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Julia embarks on a journey across the Levant (the Eastern Mediterranean) during the reign of the Ottoman empire and she becomes embroiled in the politics of the Turkish countries, falling in love with a radical young man and his ideals for a better empire. Julia Hamilton is a student at Miss Mumford's who is tired of school and wants to see the world for herself. Her father works at the Arab desk in England's Foreign Office and Julia begs to accompany her father on one of his scheduled expeditions to Syria. Her father doesn't think it is safe, however, Julia convinces him that she wants to see and understand the real world and not always have to be satisfied with reading about it from books. Her father finally agrees to let her accompany him and sketch the wondrous places that he visits – Istanbul, Damascus, Palmyra and Alexandretta. He warns Julia that the customs in the Levant (the region around the Mediterranean) are very strict in terms of women's behavior and dress. Julia also learns that the region may be full of unrest but she is prepared for the excitement.
Julia's father tells her that for the purposes of the trip, he is supposed to be a solicitor on vacation and that the Foreign Office is not to be mentioned. Julia thinks her father is embroiled in some secret mission on behalf of England. Her father refuses to reveal anymore but Julia is excited to finally go on a grand adventure.
Julia and her father take the Orient Express to Istanbul. On the train, they meet a Frenchman named Monsieur Louvois, who is also going to Syria to deal in antiquities. Julia's father disapproves of Monsieur Louvois as the trade of antiquities isn't strictly allowed in Syria. Monsieur Louvois is interested in what a solicitor might be doing all the way in the desert and Julia finds it hard to shake off his interest. The train finally pulls in at Istanbul where they immediately rush to take a boat to Beirut. The security in Turkey is high due to tensions from a group of rebels called the Young Turks whose goal is to incite revolution against the Turkish sultan. On the boat, Julia meets a young English Oxford student named Graham Geddes who claims to be travelling to Syria to study history for his research. When the Turkish soldiers inspect Graham's passport and learn that he's from Salonika, they are friendlier towards him. Later on, Julia learns that Salonika is known to be at the epicenter of the revolutionary Young Turks movement and that many Turkish soldiers are sympathetic to the cause.
Later on, in Beirut, Julia meets with Graham again. Graham reveals that he recognized her father because he once attended a lecture where her father spoke against the Young Turks movement. Graham seems to passionately support the Young Turks and he suspects her father is secretly working to buy more land for Britain, an accusation which distresses Julia, who doesn't know any better. He proves to be a cynical young man but Julia is intrigued by him and his vast knowledge. Graham finally reveals that he is actually working for the Young Turks, to help spread their cause across regions of the Ottoman empire. Julia promises she won't tell anyone what Graham has told her.
Julia and her father take a train to Damascus, and Graham also takes the same train. Julia's father recognizes Graham as a troublemaker he met while lecturing at Oxford and he doesn't like the youth. While on the train, Julia and her father meet a botanist named Edith Phillips, who is collecting specimens for the Kew Gardens. In Damascus, Julia, her father, Edith and Graham all stay in the same hotel. Much to Julia and her father's dismay, Monsieur Louvois is also staying there. It turns out that everyone is on the same tour together.
They tour Damascus, visiting mosques and bazaars. During the tour, Edith becomes confrontational towards their Turkish tour guide because she is pro-Arab independence from the Turkish empire. Meanwhile, Monsieur Lavois busies himself buying small artifacts that he plans on sneaking out of the country, much to Julia and Graham's disapproval. Graham acts very suspiciously, telling Julia that he must visit a bank and leaves Julia for a few moments by herself. Julia thinks that Graham is only pretending to like being her company because he finds it useful to have someone proper accompanying him around town, as if it will dissolve suspicions from authorities who might be wondering what he's up to.
The group prepare for their camel-back trek across the desert, a difficult trek that will be Julia's first experience camping. During their trip, they pass through many small villages, and at each of these villages, Turkish soldiers abound. The soldiers are hostile to foreigners and their guide explains that it is because some foreigners have been known to stir up dissent among the people. Edith disappears to forage for some rare plants but doesn't return, causing the whole village to go out to search for her. It turns out that some locals had taken her to extort ransom money from the foreigners. Edith is retrieved, looking suspiciously unruffled.
During the trip, Julia becomes increasingly suspicious that her travel companions all have their own secret agenda for going on this tour and that she might be the only one who genuinely just wanted to see Syria. When they arrive in Palmyra, Graham disappears on one of his mysterious missions. Julia feels a bit disconcerted while walking on the streets of Palmyra. Later on, she realizes that the people are wary of her because of the way she dresses and behaves. Her father visits the Sheikh and Julia is invited to visit the Sheikh's harem. She and the women of the harem exchange knowledge about their different cultures.
Before they leave Palmyra, they learn that the Sheikh's niece has committed infidelity and the punishment is death. Julia is horrified and demands that her father and the rest of the group do something to stop this travesty from happening. But everyone is powerless to do anything. Graham convinces Julia that she should not be simply an “onlooker” like her father, Monsieur Louvois and Edith, ignoring what is happening to the oppressed people in the Ottoman empire. Julia agrees with Graham. Her father, however, thinks that Julia is playing a dangerous game by being associated with Graham, as he thinks the sultan has spies that already know that Graham is supporting the Young Turks movement. By association, Julia may also be in danger.
Later on, Julia's father becomes ill and their party must separate as her father needs time to recuperate. They are accosted by some Turkish soldiers who are in search of Graham. They realize they were betrayed by one of their guides. Edith returns with a carriage to take Julia and her father to Homs. In the city of Homs, Julia's father recovers. They learn that he had been poisoned. Julia's father doesn't seem to be worried about being poisoned - he seems more worried that Julia is still associating with Graham, even though Graham is working against the British empire and therefore against him. They take a train to Aleppo then to Antioch where they visit another Sheikh. There, Monsieur Louvois is finally caught by the Turkish polish for sneaking artifacts out of the country. After spending a few hours in jail, the Frenchman is released and leaves Turkey in a hurry.
Soon after Monsieur Louvois leaves, Graham is also arrested for spying. It is revealed that Monsieur Louvois was the one who accused Graham in exchange for his own freedom. Later on, Julia finds Monseur Louvois and discovers that he is innocent of accusing Graham. Julia believes he is telling the truth but now she is more confused than ever. Julia, her father, Edith and a British friend in Antioch called Mr. Robinson decide to go to Alexandretta where the Turkish soldiers have sent Graham for further interrogation.
They concoct a plan to intercept Graham as he is being taken onto a boat destined to Mersina. Part of the plan involves Julia dressing up as an Arab woman and sneaking on board the ship. Before she leaves to rescue Graham, she receives a letter from Edith detailing how the botanist has been working against everyone in their group since the beginning. Apparently Edith believes that the Arabs should have independence from the Ottoman empire and that what Graham is doing will only empower the Turks even further. Julia is shocked by this betrayal. Soon after, much to Julia's surprise, Graham is released. She finds out it is all due to her father pulling some strings in the English Foreign Office. For the first time, she sees Graham not as a romantic revolutionary but as a cynical young man. She does not feel sad to let him go on his way.
The story ends with Julia and her father planning the next leg of their journey – Egypt.
Best part of story, including ending:
I enjoyed the detailed political perspectives represented in the story as it felt well-informed and authentic to the times. I like how the author represented each ethnic voice and their cause and discussed things like imperialism and the effects on the small groups of people who become oppressed.
Best scene in story:
My favorite scene was when Julia receives the letter from Edith that explains that she was behind why her travel companions had been encountering so many problems during their journey. I was glad that the culprit responsible for Graham's arrest was not Julia's father. I think it would have been unforgivable for Julia if she found out her father was so heartless as to risk a young man's life in order to fulfill his own schemes for the British Empire.
Opinion about the main character:
I like that Julia was eager to see new things and experience drastically different cultures. I like that she wasn't afraid to camp out in the desert and be in the company of fierce looking people like the Bedouin. | <urn:uuid:f55c3944-f8be-4499-a815-31a1456f641c> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://allreaders.com/book-review-summary/parade-of-shadows-40206 | 2016-07-24T14:47:28Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257824109.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071024-00095-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9806 | 2,024 |
|Reviews for It's All On You|
| AbsoFuckingLutely4everTwilight chapter 37 . 2/2/2012
OMFG! thank god it wasn't Tyler! Yeah that motherf*cker is gone for good! I really hope Tyler and Mallory can sort out all their problems and be together happy!
And also let's hope the police doesn't get involved or smth cause Tyler could go to jail :/
This chapter was awesome! It was so sad (not the saddest though) and violent but finally t&m are together!
Pls update quickly! Can't wait for next chapter!
| ffnetco chapter 37 . 2/2/2012
I love it! I just hope Tyler doesn't get into too much trouble because even though her was defending Mallory it was, well, murder :\
Can't wait for the next update! This story has me so hooked!
| Cyaneifa123 chapter 37 . 2/2/2012
thank you for posting..really loved it! Thank God. Max is now dead... Hoping to see the next chapter :)
| heavenlyvixen chapter 37 . 2/2/2012
I love this fic. It's just amazing. I eagerly await all updates. Can't wait for more.
| NJSilla chapter 37 . 2/2/2012
IM FUCKING HAPPY MAX IS DEAD, I WONDER WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN TO TYLER NOW
BUT IT WAS IN SELF DEFENSE SO NOTHING CAN HAPPEN I THINK!
BUT I CANT I MEAN YOU SAW ME,
I FEEL NUMB RIGHT NOW I DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE
I LOVE THE CHAPTER SO FUCKING MUCH
BUT I CANT EVEN WRITE
I DONT FEEL LIKE WRITING RIGHT NOW
I FEEL TO MUCH!
IM SORRY I CANT WRITE MORE
I LOVE YOU, YOURE AMAZING
THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS!
| HockeyChick10 chapter 37 . 2/2/2012
Max got what he deserved! Let the lovefest of Mallory and Tyler begin anew :)
| NabStew chapter 37 . 2/1/2012
IT WAS LIKE
YAY TYLER IS COMING
LET HER ALONE
RUN MALLORY RUN
IN THE CLOSET?
TYLER WHERE ARE YOU?
omg poor Mallory omg :'(
awww you got her, good, take her to a hospital
TYLER KILL HIM NOW
OMG WHAT ARE YOU DOING MALLORY
YOU ARE SO WEAK RIGHT NOW
YES TYLER GOT IT
OMG, TYLER CAN'T BE DEAD
OMG HE IS NOT
MAX IS DEAD
"I LOVE YOU SO FUCKING MUCH"
OMG, MY HEART
I LOVE SO FUCKING MUCH CLARY
I'VE NEVER HAD THIS AMOUNT OF FEELINGS FOR A FIC IN MY LIFE
OMG NEXT CHAPTER OMG
| Cori chapter 37 . 2/1/2012
THIS WHOLE CHAPTER IS SO FUCKING INTENSE AND OVERWHELMING. LIKE I CANT EVEN DEAL WITH IT RIGHT NOW.
I WAS LIKE SHAKING WITH CHILLS AND HYPERVENTILATING WHEN MALLORY WAS GETTING BEAT BY MAX. JKDGJKHJFBJKHFDJKAHD
AND HER INNER THOUGHTS JUST COMPLETELY KILLED ME
TYLER AND MAX FIGHTING AND HER NOT BEING ABLE TO HELP BUT HER NEED TO HELP WAS SO ALIVE AND SO STRONG. I WAS LEGIT ON THE VERGE OF TEARS THE ENTIRE TIME.
AND THANK FUCKING GOD MAX IS FUCKING DEAD. HOPEFULLY DEADER THAN DEAD. HOPEFULLY IN HELL GETTING FUCKED IN THE ASS WITH A DILDO WITH NO MOTHERFUCKING LUBE. HALLELUJAH
| ANON chapter 37 . 2/1/2012
i can sleep easy knowing they both love each other and they are gunna be ok and that max is dead, but the story still must have more to come! cant wait for the next update ! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for updating so quikly!
| Charlie Belle chapter 37 . 2/1/2012
MY FUCKING HEART
I KNEW IT! SINCE YOU GAVE US THE FUCKING PREVIEW I KNEW THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE MAX. I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT HIM, TILL YOU GAVE US THAT FUCKING PREVIEW. I AM SO FUCKING HAPPY THAT HE IS DEAD. YOU HAVE NO IDEA. I LOVE THAT HE IS DEAD. AND THE WAY YOU HAD HIM DIE.
I KNOW YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T KILL MALLORY, OR TYLER. BUT I ACTUALLY GOT SCARED FOR A SECOND. I THOUGHT MALLORY GOT SHOT. WHEN YOU SAID SHE HIT THE FLOOR.
HOLY FUCKING SHIT
SO MUCH GOING ON.
I HAD TO STEP BACK AFTER A WHILE, BECAUSE THIS SHIT WAS INTENSE.
IM SO SAD THAT THIS IS ENDING
IM GOING TO FUCKING CRY.
I LOVE YOU
OMFG THIS FUCKING CHAPTER
| Stinepiigen chapter 36 . 2/1/2012
Clary, I love you.
Oh my god.
One of my favorite chapters...wait..I can't have only one. I just love all of them. Every single one.
But this one...Woooooow!
When I read it, I felt completed. Relaxed, but at the same time excited.
Mallory, you're amazing. Look how much she's changed through the story. She would NEVER do what she does in this chapter before. She doesn't give up. I really, really love that fact about her. She fights for what she wants. And she wants Tyler more than anything. He is her life. Instead of giving up, she goes to his work. God, I'm so proud of her. And happy. She's just amazing. And the fact that she speaks to him without crying and stuff, but instead staying strong I love it.
And their conversation.. omg. I love it. It's really good. I really hate that Tyler pushes her away in the beginning and doesn't want her there. But they talk. And God, how I hated it when Mallory walked out of that door. It was weird seeing them like that. They both love eachother, but still it was very awkward when they saw each other. And then when I thought everything was lost, Tyler runs for her. He runs for her. Oh my god. I love him. I love that. That's so amazing. And him telling her, that he can't lose her.. he needs her too. I love it. God, you kill me. I can't wait for them to speak together again. Or just see what happends. It's too exciting. Please Clary, don't kill me. I know you can't just update now. And I'll give you time. I just wish I got another chapter like, right now.
Uh and Mallorys thought in the end. Perfect. Perfect ending of this chapter. Couldn't be better. I bet she will get him back. She'll fight for him untill her heart stops beating. She will. I know Mallory and she doesn't just give up. After everything they had, after she fell in love with him she won't. never.
Thank you. Love on you. I love this. 3
| Cyaneifa123 chapter 36 . 2/1/2012
Really love the story... really looking forward to chapter 37 (so excited _) :D :)
| fanficgirl8 chapter 36 . 2/1/2012
estoy tan feliz! ellos hablaron! awww, i miss you write...so much!
| karmenmasen chapter 36 . 2/1/2012
For a while there you were breaking my heart, your updates just keep getting better and better. Can't wait for the next one :D
| vivita126 chapter 36 . 1/31/2012
Awwww this was painful cute? Idk how to say explain it xD oh god i need them back together, all this suffering is not fair for them. | <urn:uuid:23b0c0b3-10e7-4c31-8267-fdf2931bfc01> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | https://www.fanfiction.net/r/7287258/0/10/ | 2016-07-24T16:21:59Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257824109.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071024-00095-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.88083 | 1,810 |
Every Wed., Fri., & Sat., except Jan. 1. All invited to play one of 100 songs, with melodies transcribed in numbers, on the 17-bell chime's numbered keys. Ambitious players can add chords.
Noon-12:30 p.m. (Wed. & Fri.) & 10:30-11 a.m. (Sat.), Kerrytown Market & Shops. Free. 369-3107. [map]
People of the River - Photography/Video Exhibit: UM Latin American and Caribbean Studies, College of Engineering, UM Library.more >
People of the River - Photography/Video Exhibit: UM Latin American and Caribbean Studies, College of Engineering, UM Library.< less
People of the River
Photography and Video Exhibit
Marcin Szczepanski, Senior Multimedia Producer, Michigan Engineering
People of the River captures the life of so called ribeirinhos (river people) that inhabit the Pantanal region in Brazil. Pantanal, located roughly in the center of South America, is one of the largest wetlands in the world, with a wonderfully diverse ecosystem.
The author portrays the changing nature of life in Pantanal and how its residents cope with the environmental, social and economic challenges around them. The exhibit also documents the work of Pantanal Partnership, the collaboration of U-M students with Pantanal's residents and schools that aims to provide healthy water and renewable energy to the area by building water filters, bio-digesters and wind turbines.
Where: Duderstadt Center Gallery on North Campus, 2281 Bonisteel Blvd.
When: January 8-25, 2014
Opening: 4 PM. Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Duderstadt Center Gallery, 2281 Bonisteel Blvd. Free. 215 900 9826. [email protected] www.marcinvisuals.com [map]
Every Fri. except Jan. 3. Rabbi Robert Levy leads an informal discussion about the intersection between religion and science. Bring a bag lunch.
Noon-1 p.m., TBE Adult Lounge, 2309 Packard. Free. 665-4744. [map]
(John Wells, 2013). Adaptation of Tracy Letts' Pulitzer Prize-winning dark comedy about the painful reunion of the far-flung members of a dysfunctional family in response to its patriarch's mysterious disappearance.
Michigan Theater. $10 (children under 12, students with ID, seniors age 55 & older, & U.S. veterans, $8; MTF members, $7.50; films before 6 p.m., $7). 668-TIME, michtheater.org. [map]
Girl Power! Yoga helps teenage girls find and strengthen their inner power through yoga and group discussion. Girl Power! Yoga is a yoga class specific for teenage girls age 6th -8th grade that focuses on emPOWERing self-acceptance, self-esteem, and strengthening their mind, body, spirit connection. Classes will include 60 minutes of yoga practice and 15-minute group discussion. Instructor: Sara Hughes-Zabawa. Class meets on Fridays from 4:00 - 5:15 pm.
Hygeia Center for Healing Arts, 220 N. 5th Ave. $110. 734-769-6100. [email protected] www.hygeiacenter.org [map]
Jan. 10, 21, & 30 (different locations). Topics include "Temple Destruction and Historical Construction: Rethinking the 'Fall" of Vijayanagara" (Jan. 10), "Elephants Abroad: A Hidden History of Ancient India's Influence in the World" (Jan 21), and "Populist Publics: Print Capitalism and Embodied Politics in South India" (Jan. 30).
4 p.m., 1636 SSWB/International Institute (Jan. 10), 1080 South University; Thayer Bldg. (Jan. 21), 202 S. Thayer; 210 West Hall (Jan. 30), 1085 South University. Free. 615-4059. [map]
(Alexander Payne, 2013). An aging, booze-addled father makes the trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son to claim a million-dollar sweepstakes prize.
Times TBA at michtheater.org, Michigan Theater. $10 (children under 12, students with ID, seniors age 55 & older, & U.S. veterans, $8; MTF members, $7.50; films before 6 p.m., $7). 668-TIME. [map]
Every Sun. & Tues.-Fri., except Jan. 1. All invited to compete in tournaments of this popular collectible card game using standard constructed (Fri.), modern constructed (Thurs.), Elder Dragon Highlander (Tues.), Legacy (Wed.), and booster draft (Sun.) decks. Prizes. Bring your own cards (except Sun.).
6 p.m. (Tues.-Fri.) & 1 p.m. (Sun.), Get Your Game On, 310 S. State. $5 (Tues., free; Sun., $15 includes cards). 786-3746. [map]
Dinner, and dancing to music. Russian folk performances by St. Vladimir parishioners. Games, raffle. Cash bar.
7 p.m.-midnight, St. Nicholas Hall, 3109 Scio Church, Ann Arbor. $60 includes dinner, entertainment, & dance; $20, dance only. Tickets available by phone and email, [email protected]. (440) 785-6131. [map]
Talk by Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (Woodstock, NY) Tibetan Buddhist monastery abbot Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, author of Bardo: Interval of Possibility, a book about events that occur after one dies.
7-8:30 p.m., KTC, 614 Miner. $25 (or whatever you can afford to pay) donation. 678-7549. [map]
All invited to join a group performance of this traditional devotional call-and-response music based on Hindu Vaishnava texts and the writings of poet-saints. Accompanied by live music based on rhythmic Indian ragas on bass guitar, tabla, and drums.
7:30-9:30 p.m., Friends Meetinghouse, 1420 Hill St. Free, but donations accepted. 761-7435. [map]
Banish the winter doldrums, and satisfy that resolution to learn a new skill at the same time...join us at the FLY studio every Friday, and learn to knit!
Each week in this four-week session we will explore a new technique, each building on the next, with a new project being started each class. Class tuition is $20 per student per class or all 4 for $75. Supplies are provided for all classes, as well as a "how-to" instruction reminder. Flight Instructor is Katie Whitehouse, who has been teaching knitting to others for over 10 years. Classes are suitable for folks ages 8 and up. Register at www.flyartcenter.org!
January 10, 7:30pm - Knitting/week 1: Casting on/Knit stitch - Make a Dishcloth!
January 17, 7:30pm - Knitting/week 2: Casting off/Purl stitch - Make a Ribbed Scarf!
January 24, 7:30pm - Knitting/week 3: Increasing/Decreasing - Make a Rosette or a Diagonal Stitch Cozy!
January 31, 7:30pm - Knitting/week 4: Knitting in the Round - Make a Hat!
Learn more about FLY and s
FLY Creativity Lab, 40 N Huron St, Ypsilanti. $20. [email protected]. [email protected] www.flyartcenter.org [map]
Arlene Kindel and Susie Lorand call to live music by Childgrove. For experienced dancers.
8-11 p.m., Concourse Hall, 4531 Concourse Dr. (off S. State across from the airport). $10. (248) 288-4737. [map]
Jan. 10 & 24. All invited to peer through the telescopes in the observatory and on the Angell Hall roof and to view shows in the planetarium. Also, short astronomy presentations by club members.
8-10 p.m., 5th floor rooftop observatory, Angell Hall (enter through Haven Hall on the Diag side of the building). Free. 764-3440. [map]
This Irish-American singer-songwriter from Detroit is known for her bell-like soprano--an instrument that has been described as "rich, flexible, soaring, and haunting"--and her grittily realistic, bluesy original songs. In its review of her latest CD Northern Border, Sing Out! calls her "one of the rare singer-songwriters to sensuously weave words and melody into a strong and mesmerizing fabric."
8 p.m., FUMC Green Wood Church, 1001 Green Rd. at Glazier Way. $12 (kids 10 & under, 2 for the price of 1) in advance and at the door. 665-8558. [map]
Jan. 9-11. Local debut of this popular actor-comedian who hosted the BBQ special Smoked on Destination America and co-hosts Marc and Todd's Crazy Clips on the Outdoor Channel. His act blends incisive observational humor with comic tales about the experiences that have taken him from small-town Louisiana to L.A. to pursue a career in entertainment. Preceded by 2 opening acts. Alcohol is served.
8 p.m. (Thurs.-Sat.) & 10:30 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), 314 E. Liberty. $9 (Thurs.) & $12 (Fri. & Sat.) reserved seating in advance, $11 (Thurs.) & $14 (Fri. & Sat.) general admission at the door. 996-9080. [map]
Jan. 8-12. Local actors perform A.R. Gurney's comic drama about a rich WASP family living in Buffalo in the 1930s and 40s. The play is performed in the style of readers' theater, with the cast reading from scripts while seated on a bare stage.
8 p.m. (Jan. 8-11) & 2 p.m. (Jan. 11 & 12), Mix Studio Theatre, 8 N. Washington, Ypsilanti. Tickets $12 (students and seniors with ID, $10; $4 discount for preshow dining at Haab's restaurant) in advance at emergentarts.com and at the door. 985-0875. [map]
Jan. 7-12. Award-winning Scottish playwright, performer, and director Rob Drummond stars in this darkly humorous theatrical magic show exploring the history of the notorious trick "bullet catch," an illusion in which a magician appears to catch a bullet fired directly at him. The show features levitation, games of chance, mind-reading, and storytelling, as Drummond-who wrote and co-directs the show with David Overend-relates the true story of William Henderson, a magician who died attempting the bullet catch trick in 1912. In the show's finale, an audience member is invited to perform the trick by firing the gun at Drummond. "Drummond's conjuring skills are genuine and very impressive but his ability to make a profound philosophical meditation into a hugely entertaining magic show is cleverer still because it is so subtly done," writes a Herald (UK) reviewer.
7:30 p.m. (Jan. 7-9), 8 p.m. (Jan. 10 & 11), and 2 p.m. (Jan. 11 & 12), Arthur Miller Theatre, 1226 Murfin, North Campus. $40 (Jan. 7-9) & $50 (Jan. 10-12) general admission, in advance at ums.org, by phone, and (if available) at the door. 764-2538. [map]
"Friday Night Swing (& Blues)": Ann Arbor Swing Dance Association/Ann Arbor Community of Traditional Music and Dance.more >
"Friday Night Swing (& Blues)": Ann Arbor Swing Dance Association/Ann Arbor Community of Traditional Music and Dance.< less
Every Fri. Lindy hop, East Coast swing, Charleston, and Balboa dancing to music spun by DJs. Followed at 11:30 p.m. by blues dancing. No partner needed. Preceded at 8 p.m. by beginning lessons.
9 p.m.-1:30 a.m., Phoenix Center, 220 S. Main. $5 (students with ID, $3; $1 discount for AACTMAD members) includes lessons. 417-9857. [map] | <urn:uuid:24781a2b-2698-4d8c-b134-2edc472168ec> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://annarborobserver.com/calendar/140110.html | 2016-07-26T14:06:19Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257824994.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071024-00247-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.899954 | 2,752 |
As the Subway Super Series moves from the QMJHL in OHL territory, the touring Russians carry a 0-2 record and have been out shot 99-48 and outscored 12-4. Game 3 of the Series goes tonight in Barrie, Ontario with the Russians having traveled from Shawinigan after their game against the QMJHL last night.
Last week I made the argument that the event should feature the Canadian CHLers playing against their European and American counterparts from the same league. You can find my reasons for feeling that way by clicking HERE. Prior to the two games against the QMJHL I released the roster of the team I would have preferred to see play. You can see the make up of Team Q-International HERE.
Following suit, here is the roster for Team OHL-International that I wish we were seeing play tonight and Monday instead of the extremely disadvantaged Russians...
WHile it was slim pickings in the QMJHL for American or Euro goalies, that's not the case with the OHL. By my count there are 9 goalies with the required passport to play for my team and I finally narrowed it down to a quartet, they can all play a period and a half.
Brandon Maxwell of the Kitchener Rangers was a 6th round pick of the Colorado Avalanche last June. In 13 games with the Rangers this year he has a .916 save percentage and a 3.04 GAA. I'd have him sharing the Barrie game (tonight) with German Philipp Grubauer who plays for the Belleville Bulls. Grubauer was recently recognized as one of the top goalies available in 2010. Thus far he's played in 21 games for the Bulls and boasts a .912 save percentage and .327 GAA.
In the other game I would send out London Knights goalie Michael Houser, eligible for the 2010 draft by a mere two days. Houser has the third best GAA in the OHL at 2.48 but he's only appeared in 8 games. Still, his .917 save percentage suggests he's on the same pace as most of the top starters in the league. His partner on Monday night would be Robin Lehner (pictured), the Swede was taken in the 2nd by the Ottawa Senators last June. Lehner plays for the Soo Greyhounds and is in the OHL top 10 for both save percentage and GAA.
There are a few obvious choices for the blueline starting with 2010 marquee prospect Cam Fowler. The American plays for the powerful Windsor Spitfires and leads the OHL in scoring by defencemen with 29 points in 25 games. Fowler (pictured below) is listed a 6'2 and 190 lbs and is a surefire top 5 pick this June.
2009 guest blogger John Moore made the move from the USHL to the OHL this summer and now plays for the Kitchener Rangers. After arriving late from Columbus Blue Jackets camp (1st round pick, 2009) Moore finally got into action and has collected 12 points in 19 games.
Adam Comrie was a 2008 selection of the Florida Panthers. The Virginia born blueliners is now a member of the Guelph Storm after two seasons in Saginaw. HIs 17 points in 22 games with the Storm have Comrie ranked 10th in D-men scoring in the league this year. At 6'4 and 213 lbs, Comrie is definitely an interesting player to watch for in the future.
Another 2008 draftee is Michal Jordan of the Plymouth Whalers. Carolina chose the Czech native in the 4th round that year and he responded by nearly doubling his statistical output to a total of 42 points last season. Jordan has international experience with his country's junior team and even made my proposed team last year in this same exercise.
Undrafted Brian Lashoff gets a nod here as a 6'3, 204 lb two-way defender. Lashoff plays for the Kingston Frontenacs but also appeared in 6 AHL games last year with the Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) where he managed to pick up 5 points. Lashoff has 10 points so far this year with the Frontenacs.
Another undrafted player that caught my eye is Tony DeHart of the Oshawa Generals. With 21 points in 22 games, DeHart has already almost equaled his output from all 67 games last season. He is in his fourth OHL campaign but his first two years in London saw him play sparingly and contribute just 9 points over 72 games. The Missouri product easily eclipse that mark last year playing with the Generals and is well on his way to having a banner season.
The first of my two spares on my team are going to be Sarnia Sting defender Joe Rogalski, a late '91 born player from Lancaster, New York who has 14 points in 23 games this year. The second is native Pennsylvanian Tyler Hostetter who plays in his home State for the Erie Otters. Hostetter has is a bit undersized, went undrafted last year but has 14 points in 20 games this season for the Otters.
As we often see with "All-Star" teams, I'm going to have excess centers where one or two will have to move to the wing. For that reason, I only have 3 natural left wingers on my list. The first is Mississauga's Swedish import William Wallen. The tiny forward has 20 points, just two back of his total from last year when he was a rookie with the Majors. He's 5'8 and 170 lbs so I don't know how much of a pro future he has... just another reason why an event like I'm proposing is an interesting one for these types of players.
Rookie Jeremy Morin of the Kitchener Rangers is someone most people will recognize as a 2nd round pick of the Atlanta Thrashers at last June's NHL draft. Morin has an impressive 27 points in 21 games, third best on the strong Kitchener team. The New York product was a standout on the US-NTDP for the past two years.
A.J. Jenks was a 2008 draft pick of the Florida Panthers. The forward is now playing in his fourth season as a member of the Plymouth Whalers in his home State of Michigan. Jenks has had back-to-back 20 goals campaigns and is on pace to make it a third. The 6'2, 200 lb power forward is projected to be a solid checker at the pro level.
A recent guest on The Pipeline Show, Austin Watson is definitely a player of interest of for the 2010 NHL draft. He's only 9th in scoring on his own team but when that club is the Windsor Spitfires... you have to realize that 17 points is still pretty darn good.
NCAA deserter Kenny Ryan found his way North to the Spitfires after leaving Boston College on the eve of their regular season. The Toronto Maple Leafs chose Ryan in the 2nd round in the 2009 draft and so far this year he has compiled 11 points in 12 contests.
Brampton forward Philip Lane is a 2010 eligible rookie who makes my proposed roster. The Rochester, NY native has 11 points for the Battalion so far this year after 23 games played.
rounding out the right side is another Kitchener player in Gabriel Landeskog. The Swede comes recommended by OHL Prospects writer Brock Otten who suggests the 6'1, 200lb forward was overlooked by me on my initial roster I sent his way. Landeskog has 12 points in 22 games for the Rangers. As a late '92, Landeskog isn't NHL draft eligible until 2011.
So with only 7 wingers on my roster, I'll add five centers and a couple of spares who also happen to be middlemen on their OHL club team. First off are two players who will actually be taking part in the real life Subway Super Series - Russians Alex Burmistrov and Ivan Telegin.
Burmistrov (pictured) is third in scoring for the Barrie Colts with 27 points but has quickly made a name for himself with scouts for the 2010 NHL draft. The dynamic pivot has a team high 18 assists to go with his 9 goals. Telegin plays for the Saginaw Spirit and has 29 points this year including 17 goals. The Saginaw forward stands 6'3 and is listed at 185 lbs.
Richard Panik is another European that was drafted last June. A product of Slovakia, the skilled center currently plays for the Windsor Spitfires and has contributed 12 points in 23 games, arguably a little disappointing considering a certain amount of hype leading into the season. The Tampa Bay Lighting took Panik in the 2nd round in 2009.
London Knights forwards Phil McRae and Jared Knight make the squad although I think the latter will have to be one of the spares considering his sluggish start to the season. McRae, a St. Louis Blues prospect, is just off a point-per-game pace with the Knights whereas his Michigan born teammate has just 15 points in 22 outings.
Erie forward Andrew Yogan has bounced back from serious injury late last season to have 24 points in 22 games so far in 2009-10. He's a late '91 so eligible this June and at 6'3 and 202 lbs you know he'll have plenty of eyes on him.
Finally, I've decided to include 2011 eligible Vincent Trochek of the Saginaw Sprit simply because I think he's earned it. The Pittsburgh native has 15 points as a 16-year-old rookie. Perhaps it's just a gesture for the youngster but he's the last player on my team.
Nationality: USA (18), Sweden (3), Russia (2), Czech (1), Slovakia (1), Germany (1).
NHL Drafted: 10
2010 Eligible: 9
Thanks to Brock Otten from OHL Prospects for his input. | <urn:uuid:e8221d7f-e216-4307-b147-42496f8113da> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://thepipelineshow.blogspot.ca/2009/11/meet-team-ohl-international.html | 2016-07-26T14:06:21Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257824994.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071024-00247-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974574 | 2,054 |
Rotora Brake System Performance on BMW M3 Racer Car
SUBJECT: Rotora Brake System Performance on BMW M3 Racer Car.
I thought it would be a good time to share some race and testing notes with you regarding the Rotora brakes I put on my race car. This is a pretty long post but if you are considering spending the money on a brake upgrade or if you want some insight into brake testing and race car preparation it's worth the read.
I installed the Rotora BBK Front and Rear brakes on my modified E36 M3 race car. The kit consists of 355mm rotors and 6-pot calipers up front with 330mm rotors and 4-pot calipers in the rear. The E46 M3 kit is the same but comes with 355mm rotors front and rear. The kit comes with all the brackets, hardware, brake lines and pads. I chose the H6 (race) pads rather than the (H2) street pads. Initial fit and finish are excellent and the red calipers look awesome through the race wheels.
A little background… Half-way through this season I finally had my car well sorted and started to win races (overall). The aero package, springs, remote reservoir dampers and the slicks all really started to work well together. The slicks are amazing and offer so much more grip then the other R-compound tires I was using that my old AP Racing brakes no longer seemed powerful enough for the application. I was also getting a bit of fade nearing the end of sessions.
I had AP Racing Brakes on the car an was a bit hesitant at first to take them off and replace them with a different brand. I didn't want to have to get larger (Tilton dual) master cylinders to accommodate a huge brake upgrade. The front and rear Rotora BBK brake packages were the perfect solution because they do not require a master cylinder upgrade. Also, the huge AP Racing or Brembo Brakes would have literally cost thousands of dollars more in addition to the cost of the new master cylinders.
Below are race and testing notes from the first few times the brakes were used the track. These notes were taken from e-mails I sent to my Rotora contact. I've been working with Richie Ho who seems to be 1 part marketing, 1 part R&D and 1 part engineer. He has come through for me every time I needed something and is a very sharp guy.
There is a group buy going on now for the E46 M3. Details on that can be found here… http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=32691
If you have further questions for me about my experiences with Rotora brakes, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] I have beat the hell out of them and they had stood up well in extreme racing environments.
Event #1 - BMW Oktoberfest Event July 2004
The car finished 3rd overall out of 40 cars at BMW’s Oktoberfest event at Fontana despite being 50hp to 100hp down on power to many of the front runners.
The brakes performed very well. Proportioning to my old brakes (AP Racing) was similar. Only minor changes to the proportioning and application needed to be made depending on fuel load and rear wing angle.
The pads broke in fine with little to no gassing out and no sensation of uneven pad transfer during break in. Initial bite seemed a bit soft. I like harder pads in general for racing but the softer pads did make it easier to trail brake and the braking "feel" was excellent which gave me confidence. The pads did firm up nicely after the first session.
After the event was over and many sessions on the track, the rotors show no sign of wear - amazing. I will measure the pads for you and report back but I can tell just from looking at them that they have worn down a bit. The way they feel and the wear of the pads make me consider them a soft pad – which isn’t always a bad thing. They were quiet and consistent through the temp range.
The front rotors did have very slight normal and acceptable stress cracks – the rear rotors had no stress cracks at all. This is probably due to the fact that the front not only got hotter but that they were cooled with brake ducts which creates stress as the rotors go from very hot to cold so quickly and often.
Rotor temps were very low – like “really” low. I did not get a reading over 500 degrees all weekend with the laser pyrometer. I used tempilaq thermo-graphic paint at it indicates a max of 900 degrees – which is nothing (especially for California Speedway). I did have the brake ducts installed up front but will probably pull them for all other tracks other than Buttonwillow and Laguna (the harder braking tracks). When I took my E46 M3 street car to California Speedway last year I got brake rotor readings of 1200F with the stock brakes on the car - yikes!
I will install a set of Thermax stickers and report back actual caliper temps after the next weekend of racing if you’d like.
The Rotora 6-pot front brakes are a bit heavier then the AP Racing 4-pot I was running. They are of course much bigger (something has to give). I’m wondering if the fronts are actually too big for my application. My car only has 280hp and weighs just 2400lbs. The E46 M3 cars have much more power and much more weight so they would benefit greatly from this huge brake kit. If I remove the brake ducting to get the temps up I wonder what the pad wear will be like?
I think the brakes over all did pretty good in a very tough environment. Fontana is very tough on brakes not only because of the 4 hard brake zones per lap but because you are off the brakes all the way through the oval and by the time you need them most going into turn 3 they have cooled significantly.
Event #2 - Testing at Willow Springs with Beverly Hills Motor Car Club
I instructed at the Beverly Hills Motor Car Club Event last weekend and took the car to test - and to toy with the exotics with (it's so fun to beat up on Ferraris). It took a few laps in the morning to reset brake bias as I have recently switched to even bigger rear slicks and wanted to make them work for me by pushing some of the brake bias to the rear of the car. I also took off some rear wing as well to help with straight line speed.
The front rotors never got above 425F as the brake temp paint did not change color from the prior event. I ran the car with no front brake cooling ducts as WSIR is easy on brakes. Again pedal feel was excellent and is important there as the braking for turn 3 is bumpy and the braking for turn 9 is, well… “check your balls time”.
I was easily under 1:30 there but didn’t have a drafting buddy and didn't want to push it too much at a school. I did have fun playing with the Evosport E46 M3 race car driven by the company co-owner Brad Otoupalik. We always have fun together on the track when there is open passing - I trust his driving. He was on lesser rubber and stock brakes (testing for Grand-AM later this year) and I was able to pass him under braking anywhere I wanted. "Go Rotora" but the slicks and my lesser weight gave me the advantage as well.
As far as pad and rotor wear is concerned there was very little at that event. There was less dusting this time as well - almost none. I was only on track for about 2 hours total. Total pad thickness in front was .653 with a starting thickness of aprox .663 – so again, very little wear occurred.
Event #3 - California Speedway - Touring Car Club
I was back at California Speedway this weekend for a Touring Car Club race against Ferrari's, Porsches and Vipers. I did have the front brake ducts hooked up as it was a hot day. I was going to take them off as a test but didn't want to take any chances as there was little time to test at this packed event and didn't want to potentially waste a session.
I had to start last as I skipped the qualifying race to do a family thing. I worked my way through the pack and finished 12th out of 40 cars. A mid-race yellow helped me catch up to the leaders who got quite a lead as I was tending with slow traffic on the opening laps. I totally snaked a Viper and Porsche on the restart - good thing I did because the more I moved up the more difficult it was to pass the faster cars. I'd love to get a chance against those guys at Buttonwillow - they'd fall like a house of cards.
Brake rotor temps approached 1000F – which is about right for that track and is a bit higher than the event done there about a month ago.
Rotor wear continues to be negligible - which still blows me away. At the rate I'm going I'll never have to replace the rotors!
I ran the car aprox 125 miles total for the event at full-tilt-bogy. I was doing 1:48s which is my best effort by a second.
The starting thickness of the pads was .653” this is the thickness taken after the first event with those pads from Willow Springs. The ending pad thickness measured out to an average of .610” so the car used .043” of pads. The rear pad wear is as expected much less. Overall pad wear is not bad all considering it's the toughest track I know of on brakes short of Sebring.
I hope the information I’ve been providing you has been helpful.
Very cool, Ralph, thanks. :thumbup:
Great write up - thanks :thumbup:
I just talked to a shop that sponsor me so I am passing along the saving to you guy.
E46 M3- 6 Pistons BBK - $2095
E36 M3- 4 Pistons BBK - $1600
E36 M3- 6 Pistons BBK - $2090
No group buy..anytime as long as Rotora makes them.
yes..those prices are for front only
I went to the link for ROTORA BBK discount for E-46 and could not find how to purchase, also I can not find the # for ROTORA do you know??
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UFC 102 - Main Card Fantasy Preview
RANDY COUTURE VS. ANTONIO NOGUEIRA
With both Randy Couture and Antonio Nogueira both coming off of losses in their last fights, both former champions know the importance of getting back into the winner’s circle on Saturday night. With a victory, the winner of UFC 102’s main event will move one step closer to being back in title contention. On the other hand, the loser will have to answer the questions of whether or not it’s time to hang up the gloves for good.
A former alternate for the U.S. Olympic wrestling team, Randy Couture is looking to get moving back towards the top come Saturday night. For Couture, who is 46 years-old, a loss on Saturday would signal the last run at a title shot for the former heavyweight and light heavyweight champion. With an overall record of 16-9, Couture is best known for his trilogy with Chuck Liddell. Although he lost the last two fights, it was during those fights that his popularity was raised to where it is today.
Former PRIDE and interim UFC champion Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira is looking to get back into title contention, and wants to show people that the fighter they saw fight in his most recent outing isn’t who he has become. In that bout last December, Nogueira was ambushed by punches thrown by Frank Mir, who at the time, was only known for his jiu-jitsu ability. Having already beaten some of the best fighters in the world such as Dan Henderson, Josh Barnett, Jeremy Horn, and Fabricio Werdum, Nogueira would love to add Randy Couture’s name to that already impressive list.
Being an Olympic caliber wrestler, look for Couture to try and bring the action of the fight to the canvas. For Couture to do this, expect for him to stay aggressive - trying to use his boxing skills inside the clinch to eventually bring Nogueira to the ground. For Nogueira, don’t look for him to panic if he does end up on his back. Nogueira has been widely considered to have the best jiu-jitsu in the heavyweight division. However, in order for Nogueira to have this fight go in his favor, expect for him to have greatly improved his boxing skills since being overwhelmed on his feet against Frank Mir.
KEITH JARDINE VS. THIAGO SILVA
With both Keith Jardine and Thiago Silva showing glimpses of being potential UFC champions, neither fighter can afford to have back-to-back losses inside the Octagon if they plan on fighting for UFC gold anytime soon.
Having not fought in over five months, Keith Jardine is looking to put his loss to Quinton Jackson behind him. At UFC 96, Jardine came up short against the former champ – losing by unanimous decision. Prior to his loss to Jackson, Jardine had beaten the likes of Brandon Vera, Forrest Griffin, and Chuck Liddell. After being a contestant on season two of The Ultimate Fighter, Jardine had compiled an impressive 3-1 record in his first four fights. After beating Griffin at UFC 66, Jardine looked as if a future title shot was just around the corner. Since his fight with Griffin, Jardine has strung together a dismal 2-3 record. If Jardine wants to eventually have the talk start back up again about him being a title contender, he’ll need to put on an exciting performance on Saturday night.
With an impressive 13-1 record, hard-hitting Brazilian Thiago Silva is looking to start his climb back up the ladder to eventually fight the only man that has beaten him – Lyoto Machida. Prior to his defeat at UFC 94, Silva has had notable wins over James Irvin and Houston Alexander.
In a fight that should see little time on the canvas, expect for both Jardine and Silva to stand in the center of the Octagon and exchange punches until someone gets knocked out. If Silva feels uncomfortable trading punches with Jardine, look for him to try and bring the fight to the canvas – trying to release a relentless pace of ground and pound. For Jardine, look for him to mix in powerful leg kicks to keep Silva off balance during the fight.
JAKE ROSHOLT VS. CHRIS LEBEN
Fighting out of Las Vegas, NV, Jake Rosholt is looking to take advantage of being on Saturday’s Pay-Per-View to show people around the world the type of skills that he possesses. At 5-1, Rosholt is looking to rebound from his latest outing inside of the Octagon and to show that he can compete with the best athletes in the world.
Whether Chris Leben’s fights end in victory or defeat, they all have one thing in common – they’re entertaining. After winning his first four fights after being on season one of The Ultimate Fighter, Leben was to be the first test to UFC newcomer Anderson Silva. Although the fight was extremely lopsided in the favor of Silva, Leben hasn’t given up his desire to be given another chance at the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Since his loss to Silva, Leben has gone 3-3.
When the action starts, look for Leben to try and keep the fight standing. Known for his ability and willingness to stand and trade punches with anybody, don’t expect for him to have a change of heart for this fight. For Rosholt, look for him to stay away from the powerful left hand of Leben while trying to use his strong wrestling skills to bring the fight to the canvas. Rosholt will need to be careful when trying to bring to action on the ground, because in order for him to do so, he’ll be in the striking range of one the hardest hitters in the UFC.
NATE MARQUARDT VS. DEMIAN MAIA
When two legitimate title contenders face off against each other inside the Octagon, the stakes of the fight rise to a new level. Both of these fighters know the consequences of losing this weekend.
Having won two straight fights, Nate Marquardt knows that he’s on the verge of being back in title contention. Marquardt would like nothing more but to get another shot at the last man to beat him – Anderson Silva. Prior to his loss to Silva, Marquardt had looked nearly unbeatable – winning four consecutive fights. Now Marquardt has strung together two consecutive wins and knows that by winning a third on Saturday night that he’ll move even closer to getting his shot at UFC gold.
Fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Demian Maia is looking to add another victory to his already impressive record. At a perfect 11-0, Maia has yet to taste defeat inside the Octagon and doesn’t plan on doing so this Saturday. Having already beaten the likes of Ed Herman, Jason MacDonald, and Nate Quarry, Maia knows that by beating highly touted Nate Marquardt that a shot at UFC gold may not be far away.
In what could earn Fight of the Night honors, both Demian Maia and Nate Marquardt have two different ideas of how this fight is going to end up. For Maia, look for him to try and bring the action to the canvas – looking for a submission. For Marquardt, expect him to use his strength and standup ability to keep the fight standing.
KRZYSZTOF SOSZYNSKI VS. BRANDON VERA
After winning six straight fights, Brandon Vera looked as if he was going to become champion in the UFC and keep the belt for a long time. However, having to deal with a management situation outside the Octagon, Vera was forced to step away from action for nearly a year. After coming back, Vera hasn’t looked like the same fighter – having gone 2-3 since returning to action. Vera knows that if he wants to move back into contention, he’ll need to string together multiple impressive performances.
With an overall record of 19-9-1, Krzysztof Soszynski is looking to continue his success in the UFC. Since competing on the past season of The Ultimate Fighter, Soszynski has yet to lose a fight. With a win on Saturday night, Soszynski may prove to the critics that he is indeed a true force in the UFC.
In a clash of styles, look for Vera to use his speed and strong standup ability to keep Soszynski from bringing him to the canvas. If Soszynski isn’t able to bring Vera down, look for him to try and clinch with him – trying to wear down a fighter whose cardio has come into question in the past. | <urn:uuid:45d5af11-0ffc-4733-93aa-f988649049c7> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://kr.ufc.com/news/UFC-102--Main-Card-Fantasy-Preview | 2016-07-28T14:30:27Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257828283.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071028-00072-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975654 | 1,856 |
Fluoride & Health
|TABLE of CONTENTS|
|Brain Effects||Kidney Disease|
|Cardiovascular Disease||Pineal Gland|
|Endocrine Disruption||Thyroid Disease|
Fluoride is a highly toxic substance. Consider, for example, the poison warning that the FDA now requires on all fluoride toothpastes sold in the U.S. or the tens of millions of people throughout China and India who now suffer serious crippling bone diseases from drinking water with elevated levels of fluoride.
In terms of acute toxicity (i.e., the dose that can cause immediate toxic consequences), fluoride is more toxic than lead, but slightly less toxic than arsenic. This is why fluoride has long been used in rodenticides and pesticides to kill pests like rats and insects. It is also why accidents involving over-ingestion of fluoridated dental products–including fluoride gels, fluoride supplements, and fluoridated water–can cause serious poisoning incidents, including death.
The debate today, however, is not about fluoride’s acute toxicity, but its chronic toxicity (i.e., the dose of fluoride that if regularly consumed over an extended period of time can cause adverse effects).
Although fluoride advocates have claimed for years that the safety of fluoride in dentistry is exhaustively documented and “beyond debate,” the Chairman of the National Research Council’s (NRC) comprehensive fluoride review, Dr. John Doull, recently stated that: “when we looked at the studies that have been done, we found that many of these questions are unsettled and we have much less information than we should, considering how long this [fluoridation] has been going on. I think that’s why fluoridation is still being challenged so many years after it began.”
In this section of the website, we provide overviews of the scientific and medical research that implicates fluoride exposure as a cause or contributor to various chronic health ailments. In 2001, the union of scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Headquarters Office in Washington D.C. stated: “we hold that water fluoridation is an unreasonable risk.”
The research in this section helps to demonstrate why EPA’s union of scientists concluded that fluoridation is an unreasonable risk, and why a growing number of health professionals do as well.
A discussion about the specific health risks (e.g., risks to the brain and thyroid) can be accessed by clicking on the links at the top of this page. The following are reasons why we believe current fluoride policies in the U.S. are unsafe:
- Current safety standards only protect against the most obvious forms of harm: Current safety standards for fluoride are based on the premise that severe dental fluorosis and crippling skeletal fluorosis are the first adverse effects that fluoride can have on the body. These effects represent the crudest, most obvious harm caused by fluoride. In the words of American University chemistry professor, Dr. William Hirzy, it would be a “biological miracle” if fluoride did not cause other harm prior to producing these end-stage forms of toxicity. Research already shows, in fact, that fluoride can cause arthritic symptoms and bone fracture well before the onset of crippling fluorosis, and can affect many other tissues besides bone and teeth, including the brain and thyroid gland.
- The current “safe” daily dose for fluoride fails to withstand scrutiny: The Institute of Medicine (IOM) states that anyone over 8 years of age — irrespective of their health condition — can safely ingest 10 milligrams of fluoride each day for their entire life without developing symptomatic bone damage. Ten milligrams, however, is the same dose that the IOM concedes can cause clinical signs of skeletal fluorosis within just 10 to 20 years of exposure. People with clinical signs of fluorosis can suffer significant symptoms, including chronic joint pain and overt osteoarthritis. The IOM’s safety standard instills little confidence in the medical understanding that currently underlies fluoride policies in the U.S.
- Some people are particularly susceptible to fluoride toxicity: It is well known that individual susceptibility to fluoride varies greatly across the population, and yet, the National Research Council has recently found that breathtakingly large gaps still exist in the safety literature on the effects these populations may be experiencing as a result of current fluoride exposures. The bewildering degree of uncertainties identified by the NRC stands in stark contrast to the IOM’s conclusion that 10 mg/day is so definitively safe that no “uncertainty factor” needs to be applied to protect vulnerable members of the population.
- The margin between the toxic and therapeutic dose is very narrow: The NRC concluded that the allegedly “safe” upper limit of fluoride in water (4 mg/l) is toxic to human health. While the NRC did not determine the safe level, their conclusion means that the safe level is less than 4 times the level added to water (0.7-1.2 mg/l) in community fluoridation programs. This is far too slim a margin to protect vulnerable members of the population, including those who consume high amounts of water.
Fluoride: Commie Plot or Capitalist Ploy
[Click here to see photocopy of article] Covert Action Quarterly Fall, 1992 Fluoride: Commie Plot or Capitalist Ploy by Joel Griffiths Cows crawled around the pasture on their bellies, inching along like giant snails. So crippled by bone disease they could not stand up, this was the only way they could graze. Some died kneeling,
The Absurdities of Water Fluoridation
[caption id="attachment_10205" align="alignleft" width="190"] Paul Connett, PhD[/caption] Water fluoridation is a peculiarly American phenomenon. It started at a time when Asbestos lined our pipes, lead was added to gasoline, PCBs filled our transformers and DDT was deemed so "safe and effective" that officials felt no qualms spraying kids in school classrooms
Why I am now officially opposed to adding fluoride to drinking water
April, 2000 To whom it may concern: Since April of 1999, I have publicly decried the addition of fluoride, especially hydrofluosilicic acid, to drinking water for the purpose of preventing tooth decay. The following summarize my reasons. New evidence for lack of effectiveness of fluoridation in modern times. [caption id="attachment_10211" align="alignleft" width="150"] Dr. Hardy
Fluoride & IQ: The 50 Studies
As of April 2016, a total of 57 studies have investigated the relationship between fluoride and human intelligence, and a total of 38 studies have investigated the relationship fluoride and learning/memory in animals. Of these investigations, 50 of the 57 human studies have found that elevated fluoride exposure is associated
Fluoride's Effect on Fetal Brain
The human placenta does not prevent the passage of fluoride from a pregnant mother's bloodstream to the fetus. As a result, a fetus can be harmed by fluoride ingested pregnancy. Based on research from China, the fetal brain is one of the organs susceptible to fluoride poisoning. As highlighted by the excerpts
Fluoride's Neurobehavioral Effects in Humans & Animals
In addition to studies linking fluoride to reduced IQ in humans, and impaired learning/memory in animals, human and animal studies have also linked fluoride to a variety of other neurobehavioral effects. These studies, which are excerpted below, provide yet further evidence that fluoride is a neurotoxin. The importance of considering other
Email Exchange with FDA re: Fluoride Supplements
Email exchange regarding FDA's reasons for not approving fluoride supplements.
Harvard's Statement on Chester Douglass/Scientific Misconduct
Statement Concerning the Outcome of the Review into Allegations of Research Misconduct Involving Fluoride Research BOSTON-August 15, 2006-The Harvard Medical School and School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) review of Chester Douglass, DMD, PhD, professor of oral health policy and epidemiology at HSDM, has concluded that Douglass did not intentionally omit, misrepresent,
The 'Altered Recommendations' of the 1983 Surgeon General's Panel
"We believe that EPA staff and managers should be called to testify, along with members of the 1983 Surgeon Generals panel and officials of the Department of Human Services, to explain how the original recommendations of the Surgeon Generals panel were altered to allow EPA to set otherwise unjustifiable drinking water standards for fluoride."
Related Miscellaneous Content: | <urn:uuid:91baee69-46c2-4592-83c4-55dd1e6942f5> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | https://fluoridealert.org/issues/health/ | 2016-07-28T14:28:55Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257828283.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071028-00072-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.929926 | 1,782 |
|FUJIFILM BRINGS FACE DETECTION TO THE COMPACT DIGITAL CAMERA CATEGORY WITH THE FINEPIX F31fd|
Camera also Boasts 3200 ISO, i-Flash and Picture Stabilization
Valhalla, New York, September 25, 2006 -- Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., is proud to unveil the FinePix F31fd, the first pocketable digital camera from Fujifilm to feature the company’s new Face Detection Technology.
Fujifilm’s Face Detection Technology debuted on the SLR-styled FinePix S6000fd. It has a tremendous impact on the quality of “people pictures” by ensuring that cameras like the FinePix F31fd will automatically focus on and expose for faces, rather than details that lead to less-than-desirable photographs. Identifying up to 10 faces in a frame, Face Detection Technology ensures photos of friends and family are crisp, clear and properly exposed for a natural feel. It has an advantage over the few other face detection systems currently on the market as the technology is built-in to the camera’s processor, enabling the FinePix F31fd to identify faces and optimize settings within a scant 0.05 seconds.
With the FinePix F31fd, which is similar in style to the FinePix F30, Fujifilm adds Face Detection to the many significant breakthrough features in the award winning and critically-acclaimed FinePix F30 - unprecedented light sensitivities up to ISO 3200 at full resolution, Fujifilm’s Picture Stabilization, the ‘i-Flash’ system, and best-in-class 580-shot battery life. Add a 3x optical zoom lens from Fujinon, a 6-MegaPixel Super CCD HR sensor, and a 2.5 inch LCD screen with glare-reducing coatings and the FinePix F31fd is an ideal companion for consumers looking for a first-class upgrade to their current digital cameras.
Face Detection Technology
Fujifilm’s Face Detection Technology was originally developed for the company’s photofinishing division where it has been improving the quality of photos produced at retail photo centers nationwide by Fujifilm’s Frontier Digital Lab Systems. Fujifilm’s Research & Development team adapted the technology for use within digital cameras, where it is now a genuinely useful tool for making subjects look their best.
A selectable option, Fujifilm’s Face Detection Technology identifies faces by triangulating a subject’s eyes and mouth using an algorithm to optimize focus and exposure. It simultaneously displays a green rectangle around the primary subject, while white squares identify up to nine other subjects. Movement tracking keeps the camera ‘locked on’ to its subjects until they move out of the picture. The technology works regardless of the subject’s position in the frame, and is not confused by eyeglasses. In Playback mode, Face Detection automatically zooms to subjects’ faces and trims the shot for optimum portraits.
Low Light Photography and Picture Stabilization
Fujifilm has identified low light photography as one of the true benchmarks of a digital camera's performance, as many images are taken when light is limited. Limited light requires the use of a flash, however, a flash can leave subjects looking ‘washed out’ and background detail almost non-existent. Higher light sensitivities make flash-free photography possible with available light, balancing foreground and background exposure and contributing to a natural look and feel.
Higher light sensitivities also enable the camera to shoot with faster shutter speeds, which lessen the likelihood of blurry pictures caused by a moving subject or the shake of an unsteady hand. To make it easy for consumers to achieve blur-free results, the FinePix F31fd features a helpful “Picture Stabilization” mode dial setting. This easy-to-identify, automatic setting lets the FinePix F31fd choose the correct light sensitivity and best-matching shutter speed, producing the highest quality digital pictures without blur and the noise often associated with high sensitivity photographs.
For those occasions when flash is required, Fujifilm’s intelligent ‘i-Flash’ system sets flash power output to achieve natural foreground illumination with balanced background exposure. Fujifilm’s i-Flash system is more advanced than similar flash systems because it can detect more accurately the subtle lighting differences within a scene, and then light the subject accordingly with a wider range of flash intensities. Together, the Face Detection and i-Flash technologies produce photographs with prominent subjects exhibiting pleasing, natural tones.
“Fujifilm set the benchmark for digital camera performance earlier this year with the introduction of the FinePix F30, a model that helped consumers take better pictures through innovative technology breakthroughs and best-in-class performance,” remarked David Troy, Senior Product Manager, Consumer Digital Cameras, Electronic Imaging Division, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. “With the addition of Face Detection Technology to an already outstanding camera package, the FinePix F31fd will turn just about any picture-taker into a top-notch photographer.”
The FinePix F31fd has a number of useful features that make it easy to snap outstanding photos:“Natural Light & with Flash” Dual Shot Mode: In this mode the FinePix F31fd quickly shoots two images in succession -- one with and one without the flash -- saving both. This convenient function lets the user perform an on-the-spot picture comparison and decide whether the FinePix F31fd produced the most pleasing photo with flash, or without.
“Natural Light” shooting mode: This mode preserves scene mood and enhances background detail by shooting with faster shutter speeds at higher light sensitivities (if necessary) with a suppressed flash.
Fast Operation: The camera’s fast response times, 0.01 second shutter lag and 1.5 second start-up time, ensure it will catch all the action and spell the end for missed photo opportunities.
LCD: The FinePix F31fd features a large 2.5 inch, 230,000 pixel LCD screen coated with Fujifilm’s proprietary CV film. This minimizes glare and reflection so that images can be viewed from any angle and even in sunny conditions, when glare would usually be a problem. In addition, the screen’s brightness adjusts automatically, depending on the amount of light available, to further enhance ease of viewing.
Better Movie Quality: Movie capture for the FinePix F31fd is enhanced by noise reduction, making it possible to capture clear, sharp moving images even at high ISO sensitivity speeds. It is also capable of VGA movie capture at 30 frames per second with sound.Special scene modes: The FinePix F31fd has 15 scene positions including beach, snow and fireworks for optimum photography, no matter what the event. Manual settings: Includes shutter and aperture priority, for more user control.The FinePix F31fd will be available in December at a retail cost of $399.
Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. is a subsidiary of Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. and delivers technology solutions to meet the imaging and information needs of retailers, consumers, professionals and business customers. As a global leader in digital imaging, Fujifilm pioneered the development of digital medical systems, and today is the leader in digital minilab systems. The company was ranked number 18 for U.S. patents granted during 2005, employs more than 75,000 people worldwide and in the year ending March 31, 2006, had global revenues of $22.8 billion.
In the United States, Fujifilm is a leader in delivering high quality, easy-to-use imaging and information solutions in the following categories: Digital Imaging Systems, Film and Imaging Systems, Recording/Storage Media, Motion Picture Film, Graphic Arts and Printing Systems and Medical Imaging and Diagnostics Systems. Fujifilm is an environmentally friendly, humane enterprise and an exemplary corporate citizen.
For more information on Fujifilm products, consumers can call 800-800-FUJI or access the Fujifilm USA Web site at www.fujifilmusa.com. Consumers also can receive news and information direct from Fujifilm USA via RSS. Subscription is free at www.fujifilmusa.com/rss.
All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.
*With Fujifilm’s commitment to constant improvement, the company reserves the right to alter specifications without prior notice. | <urn:uuid:efc4cfa7-8b96-4186-a549-63e008a58ba0> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://www.imaging-resource.com/NEWS/1159167601.html | 2016-07-24T20:43:59Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257824146.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071024-00114-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.882853 | 1,826 |
Though Orange County's Harbor Boulevard remains little changed, a history of unrest points to its potential to more positively engage with street life beyond the auto.
Nov. 24, 2012
The protests that roiled Anaheim this summer had no regular home base, no Zuccotti Park or Tahrir Square. Instead, demonstrators angry over a series of shootings by Anaheim police marched on several days along Harbor Boulevard and a handful of other streets.
Yet there were moments when the rallies slowed — or were forced to pause — just long enough to resemble a traditional, stationary demonstration. One came on the afternoon of July 29, a Sunday, as 200 protesters walked south on Harbor from the Anaheim police headquarters toward Disneyland.
When they reached the intersection of Harbor and Ball Road, at the base of a modest rise that takes the boulevard over Interstate 5, they discovered a line of riot police and officers on horseback.
Over the next several minutes, as each side stared down the other, this wide Orange County crossroads, dominated on a typical day by cars and the trappings of car culture, revealed itself as a surprisingly useful public square.
The standoff was also very much in line with the rich if under-appreciated history of Harbor Boulevard, where street battles have played out for nearly a century.
Ku Klux Klansmen and the wives and daughters of striking citrus workers have played key roles in Harbor's most dramatic public spectacles. So have Abbie Hoffman's Yippies, who swarmed Disneyland in 1970 and planted a Viet Cong flag on Tom Sawyer Island.
These flash points have come irregularly, spasms of violence or protest theater on an otherwise buttoned-up boulevard. But the relationship between Harbor's physical character and its political history is closer than you might guess.
Harbor's architecture, largely anonymous and inward-looking, is marked by a studied blandness. Perhaps to make up for its shortage of impressive civic landmarks, the boulevard features a number of private spaces, including Disneyland, that look public but are in fact tightly controlled.
That recipe has produced on Harbor a feeling of unnatural civility — the architectural equivalent of a forced smile. And it has helped keep political tensions bottled up and out of view until they messily spill over, as they did during this summer's protests.
In that sense Harbor's history of turbulence has lessons to offer that have as much to do with urban design as politics. Like the CicLAvia bike festival and the recent tour of the Endeavour space shuttle, protest can open up new ways of looking at our streets.
It's on the extreme days, the unruly or topsy-turvy ones, that our boulevards show us most clearly what they might become. And Harbor continues to be very good at producing extreme days.
Though it covers 23 miles in all, Harbor Boulevard never quite makes it to the water. After running from the foothills above La Habra south through Fullerton, Anaheim, Garden Grove and Santa Ana, it peters out in the middle of Costa Mesa, two miles from the beach.
Harbor's name is therefore more aspirational than literal, and in that sense true to the spirit of Southern California expansion. So is the streetscape of the boulevard. With the exception of the area around Disneyland, where the sidewalks are generous and the tree canopy thick, Harbor is dominated by drive-throughs, auto-body shops, tire outlets and big-box stores.
And by intersections that are unusually wide: Crossing Harbor at Ball Road on foot means trudging across 10 shadeless lanes of traffic.
Even as the boulevards of Los Angeles have begun a remarkable transformation, opening themselves up to pedestrians and cyclists and chipping away at the dominance of the car, much of Harbor looks just as it did decades ago.
There is no equivalent on Harbor of the expanding light-rail network that is remaking Los Angeles. Although the Anaheim City Council has tentatively endorsed a streetcar system linking Disneyland with a planned transit center near Anaheim Stadium, for now — and for many years to come — the only rail service you'll see along this part of Harbor is the theme park's own monorail, which sweeps briefly into view on an elevated track.
In recent decades, the theme park has taken steps to seal itself off from the city around it. Caltrans added a dedicated offramp from Interstate 5, ending Harbor's traditional role as Disneyland's front door.
Anaheim, for its part, has slowly remade the stretch of Harbor that runs alongside Disneyland, homogenizing it in the process. In the 1990s, the city passed an ordinance requiring businesses near the park to replace their signs — some of them masterful examples of the space-age Googie style — with smaller ones meeting a uniform and remarkably bland design standard.
The new signs would no doubt please Walt Disney himself. Having chosen the location for his park with careful attention to demographics and traffic patterns — hiring the Stanford Research Institute to weigh the merits of several competing locations — he was dismayed by the motels that sprang up along Harbor and Katella Avenue in the years after Disneyland opened. Their kitschiness struck him as an affront to his meticulous planning and hermetic vision for the new theme park. And he kept them very much in mind as he planned Florida's Disney World in the 1960s.
"He was determined when they built Disney World not to make the same mistake he'd made in Anaheim," said longtime Orange County scholar Spencer Olin, a retired history professor at UC Irvine. "So in Florida they bought up as much land surrounding the new park as they could."
Without that protective buffer in Anaheim, Disneyland has become a magnet for camera-ready protest. In 2008, hundreds of members of a union representing workers at three Disneyland hotels, many of them dressed as Disney characters, filled the intersection of Harbor and Katella, giving news photographers the chance to snap pictures of Cinderella and Mickey Mouse being dragged away in handcuffs.
But Harbor's political life predates Disneyland by several decades. Pearson Park, at the corner of Harbor and Cypress Street in Anaheim, was the site of a nighttime Ku Klux Klan rally in 1924 — when it was known as City Park — that drew a reported 10,000 people.
"Klan parades and public demonstrations were common to Anaheim in 1924," reads a report on the city's website, Anaheim.net. "On at least one occasion, Anaheim policemen had been seen directing traffic while wearing their white robe and hoods."
Violence even made its way into Anaheim's orchards. Hidden away near the corner of Harbor and Santa Ana Street is the small Pressel Orchard — the last remaining orange grove in a city once synonymous with the fruit.
In 1936, when it covered significantly more ground than it does now, the orchard was the site of an early battle in the so-called Citrus War. Orange pickers had been striking for several days when they sent a group of their female relatives — about 200 women in all — to confront the replacement workers.
The Anaheim police swept in, and after one of the women bit an officer's arm the strike entered a new and volatile phase. The Citrus War raged for most of the summer before growers finally broke the strike at the end of July.
In part to compete with Disneyland, cities and developers in this part of Orange County have long chosen sites along Harbor to unveil their most ambitious — or outlandish — ventures.
Many have been built, including the massive Anaheim Convention Center complex and its under-appreciated arena, a soaring concrete shell designed by architect Adrian Wilson and finished in 1967. But most memorable are the proposed developments meant to mimic Disneyland's scale, or take advantage of its tourist hordes, that never got past the planning stage: a manmade river spanned by a replica of London Bridge, a giant cultural center in honor of Jordan's late King Hussein, who visited Disneyland in 1959 and 1981.
A few miles south of the theme park, those ambitions fade. The boulevard, lined here by Salvadoran and Vietnamese restaurants, pool-supply stores and a handful of walled residential subdivisions, lets the facade of Magic Kingdom optimism noticeably slip. About four miles from the theme park, in a rundown Santa Ana strip mall alongside a taqueria and Lupe Gomez Income Tax, is a working-class Mexican bar with a tongue-in-cheek name: El Fracaso, or "The Failure."
"Some people say that on this part of Harbor you can pick up any kind of girl on the street at night," said Omar Munoz, who was celebrating his 21st birthday on a recent evening at El Fracaso, where the ceiling is low and the beer is sold out of plastic coolers lined up behind the bar.
The jukebox was blaring a song by the narcocorrido band Los Capos de Mexico, so he practically had to shout to be heard. "But it's really not a bad neighborhood. I grew up along here."
El Fracaso is a bit player in a larger battle in this stretch of Harbor between the sacred and the profane, between groups of churches and clusters of bars, strip joints and adult bookstores. Our Lady of La Vang, a Catholic church that fills nearly a full block, holds mass 11 times a week in Vietnamese, seven times in Spanish and once, for teenagers, in English.
At the southern end of Harbor, presiding over the wide intersection where it meets Newport Boulevard, is a 200,000-square-foot shopping center called Triangle Square. Its developer, Richard Shapiro, envisioned it from the start as more than a mere collection of shops and restaurants. In the tradition of Disneyland's Main Street USA, he dreamed it could be a stage for civic life, comparing its top-floor terrace to a "town square," a place "to hold blood drives or Little League sign-ups."
The complex struggled from its earliest days. Built in 1992 at a cost of $62 million, it was sold six years later for $47 million. Though the 24-Hour Fitness facing the parking garage on the bottom level is often crowded with people on treadmills and stationary bikes, the space up top is usually empty.
Still, the old dreams die hard. This summer the new owner of the property, Connecticut -based private-equity group Greenfield Partners, announced plans to invest $20 million to upgrade it, while renaming it "The Triangle."
That decision was hardly surprising given Harbor's history, said Gustavo Arellano, the cultural critic who is editor of OC Weekly and author of a memoir about growing up in Anaheim.
"When you compare Harbor to the other major boulevards in north and central Orange County, these other streets have no pretense to them," he told me as we drove south along Harbor on a recent morning. "But Harbor will always have this pretense of being more than it actually is."
In Garden Grove, we passed a large dirt lot that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere to illustrate his point. "That used to be a trailer park," Arellano said. "Now what are they going to build there?"
He craned his neck to read a sign trumpeting a new development as we drove by. "A 'water-park resort'? Yeah, right. I seriously doubt that."
Over the years the peculiar private urbanism perfected by Walt Disney has found some eloquent defenders. In "You Have to Pay for the Public Life," an essay on California's monumental architecture published in 1965, architect Charles Moore praised Disneyland as "the single most important piece of construction in the West in the last several decades," a place "engaged in replacing many of those elements of the public realm which have vanished in the featureless private floating world of southern California."
But even Moore acknowledged that Disneyland's version of urbanity, by exiling politics, had to be considered incomplete. By continually pushing political grievance to the periphery, Harbor Boulevard has in essence set itself up for periodic outbursts of the weird and violent.
An irony of the July 29 protest at Harbor and Ball was that the huge scale of the intersection, designed to make traveling by automobile as efficient as possible, lent some grandeur to the confrontation between demonstrators and police. The success of the space as an ad hoc public square was a reminder that our boulevards are full of potential hidden just below the surface — that they are capable of playing a far more important civic role than we tend to assume.
The afternoon standoff was not the most intense moment of this summer's demonstrations. That came on the night of July 24. Several hundred protesters threw rocks and bricks and started a series of small fires. Police responded by firing beanbag projectiles, bloodying several members of the crowd.
And then, from about two miles to the south, came a burst of light, illuminating the whole scene. It was the nightly fireworks show at Disneyland — going off as regularly scheduled, as if it were just another night on Harbor Boulevard.
Which, in a way, it was.
Graphic credits: Paul Duginski | Programming: Anthony Pesce | Produced by: Lily Mihalik
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It’s back to school time again, and as usual, I have mixed feeling about it. (By the way, since when is it OK to start school back up in mid-August?! That’s just mean…) While I must admit I’m ready to have a few seconds alone to myself during the way, the whole morning shuffle off to school is a little stressful compared to the lazy summer we just had around here.
There has been a lot of reading around my house this summer. I read a few grown-up books that have been on my list for a long time. And my youngest kids seem to have switched reading places. My teen daughter, an avid reader who could easily devour two books in a week, now divides her time between friends, Instagram, and a certain boy band she is obsessed with. Sadly for me, she probably only read two or three books this summer.
But my ten-year-old boy formerly-reluctant reader – he was a reading fiend this summer! And for him it is all about Percy Jackson (thank you Mr. Riordan!). He zipped through the entire series and couldn’t get enough so now he is on to the spin-off series. He’s currently reading The Son of Neptune. I love seeing this enthusiasm. It really is like when you watch your kids learn to ride a bike for the first time. You take the training wheels off, they wobble a little, and then, before you know it – you are watching their back and they ride down the street. Getting hooked on reading is much the same way. And it is just as awesome to watch, isn’t it?
And as an afterthought: I am always glad when they make a movie of a children’s book because I think it can be an incentive to read the book first. It piques their interest. At least for my boys it did. I could recommend a book but they scoffed at it until they saw on T.V. that it was being made into a movie. My youngest and I saw the latest Percy Jackson on opening day this summer, and he was SO excited. Afterward we went to lunch had a great book chat where he informed me of all of the inconsistencies between the book and the movie. Isn’t it always like that?
So for now my readers have swapped places, but I don’t mind one bit.
P.S. I was just notified that my Instagram-obsessed daughter has gone over her data-plan, so I am forecasting more reading in her future – at least until the next billing cycle. I’ll keep you posted
School is out for many of our kids, already, and for the rest of us it is rapidly approaching. We want to keep our kids reading this summer, but sometimes it is hard to find a book that will keep their attention during the non-school months. Summertime is the perfect time to relax in the sun with a book – and sharpen those reading skills while they are at it!
In addition to our summer reading lists (for boys, teen girls, and tween girls), my child’s teacher asked me for a list of “old faithful” books for 4th and 5th graders, so I thought I’d share this list with you. These might not be the newest releases, but they are tried and true, and certain to be loved by the 9 and 10 year olds in your life.
Old Faithful Books for Tween Girls
• My Summer of Pink and Green (#2) by Lisa Greenwald
Old Faithful Books for Tween Boys
by Louis Sacchar *
* Books that would be enjoyed by both genders.
- Shannon, StorySnoop
School is almost out, and your daughter may be itching to get at her “to be read” pile, full of all kinds of books her English teacher would never approve of, or she may be in need of some direction to keep her reading muscles in shape over vacation. Either way, we have all kinds of suggestions that will appeal whether she likes fantasy, romance, dystopian, sci-fi, humor, sports or otherwise. If you’ve missed our other lists, we just posted great summer reads for boys and tween girls too. Enjoy!
And this is just the start! Click here to see the entire list for teen girls
Summer is just about upon us! When hear your first, “Mo-om, I’m bored,” don’t panic. We have just the thing for you. You’re guaranteed to find something on this list to keep your tween girl engaged. Whether she likes fantasy, chick lit, humor, mystery, or dystopian, we have something for every taste. Also, be sure to check out our summer reading list for boys. And check back for our teen girls list, plus a list of classic summer standards.
School is almost out for summer! When hear your first, “Mo-om, I’m bored,” don’t panic. We have just the thing for you. You’re guaranteed to find something on this list to keep your son engaged, whether he likes fantasy, action, humor, sci-fi, or sports, we have something for everyone. We’ve got both tween and teen boys covered on this list, and check our upcoming blogs to get the scoop for tween girls and teen gals.
Books for Tween Boys
Books for Teen Guys
Be sure to click on the covers to get the scoop on each book and check out our full list of Summer Reading for tween boys and teen guys.
I recently finished Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn and really loved it. I was completely engrossed from start to finish. I may have loved it a bit too much because I started feeling sorry for myself about the lack of literature written for adults in my must read pile. Being an optimistic person (and since I really have no choice), I realized that there a quite a few books I have read for StorySnoops that I actually would have chosen to read had I not been a writer of children’s book reviews. Here are some of the books we Snoops have read that may be enjoyed by teens and adults alike. Let us know what books for teens you’ve enjoyed. We’d love to add some slam-dunks to our piles!
Am I mistaken, or was Earth Day even a thing back when I was a kid? I kind of think not. I guess I was a kid a really long time ago though I did a little checking on it, and it turns out that it was first celebrated in San Francisco (named after St. Francis, the patron saint of ecology) on March 21st, 1970. It is now celebrated in over 175 countries around the world, with the intention of increasing awareness and appreciation of the Earth’s natural environment and resources. I give a big thumbs up for anything that gives our younger generation an opportunity to think about what the Earth has to offer, and how to make it last for generations yet-to-come. So in the spirit of Earth Day this week, StorySnoops has created a list of books for teens and tweens that have environmental themes or environmentally conscious characters—just a little something to reinforce what they’ll be hearing about in school this week. Enjoy!
Now that Spring has sprung, the days are getting longer, and the end of the school year is near, it’s getting more and more challenging to keep our children focused on their homework. After all, one more ride around the block or ball in the net is way more fun than being stuck inside… reading. To grab the attention of our restless youth, it may be time to break out a great read-aloud. Read-alouds are wonderful for engaging the entire family in a story, even when there are lots of other things competing for their attention. So here is a list of the most recent books we have read that are extremely well-suited for this purpose. There is a little something here for everyone. Be sure to click on the book covers to get the full scoop.
- Jen, Story Snoop
I have read a bunch of books for the StorySnoops site with the same kind of a premise – a refreshingly modern day take on a classic fairy tale. Sounds girly and perhaps a little corny but no! These books feature a Cinderella who is more about empowering herself than she is about marrying her prince; or a brave outcast who faces the Snow Queen in order to save her best friend, Jack; or cousins Jack and Jill who, while on a quest, have many creepy and dangerous encounters in a book which is simultaneously hilarious and terrifying!
If your tween is interested in the new spin on an old classic, the “modern fairy tale”, here are some titles to try:
This list will get you started. We have a similar list for teens coming soon!
There are a lot of great boy books out there for middle graders. However, a parent recently commented to me that she is having a hard time finding good matches for her fifth grader, as he prefers realistic or historical fiction. There is a lot of fantasy and dystopian fiction out there, and although it’s very popular, it’s true that it’s not for everyone. She mentioned that her son enjoyed the book Hatchet, likes historical fiction, and that as a family they have read The Hunger Games. With these clues, my mind got to working…
What is a boy such as this to read? Since he liked Hatchet, he should definitely check out the companion book to called Brian’s Winter. And here are some additional suggestions:
As with any of the books that we recommend, please be sure to click on the cover and read the Scoop to make sure it’s the right fit for your child. Let us know if you have a book match challenge. We’d be happy to make some suggestions for your reader. | <urn:uuid:71f295e6-f06a-411a-a61b-a874c5bf5696> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://www.storysnoops.com/blog/?paged=2 | 2016-07-31T09:42:11Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257828314.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071028-00091-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965535 | 2,108 |
Acclimatization prepares teams for football
Hot summer provides first test for high school teams
Are you ready for some football?
Area high schools certainly are. While most have been conditioning and lifting weights throughout the summer in temperatures that have exceeded 90 degrees, this season, the scholastic clubs must set aside three days to complete the heat acclimatization program adopted by the PIAA football steering committee.
During the heat acclimatization process, football players are permitted to wear helmets and shoulder pads the first two days. On the third day, full protective equipment is permitted.
Contact is not permitted during the first two days of heat acclimatization, but contact can take place on the third day.
No practice session during the heat acclimatization process can last more than three hours, and it must be followed by a break of at least two hours. Football teams are limited to a maximum of five hours of practice a day, regardless of the length of each session.
The process can be completed prior to the official start of practice or during the initial three days of workouts. Football camp begins Aug. 12 for WPIAL-participating teams. Many of the local high school grid teams plan to complete the acclimatization process during the week of Aug. 5-9.
“We are all in the same boat,” said Seton-La Salle head coach Greg Perry.
“It’s tough,” added Bethel Park skipper Jeff Metheny. “It’s wrecking havoc with kids’ vacations. And while I understand the concept, teams are already out there working on drills and conditioning during this heat.”
According to executive director Bob Lombardi, the PIAA is addressing an issue that has been a concern for at least the last decade across the country, particularly with the number of heat-related deaths that were preventable. The PIAA believes institution of this new program is a step in the right direction.
After the acclimatization period and the two-week training camp, which features multiple sessions of drills daily as well as two scrimmages, teams hope their preparations advance them in the direction of conference championships and playoff berths.
Action toward those objectives commences Aug. 30. The Road to Heinz Field begins nine weeks later and culminates in WPIAL championship action Nov. 22-23. The PIAA finals are set for Dec. 13-14 in Hershey.
Several South Hills teams should be in the hunt for conference championships and more based on the talent they return from successful campaigns in 2012.
While coaches give Woodland Hills the nod as the favorite to claim the Southeastern Conference, co-champions Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair, as well as Bethel Park, plan to contend for the title. Heading into training camp, each boast at least one major Division I college prospect.
Lebo already has a commitment to Penn State from Troy Apke, while Alex Bookser can write his ticket to any program. Colleges on the 6-6, 295-pound tackle’s short list are: Pitt, Alabama, Michigan State, Northwestern and Ohio State.
While Boosker will anchor the offensive line, Apke and the Blue Devils must adjust to a new signal caller if they are to repeat their 2012 success.
Although the Panthers edged them in head-to-head competition, the Blue Devils shared the conference title with rival Upper St. Clair. Both posted 7-1 records in the division. Lebo finished 8-3 overall and the Panthers sported a 10-2 slate, falling to Woodland Hills in the Quad-A semifinals.
For the Blue Devils, a rookie quarterback may not be such a hurdle to clear. During Mike Melynk’s initial season at the helm, Lebo shifted from a predominant run offense to a potent pass attack. And, in his first season behind center, Tyler Roth shattered several school records before he matriculated to Princeton. Roth passed for 2,514 yards, 1,048 of them to Apke.
Meanwhile, USC, among others, boasts Rori Blair. He recently committed to Pitt. The 6-3, 225-pound tight end and defensive end earned another year of eligibility because of health reasons.
After his junior year, Blair suffered a stroke. While he nearly died from complications from the condition, he recovered but missed his senior season. When doctors granted him permission to play again, USC appealed to the WPIAL for an extension on his scholastic career. Because he met the criteria, the district granted Blair the eligibility.
Though lacking in numbers, Bethel Park boasts a talented line-up. Michael Grimm recently made a verbal commitment to the University of Pittsburgh. The senior anchors both lines. After a rookie campaign, in which he threw for 1,071 yards and seven scores, Levi Metheny returns to call the signals in his sophomore season.
Last year, Bethel Park finished tied for third place in the Southestern Conference with Woodland Hills. Both posted 6-2 slates. The Black Hawks finished 7-4 overall.
Peters Township broke even last year at 4-4 in the division and finished 5-5 overall after giving Gateway a stiff challenge in the Quad-A playoffs. The Indians feature plenty of big men up front as they recently won the strongman competition at the Pitt camp this summer.
Fresh will be the faces at the helm at Canon-McMillan as well as Chartiers Valley and Bishop Canevin.
Ron Coder, 58, takes over a program that has won only two games in three seasons. The Big Macs were 2-26 under Tim Sohyda and 1-8 last fall. A former NFL lineman, Coder played football at Penn State. Prior to coming to Canon-McMillan, he served as an assistant coach at Northgate and as a coach for the Pittsburgh Passion, a women’s professional team.
At Chartiers Valley, the Colts welcome Niel Loebig, 30. He replaces Chris Saluga. Despite last year’s 2-7 campaign, Saluga resigned as the winningest football coach in school history. Saluga coached 12 years at CV.
A standout quarterback, Loebig threw for 5,589 yards and 65 touchdowns in high school. The South Fayette product passed for more than 10,000 yards and 100 touchdowns while at Duquesne University. He led the Dukes to four straight conference titles and an NCAA Division I-AA mid-major national championship in 2003. Prior to coming to CV, Loebig served as an assistant coach with the Dukes and at Lely High School in Naples, Fla.
New at the helm, too, is Darren Schoppe, 40. He assumes the Bishop Canevin coaching position, vacated after 44 years by Bob Jacoby. An assistant under Jacoby for 13 seasons, Schoppe served as the defensive coordinator at South Fayette the past six years.
Schoppe played for Jacoby, too. He was a member of the 1990 WPIAL Class AA championship club that edged Washington, 21-20, but fell to Hanover Area, 20-19, in the PIAA finals.
Jacoby racked up a 288-170-7 record. In addition to coaching football, Jacoby taught American history, served as athletic director and softball coach, winning two district and one state title.
Last year, Canevin edged out Chartiers-Houston for the final playoff spot in the Black Hills Conference, tying Brentwood and Imani Christian for third with a 6-3 slate in the division. The Crusaders lost to North Catholic, 21-0, in the Class A playoffs, which were dominated by four-time district and state champion Clairton.
Meanwhile, over at South Fayette, Brett Brumbaugh promises to be the premier passer in the WPIAL this fall.
Brumbaugh ranked second in the district last season, behind Mark Leftwich, who led North Allegheny to the PIAA Quad-A title by passing for 3,331 yards and 45 TDs. While Leftwich has moved on to the University of Texas at El Paso, Brumbaugh returns for his junior season. He threw for 2,823 yards and 27 scores during the 2013 campaign, which ended with a 26-14 loss to rival Wash High.
Before the Lions can even engage thoughts of a rematch with the Little Prexies, who will again be led by Washington’s Shai MacKenzie, they must survive the challenges brought on by rivals such as Seton-La Salle and Keystone Oaks in the Century Conference.
Last year, with Brumbaugh’s brother, Luke, at the controls, Seton-La Salle battled the Lions for the top spot in the division. However, South Fayette won the league crown with an 8-0 record while the Rebels finished runner-up in the conference with a 7-1 mark. Overall, the Lions finished 11-1 while SLS was 9-2.
While South Fayette lost leading receiver Zach Challingsworth to Pitt, Brumbaugh has two returning receivers that should rank among the leaders in the WPIAL. They are Connor Beck, who had 29 grabs for 457 yards in 2012, and Justin Watson, who had 28 catches for 592 yards. Additionally, the Lions return tight end Jack Previte.
Tom Rizza and Rick Mellick are two of the players to watch at Seton-La Salle.
Despite a 2-7 showing in his first campaign as head coach, Matt Taylor looks for improvement at Keystone Oaks. One major reason for optimism is Kobe Phillippi. As a freshman, Phillippi passed for more than 1,000 yards and a dozen touchdowns.
Follow The Almanac throughout the pre-season and look for more in-depth previews of each of the teams in the readership region when the annual football tab hits the streets on Aug. 28. | <urn:uuid:e71c158d-ba7a-47d4-95f8-fa262e2ab8e7> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://www.thealmanac.net/article/20130730/SPORTS/130739985/0/opinion02 | 2016-07-31T09:59:46Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257828314.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071028-00091-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958332 | 2,082 |
The protest was taking place in the street. Police were holding off since there was no traffic. School was starting and very few people were traveling by car. The protestors held signs that had idealistic messages, clever slogans, and general protests. Adam looked at the signs. He silently laughed. He thought how tender the world would be, how peaceful history would have been had messages on signs could sway popular opinion. If protest could accomplish anything. He watched from a skyscraper, looking at the fauna and sympathizing with their plight. However, he wasn't here to feel sorry for them. He was here for blood, here to wait for the police to arrive. The White Fang wanted him to take out the police as the dummy protestors they planted in the crowd would reveal themselves and rally the fauna to arms. It sounded insane, but Adam had seen what mob mentality could do. And this protest was looking rather mob-like. But as he waited, his mind drifted from thoughts of the mission. He thought of Beacon, the school he'd once been a student of. He'd left after his second year. It was back when he was naive enough to believe a fauna could survive in a school for humans. He wondered how Blake was getting along, if she was making any friends. He wondered if she was being given a hard time or simply being ignored. He knew she was quiet and good at avoiding attention, but at the same time was a skilled wordsmith and had a playful side to boot. She was a compelling person, someone who captivated people as soon as she spoke. He also knew she'd have the intelligence to hide her fauna features. He remembered her last words to him and snarled. He was still angry. The wound still hurt. And at the thought of her finding friends, the wound hurt more. He wanted desperately to be happy for her freedom, but he was hurt. So, so hurt. She was the only friend he'd ever had, and she'd left him with only one word. "Goodbye." And he wanted her to be hurt too. He wanted her to miss him just as much as he missed her.
Blake stared complacently at the TV. The newscaster spoke with an irksome tone, as if she knew what was happening before it had been reported to her. Blake was emotionless as she watched, looking up from her book. She didn't know why she had. She didn't know what she was expecting to see, but she knew what she saw. Her calm expression tightened, her mouth curved downwards in a frown. The White Fang had disrupted a civil rights protest. No doubt Adam had been there. She'd heard about the protest in advance, about how it had taken months to coordinate. She herself considered participating to take some sort of action against the injustice against fauna. Because she knew she wasn't any better than those she'd left. At least they were taking action. She frowned deeper at her passiveness. But she knew that someday, she'd make it right. She was so lost in thought that she hadn't even noticed that the TV was switched off to show a per-recorded message of Glynda Goodwitch welcoming the students to Beacon. Blake clicked her tongue in annoyance before going back to her book.
His time to strike was now. The police had decided to intervene, and Adam jumped from the roof, landing on the ground. It cracked under his impact, and he looked with calm cruelty at the police, smiling without emotion. The look of a sociopath, the look Adam had made his own. He lunged towards them and cut in motions they couldn't even see. Blood cascaded from the bodies and he sheathed his blade, clean and unstained by their blood. His jacket was left untouched as well. He scoffed. Not even their blood could touch him. Behind him, the White Fang had already put their plan into action. Gunshots rang out as the members got everyone's attention. Some had been shot for trying to disarm the White Fang members. Adam heard a girl cry for her mother who lay dead on the ground. He saw it briefly through the throngs of people. He remained unmoved, even when he found painful memories resurfacing.
"She was weak, as are all those who resist us! They do not wish for change, they only protest to satisfy their ego, to make them believe that they fight for their people, but do they really fight?! No! They hide behind their signs and facades, unwilling to support us, the White Fang, the true freedom fighters! Too long have we been oppressed by humanity. You know how they treat those of a different skin color, how could they possibly react with kindness to us, who have a whole different body part! They treat us like animals! You all know of the Schnee Dust Company and their unfair treatment of fauna employees, you know how the riots always end! They end in death and submission! We, the White Fang, do not stand for submission! We stand for freedom, for justice! We shall avenge those who took action, those who truly fought for their people! Those who wish to join us, those who wish to storm the streets and show that we, the fauna race, will not tolerate the cruelty of humankind, please accept these weapons we bring with us! We honor you, who accept our kind offer. We know you have suffered and we know you wish to bring forth an era of change! So take the next step and act! Fight!" The fauna cried. He was a dummy fauna who had a backpack and microphone. Soon, his cries were joined by many others.
"Fight!" The word resounded throughout the city. Some fauna took the dead officers' guns, and others flocked to the suppliers who had large backpacks full of collapsible, easy-to-use weapons. Some fauna were even trained in the ways of Hunters and Huntresses, and wielded their own Dust weapons.
"Adam! Lead our charge!" The fauna with the microphone shouted. He nodded and ran forward, his unsheathed blade glinting in the sun. Buildings were shot and any who resisted, be they fauna or human, met the same fate. More police were deployed, but Adam killed them all. He was still untouched by their blood. Soon, Adam expected to see Hunters and Huntresses. He knew the government wasn't above using them to quell the fauna protestors.
Blake pulled out her phone. She sat on her bed, checking the news before reading her book. She glanced at it eagerly, ready to engulf herself in the world she knew through the ink and words. The world that reminded her so much of reality, the world that rang so true to her life. It was a book about a man with two souls, each battling for control over his body. Every time she read it, she thought of Adam. She missed him. She missed him so much. She knew she had done the right thing by leaving, but she wasn't sure if she had done the kind thing. She scrolled down on her touch screen, looking for any footage of the protest anyone might have gotten. Sure enough, she found it. It was mere seconds, but it was enough. Someone had captured Adam on their phone. She looked at his fierce strikes, his incredible speed, his graceful motions. If she didn't know better, she would never have believed he was self-taught. But she quickly put it down, resolving to dedicate herself to her new life at Beacon. She wasn't a child. She wouldn't cling to Adam or his memory. She had a new life and she would live it to the fullest. She would look after herself, because that was who she was now. She wasn't the girl who had idolized the red-haired swordsman, she was the woman who had left him behind.
"Watcha doing?" A cheery voice said behind her, and she looked to see a orange-haired girl in bright pink sleepwear.
"Nora, she's busy. Leave her alone," a young man said kindly. He wore a green tank top and black pajama pants. Blake sighed, ready for a social interaction. She wasn't socially awkward, she just didn't care for being interrupted.
"It's all right. I'm just checking the news."
"Eh, sounds boring. Wait...is there anything about a new study of sloths?" Blake blinked, surprised by the random thought.
"Drat. One of these days, the sloth with have its time to shine!" The girl named Nora cried out.
"Sure," the young man said, chuckling. Blake took the opportunity to read her book.
The Hunter swiped his fists and water spilled from the holes in his gauntlets. Adam stepped back, avoiding the razor-sharp waves. The man kicked and a burst of water shot from his boot. Adam jumped up and used his sword to block the man's next blow, flipping into the air behind him. He swerved and avoided an arcing water wave. He then cut through another. The man attacked, and Adam blocked his blow, moving his sword closer to his body while standing straight. He moved past the man on the outside and twirled his gun around, firing at the Hunter's back. He screamed and Adam turned and cut off his head. A woman jumped out at him with a long staff. It crackled with electricity, and Adam rolled out of the way. He twirled his sword and blocked an attack, and then twirled it again and blocked another strike. He shot at the woman, and the bullet was shocked into dust as lighting crackled from the staff. She then disconnected the staff and wielded two batons. She attacked and he dodged, stepping to one side. He swung his blade quickly and deflected another attack. He swung the blade the opposite way, hitting back yet another strike. Soon, they were trading blows. Adam shifted to avoid crackling lighting as he cut in straight lines, occasionally jumping back to sheathe his blade and unsheathe it, making for faster attacks. The Huntress was clearly at a disadvantage. She couldn't keep up with him. Eventually, he twisted around her and then turned again, unsheathing his blade and cutting her in half. The last Hunter didn't even get to attack. Adam moved with blinding speed and killed him before he could even get out his weapon. The fauna roared for him, cheered for him. He relished the opportunity to enjoy a good fight, but their cheering angered him. However he smiled and waved, walking forward. He didn't look behind him as a fauna got cold feet and was shot for his disobedience. The protest was still ongoing, but they couldn't last for long. Larger enemies would soon be deployed, and they had to retreat, having caused immeasurable property damage and having taken many, many lives. The White Fang now had more soldiers. Mob mentality was a powerful thing. They retreated, and Adam reluctantly turned around, knowing he couldn't take on an entire army. Only most of it. As he walked away, his happiness at having at least two mildly interesting opponents faded, giving way to the disinterest he usually had. He was, to his credit, no psychopath. He felt nothing when he saw the death. No joy. No nothing. It wasn't until later that he considered Blake. She wouldn't be happy about this. And, for her sake, he felt a little annoyance at what he'd had to do. But he wasn't the man she had admired anymore. She was out of his shadow. But one day, he hoped they'd meet so he could get a chance to talk to her, at least one last time. The only thing was that he wasn't sure whether his words would be kind or spiteful.
CHAPTER 2 IS DONE! I'M PORTRAYING ADAM AS A SOCIOPATH BECAUSE THAT'S HOW HE COMES OFF IN THE TRAILER. HE DIDN'T WANT TO KILL THE CREW MEMBERS, HE WAS JUST DOING A JOB. THEY'D SIMPLY GET CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE, SOMETHING HE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT. ALSO, BLAKE GOT SOME ATTENTION IN THIS CHAPTER AS WELL, SOMETHING I LIKED THAT I DID. AT THE MOMENT, SHE AND WEISS ARE MY FAVORITE RWBY CHARACTERS. IT USUALLY VARIES WITH EACH EPISODE, BUT WEISS AND BLAKE HAVE BEEN MY FAVORITE FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW. NOT TO DISS RUBY AND YANG. ALL OF THE RWBY GIRLS ARE AWESOME! I HAVE A LITTLE FANTASY IN THE BACK OF MY MIND THAT TEAM RWBY WILL HAVE AN EPIC 4 ON 1 FIGHT WITH ADAM. | <urn:uuid:ed83b362-2915-42a0-9ad9-7782322e24f7> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9649267/2/The-Beauty-Of-The-Beast | 2016-07-31T09:54:44Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257828314.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071028-00091-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.992542 | 2,681 |
10/1/09 update — well, it’s been nearly a year, and I should say not everything in this rant is totally true, and I certainly believe much less of it now. Current take: Statistics, not machine learning, is the real deal, but unfortunately suffers from bad marketing. On the other hand, to the extent that bad marketing includes misguided undergraduate curriculums, there’s plenty of room to improve for everyone.
So it’s pretty clear by now that statistics and machine learning aren’t very different fields. I was recently pointed to a very amusing comparison by the excellent statistician — and machine learning expert — Robert Tibshiriani. Reproduced here:
|generalization||test set performance|
|unsupervised learning||density estimation, clustering|
|large grant = $1,000,000||large grant = $50,000|
|nice place to have a meeting:|
Snowbird, Utah, French Alps
|nice place to have a meeting:|
Las Vegas in August
Hah. Or rather, ouch! I had two thoughts reading this. (1) Poor statisticians. Machine learners invent annoying new terms, sound cooler, and have all the fun. (2) What’s wrong with statistics? They have way less funding and influence than it seems they might deserve.
There are several issues going on here, both substantive and cultural:
There might be too much re-making-up of terms on the ML side. But lots of these are useful. “Weights” is a great, intuitive term for the parameters of a linear model. I use it all the time to explain classifiers and regressions to non-experts. I was surprised to see “test set” on the statistics side; I’m used to thinking of held-out test set accuracy as an extremely common ML technique, while in statistics model fit is assessed with parametric assumptions for standard errors and such. I really like cross-validation and bootstrapping as ways of thinking about generalization — again, something that’s far easier to grasp than sampling and hypothesis testing approaches to parameter inference — which keep getting taught to and misunderstood by generations of confused Introduction to Statistics students. For example, how many times has been explained that: No, a p-value is NOT the probability your model is wrong. But scientific papers regularly treat significance levels in that manner (look how many stars are on this result!) On the other hand, cross-validation accuracy *is* something you can interpret as being related to the probability your model is right.
I’ll also note that there are definitely a number of topics in ML that aren’t very related to statistics or probability. Max-margin methods: if all we care about is prediction, why bother using a probability model at all? Why not just optimize the spatial geometry instead? SVM’s don’t require a lick of probability theory to understand. (Of course probability-based approaches are huge in ML, but it’s important to remember they’re not the only game in town, and there is no necessary reason they must be.) And then there are non-traditional settings such as online learning, reinforcement learning, and active learning, where the structure of access to information is in play. There are certainly plenty of things in statistics that aren’t considered part of ML — say, regression diagnostics and significance testing. Finally, many ML problems involve large, high dimensional data and models, where computational issues are very important. For example, in statistical machine translation, alignment models are described with probability theory and fit to data, but their structure is complex enough that optimal inference is intractable, and how you do approximate inference (EM, Viterbi, beam search, etc.) is a very major issue.
But the most interesting differences between stats and ML are institutional.
I’ve been hearing lots of friends compare two dueling courses at Stanford: CS229, the CS department’s “machine learning” course taught by Andrew Ng; and Stat 315 A/B, the Statistics department’s “statistical learning” sequence taught by some combination of Tibshirani, Jerome Friedman, and Trevor Hastie. These people are all top-of-the-line researchers in the field. Their courses’ contents are extremely similar; I’d bet any of them could teach most of the material from the other side.
What differs most is the teaching style. CS has far better lecture notes. Of course, the stats people wrote a very good book; but better lecture notes win because I can access them later and send them to people for free. CS students I’ve talked to think the CS course is better taught; I can’t find stats students who take the CS course. (My sample is biased, though I know people in both.) Finally, the CS course has a big, open-ended project component; the Stats course follows more of a traditional problem set and tests format.
I think this is reflective of the differences in institutional culture between CS and Stats. There’s an interesting John Langford post on part of the issue, which he calls “The Stats Handicap”. He points out that stats Ph.D.’s have a big disadvantage in the job market because statistics has an old-school journal-oriented publishing culture, so students publish much less and have less experience engaging with a research community. CS is conference-oriented — certain conferences have a higher prestige than many journals (e.g. NIPS in ML, CHI in HCI) — and this results in faster turnaround, dissemination, and collaboration. (I’ve heard others make similar comparisons between CS and psychology.) I’d expect any discipline with a larger conference emphasis to have better courses since they should reward presentation/teaching skills — or at least encourage practice — more than in journal world.
ML sounds like it’s young, vibrant, interesting to learn, and growing; Stats does not.
Is marketing a problem? Machine learning terms definitely sound pretty cool. Maybe the perspective of computational intelligence lends itself to cool names. Though the Stanford statisticians certainly know how to play this game — for example, they made up their own names for variants of L1 and L2-regularized regression, leaving annoyed people like me forever googling “lasso” and “ridge” trying to remember which is which. (On the other hand, perhaps that’s child’s play compared to the true original sin of ML nomenclature: tossing around the highly deceptive term “neural network” for a stack of linear functions paired with a wonky, overhyped training algorithm; the combination of which, many years later, still causes confusion. Definitely blame CS for that one.)
Another issue is the definition of statistics itself. In 1997, Jerome Friedman wrote an extremely interesting analysis of the situation: “Data Mining and Statistics: What’s the Connection?”. He points out, quite correctly, the statistical impoverishment of some common approaches to data mining. You can certainly blame statistics for not marketing its ideas well enough, or blame CS for ignoring statistics. For example there’s a good case that lots of genetic algorithms and neural network research was much ado about nothing — that is, over-complicated cool-sounding hammers looking for nails when all you needed were some time-honored statistical and optimization techniques. (E.g. why NN when you haven’t tried a straight-up GLM? Why GA when you haven’t tried Nelder-Mead?) But this problem has been rectified somewhat — for example, NLP has seen a big move to simple linear models as the default technique, and NN’s and GA’s have fallen from grace in mainstream ML.
Friedman argues part of the problem is in how statisticians approach problems and the world:
One can catalog a long history of Statistics (as a field) ignoring useful methodology developed in other data related fields. Here are some of them that had seminal beginnings in Statistics but for the most part were subsequently ignored in our field: Pattern Recognition, Neural Networks, Machine Learning, Graphical Models, Chemometrics, Data Visualization.
That is not to say statistics is not important — it’s incredibly important. He quotes Efron as saying “Statistics has been the most successful information science.” However, information science is becoming bigger and broader and more exciting, thanks to computation and ever-increasing amounts of data. What should statisticians do? Friedman continues (light editing and emphasis is mine):
One view says that our field should concentrate on that small part of information science that we do best, namely probabilistic inference based on mathematics. If this view is adopted, we should become resigned to the fact that the role of Statistics as a player in the “information revolution” will steadily diminish over time.
Another point of view holds that statistics ought to be concerned with data analysis. The field should be defined in terms of a set of problems — rather than a set of tools — that pertain to data. Should this point of view ever become the dominant one, a big change would be required in our practice and academic programs.
First and foremost, we would have to make peace with computing. It’s here to stay; that’s where the data is. This has been one of the most glaring omissions in the set of tools that have so far defined Statistics. Had we incorporated computing methodology from its inception as a fundamental statistical tool (as opposed to simply a convenient way to apply our existing tools) many of the other data related fields would not have needed to exist. They would have been part of our field.
Friedman wrote this article more than 10 years ago. All his observations about the importance and increasing prevalence of data and computing power are even more true today than back then. Has the field of statistics changed? Not clear. (I’d appreciate seeing evidence to the contrary.)
On the other hand a world of data *has* to be increasingly statistical. The positive spin from Efron:
A new generation of scientific devices, typified by microarrays, produce data on a gargantuan scale – with millions of data points and thousands of parameters to consider at the same time. These experiments are “deeply statistical”. Common sense, and even good scientific intuition, won’t do the job by themselves. Careful statistical reasoning is the only way to see through the haze of randomness to the structure underneath. Massive data collection, in astronomy, psychology, biology, medicine, and commerce, is a fact of 21st Century science, and a good reason to buy statistics futures if they are ever offered on the NASDAQ.
I know that I’m interested in quantitative information science, including statistics and data analysis. Machine learning has many strengths, but it is definitely an odd way to go about analysis. But there’s a good case that statistics, as traditionally defined, is only going to have a smaller role in the future. “Data mining” sounds more relevant, but does it even exist as a coherent subject? Maybe it’s time to study a more applied statistical field like econometrics. | <urn:uuid:ddd6f458-921e-4b61-bc69-ee245ad73084> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://brenocon.com/blog/2008/12/statistics-vs-machine-learning-fight/ | 2016-07-30T16:51:55Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469258936356.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723072856-00270-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944609 | 2,394 |
110 Tasting Notes
This tea was not on steepster website yet and is not available anymore on canton tea (if my search was correct). It was part of the canton tea club but for a short while on sale for all costumers. Now to the tea…
I was waiting to open this package because its a vary special tea in my opinion, because its pretty rare. The sugar element in this tea made me purchase it, it made me curious!
The dry leafs are pretty large and tippy but thats a sign the quality is good, there were almost no broken leafs in this ziplock bag. For my first steep i’m using a teaspoon of leaf and using the recommended brew time of 2min with 95°c water. The color turns out a dark brown a bit like a ceylon or a light brewed assam. On my very first sip (the tea is still to hot) i notice a light malty taste and of no surprise i can tasted a little bit extra sweetness from the sugar, its not overwhelming but in my opinion enhancing the taste a bit. When its cooled a bit more its less malty then i expected but its still very strong in taste and even a little bit caramel like.
Its a tea i could possible drink on a everyday base but its far to unique to be actually doing this. A nice surprise and i will be trying to get some more off these canton tea club tea’s…
With my last order from Canton Tea there was this little sample of yunnan black pearls included. I had it sitting here for a while now and my curiosity has taken the upper hand.
Upon opening the package i can smell a light malty typical yunnan flavor. I had yunnan tea’s before but that where usual loose tea’s, this is something different. The pearls as they are called are pretty big tea balls. Lets say about 1cm diameter max but most are a bit smaller. Its easy to measure in your teacup and the instructions note that i best use 2 balls for 250ml water. But i like my black tea strong so i’m using 3…
I’m using almost boiling water and a 3min infusion for my first cup. The little teaballs start to unfurl and bubble open pretty slowly and after a minute or so it increases it speed and starts getting alive. The balls turn out to be pretty large yunnan leafs, pretty tippy to. The color of the infusion is a hazy brown, not so dark then i expected but it smells good!
Tasting this tea reveals a slightly malt and spicy flavor that holds up pretty well, its surprisingly sweet and not bitter at all. I’m enjoying this and its easy to make because off the balls u just pick some out the package and are ready to go…
Overall not my most favorite yunnan but its a good quality
I had won this unique oolong a few months ago true a facebook competition and it was in my tea storage for that long. But here we are i had some cups of this Phoenix oolong and its a wonderful tea!
The discription on the package was ‘notes of strawberry and orange blossem’ and to my surprise i had a soft strawberry taste with my first cup, not strongly but a faint aftertaste almost like a light strawberry yogurt. The orange blossem was present from the first cup as well but it was far more clear in the next 4 cups. I brewed this tea western style starting with 2min and increasing the brew time with each cup by one minute. The results where 5 very very good cups of tea.
This tea reminds me a lot of phoenix honey orchid but its more forgiving and lasts way longer in taste. It does not get bitter at all, to bad u can’t buy this anymore on the jing website.
One of the best oolongs i had so far in my opinion.
This Mao Lian also know as Jade Sword is my second sample from Little Red Cup Tea.
I had some Mao Lian before so i don’t need to doubt myself while brewing this tea. For my first cup i used 70°c water and a fairly big teaspoon of these nice dark green leafs. Once brewed these leafs look a bit like seaweed and the color of my cup turns a bright green.
This mao jian is a very refreshing green tea with some hints of cream and best off all it doesn’t turn bitter at all. This is a good tea for warm afternoons when u need some hydration!
I comparing my 2 samples from red cup this one is my personal favorite. Tough the white monkey tasted good it wasn’t 100% my thing. This one is more up my ally and would drink it on a very regular base!
I think i ruined my tea a bit on the second and third cup because i had water about 80°c and made a to long steep (about 5min). It turned a little bit bitter but it was still enjoyable. If i keep up with the 70°c steeps i believe the tea will hold out better because the quality of the first cup was really tasty. Still got enough sample size left to make a new go somewhere this week!
Time for trying out my first sample from Little Red Cup Tea. Its a fairly big sample so thanks very a lot for giving me a chance to test it out!
The leaf’s are when dry a bit fluffy like the hairs on silver needles, but more green. I make my first cup with a 3min steep time on 70°c. The liquor of the brew turns out to be a bit between white and green tea. Its golden like a white tea, but with a green tint.
Its still a bit warm with my first sips but i’m getting a nice creamy flavor with some sweet aftertaste. This tea sure is more leaning towards a white then a green thats surprising and it drinks away very easy. When its more cooled down it reminds me a bit of a white darjeeling i had some time ago. Its a very nice cup and i’m curious about the second and third brew i’m going to make from it!
This is my last sample for justea. I’m really thanking them for letting try these great Kenyan tea’s. This time around we are tasting the Earl Grey version of the Kenyan Black tea.
The dry leaf got a light bergamot scent to it. Not strong but just noticeable. So thats already a good sign for things to come, because i really don’t like overly strong flavored tea’s.
I brewed this earl grey for 3min and the color of the infusion is almost the same then the black tea base alone. For more info about the tea base check my Kenyan Black tasting note.
The robustness of the Kenyan tea is still in front when drinking this cup of tea. But u can clearly taste the fresh bergamot oil that is used to give this its classic earl grey taste. Its refreshing and its a very good thing the bergamot isn’t taking over the tea.
I’m liking this just like the african chai and the Kenyan black (thats the base for all there tea’s)! Justea u got really amazing tea’s out there, these 3 samples where by far the best samples i had i a long time.
My second sample from this Kenyan tea this time in a chai version. Dry it looks very beautiful loads of color from the clove, the fennel seeds, and rose petals. This smells very great to, a very very spicy oder. U just want to try it when u open the package.
Because i really was surprised with the regular kenyan black tea i’m not going deeper into the base of this tea. If u want to read more about the base just go to the other tasting note i made.
Once brewed this Chai still smells good and the color is a bit different then the ruby red from the tea without the spices. Taste wise the malty flavors come true and then the warming spices kick in. This one does not go bitter even with a bit of over steeping and thats a wonderful aspect!
Overall a very warming malty tea with a smooth finish, its really soft in the mouth!
Only one left to try is the Earl Grey, this is coming soon in my tasting note’s.
I’m thinking that i really need to start looking to buy some big packs of this tea, its a surprise i didn’t expected it to be that good!
I have to thank justea for the big samples and especially for there work with this fairtrade project in kenya. I just love it when people help others, people that in many options don’t got a other way off living deserve some help and if that tea kitchen is a way to help get them more self employed then thats a very good thing!
Now time for tea talk!
The dry leaf smell very fresh and even a bit fruity tough this is the regular kenyan black. When brewing the leaf the liquor turns out a ruby like red (just like someone else here on steepster noticed). Never had a African tea except some rooibos but technically speaking thats a herbal.
I’m fond of strong black tea’s like assam, in color this reminds me a bit of assam tea. My first sips with this tea is when its a bit to hot. But even then i can notice a strong full body element. When its cooled down a bit more u get a fresh riche taste thats a bit malty!
I’m comparing this to great assam and its passing the test. If the cost for sending a larger parcel isn’t to big i’m pretty damn sure i’m going to order this again!
I’m very surprised about the quality of this tea, didn’t know the region was able to produce tea’s that in quality might be equal with chinese and indian tea’s… | <urn:uuid:49a72a58-eb8f-49da-99a0-bfa2abdab550> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://steepster.com/darky?page=2 | 2016-07-25T03:00:43Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257824201.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071024-00133-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953493 | 2,136 |
When Catherine Morland, a country clergyman's daughter, is invited to spend a season in Bath with the fashionable high society, little does she imagine the delights and perils that await her. Captivated and disconcerted by what she finds, and introduced to the joys of "Gothic novels" by her new friend, Isabella, Catherine longs for mystery and romance. When she is invited to stay with the beguiling Henry Tilney and his family at Northanger Abbey, she expects mystery and intrigue at every turn. However, the truth turns out to be even stranger than fiction.
© and (P)2006 Naxos AudioBooks
I am a manly man. I eat raw meat. I speak in short sentences. but i love this book. It's not just a Jane Austen romance, it's a mini thriller and comedy too. John Thorpe is my idle.
Juliet Stevenson is my favorite reader for Jane Austen novels. She has a pleasing alto voice, and gives a very lively reading. Ms. Stevenson gives all of Jane's characters distinct voices and personalities. I recommend this audiobook highly!
Northanger Abbey was always my least favorite Jane Austen book. With Juliet's superb narration, I understand the genius of the story in it's comic simplicity. I have listened to every Jane Austen book of Juliet's narration and I'm happy to say this one will be repeated as often as the others.
Narrative makes the world go round.
Like many other Austen readers, this is my least favorite Austen novel. It was only on re-reading it as an adult (and after slogging through some of the meodramatic novels Austen satirizes) that I finally got the satire. Narrator Stevenson really enlivens the reading to so that the tone can't be missed or messed. I've listened to two other audio versions of Northanger, and this strikes me as by far the best - satiric but not "over the top" delivery.
I love reading and listening to books, especially fantasy, science fiction, children's, historical, and classics.
Northanger Abbey read by Juliet Stevenson was great fun: absorbing, witty, and even, strangely enough (for an anti-Gothic romance), suspenseful. Seventeen-year-old Catherine Morland is an appealing heroine: ex-tomboy, unaccomplished at the things a typical young lady of her era would be accomplished at (playing the piano, drawing, etc.), obsessed with Gothic romance novels, honest, good-natured, sensitive, innocent, and ignorant. Watching her mature through the course of her first experience away from home (first in Bath and finally from about half way through the novel in Northanger Abbey) into a greater awareness of the feelings and true nature of other people and of herself is satisfying.
And the reader, Juliet Stevenson, is wonderful! She brings the story to life, playing an experienced and wry narrator, as well as pleasurably capturing Catherine's innocent ohs, nos, and honesty, Isabella Thorpe???s insincere effusions, John Thorpe's boorish boasting, and Henry Tilney's clever teasing and kind advice.
As some other listeners have said, Northanger Abbey is not up to the level of Jane Austen???s best novels, but it humorously plays with the Gothic romance genre that was so popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, offers plenty of quotable lines, and, especially as read by Juliet Stevenson, makes a charming and enjoyable audiobook.
Juliet Stevenson is a wonderful narrator and does a great job reading what is unfortunately not the best of Jane Austen's books. Although the story is pleasant enough, it isn't up to Pride and Prejudice, or Sense and Sensibility, Emma or Mansfield Park. The story lacks complexity, the characters are merely sketched, and it just doesn't hold your interest like the other Austen works. The narration, however, is terrific.
Northanger Abbey ??? Jane Austen
This was the first book that Austen wrote. She sold it; it was never published; so she bought it back when her other books became successful. Possibly she intended a rewrite. Her brother had it published after her death.
The story concerns the teen-aged Catherine Moreland who has little experience of the world, but much experience with gothic romance novels. Austen manages to make Catherine comic in her awkwardness and excessive imagination, but lovable in her direct honesty. This book has all the satire and social commentary of Austen???s later books, but other than Catherine, I felt the characters lacked depth. Although Catherine???s brother has a failed love affair with one of her new friends, Austen only deals with the effect this has on Catherine???s relationship with Isabella. Little is said about the brother. Nothing at all is known about Eleanor???s relationship to her Viscount. That marriage is only mentioned because it allows Catherine and Henry to marry. I missed the more complex interplay of multiple characters and plot line that occur in Austen???s later books, but I enjoyed Catherine???s runaway imagination.
Juliet Stevenson gives a wonderful performance of this book. Each character is captured distinctly while she adds to the atmosphere and the comedy with her animated reading.
This was a fun, light-hearted romp, but not one of Austen's best works. It had her characteristic humor, and I love the way she delivers both approbation and condemnation in such wry, genteel turns of phrase. Austen's world is a Regency fairyland where nothing truly violent or horrific ever happens, which makes Catherine Morland, the 17-year-old heroine of Northanger Abbey all the more endearing. Catherine reads lots of gothic novels, and would like nothing better than to be trapped in a haunted house, discover that the local baronet is hiding his mad wife in an attic, find a mysterious orphan on her doorstep, uncover a wicked poisoning plot, etc. Sadly, no such dramatic events occur during her stay in Bath, but she does make friends with the Allens, the Thorpes, and the Tilneys, leading to a typical Austen comedy of manners with misunderstandings, deceptions, attachments, broken engagements, etc.
Catherine is a sweet former tomboy who still has a vivid imagination and a taste for adventure. She grows up over the course of her little adventure, making friends, figuring out that not everyone can be taken at face value, and that she shouldn't try to fit real people into the plots of gothic novels. Also, Austen has a lot of fun name-checking fellow authors, honoring some and making fun of others, and defending the novel as a legitimate work of art.
However, the ending was rushed and had none of the humor or wit of the first part, like Austen had a fun time writing about her overly-imaginative heroine and her adventures for the first part of the book, and then said, "Oh, well, I guess I'd better write the happy ending now." So all misunderstandings are cleared up and Catherine is suitably settled in the last chapter, mostly through a lot of exposition. So, an enjoyable but a lightweight book without the depth of some of Austen's other works.
This was a "first" Austen work for me. It was an excellent work to begin with. Wonderfully read and wonderfully written.
There is not really much to say about the content of the book, Jane Austen lovers will enjoy, those new to her, give it a go, she's great! As to the narration, always brilliant from Juliet Stevenson. Enough variation between characters to mark a difference, without creating silly voices. So easy and charming to listen to.
"A perfect reading"
There isn't much to say really - this is just perfect. The reading is, as usual with Juliet Stevenson, quite beautiful. She brings the characters to life, so that we really empathise with Catherine. Those who have read the Mysteries of Udolpho can enjoy Austen's irony. But even with no prior knowledge of the period, of contemporary literature or history you can just sit back and enjoy the story. Bliss.
"A perfect reading"
Having listened to two of Juliet Stevenson's readings of Jane Austen's novels, I instantly downloaded this third one. A beautiful narrative of a touching story.
"Juliet Stevenson is fantastic!"
This is a fabulous book of Jane Austen's and Juliet Stevenson really brings it to life. Her charactisations are perfect - I instantly downloaded more of her readings of Jane Austen!
"An old favourite fabulously read"
Oh! What a glorious rendition of this delightful classic. Juliet Stevenson is so so superb!
I loved reading this once more. Jane Austen's turn of phrase is so delightfully voiced by Juliet Stevenson. What a glory, and I have 'Emma' just bought and ready to read - also with this narrator - What joy of anticipation!
That would be impossible choose it was all wonderful.
Juliet Stephenson is a legend and make this audio the very best it could be.
The book itself is fantastic. I'd originally read it years ago, and didn't really remember just how good it was. I had this idea that Catherine was a bit silly, but she really isn't. She's very young, so she can be a bit uncertain, but she's got the beginnings of a backbone of steel. The narration was absolutely brilliant. I tried the samples for all the others, and this one was by far the one I liked the most. Stevenson makes the characters feel completely real, and she gets the humour in the narration just right. Perfect version.
I highly recommended this reading by Juliet Stevenson. She really makes Austen's Gothic tale/parody come alive.
In this Jane Austen has created one of the most beautiful books in the English language, and Juliet Stevenson is probably once of the only people in the world that could ha e done it justice. I will listen to this again and again!
I first read Northanger Abbey as a teenager and, although I loved the book, I didn't quite get the satire. Revisiting it now, with Juliet Stevenson's perfect narration, I see the book in another light but still enjoy it. Translate the heroine's obsession with Gothic novels into today's obsession with celebrities and their lifestyle and you have a very modern story.
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- "Hamas closed the diplomatic option," says spokesman for the Israeli PM
- A spokesman for the military accuses Hamas of holding the people of Gaza hostage
- "We are not the side who is killing ... We are the side being killed," says Hamas spokesman
- The Gaza death toll is higher than the number of people killed there during the 2012 war
An Egypt-backed cease-fire between Israel and Hamas fell apart Tuesday as rocket attacks from Gaza were again answered by Israeli airstrikes.
The rocket attacks from Hamas militants in Gaza never ceased, Israeli officials said. For its part, Israel refrained from airstrikes for about six hours before announcing it was resuming them.
A CNN crew witnessed at least five Israeli strikes just as the announcement was made.
"Hamas closed the diplomatic option. We woke up this morning in the hope there'd be a cease-fire and, as you reported, Israel restrained from all our activities, all action against terrorists in Gaza for a full six hours. We gave this cease-fire our full support," Mark Regev, spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer."
"But Hamas said no to everyone. Hamas said no to the cease-fire, both in word and in deed," Regev said.
The faltering of the cease-fire attempt means there may be little hope of seeing an end to the near constant exchange of fire that has so far killed more than 190 Palestinians in Gaza.
The first fatality on the Israeli side was a man killed Monday after being hit by a mortar shell, Israeli Rescue Services said. He was an Israeli volunteer who was at the Erez border crossing to deliver food to soldiers.
Israeli leaders had agreed to the cease-fire, but from the outset warned it would be short-lived if the attacks from Gaza didn't stop.
The Israeli Security Cabinet met early Tuesday morning and decided to halt aerial strikes beginning at 9 a.m. (2 a.m. ET). It resumed strikes about six hours later, by 3 p.m. (8 a.m. ET).
The barrage from Gaza continued, with more than 140 rockets fired from there since early Tuesday -- or one rocket every six minutes -- according to the IDF.
"Hamas have decided to continue, and will pay the price for that decision," Netanyahu said Tuesday.
His Security Cabinet met again late in the day for emergency talks.
The Egyptian plan calls for all sides to cease hostilities in Gaza. It also calls for the opening of border crossings, once the security situation is stable, and for high-level talks among those involved.
"The achievement of the success of this Egyptian effort is a must for all of us," said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat. "It's an interest for all of us, and if we allow things to deteriorate I think it's going to be a disaster all over."
He continued: "Failure is not an option here."
When the plan was announced, there was a split reaction from Hamas. Its military wing rejected any possibility of a cease-fire, while its political wing had said it was considering it.
Ismail Haneyya, deputy chairman of Hamas' political wing, said at the outset of the Egyptian efforts that there is a bigger issue than a cease-fire for Palestinians.
He said that what Palestinians really want is an end to the Israeli blockade on Gaza that is suffocating the daily lives of the 1.8 million Palestinians living there.
Haneyya, speaking on Hamas-owned Al Aqsa TV, also accused Israel of not freeing Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, as had been agreed to under an earlier truce. These, he said, are elements the Palestinians would like to see in a comprehensive cease-fire agreement.
Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan later stressed that Hamas never received the proposal through political channels.
"We are still working with Egypt. We are still talking to other sides," he told CNN.
"I believe a proposal is supposed to be prepared after the sides agree on it. It's supposed to be published if two sides give agreement on it. You can't publish it in the media and then ask everyone to accept that or reject that."
Asked why Hamas won't stop firing rockets while talks are ongoing, the spokesman replied: "We are not the side who is killing the other side. We are are the side being killed."
The stakes are high and climbing.
By Tuesday, the death toll from a week of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza had reached 194, with at least 1,400 wounded, according to Palestinian health authorities.
The toll is now greater than the number of people killed in Gaza during the 2012 conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The United Nations has said that most of the people killed by Israel's aerial attacks are civilians.
"I urgently call on the Israeli Security Forces to put an end to attacks against, or endangering, civilians and civilian infrastructure which are contrary to international humanitarian law," said Pierre Krahenbuhl, commissioner general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, or UNRWA.
There are now 17,000 refugees taking shelter in 20 schools in Gaza, UNRWA said, and the airstrikes have damaged 47 of its buildings, including clinics, schools and warehouses.
The Israeli military says it uses a variety of methods, including phone calls and leaflets, to warn civilians of impending strikes.
"As part of our effort to avoid harming civilians, we are sending messages to residents of northern Gaza to leave homes for their own safety," the IDF posted to Twitter late Tuesday.
But UNRWA called on Israel to exercise maximum restraint and precautions to avoid more casualties.
"Clearly, at this stage not enough is being done in that regard," Krahenbuhl said.
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner accused Hamas of holding the people of Gaza hostage.
"They are using and abusing the houses, the infrastructure there, in order to carry out these attacks. We really don't have any other choice," he said.
Hamas on Tuesday closed a crossing between Gaza and Israel but allowed 25 Palestinians -- some of them needing medical attention -- to cross into Israel at Erez.
The border crossing at Erez was closed not as punitive measure, but because the Gazan side has been targeted in airstrikes, said Maher Abu Subha, the head of the committee for border crossings in Gaza.
Employees at the crossing have been targeted three times in three days, and it was closed out of fear for the lives of the workers, he said.
The crossing can be reopened quickly if Israel can guarantee the workers' safety, he said.
Kerry delays trip
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was preparing a possible trip to the Middle East to lay groundwork for a cease-fire, but he postponed the visit to give Egyptian efforts a chance to take root.
One official said the United States wants to give Egypt a chance to reassert itself as a power broker in the Middle East, as it did during the 2012 cease-fire.
Kerry continued to follow that line Tuesday.
"The Egyptian proposal for a cease-fire and negotiations provides an opportunity to end the violence and restore calm," Kerry said from Vienna, Austria. "We welcome the Israeli Cabinet's decision to accept it. We urge all other parties to accept the proposal."
Kerry strongly condemned the rocket launches by Hamas in the face of the cease-fire plan, and said he is prepared to fly to the Middle East as early as Wednesday, if needed.
The current Egyptian President, the ex-military chief Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, has weaker relations with Hamas than former President Mohamed Morsy, who brokered the 2012 deal. Morsy was ousted by the military in 2013.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will travel to Egypt on Wednesday to meet with the President and to discuss a possible cease-fire, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. Abbas also is scheduled to visit Turkey.
Earlier, Kerry spoke by phone with Netanyahu and expressed U.S. concerns about escalating tensions. He reiterated that the United States is prepared to help bring about a cease-fire, a senior State Department official said.
But "offering facilitation is not enough," Yousef Munayyer of the Washington-based Palestine Center told CNN's "New Day."
"It's important that the United States demand a cease-fire," he said. "There is no military solution to this." | <urn:uuid:6d07a55a-9a94-4d08-af84-cf4f51e8cb85> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/15/world/meast/mideast-crisis/index.html | 2016-07-25T02:50:53Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257824201.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071024-00133-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976177 | 1,758 |
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Fast dry times are critical because there is no opportunity to lengthen the drying time or repaint marred surfaces before decals are affixed.
Although the products are mostly used in industrial, commercial or homeowner sites, Quincy believes a solid, glossy finish reinforces the product's quality image.
Some of America's oldest, most successful companies use a distinguishable color to set their products and their businesses apart from competition. John Deere comes to mind, as does Caterpillar, and oh yes, Quincy Compressor.
Unlike "John Deere Green," which singer Joe Diffee memorialized in a top-selling country song, Quincy Blue and Quincy Burgundy are not part of American pop culture, yet. But the company believes that to people who use residential, commercial and industrial air compressors, those colors have come to stand for high quality products and support.
Paint quality is important to Quincy Compressor. Although its products are used mostly in industrial and commercial sites or homeowner's garages, the company believes that a solid, glossy coating on its compressors reinforces the quality message it wants to convey. Occasionally its units are installed outdoors, so the coating must resist heat, sunlight, snow and rain. Since the company does not know exactly where each unit will be used, it applies enough paint to protect all compressor surfaces in any environment. Because of this, it needs a formulation that does not go on too thick and subsequently chip, which would expose the surface to dampness and potential rust.
Anyone comparing a Quincy compressor made five years ago with one made yesterday will see obvious design and feature changes but no noticeable change in the paint. That is on purpose. However, there certainly have been paint changes, and it has resulted in significant benefits to the customer as well as folks who make the compressors in Quincy, Illinois.
All compressors produced during the past three years have been coated with a waterborne paint produced by Finishes Unlimited of Sugar Grove, Illinois. Before then, the company used a solvent-borne coating. Both coatings made the product look good and perform well in the field, but the switch to waterborne paint dramatically lowered VOC levels and reduced coating costs. The company discovered that less paint is required to achieve the same coverage, and waste disposal is also less expensive.
Changeovers in manufacturing operations often result in problems before the true benefits appear. Quincy's conversion from solvent-borne to waterborne paint was no exception. For one thing, Mother Nature had to be satisfied, which was a major challenge.
Quincy is a Mississippi River town in west central Illinois. Its riverside climate drives humidity levels sky high in the summer, when temperatures can top 100F. Winters, of course, are colder and a bit less humid. Regardless of the air temperature or humidity, Quincy uses it to dry the compressors after they are painted. There is only about 15 minutes or so of drying time allotted.
That is because almost all of the plant's production is planned to fill specific orders, so there is a customer waiting for every unit when it is finished. The plant's highly automated production lines usually run at full speed, and compressors need to be shipped as soon as possible after painting.
After cleaning, the smallest compressors are painted in a small tabletop booth. The medium-size conveyors are washed and transported through a hand-spray booth using an overhead conveyor. Within a short time they are labeled and boxed for shipment. Larger units are also hand sprayed in a large stationary booth and sent by dolly to be labeled and readied for shipment.
Fast dry times are critical because there is no real opportunity to lengthen the drying time or go back and repaint marred surfaces. Off loading the units for a short period to allow more drying time would add to the labor cost of the paint line.
Under these circumstances, the company appreciated the fast-dry feature of the solvent-borne paint that left compressors sufficiently dry before the labeling and packing. But, due in part to the solvent-borne paint, the plant's VOC levels were unacceptable to the company and according to the 1990 Clean Air Act guidelines. Quincy decided to significantly lower the VOC levels by switching to waterborne paint. It thought the switch could also reduce the cost associated with removing paint waste, which was becoming a concern.
Quincy's reciprocal air compressors are offered in dozens of sizes and configurations ranging from a 1/3-hp unit measuring 7 × 5 × 10 inches high to large, natural-gas-powered units weighing more than 17,000 lb that are 16 × 7 × 9 ft tall. All but the largest units are fully assembled and performance tested before painting. The gages and controls are masked with tape until the painting is completed. The largest ones are assembled and painted in stages to allow paint crews to achieve the complete coverage on some of the surfaces near the interior of the unit.
Because the company offers a range of features and options on its compressors, each unit entering the paint booth may be different from the previous one. Each has its own combination of curves, crevices, angles and hidden surfaces. Using a preprogrammed, automatic paint booth is out of the question. The only way to achieve a smooth, even coating on every unit is with a staff of skilled painters.
Because compressors are assembled from cast iron, cold-rolled steel, aluminum and copper components, a paint formulation is required that adheres equally well to all of these surfaces.
The large natural gas units present their own challenges. By adapting the paint-and-assemble process, it is possible to gain excellent paint coverage on surfaces that are hidden from view on the interior of the unit while reducing overall finishing and labeling time by about an hour.
When Quincy approached Finishes Unlimited in 1996, its emphasized its dissatisfaction with its prior experience with waterborne paint. The supplier helped Quincy research the problem and reviewed the application process, seasonal drying conditions, environmental goals and field performance specifications. It determined that one of its basic formulations would meet the desired VOC requirements and, with modifications, could match the other performance needs. The formulation would also allow Quincy to satisfy customers who would ask occasionally for custom colors.
To be certain the new paint would perform under the most difficult circumstances, a test was scheduled for the summer months when drying conditions are most difficult. To assure acceptable drying time, paint application specialists recommended some minor process changes to the drying area to provide more air movement over just-coated compressors.
Immediately after Quincy started using the new coating, the painters reported that they were getting coverage levels that surpassed the previous waterborne and solvent-borne coating that had been used. Adhesion tests proved highly satisfactory, and drying times were equal to the drying times of the solvent coatings, so there was no impact on production schedules. The higher solids content of the paint allowed Quincy to coat more square feet of compressor surface per gallon than with the solvent paints, resulting in reduced coating purchase levels.
When solvent paint was used, the company employed a continuously flowing waterwash spray booth to capture overspray. The cost incurred from waste treatment vendors to remove and burn the waste sludge was increasing. When the switch to the waterborne coating was made, the wet system was replaced by a dry system using filters beneath the paint booth floors to absorb overspray. Once they reach the absorption capacity, the filters are allowed to dry and are then compacted and placed into barrels. Since the waste is water-based and not solvent, it can be taken to landfills.
Soon after instituting waterborne coatings at the facility, reports were issued about field rust on the air tanks. A thorough review of the paint line and paint formulation revealed no deficiencies. Then the attention was turned to some of the tanks themselves, which were purchased from an outside vendor.
These arrive at Quincy with a special coating to prevent them from rusting while in the warehouse at the compressor plant. Workers noticed rust on them when they were brought in for production, so Quincy had the manufacturer add more protective coating. After washing, the tanks appeared clean, but in reality small amounts of film remained. The paint initially covered these surfaces, but later it peeled away allowing moisture to get to the surface and create rust. The company identified that the problem was with the preservative rather than the paint, and Quincy decided to steam clean them before the assembly process. Consequently, the problem vanished.
Quincy also earned its ISO 9001 certification. Although coating specifications are not an actual part of the certification, any coating complaints are included in ISO 9001 audits and investigated immediately. The company reports that there have been few problems reported.blog comments powered by Disqus | <urn:uuid:dd23e830-68e0-4fcd-b341-a8da287c9790> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://www.pfonline.com/articles/waterborne-paint-handles-demanding-conditions | 2016-07-25T02:24:55Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257824201.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071024-00133-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964212 | 1,793 |
We love the new collection of Genevieve Gorder party invitations at Pear Tree! So when we went looking for fabulous summer party ideas, we started there and found plenty of inspiration. Our party prep also included planning what drinks to serve at our summer soiree. We’ve made it easy for you to plan your own party by pairing our favorite Genevieve invitations with the perfect summer drinks for each occasion. Sound fun? Let’s get started!
Gold Garden Party Invitations
Perfect pairing: Champagne or Prosecco
Party Umbrellas Invitations
Perfect pairing: Strawberry Daiquiris
Here’s the recipe:
One 12-oz. bag frozen strawberries
6 oz. light rum
4 oz. lime juice
5 tablespoons sugar
6 fresh strawberry slices, for garnish
In a blender, combine the frozen strawberries, rum, lime juice and sugar. Blend until smooth and divide among 6 highball or hurricane-style glasses. Garnish each glass with a strawberry slice and serve immediately. Recipe courtesy of Geoffrey Zakarian and foodnetwork.com
Summer Cookout Party Invitations
Perfect pairing: Sangria
Here’s the recipe:
Make the most of your graduation party with these must-have party apps. They’ll help you plan the party, keep the tunes streaming, record and share the best moments with your friends. Here are our favorite party apps for graduation parties.
Party & Event Planner Lite
Make sure everything is ready to go before the big day with this simple event planner. It gives you a personal party countdown complete with to-do lists and notifications, helps you easily manage your guest list and lets you estimate expenses with an expense calculator.
You probably already know about Snapchat, but did you know you can create your own Geofilter for your grad party? Design your own look for your event, then keep friends updated before, during and after the party.
Don’t forget to start your own grad party hashtag to keep track of what happened and who was there. Plus, check out Boomerang from Instagram, the hottest new toy on Instagram. Boomerang lets you create mini loop videos to capture those moments from your party in unforgettable ways.
This free video sharing app makes it super easy to record, upload and share videos with a group of friends. Create a private group from your party guest list, capture all the action and share videos on the spot.
Every great party needs music and Spotify lets you choose from readymade playlists or create your own party playlist in advance without having to purchase the music. Listen for free with ads, or purchase the ad-free Premium version with a student discount. https://www.spotify.com/us/student/
Those are our suggestions for must-have graduation party apps. We’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments below. Keep reading for more graduation party ideas.
Summer’s hottest invitation has arrived! You’re invited to see the new Genevieve Gorder Party Invitations Collection, only at Pear Tree. Designed by Genevieve Gorder, one of America’s most popular designers and television personalities, this exclusive collection of party invitations is filled with light-hearted sophistication and a wide range of design styles for invitations they can’t refuse.
The collection will inspire all kinds of celebrations, from casual pool parties to elegant dinners under the stars. One thing is clear: it’s not a party unless you’re sending Genevieve Gorder party invitations.
Where have you seen her?
- HGTV’s Genevieve’s Renovation, White House Christmas, Design Star, Dear Genevieve and, of course, Trading Spaces
- Rachael Ray, The TODAY Show, CNN
- The Design Network, ulive.com, modemediacorp.com
- Real Genevieve magazine/app
Watch for more collections from Genevieve Gorder, coming soon to Pear Tree. Get to know more about her style at GenevieveGorder.com.
Congrats (almost) grad! Among the many things you are planning as the school year ends and summer begins, I’m sure that figuring out what to wear to your graduation party is high on the list. We’ve compiled a few options from your favorite stores and brands (Forever 21, Brandy Melville, Target, Uban Outfitters, & Francesca’s) in the hottest summer trends we like to refer to as, the “Triple B’s” – Boho, Bold, and Blooms!
- Cody Printed Halter Shift Dress
- Off-the-Shoulder Mini Dress
- Ecote Gineva Printed Shift Dress
Looking for graduation gift ideas that go beyond the impersonal gift card? These are our top 5 best-selling graduation gifts, and they’re appreciated because they can be personalized with text, photos and colors just for your special graduate.
Shop our top 5 graduation gift ideas:
1. Color Block Collage Wall Art Print This is a graduation gift your grad just might take along to college. Our 14″ x 11″ wall art prints are archival quality and meant to be framed. It holds 11 photos and 4 color blocks with editable text.
2. Gold Sequin-Look Custom Phone Case Your grad’s favorite photo decorated with gold faux-foil sequins – does it get any better than that? She might actually keep the case on her phone for a change. For iPhone 4/4s, 5/5S or 6, and Samsung Galaxy S4 or S5.
3. Favorite Photo Easel Art Commemorate this milestone with a gift for the grad, mom, dad and all the grandparents. A built-in easel folds out from the back so it stands up on its own, just like a picture frame — but without the frame!
4. 12″ Canvas Square Your grad will love this large square canvas art, personalized with a favorite photo of their friends or family to hang in her bedroom or dorm room. Folds in seconds to look like real canvas.
5. Big Name Notepad Grads will appreciate having these notepads on hand for just about anything, from writing notes to friends to making to-do lists look really awesome. And they make affordable and unique graduation gifts.
Start shopping for your graduation gifts early, so you’ll have them in time for the party. Choose from our top 5 ideas, shown here, or shop the entire collection of graduation gifts at Pear Tree!
It’s not your style to sit back and hope someone notices you. There are so many ways to shine, and here are few of our favorites, from big watches to glitter nail polish. Of all the 2016 style trends, this one cannot be ignored. Even your graduation announcements can show your style. Give your grad party a head start in the glam department.
Shop the Trend!
No. 1: Makko Hashtag Studs, Forever 21 | No. 2: SB Zoom Stefan Janoski Leather Shoes, Nike | No. 3: Fergus Watch, Marc Jacobs | No. 4: My Big Year Silver Foil – Graduation Announcements, Pear Tree Greetings | No. 5: University of Iowa Fitted V-Neck Tee, Victoria’s Secret | No. 6: Prismatic Nail Polish, H&M | No. 7: BaubleBar Gem Make Noise Headphones Gold, Target | No. 8: Flatter Yourself Contour Brush Set, Sephora | No. 9: Good As Gold Vertical – Graduation Announcements, Pear Tree Greetings
Looking for awesome graduation party decorations and ideas? These are our top 5 best sellers! All can be personalized with text, photos and colors to make them yours. Best of all, you’ll find matching graduation invitations and lots of other party decorations to coordinate the entire look at Pear Tree.
Shop our top 5 graduation party decorating ideas:
1. Banner Moment Fill your grad party with color using this 8-piece bunting banner customized with your choice of colors, photos and wording. You can even add a school logo.
2. Sequin-Look Guest Book Print Not only is it a fun party decoration, this guest book print becomes a keepsake if you have your guests sign it with white or metallic markers.
3. Follow the Script Table Decor Our multi-piece, multi-functional table decor is printed on our signature card stock and personalized with your photos and text. Use them in so many ways!
4. Favorite Photo Cupcake Flags Decorate your cupcakes and other desserts with these little cupcake flags. Choose from over 80 colors to match your other grad party decorations!
5. Snapshots 36″ x 24″ Custom Poster It’s a photo display made easy! This custom poster can be personalized to match your graduation party decorations and holds 15 photos.
Start planning your graduation party today. Choose from our top 5 ideas, shown here, or shop the entire collection of graduation party decorations at Pear Tree!
Your style is all natural, from barely-there makeup to rustic styles and neutral colors. These are a few of our favorite natural looks for grad season. You can even plan your graduation party with an all-natural approach, starting with eco-friendly graduation announcements made from 100% recycled paper.
Shop the Trend!
No. 1: Tasseled Straw Floppy Hat, Forever 21 | No. 2: Kraft Paper Trifold Graduation Announcements, Pear Tree Greetings | No. 3: Rothco Canvas Duffel Bag, Urban Outfitters | No. 4: Naked3 Eyeshadow Palette, Urban Decay | No. 5: C.O. Bigelow Cream Body Wash – Lemon, Bath & Body Works | No. 6: Betseyville Allspice Slide Sandals – Cognac, Target | No. 7: Nordic Mini Magnet Succulent Garden, Gardeners | No. 8: Love That Photo Graduation Announcements, Pear Tree Greetings | No. 9: Zalie Braided Belt, Free People
Want to wow your friends with amazing graduation announcements? Check out these designs printed on double thick paper! Seriously, the paper is twice as thick as our signature matte-finish card stock, which makes these luxury graduation announcements twice as nice. With their solid feel and silky smooth finish, they will definitely stand out in the mail.
Not sure about the double-thick look? Don’t give up! There are plenty of other luxury graduation announcements out there, including real foil-stamped designs, unique folds, ribbons and more. And for even more ideas, our full collection of graduation announcements, from our signature card stock to photo paper designs, gives you lots of ways to get creative no matter what your style or budget. But when you want to make a statement, double thick paper graduation announcements are designed to impress.
The Class of 2016 isn’t afraid to step out of line and get noticed. Here are a few of the creative looks that caught our attention, from dino shades to graduation announcements. It’s graduation season – time to show your style!
Shop the Trend!
No. 1: Beats Solo 2 Wireless Headphones Active Collection – Yellow, Target | No. 2: Matte Lipstick – Diva, MAC | No. 3: Spin A Rama Graduation Announcement, Pear Tree Greetings | No. 4: Dream On Dreamer Notebook, Urban Outfitters | No. 5: Chuck Taylor All Star Classic Sneakers, Converse | No. 6: Multistrand Necklace, H&M | No. 7: Rad And Refined Dino Browline Sunglasses, Forever 21 | No. 8: Photos With Class Graduation Announcements, Pear Tree Greetings | No. 9: Magical Thinking Embroidered Eye Pillow, Urban Outfitters | <urn:uuid:c9b1c3df-9a94-4ece-9cce-8c32d5401148> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | https://www.peartree.com/blog/ | 2016-07-25T02:29:12Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257824201.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071024-00133-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.892826 | 2,491 |
By Dave DeWitt
The ritual uses of the genus Capsicum range from the innocuous to the murderous, but the fiery pods are always powerful. In astrology, Capsicums fall under the dominion of Mars, ancient god of war, so that should be some indication of respect. Fuentes y Guzmán wrote in 1690 that those who frequently ate red pepper were protected against poison, while the Incas prohibited the use chile of chiles at initiation and funeral rites. We do not know why the pods were precluded by the Incas but we console ourselves with the knowledge that Capsicums were associated with lightning bolt in Incan mythology–that we can easily understand.
One of the commonest household uses of chile peppers in cultures all over the world is burning them as a fumigant for vermin ranging from bedbugs to rats. Since fumigation in ancient times was also believed to be protection against vampires and werewolves, we have a good introduction to the concept of the magical powers of peppers.
“Chile is used as an amulet, probably because of its well-known protective pharmacological properties, and in religious ceremonies, witchcraft, and conjuring; its fiery potency is considered a powerful means to any end,” observed Beatrice Roeder, author of Chicano Folk Medicine from Los Angeles, California.
In a ritual from Coahuila, Mexico, chiles are instrumental in countering the effects of “salting,” a ritual to cast a spell on a person to cause them harm, particularly mental problems. Such witchcraft is called maleficio in Mexico. To cast the spell, the evildoer gathers dirt from the grave of a person who died a violent death. Then he or she gathers salt from the homes of three widows, or from the homes of three women named Jane (Juana). The salt is mixed with the soil and is sprinkled in front of the door of the victim.
If the victim finds the salt and soil, he or she burns it immediately and then must counter whatever evil effects are left by smoking them out. To accomplish this sahumerio ritual, on the first Friday of the month, hot coals are placed in a bucket and myrrh, storax, the peeling of a clove of garlic, rosemary, rue, star anise, and Chiltepin chiles are added. The victim carries the smouldering bucket throughout the house, adding extra smoke to the corners where evil may hide, while reciting a prayer that evil depart and good arrive through the sahumerio.
Further, the salting victim must perform another chile ritual. He or she stands outside of the patio, holds twelve ancho chiles in the left hand, plus three pinches of coarse salt, and rubs them over the body in the form of a cross. Then the salt and the chiles are thrown into a fire. The victim believes that burning chiles and salt will cause the malefactor to burn in the same manner. Then the victim recites the following three times: “Ghost of the cemetery, may those who have salted me receive this salt.”
Chiles are considered to be a cleanser for evil eye (mal de ojo), bad luck, and bewitchment among Hispanics in United States, a practice imported from Mexico. This parallels usage among Native Americans in Guatemala. When a child is thought to have the evil eye, the parents spray the child’s face with a mixture of rue, then a little aguardiente (liquor, usually brandy), mixed with a crushed hot pepper, is rubbed on the child’s feet. Another cure for the evil eye calls for mixing a little annatto seed with chile peppers in a cloth bag and passing it over the child’s body while making the sign of the cross. Then the bag is thrown into a fire.
A cure for the evil eye from Coahuila, Mexico, calls for the child to be wiped with the inside of a ancho chile. The child is patted on the head, crosses are made over the eyelids and forehead, and the child is laid on a bed with the arms outstretched in the form of a cross. The chile is wiped over the body to absorb the occult power, and then it is burned. Curanderas often treat the hexing of adults by rubbing the inflamed areas (such as the feet) with whole eggs, a lime, and an ancho chile, which are then thrown into a fire. Perhaps because of their fiery nature, chiles are thought to absorb evil influences, which are then destroyed by fire.
In a remarkable parallel usage between totally different cultures, the East Indian population of Trinidad wraps seven red pepper pods with salt, onion skins, and garlic skins in paper and passes it seven times around a baby to remove najar, the evil eye, which is believed to cause unnecessary crying. Also, green chiles are dropped around the doorway to keep away evil spirits.
Interestingly, however, some cultures believe that the chiles themselves can bring on trouble. Black Hispanics from islands like Cuba and Hispañola, believe that red pepper pods on a doorstep are the sign of a malignant influence, and may give a man the “hot foot.” Likewise, chiles are associated with the luban oko, or “red demon” of the Tsachila or Colorados Indians of the Amazon. This demon is said to suck the blood out of its victims, leaving them “as white as a boiled yuca.” The chiles are burned in a fire while being served in food and the demon is foiled in two ways: he is asphyxiated by the fumes, and he cannot eat any of the food because it is too spicy. Again there is the recurrent image of burning, and this time it is specifically related to the heat of the chiles.
In the American Southwest there is a fascinating witchcraft cure. Two nails are tied together in the shape of a cross with a piece of wire. It is placed in a fire and when it is red hot, it is removed from the fire and placed on a rock. A ristra (string) of small chiles is placed on it, and then some rock salt. The resulting vapors are said to banish any witchcraft in the area.
In the Ozarks and deep South of the United States, an African-American legend holds that in order for peppers to grow out and be hot, you have to be very angry when you plant them. The best peppers are said to be planted by a lunatic!
Now some negativity starts to creep into the lore. “A case of death has been reported due to eating of excessive quantity of chillies,” warned R.N. Chopra in his classic book, Poisonous Plants of India. We doubted that Indians indulged in pepper-eating contests, but when we read that chillies are one of the ingredients in the arrow poison of indigenous Bajak tribesmen of Borneo, we began to wonder how far their powers extended–even to cause death? Again we checked with R.N. Chopra and learned: “In the past, chillies were frequently used in the Orient for the purpose of torture, some of the common methods being by introducing them into the nostrils, eyes, vagina or urethra, and burning under the nose….”
There is no doubt that chiles indeed do have a darker side. In northern Mexico, chiles are still used as a part of a spells to make people ill, or even to kill them. One “potion” consists of a rag that contains chile seed, scorpions, sow bugs, mustard, and a strand of red silk. In a scenario recorded by Isabel Kelly in her book, Folk Practices in North Mexico, another spell proved to be deadly. “Another time they threw chiles through the door of the butcher shop. They were two large chiles anchotes [probably anchos], wrapped in a newspaper. The chiles were ‘prepared.’ They stuck the package in, through a hole in the door. May God receive him, because he fell ill and died.”
Needless to say, I am sobered by these wholly (and holistically) impure uses of chiles. I am heartened, however, by a report from one of my peripatetic friends, Lorenzo Fritz, who travels regularly to South America to live with the Indians, trade for crafts, and collect chile information for me.
He told me that the Aymara Indians of Bolivia conduct a spiritual cleansing ritual in which a mixture of various herbs, flowers, and locoto chile (Capsicum pubescens) are placed in a pail of boiling water. The subject sits on a stool nearby, and a blanket is placed over him and the pail to form a mini-sauna. Lorenzo, who observed the ceremony, noted: “This exercise is said to be an exorcism for malas energías, or bad energies.”
And my friend Gary Nabhan, who is an ethnobotanist, revealed that the Tarahumara Indians of Sonora, Mexico use the tiny chiltepins in curing ceremonies–not to rid someone of a current affliction, but to prevent maladies as a result of future witchcraft. According to Gary, “Such witchcraft is caused by a sukurame sorcerer who uses a special bird called a disagiki as a pathogenic agent to transmit illness. He is the only one who can see the bird, which is no bigger than a finger tip but lives on meat and tortillas. It flies into houses crying ‘Sht! Sht!’ and then eats your food or defecates on you. The only way to prevent its coming is to throw some Chiltepins into the air and eat some yourself. The bird is like no other birds. More like evil people than its feathered kind, it cannot stand chiles.” Neither can sharks, if the Indians of the Cuna Islands off Panama can be believed; they tow chiles behind their boats to ward them off.
Perhaps the oddest legend I encountered came from Jethro Kloss’ herbal bestseller, Back to Eden. He quotes the Standard Guide to Non-Poisonous Herbal Medicine: “A peculiar effect of capsicum is worth mentioning. In Mexico the people are very fond of it; and their bodies get thoroughly saturated with it, and if one of them happens to die on the prairie the vultures will not touch the body on account of its being so impregnated with the capsicum.”
But apparently folklore and the ancient mystical remedies are not enough for devoted chile aficionados. There is now a newly formed cult that has its own Web site on the Internet: the Transcendental Capsaicinophilic Society. According to the tongue-in-cheek site, the cult is devoted to the worship of chiles, the life-long dedication to chile consumption, and making fun of people who “just can’t take that spicy food.” In the Chants and Rituals portion of the site, there is the Litany Against Pain, “to be repeated silently when tempted to complain of burning”:
Teach me, Chile, and I shall Learn.
Take me, Chile, and I shall Escape.
Focus my eyes, Chile, and I shall See.
Consume more Chiles.
I feel no pain, for the Chile is my teacher.
I feel no pain, for the Chile takes me beyond myself.
I feel no pain, for the Chile gives me sight. | <urn:uuid:bb317dd2-4aa2-4eb2-97fc-77dcb3660b93> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://www.fieryfoodscentral.com/2008/07/02/chile-peppers-in-legend-and-lore/?start=50 | 2016-07-27T01:48:51Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257825358.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071025-00285-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950019 | 2,459 |
When you're the best at what you do, it's not always easy to walk away. Nathan McBride was retired. The trained Marine sniper and covert CIA operative had put the violence of his former life behind him. But not anymore. A deep-cover FBI agent has disappeared along with one ton of powerful Semtex explosive, enough to unleash a disaster of international proportions.
The U.S. government has no choice but to coax Nathan out of retirement. He's the only man with the skills necessary to get the job done. But almost as soon as Nathan reluctantly accepts the assignment, he finds himself caught in the middle. On the one side is a ruthless adversary with a blood-chilling plan - and on the other are agents who will stop at nothing to see their own brand of justice done.
Also listen to the sequel, Forced to Kill.
©2008 Andrew Peterson; (P)2009 Audible, Inc.
"A high-powered thriller from a magnum-force writer." (David Dun, author of The Black Silent)
It's hard to find a sniper thriller these days, much less one that manages to feel technically authentic while having 3-dimensional characters. This novel does all of that, and it also avoids recycling typical terrorist or serial-killer thriller plotlines. This is an original, well worth the price.
Evelyn J Sickler
This was a new author for me and I was a bit skeptical at first, but I was very pleasantly surprised. Right from the beginning I was drawn into the story and the characters. I thought the reader/narrator was excellent and gave each person a very distinct personality. OK, perhaps the story line was a little far fetched, but that's why it's called fiction. I am looking forward to another selection by this author.
I thought Dick Hill did a superb job. The characters were believable, the dialogue sharp, and the plot kept me listening. The romantic involvement was low key and tastefully done. It wasn't immediate or forced. I didn't have a problem with it at all. I hope to see more Nathan McBride adventures from this author!
The first book by this author was a very enjoyable listen. If you are a fan of Lee Child's "Jack Reacher novels" you should enjoy this book. As a matter of fact the combination of Peterson's writing style and Dick Hill's narration this book is almost indistinguishable from the Reacher books. Same style, same story line, same everything (Child may have a lawsuit on his hands)... The Reacher series being one of my favorites I consider it high praise that this author was able to mimic it so closely. I look forward to the next book from Peterson and I hope he decides to make this a series and they choose Dick Hill to narrate again. Listen and enjoy.
I tend to stay with my "tried and true" authors, but took a chance on this book and was truly amazed. Mr. Peterson has a formula that could easily bring him into the Lee Child, John Sandford, Jeffrey Deaver class of author. Highly entertaining and worth more than one listen, lets hope Mr. Peterson stays with this winning formula.
Dick Hill (the narrator) did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. I've heard he is one of the best in the industry. It was pleasure to listen to.
As a fan of action novels I had read that this is the debut of author, Andrew Peterson. The story starts right out with adrenaline pumped action, and the first chapter tells you the bad guys aren't fooling around. The remainder of the novel has lots of action, and introduces us to a new character (Nathan McBride). It's fun to be reading the first in a series.
McBride is a special forces type who can shoot straight and hit what he aims for. Lots of technical information for those who like to know about weapons, helicoptors, etc, but not over the top. Lots of deeper questions are examined which make the topic very current. How far can or should we go to protect the innocent?
suspenseful with great plot. was not familiar with author but will be looking for more from him in future. My favorite narrator of all time is Dick Hill. That was the deciding factor. another terrific job.
I bought this book on the synopis and the snipet of the audio and really expecting much out of it but was lost in the story by the end of the first chapter. Good descriptive writing, whether it was a room or the action. I am wondering if Nathan can morph into a good strong enduring character Mr. Hill did a bit better job on this book. If he would just slow the pacing of his words a bit and not send them at the listener in harsh rapid fire I would have liked the naration better. I would like to see a second offering from Mr Peterson and Guidall doing the narative.
This story was very well thought-out, good delivery and excellent narration. Characterisations were better than most in this genre.
Looked for more by this author but nothing yet . . .
"A Very Good First Outing for Andrew Peterson."
I wasn't expecting a lot from this book, as my experience of first in a series books hasn't been great recently. However, I pleasantly surprised with this audio book.
It started a little differently than some books in this genre, in that it introduces us to the main character, Nathan McBride, not as a "bad-ass" who will destroy anyone who hurts him or his friends, but as a "bad-ass" who will teach you a lesson(in this case, beating a man who is causing some trouble for a client), and then if you are willing, give you a second chance. In other words, Nathan McBride has a heart, even though he is an expert marksman and overall operator, and he will do what needs to be done. His business partner and long time friend Harvey Fontana, is as loyal to Nathan as Nathan is to him, and Andrew Peterson does a great job of showing just how deep their friendship is.
Overall, I found this book to have both depth when it needed to, and action when it needed to. The backstory for Nathan McBride is certainly interesting and makes you like him even more once you have seen what he's been through.
The narrator, Dick Hill, is well known and liked, and with this book he does another excellent job. He is definitely on my list of top three narrators. He has this ability to bring characters to life that few can match.
As a first in a series book, this exceeded my expectations, and it made be want to keep going with the series. If I had anything negative to say about it, it would be that there was a little too much dialogue in places, and that there might have been too many explanations of what things were, but that is a very small complaint in a very enjoyable listen.
"First to Kill"
Exciting story which was very well read with great characterisation. My first Peterson book - most enjoyable.
"Good read but ordinary"
It was just ok for me. I found it a bit slow going. Descriptions of weaponry, special services skills and sniper's craft were good. I like a thread of intrigue which I didn't find until well into the book.
Others do the job better.
"Rather breathless narration"
As a Brit I found the narrator's cadence peculiar & his occasional gasps for breath off-putting; the story seemed very contrived to put flesh on the "sniper" bones of the story. Early on the hero proclaims that detail is all important whilst observing that his opponent must be on amphetamines since he has constricted pupils… wrong!!
"a bit formulaic, but passable"
This is all very standard predictable good-guy-beats-bad-guys-and-helps-people type thing.
I'll probably track down the next parts in the series (although I notice that they are rated higher than the first book) but I'll probably pay 70p to borrow them from my local library instead of using a credit here on Audible.
Dick Hill's good, I listened to him reading some Jack Reacher novels.
"Bloodthirsty or what, but cracking book"
Yes, good twists and turns. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to good thriller readers
Whilst some twists and turns you could see as a coming possibility, many were not
Nathan but also liked Holly
The finale was well written and kept you in suspense. It was a very colourful story.
A cracking read and kept it's momentum all the way through.
"A great listen following Jack Reacher addiction"
Action Strategy Results
I was looking for a similar series to Lee Child's Jack Reacher books and glad I found these. They lack some of the twists and turns of the Jack Reacher series however make up for it in other areas. If you liked Reacher chances are you'll like this.
I love the way that Dick Hill brings the story to life. He seems to capture the nature of the characters in both the tone and accent. There never seems to be a dull moment, I reckon he could keep you interested whilst describing drying paint!
Potentially but it would be a marathon sitting. Perfect for the commute and definitely one I looked forward to carrying on with.
Definitely worth a listen.
"Poor mans Jack Reacher"
Weak story, characters not beleivable
As you can tell not my book even though I am a huge Lee Childs fan and you would have thought this a similar genre
"A book to equal Jack Reacher"
An excellent edge of the seat book that had me hooked until it was finished. Nathan MacBride is as ruthless and tough as Reacher. Now started Book 2.
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2009 F-150 Overview
- 5.4-liter, 3-valve Triton V-8, which has been optimized for better performance with improved horsepower and torque, and is capable of running on E85 (85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline), regular unleaded gasoline or any blend in between.
- 4.6-liter, 3-valve V-8, which is new for F-150. Both the 5.4-liter and 4.6-liter 3-valve V-8’s utilize open valve injection. This unique feature improves the flow of fuel into the combustion chamber, which results in an increase in horsepower during towing and reduced emissions.
- 4.6-liter, 2-valve V-8, a third V-8 choice in the line-up that delivers more horsepower with the same fuel economy performance as the outgoing truck’s V-6.
- Industry-exclusive Ford SYNC™, a voice-activated, hands-free, in-vehicle communications and entertainment system offers even more functionality for the 2009 model year, with 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report.
- SIRIUS Travel Link™ that when combined with voice activated navigation will provide users with a suite of data services including real-time traffic, coast-to-coast weather conditions and fuel price information for over 120,000 gas stations.
- Voice-activated navigation that integrates several functions, including voice recognition destination entry, climate control and SIRIUS satellite radio into one easy-to-use system, displaying them on an 8-inch touch screen display.
- Sony audio system that features 700 watts of power, 5.1 surround sound and 10 Sony speakers and amps and is certified by Sony to deliver a unique, rich listening experience.
2009 F-150 Overview
NEW 2009 FORD F-150: MORE CAPABILITY, MORE CHOICE, MORE ‘SMART’ FEATURES FOR AMERICA’S TRUCK
The vision for Ford’s truck team was clear: Redesign America’s favorite truck inside and out to give customers unrivaled capability, unprecedented choice and a host of smart, game-changing features.
The result is the new 2009 Ford F-150, the new benchmark in the full-size pickup segment from the industry’s truck leader – which has built more than 33 million F-Series pickups since 1948.
The Ford truck team adopted a holistic, 360-degree approach to revamping the new 2009 F-150 – from its segment-first features to the tough new exterior highlighted by a dramatic three-bar grille and more spacious, flexible and refined interior, to the unparalleled choice of cab styles and trim levels – including a new Platinum series that redefines truck luxury.
The improvements are just as dramatic beneath the sheet metal. A new high-strength, lighter-weight chassis is the backbone that allows this tough truck to deliver more horsepower, better fuel economy and safety, and additional towing and payload capacity.
“The Ford F-150 is an American icon,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “Ford is the truck leader, and F-150 customers expect and demand the best truck on the market.
“Our team not only met those expectations, they exceeded them with the new 2009 F-150,” Fields added. “With Ford’s product-led transformation in full swing, the new F-150 could not have come at a better time – for Ford and for our customers.”
In all, more than 1,000 Ford engineers, designers, researchers and others worked together to develop the new 2009 F-150. The team drew inspiration by listening to Ford’s large customer base.
“Before we started working on the new truck, we continued the conversation with people who use these trucks every day for work and play,” said Matt O’Leary, chief engineer of the 2009 F-150. “We went to their ranches, their job sites and their homes, making sure we crafted features that would improve their ownership experiences and, really, their lives.”
The results will be clear to customers when the new 2009 F-150 rolls off assembly lines at Ford’s Dearborn (Mich.) Truck Plant and Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Mo. – and as the new F-150 goes on sale in dealer showrooms this fall.
The improvement starts with the 2009 F-150’s fully boxed frame constructed with hydro-formed and high strength steel side rails. The lightweight frame delivers 10 percent more torsional rigidity, which delivers increased durability and safety. The sturdy chassis also paved the way for the new 2009 F-150 to improve upon the current model’s class-leading towing and hauling capability across all cab configurations.
“The new, improved chassis helps deliver additional payload and towing capacity as well as improved fuel economy, which we know is top of mind for customers,” O’Leary said.
Thanks to the strength of the frame and comprehensive package of standard safety equipment, including side-curtain air bags, the new F-150 is engineered to earn top safety ratings from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Complementing the modern frame is a high-tech suite of features that ensures the F-150 is sure-footed and safe in all driving and load conditions. The new F-150 offers segment-first standard AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control) and Trailer Sway Control plus available Rearview Camera Assist as well as Integrated Trailer Brake Controller a segment-first on light-duty pickups.
The interior of the new 2009 F-150 SuperCrew offers more usable space for moving more people and gear thanks to a 6-inch stretch that improves rear seat legroom and cargo capacity. A mechanically articulated second-row seat flips up and out of the way. Combined with a truly flat load floor, the feature gives the new SuperCrew class leading 57.6 cubic feet of space behind the front seats and can accommodate items up to 47.9 inches tall, such as flat-screen TV that needs to be hauled from the electronics store to home.
Ford’s F-Series may be America’s best-selling vehicle, but one-size-fits-all does not apply to today’s truck buyer. From the Texas rancher to the general contractor in Florida, F-150 customers have different needs and tastes.
In response, Ford’s truck team designed a truck that offers more choice than any full-size truck on the market. With three cab styles, four box options and seven unique trim levels, the F-150 comes in 35 different configurations to meet the widest range of customer needs and wants – all delivered with quality.
Customers can choose from the no-fuss XL workhorse, to the sporty STX and off-road capable FX4, to the mid-range XLT. For those looking for tough luxury, Ford offers the high-end Lariat and King Ranch F-150 models.
New for the 2009 F-150 is the Platinum series, the most luxurious F-150 ever and the answer to a perennial question: Just how high-end do truck customers want to go?
The striking F-150 Platinum features a satin chrome grille with fine mesh inserts, 10-way captain’s chairs upholstered with top-quality leather, tuxedo stitching and embroidered logos on the seatbacks. Satin gloss Lacrosse Ash wood grain accents and real brushed aluminum panels give the dash, center console and doors an upscale look and feel. Standard 20-inch, 16-spoke polished aluminum wheels give the truck a commanding presence on the road.
With more customers interested in personalizing their trucks, Ford is offering the largest selection of wheels in the segment with 13 offerings across the F-150 lineup.
Under the hood, the new F-150 will be powered by three modern V-8 engines, mated to either a 4-speed or a new fuel-efficient 6-speed automatic transmission. The engines include:
This all-V-8 engine lineup delivers a fleet-average 1 mpg improvement in fuel economy versus the outgoing F-150.
Diesel and EcoBoost gas turbo direct injection engines are planned for F-150 in 2010 as well.
Most ‘Smart’ Features
Ford’s researchers spent thousands of hours listening to truck buyers to gain inspiration for a host of smart new features for the new 2009 Ford F-150.
It starts with the clever interior, which features a flow-through console that has been lengthened by approximately 2 inches and is large enough to stow two or more laptop computers. Special ridges are molded into the edges of the bin to accommodate file folders. The console also has a multi-tiered, removable tray and locks to protect valuables.
More than 30 storage areas are built into the interior, ranging from a bin on the top of the instrument panel to a number of small spaces designed to accommodate tools like cell phones, MP3 players, PDAs and gate access cards.
A redesigned, more ergonomic shifter remains on the console. New, larger buttons and switches are ergonomically designed and within easy reach and view of the driver. A USB port and auxiliary MP3 player input are conveniently mounted on the dash. Two 12-volt outlets are located on the dash and center console.
Even the pickup box on the new F-150 breaks the mold with clever and capable features the competition cannot match. The class-leading cargo capacity of 65.5 cubic feet is only the beginning of the story.
The F-150’s pickup box is made easier to use, more flexible and accessible with such new features as Ford’s industry-exclusive Tailgate and Box Side Steps, Stowable Bed Extender and Cargo Management System.
“These features are impressive on their own. For the customer who uses their pickup box five, six or seven times a day, these innovations together make a huge difference,” O’Leary said.
That same kind of logic drove the team to include other clever features on the truck, including Ford’s Easy Fuel™ Capless Fuel-Filler System. When fueling is completed and the nozzle is removed, the system automatically seals shut, reducing emissions.
The new 2009 Ford-150 also will allow truck customers to be connected to the world like never before. Ford has been working with Microsoft, Sony and SIRIUS to offer customers leading technologies to help them stay connected with their lives while on the road including:
“We know how important the F-150 is to our customers,” said O’Leary. “With the new 2009 F-150, we are delivering a top-quality truck lineup that is second-to-none in capability, features and a range of choices that will continue to make Ford America’s favorite truck.” | <urn:uuid:6fc657ab-d12b-417e-aa18-af2a6533b335> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://www.ford-trucks.com/specs/2009-2/2009-f-150-overview/ | 2016-07-29T00:37:18Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257829320.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071029-00137-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.919065 | 2,302 |
If you've ever been the victim of a trendy, totally ineffective management style, you know how silly and arbitrary those techniques can be. Justin James has seen his share of goofy management philosophies — so he decided to invent a few of his own.
We all know people who have tried a fad diet to lose some weight. They end up following the diet for a few days or weeks and then relax a bit since they are seeing some results. Before long, they stop the diet entirely. Not too long after that, they gain back all of the weight, plus a few more pounds to boot.
Management methodology trends are pretty similar, especially in the IT world. Some author puts out a book about how his or her management style was used at some startup company that made billions or that rescued a large, failing company. Next thing you know, every manager who ever read the back of the book in an airport claims to be following its methods. But to you and everyone else, it looks like the same old chaos is still reigning.
Since management loves to follow goofy trends (does anyone remember the 80s, when managers were forcing their teams to do calisthenics in the mornings because Japanese companies did?), why not get them to follow some goofy trends that we made up instead? Here are 10 management techniques we would love to see.
Note: This article is also available as a PDF download.
1: Pro Wrestling Project Management
Much like the world of professional wrestling, the world of project management can be filled with empty threats, posturing, feuds, rivalries, and unusual alliances. But what if the similarities were made an official part of project management? Let's face it, I think we have all (at least once) dreamed of putting stubborn clients into a headlock until their faces turned purple, or maybe seeing the project manager spend 20 minutes in a steel cage with the operations manager. To really make it an authentic experience, managers would be required to enter conference rooms to music and perform a variety of poses designed to intimidate any other managers.
2: The Rolling Stones Development Model
During their extensive career, The Rolling Stones have produced a song for every occasion — and nearly everyone is familiar with their most popular tunes. So it seems like a perfectly logical jump that instead of "standard communications," one could run an entire development project using sound clips from various Stones songs. Is the client demanding an impossible timeline? "You Can't Always get what You Want." Is their favorite feature impossible to code up in a way that makes them happy? "I Can't Get No (Satisfaction)." Is the project in deep trouble? "19th Nervous Breakdown."
#3: Bug Bounties/Penalties
Ever feel like half your day is spent cleaning up someone else's mistakes? It's even worse when you find out that the person who is making you feel like your job has been reduced to "clean up on aisle two" is earning as much (or more) money than you are. Imagine for a moment that any problem that could be definitively pinned on a co-worker's poor quality of work would have a financial penalty attached to it, and that the person who fixed it would get that same amount of money. Would that co-worker's mistakes be such a headache then? Probably not. I suspect many of us would look forward to them!
#4: Jargon-free Communications
Sometimes, listening to a manager (or worse, a salesperson) feels like you're reading a Tom Clancy novel, with all of the acronyms, industry-specific slang, and other incomprehensible jargon. It seems like every other sentence requires more time to decipher than it took to say it. I think we can all agree that if management started using real, standard English (or your local language of choice) instead of these marketer-speak filled, incomprehensible messes, the world would be a better place. Unfortunately, we are probably more likely to see a wrestling ring put into the lunchroom (see #1) before that happens.
#5: Geek Games for Performance Reviews
Most of management's existing techniques for measuring performance simply look at the wrong factors. Ever notice that they count the times you were late to arrive but ignore all the times you were in the office at 11 PM patching servers or writing critical pieces of code? What is really needed is a metric for overall geekiness. A much more effective review would be a pentathlon challenge, testing each employee in the following critical areas:
- Knowledge of sci-fi and fantasy movies and books
- Ability to stay in-character over a five-hour role playing session
- Modern video game skills (FPS death match)
- Classic video game skills (Super Mario Brothers speed completion)
- Ability to identify ancient computer hardware and make it work
I think with this kind of review, it would be easy to ensure that raises and promotions went only to those who have what it takes to be top-flight technologists.
#6: Charging for Dumb Questions
Remember when you were in school, and the teacher told you, "The only dumb question is the one you don't ask?" Well, from what I can tell, that rule goes out the window the moment you become an IT worker. Your day is now filled with giving answers to dumb questions from people who won't understand the answers anyway. Management loves to bandy about the saying, "Time is money." Let's put these two ideas together. If management wants us to spend our time answering questions, that's fine; we'll simply charge them for it. Under this new policy, all IT employees will be given a mobile device that allows them to time any useless interactions with management and record the manager's name. At the end of the month, their department will be charged at "standard consulting fees" (say, $250/hour), which is then put into the IT department's budget, earmarked for perks like new PCs, raises, and other niceties.
#7: No Degree? No Problem!
Most of those who are in the know in the IT industry realize that college degrees and even many industry certifications don't directly translate into real world IT experience, let alone the ability to do the job. Try telling that to the HR department, though. Sure, many roles within IT can benefit from formal, academic-style training (people writing compilers and device drivers come to mind), but those positions are fairly uncommon. However, for the typical IT worker, dropping the college degree or certifications from the "mandatory" list would be a wonderful thing. Not likely to happen in our lifetimes, but one can dream.
#8: Siskel & Ebert 360 Reviews
The 360 review is a model in which everyone on the team reviews everyone else. Of course, this promises that the workers get to review management. Wouldn't it be sweet if this was done in a "thumbs up/thumbs down" format, complete with bickering over things like the manager's handling of weekly meetings, the quality of his or her memos, and the tone in which the team is addressed? I can picture it now: "Well Bob, to be honest, Sally is really lacking in the leadership department. When she tries to give constructive criticism it sounds like she is really phoning in the performance. A thumbs down from me!"
#9: Relevant Manager Dashboards
At one job I had, I created a number of "manager dashboard" reports. I think we are all familiar with these. They're supposed to show the manager's world at a glance. The more it tries to look like the instrument panel of a car or airplane, the less likely it is to show any information that actually relates to the project at hand. To make matters worse, IT projects are pretty difficult to quantify, so you end up with dashboards that don't really mean much of anything at all.
I propose that we put together some dashboards for our bosses that show what we think the bosses need to know at a glance. We could have a thermometer indicating the team's frustration level and a tachometer for hours worked per week... with anything over 40 being the "red zone." We could also put in some idiots lights. But instead of saying "check engine" or "change oil," they will indicate "team nearing mutiny" and "Jim needs a vacation."
#10: Better Project and Team Names
Okay, we're going to violate #4 here. We recognize that management is going to insist on keeping codenames and acronyms for projects and teams. So why not have codenames that make us feel like we are part of something interesting, at the very least? In other words, if the project is about to be named "Project Happy Kitty Cats" it needs to be named something better. Like "Operation Cthulhu" or possibly "Project Thor's Wrath." Likewise, instead of boring team names, such as "QA" or "Network Operations," we should have much more colorful names. I'm not suggesting that the development team be renamed "Cobra" (and the supervisor be known as "Cobra Commander"), but how about renaming Tech Support to "Really Trying to Fix Mistakes", aka "RTFM?"
Other management techniques
If you're feeling inspired by these made-up methodologies, maybe you can come up with a few of your own. What sort of management regime would improve your working environment — or at least be fun to think about?
Justin James is the Lead Architect for Conigent. | <urn:uuid:35ab9700-58e8-45ed-a62e-b4a9de08648c> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/-10-management-techniques-wed-love-to-see/?count=100&view=expanded | 2016-07-29T00:27:42Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257829320.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071029-00137-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969531 | 1,970 |
Government of Ireland Act 1914
|Long title||An Act to provide for the better Government of Ireland.|
|Citation||4 & 5 Geo. 5 c. 90|
|Royal assent||18 September 1914|
|Commencement||Postponed by Suspensory Act 1914|
|Repealed||23 December 1920|
|Repealed by||Government of Ireland Act 1920|
The Government of Ireland Act 1914 (4 & 5 Geo. 5 c. 90), also known as the Home Rule Act, and before enactment as the Third Home Rule Bill, was an Act passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom intended to provide home rule (self-government within the United Kingdom) for Ireland. It was the third such bill introduced by a Liberal government in a 28-year period in response to the Irish Home Rule movement.
The Act was the first law ever passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom that sought to establish a devolved government in any part of the UK. However, the implementation of both it and the equally controversial Welsh Church Act 1914 was formally postponed for a minimum of twelve months with the outbreak of the First World War. The continuation of the war beyond 1915 and subsequent developments in Ireland led to further postponements, meaning that the Act never took effect; it was finally superseded by a fourth home rule bill, enacted as the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which partitioned Ireland, creating Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland, both intended to have Home Rule.
In 1909, a constitutional crisis arose when the House of Lords rejected David Lloyd George's Finance Bill. Two general elections took place in January and December 1910, both of which left the Liberals and Conservatives equally matched, with John Redmond's Irish Parliamentary Party holding the balance of power in the House of Commons. The Irish Party, which had campaigned for home rule for Ireland since the 1870s, pledged to support the Liberals in return for the introduction of a home rule bill. The Parliament Act 1911 replaced the unlimited veto of the Lords with one lasting only two years, ensuring that a bill passed by the Commons could not be blocked for more than two years.
|Name and origin|
|Official name of legislation||Government of Ireland Act, 1914|
|Government introduced||Asquith (Liberal)|
|House of Commons passed?||Yes|
|House of Lords Passed?||No; passed under Parliament Act 1911|
|Which House||House of Lords 3 times (over-ruled)|
|Date||1912, 1913, 1914 (over-ruled)|
|Details of legislation|
|Name(s)||upper: House of Lords;
lower: House of Commons
|Size(s)||House of Lords: 40
House of Commons: 164 members
|MPs in Westminster||42 MPs|
|Executive head||Lord Lieutenant|
|Executive body||Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Ireland|
|Prime Minister in text||none|
|Act implemented||not implemented|
|Succeeded by||Government of Ireland Act 1920|
- A bicameral Irish Parliament to be set up in Dublin (a 40-member Senate and a 164-member House of Commons) with powers to deal with most national affairs;
- A number of Irish MPs would continue to sit in the Parliament of the United Kingdom (42 MPs, rather than 103).
- The abolition of Dublin Castle administration, though with the retention of the Lord Lieutenant.
The financial situation was a concern. Irish taxes had yielded a surplus of £2 million in 1893, that had turned into a current spending net deficit of £1.5m by 1910 that had to be raised by London. An annual "Transferred Sum" mechanism was proposed to maintain spending in Ireland as it was.
The Bill was passed by the Commons by a majority of 10 votes in 1912 but the House of Lords rejected it 326 votes to 69 in January 1913. In 1913 it was reintroduced and again passed by the Commons but was again rejected by the Lords by 302 votes to 64. In 1914 after the third reading, the Bill was passed by the Commons on 25 May 1914 by a majority of 77. Having been defeated a third time in the Lords, the Government used the provisions of the Parliament Act to override the Lords and send it for Royal Assent.
Unionists in Ulster were opposed to a home-rule Ireland governed from Dublin. Early in 1912, they began forming small local militias. By April 1912, the Irish Unionist leader, Sir Edward Carson, could review 100,000 marching Ulster Volunteers. On 28 September 1912, over 500,000 Unionists signed the Ulster Covenant pledging to defy Home Rule by all means possible. The Covenant was drawn up by Carson and organised by Sir James Craig. In January 1913, the Unionist Council reorganised their volunteers into a paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), whose members threatened to resist by physical force the implementation of the Act and the authority of any restored Dublin Parliament by force of arms. On 28 November 1913, Irish Nationalists responded by setting up the Irish Volunteers "to secure the rights and liberties common to all the people of Ireland" The government's ability to face down the Unionist threat was thrown into question by the "Curragh Incident" of 20 March 1914, when British Army officers tendered their resignations rather than fight the Ulster Volunteers, forcing a climb-down by the government.
At the Bill's third reading on 21 May 1914 several members asked about a proposal to exclude the whole of Ulster for six years. Asquith was seeking any solution that would avoid a civil war. During the emotional debate which lasted until 25 May 1914, Sir Edward Carson made the statement:
"I say this to my Nationalist fellow-countrymen, and indeed also to the Government, you have never tried to win over Ulster. You have never tried to understand her position. You have never alleged, and you cannot allege, that this Bill gives her one atom of advantage."
Carson and the Irish Unionist Party (mostly Ulster MPs) backed by a Lords' recommendation, supported the government's Amending Bill in the Lords on 8 July 1914 for the "temporary exclusion of Ulster" from the workings of the future Act, but the number of counties (four, six or nine) and whether exclusion was to be temporary or permanent, all still to be negotiated.
The compromise proposed by Asquith was straightforward. Six counties in northeast Ulster were to be excluded "temporarily" from the territory of the new Irish parliament and government, and to continue to be governed as before from Westminster and Whitehall. How temporary the exclusion would be, and whether northeastern Ireland would eventually be governed by the Irish parliament and government, remained an issue of some controversy.
To save endless debate in parliament, George V called the Buckingham Palace Conference with two MPs from each of the British Liberal and Conservative parties, and two each from the nationalists and unionists. The conference, held between 21 and 24 July 1914, achieved very little.
The passing of the Bill
With the outbreak of World War I on 4 August 1914, Asquith decided to abandon his Amending Bill, and instead rushed through a new bill the Suspensory Act 1914 which was presented for Royal Assent simultaneously with both the Government of Ireland Act 1914 and the Welsh Church Act 1914. Although the two controversial Bills had now finally reached the statute books on 18 September 1914, the Suspensory Act ensured that Home Rule would be postponed for the duration of the conflict and would not come into operation until the end of the war. The Ulster question was 'solved' in the same way: through the promise of amending legislation which was left undefined.
After the Easter Rising of 1916, two attempts were made by Prime Minister H. H. Asquith during the First World War to implement the Act. The first attempt came in June 1916, when David Lloyd George, then Minister for Munitions, was sent to Dublin to offer immediate implementation to the leaders of the Irish Party, Redmond and Dillon. The scheme revolved around partition, officially a temporary arrangement, as understood by Redmond. Lloyd George however gave the Ulster leader, Carson, a written guarantee that Ulster would not be forced into a self-governing Ireland. His tactic was to see that neither side would find out before a compromise was implemented. A modified Act of 1914 had been drawn up by the Cabinet on 17 June. The Act had two amendments enforced by Unionists on 19 July – permanent exclusion and a reduction of Ireland’s representation in the Commons. When informed by Lloyd George on 22 July 1916, Redmond accused the government of treachery. This was decisive in sealing the future fortunes of the Home Rule movement. Asquith made a second attempt to implement Home Rule in 1917, with the calling of the Irish Convention chaired by Horace Plunkett. This consisted of Nationalist and Unionist representatives who, by April 1918, only succeeded in agreeing a report with an 'understanding' on recommendations for the establishment of self-government.
The end of the war, in November 1918, was followed in Ireland by the December 1918 general election, the majority of seats being won by the republican separatist Sinn Féin party, then in January 1919 by the Irish War of Independence, so that the Act was never implemented. The future of Home Rule was determined by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. It established Northern Ireland, with a functional government, and Southern Ireland, whose governmental institutions never fully functioned. Southern Ireland, following the Anglo-Irish Treaty, became the Irish Free State.
- James F. Lydon, The Making of Ireland: From Ancient Times to the Present, Routledge, 1998, p. 326
- Hansard online, start of the debate 11 April 1912; accessed 20 January 2009
- Future financial arrangements, Hansard 11 April 1912 – accessed 20 January 2009
- Stewart, A.T.Q., The Ulster Crisis, Resistance to Home Rule, 1912–14, pp.58–68, Faber and Faber (1967) ISBN 0-571-08066-9
- Stewart (1967), pp.69–78
- Annie Ryan, Witnesses: Inside the Easter Rising, Liberties Press, 2005, p. 12
- Holmes, Richard (2004). The Little Field Marshal: A Life of Sir John French. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. pp. 178–89. ISBN 0-297-84614-0.
- Gwynn, Denis: The Life of John Redmond p.255, Harper & Co,, London (1932)
- Jackson, Alvin: pp.161–63
- Jackson, Alvin: p.164
- Hennessey, Thomas: Dividing Ireland, World War I and Partition, The passing of the Home Rule Bill p.76, Routledge Press (1998) ISBN 0-415-17420-1
- Eventually Home Rule was considered by the Irish Convention in 1917–18, and by the cabinet from September 1919; the Welsh Church Act was delayed until March 1920.
- Maume, Patrick: The long Gestation, Irish Nationalist Life 1891–1918, pp.182–84, Gill & Macmillan (1999) ISBN 0-7171-2744-3
- Sir Edward Carson
- John Redmond
- John Dillon
- William O'Brien
- Parliament of Southern Ireland
- Parliament of Northern Ireland
- Solemn League and Covenant (Ulster)
- Unionists (Ireland)
- Curragh incident
- Easter Rising
- Irish Government Bill 1886 (First Irish Home Rule Bill)
- Gladstone's Irish Home Rule speech (beseech in its favour)
- Irish Government Bill 1893 (Second Irish Home Rule Bill)
- Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898
- Parliament Act 1911
- Government of Ireland Act 1920 (Fourth Irish Home Rule Bill)
- History of the Republic of Ireland
- History of Ireland (1801–1922)
- Hennessey, Thomas: Dividing Ireland, World War 1 and Partition, (1998), ISBN 0-415-17420-1.
- Jackson, Alvin: HOME RULE, an Irish History 1800–2000, (2003), ISBN 0-7538-1767-5.
- Lewis, Geoffrey: Carson, the Man who divided Ireland (2005), ISBN 1-85285-454-5
- Lee, JJ: Ireland 1912–1985 (1989), Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-37741-2
- Smith, Jeremy: Bluff, Bluster and Brinkmanship: Andrew Bonar Law and the Third Home Rule Bill
pages 161–74 from Historical Journal, Volume 36, Issue #1, 1993.
- Kee, Robert: The Green Flag: A History of Irish Nationalism (2000 edition, first published 1972), ISBN 0-14-029165-2.
- Rodner, W. S.: Leaguers, Covenanters, Moderates: British Support for Ulster, 1913–14 pages 68–85 from Éire—Ireland, Volume 17, Issue #3, 1982.
- Stewart, A.T.Q.: The Ulster Crisis, Resistance to Home Rule, 1912–14, (Faber and Faber, London, 1967, 1979), ISBN 0-571-08066-9
- Government of Ireland Act 1914, available from the House of Lords Record Office
- "Home Rule Finance" Arthur Samuels KC (1912) Text online at Archive.org
- Erskine Childers; The Framework of Home Rule. Text online at Gutenberg.org | <urn:uuid:4077b630-642e-4f70-b341-cadb5e3401a9> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Ireland_Act_1914 | 2016-07-29T00:19:46Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257829320.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071029-00137-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933058 | 2,818 |
Apple wine and green sauce are Frankfurt am Main’s most famous contributions to culinary history. Yet Mainhattan, as it likes to be known, has a banking community that hails from all over the world and must offer its residents more than flat cider and green slop.
Steak is a popular alternative, our research showed. Bargains, though, are thin on the ground in this cluster of high-net-worth-individuals with corporate credit cards.
1. Erno’s Bistro: Liebigstrasse 15, 60323 Frankfurt. Information: +49-69-7219-97; http://www.ernosbistro.de
What: Top-priced French cuisine in a Michelin-starred, cozy, wood-paneled two-room restaurant with seating for 35 and a terrace. Oysters, truffles, duck and pink champagne are among the delicacies on the menu. An array of French liqueurs, served with fancy chocolates and biscuits, end a sumptuous dinner.
Why: More than 600 mostly French wines and a savvy sommelier to advise you. Winning dishes including cream of chestnut soup, lobster lasagne, and monkfish in a tangerine and ginger sauce. The chocolate moelleux is a must.
Where: In the peaceful Westend district, 15 minutes’ walk from the Alte Oper station.
When: It’s quiet enough to focus on one other person exclusively and privately, whether a date or a business contact. A four-course menu at 125 euros ($180) per person is offered for tables of eight or more. Closed at weekends.
Bar: No. Take a 15-minute walk and grab a cocktail to live piano music at Jimmy’s Bar in the Hotel Hessischer Hof at Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage 40.
Private Room: No.
Sound level: Hushed.
2. Kameha Suite: Taunusanlage 20, 60325 Frankfurt. Information: +49-69-480-0370; http://www.kamehasuite.com
What: A restaurant and bar complex in a neoclassical villa with quirky furnishings and colored lighting. The Stage restaurant offers international dishes, ranging from quiche lorraine to king prawns, from spring rolls to risotto.
Why: The menu offers good value and something for everyone. A three-course meal -- served in three small portions all on one partitioned plate for speed and convenience -- costs 12.50 euros, including freshly squeezed orange juice, and is sufficient for lunch; the dish of the day is 18 euros. The menu changes daily and service is quick and pleasant.
Where: Central Frankfurt, near the Alte Oper and Taunusanlage S-Bahn station.
When: Ideal for business meetings. The Stage is spacious, tables are not too close together and you can survey other guests coming and going via sweeping stone staircases.
Bar: Yes, two -- one smoking, one non-smoking.
Private room: Yes, several lounges and the two bars are available for parties and special events.
Sound level: Buzzy.
3. Ivory Club: Taunusanlage 15, 60325 Frankfurt. Information: +49-69-7706-7767; http://www.ivory-club.de
What: Steak, seafood, and Indian fare adapted for European palates. The owners call it “contemporary colonial cuisine.” A pair of giant fake elephant tusks and flickering torches adorn the street entrance. Inside, peacock feathers and elephant carvings complete the picture. You pay for the pageantry: The wine, particularly, is pricey. Service can be slow.
Why: Your chance to meet tennis legend Andre Agassi, actor Mickey Rourke, or Formula One hero Michael Schumacher alongside bankers and politicians at one of Frankfurt’s glitziest venues. Try “X-Otic Caprese” made with mozzarella, coriander pesto and papaya, or the “Overwhelming Ocean X-Travaganza” with scallops and prawns.
Where: Next to Deutsche Bank AG’s twin towers in Frankfurt’s Westend -- the regulars walk there. Valet parking is available for those Mercedes and Porsches.
When: For business lunch and dinner. The restaurant gets packed, and tables are close to each other, so this is no place for confidentiality. At weekends it serves dinner only.
Bar: A handful of stools.
Private room: Yes, two.
Sound Level: Acceptable, but you’ll hear neighboring table’s conversation.
4. Oscar’s: Am Kaiserplatz, 60311 Frankfurt. Information: +49-69-215-150; http://www.steigenberger.com/
What: French bistro-style restaurant ideal for business meals and after-work drinks near the European Central Bank.
Why: Central location. Past patrons include former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and tennis ace Boris Becker. The wine list encompasses more than 70 varieties by the glass or the bottle, from German Riesling to Californian Zinfandel.
Where: In the 135-year-old Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof, a venerable, colonnaded hotel complete with chocolaterie and cigar room, favored by executives and statesmen. The terrace outside Oscar’s offers gluehwein by a log cabin in winter and a chance to hang out with the literati during the Frankfurt Book Fair.
When: The three-course happy-hour menu with unlimited wine for 39 euros (available from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and all day Sunday) is a good value. Prices on the regular menu are fair. Meat dishes include blutwurst, schnitzel and Asian-flavored duck as well as lots of steak options.
Bar: Yes. An elegant brass-railed, wood-paneled affair, often propped up by suits meeting after work over wine or scotch and salty snacks.
Private Room: No, but there is a side room suitable for group bookings.
Sound level: Some background music, quiet.
5. Steakhouse Buffalo: Kaiserhofstr. 18-20, 60313 Frankfurt. Information: +49-69-285796; http://www.buffalo-steakhaus.de/
What: No fancy menu. Service is brusquely efficient. Plain decor. Yet these are just about the best Argentine steaks in town, prepared before your eyes.
Why: Great steaks with no pretensions and Argentine wines to match. Buffalo has been around since 1973, testimony to its popularity. Connoisseurs order the bistek de carne picado as appetizer and limit side dishes to a tomato salad.
Where: Off Frankfurt’s Fressgass food mile, in walking distance from many banks and downtown offices. Use Parkhaus Boerse for parking if you drive.
When: For business lunch and dinner. It can be noisy as tables are close to each other and it’s usually full.
Bar: No. Try Apfelwein Klaus’s historic vaulted brick cellar next door for an authentic Frankfurt apple wine experience.
Private Room: No.
Sound level: Can get noisy.
6. Surf ‘N’ Turf: Grueneburgweg 95, 60323 Frankfurt am Main. Information: +49-69-722-122, http://www.the-steakhouse.de/surfnturf
What: Expensive, American-style steakhouse with seafood. Dishes include the “Surf & Turf,” a prime cut filet and half a lobster. Prices soar to 49.90 euro for the “Butterknife” Triple Star Filet Mignon. Lively, New York-style environment.
Why: Another carnivore’s paradise -- from the “Lady’s Cut” filet to the meat feast 650-gram Rib Eye. U.S. prime beef steaks come in all shapes and sizes, with a wide range of side orders, from tomato salad and spinach to truffle parmesan fries. The wine list is decent though pricey. “We are not responsible for steaks ordered well done,” the menu warns.
Where: In Frankfurt’s Westend district, a 10 to 15-minute stroll from the banking part of town.
When: Lunch and dinner. Booking recommended.
Private room: A room off the main dining room seats 14.
Sound level: Acceptable hum of voices.
7. Villa Merton: Am Leonhardsbrunn 12, Frankfurt. Information: +49-69-7030-33, or go to http://www.koflerkompanie.com/de/restaurants_villamerton.html
What: Michelin-starred food in a graceful, frescoed villa in a quiet residential street. This kind of quality does not come cheap: A four-course menu costs 85 euros; a seven-course dinner is 117 euros. The business lunch is reasonably fast (we took two hours for four courses) and cost 44 euros.
Why: Down-to-earth, international cuisine that highlights local and seasonal produce. Nowhere else would you get apple-wine cheese with yellow plums; sauteed filet with turnips and mussel stock; roasted and potted meat with escargot and white cabbage. It offers plenty of fish alternatives.
Where: In Frankfurt’s elegant diplomatic quarter, located in a private villa built in 1925 within its own park-like gardens. Something of a hideaway, this is the kind of place to celebrate your wedding. Try the terrace during summer months.
When: For serious business with clients who like things formal. Discreet enough for confidential discussions, Villa Merton offers food to impress even the fussiest gourmets. It is closed at weekends.
Private Room: The Union Club, which hosts the restaurant, offers private rooms for groups of two to 99 people.
Sound level: Quiet.
8. Zarges: Fressgass, 60313 Frankfurt am Main. Information: +49-69-299030, http://www.zarges-frankfurt.com
What: Franco-German cuisine meets burgers in a plush, intimate environment, surrounded by walls lined with books and wine bottles.
Why: Excellent cooking and ingredients, with a weekly menu and a wide selection of wines that can be ordered by the bottle or glass, including white wines from the Frankfurt region. Menu choices range from cream of lobster soup to salad Nicoise with grilled tuna; from cheeseburgers to blutwurst and sauerkraut. An in-house confiserie offers luxurious cakes.
Where: On Frankfurt’s Fressgass, as central as it gets.
When: For breakfast, lunch or dinner. Tables are a little too close to discuss confidential matters.
Bar: No, but the cozy atmosphere, extensive wine list and choice of spirits make it suitable for a drinks-only visit.
Private room: Separate, first-floor space that is for smokers but can be used for bigger groups or events.
Sound level: Buzz of conversation, not noisy.
(Richard Weiss and Julie Cruz write for Bloomberg News. Opinions expressed are their own.
This report is the second of the 2011 series of Bloomberg Dine & Deal. The articles survey top cities and offer informed tips on good restaurants for business and pleasure.) | <urn:uuid:4b82a8fe-ff6e-4769-882d-51fa4dfcce27> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-06-21/park-your-porsche-for-blutwurst-champagne-feasts-frankfurt-dine-deal | 2016-07-30T22:38:20Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469258943369.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723072903-00289-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.867854 | 2,488 |
Bases loaded in Elgin
Janus Theater Company hosts its seventh annual short play festival, Walkabout: Theater on your Feet, this weekend in Elgin. Each of the four plays centers on baseball, "its nostalgia, controversy, comedy and power to bring people together," said festival founder and Janus artistic director Sean Hargadon. Plays will be performed at the Elgin Public House, Side Street Studio Arts, Al's Cafe and Blue Box Cafe, all within walking distance of each other.
Tours begin at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 9-10, at Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago St., Elgin. Tours run every 15 minutes. $18 online, $20 at the door. See elginwalkabout.com.
Light Opera Works, under director/choreographer Rudy Hogenmiller, revives the beloved "Fiddler on the Roof" by composer Jerry Bock, lyricist Sheldon Harnick and book writer Joseph Stein. Inspired by Sholem Aleichem's stories, the musical centers on dairyman Tevye (Alex Honzen), whose traditional beliefs are challenged by his daughters.
8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St., Evanston. $34-$94. (847) 920-5360 or lightoperaworks.com.
The "Sisters of Swing" -- Fox Valley Repertory's musical review chronicling the career of late 1930s and 1940s singing group The Andrews Sisters -- struck a chord with an Arlington Heights man. Robert Sylvester, 89, told FVR marketing manager Audra Sybert the show, which recently wrapped up its run, brought back memories. "During World War II, everyone pulled together," he said in a prepared statement. "There was a vitality to the times and the play captures that." Sylvester recalled he and his best friend meeting Laverne, Maxine and Patty at the Brass Rail, when the sisters were in town for a Chicago Theatre performance. Sylvester, who saw FVR's production four times, shared his experiences with the cast and the audience, which artistic director John Gawlik called inspiring.
• The comedy theater challenge sponsored by ComedySportz continues through Saturday, Aug. 9, at 929 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Chicago improv companies competing against each other in this family-friendly competition include: The Annoyance, iO, Chemically Imbalanced Comedy, The Playground and pH Productions. Matches are at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8; and 6, 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9. (773) 549-8080 or comedysportzchicago.com.
• Found Objects Theatre Group presents a pair of one-act plays at the Charnel House, 3421 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, under the title "Painting Molly." The plays include the Chicago premiere of writer/performer Mark Chrisler's "The Art of Painting," a partly true story of renowned Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer and renowned forger Hans Von Meegeren as told by a malcontent art history instructor. The other half of the double bill is Chris Bower's "Notes to Molly," about an alcoholic couple with one bed, which only one of them uses as a time. Performances run Friday, Aug. 8, through Aug. 31. (872) 228-9799.
• Performances begin Friday, Aug. 8, for Dream Theatre Company's production of Jeremy Menekseoglu's re-imagined "Medea," which focuses on the soured relationship between Medea and Jason and the impact on their two young children. In this version, Jason demands Medea take the payoff and leave Corinth so he can marry the princess. The problem is, neither one of them wants the kids. Performances continue through Sept. 14 at the Dream Laboratory, 5026 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 552-8626 or dreamtheatrecompany.com.
• Amazing Sammo Productions stages a brief revival of Tracy Letts' "Bug," about a cocaine addicted waitress holed up with a paranoid Gulf War veteran who believes his imagined bug infestation is a government conspiracy. Performances begin Friday, Aug. 8, and run weekends through Aug. 16 at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.
• The Neo Futurists partners with Salonathon to present the adults-only "Infiltration," a weekly showcase for Chicago's underground artists beginning Friday, Aug. 8, and continuing through Sept. 26, at 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. Filipino performance artist Kiam Marcelo Junio performs on Aug. 8. Dancer/choreographer Darling Shear performs on Aug. 15, and interdisciplinary artist Sid Branca, who specializes in pastiche performances, headlines Aug. 22. (773) 275-5255 or neofuturists.org.
• redtwist theater presents "The Size of the World," the final show in the company's More Red series, running in repertory at 1044 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, with main stage show, "Geezers." Charles Evered's play centers on Peter, a charming young man eager for success, whose main problem is his inability to confront reality. Adam Goldstein directs the show which opens Saturday, Aug. 9. (773) 728-7529 or redtwist.org.
• "Option Up!" a combination music theater cabaret and talk show, returns to Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, on Sunday Aug. 10. Co-hosts Christopher Pazdernik and Aaron Benham welcome local performers Ryan Lanning and Patrick Andrews for the 7:30 p.m. show. (773) 327-5252 or stage773.com.
• In its never-ending mission "to expose bad writing for what it really is: (expletive) funny," Stage Left Theatre hosts Drekfest 2014, a celebration of the country's worst 10-minute plays. Finalists this year include: "Dragons in America: A Fantasia on the Theme of How (expletive) Awesome Dragons Are" by Jonathan Baude; "Troubling Innocence" by Anderson Lawfer and Michael Daily; "Grape Jelly: A Play About a Prostitute" by Rory Leahy and "Behind the Wax Myrtle Shrub" by Cynthia Shur Petts. They'll be presented as staged readings at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, at ComedySportz Theatre, 929 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 883-8830 or stagelefttheatre.com.
• Previews begin Thursday, Aug. 14, for Pride Films and Plays' Chicago premiere of "Some Men." A dramedy by Terrence McNally about various generations of gay men, the play unfolds at various times and places including the 1969 Stonewall riots, a hospital at the height of the AIDS epidemic and the Hamptons during the 1920s. It opens Aug. 16 at Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago. See pridefilmsandplays.com.
• After five years and a broken marriage, a Russian nobleman returns to his extended family, including a widowed cousin and her two daughters, an elderly aunt, a gossipy neighbor and an ambitious government official in Ivan Turgenev's "Home of the Gentry." Mike Brayndick adapts the work for On The Spot Theatre, whose production runs Thursday, Aug. 14, through Aug. 31 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 404-7336 or greenhousetheater.org or onthespottheatrecompany.weebly.com.
• Performances continue through Aug. 17 for Awkward Pause Theatre's revival of "Urinetown," the very funny musical satire by writer/lyricist Greg Kotis and composer/lyricist Mark Hollmann about a time when water is rationed and one company regulates all the public amenities, including restrooms. Elana Boulos directs the production running at the Flat Iron Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. See awkwardpausetheatre.com. | <urn:uuid:c117dc0d-fe49-40a1-9bca-ba22aaae03f6> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20140808/entlife/140809308/ | 2016-07-30T22:38:46Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469258943369.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723072903-00289-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.914273 | 1,776 |
XpertHR’s HR data round-up for September 2012 looks in detail at data relating to performance management and performance management training. We also provide links to all the latest additions to XpertHR Benchmarking and present our regular round-up of the best HR data blog posts.
Time to get ‘back to basics’ on performance management processes?
A crisis in employee productivity levels means it’s time for employers to get “back to basics” on performance management. HR data can play a key role here. This is according to research from consultants PwC.
“European companies’ employee productivity levels are at a five year low,” says PwC.
It recommends a “back to basics” approach on performance management in order to combat this situation:
[M]any companies need to go back to basics and improve their performance management processes to ensure that people of all levels are delivering value. For many companies, this will mean implementing more vigorous performance management which really differentiates between higher and weaker performers and rewards them accordingly. This is where better use and interpretation of people data can make a huge difference to employee productivity.
Nine-tenths of employers say performance is a problem, XpertHR survey finds
New Benchmarking research from XpertHR looks in detail at the extent to which managing performance issues represent a concern for employers, and at the line manager training solutions employers are using to tackle underperformance.
Nine-tenths of employers surveyed by XpertHR say that individual underperformance is a problem for their organisation (see chart, above).
Underperformance issues are particularly acute at the largest organisations (those with 1,000-plus employees).
Across the whole economy, the two most common poor performance issues facing employers are those relating to capability and absence.
For public sector respondents, absence is the most widespread performance issue by far, cited by 87% of respondents. This compares with 60% in services and 44% of manufacturers.
Is performance management training for line managers falling short?
Line managers play a critical role in managing performance (see chart, above).
Yet the survey suggests that line manager training in performance management could be falling short.
Performance management training for line managers “frequently fails to ensure the effective management of employee underperformance.” This is according to latest Benchmarking research from XpertHR.
The 2012 XpertHR Benchmarking survey of employers’ performance management training arrangements is based on responses from 170 organisations, with a combined workforce of 453,778 employees. Subscribers to XpertHR Benchmarking can drill down into the complete results data from this survey, and generate bespoke reports on how their organisation compares.
The survey reveals a mismatch in what employers identify as the priority for performance management training, and what is covered by the actual training provided:
- Employers consider developing “performance conversation” skills to be the most important aspect of performance management training.
- Yet only one in five employers makes training in “performance conversation” skills mandatory for managers.
Access the complete results data from this XpertHR Benchmarking survey.
Latest additions to XpertHR Benchmarking
XpertHR Benchmarking – XpertHR’s unique interactive HR benchmarking data resource – keeps growing!
We’ve added a number of major HR benchmarking datasets to XpertHR Benchmarking, including the following:
- Benchmarking absence rates, costs and causes in 2012
- Absence Rates & Costs for 2012
- Labour Turnover Rates & Costs for 2012
- Overtime 2012
- Health Benefits 2012
- Employment Tribunals 2012
- Pay Issues in Manufacturing 2012
- Aligning HR with Business Strategy 2012
Subscribers to XpertHR Benchmarking can drill down into the complete results data from each of these surveys – which cover all aspects of the work of HR professionals and employment practitioners – to generate bespoke reports on how their organisation compares.
The XpertHR Benchmarking data resource is growing all the time, with new survey datasets being added every month:
- Click here to see the full range of more than 110 essential HR benchmarking datasets that are available to XpertHR Benchmarking subscribers.
- Click here to take part in the latest XpertHR Benchmarking surveys, and to see a list of upcoming survey topics.
HR data blog post round-up: September 2012
Here’s our latest monthly pick of top blog posts on HR data issues from XpertHR’s blogs and other blogs:
- Jason Averbook: Big Data, Social Business and The Future of HR
A brilliant post from Jason Averbook, looking at what big data could mean for HR. Jason says that HR needs to “realize that the data that we analyze into the future will probably not be only the data stored by our old or new HRMS (that stands for Human Resource Management System for those who don’t live in the HR circle), but the interactions between employees, contractors, future employees, customers, partners and prospective customers.”
- We’re solving the pay gap – the wrong way
More than four decades on from the introduction of the Equal Pay Act 1970, slow progress is being made in closing the UK’s gender pay gap. But much of what progress that is currently being made results from “male wages stagnating,” rather than an improvement in wages paid to women. So argues Gavin Kelly in this fascinating (if also rather depressing) piece of data analysis from the New Statesman. Gavin says: “The progress made on the pay gap over recent years has resulted from female wages climbing slowly while the typical man’s pay has flat-lined. This isn’t how it was supposed to be.”
- What ratio shows the real added value of an HR function?
“Why don’t HR professionals spend more of their time trying to improve the organisation?” A great post from my colleague Noel O’Reilly, exploring why “HR practitioners in reality spend the smallest proportion of their time on that ‘strategic’ stuff.”
- A minimum income standard for the UK in 2012
Ever get the feeling your monthly pay packet just isn’t stretching as far as it used to? You are not alone in this, research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation suggests. The report says: “Soaring childcare and transport costs plus cuts to tax credits mean families need to earn a third more post-recession to make ends meet.” For example, the report finds that “A single person in the UK needs to earn at least £16,400 a year before tax in 2012, to afford a minimum acceptable standard of living,” while “two parents need to earn at least £18,400 each to support themselves and two children.”
- Data Analytics: Too Sophisticated For HR?
Top US HR blogger China Gorman poses a key question here: Is HR up to the task of making effective use of data analytics? China says: “Stepping up your workforce analytics sophistication could be a game changer for your organization.”
- Making the Most of Your Turnover Data
“HR professionals should strive to be less general and more predictive when it comes to turnover,” argues Cathy Martin in this thought-provoking post from her Profitability Through Human Capital blog.
- Killing Time: How to Destroy Your Productivity
A very enjoyable and very true infographic, from Marketo.
About XpertHR’s HR data round-up
XpertHR’s round-up of HR data for September 2012 is the latest instalment in an ongoing monthly series, highlighting latest HR data releases from XpertHR and other sources, alongside links to news stories and blog posts of direct or indirect relevance to issues around using HR data.
If there are any HR-related data measures you would like to see covered in future XpertHR data round-ups, or if there are any surveys or HR data blog posts that you would like to see highlighted, please do get in touch. You can submit comments via the box below, or contact me directly via Twitter, LinkedIn or Google+.
XpertHR data round-up archive
Catch up with all the posts in XpertHR’s data round-up series!
- HR data round-up August 2012: Are we seeing a downward trend in absence rates?
- HR data round-up July 2012: Benchmarking planned redundancies
- HR data round-up June 2012: The costs and benefits of the 2012 Olympics
- HR data round-up May 2012: The changing ratios of HR to employees
- HR data round-up April 2012: IT pay trends; private sector pay forecasts & more!
- The HR data tapes: HR lifers; CIPD qualifications; workforce analytics, & more!
- HR data round-up March 2012: Tough times for graduates
- HR data round-up February 2012: Are employers losing the battle to combat work-related stress?
- HR data round-up January 2012: What is the ideal employee to HR ratio in 2012?
- HR data round-up, December 2011: Christmas working and minimum office temperatures
- HR data round-up November 2011: Why did you get into HR?
- HR data round-up October 2011: National minimum wage; HR data visualisation; & using HR data effectively
- HR data round-up September 2011: Benchmarking absence; social media ROI; & latest HR data blog posts
- HR data round-up July 2011: HR careers, absence & turnover
- XpertHR data round-up, June 2011: Company cars, commuting, benchmarking & labour disputes
- XpertHR data round-up, May 2011: HR benchmarking data, absence & hand-drawn charts | <urn:uuid:de9ee643-2787-469b-a85e-4185a2b2a34e> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://www.xperthr.co.uk/blogs/employment-intelligence/2012/09/hr-data-round-up-september-201-1/ | 2017-08-18T08:56:17Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886104631.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20170818082911-20170818102911-00160.warc.gz | en | 0.915421 | 2,076 |
Double Indemnity was only Billy Wilder's third film as a director, but you'd never know. It not only defined the film noir style for all time (its influence on both classic and neo-noir is inescapable), but it also remains probably the best film made in either era of noir.
Based on a novella by James M. Cain, and with a perfectly hard-boiled screenplay by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, Double Indemnity is narrated, in the form of a confession, by insurance salesman Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray), who relates how he fell under the spell of Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) and was seduced into a plot to kill her husband and claim the insurance on his life. His summation: "Yes, I killed him. I killed him for money - and a woman - and I didn't get the money and I didn't get the woman. Pretty, isn't it?" could easily double as a summation of noir itself.
Double Indemnity is one of those rare films that functions like a perfect machine; every cog working in unison to make something that does its job flawlessly. There are so many elements here that come together perfectly. In many ways, as director and co-writer, Billy Wilder is the star. The screenplay that he and Chandler penned is exceptional, shot through with dark, dry wit, and dancing around the sex and murder implicit in the film with linguistic creativity and glee the likes of which we seldom see. Wilder also had a great collaborator in the visual aspects of the film; cinematographer John F Seitz (who had a track record stretching back to the silent era). Seitz' lighting here is a masterpiece in and of itself, with bars of shadow frequently entrapping MacMurray, and pitch blacks contributing to an increasingly foreboding atmosphere. For his part, Wilder's camerawork is clever and compelling in its patience. Frequently he lets a simple shot hold, and uses that to make the audience tense in their seats. For instance there's the brilliant scene of Stanwyck hiding behind a door, desperate that Edward G. Robinson (who plays MacMurray's suspicious boss) not see her, or the simplicity with which Wilder handles the murder; holding on Stanwyck's face as it happens just next to her, out of shot.
But the praise that has to be accorded to Wilder shouldn't detract from his three leading players. Barbara Stanwyck was one of the best actresses cinema ever had, effortlessly compelling whether she was in a drama like The Bitter Tea of General Yen, a romantic comedy like The Lady Eve or a screwball farce like Ball of Fire (also co-written by Wilder), but Phyllis Dietrichson may be her greatest role and her best performance. Stanwyck was already in her mid thirties by the time of Double Indemnity and she was never Hollywood's most obvious beauty (a cheap blonde wig certainly didn't help), but she's still devastatingly sexy. The minute she appears at the top of a flight of stairs, wrapped in a towel and wearing "a honey of an anklet" you understand how MacMurray has ended up where we find him at the start of the film. Stanwyck also has the Fatale part of the Femme Fatale equation down perfectly; there's an edge to everything she says, and an ever present glint in her eye that should set alarm bells ringing with DO NOT TRUST.
The chemistry between MacMurray and Stanwyck is fantastic, and the two bounce off each other in some of the most memorable dialogue scenes in 40's cinema. Wilder was best known as a comic wirter, but here his dialogue with Chandler is a perfect mix of the poetic "How could I have known that murder could sometimes smell like honeysuckle?", the suggestive "There's a speed limit in this state, Mr. Neff. Forty-five miles an hour..." and the darkly funny "...Guess I was wrong. You're not smarter, Walter... you're just a little taller." MacMurray, best known at this time, and subsequently, as a star of family films, is perfect as Neff, that outward assurance and bravado to Phyllis is all the more effective for he way he allows us to see the nerves simmering just below it. The third spoke in the wheel is Edward G. Robinson, whose delivery of the many speeches about the 'little man' telling him that there's something wrong with the Dietrichson claim ratchet up the tension, while he also emphasises the closeness between Neff and his boss to strong effect.
Double Indemnity is as tense, as smart, as thrilling and as beautiful now as it ever was, if you haven't seen it there really is no excuse.
The Lost Weekend was the film that Billy Wilder made immediately following Double Indemnity, and while it's adapted from a novel it may also have been inspired by Wilder's difficult and fractious relationship with Raymond Chandler, who was, like this film's main character, an alcoholic writer.
Ray Milland plays author Don Birnam, he's supposed to be going away for the weekend with his brother Wick (Philip Terry), so that he can make sure Don doesn't go back to drinking (it's been 10 days since his latest 'cure'). Instead Don sends his girlfriend (Jane Wyman) and Wick to the theatre, while he goes off to his favourite bar. Wick leaves without him, and over the weekend Don spirals ever further into alcoholism.
The Lost Weekend is one of, if not the first Hollywood film to really tackle the subject of alcoholism in a serious manner, and that's where it really excels. The scenes themselves have become somewhat cliché as every other film about addiction has worked through the same beats over the last 67 years, but Wilder and especially Ray Milland bring them vividly to life. Milland is outstanding as Birnam, making the vicious circle of his drinking - he drinks because he can't write, and can't write because he drinks - relateable as well as devastating. We see just enough of the charming guy Don might be that we can root for him to recover, and empathise as he becomes ever more pathetic and helpless (even begging money from fellow barfly Doris Dowling). While the acting style of the time was broader than it is now, Milland doesn't overplay the drunkenness (compare this performance to Tom Cruise's hilariously dreadful drunk scene in Jerry Maguire, for example), giving us a picture of a man who doesn't drink for fun or even for the effect, but just because he needs to.
Wilder brings DP John F Seitz and all the visual style he learnt on Double Indemnity back here. Indeed, thanks to the design of the shots and the the lighting, you could say that The Lost Weekend is a film noir in which Whisky is the femme fatale (look at the shot when Milland finally sees a shadow, and remembers he hid a bottle in the light hanging from his ceiling, or the increasing use of shadow as he becomes more and more enclosed in his apartment and his addiction). Seitz and Wilder paint with shadow to wonderful effect, emphasising the dark influence of the bottle on Milland's life.
There are things that don't work though, chiefly the flashbacks, and particularly Jane Wyman's part as Milland's girlfriend. Ultimately, Helen is just a misconcieved character, there are few scenes where you really feel that she needs to be there, and even in the flashback scenes the relationship carries very little weight. Wick is a better character, and Pilip Terry has a good scene when he pretends to Helen that it's he who is the drinker in the family, but he's off screen too much for there to be much weight to the relationship with Milland, and Terry's hardly the most charismatic of actors, especially next to Milland.
There are outstanding sequences here; Milland's desperate trawl through the city trying to pawn his typewriter comes to mind, as does the DTs sequence, which brings a B Horror edge to the film for a few minute. On the whole though the film is a little inconsistent; a minor Wilder, but still, calling something a minor Wilder is hardly an indictment, and The Lost Weekend is often compelling, with Milland's performance alone making it a must see.
Masters of Cinema have a well earned reputation for discs with beautiful transfers, and these are no exception. The Lost Weekend looks great, with deep blacks and subtle shades of grey in the black and white photography. The grain is pretty heavy, but very natural, and helps bring out a lot of detail in the picture while giving it a film like look. The print isn't quite perfect, but you'll barely notice.
The print for Double Indemnity, however, is perfect. The Blu Ray is stunningly beautiful, and unless you saw it on its original release (perhaps even then), it should make the experience like seeing the film for the first time again. The blacks are pitch dark, the (few) whites spotless and everything in between is beautifully and subtly scaled. The transfer is awash with fine detail, and does wonders for Seitz' photography.
The soundtracks are pretty simple, both largely dialogue driven, and the stereo tracks do a fine job; they're well balanced and loud enough to be an easy listen.
The Double Indemnity disc has a featurette on the making and the legacy of the film. It runs for almost 40 minutes and is entertaining, though the lack of any comment from anyone who was there (even in archive footage) is a shame, though the assembled critics, writers and filmmakers do a nice job telling the story. There is also an audio bonus; the full radio broadcast version of Double Indemnity, with MacMurray and Stanwyck reprising their roles. I love these things, they're fascinating alternate versions of films we know and love, and something that just doesn't exist today. It's a great listen. Wrapping up the on disc supplements is a commentary with screenwriter Lem Dobbs and film historian Nick Redmond. It's a very good track, avoiding much of the dry film theory that can afflict tracks like this and Dobbs and Redmond make a good team.
The Lost Weekend has a six minute introduction from Alex Cox, which is a sincere appreciation, and Cox is a good host, but the real gold here (and of all the extras on these releases) is a three part, three hour, conversation between Billy Wilder and fellow German filmmaker Volker Schlondorff called Billy, How Did You Do It? It's an utter joy to see the 85 year old Wilder still so animated and enthused talking about his and other people's movies, and probably worth buying the disc for all by itself. There is also a radio production starring Milland, which is very similar in style to that for Double Indemnity, and is also well worth a listen.
Both discs also feature the original trailers for the film, and, like all MOC releases, a booklet packed with fascinating articles on the films. The Double Indemnity booklet includes a short answer from James M. Cain, relating how Billy Wilder did things with the film that he wished he had thought of for the book, while the Lost Weekend booklet has a comparison of the DTs scene in book, scrrenplay and film forms, and each boasts much more intensely interesting material besides, along with some well chosen and reproduced pictures.
These are essential discs for any serious fan of classic cinema. The films are of varying stature, but each is packed with brilliant extras that both intrigue and entertain, and the films themselves look incredible, even if you've seen each of them over and over it will be like watching them for the first time again.
If you'd like to buy these discs please use the links below, it won't cost you anything extra, but you'll be helping out 24FPS. Thanks. | <urn:uuid:2337d7b1-c030-4651-8bb0-0ef367412841> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://24framez.blogspot.com/2012/06/blu-ray-review-double-indemnity-lost.html | 2017-08-20T23:04:15Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886106996.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20170820223702-20170821003702-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.976584 | 2,507 |
- Diseases, Disorders & Conditions
Life With Duanes Syndrome, Positives, Negatives, and what i'm doing about it.
My Name is Catherine I am a teenager that has had Duanes Retraction Syndrome since i was diagnosed at 18 months old. Im currently a college student and a bowler. I worked as a waitress which many people notice my eye. My Duanes Retraction Syndrome affects my left eye. It can not move left in any way. When I look to the left I do see Double.
Duanes Syndrome is an eye condition. I don't want to give a long history of the syndrome because im hoping most everyone reading this already knows something about it. But if you don't it is an eye condition which some people believe the eyes are missing certain muscles it needs to move, while others believe that it is the actual nerves that connect the eye and the muscles that do not work or are missing. There are a few different types of Duanes Syndrome. The kind I have is called Duanes Retraction Syndrome. The number I have been able to find is that every year 54 people in the world are born with Duanes Retraction Syndrome.
Most optomologist say it is caused by elevation changes in the mothers womb while pregnant. Meaning that if the mother was traveling via plane a lot or spend extended periods of time is severely different elevations it causes this to happen. My mother lived in Maryland, a very low state. However she spent a while traveling with work taking her to the west coast. Where the elevation is higher. It is not her fault, mothers are not warned that this could happen, and it does not happen to everyone.
My left eye is the eye affected, as you can see from the pictures. But Duanes Retraction Syndrome means that when I move my right eye in a way my left can not follow it retracts into my eye socket, making it appear smaller or my eye lids look puffy. This is the biggest problem I have with my eye. It is totally the most noticably part, and effects every picture im in and how I look.
It has yet to affect my bowling, but I played softball for ten or eleven years. And I had to do things a little differently like standing wider and opened when I was batting.
Recently I graduated high school. My problem has 100% affected me in high school. Elementary School was hard but with everyone being so young it was very easy to get through looking back on it. However every year I had to bring a doctors note in saying that I indeed have a legit problem and that I needed to sit on the Left hand side of the room because I could not look Left. And In Elementary school I had a school nurse say that my eye problem was something other then what it really was and it was very hard for my parents and I dealing with her to straighten things out.
In Middle school, things were a little different. I still had to bring in a note for all of my classes so I could sit on the left side of the class room. However, the name calling did get worse. It was difficult to deal with the name calling. But high school was the worst. Because by that time I had been in school with the same people for quite a few years now, and everyone knows the problem but refuse to understand it so they choose to be ignorant and mean. However my friends and my mom have always been there for my eye problem.
From my problem I see a special eye doctor, Im the only patient he has that has my syndrome. :) So when I do see him my appointments are longer so we can talk about my syndrome. I always cry when he tells me there is no treatment.
I can totally say that having this had made me who I am today. Sometimes Its good and sometimes bad. Im proud to say that I am different from everyone else. But sometimes its the first thing people notice sometimes it isn't. But I have to tell them because it has to come out eventually. Sometimes people are nice and say they dont notice but thats not true. It has makes me feel embarrassed in front of some people though.
To everyone that I have read about that was able to have surgery to help them with their eyes. I am so happy for you and im jealous. There is no treatment for people like me and hopefully because people with DS have been able to be treated maybe sometime soon DRS will have a cure too.
I have always remained positive throughout dealing with this. And a lot of negative things have happened. I remember the stress of trying to get my liscense and having to hide it from the dmv. There is nothing I can do about this and there is no cure in the near future. But that has not slowed me down. I am constantly reading and researching about DS so I can inform people easier. Until there is a cure for DS and DRS I will be researching and informing people of the truth.
Im happy I am the way I am. Sometimes my mom tells me that when I was younger I would just stand in front of the mirror and try to move my eye, and sometimes I thought I saw it move. I would get so excited but she never had the heart to tell me that it couldnt.
Please email me at [email protected] if you have any questions, would like additional information or just talk. I check it frequently so i will get back to you!
and just remember...WE ARE ONE OF A KIND! <3
Update: November 12, 2015
The number of people both affected by Duanes and parents who has contacted me has been outstanding. When I created this piece it was to help people, although I thought I would never really touch anyone. So thank you everyone!
Just a few updates...
I am now in my senior year of college and NOONE has noticed. It is honestly so refreshing to be able to walk around campus with my head held high because noone knows my problem. Noone is looking around for me to "look funny". Don't get me wrong, I am sure many people have figured out I am different when I drink too much and "looking proper" is the furthest thing form my mind.
I have also beaten cancer. I had Stage 2B Melanoma.... and NO, IT WAS NOT LINKED TO HAVING DUANES. I get asked that a lot.
Unfortunately, I have yet to figure out the perfect head position to take photos with. Everything I try just seems so forced and unnatural. Which worries me... I would like to get married soon and not have to worry about looking ridiculous in my wedding photos.
I still do research regarding DRS and still nothing... I really do believe there are more serious issues out there like blindness that require more attention than DRS. It does not hinder me from doing anything in my life. I saw someone mention in the comments that someone recommended he try to get disability from DRS. I agree with his standpoint. It is completely unnecessary, in so many ways. And parents who have emailed me regarding disability, I do not recommend it. AT ALL. Not to mention, most doctors will feel the same way, it would be very difficult to find one who believes DRS or DS is a "disability". Who would want that? Who would willingly label their child "disabled" when they are not. Who wants to grow up their entire lives believe they are "disabled" when they are not!?
there are many facebook pages out there for "support"... but i found myself leaving most of them for their negativity and outlook on our condition. You would be surprised in how many parents believe DRS and DS is connected to autism...We are unique people, we are not "disabled", we are not "broken", we are normal people with a great talent. That is how I look at us, and I think everyone should.
One of the biggest controversies I have come across in regards to my article is how DRS or DS is formed within the body. After talking to multiple doctors of a variety of specialties, along with professors, it does seem like the most plausible cause of development. I know it is a tough thing to consider, especially for parents. But lets be real, pregnant ladies cannot live in a bubble, there are so many things in this world that could hurt a fetus. It is not plausible for someone to live in a bubble for nine months. And it is certainly not a mothers fault. My mom happened to go through an extreme change in altitude during the 2 days the eyes develop in the womb. Some mothers only drive around Florida. But Florida, like many states changes elevation a lot, just driving from one town to another. And every body has different sensitivity levels. Mothers, if your body is unique enough to create a child with Duanes... embrace it, do not ever be ashamed, or embarrassed. You created a unique individual who happens to have one small eye problem. There is so much worse things than living with Duanes, I promise you.
Remember everyone.. there are 54 of us born each year... we are one of a kind!
Please continue to email me! | <urn:uuid:5fc01885-763d-49fa-ad6a-fe6ffd162f66> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://hubpages.com/health/Life-With-Duanes-Syndrome-Positives-Negatives-and-what-im-doing-about-it | 2017-08-21T20:00:29Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886109525.95/warc/CC-MAIN-20170821191703-20170821211703-00480.warc.gz | en | 0.982496 | 1,900 |
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ESTERO BEACH AND TENNIS CLUB at FORT MYERS BEACH SOUTHERN TIP Photos
The following information and douments are not guaranteed to be complete or accurate. It is provided as a guide and the information and documents should be verified. Bylaws were derived from the county website. Amendments to the bylaws for Naples are currently not present after Jan 1. 2013.
is deemed accurate but not guaranteed
Listing and sales information are from the Greater Fort Myers and the Beach MLS.
Listings and sales listed on this website may not necessarily be those of Sun Coast Global, Inc.
Sun Coast Global, Inc.
Andrew B. Kovacic, Florida licensed Real Estate Broker
422 NE 2nd Pl. #205, Cape Coral, Fl. 33909
Office Phone: 239-961-9199
Webmaster: Andrew Kovacic | <urn:uuid:29744d57-3905-44c8-bd9a-47a87b8a621f> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://vtflorida.com/estero-beach-and-tennis-club-fort-myers | 2017-08-23T13:44:42Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886120573.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20170823132736-20170823152736-00640.warc.gz | en | 0.892602 | 1,652 |
in the 1970's weren't told to wear seat belts, let alone have their own
special car seats. Quite a few seventies vehicles did come with seat
belts fitted, but state laws didn't require you to use them until the
1980's or even the 90's.
2. Toy safety standards were a bit lacking.
classic 1970's toy, "Creepy Crawlers," allowed kids to mold their own
spiders and bugs out of plastic while inhaling potentially deadly toxic
fumes and burning themselves on an electric-powered hot-plate that
reached 350 degrees Fahrenheit. The Easybake Oven has come in for a lot
of criticism lately, but it's totally safe in comparison. Creepy
Crawlers were banned in the late 70's.
3. Secondhand smoke was everywhere.
From airplanes to the
family car, the world of the 70's was a haze of cigarette smoke. It
wasn’t just the fact that many more people smoked, it was the way
smoking was 100% fine in any enclosed space, no matter who else was
4. Kids were targeted by cigarette firms.
The kid's expression in this 1970 ad says it all. "Dad looks so cool with his giant cigar!"
5. Sunblock was a rarity.
in the 70's, peeling skin was a totally normal accompaniment to arriving
back at school after the summer vacation. The idea of using sun
protection--even for tiny kids or a long day on the beach--was a total
novelty, and sun creams marketed for kids were usually around the SPF 4
6. Parents did NOT watch their kids all the time.
kids could play out of sight for hours, and parents often delegated the
task of watching toddlers to not-much-older siblings.
7. Kids rode in the flatbeds of pickups.
No seatbelts or seats, obv. Or windows, or roof. Sitting up on the tailgate of a moving pickup was just for older kids, though.
8. Lawn darts were a popular toy.
Possibly the most famous
dangerous kid's toys ever, lawn darts caused over 6,000 emergency
hospital visits and three children's deaths before they were banned in
9. Helmets were for losers.
protection just wasn't a thing, whether you were riding a bike, roller
skating, or skateboarding. If you'd worn a helmet while out riding your
bike (unsupervised, naturally), everyone would have simply thought there
was something wrong with you.
10. Playgrounds were more "adventurous."
Exposed nails and splinters
were the norm in many local playgrounds, and metal climbing frames
encouraged kids to climb 20 feet into the air above gravel or asphalt.
(There was none of the soft rubber or wood chips that breaks the falls
of today's kids.)
11. Kids got to do themselves serious damage.
in the day it was normal to have at least one friend in a plaster cast
at all times. This was considered a fun opportunity to cover the cast
with graffiti, rather than a sign of negligent parenting. Concussions
and stitches were also a regular part of every childhood. Fun times!
12. The cargo areas of station wagons were treated as free form play areas.
not only were kids driven around without seat belts or car seats, they
were also plopped into the back of station wagons with no seats to speak
of at all, and left to run free in the wide open spaces--or to get
slung from side to side of the car, depending on how fast Dad took the
bends in the road.
13. Ideas about healthy foods for kids were totally misguided.
were fed ice cream on the regular as a healthy source of calcium, and
all elementary-age schoolkids drank soda like it was water. Admittedly
kids today *still* get fed soda and ice cream, but nowadays most parents
have an inkling that it's not the greatest idea.
14. Lead paint was still used on toys.
paint was only banned for toys in 1977, which is fine because kids
NEVER put toys into their mouths and chew on them, right? Right?? Lead
paint also tastes sweet which meant that kids couldn't get enough of the
stuff. It was eventually banned because can cause stunted growth,
kidney damage, and delayed development, not to mention death.
15. Kids had more opportunity to do illicit things...
...like smoking cigarettes, considered the pinnacle of cool adults activities by 1970s tweens.
16. Kids ran wild!
climbing trees, scaling fences, exploring the woods, and jumping
streams were typical childhood activities, all without a parent in
sight. The adults would have no idea if you'd fallen and broken your
neck, or given yourself tetanus on a rusty nail.
17. Older kids were child minders for younger kids.
led to kids in scenarios like the above photo, in which a 5-year-old
takes his one-year-old kid brother for a helmet-less, seatless bike ride
around the neighborhood.
18. Kids were encouraged to hitchhike.
remember this privilege was usually reserved for older kids - say, 9
years old and up. If you were really lucky you'd get to ride in the
flatbed of a pickup ;)
19. "Stranger Danger" hadn't been invented.
Mom would look on and smile as you accepted unwrapped candy from a stranger at the store.
20. Choking hazards filled your toy box.
the 1970's you could buy this Battlestar Galactica toy, which was the
reason for mandating the choking warning you now see on kids' toys with a
piece smaller than a beach ball. The Battlestar Galactica Viper had a
firing missile, which a 4-year-old tragically shot in his mouth and
choked to death in 1978. Mattel (the makers) were sued and the choking
hazard warning came to pass.
21. The middle seat in front seemed a safe place for kids to ride.
a 70's kid, the middle seat in the front was OBVIOUSLY the best seat
because then you could control the five available radio stations,
completely unrestrained except for mom's arm which would automatically
swing out whenever she had to stop suddenly.
22. Pregnant moms smoked and drank.
It still happens now,
everyone will judge you to be crazy and irresponsible. But back in the
1970's it was totally normal and accepted to smoke and drink alcohol
throughout one's pregnancy.
23. "Latchkey kids" were everywhere.
the rise of divorce and single-parent families, kids as young as 7 were
given their own house keys and told to let themselves into the house
after school or stay home alone during vacations while their parents
worked. This would often entail preparing food and trying not to fight
with your siblings or set the house on fire.
24. Playdates were usually adult-free too.
So you could break a leg at your BFF's house without his mom and dad noticing either.
25. 1970's kids got to play with fireworks.
Explosions. What could go wrong? Some of the more popular fireworks
with 1970's kids were firecrackers, bottle rockets, smoke bombs, ground
flowers, and roman candles. These types of fireworks mostly exploded
close to the ground produced but they were still capable of doing some
26. Cooking unsupervised was a normal part of being a kid.
you were old enough to be a latchkey kid, you were probably old enough
to heat up food on the stove before mom or dad got home.
27. Kids had their own secret spaces where they'd vanish for hours.
As a kid in the '70's and
'80's, it was a special kind of fun to find or build your own secret
hideout. It might be an abandoned building, or a dubiously-constructed
treehouse built in the nearby woods. Either way, it was somewhere you'd
hang out for hours without any parents having the faintest clue where
These items listed above could also apply to children of the forties, fifties and sixties. | <urn:uuid:15a6d8a1-2efd-4062-9627-547dbe5997ec> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://byeby2day.blogspot.com/2015/02/ | 2017-08-16T14:56:54Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886102307.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20170816144701-20170816164701-00280.warc.gz | en | 0.979149 | 1,763 |
The more I've learned about history the more I've noticed glaring differences between the way we've historically schooled and the way we are today. Of course, things change for a reason. Penelope Trunk makes a great point when she points out that labor laws for minors forced the government to establish mandatory education, because what else were people supposed to do with their children all day if the children weren't allowed to work in factories alongside their parents? However, that doesn't necessarily mean that mandatory and public education is necessary anymore, especially during a time when more and more parents are working from home. As Trunk points out, "Today's New York Times makes it so clear that the United States education system was our way of getting kids out of factories. Everything in this country is set up assuming that parents have no idea what to do with their kids. We're now six generations past the parents who put their kids into factories. None of us could ever imagine doing that now. And most of us have a lot of good ideas about what to do with family time."
Her point is well put. If there are historic reasons why we do or don't do things, then why can't we change again to match where we currently are in history?
- Kids aren't meant to be grouped by age. For most of schooling history in the United States children were all grouped together based on proximity rather than age. When every one has to walk to school, it's unlikely that you'll get a whole classroom full of six year olds. Rather, all ages are working together simultaneously. Not only is this helpful for socialization, giving older children responsibility and younger people role models, but it also fosters learning, since children are rarely "fifth grade level" or "fourth grade level" in ever single subject. In the American Girl Doll series, Kirsten, who is a Swedish immigrant, learns with the younger children because she doesn't speak English. But does that mean she is forced to sit in a classroom with younger children or is relegated to a secluded classroom so someone can work with her alone? Nope, she just pays attention when it comes to learning to read. I get to see this daily in my own house. My son is 3 and is beginning to read and write and can do some basic addition. He can't do these things because he's in some special montessori school, or because I work with him all day. He can do it because his sister is constantly sharing her knowledge. In the book How Children Succeed author Paul Tough notes that one of the most effective ways for children to retain knowledge is having them "teach" it to someone else. But how are you going to do that when you're in a group where you're all supposed to be on the same level?
- Children are learning too much too soon. There is an episode of Dick Van Dyke where Rob and Laura's son Richie is thought to be exceptionally intelligent because he knows how to read basic words like "and" and "the." He's six years old. Today, a first grader who doesn't know how to read will be sorely behind. The problem isn't that children are forced to learn things that are too difficult, but rather that the expectations for the sheer bulk of knowledge is too great. Children need more time to play because play, more than any other thing, teaches children. While American schools are moving towards more integrated learning, the intense focus on reading and math basics leave little room for any play based learning. In the old British schooling system most children did not attend school until at least age 8, and those that could afford it would homeschool longer before packing their children off. They understood that children need more time to be children. In many cases, too much too soon actually breaks your brain. As Jay Griffins wrote in The Guardian: "In 1960, Denmark (with Japan) had the world's highest suicide rate. Sweden's rate was almost as high, but what of Norway? Right at the bottom. Hendin was intrigued, particularly since the received wisdom was that Denmark, Sweden and Norway shared a similar culture. What could possibly account for such a dramatic difference? After years of research, he concluded that reasons were established in childhood. In Denmark and Sweden, children were brought up with regimentation, while in Norway they were free to roam. In Denmark and Sweden, children were pressured to achieve career goals until many felt they were failures, while in Norway they were left alone more, not so much instructed but rather simply allowed to watch and participate in their own time. Instead of a sense of failure, Norwegian children grew up with a sense of self-reliance."
- Learning isn't integrated enough. With common core curriculum children practice and practice and practice the fundamentals of reading and math, the thinking being that without mastery of these basic skills all other learning is compromised. However, when we look at many of the great thinkers, their biography's rarely read that they mastered phonics and addition at a young age. Rather, they had PASSION for a subject, and mastered it because they enjoyed it. I jokingly talked the other day about how I've read too many novels where children read things like Homer and so it gave me unrealistic expectations for my children. What I meant wasn't that my children couldn't enjoy Homer. In fact, my daughter and I read Antigone earlier this year, which she loved. Rather, that I had assumed in my basic mastery thinking that a child reading Homer must mean said child had high comprehension levels, a large vocabularly, could sound out large words, etc. I've learned that none of these things were true. Children a long time ago did not read things like Homer or Pilgrims Progress because they could understand every little plot twist, but because the beautiful language captivated them and moved them to continue exploring these great works. This is how learning works. You have interests and learn basics through your interest.
- There is a bad cultural attitude around school. One of the biggest reasons why we decided to homeschool rather than switch school systems or try a private school is because of the attitudes around school today. It is a joke, every one knows it is a joke, and there is little reason for children to treat it any different. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I had a lack luster school performance because I wasn't challenged enough. I don't say that to mean that I'm some genius, in fact I think most children aren't challenged enough. I know that doesn't seem to make sense when so many kids are performing so badly in school but this is my logic. In elementary years when children complete a task early, they sit and wait. They poke the child next to them. Maybe day dream. There is no stimulation. They hear parents complain about school, they hear teachers complain about school, they hear their older siblings complain about school. As they progress in their school career the lack of self-exploration and stimulation combined with a consistently bad attitude around school creates a blase, apathetic, and at worst antagonistic attitude towards school. It combines the worst attitudes of "this is too easy it isn't worth my time" and "this is too hard and no one is helping me so why should I care" to create an entire attitude of "school sucks." You can hear this in how parents talk about school too. "This homework is ridiculously hard, I can't even do it!" "Why do I even send you to school since you don't learn anything!" "I can't believe you didn't do well on that paper, I think it's great!" In many of the school systems Americans admire, like Sweden's, Japan's, Norway's, everybody knows that school is serious, and it is treated as serious rather than the frivolous thing to be gotten through that it is here.
There's this great episode in Louie where Louie is at a parent-teacher meeting and all of the parents and teachers are trying to brainstorm ways to help the children learn and Louis goes "Yeah, but there's really only so much we can do because...you know, it's school." Everyone just stares at him. "Don't you remember when you're little...you know, school sucks." This is exactly why I have little hope for schools drastically changing anytime soon because ultimately people think it's school, school sucks. The culture has to change before public schools can do much good.
- Life should not be so rushed. It's a fact that the least stressed people are the happiest, and it's is also a fact that our children today are more stressed than they've ever been. If you think about the modern school day children get up and are off to school by 8, come home around 4, have an hour or two before dinner to do homework or extra curricular activities, dinner, then an hour of free time before bed. At most, children have 2 hours a day which are their own, to do what they want. But often those hours and weekend hours are taken up with after school activities. Where is the time for family? Where is the time to cultivate interests? Where is the time to just sit? It's not surprising children spend so much of their free time watching TV...it helps them to decompress after a long day.
- Green space= more knowledge. Remember those old TV shows from like the 50's showing children playing outside all the time? Modern studies have shown that all of that outdoor time helped children learn and retain their knowledge from school. So much so that some are starting to say that limited access to green space is one of the "learning disadvantages" inner city children have....along with lack of nutrition and poverty and unstable families. Not only do children have limited exposure to the outdoors while they're in school, but often after school activities and homework leave little to no time for children to have unplanned free time. The APA recommends against things like video games because they produce a sedentary lifestyle, but what is more sedentary than sitting at a desk for 7 hours a day? This is obviously directly related to the epidemic of childhood medication. If you wonder how people used to get their children to behave so well in school or church it probably had more to do with the fact that children had more time to get their energy out than rigid disciplinary techniques.
- Open access to information should make it easy for every one to homeschool. In the past rich people had tutors. They had access to information and informed people. Today, there is absolutely no reason why the vast majority of Americans should not live as the rich used to. The internet has become the great tutoring tool, and many academic minds are consistently available to share information, whether they be found in a museum, a zoo, or a university. Information is free in a way it never was before, except for the very wealthy.
- Children learn better from their parents than from teachers. Ok, that's not always necessarily true. But any teacher will tell you that the biggest difference between successful children and unsuccessful children is the amount of parental involvement with homework. Yet, studies have shown that homework has little academic benefit. So what then is making children learn more? Parents. That is because the kinds of things that help children learn aren't tests or special methods, it's character building traits like discipline, patience, and resilience. The kinds of things children don't learn from teachers but do learn from their families. Historically speaking schools did teach these values but with the modern P.C. culture and parents no longer being ok with teachers acting as...well, parents....character building is sorely lacking in children. And that's a problem, not because Christian values in our culture are deteriorating or something but because character building traits are how people learn. People with them who have access to education will go far, people without wont, as simple as that.
Maybe that's why one of the biggest legs up disadvantaged parents can give their children is to school them at home
As always, I don't think that everything was better in the glorious past. I'm not romanticizing the history that was, for many children, full of hard work. But the kinds of things that are time tested ways that humans succeed are often undermine by new ideas based on made-in-a-bubble research. It's almost as if we've taken out the foundational aspects of learning and left only the superfluous structures. I feel like most of the great lessons of our age is realizing that many of our modern improvements are actually hurting us, whether it's organic food or the over-dependence on pharmacudicals and schooling is no different. There is always room for new innovative thought, but it should not come at the expense of thousands of years of human thought and tradition. When your new ideas don't work it's not because people aren't applying them correctly, it's because there is something wrong with your idea. As people like to say, Evolution > modern culture. So where then do we go? I think a good start is to rethink a lot of things that we feel are immovables. Things I've talked about here, like mandatory education, starting children as early as possible, having teachers work as babysitters rather than instructors. Until then, families are going to continue moving out of the schooling system. And we're one of them. | <urn:uuid:832b8d77-e27e-40f4-97f6-900889270a17> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://childrenschooling.blogspot.com/2013/11/ | 2017-08-16T15:18:57Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886102307.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20170816144701-20170816164701-00280.warc.gz | en | 0.985387 | 2,724 |
I am a very flawed individual. I am physically flawed, sure, but mostly when I say I am flawed I am referring to my mental state. In the past 17 months, I have had frequent visits with both a psychiatrist and a therapist, and we have been taking aim at those flaws. We have made great strides, but there are things about me that are so innate that it's difficult to wish them away. As anybody who has struggled with severe depression for a long time can tell you, a pill can help, but it is not the ultimate solution. We must constantly reexamine ourselves in order to address our myriad flaws.
Among all my flaws, I have one that is bigger and more impactful than all the rest. It is fundamental to my being, and it informs so much of my life. To tell the story of this flaw, I want to refer to my experience playing Star Wars: The Old Republic, because that game recently laid this particular flaw in my character bare and forced me to face it directly.
In order to explain this, I must get into the gritty details of the game for a moment, because I know many of you don't play it. So please bear with me, as this will get a bit technical.
My main character in SWTOR is a Jedi Knight, with the Sentinel specialization. This was not my first character, but I consider it my main because it was my first Republic character that I leveled to 50, and my Republic guild is far more active than my Empire guild. Because of that, I do a lot more endgame content and am far more involved in the gear grind on that character than I am with my bounty hunter, my first 50.
Star Wars: The Old Republic recently laid this particular flaw in my character bare and forced me to face it directly
Each class in SWTOR has an energy source from which the characters draw in order to do most of their moves. When that energy source is depleted—or, as is the case with the bounty hunter, your heat limit is exceeded—you cannot do any more of your moves that require that energy. For the Jedi Knight, this energy is referred to as focus. You start out with zero focus, and you earn some when you do certain, low-powered moves.
There are two skill points I have earned that, before update 1.4, made me an efficient killer. The first is Focused Slash. This skill point makes it so that, when you earn all the tiers of the point, you will have one focus point refunded every time you use the three-focus move Slash. The second skill point is call Zephyrean Slash, and this point, when all tiers are purchased, makes it so that when you crit [perform a critical hit] on Slash, you have two focus points refunded. Thanks to the skill point Swift Slash and my decent critical rating, that means that 40 percent of the time, Slash is free and does over 2k damage. With those skill points, Slash, which has no cooldown, became the most frequently used move in my rotation, because it was so efficient to do so. There are other moves that do more damage but require at least three focus points, and so I opted for that efficiency.
And then you have the ability called Zen, unlocked by a long-winded combat process I won't bother to explain here, which made Slash free no matter what for six seconds while in the combat stance I used. Because the two skill points I mentioned above refund focus points when you use Slash you'll be rolling in focus after Zen wears off.
I'm sure some players reading this are scoffing at my over-reliance on Slash, but it worked well for me. In PvE, I was doing a lot of damage very quickly without needing to do much to build focus.
SWTOR Game Update 1.4, however, changed things. With this patch, Zen doesn't make Slash free, instead building two focus every half-second for three seconds, which pretty much worked out the same way it did previously; you end up with a lot of focus even if you're using moves that require focus during it.
But it was the change to Zephyrean Slash that really got to me. Instead of refunding two focus points with every Slash critical, it made it so that Slash and a couple other moves slightly reduce the cool down on the abilities Force Sweep and Zealous Leap. I viewed this change as a nerf, because it meant I would have to throw in a lot more focus-building moves into my combat rotation, messing with my efficiency.
I was pretty distressed about this. I had been playing this character and my Sith Marauder—the Imperial equivalent of the Sentinel—a certain way for a long time, and it had been going well. I had found a good way of progressing through the game, but Bioware had messed with my process.
Let me break here to talk about my life outside the game for a minute. As I indicated at the top of this column, I suffer from very severe depression, and I have been struggling with it for about half my life (I am 25 years old). I have suicidal thoughts regularly.
When adversity hits, I don't handle it well. Back in January I lost my job, and two weeks later I was trying to hang myself in my bathroom. The only reason I'm not dead right now is because I was too drunk to keep myself from sending an angry suicidal rant to my best friend in response to a text I got while I had a PSP power cable around my neck. I even manage to foil my own suicide attempts.
My primary reason for existing has been those parts of my entertainment that I enjoy the most, and nothing more.
So now you know what I mean when I said before that I am mentally flawed. When something changes, I get upset. When I perceive that change as a negative, I usually start to think about killing myself. That's the way my mind has trained itself to work over the last twelve years. Sure, I'm getting treatment these days for my mental illness, but it's not easy to undo that kind of mental conditioning.
The big thing that had been holding me back is that I just don't treasure my own life, which is why for most of my adult life I didn't buckle my seat belt when I drove. I have said things in the past like, "I don't want to die because I'd like to see how Battlestar Galactica ends." I said something similar about Mass Effect, and I repeat that sort-of joke about college football every summer. My primary reason for existing has been those parts of my entertainment that I enjoy the most, and nothing more.
When Bioware made those changes to SWTOR, I didn't think about committing suicide. But I did consider not playing the game anymore. That was a shocking twist for me, because I love SWTOR. I have spent more time playing this game than any other in my life. But Bioware had betrayed me, I thought. My groove was no longer valid, and considering that the Knight and the Sith Warrior have the best stories, lore-wise, in the game, I felt like if I had to give them up it might be too painful to continue playing other toons.
After about an hour of that thought rolling around in my head, I realized just how ridiculous that was. All I had to do to continue enjoying these characters would be to change my combat rotation. Force Sweep and Zealous Leap and Blade Storm are great, very useful moves, and I had been neglecting them due to efficiency concerns. Now that my efficient rotation was no longer valid, I could add them back into the rotation, and things would be fine.
I'm sure this seems totally obvious to most of you reading this, but it was a revelation to me. In my life, I seek sameness and comfortable things. Once I figure out how to do something, I don't want that process to change. I crave stability.
In my life, I seek sameness and comfortable things. Once I figure out how to do something, I don't want that process to change. I crave stability...I was slowly coming around and figuring this out.
This change to SWTOR forced me to face that flaw in my character head on. Sure, learning to deal with adversity is the key point in my therapy sessions, but that was theory. In reality, I was slowly coming around and figuring this out, but I hadn't yet been able to promptly deal with what I thought were the bad things that happened to me. When facing an issue like this in the real world, I would fall into depression and not come out until the bad feelings faded, rather than directly addressing those feelings. I was avoiding these issues.
This update put my problem in very stark terms that I can easily comprehend. I could give up on these characters that I enjoy, or I could adjust to this change. Since this was a problem that put my entertainment—entertainment that is particularly important to me—in jeopardy, I had to take it very seriously. Once I made my decision to continue playing while making changes, the real-world parallels became clear.
I have spent a lot of time over the past ten years self-analyzing, but we all have blind spots. Because I hate change so much I had been missing this one the whole time, even while mental health professionals were gently directing my gaze toward it. But, for me, it took my entertainment to make me see what was probably readily apparent to those around me.
That's a blind spot eliminated, thanks to SWTOR. Now you can't ever say that video games never did any good.
Phil Owen is a freelance entertainment journalist whose work you might have seen at IGN, GameFront, Appolicious and many, many other places. You can follow him on Twitter at @philrowen. | <urn:uuid:d6dbcf41-96fd-410f-8241-7d503d3c3246> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://kotaku.com/5950572/how-a-simple-change-to-a-star-wars-video-game-helped-me-fight-depression?tag=guest-editorial | 2017-08-17T13:47:16Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886103316.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20170817131910-20170817151910-00360.warc.gz | en | 0.982468 | 2,048 |
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Solar power is energy from the sun that is transformed into thermal or electrical energy.
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According to The Solar Structure, the solar market added jobs at a rate almost 12 times faster than the total U.S. economy in 2015, representing 1.2 percent of all tasks in the nation. This development is anticipated to continue. Because solar-related jobs have the tendency to be higher paying and can not be contracted out, they are a considerable contributor to the United States economy.
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Solar is a great way to lower your carbon footprint. Buildings are responsible for 38 percent of all carbon emissions in the U.S., and going solar can substantially reduce that number. A normal property photovoltaic panel system will remove 3 to 4 lots of carbon emissions each year-- the equivalent of planting over 100 trees annually.
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Solar purchase power agreements (PPAs) and solar leasing has made it possible for property owners to go solar for little or no money down.
Many property owners pick to fund their solar panels with among the "pay-as-you-go" funding options. This suggests that a third-party company-- the solar provider-- owns the solar system and takes care of setup, upkeep, monitoring and repairs. You simply pay the solar supplier for electrical power-- less than you would've paid the energy business.
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The energy companies are notorious for their changing and undependable electrical energy costs. There is clearly an upward pattern.
With photovoltaic panels and easy mathematics, we can calculate how much electrical power will be produced, and most importantly, at what cost, for at least the next 20 years (fixed energy expenses).
What are the various payment options?
We have many flexible purchasing agreements for customers who would like to install a new home solar system. There are three different payment options, making them a viable choice for customers of all budgets. The payment options include Lease, PPA, and Purchase.
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Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
- We own the solar panel system
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What happens when the contract for my lease is finished?
We provide our customers with a few different options for when their lease contract is up. Customers can upgrade their equipment to the newest solar technology available, extend the agreement, or have the panels removed at no cost.
What is the warranty?
The Lease and PPA include a 20-year warranty during the lifetime of the system. This warranty exceeds that of most other solar installers’ warranties.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Maintenance Do Solar Panels Require?
How Often Do Solar Panels Need To Be Replaced Or Repaired Roughly? Is It Costly To Do So?
I'm assuming you're asking about solar electric. If I'm wrong, just ask another question specifying water heating solar.
Solar panels today come with a 25-year performance warranty. Here's a warranty example http://ap.suntech-power.com/images/stori... . That means that not only do they guarantee the panel won't completely die, they guarantee that it will deliver a certain amount of power. That suggests that manufacturers expect most panels to last longer than 25 years.
Our panels have been up a little over 5 years - no trouble yet.
In a dirty location, or where the panels are mounted flat, occasional cleaning may be required. In many place, the morning dew and slant of the panels is enough to keep them clean. In my limited experiments with our panels, I saw little difference in power production between a panel that appeared dingy to the eye, and one that was just cleaned.
There is a component called an inverter used in most solar power systems. That generally has a warranty of 10 years, so expect it to break after 15, to be replaced at a cost of a few thousand dollars. Or maybe repaired for less.
The kind of solar power popularly installed today does not use batteries. Batteries are generally only for remote installations that did not have grid power when the solar was first put up.
How To Select A Good Solar Panel/Cell?
What Are The Criterias To Be Considered?
Selecting a good solar panel/cell is a tedious task requiring a lot of considerations. Understanding solar panel and how it works will greatly help in answering the question.
Solar energy begins with the sun. Solar panels, also known as photovoltaics, are used to convert light from the sun, which is composed of particles of energy called "photons", into electricity that can be used to power elecrical loads. Light from the sun is a renewable energy resource which provides clean energy, produced by solar panels.
Solar panels can be used for a wide variety of applications including remote power systems for cabins, telecommunications equipment, remote sensing, and of course for the production of electricity by residential and commercial solar panel systems.
While technologies are constantly evolving toward higher efficiencies, the most effective cells for low cost electrical production are not necessarily those with the highest efficiency, but those with a balance between low-cost production and efficiency high enough to minimize area-related balance of systems cost. Those companies with large scale manufacturing technology for coating inexpensive substrates may, in fact, ultimately be the lowest cost net electricity producers, even with cell efficiencies that are lower than those of single-crystal technologies. Solar cells are manufactured primarily in Japan, Germany, USA, and China, though numerous other nations have or are acquiring significant solar cell production capacity.
Having said what has been said, it is worthwhile for you to visit the link and search the panels that suit your need.
What Car Would Be The Most Fuel Efficient?
Im not sure if your asking which mass produced cars are the most fuel efficient or in general what type of car is most fuel efficient.
Obviously, a car that goes not use fuel would be most fuel efficient. Some examples would be an electric car (a Tesla) that you plug in at home where you use solar power to generate the electricity. Another example would be a hydrogen buring car, or hydrogen fuel cell car where you produce the hydrogen from water with solar or wind power.
As far as what is out there on the market right now, the Tesla, but its about $100,000.
The prius which is very affordable, plus you get tax rebates. You can also get some solar panels for the top of the car and a aftermarket modification that allows you to plug it into any receptical. Doing all of this can basically allow you to not have to buy fuel unless you are going on a very long trip (over 200 miles) where you would be getting about 125 miles per gallon.
What Size Solar Panel Do I Need?
I Am Going Camping For 9 Days At Eaa Airventure On The Field With No Power... I Want To Bring Some With Me. I Have Two 12V 1000 Cranking Amp Gel Batteries. I Want To Supply A 12V Outlet For Charging My Phone And Running My Laptop. I Also Want To Run An Ac/Dc Converter So I Can Run A Fan Or A Light In My Tent. I Would Like To Put A Charging Meter And A Meter To Tell Me How Much Power Is Left. I Don'T Plan On Running The Batteries Down To Dead. ...Question Is, What Size Solar Panel Do I Need To Charge The Batteries So They Are Ready To Go The Next Night? Thanks For Your Help!
Since most of the little ones give only 15 to 30 W of power this is not much. Considering you laptop will need about 90 Watts per hour.
And even if you get the 30 W panels which are fairly large and expensive, you generally only get 30 W out in direct sunlight at the right angle.
Thus you will need several of them just to power your laptop for the time the sun is out. Then you need additional ones to charge it for the night.
It would be better and cheaper by far to get a small electric generator that uses gas to charge your battery and use your products.
Where Can I Find Trina Solar Panels Right Now?
I Need Trina Now.
Can you please elaborate on why you need this particular brand and what you are going to do with them? | <urn:uuid:1b2611fb-c664-49f2-8504-7d44c59b3ad1> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://windyleaks.com/residential/massachusetts/lawrence/cost-for-solar-panels-ma.php | 2017-08-17T13:41:56Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886103316.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20170817131910-20170817151910-00360.warc.gz | en | 0.937392 | 2,663 |
Kristin Gallegos is a make-up artist and personal friend of mine. Her style has always inspired me. She is one of those people you can't help but love.
I had the pleasure of meeting Kristin a few years back. If my memory serves me well, we were at an infamous party held at "Luke and Leroy". Both of us were new to NYC and shared a 11211 zip-code (Williamsburg, BK). Kristin had relocated to NYC from LA, ready to take the city by storm. Kristin truly is one of the hardest working people I have ever met. I'm glad to have had the pleasure of watching Kristin blossom from a some-what shy girl who only wore vintage, into the dynamic fashion power house she is today. Here's a look at what Kristin is working on now & looking forward to in 2010.
Photo by: Hanneli Mustaparta
WW: How long have you been doing make-up now?
KG: 5 & 1/2 years in NYC
WW: What agency are you with currently?
KG: Bryan Bantry
WW: Where did you get your training?
KG: A workshop at Studio Makeup Academy at Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood, Ca. But mostly from assisting Dick Page and Lisa Butler, amongst others.
WW: How old are you? haha, I know you shouldn't ask a lady that!
KG: How dare you!!! A lady never tells!!!! Just kidding, I am 28!
WW: What is your favorite color?
KG: I am known for wearing all black. Although that really isn't a color, its my favorite. If I had to pick an actual color it would be "Greige", a mixture of grey and beige.
WW: What project/s are you currently booked or working on?
KG: I just shot the Victorinox Swiss Army Campaign with Collier Schorr, V Magazine with Peter Lindbergh, Glamour with Arthur Elgort, and just got back from India where I was shooting Vogue India with Jean Francois Campos!
WW: How was India? did you get to any out door markets or sight-see?
KG: India was an amazing experience! It was unlike anything I have ever seen in my life. Being in a third world country really makes you appreciate what you have. It puts everything into perspective. I unfortunately worked most of the time and if I wasn't working I was traveling within the country to the next location. So I didn't get to do much exploring. But I had a lot of fun and had two amazing shoots there.
WW: Who are you looking forward to working with during Fashion Week?
KG: Naeem Khan is always a pleasure to work with each season. And my good friend Katie Gallagher. She got a lot of buzz last season for her first show. I think this season will be amazing for her.
WW: Who are you looking forward to seeing during Fashion Week?
KG: I always look forward to seeing Carine Roitfeld and Anna Dello Russo! They really know how to bring it! And hopefully there will be a Lady Gaga sighting...
WW: Are you working overseas this fashion week or just traveling?
KG: I am not traveling to Europe for fashion week this season but definitely Paris for next season!
WW: Crazy that we are in a new decade? 2010! What are you excited about this year? Any resolutions?
KG: I am very excited for the new decade! I think my career is going to go to the next level this year! I am excited for more traveling and working with more amazing people. As for resolutions...I'm already on track with them but I'm not telling!!!
WW: You've always had such a great sense of style. What are you adding or changing to your style come Spring 2010?
KG: Oh thank you!! I plan on adding some Spring '10 Givenchy, Rick Owens, Peter Pilotto, Ann Demeulemeester, Hannah Marshall (a friend), Katie Gallagher, and perhaps some Commes! And more white, nude, and grey! I am also open to an amazing print. As you can see I have a little bit of a shopping obsession!
WW: Honey! obsession is an understatement! I can't help but feel slightly responsible for feeding you to the fashion wolves, so to speak. Please tell me you're feet will be adorning the McQueen 10'' amazingness!!?
KG: Well you can't take full credit! But you helped me take it to another level. I don't know if the McQueenadillos are even being sold. But I have photos of me wearing them on a shoot! They are major!!! It's like walking in pointe shoes. Lucky for me I have 8 years of crazy ballet training behind me!
WW: How would you describe your personal style with both make-up and clothes?
KG: My personal style is very dark. As I said I mostly wear black. I love interesting shapes and silhouettes. I usually wear tight black jeans with some short of amazing shape up top or really short skirts and dresses! And I love a bold shoulder! In make-up I rarely change my look. It's always a strong black smudgy eye with lots of mascara. A natural face and lip. On rare occasion I go completely natural or I will add a red lip. That's always shocking!! My look has been called "luxury goth", which I find funny! And I get that I resemble Cher from the 60's a lot!
Photo by: http://facehunter.blogspot.com/
WW: What key make-up looks are you liking for SP '10? & What should be left in '09?
KG: I loved the bold lips on the runway that we saw at Givenchy, Prada, and Rodarte to name a few. Also the absence or focus on the eyebrow. I also loved the severe eyes at Rick Owen! Stunning!
KG: What should be left in '09 is the super 80's inspired make-up a la Marc Jacobs!
WW:If you had a palette of colors that was signature to you, what colors would make up this pallette?
KG: I definitely use a lot of neutral tones. There would be black, white, terracotta, variety of greys, various taupes, nudes and browns. But I love pops of color as well so I would also throw in some red, pink, purple, blue, green, orange, and yellow! I love it all!
(Here is a little palette I put together inspired by KG.)
WW: What are your thoughts about a bold lip?
KG: I LOVE a bold lip. Not everyone can pull it off though. It takes a lot of self assurance. And some people just don't have the lips for it! I think if you are going to go for a bold lip it has to be the right shade for you as well. And my advice is not to pair it with a dark eye. Choose to focus on your eyes or your lips. Most people cannot pull off a full face!
WW: Is less more?
KG: I think for the everyday woman, less is more. Especially on the skin. Most women think they need a full face of foundation when they should really only conceal where needed. Subtle enhancements on the face are always best. But there are exceptions to this as well. People that have "a look" and can pull off more, by all means do it. It just has to be well done and appropriate. But, in fashion, sometimes more is more! I love to experiment and really take it there in my work.
WW: Who/what is inspiring you at the moment?
KG: What always inspires me is the person in my make-up chair. I work very organically. I have ideas of course but once the person is in my chair and I start working the face in front of me inspires what the outcome will be. And obviously the clothes are very inspiring to me. Editorial is a very collaborative effort. So the styling and hair will also inspire me. It really all depends. In general I am inspired by my travels and the different cultures I have had the pleasure to see. And I am inspired by art, movies, pop culture, and music.
KG: As far as my personal style goes I am inspired by various time periods like the 60's, 80's and 90's. My style icons are: Edie Sedgwick, Siouxsie Sioux, Patti Smith, Anita Pallenberg, Robert Smith, and Nico.
WW: What bands are you listening to lately?
KG: The usual suspects: Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Beatles and The Zombies. I like to stick to the classics!
WW: And who are you wearing most?
KG: I am wearing a lot of Rick Owens, Ann Demuelemeester, Margiela and some Givenchy.
WW:Quote of the moment?
KG: "In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different." -Coco Chanel | <urn:uuid:8f3ceedd-aaf1-40b3-8e10-bac5b77db75d> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://colorandlore.blogspot.com/2010/02/interview-kristin-gallegos.html | 2017-08-20T04:07:16Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105970.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20170820034343-20170820054343-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.970072 | 1,946 |
Bare Knuckle Humbuckers - Cold Sweat and Miracle Man Review
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==Reasons for Replacement==
==Reasons for Replacement==
My Explorer was sounding a bit one-dimensional, with stock pickups being very hot and great for hard rock and heavy metal, with full deep tone but often missing subtleness and versatility with cleaner sounds (and
My Explorer was sounding a bit one-dimensional, with stock pickups being very hot and great for hard rock and heavy metal, with full deep tone but often missing subtleness and versatility with cleaner sounds (and in between). At the same time basses in the neck sounded a bit boomy and had issues of muddiness when played at the bridge with heavy distortion, especially as compared to the EMGs on my other guitar. I was looking for new pickups that could handle metal very well including drop tunings, but with enough versatility and dynamics for a range of other tones as well. Bare Knuckle's Tim Mills recommended the Cold Sweat/Miracle Man combination.
Original Author: Shime
Make: Bare Knuckle
Model: Cold Sweat and Miracle Man
Price paid: 100 € each (local BKP dealer Belgium)
Replacing: Stock Gibson 496R and 500T humbuckers
Description and Specs
Cold Sweat Humbucker
Web ad/description (you can find it here):
"Screaming highs and ultra fast bass response harness all the drama of thunder and lightning!
The Cold Sweat humbucker is designed for the rock guitarist seeking evolved vintage attitude with a completely modern edge. Coils of vintage correct plain enamel wire are scatterwound by hand and powered by a custom sized ceramic magnet [note: it's an alnico for the neck - Shime]. The tone is enormous with a detailed intensity and incredible amounts of high end cut and fluid sustain."
Technical Specifications (neck position)
Hand wound passive humbucker, black, open-poled
Magnet: Alnico V
Coil split option installed
Miracle Man Humbucker
Web ad/description (you can find it here)
"Straight talking attitude, colossal power and trademark harmonics. The Miracle Man features individually scatterwound exposed coils and a powerful ceramic magnet for maximum drive and clarity. Tight bass, smooth mid range response and an articulate top end prove that power need not be a substitute for tremendous sound quality."
Technical Specifications (bridge position) Hand wound passive humbucker, black, open-poled
Coil split option installed
Reasons for Replacement
My Explorer was sounding a bit one-dimensional, with stock pickups being very hot and great for hard rock and heavy metal, with full deep tone but often missing subtleness and versatility with cleaner sounds (and everything in between). At the same time basses in the neck sounded a bit boomy and had issues of muddiness when played at the bridge with heavy distortion, especially as compared to the EMGs on my other guitar. I was looking for new pickups that could handle metal very well including drop tunings, but with enough versatility and dynamics for a range of other tones as well. Bare Knuckle's Tim Mills recommended the Cold Sweat/Miracle Man combination.
This pickup combo does everything I was looking for and so much more. Tonewise the Cold Sweat and Miracle Man each deliver as advertised on the Bare Knuckle website. Both in their respective positions sound full and deep yet very clear. Excellent control and channeling of the Gibson's mahogany wood tone, no boominess or muddiness. Tight note definition, plenty of punch but retaining maximum articulation when played even with heavily saturated distortion; subtle and sparkling cleans. The pickups are perfectly voiced for their respective neck and bridge positions. The key words are balance, versatility and dynamics for both, with added 'power' (Miracle Man) and 'depth' (Cold Sweat). In combination, three positions (neck, middle, bridge) together with split coil options on both pickups provide for an incredible range of tonal options, from drop-tuned modern metal to vintage rock, blues and jazzy cleans.
Sound quality - Specific Impressions
This appreciation is inevitably subjective and also depends a great deal on the kind of gear you play. So I start with some notes on the equipment I use and which I can compare the pickups with. Then I give some impressions on sound quality from 'metal' to 'clean' and everything in between.
Equipment Used/Compared to
Pickups/guitars:- Stock Gibson 496R and 500T humbuckers in the Explorer
- EMG S-S-81 active pickups in my 1986 Aria Pro II stage III Mega Metal series (alder body, maple neck, rosewoord fingerboard)
- Fender hot single coil pickups in my American Vintage '62 reissue Jaguar (alder body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard)
None except for the amps' spring reverb; gain and overdrive on the tubes, with added distortion (boss ml-2) and dynamic exciter for metal sounds on the Fender 75
Metal (mainly Miracle Man, bridge)
The Miracle Man in the bridge is suitable for anything metal-ish from 80s thrash to contemporary metal & metalcore, in standard as well as dropped tunings (I haven't gone below dropped Db for now). Chugging is bliss on these, there's punch, attack and tight bottom end. Note articulation and definition remain intact with the heaviest of distortions, even when strumming open chords. Sound is superb on the mids as well for high-gain leads (here I tend to a/b switch from the Peavey to my mid-boosted Fender amp). On the high side no harshness is detected even in the most trebly settings. Sustain is massive, but that I think is more an issue of woods, necks and amps.
As compared to the EMG81 in my alder metal axe (**drumroll**), the Miracle Man has the same aggressiveness, tightness and punch, being slightly more organic at the same time. The EMG81 continues to have a slightly more compact edge on the lows. With the same amp settings, the Miracle Man in my mahogany Gibson is even a bit louder than the EMG81 in my Aria. In short: the EMG remains true to its metal reputation, but if ever there was a high output passive humbucker for metal, then the Miracle Man is it! Compared to the original stock pickup, the Miracle Man takes away all the boominess and muddiness of the Gibson 500T and tonewise only leaves the memory of a rather dull and lifeless sound. The same goes for the Cold Sweat in the neck as compared to the Gibson 496R.
Cleans (mainly Cold Sweat, neck plus various neck/bridge combinations with Miracle Man)
This is where this pickup combo truly takes off and leaves the other ones lightyears behind. No effects necessary; the dynamic response of the pickups, combined with the wood of the guitar, tone/volume controls, the neck/middle/bridge switch and coil splits gives me a whole spectrum of beautiful jazzy clean and bluesy semi-clean tones. I wish I knew more clean stuff! But with this combo I could just endlessly strum or arpeggiate simple clean chords in different ways and at different speeds, without ever getting bored. The depth and subtlety of esp. the Cold Sweat alnico neck pickup is amazing. On clean settings these pickups make my Peavey 6505 sound like a boutique vintage amp (I kid you not; impossible to do with EMGs nor with the Jaguar single coils). And when I switch to my Fender tube amp... Before, I thought nothing could beat the cleans of my Jaguar when played through my Fender 75. Now, with the Bare Knuckles with coil splits in my Gibson Explorer, I don't even need the Jaguar anymore (I sold it as a matter of fact). I'm sure there's plenty of good pickups for clean sounds, but for now the Cold Sweat has some of the most beautiful cleans that I have ever heard.
Blues to vintage and hard rock (Miracle Man - Cold Sweat combo)
I have only begun to scratch the surface here but as may already be obvious from the above, there's a huge range of tonal possibilities for anything from extreme metal to jazzy cleans depending on amp settings and the amount of tube gain and overdrive you use these pickups with. Most of your favourite blues rock & vintage tones can be captured without effort - Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Lynyrd Skynyrd, SRV, etc. etc. etc.
Service and support at BKP is exemplary, staff are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. All my questions by e-mail were answered within 2 hours max (!). Explain what you are looking for and Tim Mills and his people will point you in the right direction. Their recommendation of the Cold Sweat / Miracle Man combo turned out to be a full hit.
These pickups may be expensive but they are well worth their money. Until now I owned and played a Gibson Explorer with Gibson 496R/500T pups, an Aria Pro II metal axe with EMG 81/S/S pickups, and a Fender USA Jaguar with hot single coils. Tonewise, this combo covers them all - and then some. Truly amazing.
- Harmony Central user reviews: Miracle Man; Cold Sweat
- Sound clips for these and any other Bare Knuckle pickups can be found here (recording sound clips myself didn't make any sense as I don't have the proper recording equipment) | <urn:uuid:755db899-c564-4c01-a58b-b81bec36d2dc> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/wiki/index.php/Bare_Knuckle_Humbuckers_-_Cold_Sweat_and_Miracle_Man_Review?diff=24859&oldid=prev | 2017-08-20T04:10:43Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105970.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20170820034343-20170820054343-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.928581 | 2,028 |
With a third box set, and the second to comprise entirely full-cast adventures, the Third Doctor, bless his little bouf, is back with us again. As before, Tim Treloar presents his on-the-button interpretation of Jon Pertwee’s eponymous Third Doc, ably assisted by Katy Manning’s Jo Grant, in a duo of stories set late in Ms Grant’s run.
First up is Nick Briggs’s The Conquest of Far, which is less a sequel to and more a direct continuation of TV’s Planet of the Daleks. The planet of Far is home to one of humanity’s greatest feats of spatial engineering – but it has been invaded by the Daleks, and is now a mere chess piece in a deadly intergalactic game. Can the Doctor save Far from complete oblivion?
Andrew Smith’s The Storm of the Horofax completes the set. A mysterious alien, apparently peaceful but with the ability to see the future, has made contact with the crew of Royal Navy destroyer. But who are the Horofax, and what are their true designs for the peoples of Earth?
Summer is always a good time for a blockbuster – if the promise of warmth comes good then it is a great way to relax, and if rain should encroach then it provides entertainment as respite.
Now it’s time for Big Finish to join the party, with another bombastic entry for Kate Stewart and Osgood taking aim at the holidays in UNIT: Assembled. For the fourth boxset featuring the latest UNIT lineup, Big Finish goes all the way back the 70s (or was it the 80s?) and a Silurian menace threatening humankind.
Good job they’ve got some old friends to call up – but the Silurians aren’t on their own either…
It is a beautiful but rare thing, the thud of a new Scarifyers audio on the metaphorical doormat – but we live in miraculous times, for such a thud has just been heard. Yes, for the first time since 2014’s The King of Winter, Messrs Crow and Dunning of MI13 are back in The Gnomes of Death. This time the pair are having to deal with the mysterious appearance of depeditated corpses (that’s having had their feet cut off), followed by Morris dancing, the odd Indian god or two and copious amounts of real ale. Just another weekend in 1930s Britain, then.
Although the culprits are telegraphed a little before the story has even begun – not least by the title and cover illustration – as with all Scarifyers stories it’s really the rollercoaster of the narrative, rather than the abrupt halt of the denouement, that’s the joy of the thing. And a veritable rollercoaster it is, too: in the grand tradition of scripts from writers Simon Barnard and Paul Morris, it’s a mix of adventure and comedy that never compromises the one for the other, but simultaneously seems to go overboard in providing each. Achieving that balance is quite the feat, and I only wish I could do it myself. (I can. Please pay me. You know you want to.) (more…)
BBC America have been sharing some of the cool Doctor Who stuff you’ll be able to pick up at Comicon (more tomorrow!).
In a remarkable series of ever hostile tweets, Edward Russell, Senior Brand Executive (formerly Brand Manager) of Doctor Who, took to social media tonight to belittle the very stars who queue up to star in the hit BBC One television series, all for the sake of gaining column inches.
Next week is the start of the two part series 10 finale, which sees Missy (Michelle Gomez) and the Master (John Simm) together for the first time. The pair are seen either side of the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) as they put their own chilling spin on the iconic poster image that previously accompanied Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor. Will Missy stay good? Is it an act? Just who is the Master wanting to kill? (taking love yourself a bit too far?)
Simm will return to Doctor Who as the Master for the first time since New Year’s Day 2010, when he was responsible for the regeneration of the Tenth Doctor. This time the Master will come face-to-face with Missy, his later regeneration, and battle the Doctor during the series’ two part finale which begins next weekend.
The episodes will also feature the return of the Cybermen – including the original Mondasian Cybermen, for the first time in over 50 years – plus Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie) and Nardole (Matt Lucas) in an epic adventure that will change Doctor Who forever.
Doctor Who’s series finale begins with episode 11, World Enough and Time, at 6:45pm on Saturday 24 June on BBC One. It concludes on Saturday 1 July with episode 12, The Doctor Falls – an extended, 60 minute episode.
Once a year, Torchwood Cardiff does a different kind of public service – it helps the local police with long-idle cold cases.
Naturally, PC Andy jumps for this opportunity to follow in Gwen’s footsteps, though she isn’t to be his liaison – for what better member of Torchwood for Corpse Day than the currently-rather-dead Owen?
Together, Andy and Owen investigate a trend of missing girls, and soon end up far deeper than they expected. It’s not just The Rift that spirits people away, and sometimes humans can be more vicious and disturbing than anything beyond this planet…
Since the series came back in 2005 the one constant, for regular episodes, has been a prime time slot on Saturdays. While the time of year and the time of day have jumped about frequently each season has sat proudly in the Saturday schedules. But could this end next year?
A source close to production has told us that Series 11 will air on Sundays. When asked if this was in response to the drop in ratings no answer either way was forthcoming.
Will the Bells of St John now be ringing after Songs of Praise? Or will the BBC hold it’s nerve and keep Doctor Who as a flagship Saturday TV special?
We may have S11 for sure, but will when we get it turn out to be more of a surprise than the contents of the vault?
BBC America have given us a shiny new trailer and squee inducing clip for this weeks episode: Oxygen.
Adrian Poynton’s Dethras is an interesting addition to the Fourth Doctor range. Its plot is something of a staple of Who – and I won’t go into much more detail for fear of giving too much away – but Poynton’s execution is full of, well, the bonkers. And I do love a nice bit of bonkers in my Who.
Bonkers, you ask? Well, yes. A WWII (or thereabouts) submarine that’s literally out of this world leads quickly to a talking chimp and marauding space cockroaches (well, that was my take) – and things don’t get all that much saner from thereon in. But the mark of a well-written play is in the resultant insanity’s consistency, and it has to be said that Poynton’s story really does continue to hang together. The bonkersness is only a backdrop to an exploration of things that, well, it has to be said have been well explored before in Who, but are none the worse for being explored again. A complete bastard who has a reason for being so. A guilty party who feels the guilt 110%. A talking chimp.
Nick Briggs directs, Lalla Ward and Tom Baker star, Jamie Robertson does the sound design and music, and David Banks goes “eek” a fair bit. And they all do it with the customary aplomb. It’s pretty-much flawless, and – apart from the lack of K9, who really should be contractually obliged to be in every Big Finish production (whether Tom Baker’s there or not) – it’s a great addition to the range. More from Poynton soon, please.
Dethras is available from Big Finish
Written By: Adrian Poynton
Directed By: Nicholas Briggs
Tom Baker (The Doctor), Lalla Ward (Romana), Alistair Petrie (John), Shelia Ruskin (Flague), Josh Bolt (Philip), Brian Vernel (Robert), John Banks (Franklin), Jane Slavin (Xankari/ Teacher).
Producer David Richardson
Script Editor John Dorney
Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs | <urn:uuid:0bf136d8-102c-498f-aaed-108f0969dedf> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://www.outpostskaro.com/?option=com_comprofiler&task=userProfile&user=102&Itemid=63 | 2017-08-21T23:47:02Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886109682.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20170821232346-20170822012346-00040.warc.gz | en | 0.937075 | 1,857 |
Plans released in November show commitment to transitioning from coal to clean energy to address air pollution and climate emissions
This is part one of a two-part blog covering China’s new 13th Five Year Sub-plans on Climate, Environment and Power, written with Noah Lerner, Princeton-in-Asia Fellow in NRDC's Beijing office
With uncertainty hanging over the U.S.’s future climate contributions under the Trump Administration, three new Thirteenth Five Year sub-plans released recently by the Chinese government on controlling greenhouse gas emissions, environmental protection and development of the power sector provide assurance that China will continue to deepen its environmental and climate actions regardless of any change in U.S. policies. These sub-plans add concrete measures and targets to the climate goals outlined in China’s overall 13th Five Year Plan for Economic and Social Development released last spring. (See our previous analysis on that plan). The Greenhouse Gas Control and Environmental Protection plans reinforce what is happening on-the-ground in China as the country is likely to achieve its third year in a row of reducing coal consumption, contributing to a reduction of its carbon dioxide emissions by about 0.7% last year.
China’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Control Work Plan and Power Sector Development 13th Five Year Plans (FYPs) came out just as countries convened in November for the COP22 climate negotiations in Marrakesh, Morocco, while its Ecological and Environmental Protection 13th FYP (hereafter referred to as the Environmental Protection 13th FYP) was released later in the month. Covering a comprehensive set of policies, these documents lay out benchmark goals for 2020 that will put China on track to over-achieve its 2030 Paris goals, strengthen enforcement of environmental laws and standards, and continue its transition to low carbon energy. While challenges remain, including addressing the remaining pipeline of planned coal power plants that risk becoming stranded assets under China’s low carbon transition, the policies set a clear direction for continued action that will help reduce China’s and global greenhouse gas emissions, and improve environmental quality and public health in China. In this blog post, we discuss the significance of the GHG control and Environmental 13th Five Year Plans. The climate implications of the Power Sector plan will be covered in a second blog post.
China’s Roadmap for Controlling Greenhouse Gas Emissions During the Next Five Years: Strengthening control of CO2 emissions and coal consumption
The State Council released its 13th Five Year work plan to control GHG emissions (Chinese) in early November just before the Marrakech COP, reaffirming China’s commitment to do its part in combatting global climate change. The plan begins by reiterating a key climate goal: China will peak its CO2 emissions by 2030 and make its best efforts to peak earlier. To do this, the work plan sets out a range of targets and policies related to controlling and reducing CO2 emissions, including reiterating goals to reduce China’s carbon intensity (CO2 emissions per unit of GDP) by 18% by 2020 compared to 2015, reduce energy intensity by 15%, increase non-fossil energy to 15% of the energy mix (from 12 percent at the end of 2015), and increase forest stock volume and coverage to 16.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) and 23.04 percent, from 15.14 bcm and 21.66 percent as of 2015.
The GHG Control work plan also reiterates a total energy consumption cap target of 5.0 billion tons of coal equivalent and a coal consumption cap target of 4.2 billion tons for 2020. This 4.2 billion coal consumption cap target was included in the 2014-20 Energy Development Strategy Action Plan, but this is the first time that a 13th Five Year Plan has included the target. Both the GHG Control work plan and the Environmental Protection 13th Five Year Plan include strengthened policies on controlling coal consumption, given the importance of this task to controlling China’s GHG emissions and its PM 2.5 and other air pollution. The GHG Control work plan notes that severe air pollution regions and cities should continue to reduce their coal consumption after 2017, the final year of the 2013 Air Pollution Action Plan that established the original coal consumption reduction mandates for the Jing-Jin-Ji (Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei), Yangtze River Delta (Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu) and Pearl River Delta regions.
Recognizing that reducing coal consumption is key to improving air quality, the Environmental Protection 13th FYP (Chinese) adds a goal to reduce coal’s share of total energy consumption to 58 percent by 2020, compared to 64 percent in 2015. It also establishes specific coal consumption reduction targets for key air pollution regions: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Henan and the Pearl River Delta are to reduce their coal consumption by about 10 percent by 2020, compared to 2015; while Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Anhui are to reduce their coal consumption by about 5 percent. Given the significant coal consumption in these regions, this will result in a reduction in coal consumption of about 140 million tons by 2020 if the regions all fulfill their targets. This would be equivalent to eliminating the annual coal consumption of South Korea, thus demonstrating the Chinese authorities’ continued focus on transitioning China’s energy structure from coal to cleaner energy.
Also under focus is reducing coal consumption in China’s cities, requiring all prefecture-level cities that do not meet China’s air quality standards to achieve an 18% reduction in their average annual PM 2.5 levels by 2020. The Environmental Protection 13th FYP specifically calls on China’s 10 cities with the worst air quality, to continue to implement their plans to reduce coal consumption. The use of “dispersed coal,” i.e., the coal for residential heating and cooking and small-scale industrial boilers, mainly in rural areas, also comes under aim, given its disproportionate contribution to air pollution. In Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, for example, studies have found that cleaning up dispersed coal emissions could reduce PM 2.5 levels by up to 32%. The GHG Control work plan and Environmental Protection plan set targets to reduce dispersed coal use by replacing it with natural gas and electric heating, expanding district heating and green buildings, and upgrading and phasing out smaller inefficient boilers. Urban areas with district heating and natural gas networks are to ban the use of dispersed coal.
Given that China’s coal consumption was 3.96 billion tons in 2013 and has continued to fall in 2014, 2015 and this year, we believe the 4.2 billion ton and 58% coal consumption cap targets can be achieved and even improved upon. The China coal consumption cap project’s research for the 13th Five Year Plan coal cap policy recommends a 2020 coal cap target of 3.5 billion tons and 55 percent of total energy consumption, achievable by reducing excess industrial capacity, expanding energy efficiency and non-fossil energy, and implementing fiscal, tax and market measures to account for coal’s environmental and climate impacts. Strengthening implementation of national, sectoral and local coal cap targets to reduce coal consumption to 3.5 billion tons (compared to the study’s reference scenario of 3.9 billion tons) would reduce PM 2.5 emissions by 1 million tons and prevent 71,000 premature air-pollution-related deaths per year, while helping China contribute greatly to addressing global climate change by avoiding 850 million tons of CO2 emissions.
The GHG Control work plan includes several other key measures to address coal consumption and develop low carbon models, as well as address other non-CO2 GHG emissions:
- Large power generation companies must achieve a fleet-wide average of 550 grams of CO2 emissions per kWh by 2020, which requires that they continue to expand their low-carbon generation resources such as wind and solar while limiting the operation of their coal power plants. This strengthens the 2015 target of 650 grams of CO2 emissions per kWh. According to the 13th Five Year Plan for Electricity Development, Chinese coal power plants in 2015 consumed an average 318 grams of coal equivalent per kWh, emitting 890 grams of CO2 per kWh, while a wind or solar farm emits zero. Based on 2016 electricity generation data, the Chinese electricity system as a whole in 2016 emitted about 620 grams of CO2 per kWh. While the 550 grams of CO2 per kWh is a significant target, there is a need for greater transparency, including a regular scorecard on how power generators are doing in meeting this target.
- The work plan directs economically developed regions to peak earlier than the national 2030 target, including supporting efforts by the 23 Chinese member cities of the Alliance of Peaking Pioneer Cities (APPC) to set targets and develop plans to peak early. It also sets specific carbon intensity reduction targets of 12-20.5% for each province, and calls for establishing 50 pilot “near-zero emission zones,” expanding the current low-carbon cities program from 42 to 100 cities, and establishing 80 low-carbon industrial zones. It also calls on certain heavy industry sectors to peak their CO2 emissions by around 2020.
- Finally, the plan notes that China will establish a national carbon market next year, which will cover all enterprises that emit over 10,000 tons of coal equivalent in eight major industries. By pricing carbon, China is seeking to expand the role of market forces in developing, manufacturing and operating low carbon energy sources, technologies and practices. The work plan calls for strengthening monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) at the national, local and enterprise levels, and developing a complete carbon cap-and-trade system by 2020 with active trading, strict management, and transparency.
- Importantly, China’s GHG Control work plan is looking beyond CO2 to strengthen policies to control other GHG emissions, including methane and HFCs. This includes reducing methane emissions in the agricultural sector and in municipal waste and sewage treatment. In line with the recent Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol, the State Council’s GHG Control work plan also calls for developing an action plan to control the emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), man-made “super greenhouse gases” used as refrigerants and other applications. The plan also sets new targets for controlling emissions of one type of HFC, HFC-23, a greenhouse gas with 14,800 times the warming effect of CO2, requiring that all HFC-23 emissions basically be destroyed according to the standard, and reducing HCFC-22 production and consumption (HFC-23 is a by-product of HCFC-22) so that production in 2020 is 35% less than that in 2010.
With the GHG Control and Environmental Protection 13th Five Year Plans, China is showing its commitment to deepening policies to reduce coal consumption, develop low carbon technologies and policies, and pursue a path towards cleaner development. Key to this energy transition will be greening the electricity sector. In our next blog, we review the 13th Five Year Plan for power sector development and the challenges and policies needed to develop a low-carbon power sector. | <urn:uuid:5994fbb3-a67e-478d-8154-2495aa1b5339> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://www.nrdc.org/experts/alvin-lin/chinas-new-plans-deepen-action-climate-change | 2017-08-22T00:01:41Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886109682.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20170821232346-20170822012346-00040.warc.gz | en | 0.930915 | 2,325 |
Methadone is an Opioid. Methadone is synthetic by nature. Methadone is also an analgesic. Methadone is basically recommended for the chronic drug abusers. Methadone has been found to be an ideal medication for the treatment of addiction from narcotic substances. Of late, methadone has been widely recommended for patients suffering from chronic pain. Methadone’s effective action remains for long duration. Moreover, Methadone is quite cheap as well. As per the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, methadone is included in the list of Schedule II drug.METHADONE METABOLISM
There are two reasons as to why Methadone effects last longer than other morphine drugs. First, methadone’s lipid solubility is quite high. Second, methadone metabolism is slow. Most importantly, the dependence incidence of patients is low. Hence, there is less danger of a heroin detoxified patient treated on methadone getting hooked to the synthetic opioid. Methadone keeps intact the analgesic effects from a day to two at the most. IDEAL FOR DE-ADDICTION UNITS
Methadone is ideal for the de-addiction units particularly because of the life of a methadone dosage. Moreover, methadone can be given by injection or even orally. For instance, a single daily dose of methadone is enough to keep under control any heroin addict for the entire day. TOLERANCE & DEPENDENCE OF METHADONE
The tolerance and dependence of methadone increases as one keeps on taking more doses of the synthetic opioid. In this aspect, methadone is similar to heroin. However, the tolerance factor as well as the effects (physiological) differs. Still, it has been found that methadone leaves no tolerance to constipation. However, the other opioids do leave tolerance effects on the patients especially with respect to constipation. Mentionably, analgesia tolerance appears in the first month after one starts taking the drug. But, tolerance to nausea, sedation and respiratory depression commences within four days after one takes such medications. METHADONE & NDMA
There is a close link between methadone and the brain receptor known as NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartic acid). Methadone can even control tolerance and psychic dependence. This is possible because of its strong reaction against opioid. It is due to this reason that patients taking methadone exhibit lesser withdrawal symptoms than those who are into heroin or morphine. Nonetheless, the methadone withdrawal symptoms linger more than the latter.THE METHADONE LAUNCHER
Methadone was commercially launched by Eli Lilly and Company, a pharmaceutical company. THE INVENTORS OF METHADONE
German scientists Methadone Gustav Ehrhart and Max Bockmühl jointly synthesized methadone in 1937. They were in search of an analgesic in the Hoechst-Am-Main (IG Farben) laboratory. Their mission was to invent such an analgesic that would solve the twin problems faced by surgeons during surgical operations. SOLVING SURGEONS’ SETBACKS
First, surgeries were rather problematic with the then extant analgesics. Secondly, the commonly used analgesics were having a high addiction effect. So, both the German scientists found out that synthetic analgesic which would have low addiction effects on the patients and also would be easier to use. They called it Polamidon or Hoechst 10820. PATENT RIGHTS
It was on September 11, 1941 that the duo filed for patent rights. The structure of this invention was totally different from and least connected with the opioid alkaloids or morphine. Nonetheless, methadone brings about the same types of effects as heroin or morphine. This is because methadone acts on the opioid receptors. Among the opioids, methadone has the simplest chemical composition.AMERICAN CHAPTER
The Americans came to know of methadone as an analgesic in 1947, courtesy: Eli Lilly and Company. It then rechristened Polamidon or Hoechst 10820 (methadone) as Dolophine. It was under this registered name that methadone was subsequently registered to Roxane Laboratories. Incidentally, the term ‘Dolophine’ has its roots in the German word Dolphium. The Latin word dolor means ‘pain’ while phine means ‘end’.
In the USA, Dolophine (Methadone) was first manufactured by the St. Louis-based Mallinckrodt pharmaceuticals. It is a subsidiary of the Tyco International Corporation. Mallinckrodt enjoyed the patent up to the early part of the 1990s. It still remains the major manufacturer of methadone. The producers of methadone generic preparations also collect their bulk consignments from Mallinckrodt. Nonetheless, many other pharmaceutical companies also produce and distribute methadone today. Moreover Mallinckrodt sells its typical brand of methadone named Methadose as oral concentrate and dispersable tablets in the United States.THE HITLER LINK…
There is a belief that the German creators coined the name ‘Dolophine’ as a tribute to Adolf Hitler. The Church of Scientology also buttresses this with the data that the earlier name for this synthetic analgesic was actually ‘Adolophine’ or ‘Adolphine’. To make matters worse, vocal Scientologist and actor Tom Cruise also backed the literature in 2005. He was giving an interview to the Entertainment Weekly. However, the weekly soon came out with a follow-up story which nullified the claim. It is, however, now established that the term ‘Dolophine’ was coined by the American wing of the Eli Lilly Corporation after the World War. What is more, the magazine put the lid on the controversy by proving that the 1970 nomenclature of ‘Adolphine’ (which wasn’t ever used for the drug) was also brought into being in the States. THE METHADONE ADVANTAGE
The low cost of methadone as well as its effectiveness over a long period of time made it rather popular too. While 30 days dose of the analgesic Demerol cost $ 125 in the fag end of 2004, the equivalent amount of methadone cost $20.METHADONE COUSINS
There are many drugs similar in composition and effects to methadone. They are Buprenorphine, heroin (diamorphine), ORLAM and dextropropoxyphene.
Buprenorphine and methadone are used in the UK and many other countries for the treatment of narcotic addicts. Heroin is also known as diamorphine. Many countries allow heroin to be prescribed for patients undergoing detoxification programs. Heroin is also given to patients taking treatment for many other opiate addictions.
Interestingly enough, an Austrian study shows that orally tendered morphines are more effective than its oral methadone counterpart. Patients developing immunity to many traditional detoxification programs positively respond to a combination of morphine and a low dosage of methadone.
ORLAM is a synthetic compound. It is also known as LAAM. It is composed of levo-alphacetylmethadol. LAAM ‘s effects last from 42 to 72 hours. This compound was okayed as a medication for the patients suffering from chronic narcotics addiction in 1994. LAAM is also included in the US Controlled Substances Act (Schedule II). After reports were received that LAAM intake caused cardiac complications in some people, it was withdrawn from the American and the European markets.
Dextropropoxyphene is popular as a pain reliever. In the USA, more than 100 ton of this oral analgesic is produced annually. It is most effective in patients suffering moderate pains.
Dextropropoxyphene overdose is reported to have been the cause of many deaths especially among the recreational youth generation. In fact, it is among the top 10 such drugs in the USA. Dextropropoxyphene is included within Schedule II of the US Controlled Substances Act. However, medications containing Dextropropoxyphene are put in the Schedule IV. Its strength can be gauzed from the fact that aspirin takes 600 mg to be equal to just 65 mg of Dextropropoxyphene. It was first marketed in 1957 as Darvon.METHADONE ABUSE
Methadone abuse is not common primarily because it is not strong. Besides, the addicts prefer such opioids whose effects are instant or fast. In this aspect, methadone is rather slow. But abusers use the snort method to elicit a stronger euphoric and faster effect. There are, of course, occasional reports of deaths occurring due to methadone overdose. Such instances are more among the perennial drug abusers. Such habituated abusers go for methadone species like the ‘Street Meth’. Many illicit drug markets sell methadone as alternatives to other opioids. METHADONE ABUSERS
Such demands are usually from three types of people. Those addicts who had at one point of time taken methadone as a part of medical regimen may again feel a strong tendency to go for methadone. Moreover, kin of patients having methadone may fall easy prey to the synthetic drug. There can also be a demand for methadone from the habituated opioid abusers if they are unable to get hold of any other brands. METHADONE ILLICIT MARKET
The methadone consignments enter the illicit drug market via two ways. Methadone packets usually get diverted into the illicit market from the destinations. It can also enter the drug market through theft. This is done mainly from the shippers or from the factories. Such methadone consignments rarely find their ways to the illicit drug market from the patients prescriptions.THE METHADONE DEBATE
Of late, there has been a growing controversy about the efficacy of methadone. This is notwithstanding its proven track record that methadone is an opioid analgesic. There has been a rise in the number of methadone related deaths around the globe. Many vouchsafe that methadone is intimately connected with the drug abusers. Above all, there has not been a single scientific report that methadone is an ideal medication for relieving chronic pain. One thing is for sure, though. Methadone does not possess any extra-strong pain relieving effects compared to the other opiates. It has, however, been established that methadone is far more dangerous than most opiates. It is for such reasons that many physicians do not encourage methadone use.
About the Author:
thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service | <urn:uuid:90883400-2572-46ff-b3d8-e51d491674ef> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://guides.wkbw.com/Overview_Of_Methadone_Long_Island_City_NY-r989527-Long_Island_City_NY.html | 2017-08-22T21:00:06Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886112682.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20170822201124-20170822221124-00120.warc.gz | en | 0.955639 | 2,265 |
By Mary Koepke Amato and Maria Mihalik Higgins
Photos by Danelle Frisbie
Each year, more toys that buzz, crawl, squish, transform, and whir hit the market. With all the neon colors and movable parts out there, it's no wonder that many parents overlook one of the most powerful learning toys of all time: plain wooden building blocks.
With a smorgasbord of smooth, unbreakable blocks spilled our before them, children will eagerly build their own town, airport, or space station, and then use their inventions for fantasy play. According to experts in early childhood education, this kind of constructive, creative activity is exactly what promotes healthy emotional and intellectual development.
In his book Miseducation: Preschoolers at Risk, child psychologist David Elkind says that blocks are the first thing he hopes to see when he walks into a preschool classroom or daycare center. Unlike most commercial toys, blocks are considered a fundamental learning material, since they don't come with a prescribed recipe that children are supposed to follow. Similar to clay and paint, blocks become whatever children want them to become.
Harriet Cuffaro, professor of early childhood education at New York City's Bank Street College of Education, teaches block workshops to teachers-in-training. "Blocks have possibilities, but no clearly designed purpose," she says. "The child decides what to do with each block."
At the same time, blocks are not malleable like paint and clay, providing an additional challenge. If Jeremy wants to make a tunnel out of blocks, he can't just draw it or shape ir, he has to figure out how to use the given form to create a three-dimensional reality. Children need to spend a lot of time experimenting with manipulative materials, Cuffaro says. Blocks are not just for preschoolers, either: block play with older children can be even more stimulating.
If all you've seen is a two-year-old tornado knocking down her just-finished towers, you might question the educational benefits of block play. Step through the doors of a school in which block building is the foundation of the curriculum, however, and you'll see what incredible learning a few simple wooden shapes can inspire.
At the City & Country School, a private school in New York City for children ages 2 to 13, blocks are everywhere. Each Monday, teachers in the lower grades hold "block meetings" in which children decide what kind of structures they'll make. Throughout the week, block cities grow bigger and broader. In one week, a six-year-old boy will construct an apartment building with five floors and an adjacent parking garage; a seven-year-old girl will create a hospital with operating rooms, waiting rooms, and a cafeteria. On any given day in the kindergarten room, you might find the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, or a fire tation.
Watching the young architects design and construct their buildings is impressive. Not only are students exercising their creativity, they're developing problem-solving, spatial reasoning, and motor skills a well. And that's not all. In the process of building the world in miniature, children will have questions about the real world. The hospital engineer might wonder how X-rays work. A boy who constructed a bank might ask where money comes from.
City & Country teachers use the questions that arise from block play for lessons on every subject from art, economics, and government to science. Field trips to local banks, hospitals, and libraries give young architects and engineers even more information. As the year continues, students apply what they've learned by building even more sophisticated block cities. According to City & Country principal Kathleen Holz, at the end of a year, her seven year olds will have fashioned entire cities, often with function such as running water, lights, buzzer , and a working subway.
"Blocks are incredible tools for learning," Holz says. "They help children reconstruct their ideas in a way that is meaningful to them. They build the things that they find interesting, and then they play with what they've built. And as they play, they begin to ask more and more questions. It's exciting."
City & Country School is clearly atypical. Though many kindergartens and preschools have blocks, they're often relegated to a corner. Older children seldom have any access to blocks in school. But home can be a great place for block adventure. With the time and space for exploration and the right kind of facilitation from you, block play can be a rich addition to your child's life. Here's how to get tarted and what to expect.
Before buying a new set of blocks, ask around. Somebody's grandfather might have a box of blocks gathering dust in an attic. If possible, set aside a space in your playroom or basement for block building. Store the blocks neatly in low bins or shelves. Children are more likely to play with blocks if they're accessible. If your child hasn't shown interest in blocks, it's possible that they haven't been visible enough.
It takes only a simple introduction to get things going. Avoid saying, "What are you going to make?" This implies that your child is supposed to create something recognizable, Cuffaro says. Instead, begin with, "Here are some blocks. You can build with them."
You may be tempted at first to sit next to your child and build your own structure, either because you like blocks or because you think it will inspire her or him. This is something to resist, since imagination can be thwarted by adult interference. The house you build becomes your child's standard for what's "right." Instead of creating their own houses, children are likely to try - and most likely fail - to create yours. "Pass by and admire, or sit and watch," Cuffaro advises. "But don't build with your child."
Let your child find solutions to problems. "Let's say your child wants to build a bridge," Holz says. "Don't show him how to do it by stacking one long block across two other block . Making the bridge for him takes away the sense of accom- plishment he'll feel when he figures it out for himself."
If siblings or friends are playing with blocks together, prevent catastrophes by laying down this rule: If you want to make separate buildings, then give one another plenty of space to work. And if you do accidentally damage another building, you must repair it quickly and cheerfully.
If you have the space, it can be wonderful to allow block structures to stay out for a while, so that your child can keep adding details. Remember that the best thing about blocks is that they don't come with any instructions. Your child's own interests and imagination provide the unique blueprints for building. The best thing you can do is to provide the blocks and then get out of the way.
WHAT TO EXPECT WITH YOUR LITTLE ONES
Eighteen-month-old Max picks up a block, drops it, picks it up again. He walks over to a table and sets it down. He pushes it over the edge and watches it fall. Although Max's play may seem inconsequential and his movements may seem random, he is learning a lot. Toddlers and older children who have never experienced blocks need to spend time just getting a feel for them. "Sensory exploration - discovering the weight and shape of blocks - is the first stage of block play," Cuffaro explains.
Like all great engineers, youngsters will spend countless hours testing the physical capabilities of their material. How high can I make this tower before it falls? What happens if I put a large block on top of a small one?
Eventually, children move on to the next stage of block play, which is to use them in fantasy play. Two-year-old Sarah lines 20 blocks end-to-end to use as a train track for her imaginary train. Three-year-old Brain makes a circle of blocks on the floor and sets his teddy bear inside it.
Even these simple projects show accomplishment. Fantasy play with blocks demonstrates the child's ability to absorb and conceptualize real-life events. Pediatrician T. Berry Brazleton points out in his book Touchpoints that fantasy play is evidence "not only of cognitive competence, but also of a kind of emotional freedom."
Simple projects also often lead to more play and problem-solving. "A child wants to have a bed for her doll," Holz says. "First, the child must figure out how to make it. When she does, it is emotionally satisfying. She plays with it, and her play will stimulate a new set of problems. Suddenly, she wants a table to go with the bed, and so she has to make a table."
You should be aware that many children also create intentionally abstract, seemingly purposeless structures. Don't make your child put a label on it by asking what it is. Think of it as art for art's sake, or sculpture rather than structure, and enjoy the early masterpieces with your child. Comment positively on the effort and the aesthetics, Cuffaro suggests. Say, "Wow, you worked hard on that! Look how the light is coming through the spaces! You used so many blocks!" And watch your little construction worker beam.
WHAT TO EXPECT WITH OLDER CHILDREN
As children learn more about the world, they want to represent what they've learned through blocks in more detail. They build more complicated structures, such as police stations, beauty parlors, and schools. The focus of play naturally shifts from the building's appearance to what happens inside. Children will incorporate little figures and vehicles into their block cities and act out story after improvised story. This is an exciting stage, and one that parents miss entirely if they pack up the blocks when their kids graduate from kindergarten.
If two or more children are building together, they'll begin socializing in their play. A little police officer from the station will visit the school to give a lecture on safety. A teacher from the school will decide to get a haircut in the beauty parlor, and so on. In playing out these miniature dramas, children get the chance to practice what they are learning about human relations and daily activities. They also are learning to play cooperatively.
"Block building at this stage provides lovely learning opportunities for parents and children," Holz says. "Let's say your kids are building an airport. You can go to the library and get a book about airports: Look at it together and talk about all the things airports have. Or even better, maybe you can take a trip to the airport."
One of the most interesting changes is that older children become sticklers for accuracy. "A four year old will have a person 'fly' to the top of a building," Cuffaro explains. "But a six year old will realize that people can't do this and will try to build an elevator."
When your child starts to ask questions about how things "really work," you can help her or him find answers. Ask a lot of questions, too. How do you get from one floor to another in a big building? How do elevators work? How could you make one? Don't be surprised when your six-year-old actually rigs an ingenious little elevator, perhaps using string, a paper clip, and a disposable cup.
At this stage, you should try to provide other common building materials to use with the blocks. Paper, string, wire, and tape are essential. Check your junk drawer for any other items your young inventor could use. You might even want to invest in more sophisticated items, like bulbs, batteries, buzzers, and small metal pulleys. Check hobby shops, hardware stores, and educational supply stores for ideas.
When is a child too old for block play? "Your kids will tell you when they want to pack their blocks away for good," Holz says. But don't be surprised if it isn't for a long while. | <urn:uuid:e0633d53-7bff-4bf7-9689-af44e2520dfd> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://www.drmomma.org/2009/12/getting-back-to-blocks.html | 2017-08-22T20:23:07Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886112682.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20170822201124-20170822221124-00120.warc.gz | en | 0.968812 | 2,486 |
In the old days, I would replace my computer every couple of years. Since I don’t game on the PC much anymore, I’m still finding myself perfectly happy (well, mostly) with the computer I built in October of 2006. The object of my upgrade fever, meanwhile, has turned to mobile phones and game consoles, and it is these items that I now find myself replacing on a two-year cycle.
Having just upgraded to the iPhone 4S this past fall, I’m now approaching the two-year anniversary of my last Xbox 360 purchase, an ordeal necessitated by the death of my previous console from a case of scarlet ring disease. Back in March of 2010, newly Xboxless, I picked up a Final Fantasy XIII Super Elite limited edition unit. It’s still going strong today, no doubt thanks to manufacturing improvements made over time (and the fact that I install all my games to the hard disk now, to minimize heat produced by the spinning optical drive). But I recently started thinking that having a second Xbox in the house might be handy.
Now that we’ve got bouncing baby Connor to keep us busy around the house, I find it more difficult on the weekends to shut myself away in the game room upstairs for Xbox sessions. Although I still like the theater-like ambience of the game room during the nighttime hours after Connor goes to bed, I’d like to stay downstairs during the day and, when I’m not busy keeping Connor entertained, catch a game session or two without having to remove myself from view. (After all, when you have a three-month old baby, you never know when you’re going to be needed!)
I’d be lying, however, if I didn’t simply feel like getting a shiny new Xbox to brighten my gaming future. Since I bought my last console, the Xbox 360 has been completely redesigned, resulting in a slick new look, near-silent operation, touch-operated controls, greater reliability and the addition of integrated Wi-Fi and powered Kinect ports. Since rumors have it that the next-generation Xbox console should be out in just shy of two years’ time — playing right into my next upgrade cycle — this seems like the perfect time to pick up one last console from this generation and enjoy it for the years to come. Maybe even hand it down to my son for his own enjoyment when he’s ready! (Who am I kidding; he’ll know it’s an old piece of crap by then. “Really, Dad?” he’ll say as he rolls his eyes.)
However, with the Xbox landscape a lot more cluttered and complicated than it was two years ago, I decided to hash out my thoughts in this handy Oddball Update (Relevance Not Included™) and try to come to some kind of decision about how to proceed. If you’re interested in taking the journey with me, meet me past the break and we’ll Jump In. (Har har. That’s the Xbox slogan.)
Thanks to the good sales quarter my company just had, I recently earned a fairly substantial bonus. Then came my annual review, at which I earned a significant raise. With a little extra net spending money available as a result, I don’t have much trouble financially justifying my new console acquisition — especially since buying more games would be almost ridiculous given the huge backlog that I have yet to finish (or even start, in some cases). The problem is, which console to get?
Here are the options:
The Core System (4GB for $199 / 250GB for $299)
The core Xbox is the console itself and one wireless controller, and is offered with either 4GB of flash storage, or a 250GB hard drive. Although the 250GB variant used to come in a glossy piano black finish with chrome accents, this has been discontinued and now both models are finished in cheap-looking matte black plastic. Despite the ugliness, I could really stretch my money by going this route, because there’s a cheap (~$15) way to convert your old-style 360’s hard drive to a form-factor compatible with the new-style console. Thus, I could get the 4GB Xbox, attach my old hard drive, and enjoy the new console for minimum dollar.
The Kinect Bundle (4GB for $299 / 250GB for $349)
The two Xbox variants described above are also available with the Kinect Sensor packed in. This motion-detecting series of cameras and microphones is Microsoft’s answer to the “active gaming” trend started by the Nintendo Wii, but rather than using a controller, the Kinect watches you as you move your body and interprets those moves as game input. It’s actually really cool tech, but the problem is that it has very few uses that interest me. In fact, the only reason why I’d really ever use it — at least until my son gets a little older — would be to enjoy the automatic head tracking in Forza Motorsport 4, where the camera leans into turns as you move your head in real life. (Plus, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t at least sorta interested in Dance Central, but that’d probably result in my stomping a hole through the floor of the upstairs game room.)
The Gears of War Limited Edition (320GB for $349)
The modern-day equivalent to my FFXIII Super Elite, this is a limited edition, custom-painted Xbox done up to promote the Gears of War franchise by Epic Games. I’m certainly more of a Gears fan than I ever was of a Final Fantasy fan, so the thought behind the console is right up my alley. The paint job is unique, although a bit over the top. Best of all, though, this console comes with two controllers with transforming D-pads, plus a 320GB hard drive and a copy of Gears of War 3, which I haven’t played yet. It does not come with a Kinect Sensor, but as I explained in the previous paragraph, I’m not entirely sold on the usefulness of Kinect in my particular situation. The problem with this Xbox is that it was released in September, and being a limited edition, supplies are almost completely gone.
The Modern Warfare 3 Limited Edition (320GB for $349)
Similar to the Gears console, this limited edition is designed around the mega-popular Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 game. It’s actually got a pretty nice design, with its “military grunge” gray, and the controllers not only have a special grippy coating but also a new thumbstick design that prevents, uhm, “thumb slippage”. It’s also packed with the same big 320GB hard drive offered on the Gears console and, naturally, a copy of the Modern Warfare 3 game itself. The problem is that I just don’t give a shit about Modern Warfare. I may be the only Xbox gamer on Earth who doesn’t, but I don’t. I’d probably play the singleplayer campaign once and then trade it in for a copy of Gears of War 3, in all honesty! Unlike the Gears console, this limited edition is still readily available.
The Used Market
Instead of buying new, I could go in a completely different direction and buy a used console. eBay has numerous deals, and I’m sure Amazon’s Marketplace does as well. Although this would save me some money, I tend to resist buying game consoles in either used or refurbished condition. Particularly given the reliability track record of the Xbox 360, this seems a dangerous gamble, especially for something I expect to use regularly for the next two years. And a used console brings with it the possible inability to register its warranty in my name, or transfer my content licenses from my old unit.
Now my conundrum is this:
- I won’t have the funds to make a purchase for another couple of weeks yet.
- When I do get the funds, I will still be $50-$100 short of what I’d need for the top-of-the-line consoles available to me.
- My birthday is at the end of the month, and I might receive some help in the form of gift cards that I could put toward the Xbox…but if they are all from different retailers, I can’t pool them to help me close the gap.
- Although I lean toward choosing the Gears of War special edition Xbox, they are out of manufacture and rapidly becoming hard to find. This makes me less flexible in terms of choosing a retailer or finding a good deal.
- The Modern Warfare 3 console gets me the features I want, but I’d feel silly spending that much on a console that celebrates a game I don’t even like.
- Part of me is tempted by the idea that I could save significant money by buying used, but I’m extremely wary of the potential pitfalls.
Since I’m financially unable to make a choice for another couple of weeks, I’m churning over these options in my head while I keep my eyes peeled for sales and special offers. And it occurs to me that, despite being nearly 32 years old now, my methodical obsession over gadgetry is still effectively the same as it was when I was 15. I guess some things never change. Ah well — at least my hobby isn’t filling my car with thousands of dollars worth of performance parts or ATVing or skydiving or…hey, I could have much more expensive interests!
If you were in the market for a new Xbox 360, which one would you pick? Let me know your thoughts.
And if you’re wondering what I might like for my birthday, an Amazon gift card would be ideal! | <urn:uuid:f1ebcdb7-e6fa-4520-b025-3ac080126560> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://oddballupdate.com/2012/02/the-xbox-acquisition-deliberation/ | 2017-08-16T17:21:41Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886102309.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20170816170516-20170816190516-00560.warc.gz | en | 0.954609 | 2,074 |
The best place to begin gathering would be with pennies, we will concentrate on the Lincoln Cent for the years 1909 through 1958, which are the Wheat Cents. There are as yet various “wheat pennies” appearing available for use, so it is conceivable to begin a currency accumulation without spending a lot of cash. President coin
While you are looking your pocket change for “wheat pennies”, make sure to check for silver coinage and obviously check those quarters. At that point new 50 State Commemorative Quarters are a decent place to begin since you can discover five new expresses every year in addition to the diverse mint imprints.
Returning to pennies, which is the place we need to begin our new gathering. The principal Lincoln Cent was printed in 1909 and was made of copper. The mint kept on making pennies from copper until 1943, when during the current year just, they were made of steel and zinc plated to keep them from rusting. These coins seem, by all accounts, to be silver or dim in shading in light of the plating. The pennies were made of steel as a result of a copper deficiency brought on by the war, yet they continued utilizing copper in 1944. In the vicinity of 1909 and 1958 the penny highlighted Lincoln on the front-side (front of the coin) and the words “ONE CENT” over “Joined States of America” encircled by packs of wheat on each side of the words, there by getting the distinct name of “Wheat Cents”. This is the way the penny is required the years 1909-1958. Other than a minor change in the creation of the metal which was 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc until 1943 when they were zinc plated steel, and after that 1944 until 1958 when they were 95% copper, 5% zinc and no tin.
The Penny continued as before for a long time. It was composed by Victor David Brenner, whose initials showed up on the switch, of a few, of the coins printed that first year. There are two assortments of the 1909, some have the VDB on the switch, (back of coin) at the base of the coin at the 6 o’clock position, and others don’t. The pennies were printed at Philadelphia, Pa. also, San Francisco, Ca. The pennies from San Francisco have a little “s” under the date while the Philadelphia coins have no mintmark. The coins to look for are the ones with mintmarks; this applies to all coins not simply pennies. The estimation of coins is enormously in view of irregularity and with the Philadelphia mint being the biggest of the mints; it was normal for them to create the best number of coins. There is likewise a mint in Denver, Co. what’s more, a mint, which had been shut at this point in Carson City. The Denver mint put a little “d” under the date and on more seasoned coinage of different sorts you will discover the letters “CC” for Carson City.
Mint Marks are Important, figure out how to look for them.
Back to pennies, in 1909 when the main Lincoln (wheat penny) penny was made, they stamped 72,702,618 in Philadelphia without the originators, Victor David Brenner, initials. They delivered 27,995,000 with the VDB on the invert of the penny. This same year, 1909, San Francisco printed 1,825,000 without the planner’s initials and 484,000 with the initials VDB on the turn around at the base of the coin. So now for the financial aspects lesson of free market activity and how it influences cost. In the event that you had a 1909-penny in “great” condition it would be worth around 75 pennies, in “mint” condition it would be esteemed at about $14.00. On the off chance that you had a 1909 with VDB on the switch in “great” condition, it would be worth about $1.80, in “mint” condition ( I can’t clarify this ) the esteem is about $9.00 ( the main clear explanation behind the penny with the lower mintage being worth less in mint condition then the plain 1909 in mint condition, would be that in numismatic records kept by the evaluating administrations, there are most likely more 1909 VDB’s on record than plain 1909’s) If you had a 1909s in “great” condition it is worth $37.00, in “mint” condition about $120.00. Presently on the off chance that you were sufficiently fortunate to locate a 1909s with the initials VDB on the turn around in “great” condition it is worth $350.00 and in “mint” condition it is worth $680.00 or more. Not awful for a penny.
In all mint piece sorts and arrangement there exists what are known as “key dates”, for the time being lets simply say they are vital as a result of various variables (another huge subject), yet that they are imperative in gathering coins of numerous types, not simply pennies. The “key dates” for the Lincoln penny 1909-1958 are:
The semi-key dates, likewise important, yet not as noteworthy as the “key dates” are: 1910s, 1911d, 1911s, 1912s, 1913d, 1913s, 1914s, 1915, 1921s, 1922d, 1923s, 1924d, 1926s, 1931d, and 1933d.
This takes you through the “wheat pennies” 1909-1958, alongside keys and semi-keys every arrangement of coin has Error assortments, Die assortments, and twofold bite the dust assortments which are likewise worth more than the normal date coins. These again are subjects in themselves however a concise depiction is expected to make you mindful of what to search for in gathering coins.
Blunder assortments are any condition, which may have existed bringing about a coin being struck and getting into dissemination in a state of appearance to be other than what was planned by the U.S. Mint. Basically said on the off chance that it looks not the same as the various s subsequently of a mint slip-up and not altering or damaging by a person, than it is a mistake, and they have a tendency to be worth more.
Twofold Die assortments are really mistakes in light of the fact that the coin in the wake of being stamped does not leave the bite the dust but rather stays in the kick the bucket and is struck again making parts of the plan be copied. Some of the time the copy is exceptionally observable other twofold kick the bucket assortments require an intense amplifying glass or magnifying lens to see them.
Kick the bucket assortments are the aftereffect of many passes on being utilized to mint a specific arrangement of coin. They would never deliver this numerous pennies with just a single bite the dust. Each kick the bucket has its own qualities, little contrasts between bites the dust, which are sufficiently observable that you can recognize pennies or different coins being printed by a specific pass on.
As you may end up plainly instructed now into the many points of interest of mint piece gathering, let me say this now. Mint piece Collecting ought to be not any more included, troublesome, or tedious than you need it to be. The primary target of currency gathering is pleasure, on the off chance that you are keen on contributing, locate a Stock Broker. Finally, I get this remark from someone else whose name I don’t recall, yet who merits the credit none the less. “As a mint piece authority, you are not a coin proprietor, but rather a coin guardian. In spite of the fact that you have the genuine mint pieces in your ownership and lawfully they are yours to hold, purchase, offer or exchange, while they are in your ownership you ought to do everything conceivable to keep up the condition and appearance of the coins.”(To who at any point said this, I apologize for not having the capacity to quote you verbatim or give you your due credit) “As managers of currencies, we make the most of our gathering, than pass them to the up and coming era of guardians.” This was noteworthy to me actually, as it connections, you, others, and me in an incredible chain from past through present and into the future as we are the attendant of mint pieces, mint piece authorities and Numismatists.
Enough now of history, financial aspects and theory, how about we gather coins.
To begin, get yourself an amplifying glass, the greater the better. Look your coins in a very much lit territory to be better ready to spot mistakes, mintmarks, and to peruse dates on some of your more worn coins. Figure out what mint pieces you will gather and buy a bookshelf envelope for that group or arrangement. Whitman, Dansco, Harris and Co. furthermore, a couple others put out these organizers. The Whitman envelopes are likely the most recognizable; they are blue organizers around 8 inches high, 6 inches wide and about ¼ inch thick. They retail for about $3.75 each and are accessible at most book shops all coin stores and many sites including my own.
Attempt to buy a book called, “A Guide Book of United States Coins” by R.S. Yeoman. This is generally called the red book and it is a red book which retails for about $11.00 in the hard cover version at most book shops and coin shops. The Red Book is distributed each year, it gives you a decent review of the historical backdrop of U.S. coins, fundamental reviewing data, normal retail esteem for all U.S. coins, depictions of the distinctive coins over a significant time span and a posting of the blunders, with pictures, of a few mistakes found in the stamping procedure. Buy one of the month to month productions on mint piece gathering. My two top picks are “Coins” and “COINage”. Krausse Publishing who likewise distributes the greater part of all coin related books and periodicals distributes coins magazine. COINage is distributed by Miller Magazines, Inc. furthermore, is constantly pressed with extraordinary stories and data and additionally sponsors for coin related material. You needn’t bother with a membership, yet attempt to purchase no less than one duplicate of either magazine. It will give you some incredible knowledge into costs of mint pieces, currencies other than pennies that you might need to gather likewise some extraordinary pictures of currencies and great articles to instruct yourself in currency gathering. Both magazines offer for about $4.00 each, if that is inside your financial plan, then you ought to purchase a duplicate to get a thought of what is out there.
Coin World and Numismatic News are two week after week daily papers with numerous extraordinary articles, current news and arranged areas for purchasers, dealers and brokers all identifying with coins. They retail for about $1.95 and are likewise accessible at book shops. The daily paper may not intrigue you until you get more required in the interest and need to remain more tuned in to what is going on presently in the Numismatic world. Numismatic News is again distributed by Krausse distributing and Coin World is distributed by Ames Press. | <urn:uuid:bf208962-36b8-4a0e-9ed1-4f3e4a0ae782> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://www.hokuto3.com/page/2/ | 2017-08-17T15:26:36Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886103579.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20170817151157-20170817171157-00640.warc.gz | en | 0.961351 | 2,401 |
ANOTHER MAJOR PRICE REDUCTION. OWN & SAIL A CLASSIC.
The Ocean Cruising 40 is designed and built by Hank Hinckley is a beautiful ocean capable vessel that blends the beautiful interior similar to the Hinckley Bermuda 40 with a clean and fast hull shape like the Hinckley Southwester 42. We are pleased to offer Shining Star. She was Hank Hinckley’s personal yacht until 1984. You can see original photos of Shining Star on Hank’s web site.
She’s a pretty vessel with a classic spoon bow and graceful stern overhang. Ocean Cruising Yachts built a stout ocean capable vessel. The hull is constructed of hand laid woven roving and fiberglass matt. The hull is cored above the waterline for strength and weight. The solid glass fiberglass outer hull is built for the ocean. The core material is a strong, non-wood material. The inner solid fiberglass hull is almost the thickness of the outer shell. The keel centerboard design like the New England yachts of the best designers from Hinckley, Little Harbor and Bristol, she sails well with the board up, and can be berthed right behind your home on the Eastern Shore in less than five feet of water. There are definite advantages to this design. And if you want to fly to the windward mark you can just drop that board down and she’ll point at least 35 degrees to the wind. The OC40 was built for the ocean with the idea of being strong enough to stay safe after a collision with a whale! Sounds good to me!
The interior is classic with a beautiful teak joinery and exceptional cabinetry and built in furniture that way boats were built at the time. The teak wood work gleams softly and is accented by the shining teak and holly cabin sole. As classic boats were laid out to sleep seven people, so is Shining Star. She has a V-berth forward with a double quarter berth aft and the salon settee makes a double to port with a single berth to starboard. It’s amazing! She’s so pretty. If you love classic yachts, you will so appreciate Shining Star. You’ll see why her owners have kept her and loved her for a long long time.
Shining Star was purchased in 1984 by her current owners who are lifelong sailors and lovers of this classic vessel. As an engineer and oceanographer the owner slowly upgraded Shining Star to be a capable long range cruising vessel is easily handled by just the owner and his wife. With a Schaefer in boom furling mainsail system and electric winches and an oversized autopilot she is easy to sail! Although based in the Chesapeake Bay in our “fresh water” Shining Star has cruised New England and Maine and she’s spent a few nice winters in Florida and the Bahamas.
Some of the major improvements:
This classic vessel is a very sweet boat. The owner has upgraded and maintained her over the years adding many improvements. Being an engineer, he has also documented these installations and reports that everything is well maintained and fully operational. She’s a sweet offering at a sweet price.
She’s ready! Are you? Give us a call to see this lovely boat.
Reach Bernie Jakits and the RogueWave Division at 443-742-1792 or [email protected]
RogueWave Yacht Sales has merged with David Walters Yachts! The RogueWave Division in Annapolis MD remains Your Choice for Blue Water Boats. Annapolis MD is the best place in the world to buy or sell a boat! We take great pride in helping our clients get into the right boat! Call us to discuss your sailing vision! We are always interested in marketing your high quality blue water capable boat!
Email [email protected] or call anytime, 443-742-1792.
The OC40 is a classic boat with a traditional interior. The very well executed mahogany joinery speaks with authority of quality we expect in yachts of the era when Hank Hinckley built his OC 40. The interior is beautifully finished with satin varnished mahogany with white overhead and solid teak and holly sole. The teak and holly sole completes the picture. The classic interior layout has sleeping quarters for seven people. Starting up forward, the forepeak chain locker is accessed through louvered doors forward which supply ventilation. The master stateroom is the traditional V-berth with a dressing seat between and the insert to make a wide comfy double. The large opening hatch provides ventilation and the fixed ports both port and starboard for light. There is a long storage shelf port and starboard and drawers and storage under the berth. There is also a vanity and a hanging locker and of course a privacy door. Just aft the Head to port and is accessed from the main salon. It is well ventilated with a screened opening port and an opening port light. There is a vanity with white Formica countertop hosts a stainless steel sink with hot and cold pressure water. The mirror medicine cabinet is a nice touch. There is even a hamper. The toilet is a Raritan PhEII system, new in 2011, with a diverter valve to either a macerator chlorinator system, or to a large holding tank bladder system under the under the v berths. The main salon is classic with a centerline mahogany drop-leaf table with settees port and starboard. On the forward bulkhead, there is a beautiful Dickerson Marine Newport propane fireplace. To port is an L-shaped settee with storage behind. This settee slides out to make a beautiful double berth. Outboard the port settee is a lovely louvered cabinet with a liquor storage rack and two open storage shelves between.
The varnished drop-leaf mahogany dining table has a built-in wine rack. Just aft of the companionway to port is the U-shaped galley. The aft cabin is a double quarter berth.
The navigation station is adjacent the galley to starboard. It is a sit down forward facing navigation station with a varnished mahogany table with cushioned seat and dome light over. A computer monitor is mounted at the forward end of the station, and can be viewed either forward for entertainment or viewed aft for cockpit viewed real time navigation. The table top opens and contains two independent electronic navigation systems powered by two Microsoft Windows 10 low-power computers. There are additional storage drawers, a locker with louvered doors below the table, and a chart light. This ships office also has the electrical panel, ship controls and audio receiver outboard.
Classic interior layout sleeps seven
Traditional V berths forward with insert to make a full double
Mahogany joinery and teak and holly sole
Dickerson cabin heater
L-shaped port side settee makes a double berth
Straight settee sea berth to starboard
Louvered locker doors for ventilation
Just aft of the companionway to port, the U-shaped galley
Electronics: Navigation and Communications
Hull and Deck
Construction: Spoon bow and graceful stern overhang, the hull was built using hand laid woven roving, and matt fiberglass. A Full thickness outer hull, non-wood core, and inner hull close to the thickness of the outer shell. She is one of the few hulls possibly strong enough to stay safe after a collision with a whale.
All exterior trim is varnished teak, including the raised toe rails, cabin house eyebrows, and cabin top hand rails port and starboard, winch and cowl vent bases and aft lazarette covers.
The locking companionway hatch with solid teak boards, varnished and edged in brass.
Dorade vents provide for adequate ventilation
Cockpit has a pedestal binnacle with Edson wheel steering
Sails and Rigging
Sloop rigged with removable (normally stowed) staysail stay.
She has a double spreader tapered aluminum main mast keel stepped
Stainless steel wire rigging with stainless turnbuckles
All sails in good condition
Mechanical and Electrical
Yanmar 4JH3 diesel engine - estimated 5,000 engine hrs.
Only premium oil used with oil changes every 150 hours
New Stainless steel shaft and cutlass bearing (2016)
Perfect pitch 3-blade prop
Dual Racor filters
The engine is accessed through a removable panel in the galley and through the sail lockers.
Aft lazarette is set up with two aluminum LP gas bottles, with solenoid and pressure gauge
Complete electrical with separate 12-volt DC and 110-volt AC systems with both DC and AC electrical panels. Electrical energy provided by battery charger, solar panels, large generator, and oversized batteries.
12-Volt DC system:
Gurnert refrigeration compressor draws 21 amps once or twice a day. The compressor is protected by a cooling water flow switch.
110-volt AC system:
Additional and Safety
777 SE 20th Street
Suite # 255
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 | <urn:uuid:7e260a3c-dbcb-4d4c-9f5e-43898984f092> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://www.yachtworld.de/Boote/1980/Ocean-Cruising-Yacht-OC40-3011700/ | 2017-08-19T10:59:22Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105341.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20170819105009-20170819125009-00080.warc.gz | en | 0.931978 | 1,928 |
Well, you can’t just lock them away, can you, those people who like nothing, who disagree with everything, who know better in all situations, and whose jaws would crack if ever forced into a genuine smile.
And you can’t avoid them either. Our days are so littered with people who think bullheadedness is strength; it’s why we have mats at our doors: to wipe our feet of them before we enter “home.” (Of course, if that difficult person lives in your home, I heartily recommend gardening and appropriate interpersonal therapy; misery loves company, yes, but it’s a poor party-thrower.)
So what’s to be done, and in what way, so that dealing with such people doesn’t sap your strength to the point where you no longer give two damns about being diplomatic?
I’ve found CROSSED works: Corrects, Realizes, Obviates, Spaces, Shuts, Empathizes, Directs. Listed in this order solely because acronyms (as with bowties) are cool.
Correction operates under the assumption that everyone wants to learn. We know they do not. We, however, must hope.
Difficult people tend to be like if-then computer statements: If I don’t get my way in some fashion, then I will become unpleasant. Indiscriminately. Everywhere. I will not listen to reason, I will not self-govern, I will not bend. Dr. Seuss wrote about this type of person in Green Eggs and Ham.
In order to gently correct this behavior, one must be creative, which means not meeting the difficult person on the battlefield of their liking, but shifting the emotional center of the scene so that they’re unsure of their footing. This is done by not reacting the way they might expect. It means being consistent, as in not capitulating to them (deep in their hearts they know as well as you they’ll love green eggs and ham). Finally, one should be prepared to confront: difficult people tend to inflate themselves to cover their own fears, silently hoping their display of fiery plumage or inflamed buttocks will make others back down before there’s any chance the difficult person will actually have to prove themselves.
For example, you may be dealing with a person who has to make a big show of exasperation any time they’re asked to do something. You can correct this by cutting them out of the picture since they only make a show so that their magnanimity is acknowledged. Doing it yourself (or even better, getting someone else to do it; difficult people hate being supplanted) drives your difficult person buggy, maybe even buggy enough – after several such training sessions – to begin to realize their difficulty is not desirable.
When faced with the illogic, stubbornness, or just plain mean nature of a difficult person, it’s important to realize a crucial fact: you’re dealing with an immature soul. Most of us get “stuck” soul-wise at a certain age. Some, unfortunately, at very young ones. Twelve. Fifteen. Twenty-two.
If you’re faced with a fifty-five year old whose difficult behavior matches that of a teenager, the urge to expect more from them strikes your grey matter fast and with pinpoint accuracy. When you realize you’re not going to get maturity from this person, it becomes your responsibility to change your game. If you’re dealing with an immature soul, consider the emotional currency that moves them. There are those who can’t get their acts together in the morning to save their lives. They jump out of bed late and make your morning a difficult hell while berating, “Stupid alarm didn’t go off!”
Interesting. Yours in your room down the hall went off perfectly fine… because you set it. The difficult, illogical teen-brain did not set theirs and somehow, in a Bizarro World scenario, blaming the clock for not being set makes sense. Rather than engage Bizarro in conversation about this, realize that telling them you’ll wait for them in the car, they have ten minutes, and that at eleven minutes they will enjoy a peaceful morning after the sound of your car driving off without them fades, is your best bet for less stress.
When they enter the car, smile and say, “Tomorrow, double check that alarm,” turn the ignition, and speak no more of it. They’ll want to speak of it (because they’ll have to defend themselves, it’s a compulsion). Do not. Engaging a worked-up childbrain in a debate is about as productive a use of your time as shouting complicated instructions at a duck.
Obviate means: to remove a need or difficulty; to prevent. In this sense, a difficult person is handled by showing them there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for their behavior/actions/attitude/etc.
A mirror gets held up to a DP’s heart to say, “Really? You’re doing this? THIS.” It almost requires you to be a detective laying out the facts of the case so far:
“All I asked was what time the movie starts,” to the difficult person who thinks you’re calling into question their event-planning skills.
“You’re already in the kitchen; you can bring me a bag of chips,” to the one who knows Hercules had it easier than them.
“If you don’t know the answer to the question, say so,” to the one who knows all, but will blather on to the nth degree to cover over the fact that they know zip.
When a difficult person is shown how silly they are, they may back down.
Space, The Quiet Frontier
No one grows beneath someone else’s thumb. That’s a fact for any personality type. Yes, with a difficult person, there’s a compulsion in us to help and correct their behavior, but there’s also a time to step back and let that person reach an epiphany on their own. If not an epiphany, a grudging realization. If not a grudging realization, at least you’ve given yourself and that person the potential for a seed to grow.
Confusion is common for difficult people. They want the square peg to go in the round hole so they can move on to pounding other things. Giving them space allows them to tire themselves out without the added strain of being defensive. If at all possible, remove yourself and allow the difficult one to work out on their own whatever “it” they’d rather blow out of proportion.
You may also like (article continues below):
- How To Deal With Emotionally Unintelligent People
- How To Control Your Emotions In Situations That Call For A Cool Head
- 15 Traits Of An Emotionally Mature Person
- 7 Things Emotionally Stable People Do Differently
Shut them down. Fight fire with fire. Except if they’re a ten, you’re eleven. There are times when a difficult person needs to know HERE THERE BE DRAGONS. Stand taller (sometimes physically, preferably mentally) than them and let them know they can be pigheaded, foolish, obstinate, selfish, petty, aggressive at their own risk.
Yes, we’ve shut them down… and now, because we’re good people, there’s that twinge we turn away from, that inner glomp that sticks itself to our brains no matter how much we try to shake it off: our empathy.
We know difficult people are unhappy; that there’s a complex set of compensating mechanisms and gears clacking away inside them. This doesn’t excuse their behavior, but practicing empathy does prevent you from having chronic high blood pressure. There are times when a difficult person simply needs a “Hey, it’s OK” to rehumanize them.
One thing about difficult people is that they’re addicted to their personalities: they need to be an obstacle in order to feel seen or heard. That’s inherently sad, so you can try to be a bit of light to them as long as it doesn’t drain you doing so. Draining others is part of the DP’s bag of addiction-matrix tricks.
This differs from shutting them down. This is where you take complete and utter control of a situation, ignoring every possible outcome of triggering their delicate sensibilities. Visually put, if they’re the log, you’re the river, directing that piece of dead wood’s course. You don’t even acknowledge that they’re difficult (which is yet more Kryptonite to a difficult person): the end result of your interaction with them is all that matters. If you’re not feeding their Ego/Id beast you’ll find that difficult people often slump into line and do what needs to be done.
Finally, and best, the mature individual knows to replenish themselves after navigating the minefields of difficult people. Make sure that there is art in your life, that and good food. And a place where difficulty cannot enter: perhaps a garden, perhaps sacred meditation time, perhaps a daily walk. Always keep in mind that if our lot in life is to routinely encounter difficult people, the corollary is as important and true: to actively and routinely create positive spaces. | <urn:uuid:e08baca4-c85b-4477-8f93-6645f5212a86> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://www.aconsciousrethink.com/5608/7-ways-emotionally-mature-individual-handles-difficult-people/ | 2017-08-19T11:12:15Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105341.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20170819105009-20170819125009-00080.warc.gz | en | 0.958112 | 2,020 |
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Unless you’re involved with a narcissist, histrionic, borderline or psychopath in which case gird your loins and spike your eggnog. Long suffering spouses, partners and families often grow to dread the annual quest for the perfect holiday, the perfect family and the perfect gift for their insatiable, never-satisfied narcissists.
Why are narcissists and borderlines typically hellbent on making sure it’s a miserable holiday?
There are several possible reasons:
- Control. It’s just another way for the narcissist to control everyone. Narcissists and borderlines tend to act out on special occasions more than usual, which gets you to jump through more hoops than usual, so best get hopping. On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen! Move it!
- Center of Attention. It’s all about the narcissist or borderline. By escalating her or his typical bad behaviors during the holidays, they become the center of attention. You and the rest of the family walk on eggshells to please them and make sure everything is to their liking, which is unlikely to happen anyway. At least not the way you think. What they like is making others tiptoe around and cater to them.
- Party Pooper. Narcissists like to turn fun into dysfunction. It’s not enough for them to be sullen and angry; all the Who’s in Whoville need to be miserable, too. In fact, it warms the narcissist’s two sizes too small heart to ruin holidays.
- Unhappy childhoods. Some narcissists and borderlines have horrible memories of the holidays from their childhoods. Instead of choosing a different path they continue the painful tradition in their adult lives. Bah humbug!
- Isolation. Many narcissists, borderlines and psychopaths wreck the holidays to avoid spending time with your family or keep you from seeing your family. Why? See above.
It doesn’t matter how much you spend or how much thought you put into selecting a present; you’re going to fail. Why not go down in flames with a laugh? Here are some suggestions for what to give the narcissist, borderline, histrionic or psychopath in your life this year:
1. The Disney Princess Magic Talking Mirror Set. This enchanted mirror allows your self-appointed princess or prince to gaze at their reflection and be told, “You look too lovely today! You’re the fairest in the land! You’re the most beautiful princess/prince in the whole world.”
It’s a must-have for every narcissist on your gift list this year. Plus, if you buy a bulk package of batteries from Costco, it will save some time and energy in the undying adoration department. She’ll be thrilled with her new never-ending narcissistic supply and you’ll be a hero for 5 minutes –until she starts to compare you to the mirror. Why can’t you be more like my Magic Mirror? SIGH. . .
2. The Green Hornet Hot Shot Electric Cattle Prod. Think of the endless hours of fun your narcissist will have zapping you when you least expect it. If she or he had any friends, they’d all be green with envy. . . “How dare you criticize me!” Zap. “Who do you think you are to question me!” Zap. “Stop being so sensitive.” Zap. “I shouldn’t have to tell you what I want; you should know.” Zap. “I’m bored.” Zap. Dance monkey!” Zap.
3. A Box of Applause. I was going to write my own description, but it’s impossible to improve upon the sales blurb at Sky Mall:
Craving a little recognition? Someone who gets your jokes? Open the Box of Applause and be greeted with the sounds of cheering and clapping from a very enthusiastic crowd. Close your eyes and imagine yourself accepting that Oscar, Nobel Prize or Best Comedy Emmy.
Yes, this is the real product description. I wonder if there’s an R & D department just for narcissists?
4. GPS Tracking Apps. Tired of your narcissist or borderline’s endless interrogations? Where were you? Who were you with? Who did you talk to? Where did you go after work? You were gone too long to just have been at the store! Who is she?!?!?!? WHO IS SHE?!?!?!???!?!?!?
Indulge her controlling nature and put her pathological jealousy to rest with one of a myriad of GPS tracking apps for your smartphone that follows your every move. Sure it’s abnormal, controlling and abusive, but it’s less invasive than a microchip embedded in your molar or a radio signal device up your butt.
5. Retractable Leash and Collar. It’s the perfect gift to show who’s really in charge. Since narcissists enjoy yanking people’s chains, why not give them the real thing? Why a retractable leash instead of a basic leash? All the better to screw with your head, of course.
Your narcissist will give you just enough lead to let you momentarily experience a sense of freedom. Then with the mere push of a button — CLICK — your feet fly out from underneath you and you’re flat on your back wondering what the heck happened. Changing the length of the leash at will gives the narcissist the added bonus of the element of surprise.
And as long as we’re on a canine theme. . .
6. Your Very Own Dog House. No more move over, Rover! It’s the perfect gift for when you disappoint your narcissist or borderline, displease her or try to do something nice for her. Yes you did all the laundry, but you didn’t fold the towels the way she likes. Yes, you took his car to get serviced on your lunch hour, but you didn’t bring it back with a full tank of gas. You were breathing to loud. You looked at him the wrong way. You didn’t respond to her quickly enough. What can you do? Where can you go? Your very own dog house!
Far enough from the narcissist or borderline, yet close enough to trigger neither fears of abandonment nor fears of engulfment. Genius.
Many narcissists think there’s no greater punishment than giving you the silent treatment or banishing you from their presence. Initially, it may feel very bad being deprived of their very special brand of sunshine. Give it time. If you stay with your narcissist or borderline long enough, you’ll treasure those moments of silence. * Satellite TV hook-up ready.
7. Stigmata Costume. It’s the perfect gift for your favorite martyr/professional victim! Nothing quite says, “See how much I sacrifice for you! I do everything around here. You never lift a finger to help me! Hey! Stop mopping the floor when I’m talking to you! And that’s another thing, you NEVER listen to me. Stop paying the bills and LISTEN TO ME!!! You don’t love me. The only person you think about is yourself!” than some nice oozing stigmata wounds.
Many Cluster B personalities (narcissists, borderlines, histrionics and sociopaths) are notoriously lazy. Wearing fake stigmata will save your martyr precious time from her or his busy Facebook/Instagram schedule by allowing them to shorthand their usual victim shtick. Instead of her “me, victim — you, jerk” routine, a simple hand gesture will do. *Wooden cross not included.
The plastic photo pouch allows your narcissistic wife/girlfriend/ex to personalize her psychotic rage episodes or cold silences when you’re not available or switch out soulmates as they change. She can yell at or ignore Pinky whenever it strikes her fancy. Best of all she can unleash her demons with zero damage to you! He can also act as a stand-in for when she starts one of her pointless, endless grievance sessions right before bedtime after you’ve had a hard day at work.
As an added bonus, when you’re finally ready to end your abusive relationship, your ex will have someone on whom to take out her frustrations. *Air pump sold separately.
*** [Moment of seriousness]: There is no Wife/Girlfriend version of this available. What does that tell you about the domestic violence double standard our society has about female DV victims vs. male DV victims?
9. The Narcissistic Wife Warning Ringtone. Forewarned is forearmed. You’ll know exactly who’s calling when the warning siren sounds. Dive! Dive! Dive! (*Also available in the Narcissistic Husband Warning Ringtone).
10. The Mr Wonderful Talking Doll. Tired of never getting it right? Tired of always saying the wrong thing? Meet your new best friend, the Mr Wonderful Talking Doll. He always knows just what to say to soothe the savage breast.
For example, your wife or girlfriend can give him a squeeze (or throw him across the room) and Mr Wonderful will respond, “Why don’t we go to the mall? Don’t you want some new shoes? You look beautiful in the morning. The ball game isn’t important. I’d rather spend time with you. Let’s talk about our relationship.” And if Mr Wonderful doesn’t get it right? Well, everything’s always your fault anyway, so what’s one more item added to her laundry list of grievances? *Ms Wonderful Doll also available at Amazon.
11. Noise Cancelling Headphones. This one’s for you. No explanation necessary.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Whatever You Celebrate and Happy New Year!
Want to Say Goodbye to Crazy? Buy it HERE.
Counseling, Consulting and Coaching with Dr. Tara J. Palmatier, PsyD
Dr. Tara J. Palmatier, PsyD provides individual services to help individuals work through their relationship issues via telephone or Skype, particularly men and women trying to break free of an abusive relationship, cope with the stress of an abusive relationship or heal from an abusive relationship. Her practice combines practical advice, support, reality testing and goal-oriented outcomes. Please visit the Services page for professional inquiries. | <urn:uuid:8ca548cd-34eb-4dc6-af25-5b90b4a4cb16> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://shrink4men.com/2016/12/23/last-minute-christmas-gifts-for-narcissists-and-for-you/ | 2017-08-20T07:47:56Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886106358.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20170820073631-20170820093631-00160.warc.gz | en | 0.930683 | 2,255 |
I am of the seventh generation since my great-great-great-great-great-great grandparents, Fructuoso Cholom and Yginina Yunisyunis, emerged from Mission San Carlos de Borromeo in Carmel, California in the mid-1830's. I am half white, half Indian, mixed with Mexican and Jewish tribes. When I look at all that has passed since Fructuoso Cholom and Yginia Yunisyunis were emancipated, I wonder if they dreamed that their descendants would still be struggling to free ourselves, seven generations later.
When I look toward the next seven generations, I imagine this is the kind of story that my descendants will tell, seven generations from now, in the future mythology of the Mestiza Nation.
Once there was a girl without a mother.
She’d never had a mother, even though she called the woman who gave birth to her Mama. This woman kept leaving her daughter behind at relative’s homes or forgetting her in stores. It wasn’t entirely Mama’s fault; often when she thought her arms were full of little girl, or that the little girl was safely clutching Mama’s hand, it was really the ghost of a daughter Mama had lost years ago.
So when Mama felt the weight of a child heavy against her hip or tugging at her arm, she didn’t know it was actually the pull of persistent sorrow distracting her from the real child. Sometimes the real little girl caught sight of her dead sister, hungrily wrapping her chubby arms around Mama’s neck as they went out the door together, leaving the little girl once again. Sometimes the little girl’s father followed them.
Her father was why the little girl was different from her older sister and brother. They were light-skinned, with clear blue eyes and hair the color of cornflakes. But the girl without a mother was cinnamon-colored, with thick dark hair, vivid against her family. When the girl without a mother held hands with her brother or sister to cross the street, their long slender fingers seem to tangle up with her wide flat palms and short fingers. At the park, no one listened to the little girl when she claimed her brother and sister, not even when the big sister yelled at the bullies trying to push her off the swing.
The girl without a mother began to understand that she was invisible. She wondered if this was why her Ghost Sister had become a ghost in the first place; if she herself were becoming a less and less real, too.
Eventually the woman who gave birth to the little girl went away and didn’t come back. Secretly, the girl thought perhaps her mother was looking for the girl’s father, who had been missing for some time now. The big sister didn’t tell anyone, but bathed her little brother and sister each night, fed them cereal each morning, dropped the little girl off at a babysitter’s, rode the bus with the little brother to school. In the evenings, the big sister brushed the little girl’s hair, and helped the little brother with his homework, but one day, the food ran out. The big sister, who was only eleven years old, had to call a grown-up. The older brother and sister were taken to a foster home, a place for children without parents. But the home only had space for older children. Bring the little one back in the fall, said the people in charge. We might have room then.
That is how the girl without a mother came to stay with her mother’s parents for one short season.
Her mother’s parents were light-skinned and blue-eyed as well, but in those days it was common for such people to settle in the very land from which the little girl’s father and his people had emerged. The girl loved her grandmother’s house in the dry Tehachapi Mountains; she spent the summer playing with lizards and horned toads, sleeping between cool cotton sheets, watching the glimmer of hummingbirds come to her grandmother’s feeder very early in the morning. Her dark eyes feasted on the sagebrush dotting the brown hills, and she spoke regularly with a black bird perched in the manzanita behind the house. She ran barefoot whenever she could, her feet finding joy in the dust. Once, she sat down on some ants who were busy with their own matters, and was badly bitten. Later, after apologizing to the ants, the little girl watched them work for hours, at a distance.
Every evening the grandmother bathed the girl in a deep shiny white tub, but no matter how hard the woman scrubbed, the colors wrought by soil and sun would not be cleansed from the girl’s knees and cheeks.
“More like that man every day,” the grandfather muttered to himself, shaking his head. “The sooner they have room for her at Mrs. Samm’s the better.”
But the grandmother saw her own lost daughter in this little girl’s movements, and wished for a chance to correct her mistakes as a mother. The grandmother let the girl without a mother sow corn in the small fenced flower garden, where the green stalks were watered generously each evening along with the morning glories, petunias, pansies, tall daisies and brilliant orange poppies.
When the corn reached the girl’s waist, the foster family called: they still had no room for the girl without a mother. The grandfather silenced the grandmother’s look with a curt, “No.” The grandmother turned away.
No one asked the girl where she would like to live. She would have chosen to stay and see the corn grow past her head. But one day before the sun was up, her grandmother came to wake her for a trip to a yet another place.
The girl without a mother stood on the steps of her grandmother’s house. Behind her rose a mountain, dark and seemingly still. Before her rose the sky, arched black and brilliant with stars, and the cleft of a long valley. The air was dry, cool, gently opening.
From her grandmother’s garden came the smooth slippery surge of petunias, snapdragons, poppies. The happy leaves of the corn plants shivered with pleasure as they grew upwards in their slow spiral. The girl without a mother stood alone, huddled in a soft sweater, wearing only a sundress underneath because it would be hot later. Inside the house, her grandmother packed sandwiches and thermoses of coffee and milk. The grandmother cried as she tightened the lids of containers.
No person saw this; only the grandmother’s heart knew this grief that she would not speak of until she was a very old woman, many thousands of miles away from this place, dying, and asking forgiveness. In the garage, the grandfather loaded up the truck that would take the girl without a mother away. He would start the motor any minute.
But for one moment before dawn the world was humming with quiet power, and the girl without a mother heard a funny sound.
Thump and pause. Thump and pause. Scraps of a song wandered in between the sounds. It almost seemed to be asking a question, a question the girl couldn’t quite hear all the words to, but that she wanted to answer. Thump, pause. Thump, pause, song.
The girl went quickly down the wooden steps and around the back of the house, stepping carefully around the gopher traps she’d watched her grandfather set. Thump, pause. Song, song, song. The girl wandered into a dry streambed, followed the stones. The rocks were washed and smooth and she could see where to put her feet better and more easily the longer she climbed; the sun was following behind her.
She climbed and climbed. When the girl without a mother got tired, a woman came to meet her, and took her through the side of the mountain. Come here, this way, the woman said; she picked up her grinding stone and basket, pushed aside a curtain of dried grasses and sticks. We are little rabbits looking for our nest, she smiled, we are fawns, called to our mother’s side in the warm grass. And the girl without a mother followed the song of the woman who came out of a mountain.
Inside the opening was a cool, sandy tunnel. The darkness seemed soft, like a light blanket, not frightening at all. After only a few steps, the two came out into another place, a land with a stream full of big silver fish swimming lazily in from the sea, seemingly straight into the nets and hands of laughing men; oak trees covered thick green hills. Under the heavy branches, families with baskets gathered acorns, children played while they worked, women were easy with their voices. The girl without a mother noticed right away that some of the people were darker than her, and some of them were lighter.
The woman who came out of a mountain gestured to the new place. See, this is where you will live now.
Are you going to be my mother? asked the girl without a mother, taking off her blue sweater and letting it slide to the ground.
No, I’m just an old woman, laughed the woman who came out of a mountain. Not many children here have mothers. But you’ll be cared for. This is getting to be a big family. We’re busy just now – acorns, salmon, islay are good this year. You’ll have to help.
By now the little girl had stripped off her sundress, and her black patent leather shoes that squished her toes, and the white slippery socks that made her feet sweat. She stood in itchy underwear that got caught in all the wrong places but had been her secret armor against the dark. Hardly anyone here wore clothes except for pretty, she noticed; but most girls her age had a rustly skirt. Can I have one of those? she asked, pointing to two girls running by with empty baskets in their arms. And a basket like that for working?
The woman who came out of a mountain reached out and stopped the other children. This is the girl I went to find, explained the woman. Help her make a skirt, and give her a basket. She’ll work with you.
The three girls looked at each other. The girl without a mother was astonished. One of the girls had a dark, serious face much like her own – short nose, arched eyebrows, thin lips – but freckles washed across her cheeks. Her eyes sparkled black and made the girl rise on her tiptoes with a laugh. Her hair was shiny black and thick, like the little girl’s, too.
The second girl stood light and alive, as if she could hardly keep from dancing away; her skin was the color of sand in the river, and her eyes glimmered brown and green like water over deep rocks. Yet her hair had the same still darkness as her companion’s.
The girl without a mother knew with a certainty that here were others who had not matched their families.
Suddenly both girls smiled, and the girl without a mother, who had no brothers or sisters who looked the way she did, felt a grin blossom on her own face. Some scar sealed shut in her chest opened; warm, strong, blood rushed in.
The first girl held out a round basket, revealing her wide flat palm and short strong fingers.
It was all a long time ago, longer than anyone remembers. On the other side of the tunnel, people searched for the girl without a mother. They had dogs who tracked her faint scent up a rocky streambed, farther than anyone believed she could have walked. But even the dogs couldn’t find any sign past a place where the arroyo curved sharply around a big hill dense with sagebrush and rabbit holes.
Long after the little girl’s corn had ripened, taller than the grandmother and heavy with fat ears, the grandparents ceased looking. The foster family didn’t have room for the many other children in that place without mothers, anyway. People slowly forgot about the girl without a mother, though her grandmother came out before dawn and listened hard for music she was almost afraid to hear.
Every once in awhile the woman who came out of a mountain went back, pushed aside the curtain of sagebrush and manzanita, and looked out. She could see a long, long way from her hill; clearly, too.
Sometimes her sharp eyes caught sight of a certain kind of child. Then the woman who came out of a mountain would take her grinding stones and basket, sit by the entrance, and sing. If the child were very small, the woman would walk quietly down the streambed to meet him. If the child were older, the woman sang soothing songs to encourage her.
None of the children who came to her ever arrived unharmed, but the woman who came out of a mountain always took them home with her anyway.
This is the song she sang:
Ah hey way lo lo, hey way
lo lo, hey way lo-lo;
Lo lo, hey-hey, ah hey way
lo lo, hey way lo-lo;
A hey way lo lo, hey way
lo lo, hey way lo-lo
lo lo hey hey
hey way lo lo
hey way lo lo
lo lo hey hey
ah hey way lo lo
hey way lo lo
hey way lo lo . . . | <urn:uuid:50c3986d-c22c-43b4-895e-d638f0a79dbc> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://whenturtlesfly.blogspot.com/2010/08/mestiza-nation-future-history-of-my.html | 2017-08-20T08:05:38Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886106358.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20170820073631-20170820093631-00160.warc.gz | en | 0.978463 | 2,861 |
You were probably wondering when I would get around to publishing a review of a Cambridge Bible! After all, it is the oldest and one of the most prestigious Bible publishers around. Well, your wait is over (if anyone has actually been waiting!).
Before I get into details, let me repeat something I may have said elsewhere. Unlike most publishers, Cambridge does not publish its own translation(s). Neither does it just order and wrap up text blocks from other publishers in their own leather. Rather, they come up with their own typesettings using a variety of translations. For this reason, Cambridge might just be my favorite Bible publisher. In the next couple months, we’ll take a look at a number of their fantastic typesettings, including but not limited the famous Pitt Minion, Clarion, and Wide Margin.
I will begin today with a review featuring three editions in Cambridge’s Wide-Margin line (Henceforth “WM”): the ESV Wide Margin in black goatskin, the KJV Concord Wide Margin in black goatskin, and the NASB Wide-Margin in black calf split. I will begin with features that are true of all three, then I will zero in on what is distinct about the various choices. I will conclude with two thoughts as to the supreme usefulness of WM Bibles.
Cambridge WM Internals
J. Mark Bertrand of Bible Design Blog writes:
If you’re new to the Cambridge drill, let me explain that the Wide Margin Reference editions are basically grown up versions of the Pitt Minion. But instead of structured covers that spring open, the Wide Margin References have luxuriously soft, indolently flexible, elegantly slouching goatskin covers. If hedonists had a Bible, this would be it.”
The paper in these Bibles is exemplary. They feature 38 GSM Tervakoski Thinopaque Bible paper with an 84% opacity rating. This is the highest opacity in any Bible I know of aside from the Schuyler Quentel NASB; and high opacity is of paramount importance in a Bible designed for note taking, like this one. The end result: it handles ink famously with minimal show through on the opposing side of the page.
The page spread on these Bibles is simply breathtaking. (Ok, I know, I get too excited about Bible design!). I love the appearance of all that white space and the way it frames in the text columns. When it sits open before me, I feel like a scribe in front of a elegant, medieval codex. I guess what I’m trying to say is this: As wonderful as those margins are for writing in, they look absolutely beautiful blank too! As for specifics, the outside margin is 1.25″ and top, bottom and inside are all 1″ (difference on Concord WM, see below). My one lament with the margin space is that the inside margin is much smaller than the outside, leaving little space for notes in the gutter. If this were a single column Bible, it wouldn’t matter so much. All your notes could be in the outer margin. But as this is a double column setting, there is less space for notes on the inside column. The inside column is no less God’s Word and no less worthy of notes than the outside column! But I suppose the note taker could use the top and bottom margin to fill in this gap.
In order to include thick paper, wide margins, and keep the Bible to a manageable size, something had to give: Font size. The 8.2 point font is not huge, nor is it tiny…it is the standard font size in many Thinline Bibles, and most people won’t mind it at all. Personally, I prefer 9 point and higher.
And as long as I’m on the topic of size, here are the dimensions: roughly 9″ x 7.25″ x 1.25″ (and the Concord WM is even thicker at 1.5″). This is a pretty big Bible. While the trim size is larger than your average study Bible, the WM is thinner. Bottom line: it is big, but not unmanageably so. Mark Driscoll uses (or should I say, used?) it as his pulpit Bible to great avail!
Finally, the format on all the WMs besides the Concord is paragraphed text in two columns with center column cross-references. Pretty standard. One special note is that the pagination on these lines up perfectly with the similarly formatted but much smaller Pitt Minion series, which makes the two good companions (a big brother / little brother sort of thing).
A Distinct Note on the Concord Wide-Margin
The Concord WM is a slightly different text block than the other editions in the Cambridge WM line. It is noticeably thicker, and the inside looks even better with its bolder font. I’m not sure if the paper is more opaque. Perhaps the added thickness is due to (a) the fact that it’s layout is verse-by-verse as opposed to the paragraph format on the other WMs (b) and because the inside and bottom margin on the Concord WM are both 1.25″, making them .25″ bigger than on the other Bibles in the WM line.
The goatskin editions in the WM line are edge-lined, as opposed to the traditional paste-down binding style, which means they are at once longer lasting and more liquid. They are more liquid in that the edge-lining allows the cover a great deal of flexibility; and paired with the generous trim size, this makes for the most limp and buttery Bible I have ever held. Hence, it is ideal for sitting on the desk or the pulpit. I approve!
The calf-split (also available in ESV, KJV, and NIV) is nowhere near as liquid as the goatskin. This is not necessarily a strike against it, though. Some will prefer the support afforded by this stiffer cover, particularly with how large the trim size is and thus how unwieldy the goatskin edition can become in the preacher’s hands. It is still quite limp, however. Compare Bible yoga with the goatskin edition in the photo!
Another thing to note about the calf-split is that it does not feature art-gilt page edges. Some may prefer it this way, and some may simply not care enough to fork over the extra money required for the goatskin. Either way, this is a fine alternative that is more budget-friendly. Also, the pebble-grain of the calf-split is quite beautiful (see below).
If you’re at all like me, you may ask yourself, “What in the world is “calf-split leather?!” I asked Mr. Groser of Cambridge University Press, and I’ll quote his entire answer, which is enlightening if you’re interested:
The original calf hide has been split into two pieces at the tannery with the top side going for other purposes (car upholstery, posh shoe liners etc.) while the bottom side, which crucially contains the strongest fibre structure is reserved for bookbinding which requires tough and resilient material due to the wear and tear that books undergo. During the tanning process a realistic, though artificial grain, is embossed on the top of the hide but all other treatments are the same as for a full calfskin or goat. The fact that the tannery is obtaining effectively two hides from one makes the material somewhat cheaper than the full grain calf or goat, though due to the other treatments and processes, but not 50% cheaper! As the cover material, as well as the cover making constitutes a not insignificant proportion of the cost of the binding of the Bible it offers a slightly more economic, though still attractive option. Incidentally, almost all Bible covers, especially in the US, that are termed ‘Genuine leather’ are ‘split’ pigskins which have a more synthetic appearance and feel. We use the term Calf-split leather, which is a traditional term firstly to be clear as to what the material is – a split calfskin – and secondly to differentiate from other ‘genuine leathers’ although it is a subset of that wider definition; but we believe calf to be more refined than pig.
I love it! I think Jews and Muslims would agree with Bob in his last comment 🙂 !
So far, there are few Bibles that, after much handling and reading, still make me genuinely excited. The Cambridge WM makes this list. In sum, this is due to the beautiful interior layout that is also very useful for the note taker. The cover materials and details are fantastic, and this Bible would make a fine lifelong companion for the reader of God’s Word.
Here are some ideas for how to use the margins. I’ll begin with another quote from J. Mark Bertrand. He writes,
You really should have a wide margin Bible. Seriously. In my mind, it’s non-negotiable, and it has nothing to do with binding quality or design know-how. A wide margin edition offers a way for you to engage visibly with the text. You encounter a difficult passage, you do some thinking, some research, and once you’ve processed your thoughts you record the conclusions in the margin, forever nearby for future reference. Over time, you end up with a marginal “key,” a road map of interpretation that can be surprisingly useful as your knowledge grows and you make more and more connections between one passage and another.
So there is one key use…essentially making your own study Bible! In another place, I even recall J. Mark Bertrand calling a WM Bible “the thinking man’s study Bible.” I believe he was on to something. And on this note, don’t forget the dozens of pages of lined notebook paper in the back! Look here to see the margins in action.
Another use, suggested by a friend in a good video overview, is documenting prayers and your own spiritual growth related to specific passages, which makes for a nice heirloom to pass to your children!
Do you have any other suggestions for how to make use of the margin space? I’d love to hear them in the comments below.
- Here are all the options: ESV: Black Goatskin (red or black letter), Brown Bonded Leather, Gray Hardcover. NASB: Green Hardcover, Black Goatskin, Black French Morocco, Black Calf-Split. KJV: Black Goatskin, Black Calf-Split. NKJV: Black Goatskin, Blue Hardcover. NIV: Black Calf-Split.
- The goatskin ESV is available in black letter and red letter, the only other difference being that the red letter has red ribbons and the black letter has black ribbons.
And lest we get lost in leather-bound English-Bible luxury, please remember to pray for translations in the remaining 1,859 Bible-less languages in our world. Click here to see my heart on the matter and to even support the work of Bible translation. | <urn:uuid:aa4e4971-5ce7-4987-b4d2-8a7435a1fd1b> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://writness.wordpress.com/2014/10/18/cambridge-bibles-the-wide-margin-reference-series/comment-page-1/ | 2017-08-20T07:53:52Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886106358.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20170820073631-20170820093631-00160.warc.gz | en | 0.950348 | 2,346 |
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(Only available on select devices running Android 4.1+, see the list at http://tinyurl.com/listmtt) - Nurture your very own Tom: Play games with him, feed him his favorite foods, tuck him into bed. - Visit your friends & other players' Talking Toms: Check out the apartments and look of other Toms, find treasure chests and get coins! - Enjoy life-like emotions: Tom can be happy, hungry, sleepy, bored... his emotions change according to how you play with him. - Unleash your creativity: Create your very own Tom by choosing from 1000’s of combinations of furs, clothing and furniture. | <urn:uuid:399ccdf4-4408-4b60-b5eb-6ad456884c8c> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/my-good-talking-2-tom-cat/lamckjmlihjhgkkmaijgckjmoollmnnn?hl=en | 2017-08-22T22:46:23Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886116921.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20170822221214-20170823001214-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.694229 | 1,694 |
July 24, 2016
William G. Carter
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray."
To be a disciple is to be a student. So it’s good to hear that the twelve disciples of Jesus were still teachable. They see Jesus praying, wait for him to say Amen, and then say, “Lord, teach us to do that. Teach us to pray!”
It’s a striking request, for a couple of reasons. According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus was always praying. On the day of his baptism, he was praying when the heavens opened and the dove came down (3:21). It was his custom to slip away from the crowds to pray (5:16). The night before he selected the first twelve disciples, he went up on a mountain and spent all night praying (6:12).
Another time, in the middle of a prayer, he looked up at the twelve and asked, “Who do people say that I am?” And then he told them how he would suffer, die, and be raised (9:13). Shortly after that, he took three of them up a high mountain where his appearance changed – his clothes were dazzling white, his face was transfigured – and it happened, says Luke, while Jesus was praying (9:29).
His was a vital prayer life. Jesus was always praying – and the twelve said, “Teach us to pray.” They wanted something of what he had. They knew he could teach them.
But it’s a striking request, because every one of them was a Jew. They had a book of prayers called the Psalms. They committed these prayers to memory. With the prayers inscribed in their liturgies, the Jewish disciples had prayers for every occasion: when you rise to begin your day, when you lie down to hand over the night to God. If you need help with an enemy, the Psalms offered the prayers. If you wished to thank God for safe passage through the mountains, or an abundant harvest, or the success of a child birth, the Jews already had the prayers. They knew the life of faith is filled with prayers, prayers for every possible occasion.
But these twelve were looking for something even deeper. “Teach us,” they said to the Master. “Teach us to pray.”
So he gave them the words. “Father…Abba, Daddy…” He addresses God with affection. “Hallowed be your name.” Hallowed is Holy, apart from us, guarded and distinct. God can be addressed with affection, but God stands apart from you, holy and completely Other.
“Your kingdom come . . .” This is the heart of the prayer, a request that the God who rules over the solar systems and the barn swallows would also come to rule over the situations that we know: the broken bones, the wounded hearts, the fierce injustices. We want the God who rules over everything to rule over us.
Then it gets specific: “Give us each day the bread we need for today.” That is a request as old as the story of manna in the wilderness. (Exodus 16). God sends food from heaven for the Israelites as they wander in the wilderness. It comes every day, twice on the day before the Sabbath. But it cannot be hoarded or else it rots. It is only bread for today. We need it. We don’t have it. We ask God for it.
“And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.” Luke takes the edge off of Matthew’s version of the prayer. In Matthew, the forgiveness we request sounds conditional on our ability to forgive. Recall: “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” But in Luke, Jesus assumes that we are already forgiving others, in the name of a God we wish to forgive us.
“And do not bring us to the time of trial.” That sounds ominous, as if the Father to whom we pray is the One who can also test us. It’s like that story in the first chapter of Mark’s Gospel. After Jesus is baptized, the Spirit of God hurls him into the wild places to be tested by the Devil. God sends him to confront evil on its own turf. That is going to be a decisive test! Do you want God to test you? Jesus says, “Pray that you are delivered from this.”
Here is how to pray, says Jesus. With simple words, with direct speech, focusing on the life and death issues before us every day, always praying for God to come and rule over us and our lives.
Yet the instruction is not complete. It’s not enough to merely write down the words, to recite them every day, and to mumble them when prayer becomes a habit. Jesus goes on to say some more.
Suppose you find yourself in need of daily bread, he says. A friend has come to stay with you, and both of you need the food. Now, suppose you went to a neighbor, knocked on the door, and said, “Can I get borrow some food for my guest and my family?” The neighbor is not going to turn you down. He’s a Middle Easterner. Generous hospitality is the name of the game. He’s not going to yell, “Go away, I’ve already gone to bed for the night” – especially if you persist in asking.
With this, Jesus leans over the pulpit to wink and say, “And how much more generous is God than your sleepy hospitable neighbor?”
He is still talking about prayer. Prayer is something more than saying the words. We have to stay at it, we have to persist. We have to make it real. Prayer is asking for bread, not cake. It is staying at matters of great urgency, not flaying at thin superficialities. It is swimming from the shallow end of our need to the depths of God’s great mystery. To a great extent, when we pray, we are always in over our heads.
Even the apostle Paul - schooled as a rabbi, trained in scripture, well experienced in the grace of God – could exclaim in one of his letters, “We don’t know how to pray as we ought” (Romans 8:26). He’s clear about that. We don’t know how to do it perfectly. We ask for small needs to be met by a God who directs the comets and plants the giant sequoia trees. We ask for justice when we are busy perpetuating injustice.
Sometimes life is so confusing. At the peak of the Civil War, with North against South, gray against blue, brother against brother, President Lincoln stood to say, “Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other… The prayers of both could not be answered, that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes.” Or as the prophet Isaiah speaks truth, “God’s ways are not our ways.”
We don’t know how to pray perfectly, because we often make it all about us. “Lord, give me this. Lord, give me that.” Prayer is not about getting what we want – it is about opening ourselves to what God wishes to give us. God desires to rule over us: thy kingdom come! God creates us to live in peace: forgive us our sins, including the sin of being incapable of forgiving others, much less ourselves. God calls us to live holy lives: Lead us not to the test, Lord.
We pray for God to provide what God has already desired to provide. Prayer is so much more than reciting a little formula or asking for magic. It is participating in the holy life of God, staying with the divine joy that carries us even when life looks bleak and the road ahead is foggy. Prayer is daring to go into the deep end, where the mysterious waters of grace are way over your head, and trusting that whatever happens, you are met – you are loved – and there will be daily bread upon your table. Not because you put it there, but because God is behind it, giving it to all who ask.
“Teach us to pray.” To learn about prayer is to learn all over again about God. God is generous, providing everything that the world needs to flourish. God is creative, planting dandelions in the cracks of concrete, giving life where no one expects to find.
And God is inclined to love us. “What father,” asks Jesus, “will give a snake to the son who asks for a fish? Or a scorpion to the daughter who asks for an omelet?” No father would do that, no mother could do that. Not if the parent loves the child.
Now we are getting to the heart of it. To pray is to participate in a relationship. It is entering and re-entering the dominion of God’s Love that lies at the center of all things. It is drawing near a Table we did not set, to appreciate a sacrifice that we did not make, to receive a mercy that we did not imagine, to welcome the Breath that filled the lungs of Christ into our lungs, into our bloodstream, into our very lives. Prayer is communion with God, the verbal sacrament before all other sacraments. We ask God to fill our silences and inhabit our words, until God’s desires for us are greater than our own desires for ourselves.
Want to learn how to pray? Do you really want to learn? Stay at it. Ask, knock, keep asking and knocking. Search for God until God finds you. Be willing for God to change you. Know in advance that, as you pray, God’s Spirit will work in you. This is the essence of the relationship.
So here is a parable from the early Christians who went to the desert. There were two leaders, Lot and Joseph. Both were honored as spiritual leaders, and given the name “Abba” – Abba Lot and Abba Joseph.
Abba Lot came to Abba Joseph and said: Father, according as I am able, I keep my little rule, and my little fast, my prayer, meditation and contemplative silence; and, according as I am able, I strive to cleanse my heart of thoughts: now what more should I do?
The elder rose up in reply and stretched out his hands to heaven, and his fingers became like ten lamps of fire. He said: Why not become fire?
Now that is where prayer promises to take us: to fill us afresh with the Spirit of God. | <urn:uuid:31ee88ce-9bce-428d-8775-71846944733d> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://billcartersermons.blogspot.com/2016/07/ | 2017-08-16T21:38:34Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886102663.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20170816212248-20170816232248-00120.warc.gz | en | 0.975625 | 2,311 |
Now that the whole world is talking about the sacrifices made by soldiers during the First and the Second World Wars, should we Indians also not shed some silent tears of remembrance for the brave Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of France during the First World War?
Few recall the sad chapter of the bravery of Indian soldiers, who died defending France almost a century back at Neuve Chapelle in France during the World War I, and only a lone memorial erected there pays them silent homage.
The memorial at Neuve Chapelle, designed by Sir Herbert Baker, was unveiled in 1927
Ever since I came to know that there is a memorial to over 4,700 Indian soldiers in France, who died during the war, I had a keen desire to visit this place, and to know more about it. This wish got fulfilled when I was in France a few years back.
I found out that the place was near the big French town of Lille, on the France-Belgium border. I got in touch with the tourist office of Lille, which was prompt and helpful, and told to my dismay that there was no way of reaching the memorial except by road, and that there was no public transport connecting that village. You may consider taking a taxi from the railway station, the tourist office added helpfully. Having come so far, a few extra euros were not going to get me off my path, I said to myself.
So I took France’s prestigious fast train, the TGV from Paris, and reached Lille, located about 255 km away in just about an hour. From the station I took a taxi, and set out on my journey. Unlike the image of French people as being reserved, the taxi driver was a nice, friendly and talkative fellow. He complimented me on trying to speak in French, and there was a thaw. “Is one of your ancestors mentioned in the list at the memorial,” he asked. “No,” I said, and then added they were all Indians.
I was keeping an eye on the meter of the taxi, and discovered that as against the 25 km mentioned on the Internet and the tourist office, the distance from the Lille railway station to the memorial turned out to be 37 long and increasingly expensive kilometres. Anyway, I thought I would have to ration my time at the memorial in order to economise on the waiting charges.
We reached the village of Neuve Chapelle, and stopped at a caf`E9 to find directions to the memorial. The driver suggested that while in the caf`E9, we might have a quick coffee. Oh yes, it is just about a few hundred metres from here, said the man behind the counter, pouring hot coffee for us. We finished the coffee, and the driver insisted on paying, saying that “after all, you have come from so far away.”
The village of Neuve Chapelle is around 5 km north of La Bassee, and 20 km west-south-west of Lille. The memorial is 800 metres south-west of the village. One of the roads leading from the crossroads, the Rue du Bois, finds a mention in Alexander Dumas’ Three Musketeers.
At the memorial I almost automatically bowed my head and touched the ground in reverence to those brave sons of India who found bravely and died there.
Engraved on the memorial is the following inscription: ” To the honour of the Army of India, which fought in France and Belgium, 1914-1918. And in perpetual remembrance of those of their dead, whose names are here recorded, and who have no known graves.”A plaque in the memorial reminds the visitors that the memorial was constructed and is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Just next to the memorial is another one — dedicated to the Portuguese, who died in the same battle there.
In 1964, a special bronze panel was designed to add to this memorial the names of 210 servicemen of undivided India, who died during the 1914-1918 war, whose graves at Zehrensdorf Indian Cemetery, East Germany, were considered “not maintainable.” Incidentally, although this plaque still remains, these graves were reinstated following the renovation in 2005 of the German cemetery.
This site also contains the Neuve Chapelle 1939-1945 cremation memorial. In 1964 the remains of eight Indian soldiers (including two unidentified) were exhumed from Sarrebourg French Military Cemetery and cremated. The names of the five identified solders are engraved on panels at the Neuve Chapelle memorial, together with the following inscription: “1939-1945 — In honour of those soldiers who died in captivity in north-west Europe, and whose mortal remains were committed to fire.” Thirtynine members of the 1914-1918 Indian forces were commemorated here, who are now known to have been cremated at Patcham Down, Sussex.
At the Memorial I almost automatically bowed my head and touched the ground in reverence to those brave sons of India who fought bravely and died there.
The Memorial is in the form of a circular enclosure, in the foreground of which is a column nearly 15 metres high, recalling the pillars of Ashoka, surmounted by a Lotus Capital, the Star of India and the Imperial Crown. On either side of the column two carved tigers guard this temple of the dead. The column and the tigers are supported by a podium, on the near side of which is carved ‘INDIA 1914-1918’, while on the far side are the Battle Honours of Indian units on the Western Front.
Various Indian symbols can be seen depicted here – peacock, rhino, camel, elephant, bow & arrow, snakes etc.
Four inscriptions are engraved on the column in four different languages and scripts. The inscription in English is ‘God is one. His is the victory’, in Urdu ‘Bismillah ir Rhman ir Rahim’ (In the name of God the most gracious), in Hindi ‘Om, Bhagwatey Namah’ (Every word is a holy name of God) and in Punjabi ‘Ek Onkar- Sri Waheyguru ji ki fateh’ (God is one- Victory belongs to God).
From the ends of the podium a pierced stone railing extends half-way round the circle, and the ends of the semicircle are marked by two small domed ‘chattris’, roughly East and West. The far semicircle is enclosed by a solid wall on which are carved the names of over 4,742 soldiers of the Indian Army.
Engraved on the Memorial is the following inscription: “To The Honour Of The Army Of India Which Fought In France And Belgium, 1914-1918, And In Perpetual Remembrance Of Those Of Their Dead Whose Names Are Here Recorded And Who Have No Known Grave.”
A plaque in the Memorial reminds the visitors that the Memorial was constructed and is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Just next to the Memorial is another Memorial- to the Portuguese who died in the same battle there.
A Memorial register, listing out the names of these brave Indians lies respectfully in a safe at the site.
Incidentally there is a poignant epitaph on the subject ‘Neuve Chapelle’, written by H.W.Garrod 1919, which reads:
Tell them at home, there’s nothing here to hide:
We took our orders, and asked no questions, died.
It reminds one of the Greek poet Simonides’ (550-450 B.C.) famous epitaph for the dead at Thermopylae as translated by William Golding: ‘Stranger, tell the Spartans that we behaved as they would wish us to, and are buried here.’ Another equally moving epitaph is at the Kohima Cemetery in India, which reads:
When You Go Home,
Tell them of Us and Say,
For their Tomorrow,
We Gave Our Today.’
A book published in 1916 and recently republished in 2009, “From Mons to Ypres with General French: A Personal Narrative” by Frederic Abernethy Coleman gives some chilling details of the battle and the formidable fighting by the Sikhs:
“On the 28th, the newly arrived Indian contingent attempted the capture of Neuve Chapelle, which had been taken over by the enemy the day before. The Indians faced the German shells for the first time. The 2nd Cavalry Brigade was in support. The 47th Sikhs bore the brunt of the work. The 9th Bhopal Infantry was in the fight and two Companies of the Indian Sappers and Miners.
The Sikhs charged magnificently. They got into the town, and the houses were the scenes of many a hand-to-hand fight. One Sikh brought back three prisoners. He had cornered eight Germans in a room, he said, and went for them with the cold steel. Five of the enemy were killed outright. Asked why he stopped, he naively explained that his arm had tired, so he spared the remaining three and brought them back as evidence of his prowess.
Close quarter fighting and individual conflicts in the buildings of the town scattered the Sikhs. Soon the Germans brought back a couple of machine-guns into play at the end of a street mowing down the big black fellows in squads as they came within range. Their officers were down save one or two. No cohesive body could be formed to take the quick-firers, so back the Sikhs came straggling and demoralised, the effect of their splendid charge largely nullified by their inexperience of this kind of warfare.” (pages 266-267)
The number of identified casualties was 4742. I looked at one name at random- it was Amar Singh. I found the list to contain 20 Amar Singhs from India who died in the battle of Neueve Chapelle. Further checking revealed that 11 out of the 20 were Sikhs and 9 Grwhalis. Besides there were two Amar Bahadurs from Nepal! The next name I saw was of Channan Singh and found a list of 6 Chanan Singhs who fought to death at that ground. One of the Indian soldiers whose name is engraved there was Rifleman Gobar Singh Negi, of 2nd /39th Garhwal Rifles, hailing from Manjaur in Tehri Garhwal, the then United Provinces, who was awarded the Victoria Cross, “For most conspicuous bravery on 10th March, 1915, at Neuve-Chapelle.” There are names of soldiers coming from Rajasthan, Maharashtra, the undivided Punjab and Nepal. They all fought side by side and died side by side.
A number of questions came to my mind? What were these soldiers, coming from different parts of India fighting for in that far away land? Was it their War? Were they defending their own country or were they trying to conquer new territories for their country? The answers to all the above are sadly depressing.
Photos text and copyright: K.J.S.Chatrath 2014 | <urn:uuid:507115cf-f73d-4127-910a-946ecee23029> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://traveltalk.co.in/?p=2838 | 2017-08-16T21:33:26Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886102663.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20170816212248-20170816232248-00120.warc.gz | en | 0.977315 | 2,340 |
State 9-Man football: Wolverines declawed in Grand fashion
MARSHALL —- Having won 41 of its last 47 games, Grand Meadow High School once again displayed its 9-Man football prowess, unleashing a swarming, sure-tackling defense —- along with a big-play offense —- as the Superlarks defeated previously undefeated Mountain Lake Area 35-18 Saturday afternoon in the state tournament quarterfinals at Mattke Field on the campus of Southwest Minnesota State University.
After an evenly-played first half, the Section 1 champion Superlarks twice capitalized on superior field position in the third quarter and added an impressive tackle-breaking 66-yard touchdown burst early in the fourth, which changed a slim 13-12 edge into a commanding 32-18 lead.
MLA, the champions of Section 3, rallied earlier in the game with three impressive touchdown drives —- effectively moving the ball through the air —- but the senior-dominated Wolverines were unable to ever get a lead in the hard-hitting contest.
“Give Grand Meadow and Coach Gary Sloan tons of credit,” summed up MLA head coach Tim Kirk. “They are a class act and there’s reasons why they have such an outstanding program year after year.”
The Superlarks, who graduated 10 seniors off of last year’s state runner-up squad, were supposedly rebuilding this year. But, the 2013 squad takes a sparkling 11-1 record into Friday’s semifinals at the Metrodome. Grand Meadow will tangle with undefeated Kittson County Central (12-0), the Section 8 champions, at 9 a.m.
The Bearcats of KCC defeated Section 6 champion Ada-Borup, 38-14, at Bemidji State University Saturday in another state quarterfinal clash.
The Wolverines —- who defeated 2011 state champion Edgerton/Ellsworth twice this season, including a hard-fought 20-12 home field win in the Section 3 semifinals (Oct. 26), and then earned an overtime victory (30-24) over defending state champion Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley in the sectional championship game at Mattke Field (Nov. 1) —- finish an amazingly-successful season with an 11-1 record, having scored 70 or more points in five of their wins.
“These kids have worked hard and played some great football for us,” exclaimed Kirk. “It was their dream to play in the ‘Dome’ and they certainly did all the work that it takes. But Grand Meadow’s switching defensive schemes and the linebacker play of Number 5 (Landon Jacobson) were big factors in how things went.”
Jacobson, a 5-11, 190-pound junior, was all over the field for the Superlarks —- making numerous tackles —- from his linebacker position.
“He’s a great football player,” praised Kirk about Jacobson, who also rushed for 194 yards on 32 carries to lead Grand Meadow’s offense. “He is an outstanding linebacker —- at a whole different level than what we usually see.”
Rodney scores two
as MLA trails, 13-12
Each team scored twice in a very competitive first half, as an extra-point kick by Grand Meadow’s Wyatt Richardson was the difference in a 13-12 edge for the Larks.
Grand Meadow scored on its possession when senior quarterback Trenton Bleifus, a three-year starter, connected with Blake Olson on a 12-yard touchdown pass, capping a 10-play, 51-yard drive.
Richardson’s kick gave the Larks a 7-0 edge seven minutes into the game.
After an exchange of punts, the Wolverines put together an impressive six-play drive, covering 62 yards. A 14-yard run by quarterback Carter Kirk and a pair of 18-yard pass plays from Kirk to Andrew Hempeck (six catches for 98 yards) effectively moved the chains and positioned MLA at Grand Meadow’s 12-yard line.
On the first play of the second quarter, Wolverine senior running back Demar Rodney found a seam and cruised 12 yards for MLA’s first touchdown.
Bleifus intercepted a pass in the end zone, stopping the Wolverines’ two-point conversion attempt.
Both defenses forced another exchange of punts, but each team scored another touchdown in the closing two minutes of the half.
Bleifus (five-of-10 for 106 yards) connected with a wide-open Michael Stejskai for a 35-yard score on a well-executed bootleg fake with 1:42 left.
MLA responded with a terrific “two-minute drill” type of drive, marching 65 yards on six plays, capped by another Rodney touchdown —- this one covering 26 yards on a well-executed screen pass from Kirk.
“Demar stepped up for us with several strong runs,” declared Coach Kirk. “Our linemen got out and blocked downfield perfectly. The kids did a great job of executing that play.”
Rodney (five catches for 41 yards, nine rushes for 34 yards) crossed the goal line with just seven seconds remaining in the second quarter. But again the Larks’ defense stuffed MLA’s two-point try and GM owned a one-point lead at intermission.
Larks capitalize twice on
short fields in third-quarter
The momentum really swung Grand Meadow’s way in the third quarter when the Larks twice capitalized on superior field position and opened up a 25-12 lead.
A punt by Olson pinned the Wolverines at their own four-yard line and after the Wolverines were forced to punt from the back of their own end zone, Jacobson ripped off a 22-yard punt return, putting the ball right back at the four-yard stripe.
Two plays later, Bleifus spun in for GM’s third touchdown, increasing his team’s advantage to 19-12 with 8:34 to play in the third period.
The Larks stopped MLA on a fourth-and-five near midfield on the Wolverines’ next series and completed a 20-yard pass before Jacobson rushed three straight times, including a nine-yard touchdown burst at the 4:50 mark.
“That was a big change in the momentum,” noted Tim Kirk about the two third-quarter Grand Meadow scores. “But we came back with a nice drive and scored, giving ourselves a chance.”
The Wolverines, in fact, came up with a defensive stop and then marched 73 yards on seven plays to slice the gap to seven points.
A 12-yard rush by Hempeck and a 17-yard gain by Kirk (15 carries for 63 yards) moved the ball past midfield and then Kirk (17-of-29 passing for 218 yards) tossed a short flip pass to Hempeck who streaked 43 yards to the Grand Meadow two-yard line.
Three plays later, Hempeck’s one-yard plunge —- with 10 seconds left in the third quarter —- made the score 25-18.
Jacobson’s 66-yard TD
run shifts momentum
back to Grand Meadow
Grand Meadow quickly answered, as Jacobson —- who had been held in check pretty well in the first half —- took a pitch and on a sweep to the right dazzled football fans with an impressive tackle-breaking 66-yard touchdown run, giving the Larks a 13-point lead.
“That was an incredible run by a great football player,” noted Coach Kirk. “We missed several chances to tackle him, but he took it all the way and that was a big momentum-changing play.”
Richardson PAT kick increased GM’s advantage to 32-18 with 11:44 to play.
The Wolverines had the ball three more times, but each drive stalled before crossing the Grand Meadow 30-yard line.
A great catch along the right sideline by MLA junior tight end Eric Wenner (three receptions for 59 yards) resulted in a 45-yard gain for the Wolverines, but the Larks eventually took over on downs at their own 41.
A 34-yard pass play —- after a pair of double reverse handoffs —- from Bleifus to Jacobson gave Grand Meadow a first down at MLA’s 21-yard stripe. The Wolverines stiffened on defense, but with 6:18 remaining, Richardson’s 24-yard field goal widened the spread to 17 points.
The Wolverines, who finished the game with 15 first downs and 321 yards of net offense (103 rushing and 218 passing), were not able to sustain a drive on either of their last two possessions.
“It was an emotional locker room when we got home and wrapped things up,” concluded Coach Kirk. “These guys have put a lot into football and had a couple of great seasons. But, now they will ‘change horses’ and get ready for wrestling and basketball. They will be OK.”
The Wolverines, who won Section 2 last year before losing (34-20) to Grand Meadow in the state quarterfinals, have won 27 of 34 games over the past three seasons (7-3, 9-3, 11-1).
Jacobson, after being held to 38 yards on 14 carries in the first half, racked up 156 yards on the ground on 18 rushes after intermission. The Larks generated 16 first downs in the game and had a total of 333 yards of net offense (227 rushing).
While the Larks have just three seniors on their roster, the Wolverines will need to replace 15.
In addition to Kirk, Hempeck and Rodney, MLA will also lose the services of Zach Dickens, Levi Kass, Alex Gerdes, Hunter Quiring, Jose Gonzales, Vince Johnson, Vijar Ness, Levi Blahnik, Zach Fredericksen, Jonathan Narber, Josh Grev and Tylor Duerksen.
G Meadow 7 6 12 10 — 35
MLA 0 12 6 0 — 18 | <urn:uuid:a20079bb-eaa4-471f-bc18-5e6cb348ab8a> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://www.dglobe.com/content/state-9-man-football-wolverines-declawed-grand-fashion | 2017-08-16T21:43:26Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886102663.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20170816212248-20170816232248-00120.warc.gz | en | 0.963793 | 2,140 |
Host of “Darkness Radio” will present a Keynote on November 5 on “Exploration of the Spirit Realm”
Many of us as children were afraid of things that went bump in the night, and we went to sleep thinking about boogie men hiding in the closet and under the bed. Some of us headed straight to Stephen King as teenagers, and now, as grown men and women, we stay up late and listen to scary stories of ghosts and goblins on the Twin Cities’ “Darkness Radio” or George Noory’s acclaimed “Coast to Coast AM.”
Why do we seek out answers to the mysteries of life in the dark of the night? And why do radio hosts devote their lives to bringing some semblance of reason to topics that chill us to the bone?
Dave Schrader, host of the popular and internationally heard paranormal talk radio show “Darkness Radio” from 9 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday on AM 1130 in the Cities, will be presenting “Exploration of the Spirit Realm,” a 90-minute keynote talk on Saturday, Nov. 5, at the 2016 Minneapolis Holistic Expo, presented by Edge Life Expos & Events.
Co-author of the book, The Other Side (2009, Houghton Mifflin), Schrader has contributed to TAPS ParaMagazine (the official magazine of SyFy’s “Ghost Hunters” show). He is frequently a guest speaker at related conferences worldwide, and has been featured on Paranormal Programs on A&E (“Paranormal State”) and Travel Channel (“Ghost Adventuress” and “Paranormal Challenge”). He’s been an active participant in hundreds of investigations worldwide and is a recurring fill-in host on “Coast to Coast AM.”
Schrader agreed to let us delve into his mind for a bit to learn more about why he does what he does and what he will present at the Edge Life Expo this fall.
What was your most memorable paranormal experience?
Dave Schrader: The dream visitation from my grandfather about a month after his death. He came to me when I was at my lowest point of grief and delivered some of the most inspiring thought and insight into death and what comes next. That had a profound impact on my life. I was able to validate that it was more than a “dream,” as he gave me information about family that I had no way of knowing. That really shifted my paradigm.
When did you become interested personally in the paranormal and how did that manifest in your life?
DS: I truly believe the paranormal had an interest in me first. I had visitations from my grandmother after her death when I was 3 and 4 years old. I had a Bigfoot sighting when I was 11 and lived in a very haunted house growing up — and in 2006 I had an encounter with a UFO.
I think the supernatural is stalking me! It has my attention, that is for sure. I also had a very supportive family that inspired me to ask questions and seek the truth.
What led you to be a radio talk show host on unexplained phenomena and the paranormal?
DS: My co-host, Tim Dennis, and I worked together in college radio in Winona, MN on KQAL 89.5 FM when we were young. He stayed in radio his whole life and I ventured off into sales, but eventually our paths collided when he worked for a station that had a slot to fill from 11 p.m. to midnight on Sunday nights.
We thought it would be fun to do a little talk show together. We both had a life-long fascination with the topic of the paranormal and thought it was a solid subject to investigate and research on air. That was the birth of Darkness Radio on January 1, 2006.
You have traveled the world investigating claims of the paranormal. What stands out as far as your most remarkable findings?
DS: I am excited by the differing views of life, death and the paranormal from state to state and country to country. There is always something new and interesting to uncover. I have had the great fortune to see haunted cemeteries, crypts, castles, hotels, asylums and prisons around the world.
What was your experience at famous locations that proved utterly disappointing in terms of not revealing anything at all to report on?
DS: I was a guest on the TV series “Ghost Adventures” on the Travel Channel last year on an episode about a possible demonic and poltergeist haunting in Seattle, Wash. It was a total let down to realize the people involved were, in my opinion, greatly exaggerating the extent of the haunting and, I believe, faking evidence.
Our investigation yielded no evidence of any kind. The show did a great job of portraying the truth and did not over dramatize or exploit the situation. It was a great episode to be a part of in spite of the lack of evidence.
Why do you explore ghosts and take part in ghost hunting?
DS: I want proof that there is something that survives these meat suits that we wear. That death is NOT the end of it all. That fear has kept me awake nights since I was 5. I am now 49 and that same fear still grips me. I want definitive proof that we survive beyond physical life, so I will continue my journey and education.
Your show covers the duality of experience, from lighter topics such as quantum consciousness and synchronicity, dolphin ancestors and animal communication, to much darker topics like exorcism, demonology and satanic practices — and everything in between. How do you choose topics that are covered, and are there topics that are off limits in your mind, and do you make a conscious effort to include a balance of “light” and “dark” on Darkness Radio?
DS: Our show was designed to do three things: enlighten, educate and entertain, so we keep that in mind when vetting our guests. We also like to try and keep things light and educational even during the creepier topics, because we believe fear is tackled head on with education and light.
What current areas of inquiry do you feel are on the cutting edge in terms of what the public is aching to know more about right now?
DS: The focus on proof of the many claims we cover is paramount to our listeners. They demand more than just fluff pieces and folklore, so we try to give a well-balanced look at fact and fiction of claims, often taking on the position of devil’s advocate for and against certain subjects to give a better and more detailed understanding of those topics. We very rarely accept things at face value. We push for truth and answers where we can, and I think that has been a large part of our success.
What is your personal reaction to conspiracy theories — about world domination, about the end of the world, about ETs affecting the world — and the people who seemingly have their lives revolving around these ideas?
DS: That is a slippery slope and I have to temper myself, because going too deep can bring on severe depression to me and to listeners. We are cautious about those topics and how we cover them. Again, we want truth but not at the expense of decency or respect to people involved in the stories, the victims.
Tell me about your radio audience and callers. Who are they and what motivates them to spend three hours a night listening to your show — and what is your relationship with them?
DS: I love these people! I love their inquisitive nature and how they seek information from alternative sources, and I applaud our audience because they want to know more and see the magic and miracles of life that surround us. We make ourselves as accessible as possible to the listeners and we are open to dialogue and conversation with them.
That is how we believe real change takes place — people coming together and speaking freely and openly without fear of judgment, exchanging ideas and opening our minds, and theirs.
What will you be sharing with those who attend your keynote talk at the Minneapolis Holistic Expo, and what message do you want to leave with them?
DS: I will discuss spirit communication by trying to make it accessible and understandable. During my discussion, we will examine: What is a ghost? What are the common theories and beliefs? How do we open ourselves to finding the right answers?
I am very excited to speak with the guests and share with them. I want to leave them entertained and hungry for more knowledge, hopefully with a better understanding of the paranormal.
Is there anything we haven’t talked about that you’d like to share with our readers?
DS: Our time here is limited and precious, so make the best of it. Live a life like there is no afterlife, because we need to learn and make the best choices while we are here. Once we grasp the fact that we need to be kinder, more loving, forgiving and understanding, I believe we will open a whole new paradigm shift that will leave a ripple effect and change the world.
With that said, it starts from within. Make the best of the love and relationships in your life now so you don’t need to make amends with the dead. Leave the life you were given better than the way it was given to you. Shed the chains of anger, pettiness and aggression and embrace understanding — and the magic that surrounds you every day will become abundant and apparent. It is life changing. | <urn:uuid:0edd3616-8237-4740-8e01-5909cb8ea322> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://www.edgemagazine.net/2016/09/darkness-preview-dave-schrader/ | 2017-08-16T21:40:21Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886102663.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20170816212248-20170816232248-00120.warc.gz | en | 0.97103 | 1,983 |
19 Tips for the Deadlift
1. Read THIS. It will change your life. Well, not really. But at the very least it will (hopefully) clean up your technique.
2. Wolff’s Law and Davis’s Law. You can’t discount physics. The former states that bone in a healthy person or animal will adapt to the loads it is placed under. The latter states the same thing, except with regards to soft tissue.
Deadlifting = strong bones + soft tissue. You need a minimal essential strain (MES) in order for tissue to adapt. Likewise, in order to strengthen tissue, you need to load it. Sorry, but your cute little leg extensions and leg curls aren’t going to get the job done.
3. I’m biased. You’d be hard pressed to convince me otherwise that the deadlift isn’t one of the best overall exercises for hypertrophy, not to mention the best functional exercise you can do with respects to posterior chain strength, core stability, glute activation, power development, and transference of force throughout the entire body.
And lets not forget: a heavy set of deadlifts will make any woman within a two-block radius spontaneously conceive. True story.
4. Deadlifts done incorrectly are horrible for your spine. I can’t argue with that. However, when done correctly – with a neutral spine and proper hip hinge – they’ll do more as far as “bullet proofing” the body than any other exercise.
5. Speaking of the hip hinge. This is an excellent drill to learn to groove it. Just make sure to maintain three point of contact throughout – back of the head, between the scapulae, and the sacrum. If at any point the stick comes off loses contact with the body, you’re doing it wrong.
6. Make sure to finish with your hips (hump the bar) with every rep. One of the biggest mistakes I see trainees make is that they don’t finish the rep with their glutes – their butt just kinda sticks out J-Lo style.
Squeeze those bad boys at the top. Deadlifts teach the glutes to share the load which will also help spare the spine.
7. Conversely, at the other end of the spectrum, you have those who compensate with lumbar hyperextension for hip extension:
Yeah, um, don’t do that.
I like to tell people to “finish” with the glutes or to “stand tall.” Those cues seem to work well for most, but not everyone.
In any case, here’s what a proper “finish” should look like.
8. Not every deadlift variation is created equal. Pick the one that’s right for you. What’s so great about deadlifts are that they can easily be conformed or “tweaked” to fit the needs of the lifter, and not vice versa.
Trap Bar Deadlifts
– Fantastic for beginners due to less shear loading on spine (center of gravity is INSIDE the bar).
– Elevated handles make it easier for those with hip flexion/ankle restrictions
– MUCH easier to maintain neutral spine due to the bar placement.
– Excellent choice for those with mobility restrictions.
– Guys who are built to squat and bench (alligator arms, long torsos) like this version – because they don’t have to work so hard to get as low.
– Wider stance, toes out = easier to maintain neutral spine.
– CAVEAT: these tend to eat up people’s hips, so I’d be reluctant to include them for more than a few weeks at a time.
– Although it’s the most recognized, it’s also the most advanced variation (more shear loading on the spine, center of gravity more anterior).
– Trainee MUST have ample ankle, hip, and thoracic mobility in order to get into proper position. If they don’t (which is a lot if you), then tweak the lift as needed either by elevating the bar on mats or maybe reverting to rack pulls.
– Lack of the above will inevitably lead to lumbar flexion, which is a major no-no when using significant loads.
9. I really feel the ideal rep scheme to teach deadlifts is in the 3-5 rep range. Anything more and technique goes to the crapper and it takes every ounce of will power I have not to want to throw myself in front of a bus.
10. For those who have a little more experience, 5×5 ain’t gonna cut it forever. If you want to get strong – I mean REALLY strong – you HAVE to include more singles and doubles into the mix.
More specifically, including more lifts at or above 90% (of 1RM) will almost certainly help.
In a nutshell, lifting maximal weight (90%+) has a number of effects:
– Maximum number of motor units are recruited.
– Fastest MU’s are activated.
– The discharge frequency (rate coding) is increased.
– Activity is synchronous.
– Improved coordination between synergistic muscles.
– Potential for future hypertrophy gains. Ie: loads that used to be heavy are no longer heavy.
– Increased serum testosterone levels.
– Girls will want to hang out with you. Not proven by science, but it just makes sense.
11. As far as how to go about setting up a training session utilizing the 90% protocol, here’s the general idea:
Assuming original PR is 300 pounds, the goal for this training session is to get five lifts at 90% and above.
305×1 (PR! But it was a grinder. The girl on the elliptical is impressed though.)
At this point the trainee has already gotten two lifts above 90% (275, 305), which would mean he needs to get three more lifts in to get to the goal of five. The objective now is to stay at or slightly above 90% (usually in the 90-92% range) and focus on bar speed and NOT missing any lifts.
Follow this with a few fist pumps, pound a protein shake, and then hug someone.
12. Take your shoes off when deadlifting. Doing so will get you closer to the ground (less distance the bar has to travel), as well as help engage the glutes and hamstrings more (which is what you want anyways).
13. I’ve stated in the past (HERE) that when it comes to weight belts, they should be reserved for more maximal effort lifts. I’m starting to change my mind on this one a bit. With regards to teaching trainees to “feel” what it’s like to increase intra-abdominal pressure – as well as to teach them get more of a 360 degree expansion – I think utilizing a (loosely fit) weight belt would be ideal here.
Bill Hartman explains this in a little more detail here:
14. Do you have a hard time deadlifting without rounding your back? Maybe you need to stiffen it up! Read THIS.
15. For those too lazy to click the link, essentially all I said was to implement more upper back work – horizontal rows – into your weekly repertoire.
Oftentimes the back rounds because it’s weak. Fix it!
16. Along the same lines, we can’t discount poor t-spine mobility. You need to HAMMER it on a daily basis – especially those who are sitting in front of their computers upwards of 10+ hours a day.
17. Include more single leg work into the mix as well. Oftentimes, especially when working with beginners, a huge monkey wrench that becomes readily apparent is that they have poor kinesthetic awareness. You can tell them to arch their back all you want, but if they don’t have proper body awareness, you might as well pound you head into a brick wall.
To that end, when coaching cues don’t work, maybe it’s wiser to take a step back from deadlifts and just throw in more single leg work. Doing so will undoubtedly help get them stronger, but also improve hip stability and core stability to boot.
After a few weeks, try deadliftng again, and I can almost guarantee they’ll nail it.
In reality, though, including more single leg work in general is never a bad idea.
18. Slow people down!!!! When performing deadlifts, I like to tell people that each rep is its own set. Meaning, when they pull the bar off the ground, lock it out, and then descend back to the floor, tell them to rest for a second or two (after all, it is a DEADlift, not a bouncelift) and re-adjust their spinal position, get their air, and properly set up for the next rep.
Instead of thinking of it as a set of five repetitions. Think of it as a set of five separate singles.
19. And finally, watch this video. I wore my glasses, so I obviously know what I’m talking about. | <urn:uuid:4f940bf8-12fa-49e8-b674-e7a8b228601e> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://tonygentilcore.com/2012/06/19-tips-for-the-deadlift/ | 2017-08-17T19:22:42Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886103910.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20170817185948-20170817205948-00200.warc.gz | en | 0.942011 | 1,971 |
Adventures of a Lifetime: Uncharted's Top 10 Setpiece Moments
For most PlayStation 3 owners, the flagship franchise for the console was Naughty Dog's Uncharted trilogy. Nathan Drake's charisma and wonderful cast of characters put the first game on the map, but what really set the games into gaming's highest regards was Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, and its incredible setpiece moments that made it into one of the most cinematic and adventurous stories in a long time. But out of those unforgettable bombastic moments, which were the best? We break it down in this Top 10 of Uncharted's best setpiece moments.
[WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD FOR ALL FOUR MAIN ENTRIES OF UNCHARTED.]
10. Cat and Mouse (Uncharted 2: Among Thieves)
"Tenzin! RPG! RPG? ...What's Tibetan for RPG?" - Nathan Drake
It's definitely more overlooked than other setpieces, but the Cat and Mouse chapter of Among Thieves is a tense blend of story and gripping action. As Nathan and Tenzin leave the mountain, they realize Tenzin's town is under siege. When they arrive, Drake takes on a new threat- a tank that solely wants him dead. Through cliff-hanging platforming and a lot of near misses, he eventually takes the beast down with a lot of RPG shots.
9. Zoran's Final Fight (Uncharted 2: Among Thieves)
"You don't have the will." "Maybe not. But they do." - Zoran and Nate
All of the final boss fights of the Uncharted series hold special places in my gaming history, but the best of the bunch is against the menacing villain Zoran Lazarević. While the other fights focus more on thematic approaches, this fight forces Nate to use all of his skills and put them to the test (except melee- I don't advise that one.) As Zoran has consumed resin of the Tree of Life, you need to blow up flammable pockets of the resin to defeat him, as he hunts you in a small arena with a shotgun and grenades.
8. Run and Gun (Uncharted: Drake's Fortune)
"Not good, not good, NOT GOOD!" - Nathan Drake
While the original Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is not nearly as much a classic, it did have some fine ideas about what it wanted to be- even if the final act twist was jarring for many. When the cursed Spaniards chase you down for the first time, the game changes expectations in one simple move showing that it's not just a simple cover shooter. It introduces the run 'n gun mechanic, when the player needs not to fight using their aim, but rather a more fluid approach for combat. It may not seem like the biggest, but this moment paved way for what the series was to become.
7. The Burning Chateau (Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception)
"You always seem to forget, I got twenty-five years on ya." - Victor Sullivan
Oddly not always mentioned as one of the standout sections of Drake's Deception, the moments leaving the Chateau are among the best in the game. Katherine Marlowe's goons decide to burn the beautiful scenery with you in it, but Nate and Sully don't go down without a fight. Instead, the experience keeps ramping up, with the stairwell collapsing into a ladder sequence, and even having the floor underneath crumble as the two run off the roof to safety. It's a thrilling sequence, even if it gets engulfed because of the game's later, bigger moments.
6. Stowaway (Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception)
"No no no - let's, let's talk about this!" - Nathan Drake
And then, there's the later moments. This was the most covered moment of Drake's Deception before its release, and what a reveal. The cargo plane is headed to the Iram of the Pillars, so Nate sneaks on to go save Sully. Of course, it doesn't go too well, as the game literally throws Drake out the back of the plane, making him cling to dear life to keep going. The plane blows up (go figure) and a free fall sequence happens, just to top it all off. Unfortunately, this is also one of the shortest sequences in the whole game- lasting less than 2 minutes. This definitely makes the walk of contemplation in the desert right after, feel all the more slow.
5. Libertalia's Watchtower Collapse (Uncharted 4: A Thief's End)
"Something tells me they've had enough of us!" - Sam Drake
Just when things were peaceful for Sam and Nate in Libertalia, Shoreline decides there wasn't enough explosions. When you reach another glorious rooftop of a watchtower, Nadine Ross's men shoot a rocket at the building, leading to an incredible chase. As seen above, the building falls sideways, and using their grapples the Drake brothers need to climb up and get the Hell outta there. The PlayStation 4 graphics have definitely helped the awe of this fight-and-flight, but the solid gameplay makes it earn a spot in the top 5.
4. Nepal Hotel Collapse (Uncharted 2: Among Thieves)
"Hehe, we were, we were almost in that! Heh." - Nate
This was a shining example of what Uncharted 2 was meant to be- the adventure of a lifetime. In a large, civil-war torn city in Nepal, Nate and Chloé make their way to discovering the location of Shambhala- yeah, you know, Shangri-La? But then, the helicopter shows up, and royally screws up the simple journey. At its climax, the action sequence has the chopper blow out lower floors of a hotel our heroes are in, thus requiring you to jump into the next building on a very close call. Then, a calm clock counts the seconds.
3. Sam's Pursuit (Uncharted 4: A Thief's End)
"Are you outta ya goddamn mind?!" "Yep, probably!" - Sully and Nate
Definitely the most shining setpiece of A Thief's End, this long and complex sequence has Nate and Sully zooming down the streets of Madagascar's King's Bay, then hooking onto the convoy (see above) to catch up to Sam. Though the convoy sequences in both Among Thieves and Drake's Deception were excellent and could easily be on this list as well, this one just expands the scope of the level into possibly the best action sequence of 2016. Nate hops from jeeps to bikes, and trucks to drive, smash, and of course, explode various enemy goons all over.
Then when you think it's over, it doesn't stop there- Nate hops on his brother Sam's bike and they make an unbelievable nail-biting escape from the relentless armored vehicle that's been hounding them the whole time. If only players hadn't seen this sequence in its entirety at E3, the "wow" factor might've been strong enough to make the top of the list.
2. Cruisin' For a Bruisin' (Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception)
"See you in Hell, Habibi!" - Rameses
For many fans of the series, Drake's Deception almost suffers on a narrative front because of how much colossal setpiece moments intervene with a seamless plot. But that doesn't stop the game from having one of the most impressive scenes of 2011- the cruise ship. Pirates kidnap Sully, and its up to Nate to stop them. When he gets to their ship, he realizes he's been duped- and, as always, improvises.
Blowing a hole in the hull wasn't the safest plan, but it leads to the level design showing its its functionality, as you need to run from walls of water, and climb up hallways, using the doors as platforms. Once Drake is back in the main hall, the pirate captain Rameses makes one last shot- at the once-ceiling now-wall of glass. The only thing that truly holds this back is the narrative supporting it- the reason it's in the game is such a tangent in plot it's near irrelevant.
1. Locomotion (Uncharted 2: Among Thieves)
"Sorry boys, just needed to punch your tickets." - Nate
Did you really think it was going to be anything else? Yes, the train sequence in Among Thieves is the most groundbreaking, fully realized, and narratively satisfying moment in the entire series. The train, from a programming standpoint, is a work of art. It's not just a stationary train with changing environments- it's actually a moving train in motion.
If being on this crazy ride wasn't enough, it also has not one- not two, but three miniboss encounters as you make your way to the front of the train. It goes on for multiple chapters of the game, and in the end Drake makes a daring move to derail the train- and give a massively satisfying and emotional impact to the game's opening moments. Rarely any moment in gaming can say that for itself, but the train sequence completely earns the right.
What about you? What were your favorite moments? Do you agree with our picks? Let us know in the comments section, and as always, thanks for reading. | <urn:uuid:5a0e0499-c0c4-4648-9f1b-fda83ac786d1> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://www.gameskinny.com/abq1m/adventures-of-a-lifetime-uncharteds-top-10-setpiece-moments | 2017-08-17T19:31:24Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886103910.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20170817185948-20170817205948-00200.warc.gz | en | 0.9572 | 1,955 |
Whether to trim, groom, shape, wax, or thread men’s eyebrows often raises mixed reactions. Some men find it weird while others accept it so long as it is not overdone. In this discussion we will discuss various aspects of men’s eyebrows including eyebrow shaping, shapes, waxing, trimming, threading, styles and much more.
Should Men Do their Eyebrows – Men Eyebrow Grooming
- Should Men Do their Eyebrows – Men Eyebrow Grooming
- Tips Men’s Eyebrows – Ideas, Rules and General Guide
- Trimming Men’s Eyebrows
- Men’s Eyebrow Shaping and Men Eyebrow Shapes
- Men’s Eyebrow Waxing – Should You Go for Men Eyebrow Waxing?
- Men Eyebrow Threading
- Men Plucking Eyebrows – Should Men Pluck Eyebrows and How?
- Eyebrow Styles for Men
- Thick Eyebrows Men – Should Men with Thick Brows Groom and Shape Them
Before we go any further, it is good to try to tackle the idea whether men should groom their eyebrows or not. Different people have different opinions. Some yes, some say no, never. However, the most important thing is not to overdo it as they might give you a feminine face frame. If you love grooming them, ensure they look as natural as possible to an extent that no one can notice you have plucked, threaded, or shaped them!
I do not like men who do their eyebrows, unless they are extremely bushy and unruly. For instance, I find men with thin eyebrows to be looking feminine. Ensure you do not transform your looks from a he man to a she man as you are trimming or shaping them.
Tips Men’s Eyebrows – Ideas, Rules and General Guide
Before we go further, we will cover quick men’s eyebrow tips. You have definitely read about many DOs and DON’Ts on men’s eyebrows from various resources. We are now going to cover general advice on men and eyebrows before going to some specifics. Of course, if you have a unibrow or really bad eyebrows, you cannot just ignore them just because you are a man!
- If you want to reshape eyebrows, ensure you settle for longer and straighter eyebrows as those of George Clooney, Brand Pitt or Jude Law.
- Avoid creating arches on your eyebrows, unless you have them naturally. Stick with a natural shape and ensure you get a good brow shaper to advice you.
- Use eyebrow gel to tame any unruly eyebrows you might be having if you do not want to trim or pluck them. Eyebrow Pencils might be extreme for guys but gels will be ok. Furthermore, avoid shiny eyebrows buy using products such as Mac Cosmetics Prep+Prime Skin Refined Zone Treatment to ensure they look less shiny.
- Instead of going for men’s brow waxing, opt for plucking or tweezing and only tweeze those outside your natural eyebrow shapes.
- Avoid overdoing them. Ensure you assess your general look each time you pluck, wax or tweeze your brows to ensure they look trendy and you do not overdo them.
- Get professional help and advice on eyebrow trimming?
With the above tips, which will be very important, we can now being looking at various areas on men’s eyebrows such as trimming, waxing, grooming, etc.
Trimming Men’s Eyebrows
Eyebrow trimming for men should be perhaps the most recommended thing for men, especially those who have bushy eyebrows. Whereas most men might stay away from eyebrow threading, waxing, plucking or tweezing, there should not be anything wrong with them trimming their eyebrows, so long as they know how to trim brow hairs for men and some of the best eyebrow styles for men.
For perfect looks, ensure you get a good eyebrow trimmer such as Philips Norelco NT9130 D-Finer Precision Trimmer, Panasonic ER-GN30-K Vortex Wet/dry Nose and Facial Hair Trimmer or Wahl 9865-300 Deluxe Groomer Rechargeable Ear, Nose and Eyebrow Trimmer Chrome.
We already covered in details eyebrow trimming for men and women as well as the best eyebrow trimmers you can use to achieve best results.
Men’s Eyebrow Shaping and Men Eyebrow Shapes
As strange as it might sound, men’s eyebrow shaping might be important, especially for those who have very unruly, or badly shaped eye brows that make their faces to look funny. If you have decided to try eyebrow shaping for men, you need to know perfect shapes that will compliment your facial features and face shape.
Not to overemphasis, men’s eyebrow shaping should be done by a professional to ensure great brow shapes that will not make someone look like a girl’s. If you would like to try at home, get details on how to shape eyebrows (this guide will suit both men and women as it teaches techniques and even covers something on men) and the best eye brow shapes for difference face shapes such as oval, round, etc. Otherwise, if they are not unruly, eyebrow shaping for men should be a no go zone. Instead you can trim them.
Men’s Eyebrow Waxing – Should You Go for Men Eyebrow Waxing?
Waxing is a popular way of body hair removal. This technique is often used by women to remove unwanted brow hairs. If you have decided to shape your eyebrows, then whether you are a man or woman, you can use this technique to achieve desired results. Furthermore, if you checked in most of the popular cities like New York, you will get many salons that offer men’s eyebrow waxing or eyebrow waxing for men. You might also get a few men waxing eyebrows at home too.
For men who are into brow hair shaping, going to a professional men eyebrow waxing expert will ensure they get subtle looks that will look as natural as possible. It is OK and good if they are done well. However, for those who find eyebrow waxing for men a strange thing, they can avoid it an only trim them.
Men Eyebrow Threading
Threading is a method of removal of unwanted brow hairs. It basically involves the use of a thread in plucking them. It is an effective way but needs a professional to ensure it is well done. Although not widespread, men also thread their brow hairs. This is often advisable for those who have bushy brow hairs that might appear quite unruly.
If you are looking for places where you will have your brows threaded, there are many salons where you can get the male eyebrow threading services in various places such as Dublin, New York, Chicago, Washing DC and many other locations. Furthermore, if you are interested in knowing more about men eye brow threading, see how to thread eyebrows, techniques, benefits and much more.
Men Plucking Eyebrows – Should Men Pluck Eyebrows and How?
Eyebrow plucking is a technique of removing brow hairs just as waxing and threading. Plucking, most often used synonymously with eyebrow tweezing is a technique of removing a single hair at a time. Nowadays, getting men plucking eyebrows is not longer a strange thing as it used to be in the past.
We have covered details for eyebrow plucking that could benefit men and women equally. You will also learn how to reduce pain during eyebrow waxing exercise and how to reduce pain during the exercise.
Eyebrow Styles for Men
Are there specific eyebrow styles for men? How should men style their brow hairs? Since most men do not do their eyebrows, there hardly any style for eyebrow grooming which are distinguished for men. You can style your eyebrows the way you want but ensure they compliment your looks.
Furthermore, since people have different facial features and face shapes, it is a good idea not to mention specific men eyebrow style since they might not compliment everyone. Ensure you know your face shape and which brows shape will compliment them.
Thick Eyebrows Men – Should Men with Thick Brows Groom and Shape Them
If you are one of the men thick eyebrows like some of the female celebrities we know such as Jennifer Connelly, Lily Collins, Camilla Belle, Brooke Shields, Ashley Olsen or Demi Lovato. You should be proud of yourself. They will indeed give you a perfect face frame. Unless they are unruly or extremely big, you need not to bother them at all. In fact just trim them and you will look great. Some of the men with thick eyebrows or otherwise bushy eyebrows include:
- Stephen Frost
- Peter Gallagher
- Jimmy Carl Black
- Joe Jonas
- Robert Pattinson
- Colin Farrell
More on Eyebrows
- Which Is the Best Eyebrow Kit To Buy – Anastasia, Milani, EFL or Which One?
- How Do You Get the Thick and Bushy Demi Lovato’s Eyebrows?
- How to Fix Bad Eyebrows with Pictures
- Fake Eyebrows for Men, Women and Cancer Patients
- Does Whoopi Goldberg Have Eyebrows or Not?
- Best Eyebrow Trimmer and Shaver Brands for Men, Women and Electric
- Best Eyebrow Gels Brands Including Clear and Tinted
- Eyebrow Brush – Best Brands Including Combs and Spoolie
- Are Shaved Eyebrows Trendy – Tips for Shaving Brows
- Eyebrow Implants Before and After Looks and their Costs
- Megan Fox eyebrows – How to Get, Tutorial, before and After Pictures
- Best Eyebrow Filler You Should Give a Try
Further Suggested Reading
- How Do You Fix Overplucked Brows or Grow the Back?
- Sparse Eyebrow Ideas – Causes, Filling, Growing and Shaping
- Eyebrow Hair Restoration Procedure, Cost and Looks
- Best Eyebrow Liner Brands, How to Apply Them and Semi Permanent Ones
- Are Drawn on Eyebrows Trendy or Very Horrible?
- Chola Eyebrow Looks and How to Do Them
- What Are Sharpie Eyebrows – Chola, Mexican and Pictures
- Get Sexy Eyebrows like Keira Knightley with Eyebrow Transplant Surgery
- Best Eyebrow Razor Brands and How to Use Them
- Eyebrow Shaper Best Brands and How to Use Them
- Best Eyebrow Growth Serums and Before and After Photos
- Causes and Remedies of Embarrassing Eyebrow Dandruff | <urn:uuid:4900c822-e748-4b70-8add-e1965cb039be> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://www.beautyhows.com/eye/eyebrow/mens-eyebrows-trim-pluck-wax-shape/ | 2017-08-18T16:25:20Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886104704.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20170818160227-20170818180227-00280.warc.gz | en | 0.928407 | 2,270 |
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|BROILER FARMING/BUSINESS MANUAL FOR SMALL SCALE FARMERS by pauloch(m): 8:47pm On Jan 27, 2010|
[center]Discover . . . The UGLY TRUTH about doing
this BEAUTIFUL BUSINESS . . . !
have you ever pondered on the simple arithmetic of success in life?
PREPARATION + OPPORTUNITY = SUCCESS.
If you have, then, this is a very good opportunity that you must not let pass you by this year.
For us at SKIFF CONCEPTS, we are committed, among other positive things, to revealing results of well-tested research works that promises a fulfilled life; whether in business or otherwise. This is our 'never-say-die' vision for all Nigerians - including you, of course!
Now let's delve into the business
of the day:
* Do you know a little or nothing about Broiler Farming?
* Do you desire an extra income doing this business at
home, while you keep your current job (if any) ?
* Do you desire to go into the business full time? OR
* Wish you could get into a regular or seasonal business
to make some legitimate cash?
THINK NO FURTHER . . .
. . . welcome to another stream of income![/center]
We recognize the fact that it is possible that you don't even have the foggiest idea on what it entails, However, we will show you the way to making it a reality by earning gobs of cash every single month doing this business if you keenly follow our step-by-step Guide.
What then is Broiler Farming
Broiler Farming is an aspect of Poultry Farming – And Poultry Farming is the commercial raising of chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese for their meat and eggs, either on a small or large scale. For hundreds of years, chickens were kept in small flocks for home consumption of eggs and meat, with any surplus sold or exchanged for other produce. Not until the 20th century did poultry farming become commercialized. The production of eggs came first; for years the production of broilers was merely an offshoot, the male chickens being raised until about 10 to 16 weeks old and then sold for meat. It is instructive to note that the Broiler Business started on a commercial scale on the Delmarva (Delaware-Maryland-Virginia) Peninsula and then spread farther south and southwest.
By the beginning of the 21st century the industry was producing approximately 8.6 billion broilers a year, most of them in the southern United States, with an efficiency such that one unit weight of broiler was being produced with fewer than two unit weights of feed. Nearly all broilers are now the offspring of white Plymouth Rock females and dominant white Cornish males.
In Nigeria, the broiler business has come to stay. We have the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s Farm at Otta, Ogun State, TUNS Farm in Osun State, Zartech and Amo Farms in Oyo , respectively, Choice Farms in Lagos, Imo Golden Chicken Farms in Imo State, just to name a few - all of these are in LARGE SCALE BROILER and ALLIED FARMING. And these farms have big patrons found amongst major Eateries in the country.
With the above facts on your finger tips, I know you might be wondering how you could also start the business with the little capital in your hands.
Not to worry, that has been taken care of.
We also have Small Scale Broiler Farmers, who rely heavily (at least for now) on patronage from Small Eateries, Restaurants, Individuals and Retailers at the market place to dispose the birds.
Oh! Just Before It Slips Off Our Minds,
One of our partners just got acquainted with a new hotel within his vicinity (where his small poultry farm is sited) and he seems to be struggling on a monthly basis to meet the demand. The truth is that such hotels with high demand patronage, usually create alternatives for themselves in order to satisfy their teeming customers on a daily basis.
In any case, the essence of our Guide is to help you take that bold step and launch out your own broiler business and start attracting residual income into your bank account, just like most of our partners.
Honestly speaking, when this business first got to us, we were a bit skeptical – You know the ‘Avian (Bird) Flu’ thing, Stench from the fecal waste, high capital startup, and all the perceived wahala that goes with poultry business.
But then, as we pondered on the attendant risk factors, we couldn't but think of one thing - RESEARCH!
We therefore went straight, into months of research, trying to find out the following:
1. How do people go into this business with a little
2. How do people spend little on the business to
3. Since it is difficult spending about N2000+ weekly
on the Broiler feed, how do people produce their
own feed with the same feed components for
maximum profit? And so on. . .
After straining our ‘mental muscle’ for months, God brought us favour. And since it is more honourable to share (or give), We eventually resolved to bring to you, a Well-Researched And Comprehensive Guide On How You Can Tap Into This Business And Reap Its Bounties.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM
1. How to start your own broiler business and start
earning ceaseless cash from the first 2 months
2. How to source for good broilers to prevent
3. Simple management techniques to guarantee
the long life span of your broilers for maximum
4. A Step-by-step guide on how you can start
immediately with as little as between N20,000 to
N50,000 and earn about N100,000 to N150,000
after the maturity stage and even more
(depending on your creativity and determination
5. Why most people will never make money with
this business and how to avoid such mistakes
from day one.
6. The reasonable price tag to fix for a bumper
7. How you can spend just N6,500 producing about
6 Bags of your own High Nutrient Broiler Feed for
maximum profit as against N10,000 or More (for just 4
Bags of Industrialized feed). You can even produce the feed
for SALE to other poultry
**And lots more that we cannot
reveal on a single web page.
This Report is very powerful, we assure you. What you will receive are pages of power-packed Step-By-Step instructions and methods to achieving all that it promises. Once you ORDER & READ the MANUAL, you will know the exact steps to take as well as how to begin earning money with the Business.
The GUIDE comes in PDF Format, which means it can be read on any computer (with ADOBE READER SOFTWARE). You can print it out if you like.
So, how much is the Report going to sell for?
We knew you might be wondering... However, before we reveal that to you, let's ask you a simple question –
If you consider how much you can make if you lay your hands on this Report, how much do you think you can part with?
· N10,000 ?
· N15,000 ?
· N20,000 ?
· N25,000 ?
We definitely know that if we offer it to you at double those prices, many people will still place their Order.
But we won’t do that .
We are going to price it at a figure you will be able to afford without blinking an eyelid.
It's going to be offered to you at just N4,500
Try out the BROILER BUSINESS MANUAL for 8 Full Weeks (Maturity Period). If you aren’t making some reasonable money with the strategies . . . If the information is not dead-simple and easily implemented . . . Just e-mail us and We’ll give you a COMPLETE and PAINLESS refund of your complete purchase price. No questions asked, no hassle.[/center]
We will even ask you to keep the MANUAL for wasting your time. However, we believe you're God fearing enough to be Honest with you claims.
How’s that for taking all the risk. All we're asking you to do is, implement at least some of the strategies and tips you learn. After all, you can’t expect to make good money without taking some kind of positive action to make it happen.
Pay N4,500 into our Corporate Account at
any branch of GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC.
Account Name: SKIFF CONCEPTS
Account No.: 0 0 2 4 8 8 8 0 8 5
After payment, send an sms to us via this
mobile line: 08099731380 with the following details:
- Your Name
· Teller No.
· Functional e-mail address
· Date of Payment
· Branch paid into
It is now our duty to fulfil OUR PROMISES TO YOU . . .
We will confirm your payment as soon as you notify us.
We will then send your MANUAL (TO YOUR E-MAIL) within 24 hours.
Very Simple, isn't it!
Thank you, greatly, for your time as we look forward to helping you grow doing this business (whether on a part-time basis or full-time).
To your great SUCCESS!
the SKIFF CONCEPTS team
[center]Copyright © 2010-2012 Skiff Concepts[/center]
|Re: BROILER FARMING/BUSINESS MANUAL FOR SMALL SCALE FARMERS by miqos02(m): 8:54am On Jan 30, 2010|
thank u for ur offer to assist fellow nigerians, but how can one meet u one on one( u know no good biz succed on just reading manuals.).is ur farm located in lagos?
|Re: BROILER FARMING/BUSINESS MANUAL FOR SMALL SCALE FARMERS by nkenu(m): 7:22am On Nov 20, 2013|
How geniune is this? How much is the manual now?
|Re: BROILER FARMING/BUSINESS MANUAL FOR SMALL SCALE FARMERS by Nairaanddollar: 7:29am On Nov 20, 2013|
We have thousands of acres
of good fertile land for sale,
lease or rent in Ogbomoso,
Oyo state. Selling from
N50,000 per acre and u can
rent at 5k per year. Our lands
are suitable for most crops.
Good roads, peaceful and
friendly people. 08060318769
|Re: BROILER FARMING/BUSINESS MANUAL FOR SMALL SCALE FARMERS by nkoyo08(f): 2:56pm On Nov 21, 2014|
do u still have the busines manual on sale
|Re: BROILER FARMING/BUSINESS MANUAL FOR SMALL SCALE FARMERS by ultrazone(m): 11:27pm On Feb 10, 2015|
Here is a free guide on how to start poultry farming in Nigeria.
1 Like 1 Share
|Re: BROILER FARMING/BUSINESS MANUAL FOR SMALL SCALE FARMERS by SeverusSnape(m): 12:05pm On Feb 12, 2015|
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KAYHAN HALHOR (b. 1963)
GALLOP OF A THOUSAND HORSES
Born in 1963 in Iran, Kayhan is of Kurdish descent. He began studying music at the age of seven, and is considered a master of the kamancheh, a bowed Persian spike fiddle. Gallop of a Thousand Horses is based on the folk melodies of the Turkmen people, who live in northeastern Iran, Turkmenistan, and parts of several other nations. The nomadic Turkmen are deeply connected to their horses, and this piece suggests the wild freedom of a large herd crossing the plains. The rhythms of the tombak (Persian drum) are complemented by the sense of motion provided by the kamancheh and other strings. Gallop of a Thousand Horses was recorded by the Silk Road Ensemble and Yo-Yo Ma on Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon (Sony Classical 2005).
ZHAO JIPING (b. 1945)
SACRED CLOUD MUSIC
Born in Xi’an, China, Zhao Jiping is perhaps best known for his award-winning film scores to Farewell My Concubine, Ju Dou, and Raise the Red Lantern. His work Sacred Cloud Music is built around one of the earliest extant pieces of Chinese music, Qingyun Yue (“Auspicious Cloud Music”), dating to 640AD. Originally written for guqin, a seven-stringed Chinese zither, Qinyun Yue was transnotated from two later manuscripts by ethnomusicologist Rembrandt Wolpert and interpreted for pipa (Chinese lute) by Wu Man.
KINAN AZMEH (b. 1976)
IBN ARABI POSTLUDE
Ibn Arabi Postlude was adapted for the Silk Road Ensemble by Syrian composer and clarinetist Kinan Azmeh and comes from his orchestral work The Ibn Arabi Suite (commissioned by the Osnabrück Symphony Orchestra). The work was inspired by the writings of Ibn Arabi, an Arab Muslim mystic and Su philosopher who traveled from Andalusia to Damascus in the 13th century seeking knowledge. Kinan was struck by Ibn Arabi’s philosophy that love and free thinking are as sacred as any religious beliefs. About the music, which is in a 15/8 meter, he says, “The piece blurs the lines between the composed and the improvised and can be described as an obsessive ritualistic dance in the maqam, or melodic form, known as Kurd.”
BELA BARTOK (1881-1945)
ROMANIAN FOLK DANCES (arr. Arthur Willner)
One of the greatest contributions Bartók made to the music world, besides his own array of works, was the magnitude of field recordings of traditional folk music he gathered, collected, and organized over the course of his life. His discovery of their tonal world also was reflected in the scope of his output: “the outcome of these studies was of decisive influence upon my work because it freed me from the tyrannical rule of the major and minor keys. The greater part of the collected treasure, and the more valuable part, was in the old ecclesiastical or old Greek modes, or based on more primitive (pentatonic) scales, and the melodies were full of the freest and most varied rhythmic phrases and changes of tempi. It became clear to me that the old modes, which had been forgotten in our music, had lost nothing of their vigor. Their new employment made new rhythmic combinations possible.”
Realizing that much of the folk music that had found its way into the Romantic music of Liszt, for example, had little to do with the original songs, Bartók set out to write simple accompaniments, altering the original tunes as little as possible. Thus, rather than dismantling them and repurposing the parts, he simply provided frames in which to showcase the content.
KOJIRO UMEZAKI (b. 1968)
What seems most central to this piece is that it follows a process of accumulation and subsequent reversal. The opening descending dyads, followed by a repeating bass line over which the melody eventually enters, all feed into an electronically sustained accumulation of sound. Then, a pivot. The process reverses in a slightly different context, each new note subtracting itself from the amassed sonic material until none remains. Alongside working on this piece I was reading Charles Seife's wonderful Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea in which embracing zero as its own entity and an equal partner to infinity, among many other attributes, was an attractive thought to reflect upon. This work was commissioned by and written for Joseph Gramley. (Kojiro Umezaki)
VIJAY IYER (b. 1971)
CITY OF SAND (SPECULATIVE DUNHUANG) - NEW AFC/SILKROAD COMMISSION
The two-millennium-old Central Asian interzone that appears to us in and around the town of Dunhuang sheds light on our current moment as much as it tells us about the past. A splendid assemblage of painted murals found in several hundred hand-carved cave temples nearby – the so-called Mogao (“Peerless”) Grottoes, built up over nine centuries – reveal to us a deliriously hybrid Buddhism informed by Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, early Islam, Taoism, Confucianism, and Manichaeism. In these caves we see evidence of an organic globalism emerging in Dunhuang from the movements and interactions of Chinese, Indian, Central Asian, North African, and Middle Eastern peoples along the Silk Road. Dunhuang itself was known in earlier eras as Shazhou, from the Arabo-Persian Saju, which means “City of Sand.”
Theater director Peter Sellars brought this improvised cultural aggregate to my attention, through his project on the Vimalakirti Sutra, a Mahayana scripture that is depicted in some of the murals in Cave 17. In this text, the titular protagonist, a layman, performs miracles for a gathering audience of bodhisattvas, monks, and disciples, and offers insights on a number of central Buddhist tenets, most famously the “voidness” of all worldly phenomena, which he expresses in a “lion’s roar” of silence.
The experiences we associate with the Silk Road -- migration, discovery, encounter, interaction -- all depend on improvisation: our capacity to sense, decide, and act in relation to each other. Composing this piece was a puzzle for me at first; it was not immediately obvious how to merge different musical sensibilities and sonic languages. Eventually, through speculating about Dunhuang’s deep past, I realized that just as in these caves, and just as in culture as a whole, individual and collective improvisation would help us make the most of our shared presence. I thank the wonderful performers of A Far Cry and Silk Road Ensemble for rising to this occasion. (Vijay Iyer)
SANDEEP DAS (b. 1971)
TARANG (ARR. JESSE IRONS)
Tarang is based on the exchange of improvised and extemporaneous solos between non-Western percussion instruments and Western strings. As Sandeep explains: “I imagined that the merchants or early travelers of the Silk Road may have interacted at first very simply – for example, through rhythm. When I composed this piece, I wanted to bring common elements of rhythm from the Silk Road countries such as a six-beat cycle (Dadra) and 16-beat cycle (Teen Taal).” The strings provide a drone and melodic lines to support these rhythmic weavings.
HALE BOPP AND SPEEDY SLAM (ARR. KARL DOTY)
In the heart of Finland, in the region of Central Ostrobothnia, is the small county of Kaustinen, a municipality that has become known as the nation’s fiddling capital. It is home not only to the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, the largest in Scandinavia, but also to the Finnish fiddling group Järvelän Pikkupelimannit, more commonly known as JPP. In English this name translates to “Little Fiddlers of Järvelä,” Järvelä being both a village in Kaustinen and a family from that village that employs a fiddling tradition dating back to the 19th century. Founded in 1982, JPP is comprised of fiddlers Arto Järvelä, Mauno Järvelä, Matti Mäkelä, and Tommi Pyykönen, bassist Antti Järvelä, and harmonium player Timo Alakotila. (Karl Doty)
REGNVALSEN AND POLSKA MEDLEY(ARR. ERIK HIGGINS)
I came across the Swedish fiddling duo of Mia and Mikael Marin in the summer of 2013 on the recommendation of a friend who had just attended one of Mia’s fiddling workshops. I was instantly taken with their music, both their original compositions as well as wonderful arrangements of traditional Swedish Polskas, a whirling dance with a combination of light (short) and heavy (long) steps. Their album Skuggspel quickly became one of my favorites and I started to imagine these tunes on a larger scale for string orchestra. My deepest gratitude goes out to Mia Marin for her graciousness and enthusiasm for these new arrangements. (Erik Higgins)
TARAF DE HAÏDOUKS
TURCEASCA (ARR. OSVALDO GOLIJOV & LJOVA)
Throughout musical history, the transcription of folk melodies has been an abundant source of compositional material. Turceasca, the signature piece of the Romanian gypsy band Taraf de Haïdouks (the Band of Brigands), is based on a traditional Turkish song and reflects the richness and complexity of a truly international collaborative work. In 1991, Taraf de Haïdouks, Roma musicians from a small village in southwest Bucharest, performed outside their country for the first time. Their music drew such interest that filmmaker Tony Gatlif featured them in his documentary film about the music of the Roma, Latcho Drom. Composer Osvaldo Golijov, whose broad, eclectic musical training (including Western classical, Jewish liturgical, klezmer and Argentinian tango) made him an ideal translator, worked with the band to arrange Turceasca for the Kronos Quartet as well as subsequent arrangements for the Silk Road Ensemble and A Far Cry.
Program notes written by Kathryn Bacasmot, Nicholas Cords, Karl Doty, Erik Higgins, Isabelle Hunter, Vijay Iyer, and Kojiro Umezaki. | <urn:uuid:3e3ef1a9-fddb-4844-9874-cb6e2fe347c7> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://afarcry.org/blog | 2017-08-19T13:01:12Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105451.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20170819124333-20170819144333-00360.warc.gz | en | 0.955921 | 2,313 |
The collector car hobby is basking in the limelight. But what does the future hold?
Once it was thought that if you were into old cars, you were kind of strange or odd – a person with greasy fingernails and a hoarder of junk. Now the collector hobby is the stuff of prime-time cable channels, a dozen glossy magazines, lavish vintage racing and concours d’ elegance events, as well as thousands of swap meets headlined by the annual Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Fall National Meet in Hershey, Pa.
The hobby has come a long way since the AACA was founded in 1935. Today’s collectors encompass a wide range of people with varied interests. From early brass-era cars, classics, American “iron,” European sports cars, hot rods, customs and racing cars, every segment is well supported with events, clubs and suppliers. A large and growing group of enthusiasts have also made collecting “automobilia” a quickly appreciating part of the market. Driving events and vintage rallies have served to make collector cars more visible to the general public than ever before.
The growth of the hobby has been the subject of articles in Newsweek, The New York Times and Forbes in recent months. Indeed, the collector car hobby has arrived.
A 2006 Hagerty Hobby Survey showed that just less than half the respondents belong to clubs. Club membership is a key barometer to passion for cars. While club membership is not universally higher, certain single-marque organizations like the National Council of Corvette Clubs (NCCC) have grown by 20 percent in the past five years.
Helping fuel the hobby’s growth is the Internet. Dealers, private sellers and auctions continue to play a role, but online auction sites are widening the access to cars for millions of potential buyers.
Recently eBay Motors marked the 2 millionth car sold on the site. Selling a car 25 years and older every four minutes, it reports that as of the third quarter of 2006, an average of 8,200 collector cars are available daily on the site. The Internet has also made it easier for people to find cars far from their home; eBay statistics show 71 percent of the listings are sold across state lines.
Also helping fuel growth is the number of baby boomers entering their reward years propelled by a bullish stock market. The market has also been helped by a shift from equities investments to objects of all kinds, including cars. David Gooding, founder of the auction company that bears his name, put it this way: “People will realize that it’s more fun to have an E-Type in the garage than to own stock, even if it’s performing well.”
It’s generally agreed that this “bull market” is rather different from the last one seen in the late ’80s; the number of speculators in the market seems to be smaller than was the case then. People who are buying cars are doing so because they love them and want to enjoy them. Any financial benefits are looked on as “the icing on the cake.”
The collector car world has been abuzz in recent years because of the multimillion dollar prices for certain muscle cars at the Barrett-Jackson auction. In general, the value of muscle cars and European sports racing cars continues to rise, with interest in classics and early cars not far behind.
During the 2006 Monterey, Calif., event, 519 cars changed hands for a total of more than $100 million, up from 2005’s $79 million and 374 cars. Last year’s Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson racked up almost $100 million in a four-day sale that attracted nearly 5,000 registered bidders and 250,000 spectators. A source in the auction business predicts that evidence of a cool-down in the real estate market may be seen in a slowdown in the $50K-$100K segment of the market, while not being a factor in the top end where cars sell in the millions.
Many are concerned about an overall “market correction” that might be coming but is not necessarily a foregone conclusion. It can be expected that prices will level out or even decline at the end of a strong market. Says RM Auctions co-founder Michael Fairbairn: “Certain segments, those that have advanced the furthest and the fastest, will see greater corrections than others.”
Trends in the hobby
A key factor in determining values has been an emphasis on how collectors use their cars. Christie’s motor car department specialist Christopher Sanger observes: “The smart collectors are looking for usability for a specific type of event. Quality, provenance and usability will drive the market.” Cars that are eligible for the events people most want to enter bring markedly higher prices than those that are not.
Another trend is the newfound interest in “original” cars. Unrestored cars have become more desired as there’s no going back once they’ve been altered. Once, if a collector had a very original car, it was viewed merely as the starting point for a full restoration. Now that same owner is challenged not to touch it at all.
There’s also a growing gap between historic cars that have undergone full restorations – or cars that are in well-preserved and documented original condition – and more common cars with needs. This is true at all levels of collecting from common English sports cars to major classics, but is especially seen at the top end. “My 1931 Murphy Duesenberg roadster is original,” says collector Charles Le Maitre of Massachusetts. “People used to ask, ‘When are you going to restore it?’ Now, they say, ‘Please don’t touch that car.’ ”
“Now that they’re getting rarer and harder to find, original cars are even more appreciated,” says David Gooding. “People are realizing that shiny isn’t always the best. The cars that have never been touched have a lot to say.”
The Type 35 Bugatti that sold this year for $2.6 million at a Pebble Beach auction is unlikely to ever be used today on a vintage race track due to its extreme originality. But for those who crave usability, this creates a dilemma. The irony is that a car that has undergone some massaging with the application of replacement parts can still be driven – and enjoyed for what it was meant to be. “It’s the difference between an objet d’art and a piece of sports equipment,” says Miles Collier, owner of the Collier Collection in Naples, Fla.
So we are seeing a major division between “cars as cars” and “cars as art.”
“Cars have indeed begun to come into their own as art objects,” says Le Maitre. “The person who buys a Mercedes 540K for $2 million is really buying an automotive Rembrandt.”
In contrast, to the trend toward original, unrestored cars, there is a growing acceptance of street rods and resto rods into the hobby. “Not everyone can have a car like a Yenko Corvette or a 1970 ZR-1,” says journalist Ken Gross, “but it is possible for you to create one. Likewise, people today who own cars like an original 1964 Pontiac GTO or a Chrysler 300 run the risk of being blown off by a guy in a Subaru WRX. Now, it has become acceptable to use contemporary hardware under the skin -- as long as you do it carefully and tastefully without major surgery.”
In addition, suggests Gross, cloned cars, where an original muscle car like a Hemi ’Cuda is recreated using crate motors and reproduction parts, are starting to fetch prices that rival what the originals were going for several years ago.
The legislative climate
Hobbyists are rarely targeted by laws and regulations, but are often caught unintentionally in the broad net of otherwise sensible laws, especially as they relate to emissions regulations and alternative fuels. These laws are often the product of well-intentioned decision makers attempting to solve a legitimate problem without considering the needs of hobbyists. As a result, Hagerty and other companies have partnered with experts at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) as well as numerous active car clubs to make sure that the needs of hobbyists aren’t overlooked.
An area of particular concern is the advent of alternative fuels such as ethanol and its potential adverse effects on older collector cars. Other concerns relate to stricter emissions laws, scrappage incentives for older cars and usage restrictions on vehicles of a certain age. (For more information, visit www.hagerty.com/ethanol.)
While energy policy and legislative initiatives are always difficult to predict, the hobby is better represented than ever before and should continue to thrive. Like any human phenomenon, the collector world will continue to be subject to the cyclical nature of the stock market, real estate prices and other economic barometers. But like fine art, interest is unlikely to wane, especially with technologies like the Internet and eBay – as well as a host of collector magazines – all of which will continue to fuel our passions and make information about old cars more accessible. The best is likely yet to come.
Fathers and Sons
Old cars can help fathers and sons build a strong bond. More than 20 percent of the respondents to Hagerty’s Hobby Survey share their car activities with their sons and 11.5 percent share with their fathers. Sports car collector John Wright inherited his passion from his Ford-loving dad, and now he’s passing it on to his son. When 16- year-old Johnny began driving, it was in a red MG that father and son restored together. The finished car was more than just a great Christmas present; it was a shared experience.
The hobby offers an opportunity to share a passion and become closer. That’s why more than 75 percent of those surveyed say having a family member involved in their hobby is important to them.
To see this article in its original format, view the pdf version of the Spring 2007 issue of Hagerty magazine. | <urn:uuid:1dd2ef23-2769-4b82-9ccd-b53f927947a1> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://www.hagerty.ca/articles-videos/Articles/2007/03/02/State-of-the-Hobby | 2017-08-19T13:04:00Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105451.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20170819124333-20170819144333-00360.warc.gz | en | 0.965482 | 2,150 |
- Group 1: Studies in language and literature.
- Group 2: Language acquisition.
- Group 3: Individuals and societies.
- Group 4: Experimental sciences.
- Group 5: Mathematics.
- Group 6: The arts.
- Undertake new challenges
- Plan and initiate activities
- Work collaboratively with others
- Show perseverance and commitment
- Engage with issues of global importance
- Consider ethical implications
- Develop new skills
- What does “Middle-Class” Mean to Colleges? - August 16, 2017
- Should I Apply to a College with Only a Few Majors? - August 6, 2017
- Rethinking College Entirely? Think Again: More Options to Make It Work for You - July 29, 2017
How to Earn an IB Diploma
If you’re a student who intends to take academically challenging classes in high school, you’ve likely heard of International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. While IB course options are not as commonly available in the United States as, for example, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, they have a worldwide reputation for quality and rigor.
When people in the United States speak about “the IB program,” they’re usually referring to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, or IBDP, which is a two-year academic curriculum available to students aged 16 through 19. The IBDP is just one of a number of different educational programs offered by the worldwide IB organization.
If you’re interested in taking just a few IB courses, most high schools with IB programs will allow you to do so. If, however, you’d like to more deeply immerse yourself in the IB curriculum and educational philosophy, receiving an IB diploma through the IBDP may be a compelling option for you to consider.
In this post, we’ll go over the steps you’ll need to take to earn your IB diploma and how to get the maximum benefit from your experience in the IBDP.
A brief introduction to the IB Diploma Programme
The IBDP curriculum consists of a range of courses and other requirements that are designed to teach students not only particular facts in a given subject area, but also how to become critical thinkers. It’s somewhat similar to the AP program, in that both offer high school students the opportunity to take advanced, rigorous classes in a widely recognized program.
Close to 900 high schools in the United States currently offer the IBDP, which requires teachers and administrators to undergo special training and certification. This training requirement is one reason why the IBDP is less popular in the US than the AP program. However, popular or not, the IBDP is respected worldwide, and an IB diploma is a valuable asset.
You can learn more about the IB organization and the IBDP in our Beginner’s Guide to the International Baccalaureate Program. We’ve also addressed the topic of how to decide whether to take IB courses in our post Should I Take Honors/AP/IB Classes?
It may be possible for you to take a few IB courses in high school without completing the IBDP. However, undertaking the full diploma program comes with some special benefits, as we previously described in our post What Are The Benefits of Earning an IB Diploma? In this post, we’ll go into more detail about the specific requirements of the IBDP and what you’ll have to do to earn your IB diploma.
First and foremost, the IBDP is a curriculum that provides an overall plan for the coursework you’ll need to take in order to receive the diploma. Just as with your normal high school diploma, in order to receive the IB diploma, you’ll need to complete a certain number of courses in certain subjects at a certain academic level.
The IBDP groups its courses into the following six topic areas:
To receive an IB diploma, each student must take courses in all six subject groups. There are a few variations on this requirement: some high schools offer courses that fulfill multiple subject group requirements at once, and students can also substitute an approved course from subject groups 1 through 5 for the required course in group 6.
Besides breaking down courses into these six categories, the IBDP also splits courses into two different academic levels: Standard Level and Higher Level. Standard Level courses are designed to require at least 150 total hours of instructional time per student per year, while Higher Level courses require at least 240 hours.
To complete the IBDP, you’ll need to take three or four of your subject groups at Higher Level, and the rest at Standard Level. You’re free to choose which subjects to take at which level (within the bounds of what’s offered at your school) in order to customize your academic program to fit your strengths.
In addition to the schoolwork that your teacher grades, each of your IB courses will require you to take a multi-day exam at the end of the school year, which will be graded by an outside evaluator. Your exam grades translate to points on a seven-point scale, and you’ll be subject to additional requirements regarding how many points you earn in total and your average point score across all your IB exams.
Extended Essay independent project requirement
The Extended Essay component of the IBDP requires you to undertake your own independent research on an approved topic of your choice. The eventual product of your research is your Extended Essay, a research paper of up to 4,000 words.
In choosing your Extended Essay topic, you’ll have the freedom to explore a subject or question that personally interests you, but you’ll also need to meet certain requirements—for instance, your topic should be neither too broad nor too narrow for an essay of this length. Your topic also needs to fit neatly into one of the six IB subject groups we listed above; interdisciplinary topics are not permitted.
Throughout the Extended Essay process, you’ll be aided by a faculty supervisor, who will be particularly helpful to you during the research phase. This supervisor will help you to find an appropriate topic, and also to locate and obtain the research materials you’ll need to complete your project.
Like the year-end exams in your IB courses, your Extended Essay will be graded not by your teachers themselves, but by outside IB evaluators. They’ll assess your project on the basis of both general criteria and criteria that are specific to your subject matter.
The IB evaluators will give your Extended Essay a score out of 36 possible points—24 for general criteria and 12 for subject-specific criteria. That score is converted into a grade between A, the highest grade, and E, considered a failing grade. In order to receive your IB diploma, you’ll need to at the very least receive a passing grade on your Extended Essay.
Theory of Knowledge course requirement
The Theory of Knowledge portion of the IBDP is based upon a class that you’ll take in school, but this class is different from most classes you’ll have encountered up to this point. Rather than building your knowledge of a particular subject, this course is meant to teach you how to think and how to learn.
The exact content of your Theory of Knowledge course may vary based on your teacher, but across the board, it’s focused on thinking and talking about the idea of knowledge itself, how we know things, and how we assess knowledge claims. It draws heavily from the field of epistemology, or the philosophical study of knowledge.
This may seem like an unusual and challenging topic for a high school course, and it is. Few high school students are explicitly asked to grapple with issues of this type—it’s content you’d expect to find in a college class. However, the Theory of Knowledge course is a key component of the IB curriculum and philosophy, and this boundary-pushing course is one of the reasons why the IBDP enjoys worldwide respect for its rigor and quality.
You can expect your Theory of Knowledge course to require around 100 hours of time in the classroom, which is generally spread across the two years you’ll spend in the IBDP. In addition to taking part in the course and its regular assignments, you’ll need to complete two more projects to meet the Theory of Knowledge requirement for your IB diploma.
First, you’ll prepare a 1,200 to 1,600-word essay which, like your Extended Essay, will be graded by outside evaluators. You’ll choose from a list of provided topics, all of which require you to demonstrate your analytical ability and originality when considering questions about knowledge itself and ways of knowing.
Second, you’ll give a presentation individually or with one or two other students. You’ll choose a topic that applies what you’ve learned in the course to a real-life scenario, and your presentation can take almost any form except that of simply reading an essay aloud. Your presentation will be evaluated by your own Theory of Knowledge instructor.
As with the Extended Essay, your performance in Theory of Knowledge will be expressed as a letter grade on the scale from A to E, and passing Theory of Knowledge is necessary in order for you to receive your IB diploma.
Creativity, Activity, Service requirement
The last IB diploma criterion you’ll have to meet is a little different from those we’ve covered so far in this post. Known as the Creativity, Activity, Service requirement, or CAS, it’s not an academic course or project, but a rule that you must participate in a certain quantity and variety of extracurricular activities while in the IBDP.
While the IBDP is primarily an academic program, it also recognizes that students can grow a great deal through their extracurricular commitments, and that these other activities are a valuable addition to the rigorous IB coursework. The IBDP divides extracurriculars into three categories—Creativity, Activity, and Service—to help ensure that students explore a variety of different opportunities.
In order to meet the IBDP’s standards for CAS participation, you’ll need to participate in two activities in each of the CAS categories, for a total of at least six activities. You’ll also need to demonstrate that your range of CAS activities has allowed you to achieve the intended outcomes of the CAS program, which are:
In the past, the IBDP mandated that each student complete and report a specific number of CAS hours in order to receive their diploma. This requirement has since been dropped, in part to encourage students to focus on the meaningful qualities of their activities rather than their duration. (Some individual high schools may still have specific rules regarding the number of CAS hours you’ll need to complete.)
At present, the IBDP requires that you participate in some CAS activity each week, though you don’t have to participate in every activity every week. You should expect to regularly spend three to four hours a week on CAS activities, and at least one of your CAS projects needs to be a commitment of one month or longer in duration.
Though your CAS participation is not as strictly managed as some other aspects of the IBDP, you’ll still have to undergo some assessments to ensure that you’re meeting IB standards. In part, this includes keeping a log or other records of your CAS projects, including the signatures of activity advisors, so that you and your school can review your CAS experience.
For more information
To learn more about the IBDP, its philosophy, and its requirements, you can visit the official IBDP website. For CollegeVine’s expert perspective and advice, be sure to check out our Beginner’s Guide to the International Baccalaureate Program.
Looking for one-on-one assistance with identifying your driving passions, setting and reaching goals, and making your high school experience exceptional? CollegeVine’s experienced near-peer mentors are here to help. Visit the CollegeVine Mentorship Program website to find out more about our services. | <urn:uuid:e87ead92-fb15-448a-8736-c613feaa18fa> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-earn-an-ib-diploma/ | 2017-08-20T09:50:08Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886106367.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20170820092918-20170820112918-00440.warc.gz | en | 0.943466 | 2,529 |
The Positive Pregnancy Test
“Triiing” went the text message alert on my phone as I cleared up the breakfast stuff and ordered the kids to get in their uniforms. I glanced at the screen... “I'm pregnant” said the message from my good friend, Sarah. She's married with one child already, an 18 month old and she loves being a mum. “Oh no” I think “poor Sarah” as I read the rest of her text. She's devastated, scared and she is beside herself trying to figure out how she is going to survive the next nine months. I know how much she desperately wants another baby and I want to congratulate her, but I can't, it would be insensitive, instead I reassure her that she is not alone and I'm here for her every step of the way.
You see for women with a history of hyperemesis gravidarum, no matter how much you want another baby, the reality is that the moment the test shows positive you feel like your world is crashing around you... nine long months of severe illness lay ahead. That exciting time that most women experience when they find out they are pregnant is replaced with a torturous wait to see just how sick they are going to be.
Instead of planning a healthy diet and shopping trips for maternity clothes, women with hyperemesis are planning how they will manage childcare if they are admitted to hospital, how their finances will cope with nine months off work, how their toddler will cope emotionally if mummy vanishes from view. And that is assuming they can afford childcare. How will they cope with a toddler at all if they are throwing up continuously for hours on end? What if they physically can't stop throwing up long enough to fix some food for their toddler, or change his/her nappy, or keep them safe?
It's a scary time to say the least and for me it was probably the most stressful time of the whole pregnancy... waiting to get sick.
And then in a perverse twist there is the emotion and stress involved in not getting sick. Because in reality women with a history of hyperemesis have an 86% chance of suffering again so while we can “plan for the worst and hope for the best”, the experience of not getting sick can be utterly nerve racking! It's why we all hope for a bit of “morning sickness” when we get pregnant for the first time, it's reassuring and makes you part of the secret early pregnancy club. But for women who develop hyperemesis gravidarum it rapidly turns into a nightmare not just for this pregnancy but for every pregnancy thereafter. You want the reassurance of a progressing pregnancy but knowing what's in store for you is utterly terrifying.
Returning to the ensuing text conversation I understood only too well the confusing mix of emotions my friend was experiencing. Having been through this particular period three times, one of which the sickness never came and the new life was not to be, I get the strange juxtaposition of the wanting-not wanting sickness causing an internal battle. I understand the overwhelming rush of plans running through her head about preparing nine-months worth of meals, thinking about childcare options, working out finances. I feel the profound sadness experienced looking at your beloved toddler and knowing how much you will miss them over the next nine months. And the confusion of emotion over how much you love them and that it was “worth it in the end” but that you don't know it will be again, questioning will you love another as much as you love them.
I thought about what practical things I could say at this point and I replied with reassurance that she can get through this and is not alone; I'm here for her and I know lots of other women are too. Prepare practically and try not to dwell on projections of what the next nine months might entail. Enjoy the next few days before the sickness kicks in. Enjoy the time with your little one, but prepare mentally for the separation; know that they will be okay and remember that they will have you back in nine months time along with a new sibling.
I am, of course, posting her out the HG calendar I've produced as ticking off the days even at this point can really help make the time seem shorter. Unfortunately I live a blinking long way away from Sarah so while I can't provide practical help with freezer meals and so on I will be texting regularly and phoning while she's still able to speak on the phone.
If you have a friend with a history of hyperemesis gravidarum who is at the point of embarking on another pregnancy then try to appreciate this challenging time of mixed emotions. Rather than comments about “You might not get it this time”, “think positively” or “well you know it's worth it now” try simply asking how you can help, what support she needs and think about what support you are able to provide. Try to appreciate that while you're excited for her and want to congratulate her, she is feeling scare and wondering if she'll be in hospital next week hooked up to a life saving IV drip. Cull the enthusiasm about the end product and appreciate that the news is akin to your friend telling you that she has a serious illness and will be battling treatment for the next nine month.
That's not to say you can't congratulate her, I'm sure she will appreciate that you are pleased for her. Just follow it up with an appreciation of the severity of hyperemesis gravidarum and the need to survive the next nine months. Save the bulk of the congratulations for nine months time when the double whamy celebrations of baby's arrival and the end of HG really are party worthy.
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In conjunction with Pregnancy Sickness Support and Plymouth University I am looking for women who have been treated for HG in the last 2 years in the UK to take part in a research survey. Please click here to find out more.
I am mother of three beautiful children and wife to a fantastic and supportive husband. I am a nurse, a farmer and a trustee for Pregnancy Sickness Support. I love working hard and spending time with my kids.
About this blog
Information and support for pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum. Views are my own and do not represent those of any other organisation. Information provided here should not be a substitute for medical advice. My aim is to raise awareness and encourage sufferers to know they are not alone.
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To send in your Neopets related poems or to find out more about the poetry contest, click here!
The best poems get put on the site and earn 1,000 Neopoints, a RARE ITEM, and a Trophy for the author's trophy cabinet.
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A Case of Watery Eyes
I have a case of Watery Eyes,
It's the one thing I truly despise,
For what can be worse
Than a never-ending curse
That after a battle takes one by surprise?
It's completely impossible to see
Who's been brought up to battle with me,
Though I strike out, I'm blind
In a horrible bind,
Maraquan or pirate, who will it be?
I go to the water faerie every day
So that for a cure, I need not pay,
Onion balm's price is insanely high,
Rocketing way up in the sky,
To get it, there's simply no way.
So I'll sit here, looking like a fool,
With my tears dripping in the faerie's pool,
This poem I shall write
'Till I regain my sight,
For these watery eyes are too cruel!
Nasty blades and glowing eyes,
Did you choose the pirates' side?
Fancy weapons, fins that flow,
Does your side fight down below?
Slashing daggers, clashing blades,
Doubtless peace will not pervade.
Foes that parry; make you sick,
Try to give your pet a lick.
Garin, Isca, Caylis, too,
Must find way to stop this feud.
Jacques and crew with magic potion
Will come down to save the ocean.
Scarblade must destroy this place,
Down to the very last glass case.
Maractite weapons will be his,
Their home will feel Death's cold kiss.
Maraqua has been part rebuilt,
It may fall by madman's hilt.
When the sun of dawn arise,
Will it be but all demise?
No one knows what will become
Of this place below the sun.
We may fight and find their needs,
But will we regret our bold deeds?
The Dark Faerie's Domain
Jhudora's Cloud floats up so high
By Faerieland, in pleasant sky.
Yet not so near to sisters' home,
Jhudora sits: peevish, alone.
By facing her, receiving quest,
You might not make decision best.
There's nothing worse than being late
And facing faerie's rage and hate.
Beware dark clouds that linger there,
Wicked Jhudora plays not fair.
Clouds swallow feet, legs, belly, wrists;
Arms, neck, head; fight not with fists.
There is one way to fight the dark,
Try being happy as a lark.
For light shall conquer darkness deep,
And rescue you from fatal sleep.
Jhudora may fly into rage,
But dawdle not to mental cage.
For if you enter, door clangs shut,
Your contact with family, friends: CUT.
You have the strength to free yourself,
And though dark faerie may steal wealth,
The real treasure's air and life,
Not taunting: cruelty sharp as knife.
So when you venture from domain,
I hope you are still well and sane.
And if you failed that one time,
I hope you realise faerie's crime
Please turn from Jhudora's Cloud.
Temptation may be strong and loud,
But stronger, louder, greater still
Is your own knowledge: your free will.
A Day at Merri Acres
Wonderfully the sun does shine
Upon the merry faces
Who walk upon the dirt road path;
No one knows who trod it last,
But now we are in good graces.
And so merry a mood as mine,
My heart, it throbs and races,
A bystander'd think I'm rather daft
He'd warn me where my money's cast,
But to stop us, you'd need braces.
The wooden gate we do approach
To meet a stout Gelert;
He smiles, his teeth are ladder rungs,
Promising, hopeful, every one,
And his greeting's friendly and curt:
"Now, friends, I'm not your business coach,
But I advise you, be alert;
On these branches there are berries hung
Amidst the countless piles of dung
All on this fertile earth."
After paying him our Neopoints,
He agreed to let me in,
We stooped down low and searched up high
While the sun taunted from the sky,
And finally we gave in.
"I feel that we've been cheated, boys,"
I say to my dear Quinn,
"I've searched everywhere, and I don't lie,
And seen nothing much to gratify
The money I've put in."
When our game was nearly finished,
Invisus threw a fit:
"I hate this world of Meridell;
There's not a single thing to tell
That puts a good word towards it."
Well, the final blow had just been dished,
The fire of revenge was lit.
We waited until darkness fell
To return to Meridell,
But we were kicked out, so I guess that's it.
The sun shone through the water,
Patches moving with the waves,
Lighting up the ocean floor,
All but the deepest caves.
Down amongst the pretty coral,
The seaweed and the sand,
A city stands in all its glory,
Its towers fine and grand.
A majestic Koi rules this place,
Kelpbeard, proud and wise,
The swordsmaster Talak protects
Maraqua from prying pirate eyes,
A restaurant feeds the people,
Serving every kind of dish,
Maractite weapons help protect
This city of the fish.
So if you're headed down below,
Under the water blue,
Do stop by Maraqua,
The city built anew...
Total Poetry Pages : 2153
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Presentation on theme: "Jefferson Parish Children and Youth Planning Board –"— Presentation transcript:
1Jefferson Parish Children and Youth Planning Board – 2010-2011
2Act 555- Children and Youth Planning Boards Act In 2004, to further promote the intent of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2003, the provisions of Act 555, known as the “Children and Youth Planning Boards Act”, was passed.Act 555 mandated local jurisdictions create Children & Youth Planning Boards (CYPBs) whose purpose is to assist in the:AssessmentAlignmentCoordinationPrioritization, andMeasurementof all available services and programs that address the needs of children and youth.- Juvenile Justice Implementation Commission started reform effort- State realized that Juvenile Justice needed to be improve.- Community concerns prompted change
3Jefferson Parish CYPBEstablished by Parish Council ordinance on August 25, 2004Organizational Structure:Executive Committee (Oversight)Interagency Coordination and TrainingPrevention & Early Intervention / Continuum of CareEvaluation & MonitoringJuvenile Detention Alternatives InitiativeBalance in Juvenile JusticeYouth Advisory BoardMental Health Task ForceModels for Change Committee (EBP, DMC, & AFP)How structure was developedResponding to needs of community
4CYPB Comprehensive Plan Submitted annually to OJJ and the Children’s CabinetDesigned to be a plan for the development, implementation, and operation of services for children and youthThe plan is entitled: “Vision 2011 and Beyond: The Comprehensive Plan of the Jefferson Parish Children and Youth Planning Board” and contains:Historical and Physical InformationCensus CharacteristicsEducational DemographicsAssets and LiabilitiesEconomic IndicatorsCurrent InitiativesComprehensive Community ProfileThe many agencies, community groups and individual citizens involved in this endeavor strive to carry this plan into full fruition, guided by the common, unifying goal of improving the lives of all children and youth in Jefferson Parish.Document that discusses our progress and goals for futureCommunity assessment- Our master plan has been used as a model for the rest of the state
5Interagency Coordination & Training Interagency Coordination & Training Committee current tasks:Louisiana’s first Memorandum of Understanding for juvenile justice information-sharingPolice on Campus TrainingSchool Administrator’s TrainingStaff trainings on CYPB effortsFacilitate discussion on computerized information sharingAccomplishments include coordinating training for Police on Campus (POC) and setting the stage for a system-wide information sharing agreement.Training for POC’s was recognized as a critical need due to the large percent of arrests generated in schools.A curriculum was developed in concert with Models for Change Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network to provide POC’s with training that will enable them to respond to mental health crises more effectively.Since the training, POC’s have identified additional areas of concern when dealing with such crises which will be addressed via CYPB activities.
6Prevention & Early Intervention / Continuum of Care The Prevention & Early Intervention / Continuum of Care Committee current tasks:Collaborating with faith-based organizations in middle schools to increase suicide prevention programs;Mentoring program for 1st graders;Assisting young mothers and their babies with reading room;Working with the Youth Council to see what they feel is needed in the community along with survey of other agencies.One high risk school was targeted and volunteer tutors/mentors were provided to children chosen by educators in the first and/or second grade.Test scores, reading level, and student behavior will be tracked to determine if the addition of tutors/mentors effect improvement.The Continuum of Care Committee continues to find services that have not been included in 300 youth programs developed in the initial program survey.The COC is looking forward this year to working with the Nurse Family Partnership to assist in getting teen mother back in school and finding affordable childcare.In 2009, the COC committee introduced the web-based CYPB Directory of Community Services which already appeared on the Juvenile Services website and added it to the JP Juvenile Court website and the CYPB website to expand outreach to the community.In 2010 distribution was further expanded by the COC with creation of a resource booklet entitled Jefferson Parish Community Resource Booklet for Families with Children, placed in several areas where parents of young children visit and also available on the CYPB website.In the COC committee will be working with faith based and educational groups to provide youth that have dropped out of school the opportunity to continue their education and receive GEDs.The COC accomplished its goal of creating this PowerPoint presentation. The group will work on attaining goals not yet reached and will look at any changes that need to be made in the committee vision and goals.
7Evaluation & Monitoring The Evaluation and Monitoring Committee current tasks:Ensuring data-driven decision-makingDevelop and maintain data-collection sheet for probation departmentMonitors data provided by probation departmentFuture efforts will focus on encouraging performance standards for all CYPB agencies, including data collection and analysisThe Evaluation and Monitoring Committee is charged with ensuring compliance to outcome-based service provision. Through the efforts of this committee, performance indicators were established that make program evaluation part of the provision of contract services for the Dept. of Juvenile Services.
8Models for Change The Models for Change Committee Juvenile justice reform initiative with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur FoundationAlternatives to Formal Case ProcessingDisproportionate Minority ContactEvidence-Based Practices
9Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Detention reform initiative with the Annie E. Casey Foundation that focuses on:Detention Assessment Instrument (what is the tool)Examples of Alternatives to Secure DetentionElectronic MonitoringTrackersGlobal Positioning System (GPS) tracking (high risk, no phone line required)Disproportionate Minority ContactConditions of ConfinementDetention Center Self-Assessment (validated instrument) – changes to Rivarde to occur as a result of findings.
10Mental Health Taskforce The Mental Health Taskforce current tasks:Clarify and disseminate mental health crisis protocolsAssist in the development of suicide/homicide response plans for schools, Juvenile Court, the Juvenile Assessment Center, and Rivarde Detention CenterStreamline and improve coordination of mental health crises across the various agencies involved with youthAssisting with mental health services for Rivarde and JAC
11Balance in Juvenile Justice The Balance in Juvenile Justice CommitteeAddresses the juveniles that have shown a pattern of increasingly detrimental behavior to their lives and the lives of the citizens of Jefferson ParishDevelopment of the “Red File” Program that provides up to date, detailed information to the court and probation department concerning a serious habitual offender (high risk scoring)
12Youth Involvement The Youth Advisory Committee Youth members meet monthly to openly discuss and analyze issues affecting youthBased on their experience members will make suggestions on how to improve services to families and youthYouth recruitment efforts
13New Initiatives to Come Shelter careDecreasing reliance on juvenile justice system by school system thereby reducing school-related referrals to juvenile justice (Study from school system)Community assessmentShelter care is sought as an alternative to detention for youth who have no place to go.Roughly 1/3 of all arrests originate at schools. Finding ways to assist population.Community assessment will assist in determining best services for children and youth. Data used to determine community resources and needs.
14How CYPB impacts youSafer and healthier communities (improved child welfare indicators)Improved services to Jefferson Parish residents (Information sharing, lack of duplicative services)Improvements across the child and youth service systemFinancial benefits (cost savings, increased efficiency)The bottom line is that Jefferson Parish wants to provide the best services possible to the children and families.46% decrease in Families in Need of Services from
15How CYPB impacts you (cont.) System-wide improvementsAgreement to make data-driven decisionsReduction of juveniles in detention: Capacity is 55 juveniles. Average daily population as of July 1, 2010 is 36 juveniles.Juveniles in custody of OJJ as of October, 2010: 53 placed in secure care; 39 placed in non-secure care.Directory of services provides community members with information on servicesIncrease in effective programs from 12% in 2007 to 95% in 2010Improved coordination of services with Information-Sharing MOUState Office of Juvenile Justice provided statisticsOther system-wide improvements: increase use best practice services, moving away from punitive-correctional model to family-focused model thereby decreasing referrals to juvenile court.
16How Can You Get Involved? CYPB Website:If you are interested in participating in any committee or would like to know more about our achievements, please contact the committee chairperson listed below:Interagency Coordination and Training-Dawn Palermo, , ext 862,Prevention & Early Intervention / Continuum of Care- Nancy Pearson, ,Evaluation & Monitoring- Dr. John Ryals, , ext 241,Models for Change- Chris Trosclair, , ext. 285, & John RyalsJuvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative- Ashley DeMouy, , ext. 256,Mental Health Committee- Dr. Daliah Bauer, ,Balance in Juvenile Justice- Lonnie Taix, ,Youth Advisory – Kim Dilosa, , | <urn:uuid:7bdfa02b-2404-4f05-87af-9b579162f72c> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://slideplayer.com/slide/3517239/ | 2017-08-23T01:06:18Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886116921.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20170823000718-20170823020718-00680.warc.gz | en | 0.915129 | 1,919 |
In just over one year of unarmed demonstrations in Nabi Saleh, a small Palestinian community in the West Bank, 155 of the village’s 500 residents were wounded (about 60 of them children); 35 homes were damaged and dozens of the village’s people were detained. Yet even after the protest’s leader was put behind bars by the army, the struggle for the Nabi Saleh’s land continues
The objects seen in the picture: a magazine (Rifle-Launched Anti-Protesters Grenade ) attached to a Tavor gun, and a human skull, attached to a neck. The gun is vertical; the neck is horizontal. You could say they’ve made contact.
Inside the magazine: 12 to 16 rubber-coated metal pellets. Inside the skull: soft, gray brain tissue. Thoughts and memories. A soul.
The purpose of the weapon: dispersing demonstrations at a minimum range of 40 meters. The purpose of the brain: to live. To remember such moments.
Will the rubber-metal pellets go through that brain? Probably not. However, the thought about it doubtlessly goes through the man’s mind. One could say that this is actually happening at the photographed moment. Does pressing the magazine to the head of a man lying on the ground constitute “dispersion of demonstrations” at a minimal range of 40 meters?
Pointless question. That is not the point here. The point is sowing fear and terror, emotional terror.
Was the picture taken out of context? Did the demonstrator “provoke” the soldiers, perhaps by throwing stones? That is a disingenuous question, the very answer for which takes it out of context. As if the “provocation” and the throwing of stones have no context; as if they do not occur against the background of the basic, unchanging context of occupation and dispossession. What the hell is an Israeli soldier doing on Palestinian land? Why is he protecting an unlawful settlement that robs its Palestinian neighbors, and how does he even expect the Palestinian to just sit there and do nothing when faced with this scandalous conduct?
This could have been the end of the post. For anyone who knows anything about the events at Nabi Saleh, this is quite enough. But not everyone knows, and truly, what can you even understand from this laconic, routine headline that appears on the Hebrew news sites every Friday, “Riots at Nabi Saleh”? So it is appropriate to say more. That every Israeli citizen know what has been done in his name, every week, for 15 months now.
The confrontations in Nabi Saleh over the past year are considered the most violent in the West Bank. In spite of the fact that the Palestinian side is adhering to the nonviolent popular protest, with women and children participating, Israel’s army has broken several records in brutality at Nabi Saleh.
In March 2010, a 14-year-old youth, Ihab Barghoutti, was shot with a rubber pellet in the course of a demonstration. The pellet hit his head and he went into a coma. Of the 500 residents of the village, 155 were wounded since the beginning of the demonstrations; that’s about 30% of the population. About 60 of the people wounded are children. 35 homes were damaged by the shooting of demonstration-dispersing weapons. Fires broke out in seven of these. Based on testimonies from demonstrators, the Israeli army uses live firepower against them, too, in violation of the law.
Just to be clear: throwing stones at an occupying army which prevents you from demonstrating on your own land does not constitute “violent protest.” It is the expected response to someone who not only steals your land but also denies you the basic right to protest this. If the army stops acting against the residents of Nabi Saleh and just gets the hell off their lands, no one will throw stones at it.
The residents of Nabi Saleh are not trying to go to the nearby settlement of Halamish and they are not endangering the settlers. They insist – every Friday – to demonstrate by a spring that was appropriated from them.
The army does not even wait for the demonstrators to get out of the village. The Israeli army simply goes into the village and starts shooting at anything that moves – rubber-coated metal pellets, gas canisters, and other things. Sometimes it sprays entire streets with putrid skunk water: the houses, the windows, the potable water stored on the roofs. Not only is this collective punishment, this policy exposes the true provocateur: Village residents, who demonstrate without threatening any Israeli? Or the army, which invades their streets? (A quote from the testimony of Hedva Isscar: “The first gas canister was shot at us before we had time to get out of the village.”)
Like in Bil’in and Silwan, the Israeli army is trying to chop off the head of the popular protest by making arrests (did it help in Bil’in and Silwan? It did not. Does the Israeli army learn anything from this? It did not, either.) Protest leader Bassam Tamimi was arrested a month ago (in the 90’s Tamimi was tortured by the Internal Security Service [Shabak], after which he was paralyzed for a month). Like Abdallah Abu Rahme from Bil’in, Tamimi is 10 levels of morality above the army that arrested him. Here is what he says:
“We want to offer our people an example and pattern of popular struggle. Since the beginning of the revolution (the establishment of the PLO) and the armed struggle we have made cumulative mistakes which the Israelis used against us, although these were merely responses to the Israeli oppression. We do not have a military answer to Israel. History teaches us that if ever we had even partial success, it was in popular uprisings: in 1936 and in 1987. It is in the popular struggle that we can prove our moral superiority to all and sundry.”
People with that kind of dangerous idea must be put behind lock and key.
The wave of arrests at Nabi Saleh is characterized by the eradication of the difference between adults and minors. Since the protests began, more than a year ago, more than 60 residents of the village have been arrested and imprisoned (that’s approximately 13%). 29 of those imprisoned are minors. In an apparent effort to spare themselves the physical effort of running after demonstrators, Israel’s army has developed an original, new method: Army forces invade village homes at night, wakes up boys from their sleep, and photographs them. This is how they build up a database that will serve for future arrests – and to hell with civil rights and the presumption of innocence. Later, testimonies collected from minors, in violation of the law, without the presence of parents or attorneys and while denying them sleep, are used to incriminated village activists.
Imagine a 14-year-old Israeli youth taken from his home, without parents in attendance, and interrogated for a seven-hour stretch about rock-throwing. Imagine him being put in detention for two and half months. Imagine having one law for you – and another for him.
Settlers have been coveting the ancient springs in the West Bank for many years. Most of these springs are not natural, it should be noted. They were dug as part of a system of irrigation, pools, and ditches that serve the Palestinian populations. Settlers have already taken over approximately 25 such springs, with the Civil Administration ignoring their actions (This Hebrew piece explains how the system works).
In 2008 the Halamish settlers went down to the Ein Al-Kous spring, placed tabernacles and benches there, marked it up with blue stars of David, and “converted” it to Judaism: now they would call it Ma’ayan Meir, for Meir Segal, one of the founders of Neve Tzoof, which was the former name of Halamish (it is always a good idea to make an outpost or spring into a commemorative site; this way it’s that much harder, politically, to return them). The Civil Administration was recruited to reinforce Jewish control by placing a sign prohibiting entry to an “Antiquities Site”. It later was discovered that the sign had been placed unlawfully, without the spot having been officially declared as an archeological site, and without any findings whatsoever found there. In other words, it was a trick to prohibit entry to Arabs. And indeed, a settler-hand soon interpreted the original text and added the following words to the sign: “No entry to Arabs.”
Ein Al-Kous has always-and-forever been part of the heritage of the residents of Nabi Saleh and the nearby Deir Nazzam, and served for watering herds. In January 2010 the residents presented ownership documentation to the Civil Administration and since then – the C.A. is in no hurry – the documents have been under “judicial examination.” Meanwhile, for more than a year, the settlers and the army have been acting as though the issue of ownership has already been decided in their favor. They are right, of course. The legalistic contortions are meant for foreign eyes, not for practical purposes. The Palestinians are again, as ever, “infiltrators” to their own land. And even if we were to assume that the land was “not legally disposed”, how has the spring become prohibited to Palestinians but permitted to Jews?
Now is the time to make the ever-necessary note that is always absent from reports of the “riots” in the Occupied Territories: Halamish itself is a marvel of unlawfulness. First, it was established on occupied territory, in contravention of international law. Second, it was established by force of a military appropriation order and was deceitfully converted into a civilian settlement. Third, large parts of it were constructed without plans or permits, knowing that they would be retroactively authorized by legal channels. In the confrontation between the residents of Halamish and the residents of Nabi Saleh, Israel’s army defends the law-breakers.
Israel’s governments, one after another, have specialized in blatant lies to the public. A particularly effective method was the concealment of the merely-colonial expansionist greed behind military excuses. Thus, for example, the government decision dated 2 October 1977 establishing Neve Tzoof/Halamish was phrased: “the government records the decision of the Ministers’ Committee For Settlement dated 17 Tishrei 5738 (29 September 1977). The settlers will populate Army camps in Samaraia [sic] and be employed in accordance with army requirements as workers in service of the army. The government authorizes the deployment of the first nucleus to settlement in the Samaria Camp, today.”
“Workers in service of the army.” What has changed today? That the army works in their service. What’s the difference? There is no difference.
Here, too, is the reason for the especially tough measures taken by the military against the demonstrators at Nabi Saleh, in contrast with other places in the West Bank. The Nabi Saleh demonstrations threaten not the separation wall but a territory the settlers have occupied for themselves. The army operates as a militia for retention of the lands by Jews; it perceives the protest as being addressed directly to it, as there is no true difference between the interests of the settler and the interests of the soldiers guarding him. There is no doubt that this is aided by the presence of a senior office in the Halamish settlement – Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Itzik Shadmi, Chair of the Binyamin Settler Committee, a man whose opinions nestle comfortably between ultra-rightwing Rabbi Dov Wolfa and Kahane man Baruch Marzel.
The Israeli army will lose. The settlers will lose. Israel will lose. On the road to that loss they will wound and displace countless Palestinians, but at the end they will lose. And they will lose because they do not understand what they are contending with, despite the fact that it is in plain view, before their very eyes (as you can see in the astonishing movie, below). Sometimes you need a tremendous, superhuman effort to see that there is a human being before you. And then you need another effort, no smaller than the first, to see that what you ask him to relinquish – in contrast to what you must relinquish – is the recognition of his own value as a human being.
And that, he will not relinquish.
Idan Landau is a linguist at the Beer-Sheba university. This post originally appeared in Hebrew on Idan’s blog. It was translated and posted here with the author’s permission. | <urn:uuid:cfd704c1-22ae-41f5-a988-1c6d9cb588e8> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://972mag.com/nabi-saleh-a-tiny-villages-struggle-againt-the-occupation/ | 2017-08-23T00:29:25Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886116921.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20170823000718-20170823020718-00680.warc.gz | en | 0.970041 | 2,700 |
My Twitter/blog friend Sarah at The Accidental Okie has nominated me for the Leibster blog award!
Sarah and I “met” a couple of months ago on her blog, or maybe on Twitter. We can’t remember. But we quickly learned we have a frightening number of things in common. Sarah (accidentally) lives in Oklahoma with her husband and kitties, where she writes about her life, her gluten-free culinary creations and design. I’m surprised and honored that she reads my blog, much less that she would nominate me for an award. So, thanks, Sarah! Right back at ya.
The guidelines of the award are simple. I answer 11 things about me, then I answer 11 of Sarah’s questions. I nominate up to 11 other bloggers and write 11 questions for them. Hopefully they’ll pass it on and recognize other, fellow bloggers they like.
So, here goes.
11 Things About Me:
(I already had trouble coming up with these things, but I’ll try to stretch and give you 11 more.)
- I have been a loyal subscriber to People magazine since 1987. I still read it cover to cover every week.
- I am so not a morning person. The world — especially its work schedule — and I are not in sync. But if you want to start a project at 10 p.m., I’m your girl.
- I love tea, especially when it’s sweet or hot. I don’t actually like the taste of coffee, but I trained myself to drink it because I need the caffeine. I’d much rather sip a spot o’ tea anyday.
- I am terrified of heights, insects (read: spiders, roaches) and flying.
- I’m the only child (and daughter, no less) of a man who loves tools. So I’m pretty handy for a girl. In New York, I installed both my own and my friend Jess’s window air units. And I only bled a little.
- My very favorite destination in the world is Scotland. It’s wild and beautiful and majestic.
- I love to cross-stitch. I learned from my mom, who has done really large, intricate, beautiful pieces that are framed in her house. My cross-stitching ebbs and flows — I haven’t worked on something in years, before school. But I find it relaxing and creative to sew thread into linen and create pretty pictures.
- Everyone I know is tired of me recommending my favorite book, Wally Lamb’s “I Know This Much is True.” No one loves it quite to the degree I do, but I think it’s phenomenal and profound. Mr. Lamb is a genius. (And nice, too — I met him once at a book signing.)
- I don’t think I could live without Burt’s Bee’s lip balm. I don’t want to try.
- I’m obsessed with all things British, especially history, royalty and television.
- I despise karaoke. If you ever want to torture me, tie me to a chair in a karaoke bar. I’ll tell you anything you want to know.
Questions from Sarah at Accidental Okie:
- As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? Well, I used to write stories and go to writing workshops when I was 10-12ish, so I may have instinctively wanted to be a writer or novelist. In high school, I wanted to be a travel agent. In college, I wanted to be a historian. Then my dad questioned how I was going to work with a history degree, and I switched to journalism/PR.
- If you had $10,000 to spend on whatever you want, what would it be? (In this scenario, you have all the money you need in checking, savings, college funds, 401k’s, etc). I’m afraid I would do something practical like upgrade my house or buy a new air conditioner. Or travel.
- What is your dream vacation? Greece. Or a 6-month cruise around the world.
- What is your most used kitchen tool? Probably a wooden spoon, though I love a spatula too. My grandmother calls them “child cheaters” because if you scrape the bowl you cheat the child who wants to eat the leftover batter. By the way, I can’t stand when cooks don’t scrape the bowl on cooking shows. It happens so often — they leave so much that you could get another cookie out of it, at least. Drives me crazy. (Ahem, Giada.)
- What was your greatest accomplishment of the past five years? Wow, it’s been an interesting five years, so that’s a poignant question. It could be moving back to Charlotte, it could be getting a certain job, it could be finishing my MBA, it could be finding Oliver. There’s not one, easy answer.
- How do you deal with negative comments on your blog? Hmm, I’m not sure I’ve received any negative comments. If I did or do, I have to respect your opinion, but I don’t have to agree with it, respond to it or even display it. It’s a sort of cowardice to write mean, ugly, negative things to someone you don’t know when you can hide behind your username and computer. Remember the agage, “If you can’t say something nice, just don’t say anything at all.”
- Are you pro or anti PDA (public displays of affection)? Pro, I suppose, as long as it’s chaste. I’m okay with holding hands, giving a peck. But I don’t need to make out (or see you making out) in public. Save something for behind closed doors.
- What parameters do you place on your blog? Are there things you won’t blog about? I’m probably too careful with things I blog about. I’m not really a controversial person in daily life, so I don’t need to stir the pot or sound off on my opinion here. I am always thinking of the eyes that are reading or could be reading and their potential judgment so I have censored myself in snarky things I planned to say about someone in the public eye. I also am careful never to give too much away about who I am or where I work. There’s some crazies out there, y’all.
- What has been the greatest aha moment of your life? There have been a few, but the most recent was when I was tired of living in New York and tired of my job. I had lunch with a former coworker who’d already left the company. I told her my decision to quit my job and move in several months. “No!” she told me. “March up there today and give notice. Don’t live in fear.” And then: “Leap and the net will appear.” Those words hit me like a lightning flash. I gave notice the next morning.
- If you could be friends with a literary character, who would you choose? It’s so trite, but I’d like to hang out with Elizabeth Bennett from Pride & Prejudice. Maybe once she’s married so I could meet Darcy and stay over at Pemberley.
- Two-part question: What do you find most challenging and most rewarding about blogging?
Challenging: just finding the time to do it. It’s pretty easy to come up with ideas of what to write about, but they are sometimes fleeting and then the moment’s passed. It’s hard to just sit down and write, and even when I find that time, it’s hard to get started. A blank page really is the most intimidating part of writing. Once I get going, I’m usually fine, and that’s the lesson, I suppose.
Rewarding: just doing it. As I say, once you get going, the creativity comes and I often surprise myself with the words I can lay on a page. Plus I’ve enjoyed the blogging/writing community — reading about other people in other parts of the country or world with their own, unique views of life. I may not always consider myself a people person (blame my inner introvert), but I think people’s lives and stories are interesting. I’ve also found the blog and Twitter universes to be especially supportive, encouraging and inspirational.
It’s mighty hard to come up with a list of bloggers I read and like who may have less than 200 followers. (Apologies if you’re much more popular than that.) But the folks below write blogs about their lives, their food, their thoughts, their favorite things and the crazy-funniness that happens to them. Just like me.
- The Girl in a Blue Apron — Elisa was one of my first blog finds through social media. As soon as I read her food philosophy, I was hooked. She’s a writer and editor by day, and blogs about food in her spare time. Plus, she has a great blog name that I covet.
- Learner Londoner — When people like my blog, I usually go and read theirs to see who they are. That’s how I found Ashleigh. She’s from Wales but is currently in the process of moving to London and chronicles the preparations on her blog. She lived in Africa and shares beautiful photos from that time. She loves fashion and bakeries. She’s my kinda girl.
- The Moody Box Fan — Josh and I go way back. He’s known me through at least three eras of my life, and I’m thrilled to say that we still chat weekly on Twitter or Facebook or email. He’s a gem. He’s also a brilliant writer who probably doesn’t think he’s as talented as he should. While he may not have updated his blog in awhile (ahem.), you should still go read it. Love it, love him.
Great Smitten — Like Sarah, I also read (and love) Great Smitten. I won’t double nominate, but I at least have to second hers. I (along with tens of thousands of other people) found Faith when one of her posts was featured on WordPress’s Freshly Pressed. She’s a southern girl who worked in magazines then married a Brit and now lives across the pond with her husband and son. She’s witty and entertaining and faithful and sometimes says exactly what I need to hear that day. Plus, her stories give me the dose of Britannia I need every so often.
Passing it on — the rules for my blog nominees:
- Post 11 things about yourself.
- Answer my questions below.
- Choose up to 11 fellow bloggers with less than 200 followers and link to them in your post.
- Create 11 questions for the people you’ve nominated.
- Tell them.
- What makes you happy?
- What’s your least favorite food?
- What keeps you up at night?
- What’s your favorite childhood memory?
- Why did you start blogging?
- What’s your most overused phrase? (in speaking or writing)
- If you could have dinner with three living people, who would they be and why?
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- What’s your favorite social media tool, and why? Least favorite? | <urn:uuid:21a441e6-ec78-4c1c-bfee-7cf116e7f906> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://southandsundry.com/2012/09/28/you-like-me-you-really-like-me/ | 2017-08-23T23:15:03Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886124662.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20170823225412-20170824005412-00040.warc.gz | en | 0.957749 | 2,533 |
The black Mercedes turned into the disused warehouse complex near the docks and stopped in an alley between two buildings. The windows of the car were glazed with dark reflective glass that denied any view of the passengers. The car remained stationary but no one got out. Lucky Bright was waiting.
He was very proud of this car. It had been advertised by the Embassy of one of the Arab states, whose Ambassador had been ordered to leave England at very short notice for crimes against the state - he had apparently been arrested in Trafalgar Square, dressed in punk gear, complete with earrings and stud in his nostril and accused of inciting a riot. His plea that all he'd been trying to do was pick up a typical young English girl for a night of sensuality was rejected and after claiming diplomatic immunity he was bundled on a plane and sent home in disgrace.
The car was one of his relics, put up for sale after he and all his wives had departed. When Lucky first eyed the long sleek car his heart missed a beat as he visualised himself in the corner of the back seat, his minions in the seats in front and Joey The Wheels, in a peaked cap driving.
Despite his excitement and determination to acquire it, he had kept his usual cool and argued over the price for a good thirty minutes, remembering how his father had described wartime visits to the bazaars of Egypt and Libya.
Status symbols were very important to Lucky and none more than the car he was driven in; he was after all the uncrowned king of crime in the bottom half of the town. His organisation controlled drugs, prostitution, sales of all black market tickets to the big matches and boxing, most of the one armed bandits in the clubs and many of the clubs themselves.
He financed three pop groups who were paying big dividends for the influence he brought to bear in setting up their gigs and owned a nice little electrical goods warehouse where they fenced all the car radios and video sets the kids of the neighbourhood nicked whenever they were short of a little ready. He was Mr. Big, and no one challenged his authority.
It had not always been so good. He had clawed his way up from nothing, a mere strong arm for Benny The Butcher Belino, doing his dirty work while he sat around on his fat arse with pretty young girls serving him drinks and anything else he'd fancied. Lucky had sworn a secret oath that he would one day oust the gang boss and take all the pickings for himself but it had taken three years of patiently watching and learning before he felt he was ready to strike.
His opportunity to step into Benny's shoes came suddenly and took all Lucky's courage to see it through; he discovered the gang boss' weakness for young girls and put it to work in his grand design by secretly sending the young wives of gang members to Benny's bed every time their husbands had been ordered out on a job.
Belino thought it was Christmas every day and took it as a gesture of his 'boys' regard for him until Lucky, in a grand confrontation witnessed by all the gang members and their wives at a party he'd set up, copying the gangster dinners of Chicago in the thirties, accused his boss of treachery, debauchery and fornication. The older man was stunned at the sudden turn of events; especially when the girls started to confirm the accusation and then went on to describe Benny's limitations as a lover.
Their anger slowly turned to laughter and, much to Lucky's relief, his boss had slunk away and withdrawn from sight in his embarrassment and shame, leaving the field open for his aggressive strong-arm man.
He had immediately stepped in to keep the gang together and, as instigator of the downfall - without violence - of Belino was accepted as his successor by virtually all. After a couple of smashed noses and broken ribs his succession had been accepted unanimously and he had set to work to build up the organisation, bringing in more up-to-date methods of management and introducing up to the minute scams.
The car was his present to himself, chosen to show the world that Lucky was a man of presence, a man to respect and not to trifle with. It certainly succeeded with the men who worked for him; they could not wait for an opportunity to be seen getting out of, or into the Mercedes with their boss, taking care that anyone in the vicinity was aware they were doing so.
The car, gliding quietly around the borough with it's mysterious darkened windows keeping an anonymous watch on everyone, kept Lucky's control firm and unchallenged until, that is, word was sent that Dolla Jim Coaley, leader of the topside gang, was rustling some of their business.
Lucky had always been an honourable man, never trespassing over the agreed borders of his territory and stamping down firmly on any member who abused the agreement, but now Coaley was, apparently, blatantly crossing the line and action had to be taken. He had made contact with Dolla and set up this meet.
Joey The Wheels leaned forward over the steering wheel, looking at the desolate scene of the half wrecked buildings on each side of the empty alley:
"I don't like this, Boss, it's too quiet," he said.
"Relax, Joey, we'll just wait here a while. They'll show," Lucky replied.
"Who suggested this place, you or Dolla?" Quickfinger Bolter asked.
"They did, but stop worrying," Lucky said, settling back comfortably into the depth of the back seat. He swore he could smell the perfume of the Arab's wives every time his face touched the fabric of the seat, and he smiled with comfortable satisfaction.
"I don't trust that slimy bastard Coaley. He's up to something," Quickfinger said.
"He's up to something alright," Lucky agreed, "But this is just a preliminary meet to clear the air. He'll let slip if he's got any idea of knuckling in on us and then I can make up my mind how I'll deal with him."
"We should both come with you and flash a bit of metal, just in case he tries anything," Joey said.
"No. The agreement is just the two of us and no hardware. You know me, my word is my bond. When they show, you two stay here. I don't want them to even know you've come with me, right?"
"I don't like it," Joey said again.
"I wouldn't trust him with my whoring grandmother," Quickfinger said. "Just don’t stand in my line of fire when you get out there, in case he plays dirty."
"Here he is," Joey said, interrupting his companion.
From the other end of the alley another car drove towards them slowly and stopped some fifty yards away. What little sun there was shone directly onto the windscreen, obscuring their view of the faces of the driver and the passenger.
"It's alright, there's only Dolla and his driver. Stay here like I said." Lucky got out of the Mercedes and straightened his tie and smoothed down his jacket before walking slowly forward, his hands held wide in evidence of his unarmed state and his eyes never leaving the windscreen of the car in front of him. He saw, to his relief, the passenger door open and a smiling Dolla Coaley emerged, his hands held wide in acknowledgement of their agreement.
They stopped, facing each other, a few yards apart.
"You're looking prosperous Lucky, it's nice to see," Dolla said.
"I can't complain," he replied. "I can make a living without breaking the rules and crossing the border, which would appear to be more than I can say for you."
"Now that's not a very nice thing to say to an old friend."
"Come off it Dolla! The only reason we're here today is to sort this out. Let's not fart around the bush," Lucky said sharply.
"It's a big town, Lucky, there's plenty out there for us without quarrelling over it. My boys only take what's mine." Dolla's permanent grin was getting up Lucky's nose and he had to take a grip on himself to avoid losing his temper, which, he sensed, was just what Coaley wanted.
"We had an agreement that was fair and has worked well until now.
You had the topside of the town and I had the bottom. I've always stuck to my bottom, why aren't you?" 'Oh Christ,' he thought as soon as he'd said it, 'I wish I'd said it differently to that.'
Coaley's grin widened but he did not take advantage of his opportunity.
"I don't remember making an agreement with you, Lucky," he said, instead.
"We've always had an agreement, ever since Benny's day."
"Ah yes, but that was with Benny. It didn't say anything about splitting up the town with you, did it?" The smile had gone and suddenly Dolla was a different man.
"That agreement is the only thing that can prevent chaos, with both of us going after the same jobs. It may have been made with Benny but I'm running the bottom side now and it's just as important that we observe it," Lucky said.
"Well that's another thing altogether." Dolla Coaley hesitated, a suggestion of the grin catching the corners of his mouth.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lucky asked sharply.
"There are those who don't like the way you came to be running the bottom side. There are those who think you were a bit too clever in the way you got my old friend Benny out."
"Oh yer," Lucky mumbled, concerned, suddenly, with the way the meeting was going and completely unprepared for it. "Benny did for himself by chasing too much skirt. When he started laying his blokes' birds he lost their respect and support. I didn't get him out, he walked out of his own accord." "But it was you what set him up."
"Are you saying I pimped for him? You must be off you rocker!"
Tension had crept into the meeting. They glared at each other like two belligerent stags. Dolla answered slowly:
"I don't say it, Benny says it."
"You listen to him?" Lucky scoffed. "He walked out without a word because the girls were laughing at his performance in the sack. I couldn't have arranged that even if I'd tried."
"Benny thinks you did. The girl's mockery was his final humiliation. You wounded him where it hurts worst and he can't forgive you for that."
"Well if he wants to do something about it tell him to have a go, I'll be ready to deal with Mister Bloody Benny."
"Oh you needn't worry, Lucky, he's done it already. He's given me half his business in the bottom side," Dolla said slowly, seeking maximum impact. He turned and held his hand out towards the car.
The driver's door opened and Benny, looking a little older and wearier, got out. "Meet my new partner," Dolla said.
"You didn't think I would give everything up to a little shit like you, did you Lucky?" Benny said and put an arm around Dolla's shoulder. "Me and my partner are coming back to pick up the pieces of my business and there wont be any room for you in the new set up. There won’t be no bottom side and topside anymore, just one big friendly family, me and my friend Dolla."
"You've got to be joking! Do you think the lads will fall for that after the way you treated them. You are Mr Yesterday, Benny, They'll back me every time against you and your boy friend," Lucky said angrily.
"That was always a danger we had to consider, but if you're not around they can't, can they?" Dolla said, smirking.
"You wont frighten me off easily. You two are starting a war. From the moment I walk away from here there'll be no peace until it's settled and I control both sides."
"Sadly, I was afraid you'd say that," Dolla said.
"Well, so be it. At least shake hands for the last time."
Lucky looked at his adversary suspiciously then slowly extended his hand.
"Goodbye Lucky," Dolla said, shaking hands.
"Goodbye Lucky," Benny said solemnly and shook his hand.
Lucky stood glued to the spot, the awful truth slowly dawning on him.
"You bastards,” he said as the single crack of the rifle shot rang out from a window on the ruined first floor of the old warehouse behind them and the bullet found it's mark, striking him neatly below the heart.
"Oh my God," he gasped as he fell and his life came to an end. | <urn:uuid:2bdffc56-f88a-431c-804b-781fe991fe52> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://www.inkitt.com/stories/fantasy/40784 | 2017-08-18T18:19:23Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105086.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20170818175604-20170818195604-00560.warc.gz | en | 0.991759 | 2,725 |
This article was written in 2010 at the request of Madison, Wisconsin ultra-distance athlete Darren Fortney. As an athlete with a remarkable story to tell, Darren was a recipient of the Focal Flame Honoring the Athlete award. The prize included a photo essay and custom-commissioned article.
Each year, Darren leads a group of swimmers in a 6-mile swim traversing Lake Mendota as a fund-raising effort for Gilda’s Club, a cancer support and advocacy organization. As a history buff, he wanted to place the ultra-swim in historical context. Focal Flame co-founder Robyn Perrin interviewed a local boat captain and historian, Donald Sanford, whose book “On Fourth Lake: The Social History of Lake Mendota” is scheduled to be released in August, 2015. Sanford gave permission for some of his research on “lake swimmers”, as he calls them, to be included in this article. Additionally, Robyn interviewed local Madison resident Joe Silverberg, who swam the lake in the mid-1940s, when he was 16. We hope you enjoy the stories they shared and invite you to cheer on the 2015 Gills for Gilda’s swimmers - who will take on the lake once again on June 19, 2015, having raised nearly $8,000 dollars to support cancer patients and their families.
To learn the history of Lake Mendota is to pay homage to ice. Not the foot and a half of ice that caps it on average every winter, but the massive glacial sheets that birthed the lake during the “Wisconsin Stage” of Pleistocene glaciation, beginning about 50,000 years ago. Over the span of nearly 38,000 years, glaciers scraped across a 600-foot-deep river valley. The Yahara River flowed underneath. Advancing and retreating again and again, the edge of the glacier scraped out hollows in the landscape, scuffing out four lake beds like a child digging its toes into the dirt.
One of the lake beds was later named “Mendota” by the Ho-Chunk tribe, which is reported to mean “The Lake Where the Indian Lies.” The name refers to a tribal story in which the lake was created by the splashing of a Ho-Chunk brave who turned into a spirit fish, then joined a maiden in the largest of the Four Lakes.
Throughout history, people living in the Yahara River region have been fascinated with Lake Mendota. At an average depth of 41.7 feet and reaching a maximum of 83 feet deep, it is a substantial yet intimate inland body of water. Edged with multiple bluffs, bays, points, rivers and creeks, and punctuated with Governor's Island, it is laced with opportunities for close inspection despite its size.
Generations of Madison residents have done just that – exploring, boating, fishing, rowing, and watching the lake. But in spending the past five years researching Lake Mendota history, local boat captain Donald Sanford also kept coming across accounts of people who had sought an even more personal communion with lake – by swimming across it. He started referring to these individuals as “Lake Swimmers“ and began keeping track of news reports dating to the late 1800s.
Many of the reported lake swimmers were adolescents - perhaps a reflection of teenagers' curiosity, access to leisure time in the summer, and their youthful athleticism. Summer camps lining Lake Mendota surely played a role as well. Camp Indianola was a private boy's camp operating from 1906 until 1967 located at what is now Governor Nelson State Park. A meticulously detailed 1910 catalog advertising the camp assured parents, “Every boy is taught to paddle a canoe, row a boat, and swim....last season there were a number of excellent swimmers in camp. One of our boys made a record swim of five and one half miles. A number of others swam one, two, and three miles.“ Public swimming in the lakes, however, had only been acceptable for generation or so by that time, as swimming was illegal in Madison until 1879.
Colorful lake swimmer characters include "Dr. Joe Dean," likely the same Joseph Dean who founded the Dean Clinic in 1904 that would later become Dean HMO, who swam Mendota in 1899. Later, James “Jimmy“ Julian, captain of the swim team at Central High School (which was later demolished to make way for expansion of the University of Wisconsin) traversed the lake several times in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Mina Fox, a visiting student from Chicago, swam from Bernards Park to Adams Hall in 1930, only to be accused afterwards of faking the swim by skeptical reporters. (She responded indignantly.)
Another notable duo were Charley Bran, the only person reported to have swum the entire shoreline perimeter of Lake Mendota, and his son Stan Bran, who attempted to repeat his father's feat 10 years afterward in 1939 but was unsuccessful due to conditions. Longtime Madison residents may remember Stan Bran as the host of the television show Outdoor Calling, which ran on Channel 15 for 29 years.
Interestingly, a rash of swim crossings occurred during the Great Depression in the 1930s, which Sanford attributes to the lure of cheap outdoor recreation during hard economic times, and perhaps the universal appeal of meeting an individual challenge when so many lives were in turmoil.
The most remarkable story is that of Peter Foseid, who was reported to have swum a five-mile course from Tenney Park to Camp Indianola in 1930. The Capital Times reported that Foseid had had his leg amputated eight inches below the hip in 1921 following an injury incurred in a football game. A junior at UW and counselor at Camp Wakanda, Foseid reportedly followed his five-mile swim by playing a baseball game, for which he donned his wooden leg. If his reported swim time is indeed accurate, his pace of 1.70 min per 100 yards is the fastest of any other lake swimmer profiled in news accounts. He also swam across the lake on at least one other occasion, in 1932.
One Madison resident, Joe Silverberg, was happy to share his memories of his Lake Mendota swim crossings in the mid-1940s. Joe Silverberg traversed the lake in 1946 at the age of 16, and two years later his sister Sally completed the same distance. When asked if either he or his sister swam competitively in high school, Silverberg said, "No - we were water rats. We just swam for recreation. We all lived on Sherman Avenue, and of course the lake was our recreation during the summer."
Although it became a family tradition, Silverberg stated that his own swim crossing was not pre-planned. “One day the lake was dead calm, and we [Silverberg and two friends] decided we should swim across the lake. But for the last half of the swim, a wind from the north kicked up and so I was fighting against it the rest of the day.“ He continued, “The moral of the story is that it's much better planning if you swim on a day when there's a south wind.“
Joe was accompanied by a friend in a rowboat, and he later rowed with his sister during her swim, a safety measure that both siblings deemed essential. When asked about the most memorable part of his own lake crossing, though, his thoughts turned to the most basic of athletic needs: nutrition. “The person in the rowboat fed us along the way - Hershey bars - which is exactly the wrong thing to do,“ he said. Laughing, he explained, “In those days we thought that eating chocolate gave you instant energy. We've since found out that it doesn't.“
Silverberg's tone grew quieter as he talked about the pollution that has since befallen Lake Mendota, and offered an explanation. He speculated that development of the private, artificial Lake Cherokee in the 1950s drained the marsh land that was within and near the Yahara River, preventing absorption of agricultural runoff from the dairy lands north of Madison. The result was effluent flowing into the lake, both polluting it and triggering algal blooms.
Water quality remains a tremendous issue for Lake Mendota, as well as the three other lakes in the region. But while pollution and preservation of healthy lake ecology will continue to be a challenge well into the future, the timeless pull of Mendota will surely persist and compel residents to treasure it.
And, of course, to swim across it. | <urn:uuid:b40255f7-2e5e-4e38-b2e0-eb5f182a9aee> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://www.focalflame.com/blog-archive/2015/6/17/water-stories-a-brief-history-of-lake-mendota-swim-crossings | 2017-08-19T14:59:41Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105455.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20170819143637-20170819163637-00640.warc.gz | en | 0.981337 | 1,788 |
If one can judge a year by what one ate, then 2010 was a banner year for my gullet. Hot dogs and pot du creme, tortas, soon doo boo and meatloaf sandwiches. And burgers. So many delicious burgers. Here are the 20 tastiest things I ate this year. Want to share your list? Just comment below.
The Asado burger with yucca fries
Where: Asado, 2810 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-7770, asadotacoma.com
The burger started with a patty made of ground chorizo (a smoky Spanish pork sausage) and seasoned chuck. Smoked onions and bell peppers added a hefty flavor layer. Pan-fried provolone cheese was a brilliant textural touch when paired with crispy fried Serrano ham. A brioche bun from Macrina Bakery came glazed with a smoky poblano aioli. You won’t find creamier fries around town than the yucca fries, which are thick-sliced fries made from yucca root, deep fried and tossed with truffle oil and finished with sel gris, then arranged into a fun little Jenga stack on the plate.
Sauerbraten and potato dumplings
Where: Bruno’s European Cafe, 11725 Pacific Highway S.W., Lakewood, 253-719-7181
Sauerbraten is offered only on Saturdays because it takes five days to prepare. Prime beef started with a marinade of bay leaves and fresh herb is slow-simmered in a pot until fork tender. Gravy is the final step, made from beefy pan drippings and enriched with cream. Accompanying dumplings with mushroom gravy were ethereal puffs of potato and flour that tasted deliciously squishy.
Where: Shorty’s Grub House, 34417 Pacific Highway S., Federal Way, 253-345-9100
House-smoked meatloaf came crispy around the grilled edges and studded with garlic and onions. Topped with a splash of house-made Grubbin’ Sauce (barbecue with a sweet twist), the slab of meatloaf was stuffed into a chewy ciabatta-style roll with sweet caramelized onions.
Thai peach soup
Where: Brix 25, 7707 Pioneer Way, Gig Harbor, 253-858-6626 or harborbrix.com
A warm, puckery, pureed peach soup that chef/owner Thad Lyman calls a twist on Thai-style sweet and sour was poured tableside, spilling gorgeously over a tangle of chopped raw ahi and a relish of diced, salted cucumbers threaded with mint. The flavors were fresh, summery, vivid.
Where: Primo Grill, 601 S. Pine St., Tacoma, 253-383-7000, primogrilltacoma.com
It’s thanks to the wood oven that the pizza crust at Primo is ethereal, thin and crispy, with just the right amount of chewy resistance. The pizzas come heat-licked with slightly charred edges. The house-cured pancetta and seared radicchio pizza yielded a sweet-bitter flavor combination with a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese. Toppings didn’t burden the crust. The prosciutto pizza got a sweet edge from a light smear of fig jam. Pockets of creamy goat cheese added sharp bite.
Where: Pacific Grill, 1502 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-627-3535, pacificgrilltacoma.com
I was floored by the curry broth of the spicy ramen. It’s far more of a bright Thai-style curry than a mild Japanese curry. The broth is creamy yellow and punctuated with a back-of-the-throat note of chili heat and the bright flavor of kaffir lime leaves, a staple in Thai curry, tempered by creamy coconut milk.
Flash fried calamari
Where: Chambers Bay Grill, 6320 Grandview Drive W., University Place, 253-460-4653, ext. 112, www.
Flash-fried calamari and artichoke hearts were made lightly crunchy with a pepper-flecked coating. An unusual twist appeared in the form of fried orange chips – thinly sliced rounds of orange, peel, pith and all – that blew away my palate with the assertive blast of citrus, but without the usual bitterness that pith can bring. The kitchen secret? They soak the orange slices in buttermilk before frying.
Carnitas torta sandwich
Where: Taqueria La Fondita, gravel lot at South 38th and South G streets, 253-472-2577
The carnitas torta came on a fluffy roll with surprisingly sturdy texture. The sandwich roll was smeared with mayo and loaded with thick-cut tomato slices, a few shards of onions, pickled jalapenos, sprigs of fresh cilantro, shredded iceberg lettuce, meaty slices of not-too-ripe avocado, and a juicy layer of crispy fried carnitas punctuated with lime and fragrant with garlic and chiles. The sandwich was a flavor bomb, as well as a three-napkin adventure.
Pot du creme
Where: Rosewood Cafe, 3323 N. 26th St., Tacoma, 253-752-7999, rosewoodcafe.com
The ingredients of the pot du creme at Rosewood are straightforward and simple but wonderfully executed: Dark chocolate, heavy cream, eggs, sugar and vanilla transformed into a luscious cup of chocolate custard. It’s slow-cooked in a water bath, turning it into a pot of ethereal cream, with a smooth texture and rich chocolate flavor.
Soon doo boo
Where: Cho Dang Tofu, 9601 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253-682-1968
At Cho Dang Tofu, the Korean soup soon doo boo is served in a sizzling cast-iron pot filled to nearly overflowing with chili-spiked broth thick with silky clouds of velvety tofu and whatever meat you desire: beef, pork, mixed seafood, bacon, oyster, ham and the list goes on. Cabbage, onions and scallions add crunch to the deeply orange-hued broth.
Where: Cliff House, 6300 Marine View Drive, Tacoma, 253-927-0400, http://cliffhouserestaurant.com
Lobster cakes were sublime discs packed with meaty lobster bits, and paired with a swipe of punchy, spicy-sweet ginger wasabi aioli tempered with sweet pineapple chutney.
Fries and gravy
Where: Bite Restaurant in the Hotel Murano, 1320 Broadway Plaza, Tacoma, 253-238-8000 or www.hotelmuranotacoma.com
The Canadians call it poutine, but it’s called simply fries and gravy at the Bite: crispy fries covered in a rich wine sauce and Gorgonzola. At first bite, the Gorgonzola is a nice, rich tease before the heady, thick (but not too thick) gravy sauce made from demiglace, butter and zinfandel.
Where: Maxwell’s Restaurant + Lounge, 454 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253-683-4115 or http://maxwells-
Farro, a chewy grain with a firm bite (it’s also spelled faro), offered a delicious nuttiness in the risotto side dish at Maxwell’s. It was made with house-made vegetable stock, then gussied up with sautéed onions and butter, then flavored with rosemary, parsley, chives, basil and sage. The creamy, rich risotto is finished with a decadent dose of goat cheese and Parmesan.
Where: Buttered Biscuit, 1014 North St., Suite 100, Sumner, 253-826-60911 or www.thebutteredbiscuit.net
The platter-sized chicken-fried steak was like an artifact dig: a foundation of two softball-sized split biscuits, topped with “Gramma eggs” (scrambled eggs with ham, sauteed peppers and onion), thinly sliced fried potatoes, a crispy, crunchy golden-fried chicken fried steak, a heavy pour of peppery gravy with chunks of sausage, and melted cheddar. Every layer tasted more perfect than the next.
Where: Green.house Restaurant, 4793 Point Fosdick Drive N.W., Gig Harbor, 253-514-6482 or www.greenhousegigharbor.com
Mahogany chicken blew away my palate with meat that was incredibly, deeply flavored. Chef/owner Robert Green’s trick to intense flavoring is a three-day marinade in soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and port. Darkened skin yielded to succulent breast meat inside. Fruited wild rice accompanied the chicken.
Fried eggplant with tofu
Where: Le Le, 1012 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma, 253-572-9491
Bite-size slices of Japanese eggplant are boiled before being coated in a crunchy flour batter flavored with soy and sesame. It’s served in a skillet with a stir-fried assortment of carrots, onions, mushrooms and red peppers and a spicy-sweet garlic-flavored honey sauce zipped up with red pepper flakes. The sweet sauce combined with the brittle crunchiness of the battered eggplant made me nickname the dish “eggplant candy.”
Italian beef sandwich
Where: Sully’s Alder Street Cafe/Lucky’s Hot Dog Diner, 909 Alder St., Sumner, 253-891-0586
The sandwich was a liberal pile of thinly sliced roast beef with an herby whiff of garlicky oregano on a crusty toasted roll. A beefy au jus accompaniment gave the option of do-it-yourself dipped or dry. Giardiniera, a vinegar-dosed relish of finely chopped peppers, onions and carrots, added sweet-hot pucker.
Mahi mahi and smoked pork tacos
Where: Masa, 2811 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253-254-0560 or masatacoma.com
Forget standing in the rain at your favorite taco bus: Tacos at Masa are the real deal. Grilled mahi mahi came wrapped in a warm tortilla and topped with lime-kissed cabbage. The smoked pork taco was a delicious, juicy mess that dripped a sweet grilled pineapple-cilantro topper.
Where: Corina Bakery, 510 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253-627-5070, http://corinabakery.com/
Currants and caraway seeds are the secret flavor weapons in the creamy, moist soda bread (sold as special order at the bakery or served with Guinness stew at Doyle’s Public House). The cousin of anise, caraway added a delicious flavor with licorice-like notes in the buttermilk-based quick-bread batter. Soda is there, but it’s not the first note of flavor.
Mahi mahi tandoori
Where: Bombay Bistro, 4328 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253-761-9999 or
The mahi mahi was an unusual tandoori find. Succulent chunks of firm, white fish were puckery with lemon and surprisingly flavored with ajwain, a cousin of caraway. | <urn:uuid:714e4369-100c-4e88-97b0-7cd76515417e> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://blog.thenewstribune.com/tntdiner/2010/12/30/2010-in-20-bites-all-the-good-stuff-i-got-to-eat-this-year/2007/ | 2017-08-22T07:09:08Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886110485.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20170822065702-20170822085702-00160.warc.gz | en | 0.874558 | 2,453 |
A Lap Puppy Diary by SEMPCAmember Tom Fielitz
Early in the 23 year history of the Cannonball One Lap of America race, a competitor was asked what motivated him to come back every year. His response was “You either run with the big dogs or sit on the porch.” Since then, experienced One Lap competitors have been known as Lap Dogs, and One Lap rookies – Lap Puppies. This year, Al Wright and I became Lap Puppies and this is an account of our adventure.
Most people’s knowledge of this event is limited to the glorified Hollywood movie version titled The Cannonball Run, with Burt Reynolds and friends. The real Cannonball is very different!
The original Cannonball was contested on public roads. For the past two decades it has been contested on the top race tracks in the country, linked together in one long week of transit driving from state to state. The 2006 Cannonball race route began in Indiana, ranged west into Iowa, south into Louisiana, east to Virginia and north to Wisconsin before ending back in Indiana. There were 86 cars in various classifications contesting 20 racing events ranging from skid pad to stock car oval and road race courses to drag strip.
Al and I were entered in his leased 2004 Porsche Cayenne S, an SUV that does normal duty as tow vehicle for his racing Porsche GT2 Turbo. Why would we choose to race the Cayenne instead of the race car? Because it would be more comfortable on the long transit drives and we presumed that the SUV class would not be hotly contested. Our first surprise was to learn that there were six entries in our class. The hottest prospect was an entry by Chrysler’s SRT group of a Jeep Hemi Cherokee with 425 horsepower, carbon fiber body panels and Plexiglas windows, piloted by the SRT test driver, Eric Heuschele. Two other factory entries were Honda Odyssey vans sporting racing motors, brakes and suspensions and driven by professional Honda test drivers. The non-factory entries were equally potent with a Chevrolet S-10 Blazer body cleverly covering a Corvette C4 chassis and Grand Sport engine. The Blazer was driven by a team from the Carolina Speed Shop in their 18th consecutive Cannonball – legends in this race. Finally there was a Ford F150 4X4 entered by Powerworks with a 550 horsepower supercharged engine. Our Cayenne, with its 340 horsepower and 5,300 pounds seemed hopelessly outclassed.
Our total preparation consisted of replacing the stock tires with the lowest profile, softest compound Bridgestone tires that would fit the rims. It lowered the Cayenne by over two inches and gave it a distinctive “low rider” appearance. We optimistically figured we would make up the performance difference with driving talent and Porsche technology.
The only rule in the Cannonball is that “there are no rules.” Our fellow participants drove such things as a Viper race car with a 1,000 horsepower twin turbo Chevrolet race motor and a Porsche 944 with a Corvette Z06 motor. Cost is no object and no car combination is too weird. It should also be noted that driving talent ranged from the casual driving school participant to the career professional racer. This is the “Big Show” of unconventional racing.
This was the fastest and most evenly matched group of One Lap competitors that had ever been assembled.
Our One Lap adventure started on Friday night with a banquet in South Bend. We shared dinner with our Blazer competitors, Glen Dodd, Charles Lovelady, and Michael Stein. They entertained us with their past exploits both on the track and on the road. They became our instant friends and our closest competition throughout the race.
Saturday morning we all gathered in the parking lot of The Tire Rack. The first event was a skid pad that was soaking wet. A good effort by Al resulted in a second place in class behind the Jeep and 36th overall. That Saturday afternoon we were on the road to Illinois for the first road race event.
That was when we discovered that transit stage drives would be every bit as intense as driving on the track. Unfamiliar roads and unpredictable traffic made every transit drive a tension-filled experience. Without the front and rear radar detectors plus the latest computerized route technology, the transits would have been much more difficult.
The tracks were also demanding since we had not seen any of these track layouts except on paper. A pre racetrack walk seemed to us to be a poor use of our energy. The race events consisted of one reconnaissance lap followed by three timed laps with results based on cumulative time. Our poor Saturday afternoon race track result put us back in 74th overall and fifth in class. We went from second in class to fifth – all in the same day. The fight was on and we were humbled, but not discouraged.
The Saturday night transit took us to Iowa. We arrived at 3:30 a.m. looking for any available motel room. A Warren Buffet Convention had booked every room in Sioux Falls. A $20 bribe to a gas station clerk got us the honeymoon room in a small motel where we indulged in a three hour nap. Our second transit discovery was that motel rooms were essential. Every minute saved on a transit drive became another valuable minute of bed rest. Sleeping during the transits turned out to be too noisy and rough.
On Sunday we had two races which we split with our Carolina Blazer team. We were fourth in our class standings, but only barely. With no time to celebrate we headed off on a 1,000 mile overnight express drive to Louisiana.
Monday in Louisiana we were greeted by oppressive heat and Al’s brother-in-law Rod. Rod surprised us with a huge Cajun lunch of gumbo and stuffed pork roast. Although we struggled to run well at the two races on a challenging track, Rod made our day with cheerful support and good cooking. Our Blazer competitors hit the first of many calamities which kept them out of both race events with electrical gremlins. We took our leftover Cajun food with us on our next transit of 700 miles to Georgia in another all night drive.
Tuesday would be a very busy day with two races, a checkpoint in Midway, Georgia and another 200-mile transit drive to a night race at our one oval track race in Florence, South Carolina. Our day was easy compared to that of our Carolina Blazer team, who literally had the steering wheel fall come off in the driver’s hands at the end of their first race of the day. The normally very composed driver, Charles was much more animated after that incident. In true Cannonball spirit the Carolina team found a junk yard replacement and had it installed in time for the second race! That was typical of many of the Cannonball competitors who were constantly repairing all types of failures from oil pumps to wheel bearings. Our Cayenne maintenance consisted of one quart of oil and swapping the tires front to rear. The grinding under-steer of the Cayenne had worn the Bridgestone name off the front tire sidewalls!
The short, banked oval race track in Florence, SC was an unknown track to everybody. Al was picked to drive this race in honor of his 20-plus years of Southern living plus his stock car driving experience. He listened carefully to the track owner describe the nuances of this track and then drove a very inspired race. But it was the big black SRT8 Jeep Cherokee that provided the big show. The driver proved the aptness of his moniker: “Hollywood” by running the oval track with a huge “sprint car” racing wing on the Jeep’s roof. As soon as we could pack up the Cayenne we were on the road again for the 200 mile run to Virginia.
Wednesday was the most difficult race day of all with three races on three different track configurations. With more luck than skill, we bested the Carolina Blazer in two out of the three races. Now solidly fourth in class, we faced yet another all night dash of 675 miles to Indiana and what would be the high point of our Cannonball.
Thursday morning we awoke to a steady rain that would raise the anxiety level of even an experienced Cannonball racer. Track knowledge and the slippery conditions minimized the horsepower advantage of the rest of the field over our Cayenne. The fast cars all slipped and slid to slow times. By the time our turn came to run, the rain had stopped and the racing line around the track was dry. As a result, we finished an astonishing fourth overall on the entire 88 car field and well ahead of everyone in our SUV class. The finishing points brought us right back into competition with one of the Hondas and well up on the rest of our class.
Cancellation of the drag race was good news for our Cayenne team. Canceling an event we were unlikely to win meant extra hours of time to cover a short 215 mile transit leg and a much needed full nights sleep. By this point, distances of 200 miles seemed like mere drives around the block. But in this drive, the temperature plunged to 34 degrees and we faced snow! It must have been a terrifying drive for the team in an open-topped Ultralight. This was a home built car just large enough to hold the driver and passenger but with no windshield, doors, trunk, or roof. Totally exhausted on the transit stage, the team decided to sleep in the car still wearing their helmets. After a while the driver, Kevin Boulton, awoke to what he thought was a passing train. It was the snoring of his co-driver Loren Edwards! After running up and down the road to wake himself up, Kevin fired up the Ultralight and revved the engine to wake Loren. Loren was so shaken that he couldn’t sleep for the rest of the transit.
Friday in Wisconsin was another terrifying day for most competitors but not for our team. It might have been cold and raining but it was a track that I knew from over thirty years of driving schools. We managed to beat half the field including several Corvettes and a Cadillac CTSV. We were now close in points to third in our SUV class with only one race event left back at the start in South Bend, Indiana.
Saturday morning everyone was reunited in the parking lot at Tire Rack in South Bend. In just one week we had come full circle; but all the strangers that had gathered a week before in that same parking lot were now fast friends and fellow Lap Dogs. Cars and drivers were posed over and over again for pictures of such an epic moment. On the final skid pad the tables were turned on us and we ran on a cold and damp track first, leaving a dry and warm track to the faster cars.
In the final tally, we were a solid fourth in class and not far behind the Honda Odysseys. We were 71st in the overall classification. The winning car for the third year in succession was a Porsche 996 Twin Turbo. They only won one race but never finished lower than third, except for the race in which our modest Cayenne had beaten them! We had spent over $1,000 in gas and $500 in rooms and meals. We averaged only 4 hours of bed rest per night and short naps during transit drives.
When we were preparing for this race we were brave and confident. What could possibly beat a well-prepared and well-driven Porsche? When the race started we were stunned to see the level of factory involvement and competition-prepared cars. We were also humbled to be racing against seasoned and talented amateur and professional drivers. The races and transits were physically and emotionally exhausting. Our hopes were raised at the results of one race only to be dashed at the results of the next race.
When it was over, we both agreed that we were proud of a very good effort, the very best we had in us. I could not have asked for a better team mate or better friend than Al. When you share such an intense experience it cements a friendship. So much so that we will be going back next year in a more competitive Mini Cooper JCW edition and we will be official Lap Dogs. | <urn:uuid:eda401ae-692a-4c15-b0c5-4c7861562496> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://sem.pca.org/2013/04/28/the-2006-tire-rack-cannonball-one-lap-of-america-presented-by-car-and-driver/ | 2017-08-23T04:27:59Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886117519.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20170823035753-20170823055753-00240.warc.gz | en | 0.980211 | 2,520 |
The Tahoe Backcountry Ski Patrol in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service provides information and assistance for backcountry travelers in the Tahoe National Forest and Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest. TBSP also provides community education, basic and advanced avalanche and mountain travel/rescue training for ski patrollers, and winter Search and Rescue services in Northern California. Join us on patrol!
Where and when we patrol
Most of our patrolling takes place in California's Tahoe National Forest in the Castle Peak area north of Donner Summit and on the Pacific Crest Trail. It's the most popular destination that we patrol, not just among backcountry skiers and snowboarders, but also a fair number of snowshoers on their way to spend the day or overnight at the Sierra Club's Peter Grubb Hut. Our primary patrol destination in Nevada is the Tahoe Meadows area and its neighboring wilderness zones near Mount Rose, high above Incline Village and with breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe. Other Tahoe National Forest destinations are various corniced ridges and traverses adjacent to the popular local ski resorts of Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, and Sugar Bowl. Read more about our Patrol Areas in the Patrol Manual.
The TBSP patrol season is more than 40 weekend days from mid-December through mid-April. All patrol days are on weekends, with a few three-day weekends on federal holidays. A typical patrol day begins at 8:30am and ends before sunset (about 5:00pm).
HOW TO JOIN
Tahoe Backcountry Ski Patrol is always looking for dedicated and enthusiastic winter backcountry lovers to join the patrol. TBSP is in search of folks willing to learn a new set of skills or two, while spending their weekends serving skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers that venture out into the mountains of northern Lake Tahoe. We invite anyone interested in learning more about backcountry ski patrolling to join us on a SkiAlong this season. Keep an eye out for our trail head signs and white crosses the next time you're out earning your turns!
Prospective candidates should sign up for an Outdoor Emergency Care course in their area. The classes are usually held at different times of the year, from late spring to late November, however enrollment capacity is limited and it is strongly suggested that people sign up as soon as the course is announced.
To request a SkiAlong, please fill out the form at www.tbsp.org/skialong
Active Patrollers are required to participate in a total of (12) days a year, which includes annual CPR certification (1 day), fall OEC/Operations refresher (2 days), a 1 day On-the-hill refresher in December, and 8 additional days of regular patrol duty. All these days are on weekends or holidays. Many members put in additional days simply because they enjoy the experience. Others get patrol day credit whenever they help as an instructor on a training day.
Candidates must satisfy the following requirements to attain Active Patroller status. The minimum commitment for Candidates is 15 days if completed in 1 year, in addition to the 120 hour OEC course and CPR certification.
- Successful completion of the Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) course, a comprehensive first aid course developed by the National Ski Patrol (NSP) specifically for ski patrollers and other outdoor rescuers.
- Current certification in two-rescuer CPR (American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer, or American Heart Association equivalent). CPR certification is usually included in the OEC course.
- NSP Avalanche Level 1 for the Professional Rescuer (3 days) or equivalent (for example, AIARE Avalanche Level 1, etc).
- NSP Mountain Travel and Rescue, Level 1. (6 days: 2 classroom, 2 on-snow training days, 2 overnight snowcamping).
- NSP Introduction to Ski Patrol for TBSP (1 day skill enhancements and instruction in TBSP policies and protocols).
- TBSP Backcountry OEC Workshop Day (1 day backcountry specific medical skills).
- 4 Patrol Days (shadowing a regular patrol) per season which do not roll over year to year if Candidate training is completed over 2 seasons.
- Successful completion of the Candidate Final Exam (1 day skills evaluation on the snow).
Candidates without OEC are encouraged to join the patrol and may get their certifications in Avalanche and MTR prior to taking the OEC course. The OEC Courses fill up quickly, and you are encouraged to sign up for OEC in the early spring.
Medical and Training Requirements
- All candidates must pass the Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) course taught by volunteer National Ski Patrol instructors. This course is taught in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Sacramento Area, the Reno/Lake Tahoe area and Modesto each year at various times from June through November. Fees range anywhere from $60 to $450. Starting the year after you complete the OEC course, you must attend an annual OEC refresher each fall hosted by our patrol. Normally, there is no charge for these refreshers.
- Candidates who are currently certified EMTs, paramedics, nurses, or doctors may be able to "challenge" the OEC course but must still take the practical course final. More information on this course challenge may be provided.
- All candidates must be certified in two-rescuer CPR (American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer or American Heart Association equivalent). Appropriate CPR courses are sometimes offered in conjunction with OEC courses, but not always. However, suitable courses are available through your local chapter of the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association. These certifications must be renewed annually (typically a 4-hour course) and there is a fee.
- 1 training day is devoted to OEC training in the snow, during which the principles learned in the OEC course are applied in realistic conditions, on the snow. Candidates learn TBSP-specific OEC skills such as a webbing-strapped backboard and use of a Kendrick Traction Device (KTD).
- As a candidate, you are required to take the NSP Basic Avalanche and Basic Mountaineering courses, both of which are taught by TBSP. Upon completion, you will receive NSP certification in these two disciplines. In Basic Avalanche training you will attend classroom and field sessions in which you will learn snow science and avalanche fundamentals, dig snow pits and use transceivers or beacons. In Basic Mountaineering training (which for TBSP's purposes includes material beyond the NSP requirements), you will attend classroom and field sessions including a mandatory overnight in the snow. Topics include emergency fire building and shelter construction, use of white-gas stoves, use of map and compass and map coordinate systems, radio communications, construction and use of rescue toboggans, low-angle rope rescue techniques, field repairs of equipment, knots, helicopter procedures, limited search and rescue techniques, equipment cache utilization, and incident leadership. The Basic Avalanche and Basic Mountaineering training days are partially combined, for a total of eight days, of which 1½ are in a classroom and 6½ are in the field.
- By the time you are fully trained, you should be able to competently handle any backcountry emergency. The one-day, scenario-based, final examination on the snow, which all candidates must complete successfully to become patrollers, will require you to use most of the skills learned in your training.
As transfer candidates all come with very different backgrounds, we try to tailor the transfer program for each incoming patroller. At a minimum, we require NSP certifications in Avalanche 1 and Advanced Mountain Travel and Rescue. Transferring patrollers with these certifications can take the patroller examination and get certified in February of their transfer year; if you are lacking these certifications, please plan to take the courses through TBSP.
Candidates must be able to ski proficiently at a strong intermediate or better level on backcountry equipment (telemark, AT, or splitboard) in varying conditions. For freeheel skiers, a strong telemark turn is desirable but not required. We patrol in both intermediate and advanced backcountry terrain, and candidates will be assigned to terrain matched to their skiing ability. A ski test will be held in the spring prior to, or the winter of their candidate year to assess all candidates' abilities. Proficiency requirements are defined in the Patrol Manual Appendix E: Proficiency Requirements.
Our backcountry ski patrols travel around 6-10 miles of cross country and 1500-2000' of elevation gain and loss on a typical patrol day. We recommend sturdy downhill skis with AT or telemark bindings, or a split board. We regret that we cannot accomodate NNN or "cross country" skis on patrol.
Please consult the Patrol Manual for a complete listing of required equipment, including required avalanche equipment, that you will be expected to bring: Appendix A: Required Personal Equipment.
Dues and Candidate Fees
TBSP patrollers pay annual membership dues. For the 2014-2015 season, these dues are $100.00. Instructions to pay are posted at http://beacon.tbsp.org/dues/pay. Candidates must be registered with the patrol before they can access this site.
In their first season, candidates must pay an additional fee. This training fee of $160 covers the Avalanche and Mountain Travel & Rescue instruction and texts, the use or purchase of TBSP Patroller's Manual, a training equipment use fee, and a patroller's pin which will be awarded upon successful completion of candidate training and service. All fees are due by mid-November, prior to the season start. There is a late registration fee of $10 assessed after this date. Upon receipt of the payment, candidates are sent the manual and training texts in preparation for the fall training courses.
Training begins Nov 10 in order to allow candidates to complete required reading and homework. Candidates who sign up after November 10 are invited to come along for shadow patrol days but may not be able to take all the trainings.
TBSP Patrollers are entitled to certain benefits, including medical coverage and equipment discounts.
The U.S. Forest Service provides candidates and patrollers with worker's compensation medical benefits for injuries suffered while engaged in field training or patrolling. By comparison very few alpine patrols are offered such benefits.
Patrollers in good standing (but not candidates) may be eligible for particular outdoor equipment discounts. Equipment must be for the member's personal use, and must be purchased through the Patrol. Discounts vary by manufacturer and item. We normally place orders once a year.
Benefits of National Ski Patrol Membership
As a member of the National Ski Patrol System, you will be eligible to purchase items from the NSP catalogue, many of which are offered at a discount. You will also receive a subscription to Ski Patrol magazine; each issue is full of informative articles on first aid and emergency care, skiing techniques, and more. | <urn:uuid:c898602a-6c12-4aea-976f-ce5d9a8d3c14> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://wiki.tbsp.org/index.php?title=TBSP_Introduction&printable=yes | 2017-08-24T01:00:17Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886126017.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20170824004740-20170824024740-00320.warc.gz | en | 0.930747 | 2,278 |
To the Editors:
Incorporation of antiretroviral (ARV) therapy into a daily schedule is considered to be an important method for improving ARV adherence.1,2 Questions remain about the importance of structured daily routines in the uptake of ARVs and the ability to adhere to medication therapy among marginalized populations. In post hoc analysis of qualitative interviews with HIV-positive individuals, we investigated the relationship between the degree of organization in daily routines and ARV uptake, adherence, and persistence in a marginalized and underserved population in San Francisco's Tenderloin District.
We conducted qualitative interviews that were nested in the PATH Project, a randomized trial evaluating an intervention to enhance information, motivation, and behavioral skills of HIV-positive adults who met CD4+ cell count criteria for ARV initiation to increase ARV treatment uptake.3 Individuals who were 18 years or older, HIV positive, reported knowing their HIV serostatus for at least 6 months, not taking ARVs for the prior 30 days, never taking a continuous course of ARVs for more than 30 days, with CD4+ cell count <500 cells per cubic millimeter (or with CD4+ cell count <350 cells per cubic millimeter if enrolled before December 2009), and able to provide informed consent and who spoke English were included in the PATH Project. Individuals with cognitive impairment, active psychosis, or significant confusion were excluded. All qualitative interviews were conducted in a private room at the Tenderloin Clinical Research Center, San Francisco, California.
Participants were 14 HIV-positive adults from the wait-list control arm of the PATH Project. The wait-list control arm was a lagged intervention control group that did not receive study-related interventions during the follow-up period but was offered a condensed intervention after the final assessment at 12 months. We purposefully sampled for diversity in gender, race, active substance use, and depressive symptoms. During the follow-up period of the PATH Project, several participants in the control arm initiated ARVs; therefore, we were able to examine uptake of ARVs and persistence with treatment by sampling among those taking or not taking ARVs and adherence to ARVs within those who had initiated ARVs. Participants who met the sampling criteria were contacted by research staff and were consecutively enrolled. The University of California, San Francisco Committee on Human Research approved this study.
Data were collected through semistructured one-time interviews. The first author conducted all interviews from February to October 2010. The interview guide elicited a comprehensive description of typical daily routines. Additionally, participants were asked about their current ARV regimen (if having initiated ARVs), ARV adverse effects, number of doses missed in the past week, and reasons for missed doses. The interview guide was iteratively revised throughout the process of data collection and concurrent analysis.
An association between daily schedules and ARV uptake, persistence, and adherence emerged as a theme during data collection; therefore, we undertook a post hoc analysis to further examine this relationship. The analysis focused on participants' descriptions of their daily schedules, ARV uptake and adherence, and incorporation of taking medication into their daily routines. The first author summarized participants' detailed schedules and calculated ARV adherence in the past week. Because all participants met CD4+ cell count criteria for ARV initiation at study entry and thus met guidelines for initiating ARVs, adherence was set to zero percent if the participant had not initiated ARVs, had discontinued ARVs, or was not taking ARVs for any reason. Based on the level of description provided by participants, daily routines were classified as “not organized” (no set schedule and no predictable daily activity), “somewhat organized” (at least one predictable daily activity, otherwise no set schedule), and “highly organized” (fixed hours for daily appointments and routines and structured daily activities). All analytical memos and interview summaries were shared with the second author, who listened to the interviews and rendered new or alternative observations.
We interviewed 14 HIV-positive individuals with a mean age of 44 years, who were 79% male at birth, 43% African-American, and 36% white. At baseline, mean HIV viral load was 4.46 log10 copies per milliliters, mean CD4+ cell count was 222 cells per cubic millimeter (range = 14–380 cells/mm3), and the mean Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) score was 33 (indicative of major depression). All participants reported having ever been homeless, 79% reported having ever been incarcerated, 86% had a high school diploma or higher, and 71% had initiated ARVs. Fifty percent of the participants were on a protease inhibitor–based ARV regimen, including darunavir/ritonavir or lopinavir/ritonavir, 14% on a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor–based regimen containing efavirenz, 7% on an integrase inhibitor–based regimen consisting of raltegravir, and 29% were not taking ARVs. Among those taking ARVs, 60% were on a once-daily regimen and 40% on a twice-daily regimen. The mean length of time that participants were on ARVs was approximately 8.6 months (range = 2.7–17.3 months). Among the 29% who were not taking ARVs and whose adherence was set to 0%, one had not started ARV and 3 had initiated and subsequently discontinued ARVs because of adverse effects, losing medications, and selectively discarding ARVs.
There was a wide range in the level of structure of daily schedules from participants who had preplanned practically every hour of their day to those who had difficulty comprehending the question regarding describing daily schedules. We encountered a positive association between daily routines and ARV adherence (Fig. 1). Those with no specific daily schedule (“not organized”) uniformly reported 0% adherence because of not reinitiating ARVs, having lost medications, or discontinuing therapy. In addition to the lack of daily routines, these individuals also had other competing factors, such as homelessness, depression, drug use, and incarceration, which were likely to have contributed to nonadherence. One participant who reported picking up her pillbox from the pharmacy, separating some of her medications, and throwing away the rest (including her ARVs) described her general daily schedule as such:
“I wake up. Sometimes I drink in the morning. I sit around a few hours, then I buy a dime of crack, if I have $10 on me. Then I drink. Then I smoke a cigarette. I might eat, but I really don't eat that much… I go to ‘Pill Corner’. Pill Corner is a block up; they sell pills there… There, it's about making dollars, down here it's about spending dollars… This is full of depression… [I] sit around, empty, empty and bored. I might drink, sit, and watch, and look, and smoke… But, this is what I do, and that's nothing….” (55-year-old African-American woman)
However, even in the presence of homelessness, the existence of a single recurring daily activity was associated with >70% adherence. A 49-year-old white male participant who slept by a church stated that going to his daily methadone clinic appointments was the only consistent engagement that he had and as a result he would take 100% of his morning ARV doses with his methadone and usually take his evening ARVs before sleeping by a church at night.
Those “highly organized” were more likely to report adherence as high as 93%–100%. They reported incorporating their medication-taking behavior into their daily schedule by linking their ARVs to a specific daily activity, a specific hour in the day, or a recurring reminder.
Participant: “Okay, I get up on a typical morning at about 10 o'clock in the morning. I do my hygiene and have some coffee… Then I get ready for my activity. I usually have one activity that I do a day… whether it's going to the gym or whether I need to take care of my house… like bringing supplies in or groceries or doing laundry… I'm trying to do something to make a difference… In the evening, I prepare my own meals… cooking, then cleaning. Right after I eat, I take my meds about 5:30 in the evening… Then I just sort of relax for the evening… I might have a glass of wine or something to help me sleep better. Next thing you know, I'm in bed… I've missed doses. I just don't remember when the last time was. I've been pretty stuck on the regimen.”
Interviewer: “What's your secret?”
Participant: “No, there's no secret. It's just planning. Okay, it's 5:30, I've eaten dinner… It's time to pop the pills.” (47-year-old African-American male)
“Okay, routinely I'm up at 5:30 in the morning… I get up and I take the dog for a 30-minute walk. Then I bring him back and then I start cleaning, because I have a fascination with cleaning, everything has to be immaculate… And then… I'm off to start preparing for school because I have to be at school at 9. So I usually leave the house may be… at 8:30… then I'm there [school] 'til 11:00… And then… I go back to the house, take the dog for another 30-minute walk, and then I'm preparing… dinner… And, then I'll maybe watch TV for about an hour, then if I've got any homework I'll do my homework… [I] usually settle down about 4:30–5:00, 'cause my roommate comes home… He gets home about 5–5:30, we just eat [dinner], then I take my medicine… We have social… time to talk about what happened… I get in the bed maybe about 9:30–10:00.” (35-year-old African-American man)
“Get like a regime, like a routine… If you can't get in that routine, I feel like it's hard for your body… your body needs to learn… my body has learned things over the years because of things I've done over and over and over again… so I think it's just creating that routine that works for you… almost like a little checklist, and it will get easier the more I do it.” (35-year-old African-American man)
Incorporation of ARV therapy into a daily schedule has been shown to be an important method for improving ARV adherence.1,2 In our post hoc analysis, we noted that those with the highest level of organization were most likely to initiate and continue ARVs and had the highest level of adherence in comparison to those whose lives were less routinized. This impact was of particular importance in our marginalized and underserved study population whose lives were not defined by employment and who may not have had housing. The impact of daily structure and organization was especially noteworthy in those who were homeless or had no fixed routines except for a single recurring daily appointment (such as a methadone clinic visit).
Our interviews reveal the unique and often unstable lives of some individuals living with HIV and that ARV nonadherence is frequently the result of a complex set of circumstances. Therefore, solutions to assist people in initiating ARVs and minimizing nonadherence are likely to be multifaceted and require tailoring to the individual's specific needs. Some strategies may include prescribing regimens with low pill burden, low dosing frequency, and no food requirements; as well as providing pillboxes or other adherence aids, referring for mental health or substance use treatment, and using a multidisciplinary team approach. Another method to improve ARV uptake and adherence is the incorporation of taking medication into a person's daily schedule. Based on the Department of Health and Human Services Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents: “…clinicians should identify barriers to adherence such as a patient's schedule….”4 It is unclear how medication-taking behavior can best be integrated into an individual's daily schedule; however, it is evident that each person likely requires unique and individualized solutions to minimize missed doses.
Our study underscores the influence of routines and organization on ARV uptake, persistence, and adherence. Health care providers should inquire about a patient's daily schedule, use this information in tailoring ARV regimens to fit the patient's routine, and assist them in selecting the appropriate timing of their dose. This can be done by collaboratively identifying a single recurring daily routine or reminder that can be linked to medication taking. Asking patients about their daily schedules can identify those with less routinized lives who may benefit more from such an approach and may help detect other barriers to ARV adherence.
The authors thank Eunice Stephens, Justin Bailey, Rebecca Sedillo, Samantha Dilworth, and Nikolai Caswell for their support throughout this project. | <urn:uuid:00391df9-3306-46e9-9e31-b46cb779377d> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://journals.lww.com/jaids/Fulltext/2012/09010/The_Relationship_Between_Daily_Organization_and.20.aspx | 2017-08-18T02:02:00Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886104204.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20170818005345-20170818025345-00040.warc.gz | en | 0.967199 | 2,733 |
7 years 8 months ill …
Physical: Advantage CBD / Mental: Deuce
I remember …
my parents, Herbert Louis Lunnon and Doris Stanbridge got married today, 3 May 1952 (?) in The Strand Methodist Church, Western Cape, South Africa.
©2013 Edward C. Lunnon
Monday 28 October 2013: 7 years 1 month on …
Physical: Advantage CBD / Mental: Deuce
Today, 28 October, is the birthday of Harry Oppenheimer, Bill Gates, Julia Roberts, Matt Smith and Frank Ocean.
For me, most importantly, though, it is also the birthday of Doris (Stanbridge) Lunnon – my late mother. She was born in Maitland, Cape Town on 28 October 1931. She would have been 82 today.
But she passed away in The Strand, 27 years ago in 1986, after a heart attack at the age of 55.
It would have been great to have you over for dinner tonight, Mom. Maybe we would have even gone out for something special – that’s the way we do things in our Lunnon house nowadays. Maybe you know that!
I’m not sure where you hang out nowadays. Sometimes, I think you are really close by!
At 19 Gordon’s Bay Road, we usually hung out in the kitchen. There weren’t too many opportunities, and certainly not enough money, for us to go and eat out then! You cooked and we washed and dried the dishes and packed them away. Sometimes we laughed, sometimes we argued and occasionally we sang!
Even if I may say so myself, you did a good job in raising the four of us single-handedly and looking after Dad for those long years. You were only 38 when he had his stroke and you were left with that awesome task! June was only four years old! Sometimes we forget that you were a widow at 45!
I’m not sure whether you watch us nowadays – whether you see your handiwork in action.
I’m not sure whether you can see what we do on a big screen somewhere!
Yes, it would have been great to have you over for dinner tonight!
It would have been great just to say thank you. I don’t think we ever did say that. We didn’t think of it in those days and you left us so suddenly. There are so many people nowadays who leave us so quickly and we never take the time to say thank you or all the other things we should say.
I realize now how important that is! But I don’t always remember it too well!
I realise now, as Sean and Phillip start leaving home, just how saddened you must have been when I left home at eighteen and went to America, and to Stellenbosch and Oudtshoorn and Port Elizabeth. I realize now just how much you sacrificed for us and did for us in very difficult and trying times.
They could not have been easy times for you. Yet, I don’t recall ever seeing you crying. I’m sure now that there must have been many lonely nights that you spent crying alone in your bed and wiping your tears on the pillow. I think of you sometimes when I do that, and I wish that we had been given more time together.
Yes, it would have been great to have you over for dinner tonight.
Just to say Happy Birthday and Thank You and all the other things we should be saying!
You would have enjoyed Pera’s dinner. Between the two of you, I’m not sure who would have cooked in the kitchen and who would have done the talking. But the meal would have been excellent which ever way!
It would have been great to share Sean and Phillip with you. You would have been so proud of them. And I guess you would have been sitting with Phillip and his matric books and asking him all those questions, just like you did with me!
And you would have wished him good luck with his exams and waited anxiously for the newspaper with his results, just like you did with me! You even drove me to Cape Town to pick up that Cape Times fresh off the printing press!
It would have been great to have dinner together tonight.
©2013 Edward C. Lunnon
Monday 27 May 2013: 6 years 8 months on …
It’s been another busy week, with little time to write. And when I’ve had the time, I haven’t had the energy!
So here comes another skeleton, with hopefully the flesh put in at a later stage!
About 60 – that’s the meaning of the above title and that’s our ages – give or take a good few years in all our respective cases.
“Our” being Neil and Pam Thomson, Anton and Ingrid Scholtz, Alan and Trish Stapleton and Pera and I.
And our connection being that some 20 years ago we started what we called our Investment Club.
We met once a month on a rotational basis at each couple’s home for a meal, and each couple “invested” R100 into the Club – Pera and I put in R100 each. My duty was to invest the monthly amount of R500 and to grow the money so that at some point in the future (round about now) we would cash in our investments and go on a “world cruise” together!
Two ‘hiccups’ occurred – firstly, each couple produced two more people and the group therefore grew from eight to sixteen people. Our children spoke at school about the Investment Club meetings that they attended on the last Sunday (or whichever it was) of each month! Heaven alone knows what their teachers and friends thought about this!
Secondly, at the end of year two, I think it was, when we saw the balance slowly growing in our investment account, we were tempted to draw the money and go away for a weekend together.
So, after that, we never ever gave the money a chance to grow enough for our world cruise, but we did, on an annual basis – round about Reconciliation Day public holiday in December – cash in the funds and spend a long weekend together.
We visited places like Hog’s Back, Katberg, Keurbooms, Knysna, Blanco, Blue Lagoon, East London, St Francis Bay and wherever the following criteria were met:
No self-catering by the ladies, within close driving distance of Port Elizabeth, activities for the adults and the children, inexpensive (at least within the constraints of our Investment Account balance), etc …
Well, we never would have had enough for that world cruise, but we invested tremendously in our children’s social upbringing and in their readiness for life. They learned to climb mountains, read hotel menus, order “passion fruit and lemonades”, play golf, ride horses, stage theatre productions, play carpet bowls, manage becoming lost and a host of other things that one could add to the list.
We all learned to enjoy friends and family and life and nature and good times together.
In the process, we amassed many happy memories and photographs and stories along the way.
Unfortunately, as the years passed by, and we all got older, it became more and more difficult to co-ordinate our diaries and do things together. So, some eight (?) years ago, we finally called an end to our Investment Club.
But, thanks to the labours of Pera, we managed to have a reunion of the adult members of the Club this past Sunday. Someone suggested that the Investment Club be renamed the Pensioners’ Club!
Needless to say, we reminisced (that which we could remember!) and laughed and ate and drank to Life!
Memories are made of this! (and please correct any of the above-mentioned “facts” that may be incorrect!)
6 years 7 months
This has been a busy time, subsequent to our return from the Cederberg!
Mon 8: Death of Maggie Thatcher / Arrival of Queen Mary in PE / Stretching
Tue 9: Visits by Gill, Isaac / Listened to Schonegevel Interview on AlgoaFM / Interview on PEFm
Wed 10: AlgoaFM, Bluewaters cafe; Haircut; Car wash; Dr Barclay Ophthalmologist; Rugby Sean Old Grey
Thu 11: Visit Rob Taylor, Dianne Boyce (MND) / Physio
Fri 12: Tea with Annette / Lunch with Andrew, Rob and Rob @OG
Sat 13: Rugby (Phil) in Humansdorp Nico Malan
Sun 14: Iron Man
Mon 15: Admin
Tue 16: To Addo with Tayler-Smith
Christmas Day Tuesday 25 December 2012
Physical: Advantage CBD / Mental: Advantage ED | <urn:uuid:ca7465ee-2f95-4f5d-a906-3c5b5d7c8f32> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://edlunnon.wordpress.com/tag/lunnon/ | 2017-08-19T18:42:08Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105712.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20170819182059-20170819202059-00200.warc.gz | en | 0.971079 | 1,861 |
Janie Kayrs has known Zane almost her whole life. He was her friend in the dream world. She trusted him. But that was before he kidnapped her, spiriting her away to an isolated cabin to learn what her dreams never told her. Like how dangerous he looks. How he got on the wrong side of the negotiating table. And how much sexier he is in real life…
Zane is a battle-hardened warrior, used to command and solitude. But Janie has drawn him from the minute they met. His need for her could destroy everything he’s worked for, but the risk is too sweet not to take it. They call her the Chosen One. But when it comes down to the questions of peace or war, life or death, safety or passion, it will be Janie who makes the choice…
Love is about to start conquering…
Other Books in the Dark Protectors Series
Janet Isabella Kayrs perched on a rock wall facing the tarmac as men in full combat gear loaded helicopters. A young vampire had accidentally launched a rocket into the Oregon forest, but the blaze had already been contained. Unlike the smell.
Dawn began to peek over the horizon, bringing a flash of sunlight lacking in warmth. A breeze slithered through her black silk shirt, but she’d chosen carefully, and she didn’t want a jacket. Just in case she needed to fight.
Tension battled with oxygen, mingling with power. The vampires, each and every one, had a power more daunting than oxygen molecules. With destiny all but riding her, Janie fought to control her emotions. Indulging in fear would get her killed.
With a screeching protest, a heavily secured door opened to her right. She turned and forced a smile. “There’s my favorite firefighter.”
Garrett Kayrs, her younger brother, wiped soot off his forehead. “I helped put out the fire, but it wasn’t me.” He leaned back against the wall, long legs extended, worry cutting grooves next to his generous mouth. “I haven’t accidentally set off an explosive since the fifth grade.”
“I remember.” This time her smile arrived easily. “You were playing in the armory and blew up several trucks.”
“Dad was mad.” The understatement widened Janie’s smile. “Yeah, but he was amused, too.”
Garrett’s odd gaze sharpened as he watched a missile being loaded. “I don’t think you should go.”
“I know.” She took a deep breath and studied him. At twenty years old, the young vampire stood well over six feet tall. He’d inherited their father’s broad shoulders and rugged features, but the unique metallic gray eyes were all Garrett’s. She slipped her arm through his, impressed by the solid muscle. “I have to go.”
He shut his eyes, the cords in his arm vibrating with a dangerous tension. “Then I should be there.”
Janie leaned against him. With almost five years between them, she’d vowed to protect him at his birth. Even after he’d outgrown her when she’d turned twelve, she’d known how to make him laugh, how to ease the pressure he must surely feel as the sole Kayrs born in the new generation.
Vampires produced only male babies, and not very often. So far Garrett was the single progeny of the Kayrs ruling family.
“You’re needed here to protect headquarters,” she said. “And Mom.”
His massive body shuddered. “I’m torn.” Garrett lifted his chin. “I need to be here for Mom but want to be at the peace talks with you.”
In profile, he looked just as dangerous as their father. “I’m trained, Garrett.”
“You’re human, Janie.” Garrett hunched his shoulders forward. “No matter how well trained you are, you’re still human.”
Janie nodded. The breeze whipped around them, and she pushed hair out of her eyes. When her mother had mated Talen Kayrs, he’d adopted Janie. He was the only father she’d ever known. While she loved her family, she’d never lived a normal life. “Sometimes I forget I’m human.”
“I don’t,” Garrett said softly..
She couldn’t let them down.
Now she stood deep in the mountainous headquarters. She loved being inside the earth and let the sense of surrounding rock center her. Peace filtered through the earth that held them all so tight. Unfortunately, the peace failed to diminish the headache pounding at the base of her skull. She’d barely kept the agony at bay since contracting the virus, and the pain was becoming more insistent.
Zane, Talen, and Dage manned control panels in the adjacent room, recording everything.
The guards exited, and Chalton gave her a terse nod. Dage had decided to send in guards Kalin didn’t know and not family— not anybody Kalin knew. “We’ll be right outside,” Chalton said.
Sweat slicked her palms. She nodded and tugged down her bulletproof vest before striding inside and shutting the door.
Lighter brown rock made up the walls of a square room bisected in the middle by pure iron bars. A cot and toilet made up the cell. Kalin stood, dressed in a plain black jumpsuit, and drew near the bars. “Janet.” Satisfaction rolled his consonants.
“Kalin.” Her heart beat hard enough to rattle her ribs. She chose one of the two chairs on her side of the bars and sat, taking a moment to study him. “Please, sit.” Damn, he was tall. Almost seven feet. His black hair had grown out longer than the last time she’d seen him, the red tips seeming brighter. Green and purple commingled in his eyes. Gone was the boy who’d visited her dreams.
He sat gracefully at the end of the cot, his burned skin already healing. “Might you bring your chair closer?”
“No, I might not.” She had strict orders to keep out of arm’s length, and she was smart enough to heed them. Uncle Conn was the ultimate soldier, and he knew what he was doing.
Kalin laughed and glanced at her combat outfit. “Are you expecting to be shot?”
“How many knives do you have hidden?” Curiosity darkened the purple in his eyes.
“Five.” He nodded. “Good number.”
“Thanks.” Her hands trembled, so she rested them lightly on her legs as she waited. Some of her training had included interrogation and interviewing techniques, and every instinct she had told her to let Kalin lead the discussion.
Kalin lifted his patrician nose and sniffed. “Ah. Peaches and . . .” He launched himself at the bars, wrapping long fingers around them. “You’ve contracted the virus.”
“I will end this with, this series MUST be read. It is brilliant, poignant, fast paced, action packed and dynamic. Loved every minute of it!!” ~ Tea and Book Reviews
“Marked was a fantastic conclusion to an amazing series, and as much as I hate to see it end I wouldn’t change a thing.“ Angels Addiction Book Blog
“Marked is a fast-paced, excitement-filled explosion of action that will not disappoint. Zanetti keeps getting better.”- RT Book Reviews, 4.5 Stars Top Pick
“This book – this entire series – is dynamite, just so well crafted. Kudos to author Rebecca Zanetti on putting the finishing sparkling touches on a story that celebrates love, family, and triumph.”– GraveTells Reviews
“I loved loved loved MARKED.” – Books-n-Kisses
“…the action kept me revved from the moment I opened the cover to the time I turned the last page.” – Fresh Fiction
“Janie was sweet and sassy and determined to protect all those she loved – especially Zane – and their romance was a great backdrop for the culmination of this series. I honestly couldn’t have been happier!” – The Window Seat 13
“I devoured Marked in a day and a half, and all the lingering questions I gathered throughout the series were answered, including the ever present question of What is Zane!” – Diaries of 2 Thick Chicks
“There was humor, pages of intensity, moments of joy, paragraphs of fear…and it was all twisted up in a wonderful reading package. Yes, it was that good.” – First Page to the Last Book Reviews
“The ending is 100% satisfying in every way. Not only is the main arc wonderfully resolved and the romance full of HEA goodness, we get to spend some time with every single couple we have fallen in love with over the course of the series”. – Goodreads
“I loved this series and especially this last book. It wrapped up things nicely but left it open for a new series.” – Goodreads
“If you are a paranormal romance fan you can’t go wrong with the DARK PROTECTORS series and MARKED didn’t disappoint in the least.” – Goodreads
“Mrs .Zanetti finished this series with such force that it will be read again and again. She knew how to keep us captivated with all these characters and never failed to keep it exciting and hot.” – Cocks and Tails Books
“This book was my introduction to Rebecca Zanetti, and I enjoyed it tremendously.”– Avalon Book Reviews
“RUN for the Dark Protectors world and you will be one happy reader in 2015!!” –Snarky Mom Reads | <urn:uuid:7578fce1-887f-45bf-b2f1-220a359bdbe1> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://rebeccazanetti.com/book/marked/ | 2017-08-20T15:19:14Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886106779.68/warc/CC-MAIN-20170820150632-20170820170632-00280.warc.gz | en | 0.974521 | 2,218 |
Mark it down. Recall it to your grandchildren one day. The week ending Friday 8th January 2016 is when “PC” in Australia sent us all around the twist. As a nation we are a mad house. We’re officially Bonkers!
It is entirely possible after considering this post that you, the reader, add Koneko to the list of those who “don’t get it”. The Don’t Get It List is where everyone who doesn’t agree with a yet-to-be officially ratified, Political Correctness School of Philosophy, is banished for speaking out against politically correct philosophical pronouncements (PCPee-Pee).
Note: At the time of writing nobody can confirm whether an offence has been committed by the use of the term “pee-pee”.
What IS extremely certain is that having a “pee-pee” is problematic nowadays! So what did happen this week that sent us off the PC equivalent of the Richter Scale?
The first mistake made was a seemingly innocuous one. We watched cricket on a summers eve (what were we thinking in retrospect? Bad move!) On a day where our forefathers would have packed a Test cricket venue, NOBODY attended a Test Match. EVERBODY, however, tuned in to the Big Bash. The Big Bash is where cricket mad Aussies, instead of hating the Paki’s or the fucking pommie bastards all dressed in white, get to cheer on teams dressed in bright colours. Sri Lankans, South Africans, English, West-Indians, Aussies & others play side-by-side in an atmosphere of camaraderie and high spirits. Personalities we once hated with a passion … such as KP & Freddie Flintoff … now boom into our lounge rooms as comics, entertainers and genuine great blokes (not sure if I can say bloke either?)
Responsibility for the second mistake falls squarely on the shoulders of the Hobart Hurricanes bowlers. Why-oh-Why did they bowl 14 hapless deliveries that allowed Chris Gayle to plunder 41 runs? THAT interview would never have taken place. Without their misguided contribution we might still be teetering on the edge of sanity. But it happened. Squire Gayle entertained us like Zorro wielding willow and then proceeded to plunge mankind (used deliberately) into a new gender-based Ice Age. If you have just been released from a mental institution and don’t know what I am talking about click here.
In summary, the crime was to flirt on television. His punishment = $10k fine. OUR punishment = not getting to see him Down Under ever again? All on top of the pain & suffering we are experiencing as a result of the pandemic known as PC.
Let me state right now, before I exercise my right of free speech, that I support equality, and I deplore discrimination and domestic violence.
Playful flirting and practical joking is NONE of these things. Do not trot out the “but this is her workplace” claptrap. Do you know how many people find their spouse or partner through “the workplace”? And do we really think that this would be the same story if Meg Lanning had propositioned a male reporter during a WBBL mid-match interview? Indeed footage materialised of a female news reporter “chatting up” a bare chested male beach goer. This was deemed fair television. Equality?
If the fight is for equality, where is that elusive beast in all of the hoo-ha we are now being subjected to? And where does “freedom of expression” stand? Is it dead? A patron (he was a MAN) was ejected from the MCG at a subsequent BBL game for holding up a banner that read, “#standbyGayle”. In the very same ground a patron was NOT ejected (she was a WOMAN) for holding up a sign saying, “Marry me Marcus Stoinos”. Fancy harassing poor sweet Marcus in his place of work like that? Shame!
But it doesn’t end there. No it is only the beginning of the week that was.
Enter Peter Dutton MP. Most of us will admit to having “drunk text” at some stage and got it horribly wrong. Mr Dutton needs no such lubrication. The technology “Gaff-father” can do it sober as a judge and cock it up monumentally. Not only did he use the incredibly offensive description “mad fucking witch”, he inadvertently text “mad fucking witch” TO the mad fucking witch, which opened up the damned broom closet on a whole new front.
Let me share the following with you as Exhibit A for PC out of control. The Sydney Morning Herald (referenced below) contained an article entitled, “Witching hour at Peter Dutton’s office as protestors call for sacking over text”. Let me quote …
“The term ‘witch’ is generally thought of as a gendered insult when used by men to describe women. Feminist author and commentator Jane Caro told Faifax Media: By saying mad fucking witch you are actually painting a picture of something that is very different from “mad fucking idiot”, which would have been fine because it is an equal opportunity insult”
An EQUAL OPPORTUNITY INSULT … WTF? Leslie Nielsen (yep Leslie can be a boys name) could respond best. Surely you aren’t serious? I am serious and don’t call me Shirley!
I can’t speak for you but I do not want to participate in a society that even contemplates an “equal opportunity insult”, let alone one that actually has a name for it! The article goes on to recommend Mr Dutton be sacked … and replaced by a woman (one proficient in the use of mobile technology I presume?).
In a parallel Universe, a politician (call him Mr Button) accidentally sent a text (meant for a parliamentary colleague) to a male journalist calling him a “mad fucking warlock”. And, curiously, NOBODY jumped to the journo’s aid by trotting out an “equal opportunity insult” defense. How would it even go? Ahh Mr Button you shouldn’t refer to Barnaby Joyce as a warlock it would be more appropriate and non-gender-offensive to call him a mad fucking idiot?
Meanwhile, back in our universe, the following occurred:
- A father drove himself and his 2 young sons off a wharf in SA in a murder-suicide. Details about WHY have been suppressed by the media to protect the public ???;
- A passenger on a domestic flight in WA groped cabin crew. It was never reported in the media and went unpunished ???;
- A man committed domestic violence against his wife … and the wife’s mother encouraged her to go back to him ???;
- A young man dies in an early morning one-punch attack in a Brisbane nightclub precinct;
- George Pell continues to avoid the Royal Commission into child abuse in the church due to “ill health” but is fit to be in his workplace managing the Catholic Churches finances at the Vatican (talk about a discriminating workplace);
- AFL player Dustin Martin remains “unpunished” after his accuser WAS prepared to do a TV interview (dentist style and for her employers network) but WASN’T prepared to undertake a formal police interview;
- Donald Trump offends or discriminates against a new group every day … and continues to be a presidential candidate. [edit as at 20/1/17 he is now POTUS …]
Violence is violence. Discrimination is discrimination. Abuse is abuse. If you threaten ANYONE with violence THAT is the issue. Not gender. According to the media a woman in a restaurant is a WOMAN but a man is a PATRON or a DINER. What would newspaper articles look like if gender was not allowed to be disclosed? “A patron in a bar alleges that they were threatened by another patron with chopsticks”, reads very differently from “Drunk AFL star threatens woman with a weapon”
Here is the Ko-down … and it is an incredibly important one. Feminists, activists, PC devotees take note.
If you try to push the barrows of equal opportunity and respect for women through the media using controversial sensationalism, then the men who most need educating will shutdown and an opportunity will be lost…
Do not underestimate the potential for those with a pee-pee to throw the baby out with the bath water. If you want to make a real sustainable difference then keep the message simple, pure, fair and easy to understand … and don’t target sports people.
The week where Aussies lost the plot completely just happened to coincide with the first anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo shootings … Liberté, égalité, fraternité | <urn:uuid:bd3f1992-9bfc-411e-a081-88668592021b> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://www.koneko.life/life/forget-witches-we-have-all-gone-mad-and-equality-is-the-first-casualty/ | 2017-08-21T11:53:29Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886108268.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20170821114342-20170821134342-00360.warc.gz | en | 0.954573 | 1,904 |
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(From the Ashburton Herald, March 6.) “I am not yet so bald that you can see my brains. ” —Long fellow. A couple of my sporting acquaintances got hit pretty hard over Mata winning the Dunedin Cup ; they laid out their month’s wages on Titania and went broke over the business, and then they laid their heads together with a view of raising the wind] Their ideas in that direction were ingenious, and I think original. Each of them owns a buck jumping horse (neither of the animals is marketable, as they have both been to the slaughter yard in Burnett street without fetching a bid), and the owners calmly deliberated on a cold blooded project by which the lives of two much respected heads of departments in Ashburton wex - e to have their limbs endangered, and their tenderest feelings outraged. The diabolical plot was as follows ;—The two horse owners were to visit the two bank managers separately, and get them into a conversational humor,, and sympathise with their long hours and arduous duties, and then offer them the use of a nice quiet horse for a little exercise, and then get their victims mounted on the buckjumpers, previously trained to go full tear to Seafield, and there the two villians, by previous arrangement, would be in waiting with a trap, in which the managers would be offered a ride home on the condition that they discounted a bill for fifty or so," or take the alternative of either riding the buckjumpers back or walking. Tho conspirators seemed to reckon the discounting would be the least painful business to tho bankers. I only write this as a warning to Messrs. R. and S. as to what they may expect from some of their horsey customers. I don’t like cruelty to animals, even where the victim is a bank manager.
Photography is one of the fine arts, I ain told. It sometimes makes the “human face divine ” look very pretty on cardboard, and it sometimes don’t. A week or so ago the school children had a treat, and part of the treat was being set up in rows like animated cabbages, and being done with a camera. Our local man was considered too foggy a negative to do the business, and another foggist was imported from Christchurch to do the job. I inspected some of the “ cartes” yesterday, and at the first look I thought it was a representation of a ten-pin alley, and I turned it upside down, and it then looked like the Ashburton bridge—until a young Chispa said, “ That’s me ! dada and then it dawned upon me that it was a photograph of one of Mr. Stott’s classes. But to call them pictures ! Why, some of the pupils were bald headed, some had no head at all, and one unfortunate small boyhad got the point of his nose inserted in his own left car. But the children seem delighted with them, and they are selling rapidly at Is. each, so I suppose everybody must feel satisfied. Our Court-house still keeps up its reputation for burlesque. A week or two ago the Bench decided that the profession were not to laugh in court, no matter what the occasion might be, and 1 fully expected next court day to see the walls of the Hall of Justice placarded with notifications in hold print, “ Laughing strictly prohibited.” Compliments are as yet permissible between the “ learned friends,” such, for instance, as one legal gentleman referring to another’s contentions as “ gross impudence and ignorance,” and to the gentleman himself as a “silly idiot.” Next Friday is to be a grand field day, and I hear that numerous applications have already been made for front seats to hear the case against Joe for aspersing the professional reputation of one of the limbs. I am always learning something in that court, whilst rubbing the whitewash off the wall with my shoulders. It seems that if Smith summonses mo, and employ's a lawyer, and then Smith and 1 settle the case out of court, that Smith can’t withdraw the case unless he does so through his solicitor, otherwise Smith is guilty of “ fraud at least that is the way it was put the other day. And another new wrinkle is that when the names of parties to a suit are called, they must now stand up and say, “ Here, Sir.” It used to be sufficient to stand up, but as Mr. Guinness pointedly remarked to a defendant wbo had stood up, “ Standing up is > nothing, Sir! answer to your name, Sir !” and the defendant was of course duly dumfoundered at the rebuke, and felt uncomfortable for the next two hours. If any festive reader of my lucubrations is on the look out for a scene, I should strongly recommend him to peg out a claim between the Somerset Hotel and Montgomery's buildings, that is the convincing ground of this great and "lorioua city." I do a saunter around that corner sometimes, and often meet my friends on the look out for a gossip in that part of the town. It is, however, very discreditable to Montgomery and Co., or Josh Tucker, or some of their tenants to have their glass smashed in such a reckless manner as they have lately. Last Saturday a dog came through one window and the verandah, and a day or two afterwards a distinguished cavalry officer came through another, but a kind friend, (whose) so obliging when you go
to pay for a bag of coal or ask for a subscription for Cliiniquy, happened to catch the lieutenant just as lie was on the point of dropping on the glass verandah. There have been many instances in my knowledge, where the Humane Society’s medal lias been awarded for the salvation of lives far less valuable than our commander of the local horse marines. May bo long live to give the battle cry of that Ilk, “Charge Chester charge. On Stanley on,” and Barney will see you through it(i.e), the window. Since writing the above, a glazier attempting to mend the broken pane, at 3 p.m. this afternoon finished the business by going through,the verandah, and after doing a suspension trick for some time lie was quietly landed on the footpath by a Samaritan passingby, and will probably find an outlet for some of his spare panes. The show of vegetables was a great sight to-day. I don’t know a petunia from a lobelia, but 1 was shown a splendid cauliflower, which I w.is informed by a distinguished horticulturist, was one of the pelargonium breed ; lie gave me a long pedigree of the vegetable, and made use of such a string of dog lathi on the subject that I requested him to produce the stud book to convince me. His look of horror at the idea of such a literary production having been published, was a sufficient notice for me to leave his company, more especially as I saw one of his legs gyrating around in the direction of my body. Anyhow, the flowers were pretty, and I thoughtlessly plucked a specimen and was promptly collared ; I felt it hard too, when inspecting Savage’s poaches that they were only to bo looked at, they seemed so luscious and tempting, that petty larceny on such an occasion ought to be looked upon as a virtue. My next venture was feeling if the grapes were ripe, and then yorrs truly was incontinently run out without further notice. The following is Chispa’s Sum for This Were. A cutting has to be excavated and an embankment formed with a portion of the earth taken out, and the balance goes to spoil. The dimensions are as follows ; Base of cutting, 14 feet ; slopes, to 1; depth at start, ‘6 feet; at finish, 41 "22 feet; length, G 2 -55 chains. Embankment on top, 14 feet; slope, li to 1 ; depth at start, 37 ‘9O feet; at end, - 0; length, 42 - 78 chains. State the number of cube yards in the cutting, the number of cube yards in embankment, and quantitythrown to spoil, if any, and width of cutting and embankment at extreme depths. The prize will be awarded to the bona fide pupil of any school in the County who woi'ks the sum out correctly by the shortest method. Prize awarded on Saturdays, March 13th. Chihpa.
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The gay marriage paradox: as acceptance rises, so do legal barriers
President Obama's embrace of gay marriage mirrors growing support among many Americans, but states continue to ban it. The US Supreme Court could play a key role.
Washington — When President Obama came out in favor of gay marriage on May 9 – the first time an American president had made such a declaration – he electrified a long-roiling debate.
To gay-marriage supporters, the right to marry confers public acknowledgment that a same-sex union is normal and legitimate. It also serves as a protection to gay couples and their children.
To opponents, same-sex marriage is a violation of nature that goes against thousands of years of human history and, to some, signals a decline of civilization. For many opponents, it is an affront to God.
Then there’s the murky middle, people who may be evolving in their views, as Mr. Obama was until recently, but still aren’t sure where to land.
Obama’s public shift also shined a light on an apparent disconnect: growing public support for gay marriage even as legal barriers have grown around it. Support for same-sex marriage has risen substantially since 2003, when Massachusetts became the first state to legalize it. About half of Americans support it, up from about a third just 10 years ago, polls show.
But the advent of gay marriage in Massachusetts had another effect: Alarmed, conservative activists started putting the issue before voters. So far, they have succeeded in curbing it every time. Including North Carolina’s vote May 8, voters in 31 states have approved constitutional amendments against same-sex marriage; another 10 states have statutory bans. In six states – all in the Northeast except for Iowa – and the District of Columbia, gay marriage is legal. Others allow civil unions and other forms of domestic partnership.
The map is still sorting itself out. In November, voters in Maine and Minnesota, and likely Maryland and Washington – all states that voted for Obama in 2008 – will face ballot measures on gay marriage. With some, if not all, supporters of gay marriage have a shot at ending their losing streak.
Rhode Island, which allows civil unions but not gay marriage, now recognizes gay marriages performed in other states. In the next few years, a few more states are expected to approve constitutional bans as others work to undo theirs. Hanging over this emerging patchwork is the US Supreme Court, with multiple cases heading to its doorstep.
The pace of change has been dizzying. When Brian Powell, a sociologist at Indiana University in Bloomington, began interviewing Americans nationwide in 2003 for a book on attitudes toward gay marriage, discomfort with the topic was palpable.
“Many people would lower their voice when they would say the word ‘gay,’ as if they were talking about a disease,” says Mr. Powell, co-author of “Counted Out: Same-sex Relations and Americans’ Definitions of Family.”
By the last round of interviews, in 2010, the hushed tones had diminished. And more interviewees reported having a gay friend or relative. “How do you have an increase in gay relatives?” he says. “People had become more open.”
Powell also believes that, ironically, social conservatives helped remove the taboo around discussion of gay rights: All the advocacy to protect traditional marriage kept the issue in public consciousness, he says, making discussion more routine.
The news media and the film and television industry have also been influential. Same-sex wedding announcements now appear regularly in newspapers. When Vice President Joe Biden revealed May 6 that he was “absolutely comfortable” with gay marriage – forcing Obama’s hand on the matter – he cited the influence of “Will & Grace.” The TV sitcom, which ran from 1998 to 2006, was about a straight woman and her gay best friend, but it did not involve gay marriage.
Still, “Will & Grace” paved the way for today’s “Modern Family,” the most popular show on TV, which includes a family headed by two men. Portrayals of gay relationships on TV are now so routine that the mainstream media almost yawn.
Among social conservative activists, the news media and entertainment world are a big part of the problem – especially when it comes to the most striking result in polls: the generational split among Evangelicals. A survey last year by the Public Religion Research Institute found that 44 percent of white evangelical Millennials – those between ages 18 and 29 – favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry, compared with 19 percent of white Evangelicals overall.
Fighting the tide
Advocates for traditional marriage aren’t surprised.
“Three institutions very strongly promote acceptance of homosexuality: the education establishment – both higher ed and K through 12 – and also the news media and entertainment media,” says Peter Sprigg, a senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council in Washington. “So I find when I talk to students, they’ve rarely ever heard the arguments against same-sex marriage. All they’ve ever grown up with is the arguments in favor. It’s difficult for them to overcome that conditioning.”
But Mr. Sprigg doesn’t believe young adults can’t come to a more conservative position on the matter. After all, he says, people get more conservative as they age. In addition, conservatives tend to have larger families, which over time could help shift public opinion. He also doesn’t buy the argument that federal recognition of gay marriage is inevitable.
“Don’t underestimate the strength of the bulwark that social conservatives have put up through the passage of now-31 state constitutional amendments defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” Sprigg says. “The only way we’re likely to see same-sex marriage nationwide in the near future is if the US Supreme Court were to impose it, by declaring it to be a constitutional right.”
“I can’t rule out that possibility,” he adds, “but I’m cautiously optimistic that they will not do that.”
Still, an analysis of public opinion toward same-sex marriage shows the challenge conservatives face. Majorities in 16 states now support gay marriage, says Gregory B. Lewis, a public policy professor at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University in Atlanta. Even Massachusetts didn’t have majority support when the state’s Supreme Judicial Court ruled in 2003 for same-sex marriage. In 2011, Massachusetts topped the list with 67 percent support.
Support has risen in every state, Mr. Lewis reports – even Mississippi, which is at the bottom with 19 percent. But that’s up from 14 percent in 2004. In 2011 California, which voted against gay marriage four years ago via a measure known as Proposition 8, registered near the top nationally in its support of same-sex marriage, at 55 percent.
“It seems clear that if California were to redo Prop. 8, it would lose this time,” Lewis says.
For Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis (no relation) – a couple who married in San Francisco during a brief period in 2004 when gay marriages were allowed, then again in 2008 – the one consolation in the ongoing battle over Prop. 8 is that it did not retroactively invalidate their marriage.
Attitudes have changed, says Mr. Lewis, who recalls a nurse asking, “Who are you?” when he accompanied Mr. Gaffney and his mother to a hospital emergency room a decade ago. Today, the explanation would be much easier, he says. He also points to his 15-year-old niece in Chicago as a sign of how times have changed.
“It’s absolutely normal to her to have two uncles who are married,” Lewis says.
Kathy Bush and Mary Ritchie, too, have seen acceptance of same-sex relationships grow. The couple, living together in Framingham, Mass., since 1991 and married since 2004, have two sons, ages 11 and 13.
The women say they’ve experienced largely supportive relations with neighbors, co-workers, and other parents at school. Ms. Bush, a stay-at-home mom whose duties include providing shuttle service to baseball and soccer games, will head the parent-teacher organization at their sons’ middle school this fall. Ms. Ritchie, a state trooper, serves on a school council.
The two have also joined a legal battle to overturn the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a 1996 law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. Under federal law, Ritchie says, their marriage “means nothing,” noting that there are some 1,000 protections to which she and her family are not entitled.
Take federal taxes. Because they are not married in the eyes of Washington, they cannot file a joint return. The distinction has cost them some $35,000 in extra federal taxes since 2004, they say. “That’s a lot to us,” Bush says. That’s money that could go into a college fund for the boys, she says.
Another example: If Ritchie were to die in the line of duty, DOMA makes Bush ineligible for federal death and education benefits that would otherwise be available. | <urn:uuid:91e72847-1cc6-484d-977e-875df75dcc24> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2012/0517/The-gay-marriage-paradox-as-acceptance-rises-so-do-legal-barriers | 2017-08-23T07:32:29Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886117874.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20170823055231-20170823075231-00520.warc.gz | en | 0.966324 | 1,965 |
Until this summer, few people outside the R&B music scene knew who Robin Thicke was. Then came his new song “Blurred Lines” and an unrated online video to promote it.
“You the hottest b---- in this place!” Thicke sings, as topless models playfully dance around him.
The video has stirred a debate, with detractors complaining that it’s too racy and degrading to women.
Thicke insists he meant no offense — and the song, meanwhile, has become the No. 1 hit of the summer.
Certainly in pop culture, pushing the limits of what’s considered appropriate is hardly new. Back in the roaring 1920s, young women of the “flapper” generation raised eyebrows. In the 1950s, Elvis gyrated and caused a ruckus.
In the 1970s, comedian George Carlin joked about “The Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television,” quickly listing them in a social commentary about the pitfalls of censorship.
Singling out those few words seems almost quaint in an era when just about any kind of uncensored content is easily accessible from a mobile phone, a tablet, or on less regulated cable and Internet TV or satellite radio. Media experts say broadcast TV and mainstream radio have, in turn, tried to keep up by airing saucier content to try to retain dwindling audiences. Many see this free flow of content as progress — a victory for freedom of expression in an uptight society.
But for many parents, it also can be difficult to try to keep their kids from pop culture offerings they don’t consider age appropriate.
Do they filter it as best they can? Laugh it off? Use it as a teachable moment? Demand more limits?
And if they do the latter, who gets to decide what those limits are, anyway — since what’s appropriate to one person might not be to another?
“It’s a conundrum,” says Kirsten Bischoff, a mom in Springfield, N.J., who’s also co-founder of HatchedIt.com, an online social network for families
Bischoff recalls wincing during a car ride last year as her then 13-year-old daughter and a young friend belted out the song “Whistle” by rapper Flo Rida. The girls had no idea the song was about fellatio.
Mom decided to say nothing so they wouldn’t ask questions. But she later fretted about her decision on her online blog, where other parents told her they’d faced similar dilemmas.
“Lord, I’m turning into Tipper Gore,” Bischoff later joked, fearing people would compare her to the former second lady, who campaigned to get the music industry to put warning labels on content with explicit lyrics.
Gore got some support but became the object of ridicule and a few protest songs, including rapper Ice T’s 1989 song “Freedom of Speech” in which he, too, used the b-word to refer to Gore and other profanities to make his point.
It’s true that those who question any kind of content risk being called a prude, or a censor. That’s partly because history has shown that efforts to curb allegedly “indecent” content can fail, or look misguided in hindsight, says Susan Mackey-Kallis, an associate professor of communication at Villanova University.
In 1930, Hollywood adopted the Motion Picture Production Code, a list of moral standards for the film industry.
Among other things, the code — which was abandoned in the 1960s for the current rating system — forbade showing interracial sexual relationships, scenes of childbirth, “in fact or in silhouette,” or anything about sexual hygiene or sexually transmitted diseases. It also was implied that gay content should not be shown.
“Looking at a list like this today, it is amazing to think how far we have come,” Mackey-Kallis says.
While religious or political figures have often weighed in with moral arguments, today a decision to limit content is as likely to be a business decision.
Credit card companies and the banks that oversee their transactions use web-crawling and other investigative techniques to search for questionable content. They do not, for instance, allow payments for goods or services that are related to any illegal sexual acts — or that might even depict rape or exploitation of a minor. But beyond clearly illegal acts, they also reserve the right to steer clear of any content they feel reflects poorly on their brands.
Ultimately, however, it is the courts that determine what is obscene, a term reserved in the legal system for sexually explicit content that meets certain criteria.
The U.S. Supreme Court has based its definition of obscenity on “community standards” and these three factors:
- Does the work appeal to “prurient,” or excessively sexual, interests?
- Does it “depict or describe, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law?”
- And does the work lack “serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value?”
“It’s clearly very tough to prove. What’s obscene to some may be artful dancing to others,” says Robert Pondillo, a professor of mass media history and American culture at Middle Tennessee State University who wrote the book “America’s First Network TV Censor.”
And, he notes, the courts have not tended to limit language, which generally falls under free speech protection. Media that is broadcast on the airwaves — network television and radio, for instance — is still somewhat limited, though not as much as some parents would like.
Determining what’s acceptable is further complicated by the fact that online life has changed the notion of the “community standard.”
“We’re an increasingly connected society, so we’re no longer divided by our (physical) communities,” says David Gudelunas, a communication professor at Fairfield University in Connecticut.
Now, those communities are often online, stretching across continents and age brackets to bring together people with common interests.
Take 33-year-old Ben Tao. He was an engineering student in Los Angeles when he discovered a “niche” in the adult film industry. Crowdfunding sites such as Kickstarter, he learned, didn’t allow the creators of sexually oriented projects to post those projects to seek funding.
So he started Offbeatr, a fundraising site for creators of adult films and content.
His site is aimed at people age 18 and older. Those who propose projects for funding must prove their age, though he concedes it’s impossible to monitor the age of everyone who visits the site.
Of course, parents can use filters to keep their children from the content, he says.
But he concedes, “I think it’s a hard battle to fight if you’re trying to say, ‘I’m going to protect against every single thing.’”
Therein is the dilemma. Should society err on the side of free access, even if it means children might encounter inappropriate content? Or do you set limits on online access to pornography, for instance, unless a household requests that access, as British Prime Minister David Cameron plans to do?
Should radio stations err on the side of a playing “clean” versions of songs? Should cable companies be more careful about airing age appropriate content during daytime hours?
And for that matter, should an artist such as Nicki Minaj worry if an 8-year-old learns the words to a song that talks about selling cocaine and “panties comin’ off”? A couple years ago, the parents of Sophia Grace Brownlee, a young British girl, made a video of her rapping and singing Minaj’s song “Super Bass.”
Deemed “cute” and “adorable” by the video’s many viewers on YouTube, Sophia Grace later performed the song on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show, where she has since become a regular.
Minaj herself seemed a tad uncomfortable when she appeared on the show with Sophia Grace and urged the girl to sing a tamer part of the song.
But Jeffrey McCall, a media studies professor at DePauw University in Indiana, says he’s not surprised that few others questioned whether a kid this age should perform the song, or even have access to it.
“The entertainment industry has a huge role in deciding what is culturally OK, and society will often take (its) lead,” says McCall, author of the book “Viewer Discretion Advised: Taking Control of Mass Media Influence.”
Even Pat Cooper, a comedian who knew George Carlin, sees a difference between the late comic’s “Seven Words” skit and much of the material he hears today.
Carlin “was saying, ‘Let’s express ourselves. Be a human being,’” says Cooper, who’s 85 and lives in New York City. Too often now, Cooper says, vulgarity on stage and elsewhere is used for shock value alone.
“We don’t want to think anymore. So instead of thinking we just curse out what we want to say,” Cooper says.
Jeanne Achille, who heads a New Jersey public relations firm, cites a recent story as another example of this problem: the media’s summer obsession with New York politician Anthony Weiner and his habit of sending lewd photos of himself to women.
“Sadly,” she says, the coverage “validates ... our society’s tolerance for ingesting everything and anything with no sense of what to filter and no ability to put boundaries in place — whether sensationalistic news delivered 24/7, huge quantities of bad food also available 24/7, or horrible television programs featuring stupid, foul-mouthed people.”
But she’s found her way to deal with it and suggests others do the same.
“Not to sound like Nancy Reagan, but, ‘Just say no.,’” Achille says. “I’m at a point in life where I’ve finally learned that I can shut it out and don’t need to participate when it doesn’t suit me.”
For an individual decision, that can work fine. But, again, what about when it comes to raising a teen today?
Bischoff, the mom in New Jersey, feels powerless to filter out all the inappropriate content.
“There’s no way to shelter a kid anymore, unless we home-school her and go live in the woods somewhere,” she says. “The only thing I can think of to do as a mom is to try to stay ahead of it . with talk, talk and more talk.”
Martha Irvine is an AP national writer. She can be reached at mirvine//twitter.com/irvineap | <urn:uuid:2009833c-3bf0-4568-b139-4638bf671481> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://www.dailytribune.com/article/20130815/LIFE09/130819646/free-flow-of-racy-content-a-headache-for-parents | 2017-08-24T03:23:52Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886126027.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20170824024147-20170824044147-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.954335 | 2,373 |
Let’s Talk Witch – The God and Goddess
The Goddess and the God are everything and everywhere. They are the sun, the moon, the sky, the oceans, ants, flowers, nature, everything. You can see their splendor in a sunset, a child, a tree, in the stars; it’s everywhere, you just have to look and see it. They reveal themselves quite often in the most simplest forms. That seems quite a contradiction to what I just said about them being complex, but it’s true. Take a walk in the woods, or look at a butterfly, you’ll see it. The Goddess and The God are inherent in nature, and since they are so entwined in nature, we have to treat nature with just as much respect as we would a divine being.
The Goddess and the God as being part of the same being, just different aspects of that being. “Goddess”, refers to the female, creative aspect of that being. Both The Goddess and The God are equal, neither deserving more respect than the other. When you start focusing on just The Goddess, or just The God, things become unbalanced and unnatural. The ideal is a perfect balance of both energies. They are all of the deities that have ever existed, and the ones that will exist.
All the different gods and goddesses of all the different religions are the same being; almost but not quite the same idea as the 99 names of Allah, each name refers to a different aspect of that God. When you call the Goddess by the name of Bridget or Margawse, you are calling upon those aspects of The Goddess.
The Goddess is the universal mother. She is fertility, endless wisdom and love. She is all aspects of nature, harmful and helpful. Wiccans acknowledge both aspects of Her nature.
The Goddess has three aspects; The Maiden (Anu, Elaine, Blodeuwedd), The Mother (Badb, Arianrhod, Margawse), and The Crone (Morgan LeFey, Cerridwen, Macha). The Maiden is innocence, Springtime, renewal, youth, dawn and the continuation of all life. The Mother is the richness of life, nurturing, Summer, the day and a teacher. The Crone is darkness, night, the rest before the continuation of life, wisdom, counsel and reincarnation. Each of these aspects shows different stages of a women’s life, and each can be placed with the phases of the moon; The Maiden being the waxing moon, The Mother the full moon and The Crone the waning moon.
The Goddess of the Wicca is the Great Goddess. She is the Ground of Being, the Mother of All Living; the Creatrix, and the Destroyer, for She is ever Dual. She is the Earth Mother, the Lady of the Moon, and the Star Goddess. She is Queen of Heaven, Queen of Earth, and Queen of the Underworld. She is the Triple Goddess: the Virgin, the Bride, and the Hag, called the Three Mothers in Celtic regions.
The three aspects of the Triple Goddess are usually described as the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone; it must be remembered that the connotations of age associated with those titles derive from the experience of humans, who are subject to age and death; the Goddess is eternal: ever-changing and ever self-renewing, She will be young or old as She pleases.
As the Virgin, She is the Creatrix, the Lady of Birth and Death, the Star Goddess, the Queen of Heaven, the Giver of Inspiration, the Initiatrix.
She is Diana, Lady of the Moon and the Wild Things, Ever Virgin unto Pan: virgin unto the All, and therefore wed to None.She is also the Virgin Mother; and Her blue and white colors, and title “Queen of Heaven”, were borrowed by the Catholic Church for the Virgin Mary. Hers are the Waxing Moon, Venus as Morning and Evening Star, and all the vast starry realm; Her sacred color is White.
As the Bride, She is the Preserver, the Lady of Growth and Fertility, the Earth Mother, the Goddess of flocks and herds, Lady of Love and Fruitfulness and the fertility of the land; as Goddess of the Land She is also the Goddess of Sovereignty, and it is only by Sacred Marriage to Her that the King holds the right to the Throne. Hers are the Full Moon, the Earth, fruits and flocks and fields; Her sacred color is Red.
As the Hag, She is the Destroyer, the Lady of Decay and Death, the Goddess of Night and the Underworld, and also the cave and the tomb. For that which is born must also age, and decay, and die; and out of that which is dead and decaying arises new fertility, for life feeds ever on life. She is the Sow who eats Her own young, the “Nightmare Fertility and Death in One”, the Great Necessity by which the food chain and the cycle of life continue. Hence She is also the Goddess of regeneration. Hers is the Waning Moon, the dark night, the silence of the shadows, the midnight crossroads, and the wailing of the widow; Her sacred color is Black.
The Goddess is the Queen of all Witcheries: She is the Enchantress, the Shape-Changer; She is Isis, the “Lady of the Words of Power”; She is Cerridwen, the Sorceress at Her Cauldron; She is Hecate, the Mistress of the Magick of the Dark Moon. She is the Great Lady. She is the Goddess.
The God of the Wicca is the Horned God, the ancient God of Fertility: the God of forest, flock, and field and also of the hunt. He is Lord of Life, and the Giver of Life, yet He is also Lord of Death and Resurrection. For, like the Goddess, the nature of Her Horned Consort is also dual. For the Horned God is not only the Hunter, He is also the Hunted; He is the Sun by day, but He is also the Sun at Midnight; He is the Lord of Light, but He is also the Lord of Darkness: the darkness of night, the darkness of the Shadows, the darkness of the depths of the forest, the darkness of the depths of the Underworld.
The Horned God is the group soul of the hunted animal, invoked by the primitive shaman and the tribe: and as such, He is the Sacrificial Victim, the beast who is slain that the tribe might live, a gift from that group soul, who was often revered as the tribal totem or ancestral spirit. The Celts believed they were the descendents of the God of the Underworld, who was also the God of Fertility: the Latinized form of His name was Cernunnos, which means simply, the Horned One.
The Horned God is also the spirit of vegetation, of the green and growing things, whether of the vine or of the forest or of the field. Dionysus, Adonis, and many other vegetation and harvest Gods were all often depicted as horned, wearing the horns of the bull, the goat, the ram, or the stag: of whichever of the horned beasts was held sacred in that place and time. This aspect is the Dying and Resurrecting God who dies with the harvest and is rent asunder, as the grain is gathered in the fields; who is buried, as is the seed; who then springs forth anew, fresh and green and young, in the spring, reborn from the Womb of the Great Mother.
The Horned God is Osiris, who was often depicted with the horns of a bull. Osiris was believed to be incarnate in a succession of sacred bulls, and worshipped in that form as the god Apis. This was yet another form and manifestation of Osiris as the God of Fertility and also of Death and Resurrection. And Osiris bears the marks of a lunar, rather than a solar god, for Set tears the body of Osiris into fourteen pieces, the number of days of the waning moon; and then Isis, the Great Mother, gathers those pieces together and restores Osiris to life again.
The Horned God is the Great God Pan, the Goat-foot God with a human torso and a human but goat-horned head, the God whose ecstatic worship was so hated by the Church that they used His description for their “Devil” and called Him the lord of all evil. Yet, to the ancients who worshipped Him, and to the modern Pagans and Witches that worship Him still, “Pan is greatest, Pan is least. Pan is all, and all is Pan.”
The Horned God is not “the Devil”, except to those who fear and reject Nature, and the Powers of Life and human sexuality, and the ecstasy of the human spirit. The Horned God is the God of the Wicca. | <urn:uuid:6c5ffc5a-c01e-437f-8349-9e97c9ea21f7> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://witchesofthecraft.com/2017/05/31/lets-talk-witch-the-god-and-goddess/ | 2017-08-24T02:51:18Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886126027.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20170824024147-20170824044147-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.962145 | 1,888 |
Greetings gamers and gamers to be! I am Kaber Duhn, your DM, and guide through the world of fantasy role playing. For seventeen years now, I have been both a role player and a dungeon master, and yet, the excitement of it all never ceases to amaze me. Follow me while I take you upon a journey, a journey into the imagination. Remember to grab your backpack, pencils, paper and dice for who knows when we will be able to stop for supplies. Come, come, time is awasting.
ADnD, or Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, is among one of the most popular Table-Top RPG or Role-Playing Games today. Most of you are familiar with the term RPG but for those who are not, RPG is defined as:
Most RPGs today are found in video game titles played on PC, Playstation or other similar game systems. In these games the GM, or Game Master, is played by the computer and the player becomes the main character or characters in a preprogrammed story line.
Table-Top gaming is quite different, as you are interacting with real people, not computer or video game generated ones. Here the GM or DM, Dungeon Master, creates a story line, a plot that other players interact within. The whole thing is done with paper and pencil, a lot of imagination and the rolling of dice to simulate random events. While there are a variety of different types of Role Playing Games we will focus on one aspect, the fantasy RPG, Advanced Dungeons and Dragons.
Dungeons and Dragons Creator Gary Gygax was born on July 27, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois. The son of German immigrants, he began playing games at the age five, starting with card games and then chess. First taught to play by his mother, his discovery of fantasy and science fiction through the works of pulp author, such as Jack Vance and Robert E. Howard, would ignite in him twin obsessions that have defined his life from that point onward -- fantasy and gaming. Those loves would eventually combine in the creation of Dungeons & Dragons, the father of role-playing games.
Gygax and Don Kaye, later joined by Blume and Arneson, formed their own company in 1973 which they named Tactical Studies Rules, after a local gaming club called the Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association. This company was formed to market the "fantasy war game to be played with paper and pencil" that they renamed Dungeons & Dragons (after a suggestion by Gygax's wife, Mary).
The game first appeared at the 1973 EasterCon, had a limited availability throughout 1973, and the first print run of 1,000 copies was officially released (in a white box) in January of 1974. It sold out within the year. The game consisted of three booklets: Men and Magic, Monsters and Treasure, and Wilderness & Dungeon Adventures. It was also recommended that owners get a copy of Chainmail as well as the Avalon Hill game, Outdoor Survival.
There were three classes: Fighting Man, Magic-User, and Cleric. The terms were intentionally vague and much research was done to prevent putting anything into the game that actually resembled real-world magic systems. The authors eventually decided to base the game's magic system on the fantasy writings of Jack Vance. There were also four different races: human, dwarf, hobbit, and elf. Objections and legal complaints from the Tolkien estate caused the "hobbit" race to be changed to the "halfling" race later.
When the game started getting somewhat popular after the first year or so, they decided to publish some of the details of their own campaigns along with some expansion rules for the game. This product was the original Greyhawk . It introduced the Thief character class and had notes on magic, monsters, and more. Then they published Blackmoor, which introduced the Monk and Assassin classes and included the very first module: Temple of the Frog. Then came Eldritch Wizardry, which introduced the Druid class and psionics. The last book of this series was Gods, Demigods, and Heroes, which listed several pantheons for use with the game.
In 1975, Arneson and Gygax parted ways, and Don Kaye had a fatal heart attack. Kaye's wife decided, along with Gygax and Blume, to break up the company. Gygax and Blume went on to create TSR Hobbies, Inc. later that year.
At this point, the game was comprised of many rules spread throughout numerous books, supplements, and magazines. In addition, Gygax had amassed a pile of campaign notes and new rules that he wished to add to the game. It was decided that a new edition of the game should be released, but instead of calling it a second edition and discontinuing the first, TSR launched Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. This expanded and updated version commenced with the release of the Monster Manual in 1977. It was followed in 1978 by the Player's Handbook and in 1979 by the Dungeon Master's Guide. In 1997, Wizards of the Coast, Inc., publishers of the wildly popular Magic: The Gathering? trading card game, acquired TSR. In 2000, Wizards of the Coast published the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons, the wholly reworked successor to 2nd edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and Basic Dungeons and Dragons.
As you can see, ADnD has quite a history. You can find a complete Time Line in the history of ADnD at DnD Archives
Now you know a little about ADnD. But what is it really like? How do you play? The answer is right here. While this is not by far, a step by step process it should give you an idea. The game uses a system of Dice of various numbers. A 20 sided dice, or d20, a 12 sided dice, d12, a d10, d8, d6, and a d4. The original DnD only had 6 dice. These dice sets can be picked up at your local game store either individually or together and they vary in prices depending on the type and material of the die. It can be just as much fun collecting the various die as playing the game.
Oh, ok so you have paper, you have a pen or pencil and you went out and got some dice......now what? Well, there are several methods to writing up a character, but they all have the same things in common: a character name, a class and a race. The class represents a characters profession, so to speak. Be they fighters, wizards, thieves, clerics, bards or specialty classes such as Ranger, which is a subclass of the fighter.
While there are several races to choose from the game is biased. Humans are the center of the universe or at least, they have the ability to reach farther than most other races. Still, each race has their oun advantages. Elves are immune to some spells and can see in the dark. Halflings are harder to hit and can be very quiet. Dwarves are tougher and stronger than most races. Half breeds combine some of the abilities of one race with another, though the abilities are diluted. Usually dice are rolled to figure out Ability Scores. These are the numbers that show how strong, or fast, or smart your character is. They often appear in an abbreviated form such as STR for Strength, or DEX for Dexterity. There are six abilities. Strength. Dexterity. Constitution. Intelligence. Wisdom and Charisma. All these things thus far, combined, shape a characters personality and abilities. It is now up to the player, and the DM, to breathe life into the character through role play.
View Character Description Examples
Being a Dungeon Master or DM can be very rewarding, but it also comes with a certain amount of responsibility. You, the DM, must not only keep track of the story you tell (the places and events that happen, the Non-Player Characters, or NPC?s, and how they effect the story) but you must also keep track of how your players play. You must keep in balance a story that is exciting, humorous and challenging while making sure your players do not get too powerful or are kept too weak. Also, while this is a game, and only a game, some people become so enraptured by the fantasy world that they take it with them when they leave the table. You must be certain that you do not encourage activities that are game related to be taken outside of the the game. And still, to be a good DM you must study the real world to learn how things should interact in the game world.
Magic is a prevalent factor in ADnD, but it in no way reflects how magic works in the real world. And it shouldn?t. As in ADnD, there are people with different world views. Some believe in a god or multiple gods or no god at all, but if you or someone you know worships a deity in the real world, even if it is represented in the ADnD books, you should know that beyond the name, the similarities should end. ADnD IS A FANTASY GAME, NOT REALITY. While it may portray things that happen in the real world, you, as the DM, must be certain that the players understand it is only fantasy. Only a game. With that in mind, it should be noted that there are many different styles of play. 'Hack and Slash' or Role playing are the two main styles. If you find a good combination of both then you will do well, but many still prefer to dungeon crawl and 'hack and slash' then Role Playing or RPing. Practice makes perfect and soon you will know what your players prefer. There are many pre-published adventures available for various levels. As all characters should start at level 1 you will have plenty of time to learn as they grow.
I present to you here, two examples of the games I DM. Simply follow the links to HACK AND SLASH or my CORE GROUP. If you would like more information on ADnD, how to play or where to get supplies, visit Wizards of the Coast Here you can also find information about MAGIC: The Gathering which I also happen to enjoy, but that is for another day and another page. | <urn:uuid:cd7126a7-bfe1-47e5-b82d-923fbcc15f88> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://ladywinterwolf.fcpages.com/dnd.html | 2017-08-17T05:48:43Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886102967.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20170817053725-20170817073725-00240.warc.gz | en | 0.971014 | 2,115 |
I normally wait until after church to post my sermon, but I’m doing it early today, given it’s time-sensitive nature. The recording will be up later.
My text is Matthew 18:21-35.
To be perfectly honest, I’ve been dreading this sermon all year, ever since I learned that today’s date would fall on a Sunday and I would have to get up into this pulpit and say something meaningful. I wasn’t sure whether I should just ignore the day and preach the lectionary text from Matthew or cut whatever else we had planned for today and just focus on what I know is on everyone’s mind. After agonizing over it all year, I can’t really think of any other way to begin except by coming right out and saying it:
Today’s date is the 11th of September. And we’ve come together this morning to remember something important that happened. Some of us remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when the news of this event first struck us speechless while others have simply grown up hearing about it. It was a great injustice. It was a horrifying spectacle that still leaves us in shock and awe. For days afterward, people could do little else than huddle together behind closed doors and drawn curtains. They held each other and sobbed, knowing that, whatever else they had hoped their future might be, it had now changed forever. It was a watershed moment that defined who we are as people. The very worst in the human race came face to face with the very best in the human race. The events of that day brought us together as a community like nothing else ever could. More than any other before or after it, this event taught us to admire and respect and love those individuals who lay down their lives and make the ultimate sacrifice for the benefit of others. Because of that which we remember this morning, none of us will ever be the same ever again.
The event that I am describing here is not the attack on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93 that took place ten years ago today. The event that I’m describing here is the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Before I go on, I feel like I should pause and tell you that I’m not trying to be flippant or witty about the events of September 11, 2001. Nor am I trying to disrespect the memory of a national tragedy by twisting it into an opportunity for religious proselytism. What I’m trying to do is reflect on who we are as Christians and human beings on this particular day. I want to take the smaller events of our personal stories and understand them in the larger context of God’s big Story.
The cross is one of the most universally recognizable symbols in the world. Ask almost anyone, regardless of their religious affiliation, to name one Christian symbol and most people will probably mention the cross. More than any other event in history, what happened on the cross shows us who we are as followers of the way of Christ.
On the night of his wrongful arrest, Jesus assured Peter that he had the power to call down legions of warrior angels to annihilate the world in his defense. However, we know that Jesus didn’t do that. Instead, Jesus looked down from the cross at his executioners and prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
Most of us who read that story with the benefit of two thousand years’ distance find this gesture admirable but also pitiful. “It’s a generous sentiment,” we say, “but you can’t live that way. It wouldn’t work! People would walk all over you!” We don’t believe there is any actual power in Jesus’ prayer, so we dismiss this noble gesture as a product of his divinity and proceed to hide behind a comfortable curtain of systematic theology in which we benefit from the effects of that forgiveness without ever actually having to experience it.
But Jesus doesn’t let us off the hook that easily. Teaching about forgiveness in today’s gospel reading from Matthew 18, Jesus assures us that the only way to remain assured of God’s forgiveness is to give forgiveness away. “Blessed are the merciful,” Jesus says, “for they will receive mercy.”
The passage begins with a legitimate question from Peter about the reasonable limits of forgiveness. He says, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus’ response is ridiculous and shocking, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.” He then tells a cautionary tale about two people: one with an impossibly large debt and another with a trivial one. The first debtor owes ten thousand talents to the creditor. How much is that in today’s terms? Well, a “talent” is a term of measurement. The parable doesn’t tell us exactly what was being measured but, for the sake of argument, let’s assume that we’re talking about talents of gold. Let’s use today’s gold price ($1,855.15 per ounce) times 16 ounces in a pound times 71 pounds in a talent times ten thousand talents, and we end up with a debt of $21,074,504,000. That’s how much this first person owed. That’s how much debt the creditor forgave!
The second debtor owed one hundred denarii. A denarius was equivalent to a day’s wages for a laborer. Let’s put that in today’s terms using New York state’s current minimum wage. That’s $7.25 an hour times eight hours in a workday times one hundred days, and we get $5,800. This person’s lending firm received a twenty-one billion dollar bailout yet foreclosed on a debt of less than six thousand dollars. According to Jesus, those are some messed up priorities.
The unmerciful servant in this parable was a person who was adamantly unwilling to look at the smaller issue of the debt he was owed in relation to the massive debt he was forgiven. He would not understand the smaller events of his personal story in the larger context of God’s Story. Forgiven people have an obligation to spread their amnesty over as wide a field as possible. Otherwise, they are only robbing themselves. The paradoxical irony of heaven’s economy is that those who keep forgiveness for themselves will lose it while those who give it away will keep it forever.
But forgiveness is also a dangerous business. It is demonstrably true that one cannot guarantee economic security or national defense on a consistent doctrine of forgiveness. Just look at Jesus himself. When he prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” he did not speak from the comfort of heaven’s glorious throne. No, he forced those words out as he hung from the cross, bleeding and dying. Jesus was a failed revolutionary who was branded as a “terrorist” by those who were fighting to protect their own national security and traditional family values. One can imagine the Centurions and the Pharisees laughing at Jesus when they heard him say this. His position at the time would have served as incontrovertible proof that forgiveness “does not work” as a strategy. A few may have admired him for it, but everyone still walked away shaking their heads after this forgiving Messiah finally fell silent.
But you and I know that’s not the end of the story. That night, they laid his body in a tomb and rested on the Sabbath. Then, on the first day of the week, early in the morning, a few brave women made their way to Jesus’ tomb and when they got there, they couldn’t believe their eyes! The stone had been rolled away from the entrance, the soldiers had passed out from fright, and angel stood in the entrance and asked, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here.”
Why not? “He is risen.” Today is the day that everything changes. Death itself has begun to work backwards. The dead come alive. The blind see. The deaf hear. The mute sing. The lame dance. The weak are strong. The foolish are wise. The first are now last and last are now first. The whole world is turning upside down. Or is it right side up?
We know for a fact that forgiveness does not work. Yet we believe in the truth beyond the facts. We believe it when the Bible says that “mercy triumphs over judgment” and “love covers a multitude of sins.” We believe it because that failed revolutionary who died in disgrace with forgiveness on his lips is now hailed as the most influential person in human history. His ridiculous message of forgiveness outlasted the culture that gave it birth and the Roman Empire that tried to suppress it. That message of forgiveness has now reached the shores of every continent on this planet and continues to spread as people like you and I choose to take our smaller personal stories and understand them in the larger context of God’s big Story. We take the small debts that we must forgive and hold them up next to the huge debt that has been forgiven us.
It is true that September 11, 2001 changed us. It was a horrifying spectacle and a tragic injustice. It brought us together as a community. We saw the very worst and the very best of humanity in action on that day. Our future will never be the same because of it. But September 11 does not dictate who we are. If we take the events of that one story and look at them in the context of God’s big Story, then we will be able to see that it is the cross of Jesus Christ, seen and understood in the light of his Resurrection, that shows us who we really are. As we move from our smaller stories to God’s big Story, which is what we do each week here in church, we will find all the strength we need for healing and yes, even forgiveness. | <urn:uuid:4df9da37-50aa-4065-a0d7-452be86ebfbb> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://hoppinghadrianswall.com/2011/09/11/my-september-11th-sermon/ | 2017-08-17T05:39:23Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886102967.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20170817053725-20170817073725-00240.warc.gz | en | 0.973531 | 2,163 |
Two people brought together by the same passion and a shared vision of a better way to train
Sam is an Irish international event rider who has competed up to CIC3* and represented his country at the FEI Young Rider European Championships.
Sam began riding at a local riding school as a young boy, along with his mother, Joyce, and older brother, Ian. As the years went on, Ian gradually lost interest but Sam was hooked and eventually progressed from Saturdays at the riding school to weekends at the home of Anne and Eamonn Kelly, who kept a small yard. Anne and Eamonn were friends of Sam's parents and gave Sam the opportunity to ride their children's former pony, 'Flipper'. Sam and Flipper joined the pony club and took part in every competition they could together, taking many rosettes along the way.
As Sam inevitably grew too tall for Flipper, he and his mother bought a horse to share between them, though during the summer Sam had more than his fair share of ridding as he and 'George' travelled the country from one Pony Club competition to another. They won many competitions together, competing in the Pony Club National Championships for dressage, showjumping and eventing, as well as inter-schools eventing and showjumping.
By this stage Sam was totally absorbed the equestrian world, not only as a rider but also as a horseman. He successfully progressed through the Pony Club exams, eventually achieving the highest standard awarded, The 'A Test'.
Sadly by 2004, in a reoccurring theme, Sam was also out-growing George, and they contested their final competition together at the prestigious SIlver Spurs Final. They were awarded one of three training bursaries, and took second place in the ride off. Marking the end of a very successful partnership.
Following much success at all the Pony Club disciplines, Sam was sure that eventing was his true passion, and began to look to affiliated competition with Eventing Ireland. After many months of searching for the right horse, and a few mistakes along the way, Sam was all but ready to give up on horses when along came Teldon, and they haven't looked back since.
Sam and Teldon instantly bonded and have progressed from Pony Club right through to international 3* level. They tackled their first novice together, travelled to the UK for the Pony Club Eventing Championships, finished 7th in their first ever international event in the CCI* at Necarne Castle, and travelled back to the UK to complete Weston Park CCI*, all in their first year together. From there they have gone on to compete at 2* level, represent Ireland in the FEI Young Rider European Eventing Championships, finishing 21st, and complete their first CIC3* at Barbury Castle in 2014.
Though Sam was achieving good results with Teldon, he was realistic about how difficult it was to get started in the equestrian industry and had no plans on becoming a full time Event Rider. Sam graduated from Wesley College Dublin in 2006 and progressed to third level education at the Dublin Institute of Technology, studying Architectural Technology. After graduating a conversation with Sam's father, Kevin, that sparked the idea of following his dream of becoming a professional Event Rider.
Within 3 days of his graduation ceremony Sam was on his way to the UK to take up a position at Queenholme Equestrian, home of fellow Irish event rider Mark Kyle, and his wife Tanya. Sam worked under Mark and Tanya for a full season, gaining a wealth of experience not just in the saddle, but in all aspects of running a professional yard, from yard management, to care of the horses, and competition scheduling to managing staff.
After leaving Queenholme, Sam took up a position at Woodland Farm, Wiltshire, where he was responsible for managing a private event yard under the guidance of Brazilian event rider Marcelo Tosi, who was also based at the yard.
It was during his time at Woodland Farm that Sam was approached by Julian Podger who was interested in buying some young horses to contest the BYEH classes. It proved to be a vital turning point for Sam, gaining his first client and eventually leading to the transition from being an employee to setting up his own yard. Julian has had horses with Sam ever since, supporting him as he started his own yard at Soley Farm Stud, and his move to a permanent base at Seven Bridges Farm where Sam and Júlia started D&L Performance Horses.
Júlia trained as a showjumper with international riders Serguei (Guega) Fofanoff and Yuri Mansur in Brazil before moving to the UK to focus on eventing.
Júlia has a life long affinity for all animals. At the age of nine she attended a BBQ with her mother and first witnessed somebody have a riding lesson. Júlia was entranced and immediately knew that was all she wanted to do. She promptly dropped her various other sporting activities and produced a list of equipment and riding schools for her parents!
Júlia started lessons at a local equestrian centre, Sociedade Hipica de Ribeirao Preto. Unlike riding schools in the UK and Ireland, Brazilian schools don't teach children on ponies, instead they put them straight on to horses. By age 10, less than a year after first sitting on a horse she was jumping a 17.2hh horse called 'Came'!
After four years at Sociedade Hipica de Ribeirao Preto moved to Escola de Equitacao Guega, home to Olympic event rider Serguei (Guega) Fofanoff and bought her first horse Fair Lady (Rica). Júlia spent every moment she could at Guega's yard, taking part in summer camps and learning about every aspect of horse management. They competed in many showjumping competitions all over the state of Sao Paulo, winning many trophies along the way.
Júlia trained regularly Guega and British based Brazilian rider Guto de Faria. Herself and Rica had a rare connection and the pair progressed quickly through the grades. Their crowning glory was winning the prestigious 'Campeonato Paulista', beating riders from all over the state in the 1.10m class, and being interviewed on TV.
Eventually RIca met her limit jumping and sadly Júlia had to make the tough decision to sell her and buy another horse to progress her riding. Júlia saw 'Palmar' at Guega's yard and was told he was 'not for every rider', immediately she decided to buy him! Palmar was an exceptional horse, with amazing power and scope. Júlia trained him from the age of four and, like Rica, they progressed quickly through the levels. At age seven, Palmar was jumping 1.30 tracks and they seemed unstoppable, however sadly it was not meant to be.
As Júlia left schooling 'real life' took hold, she moved to Sao Paulo city and began studying at university. She graduated with a degree in Administration and Marketing, and took a job in the marketing department of a fashion company, later moving to a publishing company. Júlia was forced to give up her riding during this time and sold Palmar. Palmar went on to great success, competing up to 1.60m and represented Brazil in a World Cup Qualifier.
In 2011, on a visit home to Ribeirao Preto, Júlia spotted 'Nicolae'. He would be the horse that changed everything. After eight years without riding suddenly her love for horses was reignited. Júlia decided to turn her back on what was proving to be a successful career in publishing, and follow her true passion. She left her life in Sao Paulo and returned to her home in Ribeirao Preto. Her former trainer, Guega, introduced her to a fellow Olympic eventer, Marcelo Tosi.
Marcelo was based in the UK and he invited Júlia to travel there where he would train her. To say the least, Ribeirao Preto to Marston, Wiltshire was a culture shock for Júlia, not only because of the 40C temperature drop in February! However, Júlia took it all in her stride and threw herself into this new way of life. It was here, in Woodland Farm, that Júlia first met Sam and they began dating.
While at Woodland Farm Júlia was given the ride on 'Rupert', one of the owners horses. He was a sensitive horse, but he gave Júlia her first taste of eventing in the UK and eventually finishing the season at Novice level.
Sadly Júlia could not stay in the UK without a visa, and was required to return to Brazil. Determined not to slip into her pervious life, nor lose valuable training time, Julia once again returned Sao Paulo, but this time to work for International showjumper Yuri Mansur.
In 2014 Júlia returned to the UK. Sam had since moved from Woodland Farm and started is own business. In 2015 Júlia applied for residency in the UK, allowing her to live and work here, and start D&L Performance Horses with Sam. | <urn:uuid:2b7bc977-1b2b-4e80-9d83-18df799c77d0> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://www.dlphorses.com/sam-and-julia/ | 2017-08-18T02:52:10Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886104560.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20170818024629-20170818044629-00320.warc.gz | en | 0.986197 | 1,925 |
(Thron is known in other parts of the Internet as Natural20. You can
find him on Livejournal here – http://natural20.livejournal.com/ or on
Twitter here – http://twitter.com/natural20 He tends to talk a lot
about Irish politics as well as gaming and conventions, you have been
A short introduction, I’m Thron, a Resto-Druid and raidleader of Cobra, the raiding community that Spinks mentions here.
I’ve been raiding with Cobra since the community started up in Zul’Gurub and I’ve been a leader since Karazhan. As Spinks mentioned we’ve recently killed the Lich King and I wanted to share some thoughts on leading the Cobra community through eighteen months of raiding in Wrath, from the first boss in Naxx to our final victory atop the Frozen Throne.
Cobra was set up with the express intention of getting members of three guilds (Ashen Rose Conspiracy, Oathforged and The Red Branch) into content they would never see if they didn’t band together. In Wrath we wanted to progress more than we had in TBC, but also try, as hard as possible, to bring as many people with us on our journey. The goal was, of course, to have Arthas lying at our feet, but we knew it was going to be a very long road.
We benefited hugely from the company of some raiders from outside the three guilds who were looking for a more casual group than they’d been with in TBC, or those whose groups disbanded at some point during Wrath. Integration has been hard on occasion, making sure that we held true to our guiding aims, while trying to make sure people didn’t get bored. As all raidleaders will know, this is far from an easy task. It’s also something I’ll come back to later.
The raid pool has always hovered around fifty toons, but the composition and balance has varied greatly. There were times we thought we’d never want for healers and other times we’ve wondered if the hunters had a secret breeding programme going which would eventually overwhelm the group! To be fair, druids have always made up the biggest single class, but that has always seemed right and proper to me.
This has meant we’ve struggled at times and mostly we’ve been saved by folk who were willing to play more than one spec, but we’ve held fast to our rule of only allowing one toon per player, it’s kept things much more straightforward.
So, we started out in Naxx in January 2009, speeding our way through the bosses as most groups did, running up against our first roadblocks with the Four Horsemen and feeling very accomplished when Kel’Thuzad gave up his first Journey’s End, although that’s all we ever seemed to get from him. But clearly Naxx, easy as it was, showed us we could do it, at the appropriate gear level. According to the realm forums we were in or around the seventh Horde-side raid to clear the instance, a position we were to occupy most of the way through the expansion, with a few notable exceptions. This gave the raid group a lot of confidence, knowing that we wouldn’t be at the forefront of progression, but we’d be keeping up, managing to get through the content on an average of six hours raiding a week.
And onwards we went. While we never managed Sartharion + 3, we killed Flame Leviathan the day Ulduar went live and pushed on until Yogg-Saron was defeated. Trial of the Champions had already opened at that point, so we did outgear the god of death in the end, but we were happy to take the kill. TotC was almost the death of Cobra. Like many raid groups the instance bored us very quickly, but the heroic versions were just too difficult for us and wiping repeatedly without any sense of progress gets very boring, very quickly. This lack of progress (and mindless repetition), combined with a number of situations where one mistake could wipe the raid didn’t please anyone.
Cobra has improved in leaps and bounds since we started, but that kind of situation has never suited us and the awful instance design and bad tuning didn’t help.
We were incredibly lucky that Ice Crown opened when it did. The raid is almost as much fun as Ulduar and the increasing buff seemed to be designed for a group like Cobra. It was far from all plain sailing, but up we climbed, sticking with our six hours a week schedule and even getting a Horde-side first kill along the way (Princes). And then finally, with patience and the 30% buff, we managed to kill Arthas. What an amazing night that was. I cracked open the very expensive whiskey and got to sit back and bask.
And reflect, with articles like this, on the journey. We started off in Wrath with four raidleaders and we’ve ended with three. Between us we have encouraged, explained, dragged and occasionally bullied Cobra through the expansion. We have been amazed by just how good the group is and how individual brilliance has saved a wipe, while at the same time wondering if sometimes players just ignore everything we say before a pull.
We’ve dealt with emo, both explicable and inexplicable, and despite Spinks’ request I’m not going to reveal which group generated the most! We’ve managed to compromise between the hardcore raiders who want to push on to hardmodes and the more casual players who sometimes forget just why standing in fire is a bad thing. I’m not entirely sure how we’ve managed this, mind, probably because the people in question trust us, at least that’s the assumption I’ve got to make. We’ve nearly kicked people from raids and we’ve nearly had people quit mid fight. Toons have come and gone, some will be missed, others less so.
Over eighteen months there have been nights when I just didn’t want to log in. I didn’t want to have to guide the twenty-five brave souls on the list for that raid through the content and there have been times when the ten minute break couldn’t come fast enough. But these times have been far outweighed by the moments of brilliance and fun. And this is what sets Cobra aside. This is why I think we’re one of only four Horde-side (25 man) raiding groups on Argent Dawn (EU) to kill Arthas.
We’ve been through things that would kill other groups dead and there have been moments when I’ve thought I was going to get zero sign-ups for the next raid, but the actual sense of community and friendship has carried us through.
Our raiders come from as far north as Finland and as far south as South Africa. We have raiders from Donegal (in the extreme northwest of Ireland) and others from far more easterly climes in Europe, it’s a varied bunch. But it’s a bunch that have grown to know each other, to take humour from the strangest things, to laugh when the only other option is to cry and, ultimately, to support Phoenixaras, Elelereth and I while we, in turn, try to support them. I don’t know of any other raid group who would react to repeated wipes by riding mammoths around Deathbringer Rise and then jumping off, one by one, while voice chat is filled with gales of laughter. Cobra is a true community and it has, when we look back, managed to fulfill the mission and it’s made me proud. It’s probably also shaved about ten years off my life, but thems the breaks.
We’re looking at Cataclysm now, staring down the barrel of a complete change in how raiding works in WoW, and I don’t know what Cobra will look like once everything changes. My hope is that we’ll keep on raiding, but we really won’t know until decisions have to be made.
Either way Wrath raiding will always be a special, wonderful, frustrating, maddening and ultimately rewarding experience and I’d probably do it all again, even knowing what I know now. That said, I do a few things differently, increase the number of raidleaders from day one and refuse a few applicants who turned out to be more hassle than they were worth, but these are the things you learn and nobody ever said learning was painless.
For now we’ll get the rest of the raidgroup Kingslayer, then relax for a little while and see if there’s a bunch of raiders who still want to be given orders by a loud Irishman (me) and a soft spoken Englishman (Elelereth), while a rogue picks their pockets (Phoenixaras). I hope there will be, there are still stories left to create.
*** (Blame Spinks for the lack of good kill shots and general lack of any screenshots of Ulduar (!) ) | <urn:uuid:5588b543-b9eb-4acc-aac2-edff5f721b48> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://spinksville.wordpress.com/tag/naxxramas/ | 2017-08-18T03:15:33Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886104560.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20170818024629-20170818044629-00320.warc.gz | en | 0.971614 | 1,940 |
ABOUT THE NOVEL:
Title: SKIN DEEP
Series: The DARKWORLD Series
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publication Date: 30th APRIL 2013
Format: Paperback, E-Book & Hardback
Publisher: Infinite Ink
Add on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13604857-skin-deep
Panther Shape-shifter Kailin Odel just wants to be normal. Leaving her clan, and her Alpha responsibilities, to live with her grandmother in Chicago had been the best thing for her. Only then did she discover her ability to track and kill the soul sucking undead creatures called Wraiths. Now she protected the humans, and had something to be proud of.
But, when she discovers the body of a murdered shape shifter, Kailin has to come to terms with the reality that her own kind are just as vulnerable as the humans.
The closer Kailin gets to the killer the more she has to face the intricacies of her people. When the time comes can she accept who and what her real purpose is?
Icy pain sliced through my bones, the muscles of my arms, and the flesh of my back. My spine and thighs rippled, shifted. Changing.
Damn. Too fast.
I spared a rueful glance at my new leather pants. And ran faster.
Had to make it to the Rehab Center a few blocks away. I ran, my speed super-human, my need super-charged, covering ground fast enough to make it to safety before my Panther took over.
I took the corner of the street behind the Center at breakneck speed, and headed for the nearest of the gaping holes pockmarking the rusted fence.
The wind changed before I stepped off the curb. My ears peaked and I skidded to a halt, panting slightly, my backpack thumping against my side. The scream of tires on blacktop echoed on the night air, shattering the silence as it grew ever louder.
Followed in tandem by the whining wail of sirens. A battered sedan scorched down the street, suspended on the turn on only two wheels. The angry whip of charred rubber spiked the air. Horizontal again, the car jumped the curb and skidded sideways, avoiding a collision with the fence by mere inches.
I shrank into the shadows at my back, expelling a long, stale breath. My Panther, still confined within my body, bucked and jerked, craving release.
I let her surface.
For now, super-sight would be welcome. Unlike the ability to run like the wind while still in my Human skin, tapping into my Panther's sight required a partial transformation—a risk I needed to take as my gut screamed danger.
Adrenalin surged, different again from the calm fervor of my wraith hunts. I blinked. Heat nipped at my corneas as I released my Panther sight—enough to give my eyes feline vision.
Sight, which sliced deep into the black nothing hugging the sidewalk, transformed my eyes into a solid Panther emerald. For the moment, plain old Kailin Odel was back to being Kailin of the Clan Panthera.
My cat sight adjusted, focused. The blackness surrounding the darkened vehicle changed depth and color, became lighter, clearer.
Someone shoved the rear door open, and I cringed as it creaked and complained. The occupants remained shrouded in the shadows of the vehicle's interior. Something large, long and heavy hit the ground with a dull thunk. Then the sedan revved as unseen sirens drew closer, louder, and it spun around and skidded off the curb.
The battered car roared off, a police cruiser close on its tail with sirens screaming blue murder. It didn't take a genius to figure out the parcel had to be awfully incriminating, for them to chuck it into the garden in such a flaming hurry.
My nostrils twitched at the stench of exhaust smoke, and my heart thumped as I waited to cross the street. I flicked a furtive glance at the dull red glow of taillights disappearing into the darkness. A breeze skimmed the sidewalk, ruffling my hair, and I hurried across the street as the sounds of sirens faded in the distance. I paused a few meters from the bundle, released my Panther's nose and sniffed. Whatever I'd expected to scent on the air, it wasn't the tang of copper drifting toward me—strong, rich and intoxicating.
Blood. Fresh blood. A luscious odor, laced with tendrils of the familiar.
I moved closer, my mind warring with my emotions. This was no bundle of rags, or some stolen junk those thugs had thrown away, but a living being. The blood surely meant the person now lying on the sidewalk needed medical attention.
I stood over the bundle, the cloying odor of the blood filling my nostrils, and hesitated in a moment of doubt and fear.
Now or never.
I took a deep breath and crouched beside the silent form. My hand quivered as I reached out and touched the scratchy, ragged fabric covering the shoulder of the silent figure. At first it resisted my tug, stiff against my touch, but one more gentle urging turned him toward me.
I gasped, my throat closing on the sound. My heel caught as I pulled away, and I staggered backward as hot horror burned through my veins. The face glistened, bloody and mangled. Raw muscles and ligaments lay exposed, bare. A low moan of horror echoed around me. Chills streaked up my spine when I realized the stricken sound had originated from my own throat. The familiar richness of him clouded my mind, clogging my throat and drugging my senses.
My throat spasmed, silencing a shriek as he stared at me. His breath whispered—shallow, irregular, the sound ragged as he labored in his final moments. He gripped with desperation to the disappearing threads which held him to this mortal earth.
His face held my gaze, and somewhere behind ribs of ice my heart clenched, threatening to implode. My own face stared back at me, reflected from within eyes as blue as oceans. Eyes filled with excruciating pain and desperate fear. He didn't speak, just studied me for a few moments with those glorious eyes.
Recognition. Gratitude. Relief.
Life flickered and sputtered out of his beautiful eyes—eyes unable to close even after his soul departed his mortal body. Eyes stark and ghastly within a face flayed of every inch of its skin.
Mere seconds had passed, although I would have sworn it had been hours. Screeching tires again interrupted my horror, and the sedan skidded beside me before I could do much more than scramble away from the body. The killers had managed to lose the cops, and now they'd returned to retrieve the body.
They hadn't bargained on having a witness.
The cold-cocking of guns set my body on fire.
It also did something worse. With mortal fear gripping me, my imminent Change refused to take second place anymore. My body churned the fear and my Panther grasped at the visceral power of the adrenalin in my veins.
A gunshot echoed around the garden, the sound ping-ponging off the aging brick walls of the surrounding apartment buildings.
I gasped as a blast of searing pain slammed into me, as a bullet buried itself deep within my shoulder.
SKIN DEEP - Expected to release 30 April 2013
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognise that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practise given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes… I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It’s a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each other's loves – it works wonderfully…
My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands – I shall forever remain cross-eyed. | <urn:uuid:8f7da38c-97df-488d-b73f-d76d7c7af787> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://soulchaserbecky.blogspot.com/2013/04/exclusive-preview-of-skin-deep-first.html | 2017-08-19T00:02:44Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105195.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20170818233221-20170819013221-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.9562 | 1,857 |
Four of the biggest names in the “lose weight, fast” game have been charged with fraud by the Federal Trade Commission. On Tuesday, January 8, the FTC determined that Sensa Products, L’Occitane, HCG Diet Direct, and LeanSpa had deceptively marketed weight-loss products and made “unfounded promises” that people could lose weight by simply using their products.
The four companies will collectively pay $34 million to customers as a refund. No company has yet admitted or denied the charges.
The proverbial chocolate pie is hitting Sensa in the face, magic diet sprinkles and all. Octavia Spencer, the actress who won an Oscar for her performance in “The Help,” is suing the weight loss company Sensa for alleged fraud and breach of contract. Sensa markets tiny crystals called “tastants,” designed to be sprinkled on all types of food with the intention of making the eater feel fuller faster, thus eating less. It’s supposed to be automatic portion control, and when Spencer lost five pounds on the stuff last August, a $1.25 million sponsorship deal quickly materialized, tastants fall as they may.
But as with all sponsorships, marketing campaigns hinge on a fickle balance of popularity and exposure, and Sensa decided Spencer wasn’t exactly a trending topic. The company wasn’t pleased with the lackluster social media response generated by Spencer’s dimming star, and began to find a way out of the contract. (more…)
Octavia Spencer, the Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress in The Help, is the new spokesperson forSensa. Since assuming her newest starring role, she’s lost 20 pounds in five months; weight loss featured in this newest Sensa television commercial. The actress was noticeably heavier when she played the role of Minny Jackson flawlessly; but in these recent images of Octavia it’s clear that she’s either avoiding the chocolate pies altogether or using Sensa to allow her to still indulge. (more…)
We are hours away from the weekend! This means it is time for your dose of healthy news. DIR’s headliners for this week include a new obesity prediction calculator, the diet gimmicks Dr. Oz tried selling this year, and how much Sensa’s paying for false advertising. In addition to our headliners we have health news from Forbes, CNN Health, and Best Life Diet. Plus, exciting new chicken dinner recipes with one from Pinch of Yum.
Are you scared your child might fall into the statistics of the obesity epidemic? Instead of waiting for time to answer that question you could simply use the Obesity Prediction Calculator, developed by researchers at Imperial College London and it can accurately predict childhood obesity up to 85% of the time. Parents should use the results from the Obesity Prediction Calculator to make it their responsibility to ensure that their child will learn to lead a healthful, balanced life.
We are almost a month away from the New Year. This means “weight loss” season will be in full effect. And, if you watch Dr. Oz, you know he will be advocating a new miracle weight loss program or diet soon after the ball drops. DIR has highlighted six weight-loss diets Dr.Oz has tried selling to the masses in 2012, deeming each as a miracle cure.
Another diet company has to pay for their false advertising claims. Sensa, also as known as “the sprinkle diet,” has to pay $800,000 in penalties for their false weight loss claims. Sensa seemed too good to be true – sprinkle little crystals on your food and that will guarantee weight loss -because it was. We’re not buying it and neither are consumers in California. (more…)
Nine counties in California weren’t buying the “too good to be true” claims of Sensa, also known as “the sprinkle diet.” The counties took the product to court arguing that the company made false claims regarding their product’s weight loss efficacy. The attorneys won and now Sensa has to pay.
The counties of Santa Cruz, Alameda, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Orange, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma took the company, Intelligent Beauty, Inc., the makers of Sensa, to court this week after the product had freely advertised that users couldlose weight by sprinkling flavored crystals on their food. As part of the settlement, Sensa, can no longer make any claims of weight loss without having scientific evidence to back the claims. The company was required to pay $800,000 in penalties and will go toward the enforcement of consumer protection laws. (more…)
Oh infomercials, my longtime friend when insomnia strikes, I’m sick and laid out on the couch, or I’m bored out of my mind and have nothing better to do. In three minutes, a pitch man can make me believe I must have that product and my life without it is unimaginable, or that all of the bad things in our culture like laziness, instant gratification, and unrealistic expectations just collided into one awful mess of television advertising.
Fitness and diet infomercials are in their own category of skepticism and hilarity, and part of me actually wants to try the product. Whether it’s car wax or food storage, there seems to be a solution for everything. Diet and fitness isn’t immune and we found some of the newest and crazy As Seen on TV fitness gadgets.
Sauna Pants/ Slimming Sauna Shorts/ The Belly Sauna: While these products have some key differences, their goal and method is largely the same. With theSauna Pants, just slip on the orange shorts, turn on the heat dial, and your extra water weight is promised to be gone in no time with 50 minutes a day of use. The Slimming Sauna Shorts don’t heat up, but they’re made of thick, non-breathable Neoprene (like what Scuba divers wear), so you’ll definitely compress and sweat in these. And they come with an adjustable Velcro strap! My favorite, however, is The Belly Sauna. It’s just what it sounds like – a sauna for your belly. Bizarre. (more…)
As we kick off another year in the world of New Year’s Resolutions that include dieting and losing weight, several products are in the spotlight. One product called Sensa is getting a lot of buzz as the answer to every dieter’s prayers. Sensa includes Tastants that you sprinkle on your food before you eat. That’s it. You don’t have to work out, diet or do anything but sprinkle this stuff on everything you eat and you’ll lose weight.
Typically, products making claims like that are those you should run from, and fast. Sensa Tastants use your sense of smell to help you feel full while eating less food. Sensa has done a clinical study to prove that the product works. In a study of over 1,400 men and women over 6 months, there was an average weight loss of just over 30 pounds. The people participating in the study were told to continue eating the same foods they always have, but to use Sensa on everything. There was no change in their everyday habits other than using Sensa. There is a red flag with this study though. There is no proof that anyone outside of the Sensa organization oversaw or reviewed the study. This means that there is no credible unbiased third party that can vouch for this study or its results.
Of the five senses, the one that you’d think directly affects how much you weigh is taste, with smell in a close second. But according to the makers of Sensa, smell is even more important than you think. Sensa is a seasoning weight-loss product that not only makes your food tastier, but gives it a scent that is appealing and makes you less hungry.
Sensa’s makers say that their product stimulates the olfactory bulb, which is the organ that transmits smell from the nose to the brain to signal that you are full.
“Eighty percent of what you perceive as taste is actually smell,” said Christopher Adams, a molecular biologist and the founder of Compellis Pharmaceuticals. (more…)
THIS GIVEAWAY HAS EXPIRED. WINNERS WERE NOTIFIED 2/2/09 and 2/9/09. Thank you for your interest.
We’re giving away two six-month supplies of Sensa (valued at $235 each), the new appetite suppressant that helps you manage your weight. Simply join MyDIR, the new community at DietsInReview.com, and complete your profile to be eligible. The two winners will be selected in drawings February 2 and February 9, and notified via their MyDIR message center.
Sensa is a weight loss supplement that manages feelings of hunger. You simply sprinkle the Sensa Tastants on to the food you’re eating, and it triggers nerve receptors that signal satiety. Sensa is sodium-free, sugar-free, and calorie-free, and does not alter the taste of your food.
We are truly living in an era of mind-boggling technological innovations. When it comes to food, science is creating some pretty wild stuff that is making genetically-modified tomatoes look like cell phones from the early nineties.
One of the latest class of products that are designed to help us lose weight are tasteless food additives that are sprinkled on food. Once ingested, they have the power to induce feelings of fullness by acting on certain areas of the brain. It’s kind of like what may happen if hoodia were to meet your salt shaker. But unlike many dietary supplements, these food additives don’t contain hoodia, drugs or any other stimulants.
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The information provided within this site is strictly for the purposes of information only and is not a replacement or substitute for professional advice, doctors visit or treatment. The provided content on this site should serve, at most, as a companion to a professional consult. It should under no circumstance replace the advice of your primary care provider. You should always consult your primary care physician prior to starting any new fitness, nutrition or weight loss regime. | <urn:uuid:b41a12bd-d81a-4470-8abd-12fe6d841d99> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/tag/sensa/ | 2017-08-19T00:20:34Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105195.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20170818233221-20170819013221-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.953782 | 2,215 |
They don’t talk. Henley just listens to the static of the television, not really paying attention to whatever is on screen, and he tries his best not to look at Greer too much.
But it’s hard not to, especially now when all he can think about is the way he felt wrapped up in her last night—how midnight had felt frosted and blue as they fell back together onto the balcony, heat spreading through their jackets as she fought him, harsh, defensive words melting away into kisses. He remembers the way that Greer’s face had looked so bright against the pitch blackness of the sky, even as tears fell from her eyes, blue eyes so deep that they could’ve been the ocean. He remembers the way that she had looked at him and said, shit, I can’t just be friends with you, but I can’t love you.
And Henley can’t even take it, all of the love he has for this girl.
And she’s sitting across from him now, ever present dark circles still ringing the ocean pooling in her eyes, hair falling around her face, and feet tucked up under her seat, body pressed so far into the other side of the couch she might as well just melt into it.
He should leave, he knows, just like he knows that last night night was a glitch in the matrix, an event that was never supposed to happen. But wine soaked lips had a way of saying all the things no one ever means to say.
So he should go, pretend that he’s not desperate to ask why can’t you just let me in? why can’t you just love me back?
Henley frowns, looking away, and then he is chancing another glance at her, his breath hitching as he meets Greer's stare from across the room. Blue eyes watchful, Greer looks at Henley with her mouth quirked up just a little, enough for Henley to see the beginnings of a smile there.
Henley makes a face, trying to act normal, but his stomach is in his throat, heart fluttering like a moth’s wing in his chest. He’s never gotten used to it, being the focus of Greer’s attention.
He doesn’t think there will ever be a day when he does.
Ever since the first day, anytime he catches her eye he finds himself stumbling over himself, too caught up in the radiance of her to remember how to carry on.
Greer’s smile grows a bit wider, pale light washing over the one side of her face as she looks at Henley, and Henley grins back slowly, shaking his head like he finds Greer ridiculous.
And she is kind of ridiculous, he thinks, with the way her emotions change so quickly, so warm one moment and ice cold the next.
A shiver runs up his spine, and he tears his eyes away from Greer to focus his attention on the open window, letting pale light flicker through and falling snow land softly on the window pane. Cold air is flooding through, and Henley feels his teeth start to chatter.
Rubbing his palms together, he glances back to the girl opposite him.
Greer’s smile faded away, but her eyes are warm as she nods towards the empty space next to her on the sofa. Come here, she mouths.
Henley blinked, quirking an eyebrow, but complies all the same, rolling his body until he was sat next to her- close, but not touching.
Greer’s eyes flit down at the space between them, and she worries her lip between her teeth for a moment, before swinging her legs over Henley’s.
She cuddles up into his side, shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip, and any restriction or restraint Henley had left over from the events of the night before vanished, and he lets his arms reach around her slim waist, pulling them closer, closer, until the only thing he could focus on is Greer.
It’s intoxicating, being with her, and Henley loses himself in the way she laughs, the touch of her skin, the warmth radiating off of her.
And the warmth never ceases to stop pouring out of her, waves of heat rolling from her skin and onto his, until the open window is completely forgotten and his palms are sweaty against her pale skin.
Outside, the winter storms on, snow falling, glistening in the morning air.
Inside, Henley’s body is all summer heat and all he wants is to kiss her again.
So he does, tipping his head back to brush their lips together, soft. So soft, before he feels Greer’s hands tangle into his hair. She tastes like honey and cigarettes, and Henley never wants to forget it.
Greer’s rising up then, kissing into Henley’s mouth in a way that makes him sigh. Her lips are soft and warm, burning against his with every movement, and Henley’s heart expands with everything that he’s feeling. He kisses back, seeing stars and planets exploding behind his closed eyelids, and as the minutes pass, their kisses become soft again.
Pulling back, Henley presses his lips against her forehead before pressing his cheek there instead, heavy breaths filling the space where her mouth used to be. He shifts a moment later, moving down to rest his head against Greer’s shoulder, and then she’s wrapping her arm around Henley’s body, pulling him in.
“Hi,” Henley whispers, smiling down at her, eyes shining.
She watches him for a moment, blue eyes heavy, “Hey.”
Her voice is slow and raspy, and Henley melts into it, letting his eyes wander back towards the open window. Henley thinks that loving Greer is like standing in the middle of a meteor shower.
Chaos then calm. Something burning and beautiful. Something you can’t forget.
He thinks back to the night before, the way Greer had looked out at the sky after finishing off another glass, white stars scattered across it like spilled paint and the full moon washing light over her face and across the snow-covered ground below them, luminous, before she turned to him with empty eyes.
Do you think we become stars when we die?
Henley hadn’t said anything, hadn’t known what to say, too caught up in the heat pooling in his stomach from the wine and too caught up in the way the moon lit up Greer’s face, so he just looked away and back into the inky night, taking another drag of the cigarette.
Tangled up in her now though, he lets his eyes drift shut and his ragged breathing steadily even out, drifting off, thinking, Fuck stars, we’ll be the whole damn solar system.
*Sooooo. I won NaNoWriMo. (!!!!!!!!!!)
It wasn't really expected, I mean, I was hoping, but at the end of the third week I only had 33% of my goal done. 10,000 words was a lot and I was proud of it, but I was really hoping I'd be able to finish.
So, I binge wrote a couple of nights that week (I'm a partial insomniac anyways, staying up until 3 or 4 was not something that was new to me, I was just writing now instead of drawing), and I hit 30,000 words at 5 a.m. on November 29. I had written 9,000 words that night, and had been going at it for 6 hours at that point. That was actually crazy and I think as soon as I checked the word count I threw my computer on the floor and fell right asleep (a big celebration, I know).
I really thought that by the end of this I would be so over this book and so annoyed with writing it, but I'm really not, which, shocking. I really think I'm going to continue this and expand and maybe one day, finish it. I've never written this much on one work, let alone in such a small time-span, and I'm so proud of it.
This Box of Matches is my baby at this point. I love Greer and Henley and all of my ridiculous side-characters.
I've never really been one to share my work with people, only posting a few poems here and there on Tumblr, but this class has really helped me get out of that box. A few of my friends have demanded they read it, even as unfinished and unedited as it is, and even a few of my teachers have said they'd like to read it.
My art teacher, Mr. Long, actually talked to me this morning about letting him read some of it, and then proposed that next semester in his class I work on writing and illustrating some type of children novel. Which, crazy (and slightly awesome).
I feel like this has been an insanely long blog post and I'm sorry for rambling, I'm just very excited.
(because I won!!!!) | <urn:uuid:7afd52b4-4fa8-49be-a6fa-3997c5e8d9d8> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://abbeynichole.blogspot.com/2014/ | 2017-08-21T13:51:48Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886108709.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20170821133645-20170821153645-00640.warc.gz | en | 0.981324 | 1,949 |
Gordon Setter Breed Standard
The current breed standard for Gordon Setters, as approved by the American Kennel Club Board of Directors, has been in effect since November 27, 2002. This standard is visually illustrated by Ch. Blakeen Saegryte, whose photo appears below. Saegryte, a bitch whelped some 60 years ago, is as accurate a representation of what a Gordon should look like as she was in her own lifetime.
Champion Blakeen Saegryte, a bitch bred by Mrs. S. Hoyt, was whelped on March 13, 1940. Out of Blakeen Belle, she was sired by Ch. Great Scot of Blakeen, an import from the British Isles.
Owned by G.W. Thompson, she was dam of Dual Ch. Loch Ridge Saegryte’s Tibby, Ch. Loch Ridge Tally’s Rip, Ch. Loch Ridge Winsome Lass, Ch. Loch Ridge Saegryte’s Judy, Ch. Loch Ridge Major Talisman, Ch. Loch Ridge Talisman’s Chip, Ch. Loch Ridge Rogue’s Don, Ch. Clonmellerslie Treat, and other Gordons well known at the time.
Standard and Description of the Gordon Setter
Effective November 27, 2002
The Gordon Setter is a good-sized, sturdily built, black and tan dog, well muscled, with plenty of bone and substance, but active, upstanding and stylish, appearing capable of doing a full day’s work in the field. He has a strong, rather short back, with well sprung ribs and a short tail. The head is fairly heavy and finely chiseled. His bearing is intelligent, noble, and dignified, showing no signs of shyness or viciousness. Clear colors and straight or slightly waved coat are correct. He suggests strength and stamina rather than extreme speed. Symmetry and quality are most essential. A dog well balanced in all points is preferable to one with outstanding good qualities and defects. A smooth, free movement, with high head carriage is typical.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size: Shoulder height for males, 24 to 27 inches; females, 23 to 26 inches. Weight for males, 55 to 80 pounds; females, 45 to 70 pounds. Animals that appear to be over or under the prescribed weight limits are to be judged on the basis of conformation and condition. Extremely thin or fat dogs are discouraged on the basis that under or overweight hampers the true working ability of the Gordon Setter. The weight-to-height ratio makes him heavier than other Setters.
Proportion: The distance from the forechest to the back of the thigh is approximately equal the height from the ground to the withers. The Gordon Setter has plenty of bone and substance.
Head deep, rather than broad, with plenty of brain room.
Eyes: of fair size, neither too deep-set nor too bulging, dark brown, bright and wise. The shape is oval rather than round. The lids are tight.
Ears: set low on the head approximately on line with the eyes, fairly large and thin, well folded and carried close to the head.
Skull: nicely rounded, good-sized, broadest between the ears. Below and above the eyes is lean and the cheeks as narrow as the leanness of the head allows. The head should have a clearly indicated stop.
Muzzle: fairly long and not pointed, either as seen from above or from the side. The flews are not pendulous. The muzzle is the same length as the skull from occiput to stop and the top of the muzzle is parallel to the line of the skull extended.
Nose: broad, with open nostrils and black in color. The lip line from the nose to the flews shows a sharp, well-defined, square contour.
Teeth: strong and white, meeting in front in a scissors bite, with the upper incisors slightly forward of the lower incisors. A level bite is not a fault. Pitted teeth from distemper or allied infections are not penalized.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck: long, lean, arched to the head, and without throatiness.
Topline: moderately sloping.
Body: short from shoulder to hips.
Chest: deep and not too broad in front; the ribs well sprung, leaving plenty of lung room. The chest reaches to the elbows. A pronounced forechest is in evidence.
Loins: short and broad and not arched.
Croup: nearly flat, with only a slight slope to the tailhead.
Tail: short and not reaching below the hocks, carried horizontal or nearly so, not docked, thick at the root and finishing in a fine point. The placement of the tail is important for correct carriage. When the angle of the tail bends too sharply at the first coccygeal bone, the tail will be carried too gaily or will droop. The tail placement is judged in relationship to the structure of the croup.
Shoulders: fine at the points, and laying well back. The tops of the shoulder blades are close together. When viewed from behind, the neck appears to fit into the shoulders in smooth, flat lines that gradually widen from neck to shoulder. The angle formed by the shoulder blade and upper arm bone is approximately 90 degrees when the dog is standing so the foreleg is perpendicular to the ground.
Forelegs: big-boned, straight and not bowed, with elbows free and not turned in or out. Pasterns are strong, short and nearly vertical with a slight spring. Dewclaws may be removed.
Feet: cat-like in shape, formed by close-knit, well arched toes with plenty of hair between; with full toe pads and deep heel cushions. Feet are not turned in or out.
The hind legs from hip to hock are long, flat and muscular; from hock to heel, short and strong. The stifle and hock joints are well bent and not turned either in or out. When the dog is standing with the rear pastern perpendicular to the ground, the thighbone hangs downward parallel to an imaginary line drawn upward from the hock. Feet as in front.
Soft and shining, straight or slightly waved, but not curly, with long hair on ears, under stomach and on chest, on back of the fore and hind legs, and on the tail. The feather which starts near the root of the tail is slightly waved or straight, having a triangular appearance, growing shorter uniformly toward the end.
Color and Markings
Black with tan markings, either of rich chestnut or mahogany color. Black pencilling is allowed on the toes. The borderline between black and tan colors is clearly defined. There are not any tan hairs mixed in the black. The tan markings are located as follows: (1) Two clear spots over the eyes and not over three-quarters of an inch in diameter; (2) On the sides of the muzzle. The tan does not reach to the top of the muzzle, but resembles a stripe around the end of the muzzle from one side to the other; (3) On the throat; (4) Two large clear spots on the chest; (5) On the inside of the hind legs showing down the front of the stifle and broadening out to the outside of the hind legs from the hock to the toes. It must not completely eliminate the black on the back of the hind legs; (6) On the forelegs from the carpus, or a little above, downward to the toes; (7) Around the vent; (8) A white spot on the chest is allowed, but the smaller the better. Predominantly tan, red or buff dogs are ineligible for showing and undesirable for breeding.
A bold, strong, driving free-swinging gait. The head is carried up and the tail ‘flags’ constantly while the dog is in motion. When viewed from the front, the forefeet move up and down in straight lines so that the shoulder, elbow and pastern joints are approximately in line. When viewed from the rear, the hock, stifle and hip joints are approximately in line. Thus the dog moves in a straight pattern forward without throwing the feet in or out. When viewed from the side, the forefeet are seen to lift up and reach forward to compensate for the driving hindquarters. The hindquarters reach well forward and stretch far back, enabling the stride to be long and the drive powerful. The overall appearance of the moving dog is one of smooth-flowing, well balanced rhythm, in which the action is pleasing to the eye, effortless, economical and harmonious.
The Gordon Setter is alert, gay, interested, and confident. He is fearless and willing, intelligent and capable. He is loyal and affectionate, and strong-minded enough to stand the rigors of training.
Predominantly tan, red or buff dogs.
Scale of Points
To be used as a guide when judging the Gordon Setter:
Head and neck (including ears and eyes) 10
Shoulders, forelegs, forefeet 10
Hind legs and feet 10
Color and markings 5
Size, general appearance 15 | <urn:uuid:57dce950-4e96-4bd8-b33b-c7eeb18b062a> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://gsca.org/index.php/the-gordon-setter/breed-standard/ | 2017-08-21T13:43:31Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886108709.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20170821133645-20170821153645-00640.warc.gz | en | 0.941372 | 1,954 |
DIESEL – A1101180
Safe - 1-20-2017 Manhattan Rescue: Second Chance Rescue Please honor your pledges: http://www.nycsecondchancerescue.org/donate/
My name is DIESEL. My Animal ID # is A1101180.
I am a male gray and white am pit bull ter mix. The shelter thinks I am about 6 YEARS old.
I came in the shelter as a OWNER SUR on 01/08/2017 from NY 10455, owner surrender reason stated was CHILDCONFL. I came in with Group/Litter #K17-085796.
MOST RECENT MEDICAL INFORMATION AND WEIGHT
01/18/2017 Exam Type CAGE EXAM – Medical Rating is 3 C – MAJOR CONDITIONS , Behavior Rating is EXPNOCHILD, Weight 60.0 LBS.
s/o: mucoid nasal d/c. few sneezes BAR overall looks good a: cirdc p: doxy 300mg sid x 10d
01/08/2017 PET PROFILE MEMO
01/08/17 09:20 Basic information Diesal is a 6 year old blue nose american pitbull terrior. He is an unaltered male. Owner got him as a gift from a friend and has had him as a puppy. Owner is surrendering due to child conflicts and personal problems with the dogs. Diesal came in with his housemate Laila( A1101183). There are no injuries or health concerns owner is aware about and the last time he been to the vet was when he was 2 years old. Socialization Around strangers, he is reactive by barking and lunging if they got close to owner. He has lived with 2 1 year olds and have growled at them. They have been seperated at all times so play behavior is unkown. He plays very rough with adults. He lived with a 5 year old american pitbull terrier and was respectful with eachother. They played very rough with eachother. He has not lived with any cats but does not do well with the stray cats. There is no bite history of a person but there is a bite history with a cat and has punctured 2 years ago. behavior Owner stated that he is reactive with strangers and reactive towards cats he see. He isnt bothered with storms or fireworkds.Owner stated he isnt bothered with taking a bowl of food away, taking a bone or toy out his mouth.Diesal has jumped on owner in the past when being restraint. He isnt bothered with bath time, brushing of coat. Owner has never tried trimming nails on own. He growls and barks with unfamiliar approaches to owner and house. for the new family to know Owne described him as playful and excitable. His activity level is very high. When owner is home he tends to follow you around. He likes balls and squeaky toys while playing fetch. He was kept both indoors and outdoors. He ate IAMS dry food only. He was very house trained and rarely had accidents. When left alone in house and yard he is well behaved. He has never been crate trained so behavior is unknown. He knows sit and to give paw. He pulls lightly on leash and owner has never had him off leash. Behavior upon intake Due to past history with diesal being reactive with strangers counselor did not interact with him and vaccinations were given in medical
01/19/2017 WEB MEMO
A volunteer writes: Joining us with his housemate Layla (A1101183), Diesel is a gorgeous, calm and quiet boy. Like Layla, he’s up front in his kennel when he sees a person with a leash, ready to go out for a walk. Rocking a coat against the cold winter day, his leash manners are lovely, he doesn’t mind being tethered for photos, and makes wonderful soft eye contact as I take pictures. He enjoys treats, taking them gently after a ‘sit’, and we’re told that he also knows ‘shake paw’. As we walked back to the building, Diesel got some ice between his toes and had no problem with me handling his feet to clean them. Such a good boy! Off leash in a pen, his head is in my lap for some petting, and he enjoys a good massage as he leans into me. We’re told he’s not good with kids, played hard with his housemate Layla and was respectful of her, isn’t good with cats, is “very housetrained” and is well behaved when left alone in the house. When our time together was over, Diesel hopped right back into his kennel with a wave of his tail. His gorgeous amber eyes met mine in a soft ‘see you again, new friend’. Diesel is, of course, looking for a forever friend, I’m just temporary, so, ask to meet him today. Another volunteer writes: Diesel means LOVE so if you want to feel like the most important gal (or guy) in the world then just follow my lead, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3! Step 1: Sit down on the ground…Step 2: Encourage Diesel onto your lap…Step 3: Bask in the endless snuggles and adoration of your new BFF! Diesel blew me away with his amazingly polite ‘sit’ and ‘give paw’, he’s a total pro and solemnly follows the commands on cue, with or without a treat on offer. His smooth looks are as genteel as his manners but the best part of a date with Diesel is definitely the snuggles. Nothing will warm your heart more than stroking Diesel’s sweet face as he rests his chin on your chest and those soulful eyes gaze straight into your soul. To meet him once is to love him forever so run, don’t walk, to our Manhattan Care Center and enjoy your very own ‘Diesel moment’ today.
01/10/2017 BEHAVIOR EVALUATION – EXPNOCHILD
Exam Type BEHAVIOR
KNOWN HISTORY: Unaltered, owner surrender Previously lived with: Adults and two children both aged at 1 years old Behavior toward children: Owner has stated that diesel will growl at children Behavior toward dogs: Diesel lived with a 5 year old dog and was respectful of her Behavior toward cats: Not good with cats FG/RG: None reported Bite history: None reported for humans but was reported that a cat was bitten and punctured 2 years ago Housetrained: Diesel is housetrained Energy level/descriptors: Diesel is described as playful and excitable. His activity level is very high. Other notes: Around strangers, he is reactive by barking and lunging. SAFER ASSESSMENT: Look: 2. Dog pulls out of Assessor’s hands each time without settling during three repetitions. Sensitivity: 1. Dog stands still and accepts the touch, his eyes are averted, and his tail is in neutral position with relaxed body posture. Dog’s mouth is closed. Tag: 2. Dog is not fearful, but is unresponsive to the Assessor, and approaches the Assessor at the end of the game. He is focused on stimuli other than the Assessor. Squeeze 1: 3. Dog closes mouth, becomes stiff. Flank squeeze 1: 1. Dog does not respond at all. Flank squeeze 1: 1. Dog does not respond at all. Toy: 1. No interest. Summary: Diesel was very distracted throughout the assessment, focusing on things besides the assessor. He became a bit stiff when his paw was handled for squeeze; we cannot be certain if any other behavior is suppressed as a result of the shelter environment. DOG-DOG INTERACTION ASSESSMENT: Selective: These dogs can succeed with certain other dogs, but may be more selective or picky. They may dislike certain ‘types’ of dogs or styles of dog play so they may require extra supervision when interacting with other dogs. PLAYGROUP: Diesel has displayed minimal interest in engaging with other dogs at the care center. The behavior department recommends allowing Diesel an appopriate decompression period, and recommends that future introductions be conducted with polite dogs on a one-on-one basis. MEDICAL BEHAVIOR: 01/09/17 During initial medical exam Diesel appeared to be tense and nervous
RECOMMENDATIONS: Experience (Suitable for an adopter with a previous amount of dog experience) _X_No children (under 13)(See known history; Diesel is reported to growl at children though no further details provided.) _X_No cats Potential challenges: _X_Basic manners/Poor impulse control _X_On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration (See known history; Diesel is reported to be reactive towards strangers, attempting to lunge. We recommend tools (i.e. head harness) and high-value treats to redirect Diesel on leash and to reward calm behavior. We recommend only force-free, reward based training.)
01/10/2017 GROUP BEHAVIOR EVALUATION – EXPNOCHILD
Exam Type GROUP BEHAVIOR
Diesel has displayed minimal interest in engaging with other dogs at the care center. The behavior department recommends allowing Diesel an appopriate decompression period, and recommends that future introductions be conducted with polite dogs on a one-on-one basis. 1/10: When introduced off leash to another dog in the care center, Diesel approaches and offers one sniff. He does not re-approach during the remainder of his interaction. 1/11: Diesel ignores approach and roams the yard. 1/12 – 17: Diesel keeps to himself.
01/09/2017 INITIAL PHYSICAL EXAM
Medical rating was 1 – NORMAL , behavior rating was NONE
Microchip: Negative Sex: Intact male Age~ Approx- 6 yrs BARH AMBX4 Eyes: Clear / wnl Ears: Clean/ wnl Nose: Clear / wnl Teeth: mild to moderate dental tartar BCS: 3 Behavior:Tense and nervous during exam NOSF
01/18/2017 CAGE EXAM (LAST MAJOR EXAM)
Medical rating 3 C – MAJOR CONDITIONS , behavior rating EXPNOCHILD
s/o: mucoid nasal d/c. few sneezes BAR overall looks good a: cirdc p: doxy 300mg sid x 10d
Generated on Jan 19 2017 6:00PM
Came in With
- LAYLA - A1101183
For more information on adopting from the NYC AC&C, or to find a rescue to assist, please read the following: http://urgentpodr.org/adoption-info-and-list-of-rescues. If you are local to the Tri-State, New England, and the general Northeast United States area, and you are SERIOUS about adopting or fostering one of the animals at NYC ACC, please read our MUST READ section for instructions, or email [email protected]. Our experienced volunteers will do their best to guide you through the process. * We highly discourage everyone from trusting strangers that send them Facebook messages, offering help, for it has ended in truly tragic events.* For more info on behavior codes and ratings, please click here: http://information.urgentpodr.org/acc-placement-status-descriptions. For answers to Frequently Asked Questions, please see: http://information.urgentpodr.org/category/frequently-asked-questions/. You can call (212) 788-4000 for automated instructions.
View all entries in: Safe Dogs 2017-01 | <urn:uuid:1d58e977-6d1f-4242-a08b-f0df1812e3de> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://nycdogs.urgentpodr.org/diesel-a1101180/ | 2017-08-22T13:10:21Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886110774.86/warc/CC-MAIN-20170822123737-20170822143737-00000.warc.gz | en | 0.959102 | 2,505 |
I am a ceremonialist, spiritual counselor, and practical, intuitive, choice-oriented astrologer and palmist with 30+ years’ experience. I practice in St Paul & Minneapolis, MN, NYC, NM and write “Starcodes” column for the WeMoon Calendar, www.roanrobbins.com, and other websites.
I’ve been on a lifelong interfaith spiritual search and have had an intuitive counseling practice since 1978. In nearby pages I share my approach to the interfaith spiritual path and the use and function of astrology and palmistry. This is my story, how I got to this work and to this place.
Early years: My mother was an artistic psychiatric nurse, my father was an abstract mathematician; our family joke was that you put them in a blender and get an astrologer. I grew up wandering the halls of anthropology and art museums in Philadelphia, fascinated by the Sumerian and Egyptian sections; those images filled my childhood dreams.
The first numeral my father taught me was the one for infinity- tough of my childhood brain but auspicious for my path. I was rather haunted as a child as I noticed presences and feelings that my scientific surroundings did not recognize. During early health crisis I had a few clear out of body experiences which viscerally let me know we are more than our body. I collected myths and folktales and produced my first zodiacal calendar at 11 years old.
In my first year of high school, the school’s telephone operator was the niece of the famous astrologer Caroll Righter; with her astrological books open she was a better counselor than the school therapist, and I wanted to know how she did it. I hung around to pump her for information and one day heard her mumbling concern over some impending tough aspects. She stopped two teachers whose transits were particularly challenging (she had everyone’s chart on file) and asked them to be a bit careful this weekend. The elder drama teacher died of a heart attack on stage and the younger one fell downstairs and broke a limb. I asked her to tell me everything she knew.
A few years later I had an art history teacher, Sushil Mukherjee, who was a palmist, natural mystic, and great counselor. I asked him to teach me about palmistry, he gave me few details but got me oriented, told me to peer into each hand as if it was a window into the soul. I started collecting handprints and palmistry books along with astrological information.
I took my ephemeris (a book of planetary positions) everywhere from 14 years on, looked up everyone I met, scanned their hands, and researched my way through an adventurous life. I studied with every astrologer and intuitive whose path I crossed. I carried this work through my work in human resources and human potential fields in southern New England. Palmistry, astrology and other intuitive arts were a natural way to broaden my toolbox and help me be of service. They were invaluable tools as I raised two children, one with special needs, and negotiated through their adolescence. As a staff astrologer with a family therapy group in RI, I did some fascinating supervised work exploring the patterns of family dynamic back through generations.
New Mexico: In the late 1980s a friend of mine took sick in Santa Fe, New Mexico; I came to visit, and found she had four months to live. I stayed to help her through her transition and fell in love with the wild terrain and the warm hearts of New Mexico. Hospice is a great way to get past tourist traps and get real with the people.
An astrologer has a respected profession in Santa Fe, and I was considered a grounded and pragmatic one (which is not an oxymoron there). The Santa Fe Professional Astrology forum was a great collection of astrologers to work with, learn from, and befriend (Marcia Stark, Edith Hathaway, Merrylin LeBlanc, Alan Oken, Ariel Gutmann, Kenneth Johnson, Martin Goldsmith, Azlan White, to name a few). Alan Oken, Ariel Gutmann and I worked as a trio presenting monthly talks and symposium. In 1993 Edith Hathaway and I started writing Starcodes, one of the country’s first columns for the general public not on Sun sign astrology but on the astrological weather of the day. Edith soon left to pursue Vedic astrology, and I’ve been writing it every week since. Writing Starcodes has been fabulous research, it pushed me to know where the planets are at any given moment, predict how they will express in the week ahead, and then watch what actually unfolds– week after week– for decades.
Santa Fe abounds in holistic, mind-body work; what is cutting edge and New Age elsewhere was normal there, if not always so grounded. I studied hypnotherapy, applied kinesiology and met with a shamanic journey-work study group. New Mexico has a vibrant native community; tribes that were never moved off their home territory and so have an intact tradition and pulsing traditional and contemporary native art scene. I attended dances and ceremony on the Pueblos and listened with my mind, heart, and spirit. With Kate Greenway and others I co-directed WomanWise women’s spiritual community, leading women in a year-long transformative journey and doing solstice and equinox rituals for the public. The NM landscape remains my heart’s home.
New York City: Around 2000 I began to have repeated dreams of a voice saying “I’m sending you back to the front lines” I remarried in 2001 and the next week my mate was offered a job near NYC. We landed there two weeks before 9-11-01 which was one hell of a wake-up call. NY was a humbling, expanding, and toughening journey that reaffirmed my faith in the human spirit. I volunteered to counsel an EMT working those first few months down at Ground Zero: she needed to download daily and it was a relief to find some way to help.
Post 9-11 NYC carried so much ambient pain and searching angst that I wanted more tools to offer my clients. I wanted to walk with them through their crossroads in rough waters and celebrate their turning points, not just map them, and so I went back into an interfaith seminary to expand my spiritual counseling tools and ceremonial skills. The New Seminary was founded in 1975 by Kabbalist Rabbi Gelberman, Course of Miracle specialist Rev. John Mundy, wise priest father Giles Spoonour, and Swami Satchidananda. I felt so at home I stayed on to work as teacher and registrar while I grew my practice.
NYC also has a vibrant astrological community; I joined the NY NCGR chapter, spoke at a few conferences and studied. NY Astrologers Mark Wolz, Anne Ortlee and I formed Access Astrology, a group dedicated to making quality astrological information available to the public; we did a weekly astro-talk at the East-West Center, and still do a blog-talk radio podcast together every Wednesday night. They now run a group at the Open Center in NYC, I work with them when I go back to NYC, and see my clients out of the Oriens Healing Sanctuary.
North Dakota: After six years in NYC we long for the wide open spaces of the West again. Dreams took us to Turtle Mountain ND, a stone’s throw from the Canadian border, where my mate helped start a science-teacher training program for tribally-owned Turtle Mountain College. I tutored writing skills for future teachers. We walked with an herbalist, worked behind the scenes at a powwow, attended sweats, sat at the spirit fire for friends who died. We had so much to learn.
Warmth had a whole new meaning out there on the prairies at -20°. Our house was sealed tight. Solid workmanship is admired in the small Dakota towns as much as an honest handshake and a person who does what they say they’ll do, and with no fuss. Neighborliness; in a blizzard, at -26, our neighbors plowed our drive without saying a word, which brought tears to this former New Yorker’s eyes.
The ecosystem there was shuffling back from overuse, over hunt, and overly tidy farms; now the Aspen thicken and beaver and Fox drift back to Turtle Mountain even though western North Dakota is being ravaged by oil drillers. I had a chance to sidle up near a bald eagle chewing on marmot not far from the tribal heard of bison.
One sunny day by Fish Lake we watched whooping cranes swoop and swirl in a spiral of light, looking like a Japanese print and singing a resonant haunting song. All of nature stopped and listened, and I got a hint as to why Crane was the totem of the Aanishinaabe leadership clan.
St Paul, MN: We move to the Twin Cities so my mate, Dr. Wren Walker Robbins, a two spirit of Mohawk dissent, could continue her work training science teachers in a multicultural approach to science education. We work together in our search for the intersection between cultures and spiritual paths, science, intuition, and art, all tributaries on the great River of life.
The Twin Cities feel like an amalgam of all the places we’ve lived. I stay connected to all these homes, these places that fed my soul; they inform all the work I do. What can I do for you?
- 2011-2015: President, MN Chapter of NCGR (National Center for Geocosmic Research)
- 2013-present: Reader: Eye of Horus, Minneapolis
- 2012-2015: Presenter- Paganicon, and Woman and Spirituality Conference
- 2008-present: Access Astrology Blogtalk Radio with Anne Ortlee and Mark Wolz
- 2005-present: Interfaith minister (counselor/celebrant)
- 1978-present: Reader and teacher of astrology, palmistry, and the intuitive arts
- 1993-present: Writer/Starcodes column in The New Mexican’s Pasatiempo and websites
- 2007-2009: Writing tutor, TMCC, Turtle Mountain Reservation, ND
- 2005-2008: Teacher, The New Seminary for Interfaith Studies, NYC
- 1999-2004: Teacher, Alan Oken’s Wisdom School, SF, NM
- 1998-2001: Director: Ursa Major School of Intuitive Arts SF, NM
- 1998-2001: Planet Waves weekly radio show on KSFR, SF, NM
- 1993-99: Co-Director, WomanWise Woman’s Mysteries School
- 1993-98: Human Resource Director, Ten Thousand Waves, SF, NM
- 1996-98: Astrology teacher, The Light Institute, Galisteo, NM
- 1994-98: Board; Santa Fe Astrology Forum (member- 1990-2001)
- 1990-1998: Consulting Astrologer, Human Dimensions, Prov, RI.
- 2012-2015: Member, OPA (Organization for Professional Astrology)
- 2001-present: Member, NCGR (National Counsil for Geocosmic Research)
- 2010: Reiki 1 and 2, Rugby, ND. Bodytalk Access
- 2006: Spiritual Insight Training 1 & 2, Fellowships of the Spirit, Lilydale, NY
- 2005: Ordained, The New Seminary, NYC
- 1998-1999: Voted “Best Astrologer in Santa Fe”
- 1994-2000: Shamanic journeywork study group – Creative Alternatives, Santa Fe, NM
- 1991: Ericksonian hypnotherapy, first module, Weisz Hypnotherapy clinic, SF, NM
- 1989-90: Hospice training
- 1979-1988: Ceres Center for Metaphysics, member and boardmember
- plus countless workshops and retreats along the way | <urn:uuid:789a7c41-67fc-4743-8b22-87765e4334d4> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://roanrobbins.com/about-heather/ | 2017-08-22T12:54:42Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886110774.86/warc/CC-MAIN-20170822123737-20170822143737-00000.warc.gz | en | 0.951895 | 2,518 |
This one’s a bit different from the others in that it describes something that actually happened. Considering the amount of hyperbole, exaggeration and outright lies in this, I’m not gonna say it’s Based On a True Story, like it’s ‘Gandhi’ or something. At best, it’s Inspired By Actual Events.
December 9, 1996
I could hardly contain my excitement. It was the fourth of July and there was a box of semi-legal fireworks in my Grandparent's den. We go to my Grandparents' house on all major holidays and watch them drink themselves to death.
Ha! OK, wait, that’s mean.
I ran into the pseudo-European house from the patio, happy as a clam. I excitedly asked my grandmother when we were going to light off the fireworks. She saw that my face was covered with deviled egg, so she spit on a napkin and wiped it off.
My grandmother never spit on a napkin and wiped my face. Nobody’s grandma did that. Only grandmas in PG movies and hack stand-up comedy do that.
I re-entered my grandparent's world of the drunk elderly on the patio. There was an outside bar set up with a real bartender, who had no problem serving me and my brother liquor, in spite of the fact that we were six and eight at the time.
This is the first thing in the story that actually happened. The bartender was this cool Jamaican dude, and not only tolerated me and my brother ordering drinks but actively encouraged it, like, ‘try this rum, you’ll love it’. We were probably closer to 10 and 12 though.
My brother's blood stream must have been at least ninety proof by the time we left. My parent's were the only one's not drunk, as usual. My mom and dad's idea of a party is listening to Yanni, singing "Michael Row your Boat Ashore", and going to bed early.
I didn’t even know what Yanni was at that age. I probably thought it was a board game. I had just heard Yanni used as shorthand for ‘lame’ on Conan O’Brien and appropriated it.
They were sitting away from all my Grandparents' elderly friends, mostly due to the fact that they are all PSYCHOS. These are not the nice elderly, the ones that give little kids money just for the hell of it; these are the semi-satanic elderly, the kind that like to wait until a biker is right in front of them while they're driving and then gun it.
Before they drank, they would occasionally wander up to me and tell me how much I'd grown, or how handsome I looked. After the drinking started, however, they got a little disturbed: one of them asked my mother for a lap dance, an eighty five year-old was having delusions of Whitney Houston and was screeching "And I will Always Love You" at the top of her lungs, and some poor jerk in a wheelchair would respond to any question by yelling "Shit Happens, Laddie!" and cackling.
What a robust imagination I had! Like a little JRR Tolkien!
I joined up with my brother, who was wobbling around and trying not to puke on the tulips. He had both hands down his pants, and was scratching as if he had the chicken pox down there. I was a little disjointed myself, mostly from the vodka and tonic the bartender had given me when I'd asked for a Mountain Dew. We passed the time by singing, farting, and laughing in an innocent stupor.
The last sentence is at least in the same hemisphere as the truth. Me and my brother did actually get a buzz on at this party, and killed time til dark making each other laugh. It’s still the only time we’ve ever been drunk together.
When the time finally came for fireworks, I was rapidly coming down, but my brother had been fueling up the entire evening, and was still quite tipsy. In fact, just about everyone was pretty damn tipsy by that point, and the alzeimers-ridden whackos saw the fireworks with the glee of a five year-old.
I loved all of them (the fireworks, not the old people), and so did my brother. I was highly disappointed when we lit off the last bottle rocket out of the box that had seemed so huge before it had gotten dark.
Just as I was getting up, my grandfather got a massive firework out of the cupboard.
"Grand Finale," he said in a voice not unlike Jack Nicholson in "The Shining", and set it up on the charred ground.
Stephen King reference! I was a proud little bookworm.
It was a huge thing, standing at least two feet tall. "Over 100 fireballs!" The box read. I could not wait to see all those projectiles lighting up the sky. I was also hoping a couple would peg the neighbors' dog, who had urinated on my Christmas present a couple of years back.
By what mechanism would someone else’s dog pee on my Christmas present? Am I trying to convince the reader that our Christmas tree was an actual, living tree, in the ground, in the backyard?
My father insisted on lighting the immense firework himself, I was too young, and my grandfather and brother were way too wasted. He lit the fuse and ran behind a tree as if our esteemed grand finale was going to rape him.
Harsh, dude. Gay, closeted teenagers should generally refrain from mocking their male role models for being effeminate.
The fuse traced up to the firework and. . . nothing. It fizzled. My dad, always the outstanding citizen, just said, "Well, that was disappointing. Time for bed." He started off in the direction of the house, but my grandfather saw my dismayed look, and took pity on me. His bright idea was to light a piece of newspaper and throw it on the firework. He did it with flair and laughed like a madman when nothing happened. My father was still itching to go to bed, but Grandpa had one last great idea.
"Gasoline!" He yelled with childish delight, and ran to the woodshed. He tripped over Aunt Elga's IV drip,
but he was not to be stopped. He rummaged around the shed, laughing the night away. He finally emerged with a can properly marked, "Gasoline". My father, of course, was protesting adamantly, but Gramps just told him to shut up and pushed him down.
I would have helped the disturbed man up, but I was rooting for my Grandfather by this point. I wanted to see that dog fry. By the time my dad got up, Grandpa was already soaking the grand finale in gasoline. He searched in his pockets for a moment, and then yelled "Jackpot!" and his hand came out with a pack of matches in it. My dad tried to stop my grandfather from lighting the match, but some loving old lady had pinned him down with her walker. I now noticed why he wanted it to stop. The firework had fallen over and the six barrels of fire-lovin' fun were now aimed at the crowd.
"Grandpa, No!" I yelled, but to no avail. He lit the match and dropped it. As soon as it got within a foot of the gasoline-soaked firework, the entire setup erupted into a huge ball of flame. I was burned by the intense heat from ten feet away. It was a light almost brighter than the sun, and out of it flew a single fireball.
The crowd erupted. Don’t ever let old people play frail with you. As soon as the first fireballs started flying at the patio, the elderlies darted like dolphins for cover. They were fighting for space behind the fireplace or a rhododendron. It was a crazy scene, My brother was laughing as he watched the elderly catch fire, my father was crying, my mother had hit the deck and was being trampled by the scampering old people, I was behind the tree, yelling, "Die you bastards, Die!" and my grandfather was watching it all like a god punishing his people.
Behind my grandfather, I saw the one thing I never wanted to see again. Behind the still-spitting firework, out of harm's way, sat the neighbor's dog. He seemed to be laughing at me. I have never forgotten that sick mutt's face, and my expectation for this Christmas is to go after it with the weedwhacker.
Oddly enough, the truth-to-bullshit ratio in that section is pretty favorable. There was no dog, obviously, and no proper screaming and crying, but my grandpa really did douse a firework in gasoline that year, and it did fall over and shoot fireballs at his friends.
Furthermore, the part about old people diving dextrously out of their lawn chairs is bible truth. I still remember that, these frail veterans popping vertical and twisting like Neo to avoid fireballs.
I don’t know if it was this incident, or the me-and-my-brother-drinking thing, but that was the last time we went to my grandparent’s for Independence Day. They continued to have that party for years, and to my knowledge no one lost an eye or anything. One day, their neighbor might even have bought a dog. | <urn:uuid:d4bdb791-441f-451e-8cb7-661db8083785> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://cringestalgia.blogspot.com/2009/12/ | 2017-08-23T09:56:20Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886118195.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20170823094122-20170823114122-00080.warc.gz | en | 0.986278 | 2,017 |
Travel is such a personal thing: one man’s art museum is another man’s prison. Personally, I can feel highly entertained just browsing in a bookstore (though if you want to kill me with boredom, plop me in the middle of a golf course.)
This is precisely why I shy away from instructing readers what to see and do in a place, especially one as rich and invigorating as Cape Town. We all enjoy very different things, so just come to Cape Town and have fun. It’s that easy.
But what did I do that I really liked? More than anywhere else? Well, everything, but these are a few of my favorite things . . . in Cape Town.
Part of the strange magic of Cape Town is that it’s a world-class city surrounded by out-of-this-world nature. The most obvious destination is Table Mountain, which I referred to as “a sundial for Cape Town.” Hike it or take the cable car, but definitely make it up to the top. If you are fortunate enough to be there for sunset, make sure you have someone with you (to kiss.) It’s unforgettably romantic.
Table Mountain National Park represents a whole network of separate and amazing parks, of which my favorite is Cape Point Nature Reserve at the Cape of Good Hope. Renting the cottage at beautiful Olifantsbos beach was the best getaway I’ve had all year (do it!). You cannot beat the peace, seclusion, and sound of the surf—and all of it less than an hour from the city center. At night, the stars shone brilliantly, and in the morning, I watched baby baboons follow their mother through the bushes. If you’re lucky (and I was very lucky), you’ll see one of the exceedingly rare Cape Mountain Zebra chewing in the fragrant fynbos.
Likewise, I loved Kirstenbosch Gardens and its living library of African plants—especially the protea. I could spend days flitting from one flower bush to the next. And last but not least, horseback riding along Noordhoek Beach was a total dream. Pro or first-timer, riding on this oversized stretch of clear sand was simply dreamy.
The streets are alive in Cape Town . . . and pumping. Long Street gets a lot of attention and with good reason. Despite the presence of other travelers, the area has kept its native soul with a number of unexpected shops, hotels, bars and cafés. I did a number of laps up and down Long and every time it feels like a new street.
Cape Town’s street art scene is vibrant and happening now. If you like your graffiti big and beautiful, check out the murals just off Victoria Road in Woodstock, and take time to wander around the edges of District Six and The Fringe. Both areas are emerging from their own little dark age and it’s fun and encouraging to see the streets take life again. Start at the design-y and hipster Field Office.
Don’t you dare come to Cape Town without venturing into the townships, especially Langa, one of the largest and richest neighborhoods in South Africa. I found especially touching the mosaic memorial to Xolile Mose, a student killed during an anti-apartheid protest in 1976. I also had a wonderful time perusing African art and learning to play the marimba at Guga Sthebe, one of Langa’s cultural centers. Griling meat at Mzoli’s comes highly-recommended, and if you can manage it, go have a drink at a shabeen, (bars operated from people’s homes).
Last but not least, do not miss the Bo-Kaap and wear sunglasses—it’s bright!
By far the best dinner I had in Cape Town was at Planet (the newish renaissance of the classic favorite Mount Nelson Hotel). If you like your food dressed up and divine, then eat here. My favorite café is Lola’s (on Long Street)—most of the clientele look like models (some of them are) and yet the food is big and filling and the mood very friendly and ambient. (I especially liked their fresh juice bar.) Bread, Milk and Honey is right next to the parliament and therefore, filled with politicos from morning ‘til night, so come have a sandwich with the big men and women government (the milk tarts get two thumbs up). For another quick and easy meal, dance into Eastern Bazaar where you’ll find out that in spite of its size, Cape Town is really just a town (Come here twice and you’ll run into someone you know).
Cape Malay cuisine is Cape Town’s history on a plate, and even if you tend to shy away from spicy food, I think you’ll find Cape Malay relatively mild. You’ll find several small cafés in the Bo-Kaap but I most enjoyed sitting down at the Noon Gun and dining on different curries while watching the city below. On the street, be sure wrap your mouth around koeksisters, a salome, and a boerwors roll (all fantastic), and if you’re traveling with friends, share a Gatsby—a gigantic sandwich that’s as mixed up and layered as Cape Town itself.
The best seafood I ate was at Two Oceans, down at Cape Point and the best steak I had in the city (no contest) was at Cape Royale hotel. If you think fine dining means sizzling meat, then go there. Mama Africa was made for tourists but I still found it a fun tradition—the kudu is truly yummy. Likewise, fish and chips at Kalky’s (in Kalk Bay) is kind of a Cape Town institution and locals love it with good reason. Get the snoek and plop on the red sauce—because it’s so very Cape Town!
Wine gets a special focus all around Cape Town, but if you’re a connoisseur, then you’ll want to visit Signal Hill Winery right in the oldest part of the city. Jean-Vincent Ridon makes his own vivid vintages using grapes grown right in the city. (Step into the courtyard and touch the oldest fruit-bearing grapevine in Africa.)
I found Cape Town’s wild range of hotel options a big plus—you can sleep at a safe and clean hostel in the city center for next to nothing, or splurge big on something elegant and dramatic.
Right on the waterfront, the Cape Grace is iconic, classy and truly personal. Nothing is an afterthought in these big and beautiful rooms, so spoil yourself for a day or two and bask in grandeur while soaking in the fun vibe at the old port.
For even more pampering, check into Ellerman House, over in Bantry Bay. A quiet refuge overlooking the sea, the Ellerman feels like you’re at home in your own mansion which happens to be loaded with South African art. I loved the comfort of Ellerman, the “elegant-yet-casual” feel, and the killer fudge they stash out in the open for guests. (Their spa ain’t bad either.) In fact, I was surprised by all the wonderful spas in Cape Town. Not to miss? The Twelve Apostles Spa right underneath the row of rocks by the same name. Space-age and soothing, the African treatments (with organic, all-African products) were so very relaxing and the mood very pure and laid-back.
For business travelers, the Westin down in the CBD is sleek, comfy and comes with reliable wi-fi and a superb top-floor pool that lets you swim laps with a panoramic view. I stayed the longest at Protea Fire & Ice because it makes sense on so many levels: the location is ideal, the design is way cool, the staff were very switched on, and the restaurant serves about 40 different kinds of milkshakes. (What’s not to love?)
Finally, do yourself a favor and get up on the roof at Granddaddy. This is the world’s only rooftop Airstream trailer park/hotel in the world. I wrote about the place almost two years ago and loved the weirdness of the rural refuge perched in the canopy of the city.
I loved, loved, loved the Two Oceans Aquarium and think that it’s one of the best in the world for kids. Horseback riding on Noordhoek beach was a real highlight for me–if you want a cinematic afternoon, then do it. The waterfront in Green Point is ideal for evening walks and morning runs and believe it or not, I had a blast riding the Wheel of Excellence down by the waterfront. If you’re a photographer, ride the wheel at sunset. If you don’t have a friend in South African parliament (like I do ) then consider taking the standard parliament tour. The buildings are historic, the stories important and I found it all exceptionally educational.
Otherwise, the mother city is your oyster. Just go and explore, like the settlers of old. Despite nearly spending three full weeks in Cape Town, I feel like I’ve only just scratched the surface of this jewel of a place. Honestly, as I sit here and reminisce about all my favorite things, it only makes me long to return sooner than later. So . . .
Totsiens Kaapstadt. (I’ll be back.) | <urn:uuid:d0fc6321-5e61-4046-8872-73e5e7388ed1> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://digitalnomad.nationalgeographic.com/2012/04/30/my-cape-town-favorites/ | 2017-08-24T07:01:01Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886133042.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20170824062820-20170824082820-00160.warc.gz | en | 0.949253 | 2,026 |
TEL AVIV 15 MAY 2009
Mr President,Mr Prime Minister,Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
As I prepare to return to Rome, may I share with you some of the powerful impressions that my pilgrimage to the Holy Land has left with me. I had fruitful discussions with the civil authorities both in Israel and in the Palestinian Territories, and I witnessed the great efforts that both governments are making to secure people’s well-being. I have met the leaders of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, and I rejoice to see the way that they work together in caring for the Lord’s flock. I have also had the opportunity to meet the leaders of the various Christian Churches and ecclesial communities as well as the leaders of other religions in the Holy Land. This land is indeed a fertile ground for ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue, and I pray that the rich variety of religious witness in the region will bear fruit in a growing mutual understanding and respect.
Mr President, you and I planted an olive tree at your residence on the day that I arrived in Israel. The olive tree, as you know, is an image used by Saint Paul to describe the very close relations between Christians and Jews. Paul describes in his Letter to the Romans how the Church of the Gentiles is like a wild olive shoot, grafted onto the cultivated olive tree which is the People of the Covenant (cf. 11:17-24). We are nourished from the same spiritual roots. We meet as brothers, brothers who at times in our history have had a tense relationship, but now are firmly committed to building bridges of lasting friendship.
The ceremony at the Presidential Palace was followed by one of the most solemn moments of my stay in Israel – my visit to the Holocaust Memorial at Yad Vashem, where I met some of the survivors who suffered the evils of the Shoah. Those deeply moving encounters brought back memories of my visit three years ago to the death camp at Auschwitz, where so many Jews - mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, friends - were brutally exterminated under a godless regime that propagated an ideology of anti-Semitism and hatred. That appalling chapter of history must never be forgotten or denied. On the contrary, those dark memories should strengthen our determination to draw closer to one another as branches of the same olive tree, nourished from the same roots and united in brotherly love.
Mr President, I thank you for the warmth of your hospitality, which is greatly appreciated, and I wish to put on record that I came to visit this country as a friend of the Israelis, just as I am a friend of the Palestinian people. Friends enjoy spending time in one another’s company, and they find it deeply distressing to see one another suffer. No friend of the Israelis and the Palestinians can fail to be saddened by the continuing tension between your two peoples. No friend can fail to weep at the suffering and loss of life that both peoples have endured over the last six decades.
Allow me to make this appeal to all the people of these lands: No more bloodshed! No more fighting! No more terrorism! No more war! Instead let us break the vicious circle of violence. Let there be lasting peace based on justice, let there be genuine reconciliation and healing. Let it be universally recognized that the State of Israel has the right to exist, and to enjoy peace and security within internationally agreed borders. Let it be likewise acknowledged that the Palestinian people have a right to a sovereign independent homeland, to live with dignity and to travel freely. Let the two-state solution become a reality, not remain a dream. And let peace spread outwards from these lands, let them serve as a “light to the nations” (Is 42:6), bringing hope to the many other regions that are affected by conflict.
One of the saddest sights for me during my visit to these lands was the wall. As I passed alongside it, I prayed for a future in which the peoples of the Holy Land can live together in peace and harmony without the need for such instruments of security and separation, but rather respecting and trusting one another, and renouncing all forms of violence and aggression. Mr President, I know how hard it will be to achieve that goal. I know how difficult is your task, and that of the Palestinian Authority. But I assure you that my prayers and the prayers of Catholics across the world are with you as you continue your efforts to build a just and lasting peace in this region.
It remains only for me to express my heartfelt thanks to all who have contributed in so many ways to my visit. To the Government, the organizers, the volunteers, the media, to all who have provided hospitality to me and those accompanying me, I am deeply grateful. Please be assured that you are remembered with affection in my prayers. To all of you, I say: thank you, and may God be with you. Shalom!
In the entire time that Pope Benedict was in the Middle East, he had one over arching message: "No more bloodshed, no more fighting, no more terrorism, no more war. Instead, let us break the vicious cycle of violence."
In this trip Pope Benedict stayed on point, in spite of the attempts from hard line Muslims and Jews to divert his message. By the time the Pope left for Rome these nay sayers were drowned out by the vast majority of people who heard Benedict speak the words they hold in the deepest places in their hearts. No more war, no more violence, no more terrorism, no more deaths of their sons and daughters.
I was very interested in what the outcome would be of the meeting between Benedict and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the London Times Netanyahu wanted a very vocal condemnation of Iran. He didn't precisely get that. What he got was a general condemnation of antisemitism, and a lot more of what he didn't want and didn't address--more support for the two state solution. This is a solution which Netanyahu does not support publicly, but somewhat tepidly privately. He's on record as stating the best solution is to rebuild Palestine from the ground up and 'defer' the statehood question.
In the meantime his position is hand in glove with his Christian Zionist Evangelical supporters such as John Hagee, Michael D. Evans, and Joel Rosenberg. All three of these guys have written End Time books in which they for see Iran as a nuclear power initiating the Rapture. They want the Rapture. They want Netanyahu in power. They have been his best American buddies for a long time.
In the meantime, the Prime Minister was getting a very pointed message from the Obama administration concerning a pre emptive Israeli strike on Iran. This is the same message that Israel also received from the Bush administration at the end of last year. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Obama next Monday. Apparently the administration felt it was important to get their message to the Netanyahu government before his visit. I wonder too, whether it wasn't important to get that message to Israel exactly while Benedict was there.
Benedict hammered on the two state solution and refused to single out Iran. Those are messages Prime Minister Netanyahu may need to hear as his ear has been too focused on American Evangelicals. The Evangelicals may be the loudest players in the American Christian world, but they do not speak for the totality of the Christendom. As much as Evangelicals may secretly hate Roman Catholicism, the church is still by far, the world's biggest voice for Christianity. When the Pope speaks the world listens---as the Pope has sometimes found out to his dismay. Not this time though. This time he spoke to the hopes of people of the Middle East and those of us who share this planet with them. They are not the hopes of American Evangelical Christian Zionists and the New Apostolic Reformation.
I sometimes wonder if our outspoken 'abortion only' bishops have any idea of the real agenda of their fellow Evangelical culture warriors. Catholicism does not now and really never has supported notions of the Rapture or Dispensationalism. In Catholic teaching the millennium of the reign of Christ is now. It started with the Resurrection. It continues until Jesus comes again. What the Evangelicals are up to is setting up their own time frame for their Rapture and they are using Iran and Israel to accomplish this.
In the case of the Middle East, it's critical that President Obama and Pope Benedict are on the same page. Iran is facing presidential elections on June 12 and even President Amadenijhad, should he be re elected, can't continue to set Iran against the entire world. This is especially true if the world's religious leaders are unified in their condemnation of religious extremism, a message that was sent from Jordan and stated forcefully by the Pope.
It's too bad that certain voices kept American Catholics focused on Notre Dame because Pope Benedict's trip to the Middle East was, in my opinion, the finest moment of his papacy. I just hope American Catholics understand that the Notre Dame controversy was contrived and kept going to undercut President Obama and silence Pope Benedict's message in the Middle East. The only people who really benefit from that are the Rapturists, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Amadenijhad. | <urn:uuid:766483e9-5394-4b08-8f78-ac5d14a76ac7> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://enlightenedcatholicism-colkoch.blogspot.com/2009/05/pope-benedict-sums-up-his-trip-to.html | 2017-08-24T06:55:50Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886133042.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20170824062820-20170824082820-00160.warc.gz | en | 0.97203 | 1,902 |
Because I am too busy these days, most of the posts I wish to write never see the light of day. However, this particular one was called to life by Highlander's post Donkeys Vs People: The Media Circus. After reading it, I immediately decided to leave aside all other matters that can be postponed and write down my thoughts.
Abdelbaset al-Megrahi is a Libyan intelligence officer who had become the sole convict for the 1988 bombing of PanAm Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. He had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 2001 but was "freed on compassionate grounds by the Scottish Government on 20 August 2009 following reports that he had terminal prostate cancer and had less than three months to live". In order to be freed, Megrahi had to drop his appeal.
The release made unhappy just about everybody. Most victims' families, US government and many ordinary Westerners are outraged that the convict was allowed to return home as a free man and received a hero's welcome, while most Libyans seem indignant because he is still considered guilty and his appeal will never be processed.
The Lockerbie bombing set a sad record in the number of civilians killed in a single terror act - 270. As far as I know, the previous record was in the distant 1925 - the St. Nedelya Church bombing in Bulgaria, by communist terrorists. So Lockerbie opened a new era in the history of terror and is undoubtedly very important. However, I must admit that I have never made efforts to be very informed about it. The details of the case are too far from my field of competence, and the information available in public space has been from the beginning too tainted with unsubstantiated guessing and apparent deliberate disinformation to be useful.
If you ask me what I think of Mr. Megrahi's guilt (or lack of it), I'll frankly say that I don't know. As I recently wrote on Anglo's blog, "I generally trust British justice, and I surely don't believe the fancy conspiracy theories circulated around. However, a miscarriage of justice can always happen, especially when a horrible crime is committed and the public insists to have somebody - anybody - punished". I would add that Britain has had sad precedents in convicting innocents after large-scale terror acts - the Guildford Four and the Birmingham Six. Indeed, their cases were examples of inquisitional-type justice relying heavily on confessions, while Megrahi never confessed anything. However, the little I have read about his case has left in me the impression that linking forensic evidence to him depended too much on the testimony of a single person, some shopkeeper from Malta. While this does not prove Megrahi's innocence in any way, it makes me doubt that his guilt has been proved beyond any reasonable doubt. But again, I don't know the details of the case even to the degree that has been released to the public, and so I may be wrong.
At some time after Megrahi's conviction in 2001, new arguments for his innocence began to be circulated in public space. They can be found on the Web very easily, so forgive me for not linking to them. I just don't wish to, because they do not sound to me believable at all, but rather look like a smokescreen. Briefly, it is claimed that Megrahi has been framed by CIA in order to shield the real perpetrators Iran and Syria, because Libya allegedly was a more convenient target than them. Let me quote what I wrote two years ago on Highlander's blog: "I won't bet my hand that Al-M. is innocent. If he is, I'll think this is despite the "new evidence" disputed now in all media, not because of it. This "evidence" has all the elements of the most persistent Western myths of recent time: the big bad USA deliberately (rather than by honest mistake) going after those innocents who are most suitable targets for the moment, retired CIA officers becoming whistleblowers (this agency's retirement rules definitely need scrutiny) and a conspiracy which managed to remain secret for many years despite involving dozens of people of all sorts. Not that it is impossible. No laws of physics forbid it. But it is highly unlikely. Besides, if it happened this way, why didn't CIA plant evidence also against Al-M.'s co-defendant and buy more reliable witnesses?We must keep in mind that European culture is tolerant to evil. This helps explain many things about Europe. E.g. the abolition of death penalty. I was all for it. It was said to me and others that death penalty isn't needed to protect the society from a murderer, because if the murder is a really grisly one (or more than one), he will be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. And now, after we have abolished death penalty, we are said that no European country has life imprisonment without parole. Letting a murderer walk free after several years in prison is at the basis of today's European psyche. People are conditioned to perceive this as normal. So give people the benefit of the doubt, but beware evil. Don't count on anybody else to stop it. There is nobody."
I still have mixed thoughts about death penalty. I am concerned about the innocents that will inevitably be wrongly convicted from time to time, I worry about the reflections of the death sentence on those who pronounce and execute it, and I am just disgusted by the idea of cold-bloodedly taking the life of a person unable to defend himself. However, I must admit that my opponents were right in one thing - that abolition of death penalty will allow release of any convict as soon as it becomes politically advantageous and the public is looking aside. In Megrahi's case, I fear how easy it turned to make witnesses withdraw their testimony or bring 3rd people to testify that they have bribed the witnesses; and because, unlike Bulgaria, it is (yet) not possible to make forensic evidence in Britain disappear, then you can find a big-mouthed former CIA employee admitting that he has planted it. Don't you share my fear that these tools have the power to make anybody immune to justice?
If you ask why I think somebody in the West would be interested in rescuing Megrahi from the grip of justice, I would answer that the urge to deal with Libya can quite create such interests. First, after Bulgaria joined EU in early 2007, this created solidarity links between it and older EU members. Soon, rumours started that the Bulgarian medics could be traded to Megrahi. If Highlander, the target reader of this post, has endured to this point, I would ask her to look at this 2007 Standart News report titled Saif al-Islam: There Is a Link Between Megrahi and the Nurses. Let me quote a little from it: "There is a connection between the cases of Lockerby bomber's - the Libyan Abdelbaset ali Mohmed al-Megrahi - and the Bulgarian nurses, said in his latest interview the son of Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi Saif al-Islam for the French Le Mond. "We made a link between the cases. We also agreed to discuss the issue on a bilateral level - between Libya and Great Britain. Formerly, it was insisted that this discussion should be held on a broadly European level," he added."
I would not risk to guess whether such "agreement" really existed or not. However, the common rule in deals of this sort is that they are automatically invalidated if one of the sides makes them public. So, the fact is that our medics were allowed to return while Megrahi remained in prison. However, these days we heard again from Mr. al-Islam. Let me quote the Telegraph from Aug. 21: "Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s son, Saif, claimed the release of the Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, was linked to trade deals between Britain and Libya." Understandably, these statements are of little help in convincing Westerners that Megrahi and Libya had no role in the Lockerbie bombing. Personally, during the years of the HIV trial I have heard Mr. al-Islam make and then retract so many conflicting statements without a shadow of embarassment that I have stopped taking him seriously a long time ago. The only rational explanation of his behaviour that I can figure out is that he intends to perplex the stupid Western infidels and show them that their brains are absolutely useless in understanding the world.
At the end of her post, Highlander writes, "My biggest disappointment is that now that the documents have been sealed forever we will never know what really happened on the ill fated Pan Am flight..." I envy her optimism that if the appeal hadn't been dropped, we would know what really happened. However, I still hope that some day the truth may come out. There is a broad agreement that the Lockerbie bombing was state-sponsored (be it Libya or another state). So there is still chance that truth will emerge one day from the archives of the state perpetrator. This happened in the case of assassinated Bulgarian writer Georgi Markov (no relation to me). After 1989, although the archives of our Communist security services were rigourously cleared, they still revealed evidence that Markov's murder was Bulgaria's deed.
My general impression from Highlander's post is that she has fallen in the trap of equating her homeland and people with the regime, a trap too often encountered by those living under rulers similar to Qadafi. E.g. she refers to Libyan authorities that had convicted the Bulgarian medics as "those 'evil' Arabs" (from Western point of view). I guess many other Libyans are in a similar mood. Therefore, I wish to end my post with a quote from the above mentioned Anglo's post. I am finding the quoted text so important that I'll mark it in bold:
"At the end of the day, whether he did this crime or not, Al-Megrahi was working for the Libyan intelligence and I do know from people that worked for Libyan Airlines in the 1980s that he was feared and was involved in many nasty acts against Libyans, this does not make him into a hero..." | <urn:uuid:9cfb9424-f76d-4485-990b-4d2a0a24dfd0> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://mayas-corner.blogspot.bg/2009/09/ | 2017-08-24T06:40:39Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886133042.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20170824062820-20170824082820-00160.warc.gz | en | 0.97955 | 2,112 |
Last night, I headed down to the scintillating Symphony Space to attend the second-ever Secret Science Club North lecture, featuring the American Museum of Natural History's parasitologist and curator of invertebrates Dr Mark Siddall. Dr Siddall's topic was the consumption of various invertebrates for the good of the consumer and the good of the planet. Dr Siddall had delivered a previous Secret Science Club lecture about leeches back in December 2012. Before the lecture, Secret Science Goddesses Margaret Mittelbach and Dorian Devins were giving out samples of gummy worms and, more importantly, delicious mealworms and crickets:
The cocktail of the evening was the deliciously "swampy" Spineless Wonder, a blend of Bailey's, vodka, and Coca-Cola- the acidity of the cola partially curdled the Bailey's, making for a slightly chunky drink.
Dr Siddall's lecture last night was largely a travelogue/epicurean exploration. Think of a night spent listening to a very funny, very intelligent friend talking about their travels to interesting locations in the developing world and you'll get an idea about last night's lecture. Dr Siddall began by asking the audience if any members were vegans or vegetarians, moving to to asking attendees where they drew the line regarding consuming animals... would any of us eat gorilla? How about dolphins? They're relatively closely related to cows, which many of us eat. He displayed a mammalian cladogram and asked us to pick out which animals we'd eat- would any of us eat an opossum but not a wallaby? He then showed a cladogram of all known animal taxa and asked us which of these animals we would eat. He reminisced about taking university students on a tour of tidal zones and exhorting them to add taste to the other sense they used to explore the environment, serving them mussels and (at the tides ebb) sea urchin gonads. He noted that barnacles were tasty, being basically stationary shrimp encased in a stony shell, but eating the typical Atlantic barnacles was too difficult to be practical- likening barnacles to the "celery of the sea", one would burn more calories rendering them edible than one would obtain by eating. He then told of his "barnacle epiphany", trying the giant picoroco barnacle in Chile and finding it delicious. This was the first of many times in the course of the lecture in which he averred that, if in doubt about the palatability of any foodstuff, you should eat it served in a spicy broth. In an aside, he quipped that you should eat with a parasitologist if you want to know what bugs you.
To determine how squeamish the audience members were, Dr Siddall showed us a slide of huitlacoche, then he passed around a bag of tortilla chips and a container of delicious corn smut for the audience to sample. Que sabor rico!
The bulk of the lecture was occupied by a slide show of Dr Siddall in various markets in various nations, eating various invertebrates. Interspersed with pictures of Dr Siddall munching on grubs and grasshoppers, there were pictures of vultures scavenging the leavings at an outdoor market, of a jolly African matron laughing because the Americans wanted to eat mopane "worms" (in a spicy broth, of course), giant Hercules beetle grubs roasted on a stick (tastes like buttered popcorn! he quipped). He told us a funny story about the run-up to a trip to Oaxaca, when he enthusiastically told his young daughter that they would be eating chapulines, so that she was eager to be eating them in a taco with a spicy sauce and guacamole. In a picture of a bucket in a market in Korea, he remarked, "There are five phyla in that bucket!"
He advised us, if you want to know what's safe to eat, you ask the locals and you eat what the locals eat. In Madagascar, he joked about how the staple was rice- rice for dinner every day, occasionally a meal of beans, and if you were lucky, rice and beans. He then quizzed us about water safety, showing pictures of two glasses of water and asking whether one should drink the cloudy water or the clear water- answer: the cloudy water was boiled in the pot in which the rice was cooked to loosen the rice from the pot, and was safe to drink. He then showed a picture of Secret Science Club lecturer and all-around great person Evon Hekkala laid up with a bad illness she got from the water in Madagascar. He also talked about cultural savvy in the field- you should eat whatever is placed in front of you because it represents an act of hospitality from someone who can little afford it. If you are a vegan and your host or guide offers you their last chicken, eat the chicken. It's less of a sacrifice than the one made by your host.
Being the leech guy, Dr Siddall digressed on the topic of edible leeches, pronouncing the blood-suckers kinda flaccid and tasteless. The leeches to eat are the muscular carnivorous ones, like the giant earthworm eating red leeches. He showed us a portrait of himself eating a leech while a grad student working in the field- the booze bottles photoshopped out because he had shown the lecture to a bunch of grammar school students.
Another aside dealt with the "medicinal" uses of certain foods- snake is sold in the markets of Taiwan to improve virility, scorpions are sold in the winter because they are considered "hot". He then mentioned English naturalist Thomas Muffet, whose writings on the medicinal virtues of eating spiders may have inspired the nursery rhyme Little Miss Muffet.
Dr Liddall then went into a lengthy digression about the blister beetle Lytta vesicatoria, the infamous Spanish fly, the source of the blistering agent Cantharone- he related an anecdote about a pediatrician wishing to topically apply Cantharone to his daughter's arm, but he wouldn't allow the treatment until he swabbed himself with it. After much resistance, he liberally applied it to his arm, resulting in three-inch blisters- the pediatrician told him that the merest touch would be applied to his daughter's arm. He then related a tale about the Marquis De Sade giving Spanish fly laced sweets to women because the irritating agent is concentrated in the urogenital system and the "stimulation" was thought to be an aphrodesiac. He also told of a unit of the French Foreign Legion that had been laid up with painful priapism from eating the legs of frogs that had consumed Lytta vesicatoria. Frogs have a knack for accumulating insect toxins- the wickedly poisonous golden poison frog accumulates beetle toxins in its flesh. This led to a bit of advice about avoiding bright bugs- they are aposematic, they advertise their toxic status by standing out.
Another funny topic was drunken elephants- Dr Siddall noted that it would take three trailer loads of fermented marula fruits to get an elephant drunk, and that the intoxicated elephants of legend are probably tripping on poisonous insects consumed with tree bark. Another slide showed a slug happily munching on an Amanita muscaria.
Regarding locust "plagues", Dr Siddall advised us to eat the locusts, noting that it was sad that Laura Ingalls Wilder's dad didn't know that. He showed a newsreel of an African locust plague and noted that the gentleman walking through the cloud of grasshoppers ate one.
The home stretch of the lecture dealt with the nutritive value of insects. Dr Siddall noted that the worst features of malnutrition resulted from an underconsumption of protein and a lack of protein and fat diversity. Starches are easier to come by. After an strong exhortation not to eat bats, which carry ebola, Dr Siddall started to show us "nutritional labels" for various insects. To produce a pound of beef, it requires 12 pounds of feed, 5,000 gallons of water, and 31 kilowatt-hours. For a pound of chicken, it requires 2 pounds of feed, 815 gallons of water, and 4 kilowatt hours. By comparison, a pound of crickets requires 2 pounds of feed, one gallon of water, and 2 kilowatt hours.
2.5 acres can produce enough beef to feed one person, while the same land can produce a plethora of crickets. Dr Siddall exhorted us to eat more insects. Currently, three pounds of cricket "flour" typically costs around sixty dollars. Demand for edible insect products will drive costs down.
The whole lecture involved a lot of audience participation. In one exchange, a lucky bastard was able to say he ate a bug because he took advantage of the periodic influx of brown marmorated stink bugs at his workplace... and to think that earlier that day he'd only eaten cicadas among the real "bugs". Besides huitlacoche, Dr Siddall passed around figs so we could eat the tiny wasps that inhabit the inflorescenses. It was a very fun lecture with a serious takeaway- eat insects, preferably in a spicy broth.
In the Q&A, some bastard asked Dr Siddall a question in his capacity as the leech guy. Given the number of (relatively) unrelated taxa that consume blood, were the anticoagulants used by, or example, leeches and mosquitos, similar? Dr Siddall indicated that there are many factors in the coagulation cascade that can be targeted. Hirudin, the anticoagulant in the saliva of the medicinal leech, is an anti-thrombin. Different sanquivorous taxa target different parts of the coagulation cascade, some anti-coagulants attack thromin, some attack pre-thrombin, some attack platelets. There are also anticoagulants that are A-pyrases, they destroy free ATP (after the lecture, I asked Dr Siddall if any of these pyrases were proposed as anti-cancer drugs, but they are large proteins that cannot penetrate the cell walls, making them unlikely to be used against tumors).
Another audience member, who suffers from ulcerative colitis, asked Dr Siddall about nematode therapy. After briefly discussing the hygiene hypothesis, Dr Siddall emphatically stated, "People in wormy areas would rather have your allergies than their parasitic worms." He then noted that pig whipworms, which cannot reproduce in a human host, can be used with some success. He then commented on the near eradication of the hideous Guinea worm, a meter-long worm that burrows beneath the skin- last year, there were only 83 recorded cases of Guinea worm, all in South Sudan.
A funny question by an audience member regarded squeamishness- what does it take to make the bug-eating Leech Guy puke? His answer was that vomit makes him want to vomit, and that this has a really good evolutionary basis. We are descended from individuals who ate together, so if one of them ate something that made them sick, the others would be safer if they threw up as well. Those individuals who were non-pukers died off, leaving no descendents.
Asked about parasites, Dr Siddall noted that, while we are co-evolved with them, we don't need them. He then brought up toxoplasmosis, which is caused by a protozoan related to the malaria pathogen. The definitive hosts of toxoplasmosis are cats, though all mammals can act as vectors. Mice infected with toxoplasmosis tend to engage in risky behaviors- they don't fear cat urine and they are more active in the daytime... perfect behaviors to make it more likely that they will be eaten by cats. All mammals can act as hosts for toxoplasmosis- the organism tends to go through different stages in different hosts. In the bloodstream, the parasites reproduce quickly- they are "tachyzoids". In pregnant females, the tachyzoids can cross the fetal barrier in the placenta and cause birth defects (the process is known as teratogenesis). Never change kitty litter when you're pregnant- make someone else do it. Dr Siddall then joked that mosquitoes are the primary hosts of malaria, and that humans are vectoring the parasite for those poor mosquitoes.
After the lecture, Dr Siddall hung out with the crowd, fielding any and all questions. I asked him if he'd ever eaten trepang, which led to a digression on contact between Indonesia and Australia before Europeans "discovered" the continent. A young woman was asking about the feasibility of raising crickets in a community garden, and Dr Siddall noted that the insect market was unregulated but that insect producers, leery of onerous USDA crackdowns, tend to autoclave their product to forestall any scares. Some bastard joked that we should all pool our resources and start an "artisanal" cricket market and sell crickets to hipsters. That led to digressions about Brooklyn crickets (brickets- rub them with the same spices you rub on briskets) and pickled crickets- pricklets. Yeah, there was beer involved.
All told, it was a very fun night with a very engaging lecturer and some unusual snacks. Kudos to Dr Siddall, Dorian, Margaret, and the staff of the Symphony Space. | <urn:uuid:82dfac28-6f85-49b7-8032-1b6f13b78c4d> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://bigbadbaldbastard.blogspot.com/2014/10/secret-science-club-north-entomophagy.html | 2017-08-24T06:58:00Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886133042.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20170824062820-20170824082820-00160.warc.gz | en | 0.967196 | 2,833 |
The first time I really heard Don Trip was also the first time I saw him. Bearded, with no shirt on, he was rapping "Letter to my Son," his now semi-viral song about not being able to see his kid. It's a harsh, openly emotional song. It's not subtle as much as it just feels and sounds real. Don Trip is a good writer and a good rapper, but he also has a great voice. It's the kind of craggy, uncomfortable thing that stands out whenever it pops up. Since the release of "Letter to my Son," Trip has released a whole lot of mixtapes, including one of my personal favorite releases this year, Step Brothers, an album with Starlito that is loosely based on samples from the Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly movie of the same name. Even at its darkest moments, (surprisingly there are plenty), it sounds like the rappers are having fun making songs together. It's not just another DJ Khaled-style cut-and-paste, but an actual in-studio collaboration done by dudes who aren't afraid to admit that they actually like rapping. Don Trip has a lot more music coming, so I decided to check in with him about how life's been since "Letter to my Son."
You’re extremely prolific. You released two mixtapes in the same day. Are you constantly in the studio? Yeah, I mean I’ve been this way for the last…well, probably like the last ten years, and now that I got that light—that people are starting to see that I’m like this—I actually got three tapes ready right now that I don’t even plan on releasing for a second.
Is it easier to keep working now that you know you’ve got an audience? I try to look at it like I got more work to do. I go places out of town where everybody don’t know me, and that makes me feel like I gotta keep going. The way I want to approach it, I want everybody to realize who I am and realize they been sleeping on it. I want them to go back and then say, Oh he got 17 tapes that we been slacking on.
How’s touring been? I’m on the BET Black College Tour right now. It’s been a learning experience. The kids have probably never seen me before besides probably like five people in the crowd. I get to see how they react to music they’ve never heard before.
You’re from Memphis, but you don’t sound similar to any other Memphis rapper I’ve heard. Musically I’d say I was like a sponge, you know? I listened to everything. I really didn’t listen to Memphis music as much. I was a really big Tupac fan and a big Jay-Z fan. When I started recording I didn’t want to sound like none of what was coming out from Memphis. I wanted to stand alone. I didn’t want anyone to say, Oh he sounds like he’s from Memphis. Either you like it or you don’t. If you do or don’t like it, it’s not just because I’m from Memphis, it’s because of me.
But you still work within the Memphis scene, right? Yeah, I like to work with everybody. I keep business and personal separate. When I meet people…if you grind like I grind then I feel like we can work it out. I’m never too difficult to work with.
How did the collaborations with Starlito come about? We met on the road with Gotti. We was both familiar with each other’s music and we sat down and said, You know, it’d be a good look if we did a tape together and from that instant we went to work. We both found time and in a matter of like three sessions we knocked out [Step Brothers].
How did you decide on Step Brothers as the concept? Was it just a convenient title or are you both huge fans?> It was a little bit of both. I like the movie, but I think that’s one of Star’s favorite movies. He knew it line for line. I’m like, Man, I don’t know what’s wrong with this guy. It was interesting because we could make certain things…Step Brothers is a comedy. It’s not serious at all. It was interesting for us to be able to take excerpts out and make them tie into actual life. On “A Time to Kill,” the sample sounds eerie, it sounds serious, when you hear it on the tape it sounds serious. Like, if you didn’t know what that movie was, you would think something tragic happened.
Is there going to be a sequel? Yeah, we’re going to do a Step Brothers II. We didn’t want to come out with a Step Brothers II a matter of months after Step Brothers, we’re going to let it soak in a little bit, we got a couple more videos to release.
The thing that struck me about the mixtape was that it really seemed like you guys were having fun rapping together. The number one thing we didn’t want to do was email each other songs back and forth. We do that with everybody else. We felt that the only way it was going to be significant is if we took time out of schedules to actually do it. It’s three hours from Memphis to Nashville, so I drive to Nashville for the first session and he drove down here to Memphis for the last two sessions. Actually, the third session was just mixing, so we worked it out to where we actually sat with each other. Every song on that tape—there’s no song I did and then waited for him to come hear the song. We did each song with each other present.
You can tell. Sometimes you guys are even going word for word. There’s a couple records we didn’t even write. “Hot Potato,” we was actually standing in the booth together and we went on the fly. He would sing a bar or half a bar and I would return with a bar.
Are you going to do the next one the same way? Of course. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I feel like the main reason people can rock with the tape is the fact that you can hear our chemistry, and the only way we got that is because we chose to actually sit in the studio with each other.
Are you freestyling or writing most of the time? Oh, no. I never freestyle. The way I work, I don’t write until I’m in the studio. I don’t like to write before it's time because when it's time to spit it, I don’t remember how I approached it. I don’t rap it like…if I can’t feel it, then I’m not doing it. I feel like that’s one of the few things I can offer that ain't being offered all around the board. I can show you that I feel this. I love music, so I’m expressing it instead of just rapping.
I think that’s why “Letter to my Son” made a lot of people take notice. It’s a very emotional song. Do you feel like there’s pressure on you to be the guy that is always making the serious, intense song? There are pros and cons to it. The good thing about it is that it opens they eyes and they see that I do pour my heart out when I record. But the con to that is that, that’s what people want. They want “Letter to my Son Part II” and Part III and Part IV…That’s like asking for me to be the most miserable artist ever.
Now that you’re signed to a major label, is there pressure to deliver a single? I don’t know how to go in and make one particular kind of song. I let my music do what it do. If I go in and the beats speak to me and I hear it…I heard “Letter to my Son” and that’s what came out. I don’t go in and say, Hey we gotta make the next radio single. I don’t even know how to do that.
We were talking earlier about how you don’t sound like anyone from Memphis. Is there anyone that was really influential to you that people might not expect? Jadakiss. I learned how to count bars from Jadakiss. He didn’t teach me a lesson and show me, but I used to study Jadakiss verses.
That’s interesting. He can be a great punchline rapper, too. I feel like when you want to, you’re good at that as well. I try not to do it as much. When punchlines are popular then it starts being all people will do. Like you could listen to a song and no two bars had anything to do with each other. They was just punchline after punchline after punchline. I could do that when I was younger, but now that I’m older I feel like every song is supposed to be a picture. If I’m showing you a picture, I’m not being a comedian. I would like to look at my music as a documentary, not as a comedy. Of course you want comedic relief in it, but I don’t want my humor to overpower the point I’m trying to make.
A lot of dudes seem content to not make any sense. If they said it instead of rapped it, you would look at them confused like, What are you talking about? You would think they was bouncing off the walls. | <urn:uuid:fdda2d7e-1b2c-485a-a4f6-35ad4033eaf7> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://www.thefader.com/2011/09/21/interview-don-trip/ | 2017-08-17T08:00:38Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886102993.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20170817073135-20170817093135-00520.warc.gz | en | 0.976529 | 2,117 |
|From American Airlines 707 Jet Stewardess Argie Hoskins|
Above is my Daddy who taught me to keep things in order to accomplish a task. Tasks were done with strict discipline. Obedience to the task was demanded and expected. As a public school teacher, I found that students who had not learned to internalize discipline could not focus and accomplish a goal.
I am quoting a cowboy friend who worked for Daddy from time to time, "Al would tell me what he wanted to get done. He would than tell me what he was going to do, told me what I was going to do and said, "Now be careful!" As a windmiller for a large ranch, Al took his job very seriously. It could be a dangerous venture, getting up the windmill tower to repair whatever was needed. Thank you Daddy for being an example of hard and dedicated work ethics. Mother used to say, "You are just like your Daddy," for me that was a compliment. American Airlines set that expectation for the Stewardess Corp.
|From American Airlines 707 Jet Stewardess Argie Hoskins|
Above is my Mother for whom I am grateful for her intuitive soul, hard work and good judgment. She taught me to think outside the box. "Sister, if you can not do it one way, you can do it another." "Think before you act." "Think of others before yourself." "Do your best!" Thank you dear Mother for being you and helping me be me. Neither of us was perfect, but we hung in there and kept trying until something worked. Life is hard work! It is worth it!
Honestly, I had the foundation for learning and applying the skills needed for Emergency Training.
I am amazed at the metamorphic process from caterpillar to butterfly. What does this have to do with me and Emergency Training? The caterpillar was evolving step by step. As I ponder my training as a stewardess and the "me" who emerged from that training during the years of my flying experience, it was all good. For successfully handling of any emergency, it was important to know what to do on an automatic level so I could depend on my knowledge and skill. Wow! I needed to learn sooo much. And good ole American Airlines picked me, Argie Hoskins, because they knew that I could do it! Now to get rid of the self doubts and have confident inside of me. The task ahead was to learn what I needed to know on an automatic level, no guess work! Along the way something really great happened, I found in me, a new me, not only did I know the procedures, but I had good judgment. You can't learn everything you need to know by the book. There is no substitute for good judgment. Always have in my mind plan "A" and plan "B" for this is survival. Later as a school teacher, we had workshops on "thinking outside the box." I realized that I had been thinking outside the box for year and years.
My first Emergency Training was focused on DC-6, DC-6B, DC-6 Coach, DC-7, DC-7 Coach, DC-7 Dual Service, and the Convair. The Emergency Equipment: EXITS and how to open the window exits from inside and in some cases the outside of the aircraft. ROPES were located in exit windows and doors of certain aircraft. EVACUATION SLIDES were stored on the cabin doors. The Lounge exit had a slide. It was fun to practice our skills while overcoming fear. FIRE EXTINGUISHERS were located in various locations on the several aircraft. OXYGEN cylinder, outlets, walk-around bottles were strategically placed. FLASHLIGHTS were on some aircraft. EMERGENCY LIGHTS replaced flashlights on all aircraft. Another item that we always checked when we boarded was the SERVICE KIT which contained First Aid Equipment. We were trained to remember to take the SERVICE KIT with us if we evacuated. We didn't have the theme bandaides that children plaster all over them these days. That would have been an interesting demand. We had a FIRE AXE located on the forward side of cockpit door on all aircraft. FIRE DETECTORS AND EXTINGUISHING EQUIPMENT and FLOTATION SEAT CUSHIONS were on some aircraft.
This is a statement from my American Airlines Manual: "The successful handling of any emergency aboard an aircraft depends to a large degree on you and your knowledge. There is never an emergency in which there isn't something you can do to help. Safe procedures require a cool head. The ability to think straight and operate calmly requires knowledge of what to do. There is no substitute for good judgment. The outline that follows assigns specific Stewardess responsibilities on the DC-6/DC-7 and the Convair. If, on the DC-6/DC-7 an emergency occurs and the specific location of the First Stewardess at the time makes it difficult or time consuming to accomplish her duties as outlined, then good judgment should dictate that she carry out the Second Stewardess' duties and vice -versa. The Second Stewardess under such conditions should take her cue from the First Stewardess.
Now the task for me was to know what responsibilities were First Stewardess and Second Stewardess because I felt that I could do both at the same time. That has been my challenge all my life; I think that I can do it all. I can't! I must be in charge of my stewardship and others must be committed to their stewardship. In case of an emergency, I must know what I can do and do it! Don't expect someone else or the government to solve the problems that I must handle.
And oh yes, Have a Happy Heart!
And this is the more later! This morning I thought of a couple more things that came to mind. I know that when I have time to write from my journal; I will have more to say. For now as I remember, the kind of emergency situations that I was trained for back in the 1950's were varied. BELLY LANDING when the gear would not come down was not very different than a normal landing. However there was the possibility of the shock of the hard landing of the tail and even more hard the landing of the nose. What was comforting was that we would be near the ground for easy departure. I remember the advice was to inform the passengers to relieve their bladders so that on impact the bladder would not burst. I never found that in the manual, but thought it was a good idea. Along with that idea was the use of the pillows and position of the body on impact. NOSE WHEEL UP MAIN GEAR DOWN will position the aircraft in a nose down, tail up! This position business of landing was hard for me because of the sequencing challenge in my brain. Up, down, down up! Concepts had to be over learned!
* KNOW YOUR PROCEDURES
* USE GOOD JUDGMENT
* KEEP COOL
One evening the crew was dead heading a plane back to LA. An engine caught on fire! We made an emergency landing. I was not one bit concerned. The flying crew knew what to do!
The following was not an emergency, however it could have been. After having had an extended layover in New York because of a wicked snow storm, the cold, continuing gray skies, and weather conditions, we loaded our passengers in the hangar as we continued to de-ice. Little did we know that inspite of the working snow plows the runway conditions were still icy. The noises on take off didn't seem that much different from other icy, snowy takeoffs. When we deplaned in LA, the crew was talking and taking notes as they studied the rolled up metal on the belly of the plane. I suppose this rolled up metal on the fuselage was caused by ice on the runway. I have always wanted to see that report.
One evening flying between El Paso and Douglas, the pilot lower the plane very quickly. He reported that he had picked up an unidentified object in our path. He was not asleep at the wheel. Speaking of such! I flew with a flight engineer that shared that he believed in UFOs because of the things that he had observered while flying. Interesting!
A near miss! On take off from New York and again during the winter, we almost did not make it over a fence at the end of the runway and into the water we could have gone. BUT the crew did some very quick and skilled flying to leap us over the fence. I loved flying with those old World War II pilots. They were so great! From the props to the jets, they were the greatest!!!!! I was afraid to fly before I became a stewardess. Just knowing the skill of the men at the wheel was a comfort. I am now married to an old pilot from World War II. When we are fly we hear every sound and movement of the aircraft. We have traveled on many airlines. And you know my choice of carriers.
In my opinion, American Airline is the best for their concern and training for Emergency Training. I would do it all over again for American.
Have a Happy Heart! | <urn:uuid:b95bdf31-8fdb-40e6-9538-4821bb3350c2> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://americanairlinesstewardess.blogspot.com/2009/04/ | 2017-08-18T05:09:59Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886104565.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20170818043915-20170818063915-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.985813 | 1,918 |
Catching Smallmouth Bass In Streams And Creeks: Everything Smallmouth Fan Tips
“I’m seeing all kinds of advice about catching smallmouth in lakes and rivers. But, I float creeks of Kentucky in a kayak. Any advice from Everything Smallmouth Folks? I’m catching plenty of largemouth. But, I know there are smallmouth in my creeks. Others catch them. Please share some secrets.”
We recently posted this question on our Everything Smallmouth Facebook page and had so many great responses that I wanted to preserve that information in a blog post here for others to learn from and enjoy.
These are pearls of wisdom from the guys and gals out in the creeks and streams catching amazing bronzebacks.
Catching smallmouth bass in streams and creeks
Bryn Yunkers: itty bitty footballhead jig. rapid movements
Chris Murphy: Faster moving water, pools between riffles, even the riffles themselves in the rivers will hold more Smallies than largemouths, who are more adapted to slower moving water. Look for bubbles and foam
Austin Wright: Try football head jigs, works for me!
Joe Randolph: Fly fishing from a canoe is the way to go
Steve Hyatt: Use small jigs and fly’s, you can’t use the same thing you fish for LargeMouth! LOL
Mike Jones: i’ve spent extensive time wading the creeks of western kentucky for smallmouth bass with my uncle. rebel crawdad and a small walk the dog lure or popper and hold on. make sure you target the areas that have flow and structure. submerged wood, rootwads, rock piles, shelves, etc will all hold smallies as long as there is some water flow over the area. the more the better. (at normal water levels) smallies like oxygenated water, that’s where you’ll find them. and if you get a topwater strike or they are striking short, don’t slow down, speed up.
Raymond Malone: Try Jig fishing Mate… take a Tube (Gitzit is what they’re called) my favorite kinds are the Tan with Black spots put the Hook through weedless way
then drop it to the bottom of Structured areas,points,and drop-offs,raise the jig a few inches off the bottom and twitch gently and move slowly or twitch it as you drag it slowly I have found that this get’s my slammed by Smallmouth here
Jeff Neels: Tip your jig trailers in Chartreuse Dye
Cj Wilhelm: speed your action up a bit and get some green pumpkin zoom swamp crawlers and use a carolina rig and jig it, also if you can find them, chartreuse mister twister’s are deadly on river smallies.
Mickey Beaver: Rebel’s wee crawdad
To get all the jigs, tackle and gear you need to catch smallmouth bass in streams and creeks, be sure to check out our favorite tackle store:
Morgan Lea: Before I moved to Florida I fished a lot of rivers and creeks in middle Tennessee and found that 1/8 oz bitsy jigs work great and pink flukes on scroungers are deadly. Good luck.
Kyle Snyder: Panther marten or jig head & white mr. Twisters
Michæl Theoneandonly Chapman: Where rapids move to calm float a small jig down and play with it at the end light color.
Rick J Mchale Sr.: I like using tubes on SM and we catch a lot of them here in Maine !
Kevin Hernandez: I’d say throw a crawfish trap to try and figure out what color crawfish species are in your waters then match the hatch with either tubes or jigs
Eric Heiman: Live bait Crawfish work great, tube jigs,pearl white zoom flukes and other colors depending on water color, jerkbaits also depending on where and what color of water is !!!!
Gary Lubbes: i agree 100% with Mike Jones above. try zoom ultravibe speed craw or other craw imitation, texas rigged on 1/0 hook with a 1/8 or less weight (the faster the water, the heavier the weight), 4 or 6 lb test on an ultra lite spiining reel, hit all the areas Mike Jones suggested. highly oxygenated water is key, the warmer it gets the faster they like it. and they will slam buzzbaits over structure in or near fast water.
Dominick Massa: 1/8 mepps chart on chart. Smallmouth eat it! Gravel bars around holes.
Wesley Daniel Widrig: light line and and quicker retrieves. rebel crawdad always works great in a creek. also baby bass senkos. and if you want to catch everything in the creek use live night crawlers. hope this helps.
James FattJimmy Alba: Helgermites!!!
Bruce Wagers: Tubes and creek chubs work great.
Nick Tardy: I fish a smaller river which has some fast water, and I’ve caught smallies on size 9 black and gold original floating rapalas.
Brad Davis: Great advice from everyone and I agree 100%. I fish for smallies with gitzit tubes, small senkos, small crawfish looking crankbaits, buzzbaits early and late, soft and hard jerkbaits like zoom flukes or floating rapalas, then an assortment of crawfish imitating plastics..
Matthew Erny: Get a tfo mini mag 6,7,8 and fish hoppers and size 8 and 10 craws. You will find the ability to present a fly with a short stif rod on a creek is an amazing way to get a bite. Go with a 300 to 400 grain line. Lighter if it is a wide area heavier if it is tight with trees.
Bryan Claxton: Bitsy jigs with a tube pumpkin color works great in e.tennessee
Glen E Smith: Smallmouth are the males of the spieces, Huh???
Jason Pedrick: soft plastics near a dam. cast into the river and let the current wash the jig toward you while bouncing it along the bottom. Cha-ching
Seth Kirchhoff: 3″ sinkos rigged snagless and with bullet sinkers. Increase the weight/number of the sinkers for higher currents. Bounce ’em on the bottom in deep holes – less is more when it comes to movement/action. Drift them through/around/against cover and structure (root wads, etc). Focus on current and the edges of current. Smallies hunt the current.
James Landis: I like , in streams,, using a like 3 inch pumpkin colored crawl, bullet sinker, an hook it weedless,,
Rick Rupert: Rapalas, 3 inch floaters
Mike Armstrong: Downsize
Eric Jorgensen: Great lure suggestions. I would suggest seeking better smallmouth habitat out. LM suggest to me you my be fishing sunny warmer water laydowns (submerged wood). What you are looking for is oxygen rich clearer colder water. Look for rock and deeper water on a shaded wind blown bank. They will chase bait up into that other area if it is close to their desired habitat. Things like muddy water full of leafs indicate lack of oxygen. Move closer to the break line where the swifter clear water meets the slack water. That’s where they will be waiting to ambush a meal. Hope this helps. Tight lines and screaming drags
Joe Witte: Berkley gulp 3 inch smelt on an black 1/8 oz jig head(depending on the speed of water). They lose their shit.
Denny Bullock: I don`t know about Western KY but, in Central KY creeks AC Shiners are deadly…
Christopher Michael Hanley: I throw a white zoom tube bait on a Carolina rig in the deeper pockets. I usually target the bigger smallies
Tim Holt: It’s not the lures, even though smallies like smaller baits that largemouth, it’s the water you’re fishing…. Smallmouth and largemouth might live in the same body of water, but inhabit different areas…. smallmouth prefer current, while largemouth prefer slack areas. When people tell you to downsize, that may be correct, but when fishing jigs in current compared to slack water, you need heavier weight…. smaller profile baits with heavier heads….
Kim Ditzler: Bump the stump or knock the rocks once you hit tight to cover…………..let it sit for a few seconds then give it a twitch or two and let it fall………….Hang on!!!!!
Timm Vanderhill: Rebel Crawdad cranks…great on rivers…use on spinning tackle, makes even the small ones feel HUGE!!!
Chris Reed: Pearl white grub or swimbait on a jighead slow rolled.
Donnie Brown: Treat each hole like your sneaking up on a big buck, you need a rod you can cast a long distance, most anything will catch smallies, mepps over rostertails the hooks are stronger, rebel cranks are great, raps, ac.s. are good , myself I carry all theseand atorpedio and spook, I always start with a jig berkly 3in min. jig head 1/32 to an 1/8.fish them slow ,then fast, one thing that catches me a lot of fish and big ones is when you you deside to move to the next hole make a cast to the top of the hole you just come throu let your line out so it comes down throu the hole in the best way it can be letting your line out as you go down stream thenstop and fish it back.
Kim Ditzler: Also learn as much as you can and practice the Walk the Dog technique. You wont be sorry. Smallies love smashin’ a topwater. Again cast tightly and as accurately to cover as you can. Believe me when I say big smallies live under rocks and blowdowns. If it looks like it should hold a good fish, it probably does. The angle at which the lure is presented is the key to getting them to attack.
Kevin Watkins: We fish a flyrod with weighted streamers and crawfish imitations at the top or at the tailouts of riffle runs. During warmer weather, the Smallies will slam top water poppers too.
Rich Bitner: 3″ green pumpkin senkos. Wacky rig no wieght. you’ll hammer em.
Willie Miller:try a leach on a slip bobber I fish some awesome small mouth rivers in Michigan this is a very productive technique smallies are opprtunitist float the leach past rocks a other cover that supports an eddy free from the current .also try a crawler rigged texas style only a small spilt shot for weigth cast it at the bottom of current and let it wash down this is a feel technique and you will need a sensitive rod good luck!
Steve Willocks: In slack water try a wacky rig. They will eat it all year.
Mark Williams: Smallies love rock and current.
Fisherman’s Friend: Buy you some Gitzit Tubes in green crawfish salt and pepper’ Hang On! Source
As you can see, there are a tremendous number of smallie anglers over on our Facebook page who know their stuff. Be sure to check out the amazing pictures there.
Sign up for our newsletter today! | <urn:uuid:7fff5dbb-a1dc-480c-96c3-ae2201dc0c18> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://everything-smallmouth.com/catching-smallmouth-bass-in-streams-and-creeks-everything-smallmouth-fan-tips/ | 2017-08-19T01:53:20Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105291.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20170819012514-20170819032514-00680.warc.gz | en | 0.882884 | 2,469 |
Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Resurrection Sunday together make up the next holiday, the cycle of Easter. The word “Easter” is Anglo Saxon for spring equinox. Easter was calculated using the equinox, and the term for the equinox (Oestra), according to the church historian Bede, gave its name to the Feast of the Resurrection. (Incidentally, the nation of Austria is also named after the spring equinox.)
We used to worship a goddess that was said to be the power behind the equinox, but she has been forgotten. And the heavens, which shout the praises of God, have come to be recognized and understood for what they have actually been saying all along. The word ‘Easter’ has been cleansed as the gospel has triumphed. Easter is now the festival day in which we celebrate the fact that winter is not just overcome every year; the winter of the world was overcome when the true spring began. When the Son of God burst forth from the grave as he was raised from the dead by the power of the Spirit of God, the winter of the world was wrecked.
Adam and Eve cast the world into winter with our sin, but God soon began giving hints that the winter would be broken. T.S. Elliot, in his poem ‘Little Gidding,’ calls these hints, “midwinter spring”, where a day with winter on each side is bright with the hint of a coming spring.
When the short day is brightest with frost and fire . . . stirs the dumb spirit, not with wind, but with pentecostal fire.
All throughout the Old Testament there are midwinter spring days, where spring itself does not come, but God makes it clear that the spring is coming. Resurrection is coming. History itself will have a spring equinox, when history turns from winter to spring.
This is why we call feast of the resurrection Easter. This is why we named it after Spring. The true meaning of Spring, the actual reason that God set up the cycle of the equinoxes and seasons, is that God is a God who brings life from death. So everything in spring is a legitimate symbol to be used in our celebration of the resurrection. Be it eggs, rabbits, flowers, dressing the children in new outfits, or seeing the ladies in beautiful spring clothes, it is all a wonderful and legitimate way of celebrating the resurrection. Because when Jesus came back from the dead the world's winter was broken and the spring came.
Jesus' resurrection is the turning point in history that then leads to the revolution of the ascension. Forty days after the resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9). Ascension Thursday is the day that the church has traditionally set aside to celebrate that installation of Jesus. At the ascension, Jesus was anointed as King of kings and Lord of lords. Then he took the throne at the right hand of God the Father.
It was a revolution because every authority in the pre-Ascension world was unseated by the work of Jesus. "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Col 2:15). After the resurrection all authority on heaven and on earth was given to Jesus (Matt. 28:18). When Jesus "was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God" (Mark 16:19), the revolution was accomplished, complete, and finished as Jesus was installed as the ruler of all.
Daniel recieves a vision of the day when the Son of Adam would come to heaven. He gives us a view at the other end of the journey of Jesus' ascension. The Apostles saw him leave for heaven. Daniel is given a vision of Jesus arriving in heaven. "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed" (Dan 7:13-14). In the ascension, the authority of mankind, the authority that was forfeited when Adam sinned, was restored to Mankind in the second Adam.
But that restoration does not just remain with Jesus. Ten days later, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit of God was poured out on the church and the final restoration of humanity in and through the church began. The Church is the body of Christ, and when the Spirit was poured on Jesus, as he was anointed the King of kings and the Perfect High Priest of the heavenly tabernacle, the Spirit flowed down his head, down his beard, and onto his body (Ps. 133). When Jesus is anointed King he gives gifts to his people (Eph. 4:8). But the first gift that he gave was himself in the gift of his Spirit. Hence the name ‘Spiritual’ Gifts (1 Cor. 12:1). And through these gifts, the restoration and perfecting of his people (that will continue into eternity) both begins and is guaranteed by the giving of the Spirit.
Next we come to Halloween and All Saints Day. Halloween was not, and has never been, a pagan holiday. The Christian calendar, because of the Hebrew influence, has always begun its celebration on what the Romans considered to be the day before. The first days went from evening to morning (see Gen. 1), but the Romans reckoned their days from midnight to midnight. Out of Hebrew habit, the feast day celebrations began the evening before the day of celebration. Because much of the calendrical reckoning was done with Roman calendars, it felt as if the celebrations were beginning a day early.
What this says about the different views of history is a fun question, but for now, what is important is that is how the party on the eve of a celebration came to find itself on the calendar as its own event with its own traditions and activities. The word 'Halloween' is the contraction of All Hallows' Eve. All Hallows' (or All Saint's) is the celebration of the work of God through the church. It is the day when we make the devil-crushing feet of the Body of Christ dance at the honor and the joy of serpent crushing (Rom. 16:20).
All Saints' is the final hurrah of the church calendar after which we return again to Advent. Longing remembered becomes longing fulfilled. And so we continue the celebration.
This longing also becomes a reminder that all of our longing and all of our love for God will find it's fulfillment in the return of Christ, the second advent. When Jesus comes again bringing the final resurrection of the body, followed by the judgment of Christ and an eternity of life with God for the just and eternal death for those outside of Christ, we find the ultimate fulfillment of all of history.
This is why there are no old world pagan holidays left on the calendar handed down to us from Christendom. There have been a handful of romantic poets and secularists that have wanted to keep the holidays while jettisoning Jesus, but they have had to make things up and grasp at straws. The pagan calendars have all been forgotten along with their gods. The closest that we get is May Day, but no one even remembers who Maia was, let alone how her day was celebrated in the past.
There are still a handful of names that have remained on the calendar from ancient pagan times. Each of the seven names of the days of the week are derived from the Roman and Norse names of the gods of the seven visible planets, (Sun's Day, Moon's Day, Tiu's Day, Woden's Day, Thor's Day, Freya's Day, Saturn's Day), but the way back to worship those gods, or to the worship of the hosts of heaven at all, has been forever blocked and dammed by the resurrection of Jesus.
Now the planets are in the right hand of Jesus (Rev. 1:16). The seven spirits represented by the seven candlesticks of the temple turned out to be but a shadow of the seven spirits of the seven planets as they danced in light and glory before the Holy of Holies built without hands (Rev. 1:4, 12-13; Heb. 9:1-3, 23-24). The principalities of the planets were created to lead us into the presence of God. Though in the new covenant that job has been taken over by the church (Eph. 3:10), there is no reason to object to the use of the names of these forgotten gods, if only to remember that they have been forgotten. Having been overshadowed by the brightness of the glory of a crucified and risen Christ, each day is a reminder that all time is in the hands of Jesus.
So as we seek to recover and reinvigorate the church calendar, we should remember that the calendar is not merely a reminder to engage in some extra religious activities. We are remembering what Christ has done and is doing in history. And the remembering causes us to celebrate. The church calendar is to remind us of the great works of God on our behalf, and to mark out the time of our lives according to what God has done in Christ. The primary purpose of the church calendar is to give a rhythm and vocabulary to our joy, freedom, and hope. | <urn:uuid:b90d77a9-dc16-44f5-807a-c0d9bd65e078> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://wcfunk.squarespace.com/ | 2017-08-20T20:47:55Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886106990.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20170820204359-20170820224359-00120.warc.gz | en | 0.968619 | 1,989 |
Mitigating a DDOS attack against your infrastructure involves both people skills and tech skills. Whining won't cut it at all. The underlying problem remains the sad fact that the botnet herders are able to find fresh hosts for their malware. Should we start publishing more information about those pesky DDOS participants?
I have a confession to make. For a while and up until recently, one of my name servers was in fact an open resolver. The way I discovered and fixed the problem was by way of a rather crude DNS based DDOS.
Regular readers (Hi, Bert!) will be aware that I haven't actually published anything noteworthy for a while. So I was a bit surprised to find in early December 2012 that bsdly.net and associated domains was under a DNS based distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack.
The attack itself appeared to be nothing special -- just a bunch of machines sending loads and loads of rubbish DNS requests directed at the IP addresses listed as authoritative masters for a few selected domains.
The targets were on relatively modest connections (think SOHO grade), so their pipes were flooded by the traffic and the people who were relying on that connectivity were not getting much network-related done. The sites weren't totally offline, but just about anything would time out without completing and life would be miserable. I've made a graph of the traffic available here, in a weekly view of that approximate period that nicely illustrates normal vs abnormal levels for those networks, generated by nfsen from pflow(4) data.
The networks under attack were in this instance either part of my personal lab or equipment used and relied upon by old friends, so I set out to make things liveable again as soon as I was able. Read on for field notes on practical incident response.
Under Attack? Just Block Them Then!
My early impulse was of course to adjust the PF rules that take care of rapid-fire brute force attacks (see eg the tutorial or the book for info) to swallow up the the rapid-fire DNS as well. That was unfortunately only partially successful. We only achieved small dips in the noise level.
Looking at the traffic via tcpdump(8) and OpenBSD's excellent systat states view revealed that the floods were incoming at a fairly quick pace and was consistently filling up the state table on each of the firewalls, so all timeouts were effectively zero for longish periods. A pfctl -k directed at known attackers would typically show a few thousand states killed, only to see the numbers rise quickly again to the max number of states limit. Even selectively blocking by hand or rate-limiting via pf tricks was only partially effective.
The traffic graphs showed some improvement, but the tcpdump output didn't slow at all. At this point it was getting fairly obvious that the requests were junk -- no sane application will request the same information several thousand times in the space of a few seconds.
It Takes People Skills. Plus whois. And A Back Channel.
So on to the boring part. In most cases what does help, eventually, is contacting the people responsible for the security of the networks where the noise traffic originates. On Unixish systems, you have at your fingertips the whois(1) command, which is designed for that specific purpose. Use it. Feeding a routeable IP adress to whois will in most circumstances turn up useful contact data. In most cases, the address you're looking for is abuse@ or the security officer role for the network or domain.
If you're doing this research while you're the target of a DDOS, you will be thanking yourself for installing a back channel to somewhere that will give you enough connectivity to run whois and send email to the abuse@ addresses. If your job description includes dealing with problems of this type and you don't have that in place already, drop what you're doing and start making arrangements to get a back channel, right now.
Next up, take some time to draft a readable message text you can reuse quickly to convey all relevant information to the persons handling abuse@ mail at the other end.
Be polite (I've found that starting with a "Dear Colleague" helps), to the point, offer relevant information up front and provide links to more (such as in my case tcpdump output) for followup. Stress the urgency of the matter, but do not make threats of any kind, and save the expletives for some other time.
The issue here is to provide enough information to make the other party start working on the problem at their end and preferably inspire them to make that task a high priority one. Do offer an easy point of contact, make sure you can actually read and respond to email at the address you're sending from, and if necessary include the phone number where you are most easily reachable.
When you have a useful template message, get ready to send however many carefully amended copies of that message to however many colleagues (aka abuse@) it takes. Take care to cut and paste correctly, if there's a mismatch between your subject and your message body on anything essential or inconsistencies within your message, more likely than not your message will be discarded as a probable prank. Put any address you think relevant in your Cc: field, but do not hold out any high hopes off useful response from law enforcement. Only directly affected parties will display any interest whatsoever.
Fill in any blanks or template fields with the output from your monitoring tools. But remember, your main assets at this point are your people skills. If the volume is too high or you find the people part difficult, now is the time to enlist somebody to handle communications while you deal with the technical and analysis parts.
You will of course find that there are abuse contact addresses that are in fact black holes (despite the RFC stating basic requirements), and unless you are a name they've heard about you should expect law enforcement to be totally useless. But some useful information may turn up.
Good Tools Help, Beware Of Snake Oil
I've already mentioned monitoring tools, for collecting and analyzing your traffic. There is no question you need to have useful tools in place. What I have ended up doing is to collect NetFlow traffic metadata via OpenBSD's pflow(4) and similar means and monitoring the via NFSen. Other tools exist, and if you're interested in network traffic monitoring in general and NetFlow tools in particular, you could do worse than pick up a copy of Michael W. Lucas' recent book Network Flow Analysis.
Michael chose to work with the flow-tools family of utilities, but he does an outstanding job of explaining the subject in both theory and in the context of practical applications. What you read in Michael's book can easily be transferred to other toolsets once you get at grip on the matter.
Unfortunately, (as you will see from the replies you get to your messages) if you do take an interest in your network traffic and start measuring, you will be one of a very select minority. One rather perverse side effect of 'anti-terror' or 'anti-anythingyouhate' legislation such as the European Union Data Retention Directive and similar log data retention legislation in the works elsewhere is that logging anything not directly associated with the health of your own equipment is likely to become legally burdensome and potentially expensive, so operators will only start logging with a granularity that would be useful in our context once there are clear indications that an incident is underway.
Combine this with the general naive optimism people tend to exhibit (aka 'it won't happen here'), and result is that very few system operators actually have a clue about their network traffic.
Those who do measure their traffic and respond to your queries may turn up useful information - one correspondent was adamant that the outgoing traffic graph for the IP adress I had quoted to them was flat and claimed that what I was likely seeing was my servers being utilized in a DNS amplification attach (very well described by Cloudflare in this blog post). The main takeway here is that since UDP is basically 'fire and forget', unless your application takes special care, it is possible to spoof the source address and target the return traffic at someone else.
My minor quarrel with the theory was that the vast majority of requests were not recursive queries (a rough count based on grep -c on tcpdump output preserved here says that "ANY" queries for domains we did legitimately answer for at the start of the incident outnumbered recursive queries by a ratio better than 10,000 to 1). So DNS amplification may have been a part of the problem, but a rather small one (but do read the Cloudflare article anyway, it contains quite a bit of useful information).
And to make a long story slightly shorter, the most effective means of fighting the attack proved also to be almost alarmingly simple. First off, I moved the authority for the noise generating domains off elsewhere (the domains were essentially dormant anyway, reserved on behalf of a friend of mine some years ago for plans that somehow failed to move forward). That did not have the expected effect: the queries for those domains kept coming beyond the zone files' stated timeouts, aimed at the very same IP adresses as before. The only difference was that those queries were now met with a 'denied' response, as were (after I had found the config error on one host and fixed it) any recursive queries originating from the outside.
The fact that the noisemakers kept coming anyway lead me to a rather obvious conclusion: Any IP address that generates a 'denied' response from our name server is up to no good, and can legitimately be blackhole routed at the Internet-facing interface. Implementing the solution was (no surprise) a matter of cooking up some scriptery, including one that tails the relevant logs closely, greps out the relevant information and one that issues a simple route add -host $offendingip 127.0.0.1 -blackhole for each offending IP address.
My users reported vastly improved network conditions almost immediately, while the number of blackhole routed IP addresses at each site quickly shot up to a 24-hour average somewhere in the low thousands before dropping rather sharply to at first a few hundreds, through a few dozen to, at last count, a total of 5.
There are a number of similar war stories out there, and good number of them end up with a recommendation to buy 'DDOS protection' from some vendor or other (more often than not some proprietary solution where you get no clue about the innards), or to 'provision your stuff to infrastructure that's too big to be DDOSed'. Of these options I would prefer the latter, but this story I think shows that correct use of the tools OpenBSD and other sane operating systems provide for free will go a long way. More kit helps if you're lucky, but smarts win the day.
Should we publish, or 'name and shame'?
I strongly suspect that most of the handful of boxes that are currently blackhole routed by my setup here belong to a specific class of 'security consultant' who for reasons of their own want a piece of the sniffing for recursive resolvers action. But I really can't be certain: I have now way except whois and guesswork to determine who mans the scanning boxes and for what purpose (will they alert owners of any flaws found or save it all for their next attack -- there just is no way to tell). Scans like those (typically involving a query for './A/IN' or the texbook 'isc.org/ANY/IN') are are of course annoying, but whoever operates those boxes are very welcome to contact me in any way they can with data on their legitimate purposes.
During the attack I briefly published a list of the IP addresses that had been active during the last 24 hours to the bsdly.net web site, and for a short while I even included them as a separate section in the bsdly.net blacklist for good measure (an ethically questionable move, since that list is generated for a different and quite specific purpose). I am toying with the idea of publishing the current list of blackholed hosts in some way, possibly dumping to somewhere web-accessible every hour or so, if feedback on this column indicates it would be a useful measure. Please let me know what you think in comments or via email.
For the rest of you out there, please make an effort to keep your systems in trim, well configured with no services running other than for the specific purposes you picked. Keeping your boxes under your own control does take an effort, but it's worth your trouble. Of course there are entire operating environments worth avoiding, and if you're curious about whether any system in your network was somehow involved in the incident, I will answer reasonable requests for specific digging around my data (netflow and other). As a side note, the story I had originally planned to use as an illustration of how useful netflow data is in monitoring and capacity planning involves a case of astoundingly inane use of a Microsoft product in a high dollar density environment, but I'll let that one lie for now.
Good night and good luck. | <urn:uuid:3b4ef88c-4587-4780-afc0-741437ab12af> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://bsdly.blogspot.ca/2012/12/ddos-bots-are-people-or-manned-by-some.html | 2017-08-21T17:56:13Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886109470.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20170821172333-20170821192333-00200.warc.gz | en | 0.963705 | 2,713 |
The pic above is the first time I'd ever seen Tameka Foster surface. From that point on, I had to get more information on her because I thought she was a man! I searched the net high and low to find the scoop on Tameka Foster-Raymond and all I turned up was negative information which I intend to share, but first, lets focus on some positive talk about Tameka.
Tameka Foster Raymond was born in 1971 in Atlanta, Georgia. Her age is supposedly 38. She is a stylist and the owner of Swanky Image Group, an egg crate company? Its said to gross 43K/yr in sales!! She also owns Hides & Dungarees denim and leather collection in Atlanta but google that and see what you come up with.... She used to be a celebrity stylist and had celebrity clientele that included Usher, Ciara, Patti LaBelle, Jay-Z, Diddy, Keri Hilson and Lauryn Hill. She may want to explore that option again now that her cash cow has other plans.
Prior to becoming romantically involved with Usher in November 2005, she split from her then husband Ryan Glover,(thats him in the white shirt and glasses). Hes the co-founder of Noontime Music and the father of a few of her children. She and Usher had been friends and for nearly seven years and she was his personal stylist for five years. It appears to me that Tameka loves business owners, Usher is also an entrepreneur and business man who owns US Records, and is a part owner of the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers.
She married Usher in August 2007 in a private office of the singer’s lawyer in Atlanta. Wow, sounds romantic! Previously, the couple’s July 28, 2007 lavish, star studded wedding at the Southampton, NY estate of music mogul L.A. Reid had been canceled, fueling rumors and speculation. Foster said a “pregnancy scare” and a brief hospitalization is what led to the postponement of the wedding. On September 1, 2007 the couple had a formal wedding before 200 guests at the Chateau Elan Winery & Resort and they released some staged wedding pics.
Tameka Foster Raymond gave birth to the couple’s first child, Usher Raymond V, in November 2007 and, the second child, Naveid Ely Raymond, was born in December 2008. She also has joint custody of the three children from her previous marriage which brings the grand total of children to a whopping 5!!
Tameka has had run-ins with the law. Back in 1991, she'd been arrested twice for theft/fraud related offenses. Tameka served twenty days in the Los Angeles County Jail for petty theft back in 1991. She was sentenced to an additional term of two years probation. Her first lover was gunned down in a drug-related execution-style shooting, the celebrity stylist’s half-sister Valencia tells The National Enquirer.“Poor Usher has no idea who he’s marrying.” “He’s a wonderful guy- but Tameka is giving him a big-time snow job.”
According to The Enquirer:
The scene for deception was set at a “getting to know the in-laws” dinner in Tameka’s hometown of Oakland, Calif., on July 7 as the couple finalized plans for a July 28 wedding.
Valencia, 49, explained that Usher led a prayer before dinner, then turned to her and said: “’You know all the family secrets- tell me about them.’ Before I could say a word, Tameka kicked me so hard under the table she almost put a hole in my leg,” Valencia said. “Then she pulled me aside and whispered: ‘Don’t tell him anything.’”
There were also rumors and whispers when Usher did the video for "LOVE IN THIS CLUB" as Keri Hilson played his love interest in the video. Tameka Foster happened to be the celebrity stylist for Keri Hilson in that particular video shoot. Heres how they explained the video set:
Our on-set source said Foster was upset when she found out stunning singer/songwriter Keri Hilson was personally picked by Usher to play his love interest in the video.
"It was supposed to be a sexy video shoot," our spy said. "And Tameka was there the entire time guarding like a watchdog. It was ridiculous - she knows Keri and knows she’s no video ho or Karrine Steffans." Steffans, nicknamed "Superhead," wrote the book, "Video Vixen," about her alleged flings with Usher and several other artists.
"Tameka is very insecure," our source said. "Even in rehearsals she was weird and clearly not happy that Keri is so gorgeous. Tameka threw a lot of attitude. The day of the shoot, Tameka dressed Keri very badly - she looked like an extra. Tameka wouldn’t let Keri have her hairdresser there - she had to use the hairdresser who was doing the extras."
Foster also took a dislike to Usher’s longtime choreographer, Jamaica, and banned her from the set. When Usher and Foster were spotted at the Beverly Hills Hotel last week, "They barely said one word to each other," we’re told.
The two have had a choppy past. After they got engaged, Usher fired his mom, Jonetta Patton, as his manager and also axed his publicists. "Tameka was the one and only one to call the shots," spies said.
Thats not all, Keri chose not to comment when asked what happened during the video shoot. Theres an age old saying, if you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all. Maybe Keri chose that route in regards to the tension at the video shoot?
Tameka Gave birth in December 2008 to their second child, and 2 months later she decided to get plastic surgery. According to Ellen Dasptry, a rep for Sao Paulo plastic surgeon Dr. Silvio Sterman, who was to have performed the surgery, Tameka Foster Raymond arrived on Friday, February 6, 2009 for the liposuction. Shortly after going under general anesthesia, she suffered cardiac arrest, i.e., a heart attack.
“When an attack like this happens, the doctors put the patient to sleep… and make sure that everything is okay and that there has not been any damage,” explains Dasptry. “This is the protocol every time and this is what was done.”
After spending a day in the ICU, Foster Raymond was transferred to Sao Paulo’s Hospital Sírio-Libanês, a larger facility which Dasptry says is considered to be one of the finest in Brazil. Nearly a week after the cardiac arrest, Daspry says that she “is doing very well.”
Usher was set to perform at the Clive Davis pre-Grammy party on February 7, 2009, but it was that very day that his wife went into cardiac arrest. He flew to Brazil. They said Usher knew nothing of the surgery and found out the same time the press found out about the surgery.
Because Tameka Foster Raymond had given birth to the couple’s second son two months ago, this incident has stirred some debate in the medical community as to whether or not two months after the birth of a child is too soon to undergo liposuction.
People Magazine interviewed a doctor, cosmetic surgeon and dermatologist Neil Sadick of New York City, who asserted that a woman should wait at least three months before undergoing such a procedure, and that “no abdominal surgery should be performed within eight weeks because of the distension and inflammation of the abdomen/uterus due to pregnancy.” However, the Brazilian doctor’s spokesperson, Dasptry, said that Foster Raymond was determined to be “in good health.” She went on to say, that there was not a rule saying a woman couldn’t have surgery two months after childbirth. They speculate the reason she went to Brazil is because no american doctor would operate on her so soon after giving childbirth.
After days of talk and speculation, it is finally confirmed that Usher has filed for divorce from his wife Tameka Foster, with whom he's been married for nearly two years. The Grammy-winning artist filed the petition in Superior Court in Fulton County, Ga. on Friday, June 12.
According to the divorce document obtained by E! News, the first hearing of the case is scheduled to be held on July 15. The document, nevertheless, doesn't specify on the reason that prompts the pair's separation.
Usher and Tameka Foster, who used to be his assistant, tied the knot on August 3, 2007. They are parents to two sons; Usher Raymond V and Naviyd Ely Raymond.
Prior to Usher's official divorce petition, the pair was reported breaking up last year. However, both of them denied their marriage was on the rock, insisting everything was okay between them. Rumors of them divorcing resurfaced in February this year, but the twosome called reports of a split "100 percent not true."
Usher himself added fuel to the long persistent rumors after he was photographed recently hanging out with a woman while Tameka was nowhere to be seen. It's not clear though if the woman is his new girlfriend.
The night his divorce papers were filed, Usher spent a low-key night at the Los Angeles club MyHouse. He arrived late and came in through the back then was seated at a table where he spent time with a few friends chatting and drinking. The singer, who was smiling and talkative, seemed to be in a good, but mellow mood. source
If anyone else has any information on Tameka Foster and would like to share it, email me at | <urn:uuid:031d5344-7063-4158-90d9-cc67d5c2cd75> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://celebhaterz.blogspot.com/2009/06/tameka-foster-raymond-biography.html | 2017-08-21T17:45:52Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886109470.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20170821172333-20170821192333-00200.warc.gz | en | 0.983244 | 2,131 |
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The Transfiguration of Jesus.* 2After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.b And he was transfigured before them, 3and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. 5* Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. 7Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;* then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” 8Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.
The Coming of Elijah.* 9As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.c 10So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant. 11d Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 12He told them, “Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things, yet how is it written regarding the Son of Man that he must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt? 13But I tell you that Elijah has come and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”e
The Healing of a Boy with a Demon.* 14When they came to the disciples,f they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. 15Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him. 16He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. 18Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.” 19He said to them in reply, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.” 20They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth. 21Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood. 22It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” 24Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” 25Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” 26Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” 27But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. 28When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive it out?” 29* He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”
The Second Prediction of the Passion. 30g They left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it.h 31He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise.” 32But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.
The Greatest in the Kingdom.* 33They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”i 34But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. 35Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”j 36Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, 37“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”k
Another Exorcist.* 38John said to him,l “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” 39Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. 40For whoever is not against us is for us.m 41Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.n
Temptations to Sin. 42o “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe [in me] to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna,* into the unquenchable fire. * 45And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. 47And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, 48where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’p
The Simile of Salt. 49* “Everyone will be salted with fire. 50Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”q
* [9:1] There are some standing…come in power: understood by some to refer to the establishment by God’s power of his kingdom on earth in and through the church; more likely, as understood by others, a reference to the imminent parousia.
* [9:2–8] Mark and Mt 17:1 place the transfiguration of Jesus six days after the first prediction of his passion and death and his instruction to the disciples on the doctrine of the cross; Lk 9:28 has “about eight days.” Thus the transfiguration counterbalances the prediction of the passion by affording certain of the disciples insight into the divine glory that Jesus possessed. His glory will overcome his death and that of his disciples; cf. 2 Cor 3:18; 2 Pt 1:16–19. The heavenly voice (Mk 9:7) prepares the disciples to understand that in the divine plan Jesus must die ignominiously before his messianic glory is made manifest; cf. Lk 24:25–27. See further the note on Mt 17:1–8.
* [9:5] Moses and Elijah represent, respectively, law and prophecy in the Old Testament and are linked to Mount Sinai; cf. Ex 19:16–20:17; 1 Kgs 19:2, 8–14. They now appear with Jesus as witnesses to the fulfillment of the law and the prophets taking place in the person of Jesus as he appears in glory.
* [9:7] A cloud came, casting a shadow over them: even the disciples enter into the mystery of his glorification. In the Old Testament the cloud covered the meeting tent, indicating the Lord’s presence in the midst of his people (Ex 40:34–35) and came to rest upon the temple in Jerusalem at the time of its dedication (1 Kgs 8:10).
* [9:9–13] At the transfiguration of Jesus his disciples had seen Elijah. They were perplexed because, according to the rabbinical interpretation of Mal 3:23–24, Elijah was to come first. Jesus’ response shows that Elijah has come, in the person of John the Baptist, to prepare for the day of the Lord. Jesus must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt (Mk 9:12) like the Baptist (Mk 9:13); cf. Mk 6:17–29.
* [9:14–29] The disciples’ failure to effect a cure seems to reflect unfavorably on Jesus (Mk 9:14–18, 22). In response Jesus exposes their lack of trust in God (Mk 9:19) and scores their lack of prayer (Mk 9:29), i.e., of conscious reliance on God’s power when acting in Jesus’ name. For Matthew, see note on Mt 17:14–20. Lk 9:37–43 centers attention on Jesus’ sovereign power.
* [9:29] This kind can only come out through prayer: a variant reading adds “and through fasting.”
* [9:33–37] Mark probably intends this incident and the sayings that follow as commentary on the disciples’ lack of understanding (Mk 9:32). Their role in Jesus’ work is one of service, especially to the poor and lowly. Children were the symbol Jesus used for the anawim, the poor in spirit, the lowly in the Christian community.
* [9:38–41] Jesus warns against jealousy and intolerance toward others, such as exorcists who do not follow us. The saying in Mk 9:40 is a broad principle of the divine tolerance. Even the smallest courtesies shown to those who teach in Jesus’ name do not go unrewarded.
* [9:49] Everyone will be salted with fire: so the better manuscripts. Some add “every sacrifice will be salted with salt.” The purifying and preservative use of salt in food (Lv 2:13) and the refinement effected through fire refer here to comparable effects in the spiritual life of the disciples of Jesus.
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An unidentified man sits at a desk and writes on a leaf of paper. "Scenario 37: Agent to agent transfer," he begins.
In an imagined scenario, Abe enters a British officers' retreat. An agent disguised as a British officer furtively hands a hard-boiled egg to Abe.
Outside, Abe slips the egg into a full basket of eggs. A Redcoat abruptly stops him, demands to buy an egg, and grabs the basket. Some of the eggs drop to the ground and crack, including Abe's egg. Spotting a secret message written on the hard-boiled egg, the soldier seizes Abe, and Abe is killed in the struggle.
The unidentified man crumples the paper. "Try, try again," he mutters.
In a field, British and American soldiers peacefully exchange POWs. The group of Redcoat POWs includes Simcoe, who limps toward a waiting carriage.
At his Morristown headquarters, General Washington dictates a letter to General Howe indicting the barbaric treatment of Continental prisoners aboard the prison ships in New York Harbor.
As Ben and General Scott await Washington, Scott looks forward to hearing how Washington will punish Ben for insubordination. Washington arrives and together they watch a soldier get hanged for robbery, making clear that Washington does not suffer rule-breakers.
Washington arrives and introduces Ben and Scott to the unidentified man who was writing the spy scenarios: Nathaniel Sackett, of the Committee to Detect and Defeat Conspiracies Against America. Sackett praises the accuracy of Abe's intelligence. Washington asks if such intelligence can be gathered again.
Driving a horse-drawn cart, Abe pulls up to a Long Island checkpoint and tells a British officer that he's delivering hogs to Colonel Cooke at the commissary. The officer waves him through, but warns him that because of the recent rebel victories, other checkpoint officers may be wary of lone travelers.
Back at Washington's headquarters, Scott insists that intelligence should only be gathered by trained soldiers. Sackett disagrees, believing civilians make more discreet spies. Washington orders Scott, Sackett and Ben to explore the viability of Ben's "spy chain" idea and come back to him with a recommendation.
As he travels through a woodland stretch between checkpoints, Abe passes a single Redcoat walking down the road. Hearing what sounds like gunfire, Abe leaps from his seat and takes cover behind the cart. "Don't worry -- I got ya," the Redcoat says, as he points his gun at Abe. The soldier pistol whips Abe, tosses him in the back of the cart, and hijacks it. As they trot away, they pass the source of the gunfire sounds: exploded casks of gunpowder in a small campfire.
As Abigail sets the table at John André's residence, André wraps his arms around her to demonstrate European table-setting and eating customs. The former POWs arrive as André's houseguests, and Abigail holds her breath as she recognizes Simcoe among them. André asks Abigail to show the men to their rooms.
In New York, Jordan and other Black Pioneers rake up debris from a large fire at the "Holy Ground" brothels. Titus and Barney, both Queen's Rangers and free blacks, stroll up. "Liberty never smelled so sweet," Titus says as he kicks Jordan's pile of debris over. When Jordan confronts him, Titus punches him in the face. Jordan snaps his rake into two fighting sticks, and the three square off.
Jordan briefly holds his own with some exotic fight moves, but as Titus and Barney gain the upper hand, a sharp whistle from Robert Rogers interrupts the brawl. Rogers questions Jordan about his fighting technique, and Jordan says he trained as a Maasai warrior. Rogers offers to set up a one-on-one fight between Titus and Jordan that the men can bet on.
Ben describes his spying methods to Sackett, who is shocked to learn that Ben hasn't been using dead drops or encryption. Sackett explains that Continental agents should be paid from a secret budget unknown to Congress. Scott refuses to sign off on the spy chain method.
Abe is interrogated by his captor, Cyrus, who turns out to be a lone wolf Continental soldier. When Cyrus grills Abe for details about his business in New York, Abe insists that he's actually a Continental spy. Cyrus doesn't believe him.
Outside headquarters, Sackett tells Ben that Abe needs an alias to correspond with other agents. Ben says Abe will quit if forced to work with strangers. Sackett hands Ben an egg that he's hard-boiled then written on with alum and vinegar. Ben cracks it open and finds the message, now invisible on the eggshell, is legible on the surface of the egg.
André interviews one of the former POWs, Lt. Terrence, about his time in captivity. Terrence is in fact an agent from one of Sackett's scenarios: He is one of Washington's spies.
André next interviews Simcoe, who calls Setauket a pit and badmouths Major Hewlett. André offers to transfer Simcoe, but Simcoe says he'd like to return to a woman he met in Setauket. Abigail eavesdrops as she delivers drinks.
In the woods, Cyrus demands Abe tell him why, if he's such a Patriot, he didn't join the militia. "Because you can't win," Abe replies. Cyrus begins to have an emotional breakdown and insists Abe fight him for the ribbon and papers that will allow Abe to get to New York. "Prove you're worth more," Cyrus snarls.
As they struggle, they're interrupted when a small group of Redcoats discovers Abe's wagon. Cyrus attempts to flee but is quickly surrounded. Cyrus rushes the Redcoats, and they shoot him dead.
André entertains the POWs at dinner. As André proposes a toast, Terrence incorrectly recites his regiment's motto. Abruptly, Simcoe draws a knife, stabs Terrence dead through the neck, and declares Terrence a liar and likely spy. "I know that!" André screams. Seething with anger, André says he planned to try to turn Terrence into a double agent. Abigail, standing just outside the dining room, listens in.
Washington reconvenes with Ben, Sackett and Scott. Scott insists on continuing to use traditional reconnaissance methods. Ben disagrees and tells Washington that his spy chain will work, but only with mutual trust, which they currently lack. He again asks how Washington obtained Abe's name. Washington asks to speak with Ben alone.
Jordan and Titus fight on a stage. The crowd cheers as Jordan uses his Maasai moves to win the fight. Afterwards, Rogers welcomes Jordan into the Queen's Rangers.
As Jordan walks away, Awasos pushes throughout the crowd. Speaking in Abenaki, he tells Rogers that a man who knows Ben Tallmadge has come forward and reported that Ben's brother, Samuel, is being held on board the prison ship Jersey.
Washington finally tells Ben that he obtained Abe's name from one of his spies: Nathan Hale, who was Ben's friend at Yale and recently hanged by the British. He then gives Abe an alias: Mr. Culpeper.
Abe tells one of the Redcoats that Cyrus was wearing Abe's clothes because he was planning on assuming Abe's identity and escaping into the city. The Redcoat tells Abe that lone travelers are no longer being allowed into New York and that Abe cannot continue on alone.
As Abigail cleans up Terrence's blood, she mentions her son's birthday to André. Showing kindness in the wake of the murder, André offers to send a gift via special courier if Abigail picks it out.
After assigning Scott to the war front, Washington promotes Ben to Major and puts him in charge of the intelligence branch. Washington asks Ben to pick a first name for Mr. Culpeper. Ben chooses Samuel.
|Organizations and titles||Sentient species||Vehicles and vessels||Weapons and technology||Miscellanea|
Organizations and titles
Links and referencesEdit
- Turn: Washington's Spies - "Mr. Culpeper" - official site
- Turn: Washington's Spies - "Mr. Culpeper"' at the Internet Movie Database
|Turn: Washington's Spies Season 1 (2014)|
| Turn: Origins
|DVD • Blu-ray|
|See also: S1 • S2 • S3 • S4| | <urn:uuid:7ba7566d-c76c-411d-a2de-c06d93831166> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://turn.wikia.com/wiki/Mr._Culpeper | 2017-08-22T14:54:26Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886110792.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20170822143101-20170822163101-00280.warc.gz | en | 0.949666 | 1,782 |
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