chats are a great way to make new pals! Just look for our "live link" on your personal page at the times above. Click on it and come on in!
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CONTEST NEWS
Email your art, stories and poems to contests@clubponypals.com
We need lots more cartoon entries. Send your black and white drawings to us and earn 500 Wbucks when your cartoon is used.
Vote for your favorite coloring contest #23
http://phplist.clubponypals.com/wigweekly/MyCPP/2-11CC23/CC23voteforentries.html
Vote for the March story contest entries here
http://phplist.clubponypals.com/wigweekly/MyCPP/3-11STORY/3-11StoryContest.html
Choose art for Coloring Contest #24
http://phplist.clubponypals.com/wigweekly/MyCPP/3-11CC24/CC24chooseart.html
Vote for entries in the cabin contest here
http://phplist.clubponypals.com/wigweekly/cabincontest4-27.php
Vote for what you want to say in the Pal Corral
http://phplist.clubponypals.com/wigweekly/4-27PalCorralsayings.html
From the owner and creator of Club Pony Pals, where anyone can ride the pony they always wanted.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Politicians are crooks, we have video
The nightly TV news content should be the most important stories, the things that will influence our lives. Right now the Japanese meltdown of nuclear reactors should be at the top of the list, but it is not. Why? The footage is boring.
Translation from TVspeak = the first question for any story on the news should be how important is the story. The actual first question is "Is there footage?" meaning good video images to accompany the story.
In this instance, yes there is.
Long ago, I thought politicians were civic-minded professionals who served at the behest of the electorate and lived to serve our best interests.
My opinion has changed a bit, this video made me laugh.
This guy is the President of the Czech Republic. He cannot hide, yet watching the video I had to laugh. He is so human. This is such a typical simian behavior -- he grins because he thought he was not being watched.
Big Brother is alive and well. Maybe in this case, not such a bad thing. I do know that this video made me smile.
Translation from TVspeak = the first question for any story on the news should be how important is the story. The actual first question is "Is there footage?" meaning good video images to accompany the story.
In this instance, yes there is.
Long ago, I thought politicians were civic-minded professionals who served at the behest of the electorate and lived to serve our best interests.
My opinion has changed a bit, this video made me laugh.
This guy is the President of the Czech Republic. He cannot hide, yet watching the video I had to laugh. He is so human. This is such a typical simian behavior -- he grins because he thought he was not being watched.
Big Brother is alive and well. Maybe in this case, not such a bad thing. I do know that this video made me smile.
Monday, April 11, 2011
And that's the way it is...
Growing up I heard Walter Cronkite say that phrase every evening.
No matter if there were shots of injured soldiers and war and terrible things, somehow I felt that the world was a better place because the news had been sorted out, evaluated and presented in a cogent form that gave me hope that there was sense in the world.
Even more, somehow I trusted that governments and companies really did want to provide products that were safe, dependable and economical. That was what the free market meant, I thought, if somebody came up with a better, cheaper mousetrap then it would succeed.
So when I started work as a young woman there was always a boss, usually male. There was a pile of stuff to do. I worked on making that "to-do" pile smaller and the "done" pile bigger.
Actually, I guess I thought that was what life was.
Then my jobs changed, I got into the entertainment industry and began working on projects more closely with the managers and producers who were creative types.
Always curious, I earnestly asked how did they do things. How did they choose the songs for American Idol? The answer "The cheapest songs we can clear" meaning they can get permission from the composer and publisher to use the song.
Other people I worked for were clueless.
"I can do better," I thought.
Then I started as an entrepreneur. I began hiring suppliers and independent contractors.
And suddenly I was the boss.
It is weird. Now when a supplier calls up and says I can't work, my work does not go away, their work just gets added on top of it, like an extra sweater on an already too-warm day.
So I am going to publish our next newsletter. I am doing all the contests. I am creating all the art that members are sending in. And we are still working on moving forward the business end as well.
Funny, just when I thought I couldn't work any harder, suddenly I am.
And tonight I rode our big bay gelding, and for the first time in a couple months I suddenly felt at home on his back. :)
No matter if there were shots of injured soldiers and war and terrible things, somehow I felt that the world was a better place because the news had been sorted out, evaluated and presented in a cogent form that gave me hope that there was sense in the world.
Even more, somehow I trusted that governments and companies really did want to provide products that were safe, dependable and economical. That was what the free market meant, I thought, if somebody came up with a better, cheaper mousetrap then it would succeed.
So when I started work as a young woman there was always a boss, usually male. There was a pile of stuff to do. I worked on making that "to-do" pile smaller and the "done" pile bigger.
Actually, I guess I thought that was what life was.
Then my jobs changed, I got into the entertainment industry and began working on projects more closely with the managers and producers who were creative types.
Always curious, I earnestly asked how did they do things. How did they choose the songs for American Idol? The answer "The cheapest songs we can clear" meaning they can get permission from the composer and publisher to use the song.
Other people I worked for were clueless.
"I can do better," I thought.
Then I started as an entrepreneur. I began hiring suppliers and independent contractors.
And suddenly I was the boss.
It is weird. Now when a supplier calls up and says I can't work, my work does not go away, their work just gets added on top of it, like an extra sweater on an already too-warm day.
So I am going to publish our next newsletter. I am doing all the contests. I am creating all the art that members are sending in. And we are still working on moving forward the business end as well.
Funny, just when I thought I couldn't work any harder, suddenly I am.
And tonight I rode our big bay gelding, and for the first time in a couple months I suddenly felt at home on his back. :)
Thursday, April 7, 2011
A 3D dog tale
When I moved to the ranch, I had never had a dog. My dad did not like dogs. I viewed them with uncertainty, as strange creatures.
Our first dog came as a bonus with two pigs we bought. She was an aged lab/beagle mix with half a tail and a winning attitude. Sissy taught me about having dogs. She was unfailingly cheerful, liked to gently pick up any stray shoes and take them into her doghouse.
She started to slow down and I decided to adopt another dog to help with guard duty. I went to the pound and picked a dog that had a kind eye, had just had puppies and was kind of sorry looking. She looked like a small black colored golden retriever, with a white patch on her chest. She was a pet that had been surrendered. "Couldn't keep" was all I knew. And she developed kennel cough between the first time I saw her and the second. That was DD the first.
A trouper, she also was sneaky. We like to dine outside in the evening. I took a whole roasted chicken outside on a platter, went back in to get a bottle of wine and glasses. When I returned, less than 30 seconds later, the chicken was not only missing, it was GONE. DD looked innocent. I do not have a picture of that DD, only memories.
When that DD passed away years later, we needed a new dog. Our second DD was a puppy, gotten from a lady who our farrier knew. She raised and had racehorses, her initials were DD, so we named the new puppy after her. DD the second.
DD the second loved to climb trees. She was the first dog I ever had that would wait for me to wake up, then explode into activity chasing squirrels and crows. She was a great dog but since the first of the year she'd been increasingly picky about her food. Finally about a month ago she pretty much stopped eating.
The vet palpated her and she had a tumor the size of a softball on her spleen. Within 24 hours of our finding the tumor, she went from being a great dog, chasing crows, climbing trees to stopping both eating and drinking. We researched the tumor treatment options. Not good. We had her put to sleep. It was very hard. She was only seven.
But that left our other two dogs, aged sisters who are becoming infirm.
So we had to look for some young blood.
I went to the Los Angeles County Shelter nearest us.
Unlike when I went to that shelter and got the first DD, the population had changed.
First, instead of a huge mix of breeds and types, there were two types of dogs. Pit bulls and chihuahuas.
I discovered the way that the Shelters work is different now than it was when I got my first DD. DD the first had been there for a couple weeks when I saw her, I went home and thought about it and came back a few days later and finally decided to take her. I took her with me on my second visit, and brought her back to be spayed a month later.
Now it is different. When a dog is taken into the shelter, they take a photo and post it on the internet. It stays there for four days. If no owner comes forward, and no one signs up to be interested in adopting it, on the fifth or sixth day it is euthanized. No dogs can be taken from the shelter without being neutered. The world has become a harder place.
Now, to find a dog, you need to look in the lost and abandoned animals. When a dog is picked up or dropped off and the owner is unknown, then the LA County shelter holds the dog for four days. During that time if you want to adopt that dog, you have to go to the shelter in person and fill out a form stating you are willing to take the dog. They take the willing to adopt notes in order and put you on a list.
The first few border collies/aussie shepherds I saw were gone immediately. Until I figured the above out, I did not understand how the game had changed.
So I began looking at the lost and abandoned listings, and I saw a border collie puppy that was cute. It looked small and young and lost.
So I went by the shelter to see it in person. I was looking at it, and suddenly had that prickly feeling you get when someone is looking at you. But I was alone. I turned around.
This boy was looking at me in the peculiar way that dogs have when they KNOW. It is not always that we humans choose. I called my husband, and said I had found a dog. The "cowdog" had been there for two days, and was waiting for his owner to pick him up. I was struck by an incredibly intelligent stare, the picture does not do him justice.
I was unsure. We had two more days. Bob went by and visited him on Monday. He did not seem aggressive. Bob walked the dog. It was clear he was housetrained, there was much happiness at being able to go outside and relieve himself.
Then we waited. There was someone else in line. The owner might yet show up.
Tuesday during the live moderated chat we got a call. The first in line person had declined to take the dog. He had been neutered and we needed to come pick him up. Now.
We did. We tried names. Lucky? Buddy? Who Knew? Spot?
He was following in the big paw prints of DD, and even bigger ones of beloved DD2.
So of course there was only one thing to name him.
Welcome home, 3D
Our first dog came as a bonus with two pigs we bought. She was an aged lab/beagle mix with half a tail and a winning attitude. Sissy taught me about having dogs. She was unfailingly cheerful, liked to gently pick up any stray shoes and take them into her doghouse.
She started to slow down and I decided to adopt another dog to help with guard duty. I went to the pound and picked a dog that had a kind eye, had just had puppies and was kind of sorry looking. She looked like a small black colored golden retriever, with a white patch on her chest. She was a pet that had been surrendered. "Couldn't keep" was all I knew. And she developed kennel cough between the first time I saw her and the second. That was DD the first.
A trouper, she also was sneaky. We like to dine outside in the evening. I took a whole roasted chicken outside on a platter, went back in to get a bottle of wine and glasses. When I returned, less than 30 seconds later, the chicken was not only missing, it was GONE. DD looked innocent. I do not have a picture of that DD, only memories.
When that DD passed away years later, we needed a new dog. Our second DD was a puppy, gotten from a lady who our farrier knew. She raised and had racehorses, her initials were DD, so we named the new puppy after her. DD the second.
The vet palpated her and she had a tumor the size of a softball on her spleen. Within 24 hours of our finding the tumor, she went from being a great dog, chasing crows, climbing trees to stopping both eating and drinking. We researched the tumor treatment options. Not good. We had her put to sleep. It was very hard. She was only seven.
But that left our other two dogs, aged sisters who are becoming infirm.
So we had to look for some young blood.
I went to the Los Angeles County Shelter nearest us.
Unlike when I went to that shelter and got the first DD, the population had changed.
First, instead of a huge mix of breeds and types, there were two types of dogs. Pit bulls and chihuahuas.
I discovered the way that the Shelters work is different now than it was when I got my first DD. DD the first had been there for a couple weeks when I saw her, I went home and thought about it and came back a few days later and finally decided to take her. I took her with me on my second visit, and brought her back to be spayed a month later.
Now it is different. When a dog is taken into the shelter, they take a photo and post it on the internet. It stays there for four days. If no owner comes forward, and no one signs up to be interested in adopting it, on the fifth or sixth day it is euthanized. No dogs can be taken from the shelter without being neutered. The world has become a harder place.
Now, to find a dog, you need to look in the lost and abandoned animals. When a dog is picked up or dropped off and the owner is unknown, then the LA County shelter holds the dog for four days. During that time if you want to adopt that dog, you have to go to the shelter in person and fill out a form stating you are willing to take the dog. They take the willing to adopt notes in order and put you on a list.
The first few border collies/aussie shepherds I saw were gone immediately. Until I figured the above out, I did not understand how the game had changed.
So I began looking at the lost and abandoned listings, and I saw a border collie puppy that was cute. It looked small and young and lost.
So I went by the shelter to see it in person. I was looking at it, and suddenly had that prickly feeling you get when someone is looking at you. But I was alone. I turned around.
This boy was looking at me in the peculiar way that dogs have when they KNOW. It is not always that we humans choose. I called my husband, and said I had found a dog. The "cowdog" had been there for two days, and was waiting for his owner to pick him up. I was struck by an incredibly intelligent stare, the picture does not do him justice.
I was unsure. We had two more days. Bob went by and visited him on Monday. He did not seem aggressive. Bob walked the dog. It was clear he was housetrained, there was much happiness at being able to go outside and relieve himself.
Then we waited. There was someone else in line. The owner might yet show up.
Tuesday during the live moderated chat we got a call. The first in line person had declined to take the dog. He had been neutered and we needed to come pick him up. Now.
We did. We tried names. Lucky? Buddy? Who Knew? Spot?
He was following in the big paw prints of DD, and even bigger ones of beloved DD2.
So of course there was only one thing to name him.
Welcome home, 3D
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Video/online games & violence
I have a secret. This is a bit hard to admit.
But I read an article today that gave me courage.
Like all good thought-provoking articles, it also made me a bit sad.
First I have to get this off my chest.
I have, however killed before. In real life. Hundreds of times.
Watching life ebb out of an animal is one of the saddest things I have ever seen. I have never killed another human but I imagine that would be even worse.
To me, having seen real life death so many times, I have no desire to kill in a video game. But apparently lots of other people do.
The game violence study is by Edward T. Vieira, Jr., Ph.D. He said
Stop by and adopt a pony at our club and see what I mean.
But I read an article today that gave me courage.
Like all good thought-provoking articles, it also made me a bit sad.
First I have to get this off my chest.
I have never played World of Warcraft.Truth be told, I never wanted to play WoW.
I have, however killed before. In real life. Hundreds of times.
Watching life ebb out of an animal is one of the saddest things I have ever seen. I have never killed another human but I imagine that would be even worse.
To me, having seen real life death so many times, I have no desire to kill in a video game. But apparently lots of other people do.
The game violence study is by Edward T. Vieira, Jr., Ph.D. He said
"Certainly not every child who continues to play violent video games is going to go out and perpetrate a violent act, but the research suggests that children — particularly boys — who are frequently exposed to these violent games are absorbing a sanitized message of ‘no consequences for violence' from this play behavior. The concern arises when children are taking in this message and there is a convergence of other negative environmental factors at the same time, such as poor parental communication and unhealthy peer relationships."No game is a substitute for real parental and real life friend relationships. But we have an incredibly loyal following who believe that we are in on to something in what we are doing. In our game players are REWARDED for empathy, compassion, caring and nurturing.
Stop by and adopt a pony at our club and see what I mean.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Newsletter publication
One of our site admins had a family emergency this week. So for the first time in a long time, I built our bi-weekly newsletter and published it.
The Wiggins bi-Weekly was one of the first things we started way back in 2007. At first is was made up out of the whole cloth. There were the books, but nothing had ever been done online to incorporate the stories and characters. We made up adventures for the book characters and wrote about what they were doing in their hometown of Wiggins, CT.
By the first year's end we were starting to get letters and content from members. Then we launched the first version of our game in November of 2008.
Reviewing these old issues it is fun to see how the site grew and improved over time. Each change and addition are documented. The old paddock riding experience did not work well enough for us to keep it after we got a sample trail built.
Looking back at the early issues I am as always amazed at how much work we have put into the game and site. I truly believe that what we have built is important and amazing.
Then I look at what is being built by the "big boys". For instance, Mattel, the home of Barbie, is rolling out a huge new brand called MonsterHigh and that show has some odd subtext messages revealed by the clothes and actions of the characters.
I wonder "What are they thinking?" The one 'smart' girl in the series cannot talk clearly and wears glasses-- in watching clips it is almost as if that girl is disabled because she is intelligent.
I grew up thinking it was weird that I was strong, smart, kind and independent. And that is weird -- so when we built our club, that was who we built it for.
Without games that tell girls they are ok and able and skilled and good enough, will there ever be girls who think that they are?
The Wiggins bi-Weekly was one of the first things we started way back in 2007. At first is was made up out of the whole cloth. There were the books, but nothing had ever been done online to incorporate the stories and characters. We made up adventures for the book characters and wrote about what they were doing in their hometown of Wiggins, CT.
By the first year's end we were starting to get letters and content from members. Then we launched the first version of our game in November of 2008.
Reviewing these old issues it is fun to see how the site grew and improved over time. Each change and addition are documented. The old paddock riding experience did not work well enough for us to keep it after we got a sample trail built.
Looking back at the early issues I am as always amazed at how much work we have put into the game and site. I truly believe that what we have built is important and amazing.
Then I look at what is being built by the "big boys". For instance, Mattel, the home of Barbie, is rolling out a huge new brand called MonsterHigh and that show has some odd subtext messages revealed by the clothes and actions of the characters.
I wonder "What are they thinking?" The one 'smart' girl in the series cannot talk clearly and wears glasses-- in watching clips it is almost as if that girl is disabled because she is intelligent.
I grew up thinking it was weird that I was strong, smart, kind and independent. And that is weird -- so when we built our club, that was who we built it for.
Without games that tell girls they are ok and able and skilled and good enough, will there ever be girls who think that they are?
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